Fresh Start Research Articles

News & Resources

U.S. News and World Report rankings are out Holy Cross covers tuition for families making $100K or less California makes legacy admissions at private nonprofit schools illegal Loan repayment programs, Fresh Start, and the on‐ramp end Death toll rises and colleges close temporarily due to Hurricane Helene

News & Resources

U.S. News and World Report rankings are out Holy Cross Covers Tuition for Families Making $100K or Less Holy Cross, a Catholic college in Massachusetts, announced that it will cover the cost of tuition for families making $100,000 or less, with “reasonable assets.” The college had previously committed to covering tuition for families making $75,000 or less. California makes legacy admissions at private non‐profit schools illegal Loan repayment programs Fresh Start and the on‐ramp end Death toll rises and colleges close temporarily due to Hurricane Helene

The EU New Pact on Migration and Asylum: policies and discourses for a ‘fresh start’

ABSTRACT This provocation paper critically examines the discrepancy between policy rhetoric and implementation in the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, which was approved by the European Commission in April 2024. Despite its portrayal as a ‘fresh start’, the pact displays continuity with past security-focused measures. On the humanitarian side, the New Pact appears to be less effective: while it includes provisions for legal pathways and solidarity mechanisms, it inadequately addresses the rights of migrants awaiting asylum decisions. These shortcomings serve to illustrate the persisting internal conflicts within the EU regarding migration policies and values.

THE POSSIBILITY OF DONATION OF ORGANS AND TISSUES

Organ and tissue donation is a very important subject in our society in general. I intend to discuss what organ donation is. The importance of organ and tissue donation. About the importance of awareness. Organ or tissue donation is an act by which the living individual decides to help in the treatment of other people. Donation may be from organs (kidney, liver, heart, pancreas and lung) or tissue (cornea, skin, bones, heart valves, cartilage, bone marrow and umbilical cord blood). The donation of organs such as the kidney, part of the liver and bone marrow can be done in life. For the donation of organs of deceased persons, only after the confirmation of the diagnosis of brain death can the procedure be performed. The most common is that it happens to people who suffer some kind of accident that causes head trauma, or who are victims of a stroke (stroke) and evolved to brain death. To understand the transplantation of the organs it is necessary to emphasize that the right to separate parts of the living or dead body integrate the personality, according to the understanding of Maria Helena Diniz (2006, p.249). Most of the time, organ transplantation may be the only life expectancy or the opportunity for a fresh start to about 40,000 patients waiting in the queue for Brazil. The gesture of family members who lose a loved one and decide to donate is an act of life, altruism and generosity, as a single donor can benefit at least ten people and make the difference between life and death. Brazil has the largest public transplant system in the world, responsible for financing about 95% of transplants. It is the second country in absolute number of transplants, behind only the United States.

A Fresh Start or a False Dawn? Assessing the Crime-Preventive Effect of Debt Settlements for People With a History of Conviction

A Fresh Start or a False Dawn? Assessing the Crime-Preventive Effect of Debt Settlements for People With a History of Conviction

Fresh start for RSHE

Fresh start for RSHE

Fabrication of bio-abiotic hybrid living hydrogel for bifunctional electrochemical conversion

Design and intelligent use renewable natural bioenergy is an important challenge. Electric microorganism-based materials are being serve as an important part of bioenergy devices for energy release and collection, calling for suitable skeleton materials to anchor live microbes. Herein we verified the feasibility of constructing bio-abiotic hybrid living materials based on the combination of gelatin, Li-ions and exoelectrogenic bacteria Shewanella oneidensis manganese-reducing-1 (MR-1). The gelatin-based mesh contains abundant pores, allowing microbes to dock and small molecules to diffuse. The hybrid materials hold plentiful electronegative groups, which effectively anchor Li-ions and facilitate their transition. Moreover, the electrochemical characteristics of the materials can be modulated through changing the ratios of gelatin, bacteria and Li-ions. Based on the gelatin-Li-ion-microorganism hybrid materials, a bifunctional device was fabricated, which could play dual roles alternatively, generation of electricity as a microbial fuel cell and energy storage as a pseudocapacitor. The capacitance and the maximum voltage output of the device reaches 68 F·g-1 and 0.67 V, respectively. This system is a new platform and fresh start to fabricate bio-abiotic living materials for microbial electron storage and transfer. We expect the setup will extend to other living systems and devices for synthetic biological energy conversion.

Randomised controlled trial of a psychotherapeutic intervention to improve quality of life and other outcomes in people who repeatedly self-harm: FReSH START study protocol

BackgroundSelf-harm is a major public health challenge, and repeated self-harm is common in those attending hospital following an episode. Evidence suggests psychological interventions could help people who self-harm, but few definitive studies have assessed their clinical and cost-effectiveness. Repeated self-harm is associated with poor quality of life, depression, suicide and increased health service costs which justify the development of psychotherapeutic interventions tailored for people with repeated self-harm.MethodsFReSH START is a multicentre individually 1:1 randomised controlled trial evaluating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of standard care plus psychological therapy or standard care alone for adults (≥ 18 years) presenting at an emergency department (ED) with repeated self-harm. Recruiting 630 participants, it includes an internal pilot, economic evaluation and process evaluation. The intervention will be delivered by mental health staff working in acute settings, with experience of assessing and managing risk in people presenting to emergency services with self-harm. Staff will be trained and supervised to deliver one of three specially adapted therapies: psychodynamic interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy. Participants allocated to the intervention will receive one of the adapted therapies according to therapist allocation for up to 6 months via 12 weekly, one to one, 45–50-min sessions. The primary outcome is quality of life measured by the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure at 12 months post-randomisation. Secondary outcomes include suicidal intent, depression and cost-effectiveness. Data are collected using hospital attendance records and online/postal/telephone questionnaires at 6 and 12 months post-randomisation, with resource use additionally collected at 3 and 9 months.DiscussionThis protocol outlines a randomised controlled trial to investigate whether modified therapies are cost-effective and improve quality of life for people who repeatedly self-harm. Few interventions are proven to be deliverable in the NHS for this population. This study is strengthened by the involvement of qualified mental health workers experienced in managing risk as therapists.Trial registrationRegistered on August 03, 2021.IRAS number: 297939.ISRCTN: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN73357210.REC reference: 21/EE/0145.Sponsor: University of Leeds.

The Role of Fresh Start Mindset (FSM) and Collectivistic Orientation in Mental Health Promotion Messages

Promoting mental health issues faces significant barriers, especially due to ingrained societal norms and individuals’ concerns about societal perceptions. This study, based on experimental design, explores the potential effectiveness of fresh start mindset (FSM) framing in enhancing perceived advertisement effectiveness and attitudes toward mental health issues, particularly among individuals with high collectivistic tendencies. This study uniquely suggests that mental health campaigns employing FSM framing may aid those with a strong collectivistic orientation to shift from viewing mental health as a source of societal stigma and nonconformity to embracing it as an opportunity for a fresh start. Additionally, this study highlights that an individual’s attitude toward the issue functions as a mediating mechanism in assessing the responses to a mental health PSA using FSM framing.

A fresh start?

A fresh start?

Oops!… I waited until the last minute again: The role of fresh start nudges in task completion

AbstractIndividuals often have difficulties completing tasks in a timely manner. Whether it be scheduling a doctor's appointment, purchasing a birthday gift, or booking an airline ticket, waiting until the very last minute can carry serious consequences. In two experimental studies, we explore how individuals can be encouraged to finish tasks promptly. We provide evidence for the “fresh start effect” by showing that a temporal landmark signaling a new beginning helps speed up their task completion. Notably, we demonstrate that the “fresh start nudge” can facilitate early task completion through the underlying processes of meaningfulness and motivation. We also report the moderating role of task openness, supporting the claim that the fresh start effect is stronger when the task is perceived to be relatively closed (rather than open) and must therefore be completed in fewer steps without interruption.

A randomized trial of 'fresh start' text messaging to improve return to care in people with HIV who missed appointments in South Africa.

Treatment interruptions are a barrier to successful antiretroviral therapy (ART). 'Fresh start messages', which leverage significant days on the calendar (e.g., new year, public holiday) in order to prompt action, have the potential to encourage people with HIV (PWH) to return to care. We evaluated a 'fresh start' intervention (text messages) to increase return to care in PWH who had missed their last appointment. A three arm 1 : 1:1 individual randomised controlled trial. We randomized adults in Capricorn District who had missed ART appointments by >28 days to: no text message; unframed messages (fresh start not mentioned); or framed messages (fresh start mentioned). Randomization was stratified by treatment interruption duration and across two holidays (Youth Day, Mandela Day). The primary outcome was an ART-related clinic visit at ≤45 days of the first message. 9143 participants were randomised. For Youth Day, 1474 and 1468 were sent unframed and framed messages respectively, with 13.4% sent these messages having an ART visit vs. 11.9% not sent a message [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0-1.4, P -value = 0.075]. For Mandela Day, 1336 and 1334 were sent unframed and framed messages respectively, with 6.7% sent these messages having an ART-related clinic visit vs. 5.4% not sent a message (aOR 1.2; 95% CI: 1.0-1.6; P -value = 0.100). Low-cost text messages sent around a 'fresh start' date may increase the likelihood that patients who miss appointments return to care. This study suggests the potential of text messaging for motivating return to care.

A New School, a Fresh Start? Change and Stability in Peer Relationships and Academic Performance in the Transition from Primary to Secondary School

Previous studies on peer relationships in school transitions neglected individual differences, or did not examine the relation with academic performance in secondary school. This study followed 649 students from their last year of primary school to their first year in secondary school (Mage at T1 = 11.6 (SD = 0.6); 53.6% girls). Results revealed that students became more attached to peers, less lonely, and were stable in victimization across the transition. Particularly students with more negative peer experiences in primary school enjoyed a “fresh start” in terms of peer experiences in secondary school. Students who had more co-transitioning peers experienced greater reductions in loneliness. Changes in peer experiences over the transition did not relate to academic performance in secondary school.

Thorns of Failures: Views of Non-Passers of Criminology Board Examination

Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) records show that the national passing percentage in the Criminologist Licensure Examination (CLE) is deteriorating. The number of unlicensed Criminology graduates throughout the country is increasing. This study explored the lived experiences of non-passers of the Criminologist Licensure Examination (CLE) through a qualitative research method. The informants of this study were 10 board exam flunkers throughout the Province of Cebu. Four informants were used for the in-depth interview, and six were used for the focus group discussion. Eight (8) emergent themes described the positive and negative experiences of the informants before, during, and after the board exam. For the positive experiences, four (4) themes were developed, namely: Take a Trip Down Memory Lane, Licensure Examination: The Main Event, Acceptance and Moving Forward and Contingency Plan: Look for a Job. For the negative experiences, four (4) themes were formulated, namely: The Chronicles of Review, Test Anxiety: The Feeling of Taking the Licensure Examination, Board Exam Result: A Flunker’s Nightmare and Mission Unsuccessful. For the plights of the informants before, during, and after taking the licensure examination, eight (8) emergent themes were formulated, namely: Procrastination and Idleness, Indiscretion of Reviewees, Financial Struggle: A Dilemma to Board Exam Takers, Family Problems: A Heavy Load to Carry, The Answer Sheet: A Fragile Piece of Paper, Bad Luck: In the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time, Examinee’s Inability to Comprehend Questions: A Tough Assignment, The Fallen Leaves, and Disappointments and Failure to Meet Expectations: Adding Insult to Injury. For the reasons of the informants for not retaking the exam, two (2) themes were developed, namely: Age Limit in the Tri-Bureau: Crashing the Flunker’s Aspirations and Making a Fresh Start.

Shoring Up Osteoporosis Management: A Fresh Start?

Anabolic bone agents, such as parathyroid hormone receptor agonists (teriparatide and abaloparatide) and sclerostin-inhibiting monoclonal antibody (romosozumab), are superior at preventing clinically significant fractures and/or vertebral fractures in women with and without severe osteoporosis compared with bisphosphonates.

Explained – How Layoffs Affect Employees in Startup Ecosystem

Experiencing a layoff can be a challenging and overwhelming time of loss and adjustment. While some individuals may view it as an opportunity for a fresh start or a welcome relief from a demanding work environment, for others, the loss of their career can be deeply distressing. Coping mechanisms for stress and change vary among individuals, but the following paper outlines common emotional, psychological, and physical reactions. In the past, layoffs were primarily seen as a last-resort measure during times of economic recession or crisis. However, they have become more commonplace in today's business landscape, particularly in the commercial sector. Many companies have recently announced layoffs, citing the need to increase profitability as the economy recovers and job prospects improve. Unfortunately, these layoffs often do not result in the intended profitability. The dynamics are quite different within the startup ecosystem. This research paper will delve into the journey of layoffs in startups and explore their impact on employees. Layoffs can be highly stressful for both startups and their employees. The paper will examine the aftermath of layoffs on employees and provide recommendations to help them navigate this challenging situation.

Fresh start with high hopes: a qualitative evaluation of experiences of the Total Diet Replacement phase of the NHS Low Calorie Diet Programme pilot

Background: The National Health Service (NHS) Low Calorie Diet (LCD) programme in England aims to support people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) to lose weight, improve glycaemic parameters and potentially achieve diabetes remission. The programme pilot launched in 2020 using three different delivery models: one-to-one, group and digital via an App. Service users begin the programme with 12 weeks of Total Diet Replacement (TDR). This study aims to understand the experience of this TDR phase from the service user perspective. Methods: This was a co-produced qualitative longitudinal and cross-sectional study, underpinned by a realist informed approach using semi-structured interviews and photovoice techniques. Service users (n=45) from the NHS LCD programme were recruited across the three delivery models and 21 pilot sites in England. Data were analysed using a thematic approach. Results: Participant demographics were representative of the overall LCD pilot population sample and included experiences from a mix of delivery models and providers. Three themes were presented chronologically. 1) life pre-LCD: the LCD programme was viewed as an opportunity to reset eating behaviours and improve quality of life; 2) experience of TDR: flexibility in allowing supplementary non-starchy vegetables and adapting the flavour and texture of TDR products supported adherence; 3) looking ahead to food reintroduction: at the end of the TDR phase, weight and glycaemia had reduced, while subjective energy levels and mobility improved. Some participants were concerned about progressing to the food reintroduction phase and the possibility of weight regain. Conclusions: The paper reports insight from the TDR phase of the LCD programme. The co-production of this work has resulted in several recommendations for policy and practice which have informed the national roll out of the programme.

A fresh start

A fresh start

Unleashing the potential of metaphors: a categorization system for exploring return to work after maternity

PurposeReturn to work after maternity leave represents a radical change in women’s lives. This paper aims to present a new metaphor categorization system based on two studies, which could assist working mothers in expressing the nuances of their experience when returning to work after maternity leave.MethodsWe carried out the analysis of the metaphors according to the method for thematic analysis, through a multistep, iterative coding process. To ensure the researchers encode the data similarly, inter-coder reliability was achieved through the judges’ agreement method. The level of agreement between the two judges was measured by Cohen’s kappa.ResultsIn Study 1, we established a system comprising ten metaphor categories (namely, Natural event and/or element, Challenge and destination, Movement and/or action, Fresh start, Fight, Game and hobby, Animal, Alternate reality, Means of transport, Hostile place). In Study 2, we recognized the same metaphor categories observed in Study 1, except “Means of transport”, even with data sourced from a distinct participant group, an indicator of credibility in terms of inter-coder reliability.ConclusionFindings highlight the usefulness of this new metaphor categorization system (named Meta4Moms@Work—Metaphors system for Moms back to Work) to facilitate a more straightforward elicitation of the meanings employed by working mothers to depict their return to work after maternity leave. Leveraging these insights, researchers/practitioners can develop and execute primary and secondary interventions aimed to enhance working mothers’ work-life balance, well-being, and mental health.

A fresh start to sustainable sewage nitrogen removal

A fresh start to sustainable sewage nitrogen removal