Internal Barriers Research Articles

Engaging for Sustainable Development and Transformation – Exploring the Concept of Transformative Academic Institutions

Abstract Universities are expected to play a proactive role in the sustainable development and transformation of their regions. However, they face external and internal barriers to play that role. One possible approach to overcome those barriers is through transformative academic institutions (TAIs). TAIs are defined as research centres created within universities to proactively engage in territorial development processes and can act as ‘living labs’ from which universities can draw lessons when developing a regionally engaged role. The article explores the TAI concept further by posing the following research question: How does the TAI approach look like in different contexts? What factors support and/or hinder TAI development? To that end, we analyse the case of five academic partners working in different organisational research settings within larger university structures. Our exploration of TAI practices followed an action research approach with participatory design methods to identify commonalities, challenges, and opportunities. Findings point to a more strategic partnering with external (non-academic) actors to contribute to (longer-term) change processes that address regional sustainability challenges. This can take universities towards new roles in curating collective knowledge and catalysing and facilitating change.

Participation, barriers, facilitators and bullying experiences of trans people in sport and fitness: findings from a national community survey of trans people in Australia.

This study aimed to assess participation rates of transgender and gender diverse (trans) people in sport/fitness activities, compare mental health outcomes for trans people participating in sport/fitness with those who do not and explore internal/external barriers and bullying experiences faced by trans people in sport/fitness contexts. A cross-sectional online survey open to trans people aged ≥16 years living in Australia was conducted between February and April 2023 and it assessed rates of sport/fitness participation, barriers to participation and bullying experiences through multiple-choice questions. Mental health measures comprised the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and self-reported history of self-harm and suicidality. Covariate-adjusted binary logistic regression models tested associations between interpersonal factors, sport/fitness variables and mental health outcomes. Of 664 respondents (median age 32 years), around one-third (32.8%) regularly participated in sport/fitness. Common internal barriers to participation included anxiety about others' reactions (63.9%), body dissatisfaction/dysphoria (56.5%) and fears about feeling accepted/affirmed by others (54.7%). Respondents commonly reported experiencing inadequate bathroom/changing facilities (44.4%), exclusionary rules and regulations surrounding gender (36.7%), and invasive or uncomfortable policies or procedures (23.3%). Over one-third (34.4%) of trans people had experienced gender-based bullying or exclusion. Regular sport/fitness participation was associated with significantly lower K10 scores (mean difference=-4.4, 95% CI-5.8, -2.9, p<0.001) and a 40% reduction in odds of recent thoughts of self-harm and suicide (aOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5, 0.9, p=0.01; aOR 0.6, 95%CI 0.4, 0.9, p=0.02). Trans people face significant barriers to sport/fitness despite experiencing significant mental health and personal benefits from participation. Affirming and including trans people in sport and fitness should be a key priority for sport and fitness federations, organisations and policy-makers.

Racial group differences and export market access challenges in agricultural value chains and supply networks of SMEs in South Africa

ABSTRACT Although previous studies provide an insightful and categorised nature of internal and external export barriers experienced by agricultural SMEs in general; there is little, if any, strategic insights on the racial nuances in value chain barriers for most agricultural SMEs that target global export markets. This study posits that export barriers are not uniform and differ based on race and the context in which the agricultural SME is based. Hence, we specifically explore the nature of export barriers per race within the agro-value chains in South Africa and juxtapose these with the dynamic market and historical conditions of the South African market environment. In this multi-case study, we focused mainly on the differences between black and white-owned agricultural SMEs riding on their different supply networks’ capabilities to navigate the export barriers they face. The findings serve to develop seminal knowledge to enhance export capabilities and opportunities for minority groups globally and more importantly to highlight the underlying drivers for racial imbalances in agro-supply chains. Although the findings are geographically skewed to South Africa, the market dynamics are relevant across countries with similar demographic characteristics and provide a platform for future research.

Overcoming e-learning hurdles: strategies for enhancing stem education in Africa through digital innovation

ABSTRACT Closing the divide between educational practices and industry demands is recognised to enhance the societal relevance of education. Consequently, African countries improve their educational systems by incorporating technological tools such as artificial intelligence, e-textbooks, and web-based learning in primary schools. This research investigates the impact of digital leadership and the external and internal barriers teachers face when adopting e-learning methods within educational institutions. The study gathered responses from STEM-trained teachers, and the data was subjected to analysis using SPSS version 23. The findings reveal a negative relationship between digital leadership and teachers’ internal and external barriers, with no statistically significant impact on using artificial intelligence in schools. Moreover, digital leadership positively influences the use of e-textbooks and web-based learning. Conversely, teachers’ internal and external barriers exhibit adverse effects on integrating e-textbooks and web-based learning while positively impacting the adoption of artificial intelligence in educational settings. The study underscores the need for advancing STEM programs, noting their role in fostering the acceptance and utilisation of e-learning mechanisms.

"I'm not a tech-savvy teacher": An English teacher's journey in applying TPACK in Indonesia

Although research on TPACK in education has been done, limited studies have explored the application of TPACK in the EFL classroom within an Indonesian context. The aim of this research was to narrate the story of an experienced English teacher who encountered challenges in implementing the TPACK framework, and to reveal the advantages of utilizing the TPACK framework in the Indonesian teaching context. The researcher collected data using a set of steps consist semi-structure interviews, observations, and document analysis. An English teacher working in an Indonesian setting was selected to take part in this narrative inquiry. The interview information was examined using thematic analysis. The research discovered that applying the TPACK model was a complicated process hindered by internal and external barriers. On the other hand, using the TPACK framework offers advantages to both students and teachers, including increased motivation, a more engaging and flexible learning environment, and prospects to create multimedia resources. The results offer valuable insights for English teachers in developing nations about integration of TPACK in English instruction.

The challenges that remain: The role of innovation intermediary‐led training in implementing circular business models

AbstractCircular business model innovation is critical in the transition to the circular economy, often requiring businesses to undergo significant internal changes. One intervention to better support businesses in this process is circularity training, often provided by an innovation intermediary. However, little is known of the impact on internal barriers and drivers for circular business model innovation after circularity training has been completed.This research tackles this question through a qualitative exploratory approach, using a multiple‐case study, collecting semi‐structured data from businesses after their completion of a circular training course. We find that even after the circular training, a range of barriers continue to influence circular business model innovation, including issues related to the availability of resources, company acceptance, and technology.The research concludes with recommendations for future training programs and the role of innovation intermediaries, based on the internal barriers and drivers that the companies encountered when working toward circularity implementation and circular business model innovation.

Girls play basketball too? A study of the mechanisms of traditional social gender consciousness on female participation in contact leisure sports.

With the development of women's sports, the mechanism of barriers to women's leisure sports participation has attracted extensive attention from the academic community. Despite its significant impact, there are few empirical studies on intra-personal barriers. Consequently, a structural equation model was established to examine the relationships between traditional social gender awareness, gender bias, gender stereotypes, and barriers to participation in leisure sports. In this study, a total of 508 questionnaires were collected and analyzed using AMOS 24.0 software for structural equation modeling. After model testing, the relationships between the variables were examined. The results of the statistical analyses indicated that traditional gender awareness could serve as an antecedent variable for barriers to participation in leisure sports, and that gender stereotypes mediated the relationship between traditional gender awareness and barriers to participation in leisure sports. The study also concluded that gender bias could not mediate the relationship between traditional gender awareness and participation barriers in leisure sports, but gender bias and gender stereotypes could act as chain mediators in the process of the influence of traditional gender awareness on barriers to contact leisure sports. This study emphasizes the need for women to break down the traditional social gender awareness, gender bias, gender stereotypes, and other intra-personal barriers when engaging in leisure sport participation. According to this study, the promotion of sustained and healthy development of women's sport requires the breaking down of traditional social gender awareness education and the creation of more gender-inclusive sports policies and environments. The significance of the study is that by proposing and confirming the internal participation barriers to women's participation in contact leisure sports, it will lead to the ideological liberation of women's gender perspectives, so that they can break down the participation barriers to contact leisure sports, participate in sports activities, and enjoy the right to play sports on an equal footing.

Reasons for not seeking alcohol treatment among a sample of Florida adults with HIV who perceived the need for treatment

BackgroundA minority of people who need alcohol treatment receive it. Unhealthy alcohol use is common among people with HIV (PWH) and can lead to negative health outcomes. The aims of this multi-methods study are to (1) quantitatively describe the prevalence, psychosocial characteristics, and demographic traits of a sample of PWH currently receiving HIV care in Florida who had a self-reported need for alcohol treatment but did not seek care and (2) qualitatively explore reasons why PWH did not seek treatment.MethodsPWH enrolled in the Florida Cohort Study between October 2020 and February 2023 who had drinking history (N = 487) completed a cross-sectional survey that asked if there was a time when they recognized they needed help for their drinking but did not seek it. If yes, they were asked an open-ended follow-up question about reasons why they did not seek care. Demographic and behavioral differences between those who did and did not endorse a time when they needed alcohol treatment were determined using multivariable logistic regression, while qualitative data were analyzed with thematic analysis based in the Social-Ecological Model to assess reasons for not seeking care at the individual, social, and systems levels.ResultsA quarter of PWH (n = 129) with lifetime drinking indicated a time they needed care but did not seek it. Patients who endorsed a time where they perceived the need for treatment but did not seek it were more likely to endorse current at-risk drinking and a history of ever trying to reduce their drinking or formally seek professional alcohol treatment. The most common reasons participants did not seek care were individual level factors and included shame, denial, fear, wanting to do it on their own, not feeling ready, and not wanting to seek care.ConclusionsPWH experienced barriers largely at the individual level that prevented them from seeking alcohol treatment despite a recognized need, though many eventually sought care. Providers and public health professionals should consider helping to address various barriers, particularly internal barriers, when designing interventions to help PWH seek care.

Cervical cancer screening delay and associated factors among women with HIV in Lesotho: a mixed-methods study

Abstract Background Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, and women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are particularly at risk of developing it. Regular screening effectively prevents morbidity and mortality. This mixed-methods study quantitatively assessed cervical cancer screening uptake and qualitatively explored the process of undergoing cervical cancer screening to understand possible reasons for delayed screening among women with HIV in Lesotho. Methods Between October 2020 and March 2022, the Viral load Triggered ART care in Lesotho (VITAL) trial enrolled women aged 18 years and older with HIV who were taking antiretroviral therapy (ART). Cervical cancer screening delay was defined as reporting a screening that occurred more than two years ago or never having been screened. Cervical cancer screening uptake and the association between screening delay and sociodemographic variables were assessed using a multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression model accounting for clustering at clinic level. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 women to obtain information on awareness, perceptions, and barriers to cervical cancer screening and were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Quantitative data were available for 3790 women. Among them, cervical cancer screening was delayed in 1814 (47.9%), including 1533 (40.5%) who were never screened. Compared to women aged 25 to 39 years, women aged 18 to 24 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1–3.7), women aged 40 to 59 years (aOR 1.3; CI 1.1–1.6), and women older than 60 years (aOR 3.9; CI 3.0-5.1) were at higher risk of screening delay. Furthermore, time on ART below 6 months (aOR 1.6; CI 1.1–2.3) compared to above 6 months was associated with screening delay. Qualitative data identified limited awareness of cervical cancer risks and screening guidelines, misconceptions and fears created by the influence of other women’s narratives, and low internal motivation as the main barriers to screening uptake. Conclusions Cervical cancer screening delay was common. Limited personal awareness and motivation as well as the negative influence of other women were the primary internal barriers to cervical cancer screening. Awareness and screening campaigns in Lesotho should consider these factors. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04527874, August 27, 2020.

#WhyIDidntReport my sexual violence and its effect on social support

An analysis of social media posts using the #WhyIDidntReport hashtag reveals six themes regarding the reasons why survivors of sexual violence do not report the incident to health or social organisations such as police or supervisors. Using just-world theory as a means to examine social reactions to posts of victim’s stories, we suggest the reasons for not reporting could be divided into clusters of internal or external barriers. Within the first cluster, three themes reflect survivors who did not report because of external reasons (e.g. victim blaming by the police or other institutions; minimisation of the seriousness of the crime; and reporting costs). In the second cluster, three themes reflect survivors who did not report because of internal reasons (e.g. self-blame, protecting others, and naivety). We find that survivors who did not report sexual violence because of external reasons received significantly more social support, whereas survivors who did not report because of internal reasons received significantly less social support in the form of shares and likes. Overall, these findings support our theorising that the reasons why survivors do not report sexual violence are impactful because, consistent with just-world theorising, they change perceptions of victimhood and therefore the level of social support.

Internal Barriers of Family Business: A Survey in Wood-Working and Furniture Family Enterprises in Slovakia before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Internal Barriers of Family Business: A Survey in Wood-Working and Furniture Family Enterprises in Slovakia before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Toward a personalized autonomous transportation system: Vision, challenges, and solutions

The fragmented design of Intelligent Transportation Systems creates isolated intelligent systems. Resource competition and information gaps are fierce and widespread, worsening traffic issues and degrading overall service levels. Therefore, empowered by advanced technologies, an evolution towards Autonomous Transportation System (ATS) is observed. This evolution aims to develop a collaborative and sustainable ecosystem, prompting interoperability within the cloud-edge-device continuum. It can, accordingly, dismantle internal resource barriers and achieve a systematic balance between demand and supply with less human intervention. Despite the promising vision of ATS, it encounters three key challenges: disparate data, deficient models, and conflicting interests in supporting autonomous and personalized mobility. Hence, as an innovative solution, a trustworthy, private, and equal-serving framework called TPE is designed. It seamlessly integrates Blockchain, Federated Learning, and Large-scale Model to deploy a trustworthy operating environment, process private data for globally shareable knowledge, and develop a foundation model for personalized adaptation, respectively. Consequently, ATS empowered by TPE can serve diverse user groups both privately and equally.

The barrier to internal rotation in silabutenes: A density functional theory study

The potential energy surfaces (PESs) for internal were systematically investigated by using DFT with the B3LYP function. QTAIM, NBO, NEDA and BLW-ED were employed to study the origin of rotational barriers. The silabutenes with M1 = C–M2–M3 skeleton preferred the ac conformer and the M1 = Si–M2–M3 skeletons have the sp conformer. Silabutenes including SiSi double bond have three stable conformers, two different ac conformer and one gauche conformer. Internal rotation barriers (0.38–2.47 kcal/mol) vary with bond lengths (SiC, SiSi, CC), decomposed into steric, electrostatic, and hyperconjugation terms using NSA, NEDA, and NBO. A linear correlation (R2 = 0.78) links barrier heights to energetic differences between stable and metastable conformers. Understanding these factors aids in predicting and rationalizing rotational barriers in silabutenes, crucial for their chemical behavior and applications.

In-situ electron channeling contrast imaging of local deformation behavior of lath martensite in low-carbon-steel

In-situ tensile Electron Channeling Contrast Imaging (ECCI) observations were performed on low-carbon steel lath martensite to elucidate its plastic deformation mechanisms under tensile loading. Two key deformation processes were identified through the direct observation of dislocation activity: intra-lath crystallographic slip and boundary sliding. The initial dislocation movement signifies the onset of microscopic yielding in lath martensite. As the applied stress increases, macroscopic yielding occurs when dislocations overcome internal barriers like high-dislocation-density walls within the laths. Out-of-lath-plane slip systems exhibit a strong interaction with the lath boundary, hindering their activity after initial small plastic deformation. In contrast, in-lath-plane slip systems predominantly contribute to plastic deformation. After the work hardening triggered by these slip systems, boundary sliding takes over the plastic deformation. The boundary sliding was found to accompany a rapid movement of the dislocation network adjacent to the boundary.

INNOVATIVE BUSINESS MODELS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND ADAPTATION OPPORTUNITIES IN UKRAINE

In today's globalization and acceleration of technological changes, the agricultural sector is becoming an important platform for implementing innovative business models. Innovation is a key factor in increasing production efficiency, improving product quality, and reducing the negative impact on the environment. International experience, particularly the experience of the United States of America (hereinafter—the USA) and the European Union (hereinafter—the EU), demonstrates significant success in using innovations in the agro-industrial complex. However, the issue of adapting these models to Ukraine's conditions remains open and requires a thorough analysis. The article is devoted to considering the international experience of innovative business models in the agricultural sector and the possibility of its adaptation in Ukraine. It was determined that adapting innovative business models in Ukraine's agricultural sector is a critically important step toward increasing Ukrainian agriculture's competitiveness on the world stage. Business models in the agrarian sector of successful innovative international practices of the EU and the USA were analyzed to adapt them to Ukrainian conditions. It has been established that Ukraine has significant potential for implementing innovative business models thanks to its natural resources and agricultural traditions. However, certain factors must be considered for their successful adaptation, such as infrastructural challenges, financial support and investments, human resources, legal regulation and policy, and circular economy. It's been demonstrated that the introduction of international experience and technologies can optimize production, reduce costs, and enhance resilience to economic challenges. However, to successfully implement these models, it's crucial to address several internal barriers, such as imperfect infrastructure, insufficient investment, and a shortage of qualified personnel. Overcoming these barriers is a key step towards the successful adoption of innovative business models in the agricultural sector. Attention was focused on the broad prospects for introducing innovations. Ukraine has every chance to become a leader in the region by using modern business models in the agricultural sector.

“Just Food doesn’t Do It”: Understanding Food Insecurity Among Rural Veterans in the United States

ABSTRACT Food security among rural veteran populations is an understudied subject. This study uses qualitative data from 106 semi-structured interviews conducted with staff from programs at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other federal agencies, staff from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), food security researchers, and food insecure veterans to identify the barriers to and facilitators for rural veteran food security. Barriers identified included external, structural barriers that exist in rural areas; internal barriers to using food assistance, such as feeling stigmatized; and barriers related to other social determinants of health, including a lack of education, employment, or housing stability.

The transition to a circular economy: different paths for international and non-international micro-manufacturing firms

This article examines how environmental awareness, stakeholder pressure, circular economy orientation and internal barriers influence circular economy practices in international and non-international micro-firms. For this, we utilised fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) using data from 128 micro firms operating in different manufacturing industries in Estonia. Three paths were identified for explaining circular economy practices in internationally operating micro-firms and two paths for explaining it in micro-firms that do not operate internationally. Our results show that understanding the impact of the four before-mentioned aspects can be beneficial for engaging in circular economy efforts in both international and non-international micro-firms. The intricate five pathways (three for international and two for non-international) through which environmental awareness, stakeholder pressure, circular economy orientation, and internal barriers shape circular economy practices in micro-firms, challenging conventional understandings and offering nuanced insights for effective engagement in sustainable business practices. Based on the findings, theoretical and practical implications of this study and directions for future research are discussed.

Continued restrictions on nurse practitioners: A qualitative study of the early implementation of full practice authority in Massachusetts

BackgroundIn January 2021, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts granted nurse practitioners (NPs) full practice authority (FPA). Little is known about how care delivery changed after FPA legislation. PurposeTo understand the NP perception of early implementation of FPA in Massachusetts. MethodsQualitative descriptive design using inductive thematic analysis of open-ended responses to a web-based survey of NPs in Massachusetts from October to December 2021. FindingsSurvey response rate was 50.3% (N = 144). Inductive thematic analysis of open-ended responses identified four themes, including: (a) internal and external barriers obstructed FPA implementation, (b) employer communication about scope-of-practice changes was minimal, (c) NPs led initiatives to implement FPA, and (d) some efforts effectively implemented FPA. DiscussionAlmost 1 year after FPA was passed, external policies persisted that financially incentivized employers to not change NP scope-of-practice. Concerted efforts are needed to ensure that federal and payer policies, such as incident-to billing, are aligned with state law to encourage the implementation of FPA.

Physical Activity Participation among Children and Youth with Mental Health Symptoms: Clinician Perspectives.

Physical activity supports mental health and well-being in children and youth. However, there are significant barriers to physical activity participation among individuals impacted by mental health disorders. This study investigates these barriers through the perspective of mental health clinicians who support children and youth. Fourteen mental health clinicians, including registered professional psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers, were interviewed in a semi-structured format. Qualitative content analysis was performed to identify key themes, including both barriers and facilitators to physical activity. Content analysis revealed that clinicians perceive both internal and external barriers and facilitators to their clients' participation in physical activity. Barriers included intrapersonal factors, such as the presence of depression, anxiety, or eating disorder symptoms; lack of motivation; and negative self-talk, as well as factors related to the influence of caregivers, financial limitations, screen time use, environmental and cultural factors, and lack of time. Facilitators included enjoyment of physical activity, knowledge about the benefits of physical activity, and caregiver participation. Mental health clinicians demonstrated clear knowledge about the barriers to and facilitators of their clients' participation in physical activity. These findings provide valuable insights that can be used to support children and youth experiencing mental health difficulty to access the beneficial effects of physical activity.

Higher Educational Attainment and Lower Labor Participation among Bangladeshi Migrant Muslim Women in Australia: Disparity and Internal Barriers

Higher Educational Attainment and Lower Labor Participation among Bangladeshi Migrant Muslim Women in Australia: Disparity and Internal Barriers