Personal Background Research Articles

Unveiling the Impacts of Islamic Regulations and the Limitations of Islamic Feminism: Experiences of Women from Iran

In Iran, strict Islamic regulations significantly impact women’s lives, imposing legal and social restrictions that limit personal freedoms and exacerbate socioeconomic inequalities. While Islamic feminism focuses on cultural and religious recognition, it may neglect pressing issues and exclude non-Muslim women. This qualitative study that included semi-structured interviews with fifteen Iranian women who had recently migrated to Australia and of diverse religious identities focussed on how gender dynamics in Iran contribute to gender (in)equality. The interview questions addressed various aspects, including personal backgrounds, family dynamics, societal treatment, cultural norms, and self-perceptions. The findings revealed that the compulsory hijab and other enforced traditions restricted freedoms, subjected women to scrutiny, and caused emotional distress. Societal judgment and lack of support further contributed to an environment where women felt unsafe and vulnerable to harassment. Importantly, this article applies an inclusive feminist theoretical framework (Zack, 2005) that transcends religious and cultural constraints, respecting both Islam and feminism. Through the women’s experiences, this feminist approach is applied to understand and reveal the limitations that Islamic feminism can have for some Iranian women.

Career trajectories of obstetrician-gynecologists

Career trajectories of obstetrician-gynecologists

From site to sight: embodying, repositioning, and challenging transgender corporeality

ABSTRACT In contrast to the desexing perspective of fieldwork methodology, this article examines how sex/gender consciousness and the personal socio-cultural backgrounds of the researcher entangle to affect her observation, interaction, and meaning-making in the field. Due to divergencies in identity, positionality, and location, the researcher and her research subjects develop different sex/gender concepts and practices. The processes of encounters and negotiations modify or open up the dimensions of knowing and understanding, which then influence the researcher’s formation of knowledge. The public dimensions of fieldwork and the potential dynamics of debate come to light through the researcher’s reflection, self-positioning, and writing. This article will explore the above-mentioned phenomena via a transgender fieldsite.

Voices of change: experiences of early women urology residents — a single institution qualitative research study

ObjectiveTo understand the experiences of early women urology residents at a single institution, as told in their own words.MethodsA convenience sample of women residents who trained at the Brady Urological Institute between 1980 and 2022 was chosen. During the investigated period, 15 women trained at the Brady; all 15 were invited to participate. Participants were provided written consent and assured of anonymity. In semi-structured interviews guided by a set of IRB-approved questions, participants discussed personal backgrounds, medical school experiences, and residency experiences. Participants provided advice to future women in urology. Interviews were recorded with Audacity 3.0.5 or Zoom, and audio files were transcribed using NVivo 14.23.0.ResultsA total of 10 interviews were conducted between July 2023 and February 2024. Childhood role models influenced many participants’ initial interest in medicine, although most discovered urology during medical school. Participants valued the quality of training, mentorship opportunities, proximity to family, and program ethos when selecting a residency program. During residency, participants faced gender-specific challenges due to patient resistance and difficulties balancing professional and personal commitments. Despite these challenges, participants expressed optimism about the future of women in urology.ConclusionsThis study provides insights into the professional development of women urology residents. The participants were part of an early cohort of women in urology and expressed excitement for the future of the field. While the study reflects the experiences of women at just one institution, it provides a foundation for more comprehensive research on women’s experiences in urology and in medicine more broadly.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.

Current airway management practice among Swiss anesthesiologists : Results of anational survey.

While limited data on the impact of implementing guidelines in airway management on outcomes exist, there is aconsensus that the implementation and the adherence to guidelines enhance patient safety. Recently, the Swiss Society for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (SSAPM) endorsed the guidelines of The Fondation Latine des Voies Aériennes (FLAVA) as the official guidelines for airway management in Switzerland. This study aimed to determine current practice of airway management in Switzerland. To determine the available equipment, the differences between institutions and between specialists and residents in dealing with airway management. In collaboration with the SSAPM, acovering letter with asurvey link to the questionnaire used in the online airway management survey among German anesthesiologists was sent to all heads of departments of anesthesia and members of the SSAPM in August 2023. The participants (residents and specialists) were asked about their personal and institutional backgrounds, access to airway management devices, awareness of recognized airway management guidelines and the importance and application of airway management techniques. Overall, 555 anesthesiologists participated in the survey (response rate 21%). The main findings were: in general, Swiss anesthesia departments are well-equipped and adhere to airway management guidelines. The guidelines of FLAVA are only known by just over 50%. The vast majority used the traditional screening tests to identify an airway that might be potentially difficult to manage. Of the respondents, 25% still adhere to the myth that amask ventilation check is necessary before the administration of amuscle relaxant and 14% said that their institution used video laryngoscopy as the primary intubation device. More than 80% think that the expertise to perform awake fiberoptic intubation is important for their daily practice; however, 31% consider their expertise in this technique to be insufficient. In other words, there is abig safety gap. Swiss anesthesia departments are well-equipped and adhere to airway management guidelines. The need for regular training to gain and maintain expertise in managing difficult airways, especially to future specialists, still prevails. Thus, developing and establishing anationwide educational program in airway management and its continuous evaluation would be amilestone for patient safety.

Critical Reflections and Using Bourdieu-Scheerens Framework in Transformative Mixed Methods Teachers’ Licensure Review Evaluation

This methodological paper presents critical reflections on transformative mixed methods based on a published study titled “Evaluation of University Review Program for Teachers’ Licensure Examination: A Transformative Mixed Methods Study Using Bourdieu-Scheerens Framework” in the International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research. We introduce the paper in the introductory part and situate its contribution to transformative mixed methods literature. Our reflections reveal that the lead researcher’s personal and professional backgrounds, social awareness, and social responsibility were pivotal in the development of the LET Intensive Review and the Bourdieu-Scheerens framework used in the transformative mixed methods evaluation. The dominance of the qualitative research approach in the paper unveils the researcher’s educational orientation and identity. Finally, transformative mixed methods research holds immense potential for a contextually and culturally grounded educational evaluation.

Beyond Gender: Exploring the Intersectional Dynamics in Political Interest Among Youth

One of the most persistent and puzzling inequalities across Western democracies is that women are less interested in politics than men. We know that political interest is developed—or not—at an early age, and that it becomes a key determinant of political involvement during adulthood. Due to its early development, recent research suggests focusing on gendered political socialization patterns to understand why women display lower levels of political interest than men. A recent systematic literature review on political interest confirms that the gap is already present at an early age. In addition, the review shows that research and evidence on the potential intersectionality of inequalities on young people’s political interest is surprisingly scarce. In this article we present novel evidence on the interaction of gender with an additional source of political inequality: immigration background. In doing so we use the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries (CILS4EU) dataset, a longitudinal survey that follows a sample of adolescents with foreign-born parents that can be compared to natives in four countries. The analyses follow the latest recommendations regarding the use of interactions to evaluate claims of intersectionality. The results of our preliminary tests indicate that girls with an immigrant background are more interested in politics than girls without personal or family immigration background. Furthermore, the results are compatible with an intersectional approach by which being both a girl and having an immigration background has an independent positive relationship with political interest. Finally, we do not find significant differences between first- and second-generation immigrant girls.

Comparing elbow injury risks in collegiate softball and baseball athletes: previous involvement in softball versus baseball

ABSTRACT Overhead throwing sports, such as baseball and softball, pose a risk of upper extremity injuries, including the elbow. Studies on overhead throwing sports among female athletes is scarce compared to their male counterparts. A total of 329 athletes (271 softball, 58 baseball) aged 18–22 years participated in the study and answered an anonymous survey regarding their personal backgrounds and elbow injuries. The most common diagnosis among the 61 athletes who reported having elbow injuries diagnosed by a physician was ulnar collateral ligament injuries (29.5%). In addition, a total of 15.5% of athletes did not seek medical attention from a physician despite experiencing discomfort in their elbow, with time constraints being the most common reason. Athletes engaged in competitive baseball before college had a significantly elevated likelihood of experiencing elbow injuries and discomfort compared to those who engaged in non-overhead throwing sports (Odds ratio = 3.84, 95% CI 1.16–12.72, p = 0.028) but engaging in softball prior to college was not a significant risk factor for sustaining elbow injuries. Playing competitive baseball prior to college emerged as a risk factor for sustaining elbow injuries among Japanese female collegiate softball and baseball athletes.

Do college students have equal opportunities to be equipped with global competence? The case of Taiwan

ABSTRACT The PISA 2018 report revealed the existence of differences in the opportunities available to students from different backgrounds to enhance their global competence (GC), motivating this study to examine the GC of Taiwanese college students and determine how universities’ internationalisation strategies and students’ personal and family factors affect their GC. This study created the global competencies for college students scale (GCCS) as an instrument to survey Taiwanese college students’ GC. According to proportion, stratified random sampling was used to select 1200 examinees among universities and colleges from each district of Taiwan to form the sample, and 1062 questionnaires were completed and sent back. The findings showed students reported that they performed better than the moderate level, and performance in the cultural and inter-cultural relations dimension was found to be stronger than others. The findings were compared with the PISA 2018 report. While family influences varied, the gender gap in GC performance followed trend similar to that of the PISA 2018 report. The strategies of university internationalisation have a more substantial and comprehensive impact on students’ GC than their personal and family backgrounds. The study’s findings have implications for useful GC instruments and actionable strategies for universities, such as promoting international exchanges and offering courses related to GC.

Tracking acute flaccid paralysis in Niger: a half-decade epidemiological portrait (2016–2021)

BackgroundRecently, a total of 74 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) outbreaks were detected in 39 countries, with 672 confirmed Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) cases identified in 27 countries. Despite progress, Niger experienced cVDPV outbreaks in 2018, highlighting the importance of maintaining AFP surveillance as a tool for polio eradication. This analysis aims to comprehensively assess AFP surveillance trends, patterns, and challenges in Niger, offering insights for public health initiatives in conflict-affected contexts.MethodsWe analyzed nationwide AFP surveillance data from 2016 to 2021. The data included information about the person's background, vaccinations, medical history, cVDPV, AFP cases, stool samples, how quickly AFP cases were reported, how complete weekly zero reporting (WZR) was, and non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV). Tables, graphs, and maps presented the study findings.ResultsA total of 4,134 AFP cases under 15 years old were included, with a sex ratio of 1.3. Most cases (79.85%) were aged 1 to 4 years, and 79.44% received three or more doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV). Fever onset (90.13%), asymmetric paralysis (80.33%), and a 3-day AFP progression (80.48%) were common. cVDPV2 was found in 33 cases, predominantly in Zinder province. The annualized non-polio AFP rate per 100,000 population < 15 years fluctuated, with the lowest at 2.5 in 2016 and highest at 8.7 in 2018 (mean 5.93). Surveillance indicators, including faecal specimen collection, follow-up exams, NPEV detection, timeliness of AFP case notification, WZR, and timely laboratory results performed above the set target. However, stool specimen quality was suboptimal (69% in 2016), timeliness of AFP case investigation and contact sampling, and stool transportation times were below the set target. Five districts reported less than 80% stool adequacy.ConclusionThis study underscores the importance of continued AFP surveillance in Niger, with room for improvement in stool specimen quality and transportation times. Enhancing these aspects can improve public health efforts in conflict-affected areas and contribute to polio eradication in the region.

Predicting Age and Visual-Motor Integration Using Origami Photographs: Deep Learning Study.

Origami is a popular activity among preschool children and can be used by therapists as an evaluation tool to assess children's development in clinical settings. It is easy to implement, appealing to children, and time-efficient, requiring only simple materials-pieces of paper. Furthermore, the products of origami may reflect children's ages and their visual-motor integration (VMI) development. However, therapists typically evaluate children's origami creations based primarily on their personal background knowledge and clinical experience, leading to subjective and descriptive feedback. Consequently, the effectiveness of using origami products to determine children's age and VMI development lacks empirical support. This study had two main aims. First, we sought to apply artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to origami products to predict children's ages and VMI development, including VMI level (standardized scores) and VMI developmental status (typical, borderline, or delayed). Second, we explored the performance of the AI models using all combinations of photographs taken from different angles. A total of 515 children aged 2-6 years were recruited and divided into training and testing groups at a 4:1 ratio. Children created origami dogs, which were photographed from 8 different angles. The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, 6th Edition, was used to assess the children's VMI levels and developmental status. Three AI models-ResNet-50, XGBoost, and a multilayer perceptron-were combined sequentially to predict age z scores and VMI z scores using the training group. The trained models were then tested using the testing group, and the accuracy of the predicted VMI developmental status was also calculated. The R2 of the age and the VMI trained models ranged from 0.50 to 0.73 and from 0.50 to 0.66, respectively. The AI models that obtained an R2>0.70 for the age model and an R2>0.60 for the VMI model were selected for model testing. Those models were further examined for the accuracy of the VMI developmental status, the correlations, and the mean absolute error (MAE) of both the age and the VMI models. The accuracy of the VMI developmental status was about 71%-76%. The correlations between the final predicted age z score and the real age z score ranged from 0.84 to 0.85, and the correlations of the final predicted VMI z scores to the real z scores ranged from 0.77 to 0.81. The MAE of the age models ranged from 0.42 to 0.46 and those of the VMI models ranged from 0.43 to 0.48. Our findings indicate that AI techniques have a significant potential for predicting children's development. The insights provided by AI may assist therapists in better interpreting children's performance in activities.

Assessing the Correlates of Job Stress and Satisfaction Among Federal Law Enforcement Officers

Research on the occupational responses of federal government employees has grown dramatically over the last 40 years. Though invaluable, few have explored these issues in federal law enforcement populations who operate within diverse working environments that differ from traditional state and local police agencies, and other civil servants. In addition, their working lives can be impacted by political factors beyond their control, such as government shutdowns. These concerns may drive their occupational experiences, leading to different correlates for job stress and satisfaction compared to other law enforcement officers. This study attempts to explore the relationship between federal agents’ and officers’ perceptions of their organization, personal background, and concerns regarding government shutdowns and their occupational experiences. Responses from 891 respondents serving in 72 federal law enforcement agencies across the whole of the US government were used to conduct two separate ordinary least squares regression models for occupational stress and satisfaction, respectively. The implications of this study for our understanding of the dynamics shaping the experiences of the federal workforce and policies to improve their working lives are explored in detail.

An interview with Keith Ward

Abstract This article is part of Religious Studies’ new initiative to publish a series of interviews with distinguished philosophers of religion. Each interview explores the personal and academic background of the interviewee and discusses their core philosophical views. The aim is to inspire students and scholars and to provide an overview of some of the most important works developed by contemporary philosophers of religion. In this interview, Tyler Dalton McNabb interviews Keith Ward, covering such topics as his upbringing, his first years of teaching, his view on natural theology, and his view on special revelation in the world religions.

In between the fields of research of special educational needs and multilingual education – Swedish heritage language teachers’ perspectives on special educational needs in multilingual students

For most multilingual students, knowledge and language development takes place without major difficulties. However, if this development deviates from what is expected, the difficulties need to be investigated, and support measures implemented. Complex causes interact when multilingual students need special educational support. The research fields of multilingual education and of special needs education must be taken into consideration. Unfortunately, because of the gap between these two fields, many multilingual students in need of special educational support fall between the cracks. For these students, heritage language teachers (hereafter HLTs) constitute an important link between Swedish school culture and home culture and they bear responsibility in defining the special educational support measures for these students. Therefore, through the narratives of HLTs, this study aims to gain a deeper understanding of their perception of multilingual students in need of special educational support. The present study is based on qualitative methods for collecting and analysing data. After a purposeful selection, 13 individual in-depth interviews were conducted. Thereafter, the transcriptions of the interviews were analysed thematically. The results indicate that the HLTs characterise multilingual students whose behaviour or language development deviates from the norm regarding the need of special educational support. The HLTs define linguistic deviations, the underlying causes, and the support measures needed similarly. However, behavioural deviation and the underlying causes are perceived differently, depending on the individual HLTs’ personal experiences, backgrounds and levels of education. To meet the multilingual students’ SEN in a more scientifically based approach and a more holistic way, the study discusses the need for structural changes facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration between HTL and SEN teachers, a more uniform educational path for HLTs as well as better information to special needs teachers about the roles and tasks of HLTs. In conclusion, the gap between the research fields of multilingual students’ learning and special needs education should be tightened.

Rethinking capacities of regulatory market-assurance intermediaries: the case of seafood sustainability audits

ABSTRACT Credible assurances about the invisible qualities of goods and services – such as sustainability features – are key to market governance. The theory of regulatory intermediaries offers a lens for assessing diverse regulatory contexts where differently configured actors serve as market-assurance intermediaries between rule-makers and rule-targets. Studies using this theory have clarified the consequences of these configurations for regulatory capture, co-regulation, feedback effects, and the (re)production of knowledge and power. However, the distinction and relations between organisational and individual intermediaries remain under theorised. We reconceptualise the individual capacities of expertise and independence and assess these for 283 individuals performing 312 seafood sustainability audits for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Examining the individuals and teams performing these audits uncovers otherwise invisible biases within intermediary processes, including in assessors’ professional, educational and personal backgrounds, the composition of assessment teams and assessors’ experience in conducting MSC audits. The analysis highlights that intermediary capacities are co-determined by individual assessors and audit organisations and are only partly under the control of the MSC as regulator. A shift to an individual level of analysis thus elucidates new consequences for the legitimacy of the regulator and intermediaries and for the (re)production of power and inequities in global market governance.

Employer's Perception on the Performance of NEUST Tourism Management Graduates: Basis for Career Development Plan

This study examines how employers perceive tourism graduates, focusing on their workforce readiness, identifying gaps in knowledge and skills, and assessing the alignment between their education and industry requirements. It also explores employer expectations concerning leadership capabilities, sustainable practices, and overall performance in both local and global tourism contexts. The research utilized self-assessment surveys, based on a five-point Likert scale, involving 10 NEUST Tourism Management graduates. Using a descriptive survey method, the study collected data on the graduates’ personal backgrounds, professional performance, and job evaluations provided by their supervisors. Findings consistently revealed high levels of performance and employer satisfaction in areas such as research, teamwork, resource management, critical thinking, cultural awareness, and sustainable practices (SOP 2). Employers also expressed satisfaction with the graduates' time management, resource accessibility, and ability to handle stress related to workloads, conflicts, and workplace transitions (SOP 3).

Five-year trajectories of symptom severity, physical and mental functioning in patients with persistent somatic symptoms: the PROSPECTS cohort study

ObjectivesKnowledge about the long-term course and prognosis of persistent somatic symptoms (PSS) is important to improve clinical decision-making and guidance for patients with PSS. Therefore, we aimed to: (1) identify...

Barthes Revisited: A New Perspective on Music Listening through Punctum and Studium

With the rapid development of globalization and the music industry, the subjective experience of music listening has become a focal point for researchers. Roland Barthes’ theory of “studium” and “punctum” provides a new analytical perspective for the field of musicology. However, existing research primarily focuses on visual culture, lacking a systematic analysis of the subjective experience of music listening. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring how factors influence listeners’ perception of “studium” and “punctum” in music. The research employs a literature review and a random sampling method to select university teachers and students of different age groups as participants. In-depth interviews are conducted to gather their listening experiences with various musical works, analyzing the multiple factors influencing participants’ perception. The data are summarized using qualitative analysis methods. The results indicate that the perception of music listening is influenced not only by the structural characteristics of the music itself but also by the listener’s personal background,cultural background and the historical development of the music industry. By applying Barthes’ theory to the analysis of music listening, this study provides a new theoretical framework and methodology for understanding the subjective musical experiences of listeners from different backgrounds.

ADVANCING GLOBAL HEALTHY AGING: MY JOURNEY IN GERONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Abstract In this presentation, Dr. Bei Wu will reflect on her over three-decade-long career as a gerontologist, exploring how her personal history, educational background, and professional experiences have informed and developed her program of research, focusing on her efforts to advance global healthy aging. Dr. Wu intends to highlight key findings from her research. She will discuss the pivotal role of secondary data analyses as a means to investigate the complex relationships between oral health, cognitive decline, and systemic health. Moreover, she will elaborate on the development of behavioral interventions aimed at improving oral health for individuals with cognitive impairment. She will also address her contributions to the establishment of NIH-funded centers aimed at mitigating health disparities and enhancing equity among older Asian Americans. Lastly, Dr. Wu will explore the policy and clinical ramifications derived from these findings, highlighting their potential to shape future approaches to gerontological care.

Έφηβοι μαθητές και η σχέση τους με τα ζώα

My personal exsessive zeal for the protect of animals and my volunteering offer for stray animals for decades have been the main factor for writing the present study-research. I have chosen this issue motivated by my urge to get involved in raising my students awareness towards animals especially stray and abused ones. The students were asked to give answers in a questionnaire made out via Google Form. The given answers were based on their personal background and experiences from their everyday life. The results of the research have shown that the students who have developed emotional relationships with animals are willing to protect and take care of them. There are comments on the results of the research, conclusions as well as suggestion for future researches.