Resource Appraisal Research Articles

A qualitative investigation of demands, resources and self-regulation during Navy deployment

ABSTRACT Creating a sustainable workplace for Navy personnel is vital for their wellbeing and retention. This qualitative study explores the interplay between job and personal demands, resources, and stress self-regulation strategies affecting psychological strain among Navy personnel during deployment. We conducted semi-structured key informant interviews with 25 Navy personnel (68% male) to determine the demands and resources at sea that affect psychological strain. The findings identified that individual differences in coping strategies (e.g., recovery management), abilities (i.e. ability to make social connections), and their mind-set about deployment (e.g., sense of purpose) were perceived to play a role in the experience of strain. Additionally, the presence of supportive peers and leaders was identified as a key resource, whereas external stressors (e.g., family crisis) and social tension onboard, amplified by confined spaces, were commonly reported demands. Our findings also contribute to a growing body of research suggesting a nuanced interaction between individual coping strategies and job design. Formal organizational support was identified as enabling adaptive self-regulation strategies, while the capacity to form and maintain positive relationships helped foster a sense of belonging, countering isolation. Another key contribution was the individual differences in the appraisal of resources offered by the organization and the potential importance of resource appraisal in how effective resources were perceived to be for addressing shipboard demands. We provide recommendations relating to targets for personnel training, interventions, and leadership in terms of communication, supporting day-to-day and equal opportunity for recovery, resource access, maintaining morale, and shaping the evaluation of demands.

The role of social support and social identification in challenge and threat, perceived stress, and life satisfaction

AbstractIndividualistic appraisals have dominated contemporary stress theory and have too often overlooked socially derived perceptions of group resources. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of social support and social identification on individuals' challenge and threat appraisal, perceived stress, and life satisfaction across a range of group contexts. An online survey was completed by 480 participants across four groups: students (n = 110), workplace employees (n = 126), team sport athletes (n = 116), and group exercisers (n = 128) on one occasion. We found a positive relationship between social support and social identification along with significant associations of these social factors being positively related with self‐efficacy, control, approach, and challenge, while negatively related with threat. Avoidance, along with challenge and threat was positively associated with perceived stress, while self‐efficacy was negatively associated with perceived stress. Further, control, self‐efficacy, social identification, and social support was positively associated with life satisfaction, while approach, threat, and perceived stress was negatively associated, with life satisfaction. Social identification also moderated the positive association between social support and life satisfaction. Overall, we found evidence for the resource appraisals outlined in contemporary theory being associated with both social support and social identification, along with perceived stress and life satisfaction across different group contexts. Therefore, when understanding individuals' stress responses and associated life satisfaction, research and practice should consider the combination of individual and social factors.

Material for a Flora of the Doda District of Jammu and Kashmir State

The paper presents a preliminary catalogue of the Doda District of Jamrjtm and Kashmir State. This mountainous district lies between 74°30' & 76°30' N and 32° 30' & 34°15' E and covers ail area of about 11212 sq km embracing areas between 700-4600 m. A total of 432 species belonging to 263 genera is recorded in the present catalogue. The paper provides material for writing a flora of the District Which will ultimately be helpful for a proper appraisal of plant resources of the area.

Economic predictors of the subjective experience of financial stress

The subjective experience of financial stress has profound implications for well-being, health, cognitive performance, and decision-making. In a sample of Dutch households (N = 1114), we studied the association of five economic factors - income, saving, debts, income volatility, and employment - with a four-factor measure of financial stress: 1) an appraisal of insufficient financial resources, 2) an appraisal of lack of control over one's financial situation, 3) financial worries and rumination, and 4) a short-term focus. This enabled us to examine the economic factors' relative contributions to predicting55Throughout this article, by "prediction" we mean the statistical process of estimating the value of one variable based on the values of other variables (Hernán et al., 2019). We do not imply causal relationships. financial stress. We found that the combination of economic factors predicted financial stress better than income alone. Particularly, buffer savings had a large contribution to predicting financial stress. The number of debts had a smaller relative contribution to predicting financial stress, whereas we did not find support for debt amount as a predictor of financial stress. Employment was negatively associated with financial stress, but only for households with the lowest incomes. We found no support for income volatility predicting financial stress. These results imply that research and policy on financial stress should have a broader scope than income alone and should take a more integrative approach to households' financial situation, considering savings, number of debts, and unemployment.

An Environmental Scan and Appraisal of Patient Online Resources for Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares.

To conduct an environmental scan and appraisal of online patient resources to support rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flare self-management. We used the Google search engine (last search March 2023) using the terms "rheumatoid arthritis" and "flare management." Additional searches targeted major arthritis organizations, as well as regional, national, and international resources. Appraisal of the resources was conducted by 2 research team members and 1 patient partner to assess the understandability and actionability of the resource using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT). Resources rating ≥ 60% in both domains by either the research team or the patient partner were further considered for content review. During content review, resources were excluded if they contained product advertisements, inaccurate information, or use of noninclusive language. If content review criteria were met, resources were designated as "highly recommended" if both patient partners and researchers' PEMAT ratings were ≥ 60%. If PEMAT ratings were divergent and had a rating ≥ 60% from only 1 group of reviewers, the resource was designated "acceptable." We identified 44 resources; 12 were excluded as they did not pass the PEMAT assessment. Fourteen resources received ratings ≥ 60% on understandability and actionability from both researchers and patient partners; 10 of these were retained following content review as "highly recommended" flare resources. Of the 18 divergent PEMAT ratings, 8 resources were retained as "acceptable" following content review. There is high variability in the actionability and understandability of online RA flare materials; only 23% of resources were highly recommended by researchers and patient partners.

Psychological distress among individuals with a suicide attempt or suicidal ideation and suicide attempts patterns: first two years of the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions may have led to increased stress, particularly in people with mental health problems. Since stress factors play important role in the emergence of suicide attempts (SA) and suicidal ideation (SI), they may have been exacerbated by the pandemic, which could have led to an increased number of suicide attempts. Thus, we first investigated whether the pandemic affected personal stress experiences and appraisal of coping potential in individuals with and without SA and SI. In a second step, we analyzed the frequency and dynamics of SAs by patients admitted to a psychiatric university clinic over a period of four years. We examined stress experiences and appraisal of coping resources of inpatients recruited between March 2021 and February 2022 with SA (n=38), SI (n=27), and with mood disorder without SA or SI (n=45). In the second study, we investigated the time course of prospectively recorded patients with a suicide attempt (n=399) between January 1st 2018 and December 31st 2021 using interrupted time-series Poisson regression models. There was a significant main effect of group (F[2,107]=6.58, p=0.002) regarding psychological stress levels, which was significantly higher in the SA and SI groups than in the psychiatric control group. No significant differences were found in the appraisal of coping resources or in the frequency of SAs before and during pandemic. However, the pandemic had a significant impact on the seasonal pattern of SAs. The pandemic increased psychological stress levels in individuals with SA and SI, which may be related to SI and do not necessarily result in SA. The pandemic did not affect the overall frequency of SA between March 2020 and December 2021, but interfered with the seasonal pattern of SA occurrence. Effective intervention strategies during a pandemic should include programs to strengthen the psychological resilience of people who are susceptible to mental health problems.

An Appraisal of Groundwater resources and its Hydrochemistry in Ladnun Block of Nagaur District, Central part of Rajasthan, India

Abstract: Groundwater is an important source that provides support to all habitants in the arid to semi-arid regions of Rajasthan. The current study contributes to the rising demand for potable water in Ladnun block in the northern part of Nagaur district; situated in the central part of Rajasthan. This paper concentrates on the Evaluation of the hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical aspects of groundwater in the Ladnun block which encompasses three notable aquifers: Older Alluvium, Bilara Limestone, and Jodhpur sandstone. An attempt was made to understand the groundwater quality as well as its suitability for drinking and other uses by using the water quality parameters. A comprehensive assessment of water quality parameters in groundwater samples were carried out; collected from 34 different locations in the study area in the year 2018 to 2022. Most of the villages of the study area are affected by more than 1.5mg/L fluoride, TDS, and salinity hazards which are harmful to human health. Groundwater quality is slightly hard and brackish to saline in the block due to ancient seawater entrapped in sediments, Halite, and higher-order evaporite mineral deposits. According to WQI most of the water sample falls into the unsuitable category. Therefore, the study area recommended artificial recharge of groundwater and rainwater harvesting to overcome the water demand for drinking purposes

Adding value to the VRIO framework using DEMATEL

PurposeStrategic management plays a pivotal role in the growth and success of organizations, significantly impacting their business performance and competitive edge. In today’s globalized markets, strategic management is gaining prominence as a means to enhance company performance and distinctiveness. Within this landscape, the evaluation of organizational effectiveness takes on heightened significance, complemented by the emergence of strategic management frameworks designed to secure enduring competitive advantages for businesses.Design/methodology/approachOne of the best known approaches to organizational resource assessment is the value, rarity, inimitability and organizational-oriented (VRIO) framework. However, this tool comes with inherent limitations that have hindered its advancement, primarily related to the need for less subjective means of identifying and assigning weights to resources and capabilities during the evaluation process. This study, therefore, endeavored to refine the VRIO framework, making it more transparent and empirically robust. To achieve this aim, the framework was combined with the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method (i.e. a multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method), and a real-life application was conducted.FindingsThe evaluation system created was tested, and the results demonstrate that the dual methodology used can increase the understanding of resource appraisal and lead to more informed and potentially better evaluations of resources and capabilities. The strengths and shortcomings of this new structured evaluation model are also analyzed.Originality/valueThe authors know of no prior work reporting the integrated use of VRIO and DEMATEL in this study context.

Teachers' psychological stress and wellbeing during a pandemic: Exploring latent profiles.

Teacher stress is at an all-time high. The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for teachers, which resulted in a record number of teachers intending to leave the classroom citing stress as a contributing factor. Understanding teachers' positive and negative psychological experiences, or well-being, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic will inform teacher wellness interventions intended to keep teachers in the classroom. Two hundred forty-six teachers from a suburban school district participated in a survey of well-being indicators, including affect, perceived stress, teaching self-efficacy, and preventive coping. A latent profile analysis identified four patterns of well-being: strained, resilient, lower teaching self-efficacy, and lower emotional well-being. While many teachers were resilient during the crisis, approximately two-thirds experienced global or isolated areas of strain. Additionally, the Classroom Appraisal of Resources and Demands-Revised, a theory-driven assessment of teachers' workplace appraisal of demands and resources, was associated with teachers' strained and resilient well-being profiles, making it a suitable screening tool for these groups. Layered screening and tailored intervention, based on teachers' well-being patterns, may help minimize teacher attrition during and postcrises. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A critical appraisal of online patient education resources for the management of sick day episodes in adrenal insufficiency

A critical appraisal of online patient education resources for the management of sick day episodes in adrenal insufficiency

Wind resource of Ilorin City for vortex-induced wind turbine power generation and off-grid electrification

This study examined the appraisal of wind resources of Ilorin, Nigeria for vortex-induced wind turbine power generation and off-grid electrification. The technical potential of Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Application, version 2 (MERRA-2) was employed as a tool to generate an estimated wind resource of Ilorin city, using five different hub-heights (10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 m). A statistical analysis of wind characteristics for 21 years from 2001 to 2021 was carried out using Weibull distribution function. The daytime and night-time wind characteristics were studied to determine prospective and investment hub-height(s). It was observed that the study area is a low wind region with a minimum and maximum mean wind speed of 2.89 m/s at 10 m and 7.68 m/s at 90 m, respectively. Wind turbines with cut-in wind speed of 2, 2.5, and 3 m have operational chances of 98%, 95% and 88%, respectively. Wind power density at 10, 30, and 50 m elevations was classified as poor while at 70 and 90 m elevations, was regarded as marginal and fair, respectively.

An expert consensus–based checklist for quality appraisal of educational resources on adult basic life support: a Delphi study

Given the lack of a unified tool for appraising the quality of educational resources for lay-rescuer delivery of adult basic life support (BLS), this study aimed to develop an appropriate evaluation checklist based on a consensus of international experts. In a two-round Delphi study, participating experts completed questionnaires to rate each item of a predeveloped 72-item checklist indicating agreement that an item should be utilized to evaluate the conformance of an adult BLS educational resource with resuscitation guidelines. Consensus on item inclusion was defined as a rating of ≥7 points from ≥75% of experts. Experts were encouraged to add anonymous suggestions for modifying or adding new items. Of the 46 participants, 42 (91.3%) completed the first round (representatives of 25 countries with a median of 16 years of professional experience in resuscitation) and 40 (87.0%) completed the second round. Thirteen of 72 baseline items were excluded, 55 were included unchanged, four were included after modification, and four new items were added. The final checklist comprises 63 items under the subsections “safety” (one item), “recognition” (nine items), “call for help” (four items), “chest compressions” (12 items), “rescue breathing” (12 items), “defibrillation” (nine items), “continuation of CPR” (two items), “choking” (10 items) and “miscellaneous” (four items). The produced checklist is a ready-to-use expert consensus–based tool for appraising the quality of educational content on lay-rescuer provision of adult BLS. The checklist gives content developers a tool to ensure educational resources comply with current resuscitation knowledge, and may serve as a component of a prospective standardized international framework for quality assurance in resuscitation education.

Improvement of mathematical models of economics for uranium resource appraisal

Improvement of mathematical models of economics for uranium resource appraisal

Understanding the impact of receiving gratitude on teachers: Assessing the effect of risk-for-stress on perception of gratitude

Research has documented the high levels of stress U.S. teachers face. Although multiple interventions for teacher stress exist, there is a lack of low-barrier interventions that allow for accessibility for all schools. The current mixed-methods study analyzed teacher stress risk using the Classroom Appraisal of Resources and Demands (CARD) and conducted semi-structure focus groups of teachers based on their classified risk-for-stress. Qualitative data was analyzed via Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) and identified differences between Resourced and Demanded teachers. Results demonstrated differences between Demanded and Resourced teachers' perspectives on workplace gratitude, signaling important implications for schools’ implementation of effective gratitude interventions.

IESDB – the Iberian Evaporite Structure Database

Abstract. Evaporites flow in the solid state under relatively low differential stress and have unique mechanical properties compared to other sedimentary rocks. Worldwide, they control the structural and stratigraphical architecture of many basins and orogens in ancient and active tectonic settings. Moreover, they host mineral deposits and play a key role in petroleum systems because they typically act as seals due to their low permeability, and their ability to flow results in the formation of structural hydrocarbon traps such as folds and faults in their encasing rocks. Additionally, evaporite structures can be used as subsurface storage sites for geo-energy applications and nuclear waste. The systematic characterisation of subsurface evaporite structures is thus key for the development of geoscience-based technologies to address societal challenges. Owing to their value, massive amounts of surface and subsurface information about (among others) the stratigraphy, structure, geochemistry, and petrophysical properties of evaporite structures and their surrounding rocks have been acquired by Earth scientists, petroleum and mining exploration companies, and geological surveys. However, the data often appear segregated (i.e. in the form of database fragments, scientific articles, and unpublished reports), are not systematically organised, and are sometimes not fully accessible. This contribution presents the Iberian Evaporite Structure Database (IESDB), the first comprehensive assessment that focuses on evaporite structures carried out in any region of the world. The IESDB includes information and figures for 150 evaporite structures and their surrounding rocks inventoried in Spain and Portugal and is sourced from other six thematic databases and more than 1500 published and unpublished scientific documents. The database targets undeformed to slightly deformed evaporite successions, outcropping and buried diapirs, evaporite-cored anticlines, evaporite-detached thrusts, and allochthonous evaporite bodies. Collated data include information about the structure, stratigraphy, event chronology, surface and subsurface data availability, mining activity, and key bibliographic references. The IESDB follows the FAIR principles of database management (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and is presented as an interactive web page and an open-access database, where indexed structures can easily be selected from a map or browser and filtered by a search engine. The IESDB intends to be a useful resource for teaching (i.e. pointing out examples of exceptional evaporite outcrops), academic and industry research (i.e. identifying knowledge deficits on specific structures or tectonic settings), and for the sustainable exploration and appraisal of mineral resources and geo-energy applications (i.e. representing a terminus a quo for site selection and suitability assessment). The framework provided by the IESDB is an opportunity to enhance the scientific research on Iberian evaporite structures in Spain and Portugal and to take advantage of their scientific and economic potential to tackle important societal challenges faced by these countries. The IESDB is freely available at https://iesdb.eu (last access: 15 June 2023) and the datasets can be downloaded from https://doi.org/10.20350/digitalCSIC/14586 (González-Esvertit et al., 2022).

The role of social support and social identification on challenge and threat cognitive appraisals, perceived stress, and life satisfaction in workplace employees.

There is an emergent literature highlighting the positive role of social support and social identification in buffering against the deleterious effects of psychological stressors. Yet, we have limited understanding of how exactly these social factors fit within contemporary stress and coping theory. To advance and gain a greater understanding of these social factors, we explore the associations of social support and social identification on individuals' challenge and threat cognitive appraisals and how this then relates to perceived stress, life satisfaction, turnover intentions, and job performance. A total of 412 workplace employees from private and public sector occupations completed state measures around a recent most stressful experience at work. Results revealed atemporal associations between cognitive resource appraisals with both social support and social identification. Specifically, greater identification with colleagues and lower threat were related to less perceived stress, while having greater social identification (with colleagues and organisation), social support, and lower threat, were related to greater life satisfaction. Greater perceived stress, and lower social identification and life satisfaction, were also related to greater turnover intentions. While greater identification with the organisation and life satisfaction, along with lower perceived stress were related to greater job performance. Taken together, this research provides evidence that social support and social identification play a positive role when trying to promote more adaptive responses to stressful situations.

Prediction of higher heating values based on imminent analysis by using regression analysis and artificial neural network for bioenergy resources

As biomass becomes increasingly important as an energy source, predicting its higher heating value using more efficient algorithms based on schedule information, such as imminent analysis, enables timely decisions on bioenergy usage. A random search optimiser is used to describe higher heating values of raw biomass using regression analysis methodologies based on experimentally discovered properties. A unique artificial smart model based on an intriguing approach was developed as well as an artificial neural network with a random search optimiser for determining the higher heating value of raw biomass. The current study and findings include the importance of each physicochemical parameter on raw biomass higher heating value predictions using this unique prototype. According to the new model used in this scenario, the estimated coefficients of determination and correlation coefficients resulting from the data analysis are 0.7554 and 0.9999, respectively, when the new model is applied to the analysis of the data. The importance of employing learning machines may be seen in the appraisal of energy resources for energy systems to develop a bioenergy-specific algorithm. The unanimity between the recorded data and the regression archetype or artificial neural network on which it was built showed a high degree of efficiency. There was a strong correlation between the random search/artificial neural network-based method and the random search/regression-based method regarding how well the model fit observed data, indicating that the second method exhibited the best results.

"Ultimately, You Realize You're on Your Own": The Impact of Prostate Cancer on Gay and Bisexual Men Couples.

An estimated one in three gay and bisexual (GB) male couples receive a prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis over their life course with limited understanding of the impacts on their relationships. Psychological distress related to PCa diagnosis and treatment-related side effects have been shown to disrupt established GB partnership dynamics. Communication barriers often develop within GB relationships affected by PCa, further exacerbating couple tensions, isolating partners, and lowering quality of life for both patients and partners. In order to elaborate on these phenomena following a PCa diagnosis, we conducted focus group discussions with GB men in relationships. Men were recruited nationally through PCa support groups, and after completing consent procedures, they were invited to one of two focus group discussions conducted through video conference. Topics discussed included the diagnosis and medical decision making pertaining to PCa; healthcare provider experiences; the emotional, physical, and sexual impact of PCa diagnosis and treatment; sources of support and appraisal of resources; and partner involvement and communication. There were twelve GB men who participated in focus group discussions that were audio-recorded and transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic approach. GB couple experiences with PCa during and after treatment choice and recovery identified common patient-provider communication barriers. In particular, GB men reported difficulties in disclosing their sexuality and relationship to their providers, limiting conversations about treatment choice and partner engagement in care. Both patients and partners experienced times of being alone after treatment, either by choice or to give space to their partner. However, partners often did not explicitly discuss their preferences for being alone or together, which resulted in partners' disengagement in their relationship and the prostate cancer healthcare process. This disengagement could blunt the notable PCa survival benefits of partnership for GB men.

Social processes during recovery: an expansion of Kelly and Hoeppner’s biaxial formulation of recovery

Recent conceptualizations frame addiction recovery as a complex process involving changes across behavioral, physical, psychological, and social domains. These broad conceptualizations can be difficult to apply directly to research, making detailed models of individual dimensions necessary to guide empirical work and subsequent clinical interventions. We used Kelly and Hoeppner’s biaxial formulation of recovery as a basis for a detailed examination of social processes in recovery using social network approaches. We delineated how appraisal of situational risks and social network resources result in coping actions, and how repeated iterations of this process change a person’s social recovery capital over time. In addition, we incorporated the experience of interpersonal trauma and structural oppression and demonstrated how the model accommodates the complex issues often encountered during recovery. We present a measurable framework that can guide empirical testing of how social processes and social recovery capital change over time during recovery. The model presented here illuminates key factors in the recovery process that have the potential to support trauma- and social-network-informed interventions. We call for research that empirically tests this model in ways that will result in practical, trauma-informed social network interventions for people in recovery.

Role, race, and place: Prostate cancer disparities in Patients' and Partners' health outcomes and psychosocial factors.

This study aimed to examine the effects of participant role (patient vs. partner), race (white vs. non-white), and place (less vs. more neighborhood deprivation) on health outcomes (quality of life [QOL] and symptoms) and stress-coping-related psychosocial factors (appraisals of illness and coping resources). This descriptive study included 273 patients and their partners (dyads) who transitioned from PCa treatment to self-management. We used established, psychometrically sound measures to assess health outcomes and psychosocial factors and conducted multilevel modeling analyses. Compared to partners, patients reported worse physical QOL; less frequent anxiety; less pain and fatigue; less bothersome hormonal problems; more bothersome urinary and sexual problems; greater self-efficacy; and more instrumental support. Compared to their white counterparts, non-white dyads reported better overall, emotional, and functional QOL; less depression; more positive appraisals, and greater self-efficacy. Compared to dyads in low ADI neighborhoods, dyads in high ADI (more deprived) neighborhoods reported worse social QOL; more bothersome urinary, sexual, and hormonal symptoms; and less interpersonal support. White patients reported the highest emotional support among all groups, while white partners reported the lowest emotional support. Our findings underscore the need to consider social determinants of health at multiple levels when investigating PCa disparities. Considering neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors, in addition to race and role, improves our understanding of the PCa disparities in QOL, symptoms, and psychosocial factors among patients and partners. Targeted multilevel supportive care interventions should tailor to the needs of racially diverse PCa patients and partners residing in deprived neighborhoods are needed.