Peer-reviewed Scholarly Journals Research Articles

Family-Centered Care for LGBTQ+ Parents of Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An Integrative Review

Background: Having an infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can disrupt parent well-being, the transition to parenthood, and the typical trajectories of infant and child health. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other sexual and gender minority identity (LGBTQ+) parents, this stress may be compounded by health disparities and fear of stigma and discrimination; however, research is lacking about LGBTQ+ parents of infants in the NICU. Objectives: The purpose of this integrative review was to better understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ parents of NICU infants, with a focus on experiences of stigma and discrimination, sources of strength and resilience, and provision of family-centered care. Method: We searched EBSCOHost, ProQuest, Web of Science, and Google Scholar between 30 May 2023 and 18 September 2023 for empirical studies published in English in peer-reviewed scholarly journals in which LGBTQ+ parents shared their experiences with having infants admitted to the NICU. Results: We identified six articles that met inclusion criteria, all of which were qualitative studies that included 12–14 LGBTQ+ parents of NICU infants. Conclusions: LGBTQ+ parents in all studies reported instances of perceived stigma and discrimination while their infants were in the NICU, whereas parents in two studies mentioned strength and resilience, and parents in three studies described elements of family-centered care. There is a need for rigorous research on family-centered NICU care that includes questions about sources of strength and resilience in addition to challenges. We propose that future researchers use community engaged methods to center perspectives of LGBTQ+ parents.

Дискурсивное пространство изучения феномена утопии в современной России: парадигмальный анализ

Using the example of Russian discourse, the article demonstrates modern trends in the study of utopias. Research topics are analysed and key conceptual trends are highlighted. The subject of consideration is monographs, dissertations and articles published in scholarly peer-reviewed journals, the selection criteria being relevance, novelty, use of modern methodology, as well as practical significance. The analysis involved general research methods. The works span between 2020 and 2023, which includes the period of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as serious changes in the global political situation. The author hypothesizes that the pandemic and foreign policy events of 2022–2023 have updated the topics of utopia and dystopia studies. The paper concludes that the interest in the subject remains strong and that in-depth historical and philosophical research into this phenomenon is being conducted. In Russian discourse, utopia is often viewed as “a place that does not exist”. When utopia is interpreted as a “blessed land”, it represents an ideal or an ever-elusive horizon line. In cases where the feasibility of implementing a utopia is discussed, it is noted that it ceases to be a utopia and undergoes a number of fundamental changes, turning into its antipode. The possibility of serious social changes, dreamed of by the authors of utopias, is not categorically denied by researchers, the reservation being that people must be prepared for a new social order, different from the existing models of society. The most successful form of a utopian work is still considered to be a narrative. With the use of modern technologies, utopia is primarily visualized in disaster films or computer games, that is, once again takes on a shape of its opposite. However, despite a significant amount of research published on the problems of utopia, Russian discourse remains quite conservative in relation to the global trends in understanding and studying this phenomenon.

Understanding Void and Voidable Marriages in the Matrimonial Causes Act and the Holy Bible

The importance of marriage to human existence cannot be overemphasised. Marriage was the first institution created by God for comfortability and procreation of men and women. Many marriages were full of complexities which resulted in divorce, incompatibilities, dishonesty, prostitution, inconsistencies, and unrest. Therefore, the study comparatively analysed void and voidable marriages in the Matrimonial Causes Act and the Holy Bible. Historical and case study designs were adopted. Doctrinal method was used in data collection. The primary sources of data were the Holy Bible, Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Matrimonial Act Cap M6; Matrimonial Causes Rules Cap 220, Laws of the Federation 2004; sources of secondary data were published textbooks, law reports, scholarly peer-reviewed journals, and articles. Data were content-analysed and presented thematically. Findings revealed that the Matrimonial Causes Act and Matrimonial Causes Rules being the laws and rules of marriages as constituted in usages and application are of biblical origin and founded on a Christian base. Many couples forced themselves into marriages without thinking of the consequences of being void or voidable marriages based on trying your luck. Matrimonial laws, rules, and the Holy Bible envisaged and prohibited void and voidable marriages. The study concluded that marriage was the first union God created. Intending couples should seek the face and God’s guidance before marriage. The study recommended that void and voidable marriages be avoided. Christians should attend church seminars on marriages before proposing to marry. Pastors should preach sermons on marriages which will expose members of the church to the intricacies of marriages.

Nigeria’s Tertiary Institutions and Education Laws

The study investigated Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and education laws. Without education laws, tertiary institutions would be in a state of anarchy. The study is beneficial to students, members of academic communities, curriculum developers, education administrators, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Federal/States Ministries of Education, and its parastatal. Historical and case study designs were adopted. The doctrinal method was used in data collection. The primary sources of data were the Education Ordinance 1887, Education Code 1903, Education Ordinance 1928, Education Ordinance 1916, Education Code 1926, Education Ordinance 1948, Education Act 1952, Education Edicts 1966-1979, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, Education Law 1999 and the Universal Basic Education Act 2004; sources of secondary data were published textbooks, scholarly peer-reviewed journals, and articles. Data were content-analysed, compared, contrasted, and presented thematically. The research findings were that students, academics, and non-academic members of staff of the schools should know education laws. The teaching of education laws should be a continuous exercise in all tertiary institutions. It was recommended that the NUC, the National Board of Technical Education, and the National Commission for Colleges of Education should introduce education laws as a course in the curriculum, to be registered for and passed by each student of the institutions before graduation. The management of the schools should train and retrain their students, academics, and non-academic members of staff on education laws regularly. Anybody who does anything contrary to the education laws of the institutions should face its consequences.

The Pros and Cons of Technology in the Judicial Process in Lagos State, Nigeria

The application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of humans to the change and manipulation of the human environment is called technology. Its application to the judicial process in Lagos State Judiciary has made it easier to access information, file court processes, enable swift, and accurate research, and improve the delivery of justice thereby curbing the delay in the dispensation of justice though this is with some qualifications. The study juxtaposed and analysed the advancement of technology in the judicial process in Lagos State, Nigeria. Historical and case study designs were adopted. Doctrinal method was used in data collection. The primary sources of data were the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Lagos State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019; Magistrates’ Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009; Lagos State Chief Judge Practice Direction dated April 27, 2020; sources of secondary data were published textbooks, law reports, scholarly peer-reviewed journals, and articles. Data were content-analysed and presented thematically. Findings revealed that technology is needed for the advancement, development, and growth of the judicial process in Lagos State. Many a lawyer and litigants have not utilised the technology in the state’s judiciary. There is no clear legislation in the state protecting or guiding the utilisation of technology in the judiciary save the practice direction issued by the state’s chief judge in 2020. The study concluded that technology is necessary in advancing the judicial process in Lagos State. The study recommended that lawyers and litigants are to be properly educated vide seminars on how to ustilised technology in advancing the judicial process. The Lagos State House of Assembly should initiate a bill for the utilisation and applicability of the technology in the state’s judiciary.

A systematic review and meta-analysis: leadership and interactional justice

AbstractThis study aims to execute a systematic literature review on leadership styles and interactional justice when found together or with other variables and a meta-analysis to examine their direct relationship, besides elaborating on the definitions of leadership styles. The ProQuest website was utilized to explore interactional justice and leadership concepts in all abstract and summary texts in English and articles in peer-reviewed scholarly journals at any time. Thirty-six studies were related to the systematic review, and there were twenty-two valid cases for the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis techniques proved the strength of the relationship between leadership styles and interactional justice, with notable heterogeneity among all investigations and ambiguous proof of publication bias. Fisher’s method found a study to be an outlier, but it was significant in WLS, WAAP, and Cohen's d. The review of definitions showed a high degree of similarity, while the most prominent features of leadership styles were transformational, transactional, and ethical leadership. Yet, the systematic review proved unmistakable evidence of the connection between interactional justice and leadership styles, while those two concepts impacted other variables in a relationship. The relationship between leadership and interactional justice is influenced by many facets, such as their status in the connection, leadership styles, sample number, and study place, pushing the heterogeneity of the results. Although it is possible to mix up these diverse leadership styles, transformational or ethical leadership, both styles treat employees respectfully, avoid concealing information, and make staff feel satisfied. Wise leadership is crucial to shaping a positive interactional environment for workers. Therefore, leaders must pursue integrity and ethical behavior to establish organizational justice, particularly interactional justice.

A review of internal communication research in South Africa

The aim of this study was to assess the current state and determine the development of internal communication research in South Africa over the past 21 years (from 2002 to 2022), to provide direction for future research with a view to expanding the body of knowledge in the field from a South African perspective. Research articles on internal communication that were written from a corporate communication and public relations perspective that had been published in three peer-reviewed scholarly communication journals in South Africa were systematically reviewed. Authorship information, research topics, theoretical frameworks, methodologies, and suggestions for future research indicated in 28 articles were analysed. It was found that most scholars focused on the implementation of internal communication management and internal strategies or plans in specific contexts or to attain certain outcomes. The most frequently used theories were relationship management theory and reputation management theories, and a qualitative research approach was the predominant methodical approach used, with non-probability (purposive) sampling, even though questionnaires were the prevalent data collection tools. Although internal communication as a research field has grown globally, research in the South African context is lagging behind. Future research opportunities include: (1) more quantitative studies that employ large probability samples to generalise findings, (2) the digitalisation of communication channels, (3) developing and empiricallytesting local theories, frameworks and models, (4) including marginalised and diverse groups as a starting point for knowledge production, and (5) adapting the findings of research conducted prior to the post-COVID-19 setting.

Learning Experiences for Addressing Financial Management Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes in Entry-Level Physical Therapy Education: A Systematic Review

Background and Purpose. Financial management (FM) knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) are essential components of contemporary physical therapist (PT) practice. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education requires that FM content is included in professional PT education program (PTEP) curriculums but provides freedom in how the content is delivered. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify learning experiences PTEPs used to educate students regarding FM KSAs that are necessary for entry-level PT practice in the United States. Methods. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they were 1) published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, 2) written in English, and 3) described a learning experience used to deliver FM content. Articles describing didactic education, clinical education, or service-learning activities that were a required or voluntary component of professional PTEPs in the United States were included if they reported on objectives or outcomes related to FM. Electronic databases and relevant journals were searched. Search results were subjected to title, abstract, and full-text review. Selected articles were evaluated for methodological rigor. Pertinent data were extracted, analyzed, and synthesized. Results. Eighteen articles were included. Four categories were identified: 1) classroom learning 2) clinical education 3) pro bono clinics, and 4) service learning. Discussion and Conclusion. Student PTs were exposed to FM content in several ways. There was variability in whether participation was required or voluntary, the time commitment required by the student, and the concepts to which students were exposed. There are many opportunities for future research in this area from operationally defining FM, determining necessary FM KSAs for entry-level PTs, and to identifying the most effective learning experiences to ensure that new clinicians are prepared to effectively engage in this aspect of clinical practice.

The Word That Dare Not Speak Its Name

This essay asks, when does our effort to avoid offending students interfere with our ability to teach them? Rehearsing conflicts over language and terminology, over who can speak and what can be said, from my four-decade career as a literature professor, critical theorist, and gender scholar, I confront contemporary efforts to censor certain words, to prohibit certain kinds of inquiry, and to limit who can speak about certain subjects by placing recent incidents in relation to previous debates in academia and the public sphere. The university classroom and scholarly peer-reviewed journals have long served as spaces where established viewpoints can be questioned, knowledge can be challenged, and identities can be probed. Increasingly, however, we see classroom curricula under attack, books banned, language policed, and viewpoints prohibited, with teachers, students, and scholars self-censoring as a result. What happens when words are prohibited, and research subjects are deemed off limit, because some fear they may harm fragile young students or readers? Refusing to have that conversation, to allow scholars and teachers to debate controversial positions openly, itself does the harm. Through examples drawn from my teaching and scholarship, and drawing on newspaper editorials and academic publications, I model a means for working through this seeming impasse encapsulated by the title phrase, “the word that dare not speak its name.”

Green Fashion Consumption – a Review of the Literature

The environmentally conscious consumption of fashion products promotes the preservation of natural ecosystems for current and future generations. It may include the purchasing and use of textile products made from organic and sustainable materials, the repair, reuse and recycling of textile products, and the concept of slow fashion. The environmental aspects of fashion products have drawn the attention of both researchers and practitioners in recent years. As a result, many scientific papers have accumulated regarding this vital aspect of consumer behaviour. This paper aims to provide an overview of the literature regarding consumer behaviour toward green fashion products, as well as to uncover and categorise significant driving factors, and in addition, identify the most critical barriers. After identifying the relevant literature, the study examines 104 articles published between 2011 to 2021 in high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarly journals. Our results demonstrate that while most of the reviewed articles employ a quantitative survey questionnaire method to identify the drivers of green textile consumption, qualitative approaches are also used. Most authors utilise the theory of planned behaviour as a foundation of their research. This paper summarises the research problems covered by the selected articles, the theoretical frameworks, the methods used, and their essential findings. We also outline existing research gaps and suggest potential directions for future research. Since there are only a few review articles on green fashion consumption, our article provides an important new addition to the literature for the reference of future scholars.

The Jurisprudence of University Lecturers’ and Students’ Knowledge of Nigerian Education Laws

This study investigates the university lecturers’ and students’ knowledge of Nigerian Education Laws which brings peace, progress, tranquility, and development to an academic environment with a view to find out how lecturers and students are knowledgeable about Nigerian Education Laws. It juxtaposes knowledge of education laws by lecturers and that of the students. It will be of benefit to students, lecturers, the education communities where education law is useful and applicable. It will be of benefit to the law community - the lawyers, judges, lecturers, students among others. Curriculum developers, education administrators, the National Universities Commission, the Federal Ministry of Education and its parastatal/agencies and the public will benefit from this work. Historical and case study designs were adopted. The doctrinal method was used in data collection. The primary sources of data were the Education Ordinance 1887, Education Code 1903, Education Ordinance 1928, Education Ordinance 1916, Education Code 1926, Education Ordinance 1948, Education Act 1952, Education Edicts 1966-1979, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979 and 1999, Education Law 1999 and the Universal Basic Education Act 2004; sources of secondary data were published textbooks, scholarly peer-reviewed journals, and articles. Data were content-analysed, compared, contrasted and presented thematically which brought about the relevance of the study. The research findings are that lecturers and students have knowledge of Nigerian Education Laws and that knowledge of Nigerian Education Laws makes lecturers and students conduct themselves within the purview of the rules and regulations of the institutions. It is recommended that knowledge of Nigerian Education Laws should be a continuous exercise in an academic environment. Lecturers and students should be trained and retrained in respect of the education laws to avoid any gap in the level of knowledge of Nigerian Education Laws.

Effectiveness of physical exercise programmes in reducing complications associated with secondary lymphoedema to breast cancer: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews

IntroductionBreast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL) is one of the most underestimated and debilitating complications associated with the treatment that women with breast cancer receive. Several systematic reviews (SRs) of different physical...

Comparative Analysis of Educational Approaches: Unveiling Strengths across Attributes

Design plays a pivotal role in the successful development of any interactive learning environment (ILE). Furthermore, in the realm of technology-enhanced learning (TEL), the design process necessitates contributions from a wide array of expertise areas. Therefore, individuals engaged in tool development must directly confront the design challenge from multiple standpoints. This article aims to present a comprehensive analysis of current research that centers on the utilization of various approaches as a means of enhancing technology-driven learning environments. The objective is to investigate how much of its instructional promise is genuinely put into practical implementation. The review exclusively considers empirical studies that have been published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals, focusing specifically on the application of diverse approaches as educational environments. Over the past ten years, the methodology of design-based research has proven its potential in both the research and design aspects of technology-enhanced learning environments (TELEs). This article delineates and characterizes design-based research, outlining its significance in the development of technology-enhanced learning environments (TELEs). It also introduces principles for the integration of design-based research into TELEs, and deliberates on the forthcoming challenges associated with this approach. The introduction of technology-enhanced learning (TEL) techniques has transformed the allocation of the most crucial resource in the education system: the time of educators and learners. Although new technology holds the promise of increased personalization and efficiency, the impact on staff time must be meticulously analyzed. Without careful consideration, TEL methods might escalate expenses without proportionate advantages. The paper evaluates various methods of comparing teaching time costs between TEL and traditional approaches. The conclusion suggests that cost-benefit modeling conducted within the institution provides the most accurate means of comprehending how educators can leverage technology to attain the level of efficiency that renders personalization economically viable. Options explored include Interactive Online Courses, Virtual Reality Classrooms, Gamified Learning Platforms, Personalized Learning AI, and Collaborative Social Learning. Assessment criteria encompass Learning Effectiveness, Engagement, Adaptability, Skill Transfer, Cost, Accessibility, User Experience, and Data Privacy. The examination serves as a foundation for establishing prerequisites tailored to a forward-looking cost-benefit framework. The process commences with strategic decisions aimed at realizing the advantages of Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL). These decisions, in turn, inform the identification of probable essential expenditures, thus delineating the inherent "benefits-oriented cost model." A key benefit of this approach is that it empowers innovators to strategically plan and comprehend the dynamic between anticipated educational gains and potential teaching expenses.

Reference accuracy of primary studies published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals: A scoping review

Objective. The objective of this scoping review was to identify key characteristics of primary research studies in peer-reviewed journals about reference accuracy. Characteristics of studies include the publication year, field of study, journal name and publication year of verified references, number of references verified, reference elements examined, definition of major, intermediate, and minor errors, whether punctuation or typographical errors were counted, overall error rate, major, intermediate, and minor error rates, and most common error type. Introduction. Reference accuracy has been studied across several decades and remains a persistent issue in peer-reviewed publications. Reference accuracy is typically reported as an error rate that represents the proportion of references with at least one error. Inclusion criteria for this scoping review included primary studies published in peer-reviewed journals that verified references in articles. Methods. Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA), Medline via EBSCOhost, and Web of Science were searched with final searches conducted in all three databases on November 26, 2022. No grey literature sources were searched given the focus of the project on peer-reviewed scholarly journals. Results. A total of 105 studies were included. The overall error rate across all studies was 32.7%. The error rates within specific fields of study were relatively similar. There is a lack of clarity about whether studies counted punctuation or typographical errors. The most common error was related to author names. Conclusions. There is a lack of studies to understand the most effective means to increase reference accuracy that are feasible to implement on a wide scale. Future research is warranted to understand how best to improve reference accuracy across fields of study.

Book Review: Glass Half Broken: Shattering the Barriers that Still Hold Women Back at Work, Colleen Ammerman and Boris Groysberg (Harvard Business Review Press, 1st Edition (2021), Pages: 294)

No abstract available

Editorial Note Vol.2(2)

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Editorial

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Idiopathic Parkinson's disease and chronic pain in the era of deep brain stimulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pain is the most common nonmotor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) and is often undertreated. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) effectively mitigates the motor symptoms of this multisystem neurodegenerative disease; however, its therapeutic effect on nonmotor symptoms, especially pain, remains inconclusive. While there is a critical need to help this large PD patient population, guidelines for managing this significant disease burden are absent. Herein, the authors systematically reviewed the literature and conducted a meta-analysis to study the influence of traditional (subthalamic nucleus [STN] and globus pallidus internus [GPi]) DBS on chronic pain in patients with PD. The authors performed a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using the levels of evidence established by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Inclusion criteria were articles written in English, published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, and about studies conducting an intervention for PD-related pain in no fewer than 5 subjects. Twenty-six studies were identified and included in this meta-analysis. Significant interstudy heterogeneity was detected (Cochran's Q test p < 0.05), supporting the use of the random-effects model. The random-effects model estimated the effect size of DBS for the treatment of idiopathic pain as 1.31 (95% CI 0.84-1.79). The DBS-on intervention improved pain scores by 40% as compared to the control state (preoperative baseline or DBS off). The results indicated that traditional STN and GPi DBS can have a favorable impact on pain control and improve pain scores by 40% from baseline in PD patients experiencing chronic pain. Further trials are needed to identify the subtype of PD patients whose pain benefits from DBS and to identify the mechanisms by which DBS improves pain in PD patients.

The Study of Veterinary Medicine: Is Education Leading in the Right Direction?

The Journal of Veterinary Medical Education (JVME) is the peer-reviewed scholarly journal of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). As an internationally distributed journal, JVME provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, research, and discoveries about veterinary medical education. This exchange benefits veterinary faculty, students, and the veterinary profession as a whole by preparing veterinarians to better perform their professional activities and to meet the needs of society.

AAVMC Notes

The Journal of Veterinary Medical Education (JVME) is the peer-reviewed scholarly journal of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). As an internationally distributed journal, JVME provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, research, and discoveries about veterinary medical education. This exchange benefits veterinary faculty, students, and the veterinary profession as a whole by preparing veterinarians to better perform their professional activities and to meet the needs of society.