Turbans vs. Helmets: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature on Head Injuries and Impact Loci of Cranial Trauma in Several Recreational Outdoor Sports

When in public, faith-based mandates require practising Sikh men to wear a turban which may not be covered by hats or caps. This makes it impossible for practising Sikhs to wear helmets and other protective headwear, mandatory in many countries and facilities for engagement in recreational pursuits (e.g., skiing) and on adventure outdoor recreation camps mandatorily run for school groups. The result is often social exclusion and ostracisation in the case of school children. Despite studies into the efficacy of protective helmets in some recreational outdoor activity settings, virtually nothing is known about the protective potential of turbans. This paper systematically reviews the extant literature on head injuries in several recreational outdoor activities and sports sectors (aerial, water, winter, wheeled and animal-based sports) and finds that the extant literature is of limited value when trying to understand the spatial distribution of trauma on the cranial surface. As the data do not permit to make inferences on the protective potential of turbans, future systematic, evidence-based epidemiological studies derived from hospital admissions and forensic examinations are required. Failure to do so perpetuates social exclusion and discrimination of religious grounds without an evidentiary basis for defensible public health measures.

RETHINKING SOCIABLE GREEN SPACES AMID THE COVID-19 CRISIS: A CASE STUDY OF BATAM, INDONESIA

One of the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 crisis undisputedly is changes in the way people use public spaces including green spaces. Some people despite the social isolation rules still often visit public green spaces to maintain their well-being. This study aimed to rethink how green spaces as a sociable place can be more adaptable to fulfill the new needs of people which have arisen due to the pandemic. Direct-structured observation and semi-structured interviews with purposive sampling were conducted in the park located in Batam, Indonesia. It was revealed that the use of this park as a sociable place has prioritized most on ‘relaxation’ behaviours at one time, followed by ‘affiliation’ and ‘interaction’ behaviours after the pandemic strikes. The ‘affiliation’ activities, nevertheless, were interestingly the top reason for people visiting this park more frequently in a week. The proposed post-pandemic concept of the park as a sociable green space was subsequently conceived around the circulation, furniture, and activity settings with several design strategies as a response to the key issues concerning the social behaviours and health protocol system in this park. Abstrak: Salah satu dampak jangka panjang dari krisis COVID-19 yang tidak terbantahkan adalah perubahan cara orang menggunakan ruang publik termasuk ruang terbuka hijau. Walaupun terdapat aturan isolasi sosial, beberapa orang masih sering mengunjungi ruang terbuka hijau untuk menjaga kesehatan mereka. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memikirkan ulang bagaimana ruang terbuka hijau sebagai ruang publik ramah atau tempat bersosialisasi dapat menjadi lebih adaptif untuk memenuhi kebutuhan baru masyarakat yang muncul akibat pandemi. Observasi langsung terstruktur dan wawancara semi terstruktur dengan purposive sampling dilakukan di taman yang terletak di Batam, Indonesia. Studi ini menemukan bahwa penggunaan taman tersebut sebagai ruang publik ramah telah memprioritaskan perilaku 'relaksasi' dalam satu waktu, diikuti oleh perilaku 'afiliasi' dan 'interaksi' setelah pandemi melanda. Namun menariknya, aktivitas yang berkaitan dengan ‘afiliasi’ menjadi alasan utama orang untuk lebih sering mengunjungi taman ini dalam satu minggu. Usulan konsep taman pasca pandemi sebagai ruang terbuka hijau ramah kemudian digagas terkait pengaturan sirkulasi, furnitur, dan aktivitas dengan beberapa strategi desain sebagai respon terhadap isu-isu utama mengenai perilaku sosial dan sistem protokol kesehatan di taman ini.

Using high-resolution contact networks to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 transmission and control in large-scale multi-day events

The emergence of the highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant has created a need to reassess the risk posed by increasing social contacts as countries resume pre-pandemic activities, particularly in the context of resuming large-scale events over multiple days. To examine how social contacts formed in different activity settings influences interventions required to control outbreaks, we combined high-resolution data on contacts among passengers and crew on cruise ships with network transmission models. We found passengers had a median of 20 (IQR 10-36) unique close contacts per day, and over 60% of their contact episodes were made in dining or sports areas where mask wearing is typically limited. In simulated outbreaks, we found that vaccination coverage and rapid antigen tests had a larger effect than mask mandates alone, indicating the importance of combined interventions against Delta to reduce event risk in the vaccine era.

Switching behaviour in activity-based working environments: an exploration of the reasons and influencing factors

Purpose A tendency that employees do not frequently switch between different activity settings was reported in previous studies, which are opposed to underlying assumptions of activity-based working (ABW) offices. Although ABW is increasingly becoming a standard office concept, employees’ switching behaviour has not been studied in depth. This study aims to understand employees’ switching behaviour by identifying reasons (not) to switch and various influencing factors of switching behaviour. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was conducted across Switzerland and Belgium, and 124 respondents participated in the questionnaire. The mismatch model was developed to examine whether the misfit between either activity or preference and work environment leads to switching to another place in the office. Findings Results show that most of the respondents switch multiple times a day, which runs counter to the previous studies. Furthermore, this study presented clear evidence that mandatory switching frequency is independent of various factors presented in the study, indicating that the distinction between mandatory and voluntary switching is valid. Besides, results identified privacy, acoustics, distraction, proximity to team/colleagues as reasons to switch and as reasons not to switch, place preference/attachment, proximity to the team were determined. Originality/value This study contributed to better understanding switching behaviour by defining, distinguishing switching behaviour, identifying reasons (not) to switch and influencing factors of switching frequency. In addition, this study compared the misfit between activity and environment and the misfit between preference and environment as push factors leading to switching behaviour. These findings can provide more knowledge of switching behaviour to workplace or facility management practitioners.

Teacher’s creation of conditions for peer interactions and relationships

Teachers have the ability to influence a child’s sense of belonging and peer relationships in the classroom which are important for a child’s social development. Currently, little is known about the ways in which they do this. Vygotsky’s concept of the social situation of development and Hedegaard’s model for learning and development were used to discuss the conditions teachers created that promote peer relationships within the classroom. Digital video observations and interview of one grade 1 classroom teacher from the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria were analysed using Hedegaard’s dialectical-interactive approach. This paper demonstrates how the societal demands on institutions influence the activity settings that students participate in and argues that teachers need to create conditions for peer interactions that satisfy societal needs as well as being meaningful for their students and their social situation of development.

Re-Applying the Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale to Various Portuguese Exercise Groups: An Analysis of Bifactor Models and Contextual Invariance

This research explored the nature of basic psychological needs in physical activity settings by applying relatively advanced methodological procedures for psychometric assessment. We first re-examined the Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale (BPNES) by reviewing its applicability for physical activity domains among Portuguese respondents. We demonstrated the use of Bifactor Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) and discussed the practical implications of these models. Next, we tested contextual measurement invariance in order to examine needs universality. Our participants were gym exercisers (n = 1935), physical education students (n = 1449), and athletes (n = 1631), all of whom completed the adapted and validated version of the scale in their respective practice physical activity domains. All models under analysis displayed acceptable to excellent fit; the bifactor ESEM model displayed the best fit. We conducted ancillary bifactor measures to assess scale dimensionality and found that the BPNES is best interpreted as a multidimensional instrument. Through testing for multigroup analysis, the bifactor ESEM did not show contextual invariance. In conclusion, the BPNES should be predominantly used as a multidimensional instrument when assessing basic needs in separate physical activity domains. Basic psychological needs are perceived differently between seemingly similar physical activity contexts. Researchers should measure basic needs as a global factor and use context validated sub-scales.