bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maybe for unbearable suffering: Diverse racial, ethnic and cultural perspectives of assisted dying. A scoping review
Authors: Bloomer Melissa J , Saffer Laurie , Hewitt Jayne , Johns Lise , McAuliffe Donna , Bonner Ann
Published: August 2024

Background:

Assisted dying, also commonly known as euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, is legal in many countries. Interest in assisted dying is growing due to evolving societal understandings of a good death and a desire for choice. Ethico-legal perspectives are well-known, but as societies become more heterogenous, a greater understanding of the perspectives of people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds is needed.

Aim:

To explore perspectives of people from diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds about assisted dying.

Design:

Scoping review with narrative synthesis. The protocol was registered with Open Science Framework.

Data sources:

Medline, CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global were searched from inception to May 2023. Citations were independently assessed against inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results:

Of the 17 included studies, perspectives of assisted dying were presented according to religion, religiosity, spirituality, race, ethnicity and ancestry. Perspectives were diverse, presenting more as a spectrum, with multiple intersections and interconnections. Support and/or opposition for assisted dying differed according to cultural attributes, but even amongst those with similar cultural attributes, perspectives differed according to life experiences and notions of suffering.

Conclusion:

Perspectives on assisted dying are dynamic and evolving. Even where assisted dying is legalised, individual’s cultural attributes contribute to unique perspectives of assisted dying as an end-of-life option. Thus, understanding a person’s culture, beliefs, expectations and choices in illness, treatment goals and care is fundamental, extending beyond what may be already considered as part of clinician-patient care relationships and routine advance care planning.
Project management learnings in higher education through mechanical engineering junior enterprise: A case study
Authors: Trautwein Pedro Emilio Zaparoli , Morais Vitor Henrique , Kubota Flávio Issao
Published: August 2024

Extra-curricular activities like Junior Enterprises (JEs) offer unique opportunities for implementing innovative project management methodologies. This study delves into the experiences of undergraduate mechanical engineering students at a JE, focusing on their transition from traditional to agile project management practices to enhance project outcomes and decision-making processes. Employing a case-based approach, we scrutinize three projects undertaken before and three following the JE's organizational overhaul. This analysis highlights the evolved management framework's strengths and how students navigated challenges, devising solutions to enhance both their educational journey and project efficiency. Our findings underscore the dual benefits of agile management: enhanced customer engagement and increased management flexibility. However, challenges such as managing open-scope contracts and accounting for rework time in project planning emerged as critical areas for improvement. Addressing these issues was pivotal not only for the students’ academic and professional growth but also for fostering a more enriching learning environment for future participants. The study's insights contribute to the broader discourse on experiential learning within mechanical engineering education, emphasizing the tangible benefits and challenges of applying agile methodologies in a JE context. Through this exploration, we shed light on the significant managerial and social impacts of student-led project management initiatives, offering a roadmap for others in the field.
Five theses on geoeconomics
Authors: Mallin Felix , Sidaway James D
Published: August 2024

For over a century, spatialised economic representations of variegated political strands have found a convenient linguistic shell in the term geoeconomics. Since the 1990s, iterations of geoeconomics, usually citing the US-based strategist Edward Luttwak, have become subject to attendant scrutiny by geographers. However, the longer arc of geoeconomic postulates and reasoning, deeply entwined with key 20th century political moments and economic events has long been overlooked. Notably, nearly all of these arguments share a common desire to twist the economic spaces of capitalism towards particular national-political aims that nonetheless are planetary in reach. Invariably this means that geoeconomics’ entanglement with imperialism merits careful consideration. Alongside the range of other interventions assembled in this set, we therefore call for a broad and sustained effort to respond to the present ‘geoeconomics boom’, that is fuelled by a transatlantic, and increasingly trans-Pacific, think-tank industry. In these contexts, we chart vectors for a critical geoeconomics in the form of five condensed theses inviting further debate.
Drugs associated with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: A pharmacovigilance study in vigiBase®
Authors: Favrelière Sylvie , Mahé Julien , Veyrac Gwenaelle , Neau Jean Philippe , Lafay-Chebassier Claire , Pérault-Pochat Marie Christine
Published: August 2024

Background

Data on drug-induced reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) are scarce. We aimed to describe RCVS characteristics with drugs previously identified as associated with RCVS and investigate potential signals related to other drugs.

Methods

VigiBase® was queried for all reports of RCVS until 31 May 2023. A descriptive study was performed on reports concerning drug classes known to precipitate RCVS. To identify new drugs, a disproportionality analysis was conducted.

Results

In total, 560 reports were included. RCVS occurred in patients aged between 45–64 years (40%) and 18–44 years (35%), mainly in females (72.5%). Drugs were antidepressants (38.4%), triptans (6.4%), nasal decongestants (3.7%) and immunosupressants (8.7%). In 50 cases, antidepressants were in association with drugs known to precipitate RCVS. The median time to onset was 195 days for antidepressants and much shorter (1–10 days) for triptans, nasal decongestants and immunosuppressants. The outcome was favorable in 87% of cases, and fatal in 4.4%. We found a disproportionality signal with 14 drugs: glucocorticoids, bupropion, varenicline, mycophenolic acid, aripiprazole, trazodone, monoclonal antibodies (erenumab, ustekinumab and tocilizumab), leuprorelin and anastrozole.

Conclusions

The present study confirms the role of vasoconstrictors in the onset of RCVS, particularly when used in combination and found potential signals, which may help clinicians envisage an iatrogenic etiology of RCVS.
Role of Bystanders on Women’s Perception of Personal Security When Using Public Transport
Authors: Tilleman Kirsten J. , Chowdhury Subeh
Published: August 2024

Women frequently face gender-based harassment when using public transport and adjust their travel behavior as a result. The present study focuses on how the presence of bystanders influences women’s sense of security and self-efficacy while using public transport. The study assesses the impact community support and social norms, perceived responsibilities of authority, and environmental factors have on women’s perception of security in the context of harassment. We conducted an online survey in Auckland, New Zealand ( n = 524). We analyzed results for differences in responses by gender and intersectional identities such as ethnicity and LGBTQ+. We used common factor analysis to uncover hypothesized latent variables that affect women’s perceptions of security and expectations of bystanders. The analysis produced a four-factor model for women+. The strongest factor in the women+ model was Community, followed by Authority, Confidence, then Vigilance. The women+ model suggests bystander and community support is an important expectation for women using public transport, affecting their perception of security and self-efficacy. For comparison and to gain insight into the role men may have as bystanders, we performed factor analysis on responses from men. The resulting three-factor model included factors for Confidence, Authority, and Vigilance. The strength of the Confidence factor for men suggests there is space for calling men in as bystanders who are informed and willing to act. Overall, study findings indicate that anti-harassment strategies can be strengthened by building an active bystander community, bolstering support for vulnerable riders, and helping establish harassment as an unacceptable form of passenger behavior.
Thermal stability and mechanical characterization of oyster shell reinforced recycled polypropylene biocomposite
Authors: Bouiadjra Bel Abbes Bachir , Albedah Abdulmohsen , Mohammed Sohail M.A.K. , Abdo Hany S , Alothman Othman Y , Bouziane Mohammed M
Published: August 2024

The recycling of plastics and the incorporation of bio-fillers in the plastic industry are processes currently gaining momentum due to their significance in sustainable development and carbon footprint reduction. In this investigation, a biocomposite was fabricated using recycled polypropylene (RPP) reinforced with oyster shell (OS) particles. The introduction of OS bio-fillers is aimed to mitigate plastic shrinkage during the injection molding process, with two different proportions employed: 10wt.% and 30wt.%. The biocomposite was characterized thermally and mechanically. Thermal analysis by TGA showed that the bio-fillers increased the degradation temperature of the recycled polypropylene biocomposite. Mechanical assessments demonstrated an enhancement in polypropylene stiffness by 10.4% and microhardness by 21.1%, albeit at the cost of reduced ductility. Conversely, the tensile strength and impact resistance decreased slightly with the incorporation of OS particles in RPP. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated an improvement in the storage modulus up to 1.45 GPa of the biocomposite with the reinforcement of OS particles. These findings underscore the potential for integrating recycled polypropylene with natural reinforcements, aligning with the global pursuit of environmentally sustainable materials in diverse industrial applications.
Bullying Victimization and Youth’s Likelihood of Carrying a Handgun
Authors: Christensen James B. , Jones Melissa S. , Hoffmann John P.
Published: August 2024

Recent research suggests that bullying victimization increases the risk of handgun carrying among adolescents. Yet, little to no research has considered whether different types of bullying victimization (i.e., physical, verbal, cyber) shape handgun-carrying behaviors among youth. Understanding these relationships can, however, inform intervention efforts addressing youths’ access to and motives for carrying handguns. The purposes of this study are twofold. First, we establish whether there is a relationship between bullying victimization and youth handgun carrying. Second, we seek to determine whether certain types of bullying victimization are associated more strongly with handgun carrying than others, using data from the 2022 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS, n = 47,572), a statewide representative sample of Florida middle school and high school students. The results from multinomial regression models indicate that physical bullying and cyberbullying victimization were associated with an elevated risk of carrying a handgun in the past 12 months. Interventions that underscore the importance of comprehensive anti-bullying interventions that not only address traditional physical aggression among adolescents but also mitigate the evolving challenges posed by unsupervised digital spaces may reduce the risk of handgun carrying.
Machine learning-based approach for predicting the compressive strength of 3D printed hexagon lattice-cored sandwich structures
Authors: Sivakumar Narain Kumar , J Kaaviya , Palaniyappan Sabarinathan , P Mohammed Azeem , Basavarajappa Santhosh , Moussa Ihab M , Ibrahim Hashem Mohamed
Published: August 2024

The utilization of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology for developing sandwich structures proves to be an effective approach, enabling the rapid construction of intricate profiles and gaining widespread recognition for diverse structural applications. In this study, hexagon lattice-cored sandwich structures are created by situating the lattice core at the center of the PLA polymeric specimens. The performance is assessed by varying 3D-Printing Factors (3D-PFs), including Nozzle Temperature (NT), Layer Height (LH), Printing Speed (PS), and Line Width (LW). The levels of 3D-PFs are manipulated as follows: NT (180, 190, 200, 210°C), LH (0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 mm), PS (15, 20, 25, 30 mm/sec), and LW (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mm). By employing a FFF 3D printer, the sandwich specimens are 3D-printed and their compression properties are assessed using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM). In this research, various Machine Learning (ML) models namely Bayesian Ridge regression (BRid), Elastic Net linear regression (EN), Quantile Regression (QR), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) are utilized to predict the compressive strength/density property of the developed sandwich structure. This aids in determining the optimal levels of 3D-PFs to achieve enhanced compressive strength/density. The results reveal that the QR model, particularly when employed in the boosting ensemble technique, exhibits superior accuracy with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.26 × 104, Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.21 × 104, and Median Absolute Error (MedAE) of 0.16 × 104. Utilizing the QR model within the boosting ensemble technique, the influence of 3D-PFs on resulting compressive strength/density is analyzed, facilitating the identification of optimized 3D-PF levels for improved compressive strength/density. Sandwich structures fabricated at these optimized levels demonstrate enhanced compressive properties, making them suitable for a variety of structural applications.
Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitor-Related Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Case Series
Authors: Meier Mackenzi , Ansong Benedicta , Awobusuyi Dolapo , Lee-Oyagha Raven , Lopez Sarah
Published: August 2024

Objectives: Sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are commonly used for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, offering additional benefits in non-diabetic patients with conditions such as chronic kidney disease and heart failure. However, SGLT2i have been associated with an increased risk of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This case series describes three cases of patients who developed euglycemic DKA while taking SGLT2i. Key Findings: Each of the three patients with euglycemic DKA were taking SGLT2i for the treatment of diabetes and all had additional risk factors for the development of DKA. These factors included reduced oral intake, major acute illness, chronic pancreatitis, and a history of previous DKA episodes. Unfortunately, the absence of hallmark symptoms like hyperglycemia, polyuria, and polydipsia led to delayed diagnosis of euglycemic DKA in two of the three patients. Conclusion: Early recognition of risk factors and a high level of suspicion are critical in identifying euglycemic DKA in patients taking SGLT2i. Healthcare providers should conduct thorough medication reconciliation upon admission and closely monitor patients for concurrent issues, especially in cases of minimal oral intake, acute illnesses, and chronic pancreatitis. Prompt diagnosis and management of euglycemic DKA can significantly improve patient outcomes.
LncRNA XIST/miR-381-3P/STAT1 axis as a potential biomarker for lupus nephritis
Authors: Chen Junjie , Li Ming , Shang Shuangshuang , Cheng Lili , Tang Zhongfu , Huang Chuanbing
Published: August 2024

Objective

We aim to investigate the potential roles of key genes in the development of lupus nephritis (LN), screen key biomarkers, and construct the lncRNA XIST/miR-381-3P/STAT1 axis by using bioinformatic prediction combined with clinical validation, thereby providing new targets and insights for clinical research.

Methods

Gene expression microarrays GSE157293 and GSE112943 were downloaded from the GEO database to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs), followed by enrichment analyses on these DEGs, which were enriched and analyzed to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network to screen core genes. The lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was predicted and constructed based on the miRNA database. 37 female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were recruited to validate the bioinformatics results by exploring the diagnostic value of the target ceRNA axis in LN by dual luciferase and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC).

Results

The data represented that a total of 133 differential genes were screened in the GSE157293 dataset and 2869 differential genes in the GSE112943 dataset, yielding a total of 26 differentially co-expressed genes. Six core genes (STAT1, OAS2, OAS3, IFI44, DDX60, and IFI44L) were screened. Biological functional analysis identified key relevant pathways in LN. ROC curve analysis suggested that lncRNA XIST, miR-381-3P, and STAT1 could be used as potential molecular markers to assist in the diagnosis of LN.

Conclusion

STAT1 is a key gene in the development of LN. In conclusion, lncRNA XIST, miR-381-3P, and STAT1 can be used as new molecular markers to assist in the diagnosis of LN, and the lncRNA XIST/miR-381-3P/STAT1 axis may be a potential therapeutic target for LN.
The Role of Long Noncoding RNAs in Cardiomyocyte Proliferation and Heart Regeneration After Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review
Authors: Dalil Davood , Bahanesteh AmirHossein , Rezaei Mahdi , Afzali AmirMohammad , Vanaki AmirParsa , Varamini AmirHossein
Published: August 2024

Many studies support the idea that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are significantly involved in the process of cardiomyocyte (CM) regeneration following a myocardial infarction (MI). This study aimed to systematically review the emerging role of lncRNAs in cardiac regeneration by promoting CM proliferation after MI. Furthermore, the review summarized potential targets and the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs to induce heart regeneration, suggesting utilizing lncRNAs as innovative therapeutic targets for mitigating MI injuries. We searched the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for studies on lncRNAs that play a role in heart regeneration after MI. We used search terms that included MI, lncRNAs, CM, and proliferation. Relevant English articles published until June 11, 2023, were systematically reviewed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 361 publications were initially identified, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, nine articles were included in this systematic review. These studies investigated the role of critical lncRNAs in cardiac regeneration after MI, including five upregulated and four downregulated lncRNAs. Acting as a competitive endogenous RNA is one of the main roles of lncRNAs in regulating genes involved in CM proliferation through binding to target microRNAs. The main molecular processes that greatly increase CM proliferation are those that turn on the Hippo/YAP1, PI3K/Akt, JAK2-STAT3, and E2F1-ECRAR-ERK1/2 signaling pathways. This systematic review highlights the significant role of lncRNAs in heart regeneration after MI and their impact on CM proliferation. The findings suggest that lncRNAs could serve as potential targets for therapeutic interventions aiming to enhance cardiac function.
Latent profile analysis of nurses’ moral courage: a professional values perspective
Authors: Hu Kaili , Zhou Quan , Zhang Yufen , Tian Wei , Wu Minglong
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Nurses’ moral courage (NMC) enhances care quality and patient safety. Nurses’ professional values promote ethical adherence, moral obligation fulfillment, and compliance to prevent ethical violations. It is necessary to explore the current status and influencing factors of moral courage from the perspective of professional values.

Aim

To investigate the current situation of nurses’ moral courage, analyze the latent profiles of nurses’ moral courage, and explore the influencing factors from the perspective of professional values.

Research Design

A cross-sectional design was employed.

Participants and research context

Data were collected through convenient sampling at a tertiary hospital during May 2023 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. A self-designed web-based questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics, the Chinese Nurses’ Professional Values Scale-Revised Version (NPVS-R-CV) and the Nurses’ Moral Courage Scale (NMCS) were used for the cross-sectional survey. Latent profile analysis was conducted using the results of 3 explicit indexes of NMCS, and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of NMC.

Ethical Considerations

Research ethics approval (with the code of TJ- IRB 20220543) was obtained from Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Findings

This study included 966 nurses, predominantly female and under 30 years old, with 91.10% holding a bachelor’s degree. Latent profile analysis identified three moral courage profiles: low-level (31.5%), medium-level (47.2%), and high-level (21.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed significant positive correlations between professional values and moral courage, with head nurses being significantly more likely to exhibit high moral courage (OR = 3.586, p = 0.013).

Conclusions

The moral courage of nurses can be classified into 3 subgroups. Nurses’ professional values positively correlate with moral courage, with head nurses showing significantly higher levels of moral courage. Strengthening professional values through training can enhance ethical behavior in nursing, potentially improving patient care and safety.
Measuring trust in healthcare with instruments developed in different disciplines – A scoping review
Authors: Karikumpu Venla , Häggman-Laitila Arja , Terkamo-Moisio Anja
Published: August 2024

Background

Trust is a key character at organizational level. Understanding the level of trust with timely relevant instrument is a significant process to capture the level of trust beyond organizational changes in healthcare.

Objectives

To gather, assess, and synthesize the items of instruments evaluating trust in healthcare organizations.

Design

Scoping review methodology.

Methods

The literature search with deductive-inductive content analysis. The data were charted from articles that involved the use of trust instruments in healthcare organizations.

Data Sources

Search from eight databases was updated in January 2024 and included peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2023.

Results

A total of 13 instruments were found measuring trust in the organization, trust in the leader, and trust among peers in healthcare. The items of instruments about trust in the organization included strategic and operational cultures. The trust in the leader consisted of competence, consistency, openness, appreciative acceptance, and loyalty and risk, while instruments about trust among peers included dimensions of moral partnership, common interest, and competent peers.

Conclusions

Comprehensively measuring trust in the leader, trust in the organization, and trust among peers is significant due to the multifaceted dimension of trust. Measuring trust offers a possibility to recognize the working relationships and cultures in healthcare organizations.
Compassionate nursing in challenging contexts: The importance of judgments
Authors: Peter Elizabeth , Mohammed Shan , Variath Caroline
Published: August 2024

Background

Nurses’ demonstration of compassion is an ethical and often regulatory expectation. While research has been conducted to examine the barriers and facilitators of compassion in nurses, little is known about how nurses develop and express compassion for patients who may be blamed for their health condition. Unvaccinated COVID-19 patients are an example of such patients.

Research questions

How do nurses provide compassionate care for unvaccinated adults infected with COVID-19? How did the context of COVID-19 vaccination in Canada shape nurses’ relationships with unvaccinated patients?

Research design

A generic qualitative approach using interviews to gather data was used. Martha Nussbaum’s conceptualization of compassion and its cognitive requirements was employed to add depth to the analysis.

Participants and research context

Seventeen Registered Nurses, from a range of practice settings, who had cared for unvaccinated patients with COVID-19 participated.

Ethical considerations

Ethics approval was received, and signed informed consent was obtained. Participants who were the current students of the researchers were excluded.

Findings

Three themes were identified: 1) Encountering Extreme Workplace Impediments to Compassion. 2) Managing Emotions to Provide “Nonjudgmental Care.” 3) Practicing Narrative Imagination.

Discussion

The difficult working conditions during the pandemic impeded nurses’ capacity to be compassionate. Yet, none judged their patients’ suffering as trivial, and all provided necessary nursing care. Some initially blamed these patients for the severity of their illness and suppressed their emotions to provide what they called “nonjudgmental care.” Upon reflection, participants recognized that these patients’ life circumstances may have been barriers to vaccination which, in the end, facilitated the development of compassion.

Conclusion

This research has implications that go beyond that of caring for patients with COVID-19. The ideal of “nonjudgmental care” requires critical re-examination because judgments and emotions are required for compassion.
Towards Global Sustainable Development: The Role of Financial Innovation and Technological Advancements
Authors: Dogan Eyup , Chishti Muhammad Zubair , Zaman Umer , Binsaeed Rima H.
Published: August 2024

The importance of metaverse and blockchain technologies in today’s global landscape cannot be overstated. These innovative technologies offer transformative potential for various sectors, including economics, by enhancing connectivity, security and transparency. The present study leverages these technologies to investigate their dynamic impacts, in conjunction with geopolitical risk, on global economic cycles to navigate the challenges of an interconnected world. To ensure the reliability of our findings, this study employs two proxies to gauge economic cycles: global green economic growth and global environmental sustainability. By utilizing daily data, this study reveals several noteworthy findings. First, the quantile-var-based network analysis demonstrates a robust directional connection among the variables in our model. Second, the wavelet quantile correlation technique uncovers the significant role of metaverse technology in influencing economic cycles by promoting global green economic growth and global environmental sustainability across all time horizons (short, medium and long term). Third, economic cycles exhibit a negative association with financial innovation and a positive connection with geopolitical risk across all timeframes. Fourth, the continuous wavelet transform causality test identifies a substantial causal relationship running from metaverse technology, financial innovation and geopolitical risk to economic cycles. Based on our empirical results, this study recommends that the global economy should continue investing in metaverse and blockchain technologies to address economic cycles in the future.
Management of Kampavata (Parkinson’s Disease) through Panchakarma: A Successful Case Study
Authors: Mandal Sonia , Sawarkar Punam , Singh Varinder , Parwe Shweta , Sawarkar Gaurav
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects the central nervous system and is primarily characterized by the degeneration of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra. Early signs include tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability, with later cognitive, sensory, sleep, and emotional issues. Ayurveda correlates these symptoms with Kampavata, primarily linked to Vata (bio-entities) imbalance. The prime aim of this paper is to study Panchakarma’s efficacy in managing Kampavata (PD).

Case Presentation

This is a case presentation of a 55-year-old male patient who has experienced tremors in the left upper and lower limbs, numbness in the left lower limb, loss of balance for 10 years, abnormal facial expression (masked face), difficulty in speech, and sleep disturbance for 5 years. The patient was treated with Panchakarma therapy for 30 days.

Results

Following treatment, the patient exhibited significant improvement in symptoms, assessed using the PD composite scale, with the total score decreasing from 68 to 19, along with evaluated by specific examination, bradykinesia test, reflexes, functional activities, and clinical features also notably improved.

Discussion

Panchakarma therapy, rooted in Ayurvedic principles, shows promise in managing Kampavata, associated with PD. Conservative management focuses on Vata balance, which offers substantial comfort and enhances patient quality of life.

Conclusion

Panchakarma therapy presents a potential avenue for treating Kampavata, addressing symptoms associated with PD, and improving patient satisfaction and well-being. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore the broader applicability of Ayurvedic approaches in neurodegenerative conditions.
Client perspectives: Telehealth for mental health services
Authors: Crawford Joanna , Haffar Sam , Fernando Sunera , Stephens Holly , Harvey Samuel B , Black Melissa
Published: August 2024

Objective

The COVID-19 pandemic required mental health clinicians globally to transition to the delivery of care via telehealth. This study aimed to gain an understanding of clients’ satisfaction with and attitudes towards telehealth mental health services.

Method

Seventy adults who had attended a clinic for mood and anxiety disorders, and participated in at least one telehealth consultation with a psychologist or psychiatrist, completed an anonymous online survey.

Results

The majority of participants (81.5%) reported satisfaction with telehealth mental health care provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, satisfaction overall was significantly higher amongst participants who had received both telehealth and face-to-face mental health care, compared to participants who received care via telehealth only. Advantages of telehealth care reported included convenience and increased access to mental health clinicians. However, disadvantages of telehealth care included greater difficulty developing a rapport with a clinician and expressing oneself via telehealth.

Conclusions

Whilst client satisfaction with telehealth mental health care for mood and anxiety disorders is generally high, clinicians should consider the limitations of telehealth from clients’ perspectives. In particular, strategies to enhance therapeutic connection during telehealth sessions may be needed, and client preferences for mode of delivery should be taken into consideration when possible.
An Online Transverse Study of Nurse Leaders’ Cultural Humility in Nursing Practice as Perceived by Hospital Nurses
Authors: Mrayyan Majd T.
Published: August 2024

Introduction:

The term “cultural humility” is often used, but both society and professionals, including nurses, lack a clear understanding of its meaning. This study examined the relationships, predictors, and differences of nurse leaders’ cultural humility in nursing practice, as perceived by hospital nurses.

Methodology:

A quantitative transverse and correlational study was implemented with a convenience sample of 350 Jordanian registered nurses (RNs).

Results:

Nurses “agreed” on the presence of nurse leaders’ cultural humility in nursing practice, but it was low. Working rotating shifts, holding a Baccalaureate degree in nursing or less, and having graduated from a private university predicted the perceived nurse leaders’ cultural humility in nursing practice. Most differences in perceived nurse leaders’ cultural humility in nursing practice came from nurses who worked rotating shifts when compared to those who worked day shifts.

Discussion:

Nurse leaders must practice open communication and embrace a receptive mind-set, as this will help eradicate the tendency of nurse leaders to believe they know “know-it-all.”
The Effect of Middle Leaders’ Cognitive Complexity on Team Performance and Conflict Management Through Middle Leaders’ Positive Perception of Diversity
Authors: Daud Munayyer Violet
Published: August 2024

The study examines the impact of middle leaders’ cognitive complexity (CC) on team performance and conflict management, focusing on their positive perception of diversity. This study is quantitative; the Person’s R test was used. The proposed model was examined using (ML-SEM) equation modeling in the M-Plus program. To determine whether the model fits, I used the fit indices of comparative fit index (CFI) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). A fit index of more than.90 and RMSEA of less than.10 indicates adequate validity. Aggregation was conducted to address conflict and performance at the school level, within-group interrater agreement (rWG), and intraclass correlations (ICCs): ICC1, ICC2. ICC1 examines the within-group variance by answering the question: To what extent can variability measures be predicted from team membership? ICC2 examines the between-group variance by answering the question: How reliable are the team means within a sample? The data comprised 71 middle leaders who constituted 71 teams and 228 team members with a minimum of 3 teachers in each team (according to the G*Power program) from 12 Israeli schools. Results showed that middle leaders' CC affects team performance through its effect on their positive perception of the diversity of their team members. Further, the diversity perception of middle leaders was negatively related to teachers’ perceptions of conflict (relation conflict and process conflict). Conflict in teams was not related to performance. The current study can enhance school management strategies by promoting diversity and heterogeneity among middle leaders, thereby improving decision-making and performance outcomes.
Understanding Child Sexual Exploitation Dynamics: Development and Validation of a Taxonomy of Recruitment and Domination Strategies
Authors: Andana Carolina , Saldaña Omar , Rodríguez-Carballeira Álvaro
Published: August 2024

Child sexual exploitation is a form of interpersonal violence which involves the use of manipulation, control, and coercion strategies to recruit and dominate minors. This study aimed to develop and validate a taxonomy that identifies, defines, and classifies these abusive strategies. The taxonomy was developed from an extensive literature review and its contents were validated via expert evaluation through a two-round Delphi method with 31 participants. Experts also judged the frequency of each strategy’s usage to recruit and dominate the victims in sex trade, sex trafficking, sex tourism, and online sexual exploitation. The taxonomy comprises 20 specific strategies, classified into five categories: isolation, control of personal life, emotional abuse, cognitive manipulation, and behavioral domination. According to the experts, the strategy most frequently used to recruit the minors is “affective enticement”, and the strategy that contributes most to the maintenance of the exploitative situation is “instrumentalization of sexuality”. Nevertheless, different patterns were found regarding the frequency with which each strategy is used when considering the four manifestations of sexual exploitation separately. Delimiting the abusive strategies commonly perpetrated in child sexual exploitation improves our understanding of this complex phenomenon and could contribute to the development of effective prevention and intervention approaches.
Recurrent thrombosis and patency of the arteriovenous access in patients receiving hemodialysis
Authors: Weiss Ryan , Yu Qian , Funaki Brian , Hammes Mary
Published: August 2024

Background:

Thrombosis of the vascular access in patients with end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis are common and require timely interventional procedures to restore patency. The aim of the current study was to identify factors having a significant effect on patency rates after access thrombosis. Our hypothesis was the length of time between the initial clotting of the access and the subsequent percutaneous declotting impacts the patency rates of the vascular access.

Methods:

In this retrospective cohort study, patients with a clotted arteriovenous access between Jan 1, 2011, and Jan 1, 2016, were included. Demographics, access history, and associated details of the access procedure were reviewed from the electronic medical record. Statistical analysis was done using t-test and chi-square or fisher exact tests to compare arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) and arteriovenous grafts (AVG). Primary patency, defined as the time from index procedure to endpoint, was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test.

Results:

There were 883 percutaneous declotting procedures reviewed. About 351 procedures were performed in patients with an AVF and 532 with an AVG. The mean time from thrombosis to declotting was 1.71 ± 2.29 days. The overall median primary patency for both AVF and AVG was 43 days with no difference in patency between patients with AVF (39 days) versus AVG (42 days; p = 0.385). The time period from access thrombosis to declotting did not affect patency rates for either AVG or AVF ( p = 0.385). On multivariable analysis, prior intervention (HR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.14–1.53, p < 0.001) and cardiovascular disease (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03–1.37, p = 0.016) were independently associated with access patency.

Conclusions:

Time from thrombosis to declotting did not affect patency rates however once there was a thrombotic event, recurrent thrombosis requiring intervention was common with patency significantly decreased. Future prospective studies to validate our results and study pathogenic mechanisms of recurrent thrombosis are warranted.
The acoustic importance of velaria in Roman amphitheaters: Investigations on the effects of different coverage percentages in Durres and Capua
Authors: Bevilacqua Antonella , Sukaj Silvana , Iannace Gino
Published: August 2024

Roman amphitheaters were studied from an architectural perspective, as the geometry of elliptical or oval construction was always under discussion. The Roman amphitheaters of Durres and Capua were analysed with particular attention to the effects of the velarium on the acoustic response of the spaces. The investigations were conducted for the original shapes of the amphitheaters with different coverage percentages of the awning: no shading; half shading along the major axis; half shading along the minor axis; fully open to shade the entire seating area. The four scenarios were selected based on the shadow projection that the Romans might have used in ancient times; therefore, an additional solar analysis was performed for a summer-seasoned day based on a solar path found for the cities of Durres and Capua. The simulated results show that the acoustic effect of velarium was more efficient with half awning cut along the minor axis, as seen from the spatial distribution maps. However, the radiation analysis supports the thesis that 100% displayed surface area of the awning was in place when the cavea was fully occupied. Further discussions have been addressed based on a solar-radiation analysis of the two sites. This research study represents a scientific support for the movie industry that would like to reproduce the environment as existing in ancient times.
Digitalization means green? Linking the digital economy to environmental performance in the tourism industry
Authors: Jiang Lingling , Lv Zhike
Published: August 2024

Considering that carbon emissions are one of the main causes of climate change, it is increasingly urgent to reduce CO2 emissions from tourism. This study aims to scientifically assess whether the digital economy can mitigate the negative environmental effects of tourism. Based on a two-way fixed effects model for a global sample of 100 countries from 2003 to 2020, this study highlights the tourism-CO2 emissions nexus is negatively moderated by the digital economy. Specifically, while tourism development results in increased CO2 emissions, our research shows that the digital economy can mitigate this negative impact. Furthermore, heterogeneity analyses reveal that this moderating effect is particularly pronounced in high-income countries. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers in fostering the growth of the digital economy in support of sustainable tourism development.
Health and social care staff’s recognition of elder abuse perpetrated by family members of persons with dementia: a mixed-method study
Authors: Johansson Linda , Sandberg Jonas , Ernsth Bravell Marie , Östlund Lena
Published: August 2024

Background:

Health and social care staff play a significant role in detecting and reporting abuse among persons with dementia. However, they are often left to their own judgements which can lead to elder abuse not being detected or acted on. The aim was to explore what healthcare and social care staff consider elder abuse, and their experience of elder abuse perpetrated by family members of persons with dementia.

Methods:

This mixed-method vignette study was conducted in Sweden during the year 2021. In total 39 staff working in dementia care were included. They first answered the Caregiver Scenario Questionnaire and then participated in a group interview.

Results:

An inconsistency was revealed regarding whether a management strategy for behavioural difficulties included in the Caregiver Scenario Questionnaire should be considered an abusive act or not. No participants were able to identify all five abusive behaviour management strategies. Participants described witnessing 101 abusive acts including different types of abuse of a person with dementia, with emotional/psychological abuse and neglect being most common.

Conclusions:

Health and social care staff who work close to older persons are able to detect abuse perpetrated by family members. However, inconsistency in defining abusive acts demonstrates the uncertainty in identifying abuse. This may lead to abuse not being identified, but it also creates feelings of inadequacy among staff.
Young people’s ‘post-digital’ relationships during COVID-19 ‘lockdowns’ in England
Authors: Setty Emily , Dobson Emma
Published: August 2024

The lockdown imposed in England in response to the COVID-19 pandemic involved an unprecedented ‘shift to digital’, including in relationships between non-cohabiting individuals. This article examines young people’s perspectives on and experiences of using networked communication technologies (NCTs) in romantic relationships during lockdown, based on 14 focus groups (n = 80) and interviews (n = 38) conducted with young people in England during 2021–2022. Using critical realist theory, we identify interplays between lockdown as a condition, NCT affordances and wider norms, meanings and expectations for relationships. Participants were ambivalent about interacting online during lockdown, with interlocking risks and opportunities specific to and transcending lockdown as a condition. Implications are discussed regarding meanings and experiences of post-digital relationships for young people, both during and post-pandemic.
Reflections on deep academic–practitioner partnering for generative societal impact
Authors: Slawinski Natalie , Brito Bruna , Brenton Jennifer , Smith Wendy K
Published: August 2024

While academics increasingly point to the value of engaged scholarship, we describe a more extreme form which we label as “deep partnering”—a long-term, holistic, and dynamic collaboration between academics and practitioners to achieve shared goals. Deep partnering involves interdependent and evolving interactions between academics and practitioners over an extended time period. While such relationships enable generative impact on important issues, these relationships remain challenging as academics spend time in the practitioners’ complex worlds, surfacing paradoxes due to the partners’ conflicting roles, time horizons, and goals, as well as uncertainty in the partnership’s evolution. In this essay, we reflect on our experiences working closely with practitioners on a program of research over more than a decade in order to expand on a deep partnering approach, including the paradoxes and emotional discomfort it surfaces, and we identify practices to navigate these paradoxes.
The “Unsing Heroes” of the “Infocalypse”: Company Representations of Commercial Content Moderators
Authors: Jones Corinne
Published: August 2024

Historically, companies have invisibilized some media workers to maintain underlying infrastructural ideologies. Likewise, contemporary commercial content moderators (CCMs) are hidden to obscure tensions inherent in digital platforms’ neoliberal ideologies and data economies. Despite this, CCMs are increasingly demanding visibility and legal rights. However, companies are responding by crafting their own narratives about CCMs for different audiences. What representations do these companies create about CCMs, and with what effects? Using thematic analysis of three case study examples, I outline discourses of “heroic battles,” resilience and wellness, and humanness. These discourses naturalize underlying infrastructural ideologies and could impact future legal protections.
The geographical embeddedness of organised crime in China: A rural–urban divide perspective
Authors: Wei Shuai , Pan Fan
Published: August 2024

Organised crime groups do not operate in a social vacuum; instead, they embed themselves in society through various interfaces. Criminologists have therefore given increasing attention to the intricate relationship between territory and organised crime, highlighting how territory serves as both a physical space with geographical boundaries and a social construct shaped by human interactions and cultural values. In this article, we delve into the geographical embeddedness of organised crime, which denotes territories where organised crime groups seek out business opportunities and shape their environments through social practices. Drawing on 861 Chinese judgements of organised crime, we employ the content analysis approach to illustrate this concept through the lens of a rural–urban divide. We specifically look at organised crime groups’ illegal activities and their efforts to conceal them. We also theoretically address the supply and demand mechanism in geographical embeddedness, particularly in connection with natural resources.