bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evidence-based guidelines for the interpretation of the 9-item Concise Health Risk Tracking – Self-Report (CHRT-SR9) measure of suicidal risk
Authors: Nandy Karabi , Nandy Rajesh Ranjan , Rush A John , Mayes Taryn L , Trivedi Madhukar H
Published: August 2024

Background:

The 9-item Concise Health Risk Tracking – Self-Report (CHRT-SR9) is a widely used patient-reported outcome measure of suicidal risk. The goal of this article is to provide an evidence-based interpretation of the CHRT-SR9 total score in terms of four clinically actionable categories of suicidal risk (none, mild, moderate, and severe).

Methods:

Data from two large programs involving adolescents and adults were combined in this paper. In these studies, the CHRT-SR9 was anchored against an independent measure of suicidal risk, the suicide item (Item #9) in the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with categories 0 (none), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), and 3 (severe). In the combined data ( n = 1945), we calculated the cumulative percentage of data across these four categories and the percentile score of the CHRT-SR9 total score that corresponded to these percentages; from this, we developed ranges of the CHRT-SR9 total score that corresponded to the four categories of Item #9 of PHQ-9. We also calculated similar ranges for two broad subscales of the CHRT-SR9 total score; Propensity and Suicidal Thoughts. To assess the robustness of our findings, we repeated the analysis at another timepoint across studies.

Results:

Findings indicated that the CHRT-SR9 total score (range: 0–36) can be categorized as none (0–14), mild (15–21), moderate (22–26), and severe (27–36). Similar categories were calculated for the Propensity and Suicidal Thoughts subscales. The findings were the same when repeated at another timepoint.

Conclusion:

This categorization of the CHRT-SR9 total score can place patients into clinically meaningful and actionable categories of suicidal risk.
Combining bioinformatics, network pharmacology and artificial intelligence to predict the target genes of S-ketamine for treating major depressive disorder
Authors: Xianjin Zhou , Fuyi Shen , Ti Yang , Shan Li , Kang Zhao , Ying Wang , Shengqiong Deng
Published: August 2024

Background:

Ketamine has received attention owing to its rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects; however, its clinical application is restricted by its addictiveness and adverse effects. S-ketamine, which is the S-enantiomer of ketamine, is considered safer and better tolerated by patients than ketamine.

Aims:

This study aimed to identify the key gene targets and potential signalling pathways associated with the mechanism of S-ketamine in major depressive disorder (MDD) treatment.

Methods:

The GSE98793 dataset was extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and differentially expressed genes were identified in blood samples from patients with MDD and healthy individuals. The hub genes among the differentially expressed genes were identified and enrichment analysis was performed. The therapeutic targets and related signalling pathways of S-ketamine in MDD treatment were analysed. The 3D structures of the target proteins were predicted using AlphaFold2, and molecular docking was performed to verify whether S-ketamine could be successfully docked to the predicted targets. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the effect of ketamine on the screened targets. Among 228 target genes annotated using pharmacophore target gene analysis, 3 genes were identified and 2 therapeutic signalling pathways were discovered.

Results:

S-ketamine exerts downregulatory effects on TGM2 and HSP90AB1 expression but exerts an up-regulatory effect on ADORA3 expression. The protein structures of the therapeutic targets were successfully predicted using AlphaFold2.

Conclusions:

S-ketamine may alleviate depression by targeting specific genes, including TGM2, HSP90AB1 and ADORA3, as well as signalling pathways, including the gonadotropin-releasing hormone and relaxin signalling pathways.
Re-visiting the association between antidepressant use and the risk of lung cancer
Authors: Sun Ching-Fang , Su Kuan-Pin , Kablinger Anita S
Published: August 2024

Observational studies suggest a potential correlation between antidepressants and increased lung cancer risks. However, existing studies are limited to small sample sizes, unadjusted covariates especially smoking status, and unclear exposure duration. We performed a large-scale retrospective cohort study to re-examine the association. We analyzed non-smokers and smokers separately to eliminate the confounding effect of smoking status. We found patients with long-term antidepressant use were at a lower risk of lung cancer in both smokers and non-smokers (odds ratio (OR), 0.61; 95% CI: 0.46–0.80, OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65–0.86). None of the antidepressants was associated with an increased lung cancer risk.
Impact of childhood adversity on acute subjective effects of stimulant and opioid drugs: Evidence from placebo-controlled studies in healthy volunteers
Authors: Carlyle Molly , de Wit Harriet , Leknes Siri
Published: August 2024

Background and Aims:

Early-life adversities are known to alter drug reward processing in rodents. Despite the well-known link between early adversity and the risk of substance use disorder, few studies have measured how childhood adversity affects human drug reward. Here, we assessed the relationship between historical childhood adversities and responses to single doses of methamphetamine, d-amphetamine or buprenorphine in healthy participants.

Methods:

Using a secondary analysis approach, we assessed the impact of childhood adversity on drug effects from three randomised, placebo-controlled studies in which healthy volunteers received methamphetamine (20 mg oral; n = 35), d-amphetamine (20 mg oral; n = 54) or buprenorphine (0.2 mg sublingual; n = 35). Ratings of feeling effect, liking, disliking, feeling high and wanting more of the drug were collected 15–210 min post-administration, and heart rate changes were analysed using random-intercept mixed-effect models. The area under the curve from these and previous studies was calculated to visualise the relationship between childhood adversity severity and drug effects.

Results:

Greater childhood adversity was associated with reduced feel effects (significant three-way interactions b = −0.07, 95% CI [−0.12, −0.02], p = 0.009), like effects ( b = −0.07, 95% CI [−0.13, −0.00], p = 0.038) and feel high ( b = −0.06, 95% CI [−0.10, −0.01], p = 0.020) towards the stimulant drugs 90–180 min post-administration.

Conclusions:

Childhood adversity was not significantly associated with other subjective or heart rate responses to the drugs. Overall, participants with more childhood adversities reported dampened subjective responses to stimulant drugs, but not to buprenorphine. Future studies should examine the generalisability of these relationships, to identify the mechanisms underlying the link between childhood adversity and drug responsiveness.
What Makes People High in Openness to Experience Happy? The Mediating Effect of Arts Engagement
Authors: Manolika Maria , Jacobsen Thomas
Published: August 2024

Openness to experience is one of the least studied traits in relation to subjective well-being, despite its potential as a resource that enables flourishing. In this study, we therefore focused on this particular trait and examined whether its relation to subjective well-being is explained by receptive (Studies 1 and 2) and participatory arts engagement (Study 2) using data from the GESIS Panel ( N = 874) and the Swiss Household Panel ( N = 6336). In both studies, results indicated that the link between openness to experience and positive affect was explained in part by receptive arts engagement, whereas Study 2 showed that both receptive and participatory arts engagement served as partial mediators between openness to experience and life satisfaction. It follows, then, that the tendency to engage in the arts can lead to a happier life, which strengthens previous evidence for the potential of the arts as a means of flourishing.
Application of large language models in engineering education: A case study of system modeling and simulation courses
Authors: Liu Chao , Yang Shengyi
Published: August 2024

In modern engineering education, the application of digital technologies has significantly improved teaching effectiveness and student learning experiences. This study explores the innovative use of large language models (LLMs) in system modeling and simulation courses. Specifically, LLMs were applied to assist in MATLAB programming tasks, allowing students to learn MATLAB commands and programming techniques more conveniently. Additionally, interactions with LLMs guided students in acquiring cross-disciplinary knowledge related to modeling and simulation. In the context of system modeling and control problems, LLMs were utilized to aid in mathematical logic analysis and reasoning by providing potential solutions. These measures have demonstrated that students’ understanding and mastery of complex concepts were improved, and their interest and initiative in learning were stimulated. This paper summarizes the experiences of integrating LLMs in teaching, discusses their potential advantages and challenges in engineering education, and highlights the importance of incorporating digital technologies, particularly large language models, to support educational innovation.
An examination of capitalism’s influence on student affairs labor in higher education
Authors: Robinson Kirk S.
Published: August 2024

This essay aims to uncover capitalism’s influence over student affairs labor in higher education, by which is meant the labor of non-faculty, student-facing professionals on collegiate campuses globally. It contrasts with works foregrounding neoliberal analyses of the profession, which tend to show the impacts of neoliberal capitalism on student affairs labor in the present, disembodied from the whole of the capitalist system. With assistance from Marx’s notion of contradiction (derived from his dialectical approach), this essay reveals how capitalism’s influence on American higher educational institutions transformed the faculty role and paved the way for student affairs to come into existence. The use of Marx’s value-form helps explain the nature of student affairs practitioners’ labor as abstract. Following that, this work establishes student affairs labor as producing the labor-power commodity for capitalism and implements Marx’s subsumption categories to identify the ideal subsumption of student affairs labor. To conclude, there is brief discussion of an alternative to the current neoliberal university and student affairs labors’ place within it. Achieving this alternative will require political struggle against capitalism and organizing for the common.
Insights for Sustainable Urban Transport via Private Charging Pile Sharing in the Electric Vehicle Sector
Authors: Cai Jianming , Zhou Zixin , Zhao Zhiqiang , Wang Yaxin
Published: August 2024

The growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market is significantly influenced by the development of EV charging infrastructure. In China, the surge in private charging piles has led to the promotion of the private charging pile sharing model (PCPSM) as a strategic solution to overcome infrastructure challenges. This research develops a tripartite evolutionary game model among pile owners, property companies, and EV users to explore the promotion of the sharing model. Innovatively, it integrates prospect theory to capture the decision-making psychology of the participants. Using system dynamics and numerical simulation, an in-depth analysis is conducted on the effects of 15 key factors influencing strategic decisions, culminating in the formulation of feasible incentive mechanisms. The research reveals that: 1) Exclusive reliance on private pile sharing between pile owners and EV users is unstable, highlighting the need for greater involvement from property companies; 2) Managing crucial factors, including property management costs, charging pile usage prices, and profit-sharing ratios, within appropriate limits is essential for the sustainable growth of PCPSM; 3) Enhancing players’ awareness of potential losses and decreasing their risk preference are effective in encouraging proactive strategy adoption; and 4) The practice of pile owners contributing a specific proportion of management fees to property companies, along with dynamic government incentives, considerably elevates the propensity of property companies to engage actively in the sharing model. This study provides novel insights into enhancing PCPSM, with wide-reaching implications for the sustainability of the EV sector and urban transportation systems.
Exploring the Role of Social Media Content on Sexual Health Behaviors and Decision-Making Among Young Black Females
Authors: Dorsey Marquitta S. , Adams Vashti , Howard Tyriesa , Rutledge Jaleah , King Dione , Craddock Jaih , Jaffery Amunn
Published: August 2024

The current study aims to explore the impact of social media platforms on sexual health and decision-making among young Black females. With the vast amount of information available through social media platforms, many lack restrictions that protect young females from harmful information. This study is necessary to understand how to intervene at the micro, meso, and macro level of Black adolescent female experiences, often characterized by stereotypical social scripts of hypersexuality. A qualitative research design was used to engage young Black females regarding sexual health knowledge and factors related to their decision-making processes. Building upon Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis process, which has been widely utilized and tested by Maquire and Delahunt, semi-structured interviews were used to explore the sexual health experiences of 27 young Black females ages 15 to 24. Four themes emerged: the broad landscape of sexual content on social media, motivation for engaging with sexual content online, the influence of social media, and mechanisms that influence sexual activity. Practitioners must propose policy changes that challenge the ill effects of social media engagement and promote optimal sexual health and positive youth development, specifically for young Black females.
Math Abilities Among Children with Neurodevelopmental Difficulties: Understanding Cognitive Factors and Evaluating a Pilot Intervention
Authors: Mattson Danielle , Kryska Kathryn , Pei Jacqueline , Coles Claire , Kable Julie , Millians Molly , Andrew Gail , Cormier Damien , Rasmussen Carmen
Published: August 2024

Math development in children relies on several underlying cognitive functions, including executive functions (EF), working memory (WM), and visual-motor abilities, such as visual-motor integration (VMI). Understanding how these cognitive factors contribute to children’s math performance is critical to supporting math learning and long-term math success. The present quasi-experimental waitlist control study ( N = 28) aimed to (a) examine the unique contributions of EF, WM, and VMI to math abilities among children ages 5–8 years old with neurodevelopmental difficulties; (b) determine whether a math intervention (the Mathematics Interactive Learning Experience; MILE) that supports these cognitive processes was effective when modified to be delivered to small groups in a school setting, and (c) examine whether any participant characteristics, such as age or IQ, were correlated with post-intervention math score changes. At baseline, participants’ math scores were significantly below the normative mean in all math content areas ( ps < .01). EF, WM, and VMI were highly correlated with math ability; however, verbal WM was the only unique predictor of math ability in regressions analysis. Compared to a waitlist control group, children in the immediate MILE intervention group achieved significantly greater math gains overall. When all children who ultimately completed the intervention were considered together, significant improvement was observed in more than half of math content areas. Furthermore, at the individual level, 85.7% of participants showed reliable change in at least one math content area. Implications for supporting math learning in children with neurodevelopmental difficulties are discussed.
“It's a Thing”: What Nurse Elders Believe Novice Nurses Need to Know About Managing Emotional Labour
Authors: Ross Charlotte A.
Published: August 2024

Background

Emotional labour (EL) can take a significant toll on nurses’ mental health and well-being and has serious implications for the retention of nurses in the workforce. Nurse educators have struggled to prepare novices to manage EL or find serviceable resources with which to do so within the body of nursing literature, which is dominated by essentially unhelpful narratives and is absent of the practical, real-world wisdom of elder nurses.

Purpose

This exploratory research study illuminated elder nurses’ experiential knowledge and beliefs of what is important for novices to learn about EL.

Methods

Conventional Content Analysis (CCA) of qualitative survey data from 688 nurses with 20+ years of experience.

Results

CCA generated descriptive categories and sub-categories: What the elders themselves learned as student nurses, and their advice to novices in the individual realm, (“It's a Thing,” healthy disengagement, supporting mental and physical well-being, reframing self-reproach), team realm (peer support, mentors), and institutional realm (structural barriers to mentors’ support of novices, building novices’ capacities for self-advocacy, resources to support health and well-being).

Conclusions

The elders’ data confronted and reframed legacy individuated narratives in the literature by supporting and contextualizing nurses’ emotional work. Elders advised novices that EL is a reality requiring concrete strategies to manage it throughout their practices. Elders extended their focus for management of EL beyond the individual to include peer support, mentorship, and the structural conditions in which nurses perform their EL, highlighting the need to empower nurses by building their capacity for self-advocacy of their workers’ rights.
Hidden Hate, Hidden Violence: Dismantling Myths and Identifying Fresh Challenges for Research and Policy
Authors: Chakraborti Neil , Burch Leah
Published: August 2024

Hate crime has become an increasingly familiar term within global scholarship, with advancements in conceptual understanding and empirical knowledge helping to generate improved policy responses across many parts of the world. However, the continued demonization of 'other' identities, the escalating volume of hate incidents worldwide and the prevailing climate of rising tensions, decreasing resources and political de-prioritization all suggest that many urgent challenges remain. Contributors to this special issue have dismantled common stereotypes and misperceptions which hamper our collective capacity to address contemporary expressions of hate and violence. In doing so, they draw from their research evidence to identify “hidden” challenges which should be at the forefront of attempts to address the causes, effects, and prevention of all forms of violence. This call for reconfiguration is the unifying theme which runs through each article, and which paves the way for more nuanced analyses that offer new frameworks for responding to the diverse and changing patterns of violence. These are challenges which straddle disciplinary boundaries, geographical borders, and the physical/digital world, and which demand the international, intersectional, and interdisciplinary perspectives evident within this special issue.
Nature-inspired solutions: A comprehensive review of biomimetic nanoparticles in nanomedicine
Authors: Issaka Eliasu , Tornyeava Blessing , Agyekum Enock Adjei , Enyan Michael , Okai Amu-Darko Jesse Nii , Chimuza Hither Tariro
Published: August 2024

Biomimetic nanoparticles (BioM NPs) are an innovative strategy for nanomedicine (NanoMed) that combines the advantages of artificial materials with the biological functioning of natural systems. Ongoing research attempts to enhance their design, and stability, and solve problems for broader applications in medicine and biotechnology. NanoMed ideas are intensively researched in preclinical research because they provide unique advantages in disease management. It has developed novel therapeutic strategies for combating viral infections and increasing treatment success rates. The creation of novel nanocarriers and drug delivery systems is critical to the evolution of NanoMed, but there is still much to learn about this quickly evolving field. To contribute to existing knowledge and cover knowledge gaps, our present review article will discuss the state-of-the-art of BioM NPs in NanoMed in three sections. First, the methods of BioM NP production and their synergistic interactions with human cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems will be discussed. Followed by a discussion of BioM NPs) for several NanoMeds (wound healing, targeted drug delivery, theranostics, cancer therapy, and bone formation and/or regeneration), and concluding with the novel application of BioM NPs, challenges associated with these novel applications, and prospects.
UV and outdoor weathering of glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene composites and recycling of aged composites
Authors: Kuram Emel , Ozcelik Babur , Kocoglu Hurol , Ayas Hamza , Dogan Mehmet
Published: August 2024

Polymeric materials usage is rising, and they are exposed to some effects such as temperature, light, water throughout their lifetime. Increase in use of polymer has led to waste problems. From an environmental point of view, recycling (reprocessing) of polymers is one of the viable solutions to diminish waste issues. Thus, in this work, the effect of reprocessing for aged glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) composites having different glass fiber content was determined on the mechanical properties (tensile, impact, flexural), melt flow index and morphology. Virgin glass fiber reinforced PC/ABS specimens were exposed to two environments, namely artificial accelerated ageing in a QUV chamber for up to 336 h and natural ageing in Gebze (Turkey) for up to 1 year between January 2018 and January 2019 to determine the influence of a long-term outdoor exposure on the properties. After these ageing steps, naturally and UV aged specimens were ground and the ground specimens were mixed with virgin glass fiber reinforced PC/ABS at ratios of 25%, 50% and 75% by weight. The mixed materials were re-molded to fabricate test specimens and then characterized. In brief, in current research, the mechanical, rheological, and morphological properties of virgin, aged in outdoors for 12 months, aged in UV chamber for 336 h and blends of virgin-aged glass fiber reinforced PC/ABS composites were studied. Because there is no research regarding natural and UV ageing of PC/ABS having different glass fiber content, this study represents an important contribution to determining behavior of these composites after ageing. From experimental study, in general, it was found that mechanical properties decreased with natural and UV ageing, but some retention in properties could be achieved with the incorporation of pure polymer.
Mortality in the Victorian asylum: was it so high? Standardised Mortality Rate compared with historical methods
Authors: Richardson Charlotte , Robson Alastair , Sood Loopinder , Ferrier I Nicol , Owen Andy
Published: August 2024

Mortality is closely linked to age, sex, and social and historical context. Standardised Mortality Rates (SMR) address these contextual factors by comparing mortality in a population under study with that in people of the same age and sex, the same period in history and from a similar cultural context. We use records from the Hatton Asylum and contemporaneous census data in order to calculate SMR in the asylum population, showing rates that were about 2.5 times greater than the population at the time. This is much lower than crude mortality rates, which we calculated as being more than seven times greater than in the population. The SMR method may enable a more meaningful understanding of mortality in asylums or other institutions.
Numerical investigations on the sealing performance and ingestion mechanism of rim seals for a 1+1/2 counter-rotating turbine
Authors: Cong Qingfeng , Cheng Guoqiang , Zhang Kaiyuan , Li Zhigang , Li Jun , Kong Xianglin
Published: August 2024

Rim seals at the periphery of cavities can prevent high-temperature gas from ingesting into the disk cavity. The sealing performance of rim seals and ingestion mechanism for the counter-rotating cavity of a 1 + 1/2 counter-rotating turbine are studied by solving the three-dimensional unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equations via shear stress transfer (SST) turbulence model. The accuracy of the numerical method is verified by comparing with the experimental data. The sealing effectiveness in cavities and flow field in rim seal clearance of three rim seals are analyzed, and the impact factor of unsteady flow pattern is explored. The results show that, the sealing effectiveness [Formula: see text] of the disk cavity of LPR lipped rim seal is the highest within the full sealant flow rate [Formula: see text] range. When the non-dimensional sealant flow rate [Formula: see text] is 0.034, the sealing effectiveness [Formula: see text] at the high-pressure rotor (HPR) disk at r/b = 0.96 for LPR lipped rim seal is 10.96% higher than that of the axial seal which is the smallest; the sealing effectiveness [Formula: see text] on the low-pressure rotor (LPR) disk at r/b = 0.96 is 18.99% higher than that of HPR lipped rim seal. A clockwise Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) unstable vortex within the rim seal clearance is formed due to the large radial gradient of circumferential velocity. The existence of unstable vortices significantly changes the flow pattern of ingress and egress, which can block the axial clearance and reduce the amount of gas ingestion by reducing discharge coefficients. Affected by the supersonic flow inside HPR blades, shock waves occurred near the trailing edge of the HPR blades, including inner-extending shock (IES) and outer-extending shock (OES) and the non-axisymmetry of circumferential pressure coefficient [Formula: see text] at the trailing edge significantly increases. The K-H unstable vortex and non-axisymmetric circumferential distribution of the pressure coefficient [Formula: see text] jointly affect on the ingress and egress process. When the radial inward flow of the vortex is downstream of the high and low circumferential pressure, gas ingestion is enhanced and weakened, respectively.
Heterogeneous environmental regulations and carbon emission efficiency in China: A perspective of resource endowment
Authors: Gao Jiazhan , Hua Guihong , Randhawa AbidAli , Huo Baofeng
Published: August 2024

China, as the world's largest carbon emitter, is striving for green transformation through the implementation of various environmental policies. This study employs panel data from 30 Chinese provinces between 2000 and 2022 to analyze in-depth the heterogeneous effects of three types of environmental regulations. The findings reveal a U-shaped relationship between both general public environmental regulation (GER) and mandatory environmental regulation (MER) and carbon emission efficiency (CEE). Conversely, stimulating environmental regulations (SERs) exhibit an inverted U-shaped relationship with CEE. Mechanism analysis further reveals that environmental regulations enhance CEE by promoting industrial structural upgrades and technological innovation. Notably, SERs are particularly effective in improving the CEE in resource-rich and moderately resourced provinces. However, GER exhibits a masking effect on the pathway of technological innovation, indicating potential inefficiencies in its implementation. Moreover, heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that mandatory environmental regulation has a more pronounced impact on improving the CEE in resource-rich and moderately resourced provinces, whereas this impact is relatively weaker in resource-poor provinces. This finding underscores the importance of tailoring environmental policies to the specific resource characteristics of different regions. The insights from this study offer critical guidance for policymakers in designing and implementing differentiated environmental regulation policies, particularly in advancing China’s transition toward a sustainable, green, and low-carbon future.
“We were cast aside”: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of abortion journeys from Ireland
Authors: Heslin Rebecca A , O’Higgins Siobhán , O’Donnell Aisling T
Published: August 2024

Between 1983 and 2018, approximately 170,000 people journeyed abroad to access abortions outside Ireland due to Ireland having one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world. This paper analyses the lived experience of people who made such journeys, contributing to the literature on restricted abortion access and forced abortion travel. Six in-depth interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three master themes were developed. Master Theme 1 speaks to the burden of concealing the experience, and the fear of being discovered and punished that drove the concealment. Master Theme 2 gives insight into overlapping and interwoven challenges of having to leave one's country to access abortion services: lack of access to information, financial burdens, being forced to remain pregnant after making the decision to end that pregnancy, and the impact of all of this against the backdrop of the crisis of unwanted pregnancy. Master Theme 3 speaks to the processing and meaning-making of the journey; how coming into contact with others who had similar stories informed a more compassionate lens on their own stories, and inspired participants, to varying degrees, to become active in the struggle to make Ireland's abortion legislation less restrictive.
Complaining while disabled: Disabled people's experiences expressing complaints within the context of sexuality
Authors: Jóhannsdóttir Ásta , Guðrúnar Ágústsdóttir Embla
Published: August 2024

Within critical disability research, little attention has been paid to the concept of complaint in relation to disabled people. While the demand for thankfulness has been studied to some extent, it is interesting to investigate how and if the complaints of disabled people are heard. This paper explored disabled people's experiences of expressing complaints within the context of sexuality, and the reaction such complaints stirred. The experiences of marginalised groups are often coloured by microaggressions that are not very visible and are regularly trivialised. Studies have shown that microaggressions are a dominant factor affecting the daily lives of disabled people and are thus important to examine further. The data were collected in 2019 and consisted of five interviews and three focus group meetings with 13 participants. Our findings showed that microaggressions are a leading factor in disabled people's daily lives and that they require constant reaction. One of the manifestations of microaggressions is the idea that disabled people should be grateful; thus, they have little room to complain, make demands, or set boundaries. Therefore, expressions of sexuality and desire are often accompanied by feelings of shame among disabled people.
Tofacitinib versus thalidomide for mucocutaneous lesions of systemic lupus erythematosus: A real-world CSTAR cohort study XXVII
Authors: Zhao Man , Ma Leyao , Duan Xinwang , Huo Yuehong , Liu Shengyun , Zhao Cheng , Zheng Zhaohui , Wang Qian , Tian Xinping , Chen Yunzhuan , Li Mengtao
Published: August 2024

Objective

Thalidomide is an effective medication for refractory mucocutaneous lesions of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and can treat arthritis in some autoimmune diseases, but it has some adverse reactions. Recently, the effectiveness of tofacitinib in treating mucocutaneous lesions of SLE has been reported. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib with thalidomide in treating mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal lesions in patients with SLE.

Methods

This study was a real-world cohort study based on the Chinese SLE Treatment and Research group (CSTAR) registry. SLE patients who manifested mucocutaneous and/or musculoskeletal symptoms and were prescribed tofacitinib or thalidomide were included. We retrospectively conducted comparisons between the tofacitinib and thalidomide groups regarding clinical improvements, SLE disease activity, serological indicators, glucocorticoid doses, and adverse events at the 1, 3, and 6-months time points.

Results

At 3 and 6 months, the tofacitinib group exhibited a higher proportion of patients with improvement in mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal issues. Additionally, a greater percentage of patients in the tofacitinib group achieved remission or a low disease activity state (LLDAS) at these time points. No significant serological improvements were observed in either the tofacitinib or thalidomide groups. Fewer adverse events were observed in the tofacitinib group than in the thalidomide group.

Conclusions

Tofacitinib might be superior to thalidomide in the improvement of mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal lesions in SLE, and had a good safety profile.
Evaluation of thyroid dysfunction in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: Risk factors for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Authors: Konte Elif Kilic , Karakas Hasan , Akay Nergis , Gul Umit , Ucak Kubra , Tarcin Gurkan , Aslan Esma , Gunalp Aybuke , Haslak Fatih , Turan Oya Koker , Yildiz Mehmet , Turan Hande , Ucar Ayse Kalyoncu , Adrovic Amra , Barut Kenan , Evliyaoglu Olcay , Sahin Sezgin , Kasapcopur Ozgur
Published: August 2024

Objective

Increased frequency of autoimmune thyroid disease, particularly Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) was reported several studies in the literature, in individuals with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence and contributing factors of thyroid dysfunction and HT among cSLE patients.

Methods

Thyroid function tests were obtained cross-sectionally from cSLE patients. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics and activity scores were collected from medical records. Patients diagnosed with cSLE were compared to the healthy control group for the frequency of thyroid dysfunction. The Mann-Whitney U, independent samples t test, and the Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test were used to compare study groups. A p-value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Out of 73 cSLE patients, 14 (19.1%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, 9 (12.3%) had clinical hypothyroidism, 12 (16.4%) were diagnosed with HT, and 12 (16.4%) had a family history of HT. Thyroid USG was performed in 5 euthyroid patients and 1 borderline subclinical hypothyroid patient with positive thyroid autoantibody and reported as diffuse heterogeneous echogenicity enlargement in the thyroid gland. There were no significant differences in clinical and laboratory data or medication used between the groups with and without HT; however, patients with HT had a higher frequency of clinical hypothyroidism and family history of HT. Cumulative prednisolone dose was significantly lower in patients diagnosed with HT. The frequency of HT was considerably higher in patients with cSLE compared to the healthy control group.

Conclusion

The results demonstrate an increased incidence of HT in cSLE patients, even if they are euthyroid, and recommend that cSLE patients be screened more frequently.
Investigating physical inactivity and associated health parameters in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Sari Fulden , Pala Gamze Gülsün , Oskay Deran , Tufan Abdurrahman
Published: August 2024

Background

Physical inactivity, which is highly prevalent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events and causes many complications. This study aimed to investigate the effect of objective measurement and physical activity level on peripheral muscle strength, exercise capacity, pain, dyspnea, fatigue, anxiety, and depression in patients with SLE.

Methods

The present cross-sectional study analyzed 41 patients with SLE. Clinical and demographic characteristics of patients were recorded. Functional exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea, pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression were assessed. The physical activity level was assessed by a wearable activity tracker (Mi Band four smart band).

Results

The number of steps measured by the activity tracker was 4384.43 ± 1558.21 steps per day in patients with SLE. Patients with physical activity levels below 5000 steps exhibited elevated levels of fatigue, along with diminished functional exercise capacity and knee muscle strength, in comparison to those who were above the 5000-step threshold. Physical activity levels correlated with functional exercise capacity (6MWT), physiological parameters (maximum heart rate, Δ heart rate, Δ dyspnea, QFM fatigue, Δ QFM fatigue), and knee extension muscle strength. The functional exercise capacity and knee extension were identified as significantly and dependently associated with physical activity levels in SLE patients.

Conclusion

Physical activity level is associated with functional exercise capacity and knee muscle strength in patients with SLE.
Estimation and inference on the partial volume under the receiver operating characteristic surface
Authors: Young Kate J , Bantis Leonidas E
Published: August 2024

Summary measures of biomarker accuracy that employ the receiver operating characteristic surface have been proposed for biomarkers that classify patients into one of three groups: healthy, benign, or aggressive disease. The volume under the receiver operating characteristic surface summarizes the overall discriminatory ability of a biomarker in such configurations, but includes cutoffs associated with clinically irrelevant true classification rates. Due to the lethal nature of pancreatic cancer, cutoffs associated with a low true classification rate for identifying patients with pancreatic cancer may be undesirable and not appropriate for use in a clinical setting. In this project, we study the properties of a more focused criterion, the partial volume under the receiver operating characteristic surface, that summarizes the diagnostic accuracy of a marker in the three-class setting for regions restricted to only those of clinical interest. We propose methods for estimation and inference on the partial volume under the receiver operating characteristic surface under parametric and non-parametric frameworks and apply these methods to the evaluation of potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Captain George Blair RAMC: A doctor prisoner of the Japanese in Singapore and Taiwan in the Second World War
Authors: Venables Katherine M
Published: August 2024

The papers from George Blair's war service as a prisoner of the Japanese in the Second World War are unusually complete. It is a valuable record because it is representative of those young doctors who provided most of the medical care in the camps, and also because the Taiwan camps are not well documented in the literature.
Disabled people's experiences of English football fandom: Inclusion, exclusion and discrimination
Authors: Penfold Connor , Darby Paul , Kitchin Paul
Published: August 2024

This article employs a novel theoretical framework, rooted in the social relational model of disability alongside the concept of ableism, to critically analyse disabled football supporters lived experiences of inclusion and exclusion in English Football. In seeking to shed light on this hitherto neglected field, this study utilised a dual-phased qualitative approach comprised of two complementary netnographic methods, specifically online observations of fan message boards and online semi-structured interviews with 33 disabled football supporters of clubs in the English Football League and National League. We demonstrate that while some clubs provide inclusive spectator environments where disabled people experience moments of inclusion and belonging, they nonetheless face structural, social and psychological barriers before, during and after the matchday which create conditions that exclude, oppress and constrain full participation in football fandom. In doing so, this paper offers new insights into how the disabling nature of contemporary capitalist society continues to systematically exclude disabled people from areas of mainstream society – such as football fandom – to which they have a right.
The privilege to do it all? Exploring the contradictions of name, image and likeness (NIL) rights for women athletes and women's sports
Authors: Sailofsky Daniel
Published: August 2024

In 2021, the US Supreme Court forced the NCAA to drop its name, image and likeness ban, allowing collegiate athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness rights. Women's basketball's biggest stars have been some of the bigger beneficiaries, profiting off of their attention, media coverage and social media presence to draw in fans, earn significant sums and grow the popularity of their sport. While name, image and likeness rights are undoubtedly a step in the right direction for campus athletic workers on their road to adequate compensation for their athletic labour, they are not a panacea. In this article, I discuss the gig-ified nature of name, image and likeness labour, and examine the intersections of name, image and likeness and gender and feminism, exploring how they might impact women's athletes’ collective power and the sustainable growth of women's sports. Using an intersectional feminist lens attuned to the racial capitalist structuring of elite sport, I explore the potential opportunities, contradictions and unintended consequences that name, image and likeness might bring for women's athletes and women's sports. These include the opportunity to parlay individual players’ success and notoriety into better working conditions for all women's basketball players, the difficulty of finding a middle ground between viewing athletes as simply commodified labour versus demanding additional, ‘off-the-court’ labour from them, and the potential pay disparities and detrimental narratives that could arise if women athletes’ success is determined by heterosexist, ‘feminine’ ‘marketability’ criteria, without adequate professional opportunities for all players. I also argue that one's views on these questions depend partially on larger normative questions related to what women's sports and individual athletes should strive for, and what counts as feminism in sport.
Improving Identification of Gig Workers in National Health and Behavior Surveys
Authors: Ofonedu Michael Chidera , Frey Jodi J. , Ware Orrin D. , Hoke Kathleen , Mitchell Clifford S. , Cloeren Marianne
Published: August 2024

This paper describes the work-related information collected in several important U.S. national health and behavior surveys, to highlight data gaps that prevent identifying responses by vulnerable workers in the gig economy, with emphasis on the growing digital platform sector of the work force. The national information systems used to understand health status and health behaviors, including drug use, rely on outdated census categories for self-employed workers. This paper describes the importance of understanding the needs of this growing part of the labor sector and describes how some of the most well-known and utilized national surveys fail to meet this need. For the agencies conducting national health and behavior surveys, we propose revisions to the categories used to classify type of worker and recommend adoption of a new Worker-Employer Relationship Classification model.
Principals’ Discursive Framing and Communications and Educators’ Job Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Wilcox Kristen C. , Durand Francesca T. , Lawson Hal A. , Schiller Kathryn S. , Leo Aaron , Khan Maria I. , Mola Ávila José Antonio
Published: August 2024

This qualitative interview study investigated principals’ discursive frames and communications during the COVID-19 pandemic. The six leader interviews that comprise this study’s dataset were drawn from a purposeful sample of schools with variable educator job satisfaction survey results. A combination of deductive and inductive coding of the interview data informed by framing theory was conducted. This analysis revealed that leaders of schools with the least amount of change in educator job satisfaction during the pandemic drew upon diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational frames and used a variety of communication strategies that encouraged collaboration and cooperation. Findings suggest that while all principals in this study shared similar challenges and all increased the frequency of their communications during the pandemic, how principals framed uncertainty, listened to and responded to staff concerns, and communicated using different modes and with different stakeholders contrasted in schools with variable educator job satisfaction changes. This study holds implications for school principal crisis-management communications and future study of them.
A Prospective Evaluation of the Effects of Outdoor Adventure Training Programs on Work-Related Outcomes
Authors: Tyne William P. , Fletcher David , Paine Nicola J. , Stevinson Clare
Published: August 2024

Outdoor adventure (OA) programs are popular for workforce education and training. Despite the demand, there remains limited research evaluating their effectiveness for occupational training. Using a prospective mixed methods design, this study explored the effects of OA training on work-related outcomes through validated questionnaires and interviews. Measures were also taken immediately before and after engagement to capture change in participants’ subjective reactions to the program, with further appraisals collected 1-week after. Twenty-seven participants were recruited from three different organizations. Generally, participants responded favorably to the program and reported positive affective and cognitive states after participation, although appraisals varied across the sample. The program had a small effect on teamwork self-efficacy at 1-week ( g = 0.36) and medium effect at 2-month follow-up ( g = 0.69). A medium effect size was observed for workplace self-efficacy at 1-week follow-up ( g = 0.63), but this diminished over time ( g = 0.48). No meaningful effects were found for workplace performance, motivation, and engagement. Findings from the qualitative data suggested the experience enhanced team dynamics, provided a sense of accomplishment, and offered an outlet to disconnect from the workplace. The results offer insights into the benefits, limitations, and practical applications of OA training in occupational settings.
E-tailer’s Inventory Location and Pricing With Strategic Consumers
Authors: Chen Yuxin , Li Meng , Liang Chao
Published: August 2024

This research examines how strategic consumer behavior influences e-tailers’ decisions on inventory storage locations, pricing strategies, and inventory levels. The e-tailer opts for either a single central warehouse, which has lower holding but higher shipping costs due to its distance from consumers, or a mix of central and proximal local warehouses, which reduces shipping costs but incurs higher holding costs. We find that local warehousing prompts consumers to delay purchases in hopes of discounts, compelling e-tailers to lower prices to encourage early buying. Consequently, the firm may not utilize the local warehouse, even when it comes at no cost. Intriguingly, we find that increased local storage expenses or diminished product durability could paradoxically elevate firm profits. Our numerical analysis highlights the benefits of strategically distributing inventory across both central and local warehouses, especially under conditions of reduced demand uncertainty. Moreover, we establish that our key insights persist in the case of multiple local warehouses.