bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infrastructures of Social Reproduction: Migrant Survival and Economic Development at the Thailand-Myanmar Border
Authors: Palmgren Pei
Published: October 2024

International migration literature has shown that infrastructures consisting of people and institutions sustain migration and help migrants cope in new environments. However, analytic focus on these infrastructures is often limited to the migration process and its impact on migrants. This article extends the growing literature on migration infrastructure by analyzing its socially reproductive capacities in the context of economic development in Thailand. Drawing on ethnographic and interview data from the Tak border zone, I show how the social and humanitarian dimensions of migration infrastructure that grew from war displacement, labor migration, and migrant survival efforts became essential to economic development aims of the Thai state. Through this case, I illustrate a process of infrastructural co-optation by which the state harnesses grassroots and humanitarian actors’ capacities for childcare, education, and healthcare to advance such aims. Authorities spatially contain migrant workers with limited rights and social protections while loosely engaging with parts of the border's infrastructure, which keeps noncitizen workers alive and available for low-wage jobs. The findings show that aspects of migration infrastructure are co-optable, with impact beyond the migration process and for non-migrants.
Regional Accents: Spontaneous Biases Toward Speakers Who Sound Like Us
Authors: Bestelmeyer Patricia E.G.
Published: October 2024

Accents provide information about a speaker's geographical, socio-economic, and ethnic background. An additional important variable in the social evaluation of accented speech is the listener's own accent. Just as with any in-group marker, there is a preference for accented speakers that sound like us. Here we employed an auditory version of the implicit association test to quantify own-accent bias. At a Welsh university, we recruited two groups of participants born and raised in distinct regions within the UK, Wales and England. These regions have a long-standing history of national rivalry. In Experiments 1 and 2 we show that the magnitude of the implicitly measured own-accent bias in both groups was comparable to biases based on visible group membership (e.g., race). In addition, Experiment 2 shows that this implicitly measured bias was large compared to the explicitly reported preference. The effect sizes of the in-group preference reported here may have societal impact.
Substitution: On the Animating Spirit of Economic Rationality
Authors: Szakolczai Arpad
Published: October 2024

The term ‘substitution’, given minimal attention in thinking, became important in modern logic, but its treatment is highly technical. After a short review of its conceptual-historical background, the article discusses two important contemporary social and cultural theorists of substitution, Roberto Calasso and Michel Serres. It then turns to William Stanley Jevons, who first took up Boole’s logic, formulated the principle ‘substitution of similars’, the presumed heart of reasoning itself, constructed the first computer, and was a founder of neoclassical economics. The coincidence of these innovations in Jevons, through ‘substitution’, captures the way the modern world was set on its current trajectory, progressing towards a ‘substitution society’. The article concludes that as the key values of human life cannot be substituted, substitution as a general principle applied to human existence is absurd; economic theory, however, as shown in the ideas of Jevons, is founded on the exclusion of such genuine and meaningful concerns.
Barbarism and modernity in S.N. Eisenstadt’s theory: Towards a cultural sociology of radicalism
Authors: Maccarini Andrea M
Published: October 2024

The emergence of ‘radical’ social and political actors, ideologies and identities seems to be a hallmark of the crisis of liberal democracy that is spreading throughout global society. Despite its growing uneasiness about these facts, social science has not produced much theoretical innovation about them. This article aims to contribute to this task, by bringing to bear a conceptual framework elaborated by Shmuel N. Eisenstadt through his reflections on modern barbarism. I argue that the author’s understanding of barbarism has a significant interpretive potential for the sociological analysis of contemporary radical identities, and suggest some ways to reconsider ‘populism’, thereby redefining the very concept of radicalism. The article starts by introducing the pivotal notions which constitute the conceptual framework of our author. The following section outlines the main argument of Eisenstadt’s theory of barbarism, unpacking the way in which those concepts interweave to conjure a cultural theory of exclusionary, violent identities and institutional regimes. The final section highlights the significance of such approach for a cultural sociology of radicalism, by exploring the relations between the author’s views and some selected trends in contemporary social theory.
Hurting or healing? How conflict exposure and trauma (do not) shape support for truth commissions
Authors: Godefroidt Amélie , Dyrstad Karin
Published: October 2024

Truth commissions (TCs) are a much-discussed and sometimes controversial means of establishing sustainable peace. Despite their prevalence and potential, the determinants of public support for TCs, particularly the role of conflict exposure, remain poorly understood. We suggest trauma as a key mechanism through which conflict exposure affects support for TCs. Trauma may lead victims to see TCs as hurting or healing, respectively, which may decrease or increase support. We test these competing hypotheses across Nepal, Guatemala, and Northern Ireland; three post-conflict cases with differing truth-seeking experiences. While conflict exposure predicts trauma in all three cases, trauma only determines support for TCs with tangible implications, and only in Nepal and Northern Ireland. By qualitatively examining context-specific scope conditions, we propose that the prospective closure utility of a specific TC could bolster its support. Future research is needed to probe the validity of this novel theoretical construct.
Sleep Characteristics of Children and Youth with Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Sanguino Hangsel , Brunton Laura , Condliffe Elizabeth G. , Kopala-Sibley Daniel C. , Noel Melanie E. , Mish Sandra J. , McMorris Carly A.
Published: October 2024

Background: Children with cerebral palsy are considered to be a population at risk for the occurrence of sleep difficulties. However, existing literature has been limited by subjective measures of sleep and has failed to examine contributing factors. Methods: Forty-five youth with cerebral palsy participated. Both youth and caregivers completed sleep-related questionnaires, while youth completed daily actigraphy for objective sleep assessments. Results: Sleep patterns, including sleep duration, wake after sleep onset, and sleep efficiency, are generally aligned with existing sleep recommendations. However, the number of awakenings was significantly higher in youth with cerebral palsy compared to these recommendations. Most youth experienced poor sleep quality, and approximately a quarter experienced insomnia. Being a boy and having a preexisting mental health diagnosis was associated with poor sleep quality and greater insomnia symptoms. Conclusions: Most youth with cerebral palsy experience a range of sleep difficulties. This study provides new information on sleep patterns in youth with cerebral palsy, highlighting the importance of addressing sleep issues in this population to improve their well-being and ultimately limit the negative impacts on overall health and quality of life.
Experimental investigation of dodecanoic acid–tetradecanoic acid–dodecanol ternary mixture based nanoparticle enriched-phase change material for food preservation applications
Authors: Jain Nilesh Kumar , Paliwal Deepak , Jain Pankaj
Published: October 2024

In this research, a novel phase change material (PCM), containing dodecanoic acid-tetradecanoic acid-dodecanol ternary mixture, designated as pure mixture, dispersed with two carbon-based nanoparticles, i.e., graphene nanoplatelets - multiwall carbon nanotube and graphene nanoplatelets-titanium dioxide, with 1% weight fraction, is prepared and is designated as nanoparticle-enriched-phase change material. The chemical and thermal analysis of pure ternary mixture and nanoparticle-enriched-phase change material was conducted using X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, Differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared, Thermo gravimetric analyser and Thermal conductivity analyser techniques. The pure mixture possess melting and freezing temperature of 15.6°C and 8.4°C with a melting-freezing latent heat (LH) of 131.5 J/g and 125.4 J/g, respectively. The thermal conductivity exhibited a significant increase of 187.6% in the case of pure mixture with graphene nanoplatelets- multiwall carbon nanotube and 41.7% for pure mixture with graphene nanoplatelets-titanium dioxide. Moreover, the PCM remained thermally stable in both cases, even with the incorporation of nanoparticles. The melting as well as freezing LHs were reduced by about 18.17% and 18.02% for graphene nanoplatelets- multiwall carbon nanotube dispersed PCM and, 12.49% and 9.49% for graphene nanoplatelets- titanium dioxide dispersed PCM, respectively, in comparison with the pure mixture. Similarly, the melting/freezing temperatures, gets also reduced by 9.6%/8.3% and 10.9%/8.3%, respectively, for both mixtures. The pure mixture with graphene nanoplatelets- multiwall carbon nanotube exhibited a substantial decrease in both charging and discharging times, with reductions of 28.48% and 18.73%, respectively, in comparison to pure mixture, at an air inlet velocity of 3 m/s.
Delving deeper into OpIndia.com’s representation of Hindus and Muslims
Authors: Jaisal E. K. , Majumder Shinjinee
Published: October 2024

The paper examines 54,580 articles published from 12 December 2014 to 15 May 2023 on the right-wing news and current affairs website www.opindia.com through a corpus-assisted discourse-historical approach in three stages. First, it looks at the entire dataset using corpus-based keyword analysis to gauge the relative prominence of four node words Hindu(s) and Muslim(s) in OpIndia’s content. Second, it analyses a down-sampled set of 696 articles and identifies 42 prominent themes shaping the discourse surrounding the nodes. Finally, examining a set of 36 articles further down-sampled and analysing the discursive strategies through the discourse-historical approach demonstrates that OpIndia perpetuates a perniciously polarising discourse demonising Muslims. Also, it reaffirms that the formative rift on which the discourse thrives is – the Hindu nationalist versus secular imaginations of the nation.
Living on a low income during the cost-of-living crisis: Exploring experiences and perceptions
Authors: Jordan Uisce , Power Maddy , Kaufman James , Mann Emily , Patrick Ruth , Pybus Katie
Published: October 2024

Drawing upon data from Changing Realities, an online participatory research project collected between September-October 2022 and March-April 2023, this article generates new knowledge on the lived experiences of low-income families in the UK during this turbulent political period and particularly through the (ongoing) cost-of-living crisis. Utilising the work of Wright and McIntosh, we articulate the ‘shared typical’ discernible of lived experiences of life on a low income during this tumultuous period. Findings provide new insights into how participants describe themselves as part of a collective, comprising parents and carers who shared similar experiences of life on a low income. However, in contrast they differentiated between themselves and those in positions of power and disconnected from their reality. In our discussion, we examine the implications of this and consider the broader understandings and realisations of poverty.
The disappearance of ‘poverty’ in Dutch House of Representatives debates on the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism (SECTT)
Authors: Ras Ilse A , Koning Anneke
Published: October 2024

Policymaking is storytelling; through stories, the policymaker learns of the problem, and based on these stories, the policymaker formulates a solution. In our earlier study of discussions about sexual exploitation of children in the context of travel and tourism (SECTT) in the Dutch House of Representatives, we suggest that the central story in these discussions revolves around ‘crime’ and law enforcement. Despite evidence on the links between poverty and SECTT, few policy suggestions target this risk factor. In our current study, we piece together the story told about the role of poverty in SECTT in Dutch House of Representatives debates, letters and documents from 1995 to 2020 using Faircloughian CDA enhanced with an analysis of transitivity. Our findings indicate that initially, poverty was indeed discussed as a key cause of SECTT. SECTT was understood as a fundamentally commercial practice through which children and their families aim to escape that poverty. Over time, however, the agency attributed to these families diminishes and focus shifts to (the actions of) abusers and exploiters. This development appears to be connected to shifting political orientations of consecutive Dutch government coalitions.
Defining, labelling and evaluating poverty: A corpus-based discourse analysis of category construction in The Times newspaper 1900–2009
Authors: Paterson Laura L
Published: October 2024

This paper explores the construction of different understandings of poverty in The Times newspaper (1900–2009). Using corpus-based discourse analysis, it examines the premodification of poverty with different nouns. Rising to prominence from the 1950s onwards, the resulting compound nouns, including world poverty and child poverty, facilitate the discursive construction of different types of poverty as distinct entities. Through close reading of concordance lines and collocate analysis, the paper investigates how these categories are presented as qualitatively similar/different and discusses how such representations reflect broader ideological contexts in the UK.
ADP-based adaptive control of ship course tracking system with prescribed performance
Authors: Li Peng , Bai Weiwei , Zhang Wenjun , Zhao Yang
Published: October 2024

In this paper, an adaptive dynamic programing (ADP)-based adaptive control problem is studied for the ship course tracking system with prescribed performance. Firstly, the complex sea conditions will bring difficulty to ship course tracking when unmanned ship sailing on sea. In order to overcome this difficulty, a prescribed performance feedforward term is designed in the controller to improve the course tracking ability of ship. Secondly, by defining a cost function, an ADP technology is exploited to achieve an optimal control of ship course tracking system. Finally, the stability of the closed loop system is turned out by Lyapunov stability theory and all signals are uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB). Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Contested Grounds and Missing Sticks: Assessing the Legality of India’s Surgical Strikes in Pakistan
Authors: Roy Nabarun
Published: October 2024

The article wades into the contested issue of the legality of India’s surgical strikes in Pakistan in the last decade. While legal scholars have deliberated on the legality of India’s actions, international relations (IR) have remained silent, thereby underlining the chasm between IR and international law when it comes to international issues. This article evaluates the competing claims made by legal scholars by engaging with developments in international law pertaining to the use of force as an ‘outsider’ approaching the issue from a fresh vantage point. It finds the argument regarding the weakness of India’s legal position to be more convincing. However,it does not fully subscribe to the reasons attributed for the weakness. Drawing on insights from IR, it highlights the salience of political considerations and incentive structures. The article argues that a comprehensive view that includes legal and political dimensions needs to be taken to appreciate India’s stand regarding the surgical strikes.
Book review: Mani Shankar Aiyar, Memoirs of a Maverick: The First Fifty Years (1941–1991)
Authors: Khan Saad Ullah
Published: October 2024

Mani Shankar Aiyar, Memoirs of a Maverick: The First Fifty Years (1941–1991) (New Delhi: Juggernaut, 2023), 472 pp. $17.47 (Paperback), ISBN-13: 978-9-3534-5173-8.
A Cross-sectional Study to Assess the Self-esteem Among Adolescents in an Urban Poor Locality of Bengaluru City
Authors: Niveditha CS  , Srikanth Jayanthi , Kulkarni Sridevi
Published: October 2024

Self-esteem refers to the individual’s perception or subjective appraisal of one’s own self-worth, self-confidence and self-respect. Self-esteem plays an important role in determining and preventing mental health disorders. There is a dearth in the knowledge of understanding self-esteem among Indian urban slum adolescents; therefore, this study was taken to assess self-esteem among adolescents of an urban poor locality using ‘The Rosenberg Self-esteem scale’. A cross-sectional survey among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years was conducted from April to June 2023 in the urban poor locality of Bangalore. Taking prevalence of low self-esteem among adolescents as 15.3%, the sample size was calculated as 200. Out of 200 subjects, 52.7% were females and 47.5% were male. We found that 28.0% were school dropouts. The study showed a majority of the subjects had normal or high self-esteem and 10.5% had low self-esteem.

Increasing age of the adolescents was found to be significantly associated with self-esteem scores ( p < .05). This study identified that 10.5% had poor self-esteem and they need support from family, school and Sneha Clinic at Urban Primary Health Centre to improve their life skills and prevent mental health issues in adolescence and adulthood.
The Impact of Prophylaxis on the Quality of Life of Boys with Haemophilia—A Twin-centre Study from South India
Authors: Anurekha V. , Danishraja M. , Sujitha K. , Shylaja S. , Rathinavel C. , Rameshbabu B. , Kumaravel K.S. , Sampathkumar D.
Published: October 2024

Background and Aims:

Quality of life (QOL) of boys with haemophilia was severely affected due to many reasons like frequent hospital visits and joint stiffness. This study aims to analyse the impact of the prophylaxis programme on the QOL of haemophiliac boys.

Methods:

This is a twin-centre cross-sectional study that included all boys with haemophilia aged between 4 and 18 years and receiving prophylaxis. The Canadian Haemophilia Outcome – Kids Life Assessment Tool (CHO-KLAT) Version 3 was used to compare pre-prophylaxis scores with post-prophylaxis scores obtained after four months of prophylaxis.

Results:

The mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of the study participants was 10.66 (1.28) years. About 88% had haemophilia A and 66.66% had good adherence to prophylaxis. The mean pre-prophylaxis total score was 45.6 (4.9) and the mean post-prophylaxis total score was 64.3 (5.4). Significant improvement in total scores and domain scores was observed in the post-prophylaxis group.
Biomechanical Changes to the Hindfoot After Zadek Osteotomy
Authors: Bellas Nicholas , Nayak Raghunandan , Pasha Mehreen , Wolf Megan , McDonald Thomas , Obopilwe Elifho , Geaney Lauren E.
Published: October 2024

Background:

Insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) is a common source of heel pain in active adults and athletes. The Zadek osteotomy (ZO) is a calcaneal dorsal closing wedge osteotomy that has demonstrated clinical success as a treatment for IAT, purported to favorably improve tendon mechanics, decrease impingement, and decrease pressure within the retrocalcaneal bursa. The present study aims to evaluate the biomechanical effects of ZO on Achilles strain, position of the Haglund prominence relative to the Achilles insertion, and retrocalcaneal pressure.

Methods:

The ZO was performed on 10 fresh-frozen foot and ankle mid tibia-fibula cadaveric specimens. An osteotomy was performed using a 1-cm dorsal closing wedge procedure secured with a 7.0 mm cannulated screw. Point pressure sensor catheters and differential variable reluctance transducers were used to measure the retrocalcaneal pressure and Achilles strain, respectively, pre- and postosteotomy. Paired t-tests were utilized to detect statistical differences ( P < .05).

Results:

After the ZO, the Haglund prominence was translated 9.9 mm anteriorly with respect to the insertion of the Achilles ( P < .05) and the Achilles tendon insertion was translated 3.4 mm proximally ( P < .05). The ratio of calcaneal length to greater tuberosity length, the X/Y ratio, increased from 2.56 to 3.52 with the osteotomy ( P < .05). At maximum dorsiflexion, retrocalcaneal pressure decreased from 117 to 66 mm Hg (44%, P = .018). The Achilles strain changed from 0.00362 to 0.00436 in the anterior fibers ( P = .484) and changed from 0.00467 to 0.00283 in the posterior fibers ( P = .088).

Conclusion:

Biomechanical testing in a cadaveric model demonstrates that the ZO decreased retrocalcaneal pressure, shifted the Achilles tendon insertion proximally, increased the X/Y ratio of the calcaneus, and did not significantly change the strain of the Achilles tendon.

Clinical Relevance

Despite the clinical success demonstrated in recent literature, there are no biomechanical studies describing the effect of the ZO on the biomechanics of the hindfoot, and the mechanism of symptom relief of the ZO for IAT is not well understood. The present study measures two potential ZO effects relative to Haglund prominence by measuring retrocalcaneal pressure and displacement of the Achilles tendon with respect to the Haglund prominence, and measures one ZO effect relative to calcification of the tendon by measuring the Achilles tendon strain.
Effects of Intimate Partner Violence-Related Strangulation on Women Who Report a Disability and Received Forensic Nursing Services
Authors: Berishaj Kelly , McDonald Melissa M. , Parkhill Michele R.
Published: October 2024

Data on effects of strangulation in victims with a disability are lacking despite this population experiencing intimate partner violence at higher rates than women without a disability. A retrospective review was conducted on medical records of patients seeking care at a community-based, forensic nurse examiner program following an intimate partner violence-related strangulation event. The presence of disability was not associated with differences in reporting other types of victimization, additional abusive events, perpetrator characteristics, strangulation actions, or injury findings. Patients with a disability were more likely to report experiencing anoxic, hypoxic, and other physical symptoms following strangulation compared to patients without a disability.
Exploring Research on the Coping Strategies of Black Survivors of Homicide Victims: A Scoping Review
Authors: Sharpe Tanya L. , Edwards Travonne , Mann Navneet , Lee Yoonhee , Bonomo Antonia , Donkin Victoria
Published: October 2024

Black communities are disproportionately impacted by homicide, yet research on how surviving family members and friends of murdered victims cope with their violent, traumatic death is limited. This scoping review examines current literature on how Black communities cope with homicide, identifies key concepts, reviews study methods, summarizes findings, and offers implications for future research. A scoping review of empirical studies (2000–2024) consisting of majority Black participants coping with homicide was conducted. Out of 2,932 articles, 35 met the inclusion criteria. An inductive thematic analysis was used to synthesize results. Findings from these studies revealed two domains: the sociocultural context of coping and coping strategies, consisting of eight themes (e.g., racism and social stigma, the impact of homicide, support, spiritual coping, activism, maintaining a connection to the deceased, substance use, avoidance, and concealment). These findings emphasize social and cultural factors that shape Black experiences with homicide, which consequently impact the coping resources and strategies they use to manage the violent, traumatic death of loved ones. Implications for future research should focus on standardized collection of homicide data, contextualization of homicide experiences, and diverse research methods.
Understanding the Impact of Sexual Youth Intimate Partner Violence: Unmasking the Social Consequences for Young Victims
Authors: Korkmaz Sibel , Överlien Carolina
Published: October 2024

This study focuses on sexual youth intimate partner violence (YIPV), what it is like to be young and subjected to such violence and how this experience affects a young person. Drawing upon 27 interviews with victims (ages 17–24) of sexual YIPV, we ask: How does psychological aspects influence how sexual YIPV and control were experienced? How are young victims affected by the violence? From a social perspective, how can we understand the consequences? The results suggest that experiences of sexual YIPV may lead to consequences such as development of a negative body image and difficulties having sex; loss of bodily control; and using sex as a means of self-injury. Our findings also show how sexual YIPV is interconnected with other forms of violence. The findings are valuable to professionals supporting young victims of sexual IPV, as they shed light on how sexual YIPV may affect young victims.
‘Mindfulness for modern life’: The blending of Orientalism and neoliberal self-care strategies in the branding of Rituals
Authors: Solomatina Ira
Published: October 2024

This article interrogates the conflation of neoliberal imperatives to self-care and Orientalist fascination with Eastern spirituality in the branding of Rituals, the Dutch self-care and cosmetics brand. Focusing on the brand’s online presence as well as its self-presentation through its flagship store, the article contextualises the Ritual’s calls for mindfulness, gratitude and positivity within the neoliberal ‘psychological turn’. At the same time, it demonstrates how the brand mobilises Orientalist and neocolonial discourses to incite its consumers to exercise emotional self-control and self-care. Neocolonial and neoliberal narratives in the branding of Rituals serve to portray the brand as the site of pleasure, quiet and calm, disguising its exigency for female labour and depoliticising the issue of global inequalities.
Truth Telling and Reconciliation in the Pacific: Solomon Islands' Experience
Authors: Foukona Joseph D.
Published: October 2024

Truth-telling was necessary as part of Solomon Islands’ reconciliation and peace-building process following the violent conflict between 1998 and 2003. When Solomon Islands gained constitutional independence from Great Britain in 1978, the architects of independence did not anticipate that the country would be embroiled in a violent conflict 20 years later. This conflict left the national economy in ruins, the nation-state on the verge of disintegration with law and order in disarray and an Australian-led Pacific Islands Forum regional intervention force was deployed in 2003. The Solomon Islands government later established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to address the causes of the conflict and establish sustainable peace. From 2010 to 2012, the TRC facilitated a process of truth-telling that was seen as important to secure reconciliation and peace. The truth-telling process focused on the plight of the victims and perpetrators with limited focus on traumas that were generated due to factors such as governance, socio-economic issues, land alienation and displacement. This article will discuss transitional justice by paying attention to the role of the TRC and the effects that it produced. Given this context, the conversations around truth-telling should recognise the intersection between the colonially prescribed state and Indigenous expressions of sovereignty defined through socio-cultural relationships and protocols.
Early-onset rectal cancer: Experience of a single-center, high-volume unit
Authors: Lehtonen Taru M. , Koskenvuo Laura E. , Lepistö Anna H.
Published: October 2024

Background and objective:

The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer among the young (<50 years) has been reported to have risen in last decades. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the characteristics of early-onset rectal cancers (EO-RCs) and potential changes in proportion of EO-RCs, and further to report the mortality and recurrence rates of EO-RCs.

Methods:

In the years 2007–2021, 2557 rectal cancer (RC) patients were operated in Helsinki University Hospital and of them 147 were 18–49 years old. Cumulative overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier analysis.

Results:

The percentual amount of the EO-RCs varied between 2.5% and 11.3% annually and there was no perceivable trend. Majority were adenocarcinomas (98.7%), of which 8.8% were mucinous. Predisposing factors such as Lynch syndrome, polyposis, or ulcerative colitis were seen in 26 patients (17.7%) and in 10 of 22 patients (45.5%) under 35 years. The cumulative 5-year OS was 91.9% in stage I, 93.3% in stage II, 86.7% in stage III, and 50.0% in stage IV disease. Metastatic recurrence was found in 22 cases (18.4%) and local recurrence in 8 patients (5.4%) and 6 patients had both.

Conclusions:

In our cohort of 147 EO-RC patients, OS was good and the clinical course did not seem to differ much from the course of RC in general population.
Psychological Predictors of Recidivism for Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: McDonagh Tracey , Travers Áine , Armour Cherie , Cunningham Twylla , Hansen Maj
Published: October 2024

Theoretical accounts of recidivistic intimate partner violence (IPV) continue to differ considerably in relation to the relative weight given to psychological risk factors. A systematic overview of studies that have established psychological predictors of reoffending is currently lacking. This study aimed to identify and provide an overview of studies examining various psychological factors associated with IPV perpetration patterns. A systematic search of research conducted from 1945 to 2024 was carried out on PsycINFO, PubMed, and PILOTS. The inclusion criteria were that studies must not use self-reported reoffending data only, must use a criminal justice sample, must be longitudinal, participants must be over 17 years of age, and that studies must be published in the English language and peer reviewed. A total of 25 longitudinal studies examining individual psychological factors, proposed as potential predictors of IPV reoffending, were eligible. The identified factors were grouped into five categories: personality, anger and hostility, beliefs, attitudes and motivation, neurocognitive deficits and trauma (i.e., family of origin abuse/post-traumatic stress disorder). The current systematic scoping review found that the most-researched psychological predictor of IPV recidivism was personality. While studies vary in relation to the personality traits or disorders that contribute most to the likelihood of reoffending, in general, personality assessment appears to be a promising tool in predicting reoffending. Anger, childhood maltreatment, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), implicit attitudes, and neurocognitive deficits were also identified as predictors of IPV recidivism. Methodological issues were found to be present across studies.
The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Cognitive Control Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies
Authors: Rahapsari Satwika , Levita Liat
Published: October 2024

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are strongly associated with impaired cognitive control, yet research on ACEs’ effects across cognitive control domains—working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control—remains sparse. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the overall impact of ACEs on each of these cognitive control domains and explored moderating factors such as age, gender, cognitive control paradigms, and ACEs subtypes based on the dimensional model of adversity and psychopathology. A database search was conducted in SCOPUS, MedLine, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Only prospective studies were included to ensure temporal order inferences, with at least two data collection points, assessing ACEs at baseline (T1) and cognitive control during follow-up (T2). Thirty-two studies ( N = 26,863) producing 124 effect sizes were analyzed. Three-level meta-analyses revealed small-to-medium negative associations between ACEs and overall cognitive control ( g = −0.32), and in each domain: working memory ( g = −0.28), cognitive flexibility ( g = −0.28), and inhibitory control ( g = −0.32). The negative associations between ACEs and cognitive control were consistent across age, gender, and cognitive control paradigms. ACEs subtypes moderated the association with cognitive flexibility ( p = .04) but not working memory or inhibitory control. Specifically, the deprivation subtype exhibited a stronger negative association with cognitive flexibility compared to threat and threat-and-deprivation subtypes. These findings highlight the pervasive negative impact of ACEs on cognitive control across ages and emphasize the need for targeted interventions. Implications, current gaps, limitations in research, and future study recommendations are discussed.
Protective and Promotive Factors in Migrant and Refugee Children Facing Violence: A Systematic Review
Authors: Huynh Inès , Li Carrie K. W.
Published: October 2024

Migrant and refugee children are at risk of experiencing various forms of violence before, during, or after migration. This study systematically identifies, reviews, and synthesizes evidence on protective and promotive factors that contribute to the resilience of migrant and refugee children facing violence. Of the 3,663 articles identified through search in five electronic databases and snowball technique, 31 quantitative or qualitative research studies met the inclusion criteria. To be included in the review, studies had to (1) have been published after 2013; (2) have been published in English; (3) include migrant or refugee children and/or adolescents aged 18 or below at the time of interview or migration; (4) mention some types of maltreatment, peer violence, or community violence faced by the children or adolescents; (5) examine the association between the hypothesized protective or promotive factors and indicators of adaptive functioning; and (6) include outcome measures that assessed adaptive functioning such as well-being or absence or low-levels of internalizing and externalizing problems. Quality assessment did not lead to the exclusion of any studies. Five levels of protective and promotive factors were identified: individual, family, school and peers, community, and spatial dimension, which converged to highlight the importance of regulatory, interpersonal, and meaning-making strengths for these children. Understanding and addressing these protective and promotive factors is crucial for promoting well-being and improving mental health outcomes in migrant and refugee children facing violence. The findings of this review have significant implications for designing intervention programs and public policies that support these children effectively.
Evaluating Predictive Factors for Lymphocele Formation Following Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Boiko Oleksandr , Garcia-Alonso Ignacio , Navarro Adela , Maldonado Asier , Prieto Sergio , Llorente Ana , Iliuta Florina , Sanz Joel , Olano Ivan , Martinez Beatriz , Estrade Oskar , Padilla Jesus
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Lymphocele is a common complication post-kidney transplantation, influenced by various factors including surgical technique, graft vessel count, operator experience, body mass index, ischemia time, and immunotherapy regimens.

Project Aims

The purpose of this study was to evaluate lymphocele risk factors, particularly focusing on the role of end-stage kidney disease.

Design

A retrospective study was conducted on renal transplant recipients from a single center (March 2020 to December 2022). Patients were categorized into those developing lymphocele and those without during the postoperative period. Data, including sociodemographic, personal history, graft-related variables, intervention, and postoperative outcomes, were collected from electronic medical records.

Results

Out of 291 renal transplant recipients, 57 (19.6%) developed postoperative lymphocele, with 15 (5.1%) being symptomatic. Patients with body mass index <24.9 kg/m2 have lower risk of developing lymphocele with an Odds Ratio of 0.538 (P=0.046). Higher lymphocele prevalence was noted in patients with chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis (46.2%; OR 3.815; P=0.024). Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis patients showed no lymphocele (0.0%; OR 0.123; P=0.048). Other factors, including autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, did not exhibit significant differences in lymphocele prevalence.

Conclusion

The etiology of end-stage kidney disease can serve as a significant predictor of lymphocele development during the postoperative period following renal transplantation. Further larger prospective studies are required to comprehensively assess risk factors and explore end-stage kidney disease potential role in predicting lymphocele formation.
Nurses’ attitudes towards patient safety and their relationship to adverse patient events in Oman
Authors: Almanhali Raeda , Al Sabei Sulaiman Dawood , Matua Amandu Gerald
Published: October 2024

Background:

Adverse events (AEs) are major causes of mortality. Identification of nurses’ attitudes towards patient safety and their impact on AEs is critical in enhancing safe practices.

Aim:

To assess the relationship between attitudes towards patient safety and AEs as perceived by nurses working in Sultanate of Oman.

Methods:

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. Data to evaluate nurses’ attitudes towards patient safety was collected using the Safety Attitude Questionnaire. The relationship between attitudes towards patient safety and the perceived incidence of adverse patient events was examined using logistic regression analysis.

Results:

A total of 184 questionnaires were administered from February to April 2022, with a response rate of 96.8%. The results revealed that nurses had a negative attitude towards patient safety. The highest reported adverse event was patient and family complaints. Findings showed a significant relationship between working conditions and patient and family verbal abuse (OR = 0.505, CI (0.283–0.901), p = 0.021). Job satisfaction was a significant predictor of patient fall (OR = 0.57, CI (0.353–0.932), p = 0.025) and medication error (OR = 0.58, CI (0.354–0.949), p = 0.030).

Conclusion:

Nurses’ attitudes towards patient safety are a significant predictor contributing to the occurrence of AEs. This finding provides key insights about patient safety status that key stakeholders could use to improve safety culture, including raising patient safety awareness.
Comparison of clinical and endoscopic efficacy between vedolizumab and infliximab in bio-naïve patients with ulcerative colitis: a multicenter, real-world study
Authors: Huang Zhaopeng , Tang Jian , Wu Ruibin , Long Shunhua , Chen Wenke , Lu Tingna , Xia Qiuyue , Wu Yanhui , Yang Hongsheng , Yang Qingfan , Huang Zicheng , Guo Qin , Li Miao , Gao Xiang , Chao Kang
Published: October 2024

Background:

No head-to-head trial directly compares the effectiveness of vedolizumab (VDZ) and infliximab (IFX) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who were naïve to biologic therapy.

Objectives:

We aimed to compare the clinical and endoscopic effectiveness of VDZ and IFX in biologic-naïve patients with UC in real-world settings.

Design:

It was a multicenter, observational, real-world cohort study conducted at five centers.

Methods:

Patients diagnosed with UC and treated with either IFX or VDZ as their first-line biologic therapy were retrospectively enrolled. Steroid-free remission, clinical response, clinical remission, and endoscopic healing at week 14 and week 52 were compared between the two groups after propensity score weighting.

Results:

A total of 199 patients (117 VDZ and 82 IFX) were included in the study. There were no significant differences in steroid-free remission (64.6% vs 56.1%, p = 0.224), clinical response (83.4% vs 73.4%, p = 0.086), or clinical remission (69.4% vs 60.1%, p = 0.174) at week 14. However, VDZ showed better results in steroid-free remission (67.5% vs 44.4%, p = 0.004), clinical response (69.7% vs 47.1%, p = 0.005), and clinical remission (67.5% vs 44.4%, p = 0.004) at week 52. In terms of endoscopic healing, VDZ was similar to IFX at week 14 (25.7% vs 17.4%, p = 0.185), but VDZ had a significantly higher rate at week 52 (29.5% vs 11.8%, p = 0.027). VDZ was found to be superior to IFX in therapeutic continuation (hazard ratio = 0.339, 95% CI: 0.187–0.614, p < 0.001). The rate of adverse events was similar between the two groups (6.8% vs 8.5%, p = 0.655).

Conclusion:

VDZ demonstrated similar clinical and endoscopic effectiveness to IFX at week 14 in biologic-naïve patients with UC, but appeared to be superior at week 52. The safety outcomes were comparable between the groups.
Prescribed cumulative dosage of corticosteroids to patients with inflammatory bowel disease diagnosed between 2006 and 2020: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Iiristo Johannes , Karling Pontus
Published: October 2024

Background:

Treatments and strategies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have gradually evolved in the 2000s.

Objectives:

We investigated whether the prescription of corticosteroids (prednisolone and budesonide) in patients with IBD in the first 5 years after diagnosis changed in patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2018.

Design:

Retrospective observational study.

Methods:

The cumulative prescribed dosage of corticosteroids for the first 5 years after diagnosis was registered in all patients with IBD ( n = 386) at our clinic for those diagnosed between 2006 and 2018.

Results:

The proportion of patients with IBD who were prescribed at least one prescription of corticosteroids in year 1–5 after diagnosis was 55.3%, 27.9%, 22.7%, 14.1%, and 14.6%, respectively. The proportion of patients who had a cumulative dose of prednisolone >1 g in the first 5 years after diagnosis was 40.1% for ulcerative colitis and 34.9% for Crohn’s disease (CD). The cumulative prescribed dosage (within 3 years after diagnosis) of prednisolone had declined (rs = −0.164, p = 001), but had increased for budesonide (rs = 0.202, p < 0.001) between 2006 and 2020. The prescription of any immunomodulator for IBD in the first 5 years from diagnosis was stable between 2006 and 2018 (rs = 0.056, p = 0.257), but there was a minor increase in the prescription of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-inhibitors (rs = 0.119, p = 0.020). The use of five-acetyl salicylic acid (5-ASA) decreased in patients with CD (rs = −201, p = 0.012).

Conclusion:

There was a decrease in the prescription of prednisolone and an increase in the prescription of budesonide treatment from 2006 to 2023; however, the cumulative exposure to corticosteroids in patients with IBD remains at a relatively high level.
Encapsulated donor faeces for faecal microbiota transplantation: the Glyprotect protocol
Authors: Hansen Mette Mejlby , Rågård Nina , Andreasen Pia Winther , Paaske Sara Ellegaard , Dahlerup Jens Frederik , Mikkelsen Susan , Erikstrup Christian , Baunwall Simon Mark Dahl , Hvas Christian Lodberg
Published: October 2024

Background:

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a highly effective treatment for Clostridioides difficile infection. Its use is backed by solid evidence, but application methods differ. Encapsulated FMT is a non-invasive, patient-friendly and scalable application method that may be preferred over colonoscopy or nasoduodenal tube application.

Objectives:

We describe a detailed protocol, the Glyprotect protocol, for producing glycerol-based capsules to increase FMT accessibility.

Design:

Using iterative quality improvement methods, we developed and validated the Glyprotect protocol as a reproducible protocol for cryopreserving minimally processed donor faeces in a standard hospital laboratory setting.

Methods:

We describe detailed standard operating procedures for producing glycerol-based capsules, including all necessary materials and troubleshooting guidelines. Capsule integrity was tested at various temperatures and pH levels. Flow cytometry was used to measure microbiota counts and dose accuracy.

Results:

The Glyprotect protocol has been used for more than 2500 capsule-based FMT treatments and complies with European tissue and cell standards. The protocol is optimised to preserve microbes and minimise modulation of the donated microbiota by removing debris and water, which also reduces the number of capsules needed per FMT treatment. The intestinal microbiota is preserved in glycerol for cryoprotection and to prevent capsule leakage. Each capsule contains 650 µL microbe–glycerol mass, estimated to contain an average of 2.5 × 108 non-specified bacteria.

Conclusion:

The Glyprotect protocol enables hospitals and tissue establishments to set up capsule production in a standard laboratory, improving patients’ access to FMT. The protocol facilitates the scalability of FMT services because capsule FMT is less time-consuming and less expensive than liquid-suspension FMT applied by colonoscopy or nasojejunal tube.

Trial registration:

Not applicable.
Biomechanical Performance of 4-Leg Sustained Dynamic Compression Staples in First Tarsometatarsal Arthrodesis
Authors: Wang Tian , Pelletier Matthew , Johnson James , Kline Courtney , Walsh William , Lareau Craig , Safranski David
Published: October 2024

Background

This study investigates the biomechanical efficacy of new 4-leg Sustained Dynamic Compression (SDC) NiTiNOL staples, hypothesized to offer superior stability and resilience to loading before fusion completion, compared with conventional hardware.

Methods

Twenty sawbones left full foot models were divided into 4 treatment groups: (1) 4-leg Inline Staple, (2) 4-leg Inline Staple + 2-leg Staple, (3) 4-leg Inline Staple + Screw, and (4) Plate + Screw. An osteotomy was performed to simulate a Lapidus procedure, and the respective fixation methods were applied. Mechanical testing was conducted using a servo-hydraulic testing machine to evaluate constructs’ load, contact force, contact area, and plantar gap.

Results

The 4-leg Inline Staple + Screw group demonstrated significantly increased joint contact force, joint contact area, and decreased plantar gap compared with the Plate + Screw group, both before and after cyclic testing. All SDC-containing constructs exhibited post-cyclic joint contact areas that were 2.36×, 3.87×, and 5.49× greater than the post-cyclic plate + screw group. Most notably, the 4-leg Inline Staple + Screw group maintained a plantar gap of less than 3 mm throughout the testing, unlike other groups.

Conclusions

The 4-leg Inline SDC Staple, particularly when combined with a static screw, demonstrated biomechanical superiority over traditional plate and screw constructs in Lapidus procedures. These findings suggest a promising avenue for enhanced post-operative stability, which could translate into quicker patient recovery, improved fusion rates, and potentially lower non-union rates. Further clinical trials are warranted to validate these biomechanical advantages in patient outcomes.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic, Level V: Bench Testing