bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Authenticity and purity in worship music
Authors: Myrick Nathan
Published: January 2025

This article critically examines the concepts of authenticity and purity in musical worship, arguing that their prominence may obstruct broader social action and justice. While authenticity is often regarded as the hallmark of ‘good’ music, particularly in worship, this notion can lead to an overemphasis on personal devotion, distancing individuals from communal and societal concerns. Drawing on ethnomusicological perspectives, it explores how authenticity is contextually dependent, often reflecting the values of specific communities, yet potentially fostering inward-focused worship. Furthermore, it introduces the concept of purity as a counterpart to authenticity, noting its historical and theological roots in Abrahamic traditions. Purity in worship, much like in marketing or cultural identity, can contribute to exclusionary practices and a reluctance to engage with the complexities of a compromised world. By analysing contemporary worship practices and the cultural discourse surrounding ‘pure worship’, the article critiques the prioritization of spiritual purity over social engagement. Ultimately, it calls for a reorientation of worship practices away from these ideals towards a more inclusive and socially responsible form of engagement that embraces imperfection and compromise as paths towards communal good.
Outcomes of Age-Friendly Health Systems: Return to Clinic After 4Ms Care Delivery
Authors: Armstrong Grace Q. , Aldossary Heba M. , Bingham Jessica , Pino Lilia , Pohnert Anne , Dolansky Mary A. , Schiltz Nicholas K.
Published: January 2025

The Age-Friendly Health System (AFHS) movement continues to grow in the United States as more health systems implement the 4Ms framework. Despite this growth, there are relatively few studies that evaluate outcomes related to AFHS implementation. This study assessed patient satisfaction with AFHS by analyzing the rate at which patients returned to the clinic for future health care, serving as a measure of quality. A retrospective cohort design using electronic health record (EHR) data obtained from patients 65 years of age and older who received care at a large national network of convenient care clinics in the U.S. ( N = 987,197) between January 2021 and March 2024. We assessed the level of AFHS 4Ms care received by these individuals in relation to their subsequent visit back to the clinic through descriptive statistics, a time-to-event analysis using the Kaplan-Meier cumulative incidence approach, and a Cox proportional Hazards model, adjusted for age, race, sex, prior appointments, and number of ICD-10 code diagnoses. Throughout the study period, patients who received complete AFHS 4Ms care exhibited greater rates of returning to the convenient care clinic compared to those who received partial or no 4Ms 4Ms care. Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that the cumulative probability of returning to the clinic was higher in patients that received 4Ms over time, compared to patients that did not receive 4Ms. Results from the Cox Proportional Hazards model demonstrated a risk ratio of 3.91 ( p < .001) of returning to the clinic, after adjustment. The results indicate that patients are more likely to seek additional care in the future at the same health system when they receive complete 4Ms care, possibly due to increased satisfaction with care. As patient satisfaction is an indicator of quality care, this finding can further inform and spread the AFHS movement.
Antonio Negri, Spinoza, Marx, and Digital Capitalism
Authors: Fuchs Christian
Published: January 2025

This paper asks: How can Spinoza help us to better understand digital capitalism? The article engages critically and constructively with the philosophies of Spinoza, Marx, Hegel, and Antonio Negri in order to combine elements from their works. It focuses on a particular aspect of digital capitalism, namely the antagonism between digital labour and digital capital. Spinoza did not directly analyse class relations. Nonetheless, his philosophy can help us to indirectly analyse contemporary capitalism. This paper undertakes an analysis of digital capitalism by taking Spinoza’s concepts of power as potentia and potestas as a starting point. Antonio Negri has stressed the dialectic of potentia and potestas as part of the analysis of class and capitalism. This paper connects Spinoza to Marx’s and Negri’s analyses of capitalism and the working class. It analyses digital capitalism’s antagonisms between digital labour and digital capital, digital commodities and digital commons, and the networked digital productive forces and the digital relations of production as the antagonism between digital potentia and digital potestas.
The Use of MPS in Three Rs and Regulatory Applications: Perspectives From Developers on Stakeholder Responsibilities
Authors: LaFollette Megan R. , Baran Szczepan W. , Curley J. Lowry , Dickinson Anne M. , Frazier Trivia , Hobi Nina , Huang Ming-I , Hutter Victoria , Maisonneuve Benoît G.C. , Marsh Graham A. , Mahendran Rhamiya , Müller Iris , Qian Xiaohua , Singh Dharaminder , Thelin William R. , Vukasinovic Jelena , Candarlioglu Pelin L. , Roper Clive S.
Published: January 2025

Increasing the use of microphysiological systems (MPS) in Three Rs and regulatory applications is a nuanced but important goal, which would also help increase their scientific impact. There are three distinct and important stakeholder groups that each play a unique role in expediting the use of MPS for regulatory purpose — namely, commercial MPS developers, end-users and regulators. Additionally, non-profit organisations, such as the 3Rs Collaborative (3RsC), can help coordinate these efforts. This paper introduces the MPS Initiative, as organised by the 3RsC, and clarifies the potential for MPS to benefit all Three Rs. Key differences in the use of MPS-derived data for regulatory evidence of efficacy versus safety, and for various other contexts of use, are discussed. Finally, the results are presented from a survey of primarily commercial MPS developers, that collected their views on the realistic responsibilities of each stakeholder group. The results also highlight their key perspectives on the use of MPS, in the context of Three Rs and regulatory applications.
Finding Strength in Time: Present-Fatalistic Time Perspective's Mediating Role on Extraversion and Mental Pain Tolerance
Authors: Vasnani Khwaish , Baguio R.M. , Yap R.J.C.
Published: January 2025

Previous research has linked extraversion, present-fatalistic time perspective (PFTP) [28], [49], and mental pain tolerance (MPT) [16]. PFTP was used to examine extraversion's direct and indirect effects on MPT. ZTPI [51] measures PFTP, IPIP-NEO-60 Online presentations of Costa and McCrae's (1992) [41] for extraversion and TMPS-10 [39] for MPT were given to 679 participants (M = 23.01, SD = 4.92). The study found that extraversion negatively predicted PFTP (B = -0.162, p < .001). MPT was positively impacted by PFTP (B = -0.119, p < .01). Extraversion and MPT are mediated by PFTP. The cognitive-adaptive model and BAS model may explain why extraverts are more active in regulating mental pain risk factors, lowering PFTP [11]. Variant interactions, cross-generational effects, and multiple dimensions should be studied. Understanding implications helps find perspective-based ways to cope with mental pain. The nuanced associations show that individual differences and cognitive orientations or time perspectives affect psychological responses and coping mechanisms.
Re-Evaluating the Dietary Significance of Gambel Oak Acorns (Quercus gambelii) in the Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, and Southwest: Evidence From Experimental Foraging and Direct Bomb Calorimetry
Authors: Kievman Hayley T. , Burns Gregory R. , Greenwald Alexandra M.
Published: January 2025

Ethnographic evidence documents the exploitation of Gambel oak ( Quercus gambelii) acorns as a food resource in the Great Basin, Southwest, and Colorado Plateau. However, a paucity of identified macro- and micro-botanical acorn remains in the archaeological record has resulted in a critical underestimation of the significance of the resource for Indigenous groups in these regions. This paper reports data from 18 hours of experimental Gambel oak acorn foraging and direct bomb calorimetry to evaluate whether Gambel oak acorns would have been profitable for Holocene foragers and incipient maize agriculturalists. Results show that Gambel oak acorns return a substantial amount of calories at 5,711.12 kcal per hour foraging and were likely a significant resource for early- and middle Holocene hunter-gatherers and an important fallback resource for late-Holocene maize agriculturalists in the region.
Please don’t stop the music! A new look at the performance anxiety of musicians with the model of excellencism and perfectionism
Authors: Racine Patrick , Vachon Laflamme Samuel , Gaudreau Patrick , Langlois Frédéric
Published: January 2025

Musicians have normalized performance anxiety (PA) to be part of their musical career. Perfectionism has been proposed as a possible personality risk factor for PA. Although perfectionistic concerns have been consistently positively correlated to PA, results have been inconsistent for perfectionistic standards. This inconsistency is potentially attributable to the fact that past studies did not differentiate the pursuit of high standards and the pursuit of perfectionistic standards. In this study, we aimed to compare the levels of PA of students who pursue high standards (excellence) from those who pursue perfection with the model of excellencism and perfectionism. As a supplementary analysis, we have also investigated if different standards predicted different positive and negative affect levels. A total of 94 music students completed questionnaires on perfectionism, PA, and positive and negative affect. They were recruited through their music conservatory ( N = 69) and recruitment ads on Facebook ( N = 25). Results of multiple linear regression demonstrated that only perfectionistic standards were positively and significantly associated with cognitive state anxiety, overall score of PA, and negative affect. Overall, aiming for excellence rather than perfection seemed to help mitigate levels of PA and the negative affect felt by musicians.
Optimized short-term wind power forecasting based on a combination feature selection and greater cane rat algorithm
Authors: Hu Chunsheng , Gong Haowei , Li Hao , Ma Liang
Published: January 2025

With the swift advancements in renewable energy, wind power as an important clean energy has been paid more and more attention. Due to the intermittency and volatility of wind energy, accurate wind power forecasting has become crucial for improving the stability of grid integration. This paper employs a combination of maximal information coefficient (MIC) and SelectKBest methods for feature selection, along with a greater cane rat algorithm (GCRA) to tune the hyperparameters of long short-term memory (LSTM), establishing the MIC-KBest-GCRA-LSTM model. This model not only overcomes the limitations of traditional feature selection methods, which consider only the correlations among features or the correlations between features and the target variable, but also proposes an optimization method with stronger global search capabilities for optimization problems that simultaneously involve continuous and discrete hyperparameters. To confirm the proposed model’s effectiveness, six control models are set up, and their prediction results are compared. The results show that the proposed MIC-KBest-GCRA-LSTM model reduces the root mean square error (RMSE) by 32.4% compared to the baseline LSTM method. Additionally, the prediction accuracy of this model has significantly improved compared to the other five models.
Introducing Excellence: Gender and the Introductions of Faculty Finalist Candidates in Engineering Job Talks
Authors: Blair-Loy M. , Packer J.R. , Mayorova O.V. , Cosman P.C.
Published: January 2025

Professional cultures—distinct systems of meanings, rituals, and hierarchies—can reinforce social closure processes and can be a potent source of social inequality. This paper examines gender inequality in the faculty hiring process in academic engineering. This is a theoretically useful case in which a strong professional culture with meritocratic ideals exists alongside the underrepresentation of women. Previous studies of faculty hiring often find that women are devalued, yet few studies examine this process in real job searches nested within professional communities. We analyze the introductions of 175 finalist candidates by department faculty hosts, just before the candidates begin their high stakes job talks on their original research. We find that, compared to statements introducing men candidates, those introducing women are less likely to acknowledge and proclaim their research excellence, and they are more likely to contain irrelevant and inappropriate content. We argue that the professional cultural schema of scientific excellence is culturally masculine and can either highlight or obscure the introducers’ framing of candidates’ research competence, potentially anchoring audience expectations. The job talk ritual also helps socialize early career engineers into professional norms and understandings. We develop theoretical and policy implications for the study of gender barriers to employment in and beyond academic STEM.
A comprehensive review of recycling and reusing methods for plastic waste focusing Indian scenario
Authors: Kalauni Kishor , Vedrtnam Ajitanshu , Sharma Sahendra P , Sharma Abhishek , Chaturvedi Shashikant
Published: January 2025

Plastics are integral to modern life but present significant environmental and economic challenges due to ineffective waste management systems. This article provides a comprehensive review of global plastic waste management (PWM) strategies, focusing on advancements in processing technologies, policy frameworks and their practical applications. It highlights the role of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and regulatory bodies across the United States, Canada, Europe, Britain, India, Japan, Australia and China in fostering sustainable PWM practices. The study evaluates key processing techniques, including pyrolysis, gasification, supercritical water conversion, plasma-assisted processes, mechanical reprocessing and landfilling, emphasizing their technological advancements, limitations and scalability. Supercritical water conversion (operating at >374°C and 22.1 MPa) and plasma-assisted processing (using ionized gas at >3000°C) are identified as advanced methods capable of converting plastics into simpler molecules or valuable by-products. However, these technologies face challenges such as high energy requirements, operational costs and limited scalability. Persistent issues, including microplastic pollution, environmental impacts and the chemical-intensive nature of certain processes, are critically analysed. Drawing on extensive reviews of patents, case studies and real-world implementations, the study also examines the reuse potential of plastic by-products in diverse industries and evaluates state-level PWM initiatives in India. This review provides actionable insights for policymakers, researchers and industry stakeholders, highlighting critical gaps and opportunities to enhance the sustainability and scalability of PWM systems. By addressing persistent challenges, it contributes to advancing a circular economy for plastics and sustainable waste management practices globally.
Cortical Deafness in Children: Scoping Review and Case Report of a Bilateral Perinatal Stroke
Authors: Cruz-Sanabria Francy , Ragoni Carolina , Salvadorini Renata , Pasquariello Rosa , Bartolini Emanuele , Paese Silvia , Rinaldi Deianira , Forli Francesca , Guzzetta Andrea , Fiori Simona
Published: January 2025

Background

Persistent cortical deafness in the pediatric population is rarely reported, and there is limited information on its implications for early intervention.

Objectives

This study aims to (1) conduct a scoping review on pediatric cortical deafness and (2) present a case report of a 7-year-old girl with left unilateral spastic cerebral palsy and cortical deafness resulting from presumed perinatal bilateral stroke.

Methods

A search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified 407 manuscripts. After the screening, 5 studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis. The case report details clinical characteristics, diagnostic challenges, and intervention strategies for pediatric cortical deafness.

Results

The scoping review highlighted the limited literature on pediatric cortical deafness, emphasizing its association with extensive bilateral lesions and heterogeneous etiology. The case report underscored the need for comprehensive auditory function measurements, early diagnosis, and tailored interventions.

Conclusions

Early and tailored interventions are crucial for improving prognosis in pediatric cortical deafness, particularly in cases associated with bilateral perinatal stroke.
Impact of composition and surfactant-templating on mesoporous bioactive glasses structural evolution, bioactivity, and drug delivery property
Authors: Almasri Dana , Dahman Yaser
Published: January 2025

This study explores mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) that show promise as advanced therapeutic delivery platforms owing to their tailorable porous properties enabling enhanced drug loading capacity and biomimetic chemistry for localized, sustained release. This work systematically investigates the complex relationship between MBG composition and surfactant templating on structural evolution, in vitro bioactive response, resultant drug loading efficiency and release. A total of 12 samples of sol-gel-derived MBG were synthesized using cationic and non-ionic structure-directing agents (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, Pluronic F127 and P123) while modulating the SiO2/CaO content, generating MBG with surface areas of 60–695 m2/g. Electron microscopy and nitrogen desorption studies verified the successful synthesis of the 12 ordered MBG formulations. Assessment of hydroxyapatite conversion kinetics via FTIR spectroscopy and SEM demonstrated accelerated deposition for 70–80% SiO2 formulations, independent of the surfactant used. However, the templating agent had an impact on drug loading as observed in this study where MBG synthesized by the templating agent Pluronic P123 had higher drug loading compared to the other surfactants. To determine the drug release mechanisms, the in vitro kinetic profiles were fitted to various mathematical models including ze-ro. Most compositions exhibited release properties closest to zero-order, indicating a concentration-independent drug elution rate. These results in this study explain the relationship between tailored hierarchical architecture and intrinsic ion release rates to enable advanced functionality.
Systematic Review of Intrauterine Contraceptive Use and the Development of Toxic Shock Syndrome
Authors: Hutcherson Timothy C. , Cieri-Hutcherson Nicole E. , Grosshans Michael A. , Freemire Julia , Meegan Eryn , Zu Virginia , Tal Elana
Published: January 2025

The objective of this systematic review was to characterize the literature regarding the risk factors associated with the development of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) secondary to the use of intrauterine contraceptives (IUCs), as well as patient outcomes. A literature search was conducted spanning origin through December 12, 2022, using Embase and MEDLINE ALL. Primary literature that discussed development of TSS along with the presence of an IUC were included. Extracted data included study and participant demographics, IUC data, and infection data. Reports were evaluated for risk-of-bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool for case reports. Thirteen reports met the eligibility criteria, all of which were case reports involving one patient per case who developed TSS following the insertion of an IUC or in the presence of an IUC. The patients included in the review were women aged 23 to 50 years old. Major outcomes reported included time of IUD insertion, bacteria cultured, and antibiotic therapies administered. A minority of the reports (n = 5) provided data related to recent or prior childbirth, miscarriages, or abortions, some of which were proposed to have contributed to development of TSS. Risk-of-bias assessments identified potential concerns in four domains. This systematic review characterized literature pertaining to IUC use and TSS. There may be a low but possible risk of TSS when using an IUC; generalizability is limited given the low quality of available studies. This study was neither registered nor funded.
Kinematic and dynamic analysis of a 2DOF parallel robot arm for wind turbine blade fatigue testing
Authors: Bai Xuezong , Luo Mingwei , Ma Qiang , An Zongwen , Zhang Chi
Published: January 2025

In response to the issues of low efficiency and significant impact on blade intrinsic frequency posed by the current biaxial resonance blade fatigue testing method, an innovative dynamic characterization method based on a 2-DOF (two-degree-of-freedom) planar parallel testing device is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the kinematic forward and inverse solution equations of the mechanism are established by scrutinizing the inherent positional relationships that govern its operation. The velocity Jacobian matrix is derived, and three types of singularities prevalent in the mechanism are analyzed. Secondly, based on the kinematics of the mechanism, an analysis of its workspace is undertaken to subsequently determine the range of its motion. Thirdly, by applying the Lagrange equations, the kinetic model of the mechanism is established, which can capture the dynamic interplay of forces and accurately calculate the changes in angular displacement, angular velocity, and angular acceleration of the active joint. Finally, a virtual prototype model and kinematics simulation are conducted based on the mechanism dimensions and assembly mode. The results show that the angular velocity, angular acceleration, and torque of the active joint all demonstrate smooth and uninterrupted curves that align with the actual testing trajectories, confirming the accuracy and effectiveness of our approach.
Business-as-unusual: Exploring port stakeholders’ time tactics for mediating recent disruptions at the Port of Rotterdam
Authors: Punt EP , Monstadt J , Frank S , Witte PA
Published: January 2025

Seaports function as infrastructural nodes at which the disparate rhythms of global logistical flows are synchronized toward just-in-time management. Port disruptions challenge this regular time regime. This article explores the role of infrastructures and time tactics in mediating port disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Building on three interrelated notions of time—infrastructural time regimes, infrastructural rhythms, and infrastructural time tactics—our analysis of stakeholder interviews revealed that to manage port disruptions, port stakeholders applied various time tactics to certain processes: activating or deactivating, prioritizing or downgrading, continuing or discontinuing, and increasing or decreasing. By employing these time tactics to maintain, adapt, and transform port rhythms in response to disruptions, port stakeholders attempted to resynchronize disrupted port rhythms into a different time regime. We demonstrate that this time regime is “hybrid,” as it comprises not only elements of just-in-time management but also elements of just-in-case management. This finding introduces a more nuanced understanding of the temporary hybridization of time regimes during periods of disruptions and highlights the role of infrastructures in mediating time.
Effect of Surface Treatment of Glass Fibres on Adhesion to Phenolic Resin
Authors: Chou Shen , Lin Ling-Shiou , Yeh Jen-Taut
Published: January 2025

Mixtures of epoxy emulsion and coupling agents. as well as coupling agent alone, were used to treat glass fibres to improve their adhesion to phenolic resin. The surface of the glass fibres was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the chemical bonding of the treated glass fibres was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The improvement in the flexural and shear strength of glass fibre reinforced phenolic resins was investigated, and the fractured surfaces were observed by SEM.

Experimental results demonstrated that the coupling agent could be formed either as a thin, uniform layer or as particles on the glass fibres. Mixtures of epoxy emulsion with zircoaluminate coupling agent were formed as a uniform layer, whereas mixtures of epoxy emulsion with titanate coupling agent were formed as particles. Analyzing the above results using XPS revealed that coupling agent and epoxy emulsion reacted with the glass fiber surface to form functional groups that react with phenolic resin. When the concentration of coupling agent was 0.2 wt.%, the effect of the glass fibre on the physical properties of phenolic resin composite was optimum. Among these coupling agents, the zircoaluminate coupling agent showed the best improvement, followed by silane and titanate coupling agents. After mixing it with epoxy emulsion, the flexural and shear strength were further increased. For instance, when using zircoaluminate coupling agent mixture, the shear strength of the composite was increased by 45% and the flexural strength by 43%.
Aortic body tumor with intracardiac metastasis in a dog
Authors: Crawford-Jennings Matthew I. , Chavez Lezith D. , Loessberg Emma R. , Carvallo-Chaigneau Francisco R.
Published: January 2025

A 9-y-old, spayed female, non-brachycephalic mixed-breed dog was presented with progressive abdominal distension and diarrhea of <24 h duration. An echocardiogram revealed nodular masses in the pericardium and myocardium, particularly near the auricles. Diagnostic and therapeutic pericardiocentesis failed to improve the dog’s status, and the owner elected euthanasia. The autopsy revealed numerous nodules within the pericardium, heart base, and myocardium of the left and right ventricles. Histopathology revealed the presence of a neuroendocrine tumor, immunopositive for chromogranin A and negative for synaptophysin and calcitonin, supporting the diagnosis of aortic body tumor with intracardiac metastasis.
A Timoshenko–Ehrenfest planar beam element for geometrically nonlinear analysis using rational Bézier representations with varying weights
Authors: Duong Nghi Huu , Vo Duy , Matsumoto Takashi , Nanakorn Pruettha
Published: January 2025

This study presents an enhanced Timoshenko–Ehrenfest beam element designed for geometrically nonlinear analysis of planar straight beams subjected to small strains. The methodology adopts the isogeometric analysis (IGA) approach, utilizing rational cubic Bernstein basis functions to construct the interpolations of kinematic unknowns. However, in contrast to the traditional IGA concept, the isoparameterization between the reference geometry and kinematic unknowns is relaxed by treating specific weights in the basis functions as degrees of freedom. This approach significantly improves the accuracy of interpolations, providing superior descriptions of complex deformed configurations with only a minimal increase in element degrees of freedom. Notably, the proposed beam element is shown to be free from the locking phenomena, i.e., membrane and shear locking, without the need for additional treatments. Through rigorous numerical experiments, the study demonstrates the exceptional efficiency and robustness of the proposed beam element, confirming its superior capabilities.
Studying the Relationship Between Coal Consumption and Health of Rural Residents: Evidence from China
Authors: Cao Zi , Wei Jie , Fan Hang , Liu Jun
Published: January 2025

Due to the remoteness of rural areas, the impact of environmental pollution on residents’ health has not received adequate attention. This study examined the relationship between coal consumption and residents’ health status in rural areas in China between 2005 and 2021. We explored the impact of air pollution caused by coal combustion on the health of rural residents in China and provided associated countermeasures. The annual number of medical visits of rural residents was evaluated via multiple regression, and the Pearson correlation and Granger causality tests were used to evaluate the relationships between coal consumption and the changes in mortality rates of various diseases in rural areas. The results revealed that coal consumption for domestic use had a significant ( P < .001) positive effect on the frequency of medical treatment, whereas this effect was not significant at the production end. Significant positive correlations existed between coal consumption in rural areas and increased mortality rates for 7 out of the 10 main diseases. Causal relationships were identified between coal consumption and increased mortality rates due to urogenital system diseases and nervous system diseases. The empirical results of this study suggest that the gradual promotion of clean energy replacement of coal with electricity and natural gas in rural areas should reduce the probability of exposure to gas emitted from coal combustion for rural residents. Related diseases in coal-consuming areas should be screened regularly to effectively protect the health and safety of rural residents.
Decolonizing deliberative democracy
Authors: Mendonça Ricardo Fabrino , Asenbaum Hans
Published: January 2025

Deliberative democracy advances an emancipatory project of inclusion, equality, and freedom. Yet these ideals have been produced within a context structured by colonial power. This article argues that if deliberative democracy is to unfold its full democratic potential, it needs to face its colonial legacies and position a decolonizing ethos at its center. The article proposes a framework consisting of six moves toward decolonizing deliberative democracy—three deconstructive and three reconstructive: 1. acknowledging modernity's violence; 2. recognizing epistemic injustices within the knowledge production of deliberative democracy; 3. criticizing the colonial drive of deliberative institutions; 4. theorizing from the bottom up by and with Indigenous and marginalized groups; 5. engaging in an open dialogue with the Global South scholarship; 6. focusing on emancipation.
The potential impact of optimal blood pressure treatment intensity to reduce disparities in dementia between Black and White individuals
Authors: Levine Deborah A , Sussman Jeremy B , Hayward Rodney A , Gałecki Andrzej T , Whitney Rachael T , Briceño Emily M , Gross Alden L , Giordani Bruno J , Elkind Mitchell SV , Gottesman Rebecca F , Gaskin Darrell J , Sidney Stephen , Yaffe Kristine , Burke James F
Published: January 2025

Background

Black adults have higher dementia risk than White adults. Whether tighter population-level blood pressure (BP) control reduces this disparity is unknown.

Objective

Estimate the impact of optimal BP treatment intensity on racial disparities in dementia.

Methods

A microsimulation study of US adults ≥18 across a life-time policy-planning horizon. BP treatment strategies were the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) protocol, the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC-8) recommendations, and usual care (non-intervention control). Outcomes were all-cause dementia, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), stroke, myocardial infarction, non-ASCVD death, global cognitive performance, and optimal brain health (being free of dementia, cognitive impairment, or stroke). Population-level and individual-level effects stratified by race were estimated.

Results

Optimal population-level implementation of a SPRINT-based BP treatment strategy, compared to usual care, would increase average annual dementia incidence in White, but not Black, adults (1% versus 0%), due to hypertensive individuals’ greater survival, and reduce annual ASCVD events more in Black than White adults (13% versus 5%). Under a SPRINT-based strategy, individuals with hypertension gained more years lived without dementia, ASCVD, myocardial infarction, or stroke and more years lived in optimal brain health. A SPRINT-based strategy did not attenuate individual-level race disparities in outcomes, except stroke. Due to longer life expectancy, a SPRINT-based strategy did not substantially reduce lifetime dementia risk in either group. The JNC-8-based strategy had similar but smaller effects as the SPRINT-based strategy.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that tighter population-level BP control would not reduce population-level disparities in dementia between US Black and White adults.
Risk factors for loneliness among older informal caregivers in regions of Finland and Sweden: a longitudinal study
Authors: Åkerman Sarah , Nyqvist Fredrica , Nygård Mikael , Snellman Fredrik , Olofsson Birgitta
Published: January 2025

Aims:

This longitudinal study investigated the prevalence of and risk factors for loneliness among older new informal caregivers, long-term informal caregivers, former informal caregivers and non-caregivers in selected regions of Finland and Sweden over 5 years.

Methods:

A longitudinal sample of 5083 respondents from the Gerontological Regional Database (GERDA) survey data in 2016 and 2021 was used. Bivariate correlation tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results:

Loneliness prevalence rates varied between 6% and 8% in 2016 and increased in all groups, although not significantly among new informal caregivers. In 2021, the prevalence of loneliness varied between 8% and 14%. Among the baseline variables, reporting loneliness, single/unmarried/bereaved civil status, infrequent contact with friends and neighbours, poor self-rated health, depressive symptoms, living in Finland and financial strain increased the likelihood of reporting loneliness in 2021. Among the change variables, being a long-term caregiver, a negative change in civil status, a reduced number of confidants, a negative change in self-rated health and depressive symptoms increased the likelihood of reporting loneliness.

Conclusions:

Loneliness increased among all four groups of comparison. Being a long-term caregiver was a significant risk factor for reporting loneliness over time (odds ratio 2.00, 95% confidence interval 1.20–3.35), when controlling for several other social and health-related variables. To develop effective support, future research could address risk factors for loneliness among distinct groups of informal caregivers based on whether the care recipients have neurological or functional health limitations and examine the availability of support measures.
Cognitive Neural Mechanism of Monetary Donation: An Empathy Perspective
Authors: Yu Wenhuan , Xu Da , Liu Tao , He Lin , Yu Xiaoyu
Published: January 2025

The impact of anthropomorphism on charitable giving behavior has been extensively studied, but not all forms of anthropomorphism have a positive effect on donation intentions. Additionally, the influence of anthropomorphism on cognitive processing during individual donation decisions remains incomplete. This study aims to investigate how different scenarios involving anthropomorphism affect donation intentions and measure changes in empathic responses using cognitive neural methods to uncover the neural representation associated with anthropomorphic money for monetary donations. By utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), participants’ frontal activations are measured while performing a monetary donation task within four groups designed as a between-participants experiment with factors including object type (money vs. product) and presence or absence of anthropomorphism (yes vs. no). The results reveal three main findings: first, money anthropomorphism specifically enhances individuals’ intention to donate; second, empathy significantly influences both information-processing and donation decision stages; third, complex cognitive processes including affective empathy (rIFG), rational processing, and reward processing during the information-processing stage predict subsequent donation intentions, whereas cognitive empathy (lIFG) during the decision stage determines the amount of money donated. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how anthropomorphism impacts monetary donation decision-making.
Convivial circularities for degrowth: The case of upcycling
Authors: Vicdan Handan , Ozdamar Ertekin Zeynep , Atik Deniz
Published: January 2025

This study illustrates a critique of circular fashion practices using empirical insights from upcycling to highlight its potentials and limits for a degrowth transition in circular fashion. Acknowledging valuable marketing research on the motivations, benefits, and challenges of consumer upcycling, we investigate the often-overlooked domain of institutional upcycling practices, through interviews with diverse industry actors and secondary data analysis. Our analysis advances critical and theoretical debates on degrowth and circular fashion by examining how the socio-ecological value of upcycled waste is realized through institutional upcycling practices. Accordingly, we elucidate the emerging dynamics of degrowth circularity, demonstrating how these dynamics challenge and expand the degrowth principle of conviviality. Findings articulate the diverse convivialities necessary for a degrowth transition in circular fashion. Specifically, we highlight neo-material and more-than-human relationality as essential organizing principles of conviviality for degrowth circularity.
Victimhood as a positive political resource
Authors: Jeong Jihyun
Published: January 2025

Victimhood is commonly deemed negative. The dominant account of victimhood argues that leveraging victimhood involves asserting the moral superiority of the weak, leading to an oversimplification of complex political matters into moral binaries of good versus evil. According to this perspective, victimhood traps victims in a perennial position of weakness, thereby diminishing their agency. This paper challenges this negative perspective and argues that victimhood can enhance agency, serving as a positive political resource. When victimhood involves the acknowledgment of inherent vulnerability shared by all individuals, whether they are victims or non-victims, and concerns the unjust distributions of vulnerability experiences, it can empower individuals to overcome excessive self-doubt and transform their victimization into a political agenda. By examining the subway protests organized by Korean Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination activists, I demonstrate how recognizing the agency-enhancing potential of victimhood helps us better understand the political significance of these actions.
CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT – CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
Authors: McAlister G. , McPartlin G.
Published: January 2025

Whilst debate continues around the aetiology, classification and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), the authors report on a successful case of chronic disease management during a time in which little clinical evidence on the most effective methods of treatment was available; question whether this protracted, and polarised, debate may have had a detrimental impact upon sufferers of this condition; and also advocate a more holistic approach to the treatment of medically unexplained symptoms in general.
POISONING WITH PARACETAMOL, IBUPROFEN AND ASPIRIN. HOW MUCH IS DUE TO PRESCRIBED MEDICATION?
Authors: Sheen CL , Dillon JF , Bateman DN , Simpson KJ , MacDonald TM
Published: January 2025

Paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin are used frequently in self-poisoning attempts. They are available both over the counter (OTC) and on prescription. Measures have been taken to limit OTC supply, particularly for paracetamol. To effectively target any limitation in the supply of drugs used for self-harming, however, it is important to understand from where the drugs are obtained.

This paper has examined the proportion of paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen prescribed in theTayside region of Scotland.

Using databases within the Medicines Monitoring Unit (MEMO) in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, data on dispensed paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin were record-linked to admissions for poisoning with paracetamol, aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) respectively.

Up to 15% of hospitalisations were associated with a prescription dispensed up to one month before admission.

It appears that most admission to hospital for selfpoisoning with paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen are not associated with prescribed drugs. Measures to reduce the incidence of self-poisoning with these drugs needs to be aimed at the OTC supply.
HEALTH SYSTEMS IN TRANSITION IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
Authors: McKee M
Published: January 2025

On 1 May 2004, eight former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe joined the European Union (EU). This created a range of challenges for health policy in the new member states. On top of issues relating to the health of their populations, their economic situation, and the changing nature of healthcare that affects all countries, the process of acceding to the EU requires them to adhere to the accumulated body of European law, some of which has implications, directly or indirectly, for health policy. This paper examines these challenges and the responses being developed to them. While the countries have much in common, in particular the shift from the former model of healthcare financing to a more pluralistic model, often based on health insurance, there is also considerable diversity, as each is using different policy options to achieve the same broad objectives. While these countries have much in common, not least the experience of EU accession, they also have considerable flexibility to pursue the systems that they choose. The challenge is to enable a process of mutual learning without imposing a single, homogenous model that ignores their important differences. In doing so, they should not just look to the systems of healthcare being adopted by their neighbours in this region and to the models existing in the countries of Western Europe, but instead should be looking to the systems that they will have to put in place to meet the specific health needs of their own populations, which are different from those in other parts of Europe, as well as to meet the challenges of the future.
Screening and surveillance for upper and lower gastrointestinal cancer
Authors: Plevris JN
Published: January 2025

Cancers of the GI tract are the most common cancers in Europe and the US. Surveillance is recommended in Barrett's oesophagus, gastric atrophy, and inflammatory bowel disease. For Barrett's oesophagus, 3-5-yearly endoscopic surveillance is appropriate. The natural history of colorectal cancer justifies screening the general population or certain high-risk groups. The most widely accepted screening method is FOBT followed by colonoscopy if the FOBT is positive. In patients with excised adenomatous polyps, repeat colonoscopy is recommended in 3 years if high risk and 5 years if low risk. Surveillance is justifiable up to 75 years of age if there is no significant co-morbidity. Colonoscopic surveillance in inflammatory bowel disease starts 10 years from diagnosis for pancolitis and 15 years from diagnosis for left-sided colitis; thereafter every 3 years. Asymptomatic patients with strong family history of colorectal cancer should be referred to a clinical geneticist for risk assessment prior to colonoscopy screening.
Growth hormone therapy in children and adults
Authors: Kelnar CJH , Bath LE , Midgley PC , Toogood AA
Published: January 2025

Growth hormone is responsible for growth in childhood after the first one to two years, and its deficiency results in short stature. Use of GH has been restricted over the years, initially due to scarcity of supply (human pituitary GH), and thereafter due to expense of the drug (synthetic GH). In the UK, GH is licensed for the treatment of children with GHD, TS, PWS, CRI, and those born SGA who fail to catch up in growth. In some countries GH is used for other indications, and it is also used off-license in the UK for treatment of other conditions (primarily ‘short stature syndromes’). Growth hormone plays an important role in determining peak bone mass in adolescence/early adulthood, and has an important metabolic role in adults. Growth hormone deficiency in adults leads to lack of energy, abnormal body composition (reduced lean mass, increased fat mass), adverse cardiovascular factors (elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, abnormal echocardiography, hypertension), and reduced insulin sensitivity. It is thus associated with reduced quality of life and increased cardiovascular risk.
Pregnancy in type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Pearson DWM
Published: January 2025

In women with type 1 diabetes mellitus, meticulous glycaemic control, before and during pregnancy, usually results in a healthy baby. However, national and regional audits show poorer outcomes than the background population. Despite great efforts by mothers and their Diabetes Care Teams, the babies are often large for gestational age, delivered early by Caesarean section (64%), and spend some time in intensive care. In Scotland, perinatal mortality in diabetic pregnancy has reduced in recent years, but offspring continue to have more congenital abnormalities than the non-diabetic population. The risk of stillbirth and infant mortality are also in excess of the non-diabetic population. In clinical practice, a comprehensive pre-pregnancy and pregnancy care package delivered by a multidisciplinary team to address all risk factors will reduce congenital anomalies and other adverse outcomes. Maintaining very tight control throughout pregnancy can prove difficult. The management of acute and chronic complications of diabetes is challenging and requires individualised solutions underpinned by knowledge of maternal physiology and the impact of maternal metabolism on the developing fetus and newborn.
Hyperprolactinaemia
Authors: Sommerfield AJ , Patrick AW
Published: January 2025

Hyperprolactinaemia is the most common hormonal abnormality affecting the pituitary gland. The most frequently seen non-physiological causes include drug-induced hyperprolactinaemia, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and benign prolactin-secreting tumours of the anterior pituitary gland (prolactinomas). Tumours may be classified as either micro- (<1 cm in diameter), which are most common, or macroprolactinomas (>1 cm in diameter). Prolactinomas most commonly occur in women between 30 and 50 years of age and hyperprolactinaemia usually presents with galactorrhoea or symptoms of disturbed gonadal function (secondary amenorrhoea, anovulation, and infertility in women; erectile dysfunction, reduced shaving frequency in men). Macroprolactinomas may also present with local pressure effects (headache, visual fi eld loss). Dopamine agonists, such as bromocriptine and cabergoline, are the first-line treatment for both micro- and macroprolactinomas. Nowadays, surgical treatment is rarely required even for macroprolactinomas. The main aim of treatment is resolution of symptoms, and, therefore, restoration of gonadal function. For patients with microprolactinomas, dopamine agonist treatment should be withdrawn for a trial period after two to three years, as in around one-third of cases the prolactin level will return to normal. In women with microprolactinomas who become pregnant, dopamine agonists should be discontinued once pregnancy is confirmed. For women with macroprolactinomas, bromocriptine can be continued throughout the pregnancy.