bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Steroidomics-Based Screening for Primary Aldosteronism: Impact of antihypertensive Drugs
Authors: Constantinescu Georgiana , Gruber Sven , Fuld Sybille , Peitzsch Mirko , Schulze Manuel , Remde Hanna , Kürzinger Lydia , Yang Jun , Yen Tina , Williams Tracy Ann , Müller Lisa , Reincke Martin , Lenders Jacques W.M. , Beuschlein Felix , Pamporaki Christina , Eisenhofer Graeme F.
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

Diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) is complicated by the need to withdraw antihypertensive medications that interfere with test results, particularly renin. This study examined whether machine learning-based steroid-probability scores offer a renin measurement-independent approach for testing less prone to interference than the aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR).

METHODS:

This prospective multicenter cohort study involved the use of plasma steroidomics and the ARR in 839 patients tested for PA, including 190 with and 578 without PA (71 indeterminate). Receiver operating characteristic curves for steroid-probability scores and the ARR were examined with and without interfering medications. Impacts of individual medications on plasma aldosterone, 18-oxocortisol, 18-hydroxycortisol, steroid-probability scores, renin, and ARRs were examined by multivariable and paired analyses in patients with and without PA.

RESULTS:

Receiver operating characteristic curves indicated a significant impact of interfering antihypertensive medications on the diagnostic performance of the ARR and minimal impact on steroid-probability scores. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists increased plasma aldosterone, 18-oxocortisol, and 18-hydroxycortisol in patients without PA and resulted in false-positive test results for steroid-probability scores and false-negative results for the ARR. Diuretics increased aldosterone, 18-oxocortisol, and steroid-probability scores in patients without PA, whereas angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors decreased aldosterone, steroid-probability scores, and ARRs. Beta-adrenoceptor blockers, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin receptor blockers had negligible impact on mineralocorticoids and steroid-probability scores.

CONCLUSIONS:

Among antihypertensive drugs that impact plasma aldosterone, 18-oxocortisol, and 18-hydroxycortisol, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists stood out as a cause of false-positive results for derived steroid-probability scores. Other antihypertensives have minimal or no impact, an advantage for use of steroid-probability scores over the ARR when those medications cannot be withdrawn.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00017084
; Unique identifier: DRKS00017084.
Rare Sequence Variation Underlying Suspected Familial Cerebral Small‐Vessel Disease
Authors: Cho Bernard P. H. , Auckland Kate , Gräf Stefan , Markus Hugh S.
Published: July 2024

Background

Cerebral small‐vessel disease (cSVD) is the leading monogenic cause of stroke. Despite genetic screening in routine diagnosis, many cases remain without a known causative variant. Using a cohort with suspected familial cSVD and whole‐genome sequencing, we screened for variants in genes associated with monogenic cSVD and searched for novel variants associated with the disease.

Methods and Results

Rare variants were identified in whole‐genome sequencing data from the NBR (National Institute for Health Research BioResource Rare Disease) study. Pathogenic variants in known monogenic cSVD genes were identified. Gene‐based burden tests and family analysis were performed to identify novel variants associated with familial cSVD. A total of 257 suspected cSVD cases (mean ± SD age, 56.2 ± 16.1 years), and 13 086 controls with other nonstroke diseases (5874 [44.9%] men) were studied. A total of 8.9% of the cases carried a variant in known cSVD genes. Excluding these known causes, 23.6% of unrelated subjects with cSVD carried predicted deleterious variants in the Genomics England gene panel, but no association was found with cSVD in burden tests. We identified potential associations with cSVD in noncoding genes, including
RP4‐568F9.3
(adjusted
P
 = 7.1 × 10
−25
),
RP3‐466I7.1
(adjusted
P
 = 8.9 × 10
−16
), and
ZNF209P
(adjusted
P
 = 1.0 × 10
−15
), and matrisomal genes (adjusted
P
 = 5.1 × 10
−6
), including
FAM20C
,
INHA
,
LAMC1
, and
VWA5B2
.

Conclusions

Predicted deleterious variants in known cSVD genes were present in 23.6% of unrelated cases with cSVD, but none of the genes were associated with the disease. Rare variants in noncoding and matrisomal genes could potentially contribute to cSVD development. These genes could play a role in tissue development and brain endothelial cell function. However, further studies are needed to confirm their pathophysiological roles.
Objective Ischemia, Subjective Angina, and Psychological Distress in Angina With No Obstructive Coronary Disease
Authors: Liu Yuting , Jiang Wei , Wang Haochen , Xu Mingyu , Liao Yingxue , Zhou Haofeng , Bai Bingqing , Liu Fengyao , Yin Han , Liu Quanjun , Liang Yanting , Yu Xueju , Guo Lan , Wang Shuxia , Ma Huan , Geng Qingshan
Published: July 2024

Background

Angina with no obstructive coronary disease (ANOCA) and ischemia with no obstructive coronary disease, prevalent yet underrecognized conditions, mostly affect women. Previous studies rarely distinguished between them. We aimed to compare the prevalence of objective ischemia through various examinations in women with ANOCA and assess the impact of objective and subjective ischemia on their mental health.

Methods and Results

A total of 84 eligible women with ANOCA and 42 controls underwent mental stress, pharmacological stress, exercise stress, and Holter testing. Objective evidence of myocardial ischemia was assessed by positron emission tomography‐computed tomography and ECG, and subjective symptoms were graded using the Canadian Cardiovascular Society scale (CCS). Psychological assessments were conducted using 6 scales. Among 84 women with ANOCA, 37 (44%) received a diagnosis of ischemia with no obstructive coronary disease following mental stress testing, 20 (28.6%) through pharmacological stress testing, 14 (21.2%) via exercise stress testing, and 24 (32.9%) from Holter. Mental stress‐induced myocardial ischemia was more prevalent (
P
<0.05). Among 54 patients with ANOCA who completed all tests, 30% showed no ischemia, and only 1 (1.9%) showed ischemia in all tests. In addition, patients with ANOCA had higher psychological scores than controls (
P
<0.01). No significant differences was observed in psychological scores between ANOCA with positive and negative ischemia test results (
P
>0.05). However, ANOCA with milder angina (CCS I) exhibited higher scores across the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist‐Civilian Version and a higher prevalence of Type D personality traits (
P
<0.05).

Conclusions

In patients with ANOCA, the positive rate of myocardial ischemia exhibits variability among several noninvasive tests. A worsened psychological state is more closely linked to milder angina symptoms than to ischemia performance, highlighting the importance of focusing on symptom management in their psychological care.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03982901.
Shared Medical Appointments in Heart Failure for Post Acute Care Follow‐Up: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Taveira Tracey H. , Cohen Lisa B. , Laforest Sherry K. , Oliver Karen , Parent Melanie , Hearns Rene , Ball Sherry L. , Dev Sandesh , Wu Wen‐Chih
Published: July 2024

Background

Shared medical appointments (SMAs) in heart failure (HF) are medical visits where several patients with HF meet with multidisciplinary providers at the same time for efficient and comprehensive care. It is unknown whether HF‐SMAs can improve overall and cardiac health status for high‐risk patients with HF discharged from acute care.

Methods and Results

A 3‐site, open‐label, randomized‐controlled‐trial was conducted. Participants within 12 weeks of HF acute care (emergency‐room/hospitalization) requiring intravenous diuretic therapy were randomized to receive either HF‐SMA or usual HF clinical care (usual‐care) on a 1:1 ratio. The HF‐SMA team, which consisted of a nurse, nutritionist, psychologist, nurse practitioner and/or a clinical pharmacist, provided four 2‐hour session HF‐SMAs that met every other week for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes were the overall health status measured by European Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale and cardiac health status by Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, 180 days postrandomization. Of the 242 patients enrolled (HF‐SMA n=117, usual‐care n=125, mean age 69.3±9.4 years, 71.5% White patients, 94.6% male), 84% of participants completed the study (n=8 HF‐SMA and n=9 usual‐care patients died). After 180 days, both HF‐SMA and usual‐care participants had significant improvements from baseline in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire that were not statistically different. Only HF‐SMA participants had significant improvements in European Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale (mean change = 7.2±15.8 in HF‐SMA versus −0.4±19.0 points in usual‐care,
P
 < 0.001).

Conclusions

Both HF‐SMA and usual‐care in participants with HF achieved significant improvements in cardiac health status, but only a team approach through HF‐SMA achieved significant improvements in overall health status. Future larger studies are needed to evaluate hospitalization and death outcomes.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02481921.
Trafficking | Transmission | Translation: Exploring Embodiment as a Mode of Knowledge Construction in Science Art Installations
Authors: Rassell Andrea , Bray Heather
Published: July 2024

Science art practices are often framed as science communication in a manner that overlooks the capacity of the arts to provide engagement opportunities beyond discourse. The authors perform a thematic analysis of audience interviews from scientific media art installations that depict complex, intangible, invisible, and ephemeral scientific phenomena, specifically focusing on medical nanotechnology. The analysis reveals that visitors recognize sensorial experiences beyond traditional science communication, while scientists’ experiences expanded their definition of engagement. The authors argue that scientific media art practices act as sites of meaning-making and nondiscursive engagement that create reflective and embodied contexts for encounters with emerging technologies.
The Sound of Data: Designing a Framework for Parameter Mapping Sonification
Authors: Peng Tristan , Choi Hongchan , Berger Jonathan
Published: July 2024

Parameter mapping sonification is a powerful tool for data display and analysis with uses in a myriad of fields of study. Despite the wide range of applications, parameter mapping sonification remains abstruse for people to utilize effectively. This article outlines an original design in the domain of parameter mapping sonification applications for a flexible, extensible, and intuitive web app that democratizes this data display method. Sonification Interface for REmapping Nature (SIREN) accomplishes these goals through an accessible interface for sonification that demonstrates various web technologies, including Web Audio API. Existing frameworks are compared in five different areas—technology, design, functionality, accessibility, and extensibility—to determine the optimal gap for SIREN.
Some Observations on Trophy Hunting and the Quest for Big Game Animals in American Society
Authors: Eliason Stephen L.
Published: July 2024

In the fall season each year, recreationists travel to rural regions across the United States to engage in hunting activities. While there are many reasons for hunting including the acquisition of food, social camaraderie, and enjoyment of nature, the possibility of obtaining a trophy specimen represents a powerful inducement for hunters to participate in a long-standing tradition. This essay analyzes the quest for trophy big game in contemporary American society from a sociological perspective and suggests that several factors have converged in recent decades that promote and encourage trophy hunting of nonhuman animals in the United States, including mass and social media, the hunting industry, and the commercialization of wildlife. The pursuit of trophy big game is an obsession for some hunters and contributes to the perpetuation of the hunting industry. Implications and risks of trophy hunting for the viability of sport hunting as a traditional recreational pursuit are discussed.
Effect of microhabitat exposure and time of day on abundance and microclimatic conditions by age classes in Pseudoeurycea leprosa from a mountain of central Mexico
Authors: Cante-Bazán Enrique Adrián , Méndez-Allende Guadalupe , Hernández-Salinas Uriel , Luría-Manzano Ricardo , Ramírez-Bautista Aurelio
Published: July 2024

Plethodontids are organisms highly linked to variations in temperature and moisture in the environment. The major determinant of their body temperature is the interaction between microhabitat preferences and time of day. However, there are proposed differences in moisture and temperature preferences among age classes. This study examines how microhabitat exposure and time of day on the abundance, environmental and microenvironmental moisture and temperature, body temperature, and age demographics of Pseudoeurycea leprosa interact. Hatchlings appeared to be more abundant during the day, and their body temperature varied by microhabitat and time of day, the microenvironmental moisture of the sites that individual used were affected by the interaction between these variables. These results suggest segregation between age classes. Juveniles and adults may benefit by exploiting exposed microhabitats because their body temperature remains stable. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the responses of plethodontids to changes in their environment.
Indigenous Knowledge in Entrepreneurship and Cultural Tourism in the Rural Areas
Authors: Cheteni Priviledge , Umejesi Ikechukwu
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the influence of indigenous knowledge systems on indigenous entrepreneurship and sustainability practices. Through a deductive approach, qualitative data was collected from fifteen business owners using systematic random sampling. Extensive one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to gather in-depth perspectives. The findings reveal that a significant proportion of the entrepreneurs actively incorporate indigenous knowledge into their business operations. Additionally, cultural tourism is experiencing a surge, although largely operating in the informal sector. Notably, the agripreneurs face substantial challenges in accessing mainstream markets, a predicament shared by entrepreneurs across various sectors. The conversations with the participants unveiled multidimensional obstacles hindering their progress, including inadequate capital, limited access to funding opportunities, and discriminatory practices by financial institutions. Furthermore, the study highlights the need for comprehensive support mechanisms to foster indigenous entrepreneurship and promote sustainable practices rooted in traditional knowledge systems.
Exploring the Role of Microinsurance in Financial Inclusion: a Tanzanian Case Study
Authors: Mhella Deogratius Joseph
Published: July 2024

The study addresses a significant gap in the literature by investigating the relationship between microinsurance and financial inclusion in Tanzania, mainly focusing on the role of digital financial services. Although some literature and knowledge exist that explain microinsurance and financial inclusion, what remains unexplained in terms of contribution to knowledge is the specific nuances or mechanisms through which digital financial services facilitate access to microinsurance and how microinsurance contributes to financial inclusion. This research bridges this gap to some extent. While other studies mention that digital financial services have opened doors for low-income individuals to access microinsurance and that microinsurance has promoted financial inclusion by offering affordable products, they do not delve into the specific mechanisms or strategies employed to achieve these outcomes. To bridge the gap, the research gathered data through in-depth unstructured interviews, and thematic analysis was employed for data analysis. The study’s findings suggest that digital financial services play a significant role in shaping microinsurance opportunities in Tanzania, mainly by providing access to low-income and financially excluded individuals. These findings underscore the positive impact of microinsurance services on financial inclusion, emphasizing the importance of accessible and affordable financial services for marginalized individuals. Moreover, the principle of risk mutualization has been used to provide the theoretical underpinning of the study, and it extends beyond financial transactions to include building awareness and understanding of microinsurance and risk management.
‘For Israel and Communism’? Making Sense of Germany’s Antideutsche
Authors: Fischer Leandros
Published: July 2024

The German Left’s silence on Palestine is colloquially attributed to either German guilt, the role of the so-called ‘Antideutsch’ current, or both. While acknowledging these factors, this contribution seeks to situate the Antideutsch phenomenon within a historical-materialist framework. Specifically, it examines the evolution of the postwar German Left’s perceptions of antisemitism, against the backdrop of its reconstitution following World War ii, the rise and fall of the 1968 Left, as well as current developments related to the emergence of a post-migrant society.
Critical Religion and the Sociology of Religion
Authors: Goldstein Warren S.
Published: July 2024

This article discusses the relevance of Critical Religion to the sociology of religion. Critical Religion argues that the category of “religion” is a Western concept that through colonialism and imperialism has been superimposed over non-Western societies. In contrast, it offers a critical theory of or critical sociology of religion, which evaluates the positive and negatives aspects of what we call religion. The article provides a summary of key proponents of critical religion then uses it to discuss the secularization debate which runs through the classics and the old and new paradigms in the sociology of religion. It discusses the lived religion methodology and problematizes that through its lack of distinction between the religious and the secular, it overemphasizes the role of religion. Finally, the article offers a more scientific and neutral redefinition of the category of religion as a solution to the problems with the category raised by critical religion.
Maria Leopoldina between History and Memory
Authors: Nicolazzi Fernando
Published: July 2024

In this article, I study certain forms of public use of the past in the context of the bicentennial of Brazil’s Independence, focusing mainly on a specific case: the cultural memory of Maria Leopoldina. By analyzing a wide range of materials, I argue that Leopoldina’s character gains a prominent role in social imaginary in the context of the bicentennial commemorations. Also, I suggest that this is due to the transformations in Brazilian historiography during the period and to new popular demands regarding the national past.
Proportionality in Bello: A Case Against Indirect Military Advantage in War
Authors: Soni Surbhi
Published: July 2024

Rule of proportionality strikes a bargain in launching attacks. It demands that military commanders suspend or cancel operations if collateral damage anticipated from an attack exceeds the potential military advantage offered. The definitional phrase military advantage has been the subject of a rich debate, varyingly interpreted to expand or limit the scope of attacks. This paper participates in the debate, advocating that military advantage must be limited to exclude attacks on objects that indirectly contribute to military potential, such as, economic, social, psychological or political advantage, which invariably target civilians or civilian enterprises. It critically engages with the principles and precedents invoked to legitimise a broader understanding of military advantage. It posits that such attacks disregard belligerents’ privileges, and render unbound categories of civilian objects susceptible to destruction. Pursuantly, the rule of proportionality, originally articulated to nuance and improve the rule of distinction, is usurped to violate the latter.
Even Kinship Terminology, Society and Language Contact
Authors: Lavrillier Alexandra , Matić Dejan
Published: July 2024

The paper analyses on the basis of new fielddata the transformations of kinship terminologies in three Even dialects which have come about through cultural and linguistic contacts. We investigate two possible sources of change. First, the adaptation of kinship terminology to the ways of subsistence, such that, e.g., hunting and gathering cultures preferably use one, while herding cultures prefer other types of kinship systems, with the corollary that shifts in subsistence type can lead to shifts in the kinship terminology. Second, linguistic and cultural convergence, whereby in multilingual groups either one group adapts its terminology to the system of the dominant group or, in the situation of symmetrical multilingualism, both groups change their kinship systems to accommodate to each other. We argue that both causes, the cultural and the linguistic ones, are at work in the Even communities investigated in the paper.
Nature’s food – the contribution of edible insects to household nutrition and income in Western Kenya
Authors: Adundo L.A. , Mulungu K.
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the nutritional contribution of insects to the diets and income of an entomophagous region in western Kenya. We used a random sample of households from two sub-counties in western Kenya and collected quantities harvested, consumed, and sold of three common insects (termites, dung beetles, and grasshoppers). We then estimated the nutritional composition from literature and determined the household nutrient requirements for proteins, vitamin A, iron and zinc to understand the contribution of insects. Insects were found to be a source of protein, vitamin A, iron, and zinc, with average contributions of 2%, 14%, 20% and 4% of the recommended (household) dietary intake of each nutrient, respectively. Households that earned income from insects had 24% higher household income compared to those that did not earn income from insects. The study further examined factors influencing the contribution of insects to diets and found that household size and wealth (measured by land size) have an inverse relationship with insect contribution to diets and income while attaining primary level of education and being a farmer as the main occupation are associated with a higher contribution of insects to diets. For future research, understanding factors influencing entomophagy is vital for promoting sustainable and nutritious food systems that incorporate insects as a viable protein source, particularly in regions where alternative protein sources are limited.
The Japanese Survey of Materia Medica in Korea and the Transformation of the Japanese Study of Nature in the Eighteenth Century
Authors: AN Sooyoung
Published: July 2024

In the eighteenth century, Japanese honzōgaku developed to engage more actively with an empirical mode of study that put more emphasis on sensory and visual information, complementing the classical texts from China and Korea and correcting the names contained in these texts. The further introduction by honzō scholars of observation and accurate illustration, as well as of the use of material artefacts such as specimens, developed alongside the continued importance of the philological study of the classics, rather than replacing it. Using as primary materials the “Records of Medicinal Ingredients” found among the Documents of the Tsushima Clan, this essay examines a Japanese project to survey flora and fauna in Korea during the Edo period in order to shed light on the growing emphasis on visual accuracy in the study of nature. It also highlights how the circulation of texts inspired changes in how people conceived of natural objects and constructed materia medica knowledge in the context of Tokugawa Japan.
Medieval Manuscript Layouts: A Cognitive Journey through the Page
Authors: Somfai Anna
Published: July 2024

Page layouts affect our reading and interpreting of texts. The paper proposes that in designing the mise-en-page of medieval manuscripts, scribes made choices and selected various visual tools which played specific roles and induced different cognitive processes. It explores the structure and the cognitive signposts in detail through a close analysis of a large number of manuscript layouts of different textual genres and supplies images to illustrate the points. It looks at the archaeology of the text and the creativity with which medieval readers engaged with the folio through their contributions of glossing and building a many-layered, instantly available dialogue with the text and each other. The paper introduces the concept that the folio acts as a work surface within which instances of visual thinking and experimenting emerge and supports the claim through case studies of diagrammatic thinking. Based on comparison, it argues for the similar nature of medieval folio layouts and modern webpage design through an analysis of their shared cognitive tools and overall impression. A summary table of the cognitive tools of the folio layout gives an overview of the main areas and tools of the design and use of the mise-en-page. Reading is a personal experience and the cognitive elements of the medieval folio layout even today contribute to one’s approach to and interpretation of the text making it a journey of discovery and self-discovery.
Factors associated with electroconvulsive therapy treatment for adults with serious psychiatric conditions in Australia
Authors: Chen Timothy , Loo Colleen , Salvador-Carulla Luis , Jorm Louisa R , Srasuebkul Preeyaporn , Sara Grant , Quiroz Juan C , Gallego Blanca
Published: July 2024

Objective:

To identify factors associated with receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for serious psychiatric conditions.

Methods:

Retrospective observational study using hospital administrative data linked with death registrations and outpatient mental health data in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The cohort included patients admitted with a primary psychiatric diagnosis between 2013 and 2022. The outcome measure was receipt of ECT.

Results:

Of 94,950 patients, 3465 (3.6%) received ECT. The likelihood of receiving ECT was higher in older (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.03), female (HR = 1.24) patients. Compared to depression, patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (HR = 0.79), schizophrenia-related disorders (HR = 0.37), mania (HR = 0.64) and other mood disorders (HR = 0.45) had lower odds of receiving ECT. Patients with depression and one other serious psychiatric condition had higher odds of receiving ECT than depression alone. Bipolar disorder likelihood of ECT did not differ from depression. A higher number of mental health outpatient visits in the prior year and an involuntary index admission with depression were also associated with receiving ECT. Likelihood of receiving ECT increased with year of admission (HR = 1.32), private patient status (HR = 2.06), higher socioeconomic status (HR = 1.09) and being married (HR = 1.25).

Conclusions:

ECT use for depression and bipolar disorder in NSW aligns with clinical national guidelines. Patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective, schizophrenia-related disorders, mania and other mood disorders had lower likelihood of ECT than depression, despite ECT being recommended by clinical guidelines for these diagnoses. Variations in ECT were strongly associated with healthcare access, with private patients twice as likely to receive ECT than their public counterparts, suggesting a need to explore ECT accessibility.
The Changing Skill Content of Private-Sector Union Coverage
Authors: Dodini Samuel , Lovenheim Michael , Willén Alexander
Published: July 2024

Concurrent with the decline in private-sector unionization over the past half century, a shift has occurred in the type of work covered by unions. The authors take a skill-based approach to study this shift. For both men and women, private-sector unionized jobs have changed to require more non-routine, cognitive skills, and for women, less routine, manual skills. Union/non-union skill differences have grown, with unionized jobs requiring relatively more non-routine, cognitive skill and relatively more routine, manual and routine, cognitive skills. The authors decompose these changes into 1) changes in skills within an occupation, 2) changes in worker concentration across existing occupations, and 3) changes to the occupational mix from entry and exit. Most of the changes they document are driven by the second two forces. Finally, the article discusses how this evidence can be reconciled with a model of skill-biased technological change that directly accounts for the institutional framework surrounding collective bargaining.
A National Analysis of High School Music Course Grades
Authors: Shaw Brian P.
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this study was to describe the grades given to students in U.S. public high school music courses and to examine the relationships between student characteristics, music course grades, and grades in additional subjects. Using descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and latent profile analysis, I analyzed over 5,000 student transcripts from the U.S. Department of Education’s High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 that contained at least one grade in music. Fifty-six percent of all music grades were As, and 79% were As or Bs. Ensemble grades were generally higher than general music grades, which were more evenly distributed. Regression modeling revealed that ethnoracial identity, socioeconomic status, and having an individualized education program (IEP) were closely associated with students’ music grades, with students representing two or more minoritized populations being particularly unlikely to earn an A in music. Latent profile analysis illustrated that student demographics explained differences in music grades even among students with equivalent grades in other school subjects.
Beyond the Ballot: The Impact of Voting Margin and Turnout on the Legitimacy of Referendum Outcomes in Europe
Authors: Arnesen Sveinung , Broderstad Troy Saghaug , Johannesson Mikael P , Linde Jonas
Published: July 2024

This study delves into the criteria under which referendums can legitimise political choices. It employs survey experiments regarding EU membership across seven European nations, focusing on variations in referendum outcomes, majority margins and voter participation. The empirical results reveal a consistent pattern of legitimacy attributed to referendums, emphasising the influence of majority margin and voter turnout. It also uncovers the critical role of status quo bias on outcome favorability and the apprehension regarding false majorities in shaping public acceptance of referendums. This research contributes to understanding the mechanisms by which democratic procedures legitimise political decisions, revealing the nuanced role of referendums in democratic governance.
Anxiety, OCD, Psychological Flexibility, and Depression: A Replication With Racially Minoritized University Students
Authors: Browning Morgan E. , Lloyd-Richardson Elizabeth E. , Trisal Akshay V. , Satterfield Sidney
Published: July 2024

OCD and anxiety are both associated with depression and suicide, but there is a need for comprehensive assessment and screening of depression risk factors within ethnically and racially minoritized college students. In total, 128 university students were surveyed in 2022 in the northeastern United States who all endorsed at least one non-white racial identity. They completed measures of anxiety, depression, OCD symptoms and psychological flexibility. Results supported that anxiety and OCD symptoms were positively associated with high depression, and high psychological flexibility was associated with low depression. Results support continued screening and intervention for anxiety and OCD symptoms to address depression in diverse young adults. Future work should continue to assess the protective effects of targeting psychological flexibility constructs and to assess longitudinal impacts of OCD symptoms and anxiety on depression.
Developing an Ethical Perspectives Scale
Authors: Diegel Kevin J. , Barth Timothy M. , Lord Charles G.
Published: July 2024

Many theories hold that ethical perspectives inform moral judgments, but few such theories have corresponding individual difference scales. The present research aimed to develop an Ethical Perspectives Scale (EPS) reflecting specifically the five-perspective Markkula framework: utilitarianism; rights; fairness/justice; common good; and virtue. The authors wrote and progressively revised five sets of three items, each set intended to represent one and only one Markkula perspective, before obtaining responses from the present convenience sample ( n = 621; 463 female, 157 male, 1 unspecified; Mage = 19.13, SD = 1.44) of university students. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO = 0.867) and Bartlett’s sphericity tests ( χ2 = 3211.5, p < .001) showed that the data were suitable for factor analysis. An EFA with Direct Oblimin rotation yielded a five-factor structure corresponding to the five Markkula perspectives. A CFA yielded satisfactory indices of fit ( χ2(80) = 92.81, p = .155, CFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.989, SRMR = 0.039, RMSEA = 0.023, HI90 ≤ .001, and LO90 = 0.041). The five subscales displayed satisfactory internal consistency ( M subscale α = .76). Responses from a separate student sample ( n = 148) yielded satisfactory three-week test-retest reliability ( M subscale r = .72). EPS sub-scales significantly predicted evaluations of contemporary moral dilemma decisions that involved drug legalization, free speech, and pandemic restrictions. The results were interpreted as promising first steps toward an EPS useful for future research and application.
Effects of States’ Methods for Estimating Nonfatal Overdose, United States, 2021
Authors: Johnson Christian E. , Holtgrave David R. , Catlin Megan , Gupta Rahul
Published: July 2024

Objective:

Previous nonfatal overdose is a key risk factor for drug overdose death; however, current nonfatal overdose surveillance is limited to people who receive medical attention. We identified states that tracked nonfatal overdoses treated in prehospital and hospital care settings, assessed the effects of different surveillance methods on the magnitude of nonfatal overdose estimates, and estimated states’ nonfatal-to-fatal overdose ratio.

Methods:

Two analysts independently reviewed state websites to characterize states’ methods of capturing nonfatal overdose events from December 2022 through February 2023. We collected information on surveillance methods in 5 states that met the inclusion criteria, including data source, measure specification, drug(s) involved, and whether states performed deduplication or published mutually exclusive measure specifications to capture unique events across care settings. We calculated nonfatal-to-fatal overdose ratios to assess the effects of different data sources on estimates of nonfatal overdoses.

Results:

Illinois, Maine, North Carolina, and West Virginia used syndromic surveillance data and New Jersey used hospital discharge data to track nonfatal overdose-related emergency department visits. Illinois and West Virginia tracked nonfatal overdose-related encounters with emergency medical services. Other states tracked opioid overdoses reversed following naloxone administration by emergency medical services, law enforcement, and community members. Maine, New Jersey, and West Virginia published nonfatal overdose information by using mutually exclusive measure specifications; the number of nonfatal overdoses per fatal overdose in these states ranged from approximately 5:1 to 14:1.

Practice Implications:

Establishing a standard framework to combine data from existing national surveillance systems in prehospital and hospital care settings can improve nonfatal overdose estimates and enable comparisons between jurisdictions to help decision makers identify areas most in need of essential services.
Racial capitalism in urban studies: From spaces of victimisation to spaces of benefit
Authors: Hackworth Jason , Dantzler Prentiss
Published: July 2024

The burgeoning growth of racial capitalism work within urban studies (RCUS) has garnered considerable attention. In this critical commentary, we embark on an examination of existing scholarship to ascertain its theoretical relevance within this domain. Our inquiry reveals a predominant focus on the plight of individuals ensnared in the web of everyday racial capitalism. The existing body of work predominantly directs its gaze towards what we term ‘spaces of victimisation’, while largely neglecting those who derive advantages from this system. Transcending from the study of victimisation to the exploration of spaces characterised by benefit presents formidable challenges. We consider some of the challenges to making the leap from spaces of victimisation to spaces of benefit: the routineness of benefit, the scale(s) of benefit, and the remoteness of benefit. In sum, we suggest how the application of RCUS might confront these multifaceted challenges, offering a unique vantage point for critical analysis.
Proptech and the private rental sector: New forms of extraction at the intersection of rental properties and platform rentierisation
Authors: Rogers Dallas , Maalsen Sophia , Wolifson Peta , Fields Desiree
Published: July 2024

Private renting increasingly comprises a complex ecosystem of actors who assemble housing within the market, and collect rental income and data from tenants, and data on the material assets themselves. Our analysis – at the intersection of rentier and platform capitalism – focuses on landed (material real estate) and technological (digital infrastructure and data) property in Australia’s private rental system. Drawing out relationships between the various actors – landlords, rental property managers and real estate agencies, software developers and providers, property developers and investors – and both their properties and their uses of Proptech (property technology), we show how housing and technology are being leveraged for profit in new ways. In Australia, landed property retains its precedence for established (individual and institutional) landlords, whose interest in Proptech relates to enhancing or value-adding to rental housing assets. For Proptech and institutional real estate players seeking to consolidate both landed and technology property, capturing the tech landscape is increasingly important; indeed, securing control and/or consolidation of technology property is a key motivation for building and/or using Proptech among the largest property developers. Our findings show how rent extraction operates across and between different types and scales of property and market actors, and in new ways that differentiate the figure of the rentier while upholding the dynamics of the rentier model.
The Regional Total Factor Productivity Changes of Healthcare Delivery in China: A Bootstrap Malmquist Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Li Meng , Guo Jianming , Dong Siping
Published: July 2024

Improving the productivity of healthcare delivery and optimizing the allocation of regional healthcare resources are crucial for the health providers. The objective of this study is to evaluate the productivity dynamics of healthcare delivery at the regional (provincial) level in China, to provide evidence-based policy implications. After a review of literature, actual number of open beds, number of occupational or assistant doctors, number of registered nurses, and number of other staff were selected as input variables. The number of diagnostic visits and number of discharged inpatients were adopted as the output indicators. The panel data of 31 provinces in mainland China from 2010 to 2019 were extracted from Health Statistics Yearbook. Bootstrap-Malmquist Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model was used to measure the total factor productivity changes (TFPC) and its components. During the study period, the analysis of total factor productivity (TFP) in China revealed a declining trend with an average annual decline of 0.9% (ranging from 0.860 to 1.204). For each of the 31 provinces, the annual TFP scores varied from 0.971 to 1.029. On average, technical efficiency changes (TEC) had showed a downward trend from 2010-2011 (0.980) to 2013-2014 (0.982), and then an upward trend in 2014-2015 (1.029) and the following three consecutive years since 2016-2017 (1.000, 1.013, 1.009). Similarly, the trend in technological changes (TC) was consistent with the TEC from 2010-2019, which fluctuated between 0.969 and 1.011 on average per year at the provincial level. Notably, the point of inflection appeared at 2013-2014. Regional healthcare inputs and outputs in mainland China saw an upward trend from 2010 to 2019. However, TFPC, TEC, and TC decreased across all 31 provinces. TFP experienced a declining trend from 2010 to 2014, followed by growth until 2019. This may be related to the new healthcare reform being implemented since 2009, as service efficiency and capacity may undergo a reversal at the beginning of the reform.
Disability’s Dark Figure of Violence: Reporting Variations Across Intersections of Disability Type, Race, Ethnicity, and Sex
Authors: Castillo Isabella E.
Published: July 2024

Using data from the 2017 to 2020 National Crime Victimization Survey, the current study examines how race, ethnicity, and sex affect the likelihood of reporting violent victimization to the police across types of disability (hearing, vision, cognitive, and physical). Findings reveal that Black individuals with cognitive disabilities and Hispanic individuals with multiple disabilities were less likely to report their violent victimization to the police compared to White individuals with no disabilities. Results not only support prior literature’s conclusion that disability type shapes reporting outcomes but indicate potentially cumulative effects for those at the intersections. Its implications highlight the critical need for criminal justice practitioners, victim advocates, and researchers to integrate disability and its heterogeneity into practice.
Delusion or Conspiracy? How Forensic Mental Health Professionals Differentiate Delusional Beliefs From Extreme Radicalized Beliefs
Authors: Aminot Katérine , Ryan Tara J. , Nijdam-Jones Alicia
Published: July 2024

A growing body of research is beginning to highlight the difficulty clinicians have in distinguishing delusional beliefs from conspiratorial beliefs. This mixed-methods study examined how 198 forensic mental health professionals in Canada and the United States differentiate delusional beliefs from conspiratorial beliefs. Participants were presented with an experimental vignette describing a forensic patient’s symptoms and were asked to diagnose the individual and, if qualified, opine on the defendant’s competency to stand trial. Results showed that idiosyncratic and highly rigid and distressing beliefs significantly predicted the diagnosis of a psychotic disorder, whereas shared beliefs held with low/moderate rigidity and distress significantly predicted the identification of conspiratorial beliefs. Despite participants’ abilities to differentiate delusional and conspiratorial beliefs, some participants reported that they lacked sufficient training in this area. Future research should examine if factors other than the social context and rigidity of the belief influence the differentiation of delusional and conspiratorial beliefs.
Youth Perceptions of Juvenile Justice Facility Staff: Associations With Self-Directed Violence Among Juvenile Detainees
Authors: Laberge Alyssa , Paruk Jennifer , Rapanos Ashtaan , Cavanagh Caitlin
Published: July 2024

Youth in juvenile justice facilities are at high risk of self-directed violence (SDV; suicide attempts and self-harm). Research shows that positive youth perceptions of adults are preventive against SDV among community youth, yet it is unknown whether this extends to detained youth. Using a large national dataset, the present study examines whether, at the facility level, youth perceptions of staff are associated with rates of youth SDV over time. Results from a multilevel mixed-effects negative binomial model suggest that after accounting for various juvenile facility characteristics and practices, youth perceptions of staff are marginally associated with decreased rates of SDV over time. The results from the present study hold implications for research, policy, and practice. Importantly, the results imply a need for facility-wide and evidence-based staff training on SDV among detained youth that emphasizes building positive interpersonal relationships between staff and youth.
Disentangling Dispositions: Varying Juvenile Court Responses and Outcomes for Girls
Authors: Anderson Valerie R. , Singh Sukhmani , Sullivan Christopher J. , Mckenna Nicole C. , Feeney Hannah
Published: July 2024

Extant research on juvenile legal system (JLS) involved girls generally focuses on individual and proximal environmental levels that bring girls into contact with the JLS. There is less research on how the JLS responds to girls in case dispositions (e.g., sanction-based responses, treatment-focused services), and how combinations of dispositions relate to girls’ further system involvement. In this study, we apply latent class analysis (LCA) to the juvenile legal context to categorize system responses in a sample of 1,133 adjudicated girls. We identify four distinct classes, comprising different types and combinations of dispositions. We then further analyzed the classes using individual characteristics and risk factors of girls to understand precursors to the system’s response and further JLS involvement. Our findings offer insight into how packages of court dispositions are correlated with increased recidivism. We consider implications for JLS intervention with girls and provide suggestions for further research.
Adaptive fuzzy control of time-varying impedance in rehabilitation exercises
Authors: Reza Mohamadi Sayed , Khorashadizadeh Saeed
Published: July 2024

Time-varying impedance control is pivotal in shaping the dynamics of both patients and robots concurrently, facilitating tailored training for rehabilitation within human–robot interaction (HRI) scenarios, particularly for exoskeleton robots. Given the diverse physical characteristics of patients, sudden movement variations can pose challenges, potentially disrupting the robot’s functionality. Moreover, the inherent dynamics of robots coupled with uncertainties present additional hurdles for ensuring optimal and safe rehabilitation exercises. In this study, we introduce a novel approach: fuzzy adaptive time-varying impedance control, adept at mitigating external disturbances and addressing all uncertainties associated with both robot and patient dynamics, thereby ensuring safe and effective rehabilitation protocols. A primary concern with time-varying impedance control lies in system stability. Leveraging Lyapunov stability analysis, we delineate the safe operational boundaries of time-varying impedance control, thus averting potential instability. Our proposed impedance modulation facilitates desired dynamics while facilitating passive and isometric exercises for patients. Through simulations conducted in MATLAB2023, we demonstrate the efficacy of our approach, comparing its performance against conventional constant impedance control methods and also we used the controller for three different patients with various physical features that shows good results for all of them.