bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Evolving Effectiveness of Biologics in Avoiding Surgery in Children With Ulcerative Colitis: At what Nutritional Cost?
Authors: Kumar Mohineesh , Harvey Rachel N. , Osei Samuel K. , Fatima Ayesha , Menning Alexander Z. , Akay Begum , Brahmamdam Pavan , Stallion Anthony , Novotny Nathan M.
Published: March 2023

Background

Pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment has changed dramatically with the introduction of multiple biologics. The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of these new biologics on achieving remission, nutritional impact, and eventual need for surgery in children.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed hospital records of UC patients (ages 1-19) seen at a pediatric gastroenterology clinic between January 2012 andAugust 2020. Patients were divided into groups: 1) medically without biologics or surgery; 2) patients treated with one biologic; and 3) patients treated with multiple biologics 4)patients that underwent colectomy.

Results

There were 115 UC patients with a mean follow-up of 5.9 ± 3.7 years (1 month-15.3 years). PUCAI score at diagnosis was mild in 52 patients (45%), moderate in 25 (21%), and severe in 5 (4.3%). PUCAI score for 33 patients (29%) could not be calculated. There were 48 (41.3%) in group 1 with 58% remission, 34 (29.6%) in group 2 with 71% remission, 24 (20.8%) in group 3 with 29% remission, and only 9 (7.8%) in group 4 with 100% remission. The majority (55%) of surgical patients had colectomy within the first year of diagnosis. BMI improved after surgery ( P = 0.001). The change from one biologic to others did not improve nutrition over time.

Discussion

New biologics are changing the landscape in maintaining remission from UC. The current need for surgery is much lower than previously published studies. In medically refractive UC, nutritional status only improved after surgery. Addition of another biologic for medically refractory ulcerative colitis in order to avoid surgery must take into account the positive impact surgery has on nutrition and disease remission.
Assessing Stage of Change and Harm Reduction Strategies for Synthetic Cannabinoid Use Among Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in Houston, Texas
Authors: Celeste-Villalvir Alane , Crouch Cathy , Witte Laura , Heads Angela M. , Weaver Michael , Schmitz Joy M. , Isbell Frances , Schick Vanessa
Published: March 2023

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are low-cost substances that have been associated with adverse health outcomes and an increase in emergency department visits over recent years, particularly among people experiencing homelessness. This mixed methods study explored the connection between homelessness, SC use, and readiness to quit in order to inform the development of harm reduction strategies. Individuals (18+) residing in homeless encampments in Houston, TX with experiences of SC use were eligible to participate. Participants ( N = 65) completed an interviewer-administered survey about their SC use. Most participants were Black/African American (65.7%), male (82.9%), and most (75.4%) reported using SCs to avoid positive drug tests. Many wanted to quit using SCs (69.2%) and already employed harm reduction strategies while using SCs. Organizations supporting individuals experiencing homelessness who use SCs should focus on reducing barriers to stopping SC use and increasing the availability of housing and supportive services.
E-Cigarette Use: The Effects of Psychological Vulnerabilities, Perceptions, and Intentions to Use E-Cigarettes
Authors: Tran Denise D. , Morrell Holly E. R.
Published: March 2023

Little research has examined the effects that psychological vulnerabilities (i.e., difficulty with emotion regulation, depressed mood, distress tolerance) have on the perceptions of e-cigarettes, intent to use e-cigarettes, and actual e-cigarette use. Data were collected via an online survey from 837 adults (55.6% male, M age = 29.2, 71.7% Caucasian). The two path analytic models predicting lifetime and current use fit the data well. Difficulty with emotion regulation was positively associated with depressed mood and negatively associated with distress tolerance, while distress tolerance was negatively associated with depressed mood. Depressed mood was positively associated with perceived benefits of e-cigarette use, and perceived benefits was positively associated with intent to use. Perceived benefits and intent to use were significantly associated with both lifetime and current use. Findings enhance our understanding of the effects that mood and emotion-related factors have on perceptions of, intent to use, and actual use of e-cigarettes, which may have important implications for prevention and cessation.
“We’re fighting for our lives”: Centering affective, collective and systemic approaches to climate justice education as a youth mental health imperative
Authors: Vamvalis Maria
Published: March 2023

Young people’s ongoing, necessary confrontation with painful and distressing realities exacerbated by ecological precarity in diverse contexts has profound implications for formal education systems. Additionally, educational policy in many contexts has been slow to respond to the urgency of addressing climate change, nor has most policy robustly conceptualized a vision for climate justice education. Centering the voices of three young climate justice activists (ages 16–20) in Canada through a qualitative study, this paper explores possible educational responses that recognize the embodied consequences of climate injustice and inaction on youth mental health and well-being. Through their encounters with activism in collective, justice-centered movements, these young people articulate how their commitments to creating more life-affirming and equitable realities by challenging current economic and political structures and discourses are integral dimensions of their efforts to be and feel well (hopeful and purposeful) in a context of pronounced uncertainty and distress. Despite these possibilities, youth participants describe the overwhelming and complex emotions they are grappling with as they face dispiriting projections for the future. These growing challenges are an opportunity to reconsider common “apolitical” and individualized approaches to citizenship, climate and environmental education. Findings suggest that supporting youth to act thoughtfully and impactfully in transforming cultural, economic and political structures and systems that reproduce harm can be a way to nurture meaning, purpose and hope. Additionally, youth participants advocate for integrating robust resources and support within formal education institutions to assist in collectively processing the emotional and psychological impacts of climate injustice. At the same time, findings suggest that the participating youth did not yet integrate conceptions of ecological interrelationship or interconnection in their approaches, offering possible avenues for further pedagogical development.
The Design of Making Pre-K count and High Fives: Two-Stage, Multiyear Random Assignment at Different Levels
Authors: Mattera Shira , Somers Marie-Andree , Jacob Robin , Morris-Perez Pamela
Published: March 2023

The Making Pre-K Count and High 5s studies represent a recent application of a phased two-stage, multi-level design, which was used to examine the effects of two aligned math programs implemented in early childhood settings. The purpose of this paper is to describe the challenges encountered in implementing this two-stage design and to describe approaches to resolving them. We then present a set of sensitivity analyses the study team used to examine the robustness of the findings. During the pre-K year, pre-K centers were randomly assigned either to receive an evidence-based early math curriculum and associated professional development (Making Pre-K Count) or to a pre-K-as-usual control condition. In the kindergarten year, students who had been in Making Pre-K Count program classrooms in pre-K were then individually randomly assigned within schools to small-group supplemental math clubs that were designed to sustain the gains from the pre-K program, or to a business-as-usual kindergarten experience. Making Pre-K Count took place in 69 pre-K sites, comprising 173 classrooms across New York City. High 5s took place in the 24 sites that were part of the public school treatment arm of the Making Pre-K Count study and included 613 students. The study focuses on the effect of the Making Pre-K Count and High 5s programs on children’s math skills at the end of kindergarten as measured by two instruments, the Research-Based Early Math Assessment-Kindergarten (REMA-K) and the Woodcock–Johnson Applied Problems test. The multi-armed design, while logistically and analytically challenging, balanced multiple considerations of power, the number of research questions that could be answered, and efficiency of resources. Robustness checks suggest that the design created groups that were both meaningfully and statistically equivalent. Decisions to use a phased multi-armed design should consider both its strengths and weaknesses. While the design allows for a more flexible, expansive research study, it also introduces complexities that need to be addressed both logistically and analytically.
Achieving SDG-13 in the Era of Conflicts: The Roles of Economic Growth and Government Stability
Authors: Dai Jiapeng , Ahmed Zahoor , Pata Ugur Korkut , Ahmad Mahmood
Published: March 2023

Establishing effective climate control and reducing the ecological footprint (EF) are necessary for pursuing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 13. In this context, it is required to enhance the understanding of various factors that can either decrease or enhance the EF. In the literature to date, limited studies on external conflicts (EX) have reported diverse results, and also the impacts of government stability (GS) on EF are less explored. This study explores the roles of external conflicts, economic growth, and government stability on EF in the context of SDG-13. The study also contributes to the literature by examining the environmental effects of government stability and external conflicts for the first time in Pakistan. This research uses time-series methodologies on data from Pakistan from 1984 to 2018 for exploring the long-run relations and causal dynamics. The results unfolded that external conflicts stimulate and Granger cause EF and therefore expand environmental deterioration. Thus, limiting conflicts is in the favor of Pakistan to achieve SDG-13. Surprisingly, government stability also poses harmful impacts on environmental quality by enhancing the EF, indicating that stable governments focus on improving economic conditions rather than environmental quality. Moreover, the study proves the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve. Policy suggestions are made to move forward in achieving SDG-13 and to evaluate the effectiveness of government environmental policies.
The Initial Epoch of Psychosurgery in India: A Retrospective Data Review from Mysore Government Mental Hospital
Authors: Ghani Sarah , Dahale Ajit Bhalchandra , Basavarajappa Chethan , Jaisoorya TS  , Jain Sanjeev , Murthy Pratima
Published: March 2023

Background:

In the early 20th century, psychosurgery had gained worldwide popularity for treating mentally ill persons, especially in western countries. We attempt to chronicle its journey in the Mysore Government Mental Hospital (MGMH), now the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru.

Methods:

Archived case records and registers of patients admitted from 1939 to 1947 were reviewed to identify those who had undergone psychosurgery. Case records of the identified patients were assessed for clinical information, including the details of psychosurgery.

Results:

Among the patients, 107 had undergone psychosurgery, primarily leucotomy. Schizophrenia (51.5%) was the most common diagnosis in them, and 33.7% of all patients were reported to have improved. Yet, inconsistencies were found about the presence and degree of improvement. Possible side effects were not consistently documented.

Conclusion:

Psychosurgery was adopted at the MGMH very soon following its introduction in the western world. However, ambiguity about its benefits and risks was noted in the current study.
Norwegian schools of music and arts: Local significance and strategies of inclusion
Authors: Karlsen Sidsel , Jordhus-Lier Anne , Nielsen Siw Graabræk
Published: March 2023

The Norwegian schools of music and arts are publicly funded institutions which offer extra-curricular activities for children and adolescents in music and other art forms. According to Norwegian legislation, each municipality is required to provide such education for its inhabitants. By parliamentary decision the schools are expected to be for all children and youth. In this article we explore this mandate through research questions focussing on how the schools work to increase their local significance; what their strategies of inclusion are; and how these strategies are experienced by the parents of school users, with a special attention towards tensions that may arise with respect to inclusion/exclusion. The exploration is based on an interview study among headteachers, teachers and parents belonging to five strategically sampled schools of music and arts. The data comprise 30 interviews. The findings show that the schools put considerable efforts into increasing their local significance as well as developing and executing a multitude of strategies of inclusion. Still, they reach only a limited selection of children and youth. Using a Bourdieusian framework, we suggest that this may partly be due to the patterns of cultural domination existing within the Norwegian school of music and art system.
Resilience through Disclosure and Meaning Making in Qoheleth and the Babylonian Theodicy
Authors: Meek Russell L. , Mehlman Elizabeth
Published: March 2023

This study rereads Qoheleth and the Babylonian Theodicy through a trauma lens as opposed to the generic lens of speculative wisdom encompassing retributive justice, retribution theology, and the deed-consequence nexus and their consequent view of the gods’/God’s justice. According to retribution theology, actions correlate appropriately to consequences; however, in light of their suffering and resilience, both authors are disillusioned, struggling to make sense of life’s predicaments despite their religiosity and placating of the deity, as they also resist retribution theology. Rereading Qoheleth and the Babylonian Theodicy through a trauma lens shows that both sufferers seek answers and cope with suffering similarly to modern readers.

This study acknowledges the use and limits of retribution theology operating within the Hebrew and Mesopotamian worldview to illustrate how these texts resist retributive justice. However, we also illustrate how the collective and individual aspects of trauma theory transcend ethic, cultural, epochal, and geographical boundaries. Furthermore, the juxtaposed ancient texts demonstrate how to cope with traumatic life experiences outside the confines of retributive justice by making meaning of self and others in the world and exhibiting resilience through effective coping strategies. Ultimately, Qoheleth affirms that while fearing God is right, navigating trauma includes enjoying God’s simple gifts such as food, wine, work, and a spouse for momentary relief. The Babylonian Theodicy sufferer makes meaning and develops resiliency through self-disclosure to friends and acceptance.
An Analysis of Concluding Verbs in the Priestly Code: A Contextual Grammatical Approach
Authors: Roi Micha
Published: March 2023

Scholars and translators have traditionally regarded the conclusion of the Nazirite law—“After that the Nazirite may drink wine” (Num. 6.20)—as signalling the completion of the naziriteship, the Nazirite henceforth being permitted to drink wine. Should the clause be read as prescriptive, however, with the Nazirite being required to drink wine to complete his vow? In line with the contextual-grammatical approach prevalent today, this article offers a clear criterion for examining the verbs concluding the various laws in the Priestly code—including that in the Nazirite law. To narrow the discussion, it focuses on precepts whose conclusion opens with ואחר‎ despite possibly not differing from other Priestly laws. While in three places, the injunction is permissive, in the majority of cases, the acts are mandatory.
Probit-Based Discrete-Continuous Choice Model to Explore the Relationship Between Car Ownership and Commuters’ Non-Work Activity Durations in Xiaoshan District of Hangzhou, China
Authors: Wang Ke , Ye Xin , Shi Cheng , Gan Hongcheng
Published: March 2023

In China, a developing country, the car ownership level is much lower than that in developed countries, but transportation policies have been implemented to discourage car ownership and mitigate traffic congestion. However, car ownership (considered as car availability in this paper, meaning that an individual has access to a household private car) may influence travelers’ well-being. To highlight the interrelation between car ownership and travelers’ well-being, this paper develops a probit-based discrete-continuous model to analyze the relationship between car ownership and the duration of commuters’ three major non-work outdoor activities (Act1: shopping and dining; Act2: leisure and entertainment; and Act3: visiting relatives or friends) in Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, China. Empirical results indicate strong effects of individual and household socio-demographics, built environment attributes, and work-related characteristics on the car ownership decision and the duration of three non-work activities. The analysis shows positive correlations in unobserved factors between the car ownership decision and the duration of Acts1–3, indicating a mutually promotive relationship. Similarly, negative correlations among the duration of Acts1–3 show that non-work activities’ duration is mutually substitutive. These findings will help to better understand commuters’ car ownership decisions and non-work outdoor activity behavior restricted by fixed work schedules in developing countries, which can, in turn, better evaluate the impact of transportation policies (such as car ownership restriction) on travel demand as well as well-being, and provide decision support for the formulation of transportation policies.
Hydraulic Evaluation of Wattle Encasement Materials
Authors: Clampitt Jannell E. , Perez Michael A. , Blake Whitman J. , Donald Wesley N. , LaMondia Jeffrey J. , Craig Andrew J.
Published: March 2023

Suspended sediment in stormwater runoff can have negative environmental impacts. Construction activities are a major contributor to sediment-laden runoff caused by the constant disturbance and destabilization of soil. Wattles are one of the most commonly used materials across a wide range of erosion and sediment control applications. Past research has found that the hydraulic performance of wattles is based primarily on fill material. This research focused on further evaluating wattles by assessing the impact that encasement material (e.g., netting, socking, etc.) has on hydraulic performance. Two separate hydraulic flumes were used in a two-phased approach. Phase I evaluated wattle encasement fabric configurations. Selected encasements were then evaluated in Phase II using 4.0 ft (1.2 m) excelsior fill materials: plastic netting (control), polypropylene, polyester and polypropylene mix, and cotton woven encasements. The results from each wattle test were normalized with impoundment length and depth ratios. Results indicated that the percent open area (POA) had a direct relationship with the impoundment length and depth when the encasements were evaluated independently of the fill material, but encasement type had a larger effect on performance when fill material was included. Using a cotton fabric increased impoundment length and depth ratios by 30% and 24%, respectively, which increased to 52% and 42%, when two additional cotton fabric layers encompassed the wattle.
Fundamental Diagram for an Intersection: Application for a Roundabout
Authors: Brilon Werner , Wu Ning , Schmitz Julian
Published: March 2023

A method to describe traffic flow at a road junction is the application of a special form of the fundamental diagram (FD). This intersection fundamental diagram (IFD) is an intermediate version between the traditional FD for a single road section and the macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD) for an urban street network. The derivation of the IFD from basic definitions, together with some mathematical consequences, is described. As a result, rather simple formulas are given which allow the determination of traffic performance parameters from the results of simple traffic counting. Thus, the IFD provides a method to estimate measures of effectiveness for an intersection, such as average velocity or average loss time, based on automatic counting equipment. The derivations start with rather simplified assumptions, which then are extended to account for more complex situations. An example, applied to a roundabout, demonstrates how an IFD can be formed based on real-world data. For more comprehensive evaluations, the roundabout has been modeled by microsimulation. Thus, IFDs can be presented based on a wider sample size for varying external conditions. The results demonstrate several influencing factors for the shape of a roundabout-IFD. Here, for example, the effect of pedestrians who cross the entries and exits of the roundabout, can be demonstrated. These initial studies underline that the IFD can become a tool to assess the performance of an intersection based on simple data acquisition techniques. It can be expected that, because of further improved automated counting techniques, also based on floating cars, this approach may play a more important role in the future.
Modeling of Restriping of Waterborne Paints Using Transverse Test Deck Data in Hot and Humid Climate
Authors: Mansour Elise , Mousa Momen R. , Hassan Marwa
Published: March 2023

The National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP) database is a promising tool for U.S. state agencies to evaluate the performance of waterborne paint pavement markings. Out of the total 50 U.S. states, 29 states (57%) utilize the NTPEP data to assess the performance of waterborne paints to be included in the approved materials list. Yet, this dataset is based on transverse retroreflectivity (RL) measurements, which are significantly different from the longitudinal RL measurements in real-world conditions. As such, the key objective of this study was to develop a methodology that converts the transverse RL measurements of waterborne paints to the corresponding longitudinal measurements in hot and humid climate. This approach could be used by transportation agencies to predict the service life of their waterborne paints and make reliable restriping decisions. To achieve this objective, three road sections were selected in Louisiana, U.S., and four different waterborne paints were installed in the transverse and longitudinal directions. These road sections consisted of seven subsections with varying traffic levels and pavement surface types. The data collected included durability readings and longitudinal and transverse RL measurements at five time periods between October 2020 and April 2022. Based on the collected data, two non-linear regression models (for asphalt and concrete surfaces) were developed, with reasonable accuracy, to predict the longitudinal RL of waterborne paints based on the corresponding transverse RL. The predicted longitudinal RL could then be used to determine the expected service life of waterborne paints and make reliable restriping decisions.
Beyond Structure: Using the Rational Force Model to Assess Argumentative Writing
Authors: Backman Ylva , Reznitskaya Alina , Gardelli Viktor , Wilkinson Ian A. G.
Published: March 2023

Current approaches used in educational research and practice to evaluate the quality of written arguments often rely on structural analysis. In such assessments, credit is awarded for the presence of structural elements of an argument, such as claims, evidence, and rebuttals. In this article, we discuss limitations of such approaches, including the absence of criteria for evaluating the quality of the argument elements. We then present an alternative framework, based on the Rational Force Model (RFM), which originated from the work of a Nordic philosopher Næss. Using an example of an argumentative essay, we demonstrate the potential of the RFM to improve argument analysis by focusing on the acceptability and relevance of argument elements, two criteria widely considered to be fundamental markers of argument strength. We outline possibilities and challenges with using the RFM in educational contexts and conclude by proposing directions for future research.
Examining the Impact of a Cognitive Strategies Approach on the Argument Writing of Mainstreamed English Learners in Secondary School
Authors: Booth Olson Carol , Maamuujav Undraa , Steiss Jacob , Chung Huy
Published: March 2023

The stagnation of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Writing scores demonstrates the need for research-based instruction that improves writing for all students, especially English learners. In this article, we synthesize the literature on effective instructional practices for this diverse group of learners and describe how these strategies are leveraged in a teacher professional development program that has been previously shown to improve students’ argument writing. Then, we share results of a study that focuses on distinct subgroups of secondary English learners students to (a) determine their needs and challenges and (b) examine the impact of a cognitive strategies approach on rhetorical and linguistic aspects of writing at posttest. Results show English learners have considerable challenges with higher-order tasks involved in writing literary arguments and with the linguistic demands of academic writing before receiving the intervention. However, after receiving the intervention, using descriptive statistics and multiple hierarchical linear regression, we show that these students grew in the areas of presentation of ideas, organization, evidence use, and language use. For example, students designated as reclassified English learners (RFEP [Reclassified Fluent English Proficient]) and students who have even more limited English proficiency (designated as EL [English learner] here) show improvements in many aspects of writing, especially in their ability to write claims and use evidence. In contrast, improvements in language use components were more limited for both groups of learners. Moreover, some of the gains due to being in the treatment were significant enough to bring the average EL student close to parity or beyond their EO (English Only) / IFEP (Initial Fluent English Proficient) peers in the control condition at posttest. We conclude by discussing pedagogical implications for English learners.
Steroid-loaded reconstituted high-density lipoprotein nanocarrier: A new treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Yu Ye , Liu Xuesong , Ma Xinyi , Jiang Gan , Song Qingxiang , Guo Ruru , Wang Suli , Gao Xiaoling , Lu Liangjing
Published: March 2023

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the most effective and commonly used drugs for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, a large number of side effects occur after long-term or high-dose glucocorticoid treatment, which severely restricts the use of glucocorticoids. Reconstituted high-density lipoprotein (rHDL), an emerging nanocarrier, is promising for targeted delivery to sites of inflammation and macrophages. Here, we prepared a steroid-loaded recombinant high-density lipoprotein and evaluated its therapeutic efficacy in a murine macrophage cell line (RAW264.7) and a lupus (MRL/lpr mice) mouse model. The obtained corticosteroid-loaded nanomedicine, named PLP-CaP-rHDL, exhibited desirable characteristics. Pharmacodynamics studies revealed that the nanoparticles could significantly reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the macrophages in vitro and also effectively alleviate lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr mice without causing obvious side effects at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg. Thus, our newly developed steroid-loaded rHDL nanocarriers hold a great potential for anti-inflammatory therapy with reduced side effects and may provide a precise targeted therapy for SLE.
A Community Engaged Approach in Adapting Motivational Interviewing and Skills Training for Native Americans With Experiences of Substance Misuse
Authors: Walker Denise , Pearson Cynthia , Day Angelique , Bedard-Gilligan Michele , Saluskin Kathryn , Huh David , Kaysen Debra
Published: March 2023

Objective

American Indian and Alaskan Natives (AIAN) are regenerating cultural knowledge and practices to adapt westernized evidence-based interventions to address health concerns such as substance use. This study describes the process of selecting, adapting, and implementing motivational interviewing plus cognitive behavior therapy (motivational interviewing + Skills Training; MIST) for use in a combined substance use intervention with a rural, Northwest tribal community.

Methods

An established community and academic partnership worked together to make culturally mindful changes to MIST. The partnership incorporated community leaders/Elders (n = 7), providers (n = 9), and participants (n = 50) to implement an iterative process of adapting and implementing the adapted form of MIST.

Results

Key adaptations included presenting concepts grounded in tribal values, providing examples from the community perspective, and incorporating cultural customs and traditions. Overall, the MIST adaptation was favorably received by participants, and the adaptation appeared feasible.

Conclusions

Adapted MIST appeared to be an acceptable intervention for this Native American community. Future research should evaluate the interventions efficacy in reducing substance use among this and other Native American communities. Future clinical research should consider strategies outlined in this adaptation as a potential process for working with Native American communities to implement culturally appropriate interventions.
The Little Black Box: Contextualizing Empathy
Authors: Stellar Jennifer E. , Duong Fred
Published: March 2023

In the last century since the word “empathy” was first introduced to the English vernacular, it has gained wide attention within academia and society more broadly. However, empathy has proven particularly challenging to define. We suggest that persistent disagreements about its conceptualization partially result from the tendency of researchers to simplify, remove, or ignore the context in which empathy is experienced. But context matters. For instance, we experience empathy when we encounter a grieving friend, but also when our partner expresses frustration with our past behavior. We illustrate how context shapes the experience of empathy by focusing on the diversity of emotional contexts that give rise to empathy and presenting a case study of context-specific empathy in response to another’s pain versus sadness. We conclude with recommendations for academics and those in the public arena who are interested in understanding empathy.
Exploring ‘Country Ownership’: An Analysis of Development Cooperation Practices of Selected European Partners in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Mizanur , Quadir Fahim
Published: March 2023

Recognizing that the political environment that once fostered a global culture of top down, conditionality-driven aid delivery is no longer in place, this theoretically informed study provides insight into the emerging ‘aid and/or development effectiveness’ narrative. By exploring a case study of Bangladesh, it offers a nuanced analytical perspective on the role of donor agencies in managing development partnership at the country level. It interweaves a critical review of the concept of country ownership, the historical role of three major European donors, namely FCDO, DANIDA, and GIZ, and the conversation with select stakeholders to illuminate the ineptness of the ‘development effectiveness’ narrative in guiding our efforts aimed at creating a new aid architecture. In particular, our research findings call into question the assumption that donors are committed to the principles of country ownership. Contrary to the claims of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC), our study observes that the new language of development effectiveness and/or country ownership did not create a positive space for Bangladesh to manage its own development agenda. Instead of demonstrating their desire to promote self-reliant development, donor agencies and countries appear to have leveraged the development effectiveness rhetoric for advancing their own sociopolitical interests.
Parametric optimization of the Eddy current dampers applied to a suspension bridge considering bi-directional earthquakes
Authors: Hu Shangtao , Meng Dongliang , Yang Menggang , Hu Renkang
Published: March 2023

The Eddy Current Damper (ECD) is a velocity-based passive energy dissipation device that can be used for structural vibration control. This study aims to reveal the damper behavior and determine the optimal parameters of the ECDs applied to a suspension bridge suffering from bi-directional earthquakes. The influence of the bi-directional vibration interaction on the damping force is theoretically investigated. An optimization method is proposed combining the Sobol Sequence sampling method, the Coefficient of Variation (COV) method, and the Backpropagation neural network (BPNN) algorithm. A numerical model of a long-span suspension bridge with bi-directional ECDs is established and taken as a case study to verify the feasibility of the proposed optimization method. The results indicate that the ECD system with bi-directional interaction will produce a larger maximum force and less energy dissipation than one without bi-directional interaction. The proposed optimization method possesses the characteristics of objectivity, accuracy, and effectiveness. The obtained optimal bi-directional ECDs can significantly reduce the longitudinal and transverse vibration. Failing to consider bi-directional effects will lead to an overestimation of longitudinal damper parameters and an underestimation to transverse ones, as well as ignoring the influence of damper length on its mechanical performance.
Racial Identification as a Protective Factor for At-Risk Parenting in Black Parents: A Longitudinal, Multi-Method Investigation
Authors: Ferguson Anjali Gowda , Rodriguez Christina M. , Leerkes Esther M.
Published: March 2023

Although considerable literature focuses on risk factors predicting parents’ likelihood to engage in maltreatment, relatively less work evaluates potentially protective parental resources, particularly culturally relevant qualities. The current investigation utilized a multi-method longitudinal study to examine parents’ racial identification as a possible resource, hypothesizing that Black parents with stronger racial group identification would demonstrate lower at-risk parenting, operationalized as lower child abuse risk and less negative observed parenting. In a sample of 359 mothers and fathers (half self-identified Black, half non-Hispanic White), controlling for socioeconomic status, findings partially supported the hypothesis. Black parents’ greater racial identification was associated with lower child abuse risk and less observed negative parenting, whereas the reverse was true for White parents. The potential limitations of current assessment approaches to gauge at-risk parenting in parents of color are discussed, as well as how racial identification could be considered in culturally informed prevention programming for at-risk parenting.
SARS-Cov-2 Infection and Seroconversion Rates in Healthcare Providers Prior to COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
Authors: Shin Sanghyuk S. , Bender Miriam , Malherbe Delphine C. , Vasquez Hannah , Doratt Brianna M. , Messaoudi Ilhem
Published: March 2023

Objective

A 6-month longitudinal surveillance study of asymptomatic healthcare providers (HCP) was carried out at a large urban academic medical center in the United States to assess whether their job occupation with higher exposure risks to SARS-CoV-2 would equate with higher risk of contracting COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic before COVID-19 vaccines were available.

Methods

A longitudinal cohort study design was used to collect and analyze immunological and virological monitoring data and self-report survey assessments of personal protective equipment (PPE) availability, adherence to infection control guidelines, and time spent on COVID-19 wards.

Results

Among 289 eligible participants, SARS-CoV-2 exposure risk was high with 48–69% participants working in COVID-19 units and more than 30% of them caring for COVID-19 patients. However, the seroconversion rate was low with only 2.1% of participants developing humoral or cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusion

Our study findings suggest that, for this HCP cohort working at a large urban academic medical center, a low incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection could be maintained under conditions of strict infection prevention protocols and reliable PPE availability.
Eighth- and ninth-grade students’ perceptions of a curriculum designed to support adolescent female vocal development: An action research study
Authors: Mercado Emily M , Draut D. Michael
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this collaborative action research project was to examine eighth- and ninth-grade female (assigned at birth) students’ perspectives of their singing voice when implementing a practitioner/researcher designed curriculum titled Supporting Adolescent Female Vocal Development: Teaching Anatomy and Physiology in the Middle School Choral Classroom. The curriculum, designed specifically for the adolescent female voice, contained the following four units: the respiratory system, the larynx, the digestive system, and the skeletal system. The action research method, which contained four feedback loops, allowed us to assess, refine, and revise the curriculum to meet the needs of this specific group of adolescents. Salient themes that emerged from the data included participants’ perceptions of breath, passaggio, vocal range, vocal tone, feedback, and confidence. Overall, participants reported positive experiences throughout the unit; however, challenges emerged when we provided individual feedback and introduced complex terminology associated with vocal anatomy. Implications for practice include prioritizing a process-oriented curriculum theoretically grounded in the anatomy and physiology of the voice to serve the needs of adolescent singers.
Hashtag activism found in translation: Unpacking the reformulation of #MeToo in Japan
Authors: Mizoroki Saki , Shifman Limor , Hayashi Kaori
Published: March 2023

In 2017, the MeToo hashtag spread across the globe. However, it showed limited success in the Japanese Twittersphere and instead inspired local initiatives such as #WeToo and #Furawādemo (“flower demo”). To understand this reformulation, we analyzed 15 interviews with Japanese social media users and 119 Japanese newspaper articles. The results corroborate the framework we label VTM (values, topics, media), suggesting that an intersection between perceived Japanese values, the topic’s gendered and sexual nature, and media affordances explain the movement’s local development. While perceived Japanese values clash against those associated with #MeToo, new formulations “soften” the protest by blending in values such as reserve and harmony. Overall, we show how perceptions of popular values rather than values as essential orientations shape activism. Finally, we discuss the study’s implications for understanding cultural variance in cyberactivism, highlighting how divergent notions of “safe space” shape such movements.
Redefining immobility with mediated mobilities: Reflections from South Korean quarantine vlogs
Authors: Yun Jiwon
Published: March 2023

This article challenges the notion that mediated mobilities are mere substitutes to physical mobilities. It proposes that practising mediated mobilities, especially in the form of vlogging, is a generative process by which individuals can redefine their experience of immobility during quarantine. To support this argument, the article analyses quarantine vlogs uploaded by individuals who were quarantined in South Korean quarantine facilities in 2020. The vlogs reveal that individuals turn to mediated mobilities as an adaptive strategy, but also shows that the practice of vlogging itself emerges as a means to redefine quarantine in vloggers’ own terms. Ultimately, the article demonstrates how some vloggers turn the quarantine experience as a resource to be mobilized and how the practice of vlogging itself becomes a strategy to capitalize on the immobility.
A Scoping Review of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Across Asia
Authors: Bansal Vaiddehi , Rezwan Mayumi , Iyer Mithila , Leasure Erin , Roth Connor , Pal Poulomi , Hinson Laura
Published: March 2023

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive issue. Yet, most research focuses on high-income countries and few studies comprehensively summarize its prevalence, manifestations, and implications in the Global South. This scoping review sought to examine technology-facilitated GBV in low- and middle-income countries across Asia, specifically focusing on trends, common behaviors, and characteristics of perpetrators and survivors. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed and gray literature published between 2006 and 2021 yielded 2,042 documents, of which 97 articles were included in the review. Across South and Southeast Asia, findings indicate that technology-facilitated GBV is a widespread phenomenon, with increased incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology-facilitated GBV comprises various forms of behaviors and prevalence varies by type of violence. Women, girls, and sexual and gender minorities, especially those with other intersecting marginalized identities, are often more vulnerable to experiencing online violence. Alongside these findings, the review revealed gaps in the literature including a lack of evidence from Central Asia and the Pacific Islands. There is also limited data on prevalence which we attribute to underreporting, in part due to disjointed, outdated, or nonexistent legal definitions. Findings from the study can be leveraged by key stakeholders such as researchers, practitioners, governments, and technology companies to develop prevention, response, and mitigation efforts.
An Ecological Review of Homicide Bereavement’s Risk Factors: Implications for Future Research
Authors: Hava Dayan
Published: March 2023

This literature review focused on homicide bereavement (HB) risk factors. A content analysis was conducted on 83 empirical papers published in English from January 2000 to December 2021 in peer-reviewed journals. Extracted HB risk factors were synthesized according to six main dimensions: individual level; situational homicide-related factors; and micro, meso, exo, and macro social levels. The review demonstrates that macro-level and situational homicide-related risk factors are in special need of further study. In addition, how HB risk factors interact with one another to influence HB also requires further study. Future research may benefit from examining whether and how individuals experiencing HB influence related factors at various social levels. Last, given that almost all reviewed studies were conducted in Western societies, the sociocultural and ethnic diversity in HB risk factors is in dire need of future study.
Maltreatment in Daycare Settings: A Review of Empirical Studies in the Field
Authors: Talmon Anat , Ditzer Julia , Talmon Ada , Tsur Noga
Published: March 2023

Daycare maltreatment refers to abusive and/or neglectful acts perpetrated by teachers, directors, non-professionals or volunteers, family members of staff, and peers in a daycare setting. Despite growing evidence of its occurrence, the prevalence and consequences of daycare maltreatment for the child, the parent(s), and their dyad are largely unknown. This qualitative systematic literature review was conducted to synthesize the existing literature referring to daycare maltreatment, using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. In order to be included in the analysis, the manuscripts needed to report empirical findings regarding maltreatment in daycare settings, be written in English, be published in a peer-reviewed journal or a dissertation, and be accessible by our research team. In all, 25 manuscripts met the above criteria and were included in the review. Our results indicate that reports of daycare maltreatment are characterized by early age of abused children, inferring mainly to sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. The majority of these manuscripts reported caregivers’ and teachers’ abuse, while peer victimization was reported much less. In addition, the findings demonstrated a higher representation of female perpetrators compared to abuse in other scenarios. Although some indications of long-term implications are reported in the manuscripts, a well-validated measure for assessment of daycare maltreatment seems to be lacking. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the complex experience and ramifications of daycare maltreatment, providing insight into its multi-faceted implications.