bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data from The TERT Promoter is Polycomb-Repressed in Neuroblastoma Cells with Long Telomeres
Authors: Graham Mindy K. , Xu Beisi , Davis Christine , Meeker Alan K. , Heaphy Christopher M. , Yegnasubramanian Srinivasan , Dyer Michael A. , Zeineldin Maged
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Acquiring a telomere maintenance mechanism is a hallmark of high-risk neuroblastoma and commonly occurs by expressing telomerase (TERT). Telomerase-negative neuroblastoma has long telomeres and utilizes the telomerase-independent alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. Conversely, no discernable telomere maintenance mechanism is detected in a fraction of neuroblastoma with long telomeres. Here, we show, unlike most cancers, DNA of the TERT promoter is broadly hypomethylated in neuroblastoma. In telomerase-positive neuroblastoma cells, the hypomethylated DNA promoter is approximately 1.5 kb. The TERT locus shows active chromatin marks with low enrichment for the repressive mark, H3K27me3. MYCN, a commonly amplified oncogene in neuroblstoma, binds to the promoter and induces TERT expression. Strikingly, in neuroblastoma with long telomeres, the hypomethylated region spans the entire TERT locus, including multiple nearby genes with enrichment for the repressive H3K27me3 chromatin mark. Furthermore, subtelomeric regions showed enrichment of repressive chromatin marks in neuroblastomas with long telomeres relative to those with short telomeres. These repressive marks were even more evident at the genic loci, suggesting a telomere position effect (TPE). Inhibiting H3K27 methylation by three different EZH2 inhibitors induced the expression of TERT in cell lines with long telomeres and H3K27me3 marks in the promoter region. EZH2 inhibition facilitated MYCN binding to the TERT promoter in neuroblastoma cells with long telomeres. Taken together, these data suggest that epigenetic regulation of TERT expression differs in neuroblastoma depending on the telomere maintenance status, and H3K27 methylation is important in repressing TERT expression in neuroblastoma with long telomeres.
Significance:
The epigenetic landscape of the TERT locus is unique in neuroblastoma. The DNA at the TERT locus, unlike other cancer cells and similar to normal cells, are hypomethylated in telomerase-positive neuroblastoma cells. The TERT locus is repressed by polycomb repressive complex-2 complex in neuroblastoma cells that have long telomeres and do not express TERT. Long telomeres in neuroblastoma cells are also associated with repressive chromatin states at the chromosomal termini, suggesting TPE.
Sobre essências apriorísticas e objetualidades intuídas na fenomenologia realista de Adolf Reinach
Authors: Kahlmeyer-Mertens Roberto S.
Published: June 2024

Resenha de: Reinach, A. (2020) O que é fenomenologia? Uma abordagem platônica. Trad. Luis Henrique Toniolo Serediuk Silva. São Paulo: A Outra Via.
A exclusão do outro
Authors: Sousa Filho José Ivan Rodrigues de
Published: June 2024

Resenha de Habermas, J. (2023). Uma nova mudança estrutural da esfera pública e a política deliberativa. Tradução de Denilson Luís Werle. São Paulo: Editora Unesp.
A taxonomic overview of Notylia platyglossa Schltr. and related species (Orchidaceae)
Authors: S. DE OLIVEIRA MIGUEL , H. KRAHL AMAURI , B. F. SILVA JOÃO , KRAHL DAYSE R.P. , L. VIANA PEDRO , MENEGUZZO THIAGO E. C.
Published: June 2024

In this study, through a review of the literature, analysis of protologues, field collections and consultations of herbariums, we elucidated the Notylia platyglossa species complex. We propose the synonymization of the names N. peruviana, N. morenoi under N. platyglossa. Additionally, we designated lectotypes for N. peruviana and N. morenoi as well as neotypes for N. platyglossa and N. boliviensis. We also distinguished N. boliviensis from N. platyglossa and validated the first record of this species for Brazil. Descriptions, taxonomic comments, distribution maps, photographic plates and the conservation status of these species are also presented.
1. Introduction
Authors: Bogunović Blanka , Timmers Renee , Nikolić Sanela
Published: June 2024

The psychology of music is a broad research area in the range of questions and topics it addresses and the interdisciplinary research methods it employs to investigate music perception, cognition, emotion, and performance in every day and expert musical situations. It is an area of research flourishing in the Western Balkans as well as in Western Europe. This introductory chapter provides a brief historical overview of research in the Western Balkans, which has received relatively less attention and coverage in international research publications. It presents developments in music psychology in countries of former Yugoslavia―Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia. Next, a preview of the book is offered that is a compilation of research originated in the Western Balkans and Western Europe on key themes of the psychology of music: Aesthetic emotional responses to music, listening to music in various contexts, music cognition and skill development, and then, the role of motivation, personality and environmental scaffolding for musical development, followed by professional challenges and well-being of musicians. Whilst the main contribution is to develop knowledge and understanding of music psychology, a secondary contribution is to raise awareness of research in this subject area as conducted for over 40 years in the Western Balkans and promote dialogue between research conducted across Europe and hopefully beyond.
12. Motivation and Personality as Factors of Musical Accomplishments
Authors: Bogunović Blanka
Published: June 2024

The chapter offers a developmental and cross-cultural perspective aiming to compare the results of the Western Balkans and international studies. It opens up questions about the joint contribution of motivation and personality in achieving musical excellence. Their core role is featured through the developmental prospect focusing on music performance accomplishments. The main results are presented from several research studies conducted in the Western Balkans, specifically in Serbia, which cover three age groups (aged 6–22) learning music as part of the three-staged specialist music education system. The research review indicates the relevance and differential contribution of motivational features and personality traits, as well as musical abilities and social settings, to various levels of achievement. Results indicate changes in prevalence of contribution depending on developmental stages. Attention is given to the nexus of psychological and environmental factors that strongly impact musical outcomes at each developmental stage. The studies from the Western Balkans are highlighted to evaluate cultural perspectives and variations.
Estimating the Wage Premia of Refugee Immigrants: Lessons from Sweden
Authors: Baum Christopher F. , Lööf Hans , Stephan Andreas , Zimmermann Klaus F.
Published: June 2024

This article examines the wage earnings of refugee immigrants in Sweden. Using administrative employer–employee data from 1990 onward, approximately 100,000 refugee immigrants who arrived between 1980 and 1996 and were granted asylum are compared to a matched sample of native-born workers. Employing recentered influence function (RIF) quantile regressions to wage earnings for the period 2011–2015, the occupational-task-based Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition approach shows that refugees perform better than natives at the median wage, controlling for individual and firm characteristics. This overperformance is attributable to female refugee immigrants. Given their characteristics, refugee immigrant females perform better than native females across all occupational tasks studied, including non-routine cognitive tasks. A notable similarity of the wage premium exists among various refugee groups, suggesting that cultural differences and the length of time spent in the host country do not have a major impact.
Development of the robotic motion controller for a wheeled manipulator
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Phuong , Nguyen Hung , Ngo Ha Quang Thinh
Published: June 2024

For many years, wheeled manipulator (WM) becomes an effective solution in many aspects of our economics such that it assists to maintain the highly manufacturing production. In this work, the proposed design of motion controller for WM to handle an object is introduced. The hardware of this WM consists of two components, mobile platform and robotic manipulator. Our concept is to design the structure of differential drive for mobile base while the configuration of on-board manipulator is the parallelogram mechanism. Owing to this architecture, the system modelling of whole body is then established to identify related constraints. To ensure the sustainable movement, the system state is asymptotically stable according to Lyapunov candidate function. Both numerical simulation and practical experiment are validated in various test scenarios. With 20 demonstrations for each task, the proposed approach reaches to success rate over 90% of test cases which well-track the desired trajectory and precisely complete the robotic manipulation.
The dynamic diversity of Taiwan’s Indigenous religions: Animism, analogism, and totemism
Authors: LIU Pi-Chen
Published: June 2024

The traditional religions of Taiwan’s Indigenous people (Austronesian speaking) are very diverse. The 16 officially recognized ethnic groups differ markedly in notions of deities, spirits, ancestors, classes of beings, and ritual groupings. This article attempts to use Philippe Descola’s concept of ontology to understand their differences. I investigate how Indigenous people perceive their world through the two basic mechanisms of body and intentionality to infer similarities and differences between themselves and nonhuman beings. Three modes of identification result: animism, analogism, and totemism. Their traditional religions are often regarded as animism, rather than typical of societies identified with analogism or totemism. However, I will explore these groups’ distinguishing ontological characteristics. By demonstrating the process of diversification through the religious changes since the 1950s, a new understanding of their impacts on different combinations of ontology will be obtained. This can avoid the critique that structuralist and ontological approaches ignore contemporary changes.
Immigrants’ Pathways to the Income Elite in Germany
Authors: Collischon Matthias , Wunder Anja , Zimmermann Florian
Published: June 2024

Owing to their high political and social impact, studying elites is a growing strand of scholarship in sociology. In this research note, we investigate immigrants’ pathways into the income elite, that is, the top 1% of Germany’s income distribution. Using data from the German Microcensus from 2009 to 2018 covering more than three million observations, we examine the prevalence of immigrants in the elite and immigrants’ pathways to access the elite, that is, education, self-employment, country-of-origin effects and integration. Our results show that immigrants are underrepresented in the elite by 46%. Smaller returns to education and self-employment compared with natives drive this underrepresentation. Regarding immigrant-specific pathways, immigrants from EU countries, who face fewer legal, cultural and social barriers, have higher chances of being in the elite than immigrants from non-EU countries. Finally, we find no evidence of integration, that is, years since migration, affecting immigrants’ elite status.
“I Just Don’t Want to Be Part of It Anymore”: How Harm and Betrayal Erode Cohesion in the Aftermath of Military Sexual Misconduct
Authors: Silins Stacey
Published: June 2024

This study addresses the nature of harm and betrayal following sexual misconduct from the perspective of military personnel and veterans with lived experience, and its impact on military cohesion. A total of 67 semistructured interviews were originally conducted to explore experiences seeking related support in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). A secondary analysis revealed descriptions of interpersonal and institutional betrayal, which damaged their trust and regard for the organization and weakened organizational commitment and connection. Participants framed these impacts in relation to their peers, their leaders, and the organization more broadly, demonstrating that harm from poor organizational responses destabilizes the fundamental bonds that support military cohesion on multiple levels. These findings provide insight into the subjective experience of betrayal associated with sexual misconduct and highlight how organizational responses can substantially mitigate or exacerbate this harm.
The role of country-level characteristics for the association between loneliness and neighborhood cohesion – A multi-level analysis
Authors: Langenkamp Alexander , Mund Marcus , Hawkley Louise
Published: June 2024

The prevalence of loneliness varies widely across Western societies. However, the underlying sources of these cross-national disparities are still the subject of debate. In particular, recent advances in the literature put emphasis on exploring the moderating role of country-level characteristics for a better understanding under which condition individual-level factors predict loneliness. One such predictor for loneliness is neighborhood cohesion as perceiving the community as reciprocal and supportive has a large protective potential against loneliness. The present study links these lines of research and explores how three country-level characteristics (i.e. norms of cultural pluralism, welfare spending, and internet penetration rates) explain cross-national disparities in loneliness and whether they exert a moderating influence on the relationship between neighborhood cohesion and loneliness. By running linear multilevel models using data from the European Social Survey ( N = 45042) as well as Eurostat Data, we find that all three country-level characteristics explain national disparities in loneliness as well as neighborhood cohesion. However, only norms of cultural pluralism moderate the association between neighborhood cohesion and loneliness on the individual level. This suggests that the potential of interventions aiming at fostering neighborhood cohesion to prevent loneliness varies depending on the cultural context.
The relative brain signal variability increases in the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease but not in schizophrenia
Authors: Tuovinen Timo , Häkli Jani , Rytty Riikka , Krüger Johanna , Korhonen Vesa , Järvelä Matti , Helakari Heta , Kananen Janne , Nikkinen Juha , Veijola Juha , Remes Anne M , Kiviniemi Vesa ,   on behalf of the Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Neuroimaging Initiative, Rosen Howard , Dickerson Bradford C , Domoto-Reilly Kimoko , Knopman David , Boeve Bradley F , Boxer Adam L , Kornak John , Miller Bruce L , Seeley William W , Tempini Maria Luisa Gorno , McGinnis Scott , Mandelli Maria Luisa
Published: June 2024

Overlapping symptoms between Alzheimer’s disease (AD), behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), and schizophrenia (SZ) can lead to misdiagnosis and delays in appropriate treatment, especially in cases of early-onset dementia. To determine the potential of brain signal variability as a diagnostic tool, we assessed the coefficient of variation of the BOLD signal (CVBOLD) in 234 participants spanning bvFTD (n = 53), AD (n = 17), SZ (n = 23), and controls (n = 141). All underwent functional and structural MRI scans. Data unveiled a notable increase in CVBOLD in bvFTD patients across both datasets (local and international, p < 0.05), revealing an association with clinical scores (CDR and MMSE, r = 0.46 and r = −0.48, p < 0.0001). While SZ and control group demonstrated no significant differences, a comparative analysis between AD and bvFTD patients spotlighted elevated CVBOLD in the frontopolar cortices for the latter (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CVBOLD not only presented excellent diagnostic accuracy for bvFTD (AUC 0.78–0.95) but also showcased longitudinal repeatability. During a one-year follow-up, the CVBOLD levels increased by an average of 35% in the bvFTD group, compared to a 2% increase in the control group (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that CVBOLD holds promise as a biomarker for bvFTD, offering potential for monitoring disease progression and differentiating bvFTD from AD and SZ.
The importance of multisensory-motor learning on subsequent visual recognition
Authors: Kyler Hellen , James Karin
Published: June 2024

Speed of visual object recognition is facilitated after active manual exploration of objects relative to passive visual processing alone. Manual exploration allows viewers to select important information about object structure that may facilitate recognition. Viewpoints where the objects’ axis of elongation is perpendicular or parallel to the line of sight are selected more during exploration, recognized faster than other viewpoints, and afford the most information about structure when object movement is controlled by the viewer. Prior work used virtual object exploration in active and passive viewing conditions, limiting multisensory structural object information. Adding multisensory information to encoding may change accuracy of overall recognition, viewpoint selection, and viewpoint recognition. We tested whether the known active advantage for object recognition would change when real objects were studied, affording visual and haptic information. Participants interacted with 3D novel objects during manual exploration or passive viewing of another's object interactions. Object recognition was tested using several viewpoints of rendered objects. We found that manually explored objects were recognized more accurately than objects studied through passive exploration and that recognition of viewpoints differed from previous work.
Contributions of Kenneth Mason to the physical geography of Himalaya and Karakoram
Authors: Bhambri Rakesh
Published: June 2024

In this paper, the legacy of Kenneth Mason (1887–1976) in the geography of the Himalaya-Karakoram (H-K) region has been thoroughly examined. Mason was a distinguished British geographer, surveyor, soldier, and mountaineer. He led the Indo-Russian Triangulation Connection and pioneered the use of stereoscopic photography in the Pamirs, laying the groundwork for precise geographical records. His detailed surveys and mappings of the Shaksgam Valley and Aghil Ranges corrected longstanding cartographic inaccuracies and presented accurate topographical details through terrestrial stereo photogrammetry. Mason critically assessed and recommended improvements for the depiction of glaciers and geomorphic features on Survey of India maps, encouraging the training of surveyors in glacial morphology. He contributed significantly to standardising geographical terms and nomenclature within the Karakoram Range. Mason also played a crucial role in founding the Himalayan Club and the Himalayan Journal. His studies on glacier movements and advocacy for monitoring systems to prevent natural disasters exhibit his profound commitment to minimising human life and infrastructure loss. Mason’s comprehensive work boosted scientific investigation in the H-K region and laid a foundation for ongoing and future research in these remote regions, paving the way for future generations of explorers, researchers, and enthusiasts.
Prediction of Vehicular Yielding Intention While Approaching a Pedestrian Crosswalk
Authors: Muduli Kaliprasana , Ghosh Indrajit
Published: June 2024

This study proposes a novel approach for predicting vehicular yielding intention at pedestrian crosswalks, leveraging transformer-based deep-learning and multilayer perceptron for time-series data representation and classification, respectively. The model was trained using parameters obtained from real-world video feeds, which encompassed vehicle dynamics, pedestrian factors, and traffic context. The study compared the transformer–multilayer perceptron model with other models, such as recurrent neural network, long short-term memory, and gated recurrent unit, in predicting vehicular yielding intention. The transformer model achieved a superior performance with an accuracy of 94.47% compared with other models. This result was statistically validated using the Friedman test. The study used a 2-s prediction horizon, which improved its practical usefulness by giving pedestrians enough time to react to avoid dangerous situations. The study utilized attention scores from the transformer model to identify significant factors influencing yielding decisions. The analysis revealed that the number of visible pedestrians, time remaining to reach the crosswalk, and the behaviors of the preceding vehicle were key determinants of yielding decisions. This model has potential applications in developing advanced warning systems, integrating vehicle-to-pedestrian technology, and providing insights for traffic management policies and road infrastructure design. Future research could explore the integration of human factors and demographic information into the current model.
Paradoxical Change in Subchondral Bone Density in the Medial Compartment of the Proximal Tibial Articular Surface After High Tibial Osteotomy: A Detailed Subchondral Bone Density Analysis
Authors: Fujie Yuki , Iwasaki Koji , Hamasaki Masanari , Suzuki Yuki , Matsuoka Masatake , Onodera Tomohiro , Kondo Eiji , Iwasaki Norimasa
Published: June 2024

Background:

High tibial osteotomy (HTO) aims to realign the varus knee to alleviate stress in the medial compartment. However, detailed information on the impact of HTO on stress distribution across the tibiofemoral joint surface still needs to be completely elucidated.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The present study aimed to analyze the subchondral bone density distribution to validate the alignment threshold causing paradoxical changes. We hypothesized that there would be a paradoxical stress change in the medial compartment beyond a specific threshold for lower limb realignment after HTO.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A retrospective clinical study of 32 knees from 30 patients who underwent medial opening-wedge HTO between 2015 and 2019 was conducted at Hokkaido University Hospital. The subchondral bone density across the tibiofemoral joint was analyzed using computed tomography–osteoabsorptiometry before and after HTO. The high-density area (HDA) within the medial and lateral compartments and their subregions, which were quartered in the coronal plane, was specifically examined.

Results:

The hip-knee-ankle angle, medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), joint line obliquity (JLO), and joint line convergence angle significantly changed after HTO ( P < .01). The HDA of the medial compartment to the total HDA ratio decreased from 83% to 77%. Paradoxically, the HDA in the most central subregion of the medial compartment increased from 24% to 30%. There were significant differences between MPTA and JLO in patients with and without paradoxical changes in the HDA. MPTA and JLO cutoff values causing paradoxical changes in the HDA were 94° and 4°, respectively.

Conclusion:

There was a paradoxical stress increase in the M4 region at the medial compartment associated with the MPTA and JLO beyond specific thresholds. Therefore, surgical planning should be cautiously performed to prevent overcorrection, which can lead to adverse stress distribution changes.
Association of XRCC1 p. Arg194Trp gene polymorphism with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in HCV Egyptian population: A pilot case-control study
Authors: Ghorab Rasha Ahmed , Fouad Shaimaa H. , Elsaadawy Yara , Hamdy Marwa , Taha Sara I.
Published: June 2024

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and fatal primary liver cancer. Genetic variants of DNA repair systems can reduce DNA repair capability and increase HCC risk. Objectives: This study aimed to examine, in Egyptian hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients, the relationship between the X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) rs1799782 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and HCC susceptibility. Methods: We included 100 adult HCV-positive patients with HCC and 100 adult HCV-positive patients with liver cirrhosis as pathological controls. XRCC1 rs1799782 SNP genotyping was done in both groups using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The distribution of genotypes in patients and controls was compared using several inheritance models. Results: We found that the CT genotype, when analyzed under both the co-dominant (OR (95 % CI): 2.147 (1.184-3.893), p = .012) and the over-dominant (OR (95 % CI): 2.055 (1.153-3.660), p = .015) models, as well as the combined CT and TT genotypes under the dominant model (OR (95 % CI) of 1.991 (1.133-3.497), p = .017), were associated with increased susceptibility to HCC. The frequency of the T allele was higher among HCC participants (32%) compared to those with cirrhosis (23.5%) and carrying the T allele increased the risk of HCC by 1.532 times, however, these associations did not reach statistical significance ( p-values >0.05). Moreover, the variant T allele was associated with worse clinical manifestations and laboratory results among the HCC group, but AFP levels were not affected significantly. Conclusions: Egyptians with XRCC1 rs1799782 SNP may have a higher risk of HCV-related HCC. More extensive multi-center prospective investigations must confirm this association.
Ancillary Elements of Undergraduate Economics Programs: The Extras Can Make All the Difference
Authors: Hoyt Gail M. , O’Sullivan Roisin
Published: June 2024

Successful economics programs recognize that the well-rounded student is best supported through a multi-faceted approach that considers the student’s academic life in a holistic way. While traditional classroom instruction forms the core of economic education, ancillary elements, such as student clubs, speaker series, internships, and research opportunities, are also vital components. They can support content mastery and student success, provide opportunities to apply concepts and skills in real-world contexts, and expose students to new developments in the discipline. This overview paper first gives a sense of the current landscape regarding ancillary provision at US institutions and then introduces the other contributions to this symposium. These papers provide detailed examples of effective ancillary elements, offering guidance and inspiration for enriching students’ academic experiences.
Broadening the Concept of Value in Science and Technology Innovation Policy: Reconsidering Cooperative Research and Development Agreements as an Expression of Public Value Governance
Authors: Austin Eric K. , Raile Eric D. , Wallner Michael P. , Peterson Jeffrey , Lewandowski Brian , Sellegren Bridger , Kapps Derek , Zook Michelle Villarreal , Jorgensen Cara
Published: June 2024

Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) are one of several programs supporting federal investment in technological innovation. To date, CRADAs have been studied primarily through the lens of a market-oriented ideology focusing primarily on associated mechanisms and outcomes. That ideology, expressed most clearly in the New Public Management (NPM) movement, has become the predominant governance theory of the period. Other governance theories, including Public Value Governance (PVG), emerged in response and as alternatives to NPM’s perceived contextual and normative limitations. This article reexamines the structure and function of CRADAs through the lens of PVG, in combination with analysis of qualitative data on the perceptions and experiences of organizations that have been parties to CRADAs with the United States Air Force. Our examination suggests that CRADAs have the potential to respond more effectively to the emergent complexity of the current political-economy and to be more normatively inclusive in relation to growing socio-cultural diversity described by PVG, and potentially exceeding the narrower perspective of an economically focused NPM orientation.
Establishing a Reciprocal and Recursive Relationship Between Sociopolitical Development and Wellbeing for Early Emerging Adult College Students When “There Was a lot Happening in Both the World. . . and Within My Own Personal World”
Authors: Maker Castro Elena , Cummings Jamila , Martinez Montaño Brenda , Vyas Kinjal , Hoyt Lindsay T. , Cohen Alison K.
Published: June 2024

The existing, primarily quantitative literature suggests that for emerging adult college students (EACS), wellbeing has a complex relationship with sociopolitical development (i.e., the development of one’s awareness of and capacity to transform societal oppressions) that merits further unpacking. This study aimed to understand EACS’ reflections on their wellbeing and sociopolitical development pre-pandemic and during the pandemic, from 2019 to 2022. We conducted participatory, in-depth interviews with 27 diverse EACS across the USA (Mage = 21.7; SD = 0.8) in November 2022; 52% cisgender women, 19% transgender and gender diverse; 48% LGBQ+; 33% Asian, 33% White, 15% Black, 11% Multiracial, and 7% Latine. Using thematic analysis, we found that wellbeing, especially mental health, was a precursor for sociopolitical development. Simultaneously, wellbeing in the forms of safety, belonging, and self-actualization motivated and supported sociopolitical development. Ultimately, many participants reported a recursive and reciprocal relationship between wellbeing and sociopolitical development. We also found that participants faced ongoing challenges related to their developmental trajectories through emerging adulthood and contextual experiences within an oppressive sociopolitical context and the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage developing ways to support wellbeing within spaces that aim to foster sociopolitical development.
A Latent Class Analysis of Reproductive Coercion Experiences Based on Victim-Survivors’ Acknowledgment and Disclosure Patterns
Authors: Lévesque Sylvie , Jean-Thorn Arianne , Rousseau Catherine
Published: June 2024

Reproductive coercion (RC) is a form of violence involving behavior that interferes with an individual’s contraceptive and reproductive decisions. Like other forms of violence perpetrated by intimate partners, victims of RC do not necessarily identify it as such. Similarly, victim-survivors do not readily disclose their experiences or seek support and treatment. This study identifies patterns of acknowledgment and formal and informal disclosure of RC experiences in a community sample of 317 participants. Latent classes are then compared with respect to characteristics of victims/survivors, RC consequences, and associated contexts. Participants completed measures to assess experiences of RC and violence perpetuated by intimate partners as well as social support, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and consequences for psychological and sexual health. Latent class analysis was performed to identify acknowledgment and disclosure patterns. An optimal three-class solution was selected: High unacknowledgment with ambivalence, High disclosure (41%); High acknowledgment, High disclosure (30%); and Hesitant acknowledgment, No disclosure (29%). Classes were identified according to the presence of social support, living with a disability, victimization experiences, and mental and sexual health consequences. Future studies should explore the relationship between RC acknowledgment and disclosure, which can influence victims’ search trajectories for support and services.
The importance of ethics in leading an International Baccalaureate School in China
Authors: Gibson Conor
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to explore the challenges that leaders and teachers face in a British-style, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme school in China. Although there has been substantial literature devoted to the spread of International Baccalaureate Schools in East and Southeast Asia, relatively little research has been done on International Baccalaureate schools in China. This study investigated the cultural expectations of school leaders and how school leaders and teachers could negotiate these. A total of seven semi-structured interviews were held with school leaders and teachers to investigate these challenges. Twenty-four teachers were also surveyed. It was found that emotional intelligence and cultural awareness were vital for leaders. Furthermore, as achieving consensus can be very difficult in an international school setting, it was vital for leaders to rely on their ethical judgements and core principles.
Resistant discourse strategies in social media in China’s epidemic prevention context
Authors: Li Yang
Published: June 2024

On the night of November 24, in 2022, a fire broke out in a residential building in Xinjiang Urumqi, causing 10 deaths and 9 injuries. Confronted with netizens’ queries about excessive epidemic prevention, local government quickly disclaimed and announced its political achievements in fighting against COVID-19. A participatory discourse of resistance in social media then broke out intensively during the 25–28th, which extended too offline and then back to online again. There are three questions this study aims to investigate: (1) What were the strategic characteristics exhibited by this discourse event? (2) How did the concealed socio-political factors operate? (3) Does a prevailing ideological configuration pattern manifest in practice and what is the role of social media? In order to comply with the digital discourse context deeply embedded by platform’s technology, this study followed KhosraviNik’s three-level theoretical framework, whose SM-CDS model was methodologically employed and 9 actors with 10 samples were grabbed, concluding that an independent space of resistant meaning’s production was opened up at the angle of coding rules operated in social media and by authority, where a special discourse pattern was developed. In phase Ⅰ, it displayed ‘strategized’ consisted of three strategies: (1) obscuring the meaning; (2) applying positive words; and (3) seeking for asylum. In phase Ⅱ, it inclined to be ‘de-strategized’ which eventually shed the dependence on the coding rules of both authority and social media, which is a breakthrough to the previous resistant discourse patterns. Through netizens’ strategic utilization of availability and visibility, the technical ideology of social media fully exposes its constructive significance to the democratic space, making the negotiation of meaning obtain more extension, flexibility, and resilience.
Book review: Ashok Gulati, Ranjana Roy and Shweta Saini. Revitalising Indian Agriculture and Boosting Farmer Incomes
Authors: Barik Prasenjit
Published: June 2024

Ashok Gulati, Ranjana Roy and Shweta Saini. Revitalising Indian Agriculture and Boosting Farmer Incomes (Singapore: Springer Nature, 2021), 386 pp., ₹6,256, ISBN: 9789811593352 (Paperback).
Effect of Interactive Nutrition and Health Education Intervention on Knowledge and Practices of Indian School Children and Their Parents
Authors: Jha Charul , Singh Vishakha
Published: June 2024

The purpose of the present study was to identify the effect of an interactive health and nutrition education intervention on the knowledge and practices of school children and their parents. An experimental-control pre-post study, wherein 246 students (10–12 years) and their parents, from two schools, were enrolled for the study and divided into experimental ( n = 121) and control ( n = 125) groups. The experimental group received an interactive health and nutrition intervention for 3 months, which included PPT’s and various games/activities. One month after the intervention period, post-data was collected from both groups, to identify the effect. Knowledge and practices regarding health, nutrition, and physical activity were studied. All the data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS-23 software. A significant change was observed in fruit ( p < .001), vegetable ( p < .05), and water intake ( p < .05) of experimental group children in comparison to the control group. Physical activity (moderate/vigorous) for 60 minutes or more increased by 21.5% among the intervention group. Knowledge change in health and nutrition parameters was also observed. A reduction in the parental practice of giving ultra-processed food to a child’s lunch box was also seen post-4 months among the experimental group. The interactive education package delivered to school children and parents had a positive impact on their knowledge and practices and can be used as a tool to tackle and prevent the increasing triple burden of child malnutrition in India. Long-term studies in terms of the Indian context are warranted.
Is PAS Stain Necessary to Exclude Whipple Disease in Duodenal Biopsies?
Authors: Bakhshwin Ahmed , Duckworth Lauren Ashley , Toro Castano Paula , El Hag Mohamed , Plesec Thomas
Published: June 2024

Objective. Whipple disease, caused by Tropheryma whipplei, is a rare infectious condition primarily presenting with malabsorptive diarrhea. Small bowel biopsies typically reveal foamy macrophages containing periodic acid–Schiff-positive/diastase (PAS/D) resistant T. whipplei bacilli, and PAS(D) staining is occasionally requested by clinicians in duodenal biopsies, which are often histologically unremarkable. The yield of PAS(D) staining in such biopsies has never been reported to our knowledge. Methods. The anatomic pathology database was searched for all specimens of duodenal biopsies stained with PAS(D) from 1993 to 2021. Specimens were categorized by the following histomorphologic features: unremarkable, nonspecific changes, or expansion of the lamina propria by aggregates of foamy histiocytes. Follow-up information was collected, including microbiologic confirmatory testing. Results. There was a total of 193 specimens of duodenal biopsies stained with PAS(D). Biopsies lacking foamy histiocytes on H&E ( n = 158) were never PAS-positive. Thirteen biopsies contained PAS-positive histiocytes; 9 out of the 13 PAS-positive specimens were subsequently confirmed to be T. whipplei. Of the 193 specimens, 124 specimens had a clinical request for PAS(D) staining. Only 3 of the 124 (2.4%) specimens showed foamy histiocytes containing PAS-positive granules, all of which were confirmed positive for T. whipplei. Conclusion. PAS(D) staining is unnecessary to exclude Whipple disease in duodenal biopsies without foamy macrophage aggregates, regardless of clinical suspicion. Clinical suspicion-driven biopsies often yield negative results for Whipple disease.
Understanding Reasons for Cancer Disparities in Italy: A Qualitative Study of Barriers and Needs of Cancer Patients and Healthcare Providers
Authors: Ferraris Giulia , Coppini Veronica , Ferrari Maria Vittoria , Monzani Dario , Grasso Roberto , Pravettoni Gabriella
Published: June 2024

Background

The second leading cause of death in Italy is cancer. Substantial disparities persist in the level of care and outcomes for cancer patients across various communities, hospitals, and regions in Italy. While substantial progress has been made in medical research and treatment options, these advancements tend to disproportionately benefit the wealthier, better-educated, and more privileged areas and portions of the population. Therefore, the primary aim of the current study is to explore possible reasons for inequalities in access to and utilisation of care from the perspective of cancer patients, who are recipients of these treatments, and healthcare providers, who are responsible for their administration.

Methods

After being recruited through social media platforms, patients’ organisations, and hospital websites, cancer patients (n = 22) and healthcare providers (n = 16) from various Italian regions participated in online focus group discussions on disparities in access to and provision of care. Video and audio recordings of the interviews were analysed using Thematic analysis.

Results

Among cancer patients, 7 themes were identified, while 6 themes emerged from the healthcare providers highlighting encountered barriers and unmet needs in cancer care. Most of these emerging themes are common to both groups, such as geographical disparities, information deficiencies, and the importance of psycho-oncological support. However, several themes are specific to each group, for instance, cancer patients highlight the financial burden and the poor interactions with healthcare providers, while healthcare providers emphasise the necessity of establishing a stronger specialists’ network and integrating clinical practice and research.

Conclusion

Current findings reveal persistent challenges in cancer care, including long waiting lists and regional disparities, highlighting the need for inclusive healthcare strategies. The value of psycho-oncological support is underscored, as well as the potential of the Internet’s use for informational needs, emphasising the imperative for improved awareness and communication to overcome disparities in cancer care.
Emergency Department Presentations for Injuries Following Agency-Notified Child Maltreatment: Results From the Childhood Adversity and Lifetime Morbidity (CALM) Study
Authors: Trott Mike , Bull Claudia , Arnautovska Urska , Siskind Dan , Warren Nicola , Najman Jake M. , Kisely Steve
Published: June 2024

Child maltreatment (CM) is associated with negative health outcomes in adulthood, including deliberate self-harm (DSH), suicidal behaviours, and victimisation. It is unknown if associations extend to emergency department (ED) presentations for non-DSH related injuries. Birth cohort study data was linked to administrative health data, including ED presentations for non DSH related injuries and agency-reported and substantiated notifications for CM. Adjusted analyses ( n = 6087) showed that any type of agency-reported notification for CM was significantly associated with increased odds of ED presentation for injuries (aOR = 1.57; 95% CI 1.32–1.87). In moderation analyses, women yielded significantly higher odds of notified and substantiated physical abuse, substantiated emotional abuse, and being subject to more than one type of substantiated abuse than males. ED presentations for injuries could be a proxy for risky behaviours, disguised DSH/suicidal behaviours, or physical abuse. The consistent findings in women may point to victimisation via interpersonal violence.
Impairment Assessment in Adult ADHD and Related Disorders: Current Opinions From Clinic and Research
Authors: Fuermaier Anselm B. M. , Gontijo-Santos Lima Caroline , Tucha Oliver
Published: June 2024

Objectives:

Assessing functional impairment is one of the essential components in the clinical evaluation of ADHD in adulthood, serving both diagnostic and outcome evaluation purposes. However, clinicians and researchers may face challenges in selecting suitable instruments due to variations in accessibility and quality of instruments.

Methods:

We conducted an online survey involving an international group of 92 respondents engaged in clinical practice and/or research on ADHD. The survey aimed to evaluate current practices in assessing impairment in adult ADHD and related disorders, while also identifying areas requiring adaptation or potential new developments.

Results:

Our findings revealed that clinicians and researchers utilize a diverse range of instruments for assessing impairment in adults with ADHD, including some that may lack adequate properties for this purpose. Notably, dissatisfaction with current practice standards was expressed, underscoring the need for novel assessment approaches and improved psychometric properties.

Conclusion:

It is evident that research endeavors are warranted to either refine existing measures or devise new ones for assessing functional impairment in adult ADHD. Emphasis should be placed on disseminating instruments that enhance accessibility in both research and clinical settings, and facilitate streamlined administration and interpretation.
Turnover Intentions of Police Officers when Facing Discretionary Ethical Dilemmas: The Explanatory Roles of Professional Disillusionment and Job Stress
Authors: Demoulin Stephanie , Stinglhamber Florence
Published: June 2024

The present research investigates the impact of discretionary ethical dilemmas encountered by police officers in the workplace on their intentions to leave the profession. Doing so, it distinguishes three types of discretionary ethical dilemmas faced by police officers (professional, individual, and conflicting ethical dilemmas). Findings suggest that two out of the three types of dilemmas, namely professional and individual dilemmas, increase police officers’ turnover intentions. In addition, the study shows that the effect on turnover intentions is mediated by an increase in professional disillusionment and job stress, with professional disillusionment playing a stronger role. This emphasizes the importance of exploring professional disillusionment in understanding police turnover. We discuss the implications of our findings at two levels, that of ethical dilemma prevention and that of the measures that should be taken to help police officer face the inevitable discretionary ethical dilemmas they will encounter on the field.
Nonpharmacological Interventions for Managing Symptom Clusters in Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lee Taekyeong , Park Jongmin
Published: June 2024

Objectives: The complex effects of multiple co-occurring symptoms are a major cause of reduced quality of life; thus, it is necessary to identify symptom clusters experienced by patients and explore interventions. This study aimed to provide an overview of non-pharmacological interventions based on symptom clusters in adults to identify effective intervention strategies and methods. Methods. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. For the search databases, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, RISS, KISS, and KISTI were used. It includes English and Korean experimental studies published up to May 2023. The literature quality was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Quality Assessment Tool. Results. Of the 18 studies selected, 15 were randomized controlled trials and three were quasi-experimental studies, all of which were conducted on patients with cancer. The symptom clusters-based interventions in the literature are classified as movement-based, relaxation-based, integrated, and miscellaneous interventions. Integrated interventions, which were effective in all studies, might prove to be very effective for managing symptom clusters. Movement-based intervention studies, which include dance, Qigong, and Tai Chi, might be very effective in improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Conclusions. This review demonstrates that non-pharmacological interventions reduce the occurrence and severity of symptom clusters, thereby improving HRQoL. Further studies are required to evaluate the effects of these interventions in patients with various chronic conditions other than cancer.