bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Employment, training and volunteering pathways for people with experience of multiple disadvantage in Manchester: comparing primary research findings with wider literature
Authors: Bennett Lauren , Iwnicki Philippa
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The Inspiring Change Manchester (ICM) programme has aimed to improve outcomes, including employability, for people experiencing multiple disadvantage in Manchester. This paper aims to compare learning from the ICM partnership with wider literature to demonstrate what helps people with experience of multiple disadvantage to achieve training, volunteering or work outcomes and what may prevent this.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews with people with experience of multiple disadvantage and employers in Manchester working with this group were thematically analysed, and the findings were compared to wider literature, previous ICM research and programme data. The primary research took a peer research approach. Peer researchers co-designed the topic guides, co-facilitated interviews where possible and helped to identify key themes.

Findings

Entering and succeeding in training, volunteering and/ or paid work has many positive impacts for people experiencing multiple disadvantage. Ongoing and better awareness raising will be key for more individuals to benefit from such pathways, alongside accessible recruitment processes. Continuous personal and professional development opportunities are important to positive experiences, as is organisational culture. Short-term contracts arose as an issue in the research, more needs to be done to support people with experience of multiple disadvantage into secure work.

Originality/value

Although there is a range of literature on good practice and challenges to enable people to engage in training or employment, this often focuses on a particular characteristic or need, rather than experiences of people facing a combination of interrelated needs. This paper also includes first-person lived experience voice, rather than this perspective being interpreted through a particular lens.
The relational focus of small and medium sized actors' understandings of supply chain finance (SCF)
Authors: Phraknoi Nichapa , Busby Jerry , Stevenson Mark
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate small and medium-sized upstream suppliers' and downstream distributors' understandings of supply chain finance (SCF) arrangements and their decisions to adopt such schemes.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper grounded theory-informed methods are employed, involving 56 in-depth interviews with informants from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), banks and subject experts in the United Kingdom (UK) and Thailand. A category structure for the data is developed. The findings are then examined systematically from both a transaction cost economics (TCE) and non-TCE perspective.

Findings

SME members made sense of SCF through a core distinction between dyadic and triadic SCF arrangements. The former maintains independence between physical and financial supply chains, whereas the latter causes them to be closely coupled or even entangled. The SCF adoption decisions of SMEs were based on a consideration of four related aspects: relationality, awareness, control and context. The authors demonstrate the limits of TCE in explaining the findings, leading to a proposed combined theory of the transactional and, importantly, non-transactional influences on how SMEs make decisions about SCF.

Practical implications

Focal firms wanting their SME suppliers and distributors to participate in triadic SCF (TSCF), i.e. reverse factoring and distributor finance, need to understand that transitioning to such schemes involves the unwinding of existing financing arrangements, which may be problematic for SMEs. Moreover, it is important to be aware of SMEs' concerns, such as about what accessing TSCF might signal to the focal firm about their financial health and about the potential loss of control that might result from entangling the physical and financial aspects of supply chains.

Originality/value

This paper unpack the perspectives of both SME suppliers and distributors of large focal firms in supply chains. These firms appear less concerned with the economic advantages (transaction costs) of SCF and more concerned with the relational consequences or non-transactional costs of participation in a TSCF arrangement. The dyadic-triadic distinction provides a new and meaningful way of categorising SCF mechanisms, which also broadens the service triads’ literature from a focus on outsourcing services for a focal firm's customers to outsourcing financing for its suppliers or distributors. The paper also addresses gaps identified by Gelsomino et al. (2016) regarding the need for a general theory of SCF, for empirically-based holistic studies of SCF applications, and a tool for selecting SCF mechanisms.
Effectiveness evaluation for the gamification of out-of-home advertising
Authors: Huo Jiale , Jiang Yahong
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a new method for evaluating the effect of out-of-home (OOH) gamified advertising and verify the prediction effect of the method, especially based on emotional experience generated by interactions between individuals and gamified advertisements.

Design/methodology/approach

By carrying out an offline gamification advertising experiment, this study uses multiple emotion models, pleasure–displeasure, arousal–no arousal and dominance–submissiveness (PAD) and Ortony–Clore–Collins, to examine the impact of 24 emotional experiences consumers have when engaging with gamified OOH advertising on the perceived effectiveness of advertising.

Findings

The findings reveal the correlation between the emotional experience and the effectiveness of gamified advertising. Multiple regression analyses demonstrate that the emotional experience model has an effective predictive effect on the effectiveness of gamified advertising.

Originality/value

The originality of this research is a new method for evaluating the effect of OOH gamified advertising, in particular the calculation of the valid emotional experience values brought by the emotional fluctuations in the interaction between consumers and gamified advertisements.
Next stop Narnia: replacing psychogeography
Authors: Brown Stephen
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to stimulate researchers’ understanding of place in general and psychogeography in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

Melding hauntology, autoethnography, pseudo-psychogeography and object-orientated ontology, the provocation explores aspects of east Belfast’s “C.S. Lewis Trail”.

Findings

Psychogeography, purportedly, is moribund. This provocation contends that latter-day developments in virtual reality, augmented reality, digital real estate platforms and “imaginary worlds” more generally, open up new horizons, and offer more opportunities, for the psychogeographically inclined.

Originality/value

The provocation’s originality inheres in the approach adopted not the research findings.
Small and medium enterprises dynamic capabilities efficacy during COVID-19: moderating role of CEO gender
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Ishfaq , Naseem Muhammad Akram , Rehman Ramiz Ur
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the role of dynamic capabilities (DCs) in the financial performance of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) during COVID-19. Furthermore, it took chief executive officer gender to moderate the relationship between DCs and financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the survey approach to collect the data. Regression analysis was used on 563 responses to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results showed that DCs have a significant positive effect on the SME’s operating level and revenues. Moreover, it also moderates the DCs and financial performance during COVID-19. The results revealed that firms that used the DCs during COVID-19 not only survive during the COVID-19 tough time but also enjoyed a decent revenue level.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first study to establish the link between DCs and SMEs operating and revenue level during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistani settings.
How are fans affected by the commercialization of elite sports? A review of the literature and a research agenda
Authors: Winell Erik , Armbrecht John , Lundberg Erik , Nilsson Jonas
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a holistic understanding of extant studies addressing the impact of commercialization on fans of elite sports.

Design/methodology/approach

In doing this, the authors performed a structured review of 42 academic articles published between 1992 and 2020 that all focus on how fans respond and are affected by the commercialization of elite sports.

Findings

The structured review shows that the impacts of commercialization on fans relate to four different themes. These are (1) fan identity, (2) fan attitudes, (3) fan emotions and (4) fan behaviours. However, the analysis also shows that research within each category is largely scattered, and more research within each category is needed.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the complex and dynamic nature of commercialization. It presents a research agenda for future research and emphasizes a need to integrate the interests of several stakeholders when managing the impacts of elite sport commercialization.
On the Relation between Exchange Rates and Domestic Investment: Asymmetric Evidence from China's 31 Provinces
Authors: Lu Guimin , Baek Jungo , Nam Soojoong
Published: July 2022

The current paper investigates whether the exchange rate asymmetrically influences domestic investment in China. To this end, the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) process is applied to investment data disaggregated by China's 31 provinces. We discover that there is evidence that the ups and downs of the yuan have asymmetric impacts on domestic investment for some provinces, though not all, in both the long‐ and short‐run.
Rural Medicare beneficiaries are increasingly likely to be admitted to urban hospitals
Authors: Friedman Hannah R. , Holmes George Mark
Published: July 2022

Objective

To determine whether rural Medicare FFS beneficiaries are more likely to be admitted to an urban hospital in 2018 than in 2010.

Data Sources

We combined data from the 2010 to 2018 Hospital Service Area File (HSAF) and the 2010–2017 American Hospital Association (AHA) survey.

Study Design

We conducted a fixed‐effects negative‐binomial regression to determine whether urban hospital admissions from rural ZIP codes were increasing over time. We also conducted an exploratory geographically weighted regression.

Data Collection

We transformed the HSAF data into a ZIP code‐level file with all rural ZIP codes. We defined rural as having a Rural‐Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) code ≥4. A hospital's system affiliation status was incorporated from the AHA survey.

Principal Findings

Controlling for distance to the nearest hospitals, an increase of 1 year was associated with a 2.0% increase (p < 0.001) in the number of admissions to urban hospitals from each rural ZIP code. New system affiliation of the nearest rural hospital was associated with an increase of 1.7% (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Even when controlling for distance to the nearest rural hospital (which reflects hospital closures), rural patients were increasingly likely to be admitted to an urban hospital.
The association between social network members sharing alcohol‐related social media content and alcohol outcomes among college student drinkers
Authors: Strowger Megan , Braitman Abby L. , Barnett Nancy P.
Published: July 2022

Background

College‐aged young adults (e.g., 18 to 29‐year‐olds) use social media more than any other age group. An emerging body of literature shows that higher exposure to alcohol‐related social media content is associated with greater alcohol consumption among college students. However, most studies assess exposure to peer drinking on social media using global measures, rather than measuring the exposure to alcohol‐related posts of identified specific close peers. We examined whether having a higher proportion of important peers (i.e., social network members) who post alcohol‐related social media content is associated with greater alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related consequences. We also investigated the extent to which the qualities of network members who share alcohol‐related content are associated with participants' alcohol outcomes.

Methods

Participants were 130 college students (86.2% female, 56.9% White) with an average age of 23.39 years (SD = 5.63) who had consumed at least one alcoholic drink in the past week. Participants completed measures of their social media use, alcohol consumption, alcohol‐related consequences, and characteristics of important peers in their social network, including their alcohol‐related social media posting.

Results

Having a higher proportion of social network members who post alcohol‐related social media content was positively related to participants' drinks per week and peak number of drinks. Higher network proportions of drinking buddies posting alcohol‐related content were also associated with a greater frequency of alcohol use. Having a higher proportion of friends who post alcohol content and from whom the participants seek advice was linked to more alcohol‐related consequences.

Conclusions

Having more important peers who post alcohol‐related content on social media is associated with alcohol outcomes among college students. Harm‐reduction focused alcohol interventions delivered on college campuses that incorporate information about the influence of viewing and sharing alcohol‐related content could help to reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related consequences among students.
Concordance Indices with Left-Truncated and Right-Censored Data
Authors: Hartman Nicholas , Kim Sehee , He Kevin , Kalbfleisch John D.
Published: July 2022

In the context of time-to-event analysis, a primary objective is to model the risk of experiencing a particular event in relation to a set of observed predictors. The Concordance Index (C-Index) is a statistic frequently used in practice to assess how well such models discriminate between various risk levels in a population. However, the properties of conventional C-Index estimators when applied to left-truncated time-to-event data have not been well studied, despite the fact that left-truncation is commonly encountered in observational studies. We show that the limiting values of the conventional C-Index estimators depend on the underlying distribution of truncation times, which is similar to the situation with right-censoring as discussed in Uno et al. (2011) [On the C-statistics for evaluating overall adequacy of risk prediction procedures with censored survival data. Statistics in Medicine 30(10), 1105–1117]. We develop a new C-Index estimator based on inverse probability weighting (IPW) that corrects for this limitation, and we generalize this estimator to settings with left-truncated and right-censored data. The proposed IPW estimators are highly robust to the underlying truncation distribution and often outperform the conventional methods in terms of bias, mean squared error, and coverage probability. We apply these estimators to evaluate a predictive survival model for mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease.
Teachers' physiological and self‐reported stress, teaching practices and students' learning outcomes in Grade 1
Authors: Jõgi Anna‐Liisa , Pakarinen Eija , Lerkkanen Marja‐Kristiina
Published: July 2022

Background

Teachers' self‐reported stress is related to the quality of teacher–student interactions and students' learning outcomes. However, it is unclear if teachers' physiological stress is related to child‐centred teaching practices in the classroom and whether teaching practices mediate the link between teachers' stress and students' learning outcomes.

Aims

We studied the effect of teachers' physiological stress and self‐reported stress on their teaching practices and thereby on students' learning outcomes in math.

Sample

A total of 53 classroom teachers and 866 Grade 1 students participated in the study.

Methods

Salivary cortisol in the middle of the school day and cortisol slope from morning peak to evening were used as indicators of teachers' physiological stress, in addition to self‐reported teaching‐related stress. Teaching practices were observed with the ECCOM instrument. Students' math skills controlled for gender and previous skills were used as a measure of learning outcomes. Data were analysed with a two‐level SEM.

Results

Teachers' physiological stress did not have an effect on teaching practices or students' math skills. Teachers reporting less stress used relatively more child‐centred teaching practices compared with teacher‐directed ones. These practices had a marginal effect on classroom‐level differences in the gain of students' math skills in Grade 1. There was neither a direct nor indirect effect from teachers' stress on students' math skills. Altogether, our model explained 77% of classroom‐level variance in math skills.

Conclusions

Teachers' self‐reported stress has an effect on their teaching practices, which, in turn, have a marginal effect on students' learning outcomes.
Cost-effectiveness of personalized omalizumab dosing for chronic spontaneous urticaria
Authors: Denman Sarah , Smith Helin , Arumugakani Gururaj , Mistry Anoop , Savic Sinisa
Published: July 2022

The licensed dose for omalizumab within Europe for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is 300 mg every 4 weeks, and is based on the most effective dose identified in clinical trials. However, many patients require longer-term treatment with omalizumab and there is limited guidance on how to manage these patients. We report on a large cohort of 357 patients with CSU who have been treated over a 10-year period on a personalized dosing regimen. Our results showed a 4% reduction in drug cost for this personalized dosing regimen compared with having all patients on the standard regimen of omalizumab 300 mg every 4 weeks. In addition, by increasing the dose, we were able to treat 22% of patients more effectively, using the principle aim of zero CSU symptoms; prior to this regimen, these patients had been achieving only partial response. Omalizumab doses and frequency should be adjusted depending on clinical response to allow for improved benefits for both patients and healthcare systems.
Cytological features in pilomyxoid astrocytoma: A case report with summary of prior published cases
Authors: Ray Raktim , Agarwal Nitish , Sadique Shahid Iftekhar , Das Mou , Chatterjee Uttara
Published: July 2022

Pilomyxoid astrocytoma is a subtype of pilocytic astrocytoma that is described as a grade 1 tumour in the 2022 WHO classification of central nervous system tumours. It occurs predominantly in the hypothalamic region in infants. Although the histological features of pilomyxoid astrocytomas are well documented, few reports are available in the literature regarding cytological findings. Here we describe the squash cytological features of a case of pilomyxoid astrocytoma along with a summary of prior published cases. Smears for this type of tumour tend to be more cellular, with piloid cells arranged in an angiocentric pattern without Rosenthal fibres or eosinophilic granular bodies. A blue myxoid substance may be present in the background.
Bone marrow CD3+CD56+ regulatory T lymphocytes (TR3−56 cells) are inversely associated with activation and expansion of bone marrow cytotoxic T cells in IPSS‐R very‐low/low risk MDS patients
Authors: Leone Stefania , Rubino Valentina , Palatucci Anna Teresa , Giovazzino Angela , Carriero Flavia , Cerciello Giuseppe , Pane Fabrizio , Ruggiero Giuseppina , Terrazzano Giuseppe
Published: July 2022

Background

Emergence of dysplastic haematopoietic precursor/s, cytopenia and variable leukaemia risk characterise myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Impaired immune‐regulation, preferentially affecting cytotoxic T cells (CTL), has been largely observed in MDS. Recently, we described the TR3−56 T cell subset, characterised by the co‐expression of CD3 and CD56, as a novel immune‐regulatory population, able to modulate cytotoxic functions. Here, we address the involvement of TR3−56 cells in MDS pathogenesis/progression.

Objectives

To analyse the relationship between TR3−56 and CTL activation/expansion in bone marrow (BM) of very‐low/low‐risk MDS subjects.

Methods

Peripheral blood and BM specimens, obtained at disease onset in a cohort of 58 subjects, were analysed by immune‐fluorescence and flow cytometry, to preserve the complexity of the biological sample.

Results

We observed that a trend‐increase of BM TR3−56 in high/very‐high MDS stage, as compared with very‐low/low group, associates with a decreased activation of BM resident CTL; significant correlation of TR3−56 with BM blasts has been also revealed. In addition, in very‐low/low‐risk subjects the TR3−56 amount in BM inversely correlates with the presence of activated BM CTL showing a skewed Vβ T‐cell repertoire.

Conclusions

These data add TR3−56 to the immune‐regulatory network involved in MDS pathogenesis/progression. Better knowledge of the immune‐mediated processes associated with the disease might improve MDS clinical management.
Experimental study on fracture properties of dam concrete under post‐peak cyclic loading based on DIC and acoustic emission techniques
Authors: Bu Jingwu , Xu Huiying , Wu Xinyu , Chen Xudong , Xu Bo
Published: July 2022

In order to study the fracture properties of dam concrete under post‐peak cyclic loading, wedge splitting tests with three loading rates were performed on notched cubic specimens. Meanwhile, the acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) technologies were used to monitor crack propagation in the specimens. As the loading rate increases, the peak load increases, and stiffness degradation increases. The cumulative AE counts show a step increasing trend and exhibit a Kaiser effect, which decreases via the post‐peak cyclic loading procedure and increases as the loading rate increases. The AE energy fluctuates markedly, and b value fluctuates frequently with an increasing loading rate. As the loading rate increases, the strain recovery rate decreases, and the permanent crack increases. The effective crack length gradually and steadily increases, and as the loading rate increases, the growth rate of the effective crack length increases.
Seasonal changes in abundance and feeding ecology of an endemic, keystone predator following the introduction of large rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykiss
Authors: Rodger Anthony W. , Starks Trevor A.
Published: July 2022

Despite documented negative effects on aquatic ecosystems, management agencies commonly receive requests to stock non‐native rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykiss(Walbaum). We used a multinomial N‐mixture model and a suite of diet analyses to evaluate effects of large (265–530 mm) rainbow trout on reach‐scale abundance and feeding ecology of an important endemic, keystone species, Neosho bassMicropterus velox(Hubbs and Bailey).We evaluated potential changes by seasonally sampling multiple reaches of an Ozark Highlands stream before and after the introduction of 10,800 rainbow trout. Results suggest that rainbow trout altered the distribution of Neosho bass, as indicated by a negative relationship between rainbow trout density and Neosho bass abundance. Trophically, rainbow trout and Neosho bass <101 mm were equivalent, but rainbow trout diets significantly overlapped with larger Neosho bass. High rainbow trout abundance in the spring post‐stocking period changed Neosho bass diets by altering predator–prey dynamics with crayfish. Controlling for fish size revealed Neosho bass consumed larger crayfish than rainbow trout, although rainbow trout and Neosho bass between 200 and 299 mm consumed equal‐sized crayfish. Outcomes of rainbow trout stockings are likely density‐ and size‐dependent, but caution is warranted for introductions in warmwater streams.
Abiotic and biotic correlates of the occurrence, extent and cover of invasive aquatic Elodea nuttallii
Authors: Crane Kate , Kregting Louise , Coughlan Neil E. , Cuthbert Ross N. , Ricciardi Anthony , MacIsaac Hugh J. , Dick Jaimie T.A. , Reid Neil
Published: July 2022

Biological invasions, especially invasive alien aquatic plants, are a major and growing ecological and socioeconomic problem worldwide. Freshwater systems are particularly vulnerable to invasion, where impacts of invasive alien species can damage ecological structure and function. Identifying abiotic and biotic factors that mediate successful invasions is a management priority. Our aim was to determine the environmental correlates of Elodea nuttallii; a globally significant invasive aquatic species.

Elodea nuttallii presence/absence (occurrence), extent (patch area) and percentage cover (density) was visually assessed from a boat throughout Lough Erne (approximately 144 km2), County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland during the active summer growth season (July–September). In addition, substrate type and zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha occurrence was recorded. Fourteen water chemistry variables were collected monthly from 12 recording stations throughout the lake during the 9 years before the survey to spatially interpolate values and establish temporal trajectories in their change. Shoreline land use was derived from CORINE land cover maps. Environmental associations between E. nuttallii, substrate, D. polymorpha, water chemistry and land use were assessed.

Elodea nuttallii occurrence was positively associated with water conductivity, alkalinity, suspended solids, phosphorus (both total and soluble) and chlorophyll‐a concentrations, but negatively associated with pH and total oxidised nitrogen. E. nuttallii patch extent and proportional cover were positively associated, to varying degrees, with the presence of D. polymorpha, biological oxygen demand, water clarity and soft substrate, but negatively associated with urban development and ammonium.

Elodea nuttallii displayed high levels of phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental variation, allowing it to adapt to a wide range of conditions and potentially gain competitive advantage over native or other invasive macrophytes.

It is evident that multiple abiotic and biotic factors, including facilitation by co‐occurring invasive dreissenid mussels, interact to influence the distribution and abundance of E. nuttallii. Thus, it is necessary to consider a more comprehensive environmental context when planning Elodea management strategies.
A Multi‐objective Optimization Approach for Disaggregating Employment Data
Authors: Ludick Chantel , van Heerden Quintin
Published: July 2022

In many countries, including South Africa, data on employment is rarely available on a downscaled level, such as building level, and is only available on less detailed levels, such as municipal level. The aim of this research was to develop a methodology to disaggregate the employment data that is available at an aggregate level to a disaggregate, detailed building level. To achieve this, the methodology consisted of two parts. First, a method was established that could be used to prepare a base data set to be used for disaggregating the employment data. Second, a multiobjective optimization approach was used to allocate the number of employment opportunities within a municipality to building level. The algorithm was developed using an Evolutionary Algorithm framework and applied to a case study in a metropolitan municipality in South Africa. The results showed favorable use of multiobjective optimization to disaggregate employment data to building level. By enhancing the detail of employment data, planners, policy makers, modelers and other users of such data can benefit from understanding employment patterns at a much more detailed level and making improved decisions based on disaggregated data and models.
Epistemic justice in public involvement and engagement: Creating conditions for impact
Authors: Liabo Kristin , Cockcroft Emma J. , Boddy Kate , Farmer Leon , Bortoli Silvia , Britten Nicky
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Patient and public involvement in research is anchored in moral and epistemological rationales. Moral rationales relate to the public having a right to influence how knowledge about them is generated. Epistemological rationales relate to how research design and implementation can improve when informed by experiential, as well as technical, knowledge. In other words, public involvement can increase the epistemological resources of researchers, and contribute to research that is fit for purpose and has high external validity.

Methods

This article presents an analysis of 3 meetings and 11 interviews with public collaborators and researchers in three UK‐based health research studies. Data comprised transcripts of audio‐recorded research meetings and interviews with public collaborators and researchers. Data were first analysed to develop a data‐informed definition of experiential knowledge, then thematically to investigate how this experiential knowledge was considered and received within the research space.

Results

At meetings, public collaborators shared their experiential knowledge as stories, comments, questions, answers and when referring to their own roles. They were aware of crossing a boundary from everyday life, and some adapted their contributions to fit within the research space. Although researchers and public collaborators made efforts to create an inclusive climate, obstacles to impact were identified.

Conclusions

Considering experiential knowledge as a boundary object highlights that this knowledge has a different form to other kinds of knowledge that contribute to research. To enable impact from experiential knowledge, researchers need to create a space where public collaborators experience epistemic justice.

Patient and Public Contribution

The Peninsula Public Engagement Group (PenPEG) was involved in the planning and conceptualization of the study, including the development of the ethics application and the interview schedules. One member of this group (Richard Fitzgerald) and one from outside the group (Leon Farmer), were full members of the author team and were involved in the data analysis. Leon Farmer has since become a member of PenPEG. Richard Fitzgerald and Leon Farmer were not involved in the three research studies sampled for this study. Sadly Richard Fitzgerald died during the course of this study.
Development of international nursing standard–based curriculum for North Korean nurses
Authors: Kang Younhee , Yang Insook , Lee Eliza , Bang Chohee
Published: July 2022

Background

The types of nursing care and education have been advanced in different ways between South and North Korea during the past 73 years following division of Korea. The contents of the nursing education curriculum in North Korea do not match international standards. In preparation for the unification of the two Koreas, identifying and examining North Korean nursing education are needed.

Aim

To develop a curriculum for North Korean nurses to in accordance with the international nursing standards.

Methods

This study consisted of two phases. First, we reviewed the literature, analyzed in‐depth interviews with North Korean nurse defectors, and evaluated the contents and scope of nursing education in North Korea. Next, we developed a nursing education curriculum for North Korea through discussion with nursing education experts.

Results

The nursing curriculum for North Korean nurses comprised 96 credits (21 credits for fundamental major courses and 75 credits for mandatory major courses) according to the standards of the Korea Institute of Nursing Education and Evaluation. The proposed curriculum I comprised 84.5 credits, with 14.5 credits for major courses and 70 credits for mandatory major courses. Proposed curriculum II considered the capabilities and clinical experiences of North Korean nurses and comprised 52 credits with 6 credits for major courses and 46 credits for mandatory major courses.

Conclusion

A nursing curriculum was proposed to match the nursing practice competencies of North Korean nurses to international standards. This curriculum can be expected to improve the quality of nursing care in North Korea, facilitate the integration of nursing workforces, and ultimately promote the health of the people during unification.

Implications for Nursing Policy

The nursing curricula proposed in this study could be a significant measure to nurture nursing manpower and contribute to narrowing the nursing gaps between South and North Korea in the process of Korea's unification.
Psychological impact of COVID‐19 on nursing personnel: A regional online survey
Authors: Hickling Matthew T. , Barnett Scott D.
Published: July 2022

Aims

This study investigated mental health reactions to dealing with COVID‐19 in a population of nurses working in a variety of settings. The study attempted to expand our current understanding of the psychological reactions unique to nurses working during the highly stressful period of the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Design

The study used an online questionnaire design.

Methods

Nurses were recruited using social media via an electronic link between July and September 2020. Of them, 112 nursing professionals completed the 66‐item questionnaire.

Results

Significant findings included the presence of moderate or greater levels of anxiety (62%), depression (31%), and posttraumatic stress disorder (15%) and with significantly greater intrusive thoughts and memories for nurses who provided direct patient care than those who did not. Nurses with a prior history of anxiety or depression were found to be at greater risk for psychological distress. Results further highlighted concerns and fears related to coronavirus in both their daily personal and professional lives.

Conclusion

The use of standard, commonly used, measures of psychological disorders allow for a more precise comparison among studies both for this population at the time of the survey and over a period of time.

Impact

Suggestions for helping nursing professionals identify nurses at risk and improved ways to cope and deal with adverse psychological effects are discussed.
Development of nurse‐led videoconference‐delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for domestic violence: Feasibility and acceptability
Authors: Nesset Merete Berg , Lauvrud Christian , Meisingset Anne , Nyhus Eskil , Palmstierna Tom , Lara‐Cabrera Mariela Loreto
Published: July 2022

Aims

Because of the COVID‐19 lockdown, an internet‐based adaption of a nurse‐led cognitive behavioural group therapy (CGBT) was provided for perpetrators of domestic violence. The aim of this study was to describe the development of the therapy, examine the initial feasibility and impact on patient satisfaction of the programme and evaluate the associated patient‐reported experiences.

Design

Programme development as well as testing its feasibility and acceptability using cross‐sectional survey data.

Methods

Anonymous data were collected at a university hospital in Norway between October and December 2021. Feasibility was examined by comparing the numbers of patients who agreed to participate, chose not to participate or dropped out during the intervention. There was a self‐reporting scale that evaluated patient satisfaction, and the participants were invited to make suggestions for improvement of the intervention. The results of the study are reported in accordance with the STROBE checklist.

Results

The videoconference‐delivered CGBT was feasible. Two of the 67 patients refused to attend therapy delivered in a remote manner (3.0%), and four patients (6.0%) were classified as non‐completers. Overall, patients were satisfied with the therapy.

Conclusions

This study described a promising nurse‐led internet‐based intervention for individuals who were domestically violent and had voluntarily sought healthcare help. The participants' satisfaction with the intervention indicates its acceptability and feasibility. However, research on internet‐based cognitive behaviour therapy is still in its infancy. These results may guide the future development of internet‐based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for individuals who perpetrate domestic violence. Further research is needed on the pros and cons of this mode of service delivery.

Impact

This study addressed the challenges of providing treatment for domestic violence during the COVID‐19 pandemic by examining videoconference‐delivered CBT for individuals who perpetrate domestic violence.
The practices of nurses about palliative sedation on palliative care wards: A qualitative study
Authors: Heino Linda , Stolt Minna , Haavisto Elina
Published: July 2022

Aim

To describe the practices of nurses concerning palliative sedation in palliative care wards in hospitals.

Design

Qualitative descriptive design.

Methods

A total of 27 nurses were interviewed in six focus groups and one pair interview; the nurses worked on four palliative care wards in three Finnish hospitals and the interviews took place between May and November 2019. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis. The COREQ checklist was used as a guide for reporting this study.

Findings

Three main categories describing nurses' practices concerning palliative sedation were identified: participation in palliative sedation decision‐making, sedation implementation and monitoring and information sharing and compassionate care for the patient and relatives.

Conclusions

Nurses play a key role throughout palliative sedation on palliative care wards in hospitals. To develop the quality of care, it is recommended to specify the role of nurses in palliative sedation, increase cooperation between nurses and physicians, and enhance palliative sedation education for nurses.
Phospholipase D1 promotes cervical cancer progression by activating the RAS pathway
Authors: Song Meiying , Meng Qianlong , Jiang Xuan , Liu Jun , Xiao Meizhu , Zhang Zhenyu , Wang Jing , Bai Huimin
Published: July 2022

This study aimed to further investigate the effect of PLD1 on the biological characteristics of human cervical cancer (CC) cell line, CASKI and the potential related molecular mechanism. CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology was used to knock out the PLD1 gene in CASKI cells. Cell function assays were performed to evaluate the effect of PLD1 on the biological function of CASKI cells in vivo and in vitro. A PLD1‐overexpression rescue experiment in these knockout cells was performed to further confirm its function. Two PLD1‐knockout CASKI cell lines (named PC‐11 and PC‐40, which carried the ins1/del4 mutation and del1/del2/ins1 mutation, respectively), were constructed by CRISPR/Cas9. PLD1 was overexpressed in these knockout cells (named PC11‐PLD1 and PC40‐PLD1 cells), which rescued the expression of PLD1 by approximately 71.33% and 74.54%, respectively. In vivo, the cell function assay results revealed that compared with wild‐type (WT)‐CASKI cells, the ability of PC‐11 and PC‐40 cells to proliferate, invade and migrate was significantly inhibited. The expression of H‐Ras and phosphorylation of Erk1/2 (p‐Erk1/2) was decreased in PC‐11 and PC‐40 cells compared with WT‐CASKI cells. PC‐11 and PC‐40 cells could sensitize CASKI cells to cisplatin. More importantly, the proliferation, migration and invasion of PC11‐PLD1 and PC40‐PLD1 cells with PLD1 overexpression were significantly improved compared with those of the two types of PLD1 knockout cells. The sensitivity to cisplatin was decreased in PC11‐PLD1 and PC40‐PLD1 cells compared with PC‐11 and PC‐40 cells. In vivo, in the PC‐11 and PC‐40 tumour groups, tumour growth was significantly inhibited and tumour weight (0.95 ± 0.27 g and 0.66 ± 0.43 g vs. 1.59 ± 0.67 g, p = 0.0313 and 0.0108) and volume (1069.41 ± 393.84 and 1077.72 mm3 ± 815.07 vs. 2142.94 ± 577.37 mm3, p = 0.0153 and 0.0128) were significantly reduced compared to those in the WT‐CASKI group. Tumour differentiation of the PC‐11 and PC40 cells was significantly better than that of the WT‐CASKI cells. The immunohistochemistry results confirmed that the expression of H‐Ras and p‐Erk1/2 was decreased in PC‐11 and PC‐40 tumour tissues compared with WT‐CASKI tumour tissues. PLD1 promotes CC progression by activating the RAS pathway. Inhibition of PLD1 may serve as an attractive therapeutic modality for CC.
ANKRD49 promotes the invasion and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma via a P38/ATF‐2 signalling pathway
Authors: Liu Yue‐hua , Yuan Meng , Xu Bai‐xue , Gao Rui , You Yu‐jie , Wang Zhi‐xin , Zhang Yong‐cai , Guo Min , Chen Zhao‐yang , Yu Bao‐feng , Wang Qi‐Wei , Wang Hai‐long , Pang Min
Published: July 2022

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most challenging neoplasm to treat in clinical practice. Ankyrin repeat domain 49 protein (ANKRD49) is highly expressed in several carcinomas; however, its pattern of expression and role in LUAD are not known. Tissue microarrays, immunohistochemistry, χ2 test, Spearman correlation analysis, Kaplan–Meier, log‐rank test, and Cox's proportional hazard model were used to analyse the clinical cases. The effect of ANKRD49 on the LUAD was investigated using CCK‐8, clonal formation, would healing, transwell assays, and nude mice experiment. Expressions of ANKRD49 and its associated downstream protein molecules were verified by real‐time PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and/or immunofluorescence analyses. ANKRD49 expression was highly elevated in LUAD. The survival rate and Cox's modelling analysis indicated that there may be an independent prognostic indicator for LUAD patients. We also found that ANKRD49 promoted the invasion and migration in both in in vitro and in vivo assays, through upregulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and MMP‐9 activities via the P38/ATF‐2 signalling pathway Our findings suggest that ANKRD49 is a latent biomarker for evaluating LUAD prognosis and promotes the metastasis of A549 cells via upregulation of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 in a P38/ATF‐2 pathway‐dependent manner.
Somatostatin interneurons inhibit excitatory transmission mediated by astrocytic GABAB and presynaptic GABAB and adenosine A1 receptors in the hippocampus
Authors: Shen Weida , Li Zijing , Tang Yejiao , Han Pufan , Zhu Feng , Dong Jingyin , Ma Tianyu , Zhao Kai , Zhang Xin , Xie Yicheng , Zeng Ling‐Hui
Published: July 2022

GABAergic network activity has been established to be involved in numerous physiological processes and pathological conditions. Extensive studies have corroborated that GABAergic network activity regulates excitatory synaptic networks by activating presynaptic GABAB receptors (GABABRs). It is well documented that astrocytes express GABABRs and respond to GABAergic network activity. However, little is known about whether astrocytic GABABRs regulate excitatory synaptic transmission mediated by GABAergic network activity. To address this issue, we combined whole‐cell recordings, optogenetics, calcium imaging, and pharmacological approaches to specifically activate hippocampal somatostatin‐expressing interneurons (SOM‐INs), a type of interneuron that targets pyramidal cell dendrites, while monitoring excitatory synaptic transmission in CA1 pyramidal cells. We found that optogenetic stimulation of SOM‐INs increases astrocyte Ca2+ signaling via the activation of astrocytic GABABRs and GAT‐3. SOM‐INs depress excitatory neurotransmission by activating presynaptic GABABRs and astrocytic GABABRs, the latter inducing the release of ATP/adenosine. In turn, adenosine inhibits excitatory synaptic transmission by activating presynaptic adenosine A1 receptors (A1Rs). Overall, our results reveal a novel mechanism that SOM‐INs activation‐induced synaptic depression is partially mediated by the activation of astrocytic GABABRs.

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Crisis of capitalism and cycles of right‐wing populism in contemporary Turkey: The making and unmaking of Erdoğanist hegemony
Authors: Karataşlı Şahan Savaş , Kumral Şefika
Published: July 2022

This paper analyses the right‐wing populist rule of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan'sAdalet ve Kalkınma Partisi(AKP) in Turkey, focusing on the crisis of capitalism, emerging discontent in the rural populations, and opportunities for and obstacles to a successful left‐wing populist mobilisation. We put forward three arguments. First, through an examination of the historical evolution, class‐based and social‐demographic foundations of the ruling right‐wing populist alliance between the AKP and theMilliyetçi Hareket Partisi(MHP), we argue that the MHP is a more classical case of far‐right populism, whereas the AKP is a “heterodox” case that borrows several elements from the left. These “heterodox” features of the AKP, together with the interlinked crisis of the 1990s, played a significant part in the support the AKP received from the subordinate majority. Second, we argue that the success of the AKP's hegemonic right‐wing populism from 2002 to 2013 was linked to an unusually favourable macro‐political‐economic climate that helped the AKP counterbalance its neoliberal policies with pragmatic social assistance programmes. However, together with the disappearance of this macro‐political‐economic climate in the second decade of its rule (2013‐present), the disastrous consequences of the AKP's neoliberal policies became more explicit, and the AKP's populism moved from a hegemonic to an authoritarian right‐wing populist type. Third, we claim that today, due to the deepening of the current economic crisis (further exacerbated by the Covid19 pandemic), the AKP's cross‐class alliance began to break down, and the rural movements in the Turkish countryside have been playing a major role in unmaking the AKP's hegemony. However, in the absence of a strong left‐wing populist movement with a stronghold in the Turkish countryside, emergent possibilities for a radical progressive transformation are not utilised. Instead, the groundwork is being laid for another wave of right‐wing populism.