bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Trials as Part of Transitional Justice Challenge the Stigma Related to Being Targeted by Serious Human Rights Violations?
Authors: Sønneland Anne Margrethe
Published: September 2024

There is often stigma attached to being the victim of state violence, as being targeted by state violence is often seen as proof that a person is guilty. This article discusses whether trials as part of transitional justice can challenge such stigma. Trials can provide a legal truth, through identifying what has happened, who the perpetrators are, and who the victim is. Trials and court hearings are an expression of what societies accept, and when a perpetrator is sentenced it is an expression of solidarity with the victim. The article compares how persons targeted by state violence by former regimes in Argentina and Peru describe and perceive of such stigma, how stigma has changed over time and with contemporary trials. There are important differences between the countries regarding the violent history, the groups targeted by state violence, and the ongoing trials, also regarding the outcome of the trials.
Digitalized Electoral Democracy, Subversive Politics, and Islam
Authors: Bah Abu Bakarr , Arif Sirojuddin
Published: September 2024

Increasingly democracy is becoming digitalized through the use of information technologies in the conduct of elections and political campaigns. At the same time, politics is becoming more contentious, and even subversive, as democracy fuses with divisive social issues and identity politics. This article examines the issue of subversive politics in a variety of democracy settings. As the authors show, subversive politics is an issue that is affecting emerging and established democracies. Yet, the effect can be more severe in the former as democratic institutions are still developing. Notably, Muslim-majority countries face major challenges in making democracy work due to subversive politics and the political and ideological conflicts between different Muslim groups. As such, the article niches on the intersection of (digitalized) electoral democracy with subversive politics with a special focus on Indonesia as a Muslim-majority democracy. The authors argue that Indonesia stands as an in-between case in the continuum of subversive politics. They show this by explaining how democracy failed in some Muslim countries, became threatened in consolidated democracies, and survives in Indonesia. The combination of institutional quality and relative independence of religious organizations in politics has been crucial for the way Indonesia deals with subversive politics.
Key Factors for a Successful Technology Transfer Process of Digital Innovation Assets
Authors: de Assunção Breno Silva Beda , Dias Cleidson Nogueira , Dechandt Siegrid Guillaumon
Published: September 2024

Technology Transfer (TT) process is complex and influenced by numerous factors. Associated with this context, the recent and growing Digital Transformation has impacted practically all sectors, through disruptive technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G and 6G networks, Industry 4.0, Digital Agriculture, and Artificial Intelligence, among others. Thus, the present study intends to investigate the characteristics of TT processes involving digital solutions generated by Public Research Institutes, seeking to identify the factors that interfere in this process. A literature review was carried out regarding the factors that influence a TT process focused on digital technologies produced by Public Research Institutes, followed by the systematization of the findings and the proposition of a theoretical model. Thus, this study seeks to contribute to the understanding of the critical factors for the TT processes associated with digital innovation.
The Manichaean Story of Adam and Eve
Authors: Dilley Paul C.
Published: September 2024

According to Mani in his Epistula Fundamenti, many stories have been told about Adam and Eve, but only his version is correct and leads to salvation. This article first explores various Jewish and Christian narratives and ideas about the first humans with which Mani likely engaged. It then shows how he radicalized Gnostic accounts to proclaim the fundamental role of violent, demonic sexuality in the creation of Adam and Eve, as a counter-strategy to prevent the release of trapped light, in support of his strongly anti-reproductive ethic. Finally, it analyzes Mani’s story of the first human generations as an implicit critique of Zoroastrian anthropogonic narratives which provided an etiology for next-of-kin marriage. Mani’s dialogue with these different traditions situates him at the Roman-Sasanian frontier, engaging with Jewish and Christian teachings, as well as Iranian ones, and resisting simplistic genealogies, whether heresiological or scholarly. Indeed, Mani functions as an interpreter (hermeneutes) between Mediterranean and Iranian cultures: Manichaean doctrine and practice do not represent a final flowering of Gnosticism, nor a fundamentally Iranian system, but a new movement that weaves Christian, Gnostic, Zoroastrian, and other traditions in complex and unexpected ways, combining his foundational critique of sexual reproduction with a hopeful call for struggle against the darkness.
The South Korean Conscientious Objection Movement: Lessons in Nonviolence
Authors: Choi Jungmin
Published: September 2024

There have been many studies on the principles and methods of nonviolent movements, especially in the West, but this area has received little attention in South Korea, which has a rich history of nonviolent movements. Since the recent South Korean conscientious objection movement has achieved significant results in introducing alternative service in a highly militarised society, I decided to conduct a study to apply the advice of Western research to the movement. The nonviolent principles, methods of organisation and strategies proposed by Western researchers have largely been applied to the South Korean movement. However, there were also differences in organisational methods and strategies. Recent Western organising conventions of mass mobilisation rather than structure-based organising were largely unavailable to the South Korean conscientious objection movement due to the radical nature of the issue. The nonviolent winning strategy of disruption-sacrifice-escalation was also not possible in the South Korean movement, which went for disruption-sacrifice-continuation, but escalation.
How Negative Media Framing of Anti-Status Quo Protests Acts as a Social Control Mechanism: A Socio-Psychological Perspective on Protest Paradigm Framework
Authors: Vlazakis Alexandros
Published: September 2024

The present article presents a new perspective of interpreting the protest paradigm framework from Media/Communication Studies and its effects on audiences, through the socio-psychological theory of Minority Influence. Existing literature on protest paradigm, how it affects the audience’s perceptions on protest support and mobilization as well as the pathway through which it acts as an ideological mechanism of blocking social change are examined. The theory of Minority Influence is also reviewed with focus on the definition of minorities as non-privileged groups, carriers of innovation, which challenge the existing social arrangements and try to mobilize the audience towards them. A new pathway of examining protest paradigm as a social control mechanism of blocking minorities’ influence is proposed. The applications of this framework and the insights into the ideological function of system justification of the protest paradigm, through discouraging citizens’ support and mobilization towards unconventional forms of political participation are further discussed.
Judicial Remedies for Climate Change in Domestic Courts
Authors: D’Alessandro Elena
Published: September 2024

The essay explores the systematisation of climate change litigation within civil law jurisdictions, with a particular focus on the role of civil courts in securing new rights for future generations. It argues that climate litigation is not an isolated issue, demonstrating how civil courts continually influence legal developments. Through an analysis of the global prevalence of climate litigation, the essay emphasises the evolving contribution of courts to legal frameworks concerning environmental protection and the welfare of future generations. In its second part, the paper further examines the concept of vertical climate litigation and its potential long-term effects. It assesses whether vertical climate litigation operates as a temporary measure, especially within Europe, possibly concluding by 2050 in line with the EU’s pursuit of climate neutrality, or if it can function as a lasting supranational or EU enforcement tool to oversee the implementation of States’ climate policies.
The Dutch Preliminary Ruling Procedure in the Light of the European Directive on Representative Actions
Authors: Castermans Alex Geert , Krans Bart , Ploum Marije
Published: September 2024

Dutch civil law allows courts of first and second instance to refer preliminary questions to the Supreme Court. In mass claim disputes there may be a concurrence between the safeguards of the preliminary ruling procedure and the protection provided by Directive 2020/1828 on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers. This working paper addresses several issues regarding this concurrence. These include legal certainty, the influence of non-parties, the costs and the duration. The authors come to the conclusion that the preliminary ruling procedure can be very useful in mass claim disputes, albeit that both the lower courts and the Supreme Court need to align their practice more closely with the safeguards of the Directive on a number of points. These findings may be relevant for other European jurisdictions that recently introduced a preliminary ruling procedure, or that are about to insert a preliminary ruling procedure in their civil procedural law system.
The Court of Justice of the European Union and the Rule of Law
Authors: Requejo Isidro Marta
Published: September 2024

This paper addresses selected aspects of the procedure before the European Court of Justice which have contested from the perspective of the rule of law. It further explains recent initiatives on the side of the Court to improve compliance with it.
Climate Litigation and Citizen Suits in the EU
Authors: Ghinelli Gianni
Published: September 2024

According to the ipcc, climate change causes mass harm and threatens human rights with exponential risks for future generations. The features of climate change impacts and the emerging need for access to ‘climate justice’ clash against procedural rules that imply the protection of individual rights. Despite the appearances, though, climate litigation is not incompatible with the separation of powers principle. This article argues that the EU should promote a harmonized procedural device to protect human rights, the climate and the environment. The eli-Unidroit Rules on collective proceedings, the iba Model Statute’s proposals on ‘citizen suits’, and the existing European legal framework, including the recent ruling of the echr on the Klimaseniorinnen case, constitute important points of reference to work on such a reform.
Satellite Political Movements: How Grassroots Activists Bolster Trump and Bolsonaro in the United States and Brazil
Authors: McKenna Elizabeth , O’Donnell Catharina
Published: September 2024

We develop the concept of the satellite political movement (SPM), a form of movement-party interaction that emerges in support of a particular political leader. We theorize SPMs as grassroots movements that seek to empower a formal political figure by engaging in activism on that individual’s behalf. Examining the cases of Donald Trump in the United States and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, we suggest that SPMs may serve as a valuable resource for insurgent political leaders by engaging in year-round campaigning, activating new supporters, and providing political cover for more controversial tactics. We analyze social media content, legal documents, and contemporaneous reporting to illustrate the actors within SPMs, their relationships to the formal political leader they support, and three theoretical mechanisms through which SPMs may bolster political leaders: permanent campaign, radicalism by proxy, and strategic separation.
Reiterated Fact-Making: Explaining Transformation and Continuity in Scientific Facts
Authors: Navon Daniel
Published: September 2024

Scientific facts are an essential element of modern life. Yet, despite an abundance of illuminating work in science and technology studies (STS), we lack a rigorous sociological framework for explaining how scientific facts emerge, gain traction, and then change over time. This article fills that gap. Drawing on Fleck ([1935] 1981), Haydu (1998), and a wealth of STS scholarship, I develop a comparative-historical approach called “reiterated fact-making” that analyzes scientific facts according to (1) the prevailing conditions of possibility; (2) the networks of expertise, social mobilization, and power built up around them; and (3) the epistemic and material path dependencies that accrue over the course of their careers. To demonstrate the utility of this framework, I draw on a mixed-methods study and explain the uneven histories of three genetic variants (XYY, Fragile X, and the 22q11.2 microdeletion) that have been used to delineate and diagnose new medical conditions associated with neurodevelopmental differences for the past several decades—taking on very different scientific, clinical, and social meanings as facts in the process. Reiterated fact-making helps us combine comparative-historical sociology and STS to explain how scientific facts can combine deep continuity and radical transformation as they are enrolled in shifting fields of research and practice.
Firearm Homicide Mortality is Linked to Food Insecurity in Major US Metropolitan Cities
Authors: Ghio Michael , Ali Ayman , Simpson John Tyler , Campbell Alexandra , Duchesne Juan , Tatum Danielle , Chaparro M. Pia , Constans Joseph , Fleckman Julia , Theall Katherine , Taghavi Sharven
Published: September 2024

Background

Gun violence disproportionately affects metropolitan areas of the United States (US). There is limited information regarding the influence of social determinants of health, such as food insecurity (FI) on firearm homicide mortality (FHM) in major metropolitan cities in the US. We sought to examine the relationship between FI and FHM.

Materials and Methods

This was a cross-sectional analysis examining the largest 51 US major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) using data from 2018. Demographic data, markers of social inequities, and firearm homicide data were obtained from the US Census Bureau, US Department of Education, and the Frey and Brookings Institute. Food insecurity prevalence was obtained from Feeding America. Spearman ρ and linear regression were performed.

Results

Using Spearman rho analysis, higher FI (r = 0.55, P < 0.001) was associated with FHM. Other variables associated with FHM included percent Black/African American (AA) (r = 0.77, P < 0.001), poverty rate (r = 0.53, P < 0.001), and percent of children living in single parent households (r = 0.58, P < 0.001). In linear regression analyses, FI was associated with increased FHM, with 1.3 additional FHM events for each unit increase in FI (β = 1.33, 95% CI 0.27-2.39, P = 0.02). The percent of a population that is Black/AA was also associated with FHM, with more than 4 additional cases for each 1% increase in the population (β = 4.32, 95% CI 3.26-5.38, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Food insecurity may influence FHM in major US metropolitan cities. Community- and hospital-based programs that target FI may help combat the gun violence epidemic and decrease gun violence.
Establishment of Mouse Models of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Cui Yongpan , Tan Chengpeng , Zhang Wuming , Jiang Peng , Sun Jianfeng , Mei Fei
Published: September 2024

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a chronic vascular disease that commonly affects elderly individuals but has recently increased in younger populations. As the aneurysm grows, it can cause compression symptoms such as abdominal pain, rupture, and bleeding, which are absent in the early stages. Once an AAA ruptures and causes bleeding, the mortality rate is alarmingly high. Currently, the pathogenesis for AAA is unknown, and therapeutic options are limited, necessitating improvement in treatment efficacy. An essential research method for studying the processes and potential treatment of AAA is establishing animal models using mice. The present study provides a detailed overview of the widely used AAA mouse animal models and their construction strategies, advantages, disadvantages, scope of applications, and prospects.
Is Technology Uniquely Placed to Solve Our Problems? An Examination Into Technosolutionism, What It Entails and What It Predicts
Authors: Nagpal Mahak , De Cremer David , Van Hiel Alain
Published: September 2024

Technology plays an important role in business and society. This has resulted in the belief that technology is in a unique position to solve organizational and societal problems. However, technology is not regarded as equally impactful by all. To explore these differences, we designed a technosolutionism scale to measure the extent to which individuals deem technological solutions to be better-suited to address organizational and societal problems. In Studies 1a and 1b, exploratory and confirmatory analyses indicated two reliable factors: (1) near-term and (2) long-term focused technosolutionism. Study 2 confirmed the scale’s convergent and discriminant validity. Next, we tested the predictive validity of the technosolutionism scale. We argue that a propensity to consider intelligent technologies as being able to provide solutions should also predict preferences in areas where technological solutions are being considered in response to organizational issues. Studies 3 and 4 demonstrate that the technosolutionism scale relates to preferences for a robot over a human in job replacement decisions and preferences for artificial intelligence managers over human managers in managerial decision-making tasks, respectively. This is an important finding as current research indicates that people are generally against being replaced or being managed by intelligent technologies, whereas our findings indicate that this preference flips when it comes to those with a higher propensity for technosolutionism. Our technosolutionism scale can be used to gauge the extent to which individuals believe that technology is uniquely placed to solve problems, such that they opt for intelligent technological solutions over and above other (human) solutions.
Who Wants to be Legible? Digitalization and Intergroup Inequality in Kenya
Authors: Garbe Lisa , McMurry Nina , Scacco Alexandra , Zhang Kelly
Published: September 2024

Governments across the Global South have begun introducing biometric IDs (eIDs) in an attempt to improve citizen-state legibility. While such initiatives can improve government efficiency, they also raise important questions about citizen privacy, especially for groups with a history of mistrust in the state. If concerns about increased legibility produce differential uptake or changes in political behavior, eID initiatives may exacerbate societal inequalities. In a conjoint experiment with 2,072 respondents from four Kenyan regions, we examine how perceptions of and willingness to register for eID under different policy conditions vary across politically dominant, opposition, and “securitized” (heavily policed) ethnic groups. We find meaningful group-level variation in support for specific policy features, and suggestive evidence that policies facilitating surveillance may discourage opposition political participation. Our most surprising finding, however, is that there is such broad support for expanded legibility. The promise of access to government services appears to outweigh other considerations.
Multigenerational Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Families’ Perspectives on Health and Well-Being
Authors: Park Sooyoun , Waters Sara F. , Barrow Natasha , Richardson Meenakshi , Eti Deborah , Linares Adriana , Seia Joseph , Rodela Keara , Yen Nguyen-Truong Connie Kim
Published: September 2024

Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) are peoples diverse in culture and history who are too often represented as a monolithic entity, a tendency that undermines efforts to ameliorate health inequities. The current study represents a partnership between academic researchers and a community organization serving NHPIs, in which space was held for five multigenerational NHPI families ( N = 15 family members) to share their experiences with educational and healthcare systems, including issues of discrimination and barriers to accessing services. Qualitative analysis of the interviews identified four themes: Cultural Values and Strengths; Mental Health—Past, Present, and Future Directions; Systemic Racism and Discrimination; and Need for Culturally Informed and Linguistically Accessible Healthcare. These results, including the importance of family systems within NHPI cultures, positive intergenerational shifts in mental health, and the pervasive impacts of colonization on health, are discussed in terms of implications for the health of NHPI communities.
An Integrated Test of Power-Control Theory by Delinquency Types: Assessing Additional Factors Predicting Adolescents’ Risk-taking Preferences
Authors: Jung Sohee , Boehme Hunter M. , Kaminski Robert J.
Published: September 2024

Prior tests of power-control theory (“PCT”) have primarily utilized the U.S. or Canadian samples, lacked integration with other theoretical frameworks, and overlooked diverse offense types. This study aims to address these limitations by testing PCT while considering various criminogenic factors and assessing its relative significance across status, property, and violent offenses using an international sample. Structural equation modeling analysis reveals support for PCT’s core assumption that the gender effect on offending, wherein boys are more likely to commit offenses than girls, is less pronounced in egalitarian families than patriarchal families, particularly in status and violent offenses, but not in property offenses. However, other PCT assumptions were partially supported or not supported. We discuss implications for policy, theory, and future research.
Criminal Histories, Risk Profiles, and Predictors of Recidivism Among Men Who Sexually Offend Over the Age of 60 Years
Authors: Sandler Jeffrey C. , Freeman Naomi J.
Published: September 2024

Research has consistently found sexual recidivism risk drops as men convicted of sexual offenses age, but little research exists on those few men who do sexually offend when older. The current study examined the criminal histories, risk profiles, and predictors of sexual recidivism in a large sample of men who sexually offended over the age of 60 years. Analyses showed low levels of sexual offending under the age of 60 years prior to the commission of a sexual offense over the age of 60 years, with only 27% of the sample having sexually offended under 60 years. Examination of the risk profiles of the sample evidenced high levels of possible deviant sexual attraction and sexual cognitive distortions, which restricted the range on these variables, and limited their ability to predict sexual recidivism. Instead, nonsexual risk factors and protective factors appeared better predictors of sexual recidivism for men who have sexually offended over the age of 60 years.
Men’s experiences of HeadsUpGuys: A strength-based case study
Authors: Ogrodniczuk John S , Beharry Joshua , Storey Quinn K , Oliffe John L
Published: September 2024

Objective:

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death of men. This article reports on men’s experiences of using an e-mental health resource, HeadsUpGuys, which was designed to support men’s management and recovery from depression and suicidality.

Design:

Survey methodology was used to report men’s experiences of using the website. Constructs of interest included mental health literacy, stigma, attitudes, taking action, help-seeking and satisfaction with the resource. Survey items were developed specifically for the study.

Setting:

The survey was conducted online.

Methods:

Participants were recruited via the HeadsUpGuys website ( headsupguys.org ) and invited to participate in the survey if they were (a) male, (b) visiting the site for help with their own health, (c) 18 years of age or older and (d) able to read English.

Results:

A total of 443 men participated in the study. A high proportion indicated that visiting HeadsUpGuys helped improve their knowledge of suicidality among men and better recognise symptoms of male depression. The majority reported a reduction in their stigmatising beliefs about depression and suicidality among men. An increased sense of hope for recovery was reported by many participants. The majority of men also reported feeling inspired to take action towards recovery and having a better understanding of the steps they needed to take. Furthermore, a high proportion indicated they were more likely to seek help from both peers and professionals after visiting the site. Most men reported being satisfied with the HeadsUpGuys resource and would recommend it to others.

Conclusion:

A tailored mental health resource for men has the capacity to facilitate important shifts in constructs that play a critical role in shaping help-seeking behaviours among men. Considering the dearth of free public health resources to support men’s mental health, the HeadsUpGuys programme not only helps to fill this gap, but also provides an example of effective engagement of men to guide the development of other tailored programmes.
Language, identity and geography: State reorganisation and the emergence of Himachal Pradesh
Authors: Snehi Yogesh
Published: September 2024

Region formation in India has until now been understood through homogenising models of state formation. The reorganisation of various Indian states and the emergence of newer regions in the post-independence scenario have generally been seen through asserting regional aspirations and/or the question of language. The formation of Himachal Pradesh, however, presents a complex story. Markers of homogenous identity and language were missing in Himachal Pradesh. Further, despite apprehensions about the Akali demand for a Punjabi Suba, the central government systematically encouraged the formation of Himachal Pradesh as a separate hill state. In 1966, the hilly areas of Punjab and the Part-C state of Himachal were joined and reconstituted as Himachal Pradesh, though formal statehood continued to elude the region until 1971. Despite a complicated distribution of languages, Hindi was declared the state language of the new region. Territoriality, in this case, emerged as a result of region formation that was not shaped solely by linguistic or cultural considerations but by the imagination of geography and marginality. The process of region formation also centres various debates on development in the region, which remained a neglected periphery of the Punjab plains. This paper shall explore these varying intriguing processes of region formation in Himachal Pradesh.
Does Foreign Aid Affect the Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan African Countries?
Authors: Legass Habtamu Alebachew , Akkas Erhan
Published: September 2024

This study investigates the relationship between foreign aid and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa using a panel ARDL model. Data from 15 selected countries over 20 years (2002–2021) were analyzed. Findings show that institutional quality and unemployment rate are significant in the short-run (mean group (MG) estimation). In the long-run (dynamic fixed effects (DFE) model), variables such as trade openness, exchange rate, population growth, unemployment rate, institutional quality, consumption expenditure, official development assistance, and aid square significantly affect economic growth. Recommendations include strengthening institutions, promoting trade openness, addressing unemployment through skill development, maintaining price stability, and improving development assistance transparency.
Computational Methods for Image Analysis in Craniofacial Development and Disease
Authors: James E. , Caetano A.J. , Sharpe P.T.
Published: September 2024

Observation is at the center of all biological sciences. Advances in imaging technologies are therefore essential to derive novel biological insights to better understand the complex workings of living systems. Recent high-throughput sequencing and imaging techniques are allowing researchers to simultaneously address complex molecular variations spatially and temporarily in tissues and organs. The availability of increasingly large dataset sizes has allowed for the evolution of robust deep learning models, designed to interrogate biomedical imaging data. These models are emerging as transformative tools in diagnostic medicine. Combined, these advances allow for dynamic, quantitative, and predictive observations of entire organisms and tissues. Here, we address 3 main tasks of bioimage analysis, image restoration, segmentation, and tracking and discuss new computational tools allowing for 3-dimensional spatial genomics maps. Finally, we demonstrate how these advances have been applied in studies of craniofacial development and oral disease pathogenesis.
Unveiling the Neurodegenerative Alterations through Oral Stem Cells
Authors: Tatullo M. , Cocco T. , Ferretta A. , Caroppo R. , Marrelli B. , Spagnuolo G. , Paduano F.
Published: September 2024

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by the progressive and selective loss of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons in the midbrain. The replacement of neuromelanin (NM)–containing DAergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the enhancement of NM concentration could offer a promising and safe approach to treating PD symptoms. The objective of this study was to investigate and compare the potential of human periapical-cysts mesenchymal stem cells (hPCy-MSCs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) to differentiate into DAergic NM-producing neurons and to generate functional 3-dimensional (3D) midbrain-like organoids in vitro. We assessed the changes in morphology and behavior of neuron-like cells (NLCs) as well as the expression of molecular markers characterizing the DAergic neurons. Furthermore, we observed electrically active and functionally mature DAergic neurons by means of electrophysiological assays, NM dosage assays, and the quantification of dopamine release by high-performance liquid chromatography. Our results demonstrate for the first time that both hPCy-MSCs and DPSCs are capable of differentiating into NLCs, further confirmed by the increase in lactate levels in the medium of cells exposed to neurogenic conditions. Importantly, we have induced such NLCs to further differentiate into functional DAergic NM-producing neurons. Finally, 3D midbrain-like organoids have been produced from oral stem cells: they appear as neurosphere-like structures diffusely expressing the neural marker β-III tubulin and containing NM-like granules. Our findings open up a novel and fascinating opportunity to rethink oral stem cells, and the derived 3D disease models, as a strategic and reliable tool for unveiling the neurodegenerative alterations.
Mechanics- and Behavior-Related Temporomandibular Joint Differences
Authors: Nickel J.C. , Gonzalez Y.M. , Liu Y. , Liu H. , Gallo L.M. , Iwasaki L.R.
Published: September 2024

Fatigue of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) tissues reflects the effects of magnitude (energy density; ED) and frequency of loading (jaw muscle duty factor; DF). This observational study measured these variables and tested for differences in mechanobehavior scores (MBS = ED2 × DF) and component variables in subjects with and without TMJ disc displacement (±D). In accordance with Institutional Review Board and STROBE guidelines, written informed consent was obtained, and examination and imaging protocols identified eligible adult subjects. Specifically, magnetic resonance imaging was used to assign subjects’ TMJs to ±D groups. Subjects were trained to record in-field jaw muscle activities, from which DFs (percentage of recording time) were determined. EDs (mJ/mm3) were estimated using modeled TMJ loads and in vivo dynamic stereometry. Multivariate analysis of variance, post hoc independent t tests, and K-means cluster analysis identified significant group differences ( P < 0.05). Of 242 individuals screened, 65 females (TMJs: 78 +D, 52 −D) and 53 males (TMJs: 39 +D, 67 −D) participated. Subjects produced 312 daytime and 319 nighttime recordings of average duration 6.0 ± 0.2 h and 7.6 ± 0.1 h, respectively, and 219 (114 right, 105 left) intact dynamic stereometry recordings. Average EDs were 2-fold and significantly larger in +D than −D TMJs ( P < 0.0001). DFs were on average 3-fold larger during the daytime versus nighttime for both masseter and temporalis muscles and 1.8- and 3.0-fold larger for the masseter versus temporalis muscle during the daytime and nighttime, respectively. Daytime masseter MBSs for +D TMJs in females were the largest overall at 621 ± 212 (mJ/mm3)2% and 2- to 43-fold larger versus −D TMJs in both sexes during daytime and nighttime. Cluster analysis ( P < 0.0001) identified groups 2 and 3, which comprised 87% +D TMJs and had average MBSs 21-fold larger than group 1. The results show MBS as a potential biomarker to predict homeostasis versus progression or reversal of degenerative TMJ structural changes.
The Role of Addiction Treatment in Building Recovery Capital: Findings From 2022 Life in Recovery Survey in Flanders, Belgium
Authors: De Meyer Florian , De Ruysscher Clara , Roets Griet , Vanderplasschen Wouter
Published: September 2024

Introduction: This paper examines life experiences before and during addiction recovery in a large sample of treated and untreated persons in Flanders (Belgium). Methods: A total of 343 participants in recovery from alcohol and/or illicit drug problems (≥3 months) completed the 2022 ‘Life in Recovery’ survey online. Participants were categorized into four groups based on their engagement with treatment services: (1) unassisted recovery, (2) mutual aid support only, (3) formal treatment only, and (4) formal treatment and mutual aid support. The questionnaire was supplemented with open-ended questions about facilitators and barriers to recovery. Findings: Group comparisons revealed significant differences in the severity of dependence and living conditions (recovery strengths and barriers, SABRS) during addiction between those in recovery without treatment and the treatment groups. However, similarities in strengths, barriers, and quality of life during recovery were observed across all groups. Differences in barriers during recovery were attributed to variations in initial conditions rather than treatment engagement. The complementary qualitative analysis revealed that the four clusters experienced similar factors as facilitating and hindering recovery. Discussion: These findings suggest that while various pathways can lead to recovery, those involving formal treatment and mutual aid support may be particularly valuable for individuals facing greater initial barriers and fewer strengths during addiction, highlighting treatment as an important but not universally necessary source of recovery capital.
Identifying Dual Sensory Loss Among Students With Extensive Support Needs
Authors: Karvonen Meagan , Erickson Karen A. , Durando Julie A. , Beitling Brianna , Morgan Samuel L. , Kavitsky Elizabeth
Published: September 2024

Very little is known about how unidentified dual sensory loss (DSL) may affect education and academic outcomes for students with extensive support needs (ESN). We used data from a teacher survey on over 100,000 students with ESN who take statewide alternate assessments to identify the number of students with known and suspected DSL and the differences in characteristics between those groups. Students with ESN and suspected DSL ( N = 870) struggled to access the general education curriculum more than their peers with ESN and known DSL ( N = 649) and had fewer academic skills than their peers. We conclude with implications for practice and future research.
Suicidal Ideation Among Older Adults in Prison: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Avieli Hila
Published: September 2024

Suicide is a serious public health concern, and people who are incarcerated represent a particularly high-risk group. Although research on the suicidality of persons in prison has gained interest in recent decades, the issue of suicide among older adults in prison has been understudied. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the ways in which older adults in prison understood their experiences of suicidal ideation. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was utilized to analyze interviews with 16 incarcerated older adults. The analysis of the findings revealed four themes: (1) Suicide intentions as a control strategy; (2) Suicide intentions as an act of resistance; (3) Suicide intentions as a means of self-redemption, and (4) Suicide intentions in the absence of other choices. Guided by the life course perspective, the findings suggest that suicidal ideation serves as a means of expressing distinct emotional states that may be unique to older adults in carceral environments.
Prolonged Grief, Posttraumatic Stress and Depression Symptoms Before and After COVID-19 in Brazil
Authors: Abadi Alice Martins , Brunnet Alice Einloft , Bolaséll Laura Teixeira , Silva Natália Saldanha , Pinto Clara Machado , Maciel Giulia da Silva , Kristensen Christian Haag
Published: September 2024

This study aims to explore the differences in prolonged grief (PDG), posttraumatic stress (PTSD), and depression symptoms (MDD) following the loss of a loved one before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a cross-sectional design, 888 bereaved individuals were classified on different groups according to the cause of death. Results indicate that participants who experienced a loss during the pandemic, regardless of the cause, presented higher levels of prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress and depression when compared to those who lost a loved one before the pandemic. This study sheds light on the environmental influences (ex: the COVID-19 pandemic) on the grieving process, emphasizing the need to take the context into account when tailoring interventions in bereavement and mental health care.
Effects of Music on Repeated-Sprint Performance of Elite Tunisian Soccer Players: Comparing Morning to Afternoon Practice Sessions
Authors: Tounsi Mohamed , Aloui Asma , Messaoud Seif , Chtourou Hamdi , Trabelsi Yassine
Published: September 2024

Our aim in the present study was to examine the effect of listening to self-selected music during soccer warm-ups in morning and afternoon sessions on repeated-sprint performances of elite soccer players. Twenty elite academy male soccer players performed a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test in the morning (i.e., 07:00 hours) and in the afternoon (i.e., 17:00 hours), with or without listening to music during the warm-up period. The RSA test consisted of six 40-meter sprints with 180° direction changes interspersed with a 20-second passive recovery period. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were obtained at the end of the warm-up period and immediately after the RSA test. Results showed that listening to music during warming-up had no significant effect on these selected performance measures (i.e., mean sprint time, best sprint time, RSA decrement), regardless of whether performances were in the morning or the afternoon. Moreover, players reported higher post-warm-up RPE scores in the music listening condition than in the no-music listening condition, only in the afternoon session. Furthermore, RPE scores measured after the RSA test were higher in the no-music listening condition compared to the music listening condition, only in the morning session. Thus, the use of music during warming-up in elite soccer players appears to be an individual athlete’s choice but not a reliable means of enhancing performance.
Workplace Democracy as the Liberal Republican Default
Authors: Schemmel Christian
Published: September 2024

Liberal republican justice requires adequate, reasonably equal protection against domination while giving everybody a reasonably equal opportunity to live their lives as they see fit. This article investigates which central policy follows from it for workplace non-domination, under realistic assumptions about the nature of our working lives and some structural characteristics of advanced economies (especially the presence of large firms). It argues for a legal default of workplace democracy, understood as any arrangement that gives workers equal individual control rights over the management of their firm, and, as a body, more control rights than any other groups of enfranchised stakeholders, taken together. The argument has two steps. The first demonstrates where the most promising alternative liberal strategy – that of enhancing all individuals’ power to exit from their job through granting unconditional resources – fails. The second shows how this failure leads to the specific conception of default workplace democracy outlined.
The Electoral Consequences of Tax Increases: Are Parties Punished for Raising Taxes?
Authors: Donovan Todd , Bowler Shaun , Thrasher Michael , Borisyuk Galina , Brockington David
Published: September 2024

Do governments presiding over tax increases lose votes? One assumption is tax increases affect incumbent parties equally but we also expect asymmetric responses with differing penalties for left- and right-wing parties. Influential literature also assumes voters incapable of assigning responsibility to policymakers or holding them accountable. We find that tax increases are more costly to a left-of-centre party. Previous research assessing this is hampered by a lack of comparable cases; however, our tests are conducted with results from thousands of English local elections across decades. We find tax increases by labour-controlled councils corresponded with a significant vote swing against labour. There were no effects of rate increases on votes for conservative-controlled or Lib Dem-controlled councils. These results have implications for how democratic elections may produce responsive governments, and we discuss why there may be an asymmetry, where there is more electoral responsiveness to tax increases by governments of the left.
Mixed in a World of Truth and Lies: List Composition Moderates the Effects of a Lie Fabrication Manipulation on Memory and Metamemory
Authors: Ünal Belgin , Kaya Samet , Besken Miri
Published: September 2024

Research has shown that list composition moderates the effects of encoding manipulations on memory performance; differential memory performance is observed at distinct levels of the independent variable in mixed lists, but not in pure lists. The current study aims to investigate the effect of list composition on predicted and actual memory performance using a semantic lie fabrication manipulation. In Experiment 1, participants either told the truth or fabricated a lie in response to a set of general knowledge questions in a mixed-list design, made memory predictions for each response, and received a free recall test. Experiments 2A and 2B compared the effect of list composition by employing mixed and pure lists, respectively. The results showed that the lie fabrication led to a metacognitive illusion in mixed lists by inducing a crossed double dissociation between memory and metamemory. Participants produced higher memory performance and lower memory predictions for lies than the truth. In contrast, predicted and actual memory performance were similar for truth and lies in pure lists. These findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge on list composition and have implications for situations where individuals need to maintain and remember their fabricated lies.
Characteristics of Global Rapid Response Team Deployers and Deployment, United States, 2019-2022
Authors: Lammie Samantha L. , Habib Mwoddah , Bugli Dante , Worrell Mary Claire , Talley Leisel , Neatherlin John C. , Dubray Christine , Watson Christina
Published: September 2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Global Rapid Response Team (GRRT) was created in 2015 to efficiently deploy multidisciplinary CDC experts outside the United States for public health emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the need for domestic public health responders. This study aimed to follow up on previously published data to describe the GRRT surge staffing model during the height of the COVID-19 response. We conducted descriptive analyses to assess GRRT deployment characteristics during April 1, 2019–March 31, 2022, and characteristics of responders rostered in 2021 and 2022. We analyzed data on response events, remote versus in-person work, and international versus domestic deployment location. We also examined the number of responders on call per month, language proficiency, and technical skills. During the study period, 1725 deployments were registered, accounting for 82 058 person-days deployed. Of all person-days deployed during the study period, 82% were related to COVID-19. Eighty-seven percent of all person-days deployed were domestic. Virtual deployments that were not in person accounted for 51% of deployments registered, yet these resulted in 67% of person-days deployed. The median deployment duration was 31 days. We found a median of 79 surge responders on call each month. Among 608 responders rostered in 2021 and 2022, 35% self-reported proficiency in a second language. Epidemiology was the most common technical skill (38%). GRRT transitioned to primarily remote, domestic deployments to support the COVID-19 pandemic response. The GRRT model demonstrates how response structure shifted to address the global health threat of a pandemic.
Implementing an Alert System for Communicating Actionable Wastewater Surveillance Results to School Communities, Houston, Texas, 2023-2024
Authors: Schneider Rebecca , Domakonda Kaavya , Bhandari Sharmila , Stadler Lauren , Ensor Katherine B. , Mulenga Anthony , Johnson Catherine D. , Hopkins Loren
Published: September 2024

In 2020, the Houston Health Department (HHD) in Texas launched a citywide wastewater surveillance program, including a pilot program that monitored manholes at schools in Houston’s largest school district (prekindergarten–12th grade). By 2022, the pilot program monitored wastewater for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus. To ensure effective communication of wastewater surveillance results to school communities, HHD designed and implemented a text- and email-based alert system using existing City of Houston resources. This alert program informs recipients about the presence of a virus at their schools and actions to protect themselves and others against that virus. To promote alert program sign-ups, a dedicated bilingual community involvement coordinator conducted in-person outreach geared toward school nurses and student caregivers. From September 2023 through February 2024, a combined 5178 alerts for 43 schools were sent following virus detections. As a supplemental initiative, HHD offered vaccination events to pilot program schools with consistent virus detection. As wastewater surveillance becomes more common across the United States, this alert program presents a framework for other public health agencies to scale and adapt according to their resources.