bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Path-dependency theory in a post-conflict state: the case of Fiji
Authors: Loga Patricia , Cardow Andrew , Asquith Andy
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Violent geo-political conflicts are on the rise across the globe, particularly within fragile states. Using path-dependency theory, this paper aims to explore Fiji in the context of its public administrative history examining the legacies of history that have contributed to its ongoing conflicts.

Design/methodology/approach

An archival document analysis along with a theoretical thematic analysis was used to collect and assess data. Themes were identified that explain how and when the conflict became path-dependent.

Findings

Analysing conflict as path-dependent demonstrates how indirect rule while Fiji was under colonial rule, and the short time it has taken for the nation to transition from a colony to an independent State contributed to the eruption of conflicts in Fiji.

Originality/value

The research makes two key contributions, namely, it develops a theoretical understanding of conflict using path-dependency theory and it uncovers legacies of colonialism that have shaped conflict in Fiji.
Social determinants of mental well-being: senses of powerlessness and empowerment among Romani in Ukraine
Authors: Gorbunova Viktoriia , Gusak Natalia , Klymchuk Vitalii , Palii Valeriia , Ustenko Vitalina , Kondur Zemfira , Popenko Viola , Oates John
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore senses of powerlessness and empowerment among Romani in Ukraine in relation to such social circles as the extended family, the Romani local community and the whole Ukrainian society. The main research interest is focused on situations and factors that make people feel powerless or empowered.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted using a semi-structured interview method via telephone. Romani NGO experts approved the interview content. Trained Roma-facilitators were interviewers. Every interview was transcribed for further thematic analysis.

Findings

The most prominent empowerment factors for Romani people are located within their families and local communities, while the bigger society (Ukrainians themselves and Ukrainian public institutions) is a main source of powerlessness. At the same time, the rigid role of family and community expectations is seen as detrimental for both males and females.

Originality/value

The paper is original in terms of its topic (senses of powerlessness and empowerment among Romani in Ukraine as social determinants of mental well-being) and research strategy (engagement of Roma-facilitators as interviewers).
How the leading Chinese real estate brokerage transformed into a digital platform business
Authors: Zhang Yanli , Yao Lixia
Published: December 2021

Purpose

In this article, we study how a Chinese real estate broker - Lianjia successfully transformed itself into Beike - China’s leading digital platform for housing transactions and services. We explain the motivation behind this platform transformation, how it turned out, and what are the lessons learned for other companies contemplating a platform transformation. Beike’s lessons are significant as they not only can help the companies achieve growth via platform transformation but also create social value by contributing to higher service quality in traditional service industries.

Design/methodology/approach

We draw upon comprehensive archival research into Beike, and our many years of ongoing research on platform strategy and business growth strategy.

Findings

This article provides important lessons for companies in traditional service industries on how to expand growth via digital platforms. We summarize four key lessons learned: 1) data is central to success in platform transformation; 2) industry knowledge and experience play an important role; 3) the right platform governance is critical in value creation; 4) harness the double powers of platform and digital transformation.

Research limitations/implications

More research on digital platforms and platform transformation in traditional service industries is needed to delve into the underlying factors and delineate the boundary conditions for specific details in this strategy and implementation.

Practical implications

This article is useful to business executives, academics, management consultants, and entrepreneurs interested in learning more about how to use digital platforms to achieve business growth and create economic and social value. In particular, Beike’s case offers inspiration and valuable lessons to companies in traditional service industries and helps them consider the factors that are important in the process of platform transformation.

Social Implications

This article on Beike provides an innovative solution to business leaders in traditional service industries grappling with a lack of professional standards and trust to use digital platforms to elevate service quality and create social value.

Originality/value

This article is unique and add value because Beike is a pioneer of using the digital platform to achieve growth and transform traditional service industries. Our study shows that platform transformation not only can help a company in a traditional industry achieve impressive growth but at the same time can create enormous social value by elevating the service quality of the whole industry.
Effect of donkey milk addition on the acceptability of Caprino, a typical goat cheese from Basilicata region, Italy
Authors: Paolino Rosanna , Freschi Pierangelo , Claps Salvatore , Tarricone Simona , Sepe Lucia , Cosentino Carlo
Published: December 2021

In this preliminary study we evaluated the effect of different donkeys’ milk additions in cheese making on the acceptability of fresh Caprino, a typical goat cheese produced in a region of southern Italy. In cheese making three batches were considered: A1 only goats’ milk, A2 and A3 with the addition of 5% and 10% of donkeys’ milk, respectively. With the exception of colour, the lowest donkeys’ milk addition improved the acceptability of Caprino cheese. In particular, significant highest ratings (P < 0.05) were observed on odour, flavour, texture and on overall liking.
The aetiology of educational attainment: A nuclear twin family study into the genetic and environmental influences on school leaving certificates
Authors: Eifler Eike Friederike , Riemann Rainer
Published: December 2021

Background

Educational attainment is connected to many important life outcomes, and the previous research has already focused on identifying its genetic and environmental components. However, most of these studies used twin data only and did not incorporate information from other family members. Twin studies typically decompose the phenotypic variance into genetic, shared, and unique environment components. In this study design, the shared environment component encompasses the influence of parents and the shared environments of twins and siblings independent of parents (e.g., teachers, schools, and peers). The classical twin design (CTD) conflates these influences as part of the shared environment. This shortcoming can be overcome using the nuclear twin family design (NTFD), which enables separation of the parental and shared twin/sibling environmental components.

Aims

The aim of this study was to broaden the understanding of the aetiology of educational attainment using the nuclear twin family design to provide a detailed account of the genetic and environmental effects on the type of school leaving certificate.

Sample

The data of 1,048 monozygotic and 916 dizygotic same‐sex twins, their biological parents, and non‐twin full biological siblings of the German project TwinLife were used in the nuclear twin family design.

Methods

Structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques were used to analyse the variance–covariance patterns of the ordinal outcome variable.

Results

Genetic influences were found to make up around 60% of variance, whilst environmental influences shared by all siblings, educational influences shared by the twins only, and non‐shared environmental influences explained the remaining variance in equal amounts. Environmental transmission from parent to offspring was found to be negligible.

Conclusion

Through its advanced design, our study extends the previous work enabling more detailed and robust estimations of sources of variance and contributes to a better understanding of the complex aetiology of educational attainment.
China's Ecological Conservation Redline policy is a new opportunity to meet post‐2020 protected area targets
Authors: Choi Chi‐Yeung , Shi Xu , Shi Jianbin , Gan Xiaojing , Wen Chujun , Zhang Jiawei , Jackson Micha V. , Fuller Richard A. , Gibson Luke
Published: December 2021

Designating protected and conserved areas is a critical component of biodiversity conservation. The 10th Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2010 set global targets for the areal extent of protected areas (PAs) that were met partially in 2020, yet a new, more ambitious target is needed to halt ongoing global biodiversity loss. China recently introduced a national Ecological Conservation Redline policy, which aims to ensure no net change in land cover and no net loss of biodiversity or degradation of ecosystem services within areas that are critical for maintaining ecological safety and functions. Enacting this policy could achieve ancillary conservation outcomes even where conservation is not the primary objective, thus meeting CBD's definition of “other effective area‐based conservation measures” (OECM). By comparing the Ecological Conservation Redline boundaries with important coastal waterbird sites in China, we found that three times more sites could be conserved under the new redline policy compared to the national nature reserve system alone. This indicates that considering the redline policy approach as a form of OECM is a promising pathway to expand the areal coverage of PAs and conserve biodiversity outside currently designated PAs, providing a model that could be adopted around the world.
International comparison of glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetes: an update and extension
Authors: Prigge Regina , McKnight John A. , Wild Sarah H. , Haynes Aveni , Jones Timothy W. , Davis Elizabeth A. , Rami‐Merhar Birgit , Fritsch Maria , Prchla Christine , Lavens Astrid , Doggen Kris , Chao Suchsia , Aronson Ronnie , Brown Ruth , Ibfelt Else H. , Svensson Jannet , Young Robert , Warner Justin T. , Robinson Holy , Laatikainen Tiina , Rautiainen Päivi , Delemer Brigitte , Souchon Pierre François , Diallo Alpha M. , Holl Reinhard W. , Schmid Sebastian M. , Raile Klemens , Tigas Stelios , Bargiota Alexandra , Zografou Ioanna , Luk Andrea O. Y. , Chan Juliana C. N. , Dinneen Sean F. , Buckley Claire M. , Kgosidialwa Oratile , Cherubini Valentino , Gesuita Rosaria , Strele Ieva , Pildava Santa , Veeze Henk , Aanstoot Henk‐Jan , Mul Dick , Jefferies Craig , Cooper John G. , Løvaas Karianne Fjeld , Battelino Tadej , Dovc Klemen , Bratina Nataša , Eeg‐Olofsson Katarina , Svensson Ann‐Marie , Gudbjornsdottir Soffia , Globa Evgenia , Zelinska Nataliya
Published: December 2021

Aims

To update and extend a previous cross‐sectional international comparison of glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetes.

Methods

Data were obtained for 520,392 children and adults with type 1 diabetes from 17 population and five clinic‐based data sources in countries or regions between 2016 and 2020. Median HbA1c(IQR) and proportions of individuals with HbA1c < 58 mmol/mol (<7.5%), 58–74 mmol/mol (7.5–8.9%) and ≥75 mmol/mol (≥9.0%) were compared between populations for individuals aged <15, 15–24 and ≥25 years. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of HbA1c < 58 mmol/mol (<7.5%) relative to ≥58 mmol/mol (≥7.5%), stratified and adjusted for sex, age and data source. Where possible, changes in the proportion of individuals in each HbA1c category compared to previous estimates were calculated.

Results

Median HbA1c varied from 55 to 79 mmol/mol (7.2 to 9.4%) across data sources and age groups so a pooled estimate was deemed inappropriate. OR (95% CI) for HbA1c< 58 mmol/mol (<7.5%) were 0.91 (0.90–0.92) for women compared to men, 1.68 (1.65–1.71) for people aged <15 years and 0.81 (0.79–0.82) aged15–24 years compared to those aged ≥25 years. Differences between populations persisted after adjusting for sex, age and data source. In general, compared to our previous analysis, the proportion of people with an HbA1c < 58 mmol/l (<7.5%) increased and proportions of people with HbA1c≥ 75 mmol/mol (≥9.0%) decreased.

Conclusions

Glycaemic control of type 1 diabetes continues to vary substantially between age groups and data sources. While some improvement over time has been observed, glycaemic control remains sub‐optimal for most people with Type 1 diabetes.
A null model for quantifying the geometric effect of habitat subdivision on species diversity
Authors: Deane David C. , Xing Dingliang , Hui Cang , McGeoch Melodie , He Fangliang
Published: December 2021

Aim

To derive null models for the expected number of species shared among multiple samples or habitat patches, allowing exploration of the geometric effects of subdivision on species diversity.

Location

Global.

Major taxa studied

Predominantly sessile organisms.

Methods

The occurrence probability of a species in a subdivided area depends on its abundance and spatial pattern over a known habitat extent. The joint probability that two subareas share a species is the product of the probability of species occurrence in each subarea provided that the latter probability is independent. The sum of this probability over all species is the number of species the two subareas share, or zeta diversity of order 2. Generalizing from 2 tomsubareas yields a null model for zeta diversity of orderm. From zeta diversity, many metrics (e.g., beta and gamma diversity) for themhabitat patches can be calculated, revealing the effects of increasing habitat fragmentation.

Results

The null models show the geometric effects of subdivision depend on patterns of spatial distribution of species within a landscape and evenness of species abundance distribution. For aggregated assemblages, increasing subdivision decreases shared species, increases beta diversity and results in higher total species richness in subdivided habitat than an equal contiguous area.

Main conclusions

To correctly interpret diversity patterns in fragmented habitat the geometric effects of subdivision must be considered. Our models explain why fragmented habitat could have higher diversity than continuous habitat of equal area but predict a threshold patch‐size above which this will not occur (herec. 100 ha). Apparently positive diversity effects of subdivision, including more species in groups of small patches, are probable outcomes of spatial aggregation of assemblages. The shared species null models offer an analytical tool for exploring the geometric effects of subdivision on diversity while controlling for total habitat area.
Food, health, and nutrition in Chinese history
Authors: Smith Hilary A.
Published: December 2021

This essay explores the relationships between food and health in Chinese history, from ancient times to the present. It briefly reviews how historians have written about dietary knowledge in China's past, from a midcentury focus on discoveries that prefigured those of modern nutrition science to a more expansive recent understanding of healthy eating. From there, the piece draws on scholarship from the past 2 decades to highlight the complexity of pre‐modern Chinese ideas about food and its connection to ritual, social order, moral rectitude, pleasure, and physical and emotional well‐being, all of which factored into dietetic prescriptions and prohibitions. Finally, the last section focuses on the modern period. It suggests that while Western foods and nutrition science acquired great prestige in early twentieth‐century China, by the early 21st century both had lost some of their luster, and interest in classical and folk understandings of diet—inflected by the postsocialist political and economic order—was again flourishing.
Diagnostic stability in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: insights from a longitudinal follow‐up study
Authors: Elias Rebecca , Lord Catherine
Published: December 2021

Background

This longitudinal study of autism symptom trajectories provides unique information that can characterize autism features and diagnostic patterns from childhood to adulthood.

Methods

Participants (n = 155) were part of a longitudinal cohort referred for possible autism where in‐person assessments were completed at ages 2, 3, 5, 9, 19, and 25. Assessors were blinded to previous diagnoses. Based on adult best estimate diagnoses, participants were categorized into one of the four groups: Retained ASD, Lost ASD, Never Had ASD, or Gained ASD Diagnosis. To examine developmental changes in autism symptoms, mixed models indicated the rate of change in ADOS CSS and ADI‐R scores in each diagnostic group.

Results

A subset of participants with VIQ> and <70 were assigned a diagnosis in adulthood that differed from diagnoses earlier in development. Across cognitive levels, the majority of novel diagnoses emerged in adulthood. For those with VIQ > 70, improvements in ADOS CSS over time for the Lost Diagnosis group and worsening in CSS in the Gained Diagnosis group were gradual. Individuals with VIQ > 70 who lost a diagnosis even in adulthood could be distinguished on CSS and ADI‐R scores by age 5 from those who retained their ASD diagnosis. Although most participants with VIQ < 70 saw decreases in autistic symptoms as a whole, changes in autism diagnoses were confounded by disentangling profound intellectual disability as a differential diagnosis or co‐occurrence. Only the Never Had Diagnosis group revealed significant changes in ADOS scores over time, with autism symptoms increasing.

Conclusions

Associated with gradual changes in core features of autism beginning in childhood, diagnoses of autism can shift across development.
Intersectoral collaboration and coordination mechanisms for implementing water fluoridation: Challenges from a case study in Brazil
Authors: Bomfim Rafael Aiello , Watt Richard G. , Frazão Paulo
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Community water fluoridation has been associated with better oral health conditions globally and reduced dental caries. While oral health policies are governed by the health sector agenda, water fluoridation is undertaken by public, private, and mixed public/private companies of the sanitation sector. The first aim of this study was to investigate the degree of intersectoral collaboration, and the second was to investigate how the coordination mechanisms are perceived by the sanitation agents of the sectors involved in water quality management, for the potential establishment of water fluoridation in a central‐west state in Brazil.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with chief sanitation agents from nonprofit, profit, and mixed public/private companies responsible for water quality and fluoridation in a purposive sample. Theoretical frameworks of intersectoral collaboration and coordination mechanisms were used for analysis.

Results

Twelve interviews were conducted. Informal collaboration was identified in the sanitation sector within companies involved in water provision. The main coordination mechanisms were network‐type mechanisms, which involve consultations and knowledge sharing, and market‐type mechanisms, which explore new job opportunities and cost‐effectiveness, especially in water quality measures. Enabling themes (enablers) were identified, such as positive attitude toward including water quality and fluoridation in a collaborative health and sanitation common agenda. Moreover, fluoridation did not meet the regulatory and surveillance agenda at the state level, and until that moment, there was no proposal of the health sector for water fluoridation.

Conclusions

Partnership creation, consolidation, and shared mission, especially between health and sanitation sectors, were identified as main challenges for implementing water fluoridation policy.
Confidence in carrying out palliative care among intensive care nurses
Authors: Ko Eunjeong , Lowie Samantha , Ni Ping
Published: December 2021

Background

Nurses in intensive care units (ICUs) play a crucial role in providing palliative care. Effective provision of palliative care in the ICU requires nurses' active engagement, yet little is known about the confidence for palliative care that ICU nurses hold in China.

Aim

To explore confidence in performing palliative care among ICU nurses in China and factors related to nurses' level of confidence.

Study design

A cross‐sectional design was implemented.

Methods

This study utilized convenience sampling to recruit ICU nurses from nine hospitals in Wuhan, China. Data were collected via an online survey. Multiple regression was conducted to identify the predictors of the ICU nurses' confidence in performing palliative care.

Results

A total of 231 ICU nurses participated in the study, resulting in a response rate of 78% (231/296). Participants reported a relatively low level of confidence for carrying out palliative care (mean score = 2.60 ± 0.53; range = 1‐4). Nurses who had more positive attitudes toward palliative care communication (P < .001), higher levels of formal training on palliative care (P < .001), more years of working as an ICU nurse (P < .05) and those working in integrated ICU (P < .001) showed a higher level of confidence in carrying out palliative care.

Conclusion

Participants' lack of confidence in performing palliative care makes for increased challenges, particularly in uncertainty about family assessments, palliative care discussions and lack of palliative care training. Strengthening palliative care curricula in nursing education and professional training is imperative to enhance ICU nurses' confidence.

Relevance to clinical practice

Strengthening palliative care education and training, particularly in relation to palliative care communication, is critical. Implementing and tailoring culturally relevant palliative care call for attention to practice and for policy changes in palliative care delivery in China.
Ultraprocessed food consumption and dietary nutrient profiles associated with obesity: A multicountry study of children and adolescents
Authors: Neri Daniela , Steele Eurídice Martínez , Khandpur Neha , Cediel Gustavo , Zapata Maria Elisa , Rauber Fernanda , Marrón‐Ponce Joaquín A. , Machado Priscila , da Costa Louzada Maria Laura , Andrade Giovanna Calixto , Batis Carolina , Babio Nancy , Salas‐Salvadó Jordi , Millett Christopher , Monteiro Carlos Augusto , Levy Renata Bertazzi ,   for the NOVA Multi‐Country Study Group on Ultra‐Processed Foods, Diet Quality and Human Health
Published: December 2021

This study assessed associations between ultraprocessed food consumption and dietary nutrient profile linked to obesity in children and adolescents in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States using nationally representative data collected between 2004 and 2014. Linear regression models were used to evaluate associations between dietary share of ultraprocessed foods (country and age group‐specific quintiles and a 10% share increase) and the energy density of diets and their content of free sugars and fiber. Ultraprocessed foods, defined by the NOVA system, ranged from 18% of total energy intake among preschool children in Colombia to 68% among adolescents in the United Kingdom. In almost all countries and age groups, increases in the dietary share of ultraprocessed foods were associated with increases in energy density and free sugars and decreases in fiber, suggesting that ultraprocessed food consumption is a potential determinant of obesity in children and adolescents. Effective global policy action to address growing ultraprocessed food consumption and childhood obesity is urgently needed.
Engineering of rice varieties with enhanced resistances to both blast and bacterial blight diseases via CRISPR/Cas9
Authors: Zhou Yanbiao , Xu Shichong , Jiang Nan , Zhao Xinhui , Bai Zhenan , Liu Jinling , Yao Wei , Tang Qianying , Xiao Gui , Lv Chao , Wang Kai , Hu Xiaochun , Tan Junjie , Yang Yuanzhu
Published: December 2021

Rice blast and bacterial blight represent two of major diseases having devastating impact on the yield of rice in most rice‐growing countries. Developments of resistant cultivars are the most economic and effective strategy to control these diseases. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated gene editing to rapidly install mutations in three known broad‐spectrum blast‐resistant genes, Bsr‐d1, Pi21 and ERF922, in an indica thermosensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) rice line Longke638S (LK638S). We obtained transgene‐free homozygous single or triple mutants in T1 generations. While all single and triple mutants showed increased resistance to rice blast compared with wild type, the erf922 mutants displayed the strongest blast resistance similar with triple mutants. Surprisingly, we found that Pi21 or ERF922 single mutants conferred enhanced resistance to most of tested bacterial blight. Both resistances in mutants were attribute to the up‐regulation of SA‐ and JA‐pathway associated genes. Moreover, phenotypic analysis of these single mutants in paddy fields revealed that there were no trade‐offs between resistances and main agricultural traits. Together, our study provides a rapid and effective way to generate rice varieties with resistance to both rice blast and bacterial blight.
Switching biologics in children with psoriasis: Results from the BiPe cohort
Authors: Phan Céline , Beauchet Alain , Reguiai Ziad , Severino‐Freire Maëlla , Mazereeuw‐Hautier Juliette , Bursztejn Anne‐Claire , Barbarot Sébastien , Hadj‐Rabia Smaïl , Girard Céline , Phan Alice , Lacour Jean‐Philippe , Lasek Audrey , Abasq Claire , Brenaut Emilie , Perrussel Marc , Droitcourt Catherine , Mallet Stéphanie , Piram Maryam , Fougerousse Anne‐Claire , Barthélémy Hugues , Balguérie Xavier , Mahé Emmanuel ,   for the Groupe de Recherche de la Société Française de Dermatologie Pédiatrique, the Groupe de Recherche sur le Psoriasis de la Société Française de Dermatologie
Published: December 2021

Background

There is currently little information on switching biologics in pediatric psoriasis.

Objective

To evaluate the real‐world clinical practice and safety of switching biologics in the “Biological Treatments for Pediatric Psoriasis” (BiPe) cohort.

Methods

Data for all 134 patients included in the BiPe cohort were analyzed. A further evaluation of the subpopulation of patients who switched from a first‐line biologic to a second‐line biologic was then conducted. Drug survival rates were also compared between biologics given as first‐line or second‐line agents.

Results

Overall, 29 patients (female: 55%; mean age: 16.6 ± 3.0 years) switched between two biologics. Etanercept (ETN) was the first‐line biologic used in 23 patients: 16 (69.6%) switched to adalimumab (ADA) and seven (30.4%) to ustekinumab (UST). Six patients received first‐line ADA and switched to UST. Loss of efficacy (62.1%), primary inefficacy (20.7%), and parental choice (6.9%) were the main reasons for switching biologics. One (3.4%) of the switches was performed because of adverse events or intolerance. For UST and ADA, the 18‐month drug survival rate did not differ according to whether the agent was given as a first‐line or second‐line biologic (UST: P = .24; ADA: P = .68). No significant differences in drug survival rates were observed between the three different switches (ADA to UST, ETN to ADA, and ETN to UST).

Conclusion

Our study provided key insights into the real‐life clinical practice of switching biologics in pediatric psoriasis patients. However, more information and guidance on switching biologics in pediatric psoriasis are needed to improve real‐life practice and outcomes.
Do the high‐protein recommendations for athletes set some on a path to kidney injury and dialysis?
Authors: Marinaro Meredith , Alexander Dayna S. , de Waal Desiree
Published: December 2021

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts are often encouraged to follow high‐protein diets to optimize muscle protein synthesis, modify body composition, and enhance performance, yet the safety of these higher protein intakes has been debated. Many people with kidney dysfunction are unaware of their condition, and the potential harm of excess protein intake on the kidneys may not be adequately reported in the sports nutrition literature. Studies suggesting that high‐protein intake may be associated with incident kidney disease have led the nephrology community to make conservative recommendations. In contrast, the fitness community suggests that high dietary protein intake is safe and poses no risk of kidney injury. These claims often fail to acknowledge limitations in the internal validity and generalizability of the study results, despite many studies not being adequately powered to support such claims. It is essential to make dietary recommendations that consider the totality of the data and follow the ethical norm of “do no harm.” Studies that evaluate the use of high‐protein diets among athletes must consider the balance of efficacy with safety. While an intervention may be safe in one population, it does not mean that safety can be assumed for all groups.
A Network Analysis of Substance Consumption Patterns among Students of Public Schools in Mozambique
Authors: Ribeiro Alferes , Willhelm Alice Rodrigues , Lemos Vinícius do Carmo Oliveira de , Andrade Felipe Vilanova de Gois , Freitas Clarissa Pinto Pizarro de , Dede Edgar , Teixeira Marco Antônio Pereira , Koller Sílvia Helena
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to identify the main patterns of alcohol and tobacco consumption among adolescents and its risk factors. Participants were 208 eighth, ninth, and tenth-grade students (65.3% female, 34.7% male) in Maputo, Mozambique, whose ages ranged from 12 to 18 years old (M=14.88; SD=1.29). The study sought to investigate the association between sociodemographic features, academic performance, positive and negative beliefs about drugs, and its consumption patterns among teenagers in Mozambique through network analyses. The results showed high alcohol consumption with early-onset, in the age group ranging from 11 to 13 years old. The frequency of tobacco consumption is related to understanding the positive aspects of smoking, expansiveness, and confidence. The present study contributes to the knowledge of the prevalence of these substances’ consumption in the school community. It may be useful to design strategies for prevention and intervention on alcohol and tobacco consumption by adolescents. The key limitations are the sample exclusively from Maputo and the cross-sectional design. Future studies should thus investigate the patterns of licit and illicit drug consumption among teenagers from other places and use a longitudinal design.
Salud mental y factores de resiliencia durante el confinamiento por COVID-19
Authors: Fernández-Millán Juan Manuel , Bretones Francisco Diaz
Published: December 2021

La pandemia del coronavirus y posterior confinamiento domiciliario adoptada para impedir su propagación puede generar la aparición de síntomas de salud mental, especialmente en países con periodos de confinamientos largos. El presente artículo explora los factores de afrontamiento llevados a cabo por la población general para atenuar dichos síntomas derivados de esta situación. Para ello, se llevó a cabo un estudio mediante encuestas a una muestra de 1041 personas entre 18 y 65 años de edad y residentes en España. Los resultados encontrados muestran el impacto de la actitud positiva y la percepción de autoeficacia como estrategias efectivas de afrontamiento, así como otras variables sociodemográficas. El artículo expone la utilidad y aplicaciones prácticas de estos resultados y posibles líneas futuras, así como la necesidad de realizar entrenamiento psicológico a la población, en estas variables cognitivas ante futuras pandemias y confinamientos.
La Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso (ACT) en tres víctimas del conflicto armado en Colombia
Authors: Vergara Pacheco Angélica María , Ballesteros de Valderrama Blanca Patricia
Published: December 2021

Los daños psicológicos ocasionados por el conflicto sociopolítico de hace más de 60 años en Colombia justifican la evaluación de intervenciones psicológicas que contribuyan a su disminución. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de la Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso (ACT) en los problemas identificados en víctimas de este conflicto armado. Se utilizó un diseño AB con seguimiento, con tres víctimas, dos hombres y una mujer, con edades entre 37 y 52 años. Se realizó un análisis funcional de cada caso para ajustar la intervención a las necesidades individuales, y se aplicaron el Cuestionario de Aceptación y Acción (AAQ II), el Índice de bienestar psicológico de Dupuy, listas de chequeo y autorregistros. Los resultados mostraron a la evitación experiencial como patrón de conducta en función de las condiciones contextuales relacionadas con la historia de aprendizaje y la experiencia del conflicto. En los tres participantes, la intervención ACT tuvo un efecto favorable. Varias de las respuestas de las víctimas fueron indicadores asociados al diagnóstico de trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT), y la evitación experiencial fue la estrategia psicológica para afrontarlos. Se recomienda evaluar ACT con poblaciones de niños y jóvenes afectados por el conflicto armado y evaluar formatos grupales.
The cafeteria study: Effects of facial masks, hearing protection, and real-world noise on speech recognition
Authors: Barrett Mary E. , Gordon-Salant Sandra , Brungart Douglas S.
Published: December 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of wearing various types of personal protective equipment on speech recognition in a real-world, noisy listening environment. Groups of four young, normal-hearing adults participated in a live version of the Modified Rhyme Test in a noisy public cafeteria with and without the use of a non-medical disposable facial mask or combat earplugs in two different modes. Speech recognition, response time, and subjective difficulty were measured per individual. In addition, the signal-to-noise ratio was estimated during the interval when the talker spoke the target word. Results showed that the listeners' speech recognition performance declined not only when the listener wore earplugs, but also when the talker wore earplugs. The measured signal-to-noise ratio significantly decreased when the talker wore earplugs, suggesting that occlusion may have caused the talkers to reduce their voice levels. Results also showed a decline in speech recognition performance when the talker wore a facial mask. Listeners rated all conditions in which talkers and listeners wore personal protective equipment as more difficult than the baseline condition. These data suggest that speech recognition in real-world listening environments can be impaired by personal protective equipment worn by both talkers and listeners.
Intervening in a Messy Reality: A Case of Interorganizational Collaboration in Talent Development Within the Danish Sport System
Authors: Mathorne Ole Winthereik , Stambulova Natalia , Henriksen Kristoffer
Published: December 2021

The overall aim of this paper is to share our experiences in development, implementation, and evaluation of an intervention designed for establishing interorganizational collaboration in talent development between a Danish sports club, a municipality, and a federation. Yet, despite a neat plan, we faced several challenges in what turned out to be a less successful intervention. The account is based on the first author’s field notes, informal interviews, and intervention debriefings. The professional philosophy of the research team was informed by the holistic ecological approach and an empowerment approach. We used the pyramid model for optimizing interorganizational collaboration in talent development as a framework to design and guide the 7-month intervention that included four workshops covering (a) initiation: building relationships; (b) exploration: foundation for the shared philosophy; (c) clarification: negotiating values and strategy; and (d) implementation: from talk to action. However, challenges (e.g., resignations of key stakeholders) led to program adjustments and, ultimately, termination. This paper shows the nuances of a less successful intervention, which can help practitioners plan and carry out better interventions in the future. Despite the challenges faced here, we still deem the pyramid model for optimizing interorganizational collaboration in talent development a valuable framework for practitioners working at an interorganizational level.
Role of Post-Trial Visual Feedback on Unintentional Force Drift During Isometric Finger Force Production Tasks
Authors: Balamurugan S. , Dhanush Rachaveti , Varadhan S.K.M.
Published: December 2021

A reduction in fingertip forces during a visually occluded isometric task is called unintentional drift. In this study, unintentional drift was studied for two conditions, with and without “epilogue.” We define epilogue as the posttrial visual feedback in which the outcome of the just-concluded trial is shown before the start of the next trial. For this study, 14 healthy participants were recruited and were instructed to produce fingertip forces to match a target line at 15% maximum voluntary contraction. The results showed a significant reduction in unintentional drift in the epilogue condition. This reduction is probably due to the difference in the shift in λ, the threshold of the tonic stretch reflex, the hypothetical control variable that the central controller can set.
Maternal chemosignals enhance infant-adult brain-to-brain synchrony
Authors: Endevelt-Shapira Yaara , Djalovski Amir , Dumas Guillaume , Feldman Ruth
Published: December 2021

Maternal chemosignals increase infant-adult interbrain synchrony, suggesting their role in social brain maturation.
Reentrant tensegrity: A three-periodic, chiral, tensegrity structure that is auxetic
Authors: Oster Mathias , Dias Marcelo A. , de Wolff Timo , Evans Myfanwy E.
Published: December 2021

We analyze a chiral periodic tensegrity structure that is auxetic and is an exciting model for multifunctional materials.
Ancient creatures of Hungary: Bringing the animals to life
Authors: Pecsics* Tibor
Published: December 2021

The first trace fossils in Hungary, dinosaur footprints, were found in the coal mines of the Mecsek Mountains. The footprints belonged to small theropod dinosaurs. The first fossil bones of vertebrate animals from present-day Hungary were found in 2000 in the mountainous region of Bakony. Numerous taxa have been collected from the locality of Iharkút. These fossils represent a diverse fauna (including fishes, amphibians, turtles, lizards, crocodilians, dinosaurs, birds, and pterosaurs) that lived between 85.8 and 83.5 m.y. ago in the Santonian Age during the Late Cretaceous period. Paleoart can depict these fossil remains in an engaging way to help inform the public about the ancient creatures of Hungary. This chapter provides an overview of how the Mesozoic vertebrates from Hungary have been reconstructed for scientists and the public.
Effectiveness and safety of manual acupuncture therapy in patients with post-stroke depression: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Wei , Rao Chang , Zhao Qi , Du Yuzheng , Nan Xi , Li Zefang , Yin Chunsheng
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Acupuncture is widely used on the rehabilitation of stroke survivors, including hemiplegia, constipation, emotional disorders and so on. Although the effectiveness of manual acupuncture therapy on post-stroke depression (PSD) has been confirmed by multiple randomised controlled trials, there were few meta-analyses focused on the connection between different techniques, durations or other detailed operations of manual acupuncture and their effectiveness of improving the depression severity and quality of life for patients with PSD.

Methods and analysis

A systematic search will be performed on English databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Medline and Embase), Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP and Chinese biomedical databases) and Japanese databases (Japan Science and Technology Agency and CiNii). The retrieval time limit will be from the establishment of the database to November 2020. Two researchers will independently screen the literature works, extract data and evaluate the quality of the included studies. Meta-analysis will be conducted by using STATA V.14.0 and Review Manager V.5.3.

Ethics and dissemination

The results of this meta-analysis will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals or conference presentations. The data used in this meta-analysis will not contain individual patient data; therefore, ethical approval is not required.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020222825.
Study protocol for a randomised clinical trial of a decision aid and values clarification method for parents of a fetus or neonate diagnosed with a life-threatening congenital heart defect
Authors: Delaney Rebecca K , Pinto Nelangi M , Ozanne Elissa M , Stark Louisa A , Pershing Mandy L , Thorpe Alistair , Witteman Holly O , Thokala Praveen , Lambert Linda M , Hansen Lisa M , Greene Tom H , Fagerlin Angela
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Parents who receive the diagnosis of a life-threatening, complex heart defect in their fetus or neonate face a difficult choice between pursuing termination (for fetal diagnoses), palliative care or complex surgical interventions. Shared decision making (SDM) is recommended in clinical contexts where there is clinical equipoise. SDM can be facilitated by decision aids. The International Patient Decision Aids Standards collaboration recommends the inclusion of values clarification methods (VCMs), yet little evidence exists concerning the incremental impact of VCMs on patient or surrogate decision making. This protocol describes a randomised clinical trial to evaluate the effect of a decision aid (with and without a VCM) on parental mental health and decision making within a clinical encounter.

Methods and analysis

Parents who have a fetus or neonate diagnosed with one of six complex congenital heart defects at a single tertiary centre will be recruited. Data collection for the prospective observational control group was conducted September 2018 to December 2020 (N=35) and data collection for two intervention groups is ongoing (began October 2020). At least 100 participants will be randomised 1:1 to two intervention groups (decision aid only vs decision aid with VCM). For the intervention groups, data will be collected at four time points: (1) at diagnosis, (2) postreceipt of decision aid, (3) postdecision and (4) 3 months postdecision. Data collection for the control group was the same, except they did not receive a survey at time 2. Linear mixed effects models will assess differences between study arms in distress (primary outcome), grief and decision quality (secondary outcomes) at 3-month post-treatment decision.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was approved by the University of Utah Institutional Review Board. Study findings have and will continue to be presented at national conferences and within scientific research journals.

Trial registration number

NCT04437069(Pre-results).
Discordance between family report and clinical assessment of suicide attempts: a prospective study from the emergency department
Authors: Zheng Yue , Zhang Haiyin , Fan Qing
Published: December 2021

Background

Developing accurate identification methods for individuals with suicide attempts and providing them with follow-up care and supports can be a vital component of all comprehensive suicide prevention strategies. However, because of the difficulties concerning one’s intentions behind injurious behaviour, identifying suicide attempts is a challenge for families and clinicians.

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences between family report and clinical assessment for suicide attempts in the emergency department (ED).

Methods

A total of 148 patients with suspected suicide attempts (SSAs) and 148 family caregivers in the ED were enrolled. The suicide risk module of the Chinese version of the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the self-report measure were used to assess those with SSA’s suicidal behaviours. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales and semi-structured interviews were used to investigate the characteristics of suicide risk and demographics of patients with SSA, as well as the rate and influencing factors of omitted suicide attempts reported by family caregivers.

Results

The underreporting rate for family reported suicide attempts in the ED was 69.0%. The suicide attempts group indicated lower mean scores on perceptions of family resources, adaptability and cohesion. Patients' suicide risk rating (OR=0.152, 95% CI: 0.037 to 0.620, p=0.009), adult-children relationship (OR=5.037, 95% CI: 1.478 to 17.167, p=0.010) and caregiver’s age (OR=0.279, 95% CI: 0.103 to 0.757, p=0.012) might be associated with underreporting by families. If patients committed suicide attempts through a falling injury or medication overdose, their families may have misreported the suicide attempt.

Conclusions

The discordance of suicide attempt records between family report and clinical assessment reveals the limitations of family self-reports when identifying suicide attempts. Interviews and observations, together with information from certain diagnoses, should be combined to accurately identify suicide attempters in the ED.