bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distinct profiles of mental health need and high need overall among New Zealand adolescents – Cluster analysis of population survey data
Authors: Sutcliffe Kylie , Wilson Marc , Clark Terryann C , Crengle Sue , Fleming Terry (Theresa)
Published: April 2024

Objective:

The objective was to identify clinically meaningful groups of adolescents based on self-reported mental health and wellbeing data in a population sample of New Zealand secondary school students.

Methods:

We conducted a cluster analysis of six variables from the Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey ( n = 7721, ages 13–18 years, 2019): wellbeing (World Health Organization Well-Being Index), possible anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item, adapted), depression symptoms (short form of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale) and past-year self-harm, suicide ideation and suicide attempt. Demographic, contextual and behavioural predictors of cluster membership were determined through multiple discriminant function analysis. We performed cross-validation analyses using holdout samples.

Results:

We identified five clusters ( n = 7083). The healthy cluster ( n = 2855, 40.31%) reported positive mental health across indicators; the anxious cluster ( n = 1994, 28.15%) reported high possible anxiety symptoms and otherwise generally positive results; the stressed and hurting cluster ( n = 667, 9.42%) reported sub-clinical depression and possible anxiety symptoms and some self-harm; the distressed and ideating cluster ( n = 1116, 15.76%) reported above-cutoff depression and possible anxiety symptoms and high suicide ideation; and the severe cluster ( n = 451; 6.37%) reported the least positive mental health across indicators. Female, rainbow, Māori and Pacific students and those in higher deprivation areas were overrepresented in higher severity clusters. Factors including exposure to sexual harm and discrimination were associated with increasing cluster severity.

Conclusion:

We identified high prevalence of mental health challenges among adolescents, with distinct clusters of need. Youth mental health is not ‘one size fits all’. Future research should explore youth behaviour and preferences in accessing support and consider how to best support the mental health of each cluster.
Canonical Narratives as a Tool of Analysis in Psychology
Authors: Franchuk Neil
Published: April 2024

In this article, I develop the concept of canonical narratives, drawing on Jerome Bruner’s (1915-2016) later writings on the central role of culture in shaping human psychology. I argue that we can develop the concept of canonical narratives past its initial purpose in explaining how folk psychology acquires meaning for individuals and develop the concept into a tool of analysis that can shed new light on the broader dialectic between academic psychology and social-cultural environments. I examine the role of canonical narratives in contemporary psychology by focusing on the narrative that human beings are best conceptualized as machines. I argue that not only are psychology’s constructs shaped by social-cultural environments, which have been well established but that their meanings are, to some extent, established through a dialectic with canonical narratives.
I Am Not a Hero: How Heroic Action Divorces the Hero from the Political Community
Authors: Kohen Ari , Riches Brian , Sólo Andre
Published: April 2024

Most people who perform a heroic act will, afterward, deny that their actions were heroic and claim that anyone would have done the same, even though that is demonstrably false (and, often, others were present who failed to act heroically at all). The literature on the psychology of heroism has never investigated why this is. This theoretical paper proposes an answer and seeks to provoke exploration of a previously unexplored topic. We note that people who undertake heroic action face a unique conflict: they embody their community’s highest values, while simultaneously breaking norms to stand apart from that community. We hypothesize that this conflict takes a psychological toll and is at the heart of a hero’s self-effacing denial. In this paper, we argue that (a) acting heroically is, by definition, committing a violation of social norms and therefore standing apart from the political community; (b) in the moment, heroic agents are willing to violate norms to serve a higher social value (such as saving a life), but afterward they feel the full emotional weight of acting in a non-normative manner; and (c) heroes’ eagerness to downplay or generalize their heroic action is not merely an act of humility, but an attempt to seek readmission to the community and the status of being “normal.” We believe that exploration of this topic can provide insight on what prevents people from acting heroically when needed, and we discuss why alternative possibilities such as humility and modesty are not sufficient explanations.
Expanded Transference: A Humanities Perspective on the Generative Core of Ernest Becker’s Theory of Human Nature
Authors: Liechty Daniel , Piven Jerry
Published: April 2024

The death anxiety thesis is widely considered to be Ernest Becker’s primary contribution to social theory and is associated with his most widely read book, The Denial of Death (1973). This essay suggests Becker is understood in a more sophisticated and nuanced way when his death anxiety thesis is situated in the context of his earlier work in the humanities and social sciences. The death anxiety thesis itself is one component of a much broader theoretical conceptualization of expanded transference, a constant thread through all of Becker’s writings from his doctoral dissertation through his final posthumously published works. Furthermore, the contention here is that this conceptualization of expanded transference provides a far more comprehensive and complex interpretation matrix for the understanding of human motivation, as well as cultural and political phenomena, than the death anxiety thesis does in isolation.
‘Adopt your city’: Post-political geographies and politics of urban philanthropy during austerity
Authors: Kapsali Matina
Published: April 2024

Over the last decade, urban philanthropic giving has acquired an increased significance for cities, shaping urban agendas and affecting local decision-making. Contributing to the emerging geographical literature on the impact of philanthropy on urban governance as well as to scholarship on post-foundational geographies, I argue that urban philanthropic giving is related to a post-political regime of multi-stakeholder urban governance. Contrary to being a linear process of managerial consensus politics, the post-politicisation of urban governance emerges as a multidimensional and variegated process of mutations and adaptations. Drawing from Athens, Greece, in the austerity period, I trace the emergence of a new donor-based philanthrocapitalist regime of urban governance and I demonstrate that post-political governance can take diverse forms: from the well-described in existing literature inclusive partnership-based approach to more authoritarian consensus-based governance processes. The aim of the paper is not just to answer if philanthrocapitalism gives rise to a post-political condition or not, but to explore how it is making and remaking (post-political) urban governance of public spaces, urban politics and urban everyday life. In doing so, the paper focuses on Athens Partnership, an intermediate governance organisation that was established to manage and support donations from the private sector to local governments in Athens and explores the ways urban philanthropy impacts on urban governance. Overall, the paper brings forward a renewed, more enmeshed understanding of post-political urban governance through an analysis of the novel philanthrocapitalist regime that emerged in European cities in the context of the recent intersecting crises.
Psychosocial and Service Delivery Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children With Respiratory Conditions, Their Parents and Their Health Care Providers
Authors: Nicholas David B. , Katz Sherri Lynne , Ciesielski Jill , Zulla Rosslynn T.
Published: April 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed widespread impacts on the health and well-being of children with respiratory challenges and their families, as well as on the health care system that supports them. An exploratory qualitative study was undertaken to examine how the pandemic impacted families’ and health care providers’ daily lives and experiences of care. Four youth, 12 parents and 7 health care providers participated in interviews via telephone or online technology. Content analysis of transcribed interviews revealed participant experiences, including initial responses to the pandemic, adjustment to pandemic shifts, and anticipation of the future. While deleterious physical health impacts were minimal for children with pre-existing respiratory conditions, their mental health was negatively impacted by the pandemic and related health protocols. Families and health care providers experienced strain, yet demonstrated resilience. Pandemic-related shifts profoundly impacted daily life at home, school, and work. Pediatric pandemic planning in clinical care is recommended to better address the needs of children with respiratory conditions and their families as well as pediatric health care providers.
Transoral Robotic Surgery for Eagle Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Authors: Keirns Darby , Asarkar Ameya , Entezami Payam , Ware Erin , Nagel Thomas H. , Chang Brent A.
Published: April 2024

Objectives: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is gaining popularity and has been introduced for the treatment of Eagle syndrome. This review aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TORS for the treatment of Eagle syndrome. Methods: A systematic review of the English language literature using multiple databases was completed for studies describing TORS for Eagle syndrome. The quality of studies and risk of bias were evaluated using the MINORS scoring system. Results: Out of 1495 articles screened, 4 studies met criteria for inclusion in the final analysis. Across all studies, there was a 100% surgical success rate. In total, every patient had some level of symptom improvement with 84% of patients having complete symptom improvement and 16% having partial improvement. Reported estimated blood loss averaged 12.5 mL. A total of 94.7% of patients had no surgical complications and no cases were complicated by postoperative bleeding. Operative time averaged 65 minutes. The average length of stay was 2.1 days. A total of 92% of patients resumed their diet on postoperative day 1, with the remainder resuming on postoperative day 2. MINORS criteria scoring suggested moderate risk of bias in all studies. Conclusion: Based on limited quality evidence, this review suggests that TORS is a safe and effective surgical approach in the treatment of Eagle syndrome with low complication rates. Further large-scale prospective studies are warranted.
Signaling Commitment via Insincere Conformity: A New Take on the Persistence of Unpopular Norms
Authors: Kim Minjae
Published: April 2024

I develop and test a theory to address instances of “visibly unpopular” norms—norms that are widely seen as neither collectively optimal nor enjoyable to conform with. Based on 76 interviews with Korean professionals engaging with a norm pertaining to excessive drinking at after-hours business gatherings ( hoesik)—widely recognized as undesirable and disapproved of by both individuals and groups—I find that conformity serves as an effective signal of commitment to exchange partners not despite of but precisely because of the conformist’s visible aversion. Insofar as typical conformity with visibly unpopular norms appears “insincere” as such, conformity may continue. Vignette experiments further validate such insincere conformity’s signaling value. The implication is that despite the prevailing notion that norms persist because they promote collectively optimal solutions or are perceived as such, norms widely acknowledged as individually and collectively suboptimal may still endure.
Book review: Amit Ranjan and Diotima Chattoraj (Eds), Migration, Regional Autonomy, and Conflicts in Eastern South Asia. Searching for a Home(land)
Authors: Teja B. Mohan Nikhil
Published: April 2024

Amit Ranjan and Diotima Chattoraj (Eds), Migration, Regional Autonomy, and Conflicts in Eastern South Asia. Searching for a Home(land) (Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, 2023), xxiii + 337 pp.
Book review: Nadeera Rupesinghe, Law Making in Dutch Sri Lanka: Navigating Pluralities in a Colonial Society
Authors: Amarasinghe Punsara
Published: April 2024

Nadeera Rupesinghe, Law Making in Dutch Sri Lanka: Navigating Pluralities in a Colonial Society (Leiden: Leiden University Press, 2023), 301 pp.
A scoping review of guidelines and frameworks for advance care planning for adolescents and young adults with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions
Authors: Linane Hannah , Tanjavur Bhavana , Sullivan Lindsay
Published: April 2024

Background:

Advance care planning discussions are crucial in the management and support of individuals with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. Few studies have examined best practices for advance care planning with adolescents and young adults.

Aim:

To identify core components of current guidelines, frameworks and tools for advance care planning discussions with adolescents and young adults with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families.

Design:

A scoping review of the literature was conducted followed by a thematic analysis of the included papers. The scoping review was reported according to the Joanna Briggs Institute approach to the conduct of scoping reviews.

Data sources:

Five databases [Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycInfo, PubMed and Scopus] were searched for English-language papers published between inception until January 2023.

Results:

The search yielded 2976 papers, of which 9 met the inclusion criteria. Five main themes were identified: (i) utilisation of standardised documents and protocols; (ii) shared decision-making between the adolescents and young adults, their families and the healthcare team; (iii) the importance of open and honest communication with adolescents and young adults during advance care planning discussions; (iv) individualisation and flexibility in the advance care planning process and (v) timing of advance care planning initiation.

Conclusions:

Results highlight the importance of engaging adolescents and young adults in advance care planning and considering their unique needs when initiating and framing these discussions. Our findings can be used by healthcare professionals to inform advance care planning in this group.
Shining a light on cerebral autoregulation: Are we anywhere near the truth?
Authors: Bird Jordan D , MacLeod David B , Griesdale Donald E , Sekhon Mypinder S , Hoiland Ryan L
Published: April 2024

The near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-derived cerebral oximetry index (COx) has become popularized for non-invasive neuromonitoring of cerebrovascular function in post-cardiac arrest patients with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI). We provide commentary on the physiologic underpinnings and assumptions of NIRS and the COx, potential confounds in the context of HIBI, and the implications for the assessment of cerebral autoregulation.
Hepatic portal venous gas initially manifesting as severe shock: a case series
Authors: Liu Anwei , Shen Jiao , Long Liansheng , Shi Xuezhi , Wen Qiang , Pan Zhiguo
Published: April 2024

Hepatic portal venous gas is often referred to as the “sign of death” because it signifies a very poor prognosis if appropriate treatments are not promptly administered. The etiologies of hepatic portal venous gas are diverse and include severe complex abdominal infections, mesenteric ischemia, diving, and complications of endoscopic surgery, and the clinical manifestations are inconsistent among individual patients. Thus, whether emergency surgery should be performed remains controversial. In this report, we present three cases of hepatic portal venous gas. The patients initially exhibited symptoms consistent with severe shock of unknown etiology and were treated in the intensive care unit upon admission. We rapidly identified the cause of each individual patient’s condition and selected problem-directed intervention measures based on active organ support, antishock support, and anti-infection treatments. Two patients recovered and were discharged without sequelae, whereas one patient died of refractory infection and multiple organ failure. We hope that this report will serve as a valuable reference for decision-making when critical care physicians encounter similar patients.
Isolated gastric varices associated with antiphospholipid syndrome and protein S deficiency: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Li Xueyan , Wu Jiandi , Fang Feifei , Liu Ying , Jiang Wewei , Li Gangping , Song Jun
Published: April 2024

The mortality rate of gastric varices bleeding can reach 20% within 6 weeks. Isolated gastric varices (IGVs) refer to gastric varices without esophageal varices and typically arise as a common complication of left portal hypertension. Although IGVs commonly form in the setting of splenic vein occlusion, the combination of antiphospholipid syndrome and protein S deficiency leading to splenic vein occlusion is rare. We herein present a case of a 28-year-old woman with intermittent epigastric pain and melena. She was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome based on the triad of pregnancy morbidity, unexplained venous occlusion, and positive lupus anticoagulant. Laparoscopic splenectomy and pericardial devascularization were performed for the treatment of IGVs. During the 6-month postoperative follow-up, repeated endoscopy and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed disappearance of the IGVs. This is the first description of splenic vein occlusion associated with both antiphospholipid syndrome and protein S deficiency. We also provide a review of the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment methods of IGVs.
Personal strength and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study of cultural workers in the music sector
Authors: Elstad Beate , Døving Erik , Jansson Dag
Published: April 2024

This study examines how cultural workers in the music sector coped with the COVID-19-induced lockdown, and how coping is associated with growth in personal strength during the pandemic. We conducted an online survey 1 year into the pandemic among members of Creo, Norway’s largest trade union in the music sector. Respondents ( N = 658) were to a large degree engaged in fight coping. Furthermore, seeking and giving social support, adopting new digital technologies, rotating job plans, as well as generating and maintaining professional skills were positively related to increased personal strength. We observed notable differences between occupational groups. Musicians chose skill nurturing, music educators engaged in technology adoption, and backstage workers reported flight coping to a larger degree than the other occupational groups. Surprisingly, self-employed and temporary employed workers reported a lower degree of innovation in terms of initiating and participating in new digital concepts and technology adoption compared to those with permanent employment. Finally, temporary or self-employed workers reported a higher degree of flight and freeze coping than permanently employed workers.
Bathing the Dead, the Dirty Work: Stigmatization of Gassals in Modern Türkiye
Authors: Sagir Adem
Published: April 2024

The present study examines the transformation of the profession of Gassals, dead body bathers in Islamic culture, from a prestigious role to a stigmatized job in modern Türkiye. Through a qualitative research design, this study employs a combination of participant observation and in-depth interviews with Gassals in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. In the study conducted with the purposeful convenience sampling technique, in-depth interviews were conducted with 19 participants (3 male,16 female). Ultimately, the study raises three major modernity-related claims: Modernity marginalizes death and excludes it from daily life, primarily functions to secularize the public sphere and excludes religious issues, and presents the dead body as dirty, as it sees the body as a biological mechanism, as a product of standardization and institutionalization. Their job involves physical contamination due to direct contact with deceased bodies, and this solid physical taint overshadows the overall dignity of the profession. The three main findings of the study are important. First, community members perceive it as a “reminder of death.” The second is the modern human tendency to avoid death in the domains of everyday life, primarily through institutions such as hospitals. Lastly, the stigma toward gassals may be explained by them losing their status in the modern era under the influence of institutionalization despite enjoying a prestigious status in the past.
Information problems and Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Authors: İdrisoğlu Işıl , Spaniel William
Published: April 2024

This paper explores the role of asymmetric information as a cause of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In the classic bargaining model of war, negotiations break down when one side privately believes that it is sufficiently more likely perform better in battle than the other side expects. There is strong evidence that this mechanism was at play on the eve of the invasion. Chronic problems with Russian civil–military institutions created both an army unprepared for the conflict and a lack of awareness of this within the Kremlin. In contrast, Ukraine had reports of these problems and also had private information regarding its own resolve. Consequently, the Kremlin's demands on the eve of the conflict exceeded what Ukraine was willing to concede. Russia invaded as a result.
High-Definition Liposuction Contouring of the Arms in Males and Females
Authors: Young Sarah , Lowery Chris
Published: April 2024

Liposuction is one of the most common esthetic procedures performed in both males and females. High-definition liposuction has become more sought after recently, especially to define the arms and abdominal musculature. This is a case report of high-definition liposuction of the arms to create markings and techniques to obtain a muscular and sculpted appearance of the arms. Between July 2022 and October 2023, 6 patients were selected for high-definition liposuction to bilateral arms. Specific pre-operative markings were made to outline the deltoid, biceps, and triceps. Traditional liposuction with focus on liposculpture of these markings was done to define the muscles of the arms. Results showed that with proper selection, pre-operative markings, and adequate technique of liposculpture, the muscles of the arms can be defined to meet patient expectations and give a more athletic appearance.
Parenteral Nutrition in the Critically Ill Adult: A Narrative Review
Authors: Nguyen Christopher , Singh Gaurav , Rubio Karen , Mclemore Karen , Kuschner Ware
Published: April 2024

Malnutrition in adult intensive care unit patients is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Providing adequate nutritional support to the critically ill adult should be an important goal for the intensivist. This narrative review aims to delineate the role of parenteral nutrition (PN) in meeting nutritional goals. We examined the data regarding the safety and efficacy of PN compared to enteral nutrition. In addition, we describe practical considerations for the use of PN in the ICU including patient nutritional risk stratification, nutrient composition selection for PN, route of PN administration, and biochemical monitoring.
Simultaneous identification of geometric parameters and structural stiffness of serial robots composing flexible links
Authors: Wu Haiyu , Liang Zhenkun , Kong Lingyu , Seidelmann Joachim , Fan Zhi , Wang Hao , Chen Genliang
Published: April 2024

It has been a formidable challenge to accurately predict the pose of serial robots composing flexible links due to the difficulties in simultaneously considering geometric errors and link flexibility. This paper presents an approach for simultaneously identifying kinematics and stiffness parameters in the flexible serial robot. A compliance equivalent method is employed to model the flexibility in the joints and links nonlinearly. Based on this, the kinetostatics model of those serial robots can be established analytically. By approximating the force-deflection characteristics of the flexible links, a unified error model containing both geometric and compliance parameters is derived. Moreover, an adaptive total-least-square method is proposed for the identification considering constraints on the compliance coefficient. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, simulations on a single flexible link, a serial robot, and experiments on a 3-DOF planar serial manipulator are carried out. The results show that the residual errors of the manipulator can be significantly reduced by identifying the kinematics and stiffness parameters using the proposed approach.
Psychotherapy Implications of Post-traumatic Religious Conversion of an Adolescent: Case Report
Authors: Shapiro Michael
Published: April 2024

The role of religious beliefs following traumatic events has been well documented. Much of the literature focuses on individuals with pre-existing belief systems and involves post-hoc analysis. It appears rare to identify a case prior to the inciting traumatic event, and especially when there is religious conversion. A unique case of an adolescent presented whereby the patient was already in treatment prior to the event, making pre- and post-traumatic narratives available. This case is also unique in that the patient adopted a religion different to that of their family of origin. Implications for treatment are discussed.
Unveiling the Neo-Fisher Effect: Evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Hina Hafsa
Published: April 2024

This study aims to examine the relationship between interest rates and inflation in Pakistan, specifically considering the Fisher effect and the non-Fisher effect. The ongoing debate regarding whether raising interest rates contributes to higher inflation rather than effectively controlling it has motivated our research. To investigate this, we utilize time-varying vector auto-regressive and Granger causality tests. Our findings reveal the significance of the neo-Fisher effect, particularly from 2015 onwards, compared to the traditional Fisher effect in Pakistan.
Book review: Nivedita Ray and Sankalp Gurjar (Eds.), India and Africa Looking Ahead: Contemporary Realities and Emerging Prospects
Authors: Gupta Virendra
Published: April 2024

Nivedita Ray and Sankalp Gurjar (Eds.), India and Africa Looking Ahead: Contemporary Realities and Emerging Prospects (Macmillan, 2023), 200 pp., ₹1430 (Hardcover), ISBN-10: 9356660255.
A Rare Case of Sjogren’s Syndrome with Polymyositis: A Case Report
Authors: Gohil Namra , Patel Apurva , Gohil Aasvi , Solanki Dipak
Published: April 2024

Introduction:

Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disorder affecting women in their fourth to sixth decade, affecting gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems. A 35-year-old female with SS with polymyositis (PM) presented with symptoms of weakness in all four limbs, difficulty in sitting, rising, swallowing solid foods, vomiting, and difficulty in climbing stairs. She was diagnosed with SS in 2018 and was treated with prednisolone, Vitamin D, calcium, pyridoxine, methylcobalamin, artificial tears, pilocarpine, and painkillers. However, a muscle biopsy was never done.

Methods:

The data were collected from the patient’s file along with her consent when she came for follow-up.

Results:

A muscle biopsy was done at our center to confirm the diagnosis of PM. The patient was prescribed IV prednisolone and other symptomatic treatment until symptoms resolved and was discharged with oral drugs when they were manageable.

Conclusion:

The diagnosis of primary SS along with PM is a rare occurrence. Although it does not change the treatment plan much, its diagnosis is very important for managing any complications that may arise from it. Patients’ noncompliance and loss of follow-up can create issues in the treatment. Such cases help in forming the guidelines for the future and restructuring the classification of autoimmune conditions.
Association of Individual Behaviors With Infection Prevention Measures and COVID-19 Development: A Japanese Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Honda Hitoshi , Takamatsu Akane , Miwa Toshiki , Tabuchi Takahiro , Nakamura Haruyo , Taniguchi Kiyosu , Shibuya Kenji , Tokuda Yasuharu
Published: April 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people often modified their behaviors and performed individual infection control practices despite the uncertain effectiveness of these in preventing COVID-19. A cross-sectional study using a nationwide internet survey (Japan COVID-19 Society Internet Survey) was conducted from September 2022 through October 2022. The questionnaire consisted of individual-level social distancing behaviors and infection prevention measures, and COVID-19 vaccination status. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine factors associated with the diagnosis of COVID-19 in the last two months of the survey date. In total, 19,296 respondents were selected for the primary analysis. Of 19,296 respondents, those with COVID-19 diagnosed in the last two months were 1,909 (9.9%). Factors independently associated with a recent history of COVID-19 were meeting colleagues in person ≧ 1 per week (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.72). The response of “never or rarely” to the question of taking out (i.e., dining in) foods was marginally associated with a recent history of COVID-19 (aOR 1.27). Most individual, infection prevention practices and behavioral modifications during the omicron variant phase of the pandemic did not substantially impact COVID-19 prevention in the community.
Association of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio With All-Cause Mortality in the Elderly Population in China: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Li Fan , Xiong Yanqin , Zhang Zhitian , Liu Jiaojiao , Tian Jiangshui , Zhang Qiongyue , Yan Hongmei , Gao Jian
Published: April 2024

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an emerging systemic inflammation marker associated with disease progression and mortality in patients. However, there is limited research on the predictive value of NLR in the general population. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NLR and all-cause mortality in an elderly Chinese population. A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on health examination in a community in Shanghai, China, between 2015 and 2020. Among 6364 participants (aged ≥ 55 years), a total of 169 (2.66%) participants died during a median follow-up period of 5.37 years. The median NLR was 1.63. Multivariate analysis revealed that the upper 2 quartiles of NLR were positively associated with all-cause mortality (Q3 vs Q1: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.82; Q4 vs Q1: HR = 2.22). The stratified and interaction analyses showed that age, sex, body mass index (BMI), history of diabetes, or history of hypertension did not significantly modify the association between NLR and all-cause mortality. Elevated NLR was independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in the elderly Chinese population.
Financialisation, shareholder value orientation, and the decline of trade union membership in the EU
Authors: Gouzoulis Giorgos , Galanis Giorgos , Iliopoulos Panagiotis (Takis)
Published: April 2024

This article shows that an orientation towards shareholder value and corporate indebtedness at non-financial firms have been negatively associated with union density in the EU over the past 21 years. We argue that the financialisation of non-financial firms makes them prioritise their ‘external (economic) balance’ at the expense of a cooperative ‘internal equilibrium’ model. In other words, corporate financialisation pushes non-financial firms to shift to non-participatory, market-based HR systems that directly undermine the role of trade unions. This study examines this corporate financialisation-induced shift within the EU in the wake of deeper economic integration since 1999 and provides panel data econometric evidence that it has significantly undermined union membership.
Neuron-Astrocyte Interactions and Circadian Timekeeping in Mammals
Authors: Smyllie Nicola J. , Hastings Michael H. , Patton Andrew P.
Published: April 2024

Almost every facet of our behavior and physiology varies predictably over the course of day and night, anticipating and adapting us to their associated opportunities and challenges. These rhythms are driven by endogenous biological clocks that, when deprived of environmental cues, can continue to oscillate within a period of approximately 1 day, hence circa- dian. Normally, retinal signals synchronize them to the cycle of light and darkness, but disruption of circadian organization, a common feature of modern lifestyles, carries considerable costs to health. Circadian timekeeping pivots around a cell-autonomous molecular clock, widely expressed across tissues. These cellular timers are in turn synchronized by the principal circadian clock of the brain: the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Intercellular signals make the SCN network a very powerful pacemaker. Previously, neurons were considered the sole SCN timekeepers, with glial cells playing supportive roles. New discoveries have revealed, however, that astrocytes are active partners in SCN network timekeeping, with their cell-autonomous clock regulating extracellular glutamate and GABA concentrations to control circadian cycles of SCN neuronal activity. Here, we introduce circadian timekeeping at the cellular and SCN network levels before focusing on the contributions of astrocytes and their mutual interaction with neurons in circadian control in the brain.
Risk Factors Associated With Exclusion of Obese Patients Ischemic Stroke With a History of Smoking From Thrombolysis Therapy
Authors: Brewer Philip C. , Ojo Dami T. , Broughton Philip X. , Imeh-Nathaniel Adebobola , Imeh-Nathaniel Samuel , Nathaniel Thomas I.
Published: April 2024

The objective of this study is to determine risk factors that may contribute to exclusion decision from recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with a combined current or history of smoking and obesity. This study was conducted on data from 5469 patients with AIS collected from a regional stroke registry. Risk factors associated with inclusion or exclusion from rtPA were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval for each risk factor were used to predict the increasing odds of an association of a specific risk factor with exclusion from rtPA. In the adjusted analysis, obese patients with AIS with a history of smoking (current and previous) excluded from rtPA were more likely to present with carotid artery stenosis (OR = 0.069, 95% CI 0.011-0.442), diabetes (OR = 0.604, 95% CI 0.366-0.997), higher total cholesterol (OR = 0.975, 95% CI 0.956-0.995), and history of alcohol use (OR = 0.438, 95% CI 0.232-0.828). Higher NIHSS score (OR = 1.051, 95% CI 1.017-1.086), higher triglycerides (OR = 1.004, 95% CI 1.001-1.006), and higher high-density lipoprotein (OR = 1.028, 95% CI 1.000-1.057) were associated with the inclusion for rtPA. Our findings reveal specific risk factors that contribute to the exclusion of patients with AIS with a combined effect of smoking and obesity from rtPA. These findings suggest the need to develop management strategies to improve the use of rtPA for obese patients with AIS with a history of smoking.
Advancing Pediatric Care: The virtualKIDS Experience in Nursing-Led Audio-Visual Clinical Services
Authors: Toriola Eunice , Biviano Lyn , Lau Christine , Hooke Natalie , Donnelly Amie , Dickins Emma , Pengilly Sandra , Ging Joanne , Shaw Nadine , Singh Jagdev
Published: April 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the escalating trend of pediatric patients, particularly non-urgent cases, going to the emergency departments (EDs) in New South Wales, Australia, prompted the establishment of virtualKIDS, a nursing-led telehealth service. This service, initiated in June 2021, operates 24/7 and provides comprehensive care through audio-visual consultations emphasizing a patient-centered approach. Three elements—COVID-19 Outpatient Response Team (CORT), virtualKIDS Acute Review (vKAR), and Virtual Urgent Care (VUC)—addressed specific needs during and beyond the pandemic, showcasing the adaptability and impact of virtual care. vKAR focuses on post-discharge support, allowing families access to telehealth for up to three days. Preliminary data indicates a 44% reduction in ED visits within 48 h. VUC employs nursing-led triaging paired with audiovisual assessment, demonstrating a 69% hospitalization avoidance rate. Hybrid ambulatory models such as a sleep study at home project, day-only tonsillectomies, and arthroscopic knee surgeries showcase innovative approaches to reducing hospital admissions and enhancing patient outcomes. This paper presents the evolution and diverse models of care implemented by the virtualKIDS service, offering insights into its potential as a nursing-led alternative to ED visits in acute-care pediatrics.
Atypical phacolytic glaucoma diagnosed by biometry and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) in a patient with CMV anterior uveitis
Authors: Karmiris Efthymios , Papakonstantinou Evangelia , Tsiripidis Konstantinos , Stavrakas Panagiotis , Giannakis Ioannis , Chalkiadaki Evangelia
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To report a case of phacolytic glaucoma with atypical presentation in a patient which was diagnosed with biometry swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and anterior segment spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT).

Methods

A 56-year-old male with a history of cytomegalovirus (CMV) chronic anterior uveitis in the right eye presented with a white cataract, minimal anterior chamber reaction and intraocular pressure (IOP) of 56 mmHg. Visual acuity was light perception. The anterior chamber was deep, without evidence of macroscopically visible capsular rupture. A surgical intervention was necessitated with the puzzle being whether to proceed with a trabeculectomy or a combined phaco-trabeculectomy. After a routine preoperative assessment with intraocular lens Master700, the disintegration of the natural lens was noticed. Anterior segment Spectralis OCT confirmed a lamellar separation of the anterior one third of the lens, resembling a poultaceous material. After an uneventful phacoemulsification, visual acuity was 6/6, IOP was well-controlled on maximum topical antiglaucoma treatment and no CMV recurrence was observed.

Results

The diagnosis of phacolytic glaucoma was established with the aid of current imaging OCT systems. Both OCT images were suggestive of a phacolytic nature of our case, despite the fact that the clinical presentation was not in concordance with such a typical case. In view of our findings the decision was to proceed with cataract extraction alone.

Conclusion

This is the first time that we image and document the phacolytic nature of a natural lens. Our patient did not have the typical clinical presentation and was differentially diagnosed with biometry SS-OCT and confirmed by anterior segment SD-OCT.
Mutational spectrum and deep phenotyping in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum: Findings from a Portuguese cohort
Authors: Dias Margarida Q. , Gouveia Nuno , Félix Raquel , Estrela-Silva Sérgio , Cabral Diogo , Carvalho Ana Luísa , Murta Joaquim , Silva Rufino , Marques João Pedro
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum (PXE) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder originated by disease-causing variants in ABCC6 gene. The purpose of this study was to characterize the genetic landscape, phenotypic spectrum and genotype-phenotype correlations in a Portuguese cohort of PXE patients.

Methods

Multicentric cross-sectional study conducted in patients with a clinical and genetic diagnosis of PXE. Patients were identified using the IRD-PT registry ( www.retina.com.pt ). Genotypes were classified into 3 groups: (1) two truncating variants, (2) two non-truncating variants, or (3) mixed variants. Deep phenotyping comprised a comprehensive ophthalmologic and systemic evaluation using the updated Phenodex Score (PS).

Results

Twenty-seven patients (23 families) were included. Sixteen different ABCC6 variants were identified, 7 of which are novel. The most prevalent variant was the nonsense variant c.3421C > T p.(Arg1141*) with an allele frequency of 18.5%. All patients exhibited ocular manifestations. Cutaneous manifestations were present in most patients (88.9%, n = 24/27). A PS score > E2 was strongly associated with worse visual acuity (B = −29.02; p = 0.001). No association was found between genotypic groups and cutaneous, vascular or cardiac manifestations.

Conclusions

This study describes the genetic spectrum of patients with PXE for the first time in a Portuguese cohort. A total of 16 different variants in ABCC6 were found (7 of which are novel), thus highlighting the genotypic heterogeneity associated with this condition and expanding its mutational spectrum. Still, no major genotype-phenotype associations could be established.
Making apps, owning data: Digital sovereignty and public authorities’ arrangements to “byte” back
Authors: Paulsson Alexander , Fred Mats
Published: April 2024

This study tells the story of two public transport authorities (PTA) in Sweden who developed their own apps. Although this might seem trivial and far-detached from the critical issues discussed in organization studies, this story raises questions of great relevance for this field, namely how digital sovereignty is organized. Digital sovereignty refers to governments trying to take or regain power and control over “the digital,” which a small group of large tech companies have monopolized. Drawing on a 3 year qualitative study of app making, and using assemblage theory, this study shows that digital sovereignty is not only about controlling software development or data ownership, but also about re-configuring the organization in relation to digital artifacts such as apps. By bypassing procurement procedures and paralleling their IT-departments, the PTAs here display how digital sovereignty comes from “below,” originating from frustrated civil servants within the public authorities who literally tried to “byte back” in a digital world run by large tech companies.
Childhood maltreatment and the risk of impaired glucose metabolism or type 2 diabetes in young adults: Findings from the Lifelines Cohort Study
Authors: Deschênes Sonya S. , Nearchou Finiki , McInerney Amy , Schmitz Norbert , Pouwer Frans , Nouwen Arie
Published: April 2024

We examined the associations between childhood maltreatment and the risk of impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) in young adults aged 18–35. Participants ( N = 8506) from the Lifelines Cohort Study without IGM or diabetes at baseline (2007–2013) were included. Childhood maltreatment was assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and incident IGM/T2D was assessed by haemoglobin A1c levels (≥5.7%) in 2014–2017. There were 223 (2.6%) cases of IGM/T2D during the follow-up period. After adjusting for sociodemographic and health/lifestyle covariates and follow-up time, only the CTQ Sexual Abuse subscale was significantly associated with IGM/T2D (RR = 1.05 [95% CI = 1.01, 1.10]). The association remained when additionally accounting for depressive and anxiety symptoms (RR = 1.05 [95% CI = 1.00, 1.09]). Childhood sexual abuse was associated with an increased risk of IGM/T2D in young adults, highlighting the long-term metabolic consequences of childhood maltreatment.
Appearance comparison on social networking sites and body shame: The role of negative body talk and perceived sociocultural influences on body image
Authors: Wang Ruining , Ye Baojuan , Wang Peiyi
Published: April 2024

Social media platforms play a significant role in the lives of young people. While the usage of these platforms has grown, research exploring the challenges of body image remains limited. This study investigated whether initiating negative body talk functioned as an indirect pathway between appearance comparison on social media and body shame and whether perceived sociocultural influences from parents, friends, and media on body image moderated this indirect effect. An online cross-sectional survey of 795 Chinese college students ( Mage = 20.17, SD = 1.65; 60% female, 40% male) was conducted. Negative body talk was a partial indirect pathway in the association, and this indirect effect was significant among those experiencing higher sociocultural pressures from all three sources. This study highlights the need for health psychology in understanding and addressing the mental health consequences associated with digital media and sociocultural influences on body image perception.
Selling Otherness on YouTube: Digital inter-Asian Orientalism and YouTube monetization system
Authors: Kim Dasol
Published: April 2024

This article investigates the influence of YouTube's monetization metrics on content creation practices and their reflection of geopolitical and economic factors. Using the case study of “Team Azimkiya,” a Bangladeshi YouTube channel primarily targeting South Korean viewers, the study introduces the concept of “global CPM arbitrage.” CPM, or cost per 1000 impressions, estimates advertising revenue for channels. Global CPM arbitrage characterizes content creators’ strategic approach to leverage varying CPM rates across geographic regions, optimizing their advertising revenue within the YouTube ecosystem. While CPM is often seen as an objective metric, the analysis of Team Azimkiya's strategies reveals its role in constructing audiences and directing higher-revenue viewers. In a platform that exhibits a preference for content from more affluent regions, self-Orientalization emerges as an effective content creation approach. This article argues that this approach can perpetuate the inter-Asian dynamic and the Orientalist gaze.
A cross-sectional study of variations in schoolwork stress in academic upper secondary school classes in Mid-Norway
Authors: Johansen Vegard , Røsand Ingvild
Published: April 2024

Aims:

This paper investigates stress related to schoolwork among students in academic upper secondary schools. The research questions asked are: 1. To what degree does students’ schoolwork stress vary between academic classes?; And 2. are perceptions of classroom goal orientation, academic achievement, sex and parental education related to schoolwork stress?

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was done in the final year of upper secondary school in 71 school classes from 13 schools. A total of 1955 students in academic education programs were invited to participate in the survey, and 1511 completed the survey; the response rate was 77%. The outcome measure was a composite measure of schoolwork stress (alpha = 0.81). Multilevel modeling was used to estimate school class-level effects.

Results:

The mean value of schoolwork stress was 4.0, on a scale of 1 (very little schoolwork stress) to 6 (very high schoolwork stress). About half of the students reported a score of 4 or higher. The analysis showed that individual characteristics explained most of the variation in schoolwork stress. Girls experienced a much higher level of schoolwork stress than boys (mean values of 4.3 and 3.6, respectively). There was also a significant class-level effect, estimated to 6% of the variance. Students’ perceptions of classroom goal orientation was also associated with schoolwork stress.

Conclusions:

The main contribution was the discovery of significant variations in schoolwork stress between school classes. We also found that higher mastery climate was linked to lower schoolwork stress, whereas higher performance climate was linked to higher schoolwork stress.