bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic evaluations of predictive genetic testing: A scoping review
Authors: Xi Qin , Jin Shihan , Morris Stephen
Published: August 2023

Predictive genetic testing can provide information about whether or not someone will develop or is likely to develop a specific condition at a later stage in life. Economic evaluation can assess the value of money for such testing. Studies on the economic evaluation of predictive genetic testing have been carried out in a variety of settings, and this research aims to conduct a scoping review of findings from these studies. We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases with combined search terms, from 2019 to 2022. Relevant studies from 2013 to 2019 in a previous systematic review were also included. The study followed the recommended stages for undertaking a scoping review. A total of 53 studies were included, including 33 studies from the previous review and 20 studies from the search of databases. A significant number of studies focused on the US, UK, and Australia (34%, 23%, and 11%). The most frequently included health conditions were cancer and cardiovascular diseases (68% and 19%). Over half of the studies compared predictive genetic testing with no genetic testing, and the majority of them concluded that at least some type of genetic testing was cost-effective compared to no testing (94%). Some studies stated that predictive genetic testing is becoming more cost-effective with the trend of lowering genetic testing costs. Studies on predictive genetic testing covered various health conditions, particularly cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Most studies indicated that predictive genetic testing is cost-effective compared to no testing.
Periostin—An inducer of pro-fibrotic phenotype in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Suzuki Mao , Ototake Yasushi , Akita Asami , Asami Miho , Ikeda Noriko , Watanabe Tomoya , Kanaoka Miwa , Yamaguchi Yukie
Published: August 2023

Enhanced circulating blood periostin levels positively correlate with disease severity in　patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Monocytes/macrophages are predominantly associated with the pathogenesis of SSc, but the effect of periostin on immune cells, particularly monocytes and macrophages, still remains to be elucidated. We examined the effect of periostin on monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) in the pathogenesis of SSc. The modified Rodnan total skin thickness score in patients with dcSSc was positively correlated with the proportion of CD80-CD206+ M2 cells. The proportion of M2 macrophages was significantly reduced in rPn-stimulated MDMs of HCs compared to that of SSc patients. The mRNA expression of pro-fibrotic cytokines, chemokines, and ECM proteins was significantly upregulated in rPn-stimulated monocytes and MDMs as compared to that of control monocytes and MDMs. A similar trend was observed for protein expression in the respective MDMs. In addition, the ratio of migrated cells was significantly higher in rPn-stimulated as compared to control monocytes. These results suggest that periostin promotes inflammation and fibrosis in the pathogenesis of SSc by possible modulation of monocytes/macrophages.
Prevalence of overweight and its associated factors among Malaysian adults: Findings from a nationally representative survey
Authors: Chong Chean Tat , Lai Wai Kent , Mohd Sallehuddin Syafinaz , Ganapathy Shubash Shander
Published: August 2023

The World Health Organization has reported that the prevalence of overweight is a growing problem in many countries, including middle- and lower-income countries like Malaysia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and its associated factors among Malaysian adults. A total of 9782 Malaysian adults aged 18 and above were included in this study, representing states and federal territories from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019. Sociodemographic data (sex, locality, age, marital status, ethnicity, educational level, income level, and health literacy), non-communicable disease status (hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia), and lifestyle behaviours (physical activity level, smoking status, and also fruit and vegetable consumption) were collected and analysed to identify factors associated with overweight. The study found that the prevalence of overweight among Malaysian adults was 50.1%. Multivariate analyses showed that several factors, including female gender [aOR (95% CI) = 1.33 (1.11, 1.58); p = .002], ages 30–59 years [aOR (95% CI) = 1.61 (1.31, 1.97); p < .001], being Malay [aOR (95% CI) = 1.68 (1.36, 2.07); p < .001], Indian [aOR (95% CI) = 2.59 (1.80, 3.74); p < .001] or other Bumiputera [aOR (95% CI) = 1.82 (1.38, 2.39); p < .001], being married [aOR (95% CI) = 1.23 (1.00, 1.50); p = .046], and having adequate health literacy [aOR (95% CI) = 1.19 (1.01, 1.39); p = .033], were significantly associated with an increased risk of overweight. Additionally, overweight individuals had a significantly higher risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes [aOR (95% CI) = 1.47 (1.23, 1.75); p < .001] and hypertension [aOR (95% CI) = 2.60 (2.20, 3.07); p < .001]. The study suggests that intervention programs should be implemented in an equitable and cost-effective manner to target these high-risk populations and address the burden of overweight in Malaysia.
The impact of emotional intelligence on operational effectiveness: The mediating role of organizational citizenship behavior and leadership
Authors: Santa Ricardo , Moros Andreina , Morante Diego , Rodríguez Dorys , Scavarda Annibal
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This article examines the influence of emotional intelligence on organizational citizenship behavior and transformational and transactional leadership, and the impact of these dimensions on operational effectiveness.

Design/Methodology

The analysis was based on 180 valid questionnaires from organizations in Colombia’s manufacturing sector of the Valle del Cauca region. The variables were analyzed using structural equation modeling to identify the relationships among the studied constructs.

Findings

The results suggest that emotional intelligence positively affects organizational citizenship behavior. Nevertheless, emotional intelligence does not impact transformational leadership and only partially affects transactional leadership and operational effectiveness. Emotional intelligence has a strong and positive impact on operational effectiveness when mediated by organizational citizenship behavior, which does have a strong and positive predictive power on operational effectiveness. Hence, in the search for competitive advantage, leaders should seek to improve operational effectiveness by focusing on developing emotional intelligence and organizational citizenship behaviour skills. Interestingly, of the two leadership styles examined in this study, only transactional leadership impacts operational effectiveness, which is inconsistent with the current literature and indicates a need for further leadership training.

Originality/Value

The value of this paper lies in discerning the current capabilities and strategies that individuals in an organization must address for proper transactional and transformational leadership. However, before operational effectiveness and a sustainable competitive advantage can be achieved, the role of leaders should be managed through the appropriate application of the concepts of emotional intelligence and organizational leadership behavior.
Changes in diet, exercise and psychology of the quarantined population during the COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai
Authors: Qiu Li , Li Chenchen , He Wen , Yin Xuelian , Zhan Lin , Zhang Junfeng , Wang Yanli
Published: August 2023

Background

In March 2022, a severe outbreak of COVID-19 broke out in Shanghai, with the virus spreading rapidly. In the most severe two months, more than 50,000 people were diagnosed with COVID-19. For this reason, Shanghai adopted three-district hierarchical management, requiring corresponding people to stay at home to contain the spread of the virus. Due to the requirements of prevention and control management, the diet, exercise and mental health of the corresponding population are affected to a certain extent.

Objectives

This article aimed to understand the population in the diet, exercise and psychological changes.

Methods

This study carried out the research by distributing the electronic questionnaire and carried out the statistical analysis.

Results

People reduced the intake of vegetables and fruits (P = 0.000<0.05), people did about an hour less exercise per week on average (P = 0.000<0.05), the number of steps they took per day decreased by nearly 2000 steps (P = 0.012<0.05), and there were significant changes in the way they exercised.

Conclusion

In terms of psychological state, people have some depression, anxiety and easy to feel tired after lockdown. This study can also provide reference for policy adjustment and formulation of normalized epidemic management in the future.
A game-factors approach to cognitive benefits from video-game training: A meta-analysis
Authors: Smith Evan T. , Basak Chandramallika
Published: August 2023

This current study is a meta-analysis conducted on 63 studies on video-game based cognitive interventions (118 investigations, N = 2,079), which demonstrated a moderate and significant training effect on overall gains in cognition, g = 0.25, p < .001. Significant evidence of transfer was found to overall cognition, as well as to attention/perception and higher-order cognition constructs. Examination of specific gameplay features however showed selective and differential transfer to these outcome measures, whereas the genre labels of “action”, “strategy”, “casual”, and “non-casual” were not similarly predictive of outcomes. We therefore recommend that future video-game interventions targeting cognitive enhancements should consider gameplay feature classification approach over existing genre classification, which may provide more fruitful training-related benefits to cognition.
Charity campaigns with promotion-framed goals are more effective than those with prevention-framed goals
Authors: Sekścińska Katarzyna , Trzcińska Agata , Maison Dominika
Published: August 2023

Proper communication with the public is crucial for encouraging private donors to make financial and non-financial donations to charities. This study compared the effectiveness of an advertising campaign that used a prevention framing for the charity’s purpose and one that used a promotional framing. This experimental study was conducted online with 547 participants. The results showed that the advertising message highlighting the promotional goals of the campaign was more effective than the one based on prevention goals. This result was observed not only for the evaluation of the campaign and organization as well as behavioral intentions, but, crucially, also on the level of actual behavior.
The applicability of human mobility scaling laws on animals—A Herring Gull case study
Authors: Łoś Marcelina , Smolak Kamil , Mitrus Cezary , Rohm Witold , Van de Weghe Nico , Sila-Nowicka Katarzyna
Published: August 2023

With the development of sensors, recording and availability of high-resolution movement data from animals and humans, two disciplines have rapidly developed: human mobility and movement ecology. Addressing methodological gaps between these two mobility fields could improve the understanding of movement processes and has been defined as the Integrated Science of Movement. We apply well-known human mobility metrics and data processing methods to Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking data of European Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) to test the usefulness of these methods for explaining animal mobility behavior. We use stop detection, spatial aggregation, and for the first time on animal movement data, two approaches to temporal aggregation (Next Time-Bin and Next Place). We also calculate from this data a set of movement statistics (visitation frequency, distinct locations over time, and radius of gyration). Furthermore, we analyze and compare the gull and human data from the perspective of scaling laws commonly used for human mobility. The results confirm those of previous studies and indicate differences in movement parameters between the breeding season and other parts of the year. This paper also shows that methods used in human mobility analysis have the potential to improve our understanding of animal behavior.
Hydroxychloroquine reduces T cells activation recall antigen responses
Authors: Kowatsch Monika M. , Lajoie Julie , Mwangi Lucy , Omollo Kenneth , Oyugi Julius , Hollett Natasha , Kimani Joshua , Fowke Keith R.
Published: August 2023

Background

In the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, there is still limited information about how people suffering from autoimmune diseases respond to the different COVID vaccines. The fact that they are taking an immunosuppressant or other drugs that aim to decrease the immune system activities, such as hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), could also impact their ability to respond to a COVID vaccine and vaccines in general.

Methods

Heathy donors were given 200mg of HCQ daily for 6-weeks to assess HCQs impact on the systemic T cells and humoral immune response. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and plasma were obtained at baseline and 6-weeks after starting daily HCQ. Flow cytometry assays were designed to determine changes in T cell activation and T cell responses. Bead array multiplex were used to analyse antibodies and cytokine levels before and after HCQ intake.

Results

As anticipated, HCQ treatment decreased ex vivo T cell activation. We observed a decrease in CD4+CD161- expressing CCR5 (p = 0.015) and CD69 (p = 0.004) as well as in CD8+CCR5+ (p = 0.003), CD8+CD161+CCR5+ (p = 0.002) and CD8+CD161+CD95+ (p = 0.004). Additionally, HCQ decreased the proportion of Th17 expressing CD29 (p = 0.019), a subset associated with persistent inflammation. The proportion of T regulatory cells expressing the inhibitory molecule TIGIT was also reduced by HCQ (p = 0.003). As well, T cells from people on HCQ were less responsive to activation and cytokine production following stimulation with recall antigens and memory T cells were less likely to produce both IFNγ and TNFα following stimulation.

Conclusion

This study shows HCQ is associated with lower T cell activation and decreased T cell cytokine production. While this study was not performed with the intent of looking at COVID vaccine response, it does provide important information about the changes in immune response that may occur in patient taking HCQ as a treatment for their autoimmune disease.
An economic model and evidence of the evolution of human intelligence in the Middle Pleistocene: Climate change and assortative mating
Authors: Petersen Bruce C.
Published: August 2023

A main objective of this paper is to provide the first model of how climate change, working through sexual selection, could have led to dramatic increases in hominin brain size, and presumably intelligence, in the Middle Pleistocene. The model is built using core elements from the field of family economics, including assortative mating and specialization and complementarities between mates. The main assumptions are that family public goods (e.g., conversation, shelter, fire) were particularly cognitively intensive to produce and became increasingly important for child survival during glacial phases. Intermediate climates (e.g., not the depths of severe glacial phases) create the largest gains from specialization, encouraging negative assortative mating. In contrast, severe glacial phases encourage positive assortative mating because of the rising importance of family public goods. One testable hypothesis is that absence of severe glacial phases should have led to stasis in brain size. Two other testable hypotheses are that severe glacial phases should have led to speciation events, as well as increases in brain size. The evidence shows that there was a million-year stasis in cranial size prior to the start of the severe glacial phases. This stasis is broken by a speciation event (Homo heidelbergensis), with the oldest fossil evidence dated near the close of the first severe glacial phase. In the next 300 kyr, there are two additional severe glacial phases, accompanied by considerable increases in cranial capacity. The last speciation event isHomo sapiens, with the earliest fossils dated near the end of the last of these two glacial phases.
Threads of memory: Reviving the ornament of a dead child at the Neolithic village of Ba`ja (Jordan)
Authors: Alarashi Hala , Benz Marion , Gresky Julia , Burkhardt Alice , Fischer Andrea , Gourichon Lionel , Gerlitzki Melissa , Manfred Martin , Sakalauskaite Jorune , Demarchi Beatrice , Mackie Meaghan , Collins Matthew , Odriozola Carlos P. , Garrido Cordero José Ángel , Avilés Miguel Ángel , Vigorelli Luisa , Re Alessandro , Gebel Hans Georg K.
Published: August 2023

In 2018, a well-constructed cist-type grave was discovered at Ba`ja, a Neolithic village (7,400–6,800 BCE) in Southern Jordan. Underneath multiple grave layers, an 8-year-old child was buried in a fetal position. Over 2,500 beads were found on the chest and neck, along with a double perforated stone pendant and a delicately engraved mother-of-pearl ring discovered among the concentration of beads. The first was found behind the neck, and the second on the chest. The meticulous documentation of the bead distribution indicated that the assemblage was a composite ornament that had gradually collapsed, partly due to the burying position. Our aim was to challenge time degradation and to reimagine the initial composition in order to best explore the significance of this symbolic category of material culture, not as mere group of beads, but as an ornamental creation with further aesthetic, artisanal and socioeconomic implications. The reconstruction results exceeded our expectations as it revealed an imposing multi-row necklace of complex structure and attractive design. Through multiple lines of evidence, we suggest that the necklace was created at Ba`ja, although significant parts of beads were made from exotic shells and stones, including fossil amber, an unprecedented material never attested before for this period. The retrieval of such an ornament from life and its attribution to a young dead child highlights the significant social status of this individual. Beyond the symbolic functions related to identity, the necklace is believed to have played a key role in performing the inhumation rituals, understood as a public event gathering families, relatives, and people from other villages. In this sense, the necklace is not seen as belonging completely to the realm of death but rather to the world of the living, materializing a collective memory and shared moments of emotions and social cohesion.
Trial-by-trial feedback fails to improve the consideration of acceleration in visual time-to-collision estimation
Authors: Wessels Marlene , Hecht Heiko , Huisman Thirsa , Oberfeld Daniel
Published: August 2023

When judging the time-to-collision (TTC) of visually presented accelerating vehicles, untrained observers do not adequately account for acceleration (second-order information). Instead, their estimations only rely on vehicle distance and velocity (first-order information). As a result, they systemically overestimate the TTC for accelerating objects, which represents a potential risk for pedestrians in traffic situations because it might trigger unsafe road-crossing behavior. Can training help reduce these estimation errors? In this study, we tested whether training with trial-by-trial feedback about the signed deviation of the estimated from the actual TTC can improve TTC estimation accuracy for accelerating vehicles. Using a prediction-motion paradigm, we measured the estimated TTCs of twenty participants for constant-velocity and accelerated vehicle approaches, from a pedestrian’s perspective in a VR traffic simulation. The experiment included three blocks, of which only the second block provided trial-by-trial feedback about the TTC estimation accuracy. Participants adjusted their estimations during and after the feedback, but they failed to differentiate between accelerated and constant-velocity approaches. Thus, the feedback did not help them account for acceleration. The results suggest that a safety training program based on trial-by-trial feedback is not a promising countermeasure against pedestrians’ erroneous TTC estimation for accelerating objects.
Effect of any form of steroids in comparison with that of other medications on the duration of olfactory dysfunction in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review of randomized trials and quasi-experimental studies
Authors: Winn Phyo Zin , Hlaing Thein , Tun Kyaw Myo , Lei Seim Lei
Published: August 2023

Background

The life quality of about two-thirds of patients with COVID-19 is affected by related olfactory dysfunctions. The negative impact of olfactory dysfunction ranged from the decreased pleasure of eating to impaired quality of life. This research aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of corticosteroid treatments by comparing that to other currently available treatments and interventions.

Methods

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist’s 27-point checklist was used to conduct this review. PubMed (Public/Publisher MEDLINE), PubMed Central and EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database) databases were conveniently selected and Boolean search commands were used for a comprehensive literature search. Five core search terms were "effects of treatments", " COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction", "corticosteroids", "treatments" and "interventions". The reporting qualities of the included studies were appraised using JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute) appraisal tools. The characteristics of the 21 experimental studies with a total sample (of 130,550) were aggregated using frequencies and percentages and presented descriptively. The main interventions and their effects on the duration of the COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction were narratively analyzed.

Results

Among patients with COVID-19, the normal functions of the olfactory lobe were about 23 days earlier to gain with the treatments of fluticasone and triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray compared with that of mometasone furoate nasal spray and oral corticosteroid. The smell loss duration was reduced by fluticasone and triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray 9 days earlier than the inflawell syrup and 16 days earlier than the lavender syrup. The nasal spray of corticosteroids ended the COVID-19-related smell loss symptoms 2 days earlier than the zinc supplementation, about 47 days earlier than carbamazepine treatment and was more effective than palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and luteolin and omega-3 supplementations and olfactory training. Treatment with oral corticosteroid plus olfactory training significantly improved Threshold, Discrimination and Identification (TDI) scores compared with olfactory training alone. A full dose of the COVID-19 vaccination was not uncertain to reduce the COVID-19-related smell loss duration.

Conclusion

Corticosteroid treatment is effective in reducing the duration of COVID-19-related smell loss and olfactory training, the basic, essential and effective intervention, should be used as a combination therapy.
Why not to pick your nose: Association between nose picking and SARS-CoV-2 incidence, a cohort study in hospital health care workers
Authors: Lavell A. H. Ayesha , Tijdink Joeri , Buis David T. P. , Smulders Yvo M. , Bomers Marije K. , Sikkens Jonne J.
Published: August 2023

Background

Hospital health care workers (HCW) are at increased risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2. We investigated whether certain behavioral and physical features, e.g. nose picking and wearing glasses, are associated with infection risk.

Aim

To assess the association between nose picking and related behavioral or physical features (nail biting, wearing glasses, and having a beard) and the incidence of SARS-CoV-2-infection.

Methods

In a cohort study among 404 HCW in two university medical centers in the Netherlands, SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were prospectively measured during the first phase of the pandemic. For this study HCW received an additional retrospective survey regarding behavioral (e.g. nose picking) and physical features.

Results

In total 219 HCW completed the survey (response rate 52%), and 34/219 (15.5%) became SARS-CoV-2 seropositive during follow-up from March 2020 till October 2020. The majority of HCW (185/219, 84.5%) reported picking their nose at least incidentally, with frequency varying between monthly, weekly and daily. SARS-CoV-2 incidence was higher in nose picking HCW compared to participants who refrained from nose picking (32/185: 17.3% vs. 2/34: 5.9%, OR 3.80, 95% CI 1.05 to 24.52), adjusted for exposure to COVID-19. No association was observed between nail biting, wearing glasses, or having a beard, and the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Conclusion

Nose picking among HCW is associated with an increased risk of contracting a SARS-CoV-2 infection. We therefore recommend health care facilities to create more awareness, e.g. by educational sessions or implementing recommendations against nose picking in infection prevention guidelines.
Comprehensive intervention for reducing stigma of autism spectrum disorders: Incorporating the experience of simulated autistic perception and social contact
Authors: Tsujita Masaki , Homma Miho , Kumagaya Shin-ichiro , Nagai Yukie
Published: August 2023

Stigma of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a crucial factor leading to a lower quality of life for individuals with ASD. This research evaluated an intervention effect for the stigma through an experience of simulated autistic visual perception and video-based social contact. The intervention was conducted as an experiential workshop for the ASD simulator. Participants (N = 217; 156 women, 61 men; a mean age of 41.3) voluntarily attended the workshop. In the workshop, they received a short lecture on autistic perception, a simulated experience using the ASD simulator, a narrative video of individuals with ASD, and a group discussion. They completed the multidimensional attitudes scale, which was developed to measure four attitudes toward ASD: negative affect, calm, cognitions, and behaviors. The attitudes were measured three times: the period of registration with the workshop, during participation in the workshop, and six weeks after the workshop. With regard to the measure during participation in the workshop, attendees responded to the attitudes at the beginning or end of the workshop, to confirm whether attitudes changes were attributed to the effectiveness of the intervention or artifacts resulting from participation in the workshop. A significant reduction was observed in negative affective attitudes at the end of the workshop and persisted even six weeks afterward, even though not observed in calm, cognitive, and behavioral attitudes. Our findings suggest that implementation of our intervention can bring about reduction of the stigma associated with ASD. Further studies with a random sampling method are needed to validate its generalizability and elaborate the components of the intervention.
The dynamic lives of osseous points from Late Palaeolithic/Early Mesolithic Doggerland: A detailed functional study of barbed and unbarbed points from the Dutch North Sea
Authors: Aleo Alessandro , Kozowyk Paul R. B. , Baron Liliana I. , van Gijn Annelou , Langejans Geeske H. J.
Published: August 2023

Osseous barbed and unbarbed points are commonly recovered from the Dutch North Sea and other Mesolithic sites of northern Europe. Interpreted as elements of projectile weaponry, barbed points are considered by archaeologists to be a technological innovation in the hunting equipment of hunter-gatherers. However, debate about their exact use and identification of the targeted prey species is still ongoing. To shed light on the function of these tools, we analysed a sample of 17 artefacts from the Netherlands with a multi-disciplinary approach encompassing morphometric, functional, and chemical analysis. 14C-AMS dating yielded the oldest date for a barbed point from the Dutch coast (⁓13000 cal. BP). The observation of microwear traces preserved on the tools provides solid evidence to interpret the function of barbed and unbarbed points. We show that there were two distinct tool categories. 1) Barbed points hafted with birch tar and animal or vegetal binding were likely projectile tips for terrestrial and aquatic hunting. We provide strong clues to support the link between small barbed points and fishing using wear traces. 2) Points without barbs served as perforators for animal hides. Our results highlight the importance of use-wear and residue analysis to reconstruct prehistoric hunting activities. The functional interpretation of projectile points must also rely on microwear traces and not merely on the association with faunal remains, historical sources, and ethnographic comparisons.
Gender differences in earnings among people with multiple sclerosis and associations with type of occupation and family composition: A population-based study with matched references
Authors: Machado Alejandra , Azad Azadé , Pettersson Emma , Hillert Jan , Alexanderson Kristina , Friberg Emilie
Published: August 2023

Gender differences in earnings exist worldwide. Gender segregation or familial status have been previously stated as possible explanations for these differences as well as health differences between women and men. Women are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) as twice much as men. Moreover, MS limitations may affect the work capacity of people with MS (PwMS) implying a reduction in their earnings. We aimed to explore gender differences in earnings among people with MS and without MS and between groups of those diagnosed while also considering types of occupation and family composition, and how these possible differences relate to sickness absence (SA) and disability pension (DP). We conducted a population-based cohort study in Sweden with microdata from several nationwide registers. PwMS aged 19–57 years (n = 5128) living in Sweden and 31,767 matched references from the population without MS. Outcome measures included earnings, number of SA and DP days combined (SA/DP). A four-way weighted least-squares analysis of covariance was performed to explore the associations of gender, MS, type of occupation, and family composition with earnings. Risk of SA and DP days was assessed with logistic regression. Overall, and across all occupations, women earned less than men, although less so among managers with MS. Annual gender differences in earnings were larger if living with children at home compared to not living with children. Nevertheless, these gender differences decreased after adjusting for SA/DP, both among PwMS and references. PwMS had considerably more SA/DP days than references. Women also had more SA/DP days than men. We observed that working women earned less than working men, and that gender differences in earnings were present in all occupations, although less evident among PwMS in managerial positions. The combination of gender, occupation, family composition, and MS, was associated with earnings, even when adjusting for the number of SA and DP days.
Incident sarcopenia in hospitalized older people: A systematic review
Authors: Wan Safiyyah Nurnajah , Thiam Chiann Ni , Ang Qi Xuan , Engkasan Julia , Ong Terence
Published: August 2023

Hospitalization has been associated with the development of sarcopenia. This study aimed to examine the new incidences of hospital sarcopenia, associated risk factors and health outcomes, as defined by internationally recognized diagnostic criteria in hospitalized older people. Pre-defined search terms were run through five databases. Six studies that assessed sarcopenia on two separate time points during hospitalization on older inpatients were included. Prevalence of sarcopenia varied from 14.1% to 55% depending on diagnostic criteria and cut-off points used. New sarcopenia occurred between 12% to 38.7% patients following hospitalization. Risk factors were older age, longer duration of bed rest, lower baseline body mass index, cognitive impairment and activities of daily living disability. None of the studies reported health outcomes associated with newly developed sarcopenia in hospital.
The effect of picture book reading on young children’s use of an emotion regulation strategy
Authors: Schoppmann Johanna , Severin Franziska , Schneider Silvia , Seehagen Sabine
Published: August 2023

Picture book reading is an enjoyable everyday activity for many young children with well-known benefits for language development. The present study investigated whether picture book reading can support young children’s social-emotional development by providing a learning opportunity for the usage of emotion regulation strategies. Three-year-old children participated in two waiting situations designed to elicit negative affect. Between these waiting situations they read a picture book. In two experimental conditions, the book depicted how a protagonist (same-aged peer or young adult, respectively) waited for a desired object and distracted herself with toys while waiting. Children in an additional control condition read a picture book that was unrelated to waiting. Use of distraction did not differ between conditions. Parents often read picture book interactively with their children. Therefore, in an additional condition (Exp. 2), the experimenter read the picture book featuring the same-aged peer protagonist in an interactive way intended to facilitate transfer. Apart from the reading style, the design was identical to experiment 1. Experiment 2 intended to test whether changes in reading style lead to differences in three-year old children’s social-emotional learning from picture books. When controlling for the children’s picture book experience, children in the experimental conditions exhibited an increase in distraction in contrast to children in the control condition. In sum, results suggest that picture book reading could be an ecologically valid and versatile method for supporting 3-year-old children in their use of an age-appropriate adaptive emotion regulation strategies such as distraction.
#chatsafe 2.0. updated guidelines to support young people to communicate safely online about self-harm and suicide: A Delphi expert consensus study
Authors: Robinson Jo , Thorn Pinar , McKay Samuel , Hemming Laura , Battersby-Coulter Rikki , Cooper Charlie , Veresova Maria , Li Angela , Reavley Nicola , Rice Simon , Lamblin Michelle , Pirkis Jane , Reidenberg Dan , Harrison Vicki , Skehan Jaelea , La Sala Louise
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Young people use social media to communicate about self-harm and suicide and this is associated with both potential risks and protective effects. The #chatsafe guidelines were originally developed in 2018 to equip young people to communicate safely online about suicide. They were shown to be safe, acceptable, and beneficial; however, they do not provide guidance on self-harm, and social media is constantly evolving. This study aimed to update the #chatsafe guidelines to reflect new evidence and current social media affordances, and to include guidance on self-harm.

Methods

A Delphi expert consensus study was conducted, comprising six stages: 1) A systematic search of peer-reviewed and grey literature; 2) A series of roundtables with key stakeholders including social media companies, policymakers, and young people; 3) Questionnaire development; 4) Expert panel formation; 5) Data collection and analysis; and 6) Guideline development.

Results

A total of 191 items were included in the new #chatsafe guidelines. These were organised into eight themes, which became the overarching sections of the guidelines: 1) General tips; 2) Creating self-harm and suicide content; 3) Consuming self-harm and suicide content; 4) Livestreams of self-harm and suicide acts; 4) Self-harm and suicide games, pacts, and hoaxes; 6) Self-harm and suicide communities; 7) Bereavement and communicating about someone who has died by suicide; and 8) Guidance for influencers.

Discussion

The new guidelines include updated and new information on online communication about self-harm, livestreams, games, pacts, and hoaxes, as well as guidance for influencers. They will be disseminated via a national social media campaign and supported by a series of adult-facing resources. Given the acceptability of the original guidelines and the ubiquitous use of social media by young people, it is hoped that the new guidelines will be a useful resource for young people and adults alike, both in Australia and worldwide.
Association between level of compliance with COVID-19 public health measures and depressive symptoms: A cross-sectional survey of young adults in Canada and France
Authors: Coulaud Pierre-julien , Jesson Julie , Bolduc Naseeb , Ferlatte Olivier , Bertrand Karine , Salway Travis , Jauffret-Roustide Marie , Knight Rod
Published: August 2023

Background

While compliance with preventive measures remains central to limit the spread of COVID-19, these measures critically affected mental health of young adults. We therefore investigated the association between the level of compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures and depressive symptoms among young adults in Canada and France.

Methods

From October to December 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey of young adults ages 18–29 years in Canada (n = 3246) and France (n = 2680) to collect demographic data, experiences with COVID-19 preventive measures, and mental health. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Compliance profiles were built using cluster analysis. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate associations between compliance level and major depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score≥15) in each country.

Results

One third of respondents reported major depressive symptoms (Canada: 36.4%, France: 23.4%). Four compliance profiles were identified: high (42.5%), medium-high (21.7%), medium-low (18.1%), and low (17.7%), with high levels more frequently observed in Canada compared to France. In both countries, participants in low compliance profile (Canada: Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) [95% Confidence Interval] 0.75 [0.58, 0.98], France: AOR 0.60 [0.46, 0.75]), in the medium-low (Canada: AOR 0.58 [0.48, 0.72], France: AOR 0.81 [0.66, 1.01]), and medium-high compliance profiles (Canada: AOR 0.78 [0.65, 0.93], France: AOR 0.77 [0.63, 0.93]) were less likely to report major depressive symptoms compared to the high compliance profile. Ethno-racial minorities, sexual and gender minority, and unemployed young adults had higher odds of reporting such symptoms.

Conclusions

Major depressive symptoms were associated with high compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures among young adults. The implementation of socially-isolating measures should be coupled with mental health interventions to address mental health needs of young adults, with enhanced supports for sub-groups who are structurally disadvantaged (e.g., racialized, unemployed, sexual and gender minority).
Factors Related to Life Satisfaction Changes of Visual or Hearing Disability over Time: Life Satisfaction Changes of Visual or Hearing Disability
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Han Myeung Hee
Published: August 2023

This study was conducted to identify the factors influencing changes in life satisfaction of people with visual or hearing disability. This study used a total of 1,518 subjects including 757 visual disability and 761 hearing disability people from the 1st(2018)-3rd(2020) Disability and Life Dynamics Panel. A linear mixed model was used to analize the data. In this study, it was found subjects with visual or hearing disability increased life satisfaction significantly over time (p<.001). For life satisfaction, those who acquired a disability increase by.70 over time compared to congenital disability (p=.028). As the disability acceptance score increased, life satisfaction was decreased by .04 (p=.045). Life satisfaction increased significantly by .02 over time according to increase amount of smoking (p=.038). From the results, it is necessary to develop a program that considers the cause of disability, acceptance of disability, and health behaviors in order to improve the life satisfaction of the disabled.
A Study on the Identification of Service Factors Influencing Satisfaction of the Cell Broadcast System (CBS)
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Park Keun Oh
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to identify factors that affect a cell broadcasting system (CBS) service. To this end, this study verified the relevance between service items and factors through factor analysis, and it derived a model through multiple regression analysis and identified the influencing factors. The analysis results can be summarized as follows. First, the service factor with the most significant effect on CBS service was prompt transmission, and its standardized coefficient was 0.179. This coefficient was much higher than that for other service factors, indicating that efforts must be made to prevent problems in system reform and transmission so that emergency alert messages can be sent promptly in case of disasters. Second, transmission standard was the second priority among service factors, and its standardized coefficient was 0.084. Third, comprehensible content and system quality were factors with third priority, and their standardized coefficient was 0.083. In conclusion, as prompt transmission was the most important factor of CBS, constant and intensive efforts must be made to facilitate prompt transmission in the CBS.
A Study on Urban Flood Integrated Management Model: A Case Study of the Yugok Catchment
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Kwon You Jeong , Seo Yongwon , Park Chang Keun
Published: August 2023

Urban areas with high levels of impervious cover and inadequate flood-mitigation policies are becoming increasingly vulnerable to flooding compared to other areas. Despite nationwide efforts to mitigate flood damages, which primarily focus on major rivers, smaller rivers and urban catchments still experience frequent floods. This study utilized a semi-distributed hydrologic model and SWMM to consider the potential backwater effect on inland flooding. Through complementary analysis using observed rainfall and flow data from early October 2016 (Typhoon Chaba), the study was conducted on the Yugok Catchment. The results demonstrate the advantages of the semi-distributed model, which can handle spatial-temporal rainfall distribution and infiltration parameters while maintaining relatively faster calculation speed compared to a fully-distributed model. Furthermore, this study suggests that integrating the model with the SWMM can provide sufficient, accurate, and prompt information to enable effective flood crisis management plan.
Has the Reform of the Public-Benefit Direct Payment Improved the Inequality?
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Kim Jongin
Published: August 2023

The Direct Payment Policy on the Rice Acreage played an important role in ensuring the stable production of rice. However, it was pointed out that the policy causes an oversupply of rice has been continuously raised. In addition, a problem was raised that the policy worked in favor of large scale farmers. Accordingly, the government introduced a new public-benefit direct payment system in 2020, which was designed so that the direct payment system was not linked to cultivation, and the payment unit price was also designed to decrease as the area increased. As a result of comparing the effects of the reorganization of the direct payment system, the proportion of direct payments paid to the dry field in the past was only 14.5%, but increased to 28.3% in 2020. Thus, the rice-oriented support structure was improved. On the other hand, the ratio of mean to median (RHS), fell from around 2.2 to 1.69, confirming that the gap between farm households improved significantly. In addition, the Gini coefficient was also lowered to 0.46 from the level at the beginning of 0.6, indicating that the distribution equity was improved.
A Case Study on the Life Experience of Low-income Middle-aged Single Person Households
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Bae Eun Kyung , Jang Soo Mi , Bang Hye Seon
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this study is to understand the life experiences of low-income middle-aged single person households who are prone to the crisis of the welfare blind spot. In-depth interviews were conducted with 8 participants who had agreed to the research purpose and analyzed using a qualitative case study method. As a result of the analysis, the life experience of low-income middle-aged single person households has 4 categories such as ‘Not intending to live alone’ ,‘Difficulties as a single person households’, ‘Different daily life for each single households’, ‘Suggestions for the middle-aged single person households’ and 16 sub-categories. Based on these results, policy and practical suggestions were made to prevent social isolation and improve the quality of life of low-income middle-aged single person households, which are emerging as new social risks.
New Trend of Government Crisis & Emergency Management in the Era of We Media
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Lu Wei , Lee Jae Eun
Published: August 2023

This study aims to find the difficulties and problems faced by government crisis & emergency management in the era of we media and suggest some corresponding countermeasures. In the era of We Media, there are problems in the government crisis & emergency management: the government has not fully integrated social resources and has not yet diversified crisis & emergency management; the importance of crisis prevention and monitoring by using We Media is not high and emergency plans are lacking; not paying attention to the application of we media in crisis prevention and monitoring lack of contingency plans; the government is not transparent about the crisis information. We make the following suggestions: building a government We Media platform to integrate resources; publicizing relevant legal knowledge through We Media; increasing the application of We Media in the crisis prevention stage; mobilizing the power of We Media to release early warning information; increasing the openness of government information.
Geografía histórica de un lugar asombroso y enigmático: el cerro Tezcotzingo, siglos XIII-XVI
Authors: Urroz Raquel , Godínez Llampallas Eduardo Antonio
Published: August 2023

La geografía histórica estudia el espacio, sus escalas y su organización social en el marco de un desarrollo continuo que va desde tiempos remotos hasta el presente. En México, sus territorios han sufrido impactos que los han hecho mutar y recomponerse a través de sucesivas olas temporales. (García Martínez, 2004, 2012). Por ello cualquier unidad espacial se estudia bajo el lente del devenir humano que modifica y transforma el medio junto con sus elementos constitutivos. Resulta esencial, por tanto, afinar la mirada a la hora de analizar la ocupación de cierto lugar que ha pasado por largos procesos históricos; la aproximación es, pues, enlazar el estudio de las unidades político-territoriales de México desde su fundación, y a través de épocas tanto de edificación como de demolición y su posterior refuncionalización. La propuesta que se presenta a continuación consiste en aplicar este enfoque al trabajo de campo en la sierra de Texcoco, con el cerro Tezcotzingo como centro articulador del entorno montañoso.
Tomàs, M. (Ed.: 2023). Metrópolis sin gobierno. La anomalía española en Europa.
Authors: Camerin Federico
Published: August 2023

Tomàs, M. (Ed.: 2023). Metrópolis sin gobierno. La anomalía española en Europa. Valencia: Tirant lo Blanc. 348 pp., ISBN: 978-84-1963-227-2