bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Open Letter to the Field: Contemplating Special Education's Collaborative Role in Developing Inclusive Education
Authors: Connor David J. , Danforth Scot , Gallagher Deborah
Published: December 2024

The inclusion of students with disabilities with special education services into general education classes has been an integral part of education for over 3 decades. It is a worldwide movement that continues to grow. Yet, some Special Education researchers remain highly critical, even cynical, of inclusion, despite decades of research that have refined school and classroom-based practices so that the majority of students with disabilities, with few exceptions, can achieve inclusion. In this paper we emphasize the importance of maintaining an optimistic focus on inclusive education by (1) foregrounding the thinking of activists within the Disability Rights Movement and more recent disability collectives that undergird theories of disability justice and inclusion; (2) centering intersectional experiences of disability; (3) clarifying the intentions of inclusion and dispelling some lingering myths; and (4) describing ways that inclusive classrooms can best serve students with mild to complex and multiple support needs. We conclude with a request to our field to reflect upon and consider Special Education's evolving role in ongoing collaborative development of inclusive education.
“The Beat” of the Black Press: An Exploratory Analysis of Black Newspapers and Their Podcasts
Authors: Saxton Coleman Loren , Jenkins Bryan M.
Published: December 2024

As newspaper readership trends shifted from paper to online/digital, several Black Press newspapers acquired websites. While this acquisition blurred the lines between ownership and management, the digital Black Press still contains pertinent and relevant content. Like the Black Press, podcasting is conceptualized as a participatory and engaging media process that has proven to be a viable avenue for news consumption, suggesting that it could be integral to the Black Press. This paper takes a constructivist grounded theory approach to investigate how four Black newspapers’ podcasts represent the goals of the Black Press. Our research showed that content across all three podcasts reported on stories that centered Black people, highlighted issues pertinent to Black audiences, and encouraged community action, thus aligning with the goals of the Black Press. While traditional and new media are often put at odds with each other, this study contributes to research on the Black Press by exploring a form of new media to not replace, but rather, to evolve the Black Press itself and find new ways for it to reach and expand its audiences.
Early Childhood Exposures to Fluorides and Cognitive Neurodevelopment: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study
Authors: Do L.G. , Sawyer A. , John Spencer A. , Leary S. , Kuring J.K. , Jones A.L. , Le T. , Reece C.E. , Ha D.H.
Published: December 2024

It is important to maintain confidence in the risk and benefit balance of major caries-preventive programs using fluoride. The ongoing debate about potential effects of early-life exposures to fluoride on cognitive neurodevelopment requires high-quality scientific evidence. This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of fluoride exposure on cognitive neurodevelopment assessed with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 4th edition (WAIS-IV) in an Australian population-based sample. The sample was selected from the National Child Oral Health Study (NCOHS) 2012–2014. NCOHS collected data on socioeconomic factors, oral health behaviors, and residential history to estimate percentage lifetime exposure to fluoridated water during the first 5 y of life (%LEFW). NCOHS children were also examined by trained and calibrated examiners to assess dental fluorosis (a reliable and valid individual biomarker of total fluoride intake during early childhood). The sample was followed up in 2022–2023 to collect data on cognitive neurodevelopment (intelligence quotient [IQ]) using the WAIS-IV, which was administered by trained and calibrated qualified psychologists. Multivariable regression models were generated to investigate associations between the 2 exposure measurements (%LEFW and dental fluorosis) with full-scale IQ (FSIQ) scores, controlling for important confounding effects. Hypotheses of noninferiority were also tested, contrasting different levels of exposure to fluoride. Some 357 participants aged 16 to 26 y completed the WAIS-IV, with a mean FSIQ score of 109.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 107.8–110.5). The estimates of the multivariable regression models demonstrated slightly higher FSIQ scores among the exposed than the nonexposed. The adjusted β of 100%LEFW versus 0%LEFW was 1.07 (95% CI: −2.86, 5.01) and of having dental fluorosis versus no fluorosis was 0.28 (95% CI: −3.00, 3.57). The hypothesis of noninferiority tests found that FSIQ scores of those exposed and nonexposed to fluoride were equivalent. The study provided consistent evidence that early childhood exposure to fluoride does not have effects on cognitive neurodevelopment.
Extreme weather and contentious elections
Authors: Birch Sarah
Published: December 2024

The impact of extreme weather events on electoral processes is not well understood, yet as the climate changes, such events are predicted to become more common. This highlights the need for scholars to investigate how natural hazards affect election campaigns and electoral administration. Drawing on data from the Electoral Contention and Violence dataset, this article uses a difference-in-differences approach to assess the effect of tropical storms on electoral contention over seven elections held in the Philippines between 1992 and 2010. It finds that storms that occur in the year leading up to an election increase, and that this effect is likely accounted for by both economic grievances consequent upon the negative impact of storms on agricultural output and grievances generated by storm-induced disruptions to the electoral process. These findings suggest that as climate change intensifies, – and the violence that contention often entails – could become more common in a number of contexts. This has implications for electoral administration, and it implies the need for cooperation across electoral and meteorological agencies in places where weather extremes are likely to occur in the runup to electoral events.
HIV Patients’ Mindfulness Moderates How Death Anxiety and Depression Impact Life Quality
Authors: Aliche Chinenye Joseph , Idemudia Erhabor Sunday
Published: December 2024

Many people living with HIV (PLWH) experience death anxiety and depression, which may impact negatively on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Mindfulness is a psychological resource that protects against death anxiety and depression and promotes HRQoL. Although a direct association among these variables exist, little is known about their interactive effect. This study examined the role of PLWH mindfulness in the relationship between (a) death anxiety and HRQoL, and (b) depression and HRQoL. Participants included 311 HIV patients (199 women, 122 men, mean age = 30.52) selected from a tertiary healthcare institution in Nigeria. They completed relevant measures. Results showed that mindfulness moderated the effect of death anxiety on HRQoL. Mindfulness also buffered the effect of depression on HRQoL. Clinical efforts to improve HRQoL of PLWH should consider mindfulness-based training program due to its potentials in mitigating the effects of death anxiety and depression on health and recovery.
The Relationship Between the Imposter Phenomenon and Mental Health in Black Graduate Students: Examining Moderating Effects of Perceived Social Support
Authors: Sanders Steven M. , Williams Tiffany R. , Gao Fanchen , Muwele Chomba , Mitchell Jazlyn M. , Mitchell Taeja
Published: December 2024

Research has established a positive relationship between the impostor phenomenon and poor mental health outcomes among Black graduate students. However, the literature is scarce on psychosocial factors that could moderate this relationship. The present study investigated Black graduate students’ ( N = 200) experiences of impostorism and whether perceived social support moderated the relationship between impostor phenomenon and symptoms of depression or anxiety. The findings suggested perceived social support moderated the relationship between impostor feelings and both anxiety and depression. The findings suggested that, for the imposter phenomenon-anxiety relation, family social support weakened the association. For the imposter phenomenon-depression relation, total social support, family social support, and significant other social support weakened the association. These findings have important implications for both educational and clinical practice. For graduate programs, they must be aware of the effects imposter syndrome has on Black students and offer supportive environments to these students. For mental health professionals, the findings of this study should inform their work with Black graduate students, specifically intervention decisions to strengthen social support and sense of community.
Coproducing Recommendations for Decolonizing the Psychology Curriculum With Psychology Faculty Members
Authors: Saxena Gaurav , Allen Peter J , Kent Christopher , Yardley Lucy
Published: December 2024

Background

In the United Kingdom, psychology departments are responding to growing calls for curriculum decolonization. However, there remains limited dialogue and sharing of best practice.

Objective

We aimed to catalyze discussion among key faculty members involved in curriculum decolonization, learn from their experiences, and collaboratively develop recommendations for psychology curriculum decolonization.

Method

Eleven contributors shared their insights regarding their departments’ decolonization efforts and how they navigated challenges.

Findings

Reflexive thematic analysis generated five themes. Motivation to decolonize the curriculum highlighted the student-centric, institutional, and ethical reasons driving curriculum decolonization. Approaches to curriculum decolonization described the varied ways in which curriculum decolonization is being envisioned. Efforts towards decolonizing the curriculum included two subthemes: review, revise, and reform discussed the initiatives for decolonizing the content-related aspects of the curriculum, and train, collaborate, and empower highlighted the efforts that complemented these initiatives. Supporting curriculum decolonization explained how decolonization work could be sustained, and creating a conducive ecosystem discussed the need for a supportive environment.

Conclusion

Our study highlighted the potential of collaborative efforts, institutional support, critical reflection, and inclusive dialogue to reimagine, restructure, and decolonize curricula. Teaching implications: we propose 12 concrete, co-produced, evidence-based recommendations to help initiate and advance psychology curriculum decolonization.
‘Tell me what to do. Gabriel?’: gender hegemony in the film Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)
Authors: McCullough Keiko M. , Lester Jessica N.
Published: December 2024

This article explores the ways in which gender is produced in the historical romance film adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd (2015). Utilising a visually informed, critical discursive psychology approach, we found that hegemonic masculinities and femininities are richly constructed in manners that ultimately functioned to subordinate femininity to masculinity. Moreover, multiple societal inequalities (e.g., racism, classism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism) are reproduced through the construction of gendered characters, perpetuating the myth that the nineteenth-century English countryside was entirely culturally homogenous. Collectively, our findings reveal how historicised, gendered film characters are mobilised to reinforce present-day inequalities.
‘Is not easy to walk with so much power in your flesh’: uses of the erotic in Tanya Shirley’s poetry
Authors: Cousins Francina
Published: December 2024

This article analyses the representation of the sexual bodies and erotic desire of Jamaican black women in selected poems by Tanya Shirley. It draws on postcolonial feminist theories and Caribbean and diasporic cultural studies, especially Audre Lorde’s theory of the erotic as power, as it analyses idiosyncratic sources and strategies of women’s erotic empowerment. In her poetry, Shirley is careful to highlight the volatility of eroticism as a force that can both empower and imperil women. She also erotically empowers frequently neglected attributes of female subjectivity such as the fat female body and the stereotypically nurturing characteristic of women. Moreover, Shirley pays homage to Jamaican working-class women who cunningly deploy their erotic power in response to socioeconomic and gender oppression in the problematic and nuanced contexts of Caribbean gender politics. Through these rhetorical and thematic strategies, Shirley illustrates various uses of the erotic as a template for Caribbean women’s poetics. This model rejects both pathologised and respectable renditions of Caribbean black women’s sexuality as evidenced in historical discourse and earlier works by women writers, insisting, instead, on an assertive and celebratory female eroticism.
Report of the First ONTOX Hackathon: Hack to Save Lives and Avoid Animal Suffering. The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Toxicology — A Potential Driver for Reducing/Replacing Laboratory Animals in the Future
Authors: Diemar Michael G. , Krul Cyrille A.M. , Teunis Marc , Busquet Francois , Kandarova Helena , Zajac Julia D. , Vinken Mathieu , Roggen Erwin L.
Published: December 2024

The first ONTOX Hackathon of the EU Horizon 2020-funded ONTOX project was held on 21–23 April 2024 in Utrecht, The Netherlands ( https://ontox-project.eu/hackathon/ ). This participatory event aimed to collectively advance innovation for human safety through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and hence significantly reduce reliance on animal-based testing. Expert scientists, industry leaders, young investigators, members of animal welfare organisations and academics alike, joined the hackathon. Eight teams were stimulated to find innovative solutions for challenging themes, that were selected based on previous discussions between stakeholders, namely: How to drive the use of AI in chemical risk assessment?; To predict or protect?; How can we secure human health and environmental protection at the same time?; and How can we facilitate the transition from animal tests to full implementation of human-relevant methods? The hackathon ended with a pitching contest, where the teams presented their solutions to a jury. The most promising solutions will be presented to regulatory authorities, industry, academia and non-governmental organisations at the next ONTOX Stakeholder Network meeting and taken up by the ONTOX project in order to tackle the above-mentioned challenges further. This report comprises two parts: The first part highlights some of the lessons learnt during the planning and execution of the hackathon; the second part presents the outcome of the ONTOX Hackathon, which resulted in several innovative and promising solutions based on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), and outlines ONTOX’s intended way forward.
Organizing Counterpublics: Scenes from Contemporary Russia
Authors: Kalinina Anna , Beyes Timon
Published: December 2024

Writings on counterpublics, publicness and the public realm present a theoretical and empirical dialectic of a public sphere in the singular and multiple counterpublics. We update and relocate this interplay by situating our paper in present-day Russia and the protests against the invasion of Ukraine. Through exemplary scenes of counterpublicness, and drawing upon Russian and Western scholarship, we develop a notion of counterpublics as a minimal condition of organization understood as the collective capacity to act. If the public sphere designates a controlled theatre for the organization of social experience, then the self-organized and dispersed struggle to enable moments of publicness keeps alive and rehearses political organizing under dire conditions.
A systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the impact of pentoxifylline on the healing and recurrence of venous leg ulcers
Authors: Salih Marwah , Elghazaly Hussein , Salih Sarah , Onida Sarah , Davies Alun H
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Venous leg ulcers (VLU) are the most severe manifestation of venous insufficiency and carry a poor prognosis because of delayed healing and recurrent ulceration. Pentoxifylline (PTX) is an example of a vasoactive medication that can be used alongside compression therapy to help improve ulcer healing rates. A previous review highlighted improved healing of VLU with PTX, although no analysis was made for complete ulcer healing and recurrence following treatment.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane databases were searched for all relevant English-language human studies between January 1980 and August 2023. Two independent authors screened and reviewed all articles for inclusion, performed data extraction and assessed methodological quality according to Cochrane’s risk of bias tool. Primary outcomes included complete ulcer healing and recurrence rates in the ipsilateral limb.

Results

Ten studies were eligible for analysis, of which nine were randomised trials and one was an observational cohort study. There were a total of 1,025 participants, with 515 having received PTX. In those receiving 1200 mg PTX, venous leg ulcers healed in 62% (315 participants). Compared to controls, PTX administration was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of complete ulcer healing (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.97-3.32, p < .001). The rate and time of ulcer recurrence were not recorded in any of the studies included.

Conclusion

The evidence demonstrates that PTX may have a significant beneficial impact on the rate of complete ulcer healing. Little evidence is currently present in the literature evaluating the recurrence rates of ulcers following PTX treatment. Large scale, high quality RCTs with an adequate follow-up period are needed to evaluate this and assess whether treatment with PTX shows a significant benefit in prevention of recurrence in venous ulcers.
Can AI Level the Playing Field? How AI-Assisted Assessment Impacts Gender Bias in Student Evaluations of Marketing Instructors
Authors: Cowan Michelle , Fox Gavin , Larson Keri
Published: December 2024

Marketing instructors increasingly are using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency in course planning and assessment. However, scholarship has yet to show how such use impacts student evaluations, which are often skewed by gender bias. Toward this aim, we conducted a quasi-experiment in which college-student participants viewed student work along with instructor feedback under four experimental conditions. In one condition, participants were told the grade and feedback were written by the instructor and, in another, that the feedback was generated by an AI tool trained by the instructor. Instructor gender was also manipulated. Participants evaluated the assessment and the instructor using measures of agency and competence. We found that perceptions of agency and competence were higher for male instructors than for female instructors who did not use an AI tool. However, when instructors used AI, marked reductions in gender differences occurred. These findings suggest that AI complicates perceptions of agency and competence enough to potentially level the playing field for female instructors. However, perceptions of instructors were universally more negative when participants were told the assessment was created with AI, regardless of instructor gender. Therefore, attempts to use AI as an assessment tool should be made with caution.
The effects of sad music: Moderating role of cognitive reappraisal
Authors: Herdson Oliver , Minchin Matilda , Parker Holly , Muller Selina , Javadi Amir-Homayoun
Published: December 2024

Seemingly paradoxically, sad music has exhibited potential in improving mood in individuals, as well as being detrimental to mood and indicative of maladaptive behaviours concerning emotion regulation. Research suggests that different adaptive and maladaptive behaviours underlie sad music listening. Therefore, we explored if cognitive reappraisal (CR) was an effective tool for promoting mood enhancement. CR is a cognitive skill that focuses on the reframing and re-evaluation of negative events in a positive way. Across two studies, the combined effect of sad music and CR, in conjunction with events having a neutral or sad effect on mood, was explored. Data analyses revealed that CR significantly enhanced mood notably more than the control task. A three-way interaction effect revealed that higher levels of depression symptoms were associated with worse mood regulation across all but one condition; only happy music with the control task was associated with an increase in mood regulation for individuals with higher levels of depression. Therefore, CR was shown to be effective in improving one’s mood, though mood regulation typically decreased as depression symptoms increased. The discussion covered how these results fit into the existing literature and the relevant theoretical implications, with the most pronounced finding being that CR remained effect whether in the presence of happy or sad music.
An investigation of earworms and obsessive–compulsive traits using experience sampling and retrospective methods
Authors: Killingly Callula , Bielinski Daniel , Lacherez Philippe
Published: December 2024

Having a song ‘stuck’ in the head – an earworm – is a curious cognitive phenomenon frequently experienced among the general population. The intrusive and involuntary nature of earworms has led to recent survey studies investigating their potential link with obsessive–compulsive (OC) traits. However, those higher in OC traits may tend to self-report more earworms and evaluate their episodes less positively, simply because they are more likely to notice and be disturbed by the experience. This study employed both experience sampling methodology (ESM) and a retrospective survey to investigate earworms in relation to OC traits. Participants ( n = 131) undertook online surveys assessing past experiences of earworms, OC traits, and musical experience, followed by 3 days of experience sampling probes. Results indicated that OC traits moderated the relationship between the two measures of earworm frequency, such that consistency between the two measures became weaker at higher levels of OC traits. Ratings of earworm unpleasantness were highly correlated between retrospective and ESM measures, yet OC traits did not moderate this relationship. These findings indicate that individual differences should be considered in choosing a methodology to measure earworm experiences and that ESM may provide a more sensitive measure of earworm frequency.
Knowledge management and provision of academic library services in the University of Sierra Leone: A mixed-methods approach
Authors: Lahai Prince Sao
Published: December 2024

This study examined knowledge management practices in the academic libraries of Fourah Bay College (FBC), the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) and the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) at the University of Sierra Leone. Data from 33 participants via questionnaires, interviews and observations revealed significant gaps, including the absence of knowledge categorisation into explicit, implicit and tacit forms. Additionally, knowledge management policies are not well-publicised, resulting in staff's lack of understanding of their importance. The research underscores the potential benefits of categorising library knowledge, which could enhance the organisation and accessibility of information. Such improvements would be valuable for governments, university authorities, librarians, policymakers, researchers, students and the public, facilitating better knowledge management and access within these academic institutions.
Development and validation of the Continuing Professional Development Scale: A knowledge transfer perspective
Authors: Abbas Syed Fakhar , Batool Syeda Hina , Ameen Kanwal
Published: December 2024

Purpose: Professional groups and bodies for librarians and information professionals such as the Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning (CPDWL) Section of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) strongly encourage continuing professional development. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a scale for measuring the effectiveness of continuing professional development (CPD) and knowledge transfer (KT) among information professionals. The study identifies four factors (CPD purposes, forms of CPD, effectiveness of CPD and KT, and factors affecting KT during CPD) to measure the effectiveness of CDP and KT practices. Design: The pilot instrument, based on the literature, was empirically validated by collecting data from 220 library professionals having at least five years of professional experience. Findings: The construct validity of the scale was verified through exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The scale reliability was further calculated through the Cronbach's alpha internal reliability coefficient. Consequently, a valid and reliable 72-item scale was developed to measure the effectiveness of CPD and KT among information professionals.
Conceptual Confusion: A Barrier to Multi-Professional Involvement in Advance Care Planning in Nursing Homes – An Ethnographic Study
Authors: Andrews Nicola , Myall Michelle
Published: December 2024

Objectives

How health and social care professionals need to work together to deliver advance care planning (ACP) in nursing homes is not fully understood, with a reliance on professionals external to the nursing home to support ACP in the United Kingdom. The objectives of this study were to (a) examine the factors that influence multi-professional involvement in the ACP process within nursing homes and (b) explore how multi-professional working impacts the ACP process in nursing homes.

Methods

Using ethnography, data was collected through observation, interviews and document review from 36 participants including residents ( n = 6), relatives ( n = 4), nursing home staff ( n = 19) and visiting professionals ( n = 7). Data analysis combined thematic analysis, mapping of ACP trajectories for participant residents, and documentary analysis of nursing home policies.

Results

There was conceptual confusion around ACP. How ACP was understood and what was prioritised for inclusion varied between residents and professionals, and between different professionals. That ACP was frequently integrated with routine care planning was not recognised in how professionals accounted for their ACP practice. Professionals prioritised biomedical concerns, despite this not reflecting resident priorities and policy suggesting a broader definition. This created difficulties in enacting ACP, with a holistic understanding of resident wishes not always captured.

Conclusions

A shared understanding of ACP was not consistently evident from those tasked with its enactment. This, combined with professional construction of ACP in biomedical terms, limits multi-professional working and can prevent a person-centred process being achieved for nursing home residents.
Malleable and Static Risk Factors Associated with Boys’ Patterns of Interpersonal Violence: A Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Rizzo Andrew J. , Scaglione Nichole M. , Lowe Ashley , Kan Marni L.
Published: December 2024

Despite an increased risk of committing and experiencing violence among adolescent boys, little is known about either how different types of violence co-occur within individuals or their association with different risk factors. This study used a person-centered approach to (1) identify patterns in boys’ perpetration and victimization across a range of 7 types of interpersonal violence (bullying, electronic aggression, sexual harassment/aggression; and psychological/ physical/sexual dating violence); and (2) examine the association of these patterns with 12 risk factors at the individual, relational, and community level to inform future prevention efforts. We used latent class analysis to identify patterns of violence among a diverse sample of 239 adolescent boys from 12 schools in 4 regions of the United States. Four classes were identified: The LOW-ALL group (36.4% of the sample) described boys unlikely to commit or experience any forms of violence. The PERP-MULTI group (20.9%) included boys with a high probability of committing bullying and sexual harassment and a relatively lower probability of experiencing sexual harassment. The EQUAL-PEER-SH group (33.5%) described boys with a high probability of both committing and experiencing sexual harassment, bullying, and electronic aggression. The smallest group of boys, labeled HIGH-ALL (9.2%), were at a high probability of committing and experiencing nearly all types of violence examined. We used weighted multiple-group analysis to compare risk factors across the latent groups identified. Attitudes supporting violence, internalized traditional masculinity, delinquency, school withdrawal, and both family and community violence exposure were significantly higher in groups with a high likelihood to commit various types of violence. These findings provide practical guidance for enhancing universal and selected violence prevention efforts for adolescent boys.
From Leipzig to Kyiv through Brussels: How the Revolution of 1989 Defined an Era
Authors: Krapfl James
Published: December 2024

To mark the 35th anniversary of the revolutionary events of 1989, the twentieth anniversary of the European Union’s 2004 enlargement, and the tenth anniversary of Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity, East European Politics and Societies has invited six members of the journal’s editorial and advisory boards to contribute reflections on problems associated with the anniversaries. This introduction sets the contributions in context, and it asks how the period as a whole—now nearly as long as the period of Communist rule in most of the region—should be conceptualized. It argues for the explanatory value of defining the era not so much in terms of “post-Communism,” but in terms of the revolutionary experience that in 1989 provided the yardstick against which subsequent developments have been measured.
Testing Motivation-Based vs. Social Exchange Communication Strategies in Email Survey Recruitment
Authors: Kosakow Jason , Greenberg Pierce
Published: December 2024

Despite well-documented challenges, researchers across the social sciences continue to rely on email to recruit research participants. However, few studies examine how different communication strategies impact email open and conversion rates, especially among surveys of establishments. Our paper aims to fill that gap by examining whether motivation-based appeals—which we develop from respondents’ reasons for participating—outperform a communication approach based on social exchange theory. Our study identified the top three motivations why current panel members participate in the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Business Survey: (1) access to data and other benefits, (2) the ability to influence economic policy, and (3) to help make their communities better. Then, we crafted email subject lines and messages to match those three motivations and a version based on tenets of social exchange theory. Our results find that the social exchange version outperforms the motivation-based appeals in both email open and conversion rates—with a stronger influence on conversion rates. We discuss the implications of these results for how social science researchers communicate with potential research participants by email.
Transparent Informality: The Ma(s)king of Professionals in Childcare Service Platforms
Authors: Arcidiacono Davide , Bonifacio Francesco , Pais Ivana
Published: December 2024

The advent of digital care platforms has been observed to give rise to a new regime of visibility, which facilitates the standardization of informal work while maintaining its precarious conditions. While these apparently opposing processes are often viewed as a trade-off between professionalization and informalization, this paper aims to shed light on their mutual interdependence. The article analyzes the case of Babysits, a global digital platform offering childcare services, focusing on the Italian context. Through in-depth interviews with platform workers and managers, the study shows that while the platform encourages workers to present themselves as professionals, it does not facilitate the formalization of their working conditions. In fact, the visibility of workers is decoupled from the construction of actual pathways of professionalization. Overall, the article confirms that, despite the construction of a ‘client-oriented professional discourse’, digital care platforms remain embedded in the informal market and contribute to its expansion beyond traditional proximity networks.
High prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among adolescents and young adults attending HIV and sexual health clinics
Authors: Pansue Krisanee , Promsena Pathariya , Songtaweesin Wipaporn Natalie , Moonwong Juthamanee , Ryan Juliet , Kawichai Surinda , Thanapirom Kessarin , Puthanakit Thanyawee
Published: December 2024

Background

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Thai adults is 0.5%–1.0%. This study aims to determine the prevalence of HCV infection among adolescents and young adults (AYA) accessing HIV/sexual health clinics.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among AYA aged 15–24 years attending HIV/sexual health clinics in Bangkok, Thailand. The HCV infection prevalence, defined by anti-HCV antibody positivity using rapid diagnostic tests (SD BIOSENSOR, Korea), were reported with proportions and a 95% confidence interval (CI). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with HCV infection.

Results

From March to August 2023, 300 AYAs with a median age of 21 (interquartile range 20–23) years were enrolled into the study. One-third (29.7%) were people living with HIV (PLHIV). The overall prevalence of HCV infection was 2.7% (95%CI 1.2–5.2). Prevalence was higher among PLHIV (5.6%) compared to AYA without HIV (1.4%) ( p-value 0.053). The factor most significantly associated with HCV infection was people who used drugs (adjusted odds ratio 15.3, 95% CI 2.9–82.0, p-value 0.001).

Conclusions

History of drug use was associated with the highest HCV infection prevalence. PLHIV had a trend of higher prevalence. HCV screening in HIV/sexual health clinics is recommended for early detection, treatment, and transmission reduction.
The potency of oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi in organic waste valorization to biodiesel
Authors: Saha Shouvik , Laha Deep , Mandal Esha , Datta Deepshikha , Das Bimal , Jeon Byong-Hun
Published: December 2024

Oleaginous yeast-derived biodiesel production utilizing zero-value organic waste biomasses has been prioritized to curb environmental pollution, global warming, and rising bioenergy demands. Lipomyces starkeyi is a promising lipid accumulator among various oleaginous yeasts due to its potency for lipogenesis utilizing a diverse variety of substrates and tolerating various fermentation inhibitors produced during biomass pretreatment. The prevalence of saturated and monounsaturated longer-chain fatty acids (C16–C18) in triglyceride of L. starkeyi improves the quality of the produced biodiesel. Nevertheless, variations in substrate types, fermentation conditions, and modes of fermentation influence the growth of L. starkeyi and its lipid productivity and profile. This review will comprehensively discuss the lipid production potency of oleaginous L. starkeyi during variations in substrate composition and fermentation conditions and their impact on lipid production and its quality to facilitate industrial production of L. starkeyi-derived biodiesel utilizing zero-value organic waste.
Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Mental Health Issues: A Systematic Review
Authors: Aravind Arya , Agarwal Manju , Malhotra Shahzadi , Ayyub Sayma
Published: December 2024

Background

Mental health disorders rank among the most common psychiatric conditions, with lifetime prevalence rates that have a significant effect on the global population. Although CBT is still the most generally recommended psychosocial intervention for mental health problems, a significant number of patients do not fully react to therapy, which results in persistent symptoms. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has gained worldwide attention as a promising intervention with a growing body of empirical support across a variety of mental health conditions.

A systematic review was conducted to evaluate ACT’s impact on mental health. Comprehensive searches of Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Shodganga, along with reference and citation checks, yielded 15 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Four independent reviewers assessed the studies for eligibility, methodological rigor, and data extraction. The findings revealed that ACT consistently reduces symptom severity, improves emotional regulation, enhances life satisfaction, and increases psychological flexibility. However, common methodological limitations include small sample sizes, lack of long-term follow-ups, and limited control group comparisons.

Key Message

ACT demonstrates significant promise as a trans-diagnostic intervention adaptable to various mental health issues. Despite its evident benefits in symptom reduction and psychological well-being, further research addressing methodological constraints is crucial to optimize its clinical applications and establish its long-term efficacy.
Exploring Beta-sitosterol’s Role in Breast Cancer Treatment via Integrated Network Pharmacological Analysis and In Vitro Validation
Authors: Yu Jiaxing , Cheng Shuqin , Ye Zelin , Zhang Ming , Zhao Xinlei
Published: December 2024

Background

Beta-sitosterol, a phytosterol similar to cholesterol, is found in various plants and is recognized for its potential anticancer properties; still, the mechanism of breast cancer (BC) remains elusive.

Purpose

This study investigates the potential targets of beta-sitosterol in BC using network pharmacological analysis and in vitro validation.

Methods

Targets of beta-sitosterol and BC were identified from online databases, including Swiss Target Prediction, SuperPred, GeneCards, and DisGeNET. Protein–protein interactions of common targets were analyzed using STRING version 11.0, and network construction and core target screening were performed with Cytoscape 3.8.0. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and gene ontology (GO) annotation were conducted using the ShinyGO web tool. Molecular docking analysis was done with AutoDock Vina and the in vitro validation, including cell viability, apoptosis, and gene expression analysis was done using MTT assay, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively.

Results

Sixty-eight common targets for beta-sitosterol and BC were identified from 209 beta-sitosterol targets and 1,350 BC-related genes. Five core targets (HIF1A, ESR1, STAT3, TNF, and MAPK3) were identified. GO analysis linked common targets to biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. KEGG pathway analysis showed enrichment in pathways such as central carbon metabolism in cancer, vascular endothelial growth factor signaling, and prolactin signaling. Beta-sitosterol’s impact on MCF7 cell viability was assessed via MTT assay, and its molecular effects were explored through PCR. Results demonstrated beta-sitosterol’s ability to hinder tumor progression by modulating genes involved in ESR1, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and tumor necrosis factor signaling pathways.

Conclusion

These findings highlight beta-sitosterol’s potential as an anticancer agent, offering new perspectives for clinical investigations through the modulation of key signaling pathways in BC.
Demographic Distribution and Contributing Factors of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Tertiary Care Centre Study
Authors: Gera Priyanka , Singh Neena Vir , Kaur Sukhpal , Tewari M. K.
Published: December 2024

Objective

To determine the demographic distribution and contributing factors of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Materials and Methods

Using total enumeration sampling technique, 61 patients during October-December 2020, were enrolled in the study. Data was collected using a pre-validated questionnaire.

Results

Mean age of patients was 41.16 ± 15.1 (range 6–70) years. Majority were male (78.7%) and married (73.8%). Most of the patients belonged to Punjab state (47.5%) and rural areas (72.1%). Major cause of TBI was a road-side accident (RSA) in 70.5% patients. One-quarter (24.6%) of the patients had consumed alcohol at the time of injury. One-third (34.4%) of the patients did not suffer immediate loss of consciousness. However, 65.6% patients lost consciousness immediately after injury of which only 55.7% regained it within six hours. Three-quarters (75%) of the patients received help within 30 minutes of TBI. Around 30% of the cases reported poor road infrastructure as contributing factors to RSA. Nearly half (48.8%) of the patients were driving a 2-wheeler while 27.9% were pillion riders. None of the 2-wheeler occupants wore helmets. Around half (46.5%) of the patients had collision/hit as the mechanism of injury while it was a loss of balance and slip/skid in 16.3% and 9.3% patients, respectively. Among 25% of the patients who had fallen, 43.8% had fallen from height followed by fall from stairs in 37.5% patients. The remaining 3% of TBI patients were assaulted as a result of quarrels due to property disputes or alcohol consumption by some blunt physical objects.

Conclusion

The present study reported RSA as the major cause of TBI contributed by poor road infrastructure and negligence towards road safety rules.
Re-examining Wage Disparities Across Segments of the Indian Labor Market
Authors: Ahmed Nawazuddin , Nauriyal D. K.
Published: December 2024

This article examines income disparities by considering both employer and employee perspectives of informality to scrutinize labor market segmentation in India. Additionally, the research investigates the impacts of varying degrees of urbanization, migration patterns, and industrial structures on formal and informal employment in the labor force. Utilizing data from the National Sample Survey Employment and Unemployment Survey rounds, specifically the 2004–2005 (61st) and 2011–2012 (68th) rounds, along with the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2018–2019 round, quantile regression models and the Recentred Influence Function decomposition method were employed to analyze wage inequality. A selection-corrected wage equation and its estimate were also presented by applying Bourguignon, Fournier, and Gurgand’s model-based selection correction. The study’s findings indicate that by 2019, the labor market had divided into two groups: organized formal workers and others. Further, the study reports wage convergence at lower quantiles and a widening gap at higher quantiles between organized formal and unorganized informal workers. Organized formal workers witness rising earnings, indicating positive wage growth, yet their share in overall employment remains small, which is significant given low job creation and high educated unemployment. At higher wage quantiles, there is a premium for being an informal worker in the organized sector compared to the unorganized sector, indicating a queue for formal employment opportunities in the organized sector. Despite the service sector’s significant role in Indian growth, it lags in creating formal job opportunities, unlike the manufacturing and construction sectors, which emphasize their substantial contribution to formal job generation. This study underlines that categorizing a firm as merely organized or a worker as formally employed is insufficient. Upgrades in these classifications should be accompanied by premiums, with wages being a key consideration.

JEL Classification J31, J42, J62, J71
How Chinese Nurses Cope With Acculturation Challenges in Japan: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
Authors: Mori Tsubasa , Tobita Itoko
Published: December 2024

Introduction:

Chinese nurses in Japan face difficulties owing to differences in language, interpersonal behaviors, and nursing roles. This study examined how Chinese nurses in Japan cope with acculturation challenges.

Methodology:

This study employed a qualitative descriptive design using individual semi-structured interviews with 10 Chinese nurses. Thematic content analysis was performed.

Results:

Chinese nurses performed their tasks despite language barriers. Furthermore, they behaved according to Japanese social norms and adjusted their perceptions by focusing on the favorable aspects of different nursing roles. They used the same approach to overcome the psychological stress due to these differences. They learned these coping strategies through interactions with Japanese individuals in work settings.

Discussion:

Providing support for learning language expression, behavior, and family nursing in accordance with Japanese social norms could facilitate Chinese nurses’ adjustment. Moreover, a deeper understanding of each other’s cultures is crucial for a successful cross-cultural collaboration.
Back to the Bottle: Comparison of Palatoplasty Outcomes Before and After Systematic Changes to Postoperative Precaution Protocols
Authors: Lico Margaret M. , Rodrigo Diaz-Siso Jesus , Gayner Sydney , Groysman Leya , Laspro Matteo , Diaz Allison L. , Young Amanda L. , Camison-Bravo Liliana , Flores Roberto L.
Published: December 2024

Main Objective

To analyze postoperative palatoplasty outcomes before and after systemic protocol changes to preferred bottle and arm immobilizer use after surgery.

Design

Retrospective, cohort study.

Setting

Urban, academic, tertiary medical center in New York City, NY.

Participants

Eighty-four patients who underwent primary palatoplasty and met inclusion criteria during 1 of 2 treatment periods, 2016 to 2017 (group A, n = 45) and 2019 to 2020 (group B, n = 39).

Interventions

Protocols were amended over the 2018 calendar year to allow for utilization of the baby's preferred bottle (vs alternative feeding methods) and hand socks (vs arm immobilizers) in the immediate postoperative period. Data was extrapolated from electronic medical records to compare surgical outcomes.

Main Outcome Measures

Postoperative wound complications (fistula and dehiscence) that did not resolve within 1 month, length of stay (hours), and 30-day re-admission. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests and Fisher's Exact test were utilized for statistical analysis.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences between sex, age at surgery, Veau classification, or hard and soft palate surgical repair technique. Group A had a wound complication rate of 8.7% (n = 4) versus a 2.6% rate (n = 1) for group B. No patients were re-admitted to the hospital from either group. There were no statistically significant differences between groups regarding length of stay ( P = .528) or wound complication ( P = .366).

Conclusions

The findings from this study suggest relaxing postoperative protocols following palatoplasty to allow immediate bottle feedings and unrestricted arm use may be safe without compromise to surgical outcomes.