bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Platforms Don’t Care – Qualified and Experienced Women Do: A Case Study on Self-Employment and On-Demand Platforms in Eldercare
Authors: Baum Franziska
Published: December 2024

The proliferation of digital labour platforms ranges from ride-hailing and delivery services to care work. Eldercare platforms emerged as a prominent focus of critique regarding platformization, commodification, and the nature of care itself. However, empirical studies thus far have largely focused on domestic work and childcare, leaving a significant gap in the examination of eldercare platforms. This paper addresses this underexplored area by presenting empirical findings derived from a mixed-methods analysis involving 2144 eldercare workers’ profiles and 14 in-depth interviews. Through cluster analysis, the research identifies the distinct groups that comprise the workforce on on-demand eldercare platforms. In doing so, the study challenges prevailing narratives around platform labour, emphasizing that they are not universally applicable. The findings reveal that platforms tailored for cleaning, domestic care and eldercare each engage uniquely composed workforces, highlighting the significant stratification within care work and its implications for platformization. Ultimately, the research presents three key insights: first, that care platforms function as niche markets; second, that workers in these on-demand platforms possess substantial practical experience and qualifications in caregiving; and third, that, contrary to trends in other sectors of platformized care, migrant workers are not disproportionately represented on eldercare platforms in Germany.
Mothers in Urban India: Exploring Identity
Authors: Bhandarkar Renuka , Kulkarni Mrinmoyi
Published: December 2024

Motherhood is a life-changing event. The experience of motherhood among middle-class married Indian women is explored in this qualitative study. The aim of this study was to understand ‘how’ motherhood is incorporated into identity within the context of competing discourses of patriarchy vis-à-vis modernism and feminism. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 urban women, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. The following themes were identified: roles as contributing to identity, role conflict, social support and growth. From the Eriksonian perspective, motherhood is viewed as a period of psycho-social crises in which the original identity goes through a process of transformation to emerge anew. Implications of an integrated identity for the well-being of mothers are discussed.
Book review: Rana Safvi, Tears of the Begums: Stories of Survivors of the Uprising of 1857
Authors: Liddle Swapna
Published: December 2024

Rana Safvi, Tears of the Begums: Stories of Survivors of the Uprising of 1857 (translated from the Urdu), (Hachette India, 2022), 244 pp. ₹499. ISBN: 978-9-3937-0114-5 (Paperback).
Adikasu and the Precarity of Women Vendors in Puducherry, India
Authors: Ravichandran Raveena Esther , Das Lalatendu Keshari
Published: December 2024

Adikasu vendors are a distinct category of street vendors. Drawing on a qualitative study of women adikasu vendors in the Goubert Market area of Puducherry, this article explores questions pertaining to their identity, the nature of work and the meanings associated with their occupied sites. The authors show that the women adikasu vendors inhabit a liminal space between legality and illegality in a semi-formalised market structure. They are rendered illegitimate because they are not formally recognised by the municipal corporation, but they are simultaneously regulated because they are asked to pay a daily adikasu (or base fee) of ₹10 to the corporation for occupying a vending site in the market. The precarity of the women adikasu vendors is caused by the simultaneous certainty and uncertainty they face as they seek a living while maintaining the dignity of their work.
Profit with Purpose: Exploring the Economic Returns of CSR in Indian Banks
Authors: Kumar Vikas
Published: December 2024

The study examines financial performance and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by examining four well-known Indian banks: ICICI, SBI, PNB, and HDFC. The study examines how CSR investments affect essential financial performance indicators. Quantitative methods were used to extract secondary data from financial databases, bank annuals, and CSR reports from 2013 to 2023. Financial metrics such as ROA, ROE, and NPM are examined in relation to CSR spending and the scope of CSR operations using multiple regression analysis. According to the study results, extensive CSR initiatives are directly associated with better financial success, with statistically significant correlations between CSR expenditure and key financial performance metrics, including ROE ( β = 0.25, p < .01) and NPM ( β = 0.20, p < .05). Additionally, the scope of CSR activities positively influences ROA ( β = 0.15, p < .05), ROE ( β = 0.30, p < .01), and NPM ( β = 0.22, p < .01). These findings underscore CSR’s strategic importance by demonstrating that CSR investments enhance profitability and equity returns and align with stakeholder expectations for sustainable and responsible business practices. For policymakers, this highlights the value of encouraging CSR through supportive regulations. For investors, it shows the potential for CSR to contribute to long-term financial stability. At the same time, for banking executives, it emphasizes the need to integrate CSR into core business strategies to drive sustainable financial growth.
Framing Manipur Violence: Assessing Right-Wing Inroads into the Syrian Christian Community of Kerala
Authors: Sony Amal
Published: December 2024

The Syrian Christian community in Kerala has responded positively to the right-wing political outreach. Its digital manifestations are evident, especially on Facebook. But how do they respond to unfavourable external events? Through netnographic analysis of a select Christian Facebook page, this study explores the community’s framing of Manipur violence, which was characterised as Christian persecution within a majoritarian setting. The research probes the frame-building process, simplifying historical intricacies and reframing ethnic violence and tribal strife within the narrative. The analysis reveals the adoption of caste consciousness and the religious othering tropes to undermine the solidarity extended to Manipur Christians. The formats of multimedia content and the linguistic choices exemplify the rhetorical positioning of the community. The findings shed insights into the deliberations of minorities within and outside their communities in a majoritarian framework.
Public Spending on R&D: Recent Issues in the Philippines
Authors: Jandoc Karl Robert , Radoc Benjamin , Garces Ludigil , Gutierrez Elsie , Kiocho Mae Hyacinth , Macadato Madrigal , Manguera Mark , Turla John Faust
Published: December 2024

The intensity of research and development (R&D) that is necessary to accelerate innovation leading to economic growth is nuanced by industry needs, the readiness of end-users and the transition from R&D to commercialization. In the Philippines, the public R&D sphere is affected by a myriad of wicked problems: low budgets, complex procurement rules, missing markets that hamper technology transfer, lack of human resource complement and lack of clear and coherent vision on how to harness innovation to improve productivity. This article focuses on institutional issues that affect R&D growth in the Philippines. Using data from official budget sources and key informants from selected government agencies, we reviewed the institutional setup for the development and implementation of R&D programmes and projects (PAPs). We also identified the factors that either facilitate or hinder R&D growth and proposed policy recommendations and legislative action. We recommend that there should be an articulated vision of what type of innovation to focus on, complemented by policies to reform or relax bottlenecks regarding budgetary and procurement processes. To promote an R&D culture, the government may prioritize data sharing and provide a clear rationale on the roles, scope and limitations of existing and proposed research centres.
Intoxication of dairy cows in Uruguay by ingestion of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) seeds in sorghum silage
Authors: Sosa Santiago , Capelli Alejandra , Corro Ana C. , Dutra Fernando , García y Santos Carmen
Published: December 2024

The ingestion of cotyledons or seeds of cocklebur ( Xanthium strumarium) causes poisoning as a result of acute liver failure. Here we describe a spontaneous outbreak of X. strumarium toxicity in dairy cows in Uruguay. The outbreak occurred in the winter when the cows were fed sorghum silage contaminated with X. strumarium seeds. Clinical signs of depression, anorexia, paddling, opisthotonos, muscle tremors, sternal recumbency, and death were observed 2–12 h following ingestion. Of 160 Holstein cows, 30 (19%) animals were ill, and 6 (4%) died. At autopsy, the liver had a diffuse mottled appearance with intercalated red and yellow areas. Histologically, centrilobular hemorrhagic coagulative necrosis was found. The diagnosis of this natural outbreak of intoxication was based on the clinical signs observed, finding the fruits of X. strumarium in the silage, and the characteristic macroscopic and histologic lesions.
Leptospira seroprevalence in dogs, cats, and horses in Tennessee, USA
Authors: McCreight Kellie A. , Barbosa Liana N. , Odoi Agricola , Reed Porsha , Rajeev Sreekumari
Published: December 2024

We estimated the Leptospira seroprevalence in dogs, cats, and horses from Tennessee, USA, using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) against 12 Leptospira serovars. We observed Leptospira seropositivity in 110 of 374 (29.4%) dogs, 21 of 170 (12.4%) cats, and 42 of 88 (47.7%) horses. The highest seroprevalence was observed for serovars Autumnalis (74.6%) in dogs, and Bratislava in cats (42.9%) and horses (95.2%). We found a significant level of potential cross-reactivity between multiple Leptospira serovars tested, with highest cross-reactivity to serovar Autumnalis in dogs. Leptospira seroprevalence was significantly higher in vaccinated dogs (45 of 98 [46%]) compared to unvaccinated dogs (14 of 86 [16%]; p < 0.001). A significant difference in seroprevalence was observed in vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs to all 4 serovars included in canine leptospiral vaccines ( p < 0.001). We also evaluated the Leptospira testing results from our diagnostic laboratory submissions from 2021–2023; 103 of 252 (40%) canine serum samples were positive, with the highest positivity rate for serovar Autumnalis. On Leptospira real-time PCR, 35 of 325 (10.7%) urine samples and 15 of 257 (5.8%) blood samples were positive. The cross-reactivity between the Leptospira serovars used in the MAT and vaccination status should be considered when estimating seroprevalence.
Distribution of lesions and detection of influenza A(H5N1) virus, clade 2.3.4.4b, in ante- and postmortem samples from naturally infected domestic cats on U.S. dairy farms
Authors: Mainenti Marta , Siepker Christopher , Magstadt Drew R. , Gauger Phillip , Baum David , Petersen Barbara , Aubrey Taylor , Sett Katie , Burrough Eric R.
Published: December 2024

In March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, clade 2.3.4.4b, was detected in dairy cows in the United States, and at the same time in resident cats on affected farms. To help guide sample collection and diagnosis in cats, here we report the distribution of lesions and detection of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b influenza A virus (IAV) infection by PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and serology in samples from 4 deceased and 2 living cats from 3 separate affected dairy farms. Although gross lesions were not diagnostic, histologically, all 4 deceased cats had nonsuppurative and necrotizing encephalitis and subtle interstitial pneumonia, and some also had significant myocarditis (3 of 4), chorioretinitis (2 of 4), and sialadenitis (1 of 2). The virus was detected by IHC in the aforementioned tissues, and by PCR in each brain (Ct = 9.9–25.1), lung (17.4–32.7), oropharyngeal swab (28.3–30.5), urine (30.3–34.4), and nasal swab (33.5–34.1) collected postmortem; fecal swabs were PCR-negative. In the antemortem samples, the virus was detected by PCR in the oropharyngeal swabs (34.1–36.1), whole-blood samples (30.8–36.6), and one serum sample (31.7). Seroconversion was detected in one cat. Our results support histologic evaluation of brain, lung, eyes, and heart, and PCR testing of brain and lung for postmortem diagnosis, and show that oropharyngeal swabs, urine, serum, and whole blood are suitable samples for antemortem detection of IAV infection in clinically affected cats.
Utilizing Hertzian contact model for a vibro-impact unimorph bistable energy harvester to increase working frequency bandwidth and harvested power
Authors: Shahsavar Mostafa , Ashory Mohammad Reza , Khatibi Mohammad Mahdi
Published: December 2024

The typical bistable energy harvester (TBEH) systems usually have a limited working frequency bandwidth and low performance in energy conversion. This paper proposed a unilateral vibro-impact piezoelectric cantilever beam energy harvester. The novel vibro-impact bistable energy harvester (VIBEH) improves the drawbacks of a TBEH system. Despite previous research, in this paper, the collision process is modeled by nonlinear Hertzian contact theory. Nonlinear contact law adds strong nonlinearity to the harvester. By using the extended Hamilton principle and Euler-Lagrange equation, the governing equations of the energy harvester are derived and solved numerically. The existing nonlinearities cause frequency leaks and affect the type of motion (inter-well or intra-well motion) by changing the equilibrium points of the system. By applying nonlinear tools like Poincare diagrams, bifurcation plots, and phase portraits, the effects of periodic or chaotic oscillations will be studied on the performance of the VIBEH system. Finally, the effects of barrier stiffness, initial gap, barrier location, and electrical load are determined on the performance of the VIBEH system. The obtained results showed that using the VIBEH system could broaden the working frequency bandwidth by about 71.9%. Furthermore, the optimized values of impacting properties and electrical load are examined.
Modeling noise annoyance using Bayesian networks: A case study of an industrial factory
Authors: Asghari Mehdi , Goudarzi Forough , Kohansal Behieh , Abbasinia Marzieh , Moradzadeh Rahmatollah , Gorji Rahim
Published: December 2024

Background

Noise annoyance is a detrimental cognitive response elicited by noise exposure. Precisely identifying primary risk factors plays a vital role in effectively preventing and managing this issue.

Objective

This study aimed to develop a comprehensive Bayesian network model to predict noise annoyance, by identifying main contributing factors.

Methods

We conducted a deep literature review to list variables affecting the probability of noise annoyance Expert knowledge was elicited to finalize variables and find their causal relationship. We collected questionnaires from 542 workers in a steel factory during 2025–2023 to gather data on noise annoyance, insomnia severity, general health, workload, personality type, job stress, and loudness perception as the key variables. The Bayesian network was applied to model the probability of noise annoyance among workers and determine its key influencing factors. The model's accuracy and sensitivity were ultimately evaluated based on different approaches.

Results

Questionnaires results indicated that over 50% of the workers found the noise annoying, and nearly half perceived the loudness as extremely high. BN results showed that stress, sensitivity to noise, and personality were identified as the most influential factors affecting noise annoyance, respectively. The model exhibited a low error rate of 11.81% and a high Area Under the Curve of 0.88, demonstrating a high level of accuracy in predicting noise annoyance levels experienced by workers.

Conclusion

The study highlights the developed Bayesian model as a valuable tool for predicting risk factors and emphasizes pre-employment health assessments incorporating stress, noise sensitivity and personality to prevent, identify and manage noise annoyance in industrial settings.
PTCSC3, XIST, GAS5, UCA1, and HIFAL: Five lncRNAs Emerging as Potential Prognostic Players in Egyptian Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients
Authors: Leithy Asmaa A. El , Bakr Yasser Mabrouk , Hassan Naglaa M. , Dardeer Khaled T. , Assem Magda , Wahab Abdel Hady A. Abdel
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims

So far, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) signatures in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are poorly understood. The present study aims to explore the prognostic significance of eleven cancer-related lncRNAs in bone marrow (BM) samples from adult Egyptian AML patients.

Materials and Methods

In this study, we analyzed eleven lncRNAs using the qRT-PCR assay in the bone marrow (BM) of 79 de novo AML adult patients before receiving any therapy.

Results

Five lncRNAs out of 11 were aberrantly expressed, and two lncRNAs influenced significantly the patient’s overall survival (OS). LncRNA-XIST was favorable when overexpressed (in univariate and multivariate analysis, P-value = .001). LncRNA-GAS5 adversely affected the OS (only in multivariate analysis P-value = .02). Two other lncRNAs (UCA1 and HIFAL) impacted complete remission induction (CR) significantly in univariate analysis ( P-value = .046 for both). Furthermore, lncRNA-UCA1 affected CR significantly in multivariate COX regression analysis ( P-value = .004). The 4 previously mentioned lncRNAs were among the 9 downregulated lncRNAs. Instead, the only 2 upregulated lncRNAs (SNHG15, MALAT1) did not significantly influence neither CR induction nor OS. LncRNA-PTCSC3, a fifth lncRNA, emerged as the only one that could predict relapse occurrence in an upfront original BM sample.

Conclusion

Two lncRNAs out of eleven (lncRNA-XIST and GAS5) impacted OS, and two other lncRNAs (UCA1 and HIFAL) affected CR in adult de novo AML patients. LncRNA-PTCSC3 predict relapse, however, further validation is still required.
What Shapes Feminist Journalism? Comparing Dutch and French Reporting on Street Harassment
Authors: Dekker Mischa J. T.
Published: December 2024

What leads journalists to adopt feminist framings by linking news topics to gender-based inequalities? While scholarship often mobilizes individualized explanations, such as journalists’ personal beliefs, this article investigates how structural factors inform feminist journalism. It draws from Dutch and French media reports on street harassment and interviews with journalists and their sources. Concepts of gender-based violence were largely absent from Dutch articles, whereas feminist framings dominated French reports on this issue. This article shows how the institutionalization of feminism and the existence of newspaper sections dedicated to gender issues inform whether journalists consider feminist knowledge as compatible with objectivity standards.
Preventing Musculoskeletal Injury: Security Forces Occupational Wellness and Improvements
Authors: Dinkins Tecoye E. , Dinkins Brandon L.
Published: December 2024

United States Air Force Security Forces members face unique hazards associated with law enforcement and security duties similar to civilian law enforcement agencies. They also balance combat training requirements and rigorous physical conditioning that creates a high propensity for musculoskeletal injuries. The literature shows that awareness and education of contributing hazards can reduce the rate of injury among at-risk populations. This study explored the experience of Security Forces (SF) veterans to understand how actions on the job, training, and other key factors significantly contributed to their musculoskeletal injuries and chronic conditions. The research employed a phenomenological qualitative method to understand the workplace implications that may contribute to SF injury. We interviewed ten Security Forces veterans, five male and five female, to gain their insights and perspectives on their injuries and preventative measures that took place. The results showed a high rate of injury occurring on the job and a low rate of prevention. Participants described how their injuries were compounded by organizational culture and the hesitance to seek care options based on an underlying stigma. We introduce three considerations for practice to improve the musculoskeletal injury incidence rate among Security Forces: (1) developing a law enforcement-centric educational awareness program that places emphasis on physical conditioning, flexibility, and endurance to withstand occupational duties, (2) focusing on building core strength to reduce lower back and correlating injuries, (3) apply a top-down approach to remove negative stigma with seeking medical treatment for injuries.
Does Physician-Hospital Vertical Integration Affect Hospital Output?
Authors: Upadhyay Soumya , Bhandari Neeraj
Published: December 2024

Background:

Physician-hospital vertical integration is gaining steam but it is unclear how they affect hospital output.

Objective:

To examine the direct impact of vertical integration on hospital output.

Design:

A pooled design with 6-year data using linear regressions was used. Then, panel data design with hospital fixed effects was used.

Methods:

We linked American Hospital Association data (2016-2021) with AHRQ Comparative Health System Performance Initiative’s Compendium (2018, 2020, 2021; 34 987 hospital-year observations) to develop new measures of vertical integration and assess its relationship with several measures of hospital output including annualized total admissions, total number of inpatients days, and total number of emergency department (ED) and outpatient visits.

Results:

We find that a hospital’s entry into a vertical integration has little or no impact on a broad set of metrics capturing hospital output.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that vertical integrations as currently structured may not yield meaningful gains in output or productivity and hospitals faced with declining productivity need to carefully consider the expected gains from vertical integration strategies.
Exploring the policy implementation of a holistic approach to cancer investigation in non-specific symptom pathways in England: An ethnographic study
Authors: Black Georgia B , Khalid Ahmad F , Lyratzopoulos Georgios , Duffy Stephen W , Nicholson Brian D , Fulop Naomi J
Published: December 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the policy implementation of non-specific symptom pathways within the English National Health Service.

Methods

A multi-site ethnographic project was conducted in four hospitals that contained non-specific symptom pathways between November 2021 and February 2023. The research involved observation (44 h), interviews ( n = 54), patient shadowing, and document review.

Results

The study examined how the policy concept of ‘holistic’ care was understood and put into practice within four non-specific symptom pathways. Several challenges associated with providing holistic care were identified. One key challenge was the conflict between delivering holistic care and meeting timed targets, such as the Faster Diagnosis Standard, due to limited availability of imaging and diagnostic tools. The interpretation of a holistic approach varied among participants, with some acknowledging that the current model did not recognise holistic care beyond cancer exclusion. The findings also revealed a lack of clarity and differing opinions on the boundaries of holistic care, resulting in wide variation in NSS pathway implementation across health care providers. Additionally, holistic investigation of non-specific symptoms in younger patients were seen to pose difficulties due to younger patients’ history of health anxiety or depression, as well as concerns over radiological risk exposure.

Conclusions

The study highlights the complexity of implementing non-specific symptom pathways in light of standardised timed cancer targets and local cancer policies. There is a need for appropriately funded organisational models of care that prioritise holistic care in a timely manner over solely meeting cancer targets. Decision-makers should also consider the role of non-specific symptom pathways within the broader context of chronic disease management, with a particular emphasis on expanding diagnostic capacity.
Organizing to address overtreatment in cancer care near the end of life: Evidence from Denmark
Authors: Hauge Amalie M , Lydiksen Nis , Bech Mickael
Published: December 2024

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to investigate how organizational factors influence the ethical and economic problems of overtreatment of cancer patients.

Methods

The study applies a sequential mixed-method approach. First, our logistic regression model assesses how patient characteristics and hospital department variables influence the use of late cancer treatment (LCT), primarily chemotherapy, in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer cases using Danish registry data. Department-specific variations in LCT use across hospitals are identified, while controlling for population differences. Then, using qualitative data, we explore organizational factors that may influence hospitals’ decisions regarding LCT for lung cancer patients.

Results

Between 13% and 33.3% of the studied lung cancer population receive LCT within their last 30 days of life. Variation in LCT can in part be explained by organizational factors specific to the hospital departments and their organization of their treatment decision-making process.

Conclusions

This article is among the first to show how organizational solutions can contribute to curbing overtreatment. Hospital managers can seek to reduce overtreatment by (a) adjusting the format and frequency of patient consultations, (b) improving the cross-disciplinary collaboration structures, and (c) utilizing team conferences for discussions of treatment cessation.
Secondary effects of dialectical behaviour therapy on social functioning, quality of life, and autism traits in autistic adults with suicidality
Authors: Huntjens Anne , van den Bosch LMC (Wies) , Sizoo Bram , Kerkhof Ad , Smit Filip , van der Gaag Mark
Published: December 2024

The effect of psychological treatment on social functioning, quality of life and autism traits in autistic people with suicidal behaviour remains largely unknown. At six Dutch mental health centres, 123 adult outpatients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) diagnosed autism spectrum condition and suicidal behaviours were randomly assigned to dialectical behaviour therapy ( n = 63) or treatment as usual ( n = 60) to address their suicidal behaviours. This article analysed secondary outcomes on social functioning, quality of life and autism traits. Outcomes were compared at baseline, post-treatment at 6 months, and 12-month follow-up. At post-treatment, both social functioning ( p < 0.001) and quality of life ( p = 0.002) were significantly improved in the treatment condition compared to the control condition and remained so at 12-month follow-up ( p = 0.003; p = 0.002). Autism traits did not differ between conditions. Autistic individuals with suicidal behaviours benefit modestly from treatment with dialectical behaviour therapy in social functioning and quality of life.

Lay abstract

Dialectical behaviour therapy is a comprehensive treatment that helps individuals improve distress tolerance, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness and emotion regulation. It is commonly used to assist those experiencing self-harm and suicidal thoughts or behaviours. Despite its broad application, our understanding of how dialectical behaviour therapy impacts autistic individuals with suicidal behaviour remains limited. This study compared dialectical behaviour therapy with treatment as usual in 123 autistic adults experiencing suicidal behaviours. Participants were recruited from six mental health centres, with 63 receiving dialectical behaviour therapy and 60 receiving treatment as usual. The study assessed outcomes such as social functioning, quality of life and specific autism traits over 12 months. Findings revealed that dialectical behaviour therapy led to significant improvements in social functioning and quality of life compared to treatment as usual, though there were no effects on autism traits. These improvements suggest that dialectical behaviour therapy holds promise as an effective treatment for autistic individuals grappling with suicidal behaviour. The findings strongly support the broader implementation of dialectical behaviour therapy in mental health centres, especially given the limited treatment options available for autistic individuals with suicidal tendencies.
Corrosion of care and disempowerment in acute psychiatry: As seen from the positions of therapists and suicidal patients
Authors: Hagen Julia , Knizek Birthe Loa , Hjelmeland Heidi
Published: December 2024

For people in suicidal crisis, referral to a psychiatric hospital is common. However, acute psychiatry is characterized by a lack of resources in terms of time and beds, making it challenging for therapists to provide person-centered care. In this qualitative study, we explored the experiences and positionings of therapists and suicidal patients in an acute psychiatric ward in Norway. We generated data through participatory observation and interviews with therapists and patients and analyzed the material using principles from Systematic Text Condensation supplemented with an analysis from a Positioning theory perspective. We developed two themes: Therapists positioned as professionals with authority in a context with restricted action radius, and Patients in suicidal crisis positioned as medical subjects with limited influence. In this resource-limited context, therapists managed their work and obligations by simplifying the patient’s suffering and suicidality and by emphasizing medical aspects. Ensuring an efficient patient flow was a high priority. The therapists’ authority and actions were closely connected to how patients were positioned and their experiences of the care. Positioning theory provides new perspectives for understanding the power imbalance in the positions of therapists and patients. The findings provide insights into acute inpatient psychiatry as a normative field where the choices and actions of both therapists and patients are restricted. In that sense, both patients and therapists can feel powerless. The findings point to significant limitations in the acute mental health care of people in suicidal crisis.
Effects of expansion devices and dampers on additional forces in a suspension bridge
Authors: Yu Xiangdong , Zhang Zhenkun , Jing Haiquan
Published: December 2024

Suspension bridges are flexible cable structure systems with substantial geometric nonlinearity, and their mechanical characteristics are quite different from those of other types of bridges. The bridge-track interaction of long-span suspension railway bridges is considerably more complicated than that of other types of bridges. In previous studies, the expansion devices and dampers were always ignored to simplify the track-bridge system when calculating the additional forces in long-span bridges, reducing the accuracy of the calculation results. In the present study, the effects of expansion devices and dampers on the additional forces of continuously welded rails (CWRs) are investigated on the basis of the Wufengshan Yangtze River Bridge, the longest high-speed railway suspension bridge in the world, with a main span of 1092 m. The bridge-track spatial model of the bridge, including the rail expansion joints (REJs), is built using the principle of the double-layer spring model. The resistance of the ballast and fasteners is simulated by bilinear models. The effects of the expansion resistance of the REJ and damper equivalent stiffness on the additional forces on the rails are investigated through bridge-track interaction analyses. The results show that the expansion resistance of the REJ has little effect on the additional force on the rails but substantially affects the horizontal force and displacement of the fixed piers. Under braking conditions, the damper equivalent stiffness substantially affects the additional force on the rails. The bridge tower bears a larger horizontal force as the damper equivalent stiffness increases.
Resources and strategies young people use and need to promote mental health – a qualitative study from a salutogenic perspective
Authors: Lundström Sofie , Gunnarsdottir Hrafnhildur , Tengelin Ellinor
Published: December 2024

Aim:

The aim of this study was to explore young people’s experiences of resources and strategies for promoting their mental health.

Methods:

Individual interviews with 33 people aged 16–25 years were conducted using a method inspired by cognitive interviewing, which combines think aloud techniques with probing questions. The interviews were based on the young people’s reflections of the questions in the Swedish national public health survey. Data were analysed with reflexive thematic analysis.

Results:

The resources and strategies that the young people in this study described as important for promoting mental well-being are related to societal prerequisites needed to navigate life; to their immediate surroundings, including social interactions; and to the young people themselves. These resources and strategies are presented under the following three themes: prerequisites for navigating life, social interactions on one’s own terms, and who I am and what I can do.

Conclusions:

Young people have a variety of resources and strategies of their own available for promoting mental well-being. However, they cannot promote mental health just on their own; access to social networks and the opportunity to share thoughts and feelings are central. Further, to promote mental health, young people need good social conditions, knowledge, and support from adults so that the existence they struggle to navigate feels comprehensible, manageable and meaningful.
Highlighting and downplaying subjectivity through ethos construction: Personal journalism as a pluriform epistemic practice
Authors: Smeenk Kim , Harbers Frank , Broersma Marcel
Published: December 2024

Individual experiences have gained more prominence as a reliable alternative source of knowledge in the last decades. This personalization of knowledge has far-reaching consequences for journalism. This article studies the rise of personal journalism, in which journalists play a central role in the stories they write, and analyses how this impacts the epistemological underpinning of journalism. Through a quantitative content analysis of tabloid and quality newspapers between 1999 and 2019, we show that personal journalism has increased. Subsequently, through a qualitative analysis we examine how journalists build on and adjust existing epistemic regimes to construct their ethos, the strategic self-image of the journalist in the text. We argue that ethos is central to the legitimization strategy of personal journalism and discern two ethos constructions: highlighting subjectivity and downplaying subjectivity. While the former builds on subjective epistemic regimes, in the latter subjective and traditional understandings of journalism intersect. These results urge journalism studies to rethink subjectivity beyond its status as undetermined counterparts to objectivity. Rather, they show the multifaceted manifestations of personalization and its intricate intertwining with objectivity.
Blurring the lines between imitation and emulation in moral development
Authors: Sanderse Wouter
Published: December 2024

This article investigates the roles of imitation and emulation in the development of virtue by questioning the way these learning mechanisms are distinguished in the literature. Conventional views distinguish a deliberate kind of emulation, necessary for the acquisition of practical wisdom and virtue, from the unconscious and automatic imitation of virtuous actions. In this article, this binary is challenged through an analysis of two (autobiographical) novels by the French author Edouard Louis. Eddy, the main character in both novels, adopts behaviours from his friends and teachers on purpose, driven by personal goals rather than the models’ virtuous motives. The novels help us to imagine a new category of moral learning, called ‘deliberate imitation’: it is goal-driven but not fully aligned with the virtuous intentions of the role models. This type of imitation blurs the distinction between imitation and emulation and may serve as a transitional phase. The article ends with a discussion of the implications this type of imitation may have for moral education. It is suggested that teachers may have less control over which of their actions students take to be exemplary and which ones not.
Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome: A case series and review of the literature
Authors: Gonzalez-Urquijo Mauricio , Valdes Francisco , Bulnes Juan Francisco , Torres-Alvarez Josemaria , Vargas Jose Francisco , Bergoeing Michel , Mertens Renato , Marine Leopoldo
Published: December 2024

Objective

To report a case series of three patients with symptomatic coronary-subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) and to review the literature on published case series.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed three cases of CSSS patients treated with open and endovascular surgery at a single center over a period of three decades (1996–2024). A comprehensive review of case series involving more than three patients was also performed.

Results

The first patient was a 65-year-old male with a 12-year history of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), presenting with unstable angina. Coronary angiography revealed a patent left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft with retrograde flow through the left subclavian artery (LSA) and occlusion at the LSA ostium. He underwent a successful carotid-subclavian bypass, which significantly improved his symptoms. He died 6 years later from heart failure. The second patient was a 73-year-old woman with a 15-year history of CABG and balloon angioplasty of the grafts. She presented with dyspnea, stable angina, and progressive functional decline. Critical stenosis in the LSA was identified, and her symptoms resolved after successful stent placement. She died 6 years later from progressive heart failure. The third patient was a 75-year-old woman with diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure, who also had a history of CABG. She presented with worsening dyspnea, orthopnea, and edema. Imaging revealed occlusion of the circumflex artery graft and severe LSA stenosis. Successful stenting of the LSA alleviated her symptoms and restored normal blood flow from the LIMA graft. She was discharged after 2 days and remains well at the six-month follow-up.

Conclusion

CSSS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with a history of CABG who present with angina or heart failure. Prompt treatment can lead to significant symptom improvement.
Advances in the pathological mechanisms and clinical treatments of chronic visceral pain
Authors: Li Yong-Chang , Zhang Fu-Chao , Xu Timothy W , Weng Rui-Xia , Zhang Hong-Hong , Chen Qian-Qian , Hu Shufen , Gao Rong , Li Rui , Xu Guang-Yin
Published: December 2024

Chronic visceral pain stems from internal organs and is frequently associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Since the underlying mechanisms of visceral pain remain largely unclear, clinical management is often limited and ineffective. Comprehensive research into the pathogenesis of visceral pain, along with the development of personalized therapeutic strategies, is crucial for advancing treatment options. Studies suggest that imbalances in purinergic receptors and neural circuit function are closely linked to the onset of visceral pain. In this review, we will explore the etiology and pathological mechanisms underlying visceral pain, with a focus on ion channels, epigenetic factors, and neural circuits, using functional gastrointestinal disorders as case studies. Finally, we will summarize and evaluate emerging treatments and potential initiatives aimed at managing visceral pain.
The validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of the Diabetes Mellitus Self-Efficacy Scale (DMSES-I)
Authors: Marlina Theresia Titin , Haryani  , Widyawati
Published: December 2024

Background:

The incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications is increasing in Indonesia. The patient’s quality of life will decrease due to this condition. Diabetes self-management is a viable tactic for improving quality of life and reducing blood sugar levels. A key element of diabetes self-management education for nurses and health professionals is self-efficacy. However, a valid and reliable scale to assess self-efficacy in Indonesia is necessary.

Aims:

‘The Diabetes Mellitus Self-Efficacy Scale (DMSES)’ is translated into Indonesian for the psychometric assessment of diabetes patients there.

Method:

DMSES was translated into the Indonesian version (DMSES-I) using the forward-backward translation method. In addition, 227 adult patients with type 2 diabetes completed the scale which underwent internal consistency, construct validity and content validity tests.

Results:

The item content validity and scale validity were 0.955 and 0.955, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis showed a Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin index of 0.922 and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.928. The confirmatory factor analysis results were chi-square = 76.610, probability = 0.009 and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.049.

Conclusion:

To assess diabetes self-efficacy in Indonesia, the DMSES-I is a valid and reliable tool. To educate diabetes self-management effectively, nurses must assess their patients’ diabetes self-efficacy.
Impact of improving educational nursing interventions in perioperative nursing interventions on outcomes of prostate cancer patients with laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
Authors: Zhu Yuhong , Yang Gaojie , Wu Lifeng , Yin Yan , Ding Yangyang
Published: December 2024

Background:

Recent studies have reported that perioperative nursing intervention (PNI) plays important roles in the outcomes of prostate cancer (PC) patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). This study aimed to further investigate the role of educational nursing intervention in PNI on the recovery of PC patients with LRP.

Methods:

A total of 98 PC patients who underwent LRP were enrolled in this study. These patients were randomly divided into control ( n = 49) and experimental ( n = 49). Both groups received routine PNI, while the experimental group also received personalised PNI with enhanced educational nursing interventions. The study compared blood loss during surgery, surgery success rate, clinical signs of intestinal motility, postoperative hospital stay and postoperative complications between these two groups.

Results:

Both the control and experimental groups achieved a 100% surgery success rate. The experimental group experienced significantly less blood loss. Moreover, the recovery of intestinal function was faster, and the postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the experimental group. Furthermore, the incidence of postoperative complications was lower in the experimental group.

Conclusion:

Our findings confirmed the importance of enhanced educational nursing interventions in personalised perioperative nursing care for PC patients undergoing LRP.
Graphic Paper: Promoting generalisation in qualitative nursing research using the multiple case narrative approach: a methodological overview
Authors: Brenchley Alex
Published: December 2024

This year JRN has introduced an extra Veronica Bishop Paper of the Year award category focusing on innovative study design and the paper’s potential to influence research and learning. As usual, award winners’ papers are re-presented as a graphic depiction. We hope you enjoy this graphic paper and re-reading the original work. We have inserted the original paper’s abstract below with links to that paper and its associated commentary.

Background:

The ability to generalise research generated findings to different contexts is a significant, yet overlooked, feature in qualitative studies conducted in nursing, where evidence-based clinical practice is highly regarded. The multiple case narrative is a constructivist-narrative approach, claimed to not only have the potential for analytical and case-to-case generalisation but also sample-to-population generalisation.

Methods:

This paper provides an overview of multiple case narrative by comparing it with similar methodologies, reviewing studies that have used this approach and critically evaluating its capacity for producing generalisable results.

Results:

The multiple case narrative approach addresses limitations of collective case study, case survey and meta-ethnography by employing greater sample sizes and more generalisable results. Most studies previously using this approach have been performed in the education field and with the purpose of overcoming sample size limitations in qualitative research. The approach offers a uniquely systematic approach to analysis by finding associations between categories generated from collective analysis of large number of cases and providing the potential for sample to population generalisation.

Conclusion:

Multiple case narrative, which to date has been underutilised, is a systematic approach with characteristics that make it an efficient research technique to provide valid qualitative evidence.
Tastes and Complex Tastes
Authors: Xiangyu Ma
Published: December 2024

Taste is central to the sociology of culture and a frequently invoked explanans in the discipline at large. Yet, it remains a semantically ambiguous polyseme that has been understood and operationalized in often divergent ways by sociologists. In this essay, we survey contemporary empirical research on cultural tastes and use retroductive reasoning from measurements of taste to clarify the semantic ambiguity surrounding taste. We argue that taste should be conceptualized as a person’s thick subjectivity in a cultural field, that is to say a fundamentally multidimensional orientation that describes how we feel, consume, and praise in cultural fields. Recognizing the inherent multidimensionality to taste allows us to refine our understanding of complex taste phenomena. We outline a family of complex tastes using characteristic antinomies among their constituent modalities of action, and use a case study to show how each variety corresponds to extant folk concepts about taste.