bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crítica genética: pertencimento e periferia
Authors: Kurz Giovani Tridapalli
Published: August 2023

Partindo do pressuposto — já amplamente compartilhado — de que há distintas tradições dentro da crítica genética, este artigo recupera um ensaio de Jorge Luís Borges, “El escritor argentino y la tradición” (1957), para caminhar, a partir dele, em direção às ideias de periferia apresentadas por María Teresa Gramuglio — “El cosmopolitismo de las literaturas periféricas” (2008) — e de circulação, presentes em Gisèle Sapiro — “How Do Literary Works Cross Borders (or Not)?” (2016) —, e assim explorar a “tensão dialética” que Élida Lois enxerga entre as críticas genéticas europeia e latino-americana — “Los estudios de crítica genética en el campo de la literatura hispano-americana” (2012). Explora-se então a teoria genética de modo contrastivo, recuperando, para além de É. Lois, autoras como Ana María Barrenechea, Telê Ancona Lopez e Graciela Goldchluk, aproximando-as de críticos canônicos como Almuth Grésillon e Louis Hay. Conclui-se este artigo com o debate — ancorado em Nora Catelli e Raúl Antelo — sobre o pertencimento complexo de pesquisadores enraizados em espaços periféricos a sistemas intelectuais do Norte global.
Processo criativo para livros de artista literários: poema URANO
Authors: Lima Silvia Ferreira
Published: August 2023

Este é o resumo do trabalho apresentado no Congresso de Crítica Genética em La Plata, Argentina, em outubro de 2022, em que abordo o processo de criação utilizando gravura, encadernação e produção literária autoral. O poema URANO, do livro de artista de mesmo nome, que foi traduzido para o Espanhol para ser apresentado na ocasião. Falo da influência e referência artística de Hercules Segers, holandês dos séculos XVI e XVII, um dos primeiros artistas a fazer gravura em metal para transportar seus quadros. Ele, inclusive, utilizou as mesmas matrizes para compor quadros diferentes, caracterizados pela diferença de entintagens. A experiência é esta, em que faço gravuras, porém não as passo para a tela, utilizo a mesma matriz para fazer diversas entintagens e imprimir gravuras diferentes, compondo as ilustrações de um livro autoral: texto, imagens e encadernações. Para isso, as referências teóricas são G. Bachelard, G. Deleuze, A.Warburg e Didi-Huberman, a partir das quais, tenho meu processo criativo.
Envisioning Rhythm: Exploring the Visual Dimension of Natural Ecosystems through Digital Media
Authors: Chang Pai-Ling , Li Peng-Peng
Published: August 2023

For the study described here the authors combined digital technology with 3D printing to explore the feasibility of visualizing the rhythm of natural ecosystems. The achievements of this study were nine pieces of 3D-printed works. The authors discussed the Chinese Taoist view on ecological philosophy, aesthetics, and ecofeminism; probed the spiritual meaning of nature; and adopted technologies to visualize the rhythm of nature. By doing so, the authors aimed to reveal a new form of dialogue between humans and nature, disclose the visual signs of the vital rhythm of nature, and propose a new form of artistic creation based on biotechnology.
Grammatical Parallelism in Aphasia: A Lesion-Symptom Mapping Study
Authors: Matchin William , den Ouden Dirk-Bart , Basilakos Alexandra , Stark Brielle Caserta , Fridriksson Julius , Hickok Gregory
Published: August 2023

Sentence structure, or syntax, is potentially a uniquely creative aspect of the human mind. Neuropsychological experiments in the 1970s suggested parallel syntactic production and comprehension deficits in agrammatic Broca’s aphasia, thought to result from damage to syntactic mechanisms in Broca’s area in the left frontal lobe. This hypothesis was sometimes termed overarching agrammatism, converging with developments in linguistic theory concerning central syntactic mechanisms supporting language production and comprehension. However, the evidence supporting an association among receptive syntactic deficits, expressive agrammatism, and damage to frontal cortex is equivocal. In addition, the relationship among a distinct grammatical production deficit in aphasia, paragrammatism, and receptive syntax has not been assessed. We used lesion-symptom mapping in three partially overlapping groups of left-hemisphere stroke patients to investigate these issues: grammatical production deficits in a primary group of 53 subjects and syntactic comprehension in larger sample sizes (N = 130, 218) that overlapped with the primary group. Paragrammatic production deficits were significantly associated with multiple analyses of syntactic comprehension, particularly when incorporating lesion volume as a covariate, but agrammatic production deficits were not. The lesion correlates of impaired performance of syntactic comprehension were significantly associated with damage to temporal lobe regions, which were also implicated in paragrammatism, but not with the inferior and middle frontal regions implicated in expressive agrammatism. Our results provide strong evidence against the overarching agrammatism hypothesis. By contrast, our results suggest the possibility of an alternative grammatical parallelism hypothesis rooted in paragrammatism and a central syntactic system in the posterior temporal lobe.
Reexamining Race and Capitalism in the Marxist Tradition – Editorial Introduction
Authors: Knox Robert , Kumar Ashok
Published: August 2023

The question of capitalism’s relationship to issues of race, racism and processes of racialisation has become increasingly prominent in contemporary debates. This special issue of Historical Materialism on ‘Race and Capital’ seeks to intervene in these debates. In this Introduction, we situate the special issue within this wider political, historical and theoretical context. We begin by reconstructing some of the key tensions and fault lines within contemporary discussions of race and racism, particularly in relation to the Marxist tradition. Against those who claim a primarily oppositional relationship between the Marxist tradition and anti-racist thinking, we chart a historical account of key moments in which Marxist movements and thinkers have attempted to articulate distinctively historical-materialist accounts of race and racism. We then situate the key themes of the special issue – and the various articles that compose the issue – against this background.
Morphological ontogeny of Carinogalumna erciyesi sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae) from Turkey, with comments on Carinogalumna Engelbrecht
Authors: SENICZAK STANISŁAW , SENICZAK ANNA
Published: August 2023

The morphological ontogeny of Carinogalumna erciyesi sp. nov. from Turkey is described and illustrated. The adult of this species is most similar to that of C. montana Engelbrecht, 1973 but differs from it mainly by the shape of the bothridial seta and porose areas Aa and A2. The larva of C. erciyesi has 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, including alveolar h3, nymphs have 15 pairs; most setae are of medium size and barbed, except for short p2 and p3, smooth in protonymph; setae p2 and p3 are inserted on unsclerotized integument. In all juveniles the bothridial seta is clavate with long, narrow, barbed head. The gastronotal shield is well-developed with setae of d-, l-series and h1 in the larva, and of d-, l-, h-series and p1 in the nymphs. Setae of c-series of juveniles are inserted on microsclerites, and genital opening is placed on a large sclerite. In all juveniles a humeral organ is present, with porose area above it.
Coherent Bimodal Events in Ensemble Forecasts of 2-m Temperature
Authors: Bertossa Cameron , Hitchcock Peter , DeGaetano Arthur , Plougonven Riwal
Published: August 2023

A previous study has shown that a large portion of subseasonal-to-seasonal European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ensemble forecasts for 2-m temperature exhibit properties of univariate bimodality, in some locations occurring in over 30% of forecasts. This study introduces a novel methodology to identify “bimodal events,” meteorological events that trigger the development of spatially and temporally correlated bimodality in forecasts. Understanding such events not only provides insight into the dynamics of the meteorological phenomena causing bimodal events, but also indicates when Gaussian interpretations of forecasts are detrimental. The methodology that is developed allows one to systematically characterize the spatial and temporal scales of the derived bimodal events, and thus uncover the flow states that lead to them. Three distinct regions that exhibit high occurrence rates of bimodality are studied: one in South America, one in the Southern Ocean, and one in the North Atlantic. It is found that bimodal events in each region appear to be triggered by synoptic processes interacting with geographically specific processes: in South America, bimodality is often related to Andes blocking events; in the Southern Ocean, bimodality is often related to an atmospheric Rossby wave interacting with sea ice; and in the North Atlantic, bimodality is often connected to the displacement of a persistent subtropical high. This common pattern of large-scale circulation anomalies interacting with local boundary conditions suggests that any deeper dynamical understanding of these events should incorporate such interactions.

Significance Statement

Repeatedly running weather forecasts with slightly different initial conditions provides some information on the confidence of a forecast. Occasionally, these sets of forecasts spread into two distinct groups or modes, making the “typical” interpretation of confidence inappropriate. What leads to such a behavior has yet to be fully understood. This study contributes to our understanding of this process by presenting a methodology that identifies coherent bimodal events in forecasts of near-surface air temperature. Applying this methodology to a database of such forecasts reveals several key dynamical features that can lead to bimodal events. Exploring and understanding these features is crucial for saving forecasters’ resources, creating more skillful forecasts for the public, and improving our understanding of the weather.
Local Government, Constitutional Democracy and Federal Predicaments in India
Authors: Singh Mayengbam Nandakishwor
Published: August 2023

Local government can share the administrative workloads and tackle local affairs democratically and with better understanding. It serves as one of the cornerstones of building democracy from the grassroots level. The increasing trend of decentralisation of powers provides people a platform to take part directly in the functioning of democratic governments. Local government in India constitutes the third stratum of government. Local government has constantly been experiencing multiple challenges. One most notable challenge is the lack of fiscal autonomy. The wave of greater politicisation of local governments by the political parties is also incessantly increasing. Centralising local issues have become a typical norm in Indian politics. This definitely sows the seeds for the erosion of local democracy. The present article examines the constitutional journey of local governments in India. It further explores the ensuing fiscal and federal challenges unfolding in the local governments in India.
Globalization and social work practice: Consequences of sanctions in health care (case study of Iran)
Authors: Noruzi Sara , Sadeghi Sabereh
Published: August 2023

Economic sanctions are a punishment mechanism to ensure that governments respect human rights. However, sanctions affect nations, and pose challenges social workers in health care practice. The present note discusses the connection between health care and economic sanctions, and the challenges that health care social workers face due to the sanctions.
Correcting Regressor-Endogeneity Bias via Instrument-Free Joint Estimation Using Semiparametric Odds Ratio Models
Authors: Qian Yi , Xie Hui
Published: August 2023

Endogenous regressors can lead to biased estimates for causal effects using methods assuming regressor–error independence. To correct for endogeneity bias, the authors propose a new method that accounts for the regressor–error dependence using flexible semiparametric odds ratio conditional models; the approach requires neither parametric distributional assumptions nor tuning parameters for modeling endogenous regressors’ distributions conditional on the error term and exogenous regressors. Inference is achieved via optimizing the profile likelihood concentrating on the parameters of interest. The proposed approach requires no use of instrumental variables (IVs), observed or latent, that must satisfy the stringent condition of exclusion restriction. Nonnormally distributed endogenous regressors are required for model identification with a normal error distribution. The approach's flexibility in capturing regressor–error dependence increases the capability of IV-free endogeneity correction and provides opportunities to improve the accuracy of causal effect estimation. Unlike existing IV-free methods, the proposed approach can handle discrete endogenous regressors with few levels, such as binary regressors or count regressors with small means, and is thus applicable to a plethora of applications involving such regressors. The authors demonstrate the versatility of the approach for binary, count, and continuous endogenous regressors using comprehensive simulation studies and empirical data.
Unexpected death involving the spleen – an overview
Authors: Dalrymple Alice , Tan Luzern , Byard Roger W
Published: August 2023

The spleen is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity and has both immunological and haematological functions. A variety of quite different entities may be associated with sudden death due to splenic involvement. These range from simple traumatic disruption of the parenchyma of a normal spleen with marked intra-abdominal haemorrhage, to conditions such as malaria and infectious mononucleosis where splenomegaly predisposes to rupture. Haematological diseases such as malignancies and haemoglobinopathies may causes sudden death due to haemorrhage or red cell sequestration. Asplenia or polysplenia may be associated with significant congenital heart disease. Hyposplenia, both structural and functional, may also result in rapid demise from sometimes unusual bacterial infections. Vascular abnormalities causing death include entities such as splenic artery aneurysms. Thus, deaths from splenic pathology may be due to localised issues or may be part of more generalised disease. For this reason the autopsy in cases of splenic-associated deaths must be comprehensive and include special testing such as microbiological screening and/or haematologic/genetic evaluation.
Pragmatics and Instructional Pragmatics in Second/Foreign Language Preservice Teacher Education: A Case Study in Australia and Vietnam
Authors: Ton-Nu Anh Tuy , Nguyen Loc Tan
Published: August 2023

Pragmatics in the field of English language teaching has recently received increasing research interests, but studies on teachers learning to teach pragmatics are limited. The present study extends this research agenda by investigating how well second/foreign language preservice teacher education (SLPTE) prepares teachers to teach pragmatics. Adopting a multi-site case study approach, this study examines (1) the representation of pragmatics and instructional pragmatics in SLPTE programmes at Australian and Vietnamese universities, and (2) programme leaders’ beliefs about pragmatics instructor preparation. Data were collected from curriculum document analysis, a questionnaire, and four individual semi-structured interviews. The findings show that pragmatics was represented to different extents across the programmes but instructional pragmatics was entirely absent. The findings further show three sets of the programme leaders’ beliefs: (1) preservice teachers were not well-prepared to teach pragmatics; (2) teaching pragmatics and instructional pragmatics to preservice teachers is important; and (3) pragmatics and instructional pragmatics need to be sufficiently addressed in SLPTE. The study has important implications for teacher educators, curriculum designers, and relevant stakeholders regarding L2 pragmatics teacher preparation.
Exponential sliding mode controller for tracking trajectory of nonlinear systems
Authors: Hernandez-Gonzalez M , Alanis AY , Rios JD , Hernadez-Vargas EA
Published: August 2023

This paper proposes a control algorithm based on the sliding mode (SM) control law with an exponential term which improves the convergence to the origin. Such convergence to the origin is compared with other existing results such as the super-twisting (ST) and an SM controller with exponential terms. To compensate for unknown but bounded disturbances, a discontinuous function through an integral action has been employed. The presented algorithm with the exponential term, or exponential SM control algorithm, has been employed to a nonlinear system that can be represented into a block controllable form to follow an admissible trajectory. Finally, a real-time experiment and a numerical simulation have been carried out on a direct current motor to show effectiveness of the proposed control law. Numerical simulations have been compared with the ST control law and with a predefined-time controller with expon0ential terms.
Public Debt in the Spanish Municipalities: Drivers and Policy Proposals
Authors: Simionescu Mihaela , Cifuentes-Faura Javier
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the local debt in Spanish municipalities with negative consequences on the macroeconomic financial stability at national and eurozone level. The main objective is to identify the causes of public debt per capita in four groups of Spanish municipalities according to size. It is based on a quantitative analysis based on correlational and causal-comparative approaches. It consists in the construction of panel quantile regressions (MMQ) and mean group (ME) estimators to explain public debt per capita in Spanish municipalities. Moreover, the Juodis test for causality analysis in panel data is applied. The research is constructed around various types of potential determinants related to economic factors (GDP per capita and unemployment rate), demographic factors (population under 15 and population over 65), and political factors (political party, ideology, and political strength). The results based on MMQR for the period 2011–2020 indicate common factors that reduce local debt (short-run economic growth), but also differences between clusters in what concerns factors that increase or decrease the debt. The Juodis et al. (2021) test shows that growth and unemployment are factors that influence the level of public debt in all groups of municipalities except one (5001–20,000 inhabitants) where political party affects debt. These empirical findings support policy proposals to reduce the local debt in Spanish municipalities. The main initiatives to reduce debt should be based on the promotion of economic growth and creation of new jobs, especially for young people.
Evidence-based models of rural palliative care: A systematic review
Authors: Marshall Claire , Virdun Claudia , Phillips Jane L
Published: August 2023

Background:

Forty-five percent of the world’s population lives in rural areas, yet their access to palliative care is quite limited. Identifying the care elements rural populations with palliative care needs require is critical to improving care outcomes.

Aim:

To identify the key care elements that optimise palliative care for people in rural communities.

Design and data sources:

A systematic review of articles studying the impact of novel rural model of care interventions was undertaken in May 2022. This study is reported using the PRISMA Statement and was registered with Prospero (CRD42020154273). Three databases were searched, and the data analysed according to Popay’s narrative synthesis, and elements classified using the WHO Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions (ICCC) Framework.

Results:

Of the 9508 identified papers, 15 met the inclusion criteria, reporting on 14 studies involving 1820 rural patients. Care received spanned 12/18 of the WHO ICCC Framework elements, with wide variability in how these elements were operationalised. The five elements that signal improved outcomes were: (1) Promote continuity and coordination; (2) Prepared, informed and motivated health care teams; (3) Prepared, informed and motivated patients and families; (4) Organise and equip health care teams and (5) Promote consistent financing.

Conclusions:

A well-coordinated multidisciplinary team approach, led by clinicians with specialist palliative care expertise, integrated across local health care settings, using information systems and care planning, is critical to optimising rural palliative care patient outcomes. Rural patients and their families require timely input from specialist palliative care clinicians and information to address their needs. Prospero registration ID: CRD42020154273 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=154273
Conscientiousness Predicts Performance on the Stroop Task but Not Other Attentional Control Tasks in Older and Younger Adults
Authors: Huff Mark J. , Gretz Matthew R. , Keefer Lucas A.
Published: August 2023

The current study examined the relationships between attentional control (AC) and the Big Five personality traits. Older and younger adults ( Mage = 38.62 years; Range = 18–90) completed a battery of behavioral attention tasks consisting of Stroop color naming, antisaccade, and operation span, which were designed to assess inhibition, goal maintenance, and working memory processes as a comprehensive assessment of AC. Participants then completed a set of personality scales including the NEO-FFI short form. Regression analyses revealed that Big Five personality scores were not related to the AC composite, but individual task relationships were found. Specifically, participants reporting greater Conscientiousness showed improved Stroop performance, but a Conscientiousness benefit did not extend to the other AC measures. No relationships emerged between other Big Five traits and AC. This work suggests potential cognitive benefits for Conscientiousness in older and younger adults and highlights a fruitful integration of personality and basic cognitive processes.
Perceptions about positive mental health among university students from Southern India: An occupational perspective
Authors: Divecha Hasti , Acharya Vinita
Published: August 2023

Introduction:

Positive mental health (PMH) is essential for a healthy and fulfilling life. Lack of it may lead to increased negative thoughts and the use of unhealthy coping mechanisms. This study aimed to explore university students’ perceptions of PMH from an occupational perspective.

Method:

Six online focus groups with participants recruited through purposive sampling were conducted among university students in southern India. A semi-structured interview guide facilitated the data collection. Thematic analysis was done for the transcribed data.

Results:

Two themes emerged from the data: “No health without mental health” and “action plan for mental health.” The findings reflected participants’ understanding of mental health and its relation to socio-emotional wellbeing, positive state of mind, and productivity. They described the use of various personal strategies including certain occupations for mental health promotion.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest that students were mindful of the significance of the presence or absence of PMH. They valued the role of daily habits and routines in maintaining PMH. Future intervention programs for PMH can be developed by integrating an occupational perspective.
A generalized antiplane singularity within a semi-infinite wedge of arbitrary angle
Authors: Ma Lifeng , Chen Yifeng , Hills David A
Published: August 2023

The state of stress arising within an elastic wedge generated by an antiplane singularity present within it is studied. An analytical solution is derived with a unified generic approach. The singularity may represent either an anti-plane concentrated force or a screw dislocation. To validate the general solution, two degenerate cases are presented. Further, the image force present on the screw dislocation due to the wedge free boundary is obtained. It is found that when the screw dislocations are placed in the vicinity of the wedge surface, the image force will drive dislocations to the free boundary where they will be annihilated. This implies that a dislocation-free zone may exist along the free surface of the wedge. To demonstrate the application of the fundamental solutions, a formulation for a slip band under anti-plane loading with Green’s function method is provided. The solutions developed in this study may be used as building blocks to model the damage of material near a V-notch under versatile anti-plane load conditions or torsional loading.
Tailoring of Compaction Parameters of the Vibratory Table and Vibratory Hammer for Roller Compacted Concrete Pavements to Resemble Field Properties
Authors: Selvam M. , Singh Surender
Published: August 2023

Previous studies have indicated that roller compacted concrete pavement may demonstrate significant variations in field behavior compared to laboratory specimens. This discrepancy can be attributed to the dissimilarities in compaction efforts between laboratory and field conditions, wherein the laboratory efforts fail to emulate the field compaction. Thus, in the present study, efforts have been made to optimize the compaction parameters, especially the number of layers of widely employed compaction methods, viz, the vibratory hammer (VH) and vibratory table (VT). A field slab was constructed using a duplex roller to provide a target value for the optimization process. Parameters such as packing density, fresh density, mechanical properties, viz, compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength, and porosity were considered for the tailoring process. Fresh density results showed that VT and VH-compacted specimens with ASTM parameters were loosely (−1.1%) and densely compacted (+5%), respectively, compared with field specimens (FSs). Therefore, to determine the optimal compaction parameters, the number of layers increased to five in the VT method and decreased to one in the VH method. Among different compaction layers, only the specimen fabricated with four layers and one layer in the VT and VH methods, respectively, could closely resemble the fresh, mechanical, and porosity of FSs. In addition, a new compaction procedure for fabricating prismatic specimens is developed for the VH and VT methods based on the compaction energy and packing density approaches.
Understanding Travel Considerations and Barriers for People with Disabilities to Using Current Modes of Transportation Through Journey Mapping
Authors: Lee Chang Dae , Koontz Alicia M , Cooper Rosemarie , Sivakanthan Sivashankar , Chernicoff William , Brunswick Allison , Deepak Nikitha , Kulich Hailee R. , LaFerrier Justin , Lopes Celia R , Collins Nicole L. , Dicianno Brad E. , Cooper Rory A
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to apply a journey mapping methodology to identify travel considerations and barriers for people with disabilities (PWDs) at each travel stage, from considering a trip through to arriving at the destination for their current modes of transportation, with the objective of understanding and avoiding “pain points” during a transition to autonomous driving systems. Twenty PWDs, including those with physical, visual, aural, cognitive, and combined physical/visual impairments, participated in a semistructured one-on-one interview. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic information, and qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the transcribed interviews and extract themes. Themes were further organized by the modes of transportation used. The top four themes in considering and planning a trip were third-party assistance availability (private vehicle, public transportation, and paratransit), finding an accessible or suitable parking space (private vehicle), access to a service location (public transportation and paratransit), and transportation schedules (public transportation and paratransit). The top four travel barriers to locating, entering, riding, and exiting transportation and arriving at the destination were vehicle ingress/egress (private vehicle and public transportation), concerns about wheelchair securement (public transportation and paratransit), requiring third-party assistance (private vehicle and public transportation), and accessibility to service locations (public transportation). The study suggests that to mitigate travel considerations and barriers for PWDs, vehicle-specific barriers and infrastructure issues should be addressed simultaneously. We anticipate that the findings will provide insights into the design and development of autonomous vehicles, to better accommodate the needs of PWDs.
Data-Driven Approach for Measuring and Managing Physical Distancing in Subways during Pandemic Conditions
Authors: Yun Hyunsoo , Lee Eun Hak , Moon Sedong , Kim Dong-Kyu
Published: August 2023

Physical distancing was considered one of the key strategies for controlling the transmission of COVID-19. Its importance is particularly emphasized with regard to public transportation, on which passengers gather in confined spaces and create a high population density. Public transportation, although integral to the functioning of urban systems, possesses the potential to facilitate disease transmission. Its dual nature has motivated researchers and policymakers to propose transportation policies aimed at minimizing COVID-19 transmission. Nevertheless, quantitative assessments of physical distancing in relation to public transportation to support informed decision-making remain scarce. This study highlights the importance of data-driven analytics for understanding and assessing physical distancing when using public transportation. By applying a stochastic approach to smart card and train log data collected in Seoul, we estimated the routes traveled by subway passengers. We then calculated physical distances using the unit of links, which represents the flow of passengers between two consecutive stations, to obtain the spatiotemporal distribution of physical distances across the subway network. Using percentile ranks of these physical distances, we identified sections in which close physical distancing persisted after the pandemic. Additionally, we conducted an analysis comparing the travel time using subways with alternative modes of transportation such as buses and automobiles. Our data-driven analysis yields insights into areas within the public transportation system that require intervention and provides valuable information to policymakers for devising strategies for a safer and more sustainable public transportation system considering COVID-19 and potential future epidemics.
Structural Validity and Internal Consistency of the Adolescents and Children Risk of Abuse and Maltreatment Parental Scale (ACRAM-PS)
Authors: Tomás Jose M. , Georgieva Sylvia , Navarro-Pérez José-Javier , Sancho Patricia
Published: August 2023

There is a clear need for developing a comprehensive, unbiased, and psychometrically sound tool to assess child maltreatment. The aim of this study is to examine the structural validity, internal consistency, and convergent validity of a newly developed child maltreatment assessment instrument. A total of 286 professionals of the child protection system participated in the study, completing a total of 645 cases of children and adolescents. The Adolescents and Children Risk of Abuse and Maltreatment Parental Scale (ACRAM-PS), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form (CTQ-SF) and other demographic variables were measured. Structural validity, internal consistency, and convergent validity of the ACRAM-PS were tested. This scale obtained good structural validity, internal consistency, and convergent validity as hypothesized patterns of correlations occurred as expected. This instrument implies a considerable improvement as it is comprehensive, psychometrically sound and, it has been articulated by its own users. It can significantly contribute to establish a common language among professionals, improve multidisciplinary communication, and optimize prevention, detection, and early intervention in child maltreatment.
Arts and Culture: A Necessary Component to Address Unmet Social Needs and Advance Individual and Community Well-Being
Authors: Golden Tasha L. , Feldmeth Gillian , Terry Amanda , Ahmadi-Montecalvo Halima
Published: August 2023

U.S. healthcare institutions increasingly integrate screenings for social needs into standard care, and help meet those needs by referring patients to community-based resources. However, community arts/culture assets are not commonly included among those resources. Given growing evidence of the positive health impacts of arts/culture, and given that access to these benefits remains inequitable, this article argues for the integration of arts/culture resources into healthcare referral networks. It highlights two early models, the CultureRx initiative in Massachusetts and Creative Forces, both of which piloted this integration with promising results. It also offers suggestions for better utilizing local arts/culture assets, emphasizing that these existing community resources can and should be applied to advance whole-person strategies and better address social drivers of health.
Late-Life High Blood Pressure and Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in the Putaminal Regions of Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Persons
Authors: Tachibana Ayumi , Iga Jun-ichi , Tatewaki Yasuko , Thyreau Benjamin , Chen Hongkun , Ozaki Tomoki , Yoshida Taku , Yoshino Yuta , Shimizu Hideaki , Mori Takaaki , Furuta Yoshihiko , Shibata Mao , Ohara Tomoyuki , Hata Jun , Taki Yasuyuki , Nakaji Shigeyuki , Maeda Tetsuya , Ono Kenjiro , Mimura Masaru , Nakashima Kenji , Takebayashi Minoru , Ninomiya Toshiharu , Ueno Shu-ichi ,   for the JPSC-AD study group
Published: August 2023

Background

Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) of the brain may be involved in dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Hypertension has been reported to be a risk factor for dementia and CSVD, but the association between blood pressure (BP) and perivascular spaces is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the association between BP and EPVS volumes and to examine the interactions of relevant factors.

Methods

A total of 9296 community-dwelling subjects aged ≥65 years participated in a brain magnetic resonance imaging and health status screening examination. Perivascular volume was measured using a software package based on deep learning that was developed in-house. The associations between BP and EPVS volumes were examined by analysis of covariance and multiple regression analysis.

Results

Mean EPVS volumes increased significantly with rising systolic and diastolic BP levels ( P for trend = .003, P for trend<.001, respectively). In addition, mean EPVS volumes increased significantly for every 1-mmHg-increment in systolic and diastolic BPs (both P values <.001). These significant associations were still observed in the sensitivity analysis after excluding subjects with dementia.

Conclusions

The present data suggest that higher systolic and diastolic BP levels are associated with greater EPVS volumes in cognitively normal older people.
Unveiling the antecedents of sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial intentions in Angolan universities: Theory planned behavior extension proposal
Authors: Lopes João M , Gomes Sofia , Pacheco Rosselyn
Published: August 2023

Angola is one of the countries at the bottom of the ranking in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Creating sustainable businesses can accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. The present study analyses the antecedents of sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial intention (SOEI) among Angolan higher education students. It starts from the relationships established by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) that were adapted to the sustainable strand. New possible behavioural antecedents of SOEI were added. The Partial Least Square method was applied to a sample of 308 Angolan higher education students. The results show that the TPB dimensions can be adapted and used as antecedents of SOEI and that the TPB can be extended, comprising new antecedents of SOEI also related to individuals' behaviours such as risk-taking propensity, internal locus of control, creativity and proactivity. These unknown antecedents can be taught, learned and stimulated, with universities, policymakers and organisations playing a pivotal role.
Determinants of energy-saving behavior among the youth: Does migration play a moderating role?
Authors: Nguyen-Anh Tuan , Nguyen-Thu Hang , Nguyen-Thi-Thuy Linh , Tran-Phuong Chi , To-The Nguyen
Published: August 2023

Recent decades have been marked by significant climatic changes and serious environmental damage. This phenomenon is growing more ubiquitous over time and across borders, majorly due to the alarming increase in global energy consumption. Considering the urgent need of reversing the current adverse environmental trends, this study contributes to elucidating the determinants shaping energy-saving behavior among the youth, the central agents of the future economy. We base our analysis on the eminent theory of planned behavior, with the addition of pro-environmental knowledge as a predictor and migration status as a moderator. Crucial findings have been drawn via a structural equation model approach from survey data on 1303 people aged 18 to 29. First, pro-environmental knowledge and subjective norms, through the media of attitude and perceived behavioral control, can predict energy-saving intentions and behavior among the youth. Second, migration status casts a widespread moderating effect across all translation routes, from knowledge to energy-saving behavior. This study is a serious attempt to enrich the relevant literature, further covering the population of the youth and the context of emerging nations. It also provides more in-depth insights into the psychological mechanism underlying the formulation of energy-saving behavior, with the issue of migration being considered. These findings highlight the importance of a migration-specific perspective in designing policies and subsequent programs geared toward energy conservation.
Forever young: Institution-based waithood among youth in Ghana and South Africa
Authors: Levy Noa , Dubinsky Itamar
Published: August 2023

As the scholarship on youth grows, so does the focus on the predicaments youth face increases. In particular, the phenomenon of waithood, which refers to a prolonged period of transition from youth to adulthood, has been attracting much attention from researchers. This article builds upon this growing literature by examining the roles that soccer academies in Ghana and shelters for unaccompanied young migrants in South Africa play in creating, sustaining, and spreading the waithood of youth. Even though both institutions operate in different spaces and promote distinct activities, they share a mutual goal by presenting themselves as educational stepping stones for a better present and future for African youths. Nevertheless, given the gaps between what both institutions claimed to provide and what they provided in reality, we argue that they served as the root of waithood for their young residents. As the following ethnography reveals, with worsening basic living conditions, infrequent access to school, and unattainable dreams about universities and European soccer leagues, many youths in shelters and academies were left incapable of assuming adult responsibilities and enjoying adult privileges. Our findings suggest that, unlike common perception of waithood as a phenomenon that takes place after school and before formal employment, waithood is also an institution-based phenomenon that can be facilitated within the education system. Simultaneously, in contrast to the common scholarly portrayals of waithood as an individual experience, we argue that waithood is a communal social phenomenon. At South African shelters and Ghanaian academies, the period of suspension and the prolonged journey to adulthood trickled-down to wider social and familial circles. The youth's efforts to seek alternative paths for adulthood, as well as the support they get from relatives and friends, reduces the loneliness of their waithood, though their contributions are hampered by local economic and political challenges.
A deliberative framework to assess the justifiability of strike action in healthcare
Authors: Essex Ryan
Published: August 2023

Healthcare strikes have been a remarkably common and varied phenomenon. Strikes have taken a number of forms, lasting from days to months, involving a range of different staff and impacting a range of healthcare systems, structured and resourced vastly differently. While there has been much debate about strike action, this appears to have done little to resolve the often polarising debate that surrounds such action. Building on the existing normative literature and a recent synthesis of the empirical literature, this paper will present a deliberative framework to assess the justifiability of strike action. I will first review the empirical literature that explores the impact of strike action, on patient outcomes and healthcare delivery. I will then discuss the debates that have occurred in this area, including an existing deliberative framework proposed by Selemogo (2014). I will argue that this framework is overly restrictive in that it could lead us to find otherwise justified strike action, unjust. I will then propose a framework that remedies these shortcomings. The framework outlines two broad conditions that should be met if strike action is to be justified. It then goes on to outline two deliberative, interrelated questions that should be used to assess whether strike action meets these conditions. For the purposes of this framework, healthcare strike action is justified when 1) it makes demands or raises grievances about some form of injustice, unfairness or threat to health and when 2) the risks in striking are proportionate to its demands or grievances. These two conditions should be considered in light of two further questions, namely, the 3) social and political context of the strike and 4) the characteristics of the strike. I will offer some further reflections on the application of this framework and its shortcomings.
Digital ethical reflection in long-term care: Leaders’ expectations
Authors: Jakobsen Lena , Olsen Rose Mari , Brinchmann Berit Støre , Devik Siri Andreassen
Published: August 2023

Background

Healthcare leader support and facilitation for ethics work are of great importance for healthcare professionals’ handling of ethical issues, moral distress, and quality care provision. A digital tool for ethical reflection in long-term care was developed in response to the demand for appropriate tools.

Research aim

This study aimed to explore healthcare leaders’ expectations of using a digital tool for ethical reflection among their home nursing care staff.

Research design

A qualitative research design with vignettes and focus group interviews was used. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Participants and Research Context

The sample comprised ten healthcare leaders from municipal long-term care in Norway.

Ethical Considerations

Participation was voluntary and based on informed consent. The Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research approved this study.

Findings

The analysis resulted in the development of three themes representing leaders’ expectations of the tool: (i) giving staff a voice, (ii) revealing ethics in practice, and (iii) keeping the pot boiling.

Discussion

Leaders must be informed about the ethical issues experienced to engage in supportive measures for their staff. Digital channels can increase the democratization, safety, and efficiency of communication between employees and leaders and increase awareness of ethical aspects in daily care work. The leaders had positive expectations of employees’ activities and benefits from using the tool for ethical reflection. However, they admitted that realizing the tool’s potential to ensure continuity in ethics work requires considerable organizational and leader involvement.

Conclusions

This study shows that healthcare leaders are open to digital solutions for managing ethics work in home nursing care. Both opportunities and important prerequisites for successfully implementing the digital tool were identified.
Ethical issues in long-term care settings: Care workers’ lived experiences
Authors: Arjama Anna-Liisa , Suhonen Riitta , Kangasniemi Mari
Published: August 2023

Background

Professional care workers face ethical issues in long-term care settings (LTCS) for older adults. They need to be independent and responsible, despite limited resources, a shortage of skilled professionals, global and societal changes, and the negative reputation of LTCS work.

Research aim

Our aim was to describe the care workers’ lived experiences of ethical issues. The findings can be used to gain new perspectives and to guide decision-making to improve the quality of care, occupational well-being and nursing education.

Research design

Focus group interviews were analyzed using a hermeneutic-phenomenological method. The analysis comprised three steps: naïve reading, structural analysis, and comprehensive understanding.

Participants and research context

We randomly sampled LTCS service providers in Finland and 53 care workers with different educational backgrounds from seven organizations participated in focus group interviews in 2021.

Ethical considerations

This was a sensitive study, which was connected to the participants’ individual views of the world, professional ethics and social and health care legislation. The participants' provided informed consent and their anonymity was guaranteed.

Findings

Care workers spoke about their lived experiences of ethical issues in an emotional way, using practical examples. They talked about how they were experts at caring and advocating for residents, balanced the responsibilities of their different roles, and defended their work to the wider society. The care workers said that ethical aspects of their work were too difficult to solve on their own. There were elements of their working environment and practices that caused unnecessary strain and they needed the commitment of managers, organizations, and society to solve ethical issues in LTCS.

Conclusions

Ethical issues were related to the well-being of both residents and care workers and reflected both internal and external pressures. Some issues could not be resolved by individuals and needed input from managers, organizations, and society.