bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The perceived quality of social interactions differs by modality and purpose: An event-contingent experience sampling study with older adults
Authors: Hülür Gizem , Luo Minxia , Macdonald Birthe , Grünjes Carlotta E.
Published: November 2023

Older adults increasingly use digital technologies to communicate with others. The goal of the present study is to understand the role of interaction modality for the perceived quality of social interactions. We use data from 118 participants (age: M = 72 years, SD = 5, range = 65 to 94; 40% women), who reported on their social interactions (quality [valence, social relatedness, calmness, meaningfulness], modality [face-to-face in-person, telephone, text-based digital], and purposes [e.g., small talk, conflict]) over 21 days in an event-contingent experience sampling study that took place between April and November 2019. Text-based communication was rated lower in valence and social relatedness relative to face-to-face communication and telephone calls, and lower in meaningfulness relative to telephone calls. Face-to-face and telephone communication only differed in meaningfulness, with telephone calls being rated higher. Some of the associations between interaction modality and perceived quality were moderated by interaction purpose. For example, conflicts were perceived more negatively as indicated by lower valence, social relatedness, and calmness when they were carried out by text messages (vs. face-to-face or by telephone). Conflicts were rated higher in valence when they took place by telephone versus face-to-face. In summary, our findings suggest that the modality of daily social interactions plays an important role for their quality. We discuss implications of these findings for increasing well-being and social connectedness through technology-mediated communication.
Immediacy as a better service: Analysis of limitations of the use of ChatGPT in library services
Authors: Yamson George Clifford
Published: November 2023

The paper examines ChatGPT's application in library services and assesses its shortcomings. The study emphasizes the immediateness that new technologies offer to library services and how ChatGPT falls short of satisfying this demand because it relies on pre-existing data and lacks real-time interaction. The paper suggests that while ChatGPT can assist in basic inquiries, it cannot replace human interaction and expertise in addressing more complex questions and concerns. The study suggests that libraries should give preference to efficient and individualized service to better meet the demands of their patrons. The study provides valuable insights for libraries and other service organizations considering the implementation of chatbots or similar AI technologies.
Predicting academic performance of students with machine learning
Authors: Balcioğlu Yavuz Selim , Artar Melike
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the effectiveness of machine learning and deep learning models for early prediction of student performance in higher education institutions. Using the Open University Learning Analytics (OULA) dataset, various models, including Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine, Neural Network, and Ensemble Model, were employed to predict student performance in three categories: Pass/Fail, Close to Fail, and Close to Pass. The Ensemble Model (EM) consistently outperformed other models, achieving the highest overall F1 measure, precision, recall, and accuracy. These results highlight the potential of data-driven techniques in informing educational stakeholders’ decision-making processes, enabling targeted interventions, and facilitating personalized learning strategies tailored to students’ needs. By identifying at-risk students early in the academic year, institutions can provide additional support to improve academic outcomes and retention rates. The study also discusses practical implications, including the development of pedagogical policies and guidelines based on early predictions, which can help educational institutions maintain strong academic outcomes and enhance their reputation for academic excellence. Future research aims to investigate the impact of individual activities on student performance and explore day-to-day student behaviors, enabling the creation of tailored pedagogical policies and guidelines.
An examination of the challenges and awareness presented by the transfer of born-digital records in the public sector: A case study of Türkiye
Authors: Mater Emine Cengiz , Şahin Lale Özdemir
Published: November 2023

In the Turkish public sector, official policy, and practice on the transfer of digital records to the Turkish State Archives has yet to be implemented, and the consequences of this have yet to be fully identified or comprehended. As such there is a need for research and recommendations on this problem. The purpose of this study is to provide a situational analysis of the transfer process of born-digital records to the national archives in Türkiye, by identifying the challenges faced in the digital transfer process, with the aim of raising awareness among public bodies. The survey method was used to collect data about the digital transfer process in Türkiye. A total of 120 public bodies participated in the survey. The originality value of this study can be said to be significant as of the target population, 120 Turkish public sector bodies were surveyed to determine their challenges and level of awareness regarding the born-digital transfer process. In addition to the high number of Turkish public bodies surveyed, this is the first study of its kind in Türkiye on digital transfer and its processes. The findings of the research revealed that public bodies in Türkiye are not currently ready for digital transfer. The findings also highlighted that the legal and technical infrastructure required for digital transfer in the public sector was inadequate. The research findings also concluded that staff working in the public sector require training in the processes related to the transfer of digital records. In line with the research data recommendations have been made regarding the digital transfer process in Türkiye.
What Can Reform Street-Level Bureaucrats’ Unwarranted Discretionary Behaviors? Principles? Principals? Or Both?
Authors: Carroll Deborah A. , Yeo Jungwon
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we ask whether principles—relevant institutions, including administrative reform, legal and judicial support, and information and communication technology (ICT)—and principals—ordinary people that are capable, knowledgeable, and willing—can help enhance accountability of street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) by mitigating unwarranted discretionary behaviors. We examined the New York City Police Department by constructing and analyzing a unique dataset drawn from multiple sources and by using the SLB literature to inform our empirical model specification. Fixed effects regression analysis revealed the potential of principles and principals in motivating or reducing police officers’ use of force resulting in substantiated civilian complaints. Specifically, proactive policing strategies, exonerated civilian complaint dispositions, court summons following arrests, and ICT are the principles, and a low-poverty population served by police are the principals we found to influence discretionary police behavior.
Which Matters More in Coproduction? Political Message, Policy, or Factual Information
Authors: Li Huafang , Lu Elaine Yi
Published: November 2023

To coproduce better policy outcomes, governments and citizens need to work together. However, information asymmetry between the two parties influences the coproduction adversely. Nowadays, the multiplicity of information and its potential incongruence add to information asymmetry and make the impact of information on coproduction trickier than ever. This study examines the effects of political message, policy, and factual information on citizens’ coproduction activities. Analyzing the effects of federal and state leaders’ tweets, New York City's COVID-19 policies, reported COVID-19 cases and deaths, and the city's visits and public transportation ridership, the findings show that politicians’ message, congruent or not, did not influence citizens’ coproduction activities as measured by visits and public transit ridership. Policy implementation information improved coproduction, and the perceptions of factual information contributed to intended coproduction.
Differences in the perception of direct gaze between the externally and internally rotated eye
Authors: Linke Linda , Horstmann Gernot
Published: November 2023

The perception of direct gaze provides multiple benefits for the observer. Previous studies have investigated how the information from both eyes is used to estimate gaze direction, showing that the perception of gaze direction differs when only the externally rotated eye versus only the internally rotated eye is visible. We examined the width and center of the area of direct gaze by presenting the observers with either the externally or internally rotated eye, or both eyes with the task to judge whether a computer avatar is looking at them. Two experiments yield evidence for a wider area of direct gaze for the externally rotated eye (around 6°) than for the internally rotated eye (around 4°). The area of direct gaze for both eyes was found to be the same as for the internally rotated eye, but smaller than for the externally rotated eye. When both eyes were present, our results indicate that the perception of direct gaze is more likely to follow the internally rotated eye. The discussion substantiates a new generalization that observers base their judgments on the more rotated eye, which can differ due to angle kappa and vergence, in our study it is the internally rotated eye.
Considering the dynamics of water surface boundaries to measure the evolution of hydrological connectivity in the Yangtze River Delta, China
Authors: Li Zhenya , Kong Fanhua , Yin Haiwei , Meadows Michael E , Yang Xiaojun , Zhou Kejing , Su Jie
Published: November 2023

Dynamics of the terrestrial water surface impact hydrological connectivity. Compared with traditionally deployed water surface parameters, changes in the water-boundary more effectively account for the dynamics of water surface and depth resulting from hydrological variations. However, previous studies of hydrological connectivity generally applied only connectivity length or width parameters using the center line of the water body and therefore fail to fully capture the impact of water boundary dynamics. In this study, optimized water body extraction indices based on data obtained from remote sensing imagery are used to develop a novel metric that indicates water surface boundary dynamics and reveal surface hydrological connectivity changes in the Yangtze River Delta from 1990 to 2020. Detailed inter-annual and seasonal changes in the evolution of water body boundaries from a water surface perspective indicate an overall decline in hydrological connectivity against the background of climate change, increased urbanization, and dam construction. The declining trend in connectivity occurs in three phases, viz. from 1990 to 2003, a gradual decline is exhibited but with a very marked degree of inter-seasonal variability; between 2003 and 2012, connectivity remains relatively constant but with a reduced amplitude between seasons; further reductions in the magnitude of seasonal variations characterize the third phase, to 2020. Meanwhile, the stability of hydrological connectivity, indicated by the coefficient of variation, also exhibits marked spatial heterogeneity. Parts of the delta with more tributaries, including the Huaihe and southeastern basins, have lower stability (7.33 and 6.59, respectively) than the Yangtze basin (6.22). This study presents a novel metric to achieve greater precision in the monitoring of hydrological connectivity. Such information can be harnessed to improve regional ecological and water resource management.
Unpacking Service Management Issues in Intermediate Public Transportation Toward Sustainable Mobility
Authors: Bhuyan Atanu , Roy Vivek , Srivastava Abhishek
Published: November 2023

How can intermediate public transportation (IPT) benefit from a service management emphasis to envision the sustainable mobility of the future? Answering this question, this paper reviews IPT, which includes modes such as the Access Link and Kutsuplus schemes, auto-rickshaws, and e-bike taxis. These modes represent new mobility services that have emerged in both developed and developing countries in the wake of evolving travel demands, soaring private vehicle ownership, and declining public transit ridership. Despite the emerging nature of IPT, however, it remains underrepresented and poorly understood in transportation frameworks, and so is generally excluded from transportation reforms. With this premise, this review accentuates how IPT services can be improved and made more attractive to users by mainstreaming service management issues. Further, this review outlines how improvement of IPT can help in unlocking the sustainable mobility of the future. This research therefore stems from a multidisciplinary review set involving scholarship in engineering management, operations management, operations research, transportation engineering, and transportation management. The paper outlines diverse facets of service management from which IPT can benefit. Furthermore, the paper theorizes on how IPT can contribute to sustainable mobility.
Template-Based Voting Logic for Dual Train Detection Systems
Authors: Hsueh Kung-Chun , Chang Teng-Ying , Lai Yung-Cheng
Published: November 2023

A train detection system is crucial in railway signaling and control systems. To improve the reliability and safety of train detection systems, the conventional railway operator in Taiwan, Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA), adopted dual detection systems for each signal block. However, conventional design logics for dual detection systems cannot fully and simultaneously improve reliability and safety. Thus, in this research, an innovative logic is proposed, namely, template-based voting (TBV) logic, to automatically correct possible train detection errors on the basis of preprocessed simulation data. The TBV logic first applies a “template generation module” to generate and store all possible train movement data in a database. Then an “occupation status comparing module” executes the standard or special process to trace passing trains and correct possible detection errors on the basis of the templates. Results of case studies and a sensitivity analysis demonstrate that this logic outperforms other existing logics with respect to integrated performance in reliability and safety. Thus, the application of this logic can substantially improve the reliability and safety of a dual train detection system with fixed blocks.
Witnessing—a group-specific factor and its importance in times when facts and truths are challenged
Authors: Skowronska Joanna
Published: November 2023

‘Facts matter’, stated Miriam Berger in her Foulkes Lecture (Berger, 2023). They matter because, in the human world, they happen to somebody. So if they do not matter, somebody does not matter.

I postulate that witnessing, as it is defined by Miriam Berger, is a group-specific factor whose value lies in allowing the emergence of ‘moments of meetings’—moments in psychotherapy changing the intersubjective architecture of the relation.

The capacity to validate somebody’s experience seems to be more crucial nowadays when disregarding facts and truth has reached such an extent that it has a name: the ‘post-truth’ era.

But, ‘witnessing is not a given’, says Miriam Berger. Whether this emergent property of the group will be used for ‘re-humanization in therapy and beyond’ (Berger, 2023) depends on how the conductor handles the facts: Do they matter to her/him or not? I will also reflect on what shapes the attitude of the conductors toward the facts.
A policy analysis of Bill-124 and the nursing shortage
Authors: Nguyen Phuong , Bochnak Paula
Published: November 2023

Nurses comprise the largest portion of the healthcare workforce across Canada, yet there have been ongoing shortages for the last decade. This shortage has been pronounced with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare spending has also been increasing steadily in Canada. The Canadian provincial governments, such as Ontario, see this as an opportunity to stabilize its fiscal healthcare spending by implementing a policy to freeze nurses’ wages. The focus of this policy analysis is to address the question: how did Bill-124 reach the Ontario government’s agenda in the midst of a nursing shortage? Why was this specific policy action successful in being implemented as a possible solution to remediate provincial debt burden? The authors will be using the Kingdon’s framework to help analyze this policy. They will also articulate the impacts of such government decisions; and provide recommendations with strategies on how to tackle the challenge.
The Impact of Preoperative Breast MRI on Timing of Surgical Management in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer
Authors: Gauthier Isabelle D. , Seely Jean M. , Cordeiro Erin , Peddle Susan
Published: November 2023

Purpose: Preoperative breast MRI has been recommended at our center since 2016 for invasive lobular carcinoma and cancers in dense breasts. This study examined how preoperative breast MRI impacted surgical timing and outcomes for patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Methods: Retrospective single-center study of consecutive women diagnosed with new breast cancer between June 1, 2019, and March 1, 2021, in whom preoperative breast MRI was recommended. MRI, tumour histology, breast density, post-MRI biopsy, positive predictive value of biopsy (PPV3), surgery, and margin status were recorded. Time from diagnosis to surgery was compared using t-tests. Results: There were 1054 patients reviewed, and 356 were included (mean age 60.9). Of these, 44.4% (158/356) underwent preoperative breast MRI, and 55.6% (198/356) did not. MRI referral was more likely for invasive lobular carcinoma, multifocal disease, and younger patients. Following preoperative MRI, 29.1% (46/158) patients required additional breast biopsies before surgery, for a PPV3 of 37% (17/46). The time between biopsy and surgery was 55.8 ± 21.4 days for patients with the MRI, compared to 42.8 ± 20.3 days for those without ( P < .00001). MRI was not associated with the type of surgery (mastectomy vs breastconserving surgery) ( P = .44) or rate of positive surgical margins ( P = .52). Conclusion: Among patients who underwent preoperative breast MRI, we observed significant delays to surgery by almost 2 weeks. When preoperative MRI is requested, efforts should be made to mitigate associated delays.
Predicting Hospital Survival in Patients Admitted to ICU with Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Ryll Martin J. , Zodl Aurelia , Weingarten Toby N. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Warner David O. , Schroeder Darrell R. , Sprung Juraj
Published: November 2023

Objective

The Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) and simplified PESI (sPESI) predict mortality for patients with PE. We compared PESI/sPESI to the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV (APACHE-IV) in predicting mortality in patients with PE admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Additionally, we assessed the performance of a novel ICU-sPESI score created by adding three clinical variables associated with acuity of PE presentation (intubation, confusion [altered mental status], use of vasoactive infusions) to sPESI.

Materials and Methods

Using the eICU Collaborative Research Database from 2014 to 2015, we conducted a large retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted to the ICU with a primary diagnosis of PE. We calculated APACHE-IV, PESI, sPESI, and ICU-sPESI scores and compared their performance for predicting in-hospital mortality using area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Score thresholds for >99% negative predictive values (NPV) were calculated for each score. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

We included 1424 PE cases. In-hospital mortality was 6.3% [95% CI: 5.1%-7.6%]. AUROC for APACHE-IV, PESI, and sPESI were 0.870, 0.848, and 0.777, respectively. APACHE-IV and PESI outperformed sPESI (P < 0.01 for both comparisons), while APACHE-IV and PESI demonstrated similar performance (P = 0.322). The ICU-sPESI performance was similar to APACHE-IV and PESI (AUROC = 0.847; AUROC comparison: APACHE-IV vs ICU-sPESI: P = 0.396; PESI vs ICU-sPESI: P = 0.945). Hospital mortality for ICU-sPESI scores 0-2 was 1.1%, and for scores 3, 4, 5, 6, and ≥7 was 8.6%, 11.7%, 29.2%, 37.5%, and 76.9%, respectively. Score thresholds for >99% NPV were ≤48 for APACHE-IV, ≤115 for PESI, and 0 points for sPESI and ICU-sPESI.

Conclusions

By accounting for severity of PE presentation, our newly proposed ICU-sPESI score provided improved PE mortality prediction compared to the original sPESI score and offered excellent discrimination of mortality risk.
Impact of a Pharmacist-Managed Telemedicine Pharmacotherapy Clinic in the Era of COVID-19
Authors: Marte Francheska , Bianco Jessica , Martinez Amanda , Carris Nicholas
Published: November 2023

Purpose: Telemedicine has been essential during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In March 2020, pharmacist-led chronic disease state management services at our family care centers and primary care clinics were converted to telemedicine. This study aimed to determine the impact of expanding telemedicine services on appointment adherence, clinical outcomes, and financial reimbursement. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, quasi-experimental study of the impact of expanding telemedicine services on adult patients with diabetes, hypertension, and/or hyperlipidemia. The study included patients scheduled with a pharmacist at a hospital-based (HB) or physician-based (PB) clinic. The primary outcome was the difference in the mean no-show rate. The secondary outcomes were differences in mean change in HbA1c, LDL, blood pressure, and reimbursement. Mean differences between pre- and post-telemedicine groups of each clinic were measured for all outcomes. Results: The mean difference (SE) in the no-show rate in the HB clinic was -12.09% (4.862; P = .014), compared to 2.88% (3.656; P = .431) in the PB clinic. The mean difference (SE) in the change in HbA1c in the HB clinic was .00% (.338; P = .992), compared to .01% (.239; P = .945) in the PB clinic. The mean difference (SE) in reimbursement in the HB clinic was $1.93 (4.209; P = .647), compared to $20.46 (3.210; P < .0001) in the PB clinic. Conclusion: Expansion of pharmacy telemedicine services provided evidence for improved appointment adherence in the HB clinic and increased reimbursement in the PB clinic. No change in healthcare outcomes was observed.
The Value of Being Nonprofit: A New Look at Hansmann’s Contract Failure Theory
Authors: Silvia Chris , Child Curtis , Witesman Eva
Published: November 2023

In his theory about the role of nonprofit enterprise, Henry Hansmann suggested that nonprofit status provides important information to consumers in low-information environments. In this article, we assess whether consumers use nonprofit status to form purchasing preferences as Hansmann predicted. Using choice-based conjoint analysis, we find that under different types of low-information circumstances, study participants prefer goods and services provided by nonprofits to those offered by businesses. In the absence of additional information (such as customer ratings and third-party certifications), nonprofit status serves as an important value signal to consumers. In the presence of additional information, nonprofit status is still relevant in some cases, although it becomes less so. The findings suggest that additional forms of information do not necessarily displace the value to consumers of information about organization type. We reflect on these findings in light of Hansmann’s thesis.
The UDHR as a living instrument at 75 and beyond
Authors: Hallo de Wolf Antenor , Moerland Roland
Published: November 2023

On 29–30 June 2023, the Netherlands Network for Human Rights Research held its annual research day (Toogdag), which focused on the past, present, and future of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in light of its 75th anniversary. This column comments and reflects on the Declaration's impact in the field of human rights, and ponders on the future challenges that it may face.
The impact of pregnancy planning and medical readiness on reproductive outcomes in women with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Sims Catherine A , Eudy Amanda M , Doss Jayanth , Rogers Jennifer L , Sadun Rebecca E , Criscione-Schreiber Lisa , Sun Kai , Clowse Megan EB
Published: November 2023

Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who get pregnant while SLE is active or while on teratogens have higher risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Reproductive Health Guidelines recommend women conceive when SLE is well controlled and treated with pregnancy-compatible medications. The Healthy Outcomes in Pregnancy with SLE Through Education of Providers (HOP-STEP) Intervention was created to ascertain pregnancy interest and contraceptive use followed by a personalized pregnancy prevention and/or planning discussion ( https://www.LupusPregnancy.org ). All study participants were adult females enrolled in a prospective registry who met ACR or SLICC criteria. Women were defined as “not medically ready for pregnancy” if they were currently prescribed a teratogen, had proteinuria ≥500 mg, or had elevated SLE activity according to the physician’s global assessment. Two time periods were assessed: 2/2018–12/2019 and 10/2020–4/2021 to evaluate pre- and post-pandemic periods, with some post-pandemic visits taking place via telehealth. The interest in pregnancy was similar between the first time period (17%) and the second time period, whether in-person (18%) or virtual (18%). Pregnancy interest was assessed significantly more frequently during in-person visits (90%) compared to virtual encounters (67%) ( p = .02). Contraceptive use was not significantly different during either time period with use of a teratogen or increased SLE activity. Of the 52 women in both time periods who were not medically ready for pregnancy and were not on effective contraception, three women (5.8%) conceived. None of the women who were using moderate or highly effective contraception became pregnant. Pregnancy outcomes were similar between unintended or high-risk and well-timed pregnancies. The HOP-STEP Intervention effectively identified pregnancy interest, giving rheumatologists the opportunity to address patient reproductive goals, optimize disease activity, and adjust medication regimens prior to conception.
Multiply robust causal inference of the restricted mean survival time difference
Authors: Shu Di , Mukhopadhyay Sagori , Uno Hajime , Gerber Jeffrey S , Schaubel Douglas E
Published: November 2023

The hazard ratio (HR) remains the most frequently employed metric in assessing treatment effects on survival times. However, the difference in restricted mean survival time (RMST) has become a popular alternative to the HR when the proportional hazards assumption is considered untenable. Moreover, independent of the proportional hazards assumption, many comparative effectiveness studies aim to base contrasts on survival probability rather than on the hazard function. Causal effects based on RMST are often estimated via inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). However, this approach generally results in biased results when the assumed propensity score model is misspecified. Motivated by the need for more robust techniques, we propose an empirical likelihood-based weighting approach that allows for specifying a set of propensity score models. The resulting estimator is consistent when the postulated model set contains a correct model; this property has been termed multiple robustness. In this report, we derive and evaluate a multiply robust estimator of the causal between-treatment difference in RMST. Simulation results confirm its robustness. Compared with the IPTW estimator from a correct model, the proposed estimator tends to be less biased and more efficient in finite samples. Additional simulations reveal biased results from a direct application of machine learning estimation of propensity scores. Finally, we apply the proposed method to evaluate the impact of intrapartum group B streptococcus antibiotic prophylaxis on the risk of childhood allergic disorders using data derived from electronic medical records from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and census data from the American Community Survey.
Estimating drug concentration–response relationships by applying causal inference methods for continuous point exposures and time-to-event outcomes
Authors: Yiu Sean , Wang Qing , Mercier Francois , Manfrini Marianna , Koendgen Harold , Kletzl Heidemarie , Model Fabian
Published: November 2023

In clinical development, it is useful to characterize the causal relationship between individual drug concentrations and clinical outcomes in large phase III trials of new therapeutic agents because it can provide insights on whether increasing the currently administered drug dose may lead to better outcomes. However, estimating causal effects of drug concentration is complicated by the fact that drug concentration is a continuous measure and it is usually influenced by patient-level prognostic characteristics such as body weight and sex. In this article, we compare two approaches to estimate causal effects of continuous point exposures on time-to-event outcomes: (a) outcome regression (OR) and (b) weighting. In particular, we make the first direct comparison of the balancing weights, inverse probability weighting and OR methods for estimating the effects of continuous exposures on time-to-event outcomes in simulations and demonstrate that these methods can exhibit markedly different behaviours that subsequently lead to a change in the conclusions. To improve weighted exposure effect estimators, we also propose a new simple-to-apply diagnostic to detect when such estimators might be subject to severe bias, and demonstrate its effectiveness in simulations. Finally, we apply these methods to an example of multiple sclerosis drug development by providing causal effect estimates of average ocrelizumab concentrations on time-to-event disability progression outcomes.
Deciphering the Social Media Content to Identify Common Branding Themes of Bellwether Management Institutions of India
Authors: Munshi Abdul Rahim Ahmed
Published: November 2023

Social media has become an integral part of people’s lives. Extant research is full of ample evidence on the impact of social media on the brand image and purchase intentions of consumers. Educational institutions have started using social media for passing information and influencing the attitudes of prospective students. There is a dearth of research on the type of content that can be used on social media to build the desired brand image as well as influence the attitude of prospective students. This study has an objective of identifying the common themes of social media content that are used by the leading IIMs, that is, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta. Additionally, another aim is to find the themes that drive maximum engagement. Data was extracted from Facebook and Instagram posts of IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta for a period of 8 months (i.e., January 2022 to August 2022). The posts were categorized on the basis of commonality and were given a common theme for analysis. Simple descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. Frequency and mean were used to identify the most popular themes and correlation was used to find the relationship between the number of posts and engagement. Text analysis was also done using word cloud. On the basis of the post content and most frequently used words on all three platforms, word cloud was built for the three institutions. It was found that the most engaging themes on Facebook were achievements, webinars, festival celebrations, public talks by experts and appreciation posts. Similarly, the most engaging themes on Instagram were university infrastructure, webinars, achievements, cultural events and festival celebrations, Furthermore, the most engaging themes on LinkedIn were farewell, inauguration, festival celebration, social events and virtual meetings. The results of this study will contribute to the extant literature on what branding themes can be used by educational institutions on social media platforms to maximize engagement.
Sick with “shareholder value”: US pharma’s financialized business model during the pandemic
Authors: Lazonick William , Tulum Öner
Published: November 2023

US-based pharmaceutical companies claim that they need high drug prices to provide sufficient profits to fund investments in innovation. This argument is consistent with the corporate-finance principle of retaining profits and reinvesting in productive capabilities that is central to our “theory of innovative enterprise” (TIE). The problem is that, for decades, resource allocation at the largest US-based pharmaceutical companies, known as “Big Pharma,” has embraced the agency-theory argument that a company should be run to “maximize shareholder value” (MSV). We use TIE to expose MSV as an ideology of “predatory value extraction” (PVE), which legitimizes price gouging, downsizing the labor force, and tax dodging. In the body of the article, we document that the largest US-based pharmaceutical companies have become highly financialized, using all their profits, and often more, to distribute cash dividends and stock buybacks to shareholders. We then show the extent to which stock-based remuneration incentivizes senior pharmaceutical executives to engage in this financialized behavior. As cases in point, we consider the financialization of the two US-based companies, Pfizer and Moderna, that were centrally involved in the delivery of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We conclude our analysis by placing PVE in the US pharmaceutical industry in the broader context of the US healthcare system and the US economy.
Emotionality and performance: An emotion-regulation approach to music performance anxiety
Authors: Kaleńska-Rodzaj Julia
Published: November 2023

Emotion-regulation abilities and skills are important determinants of performance success, as they lead to emotional stability and psychological well-being in the course of practicing and performing. Research on musicians’ emotionality has revealed a positive relationship between music performance anxiety (MPA) and the temperamental factors of emotional reactivity, low self-esteem, and maladaptive coping, with sex as a moderator in these relationships. In the current study, we attempted to analyze the structure of the relationships between selected variables using the assumptions of the developmental model of human emotionality as a framework for a proposed MPA regulation model. Students at music academies ( N = 196) completed the EAS Temperament Survey, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the modified Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale, the Brief-COPE Inventory, and the revised Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory. The results confirm the regularities found in the general population, female musicians showing more intense negative emotionality, temperamental activity traits, emotional awareness, and the use of emotional support strategies. In turn, male musicians obtained medium results on measures of temperamental traits, and often used problem-orientation and perspective-change strategies for emotion regulation. In general, both male and female musicians scored within the medium range for MPA. Tests of the MPA regulation model showed two pathways from temperamental traits to coping strategies: from sociability to problem orientation, and from emotionality to perspective change. There was a positive relationship between the use of the problem-orientation strategy and MPA. The major predictor negatively related to MPA was the use of the perspective-change strategy. The direction of relationships may indicate that techniques for accepting experience are more effective than control techniques for reducing MPA in the context of public performance.
Identifying individual vulnerabilities and problematic behaviors hindering musicians’ development: Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder versus study addiction
Authors: Atroszko Paweł A , Buźniak Aleksandra , Woropay-Hordziejewicz Natalia , Kierzkowski Michał , Lawendowski Rafał
Published: November 2023

Individual vulnerabilities, such as particular personality characteristics, may be important risk factors that can hinder the development of young musicians and affect their professional careers. This study aimed to examine the relationship between obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and rigid perfectionism, study addiction, and well-being among music students. It was hypothesized that OCPD is a strong risk factor for addictive studying; compulsive learning, however, is an addictive disorder with its own etiology, symptomatology, epidemiology, and course. A total of 255 students from various music academies in Poland participated in the study. It used the Bergen Study Addiction Scale, assessing seven core addiction symptoms related to studying; Five-Factor Obsessive Compulsive Inventory; Perceived Stress Scale; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; Three-Item Loneliness Scale; and a single-item measure of learning engagement. Both study addiction and OCPD showed positive relationships with stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses showed that study addiction was related to well-being above and beyond OCPD and was more strongly associated with compromised functioning. Furthermore, mediation analyses indicated that study addiction is a full mediator between OCPD and stress, as well as loneliness, and a partial mediator for anxiety and depression. Moderation analyses revealed that OCPD was related to well-being only for those participants who scored low for study addiction. There was no significant relationship between OCPD and well-being for participants who scored high for study addiction. These results strongly indicate that OCPD is an important risk factor for study addiction although these are different disorders. Like students with high levels of OCPD, students with high levels of study addiction but low levels of OCPD experience reduced well-being. The polythetic cut-off score showed that 24.6% of young musicians could be addicted to studying. Due to the high prevalence of this disorder, further systematic studies among young musicians are highly warranted to prevent and provide better help with the problem.
Psychological counseling services in music schools in Poland: History and current status
Authors: Nogaj Anna Antonina
Published: November 2023

This article presents the main aims and scope of the psychological counseling service for young musicians that was first introduced in the Polish music education system during the 1950s. It discusses the contribution of Maria Manturzewska, a pioneer of music psychology in Poland, to the establishment of a network of professionals providing counseling to students at specialist primary and secondary music schools and conservatoires. Manturzewska’s work was also a major influence on current policies and practice in relation to counseling for music students. The article introduces different forms of psychological counseling provided by psychologists and school pedagogists to music students. It outlines the formal and legal aspects of counseling for students who experience various issues, as well as those with developmental deficits or special educational needs, and discusses the scope of responsibilities of psychologists and pedagogists working with young musicians, and the issues reported by teachers, students, and their parents. It also considers the professional activities of psychologists and school pedagogists in the light of the social, political, and economic changes that occurred in Poland between 1950 and 2020, which have had a significant impact on the developments in the field. Finally, the article discusses the provision of psychological counseling services for music, ballet, and (visual) art schools across Poland since 2011. These schools are supervised by the Artistic Education Centre, which was established by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The psychological counseling services also conduct research to examine the physical and psychological well-being of music students in Poland.
‘Feeling Ready’: A Feminist Poststructural Analysis of Postpartum Sexual Health
Authors: Ollivier Rachel , Aston Megan , Price Sheri , Sheppard-LeMoine Debbie , Steenbeek Audrey
Published: November 2023

There exists a lack of literature surrounding how postpartum individuals define feeling ‘ready’ to resume sexual activities after childbirth. Many factors may influence feelings of desire or readiness for sexual activities, such as breastfeeding. Therefore, it is important to understand why and how postpartum individuals understand and make meaning of their experiences surrounding postpartum sexual activities, as well as how those experiences are influenced or negotiated through relations of power. This study was guided by feminist poststructuralism and discourse analysis. Eleven participants who were between 1 and 6 months postpartum and living in Nova Scotia , Canada, were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Participants challenged certain discourses surrounding sexual activities postpartum, including the social discourse that positions sexual activities as a requirement within romantic relationships and the discourse that positions health care providers as the authority on postpartum sexual health. ‘Feeling ready’ centered on four main issues: (1) navigating physical recovery; (2) personal knowing and emotional readiness; (3) the 6-week check; and (4) redefining intimacy. This article describes one branch of the findings within the overall study. Choosing to resume sexual activities postpartum, or feeling ready to do so, is individual, fluid, and complex. This research has important implications for practice and policy, specifically as it pertains to postpartum care.
Palliative Care for the Elderly With Heart Diseases in Tertiary Health care: A Concept Analysis
Authors: Ali Sana , Tyerman Jane
Published: November 2023

Background

The increasing incidence of heart failure (HF) in the elderly leads to increased mortality, hospitalization, length of hospital stay, and health care costs. Older adults often face multiple drug treatments, comorbidities, frailty, and cognitive problems, which require early palliative care. However, these patients do not receive adequate palliative care.

Objective

This concept analysis aimed to develop an in-depth understanding of palliative care for elderly patients with cardiac diseases in tertiary care.

Design

The analysis was guided by Walker and Avant's method, and databases were searched using keywords, such as palliative care, tertiary care, elderly, and heart. Covidence was used to review the results using the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

The World Health Organisation’s definition of palliative care is widely accepted. Palliative care for older adults with heart disease in tertiary care is preceded by chronic illness, polypharmacy, symptom burden, physical and cognitive decline, comorbidities, and psychosocial/spiritual issues. The main attributes of palliative care for this population include health care professionals and patient education, holistic patient/family-centered care, symptom management, shared decision-making, early integration, advanced care planning, and a multidisciplinary approach. Palliative care improves elderly cardiac patients' and their family satisfaction while reducing readmission, hospital stays, and unnecessary invasive procedures.

Conclusion

Collaboration between hospitals, community organizations, transitional palliative care services, and research has the potential to improve early palliative care and the well-being of the elderly cardiac population. Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) competencies play a crucial role in promoting palliative care in the elderly HF population.
The Structure-Culture Alignment Activity: Aligning Organizational Structure Elements With Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Cultural Values
Authors: Wyland Rebecca , Hanson-Rasmussen Nancy , Clark Frazier
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this article is to present an instructional innovation called the Structure-Culture Alignment Activity, which leads students through the process of aligning cultural values pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness (DEI) to two important structural elements, formalization and centralization. Using decision making, team cooperation, reflection of preferences, and practice in decision-making skills, students create a part of a strategic plan for a new organization. In this article, we offer detailed instructions, learning objectives, debrief questions, extensions, and variations for the Structure-Culture Alignment Activity. We also offer our suggestions from lived experience in running the Structure-Culture Alignment Activity as well as the findings from our statistical analysis. Our findings contribute to management education literature and suggest that participation in the Structure-Culture Alignment Activity improves knowledge pertaining to structural elements, diversity value attitudes, and attitudes towards aligning organizational structural elements with DEI cultural values in an undergraduate management class.
Gaming Between Leisure and Addiction: How Young People Perceive Risk in Video Games
Authors: Jensen Kristian Haulund , Bengtsson Tea Torbenfeldt
Published: November 2023

Young people's leisure activities are a subject of interest and concern. While criminal engagement is a key concern, video gaming has long been in focus for its possible deteriorating effects threatening societal values and interests. As it is often the case with studies on deviancy, studies on problematic gaming frequently rest upon an assumption that risk exists independently of everyday life context and thus use isolated “risk” variables to measure problematic gaming. Contrarily, this study argues that, in gaming, risk cannot be separated from everyday life. We analyze 35 qualitative interviews with young people and use social constructivist perspectives of risk to show how risk is embedded in everyday practices. We find two dominant risks: The risk of gaming monopolizing everyday life and the risk of overspending. Linked to these risks is the social risk of being excluded from the friendship group. We also find that young people integrate discourses of gaming addiction into their risk perceptions and that they actively strive to balance their gaming by avoiding “becoming addicted.” Our findings challenge assumptions that video games carry inherent risks of addiction and prompt an approach to risk in gaming as not being separated from the context of everyday life.