Search

This study examines whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion (ME) was associated with changes in racial/ethnic disparities in insurance coverage, utilization, and quality of mental health care among low-income adults with probable mental illness using the National Survey on Drug Use and Health with state identifiers. This study employed difference-in-difference models to compare ME states to non-expansion states before (2010–2013) and after (2014–2017) expansion and triple difference models to examine these changes across non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and Hispanic/Latino racial/ethnic subgroups. Insurance coverage increased significantly for all racial/ethnic groups in expansion states relative to non-expansion states (DD: 9.69; 95% CI: 5.17, 14.21). The proportion low-income adults that received treatment but still had unmet need decreased (DD: −3.06; 95% CI: −5.92, −0.21) and the proportion with unmet need and no mental health treatment increased (DD: 2.38; 95% CI: 0.03, 4.73). ME was not associated with reduced disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the relationships between multidimensional and monetary poverty indices in international and national poverty profiles, and empirically explore the consequences of identifying poor people relying on a combination of both approaches. Taking first a cross-country perspective, focusing on 90 countries in the developing world, we corroborate that the incidence of poverty by money metrics and the global Multidimensional Poverty Index, a non-monetary measure of poverty, are correlated. Digging deeper, we use microdata from six countries—Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Uganda—to study the joint densities of monetary and multidimensional welfare and the poverty identification mismatches for a comprehensive array of poverty line pairs. Mismatches are important, particularly in the poorer countries. Although mismatches could be avoided by combining both approaches in a dual cutoff-based poverty measure, the choice of the monetary poverty line remains a considerable issue as it changes the nonmonetary composition of poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health conditions were seen to rise during the COVID-19 pandemic as individuals lost loved ones due to the pandemic, lost jobs, and in many cases had to care for elderly and other loved ones. For students, the pandemic also brought the additional challenge of having to transition to online learning. In this study, we investigated the depression and anxiety levels of students in a Hispanic-serving institution and the coping strategies they used to deal with the stress during the pandemic, and the relationship of students' depression and anxiety levels to their preference of learning and their other demographic characteristics. A survey was administered online via Qualtrics to the students. The depression and anxiety faced by the students in this study could have been attributed to them being majority Latino and economically disadvantaged, which studies have shown to be more disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Students who have taken online courses before were associated with lower depression levels, which may indicate that those who have not taken online courses may have been experiencing more stress with this transition. Students employed approach-based coping strategies instead of avoidance strategies which are known as more positive forms of coping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of people all over the world are affected by disability arising out of accident, disease, or congenital. This is a crucial health issue for mankind and needs structured treatment and rehabilitation plans. Prevalence and management capacity of disability have wide cross-cultural and geographical variations. Despite the lack of specific data there are reasons to believe that third-world countries have more disabilities and fewer resources and capacity for rehabilitation. So, there is a strong relationship between poverty and disability. Marginalized populations, disadvantaged or at-risk populations such as women, older people, and people who are poor are inappropriately affected by disability. Children from poverty-stricken families, indigenous populations, and ethnic minority groups are significantly at higher risk of experiencing disability. There is a higher prevalence of disability in lower-income countries than in higher-income countries. Poor people from lowerincome countries are usually involved in high-risk jobs which make them vulnerable to injury and disability. Because of exaggerated life stress, poor health status, and poor living conditions due to poverty, people at low resource outset are more vulnerable to disease and disability. Of inadequate support from affluent persons as well as from the government, they spend their last savings to meet the treatment costs and get poorer. They are also common victims of road traffic accidents when they travel on risky roads and vehicles. There are many other shreds of evidence for a link between disability and poverty in low and middle-income countries and there is an urgent need for further research and policy action to break the cycle. This review article intends to find out the relationship between poverty and disability and reveals how poverty influences suffering disability and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core‐periphery hypothesis predicts niche cores should be associated with greater survivorship, reproductive output and population performance rates than marginal habitats at niche edges. However, there is very little empirical evidence of whether niche centrality influences population trends in animals. Using the Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) as a model system, we evaluated whether niche centrality is associated with population trends, resource availability and diet across a core‐periphery gradient. Population growth rates and density progressively declined towards niche peripheries. Niche peripheries were resource‐poor and Cape mountain zebra consumed more phylogenetically diverse diets dominated by non‐grass families. In core habitats they consumed grass‐rich diets and female reproductive success was higher. This combination of spatial niche modelling and functional ecology provides a novel evaluation of how bottom‐up resource limitation can shape species distributions, population resilience and range change and can guide conservation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the protests and dissent that occurred at the University of Valle in Colombia in the early 1970s. Students at the university went on strike to object to funding from local and international elites, criticizing wealth inequality, imperialism, and the limitations of development within a capitalist system. The architecture school at the university played a significant role in organizing and leading the protests. The article discusses the relationship between architecture, international development, and student activism, highlighting the ways in which students contested elite visions and reshaped the physical space of the university. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the importance of matching mentors and mentees in a premedical peer mentoring program to increase diversity in medical schools and support minority premedical students. The Building Bridges Mentor Program (BBMP) at a community-based medical school in the southeastern US uses a matching process to pair mentors, who are current medical students, with mentees who have a strong interest in applying to medical school. The matching process considers factors such as personality, career goals, and extracurricular activities. The article highlights the positive impact of the matching process on the mentor-mentee relationship and suggests that other pathway programs should invest in matching mentors and mentees to strengthen their programs. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of financial health and corporate governance on aviation safety, aiming to fill a critical gap in existing research. The purpose of this study is to identify how these factors influence the safety records of airlines and provide insights for regulators, airlines and stakeholders to enhance aviation safety. Design/methodology/approach: Using a comprehensive international sample spanning 1950–2009 and later, this empirical analysis draws on diverse databases. The authors examine 372 airlines across 70 countries from 1990 to 2016. The research uses statistical models to analyze the relationship between financial indicators, corporate governance quality and aviation safety, addressing limitations of prior single-country studies. Findings: The findings reveal a significant inverse relationship between financial health and accident propensity, with profitable airlines exhibiting lower accident rates. Additionally, airlines with higher corporate governance quality, characterized by qualified directors and stable leadership, experience fewer accidents. The study identifies key factors such as pilot errors, mechanical failures and adverse weather, contributing to approximately 75% of accidents, emphasizing the importance of organizational control. Practical implications: This research has crucial implications for aviation safety policies and practices. Regulators and international organizations, such as International Civil Aviation Organization and International Air Transport Association, should allocate resources to supervise financially vulnerable airlines and those with lower governance quality. Governments might consider incentivizing safety practices through tax deductibility for relevant expenses. Shareholders are encouraged to prioritize qualified, younger and less busy directors, recognizing their impact on safety performance. Originality/value: This study contributes to existing literature by addressing methodological biases and offering a comprehensive international perspective. The identification of a link between financial health, corporate governance and accident rates in the aviation industry provides valuable insights. The research informs policymakers, regulators and industry stakeholders on effective strategies to improve safety by considering financial and governance factors under their control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The monocytes to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) has been identified as a potential biomarker for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In this population-based cross-sectional study, we explored the relationships among carotid artery disease (CAD), including the presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), the MHR, and related parameter changes. Methods: This cross-sectional study, Conducted from April to June 2019 in a rural area of Tianjin, involved middle-aged and elderly participants. Based on carotid ultrasound examinations, participants were divided into CAP and non-CAP groups. Logistic regression and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were utilized to assess MHR's predictive value for CAP. Gender-specific analyses were also performed to examine predictive variations. The relationship between CIMT and MHR was evaluated using linear regression. Results: Of the 2109 participants meeting the inclusion criteria, 51.6% were identified with CAP. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between MHR and CAP prevalence, (OR, 9.670; 95% CI, 2.359–39.631; P = 0.002), particularly in females (OR, 5.921; 95% CI, 1.823–19.231; P = 0.003), after adjusting for covariates. However, no significant correlation was found between CIMT and MHR when adjusted for other factors. The ROC analysis showed the area under the curve for MHR and CAP to be 0.569 (95% CI: 0.544–0.593; P < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings suggested that it is crucial to enhance early screening and intervention for CAD, specifically focusing on the prevention and progression of CAP, to address the unique health challenges faced by low-income groups in rural settings. Emphasizing these preventive measures could significantly contribute to improving cardiovascular health outcomes in this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many studies compare state‐level outcomes to estimate changes attributable to Medicaid expansion. However, it is imperative to conduct more granular, demographic‐level analyses to inform current efforts on cancer prevention among low‐income adults. Therefore, the authors compared the volume of patients with cancer and disease stage at diagnosis in Ohio, which expanded its Medicaid coverage in 2014, with those in Georgia, a nonexpansion state, by cancer site and health insurance status. Methods: The authors used state cancer registries from 2010 to 2017 to identify adults younger than 64 years who had incident female breast cancer, cervical cancer, or colorectal cancer. Multivariable Poisson regression was conducted by cancer type, health insurance, and state to examine the risk of late‐stage disease, adjusting for individual‐level and area‐level covariates. A difference‐in‐differences framework was then used to estimate the differences in risks of late‐stage diagnosis in Ohio versus Georgia. Results: In Ohio, the largest increase in all three cancer types was observed in the Medicaid group after Medicaid expansion. In addition, significantly reduced risks of late‐stage disease were observed among patients with breast cancer on Medicaid in Ohio by approximately 7% and among patients with colorectal cancer on Medicaid in Ohio and Georgia after expansion by approximately 6%. Notably, the authors observed significantly reduced risks of late‐stage diagnosis among all patients with colorectal cancer in Georgia after expansion. Conclusions: More early stage cancers in the Medicaid‐insured and/or uninsured groups after expansion suggest that the reduced cancer burden in these vulnerable population subgroups may be attributed to Medicaid expansion. Heterogeneous risks of late‐stage disease by cancer type highlight the need for comprehensive evaluation frameworks, including local cancer prevention efforts and federal health policy reforms. Plain Language Summary: This study looked at how Medicaid expansion affected cancer diagnosis and treatment in two states, Ohio and Georgia.The researchers found that, after Ohio expanded their Medicaid program, there were more patients with cancer among low‐income adults on Medicaid.The study also found that, among people on Medicaid, there were lower rates of advanced cancer at the time of diagnosis for breast cancer and colon cancer in Ohio and for colon cancer in Georgia.These findings suggest that Medicaid expansion may be effective in reducing the cancer burden among low‐income adults. To address gaps in the current understanding of the impact of Medicaid expansion among more granular demographic groups in states that did and did not expand their Medicaid programs, the authors compared the volume of patients with cancer and disease stage at diagnosis in Ohio, which expanded its Medicaid program in 2014, versus those measures in Georgia, a nonexpansion state, by cancer site and health insurance type. More early‐stage cancer cases were identified in the Medicaid group after expansion, suggesting that reduced cancer burden among low‐income adults may be attributable to Medicaid expansion among low‐income adults and highlighting the need for comprehensive evaluation frameworks, including local cancer prevention efforts and Medicaid expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This secondary analysis used data collected for the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2018 to examine changes in life satisfaction among middle-aged adults living alone in South Korea. Individuals who were over 45 years of age, lived alone at the time of the first data collection wave, and responded at least twice to the survey over the 12-year study period were included in the final linear mixed model (N = 124). Life satisfaction increased for those who had increased assets, were widowed, and had more frequent contact with acquaintances (i.e., once a month and once a week compared with once a year). Life satisfaction decreased as the number of chronic illnesses increased for underweight individuals compared with normal weight or overweight individuals and for depressed versus non-depressed individuals. This study's findings indicate that increased social support is beneficial for middle-aged marginalized individuals, including those who are economically disadvantaged, have few social interactions, are underweight, and have chronic illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to evaluate public transport access distribution based on a framework of vertical equity principles. In this method, traffic analysis zones (TAZs) are analyzed by comparing the estimated transit demand with the existing geographical distribution of the network's benefits (e.g., accessibility and mobility). The framework deploys the concept of connectivity power to measure the distribution of a transit system's supply. On the other hand, demand is measured by an exhaustive index, the weighted average of four social indicators, namely the number of low-income people, the population, the households without vehicles, and the disabled in the TAZs. These weights can differ from city to city depending on culture, politics, social behavior, and costs of effective parameters such as fuel, parking, and tickets in that particular city. The framework was applied to the comprehensive transit network of Tehran, Iran. Finally, diagonal and radical lines linking the city's southwest to its northeast are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study of middle-aged adults surveyed by NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) from March 1999 to March 2020, the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and cigarette use was consistently higher among low-income adults. Low-income adults had an increase in hypertension but no changes in diabetes or obesity. In contrast, higher-income adults had an increase in diabetes and obesity. Income-based disparities persisted after adjustment for social determinants of health. Visual Abstract. Cardiovascular Health of Middle-Aged U.S. Adults by Income Level, 1999 to March 2020: In this study of 20 761 middle-aged adults surveyed by NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) from March 1999 to March 2020, the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and cigarette use was consistently higher among low-income adults. Low-income adults had an increase in hypertension but no changes in diabetes or obesity. In contrast, higher-income adults had an increase in diabetes and obesity. Income-based disparities persisted after adjustment for social determinants of health. Background: Although cardiovascular mortality has increased among middle-aged U.S. adults since 2011, how the burden of cardiovascular risk factors has changed for this population by income level over the past 2 decades is unknown. Objective: To evaluate trends in the prevalence, treatment, and control of cardiovascular risk factors among low-income and higher-income middle-aged adults and how social determinants contribute to recent associations between income and cardiovascular health. Design: Serial cross-sectional study. Setting: NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), 1999 to March 2020. Participants: Middle-aged adults (aged 40 to 64 years). Measurements: Age-standardized prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and cigarette use; treatment rates for hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia; and rates of blood pressure, glycemic, and cholesterol control. Results: The study population included 20 761 middle-aged adults. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and cigarette use was consistently higher among low-income adults between 1999 and March 2020. Low-income adults had an increase in hypertension over the study period (37.2% [95% CI, 33.5% to 40.9%] to 44.7% [CI, 39.8% to 49.5%]) but no changes in diabetes or obesity. In contrast, higher-income adults did not have a change in hypertension but had increases in diabetes (7.8% [CI, 5.0% to 10.6%] to 14.9% [CI, 12.4% to 17.3%]) and obesity (33.0% [CI, 26.7% to 39.4%] to 44.0% [CI, 40.2% to 47.7%]). Cigarette use was high and stagnant among low-income adults (33.2% [CI, 28.4% to 38.0%] to 33.9% [CI, 29.6% to 38.3%]) but decreased among their higher-income counterparts (18.6% [CI, 13.5% to 23.7%] to 11.5% [CI, 8.7% to 14.3%]). Treatment and control rates for hypertension were unchanged in both groups (>80%), whereas diabetes treatment rates improved only among the higher-income group (58.4% [CI, 44.4% to 72.5%] to 77.4% [CI, 67.6% to 87.1%]). Income-based disparities in hypertension, diabetes, and cigarette use persisted in more recent years even after adjustment for insurance coverage, health care access, and food insecurity. Limitation: Sample size limitations could preclude detection of small changes in treatment and control rates. Conclusion: Over 2 decades in the United States, hypertension increased in low-income middle-aged adults, whereas diabetes and obesity increased in their higher-income counterparts. Income-based disparities in hypertension, diabetes, and smoking persisted even after adjustment for other social determinants of health. Primary Funding Source: National Institutes of Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper foregrounds the use of "Living Labs" as instruments for the delivery of just low carbon transformations. Living Labs are commonly understood as stakeholder-centred, iterative and open-innovation ecosystems that involve multiple forms of co-creation and engagement among different actors in a given territory. Over a period of three years, thanks to a unique pan-European action research study, three such Labs were set up in different locations in Europe -- a large North-western European city (Manchester, England), a mid-sized mountainous town in South-eastern Europe (Metsovo, Greece) and a series of rural settlements in Central Europe (Nyírbátor, Hungary). Working closely with local residents and relevant organisational stakeholders, the research teams that led the Labs undertook multiple low-carbon interventions in the homes of low-income residents, while continuously monitoring the broader impacts of intermediation practices on energy equity and sustainability across three consecutive cycles of activity. We present and discuss the results of these activities, so as to uncover the impacts of Living Labs on energy poverty both before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the reception and criticism of the 2012 film "Beasts of the Southern Wild," initially acclaimed for its independent nature and unknown cast. The author challenges the backlash from academic critics, particularly bell hooks, Christina Sharpe, and Jayna Brown, arguing that the film promotes an ecofeminist and queer perspective, rejecting normative domesticity.

This article uses a historical case study to significantly advance theoretical debates on path dependence in institutional change and continuity. In particular, it argues that the heuristic of 'jumping tracks' can be productively developed to explain how institutional arrangements can shift into different policy arenas. The historical criminological case study examines welfare provision and penalties in colonial Australia. Substantively, the case study provides historical support to current claims that the boundaries between crime, poverty and welfare are fluid. Just as the shadow of the contemporary carceral state is enlarging non‐criminal pathways to punishment, it will be shown that in 19th‐century Tasmania the shadow of the penal colony acted to control paupers. When the Tasmanian penal system began to be dismantled, the institutional arrangements that had developed within it jumped tracks to the pauper system. Fundamentally, the key theoretical proposition is that path dependence can work across institutions by jumping tracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Court cases involving sexual assault and police violence rely heavily on victim testimony. We consider what we call the Traumatic Untrustworthiness Argument (TUA) according to which we should be skeptical about victim testimony because people are particularly liable to misremember traumatic events. The TUA is not obviously based in mere distrust of women, people of color, disabled people, poor people, and so forth. Rather, it seeks to justify skepticism on epistemic and empirical grounds. We consider how the TUA might appeal to the psychology and neuroscience of memory for empirical support. However, we argue that neither support the TUA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) is the most common genetic disease worldwide caused by a single mutation in the gene HBB. The disease severity is very variable and depends on many factors. We evaluated the clinical and biological profile of sickle cell anemia children in rural Central Africa. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Hôpital Saint Luc de Kisantu, located 120 km away from Kinshasa-DR Congo in an area of 35 km around Kisantu with a population of roughly 80 000 individuals. We included SCA patients aged 6 months to 18 years. We collected clinical and hematological data. The SCA scoring system proposed by Adegoke et al. in 2013 was applied to determine the disease severity. We searched for factors associated to the disease severity. This study included 136 patients, 66 males and 70 females (sex-ratio M/F 0.94). The mean severity score was 8.21 ± 5.30 (ranges 0–23). Fifty-nine (43.4%) children had mild disease, 62 (45.6%) moderate and 15 (11%) severe disease. Girls had higher levels of HbF than boys (p = 0.003). An inverse correlation was observed between fetal hemoglobin and the disease severity (p = 0.005, r −0.239, IC95% −6.139; −1.469). Some factors such age influence the occurrence of certain chronic complications such as avascular bone necrosis. In conclusion, the disease severity of SCA depends on multiple factors. In this study, fetal hemoglobin was the main modulator of the disease severity. These data may also serve as a baseline to initiate HU treatment in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has linked lifetime media use with intergroup prejudice. Our studies extend previous findings by linking current intergroup prejudice (race, social class) with retrospectively reported media use in specific life stages (childhood, adolescence, adulthood). Across two surveys (n = 293; n = 369), we found childhood social media use, but not adolescence or adulthood social media use, significantly predicted participants' current prejudicial attitudes toward Black individuals and low-income individuals, mediated through social dominance orientation. Additionally, overall lifetime social media use was associated with positive and negative racial attitudes through social dominance orientation. However, findings with lifetime TV use were mixed. Neither of indirect effects between overall lifetime TV use, social dominance orientation, and racial attitudes (or income egalitarianism) was statistically significant. Further, neither of these indirect effects with TV use in specific life stages was significant. Overall, the present findings call for attention on contemporary media in addition to traditional media in cultivation research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining Black political economy and solidarity economy theories and practices provides alternative models for group development based on recognizing and developing internal (to the individual and to the community) capacities and creating mechanisms that equitably produce, distribute, recycle, and multiply local expertise and capital within communities of color, especially Black, communities—creating a solidarity economy of caring community for survival (successful social reproduction), sustainability, and liberation. The history of mutual aid, cooperative ownership, and economic democracy among African Americans demonstrates how economic cooperation and solidarity economics have enabled Blacks to address human needs, generate income, and at the same time be family and community friendly, in reaction to anti-Blackness and racial economic inequality. Cooperatives enable low-income residents, women, immigrants, and people of color (who often are without any avenue to gain income or assets) to provide affordable, quality goods and services in ecologically sustainable ways and generate jobs, stabilize their communities, and accumulate some assets. The history of African American cooperative ownership demonstrates that Black Americans have been successful in creating and maintaining collective and cooperatively owned enterprises that often provided not only economic stability for members and their communities but also developed many types of human and social capital and developed community-wide well-being. I discuss how this helps us to define an economics of abundance and explore possibilities for achieving economic liberation in the twenty-first century. JEL Classification : J15, B54, P13 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Joint assessment of accessibility and safety revealed inequity issues more clearly. • Low-income people have disadvantages in terms of job accessibility and traffic safety. • Low-income zones have the highest crash risk and/or lowest job accessibility by bicycle. • City centers are the best zones regarding safety and accessibility. • People aged between 45 and 64 are exposed to higher cycling crash risks while having lower job accessibility. Problem: Transport policies generally prioritize improving safety and accessibility levels, as they are regarded as the most important indicators of the quality of the transport system serving the public. However, inequalities associated with safety and accessibility issues are generally overlooked in these policies. Despite the importance and necessity of transport policies to address equity issues, there is still scarce knowledge on the interactions between equity, safety, and accessibility. This research aims to address this gap in the literature by creating a better understanding of the relationships between accessibility levels and traffic safety with a focus on social equity perspectives. Method: A crash risk evaluation method and a Gravity model are utilized to analyze cycling safety and accessibility to jobs by bicycle. Two linear regression models (LM) were conducted to investigate the statistical correlations between cycling crash risk and accessibility. Moreover, the Bivariate local Moran's I method was employed to assess the spatial inequalities of distribution of crash risk and job accessibility over different income-level populations. Results: The analyses showed that low-income people are not only disadvantaged in terms of job accessibility by bicycle but are also exposed to higher cycling crash risks, compared to high-income groups. Furthermore, most disadvantaged zones that have the highest need for road safety and accessibility improvements are identified as areas where low-income populations are exposed to higher crash risk and/or have lower access to jobs by bicycle. Summary: This study contributes to the transport literature by investigating the interactions between safety and accessibility and the impacts on transport equity. The findings of the statistical and spatial analysis are beneficial for the decision-makers, considering the probable mutual implications of land-use and transport developments and projects aiming to improve safety, accessibility, or both for different population groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Math programming that includes assessments to predict standardized mathematics scores can help evaluate student performance and growth during the academic year. ACALETICS® is a highly interactive, culturally inclusive mathematics program that utilizes posttests as continuous comprehensive assessments to evaluate student mathematical knowledge. ACALETICS® also seeks to mitigate demographic student factors that may influence outcomes. However, the ACALETICS® posttest has not been examined to determine if it is predictive of standardized mathematics scores. The purpose of this research is to explore how much variance is accounted for by the ACALETICS® posttest scores with the Florida Standards Assessment Mathematics test scores among 427 racially diverse and economically disadvantaged urban elementary school students after controlling for gender, grade level, and race. Findings indicated that the ACALETICS® posttest significantly explained variance in standardized mathematics scores among a diverse sample and can be used as a tool to monitor and predict mathematics outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases, with a great impact on public health and more than 200,000 deaths annually. Schistosoma haematobium causes urinary tract (UT) morbidity. Since schistosomiasis morbidity control programs focus on children older than 5 years, pre-school age children (PSAC) morbidity is not well known. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Cubal (Angola) among 245 PSAC with the objective of evaluating the prevalence of S. haematobium infection, the intensity of infection, and associated morbidity. For this purpose, urine filtration test followed by microscopic visualization and ultrasound examinations were performed. Results: The estimated overall prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis was 30.2% (CI 95%; 24.5–35.9), with 20.3% (CI 95%; 15.3–25.3) of the samples analysed showing a high intensity of infection. A total of 54.5% (CI 95%; 47.6–61.8) of infected children presented UT lesions, showing a significant association between schistosomiasis infection and UT morbidity (p-value < 0.001). Bladder wall thickening was the most common lesion, being present in 100% of abnormal ultrasounds. We found that anaemia and severe malnutrition were not significantly associated with the development of UT lesions. Conclusions: S. haematobium infection in PSAC causes great UT detectable morbidities. Therefore, there is an evident need of including them in mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns and consequently the development of an adapted praziquantel treatment dosage for children under 2 years of age. Author summary: Urogenital schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium is a major public health problem in the impoverished population of tropical regions. The guidelines of the World Health Organization determine periodic mass drug administration with praziquantel as the main strategy to prevent morbidity associated with the chronic phase of the disease. This strategy has focused in school-age children, but recent recommendations suggest including other target populations, such as pre-school age children. In this study we evaluated the prevalence and morbidity associated with urogenital schistosomiasis in Cubal, an endemic area of Angola. We found a prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis of 30.2% (CI 95%; 24.5–35.9) with a high infection intensity of 20.3% (CI 95%; 15.3–25.3) among pre-school age children. In addition, among the children infected, 54.5% (CI 95%; 47.6–61.8) presented urogenital abnormalities on ultrasound examination. There is an evident need of including them in mass drug administration campaigns and consequently the development of an adapted praziquantel treatment dosage for children under 2 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine inequality and decompose it's in Self-Rated Health (SRH). Method: This population-based cross-sectional study was undertaken on the entire population of the city of Ilam, Iran, in 2023. Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling with proportion-to-size approach was used to select the participants. Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique was used to show the amount of inequity in SRH and to decompose of the gap of SRH between the poor and the rich group of participants. Results: 1370 persons participated in the study. The 59.38% of participants stated good SRH status and just 8.86% of participants had poor SRH status. The results of the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition revealed a considerable gap (15.87%) in the poor status of SRH between the rich and the poor. A large proportion (89.66%) of this difference was described by explained portion of the model. The results of decomposition showed that economic status was directly responsible for explaining 27.98% of overall inequality gap between rich and poor people. Moreover, hopelessness to future (32.64%), having an underlying disease (18.34%) and difference in the education level (10.71%) were associated with an increase in inequality disfavoring the poor. Conclusion: For people suffering from underlying disease, it is suggested to devise policies to improve access to/and remove healthcare utilization barriers. To address hopelessness to future, it is recommended to carry out further studies to reveal factors which affect it in more details. This can help policy makers to formulate more realistic and evidence-informed policies on order to lessen the current socioeconomic inequity in SRH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Women are especially vulnerable to not being able to cover the costs of living or meet sudden demands for funds to pay for emergencies (financial vulnerability). The COVID‐19 pandemic put additional stress on household incomes and the ability to meet emergency expenses, thus bringing into sharp relief the lack of inclusion of women in formal financial systems and the gender gaps between them and men. Purpose: How financially vulnerable are women in Latin America? What causes vulnerability? How do financial inclusion, personality traits, cognitive characteristics, and financial literacy affect financial vulnerability? Methods and approach: Using Financial Capabilities Surveys, we use regression to model the determinants of an index of financial vulnerability for eight countries in Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. We use Oaxaca‐Blinder decomposition to establish the extent to which the gender arises from the different characteristics of men and women, or from the way in which such characteristics affect groups. Findings: We find a gender gap in financial vulnerability in most of the eight countries. Individual characteristics that often explain this gap are socioeconomic, such as belonging to a low socioeconomic class and not having a regular income. In addition to gender and socioeconomic characteristics, the use of savings products, some personality traits (ability to plan, self‐control), economic preferences, and numeracy skills also drive financial vulnerability. Policy implications: Interventions to reduce financial vulnerability need, first and foremost, to address socioeconomic conditions. People on low incomes will always be financially vulnerable. In addition, programmes to expand financial inclusion and educate people on finances can help. Given the significant gender gaps, more effort must be made to reduce such gaps in education, employment, and social norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the 1970s to the 2000s, Sweden became the second country after Germany to accept the largest number of asylum seekers among the twenty countries in Europe and North America as well as ranking first of the MIPEX (Migration Integration Policy Index) in a list of thirty-one countries in terms of seven criteria of immigrant policy and practice. As for the former one, because of its Latin suzerain background, Barcelona naturally attracted massive inflows from Latin American countries like Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, and so on, and meanwhile, a copious large number of immigrants from non-European countries like China, Pakistan, Morocco, and the Philippines constituting another diverse social and ethnographic landscape. Keywords: globalization; transnationalism; interculturalism; urban governance; (im-)migration EN globalization transnationalism interculturalism urban governance (im-)migration 1428 1436 9 11/07/23 20231101 NES 231101 White, Bob W. (2018). To positively carry out diversity management, related reports were issued, such as Les aspects multiethniques d'une politique de développement culturel à Montréal and L'immigration et l'intégration: un enjeu québécois, une problématique montréalaise, and the related governmental bodies such as the Commission on the Political and Constitutional Future of Québec, the Bureau d'accueil des nouveaux immigrants (Welcoming Office for New Immigrants), and the Bureau interculturel de Montréal (Montréal Intercultural Bureau) were established in 1988, 1989, and 1991, respectively, to improve the relationship between Montréal's different communities. [Extracted from the article]

Social protection has grown in importance in framing the relationship between citizens and states across much of Africa. Botswana's conservative welfare regime relies heavily on local officials – many of whom are trained social workers – to exercise discretion in assessing the needs of poor people and registering them on social protection programmes. Interviews with local officials reveal that they attribute poverty and destitution primarily to the deficient attitudes and behaviour of poor people. These are in turn seen as the consequence of social protection policies that disempower people by fostering 'dependence' on state provision. Local officials prefer programmes that 'empower' poor people. Whilst they recognise that the state has responsibilities towards the poor, they implement policies that reinforce and reproduce the status of poor citizens as often undeserving claimants on public charity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reiterate that collecting demographics will not answer the question in the JEP:HPP statement about knowing "to whom to generalize findings" unless the demographics are included in the main data analysis as potential moderators. Thus, the JEP:HPP policy inadvertently increases the advantage that richer researchers have over poorer ones, or the advantage that researchers with grant money have over researchers without grant money. There is much concern, exemplified by the currently active APA Task Force on Race and Ethnicity Guidelines in Psychology (approved 2019), for the inclusion of racially and ethnically diverse participants in research studies. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: This study looks at whether credit unions, a type of microfinance, increase or decrease poverty in Cameroon from 2004 Q1 to 2021 Q4. Method/design: The fully modified ordinary least square, dynamic ordinary least square, and conical co‐integration is applied. Findings: The findings reveal a long‐term association between credit union measures and poverty levels. The results indicate that the number of credit unions, the number of commercial bank branches, and credit to the private sector negatively relate to poverty levels. This implies that as the number of credit unions increases, the poverty level increases as the credit unions tend to exploit the poor population. Outstanding deposits positively impact poverty levels, which imply that members' deposits alleviate poverty. Research implications: The government should refurbish the existing programs to enhance credit unions' activities to focus more on banking the poor population especially in remote areas. The credit unions should increase deposit mobilization from the public to empower individuals and businesses. The government should regulate the number of credit unions being created to limit exploitation. The government should intervene to ensure that credit unions' policy regarding lending, interest rates, and loan recovery procedures are mutually agreed upon by the parties. Originality/novelty: Limited studies used secondary data focusing on credit unions. The studies give conflicting results: Some studies reveal that microfinance banks positively affect poverty reduction. Some indicate negative effects of microfinance on poverty reduction. Others show that microfinance institutions do not significantly influence poverty reduction. Different opinions exist among depositors and borrowers of credit unions concerning poverty alleviation. Some credit union members hold that credit unions increase poverty, while others argue that credit unions alleviate poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]