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This study investigates SAPS (Single Area Payment Scheme) beneficiaries in Timiș and Caraș Severin counties, Romania, categorizing them by legal entity type (individual, authorized natural person, legal entity, and enterprise), gender, age, and the respective monetary values attracted in each jurisdiction. Findings in Timiș reveal a numerical preponderance of individual beneficiaries, yet a cumulative analysis across legal entities underscores their quantitative superiority. Conversely, in Caraș Severin, the cumulative count of all legal entities does not exceedt hat of individual beneficiaries. Gender distribution in Timiș manifests as 70.5% male and 24.5% female, while in Caraș Severin, it is 71.1% male and 28.9% female, with statistically comparable proportions at a significance level of α=0.01. Regarding age, beneficiaries uniformly exhibit a minimum age of 18 years, with noteworthy instances of advanced age, reaching 95 or 96 years. The rightward-skewed age distribution is explicable by a pronounced presence of elderly individuals within the cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Data mining in healthcare is a nascent arena of research in healthcare. Heterogeneity of Diabetes Mellitus in terms of clinical presentation calls for newer methods of research to study potential risk factors. Aim: The paper aims to use clustering techniques to identify the relationship between the four variables, namely the pre-prandial and postprandial sugar level, age and sex. Methods: The data was taken from a diagnostic laboratory in Wagholi, Pune. We conducted K-mean algorithm, EM algorithm, model-based clustering and t-mixture model. Results: It is evidenced that the data was best fitted to the t-mixture model. Our 50% samples were people with diabetes, 17% had prediabetes. Trivial correlation existed between age and sugar level. Males and females were equally at risk of having diabetes. Data presented concludes that age and sex have no effect on the risk of having diabetes. Data mining can be used to deduce meaningful clusters to drive plan-based interventions in the population. Conclusion: Methods of data mining can be used to deduce meaningful clusters in a heterogeneous dataset thus providing policymakers and healthcare researchers with novel information that will potentially contribute in formulating evidence-based policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using three waves of data and tracing the same refugees over time, this paper shows that some factors associated with settlement experience are different from life satisfaction. Evidence shows that although settlement experience has not improved over time, life satisfaction of both male and female refugees has. The non-linear effect of age on life satisfaction disappears over time while that of settlement experience lingers on. Discrimination affects both male and female life satisfaction but is only a concern for females and the younger cohort's settlement experience. Psychological capital did not appear to moderate the discrimination effect, but this needs to be robustly examined further. Lastly, different support for refugees over time and a targeted focus on some groups is likely to be more effective than a blanket support policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the first terrestrial record of millennial-scale palaeo-ice margin oscillations at the southern fringe of the last Fennoscandian Ice Sheet (FIS) during the last glacial cycle. The study area is located in northern Poland close to the last FIS maximum limit. The chronology and dynamics of palaeo-ice margin oscillations at the southern fringe of the FIS are based on combined luminescence and 10 Be surface exposure dating. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) was used to date sandy deposits (fluvioglacial sediments and aeolian deposits filling fossil periglacial wedges) intercalating basal till layers. The most likely age of the tills was constrained by Bayesian modelling of the sequence of OSL ages and lithostratigraphy. 10 Be surface exposure dating was used on erratic boulders left during the final retreat of the last FIS and resting on the surface of glacial landforms. Our results, which are mainly based on OSL chronology and Bayesian modelling, indicate millennial-scale oscillations of the last FIS in northern Poland between ∼19 and ∼17 ka. The last FIS retreated and re-advanced over a relatively short period of time (2–3 ka), leaving lithostratigraphic records (basal tills) of three ice re-advances over a millennial-scale cycle: 19.2±1.1 , 17.8±0.5 and 16.9±0.5 ka. Despite 10 Be surface exposure ages obtained for 14 erratic boulders being poorly clustered, the main mode of age distribution occurs at ∼18 ka and indicates a possible signal of the ice sheet retreat after one of the re-advances. We explore the dynamics of these oscillations and compare the proposed cycles of the southern FIS advances and retreats with existing patterns of the last deglaciation and millennial-scale fluctuations of the last FIS inferred from marine records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cluster headache (CH) is one of the worst primary headaches that remain underdiagnosed and inappropriately treated. There are recent advances in the understanding of this disease and available treatments. This paper aims to review CH's recent clinical and pathophysiological findings, diagnosis, and treatment. We performed a narrative literature review on the sociodemographics, clinical presentations, pathophysiological findings, and diagnosis and treatment of CH. CH affects 0.1% of the population with an incidence of 2.07-9.8/100,00 person-years-habitants, a mean prevalence of 53/100,000 inhabitants (3-150/100,000 inhabitants). The male-to-female ratio remains inconclusive, as the ratio of 4.3:1 has recently been modified to 1.3-2.6, possibly due to previous misdiagnosis in women. Episodic presentation is the most frequent (80%). It is a polygenetic and multifactorial entity that involves dysfunction of the trigeminovascular system, the trigeminal autonomic reflex, and the hypothalamic networks. An MRI of the brain is mandatory to exclude secondary etiologies. There are effective and safe pharmacological treatments oxygen, sphenopalatine, and great occipital nerve block, with the heterogeneity of clinical trial designs for patients with CH divided into acute, transitional, or bridge treatment (prednisone) and preventive interventions. In conclusion, CH remains underdiagnosed, mainly due to a lack of awareness within the medical community, frequently causing a long delay in reaching a final diagnosis. Recent advances in understanding the principal risk factors and underlying pathophysiology exist. There are new therapeutic possibilities that are effective for CH. Indeed, a better understanding of this challenging pathology will continue to be a subject of research, study, and discoveries in its diagnostic and therapeutic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Computed Tomography Urography (CTU) scan is a medical imaging test that examines the urinary tract, including the bladder, kidneys, and ureters. It helps diagnose various urinary tract diseases with precision. However, patients undergoing CTU imaging receive a relatively high dose of radiation, which can be a concern. In our research paper, we analyzed the Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol) and Dose-Length Product (DLP) for 203 adult patients who underwent CTU at one of the most important regional centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina that sees a large number of patients. Our study included the distribution of age and sex, the number of phases within one examination, and different clinical indications. We compared our findings with the results available in the scientific literature, particularly the recently published results from 20 European countries. Furthermore, we established the local diagnostic reference levels (LDRLs) that can help set the national diagnostic reference levels (NDRLs). We believe our research is a significant step towards optimizing the protocols used in different hospitals in our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gender dysphoria among transgender adolescents has predominantly been examined in relation to body dissatisfaction. While in adult transgender samples, body dissatisfaction is higher than in cisgender controls, this has so far rarely been investigated for adolescents. In the context of a cisnormative society, the impact of influences from the social environment on body dissatisfaction and gender dysphoria has been neglected in research. Therefore, this study aimed to (1) provide a detailed analysis of body dissatisfaction among young transgender people and (2) investigate whether body dissatisfaction and gender dysphoria are associated with experiences of minority stress such as trans hostility and poor peer relations (PPR). Methods: The paper presents a cross-sectional study among a sample of transgender adolescents, presenting at a specialized outpatient counseling clinic (N = 99; age M = 15.36, SD = 1.85). First, body dissatisfaction (assessed by the Body-Image-Scale; BIS), was explored and compared to data from a population-based control group of cisgender peers (N = 527; age M = 14.43, SD = 0.97). Second, within a clinic-referred transgender subsample (n = 74), associations between body dissatisfaction and gender dysphoria (measured by Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale; UGDS), PPR (measured by the Youth-Self-Report; YSR-R), and trans hostile experiences (assessed in clinical interview) were examined by correlations, t-tests and multivariate regression. Results: Transgender adolescents reported more body dissatisfaction than cisgender peers. The dissatisfaction with sex characteristics, non-hormonal reactive body regions and the total score for body dissatisfaction were positively related with gender dysphoria. The majority had experienced trans hostility in the present and/or past (54.1%) and PPR (63.5%). More body dissatisfaction was correlated with more PPR regarding visible body parts i.e., hair, overall appearance and muscles, whilst PPR and gender dysphoria were not associated. Transgender adolescents who experienced trans hostility showed higher gender dysphoria and PPR, but not more body dissatisfaction. In multiple regression, trans hostility predicted gender dysphoria, whilst age and PPR predicted body dissatisfaction. Discussion: Experiences of minority-stress differentially interact with body dissatisfaction and gender dysphoria among transgender adolescents. Social correlates of body dissatisfaction and gender dysphoria must be considered when working with young transgender people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed at comparing different formats of illustrations for children's books created by modern Chinese and Ukrainian artists. At the same time, it was not focused just on determining the leading format, but on identifying the attractiveness factors of each format. To this end, the study investigated children's illustration preferences drawing from the following three age groups: 5–6 years old (preschoolers), 7–8 years old (second‐graders), and 9–10 years old (fourth‐graders). According to the survey, children were most concerned with illustration colourfulness (this is true for paper and pop‐up books) and viewing convenience. There were no statistically significant differences found between Chinese and Ukrainian books in terms of these parameters. At the same time, Chinese e‐books appeared to outperform the Ukrainian texts in terms of feature management and illustration colourfulness. Publishers and artists of children's books can use these data for effective creative activity and making constructive decisions. At the same time, these findings may be of interest to parents, informing or guiding book selection for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a lack of evidence relating to cognitive‐communication difficulties following traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained in older adulthood. A prominent area in which post‐TBI cognitive‐communication difficulties manifest is at the level of social communication. An investigation of social communication focusing on comparison of those injured in older and younger adulthood is a practical starting point for age‐related cognitive‐communication outcome comparison. Aims: The overall objective of this study was to explore the social communication of individuals who sustained severe TBI in an early period of older adulthood (50–70 years) compared to younger adulthood (18–40 years), as informed by self and close other reports. Methods & Procedures: This exploratory controlled group comparison study involved analysis of self‐reported and close other reported La Trobe Communication Questionnaire data for 22 adults with severe TBI (11 older at injury; 11 younger at injury) and 22 control participants (11 older; 11 younger). TBI participants were matched for injury variables and participant groups were matched for sex, age and education. Outcomes & Results: The close others of the older and younger adults with TBI reported them to have significantly more frequent difficulty with social communication than the close others of age‐matched control groups. Older adults with TBI reported significantly more frequent difficulty with social communication than uninjured older adults. In contrast, younger adults with TBI and uninjured younger adults reported a similar frequency of difficulty with social communication. No age‐based difference in the frequency of social communication difficulty was evident when comparing the self or close other reports of older and younger adults with TBI. Awareness of social communication difficulty, as indexed by comparing self and close other perceptions, showed a different pattern across the TBI groups. The older TBI group rated themselves as having significantly less frequent social communication difficulty than was perceived by their close others. In contrast, no statistically significant difference was evident between the self and close other social communication ratings of the younger TBI group. Conclusions and Implications: Where possible clinicians need to work with close communication partners to understand the nature and degree of social communication difficulty following severe TBI. This may be especially important when working with people who sustain TBI in older adulthood if future research shows that this population have greater difficulty with self‐awareness of social communication difficulty. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Cognitive‐communication difficulties are a common consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can have long‐term impact on everyday functioning. These challenges have primarily been investigated in individuals who sustained TBI in younger adulthood. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: Individuals who sustain severe TBI in early older adulthood have a higher frequency of reported social communication difficulty to non‐injured adults of a similar age, albeit they may underreport such difficulties potentially in the context of reduced self‐awareness. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Social communication difficulty is an issue for people who sustain severe TBI in early older adulthood. However, a poorer overall social communication outcome in comparison to those injured in younger adulthood should not be assumed. Clinical service delivery for these challenges is most optimally delivered in a collaborative manner with the individual and their close others. Future research is required to investigate the identified trends from this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unequal homeownership access is a major component of ethno-racial stratification. Previous studies have demonstrated substantial ethno-racial disparities in access and outcomes throughout the homeownership process. In addition, prior research has assumed that mortgage applicants have a similar age distribution across ethno-racial groups. This paper draws on annual data from the 2018 and 2019 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) to assess variation in ethno-racial disparities in loan outcomes associated with different ages. I show that ethno-racial disparities in loan outcomes vary tremendously when considering the age of the applicant. I demonstrate that loan rejections and high-cost loan originations are highest among Latino and Black borrowers across age groups compared to Whites. Black borrowers have worse adverse loan outcomes than Whites, regardless of age. Depending on the adverse loan outcome, Asians perform similarly or underperform compared to Whites. In addition, older applicants are more likely to be denied a mortgage loan than younger applicants, while the trends for high-cost loans vary considerably across ethno-racial groups. When examining high-cost loan originations, Latinos above 65 years old (who are the best performing Latino sub-group) underperform Whites regardless of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic entailed restrictions that hampered face-to-face interactions and social gatherings. In this paper, we examine whether loneliness increased to different extents among age groups due to these restrictions, and if these differences were mediated by specific life course conditions. Based on longitudinal data from the Swiss Household Panel, our results show that loneliness increased disproportionately among younger individuals during the pandemic. This finding aligns with the social convoy model and the socioemotional selectivity theory, which postulate a decline of social network size over the life course. It also corresponds to findings indicating a decrease in contact frequency with increasing age. Individuals aged 30 years and above experienced a lower increase in loneliness when they lived in shared households; however, this protective effect was not observed for younger individuals. Living together with a partner, being male, and not anticipating health complications in case of a COVID-19 infection moderated the increases of loneliness, but they were independent of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the nationwide incidence of ear foreign body (FB) presentations to the emergency department (ED) and analyze the most common FB consumer products encountered. Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was evaluated for ED visits that included "ear foreign bodies" from 2010 through 2019. The most frequent foreign bodies were identified and organized by demographics. Results: A total of 20,545 ear FB cases were found, with an estimated 608,860 ED visits nationwide. Female patients (56%) were more likely to have jewelry and first aid equipment FBs. Males between the ages of 5 and 15 years were significantly (P < 0.05) more likely to have paper products, pens/pencils, and desk supplies in their ears. Conclusion: Ear FBs represent a substantial proportion of healthcare expenditures. Although children are the most commonly affected individuals, all ages require further education and preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistical body shape models (SBSM) provide compact, flexible representations of body shape that can be implemented in design software. However, few SBSMs have been created to represent adults in supported seated postures that are relevant for the design of seated environments, and none has incorporated the effects of age. This paper presents an SBSM based on surface laser-scan data from 155 U.S. adults. The data were processed to obtain homologous mesh structure and symmetric geometry, and the processed data were statistically analysed using principal component analysis to obtain a compact representation of the data variance. Regression analysis was conducted to predict body size and shape from stature, body mass index, ratio of sitting height to stature, sex, and age. The resulting model allows rapid generation of realistic body models for applications, including product design, accommodation assessment, and safety system optimisation. The model is publicly accessible at HumanShape.org. Practitioner summary: This paper presents a statistical model that represents adult body shapes in a supported seated posture based on 3 D anthropometric measurements. This model is the first whole-body parametric model known to incorporate age effects based on data extending beyond 65 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infertility has massively disrupted social and marital life, resulting in stressful emotional well-being. Early diagnosis is the utmost need for faster adaption to respond to these changes, which makes possible via AI tools. Our main objective is to comprehend the role of AI in fertility detection since we have primarily worked to find biomarkers and related risk factors associated with infertility. This paper aims to vividly analyse the role of AI as an effective method in screening, predicting for infertility and related risk factors. Three scientific repositories: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, are used to gather relevant articles via technical terms: (human infertility OR human fertility) AND risk factors AND (machine learning OR artificial intelligence OR intelligent system). In this way, we systematically reviewed 42 articles and performed a meta-analysis. The significant findings and recommendations are discussed. These include the rising importance of data augmentation, feature extraction, explainability, and the need to revisit the meaning of an effective system for fertility analysis. Additionally, the paper outlines various mitigation actions that can be employed to tackle infertility and its related risk factors. These insights contribute to a better understanding of the role of AI in fertility analysis and the potential for improving reproductive health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of overweight, defined as excessive body weight, among different population groups is one of the most serious public health problems that Poland has to face. The aim of this paper was to review the recent data regarding the nutritional status of subpopulations of children, adolescents and adults in Poland. Material and methods: The search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Sciences databases, as well as official websites of the Polish Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute and the World Health Organization. Scientific publications in English and Polish, published between January 2020 and September 2023, were used as sources of information. Results: The prevalence of overweight among children, adolescents and adults in Poland is relatively high. However, it should be noted that most studies were observational, the methods used for data collection varied (self-reported vs. measured), and BMI was a tool to measure body weight status. The prevalence of overweight among the paediatric population varies from 11% to 45%. Among adults, the prevalence of overweight exceeds 62% for men and 43% for women. The prevalence of higher-than-normal body mass increases with age. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of abnormal body weight among both paediatric and adult populations. Conclusions: Early prevention is essential in dealing with excessive body weight and the adverse health outcomes that may result therefrom. To address the weight gain problem across different populations, comprehensive and family-based obesity prevention programmes should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background Older people are often explicitly or implicitly excluded from research, in particular clinical trials. This means that study findings may not be applicable to them, or that older people may not be offered treatments due to an absence of evidence. Aims The aim of this work was to develop recommendations to guide all research relevant to older people. Methods A diverse stakeholder group identified barriers and solutions to including older people in research. In parallel, a rapid literature review of published papers was undertaken to identify existing papers on the inclusion of older people in research. The findings were synthesised and mapped onto a socio-ecological model. From the synthesis we identified themes that were developed into initial recommendations that were iteratively refined with the stakeholder group. Results A range of individual, interpersonal, organisational, community and policy factors impact on the inclusion of older people in research. A total of 14 recommendations were developed such as removing upper age limits and comorbidity exclusions, involving older people, advocates and health and social care professionals with expertise in ageing in designing the research, and considering flexible or alternative approaches to data collection to maximise opportunities for participation. We also developed four questions that may guide those developing, reviewing and funding research that is inclusive of older people. Conclusion Our recommendations provide up to date, practical advice on ways to improve the inclusion of older people in health and care research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood gender segregation, the tendency for children to form acquaintanceships and friendships with those of the same gender (Mehta & Smith, 2019), has been proposed to be a universal phenomenon (Maccoby, 1998; Maccoby & Jacklin, 1974). However, as socialization and peer culture vary cross-culturally (Munroe & Romney, 2006), gender segregation may vary according to cultural context. This paper uses a sociocontextual framework to review cross-cultural comparative research on childhood gender segregation, considering cultural similarities and variations in correlates of gender segregation, including behavioral compatibility, age, the homosocial norm, availability of playmates, familiarity with peers, and gendered societal norms and constraints. In closing, the paper reflects on what cross-cultural research tells us about gender segregation and offers recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated a research area worthy of greater attention: foreign language classroom anxiety (hereafter FLCA) and enjoyment (hereafter FLE) of older adults learning English as a foreign language in Chinese Universities of the Third Age. Understanding the largely overlooked emotional involvement of older language learners contributes to sustaining their motivation in lifelong learning for more remarkable personal growth and successes. Based on the survey of 587 Chinese older learners of English between the age of 50 and 80, paired sample t-test showed that more FLE was reported than FLCA. The results of Welch's ANOVA suggested that those who were better educated had less FLCA and those who believed themselves healthier had more FLE. The language performance evaluation (i.e. relative standing in class and English mastery) affects both FLE and FLCA. Further interviews with 34 older participants revealed three major sources of FLE, including the language use in life situations, the favorable attitude toward FL learning in the cognitive, aesthetic cultural and pragmatic aspects and the social interactions in the U3As. FLCA occurs when the language performance is perceived as dissatisfying and when aspects of mental health (e.g. worsening memory) impede effective learning. Although FLCA and FLE had only a very weak correlation, Chinese older adult learners commented on a shared belief that anxiety usually precedes and subsequently enhances enjoyment in learning, indicating a sign of emotional resilience later in life. This paper demonstrates a need for understanding the emotions in language learning across life stages and socio-cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem identification The surgical count is an integral component of the perioperative nurse's role designed to reduce the risk of unintentional retained items (URIs) during surgery. Current literature provides statistical data that URIs continue to occur which has exposed a lack of adherence to the surgical count process as a possible contributing factor. This review was undertaken to identify what is currently known about perioperative nurses' practices in relation to the surgical count and the perceived barriers and enablers when trying to follow best practice as outlined in ACORN's Standards for Perioperative Nursing in Australia. Literature search The objective of the search was to identify empirical data relating to nurses' knowledge and practices in relation to the surgical count. We identified 215 research papers in the literature search using search terms consisting of instrument counts, culture and patient safety. Data evaluation synthesis Studies from 2003 to 2018 were categorised methodologically as qualitative, quantitative and mixed methodologies. All papers were reviewed by the authors separately to extract key information around design, sample size, aim, key findings and limitations. Studies were critically appraised using the mixed method appraisal tool (MMAT) for mixed method studies and the QualSyst tool for quantitative and qualitative studies. The literature search identified a total of 215 studies, 109 of which were identified for further review using the 'preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis' (PRISMA) flow chart. Six exclusion criteria were applied to exclude a further 52 articles from the final review, which resulted in ten articles being included in the final sample. Implications for practice or research The review demonstrates that statistical data around URIs is widely reported. However, little is documented about the patient, case, individual and environmental factors that may impede perioperative nurses in following best practice when undertaking a surgical count. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intends to present the concrete situation in the South East Region of Romania, respectively in Tulcea County. In this paper it is presented data about the structure of the population, by ethnicity and gender, on the residence environment, distribution by age group, the accommodation units structure and the number of Romanian and foreign tourists who has visited the studied county. The development of agritourism in the area is laid in this paper, in close connection with the physical-geographic framework, the tourist objectives in the area and implicitly its economic development. National Institute of Statistics data were used and processed according to the objectives of the paper. The paper is finalized with a SWOT analysis that sets out conclusions and tries to be the reason why an investor would set up an agro-tourist hostel in the area taking advantage of the rare natural beauty and offering somewhat unusual accommodation conditions - but warm and welcoming - more especially for foreign tourists [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ultrasound (US) is not widely used as part of the speech and language therapy (SLT) clinical toolkit. The COVID‐19 pandemic has intensified interest in US as an alternative to SLT instrumental tools such as the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and endoscopic evaluation of the larynx (EEL) as a non‐invasive, non‐aerosol‐generating procedure that can be delivered at the bedside to assess swallowing and/or laryngeal function. To establish the appropriacy of routine US use, and in response to a national professional body request for a position statement, a group of expert SLTs conducted a rapid review of the literature. Aim: To explore critically the clinical utility of US as an assessment tool for swallowing and laryngeal function in adults. Methods & Procedures: A rapid review of four databases was completed to identify articles using US to assess swallowing and/or laryngeal function in adults compared with reference tests (VFSS/FEES/EEL/validated outcome measure). Screening was completed according to predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria and 10% of abstracts were rescreened to assess reliability. Data were extracted from full texts using a predeveloped form. The QUADAS‐2 tool was used for quality ratings. Information from included studies was summarized using narrative synthesis and visual illustration. Outcomes & Results: Ten papers used US to assess swallowing, and 13 to assess laryngeal function. All were peer‐reviewed primary studies across a range of clinical populations and with a wide geographical spread. Four papers had an overall low risk of bias, but the remaining 19 had at least one domain where risk of bias was judged as high or unclear. Applicability concerns were identified in all papers. The papers that used US to assess swallowing varied widely in terms of the anatomical structures assessed and methodology employed. The papers assessing laryngeal function were more homogenous in their methodology. Sensitivity and specificity data were provided for 12 of the laryngeal function papers with ranges of 64.3–100% and 48.5–100%, respectively. Conclusions & Implications: There is burgeoning evidence to support the use of US as an adjunct to SLT clinical assessment of swallowing and laryngeal function. However, the current literature does not support its use as a tool in isolation. Further research is required to establish reliability in US assessment as well as clear SLT‐driven protocols and training. What this paper addsWhat is already known on the subjectUS has demonstrated potential as an assessment tool for objective parameters of swallowing. Its use for laryngeal assessment (gross vocal fold movement) is also widely recognized within the literature. This review appraised the literature related to US as an alternative or adjunctive tool for the assessment of swallowing and laryngeal function.What this paper adds to existing knowledgeThis paper identifies that the current evidence base for US as a swallowing or laryngeal assessment tool is heterogenous and of variable quality. No study combined the assessment of swallowing and laryngeal function, and only two studies assessed more than one parameter of swallowing, limiting the clinical application of the results.What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?This review shows that US is a non‐invasive accessible tool that can offer a detailed focal assessment of swallowing and laryngeal function, such as hyoid displacement and vocal fold mobility. With the development of protocols, training packages and competency standards, US has the potential to be used as an adjunct to SLT assessment of swallowing and laryngeal function. There is not currently enough evidence to support the use of US as a stand‐alone tool for SLT assessment of swallowing or laryngeal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deborah Robertson provides an overview of recently published articles that may be of interest to non-medical prescribers. Should you wish to look at any of the papers in more detail, a full reference is provided [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent political processes have rendered people with dementia an increasingly surveilled population. Surveillance is a contentious issue within dementia research, spanning technological monitoring, biomarker research and epidemiological data gathering. This paper explores surveillance in the relationships of people affected by dementia, how older relatives both with and without diagnoses are surveilled in everyday interactions, and the importance of expectations in guiding surveillance. This paper presents data from 41 in-depth interviews with people affected by dementia living in the community in the United Kingdom. Agedness was a key contributor to expectations that a person may have dementia, based on previous experiences, media accounts and wider awareness. Expectations provoked surveillance in interactions, with participants looking for signs of dementia when interacting with older relatives. Older people also enacted self-surveillance, monitoring their own behaviour. Various actions could be attributed to dementia because interpretation is malleable, partly vindicating expectations while leaving some uncertainties. Expectant surveillance transformed people's experiences because they organised their own actions, and interpreted those of others, in line with pre-existing meanings. The ability to interpret behaviours to fit expectations can bring coherence to uncertainties of ageing, cognition and dementia, but risks ascribing dementia to many older people who straddle those uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an increase in the ageing population, there is a rise in the burden of cardiovascular disease. Age and Ageing have compiled collections of their key cardiovascular themed papers. The first Age and Ageing Cardiovascular Collection focussed on blood pressure, coronary heart disease and heart failure. In this second collection, publications since 2011 were selected with emphasis on atrial fibrillation, transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and stroke. The prevalence of TIA and stroke increases as people get older. In this commentary we summarise studies published in Age and Ageing that bring to the fore the need for a multidisciplinary, person-centred approach to care, conscientious identification of risk factors and their management and prevention strategies, which will inform policy ultimately reducing the burden of cost placed by stroke care on healthcare financing. Read the latest Cardiovascular Collection here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Much has been written about the changes in use and perspectives of telepractice among speech and language therapists (SLTs) during the global COVID‐19 pandemic. However, no long‐term study has been done to examine whether there is a permanent shift in attitudes towards telepractice as the world adjusts to new norms and endemic COVID‐19. Aims: To compare the speech telepractice use and perspectives of SLTs at two time points of the pandemic: during and after the height of the pandemic. Methods & Procedures: Two online surveys were distributed a year apart among SLTs in Singapore. The first survey was disseminated during an initial lockdown period in 2020 and the second survey was done in 2021 when Singapore was starting to reduce strict quarantine and safe‐distancing regulations. These surveys were distributed via communication channels of the local speech therapy association. A total of 115 and 71 responses to the survey were collected in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Responses were captured and analysed using descriptive statistics and statistical analysis while qualitative content analysis was used to derive key themes from open‐ended questions. Outcomes & Results: Telepractice use across all age groups and client types peaked at the height of the pandemic. Even as lockdown measures were eased, telepractice utilization was still higher than what it was before the pandemic. Dysphagia management was the only area where SLTs reduced their use of telepractice during the stabilization phase. After more experience with telepractice during the height of the pandemic, SLTs acknowledged the benefit of being able to use a wide range of media through telepractice and were less worried about not having the resources or knowledge to set up telepractice. SLTs also reported increased confidence in providing telepractice, which was reflected in their willingness to continue to provide telepractice even after the pandemic ends. Conclusions & Implications: The increase in use of telepractice during this pandemic is likely to be sustained as a majority of respondents believed they would continue to provide this mode of service delivery even after the pandemic ends. However, clinicians will still have to assess for client suitability, as clients with more complex medical or behavioural issues may still require in‐person therapy. Additionally, dysphagia management via telepractice will still be limited given that swallow presentations may be more variable. Lastly, although generic resources are helpful for clinicians, the long‐term sustainability of telepractice can be boosted by the sharing of resources that are suitable for the local context. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: Current studies have examined telepractice use and perspectives of SLTs before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Despite the evidence for the efficacy of telepractice, uptake was low due to perceived lack of training and resources. Although more clinicians provided telepractice during the pandemic, many still doubted its efficacy over in‐person therapy and most studies concluded that longer term studies are required to ascertain if SLTs will continuing providing telepractice after the pandemic. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This study shows that there is a definitive shift in perspectives in favour of telepractice after the pandemic, as clinicians continued to provide telepractice across most service areas even without lockdown restrictions. The previous challenges of insufficient resources, knowledge and privacy concerns were reduced with more experience in providing telepractice. Although client suitability remained a major barrier, more clinicians saw benefits of easy access to therapy and range of resources used as benefits that they could harness from telepractice. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: A majority of respondents stated that they are more confident in providing telepractice and would want to continue providing this service delivery mode after the pandemic, so more training and resources suitable for the local contexts can be provided by national associations to sustain this. More research and resources can be gathered to make telepractice more efficacious for dysphagia management and clients who may be deemed unsuitable for telepractice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to adapt the Nurse Turnover Intention Scale to Turkish and test its validity and reliability. Methods: This methodological study was conducted with 200 nurses. The Personal Information Form and the Nurse Turnover Intention Scale were used for data collection between November and December 2021. Language and content validity, explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, criterion validity, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, item–total score correlation and test–retest reliability methods were used for the validity and reliability analysis of the scale. Results: Exploratory factor analysis showed that the Nurse Turnover Intention Scale had a single factor. Its single factor structure was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.902, and factor loading was between 0.60 and 0.78. Statistical analyses indicated that each item in the Turkish version of the scale had a high internal consistency. The test–retest correlation value was found as p < 0.05. Conclusion: The Nurse Turnover Intention Scale has been confirmed to be a suitable, valid and reliable measurement tool for Turkish society. Nurse turnover intention is the most powerful predictor of actual turnover within the nursing profession. This scale will help to easily attain valid and reliable outcomes. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Nursing is a profession with a high rate of turnover intention.Nurse turnover intention is the most powerful predictor of actual turnover.There is no measurement tool in Turkey to evaluate the turnover intention specific to nurses. What this paper adds? The revised structure that was developed in this study comprised of 10 items was found to be appropriate, valid and reliable for the Turkish nursing population.Nurse turnover intention can now be measured using a valid and reliable tool. The implications of this paper: By using this scale, nursing services can contribute to the determination of the turnover intention levels of nurses and their reasons to take necessary precautions in the institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global health challenge leading to various detrimental health outcomes. Chinese women are a vulnerable population often overlooked in IPV research. Guided by the social–ecological model, this systematic review aims to synthesize literature on the risk and protective factors for IPV among Chinese women. A comprehensive search was conducted in nine major English and Chinese databases for articles with data collected since 2006 on adult Chinese women, leading to 29 papers in the final analysis. Risk and protective factors associated with IPV identified in this review include factors at the individual level such as demographics (e.g., a younger age, unplanned pregnancy, abortion, having children, and migration), socioeconomic status (e.g., income and partners' education level), attitudinal factors (e.g., attitudes justifying IPV and traditional beliefs about gender roles), behavioral factors (e.g., alcohol use of women, partners' alcohol use and frequency, and partners' high frequency of gambling), adverse childhood experiences (e.g., witnessed violence in childhood), and other personal characteristics (e.g., chronic illness and good health status). Factors at the relationship level include conflicts, power in intimate relationships, and social capital (e.g., the size of social networks, network participation of women and their partners, and social control). Community-level factors related to geographic locations were also explored while no factors were identified at the societal level. None of the included studies examined the intersections of factors within the same level or across different levels. Recommendations for future research, practice, and policy are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Variations in communicative participation of children with developmental language disorder (DLD) cannot be wholly explained by their language difficulties alone and may be influenced by contextual factors. Contextual factors may support or hinder communicative participation in children, which makes their identification clinically relevant. Aims: To investigate which contextual (environmental and personal) factors in early childhood are protective, risk or neutral factors for communicative participation among school‐aged children with DLD, and to identify possible gaps in knowledge about this subject. Methods & Procedures: A scoping review was conducted based on a systematic search of studies published from January 2007 to March 2022 in Pubmed, Embase (without MEDLINE), CINAHL and PsycINFO. In total, 8802 studies were reviewed using predefined eligibility criteria, of which 32 studies were included for data extraction and critically appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (2021) tools. Main Contribution: The methodological quality of included studies was adequate to strong. Personal protective factors identified are being a preschool girl, reaching school age and being prosocial, while personal risk factors are becoming a teenager or adolescent, having low socio‐cognitive skills and experiencing comorbid mobility impairment or behavioural problems. Gender after the preschool years and non‐verbal abilities were not found to be of influence, and the role of socio‐emotional skills is inconclusive. Receiving therapy is an environmental protective factor, while the association between socio‐economical family characteristics with communicative participation is inconclusive. Conclusions & Implications: Limited research has been conducted on which risk and protective factors present in early childhood are associated with later communicative participation of children with DLD. The influence of co‐occurring health conditions, social background variables, individual psychological assets, interpersonal relationships and attitudes of other people represent knowledge gaps. In addition, knowledge about the comparative effectiveness of different types of interventions and service delivery models, and the impact of administrative control, organizational mechanisms and standards established by governments on children's communicative participation is lacking. More longitudinal research is needed focusing on the identification of relevant personal and environmental factors and the interactions between them in relation to communicative participation outcomes. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: Children with DLD experience varying degrees of communicative participation restrictions. Insight into contextual factors that influence communicative participation can help to identify children at risk and inform family and child‐centred therapy. Systematic research on contextual factors that facilitate or hinder communicative participation in children with DLD is currently lacking. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: Knowledge of protective factors can guide the development of interventions for children and young people with DLD that boost resilience and facilitate communicative participation, while insight into the risk factors can help professionals identify the most vulnerable children and develop interventions that can lift or neutralize barriers present in the life of these children. Specific groups potentially at risk are young boys, children with co‐morbid mobility impairment, children with conduct problems, and children reaching adolescence. In contrast, potentially protective factors are reaching school age and being prosocial. In addition, the development of socio‐cognitive skills may be beneficial for the communicative participation of children with DLD. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: To support communicative participation, it is important that professionals who work with children with DLD understand which groups are at risk for communicative participation restrictions, and which factors can foster resilience. In the absence of evidence‐based instruments for the systematic assessment of personal and environmental factors, consulting parents and children on the contextual factors that they perceive as important remains critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hawai'i is the most ethnically diverse state with the highest proportion of multiracial individuals in the United States. The Stepwise Proportional Weighting Algorithm (SPWA) was developed to bridge the categorization of multiracial Census data into single-race population estimates for common races in Hawai'i. However, these estimates have not been publicly available. A Shiny web application, the Hawai'i Single-Race Categorization Tool, was developed as a user friendly research tool to obtain the age and sex distributions of single-race estimates for common racial groups in Hawai'i. The Categorization Tool implements the SPWA and presents the results in tabular and graphic formats, stratified by sex and age. It also allows the categorization of partial Native Hawaiians as Native Hawaiians in the population estimation. Using this tool, the current paper reports population estimates and distributions for 31 common racial groups using Hawai'i Census 2010 data. Among the major Census races, Asian had the largest population (631 881; 46.5%) in Hawai'i, followed by White (431 635; 31.7%) and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (227 588; 16.7%). Among Census detailed races within Asian, Filipino had the largest population estimate (244 730; 18.0%), followed by Japanese (227 165; 16.7%) and Chinese (103 600; 7.6%). Native Hawaiian accounted for 12.3% of the Hawai'i population (166 944). After recategorizing part-Native Hawaiians as Native Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian increased by 150.0%, with the greatest increase among the young. This publicly available tool would be valuable for race-related resource allocation, policy development, and health disparities research in Hawai'i., Competing Interests: None of the authors identify a conflict of interest., (©Copyright 2023 by University Health Partners of Hawai‘i (UHP Hawai‘i).)