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Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) are critical to promoting and protecting the rights of people with disabilities. However, little is known about the extent to which people with disabilities are aware and members of OPDs. This study uses data from nine population-based surveys in low- and middle-income countries to explore OPD awareness and membership. Across settings, about a third of people with disabilities were aware of OPDs and fewer than 15% were members. Awareness and membership were lower amongst older adults, women, people with difficulties communicating, remembering and with self-care, people with less education, in poverty and in rural areas. Underrepresentation of certain groups may indicate a need to seek out the voices of people less likely to be associated with OPDs. Further, low total membership may be a cause for concern in settings where OPDs are relied upon to deliver essential services in the absence of state structures. Points of interest: Organisations of Persons with Disabilities can serve many roles, including advocacy, policymaking and service provision. The increasing involvement of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in direct provision of essential services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is often a result of poor availability and quality of inclusive public services. This study explores awareness and membership of people with disabilities across nine low- and middle-income countries using population-based surveys. About a third of people with disabilities were aware of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities across settings, ranging from 12% in Lesotho to 73% in the Maldives. Fewer than 15% of people with disabilities were members across settings, ranging from 3.5% in Zambia to 14% in Vietnam (Cam Le district). Awareness and membership were generally lower amongst older adults, women, people with difficulties communicating, remembering and with self-care, people with less education, in poverty and in rural areas. Given the increased role of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in direct service delivery, low total membership may indicate that many people with disabilities – particularly the most marginalised or experiencing the greatest need – are not being reached. Additional efforts may also be needed to seek out the voices of groups underrepresented in Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, particularly for advocacy and policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (respectfully referred to hereafter as "Aboriginal") children in the child protection system is a concern in Australia, with Aboriginal children placed in out-of-home care at a rate 11 times that of non-Aboriginal children. This study utilised linked administrative data to determine the longitudinal child protection pathways from birth to age 10 years for a cohort of 15,815 Aboriginal children born in Western Australia between 2000 and 2006. In total, 9,269 (59%) children did not have any contact with child protection between one year prior to birth and their 11th birthday. Conversely, 6,546 (41%) Aboriginal children were involved with child protection during the study period, with 1,405 (9%) children placed in out-of-home care. Infants who had a child protection notification were more likely than other age groups to have a substantiated notification of abuse and neglect and placed in out-of-home care. More than half (56%) of all children were predominantly placed in kinship care; however, only 22% had their first placement with kinship carers. Aboriginal-led strategies together with the support and commitment of all levels of government are required to reduce entry into care and improve outcomes for Aboriginal children in care. IMPLICATIONS Aboriginal-led strategies and wholistic responses can reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children reported to child protection systems, and support families and communities. Infancy stands out as a key point of system involvement. This stage offers an opportunity where early intervention and family support strategies may prevent first time involvement with the child protection services and promote kinship placement, reunification with parents, and community-led supportive care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionsThis study utilized social risk data in the electronic heath record collected as part of routine clinical practice and examined relationships with supportive oncology care contacts and healthcare utilization.A total of 2,807 cancer patients were screened for four social determinants of health (SDOH) domains (financial resource strain, housing instability, food insecurity, and transportation need) and categorized to low or high risk SDOH groups. The number of patient contacts with supportive oncology was compared amongst the groups. The data were analyzed for demographic and outcome differences including emergency department visits, inpatient admissions, and appointment adherence.Heightened social risk was associated with more total contacts with supportive oncology care. Patients with high SDOH risk had more contacts across all outcomes examined including emergency department visits (M = 13), inpatient admissions (M = 14), and missed appointments (M = 11).Patients with both greater social risks and acute care utilization are associated with more psychosocial interventions in supportive oncology follow-up. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive action to respond to social risk factors identified in SDOH screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the ongoing conflicts in various countries, including Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Myanmar, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. It emphasizes the importance of studying the archaeology and history of conflict to understand the reality of mass violence and its impact on communities. The article also highlights the need for diverse perspectives and the inclusion of indigenous voices in conflict archaeology research. Additionally, it presents summaries of three papers published in the Journal of Conflict Archaeology, focusing on topics such as the preservation of a Civil War battlefield, glass artifacts from World War I, and the military archaeology of the Italian occupation of Croatia during World War II. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: This study aimed to examine physicians' and patients' perceptions regarding symptom burden and impact in women experiencing natural vasomotor symptoms (nVMS) or vasomotor symptoms induced by endocrine therapy for breast cancer (iVMS). Methods: The cross-sectional survey based on real-world clinical consultations was conducted in the USA and five European countries. Obstetrician–gynecologists, primary-care physicians and oncologists provided demographic and symptom data for patients experiencing VMS; patients optionally self-reported their experiences via questionnaires, including their symptom profile and work/activity burden through the Menopause Quality of Life (MENQOL) and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) tools. Results: Physicians completed survey forms on 2451 consulting patients; patients completed 1029 questionnaires. nVMS and iVMS severity was significantly associated with the severity of mood symptoms and sleep disturbances (p < 0.0001). However, around half of the patients with mild nVMS/iVMS also experienced moderate–severe mood changes (55.4%/43.7%) or sleep disturbances (42.4%/40.4%). Presence of mood/sleep disturbances alongside nVMS increased MENQOL vasomotor scores (p = 0.004/p < 0.001). Presence of sleep disturbances increased WPAI activity impairment (p < 0.001) but mood changes did not. Similar findings were reported for iVMS patients. Conclusion: Significant burden from the triad of natural or induced menopausal symptoms, sleep disturbances and mood changes affected women's daily activities, work and quality of life more than vasomotor symptoms alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the first decade of the twenty-first century, biofuels were recognized as an important element in the overall strategy to reduce climate-forcing greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide. Yet scientific research to more fully realize the potential of agricultural crops for liquid transportation fuel requires the coordination of many separate projects housed in different disciplines. Studies predicting and documenting adverse social impacts of plant-based ethanol and biodiesel led to the inclusion of social science components within research teams seeking to develop biofuels. A 2008 rise in global food prices became a centerpiece of this research, leading to a search for non-food crops that could serve as energy feedstocks. Although coordinated scientific research teams have made significant strides toward incorporating social dimensions and broader impacts into what was originally a purely biophysical research effort, a simplistic diagnosis of the tension between agricultural production for food use and agricultural production intended for energy production continues to prevail. Some of the hard questions in the global development of the agricultural sector have been obscured as a result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racial microaggressions, or subtle race-based insults are associated with negative consequences for receivers. Institutional racism in education directly influences the dissemination of these transgressions in schools, as school personnel may engage in microaggressive behavior toward each other and their students. Given recent calls to address racism, schools and districts may seek to implement trainings to improve school personnel's understanding of these transgressions and their consequences. As part of the current study, we explored factors that might contribute to school personnel's satisfaction with a microaggression training. Participants completed survey items to assess their colorblind racial attitudes, satisfaction with the workshop, and their perceptions surrounding the need for such trainings. We found that colorblind attitudes and perceptions of necessity predicted satisfaction. Implications and future directions for research are discussed. Impact Statement Calls to address racial injustice in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor during the summer of 2021 have produced an increase in requests for antiracism workshops and trainings across several organizations and professions. In K–12 schools, these trainings may be beneficial in helping school personnel learn about and address racial microaggressions (race-based insults), which may hinder students' success. Although it is imperative that these conversations take place, it is equally important that we are able to understand how school personnel engage in these trainings to increase the likelihood that their behavior will change because of participation. The goal of this study was to understand factors that contribute to school personnel's satisfaction with a microaggression training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the representation of Asian indentured migrants as 'consumers' in colonial British Guiana and Trinidad. Focusing on the specific case of opium, it explores how attitudes towards the drug fed into broader debates about socio-economic responsibilities of these labouring communities. After first establishing the considerable revenues which colonial authorities derived from the taxation of opium, the article illustrates the growing calls for migrants to 'pay back' to the colonies which had shouldered the cost of their introduction. It also explores how stereotypical representations of Chinese and Indian consumption informed debates about the economic viability of continuing to import various forms of migrant labour. The article argues that migrant consumption mattered, and that understanding why it mattered necessitates a broader understanding of how indentured migration shaped the economic and social histories of various British colonies following emancipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about what works to facilitate disability-inclusive employment. This study reports initial findings of a process evaluation of a disability-inclusive employment programme, STAR+, being implemented across Bangladesh. The study interrogates the design of STAR+ and the structures and processes by which it was delivered. Findings reveal an important role of early involvement of disability-focused organizations in intervention planning. The study further discusses adaptations made during STAR+ delivery. First, in some project areas, extra resources were available to appoint additional staff to support disability inclusion. Second, family members were relied upon by implementers to support youth with disabilities at their workplace and classroom training. Lastly, STAR+ implementers take care to ensure the right employers are selected by the programme, in some cases engaging in additional ad-hoc selection processes to on-board more altruistic individuals. Results are discussed in terms of programmatic and policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of social media and online information on elections and the importance of academic publishing in providing reliable and fact-checked information. It highlights the need for peer-reviewed research and the role of reviewers in ensuring the veracity of academic publications. The article also emphasizes the importance of accurate historical narratives and the potential for historical events to be co-opted for political purposes. Three papers on conflict archaeology are presented, showcasing different methodologies and their contributions to understanding warfare in different time periods. The article concludes with a reminder to readers to exercise their democratic right to vote in elections. [Extracted from the article]

AbstractObjective: To investigate the risk of impairment in cognitive instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) for people with Parkinson’s (PwP) identifying as sexual and/or gender minorities (SGM). Method: Data were obtained from Fox Insight, an online, longitudinal study with self/informant-report questionnaires from PwP and people without Parkinson’s. Groups consisted of PwP without cognitive IADL impairment at baseline, identifying as (1) SGM with female sex assigned at birth (SGM-F, n = 75); (2) cisgender, heterosexual with female sex assigned at birth (CH-F, n = 2046); (3) SGM with male sex assigned at birth (SGM-M, n = 84); (4) cisgender, heterosexual with male sex assigned at birth (CH-M, n = 2056). Impairment in cognitive IADL was based on Penn Parkinson’s Daily Activities Questionnaire-15 (PDAQ-15). Group differences for PDAQ-15 and impairment likelihood during follow-up were assessed with unadjusted models and adjusting for variables that differed between the groups. Results: SGM-F were the youngest at Parkinson’s diagnosis; SGM-M had the lowest PDAQ-15 at baseline (p ≤ .014 for all). Scores declined more for males than females in unadjusted and adjusted models (p < .001 for both). In unadjusted models, SGM-M had a higher impairment risk than PwP identifying as cisgender and heterosexual (p ≤ .018). In adjusted models, females had a lower impairment risk than males (p < .001). Age, education, and discrimination level were significant moderators (p < .001 for all). Conclusions: SGM-M can be at a higher risk for impairment in cognitive IADL, associated with social determinants. Female sex assigned at birth may be associated with a lower level of impairment risk, although this advantage can disappear with social determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Missouri's Overdose Field Report (ODFR) is a community-based reporting system which intends to capture overdoses which may not be otherwise recorded. Objectives: Describe the factors related to non-fatal overdoses reported to Missouri's ODFR. Methods: This study used a descriptive epidemiological approach to examine the demographics and circumstances of overdoses reported to the ODFR. We used binary logistic regression to evaluate factors associated with survival and ordinal logistic regression to evaluate factors associated with number of doses used. Factors were chosen based on their relevance to overdose education and survival, and naloxone distribution. Results: Between 2018 and 2022, 12,225 overdoses (67% male; 78% White) were reported through the ODFR, with a 96% (n = 11,225) survival rate. Overdose survival (ps <.02) was associated with younger age (OR =.58), no opioid and stimulant co-involvement (OR =.61), and private location (OR =.48). Intramuscular naloxone in particular was associated with a significantly higher odds of survival compared to nasal naloxone (OR = 2.11). An average of 1.6 doses of naloxone per incident were administered. Additional doses were associated (ps <.02) with being older (OR =.45), female (OR =.90), nasal naloxone (versus intravenous) (OR =.65), and the belief fentanyl was present (OR = 1.49). Conclusion: Our reporting form provides a comprehensive picture of the events surrounding reported overdoses, including factors associated with survival, how much naloxone was used, and the effects of respondents believing fentanyl was involved. Missouri's report can provide support for current naloxone dosing, contextualize refusing post-overdose transport, and can be used to improve overdose response by community and first responders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of ‘new municipalism’ – imaginative and renascent projects of local organization and government – has been occasioned by resourceful efforts on the part of local states and civil societies, responding to the intensified pressures of austerity, the global pandemic and a crisis of public value. Yet, despite the expansion internationally of an array of municipal initiatives, there appears (as yet) no significant role for culture and the cultural industries, and certainly this is the case in the UK. This review article suggests some possible reasons why UK municipalism might lack something of a cultural contribution or presence, before outlining the potential benefits that could be gained through development of both a “pragmatic” and “managed” – as well as more “radical” – integration of arts and culture into new municipal projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a Global South NGO from Bangladesh that has become one of the world's largest NGOs, BRAC's fiftieth anniversary was a momentous occasion for global development. This special issue celebrates BRAC's contributions to development knowledge and practice across five decades, highlighting BRAC's impact – and the challenges it has faced in achieving this – across several programs, ranging from humanitarian response to women's and young people's empowerment and its quest for inclusive poverty reduction in Bangladesh and beyond. We explore how BRAC's heavy investment in a culture of continuous learning enables the organisation to understand and improve its programs, ground these in local contexts and communities, and build external partnerships for spreading its impact, influence, and knowledge globally. We hope this special issue will advance understanding of and spread BRAC's strategies of working closely with poor and marginalised communities, of investing in transformative learning that starts with the self, of evolving and embracing mistakes, and of igniting hope over fate and despair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its inception, BRAC has combined emergency assistance with longer-term development interventions, grounding its approach in empowering local communities. Its experiences in navigating tensions across the humanitarian–development nexus and in debates around localising aid provide a useful perspective on the way in which these debates intersect, showcasing how prioritising a localised response is conducive of an approach that is "humanitarian in nature and developmental in solution". Through historical and contemporary perspectives, we explore how BRAC has adjusted its profile, adapted to new challenges, learned about new and changing settings, developed innovations, learned from mistakes, and dismantled boundaries to bridge humanitarian and developmental support in Bangladesh and beyond. These experiences highlight the importance of the "local" beyond geography, as evidenced by BRAC's engagement with the communities it serves and is part of, and its desire to move forward in an inclusive and socially just manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equitable futures depend upon better employment outcomes for young women. We use a skills ecosystems approach to explore how youth skills development programs can maximise their impact in highly gendered societies and labour markets. While improving employment outcomes and incomes for young women, BRAC's STAR program cannot withstand Bangladesh's deep-rooted and socially restrictive norms and practices. Short-term successes are diluted as family pressures and commitments take precedent over young women's economic lives. Adding a temporal dimension to the concept of skills ecosystems, these findings highlight that maintaining these impacts requires constant renegotiation and advocacy to challenge the structural obstacles within households and labour markets and within national policies and investments that constrain their longer-term economic empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detrimental physical, mental, and socioeconomic effects of substance use disorders (SUDs) have been apparent to the medical community for decades. However, it has become increasingly urgent in recent years to develop novel pharmacotherapies to treat SUDs. Currently, practitioners typically rely on monotherapy. Monotherapy has been shown to be superior to no treatment at all for most substance classes. However, many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have revealed that monotherapy leads to poorer outcomes when compared with combination treatment in all specialties of medicine. The results of RCTs suggest that monotherapy frequently fails since multiple dysregulated pathways, enzymes, neurotransmitters, and receptors are involved in the pathophysiology of SUDs. As such, research is urgently needed to determine how various neurobiological mechanisms can be targeted by novel combination treatments to create increasingly specific yet exceedingly comprehensive approaches to SUD treatment. This article aims to review the neurobiology that integrates many pathophysiologic mechanisms and discuss integrative pharmacology developments that may ultimately improve clinical outcomes for patients with SUDs. Many neurobiological mechanisms are known to be involved in SUDs including dopaminergic, nicotinic, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), and kynurenic acid (KYNA) mechanisms. Emerging evidence indicates that KYNA, a tryptophan metabolite, modulates all these major pathophysiologic mechanisms. Therefore, achieving KYNA homeostasis by harmonizing integrative pathophysiology and pharmacology could prove to be a better therapeutic approach for SUDs. We propose KYNA-NMDA-α7nAChRcentric pathophysiology, the "conductor of the orchestra," as a novel approach to treat many SUDs concurrently. KYNA-NMDA-α7nAChR pathophysiology may be the "command center" of neuropsychiatry. To date, extant RCTs have shown equivocal findings across comparison conditions, possibly because investigators targeted single pathophysiologic mechanisms, hit wrong targets in underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms, and tested inadequate monotherapy treatment. We provide examples of potential combination treatments that simultaneously target multiple pathophysiologic mechanisms in addition to KYNA. Kynurenine pathway metabolism demonstrates the greatest potential as a target for neuropsychiatric diseases. The investigational medications with the most evidence include memantine, galantamine, and N-acetylcysteine. Future RCTs are warranted with novel combination treatments for SUDs. Multicenter RCTs with integrative pharmacology offer a promising, potentially fruitful avenue to develop novel therapeutics for the treatment of SUDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Normative perceptions are strongly related to risk behaviors among emerging adults but the role of gender-specific normative perceptions remain unclear. Objectives: The current study examined the differential effects of same-gender and gender-neutral normative perceptions on self-reported substance use and sexual risk behavior. College students (n = 389, ages 18-25) reported binge drinking, cannabis use and prescription drug misuse, sexual risk behavior, and the perceived frequency of these behaviors by both the average- and same-gender adult. Results: Binge drinking was positively associated with same-gender norms only, whereas cannabis use and sexual risk behavior were also positively associated with gender-neutral norms perceptions. For binge drinking only, same-gender norms explained more variance in behavior than gender-neutral norms. Conclusions: Findings indicate perceptions of same-gender norms play a particularly important role in binge drinking during this developmental period. Interventions targeting emerging adult risk behavior should include within-group normative perceptions related to demographic and social group characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recommender systems are the engine of online advertising. Not only do they suggest movies, music, or romantic partners, but they also are used to select which advertisements to show to users. This paper reviews the basics of recommender system methodology and then looks at the emerging arena of active recommender systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This account of practice describes an online program started in 2022, which helps leaders at BNP Paribas to be more effective problem solvers and inclusive leaders by developing stronger questioning and listening skills. The goals of this program were aligned with action learning and could have been achieved with standard, coach-led action learning groups, however there was a desire at the bank to scale this program to support up to 80 participants at a time at a reasonable budget. Therefore, at Be Leadership we set out to design a program that met our learning outcomes in a scalable, cost-effective way. This account concludes that with the right set up and ongoing support, self-facilitated peer coaching groups can consistently reach the same rich learnings and positive outcomes as those using standard coach-led action learning. Across three cohorts and 47 peer coaching groups, 96 percent of participants said they were satisfied with the program and 92 percent said insights from this program would be useful in their career development. When asked if they would recommend this course to their peers, the experience received a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 8.53 on a scale of 1–10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on post-secondary training for individuals with intellectual disabilities has generally focused on programs, with little consideration of the structures and mechanisms that give rise to them. This article adopts a critical realist perspective to comparatively analyse and theorise about the contextual structures contributing to the introduction of post-secondary training programs in universities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Six stages in critical realist explanatory research were followed. They include (1) description, (2) analytical resolution, (3) abduction/theoretical redescription, (4) retroduction, (5) comparison between different theories and abstractions, and (6) concretisation and contextualisation. Historical, socio-political, and educational policy structures and mechanisms, indicated three program typologies: program as niche, as a generalisable prototype, and as an evolutionary response to evolving conditions. By developing explanations about preconditions, the study draws out nuanced sub-types occurring within a single university-based program, theorises on trajectories for success, and lays the groundwork for future empirical and conceptual development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Men at risk of suicide often face difficulties with finances, employment, or housing, yet support services are usually psychologically based. This study evaluated the Hope service which provides integrated psychosocial support alongside practical, financial and specialist advice. To examine how the Hope service supports men at risk of suicide and factors that influence its impact and usefulness. Twenty-six qualitative interviews with 16 service users, six Hope staff, two specialist money advice workers funded to work for Hope and two NHS referral staff, thematically analysed. The Hope service provided an essential service for men at risk of suicide, with complex needs including addiction, job loss, homelessness, debt, relationship-breakdown and bereavement who often would otherwise have fallen through service provision gaps. Working in a person-centred, non-judgemental way elicited trust and specialist advice tackled problems such as housing needs, debt, benefit claims and employment, enabling men to regain a sense of control over their lives. Some men shared histories of abuse, for which specialist counselling was hard to access. Hope provides an effective integrated support package for suicidal men. Funding for services like Hope are important to tackle structural issues such as homelessness and debt, alongside emotional support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests that exposure to microaggressions diminishes cognitive resources. Using in vivo experimental methodology, we found that engagement in a breathing exercise may mask the effects of cognitive depletion in Black college women who are exposed to racial microaggressions. Sixty-one Black college women were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in which a microaggressive script and coping suggestion were crossed. Participants who were exposed to microaggressions enacted by a white research assistant and asked to wait were more depleted than those who were not exposed to microaggressions at all. Participants who heard the microaggressive language and were prompted to cope were marginally less depleted than those who were exposed without prompting to engage in a coping exercise. These findings align with prior findings that racially hostile university environments may have harmful consequences on the cognitive functioning of Black women, but engagement in coping may diminish these effects. Implications, limitations, and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) are being introduced with high levels of autonomy. This means that not only the role of the human operator is changing but also the way in which operations are performed. MASS are expected to be uncrewed platforms that are operated from a Remote Control Centre (RCC). As such, the concept of human-machine teams is important. The operation of MASS however shares some resemblance to other uncrewed platforms (e.g. Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles; UAVs) and it may be that lessons could be learned in relation to the development of MASS systems. A systematic literature review has been conducted, focusing on decision making, to generate insights into operating uncrewed vehicle platforms and design recommendations for MASS. Seven themes were revealed: decision support systems, trust, transparency, teams, task/role allocation, accountability and situation awareness. A Network Model was developed to show the interconnections between these themes which was then applied to a case study of an UAV accident. The purpose of doing this was to demonstrate the utility of the model to real-world scenarios and showed how each theme applied within the human-machine team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the mechanisms of the relationship between racial discrimination and substance use among Black youth. The current study examined the role of collective self-esteem and personal self-esteem in this relationship among Black adolescents in grades 5 through 12 (N = 1514; 57% female). Regression analyses estimated direct effects of perceived racial discrimination on substance use and indirect effects of discrimination on substance use through personal and collective self-esteem. Controlling for grade and sex, results revealed significant indirect effects such that experiences of discrimination were positively associated with substance use through lower reports of collective and personal self-esteem. Findings suggest that bolstering personal and race-related esteem may mitigate the deleterious influence of discrimination among Black youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are limited available data assessing the efficacy of acute energy drink consumption on cognition and gaming performance, nor on cardiovascular safety. To examine the efficacy of acute consumption of a novel energy drink (C4S) versus placebo for improving cognitive and gaming performance and mood. Secondarily, we examined the cardiovascular safety profile of acute C4S consumption. Forty-five healthy, young adult video gamers completed two experimental visits in randomized order where they consumed either C4S or a placebo and then completed a validated battery of neurocognitive tests, played five video games, and completed a mood state survey. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation, and electrocardiogram measurements were taken at baseline and repeated throughout each visit. Acute consumption of C4S improved cognitive flexibility (absolute mean or median difference [95% CI] = +4.3 [2.2–6.4]; p < 0.001; d = 0.63), executive function (+4.3 [2.3–6.3]; p < 0.001; d = 0.63), sustained attention (+2.1 [0.6–3.6]; p = 0.01; d = 0.44), motor speed (+2.9 [0.8–4.9]; p < 0.001; d = 0.44), psychomotor speed (+3.9 [0.1–7.7]; p = 0.04; d = 0.32) working memory (+1.0 [0.1–1.9]; p = 0.02; d = 0.35), and performance in the two-dimensional visuospatial game Tetris (+463 [-419–2,065] pts; p = 0.049; d = 0.30) compared to placebo. C4S also improved Fatigue-Inertia (-1 [-3–0]; p = 0.004; d = 0.45), Vigor-Activity (+2.4 [1.3–3.6]; p < 0.001; d = 0.64), Friendliness (+0 [0–1]; p = 0.04; d = 0.32), and Total Mood Disturbance (-3 [-6–0]; p = 0.002; d = 0.44). BP increased slightly in C4S versus placebo, while HR decreased from baseline to post-drink in the C4S condition. Rate-pressure-product was higher in C4S versus placebo independent of time but did not increase from baseline. There was no effect on corrected QT interval. Acute consumption of C4S was efficacious for cognitive performance, visuospatial gaming performance, and mood enhancement, and had no effect on myocardial oxygen demand or ventricular repolarization, despite being associated with increases in BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the aqueous humor proteome and associated plasma proteome in patients with infectious or noninfectious uveitis. AH and plasma were obtained from 28 patients with infectious uveitis (IU), 29 patients with noninfectious uveitis (NIU) and 35 healthy controls undergoing cataract surgery. The proteins profile was analyzed by SomaScan technology. We found 1844 and 2484 proteins up-regulated and 124 and 161 proteins down-regulated in the AH from IU and NIU groups, respectively. In the plasma, three proteins were up-regulated in NIU patients, and one and five proteins were down-regulated in the IU and NIU patients, respectively. The results of pathway enrichment analysis for both IU and NIU groups were related mostly to inflammatory and regulatory processes. SomaScan was able to detect novel AH and plasma protein biomarkers in IU and NIU patients. Also, the unique proteins found in both AH and plasma suggest a protein signature that could distinguish between infectious and noninfectious uveitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the past two decades, research has linked adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to adult health-risk behaviors such as excessive alcohol use. Yet, few have investigated health-risk behaviors among Black college students. Research suggests that Black college students are at lower risk for hazardous drinking patterns, yet ACEs appear to alter the drinking patterns of Black students. Other studies have also shown depressive symptoms and coping-motivated drinking to predict greater alcohol consumption for this ethnic group. Objective: The current study investigated the relationship between ACEs and hazardous patterns of drinking, including frequency of alcohol use, binge, and heavy drinking episodes, using a sample of 282 Black students attending a historically black college/university (HBCU). Results: Depressive symptoms and coping drinking motives were tested as serial mediators between ACEs and the three drinking patterns. Results revealed a significant indirect effect of ACEs on the frequency of alcohol use, binge, and heavy drinking episodes, through depressive symptoms and coping drinking motives. Depressive symptoms also independently mediated the relationship between ACEs and heavy drinking episodes. Conclusion: The finding suggested that drinking perhaps serves as a maladaptive coping strategy to address underlying early life stress and depression for Black students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is trauma in how Indigenous knowledge collections in libraries are managed. This paper seeks to understand the tikanga Māori context of Indigenous knowledges management in library collection policies. A review of selected library policies from five major AotearoaNew Zealand libraries regarding collection development, tikanga Māori integration and specifically Māori collection content will be explored using a modified Mead's Tikanga Test (of 2003). From this analysis will be inferred the ways in which the various library policies negate or affirm tikanga Māori. This will be followed by a brief introduction to the model Ngā Matatiki Mātauranga for culturally safe management of Indigenous collections to be integrated into collection policies. This paper will draw from a Māori perspective, in Aotearoa-New Zealand. The testing of library policies from five major libraries will drive the findings to represent the state of Indigenous collection policy in Aotearoa and how best for Māori to distinguish our futures in libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While scholars have long examined media bias, few studies have systematically examined how media represents health within American urban neighborhoods. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of 10 years of news articles of one Ohio neighborhood, the authors apply a social determinants of health (SDOH) lens to the coverage of one urban newspaper. The study's aim is to understand what a SDOH approach might tell us about local and ongoing coverage of historically challenged neighborhoods. Findings reinforce those of previous studies from health communication and media studies which document a disproportionate emphasis on crime, but also push the conversation further to show how the health aspects of housing and food instability, unemployment, and non-crime safety concerns, are often elided in news coverage. The authors argue that the SDOH lens affords journalists a framework for ensuring that their reporting adequately captures the drivers of poor health in American urban neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I examine the role of bank monitoring in the timing of earnings announcements. Managers have been shown to procrastinate and delay the public release of bad news on earnings. I find that banks discipline and prevent such managerial procrastination of earnings disclosures to the public. Moreover, I find that the market is more tolerant of delays in the public release of earnings information in the presence of a bank lending relationship. Thus, the negative abnormal return accompanying late releases of earnings information is observed only when a bank lending relationship is not present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Memoirs of studying with acclaimed dancer-choreographer Moustapha Bangoura in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa, illuminate the significant, yet unspoken role played by the djembefola (lead drummer) in teaching and learning dance. This portrait provides autobiographical and ethnographic insights, gained through attending Le Bagatae Dance and Drum, an international dance school in Conakry, Guinea, founded by Bangoura in 1993. Drawing on a two-decade long mentorship with Bangoura, this study provides dance educators with insights into how a dancer's musicality is cultivated through the help of the djembefola. How this perspective is related to a decolonial dance pedagogical agenda is also articulated. The study describes the dance pedagogy I experienced as a collaborative process between Bangoura and musicians. The findings reveal that the drummers contribute content and pedagogical knowledge essential for dance learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to further our understanding of the process of therapy in psychoanalytic parent-infant psychotherapy (PPIP). Using a single-case study methodology, it examines the emergence of atypical maternal behaviours in the sessions and considers direct therapeutic work with the baby. The research material for this study consists of video tapes and verbatim transcripts of two sessions from different time points in one good outcome PPIP treatment. The Atypical Maternal Behaviour Instrument for Assessment and Classification (AMBIANCE) coding system is used as a basis for identifying atypical maternal behaviours, as they manifest in the sessions. In addition, the therapist's intervention in moments of interactive disruption are analysed discursively, with a focus on the utterances that directly address the infant. Findings suggest that the mother exhibited a high frequency of disruptive behaviours, as coded in the AMBIANCE, in the beginning of therapy. These decreased considerably by the end of treatment. In addition, the therapist was seen to respond consistently and flexibly to maternal disruptive behaviours, employing different interventions. Furthermore, the therapist talked directly to the baby for a significant amount of the session time, especially early on in treatment, addressing several different issues. Disrupted maternal behaviours can be discerned and systematically observed in PPIP sessions; these may be addressed in psychoanalytic parent-infant psychotherapy through the therapist's verbal and nonverbal interactions with the mother and baby. Using different coding systems to examine patterns of interaction in detail, it is possible to gain insight into the therapeutic process, furthering our understanding of change mechanisms in psychoanalytic work with infants and their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated how engagement in activism among white women is predicted by their political efficacy, exposure to gendered microaggressions (i.e., verbal and/or nonverbal slights targeting a subordinate gender identity), and color-blind racial attitudes. We recruited 93 white undergraduate women for whom exposure to gendered microaggressions, color-blind racial attitudes, and political efficacy explained a significant proportion of variance in participants' ratings of political activism on social media, although these predictors did not significantly explain a proportion of the variance in their in-person political activism (e.g., rally attendance). We discuss how these findings relate to the current literature, as well as implications and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rates of psychostimulant use, misuse, and hospitalization have increased markedly over the past decade. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between receipt of a psychostimulant prescription in the past year and fatal, unintentional psychostimulant-involved overdose. Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study using linked, state-level databases from the Rhode Island Department of Health. Cases were defined as Rhode Island residents who experienced a fatal, unintentional drug overdose involving a psychostimulant, and controls included non-psychostimulant involved fatal overdoses occurring between May 1, 2017 and May 31, 2020 The primary exposure of interest was receipt of a psychostimulant prescription within 12 months prior to death, ascertained through linkage to the state's prescription drug monitoring program. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios. Results: Of 894 eligible overdose fatalities, the majority were white/non-Hispanic (72%), mean age was 43 years, and most resided in Providence County (69%). A total of 39 (4%) involved a psychostimulant. After adjusting for year of death and matching by sex, age, and county of residence, cases had 4.1 (95% confidence interval: 1.6, 10.6) times the odds of receiving a prescription stimulant in the past year compared to controls. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there is a strong, positive association between prescription psychostimulant receipt and psychostimulant-involved fatal overdose. In response to an evolving polysubstance use landscape, current harm reductions measures, including naloxone training, fentanyl test strip distribution, and overdose education, should be expanded to include patients who receive psychostimulant prescriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a task orchestration framework for multi-agent systems utilising linear temporal logic (LTL) and cross entropy optimisation, a stochastic optimisation technique used for rare-event sampling. We define task orchestration as a combination of task decomposition, allocation and planning for a quadcopter or team of quadcopters given a high-level specification. Specifically, we consider tasks that are complex and consist of environment constraints, system constraints, or both, that must be satisfied. We first approach motion planning for the single agent case where transition systems for the environment allow tasks to be developed as linear temporal logic (LTL) specifications. Trajectories are then generated via motion primitives for a single quadcopter and optimised via cross entropy to ensure optimal satisfaction of a cost function. We extend this work to the multi-agent case where a team of homogeneous quadcopters are considered to satisfy an LTL specification. In order to provide faster computations and initial cost-agnostic sampling, we formulate the online version of multi-agent task allocation via cross entropy for tasks specified in LTL specifications. The results of this framework are verified in simulation and experimentally with a team of quadcopters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two statements from national organizations outline recommended minimum effective doses of gabapentin and pregabalin for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). However, studies of real-world gabapentinoid dosing demonstrate that the recommended dose targets are frequently not met and do not consider renal insufficiency. This study aimed to characterize gabapentinoid prescribing patterns in patients receiving primary care at two internal medicine clinics within an academic medical center. This retrospective chart review included adult outpatients who were newly initiated on gabapentin or pregabalin between October 1, 2017 and October 1, 2020 and reviewed for 12 months. A total of 1,221 patients were included in the study with 1,079 (88.4%) prescribed gabapentin and 142 (11.6%) prescribed pregabalin. Only 22.4% of patients prescribed gabapentin and 33.3% of patients prescribed pregabalin with adequate renal function met the minimum effective dosing of gabapentin 1800 mg per day and pregabalin 300 mg per day provided by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and American Academy of Neurology (AAN). This study supports the need for optimization of gabapentinoid dosing to ensure an adequate trial at the minimum effective dose is completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article comprises a short case exemplifying ethical challenges arising for a participatory researcher working with Afghan women refugees during the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany. The researcher is an Iranian-German woman, qualified as a midwife, undertaking doctoral research on refugees' access to reproductive health care. Disclosures about some women's experience of domestic violence are made, which raise ethical issues for the researcher relating to personal-professional boundaries, roles and responsibilities. Two commentaries are given on this case from participatory researchers based in Germany, UK and Austria. Both commentaries highlight the relevance of the ethics of care for participatory research and for this research in particular, which entails very close relationships between the doctoral researcher and the refugee women with whom she is researching. The first commentary analyses the research process in terms of Tronto's five phases of care, while the second illustrates the importance of caring institutions in supporting researchers working on sensitive topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article starts with a case outlining ethical challenges encountered in participatory action research (PAR) on vaccine hesitancy in rural India during Covid-19. Community researchers were recruited by a not-for-profit organisation, with the aim of both discovering the reasons for vaccine hesitancy and encouraging take-up. This raised issues about the roles and responsibilities of local researchers in their own communities, where they might be blamed for adverse reactions to vaccination. They and their mentor struggled with balancing societal protection against individual rights to make choices. These themes are explored in two commentaries discussing the difficulties in balancing ethics in public health (prioritising societal benefits), social research (protecting participants from harm and respecting their rights not to be involved) and participatory research practices (maximising democratic participation and decision-making). As discussed in the first commentary, often these cohere, but tensions can arise. The second commentary also raises the issue of epistemic justice, questioning the extent to which the villagers could have a say in the design, implementation and interpretation of the research, and the dangers of not hearing the voices and arguments of people who reject vaccination. The case and commentaries highlight the complexities of PAR and additional challenges in a public health context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) is increasing as it is predicted that they can bring improved safety, performance and operational capabilities. However, their introduction is associated with a number of enduring Human Factors challenges (e.g. difficulties monitoring automated systems) for human operators, with their 'remoteness' in shore-side control centres exacerbating issues. This paper aims to investigate underlying decision-making processes of operators of uncrewed vehicles using the theoretical foundation of the Perceptual Cycle Model (PCM). A case study of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) accident has been chosen as it bears similarities to the operation of MASS through means of a ground-based control centre. Two PCMs were developed; one to demonstrate what actually happened and one to demonstrate what should have happened. Comparing the models demonstrates the importance of operator situational awareness, clearly defined operator roles, training and interface design in making decisions when operating from remote control centres. Practitioner Summary: To investigate underlying decision-making processes of operators of uncrewed vehicles using the Perceptual Cycle Model, by using an UAV accident case study. The findings showed the importance of operator situational awareness, clearly defined operator roles, training and interface design in making decisions when monitoring uncrewed systems from remote control centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the impact of sexual harassment on one teacher – the paper's author and, in doing so, opens up conversations about the micro-realities of gendered harassment in educational institutions. By using autoethnography as a method of inquiry and writing from the unique perspective of the survivor-researcher, the author sheds light on how sexual harassment is enacted through gendered language, the normalization of sexist practices, and power-relations in ways that inform whose voice is heard and whose gets silenced. By placing personal testimony and documentary evidence within a poststructuralist theoretical framework, feelings of powerlessness are merged with critical reflexivity and scholarly reflection to offer insights into the ways that institutional discourses and practices nurture and/or neuter individuals' efficacy and career potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the importance of conflict archaeology in understanding and studying the impact of war on society. It acknowledges the ongoing conflicts around the world, such as the war in Ukraine, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and political divisions in America, highlighting the relevance of conflict archaeology in such times. The editorial also introduces a new project that aims to document the experiences of civilians during war through photography and oral testimony, emphasizing the importance of including the perspectives of those affected by war. The issue of the journal includes papers on World War I and World War II, providing new insights into these conflicts. Overall, the editorial emphasizes the significance of conflict archaeology in comprehending the effects of war on individuals and society. [Extracted from the article]

Pressure to perform and fear of failing are known stressors for university students, and in rigid or unsupportive laboratory environments, these emotions are heightened (Hsu & Goldsmith, 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the need for increased equity and accessibility in undergraduate laboratory learning environments. Accordingly, we have identified effective strategies to promote positive laboratory environments for undergraduate students based on our following experiences: laboratory bootcamps, worksheets/quizzes, point-of-view and animated videos, and postlaboratory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explores psychosocial needs among university employees and the extent to which these needs influence employee perceptions of how work positively or negatively affects their health. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses among Norwegian faculty members (N = 11,533) suggest that needs differ in importance to the two work-related health outcomes. Multi-group analyses suggest gender differences in the level of these needs and in their degree of relationship with positive/negative work-related health. Among women, the strongest predictors of positive and negative work-related health are work engagement and autonomy, respectively. Among men, the strongest predictors of positive and negative work-related health are meaning and social community, respectively. Although significant differences were found in the level of the psychosocial needs across different university groups (faculty, PhD students, administrative/technical staff), their predictive value for how work affects their health positively or negatively is basically equivalent across groups. Study findings raise two implications: (1) the mechanisms and characteristics of the work environment that promote versus detract from health in the university setting do not appear to be two sides of the same coin and suggest different sets of interventions for improving employee health, and (2) gender differences should be taken into account in designing interventions to improve health and well-being in universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new European Union (EU) Regulations for medical devices (MDs) and health technology assessment (HTA) are welcome developments that should increase the quality of clinical evidence for MDs and reduce fragmentation in the EU market access process. To fully exploit anticipated benefits, their respective assessment processes should be closely coordinated, particularly for promising, highly innovative MDs. Accelerated approval is worth exploring for certain categories of high-risk MDs to keep the EU regulatory process competitive compared to accelerated MD approval programs elsewhere (e.g. US). Problems observed in worldwide accelerated drug and MD regulatory approval programs are reviewed, including greater uncertainty in premarket clinical evidence generation and lack of oversight for post approval evidence requirements. Implications for MD approval, HTA and coverage are explored. Through analysis of two decades of drug and MD accelerated approval programs worldwide, recommendations for an Accelerated Access Pathway for select innovative, high-risk MDs are proposed to fit the EU context, leverage the two new regulations, increase opportunities for Expert Panels to provide timely advice regarding manufacturers' evidence generation plans along the MD lifecycle (pre, postmarket), and safely speed patient access while promoting increased collaboration among Member States on coverage decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the Reinvent the Classroom initiative by Digital Promise, HP, Microsoft, and Intel, which aims to celebrate and support innovative educators who leverage technology to create personalized and accessible learning experiences. It features examples from educators who use technology to facilitate authentic learning opportunities, such as digitized writing assignments and global collaborations.

This article examines two cases that present ethical challenges encountered by social workers in making decisions either to maintain professional boundaries or fulfil moral obligations while working with service users in vulnerable situations. In the first case, a Lebanese social worker narrates how she was motivated to step out of her official responsibilities to assist a refugee mother of three who showed suicidal ideation. In the second case, a Ugandan social worker recounts her experience while working with a family whose 12-year-old daughter was raped and became pregnant, but whose parents refused to accept abortion when medical diagnosis showed that the girl's life was in danger. A commentary from the authors is provided after each case. Both social workers were arguably motivated to act based on their concern to care for people, protect human rights, and save lives in the two case scenarios. This underscores the relevance of the ethics of care and virtue ethics in describing the associated ethical challenges in both cases. Furthermore, the dynamic nature of the ethical challenges encountered by the social workers demands open minds and flexibility in decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper comprises a case study illustrating ethical and practical challenges for a Ugandan hospital-based social worker early in the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a commentary. The hospital was under-resourced, with staff and patients experiencing lack of information and panic. The social worker, Denis Adia, recounts his responses to new and ethically challenging situations, including persuading Muslim patients to stop fasting for the good of their health; deciding to keep a baby in hospital with parents although this was against the rules; and supporting a stigmatised former patient in the face of intimidation by colleagues. He reflects on the importance of recognising each person's unique needs and circumstances, seeing this as a vital role for social workers. The case is followed by a commentary from a UK academic (Sarah Banks), who notes the cognitive and emotional effort ('ethics work') undertaken by the social worker to: see the ethical aspects of particular situations; take account of patients' specific needs; ensure they are treated with respect; promote their well-being; and perform as a good social worker. Banks draws attention to the key role of the virtue of courage in pandemic conditions, which involves working with new risks and facing fears with confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]