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Culture and gender differences in values associated with luxury consumption are investigated. Two Western individualistic-oriented countries with mature luxury markets (France and the United States) and two Eastern collectivistic-oriented countries with developing luxury markets (the United Arab Emirates and China) are compared using a previously developed model of luxury values. Main results indicate that refinement, heritage, and, to a lesser extent, exclusivity receive greater emphasis in Western rather than Eastern countries. Chinese and U.S. consumers place particular emphasis on elitism. Additionally, gender shapes the importance placed on luxury values: men emphasize elitism (and exclusivity in Western countries only), whereas women emphasize refinement. Furthermore, adherence to own-gender beliefs (i.e., traits attributed to one's gender) fully mediates gender influence within all four countries. Theoretical implications are discussed based on major frameworks of national culture and the social structural theory. Managerial implications in terms of cultural and gendered adaptation of marketing strategies are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accompanying the rising ethnic diversity of Western countries is a burgeoning number of mixed-ethnic unions and people with mixed-ethnic ancestry. These people do not fit neatly into one group or another. This ambiguity is compounded by the fact that their ethnic identity is affected by how they are perceived and labeled by others. Theories have been advanced to explain ethnic identity, and its corollaries for cognition, emotions, and consumer behaviors. However, aside from a handful of ethnographic studies, knowledge about how social identity of mixed-ethnic consumers is formed and shaped, and how it potentially affects consumer dispositions, remains largely uncharted. Using data gathered in three countries (Canada, United States, United Kingdom), and considering various ethnic mixture combinations, this article presents the development and validation of a multidimensional scale for measuring mixed-ethnic identity (MEI) and examines the relationships of the 13 MEI components to consumer dispositions commonly used to segment domestic and international markets. The consistency of the relationships between the MEI components and the established consumer dispositions are scrutinized. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaOx devices have been extensively explored for applications such as power devices and solar blind detectors, based on their wide bandgap. In this study, we investigated the synaptic properties of the amorphous gallium oxide (a-GaOx)- based memristor with a W/WOx/a-GaOx/ITO structure, in which a-GaOx are deposited by RF magnetic sputtering at ambient temperature. The structure and components of a-GaOx are characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM, and EDS. The electrical test indicates that W/WOx/a-GaOx is ohmic due to the thin WOx layer with a high concentration of oxygen vacancies. Consequently, the synaptic characteristics of the W/WOx/a-GaOx/ITO memristor depend on both the a-GaOx layer itself and the a-GaOx/ITO junction. The fitting results indicate that the a-GaOx/ITO junction is Schottky with unidirectional conductive properties. However, the elevated defect density results in a larger current for the reverse-biased a-GaOx/ITO junction. Moreover, adjusting the thickness of a-GaOx allows the device to achieve almost symmetrical forward and reverse currents. We have successfully observed typical synaptic characteristics in W/WOx/a-GaOx/ITO when stimulated by consecutive spike signals. Clearly, through careful design considerations regarding the structure and parameters, we have realized superior synaptic performance in a-GaOx-based memristors. This achievement shows that amorphous GaOx has great potential applications in neuromorphic computation chips for artificial intelligence or the Internet of Things in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the relationship between environmental, social and financial performance. In particular, based on the literature, we hypothesise the existence of a 'sand cone' model of sustainability that implies cumulative and sequential effects among the three performance dimensions. The hypothesis is tested using the fixed effects model on a longitudinal dataset of secondary data covering the period 2010–2019. The dataset includes 661 companies operating in the manufacturing industry and located in Europe, North America and Asia. The findings show that environmental, social and financial performance do not conflict but cumulate. The sequence of performance improvements that outlines a 'sand cone' starts with environmental sustainability and ends with financial performance, while social performance fully mediates the relationship between the two. Any other sequence is not confirmed by the data. These results are however valid only in Western countries (i.e. Europe and North America). Based on these findings, this research informs managers that the three pillars of sustainability have a cumulative effect, but only if a specific implementation sequence is followed. However, managers should be aware that these cumulative effects need some time to show up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western countries are eager to reduce their dependence on Russian-origin nuclear fuel but are hindered by capacity constraints in uranium conversion and enrichment. Governments hope to enhance supply security via uranium stockpiles and subsidies, yet such measures risk disrupting the market and are unlikely to accelerate capacity expansion in the short term. Recognizing the complexity of market dynamics and the fact that market adjustments are already taking place, governments should focus on providing market players with the incentives and certainty they need to protect their individual conversion and enrichment supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining trends in style and form with religious considerations, modest fashion has grown worldwide despite a series of intense controversies in Western countries from the mid-2010s. Building on the sociology of scandal, we identify three rhetorical strategies that structure nontarget majority consumers' responses to modest fashion, i.e. the place of religion in modern society, the defence of freedom, and the search for a harmonious society. Interestingly, the strategies of both the detractors and promoters of modest fashion appear to be built upon common values and norms, though at a collective vs. an individual level, respectively. This discursive dynamic allows the former to moralise their attack while neutralising the defence of the latter, thereby setting the public agenda, and leading to Muslims' marketplace exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies on anti‐immigrant attitudes have been conducted within the US or in Western European countries. As a result, the theoretical frameworks utilised to comprehend these attitudes are often based on a limited subset of the global population. Hence, it remains uncertain how these theories apply to regions beyond the Western context. Based on the Life in Transition Survey, we explore whether the theories and factors discussed in Western contexts can be applied to understanding anti‐immigrant attitudes in 28 post‐communist countries. We find that the impact of macroeconomic variables in the post‐communist region differs from what would be expected based on existing theoretical frameworks. The study adds complexity to the debates surrounding the positive impacts of modernisation, economic development and democratisation on anti‐immigrant attitudes. Our research suggests that intolerance levels are notably highest in Central and Eastern European EU countries. Interestingly, these levels are higher than those found in less developed and less democratic post‐communist countries outside the EU. This study highlights the difficulty of deploying a comprehensive theoretical framework that can account for the complexities of attitudes across a broad range of countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representative democracy is perceived to be in crisis in many Western countries. Increasing citizen participation is often considered to be a remedy to close this gap between government and the people. Which instruments should be used to realize this remains, however, open for discussion. In this article, we compare attitudes of citizens, politicians and civil servants towards a number of participatory instruments. We assess to what extent these attitudes are influenced by ‘interests’ (operationalized as the formal position one takes: either politician, citizen or civil servant) and ‘ideas’ (measured as ideological beliefs), while holding the institutional context constant (the local level in Flanders [Belgium]). Analyses based on a large‐scale survey (N = 4,168) show that although the ideological position of the respondents to some extent affects attitudes towards particular participatory instruments, especially their formal position has a considerable impact on how participatory instruments are appreciated. Indeed, different stakeholders distinctly advance different instruments as the best way to enhance citizen participation. This raises questions about the potential of citizen participation to narrow the gap between citizens and policymakers, as diverging attitudes towards particular instruments might create a new gap rather than closing one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute right colic diverticulitis (ARD) is less frequent in Western countries than acute sigmoid diverticulitis (ASD). We aimed to compare the management of ARD and ASD operated on in emergency. Methods: All consecutive patients who had emergency surgery for ASD and ARD (2010–2021) were included in a retrospective, multicenter, cohort study. Patients were identified from databases in French centers that were members of the French Surgical Association. Emergency surgery was performed during the same hospitalization for peritonitis or after failure of conservative treatment. Early and late postoperative outcomes were studied. Results: A total of 2297 patients were included with 2256 (98.2%) ASD and 41 (1.8%) ARD patients. Baseline characteristics were similar. Overall, patients were rated Hinchey 3–4 (63.9%, n = 1468, p = 0.287). ARD was more often treated with resection and anastomosis, protected or not (53.7%, n = 22), whereas ASD was mainly treated with resection and terminal ostomy (62.5% (n = 1409), p < 0.001). Median operative time was shorter for ARD (120 vs 146 min, p = 0.04). The group of ARD patients showed a higher prevalence of Clavien III/IV complications compared to the group of ASD patients, although no statistically significant difference was observed (41.5%, n = 17 vs. 27.6%, n = 620, p = 0.054). However 90-day mortality only happened in ASD patients (9.8%, n = 223 vs 0, p = 0.03). ARD patients had more diverticulitis recurrence (46.3%, n = 19 vs 13.4%, n = 303, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified female sex as a protective factor for recurrence [odds ratio (OR) 0.55, p < 0.001] and ARD as a risk factor (OR 8.85, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Operated on in emergency, ARDs have more resection anastomosis, with a similar rate of complications, less mortality, and more recurrence of diverticulitis than ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medication for mental health problems represents a significant proportion of overall medication use and the prescription of psychotropic medicine has increased in many western countries over the last decades. Childhood violence (CV) is strongly associated with mental health problems, which in turn may increase the likelihood of being prescribed psychotropic medication. However, the association between CV and prescription of benzodiazepines (BDZ) and antidepressants is rarely described, and no such study has been performed among the Indigenous Sami people. Methods: Data from the SAMINOR 2 Questionnaire Survey (2012) was linked to the Norwegian Prescription Database. Information on filled prescriptions for BDZ and antidepressants in 2004–2019 was collected for 11,296 persons (55.8% women, 22.6% Sami). Gender-stratified chi-square tests and two-sample t-tests were used to test for differences between groups. Logistic regression was applied to investigate the association between CV and filled prescriptions for BDZ and antidepressants. Results: During the 16-year study period, 16.7% of all women filled at least one prescription for BDZ. The figures were significantly lower among Sami women (14.1%) compared to non-Sami women (17.4%) (p =.003). Among all women, 23.6% filled at least one prescription for antidepressants, with no difference between ethnic groups. Filled prescriptions among men were 10.0% and 14.2%, respectively, with no difference between ethnic groups. During each year, and in total, a significantly higher proportion of women exposed to CV received at least one prescription for BDZ and antidepressants, respectively, compared to women not exposed to CV, with no differences between ethnic groups. Among men, the pattern was similar. Conclusion: A lower proportion of Sami women filled prescriptions for BDZ than non-Sami women. Those who reported exposure to CV filled prescriptions for BDZ and antidepressants more often than those who did not report CV. There were no overall differences between Sami and non-Sami; the dispensing rates of antidepressants and BDZ were similar for Sami and non-Sami, and the effects of CV on the dispensing of antidepressants and BDZ were also similar. This study highlights the importance of preventing CV, and of identifying a history of CV when treating adults with mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we posit that the ‘global’ status of the pandemic is not an essentialized feature of the crisis, but a product of social construction by political leaders. More specifically, we examine how political leaders of a superpower and a peripheral nation produce the pandemic's globality through crisis geographies from above and below. Utilizing a mixed methods framework, we analyse public speeches by Donald Trump of the United States and Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines through a critical approach to text analytics. Quantitatively, we found that besides mentioning their own homelands, Western countries featured more prominently in Trump's speeches while Asian neighbours were more salient in Duterte's speeches during the pandemic. However, the United States and China were consistently the most central in the crisis geographies of the pandemic of both speakers. Qualitatively, we further characterized the discourses surrounding these global pronouncements as: (a) collective reflexive positioning on the world stage, (b) charting zones of hope and (c) scapegoating zones of blame. Taken together, implications of this work are discussed in terms of understanding pandemic leadership in national and international contexts, recognizing its negotiated embeddedness in global structural hierarchies and enhancing critical approaches to geopolitical psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that rising economic inequality and the decline in political trust across Western countries have systematic normative implications for Western governments' pursuit of climate justice. The article argues that it is an essential but neglected task of nonideal political theory to identify political feasibility constraints on the pursuit of climate justice and reflect on how to overcome them. The article identifies two feasibility constraints in contemporary Western countries, the inequality constraint and the legitimation constraint, as important elements of a nonideal theory of climate justice. It argues that the French Gilets Jaunes (yellow vests) movement arose as a form of bottom-up motivational resistance to President Macron's decarbonization policies, precisely because those policies did not take sufficient heed of the inequality and legitimation constraints. Furthermore, the article sketches elements of a roadmap for a feasible pathway for Western governments to decarbonize and observe their citizens' duties of climate justice and argues that the framework of feasibility constraints offers a coherent, novel and urgent rationale for adopting redistributive measures such as the Carbon Fee and Dividend and participatory-democratic measures such as Citizen Assemblies as component parts of a feasible pathway to a decarbonized economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In several Western countries, police stops have become the object of political controversies on what the objectives and targets of police activities should be. By using the examples of two European countries (France and Scotland) where the issue has been highly politicised over the last 15 years, we will conduct a comparative analysis to show how it has led to significant change in legislation, policy and police practice in Scotland and yet to a policy blockage in France. In both cases, police stops have been politicised through the combination of three interlinked axes: the production of critical scientific evidence, intense media coverage and forceful political attention. Differing national traditions are not sufficient to explain the divergent outcomes. Drawing upon historical institutionalism, we will underline how institutions, understood as stable sets of formal and informal rules, favour certain policy developments rather than others. We will explore how each political context has shaped the balance of constraints and opportunities for reform and we will stress the importance of the respective dynamics of reforms. While both jurisdictions experienced 'hot'political climates, certain conditions needed to be met in order for significant reform to manifest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Our understanding of homicide-suicide (H-S), a rare yet tragic event, is sparse. While the phenomenon has been studied in the West for many years, only limited literature is available from Asia and none to our knowledge from Pakistan. There is evidence of complexity of the interaction between cultural, societal, and psychological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon; therefore, research findings from the Western countries cannot be directly applied in non-Western societies. Our objective was to study homicide-suicides in Pakistan, describe the characteristics of offenders and victims, determine the types of H-S, and examine possible motives and any events prior to the offense. Methods: In the absence of any official data on homicide-suicides, we used newspaper surveillance approach of four most widely circulated Pakistani newspapers (one Urdu and three English Daily) for two years (1st January 2019 to 31st December 2020). Each case was categorized using the modified Marzuk et al., Tardiff, and Hirsch's classification of homicide-suicides. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data that was then compared with published literature. Results: There were 114 H-S incidents with 198 victims of homicide during the study period, reported in the newspapers. Familial H-S particularly filicide-suicide were predominant, followed by spousal/ consortial H-S. Forty-one (36%) H-S involved multiple victims. The perpetrators across all categories of H-S were predominantly male (67%); the victims were predominantly women and children. Firearms were used in most incidents. The primary motive for the majority of H-S cases was familial, financial, and social stressors. Conclusions: The study highlights several unique patterns (predominance of familicide, multiple victims including high proportion of children) and a series of vulnerabilities (incidents related mostly to familial/ financial and social stressors) that overlap each other and ultimately lead to this tragic end. There is need to increase our understanding and develop effective evidence-based prevention strategies for H-S in Pakistan. It is also very important to have a national surveillance network and national violent death reporting system in the country for studying H-S cases, and for evaluating the impact of prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the lessons learned from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, which faced complex challenges due to jihadist movements, geopolitical influences, and multiple layers of conflict. The author, who served as the Force Commander, highlights the importance of clarity in the mission's mandate, adapting the peacekeeping mindset to new realities, understanding the host nation's perspectives, addressing human rights issues pragmatically, improving logistical support, and coordinating military efforts effectively. The withdrawal of European nations from the mission and increased cooperation between Mali and Russia also influenced the mission's dynamics. The author emphasizes the need for a thorough evaluation of peacekeeping missions to draw appropriate conclusions for the future. [Extracted from the article]

Albinism is a phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous condition characterized by a variable degree of hypopigmentation and by ocular features leading to reduced visual acuity. Whereas numerous genotypic studies have been conducted throughout the world, very little is known about the genotypic spectrum of albinism in Africa and especially in sub‐Saharan Western Africa. Here we report the analysis of all known albinism genes in a series a 23 patients originating from Mali. Four were diagnosed with OCA 1 (oculocutaneous albinism type 1), 17 with OCA 2, and two with OCA 4. OCA2 variant NM_000275.3:c.819_822delinsGGTC was most frequently encountered. Four novel variants were identified (two in TYR, two in OCA2). A deep intronic variant was found to alter splicing of the OCA2 RNA by inclusion of a pseudo exon. Of note, the OCA2 exon 7 deletion commonly found in eastern, central, and southern Africa was absent from this series. African patients with OCA 1 and OCA 4 had only been reported twice and once, respectively, in previous publications. This study constitutes the first report of the genotypic spectrum of albinism in a western sub‐Saharan country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to the debate on coloniality (Quijano 2000a, b) by analysing the case of Libya, an Italian colony from 1911 to 1943. It demonstrates how the triple form of domination – ontological, epistemological and political-military-administrative – to which Libya was subjected during Italian colonisation, has survived its end and persists to this day in the relations between Libya and the Western world. From an ontological perspective, the Italians developed a racist representation of the Libyans, which was both the cause and the consequence of a conscious disregard of its specificities. Today, domination endures in the label attributed to Libya as a 'failed state', along with a general disinterest in the complexity of its history and society. From an epistemological perspective, the production of knowledge about Libya was dominated by Western scholars. This led to a Western perspective in which the agency of the Libyans was often neglected and to the spread of analytical and conceptual frameworks that serve the imperialistic claims of Western powers. Some of these colonialist analytical frameworks still exist in academia today. From a political-military-administrative perspective, the tendency of the Italians to exacerbate internal divisions while simultaneously imposing an inefficient model of a unified state remains relevant. This article makes two contributions: it is a case study and a theoretical one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical crowdfunding has gained significant popularity and importance, yet researchers argue that it might not offer equitable financial assistance to vulnerable groups. Studies in Western countries have highlighted disparities in medical crowdfunding based on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic dimensions. Despite this, the equity implications of crowdfunding in India have not been thoroughly investigated. We present the initial empirical evidence indicating caste-based inequalities in medical crowdfunding within India. Leveraging a comprehensive dataset comprising 5527 medical crowdfunding campaigns from one of India's largest platforms, we evaluate the impact of the recipient's caste identity on campaign outcomes. Our methodology utilises administrative data to deduce caste from the recipient's surname. Campaigns by individuals from dominant caste groups tend to garner higher funds compared to those from marginalised castes, largely due to higher average donations. Furthermore, individuals from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (marginalised groups in India) initiate disproportionately fewer campaigns than dominant castes. Our findings remain robust across various performance metrics and alternative model specifications, even after adjusting for multiple campaign features and recipient locations. In summary, our study highlights how crowdfunding on for-profit platforms may exacerbate existing caste-related health disparities in India by disproportionately favouring privileged groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late transition to parenthood is no longer a phenomenon only observed in Europe; rather, it is even more prominent in high-income and low-fertility East Asian societies. Yet, there is a significant gap in the literature about the trends, causes and consequences of late child bearing in Asian societies. Underpinning the ultra-low fertility rates in high-income East Asian societies including Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan is the significant delay in transitioning to parenthood. The median age at first birth in these societies is now the oldest among all high-income societies globally, and more than 20 per cent of all first births occurred to women aged 35 and above. Taking a life course perspective to investigate the shifting age norm for parenthood and the causes of late parenthood would provide a more insightful understanding of the phenomenon. In addition, the consequences of late parenthood observed in Western countries are also likely to manifest in these societies, with intergenerational consequences deserving special attention within the Asian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is one of the major sources of student migrants to many Western countries, growing rapidly during the last couple of decades. In China, several national and regional level policy schemes have been set up to incentivise the return of the high-skilled overseas population. Data to monitor these migration patterns are typically lacking. In this article, we explore the spatial patterns of overseas alumni populations from 106 leading Chinese universities using data gathered from the LinkedIn advertising platform. We first assess the suitability of the LinkedIn data for measuring overseas migrant distributions and then adapt an extended gravity model to aid the interpretation of the relationships between countries, universities and intermediate characteristics and the size of the overseas alumni populations. We find that the LinkedIn data provide plausible measures of Chinese university alumni networks. Alumni populations are in general larger from highly ranked universities, in greater numbers from universities in Beijing and Shanghai and universities with higher numbers of foreign students. These findings help better understand human capital flight, where conventional studies use migration data that do not typically have breakdowns to sub-national units or specify where emigrants received their education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scoping review describes the available research on the experiences of Somali immigrant parents acculturating within Western countries including the U.S., Canada, South Africa, England, and Scandinavia. A total of 19 studies were identified that focused on Somali immigrant families, discussed parenting, and were written in English. Ten were published in peer-reviewed journals including in social work, mental health, and nursing. The other studies were reported in a book chapter and eight graduate-level theses. The studies were qualitative, and identified several themes related to parental strengths and stressors as they acculturated to Western countries. Stressors included conflicts between Western and Islamic values within racist contexts, shifting from communal to nuclear family parenting, and changes in family dynamics. Strengths included strong ties to spirituality, a deep commitment to family, and a strong love of and pride in their cultural identity. Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses a wide range of practices, treatments, and products that fall outside the realm of conventional (mainstream) medicine. The use of complementary and CAM has become increasingly popular in Western nations. People are turning to CAM for a variety of reasons, including managing chronic diseases, relieving symptoms of various conditions, and improving their overall health and well-being. There's a growing trend of people using and showing interest in complementary and alternative medicine therapies, especially in Western countries. CAM encompasses a wide range of treatments, some offering complete alternatives to conventional medicine, while others aim to complement existing medical approaches. Urologists should stay informed about CAM to guide their patients effectively to treat patients in a modern and personalized way. The aim of review is to analyze the scenario of complimentary and alternative medicine with a specific focus in the urological field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Which voters hold polarized affects for political parties in Western Europe? We consider distinct characteristics of different political issues that shape political actors' behaviors and argue that voters are more affectively polarized when they put salience on cultural issues because their stances on the issues are embedded in their deep-seated identity, value, belief, and morality. Empirically, we use measures of affective polarization that incorporate the multiparty systems of Western European countries. Using the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (Module 3), we find that voters who put salience on cultural issues are more affectively polarized than others. The result implies that rising affective polarization in the past decades might have been related to increasing priorities on cultural issues. It also implies that political parties may potentially weaken voters' affective polarization by manipulating their issue agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What explains variation in governments' policy choices to protect jobs and incomes at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in Western Europe? Departing from existing literature that emphasises path-dependency, this article proposes a dynamic model of policy-making in a major emergency. Building on the idea that governments face a trade-off between targeting and reversibility, the article develops a framework that accounts for both continuity and change in governments' policies to protect jobs and incomes during the pandemic. Introducing a four-fold typology of ideal-typical policy responses (strong reinforcement, weak reinforcement, over-provision and under-provision), it is argued that the interaction between institutional legacies and political power of the beneficiaries of a given policy determines the response that governments opt for. Case studies of three policy areas (short-time work; unemployment insurance and social assistance) across the five largest Western European countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) support the proposed theoretical framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) poses significant public health challenges globally and in Southeast Asia, with substantial impairment and disease burden. Understanding its prevalence and associated risk factors is crucial for effective intervention. This study aims to describe the prevalence shifts, correlates, and comorbidities of MDD in Singapore. Data were collected from the second Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS 2016), a national cross-sectional survey comprising 6126 adult residents. The WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview assessed MDD and comorbidities. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were conducted to examine the associations and trends. The lifetime weighted prevalence of MDD in SMHS 2016 was 6.2 %, with an overall increase from 5.8 % in 2010. Significant associations were found between MDD and age, marital status, and comorbid physical disorders. Young adults and divorced/separated individuals exhibited higher MDD prevalence. Chronic pain was significantly associated with MDD. The study's cross-sectional design limits causal inference, and selective non-response might affect prevalence estimates. However, the study benefits from a large, nationally representative sample and standardized methodologies. Young and middle-aged adults, and divorced/separated individuals demonstrate elevated MDD prevalence, warranting targeted interventions. Individuals with comorbidities, particularly chronic pain, constitute a high-risk and vulnerable population. Comprehensive assessment and treatment plans should involve multidisciplinary teams and integrated care approaches to better address the complex needs of these individuals. Our study also highlights specific interventions for schools, families, communities, and workplaces. Despite Singapore's relatively low prevalence compared to Western nations, MDD remains cross-culturally valid emphasizing the need for early intervention and preventive public health measures. • Lifetime weighted prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) was 6.2 %. • Young adults, and separated or divorced individuals, exhibited higher MDD prevalence. • Chronic pain showed the highest comorbidity with MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In examining the memoirs written by emigrant Hungarian aristocrats after 1945, it becomes evident that most are shaped primarily by a nostalgic memory of a once-existent Eden in which they were born, prior to the decline of the aristocracy at the end of World War II. Although these authors often lived in the West for several years or even decades, the image of their youthful past – connected to prewar Hungary – remained largely unaffected by the life experiences gained in the democratic Western world. The reason for this may partly lie in the fact that most of the memoirs were written during the Cold War, a period when the victimhood status of the prewar elite under Communist rule could render even the aristocracy an appealing social phenomenon. This suggests that the long-lasting effects of their original socialization provided a stable and enduring psychological foundation for both their 126 personal and group identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature comparing journalistic roles around the world highlights different ways of understanding journalistic work across countries. One of the main differences in conceptualising concerns the journalist's propensity for intervention: where in some contexts it is common practice for journalists to intervene with commentary and interpretation; while in others there is a tendency to adopt a more neutral reporting style. Through the conceptual lens of journalistic role performance, this study investigates the performance of the interventionist role within its two analytical sub-dimensions (content-driven interventionism and style-driven interventionism), together with the specific indicators related to each of the two (interpretation, journalist point of view, call to action, qualifying adjectives, and use of the first person) across nine Western European countries. Contrary to expectations, our data show a higher level of interventionism—particularly content-driven—in Central and Northern European countries when compared to those belonging to the polarised pluralist model theorised by Hallin, D. C., and P. Mancini. (2004. Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics. Cambridge University Press). Moreover, in almost all the countries considered, when journalists do intervene with their own voice, they predominantly do so through rhetorical devices of interpretation and by expressing their point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most people with type 2 diabetes receive treatment in primary care by GPs who are not specialised in diabetes. Thus, it is important to uncover the most essential information needs regarding type 2 diabetes in general practice. Aim: To identify information needs related to type 2 diabetes for GPs. Design and setting: Systematic review focused on literature relating to Western countries. Method: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo and CINAHL were searched from inception to January 2024. Two researchers conducted the selection process, and citation searches were performed to identify any relevant articles missed by the database search. Quality appraisal was conducted with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Meaning units were coded individually, grouped into categories, and then studies were summarised within the context of these categories using narrative synthesis. An evidence map was created to highlight research gaps. Results: Thirty-nine included studies revealed eight main categories and 36 subcategories of information needs. Categories were organised into a comprehensive hierarchical model of information needs, suggesting 'Knowledge of guidelines' and 'Reasons for referral' as general information needs alongside more specific needs on 'Medication', 'Management', 'Complications', 'Diagnosis', 'Risk factors', and 'Screening for diabetes'. The evidence map provides readers with the opportunity to explore the characteristics of the included studies in detail. Conclusion: This systematic review provides GPs, policymakers, and researchers with a hierarchical model of information and educational needs for GPs, and an evidence map showing gaps in the current literature. Information needs about clinical guidelines and reasons for referral to specialised care overlapped with needs for more specific information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social market economies of the Western world considered the provision of plasma derivatives produced from publicly owned blood services as a legitimate state commitment and, until the last decades of the 20th century, many of the relevant jurisdictions maintained state‐supported fractionation plants to convert publicly collected plasma into products for the public health system. This situation started to change in the 1990s, because of several converging factors, and currently, publicly owned/subsidized, not‐for‐profit fractionation activity has shrunk to a handful of players. However, the collection of plasma from publicly owned blood services has continued and recent developments have increased the interest of state authorities globally to increase the volume of plasma collected to increase the level of strategic independence in the supply of crucial plasma‐derived medicines from commercial market pressures, particularly the global for‐profit fractionation sector with its dominance of source plasma from paid donors in the United States. This paper reviews the development of the plasma industry and the evolution of the pressures on the supply of plasma, which has led to a situation of scarcity of key plasma‐derived medicinal products (PDMPs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether and how ownership concentration, as an intearnal mechanism of corporate governance, and market competition, as an external mechanism of corporate governance, interact to influence bank performance. In other words, we test whether ownership concentration and competition are complementary or substitutes. To do so, we use a unique hand-collected database covering commercial banks based in 17 Western European countries from 2006 to 2019. Consistent with previous studies, we find that ownership concentration and market concentration increase the profitability and risk-taking behaviour of banks. Furthermore, no evidence of non-linearity of competition is found for our sample of European banks. Regarding the interaction effect, our results indicate that market competition seems to foster the profitability of banks with concentrated ownership. In addition, we find that risk-taking behaviour of banks with controlling shareholders increases when they operate in competitive markets. These results suggest that ownership concentration and market competition are complementary, and hence banks may benefit differently from these corporate governance mechanisms to improve their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare condition for which a remarkable change has been witnessed in the epidemiology, assessment and treatment landscape over the last three decades. Well‐established registries from the Western world have not only highlighted the shift in the epidemiology to an older, more comorbid cohort but have also identified markers of prognosis that have been validated as part of risk stratification scores in multiple cohorts. The emphasis on early identification through a systematic assessment pathway and the option of upfront combination therapy with serial risk stratification assessment has laid the foundation for the standard of care and improved prognosis. This review provides an update on the assessment and newer therapies for PAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to test the distinctiveness of symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and target exploratory factor analysis (EFA), were used to test the distinctiveness of PGD from PTSD and depression symptoms in a large sample of adults bereaved for at least six months (N = 1917). Identified factors were explored in relation to demographic (i.e., age, gender) and loss-related (i.e., time since bereavement, nature of death, relationship to deceased, age of deceased, and frequency of contact with deceased) correlates. The CFA model provided a good fit to the data, while the target EFA provided a slightly improved fit. All items loading strongly and significantly onto their respectively factors, and the IGQ items had few significant cross-factor loadings. All demographic and loss-related variables (except for death of a sibling and death from other causes) were associated with each of the factors, however, these associations were strongest for the PGD factor. Participants were recruited using a non-probability sampling method and were from a relatively affluent Western nation. Findings from the current study demonstrate that PGD reflects an empirically distinguishable albeit related disorder to PTSD and depression in a sample of bereaved adults. The identification of correlates common to PGD, PTSD, and depression, as well as those unique to PGD, affords a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors associated with bereavement-related psychopathology. • Uses target EFA to test distinctiveness of symptoms of PGD, PTSD and depression. • Three factor target EFA provided slightly better fit to data than three-factor CFA. • ICD-11 PGD, PTSD, and depression are strongly correlated albeit distinct constructs. • Associations between demographic and loss-related variables strongest for the PGD factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most Western countries address violence against LGBTQ individuals through a hate crime paradigm rooted in retributive justice, which emphasizes punishing the offender. In contrast, restorative justice offers an alternative approach focused on repairing the harm caused. This article analyses the experiences and perspectives of individuals who have suffered LGBTQphobic violence in Spain, particularly in relation to the hate crime paradigm and restorative justice. First, it examines their views on the institutional framework addressing hate crimes and the effectiveness of punitive measures in restoring the harm done to victims. Next, it assesses the awareness among LGBTQ individuals regarding restorative justice, as well as their opinions on the potential benefits and limitations of this judicial alternative. The analysis reveals that, while many respondents believe restorative justice can contribute to fully redressing the harm caused, others fear revictimization by having to confront the offender and relive the traumatic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of media on color sense: our ability to see different colors and use them to interpret the world. Specifically, we examine the role of color in the cultural construction of the Orient—an 'imagined geography' used to justify colonial domination—in two turn-of-the-twentieth-century types of color(ed) photographs: photochromes, where a printer added color, and autochromes, where colors were captured during exposure. While most research on visual Orientalism has focused on content, we use machine learning methods to study the most important formal element of visual Orientalism: color. After using K-means clustering to extract sixteen dominant colors from each photograph in our dataset, we train three different random forest classification algorithms to make a distinction between (A) the two color media (B) photochromes of the Orient and the Occident; and (C) autochromes of the Orient and the Occident. Subsequently, we apply Shapley Additive Explanations, an explainable AI method, to interpret the output of the classifiers. This allows us to examine how specific features (colors) impacted the classifiers' predictions. While the algorithm can easily separate photochromes from autochromes (0.95) and Oriental from Occidental photochromes (0.93), it struggles with the same task in the autochrome collection (0.68). These findings support three interconnected conclusions: (1) color sense became mediated in the late nineteenth century, (2) in photochromes, the presence and absence of specific colors was a vital aspect of visual Orientalism, (3) the autochrome, where color was derived from light, provided a more objective picture of countries in the near and middle East than the photochrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractChronic pain and mental health issues like depression and anxiety significantly contribute to disease burden in Western countries. While cannabinoids are suggested to have analgesic, anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, evidence, especially for long-term use, is inconclusive. This 12-month observational study evaluated the effects of prescribed medicinal cannabis for 96 patients suffering from pain, as well as sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety. Treatment outcomes for pain, depression, anxiety and sleep problems were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months using validated instruments. Significant reductions were observed in pain scores and the interference of pain on daily functions, alongside improvements in mental health and sleep. Many patients reported notable improvements in pain severity and reduced use of pain medications in the first 6 months, with a decline at 12 months. Additionally, sustained improvements in depression, anxiety, stress and sleep were observed, with about half reporting substantial improvement. Adverse effects were common but mostly mild or moderate, most commonly dry mouth and sleepiness. These results show that prescribed medicinal cannabis treatment is associated with improvements in chronic pain and mental health symptoms, such as depression, anxiety and stress. However, findings also suggest reduced effectiveness with longer-term use, emphasizing the need for additional research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory skin disease impacting 1 to 3% of the general population in the Western World. Topical therapies are the most often used treatment in psoriasis, frequently as ancillary treatments to traditional systemic or biologic treatments in individuals with severe disease. Topical therapy with fixed‐dose combination of a vitamin D analogue (calcipotriol (Cal)) and corticosteroid (betamethasone dipropionate (BD)) has been recommended as first‐line topical treatment, and its efficacy and safety are supported by an increasing body of evidence. Ointment, gel, cream, and foam are the four distinct formulations of fixed‐dose Cal/BD combination that have been authorized for the treatment of psoriasis. Several studies have compared these formulations in terms of efficacy, safety, and patients' satisfaction. The objective of this study is to review all the comparative studies performed in patients with psoriasis of the Cal/BD foam formulation with respect to other topical treatments containing Cal and BD, either individually or in combination. The results of the studies published on this topic have shown that Cal/BD foam is more efficacious than both individual Cal/BD and Cal/BD ointment, gel, and cream. The safety profile, QoL, patient satisfaction, and cost‐effectiveness were also higher for the Cal/BD foam formulation in different studies. Although more real‐world clinical experience is required to validate the available data, Cal/BD foam may be the treatment of choice for both flare management and proactive maintenance treatment of psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Relief of cholestasis in hilar cholangiocarcinoma is commonly undertaken in both curative and palliative treatment plans. There are numerous open questions with regard to the ideal biliary drainage strategy – including what constitutes clinical success (CS). In the existing data, curative patients and patients from the Western world are underrepresented. Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with complex malignant hilar obstruction (Bismuth-Corlette II and higher) due to cholangiocarcinoma who underwent biliary drainage at a German referral center between 2010 and 2020. We aimed to define CS and complication rates and directly compare outcomes in curative and palliative patients. Results: 56 curative and 72 palliative patients underwent biliary drainage. In patients with curative intent, CS was achieved significantly more often regardless of what definition of CS was applied (e.g., total serum bilirubin (TSB) < 2 mg/dl: 66.1% vs. 27.8%, p = < 0.001, > 75% reduction of TSB: 57.1% vs. 29.2%, p = 0.003). This observation held true only when subgroups with the same Bismuth-Corlette stage were compared. Moreover, palliative patients experienced a significantly greater percentage of adverse events (33.3% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.01). Curative intent treatment and TSB at presentation were predictive factors of CS regardless of what definition of CS was applied. The observed CS rates are comparable to published studies involving curative patients, but inferior to reported CS rates in palliative series mostly from Asia. Conclusions: Biliary drainage in complex malignant hilar obstruction due to cholangiocarcinoma is more likely to be successful and less likely to cause adverse events in curative patients compared to palliative patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To characterize the bilateral partnership, this paper applies the neoclassical geopolitics approach. We first measure China’s potential, and the perception of Chinese geopolitical agents, and placed within the international distribution of capabilities. This is followed by our analytical results on Sino-Russian relations in the spheres of potential, strategic culture, and geopolitical design. The paper concludes that while there is a strategic necessity for China to strengthen the partnership, the Sino-Russian relations are unlikely transforming into a traditional military alliance, due to Beijing’s self-interest to maintain trade relations with Western countries, to avoid being tainted by Russia’s deteriorating reputation, to grasp its goal of multipolar world order, and to spread positive narratives of China as a new global leader. The Sino-Russo relations has been shifting its nature from “marriage of convenience” to “marriage who pretend to be a good couple.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wonder is a gateway not a machine. It is not something that can be functionalized for the purposes of education moral uplift or humanizing medicine. The things and experiences that evoke wonder today have their own history. Inhabitants of the Western developed world for instance have been taught to wonder at the power of science to control nature and at the ingenuity of the scientists and technicians who have invented the techniques of science and technology. This article examines what wonder tells us about our grasp of the human and also why the language of wonder sometimes jars within the constraints of modern liberal scientifically inclined public discourse. The author suggests that privileging wonder at the appearance of the nonstandard human body is important for the lives of disabled people and also as a corrective force to ensure that the form of wonder that dominates the modern developed West—wonder at our own powers of scientific description and medical remaking of the human—not become inhumane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia in the Western countries and is very rare in Asia. Methods: Peripheral blood or bone marrow mononuclear cells obtained at initial diagnosis from 215 patients with CLL were analyzed by using next-generation sequencing to investigate the ethnic differences in genetic abnormalities. Results: Whole-genome sequencing and whole-exome sequencing analyses on 30 cases showed that 9 genes, including IGLL5, MYD88, TCHH, DSCAM, AXDND1, BICRA, KMT2D, MYT1L, and RBM43, were more frequently mutated in our Taiwanese cohort compared with those of the Western cohorts. IGLL5, MYD88, and KMT2D genes were further analyzed by targeted sequencing in another 185 CLL patients, unraveling frequencies of 29.3%, 20.9%, and 15.0%, respectively. The most frequent positional mutation of MYD88 was V217F (26/45, 57.8%), followed by L265P (9/45, 20.0%). MYD88 mutations were significantly associated with IGLL5 mutations (p = 0.0004), mutated IGHV (p < 0.0001) and 13q deletion (p = 0.0164). CLL patients with co-occurrence of MYD88 mutations with KMT2D or/and IGLL5 mutations were associated with a significantly inferior survival compared to those with MYD88 mutation alone (not reached vs. 131.8 months, p = 0.007). In multivariate analysis, MYD88 mutation without KMT2D or IGLL5 mutations was an independently favorable predictor. Conclusions: IGLL5, MYD88, and KMT2D mutations were enriched in Taiwanese CLL, and co-occurrence of MYD88 mutations with KMT2D or/and IGLL5 mutations was associated with a poorer prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The global incidence of dementia is increasing, and cognitively impaired drivers are at a higher risk of crashes compared to healthy drivers. Doctors face challenges in assessing these at-risk drivers, with questionable adherence to existing guidelines. This study aimed to review and compare guidelines for managing cognitively impaired drivers from various countries. Method: A scoping review was conducted to identify relevant guidelines, which were then descriptively compared with Singapore's guideline. Results: Eleven guidelines from 8 countries: US (n=2), Canada (n=2), UK (n=2), Ireland, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore were reviewed. All guidelines support driving assessments and conditional licensing in ordinary (i.e. non-professional) drivers with dementia. Canada stands out for not allowing co-piloting and geographical restrictions in conditional licensing practice. Few guidelines provide indemnity for doctors reporting to licensing authorities, and communication about the impact of dementia on car insurance is rarely addressed. Most Western guidelines include evidence-based approaches, provisions for drivers with mild cognitive impairment and early discussions on transitioning from driving. A clinicbased functional screening toolbox and 2 clinical algorithms (1 with and 1 without the Clinical Dementia Rating scale) were identified as having universal applicability. Singapore's guideline, by comparison, is outdated and lacks both developmental rigour and guidance on managing mild cognitive impairment and transitioning drivers out of driving. Conclusion: Comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines from Western countries provide valuable resources that can help Singapore design or update its guideline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the Western political world, and particularly in the United States, contemporary Buddhist political thought has largely become synonymous with the movement of mindful politics, also known as Socially Engaged Buddhism. Focusing primarily on issues of social, economic, and environmental justice, mindful politics has found a natural ally in Western left-wing and progressive movements to the degree that Buddhist political thought in the United States is now seemingly indistinguishable from these Western political positions as a practical matter. While the practical alliance of Socially Engaged Buddhism and progressivism is well established, what is less clear is what the movement of mindful politics brings to this relationship beyond its Buddhist veneer. By basing its political project on the secularization of Buddhist compassion (karuṇā), mindful politics fails in creating a political project which can be compelling to those outside of the confines of Buddhist religious belief and practice. While the mindful politics movement and contemporary liberal progressivism share an overlap in policy commitments, the religious roots of Buddhist mindful politics ultimately preclude it from properly aligning with the pluralistic requirements of the prevailing liberal political order. This article will examine the foundations of Socially Engaged Buddhism and explore the standing of the possibility of Socially Engaged Buddhism as the foundation for a political project within the confines of a liberal political order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the historical process of the Sinicization of Buddhism and the evolution of the value of female roles in Buddhist beliefs have advanced hand in hand; the more Buddhism becomes Sinicized, the higher the status of women in Buddhist beliefs becomes. To some extent, the Sinicization of Buddhism can be considered a feminization process. Female roles in Buddhist beliefs are often passive objects and marginal positions that are uncertain and continuously presupposed by others. This article starts from a cultural, philosophical perspective, aiming to examine the internal logic of the evolution of female roles in Buddhist beliefs. In terms of individual experience, the highlighting of the identity as a "subject" of sexual desire makes women a necessary but insufficient prerequisite "option" for guiding male sexual desire—in Indian Buddhist beliefs, women's enlightenment involves both reflecting on sexual desire itself and negating their own gender disadvantage. As Buddhism spread worldwide, Western Buddhist traditions laid the foundation of Buddhist belief on "sacred images", while various local cultural genes infiltrated the imagination of "Western Buddhist nations". The Buddha's gender orientation achieved a transcendence of both male and female or a bilateral blend, leaning more towards female. Ultimately, from the perspective of family identity, in a Chinese Buddhist belief world organized by the patriarchal system, the unique role of women in the family—"mother"—pushes Buddhist belief back to the scene of the emotional world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poorly controlled adolescents living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and pump failure of insulin delivery leading to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) are still challenging in the western world. Aim: To investigate the effect of a combination modality of long-acting insulin for basal coverage and a pump for boluses, on the incidence of DKA and glycemic parameters in pediatric and young adults with poorly controlled T1D. Methods: This multicenter, observational retrospective study included 55 patients (age range 3–25 years, 52.7% males) who were treated with the combination modality for a median of 18 months [(IQR)12,47], as part of their clinical care. Data were retrieved at initiation of the combined modality, after 6 months, and at last visit. Results: Cohort's median age at combination modality initiation was 14.5 years [IQR12.4,17.3], and its median HbA1c level was 9.2% [IQR 8.2,10.2]. The main reasons for combination modality initiation were: (a) concern about sustained hyperglycemia on current management in 41.8%, (b) previous DKA episodes in 30.8%, and (c) refusal to wear a pump continuously in 14.6%. The percent of patients experiencing DKA who used the modality till end decreased from 25.4 to 8.8%. The frequency of DKA events per patient month decreased after 6 months from 0.073 (min 0, max 0.5) to 0.020 (min 0, max 0.5), p = 0.01, and at end to 0.016 (min 0, max 0.25), p = 0.007. Conclusions: The combination modality of once-daily long-acting insulin and pump for boluses is safe, feasible, and effective in preventing DKA among poorly controlled young people living with T1D, unable or un-willing to use advanced closed pumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recognition of submucosal invasive colorectal cancer (T1 CRC) is difficult, with sensitivities of 35 %–60 % in Western countries. We evaluated the real-life effects of training in the OPTICAL model, a recently developed structured and validated prediction model, in Dutch community hospitals. Methods In this prospective multicenter study (OPTICAL II), 383 endoscopists from 40 hospitals were invited to follow an e-learning program on the OPTICAL model, to increase sensitivity in detecting T1 CRC in nonpedunculated polyps. Real-life recognition of T1 CRC was then evaluated in 25 hospitals. Endoscopic and pathologic reports of T1 CRCs detected during the next year were collected retrospectively, with endoscopists unaware of this evaluation. Sensitivity for T1 CRC recognition, R0 resection rate, and treatment modality were compared for trained vs. untrained endoscopists. Results 1 year after e-learning, 528 nonpedunculated T1 CRCs were recorded for endoscopies performed by 251 endoscopists (118 [47 %] trained). Median T1 CRC size was 20 mm. Lesions were mainly located in the distal colorectum (66 %). Trained endoscopists recognized T1 CRCs more frequently than untrained endoscopists (sensitivity 74 % vs. 62 %; mixed model analysis odds ratio [OR] 2.90, 95 %CI 1.54–5.45). R0 resection rate was higher for T1 CRCs detected by trained endoscopists (69 % vs. 56 %; OR 1.73, 95 %CI 1.03–2.91). Conclusion Training in optical recognition of T1 CRCs in community hospitals was associated with increased recognition of T1 CRCs, leading to higher en bloc and R0 resection rates. This may be an important step toward more organ-preserving strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Hallin and Mancini's (2004) seminal work, many scholars from around the world have proposed different models of media systems for countries and regions outside the Western world. Particular challenges have arisen when conceptualizing the systems in Latin America, where shifting liberal and polarized pluralist models have been proposed, and where media traits like clientelism and collusion remain in spite of political, economic and social changes. We contend that one obstacle to the characterization of the resilience of certain structures and practices in this region is the lack of a historical perspective to account for specific processes of media modernization. Drawing on the multiple modernization paradigm, as well as on post-colonial theories, system differentiation theories of the Global South, and theories of uneven regional development, we understand Latin American modernization processes as the appropriation, adaptation, or rejection of certain elements of Western institutions, ideals and values. In media systems, this might produce: (a) centralization of power, (b) a struggle between elites, (c) state-driven differentiation, and (d) regional or local subsystems. Our historical perspective aims to explain the prevalence of several media structures, and show how institutional legacies yield core media traits, in order to pave the way for further model inference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many young people in Western countries are abstaining from alcohol consumption, but their Nigerian counterparts are adopting lifestyles that valorize alcohol use and heavy drinking rituals. This study explored heavy drinking practices and alcohol-related harms among young Nigerians (students and nonstudents) who use alcohol. Although participants were highly knowledgeable about the harms associated with heavy drinking, they reported heavy drinking and normalized intoxication. Most participants consumed between 3 and 12 bottles of beer, stout and other alcoholic beverages on a single occasion and suffered multiple incidents of intoxication and loss of control with adverse outcomes. Many participants suffered more than one health-related consequence, like vomiting, hangovers, and abdominal pain, while others fell sick, which incapacitated them for many days/weeks. Heavy drinking and intoxication also adversely impacted training and studies, as some participants could not go to work or attend lectures as planned. The findings highlighted the need for prevention and intervention strategies that seek to reduce heavy drinking and associated harms by targeting the social norms around heavy drinking specifically. Lessons learned in regions with youth drinking decline may inform public health strategies that can be implemented in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While skilled migration has become one of the most acceptable ways of entering Western European countries, the skills of migrant women with tertiary education continue to be undervalued in labour markets. To understand why these women are confined to the bottom of the employment structure, we argue that it is necessary to analyse how essentialism, based on the intersection of gender and racialization, influenced by colonial imaginaries and global inequalities, shapes recruiters' representations. The article is based on multi-sited fieldwork which consisted of 52 in-depth interviews conducted in France and Italy with migrant women, recruiters, and social workers. Our analysis emphasizes that intersectional essentialism influence recruiters' assessments of education, work experience, soft skills, and language skills while it reinforces the eroticization of migrant women's bodies, ultimately leading to the devaluation of migrant women's capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]