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Screening depression and anxiety in Indigenous peoples: A global scoping review
Full text linkIndigenous peoples’ worldviews are intricately interconnected and interrelated with their communities and the environments in which they live. Their worldviews also manifest in a holistic view of health and well-being, which contrasts with those of the dominant western biomedical model. However, screening depression and/or anxiety in Indigenous peoples often occurs using standard western tools. Understandably, the cultural appropriateness of these tools has been questioned. The purpose of this scoping review was to map the literature that used any type of tool to screen depression or anxiety in Indigenous adults globally. A systematic scoping review method was used to search databases including, but not limited to, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus and Google. Database-specific search terms associated with Indigenous peoples, depression and anxiety, and screening tools were used to identify literature. In addition, citation searches of related systematic reviews and relevant websites were conducted. The data set was limited to English language publications since database inception. Fifty-four publications met the review's inclusion criteria. Most studies were completed in community settings using standard western depression and anxiety screening tools. Thirty-three different tools were identified, with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 being the most frequently used. The review's findings are concerning given repeated calls for culturally appropriate screening tools to be used with Indigenous peoples. Although there has been some work to cross-culturally adapt depression screening tools for specific Indigenous populations, clearly more clinicians and researchers need to be aware of, and use, culturally appropriate approaches to screening
Unveiling impulse buying patterns in travel live-streaming through the lens of social cognitive theory
No full textGrounded in the social cognitive theory, the main aim of this study is to explore the impact of telepresence, social presence, and emotional engagement on impulsive buying tendencies within the realm of travel live-streaming (TLS). To examine further, the moderating effect of guidance shopping was included. An online questionnaire was distributed to 332 live-streaming viewers from China, and the collected data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that telepresence and social presence exert significant influences on emotional engagement and impulsive buying tendencies. Notably, the study identifies the mediating effect of emotional engagement and the moderating effect of guidance shopping. In practice, this research highlights the importance of streamers leveraging TLS platform functionalities to amplify the sense of “presence” and cultivate stronger emotional connections with viewers, thereby stimulating impulse buying. Additionally, streamers are encouraged to guide viewers in their decision-making process, addressing concerns to elevate engagement levels
Igniting Sustainability Through the ‘Profit-For-Impact’ Catalyst: A Case Study
No full textBreaking new ground in the realm of sustainability research, this study delves into the ‘profit-for-impact’ model’s dynamics through a compelling lens – the case of TONTOTON, an innovative player in plastic neutralisation that has operationalised the model in the context of Vietnam. Interwoven with insights from the natural resource-based perspective and sustainability literature, the research probes how this practitioner-instigated business philosophy aligns with sustainability’s key pillars, charts its sustainable course and envisions its evolution. Semi-structured interviews conducted with TONTOTON’s leadership and a pivotal external business ally were subsequently dissected through qualitative content analysis and data structure, thereby unveiling 14 conceptual dimensions. These dimensions, where partnerships and tangible accomplishments emerge as central themes, conceptually illuminate and demonstrate the profit-for-impact model’s value and further potential for fostering engagement, catalysing problem-solving, and harmonising with sustainability principles while yielding enduring benefits. These findings contributed to crafting a conceptual framework underscoring theoretical and practical implications
Why are trees hollow? Termites, microbes and tree internal stem damage in a tropical savanna
Full text linkWood plays a vital role in the terrestrial carbon cycle, both sequestering and subsequently releasing carbon to the atmosphere via decomposition. Decomposition has largely been studied in fallen and standing deadwood; much less is known about decomposition occurring inside live trees due to hollowing by wood-feeding termites and microbial heart rot. Internal stem damage is difficult to measure, leaving many unresolved knowledge gaps. Little is known regarding the location and total amount of damage done by termites and microbes, as well as whether these decomposers act in concert or separately. Furthermore, tree species, wood density and stem size can influence fallen deadwood decomposition, but their role in living tree internal damage is largely unknown. We destructively harvested 63 trees, finding internal damage in 32. We intensively sampled the internal stem damage in these 32 to investigate the relative contributions of microbes and termites in a tropical savanna in Queensland, Australia. We tested if damage changed at different heights in the tree, quantified tree-level termite and microbial damage and examined if termite and microbial damage co-occurred. We also tested the influence of tree species, wood specific gravity and size on tree-level internal stem damage across four species. Termite and microbial damage were present in 45% and 33% of all trees, respectively. On average, termite damage reduced total tree biomass by 3.3% (maximum 28%, SD = 4.7%) and microbial damage by 1.8% (maximum 26%, SD = 5.3%). The amount of damage from both decomposers decreased with increasing heights up the tree. Termite and microbial damage co-occurrence was greater within trees than within individual cross section samples, suggesting local competitive exclusion or niche partitioning by decomposers. Tree species was a better predictor of damage than either wood specific gravity or tree size. Half of the trees in our study had substantial internal stem damage, highlighting the considerable role that termites and microbes play in decomposing wood within living trees. Our findings unveil the previously concealed wood decomposition dynamics occurring inside trees, with implications for accurate carbon estimation across savanna ecosystems. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog
Exploring the use of tabletop gaming for wellness
No full textTabletop gaming has increased in popularity over the past decade, with a particular resurgance from the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. Research into tabletop role-playing games has suggested that they could be utilised as therapeutic tools (Arenas et al., 2022). Qualitative case studies examining the impact of a range of tabletop role-playing games (e.g., Call of Cthulhu, Dungeons & Dragons) demonstrate that these games can support psychological and social development (Abbott et al., 2021; Hughes, 1988), positively impacting social skills and quality of life (Kato, 2019). Moreovoer, recent quantitative research continues to demonstrate that tabletop role-playing games can benefit both mental health (Merrick et al., 2024) and social skills (Varrette, 2023).
Previous research exploring perceptions of the use of role-playing games to promote psychosocial attributes demonstrated that 22% of surveyed psychiatrists perceive an association between these games and psychopathology (Lis et al., 2015) and 75% of interviewed social workers agreed that they needed to learn more about these games (Ben-Ezra et al., 2018). By interviewing mental health practitioners about the ways in which they utilise tabletop role-playing games in a therapeutic context for adolescents, Gutierrez (2017) found that the games could be used as exposure therapy, used as group therapy, client-tailored, and utilised for any age. However, Gutierrez’ (2017) study only included five participants, and thus replication with a larger participant pool is needed to provide more evidence.
The present study aimed to collect data regarding the current use of tabletop role-playing games as a modality to bolster wellness in Australia. It focuses on exploring the perceived utility that tabletop role-playing games have on wellness by interviewing Game Masters (e.g., game facilitators who are Psychologists, Educators, etc.) who run their games in a professional manner for the promotion of wellness (defined as “a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being” – Stoewen, 2017, p. 861). This study is guided by the following research question: How is tabletop role-playing games currerntly used for wellness promotion in Australia?
Data collection for this study is planned for late 2024. A convience sample of approximately 15 Australian residents who act as Game Masters using tabletop role-playing games for the promotion of wellness will be recruited. Individual, semi-structured interviews will be conducted using videoconferencing software. Prepared questions focus on the current usage of tabletop-roleplaying games for wellness, their perceived psychosocial benefits, targetted populations, current barriers of use and training for Game Masters. Verbatim transcripts will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) via the NVivo program. Reflexive thematic analysis is used to identfy patterns or themes throughout data set/s and will thus aid in identifying common ideas in each of interviews which can be synthesised in the paper.
Preliminary findings will be presented at the conference. The findings from this research will assist in outlining the current availabilities of tabletop roleplaying games for wellness programs. This body of work should also assist in providing rationale to conducting these programs
Helminth extracellular vesicles co-opt host monocytes to drive T cell anergy
Full text linkParasitic helminths secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) into their host tissues to modulate immune responses, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We demonstrate that Ascaris EVs are efficiently internalised by monocytes in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and increase the percentage of classical monocytes. Furthermore, EV treatment of monocytes induced a novel anti-inflammatory phenotype characterised by CD14+, CD16−, CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2−) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)+ cells. In addition, Ascaris EVs induced T cell anergy in a monocyte-dependent mechanism. Targeting professional phagocytes to induce both direct and indirect pathways of immune modulation presents a highly novel and efficient mechanism of EV-mediated host-parasite communication. Intra-peritoneal administration of EVs induced protection against gut inflammation in the dextran sodium sulphate model of colitis in mice. Ascaris EVs were shown to affect circulating immune cells and protect against gut inflammation; this highlights their potential as a subject for further investigation in inflammatory conditions driven by dysregulated immune responses. However, their clinical translation would require further studies and careful consideration of ethical implications
New development: 'Auditor opinions for sale' — when privatization meets the cultural ecology of corruption
Full text linkThis article considers the failure of the Indonesian government to eradicate corruption by reflecting on reports from media, anti-corruption agencies, scholarly work and government institutions. Despite significant attention focusing on reducing public sector corruption, there has been a marked increase in reports of corruption. The article illustrates the rise of a new form of public sector corruption through the manipulation of audit opinions. This study contributes to the international debate around the ineffectiveness of large-scale auditing reforms in the public sector
Broadening equitable access to solar: renters, non-adopters and the impact of consumption values on attitudes and installation intentions
Full text linkAddressing inequities in rooftop solar access is crucial to achieving decarbonisation and energy justice goals. This study contributes to the literature by applying an adapted consumption values model to the rooftop solar context and by examining renters’ perceptions of factors that would reduce barriers to solar uptake. An online survey (n = 331) of Australian households reveals that value-for-money perceptions are the only significant difference between adopters and non-adopters of solar. Structural equation modelling shows that, while idealistic values influence attitudes towards rooftop solar, pragmatic values drive installation intentions, which is aligned with prior research. Logistic regression shows that the higher the functional value (defined as the perceived utility of a product based on value for money, performance or quality perceptions) and the higher the conditional value (defined as the perceived utility of a product based on the circumstances faced by the decision maker), the higher the odds of installing solar. The findings are consistent with studies reporting significant cost barriers to solar adoption. Several recommendations for policy makers and practitioners are made to support equitable access to rooftop solar and help address the negative effects of past policies that favoured homeowners over renters
Associations between openness and intergroup attitudes: A facet level analysis
Full text linkOpenness is consistently linked with intergroup attitudes. However, research gaps (e.g., overreliance on the NEO facet structure and samples from the USA) suggest that current evidence might not generalize across different structures of openness and cultures. This paper addresses key gaps in existing research by examining how three structures of openness (NEO, SFOS, and HEXACO) predict intergroup attitudes (prejudice and social tolerance) within two distinct cultural contexts (Singapore and the United States). Through two online surveys (n = 318 for Study 1 and n = 526 for Study 2), multiple regression analyses reveal a consistent pattern: (a) the NEO openness factor more strongly predicts both prejudice and social tolerance compared to HEXACO and SFOS in these cultural contexts; (b) the facet of tolerance shows a marked association with higher social tolerance and reduced affect-based prejudice, exceeding the predictive strength of other facets; and (c) the facet of liberalism predicts cognitive-based prejudice more significantly than the other facets of openness. Our findings informed the current theoretical understanding of intergroup attitudes and improved future predictive modelling of prejudice and social tolerance. Limitations of the research design and implications of the results are discussed
Petrogenesis of migmatites from Liman Katagum area (Bauchi) North-East Nigeria: Constraints from U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic data
No full textThis study investigates the petrogenesis and tectonic evolution of migmatites from the Liman Katagum area in northeast Nigeria. In-situ Lu-Hf isotopic analyses of zircon reveal a complex source history, with εHf(t) values ranging from −13.43 to +8.95 at different ages (482 ± 120 Ma, 582.2 ± 9.0 Ma, and 498 ± 43 Ma). These values suggest contributions from both ancient reworked and juvenile crustal materials, spanning the Chondrite Uniform Reservoir (CHUR) and various crustal domains, indicating significant crustal recycling and juvenile additions. High zircon U/Yb ratios, along with elevated Y and Hf, reflect a strong continental arc affinity, supporting a crustal origin for the migmatites. Geochemical and morphological evidence, including enriched heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) and variable Th/U ratios, indicate both magmatic and metamorphic origins for the zircons, consistent with early Silurian arc magmatism. U-Pb zircon ages of 582.2 ± 9.0 Ma, 498 ± 43 Ma, and 482 ± 120 Ma correspond to distinct tectonic events, including the Pan-African orogeny. The earliest stage, at 582.2 Ma, shows significant juvenile crustal input during continental arc magmatism in the Neoproterozoic. By 498 Ma, tectonic reactivation led to partial melting and zircon crystallization, while the final stage at 482 Ma is linked to high-pressure metamorphism and crustal thickening during the collision of the West African Craton and the Tuareg Shield. Two distinct zircon age groups (582.2 ± 9.0 Ma and 498 ± 43 Ma) reflect the reworking of the Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic crust, with substantial juvenile input. This tectonic evolution, initiated around 482 Ma, involved crustal thickening, metamorphism, and partial melting, forming migmatites. Continued tectonic activity around 582 Ma caused shear zone development and crustal reworking, while reactivation at 498 Ma led to the crystallization of new zircons and the formation of migmatites. This study, similar to migmatite studies across Africa, elucidates the dual-source history of the Liman Katagum migmatites, with contributions from both reworked and juvenile crustal materials during the late Neoproterozoic and Early Paleozoic, highlighting episodes of partial melting and magma intrusion associated with the breakup of Rodinia and the assembly of Gondwana