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Research priorities for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response: an interdisciplinary Delphi study
No full textAutonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a multisensory experience most often associated with feelings of relaxation and altered consciousness, elicited by stimuli which include whispering, repetitive movements, and close personal attention. Since 2015, ASMR research has grown rapidly, spanning disciplines from neuroscience to media studies but lacking a collaborative or interdisciplinary approach. To build a cohesive and connected structure for ASMR research moving forwards, a modified Delphi study was conducted with ASMR experts, practitioners, community members, and researchers from various disciplines. Ninety-eight participants provided 451 suggestions for ASMR research priorities which were condensed into 13 key areas: (1) Definition, conceptual clarification, and measurement of ASMR; (2) Origins and development of ASMR; (3) Neurophysiology of ASMR; (4) Understanding ASMR triggers; (5) Factors affecting the likelihood of experiencing/eliciting ASMR; (6) ASMR and individual/cultural differences; (7) ASMR and the senses; (8) ASMR and social intimacy; (9) Positive and negative consequences of ASMR in the general population; (10) Therapeutic applications of ASMR in clinical contexts; (11) Effects of long-term ASMR use; (12) ASMR platforms and technology; (13) ASMR community, culture, and practice. These were voted on by 70% of the initial participant pool using best/worst scaling methods. The resulting agenda provides a clear map for ASMR research to enable new and existing researchers to orient themselves towards important questions for the field and to inspire interdisciplinary collaborations.</p
Percipience, Embodiment, Contamination(s). Practicing a Feminist Care Aesthetics
No full textIn this account I will offer a new reading of dialogic artistic research in terms of feminist care aesthetics. This includes the phenomenological underpinning of relational dynamics in my art, and how Merleau-Ponty’s work informs Maurice Hamington’s embodied care (2004), and Ayla Daly’s affective reversibility.
In particular, I propose that art is a practice of care as care is said to be “a basic aspect of human behaviour integral to our interrelationships” (Hamington 2004). By drawing on the caring-with dialogic art strategy (Cologni 2020), I unearth how Elena Pulcini’s ‘contaminated subject’ resulting from a critique of the ‘sovereign subject’ (2012, 2022), can turn daily ‘distractions, interruptions and fragmentations’ (Mother Art 1976/77) into opportunities for dialogue and change through art that starting from the individual, can have transformational societal impact.</p
The impact of pre-stroke formal education on language test performance in aphasic and non-aphasic stroke survivors
No full textBackground:A greater amount of education is known to positively impact language skills in neurotypical populations, but its influence on language outcomes and recovery after stroke remains unclear.Aims:This study of 749 stroke survivors, with and without aphasia, investigated (A) which aphasia assessment tasks benefitted most from more pre-stroke education; and whether the effect of education (B) differs for aphasic and non-aphasic participants or other stroke and non-stroke-related variables, and/or (C) facilitates recovery from post-stroke aphasia.Methods:Participants ranged from one month to 42 years post-stroke. They were assessed using (i) the Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT), and (ii) self-report questionnaires that measured speech production, comprehension, reading, and writing at one week and one year post-stroke. Multiple regression analyses investigated the effect of education amount, and its interaction with other variables, on language outcomes and recovery. Bayesian statistics assessed the strength of the evidence for any observed effects. Many variables including lesion size, age at stroke, and initial severity were controlled for.Results:(A) More years of formal education were associated with better overall language skills, with significant, albeit small effects found for semantic and letter fluency (β = 0.123 and 0.166) and spoken picture description, specifically, the number of words produced (β = 0.085) and grammatical well-formedness (β = 0.087). (B) The benefit of more pre-stroke education was mostly additive with the effects of other variables including initial aphasia severity and left hemisphere lesion size, but was reduced in older participants who had large lesions with severe initial symptoms. Finally, (C) no significant effect of education on language recovery was observed.Conclusion:More pre-stroke formal education is associated with higher post-stroke language scores on a wide range of tasks for both aphasic and non-aphasic participants, but, in participants with large lesions that cause severe aphasia, this advantage diminishes with age. These results suggest a generic benefit of education on language test performance rather than a specific role of pre-stroke education in aiding language outcomes and recovery. An individual’s educational background should therefore be considered when interpreting assessment scores.</p
Mapping gender bullying through the lens of intra-actions in a private day and boarding school
No full textThis paper maps a sociological approach to gender bullying as part of a Participatory Action Research project which took place in a private day and boarding school in Ireland. It applies the new definition of bullying proposed by UNESCO and the World Anti-Bullying Forum (2022) and explores the networks of relationships in the school and the underpinning social norms and power imbalances therein. The core research question asks: does gender bullying happen at this school? Through active engagement with students as co-researchers, school staff as steering group members and two university researchers, this question was explored through a qualitative research design using focus group interviews and a Digital Dropbox. The application of Barad’s (1998; 2007; 2011) concept of agential realism is proffered to help unravel the entanglement and complexity of gender bullying. We propose that the mapping of the intra-actions of human beings with different discourses, objects, materials, spaces, and time, assists in making sense of the normativity of gender expectations and its complex array of inclusions and exclusions.</p
Global burden of vaccine-associated chronic urticaria, 2010–2023: from the global pharmacovigilance database
No full textPurpose: The etiology and pathophysiology of vaccine-associated chronic urticaria (CU) remain unclear, particularly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Thus, this study aimed to comprehensively investigate the global burden and long-term trends of vaccine-associated CU, with a focus on the associated vaccines and the distribution of cases across different age groups and sexes.Methods: Using data from the World Health Organization international pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase), which encompasses reports from 156 countries and territories between 1968 and 2023, we systematically analyzed the global burden and long-term trends in vaccine-associated CU reports (total individual case safety reports = 131,255,418). We estimated the global and regional reports, information component (IC) with IC0.25 using disproportionality analyses, and reporting odds ratio (ROR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) to investigate the potential associations between 27 vaccines and CU.Results: Among the 3,474 reports of all-cause CU, 1,898 vaccine-associated CU reports were identified between 2010 and 2023. A dramatic surge in vaccine-associated CU reports has been observed since 2020, primarily driven by the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines were associated with the most CU reports (ROR, 26.52 [95% CI, 24.33–28.90]; IC, 3.18 [IC0.25, 3.10]), followed by papillomavirus (ROR, 4.23 [95% CI, 2.55–7.03]; IC, 1.93 [IC0.25, 1.06]), influenza (ROR, 3.09 [95% CI, 2.16–4.43]; IC, 1.57 [IC0.25, 0.96]), Ad5-vectored COVID-19 (ROR, 2.82 [95% CI, 2.40–3.31]; IC, 1.42 [IC0.25, 1.16]), and zoster vaccines (ROR, 2.28 [95% CI, 1.32–3.93]; IC, 1.12 [IC0.25, 0.18]). These increased risks were particularly pronounced for males and older adults. No fatal outcomes have been reported in vaccine-associated CU.Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of clinicians considering the potential risk factors associated with vaccine-associated CU, especially in the context of COVID-19-related vaccines. Ongoing pharmacovigilance efforts facilitated by robust reporting systems are required to further validate our findings.</p
Global incidence and prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis: a systematic review
No full textObjective: Data on the global prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is significantly varied and limited across countries and over time. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the global, regional, and national burden of CRS from the years 1980 to 2021, as well as identify those factors that influence levels of such burden.Design: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of general population-based observational studies focusing on CRS. We calculated pooled estimates of CRS prevalence and incidence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were conducted stratifying by sex, age cohorts, geographic regions, smoking status, obesity, and comorbid conditions.Data Sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases.Eligibility Criteria for Selection: We included general population-based observational studies on CRS published from database inception through October 20, 2023.Results: A total of 28 eligible studies, encompassing more than 237 million participants and 11,342,923 patients with CRS from 20 countries across four continents, were included in the analysis. Global pooled prevalence of CRS and CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) was found to be 8.71% (95% CI, 6.69–11.33; number of studies, 20) and 0.65% (95% CI, 0.56–0.75; number of studies, 4), respectively. The prevalence of CRS was greater in Europe compared with North America, South America, and Asia; adults compared with children; smokers compared with never-smoker; those with obesity compared with normal weight; and those with comorbidities such as asthma, diabetes mellitus, eczema, and nasal septal deviation. Pooled prevalence of CRS increased from 1980 to 2020 (1980–2000: 4.72%; 95% CI, 2.12–10.49; 2014–2020: 19.40%; 95% CI, 12.12–31.07). Similar patterns were observed in CRS incidence.Conclusions: Our study provides valuable insights into CRS prevalence and incidence across diverse demographic and clinical factors, highlighting its increasing global burden. The reported prevalence of CRS varies internationally, and may be increasing over time. To enhance data quality and comparability, standardization of reporting methodologies is imperative.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO (registration no. CRD42024527805).</p
Numerical study on the effect of nozzle-plate distance on the aerosols collection efficiency and deposition on the impaction plate of a multi-nozzle inertial impactor
No full textIdentifying the location of deposited particles on the impaction plate can help analyse them for mineralogical and geochemical purposes. So far, no direct studies have evaluated the effect of nozzle-plate distance (S) on the particle’s depositional arrangement in a multi-nozzle inertial impactor. In this study, an 8-nozzle inertial impactor with two different nozzle-plate distances, S 8.5 and S 10.5 mm, is simulated numerically using the Eulerian–Lagrangian approach. The effect of the parameter (S), particles’ aerodynamic diameters and shape factors on the collection efficiency, and particle distribution on the impaction plate are investigated. Particles with five various shape factors (∅ 0.4, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 1) and six different aerodynamic diameters (da 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 5 and 6μm) are examined. Increasing the “S" has the most effect on particles with da 2.5μm, which reduces the collection efficiency by 11%, and particles’ efficiency reduction for the smallest and largest aerodynamic diameter studied in this paper (da 1μm and da 6μm) is negligible (less than 1%). Also, increasing the nozzle-plate distance increases the secondary depositions of particles on the impaction plate, which affect the smaller particles more; particles with da 1μm up to 23%, and particles with da 6μm less than 1%. Moreover, results showed that coarser particles deposit more and merely in front of the nozzle outlet on the impaction plate. Furthermore, spherical particles sediment more than non-spherical particles. Since analysing the selective particles take less time and cost, this research has proposed depositional arrangement of various particles on the impaction plate.</p
Thematic and intertextual analysis from a feasibility study of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music with clients in eating disorder treatment
No full textIntroduction: Eating disorders (ED) are characterized by serious and persistent disturbances with eating, weightcontrol, and body image. Symptoms impact physical health, psychosocial functioning, and can be life-threatening. Individuals diagnosed with an ED experience numerous medical and psychiatric comorbidities due to issues caused by or underlying the ED. Therefore, it is vital to address the complex nature of an ED, as well as the comorbid and underlying issues. This necessitates a psychotherapeutic approach that can help to uncover, explore, and support working through unresolved emotions and experiences. Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) is an in-depth music psychotherapy approach utilizing therapist-programmed music to support the client in uncovering and examining underlying and unresolved issues. The literature surrounding the use of GIM with clients in ED treatment is anecdotal and comprised primarily of clinical case studies.
Method: This secondary analysis, based on a descriptive feasibility study that integrated GIM sessions into the client’s regular ED treatment and examined 116 transcripts from a series of sessions of eight clients.
Results: Thematic analysis of the transcripts identified nine subthemes and three themes that emerged. These themes include emotional landscape (feeling stuck, acknowledging emotions, and working through unresolved emotions), relationships (self, others, and eating disorders), and transformation and growth (finding strength, change, and empowerment). A short series of GIM sessions helped ED clients identify and address issues underlying the ED and to gain or reclaim a sense of self that enabled them to make choices for their life that support their recovery and sense of empowerment. Intertextual analysis revealed imagery indicative of the Hero’s Journey.
Discussion: Further, how engagement in this embodied aesthetic experience stimulates perceptual, cognitive, and affective brain functions which are key in fostering behavioural and psychological change is explicated as it relates to ED treatment and recovery.</p
Affordances in music education
No full textThe affordances of objects in music education, such as tablets or musical toys, necessitate a domain-specific conceptual understanding to guide perception and bodily action, extending utilitarian values toward musical and educational goals. This article explores the concept of affordances in music education and elucidates the application of various types of affordances—specifically, cognitive, educational, mental, affective, and social—in the contexts of teaching and learning music. Several characteristics of affordances in music education were observed: (1) music serves as a form of communication, enabling learners to transcend established protocols in human interactions; (2) music is intertwined with the transmission of sociocultural and aesthetic values, as evidenced by historically informed musical practices and traditions; (3) engagement in music-making nurtures learners’ creativity and personal growth, fostering experiences that can be transferable; (4) music learning reveals individuals’ emotional capacities and expressiveness; and (5) music-making entails collaborative work, facilitating the development of interpersonal relationships and the construction of a community rooted in the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Practical recommendations for enhancing affordances in music education can heighten its awareness to music educators and foster explicit learning design in the development of educational tools. These suggestions have the potential to unlock possibilities that may otherwise remain unrealized.</p
Health monitoring: a pathway to improved sustainable drainage system maintenance
No full text Sustainable drainage systems (SuDSs) have gained popularity, however, guidance for monitoring and maintaining SuDS components remains limited, especially considering their long-term performance in changing environmental conditions. This study begins to address this gap by developing a proof-of-concept model for monitoring infiltration trench (IT) ‘health’. In this study, ‘health’ refers to the physical condition, performance, and overall well-being of the IT. A physical model, constructed following UK SuDS manual guidelines, serves as a testing ground to evaluate IT performance under various maintenance scenarios. The physical model was instrumented to deliver a system for health evaluation. By identifying distinct maintenance parameters, we assess the IT health in terms of infiltration and attenuation/storage volume. The two parameters of ‘leaf build-up’ (surface condition) and ‘sediment build-up’ (subsurface condition) were used as indicative health parameters. The IT instrumentation was able to quantify the adverse effect of sediment build-up on both storage volume and infiltration time. After the sediment was added, the average peak attenuation volume decreased by 40% under a low flow rate and by 20% under a high flow rate. Additionally, the average infiltration time dropped by 26% for both high and low flow rates. Results suggest soil moisture measurements can indicate when IT maintenance is needed.</p
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