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Youth homelessness, support services, and employment in England
No full textThis study aims to evaluate whether key factors related to homelessness and the utilisation of support services by homeless youth are associated with their employment outcomes. Data from 402 young people living in 21 housing accommodation buildings across three urban cities in England are used to evaluate the study's research aims. The results revealed that non-native and non-heterosexual homeless youth were overrepresented in housing accommodation and experienced lower employment rates compared to native and heterosexual homeless youth. The estimates indicated that employment levels among homeless youth were negatively associated with several factors related to homelessness, such as parental neglect, substance misuse, and inadequate social care during childhood. Conversely, the estimates showed that both employment levels and the duration of employment among homeless youth were positively associated with the use of well-being, educational, mentoring, and employment support services. A critical insight, however, indicated that discrimination in the labour market reduced their employment prospects. This study contributes to the literature by expanding the application of Capability Theory in the multidimensional study of youth homelessness. Furthermore, it develops and validates two new scales to capture both factors of youth homelessness and the utilisation of support services by homeless youth, facilitating evidence-based recommendations for policymakers. A policy approach should recognise the multifaceted nature of the challenges identified and advocate for a comprehensive strategy that integrates preventative measures, support services, and targeted interventions to address the root causes of homelessness while providing holistic support to vulnerable youth populations.</p
Unclean cooking fuel use and all health outcomes, a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textA large and growing body of evidence suggests that unclean cooking fuel use impacts physical and mental health. However, to date, this evidence has not been collated or evaluated in a systematic manner. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the strength of the associations between unclean cooking fuel use and physical and mental health outcomes. The following databases: PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Greenlife and CAB were systematically searched for studies investigating the association between cooking fuel and health outcomes up to 25th September 2023. Humans of any age using unclean and/or clean cooking fuels were eligible. Subsequently, data from included studies were converted into odds ratios (ORs), and meta-analysis was carried out. A total of 122 studies were included with a total of 3,728,989 cookstove users of which 2,430,194 were unclean cooking fuel users. Using unclean cooking fuels were positively associated with several comorbidities, including digestive disease (OR = 1.37), respiratory infection (OR = 1.52), respiratory disease (OR = 1.59), anemia (OR = 1.61), cognitive impairment (OR = 1.70), chronic bronchitis (OR = 1.84), depression (OR = 1.92), chronic cough (OR = 2.23), COPD (OR = 2.37), and eye irritation (OR = 4.19) compared to clean cooking fuel use.</p
Re-Creative Methods of Music Therapy
No full textRe-creative Methods of Music Therapy is one of a series of textbooks by Barcelona Publishers addressing each of the four main music therapy methods employed in a variety of clinical contexts. Students and professionals alike will gain foundational knowledge about variations of re-creative methods as pertinent to individual and group clinical work. This book provides both general and specific guidance for the design and implementation of therapeutically relevant and individualized re-creative experiences applicable to a wide range of clinical profiles and interpersonal and cultural contexts. As such, Re-creative Methods of Music Therapy addresses prerequisites, affordances, challenges, risks, and contraindications inherent in these methods, with overarching considerations and procedural steps for vocal re-creation, instrumental re-creation, and musical productions. Introductory material includes an overview of re-creative methods, clinical indications, and facets of decision-making relative to theoretical and interpersonal approaches and treatment orientations. Fictional clinical vignettes and case illustrations, as well as actual case summaries of published literature, provide context for understanding application of re-creative method-variations. Appendices offer practical resources related to the use of song material and arranging and adapting vocal and instrumental music. Also included are lists of published print and online music resources and additional bibliographic references for those who wish to continue exploring case literature and research on re-creative methods. </p
Neoliberalism and Right-Wing Populism – A love story
No full textNeoliberalism and right-wing populism are central themes in contemporary political literature, with neoliberalism advocating for liberal capitalist institutions alongside limited democracy and a modest welfare state, while populism generally portrays society as a conflict between ‘the pure people’ and ‘the corrupt elite’. Some scholars view populism as a total rejection of neoliberalism’s policy failures, while others argue that populism still incorporates neoliberal free-market principles. This paper argues that neoliberalism and populism operate symbiotically, perpetuating themselves by manufacturing crises and marginalising alternative narratives. Drawing on Gramsci’s notion of hegemony, I argue that both ideologies construct and transform social reality through linguistic devices. I illustrate my argument with examples from the UK, focusing on immigration discourse. I contend that right-wing populism supports neoliberalism’s agnotological project by fostering doubt and controversy, while neoliberalism’s crises generate the emotional responses that populism exploits for support.</p
Foreign policy as a tool for economic development - the case of Malta and Dom Mintoff 1971-1984
No full textThe global historiography of the Cold War is complex, continually expanding and dominated by the analysis of a select few actors that heavily influenced the political climate and international relations after the end of World War II. Smaller states, though less important in the overall context of the Cold War, deserve closer scrutiny as a consequence of the decisions their governments took as they emerged from colonial control. Malta is one example of a state that emerged from British control and recast itself using the Cold War context to achieve certain advantages, particularly through investment, and yet has received little academic attention overall. This thesis explores Malta in the context of international development through its 360-degree approach to foreign policy, as implemented by Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, by applying a complex theoretical framework of nationalism, postcolonialism, nonalignment, East - West relations and neutrality. Using a case study methodological approach, this thesis draws on a range of primary sources from government documents, confidential briefs, speeches and correspondence along with the fragmented academic analyses that already exist on various aspects of Malta's behaviour, decision making and ideological approach to foreign policy during the Cold War. It does so in order to construct and comprehensively evidence the argument that Malta's foreign policy between 1971 and 1984 was highly effective, positioning it as a developing country that was able to converge with the developed world instead of diverging from it and thus avoid the potential trap of becoming dependent on it in the post-imperial context. This thesis is comprised of three distinct but interrelated strands of thought. The distinction between integration and self-determination, failure of Malta's Third World project and its geostrategic position enabling self-sufficiency all contributed to the avoidance of resource curse traps and dependency, empowering Mintoff's governments to successfully recast the nation's international development through its 360-degree approach in a Mediterranean Cold War context.</p
Associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and incident sarcopenia in prospective cohort studies
No full textThe loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, known as sarcopenia, is prevalent in older adults and linked to an increased risk of disability, frailty, and early mortality. Muscle health is crucial for the functionality and independence of older adults. As the aging population continuously grows, finding cost-effective strategies for preventing and treating sarcopenia is an important public health priority. While nutrition is recognized as a key factor in the development of sarcopenia, its role in preventing and treating the condition is still under investigation. In recent decades, nutritional research has shifted from a focus on individual nutrients or healthy foods to examining the combination of nutrients and foods in dietary patterns, along with their potential synergistic and antagonistic effects. A balanced diet and regular participation in physical activity are essential for maintaining musculoskeletal health. One of the healthy eating patterns with the greatest evidence of multiple health benefits is the Mediterranean diet, which has also been linked to positive effects on muscle function in observational studies. However, there is a lack of intervention studies. This review explores the updated evidence from longitudinal prospective studies on associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and sarcopenia in order to promote preventive and intervention strategies for healthy muscle aging.</p
EcoResponsive Environments
No full textThis review looks at ‘EcoResponsive Environments: A Framework for Settlement Design’ which proposes an exciting new integration of design thinking and skills across scales – extending the lucidity of the ‘Responsive Environments’ urban design approach beyond cities – to the design of wider settlements and going beyond human needs to embrace the topographical and ecological features of natural systems.</p
Nonlinear phenomena in mammalian vocal communication: an introduction and scoping review
No full textNonlinear phenomena (NLP) are common elements of mammalian vocalizations. Resulting from irregular sound production, they contribute to perceived harshness and are often present in calls conveying urgency or arousal. Initially dismissed as by-products of vocal production, NLP are increasingly recognized for their adaptive potential. However, NLP have never been the subject of a comprehensive review across vertebrate taxa. Here, we introduce NLP and examine developments in NLP studies in mammals. We found 220 papers published between 1962 and 2023, with publication rates increasing with time. The studies covered a wide range of taxonomic groups but were dominated by artiodactyls, carnivores, bats, rodents and primates. Tinbergen’s questions offer a framework for future investigations, highlighting that while much research has been conducted on adaptive function, our understanding is still lacking in terms of ontogeny, mechanisms and evolution. The existing literature is a testimony to the importance of NLP in animal vocalizations. With the use of novel tools for analysis and playback studies, NLP research can become more cohesive and impactful, fostering better understanding among researchers. We look forward to a new age of NLP research, which we anticipate will lead to a paradigm shift in our understanding of vocal communication in mammals.</p
Autophagy regulates cellular senescence by mediating the degradation of CDKN1A/p21 and CDKN2A/p16 through SQSTM1/p62-mediated selective autophagy in myxomatous mitral valve degeneration
No full textMyxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) is one of the most important age-dependent degenerative heart valve disorders in both humans and dogs. It is characterized by the aberrant remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM), regulated by senescent myofibroblasts (aVICs) transitioning from quiescent valve interstitial cells (qVICs), primarily under TGFB1/TGF-β1 control. In the present study, we found senescent aVICs exhibited impaired macroautophagy/autophagy as evidenced by compromised autophagy flux and immature autophagosomes. MTOR-dependent autophagy induced by rapamycin and torin-1 attenuated cell senescence and decreased the expression of cyclindependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) CDKN2A/p16INK4A and CDKN1A/p21CIP1. Furthermore, induction of autophagy in aVICs by ATG (autophagy related) gene overexpression restored autophagy flux, with a concomitant reduction in CDKN1A and CDKN2A expression and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Conversely, autophagy deficiency induced CDKN1A and CDKN2A accumulation and SASP, whereas ATG re-expression alleviated senescent phenotypic transformation. Notably, CDKN1A and CDKN2A localized to autophagosomes and lysosomes following MTOR antagonism or MG132 treatment. SQSTM1/p62 was identified as the autophagy receptor to selectively sequester CDKN1A and CDKN2A cargoes for autophagic degradation. Our findings are the first demonstration that CDKN1A and CDKN2A are degraded through SQSTM1-mediated selective autophagy, independent of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. These data will inform development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of canine and human MMVD, and for the treatment of Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and other age-related degenerative disorders.</p
What makes a good nursing education: meeting the needs of students and society in a free-market education system – cluster analysis of United Kingdom universities
No full textAim: Examine quality of education through classification of universities providing undergraduate pre-registration nursing courses in the United Kingdom using data from university league tables.Background: Educational quality for nursing courses can be defined in many ways. University league tables are often used, but it can be difficult to interpret these because of the diversity of measures. These include educational input and output measures, but are not patient focussed.Design: Cluster analysis of league table data.Methods: Data were from the Complete University and Guardian University League Tables. Cluster analysis was undertaken using euclidean distance and average linkage. Data were scaled by turning each value into a percentage of the maximum possible score.Results: Careers and graduate prospects for nurses are high. Satisfaction with teaching and feedback are closely related and while these broadly cluster with research quality but there was a weak relationship between research quality and overall student satisfaction (correlation −0.008, SE 0.049, p = 0.869, adjusted R2 = −0.014). There was no clear pattern and few universities excelled in all areas.Conclusions: Traditional methods of ranking universities does not fit nursing well, where employment is higher and research quality lower than other subjects. There was no clear pattern in university results. Countries considering a free-market approach to nurse education should consider how they will meet the needs of students and health and social care services, while promoting research. The quality of nursing education should include broader measures of societal value and address the theory-practice gap.</p
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