Month: April 2024

Abstract

The research analyses the Living Cultures Indigenous Fellowship, a participatory video (PV) project by the organisation InsightShare. The aims of this study are to determine how the notion of impact evaluation is conceived, what role the participants play in this process, and the initiative’s results. The study of the project allows us to identify some elements that provide alternatives to overcome some of the limitations described in relation to PV and impact evaluation. These alternatives include the relationship between InsightShare and the participants by creating a network of Indigenous organisations; participation as the axis of the initiative; and a multidimensional notion of impact. As project results, we identified three ways used to achieve the sustainability of the activities and to increase the autonomy of the Indigenous organisations, which are key aspects for fulfilling the social objectives of this type of initiative.

Abstract

Research on human rights has often focused on civil, political, and personal integrity rights to the exclusion of other categories of rights. Children’s rights have been one of these often-overlooked categories, at least in part because of the much more recent creation of relevant international law. While many practitioners do work to further children’s enjoyment of their rights, this has not been reflected with widespread, global measurement efforts by quantitative scholars. In this review, we first argue for the importance of measuring children’s rights. We then present several paths for translating international law into quantitative measurements, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach generally and with regards to children’s rights more specifically. We explore measurement gaps of children’s rights that remain—coverage of the CRC and across countries and time; considerations of progressive realization and maximum resources; the incorporation of children’s developing capacities; and children’s participation. And we close with recommendations regarding potential avenues for future work on this subject.

Abstract

Behavioral health issues, especially depression, are a major health disparity concern for Native Hawaiians in Hawaiʻi. Following the cultural safety framework and contextual behavioral science approach to intervention development, the present preliminary qualitative investigation aimed to gather better insight into Native Hawaiians’ views of depression and its causes as well as their preferred forms of behavioral health services. Data were initially collected from a 2-hour virtual focus group with three behavioral health service providers working with Native Hawaiians, followed by a total of 38 online one-on-one in-depth interviews with Native Hawaiian clients with depression (n = 19), behavioral health service providers working with Native Hawaiian adults (n = 9), and Native Hawaiian cultural leaders (n = 10). Our qualitative data suggested that Native Hawaiians tend to view depression contextually and socioculturally as the manifestation of one’s vital connection to the ʻāina (land), ʻohana (family; continuity from ancestry and future generations), community, culture/spirituality, and one’s authentic self being disrupted. Our findings also suggested that Native Hawaiians often attribute these disruptions to disparities due to the ongoing impact of colonization, historical trauma, and cultural loss. As a preferred form of treatment for depression, participants recommended various Hawaiian cultural practices to be integrated into existing behavioral health services to nurture the above-mentioned vital connection.

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize healthcare disparities experienced by Hispanic and Latino/Latinx patients with chronic pain, evaluate the existing literature exploring the specific therapeutic inequities affecting this patient population, and identify gaps in the literature requiring future study.

Recent Findings

Hispanic and Latino/Latinx patients experience disparities in chronic pain management. They are less likely to be prescribed pharmacologic therapies, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids. Hispanic and Latino/Latinx patients are also less likely to receive spinal cord stimulators and may be charged higher costs for them. There are no published studies specifically assessing Hispanic and Latino/Latinx patients’ utilization and outcomes from other common interventional pain procedures (e.g., epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation). Limited data suggest non-pharmacologic treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and complementary/integrative health modalities, might have more benefit for this population, potentially because of greater utilization.

Summary

Hispanic and Latino/Latinx patients experience disparities in chronic pain management. There is a paucity of data available pertaining specifically to pain-related outcomes and the utilization of pain treatment modalities, especially in regard to interventional procedures. Additional research is urgently needed in order to understand the full extent of these disparities and develop solutions to provide more equitable care.

Abstract

Curriculum innovation occurs throughout the early childhood education (ECE) sector. This article reports on the results of a survey conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand, during Phase 1 of a two-phase mixed-methods study. The research examines the factors that shape the way teachers use curriculum innovation and seeks to understand how teachers’ interactions with other teachers, families, and learners affect their innovative practices. In this study, 193 ECE teachers from throughout Aotearoa New Zealand responded to an online quantitative survey on these topics. The initial findings show that teachers’ innovation is informed by self-belief, relationships, and contextual factors, and how these all work to shape curriculum innovation. It is anticipated that this research will spark new thinking, new practices, and new collaborations across the ECE sector. Phase 2 qualitative case studies are currently underway across multiple locations in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Abstract

Sustainable road infrastructure promotes economic growth, efficient utilisation of funds and enhances people's quality of life. The current sustainability assessment models focus more on economic and environmental factors and pay minimal attention to social factors. This review paper aims to systematically consolidate existing research related to the social sustainability assessment of road infrastructure and then provide insights for future research. A thorough systematic literature review of 93 peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and industry reports published from 2000 to 2021 was conducted. Firstly, the review highlights the shortfalls of existing assessment models and provides future research directions. Secondly, the study proposes a list of nine social sustainability dimensions and 48 indicators for assessing the lifecycle social impacts of road infrastructure. Finally, an integrated conceptual framework of interrelationships among the indicators is developed. The findings help policymakers, industry professionals, and academia understand the current state of the subject. Also, the list of social sustainability indicators and their interrelationships identified assists in developing enhanced assessment models for evaluating the net lifecycle social performance of road infrastructure in future. This paper unveils several key social sustainability dimensions and indicators along with their interrelationships that remain unaddressed during the lifecycle social impact assessment of road infrastructure. Finally, the study provides future research directions that can boost the social sustainability assessment of road infrastructure.

Abstract

Eurycoma longifolia Jack, Simaroubaceae, is a popular tropical herb native to Southeast Asia, known for its medicinal properties. This study aimed to determine the inhibitory mechanisms of E. longifolia root extracts on steatosis in vivo and in vitro. Diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease model on C57BL/6 mice and free fatty acid-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells were used to study the anti-steatotic effects of E. longifolia extracts. Eurycoma longifolia ameliorated high-fat diet-induced obesity and steatosis and free fatty acid-promoted lipid and triacylglyceride accumulation without cytotoxicity. Eurycoma longifolia enhanced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α upregulation. Furthermore, E. longifolia suppressed free fatty acid-induced hepatic lipogenic proteins’ expression, such as the liver X receptor, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1. Besides, E. longifolia inhibited lipid accumulation by induction of phosphorylation of Unc-51 like autophagy-activating kinase and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3 subunit II expression, as well as autophagic flux. The main ingredient in E. longifolia extracts is eurycomanone, which restricts lipid accumulation in free fatty acid-treated HepG2 cells. In summary, E. longifolia alleviates lipid accumulation and improves hepatocyte lipid metabolism by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase and autophagy pathways.

Graphical Abstract