Month: September 2024

Mobile Mental Health Applications for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities: Review and Recommendations

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Abstract

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities experience high rates of several mental health (MH) difficulties (e.g., trauma, substance use, suicide) and encounter significant barriers to accessing MH care. Several barriers relate to rural residence (e.g., geographical distance to healthcare facilities, provider shortages) and cultural factors (e.g., racial discrimination, cultural misunderstandings, mistrust). Remotely delivered care via telehealth has demonstrated promise in increasing AI/AN communities’ access to MH care, but provider shortages limit scalability. Mobile MH applications (“apps”) may represent a scalable option for increasing AI/AN communities’ access to MH interventions but need to be culturally tailored to address cultural barriers to MH care. Although additional research is needed, several MH apps have demonstrated promise in addressing MH concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety). Few MH apps have been developed or evaluated for AI/AN communities, and greater attention to the development of MH apps for them is needed. Several models exist for evaluating MH apps, but they have not been applied to apps for AI/AN communities. This article provides guidance on factors to consider when developing apps for AI/AN communities, based on a review of the literature and existing apps for AI/AN communities. Some recommendations include using a bidirectional approach rooted in humility and cultural safety principles to promote mutual learning and patient-centered care. Partnering with AI/AN communities in developing MH apps is vital. These recommendations also may be valuable for those serving additional populations experiencing healthcare inequities and cultural barriers to MH care.

Politicizing Vaccination Requirements: American University Responses in the Era of COVID-19

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Abstract

Although vaccination requirements have been a mainstay of university admissions, the recent shift in vaccination and other preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 has been met with resistance. Reviewing the vaccination literature, there has been an apparent shift in support for university vaccinations, which is largely a result of the politicized climate surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a mixed-methods analysis, this study examines how type of institution and location variables affect public and private universities implementation of vaccination mandates and other preventative measures. Data indicate that, similar to other studies, politics matter and higher institutions are finding themselves at odds with state governments in which campus and community safety is not the primary concern.

From gaps to consideration: a framework for prioritizing trophic studies in marine fishes

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Abstract

Developing frameworks to identify knowledge gaps and prioritize research on diet studies in marine fish species is critical, as this knowledge is required for ecosystem-based management. We applied a framework in central Patagonia, Argentina, which faces a demand for gap assessments in diet knowledge and ecosystem management due to changes in marine fish assemblages' structure and function linked to industrial fishing and tropicalization. Our framework effectively identified gaps by examining the history of research efforts regarding spatial and temporal coverage, sampling sizes, fish life stages, and information quality of studies per species. We found critical gaps in local diet studies, particularly for mostly bony, Petromyzonti, and Myxini species, whereas elasmobranchs received the best coverage of the diet described. Most studies lack evaluation of ontogenetic diet changes and prey cumulative curves. Fixing these shortcomings improves research quality and reduces data uncertainties in community assessments. The prioritization framework identified high-priority species as those that require updated diet information, had shifted ranges, and lacked data. Our framework can be tailored to other biological traits and regions based on specific contextual needs to identify research gaps and priorities for fish assemblages impacted by global change while disseminating knowledge from diverse sources and languages.

“Nimble Sociality and Belonging”: an Ethnography of Migrants’ Responses to Bans on Associational Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Abstract

Within the past few years, pandemics like HIV/AIDS, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 have become common worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic, which broke out recently, profoundly impacted the world. As part of containing this pandemic, lockdowns which put a moratorium on human mobility and associational life became a dominant measure. Yet these mobilities and associational life are the lifeblood of migrants and diaspora belonging. This paper examines the impacts of bans on associational life on migrants and, further, what migrants did to continue living in the absence of these associations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper is based on a case study of Lydiate informal settlement in Zimbabwe, where Malawian migrants have established an ethnic enclave to shield themselves from the precarity and injustices of foreign lands. Through convivial and digital ethnographic fieldwork, the paper revealed that bans on associational life disrupted community engagements and binding religious associational life, increased targeted violence and “othering,” and perpetuated stigma and discrimination and loss of ties with family and fictive kin. However, migrants restructured their associational life by adopting agile and new forms of belonging to get by, including relocating religious shrines to more secretive places or conducting religious ceremonies in the dark, drinking beer within the perimeter of the settlement, using of WhatsApp and instant messaging and WhatsApp groups for important community updates, and collective resistance. I termed these strategies “nimble forms of sociality and belonging,” meaning there are lithe mechanisms that migrants employ to further their sociality even when they are restricted.

Effects of COVID-19 on the Livelihoods of Women with Disabilities in Zimbabwe: A Study of Three Low-Income Areas in Harare Metropolitan Province

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Abstract

This study documents how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the livelihoods of women with disabilities in three low-income urban areas of Zimbabwe’s Harare Metropolitan Province. A mixed-method approach was used to gather data through structured interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions with 104 women with disabilities and service providers working with women with disabilities in Caledonia, Hatcliffe, and Epworth. The study utilises the sustainable livelihood approach to analyse the dynamics ensuing during the pandemic and how they impinged on women with disabilities’ livelihoods. Findings reveal that the pandemic, particularly the lockdowns, greatly and negatively impacted the livelihoods of women with disabilities, who mainly depend on the informal sector through vending, begging, and handouts. The study recommends the provision of targeted sustainable social safety nets for women with disabilities in times of shocks and stresses such as pandemics to cushion them from the devastating effects brought about by such eventualities.

Machine Learning Approaches to 3D Models for Drug Screening

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Abstract

The creation of precise, functional 3D tissues can enable effective drug screening as well as advancements in regenerative medicine. However, the inherent limitations present during the development of these 3D models pose challenges when manufacturing. This review examines the obstacles associated with the pre-processing, processing, and post-processing phases when bioprinting that must be addressed to overcome these constraints and produce reproducible tissue constructs. These obstacles include critical elements such as cell composition, biomaterial formulation, processing techniques, media conditions, 3D structure design, model conditioning, and 3D model quantification. This review identifies these inherent process limitations when making 3D tissue models. The review then leverages machine learning tools that have proven successful in related contexts and discusses them in the context of 3D tissue models. The review aims to inspire researchers to explore and implement innovative machine learning techniques for developing 3D models by drawing insights from studies taken from a variety of engineering domains. This curated compilation covers a wide array of machine learning solutions to navigate the intricate complexities of 3D model creation, pushing the boundaries of tissue engineering.

Spatiotemporal variability of streamflow under current and projected climate scenarios of Andit Tid watershed, central highland of Ethiopia

Latest Results

Abstract

This study examined the impact of climate change on streamflow in the Andit Tid watershed using climate models of dynamically downscaled Ethiopia’s CORDEX. The Arc SWAT and ArcGIS 10.5 software assessed the spatial and temporal distribution of streamflow, incorporating geospatial data like land use maps, digital elevation models, soil maps, and climate data. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated using SWAT-CUP with the SUFI-2 algorithm. The Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis, Canada (CCCma (RCA4) model was selected for future projections after validation. From 1991 to 2021, the average streamflow rate was 0.0374 m3/s (247 mm), with R2 values of 0.83 for calibration and 0.72 for validation. Hotspots with active gullies and slopes over 20% were identified mainly in cultivated lands. Future projections indicated a comparable streamflow rate to current conditions at 0.0322 m3/s (212.6 mm). A decline in streamflow is projected: 7.2% and 30.2% decreases in the near and far future under RCP 4.5, and 32.3% decreases and 5% increases under RCP 8.5 scenarios. These variations were attributed to differences in catchment characteristics and climate variability. Further research is needed to validate these findings by incorporating additional biophysical variables. This study provides insights into hydrological planning and management in the Andit Tid watershed and similar regions facing climate variability.

Spatiotemporal variability of streamflow under current and projected climate scenarios of Andit Tid watershed, central highland of Ethiopia

Latest Results

Abstract

This study examined the impact of climate change on streamflow in the Andit Tid watershed using climate models of dynamically downscaled Ethiopia’s CORDEX. The Arc SWAT and ArcGIS 10.5 software assessed the spatial and temporal distribution of streamflow, incorporating geospatial data like land use maps, digital elevation models, soil maps, and climate data. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated using SWAT-CUP with the SUFI-2 algorithm. The Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis, Canada (CCCma (RCA4) model was selected for future projections after validation. From 1991 to 2021, the average streamflow rate was 0.0374 m3/s (247 mm), with R2 values of 0.83 for calibration and 0.72 for validation. Hotspots with active gullies and slopes over 20% were identified mainly in cultivated lands. Future projections indicated a comparable streamflow rate to current conditions at 0.0322 m3/s (212.6 mm). A decline in streamflow is projected: 7.2% and 30.2% decreases in the near and far future under RCP 4.5, and 32.3% decreases and 5% increases under RCP 8.5 scenarios. These variations were attributed to differences in catchment characteristics and climate variability. Further research is needed to validate these findings by incorporating additional biophysical variables. This study provides insights into hydrological planning and management in the Andit Tid watershed and similar regions facing climate variability.

Design(ing) fiction in the studio

Latest Results

Abstract

This study explores a design fiction approach in an educational context by applying it to a third-year industrial design studio class. The Food Futures project is conducted with thirty students in the design studio. We approached the future of food using a design fiction approach since the combination of food and design is a highly complex and social issue that requires a systems-level change. The project started with a design fiction workshop to adapt the approach to the class. After the students had written their briefs in the context of the future storyworlds, the project continued with weekly critique sessions. The data is collected through the project outcomes, recordings, and questionnaires. A methodological discussion about using this approach in the educational context is presented based on the collected reflections. We argue that design fiction can be used in studio projects for research and idea-generation phases to support divergence processes through building storyworlds. Furthermore, we examined how this approach can be integrated into design education based on how students defined their limitations considering their visualisation techniques and design intervention levels (product, product-service-system, spatio-social) within future storyworlds. Imbued with the ability to envision socio-technical environments, we see design fiction as a useful tool for adapting industrial design education to emerging approaches such as systemic design and transition design.