Month: January 2025

“I’m trying to figure out who the hell I am”: Examining the psychosocial and mental health experience of individuals learning “Not Parent Expected” news from a direct-to-consumer DNA ancestry test

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Abstract

Background

According to recent estimates, around 30 million people have taken Direct-to-Consumer DNA ancestry tests, typically marketed as a fun, harmless and exciting process of discovery. These tests estimate a user’s ethnic ancestry, also matching users with biological relations on their database. This matching can produce a surprising ‘not parent expected’ discovery, where a user learns that an assumed parent (typically the father) is not a biological parent. Such news may negatively affect mental health, self-identity and familial relationships, while prompting the utilization of putatively helpful resources by affected individuals. However, there is a lack of research on this topic. Thus, this study aimed to document the psychosocial experience of adults who have learnt that an assumed parent is not a biological parent via a Direct-to-Consumer DNA ancestry test. Specific objectives include investigating and understanding impact on mental health, familial relationships and subsequent resources mobilized.

Methods

To meet these objectives, we conducted an inductive qualitative study, allowing for the documentation of common experiences and perspectives. This involved 52 semi-structured interviews with affected individuals, analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

This resulted in five overlapping themes, namely (i) participants typically described their experience as an extraordinary shock that had a negative impact on their mental health, with some exceptions; (ii) the experience typically led to a severe and troubling disruption of their self-identity, with some exceptions; (iii) the news often ruptured extant familial relationships, especially with the mother, and any experiences with the new biological family were mixed; (iv) participants sought support from a variety of resources including spouses, siblings, and online peer support groups, which were generally considered helpful, with some exceptions; and (v) many participants consulted mental health professionals, who were sometimes considered supportive, but some participants noted that they were ill-equipped to help. Common across these themes were issues of grief, loss and trauma.

Conclusions

This study reveals an expanding, vulnerable, and under-researched population facing unique stressors, that may be at high risk of developing a psychiatric disorder. There is a need for new services and supports for this population including tailored clinical interventions and specific self-care resources.

Perceived climate change impacts and adaptation responses in ten African mountain regions

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Abstract

Mountain regions are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Yet, little is known about local adaptation responses in African mountain regions, especially if these are incremental or transformational. First, using household questionnaires, we interviewed 1,500 farmers across ten African mountain regions to investigate perceived climate change impacts and adaptation responses. Second, through a reflective process involving all co-authors, we identified: (1) main constraints and opportunities for adaptation, and (2) if adaptation was incremental or transformational. Questionnaire data show that farmers in all sites perceive multiple impacts, and that they mostly respond by intensifying farming practices and using off-farm labour. We established that, while several constraints were shared across sites, others were context specific; and that adaptation was mostly incremental, but that certain attributes (for example, social capital) made three sites in East Africa slightly more transformational.

Parental wellbeing, parenting, and child mental health in families with young children in Arghakhanchi, Nepal

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Abstract

Background

Children’s social-emotional development and mental well-being are critical to adult mental health. However, little is known about the mechanisms or factors that contribute to poor child mental health in low- and middle-income countries. Given the lack of child mental health research to guide interventions or social-emotional learning programs and policy planning, the present study aimed to address these knowledge gaps by examining the psychopathology mechanism involved in the development of childhood mental health problems.

Methods

This cross-sectional study recruited parents (N = 393) whose children attended preschool to primary classes in the Arghakhanchi district of Nepal. Data were gathered through parent interviews. Structural Equation Modeling was used to examine the pathways of the mediational mechanism that examined the influence of parental well-being on parenting and children’s mental health outcomes.

Results

Approximately 22% of the parents were at risk for moderate to severe mental health problems (anxiety: 24%, depression:19%). Parental mental health problems were higher in families who reported food insecurity, among female parents, less educated parents, and those who perceived themselves on a lower social ladder. Parental mental health, social support, and perceived class were associated with parent-child conflict. Greater parent-child conflict was associated with decreased social competence and increased anger, anxiety, and depression in children.

Conclusion

The results partially support the mediational model that Nepali parents’ well-being (especially in mental health symptoms, social support, and perception of family’s social class domains) is associated with less optimal parenting and, in turn, greater child mental health problems and lower social competence. This study provides new evidence of cross-cultural consistency in child psychopathology and guides the development of evidence-based programs to prevent and promote mental health among Nepali children and families.

Licensing Exam Pass Rate Disparities in Marriage and Family Therapy: Using an Analysis of Predictive Factors to Inform a More Equitable Licensing Exam Process

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Abstract

This article describes the findings of a study that explored potential factors that influence the pass rate for those taking marriage and family therapy (MFT) licensing exams, both the national and California exams. An online, national survey was conducted to determine factors associated with passing the MFT licensing exams. The survey included measures of test anxiety, coping strategies, perceived stress, and experience of discrimination. The demographic results included patterns of racial and age disparities similar to those reported by the Association of Social Work Boards (2022), especially for Black respondents. Specific and readily implemented recommendations for making the current exams more equitable include (a) changing the phrasing of questions, (b) clarifying and reducing the scope of the content, (c) reducing the number of questions during the 4-hour period, and (d) ensuring adequate accommodations for disabilities.

Topic modelling through the bibliometrics lens and its technique

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Abstract

Topic modelling (TM) is a significant natural language processing (NLP) task and is becoming more popular, especially, in the context of literature synthesis and analysis. Despite the growing volume of studies on the use of and versatility of TM, the knowledge of TM development, especially from the perspective of bibliometrics analysis is limited. To this end, this study evaluated TM research using two techniques namely, bibliometrics analysis and TM itself to provide the current status and the pathway for future studies in the TM field. For this purpose, this study used 16,941 documents collected from Scopus database from 2004 to 2023. Results indicate that the publications on TM have increased over the years, however, the citation impact has declined. Furthermore, the scientific production on TM is concentrated in two countries namely, China and the USA. Our findings showed there are several applications of TM that are understudied, for example, TM for image segmentation and classification. This paper highlighted the future research directions, most importantly, calls for increased multidisciplinary research approaches to fully deploy TM algorithms optimally and thus, increase usage in non-computer science subject areas.

Global drive toward net-zero emissions and sustainability via electric vehicles: an integrative critical review

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Abstract

The urgent need for a net-zero future necessitates a fundamental shift in the energy sector, with road transportation responsible for a substantial 37% of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021, emerging as a pivotal focal point in the battle against climate change. Energy consumption in the road sector is expected to surge by 1.26% with a 1% growth in urbanization, concentrated mainly in Asia and Africa by the mid-2030s. Therefore, addressing emissions from the transportation industry is paramount. Electric vehicles (EVs), coupled with a transition to renewable energy, offer a sustainable solution, yet their market share remains at a modest 10% globally and in Asia. With numerous nations committed to achieving net-zero emissions, EV adoption is on the rise, particularly in developing regions with high urbanization and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Governments worldwide have initiated policies that provide incentives to promote EVs, but challenges like patent declines and EV battery disposal concerns persist. In this paper, we make an integrative critical review of the existing literature, conduct a SWOT analysis of EVs, and address crucial factors influencing their adoption, thereby contributing to the goal of a more sustainable future in road transportation.

Research on the cross-contagion between international stock markets and geopolitical risks: the two-layer network perspective

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Abstract

As the international environment changes, frequent geopolitical crises continue to hinder the healthy development of global stock markets. To analyze in-depth the risk contagion path between the international stock market and geopolitics under the impact of extreme events, this paper explores the tail risk interactive contagion mechanism and dynamic effects of the double-layer network between the international stock market and geopolitics from the perspective of complex networks. Empirical research finds that geopolitical conflicts exacerbate risk contagion among international stock markets, and there are significant differences in risk contagion between developed and emerging economies. The analysis of the complex interaction effect in the double-layer network of the international stock market and geopolitics shows that the intralayer risk spillover effect of geopolitics in the short term is significantly higher than that of the stock price volatility network layer. Finally, the study on the dynamic changes of the double-layer network connectedness between the international stock market and geopolitics found that the shock of extreme events, such as military conflict and public health security, is an important factor in triggering the cross-contagion of risks. The research conclusions provide new ideas for preventing the cross-contagion of geopolitical risks in the stock markets of various countries under the evolution of the global political and economic pattern.

Heterogeneities in landed costs of traded grains and oilseeds contribute to unequal access to food

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Abstract

Despite the growing accessibility of international grain and oilseed markets, high production costs and trade frictions are still prevalent, contributing to regional heterogeneities in the landed cost of grain imports. Here we quantify the landed cost for six grain commodities across 3,500 administrative regions, capturing regional cost differences to produce grain and transport it across international borders. We find large heterogeneities in the costs of imported grain, which are highest in Oceania, Central America and landlocked Africa. While some regions have uniform landed costs across sourcing locations, others face cost variations across trading partners, showing large inequalities in access. We find that most regions could benefit from a targeted approach to reduce landed cost while others benefit from a mixed strategies approach. Our results highlight that spatial information on production, trade and transport is essential to inform policies aiming to build an efficient and resilient global agricultural commodity trade system.

Optimizing transcutaneous spinal stimulation: excitability of evoked spinal reflexes is dependent on electrode montage

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Abstract

Background

There is growing interest in use of transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) for people with neurologic conditions both to augment volitional control (by facilitating motoneuron excitability), and to decrease spasticity (by activating inhibitory networks). Various electrode montages are used during TSS, with little understanding of how electrode position influences spinal circuit activation. We sought to identify the thoracolumbar electrode montage associated with the most robust activation of spinal circuits by comparing posterior root-muscle reflexes (PRM reflexes) elicited by 6 montages. Additionally, we assessed tolerability of the stimulation during PRM reflex testing.

Methods

Fifteen adults with intact neurological systems participated in this randomized crossover study. PRM reflexes were evoked transcutaneously using electrode montages with dorsal–ventral (DV) or dorsal-midline (DM) current flow. DV montages included: [1] cathode over T11/T12, anodes over iliac crests (DV-I), [2] cathode over T11/T12, anodes over umbilicus (DV-U), [3] dual paraspinal cathodes at T11/12, anodes over iliac crests (DV-PI), and [4] dual paraspinal cathodes at T11/12, anodes over umbilicus (DV-PU). DM montages included: [5] cathode over T11/12, anode 5 cm caudal (DM-C), and [6] cathode over T11/12, anode 5 cm rostral (DM-R). PRM reflex recruitment curves were obtained in the soleus muscle of both lower extremities.

Results

Lower reflex thresholds (mA) for dominant (D) and nondominant (ND) soleus muscles were elicited in DV-U (D: 46.7[33.9, 59.4], ND: 45.4[32.5, 58.2]) and DV-I (D: 48.1[35.3, 60.8], ND: 45.4[32.5, 58.2]) montages compared to DV-PU (D: 64.3[51.4, 77.1], ND:61.7[48.8, 74.6]), DV-PI (D:64.9[52.1, 77.7], ND:61.4[48.5, 75.5]), DM-C(D:60.0[46.9, 73.1], ND:63.6[50.8, 76.5]), and DM-R(D:63.1[50.3, 76.0], ND:62.6[49.8, 75.5]). DV-U and DV-I montages demonstrated larger recruitment curve area than other montages. There were no differences in response amplitude at 120% of RT(1.2xRT) or tolerability among montages.

Conclusions

Differences in spinal circuit recruitment are reflected in the response amplitude of the PRM reflexes. DV-I and DV-U montages were associated with lower reflex thresholds, indicating that motor responses can be evoked with lower stimulation intensity. DV-I and DV-U montages therefore have the potential for lower and more tolerable interventional stimulation intensities. Our findings optimize electrode placement for interventional TSS and PRM reflex assessments.

Clinical Trial Number: NCT04243044.

Protein handling in kidney tubules

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Abstract

The kidney proximal tubule reabsorbs and degrades filtered plasma proteins to reclaim valuable nutrients and maintain body homeostasis. Defects in this process result in proteinuria, one of the most frequently used biomarkers of kidney disease. Filtered proteins enter proximal tubules via receptor-mediated endocytosis and are processed within a highly developed apical endo-lysosomal system (ELS). Proteinuria is a strong risk factor for chronic kidney disease progression and genetic disorders of the ELS cause hereditary kidney diseases, so deepening understanding of how the proximal tubule handles proteins is crucial for translational nephrology. Moreover, the ELS is both an entry point for nephrotoxins that induce tubular damage and a target for novel therapies to prevent it. Cutting-edge research techniques, such as functional intravital imaging and computational modelling, are shedding light on spatial and integrative aspects of renal tubular protein processing in vivo, how these are altered under pathological conditions and the consequences for other tubular functions. These insights have potentially important implications for understanding the origins of systemic complications arising in proteinuric states, and might lead to the development of new ways of monitoring and treating kidney diseases.