“Missing Girls” Problem in European Historical Demography: Analysing the Latest Historiography

The topic of “missing girls” in historical Europe has not only been mostly neglected, but previous research addressing this issue usually took the available information too lightly, either rejecting or accepting the claims that there was discrimination against female children, without assessing the possibility that the observed child sex ratios could be attributable to chance, mortality differentials, or registration quality. This article contributes to this discussion by (1) using a novel dataset of historical child sex ratios that covers a large part of the European geography between 1700 and 1926; and (2) explicitly considering the effects of random variability, demographic variation, and faulty enumeration in the analysis. Our results provide evidence that some of these European populations had child sex ratios well above the levels usually considered “natural”. Although part of this variation is indeed shown to be due to random noise and structural features related to infant mortality differentials and census quality, some of the observed sex ratios are too high to be attributed solely to these proximate factors. Thus, these findings suggest that there are behavioural explanations for some of the unbalanced sex ratios observed in our data.

Son preference in India manifests into extreme forms of daughter avoidance either through pre-natal sex selective abortion or post-natal excess female infant mortality. These victims of daughter aversion are India’s “missing girls.” This paper demonstrates a novel methodology for estimating India’s missing girls. Estimates were made of number and incidence of missing girls due to sex selective abortion and excess female infant mortality by age one for the time period 1950-2010. State level analysis reveals wide variations in incidence and source of missing girls. National level analysis shows that between 1950 and 2010, a total of 58.29 million girls went missing, of which 28 percent were due to sex selective abortion and 72 percent due to post-natal excess mortality. Over the time period examined, the contribution of post-natal excess mortality to the number of missing girls has reduced while the contribution of sex selective abortion has increased. Policy recommendations are discussed. JEL codes: J11; J13; J16.

The Sahel/Savannah belt of Africa is a contact zone between two subsistence systems (nomadic pastoralism and sedentary farming) and of two groups of populations, namely Eurasians penetrating from northern Africa southwards and sub-Saharan Africans migrating northwards. Because pastoralism is characterized by a high degree of mobility, it leaves few significant archaeological traces. Demographic history seen through the lens of population genetic studies complements our historical and archaeological knowledge in this African region. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of demographic history in the Sahel/Savannah belt as revealed by genetic studies. We show the impact of food-producing subsistence strategies on population structure and the somewhat different migration patterns in the western and eastern part of the region. Genomic studies show that the gene pool of various groups of Sahelians consists in a complex mosaic of several ancestries. We also touch upon various signals of genetic adaptations such as lactase persistence, taste sensitivity and malaria resistance, all of which have different distribution patterns among Sahelian populations. Overall, genetic studies contribute to gain a deeper understanding about the demographic and adaptive history of human populations in this specific African region and beyond.

We compared the effects of hot and cold spells on cardiovascular mortality in the Czech Republic over 1986-2006 and examined differences between population groups. We used analogous definitions for hot and cold spells that are based on quantiles of daily average temper- ature anomalies and do not incorporate any location-specific threshold. Epidemics of influenza/ acute respiratory infections were identified, and corresponding periods were excluded from the analysis. Both hot and cold spells are associated with significant excess cardiovascular mortality. The effects of hot spells are more direct (unlagged) and typically concentrated in a few days of a hot spell, while cold spells are associated with indirect (lagged) mortality impacts persisting after a cold spell ends. Although the mortality peak is less pronounced for cold spells, the cumulative magnitude of excess mortality is larger for cold than hot spells. Gender differences consist mainly of much larger excess mortality of females in hot spells and more lagged effects in females than males associated with cold spells. Effects of hot spells have a similar temporal pattern in all age groups but much larger magnitude in the elderly. For cold spells, by contrast, relative excess mor- tality is largest in the middle-aged population (25-59 yr). The results suggest that mechanisms playing the dominant role in inducing cold-related mortality differ between this age group (in which the effects are unlagged) and older age groups (significant excess mortality at lags of around 7 d and longer). For both high and low temperature extremes, the formulation of preven- tive measures (implemented by means of warning systems and biometeorological forecast alerts) should take into account the varied effects in individual population groups.

<h3>Background</h3> Innovative approaches are required to better address physical inactivity. To move beyond individual approaches to behaviour change and develop more appropriate insights for the complex challenge of increasing population levels of activity, recent research has drawn on social practice theory. This theoretical approach describes the relational character of active living and related social practices. However, to date these investigations have been limited to small-scale qualitative research studies. To move beyond individual contexts and population groups and uncover conditions for 'practice change' across similar datasets, we explored a novel approach to qualitative data synthesis. Our aim was to pool several qualitative studies and apply machine learning to uncover patterns and interconnections in 'active travel' that have not emerged from the original qualitative data analyses. <h3>Methods</h3> A pooled qualitative dataset of almost 250 transcripts was drawn from five studies conducted in different contexts in the UK, including Belfast, London, Glasgow, Cambridge and Cardiff. Machine learning approaches such as text mining have previously been applied to identify key recurring terms in large data sets. Recent software developments suggest the possibility of identifying 'concepts within context'. This unsupervised analysis of inter-relating concepts, which focuses on pattern recognition, is known as 'topic modelling analysis'. Text mining analysis software, Leximancer, was used to analyse the data and produce inter-topic distance maps to illustrate 'themes' and constituent 'concepts'. <h3>Results</h3> In our analysis, we interrogated the insightfulness of this software to facilitate an inductive, data-driven process, and provide an analytical 'fresh lens' and the potential for identifying novel patterns and linkages that might not be identified by manual coding. For example, a new 'uncovered' theme was that women's accounts of 'cycling' were closely connected to 'people'. Exploring this in the original data, this related to their notions of who is a 'cyclist', what 'cyclists' look like, and aspects such as required fitness. In contrast, for men, 'cycling' did not connect to 'people' but to logistics, how to get to work and how long it takes. This researcher input and interpretative work was a necessary analytical next step to make meaning from software outputs. <h3>Conclusion</h3> This study contributes new insights into the, to date, rare application of machine learning to qualitative social science research, and towards a social science approach to behaviour change. Developing new methods and conceptual understandings can inform future research and policy decisions about social environments for promoting social practices which increase physical activity. Research funded by the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Wellcome Trust: Springboard – Health of the Public 2040 (HOP001\1051).

The increase of lifetime and the relative improvement of individual health indicators generally have not yet led to a balance of health among the populations of different countries and individual population groups. Health indicators differ between different population groups in all countries. At the same time, the level of health depends on many factors and environmental conditions, as well as on the individual lifestyle. Socioeconomic determinants that have the greatest impact on the formation of human health are amenable to adjustment at the state level. It should be noted that the role for each of the determinants in shaping health is not the same, and the determinants themselves may be different for population groups and countries. This is particularly important for the definition of differential health indicators, the use of which in public policy will reduce the differences in health status within each country and between countries.

Agreement Between Patients With Schizophrenia and Providers on Factors of Antipsychotic Medication Adherence

Beyond technology packages : towards a farmer-informed paradigm for Ethiopian extension

Historical Germany represents a perfect laboratory for studying interregional demographic differences, yet the historical family structures in this part of the European continent remain largely unexplored. This study seeks to fill this gap by documenting the variability of living arrangements using an aggregate measure of household complexity based on published statistics of the German census of 1885. We apply descriptive methods and spatially sensitive modelling techniques to this data in order to examine existing hypotheses on the determinants of household complexity in historical Europe. We investigate how regional variation in agricultural structures and employment, inheritance practices, ethnic background, and other socio-demographic characteristics relate to regional variation in household structures. Our results show that areas with low levels of household complexity were concentrated in south-western and southern Germany, while areas with high levels of household complexity were mostly situated in northern and north-eastern Germany. Contrary to our expectations, we found that the supposedly decisive socio-economic and cultural macro-regional differences that are known to have existed in late 19th-century Germany were at most only weakly associated with existing spatial patterns of household complexity. Our results tend to support Ruggles’ (2009) view that spatial variation in household structures is mostly linked to the degree of employment in agriculture and demographic characteristics.

Résumé L’Allemagne du xix e siècle est un laboratoire particulièrement intéressant pour l’étude des différences démographiques entre régions, et pourtant les structures de la famille à cette époque dans cette partie de l’Europe restent peu explorées. Cet article analyse la variabilité des situations domestiques avec une mesure agrégée de la complexité des ménages fondée sur les statistiques publiées du recensement allemand de 1885. Des méthodes descriptives et des techniques de modélisation spatiale permettent d’examiner les hypothèses existantes sur les déterminants de la complexité des ménages. Les variations régionales de la structure des ménages sont-elles associées aux variations concernant l’emploi agricole, les pratiques d’héritage, l’appartenance ethnique et d’autres caractéristiques socio-économiques ? Les régions où la complexité des ménages était faible se concentrent dans le sud-ouest et le sud de l’Allemagne, et celles où la complexité était forte dans le nord et le nord-est. Quant aux différences macro-régionales socio-économiques et culturelles, dont on sait qu’elles existaient en Allemagne à la fin du xix e siècle et qu’on pensait décisives, elles ne s’avèrent que faiblement associées aux schémas spatiaux de complexité des ménages. Ces résultats sont cohérents avec l’hypothèse de Ruggles (2009), selon laquelle les variations spatiales des structures de ménage sont essentiellement liées au degré d’emploi dans l’agriculture et aux caractéristiques démographiques.

Knowledge about subjective perceptions and explanatory models has the potential to inform clinical evaluation and lead to development of patient-friendly treatment models in medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). To collect qualitative data about explanatory models in MUPS. A cross-sectional observational study was done among patients with MUPS presenting over a 2-year period to a specialty psychosomatic clinic. The Short Explanatory Model of Illness interview was used to gather qualitative data about explanatory models which were subsequently recoded using standard manuals. A total of 123 subjects were evaluated. The nature of symptoms was most commonly reported as 'non-specific' ( n = 102, 82.9%) but of moderate to severe intensity ( n = 87, 73.8%). Getting cured or showing improvement was the most common expectation from treatment ( n = 58, 47.9%). Moderate to severe impact of symptoms was reported on work output ( n = 100, 84%), emotional life ( n = 85, 71.4%) and physical mobility ( n = 59, 49.1%). A considerable proportion was either dissatisfied ( n = 61, 50%) or frankly unhappy ( n = 38, 31.4%) with treatment received. There is a need to re-calibrate the clinical approach to people with MUPS to enhance treatment satisfaction. Our findings could assist in evolving culturally sensitive conceptualizations of illness and in developing patient-centred models for therapy in MUPS patients.

Drawing on the current research, I argue that the extensive violence against Canada's Indigenous women and girls is enabled by public discourses that rely heavily on racist stereotypes. I use Razack's theoretical framework of "gendered disposibility" and "colonial terror" as a lense for critically viewing violence against Indigenous women and girls. To demonstrate the severity of violence, evidence from the Highway of Tears cases, incidents of police abuse, and the creation of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls are all covered.

Uvod: Gibalna aktivnost koristi telesnemu in duševnemu zdravju. Namen članka je ugotoviti dejavnike, ki vplivajo nanjo, in možne ukrepe za povečanje te dejavnosti. Cilj članka je spodbuditi strokovnjake s področij zdravja in športne dejavnosti k sodelovanju pri oblikovanju in izvajanju učinkovitih ukrepov za povečanje gibanja med prebivalstvom.&#x0D; &#x0D; Metode: Opravljen je bil pregled literature o dejavnikih, ki vplivajo na gibalno aktivnost in z zdravjem povezano kakovost življenja, ter o ukrepih, povezanih z njimi. V pregled so vključene raziskave, ki so objavljene v angleškem jeziku v obdobju 2000–2010 in evidentirane v Web of Science (SCI-EXPANDED ali SSCI). Članek povzema izsledke 46 objav, za potrebe teoretičnih izhodišč pa še dodatnih 43 objav.&#x0D; &#x0D; Rezultati: Na odločitev za gibanje vplivajo lastnosti posameznika in širšega družbenoekonomskega okolja. Bistveni so starost, spol in zdravstveni status posameznika. Pri posameznih skupinah populacije prepoznamo specifične dejavnike, ki vplivajo na odločitev za gibalno aktivnost. Učinkoviti ukrepi spodbujanja gibanja so zato usmerjeni na te skupine in izhajajo iz identificiranih dejavnikov.&#x0D; &#x0D; Diskusija in zaključek: Raznolikost omenjenih skupin in dejavnikov je osnova za načrtovanje preventivnih oziroma interventnih ukrepov. Smiselno je, da se pri organiziranju in izvajanju programov povežejo organizacije s področij zdravstva, športa in druge interesne skupine. Pri tem naj izkoristijo obstoječe zakonske okvire.

The background of the paper is the process of digitalization of economic relations and its consequences when people face different threats arising during the use of digital tools in society and the economy. The study is aimed to analyse the intercountry differences in people’s perception of digitalization. The investigation of external and internal factors that form the interregional differences in the apprehension of digitalization may help to evaluate the threats and risks of digitalization, and to develop the measures to reduce these threats. As the research methods, the authors used the general scientific methods of knowledge, systems approach, comparative analysis. As a statistical framework for the study, the results of Tufts University’s Digital Trust Index, CIGI-Ipsos Global Survey On Internet Security and Trust 2019 and Ipsos Survey For the World Economic Forum Workers’ Concerns About Job Loss and Access to New Skills 2020 were used. The results of the theoretical analysis of digitalization allowed us to identify and explore the threats to society and the economy created by the new digital world. The interregional tendencies in the apprehension of different means of digitalization are analysed. Interregional differences in the apprehension of digitalization must be considered both when planning digitalization programs and international cooperation.

BackgroundWhile effective interventions have been developed to support families where a parent has a mental illness in Adult Mental Health Services, embedding and sustaining them is challenging resulting in families not having access to support. This study developed an explanatory model of influencers that had enabled sustainability of the Let’s Talk intervention in one service.MethodsA participatory case study was used to build an explanatory model of sustainability at the service using theoretical frameworks. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected about practitioner’s practice and the organisation’s implementation process and capacity to support practice. A local research group worked with the researcher using a transforming data approach through description, analysis and interpretation.ResultsInfluencers were grouped into four major categories: (1) External social, political and financial context, (2) Resources, (3) Prior organisational capacity and (4) Sustainability Factors. The last category, Sustainability factors, was divided into three subcategories: (4.1)Practitioner (4.2) Organisation and (4.3) Parent-Client. These categories form part of an explanatory model for the key influencers of continued practitioner practice and organisational capacity to support practice.Conclusions and implications for practiceIn this case study, the pre-existing organisational context along with practitioner, organisation and parent-client factors operated together to influence sustainability. The results suggest that sustainability is more likely to be supported by both linking Let’s Talk to existing organisational identity, capacity, structures and relationships and by supporting mutual adaptations to improve the fit. Additionally, by understanding that setbacks are common and ongoing adjustments are needed, implementers are able to have realistic expectations of sustainability.