ABSTRACT Drawing on sociology, anthropology, constitutional law, and political philosophy, this issue explores how the concept of ethnicity functions as a salient category for understanding the experiences of minorities in Europe today. It considers ethnicity as a powerful means of self-identification and the assertion of differences between as well as within ethnic groups. This issue engages the tension between group-based stigmatization on the one hand, and the reality of increasingly fragmented forms of identification under the influences of de-institutionalization and individualization. It also hones in on the ethnicization and racialization of nationhood under the influence of right-wing identity politics, and the exploitation of ethnic differences for political and electoral purposes. In its engagement with socio-legal studies, this issue considers a number of strategies for alleviating the pressure on ethnic minorities, for example through the use of private sector duties as well as potential innovations of anti-discrimination infrastructures.

ABSTRACT Background The severity of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis increased during the global COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the pandemic on the clinical and biological severity of DKA in patients with new-onset diabetes mellitus (DM) in Tunisia. Research design and methods The study included patients hospitalized for new-onset DKA 2 years prior and 2 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected retrospectively, and DKA severity was classified based on biological parameters like potential of hydrogen (pH) and HCO3-. Results The results showed that DKA was more severe during COVID-19, as evidenced by lower potential of hydrogen (pH) (p = 0.006), and serum bicarbonate (HCO3-) levels (p = 0,005). Despite the higher severity of DKA was higher during COVID-19, intensive care unit hospitalizations remained equivalent (p = 0.359). The prevalence of hyponatremia was also higher during COVID-19 (p = 0.024). Conclusion The findings suggest that delayed diagnosis and COVID-19 May contribute to the increased severity of DKA and electrolyte imbalance during the pandemic. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms and develop appropriate strategies to address this issue.

ABSTRACT In this essay, we theorize how terms like “decolonization” and “decoloniality” have entered into the vernacular of the discipline of Communication Studies and remained largely as metaphors. We connect to a conversation among scholars in Indigenous Studies, Cultural Studies, and others who have turned attention to “decolonial” critiques in academic environments, and how they remain detached from their activist origins. We begin with a discussion of metaphor and the cultural and political implications for adopting and misattributing a term like decolonization. Moreover, this study develops a critical method to make sense of the rapid and vast uptake of the term decolonization as a harmful metaphor in the discipline’s most widely read journals. Our critical thematic meta-analysis is driven by a quantifying tool – we turn our research lens to the body of literature written by the collective of scholars in the discipline who refer to or rely on decolonization in their research to reveal the way in which the term is connoted over the last decade. Our analysis reveals “decolonization” is often used as a liberal abstract concept divorced from material contexts. We critique this reductionism, noting how decolonization becomes a buzzword for institutional change without genuine engagement with anti-colonial movements. We end by inviting scholars to reconsider the study of colonization and those materially resisting it with new energies and orientations.

ABSTRACT Whilst research examining transgender identities within educational contexts in recent years has increased, there is limited research focused specifically on transgender and non-binary (TNB) experiences in Physical Education (PE). PE is a context where dominant gendered ‘ideals’ raise the potential for exclusion for those who do not ‘fit’. This paper explores the reflective experiences of thirty TNB individuals (aged 18–25 years) and identifies the barriers to/facilitators of their participation in PE. It presents data collected from an online survey and semi-structured interviews with TNB young adults. Findings show that both the implicit and explicit curriculum are strongly binary, making it hard for students who do not conform to dualistic expectations to negotiate the setting. While these findings support the broader view that TNB young people can feel excluded from PE, there is much to learn from the participants’ experiences. The paper closes by discussing the implications for shaping more inclusive practice.

The ongoing demographic transition within aging single-family house neighborhoods in Germany poses a significant challenge for municipalities. The scarcity of data and information related to demographic composition and location quality complicates research efforts and the development of adaptive strategies for these residential areas. This issue is particularly pronounced in rural regions where resources for capturing and analyzing demographic trends are limited. To address this gap, we propose a methodology based on geographic information systems. In this approach, municipal population registers serve as a central data source for extracting insights about the residents. We present the findings primarily in the form of maps, as they are intended to be easily comprehensible for urban planners and local government staff. Additionally, we outline the initial steps in establishing a small-scale monitoring system that incorporates demographic indicators as well as reachability estimates. A case study from northern Bavaria is used as an illustration.

This study examined the human resource management challenges faced by heads of departments in managing a multigenerational academic workforce in the South African higher education sector. A qualitative research approach was followed, and a multiple case study research design was applied. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 16 participants. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and it was analysed thematically with the aid of Atlas.ti. The study revealed several challenges related to the management of a multigenerational academic workforce, namely, differences in career expectations, skills, and experience among generations; conflict management; implementation of plans and strategies; succession planning; and teamwork. The findings have implications for higher education institutions as different generations have varying expectations for career development. Human resource departments should establish clear and transparent career pathways to meet these expectations. The study also provides supporting evidence for the dimensions outlined in the framework for understanding generational identities in organisations. Exploring generational diversity in workplace relationships and interactions within the education context complements the existing research focused on pedagogical aspects and cultural characteristics in academic settings.

ABSTRACT In this concluding reflection, we value the special issue’s focus on how power asymmetries among civil society organisations (CSOs) affect their relations with international organisations (IOs) and micro-level dynamics of in – and exclusion. Yet we propose to pay further attention to the crisis of liberal institutions and the shrinking spaces provided to some CSOs . We also encourage revisiting the liberal assumption that CSOs seek to democratise IOs and the proposition that the majority of CSOs are keen to cooperate with IOs. The pressing question for us is not how CSOs push in- or exclusion in IOs but how dynamics of in- and exclusion are generated in the web of practices performed by diverse actors. In our perspective, the question is best addressed in reflexive research that is aware of power relations, the methodological difficulties of researching CSOs and often inaccessible IOs, and the dangers of silencing non-academic voices.

ABSTRACT In this special issue, the authors theoretically, methodologically, and empirically address challenges and opportunities associated with comparative social media analysis in political contention. Actors from civil society, media, and institutional politics use social media to coordinate, mobilise, and communicate, turning public online communication into an arena of conflict that offers researchers valuable windows of observation. In this introduction to the special issue, we systematise comparative perspectives on social media and political contention. We outline the traditional comparative dimensions of space, time, platform, and case; and suggest an approach for comparison within dimensions that are less dependent on the rapidly changing social media environment and more attuned to the interconnection between social media and political contention.

ABSTRACT Background Since the end of 2022, Azvudine was widely used to treat hospitalized novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in China. However, data on the clinical effectiveness of Azvudine against severe outcomes and post-COVID-19-conditions (PCC) among patients infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variants was limited. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Azvudine in hospitalized COVID-19 patients during a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5 dominance period. Methods From 1 November 2022 to 1 July 2023, we conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study based on hospitalized COVID-19 patients from a tertiary hospital in Shihezi, China, recruiting laboratory-confirmed hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients treated with Azvudine and usual care were propensity-score matched (PSM) at a 1:1 ratio to a control group in which patients undergone usual care only, with matching based on covariates such as sex, age, ethnicity, number of preexisting conditions, antibiotic use upon admission, and complete blood cell count. The primary outcomes were all-cause death and PCC at short-term (60 days) post discharge. The secondary outcomes included the initiation of invasive mechanical ventilation and PCC at long-term post discharge (120 days). Cox proportional hazards (PH) regression models were employed to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) for both all-cause death and invasive mechanical ventilation, and logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) for short-term and long-term PCC. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the matched covariates. Results A total of 2,639 hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were initially identified, and 2,069 patients were screened following the exclusion criteria. After matching, 297 Azvudine recipients and 297 matched controls were eligible for analyses. The incidence rate of all-cause death was lower in the Azvudine group than in the control group (0.007 per person, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.001, 0.024 vs 0.128, 95% CI: 0.092, 0.171), and the use of Azvudine was associated with a significant lower risk of death and the use of Azvudine was associated with a reduced risk of death (HR: 0.049, 95% CI: 0.012, 0.205). Subgroup analyses indicated a significant effectiveness of Azvudine against the risk of all-cause death among men, age over 65, patients without the preexisting conditions, and patients with antibiotics dispensed at admission. Statistical difference were not observed between Azvudine group and control group in the invasive mechanical ventilation and short-term and long-term PCC. Conclusions The present findings indicate that receipt of Azvudine was associated with lower risk of all-cause death among hospitalized patients with Omicron BA.5 infection a in real-world setting. Further research is urgently needed to validate the effectiveness of Azvudine on the PCC.

ABSTRACT Background The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of NRICM101 in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Research design and methods We conducted a retrospective study from April 20 to 8 July 2021, and evaluated the safety and outcomes (mortality, hospital stay, mechanical ventilation, oxygen support, diarrhea, serum potassium) in COVID-19 patients. Propensity score matching at a 1:2 ratio was performed to reduce confounding factors. Results A total of 201 patients were analyzed. The experimental group (n = 67) received NRICM101 and standard care, while the control group (n = 134) received standard care alone. No significant differences were observed in mortality (10.4% vs. 14.2%), intubation (13.8% vs. 11%), time to intubation (10 vs. 11 days), mechanical ventilation days (0 vs. 9 days), or oxygen support duration (6 vs. 5 days). However, the experimental group had a shorter length of hospitalization (odds ratio = 0.12, p = 0.043) and fewer mechanical ventilation days (odds ratio = 0.068, p = 0.008) in initially severe cases, along with an increased diarrhea risk (p = 0.035). Conclusion NRICM101 did not reduce in-hospital mortality. However, it shortened length of hospitalization and reduced mechanical ventilation days in initially severe cases. Further investigation is needed.