American Research Research Articles

Priority setting: women's health topics in multiple sclerosis.

A scoping review found that most studies on women's health in multiple sclerosis (MS) focused on pregnancy, fetal/neonatal outcomes and sexual dysfunction. Few studies addressed menopause, contraception, gynecologic cancers/cancer screening. However, the perceived relative importance of these knowledge gaps to people living with MS and other partners is unknown. We engaged a range of partners, including people living with MS, health care providers, researchers, and patient advocacy groups, to set priorities for future research in women's health in MS. We employed a three-step global engagement process. First, we identified which broad research topics relevant to women's health in MS were of highest priority using two surveys. Second, we developed specific research questions within these topics using focus groups. Finally, we prioritized the research questions with a third survey. Overall, 5,266 individuals responded to the initial surveys [n = 1,430 global survey, mean (SD) age 50.0 (12.6), all continents; n = 3,836 North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis survey, mean (SD) age 64.8 (9.6), United States]. Menopause, sexual dysfunction, pregnancy, gynecologic cancer/cancer screening, hormones and parenthood were identified as the most important topics. Focus groups generated 80 potential research questions related to these topics. In the final survey 712 individuals prioritized these questions. The highest priority questions in each research topic were: (i) How do perimenopause and menopause affect disease activity, course, response to disease-modifying treatment and quality of life in MS; (ii) What are the most effective strategies for managing issues around sexual intimacy, including related to low sexual desire, changes in physical function, and MS symptoms; (iii) Are there long-term effects of disease-modifying therapies on the children of persons with MS; (iv) What are the short and long-term effects of disease-modifying drugs on gynecologic cancer risk, particularly for high efficacy disease-modifying drugs and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; (v) Are there hormone related treatments that can stabilize fluctuations in MS symptoms; and (vi) How does MS fatigue impact parenting strategies. Priorities for research relating to women's health issues for persons with MS have been delineated using a collaborative process with key partners. Alignment of future research with these priorities should be monitored.

Employee development programs: American researchers review previous studies and find practical implications for best practice for organizations

PurposeThis paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approachThis briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.FindingsUS researchers reviewed previous studies of employee development programs (EDPs) to search for practical implications for organizations. They concluded that EDPs can be used to build a more cohesive workforce, achieving employee motivation, productivity, satisfaction and retention. Building mutual relationships between managers and employees using scheduled, formal EDPs will, therefore, benefit organizations.Originality/valueThe briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

INTIMASY-TBI Guideline: Optimization of INTIMAcy, SexualitY, and Relationships Among Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can negatively impact intimacy, relationships, and sexual functioning through changes in physical, endocrine, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional function. Without intervention, diminished intimacy and/or sexual functioning in individuals with TBI may persist. Although most health care professionals agree that sexuality and intimacy in relationships are significant concerns and should be addressed in rehabilitation, these concerns are not typically discussed during rehabilitation and discharge planning for people with TBI. To address this gap, an expert panel of North American clinicians and researchers convened to develop evidence-informed recommendations to assist clinicians in providing a framework and guidance on how clinicians can support individuals after TBI. A systematic search of multiple databases was conducted to identify relevant evidence published from 2010 to 2023. The INTIMASY-TBI Expert Panel developed recommendations for optimizing discussions and interventions related to intimacy and sexuality for people with TBI in rehabilitation and community-based programs. For each recommendation, the experts evaluated the evidence by examining the study design and quality to determine the level of evidence. A total of 12 recommendations were developed that address the following topic areas: (1) interprofessional team training, (2) early education on the effects of TBI on intimacy, relationships, and sexuality, (3) creating individualized interventions, (4) education, assessment, and management of the causes of sexual dysfunction, and (5) providing written materials and relationship coaching to persons with TBI and their partners. Two recommendations were supported by Level A evidence, 1 was supported by Level B evidence, and 9 were supported by Level C (consensus of the INTIMASY-TBI Expert Panel) evidence. A decision algorithm was developed to assist clinicians in navigating through the recommendations. The INTIMASY-TBI Guideline is one of the first comprehensive clinical practice guidelines to offer strategies to trained clinicians to discuss the physical, psychosocial, behavioral, and emotional aspects of intimacy and sexuality with persons with TBI.

“It was about making a new kind of slave”: corporeal sufferings of Afro-American woman in Megan Giddings’ Lakewood

Abstract The present article investigates the incapacitating bodily experiences of an unconsented African American research subject Lena Johnson in a Lakewood healthcare project by closely reading Megan Giddings’ novel Lakewood (2020). By Portraying the impact of various medical experiments that incarnate pernicious effects on Lena’s body, the deft fiction reminds the readers how the healthcare institutions in the US have been replete with the stereotypical racial beliefs. Afro-American literature while addressing the irrefutable presence of racial culture in the American society, has further emerged to portray the complex narrative experiences of black women in healthcare institutions. In this context, by drawing the theoretical postulates of Elizabeth Grosz and other theoreticians of varying importance, the article seeks to incorporate facets of corporeal feminism (ethical, ontological, and metaphorical dimensions) as its conceptual framework to examine the bodily intricacies and experiential agonies of Afro-American women in healthcare institutions.

Religion and economic prosperity: help or hindrance?

In the contemporary description of the impact of religiosity on social life, the dominant view is one dating back to Max Weber (+1920) on the importance of the Protestant ethic, which, while emphasizing the value of work, at the same time favors prosperity, seeing it as a sign of God's blessing. Based on these assumptions, some seem to suggest that Protestants earn more because their religiosity translates directly into increased profits in their professional work. Contemporary Polish economic philosophers Marcin Gorazda and Tomasz Kwarcinski seem to argue with this thesis in their latest book "Between Prosperity and Happiness." (Cracow 2020). In my paper, I will refer to a brief outline of the biblical context of the question of the propriety of wealth, the reasons for the New Testament warnings against the dangers of wealth, in order to refer to research highlighting the relationship between religiosity and economic success (for example, recent American research on the impact of religion on family firms). Thus, the thesis of Protestantism's favorability toward wealth (compared to Catholicism) must take into account other still other factors such as demographic or sociological.

Latino Opinion and Action in the Struggle for America's Political Future

Nearly 20 years have passed since this journal's last review of Latino politics. Today, American politics have shifted dramatically, even alarmingly, with Latinos absorbing and contributing to many of these changes. Yet American politics research still overwhelmingly privileges non-Hispanic Whites and their political opinions and behavior. We argue that this marginalization of Latino politics research has even fewer excuses in this era when data, methodologies, and other resources have expanded, making theory-based, empirically grounded research on Latino politics more feasible. We also argue that to better grasp what happens in contemporary politics today and tomorrow, a deeper understanding of Latinos’ political psychology is indispensable because they are a highly diverse, minoritized group whose members are acutely sensitive to structural, temporal, and situational pressures. Finally, in an overwhelmingly quantitative, empirically oriented field, we urge Latino politics scholars to more earnestly consider the normative implications of research on this growing pan-ethnic population.

ІСТОРИЧНЕ ПІДҐРУНТЯ ТА СУСПІЛЬНО-ПОЛІТИЧНІ ПЕРЕДУМОВИ СТВОРЕННЯ ПАРТІЇ АЛЬТЕРНАТИВА ДЛЯ НІМЕЧЧИНИ

Based on the analysis of sources, such as programmatic and pre-election documents of the Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland –AfD) party, materials of civic-political initiatives and formations that preceded its establishment, processing a range of informational, feature and statistical materials, taking into account the works of German, British, Swiss, and American researchers, authors aim to illuminate the historical preconditions and direct socio-political and socio-economic reasons of the emergence, stages of formation, and achievements of the AfD’s first electoral successes on the German political arena. It is established that in Germany, after the Second World War, alongside liberal-conservative and social-reformist parties, several right-wing populist or right-radical parties emerged. Their development occurred in three waves and was marked by legislative restrictions from the state, stigmatization from society, weakness of internal organizational structure, and competition from ruling parties, leading only to temporary electoral successes at the local level. The formation of the new right-wing populist party AfD was primarily influenced by the European debt crisis of 2010 and the Eurozone rescue policy of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government. The article extensively examines the main stages of the party’s genesis and development: the formation of the “Plenum der Ökonomen” in 2010, the “Bündnis Bürgerwille” in 2012, the political alliance “Wahlalternative 2013” and the actual establishment of the party in 2013. The main foundational and programmatic documents are analyzed, highlighting the idea of Germany’s exit from the Eurozone and return to a national currency as a recurring theme. Another important factor in the success of AfD in the early stages of its history was the party’s ability to unite those segments of German society that were skeptical of the integrationist European policies of the ruling parties. Undoubtedly, the refugee crisis that engulfed EU countries and Germany in particular in mid-2015 provided a powerful impetus for the party’s further development. By radicalizing its programmatic demands, AfD achieved sustained electoral success not only at the regional but also at the federal levels over several years.

«Двуголосие» и динамика национальной идентичности в русской и афроамериканской литературе

This review is dedicated to the book by the American researcher, a famous specialist in the field of literary comparative studies, Dale Peterson, “Up from Bondage. The Literatures of Russian and African American ʽSoul’.” D. Peterson’s work represents the first study that draws a parallel between the evolution of Russian and African-American cultural identities in literary works and analyzes the phenomenon of the “folk soul.” The study is distinguished not only by its innovative approach and high scientific significance but also by its careful research of archival materials, manuscripts, and letters from the authors, which creates a solid basis for subsequent theoretical generalizations. Using the concept of the “polyphonic novel” by M. M. Bakhtin and the theory of culturally embedded speech acts he developed, Peterson concludes that the dynamics of development and deep mentality of Russian and African-American literature are similar.

«Не всякому виден труд редактора…»: Рецензия на новую книгу о М. Н. Каткове

The article presents a review of the monograph by Susan Fusso, an American researcher, and professor of Russian, East European, and Eurasian languages at Wesleyan University, published by Bibliorossika Publishing House and devoted to the role of an authoritative journalist, editor, and publisher of the largest organs of the Russian conservative press M. N. Katkov — in the formation of the concept of the Russian novel of the second half of the 19th century. The author’s attention focuses on Katkov’s relationship with the major Russian writers of the second half of the 19th century, I. S. Turgenev, F. M. Dostoevsky, and L. N. Tolstoy. Based on a broad historical and literary context, a scrupulous analysis of the journalistic speeches of the journalist and the literary texts of Turgenev, Dostoevsky, and Tolstoy, the researcher rethinks the importance of Katkov in the literary process of the 1860s and 1880s. The review describes the structure of the monograph, and the range of issues raised in it, highlights the most successful and original author’s conclusions, and outlines the prospects for further research.

Experience of co-injection of pulverized coal and natural gas into blast furnace hearth under the conditions of PJSC "KAMET-STEEL"

The article provides an analysis of the practical and analytical results of the methods of co-injection of pulverized coal and natural gas into the hearth of blast furnaces by American researchers and practitioners. The analysis shows the advantage of supplying natural gas, as well as pulverized coal, through the lance into the blow channel of the tuyere device. Practical results obtained for the first time in Ukraine of co-injection of pulverized coal and natural gas into the hearth of a blast furnace in unstable charge and fuel conditions of PJSC "KAMET-STEEL" are presented. Practical experiments have proven the efficiency of such injection when fuel additives are injected onto separate lances into the blow channel of the tuyere device, and the natural gas lance is withdrawn so that its combustion occurs before the injection of pulverized coal into the blow channel. The effectiveness of the practical application of the method of co-injecting pulverized coal and natural gas into the hearth of a blast furnace is expressed in a reduction in the specific coke consumption by 10.3 kg/ton of cast iron (or 2.85 %) at a consumption of pulverized coal — 153.4 kg/ton of cast iron and natural gas — 24.5 m3/ton of cast iron. The results obtained allow us to recommend this method of injecting fuel additives under acceptable price conditions, as well as at other metallurgical plants, especially those operating with better conditions for ensuring high temperatures of hot blast — more than 1050 °C. As a result of the analytical studies performed, it was established that: nozzles with two inlets for natural gas and pulverized coal, ensuring the introduction of natural gas into the blast channel before pulverized coal, contribute to the maximum burnout rate of the latter in the blast flow; with this injection method, more methane natural gas is burned, more heat is released due to the combustion reaction, which leads to an increase in the blast temperature at the outlet of the tuyere.

An analysis of meiofauna knowledge generated by Latin American researchers

An analysis of meiofauna knowledge generated by Latin American researchers

Disease-modifying therapy initiation patterns in multiple sclerosis in three large MS populations.

Treatment guidelines recommend early disease-modifying therapy (DMT) initiation after diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Multinational comparative studies that assess time to DMT initiation in MS may allow detection of barriers inherent to healthcare systems to explain potential adverse systematic delays in commencing DMTs. To investigate and compare the time to first DMT and its association with sociodemographic and clinical variables after MS diagnosis in three large MS registries. This observational study was conducted using data from the German MS Registry (GMSR), the North American Research Committee on MS Registry (NARCOMS, US data only), and the United Kingdom MS Registry (UKMSR, both self- and clinician-reported). Data from relapsing people with MS (PwMS), with a diagnosis of MS between 2014 and 2019, and available DMT and disability status were pooled using a meta-analytic approach. A total of 5395 PwMS were included in the analysis (GMSR: n = 2658; NARCOMS: n = 447; UKMSR: n = 2290). Kaplan-Meier estimates for the time to first DMT [median months (95% CI)] were 2.0 (1.9-2.0), 3.0 (2-4), and 9.0 (7.7-10.6) for GMSR, NARCOMS, and UKMSR, respectively. Pooled multivariable Cox regression demonstrated shorter time to first DMT for PwMS diagnosed after 2017 [1.65 (1.42-1.92), p < 0.01], and longer time to DMT when a higher-efficacy DMT was selected (0.69 (0.54-0.90), p < 0.0001]. Time to DMT initiation differs across the populations studied, indicating that barriers may exist in early access to DMT, particularly in the United Kingdom. However, a consistent decrease in time to DMT initiation was noted since 2017 across all registries. Further studies are warranted comparing the effects of time to DMT and time to higher-efficacy DMT on long-term outcome.

The Relationship between Healthy Eating Index and Lipid Profile in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review.

The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) are instruments developed by competing American research teams, aiming to assess the level of adherence to a dietary pattern, claimed to prevent chronic illness conditions such as dyslipidemia. This systematic review evaluated cross-sectional studies examining the association between HEI/AHEI score and the lipid profile in healthy participants. The systematic review was Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) compliant, and a search process was conducted through Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, Cochrane, PubMed, and ScienceDirect up to November 2022. Studies assessing the relationship between HEI/AHEI and lipid profile (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG)) were eligible for inclusion. The statistical differences in outcomes, anthropometric indices, and demographic data were extracted from the selected studies. Also, the quality assessment of studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The systematic search presented 17 cross-sectional studies. Most of the studies revealed a significant correlation between HEI score and lipid profile (LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, and TC) (P < 0.05), while a few of them indicated a significant relationship between AHEI score and these factors. Overall, the elevation of HEI/AHEI score was associated with the improvement in lipid profile (P < 0.05), though this association was more obvious for HEI compared with AHEI. Overall, the results of the study indicated that an improved lipid profile in healthy individuals is associated with a higher score in either HEI or AHEI. Further research in the future is required to confirm the claim.

Research Workshop on Bacillus in Clinical and Agricultural Environments 29th Feb – 1st Mar 2024, Umeå University, Sweden

This event was inspired by the 2023 European Spores Conference and BACT Conference. These events bring many research groups together on spores and the common causative species, primarily Bacillus. However, to bring the latest knowledge to solve “real-world” problems brought by spores and Bacillus species, we wanted a dedicated event that facilitates knowledge transfer. Thus, the idea for this workshop was born. The focus of this event is to exchange knowledge between academia and other sectors, like agriculture or biosafety, where Bacillus species are a problem with substantial costs. We have speakers covering topics from Bacillus genomics to spore structure and opportunities in industry to decontamination. We hope this event will help communication and collaboration between universities and industries. We are thankful for those who have made the trip here and hope you enjoyed the meeting and the wintry aesthetic of the city as a whole. About Umeå University Formally established in 1965, Umeå University is a comprehensive university covering research and education in medicine, science and technology, social sciences, arts and humanities, and educational sciences. Our cohesive campus environment enables a dynamic and open culture with a strong sense of community. Here, we have over 35000 students and over 2000 researchers that help to promote factfulness and contribute to scientific progress. In 2020, Emmanuelle Charpentier was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discovery of the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9. A discovery she made during her time as a researcher at Umeå University. The prize was awarded jointly to Emmanuelle Charpentier and the American researcher Jennifer A. Doudna. Emmanuelle is an honorary doctor at Umeå University, a former visiting researcher at the Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, UCMR, and a former research leader at the Laboratory of Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, MIMS.

The Development of Moral Values of School Children with Visual Impairments Folk Music

The relevance of the presented paper is conditioned upon the fact that today, the subject of the development of moral values in children with visual impairment through musical motifs of folklore is a very understudied issue. However, based on the statistics of the World Health Organisation for 2021, about 2.2 billion people worldwide have visual impairments. The purpose of this paper is to study the features of the psychological and pedagogical characteristics of children with visual impairments, their moral development, and the development of ways of spiritual and moral education through folk music. To achieve this purpose, the following methods were used: analysis, synthesis, comparison, induction, statistical analysis, and deduction. In particular, the method of statistical analysis of sources of American, Kazakh, and Russian researchers within the boundaries of the subject was used. The practical basis was the statistical data of the WHO company for 2021. The result of the study was a complete analysis of the statistics of children with visual impairment in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The study’s main conclusion is that modern methods of teaching children with visual impairment are based on the musical accompaniment of educational activities since the musical form allows the development of moral values. Visually impaired students are characterised by insufficient development of the visual-imaginative level of mental activity, which determines the uniqueness of specific conceptual thinking due to visual perception disorders and limited visual experience. The alienation of a child with visual impairments from others entails secrecy and lack of communication, which can be expressed in a large volume of complexes in the future. The applied value of this paper lies in the development of recommendations for improving the system of pedagogical education of children with visual impairment through folklore-applied developmental classes.

Myxomycetes in the Antarctic: A review

This work summarize the results of Myxomycetes collections carried out by European and South American researchers on Antarctic ice free areas during the last fifty years. An annotated list and an identification key for the nine species with confirmed occurrence on the continent are presented.

Book remediation in audiovisual arts through the lens of video games

The article undertakes a comprehensive examination of the phenomenon of book remediation through the lens of the theoretical framework presented by American researchers J. Bolter and D. Grusin. Drawing on statistical data illustrating the role of books in the lives of Ukrainians, the author validates the assertion that books no longer occupy a central position in the leisure pursuits of contemporary individuals. However, it is intriguing to note that the majority of today's popular media actively engage in the process of remodeling books. Defined inherently as multimedia, contemporary audiovisual art is characterized by remediation, with video games chosen as the most technologically advanced exemplar within this genre. Notably, the analysis reveals a significant gap in previous research, specifically, the lack of attention to the nuanced connection between the characteristics of remediating books in the context of video games. A key revelation is that the frequency of remediating books through video games is contingent on the genre, with games prioritizing gameplay mechanics over plot exhibiting a lower propensity for book remediation. The form of remediation in such video games is conditional, primarily associated with the intricacies of the game interface. Conversely, in narrative-centric video games, remediation tends to involve a more direct interaction with the book. Expanding beyond the initial scope of inquiry, the study identifies and scrutinizes additional factors influencing remediation. The setting of the game and the player's perspective emerge as crucial variables, with book remediation more prevalent in video games set in fantasy archaic or modern environments compared to those set in fantastical realms. An equally significant factor, rivaling genre influence, is the player's perspective, notably observed in first-person games which exhibit a propensity to eschew hypermedia in their interaction with the game world — a tendency most pronounced in video games leveraging virtual reality technology.

On (missing) links between German, Latin American, and French Mediatization Research: Reflections on Diverse Research Milieus and Their Traditions

Mediatization research is no European invention, being also rooted in Latin American Cultural Studies and semiotics. Building on an analytical scheme on how to analyze the history of a study field in communication research in terms of its corpus of ideas and its social corpus, this article discusses the transnational (dis-)connections in the field of mediatization research regarding a) the Latin American and French roots of this research field and b) by trying to answer why they are still so unknown, at least in German communication studies. Still today, E. Verón, Martín-Barbero, A. Mattelart, and others are more or less unknown authors in German communication studies.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: CONCEPTUAL FIELD OF INTERPRETATIONS

In their legislative actions and political strategies, the EU’s countries integrate the promotion of sustainable economic and social development, justice, and equality policies with efforts to address worklife balance and personal life matters. Modern corporations, driven by a focus on economic success, are developing and implementing their work-life balance strategies for employees. Studies by European- American researchers define the balance between work and personal life as a significant component both of social quality of life and decent work. Nevertheless, in Ukraine, aspiring for European integration, the matter of preserving work-life balance still warrants attention from scientists, policymakers, and managers. This article's purpose is to explore the various definitions and interpretations of the key concept 'work-life balance' found in contemporary scientific literature. It aims to identify the range of attributes inherent in the phenomenon referred to as 'work-life balance.' The article conducts a classification of conceptual approaches for interpreting this concept, outlines its fundamental characteristics based on a comprehensive review of the specialized literature, and highlights the cognitive potential and limitations of specific conceptual models. The authors categorize conceptual models of work-life balance into two distinct clusters: 1) Attributive models, which place emphasis on either subjective or objective characteristics of balancing work and personal life; 2) Relational models, which aim to illustrate the connections between different life spheres. The second cluster comprises concepts that vary in their focus on segmenting or exploring the mutual influences between key life domains, highlighting the nature of these influences in terms of balance or conflict. Heuristic perspectives in the conceptualization of the work-life balance concept are evident in synthetic models capable of encompassing both objective and subjective aspects of the phenomenon. These models recognize the intricate relationships between various life domains, extending beyond the simple dichotomy of harmony vs. conflict. They also consider the potential for synergistic effects, such as compensation, mutual reinforcement, and the transfer of effects. This work contributes to the advancement of the work-life balance concept and its potential empirical application in sociological studies related to quality of life, decent work, and the evaluation of socially oriented development strategies for both states and corporations.

Stages of Media Studies Development in Western Sociology: Formation of Propaganda Models and Their Influence on Changes in the Public Mass Consciousness

At the end of the 1920s and the beginning of the 1930s, scientists became interested in the media as a subject of research, and there was also a concrete practical implementation of the technologies of mass media influence in political life. The defining feature of this period was the limitless power of the mass media to influence human behavior through persuasion, and the impetus for such conclusions was given by the successes of the Entente states in the First World War. Also, the targeted influence of the media on the public and the development of the PR system helped not only the American presidents to influence the domestic audience in the USA and beyond, but also the large-scale propaganda influence helped A. Hitler comes to power. At the first stage of the study of mass communications and the theory of propaganda, two scientific directions are distinguished: the Chicago school of pragmatism, represented by American researchers, and the Frankfurt school, which was developed by European scientists. Analysis of their research demonstrated the superiority of one-way communication, and the means of mass-communication influence was the power of persuasion, with the help of which the audience was deprived of critical thinking and turned into passive participants in communication. This laid the foundation for the first theories of propaganda, which were effectively used to achieve foreign policy goals by the then leaders.