False Hope Research Articles

“A new or false hope?” practice and policy on teaching–research linkage in contemporary Cambodia’s higher education

PurposeThe teaching–research nexus (TRN) has assumed a prominent role in global higher education systems. However, the connection between the two domains has been subject to diverse interpretations within well-developed higher education systems. Little is known about translating TRN into policy and practice in diverse higher education spaces. In this regard, this article examines the recent trajectory and challenges associated with integrating research and teaching in Cambodia.Design/methodology/approachTo analyse the current development of TRN and its associated challenges, this article consolidates two sets of data: recent research papers and government policy documents on TRN in the last 10 years or so.FindingsThe analysis shows that the connection between teaching and research appears to be patchy in practice, as evidenced in previous studies. The recent government policies and interventions, although potentially fostering progress in research activities, pose dilemmas regarding the orientation and feasibility of linking these two domains.Research limitations/implicationsThis article focuses on enhancing TRN in Cambodia, one of the developing higher education contexts, thereby offering insights into the strategies and concerns within such environments. Policymakers in similar higher education contexts might benefit from considering the concerns and solutions highlighted in this article.Originality/valueResearch on policies and strategies for strengthening TRN in developing higher education contexts remains limited in the literature. This article contributes to our collective knowledge of TRN by looking at Cambodia's contemporary reality and strategies.

The focus account of false hope.

False hope is costly for individuals, their loved ones, and society. Scholars have defined false hope as one that involves an epistemically unjustified belief. In this paper, I argue that this account of false hope is incomplete and that false hope should be conceptualized in terms of the way in which the agent attends to or focuses on a highly desired but unlikely outcome. I explain how this account better captures the distinctiveness of false hope.

Hope pluralism in antenatal palliative care

When parents face the distressing news during pregnancy that their baby is affected by a serious medical condition that will likely lead to the baby’s death before or soon after...

Randomized Controlled Trials Studying Nonoperative Treatments of Osteoarthritis Often Use Misleading and Uninformative Control Groups: A Systematic Review.

Because there are no known treatments that alter the natural course of the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis, nonoperative treatment needs to be compared with known effective treatments that seek to mitigate symptoms or with similarly invasive inert (placebo) treatments to determine effectiveness. Comparing a treatment to an uninformative control group may inappropriately legitimize and support the use of potentially ineffective treatments. We therefore investigated the prevalence of inappropriate control groups in musculoskeletal research and asked whether these are associated with reporting a positive treatment effect. We systematically reviewed randomized trials of nonoperative treatments of osteoarthritis and asked: (1) What proportion of randomized trials use uninformative control groups (defined as a treatment less invasive than the tested treatment, or a treatment that might possibly not outperform placebo but is not acknowledged as such)? (2) Is the use of uninformative control groups independently associated with reporting a positive treatment effect (defined as p < 0.05 in favor of the intervention, or as making a recommendation favoring the intervention over the control treatment)? In a systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase up to September 2023 for randomized controlled trials published between 2020 to 2022 that compared one or more nonoperative treatments for the symptoms of osteoarthritis. We excluded studies that contained a surgical treatment group. We identified 103 trials that met eligibility criteria, with a total of 15,491 patients. The risk of bias was high in 60% (n = 62) of trials using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, version 2. Although the high risk of bias in the included studies is concerning, it does not invalidate our design; instead, it highlights that some studies may use flawed methods to recommend treatments with unproven effectiveness beyond nonspecific effects because the kinds of bias observed would tend to increase the apparent benefit of the treatment(s) being evaluated. We used logistic regression to test the association of uninformative control groups with a positive treatment effect, accounting for potential confounders such as conflict of interest and study bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias score. The use of uninformative control groups (treatments less invasive than the tested treatment, or treatments that might not outperform placebo but are not acknowledged as such) was found in 46% (47 of 103) of included studies. After accounting for potential confounding, there was no association between reporting positive treatment effects and the use of an uninformative control group. Studies with a low risk of bias had a lower likelihood of reporting a positive treatment effect (OR 0.2 [95% confidence interval 0.05 to 0.9]; p = 0.04, model pseudo R2 = 0.21). The finding that recent studies that mimic high-level evidence often use uninformative control groups that do not adequately account for nonspecific effects (perceived treatment benefits unrelated to a treatment's direct physiological effects) points to a high risk of legitimizing ineffective treatments. This raises the ethical imperative for patients, clinicians, journal peer reviewers, and journal editors to hold researchers to the standard of an adequate, informative control group. Awareness and risk of bias checklists might help patients and clinicians forgo new treatments based on seemingly high-level evidence that may carry only iatrogenic, financial, and psychological harm (false hope, in particular). Level I, therapeutic study.

Health-enhancing physical activity in obesity management: the need to (seriously) go beyond weight loss.

There are many false hopes around the impact of physical activity and exercise in obesity management, especially regarding weight loss. Narrowly focusing on weight loss only leads to disappointment for patients and practitioners. Indeed, in persons with overweight or obesity, exercise training, specifically aerobic (i.e. endurance) training, is associated with significant additional weight and fat loss compared to the absence of training. However the magnitude of this effect remains modest, amounting to only 2-3 kg additional weight or fat loss on average. We therefore argue that this conversation needs to be re-oriented towards the many potential health benefits of physical activity that can be seen beyond weight loss. Exercise training has been shown to improve the cardiometabolic risk profile by effects including decreasing abdominal visceral fat and improving insulin sensitivity. Aerobic, as well as combined aerobic and resistance (i.e. strength) training, increase cardiorespiratory fitness, a major risk factor for ill health. Resistance training improves muscle strength, another major component of physical fitness, even in the absence of a significant change in muscle mass. Beyond body mass loss, recognizing the broad value of physical activity/exercise in improving health and quality of life of people with obesity is a crucial perspective shift.

Reconciling moral discourses on choice, risk and pronatalism: the politics of elective egg freezing in Singapore

This article examines the framing of choice, risk and pronatalism in Singapore’s debate on elective egg freezing, beginning from the government’s review of the ban in 2012 and ending in 2023 when the procedure was legalised. It demonstrates the possibility of reconciling liberal discourses on reproductive choice with technocritical discourses on egg freezing as a risky and oppressive pronatalist technology. While medical complications, false hope and commercial abuse were longstanding concerns in Singapore, these risks were perceived as reconcilable with choice through an age limit, mandatory counselling and comparative frames from the national and international regulatory context. Additionally, low fertility rates and efforts to advance gender equality enabled the reconciliation of choice and pronatalism as policy justifications, while the construction of female candidates’ heteronormative reproductive desire framed pronatalism in women-centric ways. Such reconciliation was facilitated by Singapore’s strong interventionist culture which normalises paternalism and pronatalism. Within this context and through actors’ articulation of policy ideas, elective egg freezing was reinterpreted as a technology with manageable risks, and a hope technology for women and nation. A moral Singapore State which permits elective egg freezing while supporting the interests of women and society was thus co-produced by politicians, journalists and doctors.

THE STYLISTIC ORIGINALITY OF THE NOVEL “THE GLASS CASTLE” BY JEANNETTE WALLS

The article analyzes the linguistic and stylistic devices used by J. Walls which express the writer’s style of writing. The linguistic aspect of the writer’s creativity remains insufficiently studied since the researchers focused mainly on the literary aspect. The stylistics of the modern English language differs in a certain way from stable, traditional language forms. On the selected research material (Jannette Walls’s novel “The Glass Castle”) it can be seen that, over time, the allusions acquire a more modern character: in the mentioned novel, J. Walls refers not only to classic or ancient works (“Hercules”, “Lord of the Flies”) but even to more “simple” modern literature, children’s fairytale “The Wizard of Oz” by L. F. Baum. Allusion provides references and explanations that help the reader understand the meaning of symbols and places in the memoir. To enhance the effect, the writer sometimes uses jargon, vocabulary not inherent in traditional literature. J. Walls writes in such detail and uses so many images that the reader can visualize any described event. There is a lot of symbolism in the novel, and “The Glass Castle” is one of the most significant symbols of the work. It is also an extended metaphor for empty promises and false hopes. Comparison, which is used more often than any other stylistic means, makes the story real, bringing all the characters to life. Personification deserves special attention. Using this stylistic figure, the author reveals one of the main symbols of the novel – fire. As for Jeannette’s parents, they are frequently described with hyperbole. Thus, the use of certain stylistic means, their application, and their place in the novel plays an important role in creating a special and unique style of writing.

Artificial intelligence in traumatology and orthopedics. Reality, fantasy or false hopes?

Background. In recent years, the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine has been actively discussed not just as a promising solution but the one that can help to improve some results. A significant growth of interest in AI systems all over the world began in the early-mid 2010s, which allowed us to consider the practical application of such systems. The aim of the study is to analyze all the software products (SP) registered in our country as a medical device, including those with AI technology, and to evaluate their applicability in traumatology and orthopedics. Methods. The study included all the SP having a registration certificate of a medical device according to the OKPD2 code 58.29.XX.XXX (services for publishing other software). In the state register of medical devices and organizations (individual entrepreneurs), which is engaged in the production and manufacturing of medical devices, we found 111 registered SP according to the inclusion criterion, as at February 14, 2024. Results. We proposed to categorize all registered SP as follows: systems working with the DICOM standard images (47 pcs, 42%), laboratory data (20 pcs, 18%), microscopy images (7 pcs, 6%), photographic images (5 pcs, 5%), medical information systems (4 pcs, 4%), text data mining systems (3 pcs, 3%), clinical decision support systems (3 pcs, 3%), Holter ECG analysis (2 pcs, 2%), other systems (16 pcs, 14%). Systems applicable to traumatology and orthopedics accounted for 4 pcs (4%). Conclusions. Unfortunately, the real-world applicability of existing solutions in the field of traumatology and orthopedics can be regarded as minimal in comparison with pulmonology, oncology, and laboratory diagnostics, where AI programs have already achieved significant success.

Data-driven prediction of continuous renal replacement therapy survival

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a form of dialysis prescribed to severely ill patients who cannot tolerate regular hemodialysis. However, as the patients are typically very ill to begin with, there is always uncertainty whether they will survive during or after CRRT treatment. Because of outcome uncertainty, a large percentage of patients treated with CRRT do not survive, utilizing scarce resources and raising false hope in patients and their families. To address these issues, we present a machine learning-based algorithm to predict short-term survival in patients being initiated on CRRT. We use information extracted from electronic health records from patients who were placed on CRRT at multiple institutions to train a model that predicts CRRT survival outcome; on a held-out test set, the model achieves an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.848 (CI = 0.822–0.870). Feature importance, error, and subgroup analyses provide insight into bias and relevant features for model prediction. Overall, we demonstrate the potential for predictive machine learning models to assist clinicians in alleviating the uncertainty of CRRT patient survival outcomes, with opportunities for future improvement through further data collection and advanced modeling.

Central Bank Communication with the General Public: Promise or False Hope?

Central banks are increasingly reaching out to the general public to motivate and explain their monetary policy actions. One major aim of this outreach is to ensure accountability and create trust; another is to guide inflation expectations. This article surveys a rapidly growing literature on central bank communication with the public, rather than with the financial markets. We first discuss why such communication matters and is more challenging than communicating with expert audiences. Then we turn to methods: How do central banks try to reach the public, and do they succeed? Next, and importantly, we survey the empirical evidence on the extent to which this new outreach affects inflation expectations. On balance, we see some promise in the potential to inform the public better, but many challenges along the way. (JEL D83, D84, E31, E52, E58, G53)

Donor-derived Cell-free DNA and Acute Kidney Rejection: A Golden Opportunity or a False Hope?

Donor-derived Cell-free DNA and Acute Kidney Rejection: A Golden Opportunity or a False Hope?

Thomas Aquinas on the passion of hope

Thomas Aquinas has argued that the passion of hope is the movement of the sensitive appetite and the first of the irascible passion. The first part of the article aims to explore the cause and the mechanism of the passion of hope, and tries to clarify the relationship between the passion of hope and the perception. In human beings, it is possible that the passion of hope is caused by false judgement of the perception, which will lead to the result of false hope. In Aquinas’s argument, the problem of false hope could be solved through the moral virtue and the prudence. In the second part of this article, the aim is to analyse how the virtue of magnanimity, humility and the prudence work impact on the passion of hope and perfect it.Contribution: This research concentrates on the topic of the passion of hope of Thomas Aquinas, and provides a new perspective on the understanding of the relationship between the passion and the virtue.

The synergy of skin and science – A comprehensive review of artificial intelligence’s impact on dermatology

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an omnipresent area in modern culture. Every industry in the world has been greatly impacted by the development of technology, which has improved people’s quality of life. With the advent of AI, even 10 years old can now use smartphones to conquer the world by simplifying complex jobs. AI has made a substantial contribution to the health-care industry as well, sparking debates about whether robots may or may not eventually replace doctors in the medical field. Interestingly, AI additionally has made important advances in the field of dermatology. Through its discovery of applications that can predict a person’s skin type and the products they should use to achieve “perfect skin,” AI has greatly targeted its audience in the esthetics space, where people are most concerned with the health of their bodies and hair. AI has also developed strong relationships with these people and provided excellent advice for skin-related concerns. However, the question of whether individuals are mistreating their skin or relying too much on AI to address their skin troubles remains. Certain applications use the beauty calculator based on face symmetry, which can have a drastic impact on one’s self-confidence. These commercials may also instill false hope, and they may even be an advertising strategy used by the gods of the metaverse. Applications that give predictions regarding skin health can also create a state of anxiety in people who use them. This article examines whether AI has had a discernible effect on skin health, how it may influence cosmetic dermatology in the future, how accurate AI is in diagnosing conditions and recommending treatments, and whether we should rely on AI in the future for dermatological issues.

The False Hope of Stewardship in the Context of Controlling Shareholders: Making Sense Out of the Global Transplant of a Legal Misfit

Abstract In 2010, the United Kingdom issued the world’s first stewardship code. Since then, stewardship codes have been issued in many of the world’s leading economies and now exist in twenty jurisdictions on six continents, with more jurisdictions considering adopting them. In the United Kingdom, stewardship codes were promised to transform rationally passive institutional investors into actively engaged shareholders to prevent another global financial crisis (GFC). More recently, the new 2020 U.K. Stewardship Code (U.K. Code) has been promoted as a mechanism to save the planet by incentivizing institutional investors to pressure listed companies to focus on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). There is a vigorous debate and developed literature on whether the U.K. Code will achieve these goals. However, what has been lost in this debate is that outside of the United Kingdom/United States it may not matter nearly as much if stewardship succeeds in changing the behavior of institutional investors. This is because, with the notable exception of the United Kingdom/United States, institutional investors are collectively minority shareholders in most listed companies in almost every jurisdiction in the world. Moreover, in almost every jurisdiction, with the notable exception of the United Kingdom/United States, most listed companies already have a rationally active—non-institutional—controlling shareholder as their “steward.” Why then have jurisdictions around the world adopted U.K.-style stewardship codes which are designed based on the assumption that institutional investors collectively control most listed companies? This Article answers this question by undertaking the first in-depth global comparative analysis of the curious transplant of U.K.-style stewardship codes into jurisdictions dominated by controlling shareholders and examines the role that stewardship plays in these jurisdictions. It does this by drawing on a unique collection of recent in-depth case studies on stewardship in twenty-two jurisdictions by leading corporate law experts, hand-collected data analyzing the content of every stewardship code that has ever been issued, and fresh hand-compiled data on shareholder ownership structures in listed companies around the world. It reveals that stewardship has been coopted by governments and institutional investors to serve their own diverse purposes—a troubling trend which will likely be exacerbated post-Covid-19, when an authentic focus on an inclusive society and the environment will be more critical than ever.

Uncovering Shortcomings in Advertising Strategies for Over-the-Counter Minoxidil Products on Amazon.

Introduction The over-the-counter (OTC) market for hair loss products, particularly those containing minoxidil, has significantly expanded due to the increased prevalence of hair loss. Minoxidil, a vasodilator medication, is known for its potential to stimulate hair growth. However, the rise in OTC formulations has led to misleading advertising and marketing, with some companies exaggerating the benefits of their products while minimizing potential adverse effects. Methods A Google Boolean Search was conducted to identify OTC minoxidil products. The topmost non-sponsored search engine result page was used for analysis. Products not containing any dosage of minoxidil were excluded, resulting in nine products. These were individually searched on Amazon and eight were analyzed for any addressed safety information and adverse effects profile. Results The analysis revealed that only two out of eight products (25%) reported safety information, and none of the products (0%) reported any adverse effects. Significant observations were found surrounding the transparency and accuracy of the advertising and marketing of these products. Many companies made bold claims about their products without providing supporting scientific evidence or studies. Furthermore, many of these OTC hair loss brands did not adequately mention and explain the adverse effects of the product. Conclusions The study highlights the need for greater transparency in the marketing of OTC minoxidil products. Companies should provide clear and accessible information about the safety and potential adverse effects of their products. This will empower consumers to make informed decisions and foster trust between the industry and the consumer. Furthermore, the authenticity and accuracy of marketing images should be ensured to avoid giving false hopes to consumers.

The hope wheel: a model to enable hope-based pedagogy in Climate Change Education.

In response to concerns about climate anxiety and distress, researchers and practitioners in both education and psychology have been investigating the importance of engaging climate hope in Climate Change Education (CCE). Synthesizing recent multidisciplinary research, alongside insights from the development of educational programs, this article proposes a new theoretical model for pedagogies of hope in CCE. The Hope Wheel presents three foundational elements: handrails for educators to hold on to while constructively engaging with climate change (honesty, awareness, spaceholding, action), guardrails for educators to be sensitive to when implementing the handrails (climate anxiety, mis-/disinformation, false hope), and lenses to encourage educators to explore connections between complex societal and planetary challenges (complexity, justice, perspectives, creativity, and empathy). This working model aims to support educators by distilling current learnings from the literature into a visual guide. It depicts essential elements to include, as well as avoid, in order to engage honest, hope-oriented CCE for transformative learning in the face of the climate crisis.

False hope religion? Socio-economic turmoil and the rise of prosperity gospel in Zimbabwe

The socio-economic and political meltdown in Zimbabwe that began in the year 2000 caused significant changes in how people related to religion. Zimbabwe has endured one of the world's most puzzling economic catastrophes, characterised by extreme unpredictability and instability. Since the year 2000, Zimbabwe's socio-economic landscape has changed dramatically following the introduction of radical economic policies such as land redistribution and indigenisation. Since then, the economic fortunes of Zimbabwe have nosedived, with economic convulsions and unpredictability becoming the norm. This peculiar period of the country’s history has also seen far-reaching changes in the religious sector as prosperity gospel has risen to become probably the most influential religious force in the country. This paper documents how, in the face of socio-economic challenges, Zimbabweans have sought solace in charismatic churches championing prosperity. It argues that the uncertainties triggered by collapsing social and economic fabric have led to the rise of a charismatic prosperity gospel movement in Zimbabwe. Its growth has been aided by a 'spiritual healing' infrastructure that supports believers in various ways.

Pod fałszywym sztandarem „naszej cywilizacji” w obronie Zachodu

UNDER THE FALSE BANNER OF “OUR CIVILIZATION” IN DEFENSE OF THE WEST: SUCCESSFUL MYSTIFICATION OF ADOLF HITLER, FALSE HOPES OF PIŁSUDSKI’S SUPPORTERS (1933-1935)For Adolf Hitler, the most important goal was to build the power of the Third Reich and expand the armed forces necessary to implement his plans to fight communism, solve the Jewish question and gain living space in the East. The peace on the eastern border sought by Hitler could be the basis for an agreement with Józef Piłsudski, who sought to normalize relations with his western neighbor due to the danger from Soviet Russia. For Poland, aspiring to the role of defender of Western civilization and a bulwark against Russia and Eastern influences, it was necessary to stick to the values of the West, even though the Second Polish Republic, heading towards authoritarianism, deteriorated its relations with Western countries. After gaining power, Adolf Hitler began building a totalitarian state, consistently destroying the achievements of Western civilization in Germany. Aware of Poland’s desire to play the role of a bastion of Western civilization in the East, he used camouflage, falsely presenting himself as its defender, and called for a joint defense of the West against communism and Asian civilization. Hitler’s maneuver was facilitated by the fact that J. Beck and other Piłsudski supporters, unlike Piłsudski, used interests rather than values in international politics. Poland lost in the confrontation with Hitler because, contrary to its efforts and hopes for a policy of neutrality towards totalitarian states with an openly anti-Western and anti-civilization face, it did not gain the loyalty of its allies or the gratitude of its enemies.

Concerns of Primary Caregivers of Children with Complex Chronic Conditions in Kerala: A Qualitative Analysis.

Exploring data on primary caregiver experiences of dealing with chronically ill children (CIC) strengthens the ability of paediatricians to improve the quality of care by detecting unmet needs in paediatric palliative care and understanding their original concerns instead of presumed needs. Hence, this study aims to identify and describe the primary concerns and challenges faced by caregivers of children with complex chronic conditions in a tertiary care hospital in Kerala. Primary caregivers of 25 children aged <13 years with non-malignant life-limiting illnesses, admitted to the paediatric department of a government medical college in Kerala between 1 July 2021 and 28 February 2022, underwent in-depth interviews to analyse their most worrisome issues. Thematic analysis was the method chosen for qualitative data analysis. The main themes identified were medical issues, unmet needs, caregiver health issues, and social and financial issues. Among the medical issues, poor seizure control and infected bedsores, sleep deprivation in both patient as well as caregivers, and difficulty in maintaining the personal hygiene of patients were the major issues. Parents of almost all the CICs reported that they required diapers more than any other material or device. Maternal depression was the major caregiver health issue. The unavailability of antiepileptic drugs in peripheral health centres resulted in missing doses and undue expenses for travel to tertiary centres to obtain the same. Caregivers reported their dismay when they finally realised that they were given false hopes of a cure by different systems of medicine. The challenges faced by caregivers of children with complex chronic conditions are multifaceted. Their most problematic issues related to medical issues are the occurrence of breakthrough seizures and development of infected bedsores. The most important material hardship reported was diaper needs. Caregiver issues such as sleep deprivation and maternal depression must be identified and addressed while providing comprehensive palliative care.

Nurses' Insights and Experiences in Palliative Chemotherapy Care.

The study sought to provide an overview of the perspectives and experiences of Jordanian nurses in the context of caring for patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy. A phenomenological qualitative design was used to explore the perspectives and experiences of 11 Jordanian nurses providing care to patients receiving palliative chemotherapy at a governmental cancer care center. The nurses identified two main themes: "Patient Persistence in Hope" and "Positive Impacts of Palliative Chemotherapy." They observed that some patients held onto false hopes of a cure when consenting to palliative chemotherapy, often influenced by family pressure. However, despite acknowledging fatigue as a major side effect, the nurses generally had a positive view of palliative chemotherapy, especially when it improved patients' quality of life or relieved pain. The nurses believed that the patients' resilience and positive attitude during treatment were encouraging. To better support patients, the study suggests that nurses should gain a deeper understanding of the significance patients attach to hope in advanced cancer situations to avoid misinterpreting it as denial or false optimism.