Previous Reviews Research Articles

Psychological and social interventions for the promotion of mental health in people living in low- and middle-income countries affected by humanitarian crises.

Because of wars, conflicts, persecutions, human rights violations, and humanitarian crises, about 84 million people are forcibly displaced around the world; the great majority of them live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). People living in humanitarian settings are affected by a constellation of stressors that threaten their mental health. Psychosocial interventions for people affected by humanitarian crises may be helpful to promote positive aspects of mental health, such as mental well-being, psychosocial functioning, coping, and quality of life. Previous reviews have focused on treatment and mixed promotion and prevention interventions. In this review, we focused on promotion of positive aspects of mental health. To assess the effects of psychosocial interventions aimed at promoting mental health versus control conditions (no intervention, intervention as usual, or waiting list) in people living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and seven other databases to January 2023. We also searched the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify unpublished or ongoing studies, and checked the reference lists of relevant studies and reviews. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing psychosocial interventions versus control conditions (no intervention, intervention as usual, or waiting list) to promote positive aspects of mental health in adults and children living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. We excluded studies that enrolled participants based on a positive diagnosis of mental disorder (or based on a proxy of scoring above a cut-off score on a screening measure). We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were mental well-being, functioning, quality of life, resilience, coping, hope, and prosocial behaviour. The secondary outcome was acceptability, defined as the number of participants who dropped out of the trial for any reason. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence for the outcomes of mental well-being, functioning, and prosocial behaviour. We included 13 RCTs with 7917 participants. Nine RCTs were conducted on children/adolescents, and four on adults. All included interventions were delivered to groups of participants, mainly by paraprofessionals. Paraprofessional is defined as an individual who is not a mental or behavioural health service professional, but works at the first stage of contact with people who are seeking mental health care. Four RCTs were carried out in Lebanon; two in India; and single RCTs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jordan, Haiti, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the occupied Palestinian Territories (oPT), Nepal, and Tanzania. The mean study duration was 18 weeks (minimum 10, maximum 32 weeks). Trials were generally funded by grants from academic institutions or non-governmental organisations. For children and adolescents, there was no clear difference between psychosocial interventions and control conditions in improving mental well-being and prosocial behaviour at study endpoint (mental well-being: standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.17 to 0.29; 3 RCTs, 3378 participants; very low-certainty evidence; prosocial behaviour: SMD -0.25, 95% CI -0.60 to 0.10; 5 RCTs, 1633 participants; low-certainty evidence), or at medium-term follow-up (mental well-being: mean difference (MD) -0.70, 95% CI -2.39 to 0.99; 1 RCT, 258 participants; prosocial behaviour: SMD -0.48, 95% CI -1.80 to 0.83; 2 RCT, 483 participants; both very low-certainty evidence). Interventions may improve functioning (MD -2.18, 95% CI -3.86 to -0.50; 1 RCT, 183 participants), with sustained effects at follow-up (MD -3.33, 95% CI -5.03 to -1.63; 1 RCT, 183 participants), but evidence is very uncertain as the data came from one RCT (both very low-certainty evidence). Psychosocial interventions may improve mental well-being slightly in adults at study endpoint (SMD -0.29, 95% CI -0.44 to -0.14; 3 RCTs, 674 participants; low-certainty evidence), but they may have little to no effect at follow-up, as the evidence is uncertain and future RCTs might either confirm or disprove this finding. No RCTs measured the outcomes of functioning and prosocial behaviour in adults. To date, there is scant and inconclusive randomised evidence on the potential benefits of psychological and social interventions to promote mental health in people living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. Confidence in the findings is hampered by the scarcity of studies included in the review, the small number of participants analysed, the risk of bias in the studies, and the substantial level of heterogeneity. Evidence on the efficacy of interventions on positive mental health outcomes is too scant to determine firm practice and policy implications. This review has identified a large gap between what is known and what still needs to be addressed in the research area of mental health promotion in humanitarian settings.

Analysis and design framework for the development of indoor scene understanding assistive solutions for the person with visual impairment/blindness

This paper discusses the challenges of the current state of computer vision-based indoor scene understanding assistive solutions for the person with visual impairment (P-VI)/blindness. It focuses on two main issues: the lack of user-centered approach in the development process and the lack of guidelines for the selection of appropriate technologies. First, it discusses the needs of users of an assistive solution through state-of-the-art analysis based on a previous systematic review of literature and commercial products and on semi-structured user interviews. Then it proposes an analysis and design framework to address these needs. Our paper presents a set of structured use cases that help to visualize and categorize the diverse real-world challenges faced by the P-VI/blindness in indoor settings, including scene description, object finding, color detection, obstacle avoidance and text reading across different contexts. Next, it details the functional and non-functional requirements to be fulfilled by indoor scene understanding assistive solutions and provides a reference architecture that helps to map the needs into solutions, identifying the components that are necessary to cover the different use cases and respond to the requirements. To further guide the development of the architecture components, the paper offers insights into various available technologies like depth cameras, object detection, segmentation algorithms and optical character recognition (OCR), to enable an informed selection of the most suitable technologies for the development of specific assistive solutions, based on aspects like effectiveness, price and computational cost. In conclusion, by systematically analyzing user needs and providing guidelines for technology selection, this research contributes to the development of more personalized and practical assistive solutions tailored to the unique challenges faced by the P-VI/blindness.

Delirium detection in the emergency department: A diagnostic accuracy meta-analysis of history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and screening instruments.

Geriatric emergency department (ED) guidelines emphasize timely identification of delirium. This article updates previous diagnostic accuracy systematic reviews of history, physical examination, laboratory testing, and ED screening instruments for the diagnosis of delirium as well as test-treatment thresholds for ED delirium screening. We conducted a systematic review to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of approaches to identify delirium. Studies were included if they described adults aged 60 or older evaluated in the ED setting with an index test for delirium compared with an acceptable criterion standard for delirium. Data were extracted and studies were reviewed for risk of bias. When appropriate, we conducted a meta-analysis and estimated delirium screening thresholds. Full-text review was performed on 55 studies and 27 were included in the current analysis. No studies were identified exploring the accuracy of findings on history or laboratory analysis. While two studies reported clinicians accurately rule in delirium, clinician gestalt is inadequate to rule out delirium. We report meta-analysis on three studies that quantified the accuracy of the 4 A's Test (4AT) to rule in (pooled positive likelihood ratio [LR+] 7.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.7-20.7) and rule out (pooled negative likelihood ratio [LR-] 0.18, 95% CI 0.09-0.34) delirium. We also conducted meta-analysis of two studies that quantified the accuracy of the Abbreviated Mental Test-4 (AMT-4) and found that the pooled LR+ (4.3, 95% CI 2.4-7.8) was lower than that observed for the 4AT, but the pooled LR- (0.22, 95% CI 0.05-1) was similar. Based on one study the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) is the superior instrument to rule in delirium. The calculated test threshold is 2% and the treatment threshold is 11%. The quantitative accuracy of history and physical examination to identify ED delirium is virtually unexplored. The 4AT has the largest quantity of ED-based research. Other screening instruments may more accurately rule in or rule out delirium. If the goal is to rule in delirium then the CAM-ICU or brief CAM or modified CAM for the ED are superior instruments, although the accuracy of these screening tools are based on single-center studies. To rule out delirium, the Delirium Triage Screen is superior based on one single-center study.

Feasibility and Effects of Using Physical Activity Trackers With People Who Use Substances: A Systematic Review

Abstract Purpose of Review Commercially-available physical activity trackers (PAT) are promising tools for promoting physical activity (PA) in people with mental disorders. The present systematic review aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of using PAT in people with substance use disorders (SUD), and how that can affect substance use, PA, and mental health. Recent Findings Previous review studies have noted the potential of using active and passive data collection methods in the context of SUDs. However, since then, novel technology has been developed and new studies on PAT have been published. There are no specific reviews about them in the context of treatment of SUD. Summary The current study included seven studies involving 178 participants. The findings provide preliminary evidence that using PAT as part of a broader behavioral intervention is feasible and promising in promoting healthy behavior and improving health-related outcomes, including reduction in substance use. However, considering the small number of studies and their limitations, there is a need for more systematic and rigorous research to determine the long-term effectiveness of incorporating PAT into existing treatments for SUD.

Readiness for Implemented Sustainable Procurement in Indonesian Government Construction Project

Procurement is the process of obtaining goods and services in a construction project and is a crucial point for the success of a design and build (DB) project. The success of a DB project has an effect on work performance metrics such as cost, quality, and time. Therefore, this research aims to develop a readiness model for implementing sustainable procurement in a DB project with a financing system in the state/regional budget (APBN/APBD). By using previous literature reviews, this research adopted a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods. Specifically, the qualitative method was conducted using in-depth interviews, and conclusions were drawn using the Delphi method and focus group discussion (FGD). Meanwhile, the quantitative method was used to analyze secondary data from the current DB project in order to examine sustainable procurement. The projects examined were spread across the country and had a value of at least 100 billion. Consequently, the results showed that various factors influenced sustainable procurement in the DB management project. In addition, this research impacted better procurement management in the DB project based on APBN/APBD funding, thereby increasing project productivity and innovation, as well as other beneficial values to stakeholders. Typically, the result could be used as a readiness model for implementing sustainable procurement in a DB project with APBN/APBD funding schemes, serving as a guide for construction management in the future and being useful for decision making on government projects.

A systematic literature review of group contingencies with adults

AbstractA group contingency is one in which a common consequence (e.g., a reinforcer or a punisher) is contingent on the behavior of one member of a group, the behavior of part of a group, or the behavior of every member in a group. The most commonly used group contingencies in behavior‐analytic practice and research include interdependent, independent, and dependent group contingencies. Group contingencies are advantageous for multiple reasons, including their versatility, as they have been demonstrated to be effective across individuals, settings, and behaviors. Additionally, they are efficient as they can facilitate behavior change in multiple individuals at once. Previous literature reviews have supported the use of group contingencies with children; however, there has yet to be a systematic literature review conducted on group contingencies with adults. Because group contingencies have multiple benefits, it is important that a literature review be conducted to assess the evidence of these interventions when implemented with adults. A literature review of studies utilizing group contingencies with adults was conducted. Trends across studies, the efficacy of different group contingencies, clinical implications, and recommendations for future research are provided.

Neuropsychological mechanisms of observational learning in human placebo effects.

Scientific evidence indicates that placebo effects are psychoneurobiological events involving the contribution of distinct central nervous systems and peripheral physiological mechanisms that influence pain perception and other symptoms. Placebo effects can occur without formal conditioning and direct prior experience because crucial information can be acquired through observational learning. Observation of benefits in another person results in placebo effects of a magnitude like those induced by directly experiencing an analgesic benefit. Understanding the psychological mechanisms of observationally induced placebo effects is a complex and multifaceted endeavor. While previous reviews have highlighted various frameworks and models to understand these phenomena, the underlying biological mechanisms have been overlooked. We summarize critically current understanding of its behavioral and neural mechanisms. Understanding the neural mechanisms of hypoalgesia driven by observation can serve as a foundation for future development of novel theoretical and methodological approaches and ultimately, applications.

Nailing precision: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing piriformis and trochanteric entry points for femoral antegrade nailing.

Entry point selection, a crucial aspect of femoral antegrade nailing, can impact nail fit and consequently fracture reduction. In adults, the standard entry portals used are the piriformis fossa and the tip of the greater trochanter. Previous systematic reviews comparing the two techniques have not been limited to Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and have not consistently included the same available RCTs. A systematic search of comparative studies regarding entry portal selection in femoral antegrade nailing was conducted on seven databases. Only Prospective RCTs comparing trochanteric and piriformis entry in the management of trochanteric or diaphyseal femur fractures were eligible for inclusion. Ultimately, only 6 RCTs were found eligible for inclusion. Five of the six included studies reported on operative time. The resulting mean difference (MD) illustrated a significant decrease in operative time by approximately 21.26min (95% CI - 28.60 to - 13.92, p < 0.001) using trochanteric entry. Fluoroscopy exposure was reported on by four studies, however, only two studies were included in the analysis due to different reporting methods. Trochanteric entry used significantly less fluoroscopy than piriformis entry (MD -50.33s, 95% CI - 84.441 to - 16.22, p = 0. 004). No significant difference in malalignment rates, delayed union rates, nonunion rates, pain scores, or complication rates was found. The significant differences found in operating time and fluoroscopy time align with those in other studies. While we were not able to pool the data on functional outcome scores, none of the included studies found a significant difference in scores by their last follow-up. Both approaches demonstrate comparable functional outcomes and safety profiles, indicating the choice of entry point should be at the discretion of the surgeon based on technique familiarity and fracture characteristics.

Skeletal impact of parathyroidectomy on patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: a Systematic review and Meta-analysis.

Parathyroidectomy is recommended for curing primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), although uncertainty remains regarding the extent of fracture risk reduction following surgery. To compare fracture risk and bone mineral density (BMD) changes in patients with PHPT undergoing parathyroidectomy (PTX) versus observation (OBS). We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library until September 2022, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies, and reviewed citations from previous reviews. Among 1,260 initial records, 48 eligible articles from 35 studies (5 RCTs; 30 cohorts) included PHPT patients receiving PTX or OBS interventions with reported fracture events at any site, including the hip, spine, or forearm, and/or BMD changes at each location. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines by two independent reviewers. In 238,188 PHPT patients (PTX: 73,778 vs. OBS: 164,410), parathyroidectomy significantly reduced fractures at any site (RR, 0.80; 95%CI, 0.74-0.86) compared to observation. In 237,217 patients (PTX: 73,458 vs. OBS: 163,759), the risk of hip fractures decreased (RR, 0.63; 95%CI, 0.52-0.76). No reduction in forearm and vertebral fractures was observed in 3,574 and 3,795 patients, respectively. The annual percentage BMD changes from baseline were higher in the PTX group: femoral neck, 1.91% (95%CI, 1.14-2.68); hip, 1.75% (95%CI, 0.58-2.92); radius, 1.75% (95%CI, 0.31-3.18); spine, 2.13% (95%CI, 1.16-3.10). Parathyroidectomy significantly reduced overall and hip fracture risks in PHPT patients. Despite minimal BMD increase, the substantial decrease in fracture risk suggests additional benefits of PTX beyond mineral content enhancement.

Mapping the landscape: unveiling the structural dynamics of industry platforms

Purpose The proliferation of industry platforms has disrupted several industries. Firms adopting a platform business model have experienced a substantial expansion in size and scale, positioning themselves as the foremost valuable entities in market capitalization. Over the past two decades, there has been a substantial expansion in the body of literature dedicated to platforms, and different streams of research have emerged. Despite considerable efforts and the significant progress made in recent years toward a comprehensive understanding of industry platforms, there is still room for further harnessing the field’s diversity. As a result, the aim of this article is to examine the field’s structure, identify research concerns and provide suggestions for future research, thereby enhancing the overall understanding of industry platforms.Design/methodology/approach We conducted a thorough examination of 458 articles on the topic using bibliometric methods and systematic review techniques.Findings Through co-citation analysis, we identified five distinct clusters rooted in various bodies of literature: two-sided markets, industry platforms, digital platforms, innovation platforms and two-sided networks. Furthermore, the examination of these five clusters has revealed three key areas that demand further consideration: (1) terminologies, (2) classifications and (3) perspectives.Originality/value While previous reviews have provided valuable insights into the topic of industry platforms, none have explored the structure of the field so far. Consequently, as a first step toward advancing the field, we uncover the structure of the literature, identifying three major areas of concern. By addressing these concerns, our goal is to converge different clusters, thereby harnessing the diversity in the field and enhancing the overall understanding of industry platforms.

More than clean teeth! Identifying factors that contribute to the development of early childhood caries.

This review aimed to identify established and updated evidence-based factors that could contribute to a child's development of Early Childhood Caries (ECC). Four online databases were used to source evidence including the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Scopus. The data search selected studies published between 2017 and 2021. Three specific terms were used to search: Dental Caries, Children, and Risk Assessment. There were three teams involved in data collection, two teams then reviewed selected articles. Exclusion criteria included any duplicate studies, commentaries, and editorials. Inclusion criteria included only randomised control trials and cohort studies. Selected studies must include children younger than 72 months, define the demographics, their clinical characteristics, and have clear follow-up of the patients involved. Commonly identified factors that were mentioned in multiple studies were then collected and assigned strength depending on the evidence measured using ratios. These could then beutilised to form a draft Caries Risk Assessment tool. 512 abstracts and 52 articles were screened, having matched the criteria set. Extraction of the data was completed under four headings: the child's age at the time of study (in years/months), risk predictors, the outcome, and the quality of the evidence presented. The GRADE system was then employed to separate the studies into high, moderate, low, and very low categorisation. Eventually, 22 new studies were included that would build on the original 25 articles that were identified in the previous systematic review. The most defining factors across the most recent systematic reviews in 2021 highlighted behavioural factors such as toothbrushing quality - parental supervision, frequency, and fluoride exposure. Specifically, the presence of plaque was used as a marker for oral hygiene evaluation. Dietary history included snacking frequency and, controversially, baby-toddler breastfeeding patterns. However, this does not take into consideration the dental impact - mainly the frequency or timing of breastfeeding (e.g. overnight). The review emphasises the importance of consideration of socio-economic factors though this may be a difficult topic of discussion if families are struggling i.e. household income and education level of parents or guardians. There is also mention of factors that do not have a significant evidence base such as the child's gender, ethnicity, and parental smoking status. In conclusion, the factors found to be relevant in the development of ECC were the child's age, toothbrushing quality/plaque control, parental involvement in toothbrushing, fluoride exposure, pattern of dental attendance, dietary sugar exposure, and habits, clinically carious active lesion presence, the oral bacterial composition (Streptococcus mutanspresence) and the socio-economic status of the child and their family. Though the review encourages identification of the caries risk factors in the mentioned groups, separated by both dental and non-dental professionals, ideally the aim would be to create a holistic care approach for management and signposting.

How do people with intellectual disabilities understand friendship? A systematic meta-synthesis.

Previous systematic reviews of the relationships of people with intellectual disabilities have included consideration of intimate relationships. In this paper, we report a systematic review of papers describing friendship only. A systematic qualitative meta-synthesis of the research exploring experiences of friendship as reported by people with intellectual disabilities. Seven papers met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Three superordinate themes were identified. (1) Reciprocity, 'Someone who helps me, and I help them'. (2) The building blocks of friendships, 'I can tell her some secrets'. (3) Managing friendship difficulties, 'In real life it's much harder'. People with intellectual disabilities value friendship and actively engage in reciprocal exchanges. We explore the strengths and limitations of current research, clinical implications, and directions for future research.

Recent Advances on Diarylethene-Based Photoswitching Materials: Applications in Bioimaging, Controlled Singlet Oxygen Generation for Photodynamic Therapy and Catalysis.

Diarylethenes (DAE), a class of best performing photoswitchable compounds, where the key features of stability, photoisomerization wavelengths, quantum yield and variability in the photoisomers significantly depend on their derivatization. The last decade has witnessed a surge in the engagement of DAEs to different areas of chemical and biological impacts like catalysis in synthetic organic chemistry, biological markers for in vivo imaging of live cells, chemosensing within cells to photo-dynamic therapy by controlled generation of singlet oxygen. Previous reviews on applications of DAE-based systems did not predominantly cover all the aspects of biological and industrial implementations. They have covered only one field of application either in the biological science or the synthetic aspect or photochromic aspects only. This review is a coalition of all those aspects in last six years. Here the variation of properties of the DAE systems with respect to structural diversifications have been discussed in detail along with their potential applications in catalysis, regulating singlet oxygen generation, photodynamic therapy, bioimaging and their future prospects. We hope that this review will certainly motivate researchers to generate new DAE architectures with superior bioimaging or catalyzing properties in future.

Organic Electrode Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion: Mechanism, Characteristics, and Applications.

ConspectusLithium ion batteries (LIBs) with inorganic intercalation compounds as electrode active materials have become an indispensable part of human life. However, the rapid increase in their annual production raises concerns about limited mineral reserves and related environmental issues. Therefore, organic electrode materials (OEMs) for rechargeable batteries have once again come into the focus of researchers because of their design flexibility, sustainability, and environmental compatibility. Compared with conventional inorganic cathode materials for Li ion batteries, OEMs possess some unique characteristics including flexible molecular structure, weak intermolecular interaction, being highly soluble in electrolytes, and moderate electrochemical potentials. These unique characteristics make OEMs suitable for applications in multivalent ion batteries, low-temperature batteries, redox flow batteries, and decoupled water electrolysis. Specifically, the flexible molecular structure and weak intermolecular interaction of OEMs make multivalent ions easily accessible to the redox sites of OEMs and facilitate the desolvation process on the redox site, thus improving the low-temperature performance, while the highly soluble nature enables OEMs as redox couples for aqueous redox flow batteries. Finally, the moderate electrochemical potential and reversible proton storage and release of OEMs make them suitable as redox mediators for water electrolysis. Over the past ten years, although various new OEMs have been developed for Li-organic batteries, Na-organic batteries, Zn-organic batteries, and other battery systems, batteries with OEMs still face many challenges, such as poor cycle stability, inferior energy density, and limited rate capability. Therefore, previous reviews of OEMs mainly focused on organic molecular design for organic batteries or strategies to improve the electrochemical performance of OEMs. A comprehensive review to explore the characteristics of OEMs and establish the correlation between these characteristics and their specific application in energy storage and conversion is still lacking.In this Account, we initially provide an overview of the sustainability and environmental friendliness of OEMs for energy storage and conversion. Subsequently, we summarize the charge storage mechanisms of the different types of OEMs. Thereafter, we explore the characteristics of OEMs in comparison with conventional inorganic intercalation compounds including their structural flexibility, high solubility in the electrolyte, and appropriate electrochemical potential in order to establish the correlations between their characteristics and potential applications. Unlike previous reviews that mainly introduce the electrochemical performance progress of different organic batteries, this Account specifically focuses on some exceptional applications of OEMs corresponding to the characteristics of organic electrode materials in energy storage and conversion, as previously published by our groups. These applications include monovalent ion batteries, multivalent ion batteries, low-temperature batteries, redox flow batteries with soluble OEMs, and decoupled water electrolysis employing organic electrodes as redox mediators. We hope that this Account will make an invaluable contribution to the development of organic electrode materials for next-generation batteries and help to unlock a world of potential energy storage applications.

Curriculum Making Across Sites of Activity in Upper Secondary School Vocational Education and Training: A Review of the Research in Sweden

Purpose: This paper presents a qualitative systematic review of Swedish research on vocational education and training (VET) at the upper secondary school level over the past 20 years. The review is based on a theoretical model on curriculum making as social practice that may serve as model for comparative studies between countries. By introducing the model, the ambition is to open for new perspectives on VET curriculum in policy and practice. Questions regarding key themes and the interplay of discourses and processes across multiple sites in the education system have not been addressed in previous systematic reviews of Swedish VET research. Methods: The methodological approach in the present paper is a qualitative systematic research review with an integrative and interpretative purpose and research design. The qualitative review is based on the conceptual model of curriculum making as social practice, seeking to capture the inherent complexity and porous boundaries of education systems and movements of ideas, discourses and actors between sites of activity. The model is used for mapping the research, and a content analysis for identifying main themes and emphases and exploring and discussing the potential gaps that may inform future international research studies. Findings: The results show that the research is focused on the micro and nano sites of curriculum making, with connections to macro site activities of national curriculum policy enactment. Research focusing on the macro site of activity has an emphasis on national policy and policymaking regarding the relationship between academic and vocational knowledge/programmes and apprenticeship and employability. In the micro and nano sites of activity – which comprise the majority of the research – the main themes are vocational knowing and identity, teaching, learning and assessment practices and work-based learning. Conclusion: An observation is the absence of principals and middle leaders as actors and informants in the studies. There is little evidence of actors moving between sites of activity and the meso site of activity only comprise a very small part of the research. In this respect, there is a potential gap to be explored, not least regarding how local curricula and syllabi are made and shaped in terms of the influence of representatives from local authorities, companies, trade unions, employer associations, universities and regional agencies. Curriculum making as social practice has the potential to be used for comparative international studies and as a framework that takes national differences in VET education systems into account.

Synthesis of Writing Intervention Studies for English Learners With Learning Disabilities

Writing is an essential skill that people use throughout their lifetime. Although previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses had reviewed the effect of writing interventions on students with learning disabilities and English learners, we know little about the effective writing process-types interventions for English learners with or at risk for learning disabilities (ELs with LD). Therefore, this systematic review identified and synthesized seven writing intervention studies that include ELs with LD. We further analyzed participant characteristics, interventionist characteristics, instructional methods, and intervention outcomes across studies. The result showed the scarcity of quantitative intervention studies in the area. Some commonly implemented intervention elements are identified and discussed, as well as implications, limitations, and future directions.

Attitudes towards Sexual Behaviour: an Exploratory Analysis of a Comprehensive Model

Introduction. A theoretical model of self-oriented cognitive schemata of sexual behaviour (SO-CSSB) was proposed after a previous disambiguation review on the definition and research of sexual attitudes. A quantitative exploration of the proposal may add real-world information regarding the internal structure and the adequacy of the defined factors. Consequently, the present study aims to 1) develop a questionnaire based on the theoretical review and 2) explore the structure of the SO-CSSB model. Method. Following the SO-CSSB principles, a questionnaire was developed and evaluated. An observational cross-sectional online survey was conducted. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a reliability analysis were performed. Results. A study sample, comprised of 188 subjects, was analysed (Age 18–56; M = 25.27; SD = 6.6; 62 male, 33.2%). The EFA yielded 16 factors with eigenvalues above 1, accounting for 67.21% of the variance (KMO = .672, Barlett’s = 3958.7, sig.&lt;.01; item communalities between .44 and .80). Items under .49were cut off, which included values from .49 to .86. There was no correlation between components over .20, in a range from –.19 to .20. Reliability indexes varied from .46 to .86. Conclusion. A final model of 16 components followingthe SO-CSSB principles was presented. The analysis revealed certain modifications to the theoretical proposal, and the objective of adding a quantitative frame toempirically specify its factors was achieved. This outcome constitutes a step forward to developing a comprehensive model on sexual beliefs.

Social engagement and wellbeing in late life: a systematic review

Abstract Social engagement is considered a relevant modifiable factor for older adults' wellbeing. Theory and policies highlight its importance for ageing well. Empirical evidence shows that social activities are associated with positive psychological outcomes and might buffer wellbeing declines in late life. Despite growing research, social engagement lacks conceptual clarity, it is difficult to adopt standardised measures and findings are sometimes inconsistent. Previous systematic reviews either take a different approach to this topic or were published over a decade ago. Therefore, the present study aimed to review the literature systematically regarding the relationship between social engagement and wellbeing in community-dwelling older adults. Papers published from 2000 to 2021 were searched in five databases using a combination of terms. The reviewers screened the records according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After identifying eligible articles, the authors extracted data and produced a narrative synthesis covering conceptualisation, measurement and main findings. The review includes 42 papers. Despite great conceptual and methodological diversity, research supports that older adults with higher participation in social activities have improved wellbeing. Findings also suggest that these associations are stronger for individuals with disadvantages and have a cumulative nature whereby the greater the social engagement, the higher the wellbeing. Conversely, for more demanding activities, there might be optimal participation levels. Regardless of accumulating knowledge, social engagement remains diffuse and difficult to measure. This paper summarises the current state of research on this topic, showing encouraging evidence of social engagement benefits, but also questions that deserve further inquiry. Future studies should be anchored in a clear conceptual framework, use robust measures, and explore hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. Social engagement can be an important developmental resource for social interventions and policies aimed at improving people's lives.

ENHANCING 3D PRINTING THROUGH MATERIAL SELECTION

Additive manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized industries by enabling the layer-by-layer 3D printing of objects. Among the diverse materials employed in AM, polymers and their composites hold significant importance due to their wide-ranging applications in fields such as medicine, aerospace, and automotive engineering. Extensive research efforts have been dedicated to developing advanced polymer materials tailored for various AM techniques, encompassing vat photo-polymerization, material jetting, powder bed fusion, material extrusion, binder jetting, and sheet lamination. While previous reviews often focus on specific aspects, this comprehensive review offers a holistic overview of polymer material advancements in AM. The review explores notable breakthroughs in newly developed materials and their potential applications. Furthermore, it outlines the existing challenges in utilizing AM for polymer materials and identifies promising opportunities, aiming to stimulate further progress in this dynamic and transformative field. Keywords:Polymers,Composites,Vatphoto-polymerization,Additivemanufacturing,Powder bed fusion, Material jetting,Binder jetting,sheet lamination.

The effects of neck exercise in comparison to passive or no intervention on quantitative sensory testing measurements in adults with chronic neck pain: A systematic review.

Previous systematic reviews have identified the benefits of exercise for chronic neck pain on subjective reports of pain, but not with objective measures such as quantitative sensory testing (QST). A systematic review was conducted to identify the effects of neck specific exercise on QST measures in adults with chronic neck pain to synthesise existing literature and provide clinical recommendations. The study protocol was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (PROSPERO CRD42021297383). For both randomised and non-randomised trials, the following databases and trial registries were searched: AMED, CINAHL, Embase, Google Scholar, Medline, PEDro, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Index from Web of Science Core Collection, clinicaltrials.gov, GreyOpen, and ISRCTN registry. These searches were conducted from inception to February 2022 and were updated until September 2023. Reference lists of eligible studies were screened. Study selection was performed independently by two reviewers, with data extraction and quality appraisal completed by one reviewer and independently ratified by a second reviewer. Due to high heterogeneity, narrative synthesis was performed with results grouped by exercise type. Three trials were included. Risk of bias was rated as moderate and the certainty of evidence as low or moderate for all studies. All exercise groups demonstrated statistically significant improvement at an intermediate-term follow-up, with progressive resistance training combined with graded physical training demonstrating the highest certainty of evidence. Fixed resistance training demonstrated statistically significant improvement in QST measures at a short-term assessment. Fixed resistance training is effective for short-term changes in pain sensitivity based on low-quality evidence, whilst moderate-quality evidence supports progressive resistance training combined with graded physical training for intermediate-term changes in pain sensitivity.