Youth Research Articles

How do emoticons affect youth social interaction? The impact of emoticon use on youths online interpersonal interactions

Emoticons are non-verbal symbols that are employed during online interactions, and they constitute an integral component of online interpersonal communication. The influence of emoticons on the online interpersonal interactions of young people was investigated through in-depth interviews with 25 young people who utilize emoticons to a moderate or significant extent. The study identified three key aspects through which the impact of emoticons on youth’s online social interactions is manifested. Firstly, this is reflected in the level of emotion and meaning conveyed. The utilization of emoticons by young people has, to a certain extent, rectified the contextual limitation of “embodied absence” in online virtual social interaction. Secondly, this is reflected in young people’s recognition of emoticons. The use of emoticons by young people in online social interactions has led to the formation of a distinct “emoticon community.” This phenomenon not only facilitates the development of a more profound social identity among young people in online social interactions but also contributes to the expansion of the adolescent network, resulting in the emergence of a novel “social divide.” Thirdly, the use of emoticons by young people can be seen to contribute to a sense of alienation. As young people become increasingly reliant on emoticons, their influence is gradually extending from the digital realm to the physical world, impacting the normal social interactions of young people in real life. Emoticons have gradually become a means of facilitating young people’s online socialization, but they have also had the unintended consequence of limiting their normal social interaction. The deterioration of online interpersonal communication among young people is a key factor in the symbolic generalization and alienation of expression in the use of emoticons by this demographic.

Youth Employment Challenges and Opportunities in Pakistan: An Econometric Analysis

The involvement of young people in Pakistan's job market is the subject of this dissertation. This work highlights two main benefits of the research conducted using micro data. First, it breaks out the labor market behaviors of teenagers in Pakistan by age group. Then, using econometric approaches, it explains what variables influence youth work chances in Pakistan. According to the research, several young people start working at a young age, which may affect their future productivity and income. At the beginning of their professions, young people frequently have a higher unemployment rate; nevertheless, this number decreases with time. In addition, there were notable disparities in the labor market outcomes for male and female teenagers based on area. Unemployment rates for young women are higher than those for young men in several regions of the nation. Although young people in Baluchistan are more prepared to enter labor than their counterparts in other regions, the study's main conclusion shows that their employment prospects are poorer. Several characteristics, the findings of a logistic regression analysis demonstrate that the job chances of youth in Pakistan are highly impacted by age, gender, marital status, emigration, geography, educational achievement, and family characteristics. In addition, studies show that Pakistani teenagers are a heterogeneous group, reflecting a wide variety of personal traits and perspectives on employment that are influenced by their home context. Policymakers should see Pakistani youth as something other than a monolithic entity. Unemployment is a problem in Pakistan due to several factors.

Navigating (gendered) social worlds: A qualitative exploration of Canadian young people’s social relationships and mental health

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the gendered ways that youth in Canada are navigating their social relationships, and in turn, how this may be shaping their mental health experiences. Twenty young people between the ages of 11 and 17 (nine self-identified as girls, ten self-identified as boys, and one self-identified as non-binary) were recruited from across Canada and each participated in a virtual individual semi-structured interview. Social relationships were reported as highly important by all participants, and study findings illuminated the strong, persistent, and often implicit ways that these relationships are shaped by gender. This includes the ways that youth describe gender and social relationships influencing experiences and behaviours; how youth manage conflict; and the dissatisfaction that girls express regarding gendered stereotypes, expectations, and norms that they perceive their boy and non-binary peers to experience. Study findings provide context to understanding the gendered disparities that disadvantage all young people. Along with providing new evidence, this paper is a call to action to the adult duty bearers in society to lead changes in how young people are socialized so that they are better equipped to navigate relationships and conflict in positive and healthy ways.

Predictors of nodal upstaging in clinical N1 nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is currently the first choice for the treatment of clinical N1 (cN1) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, diagnosing cN1 correctly can be difficult, even with current imaging diagnostic technologies. We aimed to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative nodal status and the predictive factors for nodal upstaging of cN1-NSCLC. Patients receiving surgery for cN1-NSCLC in 2010 (n=1040) were enrolled in the Japanese Joint Committee of Lung Cancer Registry Database. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of cN1, predictive factors for nodal upstaging, and prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). The 5-year OS and RFS for all patients were 58.2% and 42.7%, respectively. The postoperative pathological nodal status included N0 (36.6%), N1 (39.7%), N2 (23.6%), and N3 (0.1%). In multivariate analysis, younger age (P=.005), no history of smoking (P=.006), and adenocarcinoma (P<.001) were significant predictive factors for nodal upstaging. Older age (P<.001) and higher clinical T (cT) factor (P<.001) were significant indicators for worse OS, while older age (P=.02), higher cT factor (P=.019), high carcinoembryonic antigen value (P=.002), and adenocarcinoma (P=.008) were significant indicators for worse RFS. The diagnostic accuracy of cN1 in this study was ~40%. No history of smoking and adenocarcinoma were significant predictors for nodal upstaging. Although younger age was a significant predictor for nodal upstaging, it was a significant factor for better prognosis.

Age at diagnosis of diabetes, obesity, and the risk of dementia among adult patients with type 2 diabetes.

While Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) prevalence is increasing among younger individuals, few studies have examined how age at T2DM diagnosis relates to dementia risk in diabetic populations. We aimed to investigate the association between age at T2DM diagnosis and subsequent dementia risk, and to determine whether obesity moderates this relationship. We conducted a prospective cohort study using data from the Health and Retirement Study (2002-2016) matched with its 2003 Diabetes Mail-Out Survey. The study included 1,213 dementia-free adults aged ≥50 with diagnosed T2DM. Primary exposures were age at T2DM diagnosis (categorized as <50, 50-59, 60-69, and ≥70 years) and obesity status (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). The outcome was incident dementia, assessed using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, health status, and diabetes medication use. Over a median follow-up of 10 (interquartile range, 6-14) years, 216 (17.8%) participants developed dementia. Compared to participants diagnosed with T2DM at age ≥70 years, those diagnosed at younger ages had increased dementia risk: HR 1.70 (95% CI, 1.03-2.80) for 60-69 years, 1.72 (95% CI, 1.06-2.79) for 50-59 years, and 1.90 (95% CI, 1.14-3.18) for <50 years. Obesity significantly moderated this relationship, with obese individuals diagnosed with T2DM before age 50 showing the highest dementia risk (HR 3.05; 95% CI 1.23-7.56) compared to non-obese individuals diagnosed at ≥50 years. Younger age at diagnosis of T2DM was significantly associated with a higher risk of dementia, particularly among individuals with obesity. Interventions specifically targeting obesity may be more effective in preventing dementia for adults with a younger onset of T2DM.

Epidemiological Evaluation of Suicidal Deaths due to Hanging: A Retrospective Medicolegal Study in Sylhet

Background: Suicidal hanging is the most common method of suicide in developing countries, especially among young people. During conventional autopsies, it is one of the significant causes of unnatural deaths in Bangladesh. This study was performed to determine the epidemiological evaluation of suicidal deaths due to suicidal hanging at the mortuary of the Forensic Medicine Department of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet. Materials and methods: An autopsy record-based retrospective study carried out to ascertain the epidemiological evaluation of 340 cases of suicidal hanging deaths from January 2015 to December 2018 in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet. Results: Hanging was more common in the age ranges of 10-19 years (33.0%) and 20-29 years (29.1%), accounting for nearly two-thirds (62.1%) of all deaths. The incidence was higher in females (59.3%) than males (46.7%). Gowainghat (12.1%) and Kotwali (9.5%) had the highest incidences of victims. The most common autopsy findings were that the subcutaneous tissues underneath the ligature mark were found to be pale, white, hard and glistening in 94.2% of cases, cyanosis was found in 89.8% of cases, dribbling of saliva was seen in 66.3% of cases and subconjunctival petechial haemorrhage was observed in 46.0% of cases. Asphyxia (93.3%) was the most common cause of suicidal hanging deaths identified during autopsy. Conclusion: The majority of victims were female and young individuals were especially vulnerable to suicidal ideation, attempts and suicide by hanging. To reduce suicides, awareness programs, psychological counseling andsuicidal behavioral treatment are recommended. IAHS Medical Journal Vol 7(1), June 2024; 13-16

Unraveling Youth Indebtedness in China: A Case Study Based on the “Debtors Avengers” Community on Douban

Over-indebtedness is an increasingly serious issue among young people in China. Using Atlas.ti, this study analyzes textual data from the online community “Debtors Avengers” on Douban.com, applying a combined framework of life cycle and credit liberalization hypotheses. The findings reveal that youth indebtedness is not solely driven by irrational consumer behavior but is closely linked to economic activities during specific life stages. Structurally, it reflects sociofinancial digitization and normalized credit use. Factors such as life circumstances, financial literacy, labor market instability, and public safety risks contribute to a “debt spiral”. Addressing these challenges requires the refinement of financial policies, enhanced education, and intervention in financial aggression.

The Setting-Up Measure to Support Generational Renewal in Agriculture: The Italian Experience

Since the 1970s, the issue of ageing farmers and generational renewal in agriculture has consistently attracted the attention of policymakers. However, despite successive reforms of the European Union Structural Funds, efforts to encourage young people to enter the agricultural sector remain largely focused on agricultural and rural policies, specifically on the First Settlement scheme. This paper highlights the role of the European Union’s rural development policy in supporting and encouraging generational renewal in agriculture. A qualitative analysis of the Italian case examining some of the demographic changes that have occurred within the agricultural system at the regional level has been conducted. The analysis is based on the comparison of policy implementations in different programming periods. Using data from the General Censuses of Agriculture and the Italian Agricultural Payments Agency—supplemented by the Annual Implementation Reports of the Italian Rural Development Programmes—the research traces the evolution of initiatives supporting young farmers. The main findings reveal a notable decline in the number of young people in the primary sector over the last decade, together with an ageing population of agricultural farmers. Measures to support young farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy appear to be ineffective in countering the ageing trend. There is scope for integrated policies to enhance the attractiveness and profitability of rural areas and to ensure long-term sustainable generational renewal in the agricultural sector.

Evaluation of a youth-focused suicide prevention HOPE aftercare service: protocol for a non-randomized hybrid effectiveness-implementation type I design.

Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29 worldwide. Young people often present to emergency departments (EDs) with self-harm and suicide-related behaviors. The period following discharge from the ED is recognized as one of elevated risk for both repeated self-harm and suicide. During this critical time, suicide prevention aftercare services are recommended. Despite their increased popularity, evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of these models is very limited. Using a hybrid effectiveness-implementation type I design, this evaluation will assess the effectiveness and implementation of a suicide prevention aftercare (Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement; HOPE) service designed to reduce risk of self-harm and suicide in young people aged 12-25 who are referred to the service following an ED presentation for self-harm or suicide attempt. Two complementing theoretical frameworks will guide this evaluation, specifically the design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of results. The RE-AIM evaluation framework will be used to assess Reach, Effectiveness (including cost-effectiveness), Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance of the HOPE aftercare service. The PRISM implementation framework will be used to assess multi-level contextual factors hypothesized to affect the RE-AIM outcomes. Several data sources will be used to assess the changes in primary and secondary outcomes from baseline to post-intervention, and at follow-up, including user and provider self-report surveys, semi-structured interviews, and routinely collected hospital data. An historical control study will also be conducted using data from the Self-Harm Monitoring System for Victoria to examine the impact of the service on rates of self-harm and suicide-related presentations to ED, and compare trends prior to and following commencement of the HOPE aftercare service. In addition, dynamic systems modelling will be used to assess the future scalability of the service. Findings from this evaluation will determine the effectiveness, including cost-effectiveness, of the HOPE aftercare service and describe the implementation context. They will inform the future development and sustainability of this and other similar services across Australia and internationally. This trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) on the19th December 2023 (Registration number ACTRN12623001332617). We do not foresee any amendments to this protocol however, if any unforeseen modifications are required, they will be submitted to ANZCTR. Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.

Traumatic Brain Injury as a Public Health Issue: Epidemiology, Prognostic Factors and Useful Data from Forensic Practice

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major public health problem, being a leading cause of disability and mortality among young people in developed countries. Head trauma occurs across all age groups, each experiencing consistently high rates of mortality and disability. This review aims to present an overview of TBI epidemiology and its socioeconomic impact, alongside data valuable for prevention, clinical management, and research efforts. Methods: A narrative review of TBI was performed with a particular focus on forensic pathology and public health. In fact, this review highlighted the economic and epidemiological aspects of TBI, as well as autopsy, histology, immunohistochemistry, and miRNA. Results: These data, together with immunohistochemical markers, are crucial for histopathological diagnosis and to determine the timing of injury onset, a fundamental aspect in forensic pathology practice. There is compelling evidence that brain injury biomarkers may enhance predictive models for clinical and prognostic outcomes. By clarifying the cause of death and providing details on survival time after trauma, forensic tools offer valuable information to improve the clinical management of TBI and guide preventive interventions. Conclusions: TBI is one of the most common causes of death today, with high costs for health care spending. Knowing the different mechanisms of TBI, reduces health care costs and helps improve prognosis.

Comparative study of the therapeutic effects of radiofrequency ablation of ganglionated plexi guided by high-frequency stimulation and anatomical localization methods in the treatment of vagal syncope in young people.

To investigate the differences in safety and efficacy between high-frequency stimulation (HFS) and anatomically guided endocardial catheter ablation (AA) of the ganglionated plexi (GPs) for treating vasovagal syncope (VVS) in individuals engaged in high-intensity physical training. Forty-five patients (age 22.5 ± 4.4 years) undergoing high-intensity physical training were included from January 2020 to January 2023 at our hospital. Patients underwent GP ablation for recurrent syncope. Comprehensive evaluations, including head MRI, cardiac ultrasound, electrocardiogram (ECG), ambulatory ECG (Holter), ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, plate motion tests, and head-up tilt tests (HUT), were conducted to exclude other systemic disorders causing syncope. HFS and AA-guided GP ablation were performed on 10 and 35 patients, respectively, all of whom tested positive for HUT. Differences between the two groups were compared regarding ablation sites, ablation time, safety, and effectiveness. The ablation time was significantly shorter in the AA group compared to the HFS group (P < 0.001). The number of GPs selected for ablation using the AA method was reduced (P < 0.001). All patients in the HFS group experienced palpitations and discomfort, whereas only 31.43% of patients in the AA group reported these symptoms (P = 0.001). Fentanyl analgesia was administered in both groups, and no significant complications arose from the ablation. The longest follow-up duration was 52 months, while the shortest was 15 months. One case of pre-syncope occurred in the HFS group 8 months post-ablation, and one case of pre-syncope and two cases of syncope occurred in the AA group at 1 and 3 months post-ablation, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiac deceleration capacity (DC) between the two groups after ablation (P > 0.05). Two cases in the AA group still exhibited type II second-degree atrioventricular block during sleep. Both groups of patients were able to complete high-intensity physical training and showed significant symptom improvement post-ablation. Young individuals with VVS engaged in high-intensity physical training can benefit from GP ablation using both HFS and AA methods. The AA method requires relatively simple equipment, shorter procedure time, and results in less discomfort during the ablation.

Sleep in hospitalized children with cancer: relationship with psychiatric disorders and hospital conditions

Background. Children with cancer often undergo prolonged and recurrent hospitalization, which leads to an increased incidence of sleep disruptions and psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to objectively quantify the prevalence of sleep disruptions in hospitalized pediatric oncology patients and to determine the effects of psychiatric disorders, treatment regimens, and hospital conditions on sleep patterns. Method. This cross-sectional study included 39 children who were undergoing treatment and monitoring in the pediatric oncology inpatient service. Parents completed questionnaires providing information about their child’s sleep patterns, quality of life, and hospital conditions. The children were monitored for five days using actigraphy to record sleep parameters. They were evaluated with a semi-structured interview form (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version-DSM 5-Turkish Adaptation) for psychiatric diagnoses. Results. Sleep disruptions were identified in 27 (69.2%) children with cancer. In addition to adjustment disorder and anxiety disorder psychiatric diagnoses, behavioral problems and emotional symptoms were more common in the group with sleep disruptions. Actigraphy measurements indicated that poor sleep was associated with younger age, recent cancer diagnosis, specific phobias, depression, daytime napping, and frequent vital sign assessments. Conclusion. Sleep problems in hospitalized children with cancer are linked to psychiatric comorbidities, treatment routines, and hospital conditions. By recognizing psychiatric symptoms and optimizing hospital conditions that affect sleep, healthcare providers can enhance the quality of sleep for these children.

Clinical course of pediatric-onset Behçet's Disease in young adulthood.

Although Behçet's disease (BD) typically manifests in the second or third decade of life, initial symptoms may appear at a younger age. It may also take a longer time for the full disease phenotype to develop after the first symptom onset in pediatric patients. In this study we aimed to assess the clinical course of pediatric-onset BD in adulthood period. The files of 112 patients diagnosed with BD before the age of 18, selected from five tertiary clinics, were retrospectively examined. Patients with a follow-up of less than six months were excluded. The study comprised 93 patients with pediatric-onset BD, of whom 64.5% (n = 60) were male. The median age of diagnosis was 15 years (13-17). Major organ involvement was present in 49 (52.5%) patients. The most commonly affected organ was the eye (29%).Sixty-eight (73.1%) patients had follow-up data in adulthood. Fourty patients had only mucocutaneous manifestations in the pediatric period. During follow-up in adulthood, 15 (53.3% were male) had new major organ involvement with a mean of 10.1 (SD: 7.9) years after diagnosis. Twenty-eight patients (41.1%) experienced major organ involvement during the pediatric period. In adulthood follow-up, 12 (42.8%) developed new major organ involvement and/or relapse of the same organ. Eighteen (26.5%) of 68 pediatric-onset BD patients had new major organ involvement, and 9 (13.2%) had a relapse during adulthood follow-up. Our results showed that nearly one-third of pediatric BD patients have a new major organ involvement or a relapse in adulthood. Regular follow-up of pediatric BD patients in adulthood is essential to prevent long-term damage in this disease subset.

Survival analysis of pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in primary molars with carious pulp exposure: a retrospective cohort study.

Both pulpotomy and pulpectomy are indicated in deciduous teeth with carious pulp exposure. Pulpotomy is recommended for treating carious pulp exposure in primary molars with the development of dental biomaterials. However, it is difficult to determine the severity of pulpitis as children frequently have difficulty communicating their clinical symptoms and there is no objective diagnostic method to assess pulpal status. Thus, therapeutic interventions for deciduous teeth with carious pulp involvement are controversial in clinical applications. This study compared the clinical and radiographic survival time of iRoot BP Plus pulpotomy and Vitapex pulpectomy in treating extremely deep caries with carious pulp exposure in deciduous molars under general anaesthesia. The 876 deciduous teeth in patients aged 3 to 6 years diagnosed with extremely deep caries were categorised into Group A (iRoot BP Plus pulpotomy) and Group B (Vitapex pulpectomy) based on treatment methods in this retrospective cohort study. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare the survival rates and time between the groups. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the factors associated with success. 876 primary molars were collected, including Group A (504) and Group B (372). The clinical and radiographic survival time in Group A (54.394 ± 1.388(months) and 48.978 ± 1.413(months)) were significantly higher than that in Group B (47.867 ± 0.956 (months) and 38.834 ± 0.981 (months)) (P < 0.05). The clinical and radiographic survival rates of Group A at 48 months were 77.0% and 69.5%, respectively. Group B's clinical and radiographic survival rates at 48 months were 53.1% and 29.1%. Younger age and treatment with iRoot BP Plus pulpotomy might predict higher success rates (P < 0.05). The long-term prognosis of iRoot BP Plus pulpotomy for treating extremely deep caries with carious pulp exposure in primary molars under general anesthesia was better than Vitapex pulpectomy.

Relationship of Body Fat Distribution and Anthropometric Status with Lipid Profiles in Ethnic Minang Adult Women

Background The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing, and it is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. One of the indicators of metabolic syndrome is dyslipidemia. Objective This study analyzes adult women's body fat distribution, anthropometric status, and lipid profiles. Methods This study used a cross-sectional design with simple random sampling. A total of 159 adult women aged 25-44 living in the Pesisir Selatan district participated in the study. Ethical approval was obtained, and the respondents were not taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. Body fat distribution, anthropometric status, and lipid profile data were assessed using standard procedures and compared with the categories recommended for Indonesian women. Results The average age of respondents was 36.6 years. 45.3% of the respondents suffered from dyslipidemia. Most of them were obese based on BMI and had central obesity based on WC. Additionally, 76% had an above-normal fat mass. Lipid profile data showed that some (45.3%) had high total cholesterol, 44% had high LDL, 8% had high TG, and a small proportion (15%) had low HDL levels. There was a significant relationship (p &lt; 0.01) between body fat distribution and anthropometric status with lipid profiles, except for total cholesterol (p &lt; 0.05). A negative correlation was found between body fat percentage, BMI, and WC with HDL, while a positive correlation existed between body fat percentage, BMI, and WC with TG and LDL levels. Conclusions Obesity is found to be higher, and dyslipidemia begins to occur in women at a younger age, increasing the risk of metabolic syndrome. Education and routine screening are necessary to prevent non-communicable diseases.

How do Children Learn to Manage Their Emotions?

In life, it is important for us to be able to calm ourselves down, or manage our emotions, when we get very excited or very sad. Children learn how to do this at a young age. We wanted to learn what parts of a child’s environment, like how their parents interact with them or what life is like at home, relate to how kids control their emotions. We predicted that children who are better able to manage their emotions may be more likely to help other people. We used questionnaires and tasks to learn about how children manage their emotions and interact with others. We found that parents and life at home both related to how well children manage their emotions. We also found that children who were better able to manage their emotions were more likely to help others in need and less likely to misbehave at home.

Psychiatric Comorbidities of Childhood-onset Atopic Dermatitis in Relation to Eczema Severity: A Register-based Study among 28,000 Subjects in Finland.

Data on the severity of childhood-onset atopic dermatitis (AD) in relation to psychiatric comorbidities is scarce, even though AD predisposes to psychiatric comorbidities and the commonness of childhood-onset AD and its significance in disease progression are recognized. The purpose of this nationwide, register-based study of child patients diagnosed with AD in Finland between 1987 and 2017 was to determine how psychiatric comorbidities of AD patients differ depending on the disease severity of childhood-onset AD. AD severity was assessed by purchased AD treatment and risk of comorbidities was analyzed by the age of 18 and 30 years. The main finding of our study is that risk of several psychiatric disorders, i.e., depression, anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder, increased by the AD severity in childhood-onset AD already at young age. No difference was found for behavioral disorders, including hyperkinetic disorder, depending on AD severity. Childhood-onset AD is associated with different psychiatric comorbidities depending on AD severity, which supports the importance of mental health evaluation in AD patients.

In situ rubidium–strontium geochronology of white mica in young metamafic and metasomatic rocks from Syros: testing the limits of laser-ablation triple-quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer mica dating using different anchoring approaches

Abstract. The recent development of laser-ablation triple-quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS/MS) has revolutionized rubidium–strontium (Rb–Sr) mica dating, allowing us to obtain isotopic data within their microstructural context. While effective for old and felsic materials, this method presents challenges for young metamafic and metasomatic rocks due to limited radiogenic ingrowth associated with low Rb/Sr and young ages. We quantitatively address these limitations by combining laser-ablation ICP-MS/MS and MC-ICP-MS data for coexisting white mica and epidote, respectively, for 10 Cenozoic metamorphic rocks from Syros (Greece). White mica analyses from metamafic and metasomatic rocks yield limited Rb/Sr spread, which typically does not exceed an order of magnitude (87Rb/86Sr=14 to 231 for the combined dataset), and low radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr (generally &lt;0.8), resulting in high age uncertainties of typically 10 to 50 % relative standard error (RSE), thus hampering robust geological interpretations. Epidote 87Sr/86Sr values range between ∼0.705 and 0.708. The former is typically expected for unaltered metamafic materials, whereas the latter is interpreted to reflect fluid–rock interaction along shear zones, with fluids derived from or having interacted with more radiogenic lithologies. These atypical values suggest that a commonly assumed value of 0.703 for mafic rocks may not always be representative. Anchoring white mica Rb–Sr to epidote 87Sr/86Sr data improves age accuracy and precision substantially (e.g., 29±17 Ma vs. 47.2±4.4 Ma for sample SYGR36). The new ages obtained in this study are consistent with multiple events previously recorded on Syros and the Cyclades blueschists unit including (i) metasomatism and metamorphism at near peak to epidote blueschist-facies conditions during early exhumation (ca. 47 to 41 Ma) and (ii) a late stage of high-pressure exhumation and metasomatism transitioning to blueschist and greenschist-facies conditions (ca. 21 to 20 Ma). Anchored white mica Rb–Sr ages in mafic rocks allow us to discriminate events of fluid–rock interactions and metasomatism associated with shear zone deformation at the subduction interface.

Immunity Dynamics of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroups ACYW from Birth and Following Vaccination

Background: Serosurveillance of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis (ECM) in healthy individuals is crucial for assessing disease risk and evaluating the effectiveness of vaccinations. However, this practical work is rare in China. Methods: We conducted cross-section serosurveillance in Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, and Heyuan in Guangdong Province, measuring Anti-Nm IgG with serogroups A, C, Y, and W, and analyzed the trends using a generalized additive model (GAM). Results: During 2019–2022, 7752 participants were included. The overall antibody positivity rate for serogroups A, C, Y, and W were 60.75%, 15.51%, 32.83%, and 14.56%, respectively. High Anti-Nm IgG was in children aged 0–5 and 5–10 years old. Geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of Anti-Nm IgG were higher and correlated positively with vaccine doses compared with unvaccinated individuals. The GMC showed a consistent decrease trend in the vaccinated and a U-shaped curve in populations. The declined rates of GMC were 1.59 (95% CI: 1.03, 2.14) µg/mL, 1.65 (95% CI: 1.28, 2.03), 0.62 (95% CI: 0.22, 1.03), and 0.31 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.53) µg/mL per year for serogroups A, C, Y, and W, respectively. Conclusions: There were differences in antibody positivity rate and GMC for the four serogroups of ECM in the healthy individuals of Guangdong Province, with serogroup A showing the highest, and the demographic differences highlighted the high seroprevalence of Neisseria meningitidis in younger people. The variable prevalence rates among serogroups A, C, Y, and W and the observed decline in antibody titers underscore the need for adjustments in the immunization program targeting the meningococcal vaccine.

The Urban Bias in Latin American Avoidable Mortality.

In 1977, Michael Lipton introduced the Urban Bias Thesis as a framework for understanding how most economic policy initiatives have contributed to the overdevelopment of urban areas and the underdevelopment of rural areas. In Latin America, there has historically been a positive correlation between urbanization and mortality decline, as the region's health transition generally began in the main cities and tended to proceed more rapidly in countries with higher levels of urbanization. This paper seeks evidence of a residual urban bias in the region's mortality patterns. Using a sample of Latin American countries over the 2000-2010 period, I analyse the disparities in mortality patterns and avoidable causes of death by looking closely at urban and rural areas using continuum categories. The results indicate that the urban advantage does persist and that rural-urban mortality differentials have consistently favoured the largest cities. The metropolitan advantage in mortality is an outcome of lower mortality in causes of death that are avoidable through primary interventions. Even in scenarios of high mortality at younger adult ages (15-44), the metropolitan advantage remains, due primarily to unsuccessful efforts to reduce mortality in populations aged 45years and over outside the main and large cities.