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International Journal of Primatology 2024The combination of meaning-bearing units (e.g., ) into higher-order structures (e.g., compound words and phrases) is integral to human language. Despite this central...
The combination of meaning-bearing units (e.g., ) into higher-order structures (e.g., compound words and phrases) is integral to human language. Despite this central role of syntax in language, little is known about its evolutionary progression. Comparative data using animal communication systems offer potential insights, but only a handful of species have been identified to combine meaningful calls together into larger signals. We investigated a candidate for syntax-like structure in the highly social chestnut-crowned babbler (). Using a combination of behavioral observations, acoustic analyses, and playback experiments, we test whether the form and function of maternal contact calls is modified by combining the core "piping" elements of such calls with at least one other call element or call. Results from the acoustic analyses (236 analysed calls from 10 individuals) suggested that piping call elements can be flexibly initiated with either "peow elements from middle-distance contact calls or adult "begging" calls to form "peow-pipe" and "beg-pipe" calls. Behavioral responses to playbacks (20 trials to 7 groups) of natural peow-pipe and beg-pipe calls were comparable to those of artificially generated versions of each call using peow elements and begging calls from other contexts. Furthermore, responses to playbacks (34 trials to 7 groups) of the three forms of maternal contact calls (piping alone, peow-pipe, beg-pipe) differed. Together these data suggest that meaning encoded in piping calls is modified by combining such calls with begging calls or peow elements used in other contexts and so provide rare empirical evidence for syntactic-like structuring in a nonhuman animal.
PubMed: 38948101
DOI: 10.1007/s10764-022-00332-9 -
World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics Jun 2024Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviors. Metabolomic profiling has...
BACKGROUND
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviors. Metabolomic profiling has emerged as a valuable tool for understanding the underlying metabolic dysregulations associated with ASD.
AIM
To comprehensively explore metabolomic changes in children with ASD, integrating findings from various research articles, reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, case reports, editorials, and a book chapter.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases, including PubMed, PubMed Central, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, LISA, and NLM catalog up until January 2024. Inclusion criteria encompassed research articles (83), review articles (145), meta-analyses (6), systematic reviews (6), case reports (2), editorials (2), and a book chapter (1) related to metabolomic changes in children with ASD. Exclusion criteria were applied to ensure the relevance and quality of included studies.
RESULTS
The systematic review identified specific metabolites and metabolic pathways showing consistent differences in children with ASD compared to typically developing individuals. These metabolic biomarkers may serve as objective measures to support clinical assessments, improve diagnostic accuracy, and inform personalized treatment approaches. Metabolomic profiling also offers insights into the metabolic alterations associated with comorbid conditions commonly observed in individuals with ASD.
CONCLUSION
Integration of metabolomic changes in children with ASD holds promise for enhancing diagnostic accuracy, guiding personalized treatment approaches, monitoring treatment response, and improving outcomes. Further research is needed to validate findings, establish standardized protocols, and overcome technical challenges in metabolomic analysis. By advancing our understanding of metabolic dysregulations in ASD, clinicians can improve the lives of affected individuals and their families.
PubMed: 38947988
DOI: 10.5409/wjcp.v13.i2.92737 -
SSM - Population Health Jun 2024Owing to a lack of social support, child-rearing Chinese women in Japan experience mental health disorders, such as depression and parenting stress. Effective...
BACKGROUND
Owing to a lack of social support, child-rearing Chinese women in Japan experience mental health disorders, such as depression and parenting stress. Effective interventions to improve the mental health of these women are lacking. This study aimed to develop an Internet-based mental health promotion intervention for this subsection of the population and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.
METHODS
We used a quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design whereby the results of the intervention group were compared with those of a control group. Seventy-three child-rearing women were recruited from online groups of Chinese residents in Japan. In the Internet-based intervention, participants utilised an information provision application and attended online parenting workshops. The intervention group participated in the online workshops once a week for six weeks and accessed the application, whereas the control group did not. The outcome measures included the levels of mental health distress, depression, social support, and parenting stress. Data were collected from February to April 2022. Data analysis was performed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.
RESULTS
Mental health distress (F = 16.478, p < 0.001, η = 0.210) and depression (F = 13.078, p = 0.001, η = 0.174) were significantly affected in the intervention group compared with the control group. There were no significant differences in social support and parenting stress between the groups. The Internet-based mental health promotion intervention was highly appraised by the participants.
CONCLUSIONS
This study developed an Internet-based mental health promotion intervention that involved an information provision application and parenting workshops. The intervention significantly reduced the mental health distress and depression of Chinese women in Japan but did not affect social support and parenting stress. The findings suggest that this intervention could be applied to foreign women with multicultural backgrounds in diverse settings to improve their psychological well-being.
PubMed: 38947735
DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101686 -
Heliyon Jun 2024The correlation between sports participation and psychological well-being is well-documented, revealing a complex interplay influenced by competition level and cultural...
The correlation between sports participation and psychological well-being is well-documented, revealing a complex interplay influenced by competition level and cultural context. This is particularly relevant in Korea, where the university sports culture significantly impacts student life. This study evaluates how competitive versus non-competitive sports affect Korean university students' psychological well-being using a quantitative approach with SmartPLS 4 for multi-group analysis. Findings reveal that competitive sports significantly enhance mental toughness and stress management through structured coping mechanisms and robust social support, improving coping strategy effectiveness by 34 % compared to non-competitive sports. Conversely, participants in non-competitive sports experience greater general well-being with a 40 % higher use of informal support. These insights suggest that university sports programs could benefit from targeted interventions incorporating specific coping strategies and social support frameworks tailored to the competitive context. This research underscores the need for precise stress management techniques and resilience-building exercises in sports curricula to optimize psychological well-being across different sports environments in Korean universities.
PubMed: 38947484
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32331 -
Heliyon Jun 2024Service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior refers to service workers' helping, cooperating, sharing, and donating actions that benefit others at a cost to...
Service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior refers to service workers' helping, cooperating, sharing, and donating actions that benefit others at a cost to themselves. Based on ethical climate theory, this research investigates whether corporations adopting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management enhance service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (SO OCB) among service employees. A total of 230 surveys were collected from call center workers in the insurance industry, and STATA 14.0 was used to analyze the 204 responses with useable data. The results show that employees' recognized ESG activities enable SO OCB through organizational commitment. Additionally, ESG activity recognition has a positive relationship with self-efficacy and empowerment, which helps service employees regulate external expectations. Thus, this finding is significant for call center workers experiencing emotional labor. Furthermore, the results suggest that firms can contribute to employees' SO OCB by practicing ESG activities. Firms should inform employees of their ESG management efforts as employees' recognition of an ethical climate can enhance their willingness to perform service-oriented behavior. Finally, ESG activity recognition can increase employees' organizational commitment, an important predictor of employee satisfaction and negative turnover rates.
PubMed: 38947470
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31999 -
Belitung Nursing Journal 2024A well-functioning multidisciplinary team optimizes resource utilization and reduces care redundancy, fragmentation, and wastage. Collaborative efforts yield a clearer...
BACKGROUND
A well-functioning multidisciplinary team optimizes resource utilization and reduces care redundancy, fragmentation, and wastage. Collaborative efforts yield a clearer understanding of older people's needs and desires, significantly reducing hospitalization days. Despite limited studies, particularly in Indonesia, investigating professionals' experiences in implementing multidisciplinary collaboration in government nursing homes, nursing care quality remains a concern.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to explore the implementation of multidisciplinary collaboration in nursing homes from the perspectives of various disciplines.
METHODS
A descriptive phenomenological study was used with semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with multidisciplinary care providers, including nurses, doctors, social workers, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational and recreational activity instructors, and clergy in nursing homes owned by the Jakarta provincial government. A total of 64 participants were involved, and data were collected from September 2022 to July 2023. Data were analyzed using content-based analysis.
RESULTS
Three main themes emerged: 1) context of multiple collaborations, 2) barriers to implementing multiple collaborations, and 3) impacts of non-optimal multidisciplinary collaborations. Nursing home management's multidisciplinary teams predominantly implement professional-centered care with limited support systems. While providers generally perceive collaboration positively, shared responsibility and joint work among professionals are lacking.
CONCLUSION
This study highlights the need to improve multidisciplinary collaboration in nursing homes to enhance care quality for older individuals. While providers view collaboration positively, barriers like a lack of shared responsibility and joint work persist. Enhancing teamwork cohesion through improved communication and integrated case reporting systems is crucial. Addressing human resource and systemic barriers is also vital. By overcoming these challenges, nursing homes can optimize resource use, reduce care redundancy, and better meet the diverse needs of older residents.
PubMed: 38947308
DOI: 10.33546/bnj.3226 -
The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine Jun 2024Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant respiratory disease and is globally ranked as the third leading cause of death. In Canada, the direct...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant respiratory disease and is globally ranked as the third leading cause of death. In Canada, the direct healthcare costs associated with COPD are estimated to be $1.5 billion annually. This study utilized quantitative analyses to examine the impact of specific dimensions of social support, namely, guidance, reliable alliance, reassurance of worth, attachment, and social integration within a clinically identified population of individuals with COPD who exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety. The study was based on the Social Provisions Theory and stress-buffering hypothesis, utilizing large-scale population data from Statistics Canada's 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) Mental Health component. On a national scale, individuals were more likely to report a decreased sense of belonging to a group of friends (social integration) and struggle to depend on others in stressful times (reliable alliance) while experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression. These findings underscore the potential benefits of integrating peer support, socialization initiatives, and caregiver training into clinical programs designed for individuals with COPD.
PubMed: 38947110
DOI: 10.59249/OKAB8606 -
Research Square Jun 2024Background Transnational drug trafficking, political unrest, gang violence, and paramilitarism, which are pervasive in Haiti, have resulted in a mental health crisis for...
Background Transnational drug trafficking, political unrest, gang violence, and paramilitarism, which are pervasive in Haiti, have resulted in a mental health crisis for the broader Haitian community. This study explores the mental well-being of Haitians in Haiti and the United States by identifying barriers and facilitators to mental health through the lived experiences of men and women. Method Four Focus group discussions conducted in April and November 2023 engaged 28 participants (20 women and eight men) aged between 23 and 60 years from locations in Haiti (Port-au-Prince, Cite Soleil, Cayes, Cap-Haitien, Saint-Marc) and the United States. Discussions revolved around the definition of mental health, stressors, coping mechanisms, risk and protective factors, and barriers to mental health care. Results Six principal themes emerged: 1- : continued violence, political instability, unemployment, lack of social support, adverse childhood experiences, family separation, and forced displacement were significant sources of stress. 2- : Participants reported experiencing chronic physical and psychological symptoms (i.e., hypertension, anxiety, depression, sleep issues, substance abuse, suicidal ideations, characteristics of post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), which were attributed to Haiti's social, political, and infrastructure collapse. 3- : limited access to mental health services, pervasive hopelessness, scarcity of opportunities, and stigma were identified as significant risks. 4- : widespread concerns regarding the future predominated. 5- : Significant anxiety concerning the mental health and development of children, as well as the functionality of mental health practitioners, was noted. 6- : Effective coping strategies include mental stimulation, peer support, managing digital consumption, engaging in leisurely activities, such as listening to music, and faith/spirituality. Conclusion The study's findings underscore the sociopolitical and economic crisis in Haiti, which has resulted in violence and a collapse of political, educational, financial, and health infrastructures. These factors were identified as the primary source of chronic distress, contributing to widespread mental health issues, adverse physical symptoms, and disruption in daily life. The implications for practice, healing, research & policy are discussed.
PubMed: 38947085
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4578189/v1 -
Children and Youth Services Review May 2024American Samoan adolescents experience a high prevalence of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. To...
American Samoan adolescents experience a high prevalence of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. To complement existing health system efforts, family-based interventions may be a feasible, cost-effective, and relevant opportunity to promote mental health. This community-partnered, qualitative study aimed to: (1) identify potential family-related psychosocial protective factors for adolescent mental health and (2) develop a framework for a parenting program to promote adolescent mental health in American Samoa. Applying the framework developed for research in Samoan communities, which emphasizes the importance of weaving a range of community member perspectives to reach consensus, semi-structured in-depth interviews with adult key informants (n=28) were conducted between October 2020 and February 2021. Results were validated through five focus groups with Samoan adolescents (n=35) between May and June 2022. Adult participants were sampled for diversity in profession, age, gender, education, and region of residence; adolescent participants were sampled for diversity in gender. Participants were recruited using personal networks and snowball sampling; adolescent participants also responded to Facebook advertising. The semi-structured interviews focused on broad topics including common mental health problems, contributors to mental illness, and potential interventions, among others. Transcripts were coded in duplicate and analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Themes were collaboratively mapped onto an adapted model, an existing framework for Pacific Island health research. Six themes described key practices: (1) provide emotional safety and security; (2) provide physical safety and security; (3) encourage sense of self; (4) strengthen intergenerational communication skills; (5) prioritize quality time; and (6) cultivate healthy coping strategies. Participants also expressed the importance of a supportive environment grounded in culture, family and community, and caregiver mental health. These results provide an initial step to identify family-focused factors that promote adolescent mental health in American Samoa and categorize them into a framework to inform intervention development. Drawing on a collaborative and community-partnered process, these findings provide the first evidence-based framework to develop a parenting program to promote adolescent mental wellbeing and resilience in Samoan communities.
PubMed: 38946713
DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107502 -
The Medical Journal of Australia Jul 2024To assess the effectiveness of the Cultural, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program for reducing psychological distress and enhancing the social and emotional wellbeing...
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of the Cultural, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program for reducing psychological distress and enhancing the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal women preparing for release from prison.
STUDY DESIGN
Mixed methods; qualitative study (adapted reflexive thematic analysis of stories of most significant change) and assessment of psychological distress.
SETTING, PARTICIPANTS
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women at the Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women, Perth, Western Australia, May and July 2021.
INTERVENTION
Cultural, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program (two days per week for six weeks). The Program involves presentations, workshops, activities, group discussions, and self-reflections designed to enhance social and emotional wellbeing.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Themes and subthemes identified from reflexive thematic analysis of participants' stories of most significant change; change in mean psychological distress, as assessed with the 5-item Kessler Scale (K-5) before and after the Program.
RESULTS
Fourteen of 16 invited women completed the Program; ten participated in its evaluation. They reported improved social and emotional wellbeing, reflected as enhanced connections to culture, family, and community. Mean psychological distress was lower after the Program (mean K-5 score, 11.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.0-13.6) than before the Program (9.0; 95% CI, 6.5-11.5; P = 0.047).
CONCLUSION
The women who participated in the Program reported personal growth, including acceptance of self and acceptance and pride in culture, reflecting enhanced social and emotional wellbeing through connections to culture and kinship. Our preliminary findings suggest that the Program could improve the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in contact with the justice system.
Topics: Humans; Female; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Adult; Mental Health; Western Australia; Program Evaluation; Psychological Distress; Qualitative Research; Middle Aged; Emotions; Prisoners; Stress, Psychological; Young Adult
PubMed: 38946642
DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52354