Search Results (116)

Burial location and concepts of belonging are deeply interconnected. This article explores the biblical narrative of Jacob’s death and burial in the final chapters of the book of Genesis, with a focus on this relationship. The analysis engages in dialogue with Osman Balkan’s recent research on Turkish Muslims in Europe, examining factors influencing burial decisions, including the choice between repatriation to countries of origin and local burial. Key themes relevant to the biblical narrative include tensions with the host society, its authorities, and customs, the complex interplay of factors in end-of-life decisions, and the role of burial location as a means of anchoring future generations. In particular, the concept of the dead as an ‘anchor’ provides a useful framework for understanding the contrasting burial wishes of Jacob and his son Joseph. Additionally, considering Joseph as an undertaker adds nuance to his struggle to balance loyalty to local Egyptian customs with his father’s request to be buried among his ancestors in Canaan. Full article

Obesity has emerged as one of the most significant public health challenges of the 21st century, with its prevalence increasing at an alarming rate globally. While individual factors such as diet and physical inactivity are well-known contributors, the built environment, particularly housing, plays a critical yet understudied role in shaping obesity-related behaviors. This study examines the multilayered relationship between housing and obesity, focusing on built and neighborhood environment, affordability, and the social environment. Poor housing quality, such as overcrowding and inadequate ventilation, can potentially lead to chronic stress and sedentary behaviors, while housing design influences physical activity through characteristics such as design features and outdoor spaces. Housing location affects access to amenities such as parks and healthy food options, with disparities in access contributing to obesity in low-income areas. Similarly, neighborhood walkability, influenced by infrastructure and land use, encourages active transportation and recreation. Housing affordability also impacts dietary choices and access to recreational facilities, particularly for low-income families. Moreover, the social environment within housing communities can foster or hinder healthy behaviors through social networks and community engagement. This study emphasizes the need for health-conscious urban planning and policies that address these housing-related factors to combat obesity and promote healthier lifestyles. By integrating these Obesity–Housing Nexus, policymakers can create environments that support physical activity, healthy eating, as well as overall health and well-being. Full article

This perspective paper presents a first-person account of life with motor neurone disease (MND). Through the lens of lived experience, it explores the complex and often prolonged diagnostic journey, shaped in part by the protective grip of denial. This paper then delves into the emotional impact of MND on the individual and their close relationships, capturing the strain on identity and family dynamics. It also highlights the vital role of the multidisciplinary team in providing support throughout the journey. A central focus of the paper is the personal journey of voice banking. It reflects on the restorative experience of reclaiming a pre-disease voice through tools such as ElevenLabs^TM. This narrative underscores the critical importance of early intervention and timely access to voice banking, positioning voice not only as a tool for communication but also as a powerful anchor of identity, dignity, and agency. The paper concludes by highlighting key systemic gaps in MND care. It calls for earlier referral to speech pathology, earlier access to voice banking, access to psychological support from the time of diagnosis, and better integration between research and clinical care. Full article

Buried in 1858, Cornelis Kok II’s grave lay undisturbed in Campbell, Northern Cape, until 1961 when a multiracial coalition, driven by their own sets of interests, unearthed the Griqua leader’s remains. The bones again took centre stage with the collapse of apartheid when different groups called for their return and reburial, with an assertion, variously, of ascendant Griqua, indigenous, Khoisan, and Khoikhoi identities. The 2007 reinterment again courted controversy and protest, while the contemporary neglect of the new gravesite symbolizes feelings of exclusion and marginalization among some Campbell Griqua today. By tracing the life history of Kok II’s remains, well past his natural life, we demonstrate how they serve as a flashpoint mobilized by actors with different aims and objectives at different moments. These motivations range from scientistic confirmation of genealogy and identity under apartheid rule, to post-apartheid calls for repatriation anchored to a global indigenous rights framework, to factional contestations over ownership. Marshalled towards different political projects, for all these actors, the bones nonetheless serve as a resource and link to a 19th century frontier past. Full article

This paper investigates the impact of repatriated export proceeds on exchange rate volatility in Indonesia. By applying a time-varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP-VAR) model with stochastic volatility, we assess whether the impact of repatriated export proceeds can dampen the effect of short-term capital flows. Our findings indicate that the influence of export proceeds on exchange rate volatility varies over time, with no evidence supporting its ability to dampen the impact of short-term capital flows in the short and intermediate terms. Furthermore, we identify a reversal pattern in the impacts of both repatriated export proceeds and short-term foreign capital flows after 3–5 days, suggesting a potential need to evaluate policies aimed at dampening short-term capital flow impacts on exchange rate volatility. Our results are robust across a range of sensitivity and robustness checks, confirming the reliability of our findings. Full article

Background: Myocarditis is a life-threatening condition with an increasing incidence in the past two decades. Little is known about the frequency of specific causes of death following myocarditis. This study aimed to identify the different causes of death after myocarditis diagnosis and determine factors associated with mortality. Methods: We conducted a retrospective population-wide observational study in New South Wales (NSW), Australia from July 2004 to September 2021. Data were attained from the NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection database and death was tracked from the death registry to 31 March 2022. Cause of death was ascertained from manual reviews of all death certificates and adjudicated independently by three reviewers. Results: Among 4071 unique index admissions for myocarditis (median age: 42 years; 66% male), cumulative all-cause mortality was 4.5% in-hospital, 8.2% at 1 year, 13.3% at 5 years and 15.5% by the end of follow up (median 5.3 years). Within 30 days of admission, the leading cause of death was cardiovascular (66%), including myocarditis (36%) and heart failure (12%). Non cardiovascular causes accounted for 32% of deaths and included infection (17%) and malignancy (6%). Beyond 30 days, cardiovascular deaths declined to 34% (only 3% due to myocarditis). Higher mortality risk was associated with older age, higher Charlson comorbidity index, and myocarditis complicated by intensive care unit admission, heart failure, stroke, or arrhythmia. Conclusions: Patients admitted with myocarditis face significant mortality risks. The highest mortality occurs within the first 30 days, predominantly due to cardiovascular causes, although after 30 days the predominant cause of death shifts to non-cardiovascular causes. Full article

The emergence of Lamanite Studies exemplifies the need for decolonial and Indigenous-centered reevaluations of Mormon–Indigenous relations. This article advocates for the reclamation of Indigenous identity independent of the constraints imposed by Mormon doctrine. The incorporation of Indigenous genealogies into Mormon theology results in epistemic violence, disconnecting Indigenous peoples from their ancestral identities and substituting the latter with the settler/invader colonial construct of “Lamanite”. This paper advocates for the decolonization of Indigenous identities within Mormonism, emphasizing the need for a radical intervention that prioritizes Indigenous sovereignty and self-definition over the maintenance of colonial categories. I present approaches and scholarship in Lamanite Studies that align with Indigenous land and spiritual repatriation, promoting the restoration of Indigenous epistemologies to Indigenous communities. Theoretical colonialism must be supplemented by grassroots initiatives that empower Indigenous communities to reclaim their spiritual and cultural identities. Full article

While ethnography has held an essential place in the study of Indigenous rock imagery (i.e., petroglyphs and pictographs) in the United States for the past century and a half, rarely are Tribes and other descendant communities involved throughout the entire research program—from conception to publication. This contrasts with recent developments within more traditional “dirt” archaeology, where over the past 30 years, Tribes have assumed greater roles in decision-making, fieldwork, artifact curation, data management, interpretation of results, and repatriation of ancestral belongings. In concert with these changes, Indigenous archaeology has emerged as a domain of theory and practice wherein archaeological research and cultural heritage management center the voices and interests of Indigenous communities. Collaboration among researchers and Indigenous communities has proven to be an effective means of practicing Indigenous archaeology and advancing its goals, but research into rock imagery all too often still limits Indigenous engagement and knowledge to the interpretation of the imagery. This article highlights a case study in Tribal collaboration from the North American Southwest in the interest of advancing an Indigenous archaeology of rock imagery. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between public token acts of online support and prosocial behavioral intentions, shedding light on the potential mediating influences that contribute to this intricate interplay. It focuses on the determinants of prosocial behavioral intentions toward three specific groups of immigrants who came to Israel after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022: asylum seekers from Ukraine, immigrant citizens repatriated from Ukraine, and immigrant citizens repatriated from Russia. The data were collected via a survey of 847 social media users in Israel. This study revealed that the higher the frequency of token acts of online support for prosocial content in social media, the higher perspective-taking and emotional concerns were reported by respondents. High emotional concern, in turn, was associated with higher prosocial behavioral intentions. Summing up, the more actively people engage with prosocial content on social media, the higher their prosocial behavioral intentions are. Full article

The 2021 military coup in Myanmar triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, forcing many to flee through regular and irregular channels to neighboring countries like Thailand. This study explores the resulting migration patterns and precarious situation of Myanmar nationals seeking refuge in Thailand. Drawing on contemporary sources, it highlights how the crisis, worsened by military conscription laws, displaced many citizens. Refugees face constant fear of incarceration and forced repatriation while struggling with limited access to basic services in Thailand, which worsens mental health and reduces quality of life. The military’s revenue tactics, such as taxing overseas workers and remittances, have contributed to their hardships. In response, Thailand introduced a cabinet resolution to legalize work and residence for irregular migrants for four years. However, ongoing detentions and deportations risk forced military enlistment upon return, raising doubts about the resolution’s effectiveness, accessibility, and affordability. The study concludes with policy recommendations to address the humanitarian needs of Myanmar’s displaced population both at home and abroad. It also suggests ways to implement protective measures effectively, such as the Thai Cabinet resolution, to safeguard the dignity and rights of Myanmar’s people. Full article

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a genetically complex neurodegenerative disorder. Up to 15% of cases are considered monogenic. However, research on monogenic PD has largely focused on populations of European ancestry, leaving gaps in our understanding of genetic variability in other populations. This study addresses this gap by analysing the allele frequencies of pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants in known monogenic PD genes across eight global populations, using data from the gnomAD database. Methods: We compiled a list of 27 genes associated with Mendelian PD from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database, and identified pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants using ClinVar. We then performed pairwise comparisons of allele frequencies across populations included in the gnomAD database. Variants with significant frequency differences were further assessed using in silico pathogenicity predictions. Results: We identified 81 variants across 17 genes with statistically significant allele frequency differences between at least two populations. Variants in GBA1 were the most prevalent among monogenic PD-related genes, followed by PLA2G6, ATP13A2, VPS13C, and PRKN. GBA1 exhibited the greatest variability in allele frequencies, particularly the NM_000157.4:c.1226A>G (p.Asn409Ser) variant. Additionally, we observed significant population-specific differences in PD-related variants, such as the NM_032409.3:c.1040T>C (p.Leu347Pro) variant in PINK1, which was most prevalent in East Asian populations. Conclusions: Our findings reveal substantial population-specific differences in the allele frequencies of pathogenic variants linked to monogenic PD, emphasising the need for broader genetic studies beyond European populations. These insights have important implications for PD research, genetic screening, and understanding the pathogenesis of PD in diverse populations. Full article

A mixed-methods approach combines qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to provide a comprehensive understanding of complex social phenomena in healthcare. This approach leverages the strengths of both methodologies to address research questions that cannot be fully answered by a single method. While quantitative data offer measurable patterns and generalizability, qualitative research provides critical insights into the human experiences, cultural contexts, and systemic factors that underlie these patterns, and such elements are often missed by purely statistical analyses. Notably, qualitative components can uncover why interventions succeed or fail in real-world settings, adding explanatory power to quantitative results. By integrating numerical data analysis with in-depth contextual insights, mixed-methods research enables researchers to explore, explain, and generalize findings in healthcare settings more holistically than either method could achieve alone. Full article

Background: Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and diabetes face high risks of comorbidities, tissue loss, and cardiovascular events. As global type 2 diabetes (T2DM) prevalence rises, so does its incidence in symptomatic patients with PAD, though this population is under-studied in Australia. This cross-sectional analysis sought to characterize PAD patients with diabetes regarding prevalence, major complications, medication use, and prescribing patterns, comparing them to non-diabetic PAD patients. We also examined PAD complications in relation to diabetic control. Methods: This cross-sectional study looked at the baseline data from 105 PAD participants in the TEAM-PAD randomized controlled trial that were analyzed using descriptive statistics, prevalence odds ratios and regression analysis. Participants were recruited between June 2023 and August 2024 from public clinics, private surgeons, and Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney. Results: Diabetes prevalence was 52.83% (n = 56) with 29.5% (n = 31) of participants with T2DM having uncontrolled hyperglycemia (HbA1c ≥ 7%), which was weakly negatively correlated with age (r = −0.372, p = 0.039). Participants with T2DM were twice as likely to have a history of coronary artery disease (POR 2.43; 95% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) between 1.09–5.43, and over three times as likely to have tissue loss (POR 3.39; 95% CI 1.22–9.43). The odds of polypharmacy (≥5 medications) were 10 times greater in participants with T2DM (POR 10.8; 95% CI 2.31–50.4), affecting 96.4% of this group. Conclusions: Diabetes prevalence and associated complications were higher than previous estimates, underscoring the challenges in managing diabetes and polypharmacy in participants with PAD. A multidisciplinary approach may improve outcomes. Full article

Sri Lankan Tamil refugees have endured over four decades of protracted displacement in southern India. This paper synthesizes findings from four studies conducted between 2005 and 2018 among refugees residing in the Gummidipoondi and Trichy refugee camps in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Framed by a Community Based Participatory Research, in collaboration with the Organization for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation (OfERR) and Community Advisory Board, these studies aimed to investigate the challenges related to migration stressors, mental health, family dynamics, and resource utilization of the Sri Lankan refugees living in India. The association of Psychological Distress and Migration Stress (PDMS) study examined migration stressors influencing psychological distress among refugees. The intergenerational Conflict and Community Readiness (ICCR study) assessed community readiness for repatriation and intergenerational conflict employing semi-structured qualitative interviews. The Family Dynamics (FD) mixed-method study investigated longitudinal associations between migration stressors, resource utilization, family dynamics, and health outcomes among Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. The Parenting Processes and Intervention Development (PPID) Study incorporated perspectives of community health workers through qualitative exploratory research. Integrating these findings, the research developed (1) Conceptual Model of Refugee Family Dynamics and (2) Framework for Refugee Health Intervention. These models provide a culturally sensitive framework for future interventions to improve family well-being among refugee populations. Full article

Interdisciplinary approaches are increasingly integral in doctoral and higher research education, addressing complex global challenges through collaborations across disciplines. This review investigates the benefits, challenges, and educational impact of interdisciplinary approaches in doctoral research. This scoping review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and uses an integrative narrative synthesis. The review was conducted using four major academic databases (ERIC, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) with an exploratory search using keywords related to interdisciplinary approaches, doctoral studies, and academic collaborations. The review synthesized evidence from studies published in English, focusing on interdisciplinary research in doctoral education, with no restrictions on study design. Eligibility criteria were based on the SPIDER tool (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research Type). The search was completed on 25 September 2024. The initial search retrieved n = 954 articles, with n = 167 articles being reviewed for the integrative synthesis. The review included studies that examined interdisciplinary collaborations in doctoral research, highlighting the benefits such as skill versatility, career readiness, and research adaptability. The challenges discussed included academic culture differences, communication barriers, and institutional silos. The role of academic institutions and supervisors in supporting interdisciplinary research through fostering collaborative environments was emphasized. The review provides insights into how interdisciplinary approaches can enhance doctoral education, preparing graduates to tackle global challenges. It highlights the need for improved integration of interdisciplinary practices in doctoral research and outlines future directions for fostering interdisciplinary collaborations in higher education. Full article