Same-Sex Marriage Legislation in Taiwan and the Meaning of Democracy

In recent years, research on LGBTQ+ movements has flourished around the world. Among the civil rights the LGBTQ+ community has been fighting for, same-sex marriage is one of the most controversial issues, which pits the demands for LGBTQ+ inclusion in mainstream social institutions against groups that defend traditional norms and values.

Read More
Creating a spinning sensation in stationary observers: insights for visual-vestibular sensory integration

Our sensory organs (e.g. eyes, ears, nose) are the means by which the brain receives input about the world and converts this to meaningful experience. Because of the differing properties of our sensory organs, information from these various sources can sometimes be in conflict. So how does the brain deal with conflicting sensory information? This is exactly the question we sought to answer in a recent paper from my PhD work.

Read More
Stronger together: UK local authorities and effective partnership work during the COVID-19 pandemic

The UK COVID-19 inquiry is in full swing. Preliminary evidence on decision-making and political governance has been submitted and the opening public hearings are considering pandemic resilience and preparedness. The UK’s handling of the pandemic will be under the spotlight for a significant period – with the inquiry set to run until at least summer 2026.

Read More
Characteristics of Asian American Family Caregivers of Older Adults Compared to Caregivers of Other Racial/Ethnic Groups: BRFSS 2015-2020

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in the United States (U.S.) comprising 7.2% of the U.S. population, and many (57%) are foreign-born immigrants. The Asian American population has grown from 11.9 million to 22.4 million between 2000 and 2019 (88% growth). Despite these rising numbers, their health and healthcare needs remain understudied. Asian Americans are a highly diverse and heterogeneous group from over 50 countries and speak 100 different languages, but they share common cultural backgrounds such as collectivistic values, and family and intergenerational practices including elder caregiving. Multigeneration households are common in Asian countries and this pattern also can be found in Asian American communities in the U.S. They often provide intergenerational elder caregiving practicing the Asian cultural concept of filial piety. However, it is unknown if they continue elder caregiving in the U.S. the way they used to do in their home countries.

Read More
Addressing Barriers to Black Women’s Disclosure of Sexual Pain to their Medical Providers

Black women who experience chronic pain, pain related to reproductive health, and pain related to sexual difficulties all face the risk of being judged, misunderstood, and misdiagnosed by medical providers. The goal of this study was to explore the pathway from sexual pain disclosure to treatment among Black women living in the Southern United States.

Read More
An eye for AI: In the age of artificial intelligence, who will win the race between governance and innovation?

Artificial intelligence is introducing significant structural and institutional changes by challenging existing laws and regulations, industry practices, emerging organizational forms, new forms of labor, and leadership roles. How can we harness AI's power through governance so as to help solve societal problems without amplifying existing inequalities or creating new ones?

Read More
Uncovering the Impact of Physical Function on Fall Risk in Older Adults with a Fear of Falling, with and without Activity Restriction

Approximately 25% of older adults fall each year and falls commonly result in injury and hospitalization. Many older adults suffer from a fear of falling, meaning they worry about falling while doing everyday activities like shopping or cleaning their home. Considerable research has shown that the presence of fear of falling increases the risk of future falls in older adults. Importantly, the presence of fear of falling in some older adults causes them to restrict their activities. This means they avoid activities they would typically do as they are afraid a fall might occur, which can result in a decline in their physical abilities.

Read More
Vax Champions: NASN's Initiative for COVID-19 & School Vaccination Confidence and Equity

The COVID-19 vaccine was developed and administered to millions of Americans in record time and continues to help prevent severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19. Although over 70 percent of adults nationally have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, only 39 percent of children ages 5 to 11 have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Recognizing the key role that schools, school nurses (SNs), and community-based organizations (CBOs) played in the pandemic response and promotion of health equity among children, the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), with generous funding from Kaiser Permanente (KP) developed, and implemented the Champions for School Health (CSH) grant initiative. This project funded SNs, and CBOs that are working to increase pediatric vaccine access, and confidence among underserved populations in KP’s footprint: California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

Read More
Mass Shootings in the United States: Promising Approaches for Prevention and Response

Gun violence is a public health crisis in the United States. While the largest share of firearm-related deaths are suicides, most media coverage of gun violence focuses on homicides, particularly highly lethal mass shootings in public spaces. In the aftermath of one of these tragedies, there often are demands to “do something” to prevent the next one. In our forthcoming article, “Mass Shootings in the United States: Prevalence, Policy, and a Way Forward,” we highlight policies and proposals offered by legislators and advocates to prevent mass shootings from happening and reducing their lethality if they do occur. 

Read More
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in first-episode psychosis: looking beyond averages to uncover groups with less favorable outcomes

Experiencing a first episode of psychosis can often lead to distress. The onset of first-episode psychosis (FEP ) typically happens during the transition to adulthood, a major turning point in life. Our findings highlight the need for professionals working with persons with FEP to assess suicidal risk regularly and throughout follow-up.

Read More
Public Health Scholars Challenge and Critique the Field on Its Anti-Racist Pedagogy

Last summer, my colleague and I felt a sense of disappointment and desire for more from our public health education. We both started our master’s in public health Fall of 2020, right after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social uprisings of 2020 catalyzed by the racist murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd by the police. We connected over our commitment to challenging ourselves to more critically understand the intricacies of health inequities. We found ourselves frustrated with our field's approach to addressing racism in public health. For me, I felt I was not being challenged or given tools on how to meaningfully incorporate anti-racism framing into my public health endeavors. Most of the time, I felt frustrated, as were other peers who shared different or similar historically marginalized identities. For us to sit through lectures about how people like us were more prone to health issues because of the racism we endured was like, yeah, duh?

 

Read More
Improving Community Mental Health Services for Canadians of South Asian Origin: Using Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CaCBT)

Focusing on Canadians of South Asian origin, this research reveals their limited access to culturally appropriate mental health services and the need for adapted treatments. Through collaboration with organizations and community involvement, the study developed a culturally adapted manual for anxiety and depression, resulting in positive outcomes and potential healthcare system relief.

Read More
Inclusive Healthcare for Transgender Individuals: Addressing Mental Health Disparities

Based on the 2021 census, approximately 0.33% of the total Canadian population aged 15 and over, or 1 in 300 people, identify as transgender or non-binary. This is likely an underestimate due to a variety of reasons, with the most obvious being that each household completes one survey, and depending on who is responding to the questions, they may not be aware of each person’s gender identity, especially if someone in the household has not come out as transgender yet. 

Read More
Behind the collection: Applying Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Encourage Economic Growth and Maintain Sustainable Societies

In the latest Science Progress (IF 1.512) Special Collection, several international Guest Editors teamed up to encourage new findings and innovative research that explore the application of AI in achieving social sustainability, considering local, regional, and national characteristics. Topics include theoretical frameworks, empirical studies integrating AI technologies, deep learning in transportation, forecasting renewable energy applications, and economic and environmental assessments with AI applications. Here, we chat with one of the Guest Editors, Dr. Chih-Chun Kung, to learn more about the collection and the experience of launching one.

Read More
Insider tips: How to submit a successful Special Collection proposal to Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment (TCRT)

Successful completion of a Special Collection as a Guest Editor is a significant achievement. It is also a wonderful opportunity to learn about the editorial process. Being a Guest Editor will help to reinforce and grow your research network.

Completing a Special Collection can be a time-consuming experience and a difficult process to initiate. The Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment (TCRT) editor team supports Guest Editors from start to finish with tools, guidelines, and dedicated promotions via email and social media. To help prepare to be a Guest Editor, here are some tips for taking the initial step with our journal, preparing the Special Collection proposal.

Read More
American Foregut Society White Paper Provides Best Practices for Use of Newer, Less Invasive GERD Treatments

A new white paper by the American Foregut Society (AFS) summarizes the published outcome data for Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication 2.0 (TIF 2.0) and Concomitant Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (cTIF) to date and outlines the best practice approaches and patient assessment, selection, and management using TIF 2.0 and cTIF.

Read More