Search Results (119)

New media technologies have enabled freedom of expression through platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter. These freedoms are amplified through engagement with jokes and memes circulating on these platforms. The study analyzes the political uses of memes circulating on WhatsApp by youths in Bulawayo. The literature on the dynamics around the circulation of jokes or memes on social media has under-explored the role of jokes in Zimbabwe. Using Habermas’s theory of the public sphere and Bakhtin’s theory of the carnivalesque, the author interviewed 14 youths using semi-structured interviews and conducted a focus group discussion, in which 5 youths participated, to obtain a deeper understanding of issues raised during the interviews. The study found that youths use memes to laugh, stimulate debate, confront those in leadership and participate in offline socio-political activities. It was concluded that, while they appear to be light-hearted, memes give youths the power to challenge official narratives. Full article

Since the end of Apartheid in 1994, South Africa has striven to address past discrimination against members of marginalized groups such as Africans, women and LGBTQ+ individuals. Sophisticated media legislation and a vibrant civil society forged in the struggle against Apartheid ensure limited discrimination in traditional media and relatively fringe online forums. However, subtle forms of undermining signal the persistent legacy of a colonial and patriarchal past. While incidents of online racism and sexism are relatively well documented, ableism deserves more attention. Despite growing scholarship on digital discrimination, a significant research gap remains in understanding how ableist microaggressions manifest online, particularly when intersecting with race and gender. As a result of established media tropes, microaggressions against people with disabilities are somewhat naturalized and reproduced on social media, yet their intersectional dimensions—especially targeting Black women with disabilities—remain underexplored. This paper addresses this gap through a focused case study of jokes targeting Black women with disabilities in one TikTok video and the approximately 700 comments. Considering (dis)ability’s intersections with race, gender, and socio-economic status, these media texts are subjected to a critical thematic analysis. The study also problematizes the methodological challenges associated with finding, identifying, and purposively selecting such content. The analysis reveals a set of historically and contextually rooted microaggressions expressed through humor, which, as a cultural expression, is inherently covert and thus hard to detect and regulate. This research contributes to understanding how intersectional ableism operates digitally and highlights the need for nuanced approaches to identifying subtle forms of discrimination in online spaces. Full article

Humor translation remains a significant challenge due to its reliance on wordplay, cultural context, and nuance. This study compares a Neural Machine Translation (NMT) system (hereafter referred to as MT) with a Large Language Model (GPT-based translation using three different prompts) for translating jokes from English to Thai. Results show that GPT-based models significantly outperform MT in humor retention, with the explanation-enhanced prompt (GPT-Ex) achieving the highest joke preservation rate (62.94%) compared to 50.12% in MT. Additionally, humor loss was more frequent in MT, while GPT-based models, particularly GPT-Ex, better retained jokes. A McNemar test confirmed significant differences in annotation distributions across models. Beyond evaluation, we propose using GPT-based models with optimized prompt engineering to enhance humor translation. Our refined prompts improved joke retention by guiding the model’s understanding of humor and cultural nuances. Full article

The problem of geolocating Reddit users without access to the author information API is tackled in this study. Using subreddit data, we analyzed and identified user location based on their interactions within location-specific subreddits. Using unsupervised learning methods such as Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) algorithms, we examined conversations about COVID-19 and immunization across the U.S., focusing on COVID-19 vaccination. Our topic modeling identifies four themes: humor and sarcasm (e.g., jokes about microchips), conspiracy theories (e.g., tracking devices and microchips in the COVID-19 vaccine), public skepticism (e.g., debates over vaccine safety and freedom), and vaccine brand concerns (e.g., Pfizer, Moderna, and booster shots). Our geolocation analysis shows that regions with lower vaccination rates often exhibit a higher prevalence of misinformation-labeled comments. For example, counties such as Ada County (Idaho), Newton County (Missouri), and Flathead County (Montana) showed both a low vaccine uptake and a high rate of false information. This study provides useful information on the many different examples of misinformation that are disseminated online. It gives us a better understanding of how people in different parts of the U.S. think about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Full article

Humor plays a vital role in human well-being and communication and is increasingly recognized as a beneficial resource in healthcare contexts. While prior studies have explored humor in general university populations, limited research has focused on nursing students, who face distinct interpersonal and emotional demands during their training. This pilot study aimed to describe multidimensional sense of humor among first-year nursing students in Spain using the validated Spanish version of the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (MSHS), which includes a three-dimension model: humor competence, humor as a coping mechanism, and social attitudes toward humor. A total of 78 students completed the MSHS questionnaire via an online survey. The overall mean score was 66.8 (SD = 13.1) out of 96, with the highest mean observed in the dimension of humor as a coping mechanism (mean = 22.2, SD = 4.0). Individual item analysis revealed strong agreement with positively worded statements such as “I like a good joke” (mean = 3.36, SD = 0.82) and “Humor is a lousy coping mechanism” (reverse scored; mean = 3.69, SD = 0.67). These findings suggest that humor is a relevant personal and interpersonal resource among future healthcare professionals. Incorporating humor-related competencies in nursing education may support student resilience and enhance patient-centered care. Further research is needed to examine humor’s longitudinal development and its role in clinical practice. Full article

Background: Kidney-related pain can be chronic, disabling and negatively impact quality of life. In this prospective case series, we assessed whether a stepwise multidisciplinary treatment protocol, originally developed to treat ADPKD-related pain, can provide significant pain relief in non-ADPKD patients with kidney-related pain. Methods: Patients were eligible if they had incapacitating kidney-related pain with a visual analogue scale (VAS) score ≥50 out of 100, lasting ≥3 months and with insufficient response to previous treatments. The main exclusion criterion was ADPKD. Treatment options were, in order when indicated, nonpharmacological treatments, analgesics, cyst aspiration and fenestration, nerve blocks and nephrectomy. The effect of treatment on pain was investigated by means of VAS scores, defined daily dose of pain medication and quality-of-life scores. Results: Twelve patients (67% female, median age 50 [IQR: 36–59] years), with a median duration of pain of 1.9 [1.0–4.7] years, were included. In 50% of cases, chronic pain remained after an acute episode of kidney stones. Median follow-up after treatment was 3.8 [IQR: 2.5–4.4] years. The VAS before treatment (70 (48–90)) was reduced at short-term (35 [28–53], p = 0.01) and long-term follow-up (40 [38–53], p = 0.01). In addition, the defined daily dose of both opioids and non-opioids was reduced at short-term follow-up (p = 0.04 and 0.04, respectively) as well as at long-term follow-up (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions: We found that our multidisciplinary treatment protocol is effective in achieving sustained pain relief as well as a reduction in the use of pain medication in non-ADPKD patients with chronic, refractory kidney-related pain. Full article

Background: Metabolic bariatric surgery is a highly effective and long-lasting treatment for obesity and related chronic conditions. Women of reproductive age represent the largest group undergoing these procedures. Observational studies suggest an increased risk of preterm birth and impaired foetal growth in this population, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. A key hypothesis is that altered glucose metabolism, characterised by frequent hypoglycaemia and glycaemic fluctuations, may contribute to these adverse outcomes. While glycaemic variability following metabolic bariatric surgery has been documented, its pattern during pregnancy and impact on pregnancy outcomes are still underexplored. Methods: In this Belgian multicentre prospective cohort study, we will investigate glycaemic patterns during pregnancy in women who have undergone metabolic bariatric surgery. Women aged 18–45 years with a confirmed singleton pregnancy up to 11 weeks and 6 days and a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy will be eligible for inclusion. Women with pregestational diabetes or those taking medication known to interfere with glucose metabolism will be excluded. All participants will receive blinded continuous glucose monitoring (Dexcom^® G6) for a 10-day period at four time points throughout the pregnancy. Foetal body composition and growth will be measured during routine ultrasound; skinfolds will be measured in the neonate. The primary outcome is the association between mean glycemia and glycaemic variability on continuous glucose monitoring and birth weight. The planned sample size is ninety-five women. Linear mixed models for repeated measurements will be used for analysis. Confounders such as smoking, micronutrient deficiency, and surgery-to-conception interval will be added to the model as covariates. In a second exploratory phase, each participant in the surgical group will be matched with a control participant—without a history of metabolic bariatric surgery—based on pre-pregnancy BMI and age. Control participants will undergo the same study procedures, allowing for exploratory comparison of glycaemic patterns and other study outcomes. Discussion: This prospective longitudinal study will be the largest study using continuous glucose monitoring to investigate glucose metabolism during pregnancy after metabolic bariatric surgery and its impact on foetal growth and newborn body composition. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05084339. Registration date: 15 October 2021. Full article

This work proposes an insight into the mycotoxins detected in wheat from the 2023 and 2024 harvests in Belgium and highlights the link between agronomic conditions and mycotoxin contamination. The study utilized samples from a Belgian trial network, covering nine locations in 2023 and eight in 2024, ensuring diverse pedoclimatic contexts and including 11 different varieties. Sowing and harvest dates, previous crops and meteorological data were collected for these locations. A validated UPLC-MS/MS multi-mycotoxin method able to detect 20 mycotoxins, regulated or not, was used. Deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and enniatins B and B1 were detected in the 2023 and 2024 samples. Enniatin A1 was only detected in the 2024 samples. Mycotoxin contamination was higher in 2024 compared to 2023, in terms of both the number of contaminated samples and the contamination levels. Enniatins B and B1, non-regulated mycotoxins, were widely detected in the 2024 wheat samples, with enniatin B detected in 68 out 88 samples ranging from 12 to 488 µg/kg. Differences between the wheat varieties were observed, with some varieties showing significantly higher contamination. Additionally, geographic location appeared to influence contamination levels, which could be related to previous crops or meteorological events. In conclusion, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of mycotoxin co-contamination in wheat samples from diverse pedoclimatic contexts in Belgium based over 2 years. It shows the importance of weather conditions on mycotoxin contamination. It also emphasizes the importance of variety selection to manage mycotoxin contamination. Full article

Background/Objective: Sensory integration (SI) involves the central processing of visual, vestibular, and somatosensory inputs. It plays a key role in regulating movements such as gait. However, aging may impair these systems and SI, altering the gait. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aim to examine the relationship between gait parameters and SI during standing in healthy older adults. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, and PEDro databases. Correlation coefficients between gait speed, sway (area and/or velocity) while standing under different SI conditions, and quotients were extracted. The Romberg Quotient (RQ) and Proprioception Quotient (PQ) were used to assess reliance on visual and somatosensory systems, respectively. The studies were grouped by condition, quotient, and outcome measures for the meta-analysis. Results: Thirteen studies (n = 719, mean age 72.5 years) were included. There were significant associations between gait speed and sway area during standing with eyes open on a stable surface (r: −0.235, p < 0.001), eyes closed on a stable surface (ECS) (r: −0.201, p < 0.001), eyes open on a compliant surface (r: −0.198, p < 0.001), and eyes closed on a compliant surface (r: −0.186, p < 0.004). No associations were found between gait speed and sway velocity in each condition, RQ, and PQ (p > 0.486 for all), except for the ECS (r: −0.149, p: 0.01). Conclusions: This study indicated a partial link between gait speed and SI in older adults. Future research should focus on dynamic SI evaluation to better understand this association. Full article

Ludwig Wittgenstein kept a box file titled “Nonsense Collection” that is now archived in the Research Institute Brenner-Archiv. Several items in this collection concern both science and religion (or spiritualism). Although Wittgenstein may have thought of them as jokes, these items do reflect his thoughts on the relationship between science and religion. In this paper, three items from the Nonsense Collection that touch both science and religion are presented. It will discuss first why these items are nonsensical by applying interpretation of the concept of nonsense given by McGuinness. Then it will take up different ideas of Wittgensteinian philosophy of religion proposed by Pichler, Schönbaumsfeld, Somavilla, and Sunday Grève; it shows that the items presented in this paper would also be nonsensical, according to this kind of philosophy of religion. It concludes with historical and modern cases that also show dysfunctional relationships between science and religion and that these cases may have found their way into the Nonsense Collection. Full article

Background: Vestibular hypofunction occurs in 29.5% of older adults with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), but its impact on postural control, well-being and frailty was not studied before. This study compared the well-being, frailty and postural control between older adults with BPPV and vestibular hypofunction (oaBPPV+), and older adults with only BPPV (oaBPPV). Methods: Thirty-one older adults (≥65 years old) diagnosed with BPPV were recruited. Unilateral vestibular hypofunction was defined as a >25% caloric asymmetry, and bilateral vestibular hypofunction as a total response <6°/s per ear, using bithermal caloric irrigations. The oaBPPV+ group was compared to the oaBPPV group using the measures of well-being (Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Falls Efficacy Scale and 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale), frailty (Modified Fried Criteria), and postural control (timed chair stand test, mini-Balance Evaluation Systems test and Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (CTSIB)). Falls and the number of repositioning maneuvers were documented. Significance level was set at α = 0.05. Results: Unilateral vestibular hypofunction was present in 32% of participants, mainly in females (p = 0.04). Bilateral vestibular hypofunction was not found. The oaBPPV+ group (n = 10, mean age 72.5 (4.5)) experienced more comorbidities (p = 0.02) than the oaBPPV group (n = 21, mean age 72.6 (4.9)). Groups did not differ regarding dizziness symptoms (p = 0.46), fear of falling (p = 0.44), depression (p = 0.48), falls (p = 0.08) or frailty (p = 0.36). However, the oaBPPV+ group showed significantly worse postural control under vestibular-dependent conditions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Despite equally impaired well-being and frailty, the oaBPPV+ group showed greater sensory orientation deficits. Clinicians and researchers should be alert for co-existing vestibular hypofunction in older adults with BPPV, since this may exacerbate their already impaired postural control more than only BPPV. Full article

Background/Objectives: The revolution for the treatment of melanoma came with the approval of checkpoint blockade antibodies. However, a substantial proportion of patients show primary or secondary resistance to this type of immunotherapy, indicating the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Dendritic cells (DCs) of the skin are prime targets for vaccination approaches due to their potential to prime naïve T cells and their accessibility. This study aimed to develop and evaluate novel vaccines targeting the C-type lectin receptor DEC-205 to deliver melanoma-associated antigenic peptides to skin DCs. Methods: We cloned MHC-I-restricted peptides from the glycoprotein (gp)100_25–33 and Tyrosinase-related protein (trp)2_180–188 into the DEC-205 antibody sequence with modified peptide cutting sites from the OVA_257–264 SIINFEKL peptide. We tested their potential to induce CD8⁺ T cell responses in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Tumor growth inhibition was evaluated in the transplantable B16.OVA melanoma murine model using a multi-epitope DC-based vaccine combining both peptides. Results: The cross-presentation of both gp100 and trp2 peptides was confirmed in vivo when peptide sequences were flanked by the OVA_257–264 peptide cutting sites. Moreover, the combination of both antigenic peptides into a multi-epitope DC vaccine was required to inhibit B16.OVA melanoma growth. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a DC-targeted vaccination approach using multiple epitopes deriving from melanoma antigens could represent a promising strategy for melanoma therapy. Full article

CD169 is a sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec-1, sialoadhesin) that is expressed by subsets of tissue-resident macrophages and circulating monocytes. This receptor interacts with α2,3-linked Neu5Ac on glycoproteins as well as glycolipids present on the surface of immune cells and pathogens. CD169-expressing macrophages exert tissue-specific homeostatic functions, but they also have opposing effects on the immune response. CD169⁺ macrophages act as a pathogen filter, protect against infectious diseases, and enhance adaptive immunity, but at the same time pathogens also exploit them to enable further dissemination. In cancer, CD169⁺ macrophages in tumor-draining lymph nodes are correlated with better clinical outcomes. In inflammatory diseases, CD169 expression is upregulated on monocytes and on monocyte-derived macrophages and this correlates with the disease state. Given their role in promoting adaptive immunity, CD169⁺ macrophages are currently investigated as targets for vaccination strategies against cancer. In this review, we describe the studies investigating the importance of CD169 and CD169⁺ macrophages in several disease settings and the vaccination strategies currently under investigation. Full article

In mental health care, religion and spirituality can both support and hinder the therapeutic process. This is related to the way people see God or the divine, known as ‘God representations’. Previous research suggests that God representations of persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) tend to be more negative compared with others. The current study, conducted among 103 participants, shows that after adjusting for religious saliency, having an ASD diagnosis had no independent power to predict God representations. However, certain personality traits, being associated with ASD, did. Specifically, low self-directedness and low reward dependence were associated with more negative God representations. ASD usually is a diagnosis for life, and personality traits do not easily change. Scientific and clinical implications are discussed. Full article

This study analyzes the decision making that underlies the choice of terms we use to refer to companion animals. Three focus groups were developed, including participants from different demographic backgrounds who answered questions about their experience cohabitating with companion animals. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Thematic Analysis, carrying out a progressive refinement of the semantic contents until abstracting general themes. This study organizes the results based on three themes: (1) What you mean to me, contemplating human–animal relationships such as multispecies family, pet–owner relationship, human-like relationship, and objectivization; (2) Others’ surveillance, encompassing the role of social pressure in decision making; and (3) A good solution (here and now), focused on the strategic decisions made to balance the prior questions. The analysis shows that companion animals are usually considered part of the family, but that importance is not always freely communicated outside of the household. Often, participants try to nuance the importance of their companion animals, mask this relationship behind jokes, or tend to isolate themselves to avoid hostile social attention. These findings show the dilemmas faced by people who live with animals and point to the urgency of revising hegemonic discourses to improve the integration of these new family models in Spanish society. Full article