Addressing disparities in neurology by enhancing inclusive practice
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Social disparities in neighborhood flood exposure in 44,698 urban neighborhoods in Latin America
Climate change is expected to greatly increase exposure to flooding, particularly among urban populations in low- and middle-income countries. Here we used daily flood data (2000–2018) to describe socioeconomic disparities in flooding on the basis of neighborhood educational attainment, comparing disparities across and within cities. We used multilevel models to examine disparities in area flooding by city- and neighborhood-level factors, including 44,698 neighborhoods in 276 cities from eight countries with a total of 223 million residents and 117 distinct flood events. One in 4 of residents of neighborhoods in the lowest quintile of educational attainment were exposed to flooding, compared with 1 in 20 residents of neighborhoods in the highest quintile of educational attainment. Neighborhoods experiencing more flooding included those with lower educational attainment, that were coastal, less dense, further from the city center and greener, and that had steeper slopes. We show large social disparities in neighborhood flooding within Latin American cities. Policymakers must prioritize flood adaptation and recovery efforts in neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status.
Leveraging large language models to assist philosophical counseling: prospective techniques, value, and challenges
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Global disparities in drug-related adverse events of patients with multiple myeloma: a pharmacovigilance study
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a complex hematological malignancy of clonal plasma cells driven by alterations to the chromosomal material leading to uncontrolled proliferation in the bone marrow. Ethnic and racial disparities persist in the prevalence, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of MM. These disparities are multifaceted and intersect with various factors, including demographics, geography, socioeconomic status, genetics, and access to healthcare. This study utilized the openFDA human drug adverse events (AEs) to analyze global data pertaining to MM patients and patterns of treatment-related AEs. We identified ten most frequently used drugs and drug regimens in six distinct regions, including North America (NA), Europe (EU), Asia (AS), Africa (AF), Oceania (OC), and Latin America & the Caribbean (LA). AE patterns were evaluated using the reporting odds ratio combined with a 95% confidence interval. AE reports were more prevalent in men than in women across all regions. Cardiotoxicities were more likely observed in AS and EU, while secondary neoplasms were more frequently reported in the EU. Nephropathies were prominent in OC, AF (in males), and AS (in females), while vascular toxicity, including embolism and thrombosis, was more common in NA (in males). A notable improvement in survival, particularly in AS, EU, and NA, with a significant decline in death rates was observed. Hospitalization rates displayed less variation in AS and EU but exhibited more pronounced fluctuations in AF, LA, and OC. In conclusion, this comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights into the demographic, geographic, and AE patterns of MM patients across the globe.
Spiritual boredom is associated with over- and underchallenge, lack of value, and reduced motivation
The emotion of boredom has attracted considerable research interest. However, boredom experienced in spiritual contexts (i.e., spiritual boredom) has rarely been investigated. Based on control-value theory (CVT), we investigated the occurrence, antecedents, and motivational effects of spiritual boredom in five different spiritual contexts: yoga, meditation, silence retreats, Catholic sermons, and pilgrimage. For each context, we conducted two independent studies, one including trait and another including state measures. The set of 10 studies included a total sample of N = 1267 adults. We complemented individual study results with an internal meta-analysis. The results showed a mean level of spiritual boredom of (bar{M}) = 1.91 on a scale of 1 to 5. In line with CVT, spiritual boredom was positively related to being overchallenged ((bar{r}) = 0.44) in 9 out of the 10 studies and positively related to being underchallenged ((bar{r}) = 0.44) in all studies. Furthermore, as expected, spiritual boredom was negatively related to perceived value in all studies ((bar{r}) = −0.54). Finally, boredom was negatively related to motivation to engage in spiritual practice ((bar{r}) = −0.46) across studies. Directions for future research and practical implications are discussed.
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