Tuesday, July 16, 2024

New 3D anatomical atlas of the African clawed frog increases understanding of development and metamorphosis processes

The lifespan of Xenopus laevis is presented in unprecedented detail using high-quality X-ray microtomography images and 3D reconstructions to reveal embryonic development and metamorphosis processes

Peer-Reviewed Publication

GIGASCIENCE

Digital model of the skeleton of Xenopos laevis — IMAGE:
IMAGE OF THE SKELETON OF *XENOPOS LAEVIS* USING THE PLATFORM SKETCHFAB TO CREATE AN INTERACTIVE 3D MODEL FROM X-RAY MICROTOMOGRAPHY IMAGING
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CREDIT: LAZNOVSKY J; KAVKOVA M; REIS A; ROBOVSKA-HAVELKOVA P; MAIA LA; KRIVANEK J; ZIKMUND T; KAISER J; BUCHTOVA M; HARNOS J GIGASCIENCE, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1093/GIGASCIENCE/GIAE037

New 3D Anatomical Atlas of the African Clawed Frog Increases Understanding of Development and Metamorphosis Processes

The lifespan of Xenopus laevis is presented in unprecedented detail using high-quality X-ray microtomography images and 3D reconstructions to reveal embryonic development and metamorphosis processes.

A 3D anatomical atlas of the model organism Xenopus laevis (the African clawed frog) is now available to aid researchers in understanding embryonic development and metamorphosis — the intriguing process by which a tadpole transforms into a mature frog. The lack of availability of this type of data has greatly limited the ability to assess and understand these complex processes. To increase access and interactivity for researchers, science educators and even 3D printing enthusiasts, these data have been converted into freely available embeddable digital files for 3D-viewing with Sketchfab and as 3D printing files available on Thingiverse. This work along with all the available data has been published in the Open Science journal GigaScience.

The African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis) has become a well-understood and versatile vertebrate model organism for studies in developmental biology and other disciplines due to the availability of multiple types of data: from foundational transplantation experiments for the field of embryology in the early twentieth century to present day experiments using high-quality genome sequencing technology, This easy-to-breed frog is particularly suited to study body plan reorganization during the big changes that happen when the tadpole transforms into a mature frog: a process called metamorphosis. However, to move forward in gaining greater understanding of these processes, there is a great need for an additional type of data. Dr. Jakub Harnos from Masaryk University (Czech Republic), a lead scientist of the GigaScience study, explains that “a notable gap exists in the availability of comprehensive datasets encompassing Xenopus’ late developmental stages”. Detailed

To fill this void, the team of researchers now provide this missing data. The authors used X-ray microtomography, a 3D imaging technique, to create an anatomical atlas to more accurately describe the multiple stages of X. laevis development. Using detailed analysis of their 3D reconstructions at the various stages of development, the authors could pinpoint key changes that occur during the anatomical transformations at the stages from tadpole, to froglet, to mature adult.

One striking example of the shape changes that can be tracked in great detail with this new high-resolution data is the adjustment of the position of the developing frog’s eyes, and the exact timing of this shift. With advancing development, the distance between the eyes progressively decreases. “This adaptation aligns well with the frog's life strategy, transitioning from a water-dwelling tadpole with lateral eyes to an adult with eyes positioned on top of the head for a submerged lifestyle, reminiscent of crocodilians,” the authors note.

The frog’s gut also undergoes significant remodeling during metamorphosis. Over an 8-day period, the intestine shortens by around 75%, and the coiling pattern changes drastically – this process, which is difficult to study with other methods, can be followed in fine detail by X-ray microtomography the researchers have produced. Other anatomical facts that are showcased in high spatial and temporal resolution by the new 3D atlas are seeing the differences between male and female frogs (females end up larger, overall) and the very subtle positioning of the teeth of X. laevis, which are hidden behind the maxillary arch.

“Our study provides all X-ray microtomography data openly, allowing other researchers to investigate both soft and hard tissues in unprecedented detail in this key vertebrate model”, Dr Harnos emphasizes.

To enable scientists, educators and the 3D printing community easy access to printable models, a collection of 40 surface-rendered 3D models from the Xenopus laevis anatomical atlas are available on the design platform Thingiverse. Embeddable digital models can also be downloaded from the Sketchfab website and are viewable in the paper.

A video demonstrating many of the anatomical features that have now been revealed in 3 dimensions is available at https://youtu.be/pEWu15m2z6Q

JOURNAL

GigaScience

DOI

10.1093/gigascience/giae037

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Imaging analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Unveiling Vertebrate Development Dynamics in Frog Xenopus laevis using Micro-CT Imaging

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

16-Jul-2024

World-first international guidelines weeds-out potentially critical scientific fraud

World-first framework for assessing research integrity in clinical guidelines

MONASH UNIVERSITY

The number of retractions issued for scientific research articles in 2023 exceeded 10,000 — smashing annual records. To date, publishers have struggled to clean up a slew of papers with serious integrity concerns.

Now a world-first framework for assessing research integrity in clinical guidelines, has been published today in the prominent international medical journal, The Lancet’s eClinical Medicine.

Monash University researchers in Australia developed the Research Integrity in Guidelines and evIDence synthesis (RIGID) framework.

Clinical trials which lack integrity or present concerns over trustworthiness, can compromise patient care, both directly through unnecessary or harmful treatments, or indirectly through wasted resources and misdirected future medical research. “It is estimated that at least 25% of clinical trials informing clinical guidelines may not be trustworthy” according to RIGID co-lead author and research integrity expert, Professor Ben Mol.

In 2023 the RIGID framework was applied to the International Evidence-based Guidelines for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in collaboration with 39 national and international societies and with input from 80 multidisciplinary experts, and consumers. The PCOS Guidelines have been downloaded over 35,000 times and the framework is now being applied in several other national and international guidelines.

The RIGID framework and accompanying checklist uses a simple six-step approach to determine integrity risk, giving guideline developers, policy-makers, clinicians and scientists a roadmap to assess research integrity, and to exclude untrustworthy research during evidence synthesis and clinical guideline development.

In 2009, the UK-based Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) released a now widely-adopted policy for handling publication retractions. However, according to Professor Mol, "these policies relate to editorial and publishing processes for retraction and do not provide guidance for researchers and guideline developers on how to handle suspicious or untrustworthy evidence which remains in the public domain, unretracted." Retraction practices are also often insufficient, relying on whistleblowers to flag integrity concerns and then authors, their institutions and publishers to respond to these queries, where there is little incentive, processes or systems to do so. “Queries to journals and authors' institutions are frequently met with silence or defensive threats of legal action, and official conclusions are seldom reached or formulated euphemistically, with limited retractions.”

According to Professor Helena Teede, the other co-lead author “the perpetuation of problematic research is underpinned by complex systemic shortcomings, including inadequate application of quality research reporting processes or detection systems; lack of time and resources to investigate claims; lack of incentives for journals, institutions and whistle-blowers; and barriers around reputational or legal implications. Most importantly, there is a lack of standardized procedures or protocols with appropriate oversight to manage integrity concerns.”

Key to the RIGID framework is transparency, where studies ranked by the integrity committee as having a moderate or high risk for integrity concerns are clearly documented, and authors contacted to highlight the identified concerns. This limit their inclusion in the evidence synthesis, pending clarification. Authors are provided with the opportunity to engage in processes to address these issues, generally within two weeks of contact. This is usually met with little to no response, and the research evidence in question is then not considered in formulating conclusions or guideline recommendations.

In the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for PCOS, the framework weeded out problematic studies to ensure only trustworthy evidence informed clinical practice. With the use of RIGID, it turned out that no less than 45% (!) of the RCTs assessed had moderate or high risk of integrity concerns and these could not be trusted to guide practice.

The lead developer of the PCOS guideline, Professor Helena Teede, noted "it has been approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, including the RIGID process, and has been viewed over 130,000 times and presented at over 100 conferences globally. During guideline development, patient representatives and health professionals highly prioritised the importance of only relying on trustworthy research to guide clinical practice. The RIGID framework is now being applied to other international guidelines, including the Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) International Guideline and the Australian adaptation of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Unexplained Infertility Guideline,” she said.

THE RIGID SIX STEP APPROACH:

The six steps include: (1) Review: standard systematic review processes; (2) Exclude: studies which have been retracted are excluded, and those with expressions of concern are flagged for further evaluation; (3) Assess: remaining studies are assessed for integrity using an appropriate tool such as the Research Integrity Assessment (RIA) tool or Trustworthiness of Randomised Controlled Trials (TRACT) checklist and allocated an initial integrity risk rating of low, moderate or high risk for integrity concerns; (4) Discuss: integrity assessment results are discussed among integrity committee members with votes to determine final integrity risk rating allocations for each study; (5) Establish contact: low risk studies are included without author contact, whereas authors of studies ranked as moderate or high risk are contacted for clarification; (6) Reassess: studies are reassessed for inclusion using the RIGID author response algorithm (reclassified as 'included' where authors have provided a satisfactory response, 'awaiting classification' where authors have engaged but time is needed to address concerns, or 'not included' where authors have not responded to contact attempts).

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PROFESSOR BEN MOL – FRAUD DETECTIVE

IN 2011 BEN MOL, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Monash University, in Melbourne, came across a retraction notice for a study on uterine fibroids and infertility published by a researcher[HT1] . The journal which had published it was retracting it because it contained identical numbers to those in an earlier study—except that that one had been on uterine polyps. The author, it turned out, had simply copied parts of the polyp paper and changed the disease.

“From that moment I was alert,” says Dr Mol. And his alertness was not merely as a reader of published papers. He was also, at the time, an editor of the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and frequently also a peer reviewer for papers submitted to other journals. Sure enough, two papers containing apparently fabricated data soon landed on his desk. He rejected them. But, a year later, he came across them again, except with the fishy data changed, published in another journal.

Since then, he has teamed up with other researchers and led initiatives to investigate groups of papers by authors shown to be data fabricators. Wherever he saw smoke, he found fire. There were tables on patients’ characteristics that contained only even numbers. There were values that were clinically unlikely. There was an implausible 40:60 sex ratio of babies when the mothers-to-be had, purportedly, been selected at random. Eye-popping speeds of completing clinical trials were common.

Dr Mol and his colleagues have sent their concerns about more than 900 papers to the journals that published them. But, all too often, either nothing seems to happen or investigations take years. Only 250 of the studies they have flagged have so far been retracted, and the time to take such decisions is on average 2 years. Consequently, many have been included in systematic reviews—the sort of research round-ups that inform clinical practice. The PCOS guidelines, through RIGID, are the first in the world to deal with this problem.

JOURNAL

EClinicalMedicine

DOI

10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102717

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Research Integrity in Guidelines and eviDence synthesis (RIGID): a framework for assessing research integrity in guideline development and evidence synthesis

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

16-Jul-2024

Intensive farming could raise risk of new pandemics

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

Intensive poultry farming in the UK — IMAGE:
INTENSIVE POULTRY FARMING IN THE UK
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CREDIT: STEPHEN HINCHLIFFE

Intensive livestock farming could raise the risk of new pandemics, researchers have warned.

Industrialised farming is often thought to reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases (those transmitted from animals to humans) because of better control, biosecurity and separation of livestock.

The new study, led by the University of Exeter, examines the effect of social and economic factors – which are often overlooked in traditional assessments.

It finds that the effects of intensifying agriculture “are at best uncertain and at worst may contribute to EID (emerging infectious disease) risk”.

Lead author Professor Steve Hinchliffe, from the University of Exeter, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic reignited interest in EIDs, especially zoonotic viruses.

“The risks of emergence and transmission depend on multiple factors, including contact between humans and animals, and how we use land.

“Livestock farming plays a potentially significant role in those risks, shaping landscapes and providing hosts that can act as the source or amplifiers of emerging pathogens.”

While such risks are usually assessed in terms of microbiological, ecological and veterinary sciences, the new study highlights the need to consider social, economic and political factors.

“Disease is always more than a matter of pathogen transmission, contact and contagion,” Professor Hinchliffe said.

“The founding myth in intensive farming is that we separate livestock from wildlife and thereby shut off the risk of diseases passing between them.

“But these farms exist in the real world – so buildings and fences can get damaged, wildlife like rats or wild birds can get in, and workers move around. In short, there will always be accidents.

“Once social, economic and political factors are taken into account, the pandemic risk posed by intensive farming is concerning.”

The paper highlights the expansion of intensive farming and the resulting environmental degradation as factors which can raise EID risks.

It also says intensification leads to a “mixed landscape” – with a variety of farming practices and types – which creates the “worst of all possible worlds in terms of EID risk”.

On biosecurity, the paper says some farm businesses find the costs “debilitating”, while regional variations also have an impact.

For example, European farm buildings can be old and costly to maintain, large US farms tend to be open-air concrete structures with netting (to avoid the need for air conditioning), and in subtropical areas biosecurity is balanced against the need to reduce overheating of animals.

“The result is a far from bio-contained environment,” the authors write.

They also note the close ties between large food companies and national authorities – which suggest “regulatory capture… and the difficulty of decoupling interests”.

Co-author Dr Kin Wing (Ray) Chan said: “Increasing on-farm biosecurity, standardisation, and efficiency in farm animal production is not the panacea for achieving a disease-free environment.

“Rather we need to reconsider the socio-cultural impacts of intensifying farm animal production on planetary health, environmental sustainability and animal welfare issues.”

The research team included Tufts University, Royal Agricultural University, University of Wollongong, Clark University, Cambridge Conservation Initiative and the Institute of Development Studies.

Funders included the Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health and the Wellcome Trust.

The paper, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, is entitled: “Understanding the roles of economy and society in the relative risks of zoonosis emergence from livestock.”

JOURNAL

Royal Society Open Science

DOI

10.1098/rsos.231709

ARTICLE TITLE

Understanding the roles of economy and society in the relative risks of zoonosis emergence from livestock

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

16-Jul-2024

Multiple concussions in rugby players change proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases

DURHAM UNIVERSITY

Retired rugby players who have suffered multiple concussions have higher levels of certain proteins in their blood, which may make them more prone to developing diseases such as motor neurone disease (MND), according to a new study.

The research, led by Durham University, shows that it may be possible to measure specific key biomarkers. These biomarkers can indicate disease or predict possible future disease in the blood of athletes who have suffered multiple traumas to the head.

This is the first study to explore a range of specific biomarkers as part of the UK Rugby Health project.

If athletes’ blood can be tested and monitored for these specific proteins, it may be possible to diagnose them early for neurodegenerative diseases and provide early interventions.

The study is published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

The retired male rugby players who took part had a substantial history of concussions during their playing career. Their blood samples contained more indicators of neural damage, known as serum exosomes, compared to a control group of fellow athletes who had not suffered head trauma.

Researchers found higher levels of specific proteins, called serum t-tau and tau-p181, which play a crucial role in the development of Alzheimer’s and MND, compared to the healthy control group.

They also found that the rugby players who had been concussed in their career had lower levels of a retinoid transport protein called RBP-4 which plays an important role in the development and functioning of the brain. The researchers suggest this could offer a rationale for developing retinoid-based medications.

They strongly recommend monitoring of players of contact sports after they retire, especially if they have suffered concussions.

In recent years, a lot of effort has been put into developing biomarkers in blood that could potentially help with early diagnosis and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Senior author on the study, Professor Paul Chazot, from Durham University’s Department of Biosciences, said: “The long-term effects of concussions on rugby players, football players, boxers as well as retired military personnel is a major concern, because of the link to neurodegenerative diseases.

“This study gives us the beginnings of a biomarker toolbox to periodically monitor the brain health of retired contact sportspeople, particularly those with a history of concussion during their career.

“It will also pave the way for the introduction of the necessary interventions to minimise the development of future neurodegenerative disease. We have a range of interventions currently in advanced stages of development.”

As the interventions will need to be tested in clinical trials, the researchers stress that it could still be a few years before they could become available.

Co-author, Dr Karen Hind, Honorary Fellow at the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing at Durham University, initiated the UK Rugby Health study. She added: “This is a crucial development in the field and we’re calling for sustained efforts to define the pathways leading to concussion-induced neurodegenerative diseases.

“Thanks to the research team and all who took part in this important study. Despite the lack of external funding, the UK Rugby Health project continues to make significant contributions to the field.”

Alix Popham, who was not involved in the study, is a retired international rugby player. He achieved 33 caps for Wales, including playing in two World Cups and winning a Six Nations Grand Slam. Alix retired in 2011 and in April 2020 was diagnosed with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and early onset dementia as a result of traumatic brain injury suffered in his rugby career. He’s one of the co-founders of charity, Head for Change.

He said: “This is more evidence that big changes need to happen to protect current rugby players. World Rugby need to get their heads out of the sand and in turn protect the game.”

The study analysed the blood samples of 56 male professional athletes seven years after retiring from their sport. This included 30 retired rugby players who had suffered more than five concussions in their playing career. They were compared with 26 retired rugby players without concussions and retired athletes from non-contact sports.

The researchers are now looking to secure urgent funding to carry out a follow up study with the players. This will give a clearer idea of the current levels of the relevant proteins in the players’ blood including any changes, their current health status and potential health outcomes.

The biomarkers included were total tau (t-tau), three forms of phosphorylated tau (p-tau), serum amyloid Alpha (SAA), beta-amyloid (Aβ42), retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP-4), retinol, and neurofilament light (Nf-L), and exosome size.

The study was conducted by Durham University with contributions from researchers at Curtin University (Australia), University of Western Australia (Australia), Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand) and University of Auckland (New Zealand).

This latest study is the first from the UK Rugby Health Project looking at biomarkers. The Project was set up in 2016 as an extension to the 2012 New Zealand Rugby Health Project.

This research follows on from previous studies which demonstrated a significant connection between the number of musculoskeletal conditions and reduced mental health status in retirement, and levels of concussions in players’ careers.

The study was internally funded by Durham University, Auckland University of Technology, and through a Durham PhD studentship by the Saudi Arabian Scholarship Fund.

JOURNAL

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Concussion-Related Biomarker Variations in Retired Rugby Players and Implications for Neurodegenerative Disease Risk: The UK Rugby Health Study

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

17-Jul-2024

Tobacco industry is specifically targeting Arab and Ultra-Orthodox news media in Israel

THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM

A recent study revealed that there are significant disparities in how Philip Morris International's IQOS heated tobacco product is portrayed in newspapers and other media aimed at different demographic groups in Israel. Specifically, news media targeted at Israel's Arab population tends to present IQOS more positively and is more likely to include misinformation regarding its safety, social benefits, and accessibility, often relying on PMI as a primary information source. This contrasts with the portrayal in mainstream media and media aimed at the general public. These differences suggest potential biases which may influence consumer perceptions and behaviors regarding tobacco products.

A recent research initiative, published in Tobacco Control, led by Doctoral candidate Amal Khayat, Prof. Hagai Levine and Prof. Yael Bar-Zeev from the Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the Hebrew University-Hadassah, together with Prof. Carla Berg, Prof. Lorien Abroms and Dr. Yan Wang from George Washington University has uncovered significant disparities in the portrayal of Philip Morris International’s (PMI) IQOS, a prominent heated tobacco product, among minority groups in Israel.

The research found distinct differences in how Arab and Ultra-Orthodox media depict IQOS compared to the mainstream media. Arab media, in particular, tended to present IQOS more positively, and more likely to spread misinformation regarding its safety and social benefits, and frequently relying on PMI as a primary information source. Moreover, Arab media articles emphasized the accessibility of IQOS retail locations, mimicking advertisement.

PMI’s IQOS ranks as the top heated tobacco product globally and was introduced in Israel in 2016. Notably, advertising for all tobacco products, including IQOS, is prohibited in Israel except in print media. However, the study suggests that news media may serve as an alternative advertising channel, circumventing these advertising restrictions.

The favorable depictions of IQOS and PMI in media articles can significantly influence consumer perceptions and behaviors. While paid advertisements are known to target specific demographics, the impact of "earned" media such as news articles on these groups remains less clear.

Methodologically, the study analyzed media articles from January to October 2020 from Ifat media, utilizing abductive coding techniques. Statistical tests were employed to compare article characteristics across different subpopulations (Arab, Ultra-Orthodox Jews, and the general public). The analysis focused on understanding how IQOS and PMI were framed in the media to assess the tone and content of coverage.

The findings, based on 63 unique articles, revealed significant biases in media targeting of different subpopulations. Specifically, articles directed at Arabs and Ultra-Orthodox Jews portrayed IQOS more positively compared to those aimed at the general public—100% and 75% versus 52%, respectively. Arab media notably emphasized IQOS accessibility (81% versus 17% and 13%) and its social benefits (88% versus 8% and 17%) more prominently. Furthermore, 100% of articles in the Arab media reflected content from the tobacco company press release, compared to 35% in the general public media.

Prof. Levine, senior author: "The study underscores the critical need for rigorous media surveillance and regulatory measures, especially in media outlets targeting minority populations, to ensure fair and balanced reporting. The positive framing of IQOS in minority-targeted media highlights the potential influence of targeted marketing on public perceptions and tobacco product usage across diverse demographics. Minority populations in Israel, and likely in other countries, are not protected from the manipulative vicious marketing strategies of the tobacco industry, corrupting media outlets".

Amal Khayat, lead author: "We recommend enhanced media surveillance and regulation, particularly in minority-oriented media, to ensure accurate reporting on tobacco products. Understanding how different subpopulations, such as the Arab minority in Israel, perceive tobacco-related information can guide regulatory interventions to counteract potential misinformation and prevent disparities in tobacco-related behaviors. Our study also calls attention to the use of news media as an alternative marketing channel by tobacco companies in regions with advertising bans, advocating for measures to protect public health and mitigate the promotion of potentially harmful products."

JOURNAL

Tobacco Control

DOI

10.1136/tc-2023-058422

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Meta-analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

IQOS news media coverage in Israel: a comparison across three subpopulations

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

17-Jul-2024

Workplace bullying in developing countries is wearing women down

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Workplace bullying against women in Pakistan is driving emotional exhaustion and job dissatisfaction among female workers, new research reveals.

A University of South Australia study reveals that workplace bullying is significantly undermining job productivity and hindering economic development in Pakistan, where women are seen as subordinates.

More than 300 female workers in Pakistan’s education and health sectors were surveyed on gendered workplace bullying.

Findings from in-depth interviews revealed women had experienced various bullying behaviours against them including verbal, emotional, social, and physical/sexual bullying, such as casual teasing, insults, taking away of responsibilities, devaluation of work and social isolation.

Women are disproportionately affected by workplace bullying, with 30% globally experiencing it (WHO 2021), costing up to four percent of GDP in less-developed nations (World Bank 2022).

Pakistan’s workforce is predominantly male (83%) with female participation decreasing from 24% to 22% between 2016 and 2022 (World Bank, 2022).

Associate Professor Connie Zheng from UniSA’s Centre for Workplace Excellence, says male-dominated cultures, such as Pakistani society, influence the level of tolerance towards bullying.

“Workplace bullying is normalised in Pakistani society and occurs in casual conversation or for the amusement of others,” she says.

“We heard that often bystanders joined in, perpetuating the behaviour, and the affected women felt angry and weak. It was also evident that women were often seen as sexual objects and played submissive roles in the workplace.”

One participant shared her experience of sexual bullying from their male supervisor who was “not just touching but also asking me for a relationship and calling me in his office and using the inappropriate comments”.

Others told of their experiences with male colleagues acting aggressively out of frustration and jealousy when challenged by their female counterparts. “They can’t see a woman rising… so they try to break that woman by verbally assaulting or pressurising them”.

Assoc Prof Zheng says the findings of the study, which was conducted in collaboration with the Riphah International University and the National University of Modern Languages in Pakistan, identified a high tolerance towards bullying.

“In male dominated cultures, working women often face pressure from their family and society if they encounter workplace issues. Victims are blamed, leading them to stay silent instead of speaking up,” she says.

“On the other hand, many working women fear repercussions like being fired if they speak up against bullying. So, they endure the bullying and mistreatment to sustain their family’s livelihood. Tolerance is also displayed by the organisations and institutions themselves, perpetuating the silence.

Assoc Prof Zheng says a surprisingly positive aspect was identified among some Pakistani working women. Instead of being beaten down by the bullying, they were driven by it to perform better.

“Despite facing humiliation, women performed well in the workplace, reflecting a double-edged sword. Bullying can spur female workers to exceed expectations because they’re potentially driven by a desire to prove themselves,” she says.

“Yet, there are long-term mental health implications from excessive job demands. Someone can only operate in a highly stressed environment for so long.”

The study reveals systemic gender biases favouring men and exposes the need for real changes to address gender disparities and protect female workers from bullying.

Assoc Prof Zheng says organisations that provide social opportunities such as activities and informal gatherings can help foster cohesion and highlight workplace issues. Social support networks in workplaces can also provide women with a safe space to speak up when facing bullying.

“Addressing bullying is not only a responsibility for organisations, but it’s also as much to do with individual empowerment,” she says. “Women who experience workplace bullying should be empowered to stay confident and be strong enough to confront bullies. Silence is not an option.”

END.
………………………………………………………

Media contact: Melissa Keogh, Communications Officer, UniSA M: +61 403 659 154
E: Melissa.Keogh@unisa.edu.au

Researcher contact: Associate Professor in Human Resource Management, researcher from UniSA’s Centre of Workplace Excellence, Connie Zheng, UniSA E: Connie.Zheng@unisa.edu.au

JOURNAL

International Journal of Manpower

DOI

10.1108/IJM-01-2024-0008

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Survey

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Workplace bullying and job outcomes: intersectional effects of gender and culture

Ultra-processed food makes up almost two-thirds of calorie intake of UK adolescents

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Adolescents consume around two-thirds of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs) new research from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol has found.

The study found that UPF consumption was highest among adolescents from deprived backgrounds, those of white ethnicity, and younger adolescents.

UPFs are food items that are manufactured from industrial substances and contain additives such as preservatives, sweeteners, colourings, flavourings, and emulsifiers. UPFs vary greatly, but tend to indicate poor dietary quality, with higher levels of added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium, as well as decreased fibre, protein, and micronutrient content. They have been suggested as one of the key drivers of the global rise in diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.

Globally, the availability and sales of UPFs have increased over time and previous evidence suggests that this has led to increased consumption among adolescents. To look at trends within the UK, researchers from Cambridge and Bristol analysed data from four-day food diaries of almost 3,000 adolescents in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey between 2008/09 and 2018/19.

In research published today in the European Journal of Nutrition, the researchers found that a mean of 66% of adolescents’ energy intake came from UPF consumption during this period, though there was a slight fall from 68% to 63% between 2008/09 and 2018/2019.

Parents’ occupation, ethnic group and UK region all influenced the proportion of calorie intake from UPFs:

Adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds consumed a higher proportion of their calorie intake from UPFs compared to adolescents from less disadvantaged backgrounds (68.4% compared with 63.8%).
Adolescents from a non-white ethnicity consumed a lower proportion of their calorie intake from UPFs (59.0% compared with 67.3%).
Adolescents living in the North of England consumed a higher proportion of their calorie intake from UPFs compared with those living in the South of England and London (67.4% compared with 64.1%).
18-year-olds consumed a lower proportion of their calorie intake from UPFs compared with 11-year-olds (63.4% compared with 65.6%).

Dr Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, the study’s first author, said: “Adolescents’ food patterns and practices are influenced by many factors, including their home environment, the marketing they are exposed to and the influence of their friends and peers. But adolescence is also an important time in our lives where behaviours begin to become ingrained.

“It’s clear from our findings that ultra-processed foods make up the majority of adolescents’ diets, and their consumption is at a much higher level than is ideal, given their potential negative health impacts.”

The researchers argue that the observed reduction in UPF intake pre-pandemic could be partly explained by an increased public awareness and health concerns associated with sugar consumption, government-led campaigns, sugar-taxes in other countries and the reformulation of sugary drinks to reduce their sugar content.

Dr Esther van Sluijs from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge, joint senior author, said: “Ultra-processed foods offer convenient and often cheaper solutions to time- and income-poor families, but unfortunately many of these foods also offer poor nutritional value. This could be contributing to the inequalities in health we see emerging across childhood and adolescence.”

Dr Zoi Toumpakari from the Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences at the University of Bristol, joint senior author, added: “Our findings suggest that disparities in consumption of ultra-processed foods are not just down to individual choices. We hope this evidence can help guide policymakers in designing more effective policies to combat the negative effects of ultra-processed food consumption among youth and the ripple effects this has on public health.”

This study was largely funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research School for Public Health Research.

Reference
Chavez-Ugalde, Y et al. Ultra-processed food consumption in UK adolescents: distribution, trends, and sociodemographic correlates using the National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008/09 to 2018/19. Eur J Nutr; 17 Jul 2024; DOI: 10.1007/s00394-024-03458-z

JOURNAL

European Journal of Nutrition

DOI

10.1007/s00394-024-03458-z

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Data/statistical analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Ultra-processed food consumption in UK adolescents: distribution, trends, and sociodemographic correlates using the National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008/09 to 2018/19

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

17-Jul-2024

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New study reveals more struggling to afford healthcare

West Health-Gallup Healthcare Affordability Index trending downward

Reports and Proceedings

WEST HEALTH INSTITUTE

West Health-Gallup Affordability Index, trended 2021 - 2024 — IMAGE:
THE PERCENTAGE OF AMERICAN ADULTS OF AMERICAN ADULTS CATEGORIZED AS COST SECURE HAS DROPPED TO A NEW LOW OF 55%, LED BY AN EIGHT-POINT DROP AMONG AMERICANS AGED 65 AND OLDER TO 71%.
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CREDIT: WEST HEALTH-GALLUP

WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 17, 2024 — The percentage of Americans who can afford and access prescription drugs and quality healthcare stands at a new low of 55%, a six-point decline since 2022, according to the West Health-Gallup Healthcare Affordability Index. The index was developed in 2021 to track the percentage of Americans who say they have avoided medical care or not filled prescription medications in the last three months and whether they believe they could afford care if they needed it today.

The downturn is largely attributed to two groups — adults aged 50 to 64 (down eight points to 55%) and those aged 65 and older (down eight points to 71%), a troubling sign since Medicare eligibility for most Americans begins at 65. The percentage of adults under 50 who could readily afford healthcare was the lowest of any age group at 47%, a five-point decline since 2022.

For the index, researchers grouped Americans into one of the following three categories depending on how they reported their ease or difficulty paying for and accessing medical care, including prescribed drugs: 1. Cost Secure — no recent problems with affording and accessing healthcare and prescriptions, 2. Cost Insecure — recently unable to either pay for care or medicine or unable to access it, 3. Cost Desperate — recently unable to pay for care and medicine and lack immediate access to quality care.

“After an uptick in 2022, healthcare affordability in America is headed in the wrong direction,” said Timothy Lash, President, West Health, a nonprofit focused on aging and healthcare research, policy and philanthropy. “The good news is that healthcare provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act — including empowering Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, which has not yet taken effect — may help slow these negative trends and provide more stability. But much more must be done to rein in prices for Americans of all ages. High prices are one of the biggest impediments to a healthy aging population and a prosperous economy.”

Forty-five percent of American adults report struggling to cover their medical bills and are either Cost Insecure or Cost Desperate. Younger adults are more than three times as likely to be Cost Desperate than those 65 and older (10% vs. 3%). The percentage of people aged 50 to 64 years old considered Cost Desperate has risen to 10%, the highest level measured for this group so far. Racial and gender divides have also widened, with Black (11%) and Hispanic (14%) adults considerably more likely to fall in the Cost Desperate category than their White counterparts (7%) and women (11%) nearly twice as likely as men (6%).

According to the recently released West Health-Gallup 2024 Survey on Aging in America, an estimated 72.2 million — or nearly one in three — American adults did not seek needed healthcare in the prior three months due to cost, including an estimated 8.1 million Americans aged 65 and older. Nearly one-third (31%) were concerned about their ability to pay for prescription drugs in the next 12 months, up from 25% in 2022.

"The year 2022 showed encouraging trends of increased healthcare affordability post-pandemic," says Dan Witters, Senior Researcher at Gallup. “The decline in 2024 is concerning in that it shows the fragility of Americans' purchasing power amid a high-priced healthcare system. In a relatively short time, many adults have gone from feeling confident they can cover their health costs to struggling to cover their medical bills.”

In addition to the index on affordability, a West Health-Gallup Healthcare Value Index was developed in 2021 to track public sentiment as to the perceived worth of the medical care Americans receive relative to the amount they pay. This index provided one of the few slightly positive trends. Though more than a third (36%) of Americans in 2024 believe that they — and Americans generally — are paying too much for the quality of care they receive and that their most recent care experience was not worth the cost, this is nine percentage points less than was reported three years ago. Read the complete Indices report here. For more information about surveys on aging and healthcare visit the West Health-Gallup National Healthcare & Aging Data Dashboard.

Methodology
Results are based on a survey conducted by both mail (focused on older Americans) and web from Nov. 13, 2023, to Jan. 8, 2024, with 5,149 adults aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia as a part of the Gallup Panel. For results based on these monthly samples of national adults, the margin of sampling error at the 95% confidence level is ±1.7 percentage points for response percentages around 50% and is ±1 percentage point for response percentages around 10% or 90%, design effect included. For reported age subgroups, the margin of error will be larger, typically ranging from ±3 to ±5 percentage points.

About West Health
Solely funded by philanthropists Gary and Mary West, West Health is a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations including the Gary and Mary West Foundation and Gary and Mary West Health Institute in San Diego and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C. West Health is dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life and independence. Learn more at westhealth.org.

About Gallup
Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.

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METHOD OF RESEARCH

Survey