PLOS ONE Alerts: New Articles

1. Gaps in disability inclusion across universities in the United States

   by Caroline Cerilli, Jiafeng Zhu, Varshini Varadaraj, Jessica Campanile, Fiona Sweeney, Jared Smith, Gayane Yenokyan, Bonnielin Swenor

   Disabled people face social and environmental barriers to higher education, yet there is a dearth of clear, publicly available information on university websites related to accessibility and disability inclusion. Our team previously developed disability inclusion scores for the top 50 universities offering undergraduate programs based on funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and found low scores overall. Building on that, this study examines the relationship between disability inclusion (as scores ranging from 0 to 100 points) and six university characteristics for these 50 universities. The six university characteristics examined were U.S. News National Universities 2021 rankings, geographic region, year of institution founding, total number of undergraduates, public or private status of the university, and presence of an undergraduate disability studies program. Results indicate that university characteristics were not significantly associated with disability inclusion scores (p>0.05 for all university characteristics). The average scores across all categories of each characteristic fell below 72 points. These results indicate a gap in disability inclusion across all types of universities examined. Highly funded universities should evaluate their campuses for disability inclusion.
2. Constructs across a hierarchical, dimensional model of psychopathology show differential associations with social and general cognitive ability

   by Scott D. Blain, Jerillyn S. Kent, Timothy A. Allen, Carly A. Lasagna, Chloe A. Peyromaure de Bord, Aisha L. Udochi, Scott R. Sponheim, Colin G. DeYoung, Ivy F. Tso

   Many psychiatric disorders and associated psychopathology dimensions are related to social cognitive deficits and reduced general cognitive ability. The current study applied a hierarchical, dimensional approach to better understand associations among psychopathology, social cognition, and general cognitive ability. Data were collected from two samples (n = 653), including psychosis-spectrum patients, their first-degree relatives, and individuals from community sources. Participants completed dimensional psychopathology measures and social cognition tasks (e.g., emotion perception and mentalizing). Data were analyzed using bi-factor exploratory structural equation modeling. Detachment—a psychopathology dimension conceptually linked to social functioning—was associated with worse social cognition, independent of general cognitive ability. Eccentricity and Machiavellianism were associated with better social cognition and general cognitive ability. Findings—and the hierarchical, dimensional approach employed—will be useful in informing future research on and interventions for social dysfunction.
3. Effects of clinical stage, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and living arrangement on social distance towards people with dementia

   by Kae Ito, Shuji Tsuda

   Background

   Dementia presents significant challenges, including social exclusion, which can be exacerbated by public stigma. This study aimed to clarify how social distances, a common measure of public stigma, towards people living with dementia and its associated factors vary with clinical stage, presence of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), and living arrangements.

   Methods

   The study involved 2,589 Japanese participants aged 40 to 90 years. They were exposed to one of four vignettes depicting an 80-year-old woman progressing from normal ageing to mild, moderate, and severe dementia: Vignette A (living with husband, without BPSD); Vignette B (living with husband, with BPSD); Vignette C (living alone, without BPSD); and Vignette D (living alone, with BPSD).

   Results

   Social distance showed no significant differences in the normal aging and mild stage of dementia across all vignettes. At the moderate stage, social distance was higher for individuals exhibiting BPSD, regardless of living arrangement. At the severe stage, the lowest social distance was observed towards individuals living with their family without BPSD, whereas the highest was towards those living alone, exhibiting BPSD. For Vignette A, possession of social capital (p<0.001) and having experience of social contact with people living with dementia (PLWD) (p = 0.001–0.007) were independently associated with lower social distance across all dementia stages. In addition, in the mild stage of dementia, high perceived social support (p = 0.005) and having knowledge about dementia (p = 0.036) were associated with lower social distance, but not in the moderate or severe stage of dementia. For Vignette D, possession of social capital (p≤0.001) and having experience of social contact with PLWD (p<0.001 to p = 0.006) were independently associated with lower social distance across all dementia stages. In mild dementia, female sex (p = 0.004) and knowledge about dementia (p = 0.026) were associated with lower social distance. Furthermore, in mild and moderate dementia, living in rural area (p = 0.003–0.048) was associated with lower social distance.

   Conclusions

   Social distance is higher toward PLWD who live alone and exhibit BPSD than toward those who live with family and/or do not show BPSD, indicating a higher risk of exclusion for the former. Moreover, factors affecting social distance towards PLWD vary across different clinical stages of dementia. While greater knowledge about dementia is associated with lower social distance toward PLWD, this effect appears to be most pronounced in the mild stage. In contrast, opportunities for social contact with PLWD are crucial for achieving lower social distance across all stages of dementia. The findings underscore the need for stage-specific interventions to address stigma, with a focus on education and opportunities for social contact. Targeted efforts are especially important for promoting the inclusion of PLWD who live alone and exhibit BPSD.

4. How belief in a just world shapes academic engagement among Chinese college art majors: A cross-level moderated mediation model

   by Jia Li, Junqing Bai, Lixia Ouyang, He Lin

   The belief in a just world (BJW) is perceived as an individual trait that aids in coping with challenges. This study employed Mplus8.0 and HLM6.08 to analyze 346 questionnaire responses, leading to the following conclusions: (1) BJW shows a positive correlation with academic engagement among college art majors; (2) Academic resilience mediates the relationship between BJW and academic engagement for college art majors; (3) The teacher-student relationship (TSR) exhibits a positive correlation with academic engagement among college art majors; (4) TSR functions as a moderator in the relationship between BJW and academic engagement among college art majors. These findings provide valuable insights for enhancing learning efficiency and talent development in art schools, thereby contributing to the overall quality of education for art students.
5. Turmeric-black pepper-honey nanoemulsion formulation and antiulcerogenic effect evaluation against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats

   by Amirah Adlia, Cynthiana Christabella Aslan, Lia Safitri, I. Ketut Adnyana

   Gastric ulcer is a common disorder of the digestive system. The combination of turmeric and honey is known to treat stomach ulcers. However, curcumin, an active component in turmeric, has limitations, i.e., poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability. Therefore, turmeric and honey were formulated into a nanoemulsion with black pepper to enhance curcumin bioavailability. The study followed a systematic approach to optimize the nanoemulsion formula, determine stability, and evaluate ulcer healing activity in rats with ethanol-induced gastric ulcers. Nanoemulsion was prepared using a low-energy emulsification method called emulsion phase inversion (EPI). Two stability evaluations were carried out, i.e., storage and freeze-thaw stability tests. The organoleptic, droplet size, polydispersity index, pH, viscosity, and curcumin content of the nanoemulsion were evaluated. Male Wistar albino rats were induced with 96% ethanol for six days. The rats were divided into six groups, i.e., healthy control, ulcerated control, omeprazole, two different doses of turmeric, honey, and black pepper nanoemulsion (NTBH1 and NTBH2), and turmeric and honey nanoemulsion (NTH). The antiulcer activity was determined by measuring the ulcer area, ulcer index, curative index, ulcer severity score, and histology. The best formula with the smallest droplet size, i.e., 144.6±3.8 nm, was obtained from the nanoemulsion using Tween 80 as surfactant, glycerin as cosolvent, and sodium alginate as viscosity enhancer. The result showed that the nanoemulsion was stable after being stored at 25 and 40°C for four weeks and after six cycles of freeze-thaw test. The ulcer index of the ulcerated rats from the lowest to the highest, i.e., NTBH2, omeprazole, NTH, and NTBH1. In conclusion, the nanoemulsion developed in this study containing turmeric, honey, and black pepper holds promising potential in treating gastric ulcers, offering a hopeful outlook for future treatments.