bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Community health workers at the dawn of a new era: 4. Programme financing
Authors: Masis Lizah , Gichaga Angela , Zerayacob Tseday , Lu Chunling , Perry Henry B.
Published: October 2021

Background

This is the fourth of our 11-paper supplement on “Community Health Workers at the Dawn of New Era”. Here, we first make the case for investing in health programmes, second for investing in human resources for health, third for investing in primary healthcare (PHC) workers, and finally for investing in community health workers (CHWs).

Methods

Searches of peer-reviewed journals and the grey literature were conducted with a focus on community health programme financing. The literature search was supplemented with a search of the grey literature for information about national health sector plans, community health strategies/policies, and costing information from databases of various countries’ ministries of health, and finally a request for information from in-country partners.

Results

The global shortage of human resources for health is projected to rise to 18 million health workers by 2030, with more acute shortages in Africa and South Asia. CHWs have an important role to play in mitigating this shortage because of their effectiveness (when properly trained and supported) and the feasibility of their deployment. Data are limited on the costs of current CHW programmes and how they compare to government and donor expenditures for PHC and for health services more broadly. However, available data from 10 countries in Africa indicate that the median per capita cost of CHW programmes is US$ 4.77 per year and US$ 2574 per CHW, and the median monthly salary of CHWs in these same countries is US$ 35 per month. For a subset of these countries for which spending for PHC is available, governments and donors spend 7.7 times more on PHC than on CHW programming, and 15.4 times more on all health expenditures. Even though donor funding for CHW programmes is a tiny portion of health-related donor support, most countries rely on donor support for financing their CHW programmes.

Conclusion

The financing of national CHW programmes has been a critical element that has not received sufficient emphasis in the academic literature on CHW programmes. Increasing domestic government funding for CHW programmes is a priority. In order to ensure growth in funding for CHW programmes, it will be important to measure CHW programme expenditures and their relationship to expenditures for PHC and for all health-related expenditures.
Community health workers at the dawn of a new era: 10. Programme performance and its assessment
Authors: Kok Maryse , Crigler Lauren , Musoke David , Ballard Madeleine , Hodgins Steve , Perry Henry B.
Published: October 2021

Background

While the evidence supporting the effectiveness of community health worker (CHW) programmes is substantial, there is also considerable evidence that many of these programmes have notable weaknesses that need to be addressed in order for them to reach their full potential. Thus, considerations about CHW programme performance and its assessment must be taken into account as the importance of these programmes is becoming more widely appreciated. In this paper, the tenth in our 11-paper series, “Community health workers at the dawn of a new era”, we address CHW programme performance and how it is assessed from a systems perspective.

Methods

The paper builds on the 2014 CHW Reference Guide, a compendium of case studies of 29 national CHW programmes, the 2018 WHO guideline on health policy and system support to optimize CHW programmes, and scientific studies on CHW programme performance published in the past 5 years.

Results

The paper provides an overview of existing frameworks that are useful for assessing the performance of CHW programmes, with a specific focus on how individual CHW performance and community-level outcomes can be measured. The paper also reviews approaches that have been taken to assess CHW programme performance, from programme monitoring using the routine health information system to national assessments using quantitative and/or qualitative study designs and assessment checklists. The paper also discusses contextual factors that influence CHW programme performance, and reflects upon gaps and needs for the future with regard to assessment of CHW programme performance.

Conclusion

Assessments of CHW programme performance can have various approaches and foci according to the programme and its context. Given the fact that CHW programmes are complex entities and part of health systems, their assessment ideally needs to be based on data derived from a mix of reliable sources. Assessments should be focused not only on effectiveness (what works) but also on contextual factors and enablers (how, for whom, under what circumstances). Investment in performance assessment is instrumental for continually innovating, upgrading, and improving CHW programmes at scale. Now is the time for new efforts in implementation research for strengthening CHW programming.
Evidence of circulation of Orthobunyaviruses in diverse mosquito species in Kwale County, Kenya
Authors: Koka Hellen , Lutomiah Joel , Langat Solomon , Koskei Edith , Nyunja Albert , Mutisya James , Mulwa Francis , Owaka Samuel , Ofula Victor , Konongoi Samson , Eyase Fredrick , Sang Rosemary
Published: October 2021

Background

Arbovirus surveillance and recurrence of outbreaks in Kenya continues to reveal the re-emergence of viruses of public health importance. This calls for sustained efforts in early detection and characterization of these agents to avert future potential outbreaks.

Methods

A larval survey was carried out in three different sites in Kwale County, Vanga, Jego and Lunga Lunga. All containers in every accessible household and compound were sampled for immature mosquitoes. In addition, adult mosquitoes were also sampled using CO2-baited CDC light traps and BG-Sentinel traps in the three sites and also in Tsuini. The mosquitoes were knocked down using trimethylamine and stored in a liquid nitrogen shipper for transportation to the laboratory where they were identified to species, pooled and homogenized ready for testing.

Results

A total of 366 houses and 1730 containers were inspected. The House Index (HI), Container Index (CI) and Breateau Index (BI) for Vanga Island were (3%: 0.66: 3.66) respectively. In Jego, a rural site, the HI, CI and BI were (2.4%: 0.48: 2.4) respectively. In Lunga Lunga, a site in an urban area, the HI, CI and BI were (22.03%: 3.97: 29.7) respectively. The indices suggest that this region is at risk of arbovirus transmission given they were above the WHO threshold (CI > 1, HI > 1% and BI > 5). The most productive containers were the concrete tanks (44.4%), plastic tank (22.2%), claypot (13.3%), plastic drums (8.9%), plastic basins (4%), jerricans (1.2%) and buckets (0.3%). Over 20,200 adult mosquitoes were collected using CDC light traps, and over 9,200 using BG- sentinel traps. These mosquitoes were screened for viruses by inoculating in Vero cells. Eleven Orthobunyavirus isolates were obtained from pools of Ae. pembaensis (4), Ae. tricholabis (1), Cx. quinquefasciatus (3), Culex spp. (1) and Cx. zombaensis (2). Five of the Orthobunyaviruses were sequenced and four of these were determined to be Bunyamwera viruses while one isolate was found to be Nyando virus. One isolate remained unidentified.

Conclusions

These results indicate circulation of Orthobunyaviruses known to cause diverse grades of febrile illness with rash in humans in this region and highlights the need for continued monitoring and surveillance to avert outbreaks.
3D model-assisted instrumentation of the pediatric spine: a technical note
Authors: Jug Marko , Tomaževič Matevž , Cimerman Matej
Published: October 2021

Background

Instrumentation of the pediatric spine is challenging due to anatomical constraints and the absence of specific instrumentation, which may result in iatrogenic injury and implant failure, especially in occipito-cervical constructs. Therefore, preoperative planning and in vitro testing of instrumentation may be necessary.

Methods

In this paper, we present a technical note on the use of 1:1 scale patient-specific 3D printed spinal models for preoperative assessment of feasibility of spinal instrumentation with conventional spinal implants in pediatric spinal pathologies.

Results

The printed 3D models fully matched the intraoperative anatomy and allowed a preoperative confirmation of the feasibility of the planned instrumentation with conventional screws for adult patients. In addition, the possibility of intraoperative model assessment resulted in better intraoperative sense of spinal anatomy and easier freehand screw insertion, thereby reducing the potential for iatrogenic injury. All 3D models were printed at the surgical department at a very low cost, and the direct communication between the surgeon and the dedicated specialist allowed for multiple models or special spinal segments to be printed for more detailed consideration.

Conclusions

Our technical note highlights the critical steps for preoperative virtual planning and in vitro testing of spinal instrumentation on patient-specific 3D printed models at 1:1 scale. The simple and affordable method helps to better visualize pediatric spinal anatomy and confirm the suitability of preplanned conventional spinal instrumentation, thereby reducing X-ray exposure and intraoperative complications in freehand screw insertion without navigation.
Idiopathic neonatal hemoperitoneum presented as scrotal hematoma: it’s a diagnostic challenge?
Authors: Salatto Alessia , Indrio Flavia , Campanella Vittoria , Maggipinto Cosetta , Cocomazzi Raffaella , Canale Francesco , Nobili Maria , Maffei Gianfranco , Bartoli Fabio
Published: October 2021

Background

Idiopathic hemoperitoneum in the newborn is an entity very rarely encountered in clinical practice.

Case presentation

A case of scrotal hemorrhage (SH) associated with intrabdominal hemorrhaging and acute anemia is presented. Indications for early surgery included a massive scrotal hematoma, rapid onset of severe anemia, and unknown etiology.

Conclusion

Clinical and diagnostic approaches in a case of neonatal scrotal hematoma should be given careful consideration as abdominal in origin, and a pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance image (MRI) in addition to an abdominal/scrotal ultrasound should be added as part of the diagnostic work-up.
Determinants of smokeless tobacco use and prevalence among Sudanese adolescents
Authors: Othman Mohammed , Farid Nik Daliana Nik , Aghamohammadi Nasrin , Danaee Mahmoud
Published: October 2021

Background

Smokeless tobacco is a part of social and cultural life in Sudan. The affordability and availability of this kind of tobacco make it a fundamental issue in adolescents. The aim of this study is to investigate the extent of the use of smokeless tobacco in adolescents and its determinants.

Methods

A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Khartoum state in Sudan. The study targeted male and female adolescents in secondary schools. A total of 3387 students from public and private schools participated in the study. Multistage random sampling was used to select the participants. The Arabic version questionnaire from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) was utilised to collect the data from the participants.

Results

Among the participants, 57.3% were females and 42.7% were males. Students from private and public schools were 48.4 and 51.6%, respectively. The overall prevalence of those who had ever used smokeless tobacco was 7.6%, in which the prevalence among male students was 11.0% while among females was 5.0%. The determinant factors were male gender (OR 1.53 CI 95% 1.03–2.28), family structure (OR 1.52 CI 95% 1.03–2.23), exposure to second-hand smoke at home (OR 1.60 CI 95% 1.11–2.31), friends smoking cigarettes (OR 1.78 CI 95% 1.22–2.60), lack of restriction of selling tobacco to minors (OR 1.73 CI 95% 1.25–2.39), promotion of smokeless tobacco (OR 2.12 CI 95% 1.20–3.72) and low self-efficacy (OR 7.47 CI 95% 4.45–12.52).

Conclusion

A comprehensive prevention programme that enforces the prohibition of the promotion of smokeless tobacco and the selling of smokeless tobacco to minors is crucial. Moreover, the prevention programme should enhance adolescents’ self-efficacy.
Effects of sulfuric, nitric, and mixed acid rain on the decomposition of fine root litter in Southern China
Authors: Liu Xin , Meng Miaojing , Zhang Yong , Li Chong , Ma Shilin , Li Qinyu , Ren Qiong , Zhang Yinlong , Zhang Jinchi
Published: October 2021

Background

China has been increasingly subject to significant acid rain, which has negative impacts on forest ecosystems. Recently, the concentrations of NO3− in acid rain have increased in conjunction with the rapid rise of nitrogen deposition, which makes it difficult to precisely quantify the impacts of acid rain on forest ecosystems.

Methods

For this study, mesocosm experiments employed a random block design, comprised of ten treatments involving 120 discrete plots (0.6 m × 2.0 m). The decomposition of fine roots and dynamics of nutrient loss were evaluated under the stress of three acid rain analogues (e.g., sulfuric (SO42−/NO3− 5:1), nitric (1:5), and mixed (1:1)). Furthermore, the influences of soil properties (e.g., soil pH, soil total carbon, nitrogen, C/N ratio, available phosphorus, available potassium, and enzyme activity) on the decomposition of fine roots were analyzed.

Results

The soil pH and decomposition rate of fine root litter decreased when exposed to simulated acid rain with lower pH levels and higher NO3− concentrations. The activities of soil enzymes were significantly reduced when subjected to acid rain with higher acidity. The activities of soil urease were more sensitive to the effects of the SO42−/NO3− (S/N) ratio of acid rain than other soil enzyme activities over four decomposition time periods. Furthermore, the acid rain pH significantly influenced the total carbon (TC) of fine roots during decomposition. However, the S/N ratio of acid rain had significant impacts on the total nitrogen (TN). In addition, the pH and S/N ratio of the acid rain had greater impacts on the metal elements (K, Ca, and Al) of fine roots than did TC, TN, and total phosphorus. Structural equation modeling results revealed that the acid rain pH had a stronger indirect impact (0.757) on the decomposition rate of fine roots (via altered soil pH and enzyme activities) than direct effects. However, the indirect effects of the acid rain S/N ratio (0.265) on the fine root decomposition rate through changes in soil urease activities and the content of litter elements were lower than the pH of acid rain.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that the acid rain S/N ratio exacerbates the inhibitory effects of acid rain pH on the decomposition of fine root litter.
Side-branch expansion capacity of contemporary DES platforms
Authors: Öner Alper , Rosam Paula , Borowski Finja , Grabow Niels , Siewert Stefan , Schmidt Wolfram , Schmitz Klaus-Peter , Stiehm Michael
Published: October 2021

Background

Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of bifurcation stenoses are both complex and challenging. Stenting strategies share that the stents’ side cells must be carefully explored and appropriately prepared using balloons or stents. So far, stent manufacturers have not provided any information regarding side-branch expansion capacity of their stent platforms.

Aims

Given that drug-eluting stent (DES) information regarding their mechanical capacity of side-branch expansion is not available, we aimed to evaluate contemporary DES (Orsiro, BIOTRONIK AG; Xience Sierra, Abbott Vascular; Resolute Integrity, Medtronic; Promus Premier Select, Boston Scientific; Supraflex Cruz, Sahajan and Medical Technologies) by their side-branch expansion behavior using in vitro bench testing.

Methods

In this in vitro study, we analyzed five commercially available DES (diameter 3.0 mm), measuring their side-branch expansion following inflation of different high-pressure non-compliant (NC) balloons (balloon diameter: 2.00–4.00 mm), thereby revealing the morphological characteristics of their side-branch expansion capacities.

Results

We demonstrated that all tested contemporary DES platforms could withstand large single-cell deformations, up to 4.0 mm. As seen in our side-branch experiments, DES designs consisting of only two connectors between strut rings did not only result in huge cell areas, but also in larger cell diameters following side-branch expansion compared with DES designs using three or more connectors. Furthermore, the stent cell diameter attained was below the balloon diameter at normal pressure.

Conclusions

We recommend that the expansion capacity of side-branches should be considered in stent selection for bifurcation interventions.
On the seasonal variations of ocean bottom pressure in the world oceans
Authors: Cheng Xuhua , Ou Niansen , Chen Jiajia , Huang Rui Xin
Published: October 2021

Seasonal variability of the ocean bottom pressure (OBP) in the world oceans is investigated using 15 years of GRACE observations and a Pressure Coordinate Ocean Model (PCOM). In boreal winter, negative OBP anomalies appear in the northern North Pacific, subtropical South Pacific and north of 40 °S in the Indian Ocean, while OBP anomaly in the Southern Ocean is positive. The summer pattern is opposite to that in winter. The centers of positive (negative) OBP signals have a good coherence with the mass convergence/divergence due to Ekman transport, indicating the importance of wind forcing. The PCOM model reproduces the observed OBP quite well. Sensitivity experiments indicate that wind forcing dominates the regional OBP seasonal variations, while the contributions due to heat flux and freshwater flux are unimportant. Experiments with daily sea level pressure (SLP) forcing suggest that at high frequencies the non-static effect of SLP is not negligible.
An additional lysis procedure during arthrocentesis of the temporomandibular joint
Authors: Lee Keon-Mo , Jang Wan-Hee , You Myoung-Sang , Lee Bu-Kyu
Published: October 2021

Background

Arthrocentesis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an easy, highly efficient, minimally invasive procedure for treating temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). However, in some cases of mouth opening limitation (MOL), routine arthrocentesis is ineffective due to severe fibrotic adhesion in the superior joint space of the TMJ. In this condition, mechanical lysis of the adhesions might be needed to resolve the MOL, as well as other symptoms, such as chronic pain. Currently, this can be achieved by arthroscopic surgery or open TMJ surgery. The objective of this study was to introduce and evaluate our trial of the adhesion lysis procedure during arthrocentesis of the TMJ using normal 18-gauge needles.

Results

In this study, 40 patients with MOL due to disc derangement underwent conventional arthrocentesis at first and then physical detachment was conducted using the same needle. The change in maximum mouth opening (MMO) and the pain at the TMJ were recorded before, during, and after treatment according to our protocol. The mean increase in MMO after conventional arthrocentesis was 6.6 ± 4.2mm. The mean increase in MMO after the detachment procedure with the same needle was 4.2 ± 2.0 mm. The MMO in ten patients was significantly increased after the detachment procedure than after arthrocentesis alone. In all cases, the pain intensity in the TMJ significantly decreased over time, whereas the MMO increased over time. No adverse effect was observed in all joints during our observation periods.

Conclusion

We confirmed that our simple lysis procedure with the same needle of the arthrocentesis of the TMJ could not only improve the MMO more than after a conventional arthrocentesis but also resolve severe adhesion of the joint space that was ineffective by conventional arthrocentesis. Although this additional lysis procedure is simple, it might reduce the number of cases of more invasive procedures such as arthroscopic surgery or open TMJ surgery.
Multi-level analyses of distance education capacity, faculty members’ adaptation, and indicators of student satisfaction in higher education during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Karadag Engin , Su Ahmet , Ergin-Kocaturk Hatice
Published: October 2021

COVID-19 pandemic triggered distance education in higher education. Decisions such as isolation, social distancing and quarantine made by countries unexpectedly and suddenly forced face-to-face education to change to distance education within days. All academics around the world had to move online overnight. All the educational and academic activities in higher education (courses, exams, meetings, etc.) had to be conducted online in a few days. Based on these changes, this study aimed to analyze the relationships among student, faculty (adaptations of faculty members to distance education) and institutional (distance learning capacities of the universities) variables that affected satisfaction of the students related to distance education in higher education institutions in Turkey during COVID-19 pandemic using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). The study group included 14,962 students and 3631 academics from 30 universities. The results showed that universities with higher distance education capacities got higher satisfaction scores. HLM analysis showed that 43% of the variation in satisfaction scores resulted from universities. The second HLM analysis showed that 44% of the overall satisfaction score variance of the students could be explained by the factors of university features (Level 2: distance education capacity and acceptance and use of distance education systems of faculty members). Thus, it was determined that 44% of the university factor calculated as 43% in Model 1 (which is calculated within students’ general satisfaction scores) resulted from the distance education capacity and the acceptance and use of distance education systems of faculty members. The findings of this study provide insights to improve distance education by stakeholders of higher education institutions.
Patient-reported outcome measures in the care of in-centre hemodialysis patients
Authors: Davison Sara N. , Klarenbach Scott , Manns Braden , Schnick-Makaroff Kara , Buzinski Robert , Corradetti Bonnie , Short Hilary , Johnson Jeffrey A.
Published: October 2021

Kidney failure requiring dialysis is associated with high symptom burden and low health-related quality of life (HRQL). Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are standardized instruments that capture patients’ symptom burden, level of functioning, and HRQL. The routine use of PROMs can be used to monitor aspects of patients’ health that may otherwise be overlooked, inform care planning, and facilitate the introduction of treatments. Incorporating PROMs into clinical practice is an appropriate strategy to engage patients and enhance their role in decisions regarding their care and outcomes. However, the implementation of PROMs measurement and associated interventions can be challenging given the nature of clinical practice in busy hemodialysis units, the variations in organization and clinical workflow across units, as well as regional programs. Implementing PROMs and linking these with actionable treatment aids to alleviate bothersome symptoms and improve patients’ wellbeing is key to improving patients’ health. Other considerations in implementing PROMs within a hemodialysis setting include integration into electronic medical records, purchase and configuration of electronic tools (i.e., tablets), storage and disinfection of such tools, and ongoing IT resources. It is important to train clinicians on the practical elements of using PROMs, however there is also a need to engage clinicians to use PROMs on an ongoing basis. This article describes how PROMs have been implemented at in-centre hemodialysis units in Alberta, Canada, addressing each of these elements.
Earthen–wooden hybrid houses built by the Dai in Dehong Prefecture, South China
Authors: Oranratmanee Rawiwan , Ounchanum Pandin
Published: October 2021

The Dai (or Tai) are an indigenous ethnic group distributed across the upper part of Southeast Asia and South China. Whereas the majority of the Dai living on the Southeast Asian mainland build wooden houses on stilts, Dai populations in South China, especially in Dehong Prefecture, are known for the distinctive architectural style of their hybrid earthen–wooden houses, which stems from their enduring social contact and cultural assimilation with Chinese settlers. This paper, which draws on comprehensive fieldwork conducted in Dai villages in Dehong Prefecture, explores the Dai’s hybrid earthen–wooden architecture. Specifically, it examines the development of forms, the relationship between settlement layouts and house plans, as well as building materials, structures and constructions characterising this architecture using data from qualitative surveys, architectural measurements and interviews. The hybrid architecture of the Dehong Dai demonstrates the fusion of two building cultures—earthen and wooden—that has shaped a vernacular architectural identity that is unique to this area. This paper also presents illustrative examples of earthen–wooden houses, thereby contributing to advancing knowledge about this eclectic, hybrid architecture that remains a gap in the academic literature.
Assessing the accuracy of fault interpretation using machine-learning techniques when risking faults for CO2 storage site assessment
Authors: Michie Emma A. H. , Alaei Behzad , Braathen Alvar
Published: October 2021

Generating an accurate model of the subsurface for the purpose of assessing the feasibility of a CO2 storage site is crucial. In particular, how faults are interpreted is likely to influence the predicted capacity and integrity of the reservoir; whether this is through identifying high-risk areas along the fault, where fluid is likely to flow across the fault, or by assessing the reactivation potential of the fault with increased pressure, causing fluid to flow up the fault. New technologies allow users to interpret faults effortlessly, and in much quicker time, using methods such as deep learning (DL). These DL techniques use knowledge from neural networks to allow end users to compute areas where faults are likely to occur. Although these new technologies may be attractive due to reduced interpretation time, it is important to understand the inherent uncertainties in their ability to predict accurate fault geometries. Here, we compare DL fault interpretation versus manual fault interpretation, and we can see distinct differences to those faults where significant ambiguity exists due to poor seismic resolution at the fault; we observe an increased irregularity when DL methods are used over conventional manual interpretation. This can result in significant differences between the resulting analyses, such as fault reactivation potential. Conversely, we observe that well-imaged faults indicate a close similarity between the resulting fault surfaces when DL and manual fault interpretation methods are used; hence, we also observe a close similarity between any attributes and fault analyses made.
Introduction: Literature and the State in Nancy Morejón
Authors: López Antonio
Published: October 2021

This essay introduces a special section on the Afro-Cuban poet and intellectual Nancy Morejón’s 1982 book Nación y mestizaje en Nicolás Guillén (Nation and Mestizaje in Nicolás Guillén). It sets up the contributors by surveying the literary and political trajectory of Morejón’s career in the years leading up to the publication of the book, focusing in part on her silencing by the Cuban state because of earlier activities centered on Afro-Cuban rights. The essay considers the themes and arguments of Nación y mestizaje, recognizing the surfaces, depths, and fissures of its actual and apparent doctrinaire lauding of Guillén as exemplar of Cuba’s cultural politics.
Redefining Mestizaje: How Trans-Caribbean Exchanges Solidified Black Consciousness in Cuba
Authors: Benson Devyn Spence
Published: October 2021

This essay recovers the history of 1960s and 1970s black movements in Cuba through an examination of works by Afro-Cuban intellectuals and their meetings with Caribbean thinkers to show the coexistence of mestizaje and black consciousness as a defining, but overlooked, feature of black activism in Cuba. While the existing literature locates black consciousness in the English- and French-speaking Caribbean, this essay highlights how Afro-Cubans in Spanish-speaking countries were not only aware of but also adapted Caribbean ideologies to local circumstances. Using oral histories, cultural productions, and meetings between Caribbean intellectuals, this examination of Afro-Cuban activism reframes the period leading up to Nancy Morejón’s 1982 Nación y mestizaje en Nicolás Guillén to show that the poet was one of many artists-activists who resurrected black history, revalued African culture and black identity, and promoted Caribbean black consciousness in Cuba despite state attempts at censorship. For Morejón that meant offering a definition of mestizaje that goes through and coexists with black consciousness.
Gender and the Americanist James
Authors: Neptune H. Reuben
Published: October 2021

This review essay asserts that Aaron Kamugisha’s 2019 Beyond Coloniality: Citizenship and Freedom in the Caribbean Intellectual Tradition, for all its brilliance, does not do justice to the thought of C. L. R. James, especially in relation to gender. After claiming that Kamugisha mostly misses the emancipatory and at times radical aspects of James’s feminist thinking, which was developed most fully during his years in the United States (1938–52), the author allows that the omission appears to be not deliberate but an unintended consequence of Kamugisha’s faithful following of the dominant North Atlantic interpretation of the “American James.” In particular, the author sees Kamugisha as seeming to accept without question the hegemonic Americanist assumption that James took a romantic excursion in the United States, and thus Beyond Coloniality neglects the deeply gendered analysis at the heart of James’s 1950 manuscript that eventually found publication in 1993 as American Civilization. Although James certainly never got out of “gender jail” in his lifetime, American Civilization betrayed his hopeful vision of escape. This essay proposes to Kamugisha that a careful and independent reading of this text could have revealed James as a far more sophisticated failure than the virtually helpless figure drawn in Beyond Coloniality.
Caribbean Freedom beyond Coloniality
Authors: Kamugisha Aaron
Published: October 2021

This essay proffers a response to three critical engagements with the author’s 2019 Beyond Coloniality: Citizenship and Freedom in the Caribbean Intellectual Tradition. The author contextualizes Beyond Coloniality as a book that seeks to effect a challenging alliance between studies of the anglophone Caribbean’s postindependence social and political order and scholarship on Caribbean thought. Ultimately, Beyond Coloniality engages in a quest for freedom beyond neocolonial citizenship.
Ιχνηγραφώντας τις κειμενικές διαδρομές στη διαπραγμάτευση κοινωνικών ταυτοτήτων
Authors: Ντανόπουλος Δημήτριος
Published: October 2021

Το ακαδημαϊκό ερευνητικό ενδιαφέρον για τη μεταφορά των λογοτεχνικών έργων στον κινηματογράφο έχει καταγραφεί εδώ και πάρα πολλά χρόνια στο πεδίο των Πολιτισμικών Σπουδών (Λογοτεχνία, Κινηματογραφικές Σπουδές). Ειδικότερα, η μελέτη του αρχικού κειμένου και του τελικού προϊόντος πριν αυτό οδηγηθεί σε μια άλλη μορφή (ως κινηματογραφική ταινία, λ.χ.) συνιστά αντικείμενο ενδιαφέροντος όχι μόνο για το χώρο των σπουδών γύρω από το τρόπο διαμόρφωσης του σεναρίου αλλά και στο χώρο των σπουδών για τον γραπτό λόγο γενικότερα. Μελέτες υπό το πρίσμα της Κριτικής Ανάλυσης Λόγου έχουν καταδείξει τη σημασία μελέτης του κάθε κειμένου ως ιδεολογικής δομής. Μέσα από τις συγκεκριμένες αναπαραστάσεις και οπτικές ενός θέματος που προβάλλει, κάθε συντάκτης/συντάκτρια προτείνει και τη δική του στάση στο πλέγμα των στάσεων και τοποθετήσεων που κυριαρχούν σε έναν συγκεκριμένο Χρονότοπο. Μέσα από το πλαίσιο αυτό, η παρούσα μελέτη παρακολουθεί τη διαδικασία διασκευής ενός αυτοβιογραφικού μυθιστορήματος σε κινηματογραφικό σενάριο. Η εστίαση είναι στην περιγραφή της διαδρομής διαμόρφωσης των πολλών εκδοχών του και στον τρόπο με τον οποίο η κάθε κειμενική εκδοχή αναδύεται ως ένα κριτικό προϊόν, ως εργαλείο πρόταξης συγκεκριμένων αναπαραστάσεων έναντι άλλων. Αν και ποικίλα στοιχεία μπορούν να αναδειχθούν ως σημαντικά κατά τη διαδικασία αυτή, το ενδιαφέρον επικεντρώνονται σε μια από τις πολυσύνθετες τροχιές αλλαγών και αναπλαισιώσεων που λαμβάνουν χώρα: αυτή αφορά στο πώς οι εκάστοτε συν-συγγραφείς ιεραρχούν κάποιες από τις προτεινόμενες αναπαραστάσεις ή Λόγους του αρχικού κειμένου για να δώσουν έμφαση σε συγκεκριμένες κοινωνικές ταυτότητες των ηρώων, υποβαθμίζοντας κάποιες άλλες που επίσης θα μπορούσαν να αξιοποιηθούν. Μέσα από την Κριτική Ανάλυση Λόγου δείχνουμε πώς μέσα από την πρόταξη διαφορετικών Λόγων και ταυτοτήτων - μέσα από αλλεπάλληλες χρονοτοπικές επιστρωματώσεις (chronotopic laminations)-, δημιουργείται κάθε φορά ένα είδος παλίμψηστου κειμένου που κουβαλάει στοιχεία που οι συντάκτες του προσπάθησαν να προτάξουν. Η σημασία αυτών των δεδομένων καταδεικνύει την ανάγκη προσέγγισης του γραπτού λόγου εν γένει ως μιας δυναμικής κοινωνικής πράξης που δεν μπορεί παρά να συσχετίζεται πάντοτε με τα κοινωνικά συμφραζόμενα. Οι κριτικές αυτές αναπλαισιώσεις συνιστούν ένα πλαίσιο μέσα από το οποίο πρέπει να μελετηθεί κάθε κείμενο σε σχολικές κοινότητες και ειδικότερα κάθε κείμενο που παράγεται μέσα από το διάλογο των μαθητών/τριών με λογοτεχνικά και μη κείμενα.
Η διεθνής προστασία των ευάλωτων ομάδων υπό συνθήκες κρίσης
Authors: Γαζή Θεοδώρα
Published: October 2021

Αντικείμενο της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής αποτελεί η ανάλυση της έννοιας της ευαλωτότητας, στο πλαίσιο του δικαίου διεθνούς προστασίας. Παρότι πληθώρα νομοθετικών κειμένων επιδιώκουν να προστατεύσουν τα δικαιώματα των ευάλωτων προσώπων, εν τοις πράγμασι παρατηρούνται σημαντικές ελλείψεις στην αποτελεσματική τους προστασία, ιδίως κατά την πρόσβαση στο άσυλο. Η παρούσα διατριβή επιδιώκει, κατά πρώτο λόγο, την καταγραφή των νομικών λύσεων που εφαρμόζονται για τη ρύθμιση της νομικής κατάστασης των ευάλωτων προσώπων, που χρήζουν διεθνούς προστασίας. Περαιτέρω, σκοπός της διατριβής είναι η μεν συστηματοποίηση των μέσων προστασίας που προβλέπονται από τη διεθνή, ενωσιακή και εθνική έννομη τάξη, η δε διατύπωση προτάσεων de lege ferenda για την ουσιαστική απόλαυση των δικαιωμάτων των ευάλωτων ομάδων.
Deep supervised hashing for gait retrieval
Authors: Sayeed Shohel , Min Pa Pa , Ong Thian Song
Published: October 2021

Background: Gait recognition is perceived as the most promising biometric approach for future decades especially because of its efficient applicability in surveillance systems. Due to recent growth in the use of gait biometrics across surveillance systems, the ability to rapidly search for the required data has become an emerging need. Therefore, we addressed the gait retrieval problem, which retrieves people with gaits similar to a query subject from a large-scale dataset.

Methods: This paper presents the deep gait retrieval hashing (DGRH) model to address the gait retrieval problem for large-scale datasets. Our proposed method is based on a supervised hashing method with a deep convolutional network. We use the ability of the convolutional neural network (CNN) to capture the semantic gait features for feature representation and learn the compact hash codes with the compatible hash function. Therefore, our DGRH model combines gait feature learning with binary hash codes. In addition, the learning loss is designed with a classification loss function that learns to preserve similarity and a quantization loss function that controls the quality of the hash codes

Results: The proposed method was evaluated against the CASIA-B, OUISIR-LP, and OUISIR-MVLP benchmark datasets and received the promising result for gait retrieval tasks.

Conclusions: The end-to-end deep supervised hashing model is able to learn discriminative gait features and is efficient in terms of the storage memory and speed for gait retrieval.
Reducing sources of variance in experimental procedures in in vitro research
Authors: Fischer Igor , Martinez-Dominguez Maria Victoria , Hänggi Daniel , Kahlert Ulf
Published: October 2021

Background: Lack of reproducibility in preclinical research is a problem posing ethical and economic challenges for biomedical science. Various institutional activities from society stakeholders of leading industry nations are currently underway to improve the situation. Such initiatives usually attempt to tackle high-level organisational issues and do not typically focus on improving experimental approaches per se. Addressing these is necessary in order to increase consistency and success rates of lab-to-lab repetitions.

Methods: In this project, we statistically evaluated repetitive data of a very basic and widely applied lab procedure, namely quantifying the number of viable cells. The purpose of this was to appreciate the impact of different parameters and instrumentations that may constitute sources of variance in this procedure.

Conclusion: By comparing the variations of data acquired under two different procedures, featuring improved stringency of protocol adherence, our project attempts to propose guidelines on how to reduce such variations. We believe our work can contribute to tackling the repeatability crisis in biomedical research.
The Theoretical Validity of Goodwill Accounting
Authors: Mislavskaya N.
Published: October 2021

The article analyzes the modern accounting practice of reflecting goodwill in the system of accounting accounts. As a scientific approach to solving this problem, the author uses an interdisciplinary approach, within which various aspects are used as a toolkit for solving the indicated problem. Based on the results of research on the theory and practice of corporate management, the author comes to the conclusion that the interpretation of the economic nature of goodwill is ambiguous, and, as a consequence, of its incorrect accounting. The identification and recognition of goodwill in the accounting (financial) statements as an asset is questioned.
Modelo explicativo de discapacidad en población con trastornos mentales graves: un estudio multicéntrico en tres países de Sudamérica
Authors: Castro-Alzate Elvis Siprian , Cardona-Marín Laura Milena , Pacheco Robinson , Gamboa-Proaño Marco , Bustos Claudio , Saldivia Sandra
Published: October 2021

Introducción: en el contexto latinoamericano se está generando evidencia sobre el empleo de instrumentos derivados de la Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento, de la Discapacidad y de la Salud en psiquiatría y salud mental. Este estudio corresponde a la primera investigación de carácter explicativo en población con trastornos mentales graves en tres países de Sudamérica. El objetivo es determinar un modelo explicativo de discapacidad en una muestra de personas con trastornos mentales graves en contacto con servicios ambulatorios de psiquiatría en Chile, Colombia y Ecuador. Materiales y métodos: se llevó a cabo un estudio multicéntrico, observacional, correlacional, de corte transversal, a partir de un muestreo probabilístico en Colombia y un muestreo por conveniencia en Chile y Ecuador. En total, participaron 803 adultos con trastornos mentales graves, en contacto con servicios ambulatorios de psiquiatría en Concepción (Chile), Cali (Colombia) y Quito (Ecuador). Resultados: el 91.3 % de la muestra presentó algún grado de discapacidad. El modelo multivariado final incluyó las variables explicativas país (Colombia; β=6.724); edad (β=−0.163); escolaridad (β=−0.5029); síntomas actuales de depresión (β=23.26); episodio psicótico (β=4.795); episodio hipomaniaco/maniaco (β=7.498; t=3.711); tener práctica religiosa (β=−2.834), y tener cuidador (β=10.363). Obtuvo un coeficiente de determinación de 0.3275 (F [23, 760]=16.09; p < 0.001, R2∆=30.71), que explica el 32.75% de la discapacidad de las personas de la muestra de los tres países participantes. Conclusiones: en un modelo multivariado de discapacidad para trastornos mentales graves, los síntomas actuales y la presencia de cuidador son las principales variables explicativas de discapacidad.
Developing a Composite Measure to Represent Information Flows in Networks: Evidence from a Stock Market
Authors: Shangguan Wuyue (Phoebe) , Leung Alvin Chung Man , Agarwal Ashish , Konana Prabhudev , Chen Xi
Published: October 2021

This paper employs a design science approach and proposes a new composite metric, eigen attention centrality (EAC), as a proxy for information flows associated with a node that considers both attention to a node and coattention with other nodes in a network. We apply the EAC metric in the context of a financial market where nodes are individual stocks and edges are based on coattention relationships among stocks. Composite information from different channels is used to measure attention and coattention. We evaluate the effectiveness of the EAC metric on predicting abnormal returns of stocks by (1) using multiple prediction methods and (2) comparing EAC with a set of alternative network metrics. Our analysis shows that EAC significantly outperforms alternative models in predicting the direction and magnitude of abnormal returns of stocks. Using the EAC metric, we derive a stock portfolio and develop a trading strategy that provides significant and positive excess returns. Lastly, we find that composite information has significantly better predictive performance than separate information sources, and such superior performance owes to information from social media instead of traditional media.
Strategy of Integration of Sea Port Terminals as a Direction of Improving their Effective Functioning
Authors:   Azov Maritime Institute National University ", Barskiy I. ,   Odessa Maritime Academy", Makarenko M. ,   Azov Maritime Institute National University "Odessa Maritime Academy"
Published: October 2021

It has been proven that in the context of globalization of production and increasing consumption, the logistics and transport industry is faced with the task of satisfying the complex demands of consumers. Manufacturing enterprises are recognizing the need for effective supply chain management in response to a globalized economy and competition, and hence the need to adopt new strategies such as supply chain management and global sourcing and outsourced logistics functions. First, we will structure the existing research on the selected topic. Such a literature review should provide a basis for and identify changes in research trends. The systematization of scientific literature on terminal operations and port efficiency provides justification for specific popular areas, but does not cover all problematic issues. Port management reforms continue to take place in different ways, depending on the situation in the country or region. Thus, maritime researchers increasingly tackled port-related problems in the context of supply chain management or port research. Based on these studies, three approaches to the philosophy and practice of supply chain management can be distinguished: studies on the impact on the shipping and port industry, the application of supply chain management concepts and models for port research, and the integration of supply chain activities. Researching the Impact of Supply Chain Management on the Port Industry. Examines the impact of supply chain management strategies adopted by manufacturing companies on the port industry. He typically views supply chain management as a phenomenon that occurs outside of port operations, and analyzes the dynamics among market players when exposure is externally. Research on the application of supply chain management concepts for ports. Consider supply chain management concepts and models as analytical tools for addressing and expanding port operations and management issues. Based on the position that the port industry has been significantly influenced by supply chain management practices and accepts this approach as the dominant logistics perspective. Research on supply chain integration activities. This approach also views ports as an extended system that interacts with other parts of the supply chain. In addition, this approach recognizes the integration of supply chain management and the integration of supply chains as phenomena that can take place in ports along the supply chain and views ports as a holistic system that actively participates in the phenomenon under study. A port-to-supply chain integration strategy must be firmly based on a strong focus on supply chain integration within individual seaport terminals. Successful implementation of this strategy necessarily implies a significant increase in terminal productivity.
Intelligence as a Substantial Basis of Intellectual Potential
Authors:   Ternopil Ivan Puluj National Technical University, Ostrovska Н.
Published: October 2021

The article considers the conceptual and categorical apparatus of "intelligence", explores various characteristics of its essence and content, analyses the sources, the structure formation and components features. The key role in the intelligence formation belongs to the existing education model chosen in the country and the learning model formed at the enterprise. An overview of research in the collective intelligence field is presented. The demand for collective intelligence technologies as the transition to the knowledge society is argued. The obtained results build the principles of the organizational and economic mechanism for ensuring the industrial enterprises intellectual potential effective use in the implementation of the domestic economy European vector development.
Insights from the Interfaces of Corona Viral Proteins: Homomers Versus Heteromers
Authors: Nilofer Christina , Mohanapriya Arumugam
Published: October 2021

The outbreak of COVID-19 and its mutant variants has become a life-threatening and fatal viral disease to mankind. Several studies have been carried out to identify an effective receptor against coronavirus using clinically driven samples distinguished as hematological, immunological and biochemical biomarkers. Simultaneously, protein interfaces are being researched to understand the structural and functional mechanism of action. Therefore, we characterized and examined the interfaces of corona viral proteins using a dataset consisting of 366 homomeric and 199 heteromeric protein interfaces. The interfaces were analyzed using six parameters including interface area, interface size, van der Waal, hydrogen bond, electrostatic and total stabilizing energies. We observed the interfaces of corona viral proteins (homomer and heteromer) to be alike. Therefore, we clustered the interfaces based on the percent contribution of vdW towards total stabilizing energy as vdW energy dominant (≥60%) and vdW energy subdominant (<60%). We found 91% of interfaces to have vdW energy in dominance with large interface size [146±29 (homomer) and 122±29 (heteromer)] and interface area [1690±683 (homomer) and 1306±355 (heteromer)]. However, we also observed 9% of interfaces to have vdW energy in sub-dominance with small interface size [60±12 (homomer) and 41±20 (heteromer)] and interface area [472±174 (homomer) and 310±199 (heteromer)]. We noticed the interface area of large interfaces to be four-fold more when compared to small interfaces in homomer and heteromer. It was interesting to observe that the small interfaces of homomers to be rich in electrostatics (r2=0.50) destitute of hydrogen bond energy (r2=0.04). However, the heteromeric interfaces were equally pronounced with hydrogen bond (r2=0.70) and electrostatic (r2=0.61) energies. Hence, our earlier findings stating that the small protein interfaces are rich in electrostatic energy remaintrue with the homomeric interfaces of corona viral proteins whereas not in heteromeric interfaces.