bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of resistance exercise on serum leptin levels in a prospective longitudinal study of women patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Joo Young Bin , Lee Kyoung Bo , Sul Bomi , Lee Hye-Soon , Lim Seong Hoon , Park Yune-Jung
Published: March 2022

Background

Exercise has an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces fat mass. Leptin has been known to be proinflammatory adipokines mainly produced by adipocytes. However, few studies have investigated the association between exercise and changes in serum leptin levels of patients with RA. This study evaluated the effect of an individualized resistance exercise on inflammatory markers including leptin as well as muscle strength and exercise capacity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

A total of 42 age- and sex-matched participants were assigned to a resistance exercise program (60 min, once a week for 12 weeks, and self-exercise twice a week) or to a control group. Muscle strength, exercise capacities, and inflammatory markers such as cytokines and adipokines were assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks follow-up. Longitudinal changes in muscle strength, exercise capacity, cytokines, and adipokines between groups were tested with repeated measures analysis of variance or using the generalized estimating equation, with adjustment for baseline disease activity score 28-C response protein as a covariate.

Results

A total of 37 of 42 female patients with RA completed this prospective intervention study. Grip strength improved significantly in the exercise group (P < 0.05), while no between-group changes were found. Quadriceps contraction power (P for group-time interaction = 0.035 for the right side and P for group-time interaction = 0.012 for the left side) and 6-minute walking distance (P for group-time interaction = 0.021) were all improved significantly in the exercise group compared with the control group. In addition, serum leptin levels were significantly decreased in the exercise group compared with the control group (P for group-time interaction = 5.22 × 10−5), but not the other cytokines or adipokines. The change in serum leptin levels correlated with the changes in fat mass (Rho = 0.491, P= 0.015) and visceral fat area (Rho = 0.501, P= 0.013).

Conclusion

In addition to muscle strength and exercise capacity, the 12 weeks of individualized resistance exercise reduced serum leptin levels in keeping with body fat mass or visceral fat area, suggesting that serum leptin levels might be a surrogate marker of exercise in RA.
Super-resolving star clusters with sheaves
Authors: Robinson Michael , Capraro Christopher T.
Published: March 2022

This article presents an optimization-based approach for counting and localizing stars within a small cluster, based on photon counts in a focal plane array. The array need not be arranged in any particular way, and relatively small numbers of photons are required to ensure convergence. The stars can be located close to one another, as the location and magnitude errors were found to be low when the separation was larger than 0.2 Rayleigh radii. To ensure generality of our approach, it was constructed as a special case of a general theory built upon topological signal processing using the mathematics of sheaves that is applicable to general source decomposition problems.
Neurosyphilis with a rare magnetic resonance imaging pattern confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing: a case report
Authors: Liu Chang , Zhang Yu , Li Yi , Bu Hui , Liu Ruoxue , Ji Yingxiao , He Junying , Hong Kun
Published: March 2022

Background

Neurosyphilis refers to infection of the central nervous system by Treponema pallidum. The clinical presentation is variable and nonspecific. Neuroimaging findings are complex and that the diagnosis is based on clinical presentation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters, and serologic and CSF evidence of syphilis. To date, there is no case report describing Treponema pallidum detected by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in CSF.

Case presentation

In this report, we describe a case of neurosyphilis in a HIV-negative, 29-year-old man, who was admitted to our hospital with an epileptic seizure and progressive cognitive impairment. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) high signal intensities in bilateral medial and anterior temporal lobes, insula, right pulvinar of the thalami, precuneus, frontal and temporo-occipital lobes. Laboratory examination showed positive results by means of nontreponemal or specific treponemal test in serum and CSF. mNGS of the CSF was also performed to identify Treponema pallidum for the first time.

Conclusions

This case underscores the importance of considering neurosyphilis as a potential cause of mesiotemporal abnormality. In addition, the rapid improvement and wide usability of mNGS technology will bring new breakthroughs in the clinical diagnosis of neurosyphilis.
Contemporary research trends in response robotics
Authors: Dadvar Mehdi , Habibian Soheil
Published: March 2022

The multidisciplinary nature of response robotics has brought about a diversified research community with extended expertise. Motivated by the recent accelerated rate of publications in the field, this paper analyzes the research trends, statistics, and implications of the literature from bibliometric standpoints. The aim is to study the global progress of response robotics research and identify the contemporary trends. To that end, we investigated the collaboration mapping together with the citation network to formally recognize impactful and contributing authors, publications, sources, institutions, funding agencies, and countries. We found how natural and human-made disasters contributed to forming productive regional research communities, while there are communities that only view response robotics as an application of their research. Furthermore, through an extensive discussion on the bibliometric results, we elucidated the philosophy behind research priority shifts in response robotics and presented our deliberations on future research directions.
Ectopic gallbladder with congenital biliary dilatation: a pediatric case report
Authors: Omata Kanako , Yoshida Mariko , Suzuki Kan , Kawashima Hiroshi , Fujishiro Jun
Published: March 2022

Background

An ectopic gallbladder is a rare anomaly and can result in the misinterpretation of imaging findings and clinical confusion. Knowledge of such anomalies facilitates accurate diagnoses and prompt management. We report a pediatric case of an ectopic gallbladder concomitant with congenital biliary dilatation (CBD).

Case presentation

A 9-year-old girl was referred to our hospital for elevated liver enzyme levels. Following physical examination and a review of medical imaging findings, she was diagnosed with Todani type IV-A CBD. We could not visualize the gallbladder by abdominal ultrasonography, CT, and MRI scans; therefore, we suspected gallbladder agenesis. A laparoscopic excision of the extrahepatic bile duct was performed to treat the CBD. Neither a gallbladder nor a cystic duct were revealed on the liver undersurface. Therefore, gallbladder agenesis was considered as a diagnosis based on preoperative imaging and intraoperative findings. However, during dissection of the hepatic hilum, a cyst-like structure was found on the ventral side of the common hepatic duct, slightly to the right, and a small additional duct that originated from the cystic structure was found. Upon incision, a small amount of bile was drained from the small duct. Thus, the cystic structure was diagnosed as an ectopic gallbladder with hypoplasia. Following the removal of the ectopic gallbladder, the extrahepatic bile duct was excised. Subsequently, laparoscopic Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was performed without any complications. Postoperative histopathological evaluations of the resected specimen revealed Rokitansky–Aschoff sinuses in the resected cystic lesion. The pathological investigations confirmed the diagnosis of an ectopic gallbladder. Following an uneventful postoperative course, the patient was discharged on day nine.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first pediatric case report describing an ectopic gallbladder concomitant with CBD. If the gallbladder cannot be detected in a preoperative imaging examination, it is important to consider the possibility of an ectopic gallbladder.
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) from HIV patients’ perspective: comparison of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures among people living with hiv (PLWH) and other chronic clinical conditions
Authors: Seguiti C. , Salvo P. F. , Di Stasio E. , Lamonica S. , Fedele A. L. , Manfrida S. , Ciccarelli N. , Corvari B. , De Luca C. , Tartaglione L. , Pitocco D. , Cauda R. , Cingolani A.
Published: March 2022

Background

People living with HIV (PLWH) are generally known to suffer from a lower quality of life compared to the one of general population, but still very few is known about the self-perception of quality of life when comparing HIV to non-communicable diseases. We performed a comprehensive assessment of patient’s reported outcomes measures (PROMs) among PLWH and patients affected by other chronic conditions (OC) such as diabetes mellitus type 1, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer in hormonal therapy, in order to investigate differences in PROMs outcomes between PLWH and other pathologies.

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study was performed by using questionnaires investigating health-related quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item Health Survey), work productivity (WPI), and global health status (EQ-5D-3L). They were administered to patients affected by chronic diseases consecutively observed at a single University Hospital during a 10 months period, with comparable disease related aspects. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between disease group (HIV vs OC) and PROMs.

Results

230 patients were enrolled (89 PLWH, 143 OC). Mean age: 49 years (SD 10), mean time of disease 12 years (10), 96% were Caucasian, 35% assumed polypharmacy, 42% of male were PLWH versus 16% OC (p < 0.001), 19% PLWH versus 6% OC had clinical complications (p < 0.001). HIV infection was independently associated to a better health-related quality of life in several domains compared with the other conditions, except in mental health, whereas a worst health-related quality of life in most domains was reported by older patients and those experiencing polypharmacy.

Conclusions

In this cohort of patients with chronic conditions followed within the same health setting, PLWH showed better self-reported health outcomes compared to other chronic conditions with comparable characteristics of chronicity. The potential detrimental role of older age and polypharmacy in most outcomes suggests the need of longitudinal assessment of PROMs in clinical practice.
Predictors of severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Assal Hebatallah Hany , Abdel-hamid Hoda M. , Magdy Sally , Salah Maged , Ali Asmaa , Elkaffas Rasha Helmy , Sabry Irene Mohamed
Published: March 2022

Background

Due to limited capacity, health care systems worldwide have been put in challenging situations since the emergence of COVID-19. To prioritize patients who need hospital admission, a better understanding of the clinical predictors of disease severity is required. In the current study, we investigated the predictors of mortality and severity of illness in COVID-19 from a single center in Cairo, Egypt.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 175 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia and had positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results for SARS-CoV-2 from 1 May 2020 to 1 December 2020. Severe COVID-19 was defined as requiring high-flow oxygen (flow rate of more than 8 L/min or use of high flow oxygen cannula), noninvasive ventilation, or invasive mechanical ventilation at any time point during the hospitalization. We used univariate and multivariate regression analyses to examine the differences in patient demographics and clinical and laboratory data collected during the first 24 h of hospitalization related to severe disease or death in all 175 patients.

Results

Sixty-seven (38.3%) of the study subjects had a severe or critical disease. Elevated d-dimer, leukocytosis, and elevated CRP were found to be independent predictors of severe disease. In-hospital mortality occurred in 34 (19.4%) of the cases. Elevated TLC, urea, the use of invasive mechanical ventilation, and the presence of respiratory bacterial co-infection were found to be independently associated with mortality.

Conclusion

Clinical and laboratory data of COVID-19 patients at their hospital admission may aid clinicians in the early identification and triage of high-risk patients.
Antibiotics and Agricultural Change: Purifying Milk and Protecting Health in the Postwar Era
Authors: SMITH-HOWARD KENDRA
Published: March 2022

New ways of understanding milk purity accompanied the introduction of veterinary antibiotics to the dairy farm. Antibiotics—once viewed as substances that could rid milk of bacterial hazards—became understood as food adulterants when residues of the drugs were detected in milk. Although consumers’ concerns about food purity became critical in the postwar era, only in the late 1950s and early 1960s did public health officials and consumers take interest in the potential human health effects of antibiotic residues. Veterinarians and milk processors, not consumers, led the effort to curb indiscriminate use of antibiotics in the 1940s and 1950s. Paying close attention to the context in which farmers chose to use antibiotics and monitored drug residues, this article seeks to explain why farm people adopted veterinary drugs and how they adapted to new regulatory structures and shifting ideas about milk purity.
The Agricultural Extension Service and Non-Whites in California, 1910–1932
Authors: FIRKUS ANGELA
Published: March 2022

Congress created the Agricultural Extension Service (AES) in 1914 to disseminate agricultural research to individual farmers but the service operated differently in each state. In California, AES aided agribusiness in its efforts to create a "harmonious hierarchy" that included a non-white laboring class. Records show that AES personnel contributed by helping to separate Native Americans from their land and water resources, prevent competition from immigrants from Asia, and Americanize non-whites.
Selfie Aesthetics
Authors: Morse Nicole Erin
Published: March 2022

In Selfie Aesthetics Nicole Erin Morse examines how trans feminine artists use selfies and self-representational art to explore transition, selfhood, and relationality. Morse contends that rather than being understood as shallow emblems of a narcissistic age, selfies can produce politically meaningful encounters between creators and viewers. Through close readings of selfies and other digital artworks by trans feminist artists, Morse details a set of formal strategies they call selfie aesthetics: doubling, improvisation, seriality, and nonlinear temporality. Morse traces these strategies in the work of Zackary Drucker, Vivek Shraya, Tourmaline, Alok Vaid-Menon, Zinnia Jones, and Natalie Wynn, showing how these artists present improvisational identities and new modes of performative resistance by conveying the materialities of trans life. Morse shows how the interaction between selfie creators and viewers constructs collective modes of being and belonging in ways that envision trans feminist futures. By demonstrating the aesthetic depth and political potential of selfie creation, distribution, and reception, Morse deepens understandings of gender performativity and trans experience.
Προηγμένες υπηρεσίες ηλεκτρονικής διακυβέρνησης
Authors: Πρωτόπαππας Λουκάς
Published: March 2022

Η ανάγκη για παροχή μιας νέας γενιάς υπηρεσιών Ηλεκτρονικής Διακυβέρνησης (ΗΔ), ικανής να ανταποκριθεί στις απαιτήσεις των σύγχρονων τεχνολογικών κοινωνιών των κρατών μελών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης (ΕΕ) ήταν αρκετά εμφανής από τα τέλη του προηγούμενου αιώνα. Για το σκοπό αυτό, η ΕΕ προέτρεπε τα μέλη της να συμμετάσχουν ενεργά στα σχέδια δράσης για την ΗΔ, με σκοπό την παροχή αξιόπιστων, καινοτόμων και ασφαλών συστημάτων ΗΔ, τα οποία θα μπορούν να λειτουργούν σε τοπικό, εθνικό και διασυνοριακό επίπεδο. Στόχος της ΕΕ είναι να δώσει κίνητρα στα συμμετέχοντα κράτη να αναπτύξουν περαιτέρω και να εξελίξουν τα υφιστάμενα συστήματα ΗΔ, προκειμένου να προωθήσουν τη διαλειτουργικότητα και τις καλύτερες ηλεκτρονικές σχέσεις μεταξύ των κρατών, με την ενσωμάτωση της Ηλεκτρονικής Ταυτοποίησης και των Ηλεκτρονικών Υπογραφών (έργο STORK 2.0). Αυτά τα συστήματα καλύπτουν ένα ολόκληρο φάσμα δραστηριοτήτων της Δημόσιας Διοίκησης με στόχο την ενσωμάτωση της ψηφιακής αλληλεπίδρασης μεταξύ κρατικών υπηρεσιών, κυβέρνησης και πολιτών, καθώς και κυβέρνησης και επιχειρήσεων. Η ενσωμάτωση των αναδυόμενων τεχνολογιών (Internet of Things, Cloud Computing και Big Data), σε συνδυασμό με τις διαθέσιμες πλατφόρμες e-Authentication, e-Identification και e-Signature, δύναται να προσφέρει σημαντικά οφέλη σε τομείς των Επιστημών Ζωής (Life Sciences), όπως την Γεωργία, την Οικονομία, την Δικαιοσύνη, την Υγεία, το Εμπόριο και το Περιβάλλον.Η παρούσα διδακτορική Διατριβή καταγράφει και αναλύει τις εξελίξεις στα συστήματα ΗΔ και εξετάζει τη διεύρυνση όχι μόνο του αντικειμένου των προσφερόμενων υπηρεσιών (Γεωργία, Υγεία κ.λπ.) αλλά και του χώρου εφαρμογής τους. Στα πλαίσια αυτά, η παρούσα έρευνα επικεντρώθηκε και στην προτυποποίηση (μοντελοποίηση) συστημάτων υποστήριξης αντίστοιχων υπηρεσιών σε διασυνοριακό επίπεδο, με προφανή επιλογή υπηρεσιών ΗΔ πρωτίστως στο ευρύ περιβάλλον της ΕΕ. Ειδικη μέριμνα και προσπάθεια κατεβλήθη στο σχεδιασμό των ανωτέρω υπηρεσιών υπό το φως των εξελίξεων στο ευρύ αντικείμενο της Τεχνητής Ευφυίας. Για τον λόγο αυτό ο προτεινόμενος σχεδιασμός προσφέρει την υποστήριξη υπηρεσιών ΗΔ με ευφυή τρόπο καθιερώνοντας τα Ευφυή Διασυνοριακά Συστήματα ΗΔ (Smart Cross Border e-Gov Systems). Ακόμη, στην παρούσα Διατριβή προβάλλει και, συνεπώς, προτείνεται ο μετασχηματισμός και η αναβάθμιση "κλασικών" υφισταμένων συστημάτων ΗΔ ως αδήριτη ανάγκη ώστε να αντιμετωπιστούν οι νέες, διαρκώς αυξανόμενες προκλήσεις για ασφάλεια, διαφάνεια και αδιάλειπτη διασυνοριακή λειτουργία. Παράλληλα προς τα ανωτέρω, και σε εφαρμογή των προτεινομένων σε καθημερινό, πρακτικό επίπεδο, η παρούσα Διατριβή περιέλαβε την υλοποίηση μιας υπηρεσίας ΗΔ ιδιαίτερα μεγάλου ενδιαφέροντος, την υπηρεσία ΗΔ ελεύθερης κινητικότητας μεταναστών (ευφυή υπηρεσία ΗΔ που περιλαμβάνει εξέταση της νομιμότητας της αιτήσεως αυτών μέχρι και την έκδοση ευφυούς κάρτας ελεύθερης διακίνησης στην ΕΕ σε περίπτωση θετικής έκβασης της αιτήσεώς τους)
Automated segmentation of endometriosis using transfer learning technique
Authors: Visalaxi S. , Sudalaimuthu T.
Published: March 2022

Background: This paper focuses on segmenting the exact location of endometriosis using the state-of-art technique known as U-Net. Endometriosis is a progressive disorder that has a significant impact on women. The lesion-like appearance that grows inside the uterus and sheds for every periodical cycle is known as endometriosis. If the lesion exists and is transferred to other locations in the women’s reproductive system, it may lead to a serious problem. Besides radiologists deep learning techniques exist for recognizing the presence and aggravation of endometriosis.

Methods: The proposed method known as structural similarity analysis of endometriosis (SSAE) identifies the similarity between pathologically identified and annotated images obtained from standardized dataset known as GLENDA v1.5 by implementing two systematic approaches. The first approach is based on semantic segmentation and the second approach uses statistical analysis. Semantic segmentation is a cutting-edge technology for identifying exact locations by performing pixel-level classification. In semantic segmentation, U-Net is a transfer-learning architecture that works effectively for biomedical image classification. The SSAE implements the U-Net architecture for segmenting endometriosis based on the region of occurrence. The second approach proves the similarity between pathologically identified images and the corresponding annotated images using a statistical evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed using calculation of both the mean and standard deviation of all four regions by implementing systematic sampling procedure.

Results: The SSAE obtains the intersection over union value of 0.72 and the F1 score of 0.74 for the trained dataset. The means of both the laparoscopic and annotated images for all regions were similar. Consequently, the SSAE facilitated the presence of abnormalities in a specific region.

Conclusions: The proposed SSAE approach identifies the affected region using U-Net architecture and systematic sampling procedure.
The knowledge, attitude and practice level of dental auxiliaries regarding oral health care for pregnant patients in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alibrahim Daneah , El. Mahalli Azza
Published: March 2022

Background:The purpose of this research was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental auxiliaries related to oral health care for pregnant patientsin the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire survey was conducted. The knowledge, attitude, and practice were rated using the Likert scale out of 5. Knowledge and practice were categorized using bloom’s cut off point methods (80% and above isgood, and less than 80% is bad).Concerningattitude, (80% and above is positive, and less than 80% is negative) The questionnaires were sent to all  dental hygienists and assistants (N=358), and responses were collected from 218. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was utilised to conduct statistical analysis.

Results: Out of the 358, 218 responded (response rate = 61%). More than half of the respondents showed relatively good knowledge (57.3%). Most respondents had a positive attitude (89.4%). Regarding practice, approximately two-thirds had a good practice (67.4%). The knowledge score of hygienists was significantly higher than dental assistants, and respondents with experience in treating pregnant patients had significantly higher knowledge scores than others who did not have experience in treating pregnant patients. There is a statistically significant positive correlation between practice scores and education.

Conclusions: The findings suggest the need to establish continuous education programs and for dental hygienists and dental assistants to adopt the best practice guidelines on perinatal oral health.
Community intervention programmes with people affected by leprosy: Listening to the voice of professionals
Authors: Martos-Casado Gema , Vives-Cases Carmen , Gil-González Diana
Published: March 2022

Background

Community participation and implementing interventions based on the community are key strategies to eliminate leprosy. Health professionals have an essential role as they are a necessary source of information because of their knowledge and experience, as well as their comprehensive perspective of contexts included in the programmes. This study has the aim of analysing the perceptions on the development of programmes with people affected by leprosy from the perspective of professionals that work at different organisations in endemic contexts.

Methodology

A qualitative study was carried out with the written response to an open question questionnaire which was sent by email. The script content was related to positive aspects and difficulties in daily work, participation from the community in activities, contribution to gender equality and programme sustainability. 27 health professionals were interviewed, 14 women and 13 men, all of which belonged to 16 organisations in India and Brazil. Once the content of the interviews was analysed, two main topics emerged: barriers perceived by professionals and proposals to improve the sustainability of the programmes.

Principal finding

Professionals identify barriers related to social stigma, inequalities, gender inequalities, difficulty managing the disease, limited services, lack of resources and lack of community participation. Furthermore, some necessary recommendations were taken into account to improve programme development related to: Eliminating stigma, reaching gender equality, developing adequate and effective services, guaranteeing adequate and quality resources and achieving compassion among professionals.

Conclusions

Although introducing community programmes with people affected by leprosy has a long history in countries such as India and Brazil, there are still several barriers that can hinder their development. Based on the specific needs of the contexts, recommendations are suggested that, with the involvement of all parties and with sensitive approaches towards human rights and gender, they could help to guarantee universal health coverage and the sustainability of said programmes.
Os saberes docentes dos coordenadores pedagógicos: fios e miçangas de um colar vistoso
Authors: Souza Caroline Vieira de , Lastória Andréa Coelho , Assolini Filomena Elaine Paiva
Published: March 2022

O artigo apresenta um estudo sobre os saberes docentes de cinco coordenadores pedagógicos da rede pública municipal de Ribeirão Preto – SP. Partimos do pressuposto que, assim como os professores em exercício, os coordenadores mobilizam, constroem e reconstroem saberes docente nas ações que realizam. O estudo desenvolveu-se por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas, em uma abordagem qualitativa. Os resultados revelam que ser articulador, facilitador e formador de professores, são saberes docentes que os coordenadores verbalizam, explicitamente, sobre seu papel. Além disso, ao relatarem suas práticas, adotam ações que promovem o diálogo e a construção de parcerias nas escolas, e, também, identificam entraves encontrados para desempenharem o papel de formadores de professores. A partir das práticas descritas, inferimos que as ações relatas pelos coordenadores revelam saberes profissionais da docência não verbalizados, a priori, por estes profissionais.
Preventing Xenophobia in Africa: What Must the African Union Do?
Authors:   University of Pretoria, Adeola Romola
Published: March 2022

The issue of xenophobia has, for many years, been one of the pressing challenges in Africa. While South Africa currently appears as a poster-child of this problem in Africa, the issue of xenophobia is not solely a South African problem. Traces of these attacks have long existed since the 1960s with countries such as Ghana and Nigeria raising agitations against each other and occasioning displacements of millions of people. Similar to the South African narrative, the agitations were borne out of a need to create an economic haven, the realisation of which was impeded by the influx of foreign populations. In recent years, the issue of xenophobia has equally resonated in the treatment of Somalis in Kenya following the attacks by the Somali-dominated insurgency group and in the treatment of Rwandan refugees in western districts of Uganda.
Exploring youth migration and the food security nexus: Zimbabwean youths in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors:   University of the Western Cape, Sithole Sean , Dinbabo Mulugeta
Published: March 2022

In recent times, debates on the connection between migration and development surfaced as essential discourses in contemporary development issues. Consequently, this led to the birth of what is currently popularly coined as the migration-development nexus. In addition, there has been an evolution of the food security topic in various developmental discussions. Nevertheless, little attention has been given to the relationship between international migration and food security in the context of development in the global south. Moreover, missing in the literature is the conversation on migration and food security with particular attention to youths who constitute a vulnerable yet economically active group. Furthermore, there has been an ongoing engaging debate on the impact of remittances, whether remittances for household use are developmental in nature or not. This study, in contributing to the above debates, explores the link between youth migration and food security, and is based on a quantitative empirical study on Zimbabwean migrant youths in Cape Town, South Africa. The research presents comprehensive perspectives on the complexities linked to the reasons for youth migration in connection to food security, the importance of remittances on food security in the place of origin and levels of food insecurity in the place of destination. Results from this study can provide useful data for various stakeholders involved in both international migration and food security development agendas.
Internal Migration, Remittances and Welfare Impacts: A Case Study in Dormaa Municipality, Ghana
Authors:   University of Ghana, Yeboah Collins
Published: March 2022

Though international migration and its related remittance flows have attracted considerable attention in recent years, internal migration has been the focus of academic and policy discourse for a much longer period. Studies have shown that both internal and intra-regional migration are far more significant in terms of the numbers of people involved and the quantum of remittances involved than international migration. However, despite increasing internal migration with its associated remittances, their linkages with welfare impacts are complex and mixed. As such, the actual welfare impacts of this phenomenon have been a source of debate in the literature. Using mixed methods, this paper examines the relationship between internal migration, remittances and welfare impacts in Dormaa Municipality in Ghana. The study draws upon 202 migrant households on a sample of 358 households screened. The study investigates migration patterns and remittance flows, uses and impacts among migrant households in the municipality. The study suggests that many of the migrants moved to another town or village in Ghana for work-related reasons, notably job transfers, work or to seek work/better work. The study also shows that there have been substantial inflows of migrant remittances to households in Dormaa Municipality. These remittances have contributed significantly to improving migrant householdâ€™s access to health services and education, and have also become an important source of income for consumption smoothing. The study recommends that government should make efforts to monitor remittance flows in Ghana and also increase awareness about the importance of remittances for both national and household economies. Further, there is the need to scale up education on social attitudes and discourses about internal migration and policy initiatives in Ghana.
AFRICAN HUMAN MOBILITY REVIEW
Authors:   Balsillie School of International Affairs, Crush Jonathan
Published: March 2022

On a recent visit to Washington DC, I had an animated discussion with a taxi driver who was an avid supporter of Donald Trump. The driver was not the stereotypical white, middle-aged, small-town, working-class, non-collegeeducated, angry voter who put Trump in the White House. Rather, he was a former television producer and poet from India who had immigrated to the US in the 1990s, and was adamant that Trump would stop the â€œflood of illegal aliensâ€ into the country. His vigorous defence of Trump was a surprise, as was his buy-in to Trumpâ€™s anti-immigrant discourse of threat. There are few issues in the contemporary world that generate so much uninformed debate and misinformation as immigration (Blinder, 2015; de Haas, 2008; Hellwig and Sinno, 2017; Valentino et al., 2013).
Comparing Refugee and South African Migrant Enterprise in the Urban Informal Sector
Authors:   Balsillie School of International Affairs, Crush Jonathan , McCordic Cameron
Published: March 2022

Comparisons between the informal business operations of South Africans and international migrants are increasingly common. The conventional wisdom is that survivalist South Africans are being displaced by entrepreneurial migrants with a long tradition of informal enterprise. This paper is the first attempt to explicitly compare the informal enterprises established by refugees and South African migrants in urban areas. The paper is based on a comparative analysis of over 2,000 refugee and South African informal enterprises. The stereotyping of refugees in public discourse as undermining and destroying South African competitors is far-removed from the reality. The idea that refugees have a competitive advantage as experienced entrepreneurs is also clearly fallacious. Refugees are extremely motivated, hard-working and dedicated, and employ a number of legitimate business strategies to achieve success
The Owners of Xenophobia: Zimbabwean Informal Enterprise and Xenophobic Violence in South Africa
Authors:   Balsillie School of International Affairs, Crush Jonathan , Tawodzera Godfrey ,   University of Limpopo, Chikanda Abel ,   University of Kansas, Tevera Daniel ,   University of the Western Cape
Published: March 2022

This paper is a contribution to our understanding of the intertwined economic and political crises in Zimbabwe and the crisis of xenophobia in South Africa. There have been few studies to date specifically examining the impact of xenophobic violence on Zimbabweans trying to make a living in the South African informal economy. The paper first provides a picture of Zimbabwean migrant entrepreneurship using survey data from a 2015 study of migrants in the informal economy. All of the Zimbabwean entrepreneurs interviewed in depth for the study in 2016 had either witnessed or been the victims of xenophobic violence or both. The interviews focused on the experience and impact of xenophobic violence on personal safety and business operations. The migrant accounts clearly demonstrate that they see xenophobia as a key driver of the hostility, looting and violence that they experience. The paper argues that the deep-rooted crisis in Zimbabwe, which has driven many to South Africa in the first place, makes return home in the face of xenophobia a non-viable option. Zimbabweans are forced to adopt a number of self-protection strategies, none of which ultimately provide insurance against future attack.
North-South Migration and Problems of Migrant Traders in Agbogbloshie
Authors:   University of Cape Coast, Imoro Razak Jaha
Published: March 2022

In this paper, the problems of labour migrants in their destination areas will be investigated, owing to the need for a deeper understanding of their specific livelihood problems in these areas. Using a mixed method approach to data collection, 100 migrant traders in Agbogbloshie, in the south industrial area of Accra, were interviewed about their livelihood problems. The data analysed revealed that the majority of labour migrants were not formally educated and were primarily involved in the trading of consumables. Additionally, conflict, poverty, decline in agriculture productivity and unavailability of social amenities were important factors that influenced their north-south migration in Ghana. Furthermore, inability to access credit facilities, theft of migrant tradersâ€™ wares, discrimination against migrants, exploitation of migrants by market leaders and harassment by city authorities were some of the problems that migrant traders faced. Dependent on these findings, to effectively minimise these problems, it is suggested that migrant traders should unionise as this can help them access credit from formal financial institutions. It would also present migrants with a common voice to engage in dialogue with city authorities on the appropriate ways of managing their activities in the market.
Ferramenta Referencial para Elaboração de Valores em Ortodontia
Authors: Moura Luiz Gustavo Centurion de , Ursi Weber , Kimpara Estevão Tomomitsu , Ananias Pedro Henrique Moraes
Published: March 2022

OBJETIVO: Com a difícil missão de estabelecer valores adequados para os serviços prestados em Odontologia, e frente a uma carência de informações específicas na
literatura de classe acerca desse assunto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi o esenvolvimento de uma ferramenta referencial para elaboração de valores, útil e simplificada, na forma de um aplicativo web, a fim de guiar uma correta precificação em Ortodontia. MÉTODOS: Serão apresentadas as variáveis que têm influência direta ou indireta no processo de formação dos preços, alocadas dentro de um programa de dados, criado em parceria com a Diretoria Técnica de Informática da Universidade Estadual Paulista. RESULTADOS: Desenvolveu-se a FREVO (Ferramenta Referencial para Elaboração de Valores em Ortodontia), que facilita, na prática, a definição dos honorários, de forma adaptável ao perfil de cada profissional, cliente e tipo de consultório, com uma sugestão final de valores, que sejam justificados com mais clareza, sem grandes divergências e com transparência, na prestação dos serviços
ortodônticos. CONCLUSÃO: Tendo em vista a expressiva falta na literatura odontológica sobre o tema precificação, a utilização de aplicativos como o FREVO agiliza o cálculo
do valor dos serviços a serem prestados.
Tratamento da má oclusão de Classe III esquelética por meio da exodontia de pré-molares
Authors: Batista Klaus Barretto dos Santos Lopes
Published: March 2022

OBJETIVO: O presente artigo teve como objetivo relatar o caso clínico de uma paciente com má oclusão esquelética de Classe III, com projeção dos dentes superiores e inferiores que resultava em alteração negativa do perfil facial. O tratamento foi realizado com aparelho fixo metálico, com exodontia dos primeiros pré-molares superiores e inferiores, seguida de retração dos dentes anteriores. CONCLUSÃO: Pode-se observar que o tratamento foi capaz de melhorar aspectos faciais, oclusais e funcionais. Porém, as limi-
tações anatômicas se mostraram fatores impeditivos para se alcançar o selamento labial passivo.
Protagonismos de las niñeces: una práctica colectiva, inclusiva y necesaria en las escuelas
Authors: Lay-Lisboa Siu , Garrido Valentina , Gutiérrez Valeria , Oyarce Gisselle
Published: March 2022

Esta investigación cualitativa se sustenta en los nuevos estudios sociales de las infancias, tiene como pregunta principal ¿Cómo las infancias protagonizan sus prácticas de organización y toma de decisiones en el contexto escolar? Participaron catorce estudiantes de entre 10 y 12 años y cuatro docentes de un centro educativo en Chile. Se realizaron entrevistas y técnicas participativas dialógicas como dibujos parlantes, teatro social y grupos de discusión; los hallazgos indican que para las niñeces el protagonismo es un ejercicio colectivo, inclusivo y de no discriminación, el que es principalmente restringido por lógicas adultocéntricas de un modelo educativo tradicional. Las conclusiones proponen la implementación de estrategias colectivas y protagónicas en las escuelas, basadas en relaciones transformadoras y éticas entre docentes y estudiantes desde una perspectiva de derechos e incorporar a las familias en la discusión sobre la autonomía y bienestar de los niñps.
Borrower Financial Literacy and Credit Decision Rationality Amongst People who Take Loans from Money Lenders in the Major Urban Areas of Uganda
Authors: Mujabi Shafic , Rulangaranga Donatus Mugisha , Kitui Geofrey Mayoka , Kehbuma Langmia
Published: March 2022

This research study was carried out to establish the relationship between financial literacy and credit decision rationality amongst people who take loans from money lenders in the major urban areas of Uganda. Focusing on the relationship was based on the need to establish whether credit decision rationality of these borrowers was based on their level of financial literacy. The concept of financial literacy was conceptualized by assessing the three key measures of financial literacy;- financial knowledge, financial skills, and financial behavior. Based on this conceptualization, three hypotheses were formulated and tested. The people that take loans from money lenders in the major urban areas of Uganda were considered to form the population of the study. A maximum sample of 385 [as recommended by Krejcie and Morgan (1970)] was selected. A 93% response rate was realized. Correlation and regression analyses were carried out to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that financial literacy has a 19.4% influence on changes in credit decision rationality of people that take loans from money lenders in the major urban areas of Uganda. Additionally, the results indicated that financial behavior has the highest significant association with and influence on credit decision rationality, followed by financial skills. Financial knowledge also has influence on credit decision rationality though the influence is not statistically significant. Based on these results, it is recommended that, financial literacy be enhanced amongst Ugandans, especially those that tend to take loans from money lenders. In the process of enhancing financial literacy, there is need to put emphasis on attaining or instilling appropriate financial behavior that can enable a person reduce his or her debt burden.
Organizational Competitiveness and Digital Governance Challenges
Authors: Tiwari Siddhartha Paul
Published: March 2022

Digital governance improves the efficiency of the system in general, resulting in improved business and merchandising performance. The purpose of digital governance has always been to make life easier for people and to improve the level of satisfaction of customers. In response to the recovery of the markets, organizations around the globe are now playing a different role. The role of digital governance at the moment is largely one of facilitation rather than of regulation. It is true that digital has been around for some time, but there is still a lot of work to be done to fully realize its potential. The purpose of this paper is to explain how concrete elements of digital governance can affect the competitiveness of businesses. Thus, this was a key element for the successful recovery of the markets following the era of Covid. This is despite the fact that it has been around for so long. In order for a company to successfully compete in international markets and maintain quality, its level of productivity performance in comparison with its competitors plays a very significant role.
Employment Protection Legislation and Labour Market Outcomes: A Unit Level Analysis of the Indian Manufacturing Sector
Authors: Sofi Irfan Ahmad , Mehrotra Santosh , Reshi Adil Hussain
Published: March 2022

Building on insights from the insider-outsider theory, we examine the effects of the Employment Protection Legislation (EPL) on labour market outcomes, using high-court verdicts on labour disputes invoking Chapter 5-A and 5-B of the Industrial Disputes Act. Our regression analysis of a statewise unit-level dataset suggests that pro-worker judicial verdicts lead to an increase in wages and labour productivity especially in labour intensive industries, but discourage employment. The study demonstrates how the insider-outsider model combined with the labour market segmentation theory, unlike labour adjustment models, explain such findings consistently. The results suggest that loosening the EPL regime will have implications on the balance between the quantity and the quality of jobs, with serious consequences on industrial performance.
Von Tür zu Tür im Pandemie-Modus
Authors: Falkenberg Jonathan , Wilkesmann Maximiliane , Berns Hendrik
Published: March 2022

Der Beitrag thematisiert die pandemiebedingten Auswirkungen auf die Arbeit in der Paketzustellung. Diese war von zwei Entwicklungen geprägt: Zum einen resultierte die zeitweise Schließung von Ladengeschäften in einer stark ansteigenden Nachfrage des Online-Handels, was für die Beschäftigten in der Paketzustellung zu einer Intensivierung und Zunahme der zu bewältigenden Arbeitsmenge führte. Zum anderen musste der Zustellprozess möglichst kontaktlos erfolgen. Die sich hieraus ergebenden Folgen und Spannungen für Arbeit, Organisation und Mitbestimmung werden mit einem vertiefenden Fallstudienansatz empirisch untersucht. Grundlage bilden leitfadengestützte Interviews mit dem Management und Interessenvertreter*innen, die von Herbst 2020 bis Frühjahr 2021 erhoben wurden. Im Ergebnis zeigt sich, dass die Maßgabe der Kontaktreduktion intern mit Hilfe einer räumlichen und zeitlichen Trennung der Arbeitsvorbereitung umgesetzt wurde. Diese führten gleichermaßen zu Entlastung (z.B. äußerst geringes Infektionsgeschehen im Betrieb) und Belastung, weil sie den Beschäftigten eine hohe Flexibilitäts- und Kompromissbereitschaft abverlangten. Die Zusteller*innen bewältigten die hohe Arbeitslast durch die kontaktlose Übergabe der Pakete und unter Einsatz ihrer subjektiven Ressourcen. Neues Personal konnte aus anderen krisengebeutelten Branchen abgeworben werden. Für den Betriebsrat entpuppte sich der Beginn der Covid-19-Pandemie als eine arbeitspolitische Schrecksekunde, in der er das Management zunächst gewähren ließ.
Entgrenzte Flexibilität im Homeoffice
Authors: Carstensen Tanja , Krause Christoph , Matuschek Ingo , Kleemann Frank , Mierich Sandra
Published: March 2022

Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht die Situation von Beschäftigten und Mitbestimmungsgremien im Homeoffice jenseits und in der Corona-Krise. Adressiert wird die Frage, inwiefern das Ausweichen ins Homeoffice als gesteigerte Qualität einer ohnehin flexibilisierten betrieblichen Arbeit zu deuten ist und welche Folgen damit einhergehen. Die Analyse basiert auf 47 Interviews, die seit Januar 2020 im Rahmen von zehn Betriebsfallstudien in den Bereichen Chemie/Pharmazeutik, Metall/Elektro, Nahrungsmittelindustrie und Dienstleistungen erhoben wurden. Die empirischen Befunde verweisen dabei insbesondere auf Herausforderungen in drei Bereichen: alltägliche Arbeitspraxis und Kollegialität, Geschlechterarrangements und Arbeit der betrieblichen Interessenvertretung. Zunächst skizziert der Beitrag die bisherige betriebliche Regelungspraxis orts- und zeitflexibler Arbeit; im Weiteren werden die empirischen Erkenntnisse zu den drei genannten Themenbereichen vorgestellt. Abschließend diskutiert der Beitrag die neue Qualität des Arbeitens als „entgrenzte Flexibilität“.
Checking the possibility of determining the relative orbits of stars rotating around the center body of the Galaxy
Authors: Shakht Natalia A. , Izmailov Igor S. , Gorshanov Denis L.
Published: March 2022

The results of observations of selected stars orbiting the central body of our Galaxy, which, according to the latest data, has a mass of about 4 million of solar mass, are considered. Using the methods of observation and processing of binary stars used at the Pulkovo Observatory and the published exact relative positions of the star-central body obtained with the Keck and VLT telescopes, we checked the possibility of determining the preliminary orbits of the above objects in some cases from observations covering sufficient short arc in relation to the turnover period. Examples are the stars S02 and S102 with published positions and the graphical data for S27 and S4711. We attempted to calculate the assumed relativistic effects in accordance with the orbital elements obtained by Pulkovo methods. In this case, the estimates of the O–C errors for these orbits turned out to be comparable with the O–C errors for the orbits published by the Keck and VLT observers, in some cases about several milliarcseconds. The theoretical relativistic parameters also turned out to be of the same order of value with the results of these authors.