bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engaging Mind Chemistry with Gamification: HR Practitioners Views
Authors: Shenoy Veena , Bhattacharya Doel
Published: April 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examineworkplace gamification in the HR process. Moreover, toexplore the impact of workplace gamification onemployee engagement and experience.Design/ Methodology /Approach: The current study isqualitative. The views of HR practitioners from Deloitte,TCS, Wipro, and Continental are taken through atelephonic and personal interview to understandworkplace gamification in the HR process. And its impacton employee engagement and employee experience.Findings: Workplace demographics are with changingdue to the entry of tech-savvy and hyperactivemillennials. Millennials get into an organization withmuch higher expectations in terms of work, workenvironment, and HR practices. Gamification is engrossedas one of the tools for employee engagement andemployee experience. Gamification is a psychologicalimperative. Playing games keeps the brain fit, reducesstress, helps deal with cognitive overload, and alsoteaches work skills and team spirit.Practical implications: The gamification made the workof HR practitioners easy. Creating user experience,involving them through practice and engagement was achallenge for HR practitioners. Now with the help ofworkplace gamification, feedback and rewards are more transparent; it strengthens interpersonal relationships,betters employee experience, and establishes friendlycompetitions.Originality/Value: The paper provides insights ongamification from HR practitioners' views. And theapplication of gamification in various HR-relatedprocesses such as recruitment, training, learning anddevelopment, performance management, andengagement. Hence, HR practitioners and policymakerscan take a call on implementing workplace gamificationin various HR processes, and that results in HR-relatedoutcomes.
Reaching for Returns in Retail Structured Investment
Authors: Sonsino Doron , Lahav Yaron , Roth Yefim
Published: April 2021

The growing market for retail structured investment products and empirical evidence for excessive pricing of such products raise the hypothesis that private investors show increased risk appetite in structured investment contexts. A two-stage framed field experiment building on cumulative prospect theory is designed to test this hypothesis. Subjects’ expectations regarding the future performance of an underlying index are elicited first. A bisection algorithm is then applied to derive the certainty equivalents of 20 simple individually tailored deposits. The results support the increased risk appetite hypothesis, revealing that subjects reach for substantial gains and underweight tail loss events when evaluating the deposits. Similar results emerge in a follow-up experiment where the uncertain deposits are replaced by risky versions. While previous studies propose that misperception of complex terms and optimism contribute to the mispricing of structured instruments, the current experiments show that nonstandard risk appetite manifests in the valuation of simple well-defined products, controlling for expectations.

This paper was accepted by Manel Baucells, decision analysis.
Profits, Reputation, and the Risk of Medical Malpractice Liability
Authors: Cho Na-Eun , Zhou Yue Maggie
Published: April 2021

We investigate the classic strategy choice between low cost and high quality when quality is not directly observable and legal liability about quality is uncertain. In addition, we investigate how for-profit and nonprofit organizations differ in their responses to a changing risk of quality liability. Our theoretical analysis predicts that nonprofit organizations, because of their lesser dependence on profits and greater dependence on support from donors and local communities based on perceived quality, will adjust their investment in quality more aggressively than for-profit organizations in response to exogenous changes in the risk of quality liability. This difference in responsiveness will be greater for organizations with better reputations for quality. We find support for these predictions using data on hospital medical expenditures, state medical malpractice awards, and tort reforms in the United States for 1997–2006.
Foucault e a governamentalidade democrática: a questão da precarização da educação inclusiva
Authors: Carvalho Alexandre Filordi de , Gallo Silvio D. de Oliveira
Published: April 2021

Neste texto investigam-se os processos de inclusão levados a cabo na política educacional brasileira entre 1985 e 2016, bem como sua precarização nos dias de hoje. Para compreender tais processos, usa-se a biopolítica de Michel Foucault e seu operador conceitual governamentalidade, colocando-se a hipótese de que teríamos nas últimas três décadas o desenvolvimento no Brasil de uma governamentalidade democrática, que operou uma lógica inclusiva para o governo das diferenças. No atual momento político, em que aquela estratégia já não opera, vivemos um neoliberalismo exacerbado, que precariza os corpos diferentes, que já não cabem na lógica do capital e de sua produção. Em tal contexto, a defesa da escola pública democrática e republicana ganha especial importância e atualidade.
Análise genealógica sobre a invenção da psicologia: um estudo dos discursos e práticas normativos e higienistas
Authors: Jantara Gustavo Matheus Saides , Ferrazza Daniele De Andrade
Published: April 2021

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo estudar, a partir da perspectiva histórica inspirada na genealogia foucaultiana, os discursos e práticas normativas e disciplinares no nascimento da psicologia. Nessa perspectiva, o trabalho foi dividido em duas etapas: (1) investigar o nascimento da psicologia no contexto das instituições de sequestros e encarceramento com base na obra de Michel Foucault; (2) estudar as origens da psicologia no âmbito do movimento higienista brasileiro a partir das publicações realizadas nas duas primeiras edições dos Archivos Brasileiros de Hygiene Mental no ano de 1925. Concluímos que o movimento higienista brasileiro influenciou a constituição da psicologia no início do século XX que, fundamentada em tecnologias normativas atravessadas pelo disciplinamento de corpos e por estratégias de controle biopolítico, ainda podem estar presentes em discursos e práticas psicológicas na atualidade.
Apl_Aldir - Aldir Blanc: artífice das letras, ourives do palavreado
Authors: Dário Jr. Ivan Rubens
Published: April 2021

A propósito da confirmação da morte de Aldir Blanc naquele dia 4 de maio de 2020, uma declaração de João Bosco nas redes sociais convoca a mim um rigor estético. No turno daquela taciturna segunda feira o texto em sua força crepuscular, reproduzido integralmente a seguir, dissipou minha neblina.
Pequena embarcação
Authors: Amaral Raquel De Oliveira do
Published: April 2021

Poesia.
A reinvenção da Roda dos Expostos: arquivo, memória e subjetividade
Authors: Arantes Esther Maria de Magalhães
Published: April 2021

Este artigo busca sistematizar estudos realizados durante vários anos sobre a Roda dos Expostos, alguns deles já publicados, ampliando seu escopo para abarcar o inquietante movimento de reinvenção deste mecanismo em países da Europa e América do Norte a partir dos anos 2000. Rebatizada com os nomes de caixa de correio, caixas de bebê, dentre outros similares, este mecanismo tem sido severamente criticado pelo Comitê das Nações Unidas sobre os Direitos da Criança, que considera que não funciona no melhor interesse da criança ou da mãe. Para melhor contextualizar a questão no Brasil, o artigo situa a instalação das Casas da Roda ou Casas dos Expostos a partir da importação do modelo português da antiga caridade, adentrando os Relatórios Ministeriais do Império e República para evidenciar a passagem para o Estado de funções até então deixadas a cargo da Igreja Católica e das Irmandades leigas. É nesta passagem que a Roda dos Expostos perde a sua importância como mecanismo de proteção da infância. Para finalizar, apresenta uma amostra do noticiário internacional onde se evidencia o ressurgimento da Roda, ainda que rebatizada, apresentando também o Projeto de Lei 2747-A, de 2008, do deputado Eduardo Valverde, proposto com o objetivo de legalização do parto anônimo no Brasil, tendo sido arquivado por receber parecer negativo dos relatores da Comissão de Constituição, Justiça e Cidadania e da Comissão de Seguridade Social e Família, da Câmara dos Deputados, em 2011.
Pastores da cura: historiografia de discursos e intervenções médico-criminológicas sobre a homossexualidade no Brasil (1930-1940)
Authors: Silva Juliana Ferreira da , Silva Luender Rytchell Martins
Published: April 2021

O estudo parte dos trâmites parlamentares ocorridos entre 2009 e 2013, quando se discutiu a possibilidade de psicólogos intervirem na orientação sexual de sujeitos homossexuais. O trabalho discute atravessamentos morais religiosos no campo da psicologia e na esfera da política republicana, propondo uma narrativa histórica das intervenções médicas e psicológicas sobre a homossexualidade no Brasil, com recorte no período 1930-1940. Argumenta-se que essa disputa no campo psi evidencia dispositivos de controle sobre os modos de existência contra-hegemônicos, que reatualizam lógicas de funcionamento dos saberes psiquiátrico e criminológico do início do século XX. Conclui-se que as tentativas de captura da psicologia, enquanto saber-poder posto a serviço da repatologização da homossexualidade explicitam um projeto de poder mais abrangente, cujas tecnologias estão relacionadas ao exercício do poder pastoral.
Modern Approach to Sports Industry Management under Uncertainty
Authors:   Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture, Leonov Ya.
Published: April 2021

The article considers the organizational conditions for the functioning of the sports industry, suggests ways to ensure the strategic development of the sports industry in conditions of uncertainty. The possibility of implementing the European model of socio-economic development management in Ukraine is analyzed, it is concluded that it is connected with complex systemic transformations in which a new quality society is formed, the level of business activity and political responsibility of citizens increases, human rights and freedoms are ensured. These changes in the structure and content of civil society inevitably determine changes in the form and essence of public policy in the system of state, territorial and sectoral government. The problem of developing social responsibility of business in Ukraine at the present stage is relevant and of paramount importance. Therefore, state support is necessary for the importance of ethical and socially responsible behavior of organizations, increasing their prestige. The introduction of a system of modern management of the sports industry, the use of best European management practices will increase competitiveness, efficiency and ensure the sustainable development of the sports industry in conditions of uncertainty. Improving the efficiency of interaction in the system "state – community – science – business" and building a socially responsible economic policy, improving the quality of the national management system of the sports industry is one of the main conditions for sustainable socio-economic development of the country as a whole man.
The Theoretical Concepts of Innovative Potential Formation of National Economy
Authors:   Zaporizhzhia National University, Kendiukhov O. , Solokha D. ,   Donetsk State University of Management, Tanchyk O. ,   Donetsk State University of Management, Bieliakova O. ,   Azov Maritime Institute National University "Odesa Maritime Academy"
Published: April 2021

The main approaches to optimizing the competitive advantages of economic entities of Ukraine in the context of the implementation of the main provisions of the concept of sustainable development, taking into account the criterion of environmental efficiency, are considered. Producers of environmental innovations should take into account the impact of environmental pressures and negative environmental impacts when assessing their chances of market success. There are radical environmental innovations that have no direct analogues. For this type of innovation in the analysis of demand and assessment of market prospects are advised to consider the following factors: a critical consumer of capital, critical suitability of the product, the critical minimum level of income, the critical level of risk, and the critical amount of free time consumer. The speed of overcoming these barriers affects the time required to introduce environmental innovations to the market, start generating demand, and increase sales. For the formation of the domestic market of environmentally friendly products, it is necessary to create an adapted regulatory framework to stimulate producers and create a competitive environment. The mechanism for developing a strategy for the development of economic entities for the production of environmentally friendly goods is presented. The strategy is presented as a generalizing model of the actions necessary to achieve the goal. It is advisable to carry out strategic actions according to a certain algorithm, which is a logical sequence. The procedure for certification of environmentally friendly products and the algorithm of this process based on the criterion of environmental efficiency of production systems are proposed. Certification allows you to get complete and reliable information about the production of environmentally friendly goods at all stages, gives consumers a guarantee of compliance with the norms and standards that confirm the environmental purity of products. Objective comprehensive identification of the needs of the main consumer groups gradually forms the basis for the functioning of the market of environmentally friendly products. The diagnostic approach to its formation should be used in combination with the optimization approach, which is implemented through the formation and implementation of an appropriate strategy, the development of the legislative framework, the structure and infrastructure of the market.
Problems of Overcoming Poverty in the World and in Ukraine (on the Example of Volunteering and Voluntourism)
Authors:   Kyiv National University of Technology and Design, Boretskaya N. , Krapivina G. ,   Priazovsky State Technical University
Published: April 2021

The article deals with the global problems of our time. One of them is poverty. The purpose of the article is to study the problem of poverty and determine the priority directions and forms of overcoming it in Ukraine based on the study of world experience. Poverty is a multifaceted socio-economic phenomenon inherent in any country in the world, regardless of the level of its economic development. The compulsory social insurance mechanism, which provides for high pensions, unemployment benefits, childcare and quality medical care (including volunteer), is widely used in the world to fight poverty. The problem of overcoming poverty requires further theoretical and methodological substantiation. It is important to take into account the peculiarities, interconnection and experience of economic, social and political solutions to the problem at the international and national levels. The study of the forms of overcoming poverty and the negative consequences of the impoverishment of the population and the influence of these processes on the development of the economy and social life requires special attention. In the course of the study, the essence of the category of poverty, its causes, concepts and indicators for the study of poverty, which are used in world practice, are considered. It is shown that the positive role of social integration in overcoming poverty is determined on the basis of identifying and analyzing the possibilities of introducing effective mechanisms of public administration in Ukraine to prevent the negative consequences of poverty on the basis of foreign experience. The level of poverty is considered and the ways of solving the problem of poverty in modern conditions are substantiated. Poverty indicators are assessed in the EU and Ukraine. The directions of poverty reduction, which Ukraine should achieve, are considered, namely: economic growth; updating the minimum wage and minimum wage, pensions to realistic values; GDP growth and an increase in the human development index; reduction of inflation, taxes, unemployment. It is shown that with the introduction of a visa-free regime, citizens of Ukraine have the opportunity to work in European countries. This increases the income of Ukrainian families and reduces the level of poverty in the country. Another area of overcoming poverty is non-traditional forms of employment, including online work, the performers of which, as a rule, spend less time on assigned tasks and earn more than the minimum income. It is shown that world experience demonstrates the possibility of overcoming poverty in society as a whole and its strata through the development of volunteering and voluntourism.
Generalization of Tools for Internalization of Negative Externalities in the European Union: Conclusions for Ukraine
Authors:   Institute of Industrial Economics of the NAS of Ukraine, Serdiuk O. , Petrova I. ,   Institute of Industrial Economics of NAS of Ukraine
Published: April 2021

A comparative analysis of the tools of internalization of negative external. Based on the generalization and assessment of the possibilities of using the tools of internalization of negative externalities, the areas of application, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of direct regulation, economic (market) and institutional tools are identified. The tools of direct regulation are characterized, and it is found that they do not minimize economic costs and have high administrative costs. The economic (market) instruments of regulation are analyzed and it is revealed that in European practice such instruments as trade in permits (market instrument) and emission charges (Pig tax) are widely used. Institutional regulatory tools such as disclosure strategies and voluntary initiatives are considered and analyzed. It is substantiated that there is no universal tool that would provide full internalization of negative externalities. It is revealed that in modern conditions, the most successful solution will be the development and improvement of tools of direct state regulation of negative externalities in combination with economic (market) instruments, because both economic and market instruments can work effectively and purposefully only if environmental standards are established and observed. environmental quality. The characteristic of application of tools of internalization of negative external effects on an example of slag dumps is given.
Psychological challenges for nurses working in palliative care and recommendations for self-care
Authors: Hussain Feryad A
Published: April 2021

Working in palliative care services has an impact on the personal and professional lives of healthcare staff. The complex practicalities of the role and additional factors such as moral distress, burnout, compassion fatigue and death anxiety all impact on the overall quality of services and patient care. This article aims to highlight what is known of the practical and emotional challenges for palliative nursing care and offers recommendations to services to support staff at an organisational as well as individual level, to help create a more supportive workplace for staff and patients alike. It follows previous research on working in palliative and end-of-life care.
Biofilm and catheter-related bloodstream infections
Authors: Wolcott Randy
Published: April 2021

Careful attention to detail and adherence to procedure guidelines when inserting and managing intravascular catheters has decreased the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). In order to limit these, health professionals must understand the underlying microbiology. Biofilms can explain the clinical findings most often seen with CRBSIs, yet they are poorly understood within medicine. Bacteria growing on solid surfaces such as a catheter are predominantly in biofilm phenotype, with a group of genes active that allow the bacteria to be tolerant to antiseptics and antibiotics by producing a self-secreted protective matrix. It is unclear whether it is planktonic seeding or small fragments of biofilm breaking off into the bloodstream that eventually results in the acute infection. The literature identifies four routes for microbes to adhere to a catheter and start biofilm formation: catheter contact, catheter insertion, catheter management and non-catheter-related sources. Routine clinical culture methods are inadequate to fully identify microbes producing catheter biofilm and/or bloodstream infection, therefore DNA methods may be required to diagnose CRBSIs. Treatment is removal and reinsertion of the catheter in a different site when possible. However, antibiofilm strategies can be employed to try to salvage the catheter. The use of high-dose antiseptics or antibiotics for long durations inside the catheter and hub (antibiotic/antiseptic lock) can suppress biofilm enough to reduce the seeding of the blood below a level where the patient's immune system can prevent bloodstream infection.
Discharge status diagnosis based on chromaticity coordinates
Authors: Wang Yuwei , Li Xingwang , Guo Ziqing , Hu Jiahui , Ye Qizheng
Published: April 2021

It is common for researchers to learn about the physical process of discharge by studying the intensity of specific spectral lines in the emission spectrum. By using this method, every microscopic process involving light radiation can be quantitatively analyzed, but there is a problem of how to select appropriate spectral lines for the comprehensive judgment of changes in the discharge process. Here, we present a comprehensive method for converting the visible spectrum of discharge into chromaticity coordinates. In this way, a large number of spectral data are transformed into a single chromaticity coordinate to diagnose the gas discharge directly and quickly, and the comprehensive evaluation of the discharge status is implemented.
Compact integrator design for short-distance sharp and unconventional geometric irradiance tailoring
Authors: Liu Yue , Cheng Dewen , Hou Qichao , Chen Hailong , Feng Zexin , Yang Tong , Wang Yongtian
Published: April 2021

A compact microlens array (MLA) integral homogenizer composed of a projection MLA, a condenser MLA, and a subimage array mask based on Kohler illumination is presented herein. By adopting the optimal design of an aspheric projection sublens, a short-distance integrator for unconventional geometric irradiance tailoring can be acquired. Compared with the traditional integrator, the integral lens is removed in the proposed integrator. An incident beam with a larger divergence angle is permitted while a sharp illumination performance is maintained. In addition, the illumination distribution with a predefined geometrical profile can be obtained by introducing a subimage array mask without replacing the MLA elements. Through the introduced mask, the illumination attenuation area is cut, the distortion is caused by the large NA, and the peak effect caused by the integral lens of the traditional integrator can be eliminated. The subimage array mask is generated by combining ray tracing and the radial basis function image warping method. By introducing the array mask into the system, an 80% edge relative illumination and an 85% overall illumination uniformity are realized for a compact large-NA integrator with

N
A

=

0.3

and thickness of 4.5 mm. An 88% edge relative illumination and a 92% overall illumination uniformity are realized for a small-NA integrator with

N
A

=

0.15

.
Photoacoustic imaging for the monitoring of local changes in oxygen saturation following an adrenaline injection in human forearm skin
Authors: Bunke Josefine , Merdasa Aboma , Sheikh Rafi , Albinsson John , Erlöv Tobias , Gesslein Bodil , Cinthio Magnus , Reistad Nina , Malmsjö Malin
Published: April 2021

Clinical monitoring of blood oxygen saturation (sO2) is traditionally performed using optical techniques, such as pulse oximetry and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), which lack spatial resolution. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a rapidly developing biomedical imaging technique that is superior to previous techniques in that it combines optical excitation and acoustic detection, providing a map of chromophore distribution in the tissue. Hitherto, PAI has primarily been used in preclinical studies, and only a few studies have been performed in patients. Its ability to measure sO2 with spatial resolution during local vasoconstriction after adrenaline injection has not yet been investigated. Using PAI and spectral unmixing we characterize the heterogeneous change in sO2 after injecting a local anesthetic containing adrenaline into the dermis on the forearm of seven healthy subjects. In comparison to results obtained using DRS, we highlight contrasting results obtained between the two methods arising due to the so-called ‘window effect’ caused by a reduced blood flow in the superficial vascular plexus. The results demonstrate the importance of spatially resolving sO2 and the ability of PAI to assess the tissue composition in different layers of the skin.
Optomechanical engineering of quasi-continuous-wave background in mode-locked fiber laser
Authors: Lee Ki Sang , Han Dae Seok , Ha Chang Kyun , Moon Kyoung Jun , Kang Myeong Soo
Published: April 2021

Noise-like quasi-continuous-wave background (qCWB) in a mode-locked fiber laser mediates various multi-pulse dynamics via long-range inter-pulse interactions. This raises a possibility to control multi-pulse phenomena through manipulation of the qCWB, while it has been rarely studied yet. Here, we investigate the qCWB engineering by imposing optomechanically induced impulsive intensity modulations on the qCWB. The mode-locked pulses excite electrostrictively several transverse acoustic resonance modes inside the fiber cavity, which eventually leads to the formation of sharp qCWB modulations regularly spaced in the time domain. In particular, we experimentally demonstrate that the characteristics of the optomechanical qCWB modulations can be adjusted by controlling the in-fiber optomechanical interactions via changing the structure of the fiber core, cladding, and coating. Our observations are supported by directly measured forward stimulated Brillouin scattering spectra of the intracavity fibers.
Subwavelength structure enabled ultra-long waveguide grating antenna
Authors: Chen Jiaxin , Wang Jinzhao , Li Jiewen , Yao Yong , Sun Yunxu , Tian Jiajun , Zou Yi , Zhao Xiangjie , Xu Xiaochuan
Published: April 2021

Because of the high index contrast, current silicon photonics based optical phased arrays cannot achieve small beam divergence and large field-of-view simultaneously without increasing fabrication complexity. To resolve the dilemma, we propose an ultra-long waveguide grating antenna formed by placing subwavelength segments within the evanescent field of a conventional strip waveguide. Bound state in the continuum effect is leveraged to suppress the sidewall emission. As a proof of concept, we theoretically demonstrated a millimeter-long through-etched waveguide grating antenna with a divergence angle of 0.081° and a feature size compatible with current silicon photonics foundries.
Reconciliation of dipole emission with detailed balance rates for the simulation of luminescence and photon recycling in perovskite solar cells
Authors: Aeberhard Urs , Zeder Simon , Ruhstaller Beat
Published: April 2021

A theoretical description of light emission, propagation and re-absorption in semiconductor multilayer stacks is derived based on the transverse Green’s function of the electromagnetic field in the presence of a complex dielectric. The canonical dipole emission model is parametrized in terms of the local optical material constants and the local quasi-Fermi level splitting using the detailed balance relation between local absorption and emission rates. The framework obtained in this way is shown to reproduce the generalized Kirchhoff relations between the luminescent emission from metal halide perovskite slabs under uniform excitation and the slab absorptance of light with arbitrary angle of incidence. Use of the proper local density of transverse photon states in the local emission rate includes cavity effects in the generalized Planck law for internal spontaneous emission, which are neglected in the conventional Van Roosbroeck-Shockley formalism and avoids spurious divergencies due to non-radiative energy transfer via longitudinal modes. Finally, a consistent treatment of re-absorption provides the local rate of secondary photogeneration required for the consideration of photon recycling in an opto-electronic device simulator that includes the effects of charge transport.
Multi-depth hologram generation using stochastic gradient descent algorithm with complex loss function
Authors: Chen Chun , Lee Byounghyo , Li Nan-Nan , Chae Minseok , Wang Di , Wang Qiong-Hua , Lee Byoungho
Published: April 2021

The stochastic gradient descent (SGD) method is useful in the phase-only hologram optimization process and can achieve a high-quality holographic display. However, for the current SGD solution in multi-depth hologram generation, the optimization time increases dramatically as the number of depth layers of object increases, leading to the SGD method nearly impractical in hologram generation of the complicated three-dimensional object. In this paper, the proposed method uses a complex loss function instead of an amplitude-only loss function in the SGD optimization process. This substitution ensures that the total loss function can be obtained through only one calculation, and the optimization time can be reduced hugely. Moreover, since both the amplitude and phase parts of the object are optimized, the proposed method can obtain a relatively accurate complex amplitude distribution. The defocus blur effect is therefore matched with the result from the complex amplitude reconstruction. Numerical simulations and optical experiments have validated the effectiveness of the proposed method.
High prevalence of intestinal parasite infestations among stunted and control children aged 2 to 5 years old in two neighborhoods of Antananarivo, Madagascar
Authors: Habib Azimdine , Andrianonimiadana Lova , Rakotondrainipiana Maheninasy , Andriantsalama Prisca , Randriamparany Ravaka , Randremanana Rindra Vatosoa , Rakotoarison Rado , Vigan-Womas Inès , Rafalimanantsoa Armand , Vonaesch Pascale , Sansonetti Philippe J. , Collard Jean-Marc ,   the Afribiota Investigators
Published: April 2021

Background

This study aimed to compare the prevalence of intestinal parasite infestations (IPIs) in stunted children, compared to control children, in Ankasina and Andranomanalina Isotry (two disadvantaged neighborhoods of Antananarivo, Madagascar), to characterize associated risk factors and to compare IPI detection by real-time PCR and standard microscopy techniques.

Methodology/Principal findings

Fecal samples were collected from a total of 410 children (171 stunted and 239 control) aged 2–5 years. A single stool sample per subject was examined by simple merthiolate-iodine-formaldehyde (MIF), Kato-Katz smear and real-time PCR techniques. A total of 96.3% of the children were infested with at least one intestinal parasite. The most prevalent parasites wereGiardia intestinalis(79.5%),Ascaris lumbricoides(68.3%) andTrichuris trichiura(68.0%). For all parasites studied, real-time PCR showed higher detection rates compared to microscopy (G.intestinalis[77.6% (n = 318) versus 20.9% (n = 86)],Entamoeba histolytica[15.8% (n = 65) versus 1.9% (n = 8)] andA.lumbricoides[64.1% (n = 263) versus 50.7% (n = 208)]). Among the different variables assessed in the study, age of 4 to 5 years (AOR = 4.61; 95% CI, (1.35–15.77)) and primary and secondary educational level of the mother (AOR = 12.59; 95% CI, (2.76–57.47); AOR = 9.17; 95% CI, (2.12–39.71), respectively) were significantly associated with IPIs. Children drinking untreated water was associated with infestation withG.intestinalis(AOR = 1.85; 95% CI, (1.1–3.09)) andE.histolytica(AOR = 1.9; 95% CI, (1.07–3.38)).E.histolyticawas also associated with moderately stunted children (AOR = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.2–0.71). Similarly, children aged between 4 and 5 years (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI (2.04–5.01)) and living on noncemented soil types (AOR = 1.85; 95% CI, (1.18–2.09)) were associated withT.trichiurainfestation.

Conclusions/Significance

The prevalence of IPIs is substantial in the studied areas in both stunted and control children, despite the large-scale drug administration of antiparasitic drugs in the country. This high prevalence of IPIs warrants further investigation. Improved health education, environmental sanitation and quality of water sources should be provided.
The SIMAC study: A randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of resistance training and aerobic training on the fitness and body composition of Colombian adolescents
Authors: Cohen Daniel Dylan , Sandercock Gavin R. , Camacho Paul Anthony , Otero-Wandurraga Johanna , Romero Sandra Milena Pinzon , Marín Rocío del Pilar Martínez , Sierra Camilo Andrés Villamizar , Carreño Javier , Moran Jason , Lopez-Jaramillo Patricio
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on muscle strength, aerobic fitness and body composition, of replacing the physical education (PE) class of Colombian adolescents with resistance or aerobic training. 120 tanner stage 3 adolescents attending a state school were randomized to resistance training, aerobic training, or a control group who continued to attend a weekly 2- hour PE class for 16 weeks. The resistance training and aerobic training groups participated in twice weekly supervised after-school exercise sessions of < 1 hour instead of their PE class. Sum of skinfolds, lean body mass (bioelectrical impedance analysis), muscular strength (6 repetition maximum (RM)) bench press, lateral pulldown and leg press) and estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (multistage 20 meter shuttle run) were assessed at pre and post intervention. Complete data were available for n = 40 of the resistance training group, n = 40 of the aerobic training group and n = 30 PE (controls). Resistance training attenuated increases in sum of skinfolds compared with controls (d = 0.27, [0.09–0.36]). We found no significant effect on lean body mass. Resistance training produced a positive effect on muscle strength compared with both controls (d = 0.66 [.49-.86]) and aerobic training (d = 0.55[0.28–0.67]). There was a positive effect of resistance training on cardiorespiratory fitness compared with controls (d = 0.04 [-0.10–0.12]) but not compared with aerobic training (d = 0.24 [0.10–0.36]). Replacing a 2-hour PE class with two 1 hour resistance training sessions attenuated gains in subcutaneous adiposity, and enhanced muscle strength and aerobic fitness development in Colombian youth, based on a median attendance of approximately 1 session a week. Further research to assess whether adequate stimuli for the development of muscular fitness exists within current physical education provision is warranted.
Clustered embedding using deep learning to analyze urban mobility based on complex transportation data
Authors: Cho Sung-Bae , Kim Jin-Young
Published: April 2021

Urban mobility is a vital aspect of any city and often influences its physical shape as well as its level of economic and social development. A thorough analysis of mobility patterns in urban areas can provide various benefits, such as the prediction of traffic flow and public transportation usage. In particular, based on its exceptional ability to extract patterns from complex large-scale data, embedding based on deep learning is a promising method for analyzing the mobility patterns of urban residents. However, as urban mobility becomes increasingly complex, it becomes difficult to embed patterns into a single vector because of its limited capacity. In this paper, we propose a novel method for analyzing urban mobility based on deep learning. The proposed method involves clustering mobility patterns and embedding them to capture their implicit meaning. Clustering groups mobility patterns based on their spatiotemporal characteristics, and embedding provides meaningful information regarding both individual residents (i.e., personalized mobility) and all residents as a whole, enabling a more effective analysis of mobility patterns. Experiments were performed to predict the successive points of interest (POIs) based on transportation data collected from 1.5 million citizens in a large metropolitan city; the results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves top-1, 3, and 5 accuracies of 73.64%, 88.65%, and 91.54%, respectively, which are much higher than those of the conventional method (59.48%, 75.85%, and 80.1%, respectively). We also demonstrate that the proposed method facilitates the analysis of urban mobility through arithmetic operations between POI vectors.
Facemask and social distancing, pillars of opening up economies
Authors: Najmi Ali , Nazari Sahar , Safarighouzhdi Farshid , MacIntyre C. Raina , Miller Eric J. , H. Rashidi Taha
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe health and economic impacts globally. Strategies to safely reopen economies, travel and trade are a high priority. Until a reliable vaccine is available, non-pharmaceutical techniques are the only available means of disease control. In this paper, we aim to evaluate the extent to which social distancing (SD) and facemask (FM) use can mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 when restrictions are lifted. We used a microsimulation activity-based model for Sydney Greater Metropolitan Area, to evaluate the power of SD and FM in controlling the pandemic under numerous scenarios. The hypothetical scenarios are designed to picture feasible futures under different assumptions. Assuming that the isolation of infected cases and the quarantining of close contacts are in place, different numerical tests are conducted and a full factorial two-way MANOVA test is used to evaluate the effectiveness of the FM and SD control strategies. The main and interactive effects of the containment strategies are evaluated by the total number of infections, percentage of infections reduction, the time it takes to get the pandemic under control, and the intensity of active cases.
Prevalence and associated factors of hemorrhoids among adult patients visiting the surgical outpatient department in the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Kibret Anteneh Ayelign , Oumer Mohammed , Moges Abebe Muche
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Hemorrhoidal disease is a very common benign anorectal disease. It affects millions of people around the world, and represent a major medical and socioeconomic problem. However, studies that determine the magnitude and risk factors are limited. Therefore, the aim this study is to assess the prevalence and associated factors of hemorrhoid among adult patients visiting the surgical outpatient department at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UoGCSH) Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2020. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select a total of 403 participants. The data were collected then entered using EPI DATA version 3.1 and exported to the STATA 14 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval was used as a measure of association. Variables having P-value < 0.05 from the multivariable analysis were considered to have a significant association with the outcome.

Result

Out of the 403 study participants, 13.1% (95%CI; 10.1, 16.8) had hemorrhoids. Constipation (AOR = 4.32, 95% CI; 2.20, 8.48) and BMI ≥25kg/m2 (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI; 1.08, 6.23) had a statistically significant association with hemorrhoid.

Conclusion

The overall prevalence of hemorrhoid was high and its prevalence was higher in male subjects. Constipation and being overweight were found to increase the odds of having hemorrhoids. Screening for early identification and intervention of hemorrhoids, especially for risk groups is better to be practiced by health professionals.
Effects of combined decision-support and performance-based incentives on reported client satisfaction with maternal health services in primary facilities: A quasi-experimental study in the Upper East Region of Ghana
Authors: Aninanya Gifty Apiung , Otupiri Easmon , Howard Natasha
Published: April 2021

Background

Computerized decision-support systems (CDSS) and performance-based incentives (PBIs) have potential to contribute to client satisfaction with health services. However, rigorous evidence is lacking on the effectiveness of these strategies in lower-income countries such as Ghana. This study aimed to determine the effect of a combined CDSS-PBI intervention on client satisfaction with maternal health services in primary facilities in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Methods

We employed a quasi-experimental controlled baseline and endline design to assess the effect of the combined interventions on client satisfaction with maternal health services, measured by quantitative pre/post-test client satisfaction survey. Our analysis used difference-in-difference logistic regression, controlling for potential covariates, to compare variables across intervention and comparison facilities at baseline and endline.

Results

The combined CDSS-PBI intervention was associated with increased or unchanged client satisfaction with all maternal health services compared at endline. Antenatal client difference-in-difference of mean satisfaction scores were significant at endline for intervention (n = 378) and comparison (n = 362) healthcare facilities for overall satisfaction (DiD 0.058, p = 0.014), perception of providers’ technical performance (DiD = 0.142; p = 0.006), client-provider interaction (DiD = 0.152; p = 0.001), and provider availability (DiD = 0.173; p = 0.001). Delivery client difference-in-difference of satisfaction scores were significant at endline for intervention (n = 318) and comparison (n = 240) healthcare facilities for overall satisfaction with delivery services (DiD = 0.072; p = 0.02) and client-provider interaction (DiD = 0.146; p = 0.02). However, mean overall satisfaction actually reduced slightly in intervention facilities, while DiD for technical performance and provider availability were not significant.

Conclusion

This combined CDSS-PBI intervention was associated with greater antenatal and delivery client satisfaction with some aspects of maternity services within two years of implementation. It could be expanded elsewhere if funds allow, though further research is still required to assess cost-effectiveness and long-term effects on client satisfaction and maternal health outcomes.
Cornea donation process and tissue quality for transplantation
Authors: Pereira Cruz Giovanna Karinny , Ferreira Júnior Marcos Antonio , Pereira Frota Oleci , Ferraz Teston Elen , Pereira Santos Viviane Euzébia , Fortes Vitor Allyne , Penza Cardoso Mayk , Rodrigues Leocates de Moraes Fábio Rogério
Published: April 2021

Introduction

The quality of the corneal tissue can be influenced by several factors inherent to the recipient, donor, and to the donation and transplantation process. The donated corneal tissue can be classified by its quality as excellent, good, regular, bad, or unacceptable for transplantation, evaluating it in a slit lamp.

Objective

To analyze the relationship between the clinical and sociodemographic variables of the donors and the donation process and the classification of the quality of the corneal tissue collected for transplantation.

Methods

This is an epidemiologic study, retrospective cohort type, which addressed the process of cornea donation by the Human Eye Tissue Bank in a reference service in Northeast Brazil. The sample consisted of corneas processed by the Human Eye Tissue Bank of Rio Grande do Norte (n = 419). For descriptive and inferential analysis, the study used theStatistical Package for the Social Sciences(SPSS) software, version 25.0, and considered a significance level of 0.05. Logistic regression analysis was used for the adjustment of the final model.

Results

It was verified that the epidemiological profile showed a prevalence of individuals with a mean age of 42.54 years old, male (73.99%), and living in the metropolitan region of the state capital (75.66%). When analyzing the relationship between the clinical and sociodemographic variables of the donors, it was identified that those aged 45 years old or less had better quality corneas (excellent and good), while the chronological variables were predictive factors for corneas of regular and bad qualities.

Conclusion

The identification of the factors inherent to the donation process and predictors of corneal tissue quality contribute to minimizing the risk of transplantation and to a better ocular prognosis.
The role of recoding in implicit social cognition: Investigating the scope and interpretation of the ReAL model for the implicit association test
Authors: Calanchini Jimmy , Meissner Franziska , Klauer Karl Christoph
Published: April 2021

The ReAL model is a multinomial processing tree model that quantifies the contribution of three qualitatively distinct processes–recoding, associations, and accuracy–to responses on the implicit association test (IAT), but has only been validated on a modified version of the IAT procedure. The initial goal of the present research was to validate an abbreviated version of the ReAL model (i.e., the Brief ReAL model) on the standard IAT procedure. Two experiments replicated previous validity evidence for the ReAL model on the modified IAT procedure, but did not produce valid parameter estimates for the Brief ReAL model on the standard IAT procedure. A third, pre-registered experiment systematically manipulated all of the task procedures that vary between the standard and modified IAT procedures–response deadline, number of trials, trial constraints–to determine the conditions under which the Brief ReAL model can be validly applied to the IAT. The Brief ReAL model estimated theoretically-interpretable parameters only under a narrow range of IAT conditions, but the ReAL model generally estimated theoretically-interpretable parameters under most IAT conditions. We discuss the application of these findings to implicit social cognition research, and their implications to social cognitive theory.