bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor Level in Hypertensive Patients with COVID-19-associated Pneumonia
Authors: Skakun Oleksii , Seredyuk Nestor , Fedorov Sergiy , Verbovska Olha
Published: May 2023

Introduction. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) is considered to be an important biomarker that reflects the condition of patients with COVID-19. The establishment of its predictive ability in hypertensive patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia is perspective.

Aim. This study aimed to evaluate of serum sIL-2R level and to establish its predictive ability for severe/critical clinical condition and mortality in patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia and arterial hypertension.

Materials and methods. 135 unvaccinated adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19-associated pneumonia were enrolled in the study. 106 (78.5%) patients were hypertensive.

 Results. There was higher median serum sIL-2R level at hospital admission in hypertensive patients (5.87 [4.51–8.16] ng/mL) than in non-hypertensive patients (4.99 [3.56–6.14] ng/mL) (p=0.037). There was no statistically significant difference in sIL-2R levels at admission in patients with moderate, severe and critical clinical conditions among hypertensive patients (p=0.171 according to the Kruskal-Wallis test). But among non-hypertensive patients, serum sIL-2R was higher in patients with severe condition (5.73 [4.90–8.90] ng/mL) than in patients with moderate condition (3.87 [2.71–5.37] ng/mL) (p=0.041 according to the Kruskal-Wallis test, post-hoc Dunn’s test: p=0.012). There was no statistically significant difference in the median serum sIL-2R level between non-survivors (7.80 [5.96–9.94] ng/mL) and survivors (5.62 [4.29–7.71] ng/mL) (p=0.066). In hypertensive patients, serum sIL-2R level failed to predict in-hospital mortality (AUC=0.664, p=0.075), development of severe/critical clinical conditions (AUC=0.583, p=0.138), and need for supplemental oxygen (AUC=0.589, p=0.121).

Conclusions. Hypertensive patients have higher serum sIL-2R levels at hospital admission than non-hypertensive patients. There is no statistically significant association between sIL-2R level at hospital admission and disease severity or in-hospital mortality in hypertensive patients. sIL-2R level at hospital admission failed to predict in-hospital mortality, development of severe/critical conditions, and need for supplemental oxygen in hypertensive patients. sIL-2R level is suggested to have the poor predictive ability in hypertensive patients.

Keywords: COVID-19, hypertension, sIL-2R, prediction, pneumonia.
Conceptualizing Interprofessional Digital Communication and Collaboration in Health Care: Protocol for a Scoping Review
Authors: Nordmann Kim , Sauter Stefanie , Möbius-Lerch Patricia , Redlich Marie-Christin , Schaller Michael , Fischer Florian
Published: May 2023

Background

Effective communication and collaboration among health professionals are essential prerequisites for patient-centered care. However, interprofessional teams require suitable structures and tools to efficiently use their professional competencies in the service of high-quality care appropriate to the patient’s life situation. In this context, digital tools potentially enhance interprofessional communication and collaboration and lead to an organizationally, socially, and ecologically sustainable health care system. However, there is a lack of studies systematically assessing the critical factors for successfully implementing tools for digitally supported interprofessional communication and collaboration in the health care setting. Furthermore, an operationalization of this concept is missing.

Objective

The aim of the proposed scoping review is to (1) identify factors influencing the development, implementation, and adoption processes of digital tools for interprofessional communication in the health care sector and (2) analyze and synthesize the (implicit) definition, dimensions, and concepts of digitally supported communication and collaboration among health care professionals in the health care setting. Studies focusing on digital communication and collaboration practices among health care professionals, including medical doctors and qualified medical assistants, in any health care setting will be included in this review.

Methods

To address these objectives, an in-depth analysis of heterogeneous studies is needed, which is best achieved through a scoping review. Within this proposed scoping review, which adheres to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, 5 databases (SCOPUS, CINAHL, PubMed, Embase, and PsycInfo) will be searched for studies assessing digital communication and collaboration among various health care professionals in different health care settings. Studies focusing on health care providers or patient interaction through digital tools and non–peer-reviewed studies will be excluded.

Results

Key characteristics of the studies included will be summarized through descriptive analysis, using diagrams and tables. We will synthesize and map the data and conduct a qualitative in-depth thematic analysis of definitions and dimensions of interprofessional digital communication and collaboration among health care and nursing professionals.

Conclusions

Results from this scoping review may help in establishing digitally supported collaborations between various stakeholders in the health care setting and successfully implementing new forms of interprofessional communication and collaboration. This could facilitate the transition to better coordinated care and encourage the development of digital frameworks.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/45179
Impact of Social Reference Cues on Misinformation Sharing on Social Media: Series of Experimental Studies
Authors: Jones Christopher M , Diethei Daniel , Schöning Johannes , Shrestha Rehana , Jahnel Tina , Schüz Benjamin
Published: May 2023

Background

Health-related misinformation on social media is a key challenge to effective and timely public health responses. Existing mitigation measures include flagging misinformation or providing links to correct information, but they have not yet targeted social processes. Current approaches focus on increasing scrutiny, providing corrections to misinformation (debunking), or alerting users prospectively about future misinformation (prebunking and inoculation). Here, we provide a test of a complementary strategy that focuses on the social processes inherent in social media use, in particular, social reinforcement, social identity, and injunctive norms.

Objective

This study aimed to examine whether providing balanced social reference cues (ie, cues that provide information on users sharing and, more importantly, not sharing specific content) in addition to flagging COVID-19–related misinformation leads to reductions in sharing behavior and improvement in overall sharing quality.

Methods

A total of 3 field experiments were conducted on Twitter’s native social media feed (via a newly developed browser extension). Participants’ feed was augmented to include misleading and control information, resulting in 4 groups: no-information control, Twitter’s own misinformation warning (misinformation flag), social cue only, and combined misinformation flag and social cue. We tracked the content shared or liked by participants. Participants were provided with social information by referencing either their personal network on Twitter or all Twitter users.

Results

A total of 1424 Twitter users participated in 3 studies (n=824, n=322, and n=278). Across all 3 studies, we found that social cues that reference users’ personal network combined with a misinformation flag reduced the sharing of misleading but not control information and improved overall sharing quality. We show that this improvement could be driven by a change in injunctive social norms (study 2) but not social identity (study 3).

Conclusions

Social reference cues combined with misinformation flags can significantly and meaningfully reduce the amount of COVID-19–related misinformation shared and improve overall sharing quality. They are a feasible and scalable way to effectively curb the sharing of COVID-19–related misinformation on social media.
Efficacy of Naprapathy in Brachial Plexus Injury: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Xiao Bin , Zhao Lishu , Huang Yong , Ma Anqi , Pei Baoshun , Li Zhengyu , Gu Fei
Published: May 2023

Background

Clinical rehabilitation for brachial plexus injury is difficult in terms of chronic pain and dysfunction. Physiotherapy is considered a routine intervention for rehabilitation. Common physical therapy may require a variety of instruments. One approach that does not need instruments, but belongs to the field of complementary and alternative medicine, is naprapathy. Naprapathy, also called Tuina in China, has been applied in rehabilitation after brachial plexus injury for a long time. Naprapathy can relieve chronic neuropathic pain, promote local blood circulation, and improve body edema. Naprapathy can passively help improve motor functions in patients with peripheral nerve injury. However, the efficacy of naprapathy in improving rehabilitation after brachial plexus injury is unclear.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the additional value of naprapathy when combined with conventional physical therapy for the treatment of brachial plexus injury.

Methods

This will be a single-center randomized controlled trial. A total of 116 eligible patients with brachial plexus injury will be randomly divided into an experimental group (naprapathy plus physical therapy group) or a control group (physical therapy group). The participants will be followed up for 4 weeks of treatment. Observation outcomes will include the visual analog scale score, upper limb index, electromyography findings, and adverse reactions, among others. The measuring points for outcomes will be the baseline and the completion of treatment. In addition, a quality control group independent from the research team will be set up to control the quality of the trial. Finally, the data will be analyzed using SPSS software (version 21.0; IBM Corp).

Results

The study is recruiting participants. The first participant was enrolled in September 2021. As of January 2023, a total of 100 participants have been enrolled. The trial is expected to be completed by September 2023. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Review Committee of Yue Yang Hospital affiliated with the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2021-012).

Conclusions

One limitation of this trial is that we will be unable to achieve strict double-blinding because of the features of naprapathy. The trial aims to contribute reliable evidence for decision-making in naprapathy for treating brachial plexus injury.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100043515; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=122154

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/46054
Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision and Incident HIV Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China (The CoM Study): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Gao Yanxiao , Zheng Weiran , Sun Yinghui , Yang Luoyao , Guo Zhihui , Li Yuwei , Lin Yi-Fan , Lu Zhen , Yuan Tanwei , Zhan Yuewei , Qian Han-Zhu , Su Bin , Zhu Zhiqiang , Duan Junyi , Wang Guanghui , Cui Xin , Ouyang Lin , Sheng Genshen , Zhou Yepeng , Long Ao , Yao Yuming , Fitzpatrick Thomas , Yu Maohe , Wu Guohui , Zou Huachun
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses based on observational studies have shown voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) may reduce HIV risk among men who have sex with men (MSM). There is a lack of randomized controlled trial (RCT) data assessing the efficacy of VMMC.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of VMMC for preventing HIV acquisition among MSM who primarily engage in insertive anal sex.

METHODS

A multicenter RCT will be conducted among MSM in 8 cities in China. Eligible participants are men aged 18-49 years who self-report ≥2 male sex partners in the past 6 months, predominantly practice insertive anal sex, and are willing to undergo circumcision. Interested men who satisfy inclusion criteria will be tested for HIV 1 month before enrollment and at enrollment, and only those who are HIV negative will be enrolled. At baseline, all enrolled participants will be asked to report sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors; provide a blood sample for HIV, syphilis, and herpes simplex virus type 2 testing; and provide a penile swab for human papillomavirus testing. Participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Those in the intervention group will receive VMMC and undergo a web-based weekly follow-up assessment of postsurgery healing for 6 consecutive weeks. All participants will be tested for HIV at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-ups. All participants will also be asked to report sexual behaviors and undergo repeat herpes simplex virus type 2 and human papillomavirus testing at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. The primary end point is HIV seroconversion. Secondary end points are the safety and satisfaction with VMMC and the changes in sexual behaviors after VMMC. The grouped censored data will be analyzed by intention-to-treat approach.

RESULTS

Recruitment for the RCT began in August 2020 and continued through July 2022. Data collection is expected to be completed by July 2023, and full data analysis is going to be completed by September 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will be the first RCT to assess the efficacy of VMMC in preventing HIV infection among MSM. Results from this trial will provide preliminary evidence for the potential efficacy of VMMC to reduce incident HIV infection among MSM.

CLINICALTRIAL

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000039436; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=63369

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/47160
Telemedicine for Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Publicly Funded Hospital System: Retrospective Study (Preprint)
Authors: Bruera Sebastian , Staggers Kristen Andrews , Suarez-Almazor Maria Eugenia , Agarwal Sandeep Krishna
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that requires frequent clinic and laboratory visits. However, patients with SLE, particularly those who are underresourced, have unacceptably high rates of no-shows.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to determine no-show rates associated with telemedicine visits during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison to no-show rates associated with contemporaneous and historic in-person visits.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study in a publicly funded county hospital system in Houston, Texas. We identified a cohort of established patients with SLE by the International Classification of Diseases codes that were independently confirmed as SLE by a review of medical records. We identified patients who were seen from March to December in 2018, 2019, and 2020 (to reflect the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and account for seasonal changes in disease activity). Our primary outcome was the percentage of no-shows for rheumatology clinic appointments. Our secondary outcome was laboratory use adherence, which was defined as lupus-specific blood and urine studies conducted within 30 days of the scheduled appointment. Covariates included age, sex, race, ethnicity, and SLE-related prescription drugs.

RESULTS

We included 156 patients with SLE in our analysis. Most were female (n=141, 90.4%), were Hispanic (n=75, 49.3%), and had a median age of 43 (range 19-80) years. In 2020, the no-show rate for telemedicine was 5.5% (10/182) compared to a no-show rate of 16.2% (31/191) for in-person visits (P=.002). After multivariable adjustment for covariates, the odds of no-show were lower for telemedicine visits (odds ratio 0.39, 95% CI 0.20-0.77). There were no differences in adherence to laboratory testing.

CONCLUSIONS

Telemedicine visits had decreased odds of no-shows without difference in laboratory testing adherence after adjustment for covariates. More research is needed to determine the clinical impact of telemedicine on patients with SLE.
Акредитація як інструмент підвищення якості медичної допомоги
Authors: Horachuk V.V.
Published: May 2023

Актуальність. Підвищення якості медичної допомоги залишається актуальною проблемою світових систем охорони здоров’я. В Україні використовується такий визнаний інструмент управління якістю, як акредитація. Проте низка досліджень свідчать про необхідність її удосконалення. Мета роботи: визначити особливості застосування акредитації для регулювання якості медичної допомоги й обґрунтувати концептуальні напрями її удосконалення в Україні. Матеріали та методи: системний підхід; порівняльний аналіз; бібліосемантичний метод; концептуальне моделювання; джерела наукової літератури, включно із систематичними оглядами з бази PubMed; нормативно-правові документи. Результати. Встановлено, що світові системи акредитації медичних організацій бурхливо розвиваються. Стандарти акредитації вийшли за межі національних систем і оформились у міжнародні програми. За змістом ці стандарти високодиференційовані. В Україні стандарти акредитації не переглядалися з 2013 року. За змістом вони повторюють нормативні вимоги та дублюють умови ліцензування. Акредитація суворо контролюється МОЗ, без участі громадських інституцій. Запропоновано концептуальні напрями вдосконалення акредитації: заснування незалежного агентства з акредитації; оновлення змісту стандартів акредитації, доповнення їх стандартами безпеки пацієнтів згідно з міжнародними критеріями; створення методичного забезпечення акредитації; навчання інспекторів з акредитації. Висновки. Національна система акредитації потребує вдосконалення відповідно до найкращих міжнародних зразків.
Стоматологи України — разом до Перемоги
Authors: Mazur I. , Tverdokhlib N. , Burii O. , Savchenko V. , Skulska S. , Hasiuk N. , Blyzniuk V. , Skrypnikov P. , Levytska V.
Published: May 2023

No abstract
Ізба Лєкарська — досвід самоврядування Польщі. Як використати його в Україні?
Authors: Skrypnyk I.
Published: May 2023

15–16 грудня 2022 року відбулась зустріч української делегації з Вищою радою Ізби Лєкарської, польської самоврядної організації медичної спільноти. За запрошенням президента Ізби Лєкарської Лукаша Янковського українська делегація у складі президента ГО «Асоціація стоматологів України» професора І.П. Мазур та генерального секретаря асоціації І.Л. Скрипник взяла участь у засіданні Вищої ради лікарського самоврядування Ізби Лєкарської (Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists). Співпраця української медичної спільноти з Ізбою Лєкарською, організацією лікарського самоврядування Польщі, триває багато років. Ізба Лєкарська була організована в 1999 році в Польщі та об’єднує лікарів, зокрема й стоматологів, в єдину самоврядну організацію. Головною метою візиту було висловити слова вдячності польським лікарям за підтримку і допомогу. Українські лікарі напередодні прийняття законопроєкту України про лікарське самоврядування вивчали досвід польських колег.
Marginalized community effort to improve environmental quality of poor settlement along riverbank
Authors: Bawole Paulus , Sutanto Haryati
Published: May 2023

Currently, many people live in urban areas and more than 30% of them live in slums or squatter settlements. Urbanization is one of the most transformative trends occurring worldwide, especially in developing countries like Indonesia. At present, more than half of the total population in Indonesia lives in urban areas. The dominance of the urban population shows the urgency to make the urban environment inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable as it is intended to be realized through Goal No. 11 - SDGs 2030. Cities require large spaces and are a major source of wealth and centers of innovation, culture, and politics. The urban area has become the most important arena for people, including low-income communities that live in informal urban spaces that develop spontaneously. This article will share research experiences on the settlements of marginalized communities. With the help of several institutions, the communities are trying to improve the quality of their settlements to become inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The method used in this research is the descriptive-qualitative method exploring the potential and resources within urban kampong to improve the quality of urban poor settlements. With the discovery of informal urban space patterns and community efforts to improve the quality of their settlements, a sustainable development strategy can be developed to improve urban areas inhabited by low-income people.
Farmers’ Awareness and Perceptions in Agritourism Participation in Calaanan Bongabon Nueva Ecija: A basis of Marketing Development Plan
Authors: B. Agustin Noel , Janice S. Cucio Janice S. Cucio
Published: May 2023

Agriculture is one of the top sources of livelihood of the residents of Calaanan Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, and since the area which is surrounded with great scenery, agritourism is slowly being introduced. With the potentials that agritourism has for the area and for the farmers, the researchers came to assess the awareness and perceptions of the farmers in agritourism participation in Calaanan, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. The proponents derived the responses from twenty participants using quantitative research design. The result showed that there was high level of awareness to participate in agritourism specifically in awareness on the opportunity to develop connections to urban dwellers to rural culture and lifestyles. The farmers perceived agritourism as possible help to farmers to increase their standard of living. Moderate level of willingness to participate in agritourism was noted, this is due to challenges in lack of capital, the technical know-how on managing agritourism business, and unidentified target customers and others. This study has recommendations to address the challenges which may also be a basis of marketing development plan.
Enhancing cybersecurity: The power of artificial intelligence in threat detection and prevention
Authors: Rizvi Mohammed
Published: May 2023

Due to its ability to evaluate security threats in real-time and take appropriate action, artificial intelligence has emerged as a key component of cyber security. AI now has a bigger impact on spotting and stopping attacks that keep businesses on the cutting edge. Threat detection and prevention are the main focus of AI's role in cybersecurity. Artificial intelligence can detect trends and anomalies in network traffic and user behavior that may indicate a potential cyberattack through the use of machine learning algorithms and advanced data analysis. This allows security personnel to respond to potential attacks quickly and proactively. Through predictive modeling, AI can be used to prevent attacks. AI also can recognize potential threats before they occur and take action to avoid them by assessing past attacks and detecting similarities. Creating automated incident response systems is another important function of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity. These systems can evaluate data, identify potential risks, and then work to contain or mitigate the attack, minimizing damage and disruption. Businesses must employ artificial intelligence in cybersecurity to protect their networks and sensitive data from ever changing online threats. Because of its ability to analyze vast volumes of data in real time and automate incident response, AI is swiftly becoming into a key tool for efficient cybersecurity in today's digital environment. In this paper, we will discuss the role of AI in cybersecurity including its uses in threat detection and prevention.
Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of the Combined Use of Botulinum Toxin and Collagen Biostimulators in Aesthetic Treatment
Authors: Rufino Thauann Lima Silva , Vale Gabriel Tavares Do
Published: May 2023

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in demand for collagen biostimulators in aesthetic medicine. Collagen biostimulators are compounds that increase the production of collagen in the skin, improving the appearance and reducing the signs of aging. Botulinum toxin is one of the most popular and consumed aesthetic procedures worldwide, being widely used to reduce expression lines and facial wrinkles. The combination of filler with hyaluronic acid, botulinum toxin and collagen biostimulators has been frequently used in facial harmonization, providing more natural and lasting results. A possible hypothesis about the drug interaction between botulinum toxin and collagen biostimulators, when used in the same session, is that the combination of these treatments may interfere with each other's effectiveness. Thus, the objective of this bibliographical review was to evaluate the available studies on the drug interaction between botulinum toxin and collagen biostimulators when used in the same session. In this sense, it was observed that the combined use of botulinum toxin and collagen biostimulators requires caution and attention when choosing the application technique and the period of use of botulinum toxin in relation to collagen biostimulators. The interaction between the procedures due to their mechanisms of action and inflammatory stimuli is evident.
Indicios y presencias de gabinetes de curiosidades en bibliotecas novohispanas
Authors: Becerra Ramírez Isaac
Published: May 2023

La costumbre de coleccionar objetos se remonta a las épocas más antiguas de la humanidad. Sin embargo, el origen de los museos occidentales se suele ver en el studiolo de las bibliotecas humanistas de la Italia del siglo XV. Más tarde, el studiolo se transformaría en los “gabinetes” que llegaron a América, estando, algunos de ellos, dentro de las bibliotecas virreinales. Similares a los gabinetes europeos, más no iguales, los gabinetes novohispanos tuvieron sus singularidades regionales al estar expuestas, dentro de ellos, las antigüedades mexicanas en lugar de las grecorromanas que se acostumbraba coleccionar en el Viejo Mundo.
Enhancement of Low Light Videos using Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Keerthi Halaharvi , B Sreepathi
Published: May 2023

Abstract: Enhancing night videos can be challenging due to low light conditions and the resulting noise and loss of details. One way to enhance night videos is by using a combination of fusion and color enhancement techniques followed by preprocessing. One popular fusion technique for night videos is called Exposure Fusion, which involves blending multiple images of different exposure levels to create a final image that is well-lit and has good contrast. Color enhancement techniques can also be used to improve the quality of night videos. This involves adjusting the color balance and saturation to create a more pleasing and natural-looking image. Super resolution is a technique used to enhance the resolution of an image or video. It involves generating a high-resolution image or video from a low-resolution input, often using deep learning-based approaches. In the context of enhancing a night video, super resolution can be used to improve the visibility of details and reduce noise in low-light conditions.
Obstacle Avoiding Car
Authors: Kumbhar Prof. N.A.
Published: May 2023

Abstract: This research discusses an ultrasonic sensor-controlled robot vehicle that can avoid obstacles. The robot is constructed with an ultrasonic sensor, and an Arduino microcontroller is used to operate it. Ultrasonic sensor mounted on the robot vehicle's front end. Through sensors that are attached on the robot, the sensor receives data from its surroundings. The sensor detects the obstruction and changes its course to choose a path devoid of obstacles. The sensor will be send the data to the controller is compared with controller to decide the movement of the robot Wheel. The robot wheel's movement and direction will depend on the wheel encoder and an ultrasonic sensor for sensing. This vehicle is employed for obstacle detection and collision avoidance. We have programmed the controller to be used with ARDUINO SOFTWARE
The Effect of Organizational Climate on Intention to Stay with Employee Engagement as Intervening Variable
Authors: Dwiputri Rizki , Rumijati Aniek , Utama Eka Kadharpa
Published: May 2023

This study aims to analyze and determine the effect of organizational climate on intention to stay with employee engagement as an intervening variable in Bea Cukai Office Malang. The sampling technique used the purposive sampling technique with a total sample of 50 employees. Data collection techniques in this study used a questionnaire. The data analysis technique used path analysis with the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) program. The results of this study indicate that organizational climate has a positive and significant effect on the intention to stay, the organizational climate has a positive and significant effect on employee engagement, employee engagement has a positive and significant effect on the intention to stay, the organizational climate has a positive and significant effect of intention to stay with employees. engagement as an intervening variable
The Effect of Islamic Leadership on Employee Performance Mediated by Job Satisfaction
Authors: Amelia Riska Fauziyah , Febriani Rizki , Sa'diyah Chalimatuz
Published: May 2023

This study aims to determine how the influence of Islamic leadership on employee performance, to determine the effect of job satisfaction on employee performance, and to determine whether job satisfaction plays a role in mediating Islamic leadership on employee performance. This research was conducted on the workforce of the Lumajang Islamic Hospital with a total of 68 respondents. Sampling technique uses a saturated sampling technique and data collection using a questionnaire. The data analysis using SEM-PLS. The results of this study indicate that Islamic leadership has an effect on employee performance, Islamic leadership has an effect on job satisfaction, job satisfaction has no effect on employee performance, and Islamic leadership has a role in mediating job satisfaction on employee performance.
Efeitos do programa Promove-Casais para a conjugalidade, parentalidade, saúde mental e comportamentos infantis
Authors: Ferraz Flaviane Izidro Alves de Lima , Bolsoni-Silva Alessandra T.
Published: May 2023

Este estudo teve por objetivo descrever os efeitos do Promove-Casais, para o relacionamento conjugal, parentalidade, comportamentos infantis e saúde mental. Participaram do estudo cinco casais no grupo experimental (GE) e quatro no grupo controle (GC), que foram aleatoriamente distribuídos. Os participantes responderam a instrumentos sobre as variáveis de interesse do estudo. Os resultados permitiram afirmar sobre a efetividade da intervenção pois o relacionamento positivo (comunicação, afeto, autocontrole), a satisfação conjugal, as interações positivas pais-filhos e as habilidades sociais infantis melhoraram após a intervenção no GE, bem como o relacionamento conjugal negativo, as interações negativas pais-filhos e os problemas de comportamento reduziram após a intervenção. Estes resultados se mantiveram nas avaliações de seguimento. No GC não se verificaram alterações. Conclui-se que o Promove-Casais é um programa que pode ser aplicado na prevenção e na remediação de problemas interacionais no âmbito familiar, promovendo melhor qualidade de vida e saúde mental.
Language Techniques and Literary Devices for National Messaging in President Buhari’s Democracy Day Speech
Authors: Aluya Isaiah , Edem Samuel
Published: May 2023

That language is used to convey a broad sense of meanings and that the meanings that are conveyed with language are moulded by our immediate social, political and historical conditions are safe assumptions about the efficacy of language. This paper discusses language techniques and literary devices for national messaging to ascertain their functions in national discourse. To achieve this aim, the study examines purposively sampled excerpts from Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari’s Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2019, using insights from practical stylistics. This is to determine whether the language and literary devices have been deployed effectively to the speech’s content. The language and literary devices observed were reference items, to signal solidarity and inclusivity; evidential clauses, to consolidate the argument raised; capitalisation, to foreground the issues discussed; name-calling, to ridicule political opponents; the praise tactic, for self-promotion and positive representation, the blame-game tactic, to evade responsibility and denigrate previous administration; hasty generalisation, to advance personal agenda; and allusion, to draw knowledge from historical events. The study submits that the aforementioned devices, depending on how they are used in communication, can either foster or jeopardise national integration. Consequently, it recommends that national discourses be cautiously constructed using pertinent linguistic and literary devices.
Double Coding in John Banville’s ‘Mefisto’ (1999)
Authors: Čebotarjovs Mihails
Published: May 2023

The present paper examines how John Banville creates a peculiar version of the Faust legend in his novel Mefisto (1999) through the use of double coding. The term is frequently used in postmodern art, especially in literary theory and architecture. The idea consists of the possibility of sending two opposite or even multiple messages at once. Mefisto presents a fertile ground for the analysis of the way double coding might operate in a work of postmodernist fiction. Moreover, it has been one of the most challenging contemporary interpretations of the Faust legend for critics and, therefore, the present analysis has more specific relevance for those who are already taking interest in Banville’s oeuvre and/or in the Faust legend. For those who are yet to discover Banville, the article may serve as a short introduction to his idiosyncratic artistic style and peculiar means of expression. The ensuing analysis of double coding in Mefisto has the task of demonstrating that both a metanarrative appeal and a quotation/irony combination are clearly detectable in the novel. The aspiration is also to stress that Eco’s approach to the definition of double coding is more in-depth and more relevant for literary theory or postmodernism than Jencks’s one.
The Application of Diachronic Corpus Compilation Principles in a Pilot Study of Subjectivity
Authors: Korneliusa Kristīna , Vinčela Zigrīda
Published: May 2023

Researchers claim (see Egbert, 2018) that, irrespective of the growing amount of corpora, there is insufficient focus on the research and discussion of corpus creation and analysis challenges. The ongoing international project LEXECON (2021-2024) raises awareness about these kinds of issues. The goal of this study is twofold: firstly, to explore corpus creation stages in relation to compilation criteria; and secondly, to pilot the functionality of the created subcorpus by researching first-person pronoun variations to uncover the subjectivity across the subcorpus genres. The pronouns were explored by observing their relative frequency, context, and surplus-deficit index. Two corpus analysis tools—Sketch Engine and Hyperbase 10—were applied. The corpus creation results confirm that balance is the most challenging corpus criterion to fulfil, whereas corpus editing is the most time-consuming corpus creation stage. The results obtained via first-person pronoun extraction confirm that the context and surplus-deficit index contribute to the research results no less than the relative frequency data. The analysis of personal pronoun data variations shows that essays contain the fewest first-person singular pronouns; however, in other genres, they often do not convey an authorial stance. Moreover, a greater surplus of possessive case reflects a more active authorial stance as opposed to objective case.
False Friends in Interpreting: the case of English, French and Latvian
Authors: Ķiršakmene Evelīna
Published: May 2023

False friends are the result of language interference on a lexical level. They have been studied in various language combinations and from various aspects, often resulting in different classifications and subtypes. The paper highlights the issues related to false friends from English and French into Latvian in the interpreting scene and considers the current lexical and semantic processes in the Latvian language. Research shows that the number of deceptive loans in Latvian has increased considerably during this century. The diachronic change of false friends may reflect the need for updated lexicographic resources on false friends, since they are an important tool for distinguishing them. However, false friends also exist on an idiomatic level. The discourse on false friends has been assessed through an analysis of a survey that was delivered to Latvian interpreters working in European Union institutions and in the Latvian local market. The study and conclusions may be of interest to linguists, interpreters and translators as well as language teachers and learners.
The Benefits and Limitations of Teaching English for Specific Purposes Online and Face-To-Face: Sport and Health Sciences Students’ Perspectives
Authors: Ropa Anastasija , Malahova Ludmila
Published: May 2023

The restrictions imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19 resulted in the switch from in-person to online teaching, including the teaching of foreign languages in 2020-2022. This study uses the feedback of students who have studied English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in virtual and classroom settings. The aim is to investigate the benefits and limitations of each approach for language acquisition in ESP for sport and health sciences. A questionnaire to ascertain students’ experiences was distributed to 60 students in sport and health sciences who studied ESP at the Latvian Academy of Sport Education. It was found that online and face-to-face studies of ESP in sport and health sciences tended to facilitate the acquisition of different language skills. In the questionnaire, students reported consistent progress in the study of vocabulary and reading the texts related to their area of study during both online and face-to-face studies, but less improvement was reported in the areas of grammar and speaking skills. Overall, synchronous online live classes would facilitate the steady and continuous development of all language skills if supplemented by continuous support from the teaching personnel, regular offline meetings or classes, and access to specially designed online resources.
How Might the Analysis of the Social Context Influence B2-C2 Level Learners’ Linguistic Choices in Oral Discourse?
Authors: Willcox-Ficzere Edit
Published: May 2023

The significance of pragmatic competence in L2 speakers’ successful social integration has been highlighted, and the need for assessing it has increased as the number of international students in English-speaking countries has risen. Many existing pragmatic tests are based on the Speech Act Theory and employ discourse completion tasks. However, these have been criticized for overlooking the importance of the discursive side of pragmatics. Furthermore, there has been little research into gaining learners’ insight into their thought processes while analyzing the given social context, which in turn will influence their linguistic choices and pragmatic performance. The aim of this research was, therefore, to examine how the depth of learners’ context analysis might influence their linguistic choices in authentic tasks and impact the conversational strategies employed in order to achieve the communicative goal. Data were collected from thirty B2-C2 level international university students, who performed four monologic tasks. This was followed by a semi-structured interview to gain participants’ perspectives on the contexts. Task performance was analyzed qualitatively using Conversation Analysis, and interview data was utilized to better understand language use and strategies in task performance. The results indicate that with increasing proficiency, learners not only employed more pragmalinguistic devices when deemed necessary, but they also placed a stronger emphasis on cooperation and the mutual achievement of the communicative goal. The data from the semi-structured interviews also highlighted that with increased proficiency there was a greater depth of contextual analysis, focusing more closely on the conversational partner’s circumstances and potential reaction to the request.
How do you get academics to buy on impulse? Challenging e-consumers under a magnifying glass
Authors:   University of Economics in Katowice, Faculty of Economics, Poland, Stadnicka Agnieszka
Published: May 2023

Online impulse buying is a complex behavior that is determined by many factors, not only external but also internal. Some consumers are less prone to irrational behavior than others. The aim of this study was to explore the impulse buying tendencies of challenging e-consumers. Due to the specificity of the profession, characteristics of highly educated people, and the generational mentality, academics of Generation X were assumed to be representatives of these e-consumers, unwilling to impulse buying. The data collected with an online survey confirmed this assumption. Respondents had not only a negative opinion of studied behavior but also a low tendency to it. Furthermore, this study was to indicate a group of stimuli that would induce unplanned purchases among challenging e-consumers. The results suggest that academics are more prone to impulse buying if it can be rationalized with, e.g., product utility or monetary savings, than in the case of purely emotional or hedonic reasons. Keywords: online impulse buying, consumer behavior, academics, online impulse buying stimuli. Kod JEL: M310.
Wpływ sankcji gospodarczych na przemysł naftowy Islamskiej Republiki Iranu w latach 2011-2020
Authors:   Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach, Wydział Ekonomii, Polska, Wolny Kinga
Published: May 2023

Celem artykułu jest ocena wpływu sankcji gospodarczych nałożonych przez USA, ONZ i UE w latach 2011-2020 na przemysł naftowy Islamskiej Republiki Iranu. Analizie podlegają determinanty skuteczności sankcji oraz zmiany wskaźników ekonomicznych spowodowane zatrzymaniem inwestycji w sektorze energetycznym tego kraju i zahamowaniem importu ropy naftowej przez kraje trzecie. Na potrzeby badań dokonano kwerendy literatury przedmiotu (polsko- i anglojęzycznej) oraz przeanalizo- wano dane statystyczne OPEC. Uzyskane wyniki pozwalają stwierdzić, iż po przyłącze- niu się w proces sankcjonowania krajów UE nastąpił spadek stopy wzrostu realnego PKB Iranu, zmniejszyły się dochody z eksportu i irańska waluta uległa deprecjacji. Po- mimo znacznego osłabienia gospodarki irańskiej nie doszło do jej całkowitego załama- nia wskutek zmian w strukturze geograficznej irańskiego eksportu. Słowa kluczowe: sankcje gospodarcze, Iran, sektor energetyczny. Kod JEL: F51, F62, Q43, D81
Ocena realizacji wybranych elementów polityki klimatyczno-energetycznej UE w Polsce na tle krajów Grupy Wyszehradzkiej
Authors:   Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Krakowie, Instytut Ekonomii, Polska, Tokarczyk Natalia
Published: May 2023

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest przedstawienie wyników analizy doty- czącej stopnia realizacji wybranych elementów polityki klimatyczno-energetycznej UE w Polsce na tle pozostałych krajów Grupy Wyszehradzkiej (V4). W badaniu przyjęto hipotezę, iż tempo realizacji założeń polityki klimatyczno-energetycznej UE jest wol- niejsze w Polsce niż w pozostałych krajach V4 i niewystarczające do osiągnięcia celów na lata 2030 i 2050. Zakres opracowania obejmuje przegląd literatury i materiałów źró- dłowych poświęconych koncepcji zrównoważonego rozwoju, natomiast do opracowania materiału statystycznego, jego prezentacji i wnioskowania wykorzystano elementy staty- styki opisowej. Wyniki analizy wykazały, iż proces wdrażania założeń polityki klima- tyczno-energetycznej UE w Polsce zachodzi w wolniejszym tempie niż w pozostałych krajach V4. Polska osiągnęła cele sformułowane na 2020 rok w 75%, natomiast dynami- ka zmian w latach 2005-2020 była relatywnie niska. Wyniki badania pokazały, że postę- py osiągane w Polsce są najmniejsze w porównaniu do pozostałych krajów V4, szcze- gólnie w zakresie redukcji emisji gazów cieplarnianych oraz zwiększania efektywności energetycznej. Wysunięto wnioski, iż w Polsce konieczne jest wprowadzanie dalszych zmian ukierunkowanych na spełnienie postulatów polityki klimatyczno-energetycznej UE oraz przyspieszenie dotychczasowego tempa wdrażania założeń. Słowa kluczowe: Grupa Wyszehradzka, polityka klimatyczno-energetyczna UE, zrów- noważony rozwój. Kod JEL: Q43, Q48, Q58, H23
Investment codes of the protected areas: A new look at benefits
Authors:   University of Konstanz, Zukunftskolleg, Germany, Nikolaychuk Tetyana ,   Institute of Market and Economic & Ecological Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Department of Economic Regulation and Management, Ukraine
Published: May 2023

The aim of this paper is to examine the role of the protected areas (PAs) as investment codes, and their position in the investment landscape of the region as well as in the context of a balanced and eco-oriented post-war market. The authors conducted a quantitative literature review to investigate the market and investment flows, and they used a comparative method to identify the main vectors for renovating the post-war eco- -oriented market, attracting investment flows and adapting these tools to the Ukrainian economy. The study reveals that investment coding can be a digital tool for attracting potential investors to cooperate by providing access to important information such as economic, ecological, and statistical data. The introduction of investment coding can increase the amount of investments in the field of protected areas, allowing for faster turnover and more efficient use, and enabling national and foreign investors to enter a renewed eco-oriented area of the national economy, increase profits, and diversify risks. The paper suggests a bilateral business system for the PAs, consisting of both traditional and digital business models. The authors argue that private legal investment tools can stimulate the development of new vectors of entrepreneurial activity, including inclusive eco-business. Overall, this paper highlights the potential benefits of investment coding and private legal investment tools for the development of protected areas and eco-business in the region, and offers insights for policymakers and investors looking to promote sustainable economic growth. Keywords: protected areas, renovation economy, investment code, post-war period, local communities, investment puzzle of a region. JEL Classification: Q28, Q29, Q38, Q39
The Practice of Rule of Law in China’s Systematic Reform
Authors: Wang Dan
Published: May 2023

After more than  40  years of reform and  opening up,  China  has  always  insisted on  promoting reform on  the   track of  rule  of  law,  following  the   path of  socialist rule  of  law  with  Chinese characteristics and  realizing the  modernization of  state governance. The  experience of  China’s  systematic reform in building  the  rule  of law is mainly  reflected in three “combinations”: first, it insists on combining external “people’s supervision” and  internal “self-reform”; second, it insists on  combining rule  by  law and  running the  Party  with regulations; third,  it insists on combining top-level system design and  “crossing the  river  by feeling the  stones”.