bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidentalomas in Chest Radiograph of Apparently Healthy Individuals Presenting for Pre-Employment Medical Examination in Enugu State, Nigeria
Authors: Ezeofor SN , Onuh AC , Mgbe EK , Dim NR , Nnamani AO , Anyanwu GE , Eke CB
Published: September 2024

Background:

A chest radiograph is the most commonly requested and performed imaging for diagnosis and screening including medical examination.

Aim:

The study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of incidentalomas in radiographs of cases presenting for pre-employment medical examination.

Methods:

This was a retrospective review of chest radiographs conducted for patients presenting for pre-employment medical examination from January to December 2022. Relevant data including sociodemographic characteristics, clinical details and chest radiograph reports were retrieved using study proforma from all patients with complete medical data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23 with the level of statistical significance set as P <0.05 taken as statistically significant.

Results:

Three hundred and eleven chest radiographs of subjects aged 20–49 years were evaluated, of which 22 (7.1%) incidentalomas were found. Most were females (55%). Of these incidentalomas, 12 (54.6%) were in the cardiovascular system, while the skeletal and pulmonary systems accounted for eight (36.4%) and two (9.1%), respectively. In all participants, clinically significant findings were eight (2, 6%), comprising of cardiomegaly five (1.6%), leash of vessels in the upper zone one (0.3%), blunt costophrenic angle one (0.3%), and right-sided aortic arch one (0.3%). Age and gender have no statistical significance in the incidental findings.

Conclusion:

Although the incidence of clinically significant incidentalomas appears low in our environment where beliefs and lack of adequate healthcare financing prevent the majority from seeking timely medical attention, chest radiograph remains an invaluable tool for pre-employment medical examination. Some underlying medical conditions could be picked up, further investigation sought to save life, and it serves as a baseline with which future findings may be compared.
Serum Endocan Levels in Children with Acute Rheumatic Fever
Authors: Doğan MT , Can U , Alp H , Ayguneş U
Published: September 2024

Background:

Acute rheumatic fever is an immunologically delayed autoimmune sequel of throat infection caused by group A streptococcus. The aim of this study was to evaluate endocan levels in patients with acute rheumatic fever and compare with the control group.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to evaluate endocan levels in patients with acute rheumatic fever and compare with the control group.

Methods:

Twenty-three children with acute rheumatic fever (11 men, 12 females; mean age 13 ± 2.7 years; range 5 to 15 years) and a healthy control group of 31 children (16 men, 15 females; mean age 13.8 ± 2.4 years; range 5 to 15 years) were recruited. The sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, antistreptolysin-O titres, and endocan levels were examined in each group.

Results:

Before anti-inflammatory therapy, endocan levels in the acute rheumatic fever group were not statistically significant to those in the control group, respectively (200.64 ng/L, 120.71 ng/L, P = 0.208). After anti-inflammatory therapy, endocan levels were significantly higher in the acute rheumatic fever group than in the control group, respectively (260.87 ng/L vs. 120.71 ng/L, P < 0.01). A significant difference was found in endocan levels before and after anti-inflammatory therapy in the group of acute rheumatic fever, respectively (200.64 ng/L vs. 260.87 ng/L, P = 0.033). Endocan levels after anti-inflammatory therapy were statistically higher in the severe carditis group compared to those of the mild carditis group, respectively (344.56 ng/L vs. 191.01 ng/L, P < 0.01).

Conclusion:

Our study showed that serum endocan levels increased during the subacute phase of acute rheumatic fever. We suggest that serum endocan level can be used as a new biomarker to identify the degree of cardiac involvement in acute rheumatic fever.
Reliability and Validity Assessment of the Turkish Version of the Emotional Availability and Responsiveness in Intrapartum Care Scale (EAR-IC)
Authors: Varişoğlu Y Yildirim , Vural P Irmak
Published: September 2024

Background:

Emotional availability and responsiveness in intrapartum care increase women’s birth satisfaction, comfort, and quality of nursing/midwifery care. In Turkey, there is no instrument for measuring emotional availability and responsiveness in intrapartum care.

Aim:

An established translation, reliability, and validation approach was used to obtain the Turkish form of the A-EAR-IC scale.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was used. This study was conducted in Istanbul, Turkey. The study sample consisted of 132 Turkish midwives working in the birth room. The construct validity of the scale was tested using confirmatory factor analysis, whereas the concurrent scale validity was tested using the Emotional Labor Behavior Scale. Internal consistency analysis was performed to test the reliability of the scale.

Results:

The results of the EAR-IC measure showed that it fit the one-factor model. The goodness-of-fit indices of the one-factor model containing eight items were acceptable. The instrument showed satisfactory content validity (I-CVI =0.80–1.00, S-CVI =0.88). According to CFA, the structure with one factor showed acceptable model fit (χ2/df: 1.74, CFI: 0.96, IFI: 0.96, RMSEA: 0.07, and SRMR: 0.02). Concurrent validity of the instrument was assessed with the “in-depth behavior” subscale of the Emotional Labor Behavior Scale for Nursing. Spearman’s correlations revealed that the EAR-IC was moderately positively correlated with the in-depth behavior concern subscale of the ELBS (rho =0.62, P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The Turkish version of the EAR-IC is a suitable, effective, and reliable instrument for measuring the emotional aspects of intrapartum caregiving midwives.
Comparing Skin Tones to Shades of Upper Anterior Teeth: An Observational Study among Nigerian Adults
Authors: Ikusika OF , Idon PI , Adenuga-Taiwo OA , Umanah AU , Akinboboye BO , Akeredolu PA
Published: September 2024

Background:

Skin tones may be predictive of anterior tooth shade. An analysis of the relationship of skin tone to anterior tooth shade within a population may facilitate the prescription of complete dentures with optimal esthetics and realism.

Aim:

This study aimed to assess the relationship between skin tones and shades of upper anterior teeth among a diverse Nigerian adult population.

Methods:

The study was conducted between February and December 2022 among consecutive healthy adults recruited from dental clinics of five teaching hospitals in four cities located across four geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Skin tones were recorded using the National Immigration Service (NIS) Skin Color scale. The Vitapan Classic® shade guide was used to record the tooth shade of the upper central incisors and canines. Bivariate and multivariate tests of associations were performed, and predictive probabilities were developed.

Results:

A total of 1070 adults with a mean age of 30.8 ± 10 years participated in the study. NIS skin tones 6 (29.8%) and 5 (27.7%) were the most common, while hues A (48.7% in incisors and 48.4 % in canines) and B (41.1% in incisors and 40.1% in canines) were predominant. The values of the incisors and canines were positively related to skin tone (P = 0.001) and age (P = 0.001 for incisors and P = 0.003 for canines). Hue was also significantly associated with skin tone for canines (P = 0.01) and gender (P = 0.001). Regression models showed increasingly darker skin tones were positively related to duller values for incisor teeth (β = 0.173, OR =1.19, P < 0.001). The values for canines were more likely to be >2 (β = 0.118, OR =1.12, P = 0.01), but without significant positive relationship to increasingly darker skin tones (β = -0.99, OR =0.91, P = 0.22).

Conclusion:

Skin tones were associated with upper anterior tooth shade. There was a positive relationship between skin tones and the shades of upper anterior teeth. Skin tones could guide the clinician in shade selection during complete denture prescriptions.
Clinical and Electrophysiologic Findings of Fatigue in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy: A Narrative Review
Authors: Gündüz Aysegül , Basci Nur , Tütüncü Melih , Uzun Nurten
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a peripheral nerve disease with progressive or recurrent motor and sensory symptoms lasting over 2 months. The condition is autoimmune and is diagnosed through clinical, electrodiagnostic, and laboratory features. This narrative review aims to summarize the latest findings on fatigue in CIDP, including its prevalence, factors that influence its severity, origin, and management strategies. Until May 20th, 2023, the English medical literature was searched with the keywords: “CIDP,” and “fatigue.” Study design, patient group, clinical findings related to CIDP and fatigue, treatment, and current status information were extracted from each study. One reviewer conducted research and screening, and another conducted the review process. Studies in English, including original studies and case series involving a minimum of five patients, were included until May 20th, 2023. Fatigue is a common symptom in CIDP, although not specific to the disease, and profoundly impacts the patient’s quality of life. The mechanisms specific to fatigue in CIDP are still unknown. However, we suggest that fatigue is not solely a residual symptom and may be related to inflammatory conditions. Further research is needed, specifically on the central origin of fatigue. It is essential to analyze the novel treatment options for fatigue in CIDP because it is a significant contributing factor to morbidity.
Modeling Fragile X Syndrome: Characterizing Fmr1 Gene Knockout Mice across Genotype, Behavior, and Morphology
Authors: Liao Yonghua , Liu Junjie , Zhang Jinyuan , Chen Da , Liu Yifan , Li Zhuolin , Su Hao , Tang Jiaye , Chen Shengqiang
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT

Objective:

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a hereditary condition resulting from dynamic mutations in the Fmr1 gene, leading to reduced or absent fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). Although molecular genetic diagnostics for FXS have advanced, there is currently a lack of effective clinical treatment. Hence, identifying a suitable FXS animal model is crucial for FXS therapeutic studies. This study primarily aims to evaluate whether Fmr1 mice display aberrant behaviors similar to those observed in human FXS patients, aiming to validate their feasibility as a model for FXS.

Research Design and Methods:

Polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting were employed to genotype Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice. Using hematoxylin and eosin staining and Golgi staining, testicular and dendritic spine morphology in both animal groups was observed. The animals were subjected to audiogenic seizure (AGS) observation, evaluating their learning and memory levels using the water maze and light avoidance methods, while their exploratory behavior capacity was assessed using the open-field and autonomous activity experiments. Anxiety behavior was evaluated using the elevated plus maze.

Results:

WT mice produced a 500 bp DNA fragment, while KO mice yielded an 800 bp fragment. KO mice exhibited a lack of FMRP expression, notably increased dendritic spine length and density, and presented with macroorchidism. KO mice showed increased susceptibility to AGS. In the Morris water maze experiment, KO mice displayed significantly increased escape latency and platform crossings. The spatial search experiment revealed that KO mice spent significantly less time in the target quadrant compared to WT mice. The light-avoidance and platform experiments indicated a significant reduction in latency for KO mice but an increase in errors. In the open-field experiment, KO mice spent significantly more time and made more entries into the central zone compared to WT mice. KO mice exhibited increased total travel distance and speed. The elevated plus maze experiment showed that KO mice spent significantly more time, made more entries, and traveled further in the open area compared to WT mice. The autonomous activity experiment revealed that KO mice had significantly more activity counts than WT mice but fewer standing counts.

Conclusions:

Findings from genotype, protein expression spectrum, morphology, and behavioral results suggest that Fmr1 gene KO mice demonstrate phenotypes similar to those observed in human FXS, making them a potential model for future FXS research. These phenotypes are associated with the absence of FMRP expression.
Blockade of Src signaling prevented stemness gene expression and proliferation of patient-derived gastric cancer stem cells
Authors: Hu Chi-Tan , Lin Chen-Fang , Shih Hsiu-Ming , You Ren-In , Wu Wen-Sheng , Chen Yen-Cheng
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most malignant tumors. Mounting studies highlighted gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) were responsible for the failure of treatment due to recurrence and drug resistance of advanced GC. However, targeted therapy against GCSC for improving GC prognosis suffered from lack of suitable models and molecular targets in terms of personalized medicine. To address this issue, two patient-derived GC cell lines SD209 and SD292 with cancer stem cells (CSCs) such as phenotype were isolated for establishing targeted therapy aiming at critical metastatic signaling in GC.

Materials and Methods:

The primary patient-derived GCSCs were established from parts of GC tissues for characterization of stem cells (SCs) phenotype at both cellular and molecular levels. Western blot and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed for identifying the deregulated signaling in GC tissue. Immunofluorescence was used for analyzing proliferating and SC markers in GCSC attached on fibroblast. Acridine orange and propidium iodide analyses were performed for the survival of GCSC in suspensions.

Results:

In the culture environments of both SD209 and SD292, a lot of mesenchymal fibroblasts spread and crowd together on which a lot of cell clumps, suspected as GCSC, were firmly attached. In the IHC analysis, the GCSC stemness genes CD44 and Ep-CAM increased in tumor tissues of SD209, whereas Nanog-1 and octamer-binding transcription factor 3 (OCT-3) increased in that of SD292. By immunofluorescent analysis of a proliferation marker Ki67, the growth of SD209 and SD292 on mesenchymal fibroblasts was found to be reduced by dasatinib, the inhibitor of the Src kinase whose activity was upregulated in tumor tissues of both GCs. Dasatinib also suppressed the expression of Nanog-1 and OCT-3 in SD292 attached on mesenchymal fibroblasts.

Conclusion:

This study may provide a base for targeted therapy against GCSCs/GCs progression in future preclinical/clinical settings.
Is intranasal dexamethasone effective in reducing sore throat following surgery?
Authors: Shetabi Hamidreza , Momeni Ehsan
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

Postextubation, individuals may experience the discomfort of a sore throat. Our main aim of the study was to investigate if intranasal dexamethasone is successful in reducing postoperative sore throat occurrence.

Materials and Methods:

The study involved 96 adult individuals who were scheduled for elective eye surgery at Faiz Medical Center, which is affiliated with Isfahan University, between July 2020 and March 2021. The individuals were assigned by chance to two cohorts of 48 people each, with one cohort getting dexamethasone (IND) through the nose and the other cohort getting normal saline (INS) through the nose right after the endotracheal tube insertion. The presence of symptoms such as aching throat, cough, and hoarseness after surgery was recorded and examined with version 23 of the SPSS software.

Results:

Upon analysis, it was observed that there were no statistically significant alterations in demographic attributes, tracheal intubation variables, duration of surgery, and postoperative outcomes (P < 0.05). Within the IND cohort, a notable 80.2% decrease in the occurrence of sore throat was noted immediately following the surgical procedure, along with a 34% reduction within the initial 6 hours of hospital stay (P < 0.001). Moreover, dexamethasone also decreased the occurrence of cough and hoarseness by 31.7% and 38.2% during recovery, as well as 19% and 25.4% within the initial 2 h upon admission to the ward (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The current study showcased the preventive impact of dexamethasone intranasally in decreasing the occurrence of sore throat in the early stages of postoperative period. Nevertheless, its efficacy diminished after 6 h. Furthermore, the intranasal application of dexamethasone exhibited the ability to alleviate hoarseness and cough within the first 2 h following surgical intervention.
Performance of Artificial Intelligence Models (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers + TextCNN) in Detecting Eight Psychiatric Diagnoses from Unstructured Texts Chinese Electronic Medical Records
Authors: Lo Yi-Fan , Tai Yueh-Ming
Published: September 2024

Objectives:

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have revolutionized various industries, including health care. In this study, we intended to explore the capability of AI assistants in psychiatric diagnoses. To achieve this goal, we proposed a series of deep active learning models, namely bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) – TextCNN. These models combine the strengths of two powerful techniques: BERT and convolutional neural network (CNN) for the text.

Methods:

We collected 21,003 Chinese psychiatry electronic medical records (EMRs) and developed two types of models: a multi-diagnosis classifier and eight single-diagnosis classifiers for schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), manic state (MANIA), adjustment disorder (ADJ), substance use disorder (SUD), personality disorder (PD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Their performance was compared through plotting receiver operating characteristic curves and assessing the performance, area under curve (AUC) using the DeLong test.

Results:

This study showed the excellent performance of our BERT + TextCNN models in detecting almost all eight psychiatric diagnoses, achieving AUCs being greater than 0.9, except for the single-diagnosis classifier for ADHD (AUC = 0.83).

Conclusion:

This study highlights the promising applicability of the BERT + TextCNN model as a diagnostic assistant for psychiatry diagnoses derived from EMRs. Being consistent with previous findings, the single-diagnosis classifiers generally outperform the multi-diagnosis classifier in predicting most diagnoses, though not all. Further studies are warranted to confirm whether the specific characteristics of illnesses contribute to the performance gap between multi- and single-diagnosis classifiers.
Influences of Potential Military Conflict between Taiwan and China on the Intention to Emigrate among Taiwanese Individuals
Authors: Lin Yu-Hsuan , Yen Cheng-Fang
Published: September 2024

Objectives:

Amid escalating tensions between Taiwan and China, the potential for military conflict profoundly affects the intention to emigrate among Taiwanese citizens. This study examined the influence of the perception of potential military conflict between Taiwan and China, depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics on emigration intention among Taiwanese citizens.

Methods:

Through stratified random sampling and telephone interviews conducted, data on emigration intentions, awareness of China’s military activities, concern of potential military conflict, the perceived effects of military conflict on the lifestyle, and depressive symptoms of 2,000 Taiwanese individuals were collected. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between emigration intention and various predictors, namely, attitudes toward military conflict, depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results:

The findings revealed that 23.4% of participants harbored the intention to emigrate. Significant determinants of this intention were high education level (p < 0.001), concern about the possibility of military conflict (p < 0.001), concern about the effects of military conflict (p < 0.001), a marked lack of confidence in the ability of political leadership to manage cross-strait relations (p < 0.001), and significant depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). Conversely, older age (p < 0.001), lack of awareness about China’s military activities (p < 0.001), and chronic physical ailments (p < 0.05) were inversely related to emigration intention. Age and education level moderated the relationship between military conflict-related concern and emigration intention (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

The interplay of age, educational level, concern about military conflict between Taiwan and China, significant depressive symptoms, and confidence in political leadership significantly influences emigration intention among Taiwanese individuals, highlighting the need for targeted policy responses.
Efficient Key Frame Extraction from Videos Using Convolutional Neural Networks and Clustering Techniques
Authors: H Kugate Anjali , Y Balannanavar Bhimambika , Goudar R.H , Rathod Vijayalaxmi N , G M Dhananjaya , Kulkarni Anjanabhargavi , Hukkeri Geeta , Kaliwal Rohit B.
Published: September 2024

One of the most reliable information sources is video, and in recent years, online and offline video consumption has increased to an unprecedented degree. One of the main difficulties in extracting information from videos is that unlike images, where information can be gleaned from a single frame, a viewer must watch the entire video in order to comprehend the context. In this work, we try to use various algorithmic techniques, such as deep neural networks and local features, in conjunction with a variety of clustering techniques, to find an efficient method of extracting interesting key frames from videos to summarize them. Video summarization plays a major role in video indexing, browsing, compression, analysis, and many other domains. One of the fundamental elements of video structure analysis is key frame extraction, which pulls significant frames out of the movie. An important frame from a video that may be used to summarize videos is called a key frame. We provide a technique that leverages convolutional neural networks in our suggested model, static video summarization, and key frame extraction from movies.
Cluster Algebras and Its Applications
Authors: Baur Karin , Marsh Bethany , Schiffler Ralf , Schroll Sibylle
Published: September 2024

This workshop focused on recent developments in cluster algebras and their applications as well as interactions with other areas of mathematics. In addition to new advances in the theory of cluster algebras themselves, it included applications to knot theory and geometry as well as interactions with representation theory and categorification, Grassmannians, combinatorics, geometric surfaces models and Lie theory.
Mini-Workshop: Permutation Patterns
Authors: Bóna Miklós , Bouvel Mathilde , Brignall Robert , Pantone Jay
Published: September 2024

The study of permutation patterns has recently seen several surprising results, and the purpose of this mini-workshop was to bring together researchers from across the field to focus on four hot topics related to these recent developments. The topics covered the nature of generating functions that enumerate permutation classes, the structure of permutation classes and the impact this has on their growth rates, and the study of permutons, which lies at the interface of permutation patterns and discrete probability. The workshop offered an opportunity for knowledge exchange, but also time and space to initiate group collaborations on open problems related to these topics.
Applications of Optimal Transportation
Authors: Carlier Guillaume , Colombo Maria , Ehrlacher Virginie , Matthes Daniel
Published: September 2024

The mathematical theory of optimal transportation is constantly expanding its range of application, while applications give impulses for new research directions in the field. This workshop was specifically devoted to applications of optimal transportation in the natural sciences, and to the recent developments of the theory that have been motivated by these. The bouquet of current applications includes mathematical models for large-scale air motion, dynamics of plasmas, material design, pattern formation in fluids, collective behaviour in biology, and many more. Related theoretical developments are in the analysis of the Hellinger-Kantorovich metric for modeling reaction–diffusion processes, and in efficient numerical methods for multi-marginal optimal transport, to name two of many examples encountered in this workshop.
Anomaly detection and prediction of energy consumption for smart homes using machine learning
Authors: Ambat Anitha , Sahoo Jayakrushna
Published: September 2024

As technology advances, smart homes are being increasingly adopted, thus generating massive data that pose new research challenges. We propose a machine learning framework for monitoring energy consumption in smart home devices. The proposed framework involves an anomaly detection module, followed by a predictive model to forecast energy consumption patterns in a typical smart home. We employ three outlier‐based techniques for anomaly detection: (1) local outlier factor, (2) connectivity‐based outlier factor, and (3) cluster‐based local outlier factor. Furthermore, we apply random forest, linear regression, decision tree, and the ensemble techniques of adaptive, gradient, and extreme gradient boosting to anomaly free data to develop baseline models that predict the energy consumption patterns of smart home devices. The framework is evaluated on three publicly available energy datasets collected from various smart homes. The experimental results reveal that the cluster‐based local outlier factor with extreme gradient boosting achieves promising results with high prediction accuracy.
A compact dual‐band bandpass filter based on coupled stub‐loaded square ring resonators by using transversal signal‐interaction concepts
Authors: Xu Dong‐sheng , Wang Li‐tian , Qian Li‐rong , Li Cui‐ping , Tian Ya‐hui , Li Hong‐lang , Chen Xuan , Li Yu‐qi
Published: September 2024

In this paper, a novel dual‐band wideband bandpass filter (BPF) based on transversal signal‐interaction concepts with a wide upper stopband is proposed and investigated. The designed specification of two passbands can be managed and satisfied based on the independent controllable fractional bandwidth of the two passbands and the centered frequencies. The centered frequencies of dual‐band BPF are, respectively, 0.79 GHz (ƒ1) and 1.24 GHz (ƒ2) with 3 dB fraction bandwidths of 26.54% and 11.3%. Two transmission paths consisting of coupled stub‐loaded square ring resonators and anti‐coupled shorted lines are used to realize signal cancellation of multiple transmission path signal transmission from Port 1 to Port 2. Eleven transmission zeros (TZs) modify harmonic suppression up to 10 ƒ1 with stopband rejection higher than 15 dB. Butterworth lumped notch network and step impedance resonator (SIR) are also utilized to improve the selectivity and harmonic suppression. A compact filter with a circuit size of 0.08λg × 0.08λg is implemented and tested. Good agreement between simulation and measured results verifies the reliability of the designing scheme.
Hemşirelerin Psikolojik Sağlamlık ve Yaşam Anlamlarının Covid-19 ile İlişkili Duygu, Düşünce ve Davranışlarına Etkisi
Authors: Öksüz Tuğçe
Published: September 2024

Amaç: Bu çalışmada Covid-19 salgın döneminde hemşirelerde psikolojik sağlamlık ve yaşam anlamlarının Covid-19 ile ilişkili duygu, düşünce ve davranışlarına olan etkisini ortaya koymak amaçlandı.
Yöntem: Araştırma tanımlayıcı ilişkiseldir. Araştırmanın evreni Türkiye genelindeki kamu ve özel hastanelerde çalışan hemşirelerden oluştu. Araştırma örneklemi ise Google form aracılığı ile gönderilen veri toplama araçlarını tam dolduran 708 hemşiredir. Veriler Aralık 2021-Şubat 2022 tarihleri arasında Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Çok Boyutlu Covid-19 Ölçeği, Kısa Psikolojik Sağlamlık Ölçeği ve Yaşamın Anlamı Ölçeği kullanılarak toplandı. Verilerin analizi SPSS 25 paket programında yapıldı.
Bulgular: Hemşirelerin Kısa Psikolojik Sağlamlık Ölçeği puan ortalaması 18.90±4.58, Hemşirelerin Çok Boyutlu Covid-19 Ölçeği puan ortalaması ise 82.84±14.19 olarak belirlendi. Çalışmada Çok Boyutlu Covid-19 Ölçeğini açıklamada Kısa Psikolojik Sağlamlık Ölçeği ve Mevcut Yaşam Anlamı alt boyutunun önemli faktörler olduğu saptandı. Kısa Psikolojik Sağlamlık Ölçeğinde bir puanlık artış Çok Boyutlu Covid-19 Ölçeğinde -0.88 puanlık azalmaya, Mevcut Yaşam Anlamı alt boyutunda 1 puanlık artış ise Çok Boyutlu Covid-19 Ölçeğinde 0.45 puanlık artışa neden olmakta idi.
Sonuç: Araştırmada Covid-19 pandemisinde hemşirelerin psikolojik sağlamlıklarıyla Covid-19’a ilişkin duygu ve davranışlar arasında negatif yönde bir ilişki, mevcut yaşam anlamıyla Covid-19’a ilişkin alınan önlemler arasında pozitif yönde bir ilişki olduğunu söylemek mümkündür.
The Role of the Writing Centre in Enhancing Student Employability a Case Study of a University in South Africa
Authors: Ntando Yamkela , Ndamase Maxhobandile , Matenda Stenford
Published: September 2024

In the quest of bridging the high graduate unemployment gap of  South African graduates, universities introduced initiatives which sought to assist graduates gain the necessary working experience. South African graduates struggle to find sufficient employment due to lack of work experience. The peer-to-peer coaching led by senior students, who are postgraduate students, leads to the enhancement of graduate employability. Therefore, this paper sought to investigate the contribution of the writing centre in increasing the chances of employment for its consultants. In light of this, literature was consulted to reveal the role  of the writing centre in promoting student employment. Unstructured interviews were conducted on fifteen (15) participants, who were identified through convenient sampling technique. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the collected data. The paper found that the programme equips students to be familiar with the working environment. The study further revealed that the writing centre office is under-capacitated financially. The study thus proposed that the programme must be financially supported by the university, Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and other external stakeholders to continue capacitating the development of students. The study, therefore, concluded that the writing centre office effectively promotes student employability and increases the working experience of writing centre consultants.
Neuro-Logocentric Representation of Brain Activity as a Conceptual Basis for Artificial Neural Networks: a Critical Analysis
Authors: Zhelnin Anton I.
Published: September 2024

The aim of this article is a critical analysis of the logocentric representation of brain as a conceptual basis for artificial neural networks (ANNs). Neuro-logocentrism turns possible mostly because of some similarities of brain activity to logical reasoning. They are discrete mode of action, semblance of realization of logical connectives and inferences, presence of two “values” (“all-or-none” principle). It is demonstrated that they are only loose analogies. The idea that neurons are net nodes that realize logical and computational operations as quite simple automata is based on the concept of connectionism that appears a new special type of hylemorphism. On the contrary, brain activity demonstrates the primacy of the whole and its irreducibility to the aggregative sum of elements and parts. It appears continual totality, where everything is reciprocally interconnected, so that it is impossible to establish any unified formalism for it. Brain essentially is a part of the living, not “bio-logic” but fully biological reality, which has an emergent mode of existence with its unique properties. Such processes as neuroplasticity and synaptic pruning are responsible for adaptive and teleonomic re‑shaping of the brain. Usual conventional logic is suitable for computing machines and their nets, but it is incapable of reproducing such autopoietic phenomena. As a result, there is a fatal ontological gap between natural networks of neurons and ANNs. The second ones are not able to implement complex cognitive functions as they are product of the logocentric hypertrophy of algorithms which is fully devoid of flexibility of the living brain.
Ethics of AI Technologies in “Sensitive” Content Creation and Evaluation. School Shooting Cases
Authors: Osipov Daniil V.
Published: September 2024

This article looks into the ethical issues raised by AI-generated content, focusing on ‘sensitive’ topics like school shootings. As AI technologies progress, there is a greater risk that such information can accidentally reinforce negative narratives, glorify acts of violence, or cause psychological damage to victims and their communities. The study tackles these concerns by estimating the existing ethical frameworks and finding their limitations in dealing with these complicated situations. A main goal of the research is to create a refined set of ethical principles specifically geared to address the risks connected with AI-generated information about school shootings. The paper contains actual experiments using AI models such as ChatGPT, Claude, GigaChat, and YandexGPT to generate and analyze information about school shootings. These experiments highlight important issues in ensuring that AI-generated texts do not reinforce negative themes or cause suffering. For example, while some models, such as GigaChat, declined to generate content on sensitive themes, others, such as ChatGPT, created elaborate texts that risked retraumatizing readers or praising offenders. The findings show that, while current frameworks take into consideration basic concepts such as transparency, accountability, and fairness, they frequently lack precise direction for dealing with difficult issues. To close this gap, the suggested ethical framework incorporates particular content development criteria, stakeholder participation, responsible dissemination techniques, and ongoing research. This paradigm prioritizes the protection of vulnerable people and the prevention of psychological injury.
FILOSOFIA, POLÍTICA E EDUCAÇÃO: ALGUMAS PERSPECTIVAS A PARTIR DE JACQUES RANCIÈRE
Authors: Neto José Teixeira , Dias Raquel Vieira , Araújo José Marcus Guedes de , Filho Renan Araújo dos Santos
Published: September 2024

A política é, para Rancière (1996), a experiência de um acontecimento litigioso que eclode com o rompimento das determinações, a suspensão da ordem social, e que só pode vir à tona por meio da verificação da igualdade. Nessa rota, percorreremos caminhos que passam por ideias centrais da obra ranceriana com o objetivo de pensar a escola entre a política e a educação. Igualdade e desigualdade, emancipação e embrutecimento, política e polícia, serão alguns dos elementos visitados em nosso exercício que, certamente, contribuirá com a descoberta das íntimas relações existentes e porvezes impensadas entre a escola – enquanto instituição encarregada da formação dos sujeitos – e a perpetuação ou a interrupção de uma ordem social fundada na desigualdade. No movimento cíclico da escrita, o texto sempre se volta para O mestre ignorante (2002) para problematizar a natureza política da filosofia da educação, pois nessa obra, Rancière não dissocia a “emancipação intelectual” e a “igualdade de inteligências” de suas dimensões filosóficas e políticas.
A(S) HETEROTOPIA(S) DE FOUCAULT: ANÁLISE DE UM CONCEITO INTERROMPIDO
Authors: Pires Felipe Cardoso Vale , Meireles Ildenilson
Published: September 2024

Michel Foucault define o espaço como fundamental em todas as formas de vida comunitária e exercício de poder, abordando-o como um conceito socialmente construído que engloba lugares, territórios e populações. O filósofo propôs, na década de 1960, o conceito de heterotopias como lugares que desafiam e contestam outras formas de organização espacial. Diferenciando-os das utopias, Foucault sugere que espaços heterotópicos, tais como o barco, têm a capacidade de transitar entre diferentes realidades, enquanto desempenham um papel fundamental na crítica ao espaço real e nas relações de poder. No entanto, a proposta conceitual de heterotopias parece interrompida pois Foucault não desenvolve completamente esse conceito em suas obras posteriores. Não obstante, o conceito tem sido aplicado desde sua gênese de modo multidisciplinar para discutir o espaço em diversos campos do conhecimento. Diante disso, o objetivo deste trabalho é analisar o conceito de heterotopia considerando sua importância para as relações de poder e seus efeitos em análises posteriores apesar da interrupção de seu uso na obra de Foucault. Como problema, destacamos a oscilação do conceito em domínios diferentes e certa dificuldade em tomá-lo como conceito-chave de leitura da obra em virtude da escassez de análise em textos do filósofo posteriores aos aqui analisados. Metodologicamente, nossa análise parte de uma leitura estrutural dos textos que tratam do conceito deheterotopia, avança para a comparação entre ambos e lança pistas interpretativas em relação aos vários sentidos do conceito. Nossa conclusão é que mesmo com a ausência de análises na obra em seu conjunto, as notas em torno do conceito fornecidas por Foucault permitem a utilização da heterotopologia como uma ferramenta de análise do espaço e das relações sociais a ele associadas.
A ÉTICA NO BRASIL E A TEOLOGIA DA LIBERTAÇÃO
Authors: Frecheiras Marta Luzie de Oliveira
Published: September 2024

A ética teológica é distinta da ética filosófica principalmente porque o seu fundamento teórico está associado ao núcleo da pessoa de Jesus de Nazaré. Por essa razão, ela exige um conhecimento de cunho judaico e semítico, e não, somente grego, seja ele na retórica ou na antropologia. Logo, somente os autores que corroboram a perspectiva antropológica que leva emconsideração o conceito de alteridade relacional, em lugar de privilegiar o conceito de ser e de identidade, podem ter lugar aqui. O primado semítico não é ontológico, e sim ético, porque compreende o ser humano, antes de tudo, como um ser relacional. Foi a partir da leitura da história do povo de Deus, de uma hermenêutica intersubjetiva, que foi possível, para esse povo, compreender quem era Deus. Essa compreensão dinâmica continua até os dias atuais. Além disso, esse primadoético-relacional diz respeito ao entendimento que o povo de Israel teve do que quer dizer “transcendência”. O povo de Deus percebeu que os eventos mais significativos e importantes da vida humana só acontecem desde a vivência da temporalidade histórica, e não, por meio do processo de abstração, conforme pensa a filosofia. Foi um esforço teórico da teologia, a inserção do conceito de transcendência horizontal/temporal no pensamento do século XX. Sendo assim, por meio deste artigo,pretendemos pensar a ética teológica do Brasil, na atualidade. A ética é pensada a partir dos problemas políticos, sociais e econômicos que o país se nos apresenta. Por essa razão, relembramos o papel da Teologia da Libertação, um pensamento político-intelectual que foi gestado no seio da América Latina e do Brasil, um pensamento peculiar e próprio dessas paragens. Nesse sentido, apresentaremos algumas questões éticas principais da atualidade, tais como: o conceito de solidariedade evulnerabilidade, a ética das emoções, e também a bioética. Contudo, nenhum desses temas será tratado sem a devida fundamentação filosófica.
Avaliação e Educação Especial Inclusiva: relato de experiência sobre dois estudantes do ensino médio
Authors: Bobbio Pontara Amanda , Costa Amaral Carmem Lúcia
Published: September 2024

Este artigo examina avaliações realizadas em uma escola estadual de Ensino Médio no Espírito Santo, com dois estudantes da Educação Especial. Um dos estudantes tem Transtorno do Espectro Autista e Deficiência Intelectual (DI), enquanto o outro DI e dificuldades na fala devido à Encefalopatia Crônica. O estudo registra a vivência dos docentes que lidaram com esses estudantes, identificando obstáculos e oportunidades durante a avaliação do aprendizado. Adaptar e personalizar as estimativas para cada aluno foi essencial, levando em consideração suas necessidades específicas. O artigo ressalta a importância da inclusão de alunos com deficiência na avaliação e a necessidade de uma abordagem pedagógica inclusiva para considerar a diversidade de cada estudante. A pesquisa destaca as possibilidades de inclusão dos alunos na avaliação, enfatizando a participação dos profissionais de educação, dos familiares e dos estudantes no processo. O estudo mostra a importância da abordagem que valoriza a diversidade para a inclusão de todos.
Análise espacial, demográfica e financeira das internações por condições sensíveis à atenção primária: uma nova utilização do indicador
Authors: Veloso Márcio Antônio Alves , Caldeira Antônio Prates
Published: September 2024

Este artigo objetivou analisar a origem territorial, os aspectos demográficos, financeiros e a frequência das ocorrências das Internações por Condições Sensíveis à Atenção Primária ocorridas no sistema público de saúde de Montes Claros, município no Norte de Minas Gerais, no período de 2017 a 2021. Trata-se de um estudo ecológico com análise de tendência de série temporal desenvolvido a partir de dados de pacientes residentes no município. Foram utilizados registros do Sistema de Informação Hospitalar do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS), do Sistema de Informação e Gestão da Atenção Básica, e da base cartográfica digital da prefeitura de Montes Claros (MG). Quanto aos resultados, a maioria (18%) é originária da região Centro da cidade, sendo os diagnósticos mais frequentes Insuficiência Cardíaca (17,38%); Doenças Cerebrovasculares (12,87%); e Pneumonias Bacterianas (11,52%). O custo médio por ICSAP foi de R$ 1.781,23, sendo o maior custo o relacionado à Angina (R$4.859,04). O perfil demográfico dos internados por CSAP é composto por uma discreta maioria do sexo masculino (50,62%) e a maior faixa etária foi de 60 a 79 anos (37,19%). Quanto à cor da pele, 62,94% das internações contemplaram os hospitalizados que se autodeclararam pardos. Registrou-se concentração de ICSAP oriundas da região central, com predomínio de idosos e causas cardiovasculares. Os resultados podem auxiliar os gestores de saúde na adoção de medidas específicas e mais efetivas.
Logística e urbanização contemporânea: tramas escalares e pares relacionais
Authors: Barros Samarane Fonseca de Souza
Published: September 2024

A reestruturação produtiva iniciada na década de 1970, impulsionada pela globalização e pelo neoliberalismo, transformou as cidades contemporâneas. Essas mudanças resultaram em novas formas de produção do ambiente construído e maior fluidez territorial, introduzindo novos agentes na produção de infraestruturas urbanas. A circulação, fundamental para a acumulação capitalista, exige infraestruturas específicas, refletindo as tensões do capitalismo desigual. As infraestruturas urbanas, ao se fixarem nas cidades, afetam a materialidade e organização urbanas, influenciando preços da terra e localização dos agentes, além de integrar melhor as cidades em redes globais. A produção dessas infraestruturas, muitas vezes espoliativa e orientada por interesses privados, destaca a logística como mediadora crucial nos processos de urbanização. Este texto, baseado em análise bibliográfica, discute a relação entre logística e urbanização contemporânea, focando nas tramas escalares e pares relacionais emergentes, oferecendo uma análise teórica e analítica desses processos.
A Domain Generalized Face Anti-Spoofing System Using Domain Adversarial Learning
Authors: Ching-Yi Chen  , Sin-Ye Jhong  , Chih-Hsien Hsia
Published: September 2024

This research addresses the enhancement of face anti-spoofing (FAS) in facial recognition systems (FRS) against sophisticated fraudulent activities. Prior methods primarily focus on extracting facial features like color, texture, and dynamic variations, yet these methods struggle to accurately identify common characteristics of forged faces, thereby limiting generalization in practical scenarios. This study aims to propose a novel representation learning framework incorporating adversarial learning algorithms, to segregate features into liveness-specific and domain-specific categories, emphasizing liveness-specific features for FAS advancement. Feature disentanglement is central to this approach, enabling the deep learning models to effectively discern separable latent generating factors, such as identity, liveness, appearance, and texture. This methodology enhances model interpretability, explainability, and generalization. Additionally, Grad-CAM is employed to elucidate the basis for classifications made by the architecture, increasing explainability and trustworthiness. Empirical evaluation across panoply available FAS datasets confirms the superiority, significantly improving performance and robustness over existing technologies.
Morphology of Sand Dune Fields in Al-Shehabi Area, Wasit Governorate
Authors: Raheema Raheem , Jasim Hasan
Published: September 2024

The present research is to identify the morphological kinds of sand dunes that are deposited in Al-Shehabi area in Wasit governorate, eastern part of Iraq. The main sand dunes that are determined in the studied area are symmetrical and asymmetrical barchans, nabkha, barchanoid ridges, and sand sheet dunes as seen in the field. Dimensions of barchan dunes are 1 - 8m high, and 3 -50m side dimension, and 3 - 25m length. Nabkha dunes’ dimensions ranges between 0.5m - 3m in length, and 0.5m – 2m high. In relation to the main wind direction in Iraq, these dunes face north-west to south-east. Barchanoid ridges, which are recognized in the studied area are with 6m in average height and accumulated by few barchan dunes. Sand sheet is also recognized in the studied area with small areal extension and with ripple marks.