bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parental Educational Level As A Predictor Towards The Return Rate Of Pre-Primary and Primary Pupils To School Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria
Authors: Anero Nnamdi , Okankwu Elizabeth Amini
Published: June 2020

The study was carried out to determine the extent parental educational levels predict return rate of pre-primary and primary pupils by parents as soon as the schools resume at the end or close to the end of coronavirus pandemic. The study which was carried in Port Harcourt, Nigeria adopted accidental sampling technique to sample 942 parents out of a population of 476,658 parents. Four research questions guided the study.  The major instrument for the study was the Researchers made questionnaire titled “Return of children to school by parents amidst coronavirus pandemic”. The data generated was analyzed using simple percentage. Findings showed that parents whose educational levels were within non-completion of primary school education and Diploma certificates will return their children on the ground that schools can effectively administer hand washing by pupils while those with first degrees to the terminal degrees disagreed with the ability of schools to carry out a hand wash exercise. However, the parents generally agreed that the schools cannot maintain the required social distancing and administer frequent fluid intake to pupils as preventive measures and as a result would not return their children to schools. Based on these findings, the study among other things recommended thus: since some category of parents agree that the schools cannot enforce hand wash by children, NGO’S and public spirited individuals need to enlighten the schools on the need to take the business of hand wash serious; since the schools cannot maintain adequate spacing, the government and her agencies must urge the schools to operate two to three shifts so as to have adequate space and facilities that would enable them maintain the recommended social or physical distancing and that any school that will operate, must have a source of portable water confirmed by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
ARE WE PREPARED ENOUGH? A CASE STUDY OF CHALLENGES IN ONLINE LEARNING IN A PRIVATE HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTION DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAKS
Authors: Yusuf Bibi Noraini
Published: June 2020

Online learning is a learning methodology implemented during the recent COVID-19 outbreaks.Lecturers and students need to use appropriate online platformsarising from the Movement Control Order (MCO) restrictions with effect from March 18, 2020, in Malaysia. In essence, the MCO prohibits Malaysians from attending to or organizing mass events or public gatherings, and where public and private educational institutions are concerned, they are not allowed to conduct any classesin situ. The only possible continuation of classes is via online learning. This case study had two research objectives: 1) Whatwere the challenges faced by educators when implementing online learning? and 2) How to overcome these challenges faced by educators in online learning? This study had applied the qualitative approach method, where researchers had distributed surveys, through a google platform, to a total of 20 educators. The results showed six (6) major challenges faced by educators in online learning, these being 1) students were less focused on online learning; 2) the platform/medium of learning was not satisfactory; 3) students left behind learning tools such as books and laptops in residential colleges; 4) students' internet access was less satisfactory to the extent that the lectures had to be extended from the actual time allocated; 5) educators' unstable internet access which disrupted the momentum of teaching; and 6) students did not attend the online courses. There were four (4) means to overcome these challenges 1) institutions to provide more comprehensive and e-learning platforms for online learning; 2) internet access for educators and students should be good to ensure smooth and uninterrupted online classes; 3) providing workshops or training programs on management of online classes for educators; and 4) for courses involving mathematical computation, in addition to a more suitable platform for teaching, the student population per group to be small in size to accommodate 10 educators while teaching. The results of this study shall benefit the management of private higher learning institutions and educators involved in online learning.
Two-sided science: Communicating scientific uncertainty increases trust in scientists and donation intention by decreasing attribution of communicator bias
Authors: Steijaert Mickey J. , Schaap Gabi , Riet Jonathan Van’t
Published: June 2020

Previous research has shown that uncertainty communication by scientists (i. e., expressing reservations towards their own research) increases the public’s trust in their work. The reasons for this have not been elucidated, however. In the present study, we provide a theoretical explanation for this phenomenon. Specifically, we expected that attributed communicator bias would mediate the effect of uncertainty communication on trust. Results from a mixed-design experiment (N = 88), using modified science news articles, revealed support for this hypothesis. Positive effects of uncertainty communication on trust and donation intention were both mediated by attributed communicator bias.
Awareness and opinion about polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) among young women: a developing country perspective
Authors: Jena Saubhagya Kumar , Mishra Lipsa , Naik Sushree Samiksha , Khan Shahnawaz
Published: June 2020

Objective

To explore the perception on PCOS and its prevalence among adolescent and young women.

Methods

The study was conducted over 2 year period in a tertiary care teaching hospital from Eastern India. A pre-formed, validated questionnaire was used to record the details. Descriptive statistics was used to report the findings.

Results

Of 965 young patients with mean (SD) age 20.64 (2.1) years, 27 (2.79 %) were aware of an entity called PCOS. Awareness among adolescents with PCOS was 25.9 % (7/27). All aware patients belonged to the urban sector with professionals constituting around 48%, of which 11% were students. The major source of information among aware patients was from doctors (40.7%), and friends and Internet (25.9%); rest being from books, newspapers, and teachers. Majority (70%) were aware that diet restriction and exercise were the primary modalities of treatment, whereas, only 3.7% knew about the role of contraceptive pills in PCOS.

Conclusions

Awareness regarding PCOS among the young women is very low mainly in the rural set up. Doctors and health staffs should play a major role in spreading awareness of the entity to prevent long term complications.
App-based tracking of smartphone use and its association with perceived stress and sense of coherence among undergraduate medical students in Southern India
Authors: Jeyashree Kathiresan , Sathiavadivu Jane S. , Suliankatchi AbdulkaderRizwan
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Smartphone use, now a ubiquitous habit among the youth and psychological stress are interestingly juxtaposed. Sense of coherence (SOC) is the ability to comprehend a stressful situation and tackle it positively. This study measured the pattern of smartphone use, perceived stress, SOC and the inter-relationship between them among undergraduate medical students.

Methods

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and SOC-13 scales were used to measure perceived stress and SOC, respectively in 163 medical college students. ‘App Usage’, a mobile application was used to objectively record smartphone usage.

Results

Nearly two-thirds (64.4%) were female students. The mean (SD) SOC score was 48.7 (11.1) and the mean (SD) PSS score was 20.7 (6.2). SOC was inversely correlated (r=−0.662, p<0.001) with PSS. The median (IQR) duration of smartphone use was 3.4(1.8, 4.8) hours per day which was not significantly correlated with perceived stress (rho=0.12, p=0.26). Linear regression showed that male students used smartphones for a longer duration than females (p=0.0008), after controlling for confounders.

Conclusions

Medical college students use smartphones for an average of 3 to 4 h a day. Students with a better sense of coherence perceive less stress. Initiatives to improve the sense of coherence will help increase their resilience and reduce susceptibility to problematic use of smartphones.
Prevalence and correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption among adolescents in Laos
Authors: Pengpid Supa , Peltzer Karl
Published: June 2020

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and correlates of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake among adolescents in the “2015 Laos Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS)”. The study sample consisted of 3,683 school adolescents with a median age of 16 years from Laos that responded to the 2015 cross-sectional GSHS. The prevalence of inadequate fruit consumption (<2/day) was 74.0%, inadequate vegetable consumption (<3/day) 78.5%, and inadequate FV consumption (<5/day) 83.7%. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, physical inactivity (adjusted odds ratio = AOR: 1.43, 95% confidence interval=CI, 1.061.93) was positively, and being overweight or obese (AOR: 0.65; 95% CI, 0.450.95), soft drink consumption (AOR: 0.55; 95% CI, 0.440.69), fast food consumption (AOR: 0.59; 95% CI, 0.470.74), and peer support (AOR: 0.69; 95% CI, 0.540.88) were negatively associated with inadequate FV consumption. A high proportion of inadequate FV consumption was found and strategies to increase FV consumption in this population may take into account sociodemographic, lifestyle, peer and parental factors.
Effectiveness of a school-based intervention in Guatemala to increase knowledge of sexual and reproductive health
Authors: Morenz Anna M. , Hernandez Juan Carlos , Yates Katherine , Kennedy Mark Allen , Groisser Alissa , Coyoy Otto , Kim Jooyeon , Castillo Ronald , Zuleta Clara
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Adolescent pregnancy in Guatemala is a multifactorial issue contributing to maternal and child mortality as well as negative social and economic outcomes. While multiple organizations have identified this as an important area for improvement, little has been published on methods for reducing rates of adolescent pregnancy in resource-limited settings. We characterized the effects of a brief intervention on the knowledge and attitudes towards sexual health of high schoolers in a rural Guatemalan community.

Methods

We created a condensed, 2-h sexual education course, which was taught to over 500 high school students in San Juan Sacatepequez, Guatemala. Students completed pre- and post-intervention surveys assessing their knowledge about pregnancy prevention and attitudes toward contraception use. Chi-square tests were used to assess the difference between the pre- and post-intervention responses as well as the responses between male and female participants.

Results

Analysis of the survey results revealed significant improvements in all questions assessing knowledge regarding pregnancy prevention (p<0.01). Our pre-intervention survey revealed that male participants possessed greater knowledge regarding pregnancy prevention (p<0.01). Following the intervention, several areas of initial difference between male and female students’ knowledge disappeared, including knowledge of what a contraceptive is, awareness that one sexual relation is sufficient for pregnancy, and recognition that condoms can prevent sexually transmitted infections.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that brief, school-based sexual health courses are low-resource, feasible interventions to significantly increase knowledge about contraception and sexual health in resource-limited settings and improve the disparities in knowledge between male and female participants.
Exploring health-risk behaviors related to road safety and car drifting among adolescents in Saudi Arabia: the co-occurrence of multiple risk behaviors
Authors: Alsubaie Ali Saad R.
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Adolescence is a fundamental stage of life where they go through huge changes and development. As a result, they are more likely to engage in behaviors that may jeopardize their life and health. The main objectives of this paper is to investigate risky-behaviors related to road traffic safety and dangerious car drifting among adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This was a school-based cross-sectional study conducted among male school adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A multi-stage probability sampling technique was performed to recruit the participants. A total of 1,501 male adolescents were included in this study, studying in private and public high schools.

Results

A total of 78.7% of the students were found to be driving cars, which indicated that a high proportion of adolescents drive without a license. A total of 96% and 97.7% of adolescents do not use seat belt when driving nor when riding a vehicle as a passenger, respectively. Using helmet was a very rare practice among adolescents since only 1.4% and 2.0% wore a helmet when using non-motorized and motorized vehicles, respectively. Attending car drifting events, joining people while performing car drifting and actual performing car drifting were prevalent as 46.7%, 42.9%, 36.1%, respectively. About 58% of the adolescents reported not been taught about how to avoid traffic accidents, and 80% reported the need for more health education regarding traffic safety. The logistic regression analysis indicates adolescents car drifting was independently associated with adolescents’ age (OR = 1.2; 95%CI = 1.1–1.3; p < 0.01), studying in private schools (OR = 1.2; 95%CI = 1.2–2.0; p≤ 0.015), being Saudi (OR = 2.5; 95%CI = 1.9–2.8; p < 0.001), do not like schools (OR = 1.7; 95%CI = 1.4–2.4; p < 0.001) and poor academic performance (OR = 1.7; 95%CI = 1.3–2.3; p < 0.001). Also, the adjusted logistic regression confirmed that car drifting was independently associated with several health risk behaviors including joining people performing car drifting, attending car drifting events, not brushing teeth, smoking behavior, want to use drugs, carrying weapons, and taking part in bullying others.

Conclusion

Large proportions of adolescents engage in multiple risky road traffic behaviors. Therefore, it is strongly advisable for policymakers and other stakeholders to devise national strategies that consider road safety and risky driving behaviors among adolescents and school students. This study calls for a strategic intervention plan to change the culture of risky driving through a structured and comprehensive curriculum in school settings.
Sleep quality and bullying – prevalence in a cohort of Portuguese students
Authors: Carvalho Fábia , Vilaça Joana , Carvalho Ana Luísa , Pontes Teresa , Carvalho Susana
Published: June 2020

Objectives

The involvement of adolescents in violent behaviors is becoming an important public health problem that is concerning physicians as it is associated with a decrease in adult life quality. In this context, bullying is a type of aggressive behavior that occurs repeatedly in interpersonal relationship where power imbalance exists increasing the risk of physical and psychosocial problems in all its intervenient. Prevalence of bullying in Portuguese adolescents is estimated to be ranging from 16.2 to 27.5%. Sleep disorders are a well-known problem related to bullying situations, either as a consequence or a risk factor; estimated prevalence in adolescence is 25% worldwide. In the present study we aimed to investigate the association between sleep quality and the involvement in school bullying in Portuguese adolescents in two high schools.

Methods

Data collected from a cross-sectional survey addressing questions on bullying behaviors and sleep quality was analyzed using SPSS 22.0. A two-tailed p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant for all tests.

Results

We have included 171 adolescents, mean age of 14.39 ± 1.149 years, 59.6% were boys; prevalence of bullying behaviors was 28.1%. Among the students 15.2% were identified as “pure victims”, 8.8% as “pure bullies”, 4.1% as “bully-victims” and 71.9% as “neutrals”. “Pure bullies” and “bully-victims” present higher Athens Insomina Scale (AIS) scores (p = 0.004) and higher prevalence of insomnia (p = 0.004). The prevalence of insomnia was significantly higher in the group involved in bullying behaviors comparing with the neutrals (58.3% vs 30%, p = 0.001). We verified that 65.4% of the reported bullying situations took place inside the school and 8.8% of those teachers did nothing to help the victim and in 17.5% school staff took the same attitude.

Conclusions

We found a prevalence of bullying behaviors higher than the one reported in previous studies and a prevalence of insomnia of 38.0%, proving that bullying and sleep disturbances are two major problems in adolescence which may increase future risk for psychiatric symptoms, involvement in criminal activities, hyperactive, and inattentive behaviors. We verified a strong relation between insomnia and involvement in bullying situations with those who are involved reporting difficulties in sleep induction. The group of “bully-victims” was identified as potentially being the one with the most troubled adolescents since they combine characteristics of both bullies and victims. The authors conclude that there should be an investment in school-based interventions that help recognize and reduce school bullying and change lifestyle behaviors that may negatively influence adolescents' development.
Internal Variable Theory Formulated by One Extended Potential Function
Authors: Yang Qiang , Tao Zhuofu , Liu Yaoru
Published: June 2020

In the kinetic rate laws of internal variables, it is usually assumed that the rates of internal variables depend on the conjugate forces of the internal variables and the state variables. The dependence on the conjugate force has been fully addressed around flow potential functions. The kinetic rate laws can be formulated with two potential functions, the free energy function and the flow potential function. The dependence on the state variables has not been well addressed. Motivated by the previous study on the asymptotic stability of the internal variable theory by J. R. Rice, the thermodynamic significance of the dependence on the state variables is addressed in this paper. It is shown in this paper that the kinetic rate laws can be formulated by one extended potential function defined in an extended state space if the rates of internal variables do not depend explicitly on the internal variables. The extended state space is spanned by the state variables and the rate of internal variables. Furthermore, if the rates of internal variables do not depend explicitly on state variables, an extended Gibbs equation can be established based on the extended potential function, from which all constitutive equations can be recovered. This work may be considered as a certain Lagrangian formulation of the internal variable theory.
A Study on Measuring the Relationship Between the Library and Quality of Life of Local Residents
Authors: Noh Younghee
Published: June 2020

In this study, we explore a strategy to strengthen the library’s role of enhancing the quality of life for residents by identifying relationships between user satisfaction with library services and their quality of life. Questionnaires were distributed to public library users and normal distribution (skewness and kurtosis) and reliability of the measurement tools were validated. The results of this study show that satisfaction with the library staff has a positive influence on the participants’ living satisfaction, self-efficacy, and emotional stability. Second, an evaluation of their satisfaction with the library overall showed a significantly positive influence on their living satisfaction as well positive thinking. In conclusion, investment in libraries leads the public to be satisfied with their overall life, think of their future positively, have confidence to perform their roles successfully, and gain a sense of freedom with continuing stability.
Challenges and difficulties of translation and interpreting in the migration and refugee crisis in Germany
Authors: Berbel Elke Cases
Published: June 2020

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the role that interpreters and translators of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge[Bamf]) played during the 2015–2016 migration crisis in Germany along with the improvements made by the German Ministry of the Interior. To this end, we first investigated all the occasions when a refugee needs interpreting and translation services. We then present the requirements to be a Bamf interpreter/translator as well as their working conditions. In addition, we offer research into all the working tools that the German Government has made available to these interpreters/translators, so they can get a comprehensive training in the profession of community interpreter, one of the most demanding branches of interpreting and translation services. Finally, we have summarized the challenges that, in our opinion, Germany faces for the future in order to achieve a better quality in their interpretation and translation services.
Looking for causes of effects in cases: Evaluating intermunicipal collaboration in The Netherlands applying QCA
Authors: Lagendijk Arnoud , Velde Martin van der , Kuijpers Mark
Published: June 2020

Economic geography and regional planning suffer from a lack of clear answers with respect to the question what methods to use to systematically explain complex territorial phenomena such as regional development. Rather than the universal effect of causes, analysis should focus on patterns revealed through case-specific effects of enabling and disabling conditions. Using qualitative configurational analysis (QCA), this paper illustrates the relevance of such an approach examining the variable effectiveness of intermunicipal collaboration in the Netherlands. Drawing on a survey of a large sample of collaborations, complemented with case-specific inside knowledge, eight conditions are found supporting collaboration effectiveness: age, size, homogeneity, project/policy activity, mission and inclusiveness. The configurational analysis uncovers one dominant evolutionary pattern (evolving policy focus), one minor pattern (metropolitan collaboration) plus two somewhat unique cases. It also finds contributing roles for mission-orientation, inclusiveness, and, somewhat surprisingly, size. QCA proves a promising tool to study complex dynamics across a population of territorial cases.
TİCARİ KEFİRLERİN BAZI KALİTE PARAMETRELERİNİN BELİRLENMESİ
Authors: ÜNAL Fatma Nur , KALYAS Alperen , GÜRBÜZ Zeynep , ŞENGÜL Mustafa , ÜRKEK Bayram
Published: June 2020

Bu çalışmada, piyasada satışa sunulan 6 adet farklı ticari kefir örneği incelenmiştir. Kefir örneklerinin bazı fizikokimyasal (% kurumadde, % yağ, pH, % asitlik, % su bağlama kapasitesi), reolojik (viskozite, kıvam katsayısı, akış davranış indeksi), mikrobiyolojik (laktobasil, laktokok, maya-küf ve koliform bakteri sayıları) ve duyusal özellikleri araştırılmıştır. K4 kodlu örnek en yüksek viskozite (50 rpm’de 461.90 cP) ve kıvam katsayısı (K 8.16) değerlerine sahip olduğu ortaya konulmuştur. Diğer taraftan, K5 kodlu örneğin su tutma kapasitesi (%38.75) ve viskozite (100 rpm’de 285.87 cP) değerleri en yüksek değerlere sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Kefir örneklerinin ortalama laktobasil, laktokok ve maya-küf sayıları sırasıyla 8.15-9.09, 8.39-9.34 ve 4.38-5.37 log kob/mL arasında değiştiği belirlenmiştir. 6 örneğin hiçbirinde koliform bakteri tespit edilememiştir. Duyusal değerlendirme sonucunda tüm kefir örnekleri değerlendirilen duyusal karakteristikler açısından panelistler tarafından düşük puanlar almıştır.
Liraglutide administration improves hormonal/metabolic profile and reproductive features in women with HAIR-AN syndrome
Authors: Livadas S , Androulakis I , Angelopoulos N , Lytras A , Papagiannopoulos F , Kassi G
Published: June 2020

HAIR-AN syndrome, the coexistence of Hirsutism, Insulin Resistance (IR) and Acanthosis Nigricans, constitutes a rare nosologic entity. It is characterized from clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism accompanied with severe insulin resistance, chronic anovulation and metabolic abnormalities. Literally, HAIR-AN represents an extreme case of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In everyday practice, the management of HAIR-AN constitutes a therapeutic challenge with the available pharmaceutical agents. Specifically, the degree of IR cannot be significantly ameliorated with metformin administration, whereas oral contraceptives chronic administration is associated with worsening of metabolic profile. Liraglutide and exenatide, in combination with metformin, have been introduced in the management of significantly obese women with PCOS with satisfactory results. Based on this notion, we prescribed liraglutide in five women with HAIR-AN. In all participants a significant improvement regarding the degree of IR, fat depositions, androgen levels and the pattern of menstrual cycle was observed, with minimal weight loss. Furthermore, one woman became pregnant during liraglutide treatment giving birth to a healthy child. Accordingly, we conclude that liraglutide constitutes an effective alternative in the management of women with HAIR-AN.

Learning points:

HAIR-AN management is challenging and classic therapeutic regimens are ineffective.

Literally HAIR-AN syndrome, the coexistence of Hirsutism, Insulin Resistance and Acanthosis Nigricans, represents an extreme case of polycystic ovary syndrome.

In cases of HAIR-AN, liraglutide constitutes an effective and safe choice.
Reduced retinoic acid synthesis accelerates prophase I and follicle activation
Authors: Rosario Roseanne , Stewart Hazel L , Walshe Emily , Anderson Richard A
Published: June 2020

In female mammals, reproductive potential is determined during fetal life by the formation of a non-renewable pool of primordial follicles. Initiation of meiosis is one of the defining features of germ cell differentiation and is well established to commence in response to retinoic acid. WIN 18,446 inhibits the conversion of retinol to retinoic acid, and therefore it was used to explore the impact of reduced retinoic acid synthesis on meiotic progression and thus germ cell development and subsequent primordial follicle formation. e13.5 mouse fetal ovaries were cultured in vitro and treated with WIN 18,446 for the first 3 days of a total of up to 12 days. Doses as low as 0.01 µM reduced transcript levels of the retinoic acid response genes Stra8 and Rarβ without affecting germ cell number. Higher doses resulted in germ cell loss, rescued with the addition of retinoic acid. WIN 18,446 significantly accelerated the progression of prophase I; this was seen as early as 48 h post treatment using meiotic chromosome spreads and was still evident after 12 days of culture using Tra98/Msy2 immunostaining. Furthermore, ovaries treated with WIN 18,446 at e13.5 but not at P0 had a higher proportion of growing follicles compared to vehicle controls, thus showing evidence of increased follicle activation. These data therefore indicate that retinoic acid is not necessary for meiotic progression but may have a role in the regulation of its progression and germ cell survival at that time and provide evidence for a link between meiotic arrest and follicle growth initiation.
The Role of the Electrophysiologist in Convergent Ablation
Authors: Wijesuriya Nadeev , Papageorgiou Nikos , Maclean Edd , Saberwal Bunny , Ahsan Syed
Published: June 2020

Catheter ablation is a well-established treatment for patients with AF in whom sinus rhythm is desired. Both radiofrequency catheter ablation and cryoablation are widely performed, rapidly developing techniques. Convergent ablation is a novel hybrid technique combining an endocardial radiofrequency ablation with a minimally invasive epicardial surgical ablation. Some suggest that hybrid ablation may be more effective than lone endocardial ablation in achieving the elusive goal of maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with non-paroxysmal AF. In this article, the authors examine the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation and convergent ablation for long-standing, persistent AF. We also outline the crucial role that electrophysiologists play, not only as a procedure operator, but also as the coordinator and developer of this multidisciplinary service.
Use of Electrophysiological Studies in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Tovia-Brodie Oholi , Michowitz Yoav , Belhassen Bernard
Published: June 2020

New conduction disturbances requiring permanent pacemaker implantation remain common complications following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). It has been suggested that electrophysiological studies could help identify patients who will require permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVI. This article summarises contemporary data on the use of electrophysiological studies in patients undergoing TAVI.
Non-invasive Low-level Tragus Stimulation in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Jiang Yunqiu , Po Sunny S , Amil Faris , Dasari Tarun W
Published: June 2020

Low-level tragus stimulation (LLTS) is a non-invasive approach of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation. LLTS has applications in diseases of multiple systems, including epilepsy, depression, headache and potentially several cardiovascular diseases. LLTS has shown promising results in suppressing AF, alleviating post-MI ventricular arrhythmias and ischaemia-reperfusion injury along with improving diastolic parameters in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF). Preliminary pilot clinical studies in patients with paroxysmal AF, HFpEF, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and acute MI have demonstrated promising results. The beneficial effects are likely secondary to favourable alteration of the sympathovagal imbalance. On-going exploratory work focused on underlying mechanisms of LLTS in cardiovascular disease states and larger scale clinical trials will shed more light on the non-invasive modulation of the neuro-immune axis.
Technical Solution for a Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring System
Authors: Simo Attila , Dzitac Simona , Frigura-Iliasa Flaviu Mihai , Musuroi Sorin , Andea Petru , Meianu Dragoș
Published: June 2020

This article will present a simple technical solution for a low-power and real-time air quality monitoring system. The whole package of software and hardware technical solutions applied for recording, transmitting and analyzing data is briefly described. This original monitoring system integrates a single chip microcon-troller, several dedicated air pollution surveillance sensors (for PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, O3, VOC, CO2), a LoRaWAN communication module and an online platform. This system was tested and applied under real field conditions. Depending on the measured values, it provides alerts, or, it can lead to the re-placement of specific components in the exhaust equipment. This article will pre-sent some experimental results, validated also by official measurements of government operated air quality stations.
A Simpler and Semantic Multidimensional Database Query Language to Facilitate Access to Information in Decision-making
Authors: Palominos Fredi Edgardo , Córdova Felisa , Durán Claudia , Nuñez Bryan
Published: June 2020

OLAP and multidimensional database technology have contributed significantly to speed up and build confidence in the effectiveness of methodologies based on the use of management indicators in decision-making, industry, production, and services. Although there are a wide variety of tools related to the OLAP approach, many implementations are performed in relational database systems (R-OLAP). So, all interrogation actions are performed through queries that must be reinterpreted in the SQL language. This translation has several consequences because SQL language is based on a mixture of relational algebra and tuple relational calculus, which conceptually responds to the logic of the relational data model, very different from the needs of the multidimensional databases. This paper presents a multidimensional query language that allows expressing multidimensional queries directly over ROLAP databases. The implementation of the multidimensional query language will be done through a middleware that is responsible for mapping the queries, hiding the translation to a layer of software not noticeable to the end-user. Currently, progress has been made in the definition of a language where through a key statement, called aggregate, it is possible to execute the typical multidimensional operators which represent an important part of the most frequent operations in this type of database.
Analytical Modelling of Share Price Value Using Computational Intelligence Methods
Authors: Petrescu Marius , Cuc Mădălina , Oncioiu Ionica , Petrescu Anca-Gabriela , Bîlcan Florentina-Raluca , Ivan Lucian
Published: June 2020

The liberalization, volatility and high competition of financial markets are all factors that expose companies to new risks and challenges, requiring a continuous innovation of models, techniques and tools for managing share price value and other related risks. This paper provides a model to implement a subsystem that should support the management decision on the trading segment of its own shares, based on intelligent agents with regards to identifying, collecting, structuring and updating data instruments, with analysis mechanisms of the main price and volatility indicators. Our conclusion is that the use of computational intelligence methods in modeling of share price value is both a requirement and an option in managing financial-foreign exchange risks, given that companies are subject to a wide range of risks and volatility is the defining feature in which they operate.
A importância da vigilância de casos e óbitos e a epidemia da COVID-19 em Belo Horizonte, 2020
Authors: Corrêa Paulo Roberto Lopes , Ishitani Lenice Harumi , Abreu Daisy Maria Xavier de , Teixeira Renato Azeredo , Marinho Fatima , França Elisabeth Barboza
Published: June 2020

RESUMO: Objetivos: Descrever as ações realizadas pela vigilância epidemiológica da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Belo Horizonte para enfrentamento da epidemia de COVID-19 e avaliar a oportunidade para detecção precoce da transmissão da doença no período compreendido entre 1º de janeiro e 24 de abril de 2020. Métodos: Foram identificadas as fontes de informação utilizadas pela vigilância epidemiológica do município para a COVID-19 e analisadas a distribuição temporal e a oportunidade para detecção dos casos confirmados da doença. Resultados: A vigilância epidemiológica do município utiliza fontes de notificações ambulatoriais, hospitalares, de laboratórios públicos e privados, além de busca ativa com cruzamento de dados laboratoriais na investigação de óbitos suspeitos, sendo os casos confirmados de COVID-19 informados em sistemas de informação oficiais. Foram notificados 1.449 casos internados, sendo o primeiro caso detectado no fim de fevereiro de 2020. Do total de 1.025 amostras laboratoriais de casos internados após a semana epidemiológica 8, confirmaram-se 87 casos (8,5%) por COVID-19. A mediana de tempo entre o início dos sintomas e a liberação dos resultados laboratoriais foi de 12 dias. Conclusão: A vigilância epidemiológica utiliza várias fontes de dados para monitoramento e análise da transmissão da COVID-19. A oportunidade para detecção de casos da doença está comprometida pela demora na liberação dos resultados laboratoriais, sendo um desafio para a vigilância.
Effect of microstructure of supports on catalytic activities of carbonylation catalysts
Authors: Song Jun , Song Gang , Wang Jian
Published: June 2020

Nickel (Ni)-based catalysts supported by different active carbons (C) were prepared and used for vapor-phase carbonylation of ethanol. The microstructural properties of carbon supports were well investigated by using physical adsorption of nitrogen (N2), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectrometry, Boehm titration and scanning electron microscopy. The catalytic activities of nickel/carbon catalysts were also studied. The results showed that wood charcoal had a large quantity of mesopores, a larger specific surface area and more oxygen (O)-containing groups such as carbonyl groups. The nickel catalyst supported by wood charcoal showed the highest catalytic activity, with 72.43% of ethanol conversion and 67.46% of product combined selectivity.
Neuralgia trigeminal y algunas consideraciones en la práctica clínica de la odontología
Authors: Tirado Amador Lesbia Rosa , Torres Osorio Lenin , Arce Vanegas Jhon Alex
Published: June 2020

Introducción: en la práctica odontológica es frecuente la demanda de odontólogos con competencias para el diagnóstico oportuno e instauración del tratamiento. Algunas condiciones patológicas ocasionalmente no son del interés directo para el odontólogo en su lista de prioridades, sin embargo, todo y cuanto le concierne al sistema estomatognático y a su funcionamiento debe ser considerado relevante, particularmente lo referente al Nervio Trigémino (V par craneal), encargado de transmitir sensaciones a la boca, dientes, cara, cavidad nasal e inervación de músculos masticadores. Algunas condiciones pueden provocar neuralgia trigeminal, una afección dolorosa e incapacitante, que puede afectar la calidad de vida.

Objetivo: generar interés en el profesional de odontología respecto a neuralgia trigeminal y el rol que puede asumir en la oportuna atención del paciente y prevención durante algunos procedimientos dentales que podrían desencadenarla.

Metodología: en la atención clínica es importante reflexionar acerca de la anatomía del nervio trigémino y respecto a la neuralgia trigeminal, su definición, características, clasificación, etiología, consideraciones diagnósticas, la relación existente entre el odontólogo, la consulta odontológica y los pacientes con neuralgia trigeminal, así como la toma de decisiones en el tratamiento e intervención del odontólogo en esta afección.

Conclusiones: el conocimiento de los factores desencadenantes, signos, síntomas y alternativas terapéuticas permite al odontólogo contribuir para interactuar de manera activa e interdisciplinaria con el equipo de atención, más aún cuando se trata de uno de los principales nervios sobre los cuales se influye durante los tratamientos odontológicos.
Salud mental en estudiantes de odontología de una Universidad Pública de Medellín (Colombia) y sus factores relacionados
Authors: Álvarez Rúa Laura J. , Carmona Rendón Yesica Andrea , Holguín Vásquez Viviana A. , Ortiz Parra Magally A. , Patiño Arango Sara E. , Vélez Peláez Sara , Martínez Gómez Marta Lucía , Agudelo Suárez Andrés A.
Published: June 2020

Objetivo: Analizar la prevalencia de signos y síntomas sugerentes de estrés, depresión/ansiedad y mala salud mental y sus factores sociodemográficos relacionados en estudiantes de pregrado de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Antioquia. 

Métodos: Estudio transversal mediante encuesta a 205 estudiantes (104 mujeres). Variables: sociodemográficas, salud general, salud mental (GHQ-12), depresión/ansiedad (test de Zung), estrés autopercibido. Análisis por sexo, descripción de variables y cálculo de Odds Ratio crudas/ajustadas con sus intervalos de confianza al 95% (ORa- IC95%), para observar asociaciones entre las variables (regresión logística). 

Resultados: La prevalencia de indicadores para hombres y mujeres fue en su orden: mala salud mental 43% y 52%, depresión y ansiedad 42% y 50% y estrés autopercibido 34% y 41% (porcentajes más altos en mujeres). La asociación fue estadísticamente significativa en los hombres que reportaron depresión/ansiedad y estrés y apoyo social bajo (OR 20,94; IC95% 2,13- 205,81 y OR 5,04; IC95% 1,01- 25,02 respectivamente). También se reportó mayor riesgo en los hombres que refieren depresión/ansiedad y con familias extensas-ensambladas (OR: 8,82; IC95% 1,29- 60,17).  En las mujeres, se reportó mayor riesgo en aquellas que refieren depresión/ansiedad y procedentes de familias extensas-ensambladas (OR: 14,94; IC95% 1,56- 143,15) y en las que reportan mala salud mental, depresión/ansiedad y estrés y con bajo apoyo social (OR: 20,72; IC95% 2,19- 195,73; OR: 15,61; IC95% 1,68- 144,62 y OR: 30,61; IC95% 3,08- 304,35 respectivamente). 

Conclusiones: Se encontraron altas prevalencias de signos y síntomas sugerentes de mala salud mental, encontrándose diferencias según sexo y factores sociodemográficos.
Estudio interdisciplinario sobre los Sistemas de Valoración y Estándares Probatorios en el derecho procesal colombiano
Authors: Rivera-Olarte Francisco Javier , Rojas-Quinayá Lina Fernanda
Published: June 2020

Objetivo: el propósito de esta investigación es realizar un estudio interdisciplinario sobre el marco jurídico, doctrinal y jurisprudencial de los sistemas de valoración y los estándares de prueba en el derecho procesal colombiano, con el fin de determinar su aplicación por parte de los jueces al momento de fallar.   Metodología: el desarrollo de la presente propuesta está enmarcada en el tipo de investigación jurídica toda vez que pretende, a partir de un estudio normativo e interdisciplinario (derecho procesal), revisar el tema de los sistemas de valoración y el estándar de prueba. Así mismo, está cimentada en el método deductivo y analítico-descriptivo; por último, la técnica aplicada es la documental bibliográfica.   Resultados y conclusiones: primero: en la actualidad, el derecho procesal probatorio está cimentado en “la sana crítica” como sistema de valoración de la prueba; segundo: en Colombia, el derecho probatorio penal, en el artículo 381 cpp, enuncia el estándar de prueba, consistente en el “conocimiento más allá de toda duda”; tercero: el derecho procesal en materia probatoria no desarrolló los elementos de la sana crítica, ni los estándares de prueba a aplicar, los cuales son normas vacías que requieren ser llenadas a través de la doctrina y la jurisprudencia.
El derecho fundamental a la estabilidad laboral reforzada, alcance de la protección constitucional por vía de tutela en Colombia
Authors: Delgado Motoa Beatriz
Published: June 2020

Propósito: la estabilidad laboral pretende otorgar un carácter permanente a la relación de trabajo, en la que el trabajador pueda decidir voluntariamente si continua o no en el puesto de trabajo y que solo en casos excepcionales el empleador pueda resolver esa relación. En Colombia existe la estabilidad relativa; solo en casos especiales se presenta la estabilidad absoluta, en la que el derecho al trabajo es aún más fuerte, por lo cual en tales eventos cabe hablar de un derecho constitucional de carácter fundamental a la estabilidad laboral reforzada.  

Metodología: el artículo se fundamenta en el estudio de sentencias constitucionales, orientado a mostrar cómo la Corte Constitucional, a través de su doctrina construida vía sentencias de tutela (sentencias tipo T), sentencias de constitucionalidad (sentencias tipo C) y sentencias de unificación (sentencias tipo SU), ha construido las reglas del derecho constitucional de carácter fundamental a la estabilidad laboral reforzada y el alcance de su protección por vía de tutela, a partir de la sentencia C- 470 de 1997, con ponencia del Dr. Alejandro Martínez Caballero.  

Hallazgos y conclusiones: la Corte Constitucional ha considerado que existen algunos casos en los que el derecho a la estabilidad en el empleo, consagrado en el artículo 53 de la Constitución Política, merece mayor protección.
La investigación en la Facultad de Psicología
Authors: Vizcaíno G Milcíades
Published: June 2020

Introducción: La universidad moderna se caracteriza por haber integrado la investigación a sus funciones sustantivas de docencia y de proyección institucional. La investigación está generalmente asociada a la actividad de las Facultades que desarrollan sus objetivos académicos y científicos. La Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia ha adoptado esta forma standard y en sus programas académicos, se encuentran profesionales que cumplen el rol tanto de docentes como de investigadores. La Facultad de Psicología, desde su nacimiento en la sede de Villavicencio ha desarrollado proyectos de investigación.

Objetivo: presentar una mirada de la experiencia del Grupo de Investigación Prometeo para proyectar el futuro de la investigación, conforme a las políticas de la Universidad y a las exigencias de COLCIENCIAS y del Ministerio de Educación Nacional. Se presenta un panorama del recorrido histórico con sus fases predominantes, sus tendencias, sus productos y los proyectos en curso.

Metodología: se realizó reconstrucción histórica con base en reportes presentados a la Universidad y a COLCIENCIAS y en la experiencia directa de integrantes de Prometeo.
Following ‘Fosfo’
Authors: Vilar Márcio
Published: June 2020

The chemical substance synthetic phosphoethanolamine (fosfoetanolamina sintética) was developed at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil at the beginning of the 1990s and, until 2014, was tested on and distributed to cancer patients by members of USP’s Chemistry Institute (IQSC) in the city of São Carlos. That year, the production and distribution of ‘Fosfo’, as it became popularly known, was forbidden by IQSC’s director with the support of USP’s rector and the Brazilian National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). Shortly after this first prohibition, however, Fosfo gained popularity and became a national symbol of local scientific innovation and hope for a cancer cure. Likewise, it became an object of regulatory disputes involving multiple sectors of Brazilian society. Despite several further efforts by some scientists and patients to legitimate Fosfo as a pharmaceutical, ANVISA never authorized it. Nevertheless, at the same time as parts of Brazil’s established medical communities were becoming suspicious of Fosfo, its informal production and dissemination were increasing surreptitiously, with many Fosfo users and stakeholders questioning the legitimacy of conventional cancer therapies. In this article, I aim to understand the impact of Fosfo as a biotechnological innovation in terms of the ‘transfiguration’ of the physical and juridical persons involved in this controversy. Through the lens of transfiguration, the engagement and therapeutic-regulatory experiences of Fosfo users and stakeholders appear as deviant journeys that introduce discontinuities into established biomedicine and imply radical transformations at multiple levels, ranging from individuals to larger institutional environments.
Ongame molwashoka otse
Authors: Boulton Jack
Published: June 2020

A recent national survey by the Ministry for Health and Social Services revealed that Namibia’s suicide rate was vastly higher than previously thought. Mirroring global conceptions of mental health and depression, these numbers tend to be ‘explained away’ using pre-determined ‘risk factors’ – alcohol consumption, violence, and unemployment. Yet, current theories of suicide do not account for all of its intricacies; indeed, most are rooted in notions of individualism countered by many ethnographies situated in African contexts. This Think Piece problematises the study of suicide in southern African contexts, showing that notions of ‘unhappiness’, ‘depression’, and most importantly ‘self’ are locally specific and, in southern Africa, relational rather than individualistic.