bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EEG Features in Adolescent Patients with Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Authors: Iznak A. , Iznak E. , Damyanovich E. , Krylova E. , Kuleshov A. , Kaleda V.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Personality disorders (PD) in adolescence are widespread. It creates problems of social adaptation of patients and represents significant risk factors for auto-aggressive behavior, including suicidal one. The neurobiological basis and EEG markers of PD in adolescence have not been adequately studied.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to reveal the EEG features and their correlations with clinical parameters in male adolescents with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), possibly mediating some aspects of their clinical traits.

Methods

28 BPD patients (301.83, by DSM-5) and 24 NPD patients (301.81, by DSM-5), as well as 24 healthy controls (HC) aged 16-25 years were enrolled in the study. HDRS-21 and HAM-A scales were used for quantitative assessment of patient’s conditions. Pre-treatment resting EEG was recorded, and EEG spectral analysis was carried out in 8 narrow frequency sub-bands. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis of EEG and clinical data were performed.

Results

EEG spectral parameters in BPD group did not differ significantly from those of HC. NPD group shows the EEG signs of more activated brain cortex than in both BPD and norm groups caused by decreased functional state of the anterior cortical regions. The structure of correlations between EEG parameters and clinical scores also differed between BPD and NPD groups.

Conclusions

The data obtained suggests that these features of the brain activity may contribute to the disturbance of emotion regulation and of behavior control in adolescent patients with BPD and NPD, more pronounced in NPD group.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Borderline Personality Disorder And Childhood Trauma: Witch Relationship?
Authors: Turki M. , Gargouri N. , Abdellatif M. , Ellouze S. , Abidi O. , Halouani N. , Aloulou J.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a pervasive pattern of impulsiveness, emotional dysregulation, and difficult interpersonal relationships. Several studies showed that its onset depends on the combination of biological and psychosocial factors, particularly between biological vulnerabilities and traumatic experiences during childhood.

Objectives

We aimed to explore the mediators of the effects of childhood trauma in BPD vulnerability.

Methods

We conducted a literature review using “PubMed” database and keywords “borderline personality disorder”, “childhood trauma”, “hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis”, “stress”, adverse childhood experiences”.

Results

Several studies showed that a diagnosis of BPD is associated with child abuse and neglect more than any other personality disorders, with a range between 30 and 90% in BPD patients. All types of abuse and neglect happen to be significantly associated with BPD features. Besides, the exposure to multiple types of maltreatment through multiple development periods increased the severity of BPD. Several studies highlighted the role of alterations in Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis, in neurotransmission, in the endogenous opioid system and in neuroplasticity in the childhood trauma-associated vulnerability to develop BPD. Besides, morphological changes in several BPD brain areas and in particular in those involved in stress response have also been incriminated.

Conclusions

Our findings regarding the role of childhood trauma in the development of BPD would help identify and develop early intervention services for a vulnerable population. The critical role of psychotherapy in treating individuals with early life stress may partially explain why the prevailing empirically validated treatments for BPD are psychotherapeutic.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychopathology and Treatment of People with EDs
Authors: Monteleone A.M.
Published: September 2022

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic a mental health deterioration has been detected in the general population and especially in people affected by pre-existing psychiatric conditions, and mental health care has moved towards online treatment. Literature studies have been reviewed to gather evidence regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people affected by eating disorders (EDs) exploring changes in ED-specific and general psychopathology; mechanisms of vulnerability and resilience; change in treatment delivery service; patients’ perception of online treatment and potential barriers and/or advantages of this method and its effectiveness. A wide variability characterized the response of people with EDs to the COVID-19 pandemic. A trend toward worsening of ED specific psychopathology with respect to the pre-pandemic period was observed as well as a deterioration in general psychiatric symptoms. Feelings of uncertainty and social isolation were the most common vulnerability mechanisms. Resilience factors such as heightened self-care and reduced social pressure also occurred. The treatment has largely switched to online delivering strategies which, despite considered the best alternative to the face-to-face approach, were suffering from some concerns about their quality. The exacerbation of specific and general psychopathology supports the hypothesis of an emotional and post-traumatic nature of EDs and outlines the importance of internalizing symptoms. In front of the great variability observed across ED patients during the pandemic, the identification of risk and resilience variables as well as of subjective factors affecting the perception of online treatment may inform clinicians and promote more targeted and individualized approaches.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Mentalizing and emotion dysregulation in emerging adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot short-term longitudinal study
Authors: Charpentier Mora S. , Bastianoni C. , Tironi M. , Bizzi F.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an epidemiological and psychological crisis (APA, 2020). In this context, although emerging adults are less likely to get COVID-19, they might have suffered from the national lockdowns over the last year, as they are indeed involved in a crucial development period wherein interpersonal relationships undertake a fundamental function in their psychological well-being. To this end, mentalizing abilities and emotion dysregulation may play a crucial role as possible salutogenic or pathogenic factors on the onset of psychiatric symptoms during the three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives

1) To examine the relationship between emotion dysregulation assessed at the end of the first wave of COVID-19, mentalizing assessed during the second wave, and psychiatric symptoms levels assessed during the third wave. 2) To examine the moderation role of mentalizing within the relation between emotion dysregulation and psychiatric symptoms.

Methods

Participants were 83 non-clinical emerging adults (Mage=22.18, SD=4.36; 57.8% females). Measures applied were Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) to examine emotion dysregulation, Reflective Functioning Questionnaire to examine mentalizing (RFQ_uncertainty; RFQ_certainty) and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90) to examine psychiatric symptoms (Global Severity Index, GSI).

Results

DERS_total score (r=.31, p=.03) and both RFQ_uncertainty (r=.41, p<.01) and RFQ_certainty (r=-.33, p=.02) are associated with GSI. Secondly, a significant moderation role by RFQ_u emerged within the relation between DERS_total score and GSI (∆R2=.067, β=.001, SE=.00, CI[.000, .002]).

Conclusions

These results suggest that mentalizing and emotion dysregulation may play a pivotal role in the onset of psychiatric symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical implications are discussed.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Patients in Opioid Substitution Treatment
Authors: Rosenleitner J. , Fuchs-Leitner I. , Gerstgrasser N. , Yazdi K.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The many negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic especially on vulnerable groups like patients suffering from drug addiction have been anticipated by experts early on. While drug consumption patterns of patients in opioid substitution treatment (OST, N=24) seemed hardly influenced at the early stage of the pandemic in Austria, the impact on the mental health of this population remained unclear.

Objectives

The main goal was to investigate long-term consequences of the pandemic in terms of PTSD and clinical symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress among patients in OST between December 2020 and February 2021.

Methods

In a cross-sectional survey study (N=123) an adapted version of the impact of event scale (IES-R) was applied to evaluate PTSD symptoms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical symptoms were assessed by the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21), and respective changes due to the pandemic were documented. Sociodemographic and COVID-19 related factors, as well as data on drug consumption patterns were collected.

Results

A binary logistic regression analysis confirmed the negative long-term consequences of psychological and economic COVID-19 related factors on a higher risk for PTSD due to the pandemic. The high-risk PTSD group also demonstrated higher levels and a deterioration of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms since the pandemic.

Conclusions

Among our sample of patients in OST, 27% were at risk of PTSD due to the pandemic, and 30 to 50% reported concerning levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Health care facilities might use these findings as a valuable source of information, when special attention is needed.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Positive responses to stress in the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic (in Russian sample)
Authors: Karacheva E. , Magomed-Eminov M. , Savina O. , Kvasova O. , Magomed-Eminova O.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The aim of the study was to adapt the Coping Self-efficacy Scale for research Russian population in the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic for researching positive personal resources to overcome peritraumatic COVID-19 distress. To solve this task we also used Impact of Event Scale (Horowitz) and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (Tadeshi & Calhoun) - both adapted by M. Magomed-Eminov. These two methods allow us to assess the connection coping self-efficacy with both the traumatic experience and the experience of post-traumatic growth. And to use the results to prevent mental health.

Objectives

342 participants (students and masters; 18,2% male, 81,8% female; age: 20-30 years).

Methods

Russian version of Coping self-efficacy scale developed in Psychological Helping and resocialization Department Lomonosov Moscow State University; Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory – PTGI (Tadeshi & Calhoun), Impact of Event Scale (Horowitz), - both adapted by M. Magomed-Eminov.

Results

Russian version of Coping self-efficacy scale has high reliability-consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.916). Detected significant correlation between coping self-efficacy and post-traumatic growth (rS = 0,261, p < 0,01) and significant negative correlation between coping self-efficacy and intensity of the impact of stressful events (IES) (rS = - 0,140, p < 0,05).

Conclusions

The obtained results confirmed the high psychometric effectiveness of the Self-efficacy Coping Scale. The connections indicate the existence of positive ways of coping to distress. The results obtained suggest that further research on the positive consequences will expand the repertoire of tools predicted the ability of a modern person to cope with adversity and use experience for deeper involvement of human resources.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
A novel approach to monitoring lithium blood levels and renal function in patients receiving lithium during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Gannon L. , Reynolds J.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Lithium is commonly administered to patients in an outpatient department (OPD) setting. Regular monitoring of lithium levels and renal function in accordance with published guidelines is required. In our unit, this is usually performed at OPD review. During the COVID-19 pandemic, reviews were either postponed or done remotely.

Objectives

1. To devise a system to ensure that patients receiving lithium had appropriate blood test monitoring in the absence of traditional OPD appointments. 2. To assess the efficacy of this intervention by recording blood test dates and comparing with pre-COVID compliance.

Methods

All outpatients receiving lithium, identified from the hospital database, received (1) a letter summarising the monitoring guidelines and (2) prospectively dated blood request forms. Patients at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 were advised to attend their primary care setting. Others were encouraged to attend primary care or our phlebotomy department. Compliance was measured by accessing the hospital’s laboratory enquiry computer based system and compared with pre-COVID-19 figures. Information was anonymised, as per General Data Protection Regulations.

Results

57 patients receiving lithium were identified. Prior to the first Irish lockdown in March 2020, 16 (28%) were overdue testing. Three months into the pandemic, 15 patients (26%) were overdue testing.

Conclusions

In the absence of routine outpatient appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic, the provision of written guidelines and completed blood request forms for patients receiving lithium was effective in ensuring monitoring of lithium levels and renal function. This system can be utilised as an alternative/adjunct to OPD review benefitting patients and health service delivery.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Identification of candidate genes of intellectual disability by single-gene deletions/amplifications mapping using chromosomal microarray analysis
Authors: Kashevarova A. , Lopatkina M. , Belyaeva E. , Fedotov D. , Drozdov G. , Nazarenko L. , Lebedev I.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Disease-causing deletions/amplifications may include a single gene, several exons or single/part of exon, contributing to detection of novel pathogenic genes. The localization of single-gene deletion/amplification within the gene can affect its clinical manifestation.

Objectives

Improvement of diagnosis of intellectual disability.

Methods

aCGH with 60K Agilent microarrays, qPCR.

Results

Among 1099 patients with intellectual disability potentially pathogenic single-gene deletions/amplifications were detected in 51 individuals (5%). qPCR was used to verify aberrations in 21 patients (41%). Ten mutations were of maternal origin, four - paternal, two - de novo, another two were confirmed without analysis of parents, and three could not be confirmed. Single-gene aberrations involving the AGBL4 (exon 2), ASMT (exon 9), CYP2C18 (whole gene), DDX10 (promoter, exons 1-13), GYPA (whole gene), LIG4 (exon 1), LSAMP (intron 1), PSD3 (promoter, exons 1-11), SNTB1 (intron 1), SPOCK3 (exons 6-12), STAG2 (exons 7-34), SYT10 (promoter, exons 1-2), TCAF2 (exon 8), TMPRSS15 (promoter, exons 1-12), and ZDHHC7 (promoter, exons 1-4) genes were described by us for the first time. Deletion or amplification of several exons within a gene can affect transcription as point mutation does, while the copy number change of a whole gene can lead to an abnormal amount of the protein.

Conclusions

Fifteen novel genes potentially responsible for mental health were identified. In most of them aberrations were partial deletions/duplications. Most of abnormalities were inherited from healthy parents indicating the possible presence of a point mutation on the second allele or some modifying factors. This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, grant 21-65-00017.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Alexithymic traits in adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Nicolau I. , Iotu A. , Leti M. , Andrei L. , Stancu M. , Rad F.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Alexithymia is a construct which has been described in persons under the autistic spectrum. Besides Autistic Spectrum Disorders, alexithymia nowadays is highly correlated with several psychiatric disorders, among them being Eating Disorders. Several studies suggested a “cognitive-affective” division in the inner experience of patients with Anorexia Nervosa, because of their difficulty in describing, identifying and recognising their own emotions as well as others

Objectives

This study aims to identify how many adolescents diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa meet the characteristics of alexithymic personality traits and in which domain of these traits they had the most struggles with.

Methods

The study lot includes 34 adolescents diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa evaluated by a self report survey: Online Alexithymia Questionnaire-G2 (OAQ-G2). The cut-off scores are: 113 and above - correlated with alexithymia, 95-112 - correlated with possible alexithymia and under 94 - insignificant clinical score. We analyzed the result of every subcategory of the questionnaire in order to determine whether there is an area affected more than others.

Results

The sample included 34 patients, female to male ratio 31:3, evaluated in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “Prof. Dr. Alexandru Obregia” Psychiatry Hospital. 29,41% had clinically semnificative scores for alexithymic traits, while 52,94% scored for possibile alexithymia according to the OAQ-G2.

Conclusions

In 82,35% of patients from the lot we identified alexithymic personality traits. The F1 subcategory (difficulty identifying feelings) and F5a (problematic interpersonal process) were the ones that distinguished the alexithymic group from the possible alexithymic one.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
ADHD in a patient with eating disorder. Case report
Authors: Del Sol Calderón P. , Izquierdo De La Puente A. , Garcia Moreno M. , Paricio Del Castillo R. , Mallol Castaño L.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

15-year-old female referred to outpatient unit after COVID lockdown for binge eating and purging with depressive symptoms and anxiety.

Objectives

To show the importance of a correct diagnosis in an impulsive patient with eating disorder

Methods

case report and literature review

Results

The patient presents emotional instability with interpersonal difficulties with high fear of rejection. She suffered from fear of gaining weight and desires to lose weight with rejection of her body image. Fluoxetine and lorazepam are started together with low doses of olanzapine. During the follow up she presented a worsening of mood, onset of self-injuries and an episode of suicidal attempt. A biographical examination was performed, expressing a feeling of academic failure with difficulty concentrating and performing simple tasks. As a child she is described as impulsive, with frequent arguments with classmates. CPT III was performed with a high probability of ADHD. Treatment was started with lisdexamfetamine up to 50 mg with good tolerance. From the beginning of the treatment the patient expressed a feeling of improvement in the control of emotions as well as in the management of her impulsivity. There was an improvement in her academic performance with a decrease in self-injury episodes. The patient was able to express improvement in the sense of incapacity she felt.

Conclusions

This case shows how marked emotional dysregulation and impulsive symptoms improves after diagnosis and subsequent treatment of ADHD, also improving eating symptoms. ADHD is present in eating disorders, especially in those with impulse dyscontrol such as binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Assessment of psychological defense mechanisms in women with somatoform disorder using Thematic Apperception Test-Based Measure
Authors: Lebedeva N. , Chebakova Y. , Parshukov A.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Maladaptive defense mechanisms can play a role in maintaining the inadequate social and psychological adaptation of patients.

Objectives

This study aims to establish if denial is one of the central psychological defense mechanisms in patients with somatoform disorder.

Methods

10 female patients at Moscow Clinical hospital №33 with somatoform disorder and panic attacks (aged 20 to 43) and 20 female participants of the control group (aged 19 to 35) were presented with 10 pictures of the Thematic Apperception Test. Pictures were previously annotated into 4 groups: neutral stimuli (2, 6GF), provoking self-blame / depression ideation stimuli (3GF,14, 15, 17GF), provoking aggression ideation stimuli (8ВМ, 18 GF, 9GF), provoking aggression/self-blame ideation stimuli (13 MF). We conducted content analyses of stories. Mann-Whitney U-test was used.

Results

Table 1 presents analyses categories, examples of stories, and group differences.Table 1CategoryExamplePatients,% of storiesControl group,% of storiesMann-Whitney U-testDenial of interpersonal/internal conflict«It is a beautiful day. The girl is enjoying the sunlight. Her life is going well» (17GF).90%47%*р<0,01Denial of aggressive ideation«She won`t smother her, she just wants to scare her a little» (18 GF).70%30%р<0,05Denial of depressive /self-blame ideation«Is she dead or not? I think, no. They were having sex and now they are sleepy» (13MF).*

Several patients told more than 1 story to a picture.

Conclusions

Patients with the somatoform disorder tended to use descriptions without interpersonal or internal conflicts and/or to deny any characters‘ negative intentions or the negative consequences of their actions.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Haphephobia: a rare specific phobia of being touched
Authors: Nahar S. , Inam M. , Miah M.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Haphephobia is a morbid fear of being touched or touching. The symptoms of Haphephobia are very similar to other specific phobias.

Objectives

Presentation of a case of haphephobia due to childhood sexual abuse

Methods

Mrs. X., A 22-year-old Bangladeshi female, presents to the psychiatric consult service with an intense fear of being touched by her husband. She told that whenever her husband comes closer to her, her heart starts to pound fast, she feels discomfort in the chest, a burning sensation on her whole body, and loses control over the environment. Furthermore, she can’t sleep properly for the fear of being touched. Her in-laws’ parents concluded that some ‘evil spirits’ might cause the symptoms. So her husband brought her to a Psychiatrist. On an in-depth assessment session, ensuring all the confidentiality issues, she told the Psychiatrist that she has a history of brutal sexual abuse followed by the threat to kill her by her stepfather at the age of fourteen.

Results

After a thorough medical workup and history gathering, her consultant psychiatrist could elucidate the source of the presenting picture and told her that she developed haphephobia, and suggested taking psychotherapy along with prescribed medicines.

Conclusions

Fear of being touched is a particularly difficult fear to cope with. Patients with haphephobia after sexual assault should be handled very cautiously by the experts keeping confidentiality issues in mind. Cognitive-behavior therapy, Exposure therapy, Virtual reality exposure therapy, practicing mindfulness, using daily coping strategies, and medications like beta-blockers, anxiolytics, antidepressants can help a person to overcome haphephobia.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Body dysmorphic disorder treatment: about a clinical case
Authors: André R. , Azevedo F. , Gonçalves M. , Romão J. , Saraiva R. , Croca M. , Abreu M.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a relatively common disorder characterized by a preoccupation with non-existent or slight defects in appearance. It was first described in 1886 by Morselli as dysmorphophobia.

Objectives

This work reviews the current available data on BDD and its treatment options and describes a clinical case that reports an improvement in symptomatology after surgery.

Methods

Non-systematic review of the literature with selection of scientific articles published in the past 10 years; by searching Pubmed and Medscape databases using the combination of MeSH descriptors. The following MeSH terms were used: “body dysmorphic disorder”, “dysmorphophobia”. Clinical file consultation.

Results

The usual treatment involves a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. Antidepressant medication, mainly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been used. If the symptoms do not improve, a different SSRI can be considered or clomipramine, venlafaxine or second-generation antipsychotics can be useful.

Conclusions

The role of surgery remains controversial, several studies indicating that the symptoms typically worsen after an aesthetic procedure because the preoccupation shifts to a different body area. However a recent study reported 32 of the 41 patients that underwent surgery were highly satisfied with the outcome. In our clinical case, our patient, a 20-year-old female with non-delusional dysmorphic ideas about her nose initiated treatment with paroxetine with poor response and was, against medical opinion, submitted to a rhinoplasty. Three weeks after the surgery there was an improvement in preoccupation about her nose. More research should be made to clarify the role of surgery in this disorder that often lacks adequate therapeutical response.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Does Prediction Machines Predict Our AI Future? A Review
Authors: Kotlikoff Laurence
Published: September 2022

Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence, by artificial intelligence (AI) experts, Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans, and Avi Goldfarb, pulls no punches. AI is all about prediction—machines learning precisely what to do for us and to us. The learning is occurring at warp speed, as AI uses big data to pick our brains for what we know and what we like. The authors are partly infatuated and partly terrified by AI’s parasitic potential. Readers should read this chilling and insightful book, but they should do so with a bottle of scotch, ideally from one of Scotland’s ancient distilleries that has recently been fully automated. (JEL C45, C55, E26, M10, M20, O30)
The Economics of Tobacco Regulation: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: DeCicca Philip , Kenkel Donald , Lovenheim Michael F.
Published: September 2022

Tobacco regulation has been a major component of health policy in the developed world since the UK Royal College of Physicians’ and the US Surgeon General’s reports in the 1960s. Such regulation, which has intensified in the past two decades, includes cigarette taxation, place-based smoking bans in areas ranging from bars and restaurants to workplaces, and regulations designed to make tobacco products less desirable. More recently, the availability of alternative products, most notably e-cigarettes, has increased dramatically, and these products are just starting to be regulated. Despite an extensive body of research on tobacco regulations, there remains substantial debate regarding their effectiveness, and ultimately, their impact on economic welfare. We provide the first comprehensive review of the state of research in the economics of tobacco regulation in two decades. (JEL D62, H25, H26, I12, K32, L51, L66)
The Microeconomics of Cryptocurrencies
Authors: Halaburda Hanna , Haeringer Guillaume , Gans Joshua , Gandal Neil
Published: September 2022

Since its launch in 2009 much has been written about Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and blockchains. While the discussions initially took place mostly on blogs and other popular media, we now are witnessing the emergence of a growing body of rigorous academic research on these topics. By the nature of the phenomenon analyzed, this research spans many academic disciplines including macroeconomics, law and economics, and computer science. This survey focuses on the microeconomics of crypto-currencies themselves. What drives their supply, demand, trading price, and competition amongst them? This literature has been emerging over the past decade and the purpose of this paper is to summarize its main findings so as to establish a base upon which future research can be conducted. (JEL D82, E42, G12)
Free and Open-Source Software: Freedom, Transparency and Efficiency in the Digitalization Era
Authors: Prokakis Emmanouil
Published: September 2022

Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) has grown substantially over the past decades, becoming an essential part of the modern world. FOSS refers to software that preserves the user’s freedom to read the program’s source code, make modifications and redistribute it. Since the source code is open and accessible to everyone, the user is not only permitted, but also encouraged to make modifications to the software to fill specific needs. Corporations utilize that capability to get access to specifically tailored software for their needs, while proprietary software fails to meet that promise due to providing a standardized package of the software, adopting a one-size-fits-all approach. Therefore, FOSS allows for a more efficient fulfillment of software needs. Additionally, FOSS can play an important role in the protection of human rights in the digital realm, particularly in the case of the right to privacy. Because of its transparent nature, FOSS is more respectful towards the user’s privacy, compared to proprietary software, since the latter restricts the user from knowing the program’s under the hood functionality. With closed source software, arises a problem of asymmetric information between the software company and the consumer. FOSS offers a solution to this information asymmetry, by allowing users to obtain information about the inner workings of the program they rely upon. Through FOSS, the imbalance of power between the developer and the user disintegrates.
Infective endocarditis - a challenge for modern medicine. Review
Authors: Dobrzyński Michał , Czarnota Jakub , Skubel Tomasz , Rybak Natalia
Published: September 2022

Infective endocarditis (IE) is defined by a focus of infection within the heart and is a feared disease across the field of cardiology. Prevalence varies from country to country, remaining in the range of 3-10/100 000 a year.  Despite optimal care, mortality approaches 30% at 1 year. With an ageing population and increasing use of implantable cardiac devices and heart valves, the epidemiology of IE has changed. The microbiology of the disease has also changed, and staphylococci, most often associated with health-care contact and invasive procedures, have overtaken streptococci as the most common cause of the disease. The main lesions of IE are vegetations which cause emboli and destruction of valvular and/or perivalvular tissues leading to acute valvular regurgitations. Two main treatment pathways include antibiotic therapy and surgery The key to choosing the correct and most effective  path is early diagnosis.  The challenges posed by infective endocarditis are significant and therefore need further evaluation.
Visceral artery aneurysms - review
Authors: Żyga Justyna , Wysokińska Olga , Małek Anna , Zadrożna Karolina , Iwaniszyn-Zapołoch Klara
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Visceral artery aneurysms remain a rare condition. A rupture is the dangerous complication, which occurs in about 10-20% of the cases, they have a high mortality rate estimated up to 70%. Rupture percentage is higher in pregnancy, up to 50%, with considerable mortality rates of 75% for the pregnant and 95% for the foetus. The most common location of abdominal aneurysm is splenic artery with prevalence of 60% out of visceral aneurysms affecting this vessel. Since they are asymptomatic in 95% of cases, they are usually a random finding of examinations performed for other indications. 

State of knowledge: Patients with a suspected visceral aneurysm are qualified for ultrasound as the first line examination, but currently computed tomography is the most favourable method. Catheter-based angiography is considered to be the gold standard. It allows precise identification of the location of aneurysm and its morphology. For the treatment of visceral artery aneurysms numerous ways are available, however the endovascular method is recommended as the first choice in most cases.

Conclusions: Visceral artery aneurysms are a rare but potentially fatal pathology. The silent nature makes it difficult to diagnose. When recognised, aneurysms should be treated immediately, since rupture is associated with a considerable high mortality rate. Open and endovascular interventions are equally durable for elective repair of visceral artery aneurysms, but endovascular interventions are considered to be safe and effective, resulting in lower morbidity and mortality rate. There is a need for further large studies evaluating effectiveness and long-term outcome of endovascular treatment.
Los Campesinos Caficultores de Oaxaca y la Soberanía Alimentaria.
Authors: Sánchez-Juárez Gladys-Karina
Published: September 2022

A partir de la declaración que emitió la Asamblea General de la Organización de Naciones Unidas sobre campesinos, surge la inquietud de analizar la importancia del reconocimiento internacional de los humanos focalizados para personas que viven en y del campo. Ante ello, esta investigación tiene el objetivo de exponer el papel que cumplen los campesinos organizados que producen café orgánico y de comercio justo en el proceso de soberanía alimentaria de México. Con entrevistas realizadas a familias campesinas, en este trabajo se destaca que a pesar de las crisis que enfrenta el campesinado, realizan grandes aportaciones a la soberanía alimentaria, en particular quienes están organizados en cooperativas de larga trayectoria como lo es la Coordinadora Estatal de Productores de Café del estado de Oaxaca (CEPCO), que pese a enfrentar políticas de exterminio, de liberalización comercial y hasta de carácter climático, estos campesinos persisten en sus formas de vida, además de aportar alimentos de elevada calidad para la sociedad urbana.
Continuous Patrolling Games
Authors: Alpern Steve , Bui Thuy , Lidbetter Thomas , Papadaki Katerina
Published: September 2022

Continuous Patrolling

Sometimes it is necessary to have a Patroller (on foot, in a car, or maybe a drone) move around a network so as to prevent an intruder (the Attacker) from infiltrating or otherwise ruining the network operation. The “attack” could be, for example, removing a painting from the Louvre, crossing a border, or planting a bomb. The first possibility could take place at only a discrete set of points on the network, say, nodes. However, the last two types of attack could take place anywhere. The latter continuous problem has been modelled as a game by Steve Alpern, Thuy Bui, Thomas Lidbetter, and Katerina Papadaki in the article “Continuous Patrolling Games.” The Attacker decides when and where to attack (the duration of the attack is specified by the problem), whereas the Patroller chooses a unit speed path, possibly periodic. If the Patroller passes the attacked point while the attack is going on, he wins the game, as the attack is thwarted. Otherwise the attack is successful, and the Attacker wins the game. The authors determine optimal strategies for both players for many classes of networks and find good strategies that work on any network. These ideas could be adapted to real-life patrolling problems on networks.
Distributionally Robust Losses for Latent Covariate Mixtures
Authors: Duchi John , Hashimoto Tatsunori , Namkoong Hongseok
Published: September 2022

Reliable Machine Learning via Structured Distributionally Robust Optimization

Data sets used to train machine learning (ML) models often suffer from sampling biases and underrepresent marginalized groups. Standard machine learning models are trained to optimize average performance and perform poorly on tail subpopulations. In “Distributionally Robust Losses for Latent Covariate Mixtures,” John Duchi, Tatsunori Hashimoto, and Hongseok Namkoong formulate a DRO approach for training ML models to perform uniformly well over subpopulations. They design a worst case optimization procedure over structured distribution shifts salient in predictive applications: shifts in (a subset of) covariates. The authors propose a convex procedure that controls worst case subpopulation performance and provide finite-sample (nonparametric) convergence guarantees. Empirically, they demonstrate their worst case procedure on lexical similarity, wine quality, and recidivism prediction tasks and observe significantly improved performance across unseen subpopulations.
Managing children with an inherited cardiovascular condition in school
Authors: Renwick Catherine
Published: September 2022

Inherited cardiovascular conditions (ICC) predisposing to lethal arrhythmias are increasingly diagnosed in childhood. Management strategies aim to reduce symptoms and prevent sudden death, and include daily medications and lifestyle modification. Children spend a large proportion of their time at school. The responsibility for monitoring and responding to symptoms, ensuring medication regimes are adhered to, and providing life-saving treatment in the event of collapse is assumed by non-medical professionals. Strategies to support non-medical professionals within schools, plus health-care professionals, such as school nurses who may have little experience caring for affected children, should be employed to ensure they are well informed about the condition and its management. Affected children should be supported to achieve their full academic ability and should not be limited unnecessarily or disadvantaged as a result.
TELEKOMÜNİKASYON ŞİRKETLERİ TARAFINDAN İŞ HAYATINA YÖNELİK HAZIRLANMIŞ REKLAM KAMPANYALARINDAKİ ÇERÇEVELEME ETKİSİNİN İNCELENMESİ: İŞ-TURKCELL ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: KIZIL EROL Kader , TOMRİS KÜÇÜN Nihan , GÜNGÖR Sezen
Published: September 2022

Telekomünikasyon firmalarının, artan teknolojik gelişmeler ışığında çeşitlendirdikleri hizmetler, nihayet iş hayatına da yansımıştır. Microsoft için yapılan bir araştırmada teknolojiyi etkin kullanan KOBİ’lerin (küçük ve orta ölçekli işletme) satış oranlarının, yeni teknolojiyi benimsemeyen şirketlere nazaran %15 daha hızlı arttığı şeklindeki bulgu, teknolojik çözüm desteklerinin önemini vurgulamaktadır. Dolayısıyla, günümüzde pek çok operatör tarafından hem KOBİ düzeyindeki firmalara hem de büyük ölçekli firmalara teknolojik çözümler sunulmaktadır.

Bu çalışmada, Turkcell tarafından şirketlere sunulan teknolojik çözümleri pazarlamak için hazırlanmış reklamlarının içerik analizi yapılmıştır. Çalışmanın amacı, yapılan içerik analizinde ortaya çıkan çerçeveleme eğilimini belirlemektir. Bu amaçla, Turkcell tarafından gösterime konulan reklamların metinleri incelenmiş ve metinlerde yer alan olumlu-olumsuz çerçeveler saptanmıştır. İlgili analiz harekete geçirici cümleler ve hikayeleştirme tekniği kullanılan reklamlar ekseninde incelenmiş olup markanın genel iletişim stratejisi bağlamında tartışılmıştır.

Elde edilen sonuçlar markanın, hedef kitleye göre özelleştirilen bir iletişim tasarımı gerçekleştirdiğini ve bu kapsamda konumlandırma faaliyetlerini yürüttüğünü ortaya koymaktadır. Markanın yıllar içinde rekabet gücünü temellendirdiği değerler kendi içinde önemli bir uyum ve tutarlılığa sahip bulunmuştur.
TEORIA DA ATRIBUIÇÃO E DO NÍVEL DE INTERPRETAÇÃO EM RELAÇÃO À PROBLEMÁTICA AMBIENTAL
Authors: Andreoli Taís Pasquotto , Campi Prearo Leandro
Published: September 2022

O trabalho teve como objetivo verificar as teorias da atribuição e do nível de interpretação em relação à problemática ambiental, aqui especificamente concernente aos resíduos (lixo). Sendo assim, elaborou-se um referencial teórico acerca da evolução da discussão ambiental e da emergência dos conceitos de desenvolvimento sustentável e sustentabilidade, bem como sobre as teorias da atribuição e do nível de interpretação. O método se caracterizou por uma abordagem quantitativa, realizada por meio de uma série de nove levantamentos (surveys) junto a 259 participantes, investigando a qual agente os participantes atribuíam a culpa pela geração de lixo, de acordo com diversas manipulações no texto informativo. Com isso, sobressaiu a clara dificuldade e resistência dos participantes em assumir sua parcela de culpa pelo lixo e/ou se aproximar dessa, sendo      repetidamente      atribuída      culpa para os demais agentes. Isso aconteceu apesar do informe gradualmente mais incisivo no decorrer dos tratamentos empregados. Como consequência, reflete-se uma tendência de distanciamento e abstração quanto às questões ambientais, o que pode contribuir para um baixo engajamento em atitudes posteriores relacionadas a      isso.
COMÉRCIO JUSTO E HIBRIDISMO ORGANIZACIONAL: Refletindo sobre o arranjo organizacional das cooperativas certificadas pelo Fairtrade
Authors: Carlos Cezar Layon , Reis Rosa Alexandre
Published: September 2022

O objetivo deste estudo é compreender como os mecanismos da certificação Fairtrade influenciam no arranjo organizacional das cooperativas enquanto organizações híbridas. Fundamentando no hibridismo organizacional como base teórica, o estudo se guia pelas contribuições dos estudiosos interpretativistas de gestão, que consideram as cooperativas como organizações sociais híbridas. Esta investigação estrutura-se como uma pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter exploratório, realizada a partir de um estudo de caso em uma cooperativa de cafeicultores Fairtrade do Espírito Santo. Como instrumento de coleta de dados foi utilizada da triangulação de técnicas, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, observação não participante e documentos, analisados a partir da análise de conteúdo. Os principais resultados apontaram a necessidade de forjar o arranjo da cooperativa ao desenho do Fairtrade, para se adequar aos instrumentos normativos, criando mecanismos de governança específicos para evitar a perda de legitimidade.
Biological Aspect of the Grey-eel catfish in Kuala Langsa Estuaries, Aceh
Authors: Haser Teuku Fadlon , Nurdin Muh Saleh , Azmi Fauziah , Isma Muhammad Fauzan , Febri Suri Purnama , Supriyono Eddy , Mellisa Siska
Published: September 2022

The grey-eel catfish is a highly valued fish species in some parts of Indonesia. The fish is common in brackish water of estuaries, marine and freshwater habitat. They are not are not usually catched in commercial scale because of the limited population in its habitat. Although the status is not evaluated, the fish is predicted facing extinction in several countries. We conducted a study to examine the biological information and reproductive biology of the fish in Kota Langsa to gather information that can be utilize to evaluate reproductive status of the fish in several habitats. Parameters tested in the study includes sex ratio, length-weight relationships, candition factor, size at first maturity fecundity and reproductive potential of the fish. Research results provide information that the fish follows negative allometric model with constant condition factor throughout the study. The catches were relatively young fish which have not reached maturity stage. Fishes in the class sized at 510-550 mm provide the largest contribution to total eggs production. To ensure sustainability of the fish it is advised that the fish must catched at size larger than 550 mm.
Noise analysis of optoelectronic oscillators in the presence of the relative intensity noise of the laser
Authors: Jahanbakht Sajad
Published: September 2022

Optoelectronic oscillators (OEOs) have recently been considered very good candidates for producing ultra-low phase noise radio frequency (RF) oscillations. One of the most important noise sources of any OEO is the relative intensity noise (RIN) of the optical field in the optical part of this system. It is the dominant noise source in some OEO cases. The initial source of the RIN is the laser; however, it may be largely enhanced in the fiber by some phenomena such as the guided entropy mode Rayleigh scattering. Here a frequency domain analysis approach is introduced to separately analyze the effect of both the low-frequency RIN (LFRIN) and the high-frequency RIN (HFRIN), i.e., the RIN around the RF harmonics, on both the phase and amplitude noises of the delay-based single-loop/dual-loop OEOs. The presented approach can take into account the RIN at both the input and the output of the optical fibers. The measured or analytical nonlinear gain function of the photodetector and the RF amplifier can be taken into account to accurately characterize the important effect of the amplitude noise to phase noise (AN-PN) conversion. It is shown that the AN-PN conversion can largely enhance the LFRIN-induced phase noise. Also, to a much lesser degree, it can enhance the HFRIN-induced phase noise. Furthermore, it is shown that the AN-PN conversion reduces the HFRIN- and LFRIN-induced amplitude noise. It is also shown that the fibers’ dispersion has a small effect on the phase/amplitude noise power induced by either LFRIN or the HFRIN, especially for smaller fiber lengths. The validity of the new analysis approach is verified by comparing its results with those of the previously published works in the literature.
Ultrafast Switching with Nonlinear Optics in Thin Films
Authors: Steinecke Morten , Jupé Marco , Wienke Andreas , Ristau Detlev
Published: September 2022

The paper presents a concept for an optical switch based on the optical Kerr-effect, as well as insight into the design of the layer stack, suitable materials and measurements of the switching behavior.
A Method to Characterize the Quality of Interface Adhesion of Glass Substrates Using Damage Induced by Femtosecond Laser
Authors: Zhou Jansen , Liu Zhongqiang , Sanderson Joe , Zhou Norman , Mayer Michael
Published: September 2022

A method is introduced to characterize glass bond quality using femtosecond (fs) laser induced damage. Damage spots are observed in some areas, but not others. This suggests a generally strong bond, with some inclusions.
Investigation on the impact of stress on short pulse laser damage threshold on MLD coating
Authors: Chorel Marine , Lavastre Éric , Lanternier Thomas , Roquin Nadja , Leymarie Christophe , Lamaignère Laurent , Néauport Jérôme
Published: September 2022

The potential effect of stress on the LIDT of MLD coatings is investigated. No significant variations are observed, indicating the LIDT fluctuation with the environment are not due to stress but refractive index variations.
SiO2 and TiO2 encapsulation of light interference pigments by Fluidized Bed Chemical Vapor Deposition (FBCVD)
Authors: Qian Jincheng , Zabeida Oleg , Argoitia Alberto , Sargent Robert , Klemberg-Sapieha Jolanta , Martinu Ludvik
Published: September 2022

SiO2 and TiO2 coatings were deposited by using fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition (FBCVD) process on the light interference pigments made of multi-layer flakes to improve their corrosion resistance for waterborne applications.
Surface Texturing and Hybrid Optical Thin Films for by-Design Enhanced Light Harvesting
Authors: Le Rouzo J. , Duché D. , Ruiz-Herrero C. , Simon J-J. , Ackermann J. , Margeat O. , Sciacca B. , Berginc G. , Escoubas L.
Published: September 2022

In this paper we will detail several photonic structures, made of
hybrid optical thin films, allowing optimized light trapping. Energy
field is one of our main goal applications for this study.
Combining Sol-Gel and Evaporative Coating Techniques to Produce High-Solar Reflectivity, High-Contrast Variable Emissivity Coatings using Vanadium Dioxide
Authors: Woolf David N. , Hessel Colin M. , Wright Albert G. , Hensley Joel M. , Wan Chenghao , Xiao Yuzhe , King Jonathan , Kats Mikhail A.
Published: September 2022

We demonstrated a variable-emissivity coating incorporating vanadium dioxide with an integrated hemispherical emissivity that is switchable between values of 0.79 (maximum) and 0.17 (minimum) using sol-gel and evaporative coating techniques.