bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Equivalencia de las formas alternativas del ‘Montreal Cognitive Assessment’ (MoCA) en el cribado del deterioro cognitivo en adultos mayores
Authors: Pereiro Arturo X. , Bugallo Carrera Cesar
Published: July 2024

Antecedentes: La detección a través de tests cognitivos breves suele ser el procedimiento de elección preferente para determinar la presencia de deterioro cognitivo objetivo. Entre los instrumentos breves de uso más frecuente está el ‘Montreal Cognitive Assessment’ (MoCA). Elaborado específicamente para la identificación del Deterioro Cognitivo Ligero (DCL) en adultos mayores, dispone de tres versiones que permiten reducir las probabilidades de contaminar las evaluaciones repetidas con el efecto de la práctica. Nos proponemos realizar una revisión sistemática dirigida explorar las características psicométricas de las formas alternativas de las versiones del MoCA y analizar su equivalencia. Método: se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos Web of Science, Medline y PsycINFO siguiendo las directrices de la guía PRISMA para revisiones sistemáticas y metaanálisis. La calidad de los artículos fue evaluada utilizando adaptación de la guía COSMIN. Resultados: se seleccionaron ocho artículos que incluyen información psicométrica de al menos dos versiones del instrumento. Conclusiones: Los estudios sobre la equivalencia de las versiones del MoCA son escasos y diversos lo que dificulta sacar conclusiones válidas. Los datos disponibles sugieren que en la versión original se incluyen ítems más difíciles y puntúa más bajo, especialmente al compararla con la versión 7.3 del instrumento.
El impacto de los discursos innovadores en la escuela: un estudio de caso
Authors: Luna Diego , Pineda-Alfonso José Antonio
Published: July 2024

Uno de los principales retos de la investigación educativa actual es el de comprender el verdadero impacto que los discursos innovadores (sobre metodologías activas, aprendizaje competencial, TIC, etc.) están generando en los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Asumiendo esta premisa, el trabajo que aquí se presenta tomó como caso de estudio las clases de Geografía e Historia en Educación Secundaria de uno de los autores. Estas fueron concebidas como un dispositivo donde los pensamientos, acciones e intenciones de los participantes de la investigación, el docente-investigador y su alumnado, eran condicionados por un conjunto de significados procedentes de cuatro campos discursivos distintos: el marco normativo, el centro educativo privado, el Departamento de Ciencias Sociales y las propias clases de Geografía e Historia. Con apoyo en los métodos de la autoetnografía y el análisis crítico del discurso, los doce textos conformantes del corpus utilizado fueron sometidos a un procedimiento analítico articulado en cuatro fases: preanálisis, análisis lexicométrico, de contenido y lingüístico. Los resultados obtenidos permitieron confirmar empíricamente la brecha entre discursos innovadores y realidades escolares ya señalada por algunos autores, si bien revelaron la existencia de múltiples dificultades y problemas desapercibidos hasta el momento. Frente a una literatura excesivamente indulgente con los nuevos discursos educativos, las conclusiones obtenidas coinciden en que, en contextos como el correspondiente a este estudio, la innovación educativa está siendo concebida y practicada en clave mercantilista, como una moda, representando un síntoma más del modelo educativo neoliberal.
Caracterización de la memoria de trabajo, el estilo cognitivo y el rendimiento académico en matemáticas de estudiantes de 9-14 años, según su género y edad
Authors: Flórez Durango Ana María , Herrera Escudero Valentina , Toro Carlos Andrés , Montoya Zuluaga Paula Andrea
Published: July 2024

El propósito de este estudio fue caracterizar, según el género y la edad, la memoria de trabajo, el estilo cognitivo dependencia-independencia de campo y el rendimiento académico en matemáticas de 87 estudiantes con edades comprendidas entre los 9 y 14 años. Se realizó un estudio con enfoque empírico-analítico, diseño no experimental transversal, nivel descriptivo.
En cuanto al género, los resultados revelaron que tanto hombres como mujeres presentaron en promedio un rendimiento académico alto en matemáticas. En la memoria de trabajo, ambos géneros se encontraron dentro del rango de la normalidad para el bucle fonológico y la agenda visoespacial; sin embargo, se observaron puntuaciones ligeramente más altas en los hombres. En cuanto al estilo cognitivo dependencia-independencia de campo, ambos géneros se ubicaron en un nivel intermedio de campo. En cuanto a la edad, se encontró que en la agenda viso espacial, los hombres menores obtuvieron en promedio puntuaciones más bajas, mientras que, en el bucle fonológico, los niños de 14 años obtuvieron puntuaciones más altas. En cuanto al estilo cognitivo, se observó un aumento en las puntuaciones a medida que aumentaba la edad. Finalmente, en el rendimiento académico se encontró que los niños de 9 a 11 años obtuvieron un rendimiento académico alto en promedio, mientras que los mayores obtuvieron un rendimiento básico.
Estos hallazgos sugieren que tanto la memoria de trabajo como el estilo cognitivo pueden desempeñar un papel crucial en el rendimiento académico en matemáticas, y podrían ser factores determinantes en las diferencias observadas en esta área. Se presentan las limitaciones del estudio y sugerencias para la educación.
Evaluación de precursores para el inicio escolar a través de una batería digital
Authors: Pujals Maria , Victorio Mendivelzúa Alejandra , Ruiz Díaz Juan Ignacio , Gasaneo Gustavo , Viviana Rodríguez Karina
Published: July 2024

Las últimas investigaciones en el área de la psicología cognitiva, la neuroeducación y la pedagogía reconocen la importancia de la estimulación temprana y la educación de calidad en los niños pequeños para un mejor desarrollo cognitivo posterior. La evaluación temprana permite identificar habilidades y competencias para un adecuado inicio escolar. La observación de los precursores del aprendizaje ayuda en la prevención tanto en la práctica educativa como en la tarea clínica.  En este contexto una correcta evaluación permite: ofrecer instrucción adecuada a las necesidades individuales de los alumnos, tomar decisiones basadas en datos objetivos que puedan estandarizarse, detectar e intervenir tempranamente a los alumnos en situación de riesgo en   los aprendizajes instrumentales básicos: lectura, escritura y cálculo. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar una batería en formato digital, Evaluación de Competencias para el Inicio Escolar (Batería CIE) para evaluar las competencias cognitivas básicas para el inicio escolar a través de pruebas predictoras del desempeño académico. La presentación, la evaluación y el procesamiento final de los datos se realiza en forma digitalizada. Es aplicable a fines del Nivel Inicial o principios de Nivel Primario. Se inspira en modelos teóricos consolidados: la hipótesis fonológica, el modelo simple de lectura, el modelo de Repuesta a la Intervención (RTI) y las últimas investigaciones de las neurociencias acerca de los precursores del conocimiento matemático y lingüístico. Se evaluó a 280 niños de 5 años de nivel socioeconómico medio y bajo del área metropolitana de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Los resultados obtenidos muestran una buena fiabilidad y una alta validez de constructo de la prueba. Se configuraron valores normativos en cuartiles y puntos de corte. Los resultados en conjunto permiten sostener que la Batería CIE es una herramienta confiable para analizar las habilidades estrechamente vinculadas con el aprendizaje escolar. La aplicación de esta batería permitirió identificar niños en riesgo de presentar dificultades de aprendizaje de manera temprana, para poder intervenir lo más tempranamente posible. La utilización de las Nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (NTIC) acerca a las escuelas herramientas confiables y necesarias.
Alfabetización e inteligencia artificial
Authors: Gatti Alberto
Published: July 2024

Este artículo propone reflexionar sobre la evolución de la inteligencia artificial. Sostiene que el impacto de la inteligencia artificial generativa, como el ChatGPT, constituye un nuevo hito en la historia de la lectura y la escritura. Si todas las revoluciones tecnológicas han producido cambios subjetivos, la humanidad está invitada a concebir qué consecuencias está teniendo y tendrá en el proceso de hominización la creación del ChatGPT. La preocupación sobre el efecto de la delegación cognitiva a las máquinas es un tema central del trabajo. Al permitir que una IA realice tareas de escritura o análisis de textos, podríamos estar externalizando el pensamiento crítico y la reflexión, procesos que tradicionalmente han contribuido al desarrollo del conocimiento y la comprensión profunda. No obstante, el ChatGPT también podría transformarse en una herramienta capaz de ejercitar el pensamiento de una manera diferente y efectiva. El texto plantea cuestiones importantes sobre el futuro de la alfabetización y el aprendizaje, interpelando a las instituciones educativas a repensarse frente a este cambio. Se propone no estar solo atentos a la delegación cognitiva, sino también a la habilitación de nuevos modos de pensar. Por ello, se promueve desplegar una interacción usuario-chat que no solo permita evaluar los alcances y límites de la herramienta, sino también la reflexión del usuario sobre la efectividad de su prompteo.
La metodologia SAPIENS entra a l'institut (projecte de recerca, 4t d'ESO)
Authors: Planas de Farnés Montse
Published: July 2024

S’aposta per exportar, a l’àmbit educatiu, el projecte de la metodologia Sapiens de ElBulliFoundation (creat en el món culinari). Aquest aporta unes pautes, detallades i marcades (alhora flexibles i adaptables a les diferents situacions) que permeten iniciar-se a fer una investigació sobre un tema malgrat no ser un científic expert i no tenir una hipòtesi definida.
L’objectiu d’aquesta pràctica és provar Sapiens, com a metodologia que permet, a l’alumnat d’un grup de diversitat de 4t d’ESO, iniciar-se a fer una recerca científica. Proporcionar eines més pautades i recursos amb un nou enfoc per a fer anàlisis i estudis.
Es vol donar a conèixer aquest nou estil de recerca a l’equip docent, i fer-los-ho experimentar.
Seguint el currículum marcat per la Generalitat de Catalunya,  els alumnes de 4ESO del grup de diversitat (Projecte singular- Conveni) han realitzat el Projecte de recerca dels oficis seguint aquesta nova estructura.
Es parteix d'una anàlisi qualitativa, holista, que assumeix una realitat dinàmica. Es treballa des d’un paradigma constructivista, partint de la lògica inductiva. S’observen i s’estudien els significats dels fets i els seus comportaments. Es vol entendre el context, les persones i les interaccions que s’hi donen.
A nivell general, la valoració ha estat molt bona des de tots els vessants: els alumnes han estat pautats i, en tot moment, sabien com podien avançar de manera autònoma sense demanar ajuda constant ni aprovació, no han necessitat atenció individualitzada. Han desenvolupat la seva recerca i la seva comunicació oral a final del procés seguint els passos que ofereix Sapiens.
A nivell docent ha estat qualificat com a sistema de treball eficaç i eficient, fàcilment extrapolable a diferents tasques i/o àmbits de treball.
L’experiència ha estat exitosa, emocionant i molt bonica. Ha permès aplicar el disseny universal d’aprenentatge (DUA), eliminant barreres d’accés i permetent una inclusió real de l’alumnat en la tasca. Tot l’alumnat del grup ha conegut en profunditat un ofici que havia existit i ha comprovat si ha continuat en el temps, potser reinventat? o bé s’ha perdut i ha quedat en el record.
Intervenciones neurodidácticas en el nivel secundario. Estrategias para potenciar las funciones ejecutivas en el aula
Authors: Muchiut Álvaro Federico , Passamani Ariel Horacio , Sosa Sixto Emmanuel , Alegre Rosana Elisabeth
Published: July 2024

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo socializar prácticas docentes que evidencian la aplicabilidad de las neurociencias en el aula. Para ello, se presenta una experiencia en la que se integró la neurodidáctica con las estrategias pedagógicas de los docentes para estimular las funciones ejecutivas en el salón de clases del nivel secundario. En este estudio participaron 25 docentes, divididos por afinidad temática en departamentos (ciencias sociales, ciencias exactas y naturales, prácticas del lenguaje, artística). Los docentes sistematizaron actividades pedagógicas atendiendo a las distintas funciones ejecutivas. Esta experiencia muestra la importancia de la intervención ecológica, en la que los educadores, desde sus espacios curriculares y los programas establecidos, intervienen en favor del mejoramiento de las funciones ejecutivas.
Listening to Amīr Ḳhusraw in the Mughal Court: Indian Sultanate Epistemologies of Persian Music and the Construction of Hindustani Music History in the Mughal Imaginary
Authors: Hofmann William Rees
Published: July 2024

Abstract: The history and development of North Indian (Hindustani) classical music is still viewed today as the result of a process of synthesis, syncretism, and hybridity between Indian and Persian systems of music. Central to this narrative is the Indo-Persian poet and courtier Amīr Ḳhusraw (1253–1325), often seen as the father of Sufi qawwālī and the classical ḳhayāl genre. This article both offers a reconsideration of the traditional historiography surrounding Ḳhusraw and his role in the development of Hindu-stani music tradition through his own writings on music and locates our modern-day understanding of his musical innovations in the Mughal reception of his legacy.
Toward a Dialectical Understanding of North Indian Drumming Traditions: Musical Labor, Dance, and the Folk/Classical Distinction in Banaras
Authors: Kelley Vincent D.
Published: July 2024

Abstracts: The distinction between “ folk” and “classical” is frequently invoked in discourses about North Indian music. This article investigates drumming traditions in the North Indian city of Banaras (Varanasi) to explore the nature of this distinction. Drawing on historical, ethnographic, and formalist methodologies, it proposes a dialectical approach to the study of drumming in North India. Particular attention is given to the structure of hereditary musical labor, the intertwined history of dancing and drumming, and the relationship between folk and classical drumming traditions in Banaras.
Sister Night, Hooded Justice, and Racial Reckoning in Watchmen
Authors: Mafe Diana Adesola
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACT: The television series Watchmen (HBO, 2019) is a reflection on the trauma of racism and the means by which Black people have survived and subverted that trauma. I read the protagonist Angela Abar/Sister Night and her grandfather Will Reeves/Hooded Justice as revisionist Black superheroes who facilitate the remembrance of Black histories. As police officers and costumed crimefighters, these characters balance the identities of Blackness and the law and complicate symbols such as the police badge. I argue that Will’s critical function is that of chronotope, a symbolic embodiment of time and space, and Angela’s most important role is to learn from and transcend her grandfather’s legacy. As such, this article offers an Afrofuturist and feminist interpretation of this acclaimed series.
The Queer Art of Feeling: Futurity, Fin de siglo , and New Queer Realism
Authors: Maguire Geoffrey
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACT: This article takes Lucio Castro’s Fin de siglo ( End of the Century , 2019) as a paradigmatic example of broader formal and aesthetic shifts in recent queer world film, most notably towards narrative slowness, a lack of dramatic tension, and an intimate focus on the quotidian realities of queer lives. Through the frameworks of new queer realism and queer futurity, the article contends that the screening of queer lives in a more realistic, observational manner is not a refusal of politics but rather a recalibration of the politics of queer representation for the contemporary period.
Pulp Fiction in the Press: 1990s Film Culture Writing and the Creation of Influence
Authors: Briggs Ryan David
Published: July 2024

Abstract: This paper argues that the enormous amount of 1990s in-print press coverage of Quentin Tarantino and Pulp Fiction (1994) was a crucial factor in establishing the film's early legacy. Trade journalists, film reviewers, and cultural commentators all built a sense that Pulp Fiction was the defining indie film of the 1990s, aligning it with the financial and cultural expansion of the indie film sector throughout the rest of the decade. Through the privileged positions these writers held in film culture, they circulated opinions and knowledge about Tarantino and Pulp Fiction , all the while imbuing the film with immense cultural value.
" Pulp Fiction Deserved to Win": Animating Affective Responses to Tarantino's Masterpiece
Authors: Devine Jonathan
Published: July 2024

Abstract: This article considers the intense and sustained fan reaction towards Pulp Fiction (since its 1994 release) through the lens of affect and animation. Specifically, the article draws on Sianne Ngai's concept of animatedness (the act of feeling and being moved) and Roland Barthes's idea of photography animating spectators in divergent and personal ways. Much of these animated and affective responses stem from Pulp Fiction losing to Forrest Gump (1994) at the 1995 Academy Awards, the latter often described as "one of the worst Best Picture winners ever." The faults of Forrest Gump enhance the qualities of Pulp Fiction , a symbiotic relationship formed over the past 30 years by such emotive and hyperbolic language.
Multiple Personalities of Pulp Fiction 's Musical Soundtrack: Liner Notes to a 30th Anniversary
Authors: Baugh Scott L.
Published: July 2024

Abstract: Pulp Fiction: Music from the Motion Picture was released in 1994 in coordination with the film Pulp Fiction (1994). Across the film's soundtrack album, variously considered an auteur mixtape, a compilation score, and its own rich text, music formulates a cast of characters alongside those more recognizable from the film's story. Critical analysis reveals multiple and multiply associative and disassociative personalities that afford innovative approaches to the role of the soundtrack and sound-plus-visual imagery in Pulp Fiction .
Stories, Frames, and Objects: Pulp Fiction as a Transitional Work
Authors: Britt Thomas
Published: July 2024

Abstract: This paper considers the bygone American independent film media landscape, of which Pulp Fiction (1994) was an essential part, and explores how the film has aged in light of the present media environment and the trajectory of Tarantino's career. I compare Pulp Fiction with the Coen brothers' Barton Fink (1991), another American independent film that preceded it by a few years. Then, I illustrate how Pulp Fiction synthesized classical and post-classical filmmaking styles and operated according to a visual minimalism that is one of the film's strengths. The primary outcome of revisiting Pulp Fiction as a product of both its time and its filmmaker's penchant for excavating material from older movies and stories is to conclude that the groundbreaking Pulp Fiction is, in many ways, a transitional work that often reduces its human characters to objects. I argue that later features from the filmmaker are more substantial in their human characters and a concern for social reality and consequences beyond the immediate frame.
Walking the Earth between Ezekiel and Kung Fu 's Caine: Pulp Fiction and 1990s (Popular) Culture between Irony and 'Reenchantment'
Authors: Biano Ilaria W.
Published: July 2024

Abstract: In the cultural milieu of the 1990s, Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994) emerges as a compelling exploration of spiritual and moral ambiguity. The film's flamboyantly postmodern narrative intertwines themes of grace and the miraculous, culminating in moments of profound existential reflection—with an ironic twist. Set against the backdrop of a post-Cold War era marked by uncertainty, disillusionment, and hope, Pulp Fiction navigates complex moral and ethical terrain. This paper analyzes Tarantino's movie alongside contemporaneous auteurs such as the Coens and Fincher, exploring their shared engagement with themes of justice, morality, and existential meaning. Through a lens of cultural reenchantment, these films illuminate the moral dilemmas of an era in transition.
"And Your Days Are Just About Over": Escaping the Outlived Era in Pulp Fiction and the Later Films of Quentin Tarantino
Authors: Henderson Kevin
Published: July 2024

Abstract: This essay argues that Pulp Fiction (1994) is a foundational text for Tarantino's recurrent explorations of awakening to—and trying to control the outcomes of—outliving one's era, especially when "one's era" is defined by a shared aesthetic, identity, code, and sense of purpose. Tarantino's characters cannot grasp the totality of their defining eras until signs indicate its eminent demise, at which point they face the existential crisis of wondering if their vocations allow any opportunities for escape. As a means of analyzing the "outlived era" in Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill (2003-2004), and Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood (2019), this essay also explores how Tarantino's metafictional engagement with film history and counterfactual rewriting of history allows his characters a means of transcending their eras.
The Many Voices of Sissieretta Jones: Opera and the Sonic Necromancy of the Black Phonographic Archive
Authors: Montgomery Westley
Published: July 2024

Abstract: Sissieretta Jones (1868-1933) is perhaps best remembered as one of the first Black opera singers, despite having never performed on the operatic stage. Exploring race and phonography as interlinking technologies of perception underlying and structuring the ability of audiences to perceive black performers, this essay analyzes the multiple Joneses produced through her archive—in reviews, promotional photographs and illustrations, and the absence of her phonographically recorded voice. Through this exploration, I argue that we must resist the drive to embalm the remains of performance in order to move toward a more multiple analysis of Black archives.
Augmented Reality and Theatre
Authors: Hunter E. B.
Published: July 2024

Abstract: The technology industry’s recent spatial turn presents new opportunities for theatre and performance in the twenty-first century. One such opportunity is augmented reality (AR), a technology that overlays digitally rendered assets onto the user’s physical space, giving the appearance that those assets populate the physical world. Through an analysis of The Builders Association’s Elements of Oz , which incorporated mobile AR into its stage production, as well as Bitter Wind , the author’s adaptation of Agamemnon for the Microsoft HoloLens headset, this essay analyzes the interpretive possibilities AR creates for theatre and performance.
A Ray Tracing Approach to Capillary-Based Backscattering Interferometry
Authors: Mueller Lisa , Hashley Jeremiah
Published: July 2024

Capillary-based backscattering interferometry has been used as a highly sensitive refractive index sensing tool to measure molecular binding. Generally, ray tracing is used to simulate the backscattered light from the specific capillary. Previous ray tracing models do not account for polarization effects, capillary dimensions and material choices, and other parameters that could change the interference patterns captured. Researchers from the United Kingdom have developed a comprehensive ray tracing model including many parameters not previously reported. The significance of the inner diameter, outer diameter, and the refractive index of the capillary material are shown to heavily influence the interference pattern. Potential designs are explored to measure sensitive temperature changes, and therefore refractive index changes, based on capillary characteristics.
Are social determinants associated with depression among married women of reproductive age? A mixed methods study from urban slums of Islamabad, Pakistan
Authors: Abdullah Muhammad Ahmed , Shaikh Babar Tasneem , Sattar Nargis Yousuf , Sarwar Balaj , Ahmed Ameer Sikander , Fatima Syeda Sara
Published: July 2024

Depression among married women of reproductive age is on the rise in Pakistan, owing to post-COVID-19 phase, super-inflation, increasing poverty, deteriorating law and order situation and perpetuating the uncertain political situation in the country. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with depression among married women of reproductive age in Pakistan, using a mixed methods approach. The quantitative phase utilized the Urdu version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depression among 340 married women. Twelve women with higher scores on the PHQ-9 were selected for in-depth interviews in the qualitative phase. The quantitative analysis revealed a higher prevalence of depression among women with poor socioeconomic status, lower educational levels, larger family sizes, and recent deaths in the family. In the qualitative phase, the main themes identified were the impact of social conditions, such as societal expectations and gender roles, the influence of medical conditions on mental health, financial difficulties, the stress associated with caring for a larger number of children, and the emotional burden of recent deaths in the family. This study highlights the importance of addressing depression among married women of reproductive age in Pakistan. It is crucial to focus on early diagnosis and prompt treatment to mitigate the adverse effects of depression on the affected individuals and their families. Targeted interventions should consider the social determinants of depression, including improving socioeconomic conditions through safety nets, providing mental health support at the primary health care level, and addressing the specific health issues and needs of women in the reproductive age group. A multi-pronged approach and health system’s thinking can reduce the burden of depression among women, ultimately enhancing their overall well-being, productivity and quality of life.
The effect of cue length and position on noticing and learning of determiner agreement pairings: Evidence from a cue-balanced artificial vocabulary learning task
Authors: Walter Daniel R. , Fischer Galya , Cai Janelle
Published: July 2024

The importance of cues in language learning has long been established and it is clear that cues are an essential part of both first language (L1) and second/additional language (L2/A) acquisition. The effects of cue reliability and frequency, along with the competition between cues have been shown to significantly impact learners’ pace of acquisition of these language-specific patterns. However, natural languages do not allow for a clear picture of how the forms of cues themselves affect their perception, uptake, and generalizability. In this study, we developed an artificial vocabulary consisting of determiners and nouns. Within these nouns, completely reliable cues were developed and equally distributed as long and short cues over three possible positions: beginning, middle, or end. Through a word-pair learning study, we show that length and position of cues variably affects agreement accuracy, and that noticing of cues during training is less important for known words, and more important for novel ones when deciding on inter-word gender-like agreement.
Translation of culturally and contextually informed diabetes training for Aboriginal primary health care providers on Aboriginal client outcomes: Protocol of a cluster randomized crossover trial of effectiveness
Authors: Pearson Odette , Ishaque Sana , Kumar Saravana , Jesudason David , Zimmet Paul , Mejia Gloria C. , Wittert Gary , Jones Sara , Giles Jane , Wischer Natalie , Zoungas Sophia , Crossing Sarah , Davey Sarah , Toohey Tinarra , Kaur Satinder , Brown Alex , Brodie Tina , Othman Shwikar , Morey Kim
Published: July 2024

Background

Indigenous populations globally have significantly high rates of type 2 diabetes compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts. This study aims to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally and contextually informed Aboriginal Diabetes Workforce Training Program on Aboriginal primary health care workforce knowledge, attitude, confidence, skill and practice relating to diabetes care.

Methods

A Cluster Randomised Crossover Control Trial with two arms (Group A and Group B) will be conducted with Aboriginal primary health care services in South Australia. These services primarily provide primary health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. All healthcare service sites will be randomised into groups A and B to receive the training program. The training program consists of three components: 1) Peer support network, 2) E-Learning modules and 3) onsite support. Aboriginal Health Workers of participating sites will be invited to participate in the monthly online peer support network and all chronic disease staff are eligible to participate in the E-Learning modules and onsite support. The Peer Support Network runs for the entirety of the study, 17 months. Training components 2 and 3 occur simultaneously and are 2.5 months in length, with a six-month washout period between the two randomised groups undertaking the training. All primary outcomes of the study relate to diabetes management in a primary health care settings and measure participants’ knowledge, attitude, confidence, practice and skills. These will be collected at seven time points across the entire study. Secondary outcomes measure satisfaction of the peer support network using a survey, interviews to understand enablers and barriers to participation, health service systems characteristics through focus groups, and medical record review to ascertain diabetes patients’ care received and their clinical outcomes up to 12 months post training intervention.

Discussion

The findings will explore the effectiveness of the training program on Aboriginal primary health care provider knowledge, attitude, confidence, skill and practice relating to diabetes care. The final findings will be published in 2027.

Trial registration

The study was prospectively registered in The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), with registration number ACTRN12623000749606 at ANZCTR - Registration. Universal Trial Number (UTN) U1111-1283-5257.
Digital economy, technological innovation, and sustainable development
Authors: He Wei-wei , He Shao-ling , Hou Hai-lan
Published: July 2024

This paper examines the impact of the digital economy on sustainable development, using panel data from cities at the prefecture level and above in China from 2011 to 2019. The results indicate: (1) The digital economy is conducive to boosting growth, increasing employment, reducing energy consumption, and cutting emissions, thereby promoting sustainable development. These findings prove robust. (2) Mechanism test outcomes reveal that, from the perspective of technological innovation, the digital economy can promote sustainable development through increasing R&D input and enhancing innovation output. (3) An extended analysis of the risk of a digital "divide" demonstrates that "dividend" of the digital economy is primarily manifests in spurring economic growth, enhancing energy efficiency, and strengthening environmental protection in lagging regions, while the digital "divide" effect is manifested in the stronger employment stimulating effect of developed regions versus backward areas. The results of this study not only enrich the relevant research system, but also provide empirical evidence to support accelerating digital transformation, strengthening technological innovation governance, and advancing sustainable development.
Pharmaceutical cost dynamics for the treatment of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in children and adolescents in South Africa, India, and the Philippines
Authors: Wilkinson Thomas , Garcia-Prats Anthony J. , Sachs Tina , Paradkar Mandar , Suryavanshi Nishi , Kinikar Aarti , Frias Melchor V. , Sinanovic Edina , Hesseling Anneke C. , Seddon James. A. , Palmer Megan
Published: July 2024

Rifampicin-resistant (RR) tuberculosis (TB) in children is a major global health concern but is often neglected in economics research. Accurate cost estimations across the spectrum of paediatric RR-TB treatment regimens are critical inputs for prioritisation and budgeting decisions, and an existing knowledge gap at local and international levels. This normative cost analysis was nested in a Phase I/II pharmacokinetics, safety, tolerability, and acceptability trial of TB medications in children in South Africa, the Philippines and India. It assessed the pharmaceutical costs of 36 childhood RR-TB regimens using combinations from 16 different medicines in 34 oral formulations (adult and child-friendly) in 11 weight bands in children <15 years of age. The analysis used local and Global Drug Facility pricing, and local and international guideline recommendations, including adaptions of BPaL and BPaLM regimens in adults. Costs varied significantly between regimen length, age/weight banding, severity of disease, presence of fluroquinolone resistance, and different country guideline recommendations. WHO recommended regimen costs ranged 12-fold: from US$232 per course (short regimen in non-severe disease) to US$2,761 (long regimen in severe, fluroquinolone-resistant disease). Regimen treating fluoroquinolone-resistant infection cost US$1,090 more than comparable WHO-recommended regimen. Providing child-friendly medicine formulations in <5-year-olds across all WHO-recommended regimens is expected to cost an additional $380 (range $212-$563) per child but is expected to have wider benefits including palatability, acceptability, adherence, tolerability, and dose accuracy. There were substantial differences in regimen affordability between countries when adjusted for purchasing power and domestic spending on health. Appropriate, effective, and affordable treatment options are an important component of the fight against childhood RR-TB. A comprehensive understanding of the cost and affordability dynamics of treatment options will enable national TB programs and global collaborations to make the best use of limited healthcare resources for the care of children with RR-TB.
Non-linear association of liver enzymes with cognitive performance in the elderly: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhang Yan-Li , Jia Shi-Ying , Yang Bo , Miao Jie , Su Chen , Cui Zhi-Gang , Yang Li-Ming , Guo Jun-Hong
Published: July 2024

Background

Although liver metabolic dysfunction has been found to potentially elevate susceptibility to cognitive impairment and dementia, there is still insufficient evidence to explore the non-linear association of liver enzymes with cognitive performance. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the non-linear relationship between liver enzymes and cognitive performance.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 2764 individuals aged ≥ 60 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2014 were included. The primary data comprised liver enzyme levels (alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), AST/ALT ratio, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)), and cognitive performance was the major measured outcome. The associations were analyzed using weighted multivariate logistic regression, subgroup analysis, a generalized additive model, smooth fitting curves, and threshold effects.

Results

The results of the fully adjusted model indicated that ALP was negatively associated with the animal fluency test (AFT) score (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.11–1.98), whereas ALT demonstrated a positive association with the consortium to establish a registry for Alzheimer’s disease (CERAD) test score (OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53–0.97). Additionally, the AST/ALT ratio was negatively associated with the global cognitive test (OR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.53–3.73), CERAD (OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.77–3.84), and digit symbol substitution test (DSST) scores (OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.57–4.02). GGT was also negatively associated with the AFT score (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01–1.33) in unadjusted model. A non-linear relationship was observed between liver enzymes and the risk of cognitive impairment as assessed by the global cognitive test. Specifically, when ALP > 60 U/L, 0.77 < AST/ALT < 1.76, and 25 < GGT < 94 U/L, higher liver enzyme levels were significantly associated with an elevated cognitive impairment risk, while a lower cognitive impairment risk when ALT level was > 17 U/L.

Conclusions

There is a non-linear relationship between liver enzymes and cognitive performance, indicating that liver enzyme levels should be maintained within a certain level to mitigate the risk of cognitive impairment.
How migration shapes modern contraceptive use among urban young women: Evidence from six African countries
Authors: Pinchoff Jessie , Pike Isabel , Austrian Karen , Grace Kathryn , Kabiru Caroline
Published: July 2024

Background

Internal migration is an important part of the transition to adulthood for many young people in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines how migration, in relation to marriage and parenthood, impacts modern contraceptive use and health facility visits amongst young urban women.

Methods

We draw on Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) surveys conducted in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda (2019–2022). Our analysis is unique in being able to adjust for whether women wanted to get pregnant soon. Our sample includes women ages 15–24 years currently residing in urban areas (n = 6,225). We conducted logistic regression models clustered by village level identifier to explore the sequence of life events and the timing of migration in relation to current modern contraceptive use and recent health facility visit, a proxy for engagement with formal health services.

Results

The timing of migration matters more than the sequence of these life events. Young urban women who experienced both migration and a birth, regardless of the order, had increased contraceptive use and recent health facility visit, compared to women who had only experienced one event or neither. Young women who migrated in the past year had 24% lower odds of using a modern method (Odds Ratio = 0.76; 95% confidence interval 0.63, 0.91), adjusting for demographic factors and adjusting for fertility preference (Wanting to get pregnant soon). Having had a birth was highly significant for health facility visit and among women who had had a birth, those who migrated in the last year had lower odds of a recent visit (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.41, 0.89). Results suggest an initially disruptive effect of migration.

Discussion

Our results suggest young women who recently migrated to urban areas may need additional support in accessing contraception and formal health services for themselves or their children.
Prediction of carbon emissions from public buildings in China’s Coastal Provinces under different scenarios ——A case study of Fujian Province
Authors: Ke Yanyan , Fan Rui , Yang Yan , Wang Pingying , Qi Jiarui
Published: July 2024

With the rapid pace of industrialization and the increasing intensity of human activities, the global climate change and energy crisis have reached a heightened level of severity. Consequently, achieving an early peak in carbon emissions has become an imperative in addressing this pressing issue. Particularly, coastal provinces, known for their developed economies, high population density, and substantial building energy consumption, have emerged as significant contributors to carbon emissions. Notably, public buildings, serving as critical constituents of the construction industry, possess immense potential for both energy conservation and emissions reduction. In light of this, the present study focuses on Fujian Province, situated along the coast, and constructs a carbon emission estimation model for public buildings based on the Kaya identity. This model takes into account various factors specific to Fujian Province, including population characteristics, economic conditions, tertiary industry development, public building area, and energy consumption. Through scenario analysis, the study projects that the year of peak carbon emissions for public buildings in Fujian Province is estimated to be 2030, 2035, and 2040 under low-carbon, baseline, and high-carbon scenarios respectively. The corresponding peak carbon emission levels are anticipated to reach 23.62 million t, 24.18 million t, and 24.76 million t CO2. Lastly, based on local policies and actual conditions, the study proposes a set of policy measures and feasible approaches tailored to Fujian Province, aiming to achieve an early peak in carbon emissions.
Radioprotective effect of the anti-diabetic drug metformin
Authors: Siteni Silvia , Barron Summer , Luitel Krishna , Shay Jerry W.
Published: July 2024

Metformin is a biguanide currently used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2. Besides its anti-glycemic effects, metformin has been reported to induce different cellular pleiotropic effects, depending on concentration and time of treatment. Here we report one administration of metformin (0.5 mM) has radioprotective effects in vitro on BJ human fibroblasts, increasing DNA damage repair and increasing SOD1 expression in the nucleus. Importantly, metformin (200 mg/kg) pre-administration for only 3 days in wild type 129/sv mice, decreases the formation of micronuclei in bone marrow cells and DNA damage in colon and lung tissues compared to control irradiated mice at sub-lethal and lethal doses, increasing the overall survival fraction by 37% after 10Gy total body irradiation. We next pre-treated with metformin and then exposed 129/sv mice, to a galactic cosmic rays simulation (GCRsim), at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL). We found metformin pre-treatment decreases the presence of bone marrow micronuclei and DNA damage in colon and lung tissues and an increase of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1) expression. Our data highlight a radioprotective effect of metformin through an indirect modulation of the gene expression involved in the cellular detoxification rather than its effects on mitochondria.
Instrumenta textilia et luxuria. A propósito de dos ruecas en ámbar localizadas en Augusta Emerita (Mérida, Badajoz)
Authors: Bustamante Álvarez Macarena , Menéndez Menéndez Andrea , Bejarano Osorcio Ana Mª
Published: July 2024

En este trabajo se presentan dos ruecas elaboradas en ámbar que han sido localizadas durante la excavación en dos áreas funerarias de la antigua Augusta Emerita, capital de Lusitania. Se presenta, al comienzo, un análisis de los contextos en los que se produjeron estos hallazgos, ya que permiten ofrecer una datación concreta en ambos casos, además de proponer una posible hipótesis respecto a la procedencia de estas piezas y sobre sus propietarias. A continuación, se plantea una descripción exhaustiva de las piezas que se acompaña de macrofotografías que ayudan a su determinación técnica.
El estudio se ha completado con el rastreo minucioso de los paralelos localizados en otros hallazgos del territorio europeo. También se presenta una serie de reflexiones relativas a su función, su dispersión, el uso y la gestualidad de estas piezas. Todo ello ha permitido extraer datos significativos que, sin lugar a duda, abren una nueva línea de trabajo asociada a la importación de los instrumentos textiles.
Objetos líticos en contextos rituales de la segunda Edad del Hierro en Menorca (500-123 a. C.): el caso del recinto de taula de Sa Cudia Cremada
Authors: Ferrer Rotger Antoni , Riudavets González Irene , Bravo Asensio Cristina
Published: July 2024

En este trabajo se da a conocer el instrumental lítico recuperado en un recinto de taula del poblado talayótico de Sa Cudia Cremada (Mahón, Menorca). En dicho espacio ritual, en uso durante la segunda Edad del Hierro, se han recuperado utensilios que corresponden a algunas de las tipologías que se documentan en las estructuras domésticas de la misma cronología, como son los molinos de vaivén y los percutores. Se realizan propuestas relativas al significado de la presencia de dichos objetos en un edificio de carácter sacro, a través de su estudio morfotipológico y de su distribución espacial, y mediante comparaciones con los datos previos referentes a las herramientas líticas en las viviendas. Los resultados respaldan la hipótesis de la existencia de un paralelismo entre espacios religiosos y espacios domésticos. La abundancia de utensilios líticos en un edificio ritual parece reforzar la importancia simbólica de estos elementos, ya propuesta en otros trabajos. Por otro lado, se ha identificado la presencia masiva de pequeños guijarros ante el elemento central del recinto, lo que permite proponer la realización de un ritual no documentado con anterioridad en otros recintos de taula.
A prática dos estados asiáticos na implementação do princípio de proteção de monumentos e obras de arte antes da Primeira Guerra Mundial
Authors: Lopes Fabris Alice
Published: July 2024

No século XIX, a proteção de monumentos históricos e obras de arte em tempos de guerra começou a ser codificada como um princípio jus gentium. Os primeiros instrumentos humanitários contudo não eram universais: o Código Lieber de 1863 dos Estados Unidos da América, a Convenção de Genebra para a Melhoria da Condição dos Feridos nos Exércitos em Campo de 1864, redigida por Estados europeus e americanos, a Declaração de Bruxelas de 1874, assinada por países europeus, e o Manual de Oxford de 1880, redigido e aprovado por advogados europeus e americanos, foi somente com a Convenção de Paz de Haia, em 1899, que houve um fórum universal para discutir princípios humanitários. Nessa conferência, um princípio versando sobre a proteção de uma determinada propriedade foi aceito por unanimidade. Contudo, esses princípios e os instrumentos que os estipulavam foram inspirados e estabelecidos pelos países ocidentais. No entanto, eles foram implementados no continente asiático durante conflitos cruciais nos séculos XIX e XX que marcaram sua história. Assim, um estudo sobre a aceitação desses princípios humanitários pelos Estados asiáticos, uma vez que eles não participaram do processo de elaboração, é importante para entender a amplitude do consenso desse princípio. No presente artigo, será discutida a aplicação do princípio para a proteção de monumentos históricos e obras de arte em tempos de guerra nos conflitos asiáticos antes da Primeira Guerra Mundial. A prática em dois conflitos, a Primeira Guerra Sino-Japonesa de 1894-1895 e a Guerra Russo-Japonesa de 1904-1905, será analisada.
Portalis e o direito das gentes
Authors: Dhondt Frederik
Published: July 2024

O artigo analisa as concepções presentes nos escritos do jurista francês Joseph-Marie Portalis acerca do direito das gentes e do direito da guerra no período em que se encontrava na Académie des sciences morales et politiques do Institut de France, em particular o relatório apresentado – enquanto avaliador – no âmbito do certame voltado a selecionar uma dissertação sobre o progresso do direito das gentes desde a Paz da Vestefália, notoriamente sobre os princípios morais subjacentes às regras que concernem a guerra e a paz, em 1841, e no opúsculo “Sur la guerre”, de 1856. Em ambos emergem concepções eminentemente conservadoras sobre as relações internacionais, o direito das gentes e os fenômenos bélicos, regidas por convicções jusnaturalistas de clara proveniência católica, que caracterizam determinados ambientes culturais da academia francesa da segunda metade do XIX século.