bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN OBJEK WISATA ALAM CURUG NGELAY DESA BAGAWAT KECAMATAN SELAJAMBE KABUPATEN KUNINGAN
Authors: Sahidin Sahidin , Herlina Nina , Nurdin Nurdin
Published: August 2021

Indonesia merupakan negara yang memiliki keanekaragaman budaya dan sumber daya alam. Salah satu kekayaan yang dimiliki Indonesia adalah ditemukannya berbagai macam tempat wisata alam dengan pesona dan ciri khas tersendiri. Kabupaten Kuningan memiliki tempat-tempat yang berpotensi menjadi destinasi wisata alam yang sangat menarik untuk dikunjungi. Salah satu tempat wisata alam yang ada di Kabupaten Kuningan adalah Curug Ngelay yang berada di Desa Bagawat, Kecamatan Selajambe. Kondisi Curug Ngelay saat ini masih membutuhkan pengelolaan yang baik. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui potensi yang dimiliki oleh Objek Wisata Alam Curug Ngelay dan strategi dalam mengembangkan Objek Wisata Alam Curug Ngelay dengan potensi yang ada. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada bulan November 2017 sampai dengan Januari 2018. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini untuk mengetahui potensi adalah metode eksplorasi sedangkan untuk pengembangan strategi pengembangan menggunakan analisis SWOT. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan potensi yang dimiliki oleh Objek Wisata Alam Curug Ngelay yaitu keberadaan keindahan alam, Curug Ngelay, serta Flora dan Fauna. Posisi pembangunan berada pada kuadran I. Strategi pembangunan yang diterapkan adalah dengan meningkatkan kualitas dan infrastruktur, meningkatkan kerjasama dengan masyarakat, kerjasama antara pengelola dengan masyarakat dan pengunjung. Kata Kunci: Strategi; Faktor Internal dan Eksternal; Analisis SWOT; Kawasan Wisata
Importância do diagnóstico precoce em crianças com Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade: revisão narrativa
Authors: Franca Emanuele Janoca , Alves Rosilda Brunele da Silva , Rocha Lívia Pêpe Leão da , Braga Beatriz Will , Lana Emanuel Sampaio Borba , Colares Ana Larissa Nunes , Lopes Ana Beatriz Ramos , Rocha Silvio Matheus Azevedo , Naves Maria Eduarda Costa , Soares Gustavo Fonseca Genelhu
Published: August 2021

Objetivo: Discutir e revisar a importância do diagnóstico precoce do transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) em crianças e seu tratamento adequado. Revisão bibliográfica: Os danos causados pelo transtorno incluem baixo desenvolvimento na competência escolar, relacionamentos conflituosos, problemas emocionais e de autoestima e comorbidades associadas como ansiedade e depressão. O diagnóstico depende da utilização de escalas e entrevistas não apenas com o paciente, mas também com familiares e professores, conforme a idade (4 anos a 18 anos) segundo o Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico de Transtornos Mentais (DSM-5) da Associação Psiquiátrica Americana e a Classificação de Transtornos Mentais e de Comportamento (CID-10). Considerações finais: Graças aos avanços e pesquisas, há um amplo arsenal terapêutico preenchido por derivados de metilfenidato ou de anfetaminas associados à terapia comportamental que é essencial para corroborar a diminuição da administração farmacológica nas crianças e consequentemente diminuindo os efeitos adversos de altas doses da medicação.
Infecções secundárias em pacientes internados por COVID-19: consequências e particularidades associadas
Authors: Fernandes Tiago Picolo , Abreu Clara Matos de , Rocha Júlio Oliveira , Bianchetti Larissa de Oliveira , Sales Larissa de Almeida , Alves Marcelo Queiroz , Prates Mariana Eliote , Lemes Nicole Miranda , Vieira Suelen Darlane , Corrêa Mônica Isaura
Published: August 2021

Objetivo: Descrever as principais características e consequências das infecções secundárias em pacientes internados pela COVID-19. Revisão bibliográfica: A infecção por COVID-19 apresenta variabilidade de sinais e sintomas que podem gerar complicações e evoluir para um quadro de Síndrome Respiratória Aguda Grave. A necessidade de internação em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva e ventilação mecânica relacionam-se ao aumento das taxas de coinfecções e superinfecções e piores desfechos clínicos. Os patógenos mais frequentemente associados a essas infecções são Gram positivos, no início da coinfecção, com mudança de perfil, para Gram negativos, ao longo da internação. Observou-se também a coinfecção viral e fúngica, influenciando na gravidade do quadro. O uso de drogas imunossupressoras, com finalidade de frear a atividade inflamatória exacerbada nesses pacientes e a necessidade recorrente de procedimentos invasivos, são fatores de risco bem descritos para o desenvolvimento de infecções. Considerações finais: É fundamental que a vigilância infecciosa rigorosa seja implementada como rotina nos centros de assistência a pacientes com COVID-19, bem como estudos devem ser ampliados no sentido de otimizar o tratamento das infecções secundárias, reduzir seus impactos e, idealmente, preveni-las sempre que possível.
Acute febrile syndromes in children
Authors: Bakradze Maiia D.
Published: August 2021

Infectious pathology in childhood is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Not long ago all over the world (unfortunately, in some places even now) up to 1/4 or more of all born children didn't live till the age of 5 and died because of infections. And the fact that now they have lost their importance the merit of immunoprophylaxis. Fever is the most common symptom of illness in children and a frequent reason for prescribing medication. Fever during infection is a regulatory process due to cytokines. The temperature level does not always correlate with the severity of the infection. Thus, non-life-threatening respiratory viral infections often occur at a higher temperature, at least initial than life-threatening pneumonia. For most patients, fever is not dangerous. The article highlights the current knowledge about the nature of high fever above 38C in children, and considers rational ways of diagnosing and treating diseases in which fever is the only symptom, at least at the beginning of the disease. The main questions of the necessity of prescribing antipyretic drugs are covered. To this end, the literature data obtained by the methods of evidentiary medicine and reflected in the agreed recommendations of authoritative professional societies are used.
Updated PRIMA consensus document to assist the practicing physician
Authors: Reviakina Vera A. , Astaf'eva Natalia G. , Geppe Natalia A. , Kaliuzhin Oleg V.
Published: August 2021

The PRIMA Consensus document developed by leading Russian experts reviews the principles of outpatient immunotherapy in children with frequent acute respiratory viral infections.
The Machine Stops
Authors: du Toit William
Published: August 2021

Before the discovery of gold, the majority of the South Island of Aotearoa was relatively uninhabited, until the 1860s gold rush which quickly propelled the Otago region into economic prosperity. Once the gold dried up, the mining operations were quickly abandoned, with many of the workers losing their jobs as the industry declined.

The historic goldfields in the Otago region now lie in various states of decay, with the industrial remnants and environmental scarring slowly being reclaimed by ecological processes. Each mining operation centred around a stamper battery, a giant stone-crushing machine used to separate the gold from the quartz ore. Consisting of a large timber framework and a number of half-ton weights used to crush the ore, they were deemed too difficult to remove after the mining operations had ceased—abandoned to slowly decay in the irrevocably damaged landscape.

Of these many sites, the Homeward Bound goldmining operation, located 30km northwest of Arrowtown, offers one of the most complete examples of this historical process due to the area’s dry climate—each stage of the mining process still being physically represented by a trace or fragment in the landscape. These remnants represent both the story of extracting the gold that led to the region’s prosperity, as well as the story of irreversible environmental destruction that resulted. As such, each of the man-made and natural remnants represents a different point of view regarding this complex heritage event. This design-led research investigation proposes to use speculative architectural drawing to provide a voice to each of seven unique points of view: the Mineshaft, Schist Tailings, Redirected Stream, Stamper Battery, Water Race, Aerial Cableway, and a Battery Footprint left behind when a previous stamper battery was swept away in a flood.

E.M. Forster’s short story “The Machine Stops” is an example of allegorical narrative fiction that portrays a story with a similarly dialectic premise to the tale represented by the abandoned Otago stamper batteries. This design-led thesis investigation uses Forster’s short story as a literary provocateur to investigate how such a narrative can be conveyed using speculative architectural drawings. Forster’s theme of technological dominance and disregard for the natural environment is effectively a type of ‘morality play’ also represented by the Homeward Bound goldmining site—where the economic prosperity of the region came at the cost of devastating the native landscape.

This thesis investigation proposes to preserve this heritage story though the lens of an allegorical architectural project—a way to safeguard it as a valuable lesson for future generations. It explores how orthographic drawing, architectural notation strategies, and layering techniques can be assimilated together in ways that help to reawaken and preserve a heritage story about New Zealand that is soon destined to be lost forever.
One's Home - Finding a balance between community and individuality
Authors:   , Takemoto Yuri
Published: August 2021

The urban lifestyle separates many families, forcing members to live alone.

As population grows and cities condense, we need to build up, and live small. However, as we and the space we occupy become smaller relative to the city, we lose the sense of integration with and connection to context (Florian Urban, 2012). Without feeling belonging, we often feel loneliness. Those who live alone need to feel that they are a part of a community while celebrating their individuality.

This thesis explores ways to reduce loneliness through the design of social housing through co-living. It considers the diversity of people and their choices of living needs, creating a place where we feel belonging as part of a community, while having enough privacy to feel safe. The design aspect of the thesis explores the different design techniques which reflect studies of sociology and learnings from precedents in order to support the physical and emotional well-being of the residents while also being more sustainable by being space efficient.
Optimization of the Activities of Institutions Promoting Investment in the sustainable Economic Growth of Russia
Authors: Zvonova E. A. , Pishchik V. Ya. , Alekseevc P. V.
Published: August 2021

The article examines and assesses the problem of the investment deficit in the Russian economy, which has acquired particular relevance due to the coronavirus crisis caused by the pandemic. The study aims to develop practical recommendations for Russian state bodies to stimulate the investment process in the Russian economy and improve the efficiency of measures taken by the state to ensure the country’s socio-economic development. The objectives of this paper are to analyze the directions of optimization and prioritization of investment of resources during the economic recession caused by the coronavirus crisis using investment lending and project financing instruments, as well as to analyze and assess the ongoing reform of development institutions based on the state corporation “VEB.RF”. The research methodology includes an analysis of the regulatory legal framework, statistical information, official reports of state bodies, development institutions, scientific monographs and publications of Russian scientists, periodicals. The authors analyzed the trends and problems of the investment process in the Russian economy, including in the field of attracting foreign direct investment. Attention is paid to the ongoing reform of development institutions aimed at enhancing the role of the state development corporation “VEB.RF” in stimulating investment. The authors conclude that it is necessary to take a set of functional, instrumental, and institutional measures aimed at stimulating investment and ensuring sustainable socio-economic development of Russia. In particular, in the context of a shortage of domestic sources of financing for long-term investments, it is important to provide regulatory macroeconomic support for the inflow of foreign direct investment into the Russian economy. In this regard, the authors propose to change the monetary policy strategy to increase the stimulating role of refinancing of credit institutions and the projected exchange rate in attracting domestic and foreign long-term investments and ensuring sustainable development of the Russian economy. The authors also propose to increase the role of foreign exchange regulation and foreign exchange control in stimulating investment and ensuring sustainable socio-economic development of Russia.
Financial Fear Index in the Digital Financial Assets Market
Authors: Ovcharov A. О. , Matveev V. A.
Published: August 2021

The relevance of the research topic is due to the increasing role of non-traditional financial instruments that contribute to financial instability. Therefore, various indicators are required to reflect the situation in the digital financial assets market, the volatility quotes, and the level of investor confidence. The aim of the study is to develop and test on empirical data a generalized indicator of financial instability (financial fear index) in the digital financial assets market. The novelty of the research lies in the adaptation of the classic model of building the volatility index to the cryptocurrency market.The authors use statistical methods for collecting and processing data, analyzing time series, weighing, designing economic indicators. The paper summarizes the results of modern research on the correlation between digitalization and financial instability. The authors conclude that at certain short periods of 2020 the ruble-dollar volatility was comparable or even higher than the ruble-bitcoin one. In addition, there is much less fear and uncertainty in the cryptocurrency market today than there was at the end of 2018. The main result of the study is the financial fear index model based on the method of calculating the weighted average option price of the underlying asset and hedging of price risks. The model has been tested using data on the bid and ask prices of cryptocurrencies at a specific point in time. Estimates have been obtained indicating the growing instability in the digital financial asset market. The authors offer recommendations regarding the index threshold values, which indicate the level of investors’ fear.
Research of the synergetic Effects of the Impact of Innovative and Related Macroeconomic Factors on Economic Growth
Authors: Matrizaev B. D.
Published: August 2021

This article examines the main mechanisms and tools for implementing innovation policy in countries with fastgrowing economies such as China and India. The study aims to explore the causal relationship between innovation, key macroeconomicvariables and economic growth.The author applies the entropy method and adapts the Graymodel to build a system of indices for assessing the coordination of the interaction of technological innovation, financial development and economic growth. The results show that the degree of integration of the financial system into innovation processes has a significant positive impact on the success of innovation, which is measured by patent activity. Our research proves that innovation indirectly affects economic growth through quality of life, infrastructure efficiency, employment, and rade openness. The findings of the research reveal that both economic growth and innovation tend to depend on a number of conjugate variables in the long run: capital, labor, etc. The author concludes that a comprehensive analysis of technological innovation, financial development and economic growth shows that the three-factor relationship has great potential for coordinated development, as a result of which, according to the calculated forecasts, economic growth in fast-growing economies will significantly accelerate its pace in the next five years. The subject of further research may be an analysis of whether the degree of conjugation of connectivity and coordination between the three systems will maintain stable growth at high values and whether they will be able to reach the stage of transformation.
Grandes Vinos: The “Over the Rainbow” Initiative & Corporate Philanthropy During a Tragedy
Authors: Fuentes-Fernández Rosana
Published: August 2021

From the start of the pandemic, Grandes Vinos, the largest winery in the autonomous community of Aragón in the province of Zaragoza and one of the 60 largest wine producers in Spain, directed its efforts toward the healthcare sector with a philanthropic initiative entitled “Over the Rainbow.” The company believed the “Over the Rainbow” initiative represented one of the best opportunities to make the biggest possible societal impact in these difficult times. It would donate the proceeds from sales of wine to support the elderly and a COVID-19 vaccine development through partnerships with Médicos del Mundo and #YoMeCorono respectively. This case study analyses the ways in which Grandes Vinos adapted to the “new normal” and how it immediately reacted to the pandemic by launching an initiative to simultaneously help the community and strengthen their brand.
Napa Green: Funding Nonprofit Social Ventures in Crisis
Authors: DeYoung Hannah
Published: August 2021

Napa Green, a regional vineyard and winery sustainability certification program, is in its first year transitioning out from under the umbrella of its parent company, the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV). Napa Green was fully funded by the NVV as a way to help their members achieve compliance with the local, statewide, and national environmental regulations. However, the NVV sought to create a program that would one day be its own independent nonprofit. At the beginning of 2020, the NVV began stepping down their funding to Napa Green with the hopes that the organization could be fully funded on its own by 2022. Anna Brittain, the executive director of Napa Green, began seeking out funding sources to get the organization to financial independence as soon as possible. With the Coronavirus pandemic having serious impacts on the U.S. economy, forcing many businesses to close or rethink the way they operate, Napa Green was forced to completely rework its business plan to secure funding, as well as find a way to continue fulfilling the organization’s mission with limited resources.
Physics. Materials of the control work for students of the direction of training «Сonstruction»
Authors:   Timirâzevskaâ selʹskohozâjstvennaâ akademiâ, Konoplin N.A.
Published: August 2021

The educational and methodological manual sets out the basic laws and formulas for all sections of the discipline «Physics», provides examples of solving problems and variants of control works. This educational and methodological manual is intended for use in the educational process when preparing bachelors in the direction 08.03.01 "Construction" in full-time and part-time education at the Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy.
A District Approach to Smart Mobility
Authors: M Dowling Conor , Mullarkey Matthew , Clarke Siobhán
Published: August 2021

“As a Smart City district evolves, and its success as a business location of choice grows, we need to ensure that mobility challenges are addressed for all communities. Smart technologies are a major factor.” – Ronan Herron
Ronan Herron had recently been appointed the Smart Dublin Coordinator with responsibility for Smart Sandyford and was travelling to its launch on the modern Luas light rail system. Ronan found himself marvelling at the changes to the Sandyford area since he first started working in the Council twelve years earlier: Gone was the old industrial landscape with pockets of sad-looking housing estates, and in its place was a vibrant business district with multiple household name multinational companies, nestled with modern residential areas. Sandyford was a short distance from Dublin city centre but just ten short years prior, few would have anticipated the economic and business transformation that had overcome this once maligned and side-lined district of Dublin.
While Ronan had managed to get a seat on the packed Luas tram, he noticed multiple congested areas in and around the route to the launch. Clearly, this had become a very popular district indeed! Since starting in his post, Ronan had observed that the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLR), responsible for Smart Sandyford, was very excited about the future for the Sandyford district, anticipating (and indeed, planning for) significant growth in the number of businesses moving there, and additional residential areas. Ronan contemplated what impact this was likely to have on on-going mobility for everyone living and working in the district.
Given his background in smart technologies, and Smart Sandyford’s position as a part of Smart Dublin, Ronan naturally found himself contemplating technology as a means to address Sandyford’s growing mobility challenges. He was on his way to launch Smart Sandyford, and surely, smart technology could contribute to solutions to those challenges. This Smart District offered a means to answer some of the pressing questions around mobility for Dublin: How might technology deployment improve mobility services? How would mobility solutions impact all stakeholders in the community? Can technology alleviate the impact of transport on the environment? How would the data needed to enable smart mobility be collected and analysed? What data would even be needed?
Enabling Cities to Harness the Full Potential of the Internet of Things
Authors: A Hamilton Julia , Mullarkey Matthew
Published: August 2021

Jamie Cudden, the Smart City Programme Manager for Dublin City Council (DCC), had just participated in the most recent review of the sensor-enabled smart gully project in Dublin city. Tasked with exploring how technology can help address city challenges to create a ‘smarter’ Dublin, Jamie wondered why more smart sensor applications were not being identified and deployed by DCC departments. He knew that smart sensors existed in the commercial marketplace for everything that could be measured and believed that most city services could be improved with better, real-time measurement. What he could not understand was why more sensor-enabled connected systems were not being deployed by operational service teams across the city.
Over the last three years Smart Docklands, a smart city testbed in the Dublin Docklands, had facilitated a broad range of projects with DCC staff utilising Internet of Things (IoT) technology. While these projects demonstrated the value of IoT for specific applications – such as blocked gullies [Exhibit 1] and waste management - there still remained a relatively low utilisation of IoT across DCC’s operational services. Jamie thought, if IoT is really a better way of addressing these issues, why was there not a mass migration towards its use across the Council?
Through talking with his colleagues, Jamie realised that a major barrier to IoT deployments was a lack of knowledge of what IoT was and how it would help address the challenges the Council was trying to solve.
How would Jamie energise his current and future peers to identify more ways to use technology to connect the city? How would they learn about the power of IoT connected devices? How might each city department generate innovative smart solutions to identify and respond to critical issues with the infrastructure and services of the city?
Jamie had recently attended an ‘Introduction to IoT’ workshop for DCC staff at Dogpatch Labs. The workshop highlighted that educating the city’s staff about IoT could encourage a move towards more sensor driven city operations. With this, he was now faced with the challenge of how best to design and deliver an education programme on a larger scale so cities across Ireland could capitalise on the on the benefits of IoT.
Exploring Factors Influencing Open Innovation Adoption in SMEs: The Evidence from Emerging Markets
Authors: Puriwat Wilert , Tripopsakul Suchart
Published: August 2021

Open Innovation (OI) is among the vital innovation paradigms for assisting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to effectively implement innovation initiatives. Drawing on the concepts of organisational agility and absorptive capacity with transaction cost theory, this study’s goal is to investigate factors affecting the adoption of an Open Innovation (OI) orientation in Thai SMEs. Using data from 214 SMEs in Thailand, structural equation modelling validated the model and analysed the proposed hypotheses. The results show that organisational agility, economic and financial readiness and absorptive capacity relate positively to OI adoption and innovation performance. Organisational agility (b = 0.553) had the greatest influence on OI adoption, then economic and financial readiness (b = 0.405) and absorptive capacity (b = 0.387) followed. The results of mediation analysis also reveal that OI adoption partially mediates the effects of organisational agility and absorptive capacity on innovation performance. Our study provides a trailblazing empirical analysis of the major factors influencing SMEs’ OI adoption and performance, extending knowledge of OI adoption by SMEs in emerging economies. The paper proposes a holistic framework for examining SMEs’ OI adoption and performance, through the integration of organisational agility, absorptive capacity and transaction-cost concepts. Doi: 10.28991/esj-2021-01295 Full Text: PDF
Use of the International Index of Erectile Function to assess sexual dysfunction in the male population with prostate cancer treated by radical prostatectomy – a systematic review
Authors: Jurys Tomasz , Burzyński Bartłomiej , Paradysz Andrzej , Bryniarski Piotr
Published: August 2021

Introduction:
Prostate carcinoma is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among men, accounting for 14.1% of diagnoses and with a 6.8% mortality rate. Among current treatment options, radical prostatectomy is strongly indicated for localized prostate cancer. Although surgical techniques for radical prostatectomy are constantly being improved in terms of effectiveness and safety, postoperative disorders such as stress urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction, remain quite common.

Aim:
The aim of our systematic review is to discuss the prevalence and severity of sexual dysfunction in the population of men suffering from prostate cancer who have been treated by means of radical prostatectomy.

Material and methods:
For the purposes of this systematic review we undertook a search of the literature in five databases using the English and Polish languages. We have focused on studies which assess sexual dysfunction using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire.

Results and discussion:
A total of 145 potentially relevant studies was retrieved. After selection, it was determined that 5 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria and these were selected for qualitative synthesis. Our systematic review supports the finding that impairment of sexual function continues during the first 12 months after radical prostatectomy.

Conclusions:
Sexual dysfunction is a common complication after radical prostatectomy, and recovery takes at least 12 months. The male population with prostate cancer is at risk of sexual dysfunction even before radical prostatectomy due to age, comorbidities and mental factors related to the course of the disease.
Factors influencing referral delay of cancer patients to an oncology unit in the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ali M Al Zahrani , Hatim M Ali , Shaza A Ahmed , Ahmed M Abdelakher , Asma A Al Zahrani , Hatoon Bakhribah
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Cancer treatment and prognosis depend heavily on early detection. Survival in the early stages is excellent for almost all types of cancer. Unfortunately, in Saudi Arabia, a large number of cancer patients present with advanced disease, resulting in a poor prognosis. There are three levels of delay in the management of cancer patients. The first level is the time between the first cancer-related symptoms and the presentation to the health facility, the second level is from the presentation to the diagnosis, and the third level is between the diagnosis and the treatment. This study aims to determine if there is a delay, at what level and to study the factors causing such delays. Materials and methods: Two hundred cancer patients who presented to the Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Oncology Department, were interviewed from January 1st to June 30th, 2018. The interviews were conducted by trained physicians familiar with the questionnaire’s contents. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: a demographic section and three more sections to identify factors causing the delay at the three levels from the patients’ perspectives. All data were analyzed using the SPSS version 20.0. Results: The mean patient age was 63 years. A total of 112 patients were female and 88 were male. The most common cancer type was breast cancer (27.5%). Among the patients, 61% were illiterate and 25.5% had elementary school degrees, 86% expressed little or no general medical knowledge about cancer. More women than men paid attention to cancer symptoms (70% vs. 54%). 75% of the patients presented to the first health facility after 2 months from the first appearance of symptoms (level 1 delay). Only 2% of the patients presented within one week. 50% of the patients received a diagnosis after visiting two health facilities. All patients were diagnosed at hospitals. 40% of patients used alternative medicines, 70% of whom thought this was the cause of their delayed presentations. 67% had their diagnosis confirmed within one month (level 2 delay), and 66% started their definitive treatment within one month (level 3 delay). 75% of the patients blame themselves for the delay. Educational level (p = 0.03), knowledge about cancer (p < 0.01), and the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) (p = 0.01) were significantly associated with delayed presentation of patients to the health facility. Conclusion: There is a delay in the presentation of cancer patients (level 1) in the southern part of Saudi Arabia. Educational level, knowledge of cancer symptoms, and use of complementary and alternative medicines are the main causes. There were no delays in diagnosis and start of treatment (level 2,3).
Digital Citizenship in a Swedish Marginalised Neighbourhood
Authors: Kaharevic Ahmed , Skill Karin
Published: August 2021

We investigate digital citizenship by exploring attitudes and experiences of digital inclusion and eHealth with data from a survey study based on face-to-face interviews in different languages, in a marginalised hard to survey neighbourhood. Through public eHealth services, people can exercise digital citizenship. We explore differences between the marginalised neighborhood and the national level, and among residents in the neighbourhood, with disaggregated data. The results show that the respondents in Skäggetorp report lower usage of the internet, lower access to smartphones, a somewhat lower usage of BankID, higher concern for surveillance, and a higher number of respondents feel excluded from digital society in comparison to the nationwide survey. The results in the disaggregated data show some differences in attitudes to and experience of digital inclusion among residents in Skäggetorp. We conclude that the studies of digital citizenship need to be broadened to address feeling included, social rights, and difference.
Remote Usability Assessment of Topic Visualization Interfaces with Public Participation Data: A Case Study
Authors: Yovanovic Ivania , Goñi Iñaki , Miranda Constanza
Published: August 2021

Citizen participation often faces challenges of transparency and accountability. Visualizations’s usability becomes key for public consultation activities. The tree map is frequently used to disseminate data and to give it back to the population. The purpose of this study is to understand how tree maps and stacked barcharts differ in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in tasks, like solving topic categorization and comparison analysis tasks. An experimental design was used to examine user performance based on a task-based usability test. 34 participants interacted remotely with data visualizations from an open 2016 participatory constitution-making process. The ANOVA showed that stacked barcharts work significantly better for comparison tasks than the tree map, but there are no significant differences in regards to categorization tasks. Public participation initiatives should first determine what cognitive operations their users perform before deciding which visualization interfaces will be more useful for the intended public.
Bringing the Cross Pressures Thesis into the Digital Realm: Subjective Social Network Heterogeneity and Online Political Expression
Authors: Jenkins Matthew
Published: August 2021

Approaches to social network heterogeneity in political communication research tend to focus on the effect of accumulated interactions among individuals with different political views. This line of research has provided a number of rich insights into the nature of the relationship between sociality and political participation. At the same time, this research tradition has been hampered by inconsistent terminology, and it has not been updated to reflect the fact that the experience of engaging with politics through digital media produces a unique subjective experience wherein the user is made to address an imagined audience with a perceived set of characteristics. In this study I aim to accomplish three main objectives. First, I propose an adjustment to the conceptual framework used in the literature. Second, I introduce the concept of subjective social network heterogeneity to describe perceived heterogeneity in the political views of the imagined audience. Third, I investigate the relationship between subjective social network heterogeneity and political expression empirically, through an analysis of original survey data from Japan and South Korea. The results show that differences between the political views of an individual and the perceived political views of the imagined audience depresses political expression on social media in both countries, but that variance in the perceived views of the imagined audience is positively associated with political expression.
The impact of COVID-19 response measures on the quality of life for children in the Eastern Mediterranean region using an exposome approach: a narrative review
Authors: Haddad Nadine , Abou Naja Hala , Makris Konstantinos C.
Published: August 2021

Background

There is a consensus that children’s needs have not been sufficiently prioritized during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their right to a safe and healthy childhood has been compromised to an extent, worldwide. A comprehensive assessment of population- and individual-level changes associated with COVID-19 and its pandemic response measures could be undertaken using the human exposome concept. The exposome is defined as the totality of environmental exposures from conception onwards, including the endogenous response. The objective of this study was to conduct a narrative review using an exposome approach exploring short-term changes in the children’s exposome profile (<18 years old) associated with the COVID-19 measures implemented in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR).

Methods

Google Scholar, PubMed and Reliefweb databases were searched for original studies and situation reports published in English between January 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021, pertinent to the EMR countries. Publications describing a quantitative or qualitative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic measures on children were summarized using the three exposome domains: general external (policies and programs), specific external (lifestyle and environmental contaminants) and internal (intrinsic properties, metabolism, etc.).

Results

Out of 405 results generated from PubMed and Google Scholar and 687 reports identified from Reliefweb, a total of 16 original research articles and 36 situation reports were retained, involving 14 out of 22 EMR countries. Most publications documented the impact of COVID-19 pandemic measures on children’s general and specific external exposome domains, while few studies dealt with the internal domain (risk of stunting, malnutrition). In effect, chronic efforts by national and international programs to tackle historical EMR challenges of child protection from labor, displacement, trauma and violence, promotion of education, and eradication of pediatric malnutrition and infectious diseases seem to be at risk during the COVID-19 crisis, either due to inaction or suspension of children’s services and programs.

Conclusions

Regional authorities and governmental bodies are pledged to assess the impact of the wider array of COVID-19 response measures on children’s exposome profile. A prompt deployment of multi-sectoral COVID-19 recovery plans is warranted for the benefit of the children in the EMR region.
Implementing the Dubowitz assessment of gestational age in India and Malawi: a cross-sectional study of participants in a training workshop
Authors: North Krysten , Bellad Roopa M. , Bose Carl , Dhaded Sangappa M. , Goudar Shivaprasad S. , Herekar Veena , Hoffman Irving , Mvalo Tisungane , Phiri Melda , Saidi Friday , Vernekar Sunil S. , Vesel Linda , Lee Anne C. C. , Semrau Katherine E. A.
Published: August 2021

Background

Accurate assignment of the gestational age of newborns is important for the identification of prematurity. The Dubowitz assessment is the gold standard among postnatal examinations used to assign gestational age, but implementation has been limited because of examination complexity and training requirements. The objective of this study was to explore factors related to teaching and implementing the Dubowitz examination that may influence its uptake in India and Malawi.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in India and Malawi during the preparation for a low-birthweight infant feeding exploratory study. Twenty trainees participated in a Dubowitz examination training workshop that occurred over two half-day sessions. Trainees completed pretraining and posttraining surveys related to their perceptions of the Dubowitz training, the examination, and factors affecting the administration of the examination in their setting.

Results

All survey respondents expressed confidence in their ability to perform the Dubowitz examination after the training. Less than a third expressed concerns about the time required to learn (30%) or perform the examination (25%). Eighty-five percent of trainees identified concerns related to parental perception of the examination that may inhibit implementation. Trainees averaged 14 minutes (standard deviation: 4.5 minutes) to complete the examination. More than 80% of trainee answers were within one point of the trainer for 16 of the 22 Dubowitz signs. Trainee composite scores were within ±3 weeks of the trainer for 95% of assessments based on Bland-Altman analysis.

Conclusions

The Dubowitz examination at birth is a method to improve identification of premature infants in the absence of prenatal dating. We found widespread acceptance for the Dubowitz assessment among participants in training workshops in India and Malawi, despite the complexity and length of the examination. The high level of trainee-trainer concordance on individual examination signs suggests that an acceptable level of competence is feasible after a short, concentrated workshop. Further investigation into barriers that hinder implementation such as negative parental perceptions is warranted.

Registration details

Clinical Trials Registration: NCT04002908 (www.clinicaltrials.gov) and CTRI/2019/02/017475 (Clinical Trial Registry of India - http://ctri.nic.in).
Myanmar: the ties between health and democracy
Authors: D’Apice Clelia , Sarli Leopoldo , Soe Zaw Wai
Published: August 2021

In this viewpoint, we examined the ongoing crisis of the Myanmar health system following the military takeover of 1 February 2021, the health challenges faced by the population, and the tragic conditions in which the health professionals find themselves. We describe the efforts undertaken by representatives of the democratic health and university institutions to create the conditions for a resumption of the call for peace throughout the country and strengthen the resilience of the health system. In particular, we present the interim health service strategy devised by the Myanmar Ministry of Health (MOH), as appointed by the democratic government. The MOH’s plan represents the entry point to use health as a bridge for peace and restoration of democracy and human rights, showing that the health sector of a country can be reshaped and revitalized in times of great adversity.
The synergy between Expanded Program on Immunization and Polio Eradication Initiative in Pakistan: a policy and program exploration
Authors: Haq Zaeem , Chandio Arshad K. , Zafar Shamsa , Iqbal Faisal , Naeem Ayesha , Karim Saad
Published: August 2021

Background

Until recently, Pakistan had achieved significant milestones in polio eradication, and was close to becoming polio-free. The country has an Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) since 1978 and a Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) since 1994. PEI and EPI need to carry out synergized activities during the last leg of polio eradication; EPI taking over the responsibility for a polio-free Pakistan. Knowing the understanding and implementation of the synergy between the two programs is important at this critical juncture.

Methods

We carried out a national-level exploration, comprised of 30 individual interviews and eight focus groups. The objectives were: (i) to explore the current understanding of the PEI-EPI synergy and its operationalization, especially for the zero-dose children at various levels, and (ii) to explore the context of the two programs, the synergy-related enablers and barriers, and suggestions to enhance synergy in the future. The participants included officials from various tiers along with health workers and vaccinators.

Results

Four themes emerged. First, “synergy” has different meanings for different stakeholders; hence variable implementation models. Second, some synergies (e.g., sharing of surveillance data by PEI) are in place while additional (e.g., transferring human resources and enhancing community engagement) can be created. Third, the EPI and the PEI have become two unequal programs because of political factors, visibility, and funding. Fourth, the situation can be helped through clear policy and operational guidelines including roles and responsibilities.

Conclusions

All stakeholders understand the importance of synergy. The willingness for the adoption of the interventions instituted by the PEI exists on both sides. The EPI, however, needs to enhance its capacity to absorb these interventions and improve service delivery. Given the context in which one partner has gained more political ownership, funding, and visibility than the other, the realization of the international donors, and the guidance from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination are essential for ensuring the polio legacy and achieving and maintaining the status of a polio-free Pakistan.
Callahan’s thought field therapy in the management of emotions associated with stress
Authors: Fernando Vicente Barraza-Alvarez
Published: August 2021

Taking into account that Thought Field therapy (TFT) is a non-invasive technique for managing emotions, and that it is characterized by being safe and fast, it was applied in a group of 14 people from the workforce of the Center of Childhood Integration and Connivance "Del Bosque", Texcoco, Mexico, who voluntarily expressed some feelings associated with stress before an initial interview, in order to evaluate their effectiveness. 36% of the participants reported presenting anxiety; 29% fear; 21% obsession, and 14% rejection. Once the TFT was completed, these emotions, in all the participants, went from a maximum rating of 10 Units of Discomfort Sensation (UDS) to a minimum of 0 UDS, so it could be established that the TFT technique was effective in managing stressful situations that were to be eradicated, with written opinions that expressed satisfaction on the part of the participants, who had no adverse reactions when the technique was applied to them.
POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS in THE POLARIZATION of IRAQI POLITICS (2003-2006)
Authors: Salihi Emin , Atay Itri
Published: August 2021

A new political structuring took place in Iraq after 2003. During this period, sub-national political movements came to the fore along with the United States (USA). Institutions of the Iraqi state after Saddam Hussein were formed in 2003-2005. This structure does not make Iraq successful today. However, in the 2005 elections, a large part of Iraqi society cast their votes for sub-national parties. The study aims to analyze the reasons behind the social support of ethnic parties which do not allow Iraq to be a successful state. For this purpose, political psychological concepts were used to understand the Iraqi society within the conditions of the period. The data reflecting the political psychological attitudes of Iraqis were collected and the reasons for social polarization and support for ethnic parties were analyzed. In this study, it was concluded that when a new situation arises in a country and sub-national groups feel threatened, they tend to polarize and reflect it on their political behavior.
KEGIATAN BERCERITA DALAM MENGEMBANGKAN BAHASA ANAK USIA DINI
Authors: Bangsawan Indra , Eriani Eva , Devianti Rika
Published: August 2021

Penelitian ini membahas tentang kegiatan cerita dalam mengembangkan bahasa anak usia dini. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui kegiatan bercerita mampu mengembangkan bahasa anak usia dini. Kegiatan bercerita yang terdiri dari rangkaian gambar secara berurutan dan membuat sebuah cerita dan di dalamnya ada pesan yang ingin disampaikan. Jenis penelitian ini adalah studi literatur (studi kepustakaan). Teknik pengumpulan data berupa sumber data primer dengan menelaah buku referensi dan jurnal ilmiah yang relevan.  Hasil penelitian adalah kegiatan bercerita ini mampu mengembangkan bahasa anak usia dini, hal ini dibuktikan dengan adanya perbaikan bahasa pada anak menjadi lebih baik.