bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers and needs in mental healthcare of adults with autism spectrum disorder in Germany: a qualitative study in autistic adults, relatives, and healthcare providers
Authors: Dückert Sophia , Gewohn Petia , König Hannah , Schöttle Daniel , Konnopka Alexander , Rahlff Pascal , Erik Frank- , Vogeley Kai , Schulz Holger , David Nicole , Peth Judith
Published: July 2023

Background

Autism refers to a neurodevelopmental condition with characteristic impairments in social interaction and communication, restrictive and repetitive behaviors, as well as difficulties in sensory information processing and daily living skills. Even though symptoms persist from early childhood throughout the lifespan and often require long-term support, there is a lack of mental health services that sufficiently meet the needs of autistic adults. Previous evidence suggested individual, professional and structural barriers to healthcare for autistic adults. Here, using a peer research approach, we sought to systematically investigate barriers and needs in mental healthcare of autistic adults in Germany at the three relevant levels (individual, professional, structural) and from three relevant perspectives (autistic adults, relatives and healthcare providers), in order to obtain specific recommendations for optimized healthcare.

Methods

Maximum variation sampling was used to account for the complexity of the research field. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with autistic adults (n = 15) and focus groups with relatives/partners (n = 12), and healthcare providers of several professions (n = 15). Data analysis was performed using the codebook approach of thematic analysis.

Results

Poor mental healthcare of autistic adults in Germany was characterized by six central and overarching themes: (i) lack of knowledge about autism, (ii) a need for increased participation/involvement, (iii) consideration of autism-specific needs in treatment, (iv) lack of services, (v) limited access to services, and (vi) improvement of stakeholder collaboration. Themes were similarly reported across participants, emphasizing dissatisfaction in all stakeholders.

Conclusions

We identified major barriers to mental healthcare for autistic adults in Germany that affect autistic adults, but are also of concern to relatives and healthcare providers. Our results point to specific and generic areas for improvement, independent of stakeholder perspectives, which could guide future development of needs- and evidence-based services, recommendations and guidelines of mental healthcare for people with autism across the lifespan.

Trial registration

This study protocol was preregistered at the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/5x8pg).
Developing an integrated model of care for vulnerable populations living with non-communicable diseases in Lebanon: an online theory of change workshop
Authors: Truppa Claudia , Ansbro Éimhín , Willis Ruth , Zmeter Carla , El Khatib Aya , Roberts Bayard , Aebischer Perone Sigiriya , Perel Pablo
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The Syrian crisis, followed by a financial crisis, port explosion, and COVID-19, have put enormous strain on Lebanon’s health system. Syrian refugees and the vulnerable host population have a high burden of Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) morbidity and unmet mental health, psychosocial and rehabilitation needs. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recently introduced integrated NCD services within its package of primary care in Lebanon, which includes NCD primary health care, rehabilitation, and mental health and psychosocial support services. We aimed to identify relevant outcomes for people living with NCDs from refugee and host communities in northern Lebanon, as well as to define the processes needed to achieve them through an integrated model of care. Given the complexity of the health system in which the interventions are delivered, and the limited practical guidance on integration, we considered systems thinking to be the most appropriate methodological approach.

Methods

A Theory of Change (ToC) workshop and follow-up meetings were held online by the ICRC, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the American University of Beirut in 2021. ToC is a participatory and iterative planning process involving key stakeholders, and seeks to understand a process of change by mapping out intermediate and long-term outcomes along hypothesised causal pathways. Participants included academics, and ICRC regional, coordination, and headquarters staff.

Results

We identified two distinct pathways to integrated NCD primary care: a multidisciplinary service pathway and a patient and family support pathway. These were interdependent and linked via an essential social worker role and a robust information system. We also defined a list of key assumptions and interventions to achieve integration, and developed a list of monitoring indicators.

Discussion

ToC is a useful tool to deconstruct the complexity of integrating NCD services. We highlight that integrated care rests on multidisciplinary and patient-centred approaches, which depend on a well-trained and resourced team, strong leadership, and adequate information systems. This paper provides the first theory-driven road map of implementation pathways, to help support the integration of NCD care for crises-affected populations in Lebanon and globally.
Implementation of a web-based partnership support program for improving the quality of life of male patients undergoing infertility treatment: a pilot feasibility study
Authors: Asazawa Kyoko , Jitsuzaki Mina , Mori Akiko , Ichikawa Tomohiko , Kawanami Masami , Yoshida Atsumi
Published: July 2023

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to implement and evaluate a Web-based partnership support program to enhance the QoL of male patients undergoing infertility treatment. We conducted a pilot study involving 41 infertile couples from September to October of 2021. We used a quasi-experimental design (pre-test and post-test with comparison) involving purposive sampling. A subgroup analysis was conducted to determine which demographics of the participants would benefit from the program.

Results

Thirty-four participants (mean age 37.3 years; duration of infertility treatment 14.5 months) were included in the final analysis (follow-up rate 82.9%). Although there was no significant increase in the participants’ QoL under the Web-based partnership support program, the assisted reproductive technology group (P = 0.03), the no medical history group (P = 0.032), and the with experience of changing hospital group (P = 0.027) showed a significant increase in the relational subscale scores of the QoL before and after the program. The majority of the participants (n = 29; 85.3%) expressed satisfaction with the support program. Participation in the Web-based partnership support program may improve the QoL of some men undergoing infertility treatment.

Trial registrationRetrospectively registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network on 26 January 2023 (ID: UMIN0000 000050153).
Alzheimer’s pathology is associated with altered cognition, brain volume, and plasma biomarker patterns in traumatic encephalopathy syndrome
Authors: Asken Breton M. , Tanner Jeremy A. , Gaynor Leslie S. , VandeVrede Lawren , Mantyh William G. , Casaletto Kaitlin B. , Staffaroni Adam M. , Fonseca Corrina , Shankar Ranjani , Grant Harli , Smith Karen , Lago Argentina Lario , Xu Haiyan , La Joie Renaud , Cobigo Yann , Rosen Howie , Perry David C. , Rojas Julio C. , Miller Bruce L. , Gardner Raquel C. , Wang Kevin K. W. , Kramer Joel H. , Rabinovici Gil D.
Published: July 2023

Background

Traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) is a clinical phenotype sensitive but non-specific to underlying chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) neuropathology. However, cognitive symptoms of TES overlap with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and features of AD pathology like beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques often co-occur with CTE, making clinical-to-pathological conclusions of TES diagnoses challenging. We investigated how Alzheimer’s neuropathological changes associated with cognition, brain volume, and plasma biomarkers in patients with repetitive head impacts (RHI)/TES, clinical AD, or typically aging controls.

Methods

We studied 154 participants including 33 with RHI/TES (age 61.5 ± 11.5, 100% male, 11/33 Aβ[ +]), 62 with AD and no known prior RHI (age 67.1 ± 10.2, 48% male, 62/62 Aβ[ +]), and 59 healthy controls without RHI (HC; age 73.0 ± 6.2, 40% male, 0/59 Aβ[ +]). Patients completed neuropsychological testing (memory, executive functioning, language, visuospatial) and structural MRI (voxel-based morphometry analysis), and provided plasma samples analyzed for GFAP, NfL, IL-6, IFN-γ, and YKL-40. For cognition and plasma biomarkers, patients with RHI/TES were stratified as Aβ[ +] or Aβ[ −] and compared to each other plus the AD and HC groups (ANCOVA adjusting for age and sex). Differences with at least a medium effect size (Cohen’s d > 0.50) were interpreted as potentially meaningful.

Results

Cognitively, within the TES group, Aβ[ +] RHI/TES performed worse than Aβ[-] RHI/TES on visuospatial (p = .04, d = 0.86) and memory testing (p = .07, d = 0.74). Comparing voxel-wise brain volume, both Aβ[ +] and Aβ[ −] RHI/TES had lower medial and anterior temporal lobe volume than HC and did not significantly differ from AD. Comparing plasma biomarkers, Aβ[ +] RHI/TES had higher plasma GFAP than HC (p = .01, d = 0.88) and did not significantly differ from AD. Conversely, Aβ[ −] RHI/TES had higher NfL than HC (p = .004, d = 0.93) and higher IL-6 than all other groups (p’s ≤ .004, d’s > 1.0).

Conclusions

Presence of Alzheimer’s pathology in patients with RHI/TES is associated with altered cognitive and biomarker profiles. Patients with RHI/TES and positive Aβ-PET have cognitive and plasma biomarker changes that are more like patients with AD than patients with Aβ[ −] RHI/TES. Measuring well-validated Alzheimer’s biomarkers in patients with RHI/TES could improve interpretation of research findings and heighten precision in clinical management.
Design of PFC converter with stand-alone inverter for microgrid applications
Authors: Boddu Sujith , Ghosh Arnab
Published: July 2023

The proposed topology is used to connect a single-phase and a three-phase renewable energy resources to the grid. The single-phase source is coupled to a single-phase PFC boost converter, which enhances the input PF utilizing two feedback loops: outer voltage loop control and inner current loop control. The basic hightlight is to study the PFC converter in microgrid application where renewables are integrated with the systems. The basic aim is to observe the overall performance of the converters with various disturbances such as load variations, etc. Here, the single-phase and three-phase stand-alone inverter is used to get the the output of the PFC boost converters. A symmetrical sinusoidal output voltage waveform should be produced and maintained by the inverter. The three-phase source is also coupled to a PFC buck converter, which enhances the input PF utilizing two feedback loops: outer voltage loop control and inner current loop control. The single-phase stand-alone inverter receives the output of the PFC buck converter. The transformer receives the outputs of both the inverters as it is a multi-winding high-frequency transformer and offers isolation between the grid and the source. The pulses for the switches in the single-phase inverter coupled stand-alone system were generated using a sinusoidal pulse width modulation approach. Both the PI controllers are implemented to maintain the regulations. The simulation results are achieved by varying the load, maintaining a constant voltage, and observing whether the current varies as the load changes. It also provides the efficacy of the study.
Οι επιπτώσεις της πανδημίας Covid-19 στην αποδυ-ναμωμένη από την κρίση δημογραφική εξέλιξη της Ελλάδας
Authors: Dumont Gérard-François
Published: July 2023

Σε αυτό το άρθρο εξετάζονται οι συνέπειες της οικονομικής κρίσης ( 2008-2018) στο επίπεδο των δημογραφικών εξελίξεων στην Ελλάδα σε σύγκριση με άλλες τέσσερις ευρωπαϊκές χώρες με ίδιο πληθυσμιακό μέγεθος: Αυστρία, Βουλγαρία, Πορτογαλία και Ουγγαρία. Παρατηρούνται παρόμοιες εξελίξεις σε όλες αυτές τις χώρες, όσο αφορά στους θανάτους, τις γεννήσεις, το προσδόκιμο της ζωής κ.λπ. Στην Ελλάδα, ωστόσο, παρατηρείται πολύ μεγαλύτερη μετανάστευση των Ελλήνων στη διάρκεια της κρίσης σε σύγκριση με τις υπόλοιπες υπο μέλετη χώρες. Στην περίπτωση της Αυστρίας δεν φαίνεται να υπάρχει καθόλου αύξηση της μετανάστευσης κατά την διάρκεια της κρίσης, ενώ, ο αριθμός των μεταναστών προς την Αυστρία είναι μεγαλύτερος από ότι σε όλες τις άλλες χώρες που μελετά το άρθρο. Στη συνέχεια, εξετάζονται οι επιπτώσεις της πανδημίας COVID-19 στη δημογραφική εξέλιξη των εξεταζόμενων χωρών σε σύγκριση με την Ελλάδα. Παρατηρούνται και πάλι παρόμοιες εξελίξεις, με την Ελλάδα να βρίσκεται σε καλύτερη κατάσταση από πλευράς θανάτων για την περίοδο 2020-2021. Τέλος, σχετικά με τις μακροχρόνιες εξελίξεις, οι σχετικές προβολές δείχνουν ότι η Ελλάδα και η Βουλγαρία θα υποστούν τη μεγαλύτερη μείωση του πληθυσμού τους, ενώ, ο πληθυσμός της Αυστρίας θα παραμείνει σταθερός με ορίζοντα το 2080. Επιπλέον, επιχειρείται ερμηνεία των δημογραφικών εξελίξεων στις υπό εξέταση χώρες με βάση τα οικονομικά, κοινωνικά, και πολιτισμικά χαρακτηριστικά κάθε μιας από τις τέσσερις χώρες σε σύγκριση με την Ελλάδα.
The Impact of Input and Output Farm Subsidies on Farmer Welfare, Income Disparity, and Consumer Surplus
Authors: Tang Christopher S. , Wang Yulan , Zhao Ming
Published: July 2023

Because of a growing population and shrinking arable land, the world is facing a global food crisis. One important solution could be to subsidize farmers to sustain their production so that they can produce more food for consumers and earn more money for themselves. An efficient subsidy program should also aim to reduce income inequality among farmers, as measured by the Gini coefficient of farmers’ income. In this paper, we examine and compare the effects of input and output farm subsidy programs. The input subsidy reduces the farmers’ input purchasing costs, whereas the output subsidy reduces the farmers’ output processing costs. By considering a continuum of infinitesimal price-taking farmers who are heterogeneous in their average yield rates, our equilibrium analysis of a game-theoretical model yields three results. First, both subsidy schemes reduce the aggregate income inequality measured by the Gini coefficient. However, they create the following “opposite” effects: the input subsidy decreases the income gap among farmers (under mild conditions), whereas the output subsidy increases it. Second, farmers with low yield rates prefer the input subsidy, whereas farmers with high yield rates prefer the output subsidy. Third, the output subsidy scheme is more effective in improving the total farmer income than the input subsidy scheme, whereas the input subsidy scheme is more effective in reducing income disparities and improving consumer surplus than the output subsidy scheme. Our results provide new insights for policymakers who are crafting subsidy schemes.

This paper was accepted by Jayashankar Swaminathan, operations management.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 71971184, 71972025, and 72032001], the Departmental General Research Fund of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University [Grant P0008761], and the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong [Grants 15504615 and 15500820].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4850 .
Providing strategic information during a public health emergency: lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
Authors: Bahr Thurid , Klein Nina , Fehr Angela , Fischer Hanna-Tina , Hanefeld Johanna , Iskandarani Dounia , Pozo Martin Francisco , Weishaar Heide , El Bcheraoui Charbel
Published: July 2023

Background:

Timely strategic information is essential for decision makers to mount an effective public health response to infectious disease outbreaks, and public health actors must find an effective way to supply it. The Centre for International Health Protection at the Robert Koch Institute (Germany’s national public health institute) developed a three-pronged approach to processing and supplying strategic information on the international state of the COVID-19 pandemic to the German Federal Ministry of Health: monitoring and analysis of international public health and social measures (PHSM); screening, validating, analysing and reporting the global epidemiological situation; and in-depth analyses and syntheses of COVID-19 evidence.

Aims and objectives:

We discuss the approach taken by the Centre to provide strategic information and challenges and adaptations during the information provision process. We then distil lessons that will be critical to improve strategic information provision for evidence-informed decision making in future public health emergencies.

Key conclusions:

Several lessons can be derived from the Centre’s experience. Timeliness of evidence is essential for enabling decision makers to tailor a public health response to an outbreak, and requires sufficient and skilled staff to process evidence. Evidence formats should be adapted to decision makers’ information needs; this requires open channels of communication to understand needs. Access to high-quality international data hinges on data sharing across countries and the capacity to collect and process such data in many countries. Heeding the lessons will strengthen pandemic response.
Fathers’ experiences of childcare and feeding: A photo-elicitation study in a low resource setting in urban Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Berhane Hanna Y. , Tewahido Dagmawit , Tarekegn Workagegnhu , Trenholm Jill
Published: July 2023

Children’s health and wellbeing studies focus mainly on mothers’ roles while very little is known about the experiences/challenges that fathers face in fulfilling their responsibilities. Therefore, this study aims to explore the fathers’ lived experiences of childcare and feeding in an urban low-income setting. This qualitative study was conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Photo-elicitation was used to facilitate the in-depth interviews with fathers of children below the age of five years. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and translated verbatim, followed by a thematic analysis approach. The overarching theme of this study was “Fatherhood as an enduring identity”, which comprised of three sub-themes: 1) Blessings of fatherhood, 2) Adjusting to fathering roles, and 3) Struggles/demands of fatherhood in a low-resource setting. Fathers expressed that having children or becoming parents was a blessing. They expressed their love, devotion, and attachment to their children. Some used the term "my second chance in life" underscoring the importance. Although fathers strived relentlessly to spend time and care for their children, they faced challenges such as internal struggles adjusting to and fatherhood whilst maintaining a sense of their former self. As well, providing for their families amidst added pressures imposed by the external environment, such as poor housing conditions, a lack of employment opportunities, the then COVID-19 pandemic, further increased their stressors. Most fathers were engaged in child care and feeding, suggesting that like mothers, fathers should be viewed as potential agents for implementing nutrition interventions in this setting. However, if interventions are to be successful, they need to incorporate components that boost fathers’ livelihoods and general wellbeing.
Eritrina, a heroína
Authors: Tavares Ana Cristina
Published: July 2023

“Eritrina” é a protagonista principal de uma história verídica, que revela factos do passado até ao presente do Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Coimbra, promovendo Ciência e o património UC.&lt;br&gt;Em cenário real, num discurso simples e interdisciplinar conta-se a História do Jardim, dos seus 250 anos (em 2022), factos, pessoas, plantas e animais.&lt;br&gt;As ilustrações revelam evidências de Ciência, noções de fisiologia e de botânica, e da adaptação e resiliência das plantas, “heroínas”, às alterações climáticas.&lt;br&gt;Casos do dia-a-dia como este, a explorar preferencialmente ao vivo, facilitam novas descobertas, a interpretação e o entendimento do que nos rodeia, despertando para valores de sustentabilidade que são particularmente relevantes nos mais novos.&lt;br&gt;Alinhada com a articulação disciplinar e metas curriculares, esta dinamização de ciência viva a integrar em projetos escolares, promoverá conhecimento e competências, sensibilizando a boas práticas a adotar.&lt;br&gt;Alicerçada nos princípios da educação ambiental realça-se uma mensagem descomplicada sobre literacia e eco cidadania, dominios primordiais face à crise socio ambiental, desafios e exigências para futuro.
FULFILLING CHILDREN'S RIGHTS THROUGH POST-DIVORCE RELATIONSHIPS: An Investigation from Bima
Authors: Agustina Feni
Published: July 2023

This article sheds light on the fulfillment of children's rights after divorce. The fulfillment of children's rights is explained by examining the relationships built by divorced parents. To collect data, interviews were conducted with divorced couples who have children. Taking place in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, this article identifies at least three patterns of post-divorce parental relationships: (1) the relationship built by both ex-spouses, (2) the relationship built by only one of them, and (3) the relationship that is not built by both ex-spouses. It is arguable to say that the relationship built by both ex-spouses is the best for fulfilling the rights of the child. Conversely, the last type of relationship is mostly ineffective in many cases.[Artikel ini membahas tentang pemenuhan hak-hak anak pasca perceraian. Pemenuhan hak anak dijelaskan setelah meneliti relasi yang dibangun oleh orang tua yang bercerai. Data dikumpulkan dengan melakukan wawancara terhadap pasangan-pasangan yang telah bercera dan memiliki anak. Mengambil tempat penelitian di Bima, Nusa Tenggara Barat, artikel ini menemukan setidaknya terdapat tiga pola relasi orang tua pasca perceraian: (1) relasi yang dibangun oleh kedua mantan pasangan, (2) relasi yang dibangun oleh salah satunya, dan (3) relasi yang enggan dibangun oleh kedua mantan pasangan. Relasi yang dibangun oleh dua mantan pasangan merupakan relasi yang terbaik bagi pemenuhan hak-hak anak. Sedangkan relasi tipe terakhir sama sekali tidak efektif dalam pemenuhan anak.]
Immer. Wi(e)der. Universität.
Authors: Rettenmaier Simon
Published: July 2023

Dieses Werk ist der gelungene Versuch, wissenschaftspolitische Notwendigkeiten vor dem Hintergrund einer idealen Erkenntnistheorie von Universitäten zu reflektieren. Heraus kommt eine Analyse, die die Eigenheiten der Organisation Universität mit dem Ideal der Universität abgleicht und spürbare Widersprüche aufdeckt. Rettenmaier beleuchtet hierfür das Konstrukt Universität als Wis-sens- und Erkenntnisstätte sowie als gesellschaftlicher (Aus)Bildungsort von seinem historischen Verständnis bis in die Gegenwart hinein. In der Universität – verstanden als Großbetrieb im Sinne Max Webers – werden die organisatorischen mit den institutionell-epistemologischen Belangen konfrontiert. Wissenschaftstheoretisch orientiert sich die Analyse an den Philosophen Paul Feyerabend und Helmut Spinner, darüber hinaus werden die organisationssoziologischen Einwände mit den Überlegungen David Graebers pointiert. Am Ende steht ein Plädoyer, das für eine wissenschaftstheoretisch reflektierte Wissenschaftspolitik sowie Hochschulbürokratie wirbt und dabei auch kapitalismuskritisch vor überbordender Wettbewerbsökonomie warnt.
The Design Concept of an Electric Amphibious Bus as an Alternative Mass Transportation on Rivers and Roads to Overcome Congestion in the Jabodetabek
Authors: Coutsar Ardan Nagra , Aritonang Sovian , Sjamsoeddin Sjafrie , Bagdja Ade
Published: July 2023

Due to the high growth of vehicles in Jakarta that is not balanced by the growth of roads, the congestion level in Jakarta has been increasing yearly. To overcome the congestion, innovation is needed to utilize the rivers as a means of public transportation. The design uses the spiral design method with a parent design approach. The calculations carried out include the calculation of resistance, calculation of motor power requirements, calculation of longitudinal strength, calculation of construction, calculation of weight, hydrostatic calculation, stability calculation and seakeeping calculation on water vehicles. As for road vehicles, the calculations carried out include wind drag calculation, rolling resistance calculation, incline force calculation, total resistance calculation, torque calculation and electric power calculation. As a result of the calculations and iterations carried out, the technical specifications of the amphibious bus are obtained, including a length of 12.0 m, breadth of 3.0 m, depth of 3.0 and draught of 0.8 m. This bus is equipped with three movers of waterjet propulsion connected to electric motors with a power of 710 kW each. This bus can carry 51 people with one driver. This bus has good stability when in the water under empty and full load conditions with a level of comfort that meets ISO standards. In addition, this bus can operate up to 359 km for water distances and 501 km for land distances at 40 km/h for water and 60 km/h for land for one battery charging. This bus can also run with a maximum angle of up to 30 degrees.
La familia como ámbito de intimidad y fuente de sentido personal para la sociedad según la antropología trascendental de Leonardo Polo
Authors: Cadavid Claussen María Victoria
Published: July 2023

El primer aporte de la persona al mundo es la familia. La persona es en su intimidad pura coexistencia, es decir, abierta a ser con otros. Por esto, ella es desde dentro, un ser siempre acompañado. De algun modo, cada persona es por dentro familia; primero, con ella misma, porque se conoce como persona; segundo, porque se abre en aceptación íntima al Ser Originario; tercero, porque, desde su intimidad, se manifiesta a otras personas a quienes acepta y da. En la familia, la persona humana es aceptada, puede crecer desde adentro de sí junto con los otros que la acompañan y aprende a manifestar la radicalidad de su ‘ser’, su intimidad o sentido personal. A esto contribuye la educación propia de la intimidad familiar. En este estudio se pretende mostrar, mediante el método inductivo y con el apoyo de uno de los hallazgos radicales de la propuesta antropológica de L. Polo, que la familia es el enclave íntimo en el que la persona crece y desde el cual, como sentido personal que es, se manifiesta. Con esto contribuye a configurar el ámbito social para hacerlo crecer en cohesión ética y en libertad. Este estudio amplía la reflexión de una previa investigación antropológica doctoral, denominada “En busca del sentido personal”, de mi autoría, que continúa los aportes de Polo en su antropología trascendental.
La intimidad en la reflexión agustiniana y el devenir histórico
Authors: Ospinar Hernández Carlos Arturo
Published: July 2023

El presente capítulo está vinculado al proyecto Estudio comparativo de la misión de la Universidad Católica de Colombia, del grupo de investigación Philosopia Personae en la línea Educación, ética y política. Se trata de exponer el papel que ha tenido la conciencia de la intimidad, aportada por el pensador san Agustín de Hipona, como gestora de grandes acontecimientos en el devenir histórico de Occidente. El itinerario parte del reconocimiento de los dones espirituales propios de la persona, de la dignidad del ser humano y del pensamiento de san Agustín que presenta la intimidad como la verdadera fuente de la verdad —el lugar donde sucede el encuentro con la divinidad en el corazón de la persona—, de la capacidad del alma humana de relacionarse con Dios y discernir la relación de la creatura con el Creador, cuya plenitud se vive en el Verbo encarnado. Verbo divino, que revela el sentido de la creación y el sentido de ser persona. Enseguida se analiza el fenómeno de la dispersión que rompe con la unidad interior de la persona y las consecuencias negativas que depara ese fenómeno. Luego se trata la polémica entre el paganismo, en cuanto hijo de la dispersión, y san Agustín con su obra La ciudad de Dios (San Agustín, s. f.a), que abrió los horizontes de la vida eterna como el sumo bien —sentido de la vida y plenitud de la intimidad—, pero al mismo tiempo trazó el meridiano histórico que separó la Antigüedad de la Edad Media, con la idea de que el ser humano puede superar la misma muerte. Para finalizar, se adentra en los procesos históricos que se han derivado de los encuentros y desencuentros con la propuesta agustiniana de la intimidad, ratificada desde el Cielo con las revelaciones de la devoción a los corazones de Jesús y María. (Tomado de la fuente)
Addressing Balance of Payment Disequilibrium Through Non-Oil Export and Exchange Rate Stability in Nigeria: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Agu Christian , Obodoechi Divine Ndubuisi , Nebo Ifeanyi Kennedy
Published: July 2023

This study investigates the impact of non-oil export on the Nigeria balance of payment between 1981 and 2020. To achieve the broad objective, two specific objectives were set out, viz: investigate the impact of non-oil export on the Nigeria balance of payment; and examine the level of impact of exchange rate volatility on balance of payment in Nigeria. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lagged (ARDL) and Error Correction Model (ECM), the findings of the study show that non-oil exports have had a strong positive impact on Nigeria’s balance of payment within the period under study both in the short and long-run. It shows that a percentage increase in non-oil export increases the balance of payment (surplus) by 31.47 % in the long-run. However, exchange rate was shown to have had a negative blow on Nigeria’s balance of payment, though not statistically significant. The study therefore recommend among others that, for Nigeria to enjoy a surplus balance of payment, which is one of her major macroeconomic goals, there is the need to shift attention to the non-oil sector which has always been the main source of her foreign exchange earnings prior to the discovery of crude oil.
Estimates for certain class of rough generalized Marcinkiewicz functions along submanifolds
Authors: Ali Mohammed , Al-Qassem Hussain
Published: July 2023

We establish certain delicate

L

p

{L}^{p}

bounds for a class of generalized Marcinkiewicz integral operators along submanifolds with rough kernels. These bounds allow us to use Yano’s extrapolation method to prove the

L

p

{L}^{p}

boundedness of the aforementioned integral operators under very weak assumptions on the kernels. Our results in this article improve and generalize many previously known results.
Acid-based hydrolysis processes for ethanol from lignocellulosic materials: A review
Authors: Taherzadeh Mohammad J. , Karimi Keikhosro
Published: July 2023

Bioethanol is nowadays one of the main actors in the fuel market. It is currently produced from sugars and starchy materials, but lignocelluloses can be expected to be major feedstocks for ethanol production in the future. Two processes are being developed in parallel for conversion of lignocelluloses to ethanol, “acid-based” and “enzyme-based” processes. The current article is dedicated to review of progress in the “acid-based-hydrolysis” process. This process was used industrially in the 1940s, during wartime, but was not economically competitive afterward. However, intensive research and development on its technology during the last three decades, in addition to the expanding ethanol market, may revive the process in large scale once again. In this paper the ethanol market, the composition of lignocellulosic materials, concentrated- and dilute-acid pretreatment and hydrolysis, plug-flow, percolation, counter-current and shrinking-bed hydrolysis reactors, fermentation of hexoses and pentoses, effects of fermentation inhibitors, downstream processing, wastewater treatment, analytical methods used, and the current commercial status of the acid-based ethanol processes are reviewed.
Stiff Person Syndrome Misdiagnosed as Oxaliplatin Induced Neurotoxicity
Authors:   Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab-140401, India, K A Shaima , D Meghana ,   Department of Bio-informatics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, K Rooha ,   Cipher Oncology Private Limited, Telangana, Hyderabad - 500096, India, J Sarita ,   Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab-140401, India
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Stiff person syndrome is characterized by muscle rigidity that waxes and wanes along with concurrent spasms. The symptoms of the stiff-person syndrome were identical to those of oxaliplatin side effects. Methods: This was a case report of a 65-year-old man who was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome. He experienced pain with bleeding from the rectum. Screening tests were used to check foramphiphysin antibodies and electromyography. FNAC was done from the government hospital which was conclusive of metastasis. He was initiated on Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin protocol. Results: During the hospital stay, he was treated with 1gm Methylprednisolone for 5 days and sequentially with immunoglobulin 2gm per day for 5 days, concomitantly Benzodiazepam was given 10mg three times a day for 3 days but later withdrawn as the patient started experiencing dizziness. He achieved no clinical benefit in neurological status. Eventually developed aspiration pneumonia and succumbed to death after one month of diagnosis of SPS. Conclusion: Further studies should carry out to develop an evidence-based approach to diagnosing and treating SPS patients.
A Systematic Review of Persistent Clinical Features After SARS-CoV-2 in the Pediatric Population
Authors: Jiang Li , Li Xuan , Nie Jia , Tang Kun , Bhutta Zulfiqar A.
Published: July 2023

CONTEXT

Long-term health effects after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been increasingly reported but their prevalence and significance in the pediatric population remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

To present the prevalence and characteristics of the long-term clinical features of COVID-19 (long COVID) in the global pediatric population.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, WHO COVID-19 database, google scholar, medRxiv, bioRxiv, and multiple national public health databases.

STUDY SELECTION

Published articles and preprints from December, 2019 to December, 2022 investigating the epidemiology and characteristics of persistent clinical features at least 3 months after COVID-19 in children and adolescents (0–19 years old) were included.

DATA EXTRACTION

Study characteristics and detailed description of long COVID were extracted into a predefined form.

RESULTS

Twenty seven cohorts and 4 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria and involved over 15 000 pediatric participants. A total of more than 20 persistent symptoms and clinical features were reported among children and adolescents. 16.2% (95% confidence interval 8.5% to 28.6%) of the pediatric participants experienced 1 or more persistent symptom(s) at least 3 months post COVID-19. Female gender might be associated with developing certain long COVID symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

Included studies presented with great heterogeneity because of significant variations in the definition of “long COVID,” follow up duration, and method. There could be nonresponse and other potential bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent clinical features beyond 3 months among children and adolescents with proven COVID-19 are common and the symptom spectrum is wide. High-quality, prospective studies with proper controls are necessary in the future.
HEAVY METAL STATUS OF SOIL AND UNDERGROUND WATER IN URBAN AREA OF PRISHTINA DISTRICT, KOSOVO
Authors:   Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo, Demaku Skender , Sylejmani Donika ,   Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo, Aliu Arbnorë ,   Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo, Krasniqi Blerta ,   Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo, Demaj Emirjana ,   Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo, Jusufi Kaltrina ,   Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo
Published: July 2023

Aim of the study: Through this study, the determination of Cu (water; 0.029 mg/l and soil; 4.98 mg/kg) Fe (water; 0.712 mg/l and soil; 2.78 mg/kg), Mn (water; 0.033 mg/l and soil; 2.56 mg/kg), Ni (water; 0.039 mg/l and soil; 2.65 mg/kg), Pb (water; 0.241mg/l and soil; 4.98 mg/kg), Zn (water; 3.564 mg/l and soil; 5.62 mg/kg), As (water; 0.028 mg/l and soil; 0.028 mg/kg), Sb (water; 0.049 mg/l and soil; 0.041 mg/kg) and Cd (water; 0.089 mg/l and soil; 0.098 mg/kg) was made in soil and groundwater samples in the urban district of Prishtina. The sampling was done during august of 2022. The experimental procedure was done by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, (AA Spectrophotometer- S2 SERIES- AA System- Thermo Electron Corporation). Material and methods: Instrumentation and statistical analyses. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to measure the concentrations of heavy metals. For each group of analytical samples, two spiked blanks and two method blanks were simultaneously processed. Results and conclusions: The present study was carried with four sampling points of water, and four soil samples in the vicinity of the wells. While physical and chemical qualities provide some insight into water quality, they do not provide a complete picture of water pollution.
Approximate method of optimization of nonlinear programming problems
Authors:   Tver State Agricultural Academy, Ganicheva Antonina , Ganichev Alexey ,   Tver State Technical University
Published: July 2023

Currently, the problem of choosing the optimal solution is one of the most important and urgent problems in industry, economy, agriculture and the military sphere. Methods and approaches of the theory of nonlinear programming are used to solve many applied optimization problems. The main difficulty of nonlinear optimization is the lack of a universal method for solving this class of problems. To solve this problem, special methods are being developed for solving particular nonlinear programming problems, for example, for positive or limited initial data. The paper investigates the problem of analytical optimization of nonlinear programming problems. The purpose of this work is to develop a new approximate method for solving optimization problems of a nonlinear function under nonlinear constraints in the form of equalities. To do this, an approximation (expansion in a series) of the objective function and constraints is performed. All variables are considered bounded at the top and bottom. The objective function and constraints are considered infinitely differentiable by the set of arguments, and all their derivatives are assumed to be limited in absolute value by a given number. In this article, the theorem on the conditional maximum of the objective function under given constraints is proved. the results of which are the justification of the developed method. Since the developed optimization method is approximate, the error of the proposed representation of the objective function and constraint functions is estimated. In problems of an applied nature, the boundaries of variable changes are often set approximately and they can be adjusted. In addition, it is possible to adjust the point relative to which the functions are decomposed into series. Therefore, the article analyzes the sensitivity of the optimal solution of the problem when changing the decomposition point into a series of functions for different values of the coordinates of the left boundaries when searching for the maximum of the objective function. To explain the operation of the method, a specific numerical example is analyzed in detail. Modeling in the MS Excel environment was used to solve it. Graphs of the sensitivity study of the solution of the problem when changing the initial data are constructed. Nonlinear programming models are used, for example, to solve the following practically important issues: minimizing costs in the sale of products, optimizing consumer choice, maximizing production volume, determining the rational behavior of an individual in a given situation, rational use of resources, forming an optimal portfolio of securities.
A Study on the Impartiality and Duty of Disclosure of Arbitrators in ICSID Arbitration
Authors:   The Korea International Trade Research Institute, Han Nak-Hyun , Choi Doo-Won
Published: July 2023

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to suggest implications after analyzing Eiser v. Spain, and the impartiality and duty of disclosure of arbitrators in ICSID arbitration. Design/Methodology/Approach – In this study, in analyzing Eiser v. Spain, the literature analysis was mainly conducted using domestic and foreign related literature and Internet data. Findings – In 2017, Spain was ordered to pay Eiser €128 million on account of its failure to afford fair and equitable treatment. This award was subsequently annulled because the claimant-appointed arbitrator failed to disclose a professional relationship with the claimants’ damages expert, which led to, inter alia, the tribunal being improperly constituted. The full costs of the proceedings, including Spain’s legal fees and expenses, were shifted to Eiser. Research Implications – The Eiser Annulment Decision also casts doubt on the effectiveness of disclosure duties. Undisputedly, arbitrators must be neutral and must disclose facts or circumstances that may cloud their judgment. Many codes and rules specify that this duty is continuous. Yet, the vast majority of these instruments envisage no consequence for non-disclosure. This, coupled with the fact that arbitrators enjoy immunity from legal process pursuant to Article 21 of the ICSID Convention, leaves room for nonchalance when disclosing potential conflicts.
Problem świeckości państwa a wyzwania nowoczesności. Na marginesie Religii i neutralności światopoglądowej państwa Ryszarda Panasiuka
Authors: Bogusławski Marcin
Published: July 2023

Punktem odniesienia mojego tekstu jest wystąpienie Ryszarda Panasiuka poświęcone idei świeckości państwa, którą traktuję jako składnik nowoczesności. W kontekście kryzysu wywołanego rozwojem nowoczesności stawiam pytanie o możliwość podjęcia działań prewencyjnych. Utrzymuję, że ich skuteczność zależy od tego, czy możliwe jest spojrzenie na obecną sytuację z perspektywy zewnętrzności (transgresja), do której odnoszą się światopoglądy często pozostające ze sobą w konflikcie. Twierdzę, że świeckie państwo stwarza szansę na owocny dialog tych światopoglądów stwarzając szansę na realizację działań prewencyjnych.
Miasto a język. Rola miast w kształtowaniu sytuacji językowej
Authors: Szul Roman
Published: July 2023

Miasta odgrywają istotną rolę w kształtowaniu sytuacji językowej państw i regionów. W miastach działają dwa mechanizmy językowe: różnicowania i ujednolicania sytuacji językowej. Różnicowanie wynika z imigracji do miasta, ujednolicanie – z kontaktów ludności wewnątrz miasta. W skrajnych przypadkach szybkiego napływu do miasta ludności różnych języków może powstać trudność w komunikowaniu się ludności miasta (efekt „wieży Babel”). W XIX w. taka sytuacja była np. w Łodzi i Białymstoku. Ujednolicanie sytuacji językowej w mieście przebiega poprzez etap języka wspólnego i dwujęzyczności części mieszkańców. Ważnym zagadnieniem jest to, który język staje się językiem wspólnym miasta – zależy to od liczebności poszczególnych grup etniczno-językowych, ich siły ekonomicznej i politycznej, od prestiżu poszczególnych języków, a w czasach współczesnych od polityki językowej państwa lub regionu. Zróżnicowane cechy społeczno-zawodowe ludności miasta i wsi powodują, że często miasta odróżniają się sytuacją etniczną i językową od otaczających obszarów wiejskich. Miasto i obszary otaczające są w kontakcie prowadzącym do zmiany sytuacji językowej – językowego „wchłonięcia” miasta przez otoczenie lub ekspansji miasta i upodobnienia otoczenia do miasta albo równowagi i napięć na tle językowym między miastem a otoczeniem (jak obecnie w Brukseli). Miasta, tworząc sieć powiązań, sprzyjają ekspansji najważniejszego języka w danym państwie (imperium), co w czasach współczesnych było wykorzystywane do ujednolicania kulturowo-językowego w ramach budowy państw narodowych.
An Assessment of Election Administration in Zambia, 1991-2011
Authors: Munene Hyden , Chilufya Rosemary , Bwalya John
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study was to establish whether there had been an improvement in the governance of electoral processes in Zambia, in tandem with democratic principles, between 1991 and 2011. The study used interview material and secondary data on election administration activities gathered from Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) documents on electoral laws and regulations, as well as election monitors and observers’ reports. The investigation was centred on five core election administration activities, namely voter registration, monitoring funding of political parties, collaborating with the media, validating election results, and electoral conflict prevention and management. The article utilised the democratic governance theory and principles embedded in the principles for election management, monitoring and observation (PEMMO) to examine the performance of the ECZ in these five core election administration activities during the period under consideration. Based on the democratic gauge, the study found that the performance of the ECZ in election administration was worse between 1991 and 2006 but significant improvements were attained from 2006 to 2011. Subsequently, in 2016, the Constitution of Zambia was amended and the electoral laws were repealed and replaced.
PERTIMBANGAN HUKUM HAKIM (RATIO DECIDENDI) TERHADAP PENJATUHAN PIDANA ANAK PELAKU PENCABULAN
Authors: Pratama Nasrul Alief , Santoso Bambang
Published: July 2023

This article aims to determine the provisions of criminal acts of children as perpetrators of sexual harrasment based on Law Number 11 of 2012 concerning the Child Criminal Justice System in the study of decision Number 16/Pid.Sus-Anak/2020/PN Wng. The method used in this research is perspective and applied normative legal research, namely research using primary legal materials and secondary legal materials. The approach used by the author in this research is a case approach. Based on the results of the author's research, the Judge's consideration in imposing punishment on children in the process of obscenity cases in Decision Number 16/Pid.Sus-Anak/2020/PN Wng is in accordance with Law No. 35 of 2014 concerning Amendments to Law No. 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection and Law No. 11 of 2012 concerning the Child Criminal Justice System, namely in the form of imprisonment for 8 (eight) months and work training for 3 (three) months at Wonogiri Detention Center. Diversion cannot be applied in the crime of sexual harrasment with child perpetrators in accordance with Article 7 paragraph (2) of the SPPA Law which states that diversion can be applied to children who commit criminal offenses with a criminal penalty of under 7 (seven) years and not repetition of criminal acts.

Keywords: Child; Child Sexual Harassment; Judge's Consideration