bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modafinil in Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Apathy: A Sleeping Giant?
Authors: Leong Kok Keong , Mensah Seth
Published: August 2024

Aims

Apathy is a complex clinical, neurobehavioural and neurobiological construct that occurs across a range of neuropsychiatric disorders. Apathy is defined as persistent, diminished motivation with impairments in goal-directed behaviour, thought, cognitive activity and emotions. Apathy negatively impacts on participation/engagement in rehabilitation and community reintegration, quality of life, and increased occupational and economic burden on families and traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Apathy is among the most common sequelae of TBI, with prevalence estimated to be in excess of 10%, and up to 60% in comorbid depression and apathy.

There is no standard treatment for apathy, although anecdotal evidence suggests that Modafinil may be effective. Current pharmacological management strategies focus on addressing the comorbidities associated with it: e.g. acetylcholinesterase inhibitors to treat both Alzheimer's disease and apathy; dopaminergic agonists for Parkinson's disease and apathy; and antidepressants for depression and apathy.

This literature review will assess the clinical evidence of Modafinil, and recommended use for treating post-TBI apathy.

Methods

An extensive search was conducted in the major databases, PsychInfo, Cochrane, Europe PMC, PubMed, EMBASE and MEDLINE, to evaluate Modafinil treatment for apathy in TBI patients. Additionally, the literature review included extra sources found in the citations. Out of 70 citations, only one was accepted for further analysis. The remaining citations were rejected due to their ineligible abstracts, absence of pharmacological interventions, inclusion of non-TBI apathy and being non-English language articles.

Results

The accepted paper did not meet Level III evidence or better following analysis.

The review however identified case reports suggesting the potential effectiveness of Modafinil in treating post-TBI apathy.

Although the exact mechanism of action of Modafinil remains unclear, it is associated with improvement in working memory, attention and prefrontal-dependent cognitive function. This improvement is linked to elevated levels of extracellular dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glutamate and histamine, as well as decreased GABA levels. Modafinil activates the anterior cingulate cortex, and shows positive correlation with cognitive improvement. Neuroanatomically, there is a strong association between apathy and disruption of the cortico-basal ganglia loop, involving the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, ventral striatum and connected brain regions. Modafinil possibly has unexplored benefits in improving apathy through activation of the anterior cingulate cortex.

Conclusion

There is limited empirical evidence for effective treatments for post-TBI apathy. This review emphasizes the urgent need for further research that aligns with underlying neuroanatomical pathology in order to determine the most effective psychopharmacological interventions for managing post-TBI apathy.
Review of Melatonin's Effectiveness and the Side Effects on Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Chen Sui Yung , Khan Farooq , Talib Shoaib , Toft Suzanne
Published: August 2024

Aims

People who have Alzheimer's disease (AD) often experience sleep disturbances due to the nature of the illness. Melatonin has been prescribed for sleep disturbance in individuals with AD, although there is a lack of national guidelines for pharmacological care for this presentation. Prolonged sleep disturbances for individuals with AD tend to lead to poor quality of life for the individual, behavioural challenges, carers' exhaustion and potential placement breakdowns.

The objective of this literature review is to determine whether the available evidence supports recommending melatonin to patients with AD for sleep, along with other benefits and adverse effects.

The hypothesis for this review is that melatonin is beneficial for sleep disturbances and has neuroprotection for individuals with AD.

Methods

Literature search on the online electronic database from 2010 to November 2023, using the title of “Melatonin's effectiveness and the side effects on Alzheimer's Disease''. This literature review was done by screening the 125 searched titles. The inclusion criteria included systematic review (SR), meta-analysis, randomised controlled trial (RCT), animals and cell studies. Exclusion criteria included case studies, literature and peer reviews. A total of 12 papers are included in this review.

Results

The three SRs, two meta-analyses and one RCT showed the potential effect of melatonin on ameriolating cognitive decline, improving cognition, quality of life and sleep qualities, with the conclusion that further studies are required. One combined meta-analysis and SR showed melatonin might be an effective treatment for mild AD. One Cochrane review showed melatonin has no evidence of improving sleep for moderate-to-severe AD.

One animal study and two cellular studies showed a melatonin effect in the control progression of AD. One animal study and one cellular research study concluded that melatonin has potential treatment effects.

Adverse effects were mentioned at the higher dose (10mg) with negative reaction times, sedation and confusion.

Conclusion

There is a potential favourable effect of prescribing melatonin for mild to moderate AD, but there is limited evidence for prescribing it for moderate to severe AD. Furthermore, there is emerging evidence on melatonin's neuroprotective effect and potential treatment options for mild to moderate AD; further research is required for both sleep and neuroprotection in AD.
The Chicken or the Egg? Understanding the Temporal Relationship Between Severe Mental Illness and Neurological Conditions in a UK Primary Care Cohort
Authors: Burchill Ella , Rogers Jonathan , Osborn David , Hayes Joseph , Launders Naomi
Published: August 2024

Aims

A significantly higher prevalence of neurological conditions has been found both before and after a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychotic illnesses compared with the general population.

We aimed to understand the cumulative prevalence of 16 neurological conditions in people with severe mental illness (SMI) from 5 years before to 5 years after their SMI diagnosis. We hypothesised that individual neurological conditions would have differential temporal relationships relative to SMI diagnosis.

Methods

In a longitudinal matched study, we identified a cohort of patients aged 18–100 years from Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 31, 2018, from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Neurological conditions were classified using ICD–11 criteria into umbrella clusters of disease. Outcome of interest was a diagnosis of SMI. Each SMI patient was matched 1:4 to patients without SMI in the CPRD cohort, matching for sex, 5-year age band, primary care practice and year of practice registration. The cumulative prevalence of 16 neurological conditions was recorded cross-sectionally at 5, 3, 1 years prior to SMI diagnosis, at SMI diagnosis (index), and 1, 3 and 5 years after SMI diagnosis. Logistic regression modelling aided comparison of differential prevalence of neurological conditions, adjusting for sociodemographic variables, and with further adjustment for body mass index, smoking, alcohol and non-prescription drug use. Multiple imputation was applied in cases of missing data.

Results

We identified 68,789 patients with SMI, matched to 274,827 controls. The median age was 40.9 years, 49.05% of the overall cohort were female (33,783 SMI patients, 134,740 controls), and the majority were of White ethnicity (35,228, 51.2% SMI patients, 125,518, 45.7% controls). The most prevalent neurological conditions across seven timepoints were cerebral palsy, cerebrovascular disease, dementia, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, paralysis and Parkinson's disease. Conditions with the highest fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for SMI diagnosis were dementia 3 years after SMI diagnosis (5.32, 95% CI 4.95–5.71) and Parkinson's disease 5 years after SMI diagnosis (4.26, 95% CI 3.68–4.94).

Conclusion

All 16 neurological conditions have higher prevalence in the SMI cohort compared with controls, with different prevalence patterns observed over the 10-year study period. A consistently lower OR for schizophrenia compared with other SMI warrants further exploration, as neurological conditions risk being under-recorded.

A greater understanding of the temporal relationship between SMI and neurological conditions may help promote earlier diagnosis, increased screening and better holistic management of both conditions.
Pre-operative Mental Health and Adverse Outcomes Following Total Knee Replacement: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Gibb Jonathan , Lenguerrand Erik , Wylde Vikki , Bhaskaran Krishnan , Whitehouse Michael
Published: August 2024

Aims

Total knee replacements (TKRs) are effective procedures for severe osteoarthritis. Some studies suggest that people with common pre-operative mental health problems are more likely to experience complications following joint replacement. This study aimed to determine whether people who described pre-operative anxiety or depression were more likely to report an adverse event, or outcome, following a TKR.

Methods

A prospective cohort of people undergoing TKR at a surgical centre in England between 2012–2013 as part of service evaluation were studied. Following informed consent, participants completed pre-operative sociodemographic questionnaires alongside several patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), EuroQoL Five-dimensions Descriptive System (EQ-5D-3L), and the Self-Administered Patient Satisfaction Scale for Primary Knee Arthroplasty. Participants were classified as exposed if they described moderate or extreme problems with anxiety or depression in the mental health subset of the EQ-5D-3L. The primary outcome was the presence of a patient-reported adverse event (bleeding, infection or fracture) at 3 months post-surgery measured through a short postal questionnaire. Repeat PROMs were assessed at 3- and 12-months post-surgery. Logistic regression was used to model the association between pre-operative mental health status and probability of an adverse event, or outcome, occurring following adjustment for age, sex and body mass index.

Results

Of the 206 individuals studied, over a third (n 72/206, 35%) had reported problems with anxiety or depression before surgery. Among those returning completed follow-up questionnaires, 20% (n 34/168) described an adverse event at 3 months. Pre-operative anxiety or depression was not associated with an increased odds of reporting an adverse event (aOR 0.85, 95% CI 0.35–2.05) at 3 months post-surgery. People who described problems with anxiety or depression were more likely to have a greater degree of pre-operative functional impairment. Even after adjusting for a higher pre-operative symptom burden, exposed participants were more likely to report problems with activities of daily living (aOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.09–4.94) and pain or discomfort (aOR 5.58, 95% CI 1.77–17.60) at 3 months post-surgery. However, they did not have an increased odds of describing worse function, reduced health-related quality of life, or being dissatisfied with their TKR at 12 months post-surgery.

Conclusion

Despite having a higher burden of morbidity prior to undergoing surgery, pre-operatively anxious or depressed participants did not have an increased odds of reporting an adverse event at 3 months and went on to experience comparable improvements in PROMs at 12 months post-surgery.
Exploring the Distinction Between Jinn Possession and Serious Mental Disorders Through the Lens of the Traditional and Faith-Based Healers in Korail Slum
Authors: Soron Tanjir Rashid , Azmery Kazi Shammin , Ahmed Helal Uddin , Sagar Jilka
Published: August 2024

Aims

The cultural narratives around Jinn Possession are deeply intertwined with the societal understanding of mental health in Bangladesh, often blurring the lines between supernatural beliefs and clinical psychiatric diagnosis. This study aims to delineate the community-based differentiation between Jinn Possession and serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorders and major depressive disorders with psychotic symptoms, as perceived by traditional and faith-based healers in Korail slum. We attempted to unravel the nuanced approaches the healers use to distinguish spiritual afflictions from psychiatric conditions and to explore potential collaborations between traditional healing practices and biomedical mental health services as a part of TRANSFORM Research.

Methods

Adopting an ethnographic and participatory approach, this study engaged in a comprehensive qualitative exploration involving community engagement meetings, 45 key informant interviews, 8 naturalistic interviews with 56 participants, year-long observations of the community and healing practices, 5 co-designing workshops with 46 participants, and 2 pilot training programmes from 2021 to January 2024. We discussed with the traditional and faith-based healers, community health workers, medicine sellers, person with lived experience and their caregivers. The continuous discussion and observation of the community help us to develop a trusted relation and explore the healing practices in the korail slum. Data collected from interviews and workshops were meticulously transcribed and analysed using NVivo software to uncover underlying patterns and distinctions made by traditional and faith-based healers in diagnosing Jinn Possession versus serious mental disorders.

Results

We found a stepwise diagnostic framework utilized by healers, initially categorising conditions based on the symptom's onset and presentation. Sudden and rapid symptoms onset, especially during specific times of the day, was often attributed to Jinn Possession. Specific symptoms such as sudden onset convulsions, disorganised speech and self-laughing further supported this distinction. Moreover, they used traditional diagnostic tests, including the use of holy water and recitation of the Quran, if the patient improves immediately following these interventions was considered as confirmation of Jinn Possession. We observed a few of the healers refer cases perceived as non-spiritual to biomedical facilities when they confirmed it was not the case of Jinn Possession, indicating a potential for collaborative mental health-care models

Conclusion

This cultural understanding offers a unique perspective on community-based mental health care in Bangladesh, emphasising the importance of integrating traditional and biomedical approaches to foster a more inclusive and culturally sensitive mental health-care ecosystem.
Malawi Mental Health Guide: Overview and Evaluation of a Mental Health Quick Reference Guide and Phone App for Use in Non-specialist Settings
Authors: Mullin Donncha , Kulisewa Kazione , Mwale Owen , Lee Rui-Shian , Stewart Rob
Published: August 2024

Aims

In Malawi, there are three Consultant psychiatrists for a population of approximately 20 million people. We cannot rely solely on specialists to provide mental health care. We produced the Malawi Quick Guide to Mental Health (the Guide) to improve the psychiatric health-care resources available to frontline mental health workers in Malawi, thus improving service provision to patients. We aimed to evaluate its impact on the frontline non-specialists who provide most mental health care in Malawi.

Methods

In collaboration with the Malawi Ministry of Health, the University of Malawi, St John of God Malawi, and a Malawian user group, a group of psychiatrists with experience working in Malawi co-produced the Malawi Quick Guide to Mental Health. It provides practical information for assessing and managing mental disorders in Malawi. We distributed the Guide to over 400 health centres in Malawi. Next, we converted the Guide into a freely available phone app in both Android and Apple stores.

To study its impact, we baseline surveyed frontline mental health professionals regarding their access to basic psychiatry guidelines and information in clinics, as well as their confidence in delivering mental health care. We repeated this survey six months after the distribution of the printed Guide and six months after the app launch.

Results

Baseline survey: 20 health-care professionals representing regions throughout Malawi responded. 70% of respondents were between 25–40 years old and 45% were female. All respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that they needed more support caring for mentally unwell patients. 15% had no access to any resources whatsoever to guide their care.

Printed guide survey: 95% agreed or strongly agreed that having a printed copy of the Guide increased their confidence in caring for patients. Information resource accessibility, availability and usage in mental health clinics had improved from baseline. The respondents found the Guide helped their day-to-day practice, with 95% rating it either extremely helpful or very helpful. 95% either agreed or strongly agreed that it had improved the care they provided their patients.

App survey: 66% of respondents prefer using the app over the textbook version. All agreed that the app made them more confident in caring for their patients and that their care had improved because of the app. They were all likely to recommend it to a colleague. It has now been downloaded almost 1000 times.

Conclusion

A free, co-produced mental health book and phone app have helped to address the issue of limited access to basic psychiatry guidelines and information in clinics in Malawi. This has improved clinicians’ confidence and their perceived patient care.
The Ten-Point Treatment Programme: Design and Evaluation of an Easy Read Document in a Forensic Learning Disability Unit
Authors: Amiola Ayomipo , Marler Holly Anna , Weeks Carly , Barnes Vanessa , Alexander Regi
Published: August 2024

Aims

There has been criticism surrounding the lack of clarity regarding treatments offered within forensic inpatient units for people with learning disability and co-existing mental health problems. The Ten-Point Treatment Programme is a framework for treatments within such settings. It incorporates the four stages of assessment and motivational work, foundation and offence-specific treatments, consolidation and relapse prevention and finally discharge management. Although evidence based and evaluated in outcome studies, explaining its content to those with learning disability can be problematic. Communication difficulties affect the way information is comprehended and interpreted from both a linguistic and pragmatic perspective in this group. The provision of Easy Read information can address this difficulty.

Our aim was to co-produce, with experts by experience, an easy read version of the Ten Point Treatment Programme; and to evaluate this resource.

Methods

This was a quality improvement project within an in-patient medium secure unit in England. The co-production of the easy read version was led by two speech and language therapists, two psychiatrists, one Education Manager and two experts by experience. The latter advised on content, wording, format and font. Content was adapted in line with standard easy read requirements and guidelines. Following a focus group meetings, a provisional easy read version was approved and introduced in the service. This service innovation was evaluated through semi-structured interviews with six experts by experience and ten multidisciplinary team members who had used the resource. Responses were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis.

Results

The three main themes covered in the evaluation responses related to accessibility, appearance and usefulness. The sub-themes under accessibility were the simplicity of vocabulary and short sentence length. Regarding appearance, the key sub-themes were about the effective use of colour, the inclusion of relevant and meaningful images, and the balance between words and pictures. On usefulness, the main sub-theme was about understanding the treatment pathway better and hence feeling motivated to engage. This was reflected by the staff group as well. There were some comments on accessibility that were less positive, including service user indications that the number and complexity of words were still high.

Conclusion

The co-produced easy read version of the Ten-point treatment programme has been received positively by service users and staff. For both groups, it brings clarity about the treatment pathway and its stages. It is incorporated into the admission pack for new admissions and features in new staff induction programmes.
Improving the Completion of Capacity and Consent Assessments
Authors: Abbott Michael , Logacheva Kristina , Thompson Eleanor , Fauzi Nik Fikri bin Nik , Rangan Tarun
Published: August 2024

Aims

The respect of a patient's autonomy and choices is one of the cornerstones of good psychiatric care. Key to this is ensuring the timely and thorough assessment of a patient's capacity to consent to admission and treatment once in contact with mental health services.

The aim of this quality improvement project was to optimise the Trustwide completion of capacity assessments for all newly admitted patients within 24 hours of admission at South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust. Our goal was for 100% completion of the Trust's Brief Capacity and Consent (BCAC) form by July 2023.

Methods

We obtained a list of all new admissions to inpatient wards across the Trust's three hospital sites between 1–14 February 2023. A retrospective audit was then undertaken to establish the baseline BCAC completion rate. Following this a quality improvement strategy was created using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model of creating change. A series of three interventions were implemented and subsequently analysed using the PDSA model. These included creating an admission checklist and placing this in doctors' on-call rooms across the trust, distributing the checklist to wards across hospital sites and service lines and lastly, sending out reminder emails to doctors at the Trust. A re-audit was completed after each intervention.

Results

The baseline BCAC completion rate was 60.5% (n = 76) in February 2023. This increased to 63.75% (n = 80) following the creation of the admission checklist. Distributing the checklist throughout the Trust resulted in a further improvement to 76.5% (n = 81). In July 2023, the final data collected 6 weeks post reminder email demonstrated a BCAC completion rate of 75% (n = 68).

Conclusion

Through the application of the PDSA model, alongside focused interventions aimed at raising Trust-wide awareness of the BCAC form, we managed to obtain a 14.5% increase in BCAC completion rates between 13 February and 31 July 2023. Whilst not achieving the initial goal of 100% completion, this quality improvement project helped to bring a renewed focus to the timely completion of capacity and consent assessments at the Trust. Moving forward, we hope to build on this improvement by exploring additional strategies to reach a 100% BCAC completion rate, thereby promoting patient safety and autonomy.
Interpretation of Location Condition and Topographical Changes around the Jangamjinseong Fortress in Seocheon using Geographic Information System
Authors: Park Jun Hyoung , Lee Chan Hee
Published: August 2024

The Jangamjinseong fortress is a naval base where the Geumgang river and meet the West Sea. It is a gateway to the inland of Korean peninsula and a strategic point up the Hangang river, and is the site of large-scale wars of various eras, including the battles of Baekgang, Gibeolpo and Jinpo. Humangsan mountain, where the Jinseong is located, and Jeonmangsan mountain, where the Janghang Refinery Chimney is located, both belong to the Janghang Breccia Formation in Cretaceous, and rise like a huge dome, forming a unique topography. Quaternary intertidal zone was widely formed in front of the Jinseong, and historical maps from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as topographical maps from the Japanese colonial period, show that the area’s topography has continuously changed due to land reclamation. The absolute sea level on the west coast is currently at its highest, but the relative sea level around AD 500 was about 2 m higher than it is now, and is interpreted to have gradually lowered since then. Thus, if a basic model using geographic information system is built based on the current topography around the Jangamjinseong fortress and the paleotopography is simulated through sea level fluctuations, it is difficult to predict topographic changes even if the sea level rises by 2 m due to the reclaimed land and seawall. However, inside the sea wall, low-lying areas were distributed along the coastline at about 3 m above sea level, so the flooded area was searched under the assumption of artificial flooding. As a result, the low-lying area between mountains of Jeonmangsan and Humangsan was flooded and took the form of a bay, and the Jinseong is located on the eastern side of the bay, where ships can enter directly to dock. Therefore, when viewing the Jangamjinseong fortress from the sea, it is difficult to see because it is obscured by the Jeonmangsan mountain, and it has a natural fortress topography that makes it easy for ships to enter and exit using the current. This is a simulation of the topography using an artificial flooding model, so it is necessary to review its reliability with the paleotopography. If sea level changes through sedimentary layer analysis of tidal zone, remote sensing and archaeological excavations are carried out, the topographical change and location condition of the Jangamjinseong fortress will be able to be interpreted more clearly.
REFLEXÕES SOBRE A DESIGUALDADE SOCIAL NO MUNICIPIO DE RONDON DO PARÁ NO ESTADO DO PARÁ
Authors: Araújo Mylena Pereira , Siani Sérgio Ricardo
Published: August 2024

O presente estudo teve como objetivo entender a desigualdade social em Rondon do Pará por meio das classes sociais mais ricas e mais pobres. Além disso, teve como finalidade mostrar a desigualdade social no município de Rondon do Pará por meio das classes sociais mais ricas e mais pobres. Quanto à metodologia, o estudo se define como qualitativo de caráter exploratório, e a técnica utilizada foi a história oral. Foram moradores do município em questão. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de entrevistas via rede social WhatsApp com roteiro semiestruturado, aplicado a 12 moradores que se enquadram na pesquisa. Embora ambos os grupos relatem ter boas refeições diárias, a definição de "boa" varia entre as categorias sociais. Na questão habitacional, os entrevistados da categoria Classe Baixa (CB) tendem a viver em casas alugadas, enquanto os da categoria Classe alta (CA) possuem propriedades próprias, destacando-se investimentos em imóveis e automóveis.
Orbital Lesions: A bird’s eye view of series of 2068 cases in 27 years in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan
Authors: Khan Asad Aslam , Latif Sidrah , Khan Muhammad Ismail A , Ahmad Imran
Published: August 2024

Objective: To determine the relative frequency of orbital lesions based on the site of origin and histopathology at a Tertiary care hospital (Mayo Hospital, Lahore Pakistan) from 1996 till 2022 (27 years).
Methods: This descriptive case series included 2651 patients of all age groups presenting with orbital lesions who initially got enrolled at Institute of Ophthalmology Mayo Hospital, Lahore from 1996 till 2022. Of these, 583 patients left against medical advice. So, clinical data of 2068 patients were completely analyzed. Lesions were managed medically and/ or surgically. Final clinical diagnosis, with the help of histopathology, was used to classify the lesions.
Results: There were 1258 (60.9%) adults and 810 (39.1%) children, 1358 (65.66%) were neoplastic while 710 (34.33%) non-neoplastic lesions. Amongst the neoplastic lesions, 405 (29.8 %) were benign and 953 (70.2%) malignant. Primary orbital lesions were 1676 (81.04%), Secondary orbital lesions were 300 (14.51%), Endocrine/ hematopoietic reticulo-endothelial system lesions were 84 (4.06%) and Metastatic lesions from distant organs were 08 (0.39%).
Conclusion: Retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, optic nerve gliomata were common in children. Pleomorphic adenoma & adenocystic carcinoma of lacrimal gland, cavernous hemangioma, optic nerve meningioma, neurofibroma, schwannoma, squamous cell carcinoma of eyelid, carcinoma of maxillary antrum and lymphomas were more common in adults
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.8.9843
How to cite this: Khan AA, Latif S, Khan MIA, Ahmad I. Orbital Lesions: A bird’s eye view of series of 2068 cases in 27 years in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(8):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.8.9843
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Διδακτικό σενάριο στη Στ΄ τάξη στα Φυσικά: «Οικοσυστήματα»
Authors: Κούρου Γεωργία
Published: August 2024

Το σενάριο αυτό δημιουργήθηκε για τις ανάγκες της διδασκαλίας της ενότητας «Οικοσυστήματα»  στο μάθημα της Φυσικής στην Στ΄ τάξη. Περιγράφει με λεπτομέρειες τους στόχους και τα προσδοκώμενα μαθησιακά αποτελέσματα. Παρουσιάζεται η πορεία της σύνταξής του από τη στιγμή της σύλληψης της ιδέας δημιουργίας του, μέχρι την τελική του ολοκλήρωση και τεκμηριώνονται η μεθοδολογία που ακολουθήθηκε και οι επιλογές αναφορικά με τη χρήση των ΤΠΕ. Το σενάριο αυτό σχεδιάστηκε για να υλοποιηθεί μέσα σε μία διδακτική ώρα. Τέλος προϋπόθεση για την επιτυχή εφαρμογή του αποτελεί η εξοικείωση των μαθητών με την ομαδοσυνεργατική μέθοδο, τη δυνατότητα να χρησιμοποιούν διάφορες εφαρμογές των ηλεκτρονικών υπολογιστών καθώς και η άνεσή τους στη χρήση web2.0 εργαλείων.
Εφαρμογή των Δυο Πρώτων Σταδίων (Ανάλυση και Επιλογή) της Στρατηγικής Διοίκησης στο Επίπεδο της Σχολικής Μονάδας
Authors: ΡΟΥΣΣΟΣ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΟΣ
Published: August 2024

Η εργασία αυτή εξετάζει το ρόλο της στρατηγικής διαχείρισης στη δημιουργία ενός ολοκληρωμένου στρατηγικού σχεδίου σε βάθος τριετίας, για την αντιμετώπιση προβλημάτων στο δημοτικό σχολείο, μεέμφαση στη μείωση των εγγραφών μαθητών. Η μελέτη επικεντρώνεται στα δύο πρώτα στάδια της στρατηγικής διοίκησης, δηλαδή την ανάλυση και την επιλογή, που είναι απαραίτητα για την ανάπτυξητου στρατηγικού σχεδιασμού. Μέσω θεωρητικών πλαισίων και πρακτικών αναλύσεων, όπως η ανάλυση PESTE και η ανάλυση SWOT, αναλύονται τα εσωτερικά και εξωτερικά περιβάλλοντα του σχολείου.Επίσης, εξετάζονται τα πολιτικά, οικονομικά, κοινωνικά, τεχνολογικά και περιβαλλοντικά στοιχεία που επηρεάζουν το σχολείο. Η στρατηγική επιλογή γίνεται βάσει συγκεκριμένων κριτηρίων, και η εργασίακαταλήγει ότι η συνεχής βελτίωση και η εμπλοκή των ενδιαφερομένων μερών είναι κρίσιμης σημασίας για την επιτυχή εφαρμογή των στρατηγικών σχεδίων, παρά τους περιορισμούς των διαθέσιμων πόρων.
Περιβαλλοντικό πρόγραμμα εκπαίδευσης για την προσχολική και πρωτοσχολική ηλικία
Authors: Μαρκοπούλου Μερόπη
Published: August 2024

Με σκοπό την προώθηση της αειφόρου ανάπτυξης σε θέματα διαχείρισης του πολύτιμου αγαθού του νερού δημιουργήθηκε εκπαιδευτικό υλικό, το οποίο εντάσσεται στο πλαίσιο της υλοποίησης των Εργαστηρίων Δεξιοτήτων για μαθητές/τριες Προσχολικής και Πρωτοσχολικής ηλικίας. Το εκπαιδευτικό υλικό χωρίζεται σε επτά ενότητες/εργαστήρια με δραστηριότητες, που δίνουν έμφαση στην καλλιέργεια των δεξιοτήτων του 21ου αιώνα: κριτική σκέψη, δημιουργικότητα, επικοινωνία και συνεργασία. Οι δράσεις είναι βιωματικές με στόχο να εκμεταλλευτούν τη φυσική περιέργεια των παιδιών (πειράματα), να καλλιεργήσουν την έμφυτη τάση τους για δημιουργία (υλοποίηση μικρών έντυπων βιβλίων με τη μέθοδο Frene και ψηφιακών) και τη συνεργασία σε ψηφιακά και μη περιβάλλοντα (εκπαιδευτική ρομποτική). Η μάθηση επιτυγχάνεται μέσα από διαδικασίες που διεγείρουν γνωστικά τους/τις μαθητές/τριες, είναι ευχάριστες και εκμεταλλεύονται τις κλίσεις και τα ταλέντα τους. Σκοπός του εκπαιδευτικού προγράμματος είναι η απόκτηση γνώσεων σχετικά με το πολύτιμο αγαθό του νερού και η διαμόρφωση από τους/τις  μαθητές/τριες περιβαλλοντικής συνείδησης και αειφορικής στάσης απέναντι σε όλους τους τομείς της σύγχρονης ζωής. Οι επιμέρους στόχοι αναφέρονται: α) στον προβληματισμό για τη σωστή διαχείριση του νερού, β)  στην εξοικείωση με νέες έννοιες όπως λειψυδρία, υπόγεια ύδατα κ.ά., γ) στην καλλιέργεια της συνεργασίας και της ενσυναίσθησης, και δ) στην εκμάθηση της λήψης πρωτοβουλιών αναπτύσσοντας το αίσθημα της υπευθυνότητας.
Shape/phase transitions and shape coexistence in even-even nuclei
Authors: Bonatsos Dennis , Martinou Andriana , Peroulis Spyridon , Mertzimekis Theodoros , Minkov Nikolay
Published: August 2024

Shape/phase transitions have been observed in certain regions of the nuclear chart. Shape coexistence is also known to occur in various regions of the nuclear chart, forming islands. The interrelation between these two concepts is considered in the regions around (N=90, Z=60), (N=60, Z=40), (N=40, Z=34), in which shape coexistence due to proton-induced neutron particle-hole excitations is related to a first-order shape/phase transition from spherical to deformed shapes.
The energy dependence of the optical potential for weakly bound nuclei at sub- and near- barrier energies
Authors: Pakou Athena
Published: August 2024

We present a survey of our comprehensive studies for determining the energy dependence of the optical potential at sub- and near- barrier energies, for weakly bound nuclei. A new algorithm for describing the optical potential for 7Be with mass and energy dependence on various targets is deduced and compared with existing optical potentials. The necessity of using global studies for determining the optical potential at sub- and near-barrier energies is outlined.
Singlet and Triplet pairing in neutron matter
Authors: Krotscheck Eckhard , Wang Jiawei , Papakonstantinou Panagiota
Published: August 2024

The presence of superfluidity in neutron stars can affect the cooling and dynamics of neutron stars in various ways. Model calculations employing realistic nuclear potentials in Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory generally suggest the development of a 1S0 pairing gap at low densities and a 3P2-3F2 pairing gap at higher densities. We have evaluated the pairing interaction by summing the "parquet" Feynman diagrams which include both ladder and ring diagrams systematically, plus a set of important non-parquet diagrams, making this the most comprehensive diagram-based approach presently available. Our results suggest a modest suppression of the 1S0 pairing gap, a radical suppression of the 3P2-3F2 triplet pairing gap, and an enhancement of 3P0 pairing.
A study of the nuclear structure of even-even Te isotopes in the Interacting Boson Model framework
Authors: Theodoropoulos Vissarion , Aikaterini Zyriliou  , Polytimos Vasileiou  , Theo J. Mertzimekis
Published: August 2024

The even-even tellurium isotopes (Z=52) are part of a region beyond the closed proton shell at Ζ=50 and are generally considered to exhibit vibrational-like properties. These properties are investigated in the present work using the the Interacting Boson Model (IBM-1) framework to estimate the energy levels, transition quadrupole moments and the reduced transition probabilities B(E2) of the even-even 104-140Te isotopes. In addition, the deformation parameters β2 and γ have been calculated providing a useful visualization of the nuclear shapes in these isotopes. The results have been compared to available adopted data and used as estimates for unavailable ones.
Detailed Study of the Reaction Mechanisms of 86Kr + 64Ni at 15 MeV/nucleon
Authors: Fasoula Olga , G. A. Souliotis  , S. Koulouris  , M. Veselsky  , S. J. Yenello  , A. Bonasera
Published: August 2024

We present a detailed study of momentum distributions of projectile fragments from the reaction 86Kr + 64Ni at 15 MeV/nucleon. The experimental data were obtained in previous work with the MARS separator at the Cyclotron Institute of Texas A&M University. Detailed calculations and the momentum distributions of ejectiles are presented and compared with the experimental data. The DIT and CoMD models are used for the dynamical part of the reaction and GEMINI is used for the de-excitation of the primary fragments. Our focus is on channels corresponding to the production of neutron rich nuclei. Both DIT and CoMD show promising results in the description of the experimental data, but further developments may be necessary. Through the systematic study of the momentum distributions, we try to elucidate the reaction mechanisms that dominate the production of neutron rich nuclei in the Fermi energy region.
Multinucleon Transfer in 40Ar (15 MeV/nucleon) + 64Ni via High-Resolution Studies of Momentum Distributions
Authors: Gkatzogias Konstantinos , Souliotis Georgios , Koulouris Stergios , Giannitsa Chryssi , Fasoula Olga , Veselsky Martin , Yennello Sherry , Bonasera Aldo
Published: August 2024

Multinucleon transfer (MNT) reactions have been extensively used in recent years as an effective tool to move further toward the neutron-rich side of the chart of nuclides. The efficient productionof these exotic nuclides is currently at the epicenter of the research interest in facilities around the world. The current contribution focuses on our efforts to systematically study the reaction mechanism of the reaction of a 40Ar beam at 15 MeV/nucleon with a 64Ni target through a detailed analysis of momentum distributions of various reaction channels. The experimental data presented in this work were obtained with the MARS spectrometer at the Cyclotron Institute of Texas A&M University. The experimental distributions are compared with two dynamical models, the Deep-Inelastic Transfer (DIT) model and the Constrained Molecular Dynamics (CoMD) model, followed by the de-excitation code GEMINI. In this contribution we study mass and momentum distributions for various reaction channels that result in neutron rich products. The comparison of the data with our calculations indicates agreement of the model calculation with the data in the dissipative part of the p/A spectra. The quasielastic part cannot be described by the models hinting to reaction mechanisms beyond successive nucleon exchange.
CFL quark stars as a candidate for the HESS J1731-347 object with a trace anomaly and GW190814 bound implementation
Authors: Oikonomou Pavlos , Ch.C. Moustakidis
Published: August 2024

A recent analysis on the central compact object within HESS J1731-347 suggested unique mass and radius properties, rendering it a promising candidate for a self-bound star. In this present study, we examine the capability of quark stars composed of color-flavor locked quark matter to explain the latter object by using its marginalized posterior distribution and imposing it as a constraint on the relevant parameter space. The latter space is further confined due to the additional requirement for a high maximum mass (Mtov>=2.6Msolar), accounting for GW190814’s secondary companion. Critical emphasis is placed on the speed of sound and the trace anomaly which was proposed as a measure of conformality [Y. Fujimoto et al., doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.252702.]. We conclude that color-flavor locked quark stars can reach high masses without violating the conformal or the  bound, provided that the quartic coefficient α4 (a crucial parameter accounting for pQCD corrections in the matter's thermodynamic potential) does not exceed an upper limit which depends on the established . For Mtov=2.6Msolar, we find that the limit reads α4<=0.594. Lastly, a final investigation takes place on the agreement of colour-flavour locked quark stars with additional astrophysical objects including the GW170817 and GW190425 events, followed by some concluding remarks.
Flux determination for the 18 MeV Neutron Beam at NCSR “DEMOKRITOS’’ using the multiple foil activation method
Authors: Amanatidis Lamprianos , Chasapoglou Sotiris , Vlastou Roza , Diakaki Maria , Kokkoris Michael , Michalopoulou Veatriki , Bari Zoe , Axiotis Michael , Lagoyannis Anastasios
Published: August 2024

Following the upgrade of the tandem accelerator at NCSR “Demokritos”, the determination of the new neutron flux was necessary for further neutron induced experiments. For the investigation of the energy dependence of the neutron flux at 18 MeV, the multiple foil activation technique has been used, in combination with two codes. With Monte Carlo simulation based code MCNP5 and unfolding code SAND-II .
Narratives of Europeanisation and City Diplomacy: The City Networking Experience of the Greek Municipalities
Authors: Karvounis Antonios
Published: August 2024

The present article is part of the broader academic dialogue regarding the Europeanisation of local government. Specifically, the relationship between the EU and local government has evolved into a mutual process with many dimensions. Most academic research on the Europeanisation of local government has focused on specific national contexts or particular aspects of it. Within this study, while not disregarding the national context, the participation of Greek municipalities in European city networks during the programming periods of 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 is examined, with a particular emphasis on their local impact within the various narratives of Europeanisation.
Οικονομικός εθνικισμός και εκβιομηχάνιση
Authors: Χάρδας Αναστάσιος
Published: August 2024

Οι εξελίξεις των τελευταίων 10 ετών στην παγκόσμια πολιτική οικονομία έχουν συμβάλλει στην εκ νέου προσέγγιση του οικονομικού ρόλου του κράτους. Ο οικονομικός εθνικισμός αποτέλεσε την πρώτη έννοια που διατύπωσε συστηματικές θεωρητικές και αναλυτικές συνεισφορές αναφορικά με τους ρόλους που μπορεί να διαδραματίσει ένα κράτος στην υποβοήθηση της εγχώριας εκβιομηχάνισης. Οι ρόλοι αυτοί αφορούν το εγχώριο και το διεθνές επίπεδο κρατικών πολιτικών. Στο άρθρο αναλύονται οι κυριότερες περιπτώσεις χωρών που θεωρείται ότι ανέπτυξαν ισχυρή και εξαγωγική βιομηχανική βάση ακολουθώντας πολιτικές οικονομικού εθνικισμού. Σε αυτές εντάσσονται περιπτώσεις τόσο από το παρελθόν όσο και από το παρόν.
Brain Tumor Classification on MRI Images by using Classical Local Binary Patterns and Histograms of Oriented Gradients
Authors: Gottipati Srinivas Babu , Thumbur Gowri
Published: August 2024

Brain tumors pose significant threats within neurological disorders, demanding accurate classification for effective diagnosis and treatment. This study explores brain tumor classification employing Classical Local Binary Patterns (CLBP) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), alongside texture feature extraction from MRI images using classical LBP and HOG (Histogram of Oriented Gradients). These methods adeptly capture both local and global texture patterns crucial for tumor identification. Our proposed framework encompasses three pivotal steps: image pre-processing, feature extraction via CLBP, and classification utilizing CNN. Evaluation on a publicly available brain tumor dataset showcased an impressive 95.6% accuracy in tumor classification, affirming the efficacy of the CLBP+CNN approach. This method bears promising implications for enhancing clinical diagnosis and treatment planning. Furthermore, we propose future extensions including CLBPs such as DLBP and LBP. DLBP introduces a parameter, ’D’, dictating pixel distance, while LBP varies pixel values across specified ranges. Additionally, tumor classification was explored employing ANN, AlDE, and LDA classification methods, with future prospects of incorporating DLBP, LBP, and CLBP extractions from MRI images within the dataset.
Recurrent Neural Network based Incremental model for Intrusion Detection System in IoT
Authors: Sharma Himanshu , Kumar Prabhat , Sharma Kavita
Published: August 2024

The security of Internet of Things (IoT) networks has become a integral problem in view of the exponential growth of IoT devices. Intrusion detection and prevention is an approach ,used to identify, analyze, and block cyber threats to protect IoT from unauthorized access or attacks. This paper introduces an adaptive and incremental intrusion detection and prevention system based on RNNs, to the ever changing field of IoT security. IoT networks require advanced intrusion detection systems that can identify emerging threats because of their various and dynamic data sources. The complexity of IoT network data makes it difficult for traditional intrusion detection techniques to detect potential threats. Using the capabilities of RNNs, a model for creating and deploying an intrusion detection and prevention system (IDPS) is proposed in this paper. RNNs work particularly well for sequential data processing, which makes them an appropriate choice for IoT network traffic monitoring. NSL-KDD dataset is taken, pre-processed, features are extracted, and RNN-based model is built as a part of the proposed work. The experimental findings illustrate how effective the suggested approach is at identifying and blocking intrusions in Internet of Things networks. This paper not only demonstrates the effectiveness of RNNs in enhancing IoT network security but also opens avenues for further exploration in this burgeoning field. It presents a scalable, adaptive intrusion detection and prevention solution, responding to the evolving landscape of IoT security. As IoT networks continue to expand, the research enriches the discourse on developing resilient security strategies to combat emerging threats in scalable computing environments.
Research and Analysis of Smart City Landscape Design and Planning Based on The Internet of Things
Authors: Kang Chao , He Yanting , Xu Jingjing
Published: August 2024

With the continuous development of the IoT technology, the concept of smart city has gradually become one of the key elements of urban planning and design. The purpose of this study is to explore the smart urban landscape design and planning based on the IoT, and to provide new perspectives and methods for the future urban development through in-depth research and analysis of related issues. First, this study reviews the relevance of smart city and landscape design, highlighting the importance of IoT technology in urban planning. Secondly, through case analysis and field trips, the successful experiences and challenges of smart cities that have implemented the IoT technology are analysed. In terms of design and planning, this study proposes a landscape design framework integrating IoT technology, emphasizing the interaction between urban landscape and information technology to promote sustainable urban development. Finally, this study summarizes the relevant findings, and prospects the future development trend of smart urban landscape design planning, to provide useful guidance and inspiration for urban planners and designers. Through this study, theoretical support and practical experience can be provided for building a more intelligent and liveable urban environment.