bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between mental health and chewing discomfort in older adults
Authors: Kim Min-Young , Jang Yun-Jung
Published: June 2024

Objectives: This study used secondary data from the 2021 Community Health Survey to identify the impact of dysphagia on mental health-related characteristics among older adults, selecting 73,970 individuals aged 65 years and older. Methods: Frequency analysis, χ2-test, and multiple logistic regression were conducted to identify risk factors affecting mental health-related characteristics among older adults. Results: Dysphagia was most common among individuals with the following demographic characteristics: female, aged 85 years and older, three-generation household and household income in the 1st quintile. Chewing discomfort according to mental health-related characteristics was higher in older adults with cognitive impairment and depression. Sex, age, education level, household income, and chewing discomfort were significant for cognitive impairment, whereas sex, age, household type, education level, household income, and chewing discomfort were significant for depression. Conclusions: The above results confirmed that chewing discomfort contributes to mental health issues such as cognitive impairment and depression. It is therefore necessary to recognize chewing discomfort as an important health problem affecting the mental health of older adults, and to develop a multifaceted dental hygiene approach to target community-dwelling older adults who suffer from chewing discomfort.
First Data on the Ants of the Algerian Islands, with a Specific Focus on the Habibas Islands
Authors: Henine-Maouche Anissa , Moulaï Riadh , Bakour Sihem , Kahlessenane Soufyane , Benabdi Mouloud , Hamimeche Mohammed
Published: June 2024

The study of the Algerian islands’ myrmecofauna was undertaken for the first time, particularly on Habibas Island. The inventory of Habibas Island identified 13 ant species. The island’s plant formations, such as the xerophilous shrub group and the xerophilous halophilous shrub group, show a significant correlation with species distribution. Some species, such as Pheidole pallidula, are found in all the formations, while others, such as Aphaenogaster senilis, are specific to a single formation. The centesimal and occurrence frequencies of the species vary considerably, highlighting the predominance of Messor capitatus on the island. The study also revealed significant differences between Algerian islands and islets in terms of ant species richness. Tetramorium biskrense, Pheidole pallidula, Messor barbarus, Crematogaster scutellaris, and Cataglyphis viatica are present on several islands, while others are specific to a single island, such as Crematogaster laestrygon on the Sahel islet. Statistical modellings, such as simple non-linear and multiple regression, did not show any significant correlation between ant richness and factors such as the island’s size, its isolation degree, and its floristic richness. However, the latter does seem to have a more or less significant influence on ant distribution. Spearman’s correlation test revealed significant similarities between certain islands, while others showed significant differences. These results highlight the importance of the individual characteristics of each island in determining ant composition.
Ant Species Distribution Models Reveal Mixed Elevational Diversity Patterns in Complete Elevation Gradients: Past and Present Climatic Effects?
Authors: Papaqui-Bello Sonia Itzel , Lira-Noriega Andrés , Guevara Roger
Published: June 2024

The juxtaposition of climatic zones in tropical mountains is considered one of the leading causes of the high diversity of tropical mountains; high peaks block oceanic winds, causing mid-elevation peaks of precipitation and diversity. Also, historically wind-protected valleys may harbor high species richness because of climate stability. Despite this knowledge, the elevational patterns of many taxa and their drivers remain unsolved. We aimed to describe the spatial patterns of ants’ diversity in the Jamapa River watershed in Mexico based on species distribution models of 253 ant species. Moreover, we intend to understand the relationship between ant diversity with the current climatic conditions and historical climatic stability. The watershed includes maximum elevations of 5636, 4282, and 2500 m from south to north and is exposed to the oceanic northeastern winds. Elevational patterns of species richness were consistent with theoretical predictions but changed south (mid-elevation peaks) to north (monotonic decrease) in the watershed. Species richness was positively associated with mean annual temperature and precipitation seasonality. Climatically stable sites harbored high species richness below 2100 m of elevation but low species richness above 2400 m, while the beta diversity showed the opposite pattern. We observed that present climatic conditions and historical climatic stability were essential drivers of ant diversity in the Jamapa River watershed. Elevational patterns of species richness were concordant with theoretical expectations. They changed from a monotonic decrease of diversity to marked mid-elevation peaks of species richness, presumably associated with the maximum height of the mountains.
Development and certification of digital competences in European Union countries in project-based learning initiatives
Authors: Szanter Renata , Matuska Ewa
Published: June 2024

Objectives
The study aims to highlight opportunities for educational and non-governmental institutions in European Union member states to undertake initiatives that enhance and certify the digital skills of citizens and workers.
Methods
The article is based on an exploratory research approach and presents mixed research methods and techniques. The first part presents a descriptive analysis of digital competencies in EU policy based on a review of literature and EU legislation. This was followed by a qualitative analysis based on data from Eurostat's online database to diagnose the current level of digital competencies in the EU and trends in this area in recent years. Finally, a case study of an international educational project aimed at contributing to the achievement of the Union's goals for improving the digital competencies of citizens and workers is presented.
Results
The results obtained and their analysis indicate an urgent need to intensify educational efforts to improve digital competence in Europe. The case study can be used to raise and certify the level of digital competence for different target groups.
Conclusions
From the point of view of the priorities set by the European Union, the digital competence of its citizens is unsatisfactory, and large discrepancies between countries in this area have been identified, which requires the implementation of more educational initiatives to develop digital resilience. Project-based learning initiatives generating open and free online tools for certifying existing and acquired digital skills in the EU are recommended. Developing a unified system of EU standards to prove the digital competence of citizens and workers can help on the way to achieving better competitiveness and sustainability of the European market.
Competencies of people holding managerial positions in the sector geriatric care in Germany
Authors: Bocheńska-Brandt Anna , Kanios Anna , Weissbrot-Koziarska Anna
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Aim: The purpose of the research is the diagnosis of competencies of people holding managerial positions in the geriatric care sector in Germany.

Material and methods

Scheitler's concept of competency was employed in this study. The method of in-depth unstructured interviews was also used. The method of qualitative content analysis according to Mayring was applied to evaluate the obtained data.

Results

As a result of the conducted analyses, professional tasks and competencies of people holding managerial positions in the geriatric care sector in Germany were presented.

Conclusions

The research results showed that the tasks of people performing managerial functions in geriatric care in Germany are complex and exceed medical or caregiving tasks. They are related to personnel management, responding to their needs, as well as the needs and expectations of people managing medical facilities. An extremely important task is cooperation with the relatives of the elderly. The research results also revealed the importance of having a wide variety of competencies. The respondents were of the opinion that professional skills are less important and social and personal skills are gaining in importance.
From crime to punishment. The role of transitional justice mechanisms in strengthening the internal security of a state on the example of Ukraine (2022-2023)
Authors: Kowalski Wawrzyniec , Misiuk Andrzej
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The purpose of the article is to provide an overview of the importance and scale of the use of mechanisms belonging to the doctrine of transitional justice during the armed conflict in Ukraine in 2022-2023.

Material and methods

In the research process, the authors apply the analysis of selected rulings, the analysis of the positions and views of selected representatives of the doctrine – security studies and legal studies in particular – as well as formal-dogmatic and historical approaches.

Results

It is demonstrated that the broadest spectrum of institutions and mechanisms falling under transitional justice to date has been used during this armed conflict. This enabled, on a scale never seen before, obtaining a comprehensive and complex picture of the crimes committed during the war effort. At the same time, it is emphasized that the Ukrainian side, using the support of states, international organizations and institutions of international criminal justice, has been able to implement numerous institutions to achieve the goals of transitional justice.

Conclusions

According to the authors, the burden of their tasks will not only, or perhaps not primarily, concern the implementation of retribution for the deed, but in the post-war period will have to enable the reconciliation of the population within the country, which seems very difficult from today's perspective, given the current political situation in eastern Ukraine.
Impact of the characteristics of postmodern society on the possibility of implementing postulates of sustainable development
Authors: Pabian Aleksander
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Objective is to find out whether characteristics of contemporary postmodern society constitute an obstacle to the possibility of achieving the postulates of sustainable development. Relationship between the postmodern property of materialism with consumption, which is still at the center of humans' lives, and the possibility of ensuring sustainable patterns of consumption seems particularly interesting.

Material and methods

Theoretical part of this study has been made based on the method of critical analysis of the literature on the subject and specialized press. In the empirical part, the author makes usage of the results of qualitative study-relates to personal, informal interview, which took place on a voluntary basis among consumptionists who declared themselves to have a materialistic worldview.

Results

Althought postmodern features quite naturally cause negative connotations, the characteristics of postmodern society have also certain advantages from the economic point of view. What’s more, although it is difficult to argue with the results indicating a negative impact of one of the characteristics of post-modern society on sustainable development, this relationship cannot be considered one-dimensional. It turns out that materialism and consumerism can, among others, accompany interest in environmentally friendly products and willingness to pay extra for them.

Conclusions

The concept of sustainable development has been developed in order to maintain proper relations between the economic, natural and social subsystems. However, meeting its requirements may pose a great challenge for members of modern society who manifest too often a materialistic attitude and are somehow accustomed to excessive consumption. At the same time, it turns out that materialism and consumerism may have certain, positive face.
The possibility of using cybersex evidence in divorce proceedings in the context of proving fault for marriage breakdown from a comparative legal perspective
Authors: Klich Aleksandra , Białecki Marcin
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The purpose of the study is to comprehensively examine the interpretation of cybersex in the context of marital guilt, while assessing the implications and challenges of bringing such evidence to court. The article aims to navigate the interpretation and legal recognition of cybersex as grounds for divorce.

Material and methods

The study used methods used in legal science:
1) the dogmatic method, referring to the establishment of current legal regulations governing the rules of electronic evidence, including cybersex evidence, as well as the way they are used in divorce processes and their impact on the permanent and complete breakdown of marital relations; it has a dominant character in the study due to the fact that the authors focus on the analysis of current legal regulations, as well as their practical use and application in other countries (e.g., the USA and Canada).
2) The analytical method was applied with reference to the current state of knowledge in the subject area in the body of legal science.
3) The comparative legal method is of complementary importance and relates to the analysis of legal and organizational solutions to the use of so-called illegal evidence, as well as the difficulties of conducting evidence and regulations in other countries.
4) The historical method is related to the evolution of the development of the rules of evidence in civil litigation in view of the development and spread of the use of modern technological solutions in justice.

Results

The potential use of cybersex evidence in divorce proceedings in Civil Procedure, while complex, provides an opportunity for legal growth.

Conclusions

Incorporating cybersex evidence in divorce proceedings brings a set of challenges, especially related to the violation of privacy rights, data protection, and the potential for cybercrime.
The Covid-19 pandemic and social support. Analysis of the impact of lockdowns on intergenerational family ties in European societies
Authors: Luty-Michalak Marta
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The aim of this article is to answer the question of whether the lockdowns introduced in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic had an impact on intergenerational family ties in the area of social support in European societies. If so, was the impact positive or negative? Was it more concerned with the support provided to parents or children living separately?

Material and methods

The analysis used data from representative SHARE Corona Survey 1 and SHARE Corona Survey 2, conducted among respondents aged 50 and over, between June and August 2020 and between June and August 2021.

Results

The results of the analysis indicate that during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the frequency of providing assistance in dealing with necessary matters to parents increased in almost all European countries, while assistance provided to children decreased. A similar situation occurred in the case of personal care. During the next spring lockdown in 2021, it was noticeable that there was a greater decrease in both care and frequency of support given to children than to parents.

Conclusions

The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly had an impact on the frequency of social support provided. In the case of support provided to children, we see a negative impact. However, in the case of parental support, the situation was different. It should be remembered that the respondents are aged 50 and over, and therefore their parents are elderly people who often struggle with health problems and, in many cases, with dependency. This leads to the conclusion that in the case of people requiring support (elderly parents) in the form of assistance in dealing with necessary matters and personal care, the Covid-19 pandemic did not have a negative impact on the strength of intergenerational family ties.
Behavior and awareness of road traffic hazards among pedestrians in Poland under 18 and over 65 years of age
Authors: Gądek-Hawlena Teresa , Michalski Konrad
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Examining similarities and differences in road behavior and knowledge about selected aspects of road safety in two different age groups of pedestrians, i.e. people under 18 and over 65 years of age.

Material and methods

The analysis is based on a study conducted using a survey questionnaire in the period December 20, 2022 - June 1, 2023. 625 people took part in the study, 268 people under 18 and 357 people over 65.

Results

Research shows that both groups tend to engage in dangerous behaviors. Young people are more likely to cross the road in unauthorized places and to cross pedestrian crossings without traffic lights, using mobile phones and headphones. Older people are less likely to wear reflective elements. Awareness of selected threats in both age groups is low.

Conclusions

The research shows that both young and older people do not always behave safely on the road. People under 18 are more often responsible for dangerous behavior at pedestrian crossings. Another important problem is the lack of proper knowledge about the threats to which pedestrians are exposed and the lack of awareness of dangerous situations. In this study, most respondents were not aware of the dangers posed, partly due to their inappropriate behavior. Most questions regarding possible threats were answered incorrectly almost every time by over half of respondents in both age groups.
None of the surveyed groups has an advantage regarding road traffic hazards. People under 18 more often correctly answered questions about priority at a pedestrian crossing and the driver's reaction time to the appearance of a live obstacle. People over 65 more often indicated the correct answer regarding the braking distance and the distance covered by a driver traveling at a speed of 50 km/h.
Poland's strategic potential and capabilities to respond to CBRN threats
Authors: Szklarski Łukasz
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The article includes a systemic analysis of Poland's potential and response capabilities to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. As a result of the conducted research, the dominant threats, technological resources, legal framework and socio-political reactions related to CBRN incidents in Poland were shown. In addition, Poland's technological capabilities in the detection of chemical agents, gamma and nucleoids were presented. The important role of protective clothing in responding to CBRN threats was emphasized.

Material and methods

In order to implement the adopted research assumptions, the method of analysis was used consisting in quantitative and qualitative analysis of the content contained in the analyzed documents, literature, legal acts, their ordering and interpretation in terms of the research objective.

Results

The article highlights the multifaceted nature of the Polish approach, which includes understanding CBRN threats, investing in advanced detection technologies, ensuring the security of response through protective equipment, implementing robust civil protection measures, and adhering to a comprehensive legal framework. The discussion additionally sheds light on the key role of international cooperation in the Polish CBRN strategy. Basically, the article presents Polish preparations as a comprehensive approach combining technological knowledge, legal infrastructure, public security measures

Conclusions

Poland's strategic preparation for potential CBRN incidents is an ongoing process. While significant progress has been made, the constantly evolving nature of CBRN threats requires a continuous commitment to policy improvement, technological innovation, capacity building and international cooperation.
Exploring the Entrepreneurial Role of Lawyers: A service-dominant logic paradigm
Authors: Urbaniec Maria , Skąpska Elżbieta , Błaszczuk-Zawiła Marzenna
Published: June 2024

Objectives

This article examines the roles of lawyers in entrepreneurship through the lens of service-dominant logic. Its aim is to understand how lawyers deal with the challenges of entrepreneurship while adhering to their core ethics and practice principles. The study reveals the factors that enable lawyers to effectively meet client needs.

Material and methods

Using an analytical approach, this study integrates the academic literature on service theory, behavioural economics and entrepreneurship. It evaluates the service relationship framework and the service-dominant logic paradigm to capture the entrepreneurial dimension of legal services. It takes into account rankings of Polish law firms and REGON register data for a comprehensive analysis.

Results

The results of the study provide an understanding of the interplay between law and business by examining how lawyers deal with entrepreneurial challenges while maintaining ethical and professional standards. To this end, the factors that enable effective client service were identified, i.e. both tangible (business-related) and intangible (related to professional competence) factors. The analysis demonstrates the role of lawyers as proactive stakeholders in the evolving legal services market, rather than simply as administrators of legal processes. It highlights the shift towards a more entrepreneurial mindset in the legal profession.

Conclusions

The contribution of our analysis is a multidimensional exploration of the evolving role of lawyers in the context of entrepreneurship, based on service-dominant logic theory, which emphasises the need for adaptation and value co-creation in the legal community, enhancing the competitiveness and innovation of the legal profession. The article offers an innovative and interdisciplinary perspective on the lawyer as entrepreneur.
Individual, society and state – perspective of constructivism
Authors: Cebul Krzysztof
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The analyses presented in this article cover: 1) problems related to specificity of contemporary communication processes, determining conditions and influencing our ability to view reality; and 2) ambiguities of security culture facing contradictions arising in state-society-citizen relations.

Material and methods

In order to consider this dilemma, we need to define our starting point and adopt an anti-naturalist perspective, which assumes that the social world is socially constructed. Thus ways of perceiving reality are determined by contextual factors. In order to accomplish such research objective, we need to consider three issues: 1) first we will determine/indicate scopes of meaning and scopes of ties between meanings in the information security category; 2) then we will present, adopting a constructivism perspective, conditions, possibilities and limitations of perceiving reality by individuals; 3) finally, on this background, the author will present selected problems reflected in conditions of the state (the author will analyze the case of liberal democracy).

Results

In the situation of overwhelming communication acceleration, individuals adjusting to the “rhythm” imposed by technology lose mindfulness and consequently the ability of perceiving reality in a critical way. In this situation, the state / the authority is presented with convenient opportunities of shaping reality according to the demand determined by particular interests. In this way the public sphere is appropriated, individuals are deluded by constructs / pretences giving them appearances of security.

Conclusions

In the situation described here the problem lies in the simultaneous necessity to ensure openness and transparency of the system through control mechanisms and to guarantee its protection and maintain its efficiency.
Contacts of people serving prison sentences during the COVID-19 pandemic with their families and loved ones
Authors: Klonowska Iwona , Walancik Karolina
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Contacts of persons serving prison terms with their family, relatives and friends allow the fulfillment of specific needs, constituting one of the most important penitentiary activities. These contacts carried out on a daily basis during the Covid 19 pandemic were limited and, in fact, impossible for some time.

Material and methods

The aim of the study was to diagnose prisoners in terms of their contacts with family and other close people (forms, frequency, assessment) during the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of the study formulated in this way obliged us to implement the project in a normative paradigm (Rubacha, 2011, p. 311). The research was conducted using the diagnostic survey method (Babbie, 2001, p. 268) using a questionnaire.

Results

The research presented in the article is part of a research program relating to post-penitentiary assistance and social readaptation of people serving prison sentences.

Conclusions

Before the pandemic began, three out of four inmates used telephone contacts and approximately 2/3 of them used visits. Nearly half of the inmates pointed to the letters, and every fourth - to the Skype messenger. Let us add that before the pandemic, 11% of respondents did not use any forms of contact, 30% - used one of them (usually visits or telephone contact). 43% of all respondents used both telephone contacts and visits. The "other" answers included: "I didn't use it", "I wasn't imprisoned",
Extent and nature of climate change and its impact on public security risks
Authors: Szykuła-Piec Barbara , Diemientiew Grzegorz
Published: June 2024

Climate change is currently one of the most important challenges faced by mankind. The purpose of this article is to give a coherent account of the scope and nature of these changes and their impact on universal security threats. The research process consisted largely of a review of the literature on the subject and an analysis of specialized, available documents and reports prepared by international environmental organizations. Climate change includes increases in temperature, changes in precipitation, sea level rise, extreme weather events and many other impacts that have enormous consequences for people, ecosystems and economies. Barriers are described that could prove to be an obstacle to implementing more sustainable development that could directly contribute to increased preventive and adaptive capacity, reduced emissions and vulnerability. The importance of adaptive capacity, which is a complex function of wealth, technology, information, skills, infrastructure, institutions and equity, was emphasized.
Decolonizar la mirada: Religiosidad popular y resistencia en la fotografía cubana contemporánea
Authors: Ravelo-García Mónica R.
Published: June 2024

RESUMEN: En el presente artículo analizamos los abordajes de los signos religiosos populares, enfatizando los de origen africano, en la fotografía cubana entre 1980 y 2022. Partimos por entregar un conjunto de herramientas conceptuales que viabilizan nuestro acercamiento crítico al objeto de estudio. Para ello, comenzamos por definir dos aspectos claves: los aparatos y el colonialismo interno. A continuación, contextualizamos las políticas estatales cubanas ligadas a la religiosidad y al devenir de la fotografía desde 1959. En el tercer y cuarto acápites, relacionamos un conjunto de artistas cubanos que abordan la religiosidad popular mediante la fotografía. Sistematizamos sus obras desde 1980 hasta 2022. Señalamos los credos abordados, las soluciones artísticas y los asuntos tratados por los autores. Subrayamos la articulación entre los acercamientos críticos, la religiosidad y las problemáticas sociales. Estas últimas abarcan las relaciones de género, la precariedad económica, las transformaciones de las prácticas cotidianas y el efecto de las políticas estatales. Las obras estudiadas manifiestan la trascendencia de la religiosidad en el pueblo cubano y la expansión semántica de los signos y sus configuraciones visuales. En términos metodológicos, empleamos la perspectiva teórica del arte de resistencia, la metodología cualitativa y el método de análisis de discurso (AD). ABSTRACT: In this article we analyze the approaches of popular religious signs, emphasizing those of African origin, in Cuban photography between 1980 and 2022. We start by presenting a set of conceptual tools that support our critical approach to the object of study. To do this, we define two key aspects: the apparatuses and internal colonialism. Next, we contextualize the Cuban state policies linked to religiosity and the evolution of photography since 1959. In the third and fourth sections, we relate a group of Cuban artists who approach popular religiosity through photography. We systematize these works from 1980 to 2022. We point out the creeds addressed, the artistic solutions, and the issues addressed by the authors. We emphasize the articulation of critical approaches, religiosity, and social problems. The latter encompass gender relations, economic precariousness, changes in daily practices, and the effect of state policies. The works we study show the importance of religiosity in the Cuban people and the semantic expansion of signs and their visual configurations. In methodological terms, we use the theoretical perspective of resistance art, the qualitative methodology, and the discourse analysis method.
A Cuban Portrait
Authors: Herrera Andrea O'Reilly
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: A Cuban Portrait focuses on a series of portraits titled FACES , an ongoing project that the Cuban photographer Carlos Manuel Cárdenes began in 2007. Although his subjects are diverse, Cárdenes's primary elegiac aim is to visually testify to the vibrant, living presence of Cuban artists outside the island, thereby preserving a chapter in the island's cultural history that might otherwise be overlooked and forgotten. The FACES series collectively enlarges and highlights the complex presences and myriad experiences of Cuba's diasporic artists. In this sense, it serves, as Lewis Hines so aptly puts it, as "a human document that keeps the present and the future in touch with the past." RESUMEN: Un rostro cubano enfoca en una seria de rostros titulada FACES / Caras , un proyecto que el fotógrafo cubano Carlos Manuel Cárdenes inició en 2007. Aunque sus temas son varios, Cárdenes's principal objective elegíaco es testimoniar visualmente la presencia vibrante y viva de los artistas cubanos fuera de la isla, preservando así un capítulo de la historia cultural cubana que de otro modo podría pasarse por alto y olvidarse. Colectivamente, FACES/CARAS amplía y realza la presencia compleja y la miríada de experiencias de los artistas de la diáspora cubana. En este sentido, la seria de rostros sirve, como bien dice Lewis Hines, como "un documento humano que mantiene el presente y el futuro en contacto con el pasado."
El aislamiento como forma de regreso: El Aión en la obra de Zoé Valdés
Authors: Tramontana Gino
Published: June 2024

RESUMEN: El tema de este artículo es el escape en la poética de la autora cubana Zoé Valdés. La huida adquiere un significado peculiar al representar, paradójicamente, la única forma de regreso; un regreso a la identidad, una vuelta a la eterna adolescencia y sobre todo una vuelta a las raíces. Los personajes que pone en escena Zoé Valdés necesitan huir y, en ocasiones, incluso de sí mismos refugiándose en un universo hiperreal que definiremos con el término estoico de Aión : es decir, un universo paralelo que permite esquivar el tiempo, reconstruyendo así los espacios y las percepciones. En este artículo, como evidencia de mi teoría, traeré ejemplos tomados de cuatro obras de la autora publicadas entre 1995 y 2021 ( La nada cotidiana, Café Nostalgia, Bailar con la vida y El beso de la extranjera—monumento porno-existencial al amor ), donde en los primeros tres casos veremos que el Aión y el hiperreal se expresan a través de alegorías y símbolos que ven como pretexto ontológico el exilio y el Período Especial que ha aquejado a la historia de Cuba en la década de los 90, y en el último caso, en cambio, a través del ardid de conversaciones cibernéticas que encarnan de manera patognomónica la esencia misma de la hiperrealidad y del Aión. En las obras de Zoé Valdés, la huida de los espacios y del yo es tan necesaria como el regreso, al margen de la voluntad de la autora que en el acto de escribir se deja guiar por símbolos y significantes lacanianos. ABSTRACT: The subject of this article is the escape into the poetics of the Cuban author Zoé Valdés. The flight takes on a particular meaning as it represents, paradoxically, the only form of return; a return to an identity, a return to eternal adolescence and above all a return to the roots. The characters staged by Zoé Valdés need to escape and, sometimes, even flee from themselves taking refuge in a hyperreal universe that we will define with the stoic term of Aión : that is to say a parallel universe that allows you to avoid time, thus reconstructing the spaces and perceptions. In this article, as evidence of my theory, I bring examples taken from four works by the authoress ( La nada cotidiana, Café Nostalgia, Bailar con la vida and El beso de la extranjera—monumento porno existencial al amor ), where in the first three cases we will see that the Aión and the hyperreal are expressed through allegories and symbols that see as an ontological pretext the exile and the Período Especial that has afflicted the history of Cuba in the 1990s, and in the last case, instead, through the ploy of cybernetic conversations that embody in a pathognomonic way the very essence of a timeless condition that we will call Aión, allows us to avoid the present. In Zoé Valdés's works, the escape from spaces and from the self is as necessary as the return, regardless of the will of the author who in the act of writing allows herself to be guided by symbols and Lacan signifiers.
Other Socialist Travels: René Dumont and Cuban Exceptionalism
Authors: Duong Paloma
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: This article explores the history of materialist critiques of the "statization" of the Cuban economy through the travelogues of the French agronomist and socialist intellectual René Dumont, who was invited to be adviser to the National Institute for Agrarian Reform (INRA) in the 1960s. Dumont's books, among the lesser-known accounts of the economic transformations of the early revolutionary period in Cuba, have been perfunctorily footnoted, misread, or largely ignored in his own time first and in subsequent scholarship later. My purpose here is not to revisit the already-extensive bibliography on the travels of foreign intellectuals to Cuba after 1959. Rather, by raising the profile of this atypical traveler, I question the parameters of selection that organize the canonical archive of the trip to Cuban socialism as a literary and a political genre. This critical approach challenges the standard interpretations of the relationship between the New Left and the 1959 Cuban Revolution that this canon has produced. Furthermore, I consider the political and theoretical implications of such revisionist critiques for discussions about contemporary Cuba, highlighting the conditions under which Cuba circulated then, as much as now, as a contested media object of international political desire. RESUMEN: Este artículo explora la historia de las críticas materialistas a la estatización de la economía cubana a través de dos libros del agrónomo e intelectual socialista francés René Dumont, quien ejerció como técnico extranjero en el Instituto Nacional de Reforma Agraria (INRA) durante los años 60s. Tanto en su tiempo como en estudios posteriores, los reportes de viaje de Dumont fueron y han sido poco conocidos y peor citados, cuando no ignorados por completo. Mi propósito aquí no es repasar la vasta bibliografía existente sobre los viajes de intelectuales extranjeros a Cuba a partir de 1959. Al perfilar a profundidad a este atípico viajero me propongo más bien cuestionar los parámetros de selección que organizan el archivo canónico del viaje al socialismo cubano como género literario y político. Esta aproximación crítica problematiza las interpretaciones convencionales de la relación entre la nueva izquierda y la Revolución Cubana de 1959 generadas por ese archivo canónico. Asimismo, sopeso las implicaciones políticas y teóricas de tales críticas revisionistas para los debates sobre la Cuba contemporánea, haciendo hincapié en las condiciones bajo las cuales Cuba circuló, y circula aún, como un objeto mediático de deseo político internacional siempre en disputa.
Ongoing transmission of lymphatic filariasis in Samoa 4.5 years after one round of triple-drug mass drug administration
Authors: Mayfield Helen J. , Sartorius Benn , Sheridan Sarah , Howlett Maddison , Martin Beatris Mario , Thomsen Robert , Tofaeono-Pifeleti Rossana , Viali Satupaitea , Graves Patricia M. , Lau Colleen L.
Published: June 2024

Background

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) remains a significant global issue. To eliminate LF as a public health problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends multiple rounds of mass drug administration (MDA). In certain scenarios, including when elimination targets have not been met with two-drug MDA, triple-drug MDA (using ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole) is recommended. In this study, we report on antigen (Ag) and microfilaria (Mf) prevalence in eight primary sampling units (PSUs) in Samoa 4.5 years after one round of triple-drug MDA.

Methodology

In 2023, community surveys were conducted in eight PSUs that had been surveyed previously in 2018 (between 1.5 and 3.5 months post triple-drug MDA) and 2019 (six to eight-months post triple-drug MDA). Fifteen houses were randomly selected in each PSU with household members aged ≥ 5 years invited to participate. Blood samples were tested for Ag and Mf.

Principal findings

Ag-positive participants were observed in six of the eight PSUs, and Ag prevalence was significantly above the 1% threshold in four PSUs. The presence of Mf-positive participants in five PSUs confirms the presence of residual active infections.

Conclusions/Significance

This study provides evidence of persistent LF transmission in Samoa 4.5 years after one round of triple-drug MDA, confirming that one round was insufficient for interruption of transmission in this setting. Our findings highlight the negative impact of delaying MDA rounds, for example, due to public health emergencies.
Translation, cultural adaptation and validation of Patient Satisfaction with Pharmacist Services Questionnaire (PSPSQ) 2.0 into the Arabic language among people with diabetes
Authors: Albabtain Basmah , Paudyal Vibhu , Cheema Ejaz , Bawazeer Ghada , Alqahtani Abdulaziz , Bahatheq Ahmed , Shuweihdi Farag , Hadi Muhammad Abdul
Published: June 2024

Background

Understanding patient satisfaction is key to advancing pharmacy services and improving health outcomes. There is a lack of a translated and psychometrically validated tool in the Arabic language to measure patient satisfaction with pharmacy services.

Objective

To translate the English version of the PSPSQ 2.0 into Arabic language, culturally adapt, and verify its reliability and validity.

Setting

A community pharmacy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2021 and June 2022 among patients with diabetes attending a community pharmacy. The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research good practice guidelines for linguistic translation and cultural adaptation were used to translate and culturally adapt the English version of PSPSQ 2.0 into Arabic. The Arabic version of PSPSQ 2.0 was subjected to factor analysis using principal component analysis with varimax rotation to evaluate its validity and Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess the reliability of PSPSQ 2.0.

Results

A total of 129 (68.2% male, and mean age 50 (SD: 11.9) years) patients with diabetes participated in the study. The analysis was undertaken for the items in each of the three domains of PSPSQ 2.0: quality of care, interprofessional relationship and overall care. Exploratory factor analysis revealed validity of 92.7%, 80.5% and 96.2%, respectively. The Arabic version of PSPSQ 2.0 had high internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha scores 0.99, 0.95 and 0.98 for the three measured domains, respectively. The sample adequacy was 0.924.

Conclusion

The PSPSQ 2.0 was successfully translated and culturally adapted into the Arabic language and had acceptable validity and reliability to measure patient satisfaction with services provided by pharmacists in community pharmacies.
Therapeutic patient education programs on diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
Authors: Iwelomen Omomene , Toniolo Jean , Preux Pierre-Marie , Beloni Pascale
Published: June 2024

Background

Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with the potential for blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and lower limb amputations. The global prevalence of diabetes is rising, particularly in the sub-Saharan African (SSA) region, where accessing treatment and antidiabetic drugs is complex, leading to challenges in managing the condition. Intentional and structured therapeutic education has demonstrated its ability to enhance health outcomes in diabetes patients. Given the numerous healthcare deficiencies in sub-Saharan Africa, the authors have reevaluated the role of therapeutic patient education (TPE) in this context.

Methods

This systematic review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. We queried four databases between March 14 and June 30, 2023 and conducted Cochrane’s Risk of Bias analysis on the included studies. Subsequently, a qualitative synthesis of the results was performed.

Results

The final analysis included thirteen studies. Seven of these, which assessed glycemic control, reported statistically significant results. Additionally, other clinical parameters such as body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and lipid levels also exhibited some significant improvements. Knowledge substantially increased following the intervention, while attitude, self-care practices, and medication adherence showed no significant improvements. Nurse-led and peer-led intervention programs produced positive outcomes, whereas technology-based intervention methods did not yield favorable results.

Conclusion

TPE programs in sub-Saharan Africa have a significant impact on both clinical and non-clinical outcomes in diabetes patients. However, the sustainability of these outcomes remains uncertain. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effects of TPE on diabetes patients.
An investigation into gender distributions in scholarly publications among dental faculty members in Iran
Authors: Sofi-Mahmudi Ahmad , Shamsoddin Erfan , DeTora Lisa M. , Bierer Barbara E. , Ekmekci Perihan Elif , Folayan Morenike Oluwatoyin , Lii Ching Shan , Tovani-Palone Marcos Roberto , Crawley Francis P.
Published: June 2024

Background

Research on gender inequality is crucial as it unveils the pervasive disparities that persist across various domains, shedding light on societal imbalances and providing a foundation for informed policy-making.

Aim

To investigate gender differences in scientometric indices among faculty members in dental schools across Iran. This included overall data and speciality-specific data.

Methods

The publication profiles of academic staff in all dental schools were examined using the Iranian Scientometric Information Database (ISID, http://isid.research.ac.ir). Variables analyzed were working field, academic degree, the total number of papers, papers per year, total number of citations, percentage of self-citation, h-index, g-index, citations per paper, gender, university type, number of years publishing, proportion of international papers, first-author papers, and corresponding-author papers. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric tests were used to analyze the relationship between background characteristics and scientometric indicators. The extracted data were analyzed using R v4.0.1.

Results

The database included 1850 faculty members, of which about 60% (1104 of 1850) were women. Men (n = 746) had a higher number of papers (6583 vs. 6255) and citations (60410 vs. 39559) compared with women; 234 of the 376 faculty members with no papers were women. Almost half of the women (N = 517 of 1104) were in Type 2 universities, and nearly half of the men (N = 361 of the 746) were faculty members at Type 1 universities (Type 1 universities ranking higher than Type 2 and 3 universities). The medians of scientometric indices were higher in men, except for self-citation percentage (0 (IQR = 2) vs. 0 (IQR = 3), P = 0.083), international papers percentage (0 (IQR = 7.5) vs. 0 (IQR = 16.7), P<0.001). The proportion of corresponding-author papers was more than 62% higher in women (25 (IQR = 50) vs. 15.4 (IQR = 40), P<0.001). Men had a two-fold higher median h-index (2 (IQR = 4) vs. 1 (IQR = 3), P<0.001). Restorative dentistry and pediatric dentistry had the highest men-to-women ratios (1.5 for both). Dental materials and oral and maxillofacial surgery showed the lowest men-to-women ratios (0.42 and 0.5, respectively).

Conclusions

Women made up the majority of dental faculty members in Iran. Nevertheless, men showed better scientometric results in several significant indices. Having identified scientometric information reflecting differences across faculty members, further research is now needed to better understand the drivers of these differences.
The Portuguese version of the self-report form of the DSM-5 Level of Personality Functioning Scale (LPFS-SR) in a community and clinical sample
Authors: Pires Rute , Henriques-Calado Joana , Sousa Ferreira Ana , Gama Marques João , Ribeiro Moreira Ana , Barata Bernardo C. , Paulino Marco , Morey Leslie , Gonçalves Bruno
Published: June 2024

The Level of Personality Functioning Scale–Self-Report (LPFS-SR) operationalizes Criterion A of the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders. The current study aimed 1) to examine the internal consistency of the Portuguese version of the LPFS-SR in a community sample and a clinical sample, 2) to compare non-clinical participants (N = 282, Mage = 48.01, SD = 10.87) with two samples of clinical participants, one composed of patients with a personality disorder diagnosis (PD sample, n = 40, Mage = 46.18, SD = 13.59) and the other of patients with other psychiatric diagnoses (OD sample, n = 148, Mage = 49.49, SD = 11.88), with respect to LPFS-SR dimensions and total score, 3) to examine the capacity of the LPFS-SR to discriminate between samples through the ROC curve analyses, and 4) to examine the factor structure of the Portuguese version of the LPFS-SR. The Portuguese version of the LPFS-SR revealed adequate internal consistency results, akin to the original data, in the community and clinical samples. The community sample differed significantly from both clinical samples in all the LPFS-SR dimensions and total score. The ROC curve analysis indicated an optimal cut-off for the total score of 272.00, corresponding to a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 89%, in the PD vs. community samples. The LPFS-SR total score discriminative capacity between the PD and OD samples was lower, albeit also significant (area-under-the-curve of .63; p = .027; 95% CI: .52-.74). The current study provided evidence of the LPFS-SR’s unidimensionality in both community and clinical samples. Although this study has limitations, its findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the LPFS-SR construct, as well as to its cross-cultural validation.