bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The road towards protection of all against tetanus
Authors: Khan Md. Abdullah Saeed , Hasan Mohammad Jahid , Hawlader Mohammad Delwer Hossain
Published: September 2023

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), tetanus continues to be a major public health concern. Although vaccination campaigns have been effective in lowering the incidence of tetanus worldwide, some areas continue to experience a considerable number of cases and fatalities. Adult tetanus is frequently underreported because there is insufficient systematic surveillance and reporting. A high proportion of tetanus patients die because of a lack of adequate critical care services, particularly ventilator support, with limited access to existing facilities due to high costs. Hence, the case fatality rate of adult tetanus remains high. Women and children are protected because of regular and booster immunization strategies implemented around the world. However, men are disproportionately affected by tetanus. Booster dosage based on the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended schedule should be given to eligible children and adolescent boys. In addition, tetanus vaccination needs to be promoted among adults in vulnerable jobs. Functional strategies could help pave the way toward the protection of all against tetanus.
A novel rapid detection method for a single-nucleotide substitution mutation derived from canine urothelial and prostatic carcinoma cells present in small amounts in urine sediments
Authors: Okumura Shiro , Ohsato Yoshiharu
Published: September 2023

For early detection of canine urothelial and prostatic carcinoma, we intend to develop and commercialize a simple and rapid detection method for the BRAF V595E mutation, a known mutation in this cancer. Detection of the single-nucleotide substitution in cancer cells contained in urine sediments is effective for early cancer diagnosis. However, urine sediment also contains many normal cells, and when there is a small relative composition of cancer cells, the mutation is difficult to detect by conventional methods other than next-generation sequencing. Our new detection method enables reliable discrimination with the same labor and cost as the PCR method. We compared the results of our new method with the results of the conventional Sanger method for 38 canine urine sediment samples, and the results of 34 samples were consistent between both methods. The remaining four results were all determined to be negative by the Sanger method and positive by our new method. For these four samples, the ratio of the mutated gene to the wild-type gene was estimated using a third-generation sequencer, and the ratio of the mutated gene was 0.1%–1.4%. We postulate that the Sanger method gave a negative result because of the low abundance of the mutated gene in these samples, proving the high sensitivity of our new method.
Glucose fluctuation promotes mitochondrial dysfunctions in the cardiomyocyte cell line HL-1
Authors: Mordel Patrick , Fontaine Fanny , Dupas Quentin , Joubert Michael , Allouche Stéphane
Published: September 2023

Aims

Glycemic variability has been suggested as a risk factor for diabetes complications but the precise deleterious mechanisms remain poorly understood. Since mitochondria are the main source of energy in heart and cardiovascular diseases remain the first cause of death in patients with diabetes, the aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of glucose swings on mitochondrial functions in the cardiomyocyte cell line HL-1.

Methods

HL-1 cells were exposed to low (LG, 2.8 mmol/l), normal (NG, 5.5 mmol/l), high (HG, 25 mmol/l) or intermittent high glucose (IHG, swing between low and high) every 2h during 12h (short-time treatment) or every 12h during 72h (long-time treatment). Anaerobic catabolism of glucose was evaluated by measuring glucose consumption and lactate production, oxidative phosphorylation was evaluated by polarography and ATP measurement, mitochondrial superoxide anions and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were analysed using fluorescent probes, and the protein oxidation was measured by oxyblot.

Results

IHG and HG increased glucose consumption and lactate production compared to LG and NG but without any difference between short- and long-time treatments. After 72h and unlike to LG, NG and HG, we didn’t observe any increase of the mitochondrial respiration in the presence of succinate upon IHG treatment. IHG, and to a lesser extent HG, promoted a time-dependent decrease of the mitochondrial membrane potential compared to LG and NG treatments. HG and IHG also increased superoxide anion production compared to LG and NG both at 12 and 72h but with a higher increase for IHG at 72h. At last, both HG and IHG stimulated protein oxidation at 72h compared to LG and NG treatments.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that exposure of HL-1 cells to glucose swings promoted time-dependent mitochondrial dysfunctions suggesting a deleterious effect of such condition in patients with diabetes that could contribute to diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Prediction of outpatients with conjunctivitis in Xinjiang based on LSTM and GRU models
Authors: Wang Yijia , Yi Xianglong , Luo Mei , Wang Zhe , Qin Long , Hu Xijian , Wang Kai
Published: September 2023

Background

Reasonable and accurate forecasting of outpatient visits helps hospital managers optimize the allocation of medical resources, facilitates fine hospital management, and is of great significance in improving hospital efficiency and treatment capacity.

Methods

Based on conjunctivitis outpatient data from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Ophthalmology from 2017/1/1 to 2019/12/31, this paper built and evaluated Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) models for outpatient visits prediction.

Results

In predicting the number of conjunctivitis visits over the next 31 days, the LSTM model had a root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.86 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.39, the GRU model has an RMSE of 2.60 and an MAE of 1.99.

Conclusions

The GRU method can better predict trends in hospital outpatient flow over time, thus providing decision support for medical staff and outpatient management.
Quantifying COVID-19 policy impacts on subjective well-being during the early phase of the pandemic: A cross-sectional analysis of United States survey data from March to August 2020
Authors: Shen Ke , Kejriwal Mayank
Published: September 2023

To stop the spread of COVID-19, a number of public health policies and restrictions were implemented during the pre-vaccination phase of the pandemic. This study provides a quantitative assessment of how these policies impacted subjective well-being (SWB) in the United States over a 6-month period spanning March to August 2020. We study two specific research objectives. First, we aim to quantify the impacts of COVID-19 public health policies at different levels of stringency on SWB. Second, we train and implement a conditional inference tree model for predicting individual SWB based both on socio-demographic characteristics and policies then in place. Our results indicate that policies such as enforcing strict stay-at-home requirements and closing workplaces were negatively associated with SWB, and that an individual’s socio-demographic characteristics, including income status, job, and gender, conditionally interact with policies such as workplace closure in a predictive model of SWB. Therefore, although such policies may have positive health implications, they also have secondary environmental and social implications that need to be taken into account in any cost-benefit analysis of such policies for future pandemic preparedness. Our proposed methodology suggests a way to quantify such impacts through the lens of SWB, and to further advance the science of pandemic preparedness from a public health perspective.
An in-depth exploration of researcher experiences of time and effort involved in health and social care research funding in the UK: The need for changes
Authors: Meadmore Katie , Church Hazel , Crane Ksenia , Blatch-Jones Amanda , Recio Saucedo Alejandra , Fackrell Kathryn
Published: September 2023

The need to reform the way in which research is undertaken is clear, with reducing research bureaucracy and waste at the forefront of this issue for the UK government, funding organisations, higher education institutions and wider research community. The aim of this study was to describe researchers’ experiences of the time, effort and burden involved in funding processes–namely applying for research funding and fulfilling reporting requirements. This was an in-depth qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with researchers who had experience applying for funding and/or completing reporting requirements for a UK health and social care research funder between January 2018 and June 2021. Following thematic analysis, five key themes were identified describing researcher experiences of key issues around time, efforts and burden associated with funding processes. These themes encompassed (1) issues with the current funding model for health and social care research, (2) time and effort involved in funding processes, (3) the need for a streamlined end-to-end process, (4) implications for work-life balance, and (5) addressing the need for better support and communication. The findings from this study describe researcher experiences of tasks in the research pathway that currently take considerable time and effort. It was clear that whilst some of this time and effort is considered necessary, some is exacerbated by inefficient and ineffective processes, such as perceived under-funding of research or lack of clarity with regards to funder expectations. This in turn contributes to unnecessary researcher burden, research waste and negative research culture. Better investment in health and social care research and in the researchers themselves who design and deliver the research, alongside improvements in transparency, streamlining and research support could ensure a more positive research culture, and improve the quality of funded research.
Auditory function in humans at high altitude. A scoping review
Authors: Masè Michela , Viziano Andrea , Strapazzon Giacomo , Alessandrini Marco , Micarelli Alessandro
Published: September 2023

Purpose

High-altitude (HA) affects sensory organ response, but its effects on the inner ear are not fully understood. The present scoping review aimed to collect the available evidence about HA effects on the inner ear with focus on auditory function.

Methods

The scoping review was conducted following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis extension for scoping reviews. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases were systematically searched to identify studies conducted in the last 20 years, which quantified in healthy subjects the effects of HA on auditory function.

Results

The systematic search identified 17 studies on a total population of 888 subjects (88.7% male, age: 27.8 ± 4.1 years; median sample size of 15 subjects). Nine studies were conducted in a simulated environment and eight during real expeditions at HA. To quantify auditory function, six studies performed pure tone audiometry, four studies measured otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and eight studies measured auditory evoked responses (AER). Study protocols presented heterogeneity in the spatio-temporal patterns of HA exposure, with highly varying maximal altitudes and exposure durations.

Conclusion

Most studies reported a reduction of auditory function with HA in terms of either elevation of auditory thresholds, lengthening of AER latencies, reduction of distortion-product and transient-evoked OAEs. Future studies in larger populations, using standardized protocols and multi-technique auditory function evaluation, are needed to further characterize the spatio-temporal pattern of HA effects along the auditory pathways and clarify the pathophysiological implications and reversibility of the observed changes.
Determinants of institutional delivery service utilization in Nepal
Authors: Thapa Bipin , Karki Anita , Sapkota Suman , Hu Yifei
Published: September 2023

Background

Maternal mortality continues to be a pressing concern in global health, presenting an enduring and unmet challenge for healthcare systems worldwide. Utilization of institutional delivery services has been established as a proven intervention to mitigate life-threatening risks for both mothers and newborns. Exploring the determinants of institutional delivery is crucial to improve and enhance maternal and newborn safety. This study aimed to assess the contextual and individual factors associated with institutional delivery in Nepal.

Methods

This study utilized that data form Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey 2019, which included a sample of 1,932 women who had given birth within the two years prior to the survey. A multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the significant external environment, contextual and individual predictors of institutional delivery.

Results

The women from Madhesh province [Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 0.32, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.17–0.61], as compared to Bagmati province, women from rural areas (aOR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.39–0.78) as compared to urban areas, and women from a relatively less-advantaged ethnic groups (aOR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.35–0.76) as compared to the relatively advantaged ethnic groups were less likely to deliver in health institutions. Similarly, women from the poorest (aOR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.04–0.22) and second wealth groups (aOR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.13–0.64) were less likely to attend institute for delivery compared to women from the richest household. Women with formal education (aOR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.16–2.35) were more likely to deliver in an institution over uneducated women. Moreover, the uptake of institutional delivery increased by 59% (aOR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.43–1.75) for each additional ANC visit.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the importance of stepping up efforts to achieve universal health care from the standpoint of long-term government investment, focusing particularly on illiterate women in rural areas, poorer households, and socially disadvantaged groups. Expanding the benefits of maternal benefit schemes targeting the women from the poorest households in the communities is recommended.
The Computer and Design
Authors: Breindahl Charlie , Engholm Ida , Gregory Judith , Stolterman Erik
Published: September 2023

Editorial
Wayshowing – A Guide to Environmental Signage: Principles and Practices
Authors: Redström Johan
Published: September 2023

Book Review
Prevalence of major infectious diseases in backyard chickens from rural markets in Morocco
Authors: Fagrach Asma , Arbani Oumaima , Karroute Oumaima , El-Ftouhy Fatima Zahra , Kichou Faouzi , Bouslikhane Mohammed , Fellahi Siham
Published: September 2023

Background and Aim: Raising backyard chickens is a common practice in Morocco, mainly in rural or periurban areas. Constraints due to devastating avian diseases have been recognized as a major limiting factor in backyard poultry production. Consequently, these flocks could potentially be implicated as reservoirs for poultry diseases. However, there is a considerable lack of information on disease prevalence in this production system, and the risk represented by these small flocks remains under debate. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence and identify related risk factors of a range of bacterial and viral pathogens of outstanding importance for the economy and public health in backyard poultry in Morocco.

Materials and Methods: : A total of 712 sera samples and 258 cloacal swabs were collected from 712 backyard chickens from 15 rural markets in the Khemisset and Skhirat-Temara provinces. None of the sampled chickens received any vaccination. Sera samples were screened for antibodies against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2 subtype (LPAI H9N2) using a hemagglutination-inhibition test, against bursal infectious disease virus (IBDV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and against Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) using a rapid serum agglutination test. Swab samples were compiled into 86 pools and submitted for molecular detection using real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results: The seroprevalences in backyard chickens for NDV, LPAI H9N2, IBDV, IBV, MG, and MS were 52.1% (371/712), 63.5% (452/712), 84.7% (603/712), 82.2% (585/712), 58% (413/712), and 74.8% (533/712), respectively. Based on the RT-PCR results, 2.3% (2/86), 62.8% (54/86), 2.3% (2/86), 63.9% (55/86), 40.7% (35/86), and 29.1% (25/86) of the pools were positive for NDV, H9N2 LPAI, IBDV, IBV, MG, and MS, respectively. Multiple coinfections (H9N2-IBV-MG), (H9N2-IBV-MS), or (IBV-MG-MS) were observed in 15.1%, 8.5%, and 8.5% of the tested samples, respectively.

Conclusion: The results show that backyard chicken flocks and rural markets have the potential to serve as reservoirs or amplifiers for poultry pathogens and could pose a risk to the commercial poultry sector. This highlights the need for a comprehensive and adapted vaccination plan for backyard chickens, and extension of efforts to increase flock owners’ awareness of avian diseases and incite the implementation of biosecurity measures at the farm level.

Keywords: avian diseases, backyard chickens, low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2, Newcastle disease, risk factors, rural markets.
Prediction of genetic gains in sweet potato genotypes by polycross
Authors: Mariano Giovana Guerra , Pavan Bruno Ettore , Otoboni Maria Eduarda Facioli , Andrade Maria  Isabel , Vargas Pablo Forlan
Published: September 2023

Sweet potato crops present a wide genetic diversity, but genetic parameters of populations should be estimated in breeding programs, mainly when the selection is focused on multiple traits. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and select clones via a selection index in a sweet potato population obtained from uncontrolled crosses. The experiment was carried out in Ilha Solteira, Sao Paulo, Brazil, from June to November 2020, to evaluate 144 clones and three controls, totaling 147 treatments. A randomized block design was used, with two replications and three plants per plot. The data were analyzed through mixed modeling (REML/BLUP), and the selection index proposed by Mulamba & Mock was applied using a selection pressure of 17.3% for the selection of superior clones. The direct selection enabled a higher prediction of gains for each trait, but the joint analysis maximized the selection gains for all traits of interest. Clones 38, 63, 79, 77, and 5 are recommended, among the selected clones, for further stages of sweet potato breeding focused on improving traits for production and table consumption.
 
Palavras-chave: Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam, Variabilidade genética, Índice de seleção, Parâmetros genéticos, Ganho com seleção
Building On Success in Tobacco Control: A Roadmap Towards Tobacco-Free Oman (Perspective Review)
Authors: R. AlKalbani Salma , Kavanagh Paul
Published: September 2023

Tobacco use remains a leading cause of harm to public health. Despite nearly two decades of ratifying the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Oman is still striving to achieve the best practice approach in different FCTC measures. Current epidemiological data shows that the prevalence of tobacco use among adults in Oman is steadily increasing with time. This review highlights the progress that has been made in the various FCTC measures, as well as how Oman has the possibility to attain the best practice approach in the various FCTC measures, and even go beyond that by implementing policies that have the potential to achieve a tobacco-free Oman by 2040.
Os efeitos da utilização do power bi no controle de processos de armazenagem em um centro de distribuição do setor alimentício e petcare
Authors: Simão José Augusto de Sales , Silva Isayelle Emille da , Andrade Neto Manoel Lopes de , Fontana Marcele Elisa
Published: September 2023

Na era da informação, onde o volume de dados aumenta constantemente, as organizações enfrentam desafios cada vez maiores para gerir essas informações. Entretanto, essa quantidade expressiva de dados pode ser utilizada para a criação de vantagem competitiva para a empresa. Com o propósito de lidar com os dados, as ferramentas de Self-Service Business Intelligence (SSBI) tem se destacado, as quais descentralizam a gestão da informação, antes nas mãos do setor de tecnologia da informação (TI), disponibilizando a todos os colaboradores que estão envolvidos diretamente com gestão de processos e indicadores. Este estudo analisou a implementação da ferramenta de SSBI na gestão de processo logísticos inboud e outbound de um centro de distribuição do setor alimentício e petcare. Com base nos resultados do estudo foi possível identificar dificuldades, vantagens e oportunidades futuras, como o acompanhamento em tempo real da expedição diária através de painéis no Power BI e monitoramento periódico dos principais indicadores dos processos do centro de distribuição.
Modelo conceitual de boas práticas de planejamento de materiais e mão de obra específico para o setor da construção civil na cidade de Cali-Colômbia
Authors: Gonçales Filho Manoel , Hoyos Juliana Pulgarin
Published: September 2023

O presente trabalho analisa mediante estudo de caso uma problemática apresentada no planejamento dos projetos de construção civil na cidade de Cali, Colômbia, a qual afeta diretamente os orçamentos e prazos dos projetos. A pesquisa possui abordagem qualitativa e o procedimento técnico é o estudo de caso. Utilizou-se uma empresa do setor da construção civil como unidade de análise, e para a coleta dos dados a campo foram feitas entrevistas. O objetivo foi identificar na literatura um modelo de referência que pudesse orientar a construção de outro modelo teórico conceitual específico de boas práticas para planejar recursos de materiais e mão de obra em obras do setor da construção civil. Os resultados foram a identificação na literatura do modelo de referência SCOR versão 12.0 e seus atributos, os processos de Nível 1 e os processos-chave de negócio da cadeia de suprimentos com as oportunidades correspondentes para cada um dos processos e atividades gerais de um projeto de construção civil na empresa do estudo de caso analisada. Todavia, a principal e real contribuição desta pesquisa é a proposição do modelo conceitual de boas práticas de planejamento de materiais e mão de obra específico para o setor da construção civil na cidade de Cali, Colômbia.
Industry 4.0 adoption and firm efficiency
Authors: Rehman Saif Ur
Published: September 2023

Purpose - Industry 4.0 links smart production processes with embedded system production technologies to open the door to a new technological era that fundamentally alters industry value chains and business structures. This study examines the effects of Industry 4.0 on firm efficiency.
Methods - Based on a cross-country sample of 1440 firms operating in the top twelve Giants of Asia-Pacific countries and a control sample with another set of 1440 similar-sized firms from non-adopting firms.
Findings - The empirical evidence shows that Industry 4.0 positively impacts firm efficiency. Next, the Tobit model is used for the robustness of the main findings. Further, study also examine the mediating role of intangible assets (human capital and firm reputation) for the impact of Industry 4.0 on firm efficiency. Study findings support the hypotheses that intangible assets mediate the Industry 4.0-firm efficiency relationship.
Implications - Study findings have managerial implications for production and operation managers on enhancing firm efficiency. Drawing upon practice-based-view theory, this study is the first to explore the mediating role of intangible assets (human capital and firm reputation) between in-Industry 4.0 and firm performance.
Originality - This study shed light on the significance of intangible asset congruence in enhancing Industry 4.0 impact.
Managing and controlling diffuse urbanisation in France: Spatial planning practices in cross-border city-regions
Authors: Le Bivic Camille , Idt Joël
Published: September 2023

Abstract  
Managing and controlling “land take” of agricultural and natural land for urbanisation is the target of European and national policies. Although this objective seems to be increasingly understood among the actors, the prioritisation of issues and the measures taken by governments to achieve it are very heterogeneous. The practices of local public and private actors do not necessarily follow the directions established at national level by the instruments. This paper examines the concrete forms, in France, of collective action in the field of spatial planning to limit land take, particularly in French cross-border areas that are experiencing strong urban growth. The survey is based on 60 semi-structured interviews with public actors involved in the spatial transformations of the cross-border regions around Geneva, Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai, Luxembourg and Strasbourg-Karlsruhe. The survey shows that collective action in spatial planning is very diverse in France, depending on the regions and municipalities concerned, even if the legal rules are the same. Local public actors play strategically with the rules and adapt them. Moreover, the organisation of collective action to limit land take is marked by interdependencies between regions, and in our case between neighbouring countries, which are often left unexamined in national planning policies and instruments.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Protein Kinase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Staša Judita , Gregorová Jana , Slanař Ondřej , Šíma Martin
Published: September 2023

Targeted therapy with protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs) represents one of the important treatment options for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It has contributed to improve patients’ survival and quality of life significantly. These anticancer drugs are administrated orally in flat-fixed doses despite the well-known large interpatient pharmacokinetic variability and the possible need for dose individualization. To optimize and individualize dosing of PKIs, and thereby increasing the effectiveness and safety of the treatment, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is the most frequently mentioned method. Unlike other areas of medicine, TDM has been rather exceptional in oncological practise since there is a little evidence or no data for concentration-effect relationships of PKIs. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize the pharmacokinetic characteristics of PKIs and provide the evidence supporting the use of TDM for personalised treatment of patients with NSCLC.
The Predictive Value of Serum Aldosterone Level for Coronary Artery Calcium Score in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Single-center Study
Authors: Semenov Viktor V. , Bosdriesz Jizzo R. , Kuryata Olexandr
Published: September 2023

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have high cardiovascular risk (CVR), which is often underestimated by conventional tools. The coronary artery calcium score (CACS) significantly improves CVR stratification by conventional tools, but it is often not available in low-resources settings. Aldosterone may be a cheaper alternative to CACS for CVR assessment in CKD patients. The aim was to assess the ability of serum aldosterone level to predict CACS in patients with CKD in comparison to standard predictors. This single-center study included 57 patients aged 40 to 67 years with CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥45 ml/min) and arterial hypertension. Serum aldosterone, sex, age, body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, eGFR, and proteinuria were used for prediction of CACS>0 Agatston units (AU) and CACS>100 AU. The area under the curve (AUC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and the mean Brier scores were examined for predictors of CACS. Aldosterone predicted a CACS>100 AU (AUC = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.56–0.88), but not a CACS>0 AU. Age predicted a CACS>100 AU (AUC = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.67–0.93) and a CACS>0 AU (AUC = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.62–0.89). The addition of aldosterone to age for prediction of a CACS>100 AU improved the mean Brier score, compared to the model with age alone, from 0.16 to 0.14, but not the AUC (0.83, 95% CI: 0.70–0.95). Aldosterone was a significant predictor of a CACS>100 AU in patients with CKD, but aldosterone was not a better predictor than age alone.
Use of a Questionnaire for Evaluation of Surgical Treatment of Masseter Muscle Hypertrophy: A Case Report
Authors: Bin Luiza Roberta , Pavelski Mateus Diego , Fernandes Ana Carolina Fraga , Garbin Eleanor Álvaro
Published: September 2023

Masseter hypertrophy (MH) is an uncommon natural condition that affects the facial contour. The etiology is debatable, and complaints are usually cosmetic in nature. The diagnosis is essentially clinical and aided by imaging tests. Treatment is still controversial. The literature is relatively scarce in relation to information on MH, particularly in the evaluation of outcomes. Through questionnaires, the progress was observed in the evaluation of the outcomes of aesthetic procedures. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to apply a Facelift Outcome Evaluation (FOE) questionnaire to evaluate the outcomes of surgical treatment in a case of MH. A 23-year-old male presented to the clinic complaining of bullying due to his facial aesthetics. Clinical and imaging evaluation was performed, with the creation of surgical guides. The patient answered the FOE questionnaire pre- and postoperatively, with results of 12.5 and 100.00 respectively. This subjectively shows the success of the treatment. We suggest that a questionnaire applied exclusively to masseter hypertrophy should be developed, as well as studies for the development of muscle volume measurement protocols, aiming at a more specific evaluation of the surgical outcomes.
History of Polish Diarism – Selected Contexts
Authors: Garbula Joanna Maria
Published: September 2023

In this article, I raise issues connected with the history of Polish diary writing since the Middle Ages until the early 20th century. I discuss the process and directions of establishing diary writing a separate branch of historical literature. Texts of historical nature (memoirs or diaries) were referred to by their authors as stories, notes of events, diaries or a course of life. Their origin can be traced back to medieval chronicles describing events that involved the Polish nation, in which the authors shyly included scattered and miniscule autobiographical mentions. Diary writing in Poland began to assume shape as a genre at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. There was a growing number of diaries in which the reality was described with a bias. This was a manifestation of the specific ‘zeitgeist’: the commonplace belief in the historical importance and meaning of the events witnessed or attended by the author, making them worth describing for future generations. Owing to vivid and expressive historical accounts, the 17th century expansive growth of diary writing entered the realm of fine literature. The 18th century brought changes in the methodology of historical sciences, as reflected by the prevalence of memoirs over diaries, and the perception of a memoir as a form of autobiography. The development of diary writing at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries was associated with surmounting the limitations of the class system and the emergence of a modern nation as a socio-cultural structure. In this historical setting, plebeian diaries, authored by ordinary people, were gaining in popularity. Diaries were written by representatives of all classes and social strata, be it aristocracy, urban-based intelligentsia originating from nobility, peasants or workers. In the first half of the 20th century, in addition to diaries written by individuals, practised for centuries, the way was paved for mass diary writing. Writing plebeian diaries was encouraged by scholars and editors of journals. At the same time, an institution of collective and competition diary writing emerged, in which the attitude to history was similar to that advocated by representatives of the Annales schools, namely history seen in connection with everyday life.
Majówki i wycieczki szkolne jako forma pracy dydaktyczno-wychowawczej na łamach lwowskiej „Szkoły” okresu zaborów
Authors: Wałęga Agnieszka
Published: September 2023

The aim of the article is to present the debate on the teaching and educational effectiveness of school trips, described in Lviv “Szkoła”, the oldest Galician educational magazine –, from the moment the periodical was founded in 1868 until Poland regained independence. In the pages of this magazine, the leading representatives of the teaching community of the time, often professionally active teachers, expressed their opinions on the subject, analysing both the possibilities and the risks related to a broader use of these forms of teaching work. They often put forward original proposals regarding formal issues of the organisation of trips and outings, also referring to their own experiences in this area. The debate was not free from polemics but a majority of its participants positively assessed trips as a means of physical, health, hygienic and aesthetic education of students. The trips were also recognised to be a perfect opportunity to conduct illustrative geography or history lessons, and to shape civic and patriotic attitudes.
Szkoła polska z lat ofensywy ideologicznej w oświacie (1948–1956) w świetle wspomnień nauczycieli
Authors: Rozmarynowski Marcin
Published: September 2023

The aim of the article is to present the assumptions and methods of the ideological impact on the environment of Polish teachers by the communist authorities in 1948–1956 as remembered by teachers. During the Stalinist period, the Polish Workers’ Party (later the Polish United Workers’ Party) tried to instil in teachers “socialist morality” by means of various courses, conferences, additional education and the order of “self-education”. The following text contains a synthetic historical outline of the above–mentioned activities and their analysis based on the memories of direct witnesses of those events.
Wychowanie księcia Henryka Lubomirskiego na tle idei epoki oświecenia
Authors: Polak Szymon Mikołaj
Published: September 2023

The concept of upbringing was truly revolutionised in the 18th century. From the theses of the English scholar John Locke, who encouraged changes to the approach to young people and educating their spirit (mind) so that they would become righteous and just citizens, to the ideas introduced by the Geneva-based philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau, suggesting that a child is a being completely different from an adult, so the concept of education should also be completely different. In Poland, there were some reflections of the aforementioned changes in education and upbringing, as evidenced by Prince Henryk Lubomirski, who at a very young age was placed under the care of his relative, Princess Izabela Lubomirska, née Czartoryska. It was she, influenced primarily by Jean Jacques Rousseau, who decided to raise Prince Henry according to the standards of the time.
Förderung der Schlüsselkompetenzen im universitären Grammatikunterricht durch den Einsatz der LdL-Methode – Ergebnisse einer Fragebogenstudie
Authors: Janicka Monika
Published: September 2023

In the knowledge economy, the memorization of facts and procedures is important but not sufficient. In order to responding to changes in society and the economy it becomes necessary to develop key competences. Competences-oriented education introduces innovative forms of teaching and learning based on the constructivist learning approach, such as the LbT-Method (Learning by Teaching /Lernen durch Lehren/), which gives the students the opportunity to learn by doing.
The article introduces the results of a survey which was conducted during the third semester of a “Grammar in Communication” course at the faculty of Applied Linguistics at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. According to the students’ assessment, their participation in this course enhanced their literacy, multilingual, personal, social and learning-to-learn competences, as well as their entrepreneurial competence. The results of this survey will be used to optimize the course design in the future.
Nauczanie języków obcych specjalistycznych (JOS): standardy kształcenia nauczycieli a programy przygotowania do zawodu
Authors: Sowa Magdalena
Published: September 2023

A teacher of a foreign language (FL) obtains his/her professional training during a higher education course in philology, where he/she follows a training program focused on “learning outcomes that include knowledge and skills corresponding to all the requirements of the core curriculum of the taught subject or the core curriculum of education in the profession, respectively, or the content of the classes taught” (Journal of Laws 2019, item 1450). From the this provision it should be concluded that FL teachers work in various educational institutions and with audiences of different profiles and needs, including professional ones.
The article describes the scope and forms of FL/LSP teacher education in Poland, based on the results of a qualitative analysis of teacher education programs implemented in 2017–2020 at 22 Polish universities. The text presents elements of teacher specialization programs, including content specific to specialized glottodidactics at different universities/degrees. These illustrate the diversity of educational practices applied and are intended inspire the implementation of didactic solutions on a wider scale.
Podejście konstruktywistyczne a rola nauczyciela w nauczaniu zdalnym języków obcych na przykładzie uczelni wyższej
Authors: Spychała-Wawrzyniak Małgorzata
Published: September 2023

The aim of the article is to present the main directions of research in the field of constructivism and how we can use this educational model in remote language teaching. It should be noted that although constructivism is not a new approach in the theory of psychology and didactics, it turns out that it is not yet sufficiently present in educational practice, as we could see during the pandemic crisis. We pay special attention to the foreign language teacher who acts as a linguistic and cultural mediator. We assume, among other things, that a teacher, using constructivist ideas, can help heir students develop communication skills even more actively during remote classes. We will analyze the skills and characteristics of teachers who, above all, encourage and motivate their students to independently construct linguistic and cultural knowledge. Finally, we present the results of a pilot study conducted among first-year students of various philologies who have experienced remote language learning.
Ewolucja egzaminu maturalnego z języków obcych na przestrzeni sześciu dekad
Authors: Sendur Agnieszka M.
Published: September 2023

Matura is an important high-stakes examination present in the Polish education system since the late 18th century. It is taken on completion of high school and is compulsory for those who want to apply for higher education. As a result of an examination reform, in 2005 the exam took on a new form. Since then it has been a professional, external, standardised assessment used for the analysis of school and student performance, and – most importantly – in lieu of university entrance exams.

The article looks at the evolution of the foreign language component of the Matura exam over the last six decades: from an internal test prepared by local authorities and by schools, assessed arbitrarily by the test-takers’ teachers, to a professional examination prepared by expert institutions in compliance with quality standards and assessed by trained markers according to elaborate grading criteria. The paper follows the changes occurring in the assessment starting from 1960 up to 2023, when another examination reform brought about new modifications in the foreign language exam.
Cyberrozrywka, klany i metagracze: O Homo players Dominiki Urbańskiej-Galanciak
Authors: Bromboszcz Roman
Published: September 2023

Czy gry komputerowe biorą się z ciemności? To zaskakujące pytanie obieram za początek szerszej wypowiedzi, mającej na celu wzięcie pod lupę jednej z książek na temat gier. Myślę, że w podwójnym sensie gry mają wiele wspólnego z mrokiem, ale nie będzie tu on pojmowany, jako coś, co generuje zło lub zasępienie, a raczej zabawę. Wspominam o braku oświetlenia z dwóch powodów.
Modified output and metalanguage during conversational interaction: A qualitative look at interactional feedback
Authors: Canals Laia
Published: September 2023

The present study draws on earlier research on learner-learner dyadic interactions in an e-tandem virtual exchange and examines negotiation of meaning episodes based on the qualitative data. These data come from learner-learner interactions during oral tasks carried out using a video conferencing tool. The aim is to unveil the interactional patterns that emerge during negotiation of meaning episodes which have been deemed beneficial for L2 development, particularly those which offer opportunities for modified output to occur (Gurzynski-Weiss & Baralt, 2015; Long, 1996; Pica, 1994; Schmidt, 1990). The results highlight the role that metalinguistic information plays in scaffolding the process of negotiation of meaning and emphasize the benefits of e-tandem exchanges where learners alternate between the roles of expert and learner, depending on the language used during each language-related episode.
Recurrent genetic variants and prioritization of variants of uncertain clinical significance associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in families from the Region of Murcia
Authors: Rosado-Jiménez Laura , Mestre-Terkemani Younes , García-Aliaga Ángeles , Marín-Vera Miguel , Macías-Cerrolaza José Antonio , Sarabia-Meseguer María Desamparados , García-Hernández María Rosario , Zafra-Poves Marta , Sánchez-Henarejos Pilar , Ayala de la Peña Francisco , Alonso-Romero José Luis , Noguera-Velasco José Antonio , Ruiz-Espejo Francisco
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern of cancer susceptibility genes. The risk of developing this disease is primarily associated with germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The advent of massive genetic sequencing technologies has expanded the mutational spectrum of this hereditary syndrome, thereby increasing the number of variants of uncertain clinical significance (VUS) detected by genetic testing.

Methods

A prevalence study of HBOC was performed within 2,928 families from the Region of Murcia, in southeastern Spain. Genetic testing enabled the identification of recurrent pathogenic variants and founder mutations, which were mainly related to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. VUS testing was performed using a prioritization algorithm designed by our working group.

Results

Variants c.68_69del, c.212+1G>A, and c.5123C>A were detected in 30 % of BRCA1 carriers, whereas exon 2 deletion concurrent with c.3264dupT, c.3455T>G and c.9117G>A variants were found in 30 % of BRCA2 carriers. A total of 16 VUS (15 %) were prioritized.

Conclusions

The genotype-phenotype correlation observed in our study is consistent with the scientific literature. Furthermore, the founder effect of c.1918C>T (BRCA1) and c.8251_8254del (ATM) was verified in the Murcian population, whereas exon 2 deletion (BRCA2) was proven to be a Spanish founder mutation. Our algorithm enabled us to prioritize potentially pathogenic VUS that required further testing to determine their clinical significance and potential role in HBOC.
A Note on a Moment Inequality
Authors: Jeong Seungwon (Eugene)
Published: September 2023

Using Chebyshev’s sum inequality, we generalize E[X
2] ≥ E
2[X] into a moment inequality with a general combination of moments that compares E[X

r+s
] and E[X

r
]E[X

s
]. We also provide its economic application.
Conception of a Native Connection of Data Gloves with Haptic Feedback to an Augmented Reality-Headset with a planned evaluation in a medical use case
Authors: Gießer Christian , Schmitt Johannes , Schmücker Vanessa , Eiler Tanja Joan , Braun Veit , Brück Rainer
Published: September 2023

The integration of data gloves into Augmented Reality (AR) applications for medical training increases immersion and realism. By using devices with haptic feedback, better and more intuitive control can be achieved. This has implications for learning and exam preparation, but also enables new home-based learning and independence from physical models and presence. Smooth integration and connection of devices is essential for this purpose. This work aims to demonstrate native integration between an augmented reality headset, and a pair of data gloves. In the future, the use of AR and data gloves in medicine will continue to grow and technological advances will create even more realistic and immersive learning opportunities. The study will evaluate if the SkillsLab+ AR application and haptic feedback provide value to medical training and if they can be used effectively in medical education. The implementation shows promise, and the technology may have a future in other areas as well.
Fabrication and characterization of CMOS-compatible perforated micromembranes for biomedical applications
Authors: Brechmann Noah , Michel Marvin , Bola Alina , Renz Franziska , Pickhinke Andreas , Seidl Karsten
Published: September 2023

We report the optimized wafer-scale fabrication of microporous membranes for applications in the biomedical field such as cell filtration. Existing similar devices can mostly not be integrated on CMOS circuits or mass fabricated. Both is enabled here by the exclusive use of scalable and low temperature microsystems technology methods on silicon wafers. The successfully manufactured devices are characterized with regard to the feasibility of an integrated clogging detection or captured cell counter. The results from electrochemical measurements across the chips match the calculations from a corresponding theoretical model well, verifying the described concept. Further electrical functionalities may thus be integrated into the micromembrane device in the future, equipping it for new applications and allowing a more efficient solution for existing tasks of similar devices.
Prediction of Arousal and Valence State from Electrodermal Activity using Wavelet based ResNet50 Model
Authors: Anthiyur Aravindan Abhinav , Kalyan Chappidi Sriram , Thumma Anirudh , Palanisamy Rohini
Published: September 2023

Real time physiological signals like Electrodermal Activity (EDA), measured using wearable devices, could be used for emotion recognition, thus enabling new paradigms of health monitoring, including mental health. This paper analyses EDA signals, a measure of sympathetic nervous system activity, which plays a significant role in emotional regulation. A public database was used to categorize emotions based on valence and arousal values. The Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) was used to obtain the scalograms of the signals. The scalograms were then fed into the deep learning models, VGG16 and ResNet50, to recognize emotions. VGG16 gives a Pearson Linear Correlation Coefficient (PLCC) value of 0.7199 for valence and 0.7593 for arousal, with Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values of 0.7653 and 1.0284, respectively. ResNet50 performs better, with a PLCC value of 0.7763 for valence and 0.8207 for arousal, and lower MAE and RMSE values of 0.7158 and 0.8712, respectively. This study proposes an adapted ResNet50 model for emotion recognition which could be integrated into wearable devices as a prospective feature.