bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organisational structural predictors of ambulance crashes: an analysis
Authors: Sleffel Justin
Published: December 2021

Objective: This study investigated the association between three organisational structural factors—organisational type, organisation status (staffing model), and level of service—and ambulance crash rates. The null hypothesis was that there would be no difference in ambulance crash rates during response or transport between any of the three factors. Methods: A cross-sectional design with a sample drawn from the 2019 National Emergency Medical Services Information System dataset was used to examine the relationship between these systems-level factors and ambulance crashes. After applying inclusion criteria, a sample of 2207 cases was drawn and analysed using the χ2 test of association and multiple logistic regression. Results: There was a statistically significant but small association between level of service and ambulance crashes during transport, using the χ2 test of association (P<0.05). Emergency medical technician (EMT)-level services had lower crash rates and paramedic-level services had higher rates than expected. There was no statistically significant association between organisational type or organisational status and ambulance crashes during either the response or transport phase of an emergency medical service (EMS) call, using the χ2 test of association (P>0.05). Of the two logistic regression models performed, only EMT-level services had a statistically significant association with ambulance crashes during transport (P<0.05; OR 0.208 [0.050, 0.866]). Conclusion: The organisational structural factors examined in this study failed to explain most of the variance in ambulance crash rates. However, EMT-level services were associated with lower rates of ambulance crashes than paramedic level services. EMS healthcare administrators and researchers should continue to explore potentially modifiable factors to reduce the incidence of these events and promote positive social change by reducing the risk of injury to patients, EMS workers and the public at large.
Artificial inteligence and its use in the process of providing health care
Authors: Sopuchova Sona
Published: December 2021

In the article, the author discusses the issue of electronic health care with a focus on telemedicine. The first part of the paper provides an overview and explanation of the basic related concepts, which are electronic healthcare and e-health, telemedicine and health care. In this part, the author also summarizes the relevant legislation. The author also presents the performance of telemedicine in the conditions of the Slovak Republic. Above all, the author asks which legal institutes are affected by another way of providing health care, which is distance medicine? The author gradually analyzes selected issues, namely instruction and informed consent, making audio or video-audio recording, recording telemedicine performance in medical documentation and payment for such performance. The conclusion of the article is devoted to summarizing and pointing out the threats and challenges of telemedicine, which the author considers the use of private communication platforms, the related violation of cyber security and the use of artificial intelligence. Key words: electronic healthcare, e-health, telemedicine, remote medicine, remote health care provision.
The right to respect private life in the context of the development of artificial intelligence
Authors: Angjeli Greta , Premalaj Besmir
Published: December 2021

One of the fundamental human rights protected by various international conventions is the right to the protection of privacy, or as defined in the European Convention on Human Rights, the right to respect private and family life. Affiliated to this right is also the right to data protection, which is described by various authors as a modern derivation of the right to privacy protection. The protection of personal data in the context of privacy protection was jeopardized by the rapid and widespread of information technology, automated data processing and the risk of access to this data by unauthorized persons on the network. The legal regulation for the non-violation of the right to respect private life by the processing of personal data with automated systems was one of the challenges of many states which had to allow the use of artificial intelligence for the benefit of further economic and social development, at the same time they had to ensure the protection of the personal data of their citizens. In this context, the EU has issued another regulation on personal data protection (General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679). The purpose of this paper is to highlight the impact of artificial intelligence on the right to respect private life and the legal protection of personal data from misuse through artificial intelligence.
The identity and gender problem in the context of AI
Authors: Kisonova Renata
Published: December 2021

My paper1 focuses on the problem of identity and gender in the context of artificial intelligence and human rights. What identity does belong to AI? How can the society solve the gender problem regarding AI? I analyse the terminology identity, gender, sex in interdisciplinary point of view, considering philosophical, ethical, cognitive and biological aspects of identity.
European semester–spring package: recommendations for Poland on the socio-economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Serowaniec Maciej
Published: December 2021

Extraordinary circumstances, and the COVID-19 outbreak undoubtedly meets this criterion, therefore require extraordinary solutions, including in the EU and national decision-making process to prevent their escalation. Out of concern for the stability of the economic systems of European Union Member States, it has become necessary to introduce procedures to effectively counteract the effects of COVID-19, including in the area of economic activity. An important role in monitoring these initiatives is now played by the European Semester procedure, which allows Member States to discuss their policies, exchange best practices and agree on joint actions for the future to counteract the effects of COVID-19. This paper aims to present the recommendations for Poland, which were formulated in the framework of the 2020 Spring European Semester.
Efficacy of video-based psychotherapy in reducing psychological distress of COVID-19 patients treated in isolation ward
Authors: Lukman Petrin Redayani , Saputra Alvin , Elvira Sylvia Detri , Heriani  , Almasyhur Alfi Fajar , Putri Leonita Ariesti , Alfonso César Alberto , Noviasari Reina Rahma
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 experience isolation during treatment, which may cause psychological distress. Thus, alternative ways to deliver psychological support are needed when face-to-face therapy is not possible. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of video-based psychotherapy in reducing distress in COVID-19 patients treated in an isolation ward.

METHODS This quasi-experimental trial without a control group included 42 COVID-19 patients aged 20–59 years. Participants were recruited conveniently in the COVID-19 isolation ward in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia. They watched three brief psychotherapy videos including relaxation, managing thoughts and emotions, and mindfulness for approximately 30 min. The videos were created by the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia. Subjective units of distress scale (SUDS) was measured before and after watching all videos. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon-signed rank test.

RESULTS All 42 subjects finished watching the videos. 31 subjects experienced a significant median decrease in SUDS score after the intervention. The effect size of the psychotherapy videos for the SUDS score was 0.485 (95% CI 0.302 to 0.634).

CONCLUSIONS Watching psychotherapy videos is effective in reducing the SUDS score for COVID-19 patients in an isolation ward. Our brief video-based psychotherapy intervention has reduced psychological distress in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with limited access to face-to-face consultations due to the risk of disease transmission.
High dynamic range 3D laser scanning with the single-shot raw image of a color camera
Authors: Yin Yongkai , Wu Ke , Lu Lei , Song Limei , Zhong Zheng , Xi Jiangtao , Yang Zongkai
Published: December 2021

As a typical technique of optical three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement, laser scanning can provide good measurement accuracy by using simple and low-cost optical configuration. The performance of 3D laser scanning greatly depends on the center detection of the laser stripe. In general, laser stripe detection algorithm expects the intensity of the laser stripe remaining moderate and stable. To deal with the negative impact of dramatic change in the intensity of the laser stripe, a high dynamic range (HDR) laser scanning technique with concise algorithm and simple hardware configuration is proposed in this paper. The Bayer filter in the sensor chip of a color camera is exploited to provide different intensity responses to the laser. Then the sub-images of the laser stripe, which correspond to different color channels and have different intensity levels, can be decomposed from the raw image captured by the color camera. A dedicated algorithm is proposed to achieve HDR laser stripe detection, which collects coordinates with the best quality from different sub-images. Finally, 3D surface of improved quality can be reconstructed with the detected laser stripe. The proposed HDR laser scanning technique can be achieved from single-shot raw image by trading pixel resolution for time efficiency. The validity of the proposed method is demonstrated in comparative experiments.
Analogue of electromagnetically induced transparency in square slotted silicon metasurfaces supporting bound states in the continuum
Authors: Algorri J. F. , Dell’Olio F. , Roldán-Varona P. , Rodríguez-Cobo L. , López-Higuera J. M. , Sánchez-Pena J. M. , Dmitriev V. , Zografopoulos D. C.
Published: December 2021

In this work, a silicon metasurface designed to support electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) based on quasi-bound states in the continuum (qBIC) is proposed and theoretically demonstrated in the near-infrared spectrum. The metasurface consists of a periodic array of square slot rings etched in a silicon layer. The interruption of the slot rings by a silicon bridge breaks the symmetry of the structure producing qBIC stemming from symmetry-protected states, as rigorously demonstrated by a group theory analysis. One of the qBIC is found to behave as a resonance-trapped mode in the perturbed metasurface, which obtains very high quality factor values at certain dimensions of the silicon bridge. Thanks to the interaction of the sharp qBIC resonances with a broadband bright background mode, sharp high-transmittance peaks are observed within a low-transmittance spectral window, thus producing a photonic analogue of EIT. Moreover, the resonator possesses a simple bulk geometry with channels that facilitate the use in biosensing. The sensitivity of the resonant qBIC on the refractive index of the surrounding material is calculated in the context of refractometric sensing. The sharp EIT-effect of the proposed metasurface, along with the associated strong energy confinement may find direct use in emerging applications based on strong light-matter interactions, such as non-linear devices, lasing, biological sensors, optical trapping, and optical communications.
Enhanced sensitivity of a surface plasmon resonance biosensor using hyperbolic metamaterial and monolayer graphene
Authors: Gao Jinjuan , Zu Qun , Xu Shicai , Yang Wen , Feng Jingwen , Liu Runcheng , Zha Zhipeng , Peng Qianqian , Yue Weiwei , Huo Yanyan , Jiang Shouzhen , Fan Xiuwei
Published: December 2021

The presence of hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) enables the coupling of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and thus enhances the sensitivity of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors. Biosensors based on the combination of HMM and two-dimensional materials possess the ability to further promote the detection sensitivity. In this paper, a monolayer graphene/HMM/D-shaped plastic optic fiber (G/HMM/D-POF) SPR sensor is proposed in the combination of the virtues of monolayer graphene, HMM, and D-POF. The sensing performance of the sensor has been proved by the numerical simulation and the experimental results. The optimal sensor structure is G/3*(Au/Al2O3)/D-POF, with a high sensitivity of 5166.7 nm/RIU for the detection of aqueous ethanol. Besides, glucose monitoring is essential for the detection and treatment of diabetes. Therefore, the G/3*(Au/Al2O3)/D-POF sensor is also used to detect aqueous glucose and achieve the sensitivity of 2767.3 nm/RIU. It is believed that the G/HMM/D-POF SPR sensor has the potential to provide a new detection path for biomolecule detection.
Orbital angular momentum transformations by non-local linear systems
Authors: Gbur Greg , Korotkova Olga
Published: December 2021

A matrix description of orbital angular momentum (OAM) transformations in scalar optical beams by non-local, linear systems is introduced and the amplitude transfer function (ATF) is generalized to include information about mode-to-mode OAM coupling. In particular, the analysis of radially independent systems suggests the existence of unexplored types of OAM transforming systems. The results are extended to random beams and random non-local systems and the optical transfer function (OTF) is generalized to the OAM space.
A ten-year review of neonatal tetanus cases managed at a tertiary health facility in a resource poor setting: The trend, management challenges and outcome
Authors: Ogundare Ezra Olatunde , Ajite Adebukola Bidemi , Adeniyi Adewuyi Temidayo , Babatola Adefunke Olarinre , Taiwo Adekunle Bamidele , Fatunla Odunayo Adebukola , Airemionkhale Alfred , Odeyemi Oluwapelumi Adeyosola , Olatunya Oladele Simeon , Oyelami Oyeku Akibu
Published: December 2021

Background

Neonatal Tetanus (NNT) is a vaccine preventable disease of public health importance. It is still being encountered in clinical practice largely in developing countries including Nigeria.

NNT results from unhygienic delivery practices and some harmful traditional cord care practices.

The easiest, quickest and most cost-effective preventive measure against NNT is vaccination of the pregnant women with the tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccine. The case-fatality rate from tetanus in resource-constrained settings can be close to 100% but can be reduced to 50% if access to basic medical care with adequate number of experienced staff is available.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study reviewed the admissions into the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti from January 2011 to December 2020. The folders were retrieved from the records department of the hospital; Information obtained from folders were entered into a designed proforma for the study.

Results

During the study period, NNT constituted 0.34% of all neonatal admissions with case fatality rate of 52.6%. Seven [36.8%] of the babies were delivered at Mission home/Traditional Birth Attendant’s place while 5 [26.3%] were delivered in private hospitals. Cord care was with hot water compress in most of these babies16 [48.5%] while only 9% of the mothers cleaned the cord with methylated spirit. Age at presentation of less than one week was significantly associated with mortality, same with presence of autonomic dysfunction. Low family socio-economic class 5 was significantly associated with poor outcome, so also maternal age above 24 years.

Conclusion

This study revealed that neonatal tetanus is still being seen in our clinical practice with poor outcome and the risk factors are the same as of old.

Increased public health campaign, promotion of clean deliveries, safe cord care practices, affordable and accessible health care provision are recommended to combat NNT scourge.
Diabetic foot ulcers: Retrospective comparative analysis from Sicily between two eras
Authors: Guarnotta Valentina , Radellini Stefano , Vigneri Enrica , Cernigliaro Achille , Pantò Felicia , Scondotto Salvatore , Almasio Piero Luigi , Guercio Giovanni , Giordano Carla
Published: December 2021

Aim

The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the incidence, management and mortality of DFU in Sicilian Type 2 diabetic patients hospitalized between two eras, i.e. 2008–2013 and 2014–2019.

Methods

We compared the two eras, era1: 2008–13, era2: 2014–19. In era 1, n = 149, and in era 2, n = 181 patients were retrospectively enrolled.

Results

In the population hospitalized for DFU in 2008–2013, 59.1% of males and 40.9% of females died, whilst in 2014–2019 65.9% of males and 34.1% of females died. Moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) was significantly higher in patients that had died than in ones that were alive (33% vs. 43%, p < 0.001), just as CKD was severe (14.5% vs. 4%, p < 0.001). Considering all together the risk factors associated with mortality, at Cox regression multivariate analysis only moderate-severe CKD (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.07–2.42, p 0.021), age of onset greater than 69 years (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.37–2.95, p <0.001) and eGFR less than 92 ml/min (OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.51–5.34, p 0.001) were independently associated with risk of death.

Conclusions

Patients with DFU have high mortality and reduced life expectancy. Age at onset of diabetic foot ulcer, eGFR values and CKD are the principal risk factors for mortality.
Efficacy and safety of single-step transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy with the all-surface laser ablation SCHWIND platform without mitomycin-C for high myopia: A retrospective study of 69 eyes
Authors: Giral Jean Baptiste , Bloch Florian , Sot Maxime , Zevering Yinka , El Nar Arpine , Vermion Jean Charles , Goetz Christophe , Lhuillier Louis , Perone Jean-Marc
Published: December 2021

Background

Studies suggest that transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TransPRK) with the all-surface laser ablation (ASLA)-SCHWIND platform is effective and safe for both low-moderate myopia and high myopia. In most studies, mitomycin-C is administered immediately after surgery to prevent corneal opacification (haze), which is a significant complication of photorefractive keratectomy in general. However, there is evidence that adjuvant mitomycin-C induces endothelial cytotoxicity. Moreover, a recent study showed that omitting adjuvant mitomycin-C did not increase haze in low-moderate myopia. The present case-series study examined the efficacy, safety, and haze rates of eyes with high myopia that underwent ASLA-SCHWIND TransPRK without adjuvant mitomycin-C.

Methods

All consecutive eyes with high myopia (≤-6 D) that were treated in 2018–2020 with the SCHWIND Amaris 500E® TransPRK excimer laser without adjuvant mitomycin-C in a tertiary-care hospital (France) and were followed up for 6 months were identified. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), and spherical equivalent (SE) were recorded before and after surgery. Postoperative haze was graded using the 4-grade Fantes scale. Efficacy rate (frequency of eyes with 6-month UCVA ≤0.1 logMAR), safety rate (frequency of eyes that lost <2 BSCVA lines), predictability (frequency of eyes with 6-month SE equal to target SE±0.5 D), efficacy index (mean UCVA at 6 months/preoperative BSCVA), and safety index (BSCVA at 6 months/preoperative BSCVA) were computed.

Results

Sixty-nine eyes (38 patients) were included. Mean preoperative and 6-month SE were -7.44 and -0.05 D, respectively. Mean 6-month UCVA and BSCVA were 0.00 and -0.02 logMAR, respectively. Efficacy rate and index were 95.7% and 1.08, respectively. Safety rate and index were 95.7% and 1.13, respectively. Predictability was 85.5%. Grade 3–4 haze never arose. At 6 months, the haze rate was zero.

Conclusions

ASLA-SCHWIND TransPRK without mitomycin-C appears to be safe as well as effective and accurate for high myopia.
Predicting standardized absolute returns using rolling-sample textual modelling
Authors: Tang Ka Kit , Li Ka Ching , So Mike K. P.
Published: December 2021

Understanding how textual information impacts financial market volatility has been one of the growing topics in financial econometric research. In this paper, we aim to examine the relationship between the volatility measure that is extracted from GARCH modelling and textual news information both publicly available and from subscription, and the performances of the two datasets are compared. We utilize a latent Dirichlet allocation method to capture the dynamic features of the textual data overtime by summarizing their statistical outputs, such as topic distributions in documents and word distributions in topics. In addition, we transform various measures representing the popularity and diversity of topics to form predictors for a rolling regression model to assess the usefulness of textual information. The proposed method captures the statistical properties of textual information over different time periods and its performance is evaluated in an out-of-sample analysis. Our results show that the topic measures are more useful for predicting our volatility proxy, the unexplained variance from the GARCH model than the simple moving average. The finding indicates that our method is helpful in extracting significant textual information to improve the prediction of stock market volatility.
How do gender disparities in entrepreneurial aspirations emerge in Pakistan? An approach to mediation and multi-group analysis
Authors: Sargani Ghulam Raza , Jiang Yuansheng , Zhou Deyi , Chandio Abbas Ali , Hussain Mudassir , Ali Asif , Rizwan Muhammad , Kaleri Najeeb Ahmed
Published: December 2021

This cross-sectional study sought to identify gender differences in individual behavioral attitudes, personal traits, and entrepreneurial education based on planned behavior theory. The Smart partial least squares (PLS) structural equation model and PLS path modeling were used. A survey design was used to collect data from 309 samples using quantitative measures. The model was tested for validity and reliability and showed variance (full, R2 = 58.9% and split, R2 = 62.7% and R2 = 52.7%) in male and female model predictive power, respectively. Subjective norms (SN), personality traits (PT), and entrepreneurial education (EE) significantly impacted the male sample’s intention. Females’ intentions toward entrepreneurship was less affected by attitude toward behavior (ATB), subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), and entrepreneurship education (EE). Further, attitudes, social norms, and behavioral controls as mediation variables indicate a significant and positive role of male and female intentions. These findings imply that behavioral beliefs (ATB, PBC, and SN) influence entrepreneurial intention-action translation. The results significantly supported the designed hypotheses and shed light on individual personality traits (PT) and entrepreneurship education (EE) underpinning enterprise intention. The study determined that EE and PT are the strongest predictors of intention, thus highlighting the role of these motives in the entrepreneurial process. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on youth entrepreneurs, expands our understanding of entrepreneurship as a practical career choice, and offers a novel account differentiating male and female PT. The drive to evaluate the effects of entrepreneurial intention among budding disparities in Pakistan requires a more profound knowledge of the aspects that endorse entrepreneurship as a choice of profession and enhances youth incentive abilities to engage in entrepreneurial activities based on exploitation.
First insights into coral recruit and juvenile abundances at remote Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles
Authors: Koester Anna , Ford Amanda K. , Ferse Sebastian C. A. , Migani Valentina , Bunbury Nancy , Sanchez Cheryl , Wild Christian
Published: December 2021

Coral recruitment and successive growth are essential for post-disturbance reef recovery. As coral recruit and juvenile abundances vary across locations and under different environmental regimes, their assessment at remote, undisturbed reefs improves our understanding of early life stage dynamics of corals. Here, we first explored changes in coral juvenile abundance across three locations (lagoon, seaward west and east) at remote Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles) between 2015 and 2019, which spanned the 2015/16 global coral bleaching event. Secondly, we measured variation in coral recruit abundance on settlement tiles from two sites (lagoon, seaward reef) during August 2018–August 2019. Juvenile abundance decreased from 14.1 ± 1.2 to 7.4 ± 0.5 colonies m-2(mean ± SE) during 2015–2016 and increased to 22.4 ± 1.2 colonies m-2during 2016–2019. Whilst juvenile abundance increased two- to three-fold at the lagoonal and seaward western sites during 2016–2018 (from 7.7–8.3 to 17.3–24.7 colonies m-2), increases at the seaward eastern sites occurred later (2018–2019; from 5.8–6.9 to 16.6–24.1 colonies m-2). The composition of coral recruits on settlement tiles was dominated by Pocilloporidae (64–92% of all recruits), and recruit abundance was 7- to 47-fold higher inside than outside the lagoon. Recruit abundance was highest in October–December 2018 (2164 ± 453 recruits m-2) and lowest in June–August 2019 (240 ± 98 recruits m-2). As Acroporid recruit abundance corresponded to this trend, the results suggest that broadcast spawning occurred during October–December, when water temperature increased from 26 to 29°C. This study provides the first published record on coral recruit abundance in the Seychelles Outer Islands, indicates a rapid (2–3 years) increase of juvenile corals following a bleaching event, and provides crucial baseline data for future research on reef resilience and connectivity within the region.
Success factors of health promotion: Evaluation by DEMATEL and M-DEMATEL methods — A case study in a non-profit organization
Authors: Liao Chi-Horng , Bercea Silviu
Published: December 2021

Proper health knowledge and adequate motivation for health activities are key factors that influence an individual to adopt a healthy behavior. Health promotion positively influences progressive behaviors that seek to advance health potential, to continuously improve one’s lifestyle. There are many health promotion indications constantly encouraging people to eat healthier food. Based on the successful experience of a non-profit organization promoting a healthier vegetarian diet, this research identifies the operating factors that lead to the success of health promotion. The formulation and implementation of the health promotion strategy must be combined with the key success factors in order to accomplish the objectives. This study assessed seven factors, evaluated using the proposed method. The proposed Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method constructs the cause and effect model of health promotion, and places forward suggestions and strategies for improvement based on the evaluation of the results. This research compared the original DEMATEL with a Modified DEMATEL (M-DEMATEL) to identify the success factors of health promotion. According to the results of both methods, “leadership”, “communication channel” and “budget” are the most important and influential factors when promoting healthy diets. The results have shown the connection and the difference between the two methods. The main purpose of this research is not to determine which method is the best method, instead, to derive the combined effect of both methods.
Creation and validation of the Picture-Set of Young Children’s Affective Facial Expressions (PSYCAFE)
Authors: Franz Matthias , Müller Tobias , Hahn Sina , Lundqvist Daniel , Rampoldt Dirk , Westermann Jan-Frederik , Nordmann Marc A. , Schäfer Ralf
Published: December 2021

The immediate detection and correct processing of affective facial expressions are one of the most important competences in social interaction and thus a main subject in emotion and affect research. Generally, studies in these research domains, use pictures of adults who display affective facial expressions as experimental stimuli. However, for studies investigating developmental psychology and attachment behaviour it is necessary to use age-matched stimuli, where it is children that display affective expressions. PSYCAFE represents a newly developed picture-set of children’s faces. It includes reference portraits of girls and boys aged 4 to 6 years averaged digitally from different individual pictures, that were categorized to six basic affects (fear, disgust, happiness, sadness, anger and surprise) plus a neutral facial expression by cluster analysis. This procedure led to deindividualized and affect prototypical portraits. Individual affect expressive portraits of adults from an already validated picture-set (KDEF) were used in a similar way to create affect prototypical images also of adults. The stimulus set has been validated on human observers and entail emotion recognition accuracy rates and scores for intensity, authenticity and likeability ratings of the specific affect displayed. Moreover, the stimuli have also been characterized by the iMotions Facial Expression Analysis Module, providing additional data on probability values representing the likelihood that the stimuli depict the expected affect. Finally, the validation data from human observers and iMotions are compared to data on facial mimicry of healthy adults in response to these portraits, measured by facial EMG (m. zygomaticus major and m. corrugator supercilii).
Boltanski’s dilemma: Mimetics, distance and spectating suffering
Authors: Keefe John
Published: December 2021

Working from the Crucifixion episode or pageant from the York Corpus Christi Play, two questions were asked of the spectator:

1.

How do they look at such a theatre (scene) from their own time and culture and experiences?

2.

How do we look at such a theatre (scene) from our own time and culture and experiences?

A third question may now be asked by following what we may call ‘Boltanski’s dilemma’: what sort of pity can we really feel for an imaginary scene on the stage? This article will revisit the earlier piece (2010) as archive material to develop key themes now encapsulated by Boltanski’s question and challenge. The article will draw on current neuro-cognitive research that challenges and re-grounds our understanding of empathy and projection of self in the embodied mind. This informs the spectatorial experience, the spectator’s ability to see and accept the ‘double reality’ of the theatre and other visual (mimetic) experience, and the issues of ‘moral distance’ represented by Boltanski, Bandura and others. Boltanski’s dilemma confronts us as knowing spectators with the inherent ethical paradox of any and all representations of suffering in any given cultural and social context. The article will draw on case studies from theatre(s), film and art to illustrate and exemplify the position of the spectator: in the spirit of ethos, a series of musings, of questions and signposts as well as arguments.
Implementation of a National Teacher Education Strategy in Finland through Pilot Projects
Authors:   University of Helsinki and University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus, Lavonen Jari , Mahlamäki-Kultanen Seija ,   HAMK School of Professional Teacher Education, Vahtivuori-Hänninen Sanna ,   Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, Mikkola Armi
Published: December 2021

The implementation of a teacher education strategy in a decentralised Finnish education system is analysed. Altogether, 31 pilot projects, involving teacher educators from all universities, were funded to support the implementation of the strategy and professional learning of autonomous teacher educators in the context of the strategy. In this mixed-methods research, the directors and active partners of the pilot projects were asked how they perceived the characteristics of the pilot projects that have been recognised as supportive for the implementation of the strategy. The directors were also asked to evaluate the impact of the projects. The projects have supported the achievement of the strategy’s aims. Research and goal orientation, active learning, collaboration, contextualisation and reflection were emphasised in the pilot project activities. Common goal setting and evaluation of the pilot projects should be emphasised more in the implementation of the strategy.
DEFINING SARCOPENIA USING MUSCLE QUALITY INDEX
Authors: Lee C.-D. , Dierickx E.
Published: December 2021

Objectives: Although low muscle quality is a strong predictor of sarcopenia, defining sarcopenia using muscle quality remains unknown. This study investigated the cut-points to define sarcopenia using muscle quality index (MQI) in the young reference population. Methods: Fifty healthy young (20 to 29 years) and forty elderly adults (60 to 79 years) were recruited in this study. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess appendicular skeletal muscle mass. Hand grip and leg dynamometers were used to measure muscle strengths in the arm and leg. Muscle quality in the arm (MQIArm, kg/kg) and leg (MQILeg, Nm/kg) were computed as muscle strength per lean mass in the arm and leg, respectively. Total muscle quality (MQITotal) was computed as the combination of MQIArm and MQILeg, while standardized muscle quality (MQIStd) was computed as the combination of z-scores in MQIArm and MQILeg. Sarcopenia was defined as ≤2 SD below from the mean values in the young reference group. Results: The cut-points for defining sarcopenia using MQIArm, MQILeg, MQITotal, and MQIStd in men were ≤8.37, ≤12.07, 22.06, and <-3.35, and in women were ≤10.09, ≤13.97, 28.22, and <-2.25, respectively. In the elderly adults, the frequencies of sarcopenia using MQIArm, MQILeg, MQITotal, and MQIStd were 15%, 27.5%, 32.5%, and 35%, respectively. Conclusion: This study establishes new values for defining sarcopenia using MQIs. The proposed new MQI cut-points may be a role in detecting sarcopenia across individual and population level.
DENTITION AND MALNUTRITION RISK IN COMMUNITYDWELLING OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Zelig R. , Byham-Gray L. , Singer S.R. , Hoskin E.R. , Fleisch Marcus A. , Verdino G. , Radler D.R. , Touger-Decker R.
Published: December 2021

Background and Objective: Older adults are at risk for both impaired oral health and suboptimal nutritional status. The objective of this study was to explore the relationships between malnutrition risk and missing teeth in community-dwelling older adults. Design: This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of data obtained from the electronic health records of 107 patients aged 65 and older who attended an urban northeast US dental school clinic between June 1, 2015 and July 15, 2016. Odontograms and radiographs were used to identify teeth numbers and locations; malnutrition risk was calculated using the Self-Mini Nutritional Assessment (Self-MNA). Relationships between numbers of teeth and malnutrition risk were assessed using bivariate logistic regression. Results: Participants (N=107) were 72.6 years (SD=5.6) of age; 50.5% were female. Mean Self-MNA score was 12.3 (SD=2.0) reflective of normal nutrition status; 20.6% were at risk for malnutrition, 4.7% were malnourished. Greater than 87% were partially or completely edentulous. Those with 10-19 teeth had lower Self-MNA scores (mean=11.6, SD=2.5) than those with 0-9 teeth (mean=12.7, SD=1.3) or 20 or more teeth (mean=12.6, SD=1.8) and had an increased risk for malnutrition (OR=2.5, p=0.076). Conclusion: The majority of this sample of older adults were partially edentulous and of normal nutritional status. Those with 10-19 teeth were more likely to be at risk for malnutrition. Further studies are needed to examine relationships between tooth loss and malnutrition risk and the impact of impaired dentition on the eating experience in a larger sample and to inform clinical practice.
A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW ON FACTORS INFLUENCING THE HEALTHY AGING: A KOREAN PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Park J.H. , Park Y.J.
Published: December 2021

An increasing number of researches on gerontology has emphasized an aging process without impairments of physical and/or cognitive function, alongside with an increase of life expectancy. However, studies to date on a healthy aging have suggested limited information on normal and usual aging in an inconsistent manner. Here, we review characteristics to define a healthy aging and, moreover, suggest effective elements to achieve the healthy aging through systematic review. Based on two databases including RISS and PUPMED, we collected original articles showing links between health-related traits and associated factors in Korean population aged 65 years or older. After screening the titles and abstracts, full texts of 186 articles were reviewed, and the remaining 109 papers meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed to extract aging characteristics and factors of healthy aging. Here, we focus on two themes: 1) definition of a healthy aging and 2) effective determinants influencing the healthy aging. Our results suggest that a healthy aging is a multidisciplinary concept involving objective, subjective and comprehensive definitions. We classify the healthy aging-associated factors into physical, emotional, mental, social and economic domains, and identify that dietary patterns and nutrients among the multi-layer elements become good modifiable factor to achieve the healthy aging.
COPING WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, BURDEN AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN INFORMAL PRIMARY CAREGIVERS OF COMMUNITY-DWELLING INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA
Authors: Muscat M. , Scerri C.
Published: December 2021

Objective: This study aimed to investigate how informal primary caregivers of individuals with dementia living in the community cope with caring-related measures of anxiety, depression, burden and quality of life. Participants and Design: Participants included 60 informal caregivers (23 males and 37 females) of community-dwelling individuals with dementia who attended a state-run geriatric day hospital in Malta. Caregiver measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF and Brief COPE questionnaires, and Zarit Burden Interview. The Mini Mental State Examination and Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living scores were used to determine the degree of cognitive impairment and performance in activities of daily living of care-recipients. Results: Informal caregivers experienced anxiety and depression with both emotional distress states negatively affecting all quality of life domains. Depression and burden experienced by informal primary caregivers showed a strong association with individuals with dementia-related variables such as age, cognitive impairment and activities of daily living scores. The use of dysfunctional coping strategies was found to be related to caregivers’ emotional distress, low quality of life and burden. Conclusion: The findings indicate that informal primary caregivers experienced anxiety and depression, had a lower quality of life, and feel burdened during their caring role. However, caregivers making use of emotion-focused coping strategies were found to be protected against emotional distress. The results highlight the need of providing support services aimed at promoting the psychological wellbeing of informal carers of community-dwelling individuals with dementia.
DOES TAILORED NUTRITIONAL GUIDANCE ENCOURAGE OLDER CAREGIVERS TO INCREASE THEIR PROTEIN INTAKE? THE CARENUTRITION TRIAL (RCT)
Authors: Kunvik S. , Valve R. , Salonoja M. , Suominen M.H.
Published: December 2021

Background: Older caregivers, males especially, are vulnerable to nutritional problems. Low intake of protein is common and can affect their nutrition and health. Objectives: The aim in this RCT was to investigate the effect of tailored nutritional guidance on protein intake among caregivers aged ≥65 years with protein intake under recommendations (≤1.2 g/kgBW/d). Subgroup analysis were made with male caregivers. Design: Data from the CareNutrition randomized controlled trial (RCT). Setting: Community-dwelling caregivers from the Western part of Finland. Participants: Total of 55 caregivers (n=28 intervention group (IG), n=27 control group (CG)) with protein intake of under 1.2 g/kgBW/d at baseline. 45.5% were male (n=12 male intervention group (MIG), n=13 male control group (MCG)). Intervention: During the six-month intervention tailored nutritional guidance was given to the intervention group during home visit (once) and in group meetings (2-4 times), complemented with written material. Written material was offered to control group. Measurements: Protein intake was assessed with three-day food diary at baseline and final measurements. Main outcome measure was change in protein intake (g/kg bodyweight (BW)/d), analysed among participants with protein intake under 1.2 g/kgBW/d at baseline. Participant characteristics were evaluated with validated methods. Results: Mean protein intake was 0.86 g/kgBW/d in IG and 0.85 g/kgBW/d in CG and among males, 0.89 g/kgBW/d in MIG and 0.79 g/kgBW/d in MCG. There was no significant difference in the change in protein intake between IG and CG. Protein intake increased among MIG by 0.11 g/kgBW/d and decreased in MCG group by -0.07 g/kgBW/d, p=0.007. There was also a significant increase in protein intake within the IG (+0.10 g/kgBW/d, p=0.038). Conclusions: Tailored nutritional guidance resulted in improved protein intake among older male caregivers. Group-based nutritional guidance may boost nutrition among older caregivers, especially males.
EFFECTS OF LENGTH AND REGION OF SMALL INTESTINAL GLUCOSE EXPOSURE ON BLOOD PRESSURE, SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY BLOOD FLOW AND PLASMA NORADRENALINE IN HEALTHY OLDER PARTICIPANTS
Authors: Rigda R.S. , Trahair L.G. , Wu T. , Little T.J. , Lange K. , Feinle-Bisset C. , Rayner C.K. , Horowitz M. , Jones K.L.
Published: December 2021

Background: A substantial postprandial reduction in blood pressure (BP), triggered by the interaction of nutrients with the small intestine and associated with increases in heart rate (HR) and splanchnic blood flow, occurs frequently in healthy older people. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether these responses are influenced by the length and/or region of small intestine exposed to nutrients. Design: Randomized, single blind study. Setting: Clinical research laboratory. Participants: Ten healthy older participants (9M, 1F; age 65 – 79 yr). Intervention: On 3 separate study days, participants were intubated with a small intestinal catheter incorporating two duodenal infusion ports and an aspiration port, as well as an occluding balloon, which was positioned ~ 60 cm beyond the pylorus. Each participant then received a 60 min (t = 0 – 60 min) intraluminal infusion of glucose (3 kcal/min) into either the proximal (< 60 cm “GP”), or the distal (> 70 cm “GD”), or both (i.e. proximal and distal “GPD”), small intestinal segments. Measurements: BP, HR (automated device), superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow (Doppler ultrasound) and plasma noradrenaline (NA). Results: Small intestinal glucose infusion was associated with reductions in systolic (GP: P = 0.004, GD: P = 0.001, GPD: P = 0.001) and diastolic (GP: P = 0.007, GD: P = 0.004, GPD: P = 0.003) BP and increases in HR (GP: P = 0.001, GD: P = 0.001, GPD: P = 0.002) and plasma NA (GP: P = 0.001, GD: P = 0.002, GPD: P = 0.001), without any difference between the three days. Conclusion: In healthy older participants, the effects of small intestinal glucose to decrease BP and increase SMA flow in healthy older participants appear to be independent of the region, or length, of small intestine exposed.
EFFECTS OF ONCE-DAILY VERSUS TWICE DAILY DOSING OF CALCIUM FRUCTOBORATE ON KNEE DISCOMFORT. A 90 DAY, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO CONTROLLED RANDOMIZED CLINICAL STUDY
Authors: Pietrzkowski Z. , Roldán Mercado-Sesma A. , Argumedo R. , Cervantes M. , Nemzer B. , Reyes-Izquierdo T.
Published: December 2021

Importance: Previous research showed that a twice-daily 108 mg dose of calcium fructoborate (CFB) improved knee discomfort during a 2-week supplementation period. This current double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study investigates the effects of CFB supplementation on knee discomfort during 90 days of supplementation. Purpose: To evaluate the comparative effects of once-daily and twice-daily dosing of calcium fructoborate on knee joint discomfort for ninety days. Design: 120 participants with self-reported knee discomfort were recruited and randomized into three groups (each N=40). Participants received: 108 mg CFB twice per day (CFB-G1); or, 216 mg CFB in a single dose (CFB-G2); or, placebo. Setting: Subjects were recruited through advertisement in local papers. The researchers assessed intake and within-study levels of knee discomfort by using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Arthritis Index (WOMAC). Results: 62 female and 59 male subjects completed the study. Subjects’ average age was (52.84 ± 8.19 years) and average BMI was (26.76 ± 2.50 kg/m2). Statistical differences between groups were calculated using a two-sided, two-sample t-test. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to estimate within-group changes in mean WOMAC and MPQ scores as well as against the control group. When compared to placebo, CFB-G1 showed a significant decrease in reported discomfort on day 14 (P=0.02,) day 30 (P=0.003), day 60 (P<0.0001) and day 90 (P<0.0001) according to WOMAC Scores. A similar decrease was observed for CFB-G2 WOMAC Scores on day 14 (P=0.02), day 30 (P=0.0003), day 60 (P<0.0001) and day 90 (P<0.0001). When compared to placebo, the MPQ score for CFB-G1 group decreased on day 7 (P=0.002), day 14 (P=0.001), day 30 (P<0.0001), day 60 (P<0.0001) and day 90 (P<0.0001). MPQ score decreases were also observed for CFB-G2 group on day 7 (P=0.02), day 14 (P=0.01), day 30 (P<0.0001), day 60 (P<0.0001) and day 90 (P<0.0001). When comparing CFB-G1 and CFB-G2, no significant differences were observed. Importantly, no changes were observed in the WOMAC and MPQ scores within the placebo group. Conclusion: Both CFB groups showed early and significantly improved levels of knee comfort. Knee comfort continued to significantly improve throughout the duration of this 90-day study. No significant differences were observed between the once-daily and the twice–daily doses of CFB.
Relativistic Maxwell Theory and Einstein Field Equation derived from Variational Principle
Authors: Singh Shubham
Published: December 2021

In this article, I'll be reviewing relativistic mechanisms using the calculus of variation in the classical limit. The variational principle is considered to be one of the most important mechanisms to build a theory. Newton's second law of motion is a consequence of Euler-Lagrange equations which gives the least (or stationary) trajectory of a particle between any two arbitrary points. I'll the use action principle by deriving the relativistic Maxwell's field equation, geodesic equation, and Einstein's field equation.