bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterising hospitals’ suitability for medical officer internship training in Kenya: analysis of the Kenya Harmonized Health Facility Assessment
Authors: Zhao Yingxi , Osano Boniface , Were Fred , Kiarie Helen , Nicodemo Catia , Gathara David , English Mike
Published: July 2021

Background

Kenya has significantly expanded its medical school numbers and internship training hospital numbers to address its workforce gap. The majority of newly accredited internship hospitals are first-level referral/district hospitals, which are considered to have shortage of staff, medications, have limited service capacity and are described as “not organized for training purpose”. Using data from the Kenya Harmonized Health Facility Assessment (KHFA) 2018, we characterise the readiness and capacity of 61 internship hospitals to understand whether they are suitable to provide internship training for medical doctors.
Methods

We used secondary data from KHFA 2018, which sampled 61 out of all 74 internship hospitals in Kenya. Comparing against the minimum requirement outlined in the national guidelines for medical officer interns, we filtered and identified 166 indicators from the KHFA survey questionnaire and grouped them into 12 domains. An overall readiness and capacity index was calculated as the mean of 12 domain-specific scores for each facility. We compared the readiness and capacity of each domain and overall between Level 4 small hospitals, Level 4 large hospitals and Level 5 & 6 hospitals.
Results

The average overall capacity and readiness index is 69% for all internship training centres. Hospitals have moderate capacity and readiness (over 60%) for most of the general domains, though there is huge variation between hospitals and only 29 out of 61 hospitals have five or more specialists assigned, employed, seconded or part-time - as required by the national guideline. Quality and safety score was low across all hospitals with an average score of 40%. As for major specialties, all hospitals have good readiness and capacity for surgery and obstetrics-gynaecology, while mental health was poorest in comparison. Level 5 & 6 facilities have higher capacity scores in all domains when compared with Level 4 hospitals.
Conclusion

Major gaps exist in staffing, equipment and service availability of Kenya internship hospitals. Level 4 hospitals are more likely to have a lower readiness and capacity index, and should be reviewed and improved to provide appropriate and well-resourced training for interns and to utilise appropriate resources to avoid improvising .
Achievement of Target Glucose Level among Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Public Teaching Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a retrospective chart review
Authors: Leulseged Tigist Workneh
Published: July 2021

Background
Diabetes is a chronic illness that requires continuous medical care to reach target glycaemic level to prevent complications. Most studies around the world have showed that glycaemic control among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is poor using measurements taken at one point and including all patients irrespective of the duration of illness. This study aimed to assess achievement of optimal glycaemic control at different points in time in relation to the time of diagnosis and initiation of treatment and to identify associated factors among T2DM patients attending diabetes clinic of public teaching hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods
A retrospective chart review was conducted from May to July 2018 among randomly selected 685 medical charts of patients who were on follow-up from January, 2013 to December, 2017. Association was assessed using Binary logistic regression, where 95% CIs for odds ratio and P-values were used for testing significance and interpretation of results.
Results
The prevalence of optimal glycaemic control among T2DM patients at the end of 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years and 5 years of diagnosis and treatment were 1.9%, 44.7%, 52.8%, 66.3%, 69.2%, 70.2% and 70.5% respectively. The significant factors were age group and type of treatment regimen.
Conclusions
Achievement of optimal glycaemic control increases as the follow-up duration increases; it was only 1.9% at the third month and 70.5% at the fifth year of observation. Close to one third of patients (29.5%) did not achieve target glucose even after five years and were at the verge of increased risk for diabetes related complications and death. Attention should be given to the time when patients achieve target glucoses level instead of just measuring the number of individuals who achieved glycaemic control in a short observation period.
Hansische Umschau 2004
Authors: Henn (Bearb.) Volker
Published: July 2021

Vollständiger Rezensionsteil
Hansische Umschau 2005
Authors: Henn (Bearb.) Volker
Published: July 2021

Vollständiger Rezensionsteil
Rentengeschäft im spätmittelalterlichen Reval
Authors: Schlinker Steffen
Published: July 2021

This article examines the deeds establishing annuities in late-medieval Reval (Tallinn). In most cases, some clerical institution or the city council itself functioned as the debtor, promising a yearly rente to a creditor in exchange for a capital sum. Among the beneficiaries are numbered one or more natural persons as well as corporations such as churches. The deeds show that granting annuities was found to be useful in a number of different contexts. They could be employed to create a fixed annual income. They could also be used to gain spiritual merit, if a perpetual rent was created in order to benefit a church or hospital. They could be used as a form of payment for the life-time use of real property or to facilitate the distribution of an estate among the heirs. Of course, annuities were a risky proposition, a fact which generated a number of individual stipulations to cover various eventualities. The age and the number of beneficiaries may have influenced the level of the rente, which normally ranged between 6 % and 10 % of the capital invested.
Regional segment in the news content of the central television of Ukraine
Authors: Tkachenko Olena , Sydorenko Olga , Dudchenko Liudmyla
Published: July 2021

The article reviews the news content of all-Ukrainian television media. It was found out that the news information on Ukrainian television is represented by the following thematic segments: socio-political / military, criminal, social, cultural and artistic, emergency materials. In consideration of the significant number of materials with the negative contextual connotation (socio-political, social, criminal) television media potentially form both negative internal and external images of the country as a whole and the local image of its regions. The general trends in the formation of the media image of a particular region are determined on the example of the coverage of Sumy events by rating TV channels. It was established that information about the region is presented in the vast majority of materials of criminal subjects and negative news from the socio-political and social spheres, which results in the formation of an image of the territory with a «minus» sign.
Municipal open data portals as a source of information for the media
Authors: Lichenko Anna
Published: July 2021

The article outlines the development of local open data portals in Ukraine and their importance of the open public information space`s formation. It is substantiated that local open data portals are designed
to play one of the pivotal roles in providing the media and citizens with up-to-date information on the activities of local authorities. The functional characteristics of open data portals of nine Ukrainian cities are outlined: Lviv, Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Kramatorsk, Mariupol, Dubno, Kolomyia, Bakhmut, Slavuta. It is determined that the process of development and improvement of city open data portals is underway
in Ukraine, in particular, recommendations for the unified culture of data disclosure have been made, however, in practice it has not been implemented yet. One of the positive changes is the increase in the
number of datasets in machine-readable formats XLS/XLSX and CSV, while much less sets in nonmachine-readable formats DOC and PDF are published.
Alternative social media: the local dimension
Authors: Melnykova-Kurhanova Olena
Published: July 2021

The article examines the local dimension of alternative social media for the period of 2020. The object of the study is alternative communication channels in Mariupol. The study aims to determine the
characteristics of alternative media and their types. The problem of monopolization and/or reduction of traditional media at the local level leads to the emergence and popularity of alternative platforms
on social media. The study systematizes the characteristics, topics of alternative content and common alternative channels of communication. Anonymity, personalization of publications, uniqueness, locality, interactivity, multimedia, spontaneous distribution, segmentation of the audience are important features of alternative media.
Lesia Ukrainka’s epistolary as a manifestation of publicism excitation
Authors: Kovalova Tetiana , Sydorenko Liudmyla
Published: July 2021

The purpose of scientific research is to investigate the epistolary legacy of Lesya Ukrainka, to find out the set of journalistic excitements in the texts presented in the full academic 14-volume edition. It is
determined that most of the topics considered by Lesya Ukrainka in the letters encouraged the addressees to think, activate knowledge, beliefs, actions, as well as stimulate reflections on the national identity of
Ukrainians, the role of literature and language in the formation of the Ukrainian state. The many human feelings aroused by the journalist’s epistolary are outlined – emotions of tenderness, love, sincerity, anger,
sense of duty, respect, civic dignity, etc.
Specialized fields of journalism in the context of political and philosophical concepts
Authors: Mitchuk Olha
Published: July 2021

The article aims at examining the existing definitions of institutions of both social phenomena in philosophical science. The analysis of the institute comparison and interpenetration as a philosophical concept is suggested. The notion of a journalistic field is analyzed in view of content structuredness in connection with aspects of the notions of institutionalization of power and law. Peculiarities of several specialized subfields of journalism are analyzed in the context of mass-media production of different information and forms of competition, and cooperation between universal and specialized journalists. Different subtypes of journalism and respective social areas, the degree of interaction between professional and commercial dimensions of the journalistic field are analyzed.
Features of YouTube’s recommendation algorithms on the example of a channel about esports
Authors: Petryk Oleksandr
Published: July 2021

The purpose of the study is to identify relevant effective strategies for interaction with the recommendation algorithm on the YouTube platform in the process of creating and distributing video content. The topic of the study is relevant because YouTube is an active global platform for the distribution of video content. YouTube is the most visited video viewing platform in Ukraine and one of the most visited websites in the world. Understanding the work of recommendation algorithms will allow you to adapt video content so that it reaches the widest possible target audience. The result of the study was the selection of the most effective parameters of videos on YouTube based on the analysis of statistical indicators on the PETR1K channel: relevance and novelty, attractiveness (clickability) of thumbnail images, frequency of uploads to the channel, viewers ‘reaction to previous videos, viewers’ returns, audience retention and more.
Influence of Electronic Media on Public Policies and Narratives in Pakistan Post-2005
Authors: Alam Sarah , Taj Rafia , Wajidi Abuzar
Published: July 2021

The research article investigates the role of the news media and specifically electronic media since 2005, which has emerged as a strong force in Pakistan in the past decade and, under certain circumstances, shapes public policymaking in Pakistan. Media across the world is seen as a tool to shape public narratives and influence policymakers in crafting policies that adhere to the interest and welfare of the general public. Electronic media has emerged as a powerful medium of communication in Pakistan, even though its political decision-making role has mainly been ignored. The independence of electronic media in Pakistan is highly debatable; the emergence of private news channels has a relatively short span of age. Before the emergence of a broad spectrum of electronic media channels, a single state-owned news channel existed, and information flow was highly controlled. The influx of news channels made the news media landscape in Pakistan highly vibrant from 2005 onwards. During the Musharraf regime in Pakistan, the mushroom growth of electronic channels was witnessed, which made media the fourth pillar of the state. During the same rule, electronic media in Pakistan started influencing public policies and narratives and saw sanctions imposed by the same ruler. In Pakistan, electronic media played a more significant role in influencing public opinion, policies, and views that compel policymakers to draft policies accordingly. The public was made aware of their rights as citizens and reacted to government policies and current political happenings. Interestingly not just in Pakistan, but the international academia as well has not paid much attention to the media's influence on public policymaking. There is limited scholarly literature available as not much focus has been given to how media influences policymaking. This research article using a Foucauldian lens on "power-knowledge" will specifically examine how certain media groups in Pakistan have impacted policymaking and have played a significant role in major political happenings, which have directly impacted Pakistan's public policies.
Praca i honoraria adwokatów kościelnych
Authors: Sztychmiler Ryszard
Published: July 2021

The work of ecclesiastical advocates depends on themselves, but also on certain working conditions in the ecclesiastical courts, shaped by diocesan bishops, judical vicars and all court staff. In the analysis of certain aspects of the work and remuneration of ecclesiastical advocates, I have distinguished issues on which solutions and proposals are unanimously accepted by the authors, then proposals that are unjustified or inconsistent with the facts, and finally I have drawn attention to debatable proposals.

In the first part of the article, among the issues similarly assessed by both authors, I addressed the following issues: the importance of good cooperation between judges and advocates, court fees, the benefits of advocate's participation in proceedings and advocate's tasks. In the second part, in the face of some of Dr. Gałązka's misjudgements and unjustified proposals, I presented my separate opinions on various aspects concerning court fees, the need for advocates, the level of their work, further training of advocates and judges, advocate’s working time and their remuneration. In the third part, I presented some issues that should be elaborated upon in further discussions. These include, inter alia, certain aspects of court fees, their exemption or reduction, the nature and conditions of a advotace’s service and his/her participation in interrogations.
Medicinal Plants and Natural Products: More Effective and Safer Pharmacological
Treatment for the Management of Obesity
Authors: Negi Harsha , Gupta Meenakshi , Walia Ramanpreet , Khataibeh Moayad , Sarwat Maryam
Published: July 2021

:

Obesity is a major lifestyle disorder, and it is correlated with several ailments. The prevalence of obesity
has elevated over the years, and it has become a global health problem. The drugs presently used for managing obesity
have several side effects, such as diarrhea, leakage of oily stools, etc. On the contrary, herbal plants and natural
products are considered safe for use because they have lesser side effects. New compounds isolated from medicinal
plants are screened and identified to determine their effectiveness and potential in preventing abnormal weight gain.
In this review, the medicinal plants and natural materials are surveyed across the literature to cover those that have
the potential for managing and controlling weight gain. Furthermore, their mechanism of action, active components,
and experimental methodologies are also reviewed. These herbal products can be developed as formulations for
therapeutic use in obesity. The herbal plants mentioned in the review are classified based on their mechanism of
action, inhibition of pancreatic lipase, and appetite suppression activities. The ability to inhibit pancreatic lipase
enzyme has been used to determine the effectiveness of herbal products for the prevention of abnormal weight gain
because of its action on dietary fat and suppression of appetite. This review is an attempt to summarize the herbal
plants and natural products that can be used to develop formulations effective in controlling weight gain and obesity.
Del-1 in Psoriasis Induced the Expression of αvβ3 and α5β1 in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Niu Xuping , Han Qixin , Li Xiaofang , Li Juan , Liu Yanmin , Li Yan , Wu Yan
Published: July 2021

Objective:

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease highly depending
on angiogenesis. Our prior results showed that the mRNA and protein of Del-1 in dermal
mesenchymal stem cells (dMSCs) was up-regulated from psoriasis. Our aim was further
to investigate the role of Del-1 from dMSCs in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and confirm
the effect of Del-1 on the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Methods:

We conducted an immunohistochemistry experiment to further investigate the
expression of Del-1in psoriatic lesions. In addition, dMSCs with over-expressed Del-1
via the lentiviral vector of Del-1 were co-cultured with ECs, and the protein expression of
integrins (αvβ3, αvβ5 ,and α5β1) of ECs were detected by western blotting.

Results:

This research showed that Del-1 was significantly increased in lesions of
patients with psoriasis (p< .05, 9.96 vs. 2.18), and Del-1 from dMSCs successfully
induced up-regulation of integrins α5β1 and αvβ3 (all p < .05).

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that Del-1 from dMSCs was involved in the
pathogenesis of psoriasis through induced angiogenesis. And Del-1, αvβ3 and α5β1
may be potential new targets for inhibiting angiogenesis in psoriasis.
Nanomaterials of Natural Bioactive Compounds for Wound Healing: Novel Drug Delivery Approach
Authors: Kant Vinay , Kumari Pooja , Jitendra Dhaval K. , Ahuja Munish , Kumar Vinod
Published: July 2021

:

Wound healing is a biological phenomenon of the body involving sequential biochemical
processes that are primarily involved in restoring the cellular integrity of the organ. The market
related to wound-care products has extensively been expanded and crossed over fifteen billion US
dollars, along with twelve billion US dollars for treating wound scars. Different bioactive compounds
have shown their various pharmacological actions including wound healing activity. Natural
bioactive agents have gained much attention in wound management due to their beneficial nature
of possessing least side effects. Some of the bioactive compounds which have shown pronounced
wound healing potentials,such as curcumin, quercetin, lawsone, resveratrol, aloe vera, astragaloside,
essential oils, growth factors, andrographolide, bilirubin, etc. Most of the natural bioactive
agents have limited applicability in clinical practices due to poor aqueous solubility, fast degradation
rate and low bioavailability. These problems have been overcome in last few years by encapsulating
them into nano-formulations. The nanomaterials of bioactive agents offer discrete advantages
like high surface area to volume ratio and nanoscale size offering alternations in physical and
chemical properties. These nanomaterials also have sustained controlled release delivery, which
seems to be very effective for the lengthy process of wound healing. Many investigations by the
global researchers have focused on the emergence of nanomaterials in wound healing applications.
In the present review, different natural bioactive agents in the form of nanoformulations have been
discussed for wound healing potentials.
New York Heart Association Functional Class correlated with Depression: Study in Saiful Anwar Hospital
Authors: Arifin Yusuf , Saifur Rohman Mohammad , Tri Tjahjono Cholid , Sargowo Djanggan , Fuji Rahimah Anna
Published: July 2021

Background: Heart Failure prevalence was raising as one of the most Objective: to find the correlation of New York Heart Association Functional Class in heart failure patient with Depression Method: This cross-sectional study recruited 342 patients diagnosed with HF with previously for more than 3 months, at dr. Saiful Anwar General Hospital during December 2016 to March 2021. Each patient was interviewed for their demography data, and their clinical data, and assessed for their depression with Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale for Indonesian version. We used Spearman coefficients (rs) to evaluate the correlations between variables. Results: Baseline characteristic among depression and non-depression group demonstrated no significant difference (p>0.05), but for marital status. Populations was predominantly male, with ACE-i/ARB and Beta-blockers treatment. Non predominant treatment was MRAs, Diuretics, Digoxin. Baseline age was 22 years old until 87 years old. Baseline LVEF was 50.4±12.9%. (p >0.05). There were significant correlations between NYHA Class and marital status (p < 0.05), while the other baseline was not significantly different. We performed log regression for the confounding. The result was NYHA Class significantly correlated with and effects the depression. Conclusion: In heart failure patients, NYHA Class was significantly correlated with depression.
Social Movement Activism Analysis of Strategic: Communication in Context
Authors: Heath Robert L. , Waymer Damion
Published: July 2021

Social movement activism presumes strategic communication processes by which groups achieve extra-governmental changes to public and private policy through public pressure. Such pressure presumes conditions of five kinds: strain, mobilization, confrontation, negotiation, and resolution. To explain this process, several cases will be offered but especially the U.S. civil rights movement and the activist career of John Lewis. Social movement activism is a test of wills, a test of character, strength, fact, value, identity, identification, and place
Older Adults’ Experiences of Behavior Change Support in a Digital Fall Prevention Exercise Program: Qualitative Study Framed by the Self-determination Theory
Authors: Pettersson Beatrice , Janols Rebecka , Wiklund Maria , Lundin-Olsson Lillemor , Sandlund Marlene
Published: July 2021

Background

Exercise is an effective intervention to prevent falls in older adults; however, long-term adherence is often poor. To increase adherence, additional support for behavior change has been advocated. However, consistency in the reporting of interventions using behavior change techniques is lacking. Recently, a classification system has been developed to increase consistency in studies using behavior change techniques within the self-determination theory.

Objective

This study aimed to explore expressions of self-determination among community-dwelling older adults using a self-managed digital fall prevention exercise program comprising behavior change support (the Safe Step program), which was developed in co-creation with intended users.

Methods

The qualitative study design was based on open-ended responses to questionnaires, and individual and focus group interviews. A deductive qualitative content analysis was applied using the classification system of motivation and behavior change techniques as an analytical matrix, followed by an inductive analysis. Twenty-five participants took part in a feasibility study and exercised in their homes with the Safe Step program for 4 months. The exercise program was available on computers,
smartphones, and tablets, and was fully self-managed.

Results

In the deductive analysis, expressions of support were demonstrated for all three basic human psychological needs, namely, autonomy, competence, and relatedness. These expressions were related to 11 of the 21 motivation and behavior change techniques in the classification system. The inductive analysis indicated that autonomy (to be in control) was valued and enabled individual adaptations according to different rationales for realizing exercise goals. However, the experience of autonomy was also two-sided and depended on the participants’ competence in exercise and the use of technology. The clarity of the program and exercise videos was seen as key for support in performance and competent choices. Although augmented techniques for social support were requested, support through relatedness was found within the program.

Conclusions

In this study, the Safe Step program supported the establishment of new exercise routines, as well as the three basic human psychological needs, with autonomy and competence being expressed as central in this context. Based on the participants’ experiences, a proposed addition to the classification system used as an analytical matrix has been presented.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02916849; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02916849
Social Media and mHealth Technology for Cancer Screening: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Ruco Arlinda , Dossa Fahima , Tinmouth Jill , Llovet Diego , Jacobson Jenna , Kishibe Teruko , Baxter Nancy
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND

Cancer is a leading cause of death, and although screening can reduce cancer morbidity and mortality, participation in screening remains suboptimal.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness of social media and mobile health (mHealth) interventions for cancer screening.

METHODS

We searched for randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies of social media and mHealth interventions promoting cancer screening (breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers) in adults in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Communication & Mass Media Complete from January 1, 2000, to July 17, 2020. Two independent reviewers screened the titles, abstracts, and full-text articles and completed the risk of bias assessments. We pooled odds ratios for screening participation using the Mantel-Haenszel method in a random-effects model.

RESULTS

We screened 18,008 records identifying 39 studies (35 mHealth and 4 social media). The types of interventions included peer support (n=1), education or awareness (n=6), reminders (n=13), or mixed (n=19). The overall pooled odds ratio was 1.49 (95% CI 1.31-1.70), with similar effect sizes across cancer types.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening programs should consider mHealth interventions because of their promising role in promoting cancer screening participation. Given the limited number of studies identified, further research is needed for social media interventions.

CLINICALTRIAL

PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42019139615; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=139615

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035411
An Avatar-Led Digital Smoking Cessation Program for Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults: Intervention Development and Results of a Single-Arm Pilot Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Heffner Jaimee L , Watson Noreen L , Serfozo Edit , Kelly Megan M , Reilly Erin D , Kim Daniella , Baker Kelsey , Scout N F N , Karekla Maria
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND

Sexual and gender minority young adults have a high prevalence of smoking and unique barriers to accessing tobacco treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To address these challenges as well as their preferences for sexual and gender minority–targeted interventions and digital programs, we developed and evaluated the acceptability, preliminary efficacy, and impact on theory-based change processes of an acceptance and commitment therapy–based digital program called Empowered, Queer, Quitting, and Living (EQQUAL).

METHODS

Participants (n=22) of a single-arm trial conducted to evaluate the program were young adults, age 18 to 30 years, who self-identified as sexual and gender minority individuals and smoked at least one cigarette per day. All participants received access to the EQQUAL program. Participants completed web-based surveys at baseline and at a follow-up 2 months after enrollment. We verified self-reported smoking abstinence with biochemical testing; missing data were counted as smoking or using tobacco.

RESULTS

For young adults who logged in at least once (n=18), the mean number of log-ins was 5.5 (SD 3.6), mean number of sessions completed was 3.1 (SD 2.6), and 39% (7/18) completed all 6 sessions. Overall, 93% of participants (14/15) were satisfied with the EQQUAL program, 100% (15/15) found it easy to use, and 100% (15/15) said it helped them be clearer about how to quit. Abstinence from smoking or using tobacco was confirmed with biochemical testing for 23% of participants (5/22). Both quantitative and qualitative results suggested a positive overall response to the avatar guide, with areas for future improvement largely centered on the avatar’s appearance and movements.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment acceptability of EQQUAL was very promising. The rate of abstinence, which was biochemically confirmed, was 3 times higher than that of the only other digital program to date that has targeted sexual and gender minority young adults and 6 to 13 times higher than those of nontargeted digital smoking interventions among sexual and gender minority young adults. Planned improvements for the next iteration of the program include making the avatar’s movements more natural; offering multiple avatar guides with different on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, and gender identity from which to choose; and providing a support forum for users to connect anonymously with peers.
Reliability of Commercial Voice Assistants’ Responses to Health-Related Questions in Noncommunicable Disease Management: Factorial Experiment Assessing Response Rate and Source of Information (Preprint)
Authors: Bérubé Caterina , Kovacs Zsolt Ferenc , Fleisch Elgar , Kowatsch Tobias
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) constitute a burden on public health. These are best controlled through self-management practices, such as self-information. Fostering patients’ access to health-related information through efficient and accessible channels, such as commercial voice assistants (VAs), may support the patients’ ability to make health-related decisions and manage their chronic conditions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the reliability of the most common VAs (ie, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Assistant) in responding to questions about management of the main NCD.

METHODS

We generated health-related questions based on frequently asked questions from health organization, government, medical nonprofit, and other recognized health-related websites about conditions associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), lung cancer (LCA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and cerebrovascular accident (CVA). We then validated them with practicing medical specialists, selecting the 10 most frequent ones. Given the low average frequency of the AD-related questions, we excluded such questions. This resulted in a pool of 60 questions. We submitted the selected questions to VAs in a 3×3×6 fractional factorial design experiment with 3 developers (ie, Amazon, Apple, and Google), 3 modalities (ie, voice only, voice and display, display only), and 6 diseases. We assessed the rate of error-free voice responses and classified the web sources based on previous research (ie, expert, commercial, crowdsourced, or not stated).

RESULTS

Google showed the highest total response rate, followed by Amazon and Apple. Moreover, although Amazon and Apple showed a comparable response rate in both voice-and-display and voice-only modalities, Google showed a slightly higher response rate in voice only. The same pattern was observed for the rate of expert sources. When considering the response and expert source rate across diseases, we observed that although Google remained comparable, with a slight advantage for LCA and CKD, both Amazon and Apple showed the highest response rate for LCA. However, both Google and Apple showed most often expert sources for CVA, while Amazon did so for DM.

CONCLUSIONS

Google showed the highest response rate and the highest rate of expert sources, leading to the conclusion that Google Assistant would be the most reliable tool in responding to questions about NCD management. However, the rate of expert sources differed across diseases. We urge health organizations to collaborate with Google, Amazon, and Apple to allow their VAs to consistently provide reliable answers to health-related questions on NCD management across the different diseases.
A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON COMPARISON OF GDOCP IN PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING UNIT AS PER EUROPEAN AND WHO GUIDELINES
Authors: TEJASWI MALE , K. VINOD KUMAR , C. CHITHRA SHEKAR , K. SRIKANTH
Published: July 2021

To review the good documentation practices in the pharmaceutical industry as per the guidelines provided in the European Commission and WHO (World Health Organisation). GDocP is a systematic method of planning, evaluating, approving, issuing, documenting, preserving, and archiving records. GDocP is a must when operating in an atmosphere of existing GMP. To provide an overview of good documentation practices for those employed in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. The GDocP stands for good documentation practice which can be described as an integral part of quality assurance (QA) and thus related to all aspects of GMP. There are very few articles related to the comparison of GDocP in the pharmaceutical manufacturing unit as per European and WHO guidelines hence we are trying to develop a study on the comparison of GDocP guidelines. Public and private organizations, institutions, and regulatory authorities working and cooperating and with the pharmaceutical industry are involved at the international and national level to reach a consensus on the guidelines and laws for the production of medicinal products for human. This article explains how these participants work and cooperate and set out current regulations along the lines of the European community and WHO referencing, where appropriate, the practiced guidelines, outside space regulatory action referred to above. In this way, the goal is to achieve exceptional standards of quality, protection, and efficacy in the manufacture of health products.
POWDER SOLUTION TECHNOLOGY REVIEW
Authors: SHARMA SHAVETA , ARORA VIMAL
Published: July 2021

Bioavailability and Solubility are the challenges for the formulation of highly lipophilic drugs. Oral routes of administration is one of the acceptable route due to improved patient compliance and convenience. Regularly newly advanced drug candidates are lipophilic, BCS Class II and IV drugs. Among various methods to improve the solubility of these drugs, liquid-solid technology or Powdered solution technology change the liquid drug into non-sticky, dry free-flowing, rapid release powder. This technique involves mixing of insoluble drug with nonvolatile solvent, admixing of drug-loaded excipients change into loose powder. This technique enhances major challenges like bioavailability with low production cost and a simple manufacturing process.
DESARROLLO DE DESTREZAS ADAPTATIVAS: ¿UNA META FACTIBLE Y VALIOSA PARA LA EDUACIÓN (PRIMARIA) DE LAS MATEMATICAS?
Authors: Verschaffel Lieven , Luwel Koen , Torbeyns Joke , Van Dooren Wim
Published: July 2021

Hace algunos años, Hatano diferenció entre el nivel de experto de aprendizaje de rutina y el adaptativo e impulsó el desarrollo y la implementación de ambientes de aprendizaje que tengan como objetivo el tipo adaptativo de experiencia por sobre el de rutina. En esta contribución, nos enfocamos en un aspecto de la adaptabilidad, la llamada adaptativa del uso de estrategias de solución en aritmética de educación primaria. En la primera parte de este artículo, brindamos algunos enfoques conceptuales y metodológicos en los asuntos de adaptabilidad. Más específicamente, hacemos una revisión crítica de las definiciones y operacionalizaciones de estrategias de adaptabilidad que solo toman en cuenta tareas y características del sujeto. Argumentamos la necesidad de un concepto y un enfoque que también incluya el contexto sociocultural. La segunda parte, comprende algunas consideraciones educativas con respecto a las preguntas de porque, cuando, para quien o cómo se procura la búsqueda de nivel de experto adaptativa en la educación de las matemáticas para la escuela primaria.
Animals of Instagram: taxonomic bias in science communication online
Authors: Heathcote Grace
Published: July 2021

There are currently no published studies examining taxonomic bias on Instagram. To address this knowledge gap, this study examined seven popular science communication accounts for a year and found that the majority of posts featured vertebrates. However, non-insect invertebrates attracted the highest measures of positive audience engagement (likes, views and comments), suggesting a mismatch between the preferences of science-seeking audiences online and the information being offered to them. These results challenge traditional notions of charismatic megafauna and could improve conservation outcomes of traditionally under-represented species like invertebrates.
Peranan Wanita dalam Penyelesaian Konflik di Selatan Filipina
Authors: Kadir Norizan Binti
Published: July 2021

The roles played by the women in the conflict resolution involving the Muslim community in the Southern Philippines was not given the spotlight it deserved in the series of peace talks between the republic and the separatist groups. The roles of women were as if they were insignificant and of a passive manner while women were undeniably the important “stakeholder” beside the fact that the conflict that erupted affected this group the most amongst the population there. They are also capable to contribute to a new paradigm in conflict resolution. Realizing this, the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) passed Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security as a democratizing mechanism towards the encouragement of women in conflict resolution, protection amidst conflict, and peacemaking.
التأصيل للمصطلح والمفهوم النبوي "بيت المقدس": الحاجة لإعادة إحياء هذا المصطلح الإسلاميالتأصيل للمصطلح والمفهوم النبوي "بيت المقدس": الحاجة لإعادة إحياء هذا المصطلح الإسلامي
Authors: El-Awaisi Abd al-Fattah
Published: July 2021

Selecting the terminology is as important as creating concepts which represent the first nucleus and cornerstone in building perspectives from which the process of change emerges. On the other hand, the negligence of this pivotal and essential aspect leads to deficiencies and disastrous effects on community awareness and its preparatory process for change. Consequently, it is of utmost importance in the stage of knowledge-based preparation for the liberation of Bayt al-Maqdis (Islamicjerusalem) from the current occupation, to ground and root the concept and the prophetic terminology “Bayt Al-Maqdis”. As well as clarifying what is meant by this concept and term as a first foundational intellectual step for the upcoming liberation plan for this blessed and Holy Land. Thus, the key objective of this article is namely to ground the term and prophetic concept of “Bayt al-Maqdis,” and to clarify the need to revive this Islamic terminology. To achieve this goal, this article is divided into two parts; the first part discusses the origin of the name “al-Quds” and what is meant by it and its geographical boundaries in our current time, followed by discussing the origin of the term “Bayt al-Maqdis,” and how a new prophetic concept and term “Bayt al-Maqdis” was established with its sacred religious boundaries. The article presents the linguistic evidence from Arabic lexicons for the designation of the names “al-Quds” and “Bayt al-Maqdis,” the English translation of Bayt al-Maqdis to Islamicjerusalem and its consequences, and the importance of distinguishing between “Bayt al-Maqdis” and “al-Bayt al-Muqaddas” and identifying the meaning of the names associated with the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its compound. As for the second part of the article, it presents the urgent need for liberating the terminology and restoring its Islamic historical and geographical identity, thorough reviving the prophetic terminology used by the Messenger of God (PBUH), and clarifying the reasons that make the term “Bayt al-Maqdis” one of the best, most comprehensive, deepest, broadest and strongest terms. As well as the need for Muslims to use it and disseminate it. The discussion is then concluded by highlighting examples of the institutionalisation of the revival of the prophetic term “Bayt al-Maqdis” that has been commenced by the Academy of Islamicjerusalem Studies since 1990 worldwide.
Phenomenology, Aesthetics, and Worldbuilding in Murasaki’s The Tale of Genji and Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings
Authors: Mohammadi Farid
Published: July 2021

In this paper, I examine the theoretical aspects of worldbuilding in Murasaki’s and Tolkien’s imagined worlds and accentuate the role of aesthetic landscape creation through which spatio-temporal layers are negotiated. As a starting point, I refer to Thomas Ryba’s Husserl, Fantasy and Possible Worlds (1990), where he evaluates the believability of secondary worlds via Husserlian phenomenology. To shed light on Ryba’s statement that authors must be “adept at describing the qualities of characters and the world in which they live” (232) through the lens of engagement, I contend that critically acclaimed imagined worlds such as Heian Japan in The Tale of Genji (c.1000 A.D.) and Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955) demonstrate two fundamental qualities: the physical environments possess aesthetic qualities and the emotional experience of the place is integrated into the fabric of worldbuilding, generating an aura of believability.
Making Space for Myth: Worldbuilding and Interconnected Narratives in Mythspace
Authors: Paolo Quina Francis
Published: July 2021

The comics medium has long proven to be fertile ground for worldbuilding, spawning not only imaginary worlds but multiverses that have become international transmedial franchises. In the Philippines, komiks (as it is called locally) has provided the Filipino popular imagination with worlds populated by superheroes, super spies, supernatural detectives, and creatures from different Philippine mythologies. The komiks series Mythspace, written by Paolo Chikiamco and illustrated by several artist-collaborators, takes the latter concept, and launches it into outer space. Classified by its own writer as a “Filipino space opera” consisting of six loosely interconnected stories, Mythspace presents a storyworld where the creatures of Philippine lower mythologies are based on various alien species that visited the Philippines long ago. The article will examine the use of interconnected narratives as a strategy for worldbuilding in Mythspace. Drawing from both subcreation and comic studies, this article posits that interconnected narratives is a worldbuilding technique particularly well-suited to comics, and that the collaborative nature of the medium allows for a diversity of genres and visual styles that can be used by future komiks creators to develop more expansive storyworlds.
Genetic Templates and Coded Worlds: David Hontiveros’ Seroks Iteration 1: Mirror Man as World-Driven Dystopia
Authors: Guerrero Sydney Paige
Published: July 2021

In 2012, David Hontiveros revisited and expanded the world of his Carlos Palanca Memorial Award-winning short story, “Kaming Mga Seroks”, in Seroks Iteration 1: Mirror Man, which is set in a dystopic future where cloning is a booming industry, and genetic templates are pirated to create seroks or clones of clones. Mirror Man employs a fragmented style of storytelling that crafts a long-form narrative that is neither plot nor character-driven but world-driven. Through a mix of interviews, messages, recordings, and more, Mirror Man delves deeper into the world’s history and current events than it does into the lives of its recurring characters. In this way, the world of Seroks is not so much a backdrop against which the story takes place but the story’s main draw as it utilizes its dystopic setting to critique Philippine society, thus prompting the reader to reconsider the trajectory of the Philippines and reimagine its future.
Fenomena Pentakdisan Turāth di Dayah Tradisional Aceh
Authors: Muhammad Latif Lazuardi , Shah Faisal Ahmad
Published: July 2021

The sacralization of turāth refers to a form of unconditional admiration toward and blind acceptance of the content of turāth books, with the assumption that the books are free of mistakes or inaccuracies. The traditional Dayah of Aceh, a highly valued educational Islamic institution in the eyes of the Acehnese people, plays a pivotal role in promoting various religious understandings as prescribed in turāth books. In order to see to what extent this assumption is true, this field study attempts to investigate the use of turāth at Dayah Mudi Mesra, Samalanga, Aceh. This Dayah has earned much respect and trust from today's Acehnese society due to its role in the teaching of Fikah. The study was carried out to identify the perceptions of the ulama at the traditional dayah toward the position of turāth books in their study of Islamic sciences, especially fikah. This qualitative study employs various data collection methods including literature review, interviews, documentation and observations. In addition, inductive, deductive, and comparative methods were used for data analysis. The study found that the ulama of the traditional dayah in Aceh, in their studies of Islamic sciences, especially fikah, had regarded turāth books as being on par with hadith.
La interpretación ambiental como estrategia en educación ambiental con escolares de básica primaria del municipio de Leticia (Amazonas) en la reserva Agape
Authors: Pinzón Candelario Fanny
Published: July 2021

El presente documento es el resultado de un trabajo, cuyo objetivo era sensibilizar mediante la estrategia de interpretación ambiental, a estudiantes de básica primaria de los grados 4to y 5to del Municipio de Leticia (Amazonas), sobre el concepto de ambiente y la importancia de conservarlo. Se utilizó como metodología la Investigación acción participativa, mediante el desarrollo de una estrategia de Educación ambiental, como es la interpretación ambiental en senderos ya establecidos en la Reserva Ágape, ubicada en el Km 10,5 Vía Tarapacá, zona rural de la ciudad de Leticia, Amazonas. Uno de los hallazgos es que el conocimiento que tienen los niños sobre su ambiente es mínimo. Por medio de la estrategia de interpretación ambiental que tiene sus bases en un guion elaborado previamente para cada sendero, que incluye contenido conceptual y metafórico, se logró sensibilizar a los niños; la actividad incluía experiencias sensoriales, de juego, actividades de preservación, conservación, que permitieran fortalecer sus conocimientos, permitiendo la construcción de valores ambientales buscando generar nuevos patrones de conducta frente al ambiente y modificar patrones de comportamiento. Se concluyó que este tipo de actividades de interpretación ambiental, que incluye la participación de todos los sentidos en espacios abiertos accesibles, permite generar la curiosidad de los niños por conocer y explorar, más allá de su conocimiento formal de aula. Se evidencia que no es suficiente conocer sobre la problemática ambiental si esta, no se conoce en la realidad; más allá del conocimiento que se puede lograr en las aulas convencionales.