bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Viewing angle controller using two parallel alignment liquid crystal cells for automotive systems
Authors: Zhou Zihan , Lu Wenxin , Niu Rui , Lin Ruolong , Ma Hongmei , Sun Yubao
Published: October 2024

We proposed a viewing angle controller (VAC) for car co-driver displays (CDDs). This VAC, integrated with the co-driver display, provides necessary information to the co-driver while minimizing driver distraction. It comprises two parallel alignment liquid crystal cells and two negative C films. It maintains a wide viewing angle without an applied voltage, and it can achieve an anti-peeping angle of 35° (simulation) and 30° (experiment) under an appropriate voltage, effectively blocking the driver’s direct-view light intensity from CDD and reflect-view light intensity from the side window, which can reduce the driver’s attention. This VAC maintains excellent light transmittance at a normal direction and symmetrical brightness in both privacy and share modes, making it suitable for various in-vehicle displays. Those results indicate that this VAC can be broadly applied in automotive displays to enhance driving safety and improve co-driver entertainment.
Phase screens for the two-wave adaptive optics simulations
Authors: Charnotskii Mikhail
Published: October 2024

We propose a technique for the turbulent phase screens generation, which is suitable for the wave optics simulations of the adaptive optics systems where the beacon and the beam have different wavelengths. Unlike the conventional phase screens used in the split-step algorithms, which use the same set of optical path length screens for both wavelengths, proposed technique accounts for the diffraction related wavelength dependence of the turbulent optical path length.
Comparative Analysis of LG and BG beams in double Cassegrain Antenna Systems for Efficient OAM Transmission based on AO Algorithm
Authors: Shang Shunyuan , Li Qian , Ma Shaoke , Liu Zikang , Jiang Ping , Deng Wei , Huajun Yang
Published: October 2024

This study introduces an innovative application of the alternating optimization algorithm to enhance antenna parameters and presents, for the first time, a closed-form expression characterizing the light field distribution of a Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beam upon traversal through a transmitting-receiving double Cassegrain antenna. Utilizing the optical field formulations, we analyze the transmission efficiency of LG beams post-turbulence interaction within the communication system. Additionally, we derive the closed-form expression for the detection probability of various orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes, comparing them to Bessel-Gaussian (BG) beams. The outcomes indicate that atmospheric turbulence within the 6000 m range predominantly diminishes the reception efficiency of the LG-Cassegrain communication system. For LG beam orders 1 through 5, reception efficiency is notably enhanced by 71.1%, 42.1%, 39.1%, 38.5%, and 38.5%, respectively, compared to BG Beam counterparts. Furthermore, regarding the crosstalk among various OAM modes, the BG beam exhibits a slight advantage over the LG beam. As turbulence intensity rises, the detection probability of the LG beam diminishes more rapidly than that of the BG beam. Consequently, our research underscores the crucial need to strike a balance between efficiency and crosstalk immunity, emphasizing the importance of carefully considering these aspects to achieve optimal system performance in specific application scenarios.
PreMLS: The undersampling technique based on ClusterCentroids to predict multiple lysine sites
Authors: Zuo Yun , Fang Xingze , Wan Jiayong , He Wenying , Liu Xiangrong , Zeng Xiangxiang , Deng Zhaohong
Published: October 2024

The translated protein undergoes a specific modification process, which involves the formation of covalent bonds on lysine residues and the attachment of small chemical moieties. The protein’s fundamental physicochemical properties undergo a significant alteration. The change significantly alters the proteins’ 3D structure and activity, enabling them to modulate key physiological processes. The modulation encompasses inhibiting cancer cell growth, delaying ovarian aging, regulating metabolic diseases, and ameliorating depression. Consequently, the identification and comprehension of post-translational lysine modifications hold substantial value in the realms of biological research and drug development. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) at lysine (K) sites are among the most common protein modifications. However, research on K-PTMs has been largely centered on identifying individual modification types, with a relative scarcity of balanced data analysis techniques. In this study, a classification system is developed for the prediction of concurrent multiple modifications at a single lysine residue. Initially, a well-established multi-label position-specific triad amino acid propensity algorithm is utilized for feature encoding. Subsequently, PreMLS: a novel ClusterCentroids undersampling algorithm based on MiniBatchKmeans was introduced to eliminate redundant or similar major class samples, thereby mitigating the issue of class imbalance. A convolutional neural network architecture was specifically constructed for the analysis of biological sequences to predict multiple lysine modification sites. The model, evaluated through five-fold cross-validation and independent testing, was found to significantly outperform existing models such as iMul-kSite and predML-Site. The results presented here aid in prioritizing potential lysine modification sites, facilitating subsequent biological assays and advancing pharmaceutical research. To enhance accessibility, an open-access predictive script has been crafted for the multi-label predictive model developed in this study.
Predictors and number of antenatal care visits among reproductive age women in Sub-Saharan Africa further analysis of recent demographic and health survey from 2017–2023: Zero-inflated negative binomial regression
Authors: Endawkie Abel , Kebede Natnael , Asmamaw Desale Bihonegn , Tsega Yawkal
Published: October 2024

Background

Antenatal care (ANC) is an important component of maternal and child health care. To reduce perinatal mortality and improve women’s experience of care, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends pregnant women should attend at least eight ANC visits. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the mean number of ANC visits among reproductive-age women using Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data following the new WHO recommendation is so far limited. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the mean number of ANC visits and its predictors among reproductive-age women in SSA.

Method

Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 188,880 weighted reproductive-age women in SSA using a recent round of DHS data from 2017–2023. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression (ZINB) was conducted and statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05 and adjusted incidence rate ratio(AIRR) for count model part and adjusted odds ratio for logit model inflated part of ZINBR with 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported.

Result

The mean number of ANC visits among reproductive-age women in SSA was 4.08 with 95%CI [4.07, 4.09]. Among reproductive-age women who gave birth in the last five years before the survey, 7.3% had eight or more ANC visits during pregnancy. Age of women, maternal and husband educational status, types of pregnancy, birth order, household size, number of under-five children, and wealth index were associated with the numbers of ANC visits among reproductive-age women in Sub-Saharan.

Conclusion

The mean number of ANC visits among reproductive-age women in SSA is too lower than the new WHO recommendation of ANC visits for a positive pregnancy experience. This study also highlights that the proportion of at least eight ANC visits is low and there are still disparities in the mean of ANC visits across different regions of SSA. The increasing maternal age, higher maternal and husband educational status, wanted pregnancy, the number of household members, the number of under-five children, and higher wealth index increase the number of ANC visits. Unwanted pregnancy, no more fertility desire, and rural residences were contributed for zero ANC visits in SSA. Therefore, efforts should be geared towards improving maternal and husband’s educational status. We strongly recommend that the governments of SSA countries should empower women economically and educationally to achieve the goals of ANC as recommended by the WHO.
Stationary correlation pattern in highly non-stationary MEG recordings of healthy subjects and its relation to former EEG studies
Authors: Marín–García ArlexOscar , Arzate-Mena J. Daniel , Corsi-Cabrera Mari , Muñoz-Torres Zeidy , Olguín–Rodríguez Paola Vanessa , Ríos–Herrera Wady Aalexander , Rivera AnaLeonor , Müller Markus F.
Published: October 2024

In this study, we analyze magnetoencephalographic (MEG) recordings from 48 clinically healthy subjects obtained from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) while they performed a working memory task and a motor task. Our results reveal a well-developed, stable interrelation pattern that spans the entire scalp and is nearly universal, being almost task- and subject-independent. Additionally, we demonstrate that this pattern closely resembles a stationary correlation pattern (SCP) observed in EEG signals under various physiological and pathological conditions (the distribution of Pearson correlations are centered at about 0.75). Furthermore, we identify the most effective EEG reference for studying the brain’s functional network derived from lag-zero cross-correlations. We contextualize these findings within the theory of complex dynamical systems operating near a critical point of a phase transition.
Randomized controlled trial parallel-group on optimizing community pharmacist’s care for the elderly: The influence of WhatsApp-Email delivered clinical case scenarios
Authors: Mohamed Ibrahim Osama , Al Mazrouei Nadia , Elnour A. A. , Ibrahim Rana , H. Abdel-Qader Derar , Mohamed El Amin Ibrahim Hamid Rowida , Menon Vineetha , Saeed Ali Awadallah , Fatehi Abdalla Sami , T. Alsulami Fahad , Alqarni Yousef Saeed , Mohammed Abuelnor
Published: October 2024

Background

Drug-related problems (DRPs) significantly threaten the safety of the elderly. In order to improve pharmacists’ ability to minimize these events, novel educational interventions that consider the current challenges in clinical practice are crucial.

Objectives

The primary objective is to assess the impact of two unique educational interventions on pharmacists’ ability to identify DRPs.

Method

A total of 127 community pharmacies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were recruited and randomly allocated to one of three arms using a 1:1:1 allocation ratio. While a series of clinical case scenarios (N = 24) related to elderly care were established and validated and sent to pharmacists in Active Group A over a 3-month period, lengthy research articles focused on medication safety in elderly were emailed to pharmacists in Active Group B. The control group pharmacist received no intervention. Then, pharmacists self-reported the number, categories, and severity of DRPs and pharmacist recommendations.

Results

The incidence of DRPs identified by pharmacists was 10.8% in Active Group A, 2.0% in the Control Group (p = 0.011), and 3.8% in Active Group B (p = 0.014). A significant difference was observed in the proportion of DRP types between Active Group A and the Control Group. The most common DRPs in Active Group A were avoidable medication (14.7%) and untreated disease (9.2%). Pharmacists in Active Group A (37.2%) and Active Group B (32.3%) most commonly intervened by recommending the cessation of medication, while the most common intervention in the Control Group was recommending a decrease in dose (29.8%). The mean cost reduction per patient was highest in Active Group A (31.3 ±11.8 $), followed by Active Group B (20.8 ±8.6 $) and the Control Group (19.6 ±9.5 $). The mean time needed to resolve a DRP was shortest in Active Group A (7.3 ±3.5 minutes), followed by Active Group B (9.8 ±4.2 minutes) and the Control Group (9.8 ±5.7 minutes).

Conclusion

Using WhatsApp to deliver clinical scenarios was effective in improving pharmacists’ ability to identify and address DRPs in elderly patients, resulting in faster resolution and higher cost savings.
Blockchain for video watermarking: An enhanced copyright protection approach for video forensics based on perceptual hash function
Authors: Darwish Saad Mohamed , Abu-Deif Mona Mahamod , Elkaffas Saleh Mesbah
Published: October 2024

As a direct result of advancements in digital technology and the Internet, the copyright protection and information integrity of multimedia that are being published across the Internet have emerged as a major and urgent issue that needs to be addressed. The technique of digital watermarking may be used to protect intellectual property. In terms of authentication, resilience, storage, and capacity of digital watermarking information, there is still room for development. Blockchain’s potential in video copyright protection and management applications has motivated researchers. Copyright owners and consumers may now communicate directly via copyright protection apps built on the blockchain, eliminating the need for distributers and the associated fees. Nonetheless, the current blockchain–based video watermarking solutions require storing a significant number of coordinates depending on the watermark size and are susceptible to video frame attacks on the video frame texture region. This study proposes an enhanced video copyright management approach that incorporates digital watermarking, the blockchain, and a perceptual hash function. Watermark information is stored on a blockchain structure, which also acts as a timestamp for verification purposes. To verify watermark data without the source video, a perceptual hash function is employed to compute a hash value based on the structural information of video frames. The contribution is in learning how to extract a hash function from a small number of video frames that still adequately represent a large amount of video content while also reducing the number of unnecessary video frames and the amount of computation required to summarize and index that content in a blockchain. This expedites the dissemination of copyrighted works and increases their security and readability, hence facilitating their circulation on the Internet. Our experimental results demonstrate that this approach is memory efficient, as it only needs to store one key for each key frame, regardless of the size of the watermark. Additionally, the overall robustness is greatly improved by using the blockchain’s random hash function. Therefore, new and important advancements in video watermarking have been realized because of this effort.
Information overload and parental perspectives on information provided to parents/carers of paediatric patients undergoing elective surgical procedures
Authors: Sommerfield Aine , Sommerfield David , Lee Kenneth , Evans Daisy , Dodd Megan , Bell Emily , Gonsalves Simone , Khan R. Nazim , von Ungern-Sternberg Britta S.
Published: October 2024

When parents are expected to play a significant role in the management of their children’s health perioperatively, information overload for parents could have particularly detrimental consequences. Our study investigated information communication and overload in 380 parents of children undergoing any elective surgical procedure at our institution. Participants completed an online questionnaire and were asked to respond to a newly designed Information Overload scale based on a modified 5 item Cancer Information Overload Scale and an 8-item atrial fibrillation information overload scale. Nineteen respondents (5%) identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. More than a quarter of respondents (n = 102, 27%) primarily spoke a language other than English at home. 56% of respondents (n = 211) indicated that neither themselves nor any of their children had undergone a similar surgery in the past. Most respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with the majority of the 5-item Information Overload scale statements. University undergraduates had lower total information overload score on average (-1.63, p = 0.002). People who spoke a language other than English had higher total score on average (0.98, p<0.001). Semi-structured qualitative interviews including the BRIEF health literacy screening tool were conducted with 24 parents. 23 interviewees scored 17–20 points in the BRIEF health literacy screening tool, indicating they were able to read and comprehend patient education materials. Overall, parents were satisfied with the amount of information that they received. Very rarely did any parent complain of ‘information overload’. Our results show that parents of children undergoing elective paediatric surgery are not suffering from information overload in general, but they do want more information on immediate and late postoperative recovery.
The 123 COVID SCORE: A simple and reliable diagnostic tool to predict in-hospital death in COVID-19 patients on hospital admission
Authors: Ostrowska Małgorzata , Kasprzak Michał , Fabiszak Tomasz , Gajda Jacek , Jaje-Rykowska Natalia , Michalski Piotr , Moczulska Beata , Nowek Paulina , Piasecki Maciej , Pilaczyńska-Cemel Marta , Podhajski Przemysław , Prudzic Paulina , Stępniak Dominika , Świątkowski Damian , Żechowicz Maciej , Gajda Robert , Gromadziński Leszek , Kryś Jacek , Kubica Aldona , Przybylski Grzegorz , Szymański Paweł , Kubica Jacek
Published: October 2024

Background

Patients hospitalized due to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are still burdened with high risk of death. The aim of this study was to create a risk score predicting in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients on hospital admission.

Methods

Independent mortality predictors identified in multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to build the 123 COVID SCORE. Diagnostic performance of the score was evaluated using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

Results

Data from 673 COVID-19 patients with median age of 70 years were used to build the score. In-hospital death occurred in 124 study participants (18.4%). The final score is composed of 3 variables that were found predictive of mortality in multivariate logistic regression analysis: (1) age, (2) oxygen saturation on hospital admission without oxygen supplementation and (3) percentage of lung involvement in chest computed tomography (CT). Four point ranges have been identified: 0–5, 6–8, 9–11 and 12–17, respectively corresponding to low (1.5%), moderate (13.4%), high (28.4%) and very high (57.3%) risk of in-hospital death. The 123 COVID SCORE accuracy measured with the AUROC was 0.797 (95% CI 0.757–0.838; p<0.0001) in the study population and 0.774 (95% CI 0.728–0.821; p<0.0001) in an external validation cohort consisting of 558 COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions

The 123 COVID SCORE containing merely 3 variables: age, oxygen saturation, and percentage of lung involvement assessed with chest CT is a simple and reliable tool to predict in-hospital death in COVID-19 patients upon hospital admission.
SlugAtlas, a histological and 3D online resource of the land slugs Deroceras laeve and Ambigolimax valentianus
Authors: Lozano-Flores Carlos , Trujillo-Barrientos Jessica , Brito-Domínguez Diego A. , Téllez-Chávez Elisa , Cortés-Encarnación Rocío , Medina-Durazno Lizbeth D. , Cornelio-Martínez Sergio , de León-Cuevas Alejandro , Ávalos-Fernández Alejandro , Gutiérrez-Sarmiento Wilbert , Torres-Barrera Aldo , Soto-Barragán Fernando Javier , Herrera-Oropeza Gabriel , Martínez-Olvera Ramón , Martínez-Acevedo David , Cruz-Blake Luis C. , Rangel-García Vanessa , Martínez-Cabrera Gema , Larriva-Sahd Jorge , Pimentel-Domínguez Reinher , Ávila Remy , Varela-Echavarría Alfredo
Published: October 2024

Due to their distinctive anatomical characteristics, land slugs are appealing research subjects from a variety of angles, including stem cell biology, regeneration, embryonic development, allometry, and neurophysiology. Here we present SlugAtlas, an anatomical and histological online resource of the land slugs Deroceras laeve and Ambigolimax valentianus. The atlas is composed of series of histological sections on the horizontal, sagittal, and transversal planes for both species with 3D viewing tools of their major organs. The atlas was used in this work for a comparative analysis of the major organs and tissues of these two species. We provide a comprehensive histological description of them and an explanation of novel findings of unique features of their anatomy. For D. laeve, we additionally studied its ability for degrowth and regrowth, a feature that characterizes animals with high regeneration potential and obtained initial results on the study of the regeneration of its tail. SlugAtlas is a resource that is also built to accommodate future growth and, along with the experimental techniques that we have developed, will provide the foundation for research projects in a variety of biological domains.
Bacterial fertilizer and filtered sludge enhance soil fertility and plant growth in a eucalyptus plantation
Authors:   College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035 China, Ren Han ,   Forestry College, Guangxi University, Daxue E Rd, Xixiangtang District, Nanning, Guangxi, 530004 China, Chen Xuezhen , Qin Xiaohong , Zhang Suyang , Lv Chengqun , Zhou Jiangmin , Chen Hualin
Published: October 2024

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and filtered sludge are widely used to improve soil fertility and plant yields. In this study, we evaluated the impact of sludge and/or PGPR application on the nutrient contents and enzyme activities of the soil as well as on plant growth. We planted bare-root eucalyptus seedlings in (1) soil amended with filtered sludge from Nanning sugar factory (FS), (2) soil amended with filtered sludge + PGPR (BF), and (3) non-amended soil (control). Soil fertility and eucalyptus growth were determined after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Results demonstrated that FS treatment significantly increased eucalyptus growth compared to the control, particularly after six months. Bacterial fertilizer (BF) also increased soil urease and sucrase activities, although differences diminished over the study period. Our findings suggest that the integration of bacterial fertilizers and filtered sludge can serve as an effective and environmentally friendly strategy to improve soil health and promote sustainable eucalyptus cultivation. This research contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of bio-fertilizers in forestry practices, highlighting their potential to reduce or replace the use of chemical fertilizers while increasing plant productivity.
Inherently spatial: data and analytical insights for the identification of forest socio-ecological hotspots
Authors:   Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Forest Economics, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden, Aguilar Francisco X. , Lautrup Marie , Kim Dohun , Tangen Ane C. , Rautiainen Aapo , Brownell Huntley , López Lucas N. , Stratton Andrew D. H. , Glasenapp Sebastian , Korth Silvia M. , Sjølie Hanne K. , Bredahl Jacobsen Jette
Published: October 2024

We draw insights regarding intricacies with spatially explicit data and analyses when studying the vulnerability of forest socio-ecological systems to disruptive abiotic and biotic factors. Common issues associated with data include location precision, spatial delimitation, methodological comparability, and measurement consistency. Spatial data analyses are challenged by issues of interpolation and extrapolation, inferences using data at different spatial scales, and assessment of disruption impacts at detectable spatial scales. The inextricable empirical nature of spatial data and analyses requires carefully conducting and disclosing the sensitivity of findings, and including robustness tests to openly inform decision-makers on issues of uncertainty associated with possible interventions. These considerations might be central to identifying forest socio-ecological hotspots as forest-dominated geographic areas encompassing social and ecological systems vulnerable to disruptions caused by abiotic and biotic factors, but where risks to human wellbeing may be considerably reduced through adaptive interventions.
Messages to Ancestors:

Following the Notes from Africville to Emancipation to the Door of No Return
Authors: Sundar Singh Cyrus
Published: October 2024

On Canadian Thanksgiving in October 2023, I stood on the shores of Gorée Island, next to the Door of No Return
[i], off the west coast of Dakar, Senegal. Facing westward across the Atlantic Ocean and with the help of Fallou Bal, our Senegalese guide, I bent down and set fire to a collection of
Messages to Ancestors, handwritten on paper by various Canadians of African Descent from Africville, Nova Scotia to Emancipation, Ontario, and many others in between. The smoke ascended into the African skies. Entrusted to carry their messages, I fulfilled my role as the messenger and documented the burning. My presence on African soil was the culmination of a decade of relationships that began with the Canadian communities of Africville and Emancipation at the start of my academic journey, which fortuitously also aligned with the Decade for People of African Descent
[ii] (2015-2024). As such, the opportunity to carry their messages back to Africa was a blessing and an auspicious gift. The paper chronicles this journey following the notes from Africville to Emancipation to the Door of No Return.
General Overview: Concept of Cause in Aristotle's Metaphysics
Authors: Ugwu Abel Friday
Published: October 2024

This paper presents a general overview of the concept of cause in Aristotle's metaphysics. It examines the four types of causes identified by Aristotle—material, formal, efficient, and final—and discusses their roles in understanding the principles of change and existence. By analyzing these causal relationships, the paper aims to elucidate how Aristotle's metaphysical framework offers insights into the nature of being and the processes that govern the physical world. This exploration not only enhances our comprehension of Aristotle's philosophical contributions but also serves as a basis for ongoing discussions in contemporary metaphysical debates.
Aristotle's Theory of Causality
Authors: Ugwu Abel Friday
Published: October 2024

This paper examines Aristotle's theory of causality, which is pivotal to understanding his philosophical framework. It identifies and elaborates on the four types of causes—material, formal, efficient, and final—proposed by Aristotle in both historical and modern contexts. By analyzing the evolution of these concepts, the study highlights causation and existence. Ultimately, this exploration offers insights into Aristotle's contributions to philosophy and their implications for contemporary thought, providing a foundation for further inquiry into the nature of causality.
Relación entre laImagen Corporal Positiva,la insatisfacción corporal, la actividad física,la interiorización de los ideales de belleza y el índice de masa corporal en adolescentes de la Costa Caribe Colombiana
Authors: Góngora Vanesa , Martínez Banfi Martha , Quiroz Molinares Natalia , Mercado Sonia , Mebarak Moises Roberto
Published: October 2024

Evaluar la Imagen Corporal Positiva (ICP) y su relación con la apreciación corporal, las actitudes corporales masculinas, los desórdenes alimenticios, las actitudes hacia la apariencia y el índice de masa corporal (IMC) en adolescentes de la Costa Caribe colombiana. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo de corte transversal, donde la muestra estuvo conformada por 300 jóvenes entre los 13 y los 19 años. (M=16,44; DE= 1,82), 151 eran mujeres (50.3%) y 149 eran hombres (49.7%). El Índice De Masa Corporal (IMC) medio de los participantes fue 21,86 (DE = 3.65) el cual se encuentra en el rango normal. Todos los participantes eran estudiantes (de colegio y universitarios) de la ciudad de Barranquilla. Los mayores Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) están relacionados con menor apreciación corporal, menor respeto por el propio cuerpo y menor resistencia a la presión de los medios. Además, aquellos adolescentes que realizaban una mayor actividad física reportaron una mejor imagen corporal. Además, una mayor Imagen Corporal Positiva se relaciona con la disminución de trastornos alimentarios y con la disminución de la influencia de las redes sociales. En todas las dimensiones analizadas podemos apreciar claramente el impacto beneficioso para el ser humano que tiene esta apreciación, y la necesidad de investigar más esta variable de la psicología en el contexto Latinoamericano para cubrir este vacío que actualmente existe en la investigación.
Salud mental en estudiantes de medicina: un reto más allá del estrés académico
Authors: Salazar Flórez Emilio , Arias Castro Carlos Esteban , Quintero Pinzón Daniella , Velásquez Peláez Andrés , Segura Cardona Alejandra , Giraldo Cardona Luz Stella
Published: October 2024

Introducción: El proceso de enseñanza en medicina tiene desafíos que pueden inducir estrés académico. El contexto del Covid-19, los nuevos modelos de educación virtual y la atención en telemedicina, entre otros requisitos, hace imprescindible centrarse en potenciar la salud mental de los futuros profesionales. El objetivo fue identificar los factores asociados a la salud mental de estudiantes de medicina en una universidad privada en Colombia, ajustados al estrés académico. Método: Estudio transversal con 443 estudiantes. Se completó un cuestionario compuesto por variables sociodemográficas, de estilo de vida y académicas, además de aplicar el Inventario Cognitivo Sistémico para el Estudio del Estrés Académico (SISCO) y el inventario Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-r). Los factores de riesgo que influyen en el índice de gravedad de la salud mental se analizaron utilizando un Modelo Lineal Generalizado (GLM) por la familia de Poisson y log link. Resultados: Un 68,4% eran mujeres, 48,8% tenían edades entre 20 y 25 años y el 50,6% de los estudiantes presentaron estrés académico severo. Los factores protectores relacionados con el índice de salud mental incluyeron actividad física regular (RRa = 0,78) y actividades extracurriculares (RRa = 0,75), mientras que los factores de riesgo fueron estrés severo (RRa = 2,34), uso de sustancias psicoactivas (RRa = 1,36), bebidas energéticas (RRa = 1,35), tener una ocupación alternativa al estudio (RRa = 1,47). Conclusión: El contexto actual exige la presencia de médicos mentalmente sanos. El estudio proporcionó información sobre la necesidad de intervención en factores más allá del estrés académico, buscando mantener el bienestar de los estudiantes y así evitar el abandono académico.
Correlations between academic burnout, coping and social support in college students
Authors: Schwarz Terra Maria Eduarda , Pereira de Moraes Camila , Pereira de Souza Andressa , Santina Murgo Camélia
Published: October 2024

The study wasproposeddue to the perception of the scarcity of studies on the correlation between burnout, coping and social support. Thus, the present study aimed to verify the prevalence of academic burnout and its correlationswith coping strategies and social support in students of health courses. The sample consisted of 173 participants, agesbetween 18 and 30 years (M = 23.71; SD = 7.04). For data collection we used: Sociodemographic questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory for students (MBI-SS), Brief COPE (coping inventory) and Social Support Satisfaction Scale for higher education students (SSSS). The results revealed correlations between the dimensions of emotional exhaustion and cynicism, with family support satisfaction [F (3. 201752) = 9184.986, p < .001; r2 = .12] and F (3.168) = 8.473, p < .001; r2 = .131]. Referring to the correlations between coping strategies with the other study variables, the sample most frequently used emotion-focused coping in the strategies of Self-blaming (r = .290, p<.001); Substance Use (r = .241, p<.01); Instrumental Support (r = .206, p<.01) and Positive Reinterpretation (r =.197, p<.01)
Zygmunt Bauman – David Lyon: Tekutý dohled.
Authors: Beseda Jan
Published: October 2024

A review of the book by Zygmunt Bauman and David Lyon.
Příprava konference Perspectives on Contemporary Legend
Authors: Janeček Petr
Published: October 2024

Filozofická fakulta Univerzity Karlovy v Praze a International Society for Contemporary Legend Research pořádají ve dnech 3. – 8. června 2014 v Praze 32. ročník mezinárodní konference věnované problematice soudobých neformálně i mediálně šířených kolektivně sdílených narativů, především takzvaným současným (městským) pověstem a fámám. Odborné setkání, které bylo od roku 1982 pravidelně pořádáno na University of Sheffield ve Velké Británii v podobě interdisciplinárních seminářů, se od konce osmdesátých let 20. století koná v ročním intervalu střídavě v USA, Kanadě a některé z evropských zemí.
„Já si je najdu, ty vole. Dyť máme furt stejný místa.“
Authors: Hejnal Ondřej
Published: October 2024

The aim of this article is to interpret the construction of “homeless places” within the public space. Drawing from the concepts of practice and of narration of places, from my long-term ethnographic fieldwork in a Czech mid-sized city, from semi-structured interviews with institutional actors, and from the analysis of media messages and other materials, I describe the representations of “homeless places” by institutional actors (politicians, municipal policemen, etc.). Further, I reinterpret the key aspects of these representations from the perspective of ethnographic data and present a categorization schema, through which the homeless differentiate and practice places in the public space. The main issues structuring the representations produced by institutional actors and by media messages consist of “coercive begging”, public alcohol drinking and aggression (associated with criminality). However, the conditions leading to these practices are greatly under-represented. Alcohol consumption represents an important part of solidarity mechanisms, establishing the boundaries of a particular homeless group and allowing for its survival. Aggression, as a marginal practice, may be viewed partly as serving the function of defending these solidarity mechanisms, and partly as a result of the frequent “cabin fevers” and of specific “meeting rituals”. The so-called “coercive begging” is also a rather marginal practice, performed by a few “active begging specialists”. In the final section of the article, I describe examples of “homeless places” based on 11 categories (dimensions of contrast), with a special focus on the communal activities creating these places, on the interplay between the practices of the homeless and of the physical attributes of places, and on the maintenance of these places in everyday narratives and interactions. In this respect, a specific part of public space can designate two very different places, depending on the actors who create them (i.e. the institutional actors and the media versus the homeless).
Petr Lozoviuk (ed.): Etnicita a nacionalismus v diskurzu 20. století. Příspěvek intelektuálů z českých zemí ke studiu kolektivních identit.
Authors: Tuček Jan
Published: October 2024

A review of the book by Petr Lozoviuk.
Employment of Filipinas as nannies in the context of post-socialist Czech Republic
Authors: Redlová Pavla
Published: October 2024

During the post-socialist development in the Czech Republic, many official and informal socio-cultural institutions have been reorganized: from the political and economical systems to gender and family relationships. The society became engaged in global processes, including migration and the global care market. Commodification and commercialization of domestic work have developed. Employment of Filipinas as nannies and housekeepers - although not statistically significant yet - represents a symptomatic example of the transformations and current development and a re-definition of a widespread social practice realized in many foreign countries. This paper presents an analysis of commodification of care. Specifically, I look at the ways intermediary agencies operate and how they approach potential customers offering care services of live-in Filipina nannies as a specific product with certain characteristics. I also focus on how the agencies construct the domestic work itself in order to examine whether it is recognized like any other work. The second part of the text deals with the working conditions as they are perceived by the nannies and with the nannies' position in the family, considered within the broader gender relations. The article is based both on qualitative interviews with agency representatives and with nannies and on an analysis of websites of intermediary agencies. Although the text is rather descriptive, it seeks to connect the Filipina domestic workers' employment with current socio-economic changes.
Lenka J. Budilová: Dědická praxe, sňatkové strategie a pojmenovávání u bulharských Čechů v letech 1900-1950.
Authors: Fatková Gabriela
Published: October 2024

A review of the book by Lenka Jakoubková Budilová.
Historia Augusta. Translated by David Magie, revised by David Rohrbacher
Authors: Brendel Raphael
Published: October 2024

Book review on Historia Augusta. Translated by David Magie, revised by David Rohrbacher. Cambridge, Massachusetts / London, England: Harvard University Press, 2022. Volume I: LIII + 471 Seiten, ISBN 978-0-674-99744-8. Volume II: 463 Seiten, ISBN 978-0-674-99745-5. Volume III: 562 Seiten, ISBN 978-0-674-99746-2
Recollections of Professor Radislav Hošek from His Colleagues in Trnava
Authors: Novotná Mária , Nováková Lucia , Juríková Erika
Published: October 2024

In memoriam Radislai Hošek centenarii
Virgil’s Hercules: Echoes of Civil Strife and Duality
Authors: Fratantuono Lee
Published: October 2024

Hercules is cited relatively frequently in Virgil’s Aeneid, especially in the second, Italian half of the epic. Close consideration of the progression of the references to Hercules in the poem reveals a deliberate arrangement of passages that relate typologically to the characterization of both Aeneas and Augustus, in particular with respect literarily to the decision of the Trojan hero to slay his foe Turnus, and historically to the civil war with Mark Antony, in which the victor would surpass the deeds of the storied ancient hero from whom his rival claimed descent. Hercules is shown to have diverse associations for Virgil, and to serve as a cautionary mythological exemplum of the hazards of surrender to fury. The association of the demigod with the dichromatic poplar is interpreted as a symbol of the polar opposite facets of Hercules’ nature.
Soursop (Annona muricata L.) in Indonesia: Biological evaluation, student perspective and internet trends
Authors: Jirna I Nyoman , Sudarmanto I Gede , Purna I Nyoman , Mastra Nyoman , Sundari Cokorda Dewi Widhya Hana , Suyasa I Nyoman Gede , Damayanto I Putu Gede P. , Ritonga Muhammad Azli
Published: October 2024

The study provided an overview of soursop (Annona muricata L.) in Indonesia, covering taxonomy, phytochemicals, antimicrobial tests, college student perspectives, and internet trends. Taxonomy details were sourced from literature, and herbarium specimens were deposited in the herbaria. Phytochemical compounds were identified using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, while antimicrobial activity was assessed through disc diffusion. Student perspectives were collected via questionnaires, and internet trends were tracked with Google Trends. Data on taxonomy, student perspectives, and internet trends were analyzed descriptively, while experimental data underwent Kruskal-Wallis testing. Soursop, originally from tropical America, was likely introduced to Indonesia before 1884 and is now widespread. Soursop leaf extract exhibited phenol (2554.22 mg/100g), flavonoid (5263.43 mg/100g), and tannin (1469.77 mg/100g) presence. The study demonstrated its potent antimicrobial properties at concentrations of 25%, 40%, 55%, and 70%, with a 6 mm growth inhibition zone. College students at Health Polytechnic of Denpasar identified 42 treatable diseases with soursop, with fidelity levels (FL) ranging from 2.7% to 48.65%. The highest FL was observed for gout. Leaf and fruit parts of soursop are commonly used in traditional medicine. The trend of internet searches regarding the utilization of soursop (January 2011–September 2023) peaked in January 2012 and then declined until 2023, with the majority of searches occurring in central-western Indonesia.
Perspectives of osteopathic medical students on preclinical urology exposure: a single institution cross-sectional survey
Authors: Wong Ryan , Mayrovitz Harvey N.
Published: October 2024

Context

There is an increasing number of medical school graduates opting for surgical specialties, and the osteopathic applicant match rate for urology is lower than that of allopathic applicants. Factors influencing this may include a lack of interest, perceived challenges in matching into urology, insufficient urology mentorship, limited research opportunities, and inadequate osteopathic representation in urology.

Objectives

The objective of this survey is to assess osteopathic medical students’ perspectives on pursuing urology and enhancing preclinical exposure to and knowledge of urology.

Methods

A 20-question survey addressing experiences and the factors influencing osteopathic medical students’ specialty selection and their interest in and perception of urology was designed by the investigators on Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) software. This survey was distributed via email listserv to all current osteopathic medical students attending Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine over 2 months. Responses were collected and analyzed utilizing Fisher’s exact test.

Results

Among 150 respondents, 91 % found mentors crucial in selecting a medical specialty, 95 % emphasized the importance of early exposure, and 68 % lacked familiarity with urology, with more M1 students unfamiliar with urology compared to M2 (70.4 % vs. 59 %). A larger proportion of combined M1 and M2 (preclinical) students are considering urology as a specialty compared to M3 and M4 (clinical) students who are actively on rotations (56.5 % vs. 28.6 %; p=0.0064). Also, a greater percentage of males are considering urology compared to females (64.2 % vs. 42.7 %; p=0.0164). Among those considering urology (n=75), 57.3 % lack awareness of urology’s scope, and 84 % report no preclinical discussions with urologists. Those students who report that they are considering urology value early exposure significantly more than others (98.7 % vs. 78.7 %; p=0.0001). They also express greater interest in having a core urology course (73.3 % vs. 38.7 %; p<0.0001). More urology-considering students are interested in extracurricular urology-related workshops, seminars, or conferences (61.3 % vs. 17.3 %; p<0.0001). Students who are considering urology as a specialty show greater interest in having a mentorship program (85.3 % vs. 28 %; p<0.0001).

Conclusions

Results suggested that increased urology exposure during the preclinical years is important. Urology elective offerings and urology mentorship are of high interest among those considering urology. However, additional investigation is needed to determine the impact of preclinical urology curricula implementation on urology match outcomes.
Asymmetrische Gegenbegriffe in Laktanz’ ‚Politischer Theologie‘
Authors: Nebelin Marian
Published: October 2024

Lactantius’ theology is a ‚political theology‘ containing numerous asymmetrical counter-concepts. These are used to establish contradictory group constellations in whose negative part the negative others – the ‚out-group‘ – cannot necessarily recognise themselves. Among these counter-concepts, the moral-anthropological opposition of ‚the good‘ (boni) and ‚the evil‘ (mali) is of particular importance. Lactantius’ counter-concepts are politicised because they convey extremely polarised determinations of the degree of association and dissociation of human beings. These counter-concepts are also religious, because they are related to aspects of salvation history, natural law, soteriology, and eschatology. Due to their references to salvation history, Lactantius’ political group terminologies fit into the history of the radicalisation of asymmetrical counter-concepts, which stretches from antiquity to modernity and was identified by Reinhart Koselleck. Lactantius’ ‘political theology’, however, plays a special role in this history of radicalisation and violence, because, on the one hand, it marks the point at which distinctive political semantics became theologically charged. On the other hand, Lactantius did not unchain the potential for violence that was inherent in the counter-concepts. Therefore, his ‘political theology’ did not contain any praxeology or justification of violence from the Christian side.
Das Böse bei Hannah Arendt
Authors: Dober Hans Martin
Published: October 2024

In ihrem Bestreben, die Funktionsweise totalitärer Systeme zu verstehen, insbesondere, die von Nazi-Deutschland begangenen Verbrechen zu begreifen, spricht Hannah Arendt von der Banalität des Bösen. Dabei geht sie über Kants Auffassung des radikal Bösen hinaus, ohne dessen moralische Bedeutung zu verwerfen, um angesichts der Erschütterung des traditionellen Verständnisses von Humanität durch den Eichmann-Prozess den Begriff der persönlichen Verantwortung zu retten. Insofern sie sich an der antiken griechischen Philosophie von Sokrates und Platon sowie an den Quellen des Judentums orientiert, wird in Umrissen eine konzeptuelle Nähe zu Hermann Cohen sichtbar. Der dialogische und dialektische Charakter des Denkens, auf dem Arendts Widerstand gegen den Totalitarismus beruht, ist in Cohens Philosophie, die Arendt kaum wird gelesen haben, vorgeformt. Das von Cohen in seiner Auseinandersetzung mit Kant für Arendt herausgearbeitete radikal Gute lässt sich jedoch nur durch zwei regulativen Prinzipien annäherungsweise bestimmen: durch das Sokratische Prinzip des inneren Selbstgesprächs und den auf die moralische Sphäre angewandten Urteilsbegriff Kants.
Occurrence of disabling myopathy secondary to hypovitaminosis D
Authors: S Chandrashekara  , Narone Utkarsha Chandrashekhar
Published: October 2024

We report a case of severe proximal muscle weakness caused by vitamin D deficiency. Hypovitaminosis D myopathy (HDM) is often misdiagnosed, as the symptoms are non-specific. However, the disease is easily treatable and complete recovery is possible if diagnosed on time.
Congenital block vertebrae in lumbar spine
Authors: Varshney Ankur Nandan , Kumar Nilesh , Singh Nand Kumar
Published: October 2024

A 34-year-old female visited our rheumatology clinic with the complaint of non-inflammatory back pain that usually occurred on bending down and radiated to bilateral lower limbs. A diagnosis of compressive neuropathy was suspected and an initially performed digital X-ray of lumbar spine revealed a rare congenital anomaly termed as ‘Congenital block vertebrae’ in the lumbar spine (Fig 1).