bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palliative Medicine: Past - Present - Future
Authors: Braš Marijana , Đorđević Veljko , Kaštelan Snježana
Published: March 2023

Modern medicine is divided into three categories, namely preventive, curative and palliative. Palliative medicine and palliative care focus on people suffering from progressive incurable diseases with an expected fatal outcome, as well as their family members. It is conducted by an interdisciplinary palliative team at all levels of health care. Palliative care is a broader term than palliative medicine, as it encompasses other activities carried out by social welfare institutions as well as civil society organizations, religious institutions and other stakeholders in the community. Although elements of the palliative approach have been encountered throughout history since the beginning of medical treatment, in the last fifty years we have witnessed the rapid development of palliative medicine as a distinct specialization and subspecialisation in many countries around the world. Palliative care is a civilizational step forward and a true example of person-centered medicine. Given the aging population and the growing technological capabilities of modern medicine, we expect a large increase in the need for palliative care which requires the active contribution of all participants involved in creating and implementing social and health policies, both locally, nationally and internationally. This paper presents the historical development and current state of palliative medicine in the world with special emphasis on the situation in Croatia. Key words: palliative medicine, palliative care, palliative team, quality of life, strategic plans, person-centered medicine, total pain, education
UVODNA RIJEČ UZ TEMATSKI BROJ ČASOPISA: IZAZOVI HRVATSKOG ZDRAVSTVENOG SUSTAVA U DOBA KRIZE
Authors: Kaštelan Snježana , Matančević Jelena , Bežovan Gojko
Published: March 2023

Healthcare systems, due to their importance and their growing robustness, are often kept separate from other welfare state systems. Important changes in the healthcare systems in European countries occurred at the beginning of the 1990s and are connected with the introduction of market in healthcare. This was accompanied by a change in discourse with an emphasis on terms such as ‚personal responsibility‘, ‚choice‘ and ‚consumers‘. This replaced the old political rhetoric that focused on universal, public and solidarity-based healthcare provision.
Information Cardiac Platform to Support Healthcare
Authors: Georgieva-Tsaneva Galya , Gospodinova Evgeniya , Bogdanova Galina , Dimitrova Diana
Published: March 2023

The article presents a software information platform for storing, processing, researching, and protecting cardiology information obtained during the study of patients with various cardiovascular diseases and a healthy control group. The information platform contains non-confidential data about the research subjects, which is freely available; as well as a confidential part; cardiological data, containing information about the biomedical tests carried out; as well as the parametric and graphical results of the mathematical analyzes obtained based on the registered cardiac data. The created integrated information platform can be used by cardiology specialists to evaluate the results of cardiac examinations and assist cardiologists in making a correct diagnosis and prescribing effective treatment. The platform is a tool with a user-friendly interface and can be useful for cardiac data researchers as well.
AN OPTICAL APPROACH FOR BLOODLESS, IN-VITRO AND NON-INVASIVE GLUCOSE MONITORING
Authors: Fathimal M. Sameera , Kirubha S. P. Angeline , Prabha A. Jeya , Jothiraj S.
Published: March 2023

Diabetes mellitus (DM) indicates elevated glucose concentration in blood. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces inadequate insulin whereas in type 2 diabetes, the body is incapable to utilize the insulin present. Insulin is required to transport glucose into the cells. The insulin resistance by the cells causes the glucose level in the blood to increase. At present, the clinical methods available to diagnose DM are invasive. The diagnosis of DM is done by either pricking the fingertip or drawing blood from the vein followed by the quantification of blood glucose in terms of [Formula: see text]. Continuous monitoring is limited as skin is punctured or venous blood is extracted. Spectroscopic analysis of hair, nail, saliva and urine possess the potential to differentiate the hyperglycaemic from the healthy subjects facilitating non-intrusive diagnosis of diabetes. The variation in the incident wavelength following the interaction with the sample is measured by a spectrometer. Based on the energy of the excitation source, the molecular structures present in the sample will either vibrate or absorb and emit photons that produce a spectrum. The samples were collected from both the groups of subjects and pre-processed prior to further examination. The samples were then characterized using the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The spectral output was pre-processed, filtered and analyzed so as to discriminate between the diabetic and healthy subjects. Although the spectral band of nail and hair samples appears to be identical, a difference in the amplitude was observed between both diabetic and normal subjects at 1450, 1520, 1632, 2925 cm[Formula: see text]. The area under curve (AUC) in the range of 3600 to 3100 cm-1 is a prominent marker in the discrimination. The peak wavelength and AUC were utilized as a biomarker to discriminate the diabetic and normal individuals.
Monitoraggio e miglioramento della qualità del sonno in terapia intensiva: una revisione della letteratura
Authors: Piombini Alice , Imbrìaco Guglielmo
Published: March 2023

La maggioranza dei pazienti ricoverati in terapia intensiva riferisce una riduzione della qualità  del sonno durante il periodo di degenza. La carenza di sonno comporta gravi ripercussioni sull'outcome clinico della persona, ritardando i tempi di dimissione e aumentando il rischio di complicanze. Nonostante la problematica sia ampiamente diffusa nei reparti di area critica, la consapevolezza al riguardo è ancora minima.
Ringraziamento ai revisori 2022
Authors: ANIARTI ANIARTI
Published: March 2023

Il processo di revisione delle proposte di pubblicazioni che arrivano alla rivista SCENARIO. Il nursing nella sopravvivenza è detto double-blind peer review. Per garantire una revisione in doppio cieco i revisori non sono a conoscenza dell'identità degli autori e gli autori non conoscono a chiè stato assegnato il manoscritto. Ci sono almeno 3 revisori che si prendono in carico ogni file pervenuto in redazione, questo processo richiede almeno 4 mesi ma a volte ci sono degli inevitabili ritardi. Una volta revisionato il manoscritto l'autore viene informato se è stato accettato per la pubblicazione, se è stato rifiutato (con l'invio di una lettera che motiva questa scelta), se è stato accettato con Major revision o Minor revision da apportare. Inoltre il Comitato Editoriale ha tra gli obbiettivi quello di aiutare gli autori che ci inviano una proposta di pubblicazione a renderla pubblicabile per la rivista, seguendo i rigorosi standard che ci vengono richiesti dalle Banche Dati internazionali dove è indicizzato SCENARIO. Il nursing nella sopravvivenza. Il Comitato di Redazione ed il Comitato Editoriale, esprime un sentito ringraziamento ai Revisori che, con il loro impegnativo lavoro, hanno contribuito a migliorare la qualità della rivista.
Catatonia associated with prolonged stupor after general anesthesia in a patient with multiple neuropsychiatric disorders -a case report-
Authors: Baek Sungwon , Heo Min Hee , Kim Kyung Woo , Lee Sang Il , Kim Kyung-Tae , Park Jang Su , Choe Won Joo , Kim Jun Hyun , Kim Ji Yeon
Published: March 2023

Background: Delayed emergence after general anesthesia may significantly affect a patient’s condition. We present the case of a patient who experienced prolonged delayed recovery of consciousness, language, and motor response due to catatonia after eight hours of total elbow arthroplasty under general anesthesia.Case: A 68-year-old woman with neuropsychiatric disorders and Parkinson’s disease did not respond adequately during recovery after more than eight hours of general anesthesia. Following the operation, the patient was semi-comatose and appeared to have nonconvulsive status epilepticus upon awakening from anesthesia. However, subsequent examinations did not reveal any organic causes. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with catatonia, treated, and discharged following gradual improvement.Conclusions: Although rare, patients taking psychiatric drugs for an extended period may experience delayed emergence after prolonged general anesthesia without identifiable causes. Catatonia should be considered in the differential diagnoses of these patients.
Effects of Chromium, Inositol and Resistant Starch Supplementation In Pcos
Authors: Krishnan Nandita , Velraja Supriya
Published: March 2023

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a diverse condition that has distinct signs and symptoms such as hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation. It is a major hormonal disorder that affects the health-related quality of life and mental health of young women. The etiology of PCOS still remains uncertain but insulin resistance is one of the major factors seen in PCOS individuals which are characterized by the presence of acanthosis nigricans. Dietary interventions and lifestyle modification are being considered to be a first-line treatment for women with PCOS. Proper diet, adequate nutritional status, and following a physical activity routine help in alleviating the symptoms of PCOS. Dietary interventions should focus on weight management and insulin regulation. An abnormal gut microbiome function results in ovarian dysfunction, immune changes, insulin resistance, and disruption in bile synthesis. Therefore, gut health of women suffering from PCOS should be prioritized and interventions that improve the gut health should be followed. This systematic review is performed to investigate the association between micronutrient supplementation and PCOS. The related articles were searched using the databases PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. All the studies involving micronutrient supplementation and PCOS were included in this systematic review. Micronutrient supplementation was significantly inversely associated with improving PCOS prognosis. The main finding of the systematic review is that it concludes there is a direct association between micronutrient supplementation as it helps in alleviating the symptoms and maintaining a proper lifestyle in women with PCOS.
Gene Enrichment Analysis and Protein–Protein Interaction Network Topology Delineates S-Phase Kinase-Associated Protein 1 and Catenin Beta-1 as Potential Signature Genes Linked to Glioblastoma Prognosis
Authors: Ashwini K , Gollapalli Pavan , Shetty Shilpa S , Raghotham Ananthan , Shetty Praveenkumar , Shetty Jayaprakash , Kumari NS
Published: March 2023

Background:

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant and accounts for 60% of brain tumors in adults. Current therapy for GBM involves surgical removal of the tumor followed by radiotherapy with concomitant adjuvant therapy temozolomide. Despite improvements in therapy, patient survival remains low. The exact etiology of a brain tumor is uncertain, and numerous unknown genes are involved in the progression of GBM. The aim of the present study was to evaluate various genes involved in GBM through bioinformatic approach.

Methods:

In the present study, gene expression profile of GSE68424 was retrieved from the GEO database to explore the genes in GBM.

Results:

Analysis of expression profile data revealed that 33 genes were upregulated and 1189 genes were downregulated based on the log2 fold change cut-off criteria. The genes S-Phase kinase-associated protein 1 (SKP1) and Catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1) have been linked to GBM prognosis.

Conclusion:

SKP1 and CTNNB1 were identified as a candidate gene for GBM study as a result of these findings. Catenin beta-1 was the protein with the highest closeness centrality value and is the key component of canonical Wnt signaling downstream pathway. More study is needed to establish the molecular function of SKP1 and CTNNB1 in GBM development, as well as the biomarker's specificity and sensitivity.
Global Escalation in Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales and Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infections
Authors: Sannathimmappa Mohan Bilikallahalli
Published: March 2023

Rise in carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections, especially among immunocompromised patients in healthcare settings is an imminent threat as they are difficult to treat and result in a prolonged length of hospital stay, frequent treatment failures, increased economic burden on the patient and the nation, and a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Major carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria are carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp., and others. These bacteria that contaminate health-care settings are the major causes of a wide range of hospital-associated infections including life-threatening septicemia, pneumonia, meningitis, bones and joint infections, and skin and soft-tissue infections. Carbapenems are regarded as last resort available antibiotics to treat multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections that show resistance to most of the beta-lactam antibiotics in addition to fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens such as CRE and CRAB is a matter of serious concern because of limited treatment options and grave consequences. The World Health Organization has given level one priority to these pathogens and the United States Centers of Disease Control and Prevention considers CRE and CRAB as one of the top five most priority pathogens of public health importance. Strict control measures by the government and public is critical to prevent emergence and dissemination of these dangerous pathogens. In this article, the authors have summarized the microbiological and epidemiological perspectives of CRE and CRAB with a special focus on diagnosis, prevention, and novel promising alternative treatment strategies.
Effectiveness and Adverse Effects of Astrazeneca and Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines Among Medical Students in Oman
Authors: Sannathimmappa Mohan Bilikallahalli , Nambiar Vinod , Aravindakshan Rajeev , Baig Muqeet Fauzan , Hassan Ahmed Kifah , Al-Balushi Maryam Saud Mohammed
Published: March 2023

Background:

Immunization against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 became necessary to control the menace of COVID-19. However, the safety of COVID-19 vaccines must be monitored continuously. The present study aims at comparing the effectiveness and adverse effects of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines among the cohort of medical students.

Methods:

It was a single-cohort comparative study, and the data were collected using an online survey from participants who took at least two doses of AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines. The data included demography, breakthrough infections, and adverse effects following vaccination. Bivariate and logistic regression models were used to find associations between effectiveness and independent variables. Statistical significance was considered at P < 0.05.

Results:

In total, 115 students who had received Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 21.52. Female (n = 90) participants were more compared to males (n = 25). The majority of them received Pfizer vaccine (95), while AstraZeneca was received by only 20 participants. Overall effectiveness of both AstraZeneca and Pfizer was nearly 85%, while almost 100% protection was observed among those who were vaccinated after contracting the disease. Logistic regression revealed an independent effect of COVID-19 before any vaccination dose offered 66% protection against any subsequent breakthroughs (odds ratio 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.095–2.08). At least one adverse effect was reported by 96 (83.5%) participants (95% CI: 75.4%–89.75%). Pain at the site of injection, fever, generalized weakness, and headache were the most common adverse effects. Fever (P < 0.001), body ache (P < 0.001), generalized weakness (P = 0.002), and joint pain (P = 0.014) were significantly more common in AstraZeneca as compared to Pfizer.

Conclusion:

Coronavirus vaccines were well tolerated, safe, and induced protection in most participants. Most postvaccine adverse events were mild to moderate, mainly due to induction of immune response by the body for protection. Furthermore, these mild to moderate adverse effects should not be hindrance to vaccination.
Transrenal DNA Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Kim Taeyoon , Kim Jehun , Kim Taeyun , Oak Chul-Ho , Ryoo Sungweon
Published: March 2023

Background:

Multiple attempts have been made to use biological samples other than sputum to diagnose tuberculosis (TB). Sputum acid-fast bacillus (AFB) microscopy is the fastest, most straightforward, and most inexpensive method for diagnosing pulmonary TB. However, urine can be used in place of sputum owing to its various advantages, such as a noninvasive method of collection, convenient handling and storage, and minimal risk of infection in health-care workers involved in sample collection. In this study, we aimed to assess the suitability of urine as a sample to obtain transrenal DNA (trDNA) to diagnose TB. This study involved several patients with TB undergoing inpatient treatment, whose AFB microscopy showed negative inversion.

Methods:

Here, 51 urine samples were collected from 40 patients with TB and examined to confirm the presence of trDNA. First, we compared the efficiency of two tr DNA extraction methods: An automated magnetic bead-based method and a more efficient anchoring extraction method. Statistical analyses were performed using Excel software (Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019).

Results:

Although molecular diagnosis using GeneXpert yielded negative results, a peculiarity was observed. There was no significant difference between GeneXpert findings and our results nor was there any difference in the sequential trDNA samples obtained. However, even when GeneXpert results were negative, trDNA was detected in seven out of ten samples using the anchor extraction method.

Conclusions:

Further studies are needed to establish biomarkers for the progression of TB treatment.
Nutritional Status and Patterns of Anemia in Sudanese Adult Patients with Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Elfaky Iman Osman , Merghani Tarig H. , Elmubarak Izzeldin A. , Ahmed Alaeldin H.
Published: March 2023

Background:

Malnutrition increases the risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) and causes reactivation of latent pulmonary TB. On the other hand, TB is a recognized cause of malnutrition. Evaluation of the nutritional status and anemia of tuberculous patients with active disease is an important step toward TB management. The objectives of the study were to determine the nutritional status and patterns of anemia in adult patients with active pulmonary TB.

Methods:

A cross-sectional hospital-based study was performed on newly diagnosed patients with sputum-positive pulmonary TB. The nutritional status, total percentage of body fat (BF%), anemia, and general health of each patient were assessed with measurements of the body mass index (BMI), skin fold thickness, complete blood counts, and biochemical tests.

Results:

Patients’ ages ranged from 16- to 74-year old, with the majority between 20- and 40-year old. Male: female ratio was 2:1. The majority of males and females (91.2% and 84.5%, respectively) had low BF%. Underweight (BMI < 18.5) was 62%, whereas overweight (BMI ≥25.0) was 4%. BMI showed a significant decline with chronicity of the illness (P < 0.001). Eighty participants showed anemia, 90% microcytic hypochromic, and 10% normocytic normochromic. Serum albumin was low in 21%, with no relation to renal disease and insignificant association with proteinuria.

Conclusion:

Patients with active pulmonary TB are likely to have microcytic hypochromic anemia, low BF%, and low BMI, especially with a long duration of the disease.
Trends in Pediatric Tuberculosis Diagnosis Utilizing Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/Rifampicin in a Poor-Resource, High-Burden Region: A Retrospective, Multicenter Study
Authors: Garba Maria Ahuoiza , Ogunbosi Babatunde Oluwatosin , Musa Abdullahi , Ibraheem Rasheedat Mobolaji , Alao Micheal Abel , Jiya-Chitumu Eunice Nnaisa , Olorukooba Abiola Aira , Makarfi Hauwau Umaru , Tahir Yusuf , Ibrahim Hafsat , Saidu Adamu Adamu , Bashir Muhammad Faruk , Odimegwu Chioma Laura , Ayuk Adaeze , Alkali Nura Hamidu
Published: March 2023

Background:

The burden of tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria remains high, and diagnosis in children, a challenge. We aimed to document yield from XpertMycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin (MTB/RIF) as a mode of diagnosis for children and the variables associated with a positive result.

Methods:

This was a retrospective review of TB treatment cards of children aged 0–15 years managed from January 2017 to December 2021 across six public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The data obtained were analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical significance was set atP< 0.05.

Results:

Of 1489 children commenced on TB treatment, 1463 (97.9%) had sufficient data for analysis the median age of study participants was 60 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 24, 120), and 814 (55.6%) were males. Xpert MTB/RIF test was performed in 862 (59%) participants and MTB was detected in 171 (19.8%) participants, of which 6.4% (11/171) had RIF resistance reported. The use of Xpert MTB/RIF rose from 56.5% in 2017 to 64% in 2020 but fell to 60.9% in 2021. We found that older age (> 10 years), the presence of pulmonary TB (PTB), and a negative human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status were associated with positive Xpert MTB/RIF tests (P= 0.002, 0.001, and 0.012, respectively).

Conclusion:

The utilization of Xpert MTB/RIF in children increased in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors associated with MTB detection by Xpert MTB/RIF include older age, the presence of PTB, and a negative HIV status. Clinical and radiological evaluation continues to play vital roles in the diagnosis of childhood TB in Nigeria.
Tuberculosis in Elderly Population: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study
Authors: Sakthivadivel Varatharajan , Gaur Archana , Geetha Jeganathan
Published: March 2023

Background:

Tuberculosis (TB) is a common but neglected infectious disease of global significance. It has a varied presentation in the elderly compared to adults. The present study was conceived to study the resemblances and differences shared in terms of clinical profile, comorbidities, and laboratory investigations by TB in adults and the elderly population.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, 68 adults and 72 elderly patients of both genders were enrolled. We collected information on demographics, comorbidities, clinical presentations, and laboratory investigations. The comparison of data between groups was done using the unpaired t-test for continuous variables and the Chi-square test for frequency distribution analysis.

Results:

The mean age of the adults and elderly population was 42.13 ± 10.7 years and 68.78 ± 7.62 years, respectively. The elderly TB group demonstrated loss of weight, appetite, the prevalence of comorbid conditions (coronary artery disease, hypertension, and malnutrition), bilateral, predominantly lower lobe, and diffuse involvement of lungs.

Conclusion:

As the elderly population increases, nonspecific clinical manifestations or laboratory results in this population mandate awareness of these atypical features for effective management of TB in this group.
Association between Severity of COVID-19, Periodontal Health and Disease in Riyadh Subpopulation
Authors: Koppolu Pradeep , Genady Esraa Mohamed , Albdeirat Lelian Mohammed , Sebai Farah Amer , Alrashdi Dalal Mohamemd , Lingam Amara Swapna , Alsada Fatima Abdulmohsin R. , Al-Khalifa Fatimah Ibrahim , Abdelrahim Rawa Kamal
Published: March 2023

Background:

Periodontitis and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) both exhibit an exaggerated inflammatory response as common traits. Given that periodontal diseases have been linked to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, it is quite possible that periodontitis and COVID-19 are related. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to ascertain whether the severity of COVID-19 and periodontal disease are related.

Methods:

A retrospective study was done using the 3 years of patients’ medical and dental records in the University Hospital. A telephone interview was employed to estimate the severity of symptoms got through COVID-19 infection. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. The Chi-square test, with statistical significance set at 0.05, was used to determine the relationship between the severity of periodontal disease and the severity of COVID-19.

Results:

It was seen that there was a strong relationship between the severities of COVID-19 disease and periodontal disease. The mildest gingivitis cases (63%), Stage 1 periodontitis (62.9%), were associated with the COVID-19-negative group, whereas the most severe gingivitis cases (85.7%), Stage 4 periodontitis group (66.66%), were associated with COVID-19-positive group. In comparison to those without periodontitis, patients with periodontitis had a 1.54 times higher risk of COVID-19 complications (P = 0.048). Patients who had comorbidities were 2.49 times to have COVID-19 complications (P = 0.02).

Conclusion:

The observations presented above lead to the conclusion that COVID-19 and periodontal disease severities are related. Understanding the potential association between periodontitis and COVID-19 through systemic inflammation could be a means of achieving a high-quality medical care. To validate the findings, additional research with larger samples is required.
A Case of Spinal Tuberculosis Presenting with Cauda Equina Syndrome
Authors: Acharya Abhijit , Otta Sarita , Puppala Sumirini
Published: March 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) of the central nervous system accounts for only 1% of all cases of TB but 50% of these occur in the spine. Common clinical manifestations of spinal TB include fever, weight loss, back pain, lower limb weakness (either upper or lower motor neuron), and skeletal deformities such as kyphosis or gibbus. Infective pathology caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis with epidural collection can present as acute cauda equina syndrome. Here, we describe a 28-year-old female patient who presented with low back pain and ascending weakness of both lower limbs (Medical Research Council grade 4/5 with absent ankle reflex) for 2 months with sudden-onset loss of bladder and bowel control for 1 day without any localized spinal tenderness, swelling, or discharging sinus in the back. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) spine was suggestive of an intraosseous collection with spondylodiscitis at the L4 level vertebral level. MRI can help identify the involvement of the vertebral bodies on either side of the disk, disk destruction, cold abscess, vertebral collapse, and the presence of vertebral column deformities making it a sensitive tool for the detection of spinal TB. Antituberculous treatment remains the cornerstone of treatment. Surgery is required in selected cases, for example, large abscess formation, severe kyphosis, an evolving neurological deficit, or lack of response to medical treatment. A combined intervention of laminectomy with drainage of the collection with antitubercular therapy after microbiological evidence helped in the resolution of the patient’s condition. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment generally result in a good prognosis.
Enhancing Self-Efficacy of Beginner Teachers in the Use of E-Portfolio: The Role of a Mentor Teacher
Authors: Mokone Mahlape Victoria , Setlalentoa Wendy
Published: March 2023

The term “beginning teacher” describes those individuals who have less than one to three post qualification years in a teaching profession and or individuals who are entering the teaching profession directly from university. A need exists for a beginner teacher in their first year of teaching to have a mentor teacher that will assist them to improve their self-efficacy so that they can be able to achieve quality teaching and learning in any learning environment. Recent studies have shown that there is growing concern with beginner teachers’ self-efficacy on how to deal with and manage the realities of teaching in modern classrooms. A mentor teacher is a teacher who has a wealth of knowledge, learned from experience and is willing to share. The aim of this study was to investigate how the use of e-portfolio may enhance beginner teacher’s self-efficacy with support from their mentor teachers. The beginner teachers are faced with challenges in their first years of teaching; hence they need mentoring, support to improve their self-efficacy. An e-portfolio might be a means which can assist in monitoring and evaluating the professional activity of the beginner teachers, their achievements and develop them. E-portfolio provides openness and transparency when mentoring the teachers. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions with fifty-six (56) randomly selected Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) students at a university of technology and thematic analysis was employed. Findings of this study indicated that beginner teachers needed guidance and support from their mentor teachers for beginner teachers to transform and build their self- efficacy positively and improve in their use of e-portfolio. The study recommends that induction support be used as an approach to improve novice teachers’ teaching performance and self- efficacy in the use of e-portfolio.
Curriculum enablement and posthumanism: Pathways for creating and implementing a community development curriculum
Authors: Magaiza Grey , Muchaku Shadreck
Published: March 2023

This article argues that the application of transcendent disciplinarism as a lens for critical inquiry and curriculum enablement is urgent in a posthuman era. The paper asserts that a curriculum must be responsive to societal needs by providing students with a "toolbox" for developing functional and productive societies. The community development degree is pedagogically premised on utilising multiple disciplinary synergies primed for analytically and practically improving the human condition. The article uses critical terms in posthumanism, such as relationality, resilience, and sustainable communities, to evoke a return to the local by analysing the creation and implementation of a responsive community development curriculum. Through pedagogical approaches that infuse collaborative and cooperative learning with active learning strategies, we argue that the community development curriculum should be structured to enhance the capabilities of students to assist communities in adapting and transcending to transformation. This paper followed a systematic literature review of journal articles extracted from SCOPUS, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and EBSCOhost electronic databases. A final sample of twenty-four articles was reviewed, analysed, and presented using ATLAS.ti flow chart diagrams. The study's findings revealed that posthumanism-inspired transformation normatively conceives the earth as a connected entity and places as entangled and interconnected. The article further interrogates how the posthuman approach can be used to create and implement pathways for curriculum enablement.
Perceptions of Academic Resilience by Senior Phase Learners and Teachers from Low Socioeconomic Schools
Authors: Mampane Motlalepule Ruth
Published: March 2023

This article reports on the perceptions of academic resilience of Grade 8 and Grade 9 learners and their teachers in low socioeconomic township schools. Learners from township schools experience many risk factors that can impede their academic success and careers. A lack of resources is one of the risk factors experienced by the learners. During COVID-19, where an online or hybrid learning model was relied on for teaching and learning, most township schools relied on the rotational learning model instead. The study’s main aim is to evaluate and understand the learners’ perceptions of their academic strengths, future aspirations and motivation, and to compare their perceptions with those that emerged from their teachers’ blind evaluations. The participants were teachers (n = 8) and learners (n = 12) from two purposively sampled township secondary schools. Data-generation instruments included semi-structured interviews for learners and a self-constructed Likert-type-scale questionnaire for teachers. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings suggest that risk factors to academic resilience exist within the family and the school environment. Lack of parental support and school security, poor teacher-learner relationship and unemployment were frequently mentioned. However, factors that can enhance academic resilience were also identified within the family, school and community. Risks and protective factors affecting learners’ immediate threats and needs were identified. Access to technology and the need for technological advances were not identified as resources or risks. Future research should examine the relationship between resilience, academic resilience, career aspirations and the role of technology in education.
SoK: Modeling for Large S-boxes Oriented to Differential Probabilities and Linear Correlations
Authors: Sun Ling , Wang Meiqin
Published: March 2023

Automatic methods for differential and linear characteristic search are well-established at the moment. Typically, the designers of novel ciphers also give preliminary analytical findings for analysing the differential and linear properties using automatic techniques. However, neither MILP-based nor SAT/SMT-based approaches have fully resolved the problem of searching for actual differential and linear characteristics of ciphers with large S-boxes. To tackle the issue, we present three strategies for developing SAT models for 8-bit S-boxes that are geared toward differential probabilities and linear correlations. While these approaches cannot guarantee a minimum model size, the time needed to obtain models is drastically reduced. The newly proposed SAT model for large S-boxes enables us to establish that the upper bound on the differential probability for 14 rounds of SKINNY-128 is 2−131, thereby completing the unsuccessful work of Abdelkhalek et al. We also analyse the seven AES-based constructions C1 - C7 designed by Jean and Nikolić and compute the minimum number of active S-boxes necessary to cause an internal collision using the SAT method. For two constructions C3 and C5, the current lower bound on the number of active S-boxes is increased, resulting in a more precise security analysis for these two structures.
Finding Collisions for Round-Reduced Romulus-H
Authors: Nageler Marcel , Pallua Felix , Eichlseder Maria
Published: March 2023

The hash function Romulus-H is a finalist in the NIST Lightweight Cryptography competition. It is based on the Hirose double block-length (DBL) construction which is provably secure when used with an ideal block cipher. However, in practice, ideal block ciphers can only be approximated. Therefore, the security of concrete instantiations must be cryptanalyzed carefully; the security margin may be higher or lower than in the secret-key setting. So far, the Hirose DBL construction has been studied with only a few other block ciphers, like IDEA and AES. However, Romulus-H uses Hirose DBL with the SKINNY block cipher where only very little analysis has been published so far. In this work, we present the first practical analysis of Romulus-H. We propose a new framework for finding collisions in hash functions based on the Hirose DBL construction. This is in contrast to previous work that only focused on free-start collisions. Our framework is based on the idea of joint differential characteristics which capture the relationship between the two block cipher calls in the Hirose DBL construction. To identify good joint differential characteristics, we propose a combination of MILP and CP models. Then, we use these characteristics in another CP model to find collisions. Finally, we apply this framework to Romulus-H and find practical collisions of the hash function for 10 out of 40 rounds and practical semi-free-start collisions for up to 14 rounds.
Cryptanalysis of Reduced Round ChaCha – New Attack & Deeper Analysis
Authors: Dey Sabyasachi , Garai Hirendra Kumar , Maitra Subhamoy
Published: March 2023

In this paper we present several analyses on ChaCha, a software stream cipher. First, we consider a divide-and-conquer approach on the secret key bits by partitioning them. The partitions are based on multiple input-output differentials to obtain a significantly improved attack on 6-round ChaCha256 with a complexity of 299.48. It is 240 times faster than the currently best known attack. This is the first time an attack on a round reduced ChaCha with a complexity smaller than 2k/2, where the secret key is of k bits, has been successful.Further, all the attack complexities related to ChaCha are theoretically estimated in general and there are several questions in this regard as pointed out by Dey, Garai, Sarkar and Sharma in Eurocrypt 2022. In this regard, we propose a toy version of ChaCha, with a 32-bit secret key, on which the attacks can be implemented completely to verify whether the theoretical estimates are justified. This idea is implemented for our proposed attack on 6 rounds. Finally, we show that it is possible to estimate the success probabilities of these kinds of PNB-based differential attacks more accurately. Our methodology explains how different cryptanalytic results can be evaluated with better accuracy rather than claiming that the success probability is significantly better than 50%.
Virale Hepatitis bei Kindern
Authors: Ehrenschwender Martin
Published: March 2023

1. Matthews PC et al. Acute severe hepatitis outbreak in children: A perfect storm. What do we know, and what questions remain? Front Pharmacol 2022; 13: 1062408. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1062408.
2. Stevens CE et al. Vertical transmission of hepatitis B antigen in Taiwan. N Engl J Med 1975; 292(15): 771–4. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197504102921503.
3. Benova L et al. Vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus: systematic review and meta-analysis. Review Clin Infect Dis 2014; 59(6): 765–73. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciu447.
4. Daniels D et al. Surveillance for acute viral hepatitis – United States, 2007. MMWR Surveill Summ 2009; 58(3): 1–27.
5. Dagan R et al. Incidence of hepatitis A in Israel following universal immunization of toddlers. JAMA 2005; 294(2): 202–10. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.294.2.202.
6. Drebber et al. The role of Epstein-Barr virus in acuteand chronic hepatitis. J Hepatol . 2006; 44(5): 879–85.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2006.02.006.
7. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/whounkhep-laboratory-2022.1.
8. Ilic I et al. Multi-country outbreak of severe acutehepatitis of unknown origin in children, 2022. Review Acta Paediatr 2023. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.16685.
Impact of job stress on employee performance and turnover intentions: evidence from banking sector in Pakistan
Authors: Nabi Ghulam , Shah Nazir Haider , Bukhari Syed Ali Raza
Published: March 2023

The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of stress on employees and their impact on turnover intentions. In the modern world, many industries and companies face various levels of challenges and obstacles in the workplace with their employees. The main problem facing the employer is the turnover of employees in the office, and the high-stress level can have a significant impact on the company's future growth. The study was descriptive in nature, and the survey method was applied to collect the data. A questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale was used for the collection of data from the respondents. Data were collected personally from the respondents and analysed through SPSS using Pearson correlation and regression analysis. The findings of the study suggest that the increase in employee stress levels leads to a decrease in employee performance levels and that stress significantly affects employee performance. Some limitations or problems encountered while doing this research are limited sample size and capacity access.
Akta Perdamaian Oleh Notaris Sebagai Mediator Alternatif Penyelesaian Sengketa Di Luar Pengadilan
Authors: Panjaitan Wijaya Natalia
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Deed of Peace by a Notary is one of the authority by the Attributive for Notary. This is one of the notary's active roles to act to resolve disputes outside the court.  

Purposes of the Research: The purpose of this study is to find out how the authority of a Notary as an Mediators in Alternative Dispute Resolution to make a dedd  of peace and how the legal force of a peace deed as an alternative dispute resolution outside court.

Methods of the Research: This study case uses a normative juridical method by using a statutory and conceptual approach.

Results Originality of the Research: Notary has the authority to make a Deed of Peace and act as Mediator in Alternative dispute resolution outside the court which has the same legal force as a court decision if it is registered with the court so it has executorial power.
Topicality of the Copula Form Shi in Santa Mongolian
Authors:   Inner Mongolia University, Geka Aoi
Published: March 2023

This paper describes the topicality of the copula form shi in Santa Mongolian, as I analyse both the copula and the environment of shi as a topic marker. While previous scholars have simplified the description of shi by suggesting that it is not important owing to the fact that it is merely borrowed from Chinese, I believe that the larger description and context of shi is quite complex. Drawing on previous work and on my own empirical data, I note that the fact that shi is accompanied by a pronoun but not by an interrogative suggests the possibility of an environment of topicality. Regarding meaning function, I show that the shi is used in attributive predicates, in conditional clauses of conditional sentences, in sentences expressing contrast, and in a kind of emphatic construction or when the subject noun phrase is long. Regarding topicality, I discuss the relationship between 是 and the topic, between the topic and condition and the situation of neighboring Mongolic languages. I also discuss the fact that the shi can act as a topic marker in various permutations with the auxiliary verb wo. With this in mind, I conclude that the shi of Santa Mongolian should be analyzed as a topic marker and not as a copula.
Emotions in Jimmy Liao’s Picturebook: A Case Study of Pictorial Metaphors
Authors:   Universiti Putra Malaysia, Qi Xiaoyang , Mamat Roslina ,   Universiti Putra Malaysia
Published: March 2023

Pictorial and visual metaphors have been the subject of much conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) research since the 1990s, and possibly prior to this time. The graphic metaphor constitute one category of multimodal metaphor, and hence one that suggests and requires an understanding of abstract concepts in visual information (Forceville 1996). A picturebook, for example, is a distinct type of visual genre containing various such pictorial metaphors. It is also generally acknowledged that picturebooks have narrative value, and convey emotions, while also stimulating the development of intellectual and aesthetic affordances. Similarly, these semiotic repertoires also contribute to the mental capacities of people, not least of which is their health. As many people undergo loneliness and solitude in the spreading of the current pandemic, such semiotic banks provide such a service. This research examines the pictorial metaphors in Beautiful Solitude, painted by the Chinese picturebook artist, Jimmy Liao, following his survival from leukemia. The study employs Kovecses's three-stage emotional metaphor frame; emotional motives, emotional existence, and emotional expression. The study observes the visual design grammar of the paintings as a theoretical framework to analyse these pictorial metaphors of emotion. The results of the study include the impact that these visual metaphors have on the portrayal and treatment of mental health. This study contributes to work on pictorial metaphors and thus suggests ways in which individuals envisage self, other, and the world, when in pain and when they sense themselves as isolated from their surroundings and communities.
Investigating Rape Culture in the Philippines through #HijaAko: Towards A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis
Authors:   De La Salle University, Bautista Aileen
Published: March 2023

Rape culture is a form of violence against women. One factor influencing the continuing predominance of this rape culture, in a range of global contexts, is the fact that societies in these contexts tolerate and, to an extent, normalize such sexual violence. This normalizing occurs ubiquitously, and not least through online technologies, such as with netizens. Yet, these netizens also influence conceptions of a just world. The belief in a just world appears to operate through the views of netizens toward victims of sexual abuse, as reflected in social media platforms. One example of this activism is the hashtag #HijaAko, which, as with many other hashtags, is being appropriated by netizens used as a way to strengthen online anti-rape movements. These hashtags can be global and local, where, many focus on the locality of #MeToo hashtags, largely owing to identification with place and space, and the cultural memory of such violence within respective physical communities. This study explores the rape culture landscape as reflected in online discourse, specifically on the Twitter platform. Drawing on Dalbert’s (2009) ‘Belief in the Just World’ hypothesis, and also on work in critical technocultural discourse scholarship, in this paper, I argue that the localized #MeToo hashtag, #HijaAko, has provided and has constituted a techno weapon for victims of sexual violence such as rape to retaliate against the existing predominant rape culture in the Philippines. The #MeToo hashtag, #HijaAko purports to create an online shared community that itself aims at the restoration of online justice that has seemingly failed to appear and succeed through other legitimate means, such as through the legal system. A general concesual confirmation by the netizens who have become active in this movement provides the victims with a sense of ‘virtual justice’ in several ways, and ncluding through the use of ‘receipts’ as weapons. As such, and through a multimodal discourse analysis examining 340 tweets, I present data and its analysis, to reveal that Philippine society capitalizes on victim-blaming as the core advocates and perpetrators of the local rape culture.