bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolving Trends for the Clinical Presentation of Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments From Early to Late Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mundae Rusdeep , Haq Zeeshan , Adams Olufemi E. , Parke D. Wilkin , Tang Peter H.
Published: February 2023

Objective:

To evaluate the impact on trends in clinical presentation of acute, primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) from early to late phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

This study was a single-center, consecutive case series of 1,727 patients treated after vaccine availability (“late”; 3/29/21 to 9/26/21), corresponding time frame in previous year of pandemic (“early”; 3/30/20 to 9/27/20), and prior to pandemic (“pre”; 4/1/19 to 9/29/19). Primary outcome was proportion of patients presenting with macula-off RRD. Secondary outcomes included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and primary proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

Results:

While macula-off RRD rates were significantly (
P
< 0.0001) elevated in early and late cohorts compared to the pre cohort, only the early cohort showed a significant (
P
< 0.0001) increase in both primary PVR presentation and complex RRD repair. Patients lost to follow-up in early cohort were significantly (
P
< 0.0001) higher than others. Early cohort showed significantly (
P
< 0.0001) worse final BCVA compared to others.

Conclusion:

Patients in late pandemic were less likely to exhibit clinical features of worse RRD disease and have improved visual outcomes compared to those in early pandemic.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
2023;54:78–83.]
Initial Experience With Biosimilar Bevacizumab-bvzr For Intravitreal Use in Children: A Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Jung Eric E. , Lee Thomas C. , Nagiel Aaron
Published: February 2023

Background and Objective:

We report our initial experience with intravitreal bevacizumab-bvzr, a bevacizumab biosimilar approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2019 and recently introduced by our institution for off-label ophthalmologic use in children.

Patients and Methods:

This was an Institutional Review Board-approved single-institution retrospective case series of pediatric patients 21 years or younger who received at least one intravitreal injection of biosimilar bevacizumab-bvzr.

Results:

Twelve eyes of 9 patients were identified as having received intravitreal bevacizumab-bvzr, with a total of 13 injections performed. Indications for injection included retinopathy of prematurity (7/13), choroidal neovascularization (3/13), retinal vein occlusion (2/13), and Coats disease (1/13). Following injection of bevacizumab-bvzr, all patients experienced a positive clinical response. No occurrences of postinjection inflammation, intraocular pressure anomalies, or endophthalmitis were observed with a median follow-up of 18 weeks.

Conclusion:

In the absence of controlled studies, this case series supports the use of intravitreal bevacizumab-bvzr as an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy option, including in the pediatric population and resource-poor settings.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
2023;54:84–88.]
New techniques on fixed point theorems for symmetric contraction mappings with its application
Authors: Mudhesh Mustafa , Hussain Aftab , Arshad Muhammad , AL-Sulami Hamed , Ali Amjad
Published: February 2023

The target of this manuscript is to introduce new symmetric fractional $ \alpha $-$ \beta $-$ \eta $-$ \Upsilon $-contractions and prove some new fixed point results for such contractions in the setting of $ M_{b} $-metric space. Moreover, we derive some results for said contractions on closed ball of mentioned space. The existence of the solution to a fractional-order differential equation with one boundary stipulation will be discussed.
On certain Ostrowski type integral inequalities for convex function via AB-fractional integral operator
Authors: Karim Maimoona , Fahmi Aliya , Ullah Zafar , Bhatti Muhammad Awais Tariq , Qayyum Ather
Published: February 2023

We investigate and prove a new lemma for twice differentiable functions with the fractional integral operator $ AB $. Based on this newly developed lemma, we derive some new results about this identity. These new findings provide some generalizations of previous findings. This research builds on a novel new auxiliary result that allows us to create new variants of Ostrowski type inequalities for twice differentiable convex mappings. Some of the newly presented results' special cases are also discussed. As applications, several estimates involving special means of real numbers and Bessel functions are depicted.
Knowledge on inquest and cause of death– A study among doctors at teaching hospital Jaffna
Authors: Mayorathan U. , Pranavan S. , Moganalakshan M. , Niroshini J. S. A. , Jiffry A. M.
Published: February 2023

An inquest is the procedure for investigating sudden deaths in Sri Lanka, a fact-finding exercise rather than a fault-finding inquiry. Giving the correct Cause of Death (COD) is essential from both legal and statistical points of view. Doctors have an important role in both inquest and COD. This study aims to assess the knowledge of inquest and COD among doctors of various hierarchy levels at the teaching hospital, Jaffna.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted through systematic random sampling. The questionnaire was distributed and collected in small groups at convenient times with adequate instructions.
The total number of participants was 137, among which 44 were consultants, 45 were medical officers, and 48 were intern house officers. Sixty-two subjects had experience more than ten years. Considering the inquest, 37%(N=50) had good, and 61%(N=83) had average knowledge regarding the procedure, 43%(N=58) had good, and 54%(N=73) had average knowledge regarding indications; More than half of the doctors (52%, N=71)) had good, and 29%(N=39) had average knowledge about the doctor’s role in inquest procedure. Regarding COD, 47%(N=64) had good knowledge, while 37%(N=50) had average knowledge. Designation and experience showed a significant association (p-value<0.05) with the overall understanding of inquest, where consultants had good scores. Gender did not significantly correlate with the overall knowledge of inquest and COD.
Since a considerable proportion of doctors have average knowledge or below regarding inquest and COD, this is high time to make feasible interventions to upgrade the knowledge among doctors.
Post tuberculosis obstructive airway disease: an underdiagnosed complication of pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Gnanaruban G. , Sivansuthan S. , Athavan M.
Published: February 2023

Pulmonary infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a well-known morbidity in Sri Lanka, where tuberculosis (TB) is endemic, and it poses huge challenge to the healthcare system. A number of pulmonary complications occur following pulmonary TB. Post TB obstructive airway disease is one of them but under diagnosed in susceptible individuals, which results in presentation of patients at advanced disease with its complications, leading to poor patient outcome and quality of life. Here we report a case history of a patient who had past history of bacteriologically positive pulmonary TB, presented to us with advanced obstructive airway disease and its complications.
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in an adult with the unusual constellation of symp-toms and sign acting as red herrings
Authors: Vipusuthan T. , Nanthini G. , Prashana Y.
Published: February 2023

A multisystem inflammatory syndrome is a rare emerging entity, resembling Kawasaki disease after covid 2019 viral illness(1). Here, we describe a case of MIS -A in a 21year old girl who presented with fever, mucocutaneous rash and multisystem involvement, which was treated with intravenous immunoglobulins and methylprednisolone, resulting in uneventful recovery with prompt treatment and care at Jaffna Teaching hospital.
White scorpion (Hottentotta tamulus) sting induced autonomic hyperactivity and myocardial ischemia in a child
Authors: Pirasahnth G. , Sathiadas M. G.
Published: February 2023

Scorpion bite is one of the common emerging toxicological problems in Jaffna peninsula of Northern Sri Lanka. Majority of the patients have an uncomplicated course, but some people may have severe systemic envenomation and life-threatening cardiovascular events. This case report is of a child admitted to Paediatric professorial unit, Teaching Hospital Jaffna following white scorpion (Hottentotta tamulus) bite. Subsequently he developed myocardial ischemia. There was no literature available in paediatric population with myocardial ischemia following sting of Hottentotta tamulus.
Severe Raynaud in a young female with Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD)
Authors: Thivacaren S. , Saravanamuttu Ushagowry
Published: February 2023

Raynaud phenomenon is clinically manifested by sharply demarcated colour changes of the skin of the digits due to abnormal vasoconstriction of digital arteries and cutaneous arterioles. Raynaud can be primary or secondary. Here we present a young female patient who presented with Raynaud, inflammatory type of small joint pain and proximal muscle weakness. She was diagnosed to have mixed connective tissue disease after extensive evaluation.
Organisational cybernetics: A systems thinking method used for small and medium enterprises
Authors: Bugwandin Vinay , Bayat Mohamed S.
Published: February 2023

Orientation: Systems thinking stems from the Twenties and has constantly developed over the years in assisting sectors in operations, management and the environment in checking for interdependencies, interconnections and coherence in all aspects of the elements inputted. In particular, the viable systems model in organisational cybernetics of systems thinking can be considered as a tool used for validating elements and being goal-oriented in nature.Research purpose: The purpose of this research is to showcase the role and influence that the viable systems model in organisation cybernetics has in a study conducted on small and medium enterprises.Motivation for the study: In the business world, there is a profound need for organisations to ensure that process flows are maintained to achieve sustainability. The systems thinking approach ensures that process flows are maintained; however, they have proven to be robust in validating elements and achieving goals. In this regard, this study encourages organisations to embrace and utilise systems thinking approaches to improve productivity and, ultimately, sustainability.Research design, approach and method: In conjunction with the mixed methodology approach, namely the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for quantitative research and NVivo for qualitative research, the viable systems model in organisational cybernetics was used in this empirical study.Main findings: The core element of ‘strategy’ and the subelements of ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were investigated. It was found that ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were the main contributors towards achieving sustainability. Furthermore, a systems thinking model – the viable systems model – was used successfully to indicate the interdependencies to purport the goal of achieving sustainability. Ultimately, it was found that ‘strategy’, ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were required to achieve a ‘sustainable business strategy’.Practical/managerial implications: Leaders should consider the use of systems thinking as a tool to ensure the output of a robust process flow, increased productivity and good governance in their organisations.Contribution/value-add: The viable systems model in organisational cybernetics proved to be successful in checking for interconnections, interdependencies and coherence of the elements used in the research study. Researchers in today’s era should consider the use of systems thinking in future research studies.
Family quality of life and children with disability in Ethiopia: The role of support providers
Authors: Jansen-van Vuuren Julia , Dawud Solomon , Lysaght Rosemary , Batorowicz Beata , Aldersey Heather M.
Published: February 2023

Background: Family quality of life (FQOL) is an important outcome for families of children with disabilities globally and provision of support is associated with enhanced FQOL. However, FQOL research primarily focuses on conceptualisation and measurement, and originates from high-income contexts despite the fact that most children with disabilities live in low-income countries.Objectives: The authors examined how Ethiopian disability support providers practically contribute to meeting the needs of families of children with disabilities to enhance FQOL.Method: Building on a previous study exploring Ethiopian families’ perspectives on FQOL, the authors used an exploratory descriptive qualitative approach to interview various support providers. Interviews were conducted virtually (because of the coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic) in English or with interpreting assistance. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.Results: Support providers affirmed what families had described as important for FQOL – spirituality, relationships, self-sufficiency – and recognised their enormous support needs. They described various ways to support families – emotionally, physically, materially and informationally. They also expressed challenges and their need for support to meet families’ needs.Conclusion: Ethiopian families of children with disabilities need holistic support that incorporates spirituality, the whole family’s needs and disability awareness-raising. Collaborative and committed engagement from all stakeholders is necessary to support Ethiopian families to flourish.Contribution: This study contributes to global understandings of FQOL and describes practical approaches to support families of children with disabilities in an African context. The findings of this study highlight the influence of spirituality, relationships, self-sufficiency, poverty and stigma and the need for holistic support and disability awareness-raising to enhance FQOL.
Access to adequate nutrition as a global bioethical principle: An uninvited retrospective discourse with UNESCO
Authors: Rheeder Adriaan L.
Published: February 2023

During the development of the Universal Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR), discussions were held with various non-Christian religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Confucianism), as well as the Roman Catholic faith tradition around the content of the UDBHR, while the Protestant faith tradition was glaringly uninvited. If a Protestant delegation had been invited to the discussions on the development of the UDBHR in 2003, representatives could have indicated that the food ethics of UDBHR (access to adequate nutrition) are firmly grounded on biblical principles. Participants in the discussion could have indicated on the basis of a covenantal perspective that scarce, contaminated and toxic food or food that harbours no nutritional value is held by Scripture to be a reality, and that the calling of the church is to promote the availability of sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Along with this, interlocutors could have taken the discussion further to indicate that these matters could be supported from an Old Testament, as well as New Testament perspective (Christological and pneumatological).Contribution: From a broad Protestant standpoint, it would therefore be fair to claim that this global bioethical principle (access to adequate nutrition) should not only be supported but must also be actively promoted, locally and globally, not only by civil society and the state, but also by the church. Adequate and healthy food is the message of the kingdom of Christ.
The willingness to pay for African wormwood and Cancer bush capsules among youths in Mbombela, South Africa
Authors: Nsibanyoni Nobuhle P. , Tsvakirai Chiedza Z. , Makgopa Tshehla
Published: February 2023

Background: The demand for African wormwood and Cancer bush has surged as modern healthcare products have provided limited solutions for the ailments they treat. Moreover, there has been an increase in younger consumers of these medicinal plants, who expect lower-priced products which have a ‘polished look’ that is similar to over-the-counter medicinal products.Aim: This study investigates the need to introduce lower-priced capsules to meet these changes in consumer product preferences.Setting: The study was conducted in the city of Mbombela. This is a city that has a rich heritage in indigenous medicinal plant use but has the absence of a large informal market for their sale.Methods: A willingness-to-pay analysis was conducted. It utilised survey data that was collected from 105 university students.Results: The study found that there were two market segments split with a ratio of about 3:1 between those willing to pay a price similar to a conventional product in the lower price range and those not willing. However, the market potential for introducing a lower-priced product was only found in the Cancer bush market, where respondents were willing to procure the product at a discounted price, as opposed to the African wormwood market, where some respondents were not willing to part with any money at all.Conclusion: The study concludes that there is potential for lucrative market diversification if the industry introduces lower-priced capsules for Cancer bush.Contribution: The study provides insights into the possible areas of market development in the African indigenous medicines market.
Planetary health and environmental sustainability in African health professions education
Authors: Irlam James H. , Scheerens Charlotte , Mash Bob
Published: February 2023

CliMigHealth and the Education for Sustainable Healthcare (ESH) Special Interest Group of the Southern African Association of Health Educationalists (SAAHE) call for the urgent integration of planetary health (PH) and environmental sustainability into health professions curricula in Africa. Education on PH and sustainable healthcare develops much-needed health worker agency to address the connections between healthcare and PH. Faculties are urged to develop their own ‘net zero’ plans and to advocate for national and sub-national policies and practices that promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and PH. National education bodies and health professional societies are urged to incentivise innovation in ESH and to provide discussion forums and resources to support the integration of PH into curricula.Contribution: This article provides a position statement for integrating planetary health and environmental sustainability into African health professions education curricula.
Improving outcomes in co-morbid diabetes and COVID-19: A quasi-experimental study
Authors: Aronson Tatum , Dave Joel , Ras Tasleem
Published: February 2023

Background: High-risk people living with diabetes (PLWD) have increased risk for morbidity and mortality. During the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wave in 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa, high-risk PLWD with COVID-19 were fast-tracked into a field hospital and managed aggressively. This study evaluated the effects of this intervention by assessing the impact of this intervention on clinical outcomes in this cohort.Methods: A retrospective quasi-experimental study design compared patients admitted pre- and post-intervention.Results: A total of 183 participants were enrolled, with the two groups having similar demographic and clinical pre-Covid-19 baselines. Glucose control on admission was better in the experimental group (8.1% vs 9.3% [p = 0.013]). The experimental group needed less oxygen (p  0.001), fewer antibiotics (p  0.001) and fewer steroids (p = 0.003), while the control group had a higher incidence of acute kidney injury during admission (p = 0.046). The median glucose control was better in the experimental group (8.3 vs 10.0; p = 0.006). The two groups had similar clinical outcomes for discharge home (94% vs 89%), escalation in care (2% vs 3%) and inpatient death (4% vs 8%).Conclusion: This study demonstrated that a risk-based approach to high-risk PLWD with COVID-19 may yield good clinical outcomes while making financial savings and preventing emotional distress.Contribution: We propose a risk-based approach to guide clinical management of high risk patients, which departs significantly from the current disease-based model. More research using randomised control trial methodology should explore this hypothesis.
The role of family medicine and primary health care and its impact on the climate crisis
Authors: Govender Indiran
Published: February 2023

No abstract available.
Research collaboration in asymmetric power relations: A study of postgraduate students’ views
Authors: Van Biljon Judy , Mwapwele Samwel
Published: February 2023

Collaboration among researchers and across disciplinary, organisational and cultural boundaries is essential for addressing the increasingly complex challenges and opportunities facing international development. Despite the known advantages and various incentives, research collaboration within Africa (specifically within South Africa) is lacking. To better understand the reasons for this lack of research collaboration, this study explored collaboration between students and supervisors in an information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) postgraduate student project in South Africa. South Africa, a country with major social inequalities and asymmetric power relations, provides an appropriate context. The students’ perspectives provided a space for investigating the collaboration factors by unpacking the capability inputs according to Robeyns’ representation of personal capabilities. Data were captured from a survey and focus groups (FG) with students and supervisors in ICT4D from different universities in South Africa. Thematic analysis was used to identify and link the participants’ expectations of research collaboration with their perceptions of the challenges of such collaborations. The contribution is a conceptualisation of the main components representing research collaboration viewed in terms of personal capabilities, including the factors that influence collaboration.Transdisciplinarity contribution: Research collaboration is fundamental to promoting multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary research. The novelty of this study lies in applying a theoretical lens from the field of human development to explore research collaboration in the transdisciplinary field of ICT4D. Given the research application context and the theoretical lens applied, the findings have implications for initiatives and policies on funding transdisciplinary research collaboration.
God as one, with reference to Barth and the perichoresis doctrine
Authors: Oliver Willem H. , Oliver Erna
Published: February 2023

This article cursorily discussed the views of Karl Barth and the perichoresis doctrine on the Holy Trinity. The aim of the article was to discuss how both Barth and perichoresis almost touch the fact that God is one, although they do not admit it. They rather maintain the classic conviction (‘default idea’) that God consists of three hypostases (Persons) in one ousia (Being). Barth’s view is that God has different Seinsweisen, indicating that God reveals himself to humankind as Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. Perichoresis refers to God as a flow or a mixture of three Persons, wherein the flow or the mix is so close that it almost constitutes one Person. The authors of this article took the arguments of Barth and perichoresis one step further and argued that God is one.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: By studying Barth’s views and the perichoresis doctrine, this article challenged the dogma of the church regarding the Holy Trinity. The classic or Reformed (‘default’) view is that there are three Persons and one Being, while we proposed only one God with at least three Seinsweisen. Practical theology, church history, Old Testament and New Testament disciplines were utilised.
Is There a Relationship Among Investor Sentiment Industries? Evidence from the Vietnamese Stock Market
Authors: Luong Anh Tram , Le Thai Hong , Phung Huong Thi Thu , Le Thanh Trung
Published: February 2023

Investor sentiment and its influence on the stock market dynamics has become a growing concern in recent years especially among emerging economies. While the literature has focused on the sentiment of national stock market, the sentiment related to stock sectors has been largely ignored. Thus motivated, this research aims to examine the dynamic spillover among sentiment of different stock sectors in Vietnam during 2013-2022. To this aim, we use a financial network consisting of the sentiment variable in the TVP-VAR-based spillover framework. Our results show strong independence among sentiment indices in our network, especially from 2015 onwards. Overall, we find that industries heavily affected by government regulation, including Utilities, Finance, Banking, Oil Industry and Consumer Services, are net transmitters of shocks. The other industries, including Technology, Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, Health Care and Basic Materials, are net recipients.
Portfolio Selection: Micro and Macro Analysis of the Philippine Stock Market Using AHP and FTS-MC
Authors: Villapando Kianna Denise C. , Estember Rene , Young Michael N. , Perwira Redi Anak Agung Ngurah , Tri Prasetyo Yogi , Persada Satria Fadil , Nadlifatin Reny
Published: February 2023

We have seen rapid development in financial stocks over the past decades, but variabilities in share price behavior remain due to micro and macroeconomic variables. This study examined the Philippine stock market from micro and macro perspectives in performing the following tasks: (1) Identify the top-performing industry and consider its top companies as an investment pool using AHP – analytic hierarchy processes; (2) Forecast future stock prices based on historical behavior utilizing FTS–MC – Fuzzy Time Series Markov Chain Model; (3) Present a portfolio selection framework considering an EWP – equally weighted portfolio strategy. These resulted in the following: (1) Property identified as the best industry; (2) Stock prices being accurately predicted; and (3) EWP portfolio that outperforms the benchmark (Philippine Stock Exchange). Hence, applying AHP in investment pool screening, FTS-MC in forecasting price movement, and EWP portfolio strategy can be a worthy investment framework.
Cryptocurrency Portfolio Selection Using Technical Analysis Indicators
Authors: Francisco Leif Emerson C. , Young Michael N. , Prasetyo Yogi Tri , Persada Satria Fadil , Nadlifatin Reny
Published: February 2023

The study designed and recommended a portfolio selection framework that can outperform traditional investment benchmarks in the cryptocurrency market. The study utilized technical analysis indicators to choose the investment pool. The study considered the top 169 cryptocurrencies in Yahoo Finance with a market cap of at least $100M. The technical analysis indicators used were Simple Moving Average (SMA), Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), Relative Strength Index (RSI), and On-Balance-Volume (OBV). The resulting safety-first and mean-variance portfolio outperformed the benchmark (S&P500 market index) in terms of descriptive statistics and pair-return difference T-test. Therefore, the portfolios generated could be viable investment alternatives for investors looking to build a portfolio in cryptocurrency markets.
Financial Development, Banking Sector and Economic Growth in BiH: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Topić Pavković Branka , Kovačević Slaviša , Kurušić Drago
Published: February 2023

Achieving sustainable economic growth is one of the main goals of economic policy in modern countries. As previous research has shown, the development of financial system has a significant influence on economic growth. The importance of the banking sector in developing countries becomes particularly important due to the insufficient evolvent of other parts of the financial system. The subject of this paper is the analysis of the impact of the banking sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina on economic growth in the period from 2000 to 2021. The aim of the study is to quantify this relationship. The regression relationship between the observed variables was tested, as well as the presence of causality. The results show that the increase in total loans granted by the banking sector to companies from the non-financial sector has a direct positive impact on the development of GDP. Namely, a 1% increase in total bank credit to non-financial private sector firms leads to an increase in GDP of about 0.46%.
Spreadsheet Application for Determining Activity Priority of Control and Inspection Authorities
Authors: Jovanović Maja , Antić Slobodan , Đorđević Milutinović Lena
Published: February 2023

The research objective of this paper is to analyze the complaint evaluation and management process, required for inspection control carried out by state control bodies. In response to identified needs of state bodies, related to initiating the official inspection control procedure, which implies complaints consideration and justification of statements made in the petition, as well as the petition evaluation procedure, the authors of the paper propose development of corresponding spreadsheet application. The application should facilitate and improve identification and quantification of activities and subjects of control characterized by significant risk, and in which there is significant public interest, i.e., eliminate possible misuse of complaint. The paper shows the direct contribution of automation to more efficient limited resource management of state bodies in the Republic of Serbia.
Analysis of Acid Mine Drainage Effects to the Domestic Water Resources Using GIS-Based Technique
Authors: Senoro Delia , De Jesus Kevin Lawrence , Monjardin Cris Edward
Published: February 2023

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a serious problem to the environment, water resources and people. Calculating areas affected by AMD is helpful to create strategic programs for the protection of water resources, its remediation needs, reduction of adverse health effects, and enhancement of policy or guideline values. Accounting the extent of area contaminated by metals and metalloids (MMs), the research team collected 26 groundwater (GW), 49 tap water (TW), and 25 water samples from refilling stations (RS) in the island province that was exposed to mining disaster. The analyzed water samples coupled with geographic information system (GIS) created the spatial MMs concentration maps that were then used as environmental accounting tool to determine specific areas contaminated by As, Ni, and Pb. Records showed that 80 – 100% of the total area of the island province have water resources containing MMs concentration beyond the Philippines NSDW and WHO permissible limit.
The Value Relevance of Intangible Assets: Evidence from an Emerging Market Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Hoang , Tan Le To Minh
Published: February 2023

This study aims to examine the value relevance of intangible assets and their influence on the value relevance of accounting information in Vietnamese-listed non-financial firms. Data used in the study are panel data collected from audited financial statements of 618 non-financial firms from 2015 to 2020. We test three models, including accounting information (earnings per share and book value per share) without intangible assets model, accounting information with intangible assets model, and accounting information with an interaction term of intangible assets model. Fixed-effects analyses show that intangible assets and traditional accounting measures are positively associated with stock prices. The study reveals the value relevance of earnings per share is higher for firms that own intangible assets than for firms that do not. In other words, intangible assets can improve the value relevance of accounting information.
Employees' Perception of the Performance Evaluation Process Elements: Evidence from Banking Industry
Authors: Rakic Nela , Barjaktarovic Rakocevic Sladjana , Ignjatovic Marina
Published: February 2023

In this study, we argue that evaluation system elements, more precisely performance measures and managers' biases, fairness perception, pay transparency, and incentive types, have important consequences for employees' performance. Since managers have limited time for performance evaluation, performance information is usually incomplete and includes subjectivity. This leads to performance evaluation biases, more precisely to centrality and leniency biases. Additionally, we argue that employees' fairness perception is very important not only for the evaluation process but also for their satisfaction. Moreover, a growing body of literature emphasizes the role of pay transparency in the performance evaluation process. Finally, the study analyses how important it is for employees to receive rewards they value and expect. We developed a survey where we collect data from one bank in Serbia. Most employees think that branch managers use subjective performance evaluation, but that their evaluations are fair. However, results show that centrality and leniency biases exist and there is still room for improvement.
Impact of the Dividend Policy and Related Corporate Governance Mechanisms on Agency Costs
Authors: Đunđek Kokotec Ivana , Grbac Tihana , Klačmer Čalopa Marina
Published: February 2023

The paper's primary goal is to identify the role of the dividend policy and related corporate governance mechanisms in reducing agency problem between management (agent) or large controlling shareholders and minority shareholders (principal). Another important goal of the research paper is approximating the agency costs. The turnover coefficient of total assets approximates this measure for the work. The agency costs are specific for joint-stock companies, and it results from the agency problem (when agents do not represent the best interests of principals), and it is not possible to measure it directly. Namely, the agency costs and the possibility of their reduction are linked to the legal protection of investors (principals) and the specifics of the joint-stock company's. Therefore, additional knowledge is essential in solving the agency problem in the insufficiently researched developing countries. Based on the results of the empirical research carried out as part of this paper, the significant role of dividend policy in explaining changes in the agency costs has been confirmed, which is in line with the majority of research carried out so far.
Wolność i zło w polityce. Rozważania wokół wojny i totalitaryzmu w myśli Jana Patočki
Authors: Drwięga Marek
Published: February 2023

W artykule autor chciałby, na przykładzie XX‑wiecznego czeskiego filozofa Jana Patočki, przedstawić problem wolności człowieka skonfrontowanej z dwojakiego rodzaju doświadczeniami: wojny oraz przemocy politycznej reprezentowanej przez państwo totalitarne. Te dwa doświadczenia można z pewnością traktować jako historyczne doświadczenia zła. Chodzi więc o konfrontację między ludzką wolnością a złem. W tym kontekście czeski myśliciel starał się odpowiedzieć na pytanie: jakiego rodzaju odpowiedzi moralnej w takiej sytuacji może czy nawet powinien udzielić człowiek? Jak człowiek może lub powinien się zachowywać, doświadczając zła?

Freedom and evil in politics. Reflections on war and totalitarianism in the thought of Jan Patočka

Taking the 20th century Czech philosopher Jan Patočka as an example, in this paper, the author would like to illustrate the problem of human freedom when dealing with two kinds of experiences: war and political violence, as exemplified by the totalitarian state. Indeed, it is possible to treat these two types of experiences as historical experiences of evil. What is at stake, then, is the juxtaposition of human freedom and evil. Given this context, the Czech thinker sought to answer the question: in such a situation, with which moral response can or should one reply? When experiencing evil, how can or should a person behave?
Stanisław Karol Teichmann – próba identyfikacji. Suplement do rozważań Józefa Lewandowskiego w sprawie biografii Krzysztofa Kamila Baczyńskiego
Authors: Baczyński Bogusław Andrzej
Published: February 2023

Stanisław Karol Teichmann – an attempt at identification. A supplement To Józef Lewandowski’s reflections on the biography of Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński

On the grounds of archival and other research, the author puts forward a hypothesis that the father of Stanisław Augustyn Baczyński was not the tailor Zygmunt Baczyński, an 1863 insurrectionist, but Alojzy Stanisław Piotr Teichman vel Teichmann, born in Terebovlia, son of Alojzy and Seweryna Eckhard, administration officer of the general hospital in Lviv. In an attempt to prove his thesis, the author presents family connections and social relations between the Teichman and Baczyński families.
Zarys dziejów klasztoru św. Michała Archanioła mniszek dominikańskich w Kamieńcu Podolskim (1708–1866)
Authors: Stefaniak Piotr
Published: February 2023

The outline of the history of St Michael the Archangel’s Monastery of Dominican nuns in Kamianets Podilskyi (1708–1866) The Dominican monastery in Kamianets Podilskyi was the last pre-partition foundation on Polish land established by the nuns of the Order of Preachers. Józef Mocarski, provincial prior of the Dominican Ruthenian province, in 1708 founded the monastery for the nuns of his order in the recently recovered from the Turks (on the strength of the Treaty of Karlowitz) Kamianets Podilskyi. It was the easternmost Catholic monastery. It included nuns only of noble Polish origin; they were daughters of Podolia noblemen. In 1721 the process of setting up the monastery was completed and it was also then that a small convent church was consecrated, whose patron became St Michael the Archangel (patron of Ruthenia and the Dominican Ruthenian province). The Dominican nuns from Kamianets led contemplative life in strict enclosure. The monastery did well until the decline of the Commonwealth of Poland. In 1787 the monastery was threatened with closing as part of the plans to modernize the Kamianets fortress, which was to be strengthened with the buildings of city convents. Eventually, the nuns were not displaced, as the reorganization plans were not carried out. In 1793 Kamianets Podilskyi was taken over by Russians and the partition period started. Although the monastery was wealthy, the Dominican nuns started to struggle with various problems. A crisis of vocations appeared, which in 1822 was overcome through bringing three nuns from the monastery in Novogrudok, but in 1833 the situation repeated itself. However, a monastery school was set up, which gave the nuns some financial support. In 1839 the last vestition of two nuns took place, and in 1842 on the strength of a tsar’s decree the novitiate was closed, which was an indication of the monastery’s near demise. The monastery obtained a long-range status and existed until the closure of the Kamianets diocese in 1866. Then eight Dominican nuns were sent to the Carmelite nuns of old observance in Dubno, where there was a long-range monastery. That status was lost in 1890 and then the nuns residing there were relocated to the Benedictine nuns monastery in Sandomierz. It was then that three years later the last Dominican nun from Kamianets, Joanna Austutowiczówna, died, closing the history of her convent.
Dwór i zbiory Michała Pawlikowskiego w Medyce
Authors: Jakubowski Bartosz
Published: February 2023

The manor and collections of Michał Pawlikowski in Medyka

In 1809 Józef Benedykt Pawlikowski bought a landed estate in Medyka near Przemyśl from Wincenty Głogowski. Since then until 1939 Medyka remained in the hands of successive members of the Pawlikowski family, who made it their family hearth and main administrative centre of their large estate. Under the Pawlikowskis Medyka was not only a prosperous estate but also an important culture centre. The Medyka manor played an exceptional role between the wars, when it was a renowned literary centre and a painter’s atelier. Michał Pawlikowski (1887–1970), the last owner of Medyka, built a new manor between 1920 and 1927, where he ran a private publishing house called “Biblioteka Medycka” (The Medyka Library). The atmosphere of the place attracted representatives of the cultural elite of the period, famous politicians, outstanding scholars, army officers and clergy. The invaluable archival material and works of art accumulated in the manor reflected his archivist and collector’s passions. This paper presents Michał Pawlikowski as the last owner of the Medyka manor and also as an art collector and patron of the arts. The text discusses the development of the manor in Medyka with special attention paid to architectural achievements of particular members of the Pawlikowski family. The paper also describes at length the residence erected by Michał after the First World War, its architecture and the invaluable collections accumulated inside it, including the legacy of artist Artur Grottger and manuscripts of eminent Polish poets.
AI and Arduino –Based Smart Home Robot Assistant
Authors: R Apoorva , N R Amogavarsha , Hegde Bhupin Hegde , B P Deepak , M Likithesh
Published: February 2023

The creation of genuine conversation between humans and machines is the primary objective of artificial intelligence (AI). To increase the connection between humans and machines, numerous IT firmshave developed various types of Virtual Personal Assistants (VPAs) based on their applications and use cases, including Microsoft's Cortana, Apple's Siri, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. Using Python, we have developed our own virtual personal assistant that is only available for Windows and can be accessed on any Windows explorer version, including Windows 7, 8, and 10. Python is used as a programming language because it has several important libraries that are used to carry out tasks. Our virtual assistant can identify and respond to the user's voice utilizing python installation packages. Because of how simple it is, home automation has become considerably more popular and in demand in recent years. Recently, work in this area has taken place, and a few systems that either use voice assistants or applications to manage electrical appliances have been developed. To administer the smart home and its various apps, an embedded system is employed as a local server. The findings show a variety of activities that the robot can take to answer the user's questions. The activities performed can be voice responses, mechanical moves, and motions, software tasks, or simply text messages.
Atuação da psicologia nas unidades pediátricas de referência para COVID-19: possibilidades e desafios
Authors: Silveira Daniele , Soares Dielma Castro
Published: February 2023

A infecção pelo novo coronavírus foi considerada emergência de saúde pública pela Organização Mundial de Saúde em janeiro de 2020. Apesar da alta transmissibilidade, a população pediátrica, em geral, apresenta formas menos graves da doença do que os adultos. Contudo, crianças e adolescentes também podem ter agravamento do estado de saúde e necessitar de internação, podendo ocasionar repercussões emocionais aos mesmos e seus acompanhantes. O presente trabalho descreve a atuação da Psicologia nas unidades de referências (UTI e enfermaria) em síndromes respiratórias de um hospital pediátrico filantrópico da cidade de Salvador-Bahia, no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19, apresentando as mudanças ocorridas no ambiente hospitalar, bem como as repercussões desencadeadas nos sujeitos (pacientes, familiares e equipe), refletindo os desafios e possibilidades da Psicologia nestes cenários. O hospital criou um plano de contingenciamento para evitar a disseminação da COVID-19; dentre as ações, a contraindicação de troca de acompanhantes; a suspensão de visitas; a restrição da circulação de pacientes e acompanhantes fora das unidades de tratamento. Foram pensadas estratégias para minimizar o sofrimento de pacientes e familiares durante a internação, e no Serviço de Psicologia foram construídos fluxos e materiais para nortear a atuação profissional de tais práticas, incluindo orientações quanto à visita virtual, teleatendimento, psicoeducação, bem como fluxo de suporte a óbito. Nas unidades de referência para COVID-19 foi fundamental a atuação da Psicologia, considerando o sofrimento causado pelo adoecimento e isolamento, dando espaço às subjetividades. Ademais, emergiu a necessidade de realizar novas práticas e intervenções psicológicas.
Influência do uso de computadores e smartphones no aparecimento dos erros refrativos nos estudantess da Universidade Lúrio, 2021-2022
Authors: Caetano Bista Florindo Luís , Tomo Hermenegildo Bartolomeu Jaime Fernando
Published: February 2023

Contexto: Computadores e smartphones são dispositivos digitais, importantes para vida académica, profissional e pessoal, estes emitem radiações ópticas que resultam em sintomatologia oculares, podendo causar erros refrativos. Objectivo: Analisar a influência do uso de computadores e smartphones no aparecimento de erros refractivos nos estudantes da UniLúrio, 2021-2022. Metodologia: Estudo de natureza básica, descritiva, com abordagem quantitativa, obteve-se informações por meio de questionário adaptado e aplicação de exame refrativo. Universo populacional foi de 1682 estudantes da UniLúrio, com uma amostra de 244. Aplicou-se a amostragem probabilística estratificada. Dados foram analisados no SPSS versão 25.0. Na descrição usou-se estatística descritiva (frequência, media e desvio padrão), para testar hipótese à estatística inferencial (regressão logística multinomial) com significâncias inferiores a 0.05. Resultados: participaram 244 estudantes, sendo 159 (65.2%) do sexo masculino e 85 (34,8%) do sexo feminino, na faixa etária de 17-35 anos. Todos participantes usavam dispositivos digitais, 62(25.41%) usavam o dispositivo mais de 5 horas por dia, 70 (28.69%) usavam numa distância de 20-30 cm, 171 (70.08%) acessavam o dispositivo mais de 4x/dia, e 128 (52,46%) usavam em ambientes escuros. Os sintomas mais prevalentes foram fadiga ocular 154 (63,1%), fotofobia 135 (55,4%), dor ocular 110 (45,1%), visão desfocada 103 (42%), cefaleias 81 (33,2%) e sensação de secura 75 (30,7%). Verificou-se que 43 (17.62%) são emetropes, 119 (48.77%) tem astigmatismo, 64 (26.23%) miopia e 18 (7.38%) hipermetropia. Os fatores predisponentes, tempo de uso, tempo de descanso, frequência do uso, uso em ambientes escuro e a redução do pestanejo, apresentam um p > 0.05, para a hipermetria e astigmatismo, já para miopia, a redução do pestanejo apresenta p = 0.04; OR = 4.34, tendo este uma influência significativa no aparecimento da Miopia. Conclusão: O uso de computadores e smartphones em distâncias inadequadas de visualização, a exposição prolongada sem descansos regulares e redução do pestanejo, predispõem o aparecimento de sintomas oculares e problemas visuais como o erro refrativo.
Breves reseñas biográficas de los autores
Authors: de Pensamiento Político Revista Internacional
Published: February 2023

Volumen 16 (2021)
Protagonistas de su participación política
Authors: Sobczyk Rita , García de Diego José María , Barros Rodríguez Francisco
Published: February 2023

El presente artículo analiza la relación entre el ciclo vital y la participación política, centrándose en la población joven en Europa. Partiendo de los resultados de la Encuesta Social Europa (2018), el estudio apunta a la consolidación de las pautas del activismo que se alejan de la política convencional. La investigación capta, además, que este sector poblacional se caracteriza por niveles de participación más altos que los otros grupos etarios en las actividades que, de manera directa, permiten visibilizar sus preocupaciones e intereses políticos. Finalmente, se han detectado varias formas de activismo que convergen con las transformaciones de carácter estructural de las pautas de participación política de las sociedades europeas.