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Camptodactyly: literature review and case report.
No full textCamptodactyly is a congenital hand deformity characterized by a fixed flexion contracture, most commonly affecting the fifth finger. This literature review and case report highlight the clinical manifestations, and treatment options for camptodactyly. Occurring in approximately 1% of the population, the condition may be unilateral or bilateral and varies widely in severity [1–3]. Camptodactyly often appears at birth or during puberty, linked to genetic mutations, usually sporadic or autosomal dominant in nature [4, 5] painless, non-neurogenic flexion deformity at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the little finger, which may occur in isolation or in various developmental dysmorphology syndromes. In a ten-year survey of almost 10,000 consecutive neurology outpatient referrals, using a passive case finding strategy, camptodactyly was observed with a frequency of 0.43%. All were cases of isolated camptodactyly, and all but one were asymptomatic. Camptodactyly was more often bilateral, often asymmetric, than unilateral. A family history was common, sometimes with intrafamilial heterogeneity (symmetry, degree of angulation. Treatment remains controversial, with non-surgical options preferred for mild cases. Surgical intervention is considered when functionality is impaired. In this case, a patient with bilateral fifth finger contractures since birth managed the condition without surgery [3, 6]. This report aims to illustrate current understanding of camptodactyly’s natural course and discusses therapeutic strategies for better clinical outcomes
Dual connectivity in graphs /
No full textAn edge-coloring (Formula presented.) of a connected graph G is called rainbow if there exists a rainbow path connecting any pair of vertices. In contrast, (Formula presented.) is monochromatic if there is a monochromatic path between any two vertices. Some graphs can admit a coloring which is simultaneously rainbow and monochromatic; for instance, any coloring of (Formula presented.) is rainbow and monochromatic. This paper refers to such a coloring as dual coloring. We investigate dual coloring on various graphs and raise some questions about the sufficient conditions for connected graphs to be dual connected
Modalistinė modalinio ontologinio įrodymo interpretacija.
No full textThe dissertation examines Alvin Plantinga’s modal ontological argument for the existence of God. It addresses a question that has received relatively little scholarly attention – namely, which theory of modality shall be assumed in the context of this argument. The study argues that the most suitable theoretical framework for interpreting the modal ontological argument is neither modal abstractionism (adopted by Plantinga himself) nor other widespread possible worlds theories – modal concretism and modal fictionalism. The dissertation claims that a more promising alternative lies in modalism – a theory that holds that modal operators of possibility and necessity should not be analysed in terms of possible worlds semantics; according to modalism, there can be no analysis of modal operators and the truths they express whatsoever. This is, at its core, a simple and intuitive account that allows one to minimise ontological commitments. The dissertation maintains that modalism not only supports a formal derivation of God’s necessary existence but is also compatible with the key tenets of theism. By contrast, each of the aforementioned possible worlds theories is either difficult to reconcile with a theistic worldview or even fails to support the modal ontological argument’s conclusion. The principal contribution of this work is the development of a new theory called theistic modalism – the first attempt to integrate the theoretical backgrounds of theism and modalism
Environmental attitudes of future early education teachers: internal structure /
No full textTaking into consideration the complexity of current environmental problems, the scale of human activity’s impact on the environment, uncertainties in assessing the risks, long-term and indirect consequences of this activity, the importance and necessity of environmental education becomes obvious and undeniable. An extremely important area is the environmental attitudes of teachers who work with preschool and primary school children and have been role models for them for many years, and their formation during university studies. The study analysed the environmental attitudes of preservice preschool, pre-primary and primary education teachers, their structure and significance for education. Using mixed methodology and data collection from 136 university students, six main components were identified: environmental awareness, attitude, habits, concerns, position, and citizenship. The study revealed that the most significant components are awareness, attitude, and habits, forming the basic structural block of environmental attitudes. The least significant was citizenship, although it is important for long-term changes. The results demonstrated that learners have a high level of awareness, understand the importance of nature conservation, and are inclined to sustainable consumption, however, active participation in environmental activities remains limited. The study also revealed that ecological habits, such as waste sorting, support for renewable energy or conscious consumption, are significant for the formation of sustainable behaviour. Factor analysis showed that the first three components are closely related, promoting the practical application of knowledge and values. The secondary block of components (concern, position, and citizenship) is more related to value attitudes and societal transformation. The study emphasises the need to strengthen environmental education in university study programmes, in order to form more active student citizenship and motivation in environmental activities. These results are important in preparing future teachers to effectively shape environmental awareness in the younger generation and contribute to long-term sustainability goals
Exploring generative adversarial networks: comparative analysis of facial image synthesis and the extension of creative capacities in artificial intelligence /
No full textNeural networks have become foundational in modern technology, driving advancements across diverse domains such as medicine, law enforcement, and information technology. By enabling algorithms to learn from data and perform tasks autonomously, they eliminate the need for explicit programming. A significant challenge in this field is replicating the uniquely human capacity for creativity - envisioning and realizing novel concepts and tangible creations. Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), a leading approach in this effort, are especially notable for synthesizing realistic human facial images. Despite the success of GANs, comprehensive comparative studies of face-generating GAN methodologies are limited. This paper addresses this gap by analyzing the scope and capabilities of facial generation, detailing the principles of the original GAN framework, and reviewing prominent GAN variants specifically designed for facial synthesis. Through performance evaluations and fidelity analysis of generated images, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of GAN potential in advancing artificial intelligence creativity through performance evaluations and fidelity analysis of generated images
Impact of age and mean intracranial pressure on the morphology of intracranial pressure waveform and its association with mortality in traumatic brain injury /
No full textFilm-based multi-photon lithography for efficient printing of electromagnetic surface structures /
No full textThis study introduces an approach, termed film-based multi-photon lithography (MPL), for the efficient fabrication of electromagnetic surface structures. Unlike conventional MPL, which utilizes droplet-shaped photosensitive volumes for the fabrication of 3D structures, this method employs photosensitive thin films to minimize the influence of axial voxel dimensions. This modification enables rapid printing of 2D surface structures over large areas with dry objective lenses, achieving feature sizes as small as 250 nm. The versatility of film-based MPL is demonstrated through the fabrication of terahertz metasurfaces featuring metallized split-ring resonators on glass substrates, as well as mid-infrared metasurfaces comprising dielectric pillars on silicon-on-insulator substrates. These structures are successfully produced over areas spanning cm2 and mm2 using a hybrid organic–inorganic photoresist within a maximum processing time of 2 h. Particularly with hybrid organic-inorganic photoresists, additional post-processing via calcination shows significant potential for producing purely inorganic periodic structures with reduced feature sizes. Moreover, film-based MPL enables the fabrication of high-resolution 2.5D surface structures, which are challenging to achieve using conventional lithographic methods. Experimental results are analyzed through profilometry, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy- dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, while simulations confirmed the electromagnetic responses of the metasurfaces
Psychobiotics and the gut-brain axis: advances in metabolite quantification and their implications for mental health /
No full textPsychobiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer mental health benefits to the host. Several clinical studies have demonstrated significant mental health benefits from psychobiotic administration, making them an emerging topic in food science. Certain strains of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, Escherichia, and Enterococcus species are known for their ability to modulate the gut-brain axis and provide mental health benefits. Proposed action mechanisms include the production of neuroactive compounds or their precursors, which may cross the blood-brain barrier, or transported by their extracellular vesicles. However, there is a lack of in vivo evidence directly confirming these mechanisms, although indirect evidence from recent studies suggest potential pathways for further investigation. To advance our understanding, it is crucial to study these mechanisms within the host, with accurate quantification of neuroactive compounds and/or their precursors being key in such studies. Current quantification methods, however, face challenges, such as low sensitivity for detecting trace metabolites and limited specificity due to interference from other compounds, impacting the reliability of measurements. This review discusses the emerging field of psychobiotics, their potential action mechanisms, neuroactive compound estimation techniques, and perspectives for improvement in quantifying neuroactive compounds and/or precursors within the host
Personality functioning and peer social rebuff in adolescence: examining interactions over a two-year period.
No full textAs the conceptualization of personality disorders has evolved and the dimensional model of personality disorder has gained prominence, personality functioning – defined as the self and interpersonal processes on a continuum from adaptive to impaired – has become a key aspect of personality psychopathology. Adolescence, a period of significant change, is associated with an increased risk of emerging personality disorders and a greater importance of peer relationships. Negative peer experiences, such as social rebuff, can be reciprocally linked to personality development. This study examined the bidirectional relationship between personality functioning and social rebuff in a sample of 855 adolescents (aged 11–18) using three measurements over two years. Personality functioning was assessed with the Levels of Personality Functioning Questionnaire 12–18 (LoPFQ 12–18), whereas social rebuff experiences were measured by using the Multidimensional Peer Victimization Scale (MPVS). The results showed moderate to high stability in both constructs. Social rebuff measured at the baseline predicted personality functioning difficulties one year later only. In contrast, personality functioning consistently predicted social rebuff throughout the study. These findings highlight the significant role of personality functioning in adolescent development and its link to peer interactions, which are particularly important during adolescence
Neišnešiotų Lietuvos naujagimių augimas nuo gimimo iki paauglystės, fizinės ir bendros sveikatos būklės sąsajos (longitudinis tyrimas).
No full textThe dissertation was prepared between 2016 and 2024 at the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University. The doctoral dissertation is submitted for defence as a compilation of research articles and is composed of interconnected parts, each contributing to a comprehensive analysis of growth and health outcomes in preterm Lithuanian infants of different gestation and birth weight. This study aimed to evaluate the body size at birth of preterm newborns in Lithuania based on gestational age and sex, and to perform a longitudinal analysis of the physical condition, growth dynamics, and health outcomes of preterm-born children, depending on gestational age and birth weight. Initially, the birth weight and length patterns in the Lithuanian newborns by gestational age and sex were analysed, and population-based birth weight and length reference values and curves for Lithuanian newborns were constructed and compared against international standards. Subsequently, the distribution and variation of head circumference in Lithuanian newborns by gestational age and sex were analysed, population-based head circumference reference values and curves were developed for Lithuanian newborns, stratified by gestational age and sex, and compared to international standards. Following this, longitudinal growth outcomes in preterm Lithuanian infants were evaluated, with growth patterns (height, weight, body mass index) analysed across gestational age and birth weight groups until 12 years. Lastly, the dissertation examined multisystem health consequences in Lithuanian individuals born preterm, from infancy to adolescence, focusing on the influence of birth-related factors on health condition complexity and the interrelationships among different disorders. The dissertation presents clinically significant results that improve the evaluation and monitoring of the growth and health status of preterm newborns in Lithuania