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Telemedicine as a tool to prevent multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in poor resource settings: Lessons from Nigeria
Get PDFBackgroundThis mini review aims to provide an overview of the role of telemedicine in preventing multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Nigeria. The specific objectives include examining the potential benefits of telemedicine, identifying the challenges associated with its implementation, and highlighting the importance of addressing infrastructure limitations and data privacy concerns.MethodsThis minireview is based on a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, including scholarly articles, and reports,. A systematic search was conducted using electronic databases, such as PubMed and Google Scholar, to identify relevant publications related to telemedicine and MDR-TB prevention in Nigeria. The selected articles were assessed for their relevance, and key findings were synthesized to provide an overview of the role of telemedicine in addressing the challenges of MDR-TB in Nigeria.ResultsThe review demonstrates that telemedicine has the potential to significantly contribute to MDR-TB prevention efforts in Nigeria. The benefits of telemedicine include improved access to specialized care, enhanced patient adherence to treatment, and potential cost savings. However, challenges such as infrastructure limitations and data privacy concerns need to be addressed for successful implementation. Integrating telemedicine into the healthcare system has the potential to strengthen MDR-TB prevention, particularly in underserved areas, including within Nigeria. Specifically, the integration of telemedicine into the healthcare system can enhance access to specialized care, improve patient adherence, and potentially reduce costs associated with MDR-TB management.ConclusionsAddressing infrastructure challenges, ensuring data privacy and security, and fostering trust among healthcare providers and patients are critical for successful implementation of telemedicine. Further research and policy frameworks are needed to guide the effective implementation and scale-up of telemedicine in MDR-TB prevention efforts in Nigeria
Cultural Predictors of Facial Ethnicity Preference in the Miskitu and Mestizos of Rural Nicaragua
Get PDFBoth basic visual experience and cultural associations with race and ethnicity may contribute to the extent observers do or do not favor some facial ethnicity cues over others. Given that visual media contain a highly biased selection of faces, with Whiteness both over-represented and strongly privileged in film and television, communities for whom visual media are relatively novel may experience an additional, pervasive source of attitudes to facial ethnicity markers. In the current research, we compared individuals of Mestizo and Miskitu identities living in communities on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua with, and without, regular access to television on their relative preference for facial stimuli manipulated to look more or less White (Black vs White, Black vs Mestizo, Mestizo vs White). Results showed that all communities showed an overall preference for images with lighter skin, although changes in facial shape did not affect preferences. Those who had attended more years of education preferred whiter faces than those with less education, and those who watched more television preferred whiter faces more only where color (rather than shape) had been manipulated. Results are discussed in terms of the broader relations around ethnicity, status, and technological transition in this area
Investigating the Determinants of Financial Well-Being: A SEM Approach
Get PDFStudies reveal that the financial well-being of employees has a direct bearing on their productivity and overall well-being. The wellness initiatives organized by the information technology (IT) companies operating in India have also started focusing on the contributing aspects of financial well-being. In this context, the article explores the determinants of financial well-being of IT professionals in India. The article utilizes confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for the analysis. The study employs a survey questionnaire covering financial literacy, financial behavior, and financial fragility. It also attempts to recognize the influence of gender and job roles (technical or managerial) in ascertaining financial well-being. The sample data used in the study include 237 professionals employed in the IT sector. The study uses partial least squared structured equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to understand the connection between the determining factors. The results indicate that financial well-being is positively influenced by financial literacy and financial behavior while financial fragility has a substantial negative impact. The financial literacy and financial fragility are significantly different between technical and managerial roles. Gender appears to have a sizeable impact on the financial behavior and financial fragility levels—women employees performed better in both the factors. Interestingly, financial literacy levels of the two genders are not significantly different. The results show that there is a need to focus on literacy, behavior, and fragility in financial wellness programs organized by the IT industry. Further, the study recommends offering tailored financial wellness training modules created based on the job levels and gender instead of following “one program, fits all” standardized approach
Making sense of burnout: A reflexive thematic analysis of how teachers in England discuss and encounter the term burnout.
Get PDFDespite extensive research looking at the phenomenon of burnout, little is known about how individuals working in traditionally high-burnout occupations understand the term. Interviews were conducted with six teachers working in state schools in England centring on how the term burnout was understood and how it was used or encountered. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed from a critical realist perspective to analyse the data generated. All participants described burnout as a stress related condition, yet for some participants the point at which stress became burnout was unclear leading to an understanding that burnout was the point at which one was unable to work. Many participants highlighted an individualistic understanding of burnout, perceiving it as representing an individual deficit rather than an organisational failing. This was often reinforced by where the term was encountered (at work or in the media), and was linked to the stigma many participants associated with burnout. This paper concludes that individualistic framings of burnout obscure its organisational determinants while reinforcing notions that mental well-being is something which should be personally – and privately – managed by individuals
Using mobile health technology to assess childhood autism in low-resource community settings in India: An innovation to address the detection gap
Get PDFA diagnosis of autism typically depends on clinical assessments by highly trained professionals. This high resource demand poses a challenge in low-resource settings. Digital assessment of neurodevelopmental symptoms by non-specialists provides a potential avenue to address this challenge. This cross-sectional case-control field study establishes proof of principle for such a digital assessment. We developed and tested an app, START, that can be administered by non-specialists to assess autism phenotypic domains (social, sensory, motor) through child performance and parent reports. N = 131 children (2–7 years old; 48 autistic, 43 intellectually disabled and 40 non-autistic typically developing) from low-resource settings in Delhi-NCR, India were assessed using START in home settings by non-specialist health workers. The two groups of children with neurodevelopmental disorders manifested lower social preference, greater sensory interest and lower fine-motor accuracy compared to their typically developing counterparts. Parent report further distinguished autistic from non-autistic children. Machine-learning analysis combining all START-derived measures demonstrated 78% classification accuracy for the three groups. Qualitative analysis of the interviews with health workers and families of the participants demonstrated high acceptability and feasibility of the app. These results provide feasibility, acceptability and proof of principle for START, and demonstrate the potential of a scalable, mobile tool for assessing neurodevelopmental conditions in low-resource settings
The Melanoma of Cyprus: The responsibilities of Konstantinos Karamanlis and Evangelos Averoff for the Cyprus tragedy / Το Μελάνωμα της Κύπρου: Οι ευθύνες των Κωνσταντίνου Καραμανλή και Ευάγγελου Αβέρωφ για την κυπριακή τραγωδία
Get PDFA catapult book for the management of the Cyprus problem from the Greek side. They are the great shadows that Greek history carries for Cyprus and the Cyprus problem. They are what is hidden deep within the dark "tunnels" of history.The book is a historical manual for the Cyprus problem. Its importance and significance lies in the fact that it sees history beyond the beaten track. From a perspective that the established class cannot and does not want to see it. The book highlights aspects that remain well hidden from the deep state of Athens. Vasilis Fouskas, with his book, stands against a timeless narrative, convenient and with many questions hanging. A narrative that only serves the establishment and big interests. The role of Karamanlis and Averoff is known, but is deliberately not mentioned, not highlighted.The destruction of Cyprus, its violent dismemberment, is the result of the plans of NATO, the USA, Britain and Turkey. The political establishment in Athens also consented to these plans. The crime was committed by the foreign-backed junta and its representatives in Cyprus, EOKAB. A caste of traitors, who were never tried, never punished! (From the publisher
Human Activity and Behavior Analysis Advances in Computer Vision and Sensors: Volume 1
No full textHuman Activity and Behavior Analysis relates to the field of vision and sensor-based human action or activity and behavior analysis and recognition. The book includes a series of methodologies, surveys, relevant datasets, challenging applications, ideas, and future prospects.The book discusses topics such as action recognition, action understanding, gait analysis, gesture recognition, behavior analysis, emotion and affective computing, and related areas. This volume focuses on relevant activities in three main subject areas: Healthcare and Emotion, Mental Health, and Nurse Care Records.The editors are experts in these arenas and the contributing authors are drawn from high-impact research groups around the world. This book will be of great interest to academics, students, and professionals working and researching in the field of human activity and behavior analysis
Computer Vision: Challenges, Trends and Opportunities
No full textComputer vision has made enormous progress in recent years, and its applications are multifaceted and growing quickly, while many challenges still remain. This book brings together a range of leading researchers to examine a wide variety of research directions, challenges, and prospects for computer vision and its applications.This book highlights various core challenges as well as solutions by leading researchers in the field. It covers such important topics as data-driven AI, biometrics, digital forensics, healthcare, robotics, entertainment and XR, autonomous driving, sports analytics, and neuromorphic computing, covering both academic and industry R&D perspectives. Providing a mix of breadth and depth, this book will have an impact across the fields of computer vision, imaging, and AI.Computer Vision: Challenges, Trends, and Opportunities covers timely and important aspects of computer vision and its applications, highlighting the challenges ahead and providing a range of perspectives from top researchers around the world. A substantial compilation of ideas and state-of-the-art solutions, it will be of great benefit to students, researchers, and industry practitioners
Self-efficacy predicts online learning satisfaction regardless of autistic traits: anxiety moderates the relationship between autistic trait and self-efficacy
No full textUniversity students’ learning satisfaction is known to be positively correlated with self-efficacy for interaction with online learning. This study investigates whether autistic traits moderate the relationship between interaction self-efficacy in online learning and learning satisfaction. It also explores the role of anxiety in the relationship. Postgraduate students at the University of East London, U.K. (N = 112) completed an online survey in Spring 2021 which consisted of standardised measures for autistic trait, self-efficacy, learning satisfaction, and anxiety. Using a correlational, cross-sectional design, hierarchical multiple regression was followed by moderated multiple regression and path analysis. Findings suggest that self-efficacy predicts students’ satisfaction with online learning, regardless of the presence or extent of autistic traits. Trait anxiety negatively affects self-efficacy in students who are high in autistic traits, with an indirect negative effect on learning satisfaction. This has implications for practice; interventions to increase students’ self-efficacy in interaction within online learning will likely positively affect their learning satisfaction. Further, interventions to reduce, prevent or manage students’ anxiety may also boost self-efficacy beliefs and satisfaction with online learning. This may be particularly important for students who are high in autistic traits, due to the high prevalence of anxiety in this group
Active afforestation of drained peatlands is not a viable option under the EU Nature Restoration Law
Get PDFThe EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) is critical in restoring degraded ecosystems. However, active afforestation of degraded peatlands has been suggested by some as a restoration measure under the NRL. Here, we discuss the current state of scientific evidence on the climate mitigation effects of peatlands under forestry and its limitations, uncertainties and evidence gaps. Based on this discussion we conclude:Afforestation of drained peatlands, while maintaining their drained state, is not equivalent to ecosystem restoration. This approach will not restore the peatland ecosystem's flora, fauna, and functions.There is insufficient evidence to support the long-term climate change mitigation benefits of active afforestation of drained peatlands.Most studies only focus on the short-term gains in standing biomass and rarely explore the full life cycle emissions associated with afforestation of drained peatlands. Thus, it is unclear whether the CO2 sequestration of a forest on drained peatland can offset the carbon loss from the peat over the long term.In some ecosystems, such as abandoned or certain cutaway peatlands, afforestation may provide short-term benefits for climate change mitigation compared to taking no action. However, this approach violates the concept of sustainability by sacrificing the most space-effective carbon store of the terrestrial biosphere, the long-term peat store, for a shorter-term, less space-effective, and more vulnerable carbon store, namely tree biomass.Consequently, active afforestation of drained peatlands is not a viable option for climate mitigation under the EU Nature Restoration Law and might even impede future rewetting/restoration efforts.To restore degraded peatlands, hydrological conditions must first be improved, primarily through rewetting