Contemporary Approaches Research Articles

Discovery flows from mapping for conservation planning: the case of finding and mapping of Second World War British Hong Kong defence structures

This article develops MacEachren’s summary of contemporary approaches to cartography as communication as a one-way flow of map information. The Hong Kong experience shows that large-scale government survey maps can be used by non-specialists to (re)discover and identify, for conservation planning purposes, very small Second World War defence structures not annotated on those maps. By accumulating information and field studies, non-specialists can produce specialist maps as a contribution to conservation planning. The issues of a market for military heritage buildings and the actual role the government cartographer played in conservation mapping are discussed.

Closing the Loop in the Process of Manufacturing Noise Barriers and Floating Trash Barrier - Case Study

The circular economy embodies a contemporary approach centered on sustainability and waste reduction, gradually integrating into production and consumption practices. Nonetheless, it has often remained a theoretical or abstract concept across various economic sectors. This paper focuses on the potential implementation of circularity principles, using the production process of noise barriers, manufactured by the production company based in Prešov, Slovak Republic, as an illustrative example. Through a comprehensive case study, it was determined that reintegrating generated waste into the production cycle is feasible. Moreover, there is potential for a cascading effect, where original waste could be utilized across multiple production processes. This underscores how the circular economy fosters economic efficiency, innovation, and creativity in diverse areas such as design, product diversification, input sourcing, and production planning. The paper's significance lies in its thorough examination of the production process, quantifying various types of waste to uncover innovative methods of converting waste into new input materials. Additionally, it offers insights and actionable guidance towards embracing multicircularity (via a circularity spiral), along with strategies for identifying opportunities to incorporate circularity elements into production schemes. This approach promises extensive economic, environmental, and social benefits, considering product nature and usage.

Speech Emotion Recognition

Speech emotion recognition is a vital area of research with applications starting from human-computer interaction to mental health monitoring. This paper will provide a comprehensive survey of the techniques, methods, applications, and challenges in speech emotion recognition. It begins by checking the significance of recognizing emotions from speech and its diverse applications across various fields. The paper then shows the method employed for emotion speech recognition, encompassing traditional machine learning techniques, such as support vector machines and Gaussian mixture models, as well as contemporary approaches, including deep learning and multimodal fusion. Moreover, it examines benchmark datasets commonly used for training and evaluation purposes in emotion speech recognition research. Speech Emotion Recognition (SER) has a wide range of applications and there has been a lot of research going on in this fascinating area in recent years. However, the entertainment sector suffers from a lack of study in this research. Many of use Neural Network (NN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architectures to categorize the emotions in audio recordings captured by actors expressing various emotions. Moreover, our survey explores real-world applications of emotion speech recognition like virtual assistants, health sector, market sector, education, Mental health diagnosis. The paper discusses the challenge associated with emotion speech recognition, including the variability of emotional expressions, cultural influences, humor and privacy concerns. In future it will help others to deal with many Noisy dataset and various cultural effects of emotion.

GR.5 Establishing the utility of multi-platform liquid biopsy by integrating the CSF methylome and proteome in CNS malignancy

Background: Liquid biopsy represents a major development in cancer research, with significant translational potential. Similarly, the integration of multiple molecular platforms has yielded novel insights into disease biology and heterogeneity. We hypothesise that applying contemporary multi-omic approaches to liquid biopsies will improve the power of current models. Methods: We have compiled a cohort of 51 patients with glioblastoma, brain metastasis, and primary CNS lymphoma who underwent CSF sampling as part of clinical care. Cell free methylated DNA and shotgun proteomic profiling was obtained from the CSF of each patient and used to build tumour-specific classifiers. Integrated classifiers were compared with single platform classifiers using multiple approaches. Results: In this study, we show that the DNA methylation and protein profiles of cerebrospinal fluid can be combined to fully discriminate lymphomas from their major diagnostic counterparts with perfect AUCs of 1 (95% confidence interval 1-1) and 100% specificity. Each integrated lymphoma classifier significantly outperforms single-platform classifiers, suggesting synergistic biology is obtained using multiple molecular platforms. Conclusions: We present the most specific and accurate CNS lymphoma classifier to date by integrating the methylome and proteome of CSF. This has important implications for the future of cancer diagnostics and generates immediate utility for patients with CNS lymphoma.

Understanding and role of gut microbiota on drug response and toxicity

The gut microbiota affects human health profoundly, and evidence is mounting that it can cause, worsen, or resolve illnesses. Particularly in drug-induced toxicity, its role in diverse toxicological reactions has garnered attention recently. Drugs may interact directly or indirectly, through the gut flora, whether or not they are taken orally, changing the toxicity. Current research focuses mainly on the one-way effect of xenobiotics on the makeup and activities of gut microbes, which leads to altered homeostasis. However, there are two-way interactions between the gut microbiota and xenobiotics, and it is important to consider how the gut microbiota affects xenobiotics, particularly medications. Therefore, we emphasise the microbiome, microbial metabolites, and microbial enzymes in this review to emphasise how the gut microbiota affects medication toxicity. To aid in the identification of micro-biologic targets and processes linked to drug toxicity, we establish connections between medications, the microbiome, microbial enzymes or metabolites, drug metabolites, and host toxicological reactions. In addition, a summary and discussion of contemporary mainstream approaches to control medication toxicity by microbiota targeting are provided.

Design and Development of a Non-invasive Opto-Electronic Sensor for Blood Glucose Monitoring Using a Visible Light Source.

Background The management of diabetes is critically dependent on the continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels. Contemporary approaches primarily utilize invasive methods, which often prove to be uncomfortable and can deter patient adherence. There is a pressing need for the development of novel strategies that improve patient compliance and simplify the process of glucose monitoring. Aim and objectives The primary objective of this research is to develop a non-invasive blood glucose monitoring system (NIBGMS) that offers a convenient alternative to conventional invasive methods. This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility and accuracy of using visible laser light at a wavelength of 650 nm for glucose monitoring and to address physiological and technical challenges associated with in vivo measurements. Methods Our approach involved the design of a device that exploits the quantitative relationship between glucose concentration and the refraction phenomena of laser light. The system was initially calibrated and tested using glucose solutions across a range of concentrations (25-500 mg/dL). To get around the problems that come up when people's skin and bodies are different, we combined an infrared (IR) transmitter (800 nm) and receiver that checks for changes in voltage, which are indicative of glucose levels. Results The prototype device was compared with a commercially available blood glucose monitor (Accu-Chek active machine; Roche Diabetes Care, Inc., Mumbai, India). The results demonstrated an average linearity of 95.7% relative to the Accu-Chek machine, indicating a high level of accuracy in the non-invasive measurement of glucose levels. Conclusions The findings suggest that our NIBGMS holds significant promise for clinical application. It reduces the discomfort associated with blood sampling and provides reliable measurements that are comparable to those of existing invasive methods. The successful development of this device paves the way for further commercial translation and could significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with diabetes, by facilitating easier and more frequent monitoring.

Synergistic effect of Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) and Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) on the mechanical properties of natural sands

Effective enhancement of the mechanical properties of cohesionless soils is crucial for diverse geotechnical applications, given their inherent vulnerability to load-induced failure due to the absence of inter-particle bonding. Soil failures pose significant risks to both human lives and infrastructure, necessitating the development of environmentally friendly soil improvement methods. Conventional techniques often entail invasive processes and substantial carbon emissions. In response, contemporary approaches seek to minimize environmental impact while preserving organic material characteristics. This study investigates the synergistic effect of polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) treatment for enhancing the mechanical properties of cohesionless natural sands. Beach and river sands were treated with varying proportions of PVA in conjunction with an optimized EICP solution for yielding the best results. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were conducted at 7, 14, and 28-day curing intervals to assess the performance of the soil-polymer-EICP composites (SPEC). The results demonstrated substantial improvements in compressive strength and elastic modulus with increasing PVA content. For beach sand, after 7 days of heat curing, the peak strength increased from 0.89 MPa to 11.07 MPa for composites with 1% and 11% PVA, respectively. Similarly, for river sand, the peak strength increased from 0.87 MPa to 8.96 MPa under the same conditions. The findings also highlighted the softening behavior induced by PVA with heat curing over the period. This softening phenomenon was attributed to the thermo-plastic characteristics of the polymer film induced by temperature conditions.

Beyond Usability: A Critical Analysis of Interface Research

This article addresses the profound and multifaceted understanding of interfaces in the modern technological era, focusing on integrating ontological, ethical, and aesthetical approaches in interface research. It considers various aspects of human-machine interaction from philosophical, ethical, and aesthetic viewpoints, revealing the complex connections between technological progress and human experience. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of contemporary approaches to interface research, covering its complexity and diversity, as well as identifying current trends and challenges in the field. The findings indicate that successful interface study requires an integrated approach, including the analysis of functional, ethical, aesthetic, and cultural aspects. The article highlights the importance of cross-disciplinary research in developing interfaces that can reflect and develop contemporary cultural and social contexts. The conclusions of this article are relevant to the researchers in the field of interface design, implementators, and a broad audience interested in understanding the interplay between technological innovations and the socio-cultural context.

The neoadjuvant approach to treatment of breast cancer: Multidisciplinary management to improve outcomes

Over the last several decades, the treatment of breast cancer has evolved from a reliance on radical surgery to less invasive treatments incorporating systemic therapy (e.g., chemotherapy and endocrine therapy) and radiotherapy, which has allowed for breast conservation surgery and improved survival. Accordingly, the management of breast cancer today is perhaps the best example of multidisciplinary cancer care. Surgeons work closely with radiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and other specialists to design the optimal treatment plan for their patients. This cross-disciplinary collaboration and communication is especially well-illustrated in the neoadjuvant approach to breast cancer management. Neoadjuvant therapy provides several advantages to patients with newly diagnosed early-stage breast cancer. Current neoadjuvant regimens include chemo-immunotherapy for patients with triple negative disease, chemotherapy with human epidermal growth factor-2 (HER2) targeted therapy for patients with HER2+ disease, and chemotherapy or endocrine therapy for patients with hormone receptor positive/HER2- cases. As many studies have shown, tumor biology impacts the response to neoadjuvant therapy, including rates of pathologic complete response. Neoadjuvant approaches continue to grow in complexity, calling for increased cross-specialty understanding of its indications and treatment algorithms. Therefore, in this review we discuss contemporary neoadjuvant therapy approaches, with a focus on the interplay between imaging, systemic therapy, radiotherapy, and surgical management.

Self-Perceived Assessment Skills and Professional Learning Priorities of Filipino Secondary Science Teachers in Flexible Instruction Delivery

As a context-dependent process, the role of assessment in the practice of flexible instruction delivery during the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic paved the way to rethink teachers’ assessment practices that respond to the demands of the context. This further forced teachers to capacitate themselves with the new platforms for assessing students’ learning and engagement. This descriptive study aimed to delineate Junior High School science teachers’ perceived assessment skills and professional learning priorities and preferences in the areas of assessment in flexible instruction delivery. Results uncovered that they generally perceived themselves as proficient in all the surveyed assessment skills and responsibilities, having the foundation of assessment dealing with the traditional nature of assessment strategies and their purposes, as the area in which they are more skilled. Regarding professional learning priorities on assessment, they deduced moderate interest in integrating and communicating assessment practices and aligning current assessment theories, principles, and practices. This further implies that they pay interest not only in learning the contemporary approaches to assessment but still the traditional tasks and responsibilities associated with it. In the delivery of professional learning activities, professional development activities in person are still the most preferred mode.

Determining the future role of clinical practice guidelines: The experience of Australia and New Zealand.

There has been recent discussion in Australia and New Zealand concerning the utility of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) and the role of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) in their development. The College Board therefore established a Steering Group (SG) to oversee an exploration of options and produce recommendations about contemporary approaches to the development of high-quality evidence-based clinical practice guidance for psychiatry. This paper outlines the SG's conclusions and recommendations, as well as the underlying methods and reasoning. In particular, we discuss best practice and recent developments in the synthesis of research evidence. Account has been taken of the opportunities offered by digital technologies, the proliferation of clinical evidence and awareness of the gains to be made by increased inclusion of lived-experience perspectives. It is recommended that the broader concept of best practice resources (BPRs) as now emphasised in so many fields of service is the most appropriate starting point for the College's role in this area especially as the expertise of the College and its fellows lends itself to the development of a range of BPRs. In conclusion, contemporary guidance needs to be tailored to the requirements of the practitioners seeking it, to articulate the real-world needs and experiences of patients, and to be delivered in a contemporary format that is responsive to rapidly emerging evidence. The experience in Australia and New Zealand may have implications elsewhere for the development of CPGs and BPRs more broadly.

СУЧАСНІ ПІДХОДИ ДО ПРОСТОРОВОЇ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ МУЗЕЇВ ТА ЕКСПОЗИЦІЙ ПРОСТО НЕБА. ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКИЙ ДОСВІД

There are numerous open-air museums worldwide, and public spaces often incorporate both permanent and temporary outdoor exhibitions. Based on studies conducted on open-air museums and exhibitions in Vienna and its surrounding areas, as part of the academic cooperation program TU Vienna – TU Lviv, this article explores the European approach to the architectural and spatial organization of such institutions. Through this research, contemporary approaches to their architectural and spatial organization were examined, and both positive and negative aspects were highlighted. This article aims to analyze the distinct features of the architectural and spatial organization of European open-air museums and exhibitions, identifying their positive aspects and approaches that could be implemented in Ukraine. In Ukrainian studies, the topic of modern open-air museums is only gaining popularity and is not well presented. Hence, involving local scholars in this globally expanding field would be relevant. European open-air museums, particularly in Austria, show several trends in spatial organization, including a comprehensive approach, accessibility, family-oriented infrastructure, wide implementation of interactive elements, and integration of multimedia technologies. These museums blend original artifacts with modern enhancements to provide visitors with a unique experience. Noteworthy aspects observed in open-air museums and exhibitions, which are scarce or absent in Ukraine, include combining several neighboring objects into one museum complex, a large number of children's playgrounds, ample recreation and food areas, inclusiveness, infrastructure for dog walking, provision of venues for holding mass events, and onsite production and sale of themed merchandise in souvenir shops. The principles of spatial and architectural organization in open-air museums and exhibitions in Vienna and its vicinity boast several positive features that we believe are pertinent for implementation in Ukraine. Notably, interactivity to engage visitors and inclusivity, which is poised to be a pressing issue during Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, stand out as crucial aspects. The findings from this study can serve as a foundation for enhancing existing or designing new open-air museums in Ukraine.

Contemporary interventions in counselling children and adolescents: A literature review

This study explores the evolving landscape of therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents in contemporary society. It examines the growing body of research on practical counselling approaches tailored to address the unique challenges young people face today. The review acknowledges the importance of considering developmental stages when selecting interventions and emphasizes the need for culturally competent practices. Mental health concerns among children and adolescents are on the rise. Factors such as social media pressures, academic stress, and family dysfunction contribute to a complex landscape of emotional and behavioural issues. Effective therapeutic interventions are crucial to supporting the mental wellbeing of this population. By examining contemporary counselling approaches, this review aims to equip mental health professionals with the knowledge and tools to provide the most effective care for their young clients. This review employs a systematic search of academic databases and peer-reviewed journals, focusing on publications within the past five years. Additionally, relevant books and chapters by leading authorities in the field will be incorporated. This review is expected to identify a range of effective contemporary interventions for counselling children and adolescents. It will highlight the importance of tailoring interventions to address specific needs, developmental stages, and cultural backgrounds. The review may also identify gaps in the current research and suggest areas for future investigation. By providing a comprehensive overview of contemporary interventions in counselling children and adolescents, this review aims to contribute to the advancement of evidence-based practices in the field. Equipping mental health professionals with effective tools will ultimately contribute to improved outcomes and enhanced wellbeing for young people facing mental health challenges.

What to do when traditional rescue therapies fail in acute severe ulcerative colitis.

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is a medical emergency that affects approximately 25% of patients with ulcerative colitis at some point in time in their lives. Outcomes of ASUC are highly variable. Approximately 30% of patients do not respond to corticosteroids and up to 50% of patients do not respond to rescue therapy (infliximab or cyclosporin) and require emergency colectomy. Data are emerging on infliximab dosing strategies, use of cyclosporin as a bridge to slower acting biologic agents and Janus kinase inhibition as primary and sequential therapy. In this review, we outline contemporary approaches to clinical management of ASUC in the setting of failure to respond to traditional rescue therapies.

Evaluation of the correlation of mandibular ramus to base ratio with mandibular incisor angulation: A cephalometric study

: The cephalometric evaluation of an individual case using floating norms is the contemporary approach in orthodontic diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of mandibular ramus to the mandibular base ratio with mandibular incisor proclination in a mixed Indian population.A total of 100 cephalograms were selected from the archives of the department of orthodontics fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria.The mean age of cases studied was 17.09 ± 2.61 years, with an age range of 13–26 years. The sample comprised 47 males and 53 females. The results of this study showed that the higher incisor mandibular plane angle (IMPA) has statistically and clinically significant association with a higher ramus to mandibular base ratio in both male and female groups. The unit increase in IMPA is significantly associated with a 0.004 unit increase in the ratio of ramus to mandibular base. This study concludes that the IMPA and ratio of ramus to mandibular base are the closest counterparts of each other and explains the variations in the IMPA even in the population group with similar skeletal characteristics. These two components interacts with each other to give a balanced occlusion and function.

Contemporary stage approaches to modern Greek folklore: the performance To Gefyri tis Artas kai oi Lygeres tou Kato Kosmou by the Theatro Technis Karolos Koun (2022)

Contemporary stage approaches to modern Greek folklore: the performance To Gefyri tis Artas kai oi Lygeres tou Kato Kosmou by the Theatro Technis Karolos Koun (2022)

“Observe, simulate, execute and mentor”: A contemporary approach to learning in Interventional Cardiology

“Observe, simulate, execute and mentor”: A contemporary approach to learning in Interventional Cardiology

Family integrated care: State of art and future perspectives.

Family integrated care (FICare) represents a contemporary approach to health care that involves the active participation of families within the healthcare team. It empowers families to acquire knowledge about the specialised care required for their newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and positions them as primary caregivers. Healthcare professionals in this model act as mentors and facilitators during the hospitalisation period. This innovative model has exhibited notable enhancements in both short- and long-term health outcomes for neonates, alongside improved psychological well-being for families and heightened satisfaction among healthcare professionals. Initially designed for stable premature infants and their families, FICare has evolved to include critically ill premature and full-term infants. Findings from recent studies affirm the safety and feasibility of FICare as a NICU-wide model of care, benefiting all infants and families. The envisioned expansion of FICare focusses on sustainability and extending its implementation, recognising the necessity for tailored adaptations to suit varying diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts.

Ways of forming the socio-psychological competence of sociology students in the course of training in higher education institutions

The existing uncertainties in modern social life cause personal and mental stress in the field of communication and joint activities of people. The subject of the research is socio-psychological competence of sociology students. The purpose of the work is to study the existing ways of forming this competence in the process of teaching students at higher education institutions. In turn, in order to achieve the original purpose, the authors formulated the following objectives: to identify the current problems connected to the social competence, to consider the existing psychological culture of sociology students, and to explore the contemporary approaches to the formation of professional competence of sociology students. In order to fulfill the purpose and the corresponding objectives, the authors studied scientific articles written by other Russian researchers as a methodological basis and also considered the information contained on the Internet. Due to its own specifics, the topic is used in the process of teaching students at higher education institutions. This topic has been relevant throughout history, and therefore it seems necessary to continue research in this field. According to the research results, the following conclusions were made. The existence of ways of forming the professional competence of a future specialist allows us to identify options for improving the socio-psychological competencies of sociology students in the process of training at higher education institutions. Due to diverse approaches, it is possible to determine the manifestation of personal psychological culture most accurately. Educational institutions at the same time act as one of the main factors that influence socialisation and formation of the psychological culture of a sociology student during their education.

Bridging Theory and Practice in Arabic Language Education

This study examines the alignment of the textbook "Al-Iktisyaf" with the inductive method in Arabic language education, focusing on nahwu learning. Through qualitative analysis, including literature review and descriptive study methods, the research identifies strengths and weaknesses in the textbook's approach. While "Al-Iktisyaf" follows the sequence of the inductive method, it lacks emphasis on practical nahwu learning, particularly Wadhifah Nahwiyyah. The findings highlight the need for supplementary resources to enhance practical exercises and contemporary linguistic approaches in Arabic language education. Highlight: Method analysis: "Al-Iktisyaf" and inductive approach in Arabic language education. Practical learning: Strengths and weaknesses in functional nahwu instruction. Supplementary resources: Essential for enhancing practical exercises in Arabic language education. Keywoard: Arabic Language Education, Al-Iktisyaf Textbook, Inductive Method, Nahwu Learning, Supplementary Resources