Daily Life Research Articles

Comfort Care Needs of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Survivors: Lived Experience

Introduction: Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) and, consequently, the chronicity associated with this life event have a growing prevalence and a significant impact on the life and daily life of each person who experiences it. It is necessary to reflect on the care needs of this group of vulnerable people. Comfort is a concern, and its improvement is a desired outcome of healthcare. To achieve this, it is necessary to know the needs of the people who are the focus of care. Aim: This paper aims to understand the needs of comfort care in the lived experience of comfort for survivors of ASCT. Methodology: Qualitative approach using van Manen’s phenomenology of practice. We uncovered the phenomenon through phenomenological interviews, which integrated narratives and illustrative episodes that reflected the lived experience of 20 survivors. Participants in the study were people who had undergone allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation, who were monitored on an outpatient basis and who met the following conditions: (i) were over 18 years old; (ii) had undergone SCT at least 3 months previously; (iii) had no evidence of disease relapse; (iv) were able to express themselves verbally, providing information relevant to the study, as well as expressing emotions and feelings. Descriptions of lived experiences were collected from participants between July 2020 and May 2021. In the phenomenological reflection on the lived descriptions, we followed the “stages” epoché, reduction, and vocative. Results: The following themes emerged from the ASCT survivor’s lived experience of comfort related to comfort care needs: continuous follow-up, reference nurse, information, assistance in adapting to the new self, mental health intervention, spiritual support, adaptation to changes in sexuality, physical rehabilitation, and job reintegration. Conclusion: This study reveals the importance of continuous follow-up for ASCT survivors. Survivors experience major changes in their lives in the long term and require a response from health professionals to find comfort in their daily lives.

Media Arts Suspensions and Deviations - Paz dos Reis between Cinema and Photography

Media have non-linear evolutions. This means that new media failures or retractions can highlight overlooked features of old media. The very early history of Portuguese Cinema is one of those moments: the new and promising cinema technologies were first experimented and then discarded by Aurélio da Paz dos Reis, the pioneer of Portuguese cinema. Instead, he intensely explored in photography a solution for covering current affairs. The creation of the ‘Portuguese Stereoscope’, a commercial stereoscopic card series that depicted political events such as the agitated republic rallies, the social life of the bourgeoisie and the daily life in the streets of Porto, was an international innovation: it consisted of the very first photojournalism in 3D. This research project will investigate this historical fact by checking in the press the events covered by Paz dos Reis and by creating an online media art installation that will allow the matching of these materials with his stereos to understand how these 3D news materials relate to current VR 360º new videos. This digital curation will be developed as an artistic research method which will also allow to experiment with film materials: photograph the original Aurelio’s camera kept by the Portuguese Cinematheque (ANIM) to create a 3d object, and a documentary film focused on some of his most symbolic photographs. It is expected that this research project will lead to a new approach towards the work of Paz dos Reis.

Geosocial Tools for Community Diagnosis and Health Promotion.

Growing research highlights the role of local community contexts in health and well-being. Communities function as central arenas for health promotion as individuals and community spaces interact in daily life. To better communicate the linkages between community and health, we demonstrate the use of a set of geosocial tools for community diagnosis and health promotion, conceptually grounded in the framework of geosocial embeddedness, using data from community surveys and participatory research conducted with local inhabitants to engage their competency. Through a web-based interactive map generated using a geographic information system, we identified public territories in the municipality where greater policy attention is needed to enhance health. Through an intersectional matrix produced using multilevel analysis, we identified precise social groups by intersectional categories that are most at risk of loneliness for targeted intervention. A health radar chart on multidomain indicators illustrated information on group dynamics and longitudinal comparisons for health promotion. Overall, these tools offered not only diagnoses of the most vulnerable social groups for tailored interventions but also insight for policymakers to improve infrastructure and material resources to promote health. We conclude that geosocial tools offer a promising approach toward sharpening health communication and improving health in the community.

Drainage Pipeline Defect Detection System Based on Semantic Segmentation

Since drainage pipes are widely used in daily life and are necessary for cities to function normally, intelligent fault detection in these pipes has emerged as both an urgent necessity and a major area of development. Compared to traditional target detection methods, the semantic segmentation-based pipeline defect detection method has some special qualities. It can effectively detect a variety of pipeline defect types and segment the defects using precise geometrical attributes to support subsequent defect assessment. This study replaces the backbone network and fuses bar pooling and cascade feature fusion modules in the encoding and decoding phases, respectively, to obtain richer semantic information. This approach strikes a balance between segmentation accuracy and model complexity, aiming to address the problems of the large computational volume of semantic segmentation and the loss of detailed semantic information of pipeline defects. In the pipe defect dataset, the proposed approach is compared with the baseline algorithm and the experimental findings indicate that it has a greater segmentation accuracy than the conventional algorithm. Additionally, the lightweight design of the algorithm lowers the model’s complexity.

Prediction of building HVAC energy consumption based on least squares support vector machines

Air conditioning, as an essential appliance in daily life, has the function of ensuring comfortable room temperature, but it is also accompanied by a large amount of power consumption. Consequently, the study suggests an energy consumption prediction model based on improved genetic algorithm—least squares support vector machine—to accurately predict the energy consumption of building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. This model uses the improved genetic algorithm for regularization parameter and kernel parameter optimization to prevent overfitting and underfitting issues. According to the testing results, the least squares support vector machine, an upgraded genetic algorithm, may accomplish convergence faster than other algorithms, taking only 0.2 milliseconds to finish. In addition, the average relative error of the improved genetic algorithm- least squares support vector machine did not exceed 0.6%. In the energy consumption prediction for the whole year of 2022, the average error of the improved genetic algorithm-least squares support vector machine was only 2.0 × 106 kWh, and the prediction accuracy could reach up to 97.2%. The above outcomes revealed that the energy consumption prediction model can accurately predict the air conditioning energy consumption, which provides a strong support for the control and optimization of the air conditioning system.

Wide-angle simulated artificial vision enhances spatial navigation and object interaction in a naturalistic environment

Objective. Vision restoration approaches, such as prosthetics and optogenetics, provide visual perception to blind individuals in clinical settings. Yet their effectiveness in daily life remains a challenge. Stereotyped quantitative tests used in clinical trials often fail to translate into practical, everyday applications. On the one hand, assessing real-life benefits during clinical trials is complicated by environmental complexity, reproducibility issues, and safety concerns. On the other hand, predicting behavioral benefits of restorative therapies in naturalistic environments may be a crucial step before starting clinical trials to minimize patient discomfort and unmet expectations.Approach. To address this, we leverage advancements in virtual reality technology to conduct a fully immersive and ecologically valid task within a physical artificial street environment. As a case study, we assess the impact of the visual field size in simulated artificial vision for common outdoor tasks.Main results. We show that a wide visual angle (45°) enhances participants' ability to navigate and solve tasks more effectively, safely, and efficiently. Moreover, it promotes their learning and generalization capability. Concurrently, it changes the visual exploration behavior and facilitates a more accurate mental representation of the environment. Further increasing the visual angle beyond this value does not yield significant additional improvements in most metrics.Significance. We present a methodology combining augmented reality with a naturalistic environment, enabling participants to perceive the world as patients with retinal implants would and to interact physically with it. Combining augmented reality in naturalistic environments is a valuable framework for low vision and vision restoration research.

Correlation between proprioception, functionality, patient-reported knee condition and joint acoustic emissions.

Non-invasive assessment of joint status using acoustic emissions (AE) is a growing research area that has the potential to translate into clinical practice. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation of the knee's AE with measures of proprioception, self-assessment, and performance, as it can be hypothesised that, AE parameters will correlate with joint function metrics due to AE being recorded during interaction of the articular surfaces. Threshold to detect passive motion (TTDPM), Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) and 5 times sit-to-stand test (5STS) were collected from 51 participant. Knee AE were recorded during cycling with 30 and 60 rpm cadences using two sensors in different frequency ranges and three modes of AE event detection. Weak (0.297, p = 0.048) to moderate (0.475, p = 0.001) Spearman's correlations were observed between longer 5STS time and AE parameters (i.e. higher median absolute energy, signal strength, longer AE event rise time and duration). Similarly, AE parameters shown correlation with lower KOOS, especially in the "Function in Sports and Recreation" and "Activities of Daily Living" subscales with correlation coefficients for higher median amplitude up to 0.441, p = 0.001 and 0.403, p = 0.004, respectively. The correlation with the TTDPM was not detected for most of the AE parameters. Additionally, a lower frequency sensor and 60 rpm cadence AE recordings showed higher correlations. Considering that this study included subjects from the general population and the number of participants with KOOS <70 was relatively small, higher correlations might be expected for clinically confirmed OA cases. Additionally, different ICCs might be expected for alternative signal parameters and proprioception assessment methods. Overall, the study confirms that AE monitoring offers an additional modality of joint assessment that reflects interaction between cartilage surfaces and can complement orthopaedic diagnostics, especially in the context of remote monitoring, drug testing, and rehabilitation.

Neuroinflammation, Stress-Related Suicidal Ideation, and Negative Mood in Depression

Brain translocator protein 18k Da (TSPO) binding, a putative marker of neuroinflammatory processes (eg, gliosis), is associated with stress and elevated in depressed and suicidal populations. However, it is unclear whether neuroinflammation moderates the impact of daily life stress on suicidal ideation and negative affect, thereby increasing risk for suicidal behavior. To examine the association of TSPO binding in participants with depression with real-world daily experiences of acute stress-related suicidal ideation and negative affect, as well as history of suicidal behavior and clinician-rated suicidal ideation. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from June 2019 through July 2023. Procedures were conducted at a hospital-based research center in New York, New York. Participants were recruited via clinical referrals, the Columbia University research subject web portal, and from responses to internet advertisements. Of 148 participants who signed informed consent for study protocols, 53 adults aged 18 to 60 years who met DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for current major depressive disorder completed procedures with approved data and were enrolled. Participants were free of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, active physical illness, cognitive impairment, and substance intoxication or withdrawal at the time of scan. All participants underwent positron emission tomography imaging of TSPO binding with 11C-ER176 and concurrent arterial blood sampling. A weighted average of 11C-ER176 total distribution volume (VT) was computed across 11 a priori brain regions and made up the primary outcome measure. Clinician-rated suicidal ideation was measured via the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS). A subset of participants (n = 21) completed 7 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA), reporting daily on suicidal ideation, negative affect, and stressors. In the overall sample of 53 participants (mean [SD] age, 29.5 [9.8] years; 37 [69.8%] female and 16 [30.2%] male), 11C-ER176 VT was associated at trend levels with clinician-rated suicidal ideation severity (β, 0.19; 95% CI, -0.03 to 0.39; P = .09) and did not differ by suicide attempt history (n = 15; β, 0.18; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.37; P = .11). Exploratory analyses indicated that presence of suicidal ideation (on BSS or EMA) was associated with higher 11C-ER176 VT (β, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.98; P = .045). In 21 participants who completed EMA, 11C-ER176 VT was associated with greater suicidal ideation and negative affect during EMA periods with stressors compared with nonstress periods (β, 0.12; SE, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.23; P = .03 and β, 0.19; SE, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.30; P < .001, respectively). TSPO binding in individuals with depression may be a marker of vulnerability to acute stress-related increases in suicidal ideation and negative affect. Continued study is needed to determine the causal direction of TSPO binding and stress-related suicidal ideation or negative affect and whether targeting neuroinflammation may improve resilience to life stress in patients with depression.

Daily Life Experiences of Working Women in Existential Threat

The pandemic has profoundly impacted daily life, resources, and gender roles, resulting in significant changes. This study examines how the gender roles of working women transform in the face of existential threats. We investigate their experiences, reactions, and defense mechanisms during the pandemic. The sample consists of 17 women, revealing increased inequalities and responsibilities faced in both domestic and professional settings. Participants expressed uncertainty, anxiety, and fear for their loved ones, sharing experiences with the disease, preventive measures, and psychological and social consequences. Understanding the defense mechanisms used by women will bring short-term individual benefits. This research sheds light on women's experiences during the pandemic, highlighting the urgency of addressing gender disparities in COVID-19.

Application of 3D printing in bacterial detection

Diseases caused by bacterial infections, especially pathogen variations and drug-resistant bacteria, are a serious threat to human health globally. Accurate and rapid identification of bacterial pathogens is essential for early diagnosis of infections and timely treatment of disease. At present, the routine diagnostic methods for identifying bacterial pathogens in clinic are bacterial culture, immunological detection, genetic analysis, etc. These methods occupy foundational position for bacterial detection that favors for clinical diagnosis of pathogen infection in daily life. Notably, 3D printing technology, together with 3D bioprinting technology, provides more options for bacterial detection due to its personalized design and manufacturing. Compared with traditional methods, 3D printing provides a more convenient, rapid and accurate bacterial detection platform, thus meeting the urgent needs of clinical and scientific research. Here, we have summarized the research progress and given a comprehensive review of 3D printing technology in bacterial detection, including bacterial detection sensors, microfluidic chips, bioprinting microarray technology, AI and spectroscopy technology, providing a scientific reference and filling in gaps in 3D printing-assistance bacterial detection. At the same time, technical advantages, challenges and future development trends will also be discussed in related healthcare fields.

Can neurocognitive performance account for dimensional paranoid ideation?

Paranoid ideation underlies numerous psychological disorders and has debilitating effects on daily life. Deficits in neurocognition are highlighted as a contributing factor to paranoid-related disorders, but the impact on the symptom-level experience of paranoid ideation is unclear. This study aimed to employ a dimensional approach to understand the association between neurocognition and the severity and presence of paranoid ideation. 400 participants, representative of the general population of the USA, completed an online questionnaire consisting of the Brief Symptom Inventory-53, and demographic and clinical questions. The participants then completed four computerised neurocognitive tasks measuring working memory, shifting, inhibition, and speed of processing. Speed of processing accounted for unique variance in the severity of paranoid ideation with a small effect size, after controlling for covariates. Working memory, shifting, and inhibition could not uniquely or collectively, account for paranoid ideation. Neurocognitive performance could not distinguish between individuals with and without paranoid ideation experiences. This research supports the body of literature that speed of information processing may be a key feature of paranoid ideation. Future research should employ non-linear dynamic methods to better understand the potential interactions between neurocognitive components and how this may relate to paranoid ideation.

Testing the impact of hatha yoga on task switching: a randomized controlled trial

Switching attention between or within tasks is part of the implementation and maintenance of executive control processes and plays an indispensable role in our daily lives: It allows us to perform on distinct tasks and with variable objects, enabling us to adapt to and respond in dynamically changing environments. Here, we tested if yoga could benefit switching of attention between distinct objects of one’s focus (e.g., through practicing switching between one’s own body, feelings, and different postures) in particular and executive control in general. We therefore conducted a randomized controlled trial with 98 participants and a waitlisted control group. In the intervention group, healthy yoga novices practiced Hatha yoga 3x a week, for 8 weeks. We conducted two experiments: A purely behavioral task investigating changes in behavioral costs during switching between attentional control sets (74 participants analyzed), and a modality-switching task focusing on electrophysiology (EEG data of 47 participants analyzed). At the electrophysiological level, frequency-tagging indicated no interventional effect on participants’ ability to switch between the auditory and visual modalities. However, increases in task-related frontocentral theta activity, resulting from the intervention, indicated an ability to increasingly deploy executive resources to the prioritized task when needed. At the behavioral level, our intervention resulted in more efficient holding of target representations in working memory, indicated by decreased mixing costs. Again, however, intervention effects on switching costs were missing. We, thus, conclude that Hatha yoga has a positive influence on executive control, potentially through improvements in working memory rather than directly on switching.Clinical trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov, identifier [NCT05232422].

Machine-Learning Applications in Thrombosis and Hemostasis.

The use of machine-learning (ML) algorithms in medicine has sparked a heated discussion. It is considered one of the most disruptive general-purpose technologies in decades. It has already permeated many areas of our daily lives and produced applications that we can no longer do without, such as navigation apps or translation software. However, many people are still unsure if ML algorithms should be used in medicine in their current form. Doctors are doubtful to what extent they can trust the predictions of algorithms. Shortcomings in development and unclear regulatory oversight can lead to bias, inequality, applicability concerns, and nontransparent assessments. Past mistakes, however, have led to a better understanding of what is needed to develop effective models for clinical use. Physicians and clinical researchers must participate in all development phases and understand their pitfalls. In this review, we explain the basic concepts of ML, present examples in the field of thrombosis and hemostasis, discuss common pitfalls, and present a methodological framework that can be used to develop effective algorithms.

Academic resilience of Mexican heritage women in college: transforming familial histories into asset-based resources

This study builds on asset-based research that acknowledges the continuity of cultural assets and resources utilized among Latinx students in their educational trajectories. It is important to consider the functionality of individuals’ subjective sense- and meaning-making with explicit familial and cultural contexts as foundational to students’ academic resilience. Drawing upon LatCrit and Community Cultural Wealth to theorize about how first-generation Latinx college women make sense/meaning of their heritage, and in connection with their college-going identities, which can help identify factors that contributed to their educational persistence, this multi-method qualitative study examined how seven women of Mexican heritage (self-identified) cultivated their academic resilience. Findings suggest that the participants made meaning of familial cuentos and consejos in their daily lives and conceptualized their own positive attitudes and behaviors towards education in the form of asset-based resources: motivation, aspirations, and familial, ethnic, and cultural pride, in addition to positivity and optimism, and a strong work ethic. More research is needed on how students transform their families’ histories into resources that promote resilience.

Proton‐Modulated Resistive Switching in a Synapse‐Like Tyrosine‐Rich Peptide‐Based Memristor

AbstractArtificial intelligence has become an essential part of the daily lives and has revolutionized various sectors, including healthcare, finance, transportation, and entertainment. With a substantial increase in processed data, neuromorphic devices that replicate the operation of the human brain have been emphasized owing to their superior efficiency. Typical neuromorphic devices focus on constructing synapse‐like structures. However, biological synapses have more complex mechanisms for efficient data processing. One of the most prominent mechanisms is proton activation, which forms an ion concentration gradient prior to the transmission of neurotransmitters and plays a key role in efficient computation. In this study, proton‐mediated signaling at biological synapses is successfully replicated by fabricating a proton‐modulated memristor device using a tyrosine‐rich peptide film. The ionic input of the memristor is controlled by applying a voltage to proton‐permeable PdHx contacts in a hydrogen atmosphere, thus successfully adjusting the resistive switching behavior. Remarkable improvements in resistive switching and computing performance are observed through proton injection, analogous to “proton‐mediated signaling” at the actual synapse. It is believed that this study proposes a new paradigm for designing biorealistic devices and provides inspiration for precisely controllable ion‐based neuromorphic devices.

Convolutional neural networks uncover the dynamics of human visual memory representations over time.

The ability to accurately retrieve visual details of past events is a fundamental cognitive function relevant for daily life. While a visual stimulus contains an abundance of information, only some of it is later encoded into long-term memory representations. However, an ongoing challenge has been to isolate memory representations that integrate various visual features and uncover their dynamics over time. To address this question, we leveraged a novel combination of empirical and computational frameworks based on the hierarchal structure of convolutional neural networks and their correspondence to human visual processing. This enabled to reveal the contribution of different levels of visual representations to memory strength and their dynamics over time. Visual memory strength was measured with distractors selected based on their shared similarity to the target memory along low or high layers of the convolutional neural network hierarchy. The results show that visual working memory relies similarly on low and high-level visual representations. However, already after a few minutes and on to the next day, visual memory relies more strongly on high-level visual representations. These findings suggest that visual representations transform from a distributed to a stronger high-level conceptual representation, providing novel insights into the dynamics of visual memory over time.

Can virtual reality technology be used for empathy education in medical students: a randomized case-control study

BackgroundEmpathy is an important factor in the doctor-patient relationship, but mental illness is more difficult to understand than other diseases. Besides traditional skills, virtual reality (VR) has been identified as a promising tool in empathy education. This study aimed to investigate the ability of empathy enhancement, the feasibility of depression education, and the changes in thoughts and attitudes in medical students through a single VR experience.MethodsWe recruited medical students and randomly assigned them to two groups based on their completed Interpersonal Response Index scores. Two sets of VR systems were provided; the intervention group experienced the daily life of the depressed medical student, while the control group experienced the general medical student scenario. The improvement of empathy was assessed using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professional Students (JSE-HPS), and the change of attitude was assessed through the Implicit Association Test. In addition, other questionnaires were used to evaluate the user experience of this VR system, and correlation analysis was conducted to examine the association between the use of VR and changes in the JSE and IAT scores.ResultsA total of 59 medical students were enrolled in this study. The intervention group showed a significant increase in the perspective-taking (pre: mean 5.817, SD 0.536; post: mean 5.947, SD 0.620; P = .03) and compassionate care (pre: mean 5.546, SD 0.581; post: mean 5.721, SD 0.629; P = .01) domains of the JSE score and a significant decrease in the standing in the patient’s shoes (SP) domain (pre: mean 3.583, SD 1.253; post: mean 2.967, SD 1.252; P = .002). The Pearson correlation analysis found a significant positive correlation between the JSE score with immersion aspect (r = .308, P = .049) and presence aspect (r = .415, P = .01), and we also found a significant negative correlation between the IAT score and presence aspect (r=-.333, P = .04).ConclusionsThis study is the first randomized case-control study to investigate the effect of two different versions of VR on empathy development toward depression for medical students. Although the single VR experience was unable to induce a great improvement in empathy or attitude, the VR system could help medical students enhance their understanding of depressive disorders.Trial registrationThis trial was retrospectively registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) (21/03/2024, ACTRN12624000297527). https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=386683&isReview=true.

Introduction and preliminary psychometric evaluation of the assessment of functional capacity interview for older adults

Measures of complex functional decision-making capacity can greatly aid in assessing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and facilitating early intervention in dementia care. We examined the ability of the Assessment of Functional Capacity Interview (AFCI) to detect functional differences among older adults who were cognitively unimpaired (CU), or who presented with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or MCI. A sample of 97 older adults (CU; n = 30, Mage = 74.64 ± 7.42 years; SCD; n = 34, Mage = 72.56 ± 6.43 years; MCI; n = 33, Mage = 78.28 ± 7.55 years) underwent neuropsychological testing and responded to the Financial Capacity Instrument (FCI-SF). Informants completed the Assessment of Functional Capacity (AFCI), an instrument of functional decision-making capacity, and responded to the Social Vulnerability Scale (SVS15) and Amsterdam Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (A-IADL-Q-SV), a measure of functional status, for comparison. According to informant-reported responses, the CU group had significantly lower AFCI total (and domain) scores, H(2) = 27.59, p<.001, relative to MCI. Additionally, the CU group had significantly lower AFCI scores in the Home and Personal Safety domain relative to the SCD group, H(2) = 14.06, p<.05. In the overall sample, AFCI total scores were associated with FCI-SF, SVS15, and A-IADL-Q-SV scores and cognitive measures. Our results demonstrate that the AFCI is sensitive to impairment in safety, social, financial, and medical functioning in MCI and is associated with measures of cognitive functioning and social vulnerability in older adults. Incorporating this instrument as a supplement to cognitive screening instruments may aid in the prevention of hazardous decision-making in older adults.

Main channels and consequences of the influence of war on educational inequality in society

A new, difficult and tragic research page is opening in domestic sociology – a detailed study of the effects of the Russian-Ukrainian war on all spheres of life of Ukrainian society, its social structure, institutional transformations, economic capabilities, political organization, as well as the daily life of citizens. An integral component of both the institutional structure of society and the everyday life of citizens is the sphere of education with its inherent and constantly reproduced educational inequality. A large-scale war has the potential to quickly and for a long period of time disrupt social order and change established patterns of social inequality in society, particularly in education, unevenly distributing stratified negative effects. With the beginning of large-scale hostilities, the educational infrastructure of Ukraine has suffered almost the greatest destruction since the Second World War. Schools and preschool education institutions have suffered the greatest damage and destruction. A large number of families with their children have been forced to move internally or externally, thus temporarily interrupting the opportunities for children’s education. The article summarizes the results of research in various countries that have experienced short or long-term periods of international or civil wars, which made it possible to identify the main channels of the war’s impact on educational inequality and the corresponding short- and long-term effects of the war. Seven main direct and indirect channels of the war’s impact on educational inequality have been identified, including the destruction of educational infrastructure; lack of teachers due to internal and external displacement, recruitment into the army or death; reduction of state expenditures on education; movement of a large number of adults and children; redistribution of power and wealth in society; the growth of poverty, the reassessment and change of priorities regarding education within the family; deterioration of children’s physical and mental health, malnutrition, stress, trauma, feeling of insecurity. Short- and longterm effects on the educational achievements of children are formed through channels of influence, which take the form of stratified educational losses, a decrease in family expenditures on education, as well as losses in the future lifetime income of individuals.

Pedagogical Perspectives of Utu: Reclaiming Primacy of African Values for Moral-ethical for Youth Development in Tanzania

Abstract The decline of moral and ethics in Tanzania especially to the youth is associated by different factors among which is the decrease in abiding by traditional values centered in utu concept. This study examined the way in which, pedagogical perspectives of utu contribute greatly in reclaiming primacy of African values for moral-ethical development of the youth in Tanzania. This study has used a desktop research study method whereby literature has been surveyed. The study argues that pedagogical perspectives of utu should be embraced for reclaiming the primacy of African values for moral-ethical development of youth in Tanzania. This study reaffirms the fact that the utu concept can stand out as a paradigm for the holistic concept of the human person and worldview that sees the reality of life as an interrelated. The moral/ethical values practiced in the light of utu on the basis of unity and brotherhood within a human family can help the Tanzanian society to recuperate a sense of national identity. Therefore, Tanzanian society today needs to cultivate, transmit, and practice utu in daily life for holistic development. The study recommends that, the utu concept which advocates the value of human dignity and identity, reminds us of the necessity of clarifying and living what we mean by “values” in education today since not all aspects of life and practice attributed to culture contain educational values worth of human dignity.