Decisive Question Research Articles

Meillassoux and Heidegger – How to Deal with Things-in-Themselves?

Abstract In his critique of post-Kantian philosophy, Meillassoux expresses considerable doubts as to how it is capable of describing a world independent of man. He places Heidegger among the ranks of thinkers who are caught in the same trap of the thought-world circle. In this article, I will first examine which complex indirect proof Meillassoux uses to find a path towards an independent reality. In the next step, I will discuss where Heidegger locates Beings in themselves against the backdrop of the Dasein-Being correlation. A radical change of perspective on what it means to be a thinking and understanding “subject” is proposed in this context. In contrast to Meillassoux, an appropriate interpretation of Heidegger’s Dasein can show that there is no need for an indirect proof of a real outside of the correlation. The decisive question is how Heidegger’s correlation of Dasein and Being can be reconciled with statements about the ancestral or whether it stands in implacable opposition to such statements.

Desigualdades raciais para além do paradigma

The so-called “paradigm of racial inequalities”, inaugurated by Carlos Hasenbalg, answered decisive questions about the permanence of disparities between blacks and whites in Brazil and guided new agendas, research designs and forms of analysis of racial inequalities. This article builds some critical notes on the way in which racial inequalities are thematized based on this paradigm, especially the focus on the market as a sphere of observation, and points out the potential for retaking this research object by the contemporary sociology of racial relations, renewed by perspective of intersectionalities and the emergence of new themes.

Ethics, design, and implementation criteria of digital assistive technologies for people with dementia from a multiple stakeholder perspective: a qualitative study

BackgroundDementia impairs the ability of people with dementia to be autonomous and independent. They need support from third parties, who should ideally respect their autonomy and independence as much as possible. Supporting people with dementia can be very burdensome for caregivers and numbers of patients increase while numbers of potential caregivers decline. Digital assistive technologies (DATs) that directly support patients or their caregivers may help bridging the increasing gap between need of support and available resources. DATs have the potential to preserve the autonomy and independence of people with dementia and promote their abilities, if they are properly designed in close interaction with future users. In our study, we focused on ethical concerns, technological requirements, and implementation criteria for DAT in general and specifically to support outdoor mobility of people with dementia.MethodsWe applied a qualitative approach and conducted a World Café (2 tables, n = 7) and an online focus group (n = 6) with people with dementia, relatives, healthcare professionals, scientists, ethics experts, and experts for digitally-assisted medical care. We descriptively analyzed the data using a content analysis approach.ResultsThe participants reported technological (e.g., lack of Wi-Fi), financial (e.g., expensive devices or lack of budget for DATs), political (e.g., legal hurdles such as the European Medical Device Law or data protection regulations) as well as user-related hurdles (e.g., lack of digital competence) for the implementation of DAT in dementia care. Among the issues discussed were the importance of autonomy, independence, safety, privacy, and questions of decision making capacity in DAT’s use. Participants identified opportunities and benefits in self-learning, situation-aware DATs and wished for dementia-friendly communities. They emphasized the value of personal interaction that should not be replaced, but rather supported by DAT.ConclusionThe results revealed multiple hurdles and ethical concerns for DAT use and provided recommendations for designing and implementing DATs. Further investigations are needed on the impact of DAT on personal interactions in caregiving and the role of DAT in dementia-friendly communities.

O-108 Acceptance rates and reasons for social oocyte cryopreservation among women: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Study question What are the acceptance rates and reasons for social oocyte cryopreservation (SOC) in the general population and healthcare professionals/students according to the current literature. Summary answer Acceptance rates for SOC was 54%. Lack of a partner and coverage of the costs contributed the acceptance with no differences in subgroup analysis. What is known already Oocyte cryopreservation is used for different purposes such as fertility preservation, social reasons and assisted reproductive treatments. In the last 15 years, many studies have been published in the literature examining the reasons and thoughts of women about oocyte freezing in different countries and groups. There is no study that evaluates this body of literature with a general view on social cryopreservation specifically and with the subgroups of the general population and healthcare professionals/students. Study design, size, duration A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed following the PRISMA guidelines after a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, EBSCO MEDLINE complete, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus and CINAHL databases between July and September 2023. Studies reporting findings about our primary outcomes including acceptance rates and reasons for SOC in general population and healthcare professionals/students were eligible without limitation on the publication year. Participants/materials, setting, methods Two reviewers independently reviewed eligibility and assessed for quality using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists. Totally, 23 studies were included. Data were expressed in risk ratio with a 95% CI using a random effect model. Prevalence estimates were calculated using meta-analysis of the proportion of women who viewed SOC acceptable. Heterogeneity was calculated using CochranQ and I2 statistics. The Q statistic was reported as p values, and the I2 statistic was reported in percentages. Main results and the role of chance In the metaanalysis based on the previous research data; the overall acceptance rate of social oocyte cryopreservation was found to be 54% (95% CI = 46%–62%). In subgroup analysis performed for healthcare professional/students, acceptance rates were not significantly different (95% CI = 0.47-0.61; p > 0.05). Heterogeneity was high for the acceptance rates of SOC (I2=98.64%, τ2=0.78, df = 22; p < 0.001). In subgroup analysis, acceptance rates were evaluated according to the most common reasons for acceptance. Acceptance rates when the cost of SOC is covered was 57% (95% CI = 0.40% - 0.71%, I2 = 98.62%, τ2 =0.88, df = 7; p < 0.001) and this rate was 49 % in the absence of a partner (95% CI = %34 - %64). Heterogeneity was high (I2=%98,81, τ2=0,96, df = 10; p < 0,001). Acceptance rates according to the reasons did not differ significantly in the subgroups for general population and healtcare professionals/students (coverage of cost: 95% CI = 0.59-0.45; p > 0.05; absence of a partner: 95% CI = 0,51-0,55; p > 0,05). Limitations, reasons for caution Some of the included studies had sample sizes that were not large enough to provide sufficient power for reporting on the disposition decision question. Wider implications of the findings Metaanalysis revealed that more than half of the women viewed SOC acceptable, acceptance varied within a wide range and increased in the absence of a partner and covering the cost. Findings of this review underline that affordable oocyte cryopreservation will increase the use of SOC among women of reproductive age. Trial registration number Not applicable

For a Pluralism of Climate Modeling Strategies

Abstract The continued development of general circulation models (GCMs) toward increasing resolution and complexity is a predominantly chosen strategy to advance climate science, resulting in channeling of research and funding to meet this aspiration. Yet many other modeling strategies have also been developed and can be used to understand past and present climates, to project future climates, and ultimately to support decision-making. We argue that a plurality of climate modeling strategies and an equitable distribution of funding among them would be an improvement on the current predominant strategy for informing policymaking. To support our claim, we use a philosophy of science approach to compare the increasing resolution and complexity of general circulation models with three alternate examples: the use of machine learning techniques, the physical climate storyline approach, and Earth system models of intermediate complexity. We show that each of these strategies prioritizes a particular set of methodological aims, among which are empirical agreement, realism, comprehensiveness, diversity of process representations, inclusion of the human dimension, reduction of computational expense, and intelligibility. Thus, each strategy may provide adequate information to support different specific kinds of research and decision questions. We conclude that, because climate decision-making consists of different kinds of questions, many modeling strategies are all potentially useful and can be used in a complementary way.

Effects of counseling strategies among undergraduate students' achievement in measurement and evaluation in a tertiary institution in Anambra state

This quasi-experimental study investigates the effects of counseling strategies on undergraduate students’ achievement in Measurement and Evaluation within tertiary institutions in Anambra State. The research design involved a random sample of 20 undergraduate students enrolled in Measurement and Evaluation courses across various tertiary institutions. The study employed three distinct counseling strategies: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). The researcher designed an Achievement Test in Measurement and Evaluation (AATME) as the primary instrument for data collection, comprising of numerous decision questions lined up with the educational plan. Pre-test and post-test measures were directed to the two gatherings, and the information were investigated utilizing mean and standard deviation. The discoveries expect to give understandings into the differential impacts of directing techniques on understudies’ scholarly accomplishment in Estimation and Assessment. By looking at pre-test and post-test scores between gatherings, the review adds to the current writing on guiding adequacy in instructive settings. The examination holds suggestions for teachers, guides, and policymakers, offering proof-based understandings into the plan and execution of directing mediations customized to the special necessities of college understudies in the field of Estimation and Assessment.

Rural Women’s Response to Climate Change: An Exploratory Study of Women’s Grassroot Network in Odisha

The emergence of Feminist Political Ecological (FPE) position allows to rethink about social institutions like Self Help Groups (SHGs) as foundations for building green movements through everyday practice. The collective voice that has helped them emerge economically self-sufficient is reflected in their decision making, when the larger cause of climate change or environmental decision-making are involved. It is time that their actions permeating the ecology and environment gains credence and such coalitions provide ground as movements for achieving the larger collective agenda. Idea of SHGs as social capital helped the marginalized women create different ‘gendered subjectivities’ and endowed them with a collective voice, be it conservation of their own ecological settings or confronting the social system. The case of Climate Credit Pilot Project and/or conservation of indigenous seed varieties in remote villages of Odisha bear testimony to women’s consciousness regarding climate mitigation initiatives and the meaningful actions associated with environmental justice. Such interventions show that the embedment of economic, social and cultural values of SHG groups align with their instinct for attaining a larger goal of environment protection through household and community level actions. The gendered subjectivities including increased social consciousness among women, better access to new information, up-skilling has made them better and enlightened decision makers. The practice of joint or consensual action by SHG collectives enable them to address multi-scalar issues like climate change. However, the broader agenda of social and economic empowerment has to align with their decision making power relating to their immediate ecology and environment. In this context, the proposed study will probe emerging social consciousness of women on climate change issues, while examining their larger environmental responsibility in local situation, wherein the women remain at the receiving end. This is a field-based exploratory study of women from subsistence and indigenous communities of three districts in Odisha which interrogates the role of SHGs in creating a social space for women to engage with the question of environmental decision making. The study intends to analyse the field data in relation to environmental rights, responsibilities and knowledge of rural and Adivasi women within the institution of SHGs. It aims to formulate the concept, i.e., can SHGs be seen as co-linear spaces which needs to be strengthened as bearers of green movements at the local level as a response to the climate crisis.

Minds and machines: A look at employee attitudes and work engagement regarding AI in large organizations

This study investigates how workers in huge firms view and feel about AI innovation. Utilizing Prolific.co, a particular group of workers with first-hand information using AI innovation was employed. The study posed inquiries about the adequacy of AI, its benefits and drawbacks, client acknowledgment, morals, straight forwardness and individual strengthening. Specialized staff (40%) and the executive’s staff (60%) made up the fragments of respondents. For the various decision questions, a measurable examination was finished, and for the genuine inquiries, a topical investigation. The discoveries show a huge level of understanding between the perspectives and assessments of the two worker divisions, particularly as to AI execution and fulfilment levels with morals, straightforwardness, and conference. Discernments and mentalities with respect to AI innovation were demonstrated to be essentially emphatically affected by segment factors; the effect of calling type and key utilitarian areas of AI organization was viewed as less huge. Generally speaking, the review accentuates that it is so basic to consider socioeconomics while analyzing perspectives and conclusions in regards to AI innovation in corporate settings.

Of Israel, Forst & Voltaire: Deism, Toleration, and Radicalism

ABSTRACT In the recent progressive reappraisals of the enlightenment by Jonathan Israel and Rainer Forst, Voltaire figures as almost a reactionary thinker, opposing the radical dimensions of the enlightenment pushing forwards secularisation, democratisation, and toleration. Part 1 examines Israel’s and Forst’s accounts of Voltaire, showing their striking proximity. Part 2 is divided into the three subheadings of (i) Voltaire’s deism, (ii) the pivotal subject of toleration, and (iii) the decisive question of what philosophical radicalism, in the direction of democratising reform, involves. At issue in Israel’s and Forst’s claims that Voltaire’s deism represents a step backwards from Bayle’s and Spinoza’s more radical conceptions of reason and toleration, we will claim, is a shared, anachronistic failure to duly credit Voltaire’s deism’s distance from the revealed religions, and the radicalism of Voltaire’s anti-clericism. In the key claim of the paper, however, we will argue that the larger issue in Israel’s and Forst’s positioning of Voltaire as almost reactionary are a deeper set of assumptions about how we should assess philosophical texts which aim to act in the world, and (evoking Feuerbach) to change it (2, iii). Both Israel and Forst, despite the former’s extensive labours in contextualisation, read the texts of eighteenth century philosophers for their arguments alone, rather than as rhetorical and political acts and interventions which aimed to reach, entertain, and reform an expanding reading public through esprit, art, satire, and rhetoric, as well as by making argumentative contributions to the controversies of the day.

To test or not to test? A question of rational decision making in forensic biology

To test or not to test? A question of rational decision making in forensic biology

Research On Time Series Forecasting-Based Pricing Strategy for Supermarket

In fresh food supermarkets, vegetables have a short shelf life. It is of great practical significance to price different products based on market research in order to maximize the benefits of supermarkets. The aim of this paper is to investigate and address the pricing decision question of vegetable products in fresh food supermarkets. This article investigates the correlation between cost-based pricing and sales revenue by establishing linear regression models and time series models.In addition, we have also made price predictions for various categories of products in the supermarket. Finally, this article provides pricing decisions for various categories in the first week of July 2023 for the supermarket.

HSBC: Facilitating Trade Finance Through Blockchain

HSBC (The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) Holdings Plc. is a part of various trade finance consortia which aimed to digitise the traditional paper-based trade finance process. It had successfully executed multiple trade finance pilots using a blockchain based platform Voltron and was launching its Contour blockchain trade finance platform as a service to its clients. The trade finance market was estimated to be USD 18 trillion on an annual basis and HSBC had a 12% share in the trade finance transactions worldwide. This case revolves around the challenges facing banks/consortia while porting the traditional trade finance process to the blockchain based system. The crux is how the banks form the consortia, implement blockchain and facilitate trading globally given that it is a new technology and will require bringing all the stakeholders involved in the trade finance value chain to the blockchain based platform. HSBC is facing some decision questions on the formation, governance and management of the consortium, on the interoperability between consortia and on how to price its services to its customers.

Spectrum of AI futures imaginaries by AI practitioners in Finland and Singapore: The unimagined speed of AI progress

AI teases our imagination: People have created various dystopian and utopian imaginaries of the era of AI. Although the key group creating and realizing AI-related futures imaginaries are the technology practitioners who research, develop, and apply AI, empirical research has focused on collective rather than individually interpreted imaginaries. Empirical research on individual practitioners’ futures imaginaries is necessary, as well as fine-tuning the related vocabulary to support individual and non-linear perspectives. We present an empirical study in which we interviewed 35 AI and robotics practitioners based in Finland and Singapore. We asked (1) what kind of best and worst futures imaginaries the practitioners of AI and robots envision and (2) how the practitioners imagine likely futures will emerge. As a result, we present three continuums. Along these continuums, the practitioners consider variations of likely futures: (1) the best, (2) in between, and (3) the worst. Our analysis reveals decisive questions behind the continuums regarding the agent in control, relations in practitioner communities and society, and justified concentration of power.

A systematic review of whole disease models for informing healthcare resource allocation decisions.

Whole disease models (WDM) are large-scale, system-level models which can evaluate multiple decision questions across an entire care pathway. Whilst this type of model can offer several advantages as a platform for undertaking economic analyses, the availability and quality of existing WDMs is unknown. This systematic review aimed to identify existing WDMs to explore which disease areas they cover, to critically assess the quality of these models and provide recommendations for future research. An electronic search was performed on multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, the NHS Economic Evaluation Database and the Health Technology Assessment database) on 23rd July 2023. Two independent reviewers selected studies for inclusion. Study quality was assessed using the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) appraisal checklist for economic evaluations. Model characteristics were descriptively summarised. Forty-four WDMs were identified, of which thirty-two were developed after 2010. The main disease areas covered by existing WDMs are heart disease, cancer, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and metabolic disease. The quality of included WDMs is generally low. Common limitations included failure to consider the harms and costs of adverse events (AEs) of interventions, lack of probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) and poor reporting. There has been an increase in the number of WDMs since 2010. However, their quality is generally low which means they may require significant modification before they could be re-used, such as modelling AEs of interventions and incorporation of PSA. Sufficient details of the WDMs need to be reported to allow future reuse/adaptation.

Machine learning-assisted optimal schedule of underground water pipe inspection

There are over 2.2 million miles of underground water pipes serving the cities in the United States. Many are in poor conditions and deteriorate rapidly. Failures of these pipes could cause enormous financial losses to the customers and communities. Inspection provides crucial information for pipe condition assessment and maintenance plan; it, however, is very expensive for underground pipes due to accessibility issues. Therefore, water agencies commonly face the challenge to 1) decide whether it is worthwhile to schedule expensive water pipe inspections under financial constraints, and 2) if so, how to optimize the inspection schedule to maximize its value. This study leverages the physical model and data-based ML (ML) models for underground water pipe failure prediction to shed light on these two important questions for decision making. Analyses are firstly conducted to assess the value of water pipe inspection. Results by use of a physical-based failure model and Monte Carlo simulations indicate that by inspecting pipe’s condition, i.e., assessment of pipe’s erosion depth, the uncertainty of water pipe failure prediction can be narrowed down by 51%. For optimal inspection schedule, an artificial neural network (ANN) model, trained with historical inspection data, is evaluated for its performance in forecasting the future pipe failure probability. The results showed that a biased pipe failure prediction can occur under limited rounds of inspection. However, incorporating more rounds of inspection allows to predict the pipe failure conditions over its life cycle. From this, an optimal inspection plan can be proposed to achieve the maximum benefits of inspection in uncertainty reduction. A few salient results from the analyses include 1) the optimal schedule for inspection is not necessarily equal in the time interval, 2) by setting the goal of uncertainty reduction, an optimal inspection schedule can be obtained, where ML (ML) model augmented by continuously training with inspection data allows to reliably predict water pipe failure conditions over its life cycle. While this study focuses on underground pipe inspection, the general observations and methodology are applicable to optimize the inspection of other types of infrastructure as well.

HER2-low metastases of HER2-negative primary tumors: a single institution analysis of intertumoral and internodal heterogeneity in node-positive breast cancer.

HER2 status in breast cancer is an essential parameter in individual therapeutic decision-making and is routinely assessed in primary tumors in accordance with international recommendations. Reports of HER2 heterogeneity raise the question of basing treatment decisions on HER2 status in metastases, if present. We investigated the degree and clinical implications of HER2 heterogeneity in lymph node-positive breast cancer. Because of recent recognition of therapeutic opportunities in this group of tumors, we especially focused on cases involving low-level HER2 expression. The HER2 status of primary tumors and of corresponding lymph node metastases was determined in archived material at the protein and gene levels using the gene- protein assay and interpreted in accordance with 2018 ASCO/CAP criteria. HER2-low status was defined as protein expression levels 1+ or 2+ with negative amplification status. We analyzed a series of 43 cases of primary infiltrating breast cancer, each with at least two axillary nodes harboring macrometastases (>2 mm), in total 206 such nodes. In 7% of cases, we detected intertumoral HER2 heterogeneity. Three of nine HER2-positive primary tumors were associated with HER2-negative metastases. No cases with HER2-negative primary tumors had HER2-positive metastases, but 55% (6/11) of HER2 0 primary tumors had HER2 1+ and/or 2+ metastases, and 19% (3/16) HER2 1+ cases had exclusively HER2 0 metastases. All metastases in HER2 2+ cases showed HER2-low protein expression levels. Internodal HER2 heterogeneity at low protein expression levels (presence of HER2 0, HER2 1+, and/or HER2 2+ metastatic deposits within the same axilla) was seen in 40% (17/43) of cases. We found no statistically significant association between HER2 heterogeneity and other tumor-related parameters. Survival data indicated worse outcomes in the HER2-low group compared with the rest of the cohort. Our results indicate a substantial instability of HER2 protein expression, leading to considerable intertumoral and internodal HER2 heterogeneity in lymph node-positive breast carcinomas. This heterogeneity is particularly relevant in HER2-low tumors in which the corrective effects of HER2 gene copy number analysis definitionally is absent. Our findings suggest that determining HER2 status in metastatic lymph nodes may generate relevant information for therapeutic decision-making.

Pattern of practice for postoperative management of endometrial cancer in Korea: a survey by the Korean Gynecologic Oncology Group and the Korean Radiation Oncology Group (KGOG 2028-KROG 2104).

This study aimed to investigate the current status of postoperative management of uterine endometrial cancer (EC) in Korea. A mail survey was administered to members of the Korean Gynecologic Oncology Group and Korean Radiation Oncology Group. A total of 38 gynecologic cancer surgeons (GYNs) and 31 radiation oncologists (RO) in 43 institutions was responded. The questionnaire consisted of general questions for clinical decision and clinical case questions. The GYN and RO responses were compared using chi-square statistics. The 2 expert groups had similar responses for clinical decision based on the results of the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG)-249 and Postoperative Radiation Therapy for Endometrial Carcinoma-III trials in the early-stage EC. In contrast, the responses based on GOG-258 results differed, as GYNs most frequently opted for sequential chemotherapy (CTx) and radiotherapy (RT), while ROs preferred concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced stage (p<0.05). Based on the GOG-258, GYNs preferred CTx alone for adjuvant treatment of serous or clear cell adenocarcinoma histology, whereas ROs advocated for combined CTx and RT (sequential or concurrent). Among the clinical case questions, GYNs were more likely than ROs to choose CTx alone rather than the combination of CTx and RT (sequential or concurrent) as the answers to case questions representing patients with locally advanced stage or unfavorable histology (all p<0.05). The present study showed several different opinions of GYNs and ROs regarding adjuvant treatment for EC, particularly for adjuvant RT in advanced stage or unfavorable histology.

Automatic segmentation of parallel drainage patterns supported by a graph convolution neural network

Drainage pattern (DP) recognition is critical in hydrographic analysis, topography identification, and drainage characteristic detection. The traditional method is based on rule computation and self-similarity idea preliminarily performing the DP classification. However, DP segmentation is an uncertain spatial cognitive problem affected by enormous factors. To settle such a multi-conditions decision question, this study takes the segmentation of parallel drainage pattern (SPDP) as an example presenting a deep learning method, namely the graph convolution neural network (GCNN) based on Graph SAmple and aggreGatE (GraphSAGE). First, a directed graph and dual graph were used to construct a dual drainage graph recording spatial-cognition features of drainage. Second, nine drainage features were built to define the graph description from three perspectives: topological connectivity, meandering equilibrium, and directional unity. Finally, the GraphSAGE model was designed for SPDP and trained by typical samples to finish the segmentation works. The experiment examined the optimal feature combination and hyperparameter sensitivity, which can provide sufficient information for SPDP supported by GraphSAGE. Besides, our model outperformed other machine learning methods and GCNNs driven by a fixed quantity sampling mechanism and hydrological knowledge. This work provides a vital reference for hydrology research supported by combing hydrological knowledge with GCNNs.

RETRACTED: Green investment mechanism considering supply chain risk aversion and negotiating power

• Offer to implement optimal decision in relation to green investment. • Two types of cost-sharing contract is considered. • Supply chain risk aversion is negatively related to green investment. In this paper, we study the green investment decision question in a rice supply chain composed of supply chain risk aversion (SCRA) planting firms and supply chain risk-neutral (SCRN) sellers. Under centralized and decentralized decision-making, we consider the two types of cost-sharing contract (CSC) namely the general (CSC) and the CSC considering the bargaining power. We study the influence of SCRA and construct the green investment optimization model for the rice supply chain. Our study shows that the green investment level in the decentralized rice supply chain is negatively correlated with the SCRA, while the SCRA is positively correlated with the green investment level regardless of the type of CSC. By comparing the two CSCs, we find that both contracts not only improve the expected utility of the rice supply chain but also enhance the green investment level of the rice supply chain. Under the bargaining game, the SCRA is positively correlated with the green investment level and cost-sharing ratio. On the other hand, the bargaining power is also positively correlated with the green investment level and cost-sharing ratio. Under certain conditions, the green investment level of the rice supply chain can be lower than that of the decentralized supply chain. Considering rice planting firms' SCRA and negotiation power, the bargaining CSC is the best under certain conditions.

Cultural Factors of Suicidality

Suicidal behavior is a complex human behavior expressed in a spectrum of various acts. From a suicidal gesture to a completed suicide, all reflect a cry for help and need clinical and scientific attention. The process ending up with suicidal act is shaped by multi-factors, including the socio-cultural ones. Suicide is indeed related to a deep feeling of hopelessness; not to have any control over their lives and circumstances except than deciding to stay alive or dead, and so related to serious psychopathologies, as depressive and substance use disorders. Hence, it is frequently seen as a personal act or as a question of individual decision. But since Durkheim‘s ground breaking work, which still inspires suicide researchers, the cultural factors behind this socially determined phenomenon have been widely discussed. Suicide is totally a personal act and a fully socio-cultural phenomenon. The cultural factors of suicidality are among the social determinants of health/ill health. Epidemiological evidence and cross-cultural comparisons show huge differences in suicide rates across countries and even between regions of same countries, and these are constant differences. Furthermore, even the definition of suicide is effected by the social circumstances. Certain socio-cultural patterns shape how and when people commit suicide; i.e., these patterns have decreasing or increasing effect on suicide rates, which provides basis for suicide prevention. Likewise, social solidarity, high group integration and collective sensitivity may have preventive effects. This brings us to the discussion of the effects of big social turmoil or wars or pandemics on suicidal behavior.DisclosureNo significant relationships.