Hidden Problem Research Articles

Faecal incontinence: investigation, treatment and management.

Faecal incontinence is a hidden problem that is often under-reported, under-diagnosed, under-investigated and under-treated. Faecal incontinence is more common in women and older people. Its prevalence also increases with age. Faecal incontinence occurs because of a complex interplay of contributing factors, some of which can be reversed in primary care without the need for specialist investigations and treatment. This article explores the reasons why adults develop faecal incontinence and how to identify and treat reversible causes in primary care. It also provides information on specialist treatment and the management of intractable faecal incontinence. A structured approach to assessment and management is key in identifying problems and offering primary care for timely treatment.

Social work research from a gender perspective into intimate partner violence against older women in Spain

ABSTRACT Intimate partner violence against older women is a hidden problem in Spain, which needs the involvement of institutions, professionals and families. This research aimed to shed light on social workers’ practices, and how they propose to perform ethical, efficient social work with older women who have been victims of intimate partner violence. In this descriptive, qualitative and exploratory study, we have compiled the expert voices of various social workers from urban and rural areas of Spain using a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The results reveal the role of the family and social workers in early detection, together with the need to provide a more efficient professional response, and to create specific resources and devices to provide comprehensive, individualised solutions for each woman.

Perception on body image and its associated factors among undergraduates in selected faculties of a state university in Sri Lanka

Background: Perception on body image; the way individuals see or feel about their physical appearance, can influence one's mental well-being, self-esteem and lifestyle. Since there is a dearth of research on this in Sri Lanka, the perception of body image among undergraduates, who are an active social group, demands a com-prehensive understanding.Objective: To describe the perception on body-image and its associated factors among undergraduates in selected faculties of a state university in Sri Lanka.Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 389 undergraduates selected through convenience sampling from the faculties of Applied Sciences, Medical Sciences, Management and Commerce and Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Data was collected through a validated, pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire circulated as a Google form via social media. Perception on body image, mental well-being and self-esteem were assessed using the Body-focused shame and guilt scale (minimum 0, maximum 88, cut-off 37), WHO-5 well-being index (minimum 0, maximum 100, cut-off 40) and Rosenberg self-esteem scale (minimum 10, maximum 40, cut-off 28) respectively. All attributes were dichotomized using the means obtained from the pilot test.Results: Majority of the participants were females (n=270, 69.4%). Median age was 23 years (IQR=4). Majority (n=242, 62.2%) showed normal BMI (18.5-24.9). Two of every five undergraduates tend to have a negative perception on their body image.Among the participants who had negative per-ceptions on their body image, 69.0% had poor mental well-being, 72.3% had low self-esteem and 61.3% were highly concerned about fashion and cosmetics to improve their appearance.Conclusions: TNegative perception on body image is a hidden problem among undergraduates in Sri Lanka. The association of one’s gender, mental well-being, self-esteem and fashion with body-image perception is significant.

Exploring a role for community pharmacists in the identification of alcohol-related liver disease: a qualitative interview study with professionals, patients, and the public.

To explore the views and attitudes of professionals, patients and the public to a role for community pharmacists in the identification of alcohol-related liver disease (ArLD). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of patients with ArLD, members of the public, pharmacy staff, and clinicians managing patients with ArLD across the Wessex region of south England. The interviews explored experiences of alcohol, ArLD and health advice in pharmacies and elicited views of what a pharmacist role in identifying ArLD could entail and factors influencing this. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Twenty-six participants were interviewed and three themes were generated: (i) acknowledging, seeking help and engaging with a hidden problem; (ii) professional roles, boundaries and attributes; (iii) communication, relationships, collaboration and support. Participants reported key challenges to identifying people at-risk of ArLD. Offering testing for ArLD was perceived to motivate engagement but there were concerns about pharmacists performing this. A role was mostly seen to be finding people at-risk and engaging them with further care such as referral to liver services. This was perceived to require developing interprofessional collaborations, remuneration and training for pharmacy staff, and community-based liver testing. Professionals, patient and public participants recognized a role for pharmacists in the identification of ArLD. This was envisaged to incorporate educating pharmacy users about ArLD risk, and identifying and directly engaging those at-risk with liver and support services through development of interprofessional collaborations. The findings of this study support and can inform future work to develop this role.

A Conundrum to Decode the Proficiency of Urban Schoolteachers in Screening Learning Disabilities.

It is estimated that nearly 5%-10% of Indian schoolchildren have hidden problems, with about 80%-85% of them having dyslexia. Failing to diagnose and address learning disabilities on time can lead to adverse outcomes, such as school dropouts and mental health issues. In this context, the study was designed to assess educators' knowledge regarding LD, its detection, and provisions for its management. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 randomly selected English, Hindi, Marathi, and Urdu medium schools under Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation from June 2018 to December 2019. The study participants were primary, upper primary, and high schoolteachers whose knowledge and practices regarding LD were assessed using a validated questionnaire. From the ten selected schools, 150 teachers were interviewed. The knowledge regarding LD was poor, with only 26.67% of the teachers expressing the inability of the child to learn in only one particular tenet of their studies as a learning disability, which was incorrect. Nearly 24.67% of the teachers expressed the correct opinion that children who had problems with two or more learning domains were found to have LD. Most of them were unaware of the provisions for children with LD. The most common factors influencing learning disability among children were the environment at home (approximately 40%), followed by health and frequent illness of a child (28.67%). LD criteria, screening, provision, and referral should have been better understood by schoolteachers. Most of their expertise came from teacher training programs. Teachers closely study their pupils and can spot even modest changes in academic performance or behavior, making them the first screening medium for learning disabilities. Therefore, teachers must be trained to recognize LD and informed about available services such as urban rehabilitation centers for children with LD.

Behind Closed Doors: The Hidden Realities of Indian Children Living With Alcohol-Dependent Parents.

The negative impact of Paternal Alcohol Use Disorder (PAUD) on children's psychosocial well-being is an overlooked issue that warrants more global research attention. Alcohol dependence is often seen as a hidden problem with subtle yet harmful effects, especially on the children of those with alcohol dependence. These children often remain invisible due to their loyalty and unwillingness to disclose their dysfunctional family situation. However, in the Indian context, these invisible children receive limited and insufficient support. This study aims to narrate the profound experiences of children growing up with fathers with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), highlighting the challenges of invisibility and the support they receive within the Indian cultural context. The study used a qualitative narrative research design, with a panel of child psychology experts selecting 12 participants aged 11-13 years. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and a semi-structured interview guide. The data collected were transcribed from the local language into English and analyzed using narrative thematic analysis. The study revealed how PAUD negatively influences children's experiences and societal norms surrounding family honour and reputation. It also sheds light on the children's reluctance to seek help due to stigmatization, the circumstances that compel them to disclose their problems, and the support they receive to cope with these challenges. This study highlights the critical need for culturally specific interventions and support mechanisms in India to address the psychosocial challenges faced by children, emphasizing the importance of societal acknowledgment and strategic interventions to alleviate the detrimental impact of parental AUD on child well-being.

Improving the energy efficiency in a walking hearth type reheating furnace by energy balance method and optimizing the resources

Most metal industries use reheating furnaces (RHF) for their finishing operations. This RHF is highly energy-consuming equipment that heats the material inside the chamber for rolling or shaping using the by-product gases, natural gas, or oil as fuel. It is necessary to minimize or optimize the fuel consumption to the extent possible. By analyzing the plant operating data, plant measurements, and energy balance calculation, this work aims to determine the potential for decreasing the fuel consumption of a billet reheating furnace. Predictions are made by modeling operating data to reveal the hidden problems and uncover underlying issues. The study results in increasing productivity by 11 ​% while oil consumption was reduced by 14 ​%. These actions significantly decreased carbon emissions considerably and generated significant cost savings.

Sarcopenic obesity - a hidden problem in cardiovascular risk

Sarcopenic obesity - a hidden problem in cardiovascular risk

The Effect of Sentence Structure Training on the Progress of Chinese Children with Autism in English Grammar Acquisition

This article mainly explains the psychology of why young girls like to buy blind boxes and some hidden problems through market research and extensive literature research. Some conclusions were drawn: The blind box originated in Japan initially With the development of the domestic blind box industry, more and more fashion toy brands came into being, and businesses also realized the needs of consumers. Therefore, the analysis of female consumer psychology is also of great significance for the positive development of the blind box industry. From the perspective of women's desire for beauty, curiosity about hidden models, pursuit of trends, and psychological application of emotional value, young female consumers have become the main force of blind box market consumption. But this also reflects from the side that women may be addicted to buying blind boxes or too much large consumption, and this addiction is also worth our reflection. In addition, how to avoid blind box addiction has also become a controversial topic, which has also promoted the future development of the blind box market.

Analysis of Contemporary Women's Consumption Psychology and Addiction to Blind Boxes

This article mainly explains the psychology of why young girls like to buy blind boxes and some hidden problems through market research and extensive literature research. Some conclusions were drawn: The blind box originated in Japan initially With the development of the domestic blind box industry, more and more fashion toy brands came into being, and businesses also realized the needs of consumers. Therefore, the analysis of female consumer psychology is also of great significance for the positive development of the blind box industry. From the perspective of women's desire for beauty, curiosity about hidden models, pursuit of trends, and psychological application of emotional value, young female consumers have become the main force of blind box market consumption. But this also reflects from the side that women may be addicted to buying blind boxes or too much large consumption, and this addiction is also worth our reflection. In addition, how to avoid blind box addiction has also become a controversial topic, which has also promoted the future development of the blind box market.

Are gender diversity issues a hidden problem in logistics and supply chain management? Building research themes through a systematic literature review

The literature has extensively examined the economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable supply chain management, but much less attention has been given to social aspects, specifically gender diversity (GD) issues in the supply chain. This study systematically reviews the literature to determine the current situation of GD in the supply chain and develop an appropriate research agenda of emerging themes. 49 peer-reviewed articles were selected for this study. The descriptive analysis confirms the growing importance and relevance of GD issues in logistics and supply chain management (LSCM), and the wide dispersion of publications across 31 journals also reflects the broad scope of GD issues in LSCM. Following content analysis, the selected studies are classified and analysed according to career-related factors, barriers and drivers for female participation in the supply chain, diversity management, gender differences in decision-making, supplier diversity, supply chain performance, gendered global value chains and production networks, and GD and modern slavery in supply chains. Despite an increase in the number of studies addressing GD in supply chains, this article demonstrates that many research areas remain unexplored. It explicitly points out five major gaps in the literature and develops a research framework and propositions. The research topics reflect potential areas of exploration to advance supply chain literature related to GD as a social issue.

A focus on perpetrators of intimate partner violence in mental health settings is urgently needed.

A national study in the UK has shown that perpetration of intimate partner violence is common for men and women attending mental health settings. People who perpetrated intimate partner violence were more likely to have experienced intimate partner violence, particularly for women. Perpetrators who were men were more likely to also perpetrate non-partner violence against family, friends or strangers. Mental health clinicians require training in identification, risk assessment and response, including referrals to behavioural programmes. More research is required to inform such responses; however, the need to address this common hidden problem in mental health settings is urgent.

What makes co-production work in sustainable neighborhood rehabilitation in China? A stakeholder structure perspective

Globally, co-production serves as a crucial approach to promote sustainable neighborhood rehabilitation. However, in China, where the governance system is characterized by strong state discourse power and a lack of public participation tradition, neighborhood rehabilitation encounters significant challenges, leading to project postponements or even failures due to unsuccessful co-production activities. To reveal the hidden problems, this paper aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the stakeholders' co-production roles and their participation structure in the co-produced sustainable neighborhood rehabilitation process from multiple dimensions. Using the case in Chongqing, the data was collected through questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews. Social network analysis was utilized as the research method, and one-mode and two-mode networks were established to depict six relationship types with using diverse network indicators. This study revealed the high complexity of stakeholder structure, the awkward role of grass-rooted government, the dilemma of public voices and perceptions, uneven involvement in the co-production process, and the dynamic path of co-production formation. Drawing upon co-production theory, this paper elucidates the intricate mechanism of co-produced neighborhood rehabilitation in China. It offers valuable implications for policymakers and urban planners for project promotion, and contributes empirical insights to research in similar governance systems across the global context.

On the tropical two-sided discrete logarithm and a key exchange protocol based on the tropical algebra of pairs

Since the existing tropical cryptographic protocols are either susceptible to the Kotov-Ushakov attack and its generalization, or to attacks based on tropical matrix periodicity and predictive behavior, several attempts have been made to propose protocols that resist such attacks. Despite these attempts, many of the proposed protocols remain vulnerable to attacks targeting the underlying hidden problems, one of which we call the tropical two-sided discrete logarithm with shift. An illustrative case is the tropical Stickel protocol, which, when formulated with a single monomial instead of a polynomial, becomes susceptible to attacks based on solutions of the above mentioned tropical version of discrete logarithm. In this paper we will formally introduce the tropical two-sided discrete logarithm with shift, discuss how it is solved, and subsequently demonstrate an attack on a key exchange protocol based on the tropical semiring of pairs. This particular protocol is compromised due to the existence of efficient (albeit heuristic) solution of the tropical two-sided logarithm problem, and this highlights the ongoing challenges in search of a “good” key exchange protocol in tropical cryptography.

Hidden Risks of Economic Abuse through Company Directorships

Economic abuse is a form of family violence that severely inhibits victim survivors’ capacities to rebuild their lives. Although its effects are widely felt, it remains a hidden problem. This article contributes to the burgeoning scholarship on economic abuse by investigating its perpetuation through family-owned companies. Victim survivors commonly bear the liability for business failure and phoenix activity as ‘straw’ directors. Recent reforms introduced to deter and penalise illegal phoenix activity have increased the risks for survivors who are coerced or defrauded into becoming directors. The study examines how corporate law and the courts have responded to straw directors in the context of family companies. It interrogates the notion that victim survivors assume responsibility for business decisions voluntarily, as rational economic men with relatively equal bargaining power. This article proposes reforms to disrupt harm from economic abuse through coerced directorships, and to militate against the unintended consequence of recent reforms.

A 'hidden problem': Nature, prevalence and factors associated with sexual dysfunction in persons living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

We conducted a clinic-based cross-sectional survey among 710 people living with HIV/AIDS in stable 'sexual' relationships in central and southwestern Uganda. Although sexual function is rarely discussed due to the private nature of sexual life. Yet, sexual problems may predispose to negative health and social outcomes including marital conflict. Among individuals living with HIV/AIDS, sexual function and dysfunction have hardly been studied especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we aimed to determine the nature, prevalence and factors associated with sexual dysfunction (SD) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Uganda. We conducted a clinic based cross sectional survey among 710 PLWHA in stable 'sexual' relationships in central region and southwestern Uganda. We collected data on socio-demographic characteristics (age, highest educational attainment, religion, food security, employment, income level, marital status and socio-economic status); psychiatric problems (major depressive disorder, suicidality and HIV-related neurocognitive impairment); psychosocial factors (maladaptive coping styles, negative life events, social support, resilience, HIV stigma); and clinical factors (CD4 counts, body weight, height, HIV clinical stage, treatment adherence). Sexual dysfunction (SD) was more prevalent in women (38.7%) than men (17.6%) and majority (89.3% of men and 66.3% of women) did not seek help for the SD. Among men, being of a religion other than Christianity was significantly associated with SD (OR = 5.30, 95%CI 1.60-17.51, p = 0.006). Among women, older age (> 45 years) (OR = 2.96, 95%CI 1.82-4.79, p<0.01), being widowed (OR = 1.80, 95%CI 1.03-3.12, p = 0.051) or being separated from the spouse (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.09-2.59, p = 0.051) were significantly associated with SD. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with SD in both men (OR = 0.27, 95%CI 0.74-0.99) and women (OR = 1.61, 95%CI 1.04-2.48, p = 0.032). In women, high CD4 count (OR = 1.42, 95% CI 1-2.01, p = 0.05) was associated with SD. Sexual dysfunction has considerable prevalence among PLWHA in Uganda. It is associated with socio-demographic, psychiatric and clinical illness factors. To further improve the quality of life of PLWHA, they should be screened for sexual dysfunction as part of routine assessment.

Human-computer interaction based on speech recognition

With the rapid change of The Times, language is no longer limited only in books, but gradually dedicates itself to reality. Speech recognition, in recent years, the cause of artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction continues to develop, all levels of life have its footprint, speech human-computer interaction leaf slowly began to integrate into the mainstream team of artificial intelligence. In general, speech recognition technology brings more convenience and naturalness to human-computer interaction, The benefits of human-computer interaction are not only reflected in improving the performance and efficiency of technical systems, but also in improving the user experience, fostering innovation, and promoting inclusive and sustainable development of society, and it has a positive impact in many fields, and with the continuous progress of technology, its application prospects will be broader. This paper makes a simple analysis and introduction of the role of speech recognition in human-computer interaction, expounds the key technologies, main algorithms and working principles of speech human-computer interaction, And some applications of human-computer interaction based on speech recognition in life and production fields. At the same time, the hidden problems and solutions are discussed, and includes the prospect of future speech human-computer interaction. Hope that this paper can bring some inspiration to relevant scientific research teams, assisting them to broaden a bright future.

Quiet quitting: a comprehensive exploration of hidden problems

PurposeThis study's objective is to give a thorough overview of the literature in the field of “quiet quitting.” This paper presents literature review on quiet quitting, analyzing its conceptual framework, antecedents, outcomes, and potential strategies for addressing this pervasive issue.Design/methodology/approachUsing the keywords “quiet quitting” and “silent quitting” from the Scopus database, a systematic review of the literature was conducted, applying the Antecedents-Behaviour-Consequences (ABC) approach, popularized by B.F Skinner, to get a conceptual clarity of this topic. There were just twenty articles discovered in the search until October 15, 2023. This review was undertaken after full-text screening of relevant studies, which are duly cited. The literature review also revealed some themes that are discussed in the study.FindingsThe study identifies relevant “quiet quitting” definitions as well as potential individual and organizational-level causes using a descriptive and thematic review of the literature. Additionally, critical insights and research gaps that could be used for empirical studies are identified.Practical implicationsThis study provides as a roadmap for organizations to proactively recognize and address concerns, resulting in enhanced workforce well-being and productivity.Originality/valueThe study could spur further research and serve as a resource for scholars interested in the concept of “quiet quitting,” as well as benefiting human resource managers who prefer evidence-based management.

Research on the Mechanism of Dynamic Monitoring of Undergraduate Students’ Learning Situation and Adaptive Adjustment of Teaching Mode--Based on the Perspective of Educational Evaluation Reform

Abstract Dynamic monitoring of undergraduate learning is a tool for the accurate pulse of education and teaching, and an in-depth study of the quality monitoring data of students’ learning can discover the hidden problems and shortboards in education and teaching. The article utilizes information technology to build a dynamic monitoring platform for undergraduates. Then, it establishes an accurate teaching model for undergraduates with the assistance of this platform. The SHAP interpretable model is used to obtain the online learning behavior characteristics of undergraduates, and the LSTM autocoder is used to construct the time-varying feature sequence of undergraduates’ learning behavior, which is inputted into the LSTM model to establish the undergraduate learning situation early warning model. Taking the data of students’ online behavioral characteristics as an example, the validation of the importance of undergraduate learning behavioral characteristics and early warning is carried out, and the effect of the precise teaching model is also analyzed. The SHAP value of undergraduate students taking online tests is 0.969, which significantly impacts their online learning behavior. The accuracy of undergraduate students’ learning alert was 0.822, which was about 3.53% higher than the FWTS-CNN model with sub-optimal performance, and the results of the learning adaptability retest were 3.24 points higher than the initial test results. From the perspective of educational evaluation reform, combining undergraduate students’ learning dynamic monitoring data can enable adaptive adjustment of teaching content and mode.

I WISH I WAS DEAD: HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF PHYSICALLY TRAUMATIZED OLDER ADULTS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY IN SOUTHERN GHANA

Abstract The transformation from a physically healthy to a physically impaired older adults due to the effects of ageing, disability or injury can be a difficult transition to navigate. Comparatively, research on trauma in the older adult population is less as opposed to the younger adults. Ghana do not have appropriate policies and programs to support the growing numbers of the older adults. This indicates that the prevalence of the hidden problem of abuse will continue to increase, and create major public health problems. For this reason the study seek to explore the physical health consequences of the physically traumatized older adults. The study employed a descriptive phenomenological design and was guided by the Social-Ecological model. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit participants for the study. A semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct individual in-depth face-to-face interviews. All interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data collection and analysis were done concurrently and data saturation was achieved after interviewing the eighth participant. Data were analyzed manually using thematic analysis and five (5) themes were generated: Lack of self-support ( inability to perform simple tasks) , Lack of family and friends support (neglect) , Lack of community and government support (no policies and programs to empower them. Physically traumatized older adults experienced extreme physical, emotional, mental and psychological discomfort as a result of their inability to do the things they wish to do, the neglect by immediate family, friends and the community as a whole and poor unfriendly transportation system.