Lack Of Perception Research Articles

Aesthetic-Epistemological Contradiction in the Concept of Water

The following paper highlights the contradictions that exist in the understanding of water: it is considered a marketable resource over which one can exert power and, at the same time, a common good used by the planet’s species and ecosystems. Based on this, and after an analysis of several widespread ideas, the paper proceeds to describe the paradox in the perception of water as a product of an alienated aesthetics that makes it impossible to experience the after-effects of the Westernised world. This lack of perception will be called aesthetic omission, corresponding to Eaton’s “nonperceivables” (2000). The text urges us to be aware that these kinds of aesthetics exclusions around water have global effects and ultimately determine the fate of life on Earth itself. Therefore, a complex revision of the established ontology of water is proposed in response. Keywords: water; nonperceivables; aesthetics; epistemology; Earth

Biosafety knowledge and perception among medical laboratory students: a cross-sectional study at a medical university in Vietnam

Introduction: Medical students have to deal with biohazards in laboratories during undergraduate studies and intensive practice in hospitals. Unsafe operators can result in an outbreak of biohazardous pathogens to healthcare workers, the community, and the environment. However, the most common risk factors for laboratory accidents are a lack of perception and knowledge of biosafety and laboratory safety management. This study aimed to assess knowledge and factors influencing the biosafety practices of medical students at Hanoi Public Health University, Vietnam Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the biosafety knowledge of all 286 students majoring in a medical laboratory at HUPH from December 2021 to February 2022. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Hanoi University of Public Health. The questionnaire has been created based on WHO biosafety guidelines with some modifications according to the local context. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews Results:: Out of the 286 students invited to complete a biosafety questionnaire, 68.6% of students recognized the fundamental principles of biosafety. Additionally, 76.2% and 91% of students correctly identified risk factors and danger signs in the laboratory, respectively. Furthermore, 79.8% of students provided accurate answers to biosafety laboratory troubleshooting questions. Notably, academic performance, students’ year of study, and average scores in biosafety courses had significantly related to the biosafety knowledge. Gender factors and academic performance were related to the rate of obtaining precise knowledge about incident handling and preventing risk factors in the laboratory. Conclusion: The passed rate of biosafety knowledge among medical laboratory students at the University of Public Health was 68.6%. Factors such as the student's school year, academic performance, average score in the biosafety course number of internships in hospitals significantly affected their biosafety and troubleshooting knowledge in the laboratory.

Effects of distant biofield energy healing on adults associated with psychological and mental health-related symptoms: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

In recent years, popularity of Biofield energy healing therapy has increased tremendously parallel to conventional therapy. However, due to insufficient scientific studies on biofield therapies, authors planned this clinical trial to examine the safety and effectiveness of biofield therapy in treating symptoms of psychological and mental health and to explore parameters for its effectiveness. One hundred fourteen participants (55 male, 59 female) underwent clinical trials. This trial was randomized, placebo-controlled, three parallel-groups, double-blind, and single-center with subjects who have one or more psychological and mental symptoms. Two sessions of distant (virtual) biofield energy attunement were given on days 0 and 90 for about 5 minutes to the subjects of biofield intervention group (n=39). Besides, control (n=35) and sham control (n=40) group subjects also received kind of treatment in a similar manner to nullify baseline responses. Subjects were assessed by psychological questionnaire scoring using standard scale of assessment and safety parameters. Perceived psychological symptoms/scores (fatigue/tiredness, sleep disturbances, stress, cognitive impairment, loss of memory, mental restlessness, emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, confusion, financial crises and dissatisfaction, low libido, motivation, confidence, lack of perception, relationship, and social behaviors, etc.) were significantly (p <.0001) improved in biofield intervention group compared to the naïve control and sham control groups. Besides, biofield intervention did not show any study-related adverse effects in all three groups throughout the trial. The distant (virtual) biofield energy healing therapy significantly improved psychological and mental health-related symptoms without affecting safety concerns, and improved overall health and quality of life.

Economic Analysis Between Conventional Building and Green Building

Abstract: Globally, half of the whole energy is produced and consumed by buildings and is liable for an oversized share of Co2, radiation, and gases. Despite a lot of assessments that have been taken throughout the globe to establish smart and sustainable construction, whereas pollution and global warming are rapidly increasing far and wide universally. Climate changes within the previous few years have conjointly been detected due to a surge in greenhouse gases everywhere on the planet. An initiative for world awareness and global climate change has escalated adequately throughout the earth for the depletion of carbon emissions and harmful gases. The developed countries like Australia, Germany, USA square measure already targeted on this sector, and their government has taken demanding rules to realize eco-friendly and sustainable expansion. Countries like Nepal, India, and Bangladesh face an obstacle regarding the shorter information provided to them in achieving and enhancing eco-friendly construction and property development. Lack of perception amongst the individuals regarding the world wide problems is clouded in economically developing nations. This research paper presents the need for sustainable green construction especially in developing countries like India, Bangladesh has maximum population growth, extremely which are living in most populated areas inflicting a threat to the surroundings, and also the living organisms within the future. This study is specially designated for a building that is designed and created as a conventional building. This Analysis understands the selling price of greening existing buildings before upgrading the building into a sustainable building. The upkeep and operational price are conjointly computed. This study targeted the economic edges and environmental edges once the building is remolded into a Green building.

Food safety knowledge, needed and trusted information of pork consumers in different retail types in Northern Vietnam

IntroductionFood safety is an important public health concern globally. Risk communication is one of crucial element to manage food safety. While current food safety studies have focused on contamination of hazards or risk factors, limited research exists on consumer concerns, knowledge and perception about the actual risk food poses to their health. This study aimed to assess and compare the knowledge and perceptions regarding food safety, and the information needed and trusted by pork consumers in Northern Vietnam.MethodsA total of 225 consumers recruited from three different market types: modern urban, traditional urban and traditional rural, were interviewed using a questionnaire between November to December 2019.ResultsThe majority of participants (81.8%) were female and consumers interviewed at modern urban retail were younger than those interviewed at traditional retail settings (p &amp;lt; 0.01). Sixty-five percent of participants across the three retail types agreed that microbes were the most common hazards which can make them sick, but the adverse health effect due to chemical hazards was ranked higher than that of biological hazards. Most participants often received food safety information that was about animal diseases (such as African swine fever most recently), chemical contamination and the unknown origin of food rather than about food poisoning and measures to prevent it. Food safety messages from television and professional experts were the most trusted sources and consumer preference was for information about the origin of food (traceability) and how to choose safe food. Participants were willing to receive food safety information daily to weekly. A lack of perception and awareness about animal welfare related to pig farming or slaughtering was reported by most respondents (84.3%).DiscussionThese findings provide insight on Vietnamese consumer knowledge gaps, information demand and communication channels for food safety, so that risk communicators and managers can implement better food safety awareness campaigns and communication to consumers.

Effect of Virgin Coconut Oil on Prolactin Levels and Breast Milk Production in Postpartum Mothers

Background and Aim: Breastfeeding is a natural process for a mother to support and prosper her child after giving birth. Lack of perception about breast milk production is one of the factors causing failure in exclusive breastfeeding. Nutritional and hormonal factors (prolactin and oxytocin) are the main factors that affect breast milk production. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of giving virgin coconut oil to prolactin levels and milk production. Material and Method: This type of research is experimental with Posttest Only Group Design. The sample was selected by purposive sampling technique so as to get a sample of 33 pregnant women in the group and 33 pregnant women in the control group. Examination of prolactin levels were measured using the ELISA method. Data were analyzed by Kolmogorov Smirnov and Independent T test. Result: The results of the average prolactin level of each group, namely the control group was 50.69 ng/ml and the treatment group was 72.98 ng/ml. The average milk production obtained in the control group was 325.73 ml and the treatment group was 432.80 ml. The results of the analysis using the Independent T test concluded that there were significant differences, between VCO, prolactin levels (p = 0.00) and VCO on breast milk production (p = 0.00). Conclution: The conclusion of this study is that giving Virgin Coconut Oil has an effect on increasing prolactin and breast milk production in postpartum mothers. Keywords: VCO, Prolactin, Breast Milk .

Do Radishes and Carrots Grow in a Bunch? Students’ Knowledge about the Growth of Food Plants and Their Ideas of a School Garden Design

School gardens can be places of biodiversity and suitable learning environments for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). In particular, vegetable patches where students can make their own experiences in food growing are very apt to connect local acting and global thinking, which is one of the main concerns of ESD. Working in a school garden could be a chance to overcome the lack of perception and knowledge about plants and their life cycles, which is described as “plant blindness”. Concerning the impact of school gardening, studies often investigate teachers’ perspectives only. Therefore, in our study, we focused on students. Participants were mainly fifth and sixth graders in middle and grammar school (mean age 12.3 years, n = 2107). With a paper-pencil test, we investigated their knowledge about the growth of 10 selected crop plants and asked them to rate school garden design elements referring to their importance and suitability for taking over responsibility for nature. In addition, we asked for character traits necessary for a successful school gardener. The results showed that about 40% of the students are convinced that carrots and radishes grow in bunches underground, and nearly 50% thought kohlrabi is growing underground as well. Girls performed better than boys. Increasing age and experience in gardening had a positive effect on the answers. In the students’ opinion, fruit trees, birdhouses, and vegetable patches are the most important elements in school gardens. The liking of nature and patience were highly scored skills for successful school gardening. The influence of experiences in gardening on the answers showed the important role that school gardening could play to gain hands-on knowledge about plant growth and thus offer quality education for every student. This would not only contribute to the reduction of plant blindness but answer the requests of ESD and the goals postulated in the Agenda 2030.

Nursing leaders' perceptions of the state of nursing leadership and the need for nursing leadership education reform: A qualitative content analysis from South Korea.

This study aimed to clarify nursing leaders' perceptions of nursing leadership education and practice. Leadership is an essential competency that is required in nursing practice. It is also necessary to pay more attention to the development of nurses' leadership to improve patient safety and outcomes. Participants were 15 nursing leaders. We adopted qualitative content analysis for data collected through individual and/or focus group interviews and analysed using the process of coding, condensing and categorizing. The results revealed the following five major themes with categories: (1) nursing leadership-commitment to nurses, the nursing profession and the organisation; (2) nursing leadership abilities-competency and compatibility, personality and traits; (3) importance of nursing leadership education to enhance educational efficiency and to nurture next-generation nursing leaders; (4) difficulties in nursing leadership education: lack of perception and difficulty of implementation; and (5) strategies for nursing leadership education: contents and methods. Nursing leaders' perception of nursing leadership was extended to nurses, organisations and nursing professions. Competency, capability, innate personality and traits are required nursing abilities that are acquired through education. Experience and theoretical-based nursing leadership education should be introduced gradually and systematically from the beginning of nurses' careers.

Transdisciplinarity and scientific activism as wedges to accelerate Amazonian development

Studying and knowing the Amazon Rainforest in the current socioeconomic scenario leads to reflection on the effectiveness of the scientific methodologies adopted. Is the dialogue between research groups and decision makers allowing the production of knowledge robust and appropriate to the demands of the Amazonian productive sector, and articulated in order to sensitize the academy to focus on existing technological bottlenecks, as well as new opportunities for the use of natural wealth? An analysis was carried out on the requirements of scientific development notices produced by the main institutions of promotion and development in the Amazon Rainforest in the last two years, and it was found that the predominant epistemology is disciplinarity, a fact that makes the application of results more restricted. The temporal scale of scientific production, speed of impact on society in relation to its application, adequate language and lack of perception of society about the uncertainty of politics, are important factors that affect the relationship between academia and opinion makers and public policies, and it is necessary to intensify a certain scientific activism, application of translational epistemology. In parallel, the management of the governance of scientific knowledge would be, in some cases, more likely to succeed with the use of algorithms that are still timidly adopted in the academic environment of the Amazon Rainforest.

Desvio espontâneo da atenção básica para atenção de média e alta complexidade na pediatria

INTRODUCTION: Primary health care is a set of interventions that promotes initial contact with the health system, whereas those of medium and high complexity include hospitals, outpatient clinics, urgent and emergency services, exams and procedures. Lately, there has been a phenomenon of voluntary diversion from primary care to medium and high complexity care in pediatrics. OBJECTIVE: To present some reasons why the aforementioned phenomenon occurs, its consequences, and to cite intervention proposals taken to reverse this. METHODS: A literary review was carried out on the topic of articles found in databases, such as LILACS, BIREME and PubMed. DISCUSSION: This spontaneous deviation has, among its various causes, notions such as easier access, convenience and faster resolution in emergency services or even the lack of perception of what is an urgency. In addition, it is believed that parents prefer emergency care because they find a greater variety of specialties and, consequently, greater resolution, in one place. CONCLUSION: The substitution for medium and high complexity care has had repercussions not only for the child’s health, but also for the health system itself. Therefore, urgent and emergency services are not used as they should and do not have the capacity to meet the needs of their patients, given that the complaints prioritized in these services are acute, and many diagnoses that could be made through a longitudinal monitoring is not done due to the need for immediate resolution.

Students’ images of STEM professionals: a study in the Portuguese context

ABSTRACT The shortage of students in STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics) areas is a global concern and one of the reasons why students do not want to pursue STEM careers is the unenthusiastic image that they have about STEM areas. This study aims to examine the images that 135 Portuguese elementary students (7-12 years old) have about STEM professionals. Data collection was performed using a draw-and-write instrument: the students were asked to draw someone that works in each STEM area, and to answer two questions: ‘Where does that person work?’ and ‘What does that person do?’. Checklists, based on instruments previously described in the literature, were developed for each STEM discipline. A descriptive analysis of the results was made, and the statistically significant differences between male and female students’ drawings were evaluated. The results show that students still retain stereotypical images of STEM professionals and have a lack of perception about the appearance and work that STEM professionals do. In conclusion, there is a demand for changes in teaching practices to change the erroneous and unrealistic impressions that students may have about STEM areas.

Vadovavimo stilių nustatymas Klaipėdos miesto progimnazijose

In the analysis of leadership styles and their coherence the subject of leading the organization have been, is and will be valid at all times. Although there are quite a lot of scientific articles and books on leadership styles, but works of foreign researchers are often quoted. Unfortunately, Lithuanian scientists do not pay enough attention to new (relatively as transformational and transactional leadership styles have been begun to be analyzed in the end of last century) leadership styles, whereas a combination of leadership styles is not paid attention at all, stating a priori that it is better to use a combination of various styles. It certainly does not form serious approach to the current leadership style problem. The scientific problem is the lack of perception, identification and finding out style combinations in the field of leadership styles. The purpose of this article is finding out leadership styles set in Klaipėda progymnasiums through the analysis of leadership styles. The object of research is the leadership styles in Klaipeda progymnasiums. The research methods are analysis, synthesis and comparison based on the insights in scientific literature, which have been done in order to justify the eligibility of leadership styles chosen by the managers. Employees carried out individual questionnaires, while managers have been interviewed. To analyze, process, digest and graphically depict questionnaire data derived from quantitative research SPSS 18 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software and Microsoft Office Excel 2010 program have been used. The research confirmed the scientists ideas in the theoretical part of this article that none leadership style suits every situation. Examination of employee opinions on leadership styles of their managers showed that managers use some combination of leadership styles in their direct duties. According to the aggregated data from respondents’ answers it may be concluded that managers consider their leadership style to be based on the combination of transformational and coaching leadership styles while also adding bits of charismatic or transactional leadership styles; employees think that managers use the combination of transformational and coaching leadership styles while also adding bits of charismatic or transactional leadership styles. Leadership style combination chosen by managers completely satisfied or more satisfied than not satisfied most of the surveyed employees in organizations. Evaluation results have showed that employees have rated leadership style of their managers better than the same managers have done. In this research the views of employees are very close to managers views when selecting the leadership style or combination of different styles. KEY WORDS: leadership style, organization, finding, Klaipėda . JEL CODES: M 12, M 10. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/rfds.v13i2.829

Touching to Feel: Brain Activity During In-Store Consumer Experience.

To gain a deeper understanding of consumers' brain responses during a real-time in-store exploration could help retailers to get much closer to costumers' experience. To our knowledge, this is the first time the specific role of touch has been investigated by means of a neuroscientific approach during consumer in-store experience within the field of sensory marketing. This study explores the presence of distinct cortical brain oscillations in consumers' brain while navigating a store that provides a high level of sensory arousal and being allowed or not to touch products. A 16-channel wireless electroencephalogram (EEG) was applied to 23 healthy participants (mean age = 24.57 years, SD = 3.54), with interest in cosmetics but naive about the store explored. Subjects were assigned to two experimental conditions based on the chance of touching or not touching the products. Cortical oscillations were explored by means of power spectral analysis of the following frequency bands: delta, theta, alpha, and beta. Results highlighted the presence of delta, theta, and beta bands within the frontal brain regions during both sensory conditions. The absence of touch was experienced as a lack of perception that needs cognitive control, as reflected by Delta and Theta band left activation, whereas a right increase of Beta band for touch condition was associated with sustained awareness on the sensory experience. Overall, EEG cortical oscillations' functional meaning could help highlight the neurophysiological implicit responses to tactile conditions and the importance of touch integration in consumers' experience.

The peculiarities and problems of cultural tourism in the free economic zones of China

Many cities in China currently have a reputation of international centers of tourism. For example, Beijing simultaneously draws attention as a city of centuries-old history and a modern cultural center. Other cities, such as actively developing free economic zones (Shenzhen, Shanghai, Tianjin, Hong Kong, etc.) initially did not have cultural uniqueness that would form the cultural brand of the territory and turn them into a remarkable cultural center. This hinders the development of cultural tourism in these territories. The goal of this article consists in determination of the peculiarities and problems in the development of cultural tourism in the free economic zones of China, using the example of Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tianjin. It is established that such peculiarities and problems is directly related to the fact that initially these zones had more of an economic orientation. On the one hand, this provides financial resources and makes these territories potentially promising for the development of cultural tourism; while on the other hand, it sets back the cultural component, focusing on the different forms of tourism, namely economic shopping tourism. It is emphasized that the key characteristics of the development of cultural tourism consist in creation of infrastructure for the cultural tourism and availability of resource for cross-cultural communications and multicultural tourism. Among the relevant problems of the development of free economic zones, the author notes the slower development of cultural tourism compared to the economy and economic tourism; lack of perception by the local authorities of the value of cultural tourism and integration of its resources into the development of free economic zones, insufficient scientific reflection on cultural tourism in these territories of China.

Hidden European Union Trade Regulations: The Case of the Banana Import Regime and the Lack of Perception

Given the current Trump´s stated trade policy it is interesting how the EU has established silently in the past trade barriers. The banana regime (BR) has been one of the most politically sensitive, technically complicated and economically complex legal disputes. The BR has started after WWII as a protection measure for former European colonies. With the single European market, a European-wide import regime was established. BR was introduced, even though the EC had to know that it conflicted with international trade rules. The paper shows the various effects caused by the banana import regime. The banana price increase reduced the banana consumption, which led to a dead-weight loss in the EU and welfare losses of the exporting countries. On the other side, the demand for substitutes (e.g., apple, pears) increased. The efficiency of the supply chain was impaired leading to additional environmental pollution. The regulation created incentives for customs fraud. The organized crime (Mafia) received an enormous cash inflow. The BR is a deliberate violation of international law; it reduces consumer welfare, it harms environment and sustainability and leads to an inequality of income distribution. Against this background, the paper examines why neither consumers nor European politicians perceived the BR as a problem, why was there no public pressure, why there was no ecological resistance, and why the WTO-negotiations could be delayed so long.

Predictors of Self-Reported Hand Hygiene Performance among Nurses at Tertiary Care Hospitals in East Coast Malaysia.

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) is the simplest and most effective way to reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine factors associated with self-reported HH performance among nurses at Kelantan tertiary care hospitals. A sample of 438 registered nurses was selected through a stratified random sampling method. Self-reported HH performance was assessed using a validated WHO self-administered HH knowledge and perception questionnaire for healthcare workers. Results: A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors. The factors that significantly predicted self-reported HH performance among nurses included perception score (beta coefficient (β) = 0.260; 95% CI: 0.200, 0.417; p < 0.001), pediatric department (β = −0.104; 95% CI: −9.335, −2.467; p < 0.001), and orthopedic department (β = −5.957; 95% CI: −9.539, −0.720; p < 0.023), adjusted R2 = 0.102; p < 0.001. Nurses with a strong perception and belief in HH were more likely to have better HH performance. Compared to pediatric and orthopedic, surgical departments were associated with better self-reported HH performance. Conclusions: This study showed the importance of factors that could improve the intervention’s performance in HH strategy. Lack of perception and HH program intervention in departments engaged in patient care could lead to poor HH practices, thus increasing HCAIs and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Lack of perception regarding risk of dengue and day-active mosquitoes in Finnish travellers

Background: An increasing number of international travellers are at risk for dengue infection. We analysed the characteristics of Finnish travellers with recently acquired dengue infections.Methods: Notified dengue infections from 2016 to 2019 were obtained from the Finnish National Infectious Disease Register. We developed a questionnaire and invited individuals diagnosed with dengue to provide information on countries and areas of infection, travel characteristics, risk perception and use of protective measures.Results: Almost all infections (94%, 127/135) were acquired in Asian countries, most in Thailand (78/135, 58%). The Maldives had the highest crude risk after adjusting for the number of travellers (55.6/100,000). Most trips were pre-booked holidays (93/111, 84%) and 62% (69/111) had a duration of 14–21 days with time spent mostly on the beach (78/111, 70%). The majority of travellers were not aware of the risk of dengue infection before travelling (67/111, 60%) and had not sought pre-travel advice (72/111, 65%). The majority applied some protective measures (71/111, 64%) but mainly after sunset (64/111, 58%).Conclusions: Most dengue infections in Finnish travellers were acquired at popular destinations in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand. Our study showed that there was low awareness regarding the risk of contracting the infection. In addition, many travellers reported inadequate use of protective measures. This calls for further public health actions, such as raising awareness of day-active mosquitoes, of risk at popular travelling destinations and the correct way of applying anti-vectorial measures.

Blastocystis sp. Subtype 9: as the First Reported Subtype in Patients with Schizophrenia in Iran

Blastocystis sp. is more prevalent in mentally-retarded individuals, immunocompromised patients, and organ recipients. There are no inclusive studies in Iran evaluating the prevalence and molecular identification of Blastocystis sp. infection in schizophrenic patients. This study aimed to determine prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in schizophrenic patients in Tehran province, Iran. This cross-sectional study was performed on 58 stool samples of schizophrenic male patients in Tehran province, Iran, using the sequence-tagged site (STS) and ST-specific primers. Overall, 58 stool samples were collected from hospitalized male patients with schizophrenia in Tehran province. After conventional PCR, positive samples were probed by ST-specific and STS primers. Following molecular evaluation, 32 samples (55.2%) were positive for Blastocystis sp. Which, 28 (87.5%) cases were ST3, 3 (9.4%) cases were found to be ST9, and one case (3.1%) was ST1.This study was the first report of the ST9 of Blastocystis in Iran. Blastocystis infection was more prevalent in asymptomatic patients (55.6%) compared with symptomatic patients (55%). There was a significant association between the duration of hospitalization and Blastocystis infection rate (0.002). The results of the present study represented a high prevalence and significance of Blastocystis sp. infection in schizophrenic patients. Patients with schizophrenia are unable to attend to their own care. Also, schizophrenic patients have a lack of perception that can result in poor hygiene, which needs more care, accuracy, prevention, and control.

A critical analysis of corruption and anti-corruption policies in Italy

Purpose This study aims to critically analyse the Law 9 January 2019, n. 3, on “Measures to fight crimes against the public administration and on the transparency of political parties and movements” (so-called bribe-destroyer law). Design/methodology/approach This paper draws on reports, legal scholarship and other open-source data to examine a legislative innovation for the corruption in Italy in relation to the general guarantees of the trial process and with the controversial paradigm of the national perception index of bribery. Findings The Italian legislative initiative that will be examined is innovative in nature and goes beyond the constitutional and conventional principles on procedural guarantees. The new initiative needs to be integrated into the international and European action against bribery that targets criminal proceeds, and at the same time, be anchored in respect for human rights during the process. Research limitations/implications The new initiative needs to be integrated into the international and European action against bribery that targets criminal proceeds, and at the same time, be anchored in respect for human rights during the process. Practical implications Despite the aggressiveness and lofty proclamations by those who aspire to fight corruption from the highest levels, the goal of rehabilitating Italy from one of the seven “deadly sins” that delay economic growth still seems far off. Social implications In the absence of public ethics, the increase in criminalisation does not seem sufficient on its own to guarantee the containment of the phenomenon. Originality/value This study examines the strengths and weaknesses of the important new law, its compatibility with human rights standards and its relationship to international standards of anti-bribery policies. The aggressive legislation critically relies on the pervasive and persistent lack of perception of corruption as a crime. In the confiscation (and now also reparation) of equivalent that normally addresses assets accumulated in a lawful manner, the periculum is even presumed in re ipsa and the classical aims of caution undergo a total torsion revealing an authoritarian face that takes on the meaning of anticipating further sanctioning contents. Finally, the presence of many levels of sanctioning in relation to the same fact poses serious problems of violation of the ne bis in idem rule.

Development of an anatomic intravaginal device and comparison with a conventional vaginal cone regarding their effectiveness in pelvic floor muscle perception and strength: randomized clinical test

The weakness and lack of perception of the perineal musculature and pelvic floor cause a series of emotional and social problems that can affect the social quality of life. This muscular structure is responsible for maintaining the support of the internal organs and participating in the maintenance of the urinary and fecal continence, as well as allowing coitus and childbirth. The objective of this study was evaluating the maximum pressure during the contraction of the perineal musculature and the performance of the pelvic floor muscles after using both the anatomical intravaginal device and the conventional vaginal cone. For this purpose, 30 women were selected and randomly and equally divided into 3 groups: Group I, control; Group II, used the conventional vaginal cone; and Group III, used the anatomically shaped intravaginal device, developed in order to accomplish the research. The volunteers in Groups II and III were respectively submitted to a protocol with the vaginal cone and the intravaginal device, and, after the use, they were assessed in order to verify their maximum pressure and the capacity of pelvic floor contraction. The analysis of the data showed a statistically significant difference, concerning the evaluated parameters, in the group that used the anatomically shaped intravaginal device. The anatomical intravaginal device, developed in this study, was more effective than the conventional vaginal cone regarding the improvement of the maximum perineal contraction pressure, local perception, and muscular performance.