National Convention Research Articles

5th Meeting of the Federation of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (FNM 2024), November 6-8, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand.

5th Meeting of the Federation of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (FNM 2024), November 6-8, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand.

Marco legal y programas de protección en América Latina y el Caribe: desafíos y oportunidades en la protección de los derechos de las personas adultas mayores

Introduction. This article provides a review of laws, regulations, and protection programs aimed at individuals over 60 years old in seven Latin American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, it examines the national and international regulations and agreements in which each of these countries participates. The main laws and protection programs for older adults in each mentioned countryare highlighted, with a focus on the aspects they address, particularly in terms of labor rights, access to healthcare, and housing. Method. documentary review of current national and international laws and conventions was conducted in each participating country. This analysis was carried out with a qualitative approach, aiming to identify areas for improvement and potential legal gaps in the protectionof the rights of older persons in these countries. Additionally, an examination was made on how these regulations address aspects related to economic security, healthcare, social participation, combating abuse and discrimination, labor rights, and access to housing. Results. The countries guarantee fundamental rights for older adults, including health, social security, housing, food, and social and culturalparticipation. However, disparities are observed in the presence of regulations and programs in specific areas. Conclusions. While the studied countries are signatories to the most important international conventions on the rights of older persons, and despite their progress in developing laws and regulations for their compliance, thisdoes not guarantee effective implementation. Therefore, further studies are needed to delve into the implementation aspect to identify possible gaps and challenges.

Performance of Machine Learning Models to Predict Customer Satisfaction Scores for Lao National Convention Center

This research paper investigates the effectiveness of various machine learning (ML) models in predicting customer satisfaction scores for the Lao National Convention Center (LNCC). By utilizing a dataset containing customer feedback, demographic data, facilities, and service-related information, the study aims to identify the best performing model for predicting customer satisfaction. In this paper, the performance of ML to predict customer satisfaction scores from the questionnaire survey dataset is evaluated. The customer satisfaction score is categorized into five classes: strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree and strongly disagree. The analysis will compare the performance of different models, including linear regression (LR), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machines (SVM), decision trees (DT) and random forest (RF). The results show that SVM model achieved the highest accuracy rate of 95.91%, followed by KNN and LR with an accuracy rate of 95.55% and 95.49%, respectively. The findings of this study have important implications for the use of ML in improving the service-related information for LNCC and providing valuable insights for decision-makers and developers.

Special Issue: APSAD 2024 Conference 30 October-2 November 2024 National Convention Centre, Canberra.

Special Issue: APSAD 2024 Conference 30 October-2 November 2024 National Convention Centre, Canberra.

Special Issue: APSAD 2024 Conference 30 October-2 November 2024 National Convention Centre, Canberra.

Special Issue: APSAD 2024 Conference 30 October-2 November 2024 National Convention Centre, Canberra.

Review on medical waste management in China and Nigeria.

Medical waste management is an essential component of healthcare delivery globally due to the toxic and contagious potentials on human health and the environment. There are resource limitations in developing nations when it comes to the appropriate handling of medical wastes. In this article, we examined previous studies to evaluate the practices of medical waste management in China and Nigeria. Contextually, this work addresses medical waste practices in the context of waste generation, segregation, collection, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal. In addition to reviewing additional important aspects of medical waste management, the current study addresses potentials and challenges for efficient medical waste management in both countries. For this study; Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Agencies, Conferences, National and International Conventions were searched from 1998 up to 2023 for all studies reporting medical waste management in China and Nigeria. To further guarantee that only resource materials with similar research interests in medical waste management were selected, a double screening process was employed. The challenges of medical waste management in both countries are limited financing, inadequate training, ineffective legislation, ineffective medical waste transport system and insufficient treatment technology. Furthermore, this study offers practical recommendations by identifying the particular areas that require attention and development, such as training of healthcare workers, adequate financing of medical waste management projects, including research and development on efficient toxic emission reducing technologies, and partnership with other relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure enforcement of national and local legislation.

Международное сотрудничество в противодействии транснациональному наркобизнесу в латиноамериканском регионе

The article examines modern features of organizing international cooperation in combating crimes related to drug trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean. The purpose of the work is to analyze the current situation in the field of drug crime in the analyzed region, as well as the main methods of international cooperation and counteraction. Research methods: analysis and comparative legal research of national legislation, conventions and treaties, draft international documents, scientific articles and other sources, as well as a statistical method for bringing quantitative and qualitative indicators of crime. Conclusion: in the Latin American region, both at the national and regional levels, a policy is being pursued to combat crime in the field of drug trafficking, and, despite the high crime rates at the moment, the active work of government bodies and supranational associations in this area is obvious. The practical significance lies in the fact that during the preparation the most modern legal and doctrinal sources in the original language were studied and introduced into scientific circulation.

Skin Carotenoid Levels Are Associated with Demographic Factors, Body Size, and Fruit and Vegetable Intake in the Japanese Population.

This study aimed to determine the association between demographic factors, body size, and fruit and vegetable intake in the general population, focusing on individuals with both low and high skin carotenoid levels. This cross-sectional study was conducted during the 14th National Convention on the Promotion of Food and Nutrition Education (2019) in Yamanashi, Japan (a rural area) and the Open House 2019 at the National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health, and Nutrition in Tokyo, Japan (an urban area). Skin carotenoid measurements were conducted, and the participants were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire. The study population consisted of 492 Japanese individuals aged ≥16 years. The odds ratios (ORs) for low skin carotenoid levels were elevated in males, those who were overweight, and those who almost never consumed or consumed only one vegetable dish/day. Conversely, the ORs were lower in those living in Yamanashi, aged 30-39 and ≥70 years, and those who consumed fruit ≥1 time/week. For high skin carotenoid levels, the ORs were higher among those aged ≥70 years, living in Yamanashi, and those who consumed fruit ≥1 time/day or ≥5 vegetable dishes/day. Demographic factors, body size, and habitual fruit and vegetable intake may serve as indicators of skin carotenoid levels.

Male twinning after the 2008 Obama election: A test of symbolic empowerment

On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama was elected the first Black President of the United States. His campaign and electoral win served as a symbol of hope for a more just future, fostering an “Obama effect” that appears associated with improved well-being among non-Hispanic (NH) Black communities. Situating the Obama election within the symbolic empowerment framework, we consider the potentially protective role of the Obama election on NH Black fetal death, an important but understudied measure of perinatal health that has stark racial disparities. Using restricted-use natality files from the National Center for Health Statistics, we proxy fetal death using the male twin rate (number of twins per 1000 male live births). Male twins have a relatively high risk of in utero selection that is sensitive to maternal and environmental stressors, making the twin rate an important marker of fetal death. We then estimate interrupted time-series models to assess the relation between the Obama election and male twin rates among NH Black births across monthly conception cohorts (February 2003–October 2008). Greater-than-expected male twin rates signal less susceptibility to fetal loss. Results indicate a 4.5% higher male twin rate among all NH Black cohorts exposed in utero to the Obama election, after accounting for historical and NH white trends (p < 0.005). The greater-than-expected rates concentrated among births conceived in the months preceding Obama's nomination at the Democratic National Convention and Obama's presidential win. These results suggest a salutary perinatal response to election events that likely reduced NH Black fetal loss. They also indicate the possibility that sociopolitical shifts can mitigate persisting NH Black-NH white disparities in perinatal health.

CHILD LABOUR IN AGRICULTURE IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA: FEATURES AND ONGOING CHALLENGES

In the Republic of Moldova, the issue of the child labour in agriculture presents a significant challenge. This study has the aim to evaluate the participation of the Moldovan children in agricultural work and its effects on their well-being, safety, and education. Highlighting a lack of updated data and research within Moldova, especially in the agricultural sector, this study employs a detailed methodology encompassing national statistics, expert surveys, and international convention reviews. The findings indicate the involvement of children in various agricultural tasks, including hazardous ones, affecting their education and health, with children aged on average 12.7 to 15.3 years working over 20 hours weekly. The research distinguishes between harmful child labour and beneficial work, advocating for a comprehensive strategy to improve educational opportunities, family incomes, and alternative employment options. It stresses the importance of effective policies and legislation to safeguard children from exploitative labour in both formal and informal sectors. Although there has been some advancement in tackling child labour in Moldova, considerable obstacles persist. The research advocates for a comprehensive strategy that includes refining policies, strengthening the enforcement of current laws, and executing specific initiatives aimed at decreasing child labour in the agricultural sector. The research calls for joint efforts from the government, international bodies, NGOs, and communities to protect and promote child welfare, aiming to integrate children into safe environments and offering them better future prospects.

Poster Abstracts from the 2023 American Massage Therapy Association National Convention

Poster Abstracts from the 2023 American Massage Therapy Association National Convention

Cross sectional survey of attitudes on sustainability and climate change among baccalaureate nursing faculty and students

BackgroundNurse educators are critical to ensuring future nurses are prepared to meet healthcare needs due to climate change. AimThe purpose of this research was to assess the attitudes of nursing students and faculty on sustainability and climate change in nursing and nursing education. DesignThis study used a descriptive, cross-sectional online survey of nursing students and faculty recruited online and at national conferences. SettingsOnline survey. ParticipantsA convenience sample of students and faculty were recruited from a national student nursing convention and a national meeting of community health nursing educators along with the principal investigator's university. Additional faculty were recruited from national nursing education organization email listservs. Eligibility criteria included adults 18 years or older who are enrolled students or faculty in an undergraduate nursing program. MethodsParticipants completed the Sustainability Attitudes in Nursing Survey (SANS_2) survey online. Survey responses were downloaded and analyzed using IBM SPSS. ResultsIndependent sample Mann-Whitney U tests of responses from faculty and students was significantly different, p = 0.047, for the question “Issues about climate change should be included in the nursing curriculum”. Comparison of SANS_2 overall means from first-year nursing students in other countries showed lower mean scores among first-year U.S. students that climate and sustainability are important issues of nursing and nursing education. Comparison of faculty overall SANS_2 means found greater support for including climate change and sustainability among U.S. nursing faculty when compared with faculty from South Carolina. ConclusionsThe results of the survey found differences in support among baccalaureate faculty and students for including climate change and sustainability in nursing education. Additional research into the effectiveness of learning activities needs to be done by nurse educators and researchers as part of on-going efforts to ensure future nursing students understand the impact of climate change on health.

Breaking the silence: Is the church failing to address South Africa’s sociopolitical problems?

This article investigates why the Ecumenical Church in South Africa has not responded effectively to social issues such as bad governance, corruption, inequality, crime, and ethical decline. It uses contextual and comparative analysis to examine the historical, political, and theological factors that influence the church’s role and identity. It draws on missiology, practical theology, and ecclesiology to argue that the church is neglecting its moral and prophetic duty to uphold human dignity and value, and to offer hope and healing to all. The investigation identified six reasons for the church’s social failure and proposes some practical and theological ways to improve its social responsibility and witness.Contribution: This article challenges the church to be a prophetic voice and witness for social transformation in South Africa. It calls for a national convention of Christian leaders to craft a unified vision for the country’s future and foster dialogue, cooperation, and social responsibility among diverse and complex churches.

Reconsidering the “Southern Veto”: The Two-Thirds Rule at Democratic National Conventions, 1832–1936

Reconsidering the “Southern Veto”: The Two-Thirds Rule at Democratic National Conventions, 1832–1936

From Barack Obama to Donald Trump

Abstract Do Democrats and Republicans appeal to different sets of moral foundations in their national convention speeches? Do they make efforts to frame their messages so that it is attractive to their base and moderate voters? This study examines the moral appeals that political elites use to communicate to their supporters. I analyze speeches starting from the 2008 to the 2020 Republican and Democrat National Conventions to see if there are differences in appeals to Harm, Fairness, Ingroup, Authority and Purity, which are tenets of the Moral Foundations Theory. I find that Republicans are more likely to appeal to Authority, and in 2020, Purity, while Democrats appeal mostly to Harm. Using qualitative content analyses, we see that both parties apply the moral language favored by the other side in their convention speeches on top of making appeals to moral foundations that are favored by their own base.

Epidemiological survey of elderly patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at mobile field hospitals.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mobile field hospital, a rapidly deployable healthcare facility for emergency care, was effective in ensuring rapid diagnosis and treatment of patients with mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV2 infections, effectively preventing the spread of COVID-19. We conducted a survey to gain a thorough understanding of the epidemiological traits among the elderly who contracted the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus at a mobile field hospital set up at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). A cross-sectional study approach was employed to examine various factors such as demographic characteristics, clinical features, vaccination status, and nucleic acid testing. We utilized the DezhenTech Integrated Electronic Medical Record Platform (Municipal Isolation Hospital) to collect data and focused on elderly individuals infected with COVID-19 in the fifth isolation zone of the mobile field hospital set up at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The patients were categorized into different age groups for analysis. Among the 3,183 elderly patients, 54.7% were males and 45.3% were females, with an average age of 65.32 ± 4.41years. Among them, 47.8% (1523/3183) were 60-64 years old, 34.0% (1082/3183) were 65-69 years old, 14.0% (444/3183) were 70-74 years old, 3.2% (103/3183) were 75-79 years old, and 1.0% (31/3183) were ⩾ 80 years old. The majority (95.7%) of the elderly patients with chronic conditions had hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. The first viral nucleic acid screening showed a higher positive rate in the community and hospital fever clinics. The cumulative positive rate of the nucleic acid test in the mobile field hospital was 38.7%. The average CT value of the COVID-19 ORF1ab gene was 34.56 ± 5.98, while the average CT value of the N gene was 33.10 ± 6.50. The patients took an average of 3.40 ± 0.45 days to test negative, with a positive rate of 15.4% and an average hospital stay of 7.45 ± 0.53 days. The overall rate of COVID-19 vaccine coverage was 68.0%, with an enhanced coverage rate of 40% and a non-coverage rate of 29.3%. The overall prognosis for elderly patients who experienced a mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection at the mobile field hospital was favorable, although the vaccination rate in general was not high. By effectively managing underlying health conditions, the duration of their hospital stay in the mobile field hospital was reduced.

Inclusive Education and its Effects on Academic Performance among Students with Disabilities in Mainstreams Secondary Schools in Mfoudi Division.

Inclusive education is a process of strengthening the capacity of the education system to reach out to all learners. Therefore, there have been a number of campaigns and laws on the successful implementation of inclusive education and how to solve the problem of children with disabilities in the mainstreams schools. It is expected that disabled children should excel in general education with all the technological advancement concerning their education, all the legislative and educational reforms put in place by the government for their studies. However, despite the drafting of many international, regional and national conventions on persons with disabilities, students with disability still do not perform in school like their peers who are said to be normal. This study was aimed at finding out the various factors that negatively influence the performance of students with disability in Government Secondary Schools. The descriptive research design was used and one hundred and two (102) persons were sampled using the census method. In other to obtain data for the research, two questionnaires were constructed by the researcher for both students and teachers. The student questionnaire was made up of forty one items while that of the teachers was made up of sixteen (16) items with the aim to test the different hypothesis and answer the research questions. The data collected was analyzed with the use of SPSS software version 25.0, wherein both descriptive statistics (charts, frequency distribution tables) and inferential statistics (chi-square) were used. The results showed that the socio-economic status of family negatively influenced students with disability’s performance and teachers did not have training on how to teach inclusive classes so did not find it easy teaching students with disability. However, there were other factors that influenced performance like; infrastructure, self-motivation. The researcher thus proposes from teachers recommendation that teachers in active service should be provided with in-service training to ameliorate their knowledge on teaching students with disabilities and children should be provided with material support to help reduce if not solve the problem.

White coats, Black lives–racial trauma in Black pharmacists

BackgroundRace-based traumatic stress, or racial trauma, can negatively impact the health and wellbeing of Black health professionals. However, the effects of racial trauma among Black pharmacists have not been thoroughly explored. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to explore Black pharmacist experiences of race-based traumatic stress and its effects in the workplace. MethodsThis qualitative study utilized focus groups among a convenience sample of Black pharmacist attendees of a national convention for an organization dedicated to serving underserved communities and minoritized pharmacy professionals. The data were analyzed with inductive coding and thematic analysis as proposed by Braun and Clark. ResultsThree focus groups were conducted with a total of 22 participants. The majority of participants were female (77%), and the average age of the participants was 48.3 years old. Three themes related to racial trauma were identified. The participants described racial trauma as an ever-present phenomenon, tension with coworkers and institutions, and internal and external structures of support. The Black pharmacists in this study provided context and recommendations for employers to support their wellbeing. ConclusionsAn awareness of the hidden wounds that Black pharmacists carry with them to work every day is an important factor in creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. The results of this study give Black pharmacists a voice and a chance to share with colleagues their distinct realities. Employers and institutions should assess individual needs and implement strategies to support Black pharmacists in creating more inclusive work and professional environments.

Challenges in Protecting Trafficking Victims' Rights in Indonesia

This research focuses on the critical analysis of legal frameworks in Indonesia concerning the protection of witnesses and victims in human trafficking cases, scrutinizing the effectiveness and challenges from a perspective of dignified justice. Emphasizing the need for a fair judiciary system, the study delves into the implementation of existing laws and regulations related to the rights and protection of witnesses and victims in Trafficking in Persons (TPP) cases. Employing a normative legal methodology, the research extensively analyzes national and international norms and legal materials, including comparisons between national laws and international conventions such as the Palermo Protocol. Findings reveal that inadequate understanding and awareness among law enforcement about the significance of these rights, coupled with resource constraints, result in identity rights violations for witnesses and victims. Furthermore, challenges such as the perceived threats to witnesses and victims, limited human and financial resources in law enforcement agencies, legal uncertainties in TPP case handling, insufficient international cooperation in law enforcement, and the difficulty in balancing the rights of victims and defendants are identified. The study also highlights the importance of rehabilitation and reintegration policies for victims, suggesting that successful combat against human trafficking transcends judicial processes. Consequently, this research not only investigates existing laws and policies but also identifies gaps and potential improvements to ensure that witness and victim protection in combating TPP aligns with principles of dignified justice. The aim is to contribute significantly to developing a more effective, fair, and rights-sensitive judicial system in Indonesia.&#x0D; Highlights:&#x0D; &#x0D; Law Enforcement Gaps: Limited awareness and resources in protecting victims' rights.&#x0D; Legal and International Hurdles: Challenges in TPP case handling and cross-border cooperation.&#x0D; Rights Balance: Need for equilibrium between victim protection and defendant fairness.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Human Trafficking, Witness Protection, Legal Framework, Indonesia, Rights of Victims

Sensory perception in cultural studies—a review of sensorial and multisensorial heritage

ABSTRACT Following the “authorized heritage discourse” in heritage management, visual components have traditionally formed the basis of aesthetic value assessment of heritage assets. Despite being considered important by national legislation and international conventions, other sensory components have been comparatively under-researched and are generally ignored. No research to date has investigated the breadth and depth of these sensory components either individually nor in combination, and a synthesis of the extent and complexity of this intangible heritage is currently lacking. This literature review aims to examine these sensory heritage components in the human environment setting over the last 10 years. Of the 122 articles included in this literature review, the majority of research focused on only one individual sensory heritage component, generally the sense of sight or sound. For research investigating more than one sensory component, visual and aural components were again highly represented. Smell and touch components were comparatively under-researched, and there was a general paucity of multisensory heritage research and investigation of perceived heritage values. This review shows there is vast potential to push past the authorized heritage discourse, to revisit the current processes of heritage assessment and to rethink the constraints of visually centered heritage documentation and management.