People Face Research Articles

Multilevel medical insurance mitigate health cost inequality due to air pollution: Evidence from China

BackgroundAir pollution affects residents’ health to varying extents according to differences in socioeconomic status. However, there has been a lack of research on whether air pollution contributes to unfair health costs.MethodsIn this research, data from the China Labour Force Dynamics Survey are matched with data on PM2.5 average concentration and precipitation, and the influence of air pollution on the health expenditures of residents is analysed with econometric methods involving a two-part model, instrument variables and moderating effects.ResultsThe findings reveal that air pollution significantly impacts Chinese residents’ health costs and leads to low-income people face health inequality. Specifcally, the empirical evidence shows that air pollution has no significant influence on the probability of residents’ health costs (β = 0.021, p = 0.770) but that it increases the amount of residents’ total outpatient costs (β = 0.379, p < 0.006), reimbursed outpatient cost (β = 0.453, p < 0.044) and out-of-pocket outpatient cost (β = 0.362, p < 0.048). The heterogeneity analysis of income indicates that low-income people face inequality due to health cost inflation caused by air pollution, their total and out-of-pocket outpatient cost significantly increase with PM2.5 (β = 0.417, p = 0.013; β = 0.491, p = 0.020). Further analysis reveals that social basic medical insurance does not have a remarkable positive moderating effect on the influence of air pollution on individual health inflation (β = 0.021, p = 0.292), but supplementary medical insurance for employees could reduce the effect of air pollution on low-income residents’ reimbursed and out-of-pocket outpatient cost (β=-1.331, p = 0.096; β=-2.211, p = 0.014).ConclusionThe study concludes that air pollution increases the amount of Chinese residents’ outpatient cost and has no significant effect on the incidence of outpatient cost. However, air pollution has more significant impact on the low-income residents than the high-income residents, which indicates that air pollution leads to the inequity of medical cost. Additionally, the supplementary medical insurance reduces the inequity of medical cost caused by air pollution for the low-income employees.

EFFORTS TO CONSERVE THE WEHOR WATER RESOURCES CHANGES AND CHALLENGES

The issue of how the efforts to preserve the Wehor water resources carried out by indigenous peoples face environmental changes, as well as their challenges. The purpose of this study is to discuss the challenges of indigenous peoples in managing water resources. This study uses qualitative methods, data collection techniques through observation and interviews. The results of the study indicate the need for synergy and integration between regions, between sectors, between generations to anticipate the challenges of environmental change wisely and measurably.

Smart Stick Navigation System for Visually Impaired Based on Machine Learning Algorithms Using Sensors Data

Visually Impaired People (VIP) face significant challenges in their daily lives, relying on others or trained dogs for assistance when navigating outdoors. Researchers have developed the Smart Stick (SS) system as a more effective aid than traditional ones to address these challenges. Developing and utilizing the SS systems for VIP improves mobility, reliability, safety, and accessibility. These systems help users by identifying obstacles and hazards, keeping VIP safe and efficient. This paper presents the design and real-world implementation of an SS using an Arduino Nano microcontroller, GPS, GSM module, heart rate sensor, ultrasonic sensor, moisture sensor, vibration motor, and Buzzer. Based on sensor data, the SS can provide warning signals to VIP about the presence of obstacles and hazards around them. Several Machine Learning (ML) algorithms were used to improve the SS alert decision accuracy. Therefore, this paper used sensor data to train and test ten ML algorithms to find the most effective alert decision accuracy. Based on the ML algorithms, the alert decision, including the presence of obstacles, environmental conditions, and user health conditions, was examined using several performance metrics. Results showed that the AdaBoost, Gradient boosting, and Random Forest ML algorithms outperformed others and achieved an AUC and specificity of 100%, with 99.9% accuracy, F1-score, precision, recall, and MCC in the cross-validation phase. Integrating sensor data with ML algorithms revealed that the SS enables VIP to live independently and move safely without assistance.

A deep learning model to assist visually impaired in pothole detection using computer vision

Visually impaired individuals encounter numerous impediments when traveling, such as navigating unfamiliar routes, accessing information, and transportation, which can limit their mobility and restrict their access to opportunities. However, assistive technologies and infrastructure solutions such as tactile paving, audio cues, voice announcements, and smartphone applications have been developed to mitigate these challenges. Visually impaired individuals also face difficulties when encountering potholes while traveling. Potholes can pose a significant safety hazard, as they can cause individuals to trip and fall, potentially leading to injury. For visually impaired individuals, identifying and avoiding potholes can be particularly challenging. The solutions ensure that all individuals can travel safely and independently, regardless of their visual abilities. An innovative approach that leverages the You Only Look Once (YOLO) algorithm to detect potholes and provide auditory or haptic feedback to visually impaired individuals has been proposed in this paper. The dataset of pothole images was trained and integrated into an application for detecting potholes in real-time image data using a camera. The app provides feedback to the user, allowing them to navigate potholes and increasing their mobility and safety. This approach highlights the potential of YOLO for pothole detection and provides a valuable tool for visually impaired individuals. According to the testing, the model achieved 82.7% image accuracy and 30 Frames Per Second (FPS) accuracy in live video. The model is trained to detect potholes close to the user, but it may be hard to detect potholes far away from the user. The current model is only trained to detect potholes, but visually impaired people face other challenges. The proposed technology is a portable option for visually impaired people.

Instruments for Supporting Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals for Construction Sector – Case of Poland

Currently, three billion people face dangerous levels of air pollution and rely on non-renewable energy sources for cooking and heating. Due to its environmental impact, the construction sector is a particularly important area for implementing sustainable development policies. On July 10, 2023, the UN published The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023 (SDGs). In accordance with the provisions of Goal 7 (which was discussed in the above document), the international community should increase its share of renewable energy sources in the global energy mix and promote investment in clean energy technologies by 2030. Achieving this goal necessitates the introduction of support mechanisms to enhance the energy efficiency of residential buildings. Hence, this study aims to showcase the legal and financial tools that aid the growth of energy-efficient construction in Poland, to compare the renovation costs of an existing residential building in order to meet energy-efficiency standards, and to detail the financial support that is available for planned thermal-modernization efforts.

Insights from Portuguese LGBTQ+ Associations on Trans Population’s Professional Integration

The need to understand the integration processes of trans individuals in the labor market is confirmed by the literature review in this paper, which supports the scarce existence of studies focused on their life experiences outside of pathological contexts or from perspectives of invisibility/violence (including in the professional dimension). This study aims to comprehend the professional experiences of the trans population and understand how mechanisms of discrimination operate in the labor market. Semi-structured interviews with representatives from Portuguese LGBTQ+ associations (n = 6) were conducted between 10 March and 26 April 2021 and analyzed with MAXQDA 2022. The results underscored the importance of the topic and the complex hurdles trans individuals encounter at work, emphasizing the vital support of LGBTQ+ associations in tackling these issues and stressing the urgency of comprehending the vulnerability and discrimination trans people face in employment. The implications of the study underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts from policymakers, employers, civil society organizations, and the broader community to address the systemic barriers faced by trans individuals in the workplace. Future research and advocacy efforts should continue to address the systemic barriers to workplace integration and strive toward creating more inclusive and supportive environments for the trans population.

Experiences of divorced people in Pentecostal churches in Botswana

Background: Cases of divorce are on the increase across societies and within the Pentecostal churches. Pentecostal church doctrine disapproves of divorce, and the people experience discrimination consequently. Despite the overall impact divorce has on the spiritual well-being of the victims, Pentecostal churches do not provide sufficient support to them.Objectives: The objectives of the study were to explore the lived experiences of divorced people in Pentecostal churches and the impact divorce had on their spiritual well-being.Method: A qualitative phenomenological design was utilised. The study recruited six divorced people, three pastors and 24 men and women from three Pentecostal churches. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to select the sample. A thematic content analysis was used to analyse data.Results: The study revealed four major effects that divorced people face such as psychological and emotional effects, social effects, spiritual effects and economic effects.Conclusion: The study’s findings unearthed the impact that divorce has on the divorcee’s spiritual well-being. Although the Bible disapproves of divorce, some research indicates that divorce may have positive outcomes in some instances, and therefore, it should not always be viewed negatively.Contribution: The findings of the study would possibly assist Pentecostal church leadership in coming up with effective interventions that can support divorced members in the church.

Mobile Application for Recognizing Colombian Currency with Audio Feedback for Visually Impaired People

Context: According to the census conducted by the National Department of Statistics (DANE) in 2018, 7.1% of the Colombian population has a visual disability. These people face conditions with limited autonomy, such as the handling of money. In this context, there is a need to create tools to enable the inclusion of visually impaired people in the financial sector, allowing them to make payments and withdrawals in a safe and reliable manner. Method: This work describes the development of a mobile application called CopReader. This application enables the recognition of coins and banknotes of Colombian currency without an Internet connection, by means of convolutional neural network models. CopReader was developed to be used by visually impaired people. It takes a video or photographs, analyzes the input data, estimates the currency value, and uses audio feedback to communicate the result. Results: To validate the functionality of CopReader, integration tests were performed. In addition, precision and recall tests were conducted, considering the YoloV5 and MobileNet architectures, obtaining 95 and 93% for the former model and 99% for the latter. Then, field tests were performed with visually impaired people, obtaining accuracy values of 96%. 90% of the users were satisfied with the application’s functionality. Conclusions: CopReader is a useful tool for recognizing Colombian currency, helping visually impaired people gain to autonomy in handling money.

Advocacy and legal aid for homeless people. Challenges and insights from a study of voluntary organisation in Italy

ABSTRACT The connection between homelessness, social exclusion, and the deprivation of fundamental rights has been extensively studied. The intricate interplay of laws, policies, regulations, institutions, and service practices forms a complex network of mutually reinforcing factors, that can pose a significant challenge to the homeless. This article presents the findings of a qualitative study focused on the Italian nonprofit organisation called ‘Street Lawyers’ (SL) which provides legal assistance and advocacy for homeless people. Due to social exclusion, homeless experience daily violations in exercising their rights and encounter many obstacles within the welfare system. The aim of the research was to investigate how SL's mission is implemented, what needs are met and the complexity of their interventions. The findings demonstrate how, despite the organisation's legal mandate, SL face various difficulties and needs that emphasise the hardships experienced by the homeless people. These issues extend beyond the legal sphere and offer insightful perspectives on the trajectories and support system of the homeless. By revealing the obstacles homeless people face in claiming and enjoying their rights, the article shows the potential of this legal aid practice, particularly when it goes beyond a formal legalistic approach and embraces a socio-political interpretation of rights.

An uncertain recovery: The physical toll of COVID-19 infection on liberal arts and sciences students in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT This study examines the recovery experiences of students at a university college in the Netherlands during an outbreak of COVID-19 in the spring of 2022. University policy was based on the conception of COVID-19 as short-term, with a defined recovery timeline. Despite perceptions that young people face lower risks for prolonged recovery, our study reveals a different reality. Among 36 students with COVID-19, twelve experienced symptoms for over one month. Ten semi-structured interviews revealed heterogenous recovery experiences: good, mild, moderate, and difficult. We also explored how diverse recoveries interacted with academic work. Lingering symptoms ranged from smell loss to brain fog and prolonged fatigue. The unpredictability of recovery made it difficult to attribute symptoms to COVID-19 or academic work pressure. In the context of expectations to resume academic work, some students failed to recognise their ongoing struggles. An absence of conversation regarding recovery in a demanding academic environment renders diverse recovery experiences invisible. Our findings emphasise the need for a broader conceptualisation of COVID-19 recovery amongst young people and call for further research exploring the interaction between students’ illness experiences and the fast-paced academic environment.

Operationalization of (Trans)gender in Facial Recognition Systems: From Binarism to Intersectionality

ABSTRACTIn a paper published in 2018, Os Keyes investigated how the literature on Automated Gender Recognition systems (AGRs) conceived gender, finding that 94.8% of the papers treated it as binary, 72.4% as immutable and 60.3% as a physiological component. In the author's view, this is indicative of an operationalization of gender, that is, the assumption that the latter is a discrete and objectively applicable parameter. Keyes claims that such a vision is blind to the performative aspects of gender and particularly dangerous for transgender people. Here I will follow on these remarks, providing several examples that show how AGR systems' failures in recognizing the faces of transgender people are capable of both perpetuating and amplifying gender stereotypes and inequalities. Then, I will introduce the notion of intersectionality, which is the idea that humans ‘sit at the crossroads’ of many physical, social, and political factors, whose combination generates dynamics of discrimination or privilege. I will focus on a subfield of intersectional studies, that is, intersectional stereotyping, which explains how we usually make assumptions and judgments about an individual or group of people based on multiple social identities or categories they belong to, such as their race, gender, sexual orientation, class, religion and ability. I will argue that this area of research provides us with a set of knowledge that might help us rethink and redesign the data sets for AGR. Specifically, I will draw on three key notions of intersectional stereotyping—‘perceiver goals’, ‘category accessibility’ and ‘category fit’—and use them to envision new ways of collecting images for assessing gender through facial recognition. Finally, I will explicate why my observations call for an urgent integration between computer science and gender studies.

‘Five rungs down’: encounters between disabled parents and the medical institution

Disabled people face particular additional barriers of access to health care. In this article, we explore how these barriers increase when disabled parents require medical attention for their children. Using the small story research technique, we analysed 24 interviews with disabled parents conducted as part of a qualitative-narrative study in Chile. We identified stories in which the participants describe encounters with the medical institution in which they are invisibilised and disempowered. A paternalistic and biomedical approach, which actively ignores how to interact with disabled people, prevails among healthcare staff. Disabled parents irritate the medical institution because they do not have ‘standard’ bodies and are in the position of the carers of others (their children), rather than that of people who require care. These parents develop strategies to resist the way they are treated, making extra efforts to obtain medical attention for their children.

Income disparities and risk: Geographical manifestations of extreme inequities in the United States.

We examined hazard and risk-related metrics of the highest- and lowest-income counties and municipalities in each U.S. state. Indicators of natural and anthropogenic hazards, health outcomes, location of locally unwanted land uses, food insecurity, and other metrics were used to measure social and environmental justice. As expected, the highest-income places have better health outcomes, access to assets that protect health, and high municipal ratings of place quality compared with their poorest counterparts. Yet, they also have higher natural hazard risks and are more likely to live near concentrations of anthropogenic hazards. That is, high-income places have a lot to lose. Although the poorest jurisdictions demonstrate cumulative disadvantages, those in rural areas are exposed to less dense motor vehicle traffic and other hazards and risks associated with urban life. Relationships between income and the geography of hazards and risks are not simple. Even the highest-income areas face challenges. We suggest improvements in databases and tools to increase the focus on and monitoring of the breadth of risks people face in all areas.

The World on Screen: The Internet as a Communication Media for Deaf People

Deaf people face various challenges in communicating, especially in a wider social context. The Internet has emerged as a potential communication tool to overcome these barriers. This research aims to understand in depth how deaf people use the internet as a communication medium and how this affects their lives. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 15 deaf people who were members of the community at SLB Kemala Bhayangkari 2 Gresik. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes from the data obtained. The research results show that the internet has a significant role in the lives of deaf people. The Internet is used for a variety of communication purposes, including communicating with friends and family, accessing information, participating in online communities, and expressing oneself. In addition, the internet also helps deaf people develop social skills, increase self-confidence, and reduce feelings of isolation. The Internet has opened up new opportunities for deaf people to communicate and participate in society. These findings have important implications for educators, policy makers, and technology developers in designing and providing inclusive internet access for deaf people.

Persistence of Practicing Sports Among Young People: A Comparative Evaluation

In the current context, young people face an increasingly limited availability of time to manage all the activities they propose, and this temporal restriction also influences their habits regarding physical activity and practicing sports. The benefits that physical activities have on the mental health of young people are manifested in various aspects, such as reducing stress, improving self-esteem and the quality of sleep. Considering these aspects, a research was proposed with the aim of evaluating the existence of significant differences in the ability of young people to maintain a habit of exercise, particularly dance, either in a dance class or in the comfort of their own home.

Rationale and design of the Self-TI Study protocol: a cross-sectional human papillomavirus self-testing pilot study among transgender adults in England

IntroductionPersistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causal agent of several cancers including cervical, anal and oropharyngeal cancer. Transgender men and transmasculine non-binary (TMNB) people with a cervix...

Kaidah المشقه تجلب التيسير dan Penerapannya dalam Hukum Keluarga

Because Islamic law is not mentioned directly in the Qur'an and Hadith, interpretation and contextualization through ijtihad are often necessary. To achieve this, Islamic jurisprudence must be integrated with current conditions and societal demands. This must be done in accordance with maqasid al-syariah, namely the aim of overcoming legal problems faced by individuals (mukallaf). Sharia guarantees the welfare of every person and is adapted to their abilities. It is stated in a hadith in the hadith of the Prophet narrated by Bukhari which means: "Religion makes things easy, the religion that Allah loves is the true and easy religion" (HR. Bukhari from Abu Hurairah) shows that Islam emphasizes the importance of ease in fulfilling religious obligations. According to the principle of المشقه تجلب التيسير, which means that difficulty brings ease, Islamic law is flexible to deal with the difficulties people face in worship and transactions. The concept of المشقه تجلب التيسير in the application of Islamic family law is explained in this paper using qualitative descriptive methodology and literature review techniques. Sources for this research include the Al-Qur'an, Hadith, tafsir, fiqh literature, and Qawaidul Fiqiyyah. To see how this principle is applied, this paper conducts a case study on Islamic family law. The aim of Al-Masyaqqah Tajlibut Taysir is to alleviate difficulties in the application of Islamic family law so that people can fulfill their obligations without experiencing due difficulties. This study identified seven categories of hardship (masyaqqah) that require relief (rukhsah), such as travel, illness, compulsion, forgetfulness, ignorance, general hardship, and deprivation. These categories guide legal experts in issuing fatwas and legal decisions to accommodate individual needs while upholding Islamic principles. In conclusion, المشقه تجلب التيسير serves as a basic principle in Islamic jurisprudence, facilitating the harmonization of Sharia with individual circumstances and societal needs, particularly in family law matters such as marriage contracts. Its application underscores the adaptability and compassion inherent in the principles of Islamic law, which promote justice and well-being for all individuals.

A familiar face and person processing area in the human temporal pole

How does the brain process the faces of familiar people? Neuropsychological studies have argued for an area of the temporal pole (TP) linking faces with person identities, but magnetic susceptibility artifacts in this region have hampered its study with fMRI. Using data acquisition and analysis methods optimized to overcome this artifact, we identify a familiar face response in TP, reliably observed in individual brains. This area responds strongly to visual images of familiar faces over unfamiliar faces, objects, and scenes. However, TP did not just respond to images of faces, but also to a variety of high-level social cognitive tasks, including semantic, episodic, and theory of mind tasks. The response profile of TP contrasted with a nearby region of the perirhinal cortex that responded specifically to faces, but not to social cognition tasks. TP was functionally connected with a distributed network in the association cortex associated with social cognition, while PR was functionally connected with face-preferring areas of the ventral visual cortex. This work identifies a missing link in the human face processing system that specifically processes familiar faces, and is well placed to integrate visual information about faces with higher-order conceptual information about other people. The results suggest that separate streams for person and face processing reach anterior temporal areas positioned at the top of the cortical hierarchy.

Improving young patient- practitioner communication about sexual health during medical visits.

Young people face barriers that lead to gaps in sexual and reproductive health care communications. Issues such as discomfort discussing sexual health lead to inadequate delivery of services resulting in unintended pregnancies and STIs. Closing this communication gap between patients and health care practitioners would improve communication and health outcomes. The objective of this study was to gain feedback from focus groups about: (a)barriers and facilitators to communication surrounding sexual health and (b)the feasibility and acceptability of a question prompt list (QPL) and informational video emphasizing asking questions about sexual health during medical visits as tools young people could use to be more involved during visits. Three focus groups were conducted: two with young adults (n=14) and one with practitioners (n=5) of sexual/reproductive health care services. Practitioners were recruited from healthcare clinics. Young adults were aged 18-22 years old. Participants identified barriers to communication such as embarrassment over sexual health topics and practitioner assumptions about patients' base of knowledge. A facilitator to communication was patient-friendly language. Focus group participants offered suggestions on how to improve the QPL as well as themes that should be covered in an educational video. Participants viewed the QPL and educational video as useful for encouraging conversations between patient and practitioner. Many barriers obstruct communication between young adults and practitioners on topics relating to sexual health. Both the QPL and an educational videocould be used to enhance patient-practitioner communication.

Relationship between low mood and micro-expression processing: evidence of negative bias in interpreting fleeting facial expressions.

Depression affects the recognition of emotion in facial expressions by reducing the detection accuracy and adding a bias towards negativity. However, no study has examined associations between depression and the recognition of microfacial expressions (fleeting facial cues of emotions in people's faces). Thus, we investigated associations between low mood and micro-expression processing using video stimuli of micro-expressions. We examined whether (i) individuals with low mood had trouble recognizing emotions, (ii) were more likely to perceive happy facial expressions as neutral and neutral facial expressions as sad, and (iii) recognized sad emotional expressions better than control subjects (n = 349). We found that participants with low mood showed poorer performance when judging emotions in faces (p = 0.03). Furthermore, there was a specific deficit among them in recognizing happiness. Lastly, participants with low moods were more likely to perceive neutral faces as sad (p = 0.042). However, no evidence was found that individuals with low moods confused happy faces as neutral or were better than the control group at recognizing sad faces. Our results show that mood affects the perception of emotions in facial expressions, which has the potential to negatively affect interpersonal interactions and ultimately quality of life.