Life Of People Research Articles

Theories, models and frameworks to understand barriers to the provision of mobility-assistive technologies: a scoping review

ObjectivesThere is strong evidence that mobility-assistive technologies improve occupational performance, social participation, educational and employment access and overall quality of life in people with disabilities. However, people with disabilities still...

Between Technological Utopia and Dystopia: Online Expression of Compulsory Use of Surveillance Technology.

This study investigated people's ethical concerns of surveillance technology. By adopting the spectrum of technological utopian and dystopian narratives, how people perceive a society constructed through the compulsory use of surveillance technology was explored. This study empirically examined the anonymous online expression of attitudes toward the society-wide, compulsory adoption of a contact tracing app that affected almost every aspect of all people's everyday lives at a societal level. By applying the structural topic modeling approach to analyze comments on four Hong Kong anonymous discussion forums, topics concerning the technological utopian, dystopian, and pragmatic views on the surveillance app were discovered. The findings showed that people with a technological utopian view on this app believed that the implementation of compulsory app use can facilitate social good and maintain social order. In contrast, individuals who had a technological dystopian view expressed privacy concerns and distrust of this surveillance technology. Techno-pragmatists took a balanced approach and evaluated its implementation practically.

The effect of social support on the emotional well-being of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Exploring the mediating role of spirituality.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that, so far, is considered always fatal. Treatments mainly consist in increasing survival and aim to improve the quality of life of people with ALS (pwALS). Social support and spirituality have been shown to play a key role in pwALS' quality of life. Our study explored it in depth by investigating the underlying mechanisms linking social support, spirituality, and emotional well-being. Thirty-six pwALS underwent a battery of tests evaluating emotional well-being (emotional well-being scale of the 40-item Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment Questionnaire), social support (6-item Social Support Questionnaire), and spiritual well-being (12-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Spiritual well-being). Our recruitment was web-based through the FILSLAN and the ARSLA websites as well as through Facebook® advertisements (ALS groups). Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis and Process macro was used in an SPSS program to analyze the mediator variable effect. Availability of social support, spiritual well-being, and 2 of its dimensions, i.e., meaning and peace, were positively correlated with emotional well-being. The mediational analyses showed that spiritual well-being, meaning, and peace act as mediators in the association between availability of social support and good emotional well-being. Availability of social support and spirituality are essential for the emotional well-being of pwALS. Spirituality as a mediator between availability of social support and emotional well-being appears as real novel finding which could be explored further. Spiritual well-being, meaning, and peace appear as coping resources for pwALS. We provide practical guidance for professionals working with pwALS.

Health-Related Quality of Life in People with Advanced HIV Disease, from 1996 to 2021: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of advanced HIV disease (AHD) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in PLHIV, the changes in HRQoL outcomes over the last 25years, and the differences between countries according to level of economic development. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. The search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science using the terms: "health-related quality of life", "HQRoL", "HIV", "AIDS", "advanced HIV disease" and "low CD4 cells". Studies inclusion criteria were: adult population; initiated after 1996 and published before July 2021; clinical trials, cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies; studies analyzing the relationship between AHD and HRQoL; English or Spanish language. Standardized mean differences (d+) were calculated to estimate the effect size for the meta-analyses. Summary statistics were calculated using a random-effects model, and analyses of effect moderators, using mixed-effects models. The meta-analysis included 38 studies. The results indicated that HRQoL is worse in patients with AHD compared to those without. The main HRQoL domains affected were overall health perception and concern and physical and functional health and symptoms. We found a moderate impact for age and gender on some HRQoL domains. There were no differences in relation to socioeconomic inequities, country of residence, or time period analyzed. In conclusion, advanced HIV disease has a negative impact on health and well-being in PLHIV. Our results show that despite all the advances in antiretroviral treatments over the last 25years, AHD persists as a source of extreme vulnerability, regardless of where PLHIV live.

Adverse drug reactions associated with COVID-19 management.

The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak, which causes COVID-19, had a devastating impact on both people's lives and the global economy. During the course of the pandemic, the lack of specific drugs or treatments tailored for COVID-19 led to extensive repurposing of existing drugs in the pursuit of effective treatments. Some drug molecules demonstrated efficacy, while others proved ineffective. In this context, the approach of drug repurposing emerged as a novel strategy for combating COVID-19. Repurposed drugs and biologics have shown effectiveness, leading to improved clinical outcomes among patients with COVID-19. Similarly,It is equally important to assess the risk-benefit ratio associated with drugs and biologics adapted for COVID-19 treatment. Herein, we primarily focus on evaluating adverse drug events linked to repurposed COVID-19 medications, repurposed biologics, and COVID-specific drug molecules.

A brain machine interface framework for exploring proactive control of smart environments

Brain machine interfaces (BMIs) can substantially improve the quality of life of elderly or disabled people. However, performing complex action sequences with a BMI system is onerous because it requires issuing commands sequentially. Fundamentally different from this, we have designed a BMI system that reads out mental planning activity and issues commands in a proactive manner. To demonstrate this, we recorded brain activity from freely-moving monkeys performing an instructed task and decoded it with an energy-efficient, small and mobile field-programmable gate array hardware decoder triggering real-time action execution on smart devices. Core of this is an adaptive decoding algorithm that can compensate for the day-by-day neuronal signal fluctuations with minimal re-calibration effort. We show that open-loop planning-ahead control is possible using signals from primary and pre-motor areas leading to significant time-gain in the execution of action sequences. This novel approach provides, thus, a stepping stone towards improved and more humane control of different smart environments with mobile brain machine interfaces.

Overcoming Bureaucratization. Rethinking the Social Work Model in Dialogue with Roma

Social Work was born to find and implement actions that succeed at alleviating or overcoming human suffering. Far from this objective, the scientific literature has highlighted that, during the pandemic, the serious situation of disadvantaged communities, including much of the Roma community, has underscored the historical evolution of the discipline towards bureaucratization. However, more research is needed to identify and analyze the actions through which many Social Work professionals have had the opportunity to rethink the current hegemonic model of social intervention. This study analyzes the main characteristics of some such actions. This research has been carried out following the communicative methodology through 40 semi-structured interviews to Social Work professionals in social services, educational centers and civic organizations. Results show that a constant dialogue with Roma communities, overcoming bureaucratization by changing intervention to co-create the best solutions, and a professional and human commitment at the service of people are common characteristics of those actions. These findings illustrate elements with which some Social Workers have been able to rethink the social intervention model they previously followed, allowing them to transform such model and regain the origins of the discipline towards finding the best solutions to improve the situations and lives of many Roma people.

Porositas Serbuk Jahe Merah (Zingiber officinale Roscae var. Rubrum) terhadap Variasi Suhu dan Kadar Gula Pasir

Ginger is one of Indonesia's most abundant and widespread cultivated plants and is widely used in people's daily lives as a raw material and additive in the manufacture of food and beverages. One type of ginger that is in great demand in the herbal beverage industry is red ginger. The bioactive compounds found in ginger include 6-gingerol, 6-paradol, 6-methylshogaol, 8-methylshogaol, 8-gingerol, 10-gingerol and 6-shogaol. Red ginger contains various bioactive compounds with pharmacological effects such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant and cardiotonic effects. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) is a microscopy technique used to produce high-resolution images of the surface of an electron sample. This study aimed to analyze the porosity of red ginger powder against variations in temperature and sugar content. The temperatures were 80 and 90°C with a sugar content of 60 and 100%. The results showed that the increase and decrease in the percentage of porosity values were caused by differences in temperature variations applied to the crystallization process. The rate of red ginger powder's porosity that approaches the fresh red ginger rate is red ginger powder at 80°C and 60% crystallization agent. The research results contributed to the characteristics of the materials used and the development of red ginger drink powder products.

ROLE OF MICRO FINANCE COMPANIES IN WELFARE OF BELOW POVERTY LINE PEOPLE KNOWLEDGE TO YOUTH

This study focuses on microfinance firms’ tremendous effect on improving the lives of people who are below the poverty line. It is through such organizations that individuals can access financial facilities as well as small credits which help foster inclusive finance systems for marginalized communities. The report also examines ways in which these institutions contribute towards knowledge in money matters thereby enabling persons to make logical choices about their finances while managing them prudently too. It brings out this point by using real-life examples and proofs from research showing that not only do micro-financial initiatives reduce pauperism but they also trigger the growth of economies and development socially in areas where banking services are not available considering that such regions tend to be underserved by other financial institutions. This article stresses the significance of giving credit to poor people because it breaks unnecessary dependency on welfare thus creating sustainable livelihoods for less privileged members within society.

Revolutionizing crowd surveillance through voice-driven face recognition empowering rapid identification: towards development of sustainable smart cities

Abstract Recent global efforts to create sustainable smart cities have significantly transformed society and improved the lives of people. Nowadays, crowd surveillance (CS) has become essential in sustainable smart cities and society to protect public safety and security. In this regard, the face-based human detection system has received considerable attention because it is recognized as an emerging method in crowd surveillance applications. Thus, in this work, a new method for real-time identification of people for a crowd surveillance system (CSS) that uses facial and speech recognition technology has been introduced. In traditional CS systems, human operators are frequently used by crowd surveillance systems to watch and evaluate video feeds. Human error and operator weariness may result in lost opportunities or slow replies, which reduce the system's efficacy. Certain procedures, including the initial identification and monitoring of people in video feeds, can be automated using a voice-activated system. To address the issues with the present CSS, a new framework Voice-Activated Face Recognition (VAFR) is proposed in this work. 
The proposed framework combines the speech and face recognition models for crowd surveillance. Experimental and simulation studies have been performed to analyze the performance of the proposed VAFR framework. The proposed framework uses the Viola-Jones algorithm for face identification and the Conformer architecture for speech analysis, reaching a noteworthy 99.7% accuracy rate in live video feeds. In addition, the ethical and safety aspect of the proposed VAFR system is presented.

Land, indigeneity and archaeological ruins in Ottoman Palestine: the people of Beit Jibrin and the Palestine Exploration Fund

ABSTRACT Palestinian nationalism and visions of Palestine as a nation have, since the loss in 1948 of 78% of Mandate Palestine to the newly founded State of Israel, focused on notions of rootedness and connection to the land. However, as a result of the disruptions to Palestinian culture stemming from the refugee lives of a large proportion of the population, and the loss or fragmentation of many personal and institutional archives, sources for the quotidian details of rural life and how the relationship between land and people played out in different parts of historic Palestine are often scarce. This article experiments with the use of accounts by Western archaeologists as potential repositories of such information. This derives, the author argues, not just from the descriptive features of such writings, which they share with other commonly used sources such as travelogues and the memoirs of missionaries and other temporary residents, but also from the nature of archaeology itself as an activity which intimately, if at times controversially and destructively, engages with land and soil, and in which local people were often hired to carry out excavation on their own lands. While fully acknowledging the many issues raised by the use of imperial documents to consider the lives of indigenous and subaltern peoples, I seek to employ techniques such as reading against the grain to investigate how such archives can contribute granularity and detail to our understandings of rural life in Palestine at the end of the Ottoman period.

Livelihood Trajectories of Rural Young People in Southern Africa: Stuck in Loops?

ABSTRACTAttempts to boost rural development in the Global South tend to focus on ways in which people can transform their lives. Interventions are often designed to help overcome specific envisioned constraints and push individuals onto a pathway out of poverty. Research has contributed to nuancing this vision by documenting the non‐linearity of pathways, which often results in people being left in limbo or stuck, rather than moving forward. Based on a study in two villages in Malawi and Lesotho, this article argues that even these nuances do not fully capture the real‐life experiences of the 63 young people who participated. Interviews tracing the course of their lives between 2007–08 and 2016–17 reveal trajectories that are circular rather than linear, and show the detrimental effects of being stuck in these frustrating loops of taking action without progressing. Conceptualizing rural young people's livelihood trajectories in contexts of severe poverty as loops highlights the structural issues that need to be addressed if their lives are to be transformed. Understanding development as emancipation from sources of unfreedom means focusing on the structural constraints that keep some people in poverty, and the importance of attaining agency if they are to put their needs on the agenda and demand basic rights.

Correlation of Oral Microbiota With Different Immune Responses to Antiretroviral Therapy in People Living With HIV

Abstract Both HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) affect the oral microbiome. Whether successful treatment with ART in people living with HIV (PLWH), which leads to a significant decline in viral loads and immune reconstitution, is associated with changes in or recovery of the oral microbiome remains unknown. Therefore, we performed a cross-sectional study of 118 PLWH receiving regular ART and 40 healthy controls (HCs). Among the 118 PLWH, 18 immunological non-responders (INRs; <200 CD4+ T cells/μL) and 30 immunological responders (IRs; ≥500 CD4+ T cells/μL) were identified. The oral microbiota composition of all participants was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of throat swab samples. Relative abundance of bacterial genera was compared between IRs and INRs, and Pearson correlations between bacterial abundance and peripheral blood immune cell counts were evaluated. The INR group showed lower alpha diversity than the IR and HC groups, which displayed similar alpha diversity. The genera Alloprevotella, Prevotella and Neisseria were more abundant in PLWH than in HC, whereas the genera Rothia, Streptococcus and Fusobacterium were more abundant in HC than in PLWH. The genus Rothia was more abundant in the INR group, whereas Prevotella, Alloprevotella, Porphyromonas and Haemophilus were more abundant in the IR group. The genera Rothia and Alloprevotella were negatively and positively associated with CD4+ T cell counts, respectively. Thus, an increased abundance of Rothia in the oral microbiome is associated with unfavorable outcomes regarding immune reconstitution in PLWH receiving regular ART, whereas Prevotella, Alloprevotella, Porphyromonas and Haemophilus are associated with favorable outcomes.

Foot and ankle problems in children and young people: a population-based cohort study.

The aim of this research was to describe the epidemiology, presentation and healthcare use in primary care for foot and ankle problems in children and young people (CYP) across England. We undertook a population-based cohort study using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum database, a database of anonymised electronic health records from general practices across England. Data was accessed for allCYP aged 0-18 years presenting to their general practitioner between January 2015 and December 2021 with a foot and/or ankle problem. Consultation rates were calculated and used to estimate numbers of consultations in an average practice. Hierarchical Poisson regression estimated relative rates of consultations across sociodemographic groups and logistic regression evaluated factors associated with repeat consultations. A total of 416,137 patients had 687,753 foot and ankle events, of which the majority were categorised as "musculoskeletal" (34%) and "unspecified pain" (21%). Rates peaked at 601 consultations per 10,000 patient-years among males aged 10-14 years in 2018. An average practice might observe 132 (95% CI 110 to 155) consultations annually. Odds for repeat consultations were higher among those with pre-existing diagnoses including juvenile arthritis (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.48 to 2.03). Conclusions: Consultations for foot and ankleproblems were high among CYP, particularly males aged 10 to 14 years. These data can inform service provision to ensure CYP access appropriate health professionals for accurate diagnosis and treatment. What is Known: • Foot and ankle problems can have considerable impact on health-related quality of life in children and young people (CYP). • There is limited data describing the nature and frequency of foot and ankle problems in CYP. What is New: • Foot and ankle consultations were higher in English general practice among CYP aged 10 to 14 years compared to other age groups, and higher among males compared to females. • The high proportion of unspecified diagnoses and repeat consultations suggests there is need for greater integration between general practice and allied health professionals in community-based healthcare settings.

Persistent and implications of Changing Livelihood in Hill Setting of Nepal: A Qualitative Inquiry of Vyas-10 of Tanahun

Nepal has witnessed rapid change in political and socioeconomic dimensions in the last three decades. Migration and remittance are key factors for the changing livelihoods and it implies various forms of Hill settings in Nepal. The aim of the study is to identify the persistence and implications of livelihood changes in the Hill setting of Nepal from the emic perspective. As per the requirement of the study, 30 in-depth interviews were conducted Dumsi village of Vyas-10 of Tanahun district. The study identified that remittance is the key driver of the livelihood change in the Hill setting. The changing livelihood of the village people also changes the gender roles, the age structure of the working age population, change in the caste-based occupation and structural change of the caste-based system and the diversification of the income sources. Agriculture was seen as the main occupation three decades ago, it is a secondary source of livelihood in the villages due to migration and remittances.

Changes in vitamins and trace elements after initiation of highly effective CFTR modulator therapy in children and adults with cystic fibrosis – a real-life insight

BackgroundHighly-effective CFTR-modulator therapy with elexa-/teza-/ivacaftor (ETI) has led to improvements in pulmonary outcomes, sweat chloride, body mass index (BMI) and quality of life in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Improved uptake of fat-soluble vitamins and micronutrients has been reported for CFTR-modulators but data regarding ETI therapy is lacking.MethodsThis single-center retrospective study evaluated forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV-1), sweat chloride, BMI, transaminases (AST, ALT), bilirubin, vitamins A, D, E, zinc and selenium in children and adults eligible for ETI. Parameters were assessed before and up to one year after initiation of ETI.Results58 patients (median age m = 28 years, SD ± 11.6 years, 51.7% female14 < 18 years old) were included. FEV-1 and sweat chloride improved significantly after ETI. There were no changes in BMI or AST. ALT was increased significantly after 4 weeks of ETI but returned to normal levels in further course. Bilirubin levels remained elevated after ETI. Vitamin A was significantly higher 12 months after ETI. No changes were found for vitamins D, E, zinc and selenium.ConclusionsThis study adds to the evidence that improvements of some fat-soluble vitamin levels can be found after ETI. No changes regarding micronutrients were noted. Individualized follow-up and supplementation are recommended.

Factors related ART adherence and quality of life in PLHIV: Mediating role of positive self-care management and brain gym

&lt;b&gt;Objectives: &lt;/b&gt;To&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;investigate the factors affecting adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the quality of life in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with a focus on evaluating the mediating roles of positive self-care management (PSCM) and brain gym.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; This is a descriptive study with a cross-sectional design. The data collected from June to August 2023. There are 262 respondents selected through convenience sampling. We used various research instruments, including questionnaires, which have undergone validity and reliability testing. The data were analyzed using the SEM-PLS analysis method.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results: &lt;/b&gt;Our data analysis shows that condition factors, physical and social environmental factors, and individual and family factors affect HIV individuals’ PSCM and brain gym combination, ART adherence, and quality of life. Findings show that condition-specific factors indirectly affect antiretroviral drug adherence. This impact is mediated by PSCM and brain gym.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/b&gt;Specific condition variables, namely&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;complexity of the disease, barriers, and stability of conditions indirectly influence ART adherence, mediated through the combined influence of PSCM and brain gym. This finding suggests that to enhance adherence and the quality of life among PLHIV, it is important to adopt an approach that encompasses a range of internal and external individual factors.&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;

European Respiratory Society Clinical Practice Guideline on symptom management for adults with serious respiratory illness.

Respiratory symptoms are ubiquitous and impair health-related quality of life in people with respiratory disease. This European Respiratory Society (ERS) task force aimed to provide recommendations for symptomatic treatment in people with serious respiratory illness.The ERS task force comprised 16 members, including representatives of people with serious respiratory illness and informal caregivers. Seven questions were formulated, six in the "Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome" (PICO) format, which were addressed with full systematic reviews and evidence assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). One question was addressed narratively. An "evidence-to-decision" framework was used to formulate recommendations.To treat symptoms in people with serious respiratory illness, the task force suggests the use of graded exercise therapy (conditional recommendation, low certainty of evidence); and suggests the use of a multicomponent services, handheld fan and breathing techniques (conditional recommendations, very low certainty of evidence). The task force suggests not to use opioids (conditional recommendation, very low certainty of evidence); and suggests either administering or not administering supplemental oxygen therapy (conditional recommendation, low certainty of evidence). The task force suggests that needs assessment tools may be used as part of a comprehensive needs assessment, but do not replace patient centred care and shared decision making (conditional recommendation, low certainty of evidence). The low certainty of evidence, modest impact of interventions on patient-centred outcomes, and absence of effective strategies to ameliorate cough highlight the need for new approaches to reduce symptoms and enhance wellbeing for individuals who live with serious respiratory illness.

Social engagement and wellbeing in late life: a systematic review

Abstract Social engagement is considered a relevant modifiable factor for older adults' wellbeing. Theory and policies highlight its importance for ageing well. Empirical evidence shows that social activities are associated with positive psychological outcomes and might buffer wellbeing declines in late life. Despite growing research, social engagement lacks conceptual clarity, it is difficult to adopt standardised measures and findings are sometimes inconsistent. Previous systematic reviews either take a different approach to this topic or were published over a decade ago. Therefore, the present study aimed to review the literature systematically regarding the relationship between social engagement and wellbeing in community-dwelling older adults. Papers published from 2000 to 2021 were searched in five databases using a combination of terms. The reviewers screened the records according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After identifying eligible articles, the authors extracted data and produced a narrative synthesis covering conceptualisation, measurement and main findings. The review includes 42 papers. Despite great conceptual and methodological diversity, research supports that older adults with higher participation in social activities have improved wellbeing. Findings also suggest that these associations are stronger for individuals with disadvantages and have a cumulative nature whereby the greater the social engagement, the higher the wellbeing. Conversely, for more demanding activities, there might be optimal participation levels. Regardless of accumulating knowledge, social engagement remains diffuse and difficult to measure. This paper summarises the current state of research on this topic, showing encouraging evidence of social engagement benefits, but also questions that deserve further inquiry. Future studies should be anchored in a clear conceptual framework, use robust measures, and explore hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. Social engagement can be an important developmental resource for social interventions and policies aimed at improving people's lives.

AI EOS using Wolframe Alpha

Artificial intelligence is crucial to day-to-day life. science of computers defines AI research as the study of intelligent agents. Today, most people, intentionally or not, have turned to some form of computerized information processing technology. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already changing our lifestyle. A device that senses its surroundings and performs actions that maximize the likelihood of achieving a goal. The input to a database can be a choose to of users and articles, and the output is a ruthless recommendation. Input can be verbally or textually submitted by the user within the system. This paper presents a new approach to intelligent search. Overall, there are many people around the world who use assistants. This paper describes the provocation of applying virtual assistant technology. The paper also introduces the application of virtual assistants that can help open opportunities for humanity in various fields. Voice control is an important growing feature that will change people's lives. Voice assistants are available for laptops, desktops, and mobile phones. Assistant is now available on all electronic devices. A voice assistant is a software agent that can interpret human speech and respond in machine language