Personal Access Research Articles

Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation combined with behavioral therapy delivered through smartphone to treat major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Abstract Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. First-line treatments, antidepressants, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), have significant side effects and limited availability, respectively. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been studied in the last two decades as a therapeutic alternative for MDD. tDCS demonstrates good efficacy, safety and tolerability, both as monotherapy and associated with antidepressants and/or psychotherapy. tDCS is a simple procedure that can be performed at home with remote supervision and can possibly be enhanced by combining it with self-directed CBT modalities via smartphone applications. We will present data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial aiming to evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability and usability of home-based tDCS combined with behavioral therapy (BT) delivered through smartphone. The study includes 3 arms: (1) active tDCS + active BT, (2) active tDCS + placebo BT and (3) sham-tDCS + placebo BT. Twenty-one sessions of home-based tDCS + BT will be applied, for 6 weeks, ,in patients between 18-59 years, diagnosed with MDD, without contraindications for tDCS, with a smartphone for personal use and internet access at home. Participants are not asked to washout of antidepressant to enter the study. The active tDCS protocol will include daily tDCS sessions at 2mA, for 30 minutes, with the anode and cathode positioned over the left and right prefrontal cortex, respectively. The Flow (Flow Neuroscience, Malmö, Sweden) tDCS equipment and BT application will be used. The results of this study will contribute to the development of home-based tDCS systems, offering a better understanding of the combined effects of tDCS with potentiating strategies (e.g. BT), known to modulate the functioning of key areas in the neurobiology of MDD, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Research Category and Technology and Methods Clinical Research: 9. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Keywords: tDCS, Home-based, RCT, Behavioral Therapy

Innovative Methodology for Teaching European Studies Using a Corpus Approach

Тhe most popular methodology for teaching European Studies is the methodology is corpus-oriented. The teacher is demonstrating the data and the translation finding information online (Sketch Engine) and in an offline mode (AntConc). It is possible to use many online resources available online avoiding the prepaid data libraries. In addition, we use the Open Library, which contains digitized works of European authors in audio format, access to which is provided by personal free access. In addition, students can provide their digital resources to the shared library. Thus, students may add their digital resources to the shared library. The purpose of this work is to create the shared data resources to learn the European Studies. The open access is viewed as the basic, other data flow is possible and welcomed.

Needs assessment in community-dwelling older adults toward digital interventions to promote physical activity: Cross-sectional survey study.

Tackling physical inactivity represents a key global public health challenge. Strategies to increase physical activity (PA) are therefore warranted. Despite the rising availability of digital interventions (DIs), which offer tremendous potential for PA promotion, there has been inadequate attention to the special needs of older adults. The aim was to investigate community-dwelling older adults' needs, requirements, and preferences toward DIs to promote PA. The target population of this cross-sectional study was community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years old) within German-speaking Switzerland. Potential respondents were informed about the study and sent a link to a self-developed and self-administered online survey by our cooperating institutions. Overall, 922 respondents who completed the online survey were included in the final analysis. The mean age of the sample was 72 years (SD 6.4, range 60-98). The preferred delivery mode of DIs to promote PA was a website (428/922, 46.4%) and 80.3% (740/922) preferred video-based structures. Most respondents expressed the need for personal access, personal goals, personal messages, and a personal contact in case of problems or questions (585/817, 71.6%; 546/811, 67.3%; 536/822, 65.2%; 536/822, 65.2%). Memory training, psychological wellbeing, and nutrition were mainly rated as relevant additional content of DIs to promote PA (690/849, 81.2%; 661/845, 78.2%, 619/849, 72.9%). Community-dwelling older adults may be willing to use DIs to promote PA in the long term, but this study identified particular needs and requirements in terms of design, technological realization, delivery mode, support, and individualization/personalization among the sample. Our results can inform future developments of DIs to promote PA specifically tailored to older adults. However, caution is warranted in interpreting the findings due to the sample's high PA and education levels.

INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL FEATURES OF THE PRINCIPLES CORPORATE MANAGEMENT

The article reveals the essence of international principles of corporate governance in terms of forming effective relationships with clients, shareholders, suppliers, the public, state and local authorities. It was determined that the international principles of corporate governance are: protection of shareholders’ rights; ensuring the equal treatment of shareholders, recognizing the rights of interested parties provided by law and encouraging active cooperation between the company and interested parties in creating welfare, jobs and ensuring the financial stability of the enterprise; ensuring timely and accurate coverage of information on all the most important issues related to the joint-stock company; ensuring strategic management of the company, effective supervision of the activities of executive directors, as well as reporting to the company and shareholders. A detailed analysis of the characteristics of the principles of corporate governance according to various systems was carried out, which proved that the principles of corporate governance of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development were adapted for countries in which there is a movement towards a market economy in order to cover various existing governance models. A comparison of international and national principles of corporate governance was made. The analysis of the application of the principles of corporate governance in the practice of management of Ukrainian corporations was carried out. It was determined that the principles of corporate governance that do not apply to modern enterprises include the following: participation of shareholders in decision-making, transparent capital structure, effective functioning of corporate control markets, equal treatment of owners of shares of the same type, participation of interested persons in the management of the corporation, access of interested parties persons to internal corporate information, high quality and reasonableness of information, annual audit by the auditor, the same attitude of the board to all shareholders.

Clinico-Epidemiological Profile and Utility of Diagnostic Techniques in Immunocompetent Children with Cryptosporidium Diarrhoea

Purpose: To assess the Clinical and Epidemiological profile of children 6 months to 5 years having Cryptosporidium diarrhoea and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) against modified acid-fast stain technique to detect Cryptosporidium in stool. Materials and Methods: Details of demography, presenting complaints, and detailed examination of children presenting with acute or persistent diarrhoea were recorded in a predesigned proforma. Two Stool samples were collected and examined same day by rapid antigen test and microscopy for presence of antigen or oocyst of cryptosporidium. Results: Out of the total of 280 samples tested, 40 (14.3%) samples were positive for Cryptosporidium. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in children presenting with diarrhoea in our study came out to be 14.3%. Fever, vomiting and pain abdomen were the most common presenting complaints. Epidemiological factors like providing clean water, proper feeding and hygiene, and avoidance of overcrowding can help in reducing the burden of Cryptosporidium diarrhoea. Persistent diarrhoea was more common among cryptosporidium positive cases. Rapid detection kits enhance the detection rate and are sensitive as well as specific. It could be utilised as an aid in diagnosis of Cryptosporidium diarrhoea. Conclusion: The study shows that cryptosporidial diarrhoea is not uncommon in immunocompetent children. Improvement in personal hygiene, feeding practices and access to safe and potable water can help in reducing burden of this disease. Antigen detection kits aid in early diagnosis. Keywords: Paediatric cryptosporidiosis, Persistent diarrhoea, Sanitation, RDT in diarrhoea, Abdominal pain

The Influence of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on Canadian Jurisprudence in the First Decade Since its Ratification

Canada’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [CRPD]in 2010 was met with hope and excitement that it would lead to much-needed improvements in equality, inclusion and accessibility for persons with disabilities in Canada. This paper explores the impact the CRPD has had on Canadian jurisprudence in the decade since Canada ratified the treaty. Our analysis of the jurisprudence indicates that Canadian courts and tribunals have employed a variety of approaches to the CRPD, for which we provide illustrative examples. Overall, the CRPD has impacted the reasoning or outcome in a small number of cases, but has not exerted great influence in Canadian jurisprudence to date. Despite this limited impact, a number of emerging factors suggest that the CRPD may well become more influential in Canadian jurisprudence in the future.

Decentralized Identity Management Using Blockchain

This article explores the usage of decentralised identity (DID) management using blockchain in global organisations to support secure usage of information resources. Blockchain as technology was initially introduced as a cryptocurrency and there have been challenges in its adoption for enterprise applications such as identity management. DID is emerging as one of the strong blockchain adoption use cases. Industry pioneers and users across domains have started exploring DID use cases, which help better protect their personal data and application access control as compared to traditional, central, or federated identity management models. In this exploratory work, the authors employ qualitative secondary case-based study research methodology to understand the challenges of the current digital identity management landscape and explore the possible benefits of DID as an emerging identity management paradigm. They propose a conceptual cube framework for analysing and studying various DID platforms thereby contributing to both the theory and practice of digitally secure identity.

A Taste of Their Own Medicine: Guideline Adherence and Access to Expertise

We use administrative data from Sweden to study adherence to 63 medication-related guidelines. We compare the adherence of patients without personal access to medical expertise to that of patients with access, namely doctors and their close relatives. We estimate that observably similar patients with access to expertise have 3.8 percentage points lower adherence, relative to a baseline adherence rate of 54.4 percent among those without access. Our findings suggest an important role in nonadherence for factors other than those, such as ignorance, poor communication, and complexity, that would be expected to diminish with access to expertise.(JEL D82, D83, I11, I12, I18)

Digital divide among individuals with acquired brain injury: a scoping review protocol.

This scoping review will identify literature pertaining to individuals with an acquired brain injury and digital divide; specifically, examining personal access and use of internet-enabled information and communication technologies. The review will identify the information and communication technologies used by individuals with an acquired brain injury as well as the determinants of technology use. The review will also identify and create a taxonomy of information and communication technologies utilized in relation to cognitive and psychosocial outcomes for individuals with an acquired brain injury in community and outpatient settings. Internet-enabled technologies are increasingly central to all aspects of living, including health care and community participation; however, gaps in the access to and use of information and communication technologies among individuals with an acquired brain injury may limit the utility of a digitalized society. Studies that focus on access to or use of internet-enabled information and communication technologies among individuals with an acquired brain injury (including stroke, infection, tumor, disease, hypoxia, or traumatic brain injury) will be considered in this review. Primary peer-reviewed studies published in English from 2001 onward will be considered for inclusion. Six electronic databases will be searched: Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and APA PsycINFO. Gray literature searches for government and nongovernment organization reports and data, and dissertation theses will be conducted via advanced Google searches. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts of articles based on the "population, concept, context" inclusion criteria. Relevant data will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR).

A Model for Unauthorized Person access in a Particular Area

Abstract: A method of unauthorized person identification in a particular area of an entity includes maintaining a database of identification data specific to the person and condition of entries and time period, providing a unique description for each person enabling access to the person identification data in the database. The automated face recognition system uses a new face-finding and an automated eye- finding approach combined with an intelligent metric. This allows templates to be placed on any size chip or into two-dimensional (2-D) barcodes for selfauthenticating documents, as well as for quick easy transmission over the internet, wireless devices, or Ethernet (i.e., LAN, WAN, etc.). A biometric and identity enrollment camera for collecting personal data includes a slidable main module and at least one modifiable section removable coupled to the main module. The main module includes a processor and one or more biometric sensing devices coupled to the processor. Methods of detecting authorized person identity, differentiating between users of a computerized service, and detecting an unauthorized person. The data management facility may be geographically distributed at a plurality of data management sites and the data storage nodes may exist inside and outside of a particular area of the first person.

Using 3D Tools to Design CCTV Monitoring System for Ghanaian University: A Case of C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS)

CCTV monitoring system is an essential security tool for visual surveillance accelerating the investigation in potential criminal activities when the need arises. Although expensive, universities mostly with public-access campuses in general, all need this system mainly to maintain safety and security in real-time, allowing legitimate students and staff to access campus resources and concurrently preventing any unauthorized persons access within the campus as well as responding to incidents with necessary action. C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS) is a university in the Upper East Region of Ghana that does not have such a monitoring system. Since it is a newly established public university, its allocated funds are limited and could not be used to establish such an expensive system. To supplement their ongoing efforts in building security monitoring system, this study constitutes the blueprint procedures for building economical but reliable and efficient CCTV camera system for monitoring the property on campus and also the in and out of students and university staff members. The CCTV system was tested in monitoring vantage security post of the University. After observing and analyzing the trends in data from both the physical and our proposed automated monitoring approach, it can be concluded that the CCTV camera setup outperforms the physical and manual form or monitoring vantage security posts on University campus. Since the of monitoring security post using the proposed CCTV setup is advantageous in requiring lesser human effort and skills, it can be recommended for universities with low income-flow and low budget. This probably can make the university campus more secure and reliable.

NEW SINCERITY IN POST-POSTMODERN ART

This article explores an issue of New Sincerity in post-postmodern context, in post-postmodern culture uppermost and in literature in the first instance. The research considers post-postmodern New Sincerity in comparison with postmodern apathy, redundant intellectualization and quotation, etc. In such a case New Sincerity is closely related to post-postmodern genuineness, authenticity, honesty, veracity, earnest and seriousness. Postmodern ironical eclecticism as a kind of deconstruction develops in reconstructive post-postmodern non- and metafiction sincerity. Therefore, New Sincerity as a sensitivity appears both as a general cultural atmosphere and a certain kind of philosophy with its peculiar aesthetics, ethics, ontology, etc. For example, the category of beauty realizes in post-postmodern aesthetics in a connection with a more sincere perception and feeling of art and nature. The article investigates the differences between New Sincerity and postirony and New Sincerity turns out to be not so much ironic as humorous. The exploration of New Sincerity takes place in its main part on the material of post-postmodern literature, which in the best way combines conceptualizing and perceptualizing. However, in its most actual manifestations, New Sincerity in connection with postirony appears at the intersection of theory, literature, movie, rock, network and mem-art, etc. In all cases, an appeal to vernacular culture allows for conveying a private experience. In such a context post-postmodern art become more sincere than postmodern one. Rude jokes or mundane activity, traumatic or banal contribute to the achievement of a greater degree of intimacy and love than overly straightforward tolerance. The reason for this is postironical supposition, that irony ironizes itself and became self-referential and hence therapeutical and joyful. Thus, New Sincerity appeals to the interconnection of seriousness and postironic humor, depth and superficies. In conclusion, the article stresses the significance of New Sincerity for post-postmodern aesthetics and ethics. With its help a possibility of sappy personal utterance and access to the Real, lost in the postmodern condition, appears again, renewed and enriched.

When a Crisis Empties Mosques: A Case Study of Muslim Responses to the Pandemic’s Challenges in Regards to Spiritual Care and Communal Rituals in Austria and Germany

Abstract Cases from both Germany and Austria exemplify how the COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly changing traditionally held ideas of Islamic community, religious congregations, and pastoral care. These cases were collected during Ramadan 2020, as this particular period signifies a time of paramount spirituality, social solidarity, and communal festivity. They reflect the rich and vibrant efforts and responses of Muslim leaders, organizations, and institutions to the challenges posed by the current pandemic. Different initiatives and solutions Muslim communities have developed as a response to COVID-19 are characterized as “caring communities.” Muslim chaplains, despite their highly limited personal access to secluded, lonesome, and distressed individuals in need of support, overcame the restrictions. Muslim leaders have striven to make use of the virtual space to fulfil the ordinary function of mosques as places of worship and communication. They have thus attempted to uphold social solidarity (zakat). Their responses to the pandemic raise questions about the future of religiosity and its manifestation as well as possible forms of religious communities and their ethical values.

Googling Patients

Googling Patients

Access to justice in the digital era

Developments in digital technologies have induced profound changes in the way legal services and legal dispute resolution bodies operate. But little is known about how the use of digital technologies in the field of law affects access to justice (A2J) for individuals and businesses. Digital technologies are often seen as enhancing A2J. Yet, empirical research into the (presumed) advantages and disadvantages of the use of digital applications for A2J is lacking. The aim of this special issue is to contribute to the empirical evidence base.The various contributions demonstrate that some types of digitalization provide better A2J because they broaden ways to contact institutions, make access cheaper or enable case processing in times of emergency, such as a pandemic. Despite these positive aspects, there are also challenges related to A2J, namely negative consequences of remote communication for the quality of procedures and participation of litigants; failure of technological solutions to deliver promised benefits; and difficulties of access for persons with poor digital capabilities or in vulnerable conditions.

Ketersediaan Fasilitas yang Aksesibilitas bagi Penyandang Disabilitas di Kabupaten Bangkalan Madura

ABTRACT The rights of persons with disabilities are the same as normal human beings in general, so that in its fulfillment the government is prohibited from discriminating between them and even leading to acts of discrimination. Accessibility rights are part of the rights of persons with disabilities. However, these rights still escape the attention of the government, because they are considered not to be part of basic rights that must be made a priority. An example is in Bangkalan, Madura where the right of accessibility for persons with disabilities, especially in public facilities that should be disabled-friendly, is still not given much attention by the government. Therefore, the author is interested in studying how to fulfill the accessibility rights of persons with physical and sensory disabilities in Bangkalan Madura district. This study aims to find out how to fulfill the accessibility rights of persons with physical and sensory disabilities in Bangkalan Madura district. This research is a juridical-empirical research, using a statute approach. After conducting the research, it was found that accessibility in Bangkalan Regency public facilities was considered not yet friendly to persons with disabilities. Because the Government considers that it is more important to fulfill the basic rights of persons with disabilities first, such as the right to education, work, health and others. Keywords : Persons with Disabilities – Accessibility Rights – Basic Rights – Public Facilities

What distinguishes binary from multi-class intrusion detection systems: Observations from experiments

Modern world has become prune to technology and security is turning invasive by the day. Thus, capturing personal information or access to remote devices can prove to be horrendous intrusions. This paper focuses on various classification algorithms such as K-nearest neighbor Classifier, Multi Layer Perceptron Classifier, Long Short-Term Memory Classifier and Support Vector Machine Classifiers on the revised KDD cup 99 dataset. Attacks namely DoS (Denial of Service attacks), R2L (Root to Local attacks), U2R (User to Root attack) and Probe (Probing attacks) were monitored. Getting the model ready, we aim to identify the attack types based on the data coming through. The study also showcases Uni-variate, Bi-variate as well as Multivariate analysis on the same. The models were optimized and accuracy was found through measures like F1-score, precision, and recall. Promising results were found.

Global Emergency System Based on WPAN and LPWAN Hybrid Networks.

There are multiple methods of communication for the transmission of every type of alarm. In the case of emergency systems, they are usually controlled by private companies that work as bridges between the source and the receiver of an emergency. Furthermore, it is necessary to use an independent communication system for each building, requiring human vigilance, leading to an increase in infrastructure and service costs as well as response time. This paper proposes a hybrid network by combining both wireless personal access network (WPAN) and low power wide access network (LPWAN) communication for the complete development of a communication architecture oriented to an emergency system. The main aim of this work is to provide a global emergency system that is focused on fire detection but is also suitable for other critical events, with low energy consumption, a wide communication range covering up to 50 km, and a low cost of service and infrastructure. This proposal reduces the total energy consumption of the system with respect to typical fire detection systems.

Promoting National Disability Employment Awareness Month

The American Chemical Society’s Committee on Chemists with Disabilities (CWD) adopted a new vision and mission during its 2022 strategic planning retreat. Our new vision is “making chemistry accessible to all,” and our mission is “accessibility, inclusion, and respect for persons with disabilities in the chemistry enterprise.” CWD also streamlined its goals, last updated in 2019, to make them more concise and action-oriented. We now have three: to promote and facilitate awareness, inclusion, and respect for persons with disabilities in the chemistry enterprise; to support internal and external alliances to increase visibility and impact; and to develop, advocate for, and communicate the most effective accessibility resources for persons with disabilities in the chemistry enterprise. At the ACS Fall 2022 meeting, CWD focused on creating visibility and impact through three presidential workshops. The first workshop discussed covering and reverse covering—looking at what it is like to feel that you need to

Reflecting on the Role of Gender and Race in Speech-Language Pathology

Purpose:The presented work was invited following the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association SIG 19 Virtual Talk “Speech Science in Diverse Populations” that occurred on September 2, 2021. The purpose of this article was to introduce the historical and theoretical frameworks of gender and race from a decidedly North American (United States) perspective to an audience that may be less familiar with those topics as they relate to the practice of communication sciences and disorders. Race and gender are huge topics. Entire fields of study and lifetimes of work are dedicated to understanding these constructs. Therefore, it is hoped that this brief review of race and gender will prompt the reader to evaluate how the two constructs are used to categorize people and whether being a member of a marginalized or a minoritized group affects the person's access to or use of intervention services. A critical theoretical discussion of race and gender is beyond the scope of this text. In this limited space, this work presents an overview of current and historical discussions of gender and race and a challenge to the reader to accept that their perspective is indebted to a specific belief system. In the United States, that belief system often evaluates human differences into binary categories on a weighted continuum. Speech-language professionals often use that continuum to identify and measure difference into either acceptable variation or disorder.Conclusions:The profession of speech-language pathology was established during a time when variation from middle-class White American communication norms was frequently defined as undesirable and sometimes as disordered. The communities and individuals we encounter deserve to be accepted as they are. We must resolve to expect and accept wide variation in human communication without pathologizing its existence, to expand our thinking about disorder in speech and hearing science, and to accept culturally competent communicators as competent communicators.