Regular Professional Activities Research Articles

Monoglot Ideologies in Multilingual Ecologies: Case Study of Language-in-Education Policies in India and Indonesia

The creation of language policies is a socially embedded process that affects the socioeconomic well-being of those who live in a given language ecosystem. Unrealistic presumptions about a nation’s linguistic landscape on the part of its government run the risk of perpetuating an unequal social climate in which some demographic groups are given more possibilities for social mobility, while others are pushed into a marginalized position of powerlessness. In multilingual societies, the power structures that exist mirror the roles that various languages are given in social, educational, and other domains. The current study examines the ecology/practice of language in multilingual Indian and Indonesian contexts and strives to determine if it receives adequate reflection in the language policies (LPs) of both nations. To comprehend how multilingual social practice is managed and planned through official policy framing, it construes these situations as case studies. In social contexts where societal multilingualism is the norm, the current study takes a critically reflexive approach toward the formulation and application of policy. To determine whether there is a correlation between contentious LPs in multilingual situations and social justice, in terms of equal access to high-quality education, it links top-down government language management with local linguistic realities. Moreover, it draws its own conclusions regarding the implications of policy analysis for fair language management in multilingual contexts and teachers’ participation in policy implementation as part of their regular professional activities.

Značaj rehabilitacije kod dekondicioniranog bolesnika nakon hospitalno lečene COVID-19 infekcije - prikaz slučaja

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to significant public health problems, severe complications, and functional impairment in persons who have recovered from this disease. Case report. A 60-years-old male deconditioned patient was transferred from Corona 4 Center to the Center for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the University Clinical Center in Kragujevac for a post-COVID rehabilitation due to pronounced muscle weakness and inability to walk. After functional testing, an individual rehabilitation plan was created and a kinesitherapy program was adjusted daily based on the patient's respiratory status. After the kinesitherapy program, Respivol was used-a volumetric medical device for breathing exercises in patients with respiratory difficulties. At the time of admission, the patient could not move independently, could not move from the lying to the sitting position on his own, and could not maintain balance in the sitting position. Hypotrophy caused by prolonged inactivity of the muscles of the whole body dominated the clinical picture. A six-week rehabilitation treatment performed on the patient showed a significant improvement in functionality (FIM test), muscle strength (manual muscle test), daily life activity (Barthel index), as well as a reduction of anxiety (GAD-7 scale). Conclusion. The goal of the rehabilitation program is to restore the patient's state of functionality before the initiation of COVID-19 treatment, so that they can perform their regular professional activities and achieve complete independence in performing activities of daily living (ADL).

Big-Five Personality Traits and Cognitive Skills in Higher Education in the Pandemic Context

The SARS-Cov-2 pandemic created a severe psychosocial and medical shock all over the world. For more than a year, humanity struggled with adjusting to different measures that governments imposed on the population worldwide. Educational systems all over the world were forced to comply with the new conditions of activity. In this context, different reactions emerged, and skills were used and developed. The coronavirus pandemic was and still is a stressful worldwide event that disrupted, among numerous other things, the everyday life of professional activities and the manner of their deployment. This study aims to investigate the relationship between variables like analytical reasoning, text comprehension, detail perception, conscientiousness, emotional stability and autonomy. A sample of 327 students from Ovidius University of Constanta, aged between 19 and 50 years, were assessed using Cognitrom Assessment System. Results show that: (1) there is a positive correlation between analytical reasoning, text comprehension and detail perception; (2) analytical reasoning positively correlates with conscientiousness and emotional stability; (3) text comprehension correlates with emotional stability; and (4) detail perception has no significant correlation with any of the studied personality traits. Results are interpreted and discussed in the end of the article, in relationship with the use of these intellectual skills and personality traits in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially by certain population categories which had to use the online environment for their regular professional activities.

Meningkatkan Kompetensi Pedagogi dengan Model Lesson Study bagi Guru SD di Kabupaten Bone

This study aims to improve pedagogical competencies especially elementary school teachers in Bone Regency. The study was conducted with a semi-experimental approach with the Lesson Study (LS) model. There were 20 teachers were directly involved from four elementary schools in Watampone. The procedures adopted were motivating, explaining, discussing, designing learning, implementing and observing learning, reflecting, designing and re-implementing the results of reflection in collaboration. After taking meet for three times, the results were very satisfying. Participants who stated LS were very appropriate to improve teacher pedagogical competence by 85%, exactly 15%, inaccurate and incorrect in each 0%. Qualitatively, the LS model is very effective in increasing the pedagogical competence of elementary school teachers in Bone. The main value of the LS model is that learning quality improvement was carried out directly in the learning process and activities. So, the teacher learns in the learning process about how to teach effectively and efficiently. It was recommended to teachers that this LS becomes one of the regular professional activities to improve the quality of the teaching profession.

Facteurs associés à la cyberaddiction chez les adolescents Tunisiens

IntroductionInternet addiction, a relatively new phenomenon, is a field of recent research in mental health, particularly within young populations. It seems to interact with several individual and environmental factors. ObjectivesWe aim to spot internet addiction in a Tunisian adolescent population, and to study its relationship with personal and family factors, as well as with anxious and depressive comorbidities. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of 253 adolescents recruited in public places in the city of Sfax in the south of Tunisia. We collected biographical and personal data as well as data describing family dynamics. The internet addiction was assessed by Young's questionnaire. Depressive and anxious co-morbidities were assessed using the HADS scale. The comparative study was based on the chi-square test and the Student's test, with a significance level of 5 %. ResultsThe prevalence of internet addiction was 43.9 %. The average age of internet-addicts was 16.34 years, the male sex was the most represented (54.1 %) and increased the risk of internet addiction (OR a=2.805). The average duration of connection among Internet addicts was 4.6hours per day and was significantly related to internet addiction; P<0.001). Socializing activities were found in the majority of the internet-addicted adolescents (86.5 %). The type of online activity was significantly associated with internet addiction (P=0.03 and OR a=3.256). Other behavioral addictions were frequently reported: 35.13% for excessive use of video games and 43.25 % for pathological purchases. These two behaviors were significantly associated with internet addiction (with respectively P=0.001 and P=0.002 with OR=3.283). The internet-addicted adolescents lived with both parents in 91.9 % of cases. The mother's regular professional activity was significantly associated with internet addiction risk (P=0.04) as was the use of the Internet by parents and siblings (with respectively P=0.002 and P<0.001 with OR=3.256). The restrictive attitude of the parents was significantly associated with internet addiction risk (P<0.001 OR=2.57). Family dynamics, particularly at the level of adolescent-parent interactions, were a determining factor in internet addiction. Anxiety was more frequently found than depression among our cyber-dependent adolescents with frequencies of 65.8 % and 18.9 %, respectively. Anxiety was significantly correlated with the risk of internet addiction (P=0.003, OR a=2.15). There was no significant correlation between depression and the risk of internet addiction. ConclusionThe Tunisian adolescent seems at great risk of internet addiction. Targeted action on modifiable factors, especially those affecting family interactions, would be very useful in prevention.

Évaluation de l’autonomie sociale et de ses facteurs associés chez des patients tunisiens suivis pour schizophrénie

IntroductionSocial autonomy concerns specific areas that people with chronic psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, face daily when they live in the community. The degree of social autonomy is one of the principal determinants of success of the therapeutic project for patients suffering from schizophrenia. However, the domains of social autonomy would depend on the socio-cultural context and the familial and professional environment of the country. ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to evaluate the social autonomy level and to research its associated factors in a sample of Tunisian out-patients with schizophrenia. MethodsIt was a cross-sectional study of 115 out-patients (mean age: 37.6±10.2 years, 75.7% male), followed for schizophrenia according DSM-IV diagnostic criteria and treated with long-term antipsychotics, mainly first generation (81%), with a mean daily dosage of 1130±875mg in chlorpromazine equivalent. Data were collected during interviews with patients and their family members and supplemented by the review of medical records. Degree of social Autonomy was assessed by the Leguay's 17-items Social Autonomy Scale (EAS), exploring five dimensions: personal care, management of daily life, resource management, relationship with outside and affective and social relations. Global functioning level was assessed by the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. ResultsThe total EAS score ranged from 14 to 90 with a mean score of 56.6±16.8. Higher sub-scores indicating a poor social autonomy concerned the dimensions of “relationship with the outside world”, “resource management” and “management of daily life”. A negative correlation was found between the EAS total score and the GAF score (r=−0.78, P<0.0001). Thus, the lower GAF score suggesting impaired global functioning was associated to the higher EAS score in favor of altered social autonomy. Altered social autonomy was associated with low school level (P=0.02), lack of regular professional activity (P=0.001), disorganized subtype (P=0.002), negative symptoms at the last hospitalization (P=0.03), continuous course (P<0.0001) and daily dosage of antipsychotic medication (P=0.02). However, age or gender of the patients, psychiatric family history, age of onset, duration of untreated psychosis, number and duration of previous hospitalizations, antipsychotic treatment generation were not associated with social autonomy in our sample. ConclusionsDespite therapeutic advances in recent decades, the social autonomy of our patients with schizophrenia remains precarious. Several socioeconomic and clinical factors seem to be involved. Further interventions will be needed to enable our patients to function more actively and autonomously in society.

The late-onset bipolar disorder: A comparative study

IntroductionBipolar disorders (BP) with late onset are underestimated by their frequency, their misleading presentations and therapeutic difficulties due to the high prevalence of somatic comorbidities.AimTo identify sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic characteristics in subjects with a late-onset BP.Patients and methodsRetrospective and comparative study of 101 patients followed for a BP (12 patients with BP started after 50 years and 89 patients with BP started earlier) from 2009 to 2015, in the department of psychiatry of the University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.ResultsThe mean age of subjects with late-onset TBP was 46.11 ± 12.85 years. Women were in the majority (65.3%). Ten patients had a novo mania, four patients had a late-onset mania and one patient had a secondary mania. Regarding the socio-demographic data, only the regular professional activity was more reported in the elderly (P = 0.017). Regarding clinical data, BP type 1 and secondary mania were more reported in elderly with (P = 0.050 and P = 0.000 respectively). Elderly had significantly fewer depressive episodes (P = 0.026), fewer hypomanic episodes (P = 0.000). The durations of the latest episodes and the last intervals were shorter in elderly (P = 0.045 and P = 0.000). Concerning therapeutic data, elderly had fewer hospitalizations (P = 0.045), required lower mean doses of lithium (P = 0.04) and greater mean doses of tricyclic antidepressants (P = 0.047).ConclusionIt is always necessary to look for an organic cause in manic syndrome in late-onset BP. Doses of lithium should be lower. However, doses of TAD should be higher.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Czynniki wspierające powstawanie i rozwój świadomości emerytalnej jako instrumentu pobudzania indywidualnej zapobiegliwości o przyszłość emerytalną

Projections for replacement rate achievable from two mandatory pillars of the pension system indicate a significant reduction in retirement income compared to regular professional activity. The designers of the new philosophy of retirement have made an assumption that all three pillars will play equivalent role in providing retirement income. They have also assumed that the participants of the pension system will be kept informed about the height of the expected benefits derived from the first pillar and the amount of funds raised in the second pillar. Forecast of low (unsatisfactory) benefits from a compulsory part of the system is supposed to persuade people to make informed decisions aimed at increasing retirement income.

Intensive decongestive treatment restores ability to work in patients with advanced forms of primary and secondary lower extremity lymphoedema

To show that adequate therapy for lymphoedema is able to restore ability to work. The population of patients with primary lymphoedema registered in the university clinical centre diagnosed with primary or secondary lymphoedema and presumed by the national social institution as completely unable to work was selected for the retrospective analysis and divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 25 patients treated with a complex decongestive therapy programme daily for 3-6 weeks. The study population comprised 19 women and six men from 14 to 61 years of age (mean 31.5). In all 25 patients, complete inability to work was certified by the social institution before the treatment started. Group 2 consisted of 47 patients, 14 men and 33 women, aged from 26 to 71 years (mean 39 years) treated by so-called standard methods, who resigned from the proposed intensive treatment. In all 47 patients, complete inability to work was declared by the social institution before the treatment. Ability to work and oedema reduction were assessed by the treating physician. The intensive phase of treatment succeeded in 3870-15,330 mL oedema reduction in Group 1. After the end of therapy, 21 patients were able to work or study without any limitation and patients returned to their regular professional activity. Among four others, two were on welfare for at least 10 years, for another one welfare was their only income and one person was receiving a social pension. In none of the patients from group 2 was any significant oedema reduction observed. Every patient from group 2 maintained the social pension due to ineffective treatment. Complex decongestive therapy is a very efficient form of treatment in advanced primary and secondary lymphoedema. It allows returning to work after a short period of temporary disability without the necessity of a social pension.

Economic evaluation of different minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of coronary artery disease

Several different techniques exist within the field of minimally invasive coronary artery surgery. In this study the impact of all these techniques on the total costs and economics has been evaluated. Since May 1997, 121 minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) procedures, 125 off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB), ten Port-Access coronary artery bypass (PA-CABG) and 10 endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (ENDO-CABG) procedures were performed at our institution. A relative cost analysis of the different procedures was carried out in addition to a thorough evaluation done in five patients of each group dividing the costs into staff-related costs, material-related costs and general hospital costs. The costs were set in relation to regular CABG procedures. Specific less invasive coronary artery surgical techniques, such as the MIDCAB or OPCAB technique already are able to reduce the total costs when compared to regular CABG procedures. Within the Port-Access group as well as the ENDO-CABG group, increased material- and general costs are present when compared to regular CABG leading to increased total hospital costs for PA-CABG and Endo-CABG in Germany. At present, MIDCAB and OPCAB procedures are able to reduce total hospital charges, when compared to regular CABG procedures. Increased costs for Port-Access, as well as Endo-CABG surgeries may be compensated in the future by decreased costs due to a shorter phase of rehabilitation and faster return to regular professional activities.