Thematic Categories Research Articles

Class incremental learning with self-supervised pre-training and prototype learning

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have achieved great success on classification tasks of closed class sets. However, new classes, like new categories of social media topics, are continual added to the real world, making it necessary to learn incrementally. This is hard for DNNs because they tend to overfit new classes while ignoring old classes, a phenomenon known as catastrophic forgetting. State-of-the-art (SOTA) methods rely on knowledge distillation and data replay techniques but still have limitations. In this work, we analyze the causes of catastrophic forgetting in class incremental learning, which refers to representation drift, representation confusion, and classifier distortion. Based on this view, we propose a two-stage learning framework with a fixed encoder and an incrementally updated prototype classifier. The encoder generates a feature space with high intrinsic dimensionality while the prototype classifier preserves the decision boundary. Experimental results on public image datasets show that our non-exemplar-based method significantly outperforms SOTA exemplar-based methods.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: Meaning relations between responses in an epidemiological study and twitter messages

BackgroundVaccine hesitancy is a concerning public health issue, further amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media is an important player in this context, promoting the dissemination of both information and misinformation. Qualitative studies analyzing the meaning of social media contents in correlation with epidemiological data are scarce, and could aid our understanding of social media's impact on vaccine hesitancy. MethodsIn this study, we identified open-ended responses on reasons to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine collected in an epidemiologic study, and analyzed meaning relations with Twitter posts according to theme categories using a qualitative approach. ResultsAmong responses to open-ended questions on motivations for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, we identified and analyzed five theme categories: 1. individuality; 2. fear of adverse events/distrust in vaccine safety; 3. political ideologies/aversion to recommendations issued by the State; 4. skepticism about vaccine efficacy; and 5. refusal of non-natural products or interventions. We observed a close correspondence between open-ended responses in the epidemiological study and Twitter posts in all 5 theme categories. The highest outreach of Twitter posts was observed for those in the “individuality” and “fear of adverse the events/distrust in vaccine safety” theme categories. ConclusionsOur study suggests that social media interactions can perpetuate misinformation and hesitant attitudes about vaccines. Social media algorithms can intensify ideologic isolation, and strategies to promote the dissemination of tailored health information among social media users should be implemented to promote an overall understanding of health, particularly those concerning the collective wellbeing.

Social Media Topic Classification on Greek Reddit

Text classification (TC) is a subtask of natural language processing (NLP) that categorizes text pieces into predefined classes based on their textual content and thematic aspects. This process typically includes the training of a Machine Learning (ML) model on a labeled dataset, where each text example is associated with a specific class. Recent progress in Deep Learning (DL) enabled the development of deep neural transformer models, surpassing traditional ML ones. In any case, works of the topic classification literature prioritize high-resource languages, particularly English, while research efforts for low-resource ones, such as Greek, are limited. Taking the above into consideration, this paper presents: (i) the first Greek social media topic classification dataset; (ii) a comparative assessment of a series of traditional ML models trained on this dataset, utilizing an array of text vectorization methods including TF-IDF, classical word and transformer-based Greek embeddings; (iii) a fine-tuned GREEK-BERT-based TC model on the same dataset; (iv) key empirical findings demonstrating that transformer-based embeddings significantly increase the performance of traditional ML models, while our fine-tuned DL model outperforms previous ones. The dataset, the best-performing model, and the experimental code are made public, aiming to augment the reproducibility of this work and advance future research in the field.

Framework for a Research-Based and Interdisciplinary Use of Sensors in Elementary Teacher Education.

Sensors should be integrated into teacher education, as they are essential tools in the digital practices needed for full participation in society. Electronic sensors can be used as laboratory/scientific tools, as everyday mobile learning tools, and as epistemic mediators in several scientific fields, as well as in interdisciplinary approaches. In this way, electronic sensors can play multiple roles in the main dimensions of teacher education. The aim of the research presented in this paper was to create a framework for the research-based and interdisciplinary use of sensors in elementary teacher education, based on the thematic analysis of seven case studies implemented in Portugal. The thematic categories used in the cross-case analysis were fundamental in revealing the different roles played by sensors in the different phases of the didactic sequences of the cases. Subsequently, the thematic analysis made it possible to identify patterns of affordances of sensors and to relate the multiple roles of electronic sensors to different areas of the Portuguese elementary teacher education model. The research synthesis made it possible to outline the framework perspectives. The resulting framework systematized and highlighted the affordances of sensors in pre-service and in-service elementary teacher education as scientific, epistemic, interdisciplinary, and didactic mediators. These affordances were revealed to be particularly important in data-driven inquiry problem-solving, pedagogical content knowledge, and professional knowledge development. The framework created can be expanded in future related research.

Nutrition for Children and Adolescents Who Practice Sport: A Narrative Review.

At a developmental age, adequate physical activity is fundamental to overall health and well-being and preventing obesity. Moreover, establishing active behavior can help children and adolescents meet their growth and neurodevelopmental goals. Nutritional requirements vary according to intensity, frequency, and practiced physical activity or sport; therefore, pediatricians should give children and adolescents and their families adequate counseling, avoiding both nutrient deficiencies and excessive or inadequate supplement intake. The focus should be not only on sports performance but also on the child's well-being, growth, and neurodevelopment. Our narrative review aims to discuss the nutritional needs of children and adolescents who practice physical activity, non-competitive sports activity, and elite sports activity while also analyzing the role of food supplements and the risk of eating disorders within this category of subjects.

A Qualitative Study on Adolescents’ Perceptions and Understandings of Flourishing in the Western Cape, South Africa

Adolescence is a transitional period characterised by puberty, physical growth, and the capacity to complete life tasks. During this period, adolescents are faced with various challenges in completing various life tasks. Flourishing is defined as a state in which an individual functions optimally, and has a good level of well-being in all aspects of their life. Previous studies on adolescent flourishing have focused on measuring flourishing quantitatively, which suggests a need for further research that qualitatively explores adolescent flourishing. In this study we use the conceptualisation of flourishing that encompasses hedonia and eudaimonia. It is crucial to position adolescents at the core of research endeavours, to gain insight into the unique factors, values, and goals that contribute to their flourishing. The overall aim of the study is to explore adolescents’ understandings and perceptions of flourishing in the Western Cape, South Africa. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted to gain a comprehensive understanding of adolescents’ perceptions and understanding of flourishing. The interviews were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s theoretical thematic analysis. We found two overarching thematic categories: 1) Understanding flourishing and 2) Factors that promote flourishing. The study findings emphasise the significance of balance in different aspects of life such as mental health, self-reflection, and self-expression to support adolescents in developing their own sense of flourishing and to understand their own experiences. The central role of relationships as a support structure for adolescents was found to be significant as the participants were able to identify what is needed through these relationships, which could promote their own flourishing. Future empirical research should endeavour to include both hedonic and eudaimonic traditions in exploring adolescent flourishing.

Seguimento do recém-nascido prematuro na Atenção Básica

Introduction: Prematurity is a public health problem that currently affects about 10% of children born in the country. Primary care health teams play a fundamental role in the monitoring of premature newborns, providing comprehensive assistance and differentiated care to these babies. Objectives: To know the perception of nursing professionals who work in primary care (PHC) regarding the care of premature newborns discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, exploratory and descriptive study, with a qualitative approach. Results and discussions: Data collection was carried out with nurses working in Primary Care Units in 37 municipalities in the interior of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), whose estimated population, according to the 2010 IBGE Census, is 313,453 inhabitants. After data collection, the answers were analyzed according to Bardin's Content Analysis (2016), and thematic categories were constructed. The aim of this study is to learn about how premature newborns are followed up in primary care and to identify the difficulties faced by professionals in caring for this population. Conclusion: As benefits of this research, it is understood the importance of discovering the difficulties faced by nursing professionals in the care of premature newborns in Primary Care, so that it can contribute to the improvement and perception of the problems faced by this professional class.

Tracing the Modernisation Project of Turkey in Textbook Images (1923–1945)

ABSTRACT When the Turkish Republic was founded, it inherited a Western-oriented modernisation project from its predecessor, the Ottoman Empire. The republican ruling class was determined to further this legacy, and education was used as a tool for the eventuation of this project. One of the essential elements of this tool was textbook images. This article explores the relationship between textbook images and the modernisation project embraced by the ruling class. The study examines, by using Barthian semiology, 16 textbook images selected from 44 primary school textbooks taught between 1923 and 1945 in five thematic categories: men and boys, etiquette, women and girls, teachers, and architecture. Our analysis reveals that textbook images were deliberately edited to shape students’ perceptions, attitudes and lifestyles in alignment with the ideals of modernisation.

Place-belongingness in real-life contexts: A review of practical meanings, contributing factors, and evaluation methods

Place-belongingness is conceptualized as the subjective aspect of geographical belonging. Drawing upon a review of empirical studies spanning over a decade, we clarify this concept in real-life contexts, where people assign practical meanings to their place-belongingness. Thematic categorization of these practical meanings yields an extended definition of the concept. We also reclassify the factors contributing to place-belongingness and examine how it emerges in real-life scenarios. This review provides insights into methods for evaluating place-belongingness, emphasizing the need for a validated measurement tool for assessing the impact of interventions. Our findings highlight the promising role of information technologies in enhancing place-belongingness, although it is an unmapped terrain. The review suggests intensified attention to sustainability, the politicization of resources, and non-belonging within place-belongingness research. Moreover, we accentuate place-belongingness as a point of departure for unveiling the underlying inclusion/exclusion structures.

Potential of membrane distillation for water recovery and reuse in water stress scenarios: Perspective from a bibliometric analysis

Climate change and related issues such as water scarcity and the urgent need for a transition to sustainable energy sources have motivated the development of novel processes and techniques that can be applied for water treatment, recovery and reuse. Among these emerging processes, membrane distillation in its different configurations has been extensively studied and reported in the literature. A bibliometric analysis was performed to investigate the research documents published in the scientific database Scopus until 2024, related to use of membrane distillation for water recovery and reuse. The main quantitative attributes of the research during this period were identified. The results of this analysis showed a very low scientific production until 2005, followed by a rapid exponential increase since then. The combined contribution of the two most productive countries (China and USA respectively) accounted for more than 41 % of the total number of publications, followed by Australia and Saudi Arabia, which occupied the third and fourth positions in the ranking. Chemical engineering was the most important subject category (57.4 % contribution), closely followed by environmental sciences. The review of the most cited documents and keywords showed that membrane wetting is one of the main drawbacks that can reduce the performance of membrane distillation and the use of innovative superhydrophobic, omniphobic or Janus membranes resulted an adequate solution to avoid this problem. Moreover, the desalination of seawater, brines and other highly saline solutions can be considered as the most studied application of membrane distillation. The consideration of the energetic aspects of membrane distillation and its coupling with other technologies were identified as relevant topics during the bibliometric network analysis. Special attention was given to the potential of membrane distillation for water recovery and reuse in the Chilean context of water stress for the production of drinking water and the treatment of domestic greywater and wastewater from mining and other industrial activities.

LSTM-Based Forum Topic Classification Model

With the rapid development of information technology, forums have become an important platform for information exchange. However, the manual classification of forum topics consumes a significant amount of human resources and is prone to classification errors. To address this issue, this study proposes a forum topic classification model based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. By leveraging LSTM’s capability in text processing, the accuracy and efficiency of topic classification are significantly improved. This study used approximately 68,000 entries from 29 topic categories, scraped from Zhihu, for the experiments. Preprocessing steps such as text cleaning, tokenization, and word vectorization were performed, and a classification model with LSTM and Dropout layers was designed. The experimental results indicate that the model performs well in most topic classifications, although overfitting remains an issue for certain categories. The paper concludes by summarizing the advantages and limitations of the model and discusses the potential for improving classification accuracy through increasing data volume and optimizing the model in the future.

Perception of deaf patients about medical care

Deaf people are those who understand and interact with the world through visual language. Due to the linguistic and cultural differences that characterize the deaf population, this group still faces difficulties in accessing health services. For this reason, it was proposed to investigate communication difficulties in providing care to deaf patients. This is a qualitative study which was carried out at the Association of the Deaf of Maranhão (ASMA), in São Luís. The sample consisted of 10 women and 10 men, all over the age of 18. The information was collected through semi-structured interviews, with the help of Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) interpreters. Data interpretation were performed based on thematic content analysis. Two thematic categories were identified: “communication” and “autonomy”. In the first, the interviewees pointed out the lack of knowledge of the doctors about the needs of the deaf community or about their language, LIBRAS. In an attempt to establish a dialogue, the patients reported the use of writing, gestures and orofacial reading during the consultations. These strategies, however, are insufficient, since the information cannot be well understood. The second evidenced the need for the presence of companions to mediate the dialogue, as the participants stated that they did not find LIBRAS interpreters in the health units, resulting in loss of autonomy and confidentiality of information. It is concluded that this scenario of adversity implies important consequences for the health of this population, as well as lower adherence to treatments and a decrease in the search for medical care.

Microbial phosphate solubilization mechanisms in P solubilizing in andisol

Phosphate (P) nutrient plays a significant role in plant growth and yield. P is an essential element that plays an important role in photosynthesis and root development. Phosphate nutrient availability is deficient in some soil types due to retention, such as in Andisol soil types. High phosphate retention in Andisol soil types causes P nutrients to be unavailable to plants and can reduce crop yields. The availability of P in Andisol soils can be done, among others, by applying phosphate solubilizing microbes. Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms are soil microorganisms consisting of bacteria and fungi that can mineralize organic P, dissolve inorganic P minerals, and store large amounts of P to make it available to plants. This literature review aims to determine the mechanism of phosphate-solubilizing microbes in P dissolution in Andisol soil. The methods used in this systematic review are collecting data through the internet and utilizing recognized sources such as Science Direct, Research Gate, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Content analysis was performed on the collected data, and the results were organized into thematic categories. Furthermore, the findings are presented descriptively with the help of tables to facilitate understanding. Since phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms can dissolve P in the soil through chemical and biological mechanisms, it can be concluded that phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms also have an important role in the soil P cycle. The implications of this literature review are to understand the retention of P nutrients in Andisols and how the dissolution mechanism works, as well as the use of microbes as a solution to increase phosphate dissolution so that it is available to plants.

Exploring the grief journey of bereaved spouses: Insights into the impact of sedation within palliative care

ABSTRACT Despite being the most susceptible to psychopathological consequences, bereaved cancer spouses remain a vastly understudied group. Addressing this gap, a dedicated French research team comprising clinical psychologists, philosophers, and physicians is conducting an ongoing study focused on the emotional and affective complexities experienced by bereaved spouses after the loss of a loved one due to oncological diseases within the realm of palliative care and Continuous Deep Sedation until Death (CDSD). The preliminary data presented below concern the analysis of nine semi-directed interviews analyzed using ALCESTE software, a tool for statistical analysis of textual data based on word co-occurrences. Analysis and comparison of the thematic categories that emerged showed that social support, deep loneliness, and the preservation of memories emerged as central elements of the marital bereavement experience. In addition, the study highlights the critical role of comprehensive palliative care in France and the delicate nature of sedation experiences, revealing intense emotions such as helplessness and anger. Clear communication and active family participation in end-of-life decisions emerged as crucial factors in alleviating the grieving process in spouses. These findings provide valuable insights for healthcare professionals and counselors and underscore the critical need for further research focused on sedation.

A visualized and bibliometric analysis of nursing research during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been increasing since December 2019. A total of 8460 publications were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection from 2019 to 2023, providing insights into the progress of nursing research throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Bibliometric analysis was conducted on these articles using CiteSpace. The analysis focused on examining the distribution of these publications in terms of space and time, distribution of authors, subject categories, distribution of topics, and cited references. These results may be explained from 3 perspectives. Initially, the number of yearly publications on nursing research consistently increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, a co-occurrence analysis of the countries and the authors revealed that certain countries, including the United States, China, and England, have successfully implemented organized and standardized nursing models. These countries also have well-developed and established nursing research systems. Notably, academic communities in specific regions, such as the team led by MD Stefan Gravenstein, Mor Vincent, and White Elizabeth at Brown University in the United States, have emerged as leaders in this field. Furthermore, examining the papers' subject categories and topic distribution indicate that nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic has been predominantly interdisciplinary, encompassing various disciplines such as clinical medicine, essential medicine, psychology, public health management, and even telematics science. Our study provided valuable insights into acquiring knowledge on nursing research during the COVID-19 pandemic, pinpointed possible partners for researchers interested in nursing, and uncovered prevalent research patterns and popular subjects.

Managing Type 2 Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review and Qualitative Study Using Systematic Literature Review and Reddit.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted how people accessed health services and likely how they managed chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). Social media forums present a source of qualitative data to understand how adaptation might have occurred from the perspective of the patient. Our objective is to understand how the care-seeking behaviors and attitudes of people living with T2D were impacted during the early part of the pandemic by conducting a scoping literature review. A secondary objective is to compare the findings of the scoping review to those presented on a popular social media platform Reddit. A scoping review was conducted in 2021. Inclusion criteria were population with T2D, studies are patient-centered, and study objectives are centered around health behaviors, disease management, or mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exclusion criteria were populations with other noncommunicable diseases, examining COVID-19 as a comorbidity to T2D, clinical treatments for COVID-19 among people living with T2D, genetic expressions of COVID-19 among people living with T2D, gray literature, or studies not published in English. Bias was mitigated by reviewing uncertainties with other authors. Data extracted from the studies were classified into thematic categories. These categories reflect the findings of this study as per our objective. Data from the Reddit forums related to T2D from March 2020 to early March 2021 were downloaded, and support vector machines were used to classify if a post was published in the context of the pandemic. Latent Dirichlet allocation topic modeling was performed to gather topics of discussion specific to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 26 studies conducted between February and September 2020, consisting of 13,673 participants, were included in this scoping literature review. The studies were qualitative and relied mostly on qualitative data from surveys or questionnaires. Themes found from the literature review were "poorer glycemic control," "increased consumption of unhealthy foods," "decreased physical activity," "inability to access medical appointments," and "increased stress and anxiety." Findings from latent Dirichlet allocation topic modeling of Reddit forums were "Coping With Poor Mental Health," "Accessing Doctor & Medications and Controlling Blood Glucose," "Changing Food Habits During Pandemic," "Impact of Stress on Blood Glucose Levels," "Changing Status of Employment & Insurance," and "Risk of COVID Complications." Topics of discussion gauged from the Reddit forums provide a holistic perspective of the impact of the pandemic on people living with T2D, which were found to be comparable to the findings of the literature review. The study was limited by only having 1 reviewer for the literature review, but biases were mitigated by consulting authors when there were uncertainties. Qualitative analysis of Reddit forms can supplement traditional qualitative studies of the behaviors of people living with T2D.

Why some homeless individuals are unsheltered: A narrative review of self-reported reasons

The rising rate of unsheltered homelessness is a troubling and important public health issue. This narrative review sought to answer the question: What are the reasons that homeless individuals report for being unsheltered? To identify studies, systematic search methods were applied to PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO databases using the following eligibility criteria: English-written, peer-reviewed studies published from 2000 to 2023 that reported qualitative or quantitative data related to reasons why homeless individuals in a Western country were unsheltered. After duplicates were removed, 14,690 studies were screened and filtered to 10 final studies that fit all eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Eight of the 10 studies reported qualitative data from interviews and focus groups; the two quantitative studies reported data from interviewer-administered surveys. Across studies, eight thematic categories were identified as barriers to staying in shelters or other sheltered locations: lack of safety, triggers for substance use, strict shelter rules, triggers for substance use, perceived inadequate care, unsanitary conditions, required treatment to participate in housing program, no pet or family accommodations, and lack of accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Together, these findings indicate the delicate balance needed in homeless shelters to have both an inclusive/permissive and structured/safe environment for homeless individuals. Attention to the design and operation of homeless shelters, as well as staff training and accommodation for clients with special needs may improve some of these issues.

Exploring Thematic Diversity in Classical Chinese Poetry: A Novel Dataset and a BERT-enhanced Ensemble Learning Approach

Classical Chinese poetry, as an essential aspect of cultural heritage, exhibits rich theme diversity often overlooked in natural language processing research. To address this gap, we aim to explore the classification of thematic categories within this literary domain. We curate a dataset of 2,918 annotated poems spanning seven common themes and propose a BERT-based ensemble learning approach for effective classification. Although this method integrates existing models, it achieves an accuracy and F1 score of over 72% in the 7-class task, surpassing established baselines, and providing a baseline for future research. The experimental findings reveal the effectiveness of ensemble strategies in improving individual base model performance and highlight the potential of the MLP-based ensemble technique. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of thematic categories and textual features in classical Chinese poetry, and offers an automated classification system for classical Chinese poems.

From greedy grocers to carbon taxes and everything in between:

In Canada, the task of explaining food prices falls to a handful of grey literature reports that shape media coverage and public understanding and carry significant political and policy influence. We performed an in-depth analysis of fifty-one of these influential reports, including thirty-nine reports by Statistics Canada (including Consumer Price Index reports and other studies) and twelve reports from the Canada Food Price Report (CFPR) series. Our goal was twofold: 1) to identify and classify the various explanations given for food price changes, and 2) to evaluate the scientific rigor of these explanations. We identified 232 total explanations for food price changes, spread across seven thematic categories and thirty-two sub-categories. We find that most claims made in these reports are scientifically incomplete (only 28.6% of all claims meet established criteria for the completeness of scientific arguments). We also identify a lack of comprehensiveness in the areas of emphasis and the claims being presented and drivers being explored, particularly with respect to issues presently at the centre of food price discourse in Canada, such as the agency of grocers and other supply chain actors, corporate growth imperatives, and climate change. Considering the importance of food prices and food security to prosperity and well-being in Canada, we conclude with a series of recommendations for

Street art and place-making of villages: examples of Italian painted villages

PurposeThis study aims to discuss the contribution of street art projects to the place-making of villages and the effects it generates for local stakeholders.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual framework is developed based on the main characteristics of the place-making process, street art, creative place-making, as well as place identity, revitalisation and regeneration. This framework defines a set of thematic categories for the qualitative content analysis of online information, e.g. websites, media and blog posts, as well as in-depth interviews with local stakeholders.FindingsThis research presents the contribution of street art in place-making involving citizens, local businesses and international artists in a collective act to preserve local identity and revitalise and regenerate villages.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is focused only on villages. Cities are not considered in the research.Practical implicationsStreet art projects provide villages with several opportunities, such as stimulating place regeneration and revitalisation, giving new shape and decoration to neighbourhoods and streets and attracting visitors and business. Moreover, street art is commonly used to communicate local history, culture, traditions and social and political facts, helping places to vehiculate their identity and their messages to the next generations. Street art is also used as a part of a place branding strategy.Social implicationsThe village gets the opportunity to exploit the street art value proposition to stimulate the restocking of the place, if the primary stakeholders of the place are ready to invest in the new place identity giving trust to the street art project.Originality/valueStreet art projects contribute to the place-making of villages. They are used to communicate place identity, fostering cooperation between local stakeholders and economic and social development.