Point Of View Research Articles

Epidemiological behavior of childhood obesity: A continental point of view

Weight excess during the childhood has been one of the most critical public health problems worldwide in the past few decades. It is considered a significant predictor of adulthood obesity, increased cardiometabolic diseases, and premature mortality. Since the Industrial Revolution, childhood obesity has risen due to sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits, contributing to the development of obesogenic environments around children in different parts of the world. In this regard, Oceania is positioned as the continent with the highest prevalence globally; however, these results did not consider Australia and New Zealand’s data, probably due to the significant differences in population sizes. America has the second highest percentage of children under five who are overweight. Curiously, Asia’s obesity rates are more significant in higher socioeconomic statuses and urban areas than in children aged 2-4 years. Likewise, Africa displays similar epidemiologic behaviour. Qatar and Kuwait are the countries with the highest obesity prevalence on the continent. Moreover, Europe exhibits a notable South-North gradient, which establishes a higher prevalence of obesity in Mediterranean countries than the Nordic ones. In this regard, various prevention and interventional programs have been developed to combat this silent epidemic, focusing their efforts on nutritional education, improving children’s and parents’ lifestyles, and fighting the influence of the media on their behaviour, and decisions. Therefore, the objective of this review was to describe the epidemiological behaviour of childhood obesity from a continental perspective.

Biochemical Characterization of the Seed Quality of a Collection of White Lupin Landraces from Southern Italy

Lupin species provide essential nutrients and bioactive compounds. Within pulses, they have one of the highest contents of proteins and fibers and are among the poorest in carbohydrates. The Mediterranean region is an important cradle area of the origin and domestication of cultivated white lupin (Lupinus albus L.). In this work, we present the characterization of 19 white lupin landraces collected from several sites in southern Italy, characterized by different pedoclimatic conditions. The protein contents and electrophoretic patterns, total polyphenols, phytic acid, lipids and phosphorous content, and reducing and anti-tryptic activities have been determined for each landrace. The relationships of the compositional characteristics, the area of origin of landraces and between compositional characteristics and thermo-pluviometric trends that occurred in the genotype comparison field during the two-year period between 2019 and 2020 are compared and discussed. From a nutritional point of view, some of the analyzed landraces differ from the commercial reference. The panel of molecular analyses performed can help in building an identity card for the grain to rapidly identify those varieties with the desired characteristics.

Can the Merdeka Belajar curriculum really improve students’ reading literacy?

Merdeka Belajar curriculum is the brand-new curriculum implemented in Indonesia in response to the low reading literacy of students. Many discussed the features and the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar curriculum and claim that implementing the current curriculum is effective in improving students' reading literacy due to its features, such as simpler yet in-depth materials and flexible time for learning outcome accomplishment; however, there is not yet any empirical evidence provided to prove the claim. This descriptive research was undertaken to provide empirical evidence of that claim as the curriculum has just been implemented. Twelve teachers across senior high schools in West Sumatera were willingly involved in this study. The data were collected through a written interview, in which the teachers answered ten relevant questions. Their responses about the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar curriculum were analyzed qualitatively. The findings established new facts that answered the research question from the teachers' point of view. First, compared to the 2013 curriculum implementation, they did not only see the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar curriculum as advantageous but also disadvantageous. Even few of them found it run-of-the-mill. Second, when implementing the current curriculum, the teacher developed strategies to increase students' reading literacy and interest. They began by supplying multiple materials, designing fun but exhaustive learning instructional activities, varying the assessments, and building reading corners with captivating books to read. Third, after a year of implementation, the students' reading literacy tended to stay the same, even though it did improve a little for some students. These were because the teachers still experienced problems regarding curriculum, school, and time. In summary, implementing the Merdeka Belajar curriculum cannot improve students' reading literacy.

Interpreting or Reporting? An Analysis of Journalistic Interventionism Across Western European Countries

ABSTRACT The literature comparing journalistic roles around the world highlights different ways of understanding journalistic work across countries. One of the main differences in conceptualising concerns the journalist’s propensity for intervention: where in some contexts it is common practice for journalists to intervene with commentary and interpretation; while in others there is a tendency to adopt a more neutral reporting style. Through the conceptual lens of journalistic role performance, this study investigates the performance of the interventionist role within its two analytical sub-dimensions (content-driven interventionism and style-driven interventionism), together with the specific indicators related to each of the two (interpretation, journalist point of view, call to action, qualifying adjectives, and use of the first person) across nine Western European countries. Contrary to expectations, our data show a higher level of interventionism—particularly content-driven—in Central and Northern European countries when compared to those belonging to the polarised pluralist model theorised by Hallin, D. C., and P. Mancini. (2004. Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics. Cambridge University Press). Moreover, in almost all the countries considered, when journalists do intervene with their own voice, they predominantly do so through rhetorical devices of interpretation and by expressing their point of view.

Sampling business process event logs with guarantees

SummaryEvent log sampling has emerged as a key research focus in the field of process mining, aiming to enhance the efficiency of various process mining tasks, including model discovery, conformance checking, and process prediction. However, current log sampling techniques often fail to ensure high‐quality sample logs. This paper introduces a novel framework to support efficient event log sampling without compromising the quality of the sample log compared to the original one. The approach revolves around the consideration of directly‐follows relation (DFR) among business tasks as the fundamental behavior unit of an event log. By ensuring the DFR equivalence between the original and sample logs, the proposed technique addresses the challenge of sample log quality from the model discovery point of view. The framework is instantiated by seven distinct sampling strategies each has its own specialty and is fully implemented in the open‐source process mining tool platform ProM. To validate its effectiveness, we conducted a comprehensive experimental evaluation using 12 publicly available real‐life event logs against state‐of‐the‐art sampling techniques. The results clearly demonstrate that our technique significantly improves model discovery efficiency while upholding high quality of the discovered models.

The Stakeholders’ Opinions on the Learner-Centred Pedagogies Used in Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Selected Secondary Schools in Kampala District

The study investigated the Stakeholders’opinions on learner-centred pedagogies used in Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) in selected Secondary schools A and B found in Kampala District. The Learner-centred Pedagogies (LCP) under the CBC place the learner at the centre of the learning process, promoting active participation and self-directed learning. The study was guided by curriculum implementation theory by Gross et al (1971). The study adopted a qualitative research approach that analysed the learner centred pedagogies from the subjective point of view while involving the study participants’ opinions. The study followed the Interpretivist paradigm which enabled participants to create and construct their social reality in line with the study. The study also adopted a single case study research design in order to get an in-depth understanding of the opinions of stakeholders on CBC. A sample of 22 participants including Headteachers (H), Teachers (T) and Students (S) were selected purposively and used for the study. This enabled the researcher to gather qualitative responses, from the best-fit participants whose responses were relevant to the study. The study employed the use of the interviews for the two headteachers and eight teachers, focus group discussions to students while considering in each group six students from each school and observation method to collect data. Through triangulation the methods enabled the researcher to collect in-depth subjective reality which was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of the study indicated that; to some extent the learner centred pedagogies used by teachers are good and they should be used when teaching. This was because the methods encourage full participation of learners and development of skills. However, to another extent the finding of the study also revealed that, the learner centred pedagogies used by teachers are not good due to inadequate teaching skills by teachers, limited materials to use and methods are time consuming. The study recommended that, the government of Uganda through the MoES to; train teachers so as to equip them with the necessary skills of teaching, facilitate schools with enough educational facilities and materials to use and continuously monitor, supervise and evaluate CBC practices in schools.

Hate Speech and Abusive Language and Abusive Language Detection in Twitter using Machine Learning

Twitter's central goal is to enable everybody to make and share thoughts and data, and to communicate their suppositions and convictions without boundaries. Twitter's job is to serve the public discussion, which requires portrayal of a different scope of points of view. Yet, it does not advance viciousness against or straightforwardly assault or undermine others based on race, nationality, public cause, rank, sexual direction, age, inability, or genuine illness. Hate speech and abusive language can hurt a person or a community. So, it is not appropriate to use hate speech and abusive language. Now, due to increase in social media usage, hate speech and abusive language is very commonly used on these platforms. So, it is not possible to identify hate speech and abusive languagees manually. So, it is essential to develop an automated hate speech and abusive language detection model and this research work shows different approaches of Natural Language Processing for classification of Hate speech and abusive language through Machine Learning Algorithms.

The Stakeholders’ Views on Assessment of Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) In Selected Secondary Schools in Kampala District

The study investigated the stakeholders ’views on assessment of Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) in selected Secondary schools A and B found in Kampala District. Assessment under the CBC involves both formative and summative assessments, with formative assessments accounting for 20% and summative assessments accounting for 80% of the evaluation. Teachers should frequently assess the learners using new assessment methods of CBC. Teachers are also required to change from a norm-referenced to a criterion-referenced judgment of learners’ capabilities or competencies to determine their progress. The study was guided by curriculum implementation theory by Gross et al (1971). The study adopted a qualitative research approach that analysed the stakeholders’ views on assessment from the subjective point of view while involving the study participants’ opinions. The study followed the Interpretivist paradigm which enabled participants to create and construct their social reality in line with the study. The study also adopted a single case study research design in order to get an in-depth understanding of the views of stakeholders on assessment in CBC. A sample of 23 participants including a UNEB Official, Headteachers (H), Teachers (T) and Students (S) were selected purposively and used for the study. This enabled the researcher to gather qualitative responses, from the best-fit participants whose responses were relevant to the study. The study employed the use of the interviews for a UNEB Official, the two headteachers and eight teachers and focus group discussions (FGD) to twelve students while considering in each group six students to collect data. Through triangulation the methods enabled the researcher to collect in-depth subjective reality which was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of the study indicated that, the assessment methods used in CBC were good. They included; activities of integration, continuous assessment, end of term assessment, end of year assessment and end of cycle assessment. However, as the methods were being used, schools were faced by many challenges that included; limited skills by teachers, limited sensitisation from UNEB and NCDC on CBC practices, limited facilities to use, time consuming on the side of teachers, laziness of the learners and big class sizes. The study recommended the government of Uganda through the MoES to; train teachers so as to equip them with the necessary skills of teaching, facilitate schools with enough educational facilities and materials to use and continuously monitor, supervise and evaluate CBC practices in schools.

Sampling of healthcare professionals' perspective on point-of-care technologies from 2019-2021: A survey of benefits, concerns, and development.

Point-of-care technology (POCT) plays a vital role in modern healthcare by providing a fast diagnosis, improving patient management, and extending healthcare access to remote and resource-limited areas. The objective of this study was to understand how healthcare professionals in the United States perceived POCTs during 2019-2021 to assess the decision-making process of implementing these newer technologies into everyday practice. A 5-point Likert scale survey was sent to respondents to evaluate their perceptions of benefits, concerns, characteristics, and development of point-of-care technologies. The 2021 survey was distributed November 1st, 2021- February 15th, 2022, with a total of 168 independent survey responses received. Of the respondents, 59% identified as male, 73% were white, and 48% have been in practice for over 20 years. The results showed that most agreed that POCTs improve patient management (94%) and improve clinician confidence in decision making (92%). Healthcare professionals were most concerned with potentially not being reimbursed for the cost of the POCT (37%). When asked to rank the top 3 important characteristics of POCT, respondents chose accuracy, ease of use, and availability. It is important to note this survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve an even greater representation of healthcare professionals' point of view on POCTs, further work to obtain responses from a larger, more diverse population of providers is needed.

When the time is right: Men's experiences of recovery in self-harm.

Previous research has mainly focused on self-harm among women, defining what it is, what functions it has, how to manage and prevent self-harm, and how to recover from it. A recent review of the literature on self-harm among men concluded that research need to consider both clinical and personal aspects of recovery and pointed out the need to explore recovery from men's point of view. This study aimed to describe men's experiences of recovery in self-harm. Data were collected in Sweden in 2020 using semi-structured interviews. Eleven men who had recovered in self-harm were interviewed. Interviews were analysed using an abductive approach to qualitative content analysis. The analysis involved the application of an established framework for personal recovery in mental illness: connectedness, hope, identity, meaning, and empowerment (CHIME). The analysis identified one main theme: when the time is right, and five sub-themes: finding support in others; trusting that change is possible; getting to know yourself; reaching a new understanding; and developing new strategies to manage life. While the cessation of self-harm might both be a sign of and contribute to recovery, it is not the defining feature of recovery. Mental health professionals should be persistent in providing person-centred, recovery-oriented care for men who self-harm. The CHIME framework can be applied in the context of men's recovery in self-harm. This study is reported in accordance with the COREQ guidelines.

Cross-industry contagion of systemic financial risks from the perspective of dynamic tail risk network: Evidence from China

Fluctuations in interconnectedness within different industrial sectors are hence critical not only for financial market stability but also for the development of real economy. Thus, this paper contractures the varying network structure and estimates the tail risk spillover linkages at the industry level by applying the TENET (Tail-Event driven NETwork) framework on China’s 24 sectors from 2007 to 2018. There is a higher level of risk spillovers and spatial linkages between sectors during turmoil periods, and the centrality indicators can effectively identify the systemically important industries. Notably, it is more comprehensive and accurate to judge the systemic importance node by considering its location and connection in the network rather than just its internal attributes. Furthermore, the high-order polynomial regressions show that degree and eigenvector centrality have a significantly positive effect on risk contagion, while closeness centrality has a two-regime (“both robust and fragile”) contagion mechanism. From a policy point of view, regulators could formulate early-warning measures based on the impact mechanism and spread paths of systemic risk, especially in financial turmoil periods. Meanwhile, they should pay more attention to preventing the aggregate risks of the most influential sectors.

The Effect of Scrap Tires and Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement on the Behavior of Stone Columns

The objective of this investigation is to understand how to use waste tires to surround stone pillars and mix gravel with recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and stone pillars to provide an environmentally friendly and cost-effective weak layer improvement method. To study the behavior of such stone columns, experiments were conducted in units consisting of a single stone column with recycled asphalt pavement as filling material and a single stone column covered with old tires. To test the effect of different mixing ratios, rapeseed content was selected from 0% to 100%. Elasticity tests were conducted on cladded and nonclad stone column samples. Furthermore, direct shear tests were conducted on samples with different ratios of gravel and rapeseed mixtures. The results of the load-bearing capacity test show that the cover of the stone columns with old tires can significantly increase the load-bearing capacity. Replacing 25% of natural stone column aggregates with RAP increases the load capacity. But as the percentage of RAP in the mixture increases from 25% to 100%, the loading capacity decreases. Another advantage is the reinforced stone column. From the point of view of ecology, an advantage is the use of recyclable materials.

Cytochrome p450 and innovative nutraceutical products

Dietary supplements are products that are ingested in addition to the regular diet to provide additional health-promoting nutrients. Dietary supplements are defined and regulated differently in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US). A fundamental aspect, besides the one related to the composition of the various products on the market, is linked to their quality, both from a nutritional and a pharmacological point of view. Concerning the knowledge of the metabolic aspects, the analysis of the interference, as an inductive or an inhibitory effect, of the p450 enzyme on individual preparations of supplements, is crucial. In this study, we present the results of the interference analysis of a new nutraceutical product based on 38% Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction BPF® (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poit.), Pomegranate (Punica granatum) and Citrus fruits (Citrus aurantium var. dulcis, Citrus maxima Burm. Merr, Citrus paradisi Macfad) extract with cytochrome p450, showing that the product has limited activity on the cytochromes involved in most of human drug metabolism. This nutraceutical product is to be considered safe and potentially useful in the context of multiple treatments, not interfering with the traditional chronic therapies of patients. These findings open the door to modern "pharma-grade" nutraceuticals, expanding the safety and quality profiles of these new products.

Geometric interpretation and experimental test of Leggett inequalities with nonmaximally entangled states.

Leggett inequality states that nonlocal hidden-variable models might still be incompatible with the predictions of quantum physics. However, its theoretical and experimental demonstration is only in the scenario of 2-dimensional maximally entangled systems. An open question remains as to whether the Leggett inequality can be violated by nonmaximally entangled states. Here, we answer this question both in theory and experiment. Specifically, from the point of view of geometry, we theoretically map the problem of maximizing the correlation measure in the Leggett inequality to maximizing the sum of an ellipse's diameter and semi-diameter axes, accordingly, demonstrating that the violation of the Leggett inequality requires a more robust entanglement than that of Bell's theory. Experimentally, by leveraging the controllable photonic orbital angular momentum entanglement, we demonstrate the violation of Leggett-type inequalities by more than 8.7 and 4.5 standard deviations under concurrence C = 0.95 and 0.9, respectively. Our observations indicate that, the requirement for quantum correlation should be increased to exclude a particular class of non-local hidden variable theories that abide by Leggett's model, providing insights into the boundaries of quantum correlation and the limitations imposed by non-local hidden variables.

Mitochondrial dynamics and the significance of its disturbances in the development of childhood diseases. Part I. Physiological and neurological aspects

In recent years, the dynamics of mitochondrial transformations in cells have been of more concern to both representatives of basic science and researchers in the field of applied medicine. A growing number of observations demonstrate the important regulatory influence of mitochondrial dynamics on a variety of physiological and pathological processes in many, if not all, organ and tissue structures. The prospects for studying the features and regulators of these processes for understanding the pathogenesis of diseases, developing their new biomarkers, as well as treatment technologies seem increasingly significant. The purpose of this article is to review the facts obtained regarding mitochondrial dynamics, which, from the authors’ point of view, deserve the attention of pediatricians. The volume of relevant information turned out to be too extensive to fit into one article, which forced it to be divided into several successive publications. The first part provides information about the main processes included in the concept of “mitochondrial dynamics,” the importance of maintaining the balance of the latter for ontogenesis and tissue homeostasis, as well as data on its disturbances in diseases of the nervous system in children.

Recent interlayer and separator design approaches for high‐performance Li–S batteries

AbstractLithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) have attracted attention as promising next‐generation batteries due to their remarkably high capacity compared to lithium‐ion batteries and the low cost of sulfur. However, one of the inherent problems of LSBs is the “shuttle effect,” which causes lithium metal anode instability and capacity fading. This is still a major barrier that must be overcome before it is used in the industry. Therefore, to commercialize LSBs, it is essential to suppress this shuttle effect. From this point of view, this review focuses on the categorization of the methods and materials for interlayer and separator modification, which is one of the effective ways to address the shuttle effect.

Bacterial chemotaxis control process analysis with SysML

AbstractThis paper looks at the bacteria chemotaxis control process utilizing the System Modeling Language (SysML) to leverage well‐defined and proven engineering tools for architecting, analyzing, and refining complex systems. It proposes a new methodology called reverse‐engineering object‐oriented systems engineering method (RE‐OOSEM) that converts descriptive biology research information into descriptive systems engineering information. It utilizes SysML and model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) to capture system architecture from biological system knowledge and inputs them into systems engineering tools. From an engineering point of view, this allows greater insight into how biological systems operate and suggests how much model detail is required to uncover a top‐down system understanding. RE‐OOSEM methodology guides the SysML chemotaxis control capture process. SysML syntax is used instead of biological syntax to facilitate biological chemotaxis control system analysis from an engineered system point of view. The model can act as a scaffolding to help uncover system function, the relationships of system components and processes, and bioinformatic phenotype and genotype correlation. An executable MathWorks Stateflow chemotaxis control process model based on the SysML architectural model is included. The results show the following engineering perspective observations. (1) Several control components are not dedicated but are available and utilized when needed. (2) Individual chemoreceptors act together as a sensor array. (3) Phosphate groups act as a signaling mechanism. (4) Methylation via CH3 groups of the chemoreceptor results in sensitivity adaptation. (5) Closed‐loop control collaboratively utilizes ligand bonding, phosphorylation, and methylation. (6) Timing relationships of the control subprocesses give insight into the system's architecture.

Study Design and Research Protocol for diagnostic or prognostic studies in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: A Biostatistician’s Perspective

Introduction: As the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare continues to advance, the need for rigorous study design and research protocols tailored to diagnostic and prognostic studies becomes paramount.Aim: The primary objective of this work is to highlight the biostatistician’s point of view about the key points of the research protocol involving AI. Methods: Assessing the current state-of-the-art guidelines, we outline the methodological challenges faced by biostatisticians when collaborating on research protocols in the era of AI-driven medical research. Results: The proposed overview on research protocol involving AI elucidates key considerations in study design, encompassing evaluations of data quality, analysis of biases, methodological approaches, determination of sample size, and validation strategies tailored specifically to AI applications. This position paper underscores the pivotal role of strong statistical frameworks in ensuring the reliability, validity, and applicability of findings derived from AI-based diagnostic and prognostic models. Moreover, the paper seeks to highlight the critical importance of incorporating transparent reporting standards to enhance the reproducibility and clarity of AI-driven studies. Conclusions: By offering a comprehensive biostatistician’s viewpoint, this paper strives to significantly contribute to the methodological progression of diagnostic and prognostic studies in the era of Artificial Intelligence.

Policy Brief 12: De-risking of Russian clients: best intentions, unintended consequences

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the wide-reaching sanctions which ensued, many Western financial institutions began to de-risk Russian clients. Dealing with Russian clients, in many cases, has become expensive from a compliance point of view and toxic from the reputational side.
 However, the de-risking of unsanctioned Russian individuals may have a significant impact on the fight against financial crime by potentially causing:
 
 an increase in the use of shadow/unregulated channels of moving money;
 a withdrawal of funds away from the European zone to sanctioned countries or non-cooperative jurisdictions;
 severe burdens on the investigation of financial crimes (especially in relation to Russian assets and investments) and on international cooperation in criminal matters;
 increased opportunities for enablers, such as unscrupulous lawyers and accountants, to take advantage of the situation.
 
 This Policy Brief outlines the current situation and suggests how to better manage risk without having a negative impact on the fight against financial crime.

Eating in Budapest's Soup Kitchens. Versions and Aversions from the History of Public Catering (1860–1918)

AbstractThe growth in Budapest's population at the end of the 19th century was based on the influx of migrants from the countryside, mostly industrial workers. The examination of the social tensions generated by their arrival provides a good illustration of the changes in social policy, one element of which was the operation of soup kitchens. In the mid-19th century, the main driving force behind the founding of soup kitchens was individual religious charity, although by the end of the century, social solidarity and state involvement also contributed to the relief efforts. The present study examines the development of soup kitchens in Budapest based on the historical sources: official documents, and the contemporary press. Using the ethnographic findings of food culture research, it seeks to explain why official soup kitchens were not popular. From an ethnographic point of view, the process of lifestyle change among workers newly breaking away from peasant life and moving to Budapest and its metropolitan area has been little explored to date, and the same applies to the embourgeoisement of the peasantry. When interpreting the processes that accompany labor migration, parallels can be drawn between the eating habits of the workers' regions of origin, the value systems connected with work and food, and the common meals organized for agricultural workers when working away from home. Through a historical and ethnographic approach, the transitional, evolving features of urban foodways emerge in the context of soup kitchens in parallel with the change in lifestyle.