Determination of melanin types and relative concentrations: an observational study using a non-invasive inverse skin reflectance analysis

Objective: Melanin is a major skin colour pigment that made up of eumelanin (the dark brown–black colour) and pheomelanin (the light red–yellow colour) pigments. Skin-whitening products typically contain depigmentation agents that reduce the level of pigmentation by changing the pheomelanin–eumelanin production. Similarly, in skin pigment treatment of skin disorders, the melanin production is managed accordingly. To assess and improve treatment efficacy, it is important to have a measurement tool that is capable of determining the melanin types objectively. So far, the efficacy assessment is subjective. In this study, an inverse skin reflectance pigmentation analysis system that determines eumelanin and pheomelanin content is developed and evaluated in an observational study involving 36 participants with skin photo type IV. Methods: The reflectance spectra of the left forearms of participants were analysed by the pigmentation analysis system to determine their skin parameters – pheomelanin and eumelanin concentrations, melanosome volume fraction, and epidermal thickness. The determined skin parameters are then inputted into the realistic skin model (RSM) of the Advanced Systems Analyses Program (asap®) to generate the ground truth reflectance spectra for the given skin parameters to validate the system. Results: The developed pigmentation analysis system is found to be accurate with a spectral error of 0.0163 ± 0.009 between measured reflectance and the reflectance output of the analysis system and RSM. The regression analysis shows a strong linear relationship (R2 = 0.994) indicating good precision. The relative concentrations of pheomelanin (38.23 ± 15.04) and eumelanin (1.68 ± 0.91) analysed by the system gives a ratio of pheomelanin to eumelanin of 0.048 ± 0.029; this value is consistent with previously reported figure of 0.049. Conclusion: The proposed pigmentation analysis system is able to determine melanin types and their relative concentrations. It has the potential to assess the efficacy of the skin-whitening and pigmentation treatments objectively in a non-invasive manner

"Men han har jo kjole!" En kvalitativ studie om kritisk mangfoldskompetanse i skolen

I Overordnet del av læreplanen understrekes viktigheten av å anerkjenne mangfold som en ressurs for å utvikle et inkluderende og inspirerende læringsmiljø. I 2023 kom Regjeringens handlingsplan for kjønns- og seksualitetsmangfold (2023-2026), som sier at vi ennå ikke har oppnådd målet om et fritt, inkluderende og trygt samfunn for alle, og at mange mennesker som identifiserer seg som skeiv fremdeles opplever lav livskvalitet og vanskelige levekår. Denne studien har som mål å undersøke hvordan lærere kan skape et inkluderende læringsmiljø som tar hensyn til ulike kjønnsidentiteter og -utrykk, og som fremmer respekt og empati for alt menneskelig mangfold. Problemstillingen masteroppgaven tar for seg er: På hvilke måter kan lærere integrere kjønnsperspektiv for å fremme mangfoldskompetanse i skolen? Det har blitt gjennomført kvalitative forskningsintervjuer og klasseromsobservasjoner med et utvalg på tre lærere i en 1-7 skole på Østlandet. Gjennom tematisk analyse ble det skapt innsikt i ulike perspektiver på mangfold, utfordringer knyttet til undervisning om mangfold og lærernes ønske om å utvikle kunnskap om mangfold og undervisningsmetoder. Å undervise om mangfold, særlig knyttet til kjønn og seksualitet, viser seg å være utfordrende for mange lærere, da disse temaene vekker ulike følelser hos både lærere og elever. I denne studien undersøker jeg hvordan man ved bruk av kritiske tilnærminger som interseksjonalitet, normkritisk pedagogikk og ubehagets pedagogikk kan integrere ulike perspektiver på kjønn i undervisningen, med sikte på å fremme og ivareta det mangfoldet som eksisterer i klasserommet og i skolen som helhet

Predicting Personality Traits in Police Officer Candidates Using the M-PULSE

The life of a police officer is filled with high stress and demands, so it is important to hire the right candidates. Preemployment testing is where candidates are screened with instruments such as the M-PULSE and the MMPI-2-RF to see if they are psychologically suitable for law enforcement. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study was to determine the extent that scores on selected M-PULSE scales (negative emotions and interpersonal difficulties) predicted scores on selected MMPI-2-RF scales (stress/worry and family problems). Archival data were provided by a small corporation that conducts preemployment testing of police officer candidates. Data from the 4 scales across the M-PULSE and MMPI-2-RF (N = 107) were obtained and analyzed in SPSS using multiple regression. The results showed that the negative emotions and interpersonal difficulties were significant predictors of stress/worry (F(2, 104) = 6.687, p \u3c .05, R2 = 0.114) and family problems (F(2, 104) = 6.497, p \u3c .05, R2 = 0.111). Of the 2 M-PULSE factors, negative emotions was a significant predictor of the 2 MMPI-2-RF factors on an individual basis. This study adds to the body of literature on preemployment testing of police officer candidates. The implications of positive social change include increasing understanding of the preemployment process and helping police psychologists and police departments make more informed decisions of which candidates to hire as police officers

Anharmonic effects in nuclear recoils from sub-GeV dark matter

Direct detection experiments are looking for nuclear recoils from scattering of sub-GeV dark matter (DM) in crystals, and have thresholds as low as ~ 10 eV or DM masses of ~ 100 MeV. Future experiments are aiming for even lower thresholds. At such low energies, the free nuclear recoil prescription breaks down, and the relevant final states are phonons in the crystal. Scattering rates into single as well as multiple phonons have already been computed for a harmonic crystal. However, crystals typically exhibit some anharmonicity, which can significantly impact scattering rates in certain kinematic regimes. In this work, we estimate the impact of anharmonic effects on scattering rates for DM in the mass range ~ 1-10 MeV, where the details of multiphonon production are most important. Using a simple model of a nucleus in a bound potential, we find that anharmonicity can modify the scattering rates by up to two orders of magnitude for DM masses of O(MeV). However, such effects are primarily present at high energies where the rates are suppressed, and thus only relevant for very large DM cross sections. We show that anharmonic effects are negligible for masses larger than ~ 10 MeV.Comment: 30 pages, 12 figures, 1 table, 56 reference

What’s on your Mind? Impact of Online Education on Students’ Mental Wellness

Due to the pandemic, institutions shifted online and away from in-person classes. Online education implementation and integration require adjustments and pedagogical skills. Overcoming social-distance protocols and ensuring education continues is one side. How students adapt needs more study. Stable internet and devices and hours in front of computers require careful consideration. Using a 4-point Likert scale and a self-made validated questionnaire on factors affecting mental wellness, with a reported internal consistency of 0.73, the present study differentiated mental wellness of respondents in terms of their age and sex through ANOVA, and identified factors affecting mental wellness of 100 online Filipino students, evaluated through percentage, mean, and SD, who participated in this mixed method study, which combined quantitative and qualitative research design. Most disagreed with and viewed online education as more difficult than in-person, which had significant effects on their mental wellness, from losing motivation to work on tasks to feeling less effective in lessons. Some had mental breakdowns, anxiety, and considered dropping out. Online education is a possible solution to continue learning until normalcy returns, but questionable in countries where thousands of households lack a stable internet connection and means to buy online education gadgets. Policymakers must create a positive education landscape considering everyone’s welfare while educators are enjoined to innovate

Correction to: First COVID-19 infections in the Philippines: a case report.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s41182-020-00203-0.]

KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES, AND CONSTRAINTS AMONG BREASTFEEDING EMPLOYEES TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION OF LACTATION AREA

Breastfeeding empowers women and children and working mothers who revolutionize the workplace globally, specifically in carrying mutual roles as employees delivering quality service to humanity and mothers nurturing their children. This study explored the knowledge, practices, and constraints among breastfeeding working mothers in Region III, Philippines, towards implementing lactation areas. A mixed-methods approach combined a quantitative survey with a qualitative semi-structured interview component. Findings showed a high prevalence of breastfeeding among working mothers, coupled with a good level of knowledge about breastfeeding practices. However, constraints such as lack of lactation areas in offices, heavy workload, and limited support were revealed, thus foregrounding the need for institutionalized policies and guidelines to establish lactation areas in offices, promote breastfeeding, and support working mothers and their welfare, anchored on sustainable development goals (SDGs). By addressing these issues, workplaces position a more conducive environment for breastfeeding mothers, contributing to improved maternal and infant health outcomes. Further, this research provides valuable insights for policymakers, employers, and healthcare providers in initiating more effective strategies to support breastfeeding working women. Through the documented findings and by providing concrete recommendations for policy and infrastructure, this research advances the shaping of a more breastfeeding-friendly environment, promotion of maternal and infant health, supporting SDG 3—good health and well-being, and enhancement of workplace productivity towards achieving SDG 8—decent work and economic growth and SDG 5—gender equality

COVID-19 is moving to high-density, poor residential areas in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines.

We describe three waves of COVID-19 infections in Manila. First, imported cases among Chinese nationals; second, infections amongst Filipinos residing in less densely populated areas; and third, infections amongst Filipinos residing in high-density areas. We highlight this using admissions data from the National Infectious Diseases hospital in Manila.</jats:p

Correction to: Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the first 500 confirmed COVID-19 inpatients in a tertiary infectious disease referral hospital in Manila, Philippines.

Following publication of the original article [1], a funding information was missing in the Funding section. The updated Funding section is given below and the changes have been highlighted in bold typeface. Funding This work is in part funded by Nagasaki University (salary support for CS, KAA, and SS). This study is partially funded by Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Grant/Award Numbers: JP19fk0108104h0401, JP20fk0108104h0402. The original article [1] has been corrected

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the first 500 confirmed COVID-19 inpatients in a tertiary infectious disease referral hospital in Manila, Philippines.

BACKGROUND: The Philippines has been one of the most affected COVID-19 countries in the Western Pacific region, but there are limited data on COVID-19-related mortality and associated factors from this setting. We aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and associations with mortality among COVID-19-confirmed individuals admitted to an infectious diseases referral hospital in Metro Manila. MAIN TEXT: This was a single-centre retrospective analysis including the first 500 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 individuals admitted to San Lazaro Hospital, Metro Manila, Philippines, from January to October 2020. We extracted clinical data and examined epidemiological and clinical characteristics and factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Of the 500 individuals, 133 (26.6%) were healthcare workers (HCW) and 367 (73.4%) were non-HCW, with HCW more likely presenting with milder symptoms. Non-HCW admissions were more likely to have at least one underlying disease (51.6% vs. 40.0%; p = 0.002), with hypertension (35.4%), diabetes (17.4%), and tuberculosis (8.2%) being the most common. Sixty-one (12.2%) died, comprising 1 HCW and 60 non-HCW (0.7% vs. 16.3%; p < 0.001). Among the non-HCW, no death occurred for the 0-10 years age group, but deaths were recorded across all other age groups. Compared to those who recovered, individuals who died were more likely to be older (p < 0.001), male (p = 0.015), report difficulty of breathing (p < 0.001), be HIV positive (p = 0.008), be intubated (p < 0.001), categorised as severe or critical (p < 0.001), have a shorter mean hospital stay (p < 0.001), or have an additional diagnosis of pneumonia (p < 0.001) or ARDS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our analysis reflected significant differences in characteristics, symptomatology, and outcomes between healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Despite the unique mix of cohorts, our results support the country's national guideline on COVID-19 vaccination which prioritises healthcare workers, the elderly, and people with comorbidities and immunodeficiency states