Iris Publishers- Open access Journal of Textile Science & Fashion Technology | Exploring the Potential of Bacterial Cellulose for Use in Apparel

 

Authored by Jennifer Harmon*

Abstract

As consumers continue to shift towards being more environmentally conscious, new materials are emerging on the industry landscape. Bacterial cellulose applications are of particular interest. This unique material has the potential to yield more sustainably produced cellulose than traditional products. To this point, investigation into common, essential properties for apparel applications has been limited. This project compared 3 main types of media, 2 variations of these media types, 2 drying methods and 1 treatment application to ascertain the most economical and beneficial methods of cultivation for this material. The resulting material was measured for cellulose yield, strength, and elongation and abrasion resistance. Overall, it was discovered that material grown in the molasses mannitol media produced the most cellulose. The strongest cellulose was also molasses mannitol and the most resistant to abrasion. Cellulose from the treatment conditions tended to have the greatest length for elongation at the breaking point. Overcoming some of this material’s deficits will be necessary in order for it to become a more widely used source of cellulose in apparel.

Keywords: Bacterial cellulose; Yield, uniformity; Strength; Abrasion resistance; Absorbency

Abbreviations: BC- Bacterial Cellulose; HS- Hestrin Schramm; HSM- Hestrin Schramm Mannitol; MS- Molasses; MSM- Molasses Mannitol; HFCSHigh Fructose Corn Syrup; HFCSM- High Fructose Corn Syrup Mannitol

Introduction

Disposable clothing, the mode of apparel production and consumption in recent decades has increasingly emphasized “fast fashion.” Contributing to this fast fashion orientation is globalization, which has drastically lowered the cost of clothing production, resulting in prices so low that consumers may now consider clothes disposable [1]. Additionally, consumers’ now desire new clothing more often, leading to so called “season less” seasons [2]. The fast fashion process leaves an environmental impact through waste at nearly every stage of the product use cycle.

One consequence of the fast fashion system is increasing amounts of textile waste. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the main source of textiles in municipal waste is discarded clothing [3]. Further, since 1960, acceleration in textile waste generation can be observed through the over 8 times increase in the amount of tons discarded [3]. Additional textile waste is produced during manufacturing, particularly in the cutting stage. Textile waste from this stage in apparel production can exceed 16% [4]. An additional 6 plus percent of waste products from textiles and sewing threads can be observed in the sewing process [4].

Cellulose derived waste tends to decompose more quickly than its synthetic counterparts. Cellulose is the most freely available and inexpensive carbohydrate polymer in the world [5]. It is typically derived from plants and plant wastes for fibres like cotton, linen, rayon, and more [5]. Cotton, the most popular cellulosic fibre, is one of the most commonly used raw fibre materials [6]. In fact, 17 million bales of cotton were produced in the U.S. in 2012 [7]. Cotton has numerous positive attributes which make it ideal for apparel, including the potential for flexibility and softness, moisture absorption, breathability, and moderate strength [8].

Nonetheless, cotton fibre manufacturing requires large amounts of land, water, and pesticide resources each year, making cotton less than ideal from a sustainability perspective. Cotton is a water intensive crop, requiring at least 20 inches of rainfall each year for optimal growth [9]. In countries with low annual rainfall, irrigation is necessary to cultivate this crop. Excessive irrigation often leads to land degradation. Although cotton has a small share of overall agricultural land at 2.4%, cotton cultivation accounts for 24% of insecticide and 11% of pesticides sales annually [10]. Cotton, a seed fibre, while a highly pure form of cellulose, still has impurities such as pectin and plant particulate which must be removed with additional water and chemicals. Other stem based cellulosic fibres, like flax and hemp; have to undergo further processing to remove impurities such as lignin and hemicellulose.

In addition to being more resource-intensive to cultivate, cotton garments contribute to significant waste in modern landfills. In 2014, landfills received 10.4 million tons of textile waste, roughly the total weight of two dozen modern skyscrapers [11]. The main source of this textile municipal solid waste is discarded clothing [11]. One positive aspect of cotton textile waste, and indeed all cellulosic textile waste, is that cellulose is biodegradable. Certain fabric treatments can accelerate or reduce cotton’s ability to degrade but cotton will still degrade more completely than other commonly used synthetic fibres, such as polyester [12].

Interest in reducing the environmental impacts of the textile and apparel industry is growing. Recently, textile research investigated methods aimed at replacing cotton as the primary source of cellulose in textile products [13]. One avenue being increasingly explored to reduce the environmental impact of the industry is the use of biotechnology in producing cellulose [14]. In addition to the wood pulp based fibres, bacterial cellulose (BC) has been investigated as a potential source of cellulose. In addition to traditional plant sources, cellulose is also produced by several strains of bacteria [15,16]. Bacterial Cellulose (BC), is a material produced without the impurities present in plant derived cellulosic products, such as lignin and hemi-cellulose [17]. Lacking hemicellulose and lignin, the cellulose micro fibrils interact extensively with one another via hydrogen bonds. Indeed, these interactions make for a highly crystalline, absorbent, and strong fibre-web [18].

In order for this material to be used in apparel, the potential cellulose yield, as well as basic textile properties, needs to be better established. This study investigated the use of low cost nutrient sources for the cellulose producing bacteria such as high fructose corn syrup and molasses. Additionally, the impact of air and freeze drying methods on BC’s textile properties was tested. Finally, the use of a plasticizing glycerol soak was examined for its impact on the material’s properties. Impact was assessed in terms of grams per litre of cellulose produced in each media, strength testing, and elongation and abrasion resistance [19].

Literature Review

As the textile industry engages in increasingly unstable practices to meet rising demand, consumer textile waste and pollution rest among the top concerns in the industry. The year 2017 signified a tipping point for this industry when the EPA reported that textile waste accounted for 8% of all municipal solid waste [20]. In the wake of this report, the textile industry and its consumers are attempting to identify alternative, eco-friendly textile solutions. One such textile alternative is bacterial cellulose, a material produced by widely present microscopic organisms, which holds promise due to its relative inertness, and sustainable production. Particularly exciting about this material is that bacterial cellulose requires little arable land, no pesticides, and far less water during the course of production due to the static fermentation setup typically employed. A high degree of polymerization and crystallinity, high purity, extremely high absorption and excellent biodegradability that is not restricted by extensive processing common for other cellulose materials further give this material broad potential appeal [21,22].

Bacterial cellulose, while still a cellulosic material, is easily dichotomized from traditional cellulosic textile materials by means of its macromolecular structure, nonwoven nature, and production methods. During the course of fermentation, Acetobacter sps. Produce and extrude pure microcrystalline cellulose fibrils via their trans membrane cellulose synthase enzyme that aggregate into a nonwoven cellulose network supported through both hydrogen bonds between the 3’ and 5’ hydroxyl groups of the glucose subunits and Van Der Waals interactions [23,24]. This nonwoven cellulose network, Bacterial Cellulose (BC), is ultimately comprised of highly crystalline regions interspersed with amorphous segments [23,24].

Since the discovery of bacterial cellulose, a number of cellulose-extruding microorganisms, namely gram-negative rods of the acetic acid family, have been identified. While many bacteria extrude cellulosic fibres in their formation of biofilms, research tends to focus on Acetobacter xylinum, a bacterium isolated from fruit, first shown to produce cellulose in 1886 and formerly named Gluconacetobacter xylinus [25,26]. The focus on Acetobacter xylinum is due, primarily, to the bacterium’s high yield of cellulose relative to other cellulose secreting microorganism at a total of 1%-4% W/V of fermentation media [27,28]. This cellulose production efficiency ultimately became of great importance in commercial fermentation operations such as in the production of the Filipino dessert “Nata de Coco.” [29].

With organism-specific production capacity understood, inquiries into nutritional requirements as well as the influence of the cellulose production as a function of the growth medium became commonplace; these assessments and new synthetic media often expanded on the work of Hestrin & Schramm, who typified what is now considered the standard synthetic medium for culturing Acetobacter xylinum [30]. Building on this, it was quickly discovered that the carbon source utilized for the growth of Acetobacter sps. Profoundly impacted the degree of crystallinity of the resultant bacterial cellulose [31]. This offered the potential for bacterial cellulose sheets specialized for their end use in industry because the degree of crystallinity is a critical fibre property that further determines other properties such as tensile strength and, elongation, etc. [32]. Nonetheless, the traditional synthetic media for producing bacterial cellulose requires several expensive components such as pure glucose sugars and peptone [33]. In order to achieve a cost-effective material, low-cost media for bacterial cellulose are being explored. Previous research has successfully investigated the use of molasses to replace more expensive carbon sources [34].

Irrespective of the medium used, bacterial cellulose can be produced in a variety of fermentation environments including static, agitated, and stirred cultures [5]. When comparing the fermentation methods, it was noted that agitation increases cellulose yields significantly and decreases production time by up to 90%. At the same time, agitation was discovered to result in irregularly formed cellulose with reduced strength compared to static-fermented cellulose [5]. Furthermore, agitated cultures are known to result in an increased frequency of cellulose negative mutants, which gives rise to the possibility of reduced yields by a culture over time. The uniformity of the BC pellicle is important for appropriateness of the BC in its end use. For this reason, biomedical and cosmeceutical end uses typically employ static cultivation.

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Iris Publishers- Open access Journal of Textile Science & Fashion Technology | High Fashion’s New Found Purpose

 

Authored by Abdul Al Jumaily*

Opinion

The COVID-19 pandemic’s effects have devastated the fashion industry, both to the supply and demand side. One of the worst hit areas worldwide is Milan Italy, the fashion capital of the world. Recently the fashion industry has joined the fight against the corona virus. Numerous brands and manufacturers have shifted production to provide healthcare workers with crucial equipment including gowns and surgical masks. Among them Giorgio Armani has repurposed its production facilities to produce medical overalls. Both Dior and Burberry have re-directed its workers to produce face masks. In addition, LVMH has retooled its Perfumes and Cosmetics production units to manufacture and distribute large quantities of hydro alcoholic gel free of charge.

These collective responses represent both a brilliant moral and marketing decision. At a time when millions of garment workers are out of work, the choice to keep re-direct production shows both solidarity to healthcare workers as well as production staff. While profits might sour in the short term, I believe that the goodwill and image of these brands will pay off in dividends at a future point (Figures 1&2).

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Iris Publishers- Open access Journal of Addiction and Psychology | Resilience: A Coping Strategy for Professional Women Dealing with Workplace Bullying

 

Authored by Vanessa M Gattis*

Abstract

Workplace bullying, the repeated and regular act of harassing, offending, socially excluding someone, or negatively affecting someone’s work has been recognized as a serious threat to the health and well-being of employees. This study explored resilience, the successful adaptation despite challenging and threatening circumstances, as a coping strategy to help improve the physical and mental health of professional women who have experienced workplace bullying.

The central research question was, how does perceived resilience, when used as a coping strategy, help with the physical and mental health stressors while helping to improve the overall well-being of professional women who were or have experienced workplace bullying? Four major themes emerged: Negative Experiences, Consequences of Bullying, Impact on Health, and Support Systems. The results suggested that the participants believed they were targeted because of race, gender, and age. Workplace bullying does have negative health consequences; however, various support systems greatly increased their resilience.

Keywords: Workplace bullying; Resilience; Coping strategy; Health; Well-being

Introduction

One of the fastest growing problems in the American workforce is workplace bullying [1]. Workplace bullying is the repeated and regular act of harassing, offending, socially excluding someone, or negatively affecting someone’s work over a period and has been recognized as a serious threat to the health and well-being of employees [2]. The negative behavior manifests itself in multiple ways including direct (physical and verbal), indirect (psychological and relational), work-related (withholding information), personrelated (socially excluding), and physical intimidation (finger pointing) [3]. According to Keashly & Harvey [4], a significant number of workers have been persistently exposed to abusive behavior in the workplace. In fact, research indicated that in both Europe and North America, 10% to 15% of the workforce have been exposed to workplace bullying [5,6]. A survey conducted by the Workplace Bullying Institute [7] on U.S. workers estimated that approximately 27% of U.S. workers have experienced some level of workplace bullying.

Introduced as a workforce phenomenon in the 1970’s, workplace bullying emerged as a complex issue that was often misunderstood [8]. Research scholars have had a growing interest in the phenomenon and over the past 20 years, they have sought to gain a better understanding while attempting to find strategies to combat the issue [9,10]. From an organizational perspective, workplace bullying can pose a huge problem for both the organization and the employees, as the negative consequences can significantly diminish overall well-being, employee morale, productivity [11,12], and increase turnover, while incurring significant financial loss and legal cost to the organization [13-16]. For workers, workplace bullying can lead to physical and mental stresses that can diminish the effectiveness of the employees. For women, workplace bullying occurs more frequently compared to men [17] and is one of the most troublesome issues that they face in the workplace [1].

Workplace bullying literature supported the fact that women were bullied at higher rates and more often compared to men [7]. According to a statistical survey conducted by the [7], women made up 60% of the bullied targets. Additionally, of the people who are targeted, 69% of the perpetrators were men. Research also showed that women who were targeted, experienced increased health consequences, which resulted in a significant amount of time away from the workplace posited that women were more vulnerable to bullying behavior because they were considered the weaker sex, and it was recognized in organizations as acceptable behavior [17,18].

Women who continue to encounter difficulties in the workforce, their work performance, as well as their mental health, are greatly impacted [19]. Additionally, Lewis S [17], argued that women who experienced bullying in the workplace greatly affected their physical and mental health, resulting in well-documented psychological effects consistent with stress, anxiety post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression [20-26]. Unfortunately, the literature clearly lacked enough methods that helped professional women cope with the effects of workplace bullying. Mikkelsen EG, et al. [27] argued that greater understanding was needed to fully grasp the extent and magnitude of workplace bullying; while the current research suggested that using resilience might help protect workers from the negative health effects of those who were or have experienced workplace bullying [28,29].

A review of the literature lacked enough studies that explored the physical and mental health consequences of workplace bullying in professional women [1,30]. Resilience, which is the process or capacity to successfully overcome challenges and threatening circumstances (Masten, Best & Garmezy, 1990), when used as a coping strategy, may help improve the overall well-being of professional women who have or are experiencing workplace bullying [27-30]. Researchers argued that greater understanding is needed to fully grasp the extent and magnitude of workplace bullying; while the current research suggested that using resilience may help protect workers from the negative health effects of those who are or have experienced workplace bullying [27-30]. This study looked at perceived resilience as a coping strategy to help facilitate increased well-being of professional women within an organizational environment who are dealing with workplace bullying.

Workplace Bullying and well-being

In 1990, Leymann studied bullying behaviors on the playground and drew similar conclusions of the negative behaviors experienced in the workplace. This brought much need attention to workplace bullying. Since then, several researchers have investigated workplace bullying and have created their own definition of the phenomenon [31,32] Despite the various definitions of workplace bullying, the common denominator was that the targeted individual must have been exposed to the negative behavior frequently and over a period of time, typically over a 6-month period [33-35].

Workplace bullying behaviors can range from harassment, offending or socially excluding individuals in the workplace [36], to an individual’s professional status being undermined [3,37]. The behavior can also negatively affect a person’s ability to accomplish his or her job [38,39] determined that the adverse effects of workplace bullying could result in anxiety, stress, burnout, and depression. Workplace bullying can also jeopardize the overall health and well-being of individuals, and if not dealt with properly, not only is an individual’s health diminished, but his or her work productivity decreases, which can incur significant recruiting and retention costs to organizations [12,26][40-42]. The literature suggested that women were more susceptible to workplace bullying resulting in them either leaving their jobs or suffering significant challenges to their physical and mental health [12].

Considering the limited strategies and/or tools available to combat this organizational issue, there is still a gap in the literature that considered effective resources to help professional women cope and deal with the phenomenon. In fact, throughout the literature, resilience is hardly mentioned as an available tool to help cope with workplace bullying [28-31]. Research on resilience showed that it can empower people to overcome physical and mental stressors, become more confident, and show a stronger sense of self in the workplace [20,43].

Influence of resilience on workplace bullying

Professional women who are resilient when dealing with negative workplace behaviors, can increase their overall wellbeing and work performance within an organization. When used as a coping strategy, resilience literature suggested that it could be “synonymous with reduced vulnerability” [44] Additionally, resilience has also been identified as a significant contributor to improved health, cognitive processes, and coping skills [31,43]. Recent studies posited that using resilience as a personal resource might help protect workers from the negative health effects of workplace bullying [29,30].

The current study

This research demonstrated that resilience could be used as a strategy to help professional women cope with the physical and mental health stressors associated with workplace bullying. Additionally, this study also showed that increased resilience could decrease worker turnover. This project built on those previous studies by examining professional women within the National Capital Region of Washington, DC, who reported that they had experienced workplace bullying over a 6-month period or more.

This qualitative single-case study explored how the influence of resilience, when used as a coping strategy, could help professional women overcome the physical and mental health stressors associated with workplace bullying, while helping to improve their overall well-being. Additionally, it focused on three specific areas of inquiry:

1. whether professional women perceived that they were targets of workplace bullying based on demographics (age, gender) and culture (race, ethnicity);

2. if perceived resilience was considered an effective coping strategy for professional women’s overall well-being when exposed to workplace bullying.

3. if perceived resilience helped to improve their overall physical and mental health levels as a result of workplace bullying.

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Iris Publishers- Open access Journal of Annals of Archives in Neurology & Neuroscience | Continuous Spike and Waves During Slow Sleep in the Neurological Department of Fann National University Hospital of Dakar: Topographic Aspects and Age

 

Authored by SECK Lala Bouna

Abstract

Introduction: Continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep (CSWS), are characterized by marked activation of epileptic activity on electroencephalographic (EEG) recording during slow sleep. Their topographic distribution is not homogeneous, and this could be not random. The aim of our study is to describe topographic aspects of CSWS and look for correlation with patients age.

Patients and methods: We conducted a descriptive retrospective study in the neurophysiological department of the neurological service of Fan national university hospital in Dakar (Senegal), over a 2 years period. We studied topographical aspects of EEG anomalies of children whose recordings presented CSWS, then looked for correlation between the predominant diffusion region of these and the age of patients.

Results: The CSWS were found on 1.02% of the global sample EEG and 2.60% of the children EEG. The sex-ratio was 1.42. The age varied from 3 to 14 years at the time of the first recording with a mean age of 6.65 +/- 2.63 years. The predominant age group was 3 to 8 years (81%). The main indications were generalized tonico-clonic seizures, focal seizures and benign epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes. CSWS were predominant on the left hemisphere on awake as well as sleep EEG. During waking state, the basal activity was normal on 96.97% of the recordings, anomalies were found on 96.97%, and the major diffusion location were the peri-sylvian regions. Sleep architecture was altered for 63.49% of patients. Topographically, CSWS diffused predominantly in the temporal, central and frontal regions. Children with anterior predominant diffusion of CSWS were older than those with posterior predominant diffusion and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0,031).

Conclusion: CSWS topographic distribution is variable and likely age-related. Given that brain areas have functionnal specificities, this could orient neuropsychological tests in cognitive deficits.

Keywords: Fann; Continuous; Spikes; Waves; Sleep; Topographic; Age

Abbreviations: CSWS: Continuous Spikes and Waves During Slow Sleep; EEG: Electroencephalographic, Electroencephalogram; Or: Odds Ratio; CI: Confidence Interval

Introduction

Continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep (CSWS), are characterized by marked activation of epileptic activity on electroencephalographic (EEG) recording during slow sleep [1], acom panied by the occurrence of or increase of pre-existing spikes and waves, these becoming bilateral and continuous/subcontinuous [2]. The anomalies can occur during awakness, realizing isolated spikes and waves or bursts of spikes and waves [1-3]. They can be due to epileptic encephalopathy [4,5], but sometimes to some focal epilepsies, wether structural or not [6,7]. Thus, the syndrom (epileptic encephalopathy with CSWS) must be differentiated from the EEG pattern that can be seen in different clinical contexts [8]. Many aspects have been described regarding this EEG pattern. Indeed, considering topographic feature, many studies reported a non-homogeneous topographic distribution of the anomalies on EEG, with an either anterior or posterior predominant diffusion [9- 14]. This distribution is not random.

The aim of our study is to describe topographic aspects of EEG of patients presenting CSWS on their EEG recordings and to look for correlation between the topographic distribution and the age of patients.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study in the neurological department of the Fann national university hospital in Dakar, from June 1st, 2017 to May 31th 2019. The study population was all patients admitted at the neurophysiological department to undergo an EEG recording. We reviewed the recordings of all the children (age from 3 to 16 years) during this period. We included in the study, all EEG on which CSWS were identified, based on quantitative criteria consistent with spikes and waves index showing occupation by the anomalies of at least 50% of the period. We collected the personal data of patients, the EEG indications, the data related to EEG recording during waking state when it was done (basal activity aspects, other anomalies), then sleep EEG recording (sleep architecture aspects, other anomalies). Regarding anomalies, we precised their type, the spikes and waves index during sleep, their topographic characteristics (major diffusion : anterior if the predominant topography was fronto-central, fronto-temporal, centro-temporal or fronto-centro-temporal; posterior if the predominant topography was temporal posterior, pariéto-temporal, temporo-occipital or temporo-pariéto-occipital). Then we looked for correlation between the location of predominant diffusion and the age of the patients, using chi2 test. Data were analyzed with Microsoft Excel and described anonymously with respect for confidentiality for all patients.

Results

Epidemiological aspects

Six thousand sixty-eight patients have had an EEG recording between June 1st 2017 and May 31th 2019, of whom 2424 were 3 to 16 years old. During this period, 97 EEG showed CSWS, corresponding to 63 patients of whom 18 benefited from control EEG. The CSWS were found on 1.02% of the global sample and 2.60% of the children EEG. They were 37 (58,73%) male and 26 females (41,27%), with a sex-ratio of 1.42. The patients’ age at the time of the first recording varied from 3 to 14 years (Table 1), with a mean age of 6.65 +/- 2.63 years and a median of 6 years. On the whole sample including the 18 control EEG, the mean age was 7,39 +/- 1.41 years. The predominant age group was 3 to 8 years (81% of the total group) with a peak frequency at >4 to 6 years (34.92%) (Table 1).

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Iris Publishers- Open access Journal of Annals of Archives in Neurology & Neuroscience | Patients with Dementia Assessing their Quality of Life

 

Authored by Aikaterini Frantzana*

Abstract

Introduction: The term “Dementia” does not refer to a single disease, but to a set of chronic diseases that are the result of the atrophy of the Central Nervous System. Brain neurons are constantly degenerating, resulting in large areas of atrophic cerebral cortex; in the final stage, the brain may often weigh less than 1000g.

Purpose: The purpose of this review study is to investigate the quality of life characteristics of dementia patients, and trace ways how it may be improved.

Material and methods: The study material consisted of articles on the topic found in Greek and international databases such as: Google Scholar, Mednet, PubMed, Medline and the Hellenic Academic Libraries Association (HEAL-Link), using the keywords: quality of life, dementia and dementia patients. The exclusion criterion for the articles was the language, except for Greek and English. Mostly, only articles and studies accessible to authors were used.

Results: Dementia is known to have many organic symptoms and complications that health professionals are called upon to deal with and even prevent, thereby promoting the quality of life of these patients. The healing process should also be addressed to the caregivers. Nurses should be encouraged to educate caregivers and patients about the diagnosis, prognosis, pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical strategies that are likely to prove very useful, recognizing that caregivers have an important role to play in managing their problems.

Conclusion: Dementia is a major medical and social problem nowadays, and therefore, the planning of state actions should focus on prevention and management, with the support and expansion of support agencies. Advances in life sciences increase the likelihood of understanding the complex risk factors as regards dementia and suggest appropriate therapeutic interventions.

Introduction

In Greek, the term “dementia” equals to the word “anoia” which includes an alpha privative and the word mind [1]. According to Alzheimer Atlas of Disease: ‘‘Dementia is the term that describes the loss of cognitive abilities in a variety of areas of cognitive functioning, such as memory, reason, executive functions and visual-auditory skills. It is so severe that it interferes with one’s daily, professional and social activities’’ [2]. The term does not refer to a single disease, but to a set of chronic diseases that are the result of the atrophy of the Central Nervous System. Brain neurons are constantly degenerating, resulting in large areas of atrophic cerebral cortex; in the final stage, the brain may often weigh less than 1000g [3].

WHO estimated the global number of dementia patients in 2015 to be 47.5 million people, while projective studies raise that figure to 75.6 million patients by 2030 and 135 million by 2050 (WHO 2015) The global financial cost was estimated at $604 billion in 2010 with the prospect of an increase in life expectancy [4]. The number of patients with dementia was estimated at 9.5 million in 2015 at EU level; this number corresponds to one dementia patient in 50 healthy EU residents. However, the prevalence of the disease is not uniformly distributed across the different European countries. Graph 1 below shows the prevalence of the disease by country of the European Union based on 2015 data. (OECD, 2015) (Graph 1), Source: OECD analysis of data from Prince et al. (2015) and the United Nations (Graph 1).

HELIAD (Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet) study showed that the incidence of dementia in Greece is estimated at 4.6% for people over 65. It is a relatively lower rate than other

European populations rising to 6%. Additionally, the incidence of mild mental disorder is 11.8% in persons over 65 years of age [5]. In the last two decades, there has also been a strong interest in the issue of quality of life. Quality of life characterizes various aspects of a person’s life, such as home, work, environment, transportation, entertainment, health or even the products we consume [6]. Studies have shown that better health care (physical and mental) was more associated with higher quality of life. This finding is important in view of the fact that health is a potentially modifiable factor and can be of practical use in the need to label the health monitoring of patients with dementia [7]. The purpose of this review study is to investigate the quality of life characteristics of dementia patients, and trace ways how it may be improved.

Methodology

The study material consisted of articles on the topic found in Greek and international databases such as: Google Scholar, Mednet, Pubmed, Medline and the Hellenic Academic Libraries Association (HEAL-Link), using the keywords: quality of life, dementia and dementia patients. The exclusion criterion for the articles was the language, except for Greek and English. Mostly, only articles and studies accessible to authors were used.

Discussing Dementia

Dementia is a mental disorder that generally comes from organic or metabolic disorders affecting the brain. The dementia syndrome is usually progressive or chronic and there is a disorder of many upper cortical functions. These functions include memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, performing arithmetic, learning ability, language and judgment [8]. Dementia could be the product of many different illnesses while impairments in mental ability can be reversible or irreversible depending on its reason. The most common forms of dementia are the following:

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that results in the gradual disruption of one’s cognitive and functional abilities leading to social isolation and loss of social roles [9]). It is the most common form of dementia, as it accounts for over 50-70% of cases after the age of 65 [10].

The American Psychiatric Society based on the DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Tool uses the following criteria to diagnose the disease [11]:

1) A Documentation of dementia through reliable scales (e.g. Mini Mental Test, Blessed Roth Dementia Scale) with concomitant neuropsychological evaluation.

2) There is at least one disorder of cognitive function, the socalled four A’s of the disease, which is translated into cognitive impairment related to cognition (ignorance), reason (aphasia), mobility (inactivity) and memory (amnesia).

3) Gradual memory decline.

4) Absence of changes in consciousness.

5) The onset of the disease occurs between the ages of 40 and 90 years of human life.

6) Absence of other diseases of the Central Nervous System, such as metabolic diseases (e.g. vitamin B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism), autoimmune diseases (e.g. lupus erythematosus) and diseases due to the use of toxic substances or HIV infection.

Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia accounts for 10-20% of cases of dementia and it is the second most frequent type of dementia. More often than not, it is due to strokes or diseases affecting arteries (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc.). According to the ICD-10 classification, vascular dementia is the result of cerebral infarctions, which lead to progressive necrosis of the brain [12]. The onset of vascular dementia is sudden and is characterized by abrupt changes in function. The deterioration of the disease is gradual, while the treatment of hypertension and vascular disease may slow its progression [13].

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Iris Publishers- Open access Journal of Annals of Biostatistics & Biometric Applications | Back to Hippocrates? Information-Based Approach to Subjects’ Qualities, their Statistical Estimations, and Evolution

 

Authored by  Vladimir M Petrov*

Abstract

In the framework of the systemic-informational approach, a typology of elements’ behavior was derived, one of its bases being “neural force.” Every element (subject) can be ascribed either to ‘weak’ or ‘strong’ type (or certain intermediate degree). To measure this feature in application to creativity, two sources of empirical data were used, first dealing with 22-parametric description of 40 outstanding painters (of the 15th – 20th centuries), the second with 10 most important parameters of 200 ones. Both sets of primary data were based on calibrated expert estimations (up to 18 art historians). Several methods of information processing resulted in the ‘index of neural force’ of each painter, this index being capable of practical application in cultural studies, as well as in psychological and sociological investigations.

Keywords: Psychology; Systemic-information approach; Statistics; Neural typology; Painting creativity; Expert estimations; Principal component analysis; Indices

Introduction

About three decades ago, appeared a new vision of the features describing the behavior of any biological object, this universal vision being based on the information theory. (We mean the so-called systemic-informational approach – see, e.g., Golitsyn & Petrov, 1995.) In the framework of this approach, a set of parameters was deduced, proceeding from the very survival of the species (see Petrov, 2019). Among these features we find the so-called subject’s ‘neural force’ characterizing his/her maximal value of the resource mobilization, meaning both the force of nervous processes and usual physical force (see also Golitsyn, 1997, 2013). The heart of the matter consists in that the change of environmental conditions may cause quite different reactions: for ‘strong’ subjects the increasing of the environmental entropy causes the growth of activity and its effectiveness, whereas ‘weak’ subjects show decreasing diversity of activity and its diminishing effectiveness. Such a typology known from the times of Hippocrates, now experiences the ‘second breathing’ due to achievements of the systemic-informational approach. Each subject (or in general, each element of the system) can be ascribed to one of these two poles – or to a certain intermediate degree between them – with various behavioral consequences, both psychological and social. This parameter is universal, and hence, it can be investigated using various kinds of elements’ behavior, including those ones which seem to be rarely met, or even ‘exotic.’ Thus, “in artistic creativity, the difference between ‘weak’ type and ‘strong’ one is nothing else than the distinction between artistic temperaments. Weak type is characterized by low diversity of reactions: laconic, restrained features, stingy expressive means, inclination to small forms, attention to details, preference for nuances, ‘transparence’ of artistic language, and so forth. On the contrary, strong type is marked with violent colors, wealth of expressive means, preference for contrasts, ‘dense ecriture,’ inclination to large forms. <…> Of course, this difference in temperaments is inherent also to recipients, and it determines their reactions to works of art. Thus, for a recipient of a ‘strong’ type, creativity of an artist of ‘weak’ type, may cause the state of monotony, i.e., it seems to be too curt, dull, and languor. On the contrary, a recipient of ‘weak’ type reacts on works of a ‘strong’ artist by the state of the strain, irritation, impression of being too sham, rough, devoid of taste” (Golitsyn, 2013, p. 49) [1].

Previously we studied the indicators of this phenomenon in such specific field of behavior as musical creativity (Mazhul, Petrov, & Mazhul, 2016). Now we can compare these results – with analogous results concerning creative activity in the sphere of painting. Such comparison will hopefully come to some conclusions which would be capable of shading light onto the entire evolution of various systems.

Features of artistic creativity and their principal component analysis

At our disposal there were two sets of empirical data, both being ‘by-products’ of a large-scale investigation focused on hemispheric aspect of artistic creativity (Petrov & Boyadzhiyeva, 1996; Petrov & Mazhul, 2019). Both sources proceeded from calibrated expert estimations (from 8 to 18 experts for each painter), aimed at measuring the degree of left- or right-hemispheric prevalence inherent in the creativity of painters, both West-European and Russian [2].

The first source dealt with 22 parameters, proposed by a group of experts (both psychologists and art historians). Each parameter had a form of a binary opposition (see Table 1), between two poles of which there were 6 gradations. After compiling this list of parameters, a list of hypothetical ‘contrastive’ eminent painters was also compiled. [This set contained names of 40 suggested ‘contrastive painters’: 20 belonging to left-hemispheric dominance and 20 to right-hemispheric one.] Then another group of experts (art historians) was involved, each of them being asked to put his/her estimate to the creativity of each painter. Then all the estimations obtained were processed by the procedure of principal component analysis (Petrov & Boyadzhiyeva, 1996). Some of its results are presented in Table 1: loads of each parameter onto the first four factors. [Loads possessing high values, are italicized: those which are more than 0.8 for first two factors, those exceeding 0.6 for the third factor, and exceeding 0.5 for the fourth factor.] [3] (Table 1).

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Iris Publishers- Open access Journal of Annals of Biostatistics & Biometric Applications | A Platform for Solving the Ecologist’s Dilemma; Setting Conservation Procedures

 

Authored by Nicole Benjamin-Fink*

Abstract

The ecologist’s dilemma is worldwide and straightforward; providing wildlife management recommendations, while constrained by scarce resources and limited data. We apply Object Oriented Bayesian Networks (OOBNs) to quantify complexities within their ecological context. We generate and utilize expert understanding of uncertainties. Key variables are identified and clustered within spatial, biological, and market domains. Specifically, (i) blue wildebeest male to black wildebeest male ratio, and (ii) spatial connectivity.

We put forth two OOBNs. Varying in their scope, each accurately represents the wicked problem concerning wildebeest hybridization and addresses different objectives faced by decision-makers. A detailed OOBN quantifies spillover implications, while a skeleton OOBN assesses associated risks. We equip ecologist with effective tools to resume informed decisions and maximize resources. Lastly, we offer a decision tree that promotes the usage of OOBNs as user friendly tools aimed at solving for the ecologist’s dilemma while addressing similar ecological and environmental uncertainties worldwide.

Keywords: Applied resources management; Ecologist’s dilemma; Hybridization; Object-oriented-bayesian-network; Policy making; Wicked problems; Wildebeest

Introduction

The challenge in “Wicked” Problems

Researchers are increasingly faced with ‘Wicked’ problems; multifaceted complex challenges that span disciplines, knowledge bases, and value systems [1]. They are sequential to other problems, lack clear solution, and may be easily misrepresented as an isolated concern [2]. Ecological and environmental wicked challenges are often rooted in spillover effects from biodiversity, ecosystem services, social and environmental aspects, management implications, and economic profitability goals [3-6].

The ecologist’s decision-maker’s dilemma

We coin the phrase ‘The ecologist’s dilemma’. On the one horn, ecologists are task with providing wildlife managers and environmental agencies with guidelines aimed at managing populations. On the other hand, scarce data and limited resources pose significant constraints. More often than not, the complexity of this dilemma is intensified by multidisciplinary linkages, unpredictability, and competing stakeholder objectives. Consequentially, many current paradigms leverage existing best practices (i.e., “grandfathered-in” solutions) [7]. However, this may result in “Type III error” whereby an effective solution is employed to address the wrong problem [8].

A precise understanding of key and embedded variables is required for an effective and relevant solution [9,10]. However, traditional liner modelling may be ineffective in the face of imperfect information [11]. There is a need to employ an innovative approach which accounts for tradeoffs with the purpose to standardize the procedure of ecology-based decision-making. Solving for the ecological decision-makers’ dilemma will help to advance policy and resource management implications worldwide. A noble approach should be multi-disciplinary and recognize spillover effects of wildlife management decisions into other domains, user friendly, and capable of accounting for all aspects of the overarching wicked problem.

The wicked case Study of hybridization

Hybridization is one of the primary wicked problems of our time [4]. Accelerating at an alarming rate, it is responsible for the genetic extinction of endangered and indigenous species worldwide (Box 1). Here, we demonstrate the applicability of Object-Oriented Bayesian Networks (OOBNs) to solve for the ecologist’s dilemma (i.e., constraints posed by limited data and scares resources). This platform for standardizing decision making is presented within the contextual framework of the case study concerning hybridization between the endemic black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) and the more common blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) in South Africa.

To date, genetic markers that differentiate pure breed wildebeest individuals from varying generations of hybrids have not yet been identified, and qualitative data are imprecise [12-14]. Ecologists are forced to provide guidelines for wildlife populations and landscapes management with economic profitability in mind, and under limited resources. Although such decisions are made on an ongoing basis, they are often “grandfathered in” [15] cautions that “grandfathered in” practices (which address inbreeding and outbreeding concerns) should be rigorously evaluated and adapted, considering hybridization concerns.

BNs are underutilized in conservation research due to computational expense

Bayesian Networks (BNs) are one of the most useful tools within the probabilistic knowledge representation and reasoning discipline applicable to modelling for reliability, dependency, risk analysis, diagnosis, and monitoring [16-18]. Recently, BNs have been used to model diverse ecology-based problems of high complexity, mainly concerning water, fisheries management, crop disease, and conservation [19]. However, during 1990-2010 a merely 4.2% of peer reviewed research, related to the environmental field utilized them, suggesting that this predictive tool remains unexploited [20].

BNs’ underutilization is primarily attributed to associated computational expense and a gradual learning curve [3,11]. Deriving a BNs structure and populating it with expert knowledge is proven to be difficult and time consuming [21].

Despite their underutilization, BNs are a useful tool for addressing the wicked nature of ecology and environmental research [22]. Specifically, with bidirectional flow enables ecologists to populate networks with data as it becomes available; thus, serving as a tool that optimizes informed decisions given scarce, and seemingly insufficient, data. Here, we provide a platform for setting conservation standards to solve for the ecologist’s dilemma, and thereby promote informed decision making and aid resource management in similar situations worldwide.

Goal

We address the long-standing ecologist’s dilemma. We put forth two frameworks that informed decision in the face of scarce data and limited resources. We illustrate the applicability of Bayesian modeling and inference within the ecological and environmental discipline by solving for the case study of hybridization between black wildebeest and blue wildebeest.

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