Machine learning and deep learning techniques to support clinical diagnosis of arboviral diseases: A systematic review

Background Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) primarily affect the poorest populations, often living in remote, rural areas, urban slums or conflict zones. Arboviruses are a significant NTD category spread by mosquitoes. Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika are three arboviruses that affect a large proportion of the population in Latin and South America. The clinical diagnosis of these arboviral diseases is a difficult task due to the concurrent circulation of several arboviruses which present similar symptoms, inaccurate serologic tests resulting from cross-reaction and co-infection with other arboviruses. Objective The goal of this paper is to present evidence on the state of the art of studies investigating the automatic classification of arboviral diseases to support clinical diagnosis based on Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) models. Method We carried out a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) in which Google Scholar was searched to identify key papers on the topic. From an initial 963 records (956 from string-based search and seven from a single backward snowballing procedure), only 15 relevant papers were identified. Results Results show that current research is focused on the binary classification of Dengue, primarily using tree-based ML algorithms. Only one paper was identified using DL. Five papers presented solutions for multi-class problems, covering Dengue (and its variants) and Chikungunya. No papers were identified that investigated models to differentiate between Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika. Conclusions The use of an efficient clinical decision support system for arboviral diseases can improve the quality of the entire clinical process, thus increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis and the associated treatment. It should help physicians in their decision-making process and, consequently, improve the use of resources and the patient’s quality of life.

Challenges of Researchers in Conducting International Study during the Eruption of COVID-19: Student and Mentor Perspectives

Conducting an international research study may bear various challenges; however, during the global COVID-19 crisis, such a study undertakes unpredictable trajectories. This paper explores the challenges experienced by researchers studying Syrian refugees’ physical and mental health and aid workers serving under humanitarian organizations in Lebanon. It includes information about the changes in the study’s goals and design with the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2, as necessitated by the circumstances COVID-19 imposed. It focuses on the unique perspectives of the research team of two students and their mentor who faced multiple challenges while involved in the study, and their narratives and subjective experiences that led to new opportunities for growth in the project. The research team specifically engaged in humanistic and existential psychology in order to conduct research in a manner conducive to personal and professional development, productivity and growth. To conclude, the researchers propose recommendations to the academic community on mitigating some of the challenges faced when conducting international research, and suggestions to the humanitarian sector serving vulnerable populations in conflict zones during COVID-19.

Surface damage from perpendicular and oblique bullet impacts in stone

Controlled experiments were conducted to investigate the surface damage caused by perpendicular and oblique impacts of bullets into sandstone and limestone targets. Individual bullets fired in conditions simulating modern rifles at typical combat distances excavated craters with diameters from 22 to 74 mm and depths from 4 to 24 mm. Limestone target craters were up to twice as large and deep as those in sandstone. These craters have a complex shape consisting of a central excavation surrounded by a shallow dish, compared to the simple bowl shape of most sandstone impacts. Radial fractures extending to the edge of the target block were common in limestone targets. Impacts at an angle of 45° to the surface in both rock types result in asymmetric craters. Two common types of ammunition were compared: the steel-tipped NATO projectile generally produced larger and deeper craters than the projectile that is commonly fired from AK-47 rifles, despite having approximately half the mass of the latter. These results characterise the sort of damage that can be expected at many sites of cultural significance involved in contemporary conflict zones, and have important implications for their conservation.

Vulnerabilidade da mulher em meio à insurgência militar no norte de Moçambique | Women's vulnerability amidst the military insurgency in northern Mozambique

No presente artigo, objetiva-se descrever a situação de violação sexual de mulheres e crianças, por insurgentes, em Cabo Delgado, Moçambique, desde 2017. A insurgência é complexa e alimentada por fatores internos, sobretudo éticos e sociais. Busca-se analisar as condições de vulnerabilidade das mulheres obrigadas a viverem nos locais de insurgência militar, no norte de Moçambique, na Província de Cabo Delgado. O artigo: 1) apresenta uma breve descrição do contexto em que se instala o conflito, os desafios dos deslocados, as condições de vulnerabilidade das mulheres e crianças nas zonas do conflito, as estratégias utilizadas pelos insurgentes para causar medo e pânico na população e impor um governo fundamentado na lei islâmica; 2) discorre sobre as ações humanitárias realizadas pela Diocese de Pemba, organizações governamentais e não-governamentais e organismos internacionais; 3) reflete sobre a necessidade de justiça e solidariedade como um dever comunitário na busca pela paz e de resolução dos conflitos; 4) Enfatiza que o bem, a justiça e a solidariedade são importantes para garantir o inalienável direito de dignidade da pessoa humana; 5) destaca a importância do resgate dos direitos individuais e sociais das mulheres e crianças violentadas, bem como o resgate de suas narrativas. In this article, the objective is to describe the situation of sexual violation of women and children, by insurgents, in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, since 2017. The insurgency is complex and fueled by internal factors, above all ethical and social. It seeks to analyze the conditions of the vulnerability of women forced to live in places of military insurgency, in northern Mozambique, in Cabo Delgado Province. The article: 1) Presents a brief description of the context in which the conflict takes place, the challenges of the displaced, the vulnerable conditions of women and children in the conflict zones, the strategies used by insurgents to cause fear and panic in the population and to impose a government based on Islamic law; 2) discusses the humanitarian actions carried out by the Diocese of Pemba, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and international organizations: 3) reflects on the need for justice and solidarity as a community duty in the search for peace and conflict resolution; 4) Emphasizes that goodness, justice and solidarity are important to guarantee the inalienable right to dignity of the human person; 5) highlights the importance of rescuing the individual and social rights of abused women and children, as well as rescuing their narratives.

Narratives in conflict and the limits on the interpreter’s agency: A case study from the UN Peacekeeping mission in Lebanon

This article presents a socio-linguistic analysis of interpreting in conflict zones and paints a picture of the limits on the interpreter’s agency when working in the field. It focuses on the interpreter’s behaviour towards cultural and linguistic barriers in communication between foreign military personnel and the civilian population in Lebanon. The aim is to analyse the level of agency that the interpreter has when working in a military deployment, taking into account the context and the narrative features that require mediation. Data were gathered through interviews with interpreters in Lebanon and analysed by applying narrative theory. Knowing and appreciating both the theoretical context and the linguistic and cultural barriers identified through the analysis are fundamental to understanding the difficult role that the interpreter-mediator plays in conflict settings and to reflecting on interpreter training that is appropriate to this context.

Globalization, Academic Migrants and Education: Case Study of Palestine Scholars in India

The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the most complex issues in nature; the issues of sovereignty, territorial issues, and much more are still unresolved in the Israeli-Palestine conflict. More specifically, this ongoing conflict had affected the Palestinians' life, identity, psychology, and development. A thorough literature review reveals that there is an absence of scholarly research in the area of academic migration of Palestinian scholars about the educational challenges in Indian universities. This research uses a qualitative approach with case study methods. The researcher used field study and Snowball Sampling methods to select the study samples. The in-depth perception of six cases was analyzed on the issues of their stay in India, educational challenges in universities, a pedagogical transaction in the classroom, and the different cultural contexts (of their home country and destination country). The study revealed the academic disparities they face about language were problematic, and this hampered the conversation. Critically understanding the international scenario and position of the Palestinian scholars, this research study will contribute to the development of an empathetic understanding of the students from different conflict zones.

Ethnographies of Terrorism and Terrorists

This chapter discusses the importance of conducting ethnographic work to study terrorism. It summarizes ethnographic studies conducted in conflict zones across the globe including Ireland, India, Philippines, and Spain. It then follows with a discussion about the lessons learned from these studies. While clearly highlighting the advantages associated with conducting research in conflict zones, the difficulties that may arise with such work are acknowledged. Innovative methods for studying terrorism are also discussed. Specifically, the chapter highlights the usefulness of prison ethnographies to learn more about terrorism and terrorists. This is followed by a review of our own experiences of doing fieldwork with ex-inmates in order to understand the radicalization process in prisons. Finally, the policy implications of ethnographies and directions for future research are provided.