Research Ethics in Universities

The ethically process in research is time consuming because we also find a difficulty when judging different problems seeing that many regulations have ambiguous meaning. For ethics commission members it appears to be a burden when it comes to analyze the research ethics issues. The main reason is represented by the increased subjectivism and also the differences between an institutions to another or even between different countries. This study aim is concentrated around the ethics problems that appear in the research field. Each researcher must be informed about the research ethics and make an individual effort to find the appropriate information that fits to his personal interest regarding all possible ethics issues that can appear in his interest domain. A specialist with integrity and common sense it is supposed to act with active and politically correct conscience during his research activity especially in experimentation systems and afterwards when results dissemination is prepared for publishing. The intellectual property is the most important set of exclusive rights granted to original creations or extraordinary research results. The ethics commissions around the world would appreciate, protect and encourage all the politically correct behavior in this vast domain.

The AI Methods, Capabilities and Criticality Grid

Many artificial intelligence (AI) technologies developed over the past decades have reached market maturity and are now being commercially distributed in digital products and services. Therefore, national and international AI standards are currently being developed in order to achieve technical interoperability as well as reliability and transparency. To this end, we propose to classify AI applications in terms of the algorithmic methods used, the capabilities to be achieved and the level of criticality. The resulting three-dimensional classification scheme, termed the AI Methods, Capabilities and Criticality (AI-$$\hbox {MC}^2$$ MC 2 ) Grid, combines current recommendations of the EU Commission with an ethical dimension proposed by the Data Ethics Commission of the German Federal Government (Datenethikkommission der Bundesregierung: Gutachten. Berlin, 2019). As a whole, the AI-$$\hbox {MC}^2$$ MC 2 Grid allows not only to gain an overview of the implications of a given AI application as well as to compare efficiently different AI applications within a given market or implemented by different AI technologies. It is designed as a core tool to define and manage norms, standards and compliance of AI applications, but helps to manage AI solutions in general as well.

Mother’s Perception of Anemia and Compliance of Iron Tablet Consumption during Pregnancy

Backgound: Anemia cases are still the main problem found in pregnant women in East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, especially East Sumba Regency. Anemia is very common in pregnant women and iron deficiency is the main cause. Indonesia has a policy to provide iron supplements to pregnant women. Non-compliance of iron (Fe) tablets is one of the important challenge factors in fighting anemia. Objective: The research objective was to determine the relationship between perceptions and compliance of pregnant women on consuming iron tablets. Methods: This study involved 102 women, namely 34 pregnant women, 34 postpartum mothers and 34 breastfeeding mothers. After obtaining approval from the research ethics commission, data were collected by personal interview. Data were analyzed using the Spearman correlation statistical test. Results: A good perception of 77.5%, moderate 18.6% and less, 5.9%. It was found that the compliance of taking iron tablets was in the good category of 2.9%, sufficient 27.5% and less 69.6%. The results of the Spearman correlation test show a correlation coefficient of 0.164 and a significant 0.100 which means that there is a weak correlation and there is no relationship between perception and compliance of taking iron tablets. Conclusion: The perception of pregnant women about iron is mostly good and the compliance of pregnant women's in taking iron tablets is mostly sufficient. There was no relationship between perception and compliance of taking iron tablets in pregnant women.

The Need To Promote Elitism In Education

The idea of elaborating this article came to me after reading over and over again the content of Art.2 paragraph (1) of the National Education Law no.1 / 2011, with subsequent amendments and completions, a very important normative act for the present, but especially for the future of Romania, according to which „The law aims to promote an education oriented on values, creativity, cognitive abilities, volitional abilities and action capacities, fundamental knowledge and competencies/skills and abilities of direct utility, in the professional life and in the society. Anyone who reads the content of Art.2 paragraph (1) is entitled to believe that the most efficient secondary and higher education in the world is taking place in Romania. Unfortunately, when reading and analyzing the content of Art.3, it can be seen quite easily that the principles governing secondary and higher education, as well as lifelong learning in Romania have a more declarative character, i.e. there is one thing written on paper and something else is happening in reality. I would like to continue to talk about this, with arguments, supported by my knowledge and experience in the field of education, starting with September 1979, when I first entered a classroom consisting of military students, from the highly flattering position of instructor and educator and until now, after a lifetime of working in classrooms, laboratories, amphitheatres and auditoriums of several military and civilian higher education institutions, in the honorary position of university professor doctor habilitat and chairman of the University Ethics Commission.

Influences and consequences resulting in addictions in general and to chronic alcoholism, especially for patients with spinal cord injury

Introduction: Spinal cord injury can be a cause of severe disability, with important consequences at the individual and social levels. Causes are often produced by falls or road accidents; and addictions (particularly chronic ethylism) also increase the risk of vertebral-medullary lesions. Materials and Methods: With with the approval of the TEHBA Ethics Commission (no.17464/14.06.2019), we used specific tests (DASS-21, MOS SF-36, SMAST, AUDIT, CAGE, AIS) and we questioned a group of patients admitted to the THEBA Neuro-Muscle Recovery Clinic after being treated in the Spinal Neurosurgery Service for acute and subacute vertebral medullary trauma. Results: We evaluated the link between addictions (especially ethanol), the risk of spinal cord injury, and the underlying subacute evolution of patients with this pathology. Conclusions: Substance abuse (especially ethanol) increases the risk of spinal cord injury and is a serious public health problem. Keywords: SCI, DASS-21, MOS SF-36, AUDIT, CAGE, SMAST, Neuromuscular Recovery

Admission criteria and management of critical care patients in a pandemic context: position of the Ethics Commission of the French Intensive Care Society, update of April 2021

Intensive care unit professionals have experience in critical care and its proportionality, collegial decision-making, withholding or withdrawal of treatment deemed futile, and communication with patients’ relatives. These elements rely on ethical values from which we must not deviate in a pandemic situation. The recommendations made by the Ethics Commission of the French Intensive Care Society reflect an approach of responsibility and solidarity towards our citizens regarding the potential impact of a pandemic on critical care resources in France, with the fundamental requirement of respect for human dignity and equal access to health care for all.

Differences in Inflammatory Parameters of Child-Pugh B and Child-Pugh C Scores of Liver Cirrhosis with Hepatorenal Syndrome

Background: Child-Pugh score is used to predict the poor prognosis of liver cirrhosis patients. The study objectives analyzed differences in inflammatory parameters of Child-Pugh B and Child-Pugh C of liver cirrhosis with hepatorenal syndrome. Method: Desain's study is cross-sectional in liver cirrhosis patients with hepatorenal syndrome. This research was approved by the Health Research Ethics Commission FK USU / RSUP H. Adam Malik Medan and meets the criteria of inclusion or exclusion. Diagnosis of Liver cirrhosis Child-Pugh B and Child-Pugh C score is done by clinical examination, laboratory, and ultrasound, CT scan, MRI. The hepatorenal syndrome was diagnosed using Criteria International Ascites Club, 2007. Results: The sample number of this study was 26 liver cirrhosis with hepatorenal syndrome patients consisting of Child-Pugh B patients 9 patients and Child-Pugh C patients 17 patients. The comparison between Child-Pugh B and Child-Pugh C has significant differences in leukocyte, Na, Cl, SGOT, and CTP. There is a significant correlation between CTP and leukocytes, platelets, Cl, creatinine, GFR, albumin, total bilirubin, and glued bilirubin. Conclusion: There is no clear difference in the inflammatory parameters of the Child-Pug B and Child-Pug C scores in liver cirrhosis with hepatorenal syndrome.

Analysis of Vitamin D Levels on Bronchiectasis Severity

Background: Bronchiectasis is a chronic disease caused by repeated infection and inflammation of the bronchial walls. Vitamin D plays a role secretion of antimicrobial peptide and inhibits release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lungs. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with exacerbations, severity and decreased lung function in bronchiectasis. Several studies have found an association between vitamin D levels and bronchiectasis severity. Methods: This study used cross-sectional study design with consecutive sampling method on bronchiectasis patients who enrolled outpatient and inpatient at Wahidin Sudirohusodo hospital in February - May 2020. All research procedures obtained the approval of the Health Research Ethics Commission, Medicine faculty, Hasanuddin University Makassar. Bronchiectasis severity was assessed based on the FACED score (FEV1, Aged, chronic Colonization by Pseudomonas aeuroginosa, radiological Extension of the disease, Dyspnea). Levels of vitamin D serum {25 (OH) D} were checked using the ELISA method. Results: The study subjects were 44 patients, consisting of 61.4% male and 38.6% female. Most of the bronchiectasis patients in this study were mild (77.3%) based on the FACED score, 15.9% moderate and 6.8% severe. As many as 77.3% of patients had vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency as much as 9.1%. All patients with moderate-severe FACED scores had vitamin D deficiency. The correlation between vitamin D levels and FACED scores showed a positive significant with p-value 0.04. Conclusion: Low vitamin D levels are a risk factor for aggravating bronchiectasis severity and have a positive significant correlation between the two.

Habits and Psychological Factors Associated With Changes in Physical Activity Due to COVID-19 Confinement

The confinement that COVID-19 has brought about has had a negative influence on people’s psychological health. However, this impact is not widespread throughout the population, and men and women may be affected differently and it is not known what protective factors may exist. In this sense, physical activity has classically been shown to be a habit associated with psychological health. The study aimed to analyze the impact of confinement on psychological health (psychological well-being, coping, emotions, and perception of daily difficulties), taking into account gender, and perceived changes in physical activity. After the project was approved by the University’s Ethics Commission, the participants, after signing the informed consent, completed the online questionnaires during the days from 6 to 20 April, the time when, in Spain, confinement was in place and the highest peak of deaths and infections from COVID-19 occurred. A total of 457 Spanish participants (247 men and 210 women) were evaluated in psychological well-being, in its adaptation to Spanish, in coping, with the Spanish adaptation of the COPE Inventory, in daily habits and difficulties (ad hoc questionnaire) and the level of physical activity they had (sedentary, active, and federated players) was recorded. Besides, the perceived change in physical activity due to confinement was recorded. The results showed that perceived emotions, difficulties for certain routines, psychological well-being, and coping differed according to sex. On the other hand, depending on the change in physical activity habits, it was observed that participants who increased their physical activity responded differently in the perception of emotions, and difficulties for routines and in psychological well-being. Finally, differences were also observed in most variables between sedentary, active, and federated participants. Results are discussed highlighting the importance of physical activity as a moderating factor of the impact of confinement.

Is the Brazilian made Bioethics social?

This paper aims to present the panorama in which bioethics was found in Brazil. For this, exploratory descriptive and documentary research will be carried out on the emergence of bioethics as a field of research and its process of institutionalization in Brazil. In this sense, three facts are very significant: i) the creation of a bi-annual journal, Revista Bioética, published by the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) in 1993; ii) the creation of the Brazilian Society of Bioethics (SBB) in 1995 to bring together researchers and people from different academic areas interested in bioethics; and iii) the edition of Resolution N.° 196 of October 10, 1996, of the National Health Council (CNS), which created the Brazilian Research Ethics System, that is, the Research Ethics Committees (CEP) and the National Research Ethics Commission (CONEP). These three facts will allow to identify which are the main defining elements and how they form the first theoretical models of Brazilian bioethics. Thus, this research will allow the building of a panorama of Brazilian bioethics, in which the characteristic notes of such a bioethical thought will be identified.