bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study for Experience and Needs of Mental Health Education in Primary School Teachers
Authors: Kim Geum An , Yang Soo
Published: September 2024

Purpose: This study was conducted to address the experience and needs of primary school teachers for mental health education. Methods: The Subjects were 418 teachers who work in 15 elementary schools in Seoul area.The instrument for data collection was used a structured questionnaire that was consisted of 71 items. The data were collected from November, 4 to December, 14 in 2002. Results: 1. The overall experience rate of the teachers for mental health education was about 15%. The most prevalent reason for not receiving mental health education was ’no support of governmental policy*. 2. Most subjects(94.7%) responded that mental health education for teachers is necessary. The main reasons for the necessity included 'to help students make normal development and adjust well to the school life'. 3. The most frequent reported domains of mental health that should be included as the main contents of the education included 'attention deficit*. 4. The most preferred timing for mental health education was after being a teacher(56.6%), of which during the academic year or vacation were more preferred. Audio-visual education or seminar was more preferred than lecture. The most preferred type of specialist for the education was pediatric psychologist (35.7%). Conclusions: Findings of this study showed that average teachers* experience for mental health education was low as less than 15% whereas and their needs for mental health education was high, suggesting that mental health education for schoolteachers is needed. Therefore, systematic and specific mental health education programs for schoolteachers should be developed in the future and nursing manpower needs participation to be active through role expansion.
Experiences Associated with Drunk Driving among DWI Offenders
Authors: Lee Mihyoung
Published: September 2024

Purpose: This qualitative study was conducted to explore experiences of drunk driving among DWI offenders.Methods: There were 17 male participants referred by a probation office because of drunk driving in Kyunggido, Korea. Data were collected through focus group discussions during July, 2002 and analyzed by the Waltz, Strickland & Lenz (1984)'s content analysis method. Results: 4 research questions were offered. These questions were Pathway to DWI Program, Factors induced to Drunk Driving, Emotional Reactions through DWI Program, and Consequence of Drunk. The results show the follows; 1) Driving Pathway to DWI Program is divided into repeated drunk driving, accident, and escape after accident. 2) Factors induced to Drunk Driving is divided into inconvenience, cost, habit, a luck chance, and minimizing drinking status. 3) Emotional Reactions through DWI Program is divided into anxiety, shame, guilt to their family or colleague, anger, anguish, personal problems, humiliation, unfairness of criminal system, a happy feature of a misfortune, and gratitude to family. 4) Consequences of Drunk Driving are divided into monetary loss, loss of drive licence, mistrust from family, job threat, low self esteem, increasing knowledge, and selMetermination of non-drinking drive. Conclusion: This study offers better understandings on experiences associated with drunk drivers.
The Study on Stress, Social Support, Codependency, and Health Status of the Families of Alcoholic Patients
Authors: Jung Sun Young
Published: September 2024

Purpose: This study was to investigate the relation among stress, social support, codependency, and health status of the families of alcoholic patients. Methods: The subjects of this study consisted of 209 persons who were the families of alcoholic patients in D city. The data were collected through self-reported questionnaires from July 1st to August 31th, 2003. The instruments for research study were general characteristics, Son(1998)*s scale in stress, Park(1985)'s scale in social support, Jo & Kim(2001)'s scale in codependency, and Nam(1966)’s scale in health status. Data were analyzed by SAS program with t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation. Results: Degree of stress showed significantly positive correlation with codependency and health status. Degree of stress showed significantly negative correlation with social support. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that there is a need to develope programs to promote health status in the families of alcoholic patients considering stress, social support, and codependency.
Depression in Married Employed Women
Authors: Kim Sunah , Nam Kyoung A , Cheong Hyang-ln
Published: September 2024

Purpose: this study examined the level of depression and the relationships among characteristics in Korean married employed women. Methods: a convenience sample of 237 married employed women were recruited from companies, markets, banks, hospitals, and beauty shops by 5 research assistants. Results: depression was negatively related to satisfaction with employed women, wife, and mother's roles. Also depression was positively related to fatigue. Married working women's mental health is critical issue to mental health professionals. Effective psychosocial intervention is need to design for married working women to improve the relationship with family members.
Sexual Behaviors Related to Alcohol Consumption among Korean College Students
Authors: Lee Mihyoung , Lee Miok
Published: September 2024

Purpose: This study was to explore sexual behaviors occurring under the influence of alcohol among Korean college students, specifically to answer what changes occurred in cognition, attitudes and behaviors after drunkenness occurred as well as to examine the facilitating factors that induced unplanned sexual activities.Methods: The qualitative research method with a focus group approach was chosen to obtain descriptions of lived experiences of the participants after excessive alcohol consumption including sexual experiences, cognitive and attitudinal changes and sexual activities. A total of 19 subjects were recruited from several colleges using bulletin boards; the sample consisted of 10 male and 9 female students. Two focus groups were formed, one for each gender. The data were collected from two focus group sessions for each group. Data were analyzed using the Fullilove's problem-oriented analysis method. Results: After alcohol consumption, four major stages of sexual experiences emerged. These stages occurred sequentially with overlapping periods as follows: (1) Drunkenness and Sexual Arousal, (2) Increased Physical Contact, (3) Unplanned Sexual Activity, and (4) Negative Experiences. In the first stage, drunkenness was defined as judgment impairment and was accompanied by sexual arousal. In the second stage, physical contact was increased following drunkenness. In the third stage, unplanned sexual activity was influenced by four factors: location, time, partner and available financial resources-all of wMch may have made sexual activity more or less accessible. In the fourth stage, negative experiences occurred including regret, fear of unsafe sex, shame and feelings of guilt. Conclusion: These findings may facilitate development of intervention strategies for Korean college students that will help reduce negative experiences related to sexual activity after excessive alcohol consumption.
Self-evaluative Awareness of Problem Solving Ability Between Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses Working in Psychiatric Wards
Authors: Yang Soo , Lee Gyungjoo , Lee So Young
Published: September 2024

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare the difference of self-evaluative awareness of problem solving ability between psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners(PMHNPs) and registered nurses(RNs) working in psychiatric wards or hospitals. Methods: Data was collected from 663 subjects which consist of PMHNPs 227 and registered nurses 436. Yu Jung Soo's instrument(1993) based on the Heppner and Petersen's Problem Solving lnventory(PSl, 1982) was used to evaluate PMHNPs* problem solving ability. Results: The results were as follows ; Average score of PMHNPs* PSI was 2.84±0.22 on a basis of 4 points and that of RNs' PSI was 2.75土0.22 on a basis of 4 points. Therefore, It shows self-evaluative awareness of problem solving ability in PMHNPs was significantly higher than that of RNs(t=5.12, p=0.0000). There marked significant difference of factor 2, approach/avoidance style among PSl's subcategories between two groups(t=3.94, p=0.0001). Average factor 2 score of PMHNPs was 2.88土0.28，and that of RNs was 2.79±0.28. Comparing three factors score of PSI by group, both PMHNPs and RNs reported most highly in factor 1, confidence and evaluated at a lowest level in factor 3, personal control. Differences in both groups* PSI for subjects* characteristics were significant for degree of education and income(p=0.0001, p=0.0014). Conclusion: PMHNPs in the study showed higher awareness of their problem solving ability than RNs working with psychiatric clients in psychiatric settings. In addition, PMHNPs more approach to solve problems they confront than RNs. In recent years, problem solving ability has been considered as an essential part of almost all professional fields. Psychiatric and mental health department should be consistently concerned about encouraging researchers to conduct researches of this area and PMHNPs to move to community-based workplace.
The Effect of Integrated Mental Health Care Program on Knowledge and Practice related to Drug and Symptom Management, and Problem Solving Ability for Schizophrenic Patients and Their Families
Authors: Lee Chung Sook , Kim Su Jin , Kim Ae Kyung , Kweon Young Ran
Published: September 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to verify the effectiveness of the integrated mental health care program on knowledge and practice about drug and symptoms management, problem solving abilities for schizophrenic patients and their families. Methods: The design of this study was a non-cquivalent control group pre-test and post-test study. The data was collected from the schizophrenic patients 17 and 15 their families from September 22 to November 3, 2006. The Integrated mental health care program was provided to patients and families for 6 sessions weekly and 90 minuies in each session. The collected data were analyzed by mean, standard deviation, x2 -test, Mann-Whiteny U & ANCOVA test. Results: The hypothesis "the experimental group (palients/families) would show higher level knowledge and practice about drug and symptoms management than those of the control group” was supported. The hypothesis “the experimental group(paticnts) would show higher level practice and practice about drug and symptoms management than those of the control group” was supported. The hypothesis “the experimental group(patients/families) would show higher score of level of problem solving ability than those of the control group” was supported. Conclusion: The integrated mental health care program was also proved as an adequate nursing intervention for the discharged patients. It is thought that the program will develop the nursing practice.
Prevalence of Substance Abuse among Korean Adolescents
Authors: Bae Jeongyee , Choi Sookhee
Published: September 2024

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the degree of substance use among Korean adolescents according to their sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and to identify the relationship between pa rents' and adolescents' substance use behavior. Methods: This descriptive correlative study conducted visit-sur veys with organized questionnaires and sampled 5,940 middle school and high school students living in regional urban and rural areas. KOADAST-2 was used to measure the degree of substance use. Data collected was ana lyzed by t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficients using SPSS/WIN 14.0. Results: Findings revealed that: 1) the degree of substance use is higher in students who are male, high school seniors and whose friend or parents are involved in substance use; 2) substance use is prevalent in students with poor academic performance, high number of absences, and who have experienced running away, fighting, and at tempting suicide; 3) Pearson's correlation coefficients revealed a significant association between parents' sub stance use behavior and adolescent substance use behavior like drinking, smoking, and drug use. Conclusion: Understanding the importance of psychosocial and behavioral adolescent characteristics, such as parental and social influences and academic performance, significantly affecting levels of substance use will be essential to develop preventive measures for adolescents.
Meaning of Recovery from Mental Illness: Findings of a Qualitative Study
Authors: kim Hee Jung
Published: September 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of recovery from the perspectives of people with mental illness. Methods: Three focus groups were interviewed by 15 mental health consumers in 2 community mental health centers and 1 psychosocial rehabilitation center. The interview data were analyzed following a constant comparison method by Strauss and Corbin. Results: Six major themes and 13 sub-themes emerged as follows: 1) symptom relief; relieving behavioral symptoms, thought stabilization, 2) achieving insight; obtaining understanding about the psychiatric medicine, obtaining insight about mental illness, 3) stabilization of ego function; beginning to make judgement, beginning to be in control, 4) making interpersonal relationships; being able to communicate, having meaningful relationships, entering into a good interpersonal relationship, 5) confronting the realities of life and independent living; putting up with the given situation, challenge for independence, 6) building up positive attitude; positive self-recognition, achieving hope. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that further qualitative research about the recovery experience of people with mental illness is needed to explore the essential concept of recovery and to develop recovery conceptual framework in Korea. In addition, to find facilitators and inhibitors of recovery and recovery promoting strategies, further research is needed at practical level.
Food Insecurity: An Update on Implications for the Dental Team
Authors: Allen Lisa , Yazdi-Doughty Janine , Albadri Sondos
Published: September 2024

It is estimated that 17% of the UK population experiences food insecurity, with increasing evidence to suggest a direct link with oral health. As such, dental professionals should be prepared to tailor their advice accordingly to support. At time of writing, there is a paucity of information available about food insecurity and oral health, and methods of support for the dental profession. Therefore, this article provides an overview of the concepts of poverty and food insecurity, and their impact on oral health, as well as presenting actionable suggestions for ways in which the dental team can identify and signpost those needing support.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: Awareness of the relationship between dental caries and food insecurity is important to be able to provide tailored advice to patients.
A GDP's Guide to Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Bilkhoo Simran Kaur , Rivers Clare , Devlin Mark
Published: September 2024

General dental practitioners form a vital part of the multidisciplinary team for cleft lip and palate management and their role in treatment and prevention is key to ensuring successful outcomes. This article highlights key dental aspects to be aware of when treating this cohort of patients and summarizes the input of other medical specialties involved in care from birth to adulthood.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of the pathway for patients born with cleft lip and palate is fundamental for GDPs.
Prostaglandin use in broodmares: part 1: uses, physiology and safety
Authors: Kelly Gary
Published: September 2024

The use of prostaglandins in equine reproduction is widespread. Their applications in this area have progressed from PGF2α-induced luteolysis and manipulation of the mares' oestrous cycle to the treatment of other reproductive problems, such as oviductal blockage and foal rejection. This article is the first part of a narrative review on the use of prostaglandins in equine reproduction, focusing on physiology and safety aspects along with clinical applications and recent updates. This article focuses primarily on prostaglandin use pertaining to the ovaries and oestrous cycle (anovulatory follicles, persistent corpus luteum, luteolysis and oestrus manipulation), while the second article will examine various other reported applications all relate to equine reproduction and the broodmare (termination of pregnancy, oviductal blockage, foal rejection).
Onchocerca cervicalis: an underestimated cause of equine skin disease?
Authors: Gallimore Sarah
Published: September 2024

Onchocerca cervicalis (equine neck threadworm) is a Culicoides midge-transmitted filarial nematode which, like other vector-transmitted diseases, may present an increasing threat to the UK equine population. The clinical syndrome, equine onchocerciasis, most commonly presents as a type of dermatitis and acts as differential diagnosis for several common equine skin conditions including insect bite hypersensitivity, lice infestations, contact dermatitis and pyodermas. O. cervicalis is currently presumed rare and of minor importance in the UK, as equine onchocerciasis is controlled by routine administration of macrocyclic lactones. As the use of these products declines, the incidence of equine onchocerciasis in the UK may increase. There is a lack of research on O. cervicalis in British horses, with the last notable study being published 50 years ago. Recent survey work has highlighted the requirement to increase knowledge and consideration of O. cervicalis in the UK veterinary profession, particularly as a potential cause of skin disease.
First record and host identification of Echthrodelphax rufus Olmi, 1984 in Japan (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae)
Authors: HANDA HIRONOBU , MITA TOSHIHARU
Published: September 2024

Echthrodelphax rufus Olmi, 1984 is reported from the central Honshu, Japan. The female and male of the species were reared from the nymph of Tropidocephala brunneipennis Signoret, 1860. The diagnosis and illustration of both sexes of Echthrodelphax species and parasitized host are presented.
Miller fisher syndrome with positive anti-GQ1b/GT1a antibodies associated with COVID-19 infection: A case report
Authors: Wei Cheng-Qun , Yu Xuan , Wu Yuan-Yuan , Zhao Qing-Jie
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND

Miller fisher syndrome (MFS) is a variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome, an acute immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy that is often secondary to viral infections. Anti-ganglioside antibodies play crucial roles in the development of MFS. The positive rate of ganglioside antibodies is exceptionally high in MFS patients, particularly for anti-GQ1b antibodies. However, the presence of other ganglioside antibodies does not exclude MFS.

CASE SUMMARY

We present a 56-year-old female patient who suddenly developed right blepharoptosis and progressively worsening vision in both eyes. There were flu symptoms prior to onset, and a coronavirus disease 2019 test was positive. On physical examination, the patient exhibited bilateral extraocular muscle paralysis, weakened reflexes in both limbs, and impaired coordination. The cerebrospinal fluid examination results showed no obvious abnormalities. Bilateral peroneal nerve F-waves were not extracted. Serum anti-GD1b IgG and anti-GT1a IgG antibodies were positive. The patient received intravenous methylprednisolone (1000 mg/day), with the dosage gradually decreased. Additionally, intravenous high-dose immunoglobulin treatment was administered for 5 days (0.4 g/kg/day) from day 2 to day 6 of hospitalization. The patient’s symptoms improved after treatment with immunoglobulins and hormones.

CONCLUSION

Positive ganglioside antibodies may be used as supporting evidence for the diagnosis; however, the diagnosis of MFS is more reliant on clinical symptoms.
Blastocystis hominis as a cause of chronic diarrhea in low-resource settings: A systematic review
Authors: Amoak Stephen , Soldera Jonathan
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND

Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis ), an anaerobic unicellular protist parasite, is known for its diverse clinical manifestations upon infecting the human gastrointestinal tract. Although globally distributed, it is particularly prevalent in developing nations. Examining the symptoms and treatment outcomes of B. hominis infection in low-resource settings holds immense significance, providing healthcare practitioners with valuable insights to enhance patient care.

AIM

To synthesize existing evidence on the symptomatology and treatment outcomes of B. hominis infection in low-resource settings.

METHODS

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines, a systematic review was conducted. The search spanned electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. After a comprehensive screening process, a thorough examination of the papers, adhering to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data extraction from eligible studies was conducted. The findings underwent summarization through simple descriptive analysis.

RESULTS

The search yielded 1200 papers, with 17 meeting inclusion criteria. Chronic diarrhea due to B. hominis infection was reported in only two studies, while abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation, and nausea/vomiting emerged as the most commonly documented symptoms. Recovery rates after one week of treatment ranged from 71.8% to 100%, and after two weeks, from 60% to 100%.

CONCLUSION

In low-resource settings, chronic diarrhea resulting from B. hominis infection is infrequent. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation, and nausea/vomiting. Post-treatment, clinical outcomes are notably favorable, supporting the recommendation for treatment. Metronidazole is advocated as the first-line agent, with consideration for switching to a second-line option in cases of treatment failure or poor response.
Role of intestinal ultrasound in ulcerative colitis: A systematic review
Authors: Pal Partha , Mateen Mohammad Abdul , Pooja Kanapuram , Rajadurai Nandhakumar , Gupta Rajesh , Tandan Manu , Duvvuru Nageshwar Reddy
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND

Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is an emerging, non-invasive, and highly sensitive diagnostic tool in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC). Despite its potential, its adoption in clinical practice is limited due to a lack of standardization and awareness.

AIM

To perform a comprehensive scoping review based on a systematic literature review on IUS in UC to inform current practice.

METHODS

Ninety-nine original articles about ultrasonography in UC were identified among 7608 citations searching PubMed and EMBASE databases for systematic review.

RESULTS

IUS can be useful as an initial diagnostic strategy in patients with suspected IBD/UC. In UC, IUS can predict endoscopic response, histologic healing, and steroid responsiveness in acute severe cases. IUS can predict response to biologics/small molecules (as early as 2 wk). IUS correlates well with ileo-colonoscopy, but IUS could miss rectal, jejunal, and upper GI lesions in suspected IBD and colon polyps or extra-intestinal manifestations in known IBD. IUS is useful in special situations (children, pregnancy, and postoperative Crohn's disease). Inter-observer agreement is acceptable and trained physicians have comparable diagnostic accuracy. Point-of-care ultrasound impacted management in 40%-60% of cases. Hand-held IUS has excellent agreement with conventional IUS.

CONCLUSION

IUS is a non-invasive, highly sensitive tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of UC, offering excellent patient satisfaction. Point-of-care ultrasound by IBD physicians can significantly impact clinical decision-making.
A Machine Learning-Driven Wireless System for Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: POP Marius , TUDOSE Mihai , VISAN Daniel , BOCIOAGA Mircea , BOTAN Mihai , BANU Cesar , SALAORU Tiberiu
Published: September 2024

The paper presents a wireless system integrated with a machine learning (ML) model for structural health monitoring (SHM) of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) structures, primarily targeting aerospace applications. The system collects data via carbon nanotube (CNT) piezoresistive sensors embedded within CFRP coupons, wirelessly transmitting these data to a central server for processing. A deep neural network (DNN) model predicts mechanical properties and can be extended to forecast structural failures, facilitating proactive maintenance and enhancing safety. The modular design supports scalability and can be embedded within digital twin frameworks, offering significant benefits to aircraft operators and manufacturers. The system utilizes an ML model with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.14 on test data for forecasting mechanical properties. Data transmission latency throughout the entire system is less than one second in a LAN setup, highlighting its potential for real-time monitoring applications in aerospace and other industries. However, while the system shows promise, challenges such as sensor reliability under extreme environmental conditions and the need for advanced ML models to handle diverse data streams have been identified as areas for future research.
Кто такие "медоеды" и что они строят?
Authors: Чедолума Илья
Published: September 2024

SUMMARY: Illia Chedoluma introduces the publication of the online discussion "How Were Nations Formed? Myths, Manipulations, and Stolen Ideals" and its participants – a popular Ukrainian YouTube group, the "Honey Badgers." Named after the mammal, recognized by Guiness World Records as the most fearless in the world, the group promotes sustained debate about the future of Ukraine.
Youthful Platform Commemoration: TikTok as a Frontier for Holocaust Education and Memory
Authors: Divon Tom , Ebbrecht-Hartmann Tobias
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT: On February 9, 2021, shortly after his great-grandmother Lily Ebert, a Holocaust survivor from Hungary, recovered from COVID-19, 17-year-old Dov Forman shared a simple message on his Twitter account: "To relate more to of my generation, my great-Grandmother (Lily Ebert—Auschwitz survivor) and I, have created a @tiktok_uk account. We hope to keep sharing her testimony […]." By June 2021, Ebert and her great-grandson emerged as prominent influencers in Holocaust remembrance and education amassing a million followers on TikTok. Surpassing the online presence of established Holocaust institutions, Ebert, leveraging the popular video-sharing platform, recounts her experiences from Hungary, Auschwitz, forced labor, and death marches through engaging short clips, designed to capture the attention and spark the curiosity of the platform's youthful audience. Utilizing TikTok's unique features and audio-visual appeal, Ebert's videos engage with a range of inquiries from users, blending insights into her personal family life and messages of tolerance and solidarity. In this article, we delve into the platform-specific relationship to Holocaust commemoration and education, against the backdrop of rising antisemitism and hate speech on the platform. We critically examine both the obstacles and the opportunities TikTok presents for fostering access to and engagement with historical awareness among its youthful cohorts.
The Two Monroes: Robert Monroe Harrison, the Monroe Doctrine, and Saint Barthélemy, 1821–1823
Authors: Pålsson Ale
Published: September 2024

Abstract: In the 1820s, the Swedish-Caribbean colony Saint Barthélemy became a host for pirates and privateers utilizing Swedish neutrality to facilitate the sale of Spanish prizes. This drew the ire of the United States and, in particular, the unofficial US consul Robert Monroe Harrison. He regarded the colony as a moral cesspool, drawing young Americans into the privateer trade due to the allure of money, and argued for the navy to intervene and put a stop to piracy. His rivalry with Swedish governor Johan Norderling led to a dramatic diplomatic episode between Sweden and the United States, which, up until this point, enjoyed good relations and close cooperation. The relation between Sweden-Norway and the United States at this point should also be considered with the Monroe Doctrine in mind, as the new American republic took a more prominent role in Atlantic politics, while Sweden-Norway saw its diplomatic status decreasing.
Non-destructive viability assessment of cancer cell spheroids using dynamic optical coherence tomography with trypan blue validation
Authors: Tan Ko Hui , Ang Joel Lang Yi , Yong Alexander Si Kai , Lim Stefanie Zi En , Kng Jessica Sze Jia , Liang Kaicheng
Published: September 2024

3D cell cultures are widely used in biomedical research for the recapitulation of in vivo microenvironments. Viability assessment and monitoring of these intricate conformations remain an open problem as standard cell viability protocols based on colorimetry or microscopy are not directly applicable to intact 3D samples. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been explored extensively for subsurface structural and quasi-functional analysis of 3D cell cultures and tissue. Recent studies of dynamic OCT as a source of cellular contrast have found qualitative associations with necrosis in cell spheroids, suggesting potential as a viability marker. We present empirical and validated evidence for dynamic OCT as a quantitative indicator of cell viability in 3D cultures. We analysed over 240 MCF-7 cancer cell spheroids with dynamic OCT and corresponding viability measurements using the trypan blue exclusion assay. Significant effects of common reagents dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) on OCT readouts were noted. We proposed a regression-based OCT brightness normalisation technique that removed reagent-induced OCT intensity biases and helped improve correspondence to the viability assay. These results offer a quantitative biological foundation for further advances of dynamic OCT as a novel non-invasive modality for 3D culture monitoring.
Contextualised digital health communication infrastructure standards for resource-constrained settings: Perception of digital health stakeholders regarding suitability for Uganda’s health system
Authors: Alunyu Andrew Egwar , Amiyo Mercy Rebekah , Nabukenya Josephine
Published: September 2024

Ignoring the need to contextualise international standards has caused low-resourced countries to implement digital health systems on the ad-hoc, thereby often failing to meet the local needs or scale up. Authors have recommended adapting standards to a country’s context. However, to date, most resources constrained countries like Uganda have not done so, affecting their success in attaining the full benefits of using ICT to support their health systems. They apply the standards ‘as is’ with little regard for their fitness for potential use and ability to fulfil the country’s digital health needs. A design science approach was followed to elicit digital health communication infrastructure (DHCI) requirements and develop the contextual DHCI standards for Uganda. The design science methodology’s design cycle supported DHCI standards’ construction and evaluation activities. Whereas two workgroup sessions were held to craft the standards, three cycles of evaluation and refinement were performed. The final refinement produces the contextualised DHCI standards approved by Uganda’s DH stakeholders through summative evaluation. Results of the summative evaluation show that DH stakeholders agree that the statement of the standards and the requirements specification are suitable to guide DHCI standards implementation in Uganda. Stakeholders agreed that the standards are complete, have the potential to realise DHCI requirements in Uganda, that have been well structured and follow international style for standards, and finally, that the standards are fit to realise their intended use in Uganda. Having been endorsed by DH stakeholders in Uganda’s health system, the standards should be piloted to establish their potency to improve health information exchange and healthcare outcomes. Also, we recommend other low middle income countries (LMICs) with similar challenges to those in Uganda adopt the same set of contextualised DHCI standards.
Association between mass media exposure and HIV testing uptake in Cameroon
Authors: Antabe Roger , Sano Yujiro , Amoak Daniel
Published: September 2024

In sub-Saharan African countries, mass media is critical in disseminating health information, including the need for HIV testing. Yet, in Cameroon, there is a dearth of studies examining how exposure to mass media is effective in the uptake of HIV testing. Using the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey, we examined the association between exposure to mass media and HIV testing among sexually active women (n = 12,619) and men (n = 5,607). Our findings revealed a generally low uptake of HIV testing although more women (78%) have ever tested for HIV compared to men (67%). Adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors, we found for both women and men their exposure at least once a week to the Internet (aOR = 1.57, p<0.001 for women; aOR = 1.76, p<0.001 for men), print media (aOR = 1.59, p<0.05 for women; aOR = 2.04, p<0.001 for men), radio (aOR = 1.34, p<0.01 for women; aOR = 1.57, p<0.001 for men), and television (aOR = 1.74, p<0.001 for women; aOR = 1.94, p<0.001 for men) was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of testing for HIV compared to their counterparts with no exposure at all. Our findings underscore the importance of further integrating mass media in HIV messaging in Cameroon as the country aims to achieve UNAIDS target 95-95-95 by 2023.
Synthesis, molecular docking study, MD simulation, ADMET, and drug likeness of new thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridine-6,8-dicarbonitrile derivatives as potential anti-diabetic agents
Authors: Aghahosseini Fatemeh , Bayat Mohammad , Sadeghian Zahra , Gheidari Davood , Safari Fatemeh
Published: September 2024

There are numerous uses for the pharmacological effects of thiazolo-pyridine and its derivatives. The main objective of the study was to synthesis 10 novel derivatives of thiazolo[3,2-a] pyridine-6,8-dicarbonitrile with a 22–78% yield, with a focus on their potential anti-diabetic properties. We investigated the interactions between these compounds and the enzyme α-amylase through an in silico study involving molecular docking. According to the docking analysis results, the resulting compounds had advantageous inhibitory properties. With a docking score of -7.43 kcal/mol against the target protein, compound 4e performed best. The stability root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) showed that the complex stabilizes after 25 ns and with minor perturbation at 80. The RMSF values of the ligand-protein complex indicate that the following residues have interacted with compound 4e during the MD simulation: Trp58, Trp59, Tyr62, Gln63, His101, Val107, lle148, Asn152, Leu162, Thr163, Gly164, Leu165, Asp197, Ala198, Asp 236, Leu237, His299, Asp300, and His305. Moreover, the pharmacokinetic and drug-like properties of the synthesized derivatives of 2-arylamino-dihydroindeno[1,2-b] pyrrol-4(1H)-one suggest that they have the potential to be effective inhibitors of α-amylase and should be considered for further research. Nevertheless, it is crucial to ascertain the in vivo and in vitro effectiveness of these compounds through biochemical and structural investigations.
BRP-Net: A discrete-aware network based on attention mechanisms and LSTM for birth rate prediction in prefecture-level cities
Authors: Xue Mingfu , Zhu Junyu , Wu Rusheng , Zhang Xiayiwei , Chen Yuan
Published: September 2024

The continuous decline in the birth rate can lead to a series of social and economic problems. Accurately predicting the birth rate of a region will help national and local governments to formulate more scientifically sound development policies. This paper proposes a discrete-aware model BRP-Net based on attention mechanism and LSTM, for effectively predicting the birth rate of prefecture-level cities. BRP-Net is trained using multiple variables related to comprehensive development of prefecture-level cities, covering factors such as economy, education and population structure that can influence the birth rate. Additionally, the comprehensive data of China’s prefecture-level cities exhibits strong spatiotemporal specificity. Our model leverages the advantages of attention mechanism to identify the feature correlation and temporal relationships of these multi-variable time series input data. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed BRP-Net has higher accuracy and better generalization performance compared to other mainstream methods, while being able to adapt to the spatiotemporal specificity of variables between prefecture-level cities. Using BRP-Net to achieve precise and robust prediction estimates of the birth rate in prefecture-level cities can provide more effective decision-making references for local governments to formulate more accurate and reasonable fertility encouragement policies.
Enhancing reginal wall abnormality detection accuracy: Integrating machine learning, optical flow algorithms, and temporal convolutional networks in multi-view echocardiography
Authors: Kasim Sazzli , Tang Junjie , Malek Sorayya , Ibrahim Khairul Shafiq , Shariff Raja Ezman Raja , Chima Jesvinna Kaur
Published: September 2024

Background

Regional Wall Motion Abnormality (RWMA) serves as an early indicator of myocardial infarction (MI), the global leader in mortality. Accurate and early detection of RWMA is vital for the successful treatment of MI. Current automated echocardiography analyses typically concentrate on peak values from left ventricular (LV) displacement curves, based on LV contour annotations or key frames during the heart’s systolic or diastolic phases within a single echocardiographic cycle. This approach may overlook the rich motion field features available in multi-cycle cardiac data, which could enhance RWMA detection.

Methods

In this research, we put forward an innovative approach to detect RWMA by harnessing motion information across multiple echocardiographic cycles and multi-views. Our methodology synergizes U-Net-based segmentation with optical flow algorithms for detailed cardiac structure delineation, and Temporal Convolutional Networks (ConvNet) to extract nuanced motion features. We utilize a variety of machine learning and deep learning classifiers on both A2C and A4C views echocardiograms to enhance detection accuracy. A three-phase algorithm—originating from the HMC-QU dataset—incorporates U-Net for segmentation, followed by optical flow for cardiac wall motion field features. Temporal ConvNet, inspired by the Temporal Segment Network (TSN), is then applied to interpret these motion field features, independent of traditional cardiac parameter curves or specific key phase frame inputs.

Results

Employing five-fold cross-validation, our SVM classifier demonstrated high performance, with a sensitivity of 93.13%, specificity of 83.61%, precision of 88.52%, and an F1 score of 90.39%. When compared with other studies using the HMC-QU datasets, these Fig s stand out, underlining our method’s effectiveness. The classifier also attained an overall accuracy of 89.25% and Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 95%, reinforcing its potential for reliable RWMA detection in echocardiographic analysis.

Conclusions

This research not only demonstrates a novel technique but also contributes a more comprehensive and precise tool for early myocardial infarction diagnosis.
Implementation and evaluation of an electronic consult program at a large academic health system
Authors: Arora Anita , Fekieta Renee , Spatz Erica , Roy Brita , Marco Karla , Sharifi Mona , Pashankar Dinesh , Khokhar Babar
Published: September 2024

Background

Although the benefits of eConsults in increasing access and lowering unnecessary utilization have been well described, the development of a successful program can be challenging.

Objective

We sought to share the experiences of a large academic health system in implementing and evaluating a high-volume electronic consultation (eConsult) program across 34 adult and pediatric medical and surgical specialties.

Methods

Using a multi-method approach, we collected qualitative and quantitative data on operational and process outcomes to describe adoption of eConsults, and survey data to capture satisfaction and experience among referring and specialist clinicians.

Results and conclusions

Data evaluating this eConsult program demonstrated robust uptake of the eConsult workflow as well as high satisfaction amongst primary care and specialty clinicians. Effective implementation strategies included engaging leadership, building a dedicated team, and developing quality assurance mechanisms. These experiences and findings may inform implementation at health systems interested in eConsult programs.
Prevalence and prognostic role of hypochloremia in patients with acute heart failure in Ethiopia: A single-center retrospective analysis
Authors: Solela Gashaw
Published: September 2024

Background

In patients with heart failure (HF), multiple electrolyte disorders are common, and recent studies have shown that chloride disorders play a significant role in the prognosis of HF. Data about the prevalence and prognostic role of hypochloremia in patients with acute HF (AHF) are scarce in African nations, including Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence, associated factors, and prognostic role of hypochloremia in patients with AHF in Ethiopia.

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective analysis of AHF patients, aged ≥15 years, with chloride determination upon admission to the medical wards and medical ICU of Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 26, was used to enter and analyze the data. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize clinical profiles, laboratory data, and outcomes of AHF patients stratified by the presence and absence of hypochloremia. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with hypochloremia and to assess the association of hypochloremia and other factors with in-hospital mortality in patients with AHF. A two-tailed P value <0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.

Results

A total of 267 AHF patients who had chloride determination on admission were included in this study; the mean age was 56.7 years (standard deviation: 18.6), and the gender-based distribution of the patients was nearly equal. The prevalence of hypochloremia was 36.7%. Diastolic blood pressure <60 mm Hg [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.63, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04, 12.72] and hyponatremia (AOR = 29.20, 95% CI, 13.21, 64.56) were significantly associated with hypochloremia. The in-hospital mortality rate was higher in AHF patients with hypochloremia (16.3%) compared to those without hypochloremia (4.7%). The odds of in-hospital mortality among AHF patients with hypochloremia were 2.8 times higher compared to patients without hypochloremia (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.08, 7.04) after adjusting for ICU admission, systolic blood pressure < 120 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure < 60 mm Hg.

Conclusions

This study revealed a high prevalence of hypochloremia among patients with AHF. Low diastolic blood pressure and hyponatremia were significantly associated with the development of hypochloremia. Most importantly, AHF patients with hypochloremia had a higher in-hospital mortality rate compared to those without hypochloremia. Hence, hypochloremia on admission should be considered a potential prognostic factor in patients with AHF, and further research with a larger sample size is needed to support the findings of this study.
Memories of Dress: Recollections of Material Identities, Alison Slater, Susan Atkin and Elizabeth Kealy-Morris (eds) (2023)
Authors: Mackinney Maria
Published: September 2024

Review of: Memories of Dress: Recollections of Material Identities, Alison Slater, Susan Atkin and Elizabeth Kealy-Morris (eds) (2023)

London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 258 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-35015-379-0, h/bk, £85
Resenha de TORRANO, J. (2022) Eurípides. Teatro Completo II: Os Heraclidas, Hipólito, Andrômaca, Hécuba. São Paulo, Editora 34
Authors: Rocha Rachid Rodolfo José
Published: September 2024

Resenha de TORRANO, J. (2022) Eurípides. Teatro Completo II: Os Heraclidas, Hipólito, Andrômaca, Hécuba. São Paulo, Editora 34.
Melissus’ and Zeno’s deductive speech
Authors: Brémond Mathilde
Published: September 2024

This paper explores the prosaic deductive style developed by Melissus and Zeno. It first emphasizes the authors’ use of a systematic and reduced vocabulary solely dedicated to a priori deduction. In a second time, the paper delves into the systematic role of reductio ad absurdum in their reasoning and distinguishes several kinds of reductio employed by the authors. Through this analysis, the study shows how Melissus and Zeno not only developed and systematized certain aspects of Parmenides’ style but also introduced original features that significantly influenced the philosophical writing style.
How to name invisible principles? The challenge of naming what the eyes cannot see
Authors: Campolina Diniz Peixoto Miriam
Published: September 2024

What were the guidelines that the ancient atomists followed when coining new terms to name their principles? To what extent the difficulty of apprehension and understanding of the nature of their principles would justify the use of more than one term for naming the same thing? Some modern scholars tend to reduce the “indivisible” to a mere formal principle, while other scholars insist in considering the “indivisible” as a material principle. Can anyone find in the ancient texts sufficient elements to evaluate these claims without losing sight of the particular horizon of inquiry and conceptual universe of Presocratic philosophy? I intend to map the problem of the names assigned to the principles in the atomists' thought in order to formulate a few hypotheses concerning some issues that seem to underlie the transmission and the reception of their thought in antiquity.
DO PASSADO PARA O FUTURO: A FUNÇÃO DAS CONCEPÇÕES TEÓRICAS NA PARTE ARGUMENTATIVA DOS VOTOS EM SEPARADO E DIVERGENTES DO JUIZ ANTÔNIO AUGUSTO CANÇADO TRINDADE
Authors: Vauthier Borges de Macedo Paulo Emílio , Ovelheiro Menna Barreto Caio Cézar
Published: September 2024

Contextualização do tema: Em 29 de maio de 2022, faleceu um dos mais importantes internacionalistas da sua geração. Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade observava o mundo em que vivemos, com suas desigualdades e injustiças, e batalhava de maneira incansável pela defesa dos direitos humanos e do Direito Internacional e pela realização do ideal máximo de justiça.
Objetivos: Esta homenagem irá dissertar a respeito da atuação de Cançado Trindade a partir de três pontos: (i) o resgate do jus gentium dos pais fundadores do Direito Internacional; (ii) as críticas ao voluntarismo positivista e à centralidade do Estado no Direito Internacional contemporâneo; e (iii) a função do judiciário internacional no desenvolvimento progressivo do Direito Internacional e na realização da justiça.
Metodologia: Revisão da produção acadêmica do Professor Cançado Trindade e das decisões judiciais e votos divergentes e em separado do Juiz Cançado Trindade.
Resultados: Buscar-se-á demonstrar que o Professor Cançado Trindade e o Juiz Cançado Trindade formavam uma simbiose indissociável. As suas preferências pessoais e filosóficas não eram inseridas em seus votos ao acaso; elas serviam de base para a argumentação jurídica desenvolvida pelo magistrado, sempre com o objetivo de superar o positivismo interestatal que predominou no Direito Internacional entre o século XIX e a primeira metade do século XX.