bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF AUDIO VISUAL HEALTH EDUCATION ON THE ANXIETY LEVEL OF PRE-OPERATIVE PATIENTS WITH SPINAL ANESTHESIA AT HJ. ANNA LASMANAH BANJARNEGARA HOSPITAL
Authors: Zetra Irawan Aditha , Lintang Suryani Roro , Utami Tin
Published: November 2023

Purposive: Determine the effect of audio-visual health education using video media about spinal anesthesia on the anxiety level of preoperative patients with spinal anesthesia at Hj. Anna Lasmanah Banjarnegara hospital. Methods: This type of research is pre experiment pre test and post test with one group design. The sample technique in this study used purposive sampling of 92 pre-anesthesia patients. Data were taken using measurements of anxiety before and after provision of audio visuals on spinal anesthesia. This research instrument used questionnaires and audio visual media. Result: Before being given audio-visual health education spinal anesthesia most respondents experienced moderate anxiety of 45.7% and after being given some respondents experienced mild anxiety of 51.1%. The results of this study showed that there was an effect of providing audio-visual health education on the anxiety level of preoperative patients with spinal anesthesia as evidenced by a p value of 0.000 (0.000 0.005. Conclusion:  There is an effect of providing audiovisual health education on the anxiety level of preoperative patients with spinal anesthesia at Hj. Anna Lasmanah Banjarnegara hospital.
Relationship between Family Support and Anxiety Level in Preoperative Elderly with Spinal Anesthesia Action at AR Bunda Prabumulih Hospital, South Sumatra
Authors: Rahmatsyah Zulda Alvian , Nova Handayani Rahmaya , Heri Susanti Indri
Published: November 2023

Purpose: This study aims to determine the relationship between family support and anxiety levels in elderly people pre-operatively with spinal anesthesia at Ar Bunda Prabumulih Hospital, South Sumatra. Methods: This research uses a quantitative descriptive method with a cross sectional approach. The sample in this study was elderly patients with spinal anesthesia techniques who met the criteria. The sampling technique used was consecutive sampling using the Arikunto formula to produce 34 respondents. And data analysis using univariate and bivariate analysis. Findings: The research results showed that the majority of respondents had moderate family support, 23 respondents (67.6%), the majority of respondents had moderate anxiety levels, 16 respondents (47%), the results of statistical tests using Spearman's Rank obtained a p-value of 0.032, so the p-value < α (0 .05). Conclusions: This shows that H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted, meaning that there is a relationship between the respondent's pre-operative anxiety level and family support during treatment in the operating room at AR Bunda Prabumulih Hospital. It is hoped that future researchers will be able to develop related research to look for variables and factors that may be related to the incidence of anxiety levels after spinal anesthesia in surgical patients.
OVERVIEW OF SPINAL ANESTHESIA INJECTION TECHNIQUES AT RSI FATIMAH CIKACAP
Authors: Baroki Saragih M.Nuhas , Lintang Suryani Roro , Burhan Asmat
Published: November 2023

Background: Spinal anesthesia is said to be safer than general anesthesia. However, spinal anesthesia itself has several kinds of special obstacles in performing injection techniques, there are a number complex variables that can cause these obstacles, including difficulty in marking injections, failure in needle placement, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), spinal anatomical abnormalities, patient position at the time of needle placement, and the level of experience of spinal performers. Purpose: This study was to determine the description of spinal anesthesia injection techniques at RSI Fatimah Cilacap. Methods: This research method uses a quantitative approach with a descriptive type of research. Total sampling was used to select the sample for this study. Total sampling is a sampling method that uses the sample size of the entire population as the sample size. Results: this study indicate that the median injection technique is more dominant in using the median injection technique with the number of respondents as many as 23 (62.1%), while with the paramedian injection technique only 14 (37.8%) respondents based on the age of the respondent, while based on the BMI of the respondent, anesthesia stylists are more dominant in using the median injection technique as many as 23 (62.1%) respondents, on the contrary with the paramedian injection technique as many as 14 (37.8%) respondents. Conclusions: this study shows that anesthesiologists at RSI Fatimah Cilacap more often use spinal anesthesia injection techniques with median techniques compared to paramedian injection techniques at certain ages and Body Mass Indexes.
Kampen for egen historie
Authors: Steno Anne Mia , Frello Birgitta
Published: November 2023

Artiklen fokuserer på Kim, som bor på et socialpsykiatrisk bosted for mennesker med psykiske problemer. Med udgangspunkt i en konstruktivistisk forståelse af narrativitet undersøger vi, hvordan Kim tales frem af ham selv og af hans omgivelser. Igennem nedslag i henholdsvis Kims egne narrativer og de måder hvorpå personalet på bostedet og hans familie taler ham frem, spørger vi, hvordan rammer, kontekster og andre aktører bidrager til skabelsen af individets fortællinger. Ved at fokusere på en enkelt case bliver det muligt at invitere forskellige stemmer og kontekster, som Kim indgår i, ind i analysen og således illustrere den grundlæggende multivokalitet, der gør sig gældende i fortællingerne af og om Kim. Denne multivokalitet, bliver ikke mindre kompliceret af, at Kims erfaringer med psykoser har lært ham at tvivle på sine egne minder. Med udgangspunkt i en stigende efterspørgsel efter psykiatribrugeres “egne fortællinger”, spørger vi, hvad “egne” fortællinger egentlig er og problematiserer den formodning om autenticitet, som nogle gange impliceres. Artiklens forskellige nedslag illustrerer, hvordan kontekster og relationer sætter rammer for fortællingerne og præger deres udformning. Konteksten er derfor afgørende for forståelsen af, hvad det vil sige at lytte efter brugernes egne stemmer og for, hvad der genkendes som autentisk. Betydningen af at lytte til brugernes fortællinger ligger derfor i vores forståelse ikke i deres formodede autenticitet, men snarere i, at deres fortællinger fungerer som måder at (gen)etablere agens og stærke modfortællinger hos psykiatribrugere.
The Kurds and World War II: Some Considerations for a Social History Perspective
Authors:   University of Neuchâtel, History Department, Espace Tilo-Frey 1, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Tejel Jordi
Published: November 2023

Scholars generally argue that during the Second World War the Middle East, and the Kurdish areas in particular, was a peripheral theatre of an otherwise global war. While this is largely true, it seems necessary to introduce some nuances into this analysis. A view from the borderlands, combined with a socio-historical approach to how the war was experienced on a daily basis behind the front line, reveals that military tensions, large-scale arms smuggling, inflation, food shortages and economic migration were common features in the Kurdish borderlands between 1941 and 1945. Furthermore, looking at the uneventful can help us to better understand the context in which the Kurdish nationalist movement developed during the war and in the immediate post-war years.
Écrire sous fatigue. Devenirs révolutionnaires d’une poésie de l’épuisement chez Isabelle Dumais
Authors: Desmeules Anne-Marie
Published: November 2023

Isabelle Dumais faisait paraître en 2019Les Grandes Fatigues, où elle décrit le difficile parcours que provoque un épuisement et l’incursion du sujet fatigué dans la lenteur. Ce recueil de poésie donne à lire la formation de nouveaux possibles, frêles mais tenaces, qui détiennent le potentiel de transformer le monde, de le rendre plus accueillant. Cette analyse s’intéresse aux processus qui mènent à ces renversements « infra politiques », dont parle Romain Huët, dans le texte et dans l’acte d’écriture lui-même. Comment en effet le repos, même forcé, offre-t-il l’opportunité de transformer une posture d’asservissement en mouvement d’affirmation personnelle et artistique ?
Trahir
Authors: Morency Catherine
Published: November 2023

Dans cet essai, l’autrice interroge la notion de vocation en partant d’un présupposé : arriver à l’œuvre participerait tant d’un besoin de trahison que d’un désir d’appartenance. Elle remonte les étapes qui façonnent l’œuvre à venir, sondant, dans les textes qui l’ont nourrie et chez les penseurs.ses qui contribuent à aiguiser son regard sur le mécanisme créateur, les matériaux à l’origine d’une refonte de soi en même temps que de la création d’une forme poétique. En dehors des carcans du langage mais en marge d’une intériorité qui peut devenir claustration, l’autrice cherche un espace en elle qui pourra donner lieu à ce que Beckett nomma innommable, et qui pourtant a beaucoup à dire, à inventer.
Development of the State Regulation Model in the Banking Sector
Authors:   , Freimanis Kristaps
Published: November 2023

The aim of the Doctoral Thesis is to develop the regulation model in the banking sector to find the equilibrium point between the deadweight loss arising from market failures and subsequent government regulation costs. In the Doctoral Thesis, banking sector market failures were identified, needed for the assessment of the deadweight loss in the banking sector, and principles of regulation were identified, needed for the setup of the regulation model. Based on that quantitative regulation model was developed, which was validated on the euro area or world data depending on applicability and availability. In the case of Latvia, for the first time in the Latvian banking sector, the regulation intensity and the equilibrium point between the deadweight loss and regulation costs were assessed.
MANAGEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WESTERN BALKAN ECONOMIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Authors: Vujović Tanja
Published: November 2023

The free flow of goods, services, people and capital, and the development of information and communication technology have all made local problems global. The 2007 financial crisis very quickly became global. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a worldwide health crisis, which quickly became an economic one, with threats of becoming a social one as well. The macroeconomic costs of the pandemic are visible in the form of shrinking GDP, the rise of unemployment, as well as fiscal and external imbalance. In all countries fiscal policy was the cornerstone of economic policy in the fight against the consequences of the pandemic. What we can say for certain is that the shock of the pandemic hit the economy both from the aspect of aggregate demand, as well as aggregate supply. In this paper we take a look at how the pandemic affected the economies of the Western Balkan countries, and the scale of the economic downturn they will face in 2020. We will also analyze how effective the public sector, the medical system, and education have been in the fight against the consequences of the pandemic.
THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY’S MOBILITY
Authors: Katanić Predrag , Drakul Borislav
Published: November 2023

At the end of 2019, a new coronavirus appeared in China in the province of Wuhan, precipitating the emergence of cases of diseases called COVID-19. This disease quickly spread to other countries of the world. Most countries have estimated that the best strategy to combat COVID-19 is to prevent the transmission of the virus by social distancing. To make it easier to track the mobility of people in 135 countries around the world, in 2020 Google began publishing data on global mobility on a daily basis through a report called "Community Mobility Reports". This report provides a percentage change in activity at the six grouped locations compared to that in the reference days prior to the advent of pandemic COVID-19. In this paper, we study the dynamics of human mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic in 18 countries around the world starting from February 15, 2020 until March 9, 2021. We graphically presented the obtained data, then statistically processed them and presented them in several tables. We believe that the data we have obtained in this paper can be used for many other researches in various spheres of human life and work.
CONTEMPORARY TENDENCIES IN MONITORING THE READINESS OF COUNTRIES FOR THE APPLICATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE POST-COVID PERIOD
Authors: Stankić Rade , Јakovljević Aleksandra
Published: November 2023

Monitoring the readiness of countries for the application of information and communication technologies (ICT) has a long tradition. It is reflected through the application of various synthetic indicators - indexes, which were created for these purposes by various organizations and associations. These indicators are expected to reflect new trends in the field of ICT, and also to measure the readiness and achievements of individual countries in the ICT usage. The aim of this paper is to show significant changes in the structure of one of the most well-known indices in this area - Network Readiness Index, which has been in use for almost two decades. The paper emphasizes the application of this index in monitoring the process of digital transformation at the level of economic and social development of individual countries, especially in the COVID crisis. Also, the tendencies of this process in the post-COVID period are considered. Monitoring the process of digital transformation at the country level is characterized by a multidimensional approach. In this sense, the complex structure of the NRI latest version is presented. It is based on 60 indicators grouped in four areas: technological trends, human resources capacity, government regulations and the impact of new technologies on the economy, quality of life and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015. Also, the paper discusses the position of Serbia and other Western Balkans countries measured in the context of the newly created index, and presents a comparison of these countries with European Union countries.
РИЗИК КРЕДИТИРАЊА МАЛИХ И СРЕДЊИХ ПРЕДУЗЕЋА У УСЛОВИМА КРИЗЕ КОВИД-19
Authors: Пјанић Милош , Луковић Стеван
Published: November 2023

Предмет овог рада је процена ризика кредитирања малих и средњих предузећа (МСП) у условима кризе ковид-19. Рад даје приказ теоријске и стручне литературe која се бавила постојећим рачуноводственим стандардима везаним за процену очекиваних губитака и банкарском регулативом у погледу адекватности капитала, као и њиховом примењивошћу у условима актуелне кризе. Имајући у виду учешће МСП у укупном бруто домаћем производу и запослености у земљама са тржиштима у настајању и земљама у развоју, те зависност ових предузећа од банкарских извора финансирања, посебна пажња у раду дата је истраживањима која се баве утицајем тестова на стрес и повећања захтева за капиталом на понуду кредита. Будући да је рад писан у време када је криза ковид-19 била у току, те још увек нису могли бити сагледани коначни ефекти, него само одређене пројекције, правци будућих истраживања ће бити усмерени на ефикасност постојећих модела процене кредитног ризика у условима кризе.
Propagation properties of partially coherent vector beam with multiple off-axis vortex phases
Authors: Xu Hua-Feng , Zhang Xing-Yu , Wang Ren-Jie ,   School of Mechanics and Photoelectric Physics, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we investigate the propagation properties of radially polarized rectangular-symmetric cosine-Gaussian Schell-model (RCGSM) beam with multiple off-axis vortex phases by using Fourier transform and convolution method based on the unified theory of coherence and polarization. The results indicate that the radially polarized RCGSM beam has self-splitting properties and can be split into four identical lobes due to its unique spatial coherence structure. Furthermore, the modulation of multiple off-axis vortex phases can be acted on each lobe. For high coherence, the spot arrays with triangular or square hollow light intensity distribution can be generated in the focal plane by modulating the number of off-axis vortices (N0) and the beam order, and the corresponding state of polarization on each lobe presents an inverted triangular or oblique square elliptic distribution. However, for small coherence, the modulation effect of multiple off-axis vortex phases disappears and the light intensity of each lobe degenerates into a quasi-Gaussian distribution, whereas its state of polarization keeps invariant, which is independent of the beam order and coherence length. In addition, the beam still has a certain self-healing ability for one of the off-axis vortex phases partially blocked by an obstacle, but it will be destroyed for completely blocking, resulting in a notch on each lobe.
Brain-imaging evidence for compression of binary sound sequences in human memory
Authors: Al Roumi Fosca , Planton Samuel , Wang Liping , Dehaene Stanislas
Published: November 2023

According to the language-of-thought hypothesis, regular sequences are compressed in human memory using recursive loops akin to a mental program that predicts future items. We tested this theory by probing memory for 16-item sequences made of two sounds. We recorded brain activity with functional MRI and magneto-encephalography (MEG) while participants listened to a hierarchy of sequences of variable complexity, whose minimal description required transition probabilities, chunking, or nested structures. Occasional deviant sounds probed the participants’ knowledge of the sequence. We predicted that task difficulty and brain activity would be proportional to the complexity derived from the minimal description length in our formal language. Furthermore, activity should increase with complexity for learned sequences, and decrease with complexity for deviants. These predictions were upheld in both fMRI and MEG, indicating that sequence predictions are highly dependent on sequence structure and become weaker and delayed as complexity increases. The proposed language recruited bilateral superior temporal, precentral, anterior intraparietal, and cerebellar cortices. These regions overlapped extensively with a localizer for mathematical calculation, and much less with spoken or written language processing. We propose that these areas collectively encode regular sequences as repetitions with variations and their recursive composition into nested structures.
Mega-scale movie-fields in the mouse visuo-hippocampal network
Authors: Purandare Chinmay , Mehta Mayank
Published: November 2023

Natural visual experience involves a continuous series of related images while the subject is immobile. How does the cortico-hippocampal circuit process a visual episode? The hippocampus is crucial for episodic memory, but most rodent single unit studies require spatial exploration or active engagement. Hence, we investigated neural responses to a silent movie (Allen Brain Observatory) in head-fixed mice without any task or locomotion demands, or rewards. Surprisingly, a third (33%, 3379/10263) of hippocampal –dentate gyrus, CA3, CA1 and subiculum– neurons showed movie-selectivity, with elevated firing in specific movie sub-segments, termed movie-fields, similar to the vast majority of thalamo-cortical (LGN, V1, AM-PM) neurons (97%, 6554/6785). Movie-tuning remained intact in immobile or spontaneously running mice. Visual neurons had >5 movie-fields per cell, but only ~2 in hippocampus. The movie-field durations in all brain regions spanned an unprecedented 1000-fold range: from 0.02s to 20s, termed mega-scale coding. Yet, the total duration of all the movie-fields of a cell was comparable across neurons and brain regions. The hippocampal responses thus showed greater continuous-sequence encoding than visual areas, as evidenced by fewer and broader movie-fields than in visual areas. Consistently, repeated presentation of the movie images in a fixed, but scrambled sequence virtually abolished hippocampal but not visual-cortical selectivity. The preference for continuous, compared to scrambled sequence was eight-fold greater in hippocampal than visual areas, further supporting episodic-sequence encoding. Movies could thus provide a unified way to probe neural mechanisms of episodic information processing and memory, even in immobile subjects, across brain regions, and species.
DBT is a metabolic switch for maintenance of proteostasis under proteasomal impairment
Authors: Hwang Ran-Der , Lu YuNing , Tang Qing , Periz Goran , Park Giho , Li Xiangning , Xiang Qiwang , Liu Yang , Zhang Tao , Wang Jiou
Published: November 2023

Proteotoxic stress impairs cellular homeostasis and underlies the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The proteasomal and autophagic degradation of proteins are two major pathways for protein quality control in the cell. Here, we report a genome-wide CRISPR screen uncovering a major regulator of cytotoxicity resulting from the inhibition of the proteasome. Dihydrolipoamide branched chain transacylase E2 (DBT) was found to be a robust suppressor, the loss of which protects against proteasome inhibition-associated cell death through promoting clearance of ubiquitinated proteins. Loss of DBT altered the metabolic and energetic status of the cell and resulted in activation of autophagy in an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent mechanism in the presence of proteasomal inhibition. Loss of DBT protected against proteotoxicity induced by ALS-linked mutant TDP-43 in Drosophila and mammalian neurons. DBT is upregulated in the tissues of ALS patients. These results demonstrate that DBT is a master switch in the metabolic control of protein quality control with implications in neurodegenerative diseases.
A dynamic neural resource model bridges sensory and working memory
Authors: Tomić Ivan , Bays Paul M.
Published: November 2023

Probing memory of a complex visual image within a few hundred milliseconds after its disappearance reveals significantly greater fidelity of recall than if the probe is delayed by as little as a second. Classically interpreted, the former taps into a detailed but rapidly decaying visual sensory or “iconic” memory (IM), while the latter relies on capacity-limited but comparatively stable visual working memory (VWM). While iconic decay and VWM capacity have been extensively studied independently, currently no single framework quantitatively accounts for the dynamics of memory fidelity over these timescales. Here we extend a stationary neural population model of VWM with a temporal dimension, incorporating rapid sensory-driven accumulation of activity encoding each visual feature in memory, and a slower accumulation of internal error that causes memorized features to randomly drift over time. Instead of facilitating read-out from an independent sensory store, an early cue benefits recall by lifting the effective limit on VWM signal strength imposed when multiple items compete for representation, allowing memory for the cued item to be supplemented with information from the decaying sensory trace. Empirical measurements of human recall dynamics validate these predictions while excluding alternative model architectures.
Shining a light on duckweed: exploring the effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) on growth and pigmentation
Authors: Nakagawa-Lagisz Totoro , Lagisz Malgorzata
Published: November 2023

Background

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a novel environmental stressor of global concern. Various sources of artificial light are now common in urbanized areas and have diverse negative effects on many species of animals and plants. However, ALAN has also been shown to have no effect or a positive effect on some organisms. This study investigates the impact of ALAN on the growth and leaf pigmentation of a common floating freshwater plant species.

Methods

We exposed wild-derived dotted duckweed (Landoltia punctata) to either darkness during the night (Control group) or to artificial light at night (ALAN group) for 49 days. We set up two large boxes of eighty samples each with 2–3 leaves of duckweed in each sample at the start of the experiment. The ALAN box had an opaque lid with a small lamp that was turned on at night. The Control box was also covered at night with an opaque lid but without a lamp. During the day, plants in both boxes were exposed to natural light. We counted the number of leaves in each sample weekly. We took photos of the samples on day 28 to measure the total leaf surface area per sample. On day 49, we took photos of the underside of the leaves for analyses of the relative levels of dark pigmentation across all samples.

Results

We found that ALAN-exposed plant samples had, on average, more leaves than control plants after a few weeks of exposure. They also had a more variable number of leaves per sample. The total leaf area per sample on day 28 was larger in the ALAN samples. The underside of the leaves on day 49 was, on average, darker in the ALAN plants than in the control plants.

Conclusion

There is a significant growth-enhancing effect from exposure to artificial light at night on Landolita punctata. However, higher variability induced by ALAN exposure indicates that ALAN is also a stressful condition for these plants. This is in line with our finding of the presence of larger amounts of dark pigments in the leaves of ALAN-exposed plants. Dark pigmentation in duckweed species could be a defence mechanism protecting tissues from stress-induced oxidative damage. Overall, both positive and negative effects of ALAN can be observed simultaneously in different traits of the same organism. Increased individual variation can facilitate population-level adaptation to stressful conditions. As such, this work contributes to our knowledge of the effects of light pollution in urban environments on common plants.
The effect of smoking on respiratory functions in athletes
Authors: Aydin Serkan
Published: November 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of smoking on respiratory functions in athletes. A total of 12 American football players with an age, height and body mass means of 22.50±1.62 years, 182.83±5.85 cm., 88.91±18.99 kg. voluntarily participated in the study. The participants were competitive players with at least five years of continuous training and competition experience. Respiratory functions of the athletes were measured with a Minispir hand-held spirometer. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), Maximal    Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) values were measured. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 26 package program. Because the distribution of the data was not normal, the Mann Whitney-U test and Spearman correlation test, a nonparametric test, were used to compare the data between the smoker and non-smoker groups. The significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Although numerically positive effects were found on the respiratory function of non-smokers compared to smokers, there was no statistically significant difference or correlation relationship between the data constituting these effects. As a result, it was found that the respiratory function of American football players who smoked cigarettes was lower than that of non-smokers. In line with these results, it can be stated that smoking has a negative effect on respiratory functions.
Prospecção bibliométrica sobre tecnologia assistiva para crianças com paralisia cerebral
Authors: Bastos Paula Alessandra Lima Santos , Silva Marcelo Santana , Ribeiro Núbia Moura , Rocha Angela Machado
Published: November 2023

Esta pesquisa apresenta uma reflexão sobre recursos de Tecnologia Assistiva para ampliar a capacidade funcional ou auxiliar na reabilitação motora da criança com Paralisia Cerebral. O Censo do IBGE de 2010 indicou que, aproximadamente, ¼ da população brasileira é constituída por pessoas com deficiência, representando o público-alvo demandante dessas tecnologias. No entanto, trata-se de uma área de conhecimento ainda de pouca difusão no Brasil necessitando de incentivo à pesquisa e desenvolvimento. O objetivo foi realizar uma prospecção bibliométrica sobre tais recursos voltados para a deficiência motora. A pesquisa bibliométrica envolveu a busca, seleção, mapeamento e avaliação de artigos que abordam o tema da Tecnologia Assistiva relacionada à deficiência, disfunção e reabilitação motoras. Adotou-se, como metodologia, uma abordagem mista, com pesquisa exploratória e descritiva. Os resultados mostraram a crescente evolução do número de publicações sobre o tema, as áreas de conhecimento que manifestaram interesse nessas discussões, dentre as quais, o destaque para a área de Reabilitação, os países com maior produtividade, a exemplo da liderança dos Estados Unidos, Itália e Brasil, bem como os autores e os periódicos que mais se destacaram na produção científica relacionada ao tema. Conclui-se que as bases teóricas apresentadas e as evidências observadas durante o estudo concordam que o uso de recursos de Tecnologia Assistiva é relevante no processo de reabilitação motora. Espera-se que este estudo possa contribuir para fundamentar estratégias e intervenções no processo de reabilitação e para o desenvolvimento de futuras pesquisas que visem a possibilidade de novas descobertas.
Understanding Consumer Behavior in the Organic Food Market: Perceptions, Preferences and Purchase Factors
Authors: Kalyani, R.  , Prabhavathi, Y.
Published: November 2023

In light of the increasing consumer interest in health-conscious choices, particularly organic food products, this study aims to investigate the perceptions, preferences, and motivations that drive Indian consumers to purchase organic food items. Primary data was obtained from a sample of 120 consumers visiting organic stores for understanding the consumer perceptions, preferences and buying motives for organic food products in Bangalore city of Karnataka State. Factor analysis and cross tabulation are employed for analysing the data. The findings of the study indicated that consumers predominantly perceive organic food as healthy yet expensive. Core product factors influencing purchase of organic products include healthiness and quality, while augmentation factors include preservative-free, nutritional properties and certification. Branded organic stores are preferred place of purchase while social media and influencers are primary information sources. Purchase frequencies vary, from daily for fruits and vegetables to occasional for juices. Food safety ranks highest followed by influential and personal factors are major purchase drivers for organic food products. The study findings led to the development of consumer buying behaviour model for organic food products that majorly lay emphasis on personal, psychological and social factors considered during purchase of these products.
Seasonal Variations in Surface Water Quality in River Njoro and Lake Nakuru, Kenya
Authors: Chui Petra K. , Kirui Bernard K. , Obonyo Meshack A.
Published: November 2023

Water pollution from rivers and lakes has resulted in serious environmental issues on a global scale. The public's growing concern over the decline in river and lake water quality makes it more important than ever to assess the water quality of these bodies of water over a prolonged period of time. During the rainy and dry seasons of 2022, 120 water samples were collected from 5 monitoring stations located within River Njoro and Lake Nakuru. The samples underwent physicochemical analysis of selected water parameters, which included salinity, temperature, pH, turbidity, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), electric conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS). The results were compared using the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) of Kenya's guidelines and the results showed that the water quality of the Njoro river and Lake Nakuru fluctuated with the seasons, particularly in the lower water column of river Njoro. The quality parameters had the following values; EC values range between 73.33 ± 0.55 μs/cm - 533.33 ± 0.64 - μs/cm, respectively for both seasons; Salinity values range from 0.085 ± 0.02 ppt - 2.59 ± 0.03 ppt; pH values were between 8.8 – 9.3; Temperature was 23.69 ± 0.07 °C – 14.22± 0.07°C; Turbidity varied significantly – 13.95 ± 0.27 NTU - 36.03 ± 0.35 NTU;  TDS between 46.67 ± 0.11 ppm- 243.33 ± 0.04 ppm; TN ranges between 5.97 ± 3.24 mg/L - 8.57 ± 3.18 mg/L and TP 7.49 ± 1.7-9.41 ± 1.84 mg/L in the dry and rainy seasons, for River Njoro and Lake Nakuru respectively. This study showed that the degree to which human activity affects water quality varies with the season. Therefore, most of these factors should be considered while controlling rivers downstream in order to ensure the health of aquatic life, also it is essential to increase lake water quality monitoring and regulate human activity. Additionally, the results revealed that water pollution resulted primarily from domestic wastewater, agricultural runoff and industrial effluents.
Variability Parameters, Correlation Studies and Path Analysis of Yield and Yield-Related Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.): A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Nagaraju B.  , Basavaraj K. , Gireesh C. , Sasipriya S.
Published: November 2023

Rice, a staple food crop of global importance exhibits substantial diversity in terms of yield and other agronomic traits, influenced by genetic, environmental, and management factors. Variability parameters, including genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation, heritability, correlation, and path analysis provide crucial insights into the extent of trait variation and their potential for improvement through breeding programs. Furthermore, correlation studies unveil the interdependencies between different traits, shedding light on potential connections influencing yield. This analysis uncovers important trait associations, guiding breeders and researchers in the pursuit of crop improvement strategies. By identifying both positive and negative correlations, this research offers a deeper understanding of trait interplay and informs targeted trait selection efforts. Path analysis, a pivotal aspect of this review, describes the underlying causal relationships between traits and their direct and indirect effects on yield. This analysis facilitates the ranking of trait contributions and guides decisions for trait prioritization in breeding programs. By illuminating the pathways through which traits influence yield, path analysis enhances the precision of trait selection for improved rice cultivars. The synergy of variability parameters, correlation studies, and path analysis presents a holistic framework for unraveling the complexities of rice yield determination. Understanding these parameters enhances our ability to select and develop high-yielding and resilient rice varieties, contributing to food security and sustainable agriculture. This abstract delves into the significance of variability parameters in unraveling the complexities of rice yield and trait dynamics, guiding effective crop improvement strategies for the future. This review provides a valuable synthesis of existing knowledge, offering insights that can aid researchers, breeders, and agronomists in their pursuit of enhancing rice yield and overall agricultural sustainability.
Statistical Analysis of Traffic Noise Status at Selected Junctions in Port Harcourt Metropolis
Authors: Itaa C. M.  , Ugwoha E.  , Yorkor B.
Published: November 2023

Traffic noise is one of the dominant forms of environmental pollution in most urban cities that adversely affect human health globally. The traffic noise emanating from motor vehicles has become a common health problem in many metropolitan cities in developing countries of the world. This study evaluated traffic noise at selected major junctions (Rumuola, Garisson, Boro Pack, and Lagos Bus stop) in Port Harcourt Metropolis. Traffic noise levels at four congested junctions and a control junction in the Metropolis were monitored using a digital sound level meter. Noise indices, L10, L50, L90 equivalent noise levels (Leq), noise climate (NC), noise pollution index (NPI); traffic noise index (TNI); noise pollution level (Lnp); day-evening-night equivalent metric (LDEN) and percentage highly annoyed (%HA) were statistically determined. Traffic noise at Rumuola junction showed traffic noise ranging from 51.9 to 107.9dBA with a mean deviation of 91.3±8.4dBA; traffic noise at Garrison junction ranged from 52.8 to 107.6dBA with a mean deviation of 88.5±9.7dBA; Boro Park junction showed traffic noise ranging from 48.9 to 106.4dBA with a mean deviation of 83.7±10.1dBA; Lagos Bus Stop junction ranged from 45.4 to 94.9dBA with a mean deviation of 81.5±10.8dBA; while the Control junction (Ibadan Street junction)showed a traffic noise ranging from 48.4 to 61.3dBA with a mean deviation of 51.6±5.3dBA. Noise levels at the studied junctions were significantly high and exceeded permissible limit compared to the control junction (p-value = 0.00485; 95%CI). L10 (94.8dBA), L50 (86.8dBA), L90 (76.1dBA) and Leq (92.4dBA) were highest at Rumuola junction and lowest at Control junction (with 57.3dBA, 52.8dBA, 48.4dBA and 54.1dBA, respectively). Computed NPI values (1.25-1.34) indicated high traffic noise levels at the four junctions and low (0.77) at the control junction; Lnp values (105.0-116.6dBA) indicated high traffic noise pollution at the four junctions and low (63.0dBA) at the control junction; TNI values (120.9-138.5) indicated high traffic noise impacts at the four junctions and low (54.0) at the control junction. Computed LDEN and %HA indicated high level of traffic noise annoyance to the four junctions. The study revealed high traffic noise pollution at the four junctions that may significantly affect public health and therefore requires further investigation by concerned authorities to assess the health effects of traffic noise on the surrounding residents and traders at the studied junction.
Successful Treatment of Eosinophilic Pustular Folliculitis With Dupilumab
Authors: Ottavi Marie , Velin Marine , Cardot Leccia Nathalie , Passeron Thierry
Published: November 2023

This case report describes a woman in her 20s who presented with an itchy erythematous-papulo-pustular eruption of the scalp for 3 months with progressive centrifugal extension to the face and was diagnosed with Ofuji disease.
Total body irradiation delivered using a dedicated Co‐60 TBI unit: Evaluation of dosimetric uniformity and dose verification
Authors: Burmeister Jay W. , Bossenberger Todd , Nalichowski Adrian , Hammoud Ahmad , Baran Geoff , Dominello Michael M.
Published: November 2023

This work presents the dosimetric characteristics of Total Body Irradiation (TBI) delivered using a dedicated Co‐60 TBI unit. We demonstrate the ability to deliver a uniform dose to the entire patient without the need for a beam spoiler or patient‐specific compensation. Full dose distributions are calculated using an in‐house Monte Carlo treatment planning system, and cumulative dose distributions are created by deforming the dose distributions within two different patient orientations. Sample dose distributions and profiles are provided to illustrate the plan characteristics, and dose and DVH statistics are provided for a heterogeneous cohort of patients. The patient cohort includes adult and pediatric patients with a range of 132–198 cm in length and 16.5–37.5 cm in anterior‐posterior thickness. With the exception of the lungs, a uniform dose of 12 Gy is delivered to the patient with nearly the entire volume receiving a dose within 10% of the prescription dose. Mean lung doses (MLDs) are maintained below the estimated threshold for radiation pneumonitis, with MLDs ranging from 7.3 to 9.3 Gy (estimated equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2) of 6.2‐8.5 Gy). Dose uniformity is demonstrated across five anatomical locations within the patient for which mean doses are all within 3.1% of the prescription dose. In‐vivo dosimetry demonstrates excellent agreement between measured and calculated doses, with 78% of measurements within ±5% of the calculated dose and 99% within ±10%. These results demonstrate a state‐of‐the‐art TBI planning and delivery system using a dedicated TBI unit and hybrid in‐house and commercial planning techniques which provide comprehensive dosimetric data for TBI treatment plans that are accurately verified using in‐vivo dosimetry.
Confined‐Synthesis of Ceria in Tubular Nanoclays for UV Protection and Anti‐Biofilm Application
Authors: Feng Yue , Zhang Di , Chen Xiangyu , Zhou Changren , Liu Mingxian
Published: November 2023

UV radiation is the main cause of skin aging and cancers. Commercial sunscreens suffer from low efficacy and poor safety, while ceria nanocrystals are promising inorganic UV filters. Herein, the lumen of natural halloysite clay nanotubes (HNTs) is employed for the confined growth of ceria nanocrystals, which can effectively tailor the particle size, morphology, distribution, and oxygen vacancies of the ceria. The ceria in HNTs lumen exhibits increased UV protection and catalytic activity, while the outer surfaces of HNTs can be retained for additional modification. Ceria‐loaded HNTs (named CeOx@HNTs) can act as oil–water interfacial stabilizers to develop skin‐friendly Pickering emulsion sunscreens. Attributed to the Pickering emulsion interfacial catalytic effect of CeOx@HNTs, the UV absorption performance of the sunscreens is enhanced by 3.1 times after emulsification, achieving a sun protection factor of 58.5. In vitro and in vivo studies confirm the effectiveness of the prepared sunscreen in mitigating DNA damage, apoptosis, and malignant transformation. In addition, the sunscreen inhibits biofilm formation by disturbing membrane homeostasis through oxidative stress. This work develops a confined‐growth method of rare earth oxides within tubular nanoclays, which shows promising applications in many fields, such as aging resistance, photoluminescence, and chemical catalysis.
Ciprofloxacin‐Loaded, pH‐Responsive PAMAM‐Megamers Functionalized with S‐Nitrosylated Hyaluronic Acid Support Infected Wound Healing in Mice without Inducing Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Jiang Guimei , Wu Renfei , Liu Sidi , Yu Tianrong , Ren Yijin , Busscher Henk J. , van der Mei Henny C. , Liu Jian
Published: November 2023

Antimicrobial‐resistant bacterial infections threaten to become the number one cause of death by the year 2050. Since the speed at which antimicrobial‐resistance develops is exceeding the pace at which new antimicrobials come to the market, this threat cannot be countered by making more, new and stronger antimicrobials. Promising new antimicrobials should not only kill antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria, but also prevent development of new bacterial resistance mechanisms in strains still susceptible. Here, PAMAM‐dendrimers are clustered using glutaraldehyde to form megamers that are core‐loaded with ciprofloxacin and functionalized with HA‐SNO. Megamers are enzymatically disintegrated in an acidic pH, as in infectious biofilms, yielding release of ciprofloxacin and NO‐generation by HA‐SNO. NO‐generation does not contribute to the killing of planktonic Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram‐negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but in a biofilm‐mode of growth short‐lived NO‐assisted killing of both ciprofloxacin‐susceptible and ciprofloxacin‐resistant bacterial strains by the ciprofloxacin released. Repeated sub‐culturing of ciprofloxacin‐susceptible bacteria in presence of ciprofloxacin‐loaded and HA‐SNO functionalized PAMAM‐megamers does not result in ciprofloxacin‐resistant variants as does repeated culturing in presence of ciprofloxacin. Healing of wounds infected by a ciprofloxacin‐resistant S. aureus variant treated with ciprofloxacin‐loaded, HA‐SNO functionalized megamers proceed faster through NO‐assisted ciprofloxacin killing of infecting bacteria and stimulation of angiogenesis.
PhotoPyro‐Induced cGAS‐STING Pathway Activation Enhanced Anti‐Melanoma Immunotherapy via a Manganese‐Coordinated Nanomedicine
Authors: Feng Yuzhao , Wang Guohao , Li Wenxi , Yan Jie , Yu Xinying , Tian Hao , Li Bei , Dai Yunlu
Published: November 2023

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with a high metastatic and mortality rate. Owing to genetic alterations, melanoma cells are resistant to apoptosis induction, which reduces the efficacy of most adjuvant systemic anticancer treatments in clinical. Here, a noninvasive strategy for anti‐melanoma immunotherapy based on a manganese‐coordinated nanomedicine is provided. Supplemented with photoirradiation, photon‐mediated reactive oxygen species generation by photosensitizer chlorin e6 initiates photon‐controlled pyroptosis activation (PhotoPyro) and promotes antitumor immunity. Simultaneously, photoirradiation‐triggered double‐stranded DNA generation in the cytosol would activate the Mn2+‐sensitized cyclic GMP–AMP synthase (cGAS)‐stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, which further augment the PhotoPyro‐induced immune response. The syngeneic effect of these immunostimulatory pathways significantly benefits dendritic cell maturation by damage‐associated molecular patterns and proinflammatory cytokines secretion, thereby activating T cells and remarkably eliciting a systemic antitumor immune response to inhibiting both primary and distant tumor growth. Collaboratively, the photoirradiation‐triggered PhotoPyro and cGAS‐STING pathway activation by nanomedicine administration could enhance the antitumor capacity of immunotherapy and serve as a promising strategy for melanoma treatment.
Comprehensive Understandings of Hydrogen Bond Chemistry in Aqueous Batteries
Authors: Li Ming , Wang Xuanpeng , Meng Jiashen , Zuo Chunli , Wu Buke , Li Cong , Sun Wei , Mai Liqiang
Published: November 2023

Aqueous batteries are emerging as highly promising contenders for large‐scale grid energy storage because of uncomplicated assembly, exceptional safety, and cost‐effectiveness. The unique aqueous electrolyte with a rich hydrogen bond (HB) environment inevitably has a significant impact on the electrode materials and electrochemical processes. While numerous reviews have focused on the materials design and assembly of aqueous batteries, the utilization of HB chemistry is overlooked. Herein, instead of merely compiling recent advancements, this review presents a comprehensive summary and analysis of the profound implication exerted by HB on all components of the aqueous batteries. Intricate links between the novel HB chemistry and various aqueous batteries are ingeniously constructed within the critical aspects, such as self‐discharge, structural stability of electrode materials, pulverization, solvation structures, charge carrier diffusion, corrosion reactions, pH sensitivity, water splitting, polysulfides shuttle, and H2S evolution. By adopting a vantage point that encompasses material design, binder and separator functionalization, electrolyte regulation, and HB optimization, a critical examination of the key factors that impede electrochemical performance in diverse aqueous batteries is conducted. Finally, insights are rendered properly based on HB chemistry, with the aim of propelling the advancement of state‐of‐the‐art aqueous batteries.