bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immature Platelet Fraction as a Predictor of Recovery of Platelets in Febrile Thrombocytopenia Patients
Authors: Deepak P. , Kumar M. Srujan , Harshika Ch.
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

Infection is the most common cause of thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia is a common hematological abnormality in infections such as viral (dengue), malaria, rickettsial infections, and leptospirosis which demands platelet transfusion in many severe cases. Although platelet transfusion is lifesaving, it has its own hazards. Hence, we used new parameters such as immature platelet fraction (IPF), which is a measure of reticulated platelets that reflects the rate of thrombopoiesis. This study was performed to assess the role of IPF in predicting platelet recovery in febrile thrombocytopenia patients.

Materials and Methods:

Blood samples from 50 patients were collected for IPF on day 2 of admission with 5 days of platelet count (day 1 through day 5 of admission). IPF is analyzed by Sysmex XE-2100 hematology analyzer in the platelet channel with fluorescent dye and carefully designed gating system and counted with a special software IPF master 7. IPF values against platelet count were assessed separately from day 1 to day 5.

Results:

The reference intervals of IPF >8% and IPF <8% were assessed against platelet count. An increase in IPF favored an increase in platelet count on day 4 and day 5. It was found that IPF has a strong correlation with the recovery of platelet counts. In patients with febrile thrombocytopenia, 82.4% of patients showed recovery within 24 h after attaining the peak IPF. One hundred percent of patients showed recovery within 24–48 h of the rise of the IPF.

Conclusion:

A rapid and inexpensive automated measurement of IPF can be integrated as a standard parameter to evaluate the thrombopoietic state of the bone marrow. From the study, we concluded that IPF is an important predictor of increase in platelet count. Increase in IPF >8% suggests that platelet count will be increased in the next 48 h indicating that further platelet transfusion will not be required.
A Clinical Study on Musculoskeletal Changes Seen in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Single-Center Study
Authors: Jayashankar C. A. , Vasu Sharanya Anasosalu , Mathew Harsha Anie , Pinnelli Venkata Bharat Kumar , Shalini A. S. , Spandana S. P.
Published: February 2023

Background:

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may affect the musculoskeletal (MSK) system in a variety of ways. The impacts can be debilitating enough to impair functional ability and quality of life. MSK complications are the most common endocrine arthropathies which are often under-recognized and poorly treated. This study was done to evaluate the prevalence of MSK complications and its correlation with microvascular complications of T2DM given the paucity of similar studies in India particularly South India.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 130 diabetic patients at a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru. The patient’s demographic details, clinical profile including history, general physical examination, systemic examination, and relevant investigations were done to record microvascular complications. A thorough MSK system examination along with imaging of bones and joints was also performed.

Results:

Out of 130 diabetic patients, 21 patients (16.2%) had MSK complications of which 47.6% (n = 10) of them had carpal tunnel syndrome and 42.8% (n = 9) had frozen shoulder and 9.5% (n = 2) had diabetic amyotrophy. It was also noted that patients who were on oral hypoglycemic agents alone were more likely to develop MSK complications (57.14%) than patients solely on insulin (14.2%). Poor glycemic control, existing microvascular complications, and low high-density lipoprotein were found to be associated with increased risk of MSK complications.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of MSK complications in T2DM patients is quite significant and is also associated with microvascular complications. Improved glycemic control in T2DM was found to reduce the burden of such complications. Early identification of MSK complications can improve the quality of life in diabetic patients and hence demands proper screening and follow-up.
Autopsy findings in deaths following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination
Authors: Chaganti Padmavathi Devi , Konkay Kaumudi , Karri Maruthi Devi , Panchakarla Geetha Vani , Mandava Vijaya Sree
Published: February 2023

Background:

Vaccination has emerged as an effective tool to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 disease (COVID-19). Concerns regarding adverse effects of vaccine are one of the reasons for vaccine hesitancy. One way of addressing the concerns is by studying post-vaccination deaths. This article presents the autopsy findings of the six individuals who died within 6 weeks post-COVID-19 vaccinations.

Methods:

This was a retrospective study of autopsies done between January and June 2021 in recipients of COVID-19 vaccination. All the organs were preserved. After adequate fixation, the organs were grossed and sections were taken.

Results:

A total of 6 patients who died after receiving COVID-19 vaccine were autopsied during the study period. All six cases had received Covishield® vaccine. All the individuals were aged between 40 and 60 years, with four males and two females. The duration between vaccination and death ranged from 24 h to 11 days. Three cases had pathology in the kidney, two cases showed pathology in the heart and one case showed pulmonary oedema in both lungs.

Conclusions:

This article throws light on post-mortem findings of deaths associated with COVID-19 vaccination.
Burden of depression, stress and anxiety amongst faculty in a medical college
Authors: Arora Deepti , Bhardwaj Atul , Singh Manpreet , Pahuja Hardik , Shalika
Published: February 2023

Background:

Stress, anxiety and depression are common nowadays with having debilitating effects on the affected person. Doctors face a lot of stress owing to various reasons. This stress affects them on a personal level and a professional level too.

Methods:

Fifty one faculty members willingly participated in the study. A self-reported depression anxiety stress scale (DASS)-42 along with a semi-structured pro forma was distributed amongst the faculty members of a medical college and hospital at Rajpura.

Results:

Most of the participants were female (60.8%) and married (86.3%). Majority were from the age group of 30–39 years (49%). Half of the faculty experience mild (25.5%)-to-moderate (25.5%) levels of depressive symptoms, about one-third reported moderate (33.3%) anxiety symptoms and about 43.1% reported mild stress symptoms.

Conclusions:

High extent of depression, anxiety and stress is present in faculty of a medical college. The contributory factors related to this stress, anxiety and depression need to be studied further. Mental health and working environment of the faculty need to be addressed.
Location and morphological study of pterion – A landmark for keyhole neurosurgical procedures
Authors: Roy Poulami , Deb Novonil , Kar Maitreyee , Khatun Argina
Published: February 2023

Background:

Pterion is the conjunction of four bones of the skull, which is clinically significant because of the middle meningeal artery that passes beneath it. It forms an important landmark for neurosurgical approaches to the anterior and middle cranial fossa.

Methods:

Two hundred and forty dried human skulls were studied on both sides for variations in the morphology of pterion. Distance of the significant anatomic landmarks was calculated from the centre of the pterion using slide callipers.

Results:

Sphenoparietal type (70%) was most commonly found among the specimens followed by stellate (25%) and epipteric (5%) pterion. No intertype variation was noted. Higher percentage of asymmetric combinations (60%) were observed compared to symmetric combinations (40%).

Conclusions:

Variation in the morphology as well as the location is crucial for drilling burr holes for evacuating extradural haematomas and performing other procedures.
Assessing awareness and knowledge level of clubfoot among a rural city population in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Alasbali Majed Shaker , Altammami Abdulaziz Fahad , Alharbi Ahmed Abdullah , Aljurfi Muhamad Muslim , Alhumaidan Abdullah Ibrahim , AlKhudhair Mohammed Riyadh , Almuslmani Walid Bandar , Alkhalife Yasser Ibrahim
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

Clubfoot is among the most common musculoskeletal congenital anomalies. Poor understanding of clubfoot can cause lack of awareness that leads to complications in treating this condition because of late medical intervention. This is considered as a significant public health problem, especially in communities where the burden of clubfoot deformity remains unrecognized. We assessed the level of awareness and knowledge on clubfoot among residents of rural areas and determined the knowledge and attitudes of the public toward the risk factors and general consequences of clubfoot.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study, conducted from January to July 2021, included the general population of small city and rural area residents. The participants completed a self-administered survey on the web. The questionnaire was pre-tested in a pilot study to ensure comprehension and ease of administration.

Results:

Altogether, 41.6% of the participants recognized the scientific name of clubfoot in their native language, whereas 38.9% identified the disorder after they were shown a photograph of it. The most recognized risk factors of clubfoot according to the participants were family history (52.2%), complicated pregnancy (46.5%), and medications (43.4%). Only 8.8% of the participants considered casting the initial treatment of clubfoot.

Conclusion:

An individual’s residential area plays a role in their level of awareness concerning clubfoot. Our results suggest that many educational interventions for clubfoot must be provided in rural areas, particularly regarding therapeutic options and plans of care.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome in Scrub typhus – An under recognized complication!
Authors: Kamath Sangita , Ahmed Tauheed , Kumar Manish , Sunder Ashok
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. It usually presents with high-grade fever, body aches, and skin rash. We report the case of a woman who presented with acute febrile illness, bilateral pneumonia, and severe hypoxemia. The presence of a typical eschar on the abdomen, made us suspect scrub typhus. Anti-O. tsutsugamushi Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody in the serum was detected in significant titers. She was treated with intravenous doxycycline and supplemental oxygen. Thus, scrub typhus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of febrile illness with acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Association between ivermectin treatment and mortality in COVID-19: A hospital-based case-control study
Authors: Kirti Ravi , Ranjan Alok , Porel Rajdeep , Agarwal Ketan , Tahaseen Shaik M. , Shyama  , Kumar Anjani
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that exposure to ivermectin in early disease prevents mortality due to COVID-19. A secondary objective was to see if the drug has any impact on the length of hospital stay among the survivors.

Methods:

It was a hospital-based retrospective case-control study conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in India. All patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 who were admitted between 1st April and 15th May 2021 and received inpatient care were included. Important variables like demographic details, dates of admission and discharge or death, symptoms at the time of admission, comorbidities, severity of illness at the time of admission, whether ivermectin was administered or not during the course of the illness and other treatments received as part of the standard of care were retrieved from the medical records.

Results:

Of the 965 patients who received inpatient care, 307 died during their hospital stay while 658 were successfully discharged. The proportion of cases treated with ivermectin was 17.26% among the non-survivors (53/307) and 17.93% among the survivors (118/658). The effect was statistically insignificant (crude OR = 0.954; 95% CI: 0.668–1.364, P = 0.80). Among the survivors, the median length of stay was 11 days for patients who received ivermectin (IQR: 7–15) as well as for those who did not (IQR: 7–16).

Conclusion:

This study did not show any effect of ivermectin on in-patient mortality in patients with COVID-19 and there was no effect of the drug on the length of hospital stay among the survivors.
Comparison of the epidemiological features of COVID-19 patients in the first and second waves: A study from South India
Authors: Meethal Arjun C. , Chathoth Anuradha T. , Anaswara Naveen
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has seen multiple surges globally since its emergence in 2019. The second wave of the pandemic was generally more aggressive than the first, with more cases and deaths. This study compares the epidemiological features of the first and second COVID-19 waves in Kozhikode district of Kerala and identifies the factors associated with this change.

Methods:

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Kozhikode district. A total of 132,089 cases from each wave were selected for the study using a consecutive sampling method. Data were collected from the District COVID-19 line list using a semistructured proforma and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) ver. 18.

Results:

The second wave had a higher proportion of symptomatic cases (17.3%; 20.1%), cases with severe symptoms (0.3%; 0.6%), intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (11.2%; 17.9%), and case fatality rate (0.69%; 0.72%). Significant difference was noted in the age, gender, locality, source of infection, comorbidity profile, symptom, and the pattern of admission in various healthcare settings between the first and second wave. Among the deceased, gender, duration between onset of symptoms and death, comorbidity status, and cause of death were significantly different in both waves.

Conclusion:

The presence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant, as well as changes in human behavior and threat perception as the pandemic progressed, resulted in significant differences in various epidemiological features of the pandemic in both waves, indicating the need for continued vigilance during each COVID-19 wave.
Impact on Kayakalp scores after undertaking of a primary health center by community medicine dept. of a medical college of J and K
Authors: Gupta Sujata , Razdan Nazuk , Sangra Sonika , Bala Jyoti
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

To complement the Swachhata Abhiyaan effort, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, initiated “KAYAKALP.” Kayakalp is an initiative to improve the cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation of public health facilities by recognizing and giving awards to those who exhibit a high level of cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control. Our study aimed to assess the level of cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control practices in the health care facility after undertaking by the department of Community Medicine of a medical college.

Methodology:

A retrospective comparative observational study was conducted at RHTC in the Kathua district of UT J and K. We compare the level of cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control practices using the Kayakalp scoring tool before and after taking over by the department of Community Medicine of a medical college. The scoring for various areas of concern is based on a checklist for quality assessment which includes facility upkeep, sanitation and hygiene, waste management, and infection control.

Results:

The total scores vary before and after undertaking of a Primary Health Center (PHC) by the Community Medicine Department of new medical college of J and K. Overall scores vary from the baseline score of 56% before to 84% now after 2 years of the undertaking.

Conclusion:

Resource management and capacity building under the guidance of public health professionals can result in a significant increase in hygiene, cleanliness, and infection control. So integrated approach involves public health specialists and other medical professionals like medical officers, field workers, sanitary inspectors. etc., can be helpful in recognizing the challenges and barriers.
Comparative study of risk assessment for noncommunicable diseases among out patients visiting urban and rural health centers in Belagavi, Karnataka
Authors: Kulkarni Rajesh R , Sriram TR , Wali Abhinandan R
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Purpose/Background:

Hence, this comparative study of risk assessment was carried out among out patients visiting urban and rural health centers. This study aimed to find out and compare the risk factors for NCDs among out-patients visiting urban and rural health centers.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was carried out in Urban health centre Rukmini Nagar and Rural health centre Vantamuri. Using convenient universal sampling, 200 out-patients from urban area and 200 from rural area were selected. The data were entered into MS-EXCEL and analyzed using SPSS software.

Results:

In urban area, males were more common (53.7%), whereas females were more common in rural areas (53.8%). Maximum study participants were laborers in urban area (24.5%), whereas home makers were common in rural area (40.5%). Most people in urban areas (11.5%) were indulged in smoking, whereas only 5% smoked in rural area. Participants in urban area had higher waist circumference (20.5%) than those in rural area (17.5%). Physical inactivity was more in rural area (68%), as compared to urban area (47%). 29.5% of participants were found to be at risk for NCDs in urban area, whereas 30% of those were found to be at risk in rural area.

Conclusions:

Awareness regarding ill effects of risk factors: smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and obesity should be created among the community through health education and behavioral change communication to prevent its progression as a disease in future.
Prevalence of growing pains in a general paediatric OPD: A descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study
Authors: Khuntdar Bidyut K. , Mondal Sumon , Naik Surjit , Mohanta Mahesh P.
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Context:

Growing pain (GP) is a common presentation in primary care settings.

Aims:

To find out the prevalence of GP and to observe its characteristics and associations.

Settings and Design:

General paediatric outpatient department (OPD).

Methods and Material:

Children coming to the general paediatric OPD of a tertiary centre in India between April 2019 and March 2020 for ‘chronic leg pains’ were screened with Peterson’s criteria. Patients with systemic illness were excluded. All received vitamin D and calcium supplementation. Patients with haemoglobin less than 11 gm% received additional 3 mg/kg iron supplementation. Then, patients were asked for follow-up.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Chi-square test.

Results:

A total of 333 children were diagnosed as GP out of the total OPD attendance of 26750. The prevalence was 1.24% and 72.7% among the children with chronic leg pain. Highest prevalence was in winter (1.74%). The mean age of the patients was 7.88 years. The mean duration of symptoms was 10.92 months. After 3 months, 267 patients could be followed up. Seventy-two out of 107 (67.3%) children, who received iron became symptom-free. Only 43 (28.8%) patients became symptom-free out of 160, who received only calcium and vitamin D3 and did not receive iron. The difference was highly significant statistically (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of GP in the OPD was 1.24% and 72.7% among the children with chronic leg pain. Iron supplementation along with vitamin D3 and calcium was associated with faster resolution of the symptoms.
Comparison of the angle deviation of the nose line to the mentum and Mallampati test in predicting the difficult airway before anesthesia
Authors: Parish Masoud , Rouhani Alireza , Deljavan Sanaz Irannejad , Abedini Naghi
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

A high percentage of dangerous events in anesthesia occur due to airway problems, and proper airway management is always one of the key points during anesthesia. Airway management in critically ill patients is one of the most stressful situations for primary care physicians and even for anesthesiologists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomical features of patients’ airways, including the angle of deviation of the nasal line from the nasal to the mentum (NMLD), and perform a Mallampati test.

Method:

This cross-sectional study was performed on all patients admitted to Shohada Hospital in Tabriz, Iran, who were candidates for elective surgery for 1 year and 6 months, and underwent endotracheal intubation. Based on laryngeal observation, patients were classified into four groups. Then, all data related to individuals including type of surgery, age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and nasal mentum line deviation (NMLD) were recorded. Then, all the collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 19.

Results:

A total of 85 patients from 17 to 67 years with a mean age of 37.64 ± 12.89 were studied. There was a statistically significant relationship between laryngoscopy difficulty and Mallampati score (P = 0.001). The findings showed a statistically significant relationship between laryngoscopy difficulty and the mean NMLD (P = 0.01). A Mallampati of 85% indicates laryngoscopy difficulty. Also, NMLD can predict laryngoscopy difficulty by up to 66%.

Conclusion:

The present study demonstrated that both the Mallampati score variable and NMLD are related to the difficult airway problem. Furthermore, the Mallampati score has a higher predictive value for difficult intubation than the NMLD.
Study of health seeking behaviour in parents of children in a population-based childhood visual impairment study in North India – “CHVI 2”
Authors: Wadhwani Meenakshi , Vashist Praveen , Singh Suraj S. , Gupta Vivek , Saxena Rohit , Gupta Noopur
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

The background of this study is to determine the awareness about health seeking behaviour (HSB) in parents of visually impaired children in a population-based study.

Methods:

The study was conducted in population <16 years in urban area of North India. A total of 20,955 (97.3%) children underwent visual acuity examination. Of these, 789 children were referred to the centrally based clinic with unaided visual acuity <6/12 in any eye for undergoing detailed ophthalmic examination.

Results:

Along with ocular examination, the parents of these 789 referred children, were interviewed for the questions related to HSB, the most common ocular symptom known to them was redness of eyes followed by watering and diminution of vision, 249 (34.6%) denied for any ocular problem in their children previously, amongst the remaining 469 parents/care takers with any ocular problem, a total of 367 (51.1%) referred children wore glasses and the proportion of parents wearing glasses was similar amongst these children (11.7% fathers and 11% mothers). Amongst the 118 respondents of visually impaired children (presenting visual acuity less than 6/18 in better eye with available correction), 56 (47.5%) denied for any ocular problem in their children previously, of the remaining 62 (52.5%), parents, 58 (93.5%) had consulted various healthcare agencies, 45.8% of the respondents reported not said that their children wore glasses prescribed to them. Only 24 (20.3%) respondents were aware that Vitamin A is good for eye health.

Discussion:

Diminution of vision, watering and redness of eyes were the most common ocular symptoms known to parents of referred children. HSB can be further improved via primary healthcare physicians by primary healthcare creating awareness about importance of wearing glasses and healthy diet in parents of visually impaired children.
Evaluation of treatment response results in patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus undergoing surgery
Authors: Komlakh Khalil , Oveisi Hamidreza , Aghamiri Seyed Hossein
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is an important surgical method in the treatment of various forms of adult hydrocephalus and in many cases is more effective than traditional methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of response to treatment in patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus undergoing endoscopic third ventriculostomy surgery.

Materials and Methods:

This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 24 patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus who underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy. The patients were selected by the available sampling method, and the data were collected through a researcher-made checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS-26 software.

Results:

Among 24 patients, 62.5% were male and the mean age was 70.85 ± 9.1 years. The results showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between age (P value = 0.43) and sex (P value = 0.37) with the success and failure rate of the surgical method. There was a significant difference between movement disorders (P value = 0.00) and dementia (P value = 0.00) before and after surgery, while there was no statistically significant difference between urinary disorders before and after surgery (P value = 0.22).

Discussion and Conclusion:

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is an effective surgical method in the treatment of patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus and it improves the symptoms of movement disorder and dementia.
Prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in fibrocavitary pulmonary tuberculosis patients
Authors: Rajpurohit Rakesh , Wagh Pankaj , Heda Mamta , Dubey Gaurav , Gujar Pankaj S.
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a global health issue. While the lungs are the most commonly affected, infections can also affect other organs. Because of the rise in immunocompromised hosts, the number of opportunistic infections has skyrocketed. In instances of aspergilloma and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is the most usually linked condition.

Material and Methods:

The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 42 study participants from January 2018 to June 2019.

Results:

Aspergilloma was observed in two participants (4.8%) of the study population. Candida growth was observed in five participants (11.9%) of the study population on sputum fungal culture. Aspergillus growth and Candida growth was observed in three (7.1%) and two (4.8%) participants of the study population, respectively, on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fungal culture. Aspergillus IgG antibody was positive in four particpants (9.5%) of study population. Out of the 42 participants, four were diagnosed with CPA.

Conclusion:

Since CPA and PTB patients present similar symptoms, it is virtually impossible to distinguish between the two unless serological test is performed. There has been a significant burden of patients with CPA, especially in post tuberculosis fibro-cavitation. CPA patients requires long-term anti-fungal therapy; hence an improved case detection should be undertaken.
A Current-Source Converter with a Hybrid Dc-dc Converter Interfacing an Electric Vehicle and a Renewable Energy Source
Authors: Oliveira Catia F. , Rodrigues Ana M. C. , Pedrosa Delfim , Afonso Joao L. , Monteiro Vitor
Published: February 2023

The increasing demand for electricity and the impact of the consumption of fossil fuels leads to the need for approaching new alternatives of energy production, namely energy storage systems (ESS) and renewable energy sources (RES). For this purpose, this paper presents a single-phase current-source converter (CSC) with a hybrid dc-dc converter connected to the dc-link, which not only allows the interface of an electric vehicle (EV) and a RES, but also operates as shunt active power filter (SAPF). The operation as SAPF is performed through the CSC connected to the power grid, compensating some power quality problems that can occur in the electrical installation, namely current harmonics and low power factor. Moreover, the CSC can operate as a grid-tied inverter or as an active rectifier. Regarding the hybrid dc-dc converter, the main role of this power converter is to interface the CSC dc-link with the power converters for the EV and RES interfaces. As demonstrated along the paper, the CSC, combined with the hybrid dc-dc converter, allows the operation as SAPF, as well as the operation in bidirectional mode, specifically for the EV operation, and for injecting power from the RES. In this paper, the power electronics structure is described in detail, and the operating principle is introduced, supported by the description of the control algorithms. The validation results show the proper operation of the CSC as SAPF and the operation of the hybrid dc-dc converter as EV battery charger and discharger, as well as RES interface.
Ethiopia’s Criminal Law Evolution from the Perspectives of Major Legal Theories: An Overview
Authors: Assefa Simeneh Kiros
Published: February 2023

This article reviews the various theories of law applied throughout the modern development of the Ethiopian system of rules from a criminal law perspective. As is elsewhere, the initial influences mainly relate to the natural law theory. Later, positivisation evolved as part of the modernisation of law. Further, as part of the modernisation of society, the social theory of law evolved. With the PMAC coming to power, the Marxist theory of law crept in. The excessive connection between law and politics glamoured the instrumentality of the law. This got prominence in the post-2005 election in Ethiopia. The theories of law are abstracted from the manner the laws were designed, or the way they are implemented. The discussion looks into the difference between the statutes and the application of criminal law. Further, it shows that legal theory has a method aspect.  I finally argue for the pragmatic instrumentality of the law.
Integrating Traditional and State Institutions for Conflict Prevention: Institutional, Legal and Policy Frameworks in Ethiopia
Authors: Halefom Awet
Published: February 2023

Despite the prevalence of traditional institutions and the growing official and academic need to ‘recognize,’ ‘empower’ and incorporate them in the state system, competition and harmony between the two persists.  There are seventy-six officially listed ethnic groups in Ethiopia, and there exists a great plurality of livelihoods, social organizations, belief systems, and political and legal systems in the country.  Notwithstanding the human right issues, traditional institutions operating outside the state are the dominant form of conflict prevention and resolution in Ethiopia. However, the relationship between traditional institutions and state institutions remains unclear. Previous researches either focus on the constitutional set-up and legal framework of states, or their scope is too specific relating to local case studies and their relationship with the state local institutions.  This relationship does not, however, only involve legal issues or concerns at the bottom, but it is also an issue of governance and political structure.  This article is based on content and document analysis and examines the harmony and competition between the state and traditional institutions in Ethiopia. I argue that despite their practical prevalence, the policy, legal and institutional frameworks in Ethiopia do not plainly address the relationship between the state and traditional institutions. Although de facto recognition seems to exist, the practice shows that the state that envisages the importance of traditional institutions undermines their role in case of conflict with state institutions.
Major Themes in the Study of Ethiopian Customary Laws (Amharic)
Authors: Muradu Abdo
Published: February 2023

The literature covered in this Article reveals different perspectives. On the one hand, there is the idea that customary law systems should be set aside as they are inimical to national development and unity.  On the other hand, there is the view that those customary legal systems which do not offend individual rights shall be given due place owing to their multifaceted benefits while only those customary laws which violate individual rights shall be abolished is gaining importance. The issue of whether customary laws should be given recognition on account of collective identity or because of their instrumental value is not addressed in the researches reviewed. The interface between customary law systems and state legal system is not fully investigated in the existing literature on the subject. There is some research conducted on customary law systems of Ethiopia on the initiative and financial support of the Government at Federal or regional levels. The initiative aims at deploying these researches as inputs for legal and institutional reform, to use them for the benefit of the current generation as well as to preserve, improve and pass them on to the next generation. This article recommends that researches on customary law systems of Ethiopia conducted by anthropologists, social workers, historians and political scientists deserve future review as the current article has not considered them. Those customary legal systems of Ethiopia which are not yet studied or insufficiently studied warrant exploration. Notwithstanding various research initiatives with the financial support of international institutions, there is a need to have government-led and financed study on customary systems of the country. There should be an institution which assumes this responsibility. The extent of recognition given to customary law systems in the Federal Constitution, proclamations and policies should be duly examined; and there should be policy and detailed legal framework regarding customary law systems of the Country.
Alkaline Protease Production by Immobilized Klebsiella aerogenes Cells from Dairy Effluent Sludge
Authors: Osho M.B. , Akhigbe G.E. , Adekoya G.A.
Published: February 2023

This study investigated the screening of alkaline protease microorganism from diary effluent sludge and identified by 16S ribosomal RNA nucleotide  sequence as Klebsiella aerogenes with accession number MF156964.1 and maximum identity 95.45%. The cells were immobilized with coconut pod husks  and optimization studies such as the effects of particle sizes, pH, temperature, agitation speed, and incubation time were determined. Out of  twenty three microorganisms screened, three were potential protease producers. K. aerogenes gave the highest zone of hydrolysis (35 mm) on the  skimmed milk agar plate. The particle size (0.075 mm2) of the immobilization agent gave the highest enzyme activity 176.83 U/mL. The optimum  incubation time for the production of protease was 48 h with enzyme activity 143.054 U/mL which further declined. The optimum pH of the protease was  pH 9.0 with activity 209.61 U/mL which made it alkaline. The agitation speed 150 rpm resulted in a protease activity 175.83 U/mL and reduced by 56.5% at  250 rpm. The optimal temperature 35 ºC was 183.78 U/mL. This study also confirmed the stability and reusability of the immobilized cells using the  coconut pod husks matrix by maintaining from 100% to 76.2% up to six times recycle. Conclusively, the study established the efficiency of low cost, readily  available matrix and reusability potentials of coconut pod husks for cells immobilization technology through entrapment at optimal conditions for  protease production.
Impact of Solid Waste on Soil Bacterial and the Municipal Waste Management in Some Communities of Lagos Island
Authors: Yakubu J.M. , Udochukwu U.
Published: February 2023

The effects of solid waste on soil and soil sentinels cannot be over emphasized. On the other hand, managing municipal waste has a serious challenge.  This study focused on the impact of solid waste on soil bacteria and the municipal waste management in some communities of Lagos Island which are  Dolphin and Adeola Odeku Village. This study aimed at examining the present municipal waste management practices in Lagos Island and how they can  be improved upon. Random sampling was used to administer 100 questionnaires to households while the different heavy metal concentrations in the soil  samples were determined using Buck 200 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The wastes were mainly composed of food wastes,  plastics/pet bottles and nylon. Although the majority of the respondents (65%) had waste bins/bags assigned to their houses, about 73.86% did not sort  their wastes. The concentrations of the heavy metals (Co, Zn, Ni, and Mn) in the soil samples were higher in Dolphin and Adeola Odeku village compared  to the control soil sample. The bacterial isolates identified from the soil samples are Corynebacterium spp., Enterobacter spp., Flavobacterium spp.,  Acinebacter spp., Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., Bacillus subtilis and Micricoccus leteus. SWOT analysis revealed the need to improve environmental awareness  to minimize the threat of low sorting of wastes. Also, opportunities exist for recycling plastics/pet bottles and nylon while wastes from food  materials could benefit agriculture through composing. This study suggests that more environmental awareness, policies, and better administration are  needed to improve the status of waste management in urban communities of Lagos Island.
K-8 Preservice Teachers’ Statistical Thinking When Determining Best Measure of Center
Authors: Nguyen Ha , Maher Eryn M. , Chamblee Gregory , Taylor Sharon
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine K-8 preservice teacher (PST) candidates’ statistical thinking when selecting the best center representation for the given data. Forty-four PSTs enrolled in a Statistics and Probability for K-8 Teachers course in a university located in the southeastern region of the United States were asked to complete a 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress test item. All 44 PSTs’ data were qualitatively analyzed for correctness and statistical thinking strategies used. Findings were that most PSTs either incorrectly selected the mean, rather than median, as the best measure of center for the given data or did not use appropriate statistical reasoning when explaining their answers. Future research includes modifying the explanation component so PSTs must better explain their statistical thinking for their choice of best measure of center using the context of the problem. Future research could also include implementing a pre- and post-test design with the post-test item embedded in the final exam. This design will provide additional understanding of how much knowledge PSTs bring to the course versus how much they learn in the course and provide incentive for giving thoughtful consideration for their answers.
Surveying Parents’ Attitudes towards the Hazards of Children's Toys
Authors: AL Jadidi Nadia Ahmed A.
Published: February 2023

The research aims to reveal the awareness of children's parents about the hazards of their children’s toys from the age groups (1-9 years). To examine the extent of their awareness of toy hazards and assess their attitudes towards them, the "case study" method was used. A survey was also built on the hazards of children's toys for this age group. The research attempted to cover most of the common toys available in the Saudi market. A random sample of 422 individuals who deal with children participated in the research. The findings revealed that the sample's responses to the hazards of toys were not reflective of the real risks. Also, most of the respondents do not read the instructions and warnings attached to the game, due to the lack of an approach or plan. In addition, those instructions and warnings are ambiguous and written in a foreign language which makes them difficult to read. They are often covered by the price tag of the game. The results of the qualitative analysis revealed the sample's perceptions of the forms of hazards in toys. Interpretations varied about the sources of hazards and the interpretation of the instructions attached to them. In light of the current findings, the research recommends that the relevant bodies examine toys according to agreed international standards, and increase consumers' awareness of the role of the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO). There should also be a website for them to communicate directly with the consumer, similar to CPSC, and design national notices directed to the Arab consumer in the Arabic language to impose control over these products and thus protect children from threatening their lives.
Improvement of Reading and Learning Skills through Interactive CD Learning Media
Authors: Nugraheny Yuli , Arief Zainal Abidin , Wibowo Sigit , Pembangunan Heldy Ramadhan Putra
Published: February 2023

This research is a Classroom Action Research with the aim of knowing the improvement of children's reading and learning abilities after being implemented with Interactive CD media. The problem in this study is formulated as follows: 1. Can learning using Interactive CDs in students improve children's early reading skills? 2. Can learning using Interactive CDs improve children's learning? 3. How is the process of improving reading and learning skills through learning using interactive CDs? The method used is a qualitative research method. The sample was 13 students in group B. Data analysis in this study used qualitative descriptive techniques and quantitative data analysis. Data collection techniques are observation and documentation. The results of data processing of children's early reading ability showed an increase in the average class in early reading ability, from an average pre-action of 47% with the Beginning to Develop (MB) category increasing to 59% with the Developing According to Expectations (BSH) category in cycle 1 then increasing in cycle 2 to 84% in the Very Good Developing category (BSB) and at the end of cycle 3 it increased again until it reached an average of 97% in the Very Good Developing category (BSB). Meanwhile, in children's learning motivation, it can be seen that there is an increase in the average percentage of class motivation from pre-action with an average of 44% in the Enough category, increasing to 67% in the High category in cycle 1, then increasing again to 85% in the Very High category in cycle 2 and increasing to 95 % in the Very High category in the 3rd cycle. Meanwhile, in the learning process of reading with Interactive CD media, there was an increase in the Good category from Cycle 1 by 53%, increasing to 86% in the 2nd cycle and 100% in the 3rd cycle. Thus it can be concluded that learning to readand learning with Interactive CD media can improve children's reading and learning abilities.
Students Learning Results of IPS Open Junior High School in Jakarta
Authors: Yusnita Ita , Arief Zainal Abidin , Wibowo Sigit , Fatonah Umi
Published: February 2023

The objective of the research was to study the relationship between Reading Comprehension Ability, Self-Learning, The Utilization of Learning Resources with IPS Learning Outcome. The study was carried out at Open Junior High School DKI Jakarta. The study utilized the survey method. The sample size was 90 taken Multi Stage Sampling from the population. The data were collected using instrument in form of test and questionnaire. The data were analyzed using multiple regression and statistical correlation technique. The research concludes that there is a positive correlation between: 1) Reading Coprehension Ability with IPS Learning Outcome, 2) Self Learning with IPS Learning Outcome, 3) The function of Learning Resources with IPS Learning Outcome. Furthermore, the research finds out that there is a positive correlation between those three independent variables with IPS Learning Outcome. Therefore to improve IPS Learning Outcome can be carried out by improving Reading Comprehension Ability, Self-Learning and The Utilization of Learning Resources.
Detection of Cardiovascular Abnormalities Using Artificial Intelligence and Heart Sounds
Authors: Aminian Komron , Flynn James , Valavalkar Anand , Aminian Ashkan , Aminian Mehran , Aminian Farzan
Published: February 2023

Auscultation of the heart is one of the most crucial techniques physicians use to learn about a patient’s heart. Therefore, a lot of effort has been devoted to developing more sophisticated stethoscopes to assist physicians for better diagnosis. Most of this work has been to design stethoscopes to provide clearer signals. This work is an initial effort to include an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system in the stethoscope to perform a preliminary diagnosis of multiple heart conditions. To train the neural network, heart sounds representing 42 different issues are used. Due to the limited number of training data, noise is added to the available heart sounds. This serves the dual purpose of increasing the training data and to partially account for the variation in the heart sounds collected from different patients. These heart sounds are used to extract features such as mean, median, standard deviation, signal entropy, kurtosis, skewness, etc. for neural network training. An optimal neural network architecture is developed to classify these 42 heart conditions with 98% accuracy.
The Relationship of Intellectual Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence to Students' Learning Outcomes in Intelligence Courses
Authors: Waruno Waruno , Arief Zainal Abidin , Efgivia Mohammad Givi , Hartono Rudi
Published: February 2023

Education is a very important aspect in an effort to improve the quality of human resources in various aspects of social, national and state life, therefore, in carrying out its functions, the POLRI can produce something optimal if the quality and quantity of POLRI members is continuously improved through the provision of quality education. The POLRI education system, which has been colored by military nuances, has an impact on the behavior of POLRI members who are arrogant, unprofessional, so that they are not liked by the public. In an effort to create professional and cultured POLRI members, and able to balance the level of public education, the POLRI education system is structured based on the national education system through the development of Police Science, which currently has a consortium (Institute for Curriculum Cooperation) Police Science at the Ministry of Education and Culture. The method used in this study is a survey method with correlational techniques. The variables of this study consisted of two independent variables, namely emotional intelligence (X1) and intellectual intelligence (X2). While the dependent variable (dependent variable) is the result of learning Intelligence. The population in this study were all participants. Students In Education Formation of the POLRI General Duty Brigadier at the Polda Metro Jaya Lido Bogor State Police School, while the sample of this study was 100 people. The results of this study are 1).There is a positive relationship between emotional intelligence and learning outcomes in intelligence subjects. 2). There is a positive relationship between intellectual intelligence and learning outcomes in intelligence subjects. 3). There is a positive relationship between emotional intelligence and intellectual intelligence together with the learning outcomes of intelligence subjects.