bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Computing-Based Simulation of Intelligent Border Surveillance Using Mobile WSN
Authors: Latif Rana Muhammad Amir , Farhan Muhammad , Khan Navid Ali , Sujatha R.
Published: March 2024

This chapter has simulated and designed the intrusion detection and border surveillance system using mobile WSN technology. Due to increased terrorism globally, border protection has become a crucial issue in every country. Conventionally in border protection, a troop cannot provide security all over time. The authors have simulated the design of border protection by using mobile WSN technology on a CupCarbon simulator tool. They have analyzed the scenario of the smart city. So, a troop can be intimated with intrusions occurring on the border. They have created the authentication protocol for the better security of the application. The security protocol is necessary because the soldier's mobile device can be stolen during the war. It can be going into the hands of the enemy in the situation when troops expire. The Android app can guide the troop in the time of emergency and what the next step should be followed. The authors can check the status of the sensors deployed on the border. They have analyzed these applications based on the application's rating with machine learning techniques.
Evaluation of Rock Mass Rating in Underground Mine Bukit Kachi Using UAV Photogrammetry Method
Authors: Nizar Nur Hidayah Ahmad , Ariffin Muhammad Akmal , Khong Ling Xin , Zabidi Hareyani
Published: March 2024

This paper describes the results of a field investigation with the objective of evaluating the possibility to produce drone-derived 3D digital point clouds sufficiently dense and accurate to determine the rock mass rating (RMR) in the underground mine in Bukit Kachi. Agisoft Photoscan software was used for producing the three-dimensional points cloud from the two-dimensional images' sequences. The rock mass rating was evaluated by using Discontinuity Set Extractor (DSE) and Dips 7.0 in Rockscience software. Results from this research show that 3D digital point clouds, derived from the processing of drone-flight images, were successfully used for reliable representation of discontinuity of the tunnel. According to the results of the analysis, both Tunnel A and Tunnel B are classified as "fair rock." Meanwhile, Tunnel A is failing due to geological conditions of feldspar decomposition that are classified as class I, which is "very poor rock." According to Dips 7.0 analysis, the major direction of discontinuity set of Tunnel A for Window right is N300 – N310, while for Window left is N350 – N360. The most dominant discontinuity direction for Tunnel B Window right is N340 – N350, and the orientation for Window left is N10 – N20. When manual mapping and DSE analysis are compared, both orientations of the discontinuity do not give the same direction due to less data reading in the field and high accuracy from the software.
High Efficiency Milling of Inconel 625 Alloy (Effect of Cutting Condition on Tool Life)
Authors: Kawasaki Kazumasa , Hasegawa Ryuma
Published: March 2024

Inconel 625 alloy consisting of Ni and Cr and others has advantageous properties such as heat resistance and corrosion resistance, which make it a suitable material for application in aerospace, energy, and marine industries. However, it is also a difficult-to-machine material because of factors such as work hardening, low thermal conductivity, and high tool affinity. Therefore, the problems of the tool wear, chipping, and adhesion often occur in milling of Inconel 625 alloy using end mills. In this study, the milling of Inconel 625 was conducted using coated cemented carbide end mills, and the cutting conditions with the high efficiency were investigated under three rotational speeds and four feed rates. The results showed that increasing the feed rate increased the surface roughness, but did not increase the tool life. In addition, the results also showed that increasing the rotational speed did not increase the tool life, but reduced the surface roughness. As a result, the effects of the rotational speeds and feed rates on the tool life were clarified.
Durability Studies of Conventional Cement Concrete and Geopolymer Concrete
Authors: Meesaraganda Lakshmi Vara Prasad , Mazumder Endow Ayar , Reddy L. Ramaprasad
Published: March 2024

The service life of structural members is significantly impacted by the durability of the concrete and that they are made of. The embedded reinforcing steel in durable concrete is protected from corrosion, and the possibility of concrete spalling in the concrete as a result of chemical attack is reduced. This study investigates the effectiveness of geopolymer concretes prepared using fly ash or a mixture of fly ash and slag (SLG). The performance of OPC concrete is likewise evaluated for comparing the durability of geopolymer concretes. This is done in order to compare the two types of concrete. All of the prepared specimens were submerged in theee types of distinct solutions up to 9 months. Four different types of solutions are (i) sodium chloride with 5% concentration, (ii) sodium sulphate 5% concentration, (iii) combination of magnesium sulphate with sodium sulphate with 5% concentration both, and sulphuric acid 3% concentration. The variation in properties were evaluated throughout the duration of the exposure period. According to the findings, it has been demonstrated that Na2SO4 (sodium sulphate) has the most significant effect on the geopolymer concretes, whereas sulphuric acid has the greatest potential to break down OPC concrete. With the effect of sulfuric acid, the strength reduction was 26.57% for OPC concrete and where as for flyash & SLG concretes it is 10.87% & 7.26% respectively. According to the findings, the durability performance of geopolymer concrete is, in general, better to that of cement concrete.
The Implementation of Natural Language Processing in Manufacturing and Service Industry through Skateboard Monitoring Device
Authors: Tanjung Tia , Muhida Riza , Riza Muhammad , Kurniawan Ari , Erlangga Erlangga , Pratama Nofian , Ariani Fenty , Thamrin Taqwan , Endra Robby Yuli , Puspa Ayu Kartika , Susanty Wiwin , Cucus Ahmad
Published: March 2024

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the manufacturing and service industries has witnessed rapid advancements in recent years. One prominent aspect is the utilization of Natural Language Processing (NLP) to facilitate human-machine interactions and enhance efficiency and user experience. This journal explores the implementation of NLP in the context of the manufacturing and service industry, focusing on the skateboard monitoring device. We demonstrate how NLP can improve analysis, prediction, and personalization in skateboard production, providing users with a more interactive and informative experience.
An Approach to Reduce Production Lead Time in the Valve Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Thirumalaimuthukumaran M. , Muruganantham V.R.
Published: March 2024

Lean manufacturing aids improved productivity and product quality by identifying and eliminating waste. The present work aims to utilize Value Stream Mapping (VSM), a lean manufacturing technique to minimize the cycle time in the production of valves. A current state map is developed with available information gathered from the production unit, to identify the time-consuming factors like waiting time, improper inspection, and the lack of material and resources for manufacturing. Problem-solving techniques like 5s, JIT, KANBAN, and KAIZEN are used to reduce time-consuming activities. Value-Added and Non-value-added activities are identified through Current State Map. Activities such as placing a purchase order, drawing, assembling, testing, packaging, and shipping are Value-added activities. Non-Value-added activities are identified as rework, inspection, movement, waiting for the next process, and over-processing. The job waiting time between the next process is reduced by 70% using the future state map and the productivity is enhanced.
Implementation of an Automatic Polishing Process with a Conveyor Mechanism
Authors: Muruganantham V.R. , Thirumalaimuthukumaran M. , Akila K. , Bhuvanesh D. , Praveen R.
Published: March 2024

In the current industrial environment, products’ life cycles have become shorter and the need for more sophisticated molds with free-form surfaces has drastically increased. However, the polishing process of a product needs the exceptional skill of an experienced master. It is difficult to increase productivity if the manually operative process is not automated. So, the main objective of this project is to reduce manpower and time consumption of the polishing process in the industry. Which leads to increases in the productivity rate. This project deals with the automation of polishing work by the use of an industrial mechanical arm with a conveyor. Since polishing work, which takes much time, requires experience, patience, and skill, it is manually performed by skilled workers. This project aims at rationalizing such difficult polishing work by introducing a mechanical arm with conveyor and CAD technology. The arm can be equipped with a polishing tool, i.e., Buffing wheels, also known as mops, are either made from cotton or wool cloth and come bleached or unbleached. In addition, the project is to achieve a robust process that results in a consistent surface finish, the roughness of which can be specified and controlled.
Role of Cooling Temperature on Impurities Precipitation of Metal Sulfate Solution Derived from Crude Ferronickel Leaching Using MgO
Authors: Maulidia Alif Azizia P. , Fauzi Delta Zul , Abdul Fakhreza , Setiyorini Yuli , Setyowati Vuri Ayu , Pintowantoro Sungging
Published: March 2024

Nickel is used as a raw material for Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) batteries as a compound of Nickel Sulphate Hexahydrate (NiSO4.6H2O). This study used nickel laterite as ore. A hydrometallurgical process carries out Ferronickel to extract nickel concentrate. The first step is leaching using 2M H2SO4 solution for 6 hours with a stirring speed of 200 rpm at 90°C. The leached solution was then neutralized using a neutralizing agent MgO 5% w/w until it reached a pH of 3.5. The neutralized filtrate was then filtered to separate the filtrate and the residue. The neutralization process produces magnesium sulfate salt (MgSO4), which is an impurity. Next, the cooling temperature method is used to precipitate MgSO4 crystals. In this study, the variation of the MgSO4 cooling temperature used was -5, 0, and 5 °C. Subsequently, crystallization was carried out to produce NiSO4.6H2O. The highest nickel recovery (59.61%) can be achieved using a cooling temperature of -5 °C. Also, by using -5 °C of cooling temperature, the nickel content of crystal product is 2.75%. The crystallization product still contains other compounds, such as MgSO4, FeSO4, and CoSO4.
Investigation into Stress Relaxation and Creep Rate of C47200 Copper Alloy
Authors: Akande Saheed , Ikomi Tuoyo , Azeez Temitayo Mufutau , Ikumapayi Omolayo M.
Published: March 2024

Copper alloys have high thermal conductivity, relatively high mechanical strength, and toughness over a wide range of temperature; hence they are highly sorted for complex structural applications that required extreme heat flux under load. Creep of materials is classically associated with time-dependent plasticity under a constant stress/load at an elevated temperature, often greater than the absolute melting temperature. This research is aimed to study the evaluation of stress and creep rate in copper, identifying the mechanisms at which copper can easily be exposed to stress and creep deformations in structures. A 12 mm diameter copper rod with the composition of 52.05 % CuO and 30.26 % SnO2 was procured locally. Samples from the procured rod were heat treated to 650°C for 30 minutes and cooled in the still air as well as inside the furnace. Creep test was carried out at 760uC with a constant load corresponding to an initial stress (between 1.5 MPa and 350 MPa) and stress relation was carried out on a 98 kN capacity stress relaxation frame (from 350 MPa to 300 MPa). Rockwell hardness test and metallographic analysis (at 200 mm) were also conducted on the heat treated and unheated control samples. It was established that heat treatment reduced the hardness property of stress relaxed copper, accelerated the stress relaxation process up to 60 %, speed up both primary creep rate and the tertiary creep rate as well altered the linear creep pattern and behaviour.
Effect of Core Material Thickness on the Shore Hardness of the Sandwich-Structured Multi-Material 3D-Printed Parts
Authors: Adib Adam Zuyyinal , Pratama Juan , Salim Urip Agus , Suyitno Suyitno , Mahardika Muslim , Arifvianto Budi
Published: March 2024

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) continues to experience improvements in terms of its flexibility and functionality, therefore it attracts public attention to use this technology. Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing (MMAM) is an approach in the FFF technology that allows the manufacturing of 3D-printed products composed of two or more materials in a single printing process. MMAM enables the user to apply various configurations to obtain a 3D-printed material with adjustable properties. This study aims to determine the effect of core material on the Shore hardness of the FFF printed parts with the MMAM approach. There were two types of materials combined with the MMAM approach in this work, namely polylactic-acid (PLA) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The Shore hardness test was conducted according to the ASTM D2240-15 standard. The results showed that the thickness of the core material inserted into the printed material had a significant effect on the hardness value of printed multi-material parts. In addition, the hardness value was highly dependent on the modulus of elasticity of the material. Therefore, the hardness value changed following the proportion of the printed material.
Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome: A rare disorder in a neonate
Authors: Punchihewa D. S. G. , Fonseka J. R. , Jayarathne R. N. , Dayasiri Kavinda , Sumanasekera K. H. T. I. , Dayarathna R. M. A. N. , Nawarathne M. V. D.
Published: March 2024

No abstract available
Effectiveness of reframing as behaviour management technique in paediatric dentistry: A scoping review
Authors: Patil Vidyavathi H. , Hugar Shivayogi M. , Gokhale Niraj S. , Kajjari Shweta , Kohli Neha , Badakar Chandrashekar M.
Published: March 2024

Background: For children with fear and anxiety, dental appointments are considered as stressful situations. The dental literature has mentioned various behaviour management techniques used to reduce the dental fear and anxiety. Reframing is one such technique which is used for behaviour management with wide applications in health sciences. Hence, exploring this technique in the dental literature is of prime importance.Objectives: This scoping review aims to identify the evidence on the effectiveness of reframing as behaviour management technique in children undergoing dental treatment in the available literature.Method: The Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews is followed in this study and relevant published data from case reports, randomized and nonrandomized controlled clinical trials and literature reviews published without restricting time line till August 2023 from online databases of PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest were assessed by two reviewers for their suitability with our aim of study. The data were synthesized using content analysis.Results: Through literature search, 108 articles were found based on search strategy. After screening the titles, keywords and abstract and removing the duplicates only 10 articles were included for full text review. In the end only 5 articles were included for scoping review for their content analysis.Conclusions: The searched literature has revealed that reframing had changed the behaviour of the child towards dental outcomes but the literature is sparse regarding behaviour management technique for children to alleviate fear and anxiety. Also, there were no clinical trials done to know the efficacy of this technique and means to measure the outcome.
A Comparison of Factors Affecting Verbal Aggression Between Japan and China: Emotion and Politeness
Authors: Kawabata Takeyasu , Koizumi Yoshiko , Xioping Li , Chong Wang
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of politeness on verbal aggression in the different cultural contexts of Japan and China. Questionnaire research was administered to 195 Japanese university students and 255 Chinese university students. In the questionnaire, students were asked to recall an incident within a week or two in which they got angry. They were also asked to indicate (1) the intensity of their anger, (2) the hostility of the other party, (3) the degree of emotional regulation, (4) the action taken, (5) rational behavioral tendency, (6) social distance between self and the other party, (7) relative power of the other party, and (8) ranking of imposition. Participants' behavior in (4) was categorized into verbal aggression and other. Logistic regression analysis was conducted on the data from both countries, with verbal aggression and other categorized from (4) as the objective variables and the remaining variables from (1) through (8), excluding (4), as explanatory variables. The results showed that proximity to the other party increased verbal aggression for both Japanese and Chinese participants. Emotional variables – anger and emotion regulation-affected verbal aggression only among Chinese students.
What is Socially Responsible During a Pandemic? Exploring the Role of Values, Trust and Adherence to Covid-19 Preventive Measures With a Mixed-Methods Study on Italian and Greek Young People
Authors: Giovanetti Irene , Dimopoulou Maria-Nefeli , Pavlopoulos Vassilis
Published: March 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a huge impact on people’s lives. Especially at the first stages, adherence to preventive measures was key to decreasing the number of cases, and institutions have been recommending citizens to act in a socially responsible way. Still, during the pandemic people might experience dilemmas on what it means to do so. We employed a mixed-methods approach to investigate similarities and differences in what is perceived as socially responsible among young people in Greece and Italy (Study 1), and to explore the relationships between these different meanings and their antecedents (trust, human values) and consequences (adherence to COVID-19 preventive guidelines) (Study 2). In Study 1 we found that different conceptualizations of social responsibility (SR) are driven by different ideas on what it means to be considerate of others, and these included ways to protect others’ physical and/or mental health; in Italy, acting responsibly mostly assumed a connotation of “respecting the rules”, while Greek participants stressed the importance of the role of “critical thinking”. Coherently, Study 2 provided further evidence that compatibility between what is considered socially responsible and compliance to COVID-19 preventive guidelines is higher in Italy than in Greece; the same pattern was observed for self-reported adherence and trust in institutions. We also found that the meanings of SR are shaped, at least to a certain extent, by human values and level of trust in various societal agents, which may account in part for country differences in behavioral responses to governmental recommendations and measures against spreading of the disease. Our findings raise implications for institutions and scientists on the importance of implementing strategies to effectively foster trust and to frame guidelines in line with the prevalent value systems.
How Collective Childcare Arrangements are Sustained in Rural China During Socioeconomic Transformation
Authors: Jiang Xue
Published: March 2024

The ecological theory of cultural change suggests that socioeconomic development enhances individualism and weakens collectivism. Yet, collectivism in terms of childcare arrangements seems to persist in rapidly transforming China. It is possible that Confucian ideals and rural to urban migration promoted kin-based cooperation and enhanced collectivism. To explore such possibilities, forty-five caregivers of two generations from an ethnic village located in the Southwest of China were invited to share their childcare arrangements, priorities, and histories. Iterative thematic analyses revealed that improved life quality allowed caregivers the time and resources to attend to children’s personal well-being, whilst socioeconomic potentials and limitations pressured caregivers to cooperate for children’s developments. Emphases on psychological autonomy and relatedness, and material relatedness all increased. Further, regardless of migrant status, grandparents (n = 24) and parents (n = 21) readily agreed on childcare cooperation for supporting their children’s education and future mobility. Traditional virtues, such as filial piety, endurance, and sacrifice, fostered caregivers’ reciprocal and kin altruism, proposing the involvement of morality in explaining cultural orientations and changes.
Morbidity among the tribal populations of West Bengal: A study based on data collected from the Mobile Medical Clinic
Authors: Mahapatra Biswajit , Mukherjee Nirmalya , Khatoon Sajda , Bhattacharya Paramita , John Denny
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Tribes are the most socially excluded group in the nation due to their restricted access to healthcare. There are little data on the real burden and distribution of illnesses among tribes. The present study determines the types and patterns of sickness among tribal populations in West Bengal.

Methods:

Five blocks from five districts in West Bengal were used for this cross-sectional study. Between the years 2018 and 2019, 52,189 patients visited these mobile medical clinics (MMCs), but only 36,128 were included in our study. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software (ver. 27.0).

Results:

Younger age groups (1-25 years) show higher primary registration compared to other age categories; older age groups (>60 years) show higher repeat registration. High prevalence in infectious diseases (44.5% of the total primary registration) and high repeated cases in NCDs (11.5% to 33.2%), which are nearly three times higher than primary cases (Cramer’s V test = 0.29; P = .001) are observed. Among the studied MMCs, Binpur II and Matiali MMC have more than two times the risk of gastrointestinal problems, while Madarihat MMC has more than one time the risk. Garbeta II MMC shows more than three times the risk of NCDs (adjusted odds ratio = 3.97; 95% confidence interval: 3.05-5.17) than the other diseases.

Conclusion:

The present study shows high prevalence of infectious diseases, injury and pain, NCDs, gastrointestinal problems, and vertigo in tribal populations of West Bengal.
Oral health-related quality of life among diabetic patients: A cross-sectional controlled study
Authors: Mubayrik Azizah F. Bin , Alhoqail Reem I. , Alhoqail Razan I. , Dous Razan A. B.
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Diabetes is a widespread chronic metabolic condition that has a significant negative influence on a person’s sociopsychological, physical, and economic well-being. This study was designed to (1) measure the impact of oral health on quality of life (QoL) using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) in association with other factors (age, gender, years of diabetes, level of education, smoking, presence of other conditions, oral complaints, and glycemic control) and (2) validate the Arabic version of the OHIP-14.

Materials and Methods:

Diabetic and healthy participants completed a two-part survey including demographic characteristics OHIP-14 questionnaire.

Results:

The sample consisted of 121 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 146 healthy controls. Sociodemographic data, OHIP-14 questionnaires, and glycemic control data were collected. The data were statistically analyzed. The results showed that OHIP-14 was found to have sufficient reliability and validity in measuring life quality. Our study documented the effects of oral health complications on QoL among diabetics compared to controls. The type of diabetes had no effect on life quality. The highest OHIP-14 domain affected was functional limitation, while the lowest one was social handicap.

Conclusion:

It was concluded that diabetes has a negative effect on life quality. Diabetic patients have unsatisfactory oral health, which affects their QoL. The OHIP-14 is a reliable and valuable instrument to measure life quality.
Assessment of psychological distress and its associated factors among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Roshid Md Marufur , Rahman Md Moshiur , Sarker Mohammad H. R. , Rahman Md Jiaur , Prihanto Junaidi B. , Alam Md Nazmul , Eity Kaniz F. , Masud Mehedee H. , Kakehashi Masayuki , Okamura Hitoshi
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Psychological distress may worsen during cancer treatment and affect well-being. Information on the prevalence of distress and its associated variables in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in rural Bangladesh has not been thoroughly explored. To address this, we aimed to assess psychological distress and its associated factors in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in rural Bangladesh. Only adult patients with cancer who were receiving chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. The validated Depression Anxiety Stress Scale was used to assess psychological distress. Frequency and percentages were used in descriptive analysis, and logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate potential associated factors for depression, anxiety, and stress.

Results:

Participants comprised 415 patients with a mean age of 46.3 years. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 61.5%, 55.4%, and 22.0%, respectively. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, patients with more than five family members and smokeless tobacco users had a significant association with depression, anxiety, and stress. In contrast, participants aged >60 years had a protective association with depression.

Conclusions:

Our findings show that patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy experience a high prevalence of depression and anxiety and that the use of smokeless tobacco and having six or more family members are associated with psychological distress. These findings will aid health professionals and policymakers in establishing and implementing improved care programs to ensure the greater mental health of cancer survivors, particularly in resource-limited settings.
APRI as a predictor of severe dengue fever
Authors: Jayachandran Ajith K. , Nelson Vincy , Anisha K.
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The AST/platelet ratio index (APRI) is a well-researched indicator of liver fibrosis. Some studies have shown that APRI can be used as a predictor of severe dengue, but the data is limited. As dengue epidemics are common in our country with limited healthcare resources, we believe APRI can help emergency physicians/primary physicians in predicting the severity of dengue and plan for the appropriate use of limited healthcare resources.

Objective:

1) To determine the utility of APRI as a predictor of severe dengue. 2) To determine the association of APRI with length of hospital stay and platelet requirement.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective cross-sectional study was done on patients presented to the Emergency Medicine department at Travancore Medicity Medical College with a positive Dengue NS1 antigen or IgM antibody.

Results:

We found from the univariate analysis results that ALT > 74.5 IU/L has a sensitivity of 59.6 and a specificity of 76.3 (AUC: 0.696; 95% CI: 0.606–0.786), AST > 160.5 IU/L has a sensitivity of 42.3 and a specificity of 93.7 (AUC: 0.747; 95% CI: 0.665–0.829), and APRI > 3.2 has a sensitivity of 69.2 and a specificity of 84.2 (AUC: 0.806; 95% CI: 0.72–0.884) to predict severe dengue. Patients with an APRI of >3.2 required a mean hospital stay of 5.47 days (P = 0.005); 27 (81.8%) requiring platelet transfusion had an APRI of > 3.2 (P = 0.00).

Conclusion:

APRI is a straightforward index that can be easily derived from AST and platelet values. APRI values of >3.2 can predict severe dengue with a sensitivity of 69.2 and a specificity of 84.2. APRI values of >3.2 are also associated with the length of hospital stay and requirement of platelet transfusion.
A systematic literature review for evaluation of knowledge, attitude, and self-care practice regarding common eye diseases in the healthy general population
Authors: Alamri Abdulrahman , Alshahrani Atheer Saud Nasser , Alshabab Saud Qasem A , Alshehri Shatha Mohammed , Alasiri Raghad Yahya Saeed , Alshehri Shuruq Zafer A , Faya Hamad Khalid , Almousa Mohammed Saeed M , Ogran Mohammad Abdulrahman Hassan , Asiri Bandar Mohammed Mushabbab , Hammour Abdallah Alsayed , Alharthi Waad Saber
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Background and purpose:

Increasing people’s knowledge and then changing their attitude and practice with the aim of taking care of their eye health are very important. Considering the importance of the mentioned topic, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice about eye diseases in the general population of the world in the form of a systematic literature review.

Materials and Methods:

This study was a systematic literature review study, and to do it, a systematic search was conducted in internationally available databases including Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar in the time range of 1998 to 2023. Finally, considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study, the results of 18 articles were extracted.

Results:

The findings showed that in general, people’s level of knowledge about glaucoma was lower compared to other eye diseases, and the level of knowledge of men and women about eye diseases was different. In addition, the results showed that there was significant relationship between age and knowledge of various eye diseases. The results of all evaluated studies showed that people with higher education have more knowledge about eye diseases.

Conclusion:

Based on this, it can be concluded that as glaucoma is one of the most important causes of blindness worldwide, it is necessary to plan to increase the level of public knowledge to recognize the symptoms and complications of this disease. In addition to that, it is necessary to increase people’s advertisement by ophthalmology centers and eye specialists about the use of glasses and also to encourage people to visit the eye physician regularly.
Chronic diseases and illness in schools: Teachers’ confidence in helping students with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Alhammad Mohammed
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

With movement to educate students with intellectual disabilities in special and mainstream schools, a considerable number of students with intellectual disabilities have common chronic diseases such as epilepsy and diabetes. In addition, these students may also face common illnesses, which occur in all students, such as fevers and headaches. Teachers are responsible for their students and provide first aid when needed. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether teachers are confident in their ability to provide help when symptoms related to chronic diseases and illnesses occur.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, questionnaires were sent to 300 male and female teachers of students with intellectual disabilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Results:

The findings illustrate that, in general, teachers have little confidence in helping students with chronic diseases and illnesses. Although the teachers felt that they were less confident in dealing with some symptoms of illnesses and chronic diseases, there were some symptoms that they showed either strong or low confidence in dealing with.

Conclusion:

The recommendations include increasing teachers’ confidence in providing first aid.
Pre-term labour: A study on evaluation of causes and outcome
Authors: Bhattacharjee Rumi S. , Shah Riya J. , Raithatha Nitin S. , Patel Mamta R.
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Despite recent advances in medicine, the incidence of pre-term birth is increasing globally. Approximately 70% of neonatal deaths, 36% of infant deaths, and 25–50% of cases of neurological impairment in children can be attributed to pre-term births. Identification of risk factors in women, supervised obstetric care during pregnancy, female empowerment, and patient education are strategies to minimize the burden of preterm deliveries.

Materials and Methods:

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted over a 1-year period among 658 women in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pramukhswami Medical College, Anand, Gujarat. Detailed history, general, and obstetrical examinations were carried out. Maternal and foetal outcomes were noted. Statistical software STATA 14.2 was used for data analysis.

Results:

The incidence of pre-term birth in our study was 34.95%. The incidence of late pre-term, very term, and extremely pre-term was 28.42%, 4.71%, and 1.82%, respectively. Pre-mature rupture of the membrane was observed among 20.34% of patients with late pre-term labour. IUGR was identified in 9.52% and 15.94% of the very and late pre-term births, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found in the 1 minute and 5 minute Apgar scores between pre-term babies and term babies.

Conclusion:

Pre-maturity is a huge health and financial burden in rural and semi-urban central Gujarat. Pre-mature rupture of membranes, previous MTP, extreme physical activity, and maternal anaemia were the major risk factors linked with pre-term labour. Poor neonatal outcomes like LBW, IUGR, and a low Apgar score were significantly associated with the babies delivered pre-mature in our study.
Tobacco use and dependence among adults residing in an urbanized village, Delhi, India
Authors: Bhandari Yukti , Kishore Jugal , Yadav Abhilasha
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Tobacco use is one of the most significant public health concerns globally as it is a risk factor for chronic illnesses. GATS-2 concluded that 28.6% of all adults currently use Tobacco in India and 17.8% in Delhi. It is important to conduct such surveys in local areas to make specific and effective action plans.

Materials and Methods:

Community-based cross-sectional study conducted between January 2020–June 2021 in Aliganj, an urbanized village in South Delhi. Four hundred ninety participants were enrolled using simple random sampling. The first author conducted the interview using GATS and Fagerstrom nicotine dependence test. Data was analyzed using SPSS-21.

Results:

Median age-35 (26.75–75.00), range-15–84 years. Of the 490 participants, 20.0% were current tobacco users (10.6% smokeless, 7.3% smoked, and 2.2% both). Among current smokers, 78.3% had low, 17.4% moderate, and 4.3% had high dependence on nicotine dependence. Among current smokeless tobacco users, 52.4% had, low, 36.5% moderate, and 11.1% had high dependence. Males had significantly higher odds [6.6 (2.9-15.1)] of tobacco use than females. Higher education [0.3 (0.2-0.8)] compared to no formal education had significantly lower odds of using tobacco. Students [0.1 (0.04-0.4)] and homemakers [0.1 (0.01-0.5)] had significantly lower odds of using tobacco as compared to those employed.

Conclusions:

One in every five adults is a tobacco user in Aliganj. Manufactured cigarettes, bidi, and water pipes were the most common products among smokers. Among smokeless tobacco users, the most common products were chewing tobacco gutka, and khaini. A larger proportion of smokeless tobacco users had high nicotine dependence than smoked tobacco users.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practice about hepatitis B infection among primary health care nurses in Buraidah, Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alajlan Tasneem I. , Jahan Saulat
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Nurses are at increased risk of acquiring HB infection due to occupational exposure. To control this infection, basic knowledge and a positive attitude toward HB prevention are required. This study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of HB infection preventative measures among primary healthcare nurses in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.

Materials and Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted from February to March 2018. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all nurses working in primary healthcare centers. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results:

Of the 335 eligible participants, 262 (78%) responded to the survey. Overall, 41.2% of participants had a moderate level of knowledge about HB; however, there was no significant difference in knowledge between males and females. The majority (94.7%) had positive attitudes toward HB. Male nurses displayed significantly more positive attitudes than female nurses (P = 0.0075). Most of the respondents practiced good compliance with universal precautions. The majority (85.5%) were vaccinated, of whom 72.3% were completely vaccinated. About 14.1% of nurses were exposed to high-risk HB conditions; of these, 40.5% immediately reported their injuries.

Conclusions:

The majority of participants had moderate knowledge and a positive attitude but still need more information about HB prevention. Improving knowledge, attitudes, and good practices regarding hepatitis B prevention will contribute to increased awareness among nurses, leading to improvement in healthcare services.
Prevalence of metabolic disorders among women in reproductive age group in hilly rural area of North India
Authors: Vohra Jai G. , Pathania Abhishek , Vohra Piyush , Singh Gurmeet , Kaur Kiranjeet
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Metabolic syndrome consists of cardiometabolic risk factors that promote the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, type 2 ‘DM’ and obesity. These are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Metabolic disorders (MD) are becoming more prevalent both in developing countries and developed countries and are now considered as lifestyle diseases. In women of reproductive age group, especially pregnancy, the blood glucose level is increasing which adversely affects the health of mother and child. Similarly, high blood pressure also precipitates the problems. This study was carried out to find the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity and ‘MD’ among the women living in remote rural set-up.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was done among women of reproductive age group in 15 villages from 5 panchayats of field practice area of Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College and Hospital, Kumarhatti, Solan. They were screened for ‘MD’ through investigative procedures (weight, height, BMR, abdominal girth, blood pressure through sphygmomanometer, blood glucose through the glucometer method), serum HDL and triglycerides. Respondents from the family were asked about the common/general information of house. The tool used for collecting general and relevant information from the respondent was a questionnaire, which was pretested for validity before being used in the field.

Results:

Four-hundred and sixty-seven women of reproductive age group participated in the study. Half of the participants were with qualification of matriculate and 9.2% participants were illiterate. Three-fourths of the participants were married women and 89% were vegetarian. Sixty-four per cent of participants were housewives. Half of the participants had a normal BMI, whereas 28.9% were overweight and 10% were obese. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among the participants were 12.5% and 9.8%, respectively. Forty-seven per cent participants had a waist circumference above 80 cm.

Conclusion:

The level of non-communicable diseases is related with the MD which has the adverse effect on the various systems and organs of the subjects. The MD can be controlled with the certain changes in the life style pattern. The GOI is also concerned with such scenarios in the country. It is recommended that women of reproductive age group undergo regular blood pressure and blood sugar screenings to detect hypertension and diabetes early and take appropriate measures to manage them.
Diagnosis of a recurred lesion in dermatophytosis patients after 2 weeks of antifungal therapy: A prospective observational study
Authors: Sirka Chandra S. , Behera Bijayini , Pradhan Swetalina , Rout Arpita N. , Sahu Kananbala , Dash Gaurav , Jena Jayanti
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Few researchers believe that various risk factors may complicate the course of dermatophytosis and/or develop various dermatoses unrelated to fungal infection at the previous lesion site. However, there is a paucity of studies that analyzed the diagnosis of lesions that recurred at the treated site of dermatophytosis.

Materials and Methods:

A prospective observational study was conducted on 157 cases of dermatophytosis with positive fungal test results. A fixed dose of 100 mg of oral itraconazole once daily was administered to all patients for 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, patients were assessed for clinical cure and recurrence. Recurred cases were assessed for mycological profile using a fungal test (potassium hydroxide mount and/or fungal culture) for identifying fungal infection.

Results:

Only eight (5.36%) patients showed clinical cure, and 141 (94.63%) patients developed recurrence after therapy. Of the 141 cases with recurrence, only 47 (33.33%) patients were positive for fungus. Eight (5.09%) patients were lost to follow-up. Frequently encountered risk factors in the study were topical steroid use, disease in family, associated atopic dermatitis and contact with pets.

Conclusion:

This is the first study that described the clinical diagnosis and mycological profile of the various lesions recurring at the previous tinea infection site in patients with dermatophytosis. Such patients presented not only with recurrent lesions of fungal infection but also developed various dermatoses unrelated to fungal infection at the sites of previous tinea infection. Various factors, which could have resulted in the observed changes, are reinfection by dermatophytes at the sites of previous tinea infection, inadequate antifungal therapy or antifungal resistance; or due to the effects of various topical steroid formulations used by the patients, such as anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive effects or shift in immunity. Hence, diagnosis of the recurrent lesion at the site of previous dermatophytosis must be individualized and should be based on 1) duration of antifungal therapy received, 2) associated risk factors, 3) response to antifungal therapy, 4) evolution of the recurrent lesion, and/or 5) fungal tests.
A study on prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients attending a rural health and training centre
Authors: Karthiksaravanan K. , Meriton A. S.
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication, affecting up to half the diabetics. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) predominantly affects the hands and lower limbs. It leads to loss of protective sensation, resulting in continuous injury to insensitive feet. The early detection of DPN using an objective screening test followed by its appropriate management is important, as up to 50% of diabetic peripheral neuropathies may be asymptomatic.

Objectives:

To screen diabetic patients attending a Rural Health and Training Centre of a medical college in Tamil Nadu for DPN. To assess the association between DPN and sociodemographic factors, duration of diabetes, glycemic control, physical activity, body mass index, smoking and habit of alcohol consumption.

Materials and Methods:

The study was conducted among 206 diabetic patients attending a Rural Health and Training Centre. Participants were assessed using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI), which involves using a questionnaire followed by a physical examination.

Results:

Of the 206 patients, 61.2% were male, and 38.8% were female. The mean age was 50.86 years (standard deviation [SD] = 12.26 years). The mean duration of diabetes was 8.3 years (SD = 5.5 years). The proportion of diabetics who were screened positive for peripheral neuropathy was 16.5% and 21.8% using the MNSI questionnaire and examination, respectively. Age of 60 years and above was significantly associated with DPN.(OR = 3.982, P value = 0.0001). Duration of more than 5 years of diabetes was also significantly associated with DPN.(OR = 6.01, P value = 0.003).

Conclusion:

A high proportion of diabetics were screened positive for peripheral neuropathy, and many of them were unaware of having the complication. Many risk factors associated with DPN were reported in this study. Thus, early diagnosis and management with MNSI or any other validated screening tool in health care institutions is essential.
Effect of a two-only-meals-a-day and exercise lifestyle on HbA1c and anti-diabetic medication in a follow-up study of subjects with type 2 diabetes attending a free clinic in a north Maharashtra city
Authors: Ashtekar Shyam V. , Ashtekar Ratna S. , Deshmukh Pradeep R. , Powar Jagdish D.
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a global challenge with rising prevalence, inadequate compliance, and poor outcomes.

Aims:

Assess the effect of a 2-only-daily-meals with exercise lifestyle (2-OMEX) on (a) HbA1c, (b) anti-diabetic medication count (ADMC), (c) Kcal intakes, body weight, fasting insulin, and subjective well-being.

Materials and Methods:

This is a single-arm follow-up study conducted in a free 2-OMEX clinic in 2019–2020. Information for two meals and exercise compliance was obtained during the clinic visit. HbA1c was tested by HPLC and fasting insulin by the CLIA/CMIA method in private laboratories.

Results:

Eligible subjects (f = 49, m = 116) completing two or more visits and 60 days of follow-up had a mean age of 55.92 (10.43) years, a T2D duration of 8.20 (6.28) years, and a median observation period of 140 days. Statistically significant changes included HbA1c decline from 7.69 (1.70) to 7.00 (1.20) gm% (equivalent by the LogNormal method to 1.088 gm%), average weight loss at 5%(m), and 2%(f). ADMC declined from 2.32 to 2.14, the difference being significant with the WSR test (z = 2.0087, P = 0.0223). Subjects attaining anti-diabetic medication-free and normoglycemic status (HbA1c < 6.5 gm%) were 20 (12%). The number attaining HbA1c ≤ 7 gm%) significantly rose from 73 (44%) to 101 (61%) with an ADMC of 1.9 (chi-square = 9.531, df1, P = 0.0020203). Participants reported ‘feeling energetic’ (79%), feeling lighter (50%), and better sleep (35%). Average energy intakes dropped by 120 Kcal to 1580/day. Fasting insulin remained unchanged, from 12.61 (11.06) to 12.34 (11.78) mlU/L. The dropout rate was 35%.

Conclusions:

The 2-OMEX lifestyle showed a sizeable, favorable, and significant change in HbA1c, body weight, ADMC use in five months, and subjective benefits. Studies are necessary for remission impact and pathways.