bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thoracic Epidural Chronic Inflammatory Lesion: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Warade Abhijit G , Kini Karishma , Deshpande Ramesh B , Misra Basant K
Published: July 2024

Chronic inflammatory lesions (CIL) in the body are rare and inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is a subtype of CIL. Spine is an uncommon location of CIL, with most cases reported in the thoracic spine. Our objective was to review the current literature on IPT. To the best of our knowledge only about 13 cases are reported till date. A retrospective review of 13 existing cases was done. The etiopathogenesis of CIL is uncertain and total surgical excision remains the mainstay. It’s a diagnosis of exclusion after ruling out commonly found lesions, both clinically and radiologically. Only histopathology can confirm the diagnosis. Total surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment with adjuvant treatment only if there is a residue or a recurrence. CILs are rare lesions in the body with IPT being the commonest. Surgical excision remains the mainstay of treatment and a long-term follow up is warranted.
A Relook at Cerebral Palsy Beyond Motor Pathology: A Cross-Sectional Study of Sensory Processing Abilities
Authors: Mahesan Aakash , Jauhari Prashant , Singhal Mita , Gulati Sheffali , Chakrabarty Biswaroop , Sirolia Vivek , Pandey Ravindra Mohan
Published: July 2024

Background:

Sensory processing refers to receiving, organizing, and interpreting sensory stimuli from the sensory system. Unlike other neurodevelopmental disorders, knowledge about the sensory processing abilities of children with cerebral palsy (CP) is lacking.

Objective:

To study the difference in sensory processing abilities of children with cerebral palsy in comparison to age matched typically developing children (TDC).

Methods and Material:

A cross-sectional analysis of sensory processing abilities of children with CP and TDC was performed from July 2018 through February 2020. The child sensory profile2 (CSP2) caregiver questionnaire was used to detect sensory processing differences (SPD) across nine sensory domains and four sensory processing patterns. A comparison was made between the two study groups as well as between the CP subtypes.

Result:

Around 226 children with CP and 58 TDC were screened. Finally, 150 children with CP and 50 TDC were enrolled. Probable SPD (>1SD) was observed in (121/150) 80.7% of children with CP compared to (13/50) 26% in TDC (p < 0.001). Definite SPD (>2SD) was seen in 40.7% (61/150) of children with CP vs. none in TDC (p < 0.001). The body position domain which tests the vestibular and proprioceptive processing was primarily affected in CP. Most children with CP fell under the “bystander” pattern suggesting poor registration of sensory stimuli. No significant difference in the pattern of sensory processing was observed between the CP subtypes. Prevalence of definite SPD positively correlated with the gross motor functional classification system level.

Conclusion:

Sensory processing abilities of children with CP differ significantly from TDC. Proprioceptive and vestibular sensory processing is primarily affected in CP.
Gait Parameters Change can be an Early Marker of Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Saini Mamta , Subramanian Manicka S. , Rao Abhijith R. , Thakral Meenal , Singh Vishwajeet , Chakrawarty Avinash , Chatterjee Prasun , Dey Aparajit B.
Published: July 2024

Background and Objective:

Gait impairment leads to increased dependence, morbidity, institutionalization, and mortality in older people. We intended to assess gait parameters with the continuum of cognitive impairment and observe variation with the severity of cognitive impairment.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at the memory clinic of a tertiary care center. One hundred and twelve subjects were recruited, and cognition was assessed by the Clinical Dementia Rating scale. Usual gait was assessed by a 6-m walk test, and the dynamic gait was assessed using Biodex Gait Trainer™. Apart from crude analysis, adjusted linear regression was used to find the association of spatiotemporal gait parameters with cognitive decline.

Results:

Subjects were divided into subjective cognitive decline (SCD; n = 38), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 40), and major neurocognitive disorder (MNCD; n = 34) groups. History of falls (23.7% vs. 30.0% vs. 67.7%, P < 0.001) and impaired activities of daily living (ADLs) (5.3% vs. 15.0% vs. 100%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher with cognitive decline. Age- and gender-adjusted regression analysis revealed that usual gait speed (0.8 vs. 0.6 vs. 0.5, P < 0.001) (m/s), total time (3.9 vs. 2.9 vs. 2.6, P = 0.022) (min), total distance (65.6 vs. 55.8 vs. 46.6, P = 0.025) (m), step cycle time (0.6 vs. 0.8 vs. 0.8, P = 0.020) (cycles/s), and step lengths were significant.

Conclusion:

Gait speed and other parameters worsened with increasing cognitive impairment. Changes in gait parameters might be a useful marker of declining cognition, though a long-term follow-up study is required to establish this association. Early intervention could be beneficial in preserving autonomy in patients with cognitive impairment.
Evaluation of Hearing Loss in Patients with Essential Tremor
Authors: Yaka Emis Cansu , Ünal Murat , Dogu Okan
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Essential tremor (ET) is a common chronic progressive disease, characterized by postural and action tremor. Abnormalities within the cerebello-thalamocortical pathways are thought to be involved in ET. In some studies, it was reported that there is an association between ET and hearing loss.

Objective:

In this study, our goal is to examine the electrophysiological changes of the structures forming the auditory pathway in ET cases, and the relationship of these changes with clinical findings and understand if the pathology underlying hearing loss in ET is cochlear or retrocochlear.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred sequential ET patients who had referred to Mersin University Faculty of Medicine Neurology Department, and 100 healthy individuals that are equivalent in terms of age and gender were conducted to investigate this association. Detailed medical history, neurologic examination, audiologic examination, pure-tone audiometry (PTA), tympanometry, and auditory brainstem response (ABR) analyses also known as brainstem auditory-evoked potentials were applied to all patients and controls.

Results:

The mean age of patients with ET was 56.38 ± 16.73, and the mean age of individuals in the control group was 56.47 ± 16.86. Nineteen of the patients with ET, and two healthy individuals from the control group had hearing problems (P < 0.001). In this study, there were no significant differences found in audiometric and ABR examinations in terms of hearing loss between the ET group and control group. However, in audiometric and ABR analyses, an increase in hearing loss was found to be correlated with an increase in tremor severity. In PTA test, hearing loss was higher in those with high-intensity tremor severity than in the group with mild tremor severity. This was statistically significant. P (KW) <0.05 Pposthoc < 0.05. In ABR analysis, it was found that there was a statistically significant difference with the increase of tremor severity at the dominant hand with: wave V latencies of the right and left ear; I-V interpeak latencies of the right ear, and III-V interpeak latencies of the right ear. The difference was between mild and moderate tremor groups.

Conclusion:

This study shows that there could be an impairment in inhibiting the functional transmission in the brainstem of patients with ET.
Associations between Quantitative Sleep Analysis and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults
Authors: Kizilkilic Esra Kochan , Karadeniz Derya , Senel Gulcin Benbir
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

We investigated the role of sleep structure and sleep spindles on cognitive functions in healthy adults.

Materials and Methods:

Our study included 41 participants aged 18–65 years who had no other medical/sleep disorders. All participants underwent full-night polysomnography (PSG). The Standardized Mini-Mental Examination (SMME), Clock Drawing Test (CDT), forward and backward Digit Span Test (DST), Stroop test, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were performed on all participants.

Results:

The study comprised 12 (29.2%) women and 29 (70.8%) men whose mean age was 47.0 ± 12.2 years. The mean forward DST score was significantly better in men than in women (P = 0.025). As age increased, the number of incorrect answers in the Stroop test (P = 0.016) increased. Of PSG data, a shorter duration of superficial sleep was associated with better scores in forward (t = −2.219; P = 0.040) and backward DST (t = −2.463; P = 0.024). Sleep spindle analysis showed that men had a significantly lower density compared with women (P = 0.046). A trend for a negative correlation was observed between increased sleep spindle density and lower Stroop test scores (t = −0.442; P = 0.051). The SMME, CDT, and BDI showed no significant associations with sleep structure. Decreased duration of sleep spindles significantly correlated with higher scores in forward (t = −0.480; P = 0.032) and backward DST (t = −0.489; P = 0.025).

Conclusion:

Our study showed that men had better functioning in attention, although they had a lesser amount of sleep spindles than women. This finding may be explained by socioenvironmental differences between the sexes. Sleep spindle characteristics, such as density and duration, are possibly associated with cognitive functions.
Prognostic Effect of CDKN2A Homozygous Deletion and Beclin 1 in Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Mutant Glial Tumors
Authors: Çoban Ganime , Turna Seval , Şahin Nurhan , Günver Feray , Hatiboğlu Mustafa Aziz , Gücin Zuhal , Elagöz Sahande
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

In the updated World Health Organization Classification of Central Nervous System Tumors, the presence of CDKN2A/2B homozygous deletion is now recognized as the indicative of Grade 4 in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant astrocytomas, and it is associated with a poor prognosis in Grade 4 astrocytomas. Conversely, Beclin 1, a crucial protein in autophagy initiation, exhibits a bidirectional effect on tumor progression and suppression. The objective of this study is to evaluate CDKN2A homozygous deletion in IDH mutant astrocytomas of varying grades, to compare it with microvascular proliferation (MVP) and palisading necrosis, and to analyze the relationship between these findings and Beclin 1 expression, subsequently comparing them with prognosis.

Subjects and Methods:

CDKN2A homozygous deletion and Beclin 1 expression were analyzed in 32 cases with IDH-mutant diffuse astrocytomas of Grades 2, 3, and 4.

Results:

CDKN2A homozygous deletion was detected in one of 10 patients with Grade 2 and in 8 of 17 patients with Grade 4. Beclin 1 was positively stained in 2 of Grade 2 astrocytomas, 4 of Grade 3 astrocytomas, and 9 of Grade 4 astrocytomas. While Beclin 1 expression was present in 5 of 9 cases with CDKN2A homozygous deletion, no expression was observed in four cases.

Conclusion:

In this study, the prognostic significance of CDKN2A homozygous deletion alone was found to be lower compared to the deletion in combination with MVP and/or necrosis. At the same time, Beclin 1 expression was determined to exert no prognostic significance alone, while it was found to exert a poor prognostic effect in combination with CDKN2A homozygous deletion.
Successful Anesthetic Management in a Viable 26-week Extrauterine Abdominal Pregnancy
Authors: Placino Lorenzo Gabriel Sulit , Odi Alexandra Nina C.
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACT

Extrauterine abdominal pregnancies occur when the fertilized ovum implants directly into the peritoneal cavity. They are rare, with its incidence being just 1 in 10,000 live births worldwide, and only 0.43% of all documented ectopic pregnancies in the Philippines. This poses a challenge in anesthesia because of the risk of massive hemorrhage the abnormal implantation brings about. This case report presents the anesthetic management of a 29-year-old G3P2 (2002) diagnosed case of 26-week and 5-day gestation viable abdominal pregnancy who underwent abdominal fetal extraction under combined general and epidural anesthesia. Along with the utilization of a multidisciplinary approach, goal-directed fluid therapy, and massive transfusion protocol, this management has been shown to be successful and safe for both the mother and the fetus.
Massive Transfusion in a Patient Undergoing Elective Excision of Retroperitoneal Mass
Authors: Osorio Lorena Margarita Benigno , Esguerra Vidal A.
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACT

Massive intraoperative blood loss requires expectant measures, efficient coordination among providers, and timely feedback to optimize outcomes. In the Philippines, case reports on massive blood loss and transfusion are lacking. This report describes a 67-year-old female who underwent elective adrenalectomy, nephrectomy, and hepatic resection, with a total intraoperative blood loss of 20 L in a 13-h surgery. Efficient conduct of the institution’s massive transfusion protocol, multiple pressor support, electrolyte and glucose correction, and anticipatory management of associated complications of hypovolemia and transfusion were important elements of successful management. The patient tolerated the surgery and was discharged well after 12 days. In the absence of more sophisticated monitoring and management options in a low-resource setting, maximizing available means and anticipatory interventions is key.
Near-miss Tracheal Stenosis Secondary to Acute Intubation
Authors: Reyes John Richard Alcaraz , Monje James M. , Abalajon Karen Cindee J. , Melendres Geraldine I.
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACT

Tracheal stenosis is a rare and life-threatening condition. If left undiagnosed, this can lead to failed intubation, surgery postponement, or additional invasive airway management. A high index of suspicion from attending anesthesiologists due to inconsistencies between patient’s symptoms and diagnostics could lead to a more accurate diagnosis and management. This is a case of a 24-year-old female with difficulty breathing who was initially assessed as a case of glottic mass. The dilemma between the patient’s presentation and the preidentified airway obstruction led the anesthesiologist to do further investigation. A quick upper airway evaluation was done using the flexible fiber-optic scope which unexpectedly showed a 70%–80% circumferential subglottic stenosis. Management was henceforth changed to tracheal resection and reconstruction to address this new finding. Meticulous planning, preparation, and transdisciplinary approach of communication with the surgical team alongside detailed knowledge are probably the most important factors in the management of tracheal stenosis.
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) following blood transfusion in a polytrauma victim, an atypical occurrence
Authors: Shariff Erum , Soltan Nehad Mahmoud
Published: July 2024

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a neuroradiological syndrome, clinically present by impaired consciousness, headache, visual disturbances, and seizures, and radiologically brain edema. Cases of PRES induced by blood transfusion are rarely documented. We report this case to increase the awareness of treating physicians for the possible complications of rapid blood transfusion. A 29-year-old man presented with polytrauma and was in hemorrhagic shock. He was transfused with multiple transfusions. Later, he was found to have quadriplegia with minimal movement of fingers in the left hand. His computed tomography showed cerebral edema in multiple cerebral regions. We propose that the etiology in this case is that rapid blood transfusion induced acute rise in hemoglobin which led to PRES. The influences of blood transfusion on blood flow, blood viscosity, and endothelial dysfunction lead to blood–brain barrier dysfunction, which can result in PRES.
A bibliometric analysis of publications on emergency medicine in Türkiye
Authors: Güzelce Mustafa Can , Orhan Ertuğ , Özgür Sefer
Published: July 2024

OBJECTIVES:

Publications and literature related to emergency medicine (EM) have been consistently increasing. There are 4048 studies in total in the EM journals published until the present day in Türkiye in the Web of Science (WoS) database. Our aim is to define the bibliometric features of scientific studies published in EM journals in Türkiye, to gain insights into the trends of the literature.

METHODS:

We retrospectively analyzed the bibliometric data of scientific studies published in EM journals in Türkiye until today on the WoS database related to the EM field. The bibliometrix package of R statistical software was used in the bibliometric analyses in the study.

RESULTS:

A total of 4048 scientific studies from Türkiye indexed on the WoS database from 10,263 authors in four different journals were analyzed. Among these, 3681 (90.9%) were articles, 188 (4.7%) were reviews, 97 (2.4%) were editorial material, 60 (1.5%) were letters, and 5 (0.1%) were corrections. Average number of citations per study was 3.6, with the most cited study having 2016 citations. The most frequent title’s words were emergency, patient, and acute.

CONCLUSION:

This study shows that there is an increasing trend in the number of EM publications and citations in Türkiye with the first most cited study having 2016 citations, and the top contributing countries were Türkiye, Iran, and India. The results of this study may be useful in understanding the historical and prospective development of EM, including the identification of general information about its publications, differentiation of the top-cited ones, and presentation of a bibliometric analysis of scientific activity to date.
Microspherophakia in a Case of Isolated Sulphite Oxidase Deficiency
Authors: Hemanandini M , Fahima A Fathima
Published: July 2024

Isolated sulphite oxidase deficiency is an autosomal recessive hereditary disorder. A 5-month-old male child with neonatal seizures and global developmental delay was referred by a paediatrician for ophthalmological evaluation. On examination, the child was found to have microspherophakia and horizontal nystagmus. Owing to the previous history of lens dislocation and bilateral optic atrophy in the elder sibling, a suspicion of isolated sulphite oxidase deficiency was considered. A biochemical assessment revealed elevated urine sulphite levels with low total homocysteine and serum urate with normal urine xanthine and hypoxanthine levels. Neuroimaging revealed multicystic encephalomalacia. Clinical exome sequencing showed variants in CUX2 and CHD2 genes related to genetic and developmental encephalopathies; however, variations in the SUOX gene were not revealed in this analysis. This case is portrayed on account of uncommon presentation and for depicting the importance of ophthalmic examination as a lead in further evaluation.
Correlation between HbA1C and CCT in T2DM
Authors: Chenthil Krithika , Nalla Muthu P , Badrinath AK
Published: July 2024

An observational cohort study of central corneal thickness (CCT) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in hyperglycemic and euglycemic states.

Context:

To assess the significance of glycemic control in CCT measurement.

Aims:

The main aim was to assess the change in CCT with the change in glycemic state by following them after 3 months.

Settings and Design:

This study was carried out in the department of ophthalmology, SMVMCH, Pondicherry.

Materials and Methods:

This is an observational cohort study carried out at Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital after obtaining ethics committee clearance. Fifty-six T2DM patients with HbA1C >7 were included in this study with informed consent. Clinical history with complete ophthalmic examination done, CCT was measured using ultrasonic pachymetry (UP) along with blood samples to measure their blood sugars and HbA1C values. They were advised to follow up on the treatment given by the medical department. Patients were reviewed after 3 months to measure the CCT and blood sugar values.

Statistical Analysis:

Done using STATA software 16.0. Continuous data and categorical data were assessed using paired t-test and Chi-square test, respectively. Normality of data using Shapiro–Wilk normality test. Statistical significance was adopted with P < 0.05.

Results:

In our study, the initial mean HbA1C was 9.4 ± 1.9 and mean CCT was 552.6 ± 40.6 μm, whereas follow-up mean HbA1C was 7.1 ± 1.2 and mean CCT was 548.5 ± 38 μm which shows statistical significance.

Conclusion:

Diabetics present with thicker corneas and there is a decrease in thickness once glycemic control has been achieved. Keeping this in mind, we suggest assessment of CCT in all diabetic patients during clinical work-up.
Management of a Rare Case of Full Thickness Penetrated Shrimp Tail in the Cornea – A Case Report
Authors: Bindiya Chalattil , Veluri Haritha
Published: July 2024

We report a case about management of penetrated shrimp tail in the cornea. A 32-year-old male, fisherman by profession, presented with redness, watering, and decreased vision in the left eye since 1 day following injury with a shrimp tail. Examination revealed a penetrating corneal foreign body which was identified to be a shrimp tail pointing into the anterior chamber toward the lens in LE. The case was managed surgically by pushing the foreign body with an iris repositor through side-port incision from below, followed by removal of the foreign body with a retina forceps from the corneal surface. Wound closure was done by a single 10-0 nylon suture.
A Comparative Study of Central Foveal Thickness in Nondiabetics Versus Diabetics Without Retinopathy Using Spectralis OCT
Authors: Sri Subiksha P , Jothi Saravanan
Published: July 2024

Purpose:

To compare the central foveal thickness (CFT) in diabetics without retinopathy versus nondiabetics using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods:

The study was done as a comparative cross-sectional study among two groups with 30 subjects in each group. Group A was of diabetics without retinopathy and Group B was of nondiabetics. Patients with diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, other macular diseases, history of laser treatment, intra vitreal injections, chronic glaucoma, previous eye surgeries, and hypertension were excluded from the study. CFT of the two groups was measured using OCT.

Results:

All the data were analyzed with a statistical software package SPSS version 16.0. The mean CFT in the diabetics without retinopathy group was found to be 225.97 ± 21.20 µm, and in nondiabetic group it was 234.57 ± 34.68 µms.

Conclusion:

The study showed that CFT was slightly lower in diabetics without retinopathy when compared to nondiabetics, but the value was not statistically significant (P-value: 0.091).
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Cataract Surgery
Authors: Dharmalingam Vinitha , Fredrick Nirmal , Nirmal Sunitha , Kumar Niranjan Karthik Senthil
Published: July 2024

Purpose:

To assess the patient-reported outcome measures and health-related quality of life in cataract patients after their cataract surgery.

Method:

A prospective observational pilot study was conducted on 197 patients with cataract who underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery in an urban-based eye care hospital.

Result:

Out of 197 patients, 110 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study. In our study, we chose Catquest-9SF as our parent questionnaire and made a few modifications in it based on the livelihood of our patients. The patient satisfaction percentage with reference to improvement in vision after cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in our study was 87%. A total of 96% of the patients who had multifocal/trifocal IOL implantation were completely satisfied with the cataract surgery.

Conclusion:

Due to improvement in life expectancy of elderly patients and increased usage of gadgets by them, spectacle independence and functional improvement have become their requirements. With standardised techniques, expertise and experience with the right use of advanced equipment and appropriate IOLs, we were able to get excellent results and complete patient satisfaction by knowing their lifestyle and requirement. Patient-reported outcome measures helped us in improving the vision and health-related quality of life after cataract surgery.
Correlation of Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer Thickness in Optical Coherence Tomography with Visual Outcome in Optic Neuritis
Authors: Usha C , Balasubramanian M , Nivethitha M
Published: July 2024

Purpose:

In this study, the changes in optical coherence tomography (OCT) were correlated with the post-treatment visual outcome of optic neuritis, thereby determining the patients who are at risk of optic atrophy.

Design:

Prospective observational study.

Methodology:

All patients presenting to the outpatient department (OPD) with acute visual loss, pain on ocular movements and colour desaturation were subjected to comprehensive ophthalmic examination and OCT retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) analysis. All patients were treated with an Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT) regimen and followed for one year.

Results:

Of 25 patients, 40% were 20 to 40 years of age, and females outnumbered males by 28%. The right eye had 48% unilateral affection and 12% bilateral affection; 56% had a central scotoma, and 24% had a centrocaecal scotoma. The most common aetiologies are as follows: idiopathic (84%), multiple sclerosis (MS) (12%) and Devic’s disease (4%). 60% presented with a visual acuity of 6/60–1/60 and 32% with a visual acuity of 6/18–6/36. Patients whose RNFL thickness was below 90 microns post-treatment had poorer visual outcome.

Conclusion:

In this study, optic neuritis was more common in females of 20 to 45 years with unilateral affection in the right eye. The most common field defect was central scotoma, and the most common cause of optic neuritis was idiopathic. It was also found that the visual acuity in optic neuritis can range from 6/18 to no PL. Of the 25 patients in the study, three patients had retrobulbar neuritis and six patients developed disc pallor during recovery after treatment.
Functional Dependency as a Marker for Positive SARC-F Screen among Older Persons at the Emergency Department
Authors: Chong Edward , Goh Eileen Fabia , Lim Wee Shiong
Published: July 2024

Background: Functional dependency may serve as a marker for positive SARC-F screen (Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs and Falls) among older adults at the Emergency Department (ED). We compared functional dependency between SARC-F– (<4) and SARC-F+ (≥4) groups at the ED. Methods: A secondary analysis of cohorts from two quasi-experimental studies among patients aged ≥65 years old presenting to the ED of a 1,700-bed tertiary hospital. We compared both groups for baseline characteristics using univariate analyses, and performed multiple linear regression to examine the association between Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Lawton’s instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) against SARC-F, and binary logistic regression to examine the associations between individual ADL domains and SARC-F+. We compared the area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) to detect SARC-F+ for MBI, IADL, frailty, age, cognition and comorbidity. Results: SARC-F+ patients were older (86.4±7.6 years), predominantly female (71.5%) and frail (73.9%), more dependent on walking aids (77.2%), and had lower premorbid MBI (median 90.0 [interquartile range 71.0–98.0]) and IADL (4.0 [2.0–5.0]) (both p<0.001). MBI (β=–0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] –0.086 to –0.055) and IADL (β=–0.533, 95% CI –0.684 to –0.381) were significantly associated with SARC-F. Dependency in finances (odds ratio [OR]=14.7, 95% CI 3.57–60.2, p<0.001), feeding (OR=12.4, 95% CI 1.45–106, p=0.022), and stair-climbing (OR=10.49, 95% CI 4.96–22.2, p<0.001) were the top three functional items associated with SARC-F. MBI (AUC=0.82, 95% CI 0.77–0.84) and IADL (AUC=0.78, 95% CI 0.72–0.84) showed superior discrimination for SARC-F+ compared to other measures (AUC=0.58–0.70). Conclusion: Functional dependency is strongly associated with positive SARC-F screen among older adults at the ED. This highlights the need for increased vigilance, especially in the presence of dependency in relevant domains such as managing finances, feeding, and stair-climbing.
Role of Different Reinforcements in Aluminium 7075-Based Metal Matrix
Composite—A Review
Authors: Kumar Randhir , Mondal Sharifuddin
Published: July 2024

Demands for new materials with superior properties are rising as technological
advancement is speeding up globally. Composite materials are gaining popularity
due to their enhanced mechanical properties over metal and alloys. Aluminum
metal matrix composites (MMCs) are becoming popular in several areas of
application such as aerospace, automobile, armed forces, and other commercial
applications due to their lightweight, increased strength, better fracture
toughness, stiffness, corrosion resistance, and cost-effectiveness. The present
study reviews the effects of different reinforcements on MMC materials. The main
aim of the present work is to give a clear idea to the readers about the role of
individual reinforcement in Al7075-based MMCs. Also, the details of weight% and
size of different reinforcement are provided, which will help the readers in
their future works. It has been observed that inorganic reinforcements give
better mechanical and wear properties to composite materials. For better wear
properties, self-lubricating types of reinforcements are more useful.
Prediction of Vehicle–Live Animal Crashes in Britain: Contact and
Noncontact Incidents
Authors: Siami Doudaran Meisam , Konuralp Hilmiye
Published: July 2024

Animal–vehicle collisions (AVCs) can result in devastating injuries to both
humans and animals. Despite significant advances in crash prediction models,
there is still a significant gap when it comes to injury severity prediction
models in AVCs, especially concerning small animals. It is no secret that large
mammals can pose a significant threat to road safety; however, researchers tend
to overlook the impact of domestic and small animals wandering along the roads.
In this study, STATS19 road safety data was used containing any type of live
animal, and a radial basis function (RBF) model was used to predict different
severities of injury regardless of whether the animal was hit, or not. As a
means of better understanding the factors contributing to severities, regression
trees were used to identify and retain only the most useful predictors, removing
the less useful ones. A comparison was made between the performance of the trees
across a range of severity classes, and the model-fitting results were
discussed. Initially, the study was unable to generate satisfactory predictions,
but the optimization of the key predictors and the combination of severity
classes significantly improved their accuracy. Research findings revealed
factors contributing to the severities, which were discussed accordingly.
Particular attention was drawn to the pressing safety issue posed by animals
crossing A-class single carriageways in rural site clusters. Animals being
present on those carriageways without direct vehicular contact significantly
contributed to the severity of the injuries sustained. Although the majority of
contributing factors were related to human behavior, no evidence of road safety
education, training, or publicity interventions specifically targeting AVCs was
found in the literature.
Towards Future Vehicle Diagnostics in Software-Defined Vehicles
Authors: Bickelhaupt Sandra , Hahn Michael , Morozov Andrey , Weyrich Michael
Published: July 2024

Software will lead the development and life cycle of vehicles in the future. Nowadays, more and more software is being integrated into a vehicle, evolving it into a Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV). Automotive High Performance Computers (HPCs) serve as enablers by providing more computing infrastructure which can be flexibly used inside a vehicle. However, this leads to a complex vehicle system that needs to function today and in the future. Detecting and rectifying failures as quickly as possible is essential, but existing diagnostic approaches based on Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are not designed for such complex systems and lack of flexibility. DTCs are predefined during vehicle development and changes to vehicle diagnostics require a large amount of modification work. Moreover, diagnostics are not intended to handle dynamically changing software systems and have shortcomings when applied to in-vehicle software systems. In the Cloud, there are already established approaches to observe and diagnose software systems. However, these approaches are too comprehensive and cannot simply be applied to the whole vehicle. Anyway, they are a helpful addition to adapting vehicle diagnostics. Therefore, their vehicle applicability needs to be investigated. In this paper, we discuss the challenges of transferring and adapting the DTC approach to in-vehicle software systems, as well as monitoring and observability approaches to vehicles. Based on this, we introduce a concept for future vehicle diagnostics that addresses existing diagnostic approaches based on DTCs in combination with established approaches for monitoring and observability. Our presented concept provides a basis for further future work in the context of vehicle diagnostics for SDVs.
Environment-Adaptive Localization based on GNSS, Odometry and LiDAR Systems
Authors: Kramer Markus , Beierlein Georg
Published: July 2024

In the evolving landscape of automated driving systems, the critical role of vehicle localization within the autonomous driving stack is increasingly evident. Traditional reliance on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) proves to be inadequate, especially in urban areas where signal obstruction and multipath effects degrade accuracy. Addressing this challenge, this paper details the enhancement of a localization system for autonomous public transport vehicles, focusing on mitigating GNSS errors through the integration of a LiDAR sensor. The approach involves creating a 3D map using the factor graph-based LIO-SAM algorithm, which is further enhanced through the integration of wheel encoder and altitude data. Based on the generated map a LiDAR localization algorithm is used to determine the pose of the vehicle. The FAST-LIO based localization algorithm is enhanced by integrating relative LiDAR Odometry estimates and by using a simple yet effective delay compensation method to enable operation at higher velocities. To robustly fuse LiDAR- and GNSS-based position estimates, an emperical motivated geobased adjustment scheme for the covariances of the two datasources is presented. The performance of the mapping and localization components is validated with real driving data, demonstrating improved stability and accuracy compared to the GNSS-based localization system.
REINTERPRETASI IMAJINASI MASKULINITAS DARI PERSPEKTIF TEOLOGI KERAPUHAN
Authors: Kaseh Novalin
Published: July 2024

Artikel ini bertujuan menafsirkan kembali imajinasi maskulinitas (Toxic Masculinity) dengan Teologi Kerapuhan sebagai pisau analisisnya. Menempatkan pada masalah kasus bunuh diri di dunia yang masih sangat memprihatinkan termasuk di Indonesia sendiri artikel ini berpendapat bahwa salah satu penyebabnya karena Imaginasi Maskulinitas ini. Mengutip data Estimasi Kesehatan Global Organisasi Kesehatan Dunia (WHO) 2021, dari 6.544 angka bunuh diri di semua usia di Indonesia, sebanyak 5.095 kasus terjadi pada laki-laki. Konstruksi laki-laki tidak boleh menangis, harus kuat, jangan lembek, menempatkan mereka pada imajinasi berlebihan pada “physical power”. Metode yang digunakan adalah Studi literatur dengan menggunakan kerangka berpikir Teologi Kerapuhan dalam menganalisis maskulinitas itu sendiri. Hasilnya, Kerapuhan, kerentanan merupakan teologi yang harus dirayakan bukan sebaliknya dijauhi apalagi dibuang. Maskulinitas menjadi bermasalah ketika meniadakan sisi feminitas yang ada pada setiap manusia. Maskulinitas harus menerima kelemahan, kerentanan, kelemahlembutan sebagai sumber manusia bersekutu dengan Allah.
Melhorar o processo produtivo, através dos “seissigma” para atingir as especificações do consumidor: empresa nutrisoil Portugal
Authors: Pereira Baía Amândio
Published: July 2024

Os limites de tolerância mostram-se determinantes na gestão de um processo produtivo pois determinam a satisfação do consumidor. O uso das ferramentas do Controlo Estatístico de Qualidade permite uma melhoria do processo e o índice cpk possibilita a sua medição. Em especial, a adoção pelas empresas, da filosofia do Seis- Sigma tem-se mostrado determinante na redução da variação de um processo ou de um produto, permitindo satisfazer as especificações do consumidor, eliminar defeitos, reduzir os custos de operação, em suma aumentar a rentabilidade. A empresa NutriSoil em Portugal, comercializa sacos de fertilizante e tem vindo a ter problemas na secção de enchimento devido ao excesso de peso dos sacos em relação ao aposto nas especificações. Com a implementação da filosofia dos Seis-Sigma, a NutriSoil conseguiu uma melhoria do índice cpk, com a consequente melhoria da satisfação dos consumidores, e poupanças altamente significativas nos custos o que lhe permitiu aumentar a competitividade.
Realidade virtual/(f) atual: enfermagem versus tecnologias da informação e da comunicação
Authors: Arco António , Arco Helena , Arriaga Miguel
Published: July 2024

A introdução das Tecnologias da Informação e da Comunicação (TIC) no âmbito das profissões ligadas à saúde constitui uma prática cada vez mais comum e evidente, face às constantes repercussões que estas tecnologias vêm produzindo nas mais diversas áreas da sociedade atual. Considerando o grupo profissional da enfermagem, torna-se metodologicamente relevante efetuar uma revisão sistemática da literatura, analisando e refletindo sobre as implicações da utilização das TIC na sua prática, tendo em consideração as suas principais áreas de atuação, nomeadamente a prestação de cuidados, formação, gestão e investigação, optando-se pela sua analise individual, fazendo igualmente neste artigo uma abordagem à interligação cooperativa entre elas. Da pesquisa bibliográfica efectuada, realçam-se os conceitos de redes e de capital social, no intuito de melhor ilustrar as potencialidades desta articulação, cujas ligações poderão ser promotoras de desenvolvimento não só das próprias disciplinas em si, como tornar-se capital, capaz de apropriação não só individual como também coletivo.
O repto da aprendizagem ao longo da vida: estudo de caso do programa de acesso para novos públicos maiores de 23 na escola superior de tecnologia e gestão de Lamego
Authors: Antunes Sandra
Published: July 2024

Este estudo investigou as estatísticas de acesso dos alunos admitidos ao Programa Maiores de 23 nos cursos de 1º ciclo da Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão de Lamego do Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, no período compreendido entre os anos letivos de 2006/07 e 2010/11. O objetivo foi, por um lado, o de analisar o percurso destes alunos, a sua segmentação por cursos e os seus níveis de sucesso e, por outro, refletir sobre os desafios colocados com a implementação da Reforma de Bolonha sobre este perfil de alunos. A fundamentação teórica assentou numa análise do quadro regulamentador do Programa de Acesso para Novos Públicos Maiores de 23, das medidas implementadas para adequação à Reforma de Bolonha e dos conceitos de Convergência e Diversificação. A metodologia incluiu a pesquisa bibliográfica para análise/reflexão e a recolha de dados, sujeitos a análise estatística. Os resultados indicam que: i) o Programa tem uma elevada adesão; ii) os alunos matriculados registam um assinalável índice de sucesso; iii) os alunos estão sujeitos a dificuldades e desafios acrescidos, durante o percurso académico, devido às medidas implementadas no âmbito do processo de adequação a Bolonha.
Educar para o empreendedorismo: um novo desafio para as instituições de formação do professor
Authors: Pereira Cristina , Afonso Margarida , Santos Domingues
Published: July 2024

Na primeira parte do artigo, defendemos a ideia de que hoje em dia estamos vivendo um novo paradigma econômico e social que coloca novos desafios para os cidadãos e as comunidades locais. As sociedades têm-se globalizado e abriram-se para o mundo. A economia é cada vez mais baseada no conhecimento e a competitividade está se tornando ainda mais feroz e dependente de fatores de inovação e diferenciação. Este conjunto de restrições exige das comunidades locais um reposicionamento estratégico. Sendo este o caso, é fundamental que os diferentes atores locais estejam equipados com competências reforçadas na área do empreendedorismo, uma condição sine qua non para o sucesso garantido nesse novo cenário socioeconómico. Depois argumentamos que a crescente sensibilização para esta área é essencial para preparar nossos jovens para os desafios que eles terão de enfrentar toda a sua vida, a fim de estimular a sua criatividade e capacidade de iniciativa e inovação. Portanto, a promoção do espírito de empreendedorismo nas escolas é um passo crítico para este objetivo. Então, a educação para o empreendedorismo deve, claramente, constituir um instrumento estratégico da política de educação contemporânea. Consequentemente, assumimos que existe um conjunto de argumentos provenientes de origens disciplinares diferentes, nomeadamente da psicologia, pedagogia, bem como da economia e gestão, que dão suporte para esta aposta e justificam a necessidade das instituições de formação de professores intervirem nesta área nova. Iremos aprofundar essa problemática como um meio de suporte da necessidade urgente dos agentes do ensino superior responderem positivamente a este novo problema desafiante. Depois iremos, então, concentrarmo-nos sobre os esforços que estão a ser feitos pelo Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Escola Superior de Educação, em Portugal, uma instituição com uma longa tradição na área de formação de professores, salientando as principais características, iniciativas e projetos que caracterizam sua estratégia sobre este novo campo de formação.
Public administration as a subject of administrative law
Authors: Фадеева Е.С. , Ферстер М.Д.
Published: July 2024

В статье раскрываются особенности публичной администрации как ключевого субъекта административного права. Проведен анализ существующих в науке понятий публичной администрации. Рассмотрена структура публичной администрации на основе критерия автономии ее элементов, выявлены особенности централизованных и децентрализованных элементов. Сделан вывод, что публичная администрация, имея нетрадиционную внутреннюю структуру, на постоянной основе выполняет исполнительно-распорядительные, контрольно-надзорные, специальные правоохранительные, ограниченные нормотворческие и квазисудебные функции, оказывает публичные услуги, управляет публичным имуществом. Отмечается смешение специализированных и контрольно-надзорных функций, правотворчества, оказания государственных услуг и управления госимуществом между отдельными органами исполнительной власти и иными элементами, входящими в состав публичной администрации.

The article reveals features of public administration as a key subject of administrative law. Concepts of public administration existing in science are analyzed. The public administration structure is considered according to the criterion of its elements autonomy; the features of centralized and decentralized elements are revealed. It is concluded that public administration, having an unconventional internal structure, on an ongoing basis performs executive and administrative, control and supervisory, special law enforcement, limited rule-making and quasi- judicial functions, provides public services, and manages public property. There is a mixture of specialized and supervisory functions, law-making, provision of public services and management of state property between individual executive authorities and other elements that make up public administration.
Some issues of applying special knowledge at the stage of initiation of criminal cases on official offenses committed during construction of penitentiary facilities
Authors: Пеньков Е.И.
Published: July 2024

В статье рассматриваются вопросы применения специальных знаний на стадии возбуждения уголовных дел о должностных преступлениях, совершенных при строительстве объектов уголовно-исполнительной системы. В частности, осуществлен анализ законодательного регулирования экспертных исследований, проводимых на стадии проверки сообщения о преступлении, судебно-следственной практики и обозначены проблемные вопросы, касающиеся применения специальных знаний на стадии возбуждения уголовных дел о должностных преступлениях, совершенных при строительстве объектов уголовно-исполнительной системы, сформулированы предложения по корректировке обозначенных проблем.

The article discusses issues of applying special knowledge at the stage of initiation of criminal cases on official offenses committed during construction of penitentiary facilities. The author analyzes legislative regulation of expert studies conducted at the stage of verifying crime reports, identifies problematic issues related to the use of special knowledge at the stage of initiating criminal cases on official offenses committed during construction of penitentiary facilities, and makes proposals for correcting the identified problems.
The principle of patriotism as a meta-paradigm of modern Russian administrative constitutionalism
Authors: Нагорных Р.В.
Published: July 2024

В статье обосновываются выводы о том, что патриотизм как метапарадигма русской конституционной государственности направлен на сохранение баланса интересов личности, общества и государства на основе традиционных правовых ценностей и культуры российского общества. В этой связи спектр целей развития российского государства должен быть определен политическими решениями и подкреплен официально закрепленной в Конституции Российской Федерации идеологией Русского мира (Русской цивилизации), в которой основное место должно быть уделено реализации метапарадигмы русского государственного патриотизма как мировоззренческой основы государственного конституционного строя нашей страны.

The article substantiates the conclusions that patriotism as a meta- paradigm of Russian constitutional statehood is aimed at maintaining a balance of interests of the individual, society and the state based on traditional legal values and culture of Russian society. Russian state development goals should be determined by political decisions and supported by the Russian world ideology (Russian civilization) officially enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation, in which the main place should be given to the implementation of the meta-paradigm of Russian state patriotism as the ideological basis of the state constitutional system of our country.