bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visitantes florales de Ochroma pyramidale en sistemas agroforestales con café y cobertura natural en el departamento de Santander
Authors: Espinosa Rocío , Gil-Palacio Zulma , Benavides Machado Pablo
Published: January 2023

Ochroma pyramidale (balso negro) es una especie nativa de importancia ecológica y económica en Colombia, empleada en sistemas agroforestales, de la cual se desconoce su aporte a la biodiversidad y quiénes visitan sus flores en diferentes coberturas; por esto se evaluó la riqueza y abundancia de visitantes florales del balso en sistemas agroforestales y cobertura natural en el departamento de Santander, mediante grabaciones diurnas y nocturnas, a 414 flores, para registrar visitantes y sus interacciones; además se recolectaron 533 flores del suelo para identificar y cuantificar los individuos encontrados en su interior. Se muestrearon dos cafetales con sombra, cerca y lejos de fragmentos de bosque y un fragmento de bosque con cobertura natural. Se registraron 18 especies de aves, 15 géneros y seis familias; siete géneros de mamíferos de tres órdenes; siete órdenes de insectos y uno Araneae, distribuidos en 33 familias. El cafetal con sombra presentó mayor abundancia y riqueza de aves y mamíferos, la cual aumenta cuando hay mayor presencia de vegetación natural. El 44,3% de las flores del suelo no tenían individuos en el interior; el promedio de individuos muertos por flor fue de 3,3±0,2, en donde la presencia de Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) fue de 1,7±0,1, siendo más alto en el cafetal con sombra lejos de fragmentos con 4,3±0,3. Los mamíferos presentaron mayor proporción de visitas legítimas a la flor (contacto con las estructuras internas), con 86,9%, con respecto al total de las visitas de este grupo. El balso es un recurso alimenticio para diversos organismos, pudiendo ser los mamíferos el grupo más eficiente como polinizadores por la cantidad de visitas legítimas a la flor. Adicionalmente, la mortalidad de insectos en el balso en el cafetal con sombra lejos de fragmentos podría indicar un posible desbalance ecológico determinado por características específicas del paisaje.
Non-confirmation of the Astrometric Binary Candidate HD 113283 Using FEROS Radial Velocities
Authors: Spaeth Dane , Reffert Sabine , Trifonov Trifon , Golovin Alex
Published: January 2023

We present fifteen radial velocity (RV) measurements taken with FEROS for the astrometric binary candidate HD 113283 analyzed with the “exoplanet pipeline” and published in the nss_two_body_orbit table of Gaia Data Release 3. We have performed a periodogram analysis on the RVs and found no evidence of the stellar companion of mass m
2 > 0.15M
⊙. We discuss indications for the likely spurious astrometric two-body solution based on the Gaia products, including the comparably low significance, the small reduction of the astrometric excess noise after applying the two-body solution, inconsistent with the provided orbital solution, and the proximity of the orbital period to periods of known spurious solutions caused by Gaia's scanning law. We aim to contribute toward a refined solution filtering of the Gaia two-body solutions.
Crystallization Kinetics of Vitreous Magnesium Sulfate Hydrate and Implications for Europa’s Surface
Authors: Johnson Paul V. , Vu Tuan H. , Hodyss Robert
Published: January 2023

Brines consistent with that expected for Europa’s global subsurface ocean have been shown to form vitreous salt hydrates when frozen. We report experiments examining the crystallization kinetics of vitreous MgSO4 hydrate in order to better understand the stability of such materials on the surface of Europa. Vitreous MgSO4 hydrates formed from a 2 M parent solution were found to crystallize into MgSO4·11H2O (meridianiite) upon annealing at 195–225 K. Raman spectroscopy was used to monitor the crystallization and reaction rates were determined from the growth of the crystalline fraction as a function of time. Arrhenius analysis yielded an activation energy of 60 ± 9 kJ mol−1 for the vitreous to crystalline transition, implying that such transformation does not occur spontaneously at Europa’s surface temperatures. If emplacement processes favor the formation of vitreous salt hydrates, they are likely to still be stable and could be an important non-ice component on Europa at present day.
Evidence of plant-soil feedback in South Texas grasslands associated with invasive Guinea grass
Authors: Bowman Elizabeth A. , Plowes Robert M. , Gilbert Lawrence E.
Published: January 2023

Plant-soil feedback (PSF) processes play an integral role in structuring plant communities. In native grasslands, PSF has a largely negative or stabilizing effect on plant growth contributing to species coexistence and succession, but perturbations to a system can alter PSF, leading to long-term changes. Through changes to soil abiotic and biotic properties, invasion by non-native plants has a strong impact on belowground processes with broad shifts in historical PSFs. Guinea grass, Megathyrsus maximus, an emerging invasive in South Texas, can efficiently exclude native plants in part due to its fast growth rate and high biomass accumulation, but its impacts on belowground processes are unknown. Here, we provide a first look at PSF processes in South Texas savannas currently undergoing invasion by Guinea grass. In this pilot study, we addressed the question of how the presence of the invasive M. maximus may alter PSF compared to uninvaded grasslands. Under greenhouse conditions, we assessed germination and growth of Guinea grass and the seed bank in soil collected from grasslands invaded and uninvaded by Guinea grass. We found that Guinea grass grown in soil from invaded grasslands grew taller and accumulated higher biomass than in soil from uninvaded grasslands. Plants grown from the seed bank were more species rich and abundant in soil from uninvaded grasslands but had higher biomass in soil from invaded grasslands. In South Texas savannas, we found evidence to support shifts in the direction of PSF processes in the presence of Guinea grass with positive feedback processes appearing to reinforce invasion and negative feedback processes possibly contributing to species coexistence in uninvaded grasslands. Future work is needed to determine the mechanisms behind the observed shifts in PSF and further explore the role PSF has in Guinea grass invasion.
Les politiques régionales de biodiversité à l’épreuve de l’alternance
Authors: Guimont Clémence
Published: January 2023

À travers l’étude des politiques régionales de biodiversité menées par le conseil régional du Nord-Pas-de-Calais, cet article s’intéresse aux effets de l’alternance sur le contenu des politiques publiques. Il analyse les processus politiques et administratifs ayant conduit à une rupture dans l’orientation des politiques de biodiversité à la suite du changement de majorité en 2015. Il montre le rôle des élus régionaux dans ce changement, provoqué par leur volonté politique, par un contexte de fusion des administrations dont ils s’emparent et par les usages qu’ils font des instruments de l’action publique.
Apparier sans dépareiller
Authors: Buisson-Fenet Hélène , Rauscher Jacques-Benoît
Published: January 2023

Alors que le nombre et la dispersion territoriale des classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles (CPGE) s’accroissent dans les années 2000, l’implantation d’un algorithme de classement accompagne ce développement segmenté. Pensé à l’origine comme un outil de « bonne gestion » de l’appariement entre l’offre et la demande d’enseignement supérieur sélectif, Admission post-bac (APB) devient un instrument de pilotage dont la mise en œuvre donne à voir, derrière le processus classique de sélection, un travail collectif de régulation de la qualité qui recompose à la fois les stratégies de positionnement des établissements, les jeux de hiérarchies disciplinaires et finalement l’équilibre des rôles entre directions et équipes pédagogiques.
La dignité de la créature selon la CENH : heurs et malheurs
Authors: Baertschi Bernard
Published: January 2023

En 1992, le peuple suisse a accepté en votation populaire d’inscrire dans la Constitution l’exigence du respect de la dignité de la créature. En 1998, la Commission fédérale pour la biotechnologie dans le domaine non-humain (CENH) a été créée, afin de réfléchir à la concrétisation de cette exigence. Ses prises de positions sont exprimées dans des brochures qui, successivement, ont examiné la signification et la portée morale du respect de la dignité des animaux d’abord, puis des plantes. Leur conclusion est que le respect de cette dignité demande que les intérêts des êtres vivants non humains soient pris en considération et fassent l’objet d’une pesée sur une balance qui place dans l’autre plateau les intérêts des êtres humains. L’article retrace l’histoire de cette concrétisation et de sa réception qui a culminé avec la remise à la commission du prix Ig Nobel de la paix.
Véganisme et philosophie
Authors: Bourg Dominique , Hess Gérald
Published: January 2023

Dans cet article, nous proposons une critique du véganisme à partir de deux points de vue complémentaires de la pensée écologique. Le premier part du dualisme de la modernité et montre que le véganisme ne fait que reconduire ce dualisme. Le second questionne la validité du critère moral de la sensibilité invoquée par les tenants du véganisme à la lumière des récentes recherches dans le domaine de la neurobiologie végétale.
Travail et domestication des animaux : de la gratitude
Authors: Mouret Sébastien
Published: January 2023

Cet article met en évidence la place de la gratitude dans les relations de travail avec les animaux domestiques au sein de nos sociétés, à travers différentes études de cas : l’abattage des animaux d’élevage ; le placement des animaux de laboratoire ; la retraite des chiens guides d’aveugles. La gratitude est fondée sur une relation de reconnaissance de leur valeur morale, par rebond de leur dignité, à travers le travail que les animaux domestiques accomplissent au quotidien.
Le régime juridique des comptes publics
Authors: Camus Aurélien
Published: January 2023

À côté du droit de l’exécution budgétaire, le droit des comptes publics comprend l’ensemble des règles ayant pour objet la production de l’information financière, le respect d’une normalisation et le contrôle de sa qualité. De ce point de vue, le droit des comptes publics présente la même architecture que celle du droit de la comptabilité privée. Le droit a érigé une série de règles et de mécanismes afin d’assurer la qualité de l’information comptable. Cet ensemble peut être réuni sous la notion d’obligation comptable. Pour autant, la convergence des comptabilités n’a pas conduit à leurs similitudes. Le droit des comptes publics possède des spécificités, certaines n’ont pas été gommées, d’autres ont émergé de la pratique des acteurs, particulièrement celle de la Cour des comptes.
Une réforme structurelle au ministère des finances en temps de crise : la partition de la direction de la comptabilité publique et du budget en 1919
Authors: Descamps Florence
Published: January 2023

Avec l’acclimatation de la démocratie parlementaire en France dans la première moitié du xix e siècle, l’obligation de voter les recettes et les dépenses de l’État puis de rendre des comptes devant le Parlement s’impose progressivement. Ce mouvement accompagne l’organisation d’une administration comptable répandue sur l’ensemble du territoire, centralisée et placée sous la tutelle du ministère des Finances, ainsi que la construction parallèle et incrémentale d’un droit comptable et budgétaire. La Grande Guerre met fin brutalement à cet âge d’or paisible de la comptabilité publique et voit émerger de nouvelles préoccupations, telles que la politique budgétaire, le contrôle de la dépense ou la gestion des services publics. À la très matricielle direction générale de la comptabilité publique vient s’ajouter au ministère des Finances une nouvelle direction, la direction du budget, dont l’importance au sein de l’État central ne va cesser de croître tout au long du xx e siècle.
Usages et mésusages de la comptabilité publique
Authors: Kott Sébastien , Mosny Benjamin
Published: January 2023

L’enrichissement de l’information financière, de la caisse aux droits constatés est un fait accompli. La comptabilité publique constitue maintenant une politique de l’offre d’information financière. À travers différentes études et témoignages, nous illustrons des mésusages, mais nous montrons aussi l’existence d’usages multiples attestant de ce que l’offre d’information rencontre maintenant une demande dans le secteur public. Nous observons aussi l’importance de la compétence financière comme condition nécessaire à l’apparition de ces différents usages.
L’influence de la comptabilité des entreprises sur la comptabilité du secteur public : une approche différente de la convergence et de la normalisation en France et au niveau international
Authors: Chantiri-Chaudemanche Rouba
Published: January 2023

Depuis plusieurs dizaines d’années, un rapprochement des règles de la comptabilité du secteur public et de la comptabilité du secteur marchand peut être observé à des degrés divers. Cette convergence s’opérationnalise à travers l’introduction de la comptabilité en droits constatés et la prise en compte des normes comptables applicables aux entreprises. La référence à ces normes suscite de nombreuses réserves et se traduit par des situations diverses allant de l’alignement à leur utilisation comme point de départ de la réflexion. La comparaison des corpus des normalisateurs français et international de secteur public illustre deux approches différentes en matière de convergence.
Multilingual Songbooks in Slovakia in the 19th Century
Authors: Urbancová Hana
Published: January 2023

Manuscript songbooks with a multilingual repertoire are a little-researched component of song culture from the territory of Slovakia in the 19th century. They document a tradition of multilingual singing, which survived during this period and which existed alongside singing in the Slovak language and the concept of the Slovak national song. Over the 19th century, the coexistence of several languages and the repertoire structure of these songbooks changed as the functions of singing did in contemporary society, in the given social milieu, and in a person’s life.
‘Un bel moretto’: Linguistic Interweavings in Songs from the Primorska Region
Authors: Pisk Marjeta
Published: January 2023

“Lan sem biu u Gorici” (Last Year I was in Gorizia) is the most frequently transcribed bilingual song in which Slovenian and Italian dialect texts are interwoven. Unlike variants from Goriška Brda and Venetian Slovenia, where the song has largely been forgotten, the variants in Istria are experiencing a revival and are referred to as typical Istrian songs. The article traces the meandering transitions between different linguistic variants and local appropriations of this song.
COVID-19: desigualdad informativa y democracia
Authors: Polino Carmelo
Published: January 2023

La crisis desatada por la pandemia de la COVID-19 magnificó las asimetrías sociales. Caída del ingreso, mayor exposición al paro, inestabilidad laboral, incremento de las inequidades de género, colapso de la sanidad pública, y peores rendimientos en materia de aprendizaje e igualdad educativa se cuentan entre las consecuencias del aumento de la desigualdad global. En esta contribución argumento que la inequidad también se manifestó como desigualdad informativa. En un contexto donde la ponderación de la información se tornó más complicada, y donde los aspectos epistémicos y axiológicos de la cultura del riesgo afloraron con singular claridad, la identidad social afectó la capacidad de evaluación de la información técnica y política. Los grupos sociales con menos educación e ingresos tuvieron una dieta informativa más restringida, con un énfasis en las redes sociales, menor conocimiento sobre el virus, ambivalencia frente a las medidas de actuación, o dificultades para ponderar la calidad de la información mediática e institucional. En definitiva, estuvieron más expuestos a las campañas de desinformación, particularmente agudizadas con el auge de las redes sociales en el mundo del capitalismo digital. A nivel individual, esta asimetría conspira contra la autonomía de las personas y su condición de ciudadanos. En el plano colectivo, amenaza el alcance y la calidad de la cultura científico-tecnológica y la gobernanza democrática. Es necesario discutir la relación entre desinformación y democracia, revalorizar el papel de la participación política para la gobernanza y la educación para la autonomía, el pensamiento y el desarrollo de una ética ciudadana cosmopolita.
Hábitos saludables de los trabajadores del CSIC durante el confinamiento por la COVID-19 en España
Authors: De Diego Elena H. , Zapatera Belén , Frías Juana , Gómez-Martínez Sonia
Published: January 2023

Objeto: la crisis de la COVID-19 ha causado un cambio profundo en el estilo de vida de la ciudadanía. Las olas previas han demostrado que en régimen de confinamiento se pueden desarrollar problemas de salud mental y hay efectos sobre la actividad física y cambios en los hábitos dietéticos. Tema y metodología: se envió a los trabajadores del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) un cuestionario en línea sobre sus costumbres relacionadas con la salud durante el confinamiento en España. Resultados: en general se observó una mejora en los patrones dietéticos, excepto por la ingesta de aperitivos y de productos de panadería y bollería. La actividad física quedó sustancialmente reducida, especialmente en los hombres, al contrario que los cambios psicológicos, que fueron mayores en las mujeres, manifestados principalmente como ansiedad y desorden del sueño. Además, las conductas de ingesta alimentaria como escape emocional se detectaron principalmente en las mujeres, aunque la ingesta relacionada con el aburrimiento se observó en ambos géneros. Conclusión: los patrones dietéticos de los trabajadores del CSIC siguieron en general las recomendaciones para el confinamiento de la COVID-19, aunque la mitad de los participantes disminuyeron la práctica de actividad física. Con respecto a los cambios psicológicos, las conductas de ingesta alimentaria como escape emocional aparecieron asociadas a la ansiedad, especialmente en las mujeres, y al aburrimiento en ambos géneros.
La ingeniería como territorio común del arte, la ciencia y la tecnología. Una respuesta fenomenológica
Authors: Rosado-García María Jesús , García-García María Jesús
Published: January 2023

El presente artículo traza una revisión de lo que actualmente se entiende por ciencia, arte y tecnología para poder mostrar cómo la ingeniería moderna y en particular la ingeniería civil, es un compendio de los tres componentes, siendo el medio necesario para la sostenibilidad ambiental y social hoy requeridas. La ingeniería se enfrenta a problemas y sigue un método, que no es exclusivamente científico. Necesita la aproximación al arte y el ingeniero debe contar con una formación humanística, de contenido humano significativo, que lo proteja del excesivo tecnicismo ya que se mueve en el entorno de lo real, no del laboratorio. La investigación bibliográfica y documental de la historia de los distintos conceptos permite pensar la ingeniería desde la filosofía y tiene como objetivo proponer que la llamada perspectiva CATI3 (Ciencia-Arte-Tecnología-Ingeniería) sea el vehículo de aproximación al concepto de ingeniería e interpretar sus relaciones con la tecnología, el arte y la ciencia en su proyección a la sociedad.
Flow-Control Plates to Manage Denil Fishways in Irrigation Diversions for Upstream Passage of Arctic Grayling
Authors: Plymesser Kathryn , Blue Tyler , Kappenman Kevin M. , Blank Matthew , Cahoon Joel , Dockery David
Published: January 2023

Small-stream irrigation diversions are key elements of many on-farm irrigation systems but can act as barriers to aquatic species. Denil fishways have been installed at irrigation diversion structures throughout the Big Hole River watershed in Montana to provide upstream passage for a population of Arctic Grayling Thymallus arcticus. When stream flows are low and irrigation demand is high, irrigators look for ways to maintain adequate diversion, but doing so may reduce the effectiveness of the fishways. In response, agencies and irrigators have proposed flow-control plates placed at the upstream end of fishways. We conducted laboratory-based fishway efficiency experiments with Arctic Grayling placed in an open-channel flume fitted with a Denil fishway and three flow plates. Of the total 200 fish that we used, the fishway entrance attracted 154 fish and we counted these fish as participants. We operated the fishway under varying flow conditions using three flow-control plate treatments and a control to investigate 1) the extent to which each treatment reduced flow compared to the control, and 2) the extent to which each treatment impacted passage success of Arctic Grayling relative to the control. We measured passage success as the ratio of the number of fish that fully ascended the fishway treatment to the number of participant fish attracted to the fishway treatment. One of the three plates, the Denil slot treatment, showed no evidence of reducing either flow or passage success. Another plate, the standard treatment, showed no evidence of reducing flow but moderate evidence of reducing passage success (P = 0.03). The only treatment to significantly reduce water flow rate was the narrowed Denil slot treatment and there was no evidence this treatment reduced passage in comparison to the control. Over all trials, water flow rate through the Denil fishway had a strong positive influence on fish passage success.
Social Development and Abortion Policies in the United States: State-Wise Variations
Authors: Salehin Mashooq , Pillai Vijayan K.
Published: January 2023

Women’s access to abortion has been facing challenges by the conservative sociopolitical agencies across the states for decades affecting women’s right to health, particularly of reproductive health. Anti-abortion groups across the states in the United States supported by conservative legislators of the state assemblies have been proposing, passing, and enacting laws designed to restrict access to abortion care threatening women’s empowerment, gender equality, health, and women’s rights. Objectives of this study are to identify major indicators of social development and evaluate their effects on variations in abortion policies across the states in United States. Utilizing the social development perspective, this study measures the cumulative effect of sociopolitical and economic variables on abortion policy scores of the states using discriminant analysis and One-way ANOVA. Independent variables of this study are the state’s 2020 presidential election outcome, teen (15–19) birth rate, prevalence of women (15–44) without health insurance, prevalence of female poverty, availability of abortion in the state, and enrollment of women in higher education. As hypothesized, the state’s endorsement in the presidential election was identified as a predictor of the state’s abortion policy attribute and the extent of abortion law being neutral, supportive, or restrictive. The study found all six independent variables statistically significant and influencing the dependent variable, abortion policy score of states placing them either in the restrictive, neutral, or supportive group. It is evident from the findings that without the support of liberal voters, change in the abortion policies through state legislatives would be difficult. Our result suggests continuing advocacy for reproductive rights particularly during the electoral campaigns to make abortion laws supportive across the states.
Reconstruction and Social Development
Authors: Mohan Brij
Published: January 2023

Reconstruction, after slavery and the Civil War, helped lay down the foundation of what we call Constitutional Democracy in America. As the world wars ended, countries woke up after a long oppressive night of bad dreams. These “undeveloped states” of the post-postcolonial heritage have evolved into the so-called Third World, aka, the “underdeveloped” or “developing” nations. There is a developmental dialectic in the becoming of these “welfare states” striving for democratic governance for progressive social change. A general rubric of reconstruction or “nation building” is usually referred to as Social Development (SD) with implicit specificity of regional goals. This article is a critique of the developmental processes which have impacted human lives and social structures in the global North and South with emphasis on the American history, racial ideology, and political structuralism, loosely entitled “Third Reconstruction.”
The Impact of Perceived Corporate Social Responsibility (PCSR) on Purchase Intention across Multi Generations (Generation X AND Y)
Authors: Arachchi H. A. D. M.
Published: January 2023

Although the effect of generation on perceived corporate social responsibility, purchase intention and brand trust is not well documented, and theoretical explanations have been inconsistent. Thereby, drawing on the theory of planned behaviour and generation cohort theory, the current study attempts to examine the direct relationship of perceived corporate social responsibility to purchase intention, mediating effect of brand trust, and the moderating effect of generation X and Y. Stratified random sampling was used to select the sample, and the final sample consisted of 392 individual consumers. The data was analyzed using partial least square - structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Perceived corporate social responsibility to brand trust and brand trust to purchase intention relationship was significant. Further, brand trust is the partial mediator and generation X and Y are significant moderators. Finally, the study makes a major theoretical contribution and suggests that managers, social and practitioners establish further research opportunities.
Interdependent Trading Behavior of Foreign and Local Investors: Evidence from the Colombo Stock Exchange
Authors: Dharmarathna D. G. , Dewasiri N. J. , Rajapaksha R. S. N.
Published: January 2023

This study examines the interdependent trading behaviour of investors in foreign and local contexts with a particular reference to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) of Sri Lanka to fill up the gap in the local literature regarding behavioural aspects and independence among foreign and local investors within their investment policies, procedures, and actions. Based on secondary data collected from a statistical sample drawn from daily trading statistics of CSE, covering both buying and selling actions of local and foreign investors for the period from 2007 to 2019, this study has examined the nature of four main investor groups namely foreign institutions, foreign individuals, domestic institutions, and domestic individuals in terms of daily purchases turnover, sales turnover, share volume traded purchases, and share volume traded sales data. The results showed that the local investors are quite irrational concerning the foreign investors. Hence, foreign investors' interdependence on local investors' behavioural information is weak. Local investors also highly rely on their trading behavior instead of being vigilant about the trading behaviour of foreign investors.
Supply-driven Factors of Inflation in Sri Lanka: An ARDL Approach
Authors: De Alwis Tyrone , Dewasiri N. J.
Published: January 2023

Inflation has become one of the major enemies of the Sri Lankan economy today. This study focuses on the supply-driven determinants of inflation in Sri Lanka during 1977-2019.  For this study, time series data is used using the technique of ARDL in order to determine the long-run and short-run determinants of inflation. The estimated long-run supply-driven variables are crude oil prices and exchange rate as they were impacting the inflating during the study period except the rice prices. However, the empirical findings indicated that crude oil prices, exchange rate and rice prices impacted inflation in the short-run. Even though Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) was confident about the controlling demand pressures, at the same time it needs to be cautious about the price pressures emanating from supply-side shocks. Policymakers need to vigilantly monitor each and every movement in the economy and sense the pulses of policy measures.
Book Review: Glass Half Broken: Shattering the Barriers that Still Hold Women Back at Work, Colleen Ammerman and Boris Groysberg (Harvard Business Review Press, 1st Edition (2021), Pages: 294)
Authors: Naotunna N. P. G. S. I.
Published: January 2023

No abstract available
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus presenting as Sweet Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Rajasuriya Sulakshi , Mujaheith M. I.
Published: January 2023

No abstract available
Implications of the current economic crisis on anaesthesia and critical care services in Sri Lanka: observations of a junior anaesthetist
Authors: Munasinghe B. M.
Published: January 2023

No abstract available
Editorial
Authors: Wijesundara T. R.
Published: January 2023

No abstract available
A Novel Humanized PD-1/PD-L1 Mouse Model Permits Direct Comparison of Antitumor Immunity Generated by Food and Drug Administration–Approved PD-1 and PD-L1 Inhibitors
Authors: Barham Whitney , Hsu Michelle , Liu Xin , Harrington Susan M , Hirdler Jacob B , Gicobi Joanina K , Zhu Xingxing , Zeng Hu , Pavelko Kevin D , Yan Yiyi , Mansfield Aaron S , Dong Haidong
Published: January 2023

Seven different anti–PD-1 and PD-L1 mAbs are now widely used in the United States to treat a variety of cancer types, but no clinical trials have compared them directly. Furthermore, because many of these Abs do not cross-react between mouse and human proteins, no preclinical models exist in which to consider these types of questions. Thus, we produced humanized PD-1 and PD-L1 mice in which the extracellular domains of both mouse PD-1 and PD-L1 were replaced with the corresponding human sequences. Using this new model, we sought to compare the strength of the immune response generated by Food and Drug Administration–approved Abs. To do this, we performed an in vivo T cell priming assay in which anti–PD-1/L1 therapies were given at the time of T cell priming against surrogate tumor Ag (OVA), followed by subsequent B16-OVA tumor challenge. Surprisingly, both control and Ab-treated mice formed an equally robust OVA-specific T cell response at the time of priming. Despite this, anti–PD-1/L1-treated mice exhibited significantly better tumor rejection versus controls, with avelumab generating the best protection. To determine what could be mediating this, we identified the increased production of CX3CR1+PD-1+CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in the avelumab-treated mice, the same phenotype of effector T cells known to increase in clinical responders to PD-1/L1 therapy. Thus, our model permits the direct comparison of Food and Drug Administration–approved anti–PD-1/L1 mAbs and further correlates successful tumor rejection with the level of CX3CR1+PD-1+CD8 + T cells, making this model a critical tool for optimizing and better utilizing anti–PD-1/L1 therapeutics.
Diabetes Prevention and Measures to Ensuring a Healthy Lifestyle during COVID-19 Pandemic and after
Authors: Ayenigbara Israel Oluwasegun
Published: January 2023

The incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing exponentially globally, with 90% of the confirmed cases being type 2 DM. The global incidence of DM is expected to increase by 48% during 2017–2045. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to have a massive impact on human health, causing sudden lifestyle changes through quarantine measures, such as lockdown, social distancing, various curfews, and isolation at home. This in turn might increase the risk of developing numerous chronic diseases, such as DM, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, which increase the severity of COVID-19. To this end, we performed a comprehensive review to determine viable measures for the prevention of DM and its subsequent upsurge globally. Additionally, we have determined strategies that should be adopted globally to ensure a healthy lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic and later.
Correlation between Serum Erythropoietin and Cerebral Collateral Flow in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patient
Authors: Yun Sung Won , Kim Won Yong , Lee Jun Beom
Published: January 2023

Background: Erythropoietin (EPO), which is associated with anemia, exerts neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke. In cases of stenosis or narrowing of the main cerebral blood vessel, the prognosis is favorable if collateral blood circulation is well developed in acute stroke. Several studies have investigated the relationship between EPO administration and stroke outcomes. The present study investigated the correlation between serum EPO level and cerebral collateral circulation, which could result in favorable clinical outcomes.Methods: The study subjects were patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke who underwent initial brain magnetic resonance imaging between January 2020 and March 2022. Following brain computed tomography perfusion for collateral flow, serum EPO levels were measured. Collaterals were assessed according to the Mass system and divided into good collateral (GC) or poor collateral (PC) groups. Serum EPO levels were determined using a chemiluminescence immunoassay method. A correlation coefficient analysis was conducted to determine the correlation between serum EPO levels and GC. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis determined the cutoff value of EPO for GC.Results: Serum EPO levels were significantly higher in the GC than that in the PC group (P<0.05). The cut-off level of serum EPO for a good outcome was 9.1 mIU/mL.Conclusion: A high serum EPO (>9.1 mIU/mL) could be a marker of GC in patients with acute ischemic stroke that predicts good clinical outcomes.
Short-term Changes in Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Level after Body Fat Reduction via Partial Meal Replacement
Authors: Kim Nam-Kyu , Jung Min-Ah , Lee Seok-Hoon , Joo Nam-Seok
Published: January 2023

Background: Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels change during body weight reduction. However, the changes that occur during short-term body weight control interventions remain controversial. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the changes in TSH levels according to body fat reduction.Methods: We performed a 3-month intervention study involving partial meal replacement. Forty-nine participants completed the study. Correlations between changes in TSH levels and other body composition parameters were determined. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their body fat reduction (>1 kg, n=20; <1 kg, n=29). The changes in metabolic parameters, including TSH levels, were compared. For significant values, a multivariate analysis was performed after adjustment to evaluate the relationship between TSH changes and body fat reduction.Results: The 3-month intervention caused favorable changes in body proportions and metabolic parameters. TSH levels changed significantly only after changes in total body fat, showing a partial correlation. Changes in TSH levels were significantly different between groups (P=0.014). Moreover, the change in TSH levels was significantly different after adjustment (P=0.012).Conclusion: A body fat reduction, especially >1 kg, can reduce serum TSH concentrations in subjects with metabolic syndrome after short-term body weight intervention.
Neuroprotective effects of alpha-lipoic acid on radiation-induced brainstem injury in rats
Authors: Motallebzadeh Elham , Aghighi Fatemeh , Vakili Zarichehr , Talaei Sayyed Alireza , Mohseni Mehran
Published: January 2023

Background and purpose:

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant with radioprotective properties. We designed the current work to assess the neuroprotective function of ALA in the presence of oxidative stress induced by radiation in the brainstem of rats.

Experimental approach:

Whole-brain radiations (X-rays) was given at a single dose of 25 Gy with or without pretreatment with ALA (200 mg/kg BW). Eighty rats were categorized into four groups: vehicle control (VC), ALA, radiation-only (RAD), and radiation + ALA (RAL). The rats were given ALA intraperitoneally 1 h before radiation and killed following 6 h, thereafter superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the brainstem were measured. Furthermore, a pathological examination was carried out after 24 h, 72 h, and five days to determine tissue damage.

Findings/Results:

The findings indicated that MDA levels in the brainstem were 46.29 ± 1.64 μM in the RAD group and decreased in the VC group (31.66 ± 1.72 μM). ALA pretreatment reduced MDA levels while simultaneously increasing SOD and CAT activity and TAC levels (60.26 ± 5.47 U/mL, 71.73 ± 2.88 U/mL, and 227.31 ± 9.40 mol/L, respectively). The greatest pathological changes in the rat’s brainstems were seen in RAD animals compared to the VC group after 24 h, 72 h, and 5 days. As a result, karyorrhexis, pyknosis, vacuolization, and Rosenthal fibers vanished in the RAL group in three periods.

Conclusion and implications:

ALA exhibited substantial neuroprotectivity following radiation-induced brainstem damage.
Assessment of Prevalence and Risk Factors of Delirium in Kidney Disease Patients Undergoing Renal Dialysis: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Chate Sameeran S. , Yadawad Vishwas Shrishail , Patil Sandeep , Tekkalaki Bheemsain , Mutalik Punit Pradeep
Published: January 2023

Context:

Studies have shown that delirium is common in intensive care unit settings, postsurgery, and in elderly. There are various predisposing risk factors for same. There is evidence of delirium occurring after dialysis.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factor of delirium in kidney disease (both acute and chronic) patients undergoing dialysis.

Settings and Design:

A 1-year prospective observational study in a tertiary care hospital.

Subjects and Methods:

The study included admitted patients of kidney disease (acute and chronic) requiring dialysis, aged 18 years or more. All patients who were already in delirium before dialysis were excluded. Mental status examination was done, and Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) scale was applied on the included patients to make a diagnosis of delirium.

Statistical Analysis Used:

For risk factors, sociodemographic data, past history of delirium, number of dialysis received, and blood investigations were collected. P value for all parameters was calculated using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and unpaired t-test.

Results:

The prevalence of delirium was 20% after dialysis. Risk factors identified were past history of delirium, >3 dialysis received, the presence of hypertension, increased urea, creatinine, hemoglobin, white blood cells levels, and increased LFT’s (significant P value).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of delirium in dialysis group patients is high. There are multiple risk factors for same and can be predicted and taken care of to reduce the long-term consequences of delirium.
Recent advancements in regional anaesthesia
Authors: Kurdi Madhuri S. , Agrawal Pushpa , Thakkar Parna , Arora Divesh , Barde Saurabh M. , Eswaran Kala
Published: January 2023

Patient safety, improved quality of care, and better patient satisfaction and functional outcomes are currently the topmost priorities in regional anaesthesia (RA) and all advancements in RA move in this direction. Ultrasonography-guided central neuraxial and peripheral nerve blocks, intracluster and intratruncal injections, fascial plane blocks, diaphragm-sparing blocks, use of continuous nerve block techniques, and continuous local anaesthetic wound infiltration catheters are now topics of popular clinical interest. The safety and efficacy of nerve blocks can be improved with the help of injection pressure monitoring and the incorporation of advanced technology in the ultrasound machine and needles. Novel procedure-specific and motor-sparing nerve blocks have come up. The anaesthesiologist of the current era, with a good understanding of the sonoanatomy of the target area and the microarchitecture of nerves, along with the backup of advanced technology, can be very successful in performing RA techniques. RA is rapidly evolving and revolutionising the practice of anaesthesia.
Recent advances in obstetric anaesthesia and critical care
Authors: Kurdi Madhuri S. , Rajagopal Vennila , Sangineni Kalyani SDL , Thalaiappan Murugan , Grewal Anju , Gupta Sunanda
Published: January 2023

Newer modalities in labour analgesia and anaesthesia for caesarean section including regional anaesthesia techniques and airway management are emerging constantly. Techniques such as point of care ultrasound, especially of the lungs and stomach and point of care tests of coagulation based on viscoelastometry are about to revolutionise perioperative obstetric care. This has improved the quality of care thereby ensuring good perioperative outcomes in the parturient with comorbidities. Critical care for obstetrics is an emerging field that requires a multidisciplinary approach with obstetricians, maternal-foetal medicine experts, intensivists, neonatologists, and anaesthesiologists working together with enhanced preparedness and uniform protocols. Newer techniques and concepts of understanding have thus been established in the traditional speciality of obstetric anaesthesia over the last decade. These have improved maternal safety and neonatal outcomes. This article touches upon some recent advances that have made a significant impact in the field of obstetric anaesthesia and critical care.
Recent advances in airway management
Authors: Myatra Sheila Nainan , Dhawan Ira , D’Souza Shirley Ann , Elakkumanan Lenin Babu , Jain Divya , Natarajan Pratheeba
Published: January 2023

Airway management is a core skill essential for anaesthesiologists and health care providers involved in resuscitation and acute care of patients. Advancements in airway management are continuously evolving. This narrative review highlights the recent advancements with respect to innovations, tools, techniques, guidelines, and research in both technical and non-technical aspects of airway management. These include nasal endoscopy, virtual endoscopy, airway ultrasound, video endoscopes, supraglottic airways with enhanced protection against aspiration, hybrid devices, and the use of artificial intelligence and telemedicine, the utility of which has increased in recent times, thereby improving success with airway management and enhancing patient safety. There has been an increasing emphasis on peri-intubation oxygenation strategies to reduce complications in patients with a physiologically difficult airway. Recent guidelines for difficult airway management and preventing unrecognised oesophageal intubation are available. Large multicentre airway data collection helps us examine airway incidents, aetiology, and complications to expand our knowledge and give us insights for change in practice.
Recent advances in paediatric anaesthesia
Authors: Rai Ekta , Naik Vibhavari , Singariya Geeta , Bathla Sapna , Sharma Ridhima , Pani Nibedita
Published: January 2023

Recent development in science has led to a significant improvement in safety for the anaesthetic management of children. Enhanced recovery after surgery is one of the novel approaches aiming to enhance paediatric surgical outcomes and their quick recovery. Preoperative counselling, minimal fasting, and no routine pharmacological premedication are critical components of enhanced recovery after surgery. As anaesthetists, management of airway is our priority and introduction of paraoxygenation in addition to preoxygenation has resulted in reduction in desaturation episodes during periods of apnoea. Safe care has been made possible by improvements in monitoring, equipment, medications, techniques, and resuscitation protocols. We are motivated to collect more evidence regarding ongoing disputes and issues, such as the effect of anaesthesia on neurodevelopment.
Role of Offload Taping for Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Kumar Adhya , Kumar Tanmay
Published: January 2023

This article intends to utilize offload rigid taping as an adjunct to pain management after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). TKA is a common orthopedic surgery. A dramatic rise in TKA surgeries is foreseen as TKA surgeries are projected to take place with an increasing rate of younger TKA recipients under 60 years of age. Approximately 40% of surgical patients usually experience severe to acute postoperative pain after TKA. A study by Scott F. Dye et
al. suggests that most knee pain does not arise from the degenerated articular cartilage in osteoarthritic patients. Rather, the anterior fat pad is the main culprit behind the nociceptive stimuli. As an experimental clinical trial, offload taping was administered on the 2nd postoperative day after TKA to understand its effect on pain scores using the visual analog scale. It was found that the administration of offload taping resulted in a significant reduction in acute pain at rest and during ambulation in such patients.
Risk Factors for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Physiotherapists
Authors: Jain Megha V. , Alva Rajitha
Published: January 2023

The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) among physiotherapists (PTs) is as high as 91%. These WRMDs directly impact their health, leading to acute and recurring injuries and chronic disabilities. Although the prevalence is high, the risk factors are not clearly understood. The objective of the review was to understand these risk factors for WRMDs among PTs. A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases. A search strategy was devised and articles were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were then extracted from the eligible studies and summarized. A total number of studies included were ten, of which seven were cross-sectional studies, two were a combination of focus group discussion and interview, and one was a nonexperimental cohort study. The literature review highlights the following risk factors: transferring and lifting patients, performing manual therapy techniques, working in static postures, responding to unanticipated movement by patients, repetitive tasks, bending, twisting, continuing to work even while injured, treating an excessive number of patients in a single day, inappropriate work scheduling, and so on. However, future studies must focus on a comprehensive assessment of WRMD's risk factors and developing reliable and valid PT-specific tools among PTs.