bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Accuracy of Lung Ultrasound in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Single Center Observational Study
Authors: Elsayed Marwa , Hesham Moataz Ahmed , Kamel Khaled Mahmoud , Nassar Yasser Sadek
Published: November 2022

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is a prevailing and severe infectious disease that can lead to increased fatality.

AIM: We conducted this study to assess the role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in comparison to CXR and CT Chest.

METHODS: An observational study on 120 patients with suspected CAP was done in the ICU of the Critical care department at Cairo University Hospital. Clinical and laboratory data were recorded on admission including different scoring systems (SOFA, APACHE II, confusion, uremia, respiratory rate and blood pressure 65, and pulmonary severity index). All patients, within 6 h of admission, were investigated by a LUS, CXR, and CT Chest. All imaging techniques were repeated after 48 h if the initial CT chest was negative.

RESULTS: The study population had a mean age of 70.6 ± 6.9-years-old, most of them were male (75.8%). Using CT chest as a reference imaging tool to confirm the diagnosis of pneumonia, LUS showed 94.1% sensitivity, 97.1% specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) 98.8%, negative predictive value (NPV) 87.2%, accuracy 95.0%, and area under a curve (AUC) 0.92. LUS was found to be a highly significant imaging tool in predicting diagnosis of pneumonia (p < 0.001). Chest X-ray had 69.4% sensitivity, 94.3% specificity, PPV 96.7%, NPV 55.9%, 76.6% accuracy, and AUC 0.6 in the detection of pneumonia. CXR was found to be an insignificant Imaging tool in predicting diagnosis of pneumonia (P = 0.19).

CONCLUSION: LUS is a very promising, sensitive, and feasible imaging tool in the diagnosis of CAP in comparison with CT chest.
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis and Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Challenging Case and Review of the Literature
Authors: GHOSSAN ROBA , HADDAD ZEBOUNI SOHA , YOUNAN FARAH TONINE , FAYAD FOUAD
Published: November 2022

Background: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and spondyloarthritis share similarities in clinical and radiological findings. In this article, we report a case of overlapping of these two hyperostotic diseases followed by an extensive narrative review of the literature focusing on the gray areas in the diagnosis of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. Case description: We report the case of simultaneous diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and ankylosing spondylitis in a 57-year-old man. The diagnosis was made after many collegial meetings based on solid radiological arguments. Conclusion: Review of the literature reveals many uncertainties in the diagnosis of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, especially in the radiological evaluation of sacroiliac joints. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and ankylosing spondylitis frequently overlap in important radiological features leading to diagnostic ambiguity and they can also co-exist in the same patient.
Intervention to Improve Menstrual Health Among Adolescent Girls Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior in Iran: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Darabi Fatemeh , Yaseri Mehdi
Published: November 2022

Objectives: Poor menstrual health may lead to school absenteeism and adverse health outcomes for adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pubertal and menstrual health education on health and preventive behaviors among Iranian secondary school girls.Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a health intervention program. A total of 578 students (including intervention and control participants) in 12 schools in Tehran Province, Iran were included by multistage random sampling. The program comprised seven 2-hour educational sessions. After confirming the reliability and validity of a researcher-made questionnaire, that questionnaire was used to collect the required data, and the groups were followed up with after 6 months.Results: After the educational intervention, the mean scores of menstrual health-related knowledge and constructs of the theory of planned behavior were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.001 for all dimensions).Conclusions: The results of this study emphasize the effectiveness of menstrual health interventions in schools. These findings should also encourage health policy-makers to take committed action to improve performance in schools.
Cost-Effective Spot Instances Provisioning Using Features of Cloud Markets
Authors: Alourani Abdullah , Kshemkalyani Ajay D.
Published: November 2022

Cloud computing offers a variable-cost payment scheme that allows cloud customers to specify the price they are willing to pay for renting spot instances at much lower costs than fixed payment schemes, and depending on the varying demand from cloud customers, cloud platforms could revoke spot instances at any time. To alleviate the effect of spot instance revocations, applications often employ different fault-tolerance mechanisms to minimize or even eliminate the lost work for each spot instance revocation. However, these fault-tolerance mechanisms incur additional overhead related to application completion time and deployment cost. This article proposes a novel cloud market-based approach for provisioning spot instances using features of cloud markets to reduce the deployment cost and completion time of applications. The simulation results show that the approach reduces the deployment cost and completion time compared to approaches based on fault-tolerance mechanisms.
Comparison of Microstructure, Yield Strength, Tensile Strength, and Modulus of Elasticity between Gray Cast Iron and Nodular Cast Iron
Authors: Darmawan Agung Setyo , Anggono Agus Dwi , Yulianto Agus , Febriantoko Bambang Waluyo , Masyrukan Masyrukan , Hamid Abdul
Published: November 2022

Gray cast iron has graphite flakes which makes it relatively weak and brittle. The addition of magnesium to gray cast iron resulted in nodular cast iron which has spherical graphite. The aim of this research was to investigate the changes in the microstructure and strength due to the addition of magnesium to gray cast iron. Microstructure observations were made by metallographic testing using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. Tensile testing was carried out to measure the yield strength, tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity. The addition of magnesium to gray cast iron was observed to increase the yield strength by 179%, tensile strength by 238%, and decrease the modulus of elasticity by 94%.
Removal of Mercury (II) by Adsorption in Aqueous Solutions with Pomegranate Husks
Authors: Ruiz Nancy Lucero Tapia , Garza Gerardo , Hernández Imelda Loera , Treviño María Guadalupe Moreno
Published: November 2022

This article shows the analysis of the efficiency of the pomegranate husks like an adsorbent agent in aqueous solutions contaminate with mercury (II). The contaminated with mercury (II). The variables of this experiment were: the initial concentration of mercury (II) in water, quantity of adsorbent material 50 ml of contaminate solution with Hg (2 and 4 grams), size of the particle of pomegranate husk and contact time between adsorbate and adsorbent (60 minutes). In this process the pomegranate husks were dehydrated at temperature between 30 °C and 50 °C. The results obtained at the end of the investigation show that the pomegranate husks have the capacity to decontaminate mercury (II) from contaminated water at a level of 1 ppm quantity accepted by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2003). This is an alternative method, environmentally friendly and sustainable to eliminate pollutant agents from water such as mercury (II).
Design and Simulation of 3D-Printed Wastewater Filter Column Rototypes with Various Flow Configurations
Authors: Padaca III Jose Bernardo L. , Buison Alvin M. , Madrid Jordan F. , Faustino Maria Angela B. , Coronado Leif Oliver B. , Ballesteros Laureen Ida M. , Cabalar Patrick Jay E. , Luna John Andrew A. , Garcia Joseph Alfred V. , Liza Fred P.
Published: November 2022

Chromium ions and other heavy metals discarded from major industries, if left unchecked, will make their way into waterways and may contaminate food crops, which can cause various chronic and acute health problems. As such, the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) developed radiation-grafted wastewater filters that selectively collect trivalent chromium ions from wastewater. To house these filters with the appropriate flow characteristics, column enclosures suitable for rapid prototyping via additive manufacturing, were designed and simulated. The column has two main components: the main chamber, which houses the filter; and an inner core, where the filter fabric is wound, and which evenly distributes the water flow along its length. Different core slit configurations were presented, giving emphasis on the flow uniformity, with the aim of maximizing the filter life.
3D Printing in the Water Treatment Industry
Authors: Koo Jing Wee , Ho Jia Shin , An Jia , Zhang Yi , Chua Chee Kai , Chong Tzyy Haur
Published: November 2022

The advancement of 3D printing in the past few decades propelled many ground-breaking developments in the water treatment industry. More specifically, 3D printing has the unique advantage of prototyping parts of high complexity with acute precision within a short period of time. Innovative feed spacers and membranes, which could not be fabricated using conventional methods, can now be 3D printed and evaluated in actual filtration experiments. However, there are still limitations to 3D printing such as the printing resolution, build volume and printing speed which poses some problems, especially in the fabrication of membranes. This paper presents a comprehensive and critical discussion on the 3D printed feed spacer and membrane prototypes from a 3D printing perspective.
Spatial distribution and identifying biochemical factors affecting haemoglobin levels among women of reproductive age for each province in Indonesia: A geospatial analysis
Authors: Aidi Muhammad Nur , Ernawati Fitrah , Efriwati Efriwati , Nurjanah Nunung , Rachmawati Rika , Julianti Elisa Diana , Sundari Dian , Retiaty Fifi , Fitrianto Anwar , Nurfadilah Khalilah , Arifin Aya Yuriestia
Published: November 2022

Anaemia is still a public health problem in Indonesia. The iron supplement program, known as Tablet Tambah Darah (Blood Add Tablet) has not yet produced optimal results. This study aimed to identify the cause of anaemia and the factors that influence it. Biochemical indicator data are haemoglobin (Hb), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) from 9,463 women of reproduction age. Data from the Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) project of 2013 were used for the study. ANOVA as well as global and local regression approaches (classical regression and geo-weighted regression) were used to compare the mean Hb and CRP values between provinces and to determine the factors that influence Hb concentrations. The results showed that the distribution of anaemia in Indonesia is uneven and not always caused by iron deficiency. The lowest Hb mean coupled with the highest iron deficiency was found in Papua, where there are high rates of parasitic infections. In contrast, the highest mean Hb coupled with low iron deficiency, and also low infection rates, was found in North Sulawesi. The Hb concentrations were significantly associated by ferritin, CRP and sTfR and there were varying magnitudes between provinces. Although anaemia is mainly influenced by the iron concentration, CRP, ferritin and sTfR can also affect it through their association with inflammatory reactions. Identification of all causes of anaemia in each province needs to be done in the future, while blanket iron supplementation should be reviewed.
Spatial and temporal dynamic analysis of rabies: A review of current methodologies
Authors: Chen Shuaicheng
Published: November 2022

Rabies continues to be one of the deadliest, high risk diseases worldwide, posing a severe threat to public health. The lack of human-to-human transmission means that the spread of rabies is not significantly affected by the distribution of humans or migra- tion. Thus, the spatiotemporal dynamic of cases in both wild and domestic animals is an important issue that can result in human cases. This paper gives an overview of the methodologies for the spatial and temporal dynamic analysis of this disease. It introduces the most representative research progress of spatial aggregation, dynamic transmission, spatiotemporal distribution, epidemiologi- cal analysis and application of modelling in the study of rabies transmission in recent years. This overview should be useful for investigating the spatial and temporal dynamics of rabies, as it could help understanding the spread of cases as well as contribute to the development of better prevention and control strategies in ecology and epidemiology.
Acute poisoning in the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital, Nakuru, Kenya: January to June 2012
Authors: Bundotich J. K. , Gichuhi M. M.
Published: November 2022

Background: Information on the patterns of acute poisoning in Kenyan hospitals is limited, and yet such information is crucial for the appropriate management of poisoning. This study attempted to address this knowledge gap by examining admissions in a regional hospital in Kenya.Method: This was a retrospective review of the hospital records of 96 acute poisoning patients in Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital, Nakuru, in the first six months of 2012. A pretested data collection form was used to obtain data on important variables.Results: The prevalence of acute poisoning was 0.07% (96 of 141 769 cases). The average age of the patients was 22.6 years ± 11.20 years, the majority of whom were males [odds ratio (OR) 2.06]. The most prevalent toxic agent was pesticide (50, 52.08%). The majority of cases were intentional poisoning (48.96%) versus unintentional poisoning (43.75%), and involved mainly males (OR 3.06). Conversely, females were the majority with respect to accidental poisoning (25%) versus males (17.7%). However, accidental poisoning was most prevalent in patients aged 12 years and younger (23, 23.96%). Overall, acute poisoning was most prevalent in the age category of 20–30 years (40, 41.66%), in which intentional poisoning was predominant (26, 27.08%). The majority of cases of acute poisoning were incorrectly diagnosed (OR 1.79). The three patients who died were males (3.13%).Conclusion: This study showed that the majority of acute poisoning cases affected males and were intentional. The study also showed that the most prevalent acute toxic agent was pesticide and that acute toxic agents were often misclassified and hence misdiagnosed. These observations should be included when designing focused hospital poison management protocols.
Doctors’ attitudes to and knowledge and usage of growth charts
Authors: Smith Selma , Reji Elizabeth
Published: November 2022

Background: Growth charts have been used worldwide for about 40 years but their use has always been fraught with problemsMethods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on the reported usage of growth charts and whether there are factors that affect usage by the general practitioners working with children in public hospitals. Data were collected through the use of a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire covered four concepts: demographic factors; doctors’ self-reported growth chart usage; doctors’ attitude towards growth monitoring and use of growth charts; and doctors’ knowledge in terms of plotting, interpretation and management of growth patterns.Results: A total of 90 out of 100 doctors completed the questionnaires. More than half (57%) of the doctors had high workloads. Fifty-six (62.2%) doctors thought they were too busy to use growth charts. Only 37 (41%) doctors achieved an acceptable total knowledge score. Although just over two-thirds of (67.8%) doctors reported a positive attitude towards growth monitoring, their reported usage does not reflect it. Fifty-four (60%) doctors plotted weights correctly. Doctors recognised the most probable cause for the given growth patterns. However, most doctors struggled to choose the most appropriate management option. Skill in plotting was associated with more regular usage. Better knowledge and a positive attitude were associated with higher usage whereas a perception of high workload and several years’ experience were associated with lower levels of usage.Conclusions: While doctors reported a positive attitude towards the use of growth charts, they lacked the knowledge to utilise them optimally and reported that the chart was often not used.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Du Plessis A. M.E.
Published: November 2022

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a common neurobehavioural disorder that compromises the core symptoms of developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Many patients are still not diagnosed, or do not receive appropriate sustained treatment, in spite of a general greater awareness of the disorder. With such a high prevalence, the clinician needs to be well-informed about the presentation, treatment and challenges associated with this complex disorder.
Mastering your Fellowship, Vol 57, No 3 (2015)
Authors: Von Pressentin Klaus B. , Mash Bob
Published: November 2022

The new series, “Mastering your Fellowship”, will provide examples of the question format encountered in the written examination, Part I of the FCFP(SA) examination. Examples of these question types (according to a theme) will be given in each printed edition of the journal. Women’s health is the theme for the first article. Model answers will be available online, but not in the printed edition.
High expression of ZEB1 is associated with EMAST & metastasis in colorectal cancer patients
Authors: Mohammadpour Somayeh , Esfahani Amir Torshizi , Khorasaniasl Seyyedmohammadamin , Karimpour Raana , Bakhshian Farbod , Moradi Afshin , Nazemalhosseini-Mojarad Ehsan
Published: November 2022

Background & objectives:

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signalling pathway has been reported to be involved in metastasis and at the same time has been considered compellingly an important mediator of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Besides, EMT process is maintained by zinc-finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) gene which is induced by TGF-β pathway. TGF-β has been shown to be associated with elevated microsatellite alterations at selected tetranucleotide repeats (EMAST) phenomenon, which is one of the prognostic biomarkers of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study was conducted to determine the link among ZEB1-induced TGF-β, EMAST status and metastasis.

Methods:

The expression level of
ZEB1
was evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription (qRT) real-time PCR in 122 formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of CRC sample with known EMAST status and TGF-β/Smad-dependent pathways. The association among ZEB1 expression, TGF-β signalling pathway, EMAST status and metastatic behaviour was examined.

Results:

ZEB1 gene expression level was higher in tumour tissues as compared to normal samples (P<0.045). In addition, ZEB1 positive expression level was associated significantly with metastasis (P=0.05), EMAST+ status (P=0.052) and activated TGF-β signalling pathway (P=0.002).

Interpretation & conclusions:

Our results validated significant association between activated TGF-β signalling pathway and EMAST+ phenotype with higher expression of ZEB1 and higher level of metastasis.
Occurrence of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernematidae,	heterorhabditidae) as potential biocontrol agents against Spodoptera frugiperda infesting Zea mays
Authors: Danso Y. , Adomako J. , Amoabeng W.B. , Abugri B. , Mochiah M.B. , Opoku M.
Published: November 2022

Synthetic insecticides are used worldwide to manage invasive fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in cereals, in spite of the chemical’s prohibitive cost and threats to environmental health. In Ghana, little attention has been given to entomopathogenic nematodes as insect pest biocontrol agents, due to the existence of dismal expertise in the field. This study evaluated maize (Zea mays L.) farms for endemic entomopathogenic nematodes as potential biological control agents against fall armyworms infesting maize in Ghana. Entomopathogenic nematode juveniles were extracted using an insect baiting technique, White traps. These Rhabditid nematodes (Heterorhabditis; Steinernema) were found in 75% of 200 soil samples; and 92.5% of 40 districts targeted by this study. The Greater Accra region recorded the greatest population density (1,820 juveniles per 5 fall armyworm larvae cadavers); while; the Central region recorded the lowest density (81 juveniles per 5 fall armyworm larvae cadavers). There was high presence of entomopathogenic nematodes across the study areas. Therefore, entomopathogenic nematodes offer a promising alternative strategy for managing fall armyworm infestation of maize in Ghana to minimise over-reliance on synthetic insecticides.
Socioeconomic evaluation of wild rice as famine food crop in Southern Darfur State, Sudan
Authors: Brika M.M. , Osman H.A.H. , Elkhalil E.A.I. , Ahmed E.E.A. , Elzein A.E.M. , Mohamed E.M.
Published: November 2022

Wild rice (Oryza barthii) is increasingly used in Sudan as a food crop. Wild rice is a whole grain, rich in minerals, vitamins, protein, starch, dietary fiber and various phytochemicals; and yet low in fat, with a beneficial fatty acids profile. The objective of this study was to evaluate the socioeconomic significance of wild rice as a famine food crop in Darfur state of Sudan. A study was conducted in five districts (Tullus, Gadad, Demso, Katila, and Umshtoor) in South Darfur in Sudan. Primary data were obtained through a face-to-face semi-questionnaire interview on 146 households; supplemented with interviews of key informants and group discussions. All respondents (100%) not only attested to knowing wild rice and its growth habits, but also consumption (93.8%) of the crop. Wild rice reportedly grows naturally and widely in valleys, although it was dismally exploited by the local population. It is harvested manually and traditionally; and sold mostly in the local markets, without post-harvest value additions. The crop is consumed in various meals, but mainly in the form of porridge. Some respondents (13%) used the crop in times of famine. Wild rice is stored in traditional containers (95.9%) for periods ranging from 8 to 12 years without visible storage problems.
Honorary Whiteness: Delusions of Racial Hierarchy
Authors: Negedu Isaiah Aduojo
Published: November 2022

No abstract
Deconstructing the Idolatry of white supremacy: Embracing a trinitarian identity as solidarity with others
Authors: Aihiokhai SimonMary A
Published: November 2022

The question that faces communities today has to do with who belongs and who has the right to claim certain identity markers. In contemporary United States of America, whiteness stands as an idol unto itself for it seeks to delegitimise all other identity markers except those it has given legitimacy, and which serve its own interests. One cannot deconstruct whiteness as a racial construct unless one sheds light on its origins and how it continues to validate itself in society. A valid response to the idol of whiteness is to embrace a eucharistic identity; one that speaks of the human as a being radically defined by ethical solidarity with others.
Knowledge, practice of and factors influencing birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary institution in South-Western Nigeria
Authors: Ademuyiwa I. Y. , Oyediran O. O. , Olowe A. O. , Emikpe A. O. , Oshinyemi T. E. , Oladehinde T. E.
Published: November 2022

Pregnancy and child birth are normal physiological processes expected to be uneventful with a fruitful outcome of a healthy mother and baby(ies). However, every pregnant woman faces the risk of sudden unpredictable complications that could lead to injury to herself, her infant or even death. Furthermore, no one can reliably predict pregnancy related complications and its outcome, hence the need to be birth prepared and complication ready. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge, practice of and factors influencing birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary in a South-Western, Nigeria.

The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive research design utilizing quantitative approach. One hundred and forty-six (146) consenting pregnant women participated in this study. Data were manually collected and analyzed electronically with the use of SPSS computer software version 23.

The results showed that more than half of the respondents 74 (50.7%) had overall poor knowledge of BPCR while majority of the respondents 88 (60.3%) had good overall practice of BPCR. The findings revealed that factors influencing practice of BPCR were inadequate prenatal education (82.2%), knowledge of key danger signs (80.8%), poverty and place of residents (80.1%), educational level (70.5%) and family size (60.3%). There was a significant relationship between the knowledge and practice of birth preparedness and complication readiness, with a p-value <0.05. 

Base on the results we conclude that although the overall practice of BPCR is good while the overall knowledge is poor. There is a need to create an awareness and give adequate education on knowledge and practice of birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women.
Acute and sub-lethal toxicity in African mud catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell, 1822) exposed to some pesticides
Authors: Akeredolu O. E , Ekele S.A. , Olaleru F. , Egonmwan R. I.
Published: November 2022

Pesticides from agricultural run-off pose a severe threat to non-target organisms, such as fishes. This study was carried out to evaluate acute toxicity and histological and genotoxic effects (erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities) of lethal and sub-lethal concentrations of three commonly used pesticides: Atrazine, Butachlor and Glyphosate on the African mud catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Fishes were exposed to the pesticides for 96h periods to determine their LC50 and the sub-lethal effect at various concentrations (1/10th, 1/100th , 1/1000th 96h LC50) over 28 days. The 96h LC50 values were 7.63mg/l, 0.7mg/l and 15.97mg/l for atrazine, butachlor and glyphosate, respectively. Histological sections of the liver of C. gariepinus exposed to the three pesticides showed mild vascular congestion but no necrosis in the tissue. There was a significant (p<0.5) dose-dependent increase in micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities in the erythrocytes of exposed C. gariepinus compared to the control by 28 days. The study confirmed that C. gariepinus are at risk of adverse effects from exposure to pesticides. Discharge of agricultural run-off around water bodies should be prevented or prohibited to avoid adverse effects on aquatic life.
Environmental variables and benthic macroinvertebrates of Temidire Stream associated with an oil depot, Ibadan, southwest Nigeria
Authors: Ayoade A. A , Adoh D. S.
Published: November 2022

Streams are often recipients of pollution from agricultural, domestic and industrial sources though they are important sources of water supply and habitats of several aquatic species. Regular monitoring is required to protect this fragile but important ecosystem. Therefore, some physico-chemical parameters and macroinvertebrate assemblages of Temidire Stream, a perennial stream that flows through the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot and Temidire community in Apata, Ibadan metropolis were investigated in order to determine the pollution status of the water and sediment and its impact on the biological community. Water and sediment samples were collected from five stations in the stream and from an adjacent stream monthly between August, 2019 and January, 2020 for physico-chemical parameter and benthic macroinvertebrate analyses. Dissolved oxygen, conductivity and total dissolved solids (TDS), and pH were determined in situ using EXTECH EC400 and C933 pH meters, respectively. Heavy metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected by kick sampling method. The results showed that TDS and conductivity of station 1 differed significantly from the other stations (p< 0.05). The concentrations of Pb, Ni and Cd exceeded the recommended levels for surface water and Pb and Cd in water and sediment correlated mostly with PC 1. The average Igeo class for the heavy metals in all the stations was >2 indicating uncontaminated to moderately/heavily contaminated sediment. Ninety-six (96) individuals of macroinvertebrates from seven families and six orders were encountered and aquatic insects were dominant (75%). Taxa richness (0-0.82) and diversity (0-0.59) were lower in all the stations compared to the control site. Exceedance of WHO limits by some heavy metals and paucity of macroinvertebrates, especially pollution-sensitive species in the stream suggests that it is polluted. Regular   monitoring of the stream is advocated to minimize pollution.
Distributional Patterns of Gastropoda Upstream and Downstream of Bujagali Hydropower Project along the Upper Victoria Nile
Authors: Sekiranda Stephen , Gandhi Pabire
Published: November 2022

To better understand the gastropod community dynamics of fresh water snails in the Upper Victoria Nile (UVN), the spatial and temporal abundance changes in gastropod assemblage were assessed biannually from April 2006 to April 2021 at three transects. Biannual abundances of gastropoda were obtained by a ponar grab to examine changes in their community structure in relation to Bujagali Hydropower Project (BHP). The gastropod community consisted of nine speciesbelonging to five families (Thiaridae, Viviparidae, Ampullariidae, Bithyniidae and Planorbidae). Pulmonate species registered five species (Anisus natalensis, Gyraulus sp., Segmentorbis sp., Bulinus sp. and Biomphalaria chaonomphola). Two of the pulmonates (Bulinus sp. and B. chaonomphala) are schistomiasis vectors. The pulmonates (A. natalensis, Gyraulus sp., Segmentorbis sp.) were rare and intermittently occurred with abundances up to 47 ind.m-2. Four prosobranch species (Gabbia humerosa, Pila ovata, Melanoides tuberculata and Bellamya unicolor) were encountered. Of these prosobranchs, P. ovata was the rarest while M. tuberculata and B. unicolor were the commonest. The gastropod community in the UVN was characterised by prosobranchs-dominated abundance which over the 16-year monitoring period often registered peak densities of > 1000 ind.m2. The inter-site Percent Similarity Index (PSI) (94-100%) indicated a high degree of similarity of gastropod community across the sites.
ImpedanceVerif: On-Chip Impedance Sensing for System-Level Tampering Detection
Authors: Mosavirik Tahoura , Schaumont Patrick , Tajik Shahin
Published: November 2022

Physical attacks can compromise the security of cryptographic devices. Depending on the attack’s requirements, adversaries might need to (i) place probes in the proximity of the integrated circuits (ICs) package, (ii) create physical connections between their probes/wires and the system’s PCB, or (iii) physically tamper with the PCB’s components, chip’s package, or substitute the entire PCB to prepare the device for the attack. While tamper-proof enclosures prevent and detect physical access to the system, their high manufacturing cost and incompatibility with legacy systems make them unattractive for many low-cost scenarios. In this paper, inspired by methods known from the field of power integrity analysis, we demonstrate how the impedance characterization of the system’s power distribution network (PDN) using on-chip circuit-based network analyzers can detect various classes of tamper events. We explain how these embedded network analyzers, without any modifications to the system, can be deployed on FPGAs to extract the frequency response of the PDN. The analysis of these frequency responses reveals different classes of tamper events from board to chip level. To validate our claims, we run an embedded network analyzer on FPGAs of a family of commercial development kits and perform extensive measurements for various classes of PCB and IC package tampering required for conducting different side-channel or fault attacks. Using the Wasserstein Distance as a statistical metric, we further show that we can confidently detect tamper events. Our results, interestingly, show that even environment-level tampering activities, such as the proximity of contactless EM probes to the IC package or slightly polished IC package, can be detected using on-chip impedance sensing.
Neki aspekti moralnog vaspitanja dece oštećenog sluha
Authors:   University of Belgrade, Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Bjelić Marija P. , Đoković Sanja T.
Published: November 2022

Education is the result of the adults’ impact on the body, mind and feelings of children, thus encouraging the child development and unity of his/her physical, intellectual, moral, and aesthetic education from an early age. Moral education determines the basis of an individual's upbringing and his/her actions because it directs individuals to harmonize all aspects of their personality and capacities with the social community and achieve their own authenticity, which is not in conflict with universal, lasting and unchanging values that proclaim virtues, kindness, philanthropy and higher spiritual values and benefits for all. Moral education is achieved by learning what is good, which supports bodily actions as well as the actions that are in line with moral and aesthetic values. Hearing-impaired children have difficulties with moral education at all three levels, due to difficulties in speech development, communication and socialization. The paper will therefore explain the specific features of moral education that are determined by the personality characteristics of deaf children, and which should be considered when implementing educational practice with preschool children.
Odlike i funkcionalnost pesama u udžbenicima za muzičku kulturu za treći razred osnovne škole
Authors:   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Education in Užice, Ćalić Maja R. , Grkić Ginić Jelena R. ,   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Education in Užice
Published: November 2022

Given the fact that a song represents the basis, the primary content as well as the central topic in teaching Music Education in primary school, this paper aims to clarify the functionality and features of songs by analyzing a selection of music textbooks for the third grade of primary school, that is, by identifying and determining this effective musical content, its role and effectiveness in the musical development of students. The aim of the paper is to theoretically analyze the melodic-rhythmic and thematic features of songs, determine their functionality as well as their interplay in the textbooks and on CD. The analysis shows that the songs in the selected textbooks are age-appropriate as regards their melodic-rythmical features and themes. The functionality of the songs is aimed at developing a sense of rhythm, vocal apparatus as well as musical literacy. Audio materials open up new possibilities for song interpretation through karaoke.
Epidemiological Characteristics of Imported and Locally-acquired Malaria in Singapore
Authors: Lee YCA , Tang Choon Siang , Ang Li Wei , Han Hwi Kwang , James Lyn , Goh Kee Tai
Published: November 2022

Introduction: The objective of the study was to determine the trend of malaria, the epidemiologi-cal characteristics, the frequency of local transmission and the preventive and control measures taken. Materials and Methods: We analysed the epidemiological records of all reported malaria cases maintained by the Communicable Diseases Division, Ministry of Health, from 1983 to 2007 and the Anopheles vector surveillance data collected by the National Environment Agency during the same period. Results: The annual incidence of reported malaria ranged from 2.9 to 11.1 per 100,000 population, with a sharp decline observed after 1997. There were 38 deaths, 92.1% due to falciparum malaria and 7.9% due to vivax malaria. Of the reported cases, 91.4% to 98.3% were imported, with about 90% originating from Southeast Asia and the Indian sub-continent. Among the various population groups with imported malaria, the proportion of cases involving work permit/employment pass holders had increased, while that of local residents had decreased. Between 74.8% and 95.1% of the local residents with imported malaria did not take personal chemoprophylaxis when they travelled overseas. Despite the extremely low Anopheles vector population, a total of 29 local outbreaks involving 196 cases occurred. Most of the larger outbreaks could be traced to foreign workers with imported relapsing vivax malaria and who did not seek medical treatment early. One of the outbreaks of 3 cases in 2007 was caused by Plasmodium knowlesi, a newly recognised simian malaria which was probably acquired in a forested area where long-tail macaques had been sighted. Conclusions: Singapore remains both vulnerable and receptive to the reintroduction of malaria and a high level of vigilance should be maintained indefinitely to prevent the re-establishment of endemicity. Medical practitioners should highlight the risk of malaria to travellers visiting endemic areas and also consider the possibility of simian malaria in a patient who has no recent travel history and presenting with daily fever spikes and with malaria parasite morphologically similar to that of P. malariae. Key words: Anopheles mosquitoes, Foreign workers, Outbreaks, Simian malaria
Efficacy of Limited-Duration Spinal Cord Stimulation for Subacute Postherpetic Neuralgia
Authors: Iseki Masako , Morita Yoshihito , Nakamura Yoshitaka , Ifuku Masataka , Komatsu Shuji
Published: November 2022

Excellent outcomes were achieved with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for 7 to 10 days on 2 patients who developed postherpetic neuralgia. Both patients were within 2 to 3 months of the onset of the condition, and nerve blocks provided only temporary pain relief and drug therapies had poor efficacy. The authors believe that limited-duration SCS for subacute postherpetic neuralgia is a useful treatment approach that may prevent the pain from progressing to chronic postherpetic neuralgia.

Key words: Spinal sensitisation, Subacute postherpetic neuralgia
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Impairs Visuospatial Perception, whereas Post-Herpetic Neuralgia does not: Possible Implications for Supraspinal Mechanism of CRPS
Authors: Uematsu Hironobu , Sumitani Masahiko , Yozu Arito , Otake Yuko , Shibata Masahiko , Mashimo Takashi , Miyauchi Satoru
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) patients show impaired visuospatial perception in the dark, as compared to normal patients with acute nociceptive pain. The purpose of this study is 2-fold: (i) to ascertain whether this distorted visuospatial perception is related to the chronicity of pain, and (ii) to analyse visuospatial perception of CRPS in comparison with another neuropathic pain condition.

Materials and Methods: We evaluated visual subjective body-midline (vSM) representation in 27 patients with post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) and 22 with CRPS under light and dark conditions. A red laser dot was projected onto a screen and moved horizontally towards the sagittal plane of the objective body-midline (OM). Each participant was asked to direct the dot to a position where it crossed their vSM. The distance between the vSM and OM was analysed to determine how and in which direction the vSM deviated.

Results: Under light condition, all vSM judgments approximately matched the OM. However, in the dark, CRPS patients, but not PHN patients, showed a shifted vSM towards the affected side.

Conclusion: We demonstrated that chronic pain does not always impair visuospatial percep- tion. The aetiology of PHN is limited to the peripheral nervous system, whereas the distorted visuospatial perception suggests a supraspinal aetiology of CRPS.

Key words: Cognitive dysfunction, Higher brain function, Multimodal disturbance, Neuro- pathic pain
Oxycodone – An Audit of its Prescription in a Local Hospital
Authors: Choo Chee Yong , Ong Charmaine YY , Chan Sher Yi
Published: November 2022

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the prescription patterns and side effects of oxycodone in a local hospital setting.

Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of all patients who were prescribed oxycodone for acute or chronic pain from June to November 2007. Patients’ names were obtained from the hospital pharmacy and data were collected with a set of question- naire after review of their casenotes. Prescription was compared with other recommended opioid prescription guidelines. Side effects to oxycodone use were documented.

Results: One hundred and thirty patients were prescribed oxycodone for the 6-month study period. Prescription by the orthopaedic surgeons was the highest, followed by the pain service. Most patients had a clear indication for use of oxycodone and appropriate dosing regimes. However, two thirds of the patients prescribed oxycodone were not reviewed with regard to their analgesia within 24 hours and one third did not have titration of the drug to their pain symptoms. Majority of the patients had outpatient follow-up within 4 weeks of discharge. Common side effects included nausea, vomiting and constipation.

Conclusion: This is the first local audit that profiles oxyco- done prescription patterns and its side effects. Prescription of oxycodone was appropriate for the majority of the study population. Patient assessment upon initiation of oxycodone therapy and titration of the drug to patients’ pain symptoms was suboptimal. Oxycodone was well toler- ated by the study population with minimal side effects. Further quality measures and ongoing education of clinicians will ensure future patients obtain safe and effective analgesia.

Key words: Opioid prescription, Pain
The Role of Interventional Therapies in Cancer Pain Management
Authors: Tay Wilson , Ho Kok-Yuen
Published: November 2022

Cancer pain is complex and multifactorial. Most cancer pain can be effectively controlled using analgesics in accordance to the WHO analgesic ladder. However, in a small but significant percentage of cancer patients, systemic analgesics fail to provide adequate control of cancer pain. These cancer patients can also suffer from intolerable adverse effects of drug therapy or intractable cancer pain in advance disease. Though the prognosis of these cancer patients is often very limited, the pain relief, reduced medical costs and improvement in function and quality of life from a wide variety of available interventional procedures is extremely invaluable. These interventions can be used as sole agents or as useful adjuncts to supplement analgesics. This review will discuss interventional procedures such as epidural and intrathecal drug infusions, intrathecal neurolysis, sympathetic nervous system blockade, nerve blocks, vertebroplasty and the more invasive neurosurgical procedures. Intrathecal medications including opioids, local anaesthetics, clonidine, and ziconotide will also be discussed.

Key words: Intractable pain, Intrathecal analgesia, Neurolysis
Operational Research Methodology in the General Medical Rounds
Authors: Pinheiro Leslie
Published: November 2022

Operations Research (OR), also called Operational Research in the United Kingdom (UK), uses various computational tools for solutions to complex problems within a system. It deals with challenges in planning, scheduling, forecasting, process analysis and decision analysis. It also addresses individual components of the system. The methodology used for decisions based upon stochastic (random) processes can also be adapted for the common general medical ward round. Operational Research techniques add speed, efficiency, quality and consistency to the documentation in the case notes, and reduces the time taken for ward rounds. There is obvious benefit to the individual patient. It also acts as a learning tool which can be audited, and lends itself to research questions.

Key words: Medical template, Operations Research
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Fetal Central Nervous System in Singapore
Authors: Tang Phua Hwee , Ong Chiou Li , Stringer David , Tan June VK , Yeo George SH
Published: November 2022

The dual energy CT (DECT) technology has been recently employed in the form of two X-ray sources of different energies to enhance the contrast between adjacent structures. Its use in the cardiac arena has been widely highlighted due to the higher temporal resolution. However, it may also be used in the craniocervical and peripheral vasculature for better differentiation between contrast-enhanced vascular lumina and calcified plaques, in the characterisation of ureteric stones, and in the evaluation of hepatic lesions. The objective of this paper is to revisit DECT physics, review the literature and discuss its use in CT neuroangiography with case illustrations from our institution, and impact on dose savings.

Key words: Craniocervical CT angiography, Intracranial aneurysms, Radiation dosage, Vascular stenosis
Effect of Social Media Function on Student Graduation Rate
Authors: Nurhayati Ai , Gusdevi Harya , Sugiatna Angling
Published: November 2022

This observation aimed to determine the significant effect of social media facilities on improving the quality of scholars. The research stages began with some interviews with scholars. This observation utilizes the Manova method through the statistic software program. The period to graduate from college and the period of not working is eminently affected by the sort of social media function that student often searches for. This investigation was only conducted on students in Indonesia. This investigation is useful in Indonesia and useful in the fields of social science and industrial engineering.
Outage Probability and Capacity Analysis for NOMA based 5G and B5G Cellular Communication
Authors: Aditi Agrawal  , Ishant Kohad  , Mrunmayi Kinhikar  , Dolly Tiwari  , Prasheel Thakre  , Sanjay Pokle
Published: November 2022

This study presents a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) solution for 5G that unifies communication betweenmacro-cells via the S-R NOMA link and communication between small cells via the R-D NOMA link. S-R NOMA isused to decode own signal by respective relay. Separate studies of outage performance in S-R and R-D connectionsmay formerly be used to get an accurate definition of system outage likelihood. Our mathematical analysis issupported by simulation findings, which indicate that NOMA-assisted relaying systems outperform OrthogonalMultiple Access systems in terms of lower outage probability and better cumulative capacities (OMA).