bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applying periodic and anti-periodic boundary conditions in existence results of fractional differential equations via nonlinear contractive mappings
Authors: Panda Sumati Kumari , Vijayakumar Velusamy , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy
Published: September 2023

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1. The nonlinear multi-order fractional differential equation $$ \mathcal{L}(\mathcal{D})\theta (\varsigma )=\sigma \bigl(\varsigma , \theta ( \varsigma ) \bigr), \quad \varsigma \in \mathscr{J}=[0,\mathscr{A}], \mathscr{A}>0, $$
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2. The nonlinear multi-term fractional delay differential equation $$\begin{aligned} &\mathcal{L}(\mathcal{D})\theta (\varsigma ) =\sigma \bigl(\varsigma , \theta ( \varsigma ),\theta (\varsigma -\tau ) \bigr), \quad \varsigma \in \mathscr{J}=[0, \mathscr{A}], \mathscr{A}>0; \\ &\theta (\varsigma ) =\bar{\sigma}(\varsigma ),\quad \varsigma \in [-\tau ,0], \end{aligned}$$

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where $$\begin{aligned} &\mathcal{L}(\mathcal{D})=\gamma _{w} \,{}^{c} \mathcal{D}^{\delta _{w}}+ \gamma _{w-1} \,{}^{c} \mathcal{D}^{\delta _{w-1}}+\cdots+\gamma _{1} \,{}^{c} \mathcal{D}^{\delta _{1}}+\gamma _{0} \,{}^{c} \mathcal{D}^{\delta _{0}},\\ &\gamma _{\flat}\in \mathbb{R}\quad (\flat =0,1,2,3,\ldots,w), \qquad \gamma _{w} \neq 0, \\ &0\leq \delta _{0}< \delta _{1}< \delta _{2}< \cdots< \delta _{w-1}< \delta _{w}< 1; \end{aligned}$$

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moreover, here ${}^{c}\mathcal{D}^{\delta}$

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Prevalence of Strongyloides in Southeast Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis with implications for public health and sustainable control strategies
Authors: Chan Abigail Hui En , Kusolsuk Teera , Watthanakulpanich Dorn , Pakdee Wallop , Doanh Pham Ngoc , Yasin Azlin Mohd , Dekumyoy Paron , Thaenkham Urusa
Published: September 2023

Background

Strongyloidiasis, caused by the nematodes Strongyloides stercoralis and Strongyloides fuelleborni, is estimated to affect over 600 million individuals worldwide. The disease is endemic in Southeast Asia, where a warm-humid climate and socio-economic conditions maintain the parasite’s life cycle and transmission. However, the current diagnostic methods may not be sufficiently sensitive, suggesting that the true prevalence of strongyloidiasis could be seriously underestimated in this. This study aims to determine the prevalence of strongyloidiasis in Southeast Asia through a systematic review and meta-analysis and to discuss the implications of the estimated prevalence on diagnostic approaches and control strategies.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases to identify studies reporting Strongyloides prevalence data in the 11 Southeast Asian countries up to December 2022. A random effects model was employed to estimate the pooled prevalence of S. stercoralis at both regional and country levels.

Results

Out of 3722 articles identified, 224 met our inclusion criteria. For S. stercoralis specifically, we found 187 articles, of which 52.4% were from Thailand. All Southeast Asian countries, except Brunei, had at least one study on Strongyloides prevalence. The estimated pooled prevalence of S. stercoralis regionally was 12.7% (95% CI 10.70–14.80%), ranging from 0.4 to 24.9% at the country level. Cambodia had the highest pooled prevalence (24.9%, 95% CI 15.65–35.38%), followed by Lao PDR (16.5%, 95% CI 9.50–24.95%). Moreover, we obtained a pooled prevalence of 10% (95% CI 7.06–13.52%) in a group comprising immigrants, workers, and veterans from Southeast Asian countries. S. stercoralis infects various host types, including nonhuman primates, domestic dogs and cats, rodents, and transport carriers such as cockroaches and vegetables.

Conclusions

A high prevalence of strongyloidiasis in Southeast Asia was revealed, highlighting the importance of the region’s ongoing research, surveillance, and control efforts. Factors contributing to the strongyloidiasis transmission include the role of animal hosts, the impact of global connectivity, and the significance of the co-endemicity of other Strongyloides species. Based on these findings, a multi-pronged One-Health approach is essential for sustainable intervention and control.
Autoimmune lymphoproliferative immunodeficiencies (ALPID) in childhood: breakdown of immune homeostasis and immune dysregulation
Authors: Toskov Vasil , Ehl Stephan
Published: September 2023

Many inborn errors of immunity (IEI) manifest with hallmarks of both immunodeficiency and immune dysregulation due to uncontrolled immune responses and impaired immune homeostasis. A subgroup of these disorders frequently presents with autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation (ALPID phenotype). After the initial description of the genetic basis of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) more than 20 years ago, progress in genetics has helped to identify many more genetic conditions underlying this ALPID phenotype. Among these, the majority is caused by a group of autosomal-dominant conditions including CTLA-4 haploinsufficiency, STAT3 gain-of-function disease, activated PI3 kinase syndrome, and NF-κB1 haploinsufficiency. Even within a defined genetic condition, ALPID patients may present with staggering clinical heterogeneity, which makes diagnosis and management a challenge. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, approaches to diagnosis, and conventional as well as targeted therapy of the most common ALPID conditions.
Gamma camera-specific reference standards for radioactive iodine uptake measurements
Authors: Mourik Jurgen E. M. , Derks Mark , te Beek Erik T. , ten Broek Marc R. J.
Published: September 2023

Background

Current guidelines of the radioiodine uptake (RAIU) test allow the use of different equipment, isotopes, activity and region-of-interest (ROI). We evaluated presence and extent of these differences in clinical practice and evaluated the effect of some of these variations on RAIU outcomes. Also, gamma camera-specific reference standards were calculated and retrospectively compared with measurements obtained during clinical RAIU tests.

Materials and methods

First, questionnaires were sent to Dutch nuclear medicine departments requesting information about equipment usage, isotope, isotope formulation, activity and measurement techniques. Secondly, a neck phantom containing a range of activities in capsule or water-dissolved formulation was scanned. Counts were measured using automatic ROI, square box ROI or all counts in the image. Thirdly, clinical RAIU data were collected during 2015–2018 using three different gamma cameras. Reference standards for each scanner were calculated using regression analysis between reference activity and measured counts. Uptake measurements using this gamma camera-specific reference standard were compared with original measurements.

Results

The survey demonstrated significant differences in isotope, isotope formulation, activity, use of neck phantoms, frequency and duration of reference measurements, distance to collimator, use of background measurements and ROI delineation. The phantom study demonstrated higher counts for the water-dissolved formulation than capsules using both automatic and square box ROI. Also, higher counts were found using a square box ROI than an automatic ROI. The retrospective study showed feasibility of RAIU calculations using camera-specific reference standards and good correlation with the original RAIU measurements.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated considerable technical variation in RAIU measurement in clinical practice. The phantom study demonstrated that these differences could result in differences in count measurements, potentially resulting in different dose calculations for radioactive iodine therapy. Retrospective data suggest that camera-specific reference standards may be used instead of individual reference measurements using separate activity sources, which may thus eliminate some sources of variation.
Cardiometabolic healthcare for men with prostate cancer: an MD Anderson Cancer Center experience
Authors: Hahn Andrew W. , Thoman Whittney , Koutroumpakis Efstratios , Abdulla Amer , Subudhi Sumit K. , Aparicio Ana , Basen-Enngquist Karen , Logothetis Christopher J. , Gilchrist Susan C.
Published: September 2023

Background

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer are at risk for competing morbidity and mortality due to cardiometabolic disease given their advanced age at diagnosis, high prevalence of pre-existing risk factors, and receipt of systemic therapy that targets the androgen receptor (AR). Expert panels have stressed the importance of cardiometabolic risk assessment in the clinic and proposed evaluating key risks using consensus paradigms. Yet, there is a gap in real-world evidence for implementation of comprehensive cardiometabolic care for men with prostate cancer.

Methods

This is a retrospective, descriptive study of patients with prostate cancer who were referred and evaluated in the Healthy Heart Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center, which was established to mitigate cardiometabolic risks in men with prostate cancer. Patients were seen by a cardiologist and exercise physiologist to evaluate and manage cardiometabolic risk factors, including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, tobacco use, and coronary artery disease, concurrent with management of their cancer by a medical oncologist.

Results

From December 2018 through October 2021, the Healthy Heart Program enrolled 55 men with prostate cancer, out of which 35 had biochemical, locoregional recurrence or distant metastases, while all received at least a single dose of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analog. Ninety-three percent of men were overweight or obese, and 51% had an intermediate or high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at 10 years based on the pooled cohort equation. Most men had an overlap of two or more cardiometabolic diseases (84%), and 25% had an overlap of at least 4 cardiometabolic diseases. Although uncontrolled hypertension and hyperlipidemia were common among the cohort (45% and 26%, respectively), only 29% of men followed up with the clinic.

Conclusions

Men with prostate cancer have a high burden of concurrent cardiometabolic risk factors. At a tertiary cancer center, the Healthy Heart Program was implemented to address this need, yet the utility of the program was limited by poor follow-up possibly due to outside cardiometabolic care and inconvenient appointment logistics, a lack of cardiometabolic labs at the time of visits, and telemedicine visits.
Anesthetic management of inguinal hernia in an ex-premature infant with subglottic stenosis: a case report
Authors: Doi Yumi , Ekuni Satoshi
Published: September 2023

Background

We report the anesthetic management of inguinal hernia repair for an infant with subglottic stenosis. A previously scheduled operation had been cancelled due to unexpected airway trouble during the induction.

Case presentation

A boy was born at 24 weeks of gestation and his trachea was intubated for 45 days. At 16 months old, surgery for inguinal hernia was planned, but cancelled due to unexpected narrow airway, and subglottic stenosis was first suspected. At 17 months old, he was transferred to us for inguinal hernia surgery. After careful discussion between the surgical team and the anesthesiologists, a strategy to manage this patient was developed. He underwent open hernia surgery under spinal anesthesia and diagnostic rigid bronchoscopy under tubeless general anesthesia separately, which revealed low-grade stenosis and some subglottic cysts. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Conclusion

Interdepartmental discussion weighing risks and benefits may deduce the safest and most appropriate anesthesia method.
Tolerability and Efficacy of the Anticluster of Differentiation 47 Antibody Magrolimab Combined With Azacitidine in Patients With Previously Untreated AML: Phase Ib Results
Authors: Daver Naval G. , Vyas Paresh , Kambhampati Suman , Al Malki Monzr M. , Larson Richard A. , Asch Adam S. , Mannis Gabriel , Chai-Ho Wanxing , Tanaka Tiffany N. , Bradley Terrence J. , Jeyakumar Deepa , Wang Eunice S. , Sweet Kendra , Kantarjian Hagop M. , Garcia-Manero Guillermo , Komrokji Rami , Xing Guan , Ramsingh Giridharan , Renard Camille , Zeidner Joshua F. , Sallman David A.
Published: September 2023

PURPOSE

Magrolimab is a first-in-class humanized monoclonal antibody against cluster of differentiation 47, an antiphagocytic signal used by cancer cells to evade phagocytosis. Azacitidine upregulates prophagocytic signals on AML cells, further increasing phagocytosis when combined with magrolimab. We report final phase Ib data for magrolimab with azacitidine in patients with untreated AML ineligible for intensive chemotherapy (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03248479 ).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with previously untreated AML, including TP53-mutant AML, received magrolimab intravenously as an initial dose (1 mg/kg, days 1 and 4), followed by 15 mg/kg once on day 8 and 30 mg/kg once weekly or every 2 weeks as maintenance. Azacitidine 75 mg/m2 was administered intravenously/subcutaneously once daily on days 1-7 of each 28-day cycle. Primary end points were safety/tolerability and proportion with complete remission (CR).

RESULTS

Eighty-seven patients were enrolled and treated; 72 (82.8%) had TP53 mutations with a median variant allele frequency of 61% (range, 9.8-98.7). Fifty-seven (79.2%) of TP53-mutant patients had European LeukemiaNet 2017 adverse-risk cytogenetics. Patients received a median of 4 (range, 1-39) cycles of treatment. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events included constipation (49.4%), nausea (49.4%), and diarrhea (48.3%). Thirty (34.5%) experienced anemia, and the median hemoglobin change from baseline to first postdose assessment was –0.9 g/dL (range, –3.6 to 2.5 g/dL). Twenty-eight (32.2%) patients achieved CR, including 23 (31.9%) patients with TP53 mutations. The median overall survival in TP53-mutant and wild-type patients were 9.8 months and 18.9 months, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Magrolimab with azacitidine was relatively well tolerated with promising efficacy in patients with AML ineligible for intensive induction chemotherapy, including those with TP53 mutations, warranting further evaluation of magrolimab with azacitidine in AML. The phase III randomized ENHANCE-2 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04778397 ) and ENHANCE-3 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05079230 ) studies are recruiting frontline patients with AML.
TRβ Agonism Induces Tumor Suppression and Enhances Drug Efficacy in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer in Female Mice
Authors: Gillis Noelle E , Cozzens Lauren M , Wilson Emily R , Smith Noah M , Tomczak Jennifer A , Bolf Eric L , Carr Frances E
Published: September 2023

Thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRβ) is a recognized tumor suppressor in numerous solid cancers. The molecular signaling of TRβ has been elucidated in several cancer types through re-expression models. Remarkably, the potential impact of selective activation of endogenous TRβ on tumor progression remains largely unexplored. We used cell-based and in vivo assays to evaluate the effects of the TRβ agonist sobetirome (GC-1) on a particularly aggressive and dedifferentiated cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). Here we report that GC-1 reduced the tumorigenic phenotype, decreased cancer stem-like cell populations, and induced redifferentiation of the ATC cell lines with different mutational backgrounds. Of note, this selective activation of TRβ amplified the effects of therapeutic agents in blunting the aggressive cell phenotype and stem cell growth. In xenograft assays, GC-1 alone inhibited tumor growth and was as effective as the kinase inhibitor, sorafenib. These results indicate that selective activation of TRβ not only induces a tumor suppression program de novo but enhances the effectiveness of anticancer agents, revealing potential novel combination therapies for ATC and other aggressive solid tumors.
“In Accord with the Spirit of American Democracy”: Tracing the Network of the US Armed Services Editions
Authors: Muenchrath Anna
Published: September 2023

This essay explores the possibilities of thinking about the production, circulation, and reception of books through the form of the network. Using archival material of the Council of Books in Wartime, the essay reassembles some of the many attachments that formed the Armed Services Editions during World War II, one of the largest enterprises in the history of publishing. The essay traces the selections of the council, the networks of soldier-readers created by the books themselves, and the acts of reading constrained and made possible by these attachments across front lines and through bureaucratic memos. This assembly provides the backdrop for a consideration of the text of Thomas Mann’s “Mario and the Magician,” a short story published in the Armed Services Editions in 1944, whose plot not only mirrors the tension between authority and free will manifested in the geopolitical conflict of World War II, but also elucidates the dialectic of power and agency modeled by the form of the network as articulated in the council’s reader-producing experiment itself. What is ultimately at stake in positing an uneven network of actors who negotiate, maintain, extend, and possibly even subvert vectors of cultural power is a reconsideration of the agency attributed to readers in sociological studies of literature.
Reflexivity’s Ontological Turn: From Cybernetics to Autopoiesis in “The Circular Ruins” and The People of Paper
Authors: Martinson T. J.
Published: September 2023

While postmodern metafiction (or reflexive fiction) is commonly positioned outside the scope of the Ontological Turn due to metafiction’s association with postmodernism’s insistence on “world as text,” this article argues that metafiction’s proximity to scientific theories of reflexivity engenders a shift toward what the article calls body as text, a shift that is synchronous with reflexivity’s evolution from cybernetics to biological autopoiesis. To trace metafiction’s aesthetic evolution from world as text to body as text, the article examines Jorge Luis Borges’s short story “The Circular Ruins” (1940) alongside early-order cybernetic theories of reflexivity before examining Salvador Plascencia’s The People of Paper (2005) alongside later theories of biological autopoiesis. While both narratives demonstrate an interest in the world-building powers of the text, the article argues that Plascencia’s novel demonstrates reflexivity’s autopoietic ability to examine the interstitial relationship between material embodiment and nonhuman agencies. By moving away from Borgesian self-regulation toward self-assembly, The People of Paper gradually sheds the epistemological preoccupations of its world-as-text aesthetic in favor a more ontological body-as-text aesthetic, thereby opening up the possibility of interpreting Plascencia’s novel as an aestheticization not of the construction of reality but of the construction of the body itself. In marking a distinction between world-as-text metafiction and body-as-text metafiction, the latter emerges as a uniquely useful heuristic in the Ontological Turn for modeling molecular embodiment and nonhuman agency.
Loss of ATG4B and ATG4A results in two-stage cell cycle defects in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: Sathiyaseelan Paalini , Chittaranjan Suganthi , Kalloger Steve E. , Chan Jennifer , Go Nancy E. , Jardon Mario A. , Ho Cally J. , Hui Theodore , Xu Jing , Chow Christine , Gao Dongxia , Johnson Fraser D. , Lockwood William W. , Morin Gregg B. , Renouf Daniel J. , Schaeffer David F. , Gorski Sharon M.
Published: September 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits elevated levels of autophagy, which promote tumor progression and treatment resistance. ATG4B is an autophagy-related cysteine protease under consideration as a potential therapeutic target, but it is largely unexplored in PDAC. Here, we investigated the clinical and functional relevance of ATG4B expression in PDAC. Using two PDAC patient cohorts, we found that low ATG4B mRNA or protein expression is associated with worse patient survival outcomes, poorly differentiated PDAC tumors and a lack of survival benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. In PDAC cell lines, ATG4B knockout reduced proliferation, abolished processing of LC3B (also known as MAP1LC3B), and reduced GABARAP and GABARAPL1 levels, but increased ATG4A levels. ATG4B and ATG4A double knockout lines displayed a further reduction in proliferation, characterized by delays in G1-S phase transition and mitosis. Pro-LC3B accumulated aberrantly at the centrosome with a concomitant increase in centrosomal proteins PCM1 and CEP131, which was rescued by exogenous ATG4B. The two-stage cell cycle defects following ATG4B and ATG4A loss have important therapeutic implications for PDAC.
Preinjury Knee and Ankle Mechanics during Running Are Reduced among Collegiate Runners Who Develop Achilles Tendinopathy
Authors: JOACHIM MIKEL R. , KLIETHERMES STEPHANIE A. , HEIDERSCHEIT BRYAN C.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Achilles tendinopathies (AT) are common in runners, but prospective data assessing running mechanics associated with developing AT are limited. Asymmetry in running mechanics is also considered a risk factor for injury, although it is unknown if the problematic mechanics occur on the injured limb only or are present bilaterally.

Purpose

This study aimed to prospectively identify differences in preinjury running biomechanics in collegiate runners who did and did not develop AT and determine if between-limb asymmetries were associated with which limb developed AT.

Methods

Running gait data were obtained preseason on healthy collegiate cross-country runners, and AT incidence was prospectively recorded each year. Spatiotemporal, ground reaction forces, and joint kinematics and kinetics were analyzed. Linear mixed-effects models assessed differences in biomechanics between those who did and did not develop AT during the subsequent year. Generalized linear mixed-effects models determined if the asymmetry direction was associated with which limb developed an AT, with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) reported.

Results

Data from 106 runners were analyzed and 15 developed AT. Preinjury biomechanics of runners who developed AT showed less peak knee flexion (noninjured: 45.9° (45.2°–46.6°), injured: 43.2° (41.5°–44.9°), P < 0.001), ankle dorsiflexion (noninjured: 28.7° (28.0°–30.2°), injured: 26.0° (23.8°–28.3°), P = 0.01), and knee extensor moment (noninjured: −2.18 (N·m)·kg−1 (−2.24 to −2.12 (N·m)·kg−1), injured: −2.00 (N·m)·kg−1 (−2.17 to −1.84 (N·m)·kg−1), P = 0.02). The limb demonstrating less peak knee flexion had greater odds of sustaining an AT (OR, 1.29 (1.00–1.65), P = 0.05).

Conclusions

Knee and ankle kinematics, in addition to knee kinetics, were associated with developing an AT. Monitoring these mechanics may be useful for prospectively identifying runners at risk of developing AT.
Does Wrist-Worn Accelerometer Wear Compliance Wane over a Free-Living Assessment Period? An NHANES Analysis
Authors: LAMUNION SAMUEL R. , BRYCHTA ROBERT J. , SAINT-MAURICE PEDRO F. , MATTHEWS CHARLES E. , CHEN KONG Y.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Accelerometers are used to objectively measure physical behaviors in free-living environments, typically for seven consecutive days or more. We examined whether participants experience “wear fatigue,” a decline in wear time day over day, during typical assessment period acquired in a nationally representative sample of 6- to 80-yr-olds in the United States.

Methods

Participants were instructed to wear an ActiGraph GT3X+ on their nondominant wrist continuously for seven consecutive days. Participants with seven complete days of recorded data, regardless of wear status, were included in the analyses (N = 13,649). Wear was scored with the sleep, wake, and nonwear algorithm.

Results

Participants averaged 1248 ± 3.6 min·d−1 (mean ± SE) of wear over the assessment, but wear time linearly decreased from day 1 (1295 ± 3.2 min) to day 7 (1170 ± 5.3 min), resulting in a wear fatigue of −18.1 ± 0.7 min·d−1 (β ± SE). Wear fatigue did not differ by sex but varied by age-group—highest in adolescents (−26.8 ± 2.4 min·d−1) and lowest in older adults (−9.3 ± 0.9 min·d−1). Wear was lower in evening (1800–2359 h) and early morning (0000–0559 h) compared with the middle of the day and on weekend days compared with weekdays. We verified similar wear fatigue (−23.5 ± 0.7 min·d−1) in a separate sample (N = 14,631) with hip-worn devices and different wear scoring. Applying minimum wear criteria of ≥10 h·d−1 for ≥4 d reduced wear fatigue to −5.3 and −18.7 min·d−1 for the wrist and hip, respectively.

Conclusions

Patterns of wear suggest noncompliance may disproportionately affect estimates of sleep and sedentary behavior, particularly for adolescents. Further study is needed to determine the effect of wear fatigue on longer assessments.
Dimensions of challenges in transformation from traditional to integrated modular curriculum - Experiences from Pakistan
Authors: Aziz Sajid , Wajid Gohar , Khan Rehan Ahmed , Zaidi Fatima Zia
Published: September 2023

Objective: The scarcity of successful implementation of integrated modular curriculum in Pakistan created a lack of evidence-based insight into the process of curriculum transformation. We explored the issue by exploring challenges faced by faculty in implementing integrated modular curriculum.

Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted in 2019-2020, data collected from November 2019 to August 2020, at undergraduate medical colleges in Lahore and Rawalpindi, with semi-structured online interviews of well experienced 11 faculty members. Two levels of faculty were sampled; one completed a successful implementation in two medical colleges, and another in transition process. Transcribed interviews were analyzed on Atlas.ti software.

Results: Challenges were identified in five inter-connected dimensions: integrated modular curriculum (IMC) development, implementation, faculty transformation/change, institutional and regulatory body context.

Conclusion: The curricular shift precipitates demoralizing challenges at multiple levels & directions. The identified themes and connections provide the framework for a well-informed curricular shift.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.6730

How to cite this: Aziz S, Wajid G, Khan RA, Zaidi FZ. Dimensions of challenges in transformation from traditional to integrated modular curriculum - Experiences from Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.6730

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Identification of appropriate tools to gauge brain functions in a clinical setup of a developing country: A pilot study
Authors: Zafar Umema , Habib Syed Hamid , Raza Syed Shahmeer
Published: September 2023

Objective: To identify the most appropriate tools to measure functions of the brain that can be utilized in the clinical setups of developing countries.

Methods: This qualitative research with a three-step approach was carried out from January 2022 to May 2022 at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Pakistan. Firstly, literature was searched to identify main brain faculties, then interviews were conducted with regional field experts to identify appropriate scales for the selected functions. Lastly a rubric was filled using interview transcripts and literature.

Results: The identified functions were vision, hearing, cognition, motor and emotions. Based on the rubric the best tests were visual fields (17/24), pure tone audiometry (16/24), Mini-Mental State Exam (20/24), Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (18/24), Romberg’s test (19/24) and Manual Muscle Testing (18/24).

Conclusion: The clinicians in developing countries can utilize the visual fields, pure tone audiometry, Mini-Mental State Exam, Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, Romberg’s test and Manual Muscle Testing for most efficient, feasible, accurate and cost-effective measurement of brain functions.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.7489

How to cite this: Zafar U, Habib SH, Raza SS. Identification of appropriate tools to gauge brain functions in a clinical setup of a developing country: A pilot study. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.7489

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF MENTAL STATES TO THE FORMATION OF EMOTIONAL BURNOUT AMONG WORKING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
Authors: Velieva Svetlana V. , Pinyaeva Olga S. , Grigorev Oleg I. , Yarabaeva Natalya Yu.
Published: September 2023

The tendencies of studying the syndrome of emotional burnout in domestic and foreign studies are revealed. The contribution of the characteristics of communicative professions, the mental states of teachers to the formation of emotional burnout, psychophysical, interpersonal problems, and the impact on the quality of educational results is shown.

The purpose of the study is to identify the relationship between the structural components of mental states and subfactors and the integral index of emotional burnout. The objectives of the study included the theoretical study of the problem in modern psychological, pedagogical and medical research; detection of the specificity of the relationship of various aspects of mental states (depression, anxiety, stress, psychological discomfort) with subfactors of the burnout syndrome.

Methods and methodology. Classical methods of research and mathematical and statistical processing of information obtained by testing on the scales DASS-21 S. Lovibond, P. Lovibond, DERS K. L. Gratz, L. Roemer, GNQ-28 D.P. Goldberg, V. Hiller, R. Williams, MBI questionnaire С. Maslach, S. Jackson.

Results. The integral indicator of emotional burnout in most teachers is recorded at medium and high levels. The structure of emotional burnout is dominated by signs of depersonalization and reduction (in novice teachers) and emotional exhaustion (in experienced teachers). Markers have been found that indicate the vulnerability of teachers with different experience in teaching to the formation of the syndrome of emotional burnout and its components. Among them are severe prolonged stress, a decrease in tonic and tension characteristics of mental states, somatic symptoms, and emotional destabilization.

Scope of the results. The results of the study complement the characteristics of the burnout syndrome and the role of mental states in its development. The data can be used in the development of a conceptual apparatus, the selection of intervention strategies, and the preparation of a program of measures to prevent burnout syndrome in an educational organization.
The Specificity of Building a Brand Image of Ski Resorts in Russia and Austria
Authors: Semenova L.
Published: September 2023

Introduction. The article is devoted to identifying the features of the formation of brand communications and brand image of ski resorts in Russia and Austria.

Aim. After analyzing current trends in the formation of brand communications and the brand image of ski resorts in Russia and Austria, to identify features and problems in their construction, development drivers. Methodology and methods. Theoretical and methodological basis of the study was chosen marketing, integrative and image-based approaches. The research methods were an analytical review of literature sources and the content of previous studies, participant observation, content analysis, feedback analysis, comparative analysis of geo-branding of Russian and Austrian ski resorts, synthesis, and generalization.

Results. Based on a comparative analysis of the geo-branding of Russian and Austrian ski resorts, features, tools, problems and drivers for the development of brand communications were identified.

Scientific novelty is to identify traditional and modern channels of brand communication and brand image, as well as digital and phygital tools for geo-branding of ski resorts in Russia and Austria.

Practical significance. The results of the study can be useful for improving brand communications and brand image of ski resorts.
Effective management of a university community on social networks
Authors: Marochkina Svetlana , Suvorova Yuliya
Published: September 2023

The study authors conducted a comparative analysis of the content published by university SMM specialists who entered the top 5 of the M-RATE ranking for social media work in 2022. The aim of the study was to identify correlations between the form of posts in university communities and participant activity, as well as between content and post visibility. The study confirmed hypotheses that user activity on VKontakte when interacting with textual publications is lower than when interacting with visual content, and that the VKontakte social network shows users entertaining publications more often than useful or PR posts. Based on the analysis of 7163 posts published from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, the authors provide recommendations for universities to improve their social media work effectiveness.
Inauguration Discourse of the Russian Federation and the PRC in the Aspect of Modern Pragma-Linguistics
Authors: Bozhenkova N. , Wang Ran
Published: September 2023

Abstract

The authors of the article focus on a comparative analysis of linguistic constructs representing communicative strategies and tactics, the combination of which determines the unique synergistic structure of the inaugural discourse in different language cultures (Russian/Chinese). The relevance of this work is defined by the object of the study itself. The act of inauguration, being a crucial marker in the political culture of society, represents a complex institutional phenomenon. On the one hand, it records the transition and legitimation of state power, and on the other hand, it ensures the generation and acceptance of ideas that manifest the conventional system of values, thereby ensuring the stability of a specific linguocultural space. Through the linguopragmatic analysis of the inaugural speeches of the state leaders of the Russian Federation and China, such as V.V. Putin, D.A. Medvedev, B.N. Yeltsin, Xi Jinping, Hu Jintao, Jiang Zemin (from 1991 to 2023), the authors of the article prove that the invariant goal-setting of the inaugural address determines a strict implementation of genre canons. However, the external symbolic framework of the procedure adheres to nationally significant axiological constants, whereas the ritual intentional message of the inaugural discursive practice is inevitably modified by each leader of the country during the individual speech formulation in accordance with the expectations of the electorate. This leads to linguistic variability both in the inaugural speech and in the inaugural discourse as a whole. The present research is believed to enable the identification of general trends in the development of forms of civil society governance, to examine specific cases of their implementation in a particular linguocultural space, to describe the process of conceptualizing the “key words” of the main agents of political communication, and, as a result, to forecast the development vector of collective and individual consciousness of civil society representatives.
When Should the Off-Grid Sun Shine at Night? Optimum Renewable Generation and Energy Storage Investments
Authors: Kaps Christian , Marinesi Simone , Netessine Serguei
Published: September 2023

Globally, 1.5 billion people live off the grid, with their only access to electricity often limited to operationally expensive fossil fuel generators. Solar power has risen as a sustainable and less costly option, but its generation is variable during the day and nonexistent at night. Thanks to recent technological advances, which have made large-scale electricity storage economically viable, a combination of solar generation and storage holds the promise of cheaper, greener, and more reliable off-grid power in the future. Still, it is not yet well understood how to jointly determine optimal capacity levels for renewable generation and storage. Our work aims to shed light on this question by developing a model of strategic capacity investment in both renewable generation and storage to match demand with supply in off-grid use cases while relying on fossil fuel as backup. Despite the complexity of the underlying model, we are able to extract two general results. First, we find that solar capacity and storage capacity are strategic complements, except in cases with very high investment in generation capacity, when they surprisingly turn into strategic substitutes with implications for long-term investment decisions. Second, we develop a simple heuristic to determine which storage technology, within a given portfolio, can turn a profit in the broadest set of market conditions and thus, is likely to be adopted first. We find that currently, low-efficiency, cheap technologies, such as thermal, can more easily turn a profit in off-grid applications than high-efficiency, expensive ones, such as lithium-ion batteries. We then develop two newsvendor-like approximations of the general model that are analytically tractable, yield precise values for the optimal investment decisions and profit in some cases, and provide bounds to the optimal investment decisions and profits in all other cases. To conclude, we calibrate our models to measure the accuracy of our solutions utilizing real-life data from three geographically-diverse islands, and then, we use our approximations to provide high-level insights on the role that large-scale storage will play in the years ahead as technology improves, carbon taxes are levied, and solar becomes cheaper.

This paper was accepted by Beril Toktay, Special Section of Management Science on Business and Climate Change.

Funding: This work was supported by the Mack Institute for Innovation Management at the Wharton School as well as the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania.

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.04129 .
Delivery service order policy with the sharing economy concept using a discrete event simulation system
Authors: Sihotang Farida Nurmala
Published: September 2023

People's lifestyle, especially in shopping, has shifted from offline shopping, such as in supermarkets, traditional markets, stalls, and so on, to online shopping. Therefore, online business (e-commerce) has increased, resulting in a surge in the business potential of freight forwarder companies. When there is an increase in demand for the delivery of goods by sellers to consumers, companies need to make adjustments to improve their performance. This paper proposed the sequence of goods delivery services for XYZ companies by considering dynamic requests and conditions that vary discretely over time. This paper is based on a case company in Bandung, Indonesia. The method employed queuing models and discrete event simulations using hypothetical data with performance criteria to minimize the total cost of shipping goods. Simulations are carried out using one courier and one zone to compare customer service determination algorithms, namely first-come, first-served, proximity, and predictive control models. The simulation results show that the proximity algorithm produces a minimum total cost of Rp 1,785,749, the smallest cost compared to using first-come, first-served and predictive control models, respectively IDR  2,782,389, and IDR  2,639,291. Then, the Annova test was conducted, which provided information that one policy differed significantly from another, and a Turkey test was carried out, showing that the proximity algorithm produces better performance than other algorithms. The contribution of this paper is to present that the delivery service employed by the company provided a minimum total cost.
An Investigation on Physico- Chemical Parameters of Ground Water Near Mining Areas of Kadapa District, A. P, India.
Authors: Farooq S. Mohammad , Sumithra S. , Maddaka M. , Sireesha C.
Published: September 2023

Due to the tremendous increases in population, industrialization, and human activity, water is highly polluted with various harmful elements. The good quality availability of water for human consumption is very important for preventing waterborne diseases and improving the quality of life. This work presents the study of the physico- chemical properties of water samples collected in and around the mining areas. Some of the parameters like EC, TDS, Total hardness, magnesium, sodium, and iron content are greater than the permissible value in a few areas. The analyzed parameters were compared with the WHO standards. Dissolved Oxygen and total hardness ranged from 7.8 to 8.9 mg/L and 102 to 1500 mg/L in both Tummalapalle and Mangampeta samples.
Clinical tips for safe and effective root canal treatment under intravenous sedation with midazolam
Authors: Abed Hassan , Al-Qarni Ali , Patel Shanon , Bakhsh Abdulaziz
Published: September 2023

Intravenous (IV) sedation with midazolam works as an anxiolytic and muscle relaxant agent and has proved successful in providing safe root canal treatment (RCT) for patients with dental anxiety or special care needs. However, before starting RCT under IV sedation with midazolam, clinicians should consider obtaining a thorough medical history and written, informed consent including any significant or unavoidable risks. A responsible adult escort should also accompany the patient to their appointment. The dental team should also ensure labelling the IV sedation drugs and irrigant solutions, and using a well-sealed rubber dam.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article provides clinical recommendations to help provide safe RCT under IV sedation with midazolam.
Comparison of Biatain Ag and Biatain Alginate Ag dressings on skin graft donor sites: a prospective clinical trial
Authors: Xianchao Ding , Yi Luo , Chang Liu , Zhixin Yan
Published: September 2023

Objective:

The aim of this study was to compare Biatain Ag and Biatain Alginate Ag (both Coloplast, Denmark) as skin graft donor site dressings.

Method:

A single-centre, prospective, randomised clinical study was conducted. In patients who had undergone a skin graft operation, adjacent split-thickness skin graft donor sites were dressed with Biatain Ag and Biatain Alginate Ag, respectively. The primary outcomes were time to re-epithelialisation and pain score after the operation. The secondary outcomes were scar scores of the donor site after the operation, haematoma rates, infection rates, and exudation rates before wound healing. Results were compared using the Wilcoxon test and the Chi-squared test.

Results:

A total of 16 paired wounds in 16 patients were studied. The donor sites dressed with Biatain Ag needed more time for >90% re-epithelialisation than those dressed with Biatain Alginate Ag. On day 3 postoperatively, the pain scores with Biatain Ag were significantly less severe than those with Biatain Alginate Ag. On days 6, 9 and 12, the pain scores of both dressings did not differ significantly. The scar scores of the donor site dressed with Biatain Ag were significantly worse than those dressed with Biatain Alginate Ag at 6 months. With respect to infection rates, no significant differences were detected between these two groups. However, the exudation rates of the donor site dressed with Biatain Ag were significantly lower than those dressed with Biatain Alginate Ag.

Conclusion:

As skin graft donor site dressings, both Biatain Ag and Biatain Alginate Ag have advantages.
RedCap Set Expand Device Ecosystem
Authors: McGrath Dylan
Published: September 2023

An introduction to RedCap, a cellular IoT technology for the 5G era.
Failure of passive transfer of immunity
Authors: Chapman Stella
Published: September 2023

Failure of passive transfer of immunity is recognised as the most common immune disorder in foals. As maternal immunoglobulins are not transferred to the fetus in utero, foals are born in an immunonaive state, which leaves them susceptible to infection. Variation in the reported incidence of failure of passive transfer of immunity is considered to be because of varying management practices and the availability of colostrum banks. Good management practices include close monitoring of the foal's ability to nurse, the quality of the mare's colostrum and early recognition of the immune status of the foal and whether veterinary intervention is warranted.
Factors influencing hospital treatment experiences due to falls among community-dwelling older adults living alone
Authors: Shim Mi-So
Published: September 2023

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify influencing factors of hospital treatment experiences due to falls among community-dwelling older adults living alone. Methods: This study was performed secondary analysis using data from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans. Data from 270 community-dwelling older adults living alone aged 65 years and older who had experienced a fall were utilized. To identify influencing factors of the experience of hospital treatment due to falls, multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted including general characteristics, health-related characteristics, and reasons for falls. Results: Among the participants, 180 (66.7%) had experienced hospital treatment due to falls in the past year. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, the factors associated with hospital treatment due to falls were marital status, Body mass index (BMI), and disability status. The risk of hospital treatment due to falls was 3.156 times higher for those who were widowed compared to those with other marital statuses (divorced, separated, and single), 0.483 times lower for those with normal BMI compared to those with obesity, and 0.154 times lower for those who did not receive a disability diagnosis compared to those who did. Conclusion: This study suggested that influencing factors such as bereavement, obesity, and disability can be considered to prevent falls requiring hospital treatment among community-dwelling older adults living alone. The findings can be used as basic data for interventions to prevent injurious falls in the older adults living alone.