bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The distribution of patriarchal alms to non-beggarly categories of the population in the second half of the 17th century
Authors: Okhlopkova Viktoriia
Published: November 2024

The subject of the study is the records of the expense books of the Patriarchal State Order, which provide information about the financial assistance provided by the Moscow patriarchs to non-beggarly categories of the population: servants of the Patriarchal orders, participants in memorial services for secular and spiritual persons, prisoners of war who had previously been released from captivity, prisoners of prisons of all orders. The purpose of the study is to determine what the significance of patriarchal alms was for representatives of these categories. The author examines in detail the mechanism of giving alms in relation to each of them. Special attention is paid to the source aspect: petitions of potential recipients of alms were an important element of the clerical system of the Patriarchal State Order. They were part of the primary documentation that has not reached our days and can be partially reconstructed based on the texts of the expense books. The research is based on the methodological tools of auxiliary historical disciplines: first of all, Russian paleography, which opens up opportunities for analyzing the handwriting of officials who issued patriarchal alms and its recipients, as well as historical metrology and historical chronology. The analysis carried out allows us to form a detailed picture of the recipients of patriarchal alms who are not beggars. It should be noted that insufficient attention is paid to non-poor categories of the population in the modern historiography of Russian church charity. The results of the study indicate that such recipients could be those who are not necessarily poor in general, but currently in need of financial assistance, for example, servants of the Patriarchal Court who have fallen into difficult life situations. The same remark applies to former prisoners and "prison inmates and prisoners". Payments for participants of memorial services for secular and ecclesiastical persons – primarily for monarchs and patriarchs – were substantially closer to salaries and were carried out for performing certain functions at these ceremonies, however, in the text of the source they were also referred to as alms. It is concluded that the patriarchal alms was intended not only for the urban poor, but for those in need in the broadest sense of the word, which indicates its great importance for the Moscow society of the second half of the XVII century, makes it not a formality and exclusively part of the ceremonial, but a really important action from a socio-economic point of view of the Moscow patriarchs.
The Legend of Stratonics: political and religious aspects
Authors: Sivkina Nataliya Yurievna , Guseva Anastasiya Sergeevna
Published: November 2024

The issues of family and marriage relations have traditionally been of concern to historians and politicians since ancient times. In this regard, the unusual circumstances of the marriage of the sole heir of the Seleucid empire, Antiochus, and his stepmother Stratonica could not remain without the attention of ancient authors who tried to rationally explain this event. The purpose of this work is to study one incident from the life of the Seleucid queen Stratonica, compare different versions in the sources and clarify the factors that influenced the historical and literary tradition about her. The identification of two aspects within which the plot of the marriage of Antiochus and Stratonica should be considered will allow changing modern ideas about the exclusively political nature of this decision of Seleucus Nicator. The researсh used traditional methods for ancient history: comparative historical, comparative genetic, retrospective. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that the authors examined the legend not only from the point of view of its content, but also the form of presentation of the material in the context of politics and religion of the early Seleucids. This approach allowed us to assert that during their reign, the historical myth of Seleucus and his family began to form, into which the incident with the queen's second marriage organically fit. As a result of the study, the authors conclude that the legend of Antiochus's infatuation with Stratonica was artificially created at the royal court, it strengthened the political image of the dynasty with the help of religious symbols and external similarities with the policy of "merging peoples" of Alexander the Great. At the same time, it was the interrelationship of the political and religious aspects that influenced the form and content of this legend.
The ways of development of the academic science of Yakutia in 1947-1991.
Authors: Suleymanov Aleksandr Albertovich
Published: November 2024

The purpose of the article is to determine the main ways of organization of the activity of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Yakutia during 1947-1991. The initial chronological boundary is connected with the creation of the Yakut branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The final boundary is due to the reorganization of the USSR Academy of Sciences in The Russian Academy of Sciences, accompanied by profound changes in the management and functioning of domestic science. The research is based on the analysis of scattered documentary evidence identified in the archival collections of Moscow, Novosibirsk and Yakutsk, as well as data from the scientific literature relevant to the issue under consideration. In this regard, the history of the formation of a network of institutions subordinate to the USSR Academy of Sciences in Yakutia is considered, the main mechanisms of the organization of academic institutions and the key drivers of this process are traced. When processing the accumulated materials, special historical methods of scientific cognition were used (the principle of historicism, historical-typological, historical-comparative and historical-genetic methods, etc.) As a result of the work carried out, for the first time in historiography, it was established that the organization of institutes of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Yakutia during the period under review took place in three ways: transition to the Academy a research institute that already existed in Yakutia; the creation of institutes based on existing departments, as well as outside it; the formation of a functioning academic institute on the basis of the department. At the same time, the expansion of the network of institutes, in addition to the natural, geographical and ethnocultural specifics of Yakutia, was caused by a significant deepening of the specialization of scientists' research and was based on an increase in the number of employees, as well as the number of internal structural units. Such a development, as shown, was impossible without changes in the ways of recruiting personnel and strengthening the role of specialists trained directly in the region, who by the end of the period under review managed to take a leading position in the management of academic science in Yakutia.
The professional composition of the population of the Kalmyk steppe of the Astrakhan province based on the materials of the 1897 census: source analysis
Authors: Okonova Ludmila Vyacheslavovna
Published: November 2024

Currently, researchers are paying special attention to one of the branches of historical science — historical professionology. Research in this area is devoted to the study of the historical development of various types of occupations, professions, the main sources of which are the results of population censuses. This study is devoted to the source analysis of the materials of the First general population census of pre-revolutionary Russia. The subject of the research of the scientific article is the study of the professional structure of the population on the example of the Kalmyk steppe of the Astrakhan province. The research object is the materials of the First General Population Census of the Russian Empire in 1897, since the population census of 1897 became not only the first informative source in the history of the Russian state about the entire population, but also the basis for new promising studies of socio-economic and statistical-demographic conditions. The research methodology includes conducting a source study, within the framework of which one of the stages of source analysis was carried out — an analysis of the content of census materials for the Astrakhan province, providing for the use of structural and functional analysis, historical and comparative method and classification method, which allowed to identify the information potential for studying the occupations of the population of the Kalmyk steppe. The novelty of this scientific article lies in the fact that for the first time in Russian historiography, a critical analysis of the professional composition of the population of the Kalmyk steppe of the Astrakhan province was carried out at the end of the XIX century. The author came to the conclusion that the Astrakhan province has been in economic development since the beginning of its successful colonization in the XVI century. It became an agricultural and cattle-breeding region of Russia, in which the migrant population from virtually agricultural provinces, while continuing to preserve the traditional type of their occupations, was reorganized, adapting to local types of management in the new conditions of the capitalistically transforming All-Russian market. This could not but influence nomadic farming, in particular the Kalmyks, which contributed to the transition to a pastoral and agricultural form of farming in the Kalmyk steppe, and subsequently to a sedentary lifestyle. The research was carried out through the implementation of the project of the Russian Scientific Foundation No. 23-18-20019 "Between East and West: the civilizational and cultural development of Kalmyk society as part of pre-revolutionary Russia" (https://grant.rscf.ru/project/23-18-20019 /).
Rethinking sensorimotor circuits
Authors: Zwart Maarten F
Published: November 2024

New research shows that the neural circuit responsible for stabilising gaze can develop in the absence of motor neurons, contrary to a long-standing model in the field.
Image enhancement with art design: a visual feature approach with a CNN-transformer fusion model
Authors: Xu Ming , Cui Jinwei , Ma Xiaoyu , Zou Zhiyi , Xin Zhisheng , Bilal Muhammad
Published: November 2024

Graphic design, as a product of the burgeoning new media era, has seen its users’ requirements for images continuously evolve. However, external factors such as light and noise often cause graphic design images to become distorted during acquisition. To enhance the definition of these images, this paper introduces a novel image enhancement model based on visual features. Initially, a histogram equalization (HE) algorithm is applied to enhance the graphic design images. Subsequently, image feature extraction is performed using a dual-flow network comprising convolutional neural network (CNN) and Transformer architectures. The CNN employs a residual dense block (RDB) to embed spatial local structure information with varying receptive fields. An improved attention mechanism module, attention feature fusion (AFF), is then introduced to integrate the image features extracted from the dual-flow network. Finally, through image perception quality guided adversarial learning, the model adjusts the initial enhanced image’s color and recovers more details. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm model achieves enhancement effects exceeding 90% on two large image datasets, which represents a 5%–10% improvement over other models. Furthermore, the algorithm exhibits superior performance in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index measure (SSIM) image quality evaluation metrics. Our findings indicate that the fusion model significantly enhances image quality, thereby advancing the field of graphic design and showcasing its potential in cultural and creative product design.
Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the fixed plumb line for postural and scoliosis assessment in the sagittal plane: a pilot study
Authors: Roggio Federico , Trovato Bruno , Sortino Martina , Zanghì Marta , Di Brigida Claudio , Guglielmino Claudia , Lombardo Claudia , Loreto Carla , Pavone Piero , Musumeci Giuseppe
Published: November 2024

Background

The plumb line (PL) is a common tool for assessing the sagittal curvatures of the spine, but its accuracy depends on the ability of the physician to use it correctly. This study aimed to present a fixed plumb line (FPL) no longer held by a physician but fixed to a support, evaluating the reliability in posture assessment, comparing it with PL in both adolescent with and without scoliosis.

Methods

The study evaluated the sagittal distances of the spine using a PL and a FPL in 80 young adults aged between 28.7 ± 7.2 and 55 adolescents aged between 12.4 ± 2.3, with and without scoliosis. Two expert and two novice clinicians tested the patients to evaluate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of FPL. Each clinician assessed participants twice on the same day, with a predetermined time interval (>1 h) to reduce recall bias. Multi-factor multivariate analysis of variance and two-way analysis of variance assessed the statistical significance, while intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimum detectable change (MDC) validated FPL consistency.

Results

FPL provided an ICC coefficient >0.90 for all the measures, while PL an average of 0.70. On AIS patients, PL and FPL showed a significant difference for C7 p < 0.001 and T12 p < 0.001. The measured parameters were sensitive to gender and age for the FPL, furthermore, the C7 and L3 measurements were statistically different between PL and FPL (p < 0.001). Intra-rater reliability results for FPL ranged from 0.94 to 0.98 across various parameters, while the SEM and MDC values underscore the valuable precision of the FPL with changes exceeding 1 cm being meaningful. These findings suggest that FPL could be a reliable and accurate tool for measuring sagittal distances of the spine in both scoliotic and non-scoliotic patients.
Intention to use short messaging services for promoting drug adherence among individuals with diabetes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Alem Solomon , Gulema Hanna
Published: November 2024

Background

Suboptimal medication adherence among individuals with diabetes presents a significant challenge in low-income nations. Growing evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of text messaging interventions to enhance medication adherence. This study assesses the intention to use Short Messaging Service (SMS) based reminder services in promoting drug adherence among diabetic patients and associated factors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 06, 2023, to March 27, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A sample of 351 patients was selected using systematic random sampling. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection. Binary and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between intention to use SMS reminders to promote drug adherence among individuals with diabetes and related factors.

Results

A total of 333 respondents, with a 94.87% response rate, were interviewed for this study. The majority of respondents, 66.4 % (95% CI [61.9–71.2]), expressed an intention to use SMS-based reminder services to promote their drug adherence. Age < 45 years (AOR = 5.73, 95% CI [2.07–15.73]), higher educational level (AOR = 3.03, 95% CI [1.16–7.90]), type of diabetes (AOR = 3.71, 95% CI [1.16–7.90]), oral medication users (AOR = 2.99, 95% CI [1.42–6.32]), SMS as a preferred medium for communication (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI [1.17–7.00]) were deemed to be important variables linked to intention to use SMS reminders to promote drug adherence among individuals with diabetes.

Conclusion

The findings suggest the majority of individuals with diabetes have intention to use SMS reminders to enhance adherence. This result indicates the potential for utilization of SMS reminders to enhance adherence to diabetic medications. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of tailored interventions that take into account patient characteristics and preferences as factors that influence intention when designing such an intervention.
Effect of vitamin C injections on exercise muscular performance and biochemical parameters in Trichinella spiralis-infected mice
Authors: Rashed Hadeer Abd El-hak , Albogami Bander , Alkhaldi Abdulsalam A. M. , Abuzinadah Najlaa Y. , Abuzahrah Samah S. , Al-Salmi Fawziah A. , Fayad Eman , Fouad Rewan Mohamed , Fikry Manar Elsayed , ElSaey Abd-Allah Ahmed , Abu Almaaty Ali Hussein
Published: November 2024

Background

Trichinella spiralis is a worldwide intestinal nematode that can parasitize the striated muscles of its hosts at the larval stage. This study aims to evaluate potential of vitamin C for treating trichinellosis-related pathological problems in the infected muscles of mice.

Materials and Methods

Thirty CD1 male Albino mice were divided into three groups (10 mice per group). Negative and positive control groups (0.9% NaCl) and the infected vitamin C group (10 mg/kg body weight). Two weeks post-infection, each group was intraperitoneally injected daily for two weeks with Vitamin C or saline. The performance of the muscles was assessed both before and after the treatment. After dissection, constant parts of striated muscles were removed for further assays. The scoring of the histological changes of infected muscles was carried out. In addition to muscle malondialdehyde levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were measured for the oxidative and antioxidant states. Creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase were also measured in tissues to reflect the degree of muscular damage.

Results

Vitamin C enhances the weakness of the muscular performance resulting from the infection. Vitamin C was able to repair some of the histological lesions that resulted from the infection. Trichinellosis caused severe changes in the biochemical markers in positive control animals. Muscle damage biomarkers and, besides, oxidative and antioxidant conditions were greatly ameliorated in infected vitamin C animals. Summing up, vitamin C can be used as a complementary drug due to its efficiency in improving pathogenesis following a trichinellosis infection. The supplement also must be tested in the intestinal stage of infection after showing promising results in the muscular stage.
The CLEC3B inhibits cellular proliferation and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma through Wnt/β-catenin pathway
Authors: Wu Shengze , Wang Guangfeng , Xie Yuwei , Wu Tingting , Du Fangqian , Jin Chen , Dong Bingzi , Zhu Chengzhan
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a cancer of the biliary system, including intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and is highly aggressive. C-type lectins family member 3b (CLEC3B) is a Ca2+ binding transmembrane protein with different biological functions in a variety of cancers. The objective of this study was to explore the biological function of CLEC3B in CCA.

Methods

The CLEC3B gene was identified using the TCGA database and survival analysis of the cholangiocarcinoma clinical cohort. The expression CLEC3B cholangiocarcinoma and correlation with prognosis was investigated in our patient cohort. The effects of CLEC3B on proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were verified in QBC939 and HUCCT1 cells. The effect of CLEC3B on the tumor formation was proved by xenograft tumor model in nude mice. The signaling pathway of CLEC3B in regulating CCA progression was further analyzed RNA sequencing and western blot.

Results

CLEC3B was decreased in the cholangiocarcinoma in the database. The mRNA and protein expression level of CLEC3B were significantly lower and correlated with poor overall survival in cholangiocarcinoma of our patient cohort. In vitro experiments proved that overexpression of CLEC3B can inhibit proliferation, migration and invasion in bile duct cancer cells. The CLEC3B was correlated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition and apoptosis. The calcium could promote the biological function of CLEC3B. The vivo study indicated that CLEC3B inhibited tumor formation. RNA sequencing indicating CLEC3B may transduce signal through e Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Conclusions

The CLEC3B inhibits cellular proliferation and migration of cholangiocarcinoma through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
Comparing the effectiveness of five traditional Chinese exercises in improving balance function in older adults: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis
Authors: Xie Jingyi , Guo Jindong , Wang Bin
Published: November 2024

Background

Despite numerous studies affirming the potential of traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) in enhancing balance in older adults, systematic integration is lacking. This study evaluated the effectiveness of five TCEs—Baduanjin, Liuzijue, Tai Chi, Wuqinxi, and Yijinjing—in improving balance among older adults using network meta-analysis.

Methods

This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO with the registration number CRD42023481450. Related articles indexed by Web of Science, Cochrane, PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP databases before October 2023 were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving TCEs interventions to improve balance function conducted in older adults who aged ≥60 years were included. Two researchers used Review Manager to assess the quality of the studies, and analyzed the data using Stata and R.

Results

In total, 46 RCTs and 3,333 older adults were included. The aforementioned TCEs had positive effects on improving balance in older adults. Tai Chi revealed significant intervention effects in performing the Single-Leg Stand with eyes Closed (SLSC), 6-Min Walk Test (6MWT), and Short Form 36-Item Physical Component Summary (SF-36PCS). Liuzijue significantly improved performance in the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), 6MWT, SF-36PCS, and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Baduanjin, Wuqinxi, and Yijinjing showed noteworthy intervention effects on the BBS. Tai Chi ranked highest in the SLSC, 6MWT, and SF-36PCS in the surface under the cumulative ranking, while Liuzijue and Yijinjing ranked highest in the TUGT and BBS, respectively.

Conclusion

Tai Chi, Liuzijue, and Yijinjing improved the static, dynamic, and overall balance outcomes, respectively. Older adults can make a reasonable choice among these TCEs based on their needs.
Detecting Presence of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome in Type II Diabetic Patients using Clinical, Radiological and Electrodiagnostic Studies: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Kumar Vipul , Parwaz Mohammed Alam , Dwivedi Surjeet , Manwatkar Shrikant , Chowdhry Shreyansh , Merkhed Rahul , Kumar Arvind , Dhanvijay Pallavi
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Diabetic foot is one of the most devastating complications of diabetes and is the leading cause of lower limb amputations. Patients with a long-standing history of diabetes mellitus often experience symptoms of pain, burning sensation, numbness, and paraesthesia in the heel and feet. These symptoms may be due to compression of the medial plantar nerve, a branch of the tibial nerve, within the tarsal tunnel. Aim: To evaluate the incidence of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (TTS) in patients suffering from Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis conducted at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in New Delhi, India, from October 2019 to April 2021. A total of 30 consecutive diabetic patients presenting with pain, burning, numbness, and paraesthesia in the heel or feet, with or without ulcers, were included. All patients were clinically evaluated using three-point sensory testing, Tinel’s sign at the tarsal tunnel, and assessment for the presence of ulcers on the foot. All patients underwent Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) studies. Imaging studies in the form of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) were performed for a complete work-up of these patients and further diagnosis of TTS. The incidence of TTS was evaluated using clinical, radiological and electrodiagnostic studies. Results: Of the 30 patients enrolled, 20 were males (66.7%) and 10 were females (33.3%). The incidence of TTS among diabetic patients was found to be 14 (46.7%) based on electrodiagnostic criteria, 22 (73.3%) based on clinical evaluation, and 25 (83.3%) based on radiological findings. The mean HbA1c level was 8.5±1.04%. The most common imaging finding was oedema, observed in 83.3% of patients. Inflammation and ganglion cysts were seen in 13.3% and 10% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: TTS is difficult to diagnose. MRI is a useful imaging modality to support the diagnosis. Electrodiagnostic studies can help confirm the diagnosis.
Understanding and Managing Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy: A Case Series
Authors: Radhakrishnan Akshaya , Parimala A , Srinivasan K Jayashree , Lakshmipriyaa RV
Published: November 2024

Thrombocytopenia, defined as a platelet count of less than 1.5 L/mm3 , is a common haematological disorder encountered during pregnancy. It can arise from a variety of causes, including immune-mediated destruction, gestational thrombocytopenia, and underlying medical conditions such as preeclampsia or Haemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzyme Levels and Low Platelet (HELLP) syndrome, with gestational thrombocytopenia being the most common. Hereby, the authors present a case series including six patients with thrombocytopenia in pregnancy. The clinical characteristics, diagnostic work-up, management strategies, and maternal and foetal outcomes in patients with varying aetiologies of thrombocytopenia were described in present series. Understanding the aetiology and management of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy is crucial for optimising maternal and foetal outcomes, and this series contributes valuable clinical insights into this important area of obstetric haematology. It underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach in managing complex obstetric cases involving thrombocytopenia and other co-morbidities. Effective collaboration among obstetricians, haematologists, physicians, and specialists is essential for addressing the challenges of thrombocytopenia during pregnancy and achieving the best outcomes for both mother and baby.
Predictive Ability of Interstitial Fibrosis and Tubular Atrophy Scoring in Determining the Severity of Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Gopichand Shamantha , Rajanna Sunil , Mukherjee Tirthankar , Chikkanna Rakshith Somanahalli , Modepalli Nalini
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is a major complication of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Renal biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis and management of many renal diseases. Renal Interstitial Fibrosis and Tubular Atrophy (IFTA), as well as the number of obsolescent glomeruli, are prognostic factors associated with Diabetic Nephropathy (DN). Aim: To describe the renal biopsy profile of patients with DM presenting with renal disease and to determine the significance of IFTA scoring and the number of obsolescent glomeruli in predicting DKD and its severity. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of three years, from 2019 to 2022, involving a total of 189 patients selected through purposive sampling. Patients with DM who presented with renal disease and required renal biopsy to confirm the diagnosis were admitted to the Department of General Medicine and Nephrology at Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The biopsy reports were obtained and analysed. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 and results were expressed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 53.02±11.00 years, with an age range from 21 to 81 years. Among the subjects, 78.3% were males and 21.7 were females. Based on the renal biopsy findings, DN was the most common condition, found in 127 subjects (67.6%). Nearly 50.0% of those with DN had Class IV chronic DN, followed by Class III (42.5%). Chronic interstitial nephritis was the most common Non Diabetic Kidney Disease (NDKD), accounting for 24.6% of cases. IFTA scoring was significantly associated with DKD and there was a significant positive correlation between the severity of IFTA scores and the number of obsolescent glomeruli with the class of DKD. A unit rise in the IFTA score and the number of obsolescent glomeruli increased the risk of having severe DKD (Class III and Class IV) by 4.32 times and 1.24 times, respectively, compared to those with less severe forms (Class I and II) (p<0.05). Conclusion: The IFTA scoring and the number of obsolescent glomeruli were found to be significant independent predictors of the severity of DKD.
Exploring the Depths of Cryptic Aspergillosis: Species Variability, Clinical Spectrum, Diagnostic Quandaries and Therapeutic Options
Authors: Upaisal Almas Fathima , Kindo Anupma Jyoti
Published: November 2024

Cryptic aspergillosis, characterised by infections caused by non classical Aspergillus species, presents unique challenges in clinical management due to species variability, diverse clinical manifestations, diagnostic complexities, and limited treatment options. This comprehensive review explores the emerging understanding of cryptic aspergillosis, highlighting the spectrum of clinical presentations across different species, diagnostic dilemmas in accurate species identification, and evolving treatment paradigms. Cryptic species, including A. lentulus, A. udagawae, A. calidoustus, and others, exhibit intrinsic resistance to commonly utilised antifungal agents, complicating therapeutic approaches. The diagnostic landscape is further complicated by phenotypic and genotypic similarities with classical Aspergillus species, necessitating advanced molecular techniques for precise identification. Treatment alternatives are limited, with azoles, echinocandins, and polyenes demonstrating variable efficacy against different cryptic species. Emerging antifungal agents, like fosmanogepix, ibrexafungerp, and rezafungin, hold promise in addressing resistance challenges. This review underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach integrating clinical, microbiological, and molecular expertise to optimise the management of cryptic aspergillosis and improve patient outcomes.
Efficacy of Infrainguinal vs Suprainguinal Approach to Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Patients with Proximal Femoral Fracture: A Randomised Clinical Study
Authors: Jubairiya K , Farha PK , Valsan Neera , . Moona , Raphael Paul O , Mary AJ Sukanya Prince , Anusree P , Nabeel SM Mohammed
Published: November 2024

Introduction: The Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (FICB) has been useful in postoperative pain management for surgeries involving the hip joint and femur. Under ultrasound guidance, one can approach this compartment using either the conventional infrainguinal or suprainguinal methods. The suprainguinal approach was expected to be better due to the more proximal placement of the drug. Aim: To compare the suprainguinal and infrainguinal approaches to FICB for postoperative analgesia in proximal femur fractures. Materials and Methods: This unicentric prospective randomised double-blind clinical study was conducted over six months following approval from the ethics committee and in accordance with the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2022/12/048121). A total of 60 patients were randomly divided into two groups of 30 using computer-generated random numbers. FICB was performed in the preoperative area with either approach under ultrasound guidance depending on the assigned group. Surgery was performed under a subarachnoid block after 30 minutes. Postoperative pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score. If the VAS score was greater than 4, rescue analgesia was administered with intravenous paracetamol 1 gm infusion. The incidence of postoperative delirium was also recorded. Results: The duration of postoperative analgesia was significantly longer in the suprainguinal group (Group S) (481.7±136.7 minutes) compared to the infrainguinal group (Group I) (385.2±99.39 minutes) (p-value=0.001). The VAS score was similar between the groups at 2, 6, and 12 hours. However, the VAS score was significantly lower in Group S (2.333±0.479) compared to Group I (2.867±1.196) at 24 hours. The incidence of postoperative delirium was comparable in both groups (p-value=0.754). Conclusion: Regarding the duration of analgesia and reduced pain intensity at 24 hours, suprainguinal FICB was more effective than infrainguinal FICB in managing pain. There were no significant differences in overall paracetamol intake and the incidence of delirium between the two groups.
Quality of Life of Patients Treated with VenaSeal™ Versus Endovenous Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins: ARetrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zade Kaurabhi , Ingole Sarang , Wani Kshitij , Arkar Rahul
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLT) has been considered the ‘gold standard’ for the treatment of varicose veins for the last two decades. The newer non thermal, Non tumescent treatment modality like VenaSealTM has shown promising results and is now considered non inferior to thermal ablation. Aim: To compare the Quality of Life (QoL) of patients with varicose veins treated with VenaSealTM and EVLT. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out at the Department of Interventional Radiology of a Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India from January 2022 to December 2023. Adult patients (of either gender) with symptomatic venous reflux disease involving the Great Saphenous Vein (GSV) and/or Small Saphenous Vein (SSV) with associated moderate to severe varicosities (C2-C5 stages) were studied. Group I (n=30 limbs) consisted of patients who had already undergone VenaSealTM treatment for varicose veins and group II (n=30 limbs) consisted of patients who had already undergone EVLT for varicose veins. Patients in both groups were assessed before the intervention and at one week, six weeks and six months following the procedure using the 36- item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the Aberdeen varicose veins Questionnaire (AVVQ). Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test. Continuous variables were compared using unpaired t-test or Mann-Whitney U test between the two treatment groups and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used within the two treatment groups. For within-group analysis, the Friedman test was used to compare pre- and postoperative values across all time points-at enrollment, six weeks and six months. A p-value of <0.05 indicates statistical significance. Results: The mean age was 48.70±12.62 years for group I and 50.46±13.00 years for group II. At baseline, no statistical difference was observed in all domains of SF-36 scores between the two groups. At six weeks, group I showed statistically higher scores in the domains of Physical Function (PF), Role limitations due to physical Problems (RP), Energy/Vitality (VT), Social function (SF) and Bodily Pain (BP) domains than group II. At six months again, no statistical difference was observed in all domains of SF-36 scores between the two groups. AVVQ scores were significantly better in the VenaSeal™ group at six weeks, but at six months, no statistical difference was noted between the two groups. Conclusion: VenaSeal™ and EVLT both provide similar QoL improvements in patients with varicose veins at six months of follow-up. VenaSeal™, however, eliminates the QoL limitations experienced by patients in the immediate and early postoperative period.
Alterations in Hand-eye Coordination and Gait in Individuals with Anxiety: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Shrestha Shaj , Chandran Jayesh , Kovela Rakesh Krishna , Muniandy Yughdtheswari
Published: November 2024

Introduction: The involvement of the motor system in anxiety is barely addressed and remains under-researched in cognitive theories. Understanding the link between motor impairments and anxiety symptoms can aid in creating personalised treatments for individuals with motor disorders, thereby enhancing their productivity and career prospects. The relationships between hand-eye coordination and gait, respectively with anxiety may be overlooked if the focus is limited to core diagnostic criteria. Therefore, The present study examined how anxiety influences hand-eye coordination and spatiotemporal gait parameters in individuals, highlighting these important yet often neglected aspects. Aim: To investigate alterations in hand-eye coordination and spatiotemporal parameters of gait in individuals with anxiety. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted at the motion analysis laboratory in the Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. The individuals were screened for anxiety using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) and 156 participants were included based on a GAD-7 score of ≥ 8. Participants’ fine and gross motor handeye coordination was assessed using the Scale for Handwriting Evaluation (SHE) and the Alternate-Hand Wall-Toss Test (AHWTT), respectively. A 2D gait analysis system was used to assess spatiotemporal gait parameters. The obtained data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 29.0.10. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) was utilised to assess the relationship between anxiety and handeye coordination, as well as between anxiety and spatiotemporal gait parameters. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) compared hand-eye coordination and gait parameters across different GAD-7 levels, while Tukey’s test was used for post-hoc analyses. A p-value of less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Results: The average age of the participants was 21.37±2.35 years. The study found weak negative correlations between the AHWTT score (r= -0.358, p <0.05) and the SHE score (r= -0.285, p<0.05) with the GAD-7 score, respectively, but no correlation between the GAD-7 score and gait parameters. Significant differences were found in the AHWTT score, SHE score, walking speed and stride length across anxiety levels. Conclusion: Anxiety levels negatively correlated with handeye coordination, with anxious individuals exhibiting poorer performance. However, the relationship between anxiety and gait remained inconclusive.
Comparison of Scrotal Hitch Technique and Conventional Scrotal Dressing in Reducing the Postoperative Scrotal Oedema in Inguinoscrotal Surgeries: A Non Randomised Clinical Study
Authors: Rajavarman Balaji , Raju Manigandan , Somasundaram Umesh Raj , Sangeethapriya AS
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Inguinoscrotal swellings, including hernias and hydroceles, are the most common complaints in the surgical outpatient department. Hernioplasty and eversion of the sac are the most common elective procedures for inguinoscrotal swellings. Scrotal oedema is one of the complications following the surgery, which increases the patient’s morbidity. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of the scrotal hitch technique in preventing scrotal oedema and postoperative pain after inguinal and scrotal surgeries compared to conventional scrotal dressing. Materials and Methods: This is a non randomised clinical study conducted in the Department of General Surgery at Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakhti Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Melmaruvathur, Tamil Nadu, India, from September 2021 to December 2023, among 60 patients undergoing inguinoscrotal surgeries. Group-A consists of 30 patients who were given scrotal hitch and 30 patients in Group-B were given conventional scrotal dressing. The outcomes were compared between both groups for scrotal oedema and postoperative pain. Descriptive statistics were presented as mean±Standard Deviation (SD) for continuous variables and frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Fisher’s-exact test was used as a test of significance for categorical data. Student’s t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used as tests of significance for continuous data. Results: The mean age of patients in Group-A was 51.7±13.87 years and in Group-B was 53.03±14.22 years. In Group-A, two patients developed scrotal oedema with the scrotal hitch, while in Group-B with scrotal dressing, 11 patients developed scrotal oedema 72 hours postsurgery. In Group-A, the median Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score at 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours was 6, 3, 1 and 0. In Group-B, the median VAS score was 7, 4, 1 and 0 at 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours. Conclusion: Postoperative pain was found to be lower in the scrotal hitch group compared to patients with conventional scrotal dressing.
Morphological Characterization and Production Performance of Begait Sheep Breed in Tigrai, Ethiopia
Authors: Gebremariam Teklehaimanot Tsigab , Mengesha Yosef Tadese , Gebretsadik Zelealem Tesfay
Published: November 2024

This study was conducted in two districts of Tigray region, northern Ethiopia in 510 animals from 144 small holder farmers aimed to estimate morphological parameters and evaluate production traits, and inbreeding levels in Begait sheep. Data were collected between 2019 and 2022 and analyzed using descriptive statistics of SPSS V20 and GLM of SAS V9.1 for the qualitative data and linear body measurements respectively. Large muscular body frame, long thin tail, markedly convex facial profile were distinctive features of Begait sheep population with predominantly plain (49.80%) coat color followed by plain (44.51%) and spotted (5.69 %) of various colors. Of the total Begait sheep, white with black patchy (49.00%) was the most frequent coat color followed by white (33.33%), light red (7.45%) and fawn (4.31%). The population has relatively heavy live body weight and large body size with a mean live body weight of 55.76 ±0.70kg and 42.40 ±0.36kg for males and females respectively, which indicates the potential of the population for meat production. GLM revealed almost all the morphometric measurements were significantly (p < 0.05) different among districts, sexes and age groups of Sheep.  The higher body weights (49.22 ±1.09 kg) and most other linear body measurements were also recorded in the age group of three pair of permanent incisors (3PPI), whereas the lower values (41.49 ±0.85 kg for body weight) were recorded in the age group of one pair of permanent incisors (1PPI) and bdy weight was significantly correlated (P<0.01) with linear body measurements with the correlation coefficients ranging from 0.069 - 0.768. Begait sheep are known as early maturing and prolific breed with Twin (39.66%) and triple (0.98%) births. To concluded Begait sheep may possess unique adaptive features that should be useful and considered in designing and implementing a sustainable sheep improvement program.
Morphometric Characterization and Fillet Yield of Two Commercial Fish Species from Panyam Fish Farm Plateau State
Authors: Ed-Idoko J. O. , Ujah C. O. , Christiana O. N.
Published: November 2024

A total of 50 individual samples of Parachanna obscura and Clarias gariepinus were collected fresh from Panyam fish farm with the aid of crush ice for preservation until assessment was carried out to determine the fillet yield of Parachanna obscura in comparism with Clarias gariepinus.
The whole fresh fish samples were taken to the department of Fisheries and Aquaculture laboratory of the Federal University, of Agriculture, Makurdi for assessment. Their Total and Standard Lengths were recorded (in cm) using a Measuring Rule, while Total Body Weights were recorded (in grams) using an electronic weighing balance. Data were collected on: the Total Weight (g), Total Length (cm), Standard Length (cm), Visceral Weight (g), Head Length (cm), Weight of Bones (g), Weight of Fins (g) and Weight of Fillet (g) in comparism between the two fish species. Descriptive statistics for morphometric data were determined using Minitab 18® (Minitab 2017). Regression and correlation of variables was carried out in R (R Core Team 2020). Results of the mean measured parameters of Parachana obscura and Clarias gariepinus from Panyam Fish Farm Jos, showed that Total Length (42.66 ± 0.58cm), Standard Length (38.56 ± 0.29cm), Fin Weight (15.51 ± 0.37g), Visceral Weight (11.04 ± 0.17g), Head Weight (1.49 ± 4.01g), Bone weight (39.84 ± 0.80g) and Weight of fillet (89.02 ± 2.38g) of Parachana obscura were higher than the mean measured parameters of Clarias gariepinus. There was a significant difference (p= .05) among the measured parameters between P. obscura and C. gariepinus. The higher fillet percentage per body weight of P. obscura in comparism to C. gariepinus is a pointer to a relatively higher economic value for commercial purposes of this species. This assessment also provides information for further studies on this species to be built on, as there is obvious need for Nigeria’s aquaculture system to diversify from the prevalent catfish culture.
Evaluation of the Sustainability Status of Arabica Coffee-based Eco-farming on Sembalun’s Drylands, East Lombok Regency
Authors: Pradita Nilla , Sukardi L. , Tajidan
Published: November 2024

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the application of eco-farming practices to support the sustainability of Arabica coffee farming in the drylands of Sembalun, East Lombok Regency. Specifically, it aims to: (1) assess the effectiveness of eco-farming in creating a sustainable agricultural system, (2) evaluate the sustainability status of Arabica coffee farming in Sembalun, and (3) identify solutions that enhance the sustainability of Arabica coffee farming and the well-being of local farmers.
Study Design: The study follows a mixed-methods design, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted in the Arabica coffee farming areas of Sembalun, East Lombok Regency, over a period of two months
Methodology: Arabica coffee farmers in Sembalun were selected as the primary unit of analysis. Data collection involved direct interviews, field observations, and documentation of farming practices. The gathered data were analyzed using Multiaspect Sustainability Analysis (MSA) with Exsimpro software to assess the sustainability across five dimensions: ecology, economy, sociocultural aspects, institutional factors, and technology.
Results: The findings reveal varying levels of sustainability across the evaluated dimensions. The sustainability status of Arabica coffee farming in Sembalun is considered good, with an average score of 64.58, indicating that current farming practices meet sustainability standards. Sustainability solutions for Arabica coffee farming in Sembalun involve a holistic approach, including agroforestry, farmer empowerment through training and cooperatives, product diversification, and support from government and private sectors to balance economic and environmental goals.
Conclusion: The study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the sustainability status of Arabica coffee farming in Sembalun, highlighting the role of eco-farming practices in improving ecological balance, economic viability, social welfare, institutional support, and technological advancement in farming. The findings suggest several actionable recommendations for policy enhancements to support long-term sustainability and improve farmer well-being in this region.