bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Spirituality in Ethical Decision Making During Projects
Authors: van der Walt Freda
Published: December 2023

Unethical behaviour of individuals in various professions is rife. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between workplace spirituality, virtue ethics and rational ethical decision-making. The reason for this is that the project management profession values ethics but unethical decision-making is on the rise. The findings of the study indicate that spiritually based organisational values significantly impact on virtue ethics, and that virtue ethics significantly impact on rational ethical decision-making. This implies that supporting the development of good character among employees, through the creation of spiritual workplaces, will enable them to make rational ethical decisions.
Work 4.0
Authors: Cruz Nuno , Carvalho Ana , Duarte Sandra
Published: December 2023

This study aims to analyze the concerns of the largest companies operating in the Portuguese market regarding technological developments and artificial intelligence in the context of replacing human work with machines. More specifically, this study targets the reference to these concerns in these companies' codes of ethics and/or codes of conduct. The codes of ethics of 20 large companies operating in Portugal were thus analysed and classified according to their turnover, adopting an analytical method based on three dimensions identified as relevant for the respective evaluation: social responsibility, technological innovation, and commitments to employees. The conclusions from this study are that the companies analysed do not show in their codes of ethics any concern in mentioning the safeguarding of jobs if these are ever to be replaced by machines.
Workplace Green Behavior for Sustainable Competitive Advantage
Authors: Uwem Emmanuel Imoh , Oyedele Ola Olusegun , Olubiyi Olasoji Timilehin
Published: December 2023

Enhancing sustainable competitive advantage in terms of quality service delivery is key for environmental sustainability. Most organizations are bedeviled with toxic behavior of the workforce which have unpredictable concerns for sustainable initiatives parameters such as decline in profits, environmental degradation, and health deterioration. This chapter utilized the ability, motivation and opportunity theory, and relevant literature to examine the influence of workplace green behavior on sustainable competitive advantage, and the implication for environmental sustainability. The conclusion revealed that workplace green behavior in form waste recycling, going paperless, and embracing renewable energy predicted sustainable competitive advantage in terms of producing green products and services. The study recommended initiation of green organizational culture and creativity as panacea for green behavioral responses and sustainable goals.
Sustainable Adaptability of the Library Ecosystem in the 4.0 Era
Authors: Bakare-Fatungase Oluwabunmi Dorcas
Published: December 2023

The adaptable nature of the library ecosystem into the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4thIR) technological era has been fundamental to its sustainability even in the actualization of sustainable development goals (SDGs) most especially the SDG4 knowing fully well that this is instrumental to the achievements of other SDGs. It is on this premise that this chapter explored the sustainable adaptability of the library ecosystem in the 4.0 era as the routeway for achieving SDG4. The study was underpinned by the three pillars of sustainability model and the Ranganathan laws of library and information science by situating library ecosystem 4.0 within the sustainability research. The study recommended that library professionals should embrace the changing realities of the knowledge economy and strategically situate themselves in achieving SDG4.
Rural Tourism and Supply Chain
Authors: Shah Swati , Bhatt Devendra Krishana , Kumar Ashok
Published: December 2023

Rural tourism, increasingly recognized as a driver of economic growth in rural areas, acts as a catalyst for local development and sustainability. The purpose of this study is to explore the dynamic interplay between rural tourism supply chains and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and also gain a deeper understanding of Rural tourism's components important from the prospect of India, its supply chain, and stakeholders in the supply process and potential of rural tourism in its contribution to SDG. By fostering economic growth, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting responsible supply chains, rural tourism can be a catalyst for sustainable development, bringing us closer to achieving the global goals of prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability. The study advocates for a holistic approach to rural tourism development that prioritizes sustainability, inclusivity, and social responsibility to maximize its positive impact on the SDGs.
Outcome-Based Education
Authors: Bathla Gaurav , Raina Ashish , Rana Varinder Singh , Kumar Aman
Published: December 2023

Education opens numerous revenues to register economic expansion all around the world with specific reference to developing nations. Advancement of India in education indicators has been severely lacking during the previous decades. Decreased financing along with inefficiency in budget expenditure, plus weak management system, have crippled the education sector ensuing poor educational outcomes. Outcome based education (OBE) is widely recognized as a prominent benchmark within contemporary educational system and has recently gained much attention in India as it proposes an influential and interesting option of transforming and organizing hospitality education. OBE is used in hospitality education because it clearly focuses and organizes everything in an educational system around what is necessary for all students to be able to do at the end of their learning. The purpose of this chapter is to look into the extent of quality and mobility of outcome-based education in hospitality education.
The Role of Social Media Towards Ensuring Good Health and the Well-Being of Tourists by Promoting Wellness Tourism
Authors: Hennadige Buddhini Dilanthika
Published: December 2023

This book chapter will explore the role of social media towards promoting wellness tourism to achieve good health and the well-being of the tourists. The first section of the chapter will describe what is social media by providing a few definitions provided by various authors and giving an insight to the evolution of social media. Further, it will present the types of social media and the benefits of using social media. The next section will explain the fundamentals of social media marketing along with definitions, dimension scales, benefits, and the usage of social media according to the recent statistics. It will be followed by one of the popular social media marketing theories, technology acceptance model, analyzing its sub-constructs and its relationships to social media marketing. The subsequent section will explore the sustainability development goal three, which is ensuring good health and well-being for all at all ages listing the targets that they wish to achieve by 2030.
Early Damage Direction in a Structural Health Monitoring Environment
Authors: Ambika N.
Published: December 2023

Probabilistic FFS assessments are carried out by integrating damage detection data gathered from inspections and permanently installed monitoring systems. After a negative measurement, it determines the likelihood of a postulated severe defect being present. It is crucial to point out that this distribution of the size of a postulated fault differs from the distribution of the size of a defect. A negative measurement merely eliminates the possibility that defects of the specified size do not exist. As a result, rather than estimating the dimensions of a defect, the distribution gives an estimate of the possible sizes of defects in the component of interest. The work is suggested to make early detection and future prediction damages in the structures. The database considers the initial images of the structure. The present images are mapped to the initial images to estimate the damage that can be caused in the future. It increases the detection by 13.69%.
Big Data Analytics and Its Impact on Human Resources Management
Authors: Thakur Anusha
Published: December 2023

Both artistic and scientific analytic aspects play a vital role in human resources (HR). With the rising number of transactions, customers, and employees, human resources are forced to emphasize on the adoption of novel technologies to aid faster in the decision-making processes. Big data is expected to significantly gain a ubiquitous presence in human resources. Employing data analytics in HR owes the potential to bring the sector in line with the rest of the operational activities in an organization. This chapter focuses on the role and benefits of big data analytics in human resources. It contemplates the key analytical solutions being offered by the market players and the real-use cases of organizations incorporating analytics in human resources to cater to their business goals. Further, the chapter also discusses the factors challenging the implementation of analytics in transforming business processes.
Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Employee Engagement and Efficiency
Authors: Singh Manisha , Tiwari Rakhi , Bhatt Vinod , Shukla Yogesh
Published: December 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced organizations to adapt quickly to new ways of working, such as remote work and hybrid work arrangements. This has led to some challenges but also some opportunities to improve employee engagement and efficiency. One of the biggest challenges has been maintaining employee engagement during a time of great uncertainty and change. Organizations have tried to address this by developing creative and productive ways to engage their employees, such as online family engagement practices, online learning, virtual team building exercises, webinars with industry experts, weekly online alignment sessions, team meetings through video conference, short online game sessions, online contests and competitions, online programs, and online fitness and meditation. These activities can help employees stay connected with their colleagues and the organization, learn new skills, and improve themselves. Another challenge has been maintaining employee efficiency while working remotely.
Block Overflow on Frequently Asked Questions Using Blockchain
Authors: Kanjalkar Jyoti P. , Kahat Rushikesh , Kokse Sankalp Mahesh , Katale Sanket , Ramchandani Nishchay , Kanjalkar Pramod
Published: December 2023

This work shows how blockchain technology can evolve in our day-to-day lives and we can benefit from it. Much of the modern research work related to blockchain technology emphasizes its application for cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, bitcoin, etc. Blockchain technology is way more than cryptocurrency, and it can have various applications in the domain of finance, government, the banking industry, accounting, etc. Therefore, this study attempts to explore opportunities and their issues. The proposed system emphasizes the use of blockchain in frequently asked questions (FAQ) systems. The basic idea of the proposed system is that the questionnaire will post a question with an appropriate bounty amount and time so that others from the community can answer the question. The most upvoted answer is rewarded with a bounty amount. This transaction is carried out using blockchain technology. This helps to understand the level of contribution experience a person might have and is worthy in the eyes of the developer community for a reward.
Overview of Industry 5.0 on Emerging Technologies and Human and Robot Collaboration
Authors: Prabhu Usha , Reshma Sultana P. H. , Srivatsa Vasudha , Vennila R. , Manjunath B.
Published: December 2023

The mere idea of Industry 5.0 has lately arisen as the hope for a future industry founded on social and environmental sustainability. The proponents of Industry 5.0 argue that Industry 4.0 is not the best framework for ensuring long-term sustainability. Industry 4.0 focuses on technology-driven productivity in all spheres but neglects human intervention in the final production of the product or service; Industry 5.0 emerged by overcoming its fallacy on it. In 2015, the United Nations adopted a set of goals known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the aim of mobilizing all of its member states to take action to protect the environment, address social issues, and build global prosperity. It is a proactive, goal-oriented strategy that re-evaluates social, economic, and environmental expectations. There is synergy between Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0. Industry 5.0 seeks to understand the potential of big data, artificial intelligence, robots, and advanced digitalization in addressing emerging needs in the industrial, societal, and environmental.
Effect of Crude Oil Price Variations on Stocks With Special Reference to NSE
Authors: Jayaraj Shimna , Shenbagavalli T. , Vipanchi V. , Sudha B.S. , Jain Juhi , Senapati Biswaranjan
Published: December 2023

Crude oil consumption is one of the major economic indicators in the economy. The study examines the interrelation between crude oil prices and the stock market. The stock market indices chosen are Nifty 50, Nifty 100, Nifty 200, Nifty 500, Nifty Auto, Bank, and FMCG. The study has considered only one event, i.e., crude oil for six years, leaving a research gap for analyzing other macroeconomic indicators affecting the Indian stock market. This chapter intends to investigate whether any impact exists on different indices of NSE due to the changes in prices of crude oil globally due to certain internal and external factors. This chapter also helps suggest to the investors their deals in Indian and global markets. This study is done to know the impact of fluctuations in crude oil prices in the global market, which affects the Indian stock market, and also to know the reasons for the fluctuations in crude oil prices. This study also analyzes the dependency level of both variables (crude oil prices globally and the same prices in the Indian stock market).
A Study on Total Quality Management (TQM) in Warehouse Management in Logistics Limited
Authors: Kumari Pooja , Shenbagavalli T. , Ashwini S. , Vidhya K.
Published: December 2023

The goal of total quality management (TQM) is to ensure that all customers and users are completely satisfied at all times by preventing defects and equipping employees with the knowledge and attitude necessary to do so. Whether or not total quality management is in place, what TQM techniques have been adopted, how TQM affects warehouse management, and how TQM and warehouse management affect productivity are all questions that were explored in this chapter. This research is based on primary data, which has been collected with the help of questionnaires from the employees in an organization because questionnaires can cover a large population with lower cost and shorter time. A structured questionnaire was formed using Google Forms for the survey and was sent to the respondents for their responses. TQM in warehouse management helps in the effective management of the warehousing system and also has a positive effect on the quality of the warehouse. It provides efficiency to the employee to manage the warehousing system and also upgrade the same.
Tourist Behaviour Analysis Using Data Analytics
Authors: Visuwasam L. Maria Michael , Srinath M. , Raj V. S. Aswin , Sirajudeen A. , Sudhir Maharaaja S. , Raja Dakshin
Published: December 2023

There has been a lot of hurry in the tourism business in recent years, and the rise of IT technology has had a major impact on vacationers. In recent years, numerous studies of big data have been devoted to analysing tourists' behaviour. Decision-making support from big data analytics has only been shown in a small number of studies. The proliferation of social media's ability to gather massive amounts of data has opened up new avenues for research and improved insights for policymakers. The purpose of this chapter is to gain a deeper comprehension of the motivations behind visitors' actions, as well as the environmental and social influences that shape their experiences. The digital lifestyle pattern outlines the idea of tourist behaviour, bridges the gap between the tourist and the digital world, and allows us to zero in on how that behaviour evolves over time. Using the idea of a digital lifestyle pattern, we may build strategies for the behaviour of tourists.
A Review on Recent Progress in PVD-TiN Coatings
Authors: Gopi R. , Saravanan I. , Devaraju Ayyannan , Sivasamy P.
Published: December 2023

Hard nitride coatings has an important role for enhancing the wear resistance of metallic materials, thus increasing the life time of the products in industries. In this paper reviews the different methods of coating techniques, methods of PVD, mechanical properties of TiN coatings and wear resistance of titanium nitride-based coatings by physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques. Thus the various approaches for enhancing the corrosion and wear resistance are categorized and summarized. The advantages, disadvantages and applications of Nitride based coatings are discussed.
Powering the Blue Economy: Marine Energy at Kelp Farm Sites
Authors: Branch Ruth , Rose Deborah , Grear Molly , Briggs Candace , Ticona Rollano Fadia
Published: December 2023

Abstract Marine energy (ME) has the potential to power businesses in the blue economy. Kelp farms are an emerging maritime market of the blue economy and are predicted to grow, but they are not currently using ME for their power needs. As the number and size of kelp farms
increase, more offshore power will be needed onsite for operations, monitoring, and harvesting. ME devices such as tidal current energy converters and wave energy converters (WECs) may be used to supply power for these needs. This article assesses the status of kelp farming in the continental
United States, investigates the electricity needs of kelp farms, and examinesthe feasibility of generating the required electricity from wave and tidal current energy. The United States currently has 165 kelp farms that have either active or pending permits. The farms use electricity for boat
operations, kelp drying, environmental monitoring, offshore lighting, and the raising and lowering of lines. Most kelp farms are in protected, nearshore waters that do not have significant wave energy resources. The limited available wave energy could be used to power small devices, but WECs
have not yet been developed for that application. Some kelp farms are in locations that feature significant tidal energy resources, but small tidal current energy converters that are compatible with existing farm operations are not yet commercially available. As low-power WECs and tidal current
energy converters are developed, kelp farms could be research partners and early adopters of the new technologies, which would encourage their broader use by other blue economy businesses.
Determinants of Supply Response of Coconut Cultivation in Sri Lanka
Authors: Periyapperuma P. M. M. J. , Dissanayake S. N. , Jayalath K. V. N. N.
Published: December 2023

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L) is a major plantation crop grown in Sri Lanka. The output has been mainly used for local consumption of fresh nuts, coconut-based industries within the country, and coconut exports. The instability of coconut supply seriously affects local as well as export market potentials. Identification of various factors and the extent to which those affected the current coconut supply have not been examined in the recent empirical work. This study examines the supply response of coconut in Sri Lanka, using Nerlovian Partial Adjustment model. The study used time series data of total coconut production, output price, rainfall, fertilizer amount, land extent, technology, and the presence of fertilizer subsidy for a period of 30 years (1985-2015) for the analysis. Among the different types of functional forms tested, the log-linear model was selected as the best fit model (R2=0.894). The model was tested for autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity using the Durbin-Watson statistic and the Breusch-pagan test, respectively. The results revealed that the variables, i.e.two years lagged price, one year lagged rainfall, and two years lagged fertilizer amount affect the coconut production significantly (p<0.05). The short-run and long-run price elasticities were estimated for two years lagged output price.The output price is the most influential factor in short run with the elasticity of 0.33 (two year lagged price variables were considered) while rainfall is the most important determinant of coconut production in Sri Lanka. The study concludes that coconut production in the country tends to change as a response to the changes in coconut price both in the short-run and long-run. Further, rainfall and amount of fertilizer applied are the two main factors that determine the coconut supply in Sri Lanka.
Nutritional Properties of De-fatted Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Testa Flour Incorporated Sri Lankan Traditional Food: Roti
Authors: Hewa Pathirana H. P. D. T. , Yalegama L. L. W. C. , Silva A. M. L. , Marikkar J. M. Nazrim
Published: December 2023

Coconut testa (brown outer skin of coconut kernel) is a by-product of coconut industry and it does not have proper usage at present. The aim of this research was to evaluate the potential of coconut testa flour (TF) to substitute for wheat flour in preparation of unleavened bread or roti. TF is the ground defatted dehydrated coconut parings obtained from paring oil extraction. The dehydrated brown testa was subjected to oil extraction using cold press expeller followed by grinding into a fine flour. The quality of raw material (testa and TF) was evaluated. The samples of roti were prepared by incorporating 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% of TF instead of wheat flour and the sensory attributes of the roti were evaluated. Functional and proximate composition of flour blends and selected roti samples were compared with a control (100% wheat flour). Fat and moisture contents of dehydrated parings were 58.06% and 4.04% respectively, and the concentrations were reduced to 16.97% and 2.56% respectively while producing TF. All sensory attributes (taste, texture, appearance, smell, overall acceptability) of the TF incorporated roti were significantly different (P<0.05) compared to the roti made with 100% wheat flour (WF). According to the results, TF can be successfully substituted for wheat flour up to a level of 20% to enhance nutritional qualities of roti. No significant difference of swelling capacity, bulk density, tapped density and water absorption capacity (P>0.05) between the selected flour blend sample (20% TF: 80% WF) and 100% WF sample was observed. However, crude fiber and protein contents of the 20% TF and 80% WF blend were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the WF only samples. The TF incorporation (20%) contributed to increase the crude fiber content of roti from 1.81% to 7.04% and protein content from 12.43% to 16.06%.
Solitude for Urban Dwellers through "Urban Blue Spaces" in Colombo
Authors: Fonseka W. D. K. , Coorey S. B. A.
Published: December 2023

Many urban dwellers are suffering from various psychological issues due to the lack of solitude. Previous research has found that Blue Spaces have more potential to promote solitude among people when compared to other natural settings. This is because of the attraction that humans have towards water and the ability of water to trigger restful involuntary attention, which in turn helps to promote solitude. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to identify the characteristics/attributes of Urban Blue Space (UBS) that promotes solitude, in the context of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Three cases namely Mt. Lavinia beach, Diyawanna lake and South West Beira lake are selected and analysed using a mixed method of research such as observations, on-site photographs, questionnaires and unstructured interviews. Findings indicated that physical attributes of water such as fluidity, sound, lighting and accessibility, the physical attributes of space such as being away, extent, soft fascination and compatibility are the factors that mainly contribute to an enhanced experience of solitude among urban dwellers. Site conditions also have an impact to a certain extent, as they help to create favourable settings in which people can seek solitude. These findings will contribute towards better design and management of UBS in the future.
Effect of Nd:YAG and 980nm Diode laser irradiation as a hypersensitivity treatment on shear bond strength of metal orthodontic brackets to enamel
Authors: Karimi Mahsa , Sarmadi Sarvin , Chiniforush Nasim , Behforouz Aria
Published: December 2023

Lasers are one of the tooth hypersensitivity treatments. This study aimed to determine the effect of irradiation of Nd:YAG 1064nm and 980nm Diode lasers, used for hypersensitivity treatment, on the shear bond strength (SBS) of metal orthodontic brackets to enamel. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was used to simulate sensitivity in 70 extracted human premolars. The teeth were radiated with 1w Nd:YAG, 1.5w Nd:YAG, 1w Diode, or 1.5w Diode. All samples were incubated at 37° for 24 hours, after bonding the metal brackets. SBS values and adhesive remnant index (ARI) for each tooth was recorded. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the mean SBS and the distribution of ARI scores between the study groups, respectively. The SBS mean from the highest to the lowest were in 1w Diode (25.71Mpa), 1w Nd:YAG (24.66Mpa), 1.5w Diode (23.08Mpa), control (21.68Mpa) and 1.5w Nd:YAG (21.53Mpa) groups. No statistically significant difference existed between different groups, in terms of SBS (p=0.211) and ARI distribution (p=0.066). The application of Nd:YAG and 980nm Diode lasers to treat tooth hypersensitivity did not change the SBS of metal orthodontic brackets to the enamel and thus, are harmless to use for orthodontic patients.
Radiation Exposure to the Personnel Performing Myocardial Blood Flow Quantification Study Using 13N-ammonia Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography
Authors: Rana Nivedita , Srivastava Ashish , Kumar Munish , Parmar Madan , Kumar Rajender , Mittal Bhagwant Rai
Published: December 2023

Purpose:

The present study aimed to evaluate radiation exposure to staff performing coronary flow reserve (CFR) measurement using 13N-ammonia.

Materials and Methods:

The radiation exposure rate during the administration of 13N-ammonia for the rest and stress part of the study was noted using an ionization chamber-based calibrated survey monitor. The radiation exposure to persons involved in dispensing radioactivity (D1), administering radioactivity (D2) and monitoring the patient during pharmacological stress (D3) were measured using an energy compensated Si-diode personal pocket dosimeter.

Results:

The average dose received by individuals with dosimeters D1, D2, and D3 was 1.28 ± 0.79 µSv, 1.56 ± 0.51 µSv, and 0.88 ± 0.97 µSv per injection, respectively, during the rest of study and 1.56 ± 0.96 µSv, 2.64 ± 1.22 µSv, and 2.2 ± 1.7 µSv per injection, respectively, during stress study. The average exposure rate during the administration of 13N-ammonia at 0.5 m and 1.5 m from the injection site was found to be 259 µSv/h and 53.4 µSv/h, respectively, during the rest study and 301 µSv/h and 67.25 µSv/h, respectively, during stress study.

Conclusion:

The exposure to the staff performing CFR study with 13N-ammonia was well within prescribed limits by the International Commission on Radiological Protection 103. The CFR measurement with 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography/computed tomography can be included in routine workups of cardiac patients without the fear of radiation exposure.
Tc-99m Ethambutol Scintigraphy with Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography in Diagnosis of Tubercular Iliopsoas Abscess
Authors: Damle Nishikant , Kaushik Prateek , Subudhi Kishan , Tiwari Varsha , Sikdar Sunit , Ranjan Piyush , Goyal Ankur
Published: December 2023

Very few imaging techniques can demonstrate the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vivo. Technitium-99m Ethambutol scintigraphy is one of them, although literature on the utility of this technique is scarce. We describe a patient with iliopsoas abscess showing increased uptake on Tc-99 m ethambutol scintigraphy which was later confirmed to be tubercular by the microbiological analysis of pus.
Predictive Value of Camera-based Donor Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimation on the Immediate Renal Allograft Outcome Following Live-related Renal Transplant: A Single-center Retrospective Study
Authors: Malapure Sumeet Suresh , Oommen Sibi , Bhushan Shivanand , Bhojaraja Mohan Varadanayakanahalli , Nagaraju Shankar Prasad , Attur Ravindra Prabhu , Suresh Sucharitha , Rangaswamy Dharshan
Published: December 2023

Purpose of the Study:

The purpose of this study was to assess the association of measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) using camera-based method with early transplant outcomes.

Methodology:

Diethylenetriamine pentaacetate renograms of all voluntary kidney donors between January 2016 and December 2022 at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, India, were retrieved for the study. Recipients’ posttransplant biochemical parameters were collected and compared against donors with scaled mGFR >80 ml/min/1.73 m2 (Group 1) and with mGFR between 60 and 80 ml/min/1.73 m2 (Group 2). Donor–recipient pair age, anthropometric parameters, and their differences were also assessed against the immediate transplant outcome. Posttransplant immediate graft function was assessed by posttransplant nadir serum creatinine, day to achieve nadir serum creatinine, the incidence of slow graft or delayed graft function, and serum creatinine at 1-month posttransplantation. Recipients with serum creatinine of >2.5 mg/dl on posttransplant day 7 were taken as slow graft function.

Results:

A total of 161 donor–recipient pairs were analyzed in the study. In recipients who showed persistently high serum creatinine posttransplant, older donor age(p < 0.001), higher difference in body mass index among the donor–recipient pair (p= 0.03), and mGFR <80ml/min (p < 0.001) were significantly associated. Slow graft function was significantly more in Group II recipients, with donors having mGFR <80ml/min as compared to Group I with mGFR >80 ml/min (37.3% vs. 10.6%) (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Camera-based mGFR using Gates’ formula is a reliable tool to predict inferior graft outcomes in the immediate posttransplant period. Kidneys from donors with mGFR of 60–80 mL/min/1.73 m2 are likely to experience slow graft function in the immediate posttransplant period.
Agreement between Thai Cardiovascular Risk Scores and Myocardial Perfusion Imaging: Exploring Associations and Clinical Implications
Authors: Phuangmali Kitwiwat , Sukprakun Chanan
Published: December 2023

Purpose:

This study aimed to assess the agreement between the Thai cardiovascular (CV) risk score or pretest probability (PTP), and myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), and to explore the association between abnormal MPI results and higher Thai CV risk scores or PTP risk.

Materials and Methods:

The study was conducted between March 2017 and December 2021, and included 128 patients. Myocardial perfusion gated single photon emission computed tomography imaging was performed on all patients, and agreement between the Thai CV risk score, PTP, and MPI was measured using weighted Cohen’s kappa statistic. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and explore the association.

Results:

Fair agreement was observed between MPI and the Thai CV risk score (κ =0.269, P = 0.010), including patients with clinical chest pain (κ =0.367, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of patients with intermediate PTP revealed moderate agreement between MPI and the Thai CV risk score (κ =0.428, P = 0.002). Patients with intermediate (OR = 3.25, P = 0.010) or high (OR = 4.78, P = 0.001) Thai CV risk scores had significantly higher odds of having intermediate or high MPI results compared to those with low Thai CV risk scores.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the agreement between MPI and the Thai CV risk score and PTP. Higher Thai CV risk scores are associated with increased odds of abnormal MPI results. These findings provide valuable insights for clinical decision-making and patient management.
Ureteral Stone Mimicking Metastasis – Planar Bone Scan When Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography Is a Necessity
Authors: Mishra Ayush , Singh Vijay , Nazar Aftab Hasan
Published: December 2023

In this case, we demonstrated a ureteric stone that resembled bone metastasis. Because bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals are excreted into the urine by the kidneys, normal kidneys and bladder are well visualized on skeletal scintigraphs leading to incidental detection of urinary tract abnormalities. Bone tracer uptake related to ureteral stones has been reported [Figure 1] several times before. We present a right ureteral stone mimicking abnormal focal sacral uptake on planar scan in a patient with rectal cancer. This case emphasizes the importance of using single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography to determine the cause of abnormal uptake on a planar scan.
Innovative techniques and concepts in surgical management of Charcot foot deformities
Authors: Weatherby Paul J. , Harper Jacob , Panchbhavi Vinod K.
Published: December 2023

There is a growing interest in the surgical treatment of Charcot foot arthropathy following the increase in the prevalence of diabetes. The current gold standard of treatment is total contact casting for early deformity, but in recent years, surgery has been performed earlier in the disease process to create a clinically and radiographically plantigrade foot, with the aim of preventing or treating skin ulceration. This review article focused on types of surgical treatment and outcomes associated with each treatment option. Surgical correction consists of ostectomy, tendo-Achilles lengthening, soft tissue releases, and midfoot osteotomies. Arthrodesis can be performed with internal or external fixation or a combination of the two. The purpose of this review article is to review modern surgical techniques for the management of Charcot midfoot deformities. We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases using the following search terms: “Charcot arthropathy,” “neuroarthropathy,” “midfoot,” and “arthrodesis.” Articles were chosen based on relevancy to modern surgical treatment options for Charcot midfoot arthropathy. Internal fixation options include intramedullary column fixation, “beaming,” and superconstructs involving a combination of intramedullary fixation and plantar plating. An additional extramedullary construct is introduced, which involves placing large screws from the base of the metatarsal across the deformity, known as “rafting screws.” Complications of fixation methods are also discussed in detail.
Diabetic foot: Footwear in a management programme
Authors: Paavana Thumri , Crooks Sophie A. , Hariharan Kartik
Published: December 2023

Diabetic foot disease carries a major global health and socioeconomic burden. Most ulcers and amputations may be preventable if addressed early with patient education, good foot care, and attention to footwear. Multiple guidelines exist with regards to stratification of risk and choice of shoes, therapeutic footwear (TF), and offloading devices. A review of available literature suggests that low risk groups may use off-the-shelf footwear, providing they are adequately educated in optimal shoe selection. Intermediate risk groups should have specialist input and consideration of TF. High risk groups should be managed with pressure-relieving TF. In patients with an active diabetic foot ulcer, offloading devices are indicated, with non-removable knee-high devices as the gold standard treatment. Patient compliance remains a challenge to optimal management. This article seeks to outline current evidence and consensus-based guidance with regards to footwear use in the prevention and treatment of the diabetic foot.
Evaluation of intraoperative limb length measurement by cautery lead to reduce limb length discrepancies in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Sahu Vaibhav , Lakhwani Om Prakash
Published: December 2023

Background:

Limb length discrepancy (LLD) is one of the important causes of poor functional outcomes after total hip arthroplasty and may result in back pain, neuritis, dislocation of hip, early loosening of components, and abnormal gait. The incidence of LLD after hip replacement ranges from 1% to 27%. Many sophisticated methods have been tried by researchers but still, there is no single method that can reduce the LLD to absolute zero. Hence, our study used an easy and effective intraoperative method of measuring limb length by using cautery lead, which reduces LLD significantly.

Objective:

To evaluate and compare the intra-operative limb length measurement by cautery lead with pre-operative and post-operative limb length by clinical and radiological method.

Materials and Methods:

This was a prospective study, which was conducted on 35 patients from 2020 to 2022. Patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty for various indications are included in the study. Intraoperatively limb length measurement was done with the help of cautery lead. Any correction needed as calculated earlier by preoperative measurement by clinical and radiological methods were taken care of during surgery and compared postoperatively.

Results:

In our study, we found that the mean preoperative LLD was −12.8 mm (range, −35 to 0 mm), which reduces to mean postoperative LLD of −1 mm (range, −10 to 14 mm) with a P value of less than 0.0001, which shows that LLD reduces after the procedure, and it was statistically significant.

Conclusion:

This method significantly reduces LLD after total hip arthroplasty, and it is unique because this intraoperative technique is simple, easy, inexpensive, effective, and quick to perform.
Craniosynostosis: Existing and Restructuring of Rehabilitation
Authors: Mehra Pooja , Verma Nitesh , Chahal Aksh
Published: December 2023

Craniosynostosis is a developmental craniofacial anomaly, resulting in impairment of brain development and abnormally shaped skull. Restricted normal growth of the skull can lead to increased intracranial pressure and changes in brain morphology, which in turn may contribute to neurocognitive deficiency. The management of craniosynostosis, especially in the setting of craniofacial syndromes, is ideally done in a multidisciplinary clinic with a team focused toward comprehensive care. However, evidence has suggested the role of physical therapy in managing craniosynostosis, especially deformational plagiocephaly. The present review aims to find relevant evidence-based studies regarding the role of physical therapy in managing neonates with deformational plagiocephaly.
Assessment of salivary levels of ErbB2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Jayarajkumar Sujithaa , Ramamoorthi Raghini , Muniapillai Sivakumar , Gopalakrishnan Sivakumar , Jayaseelan Vijayashree Priyadharshini
Published: December 2023

Introduction:

Oral cancer is the sixth-most common cancer globally. The survival rate of oral cancer is 5 years, depending on the stage it is diagnosed. To diagnose in the early stage, specialised tumour markers may assist and also help in improving the survival rate of oral cancer. ErbB2 is a transmembrane cell surface receptor required in signal transduction and an essential part of signalling pathways that take part in controlling the basic cellular processes like cell cycle, migration, metabolism and survival, besides cellular proliferation and differentiation. It is over-expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and is directly proportional to the poor prognosis, as it is expressed at a very low concentration in a healthy individual. Due to this, ErbB2 could be used as a diagnostic marker in OSCC. Nowadays, the search for tumour expression in the saliva with the use of salivary biomarkers could aid in the diagnosis of the OSSC.

Aim and Objectives:

To assess the expression of ErbB2 in the saliva of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma by correlating the ErbB2 level in the disease group with the healthy group. To determine the diagnostic significance of ErbB2 in OSCC.

Materials and Methods:

The study comprises 20 salivary samples from OSCC patients and 20 salivary samples from healthy individuals. The salivary level of ErbB2 was estimated using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. To analyse the data, SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. Released 2019) is used. The significance level is fixed at 5% (α = 0.05). P value <0.05 is considered to be statistically significant. To compare the mean values of mean and concentration, an unpaired/independent sample t-test was used.

Results:

The mean age of OSCC and control were found to be 57 ± 8.13 and 26.6 ± 1.51, respectively. The mean age was compared between OSCC and control by the Chi-square test, and the P value was <0.01, which was found to be statistically significant. The salivary levels of ErbB2 in the OSCC and control groups were measured by an unpaired sample t-test. The mean salivary ErbB2 level in the OSCC group is 3.20 ng/ml ± 0.57, and in the control group, it is 2.43 ng/ml ± 0.13. When a pairwise comparison of ErbB2 concentration was performed between OSCC and control, it showed a statistically significant difference with a P value of 0.007, which is P < 0.05.

Conclusion:

The present study has demonstrated an increased salivary expression of ErbB2 in OSCC patients when compared to healthy individuals. This suggests that ErbB2 could aid in the diagnosis of OSCC and could be used as a diagnostic marker in the early detection of oral cancer, a finding that has to be further established with a larger sample size.
Intraosseous clear cell mucoepidermoid carcinoma: A case report and evaluation
Authors: Manchanda Adesh S. , Narang Ramandeep S. , Sandhu Komaldeep K.
Published: December 2023

Salivary gland tumours are relatively uncommon, and there exists a considerable diagnostic difficulty owing to their diverse histological features in individual lesions and the presence of a number of types and variants, in addition to overlapping histological patterns similar to those observed in different tumour entities. One such group of variations is clear cell tumours of oral cavity which constitute an assorted group of lesions that may be odontogenic or metastatic or of salivary gland origin. The clear cell variant of mucoepidermoid carcinoma is at times misleading to the clinician because of its atypical location and innocent appearance. The pathologist needs to be familiar with the molecular alterations so that there may be a strong potential to implement good treatment. Hereby, we report a rare case of intraosseous clear cell variant of mucoepidermoid carcinoma which histopathologically posed challenges due to its variable presentation, suggesting the need for histochemical stains and molecular work-up for a definitive diagnosis and a better therapeutic and prognostic insight.
Evaluation of USP22 and Ki-67 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma: An immunohistochemical study
Authors: Apoorva Chelikani Chaitra , Ananthaneni Anuradha , Kumar A. Jagadeesh , Guduru Vijay Srinivas , Puneeth H K
Published: December 2023

Background and Aim:

USP22 is a positive regulator in tumor growth, its depletion leads to cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. USP22 over expression was positively correlated with proteins involved in proliferation and negatively correlated with tumor suppressor protein tumor supprn. Ki-67 expression is associated with USP22 over expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and also in cervical and prostate cancers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of USP22 and Ki-67 in OSCC by using an immunohistochemical staining procedure.

Materials and Methods:

Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of USP22 protein in 50 archival tissue blocks of histopathologically diagnosed OSCC and 15 normal oral mucosa tissue blocks. The histopathological correlation of USP22 with Ki-67 was done.

Results:

Expression of USP22 and Ki-67 was seen in the nuclei of epithelial cells. Statistical analysis of the mean expression of USP22 in OSCC and normal tissue showed a significant difference (P = 0.000000119). A significant difference was also observed in Ki-67 between OSCC and normal tissue (P = 0.00000086). Correlation test showed a weak correlation (R = 0.19) between USP22 and Ki-67 expression of group 1. Similarly, a weak correlation (R = 0.51) was observed in group 2.

Conclusion:

A statistically significant difference in the expression of USP22 and Ki-67 was observed between normal mucosa and OSCC. It can be used in early diagnosis of OSCC but its use as a prognostic indicator is questionable and should be exemplified with a larger study sample.
Immunohistochemical expression of paxillin in ameloblastoma and odontogenic keratocyst: An observational study
Authors: Singh Arunima , Astekar Madhusudan S. , Sapra Gaurav , Agarwal Ashutosh , Murari Aditi
Published: December 2023

Background:

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are found on the surface of all cells, where they allow dynamic processes to take place. These include cadherins, integrins, selectins and Immunoglobulin superfamily. Directly associated with β-integrin tails is a multidomain protein known as paxillin. However, CAMs participate in cell-cell and extracellular matrix-cell interactions during histomorphogenesis in the various phases of odontogenesis. Some tumours or cysts like ameloblastoma (AB) or odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) having odontogenic origin show disturbance in the interaction of these CAMs. Hence, the assessment of paxillin expression in AB and OKC was carried out.

Materials and Methods:

The present observational study comprised 30 clinically and histologically confirmed cases of AB and OKC. All the slides were stained immunohistochemically using a paxillin antibody.

Results:

Upon comparison of staining intensity of paxillin among AB and OKC showed statistically significant result, whereas quantitative staining and final summation showed non-significant result. Gender-wise comparison of paxillin staining intensity, quantitative staining and final summation among OKC showed significant result; however, in AB, staining intensity showed non-significant result, whereas quantitative staining and final summation showed significant result.

Conclusion:

Paxillin has the greatest influence on tissue morphogenesis and development. The regulation of cell mobility is aided by the multiple roles that paxillin plays in a range of cells and tissues. However, further studies using a large sample size, along with other molecular analytical methods, may be essential to draw a definite conclusion about the association of paxillin and its exact function in OKC and AB.