bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Pedestrian Characteristic on Pedestrian Speed in Urban Area: A Case Study at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur
Authors:   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Penang, Malaysia, Azizan F.A. , Thalji N.F.S ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Penang, Malaysia, Rahman Z.A. ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Penang, Malaysia, Mansor S. ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Penang, Malaysia, Joohari M.I. ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Penang, Malaysia.
Published: February 2024

Short-distance walking, alone or with additional modes, is efficient. Well-established public transport may increase the number of pedestrians since they prefer walking to work, travel, and shop because cities are connected by activities and locations. However, pedestrian-friendly paths and public transport in Malaysia have received little attention. Large-scale facilities like stadiums, movie theatres, and amusement parks are driving the need for pedestrian facilities. Thus, this study aims to examines the pedestrian characteristic at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur. To discover significant elements, pedestrian behaviour on sidewalks at the indicated location was quantitatively investigated, taking into account general pedestrian characteristics that affect walking speed, such as age, gender, and trip companion. Using a video camera, pedestrian variables like age, gender, and trip companion were calculated for volume, speed, flow, density, and space during weekday and weekend peak hours. Extracted data were then analysed by using SPSS as a statistical software and the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM 2010) was used to classify pedestrian level of services (LOS). Age, gender, and companionship substantially determine the pedestrian flow and the study’s LOS for pedestrian characteristics ranges from D to E, indicating that Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman’s sidewalk relationship varies. This research strongly recommends a dedicated walkway to increase pedestrian space and improve services along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur. This study will also serve as a guideline to the transport operator into improving the future of pedestrian walkway design facilities.
Particle Swarm Optimized Back Propagation Neural Network for State of Health Estimation of Lithium-ion Battery
Authors:   Department of Electrical Electronics and System Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia, Ayob Afida , Ansari Shaheer ,   Department of Electrical Electronics and System Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia, Hussain Aini ,   Department of Electrical Electronics and System Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia, Md Saad Mohamad Hanif ,   Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia, Lipu M. S. Hossain ,   Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Green University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
Published: February 2024

The assessment and monitoring of battery health is very crucial for the maintenance and safety of battery-powered applications such as Electric vehicles (EVs). To conduct appropriate battery operation in EVs, the battery capacity should be estimated accurately. In this regard, the State of health (SOH) estimation is conducted for evaluating the battery aging status. This work proposes a hybrid backpropagation neural network (BPNN) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique for SOH estimation. A multi-feature input data framework is constructed with 31-dimensional features for the model training by using 4 battery datasets from NASA i.e. B5, B6, B7 and B18. The acquisition of the data samples has been performed with a systematic sampling technique. The presented work is conducted with a training testing ratio of 70:30 and validated with the MIT Stanford battery dataset. The experimental outcomes demonstrated high SOH estimation accuracy compared with the conventional BPNN model. In the case of battery B5, it was observed that RMSE, MSE and MAPE for the BPNN-PSO model are 0.6791, 0.0046, 0.3203 compared with the conventional BPNN model i.e. 0.8796, 0.0077, 0.4881 respectively. Furthermore, the significance of capacity regeneration in B7 and B18 results in high-performance metrics compared with other battery datasets. The research conducted would be beneficial to estimate the battery status regarding battery health i.e. SOH accurately in Battery System Management (BMS) based EV application.
Cardiac Valve Involvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case-Control Study Among Adult Patients in Sulaimaniyah Province
Authors: Hadi Krmanj , Mirza Raouf , Saeedq Dana , Ahmed Farman
Published: January 2024

Background: The frequency of valvular heart disease (VHD) among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients varies in the literature ranging between 3-70%. This considerable variability might be attributed to the examined population's varied genetic backgrounds and the different methodologies utilized to identify valvular disease. VHD resulting in severe symptomatic aortic insufficiency is an uncommon RA consequence.

 

Objectives: This study aimed to look for cardiac valve involvement in RA patients and determine whether it is linked with disease activity and duration.

 

Methods: Fifty RA patients were recruited consecutively, 5 were males, and 45 were females, aged 27 to 65 years, with a mean of 49.86 ± 9.98. All patients were free from cardiac diseases and underwent entire history, physical examination, laboratory test, and transthoracic echocardiography. The findings were compared to those of age and gender-matched controls, who had no rheumatic and cardiac diseases.

 

Results: Valvular lesions were found in 18 (36%) RA patients, whereas only 2 (4%) of the controls had valvular lesions (p= 0.000063). The most frequently affected valve was the mitral valve 11(61%). There was no relationship between VHD and the duration of the disease, clinical disease activity index (CDAI) score, body mass index (BMI), and smoking.

 

Conclusions: This study has confirmed that VHD (specific to the mitral valve) is significantly higher in RA patients compared with the control sample. There was no correlation between VHD and RA's disease duration, clinical, laboratory, or treatment characteristics.
The Relationship between Types of Video Games and Communicative Skills of Young Players: The Systematic Literature Review Using the PRISMA Tool
Authors: Salomatova O.V.
Published: February 2024

The article presents a systematic review of studies on the effects of different types of video games on the communication skills of adolescent and young adult gamers. To conduct the systematic review, the PRISMA methodology was used, which offers an algorithm that makes the literature review as objective as possible. This methodology involves searching for articles of interest in databases based on keywords. Of the 1,953 articles retrieved from 2018—2023, 9 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis after going through the identification, screening, and eligibility stages. Based on the results of analysis of data from these studies, video games have the potential to develop communication skills in adolescents and young adults. The most pronounced effect is demonstrated by massively multiplayer online video games (MMOG), since during the game the participants actively interact with each other using oral and written communication. MMOGs motivate players to learn English, its grammar and vocabulary, and the ability to communicate confidently increases the players’ self-esteem and provides skills in intercultural interaction. Further development of issues related to the practical use of MMOGs within the framework of foreign language training courses seems promising.
The method of virtual bench tests conducting to analyze the vehicle technical characteristics compatibility to detect and prevent the risk of resonant phenomena in the sprung cab
Authors: Maximov Roman O.
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND: A relevant issue when designing vehicles with multiple levels of suspension systems is collaborative operation of these systems, which ensures the required vehicle dynamics and smoothness parameters, as well as the absence of risk for the occurrence of resonance phenomena. The vehicle cab is a dynamic system with 6 degrees of freedom, so its oscillatory motions have a complex spatial character with the oscillation energies overflow from one direction to another. The solving of problems of the sprung cab dynamics should be conducted in a spatial nonlinear formulation, which makes it possible to take into account the phenomena of redistribution of oscillation energy between the directions of space. This approach can be put into operation with simulation modeling methods through creating a spatial virtual rig of the cab with a suspension system and modeling its dynamics with the application of appropriate external inputs.
AIM: Development of the method of using virtual tests to analyze the compatibility of technical characteristics of the cab suspension system, the frame system and the primary vehicle suspension systems to detect and prevent the risk of resonant phenomena in the cab.
METHODS: Building a virtual test rig of a vehicle cab as a multibody dynamics system of connected bodies in space, mounted at the movable vehicle frame with spring-dampers. Virtual tests are conducted by simulation modeling methods according to the method for analyzing nonlinear phenomena when spatial resonances occur in the secondary suspension system of a vehicle cab.
RESULTS: The method of vehicle cab virtual tests conducting for analyzing oscillatory processes occurring in the cab, including resonances, using a virtual test rig in a multibody dyamics software package.
CONCLUSION: The developed method ensures an ability to take measures to detect and prevent the risk of spatial resonance phenomena in the vehicle cab at all stages of the components design and the cab suspension systems study.
Mathematical model of the hovercraft lift system
Authors: Lepeshkin Alexander V. , Sosnovsky Nikolay G. , Nguyen Van  Hoa
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND: Currently, hovercrafts are used worldwide thanks to their amphibian capabilities and mobility at water and slightly prepared areas with low supporting properties. Whereas, in practice, hovercrafts have two main systems ensuring motion, lift and traction which can be combined (operating from a common source of mechanical energy) as well as separated.
This paper considers a hovercraft with separated lift and traction systems. The lift system of this hovercraft consist of piston diesel internal combustion engine (ICE), hydrostatic transmission, axial fans, feeding channel and an air-cushion plenum. The considered variant is chosen because hydrostatic transmission has a number of sufficient advantages in comparison with mechanical transmission with universal shafts and pulley drives, widely used at present time. The paper considers the open plenum lift system.
AIM: Development of the combined mathematical model of the hovercraft lift system consisting of piston diesel ICE, hydrostatic transmission and a fan supplying air into the air-cushion plenum.
METHODS: Using the MATLAB/Simulink environment, the engine power adjustment at hovercraft motion on various ground surfaces is studied with regard to increasing the efficiency of the fan and the whole system. Analytical scheme of the system is given, acceptable transient characteristics are obtained. Efficiency and range of optimal operation of the Sauer-Danfoss pump and hydraulic motor are estimated. The process of hovercraft adjustment from the established mode to a new state when motion condition change is considered.
RESULTS: According to the simulation results, there is influence of the income control signal (adjustment parameter of engine operation modes) and disturbance signal (pressure change coefficient that defines properties of ground surface) on parameters describing the hovercraft motion.
CONCLUSION: The developed mathematical model helps to choose and evaluate adjustment parameters of engine operation modes at hovercraft motion on various ground surfaces, to analyze and to improve the system energy efficiency.
On modern Russian scientific schools in the history of medicine and the criteria for their validity
Authors: Albitskiy Valeriy Yu.
Published: February 2024

In the second half of the 20th century in the USSR there were two influential schools of medical historians, competing with each other: the school of B.D. Petrov (Department of the History of Medicine of the Research Institute of Healthcare Organization and History of Medicine named after N.A. Semashko) and the school of F.R. Borodulin [Department of the History of Medicine of the First Moscow Medical Institute (Moscow Medical Academy named after I.M. Sechenov)]. With the end of the Soviet era in the history of the country, the influence of these schools also ended. In the 21st century, according to the author, there are also two scientific schools of medical historians functioning in Russia, they were created respectively by Academician A.M. Stochik and Professor V.I.Borodulin. Both schools have no genetic connection with the schools of the twentieth century and successfully continue the development of the scientific history of medicine, interrupted in the 20s of the twentieth century. In his research, the author uses the criteria for the viability of scientific schools proposed by V.I. Borodulin in relation to clinical schools. The decisive criterion is the presence of an original scientific direction developed by the teacher and his students. The author highlights such directions in the work of scientific teams headed by A.M. Stochik and V.I. Borodulin and indicates the leading representatives of these schools. The issues of “registration” of each student in a given school, partial “adjacent” to the school, and affiliated schools are also considered.
Intermittent catheter techniques, strategies and designs for managing long‐term bladder conditions
Authors: - -
Published: February 2024

This publication is the Russian translation of the Plain Language Summary (PLS) of the Cochrane Systema­tic Review: PrietoJA, MurphyCL, StewartF, FaderM. Intermittent catheter techniques, strategies and designs for managing long‐term bladder conditions.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2021. Issue10. Art. No.: CD006008. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006008.pub5.
Physiological Function of Oligosaccharides in Teleost Blood
Authors: Aoki Takahiko
Published: February 2024

Oligosaccharides in human blood are involved in various blood group antigens. Sialo-oligosaccharide-rich glycoproteins (GPs) in red blood cell (RBC) membranes also carry M, N, Ss and other blood group antigens. However, teleost blood is not expressed as a blood group antigen. Our study showed that carp, yellow tail and red sea bream GPs exhibit broad-spectrum antibiotic activity. This bacteriostatic activity is caused by the sialo-oligosaccharides from GPs. Based on NMR and GC–MS results, the structure of the bacteriostatic sialo-oligosaccharide from carp GP was determined to be NeuGcα2→6(Fucα1→4) (Glcα1→3) Galβ1→4GalNAc-ol. Compared to carp pentose, the structure of human GP O-linked tetra- or tri-oligosaccharides is simpler. In addition, NeuAc is simpler in human GPs than in carp NeuGc. In contrast to human blood, teleost blood does not contain IgG, and other antibodies occur at low levels. Teleost GPs may act as substitutes for antibodies, such as IgG, in the immune system. In this review, the transformation of the physiological function of oligosaccharides with respect to their structure is described.
Untargeted Serum Proteomics Profiling in Female Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Carry Patrick , Terhune Elizabeth , Monley Anna , Dzieciatkowska Monika , Wethey Cambria , Cuevas Melissa , Miller Nancy
Published: February 2024

Background: Idiopathic scoliosis is a common structural spine curvature of unknown etiology. Scoliosis onset and progression are likely related to the interplay between genetics and the environment. Serum protein levels are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors and thus, are a promising methodology. Aims: We aimed to determine whether serum protein levels differed between idiopathic scoliosis cases and controls. In scoliosis cases, we also aimed to determine if protein levels were correlated with curve severity. Methods: In the discovery population, serum blood samples were obtained from 7 females with severe scoliosis and 11 unaffected female controls. Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy was used to quantify protein levels. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to test for differences between cases and controls. Within scoliosis cases, Spearman correlation coefficients were used to test the correlation between curve severity and age-adjusted protein levels. Candidate proteins were defined as proteins that significantly differed between cases and controls and were moderately or strongly correlated with curve severity (ρ>0.30). We validated candidate proteins using the SomaScan Discovery v4.1 proteomics platform with serum from 11 females with scoliosis. Results: In the discovery analysis, 10 proteins differed between cases and controls (p<0.05) and were correlated with protein levels (ρ=0.36-0.65). Of these candidate proteins, one protein, alpha 2-HS glycoprotein (AHSG), was significantly correlated with curve severity (p=0.0323) in the validation population. Fixed effects meta-analysis showed a strong inverse correlation between curve severity and decreasing alpha 2-HS glycoprotein levels (meta-combined ρ: -0.67, p=0.0052). Conclusion: Alpha 2-HS glycoprotein met our criteria for significance in both the discovery and validation populations. Developing a proteomic signature for idiopathic scoliosis has important clinical implications. This study supports the feasibility of untargeted proteomics and provides evidence for the potential role of alpha 2-HS glycoprotein levels in scoliosis etiology.
How voluntary consent may be overlooked in gene editing clinical trials.
Authors: O’Hara Sharon , Halpern Jodi
Published: February 2024

In the United States, advocates have successfully fought for accelerated pathways for FDA approval of novel promissory technologies to address severe unmet medical needs. These pathways can blur the distinction between clinical trials as experiments vs. treatment. In addition, a recent focus on developing individual therapeutics through small clinical trials for people with rare diseases has not included early phases to test safety with healthy human volunteers. Rather, the clinical trials are offered as a therapeutic intervention for those with the targeted genetic condition. This lack of clarity about the distinction between early-in-human trials and treatment is compounded by the unknowns of innovative promissory technologies, impairing the ability of researchers to convey an accurate and thorough picture of the risks and benefits of participation. In addition, researchers are responsible for ensuring that the potential research subject has understood the information provided about the study and for obtaining informed consent, which is considered valid only under conditions where a person makes a voluntary decision about participation. Scientists’ belief that research subjects may not appreciate what is involved in clinical trials and incentives to recruit participants despite this may create a context in which voluntariness is not fully considered. When physicians recruit their own patients for clinical trials, the dual role of patient care and trial recruitment may create a communicative context that undermines voluntariness. Physicians may be unaware that the patient’s consent is not truly voluntary for several reasons. One is the normalization of their dual role - both scientists and physicians know they are influential in patients’ decisions. Another is when the physician is convinced of the trial intervention’s benefit as a treatment, despite its experimental status. In this study, we used qualitative interviews to explore whether and how genome editing scientists and physicians are taking care to ensure research subject voluntariness in the face of potentially irresistible enticements to participate in testing unproven interventions. Moreover, we sought to understand whether the connection between one’s professional role and enrollment of clinical trial subjects influenced how scientists and physicians saw the benefits of trial participation as in the subject's best interests.
Effect of preoperative oral bisoprolol on intraoperative outcomes in endoscopic sinus surgery
Authors: Alim M. Abdul , Islam Mohammad Shafiqul , Bhoumik Dilip Kumar , Rahman Sheikh Hasanur , Wahiduzzaman Mohammad , Ghosh Ranjit Kumar , Akter Roksana
Published: January 2024

Background: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) presents challenges in managing intraoperative bleeding and hemodynamic stability. This study evaluates the efficacy of pre-operative oral bisoprolol in improving surgical conditions and outcomes in ESS.
Methods: This study was conducted between March 2021 and June 2022 at the department of anaesthesia, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. This randomized controlled trial was conducted with 50 participants undergoing elective ESS, divided into bisoprolol and placebo groups.
Result: The study involved 50 participants undergoing elective ESS, with 25 in the bisoprolol group and 25 in the placebo group. While demographic characteristics, such as age, weight, height, and gender distribution, showed no statistically significant differences between the groups. The placebo group experienced significantly higher estimated blood loss (421.72 ml vs. 156.24 ml, p<0.001) and postoperative hemoglobin levels (12.88 g/dl vs. 11.07 g/dl, p<0.001) compared to the bisoprolol group. Hemodynamic parameters, particularly heart rate, exhibited significant differences at various time points, with the bisoprolol group maintaining a higher heart rate post-premedication, intra-operatively, and post-operatively (p<0.05 for all). In the assessment of intraoperative bleeding using the Fromme-Boezaart scale, the placebo group demonstrated higher incidences of severe bleeding grades (3 and 4) compared to the bisoprolol group, with these differences being statistically significant (p<0.001).
Conclusions: Pre-operative oral bisoprolol in ESS patients significantly reduces intraoperative bleeding and anesthetic requirements while maintaining hemodynamic stability. These findings suggest bisoprolol as a beneficial pre-operative medication in ESS, warranting further research to optimize surgical outcomes.
Evaluating the role of hemogram based parameters in febrile seizures
Authors: Rao Aarathi , Aroor Amitha Rao
Published: January 2024

Background: One of the most common childhood neurological disorders is febrile seizures (FS). Parents may have trouble describing the events pertaining to seizures, which might lead to aberrations in the diagnosis and classification of FS. Hence, objective biomarkers to predict and classify FS will be clinically beneficial. The aim of this study was to evaluate role of hemogram based parameters (NLR, PLR, RDW, MPV) in the outcome of children with febrile seizures (FSs) and in differentiating between simple and complex febrile seizures.
Methods: A total of 50 patients with FSs (group A) who were hospitalized in our hospital were selected. Fifty patients with fever and without seizures (group B). The results of hemogram were collected retrospectively and analysed.
Results: The hemogram analysis showed that hemoglobin (Hb) in group A was significantly lower than in the group B (p<0.05). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), MPV and RDW in group A was significantly higher than in group B. The MPV and NLR values in the CFS group was higher in comparison to SFS group (p<0.05).
Conclusions: As statistically significant differences were found in the hemogram parameters like HB, RDW, MPV, NLR PLR between febrile seizure group and non-febrile seizure group, these parameters can aid in diagnosing the same. High NLR and MPV levels may be able to serve as simple yet effective laboratory indicator for distinguishing between simple and complex febrile seizures.
Significance of evaluating mandibular parameters for the identification of an individual
Authors: Jain Ayushi , Sharma Pooja , John Sharon , Gupta Shalini , Dewan Rakesh
Published: January 2024

Background: Estimating the age of death is a crucial step since it narrows the field of probable identities that must be compared to remains after mass tragedies. Morphological changes in the mandible are mostly driven by an individual’s age and occlusal status. The aim of this study was to determine the association of the dimensions of these parameters with the age and gender of an individual with a larger sample size using orthopantograms in the north Indian population.
Methods: A retrospective radio morphometric analysis was performed for panoramic radiographs of 300 (150 males and 150 females). The digital panoramic images were saved in Dicom format and exported to MicroDicom software for linear measurements. The co-relation of study parameters with age was analyzed by one-way ANOVA and assessment of co-relation with sex by applying student’s t-test.
Results: The mean values of the right and left gonial angles were higher in females, while the ramus height and bigonial width dimensions were greater in males. However, only the left gonial angle and ramus height showed statistically significant differences with gender (p<0.05).
Conclusions: The present study found substantial changes in gonial angle, ramus height, and bigonial breadth based on gender and age in a larger sample size. As a result, these dimensions can be an accurate predictor of an individual’s age and sex. Thus, morphometric examination of the mandible can be a useful tool in both identifying individuals and studying growth patterns.
Amphotericin B, itraconazole, posaconazole and isavuconazole minimum inhibitory concentration against 85 strains of Rhizopus spp, isolated from the patients having COVID-19 associated mucormycosis in North India
Authors: Gupta Munesh Kumar , Chkravarty Jaya , Upadhyay Vaishnavi , Kumar Bhupendra , Tilak Ragini
Published: January 2024

Background: Mucormycosis cases are managed by extensive debridement of the affected tissues, with correction of predisposing risk factors and antifungal drugs. Amphotericin B is the drug of choice; however, few azoles also have a good activity against Mucorales. Therefore, the present study was done to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antifungal drugs against Mucorales, causing COVID-19 associated mucormycosis in North India.
Methods: After obtaining written and informed consent, we processed the received tissue, sputum, and gastric lavage samples as per standard mycological procedures. Subsequently, we determined itraconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole and amphotericin B MIC against the isolated Mucorales (one from each patient) by broth microdilution using CLSIM38A3 guidelines.
Results: We received 615 samples from the enrolled 269 patients with CAM. We observed broad aseptate hyphae in 329 fresh tissues, ten sputum and one gastric lavage sample, whereas 163 follow-up excised tissue had broad aseptate hyphae. In addition, 209 Mucorales were isolated with a predominance of Rhizopus arrhizus (n=183), followed by Rhizopus microsporus (n=21) and Rhizopus homothallicus (n=5). We determined MIC against 77 and 8 strains of R. arrhizus and R. microsporus, respectively. Posaconazole had the least MIC. 0.25, 1, 0.5, and 2µg/ml were the MIC50 of posaconazole, amphotericin B, isavuconazole and itraconazole against R. arrhizus strains, respectively, whereas it was 0.125, 0.1875, 0.5 and 2 µg/ml against R. microsporus, respectively.
Conclusions: Lower posaconazole MIC makes it a preferred drug for managing the mucormycosis cases; however, availability and cost are the limitations. Thus, amphotericin B and itraconazole may be used in such conditions.
Impact of chemotherapy on expiratory muscle strength in stage 1 head and neck cancer patients
Authors: Shindikar Yashshree J. , Diwate Abhijit D. , Das Arijit K.
Published: January 2024

Head and neck cancer (HNC), in current days, is one of the fatal diseases. Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments for cancer. Chemotherapy has an adverse impact on the respiratory parameters of patients. In these patients, expiratory force-generating capacity is impaired, which usually helps the patients cough effectively for airway clearance. Thus, as an impact of chemotherapy, airway clearance is affected in HNC patients. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of chemotherapy expiratory muscle strength in stage 1 head and neck cancer patients. We conducted an observational study including 15 patients with stage 1 HNC in the department of oncology in a tertiary care teaching hospital. The outcome measure included assessment of the expiratory muscle strength by measuring maximum expiratory pressure. In our study, we found a result showing a significant decline of 53.43% in maximum expiratory pressure values after 3-6 months of required chemotherapy sessions. The results of the current study suggest that chemotherapy has a deleterious impact on the expiratory muscle strength in stage 1 HNC patients after long-term exposure.
Neo adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced oral cancers -A prospective study at a tertiary cancer care hospital
Authors: Shunmugam Deepa , Sundaram SS , Velappar Arumugam , Gandhi Anitha , Kannan MJ Murali , Babu V Ganesh , Manohar Karthik
Published: January 2024

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent type of cancer found in the oral cavity. Approximately 30% of these tumours are detected at an early stage, while the majority are diagnosed as locally advanced tumours.

Extensive research has been conducted on neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in head and neck cancers, aiming to reduce surgical margins, decrease distant metastasis rates, and improve overall outcomes.

In this prospective study conducted at the Department of surgical oncology, Tirunelveli Medical College, 60 patients with unresectable locally advanced oral cancers were staged based on the AJCC TNM (8th edition). The period of study was from October 2018 to March 2023. Here the selected patients are examined both clinically and radiologically, measurements of the target lesions are made. These patients are subjected to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (TPF regimen) upto three cycles based on the clinical response after each cycle. reassessment done prior to surgery as done during the prechemotherapy. Adjuvant therapy post-surgery is based on the histopathology.

Among the 60 patients enrolled in this study, 33 of 60 (55.0 %) were males and 27 of 60 (45%) were females. Based on age distribution 8.3% of patients were less the 40 years of age, 41.7% were between 51 to 60 years. The common risk factors were tobacco / pan chewing in 66.7% of patients, smoking in 40% of patients and alcoholism in 38.3% of patients. All the 60 patients received TPF regimen as a neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for two or three cycles and the clinical responses were recorded after NACT prior to definitive therapy (surgery vs RT. The mean and median of survival was calculated in 33 patients who had completed treatment by 2021 in view of the follow up period of at least for 24 months were mandatory to analyse the treatment outcome and disease free survival. The overall survival in surgery group was 35.1 months and RT group was 21.8 months. The disease free survival in surgery group was 28 months whereas in RT group was 16 months.

Patients who have oral cavity cancers that cannot be surgically amenable up-front may experience a response rate of approximately 25% when treated with an aggressive three-drug regimen (TPF) and these patients may derive benefits from subsequent surgical treatment.
On the legal issues of proceedings concerning the granting of social assistance monetary benefits. Part 1
Authors: Łakoma Sylwia
Published: February 2024

Celem niniejszego opracowania jest próba przybliżenia problematyki prawnej postępowania w sprawie udzielania świadczeń pieniężnych z pomocy społecznej. Złożony i wielowątkowy
charakter tego postępowania umożliwił wyodrębnienie w jego ramach kilku kluczowych kwestii. Wśród nich szczególne znaczenie przypisać należy przesłankom negatywnym. Analiza
przepisów ustawy z dnia 12 marca 2004 roku o pomocy społecznej1 pozwoliła na wyodrębnienie w ramach przedmiotowych przesłanek dwóch ich kategorii: przesłanek negatywnych
o charakterze fakultatywnym oraz przesłanek negatywnych o charakterze obligatoryjnym. Część pierwsza artykułu poświęcona została przesłankom negatywnym o charakterze fakultatywnym,
a zwłaszcza dwóm z nich – z art. 11 ust. 2 oraz art. 12 u.p.s. Ich wystąpienie może prowadzić do odmowy przyznania określonego świadczenia pieniężnego, w tym – co warto podkreślić – także świadczenia o charakterze obligatoryjnym. Przesłanki te mają pewną cechę wspólną. Ustawodawca przy ich formułowaniu posłużył się pojęciami niedookreślonymi. Zamierzeniem autorki było w szczególności przybliżenie rozumienia znaczenia tych pojęć. W artykule podjęto próbę odpowiedzi na pytanie, czy rozwiązania prawne przyjęte w u.p.s. we wskazanym zakresie są wystarczająco precyzyjnie i jasno sformułowane, tak aby ułatwić i w efekcie umożliwić organom pomocy społecznej podejmowanie decyzji w sprawie przyznawania świadczeń pieniężnych z pomocy społecznej, a jeśli nie, to czy pomocna może tu okazać się praktyka orzecznicza sądów administracyjnych. Badania oparto na dogmatycznoprawnej analizie przepisów u.p.s. oraz wypowiedzi doktryny i orzecznictwa sądów administracyjnych. Przepisy przywołanego aktu prawnego odnośnie do wskazanej kwestii nie wydają się wystarczająco jasno i precyzyjnie sformułowane, tak aby ułatwiać i w efekcie umożliwiać organom pomocy społecznej – bez większych trudności – wydawanie decyzji w sprawach udzielania świadczeń pieniężnych. Pewną pomoc w tym zakresie może stanowić praktyka orzecznicza sądów administracyjnych.
The Test of Problematic Using of the Internet—Adaptation of the Instrument for a Group of People With Mild Intellectual Disability and a Preliminary Analysis of Its Psychometric Properties
Authors: Wójciak Aleksandra
Published: February 2024

The aim of the presented research was to adapt the Test of Problematic Using of the Internet (TPUI) for a group of people with mild intellectual disability and offer a preliminary analysis of its psychometric properties. The TPUI is an instrument that allows the measurement of problematic Internet use. Problematic Internet use is defined as “excessive involvement in the use of certain Internet applications (mainly related to interactivity) with clear features of addictive behaviour, causing psychological, social and health problems” (Poprawa, 2011a, p. 217). The TPUI was subjected to psychometric verification in research involving 178 students with mild intellectual disability. Considering the diverse aetiology of intellectual disability, adolescents diagnosed with a genetic syndrome and adolescents with multiple disabilities were excluded from the study. Firstly, the analysis focused on descriptive statistics and distribution. Subsequently, exploratory, reliability and confirmatory analyses were applied. Finally, instrument standardisation was performed. The preliminary results lead to the conclusion that the Test of Problematic Using of the Internet is probably an instrument allowing a reliable and accurate measurement of problematic use of the Internet among adolescents with mild intellectual disability. Confirmation of these conclusions requires conducting further analyses on a sufficiently large group of students.
Urbanismo Afectivo: una aproximación trans a la ciudad
Authors: Gil-Fournier Esquerra Mauro
Published: January 2024

In this article, we explore how the affects influence and shape urban processes, transcending the hierarchical organization of its agents (bottom-up & top-down). However, neither of these approaches, nor their combinations, proves adequate to promote a trend that, due to wicked problems, inherently involves an affective connection with individuals, other entities, and the planet.
Building on Rittel and Webber's text (1973) addressing the challenges of urban planning in solving social problems, and Law's interpretation (2015) that turns wicked problems into benign problems, we can observe how the nature of urban social problems is inherently affective. 
We propose a path where urbanism can disrupt the bottom-up and top-down dualities based on the attributes that shape it, as it is the affects that permeate all human and more-than-human bodies. If cities are machines of urbanization, extending their heterogeneous networks beyond their territories, we need to address the movement of affects so that urbanism becomes a tool for coexistence on an already wounded planet.
A MINHOCA AGREDIDA E A ROSA DESPEDAÇADA: A NATURALIZAÇÃO DO ABUSO E DA VIOLÊNCIA CONTRA A MULHER NOS DISCURSOS DAS CANÇÕES INFANTIS
Authors: SANTOS Eliana Cristina Pereira
Published: February 2024

In Pecheutian Matrix Discourse Theory, innate theories are not defended. Language is not a matter of heredity: it is something to be learned. Language is not only logical or biological and, therefore, one cannot ignore the pathological, historical and cultural problems it presents. However, we are subjects of/in language, crossed by the unconscious. Thus, in this work we seek to analyze some discourses that, in their fragmentation, circulate in children's songs, reorganizing social practices from an early age. Songs that echo, resonate in history, imposing ways of behavior on children, segmenting the male and female binary. A social memory that structures, reestablishes and also represents the reality and its force field of social relations for change or its conservation. The worm, the rose, the worm and the harpsichord discursive meanings of social practices.
OFÍCIO DE ALFAIATE EM MANAUS: ARTE, APRENDIZADO E DECADÊNCIA DURANTE O CICLO DA BORRACHA
Authors: SANT'ANNA Mara Rúbia , PEREIRA Juliana De Azevedo
Published: February 2024

This article consists of a discussion about the relationship between the craft of tailoring in Manaus, the tailoring workshop at the Escola de Aprendizes Artífices do Amazonas and the context of the city in the period between 1910-1925 and 1940-1955. First, we sought to do a documentary research on this craft in the Jornal do Commercio (AM) from 1910-1925, a time when tailors were essential, and to compare it with the years 1940-1955, when manual crafts showed increasingly losing relevance. From this study, it was observed that a large number of tailoring advertisements gradually reduced, as the Rubber Cycle declined, which indicates in that context the strong relationship between purchasing power and the consumption of tailoring services.
AS MEDIAÇÕES DA EFETIVAÇÃO DA POLÍTICA EDUCACIONAL NO ENSINO MÉDIO EM MUNICÍPIOS DO ESTADO DO PARÁ
Authors: PINHEIRO Daniele De Souza , MORAES Grazielly Kerén Vasques , SILVA Rayana Barros da , NASCIMENTO Afonso Welliton de Sousa
Published: February 2024

This paper aims at inquiring the role played by education policy and high school in cities across the Lower Tocantins and Acará Valley regions, in Pará state, Brazil. Those very territories under scrutiny present peculiarities which allow one to understand how such policies are materialized in Pará state reality. Through bibliographical research an official data about schools situated in said cities, it was identified that historically actions targeting the Basic Education last stage were based on factors such as philanthropy, delays, fragmentation and impromptu acts. Regarding 2015 to 2021, it is visible how those elements had impacted in municipal indexes, as they had been altered at a rather slow pace and had not demonstrated a public action continuity capable of making schools attractive and of guaranteeing proper structures, so that the youth enrolled in High School could have had actual chances of access and permanence.
ARTIGOS EM FLUXO CONTÍNUO
Authors: SARMENTO-PANTOJA Augusto , TELES Eliana
Published: February 2024

Complete archive of volume 17, nº 29, December 2023, of the magazine, which presents articles in a continuous flow.
Rendimiento de semilla del guar en función del distanciamiento entre surcos y densidad de población
Authors: Reta-Sánchez David Guadalupe , Sánchez-Duarte Juan Isidro , Ochoa Martínez Esmeralda , Reyes González Arturo
Published: February 2024

Una mayor intercepción de radiación solar al modificar el distanciamiento entre surcos y la densidad de población permite incrementar el potencial de rendimiento del guar. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el potencial de rendimiento de semilla del guar en respuesta al distanciamiento entre surcos y la densidad de población. El experimento se realizó en Delicias, Chihuahua durante el ciclo primavera-verano de 2021. Se evaluaron cuatro distanciamientos entre surcos (30, 45, 60 y 75 cm) y cuatro densidades de población (30, 45, 60 y 75 plantas m-2). Se utilizó un diseño experimental de bloques completos al azar con tres repeticiones, con un arreglo factorial 4 × 4 de los tratamientos. Se determinó el rendimiento de semilla y sus componentes de rendimiento. No hubo interacción para distancia entre surcos x densidad de población; sólo se encontró diferencia significativa para el distanciamiento entre surcos. Los surcos a 30 cm superaron en rendimiento de semilla (2,750 kg ha-1) a los otros distanciamientos (2,001 a 2,321 kg ha-1), entre los cuales no hubo diferencia significativa. La mayor producción en surcos a 30 cm se asoció a su mayor índice de área foliar, y por lo tanto, a su mayor intercepción de radiación solar.
Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en pacientes con diferentes formas clínicas de COVID-19, Sonora, México.
Authors: Huaranga Castro Frida Maria , Trujillo Coronado Argelia , Alvarez-Hernandez Gerardo , Candia Plata Maria del Carmen , López Soto Luis Fernando , Soto Guzmán Jesus Adriana , Galván Moroyoqui José Manuel
Published: February 2024

Antecedentes. La concurrencia de COVID-19 y padecimientos crónicos no transmisibles son capaces de deteriorar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) de las personas, pero poco se ha investigado al respecto en México. Objetivo. Examinar la CVRS de pacientes recuperados de COVID-19, estratificados por su severidad clínica. Material y métodos. Encuesta transversal en 144 adultos mayores de 18 años, con diagnóstico confirmado de infección por SARS-CoV-2 en localidades de Sonora. La CVRS fue examinada mediante el cuestionario SF-36 y comparada de acuerdo con la gravedad de las manifestaciones clínicas. Resultados. 131 sujetos se clasificaron con COVID-19 no grave y 13 con un cuadro grave. La media global (76.4± 18.4) de la CVRS no fue estadísticamente diferente entre los pacientes agrupados por su severidad clínica; sin embargo, los pacientes con una comorbilidad tuvieron la menor puntuación (72.00 ± 20.74), especialmente los que padecen DT2 (66.33 ± 23.75). También hubo menores puntajes en la función física (58.8± 29.6) y el dolor corporal (69.8±20.2). Conclusiones. No se observó una diferencia significativa en la CVRS de pacientes de acuerdo con la severidad de las manifestaciones clínicas de COVID-19.
Asociación entre la composición corporal, fuerza explosiva y algunos parámetros de desempeño físico en los jugadores del rugby sevens universitario
Authors: Madroñero Navarro Jhonny David , Castellar García Juan Camilo , Gutiérrez Muñoz Sebastián , García-Chaves Diego Camilo , Corredor-Serrano Luisa Fernanda
Published: February 2024

La composición corporal ha sido asociada al desempeño físico en los deportes de cooperación y oposición como el rugby sevens, el cual se expresa por medio de las capacidades físicas. Objetivo: Determinar la asociación entre la composición corporal, fuerza explosiva y algunos parámetros de desempeño físico en jugadores de Rugby sevens universitario (edad 22.8 ± 3.4 años, peso de 85.2 ± 12.6 kg, talla 176.7 ± 4.8 cm, masa muscular 41.6 ± 5.4 Kg, porcentaje de grasa 17.0 ± 4.4 %). Método: Se evaluó la composición corporal por medio del método antropométrico, la FE a través de la altura y la potencia del salto squat jump (SJ) y el salto en contramovimiento (CMJ), agilidad con Test de Ilinois y velocidad en 30 m lanzados. Resultados: Se hallaron asociaciones entre la masa muscular con la potencia del SJ (r = .76; p, <.01) y con la potencia del CMJ (r = .73; p, <.03), de igual formar entre el porcentaje de grasa y la resistencia (r = .90; p, <.00). Conclusión: hay asociación entre la masa muscular y la F.E, como también del porcentaje de grasa con la agilidad y resistencia en los jugadores de Rugby sevens de nivel universitario.
Przekształcenia terenów poprzemysłowych na funkcje usługowe w planowaniu przestrzennym - wybrane aspekty na przykładzie Starogardu Gdańskiego
Authors: Zgórska Barbara
Published: January 2024

Przekształcenia terenów poprzemysłowych to proces mający znaczący wpływ na struktury miast ze względu na stosunkowo duże powierzchnie tych terenów w odniesieniu do skali małych miast. Rewitalizacja tych terenów wymaga opracowania dokumentów planistycznych takich jak studia, koncepcje analizujące całościowo obszary miast. Niestety najczęściej opracowywane są miejscowe plany zagospodarowania przestrzennego (mpzp) dla poszczególnych kwartałów czy wręcz działek celem przeprowadzenia procesów budowlanych. Inwestorem dla takich terenów w małych miastach są coraz częściej zarządcy i deweloperzy centrów handlowych, z zamiarem realizacji monofunkcyjnych obszarów usługowych. Istotnym aspektem jest realizacja przestrzeni pseudopublicznych, stanowiących konkurencję dla przestrzeni faktycznie publicznych małych miast. Przykładem takich przekształceń jest proces sprzedaży i przebudowy terenów po zakładach produkcyjnych i farmaceutycznych położonych w bezpośrednim sąsiedztwie śródmieścia Starogardu Gdańskiego. Dyskusja nad koncepcją zagospodarowania tych terenów trwa od prawie 10 lat. Pierwsze koncepcje zawierały szeroki program wielofunkcyjny, ale podczas konsultacji z inwestorami przy udziale samorządu lokalnego program ten był systematycznie okrajany i ostatecznie przybrał formę daleką od początkowych idei i założeń. W przypadku Starogardu Gdańskiego udało się zabezpieczyć w prawie lokalnym jedynie konieczne do realizacji inwestycje dodatkowe poprzedzające budowę galerii handlowych, częściowe dopuszczenie wielofunkcyjności i wymagane urządzenie (skromnych w skali) przestrzeni publicznych.
Turismo accesible: mejora de la experiencia para personas con discapacidades
Authors: Cabrera Villavicencio Marco Wladimir
Published: February 2024

El estudio se centró en mejorar la experiencia de viaje para personas con discapacidades, abordando el “Turismo Accesible”. El objetivo principal fue identificar propuestas para vencer los obstáculos que confrontan los individuos con discapacidad mientras realizan sus desplazamientos. Empleando una metodología cualitativa, se utilizó un enfoque de análisis contextual para comprender las experiencias y desafíos particulares que enfrentan estos viajeros. A través de esta metodología, se pudo capturar una comprensión profunda de los problemas sin recurrir a métodos tradicionales de recolección de datos. Los resultados mostraron una fuerte necesidad de adaptar infraestructuras y servicios turísticos para hacerlos más inclusivos. Se identificaron áreas clave, como la adaptabilidad de alojamientos, la accesibilidad en el transporte y la formación del personal en conciencia y atención a las necesidades específicas. Las soluciones propuestas incluyeron la implementación de tecnologías adaptativas y la promoción de políticas más inclusivas por parte de las autoridades turísticas y los proveedores de servicios.