bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motivating Factors that Influences Delinquency in Molino II City of Bacoor, Cavite
Authors: M. Caltino Jimmy , C. Maribojo Arman , E. Dalis James , Lee C. Arciaga Christopher , P. Crespo Mark Benedict
Published: November 2024

This study was conducted to determine: First, the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of age, sex, educational attainment, and order in the family. Second, is the motivating factors that influence delinquency in terms of family problems, environmental/neighborhood, personal interest, academic performances and peer pressure. Third, is the significant difference on the common factors by the respondents pertaining to their demographic profile in terms of sex. Based on the results of the study, recommendations were formulated. The youths of Molino II should undergo a personal development seminar in coordination with the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) under the Barangay of Molino II and Bacoor Government Center (BGC) for them to have knowledge about establishing behavior in a positive way and how to evade such occasion like they were being controlled by their peers to do some delinquent acts. Giving sufficient aid or financial aid to the youth to prevent delinquent acts causing by the discontentment of the youth and small business grant by the local government by qualified member. The parents should supervise the schooling of their children and have a regular consultation with the school/teacher. Lastly, the barangay should have a program that will strengthen the family bond in every home and strict curfew hour for the minors and barangay ordinance on selling liquor and cigarettes to the minors. Also, additional CCTV’s and streetlights should be installed in the entire barangay. Every child should learn how to follow the rules of society; they should penalize those children who violates such ordinances in the barangay.
STRATEGIC MARKETING MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
Authors: Kumar Dr. Sanjeev
Published: November 2024

The creation, application, and effectiveness of a Strategic Marketing Management Analysis and Notification System (SMMANS) are examined in this research study. In the modern corporate world, where digital transformation is happening at a breakneck pace and data creation is growing at an exponential rate, companies struggle to effectively manage and analyze massive volumes of marketing data in order to make well-informed decisions. SMMANS is a complete solution to this problem by providing an integrated platform that includes real-time alerting features, strategic planning tools, and extensive data analysis capabilities. This study applies a mixed-methods research methodology, including qualitative case studies and quantitative data analysis, to investigate the effect of SMMANS on marketing success in a variety of businesses. The results show that companies using SMMANS saw significant gains in a number of KPIs, including as campaign effectiveness, customer engagement measures, and total marketing return on investment (ROI). In addition to adding to the expanding body of knowledge on data-driven marketing tactics, this study offers practical advice for marketing experts and company executives looking to maximize their marketing efforts in an increasingly data-centric corporate environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING PRACTICES IN INDIAN ORGANISATIONS
Authors: Ahmad Mr. Tauheed , Pandey Prof. Shivakant
Published: November 2024

The concept of environmental accounting is to compensate the loss or degradation caused to the environment by the production activities of any business organization. The concept of environmental accounting is based on the pollutant pay principle. Pollutant pays principal means the organization that is responsible for polluting the environment is made liable to pay the cost to restore the environment. This research paper attempts to give an overview regarding environmental awareness on green accounting practices and reporting among Indian organizations. A small step has been taken to throw light on the environmental awareness its practices and environmental reporting by Indian organizations, and the problems faced by Indian organizations in implementing those practices.
An efficient modified HS conjugate gradient algorithm in machine learning
Authors: Yuan Gonglin , Huang Minjie
Published: November 2024

The Hestenes-Stiefe (HS) conjugate gradient method is very effective in resolving larger-scale sophisticated smoothing optimization tasks due to its low computational requirements and high computational efficiency. Additionally, the algorithm has been employed in practical applications to address image restoration and machine learning issues. In this paper, the authors proposed an improved Hestenes-Stiefe conjugate gradient algorithm having characteristics like: ⅰ) The algorithm depicts the decreasing features and trust region properties free of conditionalities. ⅱ) The algorithm satisfies global convergence. ⅲ) The algorithm can be applied to tackle the image restoration problem, monotone nonlinear equations, and machine learning problems. Numerical results revealed that the proffered technique is a competitive method.
Curvature estimation for point cloud 2-manifolds based on the heat kernel
Authors: Wang Kai , Wang Xiheng , Wang Xiaoping
Published: November 2024

The geometry processing of a point cloud 2-manifold (or point cloud surface) heavily depends on the discretization of differential geometry properties such as Gaussian curvature, mean curvature, principal curvature, and principal directions. Most of the existing algorithms indirectly compute these differential geometry properties by seeking a local approximation surface or fitting point clouds with certain polynomial functions and then applying the curvature formulas in classical differential geometry. This paper initially proposed a new discretized Laplace-Beltrami operator by applying an inherent distance parameter, which acts as the foundation for precisely estimating the mean curvature. Subsequently, the estimated mean curvature was taken as a strong constraint condition for estimating the Gaussian curvatures, principal curvatures, and principal directions by determining an optimal ellipse. The proposed methods are mainly based on the heat kernel function and do not require local surface reconstruction, thus belonging to truly mesh-free methods. We demonstrated the correctness of the estimated curvatures in both analytic and non-analytic models. Various experiments indicated that the proposed methods have high accuracy. As an exemplary application, we utilized the mean curvature for detecting features of point clouds.
Global stability and sensitivity analysis of vector-host dengue mathematical model
Authors: Alharbi Turki D. , Hasan Md Rifat
Published: November 2024

Dengue impacts 129 nations, threatens over 50% of the global population, and results in around 400 million illnesses annually. The purpose of this paper was to build the global stability and sensitivity analysis of a vector-host dengue mathematical model with compartments of symptomatic and hospitalized infected humans. Additionally, it aimed to assess the impact of the immunological response of vulnerable individuals, through the ingestion of natural foods, on the transmission of the disease. The solution's positivity and boundedness proved the model's mathematical well-posedness. To examine endemicity, the reproduction number was calculated using the next-generation technique. The Lyapunov function approach was employed to illustrate the model's global stability. Our mathematical discoveries were illustrated through numerical simulations of the dengue epidemic. The dynamical system sensitivity analysis suggests that the best way to control illness is to increase the immune system rate of susceptible hosts by consuming natural foods.
Quando as diferenças importam: Notas sobre efeitos da presença e ausência da raça no cuidado à saúde
Authors: Rosa William
Published: November 2024

Este artigo propõe analisar as intrincadas relações estabelecidas entre raça, racismo e medicina, com foco em descrever como a raça, a partir de suas ausências e presenças, materializa-se no cuidado à saúde. O material que compõe este artigo é fruto de trabalho de campo etnográfico que vem sendo realizado desde 2020. A análise concentra-se nos efeitos dos processos de materialização da raça nas tecnologias para intervenções em saúde, nos diagnósticos e nos saberes e práticas médicas. Ao empreender tal estratégia analítica, a proposta é mostrar as distintas escalas pelas quais a raça transita e é acionada ou não. Por fim, ao considerar o caráter híbrido de seus efeitos e suas dobras temporais, busca-se explicitar como seu processo de materialização é coproduzido e relacional, sendo melhor compreendido a partir de suas implicações concretas na vida.
Saillance des îlots textuels dans un corpus de presse britannique sur le Brexit et conséquences interprétatives associées
Authors: Cataldo Laure
Published: November 2024

L’objet de cette contribution est d’examiner, dans un corpus de presse britannique de 90 articles qui traitent du Brexit, les segments courts entre guillemets appelés « îlots textuels » et de mettre en lumière les conséquences interprétatives spécifiques qui sous-tendent leur emploi par le journaliste. Ces fragments de discours autres, marqués comme tels à l’aide des guillemets qui signalent l’hétérogénéité du discours, sont fréquemment employés dans le discours médiatique, et ce à diverses fins. Ils permettent de réaliser une monstration du discours d’autrui, de le rendre saillant en le détachant clairement du discours du journaliste et en attirant l’attention du lecteur. Cet emprunt, clairement signalé, de dires à une autre source, exhibée comme telle, correspond à une stratégie de mise en saillance d’éléments de discours, qui peut traduire une volonté de connivence avec le lecteur. Il permet également au journaliste de mettre les propos à distance et d’en signaler l’absence de prise en charge, en particulier lorsque le contenu de l’îlot textuel renvoie à des expressions connotées ou à du vocabulaire violent et / ou vulgaire. Au-delà de cette mise à distance, ce procédé peut représenter un moyen, pour le journaliste, d’exprimer une prise de position quant à la source du segment entre guillemets ou son contenu, et présenter des conséquences interprétatives qui dépassent la simple mise en saillance. Il s’agit donc bien d’un véritable outil discursif à disposition du journaliste pour laisser transparaître son opinion.
Governmental Policies and Healthcare System Strengthening in Low-Income Countries
Authors: Alajlan Sarah Abdulrahman
Published: November 2024

Healthcare systems in low-income countries face numerous challenges, including limited access to healthcare due to geographical constraints and transport problems, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of healthcare professionals. Overworked staff members struggle to meet the growing demand for medical services, and brain drain further exacerbates personnel shortages. Insufficient funding makes healthcare systems difficult to operate, leading to limited budgets for essential services and infrastructure improvements. Financial instability is exacerbated by a high reliance on foreign aid. The burden of preventable and treatable diseases, particularly communicable ones, places a significant strain on limited resources. Lack of health education and policy instability also contribute to these challenges. Inequalities in access to healthcare contribute to social and economic disparities, making it difficult for marginalized communities to obtain adequate medical treatment
Evaluation of Logistics Development Under the Visual Field of Low-Carbon Environmental Protection Based on Hierarchical Methods
Authors: Wang Jinjuan
Published: November 2024

The development of the modern logistics industry in China is relatively backward, and the logistics industry has always shown characteristics of high emissions, high energy consumption, and high pollution. The low-carbon transformation and development of the logistics industry has become a prominent issue. At present, research on low-carbon logistics mainly focuses on its definition and characteristics. The research on its influencing factors is mostly qualitative analysis, and there is relatively little research on performance evaluation. This article establishes a performance evaluation index system from the perspective of low-carbon environmental protection, including information technology level, warehousing, transportation, packaging, etc., and constructs a comprehensive evaluation model that combines an analytic hierarchy process with data envelopment analysis for low-carbon logistics performance evaluation. By reviewing the collected data and taking five logistics enterprises in China as examples, the feasibility of low-carbon logistics performance evaluation indicators and models was verified.
Manufacturing
Authors: Davim J. Paulo
Published: November 2024

Manufacturing is dedicated to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished products on a large scale and included in the economy´s secondary sector. The Scopus database was used for the bibliometric analysis, based on the term {manufacturing}. The better result shows in the function of the number of documents produced: year 2023; source Proceedings of SPIE; author Franke J. and Wang, L.; affiliation Ministry of Education of China; country USA; document type article; scientific area engineering and funding support National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Developing a Knowledge-Based Online Recommendation System to Guide STD Patients Through Their Journey
Authors: Thimmanayakanapalya Sagarika Suresh , Mulgund Pavankumar , Li Yafang , Sharman Raj
Published: November 2024

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) significantly impact public health, affecting one in five U.S. adults and imposing substantial economic burdens. Many at-risk individuals seek information and support online rather than through regular testing, facing challenges due to fragmented information and a lack of personalized recommendations. This study develops an online health recommendation system (OHRS) tailored for STD patients, integrating informational and emotional support based on their disease journey. Using a BERT-based named entity recognition (NER) algorithm, the system identifies patient emotions and stages from online posts, providing relevant support resources. Data collection for designing a recommendation engine included analyzing online posts and consulting healthcare experts. The system's effectiveness was validated through user-based simulation studies. Key contributions include developing text-mining algorithms, creating a knowledge-based recommendation system, and proposing design principles for AI-driven support systems for stigmatized conditions.
Open Source Adoption for Digital Transformation and Data Management During the COVID-19 Crisis
Authors: Panda Deepak Kumar , Panigrahi Prabin Kumar , Attar Razaz Waheeb , Gupta Brij B.
Published: November 2024

With COVID-19-led business disruption and businesses expediting their move towards digital transformation, Industry experts observed a phenomenon of increased adoption of Open Source Software and database management systems to digitalize the business while keeping costs low. This research has studied this phenomenon using a three-step approach: using the collective intelligence of Twitter without the context of COVID-19, Twitter data with the context of COVID-19, and empirical validation with actual monthly downloads data of open source projects from SourceForge in Pre-COVID and COVID-19 time periods. The research finds that although the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a digital transformation and the use of database management systems in many organizations, but there is no statistically significant increased use that can be attributed to a crisis response due to the pandemic.
Acknowledgement to reviewers
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: November 2024

Not required.
Promoting collaborative care of the human body after cessation of life: Ubuntu beyond death
Authors: Shakwane Simangele , Vilakati Dumisani B.
Published: November 2024

Background: South Africa is a diverse country that promises equality, dignity, linguistic and cultural rights to all its citizens. Therefore, understanding the cultural, religious and nursing practices in caring for the deceased body is crucial to ensure meaningful integrated care of the deceased body and collective mourning and support within a community.Objectives: This study aimed to strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing on caring for the human body at all stages of life and beyond death using Ubuntu principles.Method: A qualitative exploratory-descriptive design was used to understand the meaning of the human body after cessation of life within African, Christian and nursing practice. The study was conducted in three countries in Southern Africa (eSwatini, South Africa and Zimbabwe). Snowball and purposive sampling techniques were used to recruit participants. In-depth telephonic and face-to-face interviews were conducted. The data were analysed thematically.Results: To provide comprehensive insights, themes from the three population groups were integrated. Four main themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (1) death as an end to physical life, (2) cleanliness of the deceased body, (3) ritualisation of death and (4) beyond death and burial.Conclusion: Strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration is vital to providing comprehensive care for the body and spirit of the deceased. Understanding cultural and religious rituals helps with collective mourning and support in the community.Contribution: Reflecting on the meaning of the deceased body and the respect given to it during the process of transition into the spiritual world through ritualisation.
Investigating HEMIS pre-implementation factors in Kenyan universities
Authors: Walela Pius , Krauss Kirstin , Chimbo Bester
Published: November 2024

Background: A few Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in African countries have successfully implemented the higher education management information system (HEMIS). Aside from technological challenges, studies indicate that other contextual elements (social and economic) play a critical role in influencing implementation.Objectives: This article investigates HEMIS pre-implementation factors in Kenyan HEIs, specifically Universities.Method: The article adopts a qualitative multiple case study approach, focusing on the HEMIS implementation journey of four Universities. Participants from the HEIs cases comprise HEMISs staff who are directly involved in the implementation projects. Data is collected using interviews. Data analysis comprises of reviews of iterations and document analysis.Results: The findings reveal that technological and organisational factors play a key role in motivating implementation. Environmental factors are least significant. Integration, automation, information access, usability, efficiency, cost and scalability are the key influencing factors that influence HEMIS implementation. Other elements include accountability, security, robustness, contractual issues, technological support and need for greater capacity for storage.Conclusion: HEMIS implementation is complex and challenging. Recommendations were offered to incorporate implementation factors and considerations within African or developing countries context to enable the development of more practical solution-oriented perspectives on HEMIS implementation.Contribution: The findings provide an understanding of pre-implementation of HEMIS implementation through its investigation of pre-implementation factors. The findings reveal that technological and organisational factors play a key role in motivating implementation. Environmental factors are least significant. The article recommends adopting a socio-technical approach in the review of pre-implementation in determining HEMIS implementation.
Mental health amid climate crisis: A narrative review
Authors: Ansari Eram , Kar Sujita K.
Published: November 2024

The global community is currently facing a pressing challenge posed by climate change, which is profoundly impacting both human life and biodiversity. This encompasses issues such as rising global temperatures, heightened sea levels, amplified ultraviolet radiation exposure, more frequent and intense natural calamities, and the subsequent health risks. Additionally, mental health is also being impacted by these environmental changes. This review thoroughly examines the mental health consequences of climate change in various settings and among vulnerable populations, with a particular emphasis on India.
A debate on whether drug courts be opened in India: Considerations and pragmatic suggestions
Authors: Seth Newfight , Brar Manmeet Kaur , Rustagi Vivek , Sarkar Siddharth
Published: November 2024

Drug courts are specialized programs from the courts that aim to offer a chance to individuals with substance-related problems encountering law enforcement to take treatment rather than face incarceration. The aim of this debate is to critically debate the utility, applicability, and feasibility of drug courts in India. This is a theoretical debate based on the existing evidence and considerations of ground realities in the country. There is enough evidence that drug courts are effective in decreasing substance use and decreasing rearrests. These courts have been demonstrated to be cost-effective, and they seemingly decrease the burden on traditional courts. However, it can also potentially lead to discrimination of marginalized groups while at the same time can be seen to be punitive and coercive. Legal provisions exist that may facilitate the development of such programs. Nonetheless, there is a scrupulous consideration of the pros and cons of drug courts and their operational considerations in the local context.
Evaluating prefrontal changes in depression using functional near-infrared spectroscopy utilizing Stroop test: A comparison with healthy controls
Authors: Verma Rohit , Ganesh Ragul , Narnoli Shubham , Sharma Panna , Shrivastava Neha P. , Dhyani Ishita , Singhal Sonali , Karna Stuti
Published: November 2024

Background:

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is being increasingly utilized to visualize the brain areas involved in cognitive activity to understand the human brain better. Its portability and easy setup give it an advantage over other functional brain imaging tools. The current study utilizes fNIRS while performing a Stroop test, which is commonly used to assess the impairment of information selection in depression.

Aim:

To compare cortical activation during the Stroop test in depressed individuals to healthy controls.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study compared oxyhemoglobin (OxyHb) concentration changes in 39 individuals with depression to 40 healthy individuals. The Stroop test was construed in an event-related design with an intertrial interval of 2 seconds with jitter. A continuous wave fNIRS system was used for recording the cortical activity at 17 locations. Analysis of fNIRS data was done using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) for estimating general linear model (GLM) coefficients. Further analysis of the mean change of OxyHb concentrations during the 2 seconds after the presentation of congruent and incongruent stimuli was done between the groups using Mann–Whitney U test corrected for multiple comparisons with Bonferroni correction.

Results:

While the number of errors and correct responses were similar between the groups, the reaction time for correct responses was more in the depression group in comparison to healthy individuals (t = -2.39, P = 0.01). For both healthy and depressive individuals in incongruent versus congruent task contrast, deactivation was seen in the region between the left middle frontal sulcus and frontopolar area of the brain (t = 0.41 and t = 0.21, respectively, P < 0.05). The depressed group had a higher mean change in OxyHb concentration following incongruent stimuli in comparison to the HCs (mean rank: HC = 32.63, depression = 47.56).

Conclusion:

Our findings indicate that individuals with depression exhibited prolonged reaction times and distinct activation patterns of the frontal cortex compared to healthy individuals. The observed pattern of brain activation for congruent and incongruent tasks among both healthy and depressed individuals aligns with the findings of the prior studies, emphasizing the utility of fNIRS as a valuable instrument for assessing brain activity.
Amend the Mental Health Care Act 2017: A Survey of Indian psychiatrists (Part 2)
Authors: Malhotra Savita , Srivastava Shruti , Jayaprakashan K.P , Gowda Mahesh R. , Sharma Nidhi , Gopalan Mohan R. , Watve Vidyadhar G. , Paul Imon
Published: November 2024

Background:

Information about the experience of practicing psychiatrists with the use of the Mental Health Care Act (MHCA), 2017, India, after 5 years of its promulgation has not been available.

Aim:

The present study was carried out to understand the experience of the practicing psychiatrists in using and complying with the MHCA 2017 and to bring out the problems and suggested reforms, if any, in various provisions of the MHCA 2017.

Methods:

An online survey by practicing psychiatrists of Indian Psychiatric Society on the various sections and provisions of the MHCA 17 was carried out through structured and open-ended responses. This paper presents the qualitative analysis of the open-ended responses.

Results:

There were 600 respondents, who gave a total of 1239 (range 116–154) responses to eight open-ended questions about various provisions of the MHCA. Qualitative analysis revealed that most respondents opined for keeping the General Hospital Psychiatry units exempted from inclusion as the mental health establishment, thus treating physical illness at par with the mental illness; a separate stand-alone law for mental illness perpetuates stigma, asked for a larger representation of psychiatrists in the State Mental Health Authority and Mental Health Review Boards. Most respondents opined that the provisions of capacity assessment, nominated representative, and advance directive are a hinderance in treatment and should be amended; treating psychiatrists and family/caregiver’s consent should suffice for supported admission, just like in other disciplines of medicine; and MHCA 2017 needs major amendments/repeal to make it convenient for patient care. Any unauthorized places/centers where persons with mental illness are kept should come under regulatory control of the state mental health authorities.

Conclusion

The survey has highlighted several deficiencies and operational difficulties in the current Act that hinder the delivery of mental health care to patients with mental illness in the country and need amendments.
Knowledge, attitude, and experience of dentists toward child abuse and neglect. A cross-sectional study
Authors: Mahajan Ankit , Manas Abhigyan , Jamwal Narita , Nazeer Jazib , Alessa Noura , Agrawal Akriti , Rajguru Jagadish P. , Chougule Vaibhav T. , Rao Delphine
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Context:

Child abuse and neglect can be described as all kinds of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, commercial and/or any other type of exploitation resulting in any potential of causing hurt or an actual form of harm to a child’s general health, growth, survival, and dignity. The dentist is in a position to identify physical signs of physical abuse in a child hence, it is important to gauge the knowledge level and perception regarding child abuse and neglect.

Aim:

The aim of the present study was to ascertain the knowledge, attitude, and experience regarding child abuse and neglect among dentists in India.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional, descriptive, survey-based study was conducted on 100 dental practitioners all over India using a pre-validated questionnaire. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. Responses received were recorded in an Excel Worksheet and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square statistical tool using SPSS software (version 21.0).

Results:

We found that 85% of respondents reported child abuse cases of a physical and sexual nature and 87% had knowledge that law enforcement agencies are responsible for reporting such cases. Also, 56% believed that such cases could be reported using electronic mail while other sources were telephone, letters, or personal intervention. Only 12% were fearful of litigation and 24% were concerned about such exposure to a child.

Conclusion:

A total of 11% of dentists experienced barriers in reporting such cases while 17% reported with no barriers. Child abuse and neglect are often underreported due to various reasons. This survey has attempted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and experience about child abuse and neglect and has found a few prominent reasons for not reporting such incidents.
Knowledge and awareness of child sexual abuse related to POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act among medical and dental professionals in India: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Tyagi Upasana , Chougule Vaibhav T. , Devanna Raghu , Anand Rahul Kumar , Alessa Noura Abdulaziz , Jain Amol , Mahabob Nazargi , Lath Harshita , Wadhwan Vijay
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

The POCSO (Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences) Act was introduced in 2012 as a measure to safeguard and prevent interests of children affected by sexual crimes. Both medical and dental professionals are capable of identifying such cases.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of child sexual abuse related to POCSO Act among both medical and dental professionals in India.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted on 100 medical and dental healthcare professionals employed in a single hospital for evaluation of knowledge and awareness on POCSO Act. The questionnaire containing multiple choice questions was randomly distributed among all the study participants as hard copy or via electronic generated forms. The questionnaire comprised questions related to demographics and those dealing with knowledge and attitude.

Statistical Analysis:

Categorical variables were represented in the form of percentages, and data analysis was done using SPSS software.

Results:

67% study participants demonstrated full knowledge of POCSO, 23% had some knowledge, and 10% study subjects had absolutely no knowledge regarding this act. 7% professionals opined that the support for such affected children must come from Government Organizations, while 15% believed that Non-Governmental Organizations must support these children. 28% professionals believed that the child support and welfare committee should play a role in supporting these children. However, 50% study participants were of the opinion that the primary support must be community-based. On analyzing statistically, level of knowledge and awareness were found to be statistically significant (P = 0.05).

Conclusion:

There appears to be a good amount of knowledge and attitude among both medical and dental professionals regarding POCSO Act.
Perceived stigma among undergraduate medical students towards people with psychiatric illness: A cross sectional study
Authors: Patel Amar Deep , Sharma Maha Prakash , Pal Alok , Verma Upendra Kumar , Tiwari Paritosh , Alam Zaryab
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Over 450 million individuals worldwide suffer from mental illnesses, according to epidemiological data, making this one of the biggest problems facing modern medicine. People often react in a fairly discriminatory way to those with mental illness, and stigmatizing views toward those with mental illness are ubiquitous. In India, people who suffer from mental illness live with their families, and the stigma associated with mental illness has a significant impact on how effectively these people are treated over time by their families and communities.

Objective:

This study aims to specifically investigate how undergraduate medical students who participated in a two-week psychiatric posting and teaching program and those who did not learn about mental illness from the course curriculum or clinical experience differed in their perceived stigma toward people with mental illness.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study used a self-reported Perceived devaluation-discrimination scale (PDDS) questionnaire distributed via Google form to undergraduate medical students who were exposed (n = 72) to a two-week psychiatry posting and attended lectures and those who were not exposed (n = 176) to psychiatry training.

Results:

The results show that medical students’ perceptions of the stigma associated with mental illness remain unchanged following their exposure to psychiatry training. Nonetheless, it was discovered that students’ perceptions of the stigma associated with mental health patients were influenced by their urban domicile.

Conclusions:

Our research indicates that there was perceived stigma among medical students about patients with mental illnesses, and that this tendency was more pronounced among students belonging from rural areas.
Injuries to the lower limbs and associated injuries in children and adolescents resulting from road traffic incidents
Authors: Popa Ştefan , Sârbu Ioan , Bulgaru-Iliescu Diana , Surd Adrian Onisim , Candussi Iuliana-Laura , Popa Irene Paula , Ciongradi Carmen Iulia
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Fractures occurring in the lower extremities as a result of road traffic accidents (RTAs) can lead to considerable morbidity and constitute a large proportion of nonfatal injuries that necessitate hospitalization. The present study aimed to examine the epidemiology of lower extremity fractures linked with RTAs in pediatric patients.

Methods:

This is a descriptive retrospective research study carried out between 2015 and 2022 at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital, Iasi, Romania, targeting the population below the age of 18 years who experienced trauma from RTAs and received treatment from the trauma department. Data pertaining to various aspects, including age distribution, the frequency of accidents, the types of injuries incurred, and surgical treatment, were gathered.

Results:

The findings revealed a total of 358 cases of RTAs, out of which 112 fit the required criteria, and a total of 22 patients, accounting for 19.64%, had open fractures.

Conclusion:

This research provides information on lower extremity fractures and associated injuries in the pediatric population living in urban and rural areas throughout the Moldova region in Romania, subsequent to RTAs. The objective is to deliver the most relevant information at the patient’s bedside and provide proper healthcare services.
“Cinemeducation” as a teaching–learning tool in Community Medicine for Phase II MBBS students
Authors: Sinha Latika N. , Solanki Aruna , Choudhary Yachna , Dube Salil , Choudhary Sanjay , Gurjar Anoop , Kumawat Priyanka , Awasthi Ankit , Goyal Parmod , Mullai Soundara P. , Saran Rajendra
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Many public health topics in the subject of Community Medicine have a psycho sociocultural aspect to them, and these are taught by traditional methods like didactic lectures with little or no interaction of faculty and students. This limits the comprehensive understanding of the students regarding sensitive issues. There is a felt need to improve the knowledge and understanding of many of these competencies among students through available cinema movies addressing these concepts.

Objectives:

1. To assess effectiveness of “Cinemeducation” as a tool to teach identified competencies in Community Medicine subject. 2. To assess perception of students for “Cinemeducation” to enhance learning and communication skills.

Methodology: Study Design:

Nonrandomized intervention study.

Setting:

Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Pali, Rajasthan.

Participants:

Year 2 from 2020 Batch.

Sample Size:

159 students.

Sampling:

Complete enumeration.

Intervention:

All 159 students were divided into two groups and alternately shown movies, Toilet–Ek Prem Katha, Padman, Outbreak, and Steel Magnolias, or exposed to didactic lecture and were assessed using pre- and post-tests and student satisfaction and self-confidence in learning scale.

Results:

The post-test scores of cinemeducation showed an improvement by a mean of 1.88 ± 0.7 points. The self-confidence and learning scale showed that 86% of students agreed that cinemeducation was better than didactic lectures. The mean satisfaction index of cinemeducation as a teaching–learning method was 97.6. Three out of the four movies addressed the competency well, and the difference between the pre- and post-test scores was statistically significant following cinemeducation as compared to lectures.

Conclusions:

As the student correlates real-life situations in movies like Toilet–Ek Prem Katha, Outbreak, and Padman, they definitely understood the topic better with cognitive scores showing an increase.
Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction or Ogilvie’s syndrome − A rare complication in the postnatal period: A case report
Authors: Sunda Urmila , Makwana Renu , Shaily Vinod , Bhosle Savi , Choudhary Sushil
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Ogilvie syndrome, also known as acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, is a form of colonic dilation occurring without underlying mechanical or anatomic etiology. It is a disorder of imbalance in motor innervation of the large intestine, which causes acute colon obstruction in the absence of any physical obstruction. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality due to diagnostic dilemmas and the need for surgical intervention. In gynecological practice, it rarely occurs after a cesarean section. Here, we present a case of Ogilvie syndrome after a cesarean section. The patient developed colonic pseudo-obstruction on the first postoperative day. The patient was managed conservatively using a flatus tube and improved. Ogilvie syndrome should be suspected in a patient with abdominal distension in the postoperative period after ruling out common conditions. Early suspicion and immediate decompression using a flatus tube can improve the outcome of the patient.
Herpes zoster in an immunocompetent adolescent – A case of rare occurrence
Authors: Christy A.Winnifred , Devathambi T. J. R. , Thanigainathan R. , Harini M. Gobika
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Herpes zoster is an acute viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. It occurs commonly in immunocompromised adults. Odontalgia may be an early prodromal symptom when herpes zoster involves the oral and maxillofacial region, which lays significant emphasis on the role of a dentist in early diagnosis and treatment of the infection. Herpes zoster infection commonly affects adult and elderly patients and is very rare in children. This article shows cases of herpes zoster infection in a 14-year-old immunocompetent boy who presented with dental pain as a prodromal sign. Herpes zoster may occur in children and thus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute multiple ulcers occurring in that population.
Knowledge and awareness of ocular allergy among undergraduate students at a public university in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Bin Abdulrahman Khalid , Abutheeb Abdullah Fahad , Al-Fahd Abdullah Zaki , Bahmid Majed Khalid , Al-Tayar Nasser Rashed , Almukhalafi Omar Ahmed
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Ocular allergy (OA) is one of the most common disorders worldwide, affecting millions of individuals of all ages. Public education about the disease is critical for lowering the prevalence of OAs. The present study aims to evaluate the knowledge and awareness level of OA among undergraduate students at Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted through a self-administered online questionnaire. A total of six multiple choice questions were used to assess awareness of OA with a maximum possible score of 6. In addition, nine checkboxes and multiple-choice questions were used to evaluate knowledge of ocular allergy with a maximum possible score of 21.

Results:

The study included 591 participants. The average awareness score was 3.1 ± 1.47 points. The average knowledge score was 9.41 ± 4.04 points. The average knowledge and awareness score was lower in males than in females. A higher age (>27 years) was associated with better knowledge of OA (B = 3.62, P = 0.008). The Internet was the most common source of information mentioned by the respondents (26.3%).

Conclusion:

Our study showed that Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University undergraduate students had moderate knowledge and awareness of OA. Thus, additional effort is required to enhance the knowledge and awareness of OA.
Intravenous iron sucrose when administered to moderately anemic pregnant women raises the hemoglobin concentration and replenishes body iron at 6 months
Authors: Halder Pritam , Kant Shashi , Singh Archana , Kaur Ravneet
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Intravenous iron sucrose (IVIS) is a rapidly acting, safe, and effective treatment for moderate anemia among pregnant women. The effectiveness of IVIS at 6 months post IVIS infusion was unknown. We, therefore, assessed the mean increase in hemoglobin concentration and body iron replenishment status at 6 months after the last dose of IVIS infusion.

Methods:

The study was conducted in 28 villages served by two primary health centers in district Faridabad, Haryana. The participants (n = 129), when originally recruited in 2020, were all moderately anemic (hemoglobin level 7.0 to 9.9 g/dL) pregnant women in either the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Their iron deficiency was calculated by Ganzoni’s formula with additional allowance of 500 mg of depot iron. The calculated deficit was rounded off to the nearest 100 mg. The dose of IVIS was 300 mg of iron diluted in 300 ml of normal saline administered intravenously every third day till the full calculated dose was administered. In this study, we collected the follow-up blood specimen 6 months after the last dose of IVIS and measured the hemoglobin concentration, C-Reactive protein (CRP), and serum ferritin level. Hemoglobin concentration was measured using an automated hematology analyzer (Sysmex XS-1000i). Serum ferritin and CRP were measured by enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay and the enzymatic heterogeneous, sandwich immunoassay method, respectively (VITROS ECiQ, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, New Jersey, USA).

Results:

The mean [standard deviation (SD)] duration of time elapsed since the administration of the last dose of IVIS infusion was 6.4 (0.9) months. The mean (SD) hemoglobin level at the time of original recruitment (baseline) was 8.7 ± 0.8 g/dL. The mean (SD) increase in the hemoglobin concentration at 6 months follow-up was 3.2 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.0–3.4)] g/dL. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] serum ferritin level (ng/mL) at follow-up was 28.1 (12.7, 61.5). A total of 10.2% of the participants had a raised (>10 mg/L) CRP level. Adjusting for CRP level and based on serum ferritin level, the proportion of participants who were iron-deficient was 35.3%. The proportion of participants who had any degree of anemia was 70.5%.

Conclusion:

Administration of IVIS infusion was effective in raising the mean hemoglobin concentration and in replenishing the body iron reserve at 6 months post infusion.
A rare case of Guillain–Barre syndrome after snakebite in young male and review of literature
Authors: Sharma Ankit , Kaeley Nidhi , Kandikonda Pruthvi R. , Jose Jewel R. , Meena Rinku
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system, often triggered by infections. This important medical emergency can also have noninfectious causes, such as trauma, surgery, medication (including vaccinations), and other systemic disorders. Here, we present a rare case of GBS following a snakebite. A 19-year-old man presented to the emergency department with quadriparesis and areflexia after showing initial recovery from a snakebite. Nerve conduction studies revealed motor axonal polyneuropathy. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, which improved his clinical condition. This case report highlights a rare cause of GBS and emphasizes that timely recognition and treatment can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. Additionally, we reviewed past literature of this rare association.
A sequential study of Chikungunya fever cases notified in the urban setup of India
Authors: Gohil Jigna , Modi Anjali , Patel Hiteshree
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Context:

Chikungunya’s resurgence highlights reporting and awareness challenges.

Aims:

To analyze trends in 170 laboratory-confirmed Chikungunya cases in Urban Surat’s Central Sentinel Surveillance (2016-2020), supplemented by a subset (n = 30) examining perceptions, attitudes, and risk reduction practices based on notification level.

Results:

Notification rates peaked in 2017 (1.14 cases/100,000). A high House Index (>1) was observed in 59% (2018) and 58% (2019) of cases. Seasonal peaks occurred in November (31%) and December (24.7%), with no private sector notifications. Highest case rates were in South (9.2) and Southeast (8.1) zones. Over half of the cases in Central (69.2%), Southeast (67.2%), and South (52.8%) zones had a House Index >1 (P = 0.001), indicating significant indoor mosquito breeding. Median age was 37 years (30-43), with females comprising 65.3% of cases. Awareness of mosquitoes as vectors (40%) and their day-biting behavior (26.7%) was low, despite familiarity with Abate larvicide (60%). Prevention methods included mosquito coils (76%) and fumigation (73%), with less emphasis on water change (40%) and container maintenance (23%). Only 13% perceived Chikungunya as preventable, with low readiness for community engagement (13%). Misconceptions included considering chemical fogging sufficient (63%) and neglecting water-logging as a health concern (40%). Few implemented risk reduction measures (23% removing stagnant water, 20% weekly water change).

Conclusion:

Fluctuating notifications and unnoticed surges in 2019-2020 underscore the need for continuous, standardized surveillance. Higher case rates in southern and central regions were linked to high indoor breeding. The lack of private sector reporting and underreporting indicate a need for integrated surveillance. Awareness and adoption of Aedes-specific risk reduction practices remain low, with persistent misconceptions and poor attitudes.