bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tutorat, parrainage, mentorat : des dispositifs aux effets contrastés pour lutter contre les inégalités des chances
Authors: Bricet Roxane , Lucas Héloïse
Published: February 2024

Afin de rompre avec le déterminisme social marqué au sein et au sortir de l’école française, les dispositifs d’accompagnement individuel et collectif des jeunes visant à fournir un soutien aux apprentissages scolaires ou une aide à l’orientation et à l’insertion, se sont multipliés depuis le début des années 2000. L’analyse comparative de six dispositifs de ce type soutenus par le Fonds d’expérimentation pour la jeunesse (FEJ) conduit cependant à interroger l’efficacité de ces formes d’accompagnement. En effet, les dispositifs étudiés n’ont que peu, voire pas d’effet sur le niveau scolaire, sur l’acquisition de compétences sociales, ainsi que sur l’orientation des élèves. En outre, si les filles et les élèves dont l’accompagnement perdure dans le temps tirent davantage bénéfice de leur participation au dispositif, des effets contre-productifs sont rapportés chez les élèves en retard scolaire et les jeunes les moins bien accompagnés au cours de l’intervention.
De l’égalité des chances à la société de l’engagement. Le mentorat, un nouveau « modèle » de politique Jeunesse ?
Authors: Gubitta Sarah
Published: February 2024

Présenté comme « innovant », le mentorat se place en réalité dans une forme de continuité cognitive avec les orientations politiques et les pratiques associatives des dernières années. Répondant aux normes de ce qui est considéré comme un « bon » dispositif, il a été propulsé « par le haut » et traduit en 2021 en un Plan national conséquent. Consacrant des mutations déjà initiées dans les politiques de jeunesse, il en signe une nouvelle étape en expérimentant un modèle inédit faisant le pari d’un engagement massif des entreprises et des citoyens auprès des jeunes. Sa seconde originalité est son appui central sur un collectif inter-associatif à l’initiative de ce Plan, à qui l’État confie un rôle de cadrage peu observé auparavant. Faisant l’objet de fortes attentes, ce modèle pose pour l’avenir la question de son articulation aux autres dispositifs et de son appui effectif sur les entreprises, ce dernier étant appelé de ses vœux par l’État.
Médias sociaux et remédiation sociale en Afrique subsaharienne
Authors: Damome Étienne , Tapsoba Élodie Alimata
Published: February 2024

L’étude se focalise sur les médias sociaux comme des outils de remédiation sociale, en réparant certains problèmes liés à la place du citoyen et à ses rapports aux autres. Les médias sociaux génèrent des médiations sociales en Afrique, malgré un environnement numérique souvent hostile. Les jeunes se connectent à tout prix, parce que les nouveaux dispositifs leur permettent d’entrer dans une agora jadis inaccessible. Ces nouveaux formats d’information leur permettent de trouver leur place de citoyen en leur donnant voix au chapitre, en favorisant le dialogue social et en instituant une nouvelle forme de sociabilité. Pour le démontrer, l’étude enquête sur les pratiques numériques des jeunes à travers des entretiens qualitatifs. L’objectif est de découvrir les motivations du recours à ces médias afin de les corréler à leurs pratiques informationnelles.
La réalité augmentée au service de la médiation-remédiation cognitive
Authors: Mercier Cendrine , Marfisi Iza , Ez-Zaouia Mohamed
Published: February 2024

L’utilisation de la Réalité Augmentée (RA) peut offrir des avantages pour la médiation-remédiation cognitive des élèves ayant ou non des Besoins Éducatifs Spécifiques (BES), en améliorant l’accès aux connaissances et en favorisant une approche interactive et immersive de l’apprentissage. La RA peut également aider à renforcer les fonctions cognitives comme la mémoire de travail, en associant des informations et concepts multimodaux (textes, images, objets virtuels, audios, vidéos, etc.). Cependant, il est important de considérer les implications éthiques et sociales liées à l’utilisation de ces technologies de médiation. Il est également important de combiner les outils de RA avec d’autres outils et stratégies pour renforcer les compétences des élèves, en concordance avec les objectifs d’apprentissage et la stratégie pédagogique globale.
Processus de médiation en danse à l’école primaire
Authors: Brière Fabienne , Ehrlacher-Siffert Caroline
Published: February 2024

Centré sur l’analyse comparative de séances ordinaires de danse menées par deux enseignantes du premier degré en éducation physique et sportive, cet article s’intéresse aux processus de médiation soutenant l’appropriation d’une démarche créative par les élèves. Référée aux études de l’action conjointe en didactique, l’analyse ascendante de la transposition didactique croisant deux échelles, méso-didactique et micro-didactique, met en évidence le rôle déterminant des régulations dans les processus de dévolution en lien avec les références culturelles qui les sous-tendent. Les phénomènes didactiques identifiés questionnent au-delà les conditions d’une véritable continuité du parcours éducatif, artistique et culturel.
Une analyse de l’activité médiatrice en sciences à l’école élémentaire
Authors: Blat Muriel
Published: February 2024

Les recherches en didactique des sciences et des technologies, s’accordent aujourd’hui sur l’importance du rôle de l’enseignant comme médiateur des savoirs en situation d’enseignement-apprentissage des sciences fondé sur l’investigation. Au travers d’une étude de cas, nous reconstruisons les dynamiques intentionnelles d’un professeur des écoles expérimenté dans cette classe de situations, dans le but de mieux comprendre comment s’organise son activité médiatrice. Notre méthodologie repose sur une approche phénoménologique du didactique et nos résultats montrent que l’enseignant, bien qu’expérimenté, se trouve en difficulté pour adapter son type de médiation à différentes phases de la séance alors même qu’il prend en compte des indices pertinents pour le faire. En outre, nous constatons qu’il ne parvient pas seul à prendre conscience de cette difficulté professionnelle.
Design of a Mobile Application to Improve the Therapy Process in Children with Autism
Authors: Iparraguirre-Villanueva Orlando , Almeyda-Saravia Edson Sebastián , Araujo-Jayo Kemily Jarumy , Huaringa-Cruzado Dylan , Palomino-Guevara Aldair Fabian
Published: February 2024

Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects communication and social interaction. It has increased in recent decades, especially among children, and has had a significant impact on their lives, necessitating attention and appropriate support. A prototype mobile application was developed using the Scrum methodology, which allows for flexibility, adaptability, incremental delivery, and quality, as well as continuous improvement. The result obtained was a prototype with a design and features that facilitate patient and specialist access to healthcare areas. The quality of the prototype was evaluated by experts, who assessed its efficiency, usability, design, and functionality and obtained an average score of 4.61. This indicates that, according to the established quality range, it is high. In conclusion, the prototype enhances the therapeutic process for children with autism. It is efficient, easy to use, and has good functionality and an attractive design. This provides a solution that facilitates patients’ access to health services for their well-being.
De l’ombre à la lumière : la marginalité ambiguë des périphéries urbaines
Authors: Gravereau Sophie
Published: February 2024

L’objectif de cet article est de réfléchir aux périphéries des ethnologues urbains à travers l’analyse et la prise en compte des contextes urbains locaux dans la production des savoirs. J’envisage de questionner les périphéries des ethnologues urbains ; tout d’abord du point de vue terminologique, en tentant de mettre en évidence toute l’ambiguïté, dans le temps et dans l’espace, que recouvre l’usage des notions comme celles de marge, de centre et périphérie ; dans un second temps, à partir des questionnements méthodologiques, en évoquant, à travers un tour de France entrepris par les membres de l’association AnthropoVilles, la diversité des travaux in situ des ethnologues urbains ; enfin, par une réflexion empirique, fondée sur mon dernier terrain ethnographique, dans le Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
Le logement social aux Antilles (1946-1975) : une histoire post-coloniale des politiques publiques menées à la Guadeloupe et à la Martinique
Authors: Terral  Roméo , Selise Mario
Published: February 2024

En 1958, les villes de Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) et Fort-de-France (Martinique) connaissent une crise qualitative et quantitative du logement, marquée par la multiplication des quartiers d’habitat spontané dans les faubourgs à la périphérie des anciens centres coloniaux. Pour y remédier, des programmes immobiliers ont été menés au cours des années 1960-1970. À partir de ces deux exemples, il s’agit de déterminer quelles ont été les politiques sur le logement social et l’amélioration de l’habitat dans les villes antillaises.
Deep Learning Models for Predicting High and Low Tides With Gravitational Analysis
Authors: Kumar Rajendra , Shukla Surbhit , Raghuvanshi C. S.
Published: February 2024

In this chapter, many forecasting models were established, and each model was produced in three forms, each with a distinct machine learning algorithm: regression, random forest, and artificial neural network. All of the presented models performed well in predicting the tide level at Visakhapatnam port. All models based on supervised learning had an accuracy of 85 to 9%, with a relative absolute error of 5 to 7.5. Finally, with a forecast horizon of several hours, satisfactory results were obtained, and a further specific comparison revealed that the models based on the considered machine learning algorithms outperform the auto learning integrated evaluation models with exogenous input variables in forecasting high/low tides.
Hybrid Approach for Quantifying Company Assets Using Structural Credit Risk Models
Authors: Motarwar Pranav , Patil Rudra , Lembhe Ashutosh Sanjay , Selvamani Radhika , Bhuvaneswari Anbalagan
Published: February 2024

Global investors have been allocating resources for developing quantitative credit risk models for forecasting credit risk and estimating the cost associated with defaults in order to arrive at the credit derivatives which may handle the risks. In this chapter, the authors propose a hybrid Merton model for measuring credit risk. They estimate market volatility using an iterative annualized historical volatility approach and corporate asset value using the Merton model. For corporate assets, actual default probability and risk neutral probability are correlated. Monte Carlo simulation predictions of the real-time asset price of S&P global-listed Tesla Inc. support the approach. The derived book asset value is 0.44% and the simulated asset value is 0.43%. Model convergence is shown by the minimal difference between the past three iterations. The hybrid strategy to select risk neutral stock value captures volatility variance. Comparative analysis with real-time data confirms the approach's correctness.
Smart Healthcare System, Digital Health and Telemedicine, Management and Emergencies
Authors: Merlin Mancy A. , Kumar A. V. Senthil , Latip Rohaya , Jagadamba G. , Chakrabarti Prasun , Sharma Priyanka , Musirin Ismail Bin , Sharma Meenakshi , Kanchan B. G.
Published: February 2024

In our world, the large number of sick people with various diseases is very feared, and when there is no help at the right time and in the right form, we lose people. An Android app called Patient Emergency App (PEA) bridges the gap between patients and hospitals. This application offers a soothing system controlled by the patient based on the patient's location. In this Patient Emergency App, the server will locate the sick person when the patient needs help using Google Maps and retrieve the person's information from the database, which is stored by the hospital employees along with patient details. Based on this data, the system will send a reassuring message to the facility while also informing the hospital, relatives, and doctor via text message and email. This application mainly focuses on pregnant women, old people, and extremely sick people.
Smart Prediction Farming Using Deep Learning and AI Techniques
Authors: Gaur Ashok Singh , Raghuvanshi C. S. , Sharan Hari Om
Published: February 2024

Agriculture in India is an important field with a significant economic impact in several countries. Due to the substantial population growth, meeting people's dietary needs has become a relevant concern. Agriculture is critical to a country's economic development. Approximately 58% of a country's primary source of livelihood is farming. Farmers till date are working with conventional farming techniques. These techniques were not precise and thus reduced the productivity and consumed a lot of time and money. Precise farming helps to increase the productivity by precisely determining the steps that needs to be practiced. Predicting the weather conditions, analyzing the soil, predicting the crops for cultivation, finding the amount of fertilizers, pesticides that need to be used are some elements of precision farming. Precise farming uses advanced technologies such as IoT, deep learning, data analytics, and machine learning to collect the data, understand the systems, and predict the results.
Advanced Diagnostics With Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in the Healthcare Sector
Authors: Sarkar Nilanjana , Goel Sumit , Khang Alex
Published: February 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are software (and possibly also hardware) systems designed by humans that, given a complex goal, act in the physical or digital dimension by perceiving their environment through data acquisition, interpreting the collected structured or unstructured data, reasoning on the knowledge, or processing the information, derived from this data, and deciding the best action(s) to take to achieve the given goal. Artificial intelligence for health includes machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), speech recognition (text-to-speech and speech-to-text), image recognition and machine vision, expert systems (a computer system that emulates the decision-making ability of a human expert), robotics, and systems for planning, scheduling, and optimization. ML is a core component of AI that allows systems to automatically learn and improve without being explicitly programmed. Computer programs access data and use it with the aim of learning without human intervention or assistance and adjust actions accordingly.
The Ongoing Advancements in Surgical Robotics
Authors: Barua Ranjit , Datta Sudipto
Published: February 2024

Advanced robotics has revolutionized modern minimally invasive surgery, offering unprecedented precision, dexterity, and control to surgeons. These robotic systems, such as the da Vinci Surgical System, have become integral tools in various surgical disciplines, including urology, gynecology, and general surgery. One key advantage of advanced robotics in minimally invasive surgery is enhanced dexterity. The robotic arms can mimic the movements of a surgeon's hand with greater flexibility and range of motion, enabling intricate maneuvers in confined spaces. This is particularly beneficial in procedures where precision is crucial, such as delicate tissue suturing or nerve-sparing surgeries. Moreover, robotic systems provide surgeons with a three-dimensional, high-definition view of the surgical site. This enhanced visualization, combined with magnification capabilities, allows for better identification of anatomical structures and improved decision-making during surgery.
Optimization and Evaluation of Mechanical and Electrochemical Properties of Ferritic Stainless Steel Welding Using Taguchi Design
Authors: Benlamnouar Mohamed Farid , Bensaid Nabil , Azzoug Mohammed Oubelkacem , Saadi Tahar , Zidani Mosbah , Badji Riad
Published: February 2024

The main objective of this work is to optimize welding parameters of AISI 430 FSS welds, focused to minimization of ferrite grains size using Taguchi’s design. Two input parameters of speed and welding current; were chosen to select the minimum grain size and to ascertain their effects on ferrite grain size. ANOVA method was used to evaluate the influence of varying factors on the overall quality of welds. Optimal combination of the parameters were be predicted by S/N analyses, it was accessed on employing an 80 A with 6mm/s. Experimental characterizations of optimum weld joint were performed by using tensile test assisted by image correlations, optical and electronic microscopy. As a result, welding speed had the main influence on grain size by 84.30%. Optimum welding parameter offered finest microstructure with low rate of martensite precipitates in both fusion zone and heat affected zone, and best combination of strength and ductility, it presented a homogeneous distribution of tensile stresses that caused a ductile fracture in base material. ,it is found that that optimized welding parameters permit to give greater resistance to corrosion, which exhibit a lower corrosion current, indicating that coarse ferrite grains are more susceptible to corrosion compared to fine grains.
A Modelling Framework of an Intelligent News Recommendation Engine for Financial Analysts
Authors: Samarasekara Piyumika , Basnayake Nadeeka , Hureekaduwa Desika , Weralupitiya Beshani
Published: February 2024

Referring to news articles has become a predominant task in the daily routine of each financial analyst, as it helps to make accurate financial insights. However, as there are thousands of news articles generated daily, finding the most relevant articles becomes a time-consuming task. Hence, this study develops a modelling framework of an intelligent news recommendation engine for financial analysts in a particular financial company, which assists in recommending the most appropriate articles according to analysts' preferences in an efficient and effective manner without tedious browsing.In this study, the data collection phase of the recommendation engine is accomplished by retrieving news articles from online news websites using the web scraping technique. The response variable, analysts’ preference level for each article is manually acquired from a group of financial analysts at a selected financial company. In the analysis phase of the recommendation engine, a classification-based method was utilized where three machine learning models, KNN, SVM, Random Forest, and two deep learning models, LSTM and CNN with Natural Language Processing techniques are experimented to discover the best algorithm. Moreover, the synonym replacement method is employed as a text data augmentation method to address the imbalanced problem in the dataset.As CNN obtains the highest accuracy in comparison to other applied methods it is chosen as the most suitable approach in the analysis phase. Moreover, this study reveals that DL models perform considerably higher performances in the context of news recommendation engines rather than ML approaches. Lastly, this framework can be adjustable for any financial company with minor modifications.
Crop Price Prediction Using Machine Learning Approaches: Reference to the Sri Lankan Vegetable Market
Authors: Ranaweera H. M. B. P. , Rathnayake R. M. G. H. N. , Ananda A. S. G. J. K.
Published: February 2024

Every sector of this digital world is experiencing a noticeable change due to the development of information and communication technology, and the agriculture sector can be introduced as one sector that has undergone a remarkable revolution. Sri Lanka is a developing country in a tropical region and agriculture is the backbone of the nation, and plays a major role in the country's economy. The price that farmers receive for their harvest is critical to farmer satisfaction as well as the future survival of agriculture and primarily it depends on several factors such as demand, seasonal trends, and price offers from multiple suppliers. In recent years, crop prices in Sri Lanka have fluctuated drastically due to unpredictable climate change, natural calamities and many other circumstances. As the farmers were unaware of these uncertainties, they suffered huge losses in their harvest and became disillusioned and most of them intended to give up farming. Therefore, crop price forecasting seems to be a crucial factor in considering the future of agricultural production. Since the properties of crop prices are highly non-linear and combined with significant noise, forecasting crop prices is not an easy problem. Recently, many researchers have proposed various approaches for crop price predicting, among which data mining can be identified as an emerging approach that plays an important role in decision-making related to agricultural product price forecasting. However, in the context of Sri Lanka, there is no evidence of extensive studies on the use of data mining approaches for predicting crop prices, particularly for vegetables. The main objective of this research is to fill the gaps in the literature by assessing the predictability of vegetable prices in the context of Sri Lanka using data mining techniques. The variation in crop price was analyzed based on four factors namely rainfall, temperature, fuel price and crop production and experiments were conducted on four systematically selected vegetables covering up-country and low-country. Analysis was performed using five widely-used machine learning algorithms on similar phenomena and performance was evaluated using common evaluation metrics such as mean absolute error and root-mean-square error. Experimental results revealed that tree-based models are superior among the classifiers considered in forecasting vegetable prices in Sri Lanka.
CD109 Attenuates Bleomycin-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis by Inhibiting TGF-β Signaling
Authors: Naoi Hyogo , Suzuki Yuzo , Miyagi Asuka , Horiguchi Ryo , Aono Yuya , Inoue Yusuke , Yasui Hideki , Hozumi Hironao , Karayama Masato , Furuhashi Kazuki , Enomoto Noriyuki , Fujisawa Tomoyuki , Inui Naoki , Mii Shinji , Ichihara Masatoshi , Takahashi Masahide , Suda Takafumi
Published: February 2024

Pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal condition characterized by fibroblast and myofibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition. TGF-β plays a pivotal role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, modulation of TGF-β signaling is a promising therapeutic strategy for treating pulmonary fibrosis. To date, however, interventions targeting TGF-β have not shown consistent efficacy. CD109 is a GPI-anchored glycoprotein that binds to TGF-β receptor I and negatively regulates TGF-β signaling. However, no studies have examined the role and therapeutic potential of CD109 in pulmonary fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the role and therapeutic value of CD109 in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. CD109-transgenic mice overexpressing CD109 exhibited significantly attenuated pulmonary fibrosis, preserved lung function, and reduced lung fibroblasts and myofibroblasts compared with wild-type (WT) mice. CD109−/− mice exhibited pulmonary fibrosis comparable to WT mice. CD109 expression was induced in variety types of cells, including lung fibroblasts and macrophages, upon bleomycin exposure. Recombinant CD109 protein inhibited TGF-β signaling and significantly decreased ACTA2 expression in human fetal lung fibroblast cells in vitro. Administration of recombinant CD109 protein markedly reduced pulmonary fibrosis in bleomycin-treated WT mice in vivo. Our results suggest that CD109 is not essential for the development of pulmonary fibrosis, but excess CD109 protein can inhibit pulmonary fibrosis development, possibly through suppression of TGF-β signaling. CD109 is a novel therapeutic candidate for treating pulmonary fibrosis.
Cross-Platform Comparison of Highly Sensitive Immunoassays for Inflammatory Markers in a COVID-19 Cohort
Authors: Abe Koji , Beer Joanne C , Nguyen Tran , Ariyapala Ishara S , Holmes Tyson H , Feng Wei , Zhang Bingqing , Kuo Dwight , Luo Yuling , Ma Xiao-Jun , Maecker Holden T
Published: February 2024

A variety of commercial platforms are available for the simultaneous detection of multiple cytokines and associated proteins, often employing Ab pairs to capture and detect target proteins. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the performance of three distinct platforms: the fluorescent bead-based Luminex assay, the proximity extension-based Olink assay, and a novel proximity ligation assay platform known as Alamar NULISAseq. These assessments were conducted on human serum samples from the National Institutes of Health IMPACC study, with a focus on three essential performance metrics: detectability, correlation, and differential expression. Our results reveal several key findings. First, the Alamar platform demonstrated the highest overall detectability, followed by Olink and then Luminex. Second, the correlation of protein measurements between the Alamar and Olink platforms tended to be stronger than the correlation of either of these platforms with Luminex. Third, we observed that detectability differences across the platforms often translated to differences in differential expression findings, although high detectability did not guarantee the ability to identify meaningful biological differences. Our study provides valuable insights into the comparative performance of these assays, enhancing our understanding of their strengths and limitations when assessing complex biological samples, as exemplified by the sera from this COVID-19 cohort.
Combined immunosuppressive treatment for giant cell myocarditis: a case report
Authors: Iebba Filippo , Bottari Vera Elena , Di Sora Fiorella , Mallus Maria Teresa , Manfredi Rosa Maria , Prati Francesco
Published: February 2024

Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) is a rare and often fulminant autoimmune disease. The immune-mediated pathogenesis of GCM is also supported by animal models, association with other immunological diseases and therapeutic efficacy of immunosuppressive drugs. The diagnosis of GCM is based on endomyocardial biopsy. GCM is an orphan disease. Heart transplantation is effective but up to 25% of transplanted patients experience disease recurrence. Immunosuppressive drugs have been shown to be potential therapeutic agents for GCM. In the present case report, the prescription of cyclosporine, azathioprine and prednisone resulted in a rapid and prolonged remission in support of the role of a combined immunosuppressive regimen in improving the long-term prognosis of this cardiac pathology.
The ancient DNA of the N.E. Mediterranean/Euro-Asian cultures and the position of the Mycenaean Greeks among the first cultures
Authors: Liritzis Ioannis
Published: February 2024

Alerted by a trio of papers that appear in the journal SCIENCE today (26th August 2022) I present briefly the essential findings with some extension on the hot subject of ancient DNA studies over all the World but mainly the SE Mediterranean and Euro-Asian neighborhood. These three papers summarize the results of a remarkable Ancient DNA project and involving 202 co-authors. These studies draw on published archaeogenetic records and new DNA analysis of 727 individuals who lived during the Copper and Bronze Ages. These people populated the “Southern Arc,” a swath of land connecting Europe to West Asia through Anatolia including coastal Levant. The findings are critically discussed in the wider frame of aDNA results, the migration and mobilities for the past about 8000 years ago and linked with the non-linear evolution processes of ancient cultures. Particular emphasis here is given to the 2016 expedition at the Late Helladic site of Kastrouli near Delphi in Greece, that contribute to these studies.
Aristotle’s Μετεωρολογικά: Meteorology then and now
Authors: Pozzo Riccardo
Published: February 2024

This most recent English commented translation of Aristotle’s Metereologica focuses on how Aristotle’s treatise compares with our understanding of meteorology and climate change. In their extensive commentaries, the editors explain how Aristotle tried to explain weather 2.300 years ago, having at his disposal only logic, eye observation, past experience, and primitive instrumentation. The book uses telling examples and can be easily followed by general readers.
Study of on-site upgraded livestock biogas production and carbon emission reduction by substituting coals for thermal power generation
Authors: Chen Wei-Chen , Su Jung-Jeng
Published: February 2024

The objective of this project is to integrate a farm-scale bio-desulfurization facility with a novel biogas hollow fibre adsorption module for biogas desulfurization and bio-natural gas production. In this study, the desulfurization experimental results showed that the bio-desulfurization system can remove 96.7 ± 6% of H2S from the biogas after an approximately two-month enrichment period. The average CH4, N2, and CO2 concentrations in raw biogas were 63.4, 15.2, and 21.1%, respectively. As for biogas upgrading experiments, the inlet biogas flow rates were applied from 5 to 20 L/min. The removal efficiency of CO2 under all biogas flow rates was 100%. Meanwhile, methane was promoted from 60% to nearly 94% (i.e. 57% increase in methane concentration). The replacement of anthracite and coking coal by upgraded biogas might reduce 44.4% and 42.5% of CO2 equivalent, respectively. The achievement of this project pursues the mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions by using upgraded pig biogas which can be enlarged and extended to all decentralized pig farms worldwide.
Histopathological Features of Incidental Neoplasms of the Gallbladder: A Case Series with Review of Literature
Authors: Chandran Anish , Sharma Sudha , Kaushik Rajni , Kaushik Shailendra
Published: February 2024

Gallbladder (GB) neoplasms, although rare, are the most common group of malignant neoplasms of the biliary system and can be missed preoperatively as well as on gross examination. Detection of the type of GB neoplasm and reporting the depth of invasion are important for appropriate management. Histopathologic examination of all cholecystectomy specimens is a must, even if no malignancy is detected radiologically or grossly. We describe a series of eight incidentally detected GB neoplasms and discuss the morphological features, staging, and management along with clinical significance.
Study of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Drug-naive Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Kaur Partik , Pal Virendra Singh , Niranjan Vijay , Mudgal Varchasvi
Published: February 2024

Background and Aim:

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a widely studied neurotrophin and is said to be involved in the regulation of many neuronal processes, including neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, maturation, and survival. Over the years, research has shown a significant variation of serum BDNF levels in schizophrenia with no widespread agreement. Herein, we report on serum BDNF levels in drug-naive patients of schizophrenia in comparison to healthy controls (HC) and correlates of BDNF levels in patients of schizophrenia.

Materials and Methods:

The study sample consisted of 120 participants with 60 drug-naive patients of schizophrenia and 60 HC. The blood sample of the study subjects was collected and processed serum was analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit for BDNF levels. Clinical assessment of patients was done using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Results:

Serum BDNF levels were significantly lower in drug-naive patients of schizophrenia as compared to age and sex-matched HC (P – 0.024). The PANSS total score and positive subscale score were negatively correlated with serum BDNF levels which were statistically significant with P = 0.005 and P = 0.001, respectively.

Conclusion:

The index study found BDNF levels to be reduced in patients of schizophrenia and BDNF was found to correlate with severity of illness, especially positive symptoms. Thus, developing therapeutic strategies that can activate BDNF signaling may prove beneficial in improving the clinical outcome of schizophrenia.
Comparative Study on Short-Term Outcome in Patients Undergoing Pilonidal Sinus Surgery in Tertiary Care
Authors: Chordia Dakshay A. , Prem A. P. , Akhter Jameel , Muralidharan M. , Sathishkumar A.
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Pilonidal sinus is a disease that affects young men commonly arising from the hair follicles of the sacrococcygeal area. At present, there is no standardized surgical management available for chronic pilonidal sinus. The purpose of this study is to evaluate wound healing and short-term outcomes in pilonidal sinus patients undergoing modified Limberg flap surgery and lay open for secondary healing after excision in a tertiary care hospital.

Patients and Methods:

This is a nonrandomized comparative observational study performed at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, during January 2021 to August 2021. Group A included 25 participants who opted off-midline primary closure using modified Limberg rhomboid flap procedure. Group B included 25 participants who underwent excision of pilonidal sinus and laying the wound open for secondary healing. All patients, in both groups, were seen on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 15th, and 30th post-operative day. They were followed until complete wound healing.

Results:

The study showed that the modified Limberg flap closure group had a shorter period of complete wound healing in comparison to the excision and lay-open group but at a cost of prolonged duration of hospitalization. This study shows the significant difference in the period to return to daily activity between Group A and Group B. Postoperative wound complications such as infection and recurrence were seen in Group A.

Conclusions:

Conventional wide excision of pilonidal sinus and laying it open for secondary healing is advisable in pilonidal sinus disease and be performed as a day-case surgery. For the success of modified Limberg flap closure, prone nursing is recommended.
Experiential Avoidance as a Mediator of the Relationship between Dispositional Mindfulness and Problematic Smartphone Use
Authors: Felix George , Sharma Manoj Kumar , Anand Nitin , Bhaskarapillai Binukumar , Kumar Ajay
Published: February 2024

Background:

Experiential avoidance (EA) and mindfulness are the two important transdiagnostic process and outcome variables in psychological formulation and treatment. While smartphones have a large utility value, they also have the potential for adverse impacts on functioning. Studies have separately shown associations among EA, dispositional mindfulness (DM), and problematic smartphone use (PSU). However, there is a lack of study exploring the associations and mediation relationship among these variables together in an Indian context. The current study aims to explore the associations of PSU, DM, EA, and sociodemographic factors; including the mediating effect of EA between DM and PSU in the Indian adult context.

Methods:

Four hundred and thirty-four participants (M age = 25.4, standard deviation = 2.6, 58.8% females) were recruited for an online survey using a cross-sectional design. Data were collected using sociodemographic questionnaire, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, brief EA scale, and Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale. Statistical analyses comprised multiple regression, mediation analysis, and significance in sociodemographic variables.

Results:

Both EA and DM significantly predicted PSU with a 37% variance; however, DM had an inverse relationship. EA as a mediator could account for a quarter of the effect, PM = 24.4%, ab = −0.14, 95% CIcs (−0.19, −0.09).

Conclusion:

The current study implicates the monitoring and treatment planning for PSU from a transdiagnostic perspective in the Indian context.
Pain Management of Sciatic Nerve Injury Induced by Intramuscular Injection Using Distal Nerve Block
Authors: Barasker Swapnil Kumar , Singhai Pankaj , Mulye Swati , Jain Anuj , Saxena Dipti
Published: February 2024

Injury to the sciatic nerve from dorsogluteal intramuscular (IM) injection is not an uncommon iatrogenic cause. This case report discusses the successful management of a child with sciatic nerve injury due to an IM injection in the left gluteal region. The child experienced severe pain that was not responding to pharmacological therapy and was limiting physiotherapy, which forms an important step in the management of patients with peripheral nerve injuries. The case report outlines the use of a posterior tibial nerve block, which provided immediate relief of pain sensations in the sole of the foot, allowing the child to walk and eventually improving sleep and appetite. The report suggests that distal nerve blocks may be an effective treatment option for patients with severe neuropathic symptoms resulting from peripheral nerve injury.
Optimal patient positioning for spinal anesthesia using a visual aid in cesarean section patients: A randomized control trial
Authors: Hegde Shubha V. , Shivashankar Archana , Nalini Kadirehally B. , Turai Ashwini
Published: February 2024

Background and Aims:

Spinal anesthesia is the safest technique of anesthesia in parturients for cesarean section. Usually, patients are instructed verbally to acquire the ideal position for spinal anesthesia, but there can be difficulty in attaining the best position if patients fail to understand the verbal command, which will lead to detainment in accomplishing the technique and increased possibility of patient’s dissatisfaction. Hence, in our study, we hypothesized that using photographs with verbal commands would reduce the time taken for spinal needle placement, reduce the total number of skin pricks, and improve the success at the first attempt.

Material and Methods:

One hundred and eleven pregnant women undergoing elective cesarean section were divided into Group C (only verbal instructions were given) and Group V (visual aid and verbal instructions were given). Time taken for successful spinal needle placement was noted in seconds and summarized in terms of median and interquartile range. Number of skin punctures, intervertebral spaces attempted, and first-pass success were determined in terms of percentage. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to compare the above parameters between the two groups.

Results:

There was significant reduction in the time taken for spinal needle placement in Group V compared to the control group. There was significant improvement in first-pass success rate and reduction in the number of skin pricks and intervertebral spaces attempted in Group V.

Conclusions:

Use of visual aid with verbal commands helps in better understanding of positioning, thus improving the first-pass success significantly. It also reduces the duration for successful spinal needle placement, number of skin pricks, and intervertebral spaces attempted.
Comparison of two different doses of dexmedetomidine for continuous epidural analgesia for lower limb surgeries: A randomized double-blind study
Authors: Kurhekar Pranjali , Sheba Sam Blessy , Meenakshisundaram Sathyasuba , Sethuraman Raghuraman M. , Parlikar Neeta
Published: February 2024

Background and Aims:

Bolus epidural dexmedetomidine provides potent analgesia but the incidence of hemodynamic instability is high. There are only a few studies that have evaluated the efficacy of epidural dexmedetomidine infusion but none of them compared different doses to find the optimum safe dose. We compared the analgesic efficacy and safety of two different doses of dexmedetomidine in continuous epidural for postoperative analgesia.

Material and Methods:

Patients undergoing lower limb surgeries were divided randomly into two groups: Group I (n = 36) received an epidural infusion of 0.1% ropivacaine + 0.5 μg/kg/24 h of dexmedetomidine and Group II (n = 36) received epidural infusion 0.1% ropivacaine + 1 μg/kg/24 h of dexmedetomidine. Both groups received epidural infusion at the rate of 5 ml/h over 48 h postoperatively. Pain scores, demand for rescue analgesics, hemodynamic parameters, and sedation scores were compared between the groups. Statistical analysis was done using an independent t-test and Chi-square test.

Results:

1 μg/kg group (Group II) had a significantly reduced pain score at all time intervals and less demand for rescue analgesia (P = 0.03). The severity of pain was more in the 0.5 μg/kg group (Group I), at all times (P = 0.000). Incidence hypotension was higher in Group II. Bradycardia was seen in two patients in Group II and none in Group I.

Conclusion:

Dexmedetomidine in a dose of 1 μg/kg/24 h with 5 ml of 0.1% ropivacaine through epidural infusion provides better analgesia with a safe hemodynamic profile.
Connectedness of a space of branched coverings with a periodic cycle
Authors: Bartholdi Laurent
Published: February 2024

We prove the connectedness of the following locus: the space of degree-

d

branched self-coverings of

S^{2}

with two critical points of order

d

, one of which is

n

-periodic. Equivalently, all branched self-coverings of

S^{2}

with two critical points of order

d

, one of which is

n

-periodic, are combinatorially equivalent.
Some sharp inequalities of Mizohata–Takeuchi-type
Authors: Carbery Anthony , Iliopoulou Marina , Wang Hong
Published: February 2024

Let

\Sigma

be a strictly convex, compact patch of a

C^{2}

hypersurface in

\mathbb{R}^{n}

, with non-vanishing Gaussian curvature and surface measure

d\sigma

induced by the Lebesgue measure in

\mathbb{R}^{n}

. The Mizohata–Takeuchi conjecture states that

\int |\widehat{g d\sigma}|^{2} w \leq C \|Xw\|_{\infty} \int |g|^{2}

for all

g\in L^{2}(\Sigma)

and all weights

w \colon \mathbb{R}^{n}\rightarrow [0,+\infty)

, where

X

denotes the

X

-ray transform. As partial progress towards the conjecture, we show, as a straightforward consequence of recently-established decoupling inequalities, that for every

\varepsilon>0

, there exists a positive constant

C_{\varepsilon}

, which depends only on

\Sigma

and

\varepsilon

, such that for all

R \geq 1

and all weights

w \colon \mathbb{R}^{n}\rightarrow [0,+\infty)

, we have

\int_{B_R}|\widehat{g d\sigma}|^{2} w \leq C_{\varepsilon} R^{\varepsilon} \sup_{T} \Big(\int_{T} w^{(n+1)/2}\Big)^{2/(n+1)}\int |g|^{2},

where

T

ranges over the family of tubes in

\mathbb{R}^{n}

of dimensions

R^{1/2}\times \cdots \times R^{1/2}\times R

. From this we deduce the Mizohata–Takeuchi conjecture with an

R^{(n-1)/(n+1)}

-loss; i.e., that

\int_{B_R}|\widehat{g d\sigma}|^{2} w \leq C_{\varepsilon} R^{\frac{n-1}{n+1}+ \varepsilon}\|Xw\|_{\infty} \int |g|^{2}

for any ball

B_{R}

of radius

R

and any

\varepsilon>0

. The power

(n-1)/(n+1)

here cannot be replaced by anything smaller unless properties of

\widehat{g d\sigma}

beyond ‘decoupling axioms’ are exploited. We also provide estimates which improve this inequality under various conditions on the weight, and discuss some new cases where the conjecture holds.
Estudio relacional de las necesidades de soporte según los servicios de lugar de vida utilizados
Authors: Lascorz David , Tomás Anna , Ruiz Bibiana , García-Durán Marisa , García Carol , Rosa Marisa , Pérez Víctor
Published: February 2024

Resumen: El objetivo del presente estudio es valorar la relación existente entre el grado de atención requerida por los diferentes usuarios y el servicio de lugar de vida que están utilizando. Para ello se ha realizado un estudio con 388 personas. Las variables estudiadas incluyen el diagnóstico, la edad, el sexo, la situación económica y la Escala ENAR-CPB. El porcentaje de hombres es superior al de mujeres. Los jóvenes son tratados principalmente en los pisos supervisados. Mayoritariamente se atienden esquizofrenias paranoides, sobre todo en las residencias. Las depresiones mayores están sobre todo en el propio domicilio y los trastornos límites de la personalidad son atendidos principalmente en pisos supervisados. Las personas que viven en una residencia son por lo general más dependientes que las que viven en pisos supervisados o en su propio domicilio. Es importante ajustar lo más posible el recurso de lugar de vida a las capacidades y necesidades reales de la persona, pero la situación económica personal marca la diferencia entre el hecho de ir a vivir a un piso supervisado o mantenerse en el propio domicilio.
Una experiencia en grupo de madres y padres, paralelo al de niños
Authors: Ger-Gómez Enrique Tomás
Published: February 2024

Resumen: En defensa de la psicoterapia psicoanalítica, hablaré sobre una experiencia grupal que duró 10 meses, fue desarrollada en la asistencia pública en salud mental y se publicó con el título Psicoterapia en grupo paralelo de madres y padres. Focalizando en la función parental. Los grupos paralelos de niños y padres unas veces ayudan a curar, otras a detener y desactivar situaciones involutivas y de deterioro, y, en general, contribuyen a crear un orden mental más estable que previene trastornos graves de la personalidad. Ofrecen a la asistencia en salud mental pública y a los profesionales considerables ventajas comparativas en cuanto a abordaje, diagnóstico y terapéutica, además de un alto valor preventivo. Compartiré algunas constataciones, ideas, preguntas y sugerencias que envuelven y enmarcan mi experiencia.
Empezar, continuar y terminar. Las etapas de un proceso terapéutico grupal
Authors: Irazábal-Martín Emilio
Published: February 2024

Resumen: La intención del autor es describir y delimitar las etapas o fases de un proceso terapéutico grupal, desde que surge el proyecto hasta la finalización del grupo. Se proponen indicadores (objetivos y subjetivos) para identificar cada etapa, así como el pasaje de una a otra. Así mismo, se señalan unas etapas más terapéuticas que otras, aunque todas ellas sean necesarias para que el proceso grupal obtenga el éxito esperado. Finalmente, el autor se pregunta sobre los recursos y propuestas técnicas del coordinador en función de sus esquemas de referencia y la articulación de un enfoque clínico con un enfoque psicosocial.
Vicisitudes de la pertenencia grupal en la rehabilitación de pacientes psicóticos
Authors: Tarí-García Antonio
Published: February 2024

Resumen: A partir de las concepciones de Pichon-Riviére, realizamos un análisis de las dificultades y obstáculos para la consolidación grupal en los grupos terapéuticos de pacientes con psicosis graves en los dispositivos de rehabilitación. Abordaremos estas dificultades contemplando diversos aspectos, la dificultad de estar juntos, sin olvidar la tarea que es el difícil trayecto de comprensión del sufrimiento. También, para poder intervenir en los grupos teniendo en cuenta la contratransferencia, se describirán algunas actitudes terapéuticas y algunos "consejos”, reivindicando el grupo terapéutico como instrumento de la necesaria clínica de la intimidad en la psicosis.