bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and determinants of maternal near miss in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015–2023
Authors: Negash Abraham , Sertsu Addisu , Mengistu Dechasa Adare , Tamire Aklilu , Birhanu Weldesenbet Adisu , Dechasa Mesay , Nigussie Kabtamu , Bete Tilahun , Yadeta Elias , Balcha Tegenu , Debele Gebiso Roba , Dechasa Deribe Bekele , Fekredin Hamdi , Geremew Habtamu , Dereje Jerman , Tolesa Fikadu , Lami Magarsa
Published: July 2023

Background

One of the most challenging problems in developing countries including Ethiopia is improving maternal health. About 303,000 mothers die globally, and one in every 180 is at risk from maternal causes. Developing regions account for 99% of maternal deaths. Maternal near miss (MNM) resulted in long-term consequences. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the prevalence and predictors of maternal near miss in Ethiopia from January 2015 to March 2023.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis cover both published and unpublished studies from different databases (PubMed, CINHAL, Scopus, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library) to search for published studies whilst searches for unpublished studies were conducted using Google Scholar and Google searches. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used. Duplicated studies were removed using Endnote X8. The paper quality was also assessed based on the JBI checklist. Finally, 21 studies were included in the study. Data synthesis and statistical analysis were conducted using STATA Version 17 software. Forest plots were used to present the pooled prevalence using the random effect model. Heterogeneity and publication bias was evaluated using Cochran’s Q test, (Q) and I squared test (I2). Subgroup analysis based on study region and year of publication was performed.

Result

From a total of 705 obtained studies, twenty-one studies involving 701,997 pregnant or postpartum mothers were included in the final analysis. The national pooled prevalence of MNM in Ethiopia was 140/1000 [95% CI: 80, 190]. Lack of formal education [AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.09, 3.10], Lack of antenatal care [AOR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.33, 3.03], history of cesarean section [AOR = 4.07, 95% CI: 2.91, 5.24], anemia [AOR = 4.86, 95% CI: 3.24, 6.47], and having chronic medical disorder [AOR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.53, 3.29] were among the predictors of maternal near misses from the pooled estimate.

Conclusion

The national prevalence of maternal near miss was still substantial. Antenatal care is found to be protective against maternal near miss. Emphasizing antenatal care to prevent anemia and modifying other chronic medical conditions is recommended as prevention strategies. Avoiding primary cesarean section is recommended unless a clear indication is present. Finally, the country should place more emphasis on strategies for reducing MNM and its consequences, with the hope of improving women's health.
A management perspective on resilience in healthcare: a framework and avenues for future research
Authors: Agostini L. , Onofrio R. , Piccolo C. , Stefanini A.
Published: July 2023

Recent major health shocks, such as the 2014–16 Ebola, the Zika outbreak, and, last but not least, the COVID-19 pandemic, have strongly contributed to drawing attention to the issue of resilience in the healthcare domain. Nevertheless, the scientific literature appears fragmented, creating difficulties in developing incremental research in this relevant managerial field.

To fill this gap, this systematic literature review aims to provide a clear state of the art of the literature dealing with resilience in healthcare. Specifically, from the analysis of the theoretical articles and reviews, the key dimensions of resilience are identified, and a novel classification framework is proposed. The classification framework is then used to systematize extant empirical contributions. Two main dimensions of resilience are identified: the approach to resilience (reactive vs. proactive) and the type of crisis to deal with (acute shocks vs. chronic stressors). Four main streams of research are thus identified: (i) proactive approaches to acute shocks; (ii) proactive approaches to chronic stressors; (iii) reactive approaches to acute shocks; and (iv) reactive approaches to chronic stressors. These are scrutinised considering three additional dimensions: the level of analysis, the resources to nurture resilience, and the country context. The classification framework and the associated mapping contribute to systematising the fragmented literature on resilience in healthcare, providing a clear picture of the state of the art in this field and drawing a research agenda that opens interesting paths for future research.
Gastric polyp detection module based on improved attentional feature fusion
Authors: Xie Yun , Yu Yao , Liao Mingchao , Sun Changyin
Published: July 2023

Gastric cancer is a deadly disease and gastric polyps are at high risk of becoming cancerous. Therefore, the timely detection of gastric polyp is of great importance which can reduce the incidence of gastric cancer effectively. At present, the object detection method based on deep learning is widely used in medical images. However, as the contrast between the background and the polyps is not strong in gastroscopic image, it is difficult to distinguish various sizes of polyps from the background. In this paper, to improve the detection performance metrics of endoscopic gastric polyps, we propose an improved attentional feature fusion module. First, in order to enhance the contrast between the background and the polyps, we propose an attention module that enables the network to make full use of the target location information, it can suppress the interference of the background information and highlight the effective features. Therefore, on the basis of accurate positioning, it can focus on detecting whether the current location is the gastric polyp or background. Then, it is combined with our feature fusion module to form a new attentional feature fusion model that can mitigate the effects caused by semantic differences in the processing of feature fusion, using multi-scale fusion information to obtain more accurate attention weights and improve the detection performance of polyps of different sizes. In this work, we conduct experiments on our own dataset of gastric polyps. Experimental results show that the proposed attentional feature fusion module is better than the common feature fusion module and can improve the situation where polyps are missed or misdetected.
Abnormal DNA methylation within genes of the steroidogenesis pathway two years after paediatric critical illness and association with stunted growth in height further in time
Authors: Vanhorebeek Ilse , Coppens Grégoire , Güiza Fabian , Derese Inge , Wouters Pieter J. , Joosten Koen F. , Verbruggen Sascha C. , Van den Berghe Greet
Published: July 2023

Background

Former critically ill children show an epigenetic age deceleration 2 years after paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission as compared with normally developing healthy children, with stunted growth in height 2 years further in time as physical correlate. This was particularly pronounced in children who were 6 years or older at the time of critical illness. As this age roughly corresponds to the onset of adrenarche and further pubertal development, a relation with altered activation of endocrine pathways is plausible. We hypothesised that children who have been admitted to the PICU, sex- and age-dependently show long-term abnormal DNA methylation within genes involved in steroid hormone synthesis or steroid sulphation/desulphation, possibly aggravated by in-PICU glucocorticoid treatment, which may contribute to stunted growth in height further in time after critical illness.

Results

In this preplanned secondary analysis of the multicentre PEPaNIC-RCT and its follow-up, we compared the methylation status of genes involved in the biosynthesis of steroid hormones (aldosterone, cortisol and sex hormones) and steroid sulphation/desulphation in buccal mucosa DNA (Infinium HumanMethylation EPIC BeadChip) from former PICU patients at 2-year follow-up (n = 818) and healthy children with comparable sex and age (n = 392). Adjusting for technical variation and baseline risk factors and corrected for multiple testing (false discovery rate < 0.05), former PICU patients showed abnormal DNA methylation of 23 CpG sites (within CYP11A1, POR, CYB5A, HSD17B1, HSD17B2, HSD17B3, HSD17B6, HSD17B10, HSD17B12, CYP19A1, CYP21A2, and CYP11B2) and 4 DNA regions (within HSD17B2, HSD17B8, and HSD17B10) that were mostly hypomethylated. These abnormalities were partially sex- (1 CpG site) or age-dependent (7 CpG sites) and affected by glucocorticoid treatment (3 CpG sites). Finally, multivariable linear models identified robust associations of abnormal methylation of steroidogenic genes with shorter height further in time, at 4-year follow-up.

Conclusions

Children who have been critically ill show abnormal methylation within steroidogenic genes 2 years after PICU admission, which explained part of the stunted growth in height at 4-year follow-up. The abnormalities in DNA methylation may point to a long-term disturbance in the balance between active sex steroids and mineralocorticoids/glucocorticoids after paediatric critical illness, which requires further investigation.
European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) guidelines on the management of axillary lymphadenopathy after COVID-19 vaccination: 2023 revision
Authors: Schiaffino Simone , Pinker Katja , Cozzi Andrea , Magni Veronica , Athanasiou Alexandra , Baltzer Pascal A. T. , Camps Herrero Julia , Clauser Paola , Fallenberg Eva M. , Forrai Gabor , Fuchsjäger Michael H. , Gilbert Fiona J. , Helbich Thomas , Kilburn-Toppin Fleur , Kuhl Christiane K. , Lesaru Mihai , Mann Ritse M. , Panizza Pietro , Pediconi Federica , Sardanelli Francesco , Sella Tamar , Thomassin-Naggara Isabelle , Zackrisson Sophia , Pijnappel Ruud M.
Published: July 2023

Axillary lymphadenopathy is a common side effect of COVID-19 vaccination, leading to increased imaging-detected asymptomatic and symptomatic unilateral axillary lymphadenopathy. This has threatened to negatively impact the workflow of breast imaging services, leading to the release of ten recommendations by the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) in August 2021. Considering the rapidly changing scenario and data scarcity, these initial recommendations kept a highly conservative approach. As of 2023, according to newly acquired evidence, EUSOBI proposes the following updates, in order to reduce unnecessary examinations and avoid delaying necessary examinations. First, recommendation n. 3 has been revised to state that breast examinations should not be delayed or rescheduled because of COVID-19 vaccination, as evidence from the first pandemic waves highlights how delayed or missed screening tests have a negative effect on breast cancer morbidity and mortality, and that there is a near-zero risk of subsequent malignant findings in asymptomatic patients who have unilateral lymphadenopathy and no suspicious breast findings. Second, recommendation n. 7 has been revised to simplify follow-up strategies: in patients without breast cancer history and no imaging findings suspicious for cancer, symptomatic and asymptomatic imaging-detected unilateral lymphadenopathy on the same side of recent COVID-19 vaccination (within 12 weeks) should be classified as a benign finding (BI-RADS 2) and no further work-up should be pursued. All other recommendations issued by EUSOBI in 2021 remain valid.

Graphical abstract
Force field-inspired transformer network assisted crystal density prediction for energetic materials
Authors: Jin Jun-Xuan , Ren Gao-Peng , Hu Jianjian , Liu Yingzhe , Gao Yunhu , Wu Ke-Jun , He Yuchen
Published: July 2023

Machine learning has great potential in predicting chemical information with greater precision than traditional methods. Graph neural networks (GNNs) have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they can automatically learn the features of the molecule from the graph, significantly reducing the time needed to find and build molecular descriptors. However, the application of machine learning to energetic materials property prediction is still in the initial stage due to insufficient data. In this work, we first curated a dataset of 12,072 compounds containing CHON elements, which are traditionally regarded as main composition elements of energetic materials, from the Cambridge Structural Database, then we implemented a refinement to our force field-inspired neural network (FFiNet), through the adoption of a Transformer encoder, resulting in force field-inspired Transformer network (FFiTrNet). After the improvement, our model outperforms other machine learning-based and GNNs-based models and shows its powerful predictive capabilities especially for high-density materials. Our model also shows its capability in predicting the crystal density of potential energetic materials dataset (i.e. Huang & Massa dataset), which will be helpful in practical high-throughput screening of energetic materials.
Seismic structure and its implication on the hydrothermal system beneath Mt. Ontake, central Japan
Authors: Maeda Yuta , Watanabe Toshiki
Published: July 2023

Mt. Ontake is an active volcano in central Japan where phreatic eruption activity is prominent. A shallow subsurface structure in the summit region of this volcano has been scarcely studied despite its importance. Our study examines the structure from three seismic analyses: a typical P-wave velocity from the semblance of the vertical propagation of intermediate-depth earthquakes (IDEs), a layered velocity model from P- and S-wave arrival times of shallow volcanic earthquakes, and a pseudoreflection profile from the autocorrelation functions of the IDEs. Our results consistently indicate the presence of three layers, which are interpreted as younger (> 0.1 Ma) and older (0.39–0.78 Ma) eruptive deposits and the basement. A comparison of the structure with hypocentres and deformation sources suggests fluid migration controlled by the structure.

Graphical Abstract
Pre-procedural high serum visfatin and tumor necrosis factor-α might predict recurrent atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation
Authors: AlKassas Amr , Fouda Mohamed , Fassini Gaetano , Sanhoury Mohamed
Published: July 2023

Background

Many patients would require repeated ablation procedures owing to recurrent atrial fibrillation with its associated symptoms. Identifying those who are at risk of recurrent AF could assist us to develop preventive strategies and to properly select those who will benefit more from catheter ablation. Our aim is to study the role of preprocedural serum level of certain biomarkers in the prediction of AF recurrence after catheter ablation.

Results

The present study included 117 patients: 26 patients with persistent and 91 patients with paroxysmal AF. Blood samples for estimation of serum levels of studied cytokines were obtained prior to the procedure. Pulmonary vein isolation was performed in all patients through point-by point radiofrequency ablation guided by 3D electroanatomical mapping system. Patients were followed for 12 months for AF recurrence. Forty-one (35%) patients developed AF recurrence. Those patients were significantly older, had significantly higher BMI, lower ejection fraction, and wider maximal left atrial diameter (LAD). Serum hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, visfatin, and adiponectin levels were significantly higher compared to those who did not develop AF recurrence. Correlation analysis showed positive correlations between the incidence of RAF and patients’ age, BMI, and maximum LAD and elevated cytokine levels and maximal LAD showed significant correlations with the type of AF and elevated serum TNF-α, visfatin, and adiponectin. Statistical analyses defined elevated serum levels of TNF-α, visfatin, and adiponectin as positive predictors for RAF, and automatic linear modeling analysis showed that elevated serum visfatin, TNF-α, and adiponectin can predict RAF by accuracy rates of 50%, 34%, and 16%, respectively.

Conclusions

RAF is most probably an outcome of the interplay between patients' clinical data, obesity, and inflammation. Pre-procedural estimation of serum levels of visfatin and TNF-α might determine patients with probability for RAF.
Bioadsorbents for the removal of salt ions from saline water: a comprehensive review
Authors: Dhumal Riddhi , Sadgir Parag
Published: July 2023

Water quality can be affected due to organic or inorganic salts present in water depending upon different regions. An increase in salts has deteriorated the quality of the water, harming both human health and aquatic life. Various technologies are developed to extract salts, bioadsorption being the most preferred, eco-friendly, and economical method for desalination. To remove salts from aqueous solutions, an array of adsorbents, including natural, low-cost materials, or wastes, called bioadsorbents are studied. The review aims at studying different bioadsorbents used for reducing salinity and the effect of pH, contact time, bioadsorbent dosage, initial concentration, temperature, and size of particulate matter on the removal efficacy of salts from saline water. The pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich isotherm are the governing models that described salinity ions equilibrium and isotherm data. Prospects of the study including the potential for commercialization, scaling up, extensive applications of adsorbents, and their functional utility are discussed.
Selenium nanoparticles reduce oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in ascites syndrome in broiler chickens via the ATF6-DR5 signaling pathway
Authors: Yang Xiaoqi , Liu Xin , Liu Jiaqi , Wu Peiling , Fu Yang , Kyein San Loon , Zhang Jiabin , Zhang Mengdi , Peng Yuxuan , Zhou Donghai
Published: July 2023

Broiler ascites syndrome (AS) is one of the main diseases threatening the health of broilers. It is well documented that myocardial hypertrophy and failure is one of the key mechanisms of broiler ascites syndrome. Therefore, prevention of cardiac hypertrophy and failure would be one goal to reduce broiler ascites syndrome incidence. Myocardial hypertrophy and failure are closely related to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in cardiac myocytes, and the endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling system (ATF6-DR5) is one of the important pathways of myocardial apoptosis. Excessive hypertrophy will affect the heart muscle’s normal contraction and diastole function, and the heart will turn from compensated to decompensate thus causing myocardial injury. Myocardial apoptosis is a core component of the pathological changes of this myocardial injury. Nano-selenium is a kind of red elemental selenium nanoparticle. Due to its excellent physical, chemical and biological properties, it has attracted extensive academic attention in recent years. It has been proven to have excellent antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor, antihypertrophic, and antiapoptotic abilities. Herein, nano-selenium (1 µmol/L) can inhibit hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in broiler primary cardiomyocytes, and at the same time reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis. In vivo, nano-selenium can reduce broiler myocardial injury-related enzyme indicators (AST, CK and LDH), and alleviate myocardial injury. It can also activate the antioxidant enzyme system (SOD, GSH-Px and CAT) and reduce MDA, and make the recovery of T-AOC ability in the organization. Meanwhile, nano-selenium can down-regulate the genes and proteins expression of ATF-6, GRP-78, CHOP and caspase 12 in the ERS-related signaling pathway, and inhibit that of downstream-related caspase 3, Bax and caspase 9, and increase that of the downstream anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, thereby maintaining the homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum and alleviating cardiomyocyte apoptosis. It can be seen that nano-selenium can protect the damaged myocardium in the broiler ascites caused by high-salt drinking by regulating the ATF6-DR5 signaling pathway. This study was performed in chickens and cardiomyocyte cells and attempted to demonstrate that selenium nanoparticles can protect the damaged myocardium in broiler ascites. This paper provides a new idea for preventing and treating broiler ascites syndrome.
Rock physics and seismic reflectivity parameterization for amplitude-variation-with-angle inversion of low-maturity source rocks
Authors: Yu Songhe , Zong Zhaoyun , Li Kun
Published: July 2023

Rock-physics inversion has been widely used in reservoir prediction. However, the prediction and evaluation of source rocks still predominantly rely on data-driven inversion methods. To directly incorporate the rock-physics relationship into the seismic inversion of source rocks, we first introduce a linearization approximation of the rock-physics model through the first-order approximation of the Taylor series. Model examples and well-logging tests substantiate the reliability of this linear approximation in establishing the connection between the elastic moduli and essential physical parameters (EPPs) of source rocks. Subsequently, we develop a novel equation for the P-wave reflection coefficient by combining the linear rock-physics relationship and Gray approximation. The newly developed reflectivity equation is a linear expression of differences in EPPs of source rocks. Model-simulating results demonstrate a favorable agreement between the novel P-wave reflectivity equation and the exact Zoeppritz equation until the incident angle reaches 60°. Furthermore, we explore the amplitude-variation-with-angle (AVA) effects of EPPs to validate their contributions meet the requirement of seismic inversion. Under the Bayesian scheme, we further develop an AVA inversion method, based on the novel P-wave reflectivity equation, to predict the EPPs of source rocks. Our AVA inversion method obtains satisfactory results under noise testing and demonstrates promising application potential in field examples. The predicted EPPs indicate a strong agreement with the actual well loggings. Comparative analysis against data-driven inversion results reveals that the EPPs predicted by our AVA inversion method possess enhanced rock-physics support and significance. Specifically, this study focuses on isotropic clay-rich source rocks with low maturity.
Adrenal Venous Sampling Via an Antecubital Approach in Primary Aldosteronism: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Dong Hui , Huang Jiangnan , Zhang Ying , Dong Yifei , Liu Min , Yan Zhitao , Li Jianling , Chen Yang , Zou Yubao , Wang Jiguang , Kang Yuanyuan , Jiang Zhiyuan , Song Wei , Zuo Yujie , Xiong Hongliang , Xu Jianzhong , Jiang Xiongjing
Published: July 2023

Context

Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is considered the gold standard for differentiating unilateral and bilateral forms of primary aldosteronism. Currently, almost all AVS procedures are performed via femoral vein access.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the success rate and safety of AVS via an antecubital approach.

Methods

In a retrospective multicenter study involving 7 Chinese medical centers, patients with primary aldosteronism who underwent AVS via an antecubital approach between January 2012 and December 2018 were analyzed. Successful sampling was determined by a selectivity index (cortisol in the adrenal vein/cortisol in inferior vena cava) greater than 2.

Results

A total of 1226 participants (mean age, 47.1 years; 57.9% male) were included. The puncture site was right and left antecubital vein in 1211 (98.8%), and 15 (1.2%) patients. The access of 6 patients (0.5%) was changed to right femoral vein due to the failure of antecubital vein cannulation or anatomic variation of adrenal vein. The success rate of bilateral, right, and left sampling was 91.5%, 94.9%, and 95.1%, respectively. The success rate of bilateral, right, and left sampling increased from 82.9%, 87.1%, and 88.6% during the initial 70 cases (total of initial 10 cases at each center) to 92.0% (P = .012), 95.3% (P = .008), and 95.5% (P = .018) with subsequent cases. Adrenal vein rupture occurred in 5 patients (0.41%), with no sequelae.

Conclusion

This multicenter study demonstrates that AVS via an antecubital approach is safe and feasible, with a high rate of successful sampling, which may be an alternative to the femoral vein access method.
Anterior Screw Fixation for Odontoid Fractures – A Case Series
Authors: Loganathan Karthik , Sellappan Kumar
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Fractures of the odontoid process are common cervical spine injuries, accounting for 10–20% of all cervical spine fractures. Anterior screw fixation of odontoid fractures is an osteosynthetic technique that can give immediate stability and preserve normal mobility. Case Series: The study was conducted in Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical college in the period 2017–2020. Five patients with Anderson and D’Alonzo type II odontoid Fractures were included in the study. Through anterior approach, using a horizontal skin incision, a K wire is inserted from the inferior edge of C2 through the incision and impacted into the odontoid process. A cannulated screw with non-threaded proximal shaft is inserted and tightened firmly to allow the distal fragment to compress on the body of C2. All the patients were reviewed postoperatively at 3, 6, and 12 months. Out of the five patients, all the patients had successful anatomical union at the end of 16 weeks. No neurological sequelae were reported. Discussion: Anterior screw fixation provides a reasonable approach to odontoid fractures. Posterior stabilization using multiple techniques has been described with good union rates but has several disadvantages. Anterior screw fixation provides direct fracture fixation without the need for bone grafts. In addition, it reduces post-operative discomfort and length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Anterior odontoid screw fixation was associated with relatively low complication rates and a high union rate in our study. We conclude that this shall be the preferred treatment method for Type II odontoid fractures. Keywords: Odontoid, anterior screw fixation, cervical spine injuries.
Silicon Photonics Toolkit
Authors: Vit Aycan , Gorgulu Kazim , Amiri Ali , Magden Emir Salih
Published: July 2023

In integrated optics, accessing optical parameters of waveguides is one of the most important yet recurring tasks in the
process of designing photonic devices. Silicon Photonics Toolkit (sipkit) is a python package that provides computationally efficient access to waveguide parameters as functions of key optical and physical variables, to aid the design
of silicon photonic systems and scientific discovery through integrated optics. In addition to its state-of-the-art data
mapping for rapid parameter access, sipkit also allows for full automatic-differentiation capability through its compatibility with JAX. With efficient gradient computation for optimization algorithms, sipkit can therefore be used in the
design of photonic systems using modern machine learning methods. With this combination of streamlined data access
and support for automatic differentiation, sipkit enables researchers and engineers to design complex photonic systems
with greater efficiency and flexibility.
Burden of chronic kidney disease in Nepal: An analysis of the burden of disease from 1990 to 2019
Authors: Pandey Achyut Raj , Poudyal Anil , Adhikari Bikram , Shrestha Niraj
Published: July 2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as one of the major public health concerns. The increasing prevalence of its correlates such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension has been, due in part responsible for the increased burden. However, very few studies have presented the comprehensive data on burden of disease particularly in developing countries like Nepal. In this study, we have performed an analysis on prevalence, mortality, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to CKD in Nepal using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. The GBD 2019 study provides estimation of the prevalence, mortality rates, YLDs, YLLs and DALYs due to 369 different disease and 87 risk factors for 204 countries and territories across the world. In this study, we present Nepal specific data on prevalence, mortality, YLDs, YLLs and DALYs related to CKD. In 2019, there were 1,895,080 prevalent cases of CKD with 5,108 deaths, and a total of 168,900 DALYs were attributable to CKD. Age-standardized prevalence rate of CKD increased from 5,979.1 cases per 100,000 population (95% UI: 5539.7, 6400.4) in 1990 to 7,634.1 cases per 100,000 population (95% UI: 7138.8, 8119.4) in 2019 with higher prevalence in males. Similarly, the age-standardized mortality due to CKD increased for both sexes from 0.8 deaths per 100,000 population (95% UI: 0.6, 1.0) in 1990 to 2.6 deaths per 100,000 population (95% UI: 2.0, 3.3) in 2019. The burden of CKD as a percentage of total DALYs was 0.5% (95% UI: 0.4, 0.6) in 1990 and increased to 1.8% (95% UI: 1.4, 2.2%) in 2019. Kidney dysfunction, high systolic blood pressure, high fasting plasma glucose, high body mass index, low temperature, lead exposure, diet high in sodium, and high temperature were found to be the major risk factors for CKD. The study reveals that Nepal has a high and rising burden of CKD. Innovative strategies for prevention of CKD including health system preparedness for treatment services are required to respond to the rising burden of CKD.
Ecological habitat partitioning and feeding specialisations of coastal minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) using a recently designated MPA in northeast Scotland
Authors: Robinson Kevin P. , MacDougall Duncan A. I. , Bamford Connor C. G. , Brown William J. , Dolan Ciaran J. , Hall Rebecca , Haskins Gary N. , Russell Grace , Sidiropoulos Theofilos , Sim Texa M. C. , Spinou Evgenia , Stroud Elice , Williams Genevieve , Culloch Ross M.
Published: July 2023

In the design of protected areas for cetaceans, spatial maps rarely take account of the life-history and behaviour of protected species relevant to their spatial ambit, which may be important for their management. In this study, we examined the distribution and feeding behaviours of adult versus juvenile minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) from long-term studies in the Moray Firth in northeast Scotland, where a Marine Protected Area (MPA) has recently been designated. Data were collected during dedicated boat surveys between 2001 and 2022 inclusive, from which 784 encounters with 964 whales of confirmed age-class (471 juveniles and 493 adults) were recorded from 56,263 km of survey effort, resulting in 238 focal follows. Adults and juveniles were occasionally seen together, but their distributions were not statistically correlated, and GIS revealed spatial separation / habitat partitioning by age-class―with juveniles preferring shallower, inshore waters with sandy-gravel sediments, and adults preferring deeper, offshore waters with greater bathymetric slope. GAMs suggested that the partitioning between age-classes was predominantly based on the differing proximity of animals to the shore, with juveniles showing a preference for the gentlest seabed slopes, and both adults and juveniles showing a similar preference for sandy gravel sediment types. However, the GAMs only used sightings data with available survey effort (2008 to 2022) and excluded depth due to collinearity issues. Whilst adult minkes employed a range of “active” prey-entrapment specialisations, showing inter-individual variation and seasonal plasticity in their targeted prey, juveniles almost exclusively used “passive” (low energy) feeding methods targeting low-density patches of inshore prey. These findings corroborate the need to incorporate demographic and behavioural data into spatial models when identifying priority areas for protected cetacean species. Not all areas within an MPA have equal value for a population and a better knowledge of the spatial preferences of these whales within the designated Scottish MPAs, appointed for their protection, is considered vital for their conservation.
Expanded narratives of gentrification: Mobility, infrastructure and urban change in 1970s London literature
Authors: Dines Martin
Published: July 2023

This article revisits Ruth Glass’s essay ‘Aspects of change’ (1964), in which the urban sociologist reputedly coins the term gentrification. Whereas other readers are content merely to quote Glass’s description of gentrification, I consider how she situates the phenomenon within a broader complex of urban change. Doing so, I suggest, provides a useful optic for considering later literary engagements with gentrification in London. I examine two fictional texts – Sylvia Townsend Warner’sThe Innocent and the Guilty(1971) and Maureen Duffy’sCapital(1975) – and argue that they follow Glass by providing ‘expanded narratives’ of gentrification. This narrative mode is distinctive for the way that it frames highly visible and seemingly localized phenomena, such as gentrification, within broader cultural, geographical and historical contexts, in order to ask larger questions about the nature of urbanity. A concern with mobility and infrastructure defines these expanded narratives, which illuminate how these aspects of the city shape perceptions of urban change. I conclude by outlining how expanded narratives might also provide the basis for a useful reading strategy which contrasts with the extractive procedures that characterize readings of Glass and certain scholarly approaches to urban literature.
Pluricentricity in foreign language teaching
Authors: Huber Máté Imre
Published: July 2023

A nyelvi többközpontúság az 1990-es évek eleje óta széles körben kutatott terület a szociolingvisztikában, amely fontos hatással van a nyelvtanításra. Jelen disszertáció az angol és a német nyelv többközpontúságának szerepét vizsgálja a magyar oktatási rendszerben, egy komplex kutatási projekt keretében. Közelebbről a jogi-intézményi háttér (azaz a tantervek és vizsgakövetelmények), valamint a tankönyvek kerülnek elemzésre a többközpontúság jelenléte szempontjából, amit a tanárok és a tanulók meggyőződéseinek empirikus vizsgálata követ, 484 tanuló és nyelvtanár kérdőíves felmérése, ill. 37 interjú alapján. A vizsgálat kiindulópontjául a következő kutatási kérdés szolgál: Milyen szerepet játszik az angol és a német nyelv sokszínűsége a magyarországi nyelvoktatásában? A kérdés megválaszolása érdekében a következő három hipotézist vizsgálom: (1) A többközpontúság marginális szerepet játszik a magyar oktatási rendszerben folyó nyelvoktatás jogi-intézményi kereteiben. (2) A tanárok a gyakorlatban kevés figyelmet szentelnek a nyelvoktatás ezen aspektusának. Következésképpen, mivel a tanulók nyitottabbak az eltérő normákra, mint tanáraik, diszkrepancia áll fenn a tanulók és a tanárok meggyőződései között. (3) A domináns nyelvváltozatok általános túlsúlya figyelhető meg a nemdomináns nyelvváltozatokkal szemben. A fenti hipotézisek közül az első és a harmadik teljes mértékben beigazolódik, ami azt jelzi, hogy kétségtelen a domináns nyelvváltozatok túlsúlya a nemdominánsakkal szemben, továbbá egyértelműen szükség van a többközpontú jelenlét beemelésére a jogi-intézményi keretbe. A második hipotézis igazolása azonban csak részleges, mivel a kérdőíves felmérés azt bizonyítja, hogy a tanulók valóban nyitottabbak a többközpontúságra, mint a tanárok, ugyanakkor az interjús vizsgálat eredményei számos ellenpélda révén cáfolják a hipotézis első részét, mely szerint a tanárok általában nem tulajdonítanak elég figyelmet a többközpontúságnak. Jelen disszertáció megállapításai releváns üzenetet közvetítenek a magyarországi oktatási rendszer egésze számára, annak minden szintjével és alkotóelemével, beleértve az alap-, közép- és felsőfokú oktatást, a tanárképzést, a tanterv- és tankönyvfejlesztést, valamint a tanárok és tanulók mindennapi osztálytermi gyakorlatát egyaránt.
Predporodna in poporodna obravnava žensk v Sloveniji
Authors: Jug Došler Anita , Mivšek Ana Polona , Prelec Anita , Stanek Zidarič Tita , Skubic Metka
Published: July 2023

Uvod: V prispevku predstavljamo rezultate raziskave, s katero smo proučevali izvajanje preventivnih aktivnosti za  varovanje reproduktivnega zdravja žensk v Sloveniji v  predporodnem in poporodnem obdobju. Namen kvantitativne raziskave je bil proučiti pojavnost in vsebino predporodne in poporodne obravnave žensk v Sloveniji.Metode: Presečna raziskava je potekala od marca 2015 do marca 2022. Podatki so bili zbrani z anketnim vprašalnikom, na priložnostnem vzorcu 2.102 žensk. Analiza podatkov je vključevala osnovno deskriptivno statistiko z izračuni frekvenc in odstotkov. Za analizo razlik med ženskami prvorodnicami in ženskami mnogorodnicami smo uporabili Hi-kvadrat preizkus. Statistična značilnost je bila upoštevana na ravni petodstotnega tveganja.Rezultati: Raziskava je pokazala, da so v času nosečnosti obiski s strani medicinskih sester v patronažnem varstvu zelo redki (14 %). Po ocenah žensk je bila najpogosteje zastopana vsebina obiska poučevanje nosečnice o stanjih, v katerih mora ženska takoj v porodnišnico (61 %). Največ otročnic (22 %) in njihovih novorojenčkov je bilo po porodu deležnih štirih obiskov medicinskih sester v patronažnem varstvu. Ženske po porodu so bile najpogosteje deležne svetovanja s področja dojenja – prednosti dojenja in materinega mleka za otroka (79 %), medtem ko je bila obravnava novorojenčka največkrat namenjena kopanju (92 %).Diskusija in zaključek: Iz rezultatov je razvidno, da sta v slovenski praksi pojavnost in vsebina obiskov nosečnic in otročnic s strani medicinske sestre v patronažnem varstvu/babice različni. Pri pregledu otročnic so obravnave v večji meri bolj kot na otročnico osredotočene na novorojenčka, kar kaže seznam treh najpogosteje izvedenih intervencij na poporodnih obiskih: svetovanje o prednostih dojenja, položajih pri dojenju in prehrani med dojenjem.
The characteristics and emissions of low-pressure densified torrefied elephant dung fuel briquette
Authors: Mainkaew Artidtaya , Kaewluan Sommas , Pattiya Adisak , Jansri Surachai Narrat
Published: July 2023

Elephant dung is the camp's undigested fiber waste. For more effective waste management, the conversion of dung to torrefied solid and the formation of solid torrefied into fuel briquettes, as well as their properties, were investigated. The dung was improved through torrefaction at 280ºC for 150 sec in a pilot-scale reactor with a feeding rate of 600 g/h. The torrefied elephant dung had 17 MJ/kg of HHV, a solid yield of 79%, and a fixed carbon content of 20%. A mixture of torrefied dung, binder, and water was compressed at 40 bars to a density of 860 kg/m3, or 12 GJ/m3. Their H/C and O/C atomic ratios were in the range of typical biomass. However, due to their moisture content of over 7%, the HHV of the fuel briquettes was below 17 MJ/kg. Moreover, their thermal efficiency was less than 7% due to durability issues, despite having a great fuel ratio and thermal stability. The combustion of these briquettes resulted in less than 850 ppm of CO. To improve the combustibility of this solid biofuel, it is recommended to develop a production process and a suitable stove specifically for these briquettes.
Blood flow analysis in narrow channel with activation energy and nonlinear thermal radiation
Authors: Tanveer Anum , Abidin Zain Ul
Published: July 2023

Blood flow in narrow channels such as veins and arteries is the major topic of interest here. The Casson fluid with its shear-thinning attribute serves as the blood model. Owing to the arterial walls, the channel is configured curved in shape. The activation energy and nonlinear thermal radiation aspects are highlighted. The channel boundaries are flexible with peristaltic wave travelling along the channel. The mathematical description of the problem is developed under physical laws and then simplified using the lubrication technique. The obtained system is then sketched in graphs directly using the numerical scheme NDSolve in Mathematica software. The physical interpretation of parameters on axial velocity, temperature profile, concentration, and streamline pattern is discussed in the last section.
Preventing Student Suicide: Nguyen v. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Authors: Grey Betsy J.
Published: July 2023

Student suicide is a tragic problem on university campuses. Should universities have a tort duty to prevent them? Common law historically has shielded universities from liability based on the “suicide rule,” which holds that suicide is an intervening cause of harm and thus not within the scope of risk of negligence. Nguyen v. Massachusetts Institute of Technology represents a shift in this view, and begins to usher universities into an era of greater accountability, while mitigating the harsh impact of the suicide rule. This essay examines Nguyen as a classic example of common law’s incremental development. As with other areas previously off-limits to tort liability, Nguyen moves cautiously, opening the door to liability but with limits that avoid expansive liability in the absence of a university’s actual knowledge of suicide risk. It is too early to tell whether those limits will remain, or whether the basis for liability recognized in Nguyen will expand. Either way, Nguyen represents an important step in tort law’s response to a significant societal problem.
Environment and Plant Use at La Tourasse (South-West France) at the Late Glacial–Holocene Transition
Authors: Liard Aurélie , Varea Carmen María Martínez , Orange François , Huot Jean-Paul , Marquebielle Benjamin , Henry Auréade
Published: July 2023

The aim of this study is to present new data on vegetation dynamics and plant collecting practices during the Late Glacial and the Early Holocene in southwestern France. La Tourasse cave is located in the Pyrenean piedmont plain, where the Azilian cultural complex was initially defined. The last excavations of the site took place in the 1980s and 1990s and the recovered materials are currently being studied or revisited from a multidisciplinary perspective. We present here the results of the charcoal analysis performed on La Tourasse’s Azilian (ca. 13000–11500 cal. BP) and Mesolithic (ca. 10500–9000 cal. BP) levels, complemented by the study of a small seed assemblage. Our results document the shift from an open landscape towards a forested environment, with the gradual passage from open vegetation dominated by shrubs of the Rose family (Prunus spp.) to the mixed oak forest, which speaks in favor of the biochronological coherence of this sequence. However, marked differences in taxonomic richness and state of the wood from one level to another, unrelated to the prevailing environmental conditions, suggest variable behavior of humans toward wood that could be the result of differing mobility strategies, hearth functionalities, or taxonomic preferences.
New-Generation Trade Agreements and Their Importance to Trade Relations Between European Union and Third Countries – Vietnam Case
Authors:   Faculty of Law, Administration and International Relations, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Poland, Czermińska Małgorzata
Published: July 2023

This work aims to show key provisions and importance of new-generation trade agreements made by the European Union on the example of the agreement with Vietnam. Empirical research centred around an agreement signed between the EU and Vietnam, which is the third new-generation trade agreement entered into by the EU with an Asian country, following an agreement with the Republic of Korea and Singapore. The agreement with Vietnam introduced liberalisation covering almost the entire mutual trade (goods), also providing for the liberalisation of services and eliminating certain non-tariff barriers. Due to a word limit applicable to this article, the research into the importance of the agreement to the EU-Vietnam trade relations was limited mainly to trade in goods. Having considered the fact that relatively too short period of time has elapsed since the entry into force of the agreement, it is not possible to comprehensively assess its importance to bilateral trade relations, especially in a long-term perspective. Such research should be continued in the future. In particular, this concerns research into the effects of liberalisation of mutual trade after the end of transition periods applicable to the elimination of barriers to trade – seven years for the European Union and ten years for Vietnam respectively. Following more than a year since the signature of the agreement, it can be claimed that the EU’s imports from Vietnam have increased considerably, which not only led to the greater negative balance of mutual trade, but also resulted in greater trade volumes for selected goods, and consequently, this may entail the elimination of certain barriers to mutual trade on the entry into force of the agreement. In this article, a descriptive and comparative method was employed, domestic and foreign literature sources were used and the provisions of the EU-Vietnam agreement and legal acts of the EU secondary legislation in the form of regulations were referred to.
Racial Amnesia and Queer Identities in Carlos Fuentes’s “Chac Mool”
Authors: Dalton David S. , González Ann
Published: July 2023

Few of Carlos Fuentes’s short stories have achieved greater recognition than “Chac Mool,” which has been anthologized on numerous occasions. Most of the scholarship centers on how the story treats the tensions inherent to the promotion of a modernity-driven, mestizophillic postrevolutionary state and the pre-Columbian cosmologies that continued to exist in the country well into the twentieth century. In this reading, Filiberto’s ultimate death by drowning in Acapulco results from his ignorance about pre-Columbian deities. This article validates previous readings while also suggesting that Fuentes’s story opens possibilities for parallel readings that emphasize different cultural critiques. Alongside the nationalist paradigm, we posit a queer reading of the story. When read through this register, our interpretation of different elements of the story—particularly the narrative surrounding Filiberto’s ultimate death—necessarily shifts. Beyond simply criticizing a nationalist order that reified its Indigenous past while remaining ignorant about pre-Columbian peoples, the story also communicates the author’s uneasiness with the role that gay and LGBTQ+ individuals were playing in national literature.
EL CAFE EN LA SIERRA NEVADA DE SANTA MARTA: ASPECTOS HISTORICOS
Authors: Viloria De la Hoz Joaquín
Published: July 2023

En este documento se recogen los hechos más relevantes de la colonización cafetera adelantada en la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta y Serranía de Perijá. Aunque la información disponible se remonta a la segunda mitad del siglo XVIII, la investigación se concentra en las dos últimas décadas del siglo XIX y lo que va corrido de la presente centuria.
Editorial
Authors: Editorial Comité
Published: July 2023

Editorial No. 41
Pedagogía, educación y derechos en la práctica educativa de una pedagoga española: Carmen de Burgos Seguí (1867-1932)
Authors: González Pérez Teresa
Published: July 2023

La pedagoga española Carmen de Burgos Seguí fue una maestra de enseñanza primaria y maestra de escuela normal que expandió su actividad en diversos ámbitos. Mujer de intensa vida que además de docente fue conferenciante, periodista, primera reportera de guerra, traductora, autora de diversos libros, así como numerosos artículos periodísticos, escribió con intención educativa y divulgadora. Simboliza el progreso y la modernidad, defensora de la educación de las mujeres, precursora de los derechos cívicos, feminista, republicana y masona. Avanzada a su tiempo irradia sus actividades en el primer tercio del siglo XX siendo reconocida en Europa y América.
Historia Caribe Vol. 18 Núm. 42 (2023): Enero-Junio
Authors: Editorial Comité
Published: July 2023

Historia Caribe Vol. 18 Núm. 42 (2023): Enero-Junio
Editorial
Authors: Editorial Comité
Published: July 2023

Editorial edición No. 43