bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Problems Encountered by the Individuals with Autism Attending Higher Education During the Distance Education Process
Authors: ÇIKILI YAHYA
Published: November 2022

Coronavirus disease which broke out in Wuhan/China in December 2019, identified as the Covid-19 Pandemic in a short time by the WHO (World Health Organization) (WHO,2020). Countries took many precautions as the virus spread to the whole world. After the rise in the numbers of the positive cases and deaths, distance education process started on 23rd of May 2020 as it started all around the world in order not to hinder the right to access education. Education carried out through distance education in higher education institutes and in schools of Ministry of National Education. After the problems encountered in the distance education process, lots of studies have been done on this subject. When the studies in the literature examined, no studies can be found on the problems of individuals with autism attending higher education. This study uses a qualitative approach and conducted through semi-structured interviews done with the parents of three higher education students with autism who studies in Konya. The results show that these students have problems in access to education, social interaction and the support that families need. Results also reveals that the teaching methods and homework aren’t suitable for these students and these make them reluctant and indifferent to the lessons. Participants stated that they need to be informed about the process and they need psychological and social support. Suggestions for the implementation and further researches are made in light of the results of the study.
Öğretmen Yetiştiren Akademisyenlerin ve Ortaokul Öğretmenlerinin Kök Değerlere İlişkin Görüşleri: Nitel Bir Çalışma
Authors: ERBAŞ SADETTİN
Published: November 2022

Öğretmen yetiştiren farklı bilim dallarında görev yapan akademisyenlerin ve ortaokullardaki farklı branşlarda görev yapan öğretmenlerin kök değerlere ilişkin görüşlerini belirlemek amacıyla yapılan bu çalışma nitel araştırma paradigmasına uygun olarak tasarlanmış ve yürütülmüştür. Araştırmanın katılımcı grubu 2020-2021 eğitim-öğretim yılı bahar döneminde kolay ulaşılabilir durum örneklemesi yöntemine uygun olarak belirlenen ve Ankara’daki devlet üniversitelerinde görevli 14 akademisyen ile yine aynı ilin merkez ilçeleri olan Yenimahalle, Mamak ve Çankaya’daki ortaokul ve imam hatip ortaokullarında görev yapan 24 öğretmenden oluşmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplamak amacıyla araştırmacılar tarafından oluşturulan yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılmıştır. Araştırmacılar daha önceden belirledikleri akademisyenlerle onların belirledikleri bir ortamda yüz yüze, öğretmenlerle ise online ortamda görüşmeler gerçekleştirmişlerdir. Her iki katılımcı grubundan elde edilen verilerin analizi nitel araştırmalarda sıklıkla kullanılan içerik analizi ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma sonuçlarına bakıldığında ise akademisyen olan katılımcılar tarafından genelde kök değerlerin bilinmediği buna rağmen akademisyenlerin kök değerlerin gerekli olduğunu belirttikleri, kök değerlerin kazandırılması noktasında değerler eğitimi yaklaşımlarını bilmedikleri, kök değerlerin kazandırılıp kazandırılmadığının tespiti için genel olarak gözlem ve görüşmenin kullanılması gerektiğini belirttikleri, kök değerler bağlamında da programlarını genel olarak yetersiz gördükleri sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Diğer taraftan öğretmen olan katılımcıların sonuçlarına bakıldığında ise katılımcıların genel olarak kök değerleri bildikleri ve gerekli gördükleri, genel olarak onların da akademisyenler gibi değer eğitim yaklaşımlarını bilmedikleri, kök değerlerin kazandırılıp kazandırılmadığının tespiti için onların da genel olarak gözlem ve görüşmenin kullanılmasından söz ettikleri ve genel olarak onların da kök değerler açısından programlarını bazı sebeplerden dolayı yetersiz gördükleri sonuçlarına ulaşılmıştır. Bu sonuçlar neticesinde; kök değerlerin gelecek kuşaklara başarılı bir şekilde kazandırılması için hem öğretmen yetiştiren akademisyenlerin hem de kök değerlerin kazandırılmasından birinci derecede sorumlu olan çeşitli branşlardaki öğretmenlerin kök değerler ve eğitimi konusundaki eksikliklerinin giderilmesi için çeşitli eğitimsel faaliyetlerin yapılması önerilmektedir.
Presidencialismo a la chilena. Coaliciones y cooperación política, 1990-2018, de Mireya Dávila
Authors: Estefane Andrés
Published: November 2022

Reseña del libro Presidencialismo a la chilena. Coaliciones y cooperación política, 1990-2018 de Mireya Dávila. Santiago: Editorial Universitaria, 2020. 309 pp.
La industria académica: la universidad bajo el imperio de la tecnocracia global, de Carlos Hoevel
Authors: Brunner José Joaquín
Published: November 2022

Reseña del libro La industria académica: la universidad bajo el imperio de la tecnocracia global, de Carlos Hoevel. Buenos Aires: Teseo, 2021. 365 pp.
QUANTIFICATION MODEL OF AIRPORT GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT EMISSIONS
Authors: Sznajderman Lucas , Coppa Matías , Martiarena Juan F. , Olariaga Oscar Díaz
Published: November 2022

Emissions of aircraft support vehicles (called Ground Support Equipment or GSE) are produced by a series of factors depending mostly on the following: aircraft arrivals and departures and time spent in parking stands, aircraft type, operation type (traditional, with scale or low cost), geometrical arrangement of the apron and fleet charactistics, including power and years of use, among others. The aim of this work is to develop an integrated model identifying the required GSEs and the gaseous emissions produced by them due to apron traffic and aircraft service. In order to do this, in the case of service, the model proposes considering loading and unloading and dividing them into the following stages: wait, connection, service and disconnection. The advantage of the proposed model over other proposals is that this model aims at copying the real movements of support vehicles in service according to the aircraft and its corresponding operation (Full-Service, Low-Cost or scale). In order to do that, the program discretizes GSE movements into loading and unloading processes through different stages and for circulation where the tool itself sets the parameters of the apron.
A METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC AIRPORT OPERATION COUNTS USING CROWD-SOURCED ADS-B DATA
Authors: Fala Nicoletta , Falas Christos , Falas Anastasios
Published: November 2022

Airports are tasked with counting and reporting their operations at least yearly. The counts are used at the local and national level to schedule maintenance, for research, and to receive funds, making their accuracy important. Historically, methods for counting operations at non-towered airports have relied on additional equipment at the airport or statistical estimates. In this work, we introduce a method to use crowd-sourced Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data from the OpenSky network to automatically count airport operations and report it separated by takeoffs and landings. We use two airports as case studies – Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and Purdue University Airport (LAF) – and compare the estimated operation counts from the ADS-B data algorithm to numbers reported through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Air Traffic Activity Data System (ATADS).
Methodology for EEG and Reference Values of the Software Analysis
Authors: Naydenov Christiyan , Yordanova Antoaneta , Mancheva Velina
Published: November 2022

BACKGROUND: EEG is a way of graphically recording the electrical potentials of the brain. The main parameters of the EEG are related to the ratios between the individual frequency components, their amplitude and characteristic waveforms.

AIM: The aim of the study was to develop and describe a consistent and detailed methodology for the technical conduct of an EEG study, as well as to find the reference values of some of the most frequently derived average values of parameters from the software analysis of modern EEG equipment. TOOLKIT: The EEG office of the Medical Faculty at Trakia University is equipped with a multifunctional 31-channel digital EEG/EP device with a sampling frequency of 1000 Hz.

METHODOLOGY: Unification of the technical implementation is necessary so that the results can be compared with the maximum cleared probability of statistical error due to controllable factors. The outlined sequential steps can serve any technical contributor.

RESULTS: Electroencephalographic study of 100 clinically sound participants and determination of the reference values of the indicators. We have created a table with the mean values of the EEG Software Analysis.

CONCLUSION: The frequency composition of the EEG signal includes four types of waves or rhythms: delta/0.5−3.5Hz/, theta/4−7.5Hz/, alpha/8−12Hz/,and beta/13−30Hz/. The amplitude of the EEG under physiological conditions ranges from 15 microvolts/low-amplitude/to 150 microvolts/high-amplitude/. Average limits are between 30 and 80 microvolts.
Knowledge and Awareness for the Early Detection and Intervention of Short Stature among Families in Qassim Region 2021–2022: A Cross-Sectional study
Authors: Alharbi Mariam Saleh , Alatni Rufaydah Ibrahim , Alhammad Rana Abdullah , Alotaibi Mzoun Abdulaziz , Alhatlani Anwar Hamad , Alshaya Ream Humaidan , Alharbi Abdulaziz  O.
Published: November 2022

Background: Short stature is a common reason for the referral of children to endocrinology clinics. A study in Saudi Arabia recorded a relatively high frequency of short stature among children and adolescents. This condition is multifactorial and can be influenced by genetic factors, environmental factors, or endocrine diseases. Early detection and intervention are crucial steps in the long-term outcomes and benefits.
Aim: To evaluate the knowledge and awareness for the early detection and intervention of short stature.
Methods: A cross-sectional study utilizing a representative random cluster sample of 384 participants living in various cities in the Qassim region, including Buraydah, Unaizah, Alrass, and Riyadh Al Khabra, and in places outside the central region from October 2021 to March 2022. To achieve our goals, we used a self-administered questionnaire that evaluated knowledge and awareness for the timely identification and intervention of short stature among families in the Qassim region.
Results: We received 469 surveys. The overall mean knowledge score was 2.04 (SD 0.92), with poor and good levels of knowledge identified among 68.4% and 31.6%, respectively. Higher knowledge scores were associated with being married, having children, and having a family history of short stature.
Conclusion: Based on our data, we conclude that the majority of Qassimi families have poor knowledge about the early detection and intervention of short stature.
Risk Factors for the Development of Atrial Fibrillation in the Kazakh Patients
Authors: Taizhanova Dana , Bazarova Nazira , Kalimbetova Akerke , Gartung Tatyana , Bodaubay Roza , Muratbekova Shynar , Rustembekkyzy Zhansaya
Published: November 2022

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common persistent heart rhythm disorder.

AIM: Assessment of clinical predictors of atrial fibrillation in the Kazakh population.

METHODS: An analytical clinical and epidemiological study of 75 patients with AF of Kazakh nationality. Descriptive analysis of medical records was carried out and the results of laboratory and instrumental research methods. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistica 6.0 Software package from StatSoft Inc. (USA) and MS Excel.

RESULTS: In the majority of the studied patients (86.7%), atrial fibrillation was associated with hypertension, in 49.3% of patients was diagnosed with coronary artery disease. A permanent form of atrial fibrillation was observed in 63%, in 20% AF manifested itself in the form of paroxysms, in 17% AF was persistent. AF, which arose against the background of CHF, was established in 41.3% of the patients studied by us, while a decrease in LVEF below 40% was observed in 21.3% of the examined patients. In our study, diabetes mellitus was diagnosed as a comorbid pathology in 24% of patients and diabetes mellitus correlated with permanent AF in 66.7%. Thyroid pathology was observed in 9.3% cases. CRHD as a concomitant disease occurred in 12% of cases. In 5.7% of cases, AF was registered as idiopathic (primary) without a history of cardiovascular and concomitant pathology. Smoking as a risk factor was observed in 16%, alcohol consumption, was noted by 8 patients (10.7%). In 40% of cases, patients with AF were obese, 45.3% of the patients were overweight (BMI ≥25).
Acute Limb Ischemia among COVID-19 Patients in Hospital Kuala Lumpur
Authors: Aimanan Karthigesu , Ali Nurul Nadiah Nazurah Mohd , Rahman Mohd Nurhisham Azmi Abdul , Pian Putra Mas , Pillay Kumaraguru V.K. , Hayati Firdaus , Hussein Hanif
Published: November 2022

BACKGROUND: Acute arterial thromboembolism among the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) patients is worrying as it can result in significant thrombotic events.
AIM: The research aimed to determine the clinical results of COVID-19 infected patients who had ALI (acute limb ischaemia) during the COVID-19 epidemic.
METHODS: ALI patients who had a positive COVID-19 were included in the observational cohort study, which was conducted at a single centre. The primary outcomes were 30 days mortality, limb salvage, and successful revascularization.
RESULTS: From May to October 2021, data from 21 ALI subjects who had positive COVID-19 were analysed. Of the 21 included subjects, 10 were males (48%). Their mean age was 65±5 years. In nine subjects (42%), revascularization was done. Four (19%) of the 21 persons died while they were hospitalized. Twelve patients underwent major amputation and among them, one patient died after a month of hospitalization for COVID-19-related pneumonia.  Among the 12 patients that underwent amputation, 10 of them presented with ALI during the first week of COVID-19 illness. Only one patient developed acute limb ischaemia despite being on heparin thromboprophylaxis.
CONCLUSION: Despite attempts at revascularization, ALI-associated with COVID-19 has high mortality and high rates of limb loss. In our experience, major amputation is required in up to a third of patients. This poor result appears to confirm that these infected individuals have a marked hypercoagulable condition. However, adhering to the treatment protocol of heparin thromboprophylaxis confers a benefit in this patient group.
The Effect of Remifentanil, MgSO4, or Remifentanil-MgSO4 as Neuroprotectors on BDNF, MAC, and Caspase-3 Levels in Wistar Rats with Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Arianto Ardana Tri , Soetrisno Soetrisno , Purwoko Purwoko , Indarto Dono
Published: November 2022

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to cell death and neurologic dysfunction. Meanwhile, Remifentanyl is an opioid with potent analgesia, while magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has antinociceptive properties that can prevent hemodynamic instability during laryngoscopy.

AIM: This study aims to examine the effect of remifentanil, MgSO4 and their combination on BDNF, MAC, and Caspase-3 levels in Wistar rat models with TBI.

METHODOLOGY: An experimental study was conducted on 30 male Wistar rats which were randomly divided into five groups. The control group (G1) received normal saline, the induced group (G2) received normal saline after TBI induction using the modified Feeney method, and the treated group (G3, G4, and G5) received remifentanil, MgSO4, and their combination after TBI induction. The rats’ brain tissues were analyzed for BDNF, MAC, and Caspase-3 levels using ELISA. The data were analyzed statistically with ANOVA followed by post hoc Multiple Comparison Test (p < 0.05).

RESULTS: Treatment with remifentanil, MgSO4 or the combination of both in TBI subjects reduced MAC and Caspase-3 but increased the BDNF level. The post hoc multiple comparisons showed significant differences in all groups except groups 3 and 5 in terms of MAC (p = 0.190) and Caspase-3 (p = 0.999). The combination of remifentanil-MgSO4 increased BDNF levels significantly.

CONCLUSION: The administration of remifentanil, MgSO4 , or their combination can serve as a neuroprotector in Wistar rat models with TBI by lowering MAC and Caspase-3 as well as increasing BDNF levels.
Soil-borne Calonectria (Hypocreales, Nectriaceae) associated with Eucalyptus plantations in Colombia
Authors: Pham Nam Q. , Marincowitz Seonju , Chen ShuaiFei , Rodas Carlos A. , Wingfield Michael J.
Published: November 2022

Eucalyptus spp. are widely planted in Colombia as an important component of a growing paper and pulp industry. Leaf and shoot blight caused by Calonectria spp. was one of the first disease problems to emerge in these plantations. A survey of Eucalyptus plantations in four forestry regions of Colombia during 2016 resulted in a large number of Calonectria isolates from soil samples collected in the understories of trees having symptoms of Calonectria leaf and shoot blight. The aim of this study was to identify and resolve the phylogenetic relationships for these isolates using DNA sequence comparisons of six gene regions as well as morphological characters. From a collection of 107 isolates, seven Calonectria species residing in three species complexes were identified. Two of these represented undescribed species, namely C. exiguisporasp. nov. and C. guahibosp. nov.Calonectria parvispora and C. spathulata were the most commonly isolated species, each of which accounted for approximately 30% of the isolates. The results suggest that Colombia has a wide diversity of Calonectria spp. and that these could challenge Eucalyptus plantation forestry in the future.
2022 Consensus Statement on the Management of Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Korea
Authors: Lee Chan Joo , Yoon Minjae , Kang Hyun-Jae , Kim Byung Jin , Choi Sung Hee , Jeong In-Kyung , Lee Sang-Hak ,   on behalf of Task Force Team for Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Korean Society of Lipid and Atherosclerosis
Published: November 2022

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common monogenic disorder. Due to the marked elevation of cardiovascular risk, the early detection, diagnosis, and proper management of this disorder are critical. Herein, the 2022 Korean guidance on this disease is presented. Clinical features include severely elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, tendon xanthomas, and premature coronary artery disease. Clinical diagnostic criteria include clinical findings, family history, or pathogenic mutations in the LDLR, APOB, or PCSK9. Proper suspicion of individuals with typical characteristics is essential for screening. Cascade screening is known to be the most efficient diagnostic approach. Early initiation of lipid-lowering therapy and the control of other risk factors are important. The first-line pharmacological treatment is statins, followed by ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors as required. The ideal treatment targets are 50% reduction and < 70 or < 55 mg/dL (in the presence of vascular disease) of LDL-C, although less strict targets are frequently used. Homozygous FH is characterized by untreated LDL-C > 500 mg/dL, xanthoma since childhood, and family history. In children, the diagnosis is made with criteria, including items largely similar to those of adults. In women, lipid-lowering agents need to be discontinued before conception.
Fredric Jameson, National Allegory, and the Theory Anxiety in China
Authors: Wang Xiteng
Published: November 2022

Cet article explore le phénomène de l’hybridation de la reconnaissance de soi dans la littérature de la fin du XX e siècle en Chine. Plus précisément, il se concentre sur la théorie de « l’allégorie nationale » de Fredric Jameson, l’une des théories les plus influentes de la Chine de la fin du XX e siècle. Inspiré de la Qiao Yiology, cet article met en lumière l’impact de la théorie de l’« allégorie nationale » de Fredric Jameson dans le contexte de la « High Theory Wave » de la théorie littéraire chinoise dans les années 1990. L’incommensurabilité liée à l’intraductibilité du concept « d’allégorie nationale », ce concept « mal traduit », à laquelle s’ajoute l’interprétation nouvelle de la littérature et de la culture du « Tiers monde » a profondément affecté la transformation du paradigme du discours académique chinois contemporain. Bien que cette transformation n’ait pas changé l’anxiété relative à l’identité culturelle chinoise, les nouvelles théories comme celles de la Qiao-Yiologie indiquent une manière possible d’envisager les principes généraux et les lois communes de la création littéraire.
The agnosticism of Protagoras
Authors: Henry John
Published: November 2022

La justification épistémique et la nature de l’agnosticisme de Protagoras d’Abdera continuent à faire l’objet d’interprétations diverses, et plusieurs reconstructions de l’argumentation théologique et anthropologique qui a apparemment suivi sa déclaration d’agnosticisme qui aurait ouvert son livre sur les dieux demeurent. Dans cet article, les fondements de ces reconstructions hypothétiques seront remis en question et une interprétation “agnostique forte” de la théologie de Protagoras, interprétée de manière critique à la lumière de son épistémologie, sera proposée. L’article se terminera par la discussion d’un argument plus récent en faveur de l’athéisme de Protagoras.
The Development of the Employee Resource Groups Scale (ERGS)
Authors: Green Wendy M. , Lam Eddie T. C. , Liao Kelly
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this paper was to develop the Employee Resource Groups Scale (ERGS) that measures employee perceptions of the efficacy of employee resource groups. The study aimed to develop a perceptions of employee resource groups scale. The authors recruited data from 268 participants from a for-profit organization in the United States. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to examine the factor structure of the ERGS. Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the internal consistency of each factor. The EFA identified two factors: Employee Resource Group Outcomes (9 items), and Supervisory Support (2 items). There is a growing body of research that examines the activities and the efficacy of employee resource groups within for-profit organizations. The ERGS is a reliable measuring instrument that can capture perceptions of the outcomes of employee resource groups and how supervisory support influences the employees' participation in the employee resource groups.
Plasma-Assisted Growth of Two-Dimensional Ga2O3/ Gas Heterophases on Liquid Alloy Substrate for Nanoelectronic Applications
Authors: Akbari Mohammad Karbalaei , Zhuiykov Serge
Published: November 2022

Ultra-low-level incorporation of trace impurities and dopants into two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors is a challenging step towards the development of functional electronic devices based on 2D materials. Herein, the incorporation of sulfur atoms into 2D Ga2O3 surface oxide film of eutectic gallium-indium alloy (EGaIn) is achieved through plasma-enhanced metal-catalyst dissociation of H2S gas on EGaIn substrate. This process led to the growth of GaS crystalline nanodomains inside of amorphous 2D Ga2O3 sublayer films. Consequently, 2D lateral heterophases were developed between amorphous Ga2O3 and crystalline GaS nanodomains. The materials characterization revealed the alteration of Photoluminescence (PL) characteristics and change of valence band maximum (VBM) of functionalized 2D films. The comprehensive studies by conductive atomic force microscopy (c-AFM) showed considerable enhancement of conductivity of 2D Ga2O3/GaS materials (300 times improvement) compared with that of 2D Ga2O3 film. This technique has a great potential for fabrication of 2D metal oxide devices with tunable electronic characteristics similar to nanojunction memristors and transistors.
Mechanical Property Analysis of Surface Modified Natural Fiber/Filler Hybrid Composite
Authors: Yesham Ashwini , Jani S.P. , Jose Sujin
Published: November 2022

The filler materials are supported alongside natural fiber in the composite to work on the quality and property of the part materials given the prerequisites and their applications. In this paper, the mixture composite was created with Hemp/Carbon fiber. Different wt% (15%,20%,25%) of Hemp fiber and filler materials were utilized as support. The Hemp fiber was surface treated with 5% of KMnO4. The created hybrid fiber composites were performed with different mechanical properties concentrated on like tensile, bending, impact, and Brinell hardness this multitude of tests were proceeded according to ASTM guidelines. From the mechanical property study, 25 wt% Hemp fiber cross breed composite hold great mechanical properties contrasted with any remaining wt% created half breed composite. keywords:- hybrid composite, surface treatment, mechanical property, fillers.
First ecological analysis of lacustrine testate amoebae in Guatemala: A case study from the highland Lake Chichoj
Authors: Rodas-Moran Andrea Eunice , Avendaño Carlos , Sigala Itzel , Oliva-Hernandez Bessie Evelyn
Published: November 2022

Freshwater quality represents a central issue for human populations and the conservation of aquatic communities. In this sense, freshwater reservoirs, such as lakes, require proper management and monitoring plans to avoid their deterioration and pollution. Bioindicators, such as testate amoebae, are an excellent tool increasingly utilized for limnology and paleolimnology to assess the trophic status of lacustrine environments. However, despite their potential as bioindicators, the ecological research status of testate amoebae in Central American lakes remains poor. We conducted our research at highland Lake Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, which has become increasingly eutrophic since the 1980s. This study contributes to fill the knowledge gap about neotropical testate amoebae, parallel to testing their utility as bioindicators of lacustrine conditions. From a collection of 12 surface sediment samples (associated with different land uses), we found 19 testate amoebae taxa, and for the first time in Guatemala, we recorded Arcella megastoma, Arcella gibbosa, Cucurbitella tricuspis, Difflugia protaeiformis strain “acuminata”, Difflugia urceolata strain “elongata”, Lesquereusia spiralis, Lesquereusia modesta, and Mediolus corona. Our cluster analyses revealed three testate amoebae assemblages in connection to trophic conditions: 1) Stressed Conditions (SC), 2) Lowest Contamination Conditions (LC), and 3) Deep Transitional Conditions Assemblage (DT). After performing a transformation-based redundancy analysis (tb-RDA), we found total organic carbon as the only significant environmental parameter associated with testate amoebae assemblages (p<0.004). Our indicator species analysis (IndVal) confirms the eutrophic regime of Lake Chichoj in connection to the presence of Cucurbitella tricuspis and Centropyxis aculeata strain “aculeata” as indicators of nutrient enrichment and stressful conditions. The testate amoebae assemblages identified in Lake Chichoj represent a critical baseline for future studies of Guatemalan lakes, strengthening our understanding of the causal factors behind water quality in neotropical regions.
Quality of care and cost of prescriptions for diabetes and hypertension at primary healthcare facilities in the Cape Town Metropole
Authors: Isaacs A. , Manga N. , Le Grange C. , Hellenberg D. A. , Titus V. , Sayed R.
Published: November 2022

Background: Quality of care for diabetes mellitus and hypertension has been found to be suboptimal at primary health care level. There is an expectation that improving quality will require the increased utilisation of resources. This research was intended to determine the quality of care and cost of prescriptions at 10 facilities in the Cape Town Metropole.Method: An analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted in order to relate the cost of medication to quality-of-care indicators for patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Data were collected at the 10 facilities in the Cape Town Metropole over a three-month period.Results: Quality-of-care processes were performed more often in diabetic than in hypertensive patients, i.e. determination of body mass index (BMI) 52.4% vs. 46.4%, creatinine 45.2% vs. 35.7% and cholesterol 44.5% vs. 35.4%, respectively. Nevertheless, outcome measures were better in the hypertensive patients. Targets were achieved in hypertensive vs. diabetic patients, respectively, as follows: BMI (22.2% vs.18.1%), blood pressure (39.8% vs. 28.7%), creatinine (93.2% vs. 91.4%) and cholesterol (46.8% vs. 44%). The median cost per script was R44.66 and R30.06 for diabetic and hypertensive patients with good quality-of-care scores, respectively, and R51.18 and R31.00, for those with poor quality-of-care scores. Conclusion: The quality of care provided was poor when compared with the guideline recommendations, but was comparable to care provided in many other populations. There was no correlation between quality of care and the cost of the prescriptions.
Risk taking behaviour among urban and rural adolescents in two selected districts in Malaysia
Authors: Azmawati Mohd N. , Siti Hazariah Abdul H. , Shamsul Azhar S. , Norfazilah Ahmad , Azimatun Noor A. , Rozita Hod
Published: November 2022

Background: Risk taking behaviour refers to the tendency to engage in behaviours that have the potential to be harmful or dangerous, which has become a major concern and is rated as one of the public health issues that need special attention. The objective of the study was to compare the prevalence of risk taking behaviour and its associated factors among urban and rural adolescents.Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 306 adolescents by multistage sampling from two selected schools with involvement of their parents.Results: The prevalence of risk taking behaviours was 81.7% in the urban and 83.7% in the rural area ( p = 0.650). Parental background factors such as parent’s education level, marital status, health status, and income were unrelated with risk taking behaviour among adolescents. The multiple logistic regression test showed that being a male (AOR = 4.55, 95% CI = 2.28–9.07), inadequate number of bedrooms (AOR = 11.54, 95% CI = 1.48–89.75), and presence of family conflict (AOR = 3.64, 95% CI = 1.49–8.89) were the predictors among adolescents for risk taking behaviour in rural areas.Conclusion: The absence of a balanced healthy family and conducive environment would lead to a negative influence towards adolescent behaviour, which may affect both the individual and community.
Caffeine versus aminophylline for the prevention of apnoea of prematurity in a teaching hospital in South Africa
Authors: Schellack Natalie , Gous Andries G.S. , Mawela Patience B.
Published: November 2022

Study objectives: To determine the safety and efficacy of the use of oral anhydrous caffeine and intravenous aminophylline in the neonatal population using therapeutic drug levels and clinical effects as markers for determination.Design: Prospective randomised study.Patients: Thirty-one neonates admitted (aminophylline n = 16, caffeine n = 15) with a gestational age of less than or equal to 34 weeks for prevention of apnoea of prematurity (AOP) were enrolled.Results: Oral anhydrous caffeine or intravenous aminophylline were administered using prescribed study regimens. One peak level was taken for the two drugs on day 4 of treatment 2 hours after the maintenance dose was administered. The two regimens were clinically monitored using cardiovascular, respiratory, gastro-intestinal and central nervous system parameters four hourly. The two groups did not differ significantly for gestational age (p = 0.782), birth weight (p = 1), gender (p = 0.722), and Apgar scores determined at 5 minutes (p = 0.068). Serum concentrations were within range (5–20 μg/ml) for both study groups. The median pulse rate (beats per minute) for two days; day 7: 160 vs. 148 (p = 0.019); day 9: 168 vs. 147 (p = 0.020) and median respiratory rate (breaths per minute) for five days; day 3: 68 vs. 61 (p = 0.039); day 4: 67 vs. 57 (p = 0.014); day 5: 64 vs. 58 (p = 0.045); day 7: 65 vs. 50 (p = 0.021); day 8: 66 vs. 56 p = 0.014) were significantly higher in the aminophylline study arm.Conclusion: The findings of the study indicated that caffeine is an effective alternative for intravenous aminophylline in prevention of AOP. The oral administration of caffeine may also have an advantage in a resource-poor setting.
Grommets
Authors: Outhoff Kim
Published: November 2022

No abstract available.
Etiology of granulomatous inflammation
Authors: Cay Ummühan , Alabaz Derya , Gündeşlioğlu Özlem & , Uguz Aysun Hatice , Yanar Hande
Published: November 2022

Objective:

To investigate granulomatous inflammation etiology based on clinical history and ancillary tests.

Methods:

Children aged <18 years with biopsy proven granulomatous lesions in any tissue specimens between January 2014 and January 2022 were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on the results of immunohistochemical staining, molecular tests, culture, serology, radiological and other auxiliary laboratory tests. Diagnoses were categorized into infectious and noninfectious causes.

Results:

In total, 174 patients with granulomatosis inflammation confirmed by histopathology were analyzed. Approximately 59.2% patients were males, and the median age was 4.48 (IQR 2.36-6.39) years (range: 16 months-18 years). The tissues/organs that were most commonly biopsied were lymph node, bone, skin, and lung (51.1%, 17.8%, 9.2%, and 5.7%, respectively). Infectious and non-infectious causes were identified in 73.0% and 12.6% patients, respectively, in terms of granulomatosis inflammation etiology; however, no cause was identified in 14.4% patients. The most common infectious cause was tuberculosis (in 51.7% patients), followed by toxoplasmosis, aspergillosis, mucormycosis, leishmaniasis, and cat-scratch disease (in 8.6%, 5.7%, 1.7%, 1.7%, and 1.1% patients, respectively). The common non-infectious cause was chronic granulomatous disease. Histopathological evaluation revealed granulomatosis inflammation in 33.3% patients, necrotizing granulomatosis inflammation in 30.5% patients, and caseating granulomatosis inflammation in 12.1% patients. When the pathology results of patients with and without tuberculosis were compared, the incidence of caseating granulomatosis inflammation (P=0.003) and necrotizing granulomatosis inflammation (P=0.005) was higher in patients with tuberculosis.

Conclusions:

Chronic granulomatous disease is the most common non-infectious cause in children. Moreover, primary or secondary immune deficiencies may cause granulomatosis inflammation, especially in pediatric patients.
Virchow-Robin Space Enlargement Associated with Borderline Intelligence and Behavioral Problems in a Young Male
Authors: Lakshmi K. P. , Maheshwari Prerna , Menon Bindu , Chandra Subhash
Published: November 2022

A 22-year-old male presented with borderline intelligence, visual and auditory hallucinations, and an obsessive urge to bite. He was investigated for organic pathology in view of visual hallucinations and his magnetic resonance imaging study showed enlarged Virchow-Robin Space, which are fluid-filled spaces that surround small blood vessels and capillaries in the brain. He had no facial dysmorphic features or autistic features. Literature reports that this finding is associated with dementias in elderly, obsessions, and auditory hallucinations, but there is little data on its association with visual hallucinations, or intellectual impairment in the young. He responded well to a combination of medications and psychosocial approaches. Neuroimaging offers a noninvasive, reproducible method to better understand the clinical associations and accumulate evidence base in young patients presenting with intellectual impairment and behavioral problems.
How a Pandemic Changes Trauma
Authors: Dass Debashis , Ramhamadany Eamon , Govilkar Siddarth , Rhind John-Henry , Ford David , Singh Rohit , Thomas Geraint , Cool Paul
Published: November 2022

Introduction:

On June 24 in the United Kingdom, there were 277,989 cases of COVID-19 and 39,369 deaths recorded. The government enforced a complete lockdown on March 23 that resulted in cessation of all elective admissions on 24th onward, with only acute trauma cases being admitted to hospital. This study aims to characterize the changes in trauma admissions during the first 5-week lockdown period. The hypothesis states that there would be a significant reduction in overall orthopedic trauma admissions, polytrauma, and high-energy outdoor trauma during this COVID-19 period.

Methods:

All trauma admissions over nearly a 5-week period from March 23, 2020, to April 26, 2020, were collated as the “COVID cohort” and compared to the “control” group of patients from the same hospitals 1 year before between March 23, 2019, and April 26, 2019. Spinal admissions and pediatrics were excluded from the study as they were managed in other regional units.

Results:

There was a 56% reduction in trauma admissions during the COVID-19 lockdown (133 vs. 304). A majority of the COVID cohort were admitted with fractures (89 vs. 164, P = 0.017, Chi-square test) from home with low-energy falls. Overall, fewer operations were performed than the year before. However, a greater proportion of admitted patients had a surgical orthopedic intervention rather than admission and nonoperative management.

Conclusions:

There was a reduction in admissions as well as reductions in high energy and occupational injuries. Elderly patients continued to fall at home or in care, sustaining hip fractures. This vulnerable group requires beds, orthogeriatric management followed by surgical intervention and social care. Orthogeriatric services must be maintained to ensure the best clinical outcomes for this group.
A Rare Case of Isolated, Spontaneous, and Asymptomatic Common Carotid Artery Dissection
Authors: Farouji Iyad , Abed Hossam , Dacosta Theodore , Shaaban Hamid , Suleiman Addi
Published: November 2022

Carotid artery dissection begins as a tear in one of the carotid arteries of the neck, which allows blood under arterial pressure to enter the wall of the artery and split its layers. The result is either an intramural hematoma or an aneurysmal dilatation. It is a significant cause of neurological signs and symptoms in all age groups. The common carotid artery dissection is the least affected and reported in the literature. There are multiple conditions that can cause the common carotid artery dissection including, trauma, procedures, and rarely spontaneous. Herein, we report a very unique and rare case of a female who presented with spontaneous and isolated common carotid artery dissection with no neurological signs and symptoms.
The risk factors for self-monitoring of blood glucose among individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alsuliman Mohammed Abdulrahman , Zhang Qi , Mishoe Shelley , Durgampudi Praveen K.
Published: November 2022

Background:

Lack of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is a known risk factor for controlling type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Nevertheless, little research has been conducted on SMBG among Saudis with T2DM.

Aim:

The study aimed to investigate personal and cognitive-perceptual factors for SMBG among Saudis with T2DM guided by Health Promotion Model.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample size of 808 Saudi adults with T2DM utilizing secondary data from the Saudi Health Interview Survey for 2013.

Statistical Analysis:

Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were applied to examine the risk factors for SMBG among Saudis with T2DM.

Results:

The prevalence of SMBG was 55.5% in Saudi adults with T2DM. In the multivariate analysis, obesity (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] = 1.20), middle (APR = 1.30) and higher (APR = 1.49) education where predictors of SMBG, whereas shorter diabetes duration (APR = 0.78 for <5 years and 0.78 for 5–9 years) and Eastern region (APR = 0.66) were inversely associated with SMBG.

Conclusions:

The study suggested the future design of interventional programs related to self-care practices should focus on diabetic individuals with low education, obesity, and longer duration of diabetes, and regional differences, specifically when considering limited access to health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, longitudinal studies with a large sample size at national and regional levels are needed to further examine the personal and psychological risk factors in Saudis with T2DM.
Milk curd syndrome with goat's milk
Authors: Gupta Rahul
Published: November 2022

Milk curd syndrome is an infrequent cause of intestinal obstruction in neonates and early infancy. We are adding to the literature an extremely rare case of milk curd syndrome in a 3-month-old infant who was being fed with goat's milk. A 3-month-old infant presented with features of intestinal obstruction. The patient used to pass a few pellets such as small, firm, white-colored stools after every 2 to 3 days often requiring enema. The baby was fed with goat's milk. Abdominal radiographs suggested large bowel obstruction. The conservative treatment with rectal washes failed. Exploration revealed dilated small bowel with the presence of very dense, inspissated, sticky, and white-colored intraluminal material in the terminal ileum and throughout the colon. Multiple attempts were made to milk the contents distally and finally out of the rectum but failed. A transverse loop colostomy was performed and inspissated milk curds were milked out. The outcome was favorable. The diagnosis of milk curd obstruction should be considered in neonates and infants with signs of the terminal ileum or large bowel obstruction fed with unmodified animal milk, for example, goat's milk (as seen in our case) or formula feeds.
Translation and interpretation in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Šveda Pavol , Djovčoš Martin
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly had a significant influence on the translating and interpret­ing industry. Even while certain tendencies are now apparent, it will take some time to fully under­stand how profound and transformative the years of pandemic measures and social isolation were. This paper summarises findings from two surveys conducted among translators and interpreters in Slovakia. The first was conducted during the first wave of the pandemic and focused on the immediate economic and psychological implications of the first lockdown measures on the transla­tion community. Apart from measuring the changes in demand for services, the share of cancelled assignments and general mood among professionals, we have also enquired about the demand for remote interpreting. The proportion of those who encountered offers for remote interpreting nearly doubled in the six weeks after the introduction of the first lockdown measures in Slovakia (an increase from 18.75% to 39.69%). The second source of data is a survey of rates which already captures how much remote interpreting penetrated the structure of interpreting service one year after the onset of the pandemic. Based on our findings, the average number of remote interpreting days in 2021 was 67.53% of the total number of interpreting days. This rapid onset of remote inter­preting recovered demand for interpreting services as the volume of work began to catch up with pre-pandemic levels, but also brought a greater psychological burden and stress resulting from the different nature of remote interpretation.
Re/Deconstructing voices of (female) translators: The case of Bolesława Kopelówna (1897-1961)
Authors: Sobesto Joanna
Published: November 2022

The article presents the life and work of Bolesława Kopelówna, a Polish literary translator who was especially active (and widely criticised) in the interwar years in Poland, and is now almost completely forgotten. The article attempts to answer the following questions: why was Kopelówna so intensely criticised? Why has she disappeared from the collective memory? Why was she so active in the field of translation? And, no less crucially, who was this enigmatic figure of Bolesława Kopelówna? Through an application of microhistorical tools to fragments of Kopelówna’s life and work, I will re/deconstruct her seemingly non-existing archive. Combining interdisciplinary tools from literary history, history and feminist studies, my aim is not only to bring back the voice of a silenced, overlooked, and underestimated translator, but also to encourage other researchers to attempt to fill blank spaces in translation history.
This research was founded by the mini-grant "Translation policies in interwar Poland: the case of Rocznik Literacki [The Literary Annual] 1932-1938. The methodology of the history of translation and interdisciplinary research on heritage and identity" in the Heritage PRA 2020 at Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland (1st edition).
Déterminants socio-économiques de la production de lentille de terre [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Maréchal & Baudet] au Bénin
Authors: Vissoh P.V. , Agoyi É.E. , Dohou E.R.J. , Miassi Y.E.S.
Published: November 2022

La lentille de terre (Macrotyloma geocarpum) est une légumineuse populaire au Bénin, dont le niveau de production est resté stagnant, voire en légère baisse au cours de la dernière décennie. L’objectif de cette étude était d’analyser les déterminants socio-économiques et culturels de la production de M. geocarpum au Bénin. Une enquête a été menée au moyen de discussions de groupe et d’entretiens individuels sur un échantillon de 103 producteurs de lentille de terre identifiés grâce à l’approche d’échantillonnage « boule de neige » à travers 21 villages répartis dans cinq communes productrices du département du Zou. Il a été observé que la production de la lentille de terre était déterminée principalement par l’âge, le sexe, la classe sociale, la distance de la maison au champ, le soutien de la vulgarisation, le groupe ethnique et la superficie emblavée pour la production. D’autre part, l’abandon de la production était principalement dû à un accès et un contrôle limité des ressources par les femmes ; accès limité à l’éducation et non-implication des femmes dans les instances de prise de décision ; les variations climatiques, la pénurie de main-d’œuvre occasionnelle et le manque de soutien financier à la production.
Racial inequality and the imperative critique of the South African negotiated settlement
Authors: Ndlazi Gugu
Published: November 2022

The former South African first black President’s vision aimed to unite and fight racial tensions and inequalities by introducing and envisioning a South Africa for all who live in it. However, twenty-five years later, the post-apartheid South Africa is riddled with cancerous ills such as racial inequality, racism, and failure to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich. This paper will attest to the notion that the 1994 rainbow nation ideology is dead because racial inequality is still a norm, and that the implication of the negotiated settlement has preserved racial inequality and its core racist foundations. The ideology of the “rainbow nation” has failed to erode racial inequality in South Africa. It has failed to close the gap between the poor and the rich and most importantly, the “rainbow nation” ideology has shown that it was a one-sided concord dependent on whose privilege matters most and not a collective view to addressing racial inequality. Black South Africans have, therefore, continued to bear the brunt of poverty, unemployment and inequality compared to white South fricans. I argue that the “rainbow nation” has failed to address racial inequality and build the imperative ideology of sameness and togetherness. I will employ a standard method of applied analytical philosophy to perform this task, which is grounded in critical conceptual analysis and systematic rational argumentation.