bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease on Pulmonary Function Tests
Authors: Puneeth M., Prashanth Kumar M.
Published: January 2024

Background

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the esophagus becomes irritated or inflamed because of acid backing up from the stomach. Heartburn and regurgitation are the typical symptoms of GERD. GERD can cause esophageal and extra-esophageal syndromes. Respiratory manifestations of GERD represent one of the most prevalent and challenging of these extra-esophageal syndromes. It is known to be associated with many forms of respiratory diseases, including asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The following study is taken up to know the extent to which the GERD affects the lung functions so that it can be diagnosed and treated at the earliest in order to prevent irreversible damage to the lungs.

Objectives

To assess the lung function tests in individuals suffering from Gastroesophageal Reflux disease.

Materials and Method

The study included 30 patients suffering from GERD as cases and 30 subjects not suffering from GERD as controls. Pulmonary function tests of each subject were recorded using Helios 401 spirometer. The results were compiled and statistically analyzed for significant differences.

Results

It was found that the following PFT Parameters FVC, FEV1, PEFR, FEV1/FVC, FEF25–75% were significantly reduced in GERD patients in comparison with controls.

Conclusion

The results of the study conclude that GERD patients have a significantly lower Pulmonary function in comparison with controls.
Introduction and Assessment of Jigsaw Method of Teaching on Challenging Topics in Physiology for First Year Medical Students
Authors: Suman Sharma, Sangita Chauhan, Manjinder Kaur
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Working with active participation in a group results in success. It has been observed that the attendance and performance of the students is reducing in small group teaching because of their lack of interest. Jigsaw method is an innovative and cooperative method of teaching and learning as it involves active participation of students, focuses on fellow learners’ co-operation and reassures team work.

Objectives

The present study is aimed for introducing and assessing the effectiveness of Jigsaw method in enhancing cognitive and communication skills in M.B.B.S. students and it also attempts to train the faculty for this teaching learning method.

Methodology

A didactic lecture on the topic “Auditory system: EAR” was taken by the faculty of the Department of Physiology for 150 first year MBBS students. A prevalidated questionnaire based pre-test was taken in the tutorial hours. Students were randomly divided into 4 expert groups. Each group was given 4 subtopics of ear and they had 30 minutes to prepare it. After that, one student from each expert group was selected and a new mixed group of 4students each was made. The new group was asked to discuss the topic in 30 minutes. Now a Post-test was taken. Student feedback was taken by a prevalidated questionnaire of feedback Reflection writing of the faculty and students were also taken.

Result

It was observed that there was a 118% gain of knowledge in the students P< 0.0001 120.88% students agreed that this teaching learning method was helpful, time saving and doubt clearing. 23.96% students strongly agree that this method should be conducted more frequently in future and in the other departments also. 57.14% faculty suggested that this method needs more planning to execute but at the same time they agreed that it involved active participation of students and faculty both.

Conclusion

Cooperative learning like Jigsaw facilitates learning in small groups with fellow learner and encourages team work which ultimately enhances the teaching learning experience.
A Cross-Sectional Survey to Assess the Risk Factors of Cardio Vascular Disease among College Students
Authors: Jafar Ali K  , Hansaram
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of deaths globally which claim anestimated 17.9 million lives each year. It is a major cause of disability and premature death throughout the world and contributes substantially to the escalating costs of health care. Modification of risk factors has been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity in people with diagnosed or undiagnosed cardiovascular diseases. Prior assessment is found to be helpful in predictions of absolute cardiovascular risks among young adults.Objectives: To assess the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among college students.Methods: Descriptive survey was conducted among 207 college students at Najath College of Science andTechnology, Karuvarakundu, Kerala from 10/10/2019 to 18/10/2019.Convenient sampling method was used to select the samples. Structured risk factor assessment Performa and Biophysical measurements were used as tool.Result: The study identified 40.57% students as in moderate risk and 5.31% were in high risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. The study reported that 6.2% of students were overweight whereas 45% had elevated blood pressure. It was found that 64.25%of the students had family history of chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and obesity. The 8.21% students were smokers out of these, 17.39% were using smokeless tobacco whereas 31.88% were exposed to passive smoking and 12.56% students were drinkers. In terms of physical activity, 62.31% of the students were sedentary. The food habits of 98.56% students were non -vegetarian and 46.85% of them were consuming red meat.Conclusion: Periodic assessment and comprehensive health awareness would be helpful to modify unhealthy habits and minimize the risk of cardiovascular problems among the college students.
ASSESSING SELECT PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISASTER AND RISK REDUCTION MANAGEMENT DURING PANDEMIC RESTRICTION IN THE PHILIPPINES
Authors: Pandapatan M. Alican
Published: January 2024

This study uses a descriptive methodology to assess the implementation of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) by selected public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey data were collected with a two-part questionnaire to construct a demographic profile of the respondents and assess the level of DRRM implementation by the schools in four thematic areas: disaster prevention and mitigation, disaster preparedness, disaster response, and disaster rehabilitation and recovery. Eighty-one teachers from five high schools participated in the survey. The participants were diverse in terms of age, sex, length of service, field of specialization, and level of training on DRRM. The level of DRRM implementation was high in all four thematic areas. Means and standard deviations were 3.06 ± 0.49 for disaster prevention and mitigation, 2.99 ± 0.51 for disaster preparedness, 2.99 ± 0.59 for disaster response, and 2.98 ± 0.49 for disaster rehabilitation and recovery. Overall, the four thematic areas were carefully observed and implemented by the surveyed schools during the pandemic. The schools adhered to the standards prescribed by the national DRRM council and reinforced by order of the Philippine Department of Education. It is highly recommended that schools maximize their implementation in these four areas and create ways to enhance their ability to deal with disasters.
90+1 Spor Hukuku Gerekçeli Soru Cevap
Authors: Durak Emine Pınar
Published: January 2024

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Sinemanın İdeolojik Yüzü: Hollywood Filmi Wag the Dog Üzerinden Medya Manipülasyonu ve Dezenformasyon Gerçeği
Authors: SARITAŞ İbrahim , KOÇAK Utku
Published: January 2024

Modern dünyada iletişim araçlarının yaygınlaşması ve gelişmesi, insanın habere erişim hızını arttırsa da bilginin doğruluğuna dair güven meselesini daha da karmaşık bir hâle getirmiştir. Bu bağlamda medya araçlarının çeşitlenmesi ve dijitalleşme, bireylerin gerçeğe ulaşma çabalarını sekteye uğratan bir süreci ortaya çıkarmıştır. Çalışma, uluslararası düzeydeki enformasyon savaşlarına odaklanarak gerçek bilginin siyasal karar alma süreçleri ve güvenlik kavramları üzerinden nasıl manipüle edildiğini anlamayı hedeflemektedir. Bu amaçla, hakikate ulaşma çabasının tarihsel gelişiminden hareketle günümüz modern dünyasında yaşanan zorluklara odaklanılmıştır. Özellikle sinemanın ideolojik propaganda aracı olarak kullanılması ve sonrasında bir yumuşak güç unsuruna dönüşmesi ele alınarak bu yolla hakikatin nasıl gizlendiği incelenmiştir. Bu doğrultuda ideoloji ve devlet mekanizmalarıyla entegre olan sinemanın toplumsal dönüşüme etkisi analiz edilirken günümüz medya dünyasında dezenformasyonun yayılma biçimleri ele alınmıştır. Bu manipülasyonların bir yolu olarak şiddet unsurunun en güçlü temsillerinden biri olan savaş kavramı üzerinden hareketle ideolojilerin toplum nezdindeki meşruiyet süreci, araştırma unsurlarından bir diğeridir. Çalışmada yöntem olarak Hollywood sinemasının eleştirel örneklerinden biri olan Wag the Dog (Levinson, 1997) filminin ideolojik analiziyle, bilgi dezenformasyonlarının modern medya dünyasında ve özellikle Gazze’de yaşananlar üzerinden Orta Doğu coğrafyasında ne şekilde etkili olduğu analiz edilmiştir.
YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT, A REAL PROBLEM: BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS
Authors: GABRIKOVA BARBORA , GAJDOSIKOVA DOMINIKA
Published: January 2024

On the labour market, unemployment is a negative phenomenon. A growing body of scientific literature emphasises the importance of resolving this issue. On the labour market, youth are considered one of the most vulnerable groups. The purpose of this study is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of youth unemployment in order to identify the countries that have contributed the most to the development of this issue, as well as to identify key terms that are closely associated with the topic at hand. For the analysis, we use studies published in the Web of Science database during the period 2001-2023. We use VOS viewer to create individual bibliometric maps. The most scientific studies were published during the years 2019 - 2021. The countries that contributed the most to the development of this issue are the United Kingdom, Germany and the USA. According to the results of the bibliometric analysis, the keywords unemployment, employment, education, as well as impact are most frequently associated with the given topic.
GAINING INSIGHTS INTO REBAR STEEL MARKET FORCES: CASE STUDY OF EZZ REBAR STEEL INDUSTRY
Authors: SALMAN DOAA , NABIL ELSHERBINI REHAM , SAFWAT ELGAYAR MAHMOUD , SHOUKRY AHMED
Published: January 2024

This case study provides guidance for market forces in one of the essential industries in Egypt. The study analyzes the market forces affecting the flat steel industry from 2019 to 2022, including the supply, demand, and elasticity of flat steel produced by Al-Ezz Dekheila Steel Company, one of the largest producers of flat steel in the Middle East. The paper also provides insight into future business opportunities in the industry. The steel industry is a crucial sector in the Egyptian economy, contributing significantly to industrialization and providing numerous employment opportunities. This paper provides an overview of the steel industry in Egypt, from its inception to its current status, including key players and milestones. The focus is on gaining insights into the economics of Rebar Steel (Long Steel), with specific emphasis on Ezz Steel, one of the largest steel producers in Egypt. The paper highlights the importance of the steel industry and its value-added supply chain through various operation cycles.
Understanding and application of restoring endodontically treated teeth among dentists of Islamabad and Rawalpindi - a twin city survey
Authors: Rabia Qamar  , Seemi Tanvir  , Quratulain Khan  , Nouman Noor  , Sadaf Humayoun  , Ayesha Fazal
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Endodontically treated teeth undergo loss of tooth structure resulting in increased fracture susceptibility as compared to unrestored vital teeth. The final restoration following the root canal treatment is of paramount importance. This study aimed to determine current concepts, opinions, and techniques used for restoration of Endodontically Treated Teeth among dentists of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and compare their knowledge with their clinical practice in order to determine the gap between their understanding and application.  

METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study, conducted in Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad from February-June 2022 after ethical approval. Convenience sampling technique was used. About 235 dentists including house officers, general dentists, postgraduate trainees and consultants of Endodontics of Islamabad/Rawalpindi participated. Data was collected by structured questionnaire widely accepted with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.75, through electronic media. Its first part included demographics while second part included questions regarding understanding and practice of endodontically treated teeth restoration. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS 2, chi-square test and fisher’s exact test were applied.

RESULTS: Mean age of study participants was 29.0±4.54 years. Out of 235 participants, 76(32.3%) were males and 159(67.75%) were females. The responses regarding technical management of endodontically treated teeth showed significant difference with p-value≤0.001 in the understanding and applications of general dental practitioners and endodontists.

CONCLUSION: Significant difference was found among dentists regarding their understanding and practice of restoring endodontically treated teeth.
European Capital of Culture and Sustainable Tourism
Authors: Mavrin Igor
Published: January 2024

European Capital of Culture (ECoC), as a long-term cultural initiative of the European Union, has inevitably become intertwined with tourism development in designated cities. For almost four decades, medium-sized and small cities across Europe have been allowed to shift their local economies towards creativity and cultural tourism, driven by the ECoC title, with different cities achieving different levels of success. Since the 1990s, the ECoC initiative has followed the EU's trends, resolutions, and recommendations. The mid-2000s, 2010s, and early 2020s have given the trend a new drive with a more procedural approach in the ECoC bidding process. Sustainable development is one of the EU’s main strategic goals in the new era, and sustainable tourism has also influenced the ECoC initiative, making it one of the key priorities. This paper analyses the concepts of modern cultural tourism and the phenomena of over-tourism and sustainable tourism, especially in the ECoC context. Research methodology is based on secondary sources, including scientific papers, bid books and other official documents drawn up by ECoC cities and ECoC reports. The paper seeks to recognise and systematise the changes in cultural tourism trends in the ECoC context.
Lactic acid production by immobilized Rhizopus sp. IIUM-G05 in air pulsed ALR using agriculture waste substrates
Authors: Alasali U , Azmi A.S , Karaman I , Alam M.Z , Puad N.I.M
Published: January 2024

The demand for lactic acid (LA) in various fields has increased significantly due to its functional properties. Rhizopus sp. IIUM-G05 has been used before to produce lactic acid using various substrates, but the low production yield remains an issue. This is due to the difficulty in finding a suitable low-cost substrate and controlling the fungal morphology during fermentation to maintain high oxygen concentration. Therefore, this study aimed to address these issues by selecting the best substrate for higher LA yield and using loofah immobilized Rhizopus sp. to increase the yield through semi-continuous simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) in an air pulsed airlift reactor (ALR). The study compared banana peel (BaP) and beet pulp (BeP) as substrates and found that BaP produced a 3-fold higher yield than BeP. The study also tested different air pulsation frequencies in loofah immobilized ALR with BaP to increase LA yield. The results showed that the 0.0384 s-1 frequency was the best to increase LA yield to 0.091 g/g after three days of fermentation, which was 2.1-fold higher than the free-cell non-pulsed shake flask culture in the first part of the study. SEM images showed that the 0.1667 s-1 frequency resulted in oxygen transfer limitation in the ALR due to irregular formation and trapped BaP particles between mycelium. This study demonstrates that BaP can be used for LA production by Rhizopus sp. The air pulsation system with suitable pulsing frequency may help improve production yield by controlling fungal growth inside submerged cultures.
Studies on the effect of natural extract of some marine algae on in vitro growth and development of banana micropropagules
Authors: Teraiya Sagar , Nirmal Dhaval , Joshi Preetam
Published: January 2024

The current work aims to provide a cost-effective and reliable micropropagation method of banana using some natural extract of unexplored potential seaweeds. We tried natural extract of eight different seaweeds (C. racemosa, Gracilaria edalis, Caulerpa paspaloides, Ulva lactuca, Sargassum tenerrimum., Caulerpa sertularioides, Sargassum wightii, Gracilaria corticata.) to check their role in in vitro growth and development of micropropagules and their potential in replacing commercial plant growth regulators (PGRs) in banana micropropagation. The in vitro developed shoots were allowed to grow on modified MS medium supplemented with different seaweed extracts and regularly subcultured on the same medium throughout the experiment. The growth and biochemical parameters were recorded and compared with micropropagules growing in a controlled environment (i.e., MS medium supplemented with/without standard PGRs). We found a significant increase in shoot length (highest in S. tenerrimum, i.e. double as compared to negative control), shoot number (highest in G. edalis, i.e., three fold as compared to negative control) and fresh weight (S. tenerrimum) of the banana micropropagules when grown under the influence of Liquid Seaweed Extract (LSE). This is comparable to growth observed in standard control conditions (i.e. positive control). However, addition of LSE of G. corticate, C. paspaloides and S. wightii did not show any noteworthy effect on shoot length, shoot number and fresh weight. Total chlorophyll and other biomolecule accumulation in test propagules varied with types and concentrations of LSE. S. tenerrimum proved to be overall good growth promoter, as it caused maximum accumulation of chlorophyll (0.202±0.02 mg g-1) and protein (105±0.45 mg g-1) and significant and encouraging results in phenol, carbohydrates and proline. Our results show that seaweed can be potential source of beneficial natural compounds and it can be a cheaper option in banana micropropagation technology.
A study on nutrient optimization for enhanced geranium oil yield in the lower altitude zones of Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Verma Prawal Pratap Singh , Kumar Dipender , Rawat Sushmita , Agri B. , Kumar Amit , Padalia R.C
Published: January 2024

This study, carried out at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research Centre Purara, Bageshwar (Uttarakhand), investigated the growth and productivity of geranium crops under different NPK doses in the lower hills of Uttarakhand. Nine different NPK treatments, varying from 60:40:20 to 220:200:180 kg ha-1, were applied using a Randomised Block Design. Examined factors related to plant growth and yield, included plant height, diameter, stem count, leaf count, fresh shoot biomass per gramme of plant, and fresh herb yield per hectare. The 180:160:140 NPK level produced the highest fresh herb yield of 327.29 q ha-1, which corresponded to the highest oil yield of 163.65 kg ha-1. This study provides valuable insights into optimising NPK formulations to improve geranium crop yields, which is essential for increasing agricultural productivity in the Himalayan hills of Uttarakhand.
Relations between morphological traits and body weight of shortbelly eel, Dysomma anguillare (Actinopterygii: Anguilliformes: Synaphobranchidae), from coastal waters of Zhoushan, East China Sea, determined by multivariate analyses
Authors: Zhu Ziyan , Yang Tianyan , Wang Sige
Published: January 2024

The shortbelly eel, Dysomma anguillare Barnard, 1923, is an essential component in the food chain of the marine ecosystem and plays an important role in nearshore fisheries and biodiversity in the East China Sea. In order to provide theoretical support for fishery resource assessment and sustainable utilization of D. anguillare, an important bycatch in the offshore area of China, the relations between morphological traits and body weight were investigated based on the measurement of 28 metric traits for the first time. The correlation analysis showed that 25 morphological traits were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with the logarithm of body weight (lgX0), in which the correlation coefficient of the total length (X1) was the largest with the extremely high significance (P < 0.01). The optimum multiple regression equation of morphological traits was constructed after deleting redundant independent variables: lgX0 = 0.367 + 0.003X1 + 0.010X7 – 0.010X8 + 0.011X10 + 0.042X14 + 0.006X15 + 0.024X19 – 0.004X23. The total length (X1) had the highest positive direct relation with lgX0 (0.699), which was in accordance with the results of determinate coefficient analysis, while the indirect effect of body height (X7) through lower jaw length (X19) to lgX0 was the greatest. The gray correlation analysis indicated that body length (X2) and distance from snout to dorsal fin origin (X22) were the most closely related to body weight. The comprehensive comparison showed that X1, X2, and X22 should be used as the ideal morphometric traits for measuring the body weight of D. anguillare, and the conclusions obtained from this study will provide valuable references for fishery resource management of this commercial fish species.
Two novel freshwater hyphomycetes, in Acrogenospora (Minutisphaerales, Dothideomycetes) and Conioscypha (Conioscyphales, Sordariomycetes) from Southwestern China
Authors: Li Lu , Du Hong-Zhi , Thiyagaraja Vinodhini , Bhat Darbhe Jayarama , Phookamsak Rungtiwa , Cheewangkoon Ratchadawan
Published: January 2024

Freshwater fungi are highly diverse in China and frequently reported from submerged wood, freshwater insects, herbaceous substrates, sediments, leaves, foams, and living plants. In this study, we investigated two freshwater species that were collected from Yunnan and Guizhou provinces in China. Detailed morphological analysis complemented by multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on LSU, SSU, ITS, RPB2 and TEF1-α sequences data revealed them to be two new saprobic species, namely Acrogenospora alangiisp. nov. and Conioscypha yunnanensissp. nov. in their asexual morphs. Additionally, Acrogenospora alangiisp. nov. is reported for the first time as a freshwater ascomycete associated with the medicinal plant Alangium chinense (Alangiaceae). Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations and updated phylogenetic relationships of the new taxa are provided herein.
Lysimachia danxiashanensis, a new species of Primulaceae from Guangdong, China
Authors: Zhang Xing-Yue , Dai Jing-Min , Fan Qiang , Chen Zai-Xiong , Tang Guang-Da , Liao Wen-Bo
Published: January 2024

Lysimachia danxiashanensis, a new Primulaceae species, endemic to the Danxia landscape in Guangdong Province, China, is described and illustrated. This new species is morphologically similar to L. pseudohenryi, L. phyllocephala, L. congestiflora and L. kwangtungensis, but it differs from the similar species by its purplish-red plants, petiole without wings, calyx with orange glandular and the corolla margin serrated on upper half with orange-red glandular punctates. This new species belongs to Lysimachia subgen. Lysimachia sect. Nummularia. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that L. danxiashanensis is a distinct clade, based on the combined data of ITS and rbcL sequences. The conservation status of the new species was evaluated as Endangered (EN) according to IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.
Stochastic inequalities involving past extropy of order statistics and past extropy of record values
Authors: Shrahili Mansour , Kayid Mohamed , Mesfioui Mhamed
Published: January 2024

Recently, extropy has emerged as an alternative measure of uncertainty instead of entropy. When it comes to quantifying uncertainty regarding the remaining lifetime of a component, entropy has proven to be less effective. Therefore, the concept of residual entropy was introduced to address this limitation. Similar to the residual entropy, the residual extropy was formulated and used to investigate the uncertainty in the residual lifetime of a unit. Systems in the real world exhibit a pervasive property of uncertainty that affects future events and past events. For this reason, the concept of past extropy was introduced to specifically capture and analyze the uncertainty associated with past events. This paper focuses on stochastic aspects, including stochastic orderings, which provide useful inequalities related to past extropy when applied to order statistics and lower record values. It is worth noting that the past extropy of the $ i $th-order statistics and record values in the continuous case is related to the past extropy of the $ i $th-order statistics and record values evaluated from the uniform distribution. The monotonicity of the past extropy of order statistics is examined and some insights into the past extropy of lower data set values are also given. Finally, some computational results are presented. In fact, an estimator for the extropy of the exponential distribution is proposed. For this purpose, the maximum likelihood estimator is derived. The proposed method is easy to implement and apply from a computational point of view.
El catastro en el sur de Italia: una presencia centenaria (del siglo XV al XVIII)
Authors: Bulgarelli Alessandra
Published: January 2024

La contribución tiene como objetivo investigar la presencia del catastro en las finanzas municipales durante los siglos XVI-XVII, época en la que parecían haber prevalecido los impuestos indirectos (aranceles y gabelas), cuya elevación no requería investigaciones censales. El Reino de Nápoles (Sur de Italia) fue elegido como caso de estudio por la riqueza de las fuentes documentales aún existentes y exploradas hasta ahora en aspectos relacionados con las finanzas locales. El objetivo de esta contribución es acercar el foco de la investigación a los catastros de los siglos XV-XVII para intentar definir cómo se realizaban a nivel local antes de la reforma deseada por Carlos de Borbón en los años 40 del siglo XVIII. Se intentará comprender cómo se valoraba la riqueza, cuál era la base imponible y cuáles eran los mecanismos de recaudación. Se investigan todos aquellos documentos catastrales que permitan dar respuesta a estas preguntas, evitando que un solo estudio de caso se eleve al modelo explicativo de todo un sistema. El método adoptado es el comparativo que aprovecha la comparación entre casos y modelos catastrales tanto los antiguos como los de la reforma de Carlos de Borbón. La principal lectura de la encuesta se refiere a la relación entre norma y práctica, es decir, a la dialéctica entre la norma codificada por los aparatos de gobierno en pragmáticas, edictos e instrucciones y la práctica catastral vigente a nivel municipal en una época en la que el particularismo local podía beneficiarse del respeto soberano por la costumbre de las comunidades.
La estadística de Martín de Garay, 1818-1820: Una fuente geohistórica para el estudio del paisaje vitivinícola castellano
Authors: Fernández Portela Julio , Hernández García Ricardo
Published: January 2024

Las llanuras de Castilla se han caracterizado a lo largo de su historia por desarrollar una economía basada en el cultivo del cereal, pero también del viñedo. Asociado al paisaje vitivinícola se encuentran las vides y las bodegas.
Con esta investigación se pretende estudiar la configuración del paisaje urbano propio de una localidad del centro de Castilla (Dueñas), cuya estructura económica se centra en la agricultura, y donde la vid y el vino han sido claves en su economía, tal como reflejan los documentos consultados, así como el rico patrimonio de bodegas con el que cuenta y que es reflejo de la actividad vitivinícola que tuvo desde la Edad Media hasta comienzos del siglo XX.
Para conocer el valor del cultivo de la vid y de la producción de vino en el siglo XIX se ha recurrido al uso de fuentes geohistóricas, en este caso el cuaderno general de la riqueza. También se han empleado otras fuentes geohistóricas complementarias como han sido el Catastro de Ensenada y el Diccionario de Madoz. Estas fuentes ofrecen información que ha permitido conocer la superficie de viñedo, variedades de uva, las calidades de los majuelos, la producción de cántaras de vino, las bodegas existentes o conocer el número de propietarios de viñedos, datos que permiten configurar el paisaje urbano ligado al cultivo de la vid y a la elaboración de vino para una época, la comprendida entre mediados del siglo XVIII y mediados del siglo XIX, para la que la documentación suele escasear. Paralelamente, se valoran dichas fuentes geohistóricas, dos de ellas catastrales, y la complementariedad entre ellas.
¿Y después del archivo? Una mirada a las fuentes geohistóricas y su papel en el seno de la Geografía Histórica
Authors: García Juan Laura , Alberto Villavicencio Ángeles
Published: January 2024

En este trabajo se recoge una reflexión acerca del crecimiento exponencial que se está produciendo en el uso de las fuentes geohistóricas, y su relación con los cambios de paradigma que genera la tecnología. El recorrido por el papel que juega este amplio conjunto documental en la investigación lleva de forma irremediable a abordar aspectos relacionados con su tratamiento, una cuestión que se vinculará con la necesidad de establecer un contexto disciplinar. Y es que, ante la situación actual, y mirando al futuro, se hace necesario que la geografía histórica se recupere de forma preeminente como el marco teórico y epistemológico en el que se inserten las fuentes geohistóricas, con la finalidad de cohesionarlas con una teoría, unos métodos y unas herramientas. De esta forma, se acercará al lector a este conjunto documental y a la democratización de su uso. Así mismo, se muestra una revisión del cómo se ha investigado a la luz de las nuevas tecnologías. Finalmente, ligado a unas conclusiones formuladas, a modo de reflexión, se recogen los desafíos y retos más destacados, presentes tanto a escala nacional como internacional.
Quantum Mechanics Primer
Authors: Khang Alex , Rath Kali Charan , Panda Nalinikanta , Kumar Amaresh
Published: January 2024

The introduction to quantum physics in this chapter is about its foundations and connection to quantum computing. The basis for quantum computing, a field with enormous potential, is the science of quantum mechanics. There are some key quantum physics ideas discussed in this chapter. The basics of quantum computing are examined. The benefits and difficulties of applying quantum physics to real-world applications are explored. The purpose of this chapter is to give readers a thorough knowledge of quantum physics.
Quantum Leap in Healthcare
Authors: Adhikary Sudipta , Chanda Kaushik , Banerjee Kaushik , Mukherjee Gunjan , Chaudhuri Avijit Kumar
Published: January 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) stands out as a potent asset across diverse industries, with its potential within the realm of medicine proving to be exceptionally profound. This chapter takes a comprehensive journey through the myriad applications of AI in healthcare, illuminating its profound influence on patient care, disease diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, and advanced medical exploration. The fusion of AI algorithms, machine learning paradigms, and deep learning strategies empowers healthcare providers to amplify operational efficiency, precision, and the very bedrock of decision-making processes. Within this document, an intricate examination of the merits and hurdles entailed in the integration of AI into the medical domain ensues, concurrently dissecting ethical quandaries and prospective trajectories for evolution.
Quantum Computing in Pharmaceutical Science
Authors: Yingngam Bancha
Published: January 2024

In the field of pharmaceutical science, there is an increasing demand for advanced computational techniques to enhance drug discovery and understand complex molecular interactions. Classical models, despite their strengths, often struggle with complex biological systems and accurate drug predictions. Quantum computing, using qubits that exist in multiple states, processes information at unparalleled speeds. This chapter sheds light on the principles of quantum computing, emphasizing algorithms specifically designed for pharmaceutical applications. These methods signal groundbreaking advancements in drug design, molecular simulation, and drug interaction predictions. Quantum computers have the potential to surpass classical computers in simulating intricate molecules, thus offering more precise drug side effect forecasts. While challenges such as noise and error rates remain, the continuous evolution of quantum technology holds significant potential for breakthroughs in drug discovery and development.
Quantum-Inspired Optimization for Enterprises
Authors: Thilagavathy R. , Gayathri M. , Sandhia G. K. , Pushpalatha M.
Published: January 2024

Optimization involves finding the best solution from a set of possible options. Traditional computers employ classical algorithms like gradient descent and simulated annealing to solve these problems. However, as the complexity of problems increases, classical computers encounter limitations in terms of time and resources. Quantum optimization stands as a revolutionary paradigm that harnesses the unique properties of quantum mechanics to tackle complex optimization problems that are beyond the capabilities of classical computers. Quantum computers utilize qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information, which can exist in superpositions of states, enabling them to process a vast number of possibilities simultaneously. Additionally, the phenomenon of entanglement enables qubits to be correlated in ways that classical bits cannot, further enhancing their computational power. In this chapter, the authors will delve into the principles, applications, and current developments in the realm of quantum optimization.
Potential of incorporating Alpinia malaccensis crude extract into hand sanitizers
Authors: Wijewardhana S. P. R. , Weerakkody N. S.
Published: January 2024

The commercial hand sanitizers are made from alcohol which might not have residual antibacterial activity because alcohol is highly volatile. This study was performed to determine the efficacy of hand sanitizer incorporated with Alpinia malaccensis crude extract. Different concentrations (5 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml and 50mg/ml) of A. malaccensis containing hand sanitizers were compared with that of World Health Organization (WHO) formulation and recommended commerciallyavailable hand sanitizers. Disk diffusion assay and synergistic antimicrobial activity test were used as in vitro methods to evaluate antimicrobial inhibition. Finger imprint method was conducted as in vivo method to evaluate the efficacy of hand sanitizer on resident microflora for 0, 2, 5, 10, and 15 minutes. Disk diffusion assay was tested against Staphylococcus aureus 113, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica Typhimurium. The commercial sanitizer (T4) showed a significantly (p˂0.05) smaller diameter inhibition zone 14.33±0.58 mm for S. aureus compared to other treatments, namely 5 mg/ml (T1), 10 mg/ml (T2) of A. malaccensis containing sanitizers and WHO formula (T3). There is a possibility to add A. malaccensis crude extract to enhance the efficacy of the commercial sanitizer. A significant synergistic antimicrobial inhibition 7.99±0.02 cfu/ml was recorded in 50 mg/ml+55% alcohol hand sanitizer (T2) compared to the control (T4). The finger imprint method did not show any significant differential reduction within the tested time. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers incorporated with herbal A. malaccensis could be used to enhance the efficacy of the available commercial sanitizers.
Immunoglobulin G - 4(IgG4)-related disease: A case of retroperitoneal disease with mass formation
Authors: Subhani B. , Sivapalan M. , Dissanayake U.
Published: January 2024

IgG4-related disease is a rare cause of retroperitoneal fibrosis with mass formation. A 46-year-old female presented with lower back pain. She had an on-and-off mild fever and constitutional symptoms with evidence of tenderness over the lower back. Investigations revealed high inflammatory markers. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an ill-defined signal area in the left paraspinal area. Histology revealed fibromuscular tissue with scattered plasma cells showing positivity for immunoglobulin-G-4 (IgG4). The immunomorphological features are suggestive of IgG4-related-retroperitoneal fibrosis. She was commenced on glucocorticoids. It is imperative to consider unusual diagnoses such as IgG4-related disease in a patient with retroperitoneal disease with evidence of mass formation.
Fossil weaver ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Oecophyllini) of the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands of far-western North America
Authors: Archibald S. Bruce , Mathewes Rolf W. , Perfilieva Ksenia S.
Published: January 2024

We examine the fossil weaver ants (Formicidae, Formicine, Oecophyllini) of the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands fossil localities of British Columbia, Canada and Washington, United States of America, naming Eoecophylla quilchenensisn. gen.
et
sp. from Quilchena (British Columbia), formally transferring Camponotites kraussei Dlussky and Rasnitsyn (Republic, Washington) to the genus Oecophylla Smith, F., and describing but not naming a worker (McAbee, British Columbia), treated as Oecophyllinisp. A. These are the oldest known Oecophyllini (Oecophylla + Eoecophylla) and Oecophylla. Forewing vein stubs of E. quilchenensis and its well-developed hind wing vein M are plesiomorphies; this M is unique within the subfamily, suggesting Oecophyllini is sister to other Formicine. The head shape of O. kraussein. comb. indicates a close relationship to Oecophylla longiceps Dlussky from Eocene Messel, Germany. The ant Titanomyrma Archibald et al. is also known from the Okanagan Highlands and Messel, consistent with Late Cretaceous/early Paleogene intercontinental dispersal. We discuss possible host plants and trophobionts of these ants. Although Okanagan Highlands localities were cooler than the Paleotropical range of modern Oecophylla, their presence there might be explained by mild winters without significant frost.
Improving Athletic Trainers’ Knowledge of Clinical Documentation Through Novel Educational Interventions: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Kasamatsu Tricia M. , Nottingham Sara L. , Bay R. Curtis , Welch Bacon Cailee E.
Published: January 2024

Context

Athletic trainers (ATs) have reported the need for more educational resources about clinical documentation.

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of passive and active educational interventions to improve practicing ATs’ clinical documentation knowledge.

Design

Randomized controlled trial, sequential explanatory mixed methods study.

Setting

Online module(s), knowledge assessment, and interviews.

Patients or Other Participants

We emailed 18 981 practicing ATs across employment settings, of which 524 ATs were enrolled into a group (personalized learning pathway [PLP = 178], passive reading list [PAS = 176], control [CON = 170]) then took the knowledge assessment. A total of 364 ATs did not complete the intervention or postknowledge assessment; therefore, complete responses from 160 ATs (PLP = 39, PAS = 44, CON = 77; age = 36.6 ± 11.2 years, years certified = 13.9 ± 10.7) were analyzed.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Knowledge assessment (34 items) and interview guides (12–13 items) were developed, validated, and piloted with ATs before study commencement. We summed correct responses (1 point each, 34 points maximum) and calculated percentages and preknowledge and postknowledge mean change scores. Differences among groups (PLP, PAS, CON) and time (preintervention, postintervention) were calculated using a 3 × 2 repeated-measures analysis of variance (P ≤ .05) with post hoc Tukey HSD. Semistructured interviews were conducted (PLP = 15, PAS = 14), recorded, transcribed, and analyzed following the consensual qualitative research tradition.

Results

No differences in the preknowledge assessment were observed between groups. We observed a group × time interaction (F2,157 = 15.30, P < .001; partial η2 = 0.16). The PLP group exhibited greater mean change (M = 3.0 ± 2.7) than the PAS (M = 1.7 ± 3.0, P = .049) and CON (M = 0.4 ± 2.2, P < .001) groups. Descriptively, ATs scored lowest on the legal (61.3% ± 2.1%), value of the AT (63.7% ± 4.3%), and health information technology (65.3% ± 3.7%) items. Whereas ATs described being confident in their documentation knowledge, they also identified key content (eg, legal considerations, strategies) which they deemed valuable.

Conclusions

The educational interventions improved ATs’ knowledge of clinical documentation and provided valuable resources for their clinical practice; however, targeted continuing education is needed to address knowledge gaps.
Participation in and perceptions of antibiotic stewardship behaviors among nurses at a children’s hospital in South Korea: a descriptive study
Authors: Lim Jihee , Bang Kyung-Sook
Published: January 2024

Purpose: This study investigated participation in and perceptions of antibiotic stewardship among nurses at a children's hospital.Methods: This descriptive study included 125 nurses working in the inpatient ward, intensive care unit and emergency room of a single tertiary children's hospital. The study measured 14 factors influencing antibiotic stewardship behaviors using the theoretical domains framework. Each factor was analyzed by categorizing it into components (capability, opportunity, and motivation) that have been proposed as influencing factors in the COM-B model of behavior. One-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to explore differences in antibiotic stewardship behaviors and influencing factors according to general characteristics and the correlation between antibiotic stewardship behaviors and COM-B components.Results: No statistically significant difference in antibiotic stewardship behaviors was found based on the experience of antibiotic stewardship education or the nursing department. However, significant differences were observed in the perception levels of factors related to antibiotic stewardship behaviors according to the experience of antibiotic stewardship education in skill (physical) (p=.042), knowledge (p=.027), intentions (p=.028), and social influences (p=.010). Additionally, significant differences were observed in perception levels according to the sub-components of the COM-B model, specifically physical capability (p=.042), psychological capability (p=.027), and social opportunity (p=.010).Conclusion: To expand nurses' involvement and roles in antibiotic stewardship, nurses should acknowledge the significance of appropriate antibiotic use, aiming to enhance the quality of medical care and ensure patient safety. In pursuit of this objective, tailored education aligning with the specific needs and practices of nurses is essential.
Comparing Effectiveness and Safety of Intravenous Atropine with Topical Tetracaine in Preventing and Relieving Oculocardiac Reflex in Patients Undergoing Strabismus Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Moradi Farsani Darioush , Shakerinia Seyed Ehsan
Published: January 2024

Background:

Oculocardiac reflex (OCR) is one of the serious complications following surgical therapeutic procedures for strabismus. Various medications have been tested to prevent or mitigate this complication. We aimed to compare the effect of intravenous atropine and topical tetracaine on the incidence and severity of OCR in strabismus surgery.

Materials and Methods:

In this triple-blind randomized clinical trial study, 120 patients who were candidates for strabismus surgery were randomly assigned to receive intravenous atropine, topical tetracaine, or artificial tears as the control. The incidence of OCR and its severity along with the changes in hemodynamic conditions were compared across the groups.

Results:

The incidence rate of OCR in the groups receiving atropine, tetracaine, and the control was found to be 17.5%, 25.0%, and 32.5% in the releasing phase without any difference, respectively (P = 0.303); however, it was 2.5%, 7.5%, and 25.0%, respectively, in the cutting phase, indicating a lower rate in the group receiving tetracaine (P = 0.004). Similarly, there was no difference in the severity of OCR across the three study groups in the releasing phase (P = 0.666); however, in the cutting phase, OCR was revealed to be milder in the group receiving atropine as compared to other groups (P = 0.033). Prescribing atropine led to higher mean systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure during surgery.

Conclusion:

The injection of atropine can effectively reduce the incidence of OCR during strabismus surgery and reduce its severity if this reflex occurs.
The Application of Artificial Intelligence and Drug Repositioning for the Identification of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors: A Review
Authors: Zarei Parvin , Ghasemi Fahimeh
Published: January 2024

Artificial intelligence talks about modeling intelligent behavior through a computer with the least human involvement. Drug repositioning techniques based on artificial intelligence accelerate the research process and decrease the cost of experimental studies. Dysregulation of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors as the tyrosine kinase family of receptors plays a vital role in a wide range of malignancies. Because of their functional significance, they were considered promising drug targets for the therapy of various cancers. This review has summarized small molecules capable of inhibiting FGF receptors that progressed using artificial intelligence and repositioning drugs examined in clinical trials associated with cancer therapy. This review is based on a literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases to gather the necessary information in each chapter by employing keywords like artificial intelligence, computational drug design, drug repositioning, and FGF receptor inhibitors. To achieve this goal, a spacious literature review of human studies in these fields—published over the last 20 decades—was performed. According to published reports, nonselective FGF receptor inhibitors can be used for cancer management, and multitarget kinase inhibitors are the first drug class approved due to more advanced clinical studies. For example, AZD4547 and BGJ398 are gradually entering the consumption cycle and are good options as combined treatments. Artificial intelligence and drug repositioning methods can help preselect suitable drug targets more successfully for future inhibition of carcinogenicity.