bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aberrant orbitofrontal cortex reactivity to erotic cues in Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder
Authors: Golec Karolina , Draps Małgorzata , Stark Rudolf , Pluta Agnieszka , Gola Mateusz
Published: August 2021

Background and aims

Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) is characterized by increased reactivity to erotic reward cues. Cue-encoded reward parameters, such as type (e.g. erotic or monetary) or probability of anticipated reward, shape reward-related motivational processes, increase the attractiveness of cues and therefore might enhance maladaptive behavioral patterns in CSBD. Studies on the neural patterns of cue processing in individuals with CSBD have been limited mainly to ventral striatal responses. Therefore, here we aimed to examine the cue reactivity of multiple key structures in the brain's reward system, taking into account not only the type of predicted reward but also its probability.

Methods

Twenty Nine men seeking professional help due to CSBD and 24 healthy volunteers took part in an fMRI study with a modified Incentive Delay Task with erotic and monetary rewards preceded by cues indicating a 25%, 50%, or 75% chance of reward. Analyses of functional patterns of activity related to cue type and probability were conducted on the whole-brain and ROI levels.

Results

Increased anticipatory response to cues predictive of erotic rewards was observed among CSBD participants when compared to controls, in the ventral striatum and anterior orbitofrontal cortex (aOFC). The activity in aOFC was modulated by reward probability.

Discussion and conclusions

Type of anticipated reward (erotic vs monetary) affects reward-related behavioral motivation in CSBD more strongly than reward probability. We present evidence of abnormal aOFC function in CSBD by demonstrating the recruitment of additional subsections of this region by erotic reward cues.
Prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment with no dementia in a primary care setting in southern Brazil
Authors: Ferreira-Filho Sérgio Ferreira de , Borelli Wyllians Vendramini , Sguario Rodrigo Mantovani , Biscaia Gustavo Fiorentin , Müller Vitória Schneider , Vicentini Guilherme , Schilling Lucas Porcello , Silveira Denise Silva da
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACT Background: Cognitive decline is a common condition, but is still underrepresented in studies conducted in developing countries. Objective: To calculate the prevalence of cognitive decline and depression in an elderly community-dwelling population in a city in southern Brazil. Methods: We calculated the prevalences of dementia, cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND) and symptoms of depression in an elderly population relying on the public healthcare system. This epidemiological study in Pelotas, Brazil, was conducted within the primary care setting. It included 299 older adults (mean age = 69.75 ± 7.6 years) who presented low levels of education (mean = 4.16 ± 3.17 years of education). They underwent cognitive screening and their medical records were analyzed. Results: Among these older adults, 142 (47.5%) presented cognitive decline: 104 (34.8%) matching the cognitive criteria for CIND and 38 (12.7%) matching the cognitive criteria for dementia. Among all the individuals who completed the cognitive screening, 141 (48.4%) were positive for symptoms of depression, of whom 99 (34%) did not have any previous diagnosis in their medical records. Conclusion: There was high prevalence of cognitive impairment among these older adults in a primary care setting. A large number of older adults were found to have symptoms of depression without any diagnosis.
The influence of gestational age at term on breastfeeding: a cohort study
Authors: Seródio Michelin Nathallia , Nunes Hélio Rubens de Carvalho , Carvalhaes Maria Antonieta de Barros Leite , Parada Cristina Maria Garcia de Lima
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the effect of the category gestational age at term on breastfeeding in he first hour of life, the duration of exclusive breastfeeding, and practice of breastfeeding twelve months from birth. Method: Single cohort, with a one-year prospective follow-up of 541 children. A hierarchical analysis was performed, with models adjusted per Cox regression, considering critical p < 0.05. Results: During raw analysis there was a statistical difference on breastfeeding in the first hour of life (RR = 1.54; CI 95% = 1.12–2.12; p = 0.008). However, in the final analysis, there was no association between gestational age at term and breastfeeding in the first hour of life, duration of exclusive breastfeeding, and the practice of breastfeeding twelve months from birth. Secondarily, higher age and education, cesarean section, birth at private services, and the need for resuscitation were observed to have a negative influence. Duration of previous pregnancy favored breastfeeding in the first hour of life. Using baby bottle and pacifier was negative for breastfeeding in the first year of life. Conclusion: There was no association between the category gestational age at term and breastfeeding. The association of outcomes pointed out by the scientific literature have been confirmed.
Environment, workload, and nurse burnout in public hospitals in Chile
Authors: Simonetti Marta , Aqueveque Ana María Vásquez , Alejandra Galiano María
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze, from an organizational perspective, the problem of nurse burnout in highly complex public hospitals in Chile. Method: Multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study. According to established inclusion criteria, the universe of hospitals and nurses was the object of work. Data collection was carried out through a nurse survey. Work environment was measured with the instrument Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index, staffing through the nurses’ report on patient load, and burnout with the Maslach Burnout Inventory emotional exhaustion subscale. Results: Thirty-four hospitals (92%) and 1,395 nurses (75.3%) participated in the study. The prevalence of burnout was 34.7%, being higher in Santiago than in other regions of the country (p = 0.001). The logistic regression analyses showed a significant association between work environment and burnout (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41–0.79, p = 0.001). No association was established between staffing, skill mix and burnout. Conclusion: A high percentage of nurses in Chile has burnout, which is significantly associated with the quality of the environment. The implementation of organizational strategies to improve work environments could reduce burnout and improve the quality of care.
Estresse e Estratégias de Enfrentamento em Profissionais de Abrigos Institucionais
Authors: Pagnota Rosângela Maria Negri Ferrão , Prebianchi Helena Bazanelli
Published: August 2021

Resumo O estudo objetivou verificar e analisar os níveis de estresse percebido e as estratégias de coping dos profissionais de abrigos institucionais. Trata-se de um estudo empírico, descritivo e correlacional, com amostra intencional de 45 profissionais de contato direto e indireto com abrigados, em quatro abrigos institucionais. Utilizaram-se quatro instrumentos: ficha de caracterização do abrigo institucional, ficha de caracterização do participante, Impact of Event Scale (IES) e Cope Breve. Para análise dos resultados, foi utilizada a estatística descritiva: valores máximo e mínimo das pontuações nas subescalas de coping; e inferencial: análise de regressão linear e não paramétrico - correlação de Spearman, considerando a natureza e a distribuição dos escores. Os instrumentos IES e Cope Breve foram aplicados e analisados de acordo com as instruções das adaptações adotadas para este estudo. Os resultados demonstraram que os níveis de estresse percebidos foram maiores nos participantes de abrigos institucionais filantrópicos de contato direto com abrigados. A estratégia de coping mais utilizada foi o coping focalizado no problema em ambos os abrigos, e a estratégia de coping com maior correlação com o estresse foi o coping focalizado na emoção e desadaptativo. As variáveis preditoras de estresse foram: tipo de abrigo, a jornada de trabalho, a escolaridade e o coping focalizado na emoção e desadaptativo. Conclui-se que somente a avaliação da saúde dos profissionais de abrigos poderá gerar ações e políticas adequadas a eles dirigidas e detectar as necessidades de aprimoramento e programas de capacitação profissional, contribuindo na qualidade da assistência às crianças e adolescentes abrigados.
Possibilidades e desafios para o empoderamento feminino: perspectivas de mulheres em vulnerabilidade social
Authors: Durand Michelle Kuntz , Heidemann Ivonete Teresinha Schülter Buss , Rumor Pamela Camila Fernandes , Vendruscolo Carine , Belaunde Aline Megumi Arakawa , Souza Jeane Barros de
Published: August 2021

Resumo Objetivo investigar as possibilidades e desafios para o empoderamento de mulheres em vulnerabilidade social, residentes na periferia de um município localizado na região sul - Brasil. Método pesquisa qualitativa, do tipo ação participante, realizada por meio do Itinerário de Paulo Freire. Foi operacionalizada em seis Círculos de Cultura, com a participação de doze mulheres entre 18 e 79 anos, em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS) de um município do Sul do Brasil, nos meses de maio a julho de 2019. Resultados na primeira etapa identificaram-se 45 temas geradores, os quais foram codificados, descodificados e desvelados, mediante ação dialógica. Três temas foram selecionados pelas participantes para a discussão no estudo: Enfrentamento do problema; Jeito de Ser; Cuidado com o outro. Considerações finais e implicações para a prática a necessidade das mulheres ressignificarem suas vidas foi fortalecida por atitudes proativas de mudança para o enfrentamento das adversidades do dia a dia. Este estudo, embasado nos pressupostos de Paulo Freire, fortaleceu o empoderamento e a autonomia dessas mulheres, gerando possibilidades de transformações em suas vidas e nos espaços em que convivem.
Pessoas vivendo com HIV e mudanças na rotina diária decorrentes da pandemia da COVID-19
Authors: Pereira Tassiana Maria Vieira , Gir Elucir , Santos Andressa Silva Torres dos
Published: August 2021

Resumo Objetivo identificar as mudanças na rotina das pessoas vivendo com HIV decorrentes da pandemia da COVID-19. Método pesquisa qualitativa, desenvolvida por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, junto à 46 pessoas vivendo com HIV atendidas em um serviço especializado em doenças infectocontagiosas do interior de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os dados foram submetidos à análise lexicográfica, com auxílio do software IRaMuTeQ, pelos métodos de Estatística Textual Clássica, Nuvem de Palavras e Classificação Hierárquica Descendente. Resultados foram identificadas distintas mudanças na rotina diária de pessoas vivendo com HIV decorrentes da pandemia da COVID-19, dentre elas, o uso de medidas preventivas, como a utilização de máscara e isolamento social, além de mudanças no ambiente de trabalho e de lazer, no convívio familiar, aspectos emocionais individuais e de tratamento. Conclusão e implicações para a prática muitas mudanças e desafios de ordem física, biológica e psicossocial demonstraram serem vivenciados pelos participantes diante do cenário mundial pandêmico, decorrentes, principalmente, do isolamento social. Para tal, estratégias de enfrentamento tornam-se fundamentais no dia-a-dia das pessoas vivendo com HIV visando garantir a continuidade e tratamento ininterrupto, e a prevenção de uma sindêmia, mitigando, assim, as repercussões da COVID-19 na saúde destes indivíduos que pertencem ao grupo de risco.
What Next?
Authors: Parker William Riley
Published: August 2021

As a professor of English, who also happens to be entrusted with the direction of this new MLA project, I hope that every foreign language teacher in this room realizes what a difficult problem of translation the preceding speeches pose. It is my job to translate them into 'action. If I do not do so, with your help, we shall merely have spent a morning congratulating or consoling ourselves. After what you have heard, I probably don't need to tell you that my acts of translation will inevitably lose much of the peculiar eloquence and overtone of the originals, but I do want to assure you that I shall try my best to preserve the spirit of what has been said today. Don't expect me, in other words, to be always literal; and don't expect me to do anything that will stir you as you have been stirred this morning. From now on, it is a workaday matter of files and figures, committees and conferences, interviews and press releases, and endless letters. We live, for better or for worse, in such a complex world. Our critics or detractors have long understood this, and have taken advantage of our otherworldliness. Let them take notice: we may betray our inexperience for a time, but the MLA is this morning outside the classroom and the study, speaking up for something it deeply believes in.
Sir Walter Scott's Contributions to the English Vocabulary
Authors: Roberts Paul
Published: August 2021

It is rather surprising that the subject of Scott's influence on the English vocabulary, a subject which has excited the interest of many students of language, has not heretofore been carefully examined. That such an influence existed became apparent soon after Scott achieved popularity. Francis Jeffrey, in his review of Marmion in the Edinburgh Review of April 1808, remarks: “His genius, seconded by the omnipotence of fashion, has brought chivalry again into temporary favor. Fine ladies and gentlemen now talk indeed of donjons, keeps, tabards, scutcheons, tressures, caps of maintenance, portcullises, wimples, and we know not what besides … ” This faintly petulant tone pervades the early remarks on Scott's contributions to the language. When the Waverley Novels appeared there seems to have been in the reviews considerable displeasure at the abundant intermixture of Lowland Scottish dialect, whence some words now very current have come to us. When The Monastery was published, a word-minded reviewer used one of Scott's innovations to solve to his own satisfaction the mystery of the Author of Waverley: “I believe that the author of ‘The Monastery’ and ‘Waverley’ has hitherto kept himself concealed, although these Works and several others … are attributed … to Sir Walter Scott, an opinion which is strengthened by the liberal employment in them of that feeble expression ‘he undid,‘ which so frequently disgraces the most beautiful passages in the Poems he avows.”
Keats's Ode to a Nightingale
Authors: Fogle Richard Harter
Published: August 2021

The Nightingale ode has been judiciously dealt with from inside the tradition of Keats scholarship by such experts as Sir Sidney Colvin, Ernest de Sélincourt, Douglas Bush, and H. W. Garrod. Recent reinterpretations by Brooks and Warren, by Thomas and Brown, by Allen Tate, F. R. Leavis, Marshall McLuhan, G. Wilson Knight, Albert Guérard, Jr., and others, have brought the Ode into contact with current critical theories. In following them here I can, I believe, be most useful by steering something of a middle course between the modern and traditional: with, however, an unusual emphasis upon general English Romanticism. My explication, then, will consider the Ode to a Nightingale as a Romantic poem, and will venture some exposition of its Romantic principles. I shall also try to bear in mind the implications of recent criticism.
EN TORNO AL PAPEL DE LA SERORA EN EUSKAL HERRIA: DOCUMENTOS Y ARCHIVOS
Authors: Frank Roslyn M
Published: August 2021

Al empezar a hablar de la vida religiosa de Euskal Herria y concretamente del papel de las mujeres llamadas sororas o seroras en ella, nos incumbe tener en cuenta los estrechos vínculos del presente trabajo con intentos de identificar, recuperar y actualizar costumbres, algunas de las cuales bastante perdidas u olvidadas, que, sin embargo, no hace mucho formaban parte de la vida diaria de los habitantes de Euskal Herria. Por eso el propósito del presente estudio no es meramente el de reunir una serie de textos, algunos bastante conocidos y otros menos, y ofrecer comentarios sobre ese aspecto de la vida religiosa como si tratara de algo meramente anecdótico o marginal; mas bien se trata de documentar en lo posible las costumbres correspondientes y a la vez llamar la atención del lector o lectora hacia el papel tan controvertido de esta institución a lo largo de muchos siglos. Al mismo tiempo, el análisis detenido de las funciones de las mujeres nos dejará identificar actitudes arraigadas cuya defensa causaría conflictos fuertes con las autoridades eclesiásticas a partir de los siglos XVI y XVII. Mientras los vascos defendían lo que ellos consideraban las costumbres y tradiciones vinculadas a las seroras, elementos inviolables de su cultura, al parecer los de fuera no compartían la misma opinión y por lo 1
Mitogenome Assembly from NGS Genome Skimming Data v1
Authors: S Hiley Avery
Published: August 2021

This protocol provides thorough instructions for how to assemble and annotate full mitochondrial genomes from NGS genome skimming data (specifically paired-end, FASTQ, gzipped reads). The steps are categorized in the following sections, which include detailed explanations throughout (e.g. why specific steps are executed in the manner instructed): I. Download Programs and Dependencies II. Choose Working Directory III. Simple Stats with SeqKit IV. Clean and Trim Reads with Trimmomatic V. Downsample Reads with MITObim VI. Reformat Reads to Non-Interleaved with BBMap VII. Mitogenome Assembly and Annotation: MitoFinder with MetaSPAdes VIII. Mitogenome Assembly with NOVOPlasty Furthermore, there are supplementary tutorial videos for each of the aforementioned protocol sections, which show all of the corresponding steps being executed. These videos may be used for extra guidance while running the protocol, and are especially helpful to see how long the commands take to execute and successfully terminate in real-time with real NGS genome skimming data.
Primate Hair Cortisol Processing l v1
Authors: A Phillips Kimberley , G Lopez Matthew
Published: August 2021

This is a protocol to quantify cortisol concentration from hair. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone which is prominent in primates and can be used as a retrospective biomarker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Our method is adapted from a protocol used in the Meyer Lab (Meyer et al. 2014). Reference: Meyer, J., Novak, M., Hamel, A., & Rosenberg, K. (2014). Extraction and analysis of cortisol from human and monkey hair.Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE, (83), e50882. https://doi.org/10.3791/50882
Fast Modelling of Tsunami Wave Propagation using PC with Hardware Computer Code Acceleration
Authors:   Institute of Automation and Electrometry SB RAS, Lavrentiev Mikhail M. , Marchuk Andrey G.
Published: August 2021

The field programmable gates array (FPGA) microchip is applied to achieve considerable performance gain in simulation of tsunami wave propagation using personal computer. The two-step Mac-Cormack scheme was used for approximation of the shallow water equations. An idea of PC-based tsunami wave propagation simulation is described. Comparison with the available analytic solutions and numerical results obtained with the reference code show that developed approach provides good accuracy in simulations. It takes less then 1 minute to compute 1 hour of the wave propagation in computational domain that contains 3000 × 2500 nodes. Using the nested greed approach, it is possible to decrease the size of space step from about 300 meters to 10 m. Using the proposed approach, the entire computational process (to calculate the wave propagation from the source area to the coast) takes about 2 min. As an example the distribution of maximal heights of tsunami wave along the coast of the Southern part of Japan is simulated. In particular, the interrelation between maximal wave heights and location of tsunami source is studied. Model sources of size 100 × 200 km have realistic parameters for this region. It was found that only selected parts of the entire coast line are exposed to tsunami wave with dangerous height. However, the occurrence of extreme tsunami wave heights at some of those areas can be attributed to the local bathymetry. The proposed hardware acceleration to compute tsunami wave propagation can be used for rapid (say, during few minutes) evaluation of danger from tsunami wave for a particular location of the coast
Two-layer Stationary Flow in a Cylindrical Capillary Taking into Account Changes in the Internal Energy of the Interface
Authors:   Institute of Computational Modelling SB RAS, Andreev Victor K. , Sobachkina Natalya L. ,   Siberian Federal Uniersity
Published: August 2021

The problem of two-dimensional stationary flow of two immiscible incompressible binary mixtures in a cylindrical capillary in the absence of mass forces is investigated. The mixtures are contacted through a common the interface on which the total energy condition is taken into account. The temperature and concentration in the mixtures are distributed according to a quadratic law, which is in good agreement with the velocity field of the type Hiemenz. The resulting conjugate boundary value problem is nonlinear and inverse with respect to the pressure gradients along the axis of the cylindrical capillary. The tau-method (a modification of the Galerkin method) was applied to this problem, which showed the possibility of the existence of two solutions. It is shown that the obtained solutions with a decrease in the Marangoni number converge to the solutions of the problem of the creeping flow of binary mixtures. When solving the model problem for small Marangoni numbers, it is found that the effect of the increments of the internal energy of the interfacial surface significantly affects the dynamics of flows of mixtures in layers
Inverse Problems of Finding the Lowest Coefficient in the Elliptic Equation
Authors:   Sobolev Institute of Mathematics, Kozhanov Alexander I. , Shipina Tatyana N. ,   Siberian Federal Uniersity
Published: August 2021

The article is devoted to the study of problems of finding the non-negative coefficient q(t) in the elliptic equation utt + a2Δu − q(t)u = f(x, t) (x = (x1, . . . , xn) ∈ Ω ⊂ Rn, t ∈ (0, T), 0 < T < +∞, Δ — operator Laplace on x1, . . . , xn). These problems contain the usual boundary conditions and additional condition ( spatial integral overdetermination condition or boundary integral overdetermination condition). The theorems of existence and uniqueness are proved
Treinamento e excelência organizacional: um estudo de caso na Pousada do Sandi, Paraty-RJ.
Authors: Dos Santos Rodrigo Amado , Jorge Patrícia Da Silva
Published: August 2021

Um dos desafios da hotelaria contemporânea é alcançar patamares de excelência em um mercado tão competitivo, heterogêneo e dinâmico. Para tanto, um exímio controle da qualidade apresenta-se como uma das pilastras essenciais a esta prática, assim como uma eficaz política de treinamento deve ser vista como essencial ao desenvolvimento e aprimoramento de colaboradores, tornando-os mais flexíveis, proativos, assertivos e ágeis. Dito isso, este estudo de caso – que teve como objeto de análise a Pousada do Sandi, situada em Paraty, RJ – investigou como práticas de treinamento repercutem sobre desempenhos e imagens organizacionais. Para isso, os autores utilizaram análises quanti-qualitativas que aferiram as atividades operacionais dos setores de recepção e de governança desta pousada. Pelo viés quantitativo, por meio de questionários semiestruturados, colaboradores e gestores departamentais expuseram suas percepções sobre o nível de qualidade de seus afazeres e de seus setores. Já pelo viés qualitativo, entrevistas realizadas com a gerente geral propiciaram uma compreensão sobre como os preceitos de qualidade e excelência são aplicados nas políticas de treinamentos dessa pousada. Some a estes dois vieses uma análise do grau de satisfação dos hóspedes – retratada no TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Kayak e Expedia. Tais mapeamentos permitiram a ponderação de que as práticas de treinamento, conduzidas pelos gerentes departamentais desta pousada, obtêm resultados significativos no que tange à qualidade dos serviços ofertados.
Turismo de Saúde: a prática da viagem como contribuinte no processo de reestruturação de sujeitos idosos com depressão
Authors: Silva Victor Luis Da Costa , Bezerra Dayara Vanessa De Souza , Barbosa Helena Doris De Almeida , Da Costa Jéssica Samantha Lira , Quadros Vânia Lúcia
Published: August 2021

O turismo de saúde é um segmento do turismo que se baseia no deslocamento de um sujeito em busca de tratamento para um problema de ordem física, mental ou espiritual. Viajar sempre foi uma constante na vida humana, assim como a viagem para fins terapêuticos. O trabalho enfoca em que medida a prática da viagem pode ser utilizada como atividade complementar no processo de reestruturação de um sujeito com depressão. O estudo consiste em revisão bibliográfica e documental e pesquisa de campo realizada com o grupo de idosas da Unidade Municipal de Saúde da Providência – bairro do Marex, em Belém-PA. Os dados quali-quantitativos foram coletados por meio de formulários com perguntas específicas sobre a viagem tratamento e o turismo vinculado a ela. Os resultados evidenciaram que essa prática pode contribuir no processo de reestabelecimento psíquico de um sujeito depressivo, considerando que todas as entrevistadas atestaram os efeitos positivos da viagem para o seu bem-estar. Contudo, para que possa ser utilizada como atividade complementar ao tratamento, a viagem deve considerar fatores como o estado do paciente, a condição financeira, o acompanhamento do profissional da psicologia e o planejamento da viagem.
Visualizing Global Seismic Phases with AlpArray
Authors: Ling On Ki Angel , Stähler Simon C. , Giardini Domenico ,   the AlpArray Working Group
Published: August 2021

Seismic wave propagation is intrinsically a process in time and space. Although seismometers make point measurements only, dense, large-aperture seismic networks allow the full observation and analysis of wave propagation. We present a new visual representation of teleseismic phases by combining time-dependent ground-motion visualizations with array analyses to connect the time-domain motion with phase information retrieved from the frequency–wavenumber (f-k) domain. This serves as an educational tool, but also for efficient identification of off-angle arrivals, dispersion, and anomalous seismic phases. The processing is applied to events with Mw≥7 observed at the AlpArray Seismic Network in Europe and two example teleseismic events are discussed in detail.
When Punjab Cried Wolf: How a Rumor Triggered an “Earthquake” in India
Authors: Martin Stacey S. , Bossu Rémy , Steed Robert , Landès Matthieu , Srinagesh Davuluri , Srinivas Dakuri , Hough Susan E.
Published: August 2021

In recent years, earthquake felt reports contributed via online systems have provided increasingly valuable sources of data to characterize earthquakes and their effects. Contributed felt reports are accompanied by increases in website traffic, which are themselves potentially useful for the early detection of seismic events. In February 2017 the European-Mediterranean Seismic Centre detected an unusual surge in traffic from the Punjab region in northwestern India, although no nearby seismic event was detected instrumentally. Had crowdsourcing detected a felt earthquake that instruments had missed? Or did Punjab cry wolf? In this Earthquake Lites report, we describe the sleuthing endeavor undertaken to find an answer.
Geometric curve/surface-based techniques for curve/surface alignment with application in brain mapping
Authors:   , Ali Walid S. Ibrahim , Cohen Fernand S
Published: August 2021

Alignment and registration is an important tool for construction of high-resolution 2D/3D atlases, for quantitative analysis of autoradiograms, as well as for fusing functional and anatomic information to test hypotheses about structural-functional-behavioral correlates in populations and individuals. The alignment is complicated by the variability that exists between animal brains, by transformation effects resulting from the way the data is collected (e.g., freezing the brain), by uncertainties (noisy measurement), by the presence of tears, deformations and incomplete data. These led us to seek a curve/surface representation (B-spline) that is locally controllable, preservable under rigid transformations and shear (the affine group), robust to noise, and continuous with continuous higher order derivatives (at least up to second order for accurate curvature computation). These desirable properties help extracting landmarks on the brain surface and the brain sectional contours. These landmarks are intrinsic, local in nature, and self-preserving under the affine group. The rat brain surface has many curvature variations that ensure the availability of a sufficient number of such landmarks. A whole brain would typically have more than 200 inflection points on its umbilical curves, and a sectional contour would have more than 30 inflection points. To establish correspondences between the landmarks on the atlas and the animal brain (2D contour or 3D surface), a set of absolute geometric 2D/3D invariants are derived. Once the correspondences were established, the affine transformation parameters were estimated and the brain sections/surface is aligned to the atlas. The performance of our method is demonstrated by the ability to register both partial and complete intra and inter-brain contours and surfaces. This compares favorably with the alignment done by a neuroscientist who used both the gray scale information of the stained sections as well as the shape of the sections external contours to base his/her decision.
Concepciones del estado de derecho
Authors:   Universidad Libre, Hernández Díaz Carlos Arturo
Published: August 2021

La relación entre la democracia y el pueblo ha sido históricamente comprendida como un problema para las comunidades políticas. No cabe duda de que la democracia ha sido un régimen político históricamente condenado, marginalizado y criticado desde la Antigüedad, pero rehabilitado y replanteado en Occidente desde hace un par de siglos. En tal sentido, la democracia ha tenido un proceso histórico de aceptación paulatina de sus reglas y contenidos (si es que los tiene), hasta constituirse en el sistema político predominante de Occidente y de varias regiones del mundo. La historia del populismo es distinta. El populismo como forma de acción política es una práctica denostada, criticada y rechazada (especialmente por los académicos). Por ello, al estar frente a dos experiencias políticas, al parecer, incompatibles, debemos preguntarnos: ¿es posible reconstruir una relación teórico–práctica valorativamente positiva entre democracia, populismo y ley? Entender el significado de democracia no es muy difícil, es decir, en virtud de los múltiples estudios en torno a este régimen político existen varias propuestas que reflexionan y conceptúan qué es la democracia o exploran su evolución en distintas etapas históricas. Según las investigaciones de Valentina Pazé, ya en los textos de Herodoto, Megabicio, integrante de la corte de Cambises rechaza el “gobierno de uno solo”, pero también el “gobierno de la multitud”. Con el término demos, se califica a una masa de pobres, también denominados como “malvados” o “vulgo”, aunque también como “el conjunto de todos los ciudadanos titulares de derechos políticos”. Es importante resaltar que el desprecio hacia el demos no es solo un juicio despectivo en el cual la irracionalidad y la miseria espiritual de sus miembros motiva las decisiones colectivas. Según Pazé “aparentemente sordo a la voz de la razón, se hace temible por sus movimientos imprudentes, imprevisibles, incontrolables. Semejante transfiguración es posible porque el demos es concebido en términos organicistas, como masa uniforme y compacta, o como muchedumbre, que se mueve y se pronuncia al unísono,
Maternal serum zinc levels and urinary tract infections among pregnant women at a tertiary hospital in Lusaka, Zambia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Musaba John , Mukosha Moses , Mukololo Lubinda , Vwalika Bellington
Published: August 2021

Background: Micronutrient deficiency is one of the leading public health problems, particularly in lower-middle-income countries. The link between serum zinc (Zn) levels and urinary tract infections (UTIs) among pregnant women is still poorly understood. We investigated the association between maternal serum Zn levels and UTIs among pregnant women at women and newborn hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.Methods: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study among 228 pregnant women aged 18 to 45 years between 1 September and 30 November 2019. Serum Zn levels were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), whereas UTIs were determined based on the local hospital guidelines. We used the logistic regression model to determine the association between Zn levels and UTIs. The analysis was done at a significance level of 5% and 95% confidence interval.Results: Of the total participants, 118/228 (51.75%) tested positive for UTIs from urine culture. The mean serum Zn levels in the group diagnosed with UTIs were 53.95 ug/dl (SD=35.10), while in those who had no UTIs, it was 50.05 ug/dl (SD=35.10). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, we found no evidence of an association between serum Zn levels and UTIs (p=0.435).Conclusions: From the study findings, there was no association between serum Zn levels and UTIs. This result suggests that Zn may not have any role in urinary tract infection. Nevertheless, more extensive studies are needed to confirm our findings.
A conceptual framework on health professionals' engagement towards pharmacovigilance: a qualitative exploration
Authors: Swain Swagatika Priyadarsini , Patel Kripalini , Palo Subrata Kumar , Mishra Bijaya , Pati Sanghamitra
Published: August 2021

Background: With the growing reliance on drug therapy in the recent era, the safety of medications is one of the vital parameters for the success of any medicine. Considering this, pharmacovigilance (PV) was developed to provide adequate identification, reporting, evaluation, and understanding of adverse drug reactions (ADR). The objective of this study was to understand the opinion of health care providers on PV, the current reporting mechanisms, identifying the causes for underreporting, and the existing process in clinical practice.Methods: A qualitative study using pretested interview guide was conducted among 20 different cadres of healthcare personnel (doctors, pharmacists, and staff nurses) from various hospitals such as government, private, corporate, and medical college of Odisha state. The data were analysed using a thematic analysis. The meaning units have been identified from the transcript and coded with MAXQDA software (MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020, VERBI GmbH Berlin).Results: Participants showed a lack of awareness regarding the concept of PV. A cluster of challenges such as lack of ADR monitoring, non-conducive work atmosphere and lack of cooperation between staff, lack of knowledge among the health professionals, and fear of legal liability as major pitfalls causing poor ADR reporting. To enhance the pharmacovigilance practice, participants suggested context-specific strategies such as IEC activities, innovative ideas to improve ADR monitoring, regular monitoring.Conclusions: Capacity building through training, regular monitoring and supervision to strengthen the pharmacovigilance practices is the current need in India.
Accidental household poisoning in children: shedding light on the common agents and risk factors
Authors: Rameshkumar Nirmal S. , Tamilarasan Preethi , Arunagirinathan Arulkumaran
Published: August 2021

Background: Household poisoning is one of the leading causes of accidental injuries in children. The cause may vary between different countries. The aim of the study was to identify the causative agents as well as risk factors pertaining to our country such as social, demographic, cultural factors and local customs.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. All children in the age group of 6 months to 12 years with established diagnosis of acute accidental known household poisoning were included in the study group.Results: Most of the children with accidental poisoning were in the age group of less than 2 years (56.8%), with male preponderance (66.7%). The commonest poisoning agent was kerosene in 45% of the children followed by detergents (9%), drugs (8.1%), paint thinner (7.1%) and ant chalk (4.5%). In 62.2% of cases poisons were not in original container. Socio-demographic factors such as parents’ education status, mother’s employment or type of family did not show significant correlation.Conclusions: Accidental poisoning is a preventable cause of morbidity and rarely even mortality in children. Awareness needs to be generated amongst parents about simple but effective measures in the household to prevent such incidents. Given the pandemic, the presence of children at home constantly increases the importance of vigilance regarding this public health issue.
Screentime in primary school children and its associations: a cross sectional study
Authors: R. Priya P. , M. Veena Kumari
Published: August 2021

Background: With the advent of new screen technologies, childhood is increasingly being enveloped into a digital world. Parents find it difficult to limit the screen time in children. Although children may benefit from the educational potential of interactive media, there is growing concern about their overuse during the crucial period of rapid brain development. The objective of the study was to assess screen time in primary school children and its association with child behavior and language development.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1200, primary school children aged 4 to 12 years in Kannur district in North Kerala, India, from September 2019 to March 2020. Pre-structured questionnaires were distributed to parents to assess the total screen time in children and its associations. Behavioral problems were assessed based on Strength and difficulty questionnaire (SDQ). Language and speech problems were assessed using the Language Evaluation and Screening Tool (LEST 3 to 6 years).Results: Majority of the children (69.4%) had screen time between 2 to 4 hours. Screen time was higher among boys, children belonging to joint families and children having low parental education. There was statistically significant association between behavioral problem and screen time. Language development was reported to be delayed with a statistically significant association with the increased electronic screen use. Visual problems were also found to be more with the increase in screen time.Conclusions: Screen use is on the rise in young children and it adversely affect their behaviour and language development. Limiting screen time and improving the quality of the screen content for a child’s overall development is the need of the hour.
Correlation of serum bilirubin and transcutaneous bilirubin in newborns
Authors: Arunachalmath Pavitra V.
Published: August 2021

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia is a very common entity in newborns. Screening all the babies for hyperbilirubinemia is must. Serum bilirubin is the standard method of checking the bilirubin in newborns. This is very cumbersome, invasive and time consuming method. Hence many newborns will be discharged without screening. Transcutaneous bilirubinometry would help us in making this task easy and safe. Hence the present study was planned.Methods: This is an institutional cross sectional study conducted in a tertiary care hospital for a period of 6 months. After a written informed consent from parents/ guardians and considering selection criteria, 500 newborns with clinical jaundice were included in study. Each newborn was examined, transcutaneous bilirubin checked at forehead and sternum and serum bilirubin was done at the same time. Data was statistically analyzed to see the correlation between TcB and TSB.Results: Out of 500 newborns, 316 were males, 184 were females and 475 were term gestation and 25 were preterm. Coefficient of correlation was 0.73 and 0.72 for total serum bilirubin versus forehead and sternum respectively which were statistically significant.Conclusions: Transcutaneous bilirubinometer readings closely correlate with that of serum bilirubin. Hence TcB can be used as a safer, economical and effective tool in screening newborns for hyperbilirubinemia.
Influence of maternal age and mode of conception on infant feeding attitudes of the mothers and its impact on breastfeeding practices: a hospital based cross sectional study
Authors: Acharyya Kakoli , Acharyya Saugata
Published: August 2021

Background: Despite multiple proven benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, its practice remains elusive.The aim of this study was to detect the influence of maternal age and mode of conception on breastfeeding practices. Questionnaire based observational study performed in the out-patient department of the Calcutta medical research institute, India.Methods: Cross sectional survey of maternal knowledge and attitude about breastfeeding, using the translated version of the Iowa infant feeding attitude scale and to analyze their breastfeeding practice.Results: A total 100 naturally conceived non-elderly (<35 years) mothers had significantly more (p<0.0001) mean IIFAS score in comparison to both groups of elderly (>35 years) counterparts [46 naturally conceived (NC) and 56 artificially conceived (ART)]. This difference is statistically insignificant when comparing the two groups of elderly mothers (NC and ART). While the approaches of majority of mothers were neutral towards breastfeeding, only a handful of them were exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months.Conclusions: Elderly mothers have significantly less positive approach towards breastfeeding that do not depend on mode of conception.
A randomised comparative study of coconut oil massage for effect on weight change in low birth weight neonates
Authors: Mohini Kumari , Jaipal Munna Lal , Bisht Surender Singh , Tyagi Amita
Published: August 2021

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) babies have more the risk of the neurological complications, physiological problems and mental retardation. Topical massage with natural oil is routinely practiced in India. The positive effects of massage are weight gain, improved sleep/wake pattern, decreased the stress, early discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), improve the skin integrity and enhanced parent’s infant bonding.Methods:This prospective interventional randomised comparative study was conducted among 64 LBW babies at Paediatric department of Swami Dayanand hospital (SDH), Delhi. Out of which 31 were in intervention group and 33 were in control group.  In the intervention group, mothers were encouraged to massage their babies with 10 ml of coconut oil for 15 min, twice a day until 10 days of life. Those allocated to the control group were received care as usual. Weight and head circumference was measured at enrolment and on day 11 in both the groups.Results: Basic characteristics of neonates of intervention and control group were almost similar. Mean weight gain in intervention group was 352.26±101.05 g while it was 209.70±124.66 g in control group (p=0.0001). Similarly mean weight gain velocity was significantly higher in intervention group (32.02±19.19 g/day) as compared to control group (19.09±11.33 g/day, p=0.0001).Conclusions:The present study supports significant increase in weight gain in LBW preterm and term neonates with coconut oil massage. Coconut oil is easily available in the market and it should be recommended to LBW babies for their better weight gain.
Kikuchi necrotizing lymphadenopathy: a tip of the iceberg disease?
Authors: Singla Sushil , Kumar Mohitesh , Jat Vinod Kumar , Parwan Deepika
Published: August 2021

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare benign condition also called histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, which typically presented as fever with cervical lymphadenopathy in previously healthy individual. We presented a case of 11 year old boy with fever and cervical lymphadenopathy since 2 months. Lymph node biopsy was performed which suggested of KFD and was treated symptomatically. KFD incidence is rare but clinicians should be alert if young patient comes with fever and cervical lymphadenopathy to lower the chance of unwanted laboratory test and harmful treatment.
A case report on COVID-19 associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
Authors: Kumar Sachin , Sharma Deepak , Tongaria Khushboo , Bansal Naman
Published: August 2021

As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 continues to spread worldwide, there have been increasing reports from different parts of India during second wave of infection describing children and adolescents with COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory conditions. We describe clinical features and management in children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome children (MIS-C) from the Delhi metropolitan area, which had a high incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We report a similar case presenting with persisting fever, rashes, bulbar conjunctivitis, abdominal pain, decreased urine output and shock. Initial reports suggestive of high inflammatory markers, neutrophilic leukocytosis, high D-dimer and found to have COVID-19 IgG antibodies positive in high titre. Managed successfully in PICU with bolos fluids, intravenous antibiotics, steroids and anticoagulation.
Post-tonsillectomy pain management in pediatric patients-a review
Authors: Swain Santosh Kumar
Published: August 2021

Tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure performed in the pediatric age group. Although tonsillectomy is a safe surgery, it is associated with significant post-operative pain. Analgesia after tonsillectomy is often inadequate. Severe post-tonsillectomy throat pain has been described for more than a decade. Parents often worry for handling the pain of their children in home. Post-tonsillectomy pain is often considered as a long lasting and intense in nature. Post-tonsillectomy pain in children is an important problem which overstrains the patient, family and hospital staff. Post-tonsillectomy pain in children is an important problem which overstrains the patient, family and hospital staff. Regulatory alteration in the analgesic armamentarium, particularly in pediatric patients are making the treatment of post-tonsillectomy pain more difficult. Post-tonsillectomy pain in pediatric patients continues to be highly debated clinical issue and also an area of active research. Post-tonsillectomy pain can result in significant morbidity among pediatric patients. There are several analgesics available; each one has its own risk profile and unique side effects when used in pediatric age group in post-tonsillectomy period. This review article provides an update on recent management of post-tonsillectomy pain in pediatric patients. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, impact of post-tonsillectomy pain in children and details of medications used for controlling post-tonsillectomy pain.