bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Χορήγηση κορτικοστεροειδών σε δόση υποκατάστασης στην ενδονοσοκομειακή καρδιακή ανακοπή (CORTICA)
Authors: Παππά Ευανθία
Published: March 2023

Εισαγωγή: Η ενδονοσοκομειακή καρδιακή ανακοπή στο νοσοκομείο έχει φτωχή πρόγνωση. Αν και τα στεροειδή χρησιμοποιούνται συχνά σε ασθενείς με σηπτικό σοκ, δεν είναι σαφές εάν προσφέρουν όφελος κατά την καρδιακή ανακοπή και μετά την ανάταξη αυτής (επαναφορά αυτόματης κυκλοφορίας, return of spontaneous circulation-ROSC). Μέθοδος: Από 369 ασθενείς με καρδιακή ανακοπή που αξιολογήθηκαν, 100 έλαβαν μέρος στη μελέτη. Η καρδιοαναπνευστική αναζωογόνηση πραγματοποιήθηκε σύμφωνα με τις οδηγίες του 2015. Σαράντα έξι ασθενείς τυχαιοποιήθηκαν να λάβουν μεθυλπρεδνιζολόνη 40 mg κατά τη διάρκεια της αναζωογόνησης και 54 για να λάβουν εικονικό φάρμακο (placebo). Μετά την ανάταξη, οι ασθενείς της ομάδας των στεροειδών έλαβαν υδροκορτιζόνη 240 mg ημερησίως μέχρι και 7 ημέρες και στη συνέχεια σταδιακή μείωση έως διακοπή (της υδροκορτιζόνης) εντός των επόμενων 2 ημερών. Οι πρωτεύοντες στόχοι ήταν η μέση αρτηριακή πίεση (MAΠ) και ο κορεσμός του κεντρικού φλεβικού αίματος (central venous oxygen saturation - ScvO2) στα 20 λεπτά, 4, 24, 48 και 72 ώρες μετά τη ROSC. Οι δευτερεύοντες στόχοι περιλάμβαναν το κλάσμα εξώθησης αριστερής κοιλίας και το δείκτη εκκεντρότητας στις 12 και 72 ώρες, την καρδιακή παροχή και τα επίπεδα των κυτταροκινών στον ορό στις 4, 24, 48 και 72 ώρες, το δείκτη εγκεφαλικής αιματικής ροής στις 4 και 72 ώρες μετά τη ROSC, τις ημέρες παρακολούθησης χωρίς οργανικές ανεπάρκειες από την ημέρα 1 έως την ημέρα 60 μετά την ανάταξη, τη νευρολογική έκβαση κατά την έξοδο από το νοσοκομείο και τις επιπλοκές που σχετίζονταν με τα στεροειδή. Αποτελέσματα: Η ΜΑΠ μετά την ανάνηψη δεν διέφερε σημαντικά μεταξύ της ομάδας στεροειδών και ομάδας placebo σε οποιοδήποτε χρονικό σημείο (20 λεπτά: 85.2 ± 21.3 έναντι 84.7 ± 21.4 mmHg, 4 ώρες: 83.9 ± 18.1 έναντι 78.9 ± 15.9 mmHg, 24 ώρες: 79.9 ± 16.0 έναντι 81.9 ± 15.2 mmHg, 48 ώρες: 80.2 ± 10.0 έναντι 84.2 ± 13.6 mmHg, 72 ώρες: 85.2 ± 11.6 έναντι 84.7 ± 14.5 mmHg p> 0.05 για όλες τις συγκρίσεις). Δεν υπήρχε στατιστικά σημαντική διαφορά μεταξύ των δύο ομάδων όσον αφορά τον ScvO2 και όλους τους δευτερεύοντες στόχους (p>0.05 για όλες τις συγκρίσεις). Συμπέρασμα: Η παρούσα μελέτη δεν ανέδειξε σημαντικό φυσιολογικό όφελος από τη χορήγηση κορτικοστεροειδών κατά τη διάρκεια της καρδιοαναπνευστικής αναζωογόνησης και μετά την ανάταξη σε ασθενείς με ενδονοσοκομειακή καρδιακή ανακοπή.
Research Roundup
Authors: Winter George
Published: March 2023

George Winter provides an overview of recently published articles that are of interest to practice nurses. Should you wish to look at any of the papers in more detail, a full reference is provided.
Chondroblastoma of Metacarpal Masquerading as Enchondroma – A Case Report
Authors: Ranjan Rajni , Kumar Rakesh , Chaudhary Dushyant , Jeyaraman Madhan
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Chondroblastoma is a rare and benign bone neoplasm that accounts for <1% of all bone tumors. Chondroblastomas of the hand are extremely rare, while enchondromas are the most common bone tumor of the hand. Case Report: A 14-year-old girl had complaints of pain and swelling over the base of her thumb for 1 year. On examination, a solitary and hard swelling was palpable over the base of the thumb, with terminal restriction of first metacarpophalangeal joint movements. Radiographs revealed an expansile and lytic lesion in the epiphyseal region of the first metacarpal. Chondroid calcifications were absent. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a lesion with the hypointense signal on T1 and T2 sequences. These suggested a diagnosis of enchondroma. Excisional biopsy of the lesion, bone grafting, and Kirschner wire fixation was performed. Histological examination showed the lesion to be a chondroblastoma. No recurrence was noted at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusion: Chondroblastomas can very rarely occur in the bones of the hand. In such cases, differentiating them from enchondromas and ABCs is a challenge. Characteristic chondroid calcifications may be absent in nearly half of such cases. Curettage with bone grafting provides a good outcome with no recurrence. Keywords: Chondroblastoma, enchondroma, calcifications
Anterior Shoulder Instability in a Young Individual with Concomitant Coracoid Process Fracture Treated with the Latarjet Procedure – A Rare Case Report
Authors: Dwidmuthe Samir Chandrakant , Bhikshavarthimath Suhas Aradhya , Roy Mainak , Reddy Harsha
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Coracoid fracture occurs with shoulder instability due to direct humeral head impaction. Incidence coracoid fracture with shoulder dislocation is rare amounts to 0.8–2%. We encountered clinical challenge of unique combination of both shoulder instability and coracoid fracture. This technical note will describe the treatment of the same. Case ReportA 23-year-old male suffering from recurrent shoulder dislocation sustained coracoid fracture. Further evaluation showed glenoid defect of 25%. Magnetic resonance study showed on track lesion with Hill-Sach lesion of 9 mm, labral defect anteriorly with no associated rotator cuff tear. The patient was managed with open Latarjet procedure with fracture coracoid fragment with conjoint tendon as graft. Conclusion: Our purpose of reporting this technical note is to provide an option of dealing both instability and coracoid fracture in single sitting and usage of coracoid fractured fragment as an excellent graft of choice in acute presentation. However, certain limitations such as adequacy of graft in size and shape do exist operating surgeon which must be aware of the same. Keywords: Coracoid fracture, chronic shoulder instability, fractured coracoid graft, Latarjet procedure.
The transformation of European welfare states and its implications for social work (research): staying on the tanker or choosing a small sloop?
Authors: Hermans Koen , Roets Griet
Published: March 2023

Since the conception of post-war national welfare states and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the notions of citizenship and of civic, political and social rights were institutionalised in European welfare states. In that vein, a social work workforce acquired a professional and public mandate to implement social policies. During recent decades, however, welfare state arrangements seem to have moved in another direction. The premise that the welfare state is responsible for social protection and the redistribution of resources has subtly shifted into one of an active welfare state, with a stronger focus on individual responsibility and conditionality. In addition, welfare state arrangements have been based on the premise of a territorial logic of the nation state, making it more difficult for migrants to access services. In this article, we first discuss the transformation of welfare state arrangements. We then make use of an exemplary case, namely, the emergence of new social work practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, to illustrate the current positioning of social work practice. In the final part, we critically tease out the changing role of social work and social work research in these circumstances.
“More Than a Paycheck”: Parent Perspectives on Meaningful Work for Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Carter Erik W. , Lanchak Emily R. , Guest Laura , McMillan Elise D. , Taylor Julie Lounds , Rowley Hannah
Published: March 2023

Increasing employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) remains an enduring emphasis of research, policy, and practice. Parents are often primary partners in the pursuit of meaningful work for their family members with IDD. This qualitative study examined the views of 55 parents regarding the importance of this pursuit and the features of employment that matter most to them. Participants discussed a range of reasons they valued employment for their family members with IDD, including factors that extended beyond a paycheck. Likewise, they described an array of features that they considered to be important to their family member thriving in the workplace (e.g., inclusivity, match with interests, opportunities for growth). We offer recommendations for promoting integrated employment among families and conceptualizing employment outcomes within future research.
Early warning indicators of HIV drug resistance in the southern highlands region of Tanzania: Lessons from a cross-sectional surveillance study
Authors: Khamadi Samoel A. , Mavere Caroline , Bahemana Emmanuel , Lwilla Anange , Mizinduko Mucho , Bwigane Seth , Peter Adela , Makando Joy , Peter Benjamin , Agaba Patricia , Shah Neha , Julu Boniphase , Ganesan Kavitha , Coakley Peter , Lee Elizabeth H.
Published: March 2023

The World Health Organization early warning indicators (EWIs) permit surveillance of factors associated with the emergence of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR). We examined cross- and within-region performance on HIVDR EWIs for selected HIV care and treatment clinics (CTCs) in five regions of southern Tanzania. We retrospectively abstracted EWI data from 50 CTCs for the January to December 2013 period. EWIs included the following: on time ART pick-up, retention on ART, ARV stockouts, and pharmacy prescribing and dispensing practices. Data for pediatric and adult people living with HIV were abstracted from source files, and frequencies and proportions were calculated for each EWI overall, as well as stratified by region, facility, and age group. Across and within all regions, on average, on-time pick-up of pills (63.0%), retention on ART (76.0%), and pharmacy stockouts (69.0%) were consistently poor for the pediatric population. Similarly, on-time pill pick up (66.0%), retention on ART (72.0%) and pharmacy stockouts (53.0%) for adults were also poor. By contrast, performance on pharmacy prescribing and dispensing practices were as desired for both pediatric and adult populations with few facility-level exceptions. In this study, regions and facilities in the southern highlands of Tanzania reported widespread presence of HIVDR risk factors, including sub-optimal timeliness of pill pickup, retention on ART, and drug stockouts. There is an urgent need to implement the WHO EWIs monitoring to minimize the emergence of preventable HIV drug resistance and to maintain the effectiveness of first and second-line ART regimens. This is particularly critical in the context of new ART drug roll-out such as dolutegravir during the COVID-19 pandemic when resultant HIV service disruptions require careful monitoring, and for virologic suppression as countries move closer to epidemic control.
Non-culprit left main coronary artery disease in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock
Authors: Park Ik Hyun , Jang Woo Jin , Oh Ju Hyeon , Yang Jeong Hoon , Song Young Bin , Hahn Joo-Yong , Choi Seung-Hyuk , Gwon Hyeon-Cheol , Ahn Chul-Min , Yu Cheol Woong , Kim Hyun-Joong , Bae Jang-Whan , Kwon Sung Uk , Lee Hyun-Jong , Lee Wang Soo , Jeong Jin-Ok , Park Sang-Don
Published: March 2023

Objectives

We evaluated the clinical impact of residual non-culprit left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) on prognosis in patients undergoing emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS).

Methods

A total of 429 patients who underwent PCI for AMI complicated by CS was enrolled from 12 centers in the Republic of Korea. The patients were divided into two groups according to presence of non-culprit LMCAD or not: the LMCAD non-culprit group (n = 43) and the no LMCAD group (n = 386). Primary outcome was major adverse cardiac event (MACE, defined as a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or repeat revascularization). Propensity score matching analysis was performed to reduce selection bias and potential confounding factors.

Results

During a 12-month follow-up, a total of 168 MACEs occurred (LMCAD non-culprit group, 17 [39.5%] vs. no LMCAD group, 151 [39.1%]). Multivariate analysis revealed no significant difference in the incidence of MACE at 12 months between the LMCAD non-culprit and no LMCAD groups (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58 to 1.62, p = 0.901). After propensity score matching, the incidence of MACE was still similar between the two groups (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.33 to 1.23; p = 0.180). The similarity of MACEs between the two groups was consistent across a variety of subgroups.

Conclusions

After adjusting for baseline differences, residual non-culprit LMCAD does not appear to increase the risk of MACEs at 12 months in patients undergoing emergent PCI for AMI complicated by CS.
LALAPG variant of the Human Contraception Antibody (HCA) reduces Fc-mediated effector functions while maintaining sperm agglutination activity
Authors: Mausser Emilie , Nador Ellena , Politch Joseph A. , Pauly Michael R. , Marathe Jai G. , Moench Thomas R. , Zeitlin Larry , Whaley Kevin J. , Anderson Deborah J.
Published: March 2023

High rates of unintended pregnancies worldwide indicate a need for more accessible and acceptable methods of contraception. We have developed a monoclonal antibody, the Human Contraception Antibody (HCA), for use by women in vaginal films and rings for contraception. The divalent F(ab’)2 region of HCA binds to an abundant male reproductive tract-specific antigen, CD52g, and potently agglutinates sperm. Certain other antibody activities mediated by the Fc region such as mucus trapping, complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) could have beneficial or negative effects. The purpose of this study was to document HCA Fc effector functions and determine whether an engineered variant of HCA with a modified Fc region, HCA-LALAPG, retains desirable contraceptive activity while minimizing Fc-mediated effects. Fab and Fc functions were compared between HCA and HCA-LALAPG. Fab activity was assessed using sperm agglutination and modified swim-up ("sperm escape”) assays. Fc functions were assessed by CDC (sperm immobilization), ADCP, and cervical mucus penetration assays. HCA and HCA-LALAPG showed equivalent activity in assays of Fab function. In the assays of Fc function, HCA supported strong CDC, ADCP, and sperm trapping in cervical mucus whereas HCA-LALAPG demonstrated little to no activity. HCA and the HCA-LALAPG variant were both highly effective in the sperm agglutination assays but differed in Fc mediated functions. Use of the HCA-LALAPG variant for contraception in women could reduce antibody-mediated inflammation and antigen presentation but may have reduced contraceptive efficacy due to much weaker sperm trapping in mucus and complement-dependent sperm immobilization activity.
Relation of urinary bisphenol concentration and diabetes or prediabetes in French adults: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Delepierre Julie , Fosse-Edorh Sandrine , Fillol Clémence , Piffaretti Clara
Published: March 2023

Background

International research has recently shown an association between exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and the risk of diabetes, although limited results are available for exposure to bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF). The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between impregnation with BPA, BPS, and BPF and the prevalence of diabetes or prediabetes in the French adult population.

Methods

Based on the Esteban cross-sectional study, 852 adults aged 18 to 74 years living in France were included. To assess the link between urinary concentration of BPA, BPS and BPF and a state of dysglycemia (diabetes or prediabetes), logistic regression multivariable models were performed and adjusted for known risk factors for diabetes and urine creatinine concentration.

Results

The percentage of included individuals with diabetes or prediabetes was 17.8% (95% CI = [15.3–20.4]). Urinary BPA concentration was significantly higher in people with diabetes or prediabetes, independent of the known risk factors for diabetes (OR for an increase of 0.1 units in log-transformed concentration of BPA (μg/L) = 1.12; 95%CI = [1.05–1.19], p < 0.001). However, we did not find any significant independent association between urinary BPS and BPF levels and the prevalence of diabetes or prediabetes.

Conclusions

In this sample, considering the diabetes risk factors, diabetes or prediabetes was positively associated with higher urinary BPA concentration but not with urinary BPS and BPF concentrations. However, analysis of prospective longitudinal studies are still necessary to demonstrate a causal link between bisphenol exposure and the risk of diabetes or prediabetes.
Detection of specific uncultured bacteriophages by fluorescence in situ hybridisation in pig microbiome
Authors: Ostenfeld Line Jensen , Munk Patrick , Aarestrup Frank M. , Otani Saria
Published: March 2023

Microbial communities have huge impacts on their ecosystems and local environments spanning from marine and soil communities to the mammalian gut. Bacteriophages (phages) are important drivers of population control and diversity in the community, but our understanding of complex microbial communities is halted by biased detection techniques. Metagenomics have provided a method of novel phage discovery independent of in vitro culturing techniques and have revealed a large proportion of understudied phages. Here, five jumbophage genomes, that were previously assembled in silico from pig faecal metagenomes, are detected and observed directly in their natural environment using a modified phageFISH approach, and combined with methods to decrease bias against large-sized phages (e.g., jumbophages). These phages are uncultured with unknown hosts. The specific phages were detected by PCR and fluorescent in situ hybridisation in their original faecal samples as well as across other faecal samples. Co-localisation of bacterial signals and phage signals allowed detection of the different stages of phage life cycle. All phages displayed examples of early infection, advanced infection, burst, and free phages. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of jumbophages in faeces, which were investigated independently of culture, host identification, and size, and based solely on the genome sequence. This approach opens up opportunities for characterisation of novel in silico phages in vivo from a broad range of gut microbiomes.
Another advantage of multi-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis that can putatively subdivide enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 strains into clades by maximum a posteriori estimation
Authors: Hirai Shinichiro , Yokoyama Eiji , Ando Naoshi , Seto Junji , Hazama Kyoko , Enomoto Keigo , Izumiya Hidemasa , Akeda Yukihiro , Ohnishi Makoto
Published: March 2023

EnterohemorrhagicEscherichia coliO157 (O157) strains can be subdivided into clades based on their single-nucleotide polymorphisms, but such analysis using conventional methods requires intense effort by laboratories. Although multi-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), which can be performed with low laboratory burden, has been used as a molecular epidemiological tool, it has not been evaluated whether MLVA can be used the clade subdivision of O157 strains like it can for that of other pathogenic bacteria. This study aimed to establish a method for subdividing O157 strains into clades using MLVA data. The standardized index of association,ISA, for O157 strains isolated in Chiba prefecture, Japan (Chiba isolates) revealed the presence of unique tandem repeat patterns in each major clade (clades 2, 3, 7, 8, and 12). A likelihood database of tandem repeats for these clades was then constructed using the Chiba isolates, and a formula for maximuma posteriori(MAP) estimation was constructed. The ratio of the number of O157 strains putatively subdivided into a clade by MAP estimation from MLVA data relative to the number of O157 strains subdivided using single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis (designated as the concordance ratio [CR]) was calculated using the Chiba isolates and O157 strains isolated in Yamagata prefecture (Yamagata isolates). The CRs for the major Chiba and Yamagata isolate clades, other than clade 2, were 89%–100%. Although the CR for clade 2 Chiba isolates was >95%, that of the Yamagata isolates was only 78.9%. However, these clade 2 CRs were not significantly different from one another, indicating that clade 2 strains can be subdivided correctly by MAP estimation. In conclusion, this study expands the utility of MLVA, previously applied predominantly for molecular epidemiological analysis, into a low-laboratory-burden tool for subdividing O157 strains into phylogenetic groups.
Energy and cost efficiency of Bitcoin mining endeavor
Authors: Jabłczyńska Małgorzata , Kosc Krzysztof , Ryś Przemysław , Sakowski Paweł , Ślepaczuk Robert , Zakrzewski Grzegorz
Published: March 2023

The main aim of the study is to analyze BTC mining’s efficiency under current market conditions (December 2021), including soaring energy prices produced from many different sources in different geographical locations. After a thorough analysis of initial assumptions concerning the (1) price of mining machine with associated components and its effective amortization period, (2) difficulty and the hash rate of the BTC network, (3) BTC transaction fees, and (4) energy costs from various sources, we have found that currently, BTC mining is not profitable, except for some rare cases. The main reason for this phenomenon is the fast and unpredictable increase of difficulty of the BTC network over time which results in decreasing participation of already purchased mining machines in the BTC network hash rate. The research is augmented with a detailed sensitivity analysis of mining efficiency to initial parameters assumptions, which allows observing that the conditions for BTC mining to be efficient and profitable are very challenging.
A search and rescue robot search method based on flower pollination algorithm and Q-learning fusion algorithm
Authors: Hao Bing , Zhao Jianshuo , Du He , Wang Qi , Yuan Qi , Zhao Shuo
Published: March 2023

Search algorithm plays an important role in the motion planning of the robot, it determines whether the mobile robot complete the task. To solve the search task in complex environments, a fusion algorithm based on the Flower Pollination algorithm and Q-learning is proposed. To improve the accuracy, an improved grid map is used in the section of environment modeling to change the original static grid to a combination of static and dynamic grids. Secondly, a combination of Q-learning and Flower Pollination algorithm is used to complete the initialization of the Q-table and accelerate the efficiency of the search and rescue robot path search. A combination of static and dynamic reward function is proposed for the different situations encountered by the search and rescue robot during the search process, as a way to allow the search and rescue robot to get better different feedback results in each specific situation. The experiments are divided into two parts: typical and improved grid map path planning. Experiments show that the improved grid map can increase the success rate and the FIQL can be used by the search and rescue robot to accomplish the task in a complex environment. Compared with other algorithms, FIQL can reduce the number of iterations, improve the adaptability of the search and rescue robot to complex environments, and have the advantages of short convergence time and small computational effort.
Encouraging responsible reporting practices in the Instructions to Authors of neuroscience and physiology journals: There is room to improve
Authors: Diong Joanna , Bye Elizabeth , Djajadikarta Zoë , Butler Annie A. , Gandevia Simon C. , Héroux Martin E.
Published: March 2023

Journals can substantially influence the quality of research reports by including responsible reporting practices in their Instructions to Authors. We assessed the extent to which 100 journals in neuroscience and physiology required authors to report methods and results in a rigorous and transparent way. For each journal, Instructions to Authors and any referenced reporting guideline or checklist were downloaded from journal websites. Twenty-two questions were developed to assess how journal Instructions to Authors address fundamental aspects of rigor and transparency in five key reporting areas. Journal Instructions to Authors and all referenced external guidelines and checklists were audited against these 22 questions. Of the full sample of 100 Instructions to Authors, 34 did not reference any external reporting guideline or checklist. Reporting whether clinical trial protocols were pre-registered was required by 49 journals and encouraged by 7 others. Making data publicly available was encouraged by 64 journals; making (processing or statistical) code publicly available was encouraged by ∼30 of the journals. Other responsible reporting practices were mentioned by less than 20 of the journals. Journals can improve the quality of research reports by mandating, or at least encouraging, the responsible reporting practices highlighted here.
Structural characteristics in network control of molecular multiplex networks
Authors: Yuan Cheng , Qian Zu-Yu , Zhou Jie , Chen Shi-Ming , Nie Sen
Published: March 2023

Numerous real-world systems can be naturally modeled as multilayer networks, providing an efficient tool to characterize these complex systems. Although recent progress in understanding the controlling of synthetic multiplex networks, how to control real multilayer systems remains poorly understood. Here, we explore the controllability and energy requirement of molecular multiplex networks coupled by transcriptional regulatory network (TRN) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network from the perspective of network structural characteristics. Our findings reveal that the driver nodes tend to avoid essential or pathogen-related genes. However, imposing external inputs on these essential or pathogen-related genes can remarkably reduce the energy cost, implying their crucial role in network control. Moreover, we find that the minimal driver nodes, as well as the energy required, are associated with disassortative coupling between TRN and PPI networks. Our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the roles of genes in biology and network control across several species.
Educational attainment and trajectories at key stages of schooling for children with amblyopia compared to those without eye conditions: Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study
Authors: Horvat-Gitsels Lisanne Andra , Cortina-Borja Mario , Rahi Jugnoo Sangeeta
Published: March 2023

Background

Amblyopia is a neurodevelopmental condition resulting in reduced vision for which whole population child vision screening is undertaken. Cross-sectional studies have established an association between amblyopia and lower academic self-concept, slower reading speed. No difference has been found in educational performance in adolescence whilst there are mixed associations with educational attainment in adults. Educational trajectories and intentions have not been studied previously. We analyse if those treated for amblyopia have different educational performance and trajectories for core subjects during statutory schooling, or subsequent higher education (university) intentions than their peers without eye conditions.

Methods and findings

Data from the Millennium Cohort Study of children born in the United Kingdom in 2000–01 and followed-up to age 17 years (n = 9989). Using a validated approach drawing on parental self-report on eye conditions and treatment coded by clinical reviewers, participants were grouped into mutually exclusive categories: no eye conditions, strabismus alone, refractive amblyopia, strabismic/mixed (refractive plus strabismic) amblyopia. The outcomes were levels and trajectories of passing English, Maths, Science at ages 7–16 years, passing national exams at age 16, and intentions at ages 14–17 to pursue higher (university) education. Adjusted analyses showed that amblyopia status was not associated with performance in English, Maths, and Science at any key stage, attainment in national exams, or intending to go to university. Similarly, the age-related trajectories of performance in core subjects and higher education intentions did not differ between the groups. There were no significant differences in main reason for having or not having university intentions.

Conclusions

We found no associations between a history of amblyopia and either adverse performance or age-related attainment trajectories in core subjects during key stages of statutory schooling as well as the absence of an association with intentions for higher education. These results should be reassuring to affected children and young people, and their families, teachers and physicians.
Bodies in spaces: Illustration at the university
Authors: Morgan Catrin
Published: March 2023

This article is the beginning of more detailed research and writing on the discipline of ‘illustration’ as it is bounded by and created for higher education. The broad concept of bodies in spaces is used as an entry point for considering both pedagogy and illustration as a whole. The way we are as bodies and the way bodies are conceptualized are two very important concerns for both illustration and for teaching. This is a first attempt by the author to map their experiences of illustration as it is taught and discussed in higher education and is based on the author’s experiences teaching in a wide range of institutions in the United Kingdom and at Parsons School of Design in the United States. These experiences are used to consider the work that can be done to dismantle and decolonize ‘illustration’ and to begin to think about an alternative discipline that evades the forms of knowing currently facilitated within the university.
Being doing showing
Authors: Cai Yuzhen , Kiely Caitlin , Qiao Yimin , Wemyss Eleanor
Published: March 2023

Yimin Qiao, Eleanor Wemyss, Caitlin Kiely and Yuzhen Cai discuss their practices in terms of methodology, adaption and the ongoing process of research-based illustration. Through four different practices they outline the tools that are needed in order to place their illustration practice into this space that joins both illustration and research together. The article is divided into three sections ‘being’, ‘doing’, ‘showing’; providing an overarching structure to their ever evolving journey into the world of illustration research practice. Drawing upon ideas of instinct, adaptation and rigour they begin to draw out similarities that carry through all four of their practices, referencing where illustration has been and where their practices are now. They discuss the openness of site as a frame for subject, borrowed technologies and moving outside of the boundaries of traditional illustrative practices. Formed on Padlet and talked about over video calls the process of the article mirrors that of their experience of being a student in a pandemic. This article like their practices is seen as an ongoing investigation into illustration research practice.
Method illustration
Authors: Franklin Jen , Taylor Rachel Emily
Published: March 2023

This article outlines a form of practice formed on BA Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts, called method illustration. It alludes to an embodiment of experience and understanding before or during the production of illustration in relation to a topic or theme, challenging the expectation of illustration always ending on an image. It plays on the term method acting, which is built on techniques from the Stanislavski System and contemporized. The article includes examples of students work and how this practice can be applied.
Operational Resources Management In An Increasingly Digitized Business Environment
Authors: Mzughulga Jeremiah Iwasen , Moiseeva Prof. Olga
Published: March 2023

Achieving efficiency in planning, execution, and management of operational resources in a competitive business environment has been the major challenge of modern businesses. This study researched functional resource management in an increasingly digitized business environment factoring technical efficiency analysis of the Nigerian Brewery Plc. from 2012-2021. The study used annual and quarterly reports to analyze the operational performance for ten years.Cost minimization (input-oriented model) and revenue growth (output-oriented model) are precedents in the stochastic production approach and Farell's efficiency theory, respectively. A series of analyses were performed on python using five different regression algorithms (Decision tree, Polynomial, Random forest, simple linear, and multiple linear regression algorithms). The analysis's findings did not definitively confirm or refute the theories on whether the Nigerian Brewery Plc. is technically efficient or not based confusion matrix of multiple linear regressions, which had a 92 percent accuracy level. However, it was established that for ten years; the company has been able to perform efficiently in some years and did not do so well in others. The study found that the labor force and production machinery were operating below expected capacity. Also, there was a high cost of raw materials and operational expenses commiserated with the output. The study, therefore, recommended that to achieve maximum efficiency, the company should implement strict monitoring measures and adopt direct labor costs on the labor force; where piece rate wages payment should be employed on hours spent on the job to reduce sloth and increase the functional performance of the company.
Does planets’ position in zodiac constellations drive the occurrence of human wars? A retrospective test of non-natal astrology
Authors: Bozzo Jordi
Published: March 2023

The lack of descriptive and predictive effectiveness of natal astrology revealed thus far does not rule out the possibility that the position of planets in specific areas of the background sky influences human behavior regardless of birth date. This study compiled a list of war events that occurred throughout the twentieth century, which were used as proxies for a state of violence in the global human community at particular moments in time. Ecliptic right ascension (RA) values of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon at the beginning day of each war were distributed across 12 sections of the ecliptic of 30º span each. East RA boundary of Aries was set starting at 23° from the vernal equinox in agreement with sidereal astrology. A total of 210 war events were collected for the analysis. The observed and expected war counts when planets were transiting through each zodiacal constellation were statistically similar in all cases (P values from 0.076 to 0.658). In addition, the occurrence of wars when two planets were in conjunction in specific zodiac constellations was in agreement with their expected positions according to regular planetary movement. Independently of astrology beliefs and planetary dynamics, wars showed a weak trend, though significant, towards occurring more frequently later than earlier in a year (slope: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.12, 1.48]; r
2=0.408; P=0.025). In conclusion, even though the study design favored the astrological theses, no relationship between war triggering and the positions of planets transiting through zodiacal constellations was found.
Transient elastography with controlled attenuation parameter versus two-dimensional shear wave elastography with attenuation imaging for the evaluation of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in NAFLD
Authors: Seo Jung Wook , Kim Youe Ree , Jang Jong Keon , Kim So Yeon , Cho Young Youn , Lee Eun Sun , Lee Dong Ho
Published: March 2023

Purpose: This study compared the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) to attenuation imaging (ATI) in the diagnosis of steatosis and transient elastography (TE) to two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) for the diagnosis of fibrosis in a prospectively constructed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patient cohort.Methods: Participants who underwent TE with CAP were included from a previously constructed NAFLD cohort with multiparametric ultrasound data. The degree of hepatic steatosis and stage of liver fibrosis were assessed. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for the grades of steatosis (S1-3) and fibrosis (F0-F4).Results: There were 105 participants. The distribution of hepatic steatosis grades (S0-S3) and liver fibrosis stages (F0-F4) was as follows: S0, n=34; S1, n=41; S2, n=22; S3, n=8; F0, n=63; F1, n=25; F2, n=5; F3, n=7; and F4, n=5. No significant difference was found between CAP and ATI in detecting ≥S1 (AUROC: 0.93 vs. 0.93, P=0.956) or ≥S2 (0.94 vs. 0.94, P=0.769). However, the AUROC of ATI in detecting ≥S3 was significantly higher than that of CAP (0.94 vs. 0.87, P=0.047). Regarding the detection of liver fibrosis, no significant difference was found between TE and 2D-SWE. The AUROCs of TE and 2D-SWE were as follows: ≥F1, 0.94 vs. 0.89 (P=0.107); ≥F2, 0.89 vs. 0.90 (P=0.644); ≥F3, 0.91 vs. 0.90 (P=0.703); and ≥F4, 0.88 vs. 0.92 (P=0.209).Conclusion: 2D-SWE and TE showed comparable diagnostic performance in assessing liver fibrosis, and ATI provided significantly better performance in detecting ≥S3 steatosis than CAP.
Analysis of Factors Affecting Students' Interest to Save in Sharia Bank
Authors: Khairunnisa  , Rifaatul Indana
Published: March 2023

ABSTRACT
Research Aims: This study aims to determine whether lifestyle, religiosity, Islamic financial literacy, social environment, and brand image affect students' interest in saving in Islamic banks. This research is quantitative in nature to test the hypotheses that have been set previously. The population of this study are students of UIN Sunan Kalijaga majoring in Islamic banking, class of 2019-2021.
Methodology: Sampling from this study using purposive sampling technique. The data in this study were obtained by distributing questionnaires. The primary data in this study uses 85 questionnaires that can be processed. The data analysis method used in this study is multiple linear regression analysis with IBM SPSS 25.
Research Findings: The results of this study indicate that simultaneously, the variables of religiosity, social environment, and brand image have a positive and significant effect on the intention to save, while the variables of lifestyle and Islamic financial literacy do not have a significant effect on the interest in saving of students in Islamic banks.
Adopsi Payment Gateaway Syariah: Peran Pengetahuan Riba Sebagai Moderasi
Authors: Saputra Beni , Riza Alex Fahrur
Published: March 2023

ABSTRACT
Research Aims: This research aims to determine the adoption of Sharia Fintech services in the field of payment gateways using the UTAUT model with modifications to add knowledge of riba as a moderation variable.
Design/methodology/approach: This research used an online survey method. The population this research are all users of Sharia payment gateway services. The sampling using the purposive sampling method with a total sample of 116 respondents. The analysis technique used is SEM-PLS using Smart PLS 3.3.3 software.
Research Findings: The results of this research presented that Social Influence and Facilitating Condition have an effect in determining interest in using Sharia payment gateway services. Performance expectancy and effort expectancy have no effect on the interest in using Sharia payment gateway services. Meanwhile, in this research only in Effort Expectancy moderated by Knowledge About Riba.
Explore the Potential for Tourist Scams in Indonesia
Authors: TARJO Tarjo , ANGGONO Alexander , SAKTI Eklamsia , ZAKIK Zakik , SYARIF Muh , SAFKAUR Otniel , SAID Jamaliah
Published: March 2023

This study aims to explore the potential for tourist scams that have occurred in the tourism industry. This research uses a bibliometric system. The data source comes from Scopus and SINTA indexed papers. The number of documents used is 110 papers. Based on the results of the study shows that there are 28 tourist scam schemes. Of the 28 schemes, price scams are the most common schemes in 48 papers. Other methods, such as corruption (38 documents), service scams (34 articles), fake products/souvenirs (23 articles), and food scams (30 papers). Meanwhile, in Indonesia, there were 17 tourist scam schemes found.
The Dynamics of Religious Tourism. Case Study: Romania
Authors: UNGUREANU Laura
Published: March 2023

In recent years, world tourism has diversified its forms of manifestation on an international level, trying to capitalize on the most valuable cultural and religious objectives of a country's cultural and religious heritage. I chose such a theme because we are witnessing a revival of this form of tourism. It is thousands and thousands of years old, and now it is gaining momentum with the help of another vision of religious and pilgrimage tourism. Its new dimensions make it an attractive field for tourism agencies, national and local authorities, tour operators, transport companies, universities, public administrations, those dealing with general and specific infrastructure, as well as others. In Romania, with the collapse of the communist system, the presence of religious topics in the media discourse increased significantly. Particular attention is paid to the phenomenon of pilgrimage, and often this information ends up being the most important news of the day, on many communication channels. Pilgrimages are considered to be important religious events, heavily mediatized and very popular among the faithful, but very little researched. The present work aims to look towards these unexplored areas and study the phenomenon of pilgrimage, to analyze the economic dynamics of the religious phenomenon. Some of these fields are intensively researched abroad, where there is a significant specialized literature, while in Romania, these fields are less investigated.There are many studies in the field, at the international level, but at the national level, the phenomenon is less debated. This is the reason why the proposed case study and the examples used in the paper investigate the Romanian religious realities.In this article we aim to create both an image of religious tourism today and its dynamics in the near future (the evolution of the number of tourists and the economic side of this phenomenon).
A new class of uncertainty principles for the k-Hankel wavelet transform
Authors: Mejjaoli Hatem , Shah Firdous A.
Published: March 2023

The k-Hankel wavelet transform is a novel addition to the class of wavelet transforms which relies on a pair of generalized translation and dilation operators governed by the well-known k-Hankel transform. The aim of this paper is to explore a class of new uncertainty principles associated with the k-Hankel wavelet transform, including the Benedick–Amrein–Berthier and Shapiro’s uncertainty inequalities. Nevertheless, we shall also establish certain local-type uncertainty principles abreast of the mean dispersion theorems for the k-Hankel wavelet transform.
Certain aspects of ℐ-statistical supremum and ℐ-statistical infimum of real-valued sequences
Authors: Choudhury Chiranjib
Published: March 2023

Over the last few years, numerous researchers have contributed significantly to summability theory by connecting various notions of convergence concepts of sequences. In this paper, we introduce the concepts of

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-statistical supremum and

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-statistical infimum of a real-valued sequence and study some fundamental features of the newly introduced notions. We also introduce the concept of

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-statistical monotonicity and establish the condition under which an

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-statistical monotonic sequence is

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-statistical convergent. We end up giving a necessary and a sufficient condition for the

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-statistical convergence of a real-valued sequence.
Osteopathic manipulative treatment for the allopathic resident elective: does it change practice after graduation?
Authors: Slattengren Andrew H. , Wootten Mary E. , Carlin Caroline S. , Nissly Tanner J.
Published: March 2023

Context

Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for the allopathic resident is an elective at the University of Minnesota North Memorial Residency that engages the resident in the basic tenants of osteopathic medicine, with exposure to the vast application of OMT with a curricular focus on low back pain management. Implementing an elective curriculum is a feasible way to improve attitudes in OMT for MDs in a Family Medicine residency, and residents can learn OMT in an elective rotation.

Objectives

This article aims to determine if MDs who complete an OMT for the allopathic physician elective rotation have higher comfort caring for patients with back pain compared to those who do not complete the elective. Further, this article is designed to evaluate if these MDs continue to incorporate OMT into the care they provide once they graduate from their residency programs.

Methods

Graduates from the University of Minnesota North Memorial Family Medicine Residency (2013 to 2019) were sent an email invitation in August 2020 to complete a Qualtrics survey regarding their comfort with caring for patients with back pain, referral patterns for these patients, and the ongoing use of OMT in their practices. Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) graduates who responded to the survey were removed from the analysis.

Results

Among emailed graduates, 61.8% (42/68) completed the survey, with representation from each class ranging from 1 to 7 years postresidency. The five DO graduates who responded were removed from the analysis. Among the remaining 37 respondents, 27 had completed the OMT for the allopathic rotation (“elective participants”) during their residency training and 10 had not (“control”). Half (50.0%) of the control group provide OMT care compared to 66.7% of the elective participants, with a comfort score of 22.6 (standard deviation [SD] 32.7) in the control group vs. 34.0 (SD 21.0) in elective participants (on a 0–100 scale; 100 being completely comfortable; p=0.091). Among the control group, 40.0% regularly refer to a DO provider compared to 66.7% of those who completed the elective (p=0.257). The mean comfort score for performing a physical examination on patients presenting with back pain was 78.7 (SD 13.1) and 80.9 (SD 19.3) in the control and elective participants groups, respectively (p=0.198).

Conclusions

Allopathic Family Medicine residents who completed an elective rotation in OMT have a slight increase in frequency of referring to DOs. They also have a meaningful increase in comfort performing OMT. With the limited number of DOs being a common barrier to OMT care, more widely implemented training in OMT for allopathic Family Medicine residents may be a reasonable intervention to improve the care of patients with back pain.
Food determinants and motivation factors impact on consumer behavior in Lebanon
Authors: Boustani Nada Mallah , Guiné Raquel P. F.
Published: March 2023

The current study looks at a variety of factors that affect eating patterns. This is about internal and external aspects that lead to a thorough assessment of consumer behavior, with an emphasis on driving forces and obstacles that significantly affect each consumer’s food preferences. The information is based on questionnaire research of traditional and fiber food consumption as well as specific consumer purchasing behaviors. The results of the questionnaire survey were analyzed using qualitative aspects analysis and other statistical methods (ANOVA, t-test). The study’s goal is to provide comprehensive strategies that encourage and support the intake of nutritious meals, especially in light of how different food motivations and knowledge factors influence Lebanese consumer behavior. Based on the findings, individual eating motivation and its impact on consumers’ behavior in Lebanon when making food purchase decisions were found. Sources of potential influences include information, the social environment, and environmental variables. Processes like social learning influence the interplay between these components as well as food choices and eating habits. As a result, future programs to encourage healthy eating habits might profit by putting more of an emphasis on learning principles and food preferences when programs are implemented.