bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Guideline-Based Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Delivered by an mHealth App: Development Study
Authors: Starnecker Fabian , Reimer Lara Marie , Nissen Leon , Jovanović Marko , Kapsecker Maximilian , Rospleszcz Susanne , von Scheidt Moritz , Krefting Johannes , Krüger Nils , Perl Benedikt , Wiehler Jens , Sun Ruoyu , Jonas Stephan , Schunkert Heribert
Published: December 2023

Background

Identifying high-risk individuals is crucial for preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Currently, risk assessment is mostly performed by physicians. Mobile health apps could help decouple the determination of risk from medical resources by allowing unrestricted self-assessment. The respective test results need to be interpretable for laypersons.

Objective

Together with a patient organization, we aimed to design a digital risk calculator that allows people to individually assess and optimize their CVD risk. The risk calculator was integrated into the mobile health app HerzFit, which provides the respective background information.

Methods

To cover a broad spectrum of individuals for both primary and secondary prevention, we integrated the respective scores (Framingham 10-year CVD, Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2, Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 in Older Persons, and Secondary Manifestations Of Arterial Disease) into a single risk calculator that was recalibrated for the German population. In primary prevention, an individual’s heart age is estimated, which gives the user an easy-to-understand metric for assessing cardiac health. For secondary prevention, the risk of recurrence was assessed. In addition, a comparison of expected to mean and optimal risk levels was determined. The risk calculator is available free of charge. Data safety is ensured by processing the data locally on the users’ smartphones.

Results

Offering a risk calculator to the general population requires the use of multiple instruments, as each provides only a limited spectrum in terms of age and risk distribution. The integration of 4 internationally recommended scores allows risk calculation in individuals aged 30 to 90 years with and without CVD. Such integration requires recalibration and harmonization to provide consistent and plausible estimates. In the first 14 months after the launch, the HerzFit calculator was downloaded more than 96,000 times, indicating great demand. Public information campaigns proved effective in publicizing the risk calculator and contributed significantly to download numbers.

Conclusions

The HerzFit calculator provides CVD risk assessment for the general population. The public demonstrated great demand for such a risk calculator as it was downloaded up to 10,000 times per month, depending on campaigns creating awareness for the instrument.
Near Real-Time Syndromic Surveillance of Emergency Department Triage Texts Using Natural Language Processing: Case Study in Febrile Convulsion Detection (Preprint)
Authors: Khademi Sedigh , Palmer Christopher , Javed Muhammad , Dimaguila Gerardo Luis , Clothier Hazel , Buttery Jim , Black Jim
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Collecting information on adverse events following immunization from as many sources as possible is critical for promptly identifying potential safety concerns and taking appropriate actions. Febrile convulsions are recognized as an important potential reaction to vaccination in children aged <6 years.

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of natural language processing techniques and machine learning (ML) models for the rapid detection of febrile convulsion presentations in emergency departments (EDs), especially with respect to the minimum training data requirements to obtain optimum model performance. In addition, we examined the deployment requirements for a ML model to perform real-time monitoring of ED triage notes.

METHODS

We developed a pattern matching approach as a baseline and evaluated ML models for the classification of febrile convulsions in ED triage notes to determine both their training requirements and their effectiveness in detecting febrile convulsions. We measured their performance during training and then compared the deployed models’ result on new incoming ED data.

RESULTS

Although the best standard neural networks had acceptable performance and were low-resource models, transformer-based models outperformed them substantially, justifying their ongoing deployment.

CONCLUSIONS

Using natural language processing, particularly with the use of large language models, offers significant advantages in syndromic surveillance. Large language models make highly effective classifiers, and their text generation capacity can be used to enhance the quality and diversity of training data.
Unveiling Usage Patterns and Explaining Usage of Symptom Checker Apps: Explorative Longitudinal Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
Authors: Wetzel Anna-Jasmin , Preiser Christine , Müller Regina , Joos Stefanie , Koch Roland , Henking Tanja , Haumann Hannah
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Symptom checker apps (SCA) aim to enable individuals without medical training to classify perceived symptoms and receive guidance on appropriate actions, such as self-care or seeking professional medical attention. However, there is a lack of detailed understanding regarding the contexts in which individuals use SCA and their opinions on these tools.

OBJECTIVE

This mixed methods study aims to explore the circumstances under which medical laypeople use SCA and to identify which aspects users find noteworthy after using SCA.

METHODS

A total of 48 SCA users documented their medical symptoms, provided open-ended responses, and recorded their SCA use along with other variables over 6 weeks in a longitudinal study. Generalized linear mixed models with and those without regularization were applied to consider the hierarchical structure of the data, and the models’ outcomes were evaluated for comparison. Qualitative data were analyzed through Kuckartz qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Significant predictors of SCA use included the initial occurrence of symptoms, day of measurement (odds ratio [OR] 0.97), self-rated health (OR 0.80, P<.001), and the following International Classification in Primary Care-2–classified symptoms, that are general and unspecified (OR 3.33, P<.001), eye (OR 5.56, P=.001), cardiovascular (OR 8.33, P<.001), musculoskeletal (OR 5.26, P<.001), and skin (OR 4.76, P<.001). The day of measurement and self-rated health showed minor importance due to their small effect sizes. Qualitative analysis highlighted four main themes: (1) reasons for using SCA, (2) diverse affective responses, (3) a broad spectrum of behavioral reactions, and (4) unmet needs including a lack of personalization.

CONCLUSIONS

The emergence of new and unfamiliar symptoms was a strong determinant for SCA use. Specific International Classification in Primary Care–rated symptom clusters, particularly those related to cardiovascular, eye, skin, general, and unspecified symptoms, were also highly predictive of SCA use. The varied applications of SCA fit into the concept of health literacy as bricolage, where SCA is leveraged as flexible tools by patients based on individual and situational requirements, functioning alongside other health care resources.
Confirmation Bias, Data Manipulation and the Kuznets Curve: Original, Environmental and Financial
Authors: Merza Ebrahim , Alawin Mohammad
Published: December 2023

Empirical work in economics and finance involves data manipulation in ways that make it possible to confirm prior beliefs. The results typically turn out to be sensitive to model specification, sample period, variable definitions and estimation methods. The status quo provides the motivation for dealing with this problem using three versions of the Kuznets curve for the purpose of illustration. The underlying hypotheses are represented by quadratic functions of income per capita, with a different dependent variable for each version of the Kuznets curve. Both time series and cross-sectional data are used to estimate the equations. The results turn out to be highly sensitive to a number of factors, which provides an incentive for being selective in the reporting of results while exhibiting confirmation bias. To overcome the model uncertainty problem one can resort to the use of one of several methods that are based on the reporting of the distribution rather than the point estimation of the coefficients.
PREVALENCE OF CERVICAL CANCER AMONG THE WOMEN’S ATTENDING THE TERTIARY CARE CENTER OF EASTERN PART OF BIHAR
Authors: Kumar Binay , Prasad Nidhi
Published: December 2023

Objectives: The objective of this study was to study the prevalence of cervical cancer and its grade in the patients presenting to the gynecology outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care center.
Methods: This is a record based cross-section study which shows the percentage of women having pathological cervical lesions from the total number presenting to gynecology OPD of our tertiary hospital with specific symptoms with in a period of more than past 2 year.
Results: As the catchment area is of lower status general health which was low and routine regular check-up was not considered important by the patients. Poor knowledge about cancer cervix and lack of regular screening at primary center’s was the main constraint. The mean age of patient was 37±5.4 years and shows that maximum incidence that is reported is of negative for intraepithelial lesion for malignancy followed atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion.
Discussion: The major limitation found in this study was lack of proper knowledge among patients, poor health-care facilities, and shortage of trained staffs. It is essential to upgrade the basic facilities of primary health-care centers and mass education to vulnerable age group and enhanced awareness on this issue will lead to early diagnosis and greater chance of screening leading to timely diagnosis and treatment.
Conclusion: Lack of awareness has led to underreporting and faulty health seeking behaviour has led to delayed diagnosis. Comprehensive approach and affordable extended package of health care under Ayushmann Bharat can be helpful in reducing the disease burden.
INTEGRATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN DISEASE DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT: A REVIEW
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Kumar Punet , Ahmed Iftekhar , Singh Sangam
Published: December 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing and significantly impacting clinical care and treatment. Machine learning and deep learning, as core digital AI technologies, are being extensively applied to support diagnosis and treatment. With the progress of digital health-care technologies such as AI, bioprinting, robotics, and nanotechnology, the health-care landscape is transforming. Digitization in health-care offers various opportunities, including reducing human error rates, improving clinical outcomes, and monitoring longitudinal data. AI techniques, ranging from learning algorithms to deep learning, play a critical role in several health-care domains, such as the development of new health-care systems, improvement of patient information and records, and treatment of various ailments. AI has emerged as a powerful scientific tool, capable of processing and analyzing vast amounts of data to support decision-making. Numerous studies have demonstrated that AI can perform on par with or outperform humans in crucial medical tasks, including disease detection. However, despite its potential to revolutionize health care, ethical considerations must be carefully addressed before implementing AI systems and making informed decisions about their usage. Researchers have utilized various AI-based approaches, including deep and machine learning models, to identify diseases that require early diagnosis, such as skin, liver, heart, and Alzheimer’s diseases. Consequently, related work presents different methods for disease diagnosis along with their respective levels of accuracy, including the Boltzmann machine, K nearest neighbor, support vector machine, decision tree, logistic regression, fuzzy logic, and artificial neural network. While AI holds immense promise, it is likely to take decades before it completely replaces humans in various medical operations.
A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE AND ITS MANAGEMENT IN GASTROINTESTINAL SURGERY
Authors: Yadav Vijay Kumar , Salim Mohammed , Sharma Sanjay , Kumar Rohan
Published: December 2023

Objective: The objective is to study electrolyte imbalance and its management in gastrointestinal (GI) surgery.
Methods: The present study was carried out in the Department of Surgery, S.P. Medical College and P.B.M Hospital, Bikaner. This is a prospective descriptive study and was carried out between December 2021 and November 2022 including 100 cases operated for GI tract surgeries (both elective and emergency).
Results: Out of 100 patients, 54% patient had electrolyte imbalance and required correction for same. 46% of patients had normal serum electrolytes post-operatively. The most common electrolyte imbalance observed is hyponatremia (30%) followed by both hypokalemia and hyponatremia (14%). We observed that the most common surgical interventions which had electrolyte imbalance were ileostomy patients (84%) followed by resection and anastomosis of bowel (70%).
Conclusion: Patients who had electrolyte imbalance were found to have more post-operative complications, longer hospital stay, and probably had an association with mortality. Early diagnosis, aggressive resuscitation, and timely definitive surgical treatment along with correction of electrolyte imbalance are essential to decrease the incidence of morbidity and mortality associated with electrolyte imbalance.
SARS-COV-2 INFECTION AND ITS SYMPTOMS AMONG COVID-19 VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED HEALTH-CARE WORKERS
Authors: Maurya Vinod Kumar , Shukla Surabhi , Bora Archana , Rathore Laxmi
Published: December 2023

Objective: India’s national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination programs started during January 2021 and prioritized health-care workers (HCWs). In this study, we are attempting to measure post-vaccination product-specific (ChAdOx1_nCoV-19/COVISHIELD) COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among vaccinated hospital HCWs and also to assess symptoms in HCWs with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
Methods: This is an online web-based cross-sectional study conducted in June 2021 among vaccinated HCWs, comparing SARS-CoV-2 incidence and symptoms. In this study, demographic data such as age, gender, and profession were collected. Other data collected were vaccination status at the time of infection, the gap between COVID-19 positivity and vaccination, symptoms, hospitalization, time to recovery, and previous positive history before vaccination.
Results: A total of 1685 HCWs were vaccinated with the COVISHIELD vaccine from January 16 to March 18, 2021. Out of 1685 HCWs, 82 (4.8%) were tested positive by RT-PCR after vaccination. Out of 82 positive HCWs, 84% experienced mild symptoms, 12.2% experienced moderate symptoms, and 3.7% had severe manifestations leading to hospitalization. Among these positive HCWs, 25.6% recovered within 7 days, 35.3% recovered in 7–10 days, 15.8% recovered in 11–14 days, and 23.1% recovered after 2 weeks from the 1st day of experiencing symptoms.
Conclusion: Although COVID-19 vaccination by COVISHIELD may not fully prevent from infection by SARS-CoV-2 or its different variants, majority of positive cases present with asymptomatic/mild symptoms. Post-vaccination-positive cases may also present with severe symptoms and require hospitalization.
THE HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF TUMOR AND TUMOR-LIKE LESIONS OF ORAL CAVITY AND OROPHARYNX
Authors: Vachhani Anand , Bhuva Kaushik , Patel Harsh
Published: December 2023

Objective: The objective is the histopathological study of tumor and tumor-like lesions of the oral cavity and oropharynx.
Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, SBKS Medical Institute and Research Centre, Piparia, for 1 year. One hundred oral biopsies received from the ENT department were studied. Clinical details were obtained from the requisition form. Biopsies received were processed and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. Histopathological diagnosis regarding type and differentiation was made.
Results: Among 100 cases of the oral cavity and oropharynx biopsies analyzed in the present study, malignant lesions were 90 (90%), premalignant lesions were 4 (4%), and benign lesions were 6 (6%). The study included 86 cases (86%) of squamous cell carcinoma, 2 cases (2%) of verrucous carcinoma, 1 case (1%) of adenosquamous carcinoma, 1 case (1%) of adenocarcinoma, 3 cases (3%) of leukoplakia, 1 case (1%) of severe dysplasia, 3 cases (3%) of pleomorphic adenoma, and 1 case (1%) each of pyogenic granuloma, squamous papilloma, ossifying fibroma. Maximum number of cases was of squamous cell carcinoma (86%). Maximum number of cases was seen inthe age group of 36–45 years, the youngest patient was 25 years old. There was a male preponderance for oral and oropharyngeal lesions (73%) as compared to females (27%). Male: Female ratio was 1:0.37. The most common site of the lesion was the tongue (41%) followed by buccal mucosa (30%). The majority of the tumors were well-differentiated.
Conclusion: Males are more likely to develop lesions of the oral cavity and oropharynx than females. Typically, older age groups are affected. Drinking alcohol, smoking, and chewing tobacco can contribute to oral and oropharyngeal lesions. The most frequent place implicated is the tongue. The most prevalent histological variation is squamous cell carcinoma, and the majority of these tumors are well-differentiated.
A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED STUDY TO ASSESS THE AWARENESS OF MATERIOVIGILANCE AMONG HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE KURNOOL DISTRICT
Authors: MANDANNA SANGALA SRIMANTH , KR SURESHA , REDDY S NARAYANA , RAJU SAMBA SIVA
Published: December 2023

Objectives: Materiovigilance (MV) is the coordinated system of identification, collection, reporting, and analysis of untoward occurrences associated with the use of medical devices (MD) and enhancing patients safety, also preventing their recurrence by health-care professionals (HCPs). The HCPs have a key role in the identification and reporting of adverse events associated with MD for continued patient safety.
The aim of the study is to assess awareness of the recently launched MV Programme in India among the health-care professionals working in a tertiary care teaching hospital.
Methods: A questionnaire-based study was conducted among health-care professionals of Viswabharathi Medical College and General Hospital, like residents, interns, nurses (OT, emergency, intensive care unit, etc.), and laboratory technicians of various specialties working in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Kurnool. A pre-validated questionnaire consisting of questions pertaining to knowledge, attitude and practice of MV was circulated to HCPs through Google Forms, and data were recorded and analyzed using statistical tests.
Results: One hundred and eighteen doctors responded out of 200 contacted, providing a response rate of 59%. They belonged to medical and allied branches (77), surgical branches (24), and diagnostic branches (17). Sixty-nine (58.5%) doctors strongly agreed that these types of programs are very effective in keeping a check on AE caused by MD. 98 (83%) doctors responded-certainly; we should report all the AEs.
Conclusion: This study creates awareness about MV and imparts a reporting culture among the HCPs.
EVALUATION OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING PUBLICATION ETHICS AMONG MEDICAL AND DENTAL FACULTY AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL
Authors: Rajeshwari  , SC Somashekara , Mala Pramod
Published: December 2023

Background: The scientific medical research studies conducted on human participants should be guided by fundamental ethical principles which are crucial to ensure the protection of their rights and welfare. Methods: It is questionnairebased crosssectional study conducted among medical and dental faculties working at a tertiary care center, in India. The questionnaire contains fifteen questions to evaluate the knowledge about publication ethics. Google Form was sent among the groups and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 147 medical and 52 dental staff were enrolled in the study. The response rate of the study was 100%. The data obtained were sorted and categorized. Among 147 medical faculty, 75 were male 72 were female. Moreover, 52 dental faculties 23 were female and 29 were male staff. The study demonstrates balanced knowledge about publication ethics among medical and dental faculties working at a tertiary care hospital, Karnataka, India. Conclusion: The training programs would definitely increase the awareness of publication ethics among faculties and students which would bring significant changes in the scientific research field.
A COMPARATIVE DOSE-RESPONSE STUDY BETWEEN INTRATHECAL NALBUPHINE (0.8 MG, 1.4 MG) WITH BUPIVACAINE HEAVY 0.5% 3.5 CC IN LOWER ABDOMINAL SURGERIES
Authors: SOMASUNDHAAR S SAI , R RATNA , ADAPA SRINIVAS
Published: December 2023

Aims: To study the efficacy of various doses of nalbuphine as an additive in sub-arachnoid block for lower abdominal surgeries.
Methods: This comparative study was conducted by the addition of two different doses of nalbuphine as an adjuvant: 0.8 mg nalbuphine hydrochloride to 0.5% bupivacaine (heavy) and 1.4 mg nalbuphine hydrochloride to 0.5% bupivacaine (heavy), the onset, maximum level, duration of sensory blockade, motor blockade, and hemodynamic parameters were studied.
Results: It was discovered that group B (1.4 mg of nalbuphine added to 0.5% bupivacaine [H]) results in a later onset and greater degree of sensory and motor blockage. This group also considerably extended the time of analgesia, sensory and motor blockage, and both. The statistical examination of the mean blood pressure and mean pulse rate, together with the study of hemodynamic parameters, revealed that the p value was significant for the mean pulse rate and diastolic blood pressure but negligible for the systolic blood pressure.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that intrathecal 0.5% bupivacaine (H)+nalbuphine (1.4 mg) when compared to intrathecal 0.5% bupivacaine (H)+nalbuphine (0.8 mg) in the patients undergoing lower abdominal surgeries.
FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS KNEE TREATED BY INTRAARTICULAR INJECTIONS OF PLATELET-RICH PLASMA
Authors: VIKAS KUNTWAD  , PRAMOD PRALHAD TUPE  , AMOL WAGH
Published: December 2023

Objectives: The aims and objectives of the study are (1) to assess pain relief and functional outcome in knee osteoarthritis (OA) cases treated by intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and (2) to study the complication in patients treated by intra-articular injection of PRP.
 Methods: This was a prospective study conducted in the department of orthopedics of a tertiary care medical institute. 60 patients with Grade 2 and Grade 3 OA of knee were included in this study on the basis of a pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients were treated by intra-articular injection of PRP. Patients were followed up for 6 months. During follow-up visits, assessment of severity of pain and functional outcome was done by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Score and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) Score. Patients were also assessed for complications. p<0.05 was taken as statistically significant.
Results: Out of 60 studied cases, there was a female preponderance with a M: F ratio of 1:0.62. The mean age of affected cases was found to be 65.84±11.86 years and mean duration of symptoms was found to be 2.52±1.26 years. Majority of the patients were either overweight (45.00%) or obese (36.67%) and only 11 (18.33%) patients had a healthy weight. 38 (63.33%) patients were having Grade 3 OA whereas 22 (36.67%) patients were having Grade 2 OA. There was a significant reduction in pain and significant functional improvement at the time of final follow-up as compared to VAS and JOA scores at the time of presentation (p<0.0001). Complications were seen in any of the cases.
Conclusion: Patients with Grade 2 and Grade 3 OA of knee treated by intra-articular injection of PRP show excellent outcome in terms of pain relief and functional outcome with no significant complications.
Exploring the Fictional Miss Shakespeare in Woolf’s “Shakespeare’s sister”
Authors: Chakraborty Milan
Published: December 2023

The concerned paper tries as much as it can to sketch a feministic preview of “Shakespeare’s sister”, included in the famous essay “A Room of Ones Own” by Virginia Woolf, one of the most dominant female writers of English literature by virtue of exploring the fundamental problems of women, familial as well as social, regarding the various means whereby they can thrive like greatest male poets, dramatists as well as novelists of the era. Throughout the essay, Wolf endeavours to singe root and branch the man-made form of the patriarchal society, which hinders the women to have a specific space for only themselves, just like the men, even to come out of the apparently predestined social barriers and to know their inner self in order to flourish their inner capabilities, by dint of the man-made social weapons like gender discrimination, disparity as well as discrepancy. That is why, Woolf suggests, we all know great writers, particularly male writers like Shakespeare, But we know nothing about any female writer, maybe as great as Shakespeare in English literature, particularly before the 18th century.
Women Discrimination in Lynn Nottage’s By the Way, Meet Vera Stark: A Critical Discourse Analysis
Authors: Abbas Assel Abdulhussein , Hussein Abbas Lutfi
Published: December 2023

The current research paper aims to investigate and reveal the implicit ideologies that are used by Lynn Nottage in her play By the Way, Meet Vera Stark to represent her patriarchal society. The study exhibits critical discourse analysis (CDA) of the representation of women discrimination within Nottag’s play By the Way, Meet Vera Stark. The study delves into the complex construction of American societal stratification, centering on the discursive depiction in the context of women discrimination in the play. The study adopts Reisigl and Wodak’(2001,2009) framework to analyze the collected data qualitatively and quantitatively. The data of this study are four extracts from a different scene of the play to represent women discrimination. The analysis of the data reveals that Nottage criticizes American society for the interplaying between power dynamics, societal status, and the depiction of women exploitation, spotlighting on the multifaceted dimensions of discrimination exemplification within the play. By utilizing all of the discursive strategies, the study concludes that the predicational strategy gets a higher percentage of the total use of the discursive strategies, which indicates the writer’s frequent reliance on predicational strategies to project how characters’ attributes and qualities thereby affecting the depiction of discrimination in the context of the play.
Handwritten Character Recognition
Authors: Wadaskar Ghanshyam , Bopanwar Vipin , Urade Prayojita , Upganlawar Shravani , Shende Prof. Rakhi
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Handwritten character recognition is a fascinating topic in the field of artificial intelligence. It involves developing algorithms and models that can analyze and interpret handwritten characters, such as letters, numbers, or symbols. The goal is to accurately convert handwritten text into digital form, making it easier to process and understand. It's a complex task, but with advancements in machine learning and deep learning techniques, significant progress has been made in this area.Handwritten character recognition is all about teaching computers to understand and interpret handwritten text. It involves using advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques to analyze the shapes, lines, and curves of handwritten characters. The goal is to accurately recognize and convert them into digital form. This technology has various applications, such as digitizing handwritten documents, assisting in automatic form filling, and enabling handwriting-based input in devices like tablets and smartphones. It's a fascinating field that combines computer vision, pattern recognition, and artifical intelligence
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES OF YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN CORRELATION WITH THEIR PLAYING POSITIONS
Authors: MİÇOOĞULLARI Bülent Okan
Published: December 2023

The aim of this study is to examine the differences in height, weight, and body mass index values among young amateur football players according to their positions and try to put forth the significance of these differences in talent selection and in establishing a general anthropometric profile of a football team. A total of 121 youth football players from the Nevşehir U17 amateur league in Türkiye participated in the research, during which their body height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) were measured. When the study results were examined, goalkeepers obtained better values in the height variable compared to defenders, midfielders, and forwards. The lowest height values were found among midfield players, while defenders and forwards had similar values. In terms of weight variable, goalkeepers were found to have higher weight compared to players in other positions. Midfielders had the lowest weight among the groups. As for the body mass index variable, goalkeepers again reached the highest values, while midfielders had the lowest values. These findings indicate that the anthropometric characteristics of players at the U17 level vary depending on their playing positions. This observation suggests that the anthropometric features of players may differ based on the tactical aspects of the game. Football practitioners can leverage these study findings to gain a comprehensive understanding and interpretation of anthropometric characteristics and their implications for player positions. Furthermore, this knowledge can aid in providing tailored training programs aimed at evaluating and enhancing soccer-specific skills in relation to these factors. Awareness of these observed differences could also contribute to the early selection of promising players.
The Potensi Fumyco (Fungi Mikoriza Arbuskula) Dalam Meningkatkan Pertumbuhan Kelapa Sawit (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) di Pembibitan
Authors: Hazra Fahrizal , Nur Istiqomah Fatimah , Nurul Fadilla Ardina
Published: December 2023

Kelapa sawit (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) merupakan salah satu tanaman perkebunan penghasil minyak nabati yang menjadi komoditas unggulan di Indonesia. Pemberian pupuk hayati menjadi salah satu alternatif untuk membantu meningkatkan pertumbuhan bibit kelapa sawit. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh penggunaan pupuk hayati mikoriza terhadap pertumbuhan bibit kelapa sawit di Nursery. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap faktor tunggal dengan 6 taraf perlakuan dan 10 ulangan. Perlakuan pengujian pupuk hayati berdasarkan Peraturan Menteri No.1 Tahun 2019 yaitu Kontrol (A); Pupuk NPK standar (15-15-15) 2,5 g (B); 20 g pupuk hayati (C); NPK standar+20 g pupuk hayati (D); 3/4 NPK standar+20 g pupuk hayati (E); dan 1/2 NPK standar+20 g pupuk hayati (F). Pemberian pupuk hayati mikoriza baik tunggal maupun kombinasi dengan berbagai dosis NPK mampu meningkatkan tinggi, diameter, jumlah daun, bobot kering (BK) akar dan tajuk bibit kelapa sawit umur 12 minggu setelah tanam (MST) dibandingan dengan kontrol dan pupuk NPK standar. Nilai Relative Agronomic Effectiveness (RAE) pada perlakuan 3/4 NPK+20 g pupuk hayati mikoriza menunjukkan hasil yang paling efektif secara agronomi dengan nilai RAE tinggi bibit 504,63%, diameter 758,82%, jumlah daun 504,62%, BK tajuk 378,33%, dan BK akar 291,81%.
The Effect of Empty Bunch Applications on Production of Oil Palm
Authors: Hasibuan Syahbudin , Hamdani Hamdani , Astuti Kuswardani Retno
Published: December 2023

Empty fruit bunch are one of palm oil mills waste. The goal of this study was to see how empty fruit bunch (EFB) treatment affected the yield of fresh fruit bunches in oil palm trees. This was a descriptive study by observing oil palm plantations treated with organic material obtained from research or experiments. The observation was on the production of fresh fruit bunch (FFB). The data obtained came from oil palm plants' production data. Statistical analysis of observation parameters with significant effect was performed using the least significant difference (LSD) test. Any usage of empty fruit bunches composted on oil palm plants which is applied to frond stack increased rachis nutrient level, particularly Ca, Mg, and B, all of which are important in oil palm productivity. In addition, It can also impact N, P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Zn, Cu, even Cl nutrient level on leaf tissues. EFB composting had no significant effect on FFB production. In this study, FFB production was highest with the control treatment, but FFB production with the EFB treatment was slightly lower, not significantly different from the control treatment.
A hermenêutica do mundo grego antigo: vocabulário
Authors: Manieri Dagmar
Published: December 2023

Em um dicionário ao estilo tradicional encontra-se a polissemia dos termos. Mas, geralmente, não se aprofunda nesta variedade. Convenhamos: ela implica em uma verdadeira problemática no ato de se traduzir determinado termo. É nesse sentido que a hermenêutica pode auxiliar neste trabalho cultural da tradução. Em termos filosóficos, a hermenêutica se inicia com Friedrich Nietzsche que inaugura um estilo interpretativo que rejeita o dever-ser da tradução. Não há uma “verdade” intocada esperando para ser dominada pelo conhecimento; em Nietzsche a própria interpretação é mais que conhecimento. Ela é o sintoma de uma posição de poder. Este princípio é seguido por Martin Heidegger, no sentido da quase impossibilidade de “traduzir” uma experiência autêntica. Esta complexidade explica a utilização da hermenêutica como método interpretativo; em “Parmênides”, Heidegger nos adverte da dificuldade da tradução, pois somos o produto de uma tradição – no exemplo de se interpretar os gregos antigos, a tradição romano-católica criou verdadeiros estratos que impedem um conhecer autêntico. É nesse horizonte da problemática aventada acima que propomos a diversidade interpretativa dos termos gregos antigos. Na obra não recorremos só aos helenistas, mas também a diversos pensadores contemporâneos. Isto quer dizer que alguns termos se transformam em verdadeiros conceitos como, por exemplo, politéia e mímesis. Hoje, os grandes pensadores da política e da arte recorrem a esses termos para se pensar esses respectivos campos. Por isso, ao permitir e potencializar a reflexão, politéia e mímesis se transformaram em conceitos. É com esta variedade interpretativa dos termos gregos antigos que almejamos uma real pluralidade no ato de conhecer.
O Sistema de Financiamento da Educação Obrigatória no Chile: situação atual e desafios
Authors: Díaz Sebastián Donoso , Benavides-Moreno Nibaldo
Published: December 2023

O trabalho mostra que o Chile é um caso atípico em termos de financiamento público da
escolaridade obrigatória, visto que durante mais de quatro décadas foi implementado um sistema
de financiamento baseado na procura efetiva dos alunos às escolas através de “vouchers”, que
além de ser controverso e encorajando a privatização, teve efeitos mais negativos do que
positivos na qualidade do ensino para a maioria dos seus alunos. No entanto, demoramos muito
para introduzir mudanças substantivas no modelo em favor da equidade, o que levou a uma crise
grave e massiva na qualidade da educação, que atualmente -na nossa opinião- requer
transformações profundas nos seus instrumentos para evitar o colapso do sistema. O artigo
apresenta o contexto sociopolítico e as políticas de financiamento chilenas, em seguida é
exposto o atual modelo de financiamento da educação e seus principais componentes, finalizando
com as assimetrias e desafios do modelo de financiamento.
O financiamento da educação obrigatória e gratuita na Espanha
Authors: Frades Santiago Esteban
Published: December 2023

O artigo está estruturado em quatro seções. A primeira descreve quais são as condições,
determinantes e indicadores do financiamento da educação obrigatória na Espanha. Entre eles,
estará o modelo de organização territorial de Estado descentralizado, no qual as Comunidades
Autônomas adquirem um papel decisivo no autogoverno das importantes competências educativas que
possuem e, portanto, no seu financiamento. A segunda trata das mais recentes medidas de política
educacional sobre o financiamento da educação na Espanha. Analisa-se o instrumento fundamental
que é a Lei do Orçamento Geral do Estado para o ano de 2023 e as diferentes Leis Orçamentais das
Comunidades Autónomas. A terceira seção reflete sobre os problemas e questões críticas
levantadas pelo financiamento; Um desses problemas tem a ver com a desigualdade que existe entre
as Comunidades Autónomas em aspectos significativos. E, por fim, discute-se a relação das
políticas de financiamento com questões de qualidade, equidade e justiça social.
Student Emotions and Engagement: Enacting Humanizing Pedagogy in Higher Education
Authors: Kim Hyunjin Jinna , Kong Yiren , Hernandez Carol , Soban Muhammad
Published: December 2023

Student engagement in higher education has been a topic of discussion for decades, as student engagement directly indexes student retention, achievement, and career development. While previous research emphasizes the importance of effective teaching practices to increase student engagement in higher education, faculty and staff report institutional and professional challenges to increase interactions with students. This study highlights cases of successful teacher-student relationships that engendered positive student emotions and advanced student engagement in higher education settings. Using the thank-you note messages provided by students in a Thank-a-Teacher initiative, data were analyzed qualitatively through the theoretical principles of humanizing pedagogy (del Carmen Salazar, 2013). The findings indicate that the enactment of humanizing pedagogy through conveying emotions and forming positive teacher-student relationships made a meaningful impact on student motivation, engagement, and growth. Implications for the transformation and liberation of higher education through affect-driven pedagogy are discussed.
Thermal upgrading of manganese ores prior to smelting
Authors: Eray S.
Published: December 2023

Ferromanganese smelting in electric arc furnaces is an energy-intensive process with corresponding CO2 emissions and environmental impacts. Upgrading the furnace charge can improve process efficiency and decrease electricity consumption. An oxide manganese ore, consisting mainly of pyrolusite, calcite and goethite, was thermally upgraded by calcination and solid-state reduction. During calcination of the ore at 900-1100?C, carbonates and hydroxides were decomposed and a considerable amount of oxygen was removed. The manganese content of the run-of-mine ore was increased from 39.86% to 47% after calcination. Carbothermic reduction of the ore at 1250?C resulted in almost all of the iron oxide and some of the manganese oxide passing into the metallic form. The results showed that a significant part of the endothermic reactions during the solid-state treatment of the ore can be carried out with low-cost fossil fuels. This leads to enrichment of the electric arc furnace charge, lower electricity consumption in the furnace, lower overall processing costs and a more efficient smelting process.
Transurethral versus open enucleation of the prostate in Sweden – a retrospective comparative cohort study
Authors: Bohlok Jessica , Söderberg Rajne , Patschan Oliver
Published: December 2023

Objective: To investigate if treatment with transurethral enucleation of the prostate (TUEP) during the learning curve is as efficient and safe in the short term as transvesical open prostate enucleation (OPE), in patients with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) > 80 ml in a population in Sweden. 
Methods: 54 patients with ultrasound verified BPO > 80 ml and indication for surgery underwent TUEP or OPE between 2013 and 2019. Peri- and postoperative outcome variables regarding voiding efficiency and morbidity from 20 OPE at Skåne University Hospital (SUS) and from the first 34 TUEP performed at SUS and Ystad Hospital were retrospectively assembled. Follow-up data from the first 6 postoperative months were collected by chart review.
Results: Intraoperative bleeding during TUEP was less than in OPE (225 ml vs. 1,000 ml). TUEP took longer surgery time than OPE (210 vs. 150 min.). Within 30 days postoperatively, bleeding occurred less often after TUEP (23% vs. 40%), requiring one fourth of the blood transfusions given after OPE. After TUEP, patients had shorter hospitalisation (3 days vs. 7 days) and catheterisation time (3 days vs. 12 days). During the 6-month follow-up period, incontinence and UTI defined as symtomatic significant bacteriuria (urinary culture) were observed as main complications after TUEP and OPE. Functional outcome data availability (International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS] questionnaire, uroflowmetry, residual urine) were limited.
Conclusions: Treatment with TUEP during the learning curve led to less bleeding, shorter hospitalisation- and catheterisation time than treatment with OPE. However, surgery time was shorter with OPE. There were no major differences between the groups concerning mid-term functional outcomes, with the reservation of an inconsistent follow-up.
Wear Reduction in Heavily Loaded Units of Transport Vehicles
Authors: Demyanov A. A. , Shcherbakov I. N.
Published: December 2023

Introduction. The pivot assembly provides connection between the rotating and non-rotating parts of machines and mechanisms such as cranes, excavators, trailers, railway rolling stocks. In relation to rolling stock, it connects the load-carrying part of the car with the bogie and is one of the most critical and wear-out friction units. Its technical condition affects the intensity and form of wear of the surfaces themselves, the amount of resistance to rotation of the bogie when the car moves in curved sections of the track, the amplitude of the lateral rocking of the car, the intensity of wear of the wheel flanges and, as a consequence, the safety of operation of the rolling stock as a whole. Until now, periodic grease is used for this unit, which, even with a short mileage, manages to be squeezed out of the contact zones and, thereby, creates conditions for the predominance of dry friction. Until now, various proposals to solve this problem have not found application in mass production for a number of reasons, and therefore the search for ways to reduce wear in the pivot assembly of cars is still relevant. This study proposes a solution to this problem that does not require structural changes to the pivot assembly itself.

   The aim of this work was to develop a technologically advanced anti-friction coating with good adhesion, which will be applied to the surface of a replaceable disk installed between the rubbing surfaces of the pivot assembly during scheduled repairs of the car chassis.

   This approach will reduce the friction force and wear rate in the unit when lubrication shortage occurs due to squeezing out of the grease.

   Materials and Methods. Antifriction characteristics of the developed coating was observed on a friction machine providing specific loads on the test sample up to 5000 N and a sliding speed from 0.13 m/s. The samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (FEI Quanta 200 microscope). SEM images were acquired in a back-scattered electron (BSE) mode using a semiconductor detector. To analyze the elemental composition of beam samples, an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDAX Element EDS system) was used.

   Results. A three-layer functional phosphorus-containing composite coating of the surfaces of the unit was developed, which made it possible to significantly reduce the coefficient of friction and, as a consequence, the intensity of wear of the pivot unit surface during dry friction. The optimal conditions for obtaining composite coating layers were determined. The influence of the thickness of each layer and the conditions for its production on its functional characteristics was studied.

   Discussion and Conclusion. The proposed solution is manufacturable and, with appropriate adaptation, can be used to reduce wear in any open pivot assembly without radically changing its design. The methods for producing coating layers are accessible and technologically advanced for serial use.
Analysis of Water Consumption during Fire Extinguishing at Objects of Different Functional Fire Hazard Classes
Authors: Kondashov A. A. , Bobrinev E. V. , Udavtsova E. Yu. , Ryumina S. I.
Published: December 2023

Introduction. Fire-fighting water supply systems play a primary role in ensuring effective fire extinguishing. Many researchers both in our country and abroad have considered the requirements for fire-fighting water supply and problematic issues in this area. At the same time, in order to update the requirements for fire-fighting water supply, it is necessary to study the actual water consumption on fires, taking into account the characteristics of fire objects.

   The aim of this research was to analyze the water consumption for outdoor firefighting depending on the characteristics of the fire object and compare the actual water consumption with the requirements of regulatory documents on fire safety.

   Methods and Materials. The authors used statistical data on fires in the Russian Federation for 2019–2021 from the federal state information system "Federal Database "Fires". Methods of statistical data analysis and classification of statistical data were used to determine the actual water consumption for outdoor firefighting, depending on the class of functional fire hazard of the fire object. Visualization of the obtained results was performed by the method of graphical representation of data in the form of histograms and pie charts.

   Results. The analysis showed that the highest average water consumption was required for objects of the functional fire hazard class F1.2 "hotels, dormitories (with the exception of apartment-type dormitories), dormitory buildings of sanatoriums and rest homes of general type, campsites" — 10.7 l/s. For apartment buildings, the highest average water consumption was required to extinguish fires that had arisen in the attic — 10 l/s and in the garret — 9.2 l/s.

   Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the analysis can be used to clarify the requirements for water consumption for outdoor firefighting, depending on the functional fire hazard class of the object and the number of floors of buildings. In order to meet these requirements, regular monitoring of fire-fighting water supply systems is required, as well as timely maintenance and repair of external and internal fire-fighting water supply systems.