bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among school-going adolescent girls in schools of Dhankuta municipality, Nepal
Authors: Ghimire Milan , Bhandari Sheetal , Rajbanshi Manish
Published: September 2024

Adolescent girls are more vulnerable to anemia, especially in low and middle-income countries like Nepal. It is due to early marriage and pregnancy, rapid physical growth, low body weight, economic disparities, heavy menstrual bleeding, and inadequate iron diet. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among school-going adolescent girls. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 405 adolescent girls using a stratified random sampling technique from both public and private schools. A statistical analysis was performed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 software. The frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used to describe the characteristics of the participants. Binary logistic regression was performed for multivariable analysis. All the tests were performed at a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and p-value of <0.05. The mean (± SD) age of the participants was 14.2 ± 1.2 years. The majority of the participants (64.7%) were from government schools. Around 18% (95% CI: 13.8, 21.2) of the participants were anemic in the study. Poor knowledge of anemia (AOR = 3.3, CI: 1.0, 11.1), incomplete iron and folic acid intake (AOR = 26.8, CI: 8.3, 86.4), and absence of dietary diversity (AOR = 2.5, CI: 1.1, 9.2) were significantly associated with the higher prevalence of anemia among the adolescent girls. To reduce the risk of anemia among adolescent girls, a comprehensive strategy involving a school health intervention package on anemia, IFA supplements, and deworming program should be promoted. Besides, community-focused awareness programs should be strengthened to increase dietary diversity and improve awareness of anemia in the community.
Seasonal variations in haematological and biochemical parameters of healthy Gambian adults: Retrospective study 2018–2022
Authors: Dibbasey Mustapha , Dahaba Mamudou , Sarfo Francess , Begum Rosyna , Kanteh Mustapha , Sumareh Nyima , Bakare Mustapha , Umukoro Solomon , Amambua-Ngwa Alfred
Published: September 2024

The objectives of this study were to determine the presence and effect of seasonal variations and provide insights into trend from 2018 to 2022 in a comprehensive set of routine haematological indices and biochemical measurements in Gambian adults with no known underlying health condition. We retrieved five years of data from an electronic database and analysed 493 full blood counts and 643 biochemical data from different individuals. In this study, we focused on data from individuals with no known underlying health condition who visited the clinical diagnostic laboratory for routine medical examinations or assessments.Our study found a positive association between seasonality (wet season as the reference) and Hb (HB: 0.014(0.015), P<0.05), White blood cells (WBC) (WBC: 0.243(0.163), p = 0.0014), and neutrophils (neutrophils: 0.271(0.131), P<0.05) with exception to red blood cells (RBC) (RBC: - 0.184(0.061), P< 0.003) that showed negative association. Despite the association, the seasonal effects on our derived reference intervals for haematological indices and biochemical measurements from wet season to dry season were not statistically significant (P>0.05). In addition, we observed in our heatmap result that some laboratory parameters, including HB, RBC, haematocrit (HCT), urea, liver enzymes, and potassium, showed seasonal variation patterns throughout the year, with median levels being normal to slightly low during the dry season and normal to high during the wet season. We also found no significant difference (P>0.05) among the median values for all parameters from 2018 to 2022. Additionally, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) parameters showed a consistent declining trend from 2018 to 2022. Our study found no seasonal effects on the derived reference intervals of haematological indices and biochemical measurements. However, we observed changes in patterns for certain parameters particularly HB, RBC, liver enzymes, and potassium based on seasonality.
Exploring mixture estimators in stratified random sampling
Authors: Iqbal Kanwal , Raza Syed Muhammad Muslim , Mahmood Tahir , Riaz Muhammad
Published: September 2024

Advancements in sensor technology have brought a revolution in data generation. Therefore, the study variable and several linearly related auxiliary variables are recorded due to cost-effectiveness and ease of recording. These auxiliary variables are commonly observed as quantitative and qualitative (attributes) variables and are jointly used to estimate the study variable’s population mean using a mixture estimator. For this purpose, this work proposes a family of generalized mixture estimators under stratified sampling to increase efficiency under symmetrical and asymmetrical distributions and study the estimator’s behavior for different sample sizes for its convergence to the Normal distribution. It is found that the proposed estimator estimates the population mean of the study variable with more precision than the competitor estimators under Normal, Uniform, Weibull, and Gamma distributions. It is also revealed that the proposed estimator follows the Cauchy distribution when the sample size is less than 35; otherwise, it converges to normality. Furthermore, the implementation of two real-life datasets related to the health and finance sectors is also presented to support the proposed estimator’s significance.
MicroRNA-26a-5p is a reliable biomarker in the adjuvant setting for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Takeda Yu , Yamada Daisaku , Kobayashi Shogo , Sasaki Kazuki , Iwagami Yoshifumi , Tomimaru Yoshito , Noda Takehiro , Takahashi Hidenori , Asaoka Tadafumi , Shimizu Junzo , Doki Yuichiro , Eguchi Hidetoshi
Published: September 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a high recurrence rate even after radical resection because of subclinical tumors. To manage them, a reliable biomarker that can indicate the presence of subclinical tumors and predict their chemosensitivity is required. This study aimed to identify a miRNA as a biomarker that can be used to individualize postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy using postoperative peripheral blood samples. Integrating miRNA microarray data from the blood of 18 patients with PDAC and the in vitro results regarding the phenotypes of chemoresistant PDAC cells, a candidate miRNA was identified. The relationships between candidate miRNA expression and chemosensitivity were examined in vitro and in clinical samples from other cohorts of 33 patients with recurrence. Comprehensive analyses of blood samples detected 5 candidate miRNAs. Of these, miR-26a-5p was considered a candidate biomarker of chemosensitive phenotypes. In validation experiments, chemosensitivity was inversely correlated with miR-26a-5p expression in vitro. Moreover, the ability of miR-26a-5p to predict chemosensitivity was clinically evaluated using blood samples. Patients with high miR-26a-5p expression in the blood after radical resection exhibited a significantly longer survival time after recurrence. Thus, we concluded that miR-26a-5p is a potentially useful biomarker for managing patients with PDAC, especially those undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.
Elucidating the effect of drug-induced mitochondrial dysfunction on insulin signaling and glucose handling in skeletal muscle cell line (C2C12) in vitro
Authors: Kuretu Auxiliare , Mothibe Mamosheledi , Ngubane Phikelelani , Sibiya Ntethelelo
Published: September 2024

Efavirenz, tenofovir, rifampicin, simvastatin, lamotrigine and clarithromycin are known potential mitochondrial toxicants. Mitochondrial toxicity has been reported to disrupt the chain of events in the insulin signalling pathway. Considering the upward trajectory of diabetes mellitus prevalence, studies which seek to uncover probable risk factors for developing diabetes should be encouraged. This study aimed to evaluate the intracellular mechanisms leading to the development of insulin resistance in the presence of various conventional pharmacological agents reported as potential mitochondrial toxicants in skeletal muscle cell line. Differentiated C2C12 preparations were exposed to multiple concentrations of efavirenz, tenofovir, rifampicin, simvastatin, lamotrigine, and clarithromycin, separately. Glucose handling was evaluated by observing the changes in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and assessing the changes in GLUT4 translocation, GLUT4 expression and Akt expression. The changes in mitochondrial function were evaluated by assessing mitochondrial membrane integrity, cellular ATP production, generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, expression of tafazzin and quantification of medium malonaldehyde. Insulin stimulated glucose uptake was perturbed in C2C12 pre-treated with potential mitotoxicants. Additionally, ATP synthesis, alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential, excessive accumulation of ROS and malonaldehyde were observed in the presence of potential mitotoxicants. Particularly, we observed suppression of proteins involved in the insulin signalling pathway and maintenance of mitochondrial function namely GLUT4, Akt and tafazzin. Mitochondrial toxicants can potentially induce insulin resistance emanating from mitochondrial dysfunction. These new findings will contribute to the understanding of underlying mechanisms involved in the development of insulin resistance linked to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Bioarchaeology and evidence of violence from a precolonial later stone age communal burial in South Africa
Authors: Mole Calvin G. , Sealy Judith , Stynder Deano D. , Le Roux Petrus J. , Gibbon Victoria E.
Published: September 2024

This study reports on the bioarchaeology and evidence of interpersonal violence in a group of archaeological skeletons found near Ladismith, Western Cape, South Africa. The co-mingled skeletal remains derive from at least ten individuals of varying ages and both sexes. Overlapping radiocarbon dates on three individuals place them in the first half of the 15th century CE, pre-dating first European contact at the end of that century. Three juvenile crania have perimortem perforations, the locations of which indicate violent deaths. The sizes and shapes of the lesions suggest impact by a blade at least 110mm long and 50mm wide but with edges only 2mm thick. Based on these dimensions, we hypothesise that this was a metal-tipped spear. The nearest metal-working communities at this time lived approximately 500 km away, implying long-distance trade or exchange. δ13C, δ15N and 87Sr/86Sr values indicate that this was a heterogenous group of individuals who had spent their early lives in different locations and consumed varied diets, who had come together and were living in or travelling through the Ladismith area at the time of their deaths. This finding extends the timeframe and location for the practice of communal burial in the Holocene of southern Africa and provides additional support for the hypothesis that communal burials in this region tend to be associated with violence.
Optimal measurement method for anterior instability on stress radiographs in anterior cruciate ligament tear: Considering the effect of static anterior tibial subluxation
Authors: Han Joo Hyung , Choi Chong-Hyuk , Jung Min , Chung Kwangho , Kim Sungjun , Ha Taeho , Kim Sung-Hwan
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Accurate assessment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) function is vital for guiding treatment. Nevertheless, the presence of tibial subluxation in the neutral position of a patient with an ACL injury may potentially introduce a confounding factor. This study aims to investigate whether tibial subluxation in the neutral position affects the diagnosis of anterior instability in patients with ACL injuries, potentially impacting the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of stress radiography.

Methods

This study included 88 patients: 30 with acute complete ACL tears (acute group), 28 with chronic complete ACL tears (chronic group), and 30 patients who underwent knee arthroscopic surgery other than ACL reconstruction (control group). Side-to-side differences (SSD) in stress radiography were measured using the Telos load status and the SSD of the gap between the Telos load and unload statuses. Diagnostic accuracy of the two methods was assessed using areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs).

Results

The load SSD (5.92 ± 5.28 mm) was higher than the load-unload SSD (4.27 ± 5.99 mm) in the chronic group (P = 0.017). The load SSD demonstrated a significantly higher diagnostic value than that of the load-unload SSD in the combined group (AUC = 0.920 vs. 0.830; P = 0.012) and chronic group (AUC = 0.913 vs. 0.754; P = 0.002). After adjusting the symptoms for radiographic duration from 6 to 3 months in the chronic group, the load SSD exhibited a significantly higher diagnostic value (AUC = 0.902) than that of the load-unload SSD (AUC = 0.740; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The load SSD provides superior diagnostic accuracy compared to the load-unload SSD in ACL tear cases, where static anterior tibial subluxation may result in false negatives. Although load-unload SSD may have diagnostic value within the first 3 months post-injury, the load SSD method provides a reliable assessment of ACL function for patients beyond this timeframe.
Design and development of a sensorized hammerstone for accurate force measurement in stone knapping experiments
Authors: Barroso-Medina Cecilia , Lin Sam C. , Tocheri Matthew W. , Sreenivasa Manish
Published: September 2024

The process of making stone tools, specifically knapping, is a hominin behaviour that typically involves using the upper limb to manipulate a stone hammer and apply concentrated percussive force to another stone, causing fracture and detachment of stone chips with sharp edges. To understand the emergence and subsequent evolution of tool-related behaviours in hominins, the connections between the mechanics of stone knapping, including the delivery of percussive forces, and biomechanics and hominin anatomy, especially in the upper limb, are required. However, there is an absence of direct experimental means to measure the actual forces generated and applied to produce flakes during knapping. Our study introduces a novel solution to this problem in the form of an ergonomic hand-held synthetic hammerstone that can record the percussive forces that occur during knapping experiments. This hammerstone is composed of a deformable pneumatic 3D-printed chamber encased within a 3D-printed grip and a stone-milled striker. During knapping, hammer impact causes the pneumatic chamber to deform, which leads to a change in pressure that is measured by a sensor. Comparisons of recorded pressure data against corresponding force values measured using a force plate show that the synthetic hammer quantifies percussion forces with relatively high accuracy. The performance of this hammerstone was further validated by conducting anvil-supported knapping experiments on glass that resulted in a root mean square error of under 6%, while recording forces up to 730 N with successful flake detachments. These validation results indicate that accuracy was not sensitive to variations up to 15° from the vertical in the hammer striking angle. Our approach allows future studies to directly examine the role of percussive force during the stone knapping process and its relationship with both anatomical and technological changes during human evolution.
Association between under-dose of enzyme replacement therapy and quality of life in adults with late-onset Pompe disease in China: A retrospective matched cohort study
Authors: Zhang Huanyu , Chen Shanquan , Xu Richard Huan , Yu Siyue , Yu Jiazhou , Dong Dong
Published: September 2024

Background

Due to the high cost of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), most of adults with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) who received ERT used the medication with insufficient dosefs in China.

Objective

To compare the change in quality of life (QoL) between adults with LOPD receiving under-dose ERT and no ERT, and identify factors associated with the change of QoL.

Methods

A retrospective matched cohort study was conducted among adult patients with LOPD in a nationwide Pompe registry in China. Eligible participants were those who completed two investigations, and didn’t expose to ERT at baseline or before. The treated group were those who used ERT during follow-up; the untreated group received general care. The treated and untreated group were matched with a ratio of 1:2. QoL was assessed by the SF-12 and EQ-5D-5L. The dose of ERT was evaluated by the ratio of actual vials patients used divided by the indicated vials patients should use. The treated patients were further classified into mild and severe under-dose users by the median ratio. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to estimate the average treatment effect in the treated groups and identify factors associated with the changes of QoL scores.

Results

The study sample included 5 mild under-dose users, 6 severe under-dose users, and 22 untreated participants. Compared with the untreated group, mild under-dose ERT had no significant effect on the changes of QoL scores. In contrast, severe under-dose ERT was associated with a decline of physical QoL (β = -6.19, p = 0.001), but an increase of overall health state (β = 19.69, p = 0.032). A higher score of physical QoL (β = -0.74, p = 0.001) and overall health state (β = -0.69, p<0.001) at baseline was associated with decline in corresponding scores at follow-up. Being female was a contributor to the worsening of the overall health state (β = -22.79, p = 0.002), while being employed or at school was a predictor of improvement in mental QoL (β = 5.83, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

A Pompe-disease specific instrument based on patient experiences is warranted to closely monitor changes in QoL on a routine basis. It is desirable for patients with severe under-dose ERT to discuss with physicians whether to adjust treatment strategies.
Validation and usability of SeDAR e-health video for enhancing cervical cancer screening
Authors: Romli Rodziah , Mohamad Emma Mirza Wati , Abd Rahman Rahana , Chew Kah Teik , Mohd Hashim Syahnaz , Mohammed Nawi Azmawati
Published: September 2024

Background

The cervical cancer (CC) incidence rate is increasing among young women aged <50 years despite early screening is proven effective. Electronic health (e-health) has great potential for disseminating health education.

Methods

This study validated a newly developed e-health tool “SeDAR®” and assessed its usability via evaluations by health experts (HE), media experts (ME), and women. The SeDAR® content was developed based on protection motivation theory (PMT) using the nominal group technique and in-depth interviews that involved HE and women, respectively. Content validation was performed among the HE (n = 12) and ME (n = 5) using the content validation index (CVI) to identify their agreement. Subsequently, the Video Engagement Scale (VES®) was used to validate SeDAR® among women of different ethnicities (n = 11) to achieve ecological validity. The experts and women also commented on the presentation of the video.

Results

The validation yielded a good CVI among the HE (scale-level CVI-average [SCVI/Ave] = 0.986; scale-level CVI-universal agreement [SCVI/UA] = 0.900) and ME (SCVI/Ave = 0.979, SCVI/UA = 0.897). The highest VES® score [mean (±SD) = 92.90(±3.46)] proved the ecological validity of SeDAR®. The experts’ feedback established that SeDAR® conveyed a clear message about awareness of performing CC screening and was suitable for public viewing. The women considered SeDAR® easy to understand, and it advised early exposure for early CC screening.

Conclusions

SeDAR® was valid and could constitute an important e-health tool to improve motivation and uptake of CC screening.
Visualizing crisis leadership: Prime ministers on Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Carlson Tom , Lindholm Jenny , Andersson Sören
Published: September 2024

This study sheds light on how political leaders engage in visual meaning-making on social media during a major crisis. In addition, it explores which kinds of visual messages by political leaders on social media drive high popular engagement in times of crisis. The study employs content analysis, including automatic facial expression analysis, to investigate visual communication on the Instagram accounts of three Nordic prime ministers (PMs) during the critical initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis covers visual personalization, depicted individuals, national symbols and facial expressions. Furthermore, the study explores the visual elements within the posts that garnered the highest public engagement, as measured by the number of likes and comments. The findings indicate that the PMs primarily projected an image of professional, capable and credible crisis leadership through their visual content. However, the potential for leaders to convey compassion, empathy and authenticity through visual imagery is also evident, particularly exemplified by the Danish PM. The visual content that generated the most significant public engagement predominantly consisted of videos featuring the PMs in formal professional settings, directly addressing the audience about serious matters.
Editorial
Authors: Lilleker Darren , Vigsö Orla , Johansson Bengt , Veneti Anastasia
Published: September 2024

The editorial places our studies into a wider context linking together the different studies which cover election campaigning protest and the Covid-19 crisis. The works focus firstly on the crisis communication strategies of Nordic political leaders and secondly on the UK government’s social media messaging. Both these also offer insights into the tools of social media, multimodal and social semiotic analysis. Moving away from the pandemic we also offer insights into the work of photojournalists and their framing of Zimbabwean election contenders. Finally, for those interested in how facial expressions betray emotions, and how expressions can be read, the final article offers significant methodological insights on the use of Facial Action Coding System tools. Rounding off with a review of a recent handbook in the field, the editorial introduces this issue as one born out of and launched into a long hot political summer.
Research Handbook on Visual Politics, Darren Lilleker and Anastasia Veneti (eds) (2023)
Authors: Bucy Erik P.
Published: September 2024

Review of: Research Handbook on Visual Politics, Darren Lilleker and Anastasia Veneti (eds) (2023)

Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, 448 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-80037-692-2, h/bk, £200.00, e-book, £48.00
Features of true gynecomastia in adult males
Authors: Eristavi S. Kh. , Rozhivanov R. V. , Nikankina L. V. , Kolesnikova G. S. , Rozhivanova E. R. , Andreeva E. N. , Mel’nichenko G. A. , Mokrysheva N. G.
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the incidence of gynecomastia in adult men has increased significantly. It is of interest to study the specific features of the disease in these patients.

AIM: To identify the main characteristics of acute gynecomastia in adult men.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A continuous one-stage study including 160 adult males with acute onset gynecomastia, who were he was treated in Endocrinology Research Centre, Moscow. Total bilirubin, hepatic transaminases, creatinine, urea, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, sex hormone binding globulin, estradiol, total testosterone, alpha-fetoprotein, chorionic gonadotropin and mammary gland condition were evaluated in all patients. Baseline significance threshold level of p<0.05.

RESULTS: The incidence of gynecomastia increased from 5,4% in 2020 to 14,4% in 2024. Tumor forms of gynecomastia were rare, with 1,2% (95% CI 0,0; 3,0) of cases. In 30% (95% CI 22,9; 37,1) of men, gynecomastia was due to the intake of anabolic steroids for athletic stimulation. In 11,2% (95% CI 6,4; 16,1) of patients, gynecomastia was hepatogenic. In 7,5% (95% CI 3,4; 11,6), it was due to elevated sex hormone binding globulin. 47,5% (95% CI 39,8; 55,2) were endocrine non-tumorigenic form of gynecomastia due to excess body weight with formation of changes in sex hormone levels. The patients who took anabolic steroids were characterized by young age, as well as decreased luteinizing hormone levels and increased testosterone levels. The group of patients with elevated sex hormone binding globulin had no clinically significant features. Men from the group of hepatogenic gynecomastia were characterized by hyperestrogenism. Patients in the group with altered sex hormone levels were characterized by high body mass index and either increased estradiol or decreased testosterone or a combination of both.

CONCLUSION: The number of adult male patients with acute gynecomastia is progressively increasing. In the examined sample of patients, the main causes of gynecomastia were patients taking anabolic steroids, liver dysfunction and weight gain with the formation of changes in sex hormone levels. Patients taking anabolic steroids were characterized by a drug-­induced increase in testosterone and estradiol levels, which was accompanied by suppression of pituitary gonadotropic function. Estradiol elevation was also characteristic of patients with hepatogenic form of gynecomastia and men with excess body weight with formation of changes in sex hormone levels.
Program design and exemplary practices for preparing Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers
Authors: Mensah Felicia Moore , Quince Christine L. , James Weadé
Published: September 2024

Research on Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers (TOCIT) has gained traction in recent years in educational scholarship. Yet very few studies have evaluated teacher education programs that prepare TOCIT within the U.S. context or have focused on the promising pedagogical practices used to prepare TOCIT. The challenge of doing program evaluation resides in the different institutional contexts and the limited time teacher education researchers have to look holistically and systematically at program design and evaluation. However, we can talk about exemplary practices that have been supportive in preparing TOCIT. This article describes various teacher education pedagogical and theoretical practices that have been used in the preparation of TOCIT within different types of teacher education programs. We discuss two common types of teacher education programs—traditional and alternative. We also discuss the policy landscape for these teacher education program types, focusing on practices used in TOCIT preparation. Recommendations are suggested for policymakers to work intentionally toward creating a diverse teacher workforce and providing support—resources and financial—throughout teachers’ careers.
Keywords
Teachers of color, Indigenous teachers, alternative certification programs, Grow Your Own, residency programs
The Role of Digital Facebow for CAD/CAM Implant-Supported Crowns Workflow
Authors: Vavřičková Lenka , Kapitán Martin , Schmidt Jan
Published: September 2024

Recent advancements in digital technologies have transformed clinical workflows in dentistry, ensuring precise restorations. Custom-made crowns and fixed partial dentures (FPDs) now rely on virtual articulation. The digital facebow provides individualized data for CAD settings, streamlining the fabrication via digital workflow. For the purpose of demonstrating the differences observed during fabrication, we present a case report involving a 68-year-old patient seeking a replacement for missing teeth 24, 25, 26, and 27. The treatment plan involved the fabrication of an implant-supported FPD using monolithic zirconia (ZrO2). However, technical hurdles emerged during the planning phase, primarily due to spatial limitations posing a risk of mechanical failure over time. Consequently, we pivoted approach towards a porcelain fused to metal (PFM) FPD. For the PFM FPD, individual values from the digital facebow adjusted both virtual and conventional articulators. For comparison, two ZrO2 FPDs were milled-individual settings and average settings. All restorations underwent assessment for occlusion in maximal intercuspal position and eccentric mandible movements. In conclusion, the case report showed that individualized PFM FPD required minimal adjustments compared to milled ZrO2 restorations, whether using individual or average values. Utilizing individual values from the digital facebow reduced operator working time and minimized the intraoral adjustments.
Possible protective effect of remifentanil against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury
Authors: Kölükçü Vildan , Unsal Velid , Katar Muzaffer , Balta Mehtap Gürler , Tapar Hakan , Karaman Tuğba , Karaman Serkan , Fırat Fatih , Yalçın Kenan , Gevrek Fikret , Kuyucu Yunus Emre
Published: September 2024

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate the protective efficacy of remifentanil against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods

The study included 24 male rats. The rats were randomized into three groups: Group 1 was the control group. Group 2 was subjected to a testicular torsion/detorsion model. Group 3 underwent similar procedures and additionally received remifentanil (0.6 μg/kg/min) intravenously for the first 20 min of reperfusion. Blood samples were taken for biochemical analyses, and orchiectomy was performed for histopathologic examination.

Results

Biochemical analysis of blood samples showed a significant increase in antioxidant enzyme activity, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in Group 3 compared to Group 2 (p:0.004 and p:0.002, respectively). There was a dramatic decrease in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 Beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in Group 3 compared to Group 2 (p:0.001, p:0.046, and p:0.004, respectively). Similarly, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased in Group 3 compared to Group 2 (p:0.004). Histopathologic examination of Group 3 rats showed positive changes in inflammation, hemorrhage, edema, and congestion levels compared to Group 2 (p<0.001). Similarly, there was a positive effect on the Johnsen and Cosentino score in Group 3 compared to Group 2 (p:0.001 and p<0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

In our study, it has been documented that remifentanil protects against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Visions of Global Environmental Justice: Comunidades Negras and the War on Drugs in Colombia
Authors: Huezo Alexander
Published: September 2024

Focusing on the lived experiences of Afro-Colombians processing and resisting violence against their ecological communities, Visions of Global Environmental Justice employs accounts of the supernatural narratively and analytically to frame a contemporary struggle for environmental justice. The book applies Achille Mbembe’s theorization of necropolitics to the environmental racism of the US War on Drugs in Colombia, specifically the aerial eradication of coca in the comunidades negras of the Pacific Coast. Through critical examination and deconstruction of transnational mythmaking and local oral tradition, Visions of Global Environmental Justice illustrates that non/humans rendered expendable by US-driven drug (necro)politics are indispensable to both the conceptualization and the realization of environmental justice globally. Far from being a study singularly focused on the symptoms of environmental issues, this book creatively guides us toward a broader understanding of environmental racism and justice across geographic scales and non/human agencies.
Factoring as a Tool of Short-Term Financing and a Product of Bank Lending of Agricultural Enterprises in the Conditions of Post-War Development of Ukraine
Authors:   National Scientific Center ", Andros Svitlana ,   Institute of Agrarian Economy",   National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine
Published: September 2024

The article examines the role and place of factoring in the system of debt financing instruments. Factors affecting the development of factoring are analyzed. The fundamental advantages of factoring as an effective form of financing working capital of agricultural enterprises over other forms of short-term financing are formulated. The main components of factoring operations are defined both for intermediary banks and for agrarian enterprises-clients. The scheme of factoring service is presented. Methodical approaches to the construction and organization of factoring activities are formulated, which includes the stage of formation and the process of implementation in a credit institution. A factoring implementation mechanism was developed, and new trends in its development were also identified.
Analysis of the Economic Impact of Regional Tourism and Recreation Potential in Ukraine
Authors:   Odesа Polytechnic National University, Balan Alla , Savchenko Denis ,   Odesа Polytechnic National University, Savchenko Vadim ,   Odesа Polytechnic National University
Published: September 2024

The article is intended to analyze the economic condition of territorial communities and their recreational potential, identify problems of economic development. The main problems are the obsolescence of regulatory methods, insufficient coordination between different levels of government, and the lack of an effective mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of strategies. An analysis of the current state of tourism in Ukraine and the problems of the development of the tourism industry was conducted. An analysis of the current state of tourism in Ukraine shows that, despite the significant potential, the industry faces many challenges. The current state of the recreational industry of the Veliko Dalnytsia Territorial Community was analyzed and revealed that the region has significant recreational potential, but faces problems such as insufficient infrastructure, limited financial resources, and a low level of investor attraction.
Strategic Management of Sales of a Manufacturing Industrial Enterprise Product on the International Market
Authors:   Odesа Polytechnic National University, Pastushenko Kateryna , Kovtunenko Yurii ,   Odesа Polytechnic National University
Published: September 2024

The article defines the concepts of strategic management and sales activity both separately and as a system. The advantages of using the strategic management of the enterprise's sales activity are analyzed. The subsystems that make up the system of management of the enterprise's sales activity are considered. The formation of a sales strategy at the enterprises of the manufacturing industry is studied. A set of actions to improve the system of managing the sales activities of an industrial enterprise in the international market is defined. Attention is also focused on the importance of strategic sales management of industrial enterprises when they enter foreign markets in the current conditions of uncertainty and constant volatility of the macro environment.
The Concept of Crewing a Shipping Company's Talent Pool as a Business Process
Authors:   Odesа Polytechnic National University, Samarchenko Ilia
Published: September 2024

The article describes the concept of crewing and the crewing department of a shipping company from the point of view of a business process. The main features of running a crewing business by a separate company and the peculiarities of establishing a crewing department within a shipping company were considered. The conditions and factors influencing the establishment of crewing were revealed. The scheme of interaction between the business interests of crewing and related organizations was identified. The features and main factors that should be taken into account when providing crewing services as a type of recruiting business activity are determined. The current situation in the market of crewing services in Ukraine is analyzed, the prospects for the development of this type of business are forecasted, and ways to improve the provision of crewing services are proposed.
Analyzing Employee Perspectives on Social Media Use in the Workplace
Authors:   ISEC Lisbon – Higher Institute of Education and Sciences of Lisbon, Pinto Silvia , Amorim Maria ,   ISEC Lisbon – Higher Institute of Education and Sciences of Lisbon, CIAC – Center for Research in Arts and Communication
Published: September 2024

This study explores the evolving role of Information Technology (IT) in the workplace amid Industry 4.0 and the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on Portuguese employees' attitudes toward social media usage at work and its impact on organizational effectiveness. Using a quantitative approach, the research collects data from Portuguese professionals via digital platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. Findings indicate an intensified use of social media in business, particularly for marketing and customer engagement. While employees acknowledge its benefits, concerns include dependency and data security issues. The study underscores social media's critical role in business continuity and competitiveness, advocating strategic use for corporate growth. It offers valuable insights into workplace social media dynamics, laying groundwork for future research on digital tool optimization for organizational performance.
Regarding the influence of national factors on the biotic component of the enterprise's material backpack formation
Authors:   Institute of Industrial Economics of the NAS of Ukraine, Cherevatskyi Danylo , Bojko Oksana ,   Institute of Industrial Economics of the NAS of Ukraine, Smirnov Roman ,   Dalhousie University Canada
Published: September 2024

Relevance of research. Sustainable Development Goal No. 12 refers to reducing the resource intensity of the economy by reducing the costs of material input in production chains. The famous German scientist Friedrich Schmidt-Blick proposed the concept of an ecological backpack as a characteristic of hidden material flows accompanying the entire life cycle of a product. A separate component of the backpack is the biotic part, which was heavy enough when, for example, horse traction was used in old mines. Food self-satisfaction of the staff based on the salary led to the fact that the consumption of food in the production process remained outside the analysis of the company's material flows. The purpose of the study is to prove/refute the validity of the hypothesis regarding the significant dependence of the biotic component of the material backpack on national traditions and the material income of workers of industrial enterprises. Research methods: mathematical statistics. The basis of research is long-term observation of food consumption in Ukraine and abroad, in particular, Poland and China. Main results. In the course of research, certain traditions characteristic of Ukrainian realities were revealed: consumption of food products by the average Ukrainian with a probability of 0.95 is 58.75±0.04 kg per month (698±0.5 kg per year); the structure of the consumer basket in Ukraine contains 33% – milk and dairy products, 15% – vegetables; 14% – bakery products and cereals, 11% – potatoes, 8% – meat and meat products; the average person in Ukraine consumes more food than recommended by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (by approximately 5%); residents of rural areas consume more food than urban residents (by almost 6% – 57.9 kg per month versus 54.7 kg). It has been statistically proven that the annual volume of food consumption by residents of Ukraine (689 kg) is significantly greater than that of residents of Poland (456 kg) and, even more so, China (413 kg). National differences concerning food preferences have been revealed. Quantitative differences in the national consumption of food products by producers determine the different content of the material backpack of industrial products, which provides certain competitive advantages/disadvantages to the subjects of international market activity. In addition to the national traditions of food consumption, there are laws that determine the influence of the average per capita household equivalent total income on the weight of the food basket. On the basis of official statistical data, a mathematical dependence of the logarithmic form of the amount of food consumption on the average per capita income of a household member is proposed.
Experimental studies of the generating capabilities of mine hoists in industrial conditions
Authors:   Institute of Industrial Economics of the NAS of Ukraine, Bozhyk Denys , Bash Vitaliy ,   Institute of Industrial Economics of the NAS of Ukraine, Bash Antonina ,   Institute of Industrial Economics of the NAS of Ukraine, Cheіlyakh Dmitriy ,   Institute of Industrial Economics of the NAS of Ukraine
Published: September 2024

The article is devoted to a topical subject of distributed generation of electrical energy. The cage and skip mine hoists of the iron ore mining enterprise were considered as generators of electrical energy. The purpose of the study is to compare theoretical and experimental data on electricity generation by mine hoisting units of the Sukha Balka PJSK (Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine). The research methods are theoretical ones – on the transformation of the potential energy of a solid body into electrical energy during its movement through a mine shaft, and experimental ones – involving instrumental measurements of the consumption and generation of electrical energy by cage and skip hoists units during industrial operation. Research schedule: collection and processing of information on the operation of the cage and skip hoists of the mine named after Frunze and similar indicators of the cage and skip hoists units of the Yuvileyna mine for the period from September 1 to December 31, 2021. The novelty of the research lies in the instrumental measurement of the electrical parameters of mine hoists in real Ukrainian operating conditions. The most significant results: it was found that the volumes of electricity generation by mine cage hoists significantly exceed the results of skip hoists. The actual indicators of electricity generation by cage hoists units are much lower than the results of theoretical estimates. There is an imbalance between the generation and consumption of energy resources – 9% for the cage elevation of the mine Frunze; about 2% for the cage hoist of the Yuvileyna mine; less than 1% on skip units. It was found that there is a statistically significant correlative relationship between the generation and consumption of electricity by the cage hoist of the mine named after Frunze and no statistically significant relationship between the generation and consumption of electricity by the cage hoist unit of the Yuvileyna mine. The electricity obtained from the daily operation of two cage and two skip units of the Sukha Balka PJSC (approximately 400 kWh) is enough to power 58 average Ukrainian households.
SOBOL' SENSITIVITY INDICES-A MACHINE LEARNING APPROACH USING THE DYNAMIC ADAPTIVE VARIANCES ESTIMATOR WITH GIVEN DATA
Authors: Azzini Ivano , Rosati Rossana
Published: September 2024

Global sensitivity analysis is today a widely recognized discipline with an extensive application in an increasing number of domains. Today, methodological development and available software, as well as a broader knowledge and debate on the topic, make investigations feasible which were simply impossible or too demanding a few years ago. Among global sensitivity methods, the variance-based techniques and Monte Carlo-based estimators related to Sobol' sensitivity indices are mostly implemented due to their versatility and ease of interpretation. Nevertheless, the strict dependency of the analysis cost on the number of the investigated factors and the need of a designed input are still a major issue. A reduction of the required model evaluations can be achieved with the use of quasi-Monte Carlo sequences, the study of groups of inputs, and the sensitivity indices computation through higher performing estimators such as the innovative algorithm based on dynamic adaptive variances recently proposed by the authors. However, all these strategies, even
with significant cutting of the necessary model runs, are not able to overcome the barrier of a structured input. This
paper proposes a machine learning approach that allows us to estimate Sobol' indices using the outstanding dynamic
adaptive variances estimator starting from a set of Monte Carlo given data. Tests have been run on some relevant
functions, and results for the iAzz function, the Ishigami function, and the Hartmann model have been reported in
detail. In most cases, the results are very promising and seem to positively overcome the limit of a design-data approach keeping all the advantages of the Sobol' Monte Carlo estimator.
Stanley and Acetolysis: Enhanced Method for Pollen Identification and Geolocation of Cocaine Samples
Authors: Milanello do Amaral Marina , Ramos Cynthia , De Oliveira Paulo Eduardo , Brito de Medeiros Vanda , Da Silva Salvador Fábio Augusto , Fernandes Rodrigues Raphaella
Published: September 2024

The concept of palynological assemblage, a set of all identifiable pollen grains and spores, is very useful in geolocation determinations in Forensic Studies. To identify plant genera, palynologists must recognize detailed aspects of apertures, ornamentation and layers on the cell wall. Pollen and spores recovered from higher purity cocaine samples represent an alternative to indicate drug source regions. After following the method established by Stanley in 1992, we added the acetolysis procedure in samples seized by the Civil Police of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2017, in order to enhance morphological traits observation and taxonomical identification of different pollen taxa, allowing reliable environmental and geolocation reconstructions.
Effect of parecoxib on postoperative cognitive function and analgesic safety in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor resection: A retrospective study
Authors: Li Yongli , Peng Yan
Published: September 2024

Neuroinflammation is associated with the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Parecoxib has powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which may reduce the occurrence of POCD. We hypothesized that parecoxib could reduce the incidence of POCD and relieve postoperative pain without increasing postoperative complications in elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The study analyzed the effect of parecoxib on elderly patients undergoing elective radical resection of gastrointestinal tumors. Patients were divided into the NSAIDs group and the non-NSAIDs group according to whether parecoxib was administered. Demographic and clinical data were collected and compared. The incidence of POCD was set as the primary outcome, and postoperative pain as the secondary outcome. Among the 440 enrolled patients, the POCD incidence rates within 7 days after surgery in the NSAIDs and non-NSAIDs groups were 42.60% and 40.30%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). Patients in the NSAIDs group experienced significantly less pain on the first and second days after surgery compared to the non-NSAIDs group (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative adverse events between the two groups (P > 0.05). Parecoxib had no significant negative effect on early postoperative cognitive function, effectively alleviating early postoperative acute pain without increasing postoperative complications. The findings have implications for the broader use of parecoxib in postoperative pain management in elderly patients undergoing major surgery.
Electron Microscopy of Brain Tissue Samples v1
Authors: Hecke Morais Livia , Ladinski Mark
Published: September 2024

Protocol has been approved by the California Institute of Technology’s Institutional Animal Careand Use Committee (IACUC).