bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optic neuropathy and retinopathy due to advanced cobalt toxicity
Authors: Shaikh Noreen , Mills Huan M , Konstantinou Eleni K , Ramsey David J , Athappilly Geetha K
Published: July 2022

We report a rare case of cobalt toxicity resulting in a combined optic neuropathy and retinopathy. A 58-year-old woman with a recent revision of a hip implant presented with profound loss of vision. Although her initial exam was structurally unremarkable, she developed progressive outer retinal atrophy and optic nerve pallor. Abnormalities were also demonstrated in the full-field electroretinogram and optic nerve sheath on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cobalt levels in the serum were severely elevated (734 μg/L) from the dysfunctional metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implant. Removal of the implant led to a rapid reduction in cobalt levels and stabilization of her declining vision.
Herpes zoster masquerading viral endophthalmitis after ozurdex intravitreal implant
Authors: Dhami Abhinav , Dhami Nimrata Bajaj , Singh Gobinder
Published: July 2022

A 64-year-old gentleman presented with decreased vision, raised intraocular pressure, and anterior chamber reaction of 1+ with grade 3 vitreous exudates on day 5 after intravitreal Ozurdex® implant. Microbiological culture showed no bacterial or fungal growth. On suspicion of viral endophthalmitis, the patient was started on topical prednisolone, moxifloxacin, atropine, dorzolamide, and timolol eye drops and oral valacyclovir 1 g twice a day for 10 days. On day 9, a vesicular eruption was noted on the left forehead, confirming the diagnosis of herpes zoster-related shingles infection. Complete resolution of inflammation was noted on day 30. This is the first case report highlighting the occurrence of ocular zoster infection after an intravitreal Ozurdex® implant.
Perilimbal conjunctival schwannoma
Authors: Khan Lubna
Published: July 2022

A female aged 42 years presented to us for routine eye examination and was found to have a well-circumscribed, firm, smooth, oval nodule at the limbus of the right eye. It had increased slowly to the present size in 7 years. It is unique in being the first and largest limbal schwannoma to be reported from India. The patient had no visual or cosmetic concern. Excision followed by histopathologic evaluation revealed its nature. Special staining (S100 and reticulin) revealed it to be of neurogenic origin. Schwannomas of ophthalmic interest include those arising from the orbit. Within the globe, they have been reported to arise from the uvea. Conjunctival schwannomas are extremely rare. Role of gene mutation as a causal factor has been studied when schwannoma occurs as a part of Carney complex. Association with multiple neurofibromatosis is also documented.
Tamoxifen maculopathy mimicking type-2 macular telangiectasia (MacTel-2)
Authors: Shah Vineet , Chandran Kiran , Desai Sachin , Giridhar Anantharaman
Published: July 2022

Tamoxifen citrate is an antiestrogen agent used in the treatment of breast carcinoma. Incidence of ocular toxicity, in the range of 0.9–-11%, has been reported following its use. Since the clinical picture, especially crystals and cavitation, seen in tamoxifen maculopathy resembles type-2 macular telangiectasia (MacTel-2), differentiating them requires detailed multimodal imaging. We present a rare case of tamoxifen maculopathy mimicking MacTel-2 in an Indian patient. A 55-year-old female with a history of breast carcinoma had been taking tamoxifen 20 mg once daily (cumulative dose of 57.6 g) for 8 years. Color fundus photo showed crystals in foveal and parafoveal region. Further multimodal imaging with confocal blue reflectance, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, and OCT-angiography demonstrated close resemblance to MacTel-2 features. Thus, it is important to elicit a detailed history in female patients with a history of breast carcinoma and seek oncology consultation once tamoxifen toxicity is seen.
An unusual foreign body from domestic ocular injury
Authors: Bhattacharyya Mainak , Soren Ashish Joy , Anuradha Anindya , Prakash Om
Published: July 2022

Domestic ocular injuries are mostly caused by sharp objects such as needles or fists, balls, firecrackers, and bursting bottles; pressure cooker explosions constitute a relatively rare but largely under-reported cause of ocular trauma. We report here a domestic cooker blast injury in a 57-year-old lady who had an impacted nozzle and auto-eviscerated eyeball at the presentation that lead to permanent blindness. A careful evaluation and meticulous removal of the impacted foreign body (cooker whistle) prevented further damage to the surrounding structures. Pressure cookers are one of the most common kitchen appliances that need to be used with care and caution. We recommend stringent testing of the final product and complete adherence to the safety instructions on part of the users.
Atypical fibroxanthoma
Authors: Dharwadkar Sandhya , Hegde Shubhratha , Kamal Shilpa S , Krishna Shruthi M
Published: July 2022

Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is a rare tumor arising from conjunctival stroma, which mimics other malignancies leading to inadvertent aggressive management. We hereby report a case of an elderly male patient with a well-circumscribed mass in superior bulbar conjunctiva of 6 months duration causing corneal scarring in his left eye. He underwent excision biopsy and was suspected to have spindle cell carcinoma based on histopathological features. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) ruled out the epithelial tumors and confirmed the diagnosis of AFX, which usually follows a benign course. Thus, this case emphasizes the importance of IHC as a diagnostic tool for ocular surface tumors.
Cataract surgery outcomes in patients with lenticonus
Authors: Rashme Vinitha L , Prasad Senthil R , Nagu Kamatchi , Shekhar Madhu
Published: July 2022

Cataract surgery in lenticonus is challenging because of increased fragility of the lens capsule. In this case series, we report three different modes of cataract surgery in 15 eyes of ten patients with lenticonus. Six patients had Alport syndrome, out of which two were diagnosed after ophthalmic examination. Two patients had posterior lenticonus, among which one had persistent fetal vasculature. There was a significant improvement in visual acuity following cataract surgery. Therefore, cataract surgery can be safely performed in patients with lenticonus, and ophthalmologists can retard the progression of renal failure by early diagnosis.
A rare case of giant conjunctival nevus in an 11-month-old child
Authors: Rajagopal Rama , Nathani Karan R , Patil Trupti S , Jayavel Karthick , Balaji Janarthanam J
Published: July 2022

Giant conjunctival nevi are considered congenital in origin, with the youngest case reported at 12 years. We describe an 11-month-old baby presenting since birth with a giant conjunctival nevus in the right eye involving inferior 9 o'clock hours of bulbar conjunctiva. Intralesional cysts were noted both on clinical examination and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT). Gonioscopy revealed increased trabecular pigmentation. Parents were advised periodic review. Our case highlights that this can occur at birth and emphasizes the need for careful documentation and periodic review considering the rare risk of malignant transformation in these eyes.
Dorzolamide-induced giant cell thrombocytopenia
Authors: Ganguly Alokesh , Singh Komal Daljit , Chakraborty Mainak
Published: July 2022

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are frequently prescribed in topical and oral forms in various types of glaucoma. Dorzolamide eye drops are frequently associated with ocular side effects but systemic side effects are rare with its use. We report a case of dorzolamide-induced giant cell thrombocytopenia in a patient with post uveitic angle-closure glaucoma. After discontinuation of dorzolamide eye drops, the thrombocytopenia reversed.
COVID-19
Authors: Hatami Hossein , Qaderi Shohra , Shah Jaffer , Rezaeian Ahmad Reza , Farsi Yeganeh , Alinasab Faeze , Qaderi Farah , Khosravi Afifeh , Bazgir Narges , Shah Asghar
Published: July 2022

Background:

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the pathogen responsible for an acute respiratory disease designated COIVD-19, which has spread throughout the world. Despite all the struggles with this virus, still, the majority of societies are affected by COVID-19, which raises many questions such as are these ways of management enough, which is crucial in order to contain the virus spread, and which is not effective. In this systemic review, we tried to summarize the data on different ways of managing COVID-19 outbreaks. Through understanding the efficacy and downsides of different approaches to manage COVID-19, public health officials, governing bodies, and health care administrators may be better equipped with the tools necessary to best manage COVID-19 and pandemics.

Methods:

This systematic review was carried out by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Articles were selected using several databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, all peer-reviewed and published articles from December 1, 2019 to April 23, 2020 that met the inclusion criteria were selected.

Results:

The majority of the included articles were mathematical modeling, cohort studies (n = 9), cross-sectional (n = 6), and one case series. Most articles originated from China and then Singapore. The measures that have been practiced in these articles consisted of close contact tracing and case isolation, quarantine, strict surveillance, lockdown, and travel surveillance.

Conclusions:

The most effective approach is at least the combination of case detection and isolation, and contact tracing or containment measures. In the literature, travel controls seem to be ineffective, personal hygiene should be tough and emphasized.
Medical Error and Under-Reporting Causes from the Viewpoints of Nursing Managers
Authors: Mousavi-Roknabadi Razieh Sadat , Momennasab Marzieh , Groot Gary , Askarian Mehrdad , Marjadi Brahmaputra
Published: July 2022

Background:

Patient safety as a goal can be achieved by reporting medical errors (ME); however, most errors are never reported. The aim of this study is to explore the causes of ME, and the obstacles in reporting them amongst nurses.

Methods:

We conducted semi-structural interviews, with 12 nursing managers in the biggest teaching hospital in southern Iran (2015-2016). The interview guide concentrated on the causes of ME and barriers in reporting them. All face-to-face interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results:

In this study 4 main themes were extracted for the causes of ME: personal/social characteristics, nonprofessional practice, hospital related factors/organization contextual factors, and poor management. Also, 5 main themes (such as; personal characteristics, fear from reporting, nonprofessional practices, cultural and social factors, and error surveillance system features) were obtained with regards to barriers in reporting.

Conclusions:

ME can be reduced by improving professional practice and better human resource management. Also, reporting errors can be increased by focusing on cultural and social factors.
Role of Cardiac Biomarkers in Patients of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Acute Exacerbation
Authors: Raghu R. V. , Mawari Govind , Kumar Naresh , Daga Mradul Kumar , Gautam Sachin , Aarthi J. , Chand Siddharth , Ritchie Nupur , Rana Gunjan , Acharya Shubho , Sen Parikshit , Chaudhary Divyansh , Kain Pratischtha , Garg Nishant , Bhoria Dhruv
Published: July 2022

Background:

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often have cardiovascular comorbidities. Patients of COPD with cardiovascular complications tend to have more symptoms and a higher mortality than do patients with COPD alone. There are several cardiac biomarkers such as Troponin-T, creatine phosphokinase-MB (CPK-MB), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) which can be used to detect cardiac dysfunction in patients of COPD. Retrospective studies suggest that plasma levels of NT-proBNP and cardiac Troponin-T are often elevated in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD and are associated with increased mortality.

Aims and objectives:

In this study, we assessed the presence of cardiac dysfunction in patients presenting with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) by using cardiac biomarkers proBNP, Troponin-T, and CPK-MB. Patients were followed up for 30 days to know the relationship between cardiac dysfunction and outcome in terms of repeated admissions, intensive care units (ICU) admissions, and/or mortality.

Methodology:

Ninety patients of AECOPD were enrolled in our study. A detailed history was taken and physical examination performed in these patients. All patients in the study were subjected to hematological and biochemical investigations. ProBNP, Troponin-T, and CPK-MB were measured within 48 h of admission as measure of cardiac dysfunction; and outcome was assessed in terms of mortality, ICU admission, and repeated admissions within 30 days of admission.

Results:

Among the study population, 77.77% had at least one deranged cardiac biomarker, and 18.88% of populations had all the three biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction deranged. 24 out of the 90 participants required ventilatory support in the form of noninvasive or invasive ventilation. 7.14% of the study population had repeated admissions, 24.28% had ICU admissions and 11.43% had mortality. All of them had deranged cardiac biomarkers. There was a significant association between deranged proBNP and ICU admission and mortality (P = 0.0151 and 0.0217, respectively). COPD was more prevalent in the age group of 50–70 years and in males. ProBNP levels were significantly elevated in patients who required ventilatory support (P = 0.003).

Conclusions:

Cardiac dysfunction is common during exacerbations of COPD and portends a poor prognosis. Cardiac dysfunction was more prevalent in the elderly. Patients with deranged cardiac biomarkers had a greater number of ICU admissions, repeated hospital admissions, and a higher mortality. In the follow-up, elevated proBNP was found to be a strong marker for predicting ICU admission, mortality, and repeated admissions.
Seminoma of testis with isolated bony metastasis at presentation
Authors: Pandey Ankita , Choudhary Sunil , Verma Chandra Prakash , Mani Nilesh
Published: July 2022

Germ cell tumor (GCT) comprises more than 95% of cases of all testicular tumor. Seminomas are a type of GCT where majority of patient presents with favorable outcome. Metastasis to nonpulmonary are rare scenarios and are grouped as intermediate risk. Most of the patients relapse in pulmonary or nonpulmonary sites within 2 years of treatment completion. However, bony metastasis (BM) on presentation is a rare condition. Here, we report a case of 37-year-old man diagnosed with stage I seminoma and underwent orchidectomy. Positron-emission tomography computed tomography scan after surgery revealed isolated bony metastasis in the left sacrum. Based on this, confirmatory diagnosis of Stage IIIc seminoma was made for which he received four cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin followed by palliative Radiotherapy (RT) to the metastatic region. After 1 year of follow-up, the patient is well and alive with no symptoms.
Primary urinary bladder marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
Authors: Katano Atsuto , Yamashita Hideomi
Published: July 2022

Primary urinary bladder marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) is an extremely rare disease. Here, we have reported a case of MALT lymphoma that was successfully treated with transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TUR-BT) and radiotherapy. A 65-year-old woman presented with macroscopic hematuria. She had a history of chronic cystitis. Cystoscopy of the bladder revealed a submucosal tumor measuring 4 cm in the trigone of the bladder floor. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the lesion had intermediate intensity on T2-weighted images. TUR-BT was performed, and the lesion was diagnosed with marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT histopathologically. Positron emission tomography (PET) showed a slightly higher fluorine-18-deoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation, with a maximum standardized uptake value of 17.3, than the physiological accumulation in the tumor resection area of the bladder, with no obvious abnormal accumulation outside the bladder. The patient underwent field radiotherapy at a dose of 30 Gy in 15 fractions, administered in 5 fractions per week. She developed grade 2 cystitis as an acute radiation-related adverse event, without any hematological adverse events. On PET at 5 months after radiotherapy, FDG accumulation in the posterior wall of the bladder was obscured and remained regressed after 2 years.
Use of methylene blue dye for sentinel lymph node mapping in early-stage gynecological cancers – An option for low resource settings
Authors: Singh Nisha , Agrawal Shuchi
Published: July 2022

Context:

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping is a standard of care in gynecological cancers but with limited resources and equipment, intraoperative use of methylene blue for SLN mapping may be more useful.

Aims:

To authenticate the use of methylene blue dye for intraoperative SLN mapping in cases of early-stage gynecological cancers.

Settings and Design:

This pilot study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Subjects and Methods:

The cases included 14 cervical, 4 endometrial, 1 vulvar, and 1 synchronous cervical-vulvar cancer wherein 21 SLN mappings were done. Four ml of methylene blue was injected submucosally in the cervix in cervical and endometrial cancer. It was injected around the tumor in vulvar cancer. The pelvic lymphatic drainage area was examined in cervical and endometrial cancer while inguinofemoral area was examined in vulvar cancer for any blue LNs. Histopathological examination results were compared for the presence of metastasis in stained and unstained LNs.

Statistical Analysis Used:

The observations were presented as numbers and percentages.

Results:

The SLN mappings showed a detection rate of 76%. The mean number of LNs removed in each case was 10.3 with an average of 2.4 stained and 7.6 unstained LNs. SLN was most commonly found among right external iliac nodes. All stained and unstained nodes among the 16 SLN detections did not show any histological evidence of metastasis suggesting a negative predictive value of 100%.

Conclusions:

Methylene blue is an efficient, feasible, and safe dye for SLN mapping in early-stage gynecological cancer.
Spectrum of Cardiovascular Diseases with Increasing Age and its Association with Geriatric syndromes
Authors: Kumar Pramod , Jain Bhrigu , Soni Nidhi , Dwivedi S. N. , Dey Aparajit Ballav , Chatterjee Prashun , Chakrawarty Avinash
Published: July 2022

Objective:

The burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is highest among the older adults, who are often carriers of various geriatric syndromes. Studies evaluating CVDs among the old adults in the low- and middle-income countries are limited. This study was conducted to assess the frequency of CVDs and their risk factors among the older population and their association with geriatric syndromes.

Subjects and Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, 200 health-care seeking adults aged ≥75 years were subjected to routine comprehensive geriatric assessment (assessment for functionality, cognition, depression, frailty, and various geriatric syndromes) and a detailed cardiovascular evaluation using electrocardiography, chest X-ray, echocardiogram, HbA1c level, fasting lipid profile, thyroid function test, serum homocysteine level, and serum NT-pro-BNP.

Results:

The overall frequency of CVDs in this study was 76%. Polypharmacy, multi-morbidity, cognitive impairment, depression, frailty, and impairment of basic and instrumental activities of daily living were present in 50.5%, 91.5%, 6.5%, 10%, 30.5%, 24.5%, and 55% individuals, respectively. CVDs were significantly associated with increased risk of geriatric syndromes (multi-morbidity [odds ratio (OR) 3.61, confidence interval (CI) 1.13 – 11.54, P = 0.030], polypharmacy [OR 5.46, CI 2.23 – 13.34, P = 0.001] and frailty [OR 3.29, CI 1.01 – 10.64, P = 0.047]).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of CVDs and their risk factors among the older population was high and significantly associated with increased risk of geriatric syndromes. These observations further strengthen the need for routine geriatric assessment and integrated management of geriatric syndromes in older patients with CVDs.
Factors Contributing to Falls and the Effect of a Multipronged Approach on the Incidence of Falls in the Older Person in an Outpatient Setting in South India
Authors: Thomas Jini Chirackel , Viggeswarpu Surekha
Published: July 2022

Background:

A fall is an important predictor of morbidity and mortality in an older adult.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to enumerate the various factors contributing to falls and assess the effect of a multipronged approach on the incidence of falls in older individuals who are at a risk of falls.

Methodology:

In this prospective interventional trial, we recruited sixty subjects, who presented to the Geriatrics Outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in South India. Using the Stop elderly accidents, deaths, and injuries protocol, we included subjects who presented with a history of fall in the year preceding the study, those with fear of fall and those who felt unsteady while standing or walking. These subjects were subjected to a detailed assessment and an individualized multipronged interventional program was initiated. The subjects were followed up telephonically after 1 and 3 months to assess compliance and the details of incident fall (if any).

Results:

At baseline, 48.3% had fallen in the year prior to enrolment, of whom 16.7% were recurrent fallers. Various contributory factors for falls were identified - including older age, polypharmacy, sedatives, and anticholinergic drugs. Following a multipronged intervention, 3.6% and 5.3% of the subjects reported falls after 1 and 3 months, respectively. Subjective improvement was reported by 80% and 78.2% of the subjects at 1 and 3 months' follow-up and the compliance with exercises during the follow-up period was good (73%).

Conclusion:

Identifying the subjects at risk for falls and implementing a tailored approach contributed to a reduction in the incidence of falls.
The Outcome of Head up Tilt Test in Older Adults with Typical versus Atypical Features of Syncope
Authors: Mishra Rakesh , Mathews Prasad , Gopinath K. G.
Published: July 2022

Background:

Syncope is usually a benign condition preventable by simple measures. Its diagnosis by history and inexpensive tests like head-up tilt table (HUTT) test save the patient unnecessary expenditure and stress.

Objectives:

To determine the outcome of head-up tilt test in older adult patients aged 60 years and more who present with typical versus atypical history of syncope, along with a study of the prodromal symptoms, association with comorbid burden, medications, grip strength, and cognitive function.

Materials and Methods:

An observational study of the patients presenting to the department of geriatrics with a history of neurocardiogenic syncope from May 2017 to October 2017 undergoing HUTT test looked at the association of the type of syncope based on the history and outcome of their HUTT test and association with prodromal symptoms, comorbidities, medications, triggering factors, electrocardiography, and Holter.

Conclusions:

The HUTT positivity rate for patients with a history of syncope was 31.8% with no association between typical or atypical syncope and HUTT positivity. Dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, and sweating were significantly associated with typical syncope. No comorbidity or medication had an association with syncope or HUTT response but the comorbid burden had a significant association with positive HUTT response.
Pattern of Dermatoses in the Elderly Population Attending the Dermatology Clinic at a Tertiary Care Center in South-East Rajasthan
Authors: Sharma Avinash , Kushwaha Ramesh Kumar , Kesarwani Vartika , Jain Suresh Kumar , Yadav Devendra , Sharma Sonika
Published: July 2022

Introduction:

The skin acts as the first line of defense for the body against external injuries. With aging, the architecture of the skin undergoes intrinsic changes that impair its capacity for repair. In addition, the aging skin is more susceptible to injury by external stimuli, including ultraviolet rays and environmental pollutants. The combination of these factors predisposes the elderly to a variety of dermatological disorders, including xerosis, pruritus, photoaging, eczematous disorders, and tumors. The elderly (>60 years of age) population in India accounted for 8.6% (104 million) in 2011, and the figure has been projected to increase to 19% by the year 2050. It is imperative to identify the pattern of cutaneous disorders in this population as skin care regimens aimed to improve epidermal function have been shown to be effective in the prevention and treatment of some of these aging-associated cutaneous disorders.

Objectives:

The objective of the study was to identify the pattern of dermatoses among the elderly population attending the dermatology clinic at a tertiary care hospital in South-east Rajasthan.

Materials and Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of patients above the age of 60 years who attended the dermatology clinic at a tertiary care hospital in South-east Rajasthan from May 2018 to May 2020. A combination of history, physical examination, and clinical investigations (when appropriate) were used to establish the diagnosis.

Results:

A total of 210 patients were included in this study. Most patients were between the age group of 60–65 years (40.47%). One hundred and thirty-eight were male (65.71%) and 72 were female (34.28%), with a male to female ratio of 1.9:1. Our study demonstrated that xerosis was one of the most common diagnoses seen in 126 cases (60%), followed by eczematous skin conditions seen in 82 cases (39%).

Conclusion:

The elderly constitute an important part of the population. Cutaneous disorders in the elderly range from mild disorders such as cherry angiomas to dermatological malignancies. Therefore, it is important to recognize the pattern of dermatosis in this population so that appropriate therapeutic and preventive strategies could be implemented.
Troubleshooting Ocular Prosthesis
Authors: Gali Sivaranjani , Midhula V , Naimpally Anita , Lanka Hima B. , Meleppura Keerthy , Bhandary Chinmaya
Published: July 2022

This case series reports on clinical challenges faced during the rehabilitation of custom ocular prosthesis. Each of these cases relate the challenges of making ocular impressions for an improved retention and support of ocular prosthesis and presents the significance of scleral contouring in overcoming cosmetic defects of the eye. In addition, evaluation of scleral wax pattern, methods of iris location and scleral characterization methods in ocular rehabilitation are further discussed.
Gradient Descent Machine Learning with Equivalency Testing for Non-Subject Dependent Applications in Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Woolman T.A. , Pickard J.L.
Published: July 2022

INTRODUCTION: A solution to subject-independent HAR prediction through machine learning classification algorithms using statistical equivalency for comparative analysis between independent groups with non-subject training dependencies.OBJECTIVES: To indicate that the multinomial predictive classification model that was trained and optimized on the one-subject control group is at least partially extensible to multiple independent experiment groups for at least one activity class.METHODS: Gradient boosted machine multinomial classification algorithm is trained on a single individual with the classifier trained on all activity classes as a multinomial classification problem.RESULTS: Levene-Wellek-Welch (LWW) Statistic calculated as 0.021, with a Critical Value for LWW of 0.026, using an alpha of 0.05.CONCLUSION: Confirmed falsifiability that incorporates reproducible methods into the quasi-experiment design applied to the field of machine learning for human activity recognition.
Modified Filter Based Feature Selection Technique for Dermatology Dataset Using Beetle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Rajeshwari J. , Sughasiny M.
Published: July 2022

INTRODUCTION: Skin cancer is an emerging disease all over the world which causes a huge mortality. To detect skin cancer at an early stage, computer aided systems is designed. The most crucial step in it is the feature selection process because of its greater impact on classification performance. Various feature selection algorithms were designed previously to find the relevant features from a set of attributes. Yet, there arise challenges in selecting appropriate features from datasets related to disease prediction.OBJECTIVES: To design a hybrid feature selection algorithm for selecting relevant feature subspace from dermatology datasets.METHODS: The hybrid feature selection algorithm is designed by integrating the Latent Semantic Index (LSI) along with correlation-based Feature Selection (CFS). To achieve an optimal selection of feature subset, beetle swarm optimization is used.RESULTS: Statistical metrics such as accuracy, specificity, recall, F1 score and MCC are calculated.CONCLUSION: The accuracy and sensitivity value obtained is 95% and 92%.
An Operational Semantics for Situated Ideological Systems, with a Case Study Concerning a Paradigmatic Religious Conflict
Authors: Costa Antônio
Published: July 2022

This paper introduces an operational semantics for what, in previous work, we have called situated

ideological systems: sets of ways to envisage concrete social situations (normatively, valuationally etc.) that individuals and social groups may use to direct their choices and actions in such situations. The agent-based social model that we call Agent Society is used to computationally construe possible social situations where individual agents and groups of agents may find themselves, and to formally represent ideological systems in ways they can collectively share. As a case study of the proposed semantics, the paper formally presents the ideological dynamics underlying the temporal evolution of a paradigmatic situation of religious conflict (between catholics and devotees of African-Brazilian cults), as pictured in the classical Brazilian theatrical play The Keeper of Promises (O Pagador de Promessas). The ideology modeling language TinyIML is used for the computational presentation of the various stages of that ideological dynamics. The syntax and semantics of TinyIML is summarized in an appendix.
Crude oil hydrocarbon degradation efficiency of indigenous bacterial strains isolated from contaminated sites in Nigeria
Authors: Nnabuife Obianuju Obiajulu , Ogbonna James Chukwuma , Anyanwu Chukwudi
Published: July 2022

The crude oil degradation potential of bacterial isolates from three contaminated sites in Nigeria were investigated. Seven bacterial isolates namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain W15, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain N3R, Serratia marcescens strain N4, Providencia vermicola strain W8, Serratia marcescens strain W13, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain W11 and Pseudomonas protegens strain P7 were isolated and identified using molecular methods. Isolates N4, N3 and W13 showed higher % total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation of 79.26%, 78.96% and 78.69% respectively than W15, P7, W8 and W11 with % TPH degradation of 68.96%, 62.14%, 59.75% and 59.00% respectively. W13 showed the fastest degradation rate with 78.72% within the first 14 days of incubation; however, after the 14th day, there was no progressive change in % TPH. W11 showed degradation of wider range of hydrocarbon components originally in the crude oil as well as the complete degradation of most intermediates formed. The isolates showed good degradation potentials for bioremediation applications.
Semi-automated stochastic simultaneous simulation of macroseismic information and strong ground motion records for recent strong earthquakes of the Aegean area
Authors: Ravnalis Michail , Kkallas Charalampos , Papazachos Constantinos , Margaris Basil , Papaioannou Christos
Published: July 2022

We apply a stochastic simulation approach for the simultaneous modeling of macroseismic data and strong ground motion records for several shallow strong earthquakes (M ≥ 6.0) that occurred in the Aegean area from 1980 to 1995 Alkyonides (1981, M6.7), Kalamata (1986, M6.0), Kozani (1995, M6.6) and Aigio (1995, M6.4). The application is semi-automatic, as several of the selected input parameters for the stochastic simulation modeling were automatically calibrated using a priori information (e.g., magnitude, stress parameter, site effects). Other parameters (e.g., fault type, depth) were pre‑determined, based on published information, most of which are usually derived during standard earthquake analysis. The validity and reliability of this approach was examined, to test if this method could be applied either in a fully automated manner, or for the study of source properties of historical earthquakes. While the results obtained from the semi-automated simulations were satisfactory, they also suggest that it is not possible to achieve the same level of reliability and robustness when modeling complicated seismic sequences, as e.g., is the case of the Alkyonides earthquake (1981, M6.7).
Nieznane protokoły posiedzeń podkomisji prawa o stosunkach z pokrewieństwa i opieki Komisji Kodyfikacyjnej Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z 1939 roku (część I)
Authors: Mikołajczyk Marian , Nancka Grzegorz
Published: July 2022

Lost Minutes of the Sittings of the Sub-commission on the Law on Kinship and Care Relationships of the Codification Commission of the Republic of Poland in 1939 (part I)

When Poland regained independence in 1918, the different legal systems of the various partitioning states all remained in force on its territory. Drafts of uniform laws were to be drawn up by the Codification Commission established in 1919. One of its tasks was the preparation of a draft of the family and guardianship law. The sub-commission addressing this division of civil law worked until the outbreak of World War Two. The minutes of its sittings disappeared in September 1939 along with the total output of the Codification Commission. However, copies of minutes of the sittings of the sub-commission held in 1939 were found in Kazimierz Przybyłowski’s collection of books donated to the Faculty of Law and Administration of University of Silesia in Katowice. These minutes shed new light on the final phase of the codification works. Publication of these documents will enable further detailed research on the history of family law in interwar Poland. The first part of the publication focuses on minutes nos. 165–173, while following parts will include minutes nos. 183–201, and a reconstruction of the draft provisions.
Wojna na wschodzie Ukrainy (2014‒2017) w ukraińskim i polskim reportażu wojennym na przykładzie reportaży literackich Artema Czecha i Pawła Pieniążka
Authors: Harbich Khrystyna
Published: July 2022

Artykuł przedstawia wyniki analizy porównawczej reportaży literackich Artema Czecha i Pawła Pieniążka. Analiza komparatystyczna ich reportaży wojennych pokazuje, jak różnią się relacje z wojny we wschodniej Ukrainie, gdy konflikt jest relacjonowany z perspektywy ukraińskiego autora i obcokrajowca. Materiał badawczy stanowią książki „Punkt zerowy” Artema Czecha oraz „Wojna, która nas zmieniła” Pawła Pieniążka (obie wydane w 2017 roku). Celem artykułu jest pokazanie, jak wojenne relacje ukraińskiego pisarza-żołnierza różnią się od korespondencji zagranicznego reportera wojennego z Polski. Momentami reportaż ukraiński jest znacznie bardziej emocjonalny w porównaniu do relacji zagranicznego dziennikarza, który relacjonuje ten sam konflikt.

War in Eastern Ukraine (2014–2017) in Ukrainian and Polish War Reports, Based on Literary Reporting by Artem Czech and Paweł Pieniążek

The article demonstrates the results of a comparative analysis of literary reportages by Artem Czech and Paweł Pieniążek. It aims to show how the images of the war in Eastern Ukraine differ when the conflict is reported from the perspective of a Ukrainian native and a foreigner. The research material consists of the following literary reports: “Punkt zerowy” [“Point Zero”] by Artem Czech and “Wojna, która nas zmieniła” [“War That Changed Us”] by Paweł Pieniążek (both published in 2017). The aim of the study is to show how Ukrainian reports of the events of the war in Eastern Ukraine differ from that of a foreign war reporter from Poland. At times, Ukrainian reporting is much more emotionally charged than the one authored by a foreigner.
Holo Politics. Wstęp do analizy mediów immersyjnych w komunikowaniu politycznym
Authors: Walecka-Rynduch Agnieszka
Published: July 2022

Celem artykułu jest zwrócenie uwagi na istotny problem wykorzystania mediów immersyjnych w komunikowaniu politycznym. Artykuł ma charakter wstępnego szkicu tej rozległej tematyki. Autorka porusza w nim kwestie wykorzystania obrazów holograficznych w działaniach politycznych. Z jednej strony pokazuje użycie hologramów w kampaniach wyborczych – promowanie wizerunku konkretnych polityków, z drugiej opisuje, w jaki sposób holograficzne obrazy 3D są wykorzystywane w politycznych protestach obywateli. Dodatkiem do tych rozważań jest ukazanie miejsca hologramów w działaniach komercyjnych czy rozrywkowych. Autorka zaznacza, że rozwój mediów immersyjnych wizyjnych i lokalizacyjnych stanowi naturalną ścieżkę rozwoju interaktywnych kanałów komunikacji w sferze publicznej zapośredniczonej mediami – MediaPolis. Dodatkowo stawia pytania dotyczące etycznego wymiaru wykorzystania tej techniki w komunikowaniu politycznym. Holo Politics. An Introduction to the Analysis of Immersive Media in Political Communication The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the important issue of the use of immersive media in political communication. This article serves as an adumbration of this vast subject. On one hand the author presents the issues connected with the use of holograms in the electoral campaigns – promoting the image of specific politicians. On the other hand, 3D holographic images are used in political protests of citizens. In addition to these considerations, the author points out the use of holograms in commercial activities and entertainment business. The author points out that the development of immersive media: vision and location-based media, is a natural path of development of interactive communication channels in the public sphere immersed by media – MediaPolis. Additionally, it raises questions about the ethical dimension of using this technique in political communication.
Janko Muzykant. Muzyka i pragnienie
Authors: Zając Michał
Published: July 2022

Artykuł poddaje interpretacji nowelę Janko Muzykant Henryka Sienkiewicza oraz powieść Cudzoziemka Marii Kuncewiczowej, centralnym konceptem analitycznym i interpretacyjnym czyniąc pragnienie, jakie w przypadku obojga głównych bohaterów koncentruje się wokół muzyki oraz symbolizujących czy ucieleśniających ją skrzypiec. Rozpoznane i uznane pragnienie odgrywa kluczową rolę w przejściu kompleksu Edypa oraz stwarza podstawy do rozwinięcia się ludzkiej podmiotowości. Muzyka (będąca sztuką) pozwala tę podmiotowość wyrażać i kształtować.

Janko the Musician: Music and Desire

The article presents the interpretation of Henryk Sienkiewicz’s Janko the Musician and Maria Kuncewiczowa’s The Stranger, having chosen as the central analytic and interpretational concept the desire, which in case of both characters is centred around music and violin that symbolises and embodies it. Identified and acknowledged desire plays a key role in the transition from the Oedipus complex and creates the base for the development of human subjectivity. Music (being art) enables the expression and formation of that subjectivity.
Tadeusz Różewicz i biedny poeta Stachura. Spotkanie w pół drogi
Authors: Majchrowski Zbigniew
Published: July 2022

Celem artykułu jest próba zrekonstruowania prehistorii wiersza Tadeusza Różewicza biedny poeta Stachura (2003), którego tematem jest spotkanie obu poetów w bliżej nieokreślonej przeszłości. Rozproszone pre-teksty, dokumenty-zwiastuny, które poprzedzają właściwy proces twórczy, prowadzą badacza do domu pracy twórczej w Krynicy, gdzie zimą 1973 roku (zatem trzydzieści lat wcześniej) mogło dojść do realnego spotkania. Różewicz i Stachura stanowią uosobienia dwóch różnych przejść pokoleniowych, dwóch odmiennych praktyk pisarskich i poetyk, niemniej autor Wszystko jest poezja, wychodząc z całkiem innych doświadczeń, docierał do formuł bliskich autorowi Nic w płaszczu Prospera na zasadzie kontrastu i sobowtórowego dopełnienia. Jest to powracająca w twórczości Różewicza figura konfrontacji z „drugim”, który uobecnia się w pamięci, we śnie, w fantazmacie.

Tadeusz Różewicz and the “Poor Poet Stachura.” A Meeting Halfway

This paper attempts to reconstruct the pre-history of Tadeusz Różewicz’s 2003 poem biedny poeta Stachura, which depicts the meeting of both poets in an unspecified past. Scattered proto-texts, documents-prefigurations that precede the actual creative process, lead the researcher to the sabbatical retreat in Krynica, where in the winter of 1973 (thirty years earlier) the actual meeting could have taken place. Różewicz and Stachura epitomize two different generational experiences, two different writing practices and poetics. Nonetheless, the author of Wszystko jest poezja, though he started from a completely dissimilar point, arrived at forms close to those found in the work of the author of Nic w płaszczu Prospera – through contrast and a kind of doppelgänger complementarity. This is the theme recurring in Różewicz’s work of confronting the “other,” who is embodied through memories, dreams, and phantasms.
Uobecnianie (się) autora w przedtekstach i tekście wiersza czego byłoby żal
Authors: Pietrych Krystyna
Published: July 2022

Artykuł podejmuje kwestię obecności autora w wierszu czego byłoby żal i jego przed-tekstach, które wchodzą z sobą w rozmaite związki i filiacje, współtworząc z nimi kolejne etapy procesu pisania. Związki te rozpatrywane są z perspektywy krytyki genetycznej i usytuowane w ramach krytycznej refleksji dotyczącej procesualności powstawania dzieła literackiego (écriture). Kolejne etapy analizowanego procesu pisania odsłaniają złożoną obecność autora zarówno w planie działań tekstotwórczych, jak i wymiarach biograficznych.

(Self-)Actualization of the Author in the Prototexts and the Text of the Poem “czego byłoby żal”

The article takes up the issue of the author’s presence in the poem “czego byłoby żal” and its proto-texts, which enter into various relationships and filiations, creating the subsequent stages of the writing process. These relationships are considered from the perspective of genetic criticism and are situated within the framework of critical reflection on the processual nature of creating a literary work (écriture). The subsequent stages of the analyzed writing process reveal the author’s complex presence both on the level of text-creating activities and in biographical dimensions.
Kłopotliwe braterstwo
Authors: Kunz Tomasz
Published: July 2022

Inspiracją do napisania artykułu stało się wydanie książki Braterstwo poezji, zbierającej korespondencję, wiersze, rozmowy i teksty dyskursywne dokumentujące wieloletni dialog dwóch wybitnych polskich poetów: Czesława Miłosza i Tadeusza Różewicza. W artykule odnoszę się do trzech kwestii: paryskiego spotkania obu poetów w 1957 roku, okoliczności i formy poetyckiego powitania Różewicza przez Miłosza, jakim była publikacja wiersza Do Tadeusza Różewicza, poety, oraz uparcie ponawianych oskarżeń o nihilizm, formułowanych przez autora Ocalenia pod adresem młodszego poety. Na tych trzech przykładach staram się pokazać, że wykorzystana w tytule tomu i w eseju wprowadzającym autorstwa Andrzeja Franaszka metafora duchowego braterstwa nie oddaje złożoności i ambiwalencji wpisanej w relację obu poetów, zwłaszcza zaś w pełen dystansu i rezerwy stosunek Miłosza do światopoglądu i poetyckiej filozofii Różewicza.

Uneasy Brotherhood

This paper is directly inspired by the publication of the book Braterstwo poezji, which is a collection of correspondence, poems, conversations and discursive texts documenting the long-term dialogue of two outstanding Polish poets: Czesław Miłosz and Tadeusz Różewicz. In the article I refer to three issues: the Paris meeting of the two poets in 1957, the circumstances and form of the poetic welcome extended by Miłosz to Różewicz through the poem “Do Tadeusza Różewicza, poety,” and the accusations of nihilism stubbornly leveled by the author of Ocalenie against the younger poet. By means of these three examples, i try to show that the metaphor of spiritual brotherhood advanced in the title of the volume and in the introductory essay by Andrzej Franaszek does not reflect the complexity and ambivalence inherent in the poets’ relationship, especially of Miłosz’s distant and reserved attitude to the worldview and poetic philosophy of Różewicz.
Rozmowy „wierszami i o wierszach”
Authors: Fiut Aleksander
Published: July 2022

Przedmiotem refleksji jest dialog, jaki Czesław Miłosz i Tadeusz Różewicz toczą w korespondencji o swoim pisarstwie. Wyraża się on nie tylko w bezpośrednich opiniach oraz ocenach pojedynczych utworów, ale także w nierzadko pierwotnych, później modyfikowanych wersjach zamieszczanych w listach wierszy, co pozwala spojrzeć na relacje obydwu poetów z trochę odmiennej perspektywy. Miłosz, który w dobie socrealizmu pełnił wobec Różewicza funkcję mentora, przeobraża się z czasem w jego wnikliwego czytelnika oraz polemistę. Różewicz wyrasta z roli ucznia, stając się stopniowo równorzędnym partnerem. Obydwaj w przyjaznym, toczonym przez dziesiątki lat korespondencyjnym dialogu uwyraźniają podobieństwa i różnice zarówno swoich światopoglądów, jak i praktyki poetyckiej. Szczególnie ważne są pod tym względem utwory poetyckie: Miłosza – Różewicz oraz Unde malum, Różewicza – Myrmekologia (dalszy ciąg bajki o Guciu zaczarowanym) i Zaćmienie światła. Miłosz pozostaje poetą antynomii, Różewicz jawi się jako poeta paradoksu.

Conversations “in Poems and on Poems”

The subject of reflection in this paper is the epistolary dialogue between Czesław Miłosz and Tadeusz Różewicz about their writings. It is expressed not only in direct opinions and evaluations of individual works, but also in the preliminary, later modified versions of poems that are found in the letters, all of which allows us to look at the relationship of the two poets from a slightly different perspective. Miłosz, who in the era of Socialist Realism played the role of mentor to Różewicz, over time transforms into his insightful reader and polemicist. Różewicz matures from his role as a student, gradually turning into an equal partner. Both emphasize in their friendly and long-lasting epistolary dialogue the similarities and differences in their worldviews and their poetic practices. Of particular importance in this respect are Miłosz’s poems – “Różewicz” and “Unde malum,” and Różewicz’s – “Myrmekologia (dalszy ciąg bajki o Guciu zaczarowanym)” and “Zaćmienie światła.” While Miłosz remains the poet of antinomy, Różewicz seems to be the poet of paradox.