bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Financial Performance and Stock Price: Evidence from Listed Manufacturing Companies in Sri Lanka
Authors: Ekanayake W. Y. M. M. N. , Indrani M. W.
Published: January 2024

Despite several studies on the effect of financial performance in terms of profitability on stock price, existing literature provides contradictory conclusions regarding this association. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to explore the effect of financial performance in terms of profitability on stock price, with special reference to the listed manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka from 2011 to 2021. Earnings per Share (EPS), Return on Equity (ROE), and Return on Assets (ROA) were used as proxies of profitability since the current study aims to investigate the aspect of profitability, while the average share price was used as a proxy of stock price. Moreover, the study used three firm-specific control variables, namely, Dividend per Share (DPS), Firm Size (FS), and Debt to Equity (DE). The data was collected from the published annual reports of 29 listed manufacturing companies out of 34 listed manufacturing companies. By employing fixed effect panel regression analysis, this study aims to examine whether there is an effect of financial performance in terms of profitability on stock price. Accordingly, the findings reveal a statistically significant positive effect on stock price in terms of ROA and EPS, despite ROE indicating a negative effect on stock price. Moreover, somewhat simultaneous and divergent results were indicated by the control variables. Accordingly, FS and DE demonstrated a positive association with stock prices. Contrary to this, DPS does not indicate any association with stock price. Moreover, the findings of the study provide insights to investors for encouraging investments and maximizing their investment income, to listed companies for making policy decisions connected with stock price and other investments, and to policymakers for formulating appropriate policies to promote stock investment while regulating credit policies and interest rates.
Antioxidant, Anti-Diabetic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Passifloara foetida grown in Sri Lanka
Authors: Dharmasiri P. G. N. H. , Ranasinghe P. , Jayasooriya P. T. , Samarakoon K. W.
Published: January 2024

Passiflora foetida (Padagedi) is identified as an underutilized fruit in Sri Lanka, used in traditional medicine for several diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties of the leaves and fruits of P. foetida. Methanol (100 %) was used to prepare the plant extracts. The antioxidant activity was determined using total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total alkaloid content (TAC), 2,2-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) assays. The anti-diabetic effects of plant extracts were determined by using anti-glycation and anti-amylase inhibitory assays. Cell viability was analyzed by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Based on the findings, the leaf extract of P. foetida showed a higher TPC (21.46±1.56 mg GAE/g of extract), TFC (4.25±0.23 mg QE/g of extract), TAC (4.37±6.50 mg/g of extract), DPPH (10.91±1.29 mg TE/g of extract), ABTS+ (105.80±18.62 mg TE/g of extract), FRAP (11.85±1.45 mg TE/g of extract), and ORAC (46.23±3.58 mg TE/g of extract) compared to its fruit extract. The anti-amylase and anti-glycation activities were high in the leaf extract of P. foetida (30.7% and 77.65 % respectively). The fruit extract of P. foetida had the highest cell viability and nitric oxide (NO) production-inhibition in RAW macrophage (264.7 cells) compared to the fruit extract. It can be concluded that P. foetida has good therapeutic properties, and could be a potential source for pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals industries.
Alternative and ICT-based Advisory and Extension Approaches in the Tea Sector in Sri Lanka: An Explorative Study
Authors: Weththasinghe P. , Dissanayeke U. I.
Published: January 2024

The present study evaluated the usage level of alternative and information communication technology-based advisory and extension approaches, factors affecting the usage behavior, and limitations for implementing such approaches among advisory and extension officials in the tea sector in Sri Lanka during 2020-2022. An online survey was conducted with 72 officials. The majority were male (61%) and the mean age was 41 years. Most (47%) had up to diploma level education with a mean experience of 13 years. The government-imposed restrictions on public gatherings have significantly influenced the advisory and extension in the tea sector during 2020-2022. Respondents mainly connected with growers using mobile phone calls (76.6%) and WhatsApp messages (50%). Lack of communication infrastructure (62.5%), poor ICT knowledge and skills (51.6%), connection issues (57.8%), and inability to observe field conditions (68.8%) are the main barriers encountered by respondents. The main barriers faced by the farmers included lack of communication infrastructure (64.1%), poor ICT knowledge and skills (65.6%), connection issues (68.8%), inability to share quality photos (67.2%), and data cost (60.9%). The Majority of respondents (> 50%) showed positive perceptions towards these approaches and are willing to use them (73.4%) in the future. The results of Spearman’s correlation test showed relationships between the usage frequency of alternative approaches with education (r=0.455, p= 0.000) and age (r= -0.267, p= 0.033). There was a relationship between officials’ perception of alternatives and their usage frequency (r=0.504, p=0.000). In conclusion, the usage of ICT-based methods was higher among young and educated Officials.
Effect of Change of Agronomic Practices on Nutritive Value of Hybrid Fodder Sorghum Cultivated in Lowland Paddy Fields of the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka
Authors: Karunadhipathi U. L. , Malaviarachchi M. A. P. W. K. , Weerasinghe W. M. P. B. , Jayarathna S. R. G. H. S. M. , Devindi K. M. , Mahipala M. B. P. Kumara
Published: January 2024

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of low fertilizer rate and irrigation along with increased plant density on nutritive value of hybrid fodder sorghum cultivated in lowland fallowed paddy fields in dry zone during May to September. Seeds were sown in Yala season and continued as a ratoon crop to inter-monsoonal (Third) season. Four agronomic management packages (AMP1, AMP2, AMP3 and AMP4), which differ in fertilizer application rates, plant spacing, and irrigation intervals were tested with two fodder sorghum varieties (SX-17 and Dairygreen) in a split-plot design. The initial and first ratoon crops were harvested at dough grain stage. High fertilizer rate in combination with short irrigation interval, resulted in high (P<0.05) crude protein content in the initial harvest. AMP2 and AMP4 produced equally high (P<0.05) total dry matter yield (DMY) for SX-17 (24.7 and 20.9 MT/ha, respectively) and Dairygreen (27.7 and 25.7 MT/ha, respectively) varieties. Total digestible organic matter, crude protein and metabolizable energy yields were higher under AMP2 and AMP4 compared to other two packages for both varieties. Nutritive value was high in SX-17 under AMP1 for ratoon crop. In conclusion, AMP4 with plant spacing of 45 x 15 cm, low fertilizer rate (338-47-28 kg/ha, urea-TSP-MOP) and extended irrigation interval, could be recommended for cultivation of hybrid fodder sorghum in lowland paddy fields in the dry zone during Yala season. However, for cultivating SX-17 targeting to produce fodder with high nutritive level, AMP1 with spacing of 45 x 30 cm, high fertilizer rate (400-62-37 kg/ha of urea-TSP-MOP) and frequent irrigation could be recommended.
Engineering Anticytokine Antibodies for Immune Modulation
Authors: Tomala Jakub , Cao Shanelle D , Spangler Jamie B
Published: January 2024

The delicate balance of immune homeostasis is regulated by the interactions between cytokines and their cognate cell surface signaling receptors. There is intensive interest in harnessing cytokines as drugs for diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. However, the multifarious and often contradictory activities of cytokines, coupled with their short serum half-lives, limit clinical performance and result in dangerous toxicities. There is thus growing emphasis on manipulating natural cytokines to enhance their selectivity, safety, and durability through various strategies. One strategy that has gained traction in recent years is the development of anticytokine Abs that not only extend the circulation half-life of cytokines but also specifically bias their immune activities through multilayered molecular mechanisms. Although Abs are notorious for their antagonistic activities, this review focuses on anticytokine Abs that selectively agonize the activity of the target protein. This approach has potential to help realize the clinical promise of cytokine-based therapies.
Rational Engineering of Islet Tolerance via Biomaterial-Mediated Immune Modulation
Authors: Klug Natalie , Burke Jacqueline , Scott Evan
Published: January 2024

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) onset is characterized by an autoimmune attack on β islet cells within the pancreas, preventing the insulin secretion required to maintain glucose homeostasis. Targeted modulation of key immunoregulatory cell populations is a promising strategy to restore tolerance to β cells. This strategy can be used to prevent T1D onset or reverse T1D with transplanted islets. To this end, drug delivery systems can be employed to transport immunomodulatory cargo to specific cell populations that inhibit autoreactive T cell–mediated destruction of the β cell mass. The rational engineering of biomaterials into nanoscale and microscale drug carriers can facilitate targeted interactions with immune cells. The physicochemical properties of the biomaterial, the delivered immunomodulatory agent, and the target cell populations are critical variables in the design of these delivery systems. In this review, we discuss recent biomaterials-based drug delivery approaches to induce islet tolerance and the need to consider both immune and metabolic markers of disease progression.
Model-Scale Evaluation of Autonomous Ship Landing Guidance and Control Modes
Authors: Hendrick Christopher M. , Jaques Emma R. , Horn Joseph F. , Langelaan Jack W. , Sydney Anish J.
Published: January 2024

This paper presents the results of an extensive model-scale experimental evaluation of autonomous ship landing guidance and control modes, with flight tests performed in the Maneuvering and Seakeeping (MASK) Basin at the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division. The experiments
were performed using a commodities-based multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operating from a 20-ft-long model scale ship subject to scaled wave conditions. During testing, two separate guidance algorithms were evaluated: a quadratic programming (QP) based landing algorithm that plans
the trajectory to a forecasted deck state and a simpler “baseline??? method that tracks deck motions while closing the distance between the aircraft and deck at a constant rate. Both algorithms commanded a Froude-scaled explicit model following control law, and the control law parameters
were modified to progressively degrade aircraft tracking bandwidths. The results showed that the predictive capabilities of the QP algorithm allowed more direct landing paths to be planned when compared to the baseline algorithm and also allowed the QP algorithm to land with lower tracking
bandwidths. But while the QP algorithm performed well in the majority of cases, there were several landings where a combination of poor deck state predictions and how the QP algorithm utilizes predictions to choose a land time resulted in significant terminal velocity and attitude errors.
The baseline guidance algorithm, on the other hand, proved to be both simple and reliable when the UAV was in high bandwidth configurations but required a high reference tracking bandwidth.
Assessment of the Specificity and Stability of Micro-RNAs as a Forensic Gene Marker
Authors: Al-Mawlah Yasir Haider , Mohamed Asma’a H. , Abd-Alameer Ali Mohammad , Hadi Ameer Mezher , Abdulabbas Hadi Sajid , Shaheed Salah Hashim , Jebor Mohammed Abdullah , Alsaadi Ali Hmood
Published: January 2024

Background:

Forensic investigations depend on bodily fluid analysis to identify the perpetrators. Identifying perpetrators requires knowledge about suspects’ body fluids. Due to their durability and tissue-specific expression patterns, miRNAs may be forensic indicators. However, miRNA expression patterns in various bodily fluids are seldom compared. This study examined miR-372, miR-135p, miR-124-3p, miR-16, and miR-10b expression in seminal fluids, blood stains, and vaginal secretions using quantitative PCR using SNORD-47 as a reference gene. This research compared miRNA expression levels in diverse body fluids to assess their potential as forensic biomarkers. MicroRNAs were isolated from forensic blood, seminal fluids, and vaginal mixed stains.

Methods:

Quantitative PCR measured miR-372, miR-135p, miR-124-3p, miR-16, and miR-10b gene expression. Normalization utilized SNORD-47. These miRNAs were compared in various bodily fluids.

Results:

The analysis of the results revealed that three bodily fluids have unique miRNA expression patterns. Seminal fluids expressed considerably more miR-135b and miR-10b than vaginal secretions. Vaginal fluids expressed more miR-372 and miR-124-3p than seminal fluids. Blood fluids expressed more miR-126 and miR-16 than seminal and vaginal fluids.

Conclusion:

MiR-126, miR-16, miR-372, and miR-124-3p were considerably more significant than SNORD-47 in blood, vaginal secretions, and seminal fluids.
Prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension in post-tuberculosis lung fibrosis patients: A cross-sectional observational study
Authors: Chatterjee Rupak , Ghosh Priyanka , Sarkar Kumkum , Samajdar Shambo Samrat , Mukherjee Shatavisa , George Alex , Pramanik Netai
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Post-tuberculosis (TB) lung fibrosis is an infrequently reported cause of Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Pulmonary TB still being an important global health problem, especially in developing countries, PAH developing after pulmonary TB deserves attention. This study was undertaken to know the prevalence of PAH among patients with post-TB lung fibrosis. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out in two tertiary care hospitals in Kolkata over a period of 1 year. Sixty adult post-TB lung fibrosis patients without any cardiovascular or other pulmonary comorbidities were included in this study. Results: Out of the 60 patients with varying degrees of lung fibrosis confirmed radiologically, eight patients were found to have PAH (13.33% of the study population). Among the eight cases, six were males and two were females. Five of the males were smokers with a mean of 17.6 pack years of smoking. Out of the eight diagnosed PAH cases, three were mild PAH, four were moderate, and one case had severe PAH (grading based on 2D echocardiography findings). Pulmonary function test (PFT) revealed obstructive pattern in three cases, restrictive pattern in three cases, and mixed in two cases. On PFT, smokers with PAH exhibited obstructive pattern and mixed pattern, whereas the nonsmoker PAH cases exhibited restrictive pattern. Conclusion: All post-TB lung fibrosis cases must be followed up at regular intervals and screened to rule out PAH. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of the cases will help to reduce morbidity and mortality of the disease which otherwise has a poor prognosis.
“Etiology and CT pattern in patients with interstial lung disease”: shift in the trends?
Authors: Samdesi Abhishek , Haran Alamelu , Chinnaswamy Narayanaswamy Navya
Published: January 2024

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) also called as diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD) are “a diverse group of pulmonary infiltrations which result in disruption of the distal lung parenchyma characterized by both inflammation and fibrosis of lung parenchyma and is associated with wide variety of clinical situations.” The understanding of etiology and the underlying CT pattern is helpful in diagnosis, treatment initiation, assessment of response, disease prognosis, and setting up appropriate interventions to improve survival and the quality of life. Methods: A prospective observational analysis of “Radiological and Etiological patterns” in patients presenting with features of the ILD in a tertiary care hospital in South India. Results: The study consisted of 104 patients, with mean age group of 48.03 years, with female 54% of the study population. The commonest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) thorax pattern was usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (n = 52, 50%). The commonest etiology of the ILD was connective tissue disorders (CTD) (n = 59, 56.73%). Most common CTD was systemic sclerosis (n = 23, 22.11%) and rheumatoid arthritis (n = 20, 19.23%). Second most common etiology was Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) (n=15, 14.42%). The UIP pattern was observed in 59.32% patients with CTD-ILD (n = 35) and in 100% patients with the IPF. Conclusion: Connective tissue disorders was the commonest etiology (n = 59, 56.73%), followed by idiopathic etiology (n = 22, 21.15%). Unlike other studies where NSIP pattern was the commonest pattern in CTD-ILD, it was observed in our study that UIP pattern was the most common CT pattern (n = 52, 50%) in connective tissue disorders as well as other etiology of the ILDs.
Study of comorbidities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients at tertiary health care centre in south Gujarat just in the era of Covid-19 pandemic − a cross-sectional study
Authors: Varior Sreerag , Vadgama Parul , Patel Robinkumar , Patel Bhoomika , Gengadiya Jignesh
Published: January 2024

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can coexist with other diseases that may significantly impact the disease course. In this study, our aim is to study the prevalence of various extrapulmonary comorbid conditions associated with COPD. Method: This is a cross-sectional study, including all COPD patients presenting to Outpatient Department (OPD) and Inpatient Department (IPD) of Respiratory Medicine Department after meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A COPD patient was defined as a smoker or having exposure to noxious gases, with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) <0.7 and comorbidities were defined based on objective laboratory findings and questionnaires. Comorbidities were identified from patient self-reports and disease-specific lab analysis and medication. Results: Among the 200 patients of COPD, hypertension was found to be the most common comorbidity with a prevalence of 44% followed by diabetes mellitus with a prevalence of 28% and then dyslipidaemia 26.5%. The prevalence of ischemic heart disease (8.5%), depression (16.5%), anemia (16%), osteoarthritis (13%), and chronic kidney disease (9.5%) were other comorbidities among the patients. Smoking is the major culprit with an 80.5% prevalence among the patients. Conclusions: Hypertension was the most common comorbidity in our study population. An increasing number of people in any aging population will suffer from multi-morbidity, defined as the presence of two or more chronic conditions, and COPD is present in the majority of multi-morbid patients. Whether or not COPD and comorbid diseases are related, management of the COPD patient must include the identification and treatment of its comorbidities.
An unusual case of acute chest pain
Authors: Datta Ananda , Sivasankar Raghavendrun
Published: January 2024

Thoracic musculoskeletal disorders are important differential diagnoses in patients presenting to the emergency department with acute-onset chest pain. Although fractures of the ribs usually occur due to trauma, non-traumatic fractures can be seen in the setting of vigorous as well as repetitive coughing. Usually, ribs with malignant or osteoporotic involvement are susceptible to breaking. Uncommonly, cough-induced fractures have been reported in healthy young individuals. Here, we present a case of a 32-year-old healthy man who suffered a fracture of the left seventh rib following a bout of violent coughing.
Effect of tobacco smoking on the periodontal health in Parsa, Nepal: A comparative cross-sectional study
Authors: Shah Rajesh , Singh Abanish , Singh Harendra Mohan , Gupta Rahul , Ghosh Snehashish
Published: January 2024

Introduction:

For ages, smoking tobacco has been a part of cultural practice in different parts of Nepal. For periodontal diseases, one of the important risk factors is tobacco smoking, mainly cigarette smoking.

Objectives:

This study was conducted to find out the relationship among tobacco smoking and periodontal disease by means of clinical attachment loss (CAL), plaque score, and gingival score in cigarette smoker patients in comparison with nonsmokers.

Methodology:

A comparative cross-sectional study was done among 300 patients who visited the Outpatient Department of Periodontics, M. B. Kedia Dental College, Parsa, Nepal. The patients were divided into two groups, cigarette smokers and nonsmokers. Oral cavity examination was done using plaque index, gingival index, and CAL. Mann–Whitney test was done to determine the relation between tobacco smoker and overall periodontal health.

Results:

The result shows that the overall median plaque score of the patients was 1.08, the gingival score of the patients was 1.22, and CAL was 2.04. Furthermore, there was statistical significance between periodontitis and cigarette smoking.

Conclusion:

The present study concluded that smoking has a negative effect on periodontium health. More duration of cigarette smoking habit had higher severity of symptoms when compared to nonsmokers.
Redesigning the smile using veneers
Authors: Kumari Shweta , John Peter , Chidambaranathan Ahila Singaravel , Balasubramanium Muthukumar
Published: January 2024

Veneer is one of the most esthetic, conservative, and durable form of restoration. Case selection, tooth preparation, and cementation of veneer on maxillary anterior teeth have been thoroughly discussed in this case report. Here, we present a case of a 26-year-old male patient with a complaint of fracture of 21 for the past 1 year. On examination, the tooth was vital, and the treatment option given to the patient was veneer. Veneer is one of the breakthrough treatments when it comes to restoring the esthetic with minimal invasiveness. A proper case selection with a precise treatment results in the excellent outcome. Hence, ceramic veneers is the better option compared to the conventional approach.
Estimation of fluoride release and recharge potential among Zirconomer, GC Gold Label Hybrid, Ketac Molar, and Tetric Prime: An in vitro study
Authors: Virk Rupam Kaur , Grover Jasneel Singh , Bhullar Kanwalpreet Kaur , Goyal Smiley , Sahiwal Harkiran , Singh Mandeep
Published: January 2024

Background:

The preventive role of fluoride in caries control is mainly due to the formation of fluorapatite crystals which are more resistant to acid attack. Glass ionomer cement (GIC), its newer modifications, and certain composites in which fluoride has been incorporated show fluoride release.

Aim:

This research aims to compare the initial fluoride liberated, the fluoride liberated after recharge, and the mean percentage reduction of modified varieties of GICs along with fluoride-releasing composites.

Materials and Methods:

Forty specimen blocks of the materials to be tested were divided into 5 groups (n = 8), namely Group 1: Zirconomer (SHOFU), Group 2: GC GOLD Label Hybrid (GC), Group 3: Tetric Prime (Ivoclar), Group 4: Ketac Molar (3M), and Group 5: TE-Econom Plus (Ivoclar). The initial fluoride liberated was measured on the 1st day, after 1 week, and after a fortnight, using a benchtop analyzer and total ionic strength adjustment buffer III analyzer. Then, fluoride application was done with fluoridated dentifrice using the hand brush method, and the samples were rechecked for fluoride release at similar time intervals, i.e. 1, 7, and 15 days.

Results:

Zirconomer showed significantly higher initial fluoride release. The minimum mass of fluoride was released by TE-Econom. A similar pattern was observed for fluoride liberation after recharge, with Zirconomer showing maximum re-release of fluoride and TE Econom showing maximum reduction in fluoride release after 15 days.

Conclusion:

Zirconomer exhibited high initial fluoride liberation and fluoride liberation after recharge following topical fluoride application. GC Gold Label Hybrid and Ketac Molar showed the least percentage reduction in the biweekly fluoride liberation which was remarkably lower than Zirconomer. Fluoride-releasing composites showed the least amount of initial fluoride liberation and fluoride liberation after recharge.
Very long-lasting spinal anesthesia with dexmedetomidine: A report of two cases
Authors: Heo Min H. , Cho Miji , Lee Sang-Il , Kim Kyung W.
Published: January 2024

Spinal anesthesia usually lasts up to two hours, but an infusion of IV dexmedetomidine can prolong it to three to four hours. We report two cases where single spinal anesthesia with IV dexmedetomidine was maintained for more than six hours during tibia fracture surgery. The spinal anesthesia was maintained for 350 and 390 minutes without another medication, and the sensory level confirmed after the surgery was T10 and L1. Dexmedetomidine can very-prolong the duration of spinal anesthesia beyond what has been reported. However, longer infusion times can also result in longer recovery times.
The effect of pectointercostal fascial block on stress response in open heart surgery
Authors: Fadhlurrahman Ahmad Feza , Setiawan Philia , Sumartono Christijogo , Perdhana Fajar , Husain Teuku Aswin
Published: January 2024

Background:

Activation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and inflammatory processes are common forms of stress response. The increased stress response is associated with a higher chance of complications. Open hearth surgery is one of the procedures with a high-stress response. Pectointercostal fascial block (PIFB), as a new pain management option in sternotomy, has the potential to modulate the stress response.

Objective:

To determine the effect of PIFB on stress response in open heart surgery.

Methods:

This study was a Randomized Controlled Trial on 40 open heart surgery. Patients were divided into two groups, control (20 patients) and PIFB (20 patients). Primary parameters included basal and postoperative TNF-α, basal and post sternotomy ACTH, and basal, 0, and 24 hours postoperative NLR. Secondary parameters include the amount of opioid use, length of the post-operative ventilator, length of ICU stay, and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperative.

Results:

The PIFB group had a decrease in ACTH levels with an average change that was not significantly different from the control group (−57.71 ± 68.03 vs. −129.78 ± 140.98). The PIFB group had an average change in TNFα levels and an average increase in NLR 0 hours postoperative that was not significantly lower than the control group (TNFα: −0.52 ± 1.31 vs. 0.54 ± 1.76; NLR: 12.80 ± 3.51 vs. 14.82 ± 4.23). PIFB significantly reduced the amount of opioid use during surgery, NRS at 6, 12, and 24 hours, and the length of post-operative ventilator use (P < 0.05, CI: 95%).

Conclusion:

PIFB has a good role in reducing the stress response of open heart surgery and producing good clinical outcomes.
The analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block versus ultrasound-guided caudal epidural block for abdominal surgery in pediatric patients – A patient and assessor-blind, randomized controlled study
Authors: Pandey Ashutosh , Ahmad Zainab , Jain Shikha , Pakhare Abhijit , Sharma Pramod K. , Waindeskar Vaishali , Mandal Pranita , Karna Sunaina T.
Published: January 2024

Background:

Literature on the efficacy and safety of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in pediatric patients is limited. Hence, we aimed to compare ESPB versus caudal epidural block (CEB) in children undergoing abdominal surgery.

Methods:

In this patient and assessor-blind study, fifty-two ASA I-II patients, between 1 to 9 years of age, were randomized into groups of 26 each. ESPB group received unilateral or bilateral ultrasound (USG)-guided ESPB with 0.5 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine per side. CEB group received USG-guided CEB with 1 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine. The primary objective was to estimate the proportion of patients requiring postoperative rescue analgesia. The secondary objectives were to assess postoperative Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) scale scores, duration of analgesia, and consumption of rescue analgesic drugs.

Results:

More patients in the ESPB group (88.4%), compared to the CEB group (42.3%), required rescue analgesics (P value <0.001). FLACC scores in the ESPB group, though satisfactory, were inferior, to the CEB group. The duration of postoperative analgesia was shorter in the ESPB group by 9.54 h (95% CI: 4.51 to 14.57 h, P value <0.001). The median (IQR) consumption of rescue paracetamol was significantly higher in the ESPB group (20 mg/kg (10,20) compared to the CEB group (0.0 mg/kg (0.0,10) P value <0.001)). No adverse effects were reported.

Conclusion:

In children undergoing abdominal surgery, both ESPB and CEB were safe and efficacious. CEB provided a longer duration and better quality of analgesia. ESPB may be considered when CEB is contraindicated or difficult.
Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block for awake spine surgery: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Reddy Ashwini , Barik Amiya K. , Bhatia Nidhi , Jain Kajal
Published: January 2024

Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy is increasingly gaining recognition as an alternative to open microdiscectomy for the treatment of intervertebral disk herniation. Apart from the neuraxial blockade, and general anesthesia, there is literature demonstrating the performance of endoscopic lumbar discectomy under sole local anesthesia infiltration. This is particularly advantageous as an awake patient assists the surgeon by verbalizing and preventing any inadvertent nerve root damage. However, marked pain has been reported during key steps such as endoscope port installation and radiculolysis. The erector spinae plane (ESP) block is an interfascial paraspinal block that soaks the spinal nerve roots with epidural spread providing superior analgesia for endoscopic discectomy. The utility of ESP block as a perioperative analgesic technique following spine surgery is well established; there are no reports of successful endoscopic discectomy performed using this block. This article emphasizes the utility of ESP block as the sole anesthetic technique for minimally invasive spine surgery in the awake state.
Impact of unstable environment on the brain drain of highly skilled professionals, healthcare workers, researchers, and research productivity in Pakistan
Authors: Meo Sultan A. , Eldawlatly Abdelazeem A. , Sultan Tehreem
Published: January 2024

Background:

The geo-strategic position of Pakistan on the world map is incredibly important and idyllic as the country is considered the gateway to central Asia. Pakistan has faced political instability for the last three decades, causing a brain drain and adversely affecting socioeconomic growth. This study aims to investigate the impact of an unstable environment on the brain drain of highly skilled professionals, healthcare workers, researchers, and research productivity in Pakistan from January 2000 to December 2022.

Material and Methods:

The data were recorded from the World Bank, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOS), Pakistan, Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), and Web of Science Clarivate Analytics. Initially, 32 documents were selected in this study, and finally, eight fact sheets, official government websites, and international organizations were included.

Results:

The result revealed that due to political instability, in 2022 about 832,339 highly qualified and accomplished experts headed abroad, among them 17976 (2.15%) were highly qualified and 20865 (2.50%) were highly competent professionals. These include accountants 7197 (0.86%), engineers 6,093 (0.73%), agricultural experts 3,110 (0.37%), doctors 2,464 (0.29%), computer experts 2,147 (0.25%), nurses and paramedics 1768 (0.21%), technicians 23347 (2.80%), electricians 20322 (2.44%), and schools and university faculty 1004 (0.12%). Pakistan has a total of 380 Higher Education Commission-indexed academic journals, among them 11 (2.89%) academic journals were indexed in the Web of Science and 23 journals were placed in the Web of Science emerging indexing. Among these journals, only one journal surpassed the impact factor of more than 2.0. The quartile ranking of Pakistani journals is 01 journal in Q2; 02 in Q3; and the remaining 08 journals in Q4. From August 1947 to December 2022, Pakistan produced a total of 259249 research articles, and from January 2000 to December 2022, the number of articles published was 248457 (95.83%). Since the last 22 years, the trend of research publications was continuously increased; however, the rising trend decreased in 2022 with a declined rate of 1263 (3.42%).

Conclusion:

The unstable sociopolitical environment in Pakistan caused a brain drain of highly qualified and skilled professionals and impaired the global standing of universities, academic journals, and research productivity in Pakistan. Pakistan must resolve the instability and establish sustainable policies to minimize the brain drain of highly qualified and skilled experts and convalesce their academic institutes and their research productivity for the development of the nation.
Sustainable management of rainforest in cross river state, nigeria
Authors: E Offiong E , B Ita P
Published: January 2024

The study evaluate the matric models using trees stand parameters such as stem density, in-growth, rates of growth and mortality rate to predict the tree stand structure of the most complex tropical rainforest ecosystem in Cross River State, Nigeria. The model represented all tree species covering matrix for 6 years. The forest decline due to dominant eigenvalue (A) of the matrix R was 0.977, which is the intrinsic rate of natural increase with less than zero. A sensitivity analysis revealed that large recruitment rate of 87% was required to restore stability to the forest while only 16% improvement in growth rate would ensure sustenance and hence stabilized the forest.
Over Schooling And Pupils’ Academic Achievement In Mathematics In Calabar Municipality Local Government Area Of Cross River State, Nigeria
Authors: Effiong Ibok Ekpenyong , Josephine Undie Ushinyin , Ukpabio Masor Grace , Okon Unoh Edet , Sunday Etura Collins , Morison Udobong David
Published: January 2024

This study which adopted the survey design research determined the influence of over schooling on pupil s’ academic achievement in mathematics. The study answered two research questions and tested two null hypotheses. A sample of 400 primary four pupils were selected from public schools using the simple random and purposive sampling techniques for the study. One instrument titled “Mathematics Achievement Test” (MAT) was used for data collection. The reliability of pupils’ MPT was established through Kuder Richardson formula K-R20 which yielded .81. The independent t-test was used to test the two null hypotheses. The two analyses were tested at. 05 level of significance. The findings of the study reveal that pupils in over schooling schools significantly differ in their academic achievement in Mathematics from their counterpart in schools without over schooling and also there is a significant influence of gender on pupils’ academic achievement in Mathematics based on over schooling schools. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended, amongst others, that policy makers should formulate policies to promote and encourages primary schools over-schooling and also Mathematics teaching and evaluation strategies should be free of gender bias.
Przejęcie majątku spółki – zagadnienia wybrane na tle orzecznictwa sądów powszechnych i Sądu Najwyższego
Authors: Janeta Jakub , Katner Przemysław
Published: January 2024

Acquisition of the company’s assets and liabilities – selected issues in the context of the case law of common courts and the Polish Supreme Court

Despite the passage of more than 20 years since the entry into force of the Polish Commercial Companies Code , many of the legal constructions indicated in it still raise doubts and give rise to legal disputes. One of them, of significant practical importance, is the possibility, as regulated in Article 66 of the Polish Commercial Companies Code, for the court to grant one of the partners of a general partnership the right to take over the assets and liabili-ties of the company in case it is composed of two partners and there is a reason for its dissolution on the part of one of them. Interpretation problems related to this regulation have been repeatedly raised in doctrine and juris-prudence, nonetheless, many of them remain unresolved, while the resolution of one uncertainty often leads to the development of another. The purpose of this article is to examine the issues related to the interpretation on the basis of Article 66 of the Polish Commercial Companies Code of the reason for the dissolution of the company aris-ing on the part of one of the partners, to identify the subject of the takeover, to specify the legal nature and the moment of transfer of the company’s assets and liabilities to one of the partners, as well as to consider certain procedural aspects that may emerge over the course of the proceedings.
Przegląd orzecznictwa Sądu Najwyższego
Authors: Milkowski Kacper
Published: January 2024

Overview of the decisions of the Polish Supreme Court The Judgment of the Polish Supreme Court of October 26, 2023 (case file no. III CZP 34/23) is of particular im-portance for legal practice. The Court indicated that if the leasing contract was terminated by agreement of the parties, Article 709(15) of the Civil Code shall not apply unless the parties have agreed otherwise. In the Judgment of October 26, 2023 (case file no. III CZP 18/23), the Polish Supreme Court stated that confirmation of inheritance under Article 681 of the Polish Code of Civil Procedure may also apply to heirs who died after initiating proceed-ings for the division of inheritance. Moreover, in the Judgment of the Polish Supreme Court of October 19, 2023 (case file no. III CZP 9/23), the Polish Supreme Court decided that the receivable due to the housing cooperative in respect of fees for the renovation fund may be written off by offsetting.
Development and validation of conceptual test instrument in Physics: A synthesis
Authors: Bug-os Mary Allein Antoenette C.
Published: January 2024

A well-developed physics conceptual test that can be a

diagnostic, a misconception, or a summative test best suited to the

science major will help educators to determine the level of physics

understanding of the prospective science teachers at public and

private high schools. Hence, the purpose of this synthesis paper is to

look into the key aspects of the process of the development and

validation of conceptual test instruments in physics subjects for the

undergraduate level. A literature review was used to determine the

process of the development of conceptual tests. The process starts

with preparation or content analysis, development, validation, and

pilot testing. Statistical analysis, such as difficulty and

discrimination indices and biserial coefficients used by the authors

of various researchers, was also included. A stable, usable, and

promising form test instrument can help instructors evaluate the

effectiveness of the pedagogies and new curriculum.
Lie pairs
Authors: Gatto Letterio , Rowen Louis
Published: January 2024

Extending the theory of systems, we introduce a theory of Lie semialgebra
``pairs'' which parallels the classical theory of Lie algebras, but with a
``null set'' replacing $0$. A selection of examples is given. These Lie pairs
comprise two categories in addition to the universal algebraic definition, one
with ``weak Lie morphisms'' preserving null sums, and the other with
``$\preceq$-morphisms'' preserving a surpassing relation $\preceq$ that
replaces equality. We provide versions of the PBW (Poincare-Birkhoff-Witt)
Theorem in these three categories.
The Use of Code-switching in the Discourse of Maghrebi Influencers
Authors: BOUBRIS Meryem Hinde , BOUBRIS Abdelbassed Anes
Published: January 2024

The Maghreb multilingualism reflects the linguistic identity of each country and every person belonging to this geographical sphere. This linguistic specificity is evident in the oral and/or written production of Maghrebis, taking the form of code-switching, borrowing, etc. Several researchers have attempted to work on this issue, based on different research questions and corpora. This work focuses on the use of code-switching in the discourse of Maghrebian influencers, in an attempt to determine how code-switching is manifested in the discourse of Algerian, Moroccan, and Tunisian influencers. To collect the corpus, a selective method was adopted followed by the transcription of three vlogs produced by Maghrebian influencers. The analysis of this corpus is based on Weber's method, which combines understanding, analysis, and explanation of any linguistic usage. The comprehensive-explanatory framework facilitated the development of a code-switching typology that might accurately represent the communication patterns found in the discourse of multilingual Maghrebian vloggers (influencers). The deliberate and alternate use of Standard Arabic, French, and English carries communication strategies with a well-defined purpose. Based on the corpus analysis, five types of code-switching including contextual and designative code-switching were identified.
Résumé :
Le multilinguisme maghrébin reflète l'identité linguistique de chaque pays et de toute personne appartenant à cette sphère géographique. Cette spécificité linguistique se manifeste dans la production orale et/ou écrite des Maghrébins, prenant la forme d'alternance codique, d'emprunts, etc. Plusieurs chercheurs ont tenté de travailler sur cette question, en se basant sur différentes problématiques de recherche et corpus. Ce travail se concentre sur l'utilisation de l'alternance codique dans le discours des influenceurs maghrébins, dans le but de déterminer comment elle se manifeste dans le discours des influenceurs algériens, marocains et tunisiens. Pour constituer le corpus, une méthode sélective a été adoptée, suivie de la transcription de trois vlogs produits par des influenceurs maghrébins. L'analyse de ce corpus est basée sur la méthode de Weber, qui combine compréhension, analyse et explication de tout usage linguistique. Le cadre compréhensif-explicatif a facilité l'élaboration d'une typologie d'alternance codique qui pourrait représenter de manière précise les schémas de communication présents dans le discours des vlogueurs (influenceurs) maghrébins multilingues. L'utilisation délibérée et alternée de l'arabe standard, du français et de l'anglais porte des stratégies de communication à des fins biens définis. Suite à l'analyse du corpus, cinq types d'alternance codique, dont l'alternance codique contextuelle et désignative, ont été identifiés.
Pour une analyse des pratiques (techno)langagières à l’ère des médias numériques
Authors: AMMI ABBACI Amal
Published: January 2024

I dedicate this contribution to the analytical description of (techno)language practices. This study sets itself the main objective to account for the peculiarities that emerge from the digital writings of the commentators of Hakim LAALAM’s publications. The native digital comments, i.e the online and non-online product comments (Paveau, 2017) that constitute our corpus of study are reactive interventions to the publications of Hakim LAALAM posted on the wall of his personal page on Facebook.
Résumé: 
Je me consacre dans cette contribution à la description analytique des pratiques (techno)langagières. Cette étude  s’assigne l’objectif princeps de rendre compte des particularités que laissent jaillir les écrits numériques des commentateurs des publications de Hakim LAALAM. Les commentaires numériques natifs, i.e les commentaires produits en ligne et non portés en ligne (Paveau, 2017) qui constituent notre corpus d'étude sont  des interventions réactives aux publications de Hakim LAALAM postées sur le mur de sa page personnelle sur Facebook.
Zone-Based Tourism Planning Using Satellite Imagery
Authors: Kurniawansyah Angga , Susiloningtyas Dewi , Manessa Masita Dwi Mandini
Published: January 2024

Tourism planning serves as a strategic approach to mitigate and address the damage incurred by tourist attractions, such as the Tangkolak Bahari Center (TMC) mangrove ecosystem, which has experienced a loss of 2 hectares. The primary objective of this research is to formulate a zone-based tourism plan utilizing PlanetScope Dove-R sensor satellite imagery to provide spatial information specific to its application in December 2022. The methodology encompasses various techniques, including observation, structured interviews with tourists, focus group discussions involving tourism managers and local government representatives, digitization, and delineation. The result of research is Zones within the TMC tourist attractions, comprising Main and Supporting Space Plans, Primary and Secondary Circulation Plans, Avicennia, Rhizopora stylosa, and Sonneratia Conservation Vegetation Plans, as well as Plans for Nature, Conservation, Culinary Activities and Facilities, and Green Planning. Notably, the TMC tourist attraction remains viable, covering an area of 2.73 hectares in the West TMC and 1.79 hectares in the East TMC. It is imperative to underscore the importance of considering the sustainability of the mangrove ecosystem in utilizing these areas.
Özel Gereksinimli Öğrencilerin Sosyal Medya Kullanımlarının İncelenmesi
Authors: KILINÇ Hasan Hüseyin , ÖZEY Veli
Published: January 2024

Bu çalışma, özel eğitim okullarında öğrenim gören çocukların sosyal medya kullanım düzeyini ve bu öğrencilerin sosyal medya kullanımı ile ilgili birtakım verileri elde etme amacıyla hazırlanmıştır. Yedi alt problem çerçevesinde yapılan bu çalışma nitel desenleme yöntemiyle yürütülmüştür. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 2022-2023 eğitim öğretim yılında Nevşehir ili merkez ilçede öğrenim gören 19 özel gereksinimli öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda işlenen veriler içerik analizi yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Elde edilen veriler nitel araştırmaya uygun olarak temalara ve kodlara ayrılıp tablolaştırılmıştır. Tablolar yorumlanarak elde edilen bulgular üzerinde yorumlar yapılmıştır. Çalışmanın bulgularına göre öğrencilerin en çok kullandığı sosyal medya hesapları Instagram, YouTube ve Tiktok olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Öğrenciler sosyal medyayı kullanma amacı olarak bilgi edinme ve eğlenme unsurlarını gerekçe gösterirken sosyal medyada geçirdikleri sürenin günlük 1-2 saat arasında olduğunu ifade etmiştir. Yine öğrenciler sosyal medyanın hem yararının hem de zararının olduğunun bilincindedir. Araştırma neticesinde öğrencilerin velilerinden zararlı içerik kullanım konusunda eleştiriler aldıkları ortaya çıkmıştır. Araştırma sonucuna göre öğrenciler sosyalleşme açısından olumsuz etkilendiklerini ifade etmişlerdir.