bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing grade eight students’ creative thinking in the water stem education learning unit
Authors: Sutaphan Sukaya , Yuenyong Chokchai
Published: January 2023

Water issues, a commonly discussed issue in water STEM education, present students with a challenge to put their engineering design skills to the test in a STEM project. This study aimed to enhance and examine Grade 8 students’ creative thinking in the water STEM education learning unit. It involved purposively selected 45 eight-graders enrolled in a school situated in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The study was carried out in three weeks which equate to twelve hours of learning covered in six lesson plans. Applying the interpretive paradigm, this study adapted Barak and Doppelt (2000)’s Creative Thinking Scale (CTS) to assess students’ applying knowledge and creative thinking. The findings likely demonstrated that most of the portfolio elements may be interpreted for the attainment of creative thinking in layer of awareness, while some others could be viewed layers of observation, strategy, and reflection. This paper clarifies what and how students’ project could be interpreted in each layer of creative thinking. Further implications for setting up STEM education in school setting are proposed.
COVID-19 pandemic anxiety, academic stress, and quality of life among college students in the Philippines: A mediation study
Authors: Cleofas Jerome V. , Rocha Ian Christopher N. , Parcon Rey G.
Published: January 2023

Cognizant of the specific pathways that students’ lives can be impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, this study investigated the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic anxiety and quality of life of Filipino college students and examined the mediating role of academic stress in this relationship. A total of 1,024 students enrolled in Philippine universities and colleges participated in this cross-sectional analytical study. Findings suggest that pandemic anxiety was positively correlated with quality of life (c=.399, p=0.002). When academic stress was added as a mediator, pandemic anxiety was found to have a negative indirect effect on quality of life (ab=-.410, p.001), and maintained a positive direct effect on quality of life (c’=.809, p.001), yielding an inconsistent mediation model among the three variables. This means that COVID-19 pandemic anxiety has a double-edged effect on quality of life, with its negative effect explained through the pathway of academic stress. It is recommended that stakeholders in college education employ interventions to address academic stress among students.
Building characters using local wisdom in ngaras and siraman traditions of sundanese weddings
Authors: Wibawa Sutrisna , Awaliah Yatun Romdonah
Published: January 2023

Nowadays, many people are attracted to almost extinct traditions, such as Ngaras and Siraman, in Sundanese weddings. Prominent figures, celebrities, actresses/actors, and ordinary people have re-implemented these traditions, but only a few know the content and local wisdom of the practices. This study aimed to examine Ngaras and Siraman and explore the local wisdom values of the traditions used to build students' character through education. The research method used was descriptive-qualitative analysis. Data were collected through literature and documentation review. The analysis revealed thatt Ngaras and Siraman are rituals done before akad nikah (marriage covenant). There are values of Sundanese local wisdom presented by the traditions when viewed from the practice, meaning, and function. First, the values are Trisilas (Three Bases), Catur Jati Diri Insani (Superior Human), and Gapura Pancawaluya (the Gate of Five Pillars of Completeness). Second, these values serve as good moral practices related to someone's relationships with God, himself, other human beings, nature, and time. Third, such values form morals function to pursue further implementation of ethno-pedagogy in school.
Caracterización morfométrica de abejas y zánganos (Hymenoptera: Apidae) en una nueva zona de congregación en Boyacá, Colombia
Authors: Salamanca Grosso Guillermo , Osorio Tangarife Mónica P. , Aroca Narváez Maria J.
Published: January 2023

The reproduction process of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) occurs in defined congregation areas where natural mating occurs and males and unfertilized queen bees from different colonies converge. This work focused on the identification and characterization of a congregation drone zone in a biogeographic region of the low montane dry forest corridor, in the upper Andean valley of Sugamuxi-Tundama, for the density of bee colonies established there, considering the climatic factors of the environment and the description of biometric characters of bees and drones collected, and which constitutes the first report of a congregation zone for Colombia. In the study area, dry summer periods predominate alternating with short winter, cloudy days, and intense cold, with thermal sensations between 8 to 19°C. The drone movement route was established with an unmanned flight vehicle, through the interaction between the vehicle and bee specimens. The path of movement of drones was established operated between 10 and 60 m in North-South direction. Specimens of worker bees were collected identifying African, European, or Eastern European lines and drones of two types, yellow and black, evaluating biometric parameters and estimating the discriminant factor. The activity of the drones, occurs in two periods of 10:00 to 12:00 hours and 15:00 to 17:00 hours, flying regularly between round trips up to a 1 km radius. This work describes a methodology for monitoring congregation areas and consolidates itself as a tool for beekeepers for the conservation of regional ecotypes through bee reproductive planning.
Contenido de fenoles totales y actividad antioxidante de extractos foliares de Ipomoea pes-caprae (Convolvulaceae).
Authors: Hernández- Herrera Kendry. P , Salgado-Chávez José. A
Published: January 2023

The department of La Guajira (Colombia) presents a great diversity of plant species, among these, halophilic and psamophilic species such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R.Br., which is distributed in the department coastal area. It was unknown whether I. pes-caprae produces phenols in concentrations high, enough under La Guajira’s environmental conditions, to consider its use; therefore, the aim of this research was to establish the influence of weather on total phenols production and antioxidant potential of foliar extracts. Leaf tissue samples were taken during one year and subjected to methanol extraction. To establish total phenols concentration, Folin-Ciocalteau method was used and correlated with rains and monthly temperature. Extracts percentage of inhibition on DPPH radical was also estimated. Results showed that phenols content varied throughout one year, with February 2019 showing the highest concentration (18.41%), coinciding with a low rainfall and lower temperature period. On the other hand, antioxidant activity of extracts was 83.79%. It was concluded that temperature partially affects the total phenols concentration, while rains did not have significant effects; in addition, this study verifies the possibility of using I. pes-caprae as a low-cost source of substances with antioxidant activity and constitutes a basis for future research aimed at the evaluation and use of other Convolvulaceae species present in La Guajira.
Design, Develop, and Pilot-Test a Digital Platform to Enhance Student Well-Being: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Joshi Ashish , Kaur Kamalpreet , Bhatt Ashruti , Surapaneni Krishna Mohan , Grover Ashoo , Pandya Apurva Kumar
Published: January 2023

Background

Well-being is a multidimensional concept and has been extended to many areas. Student well-being has garnered attention over the last decade due to concerns that have been raised. Digital health interventions have the potential to enhance and improve student well-being.

Objective

The objective of the study is to design, develop, and pilot-test a digital health platform to enhance student well-being.

Methods

A sample size of 5000 participants will be recruited across Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, India. Students will be enrolled from Parul University in Vadodara, Gujarat, as well as Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Panimalar Engineering College, Panimalar Institute of Technology, and Panimalar College of Nursing in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Current undergraduate and graduate students consenting to participate will be recruited using convenience sampling from these institutes. The study will collect baseline data to construct the student well-being index. Based on the risk profile, a random subset of the population will be provided access to the digital health intervention, which will deliver tailored interactive messages addressing the various dimensions of well-being among undergraduate and graduate students. The eligible study participants will be aged 18 years and older, enrolled in these institutes, and willing to give their consent to participate in the study.

Results

The proposed research is an unfunded study. The enrollment of the individuals in the study began in October 2022. Data gathered will be analyzed using SAS (version 9.3; SAS Institute) and results will be reported as 95% CIs and P values.

Conclusions

The proposed study will help to determine the factors affecting well-being among college students and help in designing digital health interventions to improve the well-being of undergraduate and graduate students.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/39779
Calibrating a Transformer-Based Model’s Confidence on Community-Engaged Research Studies: Decision Support Evaluation Study
Authors: Ferrell Brian , Raskin Sarah E , Zimmerman Emily B
Published: January 2023

Background

Deep learning offers great benefits in classification tasks such as medical imaging diagnostics or stock trading, especially when compared with human-level performances, and can be a viable option for classifying distinct levels within community-engaged research (CEnR). CEnR is a collaborative approach between academics and community partners with the aim of conducting research that is relevant to community needs while incorporating diverse forms of expertise. In the field of deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI), training multiple models to obtain the highest validation accuracy is common practice; however, it can overfit toward that specific data set and not generalize well to a real-world population, which creates issues of bias and potentially dangerous algorithmic decisions. Consequently, if we plan on automating human decision-making, there is a need for creating techniques and exhaustive evaluative processes for these powerful unexplainable models to ensure that we do not incorporate and blindly trust poor AI models to make real-world decisions.

Objective

We aimed to conduct an evaluation study to see whether our most accurate transformer-based models derived from previous studies could emulate our own classification spectrum for tracking CEnR studies as well as whether the use of calibrated confidence scores was meaningful.

Methods

We compared the results from 3 domain experts, who classified a sample of 45 studies derived from our university’s institutional review board database, with those from 3 previously trained transformer-based models, as well as investigated whether calibrated confidence scores can be a viable technique for using AI in a support role for complex decision-making systems.

Results

Our findings reveal that certain models exhibit an overestimation of their performance through high confidence scores, despite not achieving the highest validation accuracy.

Conclusions

Future studies should be conducted with larger sample sizes to generalize the results more effectively. Although our study addresses the concerns of bias and overfitting in deep learning models, there is a need to further explore methods that allow domain experts to trust our models more. The use of a calibrated confidence score can be a misleading metric when determining our AI model’s level of competency.
Mining the Influencing Factors and Their Asymmetrical Effects of mHealth Sleep App User Satisfaction From Real-world User-Generated Reviews: Content Analysis and Topic Modeling
Authors: Nuo Mingfu , Zheng Shaojiang , Wen Qinglian , Fang Hongjuan , Wang Tong , Liang Jun , Han Hongbin , Lei Jianbo
Published: January 2023

Background

Sleep disorders are a global challenge, affecting a quarter of the global population. Mobile health (mHealth) sleep apps are a potential solution, but 25% of users stop using them after a single use. User satisfaction had a significant impact on continued use intention.

Objective

This China-US comparison study aimed to mine the topics discussed in user-generated reviews of mHealth sleep apps, assess the effects of the topics on user satisfaction and dissatisfaction with these apps, and provide suggestions for improving users’ intentions to continue using mHealth sleep apps.

Methods

An unsupervised clustering technique was used to identify the topics discussed in user reviews of mHealth sleep apps. On the basis of the two-factor theory, the Tobit model was used to explore the effect of each topic on user satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and differences in the effects were analyzed using the Wald test.

Results

A total of 488,071 user reviews of 10 mainstream sleep apps were collected, including 267,589 (54.8%) American user reviews and 220,482 (45.2%) Chinese user reviews. The user satisfaction rates of sleep apps were poor (China: 56.58% vs the United States: 45.87%). We identified 14 topics in the user-generated reviews for each country. In the Chinese data, 13 topics had a significant effect on the positive deviation (PD) and negative deviation (ND) of user satisfaction. The 2 variables (PD and ND) were defined by the difference between the user rating and the overall rating of the app in the app store. Among these topics, the app’s sound recording function (β=1.026; P=.004) had the largest positive effect on the PD of user satisfaction, and the topic with the largest positive effect on the ND of user satisfaction was the sleep improvement effect of the app (β=1.185; P<.001). In the American data, all 14 topics had a significant effect on the PD and ND of user satisfaction. Among these, the topic with the largest positive effect on the ND of user satisfaction was the app’s sleep promotion effect (β=1.389; P<.001), whereas the app’s sleep improvement effect (β=1.168; P<.001) had the largest positive effect on the PD of user satisfaction. The Wald test showed that there were significant differences in the PD and ND models of user satisfaction in both countries (all P<.05), indicating that the influencing factors of user satisfaction with mHealth sleep apps were asymmetrical. Using the China-US comparison, hygiene factors (ie, stability, compatibility, cost, and sleep monitoring function) and 2 motivation factors (ie, sleep suggestion function and sleep promotion effects) of sleep apps were identified.

Conclusions

By distinguishing between the hygiene and motivation factors, the use of sleep apps in the real world can be effectively promoted.
Predicting Pain in People With Sickle Cell Disease in the Day Hospital Using the Commercial Wearable Apple Watch: Feasibility Study
Authors: Stojancic Rebecca Sofia , Subramaniam Arvind , Vuong Caroline , Utkarsh Kumar , Golbasi Nuran , Fernandez Olivia , Shah Nirmish
Published: January 2023

Background

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic red blood cell disorder associated with severe complications including chronic anemia, stroke, and vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs). VOCs are unpredictable, difficult to treat, and the leading cause of hospitalization. Recent efforts have focused on the use of mobile health technology to develop algorithms to predict pain in people with sickle cell disease. Combining the data collection abilities of a consumer wearable, such as the Apple Watch, and machine learning techniques may help us better understand the pain experience and find trends to predict pain from VOCs.

Objective

The aim of this study is to (1) determine the feasibility of using the Apple Watch to predict the pain scores in people with sickle cell disease admitted to the Duke University SCD Day Hospital, referred to as the Day Hospital, and (2) build and evaluate machine learning algorithms to predict the pain scores of VOCs with the Apple Watch.

Methods

Following approval of the institutional review board, patients with sickle cell disease, older than 18 years, and admitted to Day Hospital for a VOC between July 2021 and September 2021 were approached to participate in the study. Participants were provided with an Apple Watch Series 3, which is to be worn for the duration of their visit. Data collected from the Apple Watch included heart rate, heart rate variability (calculated), and calories. Pain scores and vital signs were collected from the electronic medical record. Data were analyzed using 3 different machine learning models: multinomial logistic regression, gradient boosting, and random forest, and 2 null models, to assess the accuracy of pain scores. The evaluation metrics considered were accuracy (F1-score), area under the receiving operating characteristic curve, and root-mean-square error (RMSE).

Results

We enrolled 20 patients with sickle cell disease, all of whom identified as Black or African American and consisted of 12 (60%) females and 8 (40%) males. There were 14 individuals diagnosed with hemoglobin type SS (70%). The median age of the population was 35.5 (IQR 30-41) years. The median time each individual spent wearing the Apple Watch was 2 hours and 17 minutes and a total of 15,683 data points were collected across the population. All models outperformed the null models, and the best-performing model was the random forest model, which was able to predict the pain scores with an accuracy of 84.5%, and a RMSE of 0.84.

Conclusions

The strong performance of the model in all metrics validates feasibility and the ability to use data collected from a noninvasive device, the Apple Watch, to predict the pain scores during VOCs. It is a novel and feasible approach and presents a low-cost method that could benefit clinicians and individuals with sickle cell disease in the treatment of VOCs.
METHODS FOR PREDICTING OF PREECLAMPSIA: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Authors:   Clinical and Diagnostic Center “Protection of Maternal and Child Health”, Mostova Natal’ja V. , Kovalev Vladislav V. ,   Ural State Medical University
Published: January 2023

The article presents a review of methods for predicting preeclampsia. Described the first methods that were used early and more modern tests. The authors of the article raise the issue of the need for risk stratification in later term of pregnancy. Women who present to specialized clinics with signs or symptoms of hypertensive disorders should carry out optimization of pregnancy monitoring. The use of effective screening tests at different stages of pregnancy certainly will improve perinatal outcomes.
Lyrics of Vladimir Nurov: The Genre of Curse (Kharal) and Ritual of Its Removal Analyzed
Authors:   Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS, Khaninova Rimma
Published: January 2023

Introduction. Within the genre paradigm of twentieth-century Kalmyk poetry, the folklore-derived one of curse (Kalm. kharal) used to be represented by few local and original samples that remained in the periphery of the literary process. The latter include poems by A. Suseev, M. Basangov, B. Sangadzhieva, D. Kugultinov to have been and yet to be examined in our articles. Goals. The paper aims to identify V. Nurov’s works clustering with the genre of curse, and consider the poetics of two poems — Well-Wish and Curse (Kalm. Йɵрǝл болн харал, 1973), I Cut the Black Tongue off (Kalm. Хар кел керчүлнәв, 1980) — in historical / literary, historical / functional, and comparative / typological aspects, as well as Russian translations of the second text. Results. The first poem has two versions slightly different in style. The principle of contrasting two folklore genres in this poem conveys worldviews and perceptions of the Oirat ancestors, their inclination to prioritize the spiritual over the material, when the good word was valued above all. In the second poem, the philosophemes of good and evil are actualized in the paradigm of the ancient rite that served, as ancestors believed, to annihilate negative effects of the harmful message. The poem I Cut the Black Tongue off (Kalm. Хар кел керчүлнәв) was translated by Yu. Neiman (1981) and V. Shoshin (1992), and is instrumental in showing how Kalmyk text’s form and content tend to be perceived by Russian translators in the perspective of imagology — ‘us and them’. Conclusions. The folklore tradition inherent to the curse genre in V. Nurov’s poems gets transformed in philosophical discourse, those reproduce neither formulas of curse nor any certain actions, despite the latter poem mentions the rite of ‘cutting off the black tongue’ never to describe it. The Kalmyk proverb about well-wishing and damnation introduced in the first poem becomes a starting point for the author’s reflections on good and evil.
Age-Sex Structure and Workforce of the Region: A Case Study of Kalmykia
Authors:   Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS, Badmaeva Nogan
Published: January 2023

Introduction. The article examines impacts of the region’s age-sex structure on actual workforce numbers. Goals. The paper aims to investigate factors underlying the decrease in working-age population and, consequently, the Republic’s labor force at large. Materials and methods. The work employs tools of comparative analysis for insights into available statistical data on a number of indicators, such as age-sex structure, workforce proper, age-sex standardized mortality rates, and negative migration balance. Results. The analysis of statistical materials shows a decrease in working-age population largely rooted in the general population decrease across the Republic and high mortality rates among working-age men, both aggravated by increased women’s migration trends.
Modelling and Analysis of a Prosthetic Runner Blade
Authors: Krishna P. Hari , Sai P. Pardha , Chandu K. , Brahmaiah I. , Haritha T.
Published: January 2023

Abstract: Prosthetic leg/ Runner blade design is very crucial, which uses the principles of mechanical engineering to achieve the best outcomes. In general, these are useful for leg amputated individuals to replace the below-knee portion with a prosthetic leg. Its function is to assist make up for the user's compromised physiology by imitating the anatomical foot/ankle joint action of physically fit persons. Very limited study has been carried out on the motion investigations, material bio compatibility, stress concentrations and economic aspects. This project aims to make an attempt to study aspects of stress, stain variations using different materials. Here, a 3D model is generated using CATIA V5 and then imported to ANSYS R15 for analysis. Weight reduction, cost effectiveness with good structural stability are the issues planned to be addressed using this project.
Anti-feminism Consciousness Learning by 20’s male and Transformative Learning Theory
Authors:   Korean Association For Learner-Centered Curriculum And Instruction, Kim Hyeon Min , Kim Han Byul
Published: January 2023

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the theoretical grounds that the anti-feminism consciousness of men in their 20s can be regarded as the result of transformational learning and the social conditions of the formation of anti-feminism consciousness.
Methods To this end, we conceptually confirmed the social conditions of collective transformative learning by explaining the social phenomenon in which anti-feminism is formed and shared among men in their 20s as a framework for transformative learning and reviewing research and media reports in educational research and sociology.
Results Anti-feminism consciousness learning of men in their 20s can be explained by the framework of transformative learning for the following reasons. First, the formation of anti-feminism consciousness can be explained by the concept of transformative learning in terms of learner reflection and the resulting change in identity. Second, the spread of anti-feminism consciousness through online communities can be seen as a result of collective transformative learning through discourse. Third, the case of the anti-feminism movement can be seen as expressed as social practice by solidarity of individuals who share the transition. In addition, the social conditions behind the formation of anti-feminism consciousness of men in their 20s are as follows. First, after the older generation, represented by the 386 generation, dominated the upper part of the job market, job competition intensified. Second, preferential policies for women were implemented, which were recognized as the result of ‘the meeting of gender and power’. Third, there was a trend of the times that forced the acceptance of masculinity as a potential perpetrator.
Conclusions This study attempted to interpret social phenomena such as anti-feminism consciousness learning of men in their 20s as transformative learning theory. This is to expand the scope of existing learning theory research, which mainly limited learners to individuals, and to expand the horizon of learning research by targeting a group called generation. It is also meaningful in that it brings about a change in collective perspective by sharing individual experiences through discourse, and ultimately provides a conceptual basis for exploring the process of developing collective transformation into social practice.
A Study on the Professors’ Experience on Application to Learner Centered Teaching-Learning Methods Through CTL Support at A University
Authors:   Korean Association For Learner-Centered Curriculum And Instruction, Sung Jihoon
Published: January 2023

Objectives The purpose of this study was to understand the motivation, the process of participation, and the perceptions of participation results of the professors who design and develop, implement the learner-centered method in their undergraduate classes with the support of CTL program. Based on the results, it also purposed to draw effective strategy for the CTL program.
Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six professors, the study participants. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Qualitative data were analyzed with constant comparison method doing open coding, categorizing, reviewing categories. For trustworthiness of the study, triangulation using interview data with a CTL researcher and program related documents and reports, member checking, and peer review were applied.
Results A total of 27 categories were derived in the areas of the participants’ motivation, and the participation process and result. The participants participated in accordance with the school policy, incentive, and willingness to improve classes. In order to understand and apply learner-centered teaching-learning methods, they thought and agonized a lot along with self-directed learning. They faced various problems and solved them, and paid a lot of attention to classes for the good results and reports in mind. They experienced the effects and problems of the CTL services. They felt development of as a professor, experienced sophisticated teaching-learning methods, and participated responsibly thanks to CTL support.
Conclusions In light of the previous studies, the experiences and perceptions of the participants were discussed. Implications were presented for CTL to support the professors’ design, development and implementation of learner-centered method effectively.
Handy guide and passionate call to engage
Authors: Askwall Cissi
Published: January 2023

Andrew J. Hoffman, Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan, has written “The Engaged Scholar — Expanding the Impact of Academic Research in Today's World” (2021 Stanford University Press). According to the author, most researchers want to make a difference, but academic institutions often do not value public engagement, leading to disengaged scientists. Hoffman gives and reexamines arguments for why scholars should engage with other parts of society. He conveys several tips on how to do it and encourages researchers to take part in public debate. The limitations of the current evaluation system are also scrutinized, and new measures of impact discussed. The book is worth reading for academic leaders and researchers, as well as science communicators and science journalists.
Antibacterial Activity of Curcumin-Loaded Copper Nanoparticles Against Multidrug- Resistant UTI Causing Staphylococcus Aureus
Authors: Ishwarya Dr. R. , Kamala N. , Manipriya K. , K.V. Leela Dr.
Published: January 2023

The production of biofilms by bacteria like S.aureus is frequent, and it leads to various treatment resistance. Plants and vegetables have more benefits in the green synthesis of nanoparticles (CuNPs) since they are safe to handle and easily accessible. The objective of the present study is to analyze the antibacterial activity of Curcumin-loaded Copper Nanoparticles [Cur-Cu-NPs] against S.aureus, which causes multidrug-resistant UTIs. Physical analysis (Scanning Electron Microscope [SEM]) and Chemical analysis (X-Ray Diffraction [XRD] and Fourier Transform Infrared [FTIR]) have all been used to validate the synthesis of Cur-Cu-NPs. The discovery of virulence factors that might be used as targets for vaccine and therapeutic development is a critical stage in this process. Curcumin, a ready-made compound which act as reducing and capping agents in the conversion of silver nitrate to CuNPs. The function of biomolecules in bioreduction and effective stabilization of CuNPs was established by FTIR. The crystalline character of the produced CuNPs with [FCC] Face centered cubic structure may be seen in XRD patterns. CuNPs produced with an average particle size of 140-190 nm had a spherical form, according to SEM examination. The efficacy of green-generated nanoparticles derived from aqueous extract against the UTI-causing Staphylococcus aureus strain was assessed in the clearance of micro titre wells during Minimum Inhibitory concentration analysis in μg/ml. These green synthesized Copper nanoparticles had significant antibacterial activity. The present study is supportive evidence that the synergistic additive medications result in best bactericidal actions with fewer adverse effects.
Fenotipo motor y disautonomía cardiovascular de pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson en la consulta de neurología de un hospital en Táchira (Venezuela)
Authors: Núñez Martínez Agustina Beatriz , Matos Frontado Yimber Manuel
Published: January 2023

INTRODUCCIÓN:
La enfermedad de Parkinson es un trastorno neurodegenerativo frecuente que se caracteriza por manifestaciones de tipo motor y no motor, tales como disautonomía, trastornos del sueño, disfunción sexual, alteraciones psiquiátricas y cognitivas, entre otros. Según su fenotipo motor, se puede clasificada en tremórica dominante (TD), dificultad para la marcha/inestabilidad postural (DMI) y un fenotipo indeterminado. En el estudio se determina la influencia del fenotipo motor en la disautonomía cardiovascular del paciente con Parkinson en los pacientes de la consulta de neurología del hospital del IVSS "Dr. Patrocinio Peñuela Ruiz" entre mayo del 2015 y abril del 2016.

METODOS:
Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal en pacientes mayores de 40 años con EP idiopática. Se evaluó el MDS-UPDRS, Hoehn y Yahr, Scopa-AUT , Hipotensión Ortostática y Rines-Valcardi.

RESULTADOS:
Se obtuvo una muestra de 57 pacientes; luego de la aplicación de los criterios de inclusión y exclusión se estudiaron 37 sujetos. Todos los pacientes tuvieron algún grado de disautonomía (medida con la escala Scopa-AUT). El Scopa-AUT fue mayor en los pacientes con hipotensión ortostática (p = ,003), observándose igual diferencia para la subescala cardiovascular (p = ,026). Se observó que la neuropatía autonómica (medida con Rines-Valcardi) fue más frecuente en aquellos pacientes con fenotipo DMI (p = < ,001), y que la hipotensión ortostática fue también más frecuente en aquellos pacientes con dicho fenotipo (DMI) (p = ,016).

CONCLUSIÓN:
La presencia de disautonomía es frecuente en los pacientes con EP; hubo diferencias en la puntuación total y la subescala cardiovascular del Scopa-AUT, de acuerdo CON la presencia de hipotensión ortostática; aquellos sujetos que cursan con fenotipo motor DMI tienen mayor riesgo de presentar hipotensión ortostática y neuropatía autonómica cardíaca.
Encuesta colombiana de neurología 2016-2020
Authors: Muñoz Cerón Joe Fernando , Suárez Rubiano Jonathan , Gallo Eugenio Loren Marcela
Published: January 2023

INTRODUCCIÓN:
La práctica de la neurología como especialidad clínica es relativamente reciente en Colombia, a pesar de que esta área ha mostrado progresos académicos significativos; la información sociodemográfica es limitada.

OBJETIVO:
Describir las características sociodemográficas de los neurólogos laboralmente activos en Colombia.

METODOLOGÍA:
Estudio descriptivo en dos periodos. La información se obtuvo mediante encuestas autodiligenciadas a los asistentes al Congreso Nacional de Neurología del año 2016; la del 2020 se recolectó empleando cuestionarios en línea a través de formularios Google.

RESULTADOS:
Se contabilizaron 549 neurólogos laboralmente activos en el territorio colombiano. El análisis de las muestras 2016 y 2020 mostró que la mayor proporción de estos especialistas se concentraba en Bogotá (45,4 %), Medellín (13,4 %) y Cali (8,4 %), con una ocupación escasa en ciudades no capitales. La comparación de horas laborales e ingresos económicos al analizar 2016 y 2020 no mostró diferencias. El mayor tiempo de ejercicio se correlacionó con mayores ingresos, tanto en el 2016 (p < 0,001) como en el 2020 (p < 0,01).

CONCLUSIONES:
Excepto por el incremento en la población de nuevos neurólogos, las características socio-demográficas de los neurólogos en Colombia se mantienen sin variaciones al comparar los años 2016 y 2020.
Leucoencefalopatía multifocal progresiva: enfermedad grave en el paciente inmunosuprimido. Reporte de caso
Authors: Cáceres González Juan David , Zúñiga Escobar Gonzalo , Vera Vega Omaris , Amaya Herrera Santiago Eduardo , Abello Padilla Ana Lorena
Published: January 2023

INTRODUCCIÓN:
Los pacientes con compromiso del sistema inmune pueden desarrollar una enfermedad neurológica incapacitante e incluso mortal, como lo es la leucoencefalopatía multifocal progresiva (LMP) producida por el virus de John Cunningham (JC).

PRESENTACIÓN DEL CASO:
Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 26 años con diagnóstico reciente de infección por virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) que presentó síntomas constitucionales, déficit neurológico progresivo por hemiparesia espástica izquierda, disminución de la agudeza visual y cambios comportamentales. En las imágenes de resonancia magnética (IRM) cerebral contrastada se encontró afectación subcortical difusa de la sustancia blanca con compromiso de las fibras en U que, correlacionado con una prueba de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) para virus JC en LCR, confirmó el diagnóstico de LMP.

DISCUSIÓN:
La LMP puede manifestarse por medio de síntomas cognitivos usualmente imperceptibles para el clínico, pero también como déficit sensorio-motor y visual que se puede corroborar en las IRM al identificar las lesiones típicas en la sustancia blanca, o bien por medio de detección del virus por PCR en líquido cefalorraquídeo. El manejo específico de la causa que desencadenó la inmunosupresión sigue siendo el pilar de tratamiento.

CONCLUSIÓN:
La mínima sospecha diagnóstica en aquellos pacientes con factores de riesgo y manifestaciones clínicas concordantes con la enfermedad debe llevar a que se confirme el diagnóstico y que se inicie prontamente el manejo terapéutico en búsqueda de restablecer la respuesta inmune.
The Association Between Length of Training and Family Medicine Residents’ Clinical Knowledge: A Report From the Length of Training Pilot Study
Authors: Carney Patricia A. , Valenzuela Steele , Ericson Annie , Peterson Lars , Dinh Dang H. , Conry Colleen M. , Martin James C. , Mitchell Karen B. , Rosener Stephanie E. , Marino Miguel , Eiff M. Patrice
Published: January 2023

Background and Objective: The associations between training length and clinical knowledge are unknown. We compared family medicine in-training examination (ITE) scores among residents who trained in 3- versus 4-year programs and to national averages over time.
Methods: In this prospective case-control study, we compared the ITE scores of 318 consenting residents in 3-year programs to 243 who completed 4 years of training between 2013 through 2019. We obtained scores from the American Board of Family Medicine. The primary analyses involved comparing scores within each academic year according to length of training. We used multivariable linear mixed effects regression models adjusted for covariates. We performed simulation models to predict ITE scores after 4 years of training among residents who underwent only 3 years of training.
Results: At baseline postgraduate year-1 (PGY1), the estimated mean ITE scores were 408.5 for 4-year programs and 386.5 for 3-year programs, a 21.9 point difference (95% CI=10.1–33.8). At PGY2 and PGY3, 4-year programs scored 15.0 points higher and 15.6 points higher, respectively. When extrapolating an estimated mean ITE score for 3-year programs, 4-year programs would still score 29.4 points higher (95% CI=15.0–43.8). Our trend analysis revealed those in 4-year programs had a slightly lesser slope increase compared to 3-year programs in the first 2 years. Their drop-off in ITE scores is less steep in later years, though these differences were not statistically significant.
Conclusions: While we found significantly higher absolute ITE scores in 4 versus 3-year programs, these increases in PGY2, PGY3 and PGY4 may be due to initial differences in PGY1 scores. Additional research is needed to support a decision to change the length of family medicine training.
Language Biography of the Kalmyks: the Experience of Revitalizing the Native Language
Authors:   Institute of Linguistics of the RAS, Mandzhieva Tsagana D.
Published: January 2023

This article presents the results of the study, which consisted in analyzing the collected field research materials and modeling the experimental history of the use of the language / languages of the Kalmyks living in the Republic of Kalmykia. This issue was considered during the interview on the example of the Kalmyk language community of the Republic of Kalmykia, where in 2020– 2021 a comprehensive sociolinguistic study was carried out. An explanation of the term “language biography” is given and the relevance of the ongoing research for scientific works performed on the material of minority languages is indicated. The study is based on the analysis of autobiographical narratives / linguistic biographies of the informants (interviews), which made it possible to model the historical past of the Kalmyks. It is shown that recently the study of theoretical approaches and successful methods for restoring the social functions of languages is relevant. The model of linguistic biography makes it possible to trace the development of linguistic loyalty and linguistic associations of a given ethnic group in a diachronic aspect.
Language Policy in Modern Society and Small Languages
Authors:   Institute of Linguistics RAS, Alpatov Vladimir M.
Published: January 2023

Each language is a special culture, a special kind of worldview, that should not be lost. However, small languages are constantly dying out. They may be more stable in the absence of constant contact with more widely spoken languages, but in the modern world language contacts are inevitably on the increase. Languages with a small number of speakers can only be used in limited communication with fellow tribesmen. Sometimes the process of language disappearance can be reversed. However, a more frequent case is when, gradually, a language shift occurs regardless of the social system where the language is being used. There have been many attempts to preserve languages, such as the policy program for the development of small languages in the USSR in the 1920s and 1930s. However, such actions were only able to slow down the process of disappearance of those languages. Interest, prestige and financial gain can be incentives for the maintenence of minor languages. However, interest cannot be a decisive factor, the prestige of small languages is usually low, and it proves to be difficult to achieve any financial gain. The recent experience of European states can demonstrate the crucial role of raising living standards among language communities that can contribute to the preservation of small languages.
Multilingual Landscape as a de facto Language Policy: Language Research in the Field of Cultural Tourism in Shanghai
Authors:   Shanghai International Studies University, Liu Zhao
Published: January 2023

Shanghai is one of the most influential metropolitan areas in China, which is gradually becoming a global city. The language landscape in the space of cultural tourism is a typical field of urban language policy that combines Chinese cultural characteristics and internationalization. This paper explores the multilingual landscape in physical and networked public spaces in Shanghai’s cultural tourism sector from a spatial theory perspective using the Ethnographic Linguistic Landscape (ELLA) method. The purpose of this work is to identify common features and differences in the linguistic landscape as a reflection of the actual language policy in various types of public spaces in the city. As a result of the study, the author comes to the following conclusions: firstly, the linguistic landscape of physical space and cyberspace are closely interconnected through QR codes. Secondly, there is a spatial stratification of the linguistic landscape, reflecting the urban features of Shanghai, combining Chinese and international characteristics.
Linguo-historical Analysis of Oikonyms in Great Britain
Authors:   Institute of Linguistics RAS, Kirilenko Svetlana V.
Published: January 2023

The toponymy of Great Britain has more than two thousand years of history. For a long time, various linguistic and speech communities coexisted on the territory of the country, which was reflected in the variety of combinations of linguistic elements in the oikonyms of the country. The vocabulary used by them is reflected in various urban toponyms. Toponyms differ in the historical period of appearance, and in linguistic origin, the method of word formation. The article discusses the features of linguistic and historical characteristics in the nominations of cities in the toponymy of Great Britain. The structure of ‘city’ oikonyms is analyzed from the point of view of the presence or absence of a specific and/or generic element in their structure, historical features of the formation of topoformants, combinations of word elements from different languages, united in city nominations. The main linguistic categories of forming the basis of the studied oikonyms are singled out and studied: the ones formed on the basis of hydronyms, anthroponyms, theonyms, zoonyms or phytonyms.
Upsurge of measles in South Africa: A cause for concern?
Authors: Nazir Abubakar , Shariff Sanobar , Kantawala Burhan , Itani Rania , G Benjamin Fleet , UWISHEMA Olivier
Published: January 2023

A massive upsurge in the number of measles cases has been recently
reported from South Africa, with 382 confirmed cases spread across five
regions: Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, and North West. The
number of daily cases has been growing, resulting in more throat swabs
and blood samples being sent to the National Institute for Communicable
Diseases (NICD) for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and measles serology
testing. A rapid response to control the outbreak has emerged. All
parents and caregivers residing in South Africa have been urged to check
their children’s and the populations’ measles vaccination status
respectively. Plans for case management, and prevention of further
spread, not only in the province but also to neighboring countries, will
need external support and funding.
The dicarbonyl electrophile scavenger 2-hydroxybenzylamine (2-HOBA) prevents colorectal carcinogenesis and reduces tumor growth
Authors: Gobert Alain , Asim Mohammad , Smith Thaddeus , Williams Kamery , Barry Daniel , Allaman Margaret , McNamara Kara , Hawkins Caroline , Delgado Alberto , Zhao Shilin , Piazuelo M , Washington M , Coburn Lori , Rathmacher John , Wilson Keith
Published: January 2023

Background and Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health
problem worldwide. Dicarbonyl electrophiles, such as iso-levuglandins
(isoLGs), are generated from lipid peroxidation and form covalent
adducts with amine-containing macromolecules. We have shown high levels
of adducts of isoLGs in colonic epithelial cells from patients with CRC.
We thus investigated the role of these reactive aldehydes on colon
cancer development. Experimental Approach: We investigated the effect of
oral treatment with 2-hydroxybenzylamine (2-HOBA), a natural compound
derived from buckwheat seeds that acts as a potent scavenger of
electrophiles, on colon carcinogenesis using the azoxymethane-dextran
sulfate sodium model of colitis-associated carcinogenesis and mice with
epithelial-specific deletion of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene, as
a model of sporadic cancer. We also tested 2-HOBA in a murine xenograft
of human HCT116 CRC cells implanted into the flank of nude mice. Key
Results: 2-HOBA is bioavailable in the colon of mice after
supplementation in the drinking water and does affect the colonic
microbiome. However, it reduced the level of isoLG adducts to lysine as
well as tumorigenesis in both models of CRC. In parallel, we found that
NRF2 activation and signaling was decreased in the colon of
2-HOBA-treated mice. Last, the growth of human tumors is significantly
attenuated by 2-HOBA supplementation. Conclusion and Implications:
2-HOBA, which has been shown to be safe in humans, reduces colon
tumorigenesis and growth of tumor cells in three distinct models of CRC.
Thus, 2-HOBA represents a promising natural compound for the prevention
and treatment of CRC.
A Robust Nonlinear Tracking MPC using qLPV Embedding and Zonotopic Uncertainty Propagation
Authors: Morato Marcelo Menezes , Cunha Victor , Santos Tito L. M. , Normey-Rico Júlio , sename Olivier
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we propose a novel Nonlinear Model Predictive Control
(NMPC) framework for tracking for piece-wise constant reference signals.
The main novelty is the use quasi-Linear Parameter Varying (qLPV)
embeddings in order to describe the nonlinear dynamics. Furthermore,
these embeddings are exploited by an extrapo- lation mechanism, which
provides the future behaviour of the scheduling parameters with bounded
estimation error. Therefore, the resulting NMPC becomes compu-
tationally efficient (comparable to a Quadratic Programming algorithm),
since, at each sampling period, the predictions are linear. Benefiting
from artificial target variables, the method is also able to avoid
feasibility losses due to large set-point variations. Robust constraint
satisfaction, closed-loop stability, and recursive fea- sibility
certificates are provided, thanks to uncertainty propagation zonotopes
and parameter-dependent terminal ingredients. A benchmark example is
used to illustrate the effectiveness of the method, which is compared to
state-of-the-art techniques.