bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engineering With Empathy in the Build a Better Book Project
Authors: Forsyth Stacey , Sickler Jessica , Yang Gigi
Published: August 2023

Build a Better Book (BBB) is a novel STEM education initiative that engages youth in an authentic, empathy-driven engineering design experience in which they create inclusive books, games, and toys for children who are blind or have low-vision. BBB designers learn about users' needs through empathy-building and tactile activities, and iteratively test and improve designs using feedback from others, including users with visual impairments. Programs take place in formal and informal learning environments and benefit from community partnerships. This chapter shares the BBB network's trajectory from a few sites in Colorado to a national network of informal and formal education partners adapting and implementing BBB programming. Research findings offer insights about the strengths of the BBB model and how it has been able to effectively scale and be sustained across diverse settings, audiences, and program formats. The chapter also shares how the initial successes of short-term programs led to the current exploration of more intensive and career-oriented opportunities for youth.
Transformational Leadership Style
Authors: Roache Darcia Ann Marie
Published: August 2023

The qualitative study used a grounded theory approach on interview using a standard set of questions about transformational leadership style, management, and communication strategies for organizational effectiveness and employees' performance. The study sample was 10 participants from organizations in America, Canada, and Jamaica. The NVivo 10 qualitative analysis software was used to assist in the development of codes, categories, and themes from the interviews, using data obtained and analysed from the constant comparison method. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge on how transformational leadership styles, management functions, and communication can create initiatives for organizational leaders' success globally. The conclusion indicated that organizational effectiveness is grounded in transformational leadership style, employees' motivation, empowerment, and emotional intelligence.
Leadership in Action
Authors: Johnson Natasha N.
Published: August 2023

This chapter highlights reflective practice as the core element of the ongoing art of introspective leadership. Firstly, while there is no one without the other, what does exist here is a dependent and independent variable. The independent variable, reflective practice, undeniably begins with self. Any person committed to a life of professional development must realize that one's personal development comes first. The introspection and assiduous work required is prodigious, to say the least. A practitioner understands that this work is cyclical in nature. As underlined in this chapter, it is essential to recognize the role of introspection in leadership. This work is a recurrent process; all actions, reactions, and interactions are interconnected, and it is imperative that leaders spend sufficient time analyzing, personalizing, and reinforcing these constructs.
The Art of Team Science
Authors: Gigliotti Ralph A. , Rotondo Alexis M. , Horton Daniel B. , Reichman Nancy E.
Published: August 2023

Clinical and translational science research collaborations rely on the effectiveness of high-performing teams and on the ability of leaders to stimulate, support, and encourage team effectiveness. The objective of this study was to explore insights related to teamwork, team dynamics, and team collaboration from professionals outside biomedical science that might otherwise be overlooked within the context of traditional disciplinary biomedical training. Five dominant themes emerged from this exploratory qualitative study—communication, trust, culture, learning orientation, and consistency. These themes are relevant for the study and practice of team science and underscore the need for leaders to attend to relationships, processes, and structures in support of team effectiveness. The chapter concludes with recommendations for applied leadership practice that can inform the literature on this topic and could be implemented by biomedical researchers and others engaged in leading translational science and translational research.
Methods of Creating Gel Fire Extinguishing Substances Based on Aluminum Hydroxide
Authors: Kodrik Anatolii , Stylyk Igor , Titenko Oleksandr , Borisov Andriy
Published: August 2023

У даній роботі представлено спосіб створення гелевої вогнегасної речовини на основі гідроксиду алюмінію з використанням карбонату калію. Показано переваги запропонованого способу порівняно з відомим способом створення гелевої вогнегасної речовини на основі гідроксиду алюмінію з використанням карбонату натрію. Наведено результати експериментальних досліджень ефективності гелевогнегасних речовин на основі гідроксиду алюмінію.
Properties of Multi-Component Fire Extinguishing Systems Based on Light Bulk Materials
Authors: Makarenko Viktoriia , Kireev Oleksandr , Slepuzhnikov Evgen , Hovalenkov Serhii
Published: August 2023

To extinguish flammable liquids, it is suggested to use a multi-component fire extinguishing system consisting of two layers. The first layer is designed to ensure the buoyancy of the fire extinguishing system. It is suggested to use crushed foam glass as the material of this layer. As the material of the upper layer, it is suggested to use light dispersed materials with increased thermal insulation properties. As such materials, the use of exfoliated perlite and vermiculite is justified. To increase the insulating and cooling properties of the fire extinguishing system, wetting of the upper layer with water is used. Bulk density, buoyancy in heptane and moisture retention of crushed foam glass, expanded perlite and vermiculite were experimentally determined. The insulating properties of binary layers of foam glass + perlite and foam glass + vermiculite were studied. The heights of the layers of dry and wet bulk materials necessary for extinguishing heptane were determined experimentally. A conclusion was made about the advantages of the proposed fire extinguishing system based on light bulk materials compared to the existing fire extinguishing means.
Coupling of the Cylindrical Shell with Side Elements
Authors: Surianinov Mykola , Neutov Stepan , Burdeinii Yurii , Metlizkiy Vitalii
Published: August 2023

The paper proposes an analytical method for calculating a long cylindrical shell supported by two identical side elements and loaded with vertical load. The case when the shell is hinged on curvilinear edges is considered, and recommendations for taking into account other boundary conditions are given. No restrictions are imposed on the shape and dimensions of the cross-section of the side element. The proposed algorithm assumes the possibility of implementing two approaches - calculation according to the general semimoment theory and calculation with simplifying hypotheses for flat shells of medium length. In the presented work, the first approach is considered. Mathematically, the problem is reduced to a system of four linear equations. By solving this system, it is possible to determine the forces and displacements due to the action of additional boundary forces, and by adding them with the corresponding components of the momentless stress state, one can obtain the total forces and displacements in the cylindrical shell.
Immunosequencing and Profiling of T Cells at the Maternal–Fetal Interface of Women with Preterm Labor and Chronic Chorioamnionitis
Authors: Miller Derek , Romero Roberto , Myers Luke , Xu Yi , Arenas-Hernandez Marcia , Galaz Jose , Soto Cinque , Done Bogdan , Quiroz Angelica , Awonuga Awoniyi O , Bryant David R , Tarca Adi L , Gomez-Lopez Nardhy
Published: August 2023

T cells are implicated in the pathophysiology of preterm labor and birth, the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Specifically, maternal decidual T cells infiltrate the chorioamniotic membranes in chronic chorioamnionitis (CCA), a placental lesion considered to reflect maternal anti-fetal rejection, leading to preterm labor and birth. However, the phenotype and TCR repertoire of decidual T cells in women with preterm labor and CCA have not been investigated. In this study, we used phenotyping, TCR sequencing, and functional assays to elucidate the molecular characteristics and Ag specificity of T cells infiltrating the chorioamniotic membranes in women with CCA who underwent term or preterm labor. Phenotyping indicated distinct enrichment of human decidual effector memory T cell subsets in cases of preterm labor with CCA without altered regulatory T cell proportions. TCR sequencing revealed that the T cell repertoire of CCA is characterized by increased TCR richness and decreased clonal expansion in women with preterm labor. We identified 15 clones associated with CCA and compared these against established TCR databases, reporting that infiltrating T cells may possess specificity for maternal and fetal Ags, but not common viral Ags. Functional assays demonstrated that choriodecidual T cells can respond to maternal and fetal Ags. Collectively, our findings provide, to our knowledge, novel insight into the complex processes underlying chronic placental inflammation and further support a role for effector T cells in the mechanisms of disease for preterm labor and birth. Moreover, this work further strengthens the contribution of adaptive immunity to the syndromic nature of preterm labor and birth.
Head Kinematics and Injury Analysis in Elite Bobsleigh Athletes Throughout a World Cup Tour
Authors: McPherson April L. , Anderson Travis , Finnoff Jonathan T. , Adams William M.
Published: August 2023

Context

The neurocognitive health effects of repetitive head impacts have been examined in many sports. However, characterizations of head impacts for sliding-sport athletes are lacking.

Objective

To describe head impact kinematics and injury epidemiology in elite athletes during the 2021–2022 Bobsleigh World Cup season.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

On-track training and competitions during the Bobsleigh World Cup season.

Patients or Other Participants

Twelve elite bobsleigh athletes (3 pilots [1 female], 9 push athletes [5 females]; age = 30 ± 5 years; female height and weight = 173 ± 8 cm and 75 ± 5 kg, respectively; male height and weight = 183 ± 5 cm and 101 ± 5 kg, respectively).

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Athletes wore an accelerometer-enabled mouthguard to quantify 6-degrees-of-freedom head impact kinematics. Isometric absolute and relative neck strength, number of head acceleration events (HAEs), workload (J), peak linear velocity (m·s−1), peak angular velocity (rad·s−1), peak linear acceleration (g), and peak angular acceleration (rad·s−2) were derived from mouthguard manufacturer algorithms. Linear mixed-effect models tested the effects of sex (male versus female), setting (training versus competition), and position (pilot versus push athlete) on the kinematic variables.

Results

A total of 1900 HAEs were recorded over 48 training and 53 competition days. No differences were found between the number of HAEs per run per athlete by sex (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.82, P = .741), setting (IRR = 0.94, P = .325), or position (IRR = 1.64, P = .463). No sex differences were observed for workload (mean ± SD: males = 3.3 ± 2.2 J, females = 3.1 ± 1.9 J; P = .646), peak linear velocity (males = 1.1 ± 0.3 m·s−1, females = 1.1 ± 0.3 m·s−1; P = .706), peak angular velocity (males = 4.2 ± 2.1 rad·s−1, females = 4.7 ± 2.5 rad·s−1; P = .220), peak linear acceleration (male = 12.4 ± 3.9g, females = 11.9 ± 3.5g; P = .772), or peak angular acceleration (males = 610 ± 353 rad·s−2, females = 680 ± 423 rad·s−2; P = .547). Also, no effects of setting or position on any kinematic variables were seen. Male athletes had greater peak neck strength than female athletes for all neck movements, aside from right-side flexion (P = .085), but no sex differences were noted in relative neck strength.

Conclusions

We provide a foundational understanding of the repetitive HAEs that occur in bobsleigh athletes. Future authors should determine the effects of repetitive head impacts on neurocognitive function and mental health.
Presurgical intervention of bilateral cleft lip and palate using nasoalveolar molding with a microfiber head cap
Authors: Alrejaye Najla S. , Alharbi Muhannad H. , Alqahtani Hussam M. , Alharbi Mosleh S.
Published: August 2023

Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) was introduced by Grayson et al. in 1993. NAM helps with reshaping of the maxillary arch deformity and nose before surgical lip repair. NAM involves lengthy and extensive use of taping and skin barriers to the infant's cheeks, which usually causes skin irritation and discomfort. This is a case report describing NAM, for an infant with bilateral cleft lip and palate and severely malpositioned premaxilla. In this case, a special head cap with straps was used to secure the NAM appliance instead of the conventional taping. After NAM, there was a significant improvement in the cleft deformity. The parents were very satisfied about the result and felt much more comfortable using the head cap with the special straps compared to the conventional taping because it reduced cheek irritation and was much easier to use.
A comparative assessment of secondary surgeries between nasoalveolar molding-treated and non nasoalveolar molding-treated patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate
Authors: Nayak Tulasi , Krishnamurthy Bonanthaya , Parmar Renu , Shetty Pritham N.
Published: August 2023

Introduction:

Secondary surgeries are a commonly documented element of cleft treatment. It adds to the surgical and economic burden of care. Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) is one of the techniques which has gained popularity as it has proven to reduce the pre surgical severity. NAM has also been proposed to reduce the need for future secondary surgeries. In this retrospective study, we aimed to compare the incidence of secondary surgeries in NAM treated and non-NAM-treated patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

Methods:

In this retrospective study, all consecutively treated NAM and non-NAM patients with UCLP who had undergone primary surgeries in 2011–2013 were considered. Only those patients who had a complete clinical and surgical record at 5 years of age were included for this study. Thirty-eight patients in NAM group and 48 patients in non-NAM group were compared. All patients had received the same protocol with the exception of NAM. The cleft severity index was used to check the preoperative cleft severity. The type of lip defect was described for all patients who had received the secondary surgery.

Results:

Pre NAM clefts were found to be more severe than the non-NAM group. However, after the NAM therapy, the cleft severity was less than the non-NAM group. Non-NAM group had a statistically higher number of lip revision surgeries with a broader variety of defects than the NAM group. There was no statistically significant difference for the Fistula closures.

Conclusion:

NAM reduced the cleft severity at the pre surgical stage. At 5 years of follow-up, NAM-treated patients had a lower surgical burden of care in comparison to the non-NAM-treated patients.
What has been The Impact of Laboratory Accreditation in Saudi Arabia? A Cross-Sectional Survey of Laboratory Practitioners
Authors: Alsayyah Ahmed , Almulhim Aisha
Published: August 2023

Objectives:

While laboratory accreditation has improved laboratory practices in several countries, its effectiveness in laboratories in Saudi Arabia remains unclear. This survey aims to assess the impact of laboratory accreditation on laboratory practices across the country.

Materials and Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed laboratory practitioners (n = 207) across Saudi Arabia from September 21 to October 22 using an online questionnaire created over Monkey Survey. Practitioners were queried regarding their laboratory accreditation, practices, and the observed impact on patient laboratory testing. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software and potential associations were assessed using the Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant in all cases.

Results:

Laboratories with a higher number of accreditations were more likely to have documented standard operating procedures (SOPs) (P = 0.039) and more frequent reviews of laboratory policies and procedures (P = 0.002). Practitioners in our study were more likely to have noticed an overall improvement in patient laboratory testing if their institutes adhered to the components of the accreditation process, such as documented SOPs for testing (P = 0.017), availability of safety manuals (P < 0.01), written policies of internal and external quality assurance programs (P = 0.007), regular meetings to maintain accreditations (P ≤ 0.001), and availability of a task force team to maintain the accreditation program (P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion:

This survey suggests that accreditation has had an overall positive impact on laboratory practices and patient laboratory testing in Saudi Arabia.
Supplementation of Platelet-Derived Products in Distraction Osteogenesis for Alveolar Ridge Augmentation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Iftikhar Ifra , Shrivastava Priyanshu Kumar , Datta Shubham , Rana Apoorv , Sybil Deborah
Published: August 2023

Background:

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is one of the recent tissue engineering techniques which have been utilized for alveolar ridge augmentation procedures. It makes use of tensional strains created within the fractured segments to initiate a cascade of responses ultimately resulting in the formation of new mature bone. Supplementation of platelet-derived products such as platelet-rich plasma and platelet-rich fibrin in DO could stimulate this cascade and accelerate the formation of new bone with improved quality.

Materials and Methods:

Literature search was performed on eminent databases for studies using platelet-derived products with DO in alveolar ridge augmentation. Data relating to bibliographic information, and study outcomes were extracted. A risk of bias assessment was performed for each study. Measures of outcome included increase in bone height, and any reported postoperative complications.

Results:

Planned alveolar height was reached in all the studies with an adequate amount of bone formation for the placement of dental implants. Studies reported long-term implant survival. Postoperative complications included displacement of fractured segments, temporary paresthesia, and scar formation.

Conclusion:

DO supplemented with platelet-derived products provides an ideal micro-environment for the recruitment of various signaling molecules and stem cell precursors inducing the formation of new bone. It circumvents the unpredictable outcomes and complications such as donor site morbidity, which is associated with conventional placement of bone grafts. However, the available literature is scarce in this area and further randomized studies are required to form a conclusive body of evidence to support the translatability of this innovative technique into clinical practice.
Assessment of Risk Factors of Deep-Vein Thrombosis after Lower Limb Surgery
Authors: Pisulkar Gajanan , Salwan Ankur , Taywade ShaunakBabanrao , Awasthi Abhiram , Saoji Amit
Published: August 2023

Background:

Deep vein thrombosis is one of the most common condition affecting adults worldwide. The condition is characterized by the presence of blood clots in the veins. The clots commonly develop in the lower limb veins. Deep vein thrombosis is the most common complication after any lower limb surgery and is a prominent complication post-orthopaedic surgery in individuals of any age due to failure of the valves.

Aim and Objectives:

The aim of our study is to assess the risk factors following lower limb surgery.

Methodology:

The individuals who fulfill the inclusion criteria were tested using ultrasonography and duplex color Doppler unit examination at 7.5 MHz and 10 MHz using high frequency probes to assess the presence of thrombus in the deep veins of the individuals who have undergone the surgeries. The assessment was recorded on the assessment sheet and analyzed using SPSS statistical software, and the results were drawn.

Results:

In this study, the individuals were mostly from the age group 59–68 years and a total of 202 patients were included. 136 patients are diagnosed as suffering from DVT following orthopedic surgery.

Conclusion:

We conclude that the occurrence of DVT after lower limb surgery depends on various factors such as the duration of surgery, the period of immobilization, prior history of DVT and post-operative stay, and various other factors such as age and gender. We found that extramedullary implants have a relative risk of 2.93. Additionally, we also concluded that clinical signs and symptoms are not reliable measures to identify incidence of DVT.
Effectiveness of Demonstration, Observation, Assistance, and Performance Sessions for Training of Competencies Related to Family Study among Medical Undergraduates
Authors: Patnaik Lipilekha , Pattanaik Sumitra , Sabat Smaranita , Mohanty Sambedana , Sharma Sumita
Published: August 2023

Background:

Demonstration, observation, assistance, and performance (DOAP) is a practical session that allows the student to observe a demonstration, assist the performer, perform in a simulated environment, perform under supervision, or perform independently. Competency-based medical education necessitates DOAP sessions that are timely and frequent, criterion based, skillful, and developing.

Objective:

The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of DOAP sessions for training of competencies related to family study among 6th-semester students.

Methods:

It was a quasi-experimental study conducted over 6 months from November 2021 to April 2022 on 6th-semester undergraduate students coming to the community medicine department during their community posting. The control group consisted of 28 students taught family study by traditional method, and 27 students assigned to the experimental group were taught by DOAP sessions. Demonstration was provided through postgraduates and health-care workers as a role-play followed by recorded video-based sessions. Data were collected at baseline and after intervention. Later, the control group was provided the DOAP sessions. Feedback from all 55 students was collected in a Likert scale.

Results:

The mean score of the intervention group was significantly higher (P < 0.05). Knowledge score increased 4.07 (confidence interval [CI]: 3.29–4.85) points in the intervention group while 2.35 points in the control group (CI: 1.6–3.1). Objective structured clinical examination score increased 4.72 (CI: 4.0–5.3) points in the intervention group while 2.53 points in the control group (CI: 1.8–3.3). Response rate for feedback was 100% and positive feedback was given by more than 80%.

Conclusion:

DOAP sessions were found to be effective which may help in implementing DOAP sessions for MBBS students for competencies related to the family study.
Challenges Faced By “Health Care Workers” during COVID-19: A Narrative Review
Authors: Baghel Prerna , Gurbani Neha , Muntode Pramita
Published: August 2023

The ability to handle life’s challenges measures the strength of character. If we intend to rise through challenges, one has to be prepared for the change. A strong sense of duty among health-care workers (HCWs) was observed during COVID-19 pandemic when there was a high threat to their lives. We aimed to review the literature from PubMed, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar that describes the current situation and various challenges faced by the health-care providers and provides necessary recommendations that ensure health and well-being. It is believed that the findings of this study will be found useful by the government and higher agencies to formulate and implement new and better policies favoring and promoting the health-care workers. The obstacles that health-care practitioners are presently facing are far larger than those that they experience in their routine duties. Health-care personnel has a distinct and restricted responsibility to treat the COVID-19 epidemic, which can be traced back to a wide social compact and is firmly linked to specific reciprocal obligations that society owes to health-care providers. This article is organized into parts depending on the numerous sorts of obstacles that health-care employees experience, such as mental, physical, professional, spiritual, and vocational challenges. The existing and future levels of stress among HCWs are very concerning. As a result, immediate upskilling is essential, as many health-care providers believe they lack the knowledge and abilities needed to manage health concerns. However, it is critical to ensure that enough suitable resources are in place to assist HCWs throughout the pandemic’s acute phase, as well as in the aftermath when demand will increase. A key rationale for investigating challenges faced by health-care workers is to strengthen our health system in every best possible way, also to strengthen the role of health-care workers by collection of their personal information COVID-19 related knowledge, personal health, nutrition, dietary supplementation, and job characteristics including psychological problem, work motivation, work pressure, physical abuse at work, conflicts, occupational hazards, length of working hours, communication challenges, language barriers, calm and composed behavior, and maintaining spiritual belief. The rationale will be based on the questionnaire including all types of challenges with multiple-choice questions discussing the problems faced during COVID-19.
Exercise and Cognition in Elderly
Authors: Akram Muhammad , Chishti Muhammad Amjad , Ali Syed Sadat
Published: August 2023

In developed countries, the population is aging. The aging process brings forth a slew of physical and mental changes. There has been a progressive deterioration in the degree of cognitive processes closely tied to the aging process, which is most commonly associated with age-related disorders such as dementia, throughout time. Physical activity and exercise have been identified as a method for promoting older health, as well as encouraging the maintenance of functional ability and acting in the prevention and control of a variety of diseases. The benefits of physical activity in the preservation or even improvement of cognitive performance in both the old without cognitive impairment and the elderly with some degree of cognitive impairment or dementia have piqued researchers’ interest in recent years. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of various types of physical activity and exercise on cognitive function in elderly people with and without prior cognitive impairment, to identify potential mechanisms underlying these effects, and to make exercise prescription recommendations to improve cognitive performance.
Lifestyle and Dietary Preferences during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study in Schoolgoing Adolescents in Oman
Authors: Divecha Chhaya Akshay , Ranganath Rajani , Kore Smitha Elizabeth , Al Maskari Rawan Nasser Mohammed , Al Dhahli Shahd Ali Said , Simon Miriam Archana
Published: August 2023

Objectives:

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood often have origins in childhood and adolescent lifestyle behaviors. The COVID pandemic has had a profound impact on people worldwide due to lockdowns and restrictions. The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the change in lifestyle and dietary preferences of schoolgoing adolescents in Oman during the COVID outbreak.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents attending a school in Oman using an online questionnaire.

Results:

Of the 59 students participating in the pilot survey, the majority (62.7%) felt that their weight was correct; however, 55.8% were still trying to change their weight. Females were 12 times more likely to attempt weight-maintaining/change measures as compared to males. About 55% of students did not consume breakfast regularly; females were more likely to skip breakfast as compared to males. The recommended dietary requirements for daily fruit (>2 times per day) and vegetable (>3 times per day) intake were followed by 59.3% and 27.2% of students, respectively. Only one-fourth of students (25.4%) fulfilled the recommendation of >60 min of physical activity daily; males were 1.5 times more likely to engage in physical activity than females. Two-thirds of students (67.8%) spent an average of 3–6 h/day in sedentary activities.

Conclusions:

Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as skipping breakfast, reduced intake of fruits and vegetables, and reduced physical activity were noted in adolescent schoolgoing children during COVID in Oman. This increases the risk of NCDs in the long term, thus necessitating intervention in childhood and adolescence. Policymakers should focus on health programs and campaigns toward increasing awareness of healthy lifestyles and dietary behaviors, especially during the pandemic to inculcate healthy habits from an early age.
Action of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Facial Esthetics and its Recovery
Authors: Meshram Sakshi Raju , Vishnani Rozina S
Published: August 2023

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is prepared by using autologous blood plasma enriched with platelet. PRP has been proven to be a successful analog to correct blood loss during cardiac surgery and cardiothoracic bypass. Some authors have demonstrated bone regeneration following tooth extraction with healthy compact bone by using PRP. Typical protocols include either 1 or 2 centrifugation steps to separate whole blood into 3 layers: a top plasma layer, middle leukocyte layer, and bottom red blood cell layer, to collect a concentrate of platelets in plasma. The rationale for use and therapeutic potential of a high concentration of platelets is based on their capacity to supply and release supraphysiologic amounts of essential growth factors and cytokines from their alpha-granules to provide a regenerative stimulus that augments healing and promotes repair in tissues with low healing potential.
Drug Prescription Patterns and Quality of Life in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Central India: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Siddiqui A. Riyaz , Quazi Shadma , Khan Sharjeel , Shende Tanaji R.
Published: August 2023

Objective:

Drug use research’s main goal is to assist patients in using medications responsibly. The chronic inflammatory disease rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition comprising long-term disability. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are the mainstay of therapy preventing joint damage. The study’s aim was to examine the prescription trends for medications used to treat RA.

Methodology:

In conjunction with the orthopedic department, a cross-sectional observational study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital for 6 months. The current study included 90 patients in total who met the inclusion and exclusion requirements. Data from patients were collected in a case report format and examined to determine the prescription pattern in all 90 patients participated in the study. Female preponderance was seen in the study with 68.8% of female patients compared to 31.1% of male patients affected by the disease. Patients of the age group of 40–60 years (63.3%) were most commonly affected, followed by 61–70 years (26.6%). A combination of two DMARDs, methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), was the most common in 90% of patients. Triple-DMARD combination was required only in 4.4% of patients. Etoricoxib was most the commonly prescribed analgesic in 28.8% of patients, followed by etodolac in 16.6%.

Conclusions:

RA affects females more often than males. DMARD combination of methotrexate and HCQ was the most commonly used compared to monotherapy and triple-drug therapy. Drug utilization studies give the prescriber feedback and raise their awareness of the proper usage of medications.
Adaptivity and Efficacy of Web-Based Generalized Exercise Training on Depression in Younger Adults: A Quasi-Experimental Feasibility Trial
Authors: Hossain Imran , Sharma Abhishek , Sharma Nidhi , Chahal Aksh
Published: August 2023

Background:

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders, affecting over one-fifth of the global population. Adolescents and young adults suffering from depression are also at high risk of developing bipolar disorder. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a psychotherapeutic intervention based on Zen meditation (ZM) that aims to reduce the risk of relapse of recurrent depression. Yoga stretch physical and emotional health can be improved and maintained through exercise. Yoga poses stretching exercise (YPSE) positively impacts physical and mental health by down-regulating the hypothalamic–pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system.

Purpose:

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of web-based generalized exercise training in young individuals in improving their general, physical, emotional, psychological, and social outcomes.

Methods:

Montgomery and Asberg depression rating scale is a tool used to evaluate participants who are depressed. The pre-Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and short-form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires were then completed by the researcher. Before beginning the intervention, the participants were briefed on the importance of the study approach. Following intervention, post-MMSE, PHQ-9, and SF-36 questionnaires were again measured.

Results:

After following the mindfulness cognitive behavioral therapy (ZM and YPSE) program for 7 days, there are significant improvements in the MMSE, PHQ-9, and SF-36 tests.

Conclusions:

ZM and YPSE training enhance general, physical, emotional psychological, and social functioning greatly.
Role of Left Ventricular Strain Imaging in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: Bansal Manish
Published: August 2023

Lack of therapeutic response in nearly 30% of patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remains a major therapeutic challenge. Given the role of echocardiography in detecting mechanical dyssynchrony, extensive research has been undertaken to identify the echocardiographic predictors of CRT response. After the initial setback, the interest in this field has renewed with the introduction of speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) for quantifying myocardial deformation. Several newer and potentially useful indices of mechanical dyssynchrony have been developed. In addition, the non-invasive assessment of myocardial work has also become feasible and many of the myocardial work indices have shown considerable promise in the initial studies. The strain imaging may also help in identifying the optimum site for left ventricular lead placement. This review summarizes the current understanding regarding the role of left ventricular strain imaging in patients undergoing CRT.
Strong and weak associativity of weighted Sobolev spaces of the first order
Authors: Stepanov Vladimir Dmitrievich , Ushakova Elena Pavlovna
Published: August 2023

A brief overview of the recent results on the problem of characterization of associative and double associative spaces of function classes, including both ideal and non-ideal structures, is presented. The latter include two-weighted Sobolev spaces of the first order on the positive semi- axis. It is shown that, in contrast to the notion of duality, associativity can be ‘strong’ or ‘weak’. In addition, double associative spaces are further divided into three types. In this context it is established that a weighted Sobolev space of functions with compact support possesses weak associative reflexivity, while the strong associative space of a weak associative space is trivial. Weighted classes of Cesàro and Copson type have similar properties; for these classes the problem us fully investigated, and their connections with Sobolev spaces with power weights are established. As an application, the problem of boundedness of the Hilbert transform from a weighted Sobolev space to a weighted Lebesgue space is considered.
Bibliography: 49 titles.
Построение инвариантных норм Ляпунова планарных динамических систем
Authors: Musaeva Asiiat Magomedovna
Published: August 2023

Рассматривается задача об устойчивости линейных динамических систем с переключениями. Известно, что неприводимая $d$-мерная система всегда имеет инвариантную норму Ляпунова (норму Барабанова), определяющую устойчивость системы и порядок роста ее траекторий. Мы доказываем, что в случае $d=2$ инвариантная норма является кусочно аналитической функцией и может быть построена в явном виде для любой системы с конечным числом матриц. Представлены метод построения, алгоритм вычисления показателя Ляпунова и способ определения устойчивости системы. Получена полная классификация инвариантных норм планарных систем. Доказан критерий единственности инвариантной нормы у заданной системы, а также исследованы нормы специального вида (нормы, порожденные многоугольниками и т.д.).
Библиография: 30 названий.
Isatin/thiosemicarbohydrazone hybrids: Facile synthesis, and their evaluation as anti-proliferatıve agents and metabolıc enzyme inhibitors
Authors: Yakan Hasan , Azam Mohammed , Kansız Sevgi , Muğlu Halit , Ergül Mustafa , Taslimi Parham , M. Koçyiğit Ümit , Karaman Muhammet , I. Al-Resayes Saud , Min Kim
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT. We are reporting a novel series of thiosemicarbazone derivatives derived from isatin (1-6), structural determination, and investigation of the inhibitory properties against proliferative, carbonic anhydrase, and cholinesterase enzymes. The anti-proliferative effects of the compounds were measured by XTT assay against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancerous cell lines. Compound 3 showed significant cytotoxic effects on both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, with IC50 values of 8.19 μM and 23.41 μM, respectively. In addition, the compounds (1-6) inhibited the hCA I and II, their Ki values 2.01 ± 0.35 – 21.55 ± 2.56 and 1.24 ± 0.33 – 25.03 ± 5.48 µM, respectively. AChE was also successfully inhibited by these compounds (1-6), with Ki values ranging from 40.37 ± 8.23 to 125.43 ± 24.93 µM. The best Ki values for 3, 6, and 4 for α-glycosidase were 564.35 ± 72.06, 594.38 ± 52.04, and 683.437 ± 66.58 µM, respectively. Binding affinities were determined to be -6.697 kcal/mol, -8.251 kcal/mol, -9.932 kcal/mol, and -4.946 kcal/mol for hCA I, hCA II, AChE, and α-glucosidase enzymes, respectively. These findings reveal that the formed compounds containing isatin moieties were crucial in the enzyme inhibition.

 

KEY WORDS: Isatin, Thiosemicarbazone, Anti-proliferative activity, Enzyme inhibition, Molecular docking

 

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2023, 37(5), 1221-1236.                                                       

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v37i5.14
Powstanie i działalność Katedry Historii Nauki i Oświaty w latach (1945) 1957–1970
Authors: Samsonowska Krystyna
Published: August 2023

The establishment of the Department of the History of Science and Education at the Jagiellonian University in 1956 took 11 years of efforts and attempts by the university authorities and Krakow historians of culture, education and science to develop these directions of research at the oldest Polish research center. The pre-WW2 chair was vacant because Professor Stanisław Kot took the position of the ambassador in Rome and after the communists had gained full power in Poland, he could not return to the country. The chairs of Barycz and Hulewicz began operating in 1946, but in 1947 the communist authorities decided to eliminate them. The implementation of these decisions, however, was not carried out immediately as it was delayed in the case of Barycz’s chair until 1949, and in the case of Hulewicz’s until 1953. It was not until 1956 that the thaw allowed the authorities of the Jagiellonian University to restore the closed departments as a single one under the name of the Department of the History of Science and Education, consisting of two seminars. The author discusses the organizational structure, composition, research results, and teaching activities of the Department’s employees.
Incipit tertia decima que est de artificio zuchari – rozdział o sztuce cukierniczej w Lumen apothecariorum Quirica de Augustisa z 1492 roku i jego rola w badaniach nad genezą cukiernictwa
Authors: Hryszko Rafał
Published: August 2023

The article is a commentary on the Chapter 13 of Lumen apothecariorum, written in 1492 by Quirico de Augustis, a Piedmontese physician and apothecary, who lived at the turn of the 16th century. This chapter was published in Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego. Prace Historyczne, vol. 149 (2022), no. 2. At the beginning, the author analyses the content of this chapter, entitled De artificio zuchari (On sugar craft), and characterises the typology of 31 recipes for sweets. Next, he presents the ingredients of sweets manufactured on the basis of these recipes, methods recommended for sugar processing, and the tools used for this purpose. In the next section the author focuses on probable sources of Quirico de Augustis’ inspiration and the impact of his recipes for sweets on other collections of recipes in the 16th century. The final section is devoted to the discussion of the importance of this source in the studies on the early Renaissance Italian and European confectionery. The author emphasises the fact that the first person to specifically address the area of confectionery production and to collect the recipes for different types of sweets in a separate chapter was Quirico de Augustis (in his work entitled Lumen apothecariorum) and not Paulo Suardo (in his work entitled Thesaurus apothecariorum, published in Milan in 1496). Thanks to its numerous editions, translations and citations, Chapter 13 of Quirico de Augustis’ Lumen apothecariorum exerted a great impact on the European confectionery in modern times. The evidence of this impact can be noticed in the fact that all 31 recipes from the chapter De artificio zuchari were included in the Polish version Sekrety Aleksego Pedemontana (The Secrets of the Reverend Maister Alexis of Piedmont), published by Marcin Siennik in Cracow in 1568.
From Object-Level Meaning to Metatextual Meaning. The Case of Polish Particles
Authors: Kleszczowa Krystyna
Published: August 2023

The article focuses on particles derived from object-level expressions, but operating at a higher, metatextual level. Such particles are sourced chiefly from speaker-oriented parentheticals composed of verba dicendi and verba sentiendi. Following the elision of parentheticals and other expressions, functional homonymy arises: a particle/a different part of speech (most commonly an adverb). This results in an uncertainty regarding the status of particles. The understanding of particles as parts of speech is also problematic due to the linguistic tradition which relies on the Latin name particula, meaning ‘a little part’/‘a particle’. The classification of expressions operating both at the object and the metatextual level creates further concerns. The meaning of particles does not change, as at most they may undergo a phonetic change (cf. bodaj ‘probably’, ponoć ‘they say’/‘apparently’, oczywiście ‘of course’). The discrepancy between the two levels is brought about mainly by changes taking place at the object level (e.g. mówię w prawdzie ‘I am telling the truth’ ˃ wprawdzie ‘admittedly’; wiem za pewne ‘I know for sure’ > zapewne ‘probably’). Thus, a class of particles is being formed that is a separate and formally distinct part of speech.
A Segmented Market Model Incorporating Endogenous Policy Risk
Authors: Ji Jia
Published: August 2023

This paper develops a segmented market model to incorporate policy risk. Credit risks and information inertia are considered within the model’s framework. The model shows that a high level of policy uncertainty has a negative impact on the capital market’s participation rate, which in turn, determines the effectiveness of monetary policy. This suggests that policy risk is an endogenous factor, and that the authority should control policy uncertainties.
Català heavy - català light: una problemàtica de la «lingüística de profans»
Authors: Kailuweit Rolf
Published: August 2023

The article centers around the debate between defenders of "heavy Catalan" vs. those who advocate "light Catalan" which was initiated by the book Verinosa llengua (‘Venomous language’) published in 1986 by Xavier Pericay and Ferran Toutain, in which the authors argue against traditional literary Catalan (= heavy) and in favour of a formal variety that allows more convergence with Castilian (= light). The debate is presented as an example of lay linguistics and a number of manuals directed towards a lay public are analysed as to their stance in the light/heavy debate.
A pilot study of quantification in child Catalan
Authors: Gavarró Anna , Escobar Álvarez M. Ángeles
Published: August 2023

Summary: Since the work of Inhelder and Piaget, children have been known to interpret universal quantifiers differently from adults; in this paper we present the first experimental results on the interpretation of the universal quantifier tots ‘all’ by speakers of Catalan aged 3 to 7. We observe an early stage (ages 3 to 4) in which children incur in underexhaustive and overexhaustive errors; while the first disappear at a later stage (at age 5), overexhaustive errors persist all through the period examined. Further, crosslinguistic evidence can be adduced to show that the asymmetry between subject and object underlying this kind of errors extends beyond the empirical domain of quantifiers. [Keywords: Acquisition; universal quantifiers; Catalan; overexhaustive search; underexhaustive search]
Tazelenme Üniversitesi Öğrencilerinin Sağlık Okuryazarlıklarının Belirlenmesi
Authors: Hastaoğlu Fatma
Published: August 2023

Amaç: Çalışma, yaşlı bireylerin sağlık okuryazarlıklarını belirlemek amacıyla tanımlayıcı olarak planlanmıştır.

Gereç ve Yöntemler: Araştırmanın evrenini Sivas 60+ Tazelenme Üniversitesi öğrencileri oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmaya, Sivas Tazelenme Üniversitesine kayıtlı olan tüm yaşlı bireyler dahil edilmiştir. Gerekli yasal izinler alındıktan sonra, araştırmaya katılmaya gönüllü tüm Tazelenme Üniversitesi öğrencilerine, literatür doğrultusunda hazırlanan Sosyodemografik form ve Sağlık Okur yazarlığı ölçeği uygulanmıştır.

Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan yaşlı bireylerin yaş ortalamaları 66,03 ± 4,01 yıl iken, %63’ü kadın, büyük çoğunluğunun lise mezunu (%37,0) ve evli (%74,1) olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca katılımcıların %55,6 ‘sının kronik hastalığı olduğu ve %66,7’sinin sürekli ilaç kullandığı da elde edilen bulgular arasındadır. Yaşlı bireylere uygulanan ölçek puanlarına göre ise, sağlık okuryazarlığı ölçek puanı 107,48 ± 11,84 olarak belirlenmiş ve sağlık okuryazarlık durumlarının iyi düzeyde olduğu görülmüştür.

Sonuç: Yaşlılık döneminde, yaşla birlikte artan sağlık ihtiyaçları, komorbid hastalıklar ve fizyolojik değişimler sebebiyle, kişilerin sağlık okuryazarlıklarının artırılması oldukça önemlidir. Sivas Tazelenme Üniversitesinde, yaşlı bireylerin sağlık okuryazarlık düzeylerinin yeterli ve iyi olduğu, sağlık konusunda farkındalıklarının yüksek olduğu görülmüştür. Bu anlamda, yaşlı bireylerin sağlık okuryazarlıklarının artırılması için eğitimler planlanabilir ve farklı sosyal sorumluluk projeleri de geliştirilebilir.