bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Actitudes y percepciones de los adolescentes sobre la sexualidad y los cambios físicos de la pubertad
Authors: Ubillus Saltos Sonia Patricia , Alava Bravo Thalia Elizabeth , Gómez Vélez Xavier Deiter , Arias Macías Allisson Macarena
Published: September 2024

La transición a la adolescencia conlleva profundos cambios físicos, hormonales y psicológicos que pueden tener un impacto significativo en el desarrollo y bienestar de los jóvenes. El objetivo principal de esta investigación es Identificar las actitudes, creencias y percepciones de los adolescentes de la Comuna Sancan, sobre temas relacionados con la sexualidad, la imagen corporal y los cambios físicos de la pubertad. Metodología: Para llevar a cabo este estudio, se empleó un enfoque metodológico cuantitativo, se aplicó cuestionarios estandarizados para evaluar actitudes, conocimientos y percepciones relacionadas con la sexualidad y la pubertad. Los datos recopilados fueron analizados utilizando métodos estadísticos y de análisis de contenido. Obteniendo como resultados que, los hallazgos de este estudio revelan que los adolescentes enfrentan una amplia gama de inquietudes, dudas y mitos en torno a la sexualidad y los cambios corporales de la pubertad, además, se encontró que el acceso a información precisa y el apoyo de pares y adultos significativos juegan un papel fundamental en la forma en que los jóvenes navegan esta etapa de desarrollo. Concluyendo que, existe la necesidad de fortalecer los programas de educación sexual y de salud reproductiva dirigidos a adolescentes, esto contribuirá a que los adolescentes desarrollen actitudes más positivas y saludables, lo cual repercutirá en su bienestar integral durante esta etapa crucial de sus vidas.
Anxiety level and its relationship with eating habits and nutritional status in young adults
Authors: Narvaez Trujillo Karen Paola , Roque Yana Ruth Evelin , Parillo Panca Sandra Misleidi , Coaquira Flores Evelyn Eliana
Published: September 2024

Anxiety is a global problem that affects approximately 350 million people, presenting with symptoms such as nervousness, fear and changes in appetite. The aim of this study was to determine the level of anxiety and its relationship with eating habits and nutritional status in young adults between 20 and 30 years of age insured at the Cabanillas Health Center. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a quantitative approach, using the Zung Anxiety Assessment Scale (EAA), consisting of 20 items, to measure anxiety. Eating habits were assessed by means of a 26-item questionnaire covering frequency of consumption. Nutritional status was determined by Body Mass Index (BMI). Data analysis was carried out using Spearman's Rho test. The results showed a significant and positive association between anxiety and nutritional status (RHO = 0.725, p < 0.01). In addition, a significant, inverse and strong association was identified between anxiety levels and eating habits (RHO = -0.771, p < 0.01). In conclusion, anxiety level has a significant relationship with eating habits and nutritional status in young adults aged 20-30 years, according to Spearman's Rho correlation coefficient.
Применение ИИ для улучшения устойчивости и ESG-метрик цепочек поставок
Authors: Бухтуева Ирина , Терехов Игорь
Published: September 2024

Современный бизнес сталкивается с беспрецедентными вызовами, в числе которых, пандемии, геополитические потрясения и растущие требования к экологической ответственности. В этих условиях надежность и устойчивость цепей поставок становятся критическими факторами успеха. Одновременно, искусственный интеллект переживает бурный рост, революционизируя множество отраслей и предлагая инновационные решения для оптимизации бизнес-процессов и достижения амбициозных целей. Эта книга предлагает практическое руководство по использованию искусственного интеллекта для решения актуальных проблем бизнеса: от снижения уязвимости от внешних шоков до достижения целей устойчивого развития. Она насыщена реальными примерами, раскрывающими как ИИ уже сегодня помогает компаниям стать более эффективными и устойчивыми. Из книги вы узнаете, как успешно внедрить ИИ в свою компанию чтобы оптимизировать логистические процессы, снизить углеродный след, повысить прозрачность и принять более взвешенные решения на основе данных. Книга адресована руководителям и специалистам по цепям поставок, а также всем, кто заинтересован в повышении эффективности и устойчивости своего бизнеса. Она станет вашим надежным проводником в мире искусственного интеллекта и поможет вам использовать его потенциал для достижения долгосрочного успеха.
Ethno-mathematic Design in Statistical Analysis Content (Numeracy Literacy Development Study)
Authors: Wandra Irvandi  , Yudi Darma
Published: September 2024

The mathematics learning process can be carried out by using and utilizing social phenomena, culture, and other aspects. In the past and currently, mathematics has developed in culture and society, even integrating culture with mathematics. Therefore, it is necessary to involve existing phenomena to overcome various existing problems, including mathematical problems. Therefore, it is necessary to teach mathematics in schools by depicting the context of the origin of mathematical ideas by utilizing culture so that it becomes meaningful learning for students, in this case called ethnomathematics. This short article tries to examine Ethnomathematics Design. In Statistical Analysis Content (Numeracy Literacy Development Study). The method used in this research is ethnography with a qualitative approach. The research results show that the development of ethnomathematics design can go through the definition stage to the initial development stage. From this development stage, an ethnomathematics design in statistical analysis content was produced. The design of ethnomathematics in statistical analysis content is a must-see for the philosophical value of ethnomathematics in its development.
Apresentação
Authors: Alves André Gustavo de Miranda Pineli
Published: September 2024

A 38a edição do Boletim de Economia e Política Internacional traz quatro artigos que tratam de temas diversos, como política externa brasileira, acordos comerciais e de integração regional, tributação de empresas transnacionais e investimentos estrangeiros em transição energética. Esperamos, com a publicação desses trabalhos, contribuir, em âmbito mais restrito, para os debates sobre políticas públicas com interface internacional e, de modo mais amplo, para o fortalecimento da inserção do Brasil no mundo.
As dinâmicas de transição energética no Brasil e na Argentina : potencialidades, limites e o papel da China
Authors: Ungaretti Carlos Renato , Nunes Ticiana Gabrielle Amaral , Mendonça Marco Aurélio Alves de
Published: September 2024

À luz do debate a respeito da distinção entre adição e transição energética, este artigo busca identificar as potencialidades e limitações dos investimentos e financiamentos chineses para a descarbonização das economias de Brasil e Argentina, abrangendo um marco temporal que se estende até o fim de 2023. Além disso, busca-se verificar as semelhanças e diferenças entre os modos de atuação de empresas e instituições chinesas em cada país. Ambos os países observaram o crescimento do engajamento chinês no setor de energias renováveis nos últimos anos. Argumenta-se que a China tem contribuído com as trajetórias de diversificação energética dos países, com impactos, potencialidades e limitações que ora se assemelham, ora se diferenciam. Nota-se que no Brasil predomina a aquisição de ativos existentes, enquanto na Argentina os financiamentos exercem um papel mais relevante. As potencialidades residem na ampliação de capacidades via inversões em novas unidades e internalização de cadeias produtivas associadas à transição energética. A prevalência das aquisições no mercado brasileiro configura importante limitação, ao passo que as fragilidades macroeconômicas da Argentina se apresentam como desafio importante.
„Stop it, Fridge!“ – Legally Secure and Interest-Based Data Sharing in the Age of Modern (Cyber) Technology
Authors: Gesmann-Nuissl Dagmar , Tacke Ines Maria , Meyer Stefanie
Published: September 2024

As part of the modern Internet, Internet of Things (IoT) devices are particularly indispensable. The reason these devices fit so seamlessly into our everyday lives is that they constantly generate, process and evaluate data (using the Internet) and can react smoothly to circumstances – such as the refrigerator that automatically reorders missing food or a maintenance monitory system in smart homes that assigns digital maintenance orders to the responsible tradesmen. These data flows and underlying information are the subject of a wide variety of legal projects: Europe aims to become a pioneer of the data economy by providing access to available data accessible for further value and business models.  Subject matter includes both personal data and non-personal data, such as IoT machine data. To achieve these politicaleconomic goals, but also to ensure the interests of users and especially manufacturers in confidentiality and fair competition, we introduce the person of the neutral data intermediary: the data innovator.
An Empirical Evaluation of Large Language Models in Static Code Analysis for PHP Vulnerability Detection
Authors: Çetin Orçun , Ekmekcioglu Emre , Arief Budi , Hernandez-Castro Julio
Published: September 2024

Web services play an important role in our daily lives. They are used in a wide range of activities, from online banking and shopping to education, entertainment and social interactions. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that they are kept as secure as possible. However – as is the case with any complex software system – creating a sophisticated software free from any security vulnerabilities is a very challenging task. One method to enhance software security is by employing static code analysis. This technique can be used to identify potential vulnerabilities in the source code before they are exploited by bad actors. This approach has been instrumental in tackling many vulnerabilities, but it is not without limitations. Recent research suggests that static code analysis can benefit from the use of large language models (LLMs). This is a promising line of research, but there are still very few and quite limited studies in the literature on the effectiveness of various LLMs at detecting vulnerabilities in source code. This is the research gap that we aim to address in this work. Our study examined five notable LLM chatbot models: ChatGPT 4, ChatGPT 3.5, Claude, Bard/Gemini1, and Llama-2, assessing their abilities to identify 104 known vulnerabilities spanning the Top-10 categories defined by the Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP). Moreover, we evaluated issues related to these LLMs’ false-positive rates using 97 patched code samples. We specifically focused on PHP vulnerabilities, given its prevalence in web applications. We found that ChatGPT-4 has the highest vulnerability detection rate, with over 61.5% of vulnerabilities found, followed by ChatGPT-3.5 at 50%. Bard has the highest rate of vulnerabilities missed, at 53.8%, and the lowest detection rate, at 13.4%. For all models, there is a significant percentage of vulnerabilities that were classified as partially found, indicating a level of uncertainty or incomplete detection across all tested LLMs. Moreover, we found that ChatGPT-4 and ChatGPT-3.5 are consistently more effective across most categories, compared to other models. Bard and Llama-2 display limited effectiveness in detecting vulnerabilities across the majority of categories listed. Surprisingly, our findings reveal high false positive rates across all LLMs. Even the model demonstrating the best performance (ChatGPT-4) notched a false positive rate of nearly 63%, while several models glaringly under-performed, hitting startlingly bad false positive rates of over 90%. Finally, simultaneously deploying multiple LLMs for static analysis resulted in only a marginal enhancement in the rates of vulnerability detection. We believe these results are generalizable to most other programming languages, and hence far from being limited to PHP only.
The effects of right temporoparietal junction stimulation on embodiment, presence, and performance in teleoperation
Authors: Cesari Valentina , Orrù Graziella , Piarulli Andrea , Vallefuoco Alessandra , Melfi Franca , Gemignani Angelo , Menicucci Danilo
Published: September 2024

Embodiment (the sensation that arises when the properties of an external instrument are processed as if they are the attributes of one's own biological body) and (tele)presence (the sensation of being fully engaged and immersed in a location other than the physical space occupied by one's body) sustain the perception of the physical self and potentially improve performance in teleoperations (a system that enables human intelligence to control robots and requires implementing an effective human-machine interface). Embodiment and presence may be interdependent and influenced by right temporo-parietal junction (rTPJ) activity. We investigated the interplay between embodiment, (tele)presence, and performance in teleoperation, focusing on the role of the rTPJ. Participants underwent a virtual reality task with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) twice, receiving either active or sham stimulation. Behavioral measures (driving inaccuracy, elapsed time in the lap, time spent in attentional lapses, short-term self-similarity, and long-term self-similarity), perceived workload (mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, own performance, effort, and frustration), embodiment's components (ownership, agency, tactile sensations, location, and external appearance), and presence's components (realism, possibility to act, quality of interface, possibility to examine, self-evaluation of performance, haptic, and sounds) were assessed. The results showed that rTPJ stimulation decreased perceived ownership but enhanced presence with changes in the complexity of visuomotor adjustments (long and short-term self-similarity indices). Structural equation modeling revealed that embodiment increased visuomotor inaccuracy (a composite variable of overall performance, including deviations from the optimal trajectory and the time taken to complete the task), presence reduced workload, and workload increased inaccuracy. These results suggested a dissociation between embodiment and presence, with embodiment hindering performance. Prioritizing virtual integration may lower human performance, while reduced workload from presence could aid engagement. These findings emphasize the intricate interplay between rTPJ, subjective experiences, and performance in teleoperation.
Pregnancy in patients affected by axial-spondyloarthritis: a narrative review of disease activity and obstetric outcomes
Authors: Filippini M. , Fontana G. , Bizioli P. , Crisafulli F. , Orabona R. , Zatti S. , Franceschini F. , Tincani A.
Published: September 2024

Objective. This review aims to summarize the most recent and updated data on pregnancy in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), focusing on the recurrence of pregnancy-related complications, the disease activity throughout gestation and the postpartum, and the latest indications for the treatments of future mothers.
Methods. We have conducted a narrative review with an online literature search on Medline and PubMed. We selected only studies written in English published until January 2024, including observational and retrospective studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews.
Results. Proper preconception counseling and maternal-fetal monitoring are necessary to ensure the best outcome for both the mother and her baby. Despite the limited and conflicting evidence about the prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with axSpA compared to healthy controls, primary findings demonstrate an increased risk of preterm delivery (PTD), low birth weight (LBW), and elective cesarean section (CS). Concerning disease activity, data suggests that 25-80% of women with ankylosing spondylitis experience disease flares during pregnancy, particularly around 20 weeks of gestation. On the contrary, the data on the postpartum disease flare are heterogeneous. The use of biological drugs in pregnancy is safe and effective in controlling disease activity.
Conclusions. Data on pregnancy outcomes in patients with axSpA are scarce and discordant. Probably the difference in maternal disease classification, the evolution of treatment indications, and the differences emerging from study designs can account for these discrepancies. The main evidence shows an increased risk of PTD, LBW, and elective CS (although the latter may reflect cultural influences rather than medical needs due to axSpA itself). The majority of drugs used to treat axSpA, including TNFi, are safe in pregnancy without harming mothers or fetuses. Further data is needed to clarify many controversial aspects in this area.
The pink side of spondyloarthritis: a narrative review across pathogenesis and clinical manifestations in women
Authors: Rizzo C. , La Barbera L. , D’Antonio A. , Camarda F. , Conigliaro P. , Chimenti M.S. , Guggino G.
Published: September 2024

Objective. The aim of the present review was to highlight gender and sex differences in spondyloarthritis (SpA) to achieve a better awareness of the unmet needs of women with SpA.
Methods. A literature search of PubMed was performed, including manuscripts in English published in the last twenty years, to select and analyze articles related to SpA and sex and gender differences in epidemiology, genetics, immunology, clinical features, and response to treatment.
Results. Women and men with SpA have different disease phenotypes, and this heterogeneity mirrors anatomical, physiological, and hormonal differences, as well as peculiar variability in response to treatment. These underestimated differences, which include several biological factors and intertwined social factors, contribute to diagnostic delay and increased disease burden in women with SpA.
Conclusions. This review elucidates gender differences in SpA and raises awareness about the need for gender-related stratification of SpA patients with the concomitant implementation of SpA gender differences in future research and upcoming clinical trials. A deeper knowledge of SpA in women is indispensable to pave the way for real personalized medicine for SpA patients to reduce misdiagnosis and delay in intercepting the disease.
Sex and gender differences in comorbidities in spondyloarthritis: a focus on psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Atzeni F. , Siragusano C. , Tropea A. , Alciati A.
Published: September 2024

Objective. Spondyloarthritis is a family of inflammatory diseases subdivided into those affecting the spine, called axial spondyloarthritis, and those involving peripheral joints, such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Several studies have reported differences in clinical manifestations, outcomes, and treatment responses between male and female PsA patients. The aim of our review was to evaluate if differences may also be identified in the context of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and diseases.
Methods. Patients with PsA have a higher CV risk than the general population. The increased CV risk associated with PsA is likely caused by the complex interplay of traditional CV risk factors, chronic systemic inflammation, and side effects related to the use of certain anti-rheumatic drugs.
Results. Sex differences in CV risk factors in PsA patients, according to several studies, are controversial. However, the few studies that reported sex-stratified estimates did not find differences in the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction between sexes. The same also holds true for CV mortality. These mixed results may be related to the different study designs and case definitions, as well as genetic and geographical variability across the investigated populations.
Conclusions. In conclusion, our review suggests that the evaluation of sex-gender aspects of CV comorbidities in PsA should be a central step in the context of personalized medicine in order to prevent and treat properly associated comorbidities.
A lung mass with a laryngeal lesion - which is the primary?
Authors: Augustine Jolsana , Nirmal Aparna S , George Rajesh Raju , Joshi Manisha , D'Souza Chrysille Olive , Cyriac Sanju , Paul Jose , Divya R , Rajesh V
Published: September 2024

Patients having two or more lesions involving non contiguous anatomical locations are encountered frequently in clinical practice. When both or all lesions have clinico-radiological features of malignancy, the assumption of metastasis is made more often than considering two contiguous primary neoplasms. We share the case of an elderly gentleman who presented with a lung and laryngeal lesion simultaneously, evoking suspicion of synchronous primaries. Biopsy of laryngeal lesion revealed a squamous cell carcinoma and lung mass proved to be adeno carcinoma. PET-CT revealed both malignancies to be localised. Definitive radiotherapy to both sites led to complete remission of both lesions. He remains under clinicoradiological follow up. The case throws light on the important but relatively uncommon situation of simultaneous primary malignancies with potential for curative treatment of both
Solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura presenting as a giant intrathoracic mass
Authors: Suresh Arjun , Panicker Venugopal , Shajahan Sulaiman P , Bindu CG , Augustine Preethi , Shahina S
Published: September 2024

Solitary fibrous tumours of pleura (SFTP) are uncommon tumours that usually arise from visceral pleura and remain asymptomatic till they reach huge sizes or are incidentally detected. SFTP are usually benign but can be malignant and have paraneoplastic syndromes associated. Tru-Cut biopsy is required in view of heterogeneity in large lesions. Complete resection with clear margins is the recommended treatment.
Eosinophil count in COPD - Do we need different cut-offs for our population?
Authors: Kiran CR , Kumari Anitha K , Nair Sanjeev , George Thomas P
Published: September 2024

Background:

Blood peripheral Eosinophil count in COPD patients is increasingly being considered as a biomarker in COPD and is now being included in major guidelines to guide treatment, particularly in the use of inhaled corticosteroids.

Objective:

To estimate the peripheral blood Absolute Eosinophil Count (AEC) in COPD patients attending the Pulmonary Medicine OPD, Government Medical College, Trivandrum.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional study was done recruiting 145 COPD patients consecutively. Patients were interviewed with a structured questionnaire and their AEC was calculated by the standard haematological method. Analysis was done with EpiInfo version 7.

Results:

145 Patients with COPD were recruited for the study and 112 MDR TB patients served as control. The mean AEC in COPD patients was 490 ±641. The AEC was significantly higher in the COPD group compared to another patient population in the same hospital represented by the Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) group (median of 469 for COPD vs. 231 for MDR TB;p value< 0.001). Among the physiological variables, a higher BMI was associated with a greater Eosinophil count.

Conclusion:

64.83% of COPD patients had an AEC greater than 300, which was the cut off recommended by GOLD guidelines for the use of inhaled cortico-steroids. Using the same value as in Western guidelines can lead to a rather liberal use of steroids in the Indian population, with its accompanying side effects.
The Future in Sleep Medicine
Authors: Kumar Sanjeev M
Published: September 2024

Sleep medicine, even though a young specialty is rapidly advancing due to better understanding and recent technological developments. In recent years, there has been a significant expansion in the development and use of multi-modal sensors and technologies to monitor physical activity, sleep, and circadian rhythms. By taking up the technical advances and adopting them in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients, this speciality is forging ahead into the future. This article attempts to look into some of the newer innovations in sleep medicine.
Outcome of Aeroallergen evaluation by skin antigen testing followed by counselling on preventive behavior in Chronic Respiratory Allergy in a tertiary care setting
Authors: Ghosh Sarun , Ghosh Sayujya S , Ghosh Sudheendra C
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

The burden of illness from chronic allergic disorders like rhinitis(RH), asthma, and RH coexisting with asthma is usually due to recurrent exacerbations. The quality of life of such patients can be improved if we can control such exacerbations.

Objective:

To assess the outcome of trigger avoidance and drug adherence among chronic respiratory allergy patients who have undergone skin antigen testing followed by counselling.

Materials & Methodology:

Study design:

Observational descriptive study.

Study subjects:

Chronic Respiratory Allergy patients.

Sample size and sampling strategy:

102 consecutive cases of chronic respiratory allergy subjects who have undergone skin antigen testing and counselling.

Inclusion and exclusion:

Patients of both sexes who have undergone skin antigen testing between the age group 18 to 55 years. Those who have not given consent and those with critical illness were excluded.

Outcome measure:

Reduction in exacerbation and emergency room visits three months after the intervention. Intervention: Respiratory allergen skin testing followed by counselling on trigger avoidance and drug adherence.

Data Collection:

Patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire before and 3 months after antigen testing followed by counseling.

Results:

Data from 102 cases were analyzed. The male to female ratio was 1: 1.2 with a mean age of 31years with an SD of 7 years. The most common allergen identified was indoor dust allergens. with house dust, 69.6% followed by house dust mite(HDM) 59.8%. Dual drug (preventer and reliever) inhaler therapy and administration of Leukotriene antagonists were the main drugs adhered to and 67.6 % of participants used more than 1 drug for the control of their exacerbations. The mean exacerbation rate before intervention was 4.12 and after was 1.07(p<0.01). The mean ER visit before was 0.76 and after the intervention was found to be nil (p <0.01).

Conclusion:

Identification of triggers by skin antigen testing and counselling related to prophylactic drug administration has resulted in better preventive and medication behavior. This has led to a reduction in exacerbations and ER visits on short-term assessment. Reduced exacerbation and ER visits may have a positive impact on the quality of life of chronic respiratory allergy patients.
Increased Signs of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Dental Students
Authors: Fuentes-López Eduardo , Fuente Adrian , Bowen Macarena P.
Published: September 2024

Context:

Despite the fact that the new generations of rotary tools emit less noise, some recent studies suggest that dental students are still at risk of hearing impairment.

Aims:

The aim of the study was to determine a possible association between noise exposure from dental equipment and early signs of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in dental students.

Settings and Design:

A cross-sectional study was carried out with dental and non-dental students from two universities in Chile.

Methods and Material:

A group of 102 dental students routinely exposed to noise emitted from dental equipment was selected as the study group. A group of 251 non-dental students was selected as the control group. Pure-tone audiometry was carried out on all participants ensuring that they were not exposed to noise for at least 24 hours prior to testing. The presence of a notch was determined for each participant.

Statistical analysis used:

Simultaneous-quantile regressions were used to compare percentiles of the hearing threshold between both groups. Then, the notch prevalence ratio adjusted by gender and age was estimated for each group of participants. Finally, the prevalence of an audiometric notch was compared between both groups using logistic regression models and generalized linear methods. Both fixed effect and multilevel hierarchy models were constructed.

Results:

Significant differences between groups for the 75th percentile of hearing threshold distributions at 4 and 6 kHz in the left ear and at 6 kHz in the right ear were found. In addition, study group participants exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of a notch at 4 kHz in the left ear than control group participants.

Conclusions:

Exposure to noise derived from learning activities as a dental student is associated with early signs of NIHL. Such signs include poorer hearing thresholds than those of non-dental students at 4 and 6 kHz as well as the presence of a notch at high frequencies.
Electron Microscopy Demonstrating Noise Exposure Alters Synaptic Vesicle Size in the Inferior Colliculus of Cat
Authors: Pochkhidze Nino , Gogokhia Nino , Japaridze Nadezhda , Lazrishvili Ilia , Bikashvili Tamar , Zhvania Mzia G.
Published: September 2024

Context:

White noise is known to have detrimental effects on different brain regions, especially auditory regions, including inferior colliculus. Although the basis for such alterations has been hypothesized to result from abnormalities in neurotransmitter release, the mechanism is unclear. The final step in neurotransmission is the docking and transient fusion of synaptic vesicles at the base of cup-shaped lipoprotein structures called porosomes at the presynaptic membrane and the consequent release of neurotransmitters. Earlier studies in cat brain document altered morphology of the secretory portal the porosome at nerve terminals in the inferior colliculus following white noise exposure. The current study was performed to test the hypothesis of possible changes to synaptic vesicle size in the colliculus, following white noise exposure.

Material and Methods:

Electron microscopic morphometry of synaptic vesicles size in axo-dendritic synapses at the colliculus region of the cat brain was performed.

Results:

We report, for first time, decreased size of both docked and undocked vesicles in high-intensity white noise-exposed animals. In both control and experimental animals, docked vesicles are demonstrated to be smaller than undocked vesicles, suggesting fractional discharge of vesicular contents via porosome-mediated kiss-and-run mechanism.

Conclusion:

These studies advance our understanding of neurotransmitter release and the impact of white noise on brain function.
Relationships between Long-term Residential Exposure to Total Environmental Noise and Stroke Incidence
Authors: Yankoty Larisa I. , Gamache Philippe , Plante Céline , Goudreau Sophie , Blais Claudia , Perron Stéphane , Fournier Michel , Ragettli Martina S. , Hatzopoulou Marianne , Liu Ying , Smargiassi Audrey
Published: September 2024

Background:

Noise has been related to several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as coronary heart disease and to their risk factors such as hypertension, but associations with stroke remain under-researched, even if CVD likely share similar pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Aim:

The objective of the study was to examine the association between long-term residential exposure to total environmental noise and stroke incidence in Montreal, Canada.

Materials and Methods:

We created an open cohort of adults aged ≥45years, free of stroke before entering the cohort for the years 2000 to 2014 with health administrative data. Residential total environmental noise levels were estimated with land use regression (LUR) models. Incident stroke was based on hospital admissions. Cox hazard models with age as the time axis and time-varying exposures were used to estimate associations, which were adjusted for material deprivation, year, nitrogen dioxide, stratified for sex, and indirectly adjusted for smoking.

Results:

There were 9,072,492 person-years of follow-up with 47% men; 26,741 developed stroke (21,402 ischemic; 4947 hemorrhagic; 392 had both). LUR total noise level acoustic equivalent for 24 hours (LAeq24h) ranged 44 to 79 dBA. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for stroke (all types), for a 10-dBA increase in LAeq24h, was 1.06 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.09]. The LAeq24h was associated with ischemic (HR per 10 dBA: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.04–1.12) but not hemorrhagic stroke (HR per 10 dBA: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.90–1.04).

Conclusion:

The results suggest that total environmental noise is associated with incident stroke, which is consistent with studies on transportation noise and other CVD.
The effect of background noise on speech perception in monolingual and bilingual adults with normal hearing
Authors: Alqattan Danah , Turner Paul
Published: September 2024

Background:

Previous studies have highlighted that bilingual listeners have a deficit in speech perception in their second language compared with monolingual listeners in noisy listening environments. This deficit may give rise to educational and occupational implications for bilingual speakers who are studying or working in non-native language environments in poor acoustic conditions.

Objectives:

To compare the speech perception performance of monolingual English speakers and English as a second language (ESL) bilinguals within environments with various levels of background noise and to examine whether bilinguals with an early age of second language acquisition would perform better than those with a late age of acquisition.

Study sample:

Two groups of adult listeners with normal hearing participated: monolingual British English listeners (N = 15) and bilingual Arabic listeners for whom English was their second language and who were proficient in English (N = 15). The quick speech-in-noise (QuickSIN) test was used to assess signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss and SNR-50 for both groups.

Results:

The QuickSIN test results indicated that bilingual Arabic listeners with normal hearing displayed a mild SNR loss comparable to that observed for a person with hearing loss, indicating a higher SNR needed for this population to achieve a comparable level of comprehension to their monolingual English peers.

Conclusion:

Results highlight the importance of measuring SNR loss to obtain accurate diagnosis and potential rehabilitative information that is not available from audiogram studies.
Music as an aid to Allay Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Orthopedic Surgeries under Spinal Anesthesia
Authors: Kaur Haramritpal , Saini Nipun , Singh Gurpreet , Singh Amandeep , Dahuja Anshul , Kaur Rajinder
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

Patients undergoing surgery are anxious owing to the surgery, anesthesia, and unfamiliar environment of the operation theater. This anxiety can hamper the health and recovery of the patients. Among various nonpharmacologic modalities available, music can be used as a coping strategy to change uncomfortable conditions to the pleasant ones.

Aims:

To evaluate the role of music on perioperative anxiety, hemodynamic parameters, and patient satisfaction in patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries under spinal anesthesia.

Settings and design:

Tertiary care hospital, randomized control trial.

Materials and methods:

The study was conducted after approval by Hospital Ethical Committee on 70 adult patients of either gender scheduled to undergo lower limb surgeries under spinal anesthesia. In group M (n = 35), patients listened to standard relaxation music, and in group C (n = 35), patients listened to standard operation theater noise tape through noise canceling headphones. The intraoperative hemodynamic parameters were recorded. Perioperative anxiety was assessed using visual analog scale for anxiety. Sedation score was observed using observer’s assessment of alertness/sedation scale. Patient’s satisfaction was also assessed in both the groups.

Statistical analysis:

Student t test, Chi-squared test, and paired sample t test.

Results:

In group M, heart rate was lower when compared with group C. The difference was statistically significant at 10 minutes of assessment (P = 0.003) and statistically highly significant (P < 0.001) for rest of the time period. Statistically significant lower respiratory rate was there in group M when compared with group C (P = 0.05). Patients were more satisfied in the music group when compared with control group.

Conclusion:

The potential of music therapy can be used to allay patient anxiety, stabilize hemodynamics, and improve patient satisfaction.
Influence of Auditory Training on Acceptable Noise Level Scores in Elderly Persons with Hearing Impairment
Authors: Nakshathri Megha K. , Mohan Kishan M. , R Greeshma
Published: September 2024

Objective:

To study the Influence of Auditory Training on acceptable noise level (ANL) scores in elderly persons with hearing impairment.

Design:

Quasi-experimental study design.

Study sample:

A total of 20 bilateral mild to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss participants with “high” ANL scores were taken into the study and randomly allocated to experimental and control groups. In the time frame, the experimental group provided 12 sessions of speech in noise training with a hearing aid and the baseline measures were repeated in both groups.

Results:

The Acceptable noise level and Speech in Noise scores significantly improved post-training only in the experimental group. They also showed a significant difference “Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI)” scale in the domain “Conversation in Noise”.

Conclusions:

Acceptable noise level is susceptible to training similar to that of speech in noise score. It provides hope to the individuals who are poor candidates to the hearing aids.
Effects of Noise Type and Noise Sensitivity on Working Memory and Noise Annoyance
Authors: Song Chen , Li Hongqidi , Ma Huirui , Han Tao , Wu Jianping
Published: September 2024

Objective:

This study explored the interaction between environment and behavior and analyzed the effect of physical environment stimuli and individual differences on environmental perception.

Methods:

We investigated the effects of two kinds of noise sensitivities (high sensitivity and low sensitivity) and three kinds of noise types (quiet, road traffic noise, and speech noise) on working memory and noise annoyance of college students through questionnaires and experiments.

Results:

(i) noise sensitivity was positively correlated with neuroticism and negatively correlated with conscientiousness. (ii) The interaction between noise sensitivity and noise type significantly affected the accuracy of working memory. (iii) Both noise sensitivity and the main effect of noise type significantly affected the response time of working memory. (iv) The interaction between noise sensitivity and noise type significantly affects noise annoyance.

Conclusion:

There were significant differences in working memory performance and subjective noise annoyance among individuals with different levels of noise sensitivity.
Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the “Youth Attitude to Noise Scale” into Turkish (YANS-Tr)
Authors: Ozmen Kübra
Published: September 2024

Context:

With the changing lifestyle in modern society, the youth has become the target of substantial noise exposure. Both environmental noise and the use of personal electronic devices create a risk for youth’s hearing conservation as reported in several studies.

Aims:

This study aims to adapt and validate the Youth Attitude to Noise Scale (YANS), developed by Widén and Erlandsson for use in the Turkish setting.

Settings and Design:

The linguistic adaptation of the YANS into Turkish (YANS-Tr) was conducted with three experts in linguistics. A cross-sectional study was designed for high school students to establish the evidence for the reliability and validity of the scale.

Methods and Material:

345 high school students participated in the pilot study. The demographic data form developed by the researcher was used to retrieve the information related to participants. Lastly, the 19-item YANS-Tr was delivered to students.

Statistical analysis used:

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed for the construct validity. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were calculated for each dimension and the whole scale.

Results:

Four-dimensional structure was yielded for the YANS-Tr as in the original version of the scale. However, some items (8th, 10th, 18th, and 19th) were loaded under different dimensions. The reliability coefficient of the scale (Cronbach’s α = 0.79) was within the acceptable range. The mean overall YANS-Tr score was 2.68. When the mean scores are compared with other countries, Turkey stands higher than Sweden (2.10), close to Serbia (2.76) and Brazil (2.80), and lower than Belgium (3.10) and China (3.46).

Conclusions:

The YANS-Tr is shown to be a valid and reliable assessment tool to evaluate the students’ attitude to noise in Turkey.
Noise Pollution in Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Pal Jagriti , Taywade Manish , Pal Rajni , Sethi Divya
Published: September 2024

Background

Noise in intensive care units (ICUs) has always been a problem, but noise above the recommended range affects not only the patient but staff as well. It is clear that some noise in the ICU is inevitable, but exceeding the normal range brings various physiologic and psychologic changes, which directly affect health. This review presents a synthesis of noise sources in the ICU and the potential interventions designed to attenuate noise and protect patients.

Materials and Methods

An extensive literature search, using electronic databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Research gate to understand the noise in ICU, effects of noise, and noise reduction interventions were undertaken.

Results

Findings were such as noise enhances the release of cortisol, increases oxygen consumption, increases sleep disturbances, increases the need for analgesia and sedation, and disrupts circadian rhythm. Many studies reported that measurement was always higher despite implementing noise reduction interventions.

Conclusions

ICU survivors always recall their memories, and for them, ICU admission becomes a negative experience for life. However, the sustainability of any single intervention did not show awe-inspiring results, whereas a bundle kind of interventions did show some effects. However, high-quality evidence demonstrating the benefit of any intervention on patient outcomes is still lacking.
Evolution of Hearing in Young Adults
Authors: Degeest Sofie , Corthals Paul , Keppler Hannah
Published: September 2024

Context

Young people expose themselves to high levels of noise during various leisure activities and might thus be at risk of acquiring hearing-related problems due to leisure noise exposure.

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare the hearing status, amount of leisure noise exposure, and attitudes and beliefs toward noise, hearing loss, and hearing protection devices (HPDs) in university students at the moment of their enrollment in higher education and after approximately 3 years.

Settings and Design

Thirty-four female university students were tested at the moment of their enrollment in higher education and after approximately 3 years.

Method and Material

Hearing was evaluated using pure-tone audiometry and transient evoked and distortion product otoacoustic emissions. A questionnaire was used to evaluate leisure noise exposure and attitudes and beliefs toward noise, hearing loss, and HPDs.

Results

There were significant differences after the 3-year period: a deterioration in hearing at some tested frequencies, an increase in the occurrence of temporary tinnitus after leisure noise exposure, an increase in noise exposure related to visiting nightclubs and music venues, and differences in attitudes and beliefs toward noise, hearing loss and HPDs.

Conclusions

More longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the onset and progression of hearing loss due to leisure noise exposure. In the meantime, hearing conservation programs targeting young people should be optimized.
Ocular Disorders Complicating Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Nigerian
Authors: Uba-Obiano Chizoba U , Nwosu Sebastian N , Chianakwalam Emeka A , Nwankwo Henry M
Published: September 2024

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a connective tissue disorder involving a myriad of organs and structures in the body. We present a 45-year-old woman diagnosed with SLE at the rheumatology clinic and complained of gradual decrease in vision in the course of treatment. Analysis of case history, clinical features, and results of investigation was carried out. Ocular features reported were keratoconjunctivitis, mild visual impairment, nystagmus, and optic neuropathy. This is to report a case of ocular involvement in a Nigerian patient with SLE. SLE may be complicated by ocular disorders leading to visual impairment. Early ophthalmic assessment is therefore recommended for patients with SLE.
Comparison of rapid intubating conditions between rocuronium and cisatracurium
Authors: Bhat Pai Rohini , Deulkar Anisha , Kambli Deependra , Kanekar Bhagyashri , Volvoikar Pragati , Parsekar Hemant , Kamat Shaila
Published: September 2024

Background and aims

Cisatracurium has many advantages over other nondepolarizing muscle relaxants; however, for rapid intubation, rocuronium is the preferred drug in lieu of succinylcholine. The aim of this study was to compare the onset time and intubating conditions at 90 s using 0.3 mg/kg cisatracurium (6× ED95) versus 1.2 mg/kg rocuronium (4× ED95).

Material and methods

The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital as a randomized double-blind prospective study after obtaining the ethical committee clearance. A total of 60 patients were randomly assigned to receive 1.2 mg/kg rocuronium (4× ED95) or 0.3 mg/kg cisatracurium (6× ED95) after premedication with fentanyl-midazolam and induction with propofol-sevoflurane. Laryngoscopy and intubation were done at 90 s. Primary outcomes assessed were laryngoscopy and intubation conditions and onset times. The Student t test was used to compare prospective, repeated measures. χ
2 test was used to test the significance of difference for qualitative variables.

Results

The onset of action of the muscle relaxant was predicted by measuring train-of-four ratio and was found to be significantly longer in the cisatracurium group (149.50±25.064 s) than in the rocuronium group (101±s) (P<0.05). Although the intubating conditions were better in the rocuronium group, cisatracurium also provided good to excellent intubation conditions at 90 s.

Conclusion

Cisatracurium can be used to intubate the trachea at 90 s at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg in patients premedicated with fentanyl-midazolam and induced with propofol-sevoflurane, while maintaining hemodynamic stability, without increasing the incidence of adverse effects.