bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nalar Moderasi dalam Maqasid al-Qur’an: Kajian Pemikiran Abdul Azim al-Zurqani
Authors: Yurid Shifan A’lal Firdaus  , Nur Istiqlaliyah
Published: August 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan konsep maqasid al-Qur’an al-Zurqani dan nalar moderasi yang terkandung dalam konsep tersebut. Metode penelitian menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kepustakaan. Sumber data primer yaitu kitab Manah al-‘Irfan fi ‘Ulum al-Qur’an karya al-Zurqani. Teknik analisis data menggunakan analisis isi. Penelitian ini menemukan bahwa pertama, al-Zurqani memiliki konsep trilogi maqasid al-Qur’an yang terdiri dari petunjuk Al-Qur’an (hidayat al-Qur’an), kemukjizatan Al-Qur’an (I’jaz al-Qur’an), dan nilai ibadah dalam tilawah Al-Qur’an (al-ta’abbudu bi tilawat al-Qur’an). Kedua, nalar moderasi yang terkandung dalam maqasid al-Qur’an al-Zurqani terlihat pada aspek petunjuk Al-Qur’an yang menunjukkan bahwa maqasid al-Qur’an al-Zurqani menekankan universalitas dan kesempurnaan Al-Qur’an yang berfungsi sebagai pedoman dalam mengatur kehidupan manusia dan alam semesta secara adil, seimbang (moderat), dan proporsional.
Analisis Hubungan Beban Kerja Fisik Dengan Kelelahan Kerja Penambang Belerang PT. X Banyuwangi
Authors: Taurizanti Nadia Firdausi , Tualeka Abdul Rohim
Published: August 2024

Latar Belakang: Indonesia merupakan negara dengan kekayaan alam yang melimpah salah satunya potensi belerang di Kabupaten Banyuwangi. Potensi alam ini dikelola oleh PT. X Banyuwangi dengan jumlah pekerja mencapai 249 pekerja penambang belerang di wilayah tersebut. Beban kerja fisik yang berlebihan ditemukan dalam proses operasional penambangan di kawah Gunung Ijen itu sehingga berpotensi besar mengalami kelelahan kerja yang berujung terhadap kecelakaan kerja di sektor usaha tersebut.
Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat hubungan usia, masa kerja, dan beban kerja fisik dengan kelelahan kerja penambang belerang PT. X Banyuwangi.
Metode: Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kuantitatif observasional dengan analsisis data menggunakan korelasi spearman dan nilai koefisien korelasi.
Hasil: Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya hubungan antara usia dan beban kerja fisik dengan kelelahan kerja penambang belerang PT. X Banyuwangi. Selain itu terdapat tidak adanya hubungan antara masa kerja dengan kelelahan kerja penambang belerang PT. X Banyuwangi.
Kesimpulan: Secara menyeluruh dapat disimpulkan bahwa usia dan beban kerja fisik berhubungan dengan kelelahan kerja sedangkan masa kerja tidak berhubungan dengan kelelahan kerja tersebut. Adapun rekomendasi yang dapat dilakukan yaitu menerapkan standar operasional prosedur dalam proses pengangkutan hasil pertambangan belerang yang dilakukan sejauh 3 km tersebut, memberikan sistem shift yang memungkinkan pekerja penambang memiliki jam kerja yang sesuai dengan regulasi di Indonesia, dan memberikan batasan beban kerja fisik dalam proses manual handling yang dilakukan dalam proses pengangkutan hasil tambang belerang di wilayah kawah Gunung Ijen Banyuwangi tersebut
Regional Strategy of Switzerland: Specific Features of Formation
Authors: Trofimova O.
Published: August 2024

The article examines the specific features of Swiss regional strategy. The influence of federalism characterized by certain symmetry with equal status of regions in relations with central government is analyzed. The author uses system, structural and functional methods, comparative and historical analysis in the study of power distribution between center and regions and its particular features at all levels of power in Switzerland. The Federal Government and cantons promote the application of ideas and projects for strengthening regional economies in line with the needs of each region. Special attention is paid to the formation process of regional strategy taking into account power decentralization, principle of direct democracy and challenges of globalization. The specific territorial structure of Confederation and the governance system “from bottom to top”, multinational society, broad autonomy of cantons, its niche orientation which requires inter-cantonal cooperation – all these factors determine the main guidelines of Swiss regional policy. Scientific novelty lies in determination of these factors. The New regional policy (NRP) adopted in 2008 focuses primarily on mountain, rural and border regions and has intentionally been designed to be flexible. Its second funding period was devoted to regional innovation and structural transformation of the tourism industry. The detailed investigation realized by the author allows to estimate the formation stages of Swiss regional policy, its strategic goals, economic effects and the current state, so it may be useful for regional development in Russia including implementation of innovations in regions.
The Social Landscape of Latin America: Strategies of the Past and Challenges of the Future
Authors: D’yakova L.
Published: August 2024

The social policy of Latin American states, based on the implementation of large-scale long-term programs since the beginning of the XXI century, has led to a significant reduction in poverty in the years preceding the global pandemic. At the same time, its results in reducing multifactorial inequality, ensuring access to education and health care, and overcoming regional disparities turned out to be insufficient. The COVID‑19 pandemic led to a complex social crisis, which had particularly severe consequences for children, youth, the elderly from vulnerable groups of the population, representatives of Indian peoples. Despite targeted measures of “urgent social support”, governments faced challenges exacerbated by the unresolved old problems and faced the need to develop new models of social policy: deep structural reforms in education, health, social protection, increasing transparency and professionalism of government structures, expanding opportunities for the active working-age population. The article discusses various social strategies of Latin American countries; It is noted that there is a need for a difficult choice between the tactics of targeted benefits and long-term policies focused on the activity and social inclusion of vulnerable groups, the qualitative development of the entire social sphere. This work for the sake of the future will require significant financial investments and is impossible without economic growth, cooperation with business and civil society structures.
Innovative Legal Approaches for Contemporary Challenges in Indonesia
Authors: Disantara Fradhana Putra
Published: August 2024

General Background: Legal development in Indonesia faces multifaceted challenges due to globalization, technological advances, and complex socio-economic dynamics. Specific Background: The conventional legal frameworks struggle to keep pace with rapid societal changes and technological innovations, leading to inefficiencies and inequities in law enforcement and justice accessibility. Knowledge Gap: Existing research lacks comprehensive strategies integrating digital advancements and local wisdom to enhance legal systems' adaptability and effectiveness. Aims: This study aims to identify and assess innovative legal approaches that incorporate digital technology and local cultural insights to enhance the responsiveness and effectiveness of Indonesia's legal system. Results: The findings indicate that leveraging digital technology for public engagement, employing big data and AI for regulatory impact assessments, and integrating local customs into national law can significantly improve legal frameworks. Novelty: This research introduces a model combining technological and traditional approaches, ensuring a balanced evolution of the legal system aligned with Indonesia's unique cultural and societal context. Implications: Implementing these innovative approaches could lead to more equitable justice access, heightened transparency, and enhanced legal adaptability, promoting sustainable development and human rights protection in Indonesia.
Highlights:

Digital Engagement: Enhances public participation using digital platforms.
Data-Driven Regulation: Utilizes AI and big data for precise law-making.
Cultural Harmonization: Integrates local customs into national laws, promoting unity and respect.

Keywords: Innovative Law, Digital Technology, Legal System, Justice
Life-Cycle Gradient-Based Production Optimization Including Well-Shutoff Option with Least-Squares Support Vector Regression
Authors: Almasov Azad , Toktas Omer Lutfu , Onur Mustafa
Published: August 2024

In this work, we focus on well-shutoff/well-control optimization, which enables shutting off a production well or injection well to be part of the well-control optimization within a net present value (NPV) formulation that includes the operation expenditures (OPEX) if the well is not economical to produce or inject. For this purpose, we formulate an objective function for the NPV by introducing a production time fraction as the design variable to shut off a production well over its total production life, divided into a fixed number of cycles. Unlike the previous studies, we use a shutoff period within each cycle instead of shutting it off with a bottomhole pressure (BHP) control, where the BHPs for each producer are part of the optimization variables. When BHPs are considered control optimization variables with an NPV having OPEX, the NPV could be discontinuous for BHPs. To avoid this problem, we built a continuously differentiable proxy function for NPV using least-square support vector regression (LS-SVR). We use linear equality constraints so that the sums of the lengths of the cycles at each producer and injector are equal to the life of the production. Thus, we do not need to truncate the size of the last cycle, as in the previous studies, which may lead to suboptimal solutions. We use a simulator-based optimization method with stochastic simplex approximate gradient (StoSAG) and a machine learning-based (LS-SVR) optimization method to solve such an optimization problem. We update the LS-SVR proxy during optimization so that the updated proxy remains predictive toward promising regions of search space during the optimization. We compare the performance of the proposed LS-SVR-based iterative sampling refinement (ISR) method with the StoSAG-based and the finite difference (FD)-based optimization methods. To demonstrate the applicability of our proposed methodologies, we consider a synthetic example of a waterflooding process in a tight oil reservoir with two water injectors and four producers. Results show that the LS-SVR-based optimization method is at least three to seven times more computationally efficient than the StoSAG-based optimization method using a high-fidelity numerical simulator. However, we observe that the size and sampling of the training data, as well as the selection of bound constraints for the well controls, influence the performance of the LS-SVR-based optimization method. Designing multiple shutoffs and making cycle lengths unknown are found to be ineffective compared to single shutoff cases, as they yield lower NPVs.
Clinical Disparities in COVID-19 Presentation, and Outcomes: A Comparative Study of Pediatric Immunocompetent and Cancer Patients, A Single Center Experience
Authors: Alharbi Nuha M. , Alnafisi Fay N. , Alalshaikh Nouf , Alharbi Abdulrahman A. , Khan Muhammad Anwar , Baothman Abdullah
Published: August 2024

Introduction:
This research study focused upon COVID-19 impact on pediatric patients, particularly those with a history of cancer. The study examined the prevalence of COVID-19 among children, the severity of the disease, and its complications. This study aimed to determine whether pediatric patients with a history of cancer are at a greater risk for severe COVID-19. This study also addressed the scarcity of data on this topic and intended to provide valuable insights into infection outcomes among children with COVID-19 and cancer history.
Methods
The study was conducted on COVID-19 pediatric patients at the Princess Noorah Oncology Center at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The data were collected as a part of a retrospective study design on a cohort of COVID-19-positive patients, using the “Best Care system” electronic medical records files, from January 2020 to December 2022. A total of 210 patients were included in this study. Descriptive, comparative, and regression analyses were applied to examine differences in demographic / clinical characteristics and COVID-19 morbidity / mortality between patients with / without cancer.
Results
In terms of COVID-19 symptoms, a significant difference was observed in the presence of fever, with 52.7% of immunocompetent individuals, and 82.1% of cancer patients experiencing fever. There was also a significant difference in diarrhea symptoms; 14.8% of the patients were immunocompetent, and none of the patients with cancer had diarrhea. Hemoglobin levels and neutrophil counts were lower in the cancer group than in the immunocompetent group. Additionally, the lymphocyte counts were lower in the cancer group. Findings from radiological studies indicated that differences in peribronchiolar thickening were greater in the immunocompetent group. The results showed that 10.7% of COVID-19-positive cancer patients died, while none of the immunocompetent patients with COVID-19 died.
Conclusions
This study provides valuable insights into the disparities in COVID-19 characteristics, symptoms, treatments, and outcomes between immunocompetent individuals and cancer patients. These findings could contribute to a better understanding of how COVID-19 affects different patient populations, and inform clinical decision-making. It is important to consider these results in the context of limitations and implications for future research and medical practices.
Effect of Respiratory Muscle Training on Lung Function on Quarry Workers in Minia Governorate Egypt
Authors: Mahmoud Tarek H. , Sallam Mohamed A. , Arafat walid Elsayed Hussein Ahmed , Ahmed Mona Sayed , salem Shymaa , Ali Sobhy M. , Abdelwahaab Hisham A.
Published: August 2024

Objective To find the effect of aerobic exercises versus respiratory muscle training program on lung function among Quarry workers.
Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Subjects/Patients: Forty Quarry workers participated in the study
Methods: Patients were randomly allocated to two groups. (Group A) were given aerobic exercises by engaging in a 30-minute session of walking on a treadmill, for eight weeks, three times a week. (Group B) were given a respiratory muscle training program using incentive spirometer in addition to aerobic exercise for eightweeks. A spirometer was used to do a pulmonary function test, which evaluated lung function by measuring Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), and the ratio of FEV1 to FVC.
Results: Finding of this study indicated substantial improvement of FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC after treatment in both groups values (P value= < 0.00001). there was significant difference between both groups after treatment regarding to FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC with favored result in (Group B).
Conclusion: Both groups showed a significant improved on lung function in favor to group B. So, this study proven that respiratory muscle training is an essential supplement to aerobic exercise for pulmonary rehabilitation to improve pulmonary functions in Quarry workers.
Improving Pain Assessment, Documentation and Analgesic Prescription Practices Among Clinicians
Authors: Batanda Ian , Natuhwera Germans
Published: August 2024

Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines on pain assessment, clinicians do not adequately use pain-scoring tools to assess pain and document pain scores in patients’ clinical notes. This is partly because pain assessment tools may not always be available in clinical areas. However, even when available, clinicians may not have adequate knowledge and experience in using them. This analytical cross-sectional study sought to assess whether a CME on pain assessment followed by displaying pain assessment tools in clinical duty stations would improve clinicians’ pain rating, documentation, and analgesic prescription practices at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital. The primary outcome was improved documentation of pain scoring and pain severity rating over time. The study found a short-lived improvement in pain rating and analgesic prescription. The results suggest that rooted knowledge of pain assessment could be more beneficial in empowering clinicians to perform and document pain assessment sustainably.
Enhanced coke resistance in methanol to olefins reaction via surplus mesoporosity of fibrous silica-wrapped SAPO-34
Authors: Sofi Muhammad Hafizuddin Mohd , Hamid Muhamed Yusuf Shahul , Jalil Aishah Abdul , Abdullah Tuan Amran Tuan , Mohamud Mohamed Yusuf , Bahari Mahadi , Hassan Nurul Sahida , Vo Dai-Viet N.
Published: August 2024

Growing concerns regarding the depletion of petroleum reserves and energy demand necessitate the exploration of alternative methods, such as methanol-to-olefin (MTO), to generate light olefins from non-crude oil sources. However, the industrial application of this method is limited due to the rapid deactivation of the catalyst, which is caused by the microporosity of the commercial catalyst. Here, we synthesized the fibrous silica-wrapped silico-alumino-phosphate (FSAPO-34) using a microemulsion technique with a seed-assisted synthesis method and applied it for the first time in the MTO reaction. The physicochemical properties of the fresh and spent catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-potassium bromide, N2 physisorption, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, NH3 temperature-programmed desorption, thermal gravimetric analysis, O2 temperature-programmed oxidation, and Raman spectroscopy. The findings indicated that the formation of fibrous silica on the surface of SAPO-34 exhibited a unique spherical morphology with dendrimeric silica fiber, significantly enhancing the mesoporosity from 0.098 to 1.749 cm³/g compared to commercial microporous SAPO-34. FSAPO-34 demonstrates a significant improvement in catalytic lifetime, with a 54% increase, from 19.2 hours to 29.5 hours, compared to commercial SAPO-34. This enhanced stability is attributed to the introduction of mesoporosity in FSAPO-34, which, in turn, provides high accessibility and reduced diffusion resistance of products and ultimately retarded the formation of coke.
Spatial and Diurnal Variation of Air Pollutants in Residential, Industrial, and Commercial Areas of Gazipur City, Bangladesh
Authors: H Mir Md. Mozammal , Ali Md. Rubel , Rahman Md. Shamsur , Hossain Md. Rajib
Published: August 2024

The study was conducted to analyze the diurnal and spatial variation of air pollutants in the Residential, Industrial, and Commercial Areas of Gazipur City. The air pollutants were assessed with specific parameters such as PM2.5, PM10, Cl2, CH4, NO2, CO2, CO, SO2, and O3 which were collected in November 2022. In Residential Area the highest air pollutants value is PM2.5 = 47 µg/m3, PM10 = 52 µg/m3, Cl2 = 80 µg/m3, CH4 = 12 ppm, NO2 = 22 µg/m3, CO2 = 571 ppm, CO = 17 µg/m3, SO2 = 8 µg/m3, O3 = 25 µg/m3 and lowest value are PM2.5 = 19 µg/m3, PM10 = 31 µg/m3, Cl2 = 30 µg/m3, CH4 = 3 ppm, NO2 = 7 µg/m3, CO2 = 450 ppm, CO = 9 µg/m3, SO2 = 1 µg/m3, O3 = 1 µg/m3. In Industrial Area the highest air pollutants value is PM2.5 = 97 µg/m3, PM10 = 190 µg/m3, Cl2 = 80 µg/m3, CH4 = 12 ppm, NO2 = 39 µg/m3, CO2 = 685 ppm, CO = 667 µg/m3, SO2 = 21 µg/m3, O3 = 22 µg/m3 and lowest value are PM2.5 = 52 µg/m3, PM10 = 78 µg/m3, Cl2 = 20 µg/m3, CH4 = 2 ppm, NO2 = 17 µg/m3, CO2 = 540 ppm, CO = 601 µg/m3, SO2 = 1 µg/m3, O3 = 2 µg/m3. In Commercial Area the highest air pollutants value is PM2.5 = 85 µg/m3, PM10 = 100 µg/m3, Cl2 = 60 µg/m3, CH4 = 7 ppm, NO2 = 17 µg/m3, CO2 = 660 ppm, CO = 700 µg/m3, SO2 = 5 µg/m3, O3 = 9 µg/m3 and lowest value are PM2.5 = 58 µg/m3, PM10 = 68 µg/m3, Cl2 = 20 µg/m3, CH4 = 2 ppm, NO2 = 3 µg/m3, CO2 = 510 ppm, CO = 30 µg/m3, SO2 = 1 µg/m3, O3 = 1 µg/m3. PM2.5 and PM10 have strong positive correlation ((R² = 0.761), PM10 and NO2 also have strong positive relationship between them (R² = 0.4998). Gazipur, one of Bangladesh's largest industrial areas, has witnessed a very fast growth in urban population. The common sources of all pollutants in Gazipur City are fuel and gas consumption for industrial power supply, fossil fuel burning for transportation and vehicles, roadside dust, VOCs emission from different industrial processes. To reduce air pollution, emphasize renewable fuel and clean energy, Eco-friendly transportation, use pollution controlling devices such as wet scrubbers for industrial emission control, and roadside dust management through wet/ dry sweeping regularly.
Transformers and large language models are efficient feature extractors for electronic health record studies
Authors: Yuan Kevin , Yoon Chang Ho , Gu Qingze , Munby Henry , Walker Sarah , Zhu Tingting , Eyre David
Published: August 2024

While unstructured free-text data is abundant in electronic health records, challenges in accurate and scalable information extraction often result in a preference for incorporating information from less specific clinical codes instead. We investigate the efficacy of modern natural language processing methods (NLP) and large language models (LLMs) in supervised and few-shot scenarios to extract features from 938,150 hospital antibiotic prescriptions from Oxfordshire, UK. A subset of 4000 most frequent indications for antibiotic use was labelled by clinical researchers into 11 categories, describing the infection source/clinical syndrome, for model training. On separate internal (n = 2000) and external test datasets (n = 2000), the fine-tuned domain-specific Bio + Clinical BERT model averaged an F1 score of 0.97 and 0.98 respectively across the classes and outperformed traditional regex (F1 = 0.71 and 0.74) and n-grams/XGBoost (F1 = 0.86 and 0.84). A few-shot OpenAI GPT4 model achieved F1 scores of 0.71 and 0.86 without using labelled training data and a fine-tuned GPT3.5 model F1 scores of 0.95 and 0.97. Finetuned BERT-based transformer models currently outperform LLMs for structured tasks, while few shot LLMs match the performance of traditional NLP without the need for labelling. Comparing infection sources extracted from ICD10 codes to those parsed from free-text indications, free-text indications revealed 31% more specific infection sources. With their high accuracy, modern transformer-based models have the potential to be used widely throughout medicine to structure free-text records, providing more granular information than clinical codes, facilitating better research and patient care.
Carbon Quantum Dot from Areca Husk as an efficient Photosynthetic Enhancer for Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Shivakumar Neeta , Kousar Nargees
Published: August 2024

Carbon Quantum dots (CQDs) are nanostructured materials that have gained immense application in the field of agriculture. They have unique properties because of their less toxicity and environmental stability be it as a growth enhancer or as an antibiotic. The synthesis of carbon quantum dots from areca husk here, exemplifies a novel approach, offering environmentally friendly and less toxic nanomaterials that may revolutionize agricultural practices. This work highlights synthesis of carbon quantum dots from areca husk using hydrothermal method. In this study, characterization through UV spectroscopy clearly indicated the fluroscent property of the syntheised CQDs. FTIR characterization showed the presence of the CO(carbonyl) and OH (Hydroxyl) groups present and emphazising on the antimicrobial property of CQDS. XRD analyses highlighted that 97.5% of the sample had crystalline structure and 2.5% was amorphous. CQDs treated seeds showed healthy seedling growth with 7.682mg/g of cholorophyll content being highest in corn whereas11.42mg/g in wheat compared to other treatments emphasising the increase in photosynthetic efficiency. The integration of CQDs presents a promising avenue for revolutionizing modern agriculture towards greater sustainability and potential for improved yield.
Is it necessary to perform a routine hysteroscopy before first embryo transfer in patients with previous ectopic pregnancy history: A propensity score matching analysis?
Authors: Xiao Li , Liao Tianji , Lin Lijun , Huang Wei
Published: August 2024

Purpose
To determine whether an office hysteroscopy is required before the first embryo transfer in infertile women with previous ectopic pregnancy history.
Methods
Consecutive patients with previous ectopic pregnancy history were categorized into two groups based on the performance of hysteroscopy. Subgroup 1 consisted of patients whose endometrial pathology was normal, subgroup 2 who were diagnosed with endometrial polyps (EP), and subgroup 3 diagnosed with chronic endometritis (CE). Demographics, baselines of characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes after embryo transfer were compared among these groups.
Results
A total of 614 patients were enrolled. No differences were observed in the baseline characteristics of these groups. The clinical pregnancy rates were comparable between hysteroscopy group and non-hysteroscopy group. The spontaneous miscarriage rate was greater in the cured CE subgroup compared to the normal and EP subgroups. Consequently, the live birth rate was comparatively lower in the cured CE group than in both the control group and the EP group.
Conclusions
We found a high pregnancy loss rate in women with CE-confirmed immunohistochemically. While office hysteroscopy serves as a valuable diagnostic instrument, it is imperative that it be supplemented with appropriate and adequate antibiotic therapy. Further investigation is still required before it can be considered a standard infertile workup before the first embryo transfer in patients with previous ectopic pregnancy history.
Trial registration
N/A.
Evaluation of Family Medicine Residents' Reflection Skills
Authors: Gürel Özge , Demirören Meral , Teker Gülşen Taşdelen
Published: August 2024

Background: This study is a cross-sectional study and aimed to conduct validity and reliability analyses for the Turkish adaptation of the Groningen Reflection Ability Scale (GRAS) and to evaluate the reflection skills of family medicine (FM) residents using the adapted scale, examining the correlation between reflection skills and various variables.
Methods: GRAS has been translated into Turkish. Firstly, the Turkish version was administered to 230 residents from various specialties. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was run, Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients were calculated. Then, the adapted scale was administered to 336 FM residents in Turkey. Skewness and kurtosis coefficients, Shapiro-Wilk test and non-parametric tests were employed.
Results: In the first phase, GRAS-TR-pg with 20-item, single-dimension and three-factor structure has been validated for use with Turkish postgraduate medical students. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients were found to be sufficient. In the second phase, there were no significant differences in the scores received, based on various variables.
Conclusion: This study reveals that the adapted GRAS-TR-pg can serve as a valid and reliable tool to measure the reflective skills of postgraduate medical students in Turkey. No significant differences found based on various variables regarding the reflection skill levels of Turkish FM residents.
Association Between Handgrip Strength, TNF-αlpha Levels and the Presence of Chronic Diseases Among the Elderly
Authors: Ntiamoah Paul , Ananni-Akollor Max Efui , Frempong Magaret T. , Agordzo Samuel Kekeli , Baah Eugene , Muanah Ivan A. , Agyapong Evans O. , Gadzeto Felix , Atta-Mensah Bright , Appiah Anthony , Boateng Samuel K. Boakye- , Adu-Gyasi Dennis
Published: August 2024

Background: There is a rapid surge in the elderly population globally and in Ghana. Ageing is frequently associated with the emergence of some chronic diseases due to a decline in physiological and physical functions. Early detection of chronic diseases or possible risk factors of disease development is critical in reducing mortality and morbidity among the elderly. This study, therefore, sought to explore the relationship between the inflammatory cytokine-tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), handgrip strength and the presence of chronic diseases among the elderly population seeking medical care from a hospital in Ghana.
Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study carried out among individuals 60 years or above. A total of 104 persons who met the inclusion criteria and consented were enrolled on the study. Handgrip strength was measured using a digital hand dynamometer and plasma TNF-α levels were determined using sandwich ELISA. Data on demographics and chronic disease conditions were collected from participants using a standardized questionnaire and from the participant’s hospital folder.
Results: The study recruited 104 participants, of which 53% were females and 47% were males. The median age (median (IQR)) was 65 (62–71) years. Again, of the total participants, 63.5% had at least one chronic disease while 36.5% had no chronic disease. Whereas 12.5% of participants had low handgrip strength, 87.5% had normal hand grip strength. There was no significant association between disease status and low handgrip strength (p = 0.709). However, there was a significant association between disease status and increased plasma levels of TNF-α among participants of the study (p = 0.0435). There was also a significant association between low handgrip strength and increased plasma levels of TNF-α among participants of the study (p = 0.0001).
Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study observed that low hand grip strength is significantly associated with high circulating TNF-α levels which is also associated with increased presence of chronic disease among the elderly. Low handgrip strength may not independently represent an increased risk of developing chronic diseases.
Gender-based differences in sexual satisfaction: A network analysis
Authors: Lingán-Huamán Susana K. , Ventura-León José , Ruiz-Hernández Alma , Campana-Tanta Ariadna
Published: August 2024

For several decades, gender differences related to sexual satisfaction (SS) have been discussed. However, these subtle differences in the importance of SS indicators and their associations have not been fully understood. This study aims to analyze differences in the network structures of items of an SS scale between men and women. The participants included 205 men (M_age = 21.6 ± 2.13) and 219 women (M_age = 22.1 ± 2.21) from Peru. Using network analysis, we identified the central elements in young men and women and compared the network structures based on gender. Results showed that “concentration during sexual activity” is an important and characteristic aspect of men’s SS, whereas “variety of sexual activities” is the most relevant aspect for women to perceive themselves as sexually satisfied. Accordingly, differences and similarities in the elements that contribute to SS are described for males and females, highlighting that strategies designed to promote SS for both groups should take these differences into account.
Delayed return to work after volar or combined plating of type C distal radius fracture: a secondary analysis of a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Noppa Erik , Sagerfors Marcus , Lundqvist Eva
Published: August 2024

Background
Distal radius fracture (DRF) is the most common of fractures, accounting for 18% of all fractures in orthopaedic trauma units. The ability to return to work is an important outcome for both society and the individual, but there is a large variation among patients in how much time off work is required. The choice of treatment is likely an important factor.
Methods
This study was a secondary analysis of an earlier published randomised clinical trial comparing volar locking plate fixation with combined dorsal and volar plate fixation of AO type C DRF. In the present study, we examined the risk of requiring more than 3 months of sick leave among patients who were in the workforce at the time of fracture.
Results
Of the 84 cases included in this analysis, 10 had a delayed return to work. There was a statistically significant risk of delayed return to work when combined plating was used as the surgical method, with an odds ratio of 7.454 (95% confidence interval: 1.362–40.804, p = 0.021) in the final multivariate analysis.
Conclusions
Sick leave is an important contributor to total costs in patients with DRF, and more invasive treatments like combined plating are associated with longer sick leave. Our results indicate a higher risk of delayed return to work in the combined plating group, possibly due to more extensive soft tissue dissection. We recommend a restrictive use of combined plating.
Trial registration:
The study was registered in the Swedish research database FoU in Sweden (registration number: 274674) on the 4th of August 2020.
Development and Validation of an Interpretable Risk Prediction Model for Perioperative Ischemic Stroke in Noncardiac, Nonvascular, and Nonneurosurgical Patients: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Cong Xuhui , Zou Xuli , Zhu Ruilou , Li Yubao , Liu Lu , Zhang Jiaqiang
Published: August 2024

Background
This study introduces an interpretable machine learning model, derived from patient data, to address the notable lack of perioperative stroke prediction tools for adults undergoing noncardiac, nonvascular, and nonneurosurgical procedures, thereby improving clinical decision-making.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study encompassed 106,328 patients aged 18 years or older who underwent non-cardiac, non-vascular, and non-neurosurgical surgeries in our institution. The training cohort included 74,429 patients with 140 perioperative stroke incidents, and the validation cohort comprised 31,899 patients with 59 incidents. Risk factors for perioperative stroke were identified using univariable logistic regression analysis. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression method screened variables, followed by the development, validation, and performance evaluation of the prediction model through multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results
The established prediction model, leveraging 16 variables including demographic information, medical history, and pre- and post-operative data, demonstrated robust discriminatory capability in forecasting perioperative stroke (AUC = 0.919; 95% CI, 0.896–0.942). It also showed an excellent fit with the validation cohort (Hosmer–Lemeshow test, χ²=4.085, P = 0.906). Decision curve analysis affirmed the model's substantial net benefit.
Conclusion
Through the analysis of patients aged 18 and above undergoing specified surgeries, this study successfully identified risk factors for perioperative stroke. Subsequently, it developed and validated effective prediction models that exhibit notable predictive accuracy, thereby serving as a pivotal tool for clinicians in decision-making processes. These insights lay the groundwork for the prevention and enhanced perioperative management of stroke, marking a significant stride in patient care optimization.
Lacidophilin Modulated Gut Microbiota and Ameliorated Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Mouse Colitis
Authors: Jingting Yu , Xiaoying Cheng , Yang Zhan , Jingwen Zhang , Yingmeng Li , Denglong Sun , Longjin Zheng , Wenjun Liu
Published: August 2024

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been rising significantly in recent years. It is widely accepted that gut microbes play an essential role in the development of IBD. Lacidophilin is a product of milk fermentation by lactobacillus acidophilus. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Lacidophilin on colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). 16s RNA sequencing was performed to determine the changes of species composition and community structure of the intestinal microflora, and transcriptome sequencing was conducted to find out the gene or protein which may be affected by Lactobacillus on colitis development potentially. It was observed that the 7 days administration of Lacidophilin protected the intestinal mucosal barrier from damage, and thereby enabled the remission of colitis severity. Compared to the model group, Lacidophilin could restore the shortened colon length and marked decrease levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum. More importantly, Lacidophilin significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia-Shigella and Parvibacter. Transcriptomic analysis shows that IL-17 signaling pathway, BCR signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway was enriched, and we found that Lcn2, Ccl3, Mmp8, Slc11a1, Spp1, and Serpine1 might be potential targets of Lacidophilin treatment. These studies indicate that Lacidophilin can ameliorate colitis in mice through maintaining the integrity of intestinal structure and improving intestinal microbiota, and its mechanism may be involved in immune-related proteins and pathways.
Changes in retinal vessel oxygen saturation using automated retinal oximetry in patients with significant carotid stenosis
Authors: Polidar Petr , Pašková Barbora , Karhanová Marta , Sin Martin , Mudroch Tomas , Dornak Tomas , Schreiberova Zuzana , Divišová Petra , Veverka Tomas , Franc David , Sanak Daniel , Kral Michal
Published: August 2024

Purpose: To evaluate the dynamics of changes in retinal oximetry parameters in patients with haemodynamically significant carotid stenosis
Methods: In this case-control study we examined 74 eye artery pairs in 37 patients with significant carotid stenosis over 50 % using retinal oximetry. 14 eye artery pairs were excluded due to contraindications for oximetry or presenting carotid occlusion. From the remaining 60 eye artery pairs, 39 stenotic eye artery pairs were analyzed against the control group of 21 non-stenotic eye artery pairs.
Results-Primary analysis of the data showed a trend to increased arterial saturation, decreased venular saturation and increased venular diameter. in all groups. The AV difference, the most sensitive parameter, however was only statistically significant for the 80 % stenosis patients. For each group, the cutoff value for the AV difference was chosen for calculation of the odds ratio (OR) of stenosis. Highest OR was found in the 80 % (9.0, p=0.007) with the threshold value of AV difference 38.72 %.
Conclusion: The impact of carotid stenosis on retinal perfusion was confirmed with the highest predictive value for stenosis above 80 %. The relative decrease in the AV difference and normalisation of other parameters in stenoses over 90 % can be explained by collateral circulation via the external carotid artery. The relationship between the AV difference and degree of stenosis is non linear which points to the contribution of other mechanisms to reduced post-stenotic blood flow adaptation.
This case-control study was conducted between 2021 and 2023 as a clinical trial approved by the Ethics Committee of the university hospital Olomouc, registered under ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT06085612 All patients participated in the study willingly, providing informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. All methods used were carried out in accordance with relevant guideelines and regulations.
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to treat hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF): results from a retrospective real-world study
Authors: Huang Wei , Wang Ming , Chen Liyu , Ma Yuanji , Yan Libo , Zhang Yanfang , Zhu Xia , Bai Lang , Du Lingyao , Tang Hong
Published: August 2024

Objective
Hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) has a high mortality rate due to severe liver function disorder, extremely poor liver regeneration capacity, and dysregulated immune responses, thus new treatment measures are urgently needed to improve the therapeutic effect. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatment in HBV-ACLF.
Methods
The data of patients with HBV-ACLF admitted to West China Hospital from January 2022 to October 2023 were collected retrospectively. They were divided into control group and treatment group according to whether they had received additional G-CSF treatment. The survival outcomes at 30-day and 90-day were analyzed between two groups. The change of disease severity score and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) after 14 days of hospitalization were observed between two groups. The control group received standard medical therapy, while the G-CSF group received G-CSF at a dose of 5µg/kg once daily for six days on the basis of standard medical therapy.
Results
In this retrospective study, a total of 136 HBV-ACLF patients were divided into two groups, with 47 in the G-CSF group and 89 in the control group. The 30-day survival rate of patients receiving G-CSF treatment was 85.1%, compared to 71.9% in the control group (P = 0.084). The 90-day survival rate for patients receiving G-CSF treatment was 76.6%, while it was 59.6% for the control group (P = 0.047). Additionally, on the 14th day of hospitalization, patients receiving G-CSF treatment showed a more reduction in Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (P = 0.001) and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score (P = 0.021) compared to the control group. The decrease in serum AFP in the control group was greater than that in the G-CSF group, although there was no statistical difference (P = 0.112).
Conclusion
G-CSF significantly improves the survival rate of HBV-ACLF patients and further promotes the recovery of liver function during hospitalization for ACLF.
A study of the present prevalence of myopia in children of school age in two regions of eastern Inner Mongolia
Authors: Song Ming-you , Yi Yin-hua , Wang Hui-qiong , Zhang Kai-rui , Zhao Jing , Ba Te-er
Published: August 2024

Background: The study was conducted to assess the prevalence of myopia among school-aged children in Xing'an Meng and Hulunbuir from Inner Mongolia, as well as to identify the factors of myopia.
Methods: A total of 25795 students from the Xing'an Meng and Hulunbeier were selected as the research subjects from October to November 2021 using stratified random whole-group sampling. The students underwent visual acuity examination, followed by a survey of myopia-related factors via questionnaire.
Results: The rate of myopia detection was 65.2% in Xing'an Meng and Hulunbeier. The rate of myopia detection was higher in females (70.3%) than that in males (60.2%). The risk of myopia among female students was 1.543 times that of male. The risk of myopia in Mongolian was 0.78 times than that of than Han Chinese students. Middle school, high school, and vocational high school students had a myopia risk that was 2.43 times, 4.168 times, and 1.16 times that of elementary school students, respectively. female, high study level, reading and writing with eyes less than one foot (33 cm) from the book, using mobile electronic devices for more than an average of 0.5 hours per day, reading or looking at electronic displays in sunlight, reading or looking at electronic displays while lying on one's back or lying down, and having myopic parents were risk factors for myopia. Living in a suburban county, being of Mongolian descent, and spending recess outside were protective factors against myopia.
Conclusions: Gender, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits were related to myopia in children of school age. Maintaining good reading habits and engaging in outdoor activities were effective approaches to prevent myopia.
Building a Robust Data Shield: Implementing a Cryptography and Steganography Security Model
Authors: ATANDA Oladayo G. , ADENIYI Abidemi Emmanuel , ADEBIYI Marion O. , ODUMEH Victory , AROBA Oluwasegun Julius
Published: August 2024

This research introduces a comprehensive security model that combines steganography and cryptography to enhance data protection and secure information sharing. The security model utilizes the AES cryptographic algorithm and LSB steganographic techniques to reduce risks associated with data tampering, loss, and theft in organizations. The model incorporates three fundamental security principles: confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA Triad), forming the foundation of robust data protection. The study presents a systematic approach to the development of a steganography application using Python programming language and relevant packages such as Pillow, NumPy, Open-cv Python, and Stegano. The user-friendly application enables users to upload images, input hidden messages, and perform actions such as saving the stego-image and retrieving concealed data. The encryption process involves embedding messages within images and compressing the stego-image using the 7zip file compressor with AES-256 encryption. The compressed stego-image is then securely transmitted via email along with a password hint for the recipient. The implementation idea of Identity-Based Encryption was introduced to send the AES key to recipients. Recipients can successfully decrypt the image using the provided password, unveiling the concealed message. This research has demonstrated that combining steganography and cryptography offers an efficient and effective solution for secure information sharing. Screenshots and visuals illustrate each step of the application's operation, emphasizing its user-friendliness and ease of use. Overall, the proposed security model provides a robust framework for safeguarding sensitive data and information in various organizations.
Genome-wide investigation of differentially expressed alternative splicing and RNA-binding protein genes association with AML drug resistance
Authors: Zhang Yu-Mei , Dong Xue-Yan , Zheng Wei , Xu Jie , Wang Zhen-Zhen , Ding Shu-Min , Wang Ying-Ying , Wang Jing-Yi
Published: August 2024

Background Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a malignancy of the haematopoietic system with extremely high mortality. Current AML therapies, such as chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and targeted therapy, have greatly improved the prognosis of AML patients. However, there are still a number of AML patients who develop drug resistance after pharmacotherapy, leading to poor prognosis and relapse. Currently, the global 5-year survival rate for adults with AML remains below 50%. Therefore, it is urgent to identify the aetiology for AML relapse and drug resistance. Methods Bone marrow mononuclear cells were isolated from bone marrow blood samples from 4 patients with AML relapse, 3 patients with AML remission and 5 control donors by density gradient centrifugation using Lymphocyte separation medium. After RNA extraction and sequencing, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis, overlapping analysis, WGCNA and co-expression analysis, alternative splicing analysis and functional enrichment analysis were further performed. Results RNA sequencing andDEGs analysis demonstrated that a total of 593 overlapped up-regulated genes and 999 overlapped down-regulated genes were discovered in the reAML group in comparison to the Healthy and AML groups. Of particular, further overlapping analysis revealed that 33 RBP genes were overlapped up-regulated and 30 RBP genes were overlapped down-regulated in the reAML group. Further WGCNA and alternative splicing analyses highlighted that significant changes were found in AS in the reAML group compared with the AML and Healthy groups, and multiple differential regulatory alternative splicing genes (RASGs) and regulatory alternative splicing events (RASEs) were also identified. Conclusions The aberrance of regulatory alternative splicing (RAS) and differential expression of RNA-binding protein (RBP) genes are highly associated with AML relapse and drug resistance in AML patients.