bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teledermatology in São Paolo, Brazil
Authors: Giavina-Bianchi Mara
Published: February 2022

Background

There are places in the world where access to dermatologists can be very challenging and general practitioners may not be well trained in the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions. Store-and-forward teledermatology may improve access to specialty care, provide accurate diagnoses, and reduce time to treatment, resulting in high patient satisfaction. The early detection and timely treatment of severe skin diseases could prevent adverse health outcomes and death. On the other hand, some skin conditions such as mild atopic dermatitis, acne, and fungal infections could be managed within primary care using teledermatology.

Objective

We aimed to (1) evaluate the proportion of individuals who could be assessed in primary care using teledermatology and how this affects the waiting time for an in-person dermatologist appointment and (2) assess the most frequent dermatoses according to demographic data and referrals made by the teledermatologist.

Methods

A cross-sectional retrospective study, involving 30,976 individuals and 55,624 skin lesions, was conducted from July 2017-July 2018 in the city of São Paulo. We assessed the frequency of diagnoses and referrals to biopsy, in-person dermatologists, or primary care, and compared the waiting time for an in-person dermatologist appointment before and after the teledermatology implementation.

Results

We found that 53% of the patients were managed by the primary care physician, 43% were referred to in-person dermatologists, and 4% were referred directly to biopsy, leading to a reduction in waiting time for in-person appointments of 78% when compared to the previous period (from 6.7 months to 1.5 months). The most frequent diseases were melanocytic nevus, seborrheic keratosis, acne, benign neoplasms, onychomycosis, atopic dermatitis, solar lentigo, melasma, xerosis, and epidermoid cyst, with significant differences according to sex, age, and referrals (Multimedia Appendix 1A,B).

Conclusions

The use of teledermatology as a triage tool significantly reduced the waiting time for in-person visits, improving health care access and using public resources wisely. Knowledge of sex, age, diagnoses, and treatment of common skin conditions can enable the creation of public policies for prevention and orientation of the population, as it can be used to train general physicians to address such cases.

Conflicts of Interest

None declared.
The Effect of Online Health Information Seeking on Physician-Patient Relationships: Systematic Review (Preprint)
Authors: Luo Aijing , Qin Lu , Yuan Yifeng , Yang Zhengzijin , Liu Fei , Huang Panhao , Xie Wenzhao
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

The internet has now become part of human life and is constantly changing people's way of life. With the increasing popularity of online health information (OHI), it has been found that OHI can affect the physician-patient relationship by influencing patient behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to systematically investigate the impact of OHI-seeking behavior on the physician-patient relationship.

METHODS

Literature retrieval was conducted on 4 databases (Web of Science, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, SinoMed), and the time limit for literature publication was before August 1, 2021.

RESULTS

We selected 53 target papers (42 [79%] English papers and 11 [21%] Chinese papers) that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 31 (58%) papers believe that patients’ OHI behavior can enable them to participate in their own medical care, improve patient compliance, and improve the physician-patient relationship. In addition, 14 (26%) papers maintain a neutral attitude, some believing that OHI behavior has no significant effect on doctors and patients and others believing that due to changes in the factors affecting OHI behavior, they will have a negative or a positive impact. Furthermore, 8 (15%) papers believe that OHI search behavior has a negative impact on doctors and patients, while 6 (11%) papers show that OHI reduces Chinese patients’ trust in doctors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our main findings showed that (1) OHI-seeking behavior has an impact on patients' psychology, behavior, and evaluation of doctors; (2) whether patients choose to discuss OHI with doctors has different effects on the physician-patient relationship; and (3) the negative impact of OHI on China’s internet users is worthy of attention. Due to the low quality of OHI, poor health information literacy, short physician-patient communication time, and various types of negative news, patients' trust in doctors has declined, thus affecting the physician-patient relationship. Improvement of people's health information literacy and the quality of OHI are important factors that promote the positive impact of OHI on the physician-patient relationship.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

RR2-#23354
Reducing Treatment Burden Among People With Chronic Conditions Using Machine Learning: Viewpoint (Preprint)
Authors: Nagra Harpreet , Goel Aradhana , Goldner Dan
Published: February 2022

UNSTRUCTURED

The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated multiple challenges within the health care system and is unique to those living with chronic conditions. Recent advances in digital health technologies (eHealth) present opportunities to improve quality of care, self-management, and decision-making support to reduce treatment burden and the risk of chronic condition management burnout. There are limited available eHealth models that can adequately describe how this can be carried out. In this paper, we define treatment burden and the related risk of affective burnout; assess how an eHealth enhanced Chronic Care Model can help prioritize digital health solutions; and describe an emerging machine learning model as one example aimed to alleviate treatment burden and burnout risk. We propose that eHealth-driven machine learning models can be a disruptive change to optimally support persons living with chronic conditions.
Using a Patient Portal to Increase Enrollment in a Newborn Screening Research Study: Observational Study (Preprint)
Authors: Gehtland Lisa M , Paquin Ryan S , Andrews Sara M , Lee Adam M , Gwaltney Angela , Duparc Martin , Pfaff Emily R , Bailey Jr Donald B
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Many research studies fail to enroll enough research participants. Patient-facing electronic health record applications, known as patient portals, may be used to send research invitations to eligible patients.

OBJECTIVE

The first aim was to determine if receipt of a patient portal research recruitment invitation was associated with enrollment in a large ongoing study of newborns (Early Check). The second aim was to determine if there were differences in opening the patient portal research recruitment invitation and study enrollment by race and ethnicity, age, or rural/urban home address.

METHODS

We used a computable phenotype and queried the health care system’s clinical data warehouse to identify women whose newborns would likely be eligible. Research recruitment invitations were sent through the women’s patient portals. We conducted logistic regressions to test whether women enrolled their newborns after receipt of a patient portal invitation and whether there were differences by race and ethnicity, age, and rural/urban home address.

RESULTS

Research recruitment invitations were sent to 4510 women not yet enrolled through their patient portals between November 22, 2019, through March 5, 2020. Among women who received a patient portal invitation, 3.6% (161/4510) enrolled their newborns within 27 days. The odds of enrolling among women who opened the invitation was nearly 9 times the odds of enrolling among women who did not open their invitation (SE 3.24, OR 8.86, 95% CI 4.33-18.13; P<.001). On average, it took 3.92 days for women to enroll their newborn in the study, with 64% (97/161) enrolling their newborn within 1 day of opening the invitation. There were disparities by race and urbanicity in enrollment in the study after receipt of a patient portal research invitation but not by age. Black women were less likely to enroll their newborns than White women (SE 0.09, OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.16-0.55; P<.001), and women in urban zip codes were more likely to enroll their newborns than women in rural zip codes (SE 0.97, OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.62-5.67; P=.001). Black women (SE 0.05, OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.57-0.78; P<.001) and Hispanic women (SE 0.07, OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.60-0.89; P=.002) were less likely to open the research invitation compared to White women.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient portals are an effective way to recruit participants for research studies, but there are substantial racial and ethnic disparities and disparities by urban/rural status in the use of patient portals, the opening of a patient portal invitation, and enrollment in the study.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03655223; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03655223
An Association of Influenza Epidemics in Children With Mobile App Data: Population-Based Observational Study in Osaka, Japan (Preprint)
Authors: Katayama Yusuke , Kiyohara Kosuke , Hirose Tomoya , Ishida Kenichiro , Tachino Jotaro , Nakao Shunichiro , Noda Tomohiro , Ojima Masahiro , Kiguchi Takeyuki , Matsuyama Tasuku , Kitamura Tetsuhisa
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Early surveillance to prevent the spread of influenza is a major public health concern. If there is an association of influenza epidemics with mobile app data, it may be possible to forecast influenza earlier and more easily.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess the relationship between seasonal influenza and the frequency of mobile app use among children in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study that was performed over a three-year period from January 2017 to December 2019. Using a linear regression model, we calculated the R2 value of the regression model to evaluate the relationship between the number of “fever” events selected in the mobile app and the number of influenza patients ≤14 years of age. We conducted three-fold cross-validation using data from two years as the training data set and the data of the remaining year as the test data set to evaluate the validity of the regression model. And we calculated Spearman correlation coefficients between the calculated number of influenza patients estimated using the regression model and the number of influenza patients, limited to the period from December to April when influenza is prevalent in Japan.

RESULTS

We included 29,392 mobile app users. The R2 value for the linear regression model was 0.944, and the adjusted R2 value was 0.915. The mean Spearman correlation coefficient for the three regression models was 0.804. During the influenza season (December–April), the Spearman correlation coefficient between the number of influenza patients and the calculated number estimated using the linear regression model was 0.946 (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the number of times that mobile apps were used was positively associated with the number of influenza patients. In particular, there was a good association of the number of influenza patients with the number of “fever” events selected in the mobile app during the influenza epidemic season.
Cybersecurity in Medicine: A Review (Preprint)
Authors: Dameff Christian , Selzer Jordan , Tully Jeffrey Logan
Published: February 2022

UNSTRUCTURED

The practice of medicine has become increasingly dependent on connected medical technology and nearly every clinical environment requires physicians to be proficient in using computerized workflows for patient care. Cyberattacks affecting healthcare delivery organizations (HDOs) have evolved in frequency, sophistication, and scale. These attacks often involve the theft of protected health information (PHI) and disrupt the function and availability of critical resources such as diagnostic technologies, therapeutic devices, and electronic health records (EHRs).

This review aims to describe cybersecurity threats as they impact the delivery of patient care by affecting the operational, financial, and clinical systems of HDOs and associated entities. It will highlight the challenges that remain in developing a database of evidence focused on classifying and comparing cybersecurity attacks by clinical relevance and effect on patient outcomes.

Attackers have focused on health care as a key sector of critical infrastructure because the opportunity for financial gain has been reliably demonstrated. That cyberattacks have continued, and in many cases been precisely targeted to affect hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrates the persistent and malicious nature of cybersecurity challenges.

The existing literature has discussed the theoretical clinical implications of vulnerabilities discovered in connected medical devices including insulin pumps and pacemakers, and media reports have prominently featured coverage of HDOs affected by cyberattacks. Yet there remains a paucity of data describing such events that can be used to quantitatively characterize effects on patient outcomes. The complex interplay of varying regulatory oversights, embryonic surveillance mechanisms, and organization-specific policies have made obtaining the data needed for formal epidemiological studies difficult. Despite these challenges, multiple United States government agencies, healthcare delivery organization industry groups, and healthcare advocacy groups have recognized cybersecurity threats as a key safety and operational concern worthy of expanded study and dedicated resources.
Changes in Resilience Following Engagement with A Virtual Mental Health System: A Real World Observational Study (Preprint)
Authors: Graziani Grant , Aylward Brandon , Kunkle Sarah , Shih Emily
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Digital health services can serve as scalable solutions to address the growing demand of mental health care, yet more research is needed to better understand the association between engagement with care and improvements in subclinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to fill this gap by studying the relationship between members’ engagement with the Ginger platform and changes in their psychological resilience.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study of 3,272 members who accessed Ginger, an on-demand mental health service, between January 2021 and November 2021. Each member completed the CD-RISC-10 questionnaire, a measure of psychological resilience, at baseline and then again during a 6 to 16 week follow-up window. Depression and anxiety symptoms (PHQ-9 and GAD-7) were also measured. Linear regressions were used to identify the association between engagement in Ginger’s multiple care modalities and changes in resilience. A moderator analysis was conducted to test whether clinical depression or anxiety at baseline is a moderator between engagement level and changes in resilience.

RESULTS

Of the 3,272 members, 82% reported low resilience at baseline. The mean change in resilience was 0.77 points (sd=5.50). Linear regression models show that age and census region do not predict changes in resilience; however, male members see larger improvements (coeff = 0.58, p < .05). Baseline mental health outcomes, including resilience and depression and anxiety symptoms, are stronger predictors of changes in resilience. Every point decrease in baseline resilience is associated with a 0.28 point increase in change in resilience (p < .01), and members with no or mild depression and anxiety at baseline saw a changes in resilience that were 1.44 points (p < .01) larger than their clinical counterparts. Engagement with the Ginger system predicted changes in resilience. Members who engaged with Ginger coaching, clinical services or both improved their resilience by 1.82, 1.55 and 1.40 points respectively (ps < .01) more than those who only engaged with Ginger content. Screening negative for moderate to severe depression and anxiety at baseline was associated with larger improvements in resilience (coeff= 1.30, p < .01); however, subclinical status was not shown to be a moderator for the association between level of engagement and changes in resilience.

CONCLUSIONS

Engagement with Ginger services was associated with improvements in resilience. Members who engaged with coaching or clinical care had significantly larger improvements compared to those who only engaged with self-guided content, regardless of whether a member screened positive for clinical depression or anxiety at baseline.
SPK PENENTUAN BANTUAN SUMUR BOR DENGAN METODE AHP
Authors: Setiawan Pamuji Pamuji , Ridhawati Eka , Nanda Nanda , Sucipto Sucipto
Published: February 2022

Air merupakan salah satu kebutuhan pokok kehidupan bagi makhluk hidup yang ada di bumi. Air yang digunakan untuk kebutuhan hidup sehari-hari khususnya untuk penyediaan air minum dan air bersih harus memenuhi persyaratan. Kebutuhan air bersih sangat berpengaruh pada kehidupan sekarang di mana kualitas pada air bersih jadi pertimbangan. Maka dari itu bagaimana mengetahui tingkat kadar salinitas pada sumur di desa Gunung sugih Kecamatan Kendondong Pesawaran. Luas nya desa sugih Kecamatan Kendondong Pesawarantidak memungkinkan mengambil data satu persatu di seluruh lokasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membangun suatu sistem Pendukung Keputusan penentuan bantuan sumur bor dengan Metode Analytical Hierarchy Process yang digunakan dengan meggunakan bahasa pemrograman PHP dengan MySQL sebagai database nya, sehingga admin mendapatkan kemudahan dalam proses perhitungan. Hasil pengujian sistem menunjukkan bahwa aplikasi ini layak dan dapat digunakan sebagai penentuan rekomendasi penentuan bantuan sumur bor.
Paraganglioma gigante extraadrenal: reporte de caso
Authors:   General and Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Jeri-McFarlane Sebastián , Alvarez-Segurado Cristina ,   General and Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Bonnin-Pascual Jaime ,   General and Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Jimenez-Segovia Marina ,   General and Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Mena-Ribas Elena ,   Endocrinology Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Gil-Catalan Alejandro ,   General and Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, González-Argente Xavier ,   General and Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Published: February 2022

Las masas que surgen de los paraganglios simpáticos y parasimpáticos extrasuprarrenales se clasifican como paragangliomas extrasuprarrenales. Los tumores pueden producir una hipersecreción de catecolaminas que generan una variedad de síntomas, que pueden ser letales si no se diagnostican. Deben realizarse pruebas químicas/hormonales adecuadas y una selección de estudios de imágenes para localizar y categorizar estas lesiones. La tríada clásica de síntomas compuesta por dolores de cabeza, palpitaciones y sudoración profusa combinada con niveles elevados de metanefrina o catecolaminas y la identificación de una masa suprarrenal o retroperitoneal es necesaria para un diagnóstico correcto. El tratamiento fundamental del fecromocitoma o paraganglioma es la resección quirúrgica y las imágenes preoperatorias son esenciales para definir el abordaje laparoscópico frente al abierto, así como para localizar el suministro vascular del tumor.
Sobre "linguagem e expressão na música"
Authors: Gatti Luciano
Published: February 2022

Comentário do texto apresentado por Ricardo Barbosa no X Encontro do GT de Estética da ANPOF.
A dimensão estética em tempos de contágio
Authors: Kangussu Imaculada
Published: February 2022

A partir do recurso às diversas formas de espetáculos como conforto à reclusão durante a quarentena imposta pela pandemia, refletimos sobre e colocamos mais questões do que respostas às necessárias narrativas imagéticas.
The double engines and single checkpoint theory of endometriosis
Authors: Hsu Che-Fang , Khine Aye Aye , Huang Hsuan-Shun , Chu Tang-Yuan
Published: February 2022

Endometriosis is a common chronic disease of women characterized by
ectopic localization of the endometrial tissue in the peritoneal cavity.
The pathogenesis of endometriosis closely resembles that of
gynecological cancers in ways of menstruation- and ovulation-driven,
wide intraperitoneal seeding, somatic hypermutation, and immune escape.
While retrograde menstruation is regarded as the primary cause of
endometriosis, the role of ovulation in the development of endometriosis
has long been overlooked. We present the double engines, one checkpoint
theory of the evolution of endometriosis. This new theory may lead to
new concepts and strategies for preventing and treating this disease.
Spatial monitoring of the courtship flight trajectory of Latham’s snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) using microphone arrays
Authors: Matsubayashi Shiho , Osaka Hideki , Suzuki Reiji , Nakadai Kazuhiro , Okuno Hiroshi
Published: February 2022

1. This study is the first to quantitatively measure of the courtship
flights of Latham’s snipe (Gallinago hardwickii), a migratory shorebird
on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which is nearly threatened in
their major breeding ground in Japan. 2. We localised the fine-scale
movements of their display flights performed at high altitude and high
speed, using a 16-channel microphone array, and assessed the direction
from which each sound arrived using robot audition. 3. Preliminary
analyses of the azimuthal and elevation angles of the display flights
partially revealed a fine-scale flight trajectory, in which a male
Latham’s snipe gradually gained elevation while vocalising sharp and
harsh repeating calls until it reached the flight peak elevation and
then dove down to the ground with a winnowing along wetland zones
without tall vegetation. 4. Not only is this observation
methodologically useful for better understanding Latham’s snipe display
flight site selection, but can also be extended to investigate other
rare nocturnal or crepuscular birds, that are too timid to risk ringing
or tagging.
CORNEAL CHANGES IN A SAMPLE OF PSEUDOEXFOLIATION IRAQI PATIENTS
Authors:   Dept. of Surgery, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq, Rasheed Ahmed , Kadum Diyar ,   Dept. Ibn Al-Haitham Teaching Eye Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq
Published: February 2022

Background: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is a common eye disorder that can affect different parts of the eye causing significant morbidity. Objective: To compare corneal endothelial changes between patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and normal age matched patients. Methods: Specular microscopy was used to measure central corneal thickness, average size of endothelial cells and coefficient of variation in cell area, endothelial cell density, as well as hexagonality of 238 eyes from 238 patients (120 eyes from patients with pseudo exfoliation syndrome and 118 eyes from normal age-matched patients). Results: Patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome had lower central corneal thickness (p value 0.049) compared to the control (491.6±28.86 vs 502.5±35.77 µm), lower endothelial cell density (p value 0.02) compared to control (2458.9±430.8 vs 2585.3±378.8 cell/mm2), lower hexagonality (P value 0.006) compared to control (48.25±18.76 vs 55.06±12,44), also a significantly higher coefficient of variation (p value 0.046) compared to control (36.15±7.381 vs 33.4±6.22). Conclusion: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is associated with a significant change in the corneal endothelium, including reduction of endothelial cell density, increased variation of cells shape (pleomorphism) and increased variation of cells area (polymegathism). There was a significant change of central corneal thickness. Keywords: Corneal endothelium, specular microscopy, pseudoexfoliation syndrome, central corneal thickness Citation: Rasheed AM, Kadum DJ. Corneal changes in a sample of pseudoexfoliation Iraqi patients. Iraqi JMS. 2018; 16(3): 232-238. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.16.3.2
DETECTION OF NEW DELHI METALLO-BETA-LACTAMASE-1 (BLANDM-1) IN CARBAPENEM-RESISTANT PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA ISOLATED FROM CLINICAL SAMPLES IN WASIT HOSPITALS
Authors:   Dept. of Bacteriology, Al-Zahraa Teaching Hospital, Wasit, Iraq, Hussein Zeyad , Kadhim Haider ,   Dept. of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq, Hassan Jabbar ,   Dept. of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
Published: February 2022

Background:Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infections are clinical problem, it is a difficult to treat because of high resistant to many antibiotics (Multi-drug resistant) and a high risk of emergence of resistance during therapy. Carbapenems are therapeutic choice against infections caused by Gram-negative bacilli including strains of P. aeruginosa. New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (blaNDM-1) gene, an acquired class B carbapenemase. Dissemination predominantly involves transfer of the blaNDM-1 gene among promiscuous plasmids and clonal outbreaks. Bacteria with NDM-1 are typically resistant to nearly all antibiotics. Objective:To detect blaNDM-1 in the isolates of P. aeruginosa, which were recovered from various clinical samples from hospitalized patients in Wasit hospitals. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 200 clinical samples were collected from three major hospitals in Wasit province. Samples were inoculated in Mackonkey and blood agar for primary isolation and then biochemical tests were used to confirm diagnosis of P. aeruginosa. The susceptibility test for 14 types of antibacterial drugs were tested by using disk diffusion method. Chromosomal and plasmid DNA were extracted by using special methods. Results: Out of 36 carbapenems resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) isolates, there were 18 isolates (50%) positive for blaNDM-1 gene. Conclusion: Rate of occurrence of blaNDM-1producers is highest among carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolated from clinical samples in Wasit hospitals. Therefore, its recognizable proof in clinical bacterial diseases will be suspected in any carbapenem resistance P. aeruginosa. Keywords: P. aeruginosa; carbapenems; metallo-β-lactamase; blaNDM-1 Citation: Hussein ZK, Kadhim HS, Hassan JS. Detection of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (blaNDM-1) in carbapenem-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical samples in Wasit hospitals. Iraqi JMS. 2018; 16(3): 239-246. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.16.3.3
PRE AND POST EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE LITHOTRIPSY (ESWL) URINE CULTURE AS A GUIDE FOR ANTIBIOTICS MANAGEMENT
Authors:   Dept. of Surgery, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq, Al-Anbary Laith , Khaleel Ahmed ,   Dept. Al-Imamein Al-Kadhimein Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq, Hassan Jabbar ,   Dept. of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
Published: February 2022

Background:The lifetime prevalence of kidney stone disease is estimated at 1-15%. The positive urine cultures can be obtained not only from Struvite stones, but also from calcium oxalate stones and also high levels of endotoxins are found both in infection stones (Struvite and carbonate apatite stones), and in non-infection stones. High concentrations of endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides) are thought to be released in the systemic circulation during stone treatment, inducing a systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) and this leads to urosepsis. Pre-Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) prophylactic antibiotics have an important role in reducing post-SWL infections, however, previous studies reported conflicting results. The issue of administering prophylactic antibiotics remains controversial in patients with sterile urine undergoing ESWL. Objective: To evaluate possible risk factors for post ESWL bacteriuria and consequently to identify patients with higher danger for urinary tract infection (UTI) or sepsis. Methods: Urine samples from 50 patients underwent ESWL, were collected by clean catch mid-stream urine collection method in sterile containers. Those patients were attending and admitting to Al-Imamein Al-Kadhimein Medical City during the period from October 2016 to January 2017. All patients had a urine culture performed before and after shock wave lithotripsy. Statistical analysis was performed with Epi-Info 7 and Excel programs. Statistical significance was evaluated using the Fisher's exact test with p <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 50 patients who underwent ESWL during; the 2- months study period was enrolled in the study. Thirty-three 33 (66%) out of 50 were men and 17 (34%) out of 50 were women. 10 (20%) of patients had hypertension and 5 (10%) had diabetes mellitus. Fifty urine samples were collected from patients enrolled in this were cultivated on blood and MacConkey agar Pre-and post-ESWL Regarding Pre-ESWL results revealed 14 (28%) were urine culture positive while 23 cases were post-SWL urine culture positive. Conclusion: Antibiotic prophylaxis is not justified without defined risk factors such as positive urine culture before ESWL, an external bladder catheter or nephrostomy tube and a history of infectious stones or recurrent urinary tract infection. Keywords: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), urine culture, renal stone and antibiotics Citation: Al-Anbary LA, Khaleel AA, Hassan JS. Pre and post extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) urine culture as a guide for antibiotics management. Iraqi JMS. 2018; 16(3): 289-297. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.16.3.8
A Hybrid Technique for Upward Stabilization and Control of Two Wheeled Self-Balancing Segway
Authors:   Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, Pakistan., khan Sajid Iran , Choudhry Muhammad Ahmad ,   Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, Pakistan., Ali Ahsan ,   Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, Pakistan., Shaikh Inam Ul Hasan ,   Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, Pakistan., Saleem Faisal ,   Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, Pakistan.
Published: February 2022

Two wheeled Self-Balancing Segway, which works on the principle of inverted pendulum, is naturally unstable, nonlinear, and under actuated system. Self-Balancing means the capability of the Segway to balance itself on two wheels without falling. Therefore, the system has to be controlled to reach stability in this unstable state. The two wheeled Segway is considered important due to its applications in daily life. In this paper, a hybrid control system is proposed for upward stabilization and control of two wheeled Segway. The control design approaches proposed in the literature for Segway result in a large control effort which requires high torque causing the saturation of actuator field and ultimately failure of the controller. Controller designed using the proposed approach is able to reduce the control effort by 64% compared to the ones available in literature. Moreover, controller designed through the proposed approach is able to improve disturbance rejection for both pitch and yaw angles of the Segway. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach over the ones available in the literature.
Critical Analysis of Multi Sectoral Policies related to Marble Industry in Pakistan
Authors:   National Institute of Urban Infrastructure and Planning University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan., Khan Irfan Ahmed , Rehan Rashid ,   National Institute of Urban Infrastructure and Planning University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan., Shahzada Khan ,   Department of Civil Engineering University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan., Ahmad Muhammad Imran ,   Department of Chemical Engineering University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar., Shah Attaullah ,   Karakorum International University Gilgit.
Published: February 2022

Incentive Based (IB) and Command and Control (CAC) instruments are identified in various legislative Acts and Policy documents based on the criteria of environmental economics. Despite the advantages of IB strategies the world of policy making is somewhat locked into the path of traditional approaches such as CAC and pose inertia to move forward in environmental policy making. An ethical shift is inevitable anywhere where there is a market failure and increased social costs and inefficiencies in government interventions to regulate the market. Regulations are discrete steps to address feedbacks in a complex system. Policy evaluation and testing criteria is used to evaluate and test the policies regulating marble extraction and processing in Pakistan. A set of policy and regulatory instruments are selected to be critiqued. The coexisting policy approaches found in the study shall be tested on system dynamics model for developing insights and long-term implications.
Effects on Compressive and Tensile Strength of Concrete by Replacement of Natural Aggregates with various Percentages of Recycled Aggregates
Authors:   Department of Civil Technology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan., Noshin Sadaf , Shahzad Aslam Muhammad ,   Department of Civil Technology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan., Kanwal Humaira ,   Department of Civil Technology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan, Adil Khan Muhammad ,   Department of Civil Technology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan., Ahmad Abrar ,   National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), Lahore, Pakistan.
Published: February 2022

Recycled aggregate concrete is required owing to environmental conservation and actual consumption of resources. In the construction industry, for the manufacturing of concrete the demand for replacement of ordinary aggregates by recycled aggregates has increased worldwide due to the large quantity of structure and destruction waste. The objectives of this research is to evaluate the effects of strength of concrete by replacing the normal crush with different percentages such as 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of recycled aggregates. To conduct this study, a total of 120 cylinders (60 for compression and 60 for splitting cylinder test) are casted with mixing ratio of 1:1.9:3.8 and water to cement ratio of 0.59 while curing is carried out for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Numerous laboratory tests are performed like workability test, compression tests and splitting tensile strength tests, to check and compare effects of the recycled aggregate concrete with reference mix M1 (0%RA). The results illustrate that the workability of concrete decreases when the quantity of recycled aggregates are increased due to more water absorbing capacity. Further, it is also perceived that the compressive strength of concrete is decreased by 3.8%, 5.7%, 12.9%, and 15.8% respectively at 28 days of curing by substituting coarse aggregates with various percentages such as 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of recycled aggregates as compared to reference concrete mix M1 (0% RA). Similarly, splitting tensile strength is also decreased when the quantity of recycled aggregates in ordinary concrete is increased. Moreover, this reduction in workability and strength of concrete is due to more water absorbing capacity of recycled aggregates. Hence it is concluded from the research that up to 25% replacement of natural aggregate with recycled aggregates, the recycled aggregate concrete is usually preferable to reduce the cost of construction as well as improve the environmental pollution issues. It is also observed that the splitting tensile strength of a concrete batch should vary between 9 – 11% of its respective compressive strength test results.
Modeling and simulation of the biosurfactant production by enzymatic route using xylose and oleic acid as reagents
Authors: Cansian Ana , Tardioli Paulo , Furlan Felipe , de Sousa
Published: February 2022

The biosynthesis of sugar esters, molecules with biosurfactant properties, can occur through the esterification of sugars with fatty acids by enzymatic catalysis. An alternative to reduce the impact of raw materials on the final biosurfactant production cost and the reuse of industrial waste is to use residues from vegetable oil industries as a source of free fatty acids, such as oleic acid, and lignocellulosic residues of 2G ethanol as a source of sugar (xylose). In this scenario, the present work aimed at modeling the biosurfactants production via heterogeneous biocatalysis using lipase, oleic acid, and xylose. Product separation and purification were performed using a sequence of precipitations (adding ethanol, water, and methyl ethyl ketone). The simulation was performed using the equation-oriented software EMSO (Environment for Modeling, Simulation, and Optimization), CAPE-OPEN compliant. The percentage of biosurfactants in the product was around 86%, with a recovery of 88% in the purification. Regarding the study of energy expenditure, a value of -604.1 kW of heat associated with cooling and a value of 137.6 kW associated with heating was observed. Developed mathematical models successfully described the process. The initial economic analysis of the process indicates a minimum biosurfactant selling price of US$ 72.37/kg.
Webinar: Upaya Mendukung Keberhasilan Pemberian ASI Eksklusif
Authors: Puspitasari Dyah Intan , Nurokhmah Siti , Rahmawaty Setyaningrum
Published: February 2022

Memberikan ASI eksklusif memiliki manfaat yang sangat besar bagi ibu dan juga bayi. Untuk mencapai target nasional (80%) cakupan ASI eksklusif, diperlukan berbagai upaya, salah satunya adalah dengan memberikan edukasi kesehatan. Pemberian edukasi bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan pemahaman agar nantinya kelompok sasaran ini dapat berperan aktif dalam mendukung keberhasilan ASI eksklusif. Kegiatan pengabdian dilakukan dengan memberikan edukasi melalui Webinar kepada masyarakat. Materi yang diberikan adalah kebijakan terkait ASI eksklusif, manfaat ASI, dan juga kiat menyusui pada ibu bekerja. Secara umum kegiatan berlangsung dengan lancar. Peserta memiliki antusias yang tinggi dalam mengikuti kegiatan tersebut dengan memberikan berbagai pertanyaan pada sesi diskusi. Pengetahuan peserta juga mengalami peningkatan secara signifikan (p=0,000) terlihat dari peningkatan nilai pretest dan posttest dari rata-rata 7,29 menjadi 8,55. Kegiatan Webinar series dengan tema yang mendukung praktek-praktek menyusui yang direkomendasikan dan terbentuknya komunitas yang mendukung ASI eksklusif diharapkan menjadi upaya tindak lanjut untuk mendukung keberhasilan ASI eksklusif.
Edukasi Pencegahan Diabetes Melitus Sejak Dini: Pengabdian Masyarakat di Pesantren Tahfidh Qur’an Nyamplungsari Pemalang Jawa Tengah
Authors: Isyti'aroh Isyti'aroh , Fijianto Dwi , Fara Alya , Cahya Syamilla Nur
Published: February 2022

Salah satu faktor pencetus penyakit diabetes melitus adalah pola hidup yang tidak sehat. Oleh karena itu pola hidup sehat harus diterapkan sejak dini agar terhindar dari penyakit diabetes melitus. Tujuan pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah memberikan pemahaman pentingnya pencegahan diabetes melitus sejak dini melalui edukasi pola hidup sehat. Metode pengabdian masyarakat melalui edukasi dengan sasaran santri dan pengelola Pondok Pesantren Tahfidh Qur’an Al Fath Nyamplungsari Pemalang sejumlah 31 peserta. Edukasi meliputi pengertian diabetes melitus, penyebab dan faktor resiko, tanda gejala, jenis diabetes melitus, prosesterjadinya penyakit, dan bagaimana pencegahan diabetes militus sejak dini. Metode edukasi dengan ceramah, diskusi, dan demonstrasi. Penilaian pemahaman dilakukan melalui tes tertulis sebelum dan sesudah edukasi. Hasil evaluasi menunjukkan ada peningkatan rata-rata nilai pemahaman dari 68,4 menjadi 83,2 (rentang nilai 10-100). Evaluasi proses menunjukkan keaktifan dari peserta edukasi dari awal sampa akhir kegiatan. Simpulan dari pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah edukasi dapat meningkatkan pemahaman tentang pencegahan diabetes melitus sejak dini.Disarankan agar edukasi pencegahan diabetes melitus dapat dilakukan sejak dini di sekolah tingkat dasar maupun menengah.
Anomalous Sorption of Neodymium and Praseodymium Ions by Intergel System Polyacrylic Acid Hydrogel – Poly-4-Vinylpyridine Hydrogel
Authors:   JSC “Institute of Chemical Sciences after A.B. Bekturov” 106, Sh. Valikhanov St., 050010 Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Jumadilov Talkybek , Kondaurov Ruslan ,   JSC “Institute of Chemical Sciences after A.B. Bekturov” 106, Sh. Valikhanov St., 050010 Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Imangazy Aldan ,   JSC “Institute of Chemical Sciences after A.B. Bekturov” 106, Sh. Valikhanov St., 050010 Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Khimersen Khuangul ,   Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University 13, Dostyk ave., 050010 Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Malimbayeva Zamira ,   Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University 99, Aiteke Bi St., 050000 Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan
Published: February 2022

This paper is devoted to study of sorption properties (sorption degree, polymer chain binding degree) of intergel system hydrogel of polyacrylic acid (hPAA) – hydrogel of poly-4-vinylpyridine (hP4VP) in relation to neodymium and praseodymium ions. It was found that remote interaction of the polymers in intergel pairs provides significant changes of the electrochemical and volume gravimetric properties. Strong increase of the swelling degree of hPAA is observed at the ratio 17%hPAA-83%hP4VP; significant increase of swelling degree of hP4VP is observed at the ratio 83%hPAA-17%hP4VP. Individual hydrogels of PAA and P4VP do not have sufficiently high sorption properties – sorption degree of neodymium and praseodymium ions is not higher than 65 %, polymer chain binding degree is not higher than 55 %. High ionization of hPAA and hP4VP due to remote interaction effect provides significant increase (up to 30 %) of the sorption properties. Maximum sorption of neodymium and praseodymium ions occurs at the ratios 83%hPAA-17%hP4VP and 50%hPAA-50%hP4VP (sorption degree is 93.5 % and 93.6 %, respectively). The highest values of polymer chain binding degree (in relation to neodymium and praseodymium ions) are observed at the ratios 83%hPAA-17%hP4VP and 50%hPAA-50%hP4VP – binding degree is 73.2 % and 75.4 %, respectively. Remote interaction provides possibilities for creation of innovative sorption technologies for selective sorption of aimed rare-earth elements.
Optimization of Epoxidation Palm-Based Oleic Acid to Produce Polyols
Authors:   School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang, 13 500 Permatang Pauh, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Jalil Mohd Jumain , Rasnan Nurul Hasna Asniera ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang, 13 500 Permatang Pauh, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Yamin Aliff Farhan Mohd ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang, 13 500 Permatang Pauh, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Zaini Mohd Saufi Md ,   Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Terengganu, Kampus Bukit Besi, 23200 Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia, Morad Norhasimah ,   School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains, Malaysia, Azmi Intan Suhada ,   School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Johor, 81750 Seri Alam, Johor, Malaysia, Mahadi Mahazmi Burhanudin ,   School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang, 13 500 Permatang Pauh, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Yeop Mohamad Zarqani ,   School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Johor, 81750 Seri Alam, Johor, Malaysia
Published: February 2022

Optimization of epoxidation by using response surface methodology (RSM) based on three-level three-factorial central composite design (CCD) was used. Response percentage of relative oxirane content (%RCO) was studied to determine the optimum reaction condition for production of polyols. The predicted value of model (85 %) was excellent in accordance to experimental value (81 %). All parameters (temperature, molar ratio of formic acid to oleic acid and molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide to oleic acid) were significant in influencing the course of epoxidation reaction (p < 0.05). The interaction between all parameters is also highly significant with p < 0.0001. Optimum reaction conditions obtained from RSM were as follows: the temperature 318 K, molar ratio of formic acid to oleic acid 1.64:1 and molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide to oleic acid 2:1. The epoxidation of palm oleic acid was carried out by using in situ performic acid. FTIR analysis showed the formation of epoxy functional groups at optimum reaction condition at the wavelength of 1340 cm-1. This epoxide group was used to produce polyols by using hydroxylation process and the polyols functional group was detected at the wavelength of 816 cm-1
Study on the Composition and Properties of Pyrolysis Pyrocondensate of Used Tires
Authors:   Lviv Polytechnic National University, 12 Bandery St., Lviv 79013, Ukraine, Hrynyshyn Ksenia , Skorokhoda Volodymyr ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University, 12 Bandery St., Lviv 79013, Ukraine, Chervinskyy Taras ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University, 12 Bandery St., Lviv 79013, Ukraine
Published: February 2022

A low-temperature pyrolysis, the target product of which is pyrocondensate, is one of the options for the recycling usedtires. The fractional composition and properties of pyrocondensate of rubber waste pyrolysis obtained at an industrial plant have been studied. The pyrocondensate was separated into gasoline, diesel fraction and residue. The composition and properties of obtained productswere determined using X-ray fluorescence analysis and IR spectroscopic studies.
The Role of Literature in Challenging Cultural Imperialism
Authors: Danail Akrm E.
Published: February 2022

The reality of cultural imperialism is a subject that has been extensively explored by many scholars. Many writers have written out their thoughts about this crucial topic. In this sense, it is imperative to understand that imperialism would not exist without the establishment of an Empire. However, all dominated territories have experienced a high level of cultural imperialism; and this structure has affected their lives, history, identity, uniqueness, and the way they live. The truth is that the superior force subjugates the weaker one and imposes its culture over it and this is where the theorization of cultural imperialism begins to come into form. However, this mindset of cultural imperialism has made the modern superpower to continue to influence the way other nations of the world live even without the cultural consensus. The expansion of the modern Empire brought about colonialism and eventually led to cultural imperialism. The writers have tried to write in a way that reflects the resistant spirit in which the literature is used in challenging this peculiar phenomenon. It is in this sense this study examines how literature becomes an effective weapon in challenging cultural imperialism—a new form of imperialist system that we experience in recent times.