bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical outcomes of bilateral lateral rectus recession versus unilateral recession and resection for the divergence excess type of intermittent exotropia
Authors: Han Mengya , Shen Tao , Wang Xiangjun , Yu Xinping , Zhu Binbin , Wen Yun , Yan Jianhua
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

To compare bilateral lateral rectus recession (BLR) with unilateral recession and resection (RR) for divergence excess intermittent exotropia (IXT).

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of 66 patients with divergence excess IXT who underwent either BLR or RR from January 2013 to December 2020 was conducted. Data on demographics, pre- and postoperative deviations, fusion, stereopsis, control, and accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio were collected. Success was defined as esodeviation ≤5 PD (prism diopter) to exodeviation ≤10 PD with a follow-up time of at least 8.0 ± 2.0 weeks.

Results:

BLR (42 cases) and RR (24 cases) groups had the same success rate (83.3%, P = 0.688) and similar reduced postoperative deviations both in distance and at near (P > 0.05). Near-distance disparity decreased significantly in both groups (P = 0.000) with no intergroup difference (P = 0.193).

Conclusion:

BLR and RR were equally effective for divergence excess IXT with comparable outcomes of both distance and near deviations.
Role of additional posterior barrage laser in type 1 zone 2 retinopathy of prematurity: A randomized trial
Authors: Regani Harika , Chandra Parijat , Kumawat Devesh , Chawla Rohan , Agarwal Ramesh , Vohra Rajpal
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

The efficacy of additional barrage laser posterior to ridge in advanced stage 3 or stage 4 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is established, but its role in early stages is not defined. The objective was to study the efficacy of additional posterior barrage laser in type I zone 2 disease.

Methods:

In a randomized trial, patients with type I zone 2 ROP were recruited between February 2016 and May 2017. One eye of each baby was randomized into study and control groups, respectively. Laser photocoagulation anterior to ridge was given in the control group, and additional posterior barrage laser was performed in the study group. The outcome measures were time to complete ridge regression and final cycloplegic refraction at 3 months post-laser.

Results:

Forty patients (40 eyes per group) completed the required follow-up. The mean birth weight and gestational age were 1357 ± 338 g and 29.72 ± 2.57 weeks, respectively. The mean post-conceptional age during laser was 36.67 ± 3.23 weeks. The number of eyes achieving ridge regression in control and study groups was 8/40 (20%) and 27/40 (67%) at 2 weeks (P = 0.001) and 39/40 (97%) and 40/40 (100%) at 4 weeks (P = 0.4). The mean time to complete ridge regression was 3.74 ± 1.17 weeks and 2.62 ± 0.91 weeks in control and study groups, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean spherical equivalent at 12 weeks in control and study groups was -1.9 ± 2.3 Diopters and -2.4 ± 2.6 Diopters, respectively (P = 0.41).

Conclusions:

Additional posterior barrage laser leads to significantly faster regression of type 1 zone 2 ROP without increasing induced myopia and thereby might be a useful adjunct to conventional treatment in selected cases.

Trial registration number:

CTRI/2018/05/013779
Examination under anesthesia: Preferred Practice
Authors: Dhillon Hennaav Kaur , Agarkar Sumita , Vijaya Lingam , Bhende Muna , Baskaran Mani , Jaichandran VV
Published: October 2023

Pediatric ocular examinations are often a challenge in the outpatient setting due to limited cooperation of the child. Hence an evaluation under anesthesia (EUA) or sedation is important for a holistic ophthalmic examination. It can be combined with short procedures, such as suture removal and corneal scrappings, both for diagnosis and for the management of several ophthalmic disorders. It can also be performed before planning a surgical intervention to record the baseline characters and formulate or refine a surgical plan. Every EUA must be used as a chance to perform a complete ophthalmic examination rather than perform a single task such as recording the intraocular pressure. This article aims to provide a protocol that can be followed for a complete EUA.
Comparison of micropulse subthreshold laser plus anti-VEGF versus anti-VEGF alone in diabetic macular edema: Systematic review
Authors: Lubis Parangeni M , Prabaniswara Marcelius P , Victor Andi Arus
Published: October 2023

Intravitreal injection of anti- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)is commonly used to treat patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). However, the injection alone requires high cost and compliance. Combining micropulse subthreshold laser (MPSL) and anti-VEGF is a new approach to treating DME. This study intended to answer the question of whether MPSL plus anti-VEGF is effective compared to anti-VEGF alone. The following terms were used in PubMed, clinicaltrial.gov, and Google Scholar: anti-VEGF, DME, MPSL, and diabetic retinopathy. All studies of DME comparing the intervention of MPSL plus anti-VEGF and VEGF alone between the years 2017–2021 were included. Studies with no comparison between the intervention and control group, abstract-only papers, case reports, case series, and systematic review studies were excluded. Five Randomized Controlled Trial (RCTs) and three retrospective studies were analyzed. Four studies found that best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved in both therapies. Central macular thickness in six studies was also improved. The improvement differences between both therapies were insignificant and the number of anti-VEGF injections was significantly lower in combination therapy. These studies show equal outcomes of both therapies. The reduced number of anti-VEGF injections of the combination therapy could improve the management of DME in terms of cost-effectiveness. Further analysis should be conducted to pool the data from the studies and evaluate the overall outcome.
Isogeny graphs on superspecial abelian varieties: eigenvalues and connection to Bruhat–Tits buildings
Authors: Aikawa Yusuke , Tanaka Ryokichi , Yamauchi Takuya
Published: October 2023

We study for each fixed integer
$g \ge 2$
, for all primes
$\ell $
and p with
$\ell \neq p$
, finite regular directed graphs associated with the set of equivalence classes of
$\ell $
-marked principally polarized superspecial abelian varieties of dimension g in characteristic p, and show that the adjacency matrices have real eigenvalues with spectral gaps independent of p. This implies a rapid mixing property of natural random walks on the family of isogeny graphs beyond the elliptic curve case and suggests a potential construction of the Charles–Goren–Lauter-type cryptographic hash functions for abelian varieties. We give explicit lower bounds for the gaps in terms of the Kazhdan constant for the symplectic group when
$g \ge 2$
. As a byproduct, we also show that the finite regular directed graphs constructed by Jordan and Zaytman also has the same property.
Universal spaces for asymptotic dimension via factorization
Authors: Dydak Jerzy , Levin Michael , Siegert Jeremy
Published: October 2023

The main goal of this paper is to construct universal spaces for asymptotic dimension by generalizing to the coarse context an approach to constructing universal spaces for covering dimension using a factorization result due to Mardesic.
Factors Influencing Patient Waiting Time in Emergency Department of Khunyangu Sub-County Hospital, Busia Kenya
Authors: Shisundi Prudencia Yawetsi , Ochanda Damaris A. , Nyangena Elijah
Published: October 2023

Background: Waiting time remains an important indicator of quality health services. The emergency department is the most critical area  of any hospital. For patients who are in urgent need of hospitalization, delayed admission often leads to exacerbation of the patient's  condition and may threaten the patient's life. In recent years, the flow of patients to the Emergency Departments of Western countries  has steadily increased thus generating overcrowding and extended waiting times. Developing countries face daily challenges in the  Emergency Department through huge exposure to several patients seen per day on average. The study therefore sought to establish  factors influencing patient waiting time in the emergency department of Khuyangu Sub-County Hospital, Busia Kenya.

Material and  Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional research design guided the conduct of this study. Data collection was conducted on 191 patients  and healthcare workers over four weeks using an interviewer-administered pretested structured questionnaire. Both descriptive statistics  and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. To establish associations between the independent variable and  dependent variables, correlations and cross-tabulations were used. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the influence of  independent variables on the dependent variable.

Findings: The findings demonstrated an R-squared value of 0.368. It was observed that  there was a weak positive correlation that was statistically significant (r=.281, N=191, p=.000) between the availability of healthcare  workers at their workstations and waiting time. There was a weak positive correlation that was also statistically significant (r=.228, N=191,  p=.002) between communication on waiting time in areas where there was no health worker to attend to the patient and the waiting  time.

Conclusion and recommendations: The findings can be used to develop waiting time guidelines and improve waiting in the ED.  This study recommends that hospital management should address the identified causes of delay to enable patients to get timely services.  In addition, healthcare workers should be available at their workstations. Additional research is necessary to further evaluate  the impact and utility of the emergency department.
Exacerbation of Symptoms of Renal Toxicity by Aqueous Extract of Cyperus esculentus in a Gentamicin Nephrotoxicity Model
Authors: Adebisi I.M. , Mahmud M. , Ibrahim Y.A. , Ugwah-Oguejiofor C.J. , Sulaiman A.A. , Umar M.
Published: October 2023

Oxidative stress plays a central role in the mechanism of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. The antioxidant properties of Cyperus esculentus (CE) have been reported. This study aimed to explore its potential in ameliorating symptoms of nephrotoxicity in a gentamicin-induced model. Tubers of CE were extracted with distilled water. Phytochemical analysis was done using standard protocols. Twenty-five male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups of five animals each and treated for 8 days: Group I received normal saline, Group II (Gentamicin group)-gentamicin 80 mg/kg + distilled water, Group III-V were administered 80 mg/kg gentamicin +100, 200 and 400 mg/kg CE respectively 1 hour after gentamicin treatment. The rats were anesthetized and blood was collected via cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis. The gentamicin group showed significant increase in serum urea and creatinine levels compared to the control group. Cyperus esculentus resulted in a further elevation of these parameters in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in serum potassium and a significant decrease in bicarbonate at 400 mg/kg CE. Histological results further buttressed the biochemical findings. In conclusion, oral administration of Cyperus esculentus in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity resulted in a further elevation in serum levels of urea, creatinine, and potassium as well as a decrease in serum bicarbonate, and failed to protect against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.
Phytochemistry, Proximate Analysis and Acute Toxicity Study of Ethanolic Moringa Oleifera Root Bark Extract.
Authors: Nimyel C D , Lori J A
Published: October 2023

Moringa Oleifera is a fast growing deciduous tree with its different plant parts commonly used in herbal medicine, also with good socio-economic and industrial values. The ethanolic extract of M.Oleifera root bark is shown to be rich in nutrients, owing to the presence of essential phytochemicals in the root bark. The phytochemicals or secondary metabolites of the ethanolic extract of the root bark were screened and identified. Also, acute toxicity study of the ethanolic extract of the root bark was carriedout in Albino Rats according to Institutional Animal Care and Use (IACU) guidelines. The fresh M.Oleifera root was harvested at the inception of the rainy season at Pil Gani District of Langtang North LGA and excess soil washed off as the root bark was properly peeled, air dried, pulverized to powdered form and stored for subsequent use. Serial extractions using water, acetone, ethanol, and ethyl acetate were carriedout by Simple Maceration. The ethanolic extract was seen to have the best yield of the phytochemicals qualitatively identified as tannins, saponins, carbohydrates, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, terpenes, cardiac glycosides and anthraquinones. Acute toxicity test was determined by Lorke’s method and the LD50 was shown to be at the highest limit dose of 5000mg/kg, which signifies that the extract is non toxic at such single dosage. The ethanolic M.Oleifera root bark extract contains nutritive phytochemicals with vast medicinal uses. No sign of acute toxicity was observed on oral administration as the median lethal dose was shown to be safe at the highest limit single dose of 5000mg/kg.
GC-MS and Spectrophotometric Quantitative Phytochemical Analysis of Bioactive Phytochemicals in Ethylacetate Extract Of Leaves Of Ficus exasperata Vahl: A Further Evidence For Its Medicinal Diversity
Authors: Mohammed R S , Kntapo F M , Yagana B A , Saidu G , Abah J O
Published: October 2023

The GC-MS and phytochemical analysis of ethylacetate leaves extract of Ficus Exasperata Vahl was carried out. GC-MS Analysis revealed 23 constituents in which they were all identified. The major constituents were three(3) compounds with percentage peak areas of 23.20%(1- Nonadecane), 15.88%(1-Pentadecane) and 11.48%(Behenic alcohol), other constituents less than ten percentage peak area are 4.51%(1-Dodecanol, 3.56%(2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione,2,6-bis(1,1-d), 5.17%( Isopropyl myristate), 4.27%(n-hexadecanoic acid), 6.49%(Behenic alcohol), 4.91%(Oleic acid), 4.25%(propanoic acid, decyl ester), 2.89%(Octacosanol), 3.07%( Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate while other constituents were less than 2%. Spectroscopic quantitative phytochemical analysis of the Ethylacetate Extract of Leaves of Ficus Exasperata was found to contain 16.18mg/g (Alkaloids), 3.78mg/g (Steroids), 85.13mg/g (Flavonoids) and 268.18mg/g (Phenolics).
Comparative analysis of deep learning techniques based COVID-19 impact assessment on electricity consumption in distribution network
Authors: Amole A. O. , Oladipo S. , Ighravwe D. , Makinde K. A. , Ajibola J.
Published: October 2023

Energy is a fundamental human need for several activities. Energy can be impacted by several factors ranging from technical to social and environmental. The impact of COVID-19 outbreak on the energy sector is enormous with serious global socioeconomic disruptions affecting all economic sectors, including tourism, industry, higher education, and the electricity industry. Based on the unstructured data obtained from Eko Electricity Distribution Company this paper proposes three deep learning (DL) models namely: Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Simple Recurrent Neural Network (SimpleRNN), and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) were used to analyse the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on energy consumption and predict future energy consumption in various district in Lagos, Nigeria. The models were evaluated using the following performance metrics namely: Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). On overall, the lowest MAPE, MAE, RMSE, and MSE of 0.120, 71.073, 93.981, and 8832.466 were obtained for LSTM in Orile, SRNN in Ijora, and GRU in Ijora, respectively. Generally, the GRU performed better in predicting energy consumption in most of the districts of the case study than the LSTM and SimpleRNN. Hence, GRU model can be considered the optimal model for energy consumption prediction in the case study. The importance of having this model is that it can help the government and other stakeholders in economic planning of electricity distribution networks.
„Złotodajna” makulatura. Na marginesie badań nad polskimi wydaniami modlitewnika Hortulus animae
Authors: Krzak-Weiss Katarzyna
Published: October 2023

“Golden” Wastepaper. On the Margins of Research on Polish Editions of the Hortulus animae Prayer Book

Research on binding wastepaper has a long tradition in Poland, dating back to the 1820s, and the result is the discovery of fragments of many valuable manuscripts and prints. This article is devoted to the discoveries made, among others, by Władysław Nehring, Kazimierz Piekarski and Anna Lewicka-Kamińska, the fruit of which were previously unknown editions of the popular prayer book Hortulus animae, found and preserved only in the fragments they discovered. The most groundbreaking was Nehring’s find, thanks to which eight pages of the first Polish edition of Hortulus were published, but the importance of the remaining ones cannot be overestimated. It is noteworthy that out of eleven (certain and highly probable) editions, dating back to the first half of the 16th c., as many as six are known only thanks to single sheets extracted from their bindings.
Zespół elektrowni Państwowej Wytwórni Prochu i Materiałów Kruszących w Zagożdżonie-Pionkach
Authors: Tucholski Zbigniew , Kozak Bartosz
Published: October 2023

The Power Plant Complex of the State Powder and Crushing Materials Factory in Zagożdżon-Pionki

The article describes the former power plant complex at the State Powder and Crushing Materials Factory in Zagożdżon (now Pionki), dating back to the mid-1920s. It begins with an introduction outlining the company’s history, followed by a presentation of the history of the power plant and accompanying facilities, with a focus on the evolution of technical equipment and related architectural layers. Subsequently, an analysis of the architectural form of the complex is conducted, aiming to determine the historical value of the objects. Finally, the article describes the complex’s current state of preservation, its evaluation, and conservation recommendations.
Studia medyczne Jana Jaśkiewicza na Uniwersytecie Wiedeńskim (1766/1767–1775)
Authors: Wójcik Andrzej J. , Siembab Mateusz
Published: October 2023

Jan Jaśkiewicz’s Medical Studies at the University of Vienna (1766/1767–1775)

During the Age of Enlightenment, many Poles pursued medical studies at various European universities. One of them was Jan Dominik Piotr Jaśkiewicz. Born on 6 July 1749 in Lviv to an Armenian family, he moved to Vienna in the late 1760s to study medicine at the university under the supervision of renowned professors: Anton de Haën, Heinrich Johann Nepomuk von Crantz, Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin, and others. Jaśkiewicz graduated in 1775 with a Doctor of Medicine degree, based on the thesis titled “Dissertatio inauguralis medica sistens pharmaca regni vegetabilis”, in which he provided a list, description, and healing properties of some plant species, arranged according to the systematics of Carl von Linnè (Linnaeus). Through his dissertation, Jaśkiewicz popularized in Poland the views of the Viennese medical school, among others, on the medical use of digitalis. For some time he remained in Vienna, attempting to secure a suitable position. Between 1780 and 1783, Jaśkiewicz expanded his knowledge of nature through travels to Italy, Germany, and France. After presenting his mineralogical observations in Paris, Jaśkiewicz was appointed as a correspondent member of the Paris Academy of Sciences. It was during this time in Paris that Jaśkiewicz met Jan Śniadecki, who later became his friend, colleague, and patient. Subsequently, Hugo Kołłątaj appointed Jaśkiewicz as a professor of natural history and chemistry at the Crown’s Main School in Kraków (Jagiellonian University). He began his lectures in Kraków on 1 October 1783. It should be emphasized that Jaśkiewicz laid the foundations for Polish scientific vocabulary. He also played a crucial role in establishing a chemical laboratory and organizing a botanical garden and a cabinet of natural history. In February 1783, Jaśkiewicz took on the position of a hospital physician (director) at the St. Barbara Academic Hospital, where he focused on organizing the hospital’s finances and management. Around the same time, he declined additional remuneration for this role. In 1787, Jaśkiewicz assumed the duties of the house physician for the Wielopolski margrave in Pińczów. Jaśkiewicz died in Kraków on 14 November 1809. Throughout his life, he was an active physician and performed his medical career independently of other duties. Jaśkiewicz gained considerable recognition and popularity for his achievements in the medical field.
Działalność Pracowni Historii Nauk Przyrodniczych i Medycznych Instytutu Historii Nauki PAN w 2022 r.
Authors: Arabas Iwona
Published: October 2023

Research Activity of the History of Natural and Medical Sciences Research Unit at the Institute for the History of Science PAS in 2022

In 2022, the History of Natural and Medical Sciences Research Unit comprised nine employees who engaged in various collaborative activities. They embarked on a series of projects, including the creation of a virtual museum called ‘The Lost Collection: Cabinet of Natural History of Duchess Anna Jabłonowska (1728–1800) in Podlasie’, organizing the International Conference on Medicinal Plants in Science and Culture (supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education and Science – Perfect Science), conducting monthly seminars on the History of Natural and Medical Sciences, and holding doctoral seminars within the series ‘Polish Medical Press and Official Archives as Historical Sources in Research on Health and Disease in the 19th and 20th Centuries’. Individually, team members had significant achievements, which have been documented in numerous publications. Additionally, their valuable contribution extended to active involvement in the editorial offices of the Institute’s journals published by the Institute.
Działalność Pracowni Naukoznawstwa Instytutu Historii Nauki PAN w 2022 r.
Authors: Kokowski Michał , Kozłowska Dorota , Hübner Mateusz
Published: October 2023

Research Activity of the Science Studies Research Unit at the Institute for the History of Science PAS in 2022

The article discusses the activities and the most significant achievements of the Science Studies Research Unit at the Institute for the History of Science PAS in 2022.
Działalność Pracowni Historii Techniki Instytutu Historii Nauki PAN w 2022 r.
Authors: Kozak Bartosz
Published: October 2023

Research Activity of the History of Technology Research Unit at the Institute for the History of Science PAS in 2022 The article presents the research areas and scientific achievements of the members of the History of Technology Research Unit in 2022. Their research covered a diverse range of topics within the history of science, technology, and economic history, spanning from the 17th to the 20th c. Some of these issues were analyzed from environmental and sociological perspectives. The investigated topics included the history of railroad transportation and inland navigation, the environmental history of Polesie, economic activity in the Old Polish Industrial District, the history of cinematography, and the presentation of achievements of noteworthy scientists and inventors. Additionally, the Unit actively engaged in initiatives to support the preservation of technical cultural heritage, creating a substantial foundation that facilitated the legal protection of objects of historical value. Through its multidirectional scope, the research highlights the importance of studying the history of technology and economic developments in shaping our understanding of global history.
Salud mental y pandemia COVID-19 en comunidades yucatecas: la importancia de los factores sociodemográficos
Authors: Estrella Castillo Damaris Francis , Rubio Zapata Héctor Armando , Gómez-De Regil Lizzette
Published: October 2023

El objetivo fue analizar la relación entre algunas variables sociodemográficas y la salud mental de personas en época de pandemia por COVID-19, en comunidades del interior del estado de Yucatán. Los participantes respondieron si habían tenido el antecedente de COVID-19 y si presentaban nerviosismo o intranquilidad, ansiedad y conflictos familiares, además de otras variables. Para la presencia de ansiedad resultaron factores protectores: ser hombre y saber leer, y como factor de riesgo, hablar maya y la edad. La única variable relacionada con haber percibido confictos familiares durante la pandemia fue la edad. Podemos decir las emociones que presentaron las personas durante la pandemia por COVID-19, estuvieron influenciadas por diferentes factores. Los hombres y quienes sabían leer habían referido menos nerviosismo, intranquilidad y ansiedad. Por otra parte el idioma resultó importante ya que hablar maya fue relacionado con ansiedad. La pandemia de COVID-19 fue un disruptor que modificó la vida de las personas aumentando la incidencia de enfermedades mentales, que deben ser atendidas para mejorar la calidad de vida de las comunidades yucatecas.
Descripción de la agrobiodiversidad en comunidades rurales de doce municipios de la zona centro del estado de Yucatán, México
Authors: Chávez Moreno Carla Karina , Cortes Canto Paola , Canul Pacheco Teresita de Jesús , Gómez Rodríguez Ana Paula
Published: October 2023

En este capítulo se presentan los elementos que describen la agrobiodiversidad de doce municipios del área rural de Yucatán. Estos municipios se localizan en una franja al centro del estado y comparten diferentes características por su localización geográfica. Esta zona se encuentra conformada principalmente por selva tropical que se combina con asentamientos humanos. El trabajo que se realiza en estas unidades de economía campesina, es predominantemente de carácter familiar e integra: la agricultura, el cultivo de la milpa, el solar, el huerto, la apicultura, y el aprovechamiento de los recursos locales para la construcción de viviendas, elaboración de artesanías, trabajos de calzado, urdido de hamacas, preparación de medicinas tradicionales y materiales para realizar rituales ceremoniales propios de la cultura maya. En este capítulo se busca reconocer la gran diversidad de especies principalmente, de flora y fauna que conforman la agrobiodiversidad de esta parte del estado de Yucatán. A lo largo del capítulo se muestran elementos que forman la gran diversidad de especies animales y vegetales de la región, con la particularidad de que cada especie presenta variabilidad al interior de las misma, como son los casos del maíz y el frijol.
Women's Representation in Pond's Age Miracle Advertisement “Perawatan Esktra untuk Kamu yang Luar Biasa” version on Youtube
Authors: Rahmawati Fani Sania , An Nur Fitrinanda , Deslia Iva Fikrani
Published: October 2023

This research aims to esxplanation about women representation in Youtube channel. This research is a qualitative research, using qualitative analysis methods. Data collection techniques in this study using observations in the form of observations made at every place contained in advertisements, documentation, and literature studies, where the results of data collection will then be processed by researchers to obtain accurate and appropriate results. Age Miracle The version of "Perawatan ekstra untukmu yang luar biasa", women are represented as extraordinary figures, women are shown as active, independent, able to carry out activities outside the home, can work in the public sphere, can develop various skills and potentials. . but broadly speaking, this ad directs women to return to the domestic sector, as well as women's beauty
Efficacy of a formalin-inactivated vaccine against Lactococcus garvieae infection in golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus
Authors: Lv Jing , Yang Lindi , Li Yanping , Yang Shiping , Cai Shuanghu , Jian Jichang , Huang Yucong
Published: October 2023

Lactococcus garvieae is one of the primary pathogens causing the severe disease to golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). Vaccination is the most effective measure of preventing the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases. However, no commercially available vaccine protects T. ovatus against L. garvieae infection. In the present study, the formalin-inactivated L. garvieae vaccines, consisting of bacterin alone (aqueous vaccine) and combined with oil adjuvant Montanide™ ISA 763 A VG (vaccine+763A), were prepared and administered to T. ovatus by intraperitoneal injection. The protective efficacy was evaluated by testing the relative percent survival (RPS), serum enzyme activity, and expression levels of immune-related genes in the tissues of T. ovatus after immunization. The results indicated that the relative percentage survival (RPS) values of aqueous vaccine and vaccine+763A were 80% and 90.8% at 8 weeks post-vaccination. The level of antibody titer, lysozyme activities, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the two vaccinated fish groups increased significantly compared to that in the control group. Moreover, the expression levels of immune-related genes IgM, TNF-α, IL-8, MHCI-α, MHCII, CD4, CD8α, and IL-1β in all the tested tissues from T. ovatus were significantly enhanced after inoculation with aqueous vaccine and vaccine+763A. These findings demonstrated that the developed vaccine combined with oil adjuvant ISA 763 A VG improved immune responses and provided good protective efficacy against L. garvieae infection in the golden pompano culture.
Refining Connection through Detachment: Deictic Shifts in Elizabeth Bishop’s Poems
Authors:   60 Xinghaidong Road, University Town, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511400, China Primary School Affiliated to Guangzhou University, Fu Meiling
Published: October 2023

Elizabeth Bishop’s poems are characterized by the observer’s detachment in the description. In her poems, the observer usually concentrates on the details of object s and tries to rise above the immediate context , thus refining a new connection between self and the world. By analyzing the spatial and relational shift s in Bishop’s poe ms, this study argues that the dei ctic shift not only presents the change of cognition in the observer’s mind but also helps the observer shape the perception and enter into the imagined world.
An Experiential Exploration of a Quality-Based Framework for Knowledge Co-Production
Authors: Garwe Evelyn Chiyevo
Published: October 2023

This paper introduces a quality-based conceptual framework for planning and conducting research and developmental projects within the knowledge co-production continuum. The paper uses a longitudinal self-study methodology to analyse six case studies over a decade and identify comparative and cumulative trends. The analysis shows the importance of inputs, processes, and outputs in knowledge co-production and reveals intangible benefits such as deep engagement and capacity strengthening relationships. The paper also demonstrates how diverse teams can effectively convert tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge through knowledge co-production. The paper adopts an innovative approach of cross-linking cases along a timeline to provide insights into comparative and cumulative trends and suggests future research directions to explore the interconnections among the framework’s components. The paper argues that the careful design of inputs and processes is essential for successful knowledge co-production outcomes and that the proposed framework can be applied to address complex developmental issues. The paper contributes a novel conceptual framework and a unique cross-linking approach, offering a comprehensive and practical tool for researchers and practitioners.
 
Received: 5 September 2023 | Revised: 27 September 2023 | Accepted: 18 October 2023
 
Conflicts of Interest
The author declares that she has no conflicts of interest to this work.
 
Data Availability Statement
The data that support this work are available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.
 
Author Contribution Statement
Evelyn C. Garwe: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration.
Spatio-Temporal Attributes of Varicella-Zoster Case Number Trends Assist with Optimizing Machine Learning Predictions
Authors: Wood David A.
Published: October 2023

The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) (chickenpox) is a problematic infectious disease with regular outbreaks occurring seasonally in most countries. Being able to predict with accuracy the expected number of cases in future weeks based on historical case trend information is an important goal both locally and nationally. Space and time-related attributes extracted from the case number trends for the previous 12 weeks of historical VZV cases recorded in Hungary. These attributes are able to generate reliable predictions for expected VZV cases for multiple weeks ahead. Supervised machine learning (SML) combined with feature selection optimizers can identify combinations of the most effective of 15 local trend time-series attributes supported. These features are complemented with an additional 10 regional trend attributes providing the spatial dimension. The most practical combination of influential trend attributes varies depending on the number of weeks ahead being forecast. SML models are developed using weekly VZV case data (2005–2014) for the regions of Hungary focusing on the region of Komarom-Esztergom (Kom) northwest of Budapest. SML predictions for up to 4 weeks ahead are most strongly influenced by the local time-series attributes including moving averages (MAs) and seasonality components from recently past weeks. However, for predictions further forward (up to 13 weeks) the SML models also exploit regional trend attributes related to recent past rate-of-change in VZV case numbers to provide effective predictions. The proposed trend-attribute method provides more accurate case predictions than the commonly used univariate case-forecasting methods relying on MA and autoregressive integrated moving models. The applied method also provides a means of data mining the most influential trend attributes and the time ranges of their effectiveness. The flexibility and transparency of the technique provide a robust method that could be applied for forecasting short-term epidemiological case numbers associated with other infectious diseases.
 
Received: 3 September 2023 | Revised: 4 October 2023 | Accepted: 19 October 2023
 
Conflicts of Interest
The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest to this work.
 
Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in UC Irvine Machine Learning Repository at https://doi.org/10.24432/C5103B
"As almas da nação": o espiritismo, a geração de 1870 e as "questões sociais" na passagem do império para a República no Brasil
Authors: Da Conceição Paulo
Published: October 2023

O espiritismo é uma doutrina filosófico-religiosa que surge em 1857 na França, com a publicação do Livro dos Espíritos por “Allan Kardec”, pseudônimo do pedagogo francês Hippolyte-Léon Denizard Rivail. O objetivo deste artigo é identificar como se deu o surgimento do movimento espírita no Brasil e qual sua relação com as mudanças políticas e culturais que o país enfrentou especialmente pós-1870, período conhecido como as “questões sociais” do século XIX: especificamente, o abolicionismo e o republicanismo. Trabalharemos a relação entre os espíritas e o movimento espírita com essas questões, assim como o contato de setores da nossa intelligentsia - envolvidos nas lutas por implementar essas mudanças - e o espiritismo, por meio do estudo dos textos, livros e artigos de autores espíritas e de estudiosas(os) do tema que abordam o momento histórico em questão. Argumentamos que esse contato foi importante para essas vanguardas devido ao movimento espírita ter fornecido não só suporte ideológico e doutrinário, mas também por ter sido o um lugar de encontro de intelectuais das mais variadas tendências – e mesmo partidos políticos – que buscavam as contribuições doutrinárias do espiritismo para as lutas a que se engajavam.
Contra o etnoecocídio: da violência política da extrema direita à resistência coletiva dos povos indígenas no Brasil
Authors: Resende Viviane , Martinelli Yara , Martinelli Bruno
Published: October 2023

Neste artigo, partimos de discursos de extrema direita sobre povos originários e seus territórios para mapear como são retomados e subvertidos na resistência indígena no Brasil. Destacamos como a produção discursiva decorrente do maior congresso indígena brasileiro – o Acampamento Terra Livre (ATL) –, nas edições de 2019 a 2022, respondeu aos ataques do executivo federal, agindo sobre discursos. Para isso, recuperamos alguns conceitos do giro decolonial relevantes à discussão, delineamos contextos de ataque e resistência aos direitos dos povos indígenas no período, resumimos resultados de nossa análise anterior sobre falas do chefe do executivo e apresentamos análises das cartas do ATL. Nossas análises apontam um crescendo da mobilização indígena em resposta aos ataques políticos do governo de extrema direita entre 2019 e 2022. Os povos indígenas organizados em seus movimentos lograram assumir um papel protagonista na resistência social ao fascismo no Brasil.
Elementary Dance Education
Authors: Pomer Janice
Published: October 2023

Children love to observe, explore, learn, and create.

Elementary Dance Education helps them do all four. And it does so in a unique way, shaping its movement activities around nature themes. In fact, all of the learning experiences are based on different aspects of nature, as the text intertwines children’s innate curiosity and observation skills with the processes of scientific inquiry and artistic creation.

Elementary Dance Education helps teachers develop the instructional skills they need to incorporate dance into their curricula, providing over 70 movement activities and exercises for students in grades K-6. The activities, which stimulate children’s minds and bodies through the process of collaborative dance creation, include variations for younger and older students. Ideas are offered for partner or small-group explorations, making the activities more inclusive and appropriate for each age group.

Another unique feature of this book is the original music accompanying it. Teachers have access to 90 minutes of dynamic sounds, rhythmic percussion, captivating electro-acoustic compositions, and gentle atmospheric selections, delivered through HKPropel, to accompany the learning experiences. The compositions support students’ movement explorations, conveying a range of images and emotions and inspiring a variety of responses.

In addition, Elementary Dance Education offers the following:
Discussion questions for each exercise, prompting in-class discussion and student exploration; the questions come with sample answers or ideas to encourage student responses and spur a fruitful discussion75 photos and several diagrams to illustrate positions and poses and stimulate ideas for the movement exercisesJournal prompts, tailored for older and younger children, to give students the opportunity to respond and reflect on the learning experiencesVideo links (provided in HKPropel) to help illustrate concepts and exercises, offer examples, or encourage students to watch for something specific in an activity

The book’s first chapter introduces the basic elements of dance; the remaining seven chapters offer movement exercises in various areas of nature: plants, animals, water, earth, sky, people, and other wonders.

This book is a rich and easy-to-implement resource not only for elementary dance educators and physical educators but for classroom teachers as well. The exercises in this book use a template for movement discovery in which students will observe, explore, create, and share. This template “can be applied to all areas of the curriculum,” says author Janice Pomer. “It’s an invaluable tool for student engagement, satisfying children’s capacity to watch, wonder, move, interact, discover, and share.”

Elementary Dance Education will promote children’s creativity and curiosity, engage and challenge their minds and bodies, and help them learn to appreciate and support each other as they work together exploring, creating, and sharing their ideas and insights about the natural world through dance.

Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is included with all new print books.
Advocacy for patients with opioid use disorder: A primer for physicians and other clinicians on the Americans with Disabilities Act
Authors: South Anna-Maria , Fanucchi Laura , Lofwall Michelle
Published: October 2023

Americans with opioid use disorder (OUD) have a disability that is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Physicians may observe ADA violations when patients are forced to stop taking medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) as part of an entity’s blanket policy that prohibits MOUD or when patients are denied medical treatment for various illnesses due to having an OUD diagnosis and/or receiving MOUD. Physicians and patients are likely unaware of how to identify potential ADA violations or what to do when they encounter one. This article will explain the ADA and how its protections are applicable to patients with OUD using several case examples. Physicians will learn to recognize possible ADA violations and how to file a report with the Assistant United States Attorney. The article will outline how previous ADA settlements have addressed barriers to MOUD treatment access and highlight the need for more clinicians to serve as advocates to ensure all public entities and accommodations are in compliance with the ADA as it pertains to patients with OUD.
Shifting quality chronic pain treatment measures from processes to outcomes
Authors: Coleman Christa , Lennon Robert P. , Garza Rose Hennessy , Veasley Christin , Kuchera Jay , Edwards Robert , Zgierska Aleksandra E.
Published: October 2023

Objective: Misapplication of the 2016 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) opioid prescribing guidelines has led to overemphasis of morphine-equivalent daily dose (MEDD) as a “metric of success” in chronic noncancer pain (CNCP), resulting in unintentional harms to patients. This article reviews CNCP-related guidelines and patient preferences in order to identify pragmatic, patient-centered metrics to assess treatment response and safety in opioid-treated CNCP. Methods: We reviewed the clinical (CDC), research (Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials), and implementability-related guidelines (GuideLine Implementability Appraisal), along with relevant patient-identified treatment goals. From these, we summarize a guideline-concordant, patient-centered, implementable set of measures to aid the clinical management of opioid-treated CNCP. Results: We identify metrics across three domains of care: (1) treatment response metrics, which align with the CNCP care goals (pain intensity, pain interference including function and quality of life, and global impression of change); (2) risk assessment (“safety”) metrics, eg, MEDD, benzodiazepine-opioid or naloxone-opioid coprescribing, and severity of mental health disorders, which evaluate the risk-benefit profile of opioid therapy; and (3) adherence (“process”) metrics, which assess clinician/patient adherence to the guideline-recommended opioid therapy monitoring practices, eg, the presence of completed treatment agreement or urine toxicology testing. All metrics should be informed by implementability principles, eg, be decidable, executable, and measurable. Conclusions: This article summarizes guideline-concordant, patient-centered, implementable metrics for assessing treatment response, safety, and adherence in opioid-treated CNCP. Regardless of which specific treatment guidelines are applied, this approach could help conceptualize and standardize the collection and reporting of CNCP-relevant metrics, compare them across health systems, and optimize care and treatment outcomes in opioid-treated CNCP.
Association between age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline
Authors: Seo Jiwon
Published: October 2023

Background: Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is a prevalent condition characterized by the gradual deterioration of hearing with age. The resulting impairments in auditory function lead to reduced speech perception in noisy environments and often have a negative impact on cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial functions in the elderly population.Current Concepts: The proposed etiological mechanisms linking presbycusis to cognitive decline or dementia include the common-cause hypothesis, cognitive load hypothesis, cascade hypothesis, and overdiagnosis or harbinger hypothesis. Moreover, the challenges posed by the rapidly aging population in several countries, including Korea, highlight the increasing social impact of hearing loss and dementia. Consequently, interventions for hearing rehabilitation, such as the use of hearing aids and implantable hearing devices, have paramount importance in mitigating the adverse effects of hearing loss on cognitive impairment and dementia.Discussion and Conclusion: The implementation of prevention and rehabilitation programs for hearing loss in the elderly is crucial for alleviating the socioeconomic burden associated with the welfare of the aging population. However, many economically vulnerable elderly individuals reportedly do not use hearing aids, even though they experience considerable inconvenience resulting from hearing loss, primarily due to inadequate financial support. Therefore, implementing a comprehensive national policy to support hearing aid usage among elderly individuals with moderate hearing loss holds significant potential for reducing their risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
Pharmacological treatment of Ménière disease
Authors: Park Beom Sik , Kang Byung Hong , Suh Michelle J.
Published: October 2023

Background: Despite significant progress in audiology, there is no definitive treatment option for Ménière disease due to its multifactorial etiology.Current Concepts: The primary treatment goal for Ménière disease is first, to decrease the frequency of symptoms and, second, to minimize the severity of vertigo and hearing loss. Concurrently, the preservation of vestibular and auditory functions should be prioritized. The protection of vestibular and auditory functions should also be considered. Treatment options for Ménière disease include lifestyle modifications, medical treatment, and surgical intervention. Recent treatment algorithms aim to gradually escalate the invasiveness of the treatment to assist in developing a more uniform treatment approach.Nanomaterials, including nanoparticles and nanocarriers, offer an array of novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications for achieving effective drug delivery into the inner ear of patients with Ménière disease. New treatment drugs, such as SPI-1005 (Sound Pharmaceuticals) are currently under clinical trial. Furthermore, drugs are also being repurposed and investigated for their potential in treating Ménière disease.Discussion and Conclusion: Developing new drugs and investigating the pathophysiology of Ménière disease for subtyping is emerging. These may direct the future diagnosis and treatment of the disease and facilitate a better understanding of disease mechanisms. Patients with different subtypes of Ménière disease may require different treatment strategies, which can be achieved by personalized therapy, accurate prognosis prediction, and even, disease prevention.