bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of Ketamine, Fluoroketamine, Norketamine, and
2-Norfluoro-ketamine in Urine using Ultra-performance Liquid
Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Meiling , Dong Xicheng , Wang Wanhang , Wang Ziyue , Chen Dizhong , Wen Congcong , Wang Xianqin
Published: January 2024

Objective::

This study aimed to establish a simple, reliable, and sensitive method for detecting
ketamine, fluoroketamine, and their metabolites in urine using UPLC-MS/MS.

Methods::

The chromatographic separation was performed on UPLC BEH C18 (50 mm × 2.1 mm,
1.7 μm) at a column temperature of 40°C. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid aqueous
solution and acetonitrile, with a flow rate set at 0.4 mL/min, following a specific elution procedure.
A urine sample was treated with acetonitrile, and midazolam was used as an internal standard.
Multiple reaction monitoring was used for quantitative analysis.

Results::

Ketamine, fluoroketamine, norketamine, and 2-norfluoro-ketamine exhibited linearity in
urine (r>0.99) within the concentration range of 5–2000 ng/mL. Intra-day and inter-day precisions
were 9% or less and 12% or less, respectively. The accuracy ranged from 92 to 107%. Mean recoveries
were above 76%. The measured matrix effect was between 85 and 104%.

Conclusion::

This simple, reliable, and sensitive PLC-MS/MS method was successfully developed
to determine ketamine, fluoroketamine, and their metabolite in rat urine.
Exploration of Antileishmanial Compounds Derived from Natural Sources
Authors: Ghouse Peer Gajala Deethamvali , Priyadarshini Anjali , Gupta Archana , Vibhuti Arpana , Raj Vethakkani Samuel , Chang Chung-Ming , Pandey Ramendra Pati
Published: January 2024

Aims::

Leishmaniasis is a deadly tropical disease that is neglected in many countries. World Health Organization, along with a few other countries, has been working together to protect against these parasites. Many novel drugs from the past few years have been discovered and subjected against leishmaniasis, which have been effective but they are quite expensive for lower-class people. Some drugs showed no effect on the patients, and the longer use of these medicines has made resistance against these deadly parasites. Researchers have been working for better medication by using natural products from medicinal plants (oils, secondary metabo-lites, plant extracts) and other alternatives to find active compounds as an alternative to the current synthetic drugs.

Materials and Methods:

To find more potential natural products to treat Leishmania spp, a study has been conducted and reported many plant metabolites and other natural alternatives from plants and their extracts. Selected research papers with few term words such as natural products, plant metabolites, Leishmaniasis, in vivo, in vitro, and treatment against leishmania-sis; in the Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct databases with selected research papers published between 2015 and 2021 have been chosen for further analysis has been included in this report which has examined either in vivo or in vitro analysis.

Results:

This paper reported more than 20 novel natural compounds in 20 research papers that have been identified which report a leishmanicidal activity and shows an action against pro-mastigote, axenic, and intracellular amastigote forms.

Conclusion:

Medicinal plants, along with a few plant parts and extracts, have been reported as a possible novel anti-leishmanial medication. These medicinal plants are considered nontoxic to Host cells. Leishmaniasis treatments will draw on the isolated compounds as a source further and these compounds compete with those already offered in clinics.
LRRK2; Communicative Role in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
and Ulcerative Colitis Overlapping
Authors: Lashgari Naser-Aldin , Roudsari Nazanin Momeni , Niknejad Amirhossein , Shamsnia Hedieh Sadat , Shayan Maryam , Shalmani Leila Mohaghegh , Momtaz Saeideh , Rezaei Nima , Abdolghaffari Amir Hossein
Published: January 2024

Background:

Involvement of gastrointestinal inflammation in Parkinson’s disease (PD)
pathogenesis and movement have progressively emerged. Inflammation is involved in the etiology
of both PD and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Transformations in leucine-rich recurrent kinase
2 (LRRK2) are among the best hereditary supporters of IBD and PD. Elevated levels of LRRK2
have been reported in stimulated colonic tissue from IBD patients and peripheral invulnerable cells
from irregular PD patients; thus, it is thought that LRRK2 directs inflammatory cycles.

Objective:

Since its revelation, LRRK2 has been seriously linked in neurons, albeit various lines of
proof affirmed that LRRK2 is profoundly communicated in invulnerable cells. Subsequently,
LRRK2 might sit at a junction by which stomach inflammation and higher LRRK2 levels in IBD
might be a biomarker of expanded risk for inconsistent PD or potentially may address a manageable
helpful objective in incendiary sicknesses that increment the risk of PD. Here, we discuss how PD
and IBD share covering aggregates, especially regarding LRRK2 and present inhibitors, which
could be a helpful objective in ongoing treatments.

Method:

English data were obtained from Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane library
studies published between 1990-December 2022.

Result:

Inhibitors of the LRRK2 pathway can be considered as the novel treatment approaches for
IBD and PD treatment.

Conclusion:

Common mediators and pathways are involved in the pathophysiology of IBD and PD,
which are majorly correlated with inflammatory situations. Such diseases could be used for further
clinical investigations.
In-vitro and In-silico Examinations on Baicalein-loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Neurodegeneration
Authors: Varshney Mansi , Kumar Bhavna , Varshney Poorvi , Kumar Lal Diwya , Sethiya Neeraj Kumar
Published: January 2024

Background::

In the current scenario, most of the population affected by neurogenera-tive disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, etc., exist among the 10% population 65 years of age group. Neurodegenerative diseases are characterised as chronic and progressive disorders that occur due to the degeneration of neurons. Baicalein is a flavonoid glycoside derived from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis. Earlier research suggested that it could be used to treat neurodegenerative illnesses. Baicalein, which was selected for the current study, was designed in-to a solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) formulation. The SLNs have low permeability across BBB and are delivered by the non-invasive route, i.e., through nasal delivery. The In-silico docking studies were performed to examine and compare the binding affinity of Baicalein to already established drugs on the two most viable targets of Alzheimer's disease, i.e., Beta- secretase and Acetylcho-linesterase.

Objective::

The current work is to formulate and evaluate the Baicalein-loaded SLN for neuro-degenerative disorders via a non-invasive route.

Methods::

Baicalein loaded SLN was developed by solvent emulsification diffusion method, and formulation is characterised by using different parameters such as particle size analysis, zeta po-tential, scanning electron microscope, transverse electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Differen-tial scanning calorimetric, Fourier transforms -infrared radiations, drug entrapment, in-vitro drug release and in-silico docking studies.

Results::

The particle size of Baicalein-loaded SLN was 755.2 ± 0.48 nm, the Polydispersity index was 0.06, and the zeta potential was -32.5 ± 0.36 mV. The drug entrapment and loading efficien-cy of the optimised formulation were found to be 94% ± 0.653 and 18.2% ± 0.553, respectively. Optimised formulation shows 84.6% ± 0.3% of drug release within 30 minutes, which demon-strates the sustained release of the drug.

Conclusion::

Baicalein-loaded SLN is formulated and evaluated for the treatment of neurodegen-erative disorders. SLN is an approach to overcome the challenge of bypassing the BBB by admin-istering the drug via an intranasal route. Hence, when analysed together with the results of Bai-calein-loaded SLN and in-silico studies, it was correlated that Baicalein proved to have a targeted moiety for neurodegeneration.
Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Nanoparticles and its Study to
Displace Oil from a Hele-Shaw Cell
Authors: Fossati Ana B. , Yanina L. Roht , Alho Miriam M. , Irene Ippolito , Jacobo Silvia E.
Published: January 2024

Introduction::

Oil spill incidents caused by human activities can cause major habitat damage
and pose serious threats to all living organisms living on and within sources of water and soil.
Finding a solution for oil spills is necessary to protect ecosystems, the environment, and health. Nanotechnology
seems to be an interesting tool in many applications, such as soil and water remediation
and oil recovery. Nanoparticles are a good alternative since they are not as expensive as chemicals
used to remove oil.

Objective::

The prime purpose of this research work was the comparison of the additional displacement
of sunflower oil from a single fracture using ferrofluids prepared with bare and novel covalent
functionalized magnetic nanoparticles. Experiences were performed at constant nanoparticle concentration
and variable flow rate and at constant flow rate and variable nanoparticle concentration. The
novel ferrofluid stability and its recovery properties related to a low-cost process were explored.

Methods::

Tests were carried out by image analysis. Stable ferrofluids were prepared using magnetic
nanoparticles (MNPs) and novel covalent functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MSMs). Their ability
to displace the residual oil in a single fracture model previously invaded by an aqueous brine solution
was tested. A flow channel of a single fracture by a typical transparent Hele-Shaw cell with 12% of its
area covered by a random distribution of obstacles was modeled. Oil recovery was performed at three
different flow rates: 0.36, 1.80, and 3.60 mL min-1, using relatively low ferrofluid concentrations
(0.0125 wt%). Oil recovery was also carried out with MSM ferrofluid at a constant flow rate of 1.80
and 3.60 mL min-1 at different nanoparticle concentrations (0.00625, 0.0125, and 0.025 wt%).

Results::

Ferrofluids prepared with MSMs were more effective for oil recovery than those prepared
with bare nanoparticles due to their surfactant behavior for all flows studied here. A 7.86% extra
percentage of oil was removed after brine flooding. Oil recovery using MSM ferrofluid at a constant
flow rate of 1.80 and 3.60 mL min-1 increased linearly with nanoparticle concentration. Magnetic
nanoparticles can be efficiently recovered and reused in at least three oil displacements for the fracture
model used as covalent functionalization promotes ferrofluids' stability.

Conclusion::

The characteristics of the MSM amphiphilic novel coating cause the nanoparticles to be
attracted to both water and oil, enhancing oil displacement. These results indicate that this novel
material, whose structure stability is related to the covalent bonding of organic coating, can be considered
for remediation and oil recovery in fractured media
Cavity Disinfection with Natural Agents and their Efficacy: A Review on
Recent Literature
Authors: Dey Sreejeeta , Deshmukh Seema
Published: January 2024

The success of a dental restoration can be altered by the amount of residual bacteria
present under the cavity which over time cause deterioration of adhesive cement by microleakage
or secondary caries. Cavity disinfectant application on the cavity walls performs a cleansing action
to decrease the bacterial load and improve the longevity of restorations. Although a wide
variety of such chemical disinfectants have been in use, their cytotoxic effects have led to the
increasing popularity of natural agents. These materials possess antimicrobial, antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory properties, which effectively disinfect cavity walls while, at the same time,
being cheaper, less toxic, and more patient-friendly.

:

Some of these agents have also been proven to improve the bond strength of resin to dentin by
preventing collagen degradation and MMP inhibition. Propolis, aloe vera, chitosan, green tea,
liquorice etc., are derived from parts of plants or animals and have been tested to be efficacious
and, in some cases, superior to chemical alternatives without any erosive effect on dentin.

:

Although there is a lack of enough In vivo evidence to advocate the use of these products as an
adjunct in dental therapy, recent studies have yielded promising results, which increases the scope
for future clinical research. This review aims to highlight the properties and effectiveness of a
few of such natural agents as potential cavity disinfectants.
Recent Advances in Therapeutic Approaches Against Ebola Virus Infection
Authors: Soni Molisha , Tulsian Kartik , Barot Parv , Vyas Vivek Kumar
Published: January 2024

Background:

Ebola virus (EBOV) is a genus of negative-strand RNA viruses
belonging to the family Filoviradae that was first described in 1976 in the present-day
Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has intermittently affected substantial human populations
in West Africa and presents itself as a global health menace due to the high mortality
rate of patients, high transmission rate, difficult patient management, and the emergence
of complicated autoimmune disease-like conditions post-infection.

Objective:

EBOV or other EBOV-like species as a biochemical weapon pose a significant
risk; hence, the need to develop both prophylactic and therapeutic medications to combat
the virus is unquestionable.

Methods:

In this review work, we have compiled the literature pertaining to transmission,
pathogenesis, immune response, and diagnosis of EBOV infection. We included detailed
structural details of EBOV along with all the available therapeutics against EBOV disease.
We have also highlighted current developments and recent advances in therapeutic approaches
against Ebola virus disease (EVD).

Discussion:

The development of preventive vaccines against the virus is proving to be a
successful effort as of now; however, problems concerning logistics, product stability, multi-
dosing, and patient tracking are prominent in West Africa. Monoclonal antibodies that
target EBOV proteins have also been developed and approved in the clinic; however, no
small drug molecules that target these viral proteins have cleared clinical trials. An understanding
of clinically approved vaccines and their shortcomings also serves an important
purpose for researchers in vaccine design in choosing the right vector, antigen, and particular
physicochemical properties that are critical for the vaccine’s success against the virus
across the world.

Conclusion:

Our work brings together a comprehensive review of all available prophylactic
and therapeutic medications developed and under development against the EBOV, which will
serve as a guide for researchers in pursuing the most promising drug discovery strategies
against the EBOV and also explore novel mechanisms of fighting against EBOV infection.
Affective and Cognitive Impairments in Rodent Models of Diabetes
Authors: Palazzo Enza , Marabese Ida , Boccella Serena , Belardo Carmela , Pierretti Gorizio , Maione Sabatino
Published: January 2024

Diabetes and related acute and long-term complications have a profound impact on cognitive,
emotional, and social behavior, suggesting that the central nervous system (CNS) is a crucial substrate
for diabetic complications. When anxiety, depression, and cognitive deficits occur in diabetic
patients, the symptoms and complications related to the disease worsen, contributing to lower quality
of life while increasing health care costs and mortality. Experimental models of diabetes in rodents are
a fundamental and valuable tool for improving our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the
close and reciprocal link between diabetes and CNS alterations, including the development of affective
and cognitive disorders. Such models must reproduce the different components of this pathological
condition in humans and, therefore, must be associated with affective and cognitive behavioral alterations.
Beyond tight glycemic control, there are currently no specific therapies for neuropsychiatric
comorbidities associated with diabetes; animal models are, therefore, essential for the development of
adequate therapies. To our knowledge, there is currently no review article that summarizes changes in
affective and cognitive behavior in the most common models of diabetes in rodents. Therefore, in this
review, we have reported the main evidence on the alterations of affective and cognitive behavior in
the different models of diabetes in rodents, the main mechanisms underlying these comorbidities, and
the applicable therapeutic strategy.
Summary of the Main Legal Requirements: National Legislative Aspects of Occupational Health and Safety – Romania, Italy and Spain
Authors: Rotaru Mihaela , Cioca Lucian-Ionel
Published: January 2024

The chapter focuses on presenting national legislative aspects from
Romania, Italy, and Spain. The principal aim is to present the occupational health and
safety framework in order to identify the fundamental aspects of legislation in these 3
countries. The chapter is structured into three sections. In the introduction details of
national and legislative aspects of occupational health and safety and are presented
information regarding the legislative framework of the occupational health and safety
legislation in Romania, Italy, and Spain.
General Model of the Occupational Health and Safety Management Process and Risk Assessment Tools: A Brief Outline
Authors: Moraru Roland Iosif
Published: January 2024

Occupational risk assessment and management has been an increasingly
important concern in recent decades both at the scientific level and from the direct and
motivated perspective of all economic organizations that aim to improve their
efficiency and optimize their own results. From this perspective, the present chapter
summarizes, first of all, the principle elements that characterize the strength of a
systematic and structured managerial approach to the risk management process for
safety and health at work. Starting from the explanation of the concepts of hazard and
risk and their connection with uncertainty and acceptability, using Farmer's curve as a
tool, the general model of occupational risk management is presented, the basis of
which are the applicable standards of the International Organization for
Standardization. A set of risk assessment/analysis tools among the most frequently
used worldwide are inventoried and critically comparatively analyzed, highlighting the
characteristics from a multi-criteria perspective. The intended purpose is to offer a
micro-compendium that will facilitate the reader's evolution in the field of occupational
safety and health, considering that risk assessment is the basis for adopting decisions
regarding the allocation of resources to minimize risk, within the management process
of professional risks.
Health and Safety Performance Monitoring and Measuring
Authors: Darabont Doru Costin , Bejinariu Costica
Published: January 2024

Monitoring and measuring of the health and safety performance of each
workplace of the organization is a requirement of both European and national
legislation on occupational health and safety (OHS) as well as of ISO 45001:2018
standard. Considering an organization and its workplaces as dynamic systems, their
state from the point of view of OHS should be determined in a systematic manner by
monitoring and measuring, using appropriate methods, instruments, and equipment.
The subjects of monitoring and measuring could be in compliance with standards or
legal requirements, work accident recordings, or workers’ exposure to noxae. The
obtained results are then compared with reference values provided by legislation,
standards or imposed by the organisation itself. An overview of the organisation’s
health and safety performance monitoring and measuring in relation to both OHS
national legislation and ISO 45001:2018 requirements is presented in this chapter, with
a focus on internal audits and evaluation of compliance with legal and other
requirements. Practical aspects regarding audit and evaluation of compliance are
highlighted, and a checklist-based method for evaluation of compliance with legal
requirements is also presented.
INCDPM Method for Assessing the Risks of Occupational Injury and Illness at Work
Authors: Bejinariu Costica , Costin Darabont Doru , Burduhos-Nergis Diana-Petronela
Published: January 2024

The application of the method for assessing the risks of occupational injury
and illness at work starts with the description of the company, which includes
information about its name, location, object of activity, etc., the working system’s
description (employees, work environment, tasks, means of production) as well as a
brief explanation regarding the methodology of the assessment method. After this
information, the method’s application is presented in a Microsoft Excel document. As
the final step, a list of health and safety measures leading to the implementation of the
prevention and protection plan is presented. This chapter aims to present the stages
involved in creating the Microsoft Excel document. This Excel file comprises several
sheets, which show various occupational injury and illness risks segregated into the
working system’s components. Additionally, a case study about the application of the
method in the automobile industry is presented.
Students’ readiness in the use of technology for rural elementary schools
Authors: Latifah Siti , Sujarwo Sujarwo
Published: January 2024

The research aims to determine the effect of the use of technology rural elementary schools in Yogyakarta. The quantitative research method was in the form of a survey at four elementary schools with the best National Examination scores based on ASPD 2021/2022, favorite schools in Kretek, schools accepted inclusive students, and disciplinary schools. The research subjects were fourth grade elementary school students, the instrument is a technology readiness questionnaire and secondary data on learning outcomes in the form of one semester report card grades. Data collection includes questionnaires and documentation, data were taken using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results presented that there was an effect of the use of technology on the learning outcomes of elementary school students. It is known that the sig value for technology normality, learning outcomes, the technology linearity test value and learning outcomes, as well as hypothesis was tested using a simple linear regression. Based on the calculation, the Ho was rejected and Hα was accepted.
Pop-up book media integrated islamic values and Pancasila to foster motivation and care
Authors: Muzayanati Apriliyanti , Nugraheni Aninditya Sri
Published: January 2024

This study aims to motivate students in learning and instill an attitude of environmental care integrated with Islamic values and Pancasila. The research and Development (RD) method used the ADDIE model, a type of research method pre-experimental design (nondesign) one group pretest-postest with non-parametric. The subjects of the study were 21 fourth grade students of MIN 4 Madiun. Data collection techniques consisted of observations, interviews, documentation, and questionnaires. The data then analyzed quantitatively. The results shows that first, a product has been produced with an ADDIE development model in the form of a Pop-up book Media integrated with Islam and Pancasila values. Second, eligibility results have been obtained from several experts, including material experts, got an average of 95.5%, and language validation scores obtained 88.6%.  Media validation received a score of 95.4%, teacher response 88.3%, and student response to media got a score of 95.8%. So it can be concluded that this Pop-up book media is worth using. Third, there is a positive influence on students after using Pop-up book media.
Is Education Level a Modulation Factor of Cognitive Abilities in Older Individuals?
Authors: Darshan Hosaholalu Sarvajna , Swamy Akshaya , Puttanna Deepak , Mahadevaiah Madhusudhan Benakanahalli
Published: January 2024

Purpose: Similar to bilingualism, musical abilities, socio-economic status, and physical activities; education level also plays a contributing factor to cognitive reserve in an individual. Literature suggests that educational level and years of schooling enhance cognitive development and also show a correlation with better Intelligence Quotient. It is important to consider the level of education and its relationship with cognitive abilities particularly assessed on standardized cognitive tests which were not considered in earlier research.Methods: The present study recruited 25 native Kannada speakers aged 50 to 70 years and divided them into two groups based on level of education (lower education and higher education group). All the participants were assessed on Cognitive Linguistic Assessment Protocol (CLAP)-Kannada (Kamath & Prema, 2001). The performance scores were tabulated and analyzed across all the domains of the test.Results: Descriptive statistics highlighted that the higher education group had greater overall scores and also across the domains compared to their counterparts. Inferential statistics utilizing the Mann-Whitney U test found a significant difference between the two groups on overall performance and also across the domains with high effect size. Both groups performed poorly in the organization domain, attributed to task demands that need a greater level of processing skills.Conclusions: The current study highlights that higher education levels influence better cognitive function and that this effect persists with age as compared to the lower education levels group indicating higher educational levels can help an individual to resist the effects of the aging process on cognitive function decline.
Evaluation of Chinese HIV Mobile Apps by Researchers and Patients With HIV: Quality Evaluation Study
Authors: Liu Peng , Wang Lingmeng , Wang Fuzhi
Published: January 2024

Background

Against the backdrop of globalization, China remains one of the most heavily burdened countries in Asia with regard to AIDS. However, many high-risk groups and patients affected by AIDS may be less likely to actively seek care from medical institutions because of fear of experiencing shame or discrimination. Mobile apps provide a promising avenue for supporting the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of AIDS. However, a comprehensive systematic evaluation of these mobile apps’ functionality and quality has not been conducted yet.

Objective

This study aims to identify the available mobile apps for AIDS in China, assess and discuss the functional features and quality of these Chinese AIDS mobile apps, and offer decision support for patients and clinical practitioners in accessing high-quality AIDS mobile apps. Furthermore, based on the evaluation results, recommendations for improvement will be provided.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted on the Qimai app data platform, the Aladdin WeChat applet data platform, and WeChat to identify mobile apps related to AIDS. A snowball sampling method was used to supplement the potentially overlooked apps. The selected mobile apps underwent a rigorous screening process based on unified criteria. Subsequently, assessments were independently undertaken by 3 separate researchers and 2 patients with HIV, using both the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and the User Mobile App Rating Scale (uMARS). Quantitative interpretations of the data were facilitated by the MedCalc statistical software (version 20.217, MedCalc Software).

Results

A total of 2901 AIDS mobile apps were included in the study, with 2897 identified through information retrieval and an additional 4 added via snowball sampling. After a rigorous selection process, 21 apps were determined to be usable. Among them, the Hong Feng Wan app achieved the highest combined average score, calculated based on the MARS (3.96, SD 0.33) and uMARS (4.47, SD 0.26). Overall, there was no significant correlation between MARS and uMARS (rapp quality total score=0.41; P=.07; rsubjective quality=0.39; P=.08). A notable issue was the widespread lack of user privacy protection, with only 24% (5/21) of the apps offering this feature.

Conclusions

The number of available Chinese AIDS mobile apps is limited, with WeChat applets dominating the market. Nonetheless, the performance of WeChat mini-apps is generally inferior to that of independent apps, and there may be significant discrepancies between assessments conducted by researchers and those provided by genuine end users, emphasizing the necessity of involving real users in the development and evaluation of HIV mobile apps. In addition, developers of these Chinese HIV mobile apps need to devote attention to improving privacy protection mechanisms, in addition to considering the evaluations of researchers and real users. This will help attract more users and increase user loyalty.
Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among Cisgender Gay and Bisexual Men During the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Time Series Analysis of a US National Cohort Study (Preprint)
Authors: Mirzayi Chloe , Westmoreland Drew , Stief Matthew , Grov Christian
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States in March 2020 caused a dramatic change in the way many people lived. Few aspects of daily life were left undisrupted by the pandemic’s onset as well as the accompanying policies to control the spread of the disease. Previous research has found that the pandemic may have significantly impacted the mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals—potentially more so than other individuals. However, the pandemic did not affect all areas of the United States at the same time, and there may be regional variation in the impact of the onset of the pandemic on depressive symptoms among LGBTQ individuals.

OBJECTIVE

To assess regional variation of the impact of the pandemic, we conducted a time series analysis stratified by US geographic region to examine symptoms of depression and anxiety among a sample of primarily cisgender gay and bisexual men before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

METHODS

In total, 5007 participants completed assessments as part of the Together 5000 study, an ongoing prospective cohort study. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Patient Health Questionnaire-4 scores were graphed as a function of days from March 15, 2020. Locally estimated scatterplot smoothing trend lines were applied. A sieve-bootstrap Mann-Kendall test for monotonic trend was conducted to assess the presence and direction of trends in the scatterplots. We then compared the observed trends to those observed for 1 year prior (2018-2019) to the pandemic onset using data collected from the same sample.

RESULTS

Significant positive trends were detected for the Northeast (P=.03) and Midwest (P=.01) regions of the United States in the 2020 assessment, indicating that symptoms of anxiety and depression were increasing in the sample in these regions immediately prior to and during the onset of the pandemic. In contrast, these trends were not present in data from the 2018 to 2019 assessment window.

CONCLUSIONS

Symptoms of anxiety and depression increased among the study population in the Northeast and Midwest during the beginning months of the COVID-19 pandemic, but similar increase was not observed in the South and West regions. These trends were also not found for any region in the 2018 to 2019 assessment window. This may indicate region-specific trends in anxiety and depression, potentially driven by the burden of the pandemic and policies that varied from region to region. Future studies should consider geographic variation in COVID-19 spread and policies as well as explore potential mechanisms by which this could influence the mental health of LGBTQ individuals.
Correction: The Development of a UK Culturally Adapted and Modified Version of the Person Attuned Musical Interactions Manual: Protocol for a 2-Phase Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
Authors: Waters Bryony , Orrell Martin , McDermott Orii
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Previous research has suggested that care home interactions need significant improvements, especially those between staff and residents with dementia. Reasons for the lack of interactions are staff time pressures and residents’ language impairments. Although residents may experience reduced language abilities, they can continue to communicate through other forms, including nonverbal communication and music. Person Attuned Musical Interactions (PAMI) is a staff training tool that provides staff with music therapy skill-sharing to promote high-quality interactions between staff and residents using nonverbal communication and music. The tool was originally developed in Denmark. To ensure that the tool is appropriate for UK care homes, a team of researchers in the United Kingdom have culturally adapted the tool.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the appropriateness of the adapted UK manual for UK care homes and to explore the impact of PAMI on residents with dementia and care staff

METHODS

The project consists of 2 phases, a qualitative field-testing study and a mixed methods evaluation study, which have been developed following the Medical Research Council’s guidelines for complex interventions. Care staff and residents with dementia will be recruited from care homes in Lincolnshire, where the care staff will be trained in the PAMI intervention before implementing the intervention in their daily routines. Fortnightly reflective sessions will be provided throughout the phases to provide supervision and monitoring. The qualitative methods include interviews, reflective session transcripts, diary entries, and resident experience questionnaires. The quantitative outcome measures are residents’ music engagement, staff’s dementia competence, residents’ quality of life, and staff burden. The resident’s music engagement will be administered at 9 fortnightly time points. Staff’s dementia competence, resident’s quality of life, and staff burden will be administered at preintervention and postintervention time points.

RESULTS

The study has been funded by The Music Therapy Charity as part of a PhD studentship. The study began recruiting in September 2021. The research team aims to publish the results of the first phase in July to September 2023 and those of the second phase in October to December 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will be the first to investigate the culturally adapted UK PAMI. Therefore, it will provide feedback on the appropriateness of the manual for UK care homes. The PAMI intervention has the potential to offer high-quality music intervention training to a larger population of care homes who may currently be restricted by finances, the availability of time,and a lack of training opportunities.
Enhancing Accessibility and Engagement: A Comparative Analysis of User Traffic to Paired Clinical Videos in English and Spanish (Preprint)
Authors: Varela Luna , Horton Stephanie , Abdelmoity Ahmed , Le Pichon Jean-Baptiste , Hoffman Mark
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Effectively managing epilepsy in children necessitates the active engagement of parents, a factor that is reliant on their understanding of this neurological disorder.

OBJECTIVE

This study analyzes traffic to paired educational videos of English and Spanish versions of the same content. By examining the usage patterns and preferences of individuals seeking information in different languages, we gained valuable insights into how language influences the utilization of clinical content.

METHODS

Physician experts created epilepsy management videos for the REACT YouTube channel about 17 subjects, with an English and Spanish version of each. The CMKC (Children's Mercy Kansas City) Neurology Clinic incorporated these into the department's educational process. YouTube Analytics enabled analysis of traffic patterns and video characteristics.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed significant differences in engagement between English and Spanish language videos on the REACT YouTube Channel. On average, the Spanish group received significantly more views than the English group (p < 0.0001). External (to YouTube) traffic sources accounted for approximately 13% of the total impressions but contributed significantly to the overall viewership. They resulted in approximately 77% of the total views. Further analysis showed that English-speaking users brought fewer views internally than externally, while the Spanish language groups demonstrated a higher level of engagement. Geographic location data revealed that countries with predominantly non-English speaking populations had higher view counts. Videos discussing atonic seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, and the differences between seizures and epilepsy received the highest number of views within the English group, while the Spanish videos addressing convulsions and absence seizures garnered the most attention. The top searches that resulted in views for English videos were “tonic,” “clonic,” or “tonic-clonic," with a total of 372 views.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlighted the importance of bilingual content and optimizing video content based on viewer preferences and search behavior. Understanding audience engagement patterns can further enhance the dissemination of clinical video content. This work shows that developing clinical content in both English and Spanish can meet the community's needs. Using YouTube for video content has global access and data analysis benefits. Healthcare professionals and patients can use this platform to access reliable information and improve their clinical knowledge.

CLINICALTRIAL

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Development and Psychometric Validation of a Novel Parental Digital Competence Scale (Preprint)
Authors: Jia Yitong , Li Yuxuan , Qin Shijia , Zhang Jianzhong , Zhuang Xinqi , Zhang Yin-Ping
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

In the era of rapid digitization, parental digital competence is progressively vital for effective parenting and positive child health outcomes. Accurately assessing parental digital competence is a pivotal stride toward facilitating and appraising focused interventions.

OBJECTIVE

Given the scarcity of evidence concerning specialized assessment tools for parental digital competence, this study aimed to develop and validate a novel Parental Digital Competence Scale (PDCS).

METHODS

The Parental Digital Competence Scale (PDCS) was developed through a four-phase process: 1) Utilizing the European Commission's Digital Competence Framework as a guide to clarify the content to be measured. 2) Generating an item pool by reviewing relevant literature. 3) Employing a modified expert panel and conducting a pilot test to gather feedback on the initial items. 4) Performing psychometric analyses to assess item characteristics. The validation study included 477 family caregivers selected from Northwest China. An exploratory factor analysis with 248 participants was carried out to identify the factor structure of the scale. Convergent validity was examined. The reliability was assessed through internal consistency, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability.

RESULTS

Following the 4 phases, 23 items were included in the final instrument. The content validity index of the PDCS reached 0.975. Principal component analysis revealed a three-factor structure that explained 80.499% of the total variance. The final version of PDCS includes dimensions of Digital Methods Application, Digital Security, and Information Retrieval and Evaluation. The internal consistency appeared high for the PDCS, with a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.981. Its test-retest reliability stood at 0.840 and the split-half coefficient reached 0.958. The findings indicated a correlation between socio-economic factors and digital competence among participants.

CONCLUSIONS

The PDCS seems to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing parental digital competence. Its application has the potential in identifying digital competence gaps among parents and facilitating targeted interventions, which may enhance parenting practices and child health in an ever-evolving digital environment.
Kajian Kodikologi Iluminasi dalam Serat Jaya Lengkara Wulang (1803)
Authors: Mayasari Devita Herda Ayu
Published: January 2024

This study aims to identify and analyze the symbols in the illumination of the Jaya Lengkara Wulang manuscript. This codicological study uses a qualitative descriptive method. This qualitative descriptive is used to explain the symbols in the illumination. The source of the research data is the illumination of the Renggan Jaya Lengkara Wulang district head, a collection of the British Library. The results showed that there were elements of pineapple, praba, sunflower, saton, daisies/asters, tlacapan, lung-lungan, and arrow motifs. In addition, there are also elements of color, namely gold, red, blue, yellow, and white. If it is related to the contents of the text, there are teachings to have broad insight, be firm in your stance, have good manners, and always be compassionate towards others.

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Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi dan menganalisis simbol-simbol dalam iluminasi naskah Jaya Lengkara Wulang. Penelitian kodikologi ini menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif. Deskriptif kualitatif ini digunakan untuk menjelaskan simbol-simbol dalam iluminasi. Sumber data penelitian adalah iluminasi wedana renggan Jaya Lengkara Wulang koleksi British Library. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya unsur motif buah nanas, praba, bunga matahari, saton, bunga daisy/aster, tlacapan, lung-lungan, dan anak panah. Selain itu juga ada unsur warna, yaitu emas, merah, biru, kuning, dan putih. Jika dikaitkan dengan isi teks terdapat ajaran untuk berwawasan luas, teguh pendirian, memiliki tata krama, dan selalu berbelas kasih kepada sesama.
The Effect of Prepayment Contract Frames and Feedback on Budgetary Slack: An Experimental Investigation
Authors: Rohma Frida Fanani , Anita Nur
Published: January 2024

Introduction/Main Objectives: This research investigates the effect of prepayment contract frames and feedback incentives in mitigating budgetary slack. Background Problems: Clawback is an incentive scheme based on the endowment concept that has recently drawn researchers’ concerns. The literature suggests emphasizing the endowment and loss aversion concepts. This research examines these two concepts with one test model. Novelty: This research presents the preliminary manipulation role of hybrid clawback as one of the prepayment contract frames that are smoother and without penalty provisions. This study also examines the interaction between the concept of endowment and loss aversion in one test model. Research Methods: This research applied a field experiment with a 3 × 2 between-subject design. Finding/Results: This research found that prepayment contract frames require motivation from an adequate formal control system through frequent feedback to mitigate the slack. The findings prove that the capability of prepayment contract frames to minimize slack would be more effective after the frequency of the feedback has been moderated.  Conclusion: The hybrid clawback could be a smoother alternative compensation scheme that is just as effective as a simple clawback, but without any penalty provisions. The effectiveness of a low feedback frequency could be increased to equal the efficacy of a high feedback frequency when assisted by prepayment contract frames.
Convergencias y divergencias entre una economía para la vida con la crítica de Marx a la economía política
Authors: Herrera Torres Hugo Amador
Published: January 2024

El objetivo del artículo es identificar las convergencias y divergencias del enfoque de una economía para la vida de Hinkelammert y Mora con la crítica que realizó Marx a la economía política de su tiempo. En el método de análisis se estudian interpretaciones específicas de Hinkelammert y Mora sobre los trabajos de Marx. Los resultados indican que una economía para la vida tiene base marxiana con desarrollos ulteriores. El circuito natural de la vida humana y el circuito de la producción de valores de uso que proyectan Hinkelammert y Mora son coherentes directamente con el "proceso de trabajo en general" como metabolismo socio-natural y con el "proceso de trabajo en específico" que presenta Marx. Una economía para la vida, además, con base en las tesis marxianas, posiciona la centralidad de los valores de uso de las mercancías y distingue de manera especial los conceptos de esencia y apariencia, la conexión de las instituciones con las relaciones entre productores, así como la teoría del fetichismo. Las divergencias se encuentran en la imaginación trascendental de los seres humanos, en los factores que determinaron el surgimiento del mercado y en algunas particularidades del valor. Una economía para la vida potencia al sistema de la división social del trabajo como categoría inicial para examinar al capitalismo contemporáneo.
El surgimiento de una cultura de superación personal en América Latina: los casos de Ecuador y México.
Authors: Simbaña Lincango Wilmer
Published: January 2024

El presente artículo busca develar la presencia de una cultura de superación personal en América Latina, a partir de experiencias analizadas en México y Ecuador. Este fenómeno, también conocido como crecimiento o desarrollo personal por sus implicaciones comerciales, ha estructurado un complejo tejido de técnicas y discursos en torno a la búsqueda de perfeccionamiento del sujeto. Esta cultura de superación personal, definida así por expresar mejor el imaginario latinoamericano, aquí es explicada más allá de su relación estereotipada con la literatura de autoayuda. A través de una investigación bibliográfica y la aplicación de un enfoque etnográfico, esta investigación analiza los rasgos más característicos de esta cultura de superación: su genealogía, su definición, sus implicaciones socioculturales. Lo cual revela el auge de un entramado narrativo que auspicia la reinvención del sujeto, que promueve la maximización del rendimiento en el menor tiempo posible y el disfrute del bienestar, éxito o felicidad.
Drone Detection Through CCTV
Authors: Barhate Madhuri Manohar , Inamdar Chinmay Satish , Ingale Chinmay Dnyaneshwar , Inamdar Yuvraj Shailesh , Humne Subodh Sunil , Mahendrakumar Harshit Inani , Hulenwar Harsh Prakash
Published: January 2024

Abstract: This paper presents a drone detection system using closed-circuit television (CCTV) for countering potential misuse of drones, particularly in cross-border terrorism. Extensive experimentation demonstrates high accuracy in detecting drones while minimizing false positives. The proposed system addresses privacy, safety, and security concerns in critical infrastructure, public events, and restricted airspace.