bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ten years trend analysis of malaria cases at rural health and training centre Mandur, Goa
Authors: Narathattil Akhila , Desai Archana , Ferreira A. M. , Bicholkar Abhishekh
Published: September 2020

Background: Malaria is a complex disease that varies widely in epidemiology in different parts of the world. Through its strategic action plan for malaria control (2007-2012) and its updated national drug policy on malaria India has put a strong pillar to address malaria prevention and control. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the hospital-based proportion of fever cases being diagnosed as malaria and determine its trend.Methods: A retrospective record-based study was carried out at rural and health training centre at Mandur. All suspected fever cases were reported to the centre sent for peripheral blood examination.Results: A total of 6073 patients who had clinical history suggestive of malaria were examined for malaria parasites. Out of 6073 slides examined, 187 slides were positive for malarial parasites. Out of 187, 136 (72.7%) were Plasmodium vivax, 40 (21.3%) were Plasmodium falciparum and 13 (16.9%) were mixed infections. Of the 187 patients positive for malaria 155 (82.9%) were males and 32 (17.1%) were females. Maximum number of malaria cases i.e., 63 (33.7%) were in the age group 21 to 30 years. Out of 187 cases, maximum number of cases were reported during a period of 5 months (July to November), very minimum (10) microscopically confirmed malaria cases reported in 2014. Maximum (36) no microscopically confirmed malaria cases were found in 2013.Conclusions: In the studied area Plasmodium vivax is the most common type and it was more in males than females, most affected age group was between 21-30 years.
Nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin for the carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriales and multi drug resistant uropathogens: are the choices still same?
Authors: Perween Nusrat , Sultan Asfia , Akhtar Anees , Khan Fatima , Rizvi Meher , Khan Haris M. , Ahmad Manzoor
Published: September 2020

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections, affecting 150 million people each year worldwide with substantial clinical and financial burden. With upcoming multi drug resistance (MDR) and carbepenem resistance among uropathogens there is urgent need to explore other new or old treatment options like nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin trometamol.Methods: This is a cross-sectional (descriptive study) conducted over 6 month’s period from October 2019 to March 2020. Out of 9045 urine samples, 1788 (19.8%) were positive (1721 samples with single organism and 67 samples with 2 organisms). Total 1855 isolates were identified and antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by Kirby-Bauer method and VITEK 2 system. Methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE), multi drug resistance (MDR) and metallo‑beta‑lactamases (MBL) production was detected.Results: E. coli 41.8% was found commonest followed by enterococcus species (21.6%). Methicillin resistance was 66% while 1.8% were VRE. 429 (34.5%) were CRE (carbapenem resistant enterobacteriales) out of which, 154 (36%) were MBL while 188 (44%) were detected as serine carbapenemase producers via modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM) and EDTA-modified carbapenem inactivation method (eCIM) testing. Among 742 (40%) MDR, fosfomycin was effective in 611 (82.3%) while 331 (77.1%) of the CRE isolates were susceptible to fosfomycin.Conclusions: Fosfomycin should be reserved for MDR and nitrofurantoin should be used cautiously otherwise resistance will increase to these drugs in the coming days.
“I am tired of the disease and eating too many medicines”: seeking adolescent’s lived experiences about chronic renal disease
Authors: Shah Rohit , Adsul Neha
Published: September 2020

Background: Chronic renal disease (CRD), results from a range of conditions that cause irreversible damage to the kidneys and is a recognised major medical problem worldwide. CRD in children and adolescent’s is an enervating condition requiring lifelong treatment in order ‘to survive’. Several researchers have criticised the research on children with CRD as most of these studies rely on standardized tools which seem to be grounded in objectivity and quantification.Methods: In this milieu, this Indian study adopts a qualitative approach underpinned by the philosophy of Husserlian phenomenology with descriptive phenomenology as a method. The primary purpose of the study was to delve into the lives of adolescents suffering from CRDs to understand their perceptions about how this challenging condition affects and changes their lives.Results: CRD is a chronic condition that confines the lives of these adolescents by demanding a major shift to more prescribed and restrictive lifestyle.Conclusions: The lives of the adolescent participants conveyed a paradoxical nature in terms of suffering; struggling to cope with the stringent lifestyle changes and yet trying to be adapting to the disease to moving forward in life.
Knowledge, attitude, and practices about male infertility among men and women in slums of Chennai, Tamil Nadu: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chinnaiyan Saravanan , Babu Bhavya
Published: September 2020

Background: Infertility is a major public health problem that affects 15% of the global population. Fertility is the ability to conceive pregnancy and has a positive social value whereas; infertility has a negative social value in Indian culture. So, infertility is a serious problem in developing and undeveloped countries are more than of biological.Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude, perception, and practices, and myths about male infertility in the slums of Chennai.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in the Slums of Chennai from January 2020 to March 2020. A total of 125 male and 125 female participants of the age group ≥18 years were recruited for the study by simple random sampling. Results: The study revealed that there is adequate knowledge of the common causes of infertility, but clinical knowledge is comparatively low. Both men and women shared almost equal knowledge of infertility. Conclusion: Educational programmes, regular campaigns by Accredited social health activists (ASHAs) and the involvement of community are recommended to increase knowledge about the causes of infertility as well as decrease the stigma associated with this condition.
Seasonal trends in ear, nose, throat and head, neck patients undergoing shortwave diathermy at a tertiary care centre of Punjab: a five-year study
Authors: Munjal Manish , Teotia Avkash , Kaur Jatinder , Rishi Porshia , Sidhu Harjinder , Munjal Shubham , Verma Hitesh
Published: September 2020

Background: Shortwave diathermy, a therapeutic modality in acute inflammatory conditions of the ear, nose and neck has its utility in the paediatric, adolescent, middle age and the elderly. The seasonal variations of the patients enrolled in physiotherapy clinics for temporo-fascio-cervical diathermy sessions during a 5 years period, were analysed.   Methods: 490 patients with inflammatory pathologies localized to the head and neck region and referred to the physiotherapy unit of a tertiary care centre of Punjab were analysed. All were subjected to shortwave diathermy. The subjects were analysed for any seasonal trends.Results: In the paediatric age group, maximum patients were observed in the month of March over the period of 5 years followed by the month of January. In the adolescent population maximum patients were observed in the month of November over the period of 5 years followed by the month of December. In the Adult population maximum patients were observed in the month of April over the period of 5 years followed by January and August.Conclusion: Paediatric patients came for regular sittings in the end of March end, i.e. post examination vacation period. The elderly visited mostly during winters. Malignant otitis externa with underlying diabetes worsens in winters due to increase in intake of sugary energy drinks.
Knowledge and practices regarding management of minor ailments of pregnancy among antenatal mothers: a descriptive study from Rajasthan
Authors: Sharma Ankita , Rani Raj , Nebhinani Mamta , Singh Pratibha
Published: September 2020

Background: Pregnancy is considered as one of the most beautiful events in every female life which brings a lot of physiological and hormonal changes to prepare women for motherhood. Even though these changes are not dangerous, still they are bothersome. Women use number of homemade remedies to alleviate these discomforts. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess knowledge and practices regarding management of minor ailments of pregnancy among antenatal mothers.Methods: This study was conducted at obstetrics OPD of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. 368, 3rd trimester pregnant mothers were recruited by convenient sampling technique. Self- structured knowledge questionnaire, checklist for practice were used for data collection using face to face interview method.Results: Most common health problems as reported by pregnant women were increased urine frequency and fatigue. Nearly 61% of mothers had fair knowledge levels. Majority of the antenatal mothers used one or another home remedy to alleviate their symptoms.  86.6% ate small and frequent meals followed by 74.3% avoided strong odors to prevent nausea and vomiting.Conclusion: Increased urine frequency is the most evident minor ailment faced during pregnancy. Overall antenatal mothers had fair knowledge regarding management of minor ailments and varied practices have been performed by antenatal mothers to relieve their problems. There is a need to conduct aggressive and comprehensive health promotion and awareness sessions for the expectant mothers so as to manage these ailments and prevent further complications.
Practice of environmental sanitation and hygiene in the light of “Swacha Bharat Abhiyan”: a study among female residents of rural Punjab, India
Authors: Paul Sourabh , Mehera Shyam , Sidhu Gurirat , Malhotra Varun , Sidhu Tanvir K. , Prajapati Paresh
Published: September 2020

Background: India has achieved the status of open defecation free (ODF) in 2019 October but women involvement in the actual process of implementation of the programme is very minimal. Objective of the study was to assess the awareness level & practice of environmental sanitation and hygiene and also to find out the association with demographic variables.Methods: Present study was conducted in a rural community of Punjab, India in June 2019 among 400 females. Data was collected in a predesigned structured questionnaire and was analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics.Results: Most common source of drinking water among the participants was community RO point (54.5%) and method of SWD among the community was dumping (80%). Four out of five participants had the opinion that their village is unclean and improper solid waste disposal (37.3%) was the main reason. 95% of the participants had not participated in any community cleanliness activity also. Participants having higher educational status (p=0.0001), lower & middle class family (p=0.001) and member of small family (p=0.009) had heard significantly more about “Swacha Bharat Abhiyan”.Conclusions: Policies need to be formulated that enable women to participate in the sanitation interventions. Special focus should be given young, educated women from middle and lower socio economic status so that they become the role model of the society.
Concurrent impact evaluation of lockdown measures on COVID-19 positivity in three states of India
Authors: Choudhury Lincoln Priyadarshi , Jammy G. R. , Pant Rashmi
Published: September 2020

Background: In response to the COVID pandemic, many preventive steps have been undertaken in the India, including lockdown measures. The objective of the study was to analyze the impact of lockdown on COVID-19 epidemic.Methods: We used quasi-experimental interrupted time series analysis using reported data from 17 March 2020 to 14 April 2020 with effective time interruption on 3 April 2020. We used publicly available data from three states to calculate the pre and post lockdown period COVID-19 test positivity.Results: The lockdown was able to reduce the infections cases in all three states. The trend of positivity changed to negative for Tamil Nadu and Odisha and accelerated upward in Kerala. The trend changes for positivity were statistically significant for two states (Tamil Nadu and Odisha). In comparison to counterfactual, on 13 April 2020, the predicted relative change in COVID-19 positivity was maximum for the state of Odisha (108%), followed by Tamil Nadu (85%) and Kerala (78%) respectively.Conclusions: The lockdown measurements were observed to be effective in the three states studied. However, the quantity of change varied from state to state. Policymakers and public health scientists can consider these findings ad methodology for future action.
Relevance of mandatory glaucoma screening in all patients from outreach cataract camps referred to a base hospital for cataract surgery
Authors: Tomar Vijay P. S. , Sharma Sandeep , Bhardwaj Rahul , Bamel Arjun , Bobade Amrapali , Bhadauria Madhu
Published: September 2020

Background: Glaucoma is the first cause of irreversible blindness and second leading cause of visual loss in the world. The purpose of this study was to conduct mandatory glaucoma screening and to find out the prevalence of glaucoma, in all patients referred for cataract surgery to a base hospital. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of all patients referred from rural screening camps to base hospital for cataract surgery. Medical records of 5024 consecutive patients referred to base hospital from the month of January to June 2019 were reviewed. All these 5024 patients underwent comprehensive ophthalmic and systemic examination. Those patients in which glaucoma was suspected, were referred to glaucoma clinic for further evaluation.Results: Total 5024 patient’s records were analysed retrospectively. The mean age of the participants was 57.2±8.149 ranged from 40-95 years and average age of patients having cataract with glaucoma was 61.3±9.423. Total patients of glaucoma with cataract were 188 (3.7%). The prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and Primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) was 1.69% and 1.17% respectively while secondary glaucoma was found in 0.88% of the patients. The prevalence of ocular hypertension, PAC and PACS was 0.33%, 0.29% and 0.83% respectively.Conclusion: The prevalence of glaucoma in this study was 3.7% of those planned for cataract surgery. Therefore, mandatory glaucoma screening in all patients from outreach cataract camps would result in detection of a large number of those with undiagnosed glaucoma.
Knowledge, attitude, and practices towards COVID-19 among ayurvedic practitioners of Karnataka, India: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Khanum Rufia Shaistha , . Amoghashree , Kumar D. Sunil , Verma Satendra Kumar , N. Chandan , Narayanmurthy M. R.
Published: September 2020

Background: COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease which was first identified in Wuhan, China and was subsequently declared as pandemic by WHO. As it is rapidly spreading and taken lives of millions, various countries have adopted unprecedented measures and treatment modalities. Since India has historical roots of Ayurveda, Ayurvedic system of medicine was consider to boost the immunity and also to prevent the infection. Hence the knowledge, attitude and practice of an Ayurvedic practitioner plays a major role in health system, which further helps to know the preparedness among them. With this context this study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude and practice among them towards COVID-19.Methods: Online cross sectional study was done among Ayurvedic practitioners of Karnataka. Google form was sent through social media to collect data and analysed using SPSS 25.Results: The mean age among the participants was 30.5±9.1 years. Majority were females (54.3%), and 59.1% are currently practicing Ayurveda. Mean knowledge score was 10.5±1.9, thus 86.6% of the participants had good knowledge. 70.1% agreed for the fact that Ayurveda should be considered as a mainstream medicine whereas 88.2% were in opinion that Ayurveda should be considered as complementary therapy along with conventional treatment. Statistical association was seen between education and knowledge.Conclusions: Good knowledge towards COVID-19 was seen among 86.6% and majority of them want Ayurveda to be considered as complementary medicine but before that evidence based treatment protocol needs to be developed to support claims regarding treatment/prevention of COVID-19.
Trends of utilization of free maternal services implemented among postnatal women in sub-county hospitals of selected counties in Nyanza, Kenya
Authors: Nyaberi Jackline Mosinya , Ochieng Otieno G. , Justus Osero O. S.
Published: September 2020

Background: Low utilization and poor accessibility of hospital based maternal services in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) are evident and financial barriers is a major bottleneck. Globally, an estimated 600,000 maternal deaths occur yearly with over 90% of these deaths occurring in LMICs. In Kenya, maternal mortality is still relatively high with 362 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Gaps in the quality of maternal health services exist due to high costs, poor staffing and inaccessibility. However, Utilization of hospital based maternal services enhances skilled delivery and consequently reduces maternal and child mortalities and morbidities. The aim of this study was to establish the trends of utilization of free maternal services (FMS) before and after implementation in counties of Nyanza, Kenya.Methods: The study adopted an analytical cross-sectional study utilizing mixed methods of data collection. Secondary quantitative data on the rate of utilization between June 2011 and May 2015 was compared. Qualitative data was collected from key informants and focused group discussants. Purposive and simple random sampling were used to select target population. Data was analysed using both parametric and non-parametric statistical methods.Results: In maternal services utilization, Kisumu county recorded the highest 98.7%. Overall, in Nyanza, there was tremendous growth on trends of FMS utilization of 53.4% from 36.7% before implementation of FMS with cases of still births, maternal deaths and neonatal deaths.Conclusion: The upsurge of FMS utilization encouraged skilled birth attendance but also caused enormous constrains to health system and reduced the quality of FMS.
Quality of life in chronic kidney disease: a community perspective using world health organization quality of life: BREF questionnaire
Authors: Jacob Sabitha R. , Kannan Suthanthira , Raveendran Rini , Wilson Tom
Published: September 2020

Background: The quality of life is an important assessment tool in improving the quality of care among chronic kidney diseases (CKD) especially in a palliative care setup. This study attempted to assess the quality of life of chronic kidney disease patients.Methods: This community based cross sectional study was conducted among 140 patients who were registered at palliative clinics in Malappuram District, Kerala using a standard tool for quality of life (QOL) in Malayalam version. Domain scores were analysed across clinic epidemiological factors.Results: Mean age of the study population was 53.99 (14.36%). Majority 73 (52.1%) were educated up to upper primary. The median duration of CKD was 4 years and ranged from 3 months to 22 years. 55.3% were undergoing dialysis 16.3% had renal transplantation. Hypertension was reported by 65% and diabetes by 50.7%. The highest score was obtained in the environmental and lowest in the psychological domain. Age below 40 years, male gender and provision of an income was associated with better QOL scores and perception scores. QOL was significantly higher in all domains among those who had undergone renal transplantation compared to those on hemodialysis.  Conclusions: The status of renal transplantation and younger age group positively affected the good quality of life. Considering the cost of renal transplantation and post-transplant survival peritoneal dialysis could be promoted in low resource settings. Secondary prevention of hypertension and diabetes should be addressed at programme level to delay nephropathy.
COVID-19 and its effect on nutrition
Authors: Sutaria Muskaan , Keny Greeshma , Pratinidhi Shilpa A.
Published: September 2020

Background: Pandemic induced lockdown has led to various changes in dietary habits and physical activity amongst the general population like increased consumption of processed food, snacking between meals and decreased consumption of vegetables. This unhealthy lifestyle leads to increase in weight and obesity, which are long-term risk factors for various chronic disorders and impairs the immune system which is vital during a pandemic. Therefore, this study was conducted to document changes in the nutritional habits.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Written informed consent was obtained and the purpose of the study was explained. A self-administered questionnaire was circulated as Google forms to collect data.Results: 422 volunteers participated. Around 23.5% (n=56) consumed vegetables less than twice a week. Snacking between meals 1-3 times a day was observed in 72% (n=304), of which 54.9% (n=167) do not exercise at all or less than before lockdown and, 52.6% (n=160) showed a significant increase in weight. Out of the 50.2% (n=212) with a changed eating schedule, 30.18% (n=64) skipped at least one meal and 22.3% also showed gastrointestinal disturbances.Conclusions: Many changes were observed in dietary habits of people due to lockdown, which are a step towards a weak immune system and also forms a basis for chronic diseases in the future. Therefore, it is advisable to consume a balanced diet, as it is an unexcelled way of boosting the immune system which will help in fighting all types of infection including the novel coronavirus infection and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Influence of patient related factors on health seeking behaviours among men with lower urinary tract symptoms attending surgical outpatient clinic at Meru Level Five Hospital, Kenya
Authors: Muriuki Festus Mwendia , Kirigia Consolata
Published: September 2020

Background: Currently there are increased cases of men presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) especially in low resource countries. The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of patient related factors on health seeking behaviors for LUTS among men attending surgical outpatient clinic at Meru hospital, Kenya.Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Population involved 120 men suffering from LUTS, 2 physicians and 2 nurses. Questionnaires and interview guides were used for data collection. Study period was from August 2018 to March 2020.Results: Patients (67.0%) were aged between 61-70 years. Primary education level (68.8%). Farmers (72.0%) with income level of below Kenyan Shilling (Ksh.) 20,000. Logistic regression was used whereby p values (p≤0.05). The inferential statistics pointed out that patient related factors test items had a statistical significant influence since the p values were found to be less than 0.05 at 95% confidence interval.Conclusions: There was a significant negative influence of patient related factors such as lack of knowledge, low income levels and distance to health care facilities on health seeking practices. Patients sought medical attention when quality of their lives had been threatened. The study recommends adopting measures of rising awareness on need for seeking early medical attention and initiate outreach health services in underserved areas or through telehealth.
Early identification of high-risk pregnancies in rural areas of Karnataka through maternal obstetric monitoring program
Authors: Janagam Srujan G. , Kaniyampady Smitha T. , Shetty Anupama N.
Published: September 2020

Maternal mortality rate (MMR) has been one of India’s key priority areas. Over the years. several national programs have addressed issues of accessibility and affordability of antenatal care. Major gaps in the system include shortage of trained human resource and technological infrastructure in providing essential diagnostic ante-natal care. High risk pregnancies (HRP) owing to various factors, account for 70-80% of maternal deaths. This case study describes the clinical and workflow process innovation in ante-natal care in Shorapur taluka, a rural region of Northern Karnataka. Maternal obstetric monitoring (MOM) through a defined protocol for high-risk pregnancy identification aided by ultrasound scans, was introduced at the sub-district hospital. In parallel, system strengthening was done through capacity building activities, installation of blood storage unit and provision of ultrasound services. The model demonstrates that process and technological innovations can be leveraged on to facilitate and make available specialist medical services in rural areas, which is key to identification and timely management of high-risk pregnancies.
Epidemiology of visual impairment: focus on Delta State, Nigeria
Authors: Moyegbone John E. , Nwose Ezekiel U. , Nwajei Samuel D. , Odoko Joseph O. , Agege Emmanuel A. , Igumbor Eunice O.
Published: September 2020

The eyes being the most delicate organs as well as the window of the body to the world make it dysfunction a public health problem. The aim of this study is to review the epidemiology of visual impairment in relation to anaemia, antioxidant vitamins and nutritional status in order to identify and proffer appropriate solution to various factors associated with visual impairment. A systematic review and evaluation of published literatures globally, in sub Saharan Africa and in Nigeria was done through web search and Mendeley reference library. Findings showed that visual impairment increases with increase in age. Gender, race, geographical location, literacy level, income and culture are social demographic factors that influence visual impairment. Refractive error, cataract, glaucoma and age-related macula degeneration (ARMD) are the most common causes of visual impairment worldwide. Over 80% of visual impairment are preventable. Hence, early detection and prompt treatment especially at the primary health care level is the most effective ways to prevent visual impairment.
Violence against doctors: before and during the pandemic of COVID-19
Authors: Priya Karpaga , Pathak Vineet K.
Published: September 2020

Work-place violence has been on rise in recent years. Hospitals and medical fraternity are not spared of it either. Initially there were instances of such acts in hospitals only. The health care professionals are not spared even on fields as evidenced by recent attacks on frontline workers who are involved in contact tracing and screening amid Severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV2). In order to find the different causes leading to violence against doctors and to recommend solutions for them, relevant articles published in last five years in English language from India were included. High patient load, lack of necessary facilities, insufficient number of trained staff are few of the drawbacks of our hospital setting. While long waiting hours, delays in referrals, high out of pocket expenditure are troubling issues from a patient’s perspective. In view of the rising pandemic, stigmatization, fear of isolation are few reasons giving rise to such events. In order to curb such workplace menace and to deliver health services at peace, there is a dire need for controlling such ruthlessness. The medical council, hospital administration, government and media, all have an indispensable role to make doctors feel safe and to furnish smooth services. Incorporation of critical communication in syllabus, increasing specialty seats for emergency medicine, strengthening pre-hospital services, changing the setup of emergency room are the need of the hour. With the recent amendment to Epidemic disease Act, 1897 offering protection to frontline workers, there is a light towards the end of tunnel.
Role of plasma ascorbic acid in nasal allergy- a review
Authors: Munjal Manish , Singh Atul , Khurana Ajit Singh , Munjal Shubham , Mehta Arnav , Shukla Khyati , Waraich Gurkaran
Published: September 2020

Ascorbic acid plays a pivotal role in common cold and allergic rhinitis by affecting the innate and adaptive immunity It antagonizes mediators of allergic rhinitis like histamine, prostaglandins etc. It also maintains the normal redox potential of the cells preventing bonding of antibody to antigen. It helps in stress conditions and has stimulatory effect on interferon synthesis. The present study was undertaken to study the role of plasma ascorbic acid in patients suffering from nasal allergy.
circuito comercial en el Pacífico Sur durante la guerra entre España e Inglaterra: visto a través de una triada de comerciantes conectados, 1796-1816
Authors: Mazzeo Cristina Ana
Published: September 2020

Durante el período entre 1796 y 1814 el comercio a distancia en el Imperio español sufrió varios desequilibrios debido a las constantes guerras que España mantuvo con Inglaterra y Francia. En este trabajo nos acercamos a un grupo de comerciantes que lograron mantener contacto entre los virreinatos del Perú y del Río de la Plata, el puerto de Valparaíso (Chile) y Europa, a través de la interrelación de las rutas de cabotaje que cubrían los diferentes puertos del Pacífico y la ruta transatlántica de conexión entre el continente europeo y América. Se trata de una historia del comercio intercontinental y de contacto, que como perspectiva de análisis nos permite visualizar las conexiones entre el gran comercio y el comercio de cabotaje en épocas de guerra a través de la circulación de hombres y mercancías en un período de vicisitudes bélicas.
Vitamin D, Immunity and COVID-19 in Malaysia
Authors: Jan B. Jan Mohamed Hamid
Published: September 2020

This article is a Letter to Editor and does not include an Abstract.
The Effect of Palm Oil on Health Outcomes: A Protocol for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses of Controlled Clinical Trials
Authors: Akbarian Shahab-aldin , Mohammadi Mohammad , Beigrezaei Sara
Published: September 2020

Background: It is suggested that palm oil consumption might increase chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease. Previous studies that investigated the effect of palm oil intake on anthropometric measures, blood glucose control, inflammation, and oxidative stress markers have led to inconsistent results. This is while no systematic review and meta-analysis has been performed to summarize the data in this regard.
Objectives: The present study describes a protocol for a range of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to examine the effect of palm oil intake on body weight and fat, inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, liver enzymes, blood pressure, and blood glucose control indices.
Methods: ISI web of science, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar will be searched using medical subject heading (MeSH) and non-MeSH keywords. Controlled clinical trials will be selected based on predefined eligibility criteria. The intra-study risk of bias will be checked by using the Cochrane collaboration tool. Mean difference (MD) (the difference between mean change values in the intervention group/period and control group/period) and its corresponding standard deviation will be calculated to be used as effect size. A random-effects meta-analysis will be performed to pool the results. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression will be conducted to explore the possible sources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis will be conducted by removing the studies one-by-one from the overall analyses. Publication bias will be assessed by inspecting funnel plots and asymmetry tests.
Conclusion: The results of systematic reviews and meta-analyses might provide helpful data about the effects of palm oil consumption on different aspects of health among adults. The evidence provided by the results of systematic reviews can be useful for dietitians, clinicians, public health policy-makers, and the public.
Toponímia e línguas indígenas: um estudo de caso com base na toponímia sul-mato-grossense
Authors: Silva Camila André Do Nascimento da , Isquerdo Aparecida Negri
Published: September 2020

Este trabalho discute aspectos da contribuição vocabular ameríndia em designativos toponímicos que nomeiam acidentes físicos e humanos da zona rural da microrregião de Paranaíba/MS. O corpus analisado foi extraído do Sistema de Dados do ATEMS (Atlas Toponímico do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul), complementado por dados oficiais do IBGE/2010. A análise dos dados foi orientada pelo modelo teórico-metodológico de Dick (1990; 1992). Para as questões de natureza etimológica e de língua de origem dos topônimos, foram consultadas obras lexicográficas de línguas indígenas, tais como Sampaio (1928); Tibiriçá (1985; 1989); Navarro (2013) e Cunha (1999). Os resultados confirmam que a toponímia indígena examinada evidencia aspectos da influência de fatores de natureza física na nomeação dos acidentes geográficos. Em relação à língua de origem dos topônimos os dados evidenciaram a predominância do português e uma presença significativa de topônimos oriundos de línguas indígenas, com maior incidência do Tupi.
Dynamics of sociocultural and linguistic identity in the process of socialisation in a multicultural society
Authors: Belinskaya Elena , Martsinkovskaya Tatiana , Orestova Vasilisa , Kiseleva Ekaterina , Kriger Evgenia
Published: September 2020

The relevance of the problem of socialisation in multicultural space is extremely high. Its significance is connected with the processes of globalisation and increasing migration. In this situation, the sociocultural and, especially, linguistic identity can be analysed as a bonding and bridging social capital that helps or complicates socialisation, depending on the specifics of the social situation. These assumptions were checked in the empirical research of the sociocultural and linguistic identity of the three groups of ethnic Germans: living in Russia, in the CIS and those who moved to Germany. The obtained data showed the bilingualism of the majority of respondents. At the same time, respondents from Russia and Germany consider both Russian and German languages as native, while respondents from the CIS no longer regard German as their mother language. For them, ethnic, not linguistic, identity is the most essential for socialisation in a multicultural society. For Germans living in Russia, on the contrary, both languages help in communication and in professional activity. For the Germans, who now live in Germany, the Russian language helps in understanding their sociocultural specifics. The future is associated with the German language. Our respondents answer that the main group of socialisation for them is the family. This was especially marked in the answers of respondents living in Russia and Germany. So, we can state that in a complex multicultural environment, the family for them is not only a group for socialisation, but also an object of identity, partly playing the role of psychological defence and support in a changing world. The obtained results also showed a tendency towards individualisation. For the respondents from Russia and Germany, the main identity groups, besides family, are professional groups and groups with common interests. Thus, it can be concluded that linguistic identity plays the role of both bonding and bridging social capital. In positive socialisation, sociocultural identity plays the role of a bridging rather than a connecting capital. Mixed linguistic identity is predominantly a positive moment, increasing socialisation in a multicultural environment.

 

Keywords: Socialisation, transitivity, identity, multicultural world.
People's self-fulfillment in modern digital society
Authors: Vitulyova Yelizaveta
Published: September 2020

In modern society there is an acute problem of self-realization of people who possess remarkable intellectual potential, since their creative abilities, generally remain unsatisfied. The issue can be solved on the base of Internet of Things (IoT) concept, by making different tools for indoor creativity (such as 3D-printers which provide building useful products, knitting machines with embedded artificial intelligence, etc.). It is proved that solving the problem of self-fulfillment has crucial meaning both for development of science and art, as right in this case social sustainable demand for development of science and art arises. In the absence of a distinct social demand development of science and art, these areas of human activity can develop only with the help of state support, which significantly degrade their efficiency (also in purely economic terms).

 

Key words: the fourth technological revolution, digital society, citizen’s self-fulfillment, artificial intelligence, creativity, neural networks, bureaucracy
Effect of using guided inquiry teaching method in improving grade eight students’ concept of photosynthesis, primary school: Ethiopia
Authors: Dagnew Asrat , Mekonnen Desta
Published: September 2020

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of using guided inquiry teaching method in improving grade eight students’ conceptual understanding of photosynthesis. The study employed Quasi-experimental research method. The data collection instruments were multiple choice tests, observation, as well as informal assessment. The pre-test and post-test were administered before and after treatment respectively. The informal assessment also administered before and after intervention. Besides, the observation was conducted from the first day up to the last day of the intervention. The pre-test and post-test data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests quantitatively while; data collected through informal assessment and observation were presented using narration. The finding of pre-test revealed that there was no significant difference between the mean score of the two groups. The post-test result revealed that experimental group students significantly improved their conceptual understanding of the topic photosynthesis compared to the control group students. The study concluded that guided inquiry teaching method is more effective than the lecture method in improving students’ conceptual understanding of photosynthesis. Based on the finding of this study, it was recommended that governments should encourage biology teachers to apply guided inquiry teaching method by providing appropriate instructional material.

Keywords: Conceptual understanding Guided inquiry, photosynthesis,
Media and educational technology in Nigeria: Managing the broadcast programmes of Radio Nigeria Globe FM towards girl child education
Authors: Bello Hashim Sabo , Idris Sa’adatu Umar , Bappayo Abubakar
Published: September 2020

This study was carried out in Shall and Yalwa village areas of Tafawa Balewa and Dass local government areas, respectively, in Bauchi state (Nigeria) with a strong view of determining the efficacy of media in education towards managing girl child issues in Nigeria. An intensive oral interview was employed in data collection from staff of Radio Nigeria Globe FM, as well as the students and staff of schools and the parents from both Shall and Yalwa villages. The study employed a survey design and utilized a documentary approach to obtain data. Descriptive statistics (means, frequency and percentages) and χ2were used in analysing the socio-economic characteristics of the stakeholders in girl child education. The results revealed that 91.2% of the responses hold the opinion that the strategies used by the Radio Nigeria GlobeFM to intervene in girl child education proffered unique and far-reaching benefits in educating the girl child to discover herself and associate with the right group of people, marry the right kind of men, make the right contributions and help men develop sustainable environment. The results also revealed that 61.8% of the responses hold the belief that Radio Nigeria GlobeFM programmes on the Nigerian girl child are much effective, educative and relevance. The study suggested that the adoption of educational technology strategies is a way forward to managing girl child education, which is a progressive approach in Nigeria, there by setting up booster stations and organise village rallies, discussion programmes with women as moderators to serve as role models for young girls, radio links programme to initiates talks with parents and other stakeholders, initiate kiddies programme fashioned after the likes of the world of children and finally strategies for career guidance.

 

Keywords: Broadcast programme, educational technology, girl child, management, media.
Métricas de legibilidad del código fuente: revisión sistemática de literatura
Authors: Echavarría-Flórez Ingrid Sofía , Restrepo-Calle Felipe
Published: September 2020

La calidad del software es un aspecto ligado directamente a los costos futuros de mantenimiento y, generalmente, se cuantifica mediante métricas de calidad de los productos de software. Uno de los aspectos a tener en cuenta para evaluar la calidad del software es su mantenibilidad, ya que tiene un alto impacto sobre los costos totales de los proyectos de software. En particular, se estima que el 70% del tiempo de mantenimiento se destina a comprender el código, por lo que resulta importante poder medir la legibilidad de un fragmento de código fuente adecuadamente. La legibilidad se define como la facilidad con la que una persona puede leer y comprender un fragmento de código escrito por otra persona. Esta característica es crucial para facilitar la compresión del código durante las tareas de mantenimiento de software, por lo que resulta necesario poder medir la legibilidad del código fuente. Por lo tanto, a lo largo de los últimos años, los investigadores en el área han propuesto múltiples métricas para medir la legibilidad del código fuente. No obstante, sigue siendo un reto poder evaluar con precisión la legibilidad del código fuente de una forma ampliamente aceptada. Por ello, es indispensable dar continuidad a este tipo de investigaciones y, para esto, es necesario conocer los avances recientes. Este artículo presenta una síntesis y análisis de las métricas de legibilidad de código, mediante una revisión sistemática de literatura, mostrando una recopilación de las características y los métodos utilizados para su medición. Los resultados de este trabajo serán de utilidad para que los investigadores en el área puedan proponer nuevas métricas de legibilidad del código fuente.
Framework conceptual para el diseño colaborativo de Sistemas de Información en Salud
Authors: Castrillón-Cobo Helder Yesid , Erazo-Paruma Leydi Rocío , Gallego-Gómez Erika Liliana
Published: September 2020

El diseño de sistemas de información ajustado a las necesidades del sector salud requiere una atención especial, debido a la complejidad de la información, la compatibilidad y el soporte de los sistemas requerido para este sector. A pesar de existir iniciativas nacionales para la estandarización de la información que comparten las entidades del sector salud, existen factores como el déficit financiero del sector y los malos manejos de los recursos que impactan de forma negativa en esta estandarización y también en la prestación de los servicios de salud, especialmente, los relacionados con los derechos sexuales y reproductivos.

En este artículo se propone un framework conceptual para el diseño colaborativo de sistemas de información en salud, inicialmente priorizado para el dominio de salud sexual y reproductiva, lo cual permitirá contar con un marco de trabajo que contribuya en la captura, el almacenamiento, el tratamiento y la consulta de la información de salud de los colombianos de una forma estandarizada, actualizada y segura. El framework se compone de una ontología de dominio, una guía de implementación y otros componentes que permiten la escalabilidad de este, lo cual evidencia la importancia de este tipo de soluciones para este sector, y promueve el diseño de sistemas de información en salud bajo el concepto de trabajo colaborativo entre las organizaciones interesadas. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la estandarización de la información y el trabajo colaborativo permite diseñar sistemas más eficientes y al mismo tiempo compatibles e interoperables, lo cual reduce los trámites administrativos y la pérdida de datos importantes en la atención médica.
Adaptation, Comparison, and Improvement of Metaheuristic Algorithms to the Part-of-Speech Tagging Problem
Authors: Solano-Jiménez Miguel Alexis , Tobar-Cifuentes Jose Julio , Sierra-Martínez Luz Marina , Cobos-Lozada Carlos Alberto
Published: September 2020

Part-of-Speech Tagging (POST) is a complex task in the preprocessing of Natural Language Processing applications. Tagging has been tackled from statistical information and rule-based approaches, making use of a range of methods. Most recently, metaheuristic algorithms have gained attention while being used in a wide variety of knowledge areas, with good results. As a result, they were deployed in this research in a POST problem to assign the best sequence of tags (roles) for the words of a sentence based on information statistics. This process was carried out in two cycles, each of them comprised four phases, allowing the adaptation to the tagging problem in metaheuristic algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization, Jaya, Random-Restart Hill Climbing, and a memetic algorithm based on Global-Best Harmony Search as a global optimizer, and on Hill Climbing as a local optimizer. In the consolidation of each algorithm, preliminary experiments were carried out (using cross-validation) to adjust the parameters of each algorithm and, thus, evaluate them on the datasets of the complete tagged corpus: IULA (Spanish), Brown (English) and Nasa Yuwe (Nasa). The results obtained by the proposed taggers were compared, and the Friedman and Wilcoxon statistical tests were applied, confirming that the proposed memetic, GBHS Tagger, obtained better results in precision. The proposed taggers make an important contribution to POST for traditional languages (English and Spanish), non-traditional languages (Nasa Yuwe), and their application areas.
New Residential Districts Ordering: from Language of Smells Description to the Space Sensory Order
Authors: Shishova Ekaterina S.
Published: September 2020

The article analyzes the sensory aspects of urban life in one of the districts in the outskirts of Moscow. Revising the concepts of sensory ordering of space, I analyze the ways how urban dwellers in this district order the space by smell perception. I define three components of sensory ordering: i) the language of sensory experience, ii) ascription of meanings to space and smells localization, iii) actions aimed at supporting the desirable olfactory landscape. The process of creating this language and negotiations about the desirable olfactory landscape are based on adopting the special terms and visualizing the smells. This language allows to interact with the various agents on different levels of power, to transform and control the space. The production of meanings, based on smells, influences the district identity. Both positive and negative smell perception produce the value of the district, while the negative smells acts differently and devalues the other city territories. Citizens actions support the sensory normativity: through sensory patrolling (different ways of detecting the smells) and microordering (creating the cleanliness and freshness within neighborhoods). These ways of ordering sensory experience and creating olfactory landscape help to explain the interaction between district dwellers, the principles of how their agency is formed, and the principles of being responsible for the space.