bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ecological and economic features of balanced development of the forest sector of the Podilsk economic district of Ukraine: monograph
Authors: Yaremko O. P. , Drebot O. I.
Published: February 2024

In the monograph, the theoretical and methodological ecological and economic foundations of the balanced development of the forest sector of the Podilsk economic district of Ukraine have been presented, its current state in the context of the ecological and economic aspects has been researched. Methodological approaches to the formation of the ecological and economic foundations of the balanced development of the forest sector of the economic district have been developed and directions for their improvement have been proposed. The strategic imperatives of the development of the forest sector of the Podilsk economic district of Ukraine have been grounded. The monograph is intended for specialists in the field of environmental economics, employees of state institutions, heads of forestry enterprises, scientists, teachers, graduate and postgraduate students.
Financial and economic mechanism of balanced use of forestry lands on the example of the Small Polissia of Ukraine: monograph
Authors: Dankevych S. , Drebot O. , Palianychko N.
Published: February 2024

The directions, principles, and factors of effective functioning of the financial and economic provision of balanced use of forestry land, which in under modern conditions will perform the regulatory role of greening forestry activities and will be aimed at increasing the ecological, economic and social effectiveness of the use forestry lands. Summarized and systematized the results of fundamental and applied research on key aspects of normative-legislative and financial-economic ensuring balanced use of forestry lands. The development vectors of the financial and economic mechanism of the use of forestry land are determined: improvement of the institutional field, improvement of the management system, reproduction of forestry land to the optimal level of forest cover, forest certification, comprehensive monitoring, access to information, tax regulation, stable investment environment. It is recommended for representatives of state authorities, scientists, teachers, students and all those interested in finding ways to solve environmental problems of using forestry lands for land use, and thus to achieve the goals of the state environmental policy.
Investigating the complex relations among affective variables in the context of gambling
Authors: Andrà Chiara , Averna Eleonora , Copelli Ilaria , Cosmi Gianluca Sini , Paterno Elisa , Chiavarino Claudia
Published: February 2024

Gambling disorder is a dramatic phenomenon that is spreading, in Italy as well as around the world, among younger and younger people every year. Activities in mathematics lessons at school can help pre-vent it, but it is necessary to know with which attitudes and beliefs students approach such mathematics lessons, as well as the role of the social environment. Thus, in this study, within a sample of secondary school students who experienced gambling at various levels of addiction (from none to high), we investigate the role of: mathematics-related beliefs, emotions, social relationships, attitudes towards gambling and behaviour, through a set of calibrated self-report multiple-choice questionnaires. This represents for us an opportunity to understand the complex relations among affective variables in mathematics educational activities aimed at preventing gambling disorder. For example, we found a positive correlation between mathematics-related beliefs and gambling frequency, and a negative correlation between emotional regulation and gambling frequency. Hence, we can say that affective variables such as emotions and beliefs have an effect on gambling behavior.
Kebijakan Pelarian, Pengawalan, Dan Pencegahan Gangguan Kamtib
Authors: Anwar Umar
Published: February 2024

Kebijakan Pelarian, Pengawalan, Dan Pencegahan Gangguan Kamtib
Provoking lucid dreams at home with sensory cues paired with pre-sleep cognitive training
Authors: Konkoly Karen , Whitmore Nathan , Mallett Remington , Mazurek Christopher , Paller Ken A.
Published: February 2024

Lucid dreams—when one is aware of dreaming while still asleep—are notoriously elusive but highly valued both for personal goals and basic sleep research. Lucid dreams can be produced by pairing sensory cues with cognitive training, followed by cue presentation during REM sleep. This method, Targeted Lucidity Reactivation (TLR), requires minimal personal effort, unlike many existing methods for promoting lucid dreaming. Theoretically, TLR might be effective either because cues produce a lucid mindset during sleep or because cues operate nonspecifically to increase arousal. Here we show that TLR can be translated from a laboratory procedure that requires an experimenter to monitor sleep stages to a procedure implemented with a smartphone application for individuals to use on their own. Results from two experiments provided insights into TLR procedures and how to improve them. In one experiment, we found that participants reported significantly more lucid dreams while using the TLR app compared to prior to app use. In a second experiment, we replicated this result and found that cues were most effective if paired with cognitive training before sleep, suggesting that success depends on reactivating a lucid mindset. TLR thus holds promise for broad scientific and personal purposes.
Note for the Millennium Prize Problems
Authors: Vega Frank
Published: February 2024

The Riemann hypothesis and the $P$ versus $NP$ problem are two of the most important unsolved Millennium Prize Problems. Let $\Psi(n) = n \cdot \prod_{q \mid n} \left(1 + \frac{1}{q} \right)$ denote the Dedekind $\Psi$ function where $q \mid n$ means the prime $q$ divides $n$. Define, for $n \geq 3$; the ratio $R(n) = \frac{\Psi(n)}{n \cdot \log \log n}$ where $\log$ is the natural logarithm. Let $N_{n} = 2 \cdot \ldots \cdot q_{n}$ be the primorial of order $n$. There are several statements equivalent to the famous Riemann hypothesis. We show if the inequality $R(N_{n+1}) < R(N_{n})$ holds for $n$ big enough, then the Riemann hypothesis is true. In this note, we prove that $R(N_{n+1}) < R(N_{n})$ always holds for $n$ big enough. A precise statement of the $P$ versus $NP$ problem was introduced independently by Stephen Cook and Leonid Levin. Since that date, all efforts to find a proof for this problem have failed. Another major complexity class is $NP$-complete. It is well-known that $P$ is equal to $NP$ under the assumption of the existence of a polynomial time algorithm for some $NP$-complete. We show that the Monotone Weighted Xor 2-satisfiability problem ($MWX2SAT$) is $NP$-complete and $P$ at the same time.
An updated landslide susceptibility model and a log-Gaussian Cox process extension for Scotland
Authors: Bryce Erin , Castro-Camilo Daniela , Dashwood Claire , Tanyas Hakan , Ciurean Roxana , Novellino Alessandro , Lombardo Luigi
Published: February 2024

At the time of its development, GeoSure was created using expert knowledge based on a thorough understanding of the engineering geology of the rocks and soils of Great Britian. The ability to use a data-driven methodology to develop a national scale landslide susceptibility was not possible due to the relatively small size of the landslide inventory at the time. In the intervening 20 years the National Landslide Database has grown from around 6000 points to over 18,000 records today and continues to be added to. With the availability of this additional inventory, new data-driven solutions could be utilised. Here, we tested a Bernoulli likelihood model to estimate the probability of debris flow occurrence and a log-Gaussian Cox process model to estimate the rate of debris flow occurrence per slope unit. Scotland was selected as the test site for a preliminary experiment, which could potentially be extended to the whole British landscape in the future. Inference techniques for both of these models are applied within a Bayesian framework. The Bayesian framework can work with the two models as additive structures, which allows for the incorporation of the spatial and covariate information in a flexible way. The framework also provides uncertainty estimates with model outcomes. We also explored consideration on how to communicate uncertainty estimates together with model predictions in a way that would ensure an integrated framework for master planners to use with ease, even if administrators do not have a specific statistical background. Interestingly, the spatial predictive patterns obtained do not stray away from those of the previous GeoSure methodology, but rigorous numerical modelling now offers objectivity and a much richer predictive description.
Validating a novel paradigm for simultaneously assessing mismatch response and frequency-following response to speech sounds
Authors: Cheng Tzu-Han Zoe , Zhao T. Christina
Published: February 2024

Speech sounds are processed in the human brain through intricate and interconnected networks of cortical and subcortical structures, yet it remains largely unknown how these different levels of auditory processing interact with one another. Two neural signatures, one largely from cortical sources (mismatch response, MMR) and one largely from subcortical sources (complex auditory brainstem response, cABR) are critical for assessing language acquisition, as they both show a sensitivity to high-level linguistic information. To understand how cortical-subcortical interactions influence speech perception, MMR and cABR must be measured within the same paradigm, yet few studies have accomplished this due to their distinct recording prerequisites. This study aims to validate our novel paradigm that concurrently captures both signals by meeting the benchmarks of significant decoding accuracies for (1) MMR between Native and Nonnative speech contrasts and (2) cABR to three speech sounds. Using EEG, we observed a decoding accuracy of 71.8% between Native vs. Nonnative MMR, achieved higher than 97.5 percentile against the null distribution. A significantly larger Native MMR was shown in the expected time window, replicating past research. A significant decoding accuracy of 81.8% was found for cABR. A high stimulus-to-response cross-correlation within 10 ms suggested that cABR closely tracks speech sounds. These findings demonstrate that our paradigm reliably captures both MMR and cABR, with much fewer trials and shorter experiment time. This study paves the way to understanding cortical-subcortical interactions for speech and language processing with the potential to serve as an ideal clinical assessment tool particularly in early development.
Social robots in research on social and cognitive development in infants and toddlers: A Scoping review
Authors: Flatebø Solveig , Tran Vi Ngoc-Nha , Wang Catharina Elisabeth Arfwedson , Bongo Lars Ailo
Published: February 2024

There is currently no systematic review of the growing body of literature on using social robots in early developmental research. Designing appropriate methods for early childhood research is crucial for broadening our understanding of young children’s social and cognitive development. This scoping review systematically examines the existing literature on using social robots to study social and cognitive development in infants and toddlers aged between 2 and 35 months. Moreover, it aims to identify the research focus, findings, and reported gaps and challenges when using robots in research. We included empirical studies published between 1990 to May 29, 2023. We searched for literature in PsychINFO, ERIC, Web of Science, and PsyArXiv. Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were mapped using the scoping review method. Our findings reveal that most studies were quantitative, with experimental designs conducted in a laboratory setting where children were exposed to physically present or virtual robots in a one-to-one situation. We found that robots were used to investigate four main concepts: animacy concept, action understanding, imitation, and early conversational skills. Many studies focused on whether young children regard robots as agents or social partners. The studies demonstrated that young children could learn from and understand social robots in some situations but not always. For instance, children’s understanding of social robots was often facilitated by robots that behaved interactively and contingently. This scoping review highlights the need to design social robots that can engage in interactive and contingent social behaviors for early developmental research.
What are the benefits of directed attention within verbal working memory?
Authors: Jeanneret Stephanie , Vergauwe Evie , Hautekiet Caro , Langerock Naomi
Published: February 2024

Information that is particularly relevant for upcoming behavior can be prioritized within working memory, by directing attention to it. Receiving focused attention during retention is assumed to be associated with specific benefits, such as increased memory performance and reduced vulnerability to perceptual distractions. This has been demonstrated in visuospatial working memory. Given the domain-general nature of the focus of attention, these benefits should extend to verbal working memory as well. This was tested in the current study. In particular, we examined and compared the effects of cue-based and reward-based prioritization in verbal working memory across a series of five preregistered experiments. These experiments varied in their memory materials, set size, interference, and memory task. Our results collectively revealed several key findings. Firstly, both cue-based and reward-based prioritization led to a clear and consistent memory boost for prioritized information in verbal working memory. Secondly, the memory boost induced by cue-based prioritization was mostly comparable to that induced by reward-based prioritization. Thirdly, memory for verbal information did not drastically suffer when exposed to perceptual interference. And lastly, the effect of perceptual interference on verbal information was not drastically influenced by whether the information was prioritized or not. Overall, this series of experiments contributes to understanding the consequences of directed attention in verbal working memory and highlights similarities and differences from findings in visuospatial working memory.
What I think she thinks about my body: Social inferences about disability-related content in anosognosia for hemiplegia
Authors: Besharati Sahba , Jenkinson Paul Mark , Kopelman Michael , Solms Mark , Bulgarelli Cristina , Pacella Valentina , Moro Valentina , Fotopoulou Aikaterini
Published: February 2024

The neuropsychological disorder of anosognosia for hemiplegia (AHP) can offer unique insights into the neurocognitive processes of body consciousness and representation. Previous studies have found associations between selective social cognition deficits and anosognosia. In this study, we examine how such social cognition deficits may directly interact with representations of one’s body as disabled in AHP. To this end, we modified a set of previously validated Theory of Mind stories to create content that was related to post-stroke paralysis and to investigate differences between right hemisphere damage patients with (n = 19) and without (n = 19) AHP. We expected AHP patients to perform worse than controls when trying to infer paralysis-related mental states, and explored whether such differences further depended on the kind of inference patients were asked to perform (e.g. from a first versus a third person perspective). Using an advanced structural neuroimaging technique, we expected selective social cognitive deficits to be associated with posterior parietal cortex lesions, and the difficulty to associate self -beliefs with paralysis during mentalising to be associated with frontoparietal disconnections. Group and individual level results revealed that AHP patients performed worse than HP controls when trying to infer paralysis-related mental states, possibly driven by both social cognition deficits per se and more specific difficulties to take the perspective of paralysed individual. Lesion analyses results were significant only at exploratory levels, revealing some of the hypothesised lesions but also unexpected white matter disconnections in the posterior body and splenium of the corpus collosum as related to deficits-related self-referent perspective taking. The study has implications for the multi-layered nature of body awareness, including abstract, social perspectives and beliefs about the body.
A semantic strategy instruction intervention aimed at boosting young and older adults’ visual working memory capacity
Authors: Hart Rebecca , Nicholls Louise A. Brown
Published: February 2024

Greater semantic availability (meaningfulness) within visual stimuli can positively impact visual working memory performance. Across two experiments, we investigated the effects of semantic availability and, for the first time, semantic strategy instruction on visual working memory performance. Experiment 1 focused on young adults’ (18-35 years) strategies during visual matrix task recognition. Results highlighted an existing propensity to report incorporating a semantic strategy. Interestingly, there was no significant effect of semantic availability within the task stimuli. Semantic strategy instruction also did not boost, or indeed hinder, accuracy. Experiment 2 incorporated older adults (60-87 years) and highlighted marked differences in capacity with older age. Greater semantic availability reliably benefitted capacity for young adults only. Furthermore, semantic strategy instruction neither boosted nor hindered capacity, even in older adults. There were also some interesting patterns regarding reported strategy use across groups. Again, participants did report spontaneously using semantic strategies, particularly young adults. However, instruction may have encouraged more frequent use of semantic strategies in older adults. Finally, the results suggest a role for task practice, likely related to strategy development and implementation over time. Future semantic strategy instruction protocols may need to incorporate more extensive training and/or practice to benefit working memory capacity.
Rhythmic Qualities of Jazz Improvisation Predict Performer Identity and Style in Source-Separated Audio Recordings
Authors: Cheston Huw , Schlichting Joshua L. , Cross Ian , Harrison Peter M. C.
Published: February 2024

Great musicians have a unique style and, with training, humans can learn to distinguish between these styles. What differences between performers enable us to make such judgments? We investigate this question by building a supervised-learning model that predicts performer identity from data extracted automatically from an audio recording. Such a model could be trained on all kinds of musical features, but here we focus specifically on rhythm, which (unlike harmony, melody, and timbre) is relevant for any musical instrument. We demonstrate that a supervised learning model trained solely on rhythmic features extracted from 300 recordings of ten jazz pianists correctly identified the performer in 59% of cases, six times better than chance. The most important features related to a performer’s “feel” (ensemble synchronization) and “complexity” (information density). Further analysis revealed two clusters of performers, with those in the same cluster sharing similar rhythmic traits, and that the rhythmic style of each musician changed relatively little over the duration of their career. Our findings highlight the possibility that artificial intelligence can perform performer identification tasks normally reserved for experts. Links to each recording and the corresponding predictions are available on an interactive map to support future work in stylometry.
Partnership penalties for working in gender-atypical occupations? Observational and experimental evidence from Germany
Authors: Hipp Lena , Leumann Sandra , Schober Pia
Published: February 2024

Does working in a gender-atypical occupation reduce individuals’ likelihood of finding a different-sex romantic partner, and do such occupational partnership penalties contribute to occupational gender segregation? To answer this question, we theorized partnership penalties for working in gender-atypical occupations by drawing on insights from evolutionary psychology, social constructivism, and rational choice theory and exploited the stability of occupational pathways in Germany. In Study 1, we analyzed observational data from a national probability sample (N= 1,634,944) to assess whether individuals in gender-atypical occupations were less likely to be partnered than individuals who worked in gender typical occupations. To assess whether the observed partnership gaps found in Study 1 were causally related to the gender typicality of men’s and women’s occupations, we conducted a field experiment on a dating app (N = 6,778). Because the findings from Study 2 suggested that young women and men indeed experienced penalties for working in a gender-atypical occupation (at least when they were not highly attractive), we employed a choice-experimental design in Study 3 (N = 1,250) to assess whether women and men were aware of occupational partnership penalties and showed that anticipating occupational partnership penalties may keep young and highly educated women from working in gender-atypical occupations. Our main conclusion therefore is that that observed penalties and their anticipation seem to be driven by unconscious rather than conscious processes.
نَصِيْحَةٌ الْأُمَّة
Authors: Setiawan Adib Rifqi
Published: February 2024

Ibu Nasichatul Ummah (نَصِيْحَةٌ الْأُمَّة) merupakan praktisi dan konsultan pendidikan asal Indonesia yang menyelesakan pendidikan formalnya di STIT Al-Khairiyah Cilegon, Banten, Indonesia. Feature:“Nasichatul Ummah” � https://bit.ly/komunikatorilmiah“Nasichatul Ummah, Potret Komunikator Ilmiah” � https://doi.org/10.31237/osf.io/ksqzr
Peritoneal rent: No hindrance to completing eTEP
Authors: Srishti Swarupa  , Bharti Vikeerna , Leesa Misra  , Nivedita Sahoo  , Manash Ranjan Sahoo  , Sreeparna Ghosh
Published: February 2024

Background: Extended view total extraperitoneal (eTEP) has rapidly gained popularity over the last decade. Peritoneal rent during surgery is another complication that makes surgery difficult and forces surgeons to convert to either transabdominal pre-peritoneal or open hernioplasty. With our approach despite peritoneal rent developed intraoperatively, surgery can be completed in the same extraperitoneal plane during eTEP.
Aims and Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of completing eTEP surgery despite the occurrence of peritoneal rent during the procedure.
Materials and Methods: It is a retrospective case series conducted at high volume center, All India Institute of Medical Science, Bhubaneswar, where eTEP is performed on regular basis for patients with inguinal hernia. While performing eTEP, we came across 10 cases where peritoneal rent developed intraoperatively and was repaired using 2–0 vicryl following which eTEP was successfully completed.
Results: Six patients out of 10 underwent peritoneal rent repair through the extraperitoneal approach, with an average operative time of 97.5 min. The repair process added an average of 12.5 min to the standard eTEP operative time of 85 min. Four patients underwent peritoneal rent repair through the intraperitoneal approach, with a mean operative time of 120 min. This approach added approximately 35 min to the surgery, reflecting the additional time required for the intraperitoneal repair.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that peritoneal rent developed during eTEP surgery can be effectively managed without compromising the integrity of the procedure. Repairing the peritoneal rent extraperitoneally takes advantage of the wide extraperitoneal space provided by the eTEP approach, offering flexibility in port placement and enhanced ergonomics. Alternatively, intraperitoneal repair with additional ports is a viable option. Peritoneal rent should not be perceived as a hindrance to the successful completion of eTEP surgery. This innovative approach expands the scope of eTEP by providing solutions for unforeseen complications, ensuring its continued efficacy in inguinal hernia repair.
Evaluation of compliance and adherence to medications in diabetic and/or hypertensive patients during the lockdown period and the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on blood glucose levels and blood pressure levels
Authors: Renuka BG  , Kandagaddala Yaswath  , Shweta R Chittawadgi  , Yogeshwar  , Sushma HK  , Narendranath Sanji
Published: February 2024

Background: To contain the COVID-19 pandemic, a nationwide lockdown was imposed, which affected the lives of people with diabetes and hypertension as the patients were not able to regularly follow up with the doctor.
Aims and Objectives: This prospective observational study was conducted to find out the compliance and adherence to oral hypoglycemic agents and antihypertensives during lockdown, to consult with doctors during lockdown, and also to analyze the effect of lockdown on blood glucose levels and blood pressure control by comparing the pre- and post-lockdown blood pressure and blood glucose levels.
Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 100 participants aged between 35 and 85 years. They were studied by a questionnaire for a period of 3 months. The majority belonged to the 55–65 years of age group, and a male predominance was seen across all age groups. The changes in lifestyle habits of the participants during lockdown and complications due to diabetes and hypertension were also studied.
Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in the adherence to prescribed medications during lockdown due to various reasons, the most important of which was the lack of access to personal consultation with the doctor during lockdown. Patients also could not follow their diet and physical exercises due to lockdown. All these factors led to poor control of blood pressure and blood glucose levels, as evidenced by comparing the pre- and post-lockdown blood glucose levels and blood pressure.
Conclusion: This study concludes that there was a significant decrease in adherence to medications during the COVID-19 lockdown and there was poor control of blood pressure and blood glucose levels due to the lockdown period.
Diagnostic role of serum prolactin level in different kinds of seizure and seizure-like episode in children: A hospital-based study
Authors: Priyanka Kumari  , Sudipto Paul  , Moshihur Rahaman Sk  , Laha Sumanta , Saikat Mondal  , Aditya Kayal
Published: February 2024

Background: Serum prolactin level has been previously used in distinguishing epileptic seizure from non-epileptic seizure, as prolactin level usually rises following an epileptic seizure in children.
Aims and Objectives: We conducted this study to determine the role of serum prolactin as a surrogate marker of seizure disorder and whether serum prolactin level varies between different types of seizure, febrile seizure, and seizure mimics.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted for 1 year among 113 children between 6 months and 16 years of age of either sex. They were divided into 3 groups (1) epileptic seizure, (2) febrile seizure, and (3) seizure mimics. The blood sample was collected within 1 h of the occurrence of seizure for estimation of serum prolactin level. Each child was investigated and treated according to the protocol.
Results: Mean post-ictal prolactin level was found significantly higher in epileptic seizure (29.94±7.97 ng/mL) compared to febrile seizure (10.21±0.94 ng/mL), and seizure mimics (8.73±0.67 ng/mL). Among group 1, serum prolactin levels significantly elevated in children with generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS) (34.18±2.76 ng/mL) and complex partial seizure (CPS) (31.38±1.59 ng/mL) compared to simple partial seizure (SPS) (14.36±2.33 ng/mL). Post-ictal serum prolactin levels remain elevated for a longer duration in GTCS (54.26±5.19 min) and CPS (45.19±1.73 min) compared to children with SPS (26.76±2.33 min).
Conclusion: Estimation of serum prolactin level within 1 h after a seizure can be used for screening purposes to distinguish between epileptic and non-epileptic seizures. A high prolactin level is suggestive of GTCS or CPS whereas a low level is indicative of SPS, febrile convulsion, or seizure mimics with a prolactin cutoff taken 24 ng/mL in our study.
Behavioral and emotional functioning of children with specific learning disorders
Authors: Asarnisa Begum M  , Kandasamy V
Published: February 2024

Background: Specific learning disorder (SLD) is distinct from other Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 mental disorders as it is recognized clinically in medicine and as a separate category in special education.
Aims and Objectives: The study aimed to study the behavioral patterns and emotional functioning in children with SLD.
Materials and Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted at Tirunelveli Medical College, Tirunelveli, from January 2019 to April 2020 on 100 patients (study group 50 and control group 50) diagnosed with SLDs as per DSM5 criteria. A patient’s history includes age, gender, symptoms, and diagnosis. Assessments were done through a semi-structured proforma, Rutter Children’s Behavior Questionnaire (parent form), the Vanderbilt attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnostic rating scale, and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES).
Results: The patient’s domicile in rural areas was 82% compared to urban areas, which is 18%. The Rutter scale – total score was higher in the study group, with a mean of 3.24, compared to the control group, with a mean of 0.44. The RSES compared self-esteem scores and the mean self-esteem scores of 21.56 and 14.72, respectively (P<0.0001). The deviant/antisocial behavior subscale scores were higher for the study group, with a mean score of 1.08, than the control group, with a mean score of 0.02 (<0.05). The ADHD (inattentive type) Vanderbilt scale was compared, and it was found to be positive for the study group and none for the control group (P=0.022).
Conclusion: The scores show a significant correlation between higher rates of neurotic behavior and behavioral problems, predominantly inattentive types, in SLD children.
Clinical and investigative profile of scrub typhus patients at a tertiary care center in Southern West Bengal, India
Authors: Kalyan Kumar Bhowmik  , Sarkar Amit , Arpan Chakrabarti  , Neelakash Mukhopadhyay  , Arnab Paul
Published: February 2024

Background: Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is an acute febrile illness with symptoms such as fever, chills, and organ failure. The similar clinical presentation in other common diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and typhoid fever creates difficulty and delay in the clinical diagnosis of scrub typhus. This delay may increase the risk of scrub typhus complications. In India, it is a public health issue with a paucity of data.
Aims and Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and prognostic factors of patients with scrub typhus.
Materials and Methods: This institutional-based observational, cross-sectional study was conducted among consecutively selected 154 adult patients suffering from scrub typhus at a Medical College Hospital situated in the southern part of West Bengal, India. All data were collected according to a pre-designed proforma. At the end of the study, results were analyzed statistically.
Results: Younger, females, and homemakers are more susceptible to scrub typhus, mostly in the post-monsoon season from July to November. The incidence of scrub typhus complications is high in the southern part of West Bengal. The case fatality rate of scrub typhus is 6.5%. Male sex, pre-hospitalization duration of illness more than 7 days, presence of diabetes mellitus, serum creatinine (Scr) more than 1.5 mg/dL, serum bilirubin more than 3 mg/dL, systolic blood pressure below 90 mmHg, altered sensorium, and acute respiratory distress syndrome were associated with poor prognosis.
Conclusion: A high degree of clinical suspicion is required for the early diagnosis of scrub typhus and the factors associated with poor prognosis must be considered to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Correlation of circulatory VEGF and miRNA 126 in angiographically proven coronary artery disease and its clinical importance
Authors: Manzeela Swale  , Kushwaha Neetu , Mohd Sajid Khan
Published: February 2024

Background: Atherosclerotic ischemic coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries, indicating the need for the discovery of deeper molecular insights of CAD mechanisms, biomarkers, and innovative therapeutic targets. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may have some role, in the progression of human coronary atherosclerosis. Circulating microRNAs (miR) have a potential as a diagnostic as well as a prognostic biomarker of cardiovascular disease and dysfunctions.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to correlate the levels of miRNA-126 and VEGF in the serum of CAD patients.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 100 cases of freshly diagnosed CAD patients (angiographically proven) and 80 normal healthy patients. Various serum biomarkers were estimated. The level of serum VEGF and Mi-RNA was correlated for CAD patients.
Results: Highly significantly difference was found in levels of hemoglobin A1C, low density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and total homocysteine while high-density lipoproteins and triglycerides were less significantly different for controls and cases. VEGF levels of CAD cases were found to be very significantly higher as compared to controls. The miRNA-126 expression was found to be lower in the CAD subjects compared to non-CAD subjects.
Conclusion: The study was suggested the role of VEGF in atherogenesis and plaque instability. No significant correlation was found among between miR-126 levels and VEGF levels among CAD cases. The study is limited by a smaller sample size and was single-centered; therefore, multicentric study with a larger patient cohort needs to be done and to validate our findings.
A comparative study to evaluate the optimum intubating dose of rocuronium bromide versus succinylcholine chloride as an ideal intubating muscle-relaxing agent
Authors: Bhunia Pratibha , Mandal Anupama , Chatterjee Subhrangsu , Mayur Nairita
Published: February 2024

Background: Rocuronium bromide is a new amino steroidal neuromuscular blocking agent which is structurally related to vecuronium and its onset time and intubating conditions are comparable with succinylcholine and without the undesirable side effects.
Aims and Objectives: This study was planned to evaluate the ideal intubating dose of rocuronium bromide by comparing intubating conditions achieved by its different doses of rocuronium bromide and to consider rocuronium as an ideal intubating muscle relaxing agent, in place of succinylcholine chloride for elective long surgeries.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 120 patients who fulfilled the eligibility criteria. These patients were randomized into four groups of 30 each by block randomization technique. Each group received rocuronium bromide 0.6 mg/kg, 0.9 mg/kg, 1.2 mg/kg, and succinylcholine chloride 1 mg/kg, respectively.
Results: Out of all the three doses of rocuronium bromide 0.9 mg/kg produced a similar intubating condition as succinylcholine chloride in the dose of 1 mg/kg without undue prolongation of the neuromuscular blockade.
Conclusion: Rocuronium bromide can be used as an alternative to succinylcholine as an ideal intubating muscle relaxing agent.
To study ERG expression in benign, pre-neoplastic, and neoplastic lesions of prostate
Authors: Rishabh Chaudhary  , Tandon Pradeep , Raj Anubhav , Khan Nausheen Sanaullah
Published: February 2024

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common malignancy in men and the sixth leading cause of death. Clinical course of PCa is highly variable and current clinico pathological parameters are unable to predict accurately the course of the disease because of genetic heterogeneity seen in this tumor.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the prevalence of E26 transformation-specific-related gene (ERG) expression in benign and malignant lesions of prostate in Northern Indian patients. Whether ERG expression using immunohistochemical (IHC) methods can also be used for differentiating various lesions of the prostate gland is also evaluated.
Materials and Methods: This is an observational study conducted on 50 biopsy specimens encompassing different lesions of prostate. The study was carried out in the Department of Pathology at Integral Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Lucknow, India, during the period January 2020–September 2022.
Results: Amongst 50 cases of prostatic lesions included in the study, there were 20 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 17 cases of benign mimicker lesions and 13 cases of PCa. ERG expression was absent in all cases of BPH and benign mimicker lesions. ERG expression was seen in 38.5% of cases of PCa.
Conclusion: In our study, none of the patients of BPH or benign mimicker lesion expressed ERG on IHC, while 38.5% of patients of PCa showed positive staining. This figure differs from reports from other parts of the world. ERG expressions can be a potential therapeutic target for personalized treatment in a subset of patients of PCa. However, it was not found to be a sensitive marker for the diagnosis of PCa.
A rare case of caseous necrosis of mitral valve
Authors: Deepti Naik  , Sanjaya Viswamitra
Published: February 2024

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus, an uncommon kind of intracardiac mass, is a form of degenerative disease that afflicts the mitral valve causing liquefactive or caseous necrosis. Caseous calcification of mitral annulus is rarely encountered in practice; however, it should be on the list of differential diagnosis of any intracardiac masses located close to the mitral annulus.
Exploring anesthesiologist niche in burn management: Putting the tube where it belongs. A case series on difficult airways in burns
Authors: Priyanka Bansal  , Nidhi Sultania
Published: February 2024

Burn injuries are complex and challenging, requiring a multidisciplinary approach. We have done more than 15 cases of severely distorted airways in patients with burns (photos attached); although the basic case management remains the same, there are a plethora of other concerns that make these patients unique. The most unique and severe 11 cases we have discussed assiduously. Out of all the concerns, airway management remains the most challenging one. Timely intervention and keen vigilance are required to prevent a disaster later on.
A study on outcome of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients on anti-viral therapy
Authors: Avick Nag  , Saubhik Ghosh  , Souvik Sarkar  , Soumya Sarathi Mondal  , Enamul Hossain  , Sanjay Kumar Mandal
Published: February 2024

Background: Hepatitis B infection is a global public health problem. Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection leads to complications such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Effective antiviral therapy significantly improves the stages of fibrosis in these patients. Hence, the liver stiffness measurement using transient elastography (Fibroscan) in CHB patients undergoing treatment is important to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy and to predict the prognosis.
Aims and Objectives: To see the outcome of Hepatic Fibrosis by non-invasive measurement in CHB patients after 6 months of oral anti-viral therapy.
Materials and Methods: Seventy new CHB patients are included in a prospective hospital-based study and at the end of 6 months 53 patients were analysed.
Results: Our study showed a significant statistical reduction in Liver Fibrosis as well as improvement of serological and biochemical parameters in CHB patients.
Conclusion: There is liver fibrosis reversal in CHB patients after 6 months of anti-viral therapy and Fibroscan helps not only as a marker for initiation of treatment depending on the degree of fibrosis but also indicates the response or progression of the disease.
Association of mesenteric lymphadenitis with abdominal pain in children – A case–control study
Authors: Binchu Kurian  , Prince Philip  , Peter Prasanth Kumar Kommu
Published: February 2024

Background: Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) are a frequent ultrasonography finding in children with abdominal pain. Studies have shown that the incidence of enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes varies widely from 14% to 86%. The site, size, and number of lymph nodes are the distinguishing criteria for abnormal lymphadenopathy from normal lymph nodes.
Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives of the study are to estimate the prevalence of mesenteric lymphadenitis in children aged 4–15 years, who have abdominal pain with age and sex-matched controls without abdominal pain.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted after getting approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. The MLN of all sizes was evaluated and measured using an ultrasound abdomen. Age and gender-matched controls were included in the study. Children with MLN were divided into 2 groups based on the size of the lymph nodes. (group A-MLN <4 mm and group B MLN >4 mm). In some cases, the site and size of MLN were noted and correlated with the severity of abdominal pain.
Results: The ultrasonogram of the abdomen revealed that 15 (22.7%) cases had ≤4 mm nodes and 38 (57.6%) had >4 mm nodes. Out of the 38 cases, 2 (3.8%) had >10 mm nodes. Among the controls, 16 (24.2%) had ≤4 mm, 8 (12.1%) had >4 mm nodes, and none had MLN >10 mm. The odds ratio (OR) of cases having mesenteric lymphadenitis over controls was 5.067 (OR=5.067).
Conclusion: Based on the results of our study, mesenteric lymphadenopathy >4 mm is associated with abdominal pain in children aged 4–15 years.
External oblique intercostal block in open nephrectomy patients - A zenith in analgesia for anterolateral upper abdominal surgeries: A case series
Authors: Priyanka Bansal  , Nidhi Sultania  , Tarun Mittal
Published: February 2024

Open nephrectomy is a common surgery usually performed for malignant and non-malignant renal pathologies. The external oblique intercostal block (EOIB) blocks the anterior and lateral cutaneous nerves from T6 to T10 and provides somatic analgesia. We present a case series of the use of EOIB in patients undergoing open nephrectomy by subcostal incision. Ten patients were given EOIB, which included patients undergoing simple nephrectomy for non-functioning kidneys and radical nephrectomy for renal mass. The patients had satisfactory numerical rating scale scores, mostly <4 for 24 h. Post-operative opioid consumption was minimal. The external oblique fascial plain block is a novel thoracic block that provides reliable upper thoracoabdominal somatic analgesia. It can certainly be considered a suitable option in surgeries such as nephrectomies that involve an upper lateral abdominal wall incision.
Association between intraoperative fluid management and post-operative acute kidney injury: A single-center observational study
Authors: Rajeshwari K  , Irukulla Avanthi
Published: February 2024

Background: Post-operative acute kidney injury (AKI) poses significant risks. Identifying intraoperative determinants is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes and tailoring surgical interventions.
Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the onset of post-operative AKI in patients subjected to various surgical interventions and identify potential intra-operative determinants.
Materials and Methods: In this observational investigation conducted at our institution, 100 patients who underwent diverse surgical procedures were included in the study. AKI diagnosis was based on the kidney disease: improving global outcomes guidelines. The parameters assessed encompassed patient demographics, intraoperative fluid management, surgical and anesthetic durations, and post-operative AKI incidence. Determinants of AKI were identified using multivariate logistic regression.
Results: The cohort comprised 58% males, with a mean age of 65±12 years. Key comorbidities included hypertension (42%), diabetes mellitus (28%), chronic kidney disease (15%), and cardiovascular disease (20%). Intraoperatively, the average fluid volume administered was 2.5 ± 0.8 L. Fluid management primarily included balanced crystalloids (70%), followed by normal saline (20%), and colloids (10%). Anesthesia was maintained for an average of 3.5 ± 1.2 h. Post-surgery, 15% of the patients developed AKI. A detailed evaluation revealed a strong association between positive intraoperative fluid balance and AKI onset. The statistical analysis pinpointed elevated intraoperative fluid balance (odds ratio: 5.89; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.72–20.15; P=0.004) and extended anesthesia duration (odds ratio: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.01–4.47; P=0.046) as significant predictors.
Conclusion: AKI onset post-surgery is closely tied to intraoperative factors, notably fluid balance, and anesthesia duration. This underscores the importance of personalized fluid management and vigilant post-operative renal function monitoring to mitigate AKI risks.
Comparison of outcomes between USG guided ESWL Vs Fluoroscopy guided ESWL – Our institutional Experience
Authors: Pugazhenthi Periasamy  , Jayaprakash Narashimman  , Rajasekar Maruthamuthu  , Rajkumar Ramakrishnan  , Kuladeep Vankadara
Published: February 2024

Background: Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a commonly used non-invasive treatment modality for urolithiasis. While fluoroscopy (FS)-guided ESWL has been the traditional approach, the use of ultrasound (USG) guidance has gained traction due to its potential benefits in terms of reduced radiation exposure and improved stone targeting.
Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives are to study the safety and efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the management of renal stones, outcomes of overall stone-free rate (SFR), pain intensity, urinary biochemical variables, mean hospital stay, quality of life, and adverse events.
Materials and Methods: Patient data from the period of May 2022 to April 2023 were reviewed, including 20 patients who underwent USG-guided ESWL and 20 patients who underwent FS-guided ESWL.
Results: Our analysis revealed that the USG-guided ESWL group demonstrated comparable stone fragmentation rates and SFR (P-value) when compared to the FS-guided group. Moreover, radiation exposure was significantly reduced in the USG-guided ESWL group, with a mean total FS time of [55] s compared to [3005] s in the FS-guided group. No significant differences were observed in terms of complications between the two groups.
Conclusion: This study highlights the successful implementation of USG-guided ESWL in our institution’s experience, showing comparable outcomes in terms of stone fragmentation rates and SFR, while significantly reducing radiation exposure, also can be considered an effective and safe alternative for the treatment of urolithiasis.