bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association Between Parental Migration and Dental Caries of 3-12-Year-Old Children in China
Authors: Liu Sichen , Thearmontree Angkana , Chongsuvivatwong Virasakdi , Zhang Shinan , Zhang Limei
Published: December 2023

Aim:

This review sought to examine the prevalence of dental caries in left-behind children (LBC) and explore the association between parental migration and dental caries among children in China.

Materials and Methods:

Web of Science, PubMed, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu, and Wanfang were searched about the LBC and dental caries in China from 2000 to May 2021. The primary outcome was the prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent dentition among LBC. The number of children with dental caries among LBC and non-LBC (NLBC) was pooled, and the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the relationship between parental migration and children's dental caries were determined.

Result:

These included a total sample of 8275 children aged 3–12 years from a total of 11 studies, of which 4547 were LBC and 3728 were NLBC. The pooled prevalence of dental caries among Chinese LBC aged 3–12 years was 64%. Parental migration was significantly associated with the prevalence of dental caries. LBC has a 1.61 times higher risk of having dental caries than NLBC (95% CI: 1.47–1.77). LBC living in the countryside has a higher prevalence (68%) and higher risk of developing dental caries (OR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.48–1.82) than those living in the city. The prevalence of dental caries is notably elevated among LBC in China.

Conclusion:

Parental migration stands out as a significant risk factor for dental caries in children aged 3–12 years, particularly in rural or countryside regions. The results call attention to the oral health problems among the LBC.
Persistent Hyperglycemia Worsens the Oleic Acid Induced Acute Lung Injury in Rat Model of Type II Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Yadav Rinkoo , Kailashiya Vikas , Sharma Hanjabam B. , Pandey Ratna , Bhagat Priyanka
Published: December 2023

Aim:

This research aimed to study the impacts of persistent hyperglycemia on oleic acid (OA)–induced acute lung injury (ALI) in a rat model of type II diabetes mellitus.

Materials and Methods:

Healthy adult male albino rats that weigh 150 to 180 g were divided into four groups (n = 6). Group I-saline (75 μL i.v.) was injected and served as a control; group II-OA (75 μL i.v.) was injected to induce ALI. Group III-pretreated with a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (35 mg/kg), was injected with saline, and served as a control for group IV. Group IV was pretreated with a high-fat diet, and streptozotocin (35 mg/kg) was injected with OA (75 μL i.v). Urethane was used to anesthetize the animal. The jugular venous cannulation was done for drug/saline administration, carotid artery cannulation was done to record blood pressure, and the tracheal cannulation was done to maintain the respiratory tract’s patent. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiratory frequency were recorded on a computerized chart recorder; an arterial blood sample was collected to measure PaO2/FiO2. Additionally, the pulmonary water content and lung histology were examined.

Result:

Hyperglycemic rats showed no significant change in the cardio-respiratory parameter. Histology of the lungs shows fibroblastic proliferation; however, rats survived throughout the observation period. There was an early deterioration of all the cardio-respiratory parameters in hyperglycemic rats when induced ALI (OA- induced), and survival time was significantly less compared to nonhyperglycemic rats.

Conclusion:

Persistent hyperglycemia may cause morphological changes in the lungs, which worsens the outcome of acute lung injury.
Discovery of Novel Isonipecotic Acid-Based Heteroaryl Amino Acid Derivatives as Potential Anticonvulsant Agents: Design, Synthesis, In-Silico ADME Study, and Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Ahmad Mohammad M. , Akhtar Naseem , Khan Shamshir , Rashid Mohd , Athar Md Tanwir , Ullah Zabih , Taleuzzaman Mohamad
Published: December 2023

Background:

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by anomalous brain activity, convulsions, and odd behavior. Several substituted-(naphthalen-2-yl)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl) allyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-4-carboxylic acid derivatives (5a-j) were intended to be produced in the current research effort to reduce convulsions and seizures.

Materials and Methods:

The newly developed compounds were produced by the prescribed process. Numerous methods (infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass, elemental analysis, etc.) were used to characterize these substances. Several models were used to test each of these molecules for anticonvulsant activity. By using the rotarod and ethanol potentiation techniques, neurotoxicity was also evaluated. The study meticulously examined each parameter and showed absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) predictions for each of the 10 congeners that were produced. In addition, studies on molecular docking employed the gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)-A target protein.

Results:

Anticonvulsant screening results identified compounds 5f, 5h, 5d, and 5b as the most efficacious of the series. All synthesized equivalents largely passed the neurotoxicity test. The results of molecular docking revealed significant interactions at the active site of GABA-A with LEU B: 99, TYR A: 62, Ala A: 174, and THR B: 202, and the outcomes were good and in agreement with in vivo findings.

Conclusions:

The study’s findings showed that some substances had promising anticonvulsant properties that were comparable to those of the standard drug. The highly active novel anticonvulsant analogs may therefore represent a possible lead, and additional studies may result in a potential new drug candidate.
Critical care in sub-Saharan Africa, where are we? A review
Authors: Tobi Kingsley Ufuoma , Ogunbiyi Obashina A.
Published: December 2023

Critical care services in sub-Saharan Africa have not gained much grounds despite becoming part of modern clinical practice in the 1950s. Managing patients with potentially recoverable illnesses and injuries is still not at par with evidence-based practices in developed climes, and most die from many preventable causes. Many hospitals in Africa do not have an intensive care unit, leaving critically ill patients being treated mostly in the general wards. A survey from Zambia indicated that only 7% of hospitals in the country have an intensive care unit, whereas a cross-sectional survey in Nigeria revealed that there were 30 public and private intensive care units serving a population of over 200 million, spread around all the geo-political zones, with most in the teaching hospitals. The situation is not generally better in most parts of the continent. This review focuses on why critical care is at the level it is in sub-Saharan Africa and provides suggestions on what should be done to change the narrative.
Penile trauma burden and aetiology in the paediatric and adult population: A scoping review and critical analysis of the literature
Authors: Tolani Musliu Adetola , Webber Robyn , Buckley Louise
Published: December 2023

Penile trauma is rare. It is associated with the impairment of physiological functions and deterioration in patients’ quality of life. Currently, the relevance of age demographics in the occurrence of this debilitating injury has not been well discussed. The objective of this study was to provide a scoping review of penile trauma within the lens of the legal age of maturity. A search of the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted, and then, the identified publications were used to conduct this scoping review focussing on the study aim. The results identified were categorised into five themes. This included publication information (author, year, country, study duration); demographic information (age of presentation, number of patients, relative burden); penile trauma clinical pattern (type, severity, associated injury), risk factors and clinical consequences. While mobile and active young adults were at risk of outdoor trauma, the report on penile trauma in the paediatric population is rare and usually focussed on sexual trauma. Penetrating trauma has been more extensively studied in comparison to blunt penile trauma despite the significance of the latter in the paediatric population. Injury severity classification is not available for most studies limiting their usefulness in the universal comparison of trauma severity and injury prognostication. There is a diversity in the burden and presentation of penile trauma. Available research studies are limited in the paediatric population, mostly focussed on penile fracture in adults and generally devoid of a standardised penile trauma severity description. Additional studies with a specific focus on penile trauma are required to characterise aetiological risks and injury severity across the legal age of maturity.
Role of magnetic resonance imaging in concomitant periarticular infections in septic arthritis of large joints in children: A systematic review
Authors: Garg Varun , Singh Vivek , Kalia Roop Bhusan , Regmi Anil , Yasam Ramapriya , Sinha Sourabh Kumar
Published: December 2023

Background:

Septic arthritis associated with adjacent infections, presents a diagnostic challenge as the clinical presentation is similar to that of isolated septic arthritis, additional diagnostic tools are needed to detect these infections. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosis of concomitant infection in children with septic arthritis of large joints and its effect on patient outcome and treatment.

Materials and Methods:

Electronic literature research of PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus, was conducted in January 2022 using a combination of MeSH, search terms and keywords. The data extracted included the study details, demographic data, the proportion of patients having a concomitant periarticular infection, clinical presentation, blood parameters and culture findings and outcomes.

Results:

This review included seven studies with 499 patients. The mean age was 7.08 ± 2.38 years in the study. There was a male predominance, with 174 being males (62.36%). The most common joint involved was the hip joint (44.47%). 42.48% had concomitant periarticular infections detected by MRI. Osteomyelitis was the most common infection seen in 209 patients (41.84%). The mean duration of antibiotics given and hospital stay was significantly more in periarticular infections (P > 0.05). 32.5% of the patients with septic arthritis underwent a second surgical procedure whereas 61.11% of patients with periarticular infections underwent second procedure in this review (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

The use of MRI to diagnose these complicated infections appears to be beneficial. Multi-centric randomised control trials are needed to investigate the efficacy of MRI and its impact on patient care and outcome.
Magnetic resonance imaging infarct volume correlates with carotid intima–media thickness and plaque echotexture in ischemic stroke
Authors: Ogholoh Oghenetejiri Denise , Enyi Augustine Chukwueloke , Idowu Bukunmi Michael , Ogbeide Anthony Osayomwanbor , Ikubor Joyce Ekeme , Nwafor Nkem Nnenna , Kogha Nicholas
Published: December 2023

Objective:

To determine the correlation between cerebral infarct volume, carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT), and plaque echotexture in patients with ischemic stroke.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study of 70 patients with ischemic stroke who were imaged using the head coil of a 1.5T Toshiba magnetic resonance machine. The volumes of infarcts were documented and calculated using the manual tracing of the infarct perimeter method. The common carotid CIMT was measured on ultrasound using a linear high-frequency 7.5 MHz transducer.

Results:

Seventy subjects were evaluated. The mean magnetic resonance imaging cerebral infarct volume was 8.07% volume. Hyperechoic plaques were the most prevalent (36.7%) compared to the hypoechoic (33.3%) and isoechoic (30%) plaques. There was a moderate positive correlation between CIMT and infarct volume (r = 0.70; P = 0.001) in the entire study population. Similarly, positive correlations between CIMT and infarct volume were recorded in both the male (r = 0.73; P = 0.001) and female (r = 0.67; P = 0.001) subjects. Furthermore, subjects who presented in the acute phase (1–3 days) of ictus showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.621; P = 0.0001) between CIMT and infarct volume, while there was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.74; P = 0.0001) in subjects that presented in the subacute phase (4–7 days).

Conclusion:

Common carotid artery CIMT correlated positively with cerebral infarct volume in patients with ischemic stroke. Furthermore, hyperechoic plaques were associated with significantly larger infarct volumes compared to hypoechoic and isoechoic plaques.
Role of eccentric viewing training with microperimeter for low vision rehabilitation in multifocal choroiditis: Case report
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Sarika , Majumder Parthopratim D. , Sudharshan Sridharan , Raman Rajiv
Published: December 2023

A 21-year-old student with healed multifocal choroiditis involving the macula presented with difficulty in seeing distance and reading her college books. Based on microperimetr’y, the location of her preferred retinal locus and the position of new trained retinal locus (TRL) were identified. With multiple sessions of biofeedback training, her mean retinal sensitivity improved from 4.8 to 8.8 dl, distance vision from 3/60 to 6/36, and near vision from N32 to N8 in the right eye. At 6-month follow-up, her TRL position and visual acuity were found to be stable. This case report highlights that eccentric viewing training using microperimeter can significantly improve the efficiency of functional vision in patients with choroiditis.
Phacoemulsification in phacomorphic angle closure: Our experience
Authors: Farooq Shaheen , Khan Nabab A. , Meena Ritu , Kochar Anju
Published: December 2023

PURPOSE:

To evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) control, visual prognosis, and complications following phacoemulsification in eyes with phacomorphic angle closure of <10 days’ duration.

METHODS:

Prospective, nonrandomized interventional consecutive case series included all patients with phacomorphic glaucoma who presented between November 2020 and November 2021. All patients underwent slit-lamp biomicroscopy, applanation tonometry, and gonioscopy of the other eye. Phacoemulsification with IOL implantation under topical anesthesia was performed in all cases. A complete ophthalmic examination was done at each follow-up visit.

RESULTS:

A total of 50 eyes with phacomorphic glaucoma were included in this study. The preoperative mean IOP was 41.12 ± 8.20 mmHg and the mean IOP at last visit was 13.84 ± 2.08 mmHg. There was a statistically significant difference between IOP at presentation and IOP at last follow-up (P < 0.001) (Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test). There was no requirement of long-term anti-glaucoma medications in any patients. No significant intraoperative complications were noted. The final postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 6/12 or better in 32 patients. Sixteen eyes had corneal edema and 20 eyes had anterior chamber inflammation on postoperative day one that resolved with standard medical therapy.

CONCLUSION:

Phacoemulsification is safe and effective in controlling IOP and achieving good functional visual acuity with minimal complications in the management of phacomorphic glaucoma in expert hands. Our study also lays emphasis on public awareness, early detection, and management of advanced cataract, so that the incidence of this potentially blinding entity can be reduced.
Lower eyelid entropion following transconjunctival orbital fracture repair: Case series and literature review
Authors: Wagh Richa D. , Naik Milind , Bothra Nandini , Singh Swati
Published: December 2023

Lower eyelid malpositions following transconjunctival repair of the floor and the zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures are rarely observed. The case series includes three patients (mean age, 22 years; 3 males) who developed lower eyelid entropion following orbital fracture repair (two complexes, one isolated type) using titanium mesh (n = 2) or iliac bone grafting (n = 1) through the transconjunctival approach. Entropion repair was attempted with scar release and Jones procedure in one, and posterior lamellar lengthening with mucous membrane graft in two patients. At a median follow-up of 25 months (range, 3–24), two patients had symptomatic relief without any lash globe touch, and one patient had persistent entropion after multiple interventions including failed mucous membrane graft (n = 1), full-thickness blepharotomy with everting sutures (n = 1), and scleral spacer grafting for posterior lamellar lengthening (n = 1). The literature is inconclusive about the association between eyelid malpositioning and any specific implant material, type of fracture, or incision closure technique.
Meditation and music intervention for improving pregnancy psychological health
Authors: Hussain Sharanoor , Priya M.
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

There is currently limited research investigating mindfulness-based interventions’ effects on self-reported and physiological stress indicators among pregnant women in India. Thus, the study examined the effectiveness of music and meditation interventions on the psychological status of pregnant women in Lakhimpur, Assam.

Materials and Methods:

In this quasi-experimental study, 300 pregnant women in the first trimester were selected using purposive sampling. The samples were divided into experimental (60) and control (60). The experimental group was randomized into two subgroups: Meditation (30) and music intervention (30). Data were collected through a self-structured tool to assess pregnant women’s psychological status. Analysis of variance and t-tests were used to analyze the data.

Results:

The study found that pregnant women working in the government sector had a significantly better psychological status (p = 0.050). While no significant difference was observed in the area of living with the psychological status of pregnant women. The meditation intervention showed gradual improvement during the third trimester (p < 0.001), while continuous listening to music significantly improved psychological status during the third trimester (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The study results could be utilized by health-care providers, policymakers, and stakeholders to implement interventions that enhance the mental health of pregnant women.
Effect of yogic practices in the management of fibromyalgia: A review
Authors: Singh Purnima , Rao Sobika
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT

Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, stiffness, sleep irregularities, and tenderness of joints and muscles due to dysregulation of neurophysiological functions. It is more common in women compared to men. Till now, there is no specific treatment available for FM. The review aimed to review the literature on the effect of yogic practices on FM. The search was done in the following databases: Google Scholar and PubMed. The articles were searched using the keywords, FM, FM syndrome, Yoga, Pranayama, Yogic practices, and alternative therapy, without date restrictions which yielded 28 results, and eight articles were included in the final review. A review of the included articles showed the significant role of yogic practices in managing symptoms of FM, including stiffness, pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and depression. The yogic interventions such as asanas, Surya Namaskar, Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, and mindfulness meditation of specific duration were helpful in relieving the symptoms of FM. Yogic practices are helpful in the management of FM symptoms. Future randomized controlled trials contrasting various forms of yoga or exercise, however, will enable the identification of the most efficient treatments for FM and allow for more precise targeting of the patients who will benefit most from them.
A K-Anonymous Location Privacy-Preserving Scheme for Mobile Terminals
Authors: Peng Weiping , Ma Di , Song Cheng , Cheng Daochen , Liu Jiabao
Published: December 2023

Mobile terminals boost the prosperity of location-based service (LBS) which have already involved in every aspect of People's daily life and are increasingly used in various industries. Aimed at solving the security and efficiency problem in the existing location privacy protection schemes, a K-anonymity location privacy preservation scheme based on mobile terminal is proposed. Firstly, number of rational dummy locations is selected from the cloaking region, from which more favorable locations are further filtered according to location entropy, so a better anonymity effect can be achieved. Secondly, the secure and efficient m-out-of-n oblivious transfer protocol is adopted, which not only avoids the dependency on the trusted anonymity center in existing schemes to improve the efficiency, but also meets the requirements for querying multiple interest points at one time. Security analyses demonstrate that this scheme satisfies such security properties as anonymity, non-forgeability and resistance to replay attack, and simulation results show that this scheme has higher execution efficiency and privacy level, while is low in communications costs.
Jointly power allocation and phase shift optimization for RIS empowered downlink cellular networks
Authors: Truong Phuc Quang , Do-Duy Tan , Phan Van-Ca , Masaracchia Antonino
Published: December 2023

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) have been highlighted by the research community as a key enabling technology for the enhancement of next-generation wireless network performance, including energy efficiency, spectral efficiency, and network throughput. This paper investigates how RIS-assisted communication can effectively maximize the downlink throughput of a cellular network. Specifically, the paper considers a communication scenario where a single base station serves multiple ground users with the aid of an RIS placed on a building facade. For such a communication scenario, we considered an optimization problem aimed at maximizing the overall downlink throughput by jointly optimizing power allocation at the base station and phase shift of RIS reflecting elements, subject to power consumption and quality-of-service constraints. To address its non-convex nature, the original optimization problem has been divided into two subproblems. The first one, for power control with fixed phase shift values, is a convex problem that can be easily solved. Subsequently, a phase shift searching procedure to solve the non-convex problem of RIS phase shift optimization has been adopted. The results from numerical simulations show that the proposed method outperforms other conventional methods proposed in the literature. In addition, computational complexity analysis has been conducted to prove the low complexity of the proposed method.
Compression and Transmission of Big AI Model Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Lin Zhengping , Zhou Yuzhong , Yang Yuliang , Shi Jiahao , Lin Jie
Published: December 2023

In recent years, big AI models have demonstrated remarkable performance in various artificial intelligence (AI) tasks. However, their widespread use has introduced significant challenges in terms of model transmission and training. This paper addresses these challenges by proposing a solution that involves the compression and transmission of large models using deep learning techniques, thereby ensuring the efficiency of model training. To achieve this objective, we leverage deep convolutional networks to design a novel approach for compressing and transmitting large models. Specifically, deep convolutional networks are employed for model compression, providing an effective means to reduce the size of large models without compromising their representational capacity. The proposed framework also includes carefully devised encoding and decoding strategies to guarantee the restoration of model integrity after transmission. Furthermore, a tailored loss function is designed for model training, facilitating the optimization of both the transmission and training performance within the system. Through experimental evaluation, we demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach in addressing the challenges associated with large model transmission and training. The results showcase the successful compression and subsequent accurate reconstruction of large models, while maintaining their performance across various AI tasks. This work contributes to the ongoing research in enhancing the practicality and efficiency of deploying large models in real-world AI applications.
Detection of Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 and hsp70 Genetic Markers Using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms and Sequencing in Identification of Leishmania Species Causing Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in Brazil
Authors: Delprete Jaqueline Alves , de Almeida Livia Vieira , Barros Alessandra Moraes , Soler Rita de Cássia , Bittencourt Amanda Azevedo , Luna Expedito José de Albuquerque , Lindoso José Angelo Lauletta , Braz Lúcia Maria Almeida
Published: December 2023

The identification of Leishmania species that cause tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is important for taxonomic and prognostic purposes. Molecular analysis using different Leishmania genomic targets is the most useful method for identifying Leishmania species. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and heat shock protein (hsp70) genetic markers by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) and sequencing, for identification of Leishmania species. Samples from 84 Brazilian patients were amplified. Internal transcribed spacer 1 PCR followed by RFLP (HaeIII) [ITS1-RFLP (HaeIII)] identified 46.4% (39/84) of the samples as compatible with the Viannia subgenus. Internal transcribed spacer 1 PCR followed by sequencing (ITS1-sequencing) identified Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in 91.7% (77/84) of the TL samples, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in 3.6% (3/84), L. (V.) guyanensis in 2.4% (2/84), and L. (L.) infantum in 1.2% (1/84). One of the samples showed the same proportion of similarity with L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) panamensis. hsp70 nested PCR followed by RFLP (HaeIII) [nested hsp70-RFLP (HaeIII)] identified 91.7% (77/84) of the samples as compatible with L. (V.) braziliensis/L. (V.) naiffi, 3.6% (3/84) with L. (L.) amazonensis, 1.2% (1/84) with L. (L.) infantum, and 3.6% (3/84) with L. (V.) guyanensis. hsp70 PCR followed by sequencing (hsp70-sequencing) identified L. (V.) braziliensis in 91.7% (77/84) of the TL samples, L. (L.) amazonensis in 3.6% (3/84), L. (V.) guyanensis in 3.6% (3/84), and L. (L.) infantum in 1.2% (1/84). Our findings clearly showed that nested hsp70-RFLP (HaeIII) is better than ITS1-RFLP (HaeIII) and that ITS1 or hsp70 PCR followed by sequencing was adequate for identifying Leishmania species. We also found that Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is the most common species causing TL in Brazil. Therefore, sequencing multiple target genes such as ITS1 and hsp 70 is more accurate than RFLP for identifying Leishmania species.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention
Authors: Thwing Julie , Williamson John , Cavros Irene , Gutman Julie R.
Published: December 2023

Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) for children under 5 years of age for up to four monthly cycles during malaria transmission season was recommended by the WHO in 2012 and has been implemented in 13 countries in the Sahel, reaching more than 30 million children annually. Malaria control programs implementing SMC have asked the WHO to consider expanding the age range or number of monthly cycles. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of SMC among children up to 15 years of age and up to six monthly cycles. Twelve randomized studies were included, with outcomes stratified by age (< 5/≥ 5 years), by three or four versus five or six cycles, and by drug where possible. Drug regimens included sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine + amodiaquine, amodiaquine–artesunate, and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine + artesunate. Included studies were all conducted in Sahelian countries in which high-grade resistance to sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine was rare and in zones with parasite prevalence ranging from 1% to 79%. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention resulted in substantial reductions in uncomplicated malaria incidence measured during that transmission season (rate ratio: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.25–0.29 among children < 5 years; rate ratio: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.25–0.30 among children ≥ 5 years) and in the prevalence of malaria parasitemia measured within 4–6 weeks from the final SMC cycle (risk ratio: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.34–0.43 among children < 5 years; risk ratio: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.11–0.48 among children ≥ 5 years). In high-transmission zones, SMC resulted in a moderately reduced risk of any anemia (risk ratio: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.72–0.83 among children < 5 years; risk ratio: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52–0.95 among children ≥ 5 years [one study]). Children < 10 years of age had a moderate reduction in severe malaria (risk ratio: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37–0.76) but no evidence of a mortality reduction. The evidence suggests that in areas in which sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine and amodiaquine remained efficacious, SMC effectively reduced malaria disease burden among children both < 5 and ≥ 5 years old and that the number of cycles should be commensurate with the length of the transmission season, up to six cycles.
Efficacies of HR Innovation Lab: A Study on an Innovative HRM Approach to Achieve Organizational Success
Authors: JAFIR Md Muktadirul Islam , AHMED Sadia
Published: December 2023

Purpose: In today's competitive business landscape, companies are driven to innovate by external pressures. Adjusting HR practices and involving employees becomes crucial for successful innovation. This study explores the HR Innovation Lab's efficacies in enhancing human resources, promoting innovative HR practices, and driving success through innovation, as perceived by HR professionals. Research Aim: This research assesses the potential impact of the HR Innovation Lab on improving human resources, encouraging creative HR practices, and achieving innovation-driven success. Insights from HR professionals illuminate the Lab's contributions in these dimensions. Methodology: A cross-sectional study gathered data from 120 out of 210 HR professionals in six different pharmaceutical companies in Dhaka. Introducing the HR Innovation Lab concept during surveys, a simple random sampling method was used. Analysis utilized Pearson’s correlation, regression, and Cronbach’s Alpha testing. Findings: Analysis revealed employees perceive the HR Innovation Lab as a valuable tool for personal growth, innovative HR practices, and overall organizational success. Positive correlations and regression outcomes suggest the Lab positively affects individuals, maintains balanced HR eco-system, and drives innovation success. Originality: This study enriches existing knowledge by highlighting the HR Innovation Lab's potential to enhance human resources, promote innovative HR practices, and achieve innovation success. Positive HR professional feedback underscores the Lab's unique role in addressing innovation demands for a competitive edge. In conclusion, this study offers actionable insights for companies seeking innovation and a competitive edge through an HR innovation lab, fostering success through organizational innovation.
Correlation between Commitment and Organizational Performance
Authors: Dafiq Muhammad , Solihat Asri
Published: December 2023

Organizations are basically social units that are intentionally formed and may be reformed by taking into account the effectiveness and efficiency of achieving a particular goal. In addition, the role of the workforce of a company is essential because it is the main driver in running a smooth business and the company's performance; hence, it is considered as one of the assets of the company that must be maintained by fulfilling its needs and desires. However, the recent phenomenon indicates that the organizational performance of the company is still low, and there are numerous employees that are lack of competitiveness and productivity in carrying out their duties. Due to this reason, the researchers are interested in analyzing the correlation between commitment and organizational performance. The researchers utilized a causal research design to empirically test the correlation between commitment and organizational performance. One of the factors that is perceived to affect the employee performance is the organizational capabilities. The primary data of the study were collected by administering the questionnaire to the employees who work in manufacturing and service companies. The questionnaire was spread through e-mail to 100 respondents, and of the 100 respondents, 34 returned the answers. The data were then analyzed by using SPSS 25 through which the t-value test of the simple linear regression was determined. The results indicated that the commitment has a positive and significant correlation with the organizational performance. Every time there is a strengthening of commitment, there will be an increase in the organizational performance. This study shares similar findings with the previous studies. The implications of this research can be applied managerially by manufacturing and service companies. This finding is what distinguishes the present study from the previous research in which the latter is only applied for the service sector.
Applying Innovation Strategy and Its Effect on Competitive Advantage of Creative Industry: Spicy Culinary Subsector in Indonesia
Authors: Hamdani Nizar Alam , Rawita Rima Tita Vita
Published: December 2023

The main issue of this study is the intense competition among business competitors both new business competitors and old business competitors which have controlled the Indonesian market. Besides, there has been an increasing number of SMEs that engage in culinary sector. However, many culinary sectors have still lack of quality. This study discusses the implementation of innovative strategies that affect the competitive advantage of creative industries in sub-sector of spicy culinary foods in Indonesia. Creative industry is an industry in which its main elements consist of creativity, expertise, and talents. These elements have greater potential in increasing the success by offering intellectual creation. The researchers used quantitative method. The samples of this study were 30 respondents as the business actors of SMES in spicy culinary food sub-sector in Indonesia. The technique of analyzing the data used was simple linear regression processing with SPSS version 25. Based on the result of the study, innovative strategies had positive and significant influence toward the competitive advantages. The results of this study support the previous studies that confirm if the business actors should have competitive advantage and have ability in creative and innovating thinking ability. This study proposes that SMES innovation strategy will greatly improve the performance and competitiveness of business. The further study is expected to observe other variables which are not studied in this study because it has been found 65% influence. However, this study has other practical benefits for the actors of SMEs in culinary sub-sector to improve the innovative strategies.
Governance of MSMEs Tourism Based on Local Wisdom that is Competitive and Sustainable in Herbal Tourism Destinations Tawangmangu
Authors: Faskahariyanto Kristian , Edy Irwan Christanto , Adinugroho Suryo
Published: December 2023

This research aims to conduct in-depth research to find out the governance model of local wisdom-based MSMEs that are sustainably competitive, especially in facing the crisis period, after the Covid-19 pandemic. This research uses variables and a map of the relationship between variables on the impact of sustainable competitive tourist destinations on the welfare of tourism MSME actors. This research was conducted on MSME players in herbal tourism destinations, especially the Tawangmangu destination, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. The approach used is a qualitative method. In collecting data using in-depth interviews, FGDs, observation, study of related documents, and surveys. The determination of the research sample uses purposive sampling technique which is adjusted to the criteria. It is expected that this research can find out the governance of MSMEs that are sustainably competitive in the midst of a crisis and find out the supporting and inhibiting factors for the governance of tourism MSMEs that are sustainably competitive in tourism destinations, as well as preparing tourism MSMEs towards a global market (Go International) that is sustainably competitive and has an impact on the welfare of MSME actors in Tawangmangu herbal tourism destinations.
PERLINDUNGAN HUKUM KREDITUR DAN DIBITUR MENURUT UNDANG-UNDANG NOMOR 21 TAHUN 2008 TENTANG PERBANKAN SYARIAH
Authors: Baiq ermayanti
Published: December 2023

This research aims to find out and analyse the legal protection of creditors and debtors according to law number 21 of 2008 concerning sharia banking. In this research, the researcher formulated the problem, what is the form of legal protection for creditors and debtors in sharia banking, and how to implement prudential principles in anticipating bad credit in sharia banking. This research requires normative juridical research which researchers carry out by examining library materials or secondary data. In this research, a statutory approach is used which is related to the principle of prudence in sharia banking. According to Law no. 21 of 2008 concerning Sharia Banking. Next, using conceptual (conceptual approach) is used to examine general points of view and principles that apply in law, such as literature or references that are relevant to the research object. The research results show that the banking principle of prudence is a principle that is anticipatory in preventing the possibility of banks suffering losses in distributing funds to customers, then the principle of prudence in carrying out its business activities and is obliged to uphold and adhere to this principle further if in In the most common case, such as a debtor stumbling over bad credit, resolution efforts can be taken in two ways, namely litigation efforts through the courts, and non-litigation efforts through preventive efforts, namely actions to anticipate the emergence of bad credit, early warnings, and negotiation efforts.
Divulgação científica e histórias em quadrinhos para a conservação do Mutum-de-Alagoas (Pauxi mitu)
Authors: Vieira Aleska Caroline , Francisco Mercival Roberto , Fernandes Hylio Laganá
Published: December 2023

A Mata Atlântica nordestina inclui espécies endêmicas, como o mutum-de-alagoas (Pauxi mitu), extinto na natureza desde 1980 e reintroduzido em 2019; o sucesso dessa reintrodução depende do conhecimento da população local sobre essa espécie-bandeira, e uma estratégia envolveu publicação semanal de tirinhas no Instagram, tendo P.mitu como personagem principal. Este estudo investigou como variáveis das tirinhas (estrutura, conteúdo, narrativa, arte) interferem no impacto das postagens, buscando correlações de dependência das variáveis com curtidas dos leitores. Resultados sugerem que “conteúdo geral”, “narrativa dialogada” e “onomatopeias” contribuem para difusão, enquanto que “cenários” e “símbolos” apresentaram correlação negativa. A presença de onomatopeias mostrou forte correlação positiva, sugerindo a importância desse elemento e suscitando a necessidade de futuros estudos para elucidar melhor sua influência.
Trading card games and Environmental Education
Authors: Mendes Augusto Barros , Guimarães Felipe Vieira , Santos Rodrigo , Silva Edson Pereira
Published: December 2023

The relationship established between popular media and elasmobranchs, especially sharks, is barely sympathetic and generally includes a common-sense idea of terrible ocean creatures that are a threat to human life. Elasmobranchs are threatened, and the preservation of these animals has been a matter of concern to conservationists worldwide. This study was dedicated to developing, applying, and testing a teaching activity using Trading Card Game cards (Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!) in school and university students, aiming to investigate how pop culture can promote students’ affection and awareness about sharks and rays and their conservation. The results suggest that using popular culture to develop teaching practices is an effective strategy for raising awareness about elasmobranchs and conservation issues.
Conhecimento popular dos moradores do município de São João do Piauí (Piauí) acerca do papel ecológico das serpentes no bioma caatinga
Authors: Lima Erica Maria de Sousa , Macêdo Simone de Souza , Silva Naedja Carla dos Santos Leite da
Published: December 2023

A caatinga é considerada um dos biomas mais ricos em biodiversidade, apesar de ser pouco conhecida pelos pesquisadores. Assim, o presente trabalho objetivou analisar o nível de conhecimento popular dos moradores do município de São João do Piauí acerca das serpentes. Desse modo, foi elaborado um questionário de opinião pública com questões voltadas ao papel ecológico das serpentes e espécies endêmicas. sendo divulgado por meio das redes sociais. Observou-se que a maior parte da população não consegue identificar um animal peçonhento, bem com a maior parte não conhece o termo endemismo. Com isso, espera como resultado que esse trabalho ajude a desmistificar que toda serpente é perigosa, demonstrando sua importância no equilíbrio biológico para os ecossistemas.
The present state of online teaching of general education courses in terms of instructors’ and students’ experiences, needs, and challenges
Authors: Boonmoh Atipat , Jumpakate Thidaporn
Published: December 2023

This study explores both teachers’ and students’ perceptions regarding the teaching and learning of general education (GE) courses in an online environment, where activities such as pair work, group work, and discussion frequently feature. These activities typically necessitate a high level of interaction during class time. This presents an intriguing environment for studying both teachers’ and learners’ experiences due to the abrupt switch to online education in recent years. The participants included 10 Thai teachers of GE courses and 431 Thai and international undergraduates enrolled in the GE courses and taught via an online platform. Online questionnaires and interviews were used to obtain participants’ perceptions of both instructors’ and students’ experiences regarding online learning, particularly in terms of communication difficulties and potential intercultural communication difficulties. The data obtained from the online questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The frequency count and the percentage were used for calculating and thematizing the numeric data. Interview data was transcribed, analyzed, and reported based on themes. Key quotes from the participants’ responses were collated and presented in a narrative. The findings revealed the students’ and the lecturers’ perceptions of the benefits of online teaching, challenges, and their future needs.
Al Jazeera’s Para-Textual Reframing of The Atlantic and Foreign Affairs Coverage of The 2022 Russian-Ukrainian War
Authors: AlOteibi Karina , Haider Ahmad S , AlSaed Hadeel
Published: December 2023

The Russian-Ukrainian War, which began in February 2022, has recently become a trend and attracted the attention of different news agencies. This paper examines the paratextual components of ten news articles on the Russian-Ukrainian War. The source articles are extracted from The Atlantic and Foreign Affairs, while the Arabic translation is retrieved from Al Jazeera website. In this paper, the narrative theory is adopted (Baker, 2018) since it is a dynamic and flexible approach that emphasizes the role of translators and interpreters as active participants in constructing reality. The English articles with their Arabic counterparts were compared, and the parts that were paratextually reframed in the translated versions were identified. Investigating how Al Jazeera reframed the Russian-Ukrainian War through translation, Al Jazeera appears to sometimes create different, diverse, and contradictory versions of the narrative. This may result in various and, sometimes, different views of the same story. The findings showed that the paratextual framing strategies utilized by Al Jazeera to reframe the Russian-Ukrainian War include titles, subheadings, introductions, and footnotes. The paper concludes that the war is framed in the source texts in line with the source media outlets‘ agenda and is then reframed in the target language through translation. The entire process might affect how the target audience views the event under study.
Talk Story: The Experiences of Teaching Special Education During The Pandemic
Authors: Oh-Young Conrad , Castaneda Joselyn , León Julie , Manua Ina Mae , Nelson Leslie
Published: December 2023

The pandemic was a challenging time for everyone. In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, many schools around the world were forced to close. To continue to meet the educational needs of students, educators transitioned instruction to distance learning. This abrupt shift may have had adverse effects on students with disabilities and the teachers who work with them. Thus, the purpose of this manuscript is to provide special education teachers an opportunity to share their pandemic related teaching experiences.
ERZİNCAN SANCAĞI’NDA KOLERA SALGINI (1852 -1910)
Authors: MOLLAOĞULLARI Zerrin , KARABULUT Asuman
Published: December 2023

Salgın hastalıklar, insanlığın siyasal, sosyal, ekonomik ve kültürel yaşamlarını etkileyen faktörlerdir. Salgınların hikayesini ise insanların yapmış oldukları faaliyetler belirler. Hastalıkların taşınmasında insanın en önemli aktörlerden biri olduğu düşünüldüğünde, toplumlar arası etkileşim ile bu hastalıkların daha geniş bölgelere yayılması kaçınılmazdır. Bir geçiş bölgesi görevini üstelenen Osmanlı Devleti de Asya ve Avrupa’yı birbirine bağlayan coğrafi konumu, Ortadoğu ve Afrika’ya uzanan sınırları ve eski medeniyetlerin beşiği Akdeniz havzasında yer almasıyla tarihin hemen hemen her döneminde salgınlara maruz kalmıştır.

Bu salgınlardan biri de koleradır. Yoksulluk içinde yaşayan kalabalık gruplar, doğal afetlerden etkilenen topluluklar ve savaş ortamlarında sıkça görülen bu hastalık, ilk kez 1822 yılında Basra Körfezi’nden, Bağdat yoluyla Anadolu ve Akdeniz sahillerine ulaştı. 1832 yılına gelindiğinde ise neredeyse tüm Osmanlı coğrafyasını kapladı.

Önemli ticaret yolları üzerinde yer alması, Erzurum ve Sivas vilayetlerine komşu olması hasebiyle salgın hastalıklara açık hale gelen Erzincan Sancağı’nda 19. yüzyılda hafif şiddetli ve şiddetli seyreden kolera salgını, zaman zaman ölümlere neden oldu. Bu çalışmada, arşiv vesikalarından faydalanılarak Erzincan Sancağı’na koleranın hangi yollarla yayıldığı, hekim tayini, sancaktaki vukuat ve vefat sayıları, tahaffuzhane uygulamaları ve diğer tedbirler üzerinde durulmuştur.
Analisis Tingkat Inflasi Terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi di Indonesia
Authors: S Hasdiana , Iswanto Anas , Laming Ripa Fajarina , Lenas Meldianus J
Published: December 2023

Stabilisasi harga menjadi salah satu acuan terjadinya pergeseran struktur perekonomia di Indonesia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis tingkat inflasi yang diukur dengan indeks harga konsumen terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi yang di ukur dengan nilai PDB di Indonesia. Selain ini variabel tingkat suku bunga dan pengeluaran pemerintah menjadi variabel eksogen untuk menganlisis hubungan inflasi dan PDB. Penelitian ini menggunakan data kuantitatif dengan time series selama 20 tahun yaitu tahun 2003 sampai 2022. Hasil penelitian menunjukan hubungan positif signifikan antar variabel eksogen dan endogen baik secara langsung atau melalui variabel antara. Hubungan antar variabel ini akan selalu berubah tergantung pada kondisi pasar dan kebijakan ekonomi yang berlaku pada waktu tertentu.