bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Institutional Pressures on the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Bolding LaTrelle Annette
Published: July 2023

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the oil and gas industry has steadily increased over the last decade. The focus of this chapter is understanding what type of external factors influence oil and gas firms to implement AI. A systematic review of the literature found that external pressures to achieve business goals and public pressures to reduce environmental impact continue to rise. This chapter leverages institutional theory to look at external isomorphic pressures in the form of government regulations and competitive pressures that influence the adoption of AI. The chapter concludes by reviewing opportunities for future research in the areas of AI within the oil and gas industry.
Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Manikandan A. , Sanjay T.
Published: July 2023

Generative adversarial networks (GANs) have transformed machine learning and created new research and application areas. GANs are now used for data augmentation, picture, audio, text-to-image, and 3D object production thanks to IoT. These applications could make IoT devices more personalized, efficient, and productive by collecting and using data. GANs are also employed in healthcare and finance for IoT applications, enabling new research. GANs have many benefits, however stability issues during training, interpretability issues, ethical concerns, and more must be addressed. GANs could transform the IoT market, and hardware and infrastructure improvements are projected to increase their influence. GANs will open up many new research and development avenues for IoT devices.
Machine Learning-Based Threat Identification Systems
Authors: Jyoti  , Kalra Sheetal , Chhabra Amit
Published: July 2023

The increasing popularity of internet of things (IoT), dissimilar networks, distributed devices, and applications has turned out to be a major call for the identification of novel security threats and tracing malicious network behaviours. An intrusion detection system (IDS) is a self-defense tool for preventing several types of cyberattacks. Latest machine learning (ML) methods are becoming the backbone for constructing intelligent IDS that are highly data driven. This chapter proposes decision tree based IDS for the dataset NSL-KDD. A novel approach has been developed for the ranking of security features. The proposed system has been validated against performance evaluation metrics consisting of recall, precision, accuracy, and F score. The results produced by the proposed system are compared with well-known ML methods including logistic regression, support vector machines and K-nearest neighbor in order to analyse the efficiency.
Edge Computing
Authors: Srivastava Kavita
Published: July 2023

This chapter discusses the emerging paradigm of edge computing and its potential to optimize performance and enhance user experience in modern computing systems. The chapter begins by introducing the concept of edge computing, its definition, and its various applications. It then highlights the key benefits of edge computing. The chapter also delves into the various architectures and models of edge computing. It examines the challenges associated with edge computing, such as resource constraints, security, and privacy issues. The authors then provide an overview of the technologies and tools used in edge computing. They discuss how these technologies can be used to optimize performance and enhance user experience in edge computing systems. The chapter also presents several use cases and real-world applications of edge computing, including smart homes, autonomous vehicles, and healthcare systems. The authors examine the benefits and challenges of using edge computing in these domains and provide insights into how to optimize performance and enhance user experience.
Smart Cities
Authors: Rajamohan Kavitha , Rangasamy Sangeetha , Abreo Alvis , Upadhyay Rohit , Sabu Raison
Published: July 2023

A smart city is designed using acceptable internet of things (IoT) technologies that solve urban life problems and provide quality of life to the residents. IoT refers to a network of physical devices that are capable of gathering and sharing data and expediting numerous functions without human assistance. IoT supports smart home builders and managers by providing an efficient ecosystem in terms of less operating cost and improvising residence services. In recent days, the initiative of smart homes/buildings/cities is increasing gradually around the globe. The inclined population in an urban area also expects well-managed automated services in their everyday life.
Activity Recognition and IoT-Based Analysis Using Time Series and CNN
Authors: Beemkumar N. , Gupta Sachin , Bhardwaj Shambhu , Dhabliya Dharmesh , Rai Mritunjay , Pandey Jay Kumar , Gupta Ankur
Published: July 2023

Using time series data obtained from accelerometer and gyroscope sensors on an iPhone 6s, the authors address the topic of human activity and attribute detection. The collection contains time series data from 24 subjects who completed six activities in 15 trials. The aim is to appropriately identify the six activities using machine learning techniques. The usage of a convolutional neural network (CNN) for the categorization of human activity and attribute identification data obtained from accelerometer and gyroscope sensors on an iPhone 6s is proposed in this research. The collection contains time series data from 24 subjects who completed six activities in 15 trials. The study begins by pre-processing the data by transforming the folders into class labels and plotting the time series data. The time-series data is made up of multivariate data from both the accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, totaling 12 characteristics. The accelerometer sums up two acceleration vectors, gravity, and user acceleration, which may be distinguished using core motion tracking technology.
Evolutionized Industry With the Internet of Things
Authors: Rangasamy Sangeetha , Rajamohan Kavitha , Lavan V. S. , Mayur C. , Lalitha Mary F.
Published: July 2023

Technological development has led us to various paths. Though each technological change has evolved in its own space and time, it resulted in amenities and a pragmatic approach to problem-solving. One such technology is the “Internet of Things” - IoT which was coined in the year 1999 by a computer scientist called Kevin Ashton. Despite its start in the late 90s, it has come a long way to achieve the status of 10 Billion active IoT devices by the end of 2021, with the IoT solutions costing an estimated economic value of 4-11 trillion by 2025.
Enhancing Traceability in Food Supply Chains Using Blockchain and IoT Technologies
Authors: Ambika N.
Published: July 2023

The work centers around a connected viewpoint intended for the problematic information interface between blockchain and IoT for further developing information provenance and uprightness. The examination draws on the author's industry-based experience driving a two-year AUD 1.5 million undertaking that elaborates on the coordination of IoT and blockchain to follow and safeguard the legitimacy of Australian meat in the quickly developing Chinese market. The plan drove the system to direct the improvement of the food production network project as a particular mix of IoT and blockchain to a specific food store network context. The presentation can change the prophet's personality. The information legitimacy rehearses instead of looking for the unadulterated fact of the matter and crypto financial aspects. The suggestion uses a different methodology to enhance the traceability of the product. It uses a Merkle tree to generate hash keys. It detects security breaches by 2.93% and improves client satisfaction by 9.96% compared to previous work.
Unleashing the Power of the Metaverse in Intelligent Libraries
Authors: Daradkeh Mohammad
Published: July 2023

The emergence of Metaverse has presented new opportunities and possibilities for the advancement of intelligent libraries. However, it also brings new challenges to the professional competencies of librarians. This chapter examines the potential of Metaverse as an enabling technology for intelligent libraries, focusing on how it can be used to drive innovation and improve library services. The chapter also delves into the advantages and underlying technologies of Metaverse, as well as its theoretical foundations for application in libraries. It is argued that Metaverse and its related technologies are crucial for transforming libraries into fully intelligent ones, and that the concept of Metaverse can also provide benefits for library collection management, reading spaces, cultural promotion, reading experiences, and special user services. Intelligent libraries must seize this opportunity to create a new form of immersive experience and achieve breakthroughs in their digital transformations, driven by the diverse technologies of Metaverse.
Advancements in Guidance Systems and Assistive Technologies for Visually Impaired Individuals
Authors: Shobha P. , Nalini N.
Published: July 2023

Visually challenged people form a large population segment, with estimates starting from tens of millions to hundreds of millions worldwide. Integration into society is a major and current goal for them. A substantial attempt has been taken into ensuring a healthcare system. To aid visually impaired people to live a usual life, several guidance system strategies are created. These systems are oftentimes created for a single purpose. The internet has become a necessary means for people to acquire knowledge and information. Today, unfortunately, the advantages of this mighty tool are still away from visually impaired people, and they find difficulty in accessing the web. Over the years, people built different technologies and tools that can help the visually impaired in reaching out to the outside world.
Elaboração e validação de cenários de simulação clínica em hanseníase: comunicação em saúde
Authors: Barbosa Mayara dos Santos , Morais Cyntia Garcia Santiago , Freitas Vitória Maria da Silva , Alvim Lara da Silva , Laurindo Cosme Rezende , Souza Elisa de Oliveira Marsicano de , Coelho Angélica da Conceição Oliveira
Published: July 2023

Objetivo: construir e validar cenários de simulação clínica para desenvolvimento da habilidade de comunicação em saúde de estudantes/profissionais no atendimento aos pacientes com hanseníase e seus contactantes. Método: desenvolveu-se pesquisa metodológica de novembro de 2020 a dezembro de 2021 em três etapas: construção dos cenários, validação e realização do teste piloto. A construção dos cenários se deu com base na literatura. Participaram da validação dez juízes com expertise em hanseníase e/ou simulação clínica, avaliando os cenários de forma remota por meio de formulários do Google Forms, pelo Índice de Validação de Conteúdo (IVC), no qual um cenário é validado se seu IVC for ≥ 0,80. Os dados foram analisados no software SPSS. O teste piloto foi dividido em: exposição de aula teórica, participação do cenário e debriefing. Participaram cinco estudantes e um profissional da área da saúde. Resultados: Foram elaborados três cenários: suspeição diagnóstica e classificação em hanseníase; vigilância dos contatos e informações sobre aplicação da vacina BCG; consulta na alta por cura, contendo, respectivamente, nove, oito e nove itens, todos com concordância satisfatória (IVC ≥ 0,90). Conclusão: considerou-se validados os cenários da pesquisa, estando disponíveis como novo material didático para fomentar o ensino na área da saúde.
Música como promotora da saúde no hospital: percepções de pessoas hospitalizadas na clínica médica
Authors: Barros de Souza Jeane , Pilger Kelly Cristina de Prado , Mafra Samantha Karoline , Silva Maria Clara Baía , Rosa Odila Migliorini , Beckert Richard Augusto Thomann , Almeida Andreina Carla de
Published: July 2023

Objetivo: compreender as percepções de pessoas hospitalizadas na clínica médica quanto ao emprego da música como tecnologia de cuidado para promover saúde no hospital. Método: estudo exploratório, de abordagem qualitativa, com a participação de 15 pessoas hospitalizadas na clínica médica de um hospital público de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Após a intervenção musical no quarto dos pacientes, realizou-se a coleta de dados por meio da entrevista semiestruturadaentre os meses de setembro e outubro de 2021. Analisaram-se os dados por meio da análise de conteúdo temática. Resultados: a partir da análise dos dados, emergiram três categorias: 1) Definição de saúde sob diferentes perspectivas; 2) Estratégias para a promoção de saúde durante o processo de hospitalização; 3) Intervenção musical como fonte promotora de saúde. Considerações finais: o processo de hospitalização ocasiona mudanças bruscas no cotidiano dos indivíduos, o que torna necessária a formulação de estratégias que proporcionem momentos agradáveis e que promovam a saúde dessas pessoas. Um meio de tornar esse período mais tranquilo é a utilização da música, que permite sensações positivas de amor, alegria, conforto e esperança, possibilitando um cuidado integral e humanizado, principalmente na assistência de enfermagem.
Violência física contra o sexo feminino no Espírito Santo
Authors: Leite Franciéle Marabotti Costa , Santos Dherik Fraga , Ribeiro Luiza Albina , Tavares Fábio Lúcio , Fiorotti Karina Fardin , Ferreira Luana da Silva , Pedroso Márcia Regina de Oliveira
Published: July 2023

Objetivo: identificar a frequência da notificação de violência física contra o sexo feminino no estado do Espírito Santo, no período de 2011 a 2018, e sua associação com as características da vítima, do agressor e da ocorrência. Método: estudo transversal, com análise dos casos de violência física contra mulheres notificadas no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação em 2011-2018. As associações foram testadas pelo teste qui-quadrado de Pearson e regressão de Poisson. Resultados: a notificação de violência física contra meninas e mulheres representou uma frequência de 54,1%. O grupo feminino de 20 a 59 anos tem cerca de 4,3 vezes mais prevalência de ser vítima de violência física quando comparado ao grupo de 0-9 anos. As mulheres pretas/pardas têm 1,06 vezes mais frequência de notificação de violência física. A maior parte das ocorrências do evento foi observado entre as sem deficiência/transtorno e residentes na zona urbana/periurbana. A violência física contra mulheres foi 1,71 vezes mais praticada por um conhecido, e com suspeita de uso de álcool (RP:1,07). Conclusão: a violência física contra o sexo feminino foi elevada e apresenta associação com determinadas características da vítima do agressor e da ocorrência, tais achados podem nortear as tomadas de decisões no enfrentamento a violência.
Fatores associados ao alto risco cardiovascular segundo o Escore de Framingham: revisão integrativa
Authors: Soares Passinho Renata , Sallazar Ferreira Pereira Renan , Marçal Pimenta Adriano
Published: July 2023

Objetivo: investigar na literatura científica os fatores associados ao alto risco cardiovascular de 10 e de 30 anos. Método: revisão integrativa da literatura realizada entre julho e novembro de 2021 nas bases de dados MEDLINE, CINAHL, WoS e EMBASE e no portal da Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde. Os artigos duplicados foram identificados com o software EndNote e o processo de seleção dos estudos foi apresentado no diagrama da declaração PRISMA. Resultados: foram selecionados 13 artigos com um ou mais fatores associados ao alto risco cardiovascular, segundo o escore de Framingham de 10 anos. Nenhum artigo selecionado investigou os fatores associados ao alto risco de 30 anos. Os maus hábitos alimentares, a baixa posição socioeconômica, a baixa prática de atividade física/sedentarismo, o padrão de sono prejudicado, a adiposidade abdominal, os níveis aumentados do Antígeno Prostático Específico nos homens, a pré-fragilidade em mulheres mais velhas, o estado civil (homem divorciado ou viúvo), a profissão (motorista) e a cor (mulher branca) se associam ao alto risco cardiovascular de 10 anos. Conclusão: fatores de risco que não compõem o escore de Framingham deverão ser investigados durante a coleta de dados de enfermagem visando à implementação de ações de prevenção e promoção da saúde cardiovascular.
Atenção à saúde de idosos com deficiências residentes em cenário rural: perspectiva de agentes comunitários
Authors: Gandin Pollyana Stefanello , Costa Marta Cocco da , De Andrade Andressa , Hildebrandt Leila Mariza , Arboit Jaqueline , Jahn Alice do Carmo , Costa Yasmin Sabrina
Published: July 2023

Objetivo: apreender a perspectiva dos Agentes Comunitários sobre a atenção à saúde de idosos com deficiências residentes em cenário rural. Método: estudo quanti-qualitativo, cuja coleta de dados, inicialmente, foi realizada com 276 pessoas com deficiência residentes em cenário rural, através de questionários aplicados de agosto de 2018 a julho de 2019. Deste total, foram selecionadas apenas as pessoas idosas para fazer parte do recorte desta pesquisa, totalizando uma amostra de 54 indivíduos. Após análise dos dados quantitativos por meio de programa estatístico, foram entrevistados 18 Agentes Comunitários de Saúde que assistiam estes idosos em suas micro áreas rurais. As entrevistas foram realizadas de julho a agosto de 2021, analisadas pela Análise de Conteúdo Temática. Resultados: pôde-se constatar a presença de doenças crônicas nos idosos, além da dependência de serviços públicos de saúde, distantes das residências. Os Agentes Comunitários de Saúde relataram suas ações de atenção aos idosos com deficiência, destacando a importância da colaboração da equipe multiprofissional para atender esta população. Conclusão: verifica-se que o atendimento a esse estrato populacional, em comunidades rurais, centra-se no Agente Comunitário de Saúde, indicando a necessidade de novas pesquisas sobre o tema.
Efeitos de intervenções lúdicas digitais em pacientes oncológicos na pandemia da covid-19: estudo quase-experimental
Authors: Pinto Sandra , Silva Lucimeire Aparecida da , Mata Luciana Regina Ferreira da , Santos Júnior Aires Garcia dos , Moreira Adailson da Silva , Dias Reis Pessalacia Juliana
Published: July 2023

Objetivo: avaliar o efeito de intervenções lúdicas digitais na qualidade de vida, depressão, ansiedade, estresse e apoio social em pacientes oncológicosna pandemia da Covid-19.Método: estudo quase-experimental, com 15 pacientes de uma organização não governamental brasileira, de agosto de 2020 a outubro de 2021.As intervenções digitais consistiram emcontar histórias, jogos, culinária, expressão artística e corporal. Foram utilizados: questionário sociodemográfico e clínico,questionário de qualidade de vida,escalas de depressão, ansiedade e estresseeapoio social, todos validados em versão brasileira. Os participantesforam avaliados nos tempos: pré-,pós-intervenção1 (após 4 meses) e pós-intervenção2 (após 10 meses).A análise inferencial verificou diferenças entre os tempos utilizando modelos lineares generalizados e testes não paramétricos de Friedman e  Nemenyi, considerando-se p≤0,05.Resultados: a percepção da qualidade de vida melhorouna função emocional pós-intervenção2 em relação ao tempo pré-intervenção,com significância estatística (p=0,0020); depressão (p= 0,0106), ansiedade (p=0,0002), estresse (p=0,0032) e apoio emocional, interação social positiva (p<0,0001)melhoraram com significância estatística pós-intervenção1 e pós-intervenção2relacionadas ao tempo pré-intervenção.Conclusão: as intervenções contribuíram para melhorar a qualidade de vida emocional, depressão, ansiedade, estresse, apoio emocional einteração social positiva em pacientes oncológicosna pandemia, podendo ser estimuladasentre esta população.
Atitudes dos profissionais da saúde em relação ao cuidado em diabetes tipo 2 na atenção primária
Authors: Silva Joseane da , Torres Heloísa de Carvalho , Cortez Daniel Nogueira , Baldoni André de Oliveira
Published: July 2023

Objetivo: analisar as atitudes de profissionais que atuam na Atenção Primária à Saúde em relação ao cuidado de pessoas com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2). Método: estudo transversal realizado com 56 profissionais da atenção primária à saúde em Divinópolis, município do centro-oeste mineiro. As atitudes dos profissionais foram medidas por meio do instrumento Escala de Atitudes dos profissionais em relação ao diabetes Mellitus (EAP-DM) aplicado via plataforma web e-Surv. Os dados foram coletados entre maio e julho de 2019. Para análise, utilizaram-se os testes Mann Whitney e de Kruskal Wallis. Resultados: dos 56 profissionais, 36 (64,3%) possuíam menos de 10 anos de atuação na atenção primária e 40 (71,4%) concluíram especialização na área de atuação. Os participantes apresentaram atitudes positivas em relação ao diabetes, com pontuação média de 4,37 (DP: 0.22), variando entre 3,76 e 4,85. Médicos e psicólogos demonstraram atitudes menos favoráveis em relação aos cuidados em DM2, quando comparados aos enfermeiros e fisioterapeutas (valor de p <0,05). Conclusão: todos os profissionais apresentaram atitudes positivas e o nível destas atitudes variou conforme categoria profissional.
Cuidado à pessoa idosa institucionalizada na perspectiva de um fim de vida pacífico
Authors: Alves Manuela Bastos , Silva Valdenir Almeida da , Almeida Ana Raquel Lima Peralva de , Pereira Rosany Claúdia Dantas , Coelho Barbosa Larissa , Silva Rudval Souza da
Published: July 2023

Objetivo: compreender como são prestados os cuidados ao fim da vida às pessoas idosas na Instituição de Longa Permanência para Idosos (ILPI) sob a ótica da Teoria do Final de Vida Pacífico. Método: estudo descritivo, interpretativo de natureza clínico qualitativa, realizado com 12 colaboradoras de uma Instituição de Longa Permanência para Idosos numa cidade do Nordeste do Brasil. Os dados foram coletados nos meses de maio e junho de 2021. Foram organizados com auxílio do software IRaMuTeQ e analisados de acordo com a Teoria do Final de Vida Pacífico. Resultados: emergiram duas categorias: suporte à família, desconhecimento e medo da equipe e suas implicações no cuidado à pessoa idosa no fim da vida e cuidados para a promoção do conforto à pessoa idosa no fim da vida. Considerações finais: controle da dor e conforto físico foram mais presentes sobre os cuidados ao fim da vida na ILPI, destacando a necessidade de maior investimento na educação permanente da equipe de cuidadores para que possam prestar cuidados ao idoso e a sua família, especialmente no tocante à autonomia e à preparação do luto. O estudo permite compreender como são prestados os cuidados profissionais ao fim da vida de idosos em Instituição de Longa Permanência para Idosos.
Vulnerabilidades no contexto da saúde coletiva: contribuições, desafios e perspectivas da enfermagem
Authors: Magnabosco Gabriela Tavares
Published: July 2023

Este editorial aborda as contribuições, os desafios e as perspectivas da enfermagem no cuidado frente às vulnerabilidades no contexto da saúde coletiva.
Optimizing allocation of colorectal cancer screening hospitals in Shanghai: a geospatial analysis
Authors: Huang Jiaqi , Chen Yichen , Liu Gu , Tu Wei , Bergquist Robert , P. Ward Michael , Zhang Jun , Xiao Shuang , Hong Jie , Zhao Zheng , Li Xiaopan , Zhang Zhijie
Published: July 2023

Screening programmes are important for early diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) but they are not equally efficient in all locations. Depending on which hospital people belong to, they often are not willing to follow up even after a positive result, resulting in a lower-than-expected overall detection rate. Improved allocation of health resources would increase the program’s efficiency and assist hospital accessibility. A target population exceeding 70,000 people and 18 local hospitals were included in the investigation of an optimization plan based on a locationallocation model. We calculated the hospital service areas and the accessibility for people in communities to CRC-screening hospitals using the Huff Model and the Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) approach. We found that only 28.2% of the residents with initially a positive screening result had chosen followup with colonoscopy and significant geographical differences in spatial accessibility to healthcare services indeed exist. The lowest accessibility was found in the Southeast, including the Zhangjiang, Jichang and Laogang communities with the best accessibility mainly distributed near the city centre of Lujiazui; the latter also had relatively a high level of what is called “ineffective screening” as it represents wasteful resource allocation. It is recommended that Hudong Hospital should be chosen instead of Punan Hospital as the optimization, which can improve the service population of each hospital and the populations served per colonoscope. Based on our results, changes in hospital configuration in colorectal cancer screening programme are needed to achieve adequate population coverage and equitable facility accessibility. Planning of medical services should be based on the spatial distribution trends of the population served.
Comparison of the Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Asian Indians Living in the United States and India: Does Location Matter?
Authors: Ganti Akhil A. , Shivaswamy Vijay
Published: July 2023

Introduction:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has affected many people worldwide. One population that is greatly affected by T2DM is the Asian Indian population. The relative effects of genetics and environment on the development of diabetes in adults are not completely understood.

Objectives:

We conducted an analysis to determine if location, through the environment and different diets, affects T2DM inheritance in Asian Indians. We hypothesised that the prevalence of T2DM depended on location.

Materials and Methods:

We analysed previously collected data on T2DM in the individual states of India and the U.S. and used this information to compare the prevalence of T2DM in Asian Indians living in these two countries.

Results:

A total of 1,117,465,226 individuals were surveyed in India. Of these, 108,295,674 individuals had T2DM. Similarly, of the 1,704,846 individuals in the US, 298,107 had T2DM. The prevalence of T2DM was 17.49% in Asian Indians living in the US compared to 9.69% for Indians living in India (P < 0.00001). In individuals with similar genetic backgrounds, environmental factors significantly influence the development of T2DM.
Study of FGF21 Levels in Transgender People and its Association with Metabolic Parameters
Authors: Kumbar Lohit , Kiran Baratam Hari , Dharmalingam Mala , Kalra Pramila
Published: July 2023

Background:

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF21) is a metabolic regulator whose role in humans is unidentified. FGF21 has generated a lot of potential of becoming a therapeutic agent for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia. The role of FGF21 in gender dysphoria individuals has not been studied.

Objective:

Primary objective was to assess FGF21 levels in transgender individuals and compare with controls and secondary objective was to compare FGF21 levels with lipid and glucose parameters in transgender people.

Results:

Twenty-three transfemales and 21 transmales were included in the study and compared with 44 controls. Height and fasting blood glucose of transfemales was statistically greater than transmales, with no other differences in baseline characteristics. Although FGF21 levels were numerically greater in transfemales (183.50 ± 97.39), it was not statistically significant. FGF21 levels did not vary statistically when compared to controls although it was numerically higher. Univariate analysis was done in transgender patients and FGF21 levels were positively correlated with serum total cholesterol and serum LDL cholesterol in transfemales but not in transmales. Multivariate analysis was also done taking 50th centile and 75th centile of FGF21 levels of controls and was found that only serum total cholesterol and serum LDL positively correlated with FGF21 levels in transfemales with 75th centile as cutoff.

Conclusion:

FGF21 levels correlated positively with serum triglycerides and serum LDL cholesterol in transfemales but not in transmales. Hence, FGF21 levels can be used as a marker for the development of metabolic syndrome in transfemales.
Vitamin D Status among the Population Visiting Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Bhutan
Authors: Dhakal Guru P. , Sharma Krishna P. , Bajgai Gyan P. , Sharma Tulsi R. , Bajgai Tika M. , Tenzin Jigme , Dhakal Baehat , Chhetri Vishal , Pokhrel Hari P.
Published: July 2023

Objective:

To study the vitamin D status among the Bhutanese population visiting the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective descriptive study involving the extraction of data from a hospital database. Records of Bhutanese patients who had taken vitamin D tests in the last two years (2020–2021) were included in the study.

Result:

A total of 1175 individuals took the vitamin D test during the study period, and the age ranged between 1 day and 94 years. Over 60% of the participants were females. The study found that over 83% of our study population had serum vitamin D levels lower than the normal range/deficient. Around 18% of the participants had severe deficiency.

Conclusion:

The study found that most participants, including children, had vitamin D deficiency, and the finding was homogenous across gender and age groups. Further studies are required to validate these findings and identify the factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in the population for targeted public health interventions.
Clinical and Hormonal Profile of Classical 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: Experience from a Tertiary Centre In India
Authors: Boyareddy Harshitha , Kalra Pramila , Dharmalingam Mala
Published: July 2023

Introduction:

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder requiring treatment with steroids. Both over and under-treatment can have an impact on growth outcomes.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to study the clinical and hormonal profile of a cohort of individuals with classical 21-hydroxylase CAH and to assess the factors influencing growth outcomes in these individuals.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, individuals with classical CAH were included. Baseline data were obtained from electronic medical records. Anthropometric measurements and hormonal profiles were assessed. Quantitative variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range) and qualitative variables as percentages. To measure the correlation between variables, Spearman’s rank correlation was used.

Results:

Of the 27 patients with classical 21-hydroxylase CAH, 13 had salt wasting and 14 had simple virilizing phenotype. The median height standard deviation score (SDS) of the cohort was -1 SDS (-2.00 to 0.2) with 24% having short stature (height < -2 SDS). There was no significant difference in height SDS depending on the age, gender, type of CAH or onset of central precocious puberty. There was no significant correlation between glucocorticoid dose and height SDS (r = 0.104). Obesity was a common finding (40% adults, 41.1% children). However, there was no significant correlation between BMI and glucocorticoid dose (r = 0.419).

Conclusions:

Short stature was a significant finding as noted in earlier studies. However, the high prevalence of obesity was a new finding that could not be explained by the dose of steroids alone.
Urinary heme oxygenase-1 as a possible marker for early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy
Authors: Aboeleil Hesham A. , Hebah Hayam A. , Magdi Aya M. , Ahmed Fatma A.
Published: July 2023

Background

Early detection of DN helps in primary prevention of this complication. Microalbuminuria has been proven as a useful biomarker for diagnosis of DN. Heme oxygenase-1 is an essential enzyme in heme catabolism induced by oxidative stress. It plays a pivotal role in maintaining renal function and protecting renal structure under conditions of oxidative stress such as proteinuria. Urinary heme oxygenase-1 may appear early before the development of microalbuminuria, so it can be used as a marker for early detection of DN.

Patients and methods

A total of 80 type 2 diabetic patients with and without DN were compared with 20 healthy control subjects matched in age and sex. They were divided into two groups: group I included 40 normoalbuminuric patients with albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) less than 30 mg/g, and group II included 40 microalbuminuric patients with ACR 30–300 mg/g. For all studied groups, full history and clinical examination were done. Glycosylated hemoglobin, urinary ACR (mg/g), estimated glomerular filtration rate, urinary creatinine, and urine hemoxygnase-1 (UHO-1) and UHO-1/creat ratio by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed.

Results

Microalbuminuric patients had significantly higher levels of UHO-1 (5.02) compared with normoalbuminuric patients (3.01) and controls (0.3), with P less than 0.001, and normoalbuminuric patients had significantly higher levels of UHO-1 compared with control subjects, with P less than 0.001. UHO-1/Cr levels were significantly positively correlated with urinary ACR but significantly negatively correlated with glomerular filtration rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (P<0.001). By linear regression, there was a highly significant correlation between HO1and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Conclusion

HO-1 was increased in patients with proteinuria and increased before the onset of microalbuminuria, indicating UHO-1 is more sensitive than albumin for the detection of early DN with no relation to diabetic retinopathy.
Expression profile of HLA-DRB1, RFX5, and CIITA promoters in chronic kidney disease patients from South India
Authors: Sevak Vandit , Chinniah Rathika , Pandi Sasiharan , Venkatesan Radha , Krishnaswamy Sampath Kumar , Thadakanathan Dhinakaran , Karuppiah Balakrishnan
Published: July 2023

Background

The present study elucidated HLA-DRB1 allele frequency, the gene expression profile of HLA-DRB1, CIITA promoters PI, PIV, and RFX5 and their association in chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Patients and methods

In all, 133 CKD patients and 144 healthy controls were enrolled, and qRT-PCR based expression analysis of HLA-DRB1, CIITA-PI, PIV, and RFX5 promoters was carried out. The typing of HLA-DRB1* alleles was performed by the PCR-SSP method. The immune cell profiling was performed by flow cytometry.

Results

Out of the 13 HLA-DRB1 alleles genotyped, increased frequencies for DRB1*07 [odds ratio (OR)=2.103] and DRB1*12 (OR=2.50) and decreased frequency for DRB1*10 (OR=0.455) in CKD patients were observed. HLA-DRB1 expression was significantly upregulated in pooled-CKD (Fc: 1.49 ± 0.21; P<0.0001), DRB1*07 (Fc: 3.10 ± 0.70; P<0.057), and DRB1*12 (Fc: 3.62 ± 0.74; P<0.0001) positive CKD patients. Significantly higher levels of expressions were observed for CIITA-PI (Fc: 2.35 ± 0.23; P<0.0005) and PIV (Fc: 1.76 ± 0.23; P<0.0009) in pooled-CKD patients. With HLA-DRB1 alleles, a higher level of expressions of CIITA-PIV was observed in patients with DRB1*12 (Fc: 1.45 ± 0.38; P<0.007). Interestingly, a significantly downregulated expression was observed for CIITA-PIV in patients heterozygous for DRB1*12 (2.15 ± 0.24 vs. 0.16 ± 0.82; P<0.017). An upregulated RFX5 expression was observed for pooled-CKD (Fc: 1.37 ± 0.17; P<0.0001) and DRB1*12 (1.40 ± 0.34; P<0.045) positive patients. Immunophenotyping analysis showed an increased CD3+ and decreased CD19+, CD4+,and CD8+ cell populations in CKD patients compared with controls.

Conclusion

The study confirmed the increased expression of CIITA-PI, PIV promoters, and RFX5 that in turn led to the upregulation of the DRB1 gene resulting in CKD. Thus, the study concluded the positive association of HLA-DRB1*07 and DRB1*12 alleles, with a differential expression of DRB1 genes as a consequence of upregulation of respective promoters in CKD pathogenesis in South India.
Miniaturized meander‐line dual‐band implantable antenna for biotelemetry applications
Authors: Kangeyan Rajagopal , Karthikeyan Madurakavi
Published: July 2023

A dual‐band bio‐implantable compact antenna with a meander‐line structure is presented. The proposed meander‐line antenna resonates at the industrial, scientific, and medical (2.4 GHz) and wireless medical telemetry (1.4 GHz) bands. The meander‐line structure is selected as a radiating patch given its versatile and effective design. With a dimension of only
, the designed antenna is compact. Considering a skin phantom, the proposed antenna was designed, optimized, and simulated. The Rogers RT/duroid 6010 substrate material with high dielectric constant was used to fabricate the meander‐line dual‐band implantable antenna, which was validated experimentally. The superstrate was made of the same material. Experiments were conducted on skin‐mimicking gel. The designed meander‐line antenna has a high peak gain of −21 dBi at 2.4 GHz, and its maximum specific absorption rate is compliant with IEEE safety standards.
Leptospirosis Risk among Occupational Groups in Brazil, 2010–2015
Authors: Galan Deise I. , Schneider Maria Cristina , Roess Amira A.
Published: July 2023

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that is primarily transmitted through close contact with contaminated environments or infected animals. Brazil has the highest number of reported cases of leptospirosis in the Americas (approximately 4,000 annual cases). The purpose of this study is to identify the occupational groups with a higher risk of leptospirosis in Brazil from 2010 through 2015 among suspected cases reported to the national surveillance system. Confirmed and unconfirmed cases of leptospirosis with laboratory diagnosis, 20,193 and 59,034 respectively, were classified into 12 occupational groups. Confirmed cases were predominantly male (79.4%), between 25 and 59 years of age (68.3%), white (53.4%), illiterate or with incomplete primary education (51.1%), and participating in agricultural work (19.9%). After controlling for age, sex, race, and area of residency, the multivariate analysis identified that between confirmed and unconfirmed cases of leptospirosis reported to the Brazilian national surveillance system, five occupational groups are at higher risk for leptospirosis: garbage and recycling collectors (odds ratio [OR] = 4.10; 95% CI = 3.36–4.99); agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers (OR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.49–1.84); prisoners (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.04–2.35); building workers (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.22–1.51); cleaners and mining workers (OR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.07–1.45). This is the first nationwide study to examine leptospirosis risk by occupational group in Brazil using national surveillance data. Our results suggest that among suspected cases there was an increased risk among occupational groups with low income and low educational levels.
BİR İLÇENİN İLK ÇOCUK PSİKİYATRİSTİNİN ADLİ DENEYİMİ: POLİKLİNİĞE YÖNLENDİRİLEN OLGULARIN İNCELENMESİ
Authors: AKDAĞ Berhan
Published: July 2023

Mevcut çalışma, bir ilçe hastanesi çocuk psikiyatrisi polikliniğine adli makamlarca yönlendirilen olguları retrospektif olarak incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Silifke Devlet Hastanesi Çocuk Psikiyatrisi polikliniğine 1 Nisan 2021-1 Temmuz 2022 tarihleri arasında adli rapor istemiyle yönlendirilen olguların dosyaları geriye dönük (retrospektif) olarak incelenmiştir. Toplam 94 olgunun, 70’i (%74,5) suça sürüklenen çocuk, 24’ü (%24,5) ise mağdur çocuktur. Suça sürüklenen çocukların yaş ortalaması 14,20 ± 1,24 yıl, mağdur çocukların ise 10,66 ± 4,04 yıldır. Suça sürüklenen çocukların karıştıkları en sık suçlar, yaralama (%42,8) ve hırsızlıktır (%25,7). Klinik değerlendirme sonucunda, suça sürüklenen çocukların 32’sinin (%45,7) ceza sorumluluğunun tam olmadığı kanısına varılmıştır. Mağdur çocukların 17’sine (%89,5) fiili işlediği iddia olunan kişinin yetişkin olması veya çocukta zekâ geriliği olması nedeniyle “beden ve ruh bakımından kendisini savunamaz” şeklinde rapor verilmiştir. Çocukların ve ergenlerin karıştığı adli olaylarının artan sıklığına yanıt olarak geliştirilecek önlem ve politikalar kritik öneme sahiptir.
Uygulamaya Dönük ve Klinik Odaklı Sosyal Hizmet Doktora Programının Tarihsel Gelişimi, Özgün Yönleri ve Avantajları
Authors: AYGÜLER Edip , KIZILTAŞ Ayşe
Published: July 2023

ABD’de profesyonel meslek elemanı olarak çalışan, klinik bilgi ve becerilerini arttırmak isteyen ve akademiye yönelme hedefi olmayanlar için uygulama boyutuna ağırlık veren Uygulamaya Dönük Doktora Programları (Doctorate of Social Work [DSW]) bulunmaktadır. Bu programlar sosyal hizmet uzmanlarının klinik bilgi ve becerilerini arttırmayı hedeflemekte, kanıta dayalı uygulama yapmalarını teşvik etmekte ve bundan ötürü geleneksel doktora programından farklılaşmaktadırlar. Türkiye’de son yıllarda sosyal hizmet bölüm sayısında meydana gelen kontrolsüz artış ve bu bölümlerde görev yaparak sosyal hizmet kuramları, görüşme ilke ve teknikleri gibi klinik dersleri verebilecek öğretim elemanı azlığı DSW programlarını cazip kılmıştır. Ayrıca sosyal hizmet uzmanlarının klinik beceri kazanacakları lisansüstü programların oldukça sınırlı sayıda olması da DSW programlarının açılmasını gerekli kılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada da DSW programlarının tarihsel gelişimleri, amaçları ve geleneksel doktora programlarından ayrıştıkları noktalara yer verilmiştir. Ayrıca ABD’de yer alan beş farklı üniversitenin DSW programları web sayfaları aracılığıyla incelenmiştir. Böylece DSW programları ve gereklilikleri hakkında ulusal alanyazına bilgi kazandırılmış ve Türkiye’de de uygulamaya dönük doktora programlarının açılması gerekliliğini ortaya konulmuştur.
YAŞLI BİREYLERİN SOSYAL DIŞLANMA DURUMLARININ VE SOSYAL PROBLEM ÇÖZME BECERİLERİNİN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ
Authors: KARAKAYA Cihangir , IŞIKHAN Vedat
Published: July 2023

Yaşlı bireylerin sosyal dışlanma durumlarını ve sosyal problem çözme becerilerini incelenmeyi amaçlayan bu çalışmada yaşlı bireylerin sosyal dışlanmaya maruz kalma durumları ve sosyal problem çözme becerileri çeşitli sosyodemografik değişkenler açısından değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırma grubunu bir ilçe merkezinde ikamet eden ve evde yaşayan 306 yaşlı birey oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmada veri toplama araçları olarak; araştırmacılar tarafından hazırlanan ‘Sosyo-Demografik Bilgi Formu’, ‘Yaşlılarda Sosyal Dışlanma Ölçeği’ ve ‘Sosyal Problem Çözme Envanteri-Kısa Form’ kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada elde edilen bulgulara göre yaşı yüksek olan, eğitim düzeyi düşük olan, gelir seviyesi düşük olan, eşi vefat etmiş/boşanmış olan, yalnız yaşayan, kirada oturan, sağlık durumu kötü olan, günlük yaşam aktivitelerini gerçekleştirmekte güçlük çeken, kamusal hizmetlere erişimde güçlük çeken ve yaşlı dostu bir çevrede yaşadığını düşünmeyen yaşlıların sosyal dışlanma puanları daha yüksek iken sosyal problem çözme beceri puanları daha düşüktür. Çalışmada ayrıca sosyal problem çözme becerileri düşük olan yaşlıların sosyal dışlanmaya maruz kalma risklerinin daha yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir. Çalışmada elde edilen bulgular; politika yapıcılar, karar vericiler, yerel yönetimler ve başta sosyal hizmet uzmanları olmak üzere yaşlılık alanında çalışan profesyoneller tarafından gerçekleştirilecek koruyucu ve sosyal içerici politikaların, uygulamaların ve hizmetlerin gerekliliğini ortaya koymaktadır.
SOSYAL HİZMETTE KRİZE MÜDAHALE YAKLAŞIMININ AİLE İÇİ ŞİDDET MAĞDURU KADIN SORUNU ÜZERİNDEN TARTIŞILMASI
Authors: TAŞAĞAL Deniz
Published: July 2023

Aile, ataerkinin oluşturduğu cinsiyete dayalı roller ve güç ilişkileriyle şiddetin yeniden üretilebilmesine, korunabilmesine ve sürdürebilmesine ait dinamikleri içerisinde barındırmaktadır. Aile içerisindeki kadına yönelik şiddet feminist hareket öncülüğünde görünürlük kazanmış, şiddetin kadın üzerindeki fiziksel, duygusal ve sosyal etkileri ele alınmıştır. Aile içi şiddetin kadın üzerinde oluşturduğu karmaşık etkiler bazı kadınlar için kısa süreli olup hızlı bir iyileşme gösterirken bazıları için kronik işlev bozukluğu ve zihinsel sağlık bozukluklarına neden olmaktadır. Bu sorunlara ek olarak kadının şiddet örüntüsüne direnç göstermesine aracılık eden kaynakların yetersizliği ve yardım arama sürecinin şiddetin artmasıyla eş zamanlı olması kişiyi kriz sürecine sokarak fiziksel ve ruhsal dengenin sarsılmasına neden olmaktadır. Kadının yardım arama süreciyle birleşen aktif kriz durumu, gelişim ve fırsatları da beraberinde getirmektedir. Dolayısıyla şiddet mağduru kadın ve çocuklarının uğrak noktası olan pek çok hizmet alanında kriz değerlendirmesini içeren sosyal hizmet müdahalesine ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Mevcut durumda, kadın sığınmaevleri başta olmak üzere, aile içi şiddetin neden olduğu travmatik deneyimlerin yapılandırılmış bir şekilde ele alınmasından ziyade sosyal yardımlara dayalı hizmetlere yönlendirme ve sınırlı bir psikososyal destek sağlama süreci bulunmaktadır. Buradan yola çıkarak çalışmada kriz durumunun hem nedeni hem de tetikleyicisi olan aile içi şiddet ele alınmış, şiddete maruz kalan kadınların temas ettiği hizmet alanlarında kriz değerlendirmesini içeren sosyal hizmet müdahalesinin işlevselliğine değinilmiştir. Krize müdahale yaklaşımı çerçevesinde şiddet döngüsünün sonlandırılması, çevre koşullarının değişimi, gelecek için başa çıkma becerilerinin geliştirilmesi gibi önemli kazanımlar söz konusudur. Dolayısıyla şiddet mağduru kadınlara zamanında ve etkili bir sosyal hizmet müdahalesi sunabilmek amacıyla öncelikli hizmet alanlarında kriz değerlendirmesinin yaygınlaştırılması ele alınmalıdır.
The missing social dimensions of agri-environment schemes in the UK and lessons for a post-Brexit era.
Authors:   , Mills Jane
Published: July 2023

Agri-environment schemes (AES) in the UK offer payments to farmers or landowners to undertake environmentally-beneficial management practices. Despite the long-term financial support available for these schemes, their success in providing environmental benefits is variable. Many farmers show limited engagement with the objectives of these schemes and long-term pro-environmental behaviours is often lacking. Furthermore, policy-makers lack monitoring and evaluation tools to assess AES achievements in influencing farmers’ long-term willingness to deliver environmental outcomes, as well as the role of AES in contributing to the social sustainability of farming. Conceptually, the thesis draws on behavioural science to identify through empirical research the central role of the psycho-social factors that affect farmers’ pro-environmental behaviour in the context of AES. It further examines the potential of AES to deliver social outcomes that strengthen the farming community. The findings from the research, which uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, are published in four peer-reviewed papers. An important contribution is the development and application of a new conceptual framework which extends previous behavioural models focused on farmers’ willingness and ability, to include the influence of social relations, recognising that farmer behaviour change is part of a social process that is facilitated through long-term advice and supportive relationships. The findings also identify the importance of social norms, self-identity and behavioural control beliefs in influencing farmers’ willingness to engage in environmental practices. Social sustainability outcomes resulting from AES participation relating to health and wellbeing and quality of life are identified. A key contribution is the development of these social factors into indicators for measuring both the ‘quality’ of farmer engagement with AES and the social sustainability of AES. In this way, this body of research enables a better understanding of the relationship between social and environmental outcomes and can help policy-makers to gauge the social sustainability of AES. Policy recommendations and future research directions are identified with the aim of strengthening post-Brexit AES design and delivery to incorporate social goals, alongside environmental ones.