bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introduction
Authors: Köhn Steffen , Ramella Anna Lisa , Karim Igor
Published: July 2024

In laying the foundation for this special issue, this introductory article serves as a precursor to the essays it comprises. It delves into the dynamic shifts occurring over recent decades within the realm of future-thinking in anthropology. Specifically, it investigates the diverse methodologies employed by visual and multimodal anthropologists, leveraging mediums like film, virtual reality (VR), and other innovative forms of audiovisual storytelling. This exploration extends to the nuanced ways in which researchers engage with the hopes, dreams, and future-making practices of their research participants, while also acknowledging and embracing their own ethical responsibilities in shaping equitable futures. The article posits that multimodal research carves out an exclusive space where these envisioned futures can be not only conceptualized but also concretely manifested and brought to life in the present moment.
Faust de Goethe : l’envers du stéréotype
Authors: Covindassamy Mandana
Published: July 2024

Si Faust est érigé en mythe national allemand à la fin du xixe siècle, il le doit au regain d’intérêt dont il fait l’objet depuis que Goethe lui a consacré sa célèbre tragédie. Alors qu’elle donne initialement naissance à des interprétations controversées, cette pièce se voit figée en des stéréotypes qui défient la lecture du texte. Au-delà du constat de la réduction à laquelle procèdent ces interprétations, le présent article s’attache à démontrer la plasticité structurelle de l’œuvre de Goethe, qui la dérobe à l’assignation d’un sens fixe. Afin de mettre en évidence le jeu interprétatif complexe dont la pièce crée la possibilité, l’article se penche notamment sur le travail du mythe faustien et de son historicité dans Faust, sur la relecture du genre de la tragédie à laquelle la pièce procède, et sur le dialogue qu’elle entame avec l’histoire littéraire jusque dans les choix métriques. À chaque étape, l’argumentation propose l’étude d’une scène de Faust devenue emblématique afin de mettre en évidence le travail herméneutique auquel la pièce nous invite.
La compétition des stéréotypes dans L’Ange de feu de Valéri Brioussov
Authors: Backès Jean-Louis
Published: July 2024

Dans son roman L’Ange de feu, publié en 1907, le poète russe Valéri Brioussov raconte une histoire de sorcellerie qui se passe en Allemagne au milieu du xvie siècle. Le héros rencontre le Dr Faust, accompagné de son fidèle serviteur Méphistophélès. L’auteur, qui a réuni une importante documentation, s’appuie sur la fameuse Histoire du docteur Johannes Faustus, publiée en 1587. Il prend soin d’éviter les stéréotypes qui dérivent de la tragédie de Goethe. Il en reprend d’autres : ceux qui ont eu cours à la Renaissance, dans les écrits destinés à inspirer le mépris pour les magiciens. Mais, malgré tout, il ne parvient à oublier ni le Méphisto railleur, cher aux compositeurs d’opéras, ni la figure du mage inspiré, qui hante, à son époque, la pensée occultiste.
Faust outre-Atlantique, Faust d’Amériques ? Éléments de réflexion pour un Faust latino-américain
Authors: Peslier Julia
Published: July 2024

Au xxe siècle, un vieil Européen, Faust, devient nomade à l’échelle planétaire. Il franchit nouvellement les frontières des littératures nationales au cœur du vieux monde en quittant le site Europe et s’envole (littéralement) vers des contrées plus lointaines, au-delà des océans, et en d’autres continents, langues et cultures. L’Amérique latine sera l’une de ses terres d’accueil. Suffit-il pour autant de lui faire traverser l’océan pour qu’il soit un Faust d’Amérique ? C’est en mettant en contact différentes nouvelles versions de la matière faustienne, et en arpentant l’Argentine, le Chili, le Mexique, le Venezuela et encore le Brésil aux côtés du fameux duo composé par Faust et Méphistophélès, que nous explorons la définition d’un Faust latino-américain. Déracinement et reterritorialisation dans le sertão et la pampa, créolisation et « gaucho-isation » de Faust avec Estanislao del Campo, Borges, Birri, Alfredo Arias, Edwards, Lima et d’autres, pensée de la traduction comme transluciferação avec Haroldo de Campos, les opérations de transferts et de transformations sont légion. Elles nous informent sur des modes de voyage et de plasticité d’une figure mythique, qui s’y découvre de nouveaux métiers (d’ambassadeur, d’écrivain et de traducteur) et apprend à différer et à s’altérer à son tour.
L’éducation postsecondaire des jeunes Innus : une communauté mobilisée pour soutenir leur persévérance et leur réussite éducative
Authors: Baron Marie-Pierre , Sasseville Nathalie , Lambert Caroline , Vachon Catherine , Lafrance Sabrina
Published: July 2024

Plusieurs facteurs de risque influencent le passage des étudiants autochtones vers les études postsecondaires. Dans ce contexte, une communauté innue a mis sur pied un projet d’accompagnement scolaire et social pour soutenir ses étudiants dans cette transition scolaire. L’article présente, à l’aide de témoignages d’étudiants, les formes de soutien reçu, ainsi que ceux souhaités pour favoriser leur persévérance et leur réussite éducative. Dans une perspective écosystémique, l’analyse permet d’identifier, au regard de l’accompagnement, ce qui peut être réalisé en amont et en cours de parcours afin de mieux accompagner les étudiants autochtones lors des études postsecondaires en milieu urbain.
Les enjeux de l’accompagnement des étudiants autochtones dans l’enseignement supérieur
Authors: Sasseville Nathalie , Baron Marie-Pierre , Thivierge Josée , Vachon Karolanne , Lafrance Sabrina
Published: July 2024

Les taux de diplomation au postsecondaire des étudiants.es autochtones sont significativement moins élevés que chez les allochtones au Canada. Les transitions sont à cet égard des périodes charnières à la prévention du décrochage. Cette recherche action identifie six enjeux relatifs à l’accompagnement lors des transitions en posant un regard croisé sur les points de vue d’étudiants.es autochtones et ceux d’acteurs.trices dans 5 établissements postsecondaires du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. Des pistes de solutions sont avancées afin d’améliorer les pratiques d’accompagnement dans une perspective d’autochtonisation des pratiques.
«Грамматика боя, язык батарей»: военный язык в России XVIII века
Authors: Sdvizhkov Denis
Published: July 2024

La langue militaire combine le jargon technique et professionnel avec le jargon courant. Les affaires militaires, qui jouent un rôle clé dans le processus de modernisation, ont une incidence majeure sur le lexique militaire, dont l’État devient l’élément moteur du développement. En Russie, l’essentiel du vocabulaire et de la sémantique militaires était indigène. Le développement de cette langue passa par des emprunts d’ordre multivectoriel jusqu’au xviiie, puis par des emprunts au lexique militaire paneuropéen. Ses concepts clés étaient construits autour du service, avec les textes statutaires au centre ; l’identité sociale était définie par l’organisation de l’armée régulière. Dans la première moitié du xviiie siècle, avec la création de l’empire militaire, la langue militaire dépassait largement le cadre de l’usage professionnel. La naissance de la société moderne en Russie et la formation d’une langue nationale (littéraire) à partir de la seconde moitié du xviiie siècle entraînèrent l’affaiblissement de l’influence de la langue militaire sur la sémantique du social. Avec l’inclusion du domaine militaire dans la formation de citoyens éclairés et patriotes, l’armée commença également à être perçue comme l’incarnation de la nation. Cette période s’acheva avec l’insurrection décembriste.
Subtle Addressing of Caste in the Elite Domestic Architecture of Geoffrey Bawa
Authors: Wijetunge M. N. R.
Published: July 2024

During the immediate postcolonial decades, reverting to once-subverted indigenous architectural traditions with elite patronage was spearheaded by nascent Ceylonese architects. The most celebrated domestic architectural style from this period has been confirmed as Neo-regionalism of Geoffrey Bawa. This rubric has over the years, been labeled as the most apposite to the context of its inception. Further, it is widely acknowledged that Bawa’s domestic clientele was drawn from the elite of which, the bulk being Sinhalese in ethnicity. Sinhalese, the majority population is heterogeneous, which has primordially been assembled into numerous caste-based sub-cultures. The paper tackles some domestic projects by Bawa; for Sinhalese elite of Govigama and Karava castes – the most numerous two castes. The study strives to constitute the caste-based cultural strands to have survived and unraveled via architecture (along with periodic changes). It Adheres to a qualitative research methodology, and delves on case studies. A photographic survey affords the information to supplement extant literature. The analysis of key architectural traits is carried out and the final interpretation is through phenomenology. In-depth interviews compensate for gaps in literature. In this light, examining in a phenomenological perspective how architecture executed for the Sinhalese elite frame cultural peculiarities of caste, and also periodic changes, if successful, could be applied to similar cases elsewhere.
Risks associated with laser radiation reflections in a healthcare environment: a surface reflectance study in the range 250 nm – 25 μm
Authors: Insero Giacomo , Mercatelli Luca , Cimmino Cristina , Donato Roberto Gaetano , Romano Giovanni , Fusi Franco , Guasti Andrea
Published: July 2024

Biomedical applications relying on optical radiation, particularly with the advent of lasers, have experienced exponential growth in the last 20 years. Powerful optical sources are now found not only in universities, hospitals, and industries but also in beauty centers, used for tasks such as tattoo removal, and even in our homes. Despite their widespread use, managing the risks associated with lasers, particularly in non-research contexts, has not kept pace with their proliferation. While the risks associated with direct exposure to radiation to the eye and skin are relatively well understood, the hazards posed by reflected and diffuse radiation remain less characterized and monitored. Therefore, there is a critical need to assess potential eye and skin hazards in spaces where lasers and non-coherent light sources are used. This necessitates a detailed analysis of reflective surfaces, with particular emphasis on evaluating their reflectance characteristics at relevant wavelength ranges. This study investigates the reflectance and transmittance (where relevant) properties of commonly used materials in biomedical settings, including fabrics, plastics, and metals, across a broad spectrum from 250 nm (UVA) to visible light and into the infrared (IR) region up to 25 μm. Both specular (at 45° incidence) and diffuse reflectance spectra were measured using spectrophotometric techniques and used to provide a straightforward parameter to classify the specular/diffusive behavior of the different surfaces. Besides, small-angle reflectance measurements in the IR range were performed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The knowledge of the material optical properties used in environments where optical radiation is employed allows for accurate assessment of associated risks. This facilitates the determination of appropriate preventive measures and the establishment of safer protocols, for both operators and, where applicable, patients and the general public. For this scope, the creation of a database of material reflective properties has been initiated.
[The plants of I Promessi Sposi recount Alessandro Manzoni]
Authors: Banfi Enrico
Published: July 2024

If we focus on the wild plants described by Alessandro Manzoni in the novel I Promessi Sposi, it is possible to explore two important dimensions that have received little attention, namely the imaginary but realistic reconstruction of a 17th-century plant landscape and the writer's knowledge of wild flora. Manzoni's botanical expertise was enhanced in the management of the estate in Brusuglio (Milan), where his duties as a farmer put him in daily contact with plants and weeds of all kinds, good or bad for the progress of the estate, which the writer observed with curiosity and attention. Benefiting from this experience, the writer transposed 22 of the different wild species known to him into his novel to give each of them a setting and landscape role in the scenarios of the story's events. Today, these plants tell us about him.
 
[Article in Italian]
Urgent call for attention to diabetes-associated hospital infections
Authors: Yu Xue-Lu , Zhou Li-Yun , Huang Xiao , Li Xin-Yue , Pan Qing-Qing , Wang Ming-Ke , Yang Ji-Shun
Published: July 2024

In this editorial, we discuss the recent article by Zhao et al published in the World Journal of Diabetes, which highlights the importance of recognizing the risk indicators associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). Given the severe implications of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in hospitalized individuals- such as heightened mortality rates, prolonged hospitalizations, and increased costs- we focus on elucidating the connection between DM and nosocomial infections. Diabetic patients are susceptible to pathogenic bacterial invasion and subsequent infection, with some already harboring co-infections upon admission. Notably, DM is an important risk factor for nosocomial urinary tract infections and surgical site infections, which may indirectly affect the occurrence of nosocomial bloodstream infections, especially in patients with DM with poor glycemic control. Although evidence regarding the impact of DM on healthcare-associated pneumonias remains inconclusive, attention to this potential association is warranted. Hospitalized patients with DM should prioritize meticulous blood glucose management, adherence to standard operating procedures, hand hygiene pra-ctices, environmental disinfection, and rational use of drugs during hospitalization. Further studies are imperative to explore the main risk factors of HAIs in patients with DM, enabling the development of preventative measures and mitigating the occurrence of HAIs in these patients.
Mechanism underlying the effects of exercise against type 2 diabetes: A review on research progress
Authors: Peng Chen-Jian , Chen Shuo , Yan Su-Ying , Zhao Jian-Ning , Luo Zhi-Wen , Qian Yuan , Zhao Guo-Liang
Published: July 2024

Exercise has emerged as one of the important and effective non-drug therapies used for management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in certain nations. The present report summarizes the latest findings from the research on the beneficial effect of exercise on T2D. The objectives were to provide references for the theoretical study and the clinical practice of exercise-based management of T2D, in addition to identify the limitations of the existing literature, thereby provide direction for future research in this field.
Autoantibodies against beta cells to predict early insulin requirements in pediatric patients with clinically diagnosed type 2 diabetes
Authors: Molina Jorge M , Medina Patricia G , Gomez Rita A , Herrera Julia R , Martínez Nancy L , Hernández Brenda , García Yesenia
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND

Autoimmunity has emerged as a probable disease modifier in patients with clinically diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), that is, patients who have insulin resistance, obesity, and other cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting that the presence of glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD65), islet antigen 2 (anti-IA2), and zinc transporter 8 (anti-Zn8T) antibodies could have deleterious effects on beta cell function, causing failure and earlier requirement for insulin treatment.

AIM

To evaluate anti-GAD65, anti-IA2 and anti-Zn8T as predictors of early insulin requirement in adolescents with a clinical diagnosis of T2DM.

METHODS

This was a case–control study in patients with clinically diagnosed with T2DM (68 cases and 64 controls with and without early insulin dependence respectively), male and female, aged 12–18 years. Somatometry, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin A1c, and lipid profiles were assessed. ELISA was used to measure anti-GAD65, anti-IA2, and anti-Zn8T antibodies. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's χ 2 test, Student's t test, and logistic regression was performed. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

There were 132 patients (53.8% female), with a mean age was 15.9 ± 1.3 years, and there was a disease evolution time of 4.49 ± 0.88 years. The presence of anti-GAD65, anti-IA2, and anti-Zn8T positivity was found in 29.5%, 18.2%, and 15.9%, respectively. Dividing the groups by early or no insulin dependence showed that the group with insulin had a higher frequency of antibody positivity: anti-GAD65 odds ratio (OR): 2.42 (1.112–5.303, P = 0.026); anti-IA2: OR: 1.55 (0.859–2.818, P = 0.105); and anti-Zn8T: OR: 7.32 (2.039–26.279, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Anti-GAD65 positivity was high in our study. Anti-GAD65 and anti-Zn8T positivity showed a significantly depleted beta cell reserve phenotype, leading to an increased risk of early insulin dependence.
Functional analysis of the novel mitochondrial tRNATrp and tRNASer(AGY) variants associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ding Yu , Yu Xue-Jiao , Guo Qin-Xian , Leng Jian-Hang
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND

Mutations in mitochondrial tRNA (mt-tRNA ) genes that result in mitochondrial dysfunction play important roles in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We pre-viously reported a large Chinese pedigree with maternally inherited T2DM that harbors novel mt-tRNA Trp A5514G and tRNA Ser(AGY) C12237T variants, however, the effects of these mt-tRNA variants on T2DM progression are largely unknown.

AIM

To assess the potential pathogenicity of T2DM-associated m.A5514G and m.C12237T variants at genetic, molecular, and biochemical levels.

METHODS

Cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) cells carrying both m.A5514G and m.C12237T variants, and healthy control cells without these mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants were generated using trans-mitochondrial technology. Mitochondrial features, including mt-tRNA steady-state level, levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), mtDNA copy number, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)/NADH ratio, enzymatic activities of respiratory chain complexes (RCCs), 8-hydroxy-deo-xyguanine (8-OhdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were examined in cell lines with and without these mt-tRNA variants.

RESULTS

Compared with control cells, the m.A5514G variant caused an approximately 35% reduction in the steady-state level of mt-tRNA Trp (P < 0.0001); however, the m.C12237T variant did not affect the mt-tRNA Ser(AGY) steady-state level (P = 0.5849). Biochemical analysis revealed that cells with both m.A5514G and m.C12237T variants exhibited more severe mitochondrial dysfunctions and elevated oxidative stress than control cells: ATP, MMP, NAD+/NADH ratio, enzyme activities of RCCs and SOD levels were markedly decreased in mutant cells (P < 0.05 for all measures). By contrast, the levels of ROS, 8-OhdG and MDA were significantly increased (P < 0.05 for all measures), but mtDNA copy number was not affected by m.A5514G and m.C12237T variants (P = 0.5942).

CONCLUSION

The m.A5514G variant impaired mt-tRNA Trp metabolism, which subsequently caused mitochondrial dysfunction. The m.C12237T variant did not alter the steady-state level of mt-tRNA Ser(AGY), indicating that it may be a modifier of the m.A5514G variant. The m.A5514G variant may exacerbate the pathogenesis and progression of T2DM in this Chinese pedigree.
Safety of teplizumab in patients with high-risk for diabetes mellitus type 1: A systematic review
Authors: Buddhavarapu Venkata , Dhillon Gagandeep , Grewal Harpreet , Sharma Pranjal , Kashyap Rahul , Surani Salim
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND

The incidence of diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) has been rising worldwide because of improvements in diagnostic techniques and improved access to care in countries with lower socioeconomic status. A new anti-CD4 antibody, Tep-lizumab, has been shown to delay the progression of DM1 and is the only medication approved for this indication. However, more information is needed about the safety profile of this drug.

AIM

To identify the odds ratios (OR) of systems-based adverse effects for Teplizumab when compared to Placebo.

METHODS

An extensive systematic review was conducted from the inception of the medication until December 31, 2023. All clinical trials and studies that evaluated Teplizumab vs placebo were included in the initial review. The study protocol was designed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024496169). Crude OR were generated using RevMan Software version 5.4.

RESULTS

After screening and review, 5 studies were selected to determine the risk of adverse effects of teplizumab compared to placebo. A total of 561 patients were included in the study population. Total adverse effects and system-based adverse effects were studied and reported. We determined that patients receiving Teplizumab had a higher risk of developing gastrointestinal (GI) (OR = 1.60, 95%CI: 1.01-2.52, P = 0.04), dermatological (OR = 6.33, 95%CI: 4.05-9.88, P < 0.00001) and hematological adverse effects (OR = 19.03, 95%CI: 11.09-32.66, P < 0.00001). These patients were also significantly likely to have active Epstein-Barr Virus infection (OR = 3.16, 95%CI: 1.51-6.64, P < 0.002). While our data showed that patients receiving Teplizumab did have a higher incidence of total adverse effects vs placebo, this finding did not reach statistical significance (OR = 2.25, 95%CI: 0.80-6.29, P = 0.12).

CONCLUSION

Our systematic review suggests that Teplizumab patients are at risk for significant adverse effects, primarily related to GI, dermatological, and hematological systems. The total adverse effect data is limited as study populations are small. More studies should be conducted on this medication to better inform the target population of potential adverse effects.
Enhancing diabetic retinopathy screening: Non-mydriatic fundus photography-assisted telemedicine for improved clinical management
Authors: Szulborski Kira J , Ramsey David J
Published: July 2024

The utilization of non-mydriatic fundus photography-assisted telemedicine to screen patients with diabetes mellitus for diabetic retinopathy provides an accurate, efficient, and cost-effective method to improve early detection of disease. It has also been shown to correlate with increased participation of patients in other aspects of diabetes care. In particular, patients who undergo teleretinal imaging are more likely to meet Comprehensive Diabetes Care Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set metrics, which are linked to preservation of quality-adjusted life years and additional downstream healthcare savings.
Lateral Platooning Control with Precise Path Tracking and Strong
Disturbance Suppression Performance
Authors: Kurishige Masahiko
Published: July 2024

There have been numerous studies on stable platooning, but almost all of them
have been on the longitudinal stability problem, wherein, without sufficient
longitudinal stability, traffic congestion might occur more frequently than in
traffic consisting of manually driven vehicles. Failure to solve this problem
would reduce the value of autonomous driving. Recently, some researchers have
begun to tackle the lateral stability problem, anticipating shortened
intervehicle distances in the future. Here, the intervehicle distance in a
platoon should be shortened to improve transportation efficiency. However, if an
obstacle to be avoided exists, the following vehicles might have difficulty
finding it quickly enough if the preceding vehicle occludes it from their
sensors. Also, longer platoons improve transportation efficiency because the
number of gaps between platoons is reduced. Hence, in this study, the lateral
stability of platoons consisting of autonomous vehicles was analyzed for not
only determining how to track the preceding vehicle when there are lateral
movements but also suppressing unintentional lateral movement caused by
disturbances affecting the vehicles in the platoon. The analytical results
indicate that it is not realistic to expect that a single gain controller can
both track the reference path to avoid an obstacle and suppress the lateral
movement caused by a disturbance to long platoons of 10 vehicles or more. On the
basis of these results, a new lateral control strategy was developed that has
both good tracking performance for avoiding obstacles and a capability of
suppressing harmful movements of vehicles following the one affected by the
disturbance. This strategy works by varying the gain depending on the estimated
disturbance. A simulation was conducted to examine its effect on platoons
consisting of 10 vehicles.
Reducing the Risks of Nuclear War: The Role of Health Professionals
Authors: Kamran Abbasi  , Parveen Al  , Virginia Barbour  , Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo  , Marcel GM Olde Rikkert  , Peng Gong  , Andy Haines  , Ira Helfand  , Richard Horton  , Bob Mash  , Arun Mitra  , Carlos Monteiro  , Elena N Naumova  , Eric J Rubin  , Tilman Ruff  , Peush Sahni  , James Tumwine  , Paul Yonga  , Chris Zielinski
Published: July 2024

No Abstract
Patellofemoral Instability Secondary to Trochlear Dysplasia - A Case Report
Authors: Byakika Timothy Kagoda , Mwawingwa Philip Gituri
Published: July 2024

Patellofemoral joint instability is a debilitating condition that affects the biomechanical relationships between the soft tissues and the  bony architecture of the knee joint. Trochlear dysplasia is an identifiable etiology in 85-96% of patients with patellar instability.  Trochleoplasty is a surgical procedure that aims at restoring a sulcus or creating a near-normal trochlear deep enough to accommodate  the patellar in the trochlear groove, restoring patellofemoral congruence, patella tracking, and biomechanics during flexion and  extension. This case report describes a sulcus-deepening trochleoplasty through a superolateral parapatellar arthrotomy in a 15- year-old  adolescent who presented with a severe form of patellar instability due to trochlear dysplasia.
Pattern of Recurrence in Early Breast Cancer at a Tertiary Center in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Munguti Cecilia M. , Mutebi Miriam , Ng'ang'a Mukuhi , Wasike Ronald
Published: July 2024

Introduction: There is limited data on the recurrence rates and factors that contribute to recurrence in women managed for early breast  cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. This study conducted at a tertiary level facility aims to determine the recurrence rates in patients treated for early invasive breast cancer.
Methods: This is a single institution retrospective cohort study of women (18–75 years) treated for early  breast cancer from 2009 to 2017. Demographic data, tumor, and treatment-related factors were summarized using descriptive statistics.  Survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression were performed, with computation of hazard ratios and their 95% confidence  intervals.
Results: A total of 239 patients with an initial diagnosis of early breast cancer were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 51  years (SD 13). The most prevalent molecular subtype was estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR)+ at 76% with only 2.9%  having human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpressing breast cancer. The overall recurrence was 7.1% with a 1.6% case mortality. The overall 5-year and 10-year survival rate was 94% and 91%, respectively.
Conclusion: Early breast cancer in our setting has a  good overall survival and low recurrence rates that are comparable to that found in Western countries.
Risk of Bidirectional Diarrhea-Malnutrition among Under-Five-Year-Old Children Admitted in Referral Hospitals in Western Kenya
Authors: Ogayo Milka , Damaris Ochanda , Sadia Moses , Odipo Jacob Owiti , Ayodo George
Published: July 2024

Background: Diarrhea leads to malnutrition while malnutrition aggravates the course of diarrhoea. In addition, it has been observed that children with moderate-severe diarrhoea cases are more likely to be malnourished compared to those with mild cases, and the bidirectional relationship of the conditions occurs in situations where either malnutrition or diarrhoea has become chronic. However, there is scanty information on the risks of bidirectional diarrhoeamalnutrition among under-fives from high-burden areas in the informal settlements of Western Kenya.
Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional design using a quantitative approach to collect primary and secondary data was applied to determine the occurrence of malnutrition, diarrhoea, and bidirectional diarrhoea malnutrition and further investigated the risk of bidirectional diarrhoea malnutrition among 105 under-fives admitted in two referral hospitals of Western Kenya between August 2020 to April 2021. The under-five children who met the inclusion criteria comprised those experiencing either acute or chronic malnutrition, as well as severe diarrhoea with dehydration or those at risk of dehydration due to malnutrition and diarrhoea, respectively. Primary and secondary data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and a data abstraction tool respectively.
Results: Out of 105 patients aged 0-59 months admitted to the hospital, 52 had malnutrition, and 53 had diarrhoea. The high occurrence of malnutrition and diarrhoea ranged between 71.7% and 78.85% in the age groups of 6-23 months whereas other age groups had 13.46- 18.87% < 6 and 7.69- 9.43% in 24-59 months. Of the 33 cases with bidirectional diarrhoeamalnutrition, n=28 (84.85%) cases were observed in the age group of 6-23 months, and the majority, 21 (63.64 %) had diarrhoea and then developed malnutrition. The findings showed that the risk for bidirectional diarrhoea-malnutrition among under-fives was untrimmed fingernails AOR= 2.73, 95% CI=0. 1.04-7.17, P-value=0.041 and having more than 3 underfives in a household (AOR=3.44, 95% CI= 1.15-24.65, P-value=0.032)
Conclusion: The study findings show a high occurrence of malnutrition, diarrhoea, and bidirectional diarrhoea malnutrition among children aged 6-23 months. Untrimmed fingernails and the number of under-fives in a household were associated with bidirectional diarrhoea-malnutrition. The study suggests that the occurrence of bidirectional diarrhoeamalnutrition can be reduced with the best household health practices.
Prevalence and Predictors of Anaemia in Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care at Kilifi County Referral Hospital, Kenya
Authors: Otieno Berrick , Mutie Cyrus , Elmaw Salwa , Mulala Marttin Kyania , Y'Dhidha-a-Mjidho Makorani , Kyalo Isaac , Juma Mwaswere , Abdullahi Osman
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Anaemia in pregnancy has been recognized as a public health problem of importance, especially in the developing world. This is due to related adverse outcomes among pregnant women and the unborn. However, the epidemiology of anaemia in pregnancy is unknown locally. This study sought to establish the prevalence and determinants of anaemia among pregnant women in a referral hospital in coastal Kenya.
Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 191 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic (ANC) at Kilifi County Referral Hospital. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data and data was analysed using STATA version 15. Descriptive statistics were used to describe selected variables and logistic regression was used to determine the significance of factors associated with anaemia.
Results: The prevalence of anaemia was 54% with factors associated with increased odds of anaemia being household size (AOR 1.27, 95%CI: 1.01-1.59, p=0.04), history of malaise and fever (AOR 9.69, 95%CI: 2.34-40.11, P < 0.01). Factors associated with reduced odds of anaemia were; food frequency (AOR 0.23, 95%CI: 0.1-0.51, P < 0.01), increased intake of vegetables and fruits (AOR 0.47, 95%CI: 0.34-0.47, P < 0.001), and red meat (AOR 0.39, 95%CI: 0.23-0.67, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The relatively high prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care suggests that anaemia is still a significant public health problem in Coastal Kenya. Increased household size and, a history of malaise and fever, were positively associated with anaemia while food frequency, vegetables, fruits and red meat intake were associated with a reduced likelihood of developing anaemia. Therefore, the ministries of health and other healthcare stakeholders at the county and national levels should enhance the supply of iron supplements at Kilifi County Hospital and other community-based health facilities targeted for pregnant women. Moreover, nurses and clinicians should intensify health education on anaemia in pregnancy from early antenatal clinic visits for pregnant mothers.
A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Effects of Peripheral Maternal Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure on Birth Weight
Authors: Asare B.A. , Asare G.
Published: July 2024

No Abstract
Hamas-Israel Conflicts In Gaza And Its Implications For Middle East Stability
Authors: T Abumbe Gabriel , Terhile Alagh , Chinyere Helen Dede
Published: July 2024

The Middle East has been marked by significant volatility since the post-World War II era, witnessing over ten wars between the Arabs and Israelis alone from 1948 to 2023. Thus, this study focuses on the Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza and its implications for Middle East stability. The study is methodologically structured in qualitative method whereby data are drawn from secondary sources. Several major conflicts, including Operation Cast Lead (2008), Southern Israel Cross-Border Attacks (August 2011), Operation Return Echo (March 2012), Operation Pillar of Defence (November 2012), and Operation “Swords of Iron” (2023), are used as case studies in this work due to their strategic significance and decisive impacts on the affected nations and the broader Middle East region. This study argues that the unfolding wars involving Hamas and Israel have profound repercussions across the region, particularly for Egypt and Jordan, which have historically been key peacemakers with Israel. Furthermore, the humanitarian crisis and Israeli military actions have raised concerns about mass displacement, further straining Israel’s relations with other Arab countries and even in Europe, where the Palestinian issue resonates deeply. Lastly, this short war has exacerbated the already fragile state of peace in the Middle East.
Multiple antibiotic resistance index of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from clinical specimens in a tertiary hospital in Benin City, Nigeria
Authors: Ogefere HO , Idoko MO
Published: July 2024

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a commensal of the gastrointestinal tract but has been associated with hospital associated- and community infections. In this investigation, K. pneumoniae that was isolated from several clinical specimens of patients at a tertiary hospital in Benin City was evaluated for its multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index.
 Methods: A total of 100 clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae from the hospital’s inpatients and outpatients were employed. By using conventional microbiological techniques, isolates were identified. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out and MAR index was calculated.
 Results: The susceptibility test showed that K. pneumoniae exhibited high level of multidrug resistance with a total of 24 isolates resistant to the 12 antibiotics tested. The MAR index ranged from 0.42 to 1.00 with the mean value of 0.7994. The K. pneumoniae isolates from clinical specimens of inpatients showed a higher MAR index of 0.82 than that of outpatients (0.74).
 Conclusion: These findings present a major public health concern. Concerted efforts that emphasize antimicrobial stewardship must be put in place to mitigate this problem.
Cervical cancer screening practices of antenatal clinic attendees in Garki Hospital Abuja, Nigeria
Authors: Isara Alphonsus , PC-Onyekwere CJ
Published: July 2024

Background: Cervical cancer, a preventable disease, is the fourth most frequent cancer in women worldwide is a major public health problem especially in developing countries. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of cervical cancer and practice of cervical cancer screening among antenatal clinic attendees in Garki Hospital Abuja, Nigeria.
 Methods: Two hundred and fifteen antenatal clinic attendees selected using systemic sampling techniques participated in this facility-based cross-sectional study. Data was collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with IBM SPSS version 22.0. Statistical level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
 Results: One hundred and twenty-two (57.0%) of the respondents were aged 30 – 39 years, 191 (89.3%) were married, 202 (94.4%) had tertiary level of education while 72 (33.6%) were primipara. Majority 191 (89.3%) were awareness of cervical cancer with health care workers 81 (42.4%) and mass media 72 (37.7%) as the predominant sources of information. Majority 157 (82.2%) mentioned abnormal vaginal bleeding as a symptom of cervical cancer while 28 (14.7%) do not know the symptoms of cervical cancer. Sixty-eight (35.6%) and 30 (15.7%) mentioned multiple sexual partners and early sexual exposures as risk factors for cervical cancer, respectively. Only 31 (16.2%) had screened for cervical cancer. Socio-demographic characteristics were not significantly associated with respondents’ uptake of cervical cancer screening
 Conclusion: The awareness concerning cervical cancer was high but the in-depth knowledge of its symptoms and risk factors was generally poor. The uptake of cervical cancer screening was abysmally low.
Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Pharmacy Clients about Antibiotic Use and Misuse in Ogun State, Nigeria
Authors: Joda A.E. , Ezugwu K.S. , Ekpeluchi C. J.
Published: July 2024

Background: The rise of antimicrobial resistance poses a global health challenge, driven by the widespread misuse of antibiotics. This  misuse includes self-medication, sharing of antibiotics and failing to complete prescribed courses. This fosters an environment conducive  for antibiotic resistance making future treatment less effective.
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge,  attitudes, and practices (KAP) of antibiotic use/misuse and their influencing factors among pharmacy clients in Ogun State, Nigeria.  
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in ten (10) community pharmacies obtained from the list provided by the  Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Ogun State branch, across its five zones in Ogun State, Nigeria. Pre-tested  questionnaires adapted from previous studies were used to collect data which was entered into Microsoft Excel 2016 and analyzed using  the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were carried out with  significance level set at ≤0.05.
Results: Good knowledge and practice (KP) scores of pharmacy clients about antibiotic use of 54.5% and  56.2% but poor attitude to antibiotics (60.5%) was documented along with notable misconceptions. Several demographic factors influenced the KP levels including gender (p=0.00027), marital status (p=0.013), religion (p=0.005), and education (p=0.001) for knowledge;  and religion (p=0.027) and education (p=0.006) for practices.
Conclusion: The study showed that though moderate levels of  KP were obtained, there is a need for targeted interventions to improve public awareness about antibiotics and promote responsible use.
Development and Evaluation of Encapsulated Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System of Hydrochlorothiazide
Authors: Essien E.S. , Jackson T.C. , Olorunsola E.O. , Olorunsola E.O.
Published: July 2024

Background: Formulation of solid self-emulsifying drug delivery system (Solid SEDDS) provides a dual benefit of improved drug stability and enhanced delivery system.
Objective: This study was aimed at developing and evaluating a solid self-emulsifying drug delivery system of hydrochlorothiazide.
Methods: Solubility of hydrochlorothiazide in some oils was determined and pseudo-ternary system of the most effective oil, water and  surfactant system was constructed. Four Liquid SEDDSs were formulated to contain Tween 80/oleic acid or PEG 400/oleic acid (surfactant  systems) and castor oil combined in ratio 2:8 or 3:7 based on the pseudo-ternary plot. Each preparation was made by adding the drug to  the oil/surfactant system and heating up to 60 0C under continuous stirring followed by cooling to room temperature. Viscosity of each  Liquid SEDDS was determined; Solid SEDDS was prepared by mixing the Liquid SEDDS with microcrystalline cellulose in 1:2 proportion  and then encapsulated. Drug release profile of the Solid SEDDSs in comparison with a marketed product was studied.
Results: Castor oil was found to be the best solvent for hydrochlorothiazide and the viscosity of the Liquid SEDDSs was in the range of  79.41 and 187.32 mPa.s. The in vitro release studies showed 85.46 – 87.17 % drug release from the formulated SEDDSs with ratio 3:7 of  surfactant mix being superior; and percentage drug release for each formulation was twice that of the marketed product.
Conclusion:  The prepared Solid SEDDS of hydrochlorothiazide exhibited improved drug release characteristics, hence superior to the conventional  commercial product.
Single topology neural network-based voltage collapse prediction of developing power systems
Authors: Onah J. N. , Omeje C. O. , Onyishi D. U. , Oluwadurotimi J.
Published: July 2024

Most modern power systems operate within the vicinity of saddle-node bifurcation points because the network operators are hard put to estimating the margin to voltage collapse before the blackout. As a result, voltage stability analysis and control are growing concerns amongst electric power utilities. The selection of the hidden layer units and the training function algorithms for back propagation artificial neural network training are major challenges. Hitherto, comparative analyses of the training functions were made. Thereafter, the complexity of the artificial neural network topology was made very simple by selecting the hidden layer neurons via scripts written in Matlab software environment. To obtain the hidden layer unit, a script has to be developed in MATLAB to select a hidden layer neuron from a range of 10 to 65. The result shows that the optimal 55 hidden units have root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.05. The result was validated when the range of hidden layer neurons was extended to 100. The proposed approach was tested in a typical developing power system: a 45-bus Nigerian 330kV transmission network and proved to be fast and accurate for voltage collapse prediction.
Design and modeling of a proportional derivative controller for a three-phase induction motor speed
Authors: Ekim C. A. , Akwukwaegbu I. O. , Ubom A. , Ukommi U. S. , Jude-kennedy C. O. , Joe-Uzuegbu C. K.
Published: July 2024

Many applications require variable speed operation. The motor speed needs to be controlled to save more power. It became highly imperative for further research to find out an efficient method that can yield an optimal speed control. This study presents the design and modeling of a proportional derivative controller for a three-phase induction motor speed control. The scalar control methodology was used to investigate the performance of motor speed control. For the controller approach, proportional-integral (PI) and proportional-derivative (PD) controllers were investigated. Simulation results using MATLAB (Simulink) software is presented. Furthermore, investigation of the PI, and PD performance shows that the PI controller performed poorly due to existence of high peaks, overshoots and rise time. However, the PD controller yielded satisfactory results. Hence, PD controller revealed a better performance with a 1.01s settling time and a steady state error of 1.0 as against that of the PI controller which was unstable, an overshoot of approximately 96% and a steady state error of 1.22.
Leveraging agrivoltaics to increase food, energy, and water access in the global south: a case study Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Ebhota W. S. , Tabakov P. Y.
Published: July 2024

Today, about 760 million people, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Asia, are without access to electricity; over 2.5 billion people are without access to clean cooking facilities and this is connected to around 2.5 million premature deaths yearly; and modern sustainable energy supply is to account for only 18% by 2030. Over half of the global undernourished lives in Asia (418 million) and over one-third are found in Africa (282 million); SSA Latin America and the Caribbean were noted for the highest food insecurity (66.2%). Sub-Saharan Africa faces complex and interconnected challenges of food, energy, and water (FEW), which have significant implications for the region's socio-economic development and the well-being of the people. The study aims to assess the socioeconomic advantages and potential drawbacks of agrivoltaics through the following study objectives: to x-ray and discuss agrivoltaics brief history, principle, and merits of agrivoltaics; to examine the impacts of shades created by PV panels on crop performance. Others are examining the impacts of panels and crops on microclimate conditions; and evaluation and identification of steps required for developing and deploying agrivoltaics in SSA in SSA. This study recognises agrivoltaics as a single-solution approach with multiple effects that need to be developed and deployed. This study identifies universities and other research institutions, governments, non-government organisations (NGOs), private sector entities, and international organizations as stakeholders that need to collaborate and invest in research on agrivoltaics. The research proposes embracing and customising agrivoltaics approaches in SSA, taking cues from the development trajectories observed in Europe and America.
Factors affecting hazard recognition in construction site operations in Nigeria
Authors: Ijaola I. A. , Omolayo O. H.
Published: July 2024

Identifying hazards is necessary for preventing accidents in construction site operations. In light of this assertion, construction professionals must recognise hazards in site operation. However, recognising hazards remains an issue of concern in the construction industry. Invariably, it is expedient that factors affecting hazard recognition be investigated. The study, therefore, aims to examine the factors affecting hazard recognition in construction site operations and test this hypothesis: ‘there is no significant difference in factors affecting hazard recognition among construction professionals based on their work experience’. Adopting a quantitative research design and cross-sectional research strategy, a questionnaire with 13 factors adapted from literature was used to elicit information from construction professionals. From the median calculated, the factor with the highest value was “multiple hazards associated with a single source of the task”. Furthermore, the study discovered a significant difference in six of the thirteen factors affecting hazard recognition. Because of this, it was concluded that the experience of construction professionals affects their perception of the factors affecting hazard recognition for the six factors. All these issues taken into account, safety experts in construction industry responsible for health and safety training should consider the experiences of construction professionals when developing curriculum on hazard recognition.