bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring firm-specific deterrents of innovation in micro and small enterprises in Ethiopia
Authors: Ayinaddis Samuel Godadaw
Published: November 2022

The paper aims to analyze firm-specific deterrents of innovation in Bahirdar city MSEs in Ethiopia. In order to attain the objective of the study, both descriptive and explanatory research method is used. In this paper, the data were drawn from 310 MSEs firms which were selected by using a simple random sampling technique. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics which include mean, standard deviation, and binary logistic regression model. From the model summary, independent variables that were incorporated under the current study, contributed 69.6% of the deterrents of innovation in MSEs as represented by the Nagelkerke R-square. This means that those variables explain about 69.6% of the deterrents of innovation of MSEs, whereas other factors not covered in this study contributed 30.4% to the deterrents of innovation. The results have revealed that research and development are the most critical deterrent factor affecting technological innovation of MSEs at a 1% level of significance. Besides, cost of innovation and firm size factors are the next important deterrent factors affecting technological innovation of the enterprises, followed by human resource factors. Contrarily, variables such as organizational culture and perceived risk factors have not been statistically significant and less likely to affect innovation of MSEs in the current study. The government and other stakeholders need to work hard to encourage innovation among MSEs by providing support, including an increased supply of credit, training, technology support, and provision of micro and small enterprise information services.
Nitrogen, manganese, iron, and carbon resource acquisition are potential functions of the wild rice Oryza rufipogon core rhizomicrobiome
Authors: Chang Jingjing , Tian Lei , Leite Marcio F.A. , Sun Yu , Shi Shaohua , Xu Shangqi , Wang Jilin , Chen Hongping , Chen Dazhou , Zhang Jianfeng , Tian Chunjie , Kuramae Eiko E.
Published: November 2022

Background

The assembly of the rhizomicrobiome, i.e., the microbiome in the soil adhering to the root, is influenced by soil conditions. Here, we investigated the core rhizomicrobiome of a wild plant species transplanted to an identical soil type with small differences in chemical factors and the impact of these soil chemistry differences on the core microbiome after long-term cultivation. We sampled three natural reserve populations of wild rice (i.e., in situ) and three populations of transplanted in situ wild rice grown ex situ for more than 40 years to determine the core wild rice rhizomicrobiome.

Results

Generalized joint attribute modeling (GJAM) identified a total of 44 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) composing the core wild rice rhizomicrobiome, including 35 bacterial ASVs belonging to the phyla Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, and Nitrospirae and 9 fungal ASVs belonging to the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Rozellomycota. Nine core bacterial ASVs belonging to the genera Haliangium, Anaeromyxobacter, Bradyrhizobium, and Bacillus were more abundant in the rhizosphere of ex situ wild rice than in the rhizosphere of in situ wild rice. The main ecological functions of the core microbiome were nitrogen fixation, manganese oxidation, aerobic chemoheterotrophy, chemoheterotrophy, and iron respiration, suggesting roles of the core rhizomicrobiome in improving nutrient resource acquisition for rice growth. The function of the core rhizosphere bacterial community was significantly (p < 0.05) shaped by electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus present in the soil adhering to the roots.

Conclusion

We discovered that nitrogen, manganese, iron, and carbon resource acquisition are potential functions of the core rhizomicrobiome of the wild rice Oryza rufipogon. Our findings suggest that further potential utilization of the core rhizomicrobiome should consider the effects of soil properties on the abundances of different genera.
Medical considerations in the care of transgender and gender diverse patients with eating disorders
Authors: Riddle Megan C. , Safer Joshua D.
Published: November 2022

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals are at increased risk for the development of eating disorders, but very little has been published with regards to the unique aspects of their medical care in eating disorder treatment. Providing gender affirming care is a critical component of culturally competent eating disorder treatment. This includes knowledge of gender affirming medical and surgical interventions and how such interventions may be impacted by eating disordered behaviors, as well as the role of such interventions in eating disorder treatment and recovery. TGD individuals face barriers to care, and one of these can be provider knowledge. By better understanding these needs, clinicians can actively reduce barriers and ensure TGD individuals are provided with appropriate care. This review synthesizes the available literature regarding the medical care of TGD patients and those of patients with eating disorders and highlights areas for further research.
The relationship of parenting style and eating behavior in preschool children
Authors: Leuba Anaëlle L. , Meyer Andrea H. , Kakebeeke Tanja H. , Stülb Kerstin , Arhab Amar , Zysset Annina E. , Leeger-Aschmann Claudia S. , Schmutz Einat A. , Kriemler Susi , Jenni Oskar G. , Puder Jardena J. , Munsch Simone , Messerli-Bürgy Nadine
Published: November 2022

Background

Eating behavior represents individual appetitive traits which are related to the individual’s regulation of food intake. Eating behavior develops at an early age. There is some evidence that parenting styles might impact on the child’s eating behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of different dimensions of positive and negative parenting styles with the child’s eating behavior at a critical age period of the child’s early development.

Methods

Parents of 511 preschool children (aged 2–6 years) completed the Children Eating Behavior Questionnaire and the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire.

Results

Analyses revealed that different dimensions of negative parenting styles were associated with eating behavior of the child. In details, inconsistent parenting showed a consistent association with eating behavior of a child (i.e. higher emotional eating, higher food responsiveness, higher food fussiness, higher satiety responsiveness and more enjoyment of food), whereas corporal punishment was associated with more emotional overeating and more food responsiveness but less satiety responsiveness. Further, powerful implementation was related to higher food responsiveness and less enjoyment of food and low monitoring was associated with higher emotional overeating and more slowness in eating. There was no such consistent association of positive parenting and eating behavior.

Conclusions

More negative parenting styles were associated with eating behavior which is more often related to potential weight problems in a long term, whereas positive parenting did not show such a consistent relationship with eating behavior. Negative parenting should be in the focus of prevention and treatment of eating behavior problems in young children.

Trial registration: ISRCTN41045021 (06/05/2014).
Parent training for the treatment of irritability in children and adolescents: a multisite randomized controlled, 3-parallel-group, evaluator-blinded, superiority trial
Authors: Fongaro E. , Picot M. C. , Stringaris A. , Belloc C. , Verissimo A. S. , Franc N. , Purper-Ouakil D.
Published: November 2022

Background

Irritability is common in children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and with anxiety/depressive disorders. Although youth irritability is linked with psychiatric morbidity, little is known regarding its non-pharmacological treatments. Developing non-pharmacological treatments for children with severe, chronic irritability is an important target for clinical research. To achieve this goal, we will test the benefits of parent-focused therapies in reducing irritability. The aim of the study is to compare Parent Management Training (PMT) and Non-Violent Resistance Training (NVR) programs with treatment-as-usual (TAU) on the improvement of irritability in children and adolescents with a baseline Parent-rated Affective Reactivity Index of 4 or higher, in the context of ADHD and other emotional and behavioural disorders. Additionally, we will assess (i) improvement of irritability at different times and according to different informants (parents, children, clinicians); (ii) improvement of parental strategies; and (iii) acceptability of the interventions, exploring possible mechanisms of the therapeutic effect.

Methods

Two hundred and seventy participants between 6 and 15 years with ADHD and other emotional and behavioural disorders will be recruited and randomly assigned with their parents to the PMT, NVR, and TAU groups. PMT and NVR programs have 10 online sessions and two booster sessions at 1 and at 3 months. The primary outcome measure is the change from baseline at 3 months after completion of the program of the Clinician-rated Affective Rating Scale (CL-ARI) assessed by a blind evaluator. Secondary outcome measures include the change from baseline from those scales: the CL-ARI, the Clinical Global Impression Improvement scale, the Parenting and Familial Adjustment Scales, the Child-rated Cranky thermometers and the Parent-rated ARI. We will assess the parent’s expressed emotions and reflexivity during the online five-minute speech sample, clinical dimensions through the Child Behavior Checklist 6–18 and the Inventory of Callous Unemotional traits. Evaluations will be done remotely at baseline and at 1- and 3-months follow-up visits.

Discussion

We expect a benefit in controlling irritability in the treatment groups. This will constitute an important achievement in promoting parental support programs in the treatment of irritability in the context of emotional and behavioural disorders.

Clinicaltrials.gov. Number: NCT05528926. Registered on the 2nd of September, 2022.
Enhancing menaquinone-7 biosynthesis by adaptive evolution of Bacillus natto through chemical modulator
Authors: Zhang Bei , Peng Cheng , Lu Jianyao , Hu Xuechao , Ren Lujing
Published: November 2022

Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) is a kind of vitamin K2 playing an important role in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and arterial calcification. The purpose of this study is to establish an adaptive evolution strategy based on a chemical modulator to improve MK-7 biosynthesis in Bacillus natto. The inhibitor of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP synthase), glyphosate, was chosen as the chemical modulator to perform the experiments. The final strain ALE-25–40, which was obtained after 40 cycles in 25 mmol/L glyphosate, showed a maximal MK-7 titer of 62 mg/L and MK-7 productivity of 0.42 mg/(L h), representing 2.5 and 3 times the original strain, respectively. Moreover, ALE-25–40 generated fewer spores and showed a higher NADH and redox potential. Furthermore, the mechanism related to the improved performance of ALE-25–40 was investigated by comparative transcriptomics analysis. Genes related to the sporation formation were down-regulated. In addition, several genes related to NADH formation were also up-regulated. This strategy proposed here may provide a new and alternative directive for the industrial production of vitamin K2.

Graphical Abstract
Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy—characteristics and response to treatment with bevacizumab in caucasian patients
Authors: Zhalka Fidaa El , Moisseiev Elad , Rubowitz Alexander
Published: November 2022

Purpose

To investigate the features and treatment response in Caucasian patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), initially treated with bevacizumab.

Methods

45 eyes of 43 treatment-naïve patients with PCV were included in this retrospective study, all uniformly initially treated with three bevacizumab injections monthly. OCT characteristics and clinical parameters were recorded and analyzed at presentation, after the initial 3 bevacizumab injections and at the final follow up period.

Results

Following 3 monthly bevacizumab injections visual acuity significantly improved with a mean gain of one line of vision. Central macular thickness (CMT) significantly improved from a mean of 402.1 ± 130.8 μm at presentation to 322.0 ± 96.8 μm (p < 0.01). Subretinal fluid, intraretinal fluid and submacular hemorrhage significantly improved. 53% were later switched to aflibercept and showed better response in the central macular thickness in comparison to those in which bevacizumab injections were continued. No correlation was found between the presence of pachyvessels or increased choroidal thickness and the improvement in VA or CMT.

Conclusion

Fixed first-line treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy in non-Asian PCV patients achieves satisfactory visual and anatomical outcomes.
Acute port congestion and emissions exceedances as an impact of COVID-19 outcome: the case of San Pedro Bay ports
Authors: Vukić Luka , Lai Kee-hung
Published: November 2022

In the second half of 2020, the shift in consumer demand and reduction in containership capacity, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to the disruption of the global supply chains, especially on the US West Coast. This article provides an environmental view of acute maritime congestion in Los Angeles and Long Beach anchorage areas aiming to calculate air emissions of anchored ships consistently in a specific month of the year and compare the dynamics of the emission levels with previous years. The findings determine the causes of the increased environmental pollution and conclude on the preservation measures improvement. CO2, SOx, NOx, PM10, and PM2.5 emissions are examined in this study, considering the statistical data on port performance, productivity and competitiveness elements, ship specifications and propulsion, and emission factors of principal pollutants. Results of our mathematical calculation showed an exponential increase of air emissions generated from ships' auxiliary engines and boilers in 2021, compared with the previous periods, reaching more than 45,000 tons of pollutants emitted in November (mainly carbon dioxide). The increased port congestion and pressure upon the environment and human health also exposed the vulnerability of the intermodal chain on the landside, manifested in higher utilization of trucking services inland, contributing to the additional growth of total emissions. The environmental degradation caused by the surge in demand for products carried by container ships coincides with increased social impacts and the requirement for investments in mitigation measures for emissions to reduce the harmful effects of shipping activities.
Sexual intimacy and relationship happiness in living apart together, cohabiting, and married relationships: evidence from Britain
Authors: Ciritel Alexandra-Andreea
Published: November 2022

Research on relationship happiness have traditionally compared cohabiting and married relationships. Studies including LAT relationships are scarce and have disregarded sexual aspects of the relationships. This paper compares how married, cohabitating, and LAT relationships in Britain differ with respect to sexual intimacy (defined as emotional closeness during sex, compatibility in terms of sexual preferences, and interest in having sex with a partner), and relationship happiness. Rich data from the British National Study of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL-3, 2010–2012) are used to estimate ordered logistic regression models. Cohabiting individuals share the same levels of sexual intimacy as those married, but they are less happy in their relationship than those married. LAT individuals enjoy overall greater sexual intimacy than coresidential individuals but they are less happy in their relationships. Women in LAT relationships feel less often emotionally close to their partner during sex than married women. By knitting the sex research with the demographic literature, this paper offers new insights in understanding the nature of partnerships, opening up new venues for future research.
Spotting lesions in thorax X-rays at a glance: holistic processing in radiology
Authors: Bilalić Merim , Grottenthaler Thomas , Nägele Thomas , Lindig Tobias
Published: November 2022

Radiologists often need only a glance to grasp the essence of complex medical images. Here, we use paradigms and manipulations from perceptual learning and expertise fields to elicit mechanisms and limits of holistic processing in radiological expertise. In the first experiment, radiologists were significantly better at categorizing thorax X-rays when they were presented for 200 ms in an upright orientation than when they were presented upside-down. Medical students, in contrast, were guessing in both situations. When the presentation time was increased to 500 ms, allowing for a couple more glances, the radiologists improved their performance on the upright stimuli, but remained at the same level on the inverted presentation. The second experiment circumvented the holistic processing by immediately cueing a tissue within the X-rays, which may or may not contain a nodule. Radiologists were again better than medical students at recognizing whether the cued tissue was a nodule, but this time neither the inverted presentation nor additional time affected their performance. Our study demonstrates that holistic processing is most likely a continuous recurring process which is just as susceptible to the inversion effect as in other expertise domains. More importantly, our study also indicates that holistic-like processing readily occurs in complex stimuli (e.g., whole thorax X-rays) but is more difficult to find in uniform single parts of such stimuli (e.g., nodules).
Patient experience of moderate asthma attacks: qualitative research in the USA and Germany
Authors: Tabberer Maggie , Wells Jane R. , Chandler Dale , Abetz-Webb Linda , Zhang Shiyuan , Meeraus Wilhelmine , Fowler Andy , Slade David
Published: November 2022

Background

There is limited information available on the impact of moderate asthma exacerbations, often called “asthma attacks” (i.e., those not requiring hospitalisation or treatment with systemic corticosteroids) on patients’ lives. This multi-country qualitative study explored the patient experience of these events.

Methods

Semi-structured concept elicitation interviews were conducted in the USA and Germany with adult patients with asthma who had experienced a moderate asthma exacerbation in the prior 30 days. Physicians with experience in managing patients with asthma were also interviewed. Interviews explored patients’ experience of symptoms and impact of moderate exacerbations and associated exacerbation triggers and treatment patterns. Physicians were also asked about their interpretation of a clinical definition and treatment of a moderate exacerbation.

Results

Twenty-eight patient (n = 20 in the USA, n = 8 in Germany) and six physician (n = 3 in the USA, n = 3 in Germany) interviews were conducted. During their moderate exacerbation, all patients reported experiencing shortness of breath, which many considered to be severe and the most bothersome symptom. Wheezing was also reported by all patients and considered severe by two thirds of patients. Most patients also reported coughing and chest tightness. All or almost all patients reported that moderate exacerbation caused fatigue/tiredness and impacted their physical functioning, emotional functioning, activities of daily living and work/school life. Most patients reported using rescue or maintenance inhalers to alleviate symptoms of the exacerbation. Conceptual saturation (i.e., the point at which no new concepts are likely to emerge with continued data collection) was achieved. Findings were used to develop a patient-focused conceptual model of the experience of moderate asthma exacerbations, outlining concepts related to triggers, symptoms, impact, and treatment from the patient perspective. Physician data was consistent with patient reports and complemented the conceptual model.

Conclusions

Findings from concept elicitation interviews highlight the increased frequency, duration and severity of asthma symptoms and increased rescue medication use during moderate asthma exacerbations compared with the typical daily asthma experience, which have a substantial impact on patients’ lives.
Comparison of malnutrition screening tests in predicting postoperative complications in elderly patients with femur fracture
Authors: Kılıç Orhan , Özkalkanlı Murat Yaşar , Yılmaz Fulya , Altay Taşkın
Published: November 2022

Background

Malnutrition is an important and widespread problem in hospitalised elderly orthopaedic patients. It is an important predictor of morbidity and mortality and has been associated with an increased risk of complications. Although it is a common problem in the elderly, there is neither a universally accepted criterion for the diagnosis of malnutrition nor a screening tool accepted as the gold standard to detect patients at risk of malnutrition. There is still no consensus on which is the most recommended for screening hospitalised patients for nutritional risk. The aim of this study was to search body mass index (BMI) and commonly used nutrition screening tools to detect malnutrition and malnutrition-related complications in elderly femur fracture patients. One hundred nineteen patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists status I–IV, aged ≥ 65 years undergoing hip surgery, were included in the study.

Results

Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) have a moderate agreement in the diagnosis of malnutrition. There was a statistically significant relationship between malnutrition and the presence of complications according to MNA-SF. But there was no statistically significant relationship between malnutrition and the presence of complications according to SGA.

Conclusions

According to MNA-SF, there was no significant relationship between malnutrition and the presence of postoperative complications. However, MNA-SF has higher sensitivity than predicting postoperative complications according to SGA. Although both tests can be used for screening malnutrition in elderly patients, complications can be more predicted with the MNA-SF test.
Cross-cultural and clinical validation of the MDHAQ/RAPID3 questionnaire in electronic format for a Brazilian population of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Lineburger Ilka Benedet , Brenol Claiton Viegas , Goularte Alice Silveira , Pinheiro Edila Penna , Hirakata Vânia Naomi
Published: November 2022

Background

Patients with rheumatologic diseases are monitored fundamentally through metric tools or index calculated from clinical data and patient exams, which allow us to assess the severity of the disease and guide the therapeutic decision. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for treatment to be optimized and considered effective, periodic assessment with composite disease activity index and a 'treat-to-target' approach is required. The Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) in the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) includes only three measures based on the central patient self-reported dataset and can be used in a 'treat-to-target' approach analogous to the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and the Disease Activity Score 28-joints (DAS28). This tool, however, has not undergone cross-cultural or clinical validation in Brazil. In this research, we performed the MDHAQ cross-cultural and clinical validation for the Brazilian population of RA patients.

Methods

The Portuguese version of the MDHAQ was created identically in an electronic questionnaire and underwent a cross-cultural validation process with 38 participants. Test–retest was performed in 29 patients. Further, a clinical validation with 129 Rheumatoid Arthritis patients was performed. Electronic MDHAQ was answered through an online platform. We also collected socioeconomic data as well as other clinical (CDAI, SDAI, DAS28) and functional (HAQ) scores during the face-to-face assessment of patients.

Results

MDHAQ/RAPID3 maintained semantic, idiomatic, as well as conceptual and experience equivalence for the Brazilian population, with 92% acceptance of participants. It showed test–retest reliability, adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.85) and correlation of the scores obtained with adequate association with the DAS28 gold standard. RAPID3 also had high sensitivity (98%), adequate specificity (48%), high negative predictive value (92%) and negative post-test probability of 8%, attributes expected for a test tool for population screening.

Conclusion

The use of MDHAQ/RAPID3 associated with traditional clinical measures can adequately allow for remote follow-up based on the 'treat-to-target' approach with performance comparable to the gold standard DAS28, being a viable tool in the sample of Brazilian patients with RA in the current context of telehealth.
Watchful waiting for communicating hydrocoele in infants
Authors: Sabra Tarek Abdelazeem , Abdelgawaad Moamen Shalkamy , Abdelmohsen Sarah Magdy , Badawy Amr
Published: November 2022

Background

One of the commonest pediatric surgeries is hydrocele. There are suggestions to wait for spontaneous resolution than to operate these cases without harmful adverse events. Herein, we evaluated the outcome of the watchfulness of these cases over 18 months.

Methods

The study included 93 infants with communicating hydrocele for the Pediatric Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine (Assiut, Egypt). They were planned to be followed up for 18 months, and indications for intervention included hernia, increasing in size, being tense, and completion of 18 months of follow-up without improvement.

Results

The gestational age of the included patients was 38.5 ± 2.2 weeks and the age at the time of presentation was 50 (7, 495) days. Most cases were bilateral, reducible, and had an intermittent course. After 18 months of follow-up, 60.2% of the patients resolved spontaneously and 39.8% were surgically treated. Age at the time of presentation was higher among operated patients. Patients with reducibility criteria on clinical examination and lack of intermittent course had higher frequency among operated patients (89.2%).

Conclusions

It is safe to wait and not to operate on infants with hydrocele up to 18 months as long as there was no hernia. Higher age at presentation and reducibility on examination are indicators that favor the need for surgery.
The relation of forward head posture with back muscle endurance in primary school children: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abd-Elshafy Asmaa Hosny , El-Meniawy Gehan Hassan , Abu El Azm Wael S. , El Fakharany Mahmoud S.
Published: November 2022

Background

The goal of this study was to look at the correlation between forwarding head posture and back muscle endurance in 288 primary school healthy active children aged 7–10 years old in public schools in Sheblanga, Benha, Qalubyia governorate (170 boys and 118 girls).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on elementary school children to see whether there was a link between forwarding head posture and back muscle endurance. The photogrammetry technique of craniovertebral angle (CVA) was employed to quantify forward head position, and the Biering Sorensen test was utilized to evaluate isometric back muscle endurance.

Results

The distribution of head posture in the study group revealed 132 (46%) children with advancing head posture and 156 (54%) children with normal posture. In the study group, the connection between CVA and trunk extensor endurance was moderately significant (r = 0.4, p = 0.0001). The trunk extensor endurance of children with advancing heads was significantly lower than that of children with normal postures (p = 0.0001).

Conclusions

There is a link between forwarding head posture (FHP) and back muscle endurance.
The effects of the duration, intensity and magnitude of far-fault earthquakes on the seismic response of RC bridges retrofitted with seismic bearings
Authors: Mansouri Saman , Kontoni Denise-Penelope N. , Pouraminian Majid
Published: November 2022

This paper investigates the effects of earthquakes’ duration, intensity, and magnitude on the seismic response of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges retrofitted with seismic bearings, such as elastomeric bearings (EB), lead rubber bearings (LRB), and friction pendulum bearings (FPB). In order to investigate the effects of the seismic isolation, the condition of the deck with a rigid connection on the cap beams and abutments (i.e., without isolation) was investigated as the first model. The EB, LRB and FPB bearings are used between the superstructure and substructure of the studied bridge in the second, third and fourth models, respectively. First, the effects of using seismic bearings on the seismic retrofit of an RC bridge under the Tabas earthquake were investigated. The results of the nonlinear dynamic analysis showed that the use of seismic bearings leads to seismic retrofit of the studied bridge, and FPB and LRB had the best results among the studied isolation equipment, respectively. The same models were also studied subjected to the Landers and Loma Prieta earthquakes. The magnitude of the Landers and Tabas earthquakes is equal to 7.3 Richter, and the magnitude of the Loma Prieta earthquake is equal to 6.7 Richter. However, the duration and intensity of the Landers and Loma Prieta earthquakes are much larger than the Tabas earthquake. The Landers and Loma Prieta earthquakes caused instability in the isolated models due to their significant duration and intensity. This issue shows that using seismic bearings is very useful and practical for seismic retrofitting bridges subjected to far-fault earthquakes. According to most seismic codes, selecting earthquakes in far-region of faults is based on just magnitude criterion. However, this study indicates that there are two main factors in the features of far-fault earthquakes, including duration and intensity. Ignoring these factors in selecting earthquakes may lead to the instability of structures. Considering earthquakes’ duration, intensity, and magnitude are vital for selecting earthquakes in the far region of the fault.
An electronic nose system for urban search and rescue operations
Authors: Ανυφαντής Αντώνιος
Published: November 2022

Σε αυτή τη διδακτορική διατριβή παρουσιάζεται η επιτυχημένη δοκιμή ενός συστήματος ηλεκτρονικής μύτης, καθώς και όλη η έρευνα που χρειάστηκε για να προκύψει αυτή, και η οποία έχει ως σκοπό την ανίχνευση παγιδευμένων ανθρώπων καθώς και επικίνδυνων ατμοσφαιρικών καταστάσεων στα ερείπια κτηρίων σε περιπτώσεις επιχειρήσεων έρευνας και διάσωσης σε αστικά περιβάλλοντα. Εισαγωγικά παρουσιάζεται το πεδίο εφαρμογής στο οποίο προσπαθεί να δώσει λύσεις αυτή η εργασία, οι υπάρχουσες λύσεις και μέθοδοι με ή χωρίς αισθητήρες αερίων, καθώς επίσης αναλύεται το περιβάλλον από τη σκοπιά της ανίχνευσης. Παρουσιάζονται οι τεχνολογίες ανίχνευσης και οι δυνατότητές τους. Επίσης παρουσιάζονται οι τυπικές και αναμενόμενες ουσίες/αέρια που είναι δείκτες της ανθρώπινης παρουσίας και παράγεται μια εκτίμηση για την δυνατότητα ανίχνευσής τους με κάποιους δεδομένους περιορισμούς στους οποίους πρέπει να ακολουθεί η λύση ώστε αυτή να μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί πρακτικά σε πραγματικές συνθήκες. Η έρευνα έγινε με σταδιακή εμβάθυνση στο πρόβλημα, αρχικά επιβεβαιώνοντας, πρώτα θεωρητικά και μετά εργαστηριακά, την βιωσιμότητα της προτεινόμενης προσέγγισης - τη χρήση αισθητήρων για τη μέτρηση συγκέντρωσης αερίων, θερμοκρασίας, υγρασίας και ατμοσφαιρικής πίεσης. Μετά την επιτυχημένη δοκιμή της ακολουθούμενης προσέγγισης, σχεδιάστηκε και δοκιμάστηκε επιτυχημένα σε κλειστούς χώρους με συνθήκες αρκετά κοντινές στις πραγματικές, ένα σύστημα ηλεκτρονικής μύτης που έχει τη δυνατότητα ανίχνευσης της ανθρώπινης παρουσίας. Η μέθοδος της δοκιμής επιβεβαίωσε τη δυνατότητα ανίχνευσης ανθρώπινης παρουσίας με μέθοδο αναζήτησης από την επιφάνεια των ερειπίων. Δεδομένης αυτής της επιτυχίας, σχεδιάστηκε και δοκιμάστηκε σε σχεδόν πραγματικές συνθήκες νέο σύστημα ηλεκτρονικής μύτης το οποίο τοποθετήθηκε πάνω σε ρομποτική πλατφόρμα η οποία έχει τη δυνατότητα να κινείται μέσα στα ερείπια. Αυτή η ηλεκτρονική μύτη έχει τη δυνατότητα να ανιχνεύει ανθρώπινη παρουσία καθώς επίσης και διάφορες τυπικές επικίνδυνες ατμοσφαιρικές καταστάσεις μέσα στα ερείπια. Ταυτόχρονα, με την μείωση του όγκου της νέας και τελικής ηλεκτρονική μύτης και την αύξηση των δυνατοτήτων ανίχνευσης, βελτιώθηκε δραστικά η διεπαφή του χειριστή του συστήματος με την υλοποίηση και ενσωμάτωση λογικής που παράγει απλές εξόδους/ενδείξεις για τις ανιχνευόμενες καταστάσεις. Τέλος, μελετούνται άλλες περιπτώσεις χρήσης αυτής της ηλεκτρονικής μύτης καθώς και οι απαραίτητες προσαρμογές που θα χρειάζονταν για κάθε περίπτωση. Το κείμενο της διατριβής είναι στην Αγγλική γλώσσα.
Η επίδραση του ύπνου και της κόπωσης στην ποιότητα ζωής των νοσηλευτών στο Τμήμα Επειγόντων Περιστατικών (ΤΕΠ) παιδιατρικών και Γενικών Νοσοκομείων
Authors: Κασίμης Ιωάννης
Published: November 2022

Εισαγωγή: Το ΤΕΠ αποτελεί χώρο εργασίας αρκετά αγχωτικό στους νοσηλευτές, επηρεάζοντας την ποιότητα ζωής τους, τον ύπνο και την κόπωση τους. Η ύπαρξη παραγόντων που επιδρούν στην ποιότητα ζωής, τον ύπνο και την κόπωση των νοσηλευτών του ΤΕΠ στην καθημερινή κλινική πρακτική, οδηγεί σε εξουθενωμένους νοσηλευτές. Κατά συνέπεια, γεννάται η ανάγκη για την ανεύρεση των παραγόντων και της εφαρμογής των παρεμβάσεων που θα βελτιώνουν την ποιότητα ζωής, του ύπνου και της κόπωσης των νοσηλευτών. Σκοπός: Σκοπός της παρούσας ερευνητικής μελέτης ήταν να διερευνηθούν οι παράγοντες που επιδρούν στην ποιότητα ζωής, τον ύπνο και την κόπωση των νοσηλευτών σε νοσοκομεία παίδων και ενηλίκων.Μέθοδος: Το δείγμα της ποσοτικής περιγραφικής μελέτης αποτέλεσαν πτυχιούχοι νοσηλευτές ΤΕΠ σε νοσοκομεία παίδων (26) και ενηλίκων (184) της Αθήνας, Θεσσαλονίκης, Πάτρας, Ιωαννίνων, Λάρισας, Βόλου, Αλεξανδρούπολης και Κρήτης. Για την εκτίμηση της ποιότητας ζωής των νοσηλευτών χρησιμοποιήθηκε το ερωτηματολόγιο WHOQOL-BREF και για την εκτίμηση του ύπνου και της κόπωσης χρησιμοποιήθηκε η κλίμακα SSI (Standard Shiftwork Index) στους νοσηλευτές των ΤΕΠ. Η στατιστική επεξεργασία και ανάλυση των δεδομένων της μελέτης έγινε με χρήση του στατιστικού πακέτου SPSS 26.0 (Statistical Package of Social Sciences). Η τιμή p<0.05 θεωρήθηκε ως επίπεδο σημαντικότητας, όλες οι στατιστικές δοκιμασίες ήταν διπλής κατεύθυνσης και τα αποτελέσματα που είχαν τιμές μικρότερες από 0.05 θεωρήθηκαν ως στατιστικώς σημαντικά.Αποτελέσματα: Διακόσιοι δέκα (210) νοσηλευτές ΤΕΠ παίδων και ενηλίκων συμμετείχαν στην εν λόγω έρευνα και μελετήθηκε η ποιότητα ζωής τους, η πληρότητα του ύπνου και τα επίπεδα κόπωσης τους. Δεν βρέθηκε στατιστική σημαντικότητα της σχέσης μεταξύ των νοσηλευτών του ΤΕΠ παίδων έναντι των νοσηλευτών ΤΕΠ ενηλίκων σχετικά με την ποιότητα ζωής τους, τον ύπνο και την κόπωση τους. Παρά μόνο βρέθηκε στατιστικά σημαντική σχέση στις κοινωνικές σχέσεις να τείνουν σε καλύτερη βαθμολογία στους νοσηλευτές παίδων έναντι των ενηλίκων (U=1658.5, z=-2.55, p=0.011). Και στις πέντε διαμέτρους ζωής που αξιολογεί το εργαλείο, η ΠΖ των νοσηλευτών του δείγματος μας ήταν σε μέτρια επίπεδα (MΤγενική=69,32, MΤσωματική υγεία=64,70, MΤΨυχολογική υγεία=67,85, MΤκοινωνικές σχέσεις=69,01 και MΤπεριβάλλον=57,60). Ενώ, βρέθηκε μέτριο επίπεδο διαταραχών ύπνου (MΤσυνολική βαθμολογία=70.54) των νοσηλευτών που σχετίστηκαν με την οικογενειακή κατάσταση, την παρουσία παιδιών και την ύπαρξη υποκείμενων νοσημάτων (p=0.012, p=0.024 και p=0.002). Η χρόνια κόπωση αξιολογήθηκε σε χαμηλά επίπεδα (MT=27.34) και σχετίστηκε κυρίως με την ηλικία, η οποία όσο μικρότερη ήταν στους νοσηλευτές ανέφεραν μικρότερη κόπωση έναντι των μεγαλύτερων νοσηλευτών με περισσότερη κόπωση.Συμπέρασμα: Ένας ή περισσότεροι παράγοντες είναι αρκετοί ώστε να επιδρούν ή να επηρεάζουν την ποιότητα ζωής, την πληρότητα του ύπνου και τα επίπεδα της κόπωσης των νοσηλευτών στο ΤΕΠ.
Overcoming hypothetical bias in contingent valuation surveys
Authors: Παυλάκη Υακίνθη
Published: November 2022

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή μελετά πως θα ξεπεραστεί το πρόβλημα της Υποθετικής Μεροληψίας σε έρευνες που πραγματοποιούνται με την μέθοδο της πιθανολογικής αποτίμησης ή Contingent Valuation (CV). Πιο συγκεκριμένα προτείνεται ένα εναλλακτικό μοντέλο, στοχεύοντας οι εκτιμήσεις που προκύπτουν να είναι απαλλαγμένες από το πρόβλημα της Υποθετικής Μεροληψίας, που σύμφωνα με την βιβλιογραφία, είναι βασικός παράγοντας που πλήττει την αξιοπιστία και την εγκυρότητα των αποτελεσμάτων της μεθόδου CV. Η διδακτορική διατριβή αποτελείται από τέσσερα αλληλένδετα κεφάλαια. Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο παρατίθεται η θεωρία που αναφέρεται στη μέθοδο CV, η βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση για την διάχυση της μεθόδου καθώς και οι κριτικές που έχει δεχτεί η μέθοδος συμπεριλαμβανομένου του προβλήματος της Υποθετικής Μεροληψίας. Επιπλέον η βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση του πρώτου κεφαλαίου αναφέρει ποικίλες έρευνες που αναζήτησαν την ύπαρξη του προβλήματος καθώς επίσης και διάφορες μεθόδους που έχουν προταθεί για να διορθωθεί η Υποθετική Μεροληψία. Επιπλέον στο τέλος του πρώτου κεφαλαίου γίνεται αναφορά του θεωρητικού υπόβαθρου του στατιστικού μοντέλου που κατασκευάστηκε στην παρούσα διατριβή. Στο δεύτερο και στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο παρουσιάζεται η εφαρμογή του προτεινόμενου στατιστικού μοντέλου για να διορθωθεί το πρόβλημα της Υποθετικής Μεροληψίας για την Open-Ended μέθοδο εκμαίευσης δεδομένων και για την Double-Bounded Dichotomous Choice μέθοδο εκμαίευσης δεδομένων της CV μεθόδου αντίστοιχα. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, στα κεφάλαια αυτά παρουσιάζεται αρχικά η θεωρία της CV μεθόδου που αντιστοιχεί στην αντίστοιχη μέθοδο εκμαίευσης, αναλύεται λεπτομερώς η θεωρητική βάση, η κατασκευή του στατιστικού μοντέλου, καθώς και άλλες θεωρίες που εφαρμόστηκαν κατά τον σχεδιασμό του μοντέλου, πχ. Θεωρία μικτών μοντέλων- Mixture models theory κτλ.. Στην συνέχεια των κεφαλαίων αυτών πραγματοποιήθηκαν προσομοιώσεις με σκοπό να εξετασθεί πως λειτουργεί το μοντέλο κι αν ανταποκρίνεται στον αρχικό σκοπό του. Επιπροσθέτως στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο παρουσιάζεται και μια εμπειρική εφαρμογή όπου το προτεινόμενο μοντέλο δοκιμάστηκε σε πραγματικά στοιχεία μελέτης με την εφαρμογή της μεθόδου CV. Τέλος το τέταρτο κεφάλαιο πρόκειται για επέκταση του τρίτου κεφαλαίου καθώς ο ΕΜ αλγόριθμος, που εφαρμόζεται για την εκτίμηση του προτεινόμενου μοντέλου, αναφέρεται στην βιβλιογραφία ότι αντιμετωπίζει σοβαρή ευαισθησία στις αρχικές τιμές. Για τον λόγο αυτό, προκειμένου να προταθεί ένα ολοκληρωμένο μοντέλο για την αντιμετώπιση της Υποθετικής Μεροληψίας, έγινε μια σύγκριση τριών διαφορετικών μεθόδων προσδιορισμού αρχικών τιμών. Οι μέθοδοι που εξετάστηκαν ήταν η 1 τυχαία αρχικοποίηση, η οποία μέθοδος εφαρμόστηκε στα κεφάλαια 2 και 3, η μέθοδος των 100 τυχαίων αρχικοποιήσεων και τέλος ο αλγόριθμος k-means. Για την σύγκριση πραγματοποιήθηκαν προσομοιώσεις και εφαρμόστηκαν διάφορα κριτήρια προερχόμενα από την βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση.
Ποικιλότητα ειδών, οικοτόπων, οικοσυστημάτων και οικοσυστημικές υπηρεσίες στο Εθνικό Πάρκο Χελμού-Βουραϊκού
Authors: Κουμούτσου Ελένη
Published: November 2022

Η καταγραφή, αξιολόγηση και κατανόηση του φυσικού κεφαλαίου και των παρεχόμενων οικοσυστημικών υπηρεσιών, αποτελεί πρωταρχικής σημασίας στόχο για τη λήψη διαχειριστικών μέτρων και πολιτικών αποφάσεων για την προστασία και ανάδειξη του φυσικού πλούτου και της ανθρώπινης ευημερίας. Στην παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή εξετάζεται το φυσικό κεφάλαιο και οι οικοσυστημικές υπηρεσίες στην Προστατευόμενη Περιοχή του Εθνικού Πάρκου και Παγκόσμιου Γεωπάρκου Χελμού-Βουραϊκού της UNESCO (Β. Πελοπόννησος), μέσω της υλοποίησης μελέτης των οικοσυστημικών υπηρεσιών σε τοπική κλίμακα, σύμφωνα με τον Στόχο 2, της Δράσης 5 της Ευρωπαϊκής Στρατηγικής για τη Βιοποικιλότητα. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, με τη χρήση των οδηγιών και της τυπολογίας που προτείνονται για την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, την ανασκόπηση των διαθέσιμων, σχετικών δεδομένων και τις εργασίες πεδίου και τη χρήση της πλατφόρμας MAES_GR, πραγματοποιήθηκαν τα εξής: (α) καταγράφηκαν γεωχωρικά και αναγνωρίστηκαν τα βιοφυσικά χαρακτηριστικά της περιοχής του πάρκου και συγκεκριμένα η χλωριδική ποικιλότητα συνδέθηκε με τη γεωποικιλότητα, την κατάσταση του οικοσυστήματος και τις σχετικές οικοσυστημικές υπηρεσίες, (β) αναγνωρίστηκε γεωχωρικά και περιγράφηκε η κατάσταση των τύπων οικοσυστημάτων, (γ) αναγνωρίστηκαν γεωχωρικά και περιγράφηκαν οι παρεχόμενες, ζητούμενες και δυνητικά παρεχόμενες οικοσυστημικές υπηρεσίες (προμηθευτικές, ρυθμιστικές και διατήρησης, πολιτισμικές), με τη δημιουργία δεικτών αξιολόγησης. Τα κύρια αποτελέσματα αφορούν στη χαρτογράφηση των τύπων οικοσυστημάτων στο Εθνικό Πάρκο Χελμού-Βουραϊκού που αναδεικνύουν την ποικιλομορφία της περιοχής και αναγνωρίζεται η αξία της συνύπαρξης των ανθρωπογενών χρήσεων γης με το καθεστώς προστασίας της περιοχής. Τα αποτελέσματα που προέκυψαν, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για την ανάπτυξη επιστημονικά τεκμηριωμένων συμπερασμάτων και προτάσεων, υποστηρίζοντας τις τοπικές και εθνικές προσπάθειες για την εφαρμογή της Στρατηγικής για τη Βιοποικιλότητα και καθοδηγώντας τη διαχείριση των χρήσεων γης και τον χωροταξικό σχεδιασμό στην προστατευόμενη περιοχή.
The behavioural validation of driving simulators as research tools
Authors: Μπλάνα Ευμορφία
Published: November 2022

Στόχος της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής ήταν να παράσχει στους ερευνητές έναν επιστημονικά-βασισμένο οδηγό για την ερμηνεία των αποτελεσμάτων της συμπεριφοράς του οδηγού που λαμβάνονται από έναν προσομοιωτή οδήγησης σταθερής βάσης και να παράσχει καθοδήγηση σχετικά με τον τρόπο με τον οποίο θα μπορούσε να τροποποιηθεί ο προσομοιωτής οδήγησης του Πανεπιστημίου του Λίντς στην Αγγλία βάσει των τυχόν ελλείψεων που εντοπίστηκαν. Ωστόσο, οι στόχοι οποιασδήποτε μελέτης αξιολόγησης ενός προσομοιωτή σχετίζονται άμεσα με τη συγκεκριμένη εργασία οδήγησης υπό διερεύνηση, την αποτελεσμάτων μεταξύ των δύο περιβαλλόντων) και τις υπάρχουσες δυνατότητες διαμόρφωσης του προσομοιωτή.Για την επίτευξη των στόχων αυτής της μελέτης, η συμπεριφορά του οδηγού διερευνήθηκε στο επίπεδο ελέγχου, σύμφωνα με το συμπεριφοριστικό μοντέλο οδήγησης, κάτω από διαφορετική γεωμετρία οδού και συνθήκες επερχόμενης κυκλοφορίας, χρησιμοποιώντας τον προσομοιωτή. Η μέση τιμή και τυπική απόκλιση της ταχύτητας και της πλευρικής μετατόπισης επιλέχθηκαν για να αντιπροσωπεύουν τη συμπεριφορά του οδηγού. Οι μετρήσεις πραγματοποιήθηκαν υπό συνθήκες ελεύθερης ροής σε υπεραστική οδό κατηγορίας Α. Οι στόχοι της μελέτης εκπληρώθηκαν με τη σύγκριση μη ελεγχόμενων δεδομένων παρατήρησης στις πραγματικές οδικές συνθήκες με δεδομένα από τον προσομοιωτή οδήγησης και στην συνέχεια με την αξιολόγηση των διαφορών μεταξύ των δύο περιβαλλόντων, χρησιμοποιώντας τα κριτήρια αξιολόγησης σε απόλυτες και σχετικές τιμές. Διαπιστώθηκε ότι ο προσομοιωτής είναι σχετικά έγκυρος όσον αφορά στην ταχύτητα και στην πλευρική μετατόπιση. Ειδικότερα, διαπιστώθηκε ότι αναπτύσσονται υψηλότερες ταχύτητες στον προσομοιωτή σε σχέση με την οδό, και οι οδηγοί στον προσομοιωτή οδηγούν σημαντικά πιο κοντά στο άκρο της οδού σε σύγκριση με την οδήγηση στην πραγματικό οδό, ανεξάρτητα από τη γεωμετρία αυτής και τις επερχόμενες συνθήκες κυκλοφορίας.Η φαινομενική αξιολόγηση του προσομοιωτή εξετάστηκε χρησιμοποιώντας υποκειμενικά δεδομένα που ελήφθησαν από ερωτηματολόγια σχετικά με τον ρεαλισμό και την ευκολία ελέγχου του προσομοιωτή. Οι συμμετέχοντες σχολίασαν ότι τα λιγότερο ρεαλιστικά χαρακτηριστικά του προσομοιωτή ήταν τα συστήματα πέδησης και διεύθυνσης. Οι συμμετέχοντες ταξινομήθηκαν σε «καλούς» και «κακούς» σύμφωνα με τις απαντήσεις τους σχετικά με την φαινομενική αξιολόγηση του προσομοιωτή. Διαπιστώθηκε ότι οι «καλοί» συμμετέχοντες συμπεριφέρονται ελαφρώς καλύτερα σε σύγκριση με «κακούς» συμμετέχοντες κατά την οδήγηση του προσομοιωτή.
Micronutrients in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Authors: . Sairoz , Prabhu Krishnananda , Dastidar Ranita Ghosh , Aroor Annayya Rao , Rao Mahadev , shetty Sahana , Poojari Vidyashree G , BS Varashree
Published: November 2022

About 10 to 20% of reported pregnancies have complications like spontaneous abortion (SA), preeclampsia (PE), preterm birth (PTB), and fetal growth restriction (FGR);  60% are attributed to maternal nutritional alterations. Multiple micronutrients (MMN) are supplemented in the antenatal period, but no proper validation/guidelines are available regarding dosing/time, the need for initiation, and the duration of supplementation. Studies have reported adverse pregnancy complications related to the overuse/unwanted use of multiple micronutrient supplementations during pregnancy. Identifying the exact population requiring supplementation is necessary to prevent its abuse. This article attempts to review the impacts of micronutrient deficiency/supplementation in cases of SA, FGR, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm delivery and PE.  The study used a literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar, Mendeley, and Scopus Databases using search words pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), fetal growth restriction (FGR), preterm delivery, preeclampsia (PE) or “adverse pregnancy” associated with minerals, micronutrients, or supplementation. The review also considered in-house literature databases, a single-window search at Kasturba Medical College (KMC) Health sciences library, MAHE (Manipal Academy of Higher Education). The figures included in the study were created by Biorender.com. Micronutrients play multiple roles during pregnancy and fetoplacental growth stimulating growth hormone secretion, Lysyl oxidase (LOX), involved in the crosslinking between collagen and elastin in the amniotic membrane, downregulation of interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-4, IL-6, Il-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and several chemokines involved in hypertension, immune-inflammatory pathways, attenuate insulin resistance a structural development of neurons and glia. Over-supplementation has led to complications such as spontaneous abortion and gestational diabetes mellitus. Since there is a lack of standardization concerning micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy, there is a need for  systematic study related to the role of micronutrients during each trimester of pregnancy to optimize its supplementation and to prevent hazards associated with its abuse.