bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consumer wearables data impact pediatric surgery clinicians’ remote management
Authors: Carter Michela , Linton Samuel C. , Zeineddin Suhail , Pitt J. Benjamin , De Boer Christopher , Figueroa Angie , Gosain Ankush , Lanning David , Lesher Aaron , Islam Saleem , Sathya Chethan , Holl Jane L. , Ghomrawi Hassan M.K. , Abdullah Fizan
Published: December 2023

Purpose Integration of consumer wearables data has the potential to inform clinicians’ remote assessment of postoperative patients. This multi-institutional study evaluated the impact of adding objective recovery data from consumer wearables to postoperative telephone encounters on clinicians’ management.Methods Three telephone scenarios of post-appendectomy patients were presented to clinicians at five children’s hospitals. Each scenario was then supplemented with wearable data concerning for or reassuring against postoperative complication. Clinicians rated likelihood of ED referral and confidence in decision-making.Results Thirty-four clinicians participated. Compared to the scenario alone, the addition of reassuring wearable data resulted in decrease in likelihood of ED referral for all three scenarios (p < 0.01). When presented with concerning wearable data, there was significant increase in the likelihood of ED referral for two of three scenarios (p = 0.72, p = 0.02, p < 0.001). With the addition of wearable data, 76–88% of clinicians reported increased confidence in their recommendations.Conclusion The addition of wearable data to simulated telephone scenarios for post-discharge pediatric surgery patients impacted clinicians’ remote patient management and increased clinician confidence. Wearable devices are capable of providing real-time measures of recovery, which can be employed as a post-operative monitoring tool to reduce delays in care and avoidable health care utilization.
The effects of low HER2 expression on survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with CDK 4/6 inhibitors: A multicentre retrospective study
Authors: Guliyev Murad , Şen Gülin Alkan , Gültürk İlkay , Majidova Nargiz , Akdağ Goncagül , Ahadzade Ali , Turna Hande , Demirci Nebi Serkan
Published: December 2023

Purpose: Endocrine therapy (ET) in combination with CDK 4/6 inhibitors (CDK 4/6i) is the standard treatment modality for hormone receptor (HR)-positive and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (mBC). For some authors, patients with low HER2 expression are considered a different subgroup. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic effect of HER2 expression status on survival in mBC patients treated with first-line ET plus CDK 4/6i.
Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included patients with HR+/HER2-negative mBC cancer who were treated with first-line CDK 4/6i in combination with ET from January 2016 and March 2023. Patients were divided into two groups (HER2-low and zero), and survival and safety analyses were performed.
Results: A total of 201 patients were included in this study; of these, 73 (36.3%) had HER2-low disease and 128 (63.7%) had HER2-zero. There were 136 patients (67.2%) treated with ribociclib and 66 (32.8%) with palbociclib. Most of the patients (75.1%) received aromatase inhibitors as endocrine therapy. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. The median follow-up was 19.1 months (range: 2.5–78.4). The most common side effect was neutropenia (22.4%). The frequency of grade 3–4 toxicity was similar between the HER2-zero and low patients (32% vs. 33.6%; p = 0.939). Visceral metastases were present in 44.8% of patients. Between the HER2-low and zero groups, median PFS (25.2 vs. 22.6 months, p = 0.972) and OS (not reached vs. 37.5 months, p = 0.707) showed no statistically significant differences.
Conclusion: The prognostic value of HER2-low status remains controversial. Our study showed no significant effect of HER2 low expression on survival in patients receiving CDK 4/6i plus ET.
The family caregiver needs assessment questionnaire for home hospice care of the dying elderly in Mainland China: Tool development and psychometric evaluation
Authors: Wang Lei , Li Yaru , Zhao Rui , Li Jiangxu , Gong Xiangru , LI Hongyu , Wang Ru
Published: December 2023

Background
As care moves from disease-centered to family-centered, meeting the needs of caregivers becomes more and more important. The existence of many unmet needs of family caregivers is mainly related to the lack of effective needs assessment tools. The goal of the study was to develop and validate a family caregiver needs assessment questionnaire for home hospice care of the dying elderly in Mainland China.
Method
Based on the guidance of Harmony Nursing Theory, 48 initial questionnaire items were initially drafted through literature review, reference to the maturity needs tool, interviews with 12 family caregivers of the dying elderly, and group discussions among research team members. Two rounds of expert review and small sample testing resulted in a 36-item prediction questionnaire. From May to August 2023, 223 family caregivers of the dying elderly in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province were selected to verify the questionnaire. The validation process included (1) further screening of 34 items using item analysis and (2) psychometric techniques for reliability and validity analysis.
Results
The final questionnaire included 34 items. With a cumulative variance contribution rate of 71.281%, the exploratory factor analysis identified six common factors: emotional regulation needs, life care needs, end-of-life knowledge needs, social support needs, symptom control needs, and spiritual care needs. The questionnaire's total Cronbach coefficient was 0.910, and the retest reliability was 0.868. Its content validity index was 0.982, and the items' content validity index ranged from 0.83 to 1.00.
Conclusions
The questionnaire items compilation and screening methods are scientifically reliable, have strong reliability and validity. In the future, healthcare providers can utilize the questionnaire to fully assess the needs of family caregivers of elderly patients who are dying at home with hospice care.
Investigating changes in the premotor cortex-derived frontal-striatal-thalamic subcircuit in attenuated psychosis syndrome
Authors: Katagiri Naoyuki , Tagata Hiromi , Uchino Takashi , Arai Yu , Saito Junichi , Kamiya Kouhei , Hori Masaaki , Mizuno Masafumi , Nemoto Takahiro
Published: December 2023

Frontal-striatal-thalamic circuit impairment is presumed to underlie schizophrenia. Individuals with attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS) show longitudinal volume reduction of the putamen in the striatum, which has a neural connection with the premotor cortex through frontal-striatal-thalamic subcircuit. However, comprehensive investigations into the biological changes in the frontal-striatal-thalamic subcircuit originating from the premotor cortex are lacking in APS. We investigated differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) values between the striatum and premotor cortex (ST-PREM) and between the thalamus and premotor cortex (T-PREM) in individuals with APS and healthy controls, using a novel method TractSeg. Our study comprised 36 individuals with APS and 38 healthy controls. There was a significant difference between the control and APS groups in the right T-PREM (Odds ratio = 1.76, p = 0.02). Other factors, such as age, sex, other values of FA, and antipsychotic medication, were not associated with differences between groups. However, while FA value reduction of ST-PREM and T-PREM in schizophrenia has been previously reported, in the present study on APS, the alteration of the FA value was limited to T-PREM in APS. This finding suggests that ST-PREM impairment is not predominant in APS but emerges in schizophrenia. Impairment of the neural network originating from the premotor cortex can lead to catatonia and aberrant mirror neuron networks that are presumed to provoke various psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. Our findings highlight the potential role of changes in a segment of the frontal-thalamic pathway derived from the premotor cortex as a biological basis of APS.
Long noncoding RNA C-Terminal binding protein 1 antisense regulates ovarian granulosa cells proliferation and autophagy and participates in polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Sun Kaixuan , song Jianbo , Xiu Yinling , Yu Tingting , Zhao Mengsi , Yu Yuexin
Published: December 2023

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) C-Terminal binding protein 1 antisense (CTBP1-AS) was reported that it is associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in Chinese population and established the possibility that abnormal CTBP1-AS expression is a risk factor for PCOS, while the role of LncRNA CTBP1-AS in PCOS is not very clear. We speculated that lncRNA CTBP1-AS can regulates ovarian granulosa cells proliferation and autophagy and participates in polycystic ovary syndrome. This study was therefore carried out to explore its role in PCOS. In this study, 40 patients with PCOS and 40 controls were enrolled. The expression of lncRNA CTBP1-AS were analyzed by qRT-PCR. The direct interaction between lncRNA CTBP1-AS and proliferation was explored with Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK8), Colony formation and Edu assay experiments. The qRT-PCR and Western blotting assay was used to detect the lncRNA CTBP1-AS effect on the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3 and p62. The results showed that LC3-II/I and p62 expressions significantly increased and decreased, respectively, after lncRNA CTBP1-AS overexpression in ovarian granulosa cells. After knocking down the lncRNA CTBP1-AS expression in ovarian granulosa cells, LC3-II/I and p62 expressions significantly decreased and increased, respectively. These results suggest that lncRNA CTBP1-AS can promote autophagy of ovarian granulosa cells. The lncRNA CTBP1-AS expression in PCOS patients significantly increased, and lncRNA CTBP1-AS could promote the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells and the level of autophagy.
CLEP-GAN: An Innovative Approach to ECG Reconstruction from PPG Signals
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Xu Shixin , Habib Faisal , Aminnejad Neda , Gupta Arvind , Huang Huaxiong
Published: December 2023

This study aims to advance the domain of zero-shot ECG reconstruction from PPG signals, addressing the limitations of existing methods that predominantly rely on future reference ECG subsets. We present two pivotal innovations: First, an end-to-end deep learning model for ECG reconstruction from PPG, which harmoniously integrates contrastive learning, adversarial learning, and attention gating. Second, we introduce a synthetic data generation technique using an ODE model, creating ECG-PPG pairs that serve as an additional dataset. Both synthetic and real-world datasets were employed to evaluate the efficacy of our models. Initial tests on the synthetic data yielded near-flawless reconstructions, while evaluations on real-world datasets highlighted the superior performance of our approach over established methodologies. Importantly, our findings emphasize the crucial role of factors, such as sex, in ECG reconstructions, suggesting that indiscriminate dataset augmentation might affect accuracy adversely. This research not only pioneers ECG reconstruction methods but also accentuates the significance of prudent dataset selection, offering profound implications for non-invasive cardiac monitoring advancements.
Sporosarcina siccatus sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment of the Great Wall Station, Antarctica
Authors: Mu Hongmei , Xie Yuchun , Jiang Peiqiang , Liu Lukuan , Li Jing
Published: December 2023

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic and spherical bacterium, white, slightly convex colony with rounded edges, designated GW1-11T was isolated from the coastal sediment of the Great Wall Station, Antarctica. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain GW1-11T was closely related to Sporosarcina ureae DSM 2281T (94%). Growth was observed in the presence of 0–6.0%(w/v) NaCl, at pH 6.0–9.0, and at 4–37℃. Digital DNA-DNA relatedness between strain GW1-11T and its close relatives S. ureae DSM 2281T was 21.0%. The average nucleotide identity value between strain GW1-11T and S. ureae DSM 2281T was 77.9%. The strain GW1-11T possessed menaquinone-7 (MK-7) as the sole respiratory quinone. The major phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids composition was summarized as C14: 0, C14:0 ω5c and iso-C14: 0. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic characteristics, and phylogenetic data, strain GW1-11T represents a novel species of the genus Sporosarcina, for which the name Sporosarcina siccatus sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is GW1-11T (= CCTCC AB 2019391T = KCTC43187T).
Computational methods for model reduction in large-scale MIMO dynamical systems
Authors: Jbilou Khalide
Published: December 2023

In this work, we review different numerical methods for low order model reduction and linear control problems. These methods are essentially based on block, global, extended block or rational block Krylov subspace methods when we are dealing with large-scale dynamical systems. In this paper, the main schemes for model reduction are outlined, and personal contribution to some theoretical aspects is also given. Tools and approaches in model simplification, developed by some research groups are discussed, and the main results obtained during the last few years are summarized.
AMS subject classifications. 65F10, 65F30
Molecular Epidemiology and Resistance Mechanisms of Tigecycline-Non-Susceptible A. baumannii Isolated from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Chongqing, China
Authors: Liao Jiajia , Huang Jinzhu , Xia Peiwen , Yang Bingxue , Dang Zijun , Luo Shengli , Tang Shiyu , Li Yuqiong , Han Qi , Xia Yun
Published: December 2023

Objectives
This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology and tigecycline resistance mechanisms of Tigecycline-Non-Susceptible A. baumannii (TNAB) isolates in a large tertiary care hospital in Chongqing, China.
Methods
From July 2019 to June 2022, 34 non-duplicate isolates of A. baumannii determined as tigecycline-non-susceptible by broth microdilution method were collected from a tertiary care hospital in Chongqing. The resistance-related genes were sequenced and the expression level of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) efflux pumps was investigated. The activity of the RND efflux pumps was examined by adding efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs). The molecular epidemiology was analyzed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and goeBURST software.
Results
In this study, the TNAB strains were primarily obtained from ICU and had high resistance rates to commonly used antibiotics. Tigecycline resistance-associated genes adeR, adeS, adeL, adeN, rrf, and rpsJ were detected in most strains. All TNAB strains exhibited 240 nucleotide deletion mutation in the trm gene. The expression level of the RND efflux pumps in TNAB strains was higher than the reference strain ATCC19606. 58.82% of strains had a decrease in the tigecycline minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) after the addition of carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). A total of 8 ST types were identified, including ST195 (35.29%), ST208 (17.65%), and ST369 (14.71%). EBURST analysis found that 8 of the ST types belonged to the Clonal Complex 92.
Conclusion
The TNAB strains in our hospital have a high degree of affinity and antibiotic resistance. Regular surveillance should be conducted to prevent outbreaks of TNAB epidemics.
Exploring High-Order Features in Multimodal Recommendations using Graph Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Reyes Emiliano , Mercer Greta , Nieves Valeria
Published: December 2023

Following the introduction of graph neural networks, researchers have discovered the potential of using these networks to extract interconnections between users and items, which are often challenging for traditional recommendation algorithms to capture. The use of graph neural networks in constructing recommendation algorithms has gradually become a current trend in recommendation algorithm research. Currently, most recommendation algorithms based on graph neural networks extract user and item features using ID information, neglecting the implicit user and item features present in other data such as textual reviews. Alternatively, some algorithms incorporate auxiliary information, but this often complicates network training. To address this, our paper proposes a recommendation algorithm based on a graph neural network that integrates traditional deep learning, combining different user and item features. We introduce an attention mechanism to capture higher-order characteristics between users and items as part of the user and item feature representation. Simultaneously, we employ a traditional deep learning network to extract user and item features from textual data. The final user and item feature representation is obtained by merging these two feature representations, leading to improved recommendations. Experimental results demonstrate that this method effectively integrates high-order features and general characteristics of users and items, enhancing the representation of user and item features and consequently improving recommendation performance.
Mais cores em Rondônia: uso de pigmentos vegetais para a formação de tintas
Authors: SANTOLIN Guilherme Oliveira , FARIAS Kelrely Gambeti , MENDONÇA Andreza Pereira , PINHEIRO Fernando Ferreira , NAVARRO Érica Patrícia
Published: December 2023

O relato aqui apresentado aborda sobre as atividades desenvolvidas no projeto “Mais cores em Rondônia” realizadas pelos graduandos do curso de Engenharia Florestal do Instituto Federal de Rondônia - campus Ji-Paraná. O trabalho teve como objetivo a produção de uma oficina durante a 10° Rondônia Rural Show internacional sobre métodos de extração de pigmentos vegetais que em seguida foram aplicados em telas pelos participantes e posteriormente expostos neste evento de importância para o setor agrário. Durante toda a exposição foi possível observar uma troca de conhecimentos enriquecedora que gerou novas possibilidades de refinamento e expansão do projeto tornando-o ainda mais relevante. O presente trabalho possibilitou a capacitação dos alunos e do público externo à instituição bem como a conscientização do possível uso de pigmentos vegetais nas aulas de artes em alternativa às tintas comumente usadas que podem ser incômodas e tóxicas aos seus usuários.
Mediating Effects of Fear on Mental Health among Undergraduate Students during Open Distance Learning
Authors:   School of Mathematical Sciences Studies, College of Computing, Informatics and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perak, Malaysia, Abu Hasan Nurhasniza Idham , Ganggayah Mogana Darshini ,   Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics, School of Business, Monash University Malaysia, Malaysia, Suhaimi Suzainiwati ,   BDP Global Services Sdn. Bhd., Menara Takaful Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Abu Hasan Nurhasnira ,   Department of Research, Development and Innovation, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jamal Nur Faezah ,   School of Mathematical Sciences Studies, College of Computing, Informatics and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perak, Malaysia
Published: December 2023

Background: Online distance learning (ODL) known as the flexible learning environment can trigger a negative impact on students’ mental health. The study aimed to identify the influence of fear as mediator between mental health problem and university students’ perception on ODL. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving a convenient sampling of 258 undergraduate students. Self-administered structured questionnaires adapted from the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), were used to assess the severity of psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety and stress) and fear. The perception towards ODL is also designed to assess the students’ perception related to ODL implementation. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Structural Equation Modelling-Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS). Results: Overall, 84.2%, 95.0% and 67.4% of the participants experienced moderate to very severe level of depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. In addition, 82.6% of them suffering with moderate to extreme level of fear, of which 81.8% of participants had a negative view on ODL. The results of SEM-PLS revealed that there are complementary partial mediation effects of fear on the relationship between depression and students’ perception during ODL (β = 0.502, t-value = 0.828, P-value = 0.017). The anxiety (β = 0.353, t-value = 5.401, P-value = 0.000) and stress (β = 0.542, t-value = 8.433, P-value = 0.000) have directly influenced on fear. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that university students had the prevalence of psychological symptoms and fear during ODL. In line with this, fear contributes significantly to the mental health status of university students and has negatively impacted the students’ perception during ODL implementation.
Children’s Attraction to Physical Activity and Its Relation to Physical Activity Level
Authors:   Nutritional Sciences Programme and Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Suet Kei Wu , Jyh Eiin Wong ,   Nutritional Sciences Programme and Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Bee Koon Poh ,   Nutritional Sciences Programme and Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Published: December 2023

Background: Understanding of psychosocial factors of physical activity (PA) in children is crucial in encouraging sustained PA, which in turn is associated with important health outcomes. This study aimed to examine how children’s attraction to physical activity (CAPA) is associated with PA. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 219 primary school children (105 boys; 114 girls) aged 7 years old–10 years old in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2016–2017. Children from three main ethnicities, namely Malay, Chinese and Indian, were recruited. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured; body composition was assessed by deuterium dilution technique. CAPA and level of PA were obtained through self-administered questionnaires and reported as CAPA and PA scores. Results: Median CAPA and PA scores were 3.40 (Q1 = 3.00, Q3 = 3.80) and 2.31 (Q1 = 1.95, Q3 = 2.74), respectively. Significant gender differences were found in CAPA and PA scores, with boys being more attracted to PA (3.16 [Q1 = 2.90, Q3 = 3.44]; P = 0.001) and more physically active compared with girls (2.47 [Q1 = 2.07, Q3 = 3.07]; P = 0.001). CAPA and PA scores correlated positively in both sexes. Boys scored higher than girls in ‘liking of games and sports’ (ρ = 0.301, P = 0.002) and ‘liking of vigorous PA’ (ρ = 0.227, P = 0.02) CAPA subscales, which also correlated positively with PA scores. Girls’ PA scores correlated with ‘peer acceptance in games and sports’ (ρ = 0.329, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Boys are more physically active and have higher attraction to PA compared with girls. Differences in PA scores between the sexes were related to gender differences in CAPA scores. Thus, attention should be given to gender differences in CAPA related psychosocial factors when planning interventions to promote PA among children.
Functional Food Consumption and Its Associated Factors among University Students in Malaysia during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors:   Department of Food Science and Nutrition, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tay Janice Ee Fang , Tung Serene En Hui ,   Division of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mok Kai Ting ,   Department of Food Science and Nutrition, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tan Choon Hui ,   Department of Food Science and Nutrition, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Gan Wan Ying ,   Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia, Poon Wai Chuen ,   Sunway Business School, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Published: December 2023

Background: In the current situation of COVID-19, dietary intake that incorporates functional foods may potentially be a preventive measure for defence against viral infection. This study aimed to determine the consumption of functional foods and its associated factors among university students during COVID-19. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 284 Malaysian university students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. An online self-administered questionnaire was employed to assess subjects’ nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, attitude towards functional foods, recognition and consumption of functional food products. Results: Out of 284 respondents, 41.9% had poor level of nutrition knowledge and 57% had moderate level of functional food-related attitude, with seven types of functional foods consumed on average (57.0%). Binary logistic regression showed that university students who consumed fruits at least three times per day (aOR = 11.18; 95% CI: 1.46, 80.17), salty snacks (aOR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.43, 5.86), soft drinks/sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) (aOR = 3.12; 95% CI: 1.53, 5.26) and pure juice (aOR = 2.80; 95% CI: 1.48, 5.30) were more likely to consume functional foods during COVID-19 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings could provide information to public and private sectors in terms of creating a supportive environment to encourage and promote the awareness and consumption of functional foods and their associated health benefits.
Skin Disease Profile in Geriatric Inpatients at a Tertiary Referral Hospital
Authors:   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, Legiawati Lili , Yusharyahya Shannaz Nadia ,   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, Astriningrum Rinadewi ,   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, Pulungan Amanda Andria ,   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, Kusumahapsari Ratih Wulan ,   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
Published: December 2023

Background: Elderly people are susceptible to various skin diseases. To monitor disease trends in the geriatric population, epidemiologic data on skin diseases are essential. However, studies on skin diseases in geriatric patients in Indonesia, particularly those who are hospitalised, are limited. Therefore, this retrospective study aims to determine the skin disease profile in geriatric patients at a tertiary referral hospital in Indonesia. Methods: The subjects were all geriatric inpatients who were consulted at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital between 2017 and 2019. The patients were analysed according to sex, age and comorbidities. They were divided into 15 groups according to the diseases. Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare categorical variables. Results: The most common skin diseases were infections (35.8%), dermatitis (21.8%), ulcers (12.8%), age-related skin changes (8.4%) and vascular diseases (5.3%). Dermatitis was significantly more common in males (P < 0.05), whereas infections were significantly more common in females (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Consistent with previous studies, our inpatient data showed that infections were significantly more common in females, whereas dermatitis was significantly more common in males. The data collected may contribute to epidemiologic data on skin diseases in the geriatric population.
Carroll black holes
Authors: Ecker Florian , Grumiller Daniel , Hartong Jelle , Pérez Alfredo , Prohazka Stefan , Troncoso Ricardo
Published: December 2023

Despite the absence of a lightcone structure, some solutions of Carroll gravity show black hole-like behaviour. We define Carroll black holes as solutions of Carroll gravity that exhibit Carroll thermal properties and have a Carroll extremal surface, notions introduced in our work. The latter is a Carroll analogue of a Lorentzian extremal surface. As examples, we discuss the Carroll versions of Schwarzschild, Reissner-Nordström, and BTZ black holes and black hole solutions of generic 1+1 dimensional Carroll dilaton gravity, including Carroll JT and Carroll Witten black holes.
The first Russian register of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a real-world clinical study
Authors: Neroev V. V. , Zaytseva O. V. , Petrakovskaya V. A. , Trifonova M. A. , Ganeeva E. I.
Published: December 2023

Purpose: data analysis of Russia’s first register of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) — a web-based system for clinical monitoring of nAMD patients designed to collect and accumulate the data on such patients, their demographic, social and clinical characteristics, on the existing practice of treating nAMD, assessing the effectiveness of anti-VEGF therapy and the burden inflicted by the disease. Material and methods. A non-interventional, multicenter prospective study (CRTH258ARU01) was undertaken, which involved primary collection and reuse of data. The study is referred to as “the Russian register of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration”. The patients’ case histories served as the primary source of information as the data contained therein were entered by the doctors into electronic individual registration cards (eIRC). The eIRC were used remotely for dynamic clinical observations and data analysis. 61 ophthalmologists from 34 Russia’s scientific or medical organizations engaged in diagnosing, follow-up and treatment of nAMD patients contributed to the register. The data for the register were collected from December 20, 2020 to December 5, 2022. The register has data on 2665 patients (3460 eyes). Results. The mean age (± standard deviation) of patients at the time of inclusion in the registry was 73.0 ± 8.8 years; the majority of patients (66.2%) were female. The average yearly number of follow-up visits per patient was 3.4 ± 2.7, while the average yearly number of injections of anti-VEGF drugs per eye was 2.0 ± 1.7. Conclusion. With the creation of the register, the main goals of the study have been achieved. On the other hand, the register showed that a significant share of nAMD patients/eyes evaded medical observation, and that the patients’ adherence to treatment was insufficient, which had a notable negative impact on the results of therapy in real clinical practice
Biological activity of Macleaya cordata and its application in pig industry
Authors: HAN DIANGANG , YANG YUMING , LI JING , LI ZHAOYONG , HE LIN , PU QIQI , DU XUAN , ZHAO KAIWEI , GUO RONGFU , XIN JIGE
Published: December 2023

Macleaya cordata is rich in alkaloids and exhibits diverse biological activities, which explains its worldwide distribution and utilization. This paper provides an overview of those alkaloids, their solubility and stability, as well as various biological activities, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and insecticidal properties. It also focuses on research into Macleaya cordata and on the application of that plant and its bioactive components in the pig industry as potential alternatives to antibiotics in feed, as well as in prevention and treatment of diseases, especially diarrhea. This paper reviews the alkaloids contained in Macleaya cordata, their biological characteristics and application in the pig industry, hoping to provide a valuable reference for further research on the utilization of Macleaya cordata and its bioactive ingredients in the pig industry and in animal husbandry in general.
Energia Solar: Uma inovação tecnológica sustentável na percepção dos moradores de uma comunidade isolada na Amazônia ocidental
Authors: de Lima Neto Luiz Pereira , Ramôa Carlos Eduardo de Almeida
Published: December 2023

A região amazônica é uma parte do território brasileiro que carece de energia elétrica, principalmente as comunidades isoladas situadas em sua parte ocidental. Nesse viés, o objetivo deste artigo é analisar, no contexto de uma inovação tecnológica sustentável, a percepção dos moradores da comunidade Vila Restauração, situada no município de Marechal Thaumaturgo, Acre, referente à necessidade de instalação da energia solar. A pesquisa, que tem caráter exploratório e descritivo, adota uma abordagem qualitativa, utilizando um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturado com questões abertas que foi aplicado aos moradores locais. Analisou-se as respostas por meio da estratégia de triangulação de dados e método de análise de conteúdo de Bardin. Observou-se que os moradores da comunidade percebem a necessidade da energia solar, sobretudo tendo a fonte fotovoltaica como uma inovação tecnológica que permitirá melhorias em sua qualidade de vida, além de proporcionar benefícios sociais, ambientais e econômicos necessários para levar à localidade desenvolvimento sustentável e prosperidade.
Uma análise multidimensional das repercussões socioambientais das ações do Projeto de Integração Do Rio São Francisco (PISF) na comunidade Poço em Brejo Santo-CE
Authors: Da Silva Paloma Maria Melo , Alves Christiane Luci Bezerra , Lima Josael Jario Santos , Pinheiro Valéria Feitosa
Published: December 2023

Inúmeras regiões nordestinas enfrentam as dificuldades decorrentes dos fenômenos da seca. Em decorrência da falta de água, os cenários de uma parte do Nordeste brasileiro apresentam conflitos por água e situações de vulnerabilidade. Dada essa realidade, surge, ainda no período imperial, a proposta de transpor as águas do Rio São Francisco para sanar os maiores problemas da região nordestina relativos às adversidades climáticas. Atualmente, o Projeto de Integração do Rio São Francisco (Pisf) busca garantir água a 12 milhões de pessoas em 390 municípios do semiárido brasileiro. Assim, o presente estudo objetivou analisar as repercussões socioambientais da obra do Pisf nas famílias reassentadas na Vila Produtiva Rural Vassouras, na comunidade Poço em Brejo Santo-CE. A pesquisa foi realizada com 46 moradores para conhecer a atual realidade das famílias desapropriadas pelo Pisf, identificando as mudanças sociais, culturais, econômicas e ambientais no decorrer desse processo de desapropriação das casas e terras. Os resultados mostram como o projeto modificou de forma irreversível a vida dos moradores por intermédio da vasta modificação no meio ambiente, da adaptação das formas de trabalho e dos laços que vão se firmando no novo local. Com a pesquisa descobriu-se repercussões na vida das famílias e no meio ambiente que mudaram o cotidiano da comunidade, mas até o momento não promoveram o desenvolvimento local.
Assessment of the quality of groundwater body of Neelangarai and Triplicane areas in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in the post-inundation circumstances
Authors: Rajendran A. , Mansiya C. , Shanmuganathan M.
Published: December 2023

Although flooding hit the entire part of Chennai, Tamil Nadu some 3 years ago, the quality of water is still found to be worse because of major inundation in these areas. The current inspection deals with the physico-chemical analysis of the groundwater samples collected from 10 locations in Neelangarai and Triplicane areas in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and assessed using the Heber Water Quality Index (HWQI) in the post-tsunami circumstances. The factors examined were pH, fecal coliform, total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and turbidity. In addition to these parameters, pointers like electrical conductivity and salinity were also taken into consideration. The overall HWQI outcomes for all the trials in the Neelangarai area were determined between 65.02 and 72.25 and the Triplicane area was 66.64–70.71, which suggests that all the samples are medium to good in quality and could be used for human consumption.
Contribution of Posterior Corneal Astigmatism to Total Corneal Astigmatism among Saudi Population
Authors: Fahmy Rania , Alandas Sarah
Published: December 2023

Background:

Astigmatism is an error of refraction in which incident parallel rays cannot be focused on a single point. It could be corneal astigmatism (CA), lenticular astigmatism (LA), or both. Regarding CA, it is due to the difference in the corneal curvature in the different meridians of both the anterior and posterior surfaces. The anterior and posterior corneal surfaces contribute to total corneal astigmatism (TCA). Newer technologies, such as slit-scanning technology, Scheimpflug devices, and optical coherence tomography, are now used in the clinical setting for measuring the posterior corneal surface. However, it has been shown that relying only on the anterior corneal surface measurement and neglecting the relationship between the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces can lead to unacceptable intraocular lens (IOL), power calculation results after corneal refractive surgery, and errors during the calculation of toric IOLs.

Objectives:

This study aimed to determine the percentage of contribution of the magnitude of posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA) to total corneal astigmatism (TCA) and to investigate the correlation between anterior corneal astigmatism (ACA), PCA, and TCA.

Methods:

A prospective cross-sectional study including 55 subjects aged 18 – 31 years old and divided into 3 groups based on spherical equivalent (SE), Emmetropia, Hyperopia, and Myopia were included. All subjects underwent full ophthalmological examinations and corneal topography. ACA and PCA were evaluated. TCA was computed by the addition of the ACA and PCA using vector analysis. The percentage of contribution of the PCA to the magnitude of the TCA and the correlation between ACA, PCA, and TCA were calculated.

Results:

All subjects had anterior corneal with the rule (WTR) astigmatism. The contribution of PCA to TCA for all subjects in 3 groups (Emmetropia, Hyperopia, and Myopia) was 35%, 37%, and 37%, respectively, with P > 0.05, which was not statistically significant. There was a correlation between ACA, PCA, and TCA in all study groups.

Conclusion:

TCA is composed of both corneal surfaces, and PCA impacts the outcomes of refractive surgeries for correcting astigmatism and in toric intraocular lens (IOL) calculation when just based on the data of the anterior corneal surface.
Unraveling the Link between Self-efficacy and self-management in Breast Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Suryani Dwi , Nuraini Tuti , Gayatri Dewi , Milanti Ariesta
Published: December 2023

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates that cancer patients take on a more active role in self-managing their illness and adjusting to the altered healthcare resources. To perform self-management behaviors, patients may need an adequate level of self-efficacy. However, little is known about breast cancer patients’ self-efficacy and self-management in pandemic times.

Aim:

This study aimed to assess the self-efficacy and self-management of breast cancer patients undergoing therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify their associations.

Methods:

A descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional design was used. One hundred and eight breast cancer patients undergoing treatment were recruited from the National Cancer Center in Indonesia. Participants completed questionnaires that consisted of the Cancer Behavior Inventory, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Enrichd Social Support Instrument, and the Self-Management Assessment Scale. Data were analyzed using multiple regression.

Results:

The study found that 45.4% and 42.6% of breast cancer patients under treatment had a low level of self-efficacy and self-management, respectively. Self-efficacy is positively associated with self-management in breast cancer patients (p=0.001) after controlling for various factors, including cancer stage, psychological factors, and social support. The factor most related to self-management is self-efficacy, as measured by the odds ratio (OR), which was 16.713 (95% CI: 4.424-63.137), while the ORs of social support and stage were 4.968 (95% CI: 1.785-13.831) and 0.190 (95% CI: 0.044-0.820), respectively.

Conclusion:

It can be concluded that self-efficacy is strongly and positively associated with self-management in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment. Therefore, nursing interventions focusing on enhancing patients’ self-efficacy are needed.
Analyzing Uttarakhand's COVID-19 Outbreak: Demographic Insights and
Strategies for Future Pandemic Prevention
Authors: Joshi Gaurav , Pande Akshara , Gupta Omdeep , Nautiyal Anoop , Jasola Sanjay , Gahtori Prashant
Published: December 2023

Background::

The Indian state of Uttarakhand, also known as "Dev Bhoomi" or the
Abode of Gods, is snuggled in the lap of the Himalayas. It is endowed with an abundant natural hilly
environment and occupies more people in total than Israel, Switzerland, Hong Kong, etc. In this report,
we look closely at the impact of COVID-19 on both high land/ hilly and low land/ plain bhabar
zones across the state.

Methods::

The data was retrieved from the Uttarakhand Government Covid-19 health bulletin for 12
months using the Python command line. The data analysis covers percentage positivity/COVID-19
positivity rate, recovery, deceased and doubling rate, along with a detailed statistical analysis.

Results::

In the first wave, low-land- inhabitants residing in 4 districts, Dehradun, Haridwar, U. S.
Nagar and Nainital, were found more vulnerable, with a peak positive case during the 21st – 26th
week. On the other hand, the districts with exclusive hilly terrains, including Chamoli, Pauri
Garhwal, and Rudraprayag, were found to be the least susceptible and reported a high number of
positive cases between the 30th and 31st week. The highest recovery rate was found to be in the hilly
district of Rudraprayag. The multiple regression with confirmed cases was explained in relation to
deceased, recovered, other, and tested variables (R2 adj= 0.99). The analysis also revealed a very
high doubling rate from the last week of May to the first week of Jun 2020.

Conclusion::

The reduced number of COVID-19 cases in high-altitude hilly districts may be associated
with factors such as enhanced ventilation, improved arterial oxygen transport, and increased
tissue oxygenation. The findings from this study offer insights that can contribute to future pandemic
prevention efforts. Summarising the current study, we have suggested 5-point solutions for preventing
the next pandemic. It's important to note that while this study suggests a potential link between
these factors and lower COVID-19 cases, further research is needed to establish a conclusive connection.
Methodical and Immunological Insights of Prime COVID-19 Vaccines
Authors: Evangeline Wilson Pearl , Divyasri Sakthivelnathan , Akshaya Chandrasekaran , Sruthi Sekar , Selvaraj Barathi , Kirubakaran Rangasamy , ArulJothi Kandasamy Nagarajan
Published: December 2023

Vaccines' discovery, manufacturing, and distribution have been on a historic uptick in
response to this worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. A handful of vaccines have been approved on an
emergency basis after passing minimal clinical trials. There are voids in the existing body of research
and the published body of work on phase II and III clinical trial outcomes, efficacy, and recently
developed side effects of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Furthermore, the immunological and
methodological insights of successful vaccinations are still unpopular and are not publicly reported.
We have attempted to review some major classes of COVID-19 vaccines, namely inactivated viral
particle vaccine (BBV152 - Covaxin), mRNA vaccines (BNT162b2 - Pfizer and mRNA-1273-
Moderna), viral vector vaccines (Gam-COVID-Vac-Sputnik and ChAdOx1-S-Astrazeneca) and protein
subunit vaccine (NVX-CoV2373-Novavax) and discuss their methodological and immunological
formulations. This review intends to address the existing literature's gaps and limitations and the
vaccine’s safety, efficiency, and effectiveness profiles. This report, by accumulating and comparing
the existing publicly available literature and datasheets of the vaccines, concludes that the efficacy of
the vaccinations has been found to be 81% for BBV152 (COVAXIN), 94.5% for BNT162b2 (Pfizer),
94.5% for mRNA-1273 (Moderna), 91.6% for Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V), 62–90% for
ChAdOx1-S (AstraZeneca), and 96.4% for NVX-CoV2373 (Novavax), demonstrating their efficacy
in lowering the severity and frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We conclude that while the commercially
approved vaccines have a few limitations regarding clinical trials and side effects, they
provide immunity with efficacy ranging from 81% to 96.4% against COVID-19.
Comparison of Women's Sexual Activity Before and After being Infected
with COVID-19
Authors: Keshavarz Zohreh , Shariatifar Naeimeh , Nasiri Maliheh , Kiani Zahra
Published: December 2023

Introduction:

Sexual activity is one of the main aspects of sexual health, which has been
less considered during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted to compare the sexual
activity of women before and after being infected with COVID-19.

Methods::

This descriptive cross-sectional study included 110 women diagnosed with COVID-19.
The data were collected before and after one month of quarantine in a 24-hour clinic and a 24-hour
referral center for COVID-19 in Pakdasht city, Tehran, Iran. The study was conducted from the
spring of 2020 to the winter of 2022. Demographic characteristics questionnaire and FSFI
questionnaire were used as data collection tools. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS
version 22.

Results::

Based on the results, there was a significant difference in the total scores of the women's
sexual activity before and after the infection (P˂0.0001). The scores showed a decrease following the
infection, and the greater the severity of the infection, the more was the decrease. A significant
difference was observed in all domains of the women's sexual activity before and after the infection,
indicating that the pre-infection scores were higher (P˂0.05).

Conclusion::

Given the decreased scores of women's sexual activity after being infected with the
coronavirus, more attention should be paid to this area. Women and their spouses should be educated
during such pandemics and appropriate planning should be done before similar incidences to avoid
long-term negative effects.
Penerapan Pasal 8 Ayat 1 Huruf (F) Undang-Undang Nomor 8 Tahun 1999 Tentang Perlindungan Konsumen Terkait Iklan Penjualan Kavling Tanah di Kota Malang
Authors: Finishia Arsella , Yuliati Yuliati , Wicaksono Setiawan
Published: December 2023

This research aims to observe the rising trend of the sale of land plots that disadvantages consumers by studying the implementation of Article 8 Paragraph 1 Point F of Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection regarding the sale of land plots in Malang city. This research is categorized as empirical-juridical methods that directly observed the objects concerned. The research results conclude that Article 8 Point F is not appropriately implemented in terms of the principles of advertisements for land plots, while informative and appropriate advertisements are paramount. Some impeding factors were also found such as the lack of empowerment, promotion, and awareness of the consumers and business people. Facilitating dispute resolution for the consumers can be taken as a measure through Consumer Dispute Resolution Agency and a special program to control advertisements for housing.