bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inspection on polymeric insulators
Authors: Montoya Gerardo , Hernández Ramiro , Ramírez Isaías
Published: January 2024

This paper describes the main techniques used internationally to inspect polymeric insulators. One important experience on the inspection of polymeric insulators in Mexico is shown in detail. A housing degradation was not detected by binoculars, but it was found by other inspection techniques. From the damage found, the electrolytic degradation process on the rod is described. Alternative solutions to avoid the brittle fracture are also shown. On the other hand, the damage detected in the insulator rod shows the necessity to consider the acid test request as a prototype test to evaluate synthetic insulators. A methodology is also proposed for conducting this test.
Atmospheric corrosion revenue in Colombian transmission system
Authors: Molina Juan David , Villada Fernando , Mesa Noé
Published: January 2024

This paper describes and evaluates the regulatory mechanism implemented in Colombia for the compensation of atmospheric corrosion on the infrastructure of electric power transmission. Its present the mathematical model used for representation of atmospheric corrosion and degradation materials, plus the impact of the methodology, as well as the influence of the technical life to the regulatory life. It concluded that for areas classified as aggressive, the increase in AOM is higher than is recognized by salt contamination.
Broadband planar antenna with improved pattern bandwidth
Authors: Suárez Carlos , Rodríguez Rafael , Ferrando Bataller Miguel
Published: January 2024

This article presents the design of an inverted planar F antenna that uses a geometry in which the upper (radiating), short, ground and capacitive excitation plates are divided into two parts. By means of this geometry and the capacitive excitation technique, it is possible to achieve diagram and impedance bandwidths close to 52.44% (1.66 GHz to 2.84 GHz) and 8% (3036 GHz to 3.64 GHz) for a VSWR <= 2.0 The results measured for these parameters are higher than those obtained by the traditional direct terminal excitation technique or other capacitive excitation methods used in inverted F flat antennas (PIFA). The prototype built allows the simultaneous operation of the antenna in the bands of DCS 1800, DCS 1900 UMTS, WiFi, 2.4 GHz, WiMAX (2.3 GHz to 2.5GHz) and (3.4GHz to 3.5GHz) and in the band assigned for the standard (Bluetooth). The radiation patterns obtained within these bandwidths are reasonably omni-directional.
Expert knowledge-guided feature selection for data-based industrial process monitoring
Authors: Uribe Cesar , Isaza Claudia
Published: January 2024

Indrustial processes are characterized to be in open environments with uncertainty, unpredictability and nonlinear behavior. Rigorous measuring and monitoring is required to strive for product quality, safety and finance. Therefore, data-based monitoring systems have gain interest in academia and industry (e.g. clustering). However industrial processes have high volumes of complex and high dimensional data available, with poorly defined domains and sometimes redundant, noisy or inaccurate measures with unknow parameters. When a mechanistic or structural model is not available or suitable, selecting relevant and informative variables (reducing the high dimensionality) eases pattern recognition to identify functional states of the process. In this paper, we address the feature selection problem in data-based industrial processes monitoring where a mathematical or structural model is not available or suitable. Expert knowledge-quidance is used inside a wrapper feature selction based on clustering. The reduced set of features is capable of represent intrinsic historical-data structure integrating the expert knowledge abput the process. A monitoring system is proposed and tested on an intesification reactor (OPR)', over the thiosulfate and the esterifictation  reaction. Results show fewer variables are needed to correctly identify the process functional states.
Seroprevalence and Genotypic Distribution Patterns of Hepatitis C Virus among Infected Patients from Sulaimaniyah Province: Iraq
Authors: Hasan Awat , Ramzi Zhian , Alshekhani Mohammed
Published: January 2024

Background: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a prevalent cause of liver illness. The virus displays a high degree of genetic variability, with documented geographical differences in genotype predominance.   Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HCV genotypes among people who lived in Sulaimaniyah province, Kurdistan region of Iraq.   Patients and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 229 individuals identified as having a confirmed positive HCV antibody and who had been referred to the Public Health Laboratory in Sulaimaniyah city by medical professionals for genotyping from July 2021 to December 2022. Following the extraction of the viral RNA, a PCR-based genotyping kit was used to identify the HCV genotype.   Results: The most prevalent genotype was GT1a (31.6%), followed by GT1 and GT4 (23.6%) and then GT1b (7.9%). Mixed genotypes were observed in 10.4% of samples. Males were affected mainly by HCV (58.5%) than females (41.5%). The frequency of GT1a was higher in males (32.1%) compared to females (30.5%). On the other hand, males exhibited a more excellent distribution of GT4 and GT1 than females, while GT1b and GT5 were observed more in females than males. Among mixed genotypes, GT5 or 6 was the most prevalent infection type (no.=8, 3.5%), while GT1a, 3 reported the lowest rate (no.=1, 0.4%).   Conclusion: This study assesses the HCV genotype distribution among infected HCV patients in Sulaimaniyah, which is distinct from the prevalent distribution in Iraq and Middle Eastern Arab nations, but it is equivalent to the distribution worldwide.
The Legal Regime of the AI Generated Results: Anthropocentrism vs. Transhumanism in the Field of Intellectual Property Law
Authors: Bogdanov D. E.
Published: January 2024

Rapid development of technology suggests the advent of a new industrial revolution. Artificial intelligence technology is one of the driving forces of this process that has an increasing impact on socioeconomic relations, changing ideas about the limits of human capabilities in the field of information analysis and data processing. The role of artificial intelligence is not limited to information processing, since its functioning is also aimed at generating creative content. The academic literature indicates that the development of artificial intelligence technology will lead to «seismic» social and economic consequences. It will have a devastating impact on legislation, in particular in the field of intellectual property. The paper defends the thesis that the technological and transhumanistic revolution in intellectual property law has not taken place. The fundamental idea that only a human is the creator provides the basis of intellectual property rights. As a general rule, the results generated by artificial intelligence should remain in the public domain, since neither software developers using artificial intelligence technology nor its users have the right to privatize the intellectual and cultural heritage of human society. The arguments of the authors, who believe that the transfer of the results generated by artificial intelligence into the public domain deprives the developers of this technology of economic incentives are unconvincing. Artificial intelligence technologies have their own economic incentives that justify investments in this area. The new practice of generative artificial intelligence providers to assume the property risks of their users justifies this approach. It can be stated that conditions are emerging for establishing a general model of tort liability for violation by generative intelligence providers of the exclusive rights of authors and other copyright holders.
The Jurisprudence of Traditions and Innovations of the Postmodern Era in Search of Self
Authors: Vedeneev Yu. A.
Published: January 2024

Innovative jurisprudence is an open perspective for the conceptual and instrumental development of legal science in the postmodern era or the era of shifts in legal worldviews and styles of legal thinking and the accompanying socio-economic and political-legal transformations. The formation and development of a new legal disciplinary complex is associated with the definition of subjects and methods of research and the development of competing analytical languages for describing and explaining changes in legal reality. All three structural components of the discipline are represented within the boundaries of a conceptual cluster: traditions and innovations, legal development and the modern world. Traditions and innovations are eternal categories of available practices of social existence with invariant and mobile historical forms and contents. What is a tradition for one cultural formation can be considered an innovation for another. It is an expression of accumulated experience in development management, mixing and intersections of legal communications, cultural memory and heritage passed down from generation to generation. The development of institutions and processes, ideas and doctrines, and languages of jurisprudence has three vectors and strategies of its manifestations and representations: evolutionary, involutional, and paradigmatic transitions and shifts. Modernity is a characteristic of the movement of legal systems in historical time and space and both the processes and residual states of the epochs before modern and modernity, as well as the legal formations of postmodernity that are still unknown in their consequences. The institutional challenges of modern legal development depend to a certain extent on the ability of legal science to find constructive analytical and instrumental solutions. Innovative jurisprudence is a possible cultural and conceptual response to the demands of the new reality.
Two-stage lock-in amplification for improving magnetic data acquisition systems using quantum well Hall-effect sensors
Authors: Murshudov Ruslan , Sexton James , Lindley Alexander , Missous Mohamed
Published: January 2024

Quantum Well Hall Effect (QWHE) sensors are a type of magnetic field sensor with previously demonstrated applications in NDT imaging systems. These sensors are typically biased in the 10-100kHz frequency range to avoid both 1/f noise and magnetic pickup. The signal is then further
amplitude modulated by the measured magnetic field. Traditionally, this magnetic signal’s amplitude is then extracted through Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT). With this traditional method however, most of the measured signal consists of unwanted pick up, and large unchanging offset values
resulting from both the circuit and any measurements, with the actual measured signal making up less than 1% of the ADC dynamic range. By designing a two-stage lock in amplifier, the signal is demodulated with respect to both the biasing signal and the AC magnetic signal, leaving only
the DC component corresponding to the amplitude of the magnetic signal. The offset from this can then be subtracted, and further gain can be applied, allowing the full dynamic range of the measurement ADC to be utilised, while only measuring the changes in magnetic field strength resulting
from the presence of any flaws in the measurement sample. This theoretically allows for smaller signals to be measured than is possible with the FFT method, provided that the signals are not lower than the noise floor of the measurement circuitry. An example of both FFT and early prototype
lock in amplifier demodulation is demonstrated in this work. This method of signal demodulation also has the added benefit of decoupling the measurement parameters from the frequencies used in the biasing and magnetic signals, allowing for arbitrarily slow sample rates to be used in measurement.
Design of orthogonal directional shear horizontal electromagnetic acoustic transducer
Authors: Gautam Ambuj Kumar , Yin Ching-Chung , Bhattacharya Bishakh
Published: January 2024

This research proposed an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) for generating and receiving orthogonal directional shear horizontal (ODSH) guided waves in the metal plate-like structure. The proposed EMAT generates the fundamental mode of SH wave in the horizontal and vertical
direction in the plane of the test sample. The ODSHEMAT combines a new Chevron-like coil design which generates an eddy current effect in the skin depth of the plate surface, and a periodic permanent magnet that applies a static magnetic field vertically with a periodicity equal to its wavelength.
The direction of the resultant Lorentz force acting on the test surface-controlled PPM underneath a specific chevron angle of the coil wire. The constructive interference of propagated waves has been developed in the orthogonal directions, enhancing the ultrasonic signals and improving the
signal-to-noise ratio. A finite element simulation has been carried out with a thin aluminum plate, keeping the proposed EMAT at the center of the sample. Further, the simulation results show good agreement with the proposed design.
Parasitic effects of load introduction points in full-scale composite tidal turbine blade tests
Authors: Valdivia Camacho Miguel A , Munko Marek J , Cuthill Fergus , Bradaigh Conchúr M Ó , McCarthy Edward D , Lopez Dubon Sergio
Published: January 2024

There has been a significant increase in the development of tidal energy to enhance its competitiveness compared to other renewable sources. This growth requires dedicated fatigue testing facilities for composite tidal turbine blades. In the first decades of the tidal industry, blade
load introduction methods from the wind energy sector were adopted for onshore testing. However, the relevant wind energy standards determine an unsuitable area up to one blade chord length on both sides of the blade load introduction zone from stress data analysis. This study focuses on investigating
the impact of concentrated forces applied to the surface of a composite blade, particularly examining its behaviour in the inter-saddle zones. To study this effect, a full-scale composite tidal blade was tested at FastBlade using actuators. During the test, multiple measuring devices and Digital
Image Correlation were employed to analyse the structural response of the blade while one of the three saddles was clamped. The clamping pressure was mapped on the blade’s surface, revealing a smaller disturbed area that could reduce the number of tests required to analyse the entire
blade. This disturbed area is found to vary not only as a function of the chord length, but also the blade geometry and the saddle system parameters.
A novel time-of-flight auto-diagnosis model for ultrasonic signal using a sliding window technique based on empirical mode decomposition
Authors: Yang Fan , Mao Qian , Lam Kwok-ho
Published: January 2024

Ultrasonic signal analysis is an essential technique used in various fields, including non-destructive testing (NDT), structural health monitoring, and medical diagnosis. Accurate auto-diagnosis of Time-of-Flight (ToF) for ultrasonic signal is crucial in defects locating, ultrasound
imaging, etc. However, requisite signal extraction for ToF estimation was interfered with noise in time and frequency domain, and there is a tendency to be interrupted by spikes in ultrasound signal envelope for wave crest auto-location. In this study, a novel auto-diagnosis model for
ultrasonic signals is proposed based on the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) technique and sliding window approach. The model utilizes EMD method to extract intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and obtain time-frequency representations of the signal. Then the ultrasound signal envelope is extracted
by Hilbert transform. The sliding window technique is employed to monitor the time-varying characteristics of the ultrasonic signal and capture the changes in ToF. Spline interpolation algorithm was embedded in the sliding window technique for reducing ToF error and computer
burden. The proposed model can automatically estimate ToF for the ultrasonic signal without professional assistance. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated using steel plates with a thickness of 10mm and pipelines with a wall thickness of 7mm. The results demonstrate high
accuracy in detecting signal abnormalities, with maximum errors of 0.25% and 1.25% for steel plates and pipelines under constant pressure, respectively. The proposed approach holds promising potential for fully automated applications in various fields in the future, such as structural
health monitoring and medical diagnosis.
Bringing inspection into the light: automated fluorescent dye inspection of mass-produced metal parts
Authors: Diamond G. , Metodiev M. , Kubasiak P.
Published: January 2024

We report further on a fully automated fluorescent dye inspection system which can also be used under normal lighting/ daylight conditions and can detect every single relevant indication on millions of parts without affecting production throughput rates. Currently, the dark-room conditions
and enclosed inspection cells required for dye penetrant inspection of cast components increase manpower, reduce floorspace and are the cause of severe production bottlenecks and low throughput rates at inline inspection points. Moreover, reliance on human inspection, attention span and skill
levels are approaching their limit. The variation between human inspectors often results in quality standard inconsistencies and the failure to detect defects altogether. We present examples from the aerospace, automotive industries of an automated NDT inspection system that: ‐

Removes the production bottleneck problem by enabling inspection of parts to be performed under bright light conditions.

Reduces reliance on human inspectors with fully automated software solution that characterise indications as either relevant
or non-relevant by applying criteria based on indication size, geometric shape, and brightness.

Generates a full report, including () the initial raw data image, () photographic image of the part with the relevant indications overlaid on top, () fully annotated with
measurements/comments and () the option to overlay indication information on top of a 3-D surface in an STL file.

Scans a part at least 10 X faster than a human inspector and can find every defect on millions of inspected components to provide full 100%
Quality Audit and which reduces inspection costs by 90%.

Permanently stores all captured images (pass or fail) for traceability of parts even after they have entered service.

Repeatedly achieves measurement tolerances that are better
than 5 thousandths of an inch. (We present detailed results from extensive characterisation and Gauge R&R trials with several large aerospace castings manufacturers in the United States).
 
Total focusing method (TFM) and phase coherence imaging (PCI) applied to various industrial cases
Authors: Reverdy Frederic , Hillman Paul , Maes Guy
Published: January 2024

Imaging techniques based on ultrasonic Total Focusing Method (TFM1) are more and more applied for industrial applications. Adoption of the technique has been made easier with the publication of the revised ASME V and ISO 23864 and 23865 standards. TFM is an inspection technique that
involves two steps: the first one is the data acquisition process called Full Matrix Capture (FMC) and the second one is the data reconstruction itself called TFM. TFM is able to focus the energy at every pixel within a region of interest providing a high-resolution image. Efforts have been
made to improve the productivity of the technique using various excitation modes such as Plane Wave Imaging (PWI) to reach scanning speeds comparable to standard phased-array inspections while maintaining code compliance. While TFM is based on the extraction of the amplitudes of the FMC matrix,
another technique called Phase Coherence Imaging (PCI2) uses the phase information from those signals. The PCI image shows high values when all the elements contribute in phase. This is the case for small diffractors that tend to send energy in all directions such as small cracks
(HTHA, porosities???), tips from cracks and grain noise. At the opposite, specular echoes tend to be minimized since few elements contribute to the echo. In this paper, we???ll show the advantages of both techniques on various industrial cases.
Numerical investigation of forced convection flow of a complex Bingham–Papanastasiou fluid between two concentric
Authors: KADA Benhanifia , REDOUANE Fares , RAHMANI Lakhdar , GUPTA Naveen Kumar , BRAHIM Mebarki , PANCHAL Hitesh , NAZARI Saeed , KUMAR Abhinav , PATEL Anand
Published: January 2024

This research presents a numerical investigation of the flow field and heat transfer of a Visco-plastic fluid, The Bingham-Papanastasiou model is used to examine the flow field and forced convection heat transfer of a Viscoplastic fluid between two concentric cylinders with a wavy inner surface. By focusing on this particular configuration (wavy inner cylinder shape), where the inner surface exhibits as the hot wall while the outer surface is considered as the cold wall. This investigation is numerically achieved by using the Comsol Multiphysics, which is based on the finite‐volume method, employing Galerkin’s method for solving the governing equations. The parameters studied in this research are expressed with the following values: r/
R=1/3, Reynolds number (Re=1, 10, 50), and undulation number (nu=0, 6, 12, 24). Increasing the inertia parameter results in a higher intensity of thermal buoyancy, positively influencing heat transfer, particularly at Re=50. Furthermore, the acceleration of flow within the investi-gated space improves the hydrodynamic behavior, facilitating the exchange of thermal energy between the hot and cold walls. Additionally, it has been discovered that an undulating shape
with a specific number of undulations (nu=6) maximizes hydrothermal performance within the investigated volume. The presence of these undulations enhances fluid mixing and dis-rupts the formation of stagnant regions ,which leading to improved heat transfer.
Undiagnosed hypertension and proteinuria in an outpatient population in Northern Ghana
Authors: Yakubu Abdul-Subulr , Adam Atiku , Ahadzi Dzifa
Published: January 2024

Background: There is an upsurge in chronic kidney disease incidence worldwide. Late presentation characterises chronic kidney disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Hypertension and proteinuria are independent risk factors for worsening kidney function, irrespective of the cause of the kidney disease. We assessed the prevalence and predictors of hypertension and proteinuria in an outpatient population in Northern Ghana.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed screening data among adults ≥18 years of age in two of Ghana’s Northern regions. The data retrieved included socio-demographic information, blood pressure recordings, urine dipsticks and fingerpick blood glucose levels. The data were analysed for the prevalence of hypertension and proteinuria in the participants. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the predictors of significant proteinuria in these participants. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Total 1018 participants were included in the study, comprising 50.5% males. The prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension was 28.1%, using a blood pressure cut-off value of ≥ 140/90 mmHg. Significant proteinuria (≥ 1+ or 30 mg/dl) was present in 10.7% of the participants. Hypertension (AOR 2.433, 95% CI 1.582-3.742, p<0.001) and hyperglycaemia (AOR 2.226, 95% CI 1.159-4.275, p=0.016) were independent predictors of the presence of significant proteinuria.
Conclusions: Uncontrolled hypertension and proteinuria were common in this outpatient population in Northern Ghana. The cost-effectiveness of community-based screening for chronic kidney disease and its risk factors in low-resource settings like Ghana, with the aim to treat to improve outcomes, needs to be explored.
Association between contrast-induced nephropathy and CHA2DS2-VASc score in patient with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Siddike Sohel , Mamunur Rashid M. , Karmakar Pradip Kumar , Hamid M. Abdul , Islam AFM Rezaul , Das Saurav , Rahman Atikur , Hoque Mohammad Faridul , Aktar Shameem , Hossan M. Sawkat
Published: January 2024

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a recognized complication in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). CHA2DS2-VASc score, commonly employed in clinical settings, shares similar risk factors for CIN development. This cross-sectional observational study investigated the association between CHA2DS2-VASc score and CIN post-PCI in non-ST segment elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients.
Methods: Over one year (April 2019 to March 2020), 100 NSTEMI patients undergoing PCI at the national institute of cardiovascular diseases (NICVD), Dhaka, were included. Patients were categorized into two groups based on CHA2DS2-VASc scores (≥4, group I; <4, group II). CIN assessment utilized post-procedural serum creatinine within 48 hours, with statistical analysis performed using SPSS version 20.0.
Results: Group I exhibited a significantly higher CHA2DS2-VASc score (4.15±1.35 vs. 2.25±0.92 in group II). Post-procedural serum creatinine was notably elevated in CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥4 (1.98±0.46 vs. 1.46±0.27, p<0.001). A CHA2DS2-VASc score cut-off ≥4 predicted CIN with 84.6% sensitivity, 55.2% specificity (AUC 0.83, CI: 0.743-0.90, p<0.001).
Conclusions: This study establishes a significant association between CHA2DS2-VASc score and CIN in NSTEMI patients post-PCI, suggesting its potential utility in predicting CIN risk in this population.
Ventilator associated pneumonia: unravelling prevalence risk factor and antibiotic usage
Authors: Venkataraman Rajesh , Manuel Gloriya Grifth , S.R. Akshay , Paul Eldho , Sanib Muhammed , S. Shahasanu R. , Rai Jeevan
Published: January 2024

Background: Hospital acquired infections, are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Ventilator associated pneumonia, one of the hospital acquired illnesses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, risk factors, causative organism, and antibiotic usage for the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Methods: Between May 2022 and October 2022, 50 patients participated in an ambispective and observational study conducted across several ICU departments at Adichunchanagiri Hospital, BG Nagara, Karnataka. Reviewing and evaluating daily patient case sheets, laboratory results, and treatment charts of participants who were hospital inpatients provided pertinent data needed for the study. Volunteers were enrolled after taking consent from each of them, a suitably designed data collection form was used to collect all the necessary information. Microsoft Excel was used to enter the data. Version 28 of SPSS was used to analyze the data. Statistical significance was determined by using a P-value of less than 0.05.
Results: The study included 50 patients and discovered a 60% prevalence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in the general community. Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 26.7% of all gram-positive bacteria, whereas Enterobacter and Klebsiella species accounted for 16.7%. Metronidazole was given in 64% of instances, with accidents being the most frequent risk factor (40%).
Conclusions: Within the specified population, the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia is 60%, with Staphylococcus aureus identified as the most predominant bacterial pathogen. Metronidazole is the most frequently prescribed antibiotic, and accidents are the key risk factors that cause ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Evaluation of blood donor deferrals in a government teaching hospital
Authors: S. K. Sanjana , S. Rupashree , U. Geethalakshmi , Aithal A. Vibha , Babu K. Ramesh
Published: January 2024

Background: Blood transfusion is a life-saving intervention. Blood should be accepted from non-remunerated and healthy donors. Proper donor screening procedure minimizes the risk of transfusion transmitted Infections and also wastage of blood and blood products and thus screening of donors is a prerequisite for blood donation.
Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in blood bank center in the Department of Pathology in a Government teaching hospital, Shivamogga from January 2022 to June 2022. All the voluntary and replacement donors were evaluated by the standard questionnaire and medical examination including demographic profile, anthropometry, blood group, vital signs and hemoglobin estimated by cyanmethemoglobin method were collected from the donation requisition forms and online deferred list. The data were represented in the form of percentage, descriptive statistics and analysed.
Results: Out of 3,449 blood donors, 252 were deferred. The deferral rate was 7.31%. Among the ineligible donors, males 245 (97.22%) outnumbered females 7 (2.8%). 242 donors (96.03%) were temporarily rejected among which high blood pressure constituted to 23.02% followed by alcohol consumption (11.11%) whereas 10 donors (3.96%) were deferred permanently. 9 donors (3.57%) had low haemoglobin level.
Conclusions: Temporary deferrals are more than permanent deferrals thus temporarily deferred donors should be instructed to return for blood donation after their period of deferral days to retain the pool of blood donors.
The copper conundrum: a case of toxicity and altered mental status in a young male with opioid dependency
Authors: Soni Jinal , Taneja Vinus , Khosla Pooja , Dessai Rishikesh
Published: January 2024

Copper is a trace element with higher concentrations in the brain, liver, and kidneys. Its toxicity is rare in humans because of its homeostatic mechanisms. This case highlights a 30-year-old male with a history of opioid abuse and occupational exposure to metallurgy. Despite treatment, a gradual neurological worsening prompted us for heavy metal screening and nerve conduction velocity study (NCV) which revealed copper toxicity and demyelinating polyneuropathy. Following the initiation of D-penicillamine therapy, he showed gradual improvement. The coexistence of opioid abuse and dependency posed challenges in the clinical presentation, necessitating a comprehensive approach to effectively manage both opioid withdrawal and evaluation for other toxic substances.
Effects of chest physiotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in preventing post-operative complications in a patient who has undergone double barrel ileostomy: a case study
Authors: Satra Dhruvi M. , Sinha Saumi , Malekar Sheetal
Published: January 2024

Bowel obstruction is a common complication in advanced ovarian cancer with a reported obstruction rate between 5–42%, which is treated with resection and anastomosis. Post-operative complications (PPCs) generally occur due to immobility, decreased chest expansion, reduced thoracic mobility, weakness of respiratory muscles, severe pain at the suture site, and bandaging, making it difficult for the patient to cough. Thick and sticky mucus and depressed mucociliary clearance as an effect of anesthesia, cause accumulation of secretions in the lungs and can lead to PPCs. All this leads to prolonged hospital stays for the patient and delays recovery. Hence, our study aims to study the effects of chest physiotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in preventing post-operative complications in a patient who has undergone double barrel ileostomy. A 47-year-old female presented with the chief complaint of pain in the abdomen, for 2 months, which was dull aching and did not relieve with medication. She underwent double barrel ileostomy surgery. Following surgery, a 1- week exercise program was designed for the patient, which included the combination of chest PT and cognitive behavioral therapy with pre- and post-assessment of 3 scales, HAM-A, MGS-2, and POP DST, which showed remarkable differences in the pre and post values of the patient. Our present study concluded that post-operative physiotherapy intervention of chest PT and cognitive behavioral therapy was effective in preventing post-operative complications in the patient and promoted her early discharge from the hospital.
Advancements in early cancer diagnosis using blood-based biomarkers and a machine learning approach
Authors: Manoj Megha , Banuprakash Tharunya Kalva , Sundaram Namasivaya Naveen Shanmuga , Chandrabose Rajive Gandhi , Sankareshwaran Dharshini , Mohideen Rakshaana Behum Kadar
Published: January 2024

Mutations that promote aberrant cell growth are the root of the condition known as cancer. There are over a hundred distinct forms of cancer that have been identified, with lung, colon, pancreatic, breast, kidney, and prostate cancer being the most prevalent. The likelihood that a patient will survive cancer is significantly improved by early identification. Most techniques used to detect cancer are invasive, which may be painful and uncomfortable for patients and prevent them from seeking treatment. As a result, cancer is frequently discovered only after substantial symptoms have developed and it may then be too late for treatment. In this review, we will discuss several methods for detecting cancer through blood tests, different elements that serve as biomarkers, and machine learning algorithms for predicting outcomes.
A prospective study of preoperative scoring system in predicting difficulty in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Das Surajit , Shaikh Junaid M. , Jadhav Rasika V. , Kadam Shubhangi S.
Published: January 2024

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy since its discovery in 1987, has dramatically replaced conventional open cholecystectomy and rapidly became the gold standard for routine gall bladder removal. Today more than 80% of cholecystectomies are carried out laparoscopically. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy although safe and effective, yet poses many difficulties like unclear anatomy, and frozen calots. If risk factors could be reliably identified preoperatively, these factors would aid surgeons in preoperative patient counselling, informed consent, and operative strategy.
Methods: This study conducted over the span of 2.5 years on 66 patients underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done to identify risk factors preoperatively and their association with intraoperative difficulty.
Results: Preoperative factors like acute cholecystitis in the past, gall bladder wall thickness and previous history of upper abdominal procedure were fund to be directly related to intraoperative difficulty and laparoscopic to open conversion.
Conclusions: Preoperatively with the help this scoring system we can predict difficulty in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Os lunatum reconstruction with autogenous bone graft from the medial condyle of the femur for Kienböck's disease: a case report
Authors: Neilande Nelda
Published: January 2024

This case report outlines the management of a 43-year-old man suffering from chronic wrist pain due to Kienböck's disease. In 2019, the patient underwent os lunatum reconstruction surgery at Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopedics (TOS), utilizing a femur medial condyle autologous bone graft-a rarely reported techinque. Four years postoperatively patient underwent a follow-up visit, the patient exhibited substantial improvements in pain relief and functionality, evidenced by a QuickDASH score of 2 points, indicating minimal disability. Despite these positive outcomes, nuanced limitations in specific wrist movements and a subtle decrease in grip strength were noted. Notably, the patient reported discomfort in the left knee, the donor site for the autologous graft. This case contributes valuable insights into the feasibility and challenges associated with the femur medial condyle autologous bone graft technique for Kienböck's disease. The findings underscore the need for ongoing refinements and long-term monitoring, considering the patient's subjective experiences and the impact on both the wrist and the donor site. The study adds to the limited body of literature on unconventional surgical approaches for Kienböck's disease, guiding future research endeavors and refining the application of femur medial condyle autologous bone grafts in orthopedic practice.
Localized tubercular ileal perforation in a retroviral disease patient: role of conservative management
Authors: Bakhshi Girish D. , Malgaonkar Sumit S. , Mishra Akshat A.
Published: January 2024

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis coinfection are particularly dangerous and involve high morbidity and mortality in developing countries like India. When both pathogens are simultaneously present in the patient, they decline the immunological functions and can also cause premature death. It is imperative to treat the cases judiciously to avoid complications. We present a case of a 45-year-old male with a past medical history of retroviral disease and abdominal tuberculosis. He presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain for a few days. His computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large intercommunicating collection with an air-fluid level in the epigastric region. There was a contrast leak within the collection suggestive of perforation from the ileal loop. The patient underwent ultrasonography (USG)-guided drainage along with broad-spectrum antibiotics, anti-tubercular treatment (ATT), and anti-retroviral therapy (ART). The patient recovered completely and was discharged after 4 weeks on antiretroviral and antitubercular drugs. A brief case report with a review of the literature is presented.
Problem and pro-social behaviour among adolescents living with HIV/AIDS and perception of healthcare workers on available medical and social support in Sokoto, northern Nigeria
Authors: Ezenwoko Ahunna Z. , Raji Mansur O. , Oche Mansur O. , Oladigbolu Remi A. , Kwaido Asiya M.
Published: January 2024

Background: Adolescents living with HIV/AIDS (ALHIV) are likely to have behavioural, social, cognitive, and emotional problems. Early detection and treatment of these psychological issues in ALHIV is precarious to comprehensive HIV management. This study aimed to assess problem and pro-social behaviour among and to identify available health facility and social supports for ALHIV in Sokoto State, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross sectional study with mixed methods of data collection was conducted among 236 adolescent- caregiver pairs. Key informant interviews were conducted among four health care workers. Quantitative data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23 while content analysis along thematic lines was done for qualitative data.
Results: Mean age of adolescents was 14.6±2.2 years while mean age of caregivers was 37.9±7.2 years. Prevalence of pro-social behaviour among ALHIV was 6.4% (self- report) and 15.2% (caregiver report). Seventy-eight (33.1%) caregivers reported peer problems and 15 (6.4%) emotional problems among their ALHIV. Based on self-report, 160 (67.8%) ALHIV reported experiencing peer problems and 3 (1.8%) emotional problems. Eleven (4.7%) adolescents reported having low social support, 136 (57.6%) had moderate and 89 (37.7%) high social support. Viral suppression showed significant association with SDQ scores.
Conclusions: The Sokoto State Ministry of Health and other organizations supporting HIV programs should ensure community enlightenment programs on HIV in order to reduce stigma associated with the disease.
Staff motivation and associated factors in a health district hospital in Benin
Authors: Jerome Sossa Charles , Azandjeme Colette , Balde Mamadou S. A. , Soussia Theodore , Paraiso Moussiliou N.
Published: January 2024

Background: The aim of this study was to find out about staff motivational related factors at Ouidah’s district hospital in southern Benin.
Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study involving 108 agents randomly selected with proportional allocation by department. Motivation was measured, as were the intrinsic and extrinsic factors associated with it, using a questionnaire based on a Likert scale. Factors associated with motivation were investigated using the following tests: t-student, ANOVA, post hoc, and logistic regression.
Results: The median age of those surveyed was 39 (33.50; 47.50) years, predominantly female (58.30%). Of the staff surveyed, 30.6% had an insufficient level of general motivation. Women were much more motivated by "collaboration" than men (p=0.004). The "achievement" factor was more motivating for staff with university-level education than for those with primary-level education (p=0.001). Those aged between 35 and 50 were less motivated than those under 35 [OR=0.19; 95% CI (0.04; 0.88)]. The opportunity to develop skills at work (p=0.018) and participation in decision-making (p=0.019) were associated with the general level of staff motivation. Reasons for demotivation were dominated by insufficient work materials (24.24%).
Conclusions: Staff motivation can be improved through interventions that take into account identified factors.
Portuguese Corporate Social Responsibility: Features and Stakeholder Views
Authors: Dieguez Teresa , Loureiro Paula , Ferreira Isabel
Published: January 2024

Social responsibility has become a key factor in business success, as it can lead to competitive advantages, positive stakeholder relations, and employee satisfaction. This study explores the characteristics of companies that adopt social practices, evaluates innovative social responsibility initiatives in Portuguese companies, and examines the motivations, benefits, and challenges associated with these practices. The study found that most respondents recognize the relevance of social responsibility to company growth, particularly in terms of human capital development. The primary motivations for adopting social practices are to improve employee well-being and satisfaction. The main benefits include proactive positioning in the market, strategic integration of social concerns, and decision-making that aligns with social values. However, challenges such as the absence of direct financial returns, resistance from older workers, resource limitations, and a lack of participation can hinder the implementation of social responsibility initiatives. The article concludes by discussing the study’s limitations and suggesting directions for future research on social responsibility in business.
Poza domem – przestrzeń publiczna mieszkańców blokowisk małych miast
Authors: Janiszewska Anna , Klima Ewa , Rochmińska Agnieszka
Published: January 2024

Przestrzeń publiczna jest to przestrzeń interreakcji – spotkań z ludźmi (sąsiadami), w wymiarze przestrzennym umiejscawia się ją poza mieszkaniem, ale w granicach osiedla. W analizie przestrzeni publicznej mieszkańców blokowisk małych miast traktowano ją jako społeczną strukturę przestrzeni, tj. przestrzeń działań koniecznych, opcjonalnych i społecznych. Wykorzystano także podział przestrzeni publicznej na wewnętrzną i zewnętrzną. Wyniki badań wskazują, że mieszkańcy osiedli blokowych w małych miastach utrzymują liczniejsze kontakty międzysąsiedzkie niż w dużych miastach (np. w Łodzi), a dystans między mieszkańcami jest mniejszy. Podobne jak w Łodzi były natomiast opinie mieszkańców małych miast dotyczące struktury przestrzeni.
Małe miasta w dużych, duże miasta w małych - wspólnoty lokalne czy alienacja w przestrzeni publicznej
Authors: Górka Adam
Published: January 2024

Co odróżnia duże miasto od małego? Czy jest to jedynie kryterium liczby miesz-kańców? Czy może obecność odpowiedniej rangi funkcje wg teorii ośrodków centralnych Christallera? Poza wymienionymi wskaźnikami należy zwrócić uwagę na samą przestrzeń miejską, a w szczególności na przestrzeń publiczną. O jej istotności w postrzeganiu miasta świadczy częstotliwość pojawiania się w opisach określeń typu „wielkomiejski”, „małomiasteczkowy”, „prowincjonalny”. Współczesne teorie opisujące procesy rozwojowe miast (koncepcja miasta ponowoczesnego) mówią o postępującej mobilności mieszkańców, która prowadzi do rozluźniania się więzi lokalnych i alienacji. Z założenia cechy te przypisuje się dużym miastom (postmetropolis), podczas gdy małe traktowane są jako „ostoje swojskości”. W tym wypadku chodzi tu o tradycyjne układy społeczne, których przejawem jest wspólnota lokalna. Okazuje się jednak, że wspólnoty lokalne zachowały się w dużych miastach, podczas gdy w małych widoczne są postę-pujące procesy alienacji. Zarówno w dużych, jak i małych miastach pojawiają się osiedla grodzone, monitoring, przestrzeń publiczna zastępowana jest przez półpubliczną. Równocześnie w wielu miejscach zachowały się tradycyjne struktury społeczne, przestrzeń publiczna jest traktowana niemal jako własność wspólnoty, zamiast moni-toringu dominuje kontrola społeczna. Co ciekawe, poza małymi miastami zjawiska takie można zaobserwować również w większych, gdzie obszarem identyfikacji są nie całe miasta, a konkretne dzielnice. Oba zjawiska wiążą się ze specyficznymi formami przestrzeni publicznej i zjawiskami w niej zachodzącymi. W artykule autor zajął się obecnością tych procesów w przestrzeni publicznej. Rozważania teoretyczne zostały poparte wynikami badań i obserwacji przeprowadzonych w ostatnich latach w mało-polskich miastach – zarówno tych dużych, jak i małych.
Exploring the Impact of Tillage Methods on Crop Residue Decomposition and Nutrient Release: A Litter Bag Study
Authors: Kumar R. Mugesh , Sekaran N. Chandra , Selvi D. , Kalaiselvi T. , Surendrakumar A.
Published: January 2024

Background: Recycling of crop residues has gained attention over the past few decades due to its influence in sustaining the soil fertility and crop production. In this context, it is of crucial to study the effect of crop residue type, placement and tillage on decomposition and nutrient release in tropical agriculture. Methods: We conducted a litter bag decomposition experiment to evaluate the rate of mass loss, carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) mineralization from crops residues. We used residues of cotton, maize and cowpea. Result: Result indicated that cowpea and cotton residues decomposed more rapidly than maize residues, with mass loss of 50-65% occurring within 40 days of placement. Plough depth placement resulted in faster decomposition than deep placement, with 78% of initial mass and nutrient contents lost at the end of 120 days. Over 50% of nutrient mineralization occurred in the first 30 days of decomposition from cowpea residues. At the end of the 120th day, 0.28%, 0.19% and 0.30% of total nitrogen content remained out of 2.15%, 0.86% and 1.22% of the initial total nitrogen in cowpea, maize and cotton residues, respectively. More than 48% of residue breakdown and nutrient mineralization occurred in the first 40 days of decomposition, suggesting that farmers can boost crop growth by choosing crop residues with a low and medium C:N ratio and placing residues at a plough depth (0-15 cm) using reduced tillage practices.
Root Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Soil Enzyme Activity Influenced by Aerobic, System of Rice Intensification and Conventional Method of Irrigation in Rice
Authors: Nagarajan K. , Geethalakshmi V. , Vijayalakshmi D. , Thirukumaran K. , Prabhukumar G. , Prasanthrajan M.
Published: January 2024

Background: The plant roots pay a vital role in the uptake of water and nutrients. This experiment evaluated the changes in root growth and soil enzyme activity with respect to different rice cultivation methods. Methods: The study was carried out during Kuruvai (July-November) 2022 at Wetlands farm, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Experiments were carried out with five treatments viz., T1- 100% Saturation under drip irrigation, T2- 150% Saturation under drip irrigation T3- 200% Saturation under drip irrigation, T4- System of Rice Intensification (SRI), T5- Conventional method. Result: The result of the experiment shows that higher root growth, enzyme activity was observed in SRI method of rice cultivation. Higher grain yields were recorded in SRI method. It can be concluded that most favourable method of rice production.