bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Ipad and Tablet Computers on the Enhancement of Oral and Listening Proficiency among Young Students
Authors: Xiaoguang Liu , Vasudeva Panicker Chandra Mohan , Islam Aminul
Published: July 2024

Educational technology integration rises as schools rethink American school ideology and practices. Technology may be used in schools to develop modern education, but iPad integration in basic math’s teaching has to be understood. In response to these challenges, this in-depth case study examined how iPads as personalised learning aids affect third graders' arithmetic performance and attitudes using nearly experimental qualitative as well as quantitative information. How did NPS School use iPads in a third- grade mathematics classroom as well as how did it influence elementary school students' math skills and attitudes? Subquestions helped fully and comprehensively evaluate the practice problem. How do iPads and textbooks compare in third-grade arithmetic? How do tablet users see math’s differently from traditional students? These study questions were answered by two third-grade math classrooms. Standard education and iPad-integrated teaching were given to two groups. iPads were the only group difference. Content, lesson design, evaluations, inventories, & instructors were identical. Student learning and attitudes were assessed using both pre- and post-tests or an ATMI. The instructor & coordinating administrator were questioned for further information. Researchers also looked at teacher lesson plans to see how iPads were used. This study discovered quantitative-qualitative gaps. Although the post-test and ATMI were not statistically significant, the interviews with the participating adults suggested that students who utilised iPads for teaching had better involvement, attitudes, and productivity.
Assessing the Impact of Mobile Phone use on Psychological Health and Academic Achievement of Medical Students
Authors: Jing Wang , Vasudeva Panicker Chandra Mohan , Islam Aminul
Published: July 2024

We have entered the era of the mobile phone. Without knowing the hazards, which may include cancer and other health concerns, using these drugs is not "quite" safe. While research on the cancers caused by mobile phone radiation is accessible, further research on the detrimental psychological and physiological effects is required, particularly for heavy users like college students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the amount of time students spend on their mobile phones and their psychological well-being in urban educational institutions offering professional courses. Materials and procedures: We randomly chose high school and college students from urban and rural areas and gave them a survey to gauge their thoughts and feelings on the effects of mobile phone use on their well- being. Findings: Headaches were reported by 51.47 percent of patients, followed by irritation and anger at 50.79 and 50.79 percent, respectively. Apathy, poor academic performance, insomnia, and anxiety are among the frequent cognitive disorders. It is crucial to educate young people about the possible mental health hazards of excessive mobile phone usage and advise them to take precautions since they are the most likely to use cell phones often. The reason for this is because the demographic that uses mobile phones the most is the younger generation. Some suggestions include spending less time chatting and more time communicating, as well as reducing dependence on technology.
The carnation revolution of 1974 and its legacy
Authors: Green John
Published: July 2024

John Green takes us back 50 years to the 1974 Carnation Revolution in Portugal: a personal reminiscence from a TV journalist who witnessed the revolutionary process firsthand, from April 1974 onwards. He explains how the armed struggles for colonial freedom in Africa triggered the momentous events in Portugal and how a more than 40-year-old fascist dictatorship was overthrown by progressive soldiers in the Portuguese army. He examines the significance and legacy of that revolution for us today.
The Forward March of Labour Resumed
Authors: McDonnell John , Hendy John , Heathcote Fran , Gordon Alex
Published: July 2024

This article, which explores the development of a new wave of industrial struggles, derives from a session at the symposium held in November 2023 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Marx Memorial Library and Workers’ School (MML). As the chair, John McDonnell MP explained that these mobilisations have been on a scale not seen for a generation; trade unions have been campaigning around pay, but also around working conditions and the future of their services, particularly public services. These struggles have been mobilising a new generation of trade unionists, demonstrating what can be achieved through determined trade union mobilisations. The contribution by Lord John Hendy KC focused on trade unions, the law and the importance of the role of trade unions in terms of building a popular front. Fran Heathcote, president of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), explained the contributions of her union in the most recent wave of industrial action, helping to coordinate a strategy that puts maximum pressure on employers and minimises the financial impact on low-paid members. Alex Gordon, president of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), has been at the forefront of some of the most significant industrial disputes in recent history, demonstrating the determination that a particular union can inspire in others. Building on the previous speakers’ contributions, he developed the discussion of the role of trade unions in developing a popular/united front.
Lenin and the Marx Memorial Library
Authors: Jump Meirian
Published: July 2024

On the centenary of Lenin’s death, Meirian Jump, director of the Marx Memorial Library and Workers’ School, draws on new insights into Lenin’s time at 37a Clerkenwell Green and reflects on how these ties with the revolutionary leader shape plans for the library as it looks towards its centenary.
Marx Memorial Library 1933–2023: Our 90th year
Authors: Jump Meirian
Published: July 2024

On the 90th anniversary of the Marx Memorial Library and Workers’ School, Meirian Jump, the library’s director, reflects on the lasting legacy of its founding impetus in 1933 and how a major National Heritage Lottery Fund project in 2023 has shaped ambitious plans for the centenary in 2033.
Marx Memorial Library and Workers’ School at 90 Symposium: Popular Fronts and Resistance to Fascism: Learning the lessons of 1933 and the founding of the Marx Memorial Library in Context
Authors: Davis Mary , Yerchury Sitaram , Koppe Renate , Theuret Patrick
Published: July 2024

This symposium, held in November 2023, marked the 90th anniversary of the year that the Marx Memorial Library and Workers’ School (MML) was formed in 1933. That was, of course, also the year in which Hitler came to power in Germany. Between March and October 1933, all over Germany, Nazi supporters publicly banned and burned books and writings proscribed as un-German — book burnings that were a symbolic prelude to the systematic persecution of Jews, Marxists, pacifists and politically so-called ‘undesirables’. That context was highly significant for the formation of the MML. The common thread throughout the symposium was fascism: what we can learn from different experiences of fascism and the fight against it. Having defined fascism theoretically, the symposium went on to explore experiences of fascism and popular front strategies in response in India, Germany and France. There are powerful implications for progressive struggles in the contemporary context.
BRICS+ in the context of a struggle for a new global order
Authors: Cronin Jeremy
Published: July 2024

The 15th BRICS summit meeting, held in Johannesburg in late August 2023, agreed to invite six countries to become members of the partnership: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. By February 2024, five of these countries had joined Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in the bloc. The statement from the BRICS summit indicated that further admissions will be considered in the near future. What significance should be read into these developments? In some quarters there has been hype about the expansion of BRICS as a new anti-imperialist front. However, while some of the existing and new members have an anti-imperialist stance, in varying degrees, this is not remotely the case with others. Indeed, BRICS+ is clearly a disparate group both economically and politically. Moreover, some of its members have been involved in relatively serious regional tensions — India and China, Ethiopia and Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Whatever its uneven nature, with 36 per cent of global GDP, 45 per cent of the world’s population and (with the membership of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UEA) a considerably enhanced presence in a region historically dominated by the United States, the significance of BRICS+ cannot be ignored.
Imperialism and the labour aristocracy in Britain
Authors: Davis Mary
Published: July 2024

This article examines the relationship between the development of the labour aristocracy and Lenin’s theory of imperialism, and the impact of both on the political fissure in the European labour movement in the early years of the 20th century. However, given that the labour aristocracy developed much earlier in Britain, the connection between imperialism and the split in socialism is not as clear-cut as it was in other European imperialist countries. The article analyses the composition of the labour aristocracy, accounts for its development in the mid-19th century, and considers the relevance of Lenin’s theory in the British context.
Breaking up the state and lopping off the parasites: Lenin’s ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ as the state that is ceasing to be a state
Authors: White Jonathan
Published: July 2024

This article examines the key features of the dictatorship of the proletariat as theorised by Lenin in the heat of Russia’s revolutionary process in 1917 and stresses its special character as a ‘state that is ceasing to be a state’. The dictatorship of the proletariat represented a new form of the class struggle, the turning of centralised coercive power against the few by the many, the dissolution of the centralised force of the state through its subjection to popular sovereignty, and the emancipation of the growing state from private relations of production through the ‘lopping off ’ of parasitic monopoly capitalists.
Le retour d’expérience en formation professionnelle avec une démarche ergologique
Authors: Bayle Isabelle , Durrive Louis
Published: July 2024

Se revendiquant de l’approche anthropologique de Canguilhem et Schwartz, l’ergologie reconnaît avec le concept d’activité humaine une continuité entre l’expérience de la formation et celle du travail, comme entre la vie personnelle et la vie professionnelle. Être en activité, c’est tenter de se placer au centre de la situation à vivre pour y trouver une cohérence à ses yeux et intervenir selon son projet d’agir. Partant de ce postulat, notre contribution voudrait rendre compte d’une pratique nouvelle dans les retours d’expérience, celle d’inviter le narrateur à retrouver cette cohérence et cette centralité en s’appuyant sur un dessin qui le replace dans les conditions spatio-temporelles de l’activité relatée. En lui faisant représenter ses débats et ses arbitrages, il s’agit de lui permettre de verbaliser son point de vue. Un débriefing en formation infirmière vient illustrer cette démarche.
K’ui tii ‘Don’t speak!’ – Morphology and syntax of commands in Ts’ixa (Kalahari Khoe) and beyond
Authors: Fehn Anne-Maria
Published: July 2024

The Khoe-Kwadi language family makes up part of the typological unit “Southern African Khoisan” and is currently distributed across Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Despite a recent surge of new data from a broad range of languages, no descriptive or comparative study on the expression of commands has been undertaken. In this article, I show that the Kalahari Khoe language Ts’ixa spoken in northeastern Botswana possesses a dedicated imperative clause type characterized by lack of tam marking. Ts’ixa imperatives make use of a special kind of morphology encompassing a prohibitive marker, conjunction and subordination morpheme which appear with canonical (2nd person) and extended (1st and 3rd person) imperatives. In the domain of politeness, Ts’ixa imperatives may combine with interrogative and vocative morphology. When considered within a cross-Khoe-Kwadi framework taking into account languages from all major subgroups, it further becomes evident that many aspects of Ts’ixa imperatives can be generalized for the family as a whole. In addition, the comparative viewpoint not only reveals a historical link between interrogative and imperative morphology, but also opens up new perspectives for both genealogical and areal approaches to imperatives in Khoe-Kwadi.
A Question of Immediacy: The Exhibition “Rational Lot Development” at the Third Congrès international d’architecture moderne in Brussels, 1930
Authors: Pollak Clara Teresa
Published: July 2024

CIAM’s exhibitions are a mystery. Despite their prominence within the collection of congresses, meetings, publications and events, they have been overlooked in scholarship. The following article is based on doctoral research at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), which aims to unfold the significance of CIAM’s exhibitions as a working method for and of the Congrès internationaux d'architecture moderne. The research aims to introduce an alternative approach to reframe the canonical histories of CIAM’s congresses and well-known actors. It contributes to the quest for a more complex view on the historiography of architectural modernism. The article puts CIAM’s second exhibition “Rational Lot Development,” first shown at the third CIAM meeting in Brussels in 1930, into the focus. Based on archival material from the CIAM Archives in the gta Archives at ETH Zurich, it deciphers the significance of the exhibition “Rational Lot Development” as space and program for the third CIAM meeting.
Locating Exhibition Design as a Means of Marketing Architectural Modernism in Inter-War Britain
Authors: Berghe Vanessa Vanden
Published: July 2024

Throughout the interwar period many dialects of modernist visual languages were developed and often mediated by the technologies of photography, film, and design. This negotiation of modernity was a key feature characterizing the exhibition designs of architect Oliver Hill (1887-1968). Taking Hill’s designs for the “Exhibition of British Industrial Art in Relation to the Home” at Dorland Hall in 1933 as a starting point, this paper investigates Hill’s commitment to consumer education. Exhibition designs, such as at Dorland Hall, proved a perfect vehicle for Hill’s educational imperatives in elevating consumers’ understanding of “good design.” Through a close reading this paper highlights how Hill embraced fashionability, both in terms of market consumerism and in terms of the power that fashion had on improving taste and standards in design during that time.
Vertu métaéthique de la prière chez Iris Murdoch
Authors: You Jean-Gabriel
Published: July 2024

À quoi bon prier si Dieu n’existe pas ? Iris Murdoch répond : à voir le Bien et se rendre capable de l’accomplir. En effet, quoique se présentant comme athée, la philosophie d’Iris Murdoch (tout comme sa littérature) accorde à la pratique de la prière une place prépondérante dans la conduite morale de nos vies. Cet article veut rendre raison d’un tel positionnement apparemment paradoxal, en explicitant son arrière-plan métaéthique : inscrite dans l’ontologie, l’épistémologie et la psychologie morales d’Iris Murdoch, une pratique de l’attention comme celle de la prière semble effectivement pouvoir s’avérer efficace, et occasionner la grâce d’un précieux éclaircissement moral.
Construire une histoire de la prière. Logiques, position, réception et nécessaire dépassement de l’œuvre de Bremond
Authors: Restif Bruno
Published: July 2024

L’histoire de la prière demeure négligée et, en France au moins, toute réflexion visant à construire ce champ d’étude ne peut manquer de s’appuyer sur la monumentale Histoire littéraire du sentiment religieux d’Henri Bremond, du fait de ses apports méthodologiques novateurs, mais aussi parce que ses erreurs et insuffisances constituent elles-mêmes des enseignements. Une comparaison de cette somme avec les ouvrages, plutôt moins réussis, de Heiler et de Mauss révèle des convergences, complémentarités et oppositions, qui peuvent aujourd’hui être exploitées. La réception critique de Bremond par les historiens universitaires, l’article original de Certeau sur les gestes de la prière et le renouvellement des réflexions au début du xxie siècle ouvrent des horizons et permettent de formuler des propositions conceptuelles et méthodologiques.
Nasal polyp due to Trichoderma harzianum—A case report
Authors: Borah Nilakshi , Sharma Ajanta , Chamuah Kailash
Published: July 2024

We describe here a case of nasal polyp of the left nose due to Trichoderma harzianum, an emerging fungal infection with an often fatal outcome. Culture showed growth of T. harzianum which was identified by cultural characteristics, microscopic morphology, and molecular methods. The patient was initially treated with a combination of surgical removal of the polyp and oral antibiotics. This case points out that careful scrutiny of nasal polyp is required to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of cases without recurrence.
Prevalence of non- SARS CoV-2 respiratory virus infection in children during COVID-19 pandemic in Chennai, South India
Authors: Umran Nuzhat , Kalpana Sivasambo , Dhandapani Prabu
Published: July 2024

Acute respiratory virus infections (ARIs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. Respiratory viral infections in children have been significantly impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Variations in the prevalence of respiratory virus infections have been associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which corresponds to the clinical epidemiology of community-acquired respiratory viruses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of acute respiratory viral infection in COVID-19 negative children. The study included 100 SARS-CoV2 negative children with respiratory tract infections. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the prevalence of respiratory viruses causing ARI in children. In our study, adenovirus and HRSV-A were predominantly reported in SARS-CoV2 negative children. The results of the study indicated that the incidence of viruses causing acute respiratory tract infections in children changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Surgical Strategy to Correct Coronal Decompensation in an Autofused Growing Rod “Graduate”: A Case Report
Authors: Garg Bhavuk , Mehta Nishank
Published: July 2024

Management of patients implanted with growing rods who reach skeletal maturity (growing rod “graduates”) often poses challenging situation for spine surgeons. A 14-year-old female was implanted with traditional growing rods (TGR) – and presented to us with a coronally decompensated deformity. Imaging investigations revealed lumbosacral take-off due to a hemivertebra at the lumbosacral junction distal to the construct and “adding on” of the curve proximal to the construct. Autofusion of the spine was noted intraoperatively – correction was achieved whilst retaining the TGR, and using separate proximal and distal extensions of the construct to correct the deformity, connecting these to the previously implanted TGR. Improvement was noted in lumbosacral take-off angle, coronal shift, and T1 tilt, with no implant-related complications at final follow-up. The case describes a rational thought process and surgical strategy to deal with a challenging presentation of a patient with implanted TGR reaching skeletal maturity.
Cell Therapy for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration: Progress and Hurdles in Clinical Translation
Authors: Tamagawa Shota , Schol Jordy , Sakai Daisuke
Published: July 2024

Low back pain (LBP) is a pervasive global issue causing substantial disability and significant economic burden. The primary etiological factor behind LBP is intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, initiated in early adolescence and potentially leading to multiple spinal pathologies. However, current treatments for discogenic LBP are mainly palliative or involve invasive surgery, lacking disease-modifying therapies. Regenerative strategies, including cell therapy, may offer promising avenues to address the underlying pathology of IVD degeneration. Preclinical studies and clinical trials have demonstrated the potential of intradiscal cell transplantation to alleviate disc degeneration and associated pain with an overall favorable safety profile. Nonetheless, clinical trials present challenges, such as varying patient inclusion criteria, lack of adequate control groups, and short follow-up periods, necessitating cautious interpretation of results. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of clinical trials published to date and discuss the progress and translational hurdles of cell-based therapies for IVD degeneration and discogenic pain.
Vertebral Endplate Changes: Insights Into Its Natural Course and Clinical Implications in Low Back Pain
Authors: Rajasekaran Shanmuganathan , Ramachandran Karthik
Published: July 2024

This study presents the literature review on vertebral endplate (EP) changes, which are frequently observed in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). The disc, EP, and bone marrow region of the spine form a single anatomical and functional interdependent unit; isolated degeneration of any one structure is rare. The cartilaginous EP supported by a bony EP is responsible for anatomical integrity and controls diffusion, the only source of nutrition to the disc. A break in the EP establishes disc-bone marrow contact leading to possible severe autoimmune inflammation and also neovascularization and destruction of the disc. Conversely, degeneration, herniation, or infection of the disc will end in the destruction of both EPs as well as involve the subchondral bone. It is then logical that this region must be considered together as a whole. To consider any one of them in isolation can lead to the error of overlooking changes in the other structures of the disc EP bone marrow complex. Modic changes are discussed extensively in the literature from various angles of being a separate clinical phenotype, having a controversial etiology with the possibility of subclinical infection and treatment with antibiotics, having poor outcomes, and having higher complication rates after surgery. This review article highlights our understanding of vertebral EP changes and progression from Modic classification to disc EP bone marrow complex classification with more clearer depiction of its natural course and clinical implication in LBP.
Failed Back Syndrome Due to Postoperative Lumbar Discal Pseudocyst: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Garg Manish , Mittal Samarth , Girdhar Puneet , Kanamarlapudi Gnana Shankar
Published: July 2024

Lumbar discectomy is a common spinal surgery performed for slipped or herniated discs in the lumbar spine. However, postoperative discal pseudocysts are a rare complication, with an incidence rate of less than 1%, which can lead to failed back syndrome. Only 38 cases have been described in the literature so far. Clinicians must understand their pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management to diagnose and treat these rare cases. Here, we present a case of a 29-year-old male with a recurrence of radicular pain in the lower limb within 2 weeks of microdiscectomy surgery due to postoperative lumbar discal pseudocyst.
Radiographic Assessment and Clinical Outcomes of Conservative Management in Atlanto-Axial Osteoarthritis: A Study of 108 Patients
Authors: Dave Bharat , Killekar Rohan , Krishnan Ajay , Degulmadi Devanand , Mayi Shivanand , Dave Mirant
Published: July 2024

Background:

Atlanto-axial osteoarthritis (AAOA) is a degenerative cervical spine disorder predominantly affecting the elderly. The patients typically present with cervico-occipital pain and restricted and painful neck rotations. The condition is primarily diagnosed with an open-mouth view radiograph, and conservative management is the mainstay of treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of conservative management and a novel technique of greater occipital nerve (GON) block in AAOA and assess the radiographic changes in facet angles and autofusion of the facet joints following conservative management.

Materials and Methods:

This study was conducted in patients with AAOA. Pre- and post-treatment visual analog scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI) scores were compared to evaluate clinical improvement following conservative treatment. Additionally, the radiographs were also assessed for changes in the facet angles observed in AAOA. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0 (IBM, Chicago, IL, USA). Statistical tests including paired t tests and correlation coefficients were used.

Results:

The atlanto-axial facet angle was significantly reduced on the affected side (P < 0.001) compared to the unaffected side. GON block significantly improved VAS and NDI scores (P < 0.001). Auto-fusion of the arthritic facet joint was observed in 15.47% of patients following conservative treatment.

Conclusion:

Conservative management is the mainstay of AAOA treatment, effectively alleviating pain and improving the quality of life in the affected individuals.
Second generation robotic-assisted percutaneous balloon sacroplasty
Authors: Kanhangad Madhava Pai , Thirugnanam Balamurugan , Soni Abhishek , Srinivasa Vidyadhara
Published: July 2024

Sacroplasty is one of the surgical modalities described in the treatment of sacral insufficiency fractures that don’t respond to non-operative treatment. While the percutaneous procedure is generally done under sedation, complications can arise from cement leakage into the spinal canal and sacral foramina. We present a case of Robotic-Assisted Percutaneous Balloon Sacroplasty in a patient with unilateral sacral insufficiency fracture using the MazorX stealth edition.

A 55-year-old female presented with a left-sided sacral insufficiency fracture which was not responding to non-operative treatment. She underwent Robotic-Assisted Percutaneous Balloon Sacroplasty using the robotic arm and navigation capabilities of the MazorX stealth edition.

About 9 mL of bone cement with hydroxyapatite was injected into the S1 body and left ala. The patient was mobilized post-operatively with minimal pain, 2 h after the procedure. Robotic assistance in percutaneous balloon sacroplasty ensures proper tracks for injection of bone cement with reduced chances of cement leakage.
Musculoskeletal Pathologies Affecting Shoulder Girdle: A Systematic Review with Anatomical and Radiological Validation
Authors: Charmode Sundip Hemant , Mishra Abhishek Kumar , Kushwaha Sudhir Shyam , Nimavat Nirav , Mehra Simmi , Ravi Kumar Satish
Published: July 2024

Musculoskeletal pathologies affecting shoulder girdle joints, other than gleno-humeral joint such as acromioclavicular joint arthritis, tendonitis, subacromial bursitis, subdeltoid bursitis, and osteochondritis dissecans, are relatively rare. In Middle East and Asian countries, public health services are generally availed by a large number of patients in primary health centres, rural hospitals, and district hospitals, but the scarcity of specialist orthopaedic surgeons in such hospitals usually leads to misdiagnosis of rare musculoskeletal pathologies, which may result in complications and morbidity. The study aims to determine the presentation, progression, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies affecting the shoulder girdle and develop an algorithm to screen such pathologies. A systematic literature search of four medical databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar) was conducted, from 1st January 1950 to 31st December 2022. Studies (case reports, prospective studies, review articles) reporting pathological conditions affecting shoulder girdles, with a focus on clinical presentation, physical examination tests required for diagnostic evaluation, and management, were included. The relevant data was extracted from the selected studies and tabulated for analysis. Seventeen studies were included in the final analysis. Several case reports, case series and review articles showed that very few musculoskeletal conditions can be correctly diagnosed based on only physical examination tests. Radiological and anatomical basis of each of the cases were discussed. An algorithm was prepared to help diagnose shoulder girdle pathologies based on clinical presentation and examination findings.
Identification of natural inhibitors targeting trehalase of Anopheles funestus in the management of malaria: A Biocomputational assessment
Authors: Al Ali Amer , Asiri Abdulaziz , Abu-Alghayth Mohammed H , Althobiti Maryam Musleh , Al Hader Bandar Ali , Alhindi Zain
Published: July 2024

Background & objectives:

Anopheles funestus is playing an increasingly important role in malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. Trehalase, an enzyme required for trehalose breakdown, is important for mosquito flight and stress adaptation. Hence, its inhibition has emerged as a promising malaria management strategy.

Methods:

A collection of 1900 natural compounds from the ZINC database were screened against the 3D modeled structure of An. funestus trehalase protein using in silico tools. ADMET-AI, a web-based platform, was used to predict the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties of the selected compounds.

Results:

We report 5 natural compounds namely, ZINC00488388, ZINC00488525, ZINC00488566, ZINC00488304, and ZINC00488456 that demonstrated strong binding affinity to the trehalase protein. These compounds interacted with critical residues of the trehalase protein and exhibited good drug-like characteristics.

Interpretation & conclusion:

These compounds show promise as trehalase protein inhibitors for malaria management. Nonetheless, additional experimental studies are required to optimize these compounds as potential trehalase inhibitors.
Potential Crown Discoloration Induced by the Combination of Various Intracanal Medicaments and Scaffolds Applied in Regenerative Endodontic Therapy
Authors: Altun NB , Turkyilmaz A
Published: July 2024

Background:

Regenerative endodontics involves the use of various root canal medicaments and scaffolds, which may cause crown discoloration.

Aim:

This study aimed to investigate the combined crown discoloration of scaffolds [platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and blood clot] applied after administration of different medicaments [modified triple antibiotic paste including doxycycline (mTAPd), modified double antibiotic paste (mDAP), calcium hydroxide (CH), and propolis].

Methods:

In total, 100 human mandibular premolar teeth were selected and prepared. The teeth were apically resected to simulate immature teeth. The positive and negative control groups (n = 10) consisted solely of blood-only and serum-only samples. The remaining 80 teeth were used for the experimental groups with four different medicaments. Three weeks later, either blood or PRF was applied as a scaffold after removing the medicaments (n = 10). Color changes were assessed before medication placement and at the end of the first, second, and third weeks, as well as on days 0, 1, 30, 60, and 90 after scaffold application. Analysis was carried out using repeated measures of variance, Friedman, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, the dependent paired t-test, and Wilcoxon test.

Results:

Statistical significance was determined at P = 0.05. All groups including blood and the group including propolis and PRF combination, resulted in a significant increase in discoloration (P < 0.05) and discoloration exceeding clinically acceptable thresholds.

Conclusions:

CH and the modified versions of TAP (mTAPd) and DAP (mDAP) demonstrated an acceptable level of discoloration when used with a combination of PRF at day 90.
A Systematic Review of the Clinical Effectiveness of Cochlear Implant Surgery in Pediatric and Adult Patients
Authors: Musleh A
Published: July 2024

Hearing loss, also termed as hearing impairment, is an ailment where hearing is impaired partially or fully. About one in eight people suffer from hearing loss worldwide. The main aim of this current systematic review was to analyze the clinical effectiveness of cochlear implant (CI) surgery in pediatric and adult patients. The current study was carried out as a systematic review, following the PRISMA guidelines. We systematically searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases to identify eligible articles on the clinical effectiveness of CI surgery with the appropriate key terms (MeSH). This review included 73 studies which met the inclusion criteria. The studies included in unilateral CI in adults showed significant improvement in terms of perceptive abilities. Bilateral CI studies with respect to unilateral CI provide benefits in hearing in quiet conditions and sound localization. In the performance of post CI outcomes in patients, the age is not a determinant factor. CI is an effective aid in communication and speech perception for a majority of people with mild to severe hearing loss. Further studies are needed with large databases, patient registries for long term follow up details, higher quality reporting, and longer duration to develop stronger evidence.
Prevalence of Hypertension and Associated Factors among Schoolteachers in Calabar, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Nwevo CO , Nkang J , Nwilegbara S , Okonkwo U , Otu A , Ameh S
Published: July 2024

Background:

Africa has the highest prevalence of hypertension at 46%. Schoolteachers are vulnerable to hypertension due to work-related and general risk factors. Identifying these factors is key to providing interventions.

Aim:

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension and associated factors among schoolteachers in Calabar, Nigeria.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study of 427 randomly selected schoolteachers who were recruited through a multistage sampling technique. Questionnaires were self-administered, and blood pressure measurements were done. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with hypertension at a 5% significance level.

Results:

The mean age of the participants was 38 ± 9 years, and 65% of them were females. The prevalence of hypertension was 32%. The adjusted model showed that age and body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with hypertension. The teachers in the 30–39 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93–7.43, P = 0.07), 40–49 (aOR = 6.27, 95% CI: 2.08–18.91, P < 0.01), and ≥50 (aOR = 7.95, 95% CI: 2.24–28.20, P < 0.01) year age categories had increased odds of being hypertensive than those in the 20–29-year-old age group. Those who were overweight (aOR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.52–4.57, P < 0.01) or obese (aOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.21–3.85, P = 0.01) had two-fold increased odds of having hypertension compared with those who had normal weight.

Conclusions:

Increasing age and BMI are risk factors for hypertension in this study. Health interventions should focus on weight control, especially among older teachers.
The Prevalence of Bruxism and Associated Factors Among Patients with Schizophrenia in Istanbul, Türkiye: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Namlı MN , Bahadır H , Oflezer O
Published: July 2024

Background:

Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic neuropsychiatric disorder that involves profound impairment of psychopathology in cognition, emotion, perception, and other aspects of behavior. Factors, such as the nature of the disease, length of hospital stay, duration of illness, and side effects of psychotropic drugs, may contribute to poor oral health and the risk of developing bruxism in patients with schizophrenia.

Aim:

To evaluate the prevalence of bruxism and associated factors in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in a single center with 211 patients with schizophrenia. Study participants were graded according to “probable” bruxism based on positive clinical inspection, with or without a positive self-report. The type of antipsychotic treatment used in participants was evaluated in three categories: typical antipsychotic monotherapy, atypical antipsychotic monotherapy, and a combination of both. Binary logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between probable bruxism and different factors.

Results:

The mean age of the study participants was 51.02 ± 9.29 years, and 112 (52.5%) were males. Probable bruxism was identified in 87 (41.2%) of the study participants. Younger age (AOR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.838–0.928, P < 0.001), higher duration of illness (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.278–7.545, P < 0.001), and combination antipsychotic therapy (AOR = 3.042, 95% CI = 1.278–7.545, P = 0.015) were significant factors associated with probable bruxism among patients with schizophrenia on treatment.

Conclusion:

The relatively high prevalence of probable bruxism in patients with schizophrenia and its relation to antipsychotics was observed. There is a need for more research on the causes and treatment of bruxism in schizophrenia.
In Vitro Evaluation of Color and Surface Roughness Changes of Polyetheretherketone, Monolithic Zirconia, and Resin Nanoceramics Exposed to Staining Liquids
Authors: Demir Sevinç EH , Inal CB , Aydin C
Published: July 2024

Background:

This study aims to investigate color stability and surface roughness of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), zirconia, and hybrid ceramics while stored in different liquids.

Methods:

A total of 240 specimens were prepared from monolithic zirconia, PEEK, and hybrid ceramics. All specimens were polished using rubber sets with different grain sizes. Color parameters (L*, a*, b*) were measured three times using a dental spectrophotometer in standard D65 lightning. Each group was divided into eight different groups to be kept in eight different solutions as distilled water, cola, red wine, tea, coffee, heptane, citric acid, and 50% ethanol. Specimens were held in solutions at 37°C for 12 days. Color measurements were repeated, and color change (ΔE) was calculated using the CIE Lab formula.

Results:

The color difference of PEEK specimens was found above the clinically acceptable limit; however, color differences for monolithic zirconia produced by coffee were found within the clinically acceptable limits. ZR and HC specimens’ color change values were found between threshold values (1<ΔE < 3.3). The differences observed in surface roughness levels amongst the ZR specimens could be caused by the polishing instrument and procedure.

Conclusion:

The color change of the materials was within acceptable limits, whereas the surface roughness increased more than 0.2 µm. Especially cola, heptane, and red wine significantly increased the mean surface roughness.
The Importance of the Time Interval Between Preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Neck Dissection for the Detection of Nodal Metastases in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Koroglu E , Sirin S , Isgoren S
Published: July 2024

Background:

Detection of nodal metastasis is critical for the treatment and prognosis of head and neck cancer (HNC). Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is increasingly being used to detect cervical lymph node involvement.

Aim:

The purposes of this study were to (1) investigate the diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT for the detection of neck metastasis in patients with HNC and (2) determine the effect of the time interval between surgery and PET/CT.

Methods:

Fifty patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who underwent PET/CT before surgery were included in this study. Preoperative PET/CT images that determined lymph node metastasis were compared with the histopathological analysis of neck dissection samples. Neck dissections were divided into three groups according to the time interval between surgery and PET/CT (0–2 weeks, >2–4 weeks, and >4 weeks). The concordance between PET/CT and histopathology was measured using the neck sides at different time intervals. The specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of PET/CT in detecting metastatic lymph nodes in the neck were calculated.

Results:

A total of 79 neck dissections were included in the study as 29 (58%) of the patients underwent bilateral neck dissection. The overall accuracy of PET/CT in detecting nodal metastasis was highest for the 0–2 weeks interval (95.6%). During this time interval, the sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV of PET/CT were 100%, 90.9%, 100%, and 92.3%, respectively.

Conclusions:

Although PET/CT is an important and reliable diagnostic method for detecting nodal metastases in patients with HNC, its reliability decreases as the time between surgeries increases. The optimal interval was 2 weeks; however, up to 4 weeks was acceptable.
Risk Factors of Cardiac Complications in Pregnant Women with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Huang TT , Feng SH , Lin JH
Published: July 2024

Background:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited genetic cardiac disease during pregnancy. Studies of risk factors are of great significance for maternal and fetal outcomes.

Aim:

The aim of the study was to identify predictive risk factors for cardiac complications in pregnant women with HCM.

Methods:

One hundred patients with HCM who delivered at the Shanghai obstetrical cardiology intensive care center between January 2000 and December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. A logistic regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for cardiac complications.

Results:

Twenty-one cases were obstructive HCM (21%), 16 with cardiac function grade I and 5 with grade II; 79 cases were non-obstructive HCM (79%), 67 with cardiac function grade I, 11 with grade II, and 1 with grade III. Ninety-one cases had abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) (91%), mainly with ST-T changes (77%). The average interventricular septum was 19.39 ± 6.13 mm by echocardiography (21.75 ± 5.86 mm for obstructive HCM and 18.73 ± 6.08 mm for non-obstructive HCM). The main cardiac complications were maternal death (n = 2, 2%), heart failure (n = 7, 7%), and sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia (n = 1, 1%). Cardiac complications occur commonly during the third trimester and postpartum period. Three independent risk factors to predict cardiac complications in pregnant women with HCM were obstructive HCM (P = 0.036), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class ≥II (P = 0.022), and previous history of syncope (P = 0.037).

Conclusions:

HCM increases the risk of maternal death, heart failure, and malignant arrhythmia. More attention should be given to risk assessment and pregnancy management. Early detection of risk factors can reduce the incidence of maternal mortality and cardiac complications.
Evaluation of YouTube Videos on Defibrillation Applications in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Comprehensive Analysis
Authors: Aksoy İ
Published: July 2024

Bacground:

In the realm of healthcare, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a rising trend of sharing videos on YouTube. The increased popularity of these videos among Internet users can be attributed to the captivating nature of visual and auditory data compared to written information.

Aim:

This study aims to assess the content, accuracy, reliability, and quality of YouTube videos focusing on defibrillation applications—a critical component of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Methods:

On October 17, 2022, a video search was conducted using the keyword “defibrillation” on the YouTube platform, sorted in order of interest. Various parameters, including views, view rate, duration, comments, total likes and dislikes, target population, JAMA, DISCERN, and GQS scores, were recorded. In addition, content information was evaluated by Emergency Medicine specialists.

Results:

The average video duration was 263.95 seconds, with an average of 90,574.6 views, 587.4 likes, and 19.1 comments. The mean DISCERN score was 35.9 (poor), modified DISCERN score was 1.7, GQS score was 2.7, and JAMA score was 2. The mean score regarding the scope and detail of information in the videos was calculated as 6.1.

Conclusions:

Deficiencies in the accuracy and reliability of Internet information were observed, mirroring the findings in our study. Supervision in this regard was often found to be inadequate. We advocate for the evaluation of video appropriateness before sharing on the Internet. We believe that platforms ensuring easy access to accurate information about crucial interventions such as CPR will significantly contribute to improving health literacy.
Serum Prolactin as a Marker of the Severity of Liver Cirrhosis in a Tertiary Hospital in India: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Waseem A , Jamal A , Qadir A , Amitabh V
Published: July 2024

Background:

In India, cirrhosis is becoming a growing concern, leading to an unmet need for new non-invasive markers to assess the severity of liver disease. Serum prolactin is one such marker.

Aim:

To determine the association between serum prolactin, the severity of liver cirrhosis, and its complications such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and esophageal varices.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study involved 117 patients with liver cirrhosis. They were evaluated for some complications such as ascites, esophageal varices, and hepatic encephalopathy, as well as for severity by using the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score. Serum prolactin levels were measured, and their relationship with both the severity and complications of liver cirrhosis was determined. A P value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 48.3 ± 12.08 years, and the majority (80.3%) were males. Seventy-one percent of the patients had elevated serum prolactin levels (>19.40 ng/mL). Elevated serum prolactin was found in approximately 95.0% and 86.8% of patients with hepatic encephalopathy and ascites, respectively. The median serum prolactin levels were significantly associated with esophageal varices grades (P = 0.043) and hepatic encephalopathy (P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of serum prolactin for predicting severe CTP scores were 81.6% and 91.2%, respectively, with a diagnostic accuracy of 87.2%. On multivariate regression analysis, ascites (AOR = 3.8, 95%CI = 1.29–10.98, P = 0.015), hepatic encephalopathy (AOR = 6.1, 95%CI = 0.68–53.78, P = 0.012), CTP class B (AOR = 5.9, 95%CI = 1.39–24.68, P = 0.016), and CTP class C (AOR = 13.4, 95%CI = 2.25–82.21, P = 0.004) were significantly associated with elevated serum prolactin levels.

Conclusion:

There was a significant association between serum prolactin levels and CTP classes, esophageal varices, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Wheel End Assembly and Axle Spindle Interface Dimensions - Truck and Bus
Authors:   Truck and Bus Wheel Committee
Published: July 2024

This recommended practice contains dimensions and tolerances for spindles in the interface area. Interfacing components include axle spindle, bearing cones, bearing spacer, and seal. This recommended practice is intended for axles commonly used on Class 7 and 8 commercial vehicles. Included are SAE axle configurations FF, FL, I80, L, N, P, R, U, and W.