bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptive online auto-tuning using Particle Swarm optimized PI controller with time-variant approach for high accuracy and speed in Dual Active Bridge converter
Authors: Ab-Ghani Suliana , Daniyal Hamdan , Ahmad Abu Zaharin , Jaalam Norazila , Saad Norhafidzah Mohd , Ramlan Nur Huda , Bahari Norhazilina
Published: May 2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) are an emerging technology that contribute to reducing air pollution. This paper presents the development of a 200 kW DC charger for the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) application. The bidirectional dual active bridge (DAB) converter was the preferred fit for a high-power DC-DC conversion due its attractive features such as high power density and bidirectional power flow. A particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was used to online auto-tune the optimal proportional gain (KP) and integral gain (KI) value with minimized error voltage. Then, knowing that the controller with fixed gains have limitation in its response during dynamic change, the PSO was improved to allow re-tuning and update the new KP and KI upon step changes or disturbances through a time-variant approach. The proposed controller, online auto-tuned PI using PSO with re-tuning (OPSO-PI-RT) and one-time (OPSO-PI-OT) execution were compared under desired output voltage step changes and load step changes in terms of steady-state error and dynamic performance. The OPSO-PI-RT method was a superior controller with 98.16% accuracy and faster controller with 85.28 s-1 average speed compared to OPSO-PI-OT using controller hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) approach.
Spatiotemporal analysis of drought occurrence in the Ouergha catchment, Morocco
Authors: MOUNIR Kaoutar , LA JEUNESSE Isabelle , SELLAMI Haykel , ELKHANCHOUFI Abdessalam
Published: May 2023

Although the spatiotemporal characterization of droughts is a key step in the design and implementation of practical measures to mitigate their impacts, it is hampered by the lack of hydro-climatic data with sufficient spatial density and duration. This study aimed to assess the trends and spatial patterns of drought occurrence in the Ouergha catchment in northern Morocco, which has been identified as a hot spot for climate change and variability. The study combined data from various sources, including the North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOi); Western Mediterranean Oscillation Index (WeMOi); a meteorological index (SPI), calculated using precipitation data; a hydrological index (SDI), calculated using precipitation data; and satellite images to calculate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) from 1984/85 to 2016/17. The results showed that the adopted statistical analyses were effective in detecting the linearity and trend of drought in the Ouergha catchment scale. The correlations between various indices were moderate to strong between NAOi and SPI, WeMoi and SPI, as well as SPI and SDI, while the Mann-Kendall tests indicate an increasing trend of drought intensity in the catchment. During dry events, vegetation cover and moisture were maintained due to the presence of dam reserves. Overall, the study provides empirical evidence that confirms the severe drought conditions experienced in the Ouergha catchment. The unique set of data adds to the growing body of knowledge about drought in the region and underscores the urgency of preserving dam resources for sustainable use during future droughts.
A mixture deep neural network GARCH model for volatility forecasting
Authors: Feng Wenhui , Li Yuan , Zhang Xingfa
Published: May 2023

Recently, deep neural networks have been widely used to solve financial risk modeling and forecasting challenges. Following this hotspot, this paper presents a mixture model for conditional volatility probability forecasting based on the deep autoregressive network and the Gaussian mixture model under the GARCH framework. An efficient algorithm for the model is developed. Both simulation and empirical results show that our model predicts conditional volatilities with smaller errors than the classical GARCH and ANN-GARCH models.
The transcriptional risk scores for kidney renal clear cell carcinoma using XGBoost and multiple omics data
Authors: Hou Xiaoyu , Ma Baoshan , Liu Ming , Zhao Yuxuan , Chai Bingjie , Pan Jianqiao , Wang Pengcheng , Li Di , Liu Shuxin , Song Fengju
Published: May 2023

Most kidney cancers are kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) that is a main cause of cancer-related deaths. Polygenic risk score (PRS) is a weighted linear combination of phenotypic related alleles on the genome that can be used to assess KIRC risk. However, standalone SNP data as input to the PRS model may not provide satisfactory result. Therefore, Transcriptional risk scores (TRS) based on multi-omics data and machine learning models were proposed to assess the risk of KIRC. First, we collected four types of multi-omics data (DNA methylation, miRNA, mRNA and lncRNA) of KIRC patients from the TCGA database. Subsequently, a novel TRS method utilizing multiple omics data and XGBoost model was developed. Finally, we performed prevalence analysis and prognosis prediction to evaluate the utility of the TRS generated by our method. Our TRS methods exhibited better predictive performance than the linear models and other machine learning models. Furthermore, the prediction accuracy of combined TRS model was higher than that of single-omics TRS model. The KM curves showed that TRS was a valid prognostic indicator for cancer staging. Our proposed method extended the current definition of TRS from standalone SNP data to multi-omics data and was superior to the linear models and other machine learning models, which may provide a useful implement for diagnostic and prognostic prediction of KIRC.
Housing market activity diffusion in England and Wales
Authors: Gray David
Published: May 2023

This paper considers housing activity transmission across space using local indicators of spatial association. Activity does not diffuse like a ripple across England and Wales. Elevated activity appears to be associated with a south east-north west divide. The south east grows more quickly than the north west for a period of time, after which there is a switch in rank order. It is argued that changes in activity is associated with changing credit conditions to which the south east is more sensitive. Furthermore, it is proposed that activity features a type of participant induced on to the market by favourable price changes and credit conditions. It is argued that the reduced activity associated with 'missing mortgage movers' post-2007 reflects the lack of mortgage mover participation, which could have negative consequences for the macroeconomy.
Contextualizing spatiality of multidimensional poverty in rural and urban India: A geographical perspective
Authors: Mondal Soumyabrata , Kumar Saheli , Mishra Anand Prasad
Published: May 2023

The present study tries to estimate the spatial pattern of incidence, extent and severity of multidimensional poverty in rural and urban India during 2021 obtaining data from the report of NITI Aayog based on NFHS-4 dataset. The study reveals that large interstate disparities persist in the pattern of multidimensional poverty and its intensity in rural and urban India. The study also attempts to examine the interstate deprivation in different indicators of rural and urban MPI which confirms that the magnitude of deprivation is acute in most of the poverty indicators in the poorer states of India like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh etc. Finally we have also performed the decomposition analysis to identify the most significant contributor for multidimensional poverty which revealed in both rural and urban space among the dimension health and among the indicators nutrition have made most significant contribution in overall score of multidimensional poverty. The target oriented policy for poverty eradication programmes needs to be stressed. The present study may be beneficial for the development planners and policy makers to understand the pattern of rural and urban multidimensional poverty and deprivation across the states of India in a better way.
EoG COMMUNICATION SIGNAL FOR SLEEP LEVEL DETECTION
Authors: Al Shamaa Nabil K. , Fayadh Rashid Ali , Wali Mousa K.
Published: May 2023

The detection of sleep is important because it contributes to most road accidents especially high levels of deep sleep while driving. Sleep detection is based on electrooculogram (EoG) signal as sleep causes various changes to this signal. Drivers travelling for long hours, especially those working under transportation field are more likely to sleep in the middle of their journey. In order to avoid this situation, drivers are aided with a system which is capable of monitoring the drivers’ condition depending on communication between the driving simulator and the subject EoG signal as many sleep detection devices are dependent upon eye behavior and movement in addition to pupil size and eye closure for certain periods. Therefore, to solve the problem of detecting sleep while driving, this work extracted different features from the EoG signal precisely from its frequency range (0–25[Formula: see text]Hz) and (25–37.5[Formula: see text]Hz) by discrete wavelet transform technique. In this research, 15 subjects have been set in a driving environment for more than 1[Formula: see text]h for collecting the sleep EoG signal data by low power sensors. The EoG signal is recorded using Cobra3 Data acquisition set and few features (minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation (SD), mode, energy, median and variance) are extracted using discrete wavelet transform. These features have been used to classify three classes (sleep 0, sleep 0, sleep 1) using support vector machine (SVM). This classifier depends upon the fusion of the above features to get an accuracy of 78% for high-level sleep detection based on db4 wavelet.
A Blockchain-Based Tourism Industry
Authors: Ioannidis Stelios A. K.
Published: May 2023

Blockchain technology is highly regarded for its potential to revolutionize various economic sectors and meet consumer needs. In the tourism industry, blockchain has attracted investor attention due to its characteristics, such as decentralisation, disintermediation, security, transparency, and immutability. Blockchain applications like smart contracts, tokens, cryptocurrencies, decentralised applications (Dapps), and decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) have the potential to transform the relationship between tourism providers and tourists by improving trust, automating processes, and reducing costs. However, widespread adoption of blockchain in tourism is limited due to several challenges, including a lack of awareness and expertise, high energy consumption, and a lack of regulatory frameworks for data management and income taxation. Despite these challenges, blockchain technology's potential benefits make it an essential area to watch in the future.
Blockchain
Authors: Menon Mohan , Mady Ashraf
Published: May 2023

This chapter provides an exploration to the enormous potential of blockchain and its strategic benefits. The application of blockchain has the potential to revolutionize existing business models. Blockchain is a peer-to-peer model that can speed up processes resulting in robust tracking and reducing costs of transactions. It is essential for business professionals to understand the significance of the implications of this far-reaching technology on business activities. Consequently, it is imperative that business leaders comprehend aspects of the technology to be integrated in strategic initiatives. The purpose of this chapter is to inform readers about the strategic benefits of blockchain technology. The chapter explains blockchain in the context of business strategies while highlighting its applications. This chapter is structured to explain the idea of blockchain technology, expound on the importance of the technology's business applications, and illustrate how professionals can integrate this technology in business.
E-Government Success
Authors: Ortiz Fernando , Tiwari Sanju , Amara Fatima Zahra , Sahagun Miguel A.
Published: May 2023

The objective of this research is to determine the critical success factors of a tax collector website in a country with an emerging economy. In the method, a questionnaire is applied to 488 taxpayers in Northeastern Mexico, and factor analysis is a statistical tool. The results show that the top five success factors are citizen satisfaction, service quality, information quality, ease of use, and confidence. The results show the need to adapt the technologies to the citizens for their better performance and usefulness, so the originality of the research is that there are few empirical studies in the country.
Linking Internal Communication and Organisational Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Coelho Pedro Pacheco , Rua Orlando Lima
Published: May 2023

This study aims to analyse the relationship between internal communication and organizational performance. It was carried out at Natixis in Portugal, a company in the banking sector, which structured and outlined an organised, original, and creative internal communication strategy in record time during COVID-19. Quantitative research was carried out through a survey questionnaire of 160 Natixis employees so that we may have a perception of the impacts of a well-designed internal communication strategy on the employees of this company. The results show that the original and creative communication strategy used by the company made a positive contribution to the employees' organisational performance, also contributing to the establishment of interpersonal relationships between employees, even at a distance, and the feeling of belonging and identification with the organisation under study. Overall, the results of this study provide a better understanding of the role of internal communication in organisations and how essential it is.
Spillover Stress From “The Great Resignation” in the United States
Authors: Zalot Michael C.
Published: May 2023

This chapter examines spillover stress in the wake of the so-called “Great Resignation” in the United States after the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased turnover led to a shifting of work to those remaining in organizations. This additional workload impacted not only the departments where the turnover was occurring, but also those to whom they provided services. The chapter uses the case of a faltering marketing department in a four-year college in the Northeast United States missing deliverables, and the resultant stress on the requestor, who was relying on their services. Employment dates by title and role transitions by quarter are aligned to the deliverable challenges. Spillover stress from broken cross-departmental dependencies is indicated as a source of individual stress, and in particular, leadership transitions—both structural and within role—are identified as a particularly important source of missed outcomes. Potential monitoring and intervention strategies are suggested for departments in turnover crisis to attempt to prevent broken dependencies and spillover stress.
Unsteady Magnetohydrodynamic Slip Flow, Heat and Mass Transfer over a Permeable Stretching Cylinder with Soret and Dufour Effects in Porous Medium
Authors: Jamir Temjennaro , Konwar Hemanta
Published: May 2023

This study considers the unsteady magnetohydrodynamic slip flow past a permeable stretching cylinder by taking into account the Soret and Dufour effects. Using similarity transformations, the partial differential equations governing the flow, heat, and mass transfers are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations. These equations are numerically solved for a variety of governing parameter values using the boundary value problem solved package, bvp4c, which is available in the MATLAB software. The outcomes of the governing parameters on the skin friction coefficient, Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are also examined. Upon observation, the unsteadiness parameter influences a positive growth on the momentum, thermal and concentration boundary layers. Slip parameter can be enhanced to improve the friction drag force about 28% and the rate of cooling around 3%. Also, larger effects of Dufour leads to around 9% decay in heat transfer rate and Soret effect to cause around 11% drop in mass transfer rate. Comparison with existing results show excellent agreement which justifies the reliability of the obtained results.
Approximate Analytical Solutions for a Heat Transfer in a Slab with Internal Heat Generation
Authors: Nkwanazana Mpho , Moitsheki Raseelo Joel
Published: May 2023

In this article we consider heat transfer models prescribed by reaction-diffusion equations. The diffusivity term and internal heat generator are given by the power law. The differential transform method (DTM) is utilized to construct the approximate analytical solutions. These solutions are generated using one- and two-dimensional DTM for the steady state and the transient problem, respectively. The effects of parameters appearing in the model are presented and explained.
The role of miR-143-3p/FNDC1 axis on the progression of non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Ma Zhanshu , Gao Qi , Xin Wenjing , Wang Lei , Chen Yan , Su Chang , Gao Songyan , Sun Ruiling
Published: May 2023

The study aimed to explore the functional role of fibronectin type III domain containing 1 (FNDC1) in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as the mechanism governing its expression. The expression levels of FNDC1 and related genes in tissue and cell samples were detected by qRT-PCR. Kaplan-Meier analysis was employed to analyze the association between FNDC1 level and the overall survival of NSCLC patients. Functional experiments such as CCK-8 proliferation, colony formation, EDU staining, migration and invasion assays were conducted to investigate the functional role of FNDC1 in regulating the malignancy of NSCLC cells. Bioinformatic tools and dual-luciferase reporter assay were used to identify the miRNA regulator of FNDC1 in NSCLC cells. Our data revealed the upregulation of FNDC1 at mRNA and protein levels in NSCLC tumor tissues cancer cell lines, compared with normal counterparts. NSCLC patients with higher FNDC1 expression suffered from a poorer overall survival. FNDC1 knockdown significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells, and had an inhibitory effect on tube formation. We further demonstrated that miR-143-3p was an upstream regulator of FNDC1 and miR-143-3p expression was repressed in NSCLC samples. Similar to FNDC1 knockdown, miR-143-3p overexpression inhibited the growth, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. FNDC1 overexpression could partially rescue the effect of miR-143-3p overexpression.  FNDC1 silencing also suppressed the tumorigenesis of NSCLC cells in mouse model. In conclusion, FNDC1 promotes the malignant prototypes of NSCLC cells. miR-143-3p is a negative regulator of FNDC1 in NSCLC cells, which may serve as a promising therapeutic target in NSCLC.
A preliminary cross-sectional study to investigate the presence of sarcopenic dysphagia in a Portuguese geriatric population
Authors: Portinha Susana , Sa-Couto Pedro , Matos Maria Assunção
Published: May 2023

The objective of this study is to investigate the presence of sarcopenia and the risk of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in a geriatric population and to analyze the relationship between the factors associated with sarcopenic dysphagia. The cross-sectional study was carried out in two nursing homes. The presence of OD was screened using the gugging swallowing screen, and sarcopenia was assessed according to the European working group on sarcopenia in older people criteria. The sample (N=36; 23 women, 13 men) presents a mean age of 88.0±5.6, with 55.6% being at risk of OD, 52.8% with sarcopenia, and 36.1% with probable sarcopenic dysphagia. The score of the simple questionnaire to rapidly diagnose sarcopenia (SARC-F)≥4 was a significant predictor (odds ratio=9.0; confidence interval 95%=1.285-63.025) for the risk of having sarcopenic dysphagia. It was observed that sarcopenia was associated with higher odds of being at risk of OD. Also, an increase in age, poorly fitting prostheses, a higher level of dependence during activities of daily living, and a risk of malnutrition or malnourishment raised the potential of having probable sarcopenic dysphagia. We suggest including a speech and language therapist in the multidisciplinary geriatric teams to improve the prevention of sarcopenic dysphagia and to avoid its consequences.
Epidemiology and demographics of cutaneous lupus erythematosus in Colombia between 2015 and 2019
Authors: Fernández Ávila D.G. , Rivera Maldonado M. , Charry Anzola L.P.
Published: May 2023

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is classified into three groups - acute, subacute, and chronic - based on clinical and histopathological characteristics. The risk of systemic manifestations varies among these groups. There are few studies on CLE epidemiology. For this reason, this paper aims to describe CLE prevalence and demographics in Colombia between 2015 and 2019. This descriptive, cross-sectional study used the international classification of diseases, tenth revision, for CLE subtypes, utilizing official data from the Colombian Ministry of Health. In people older than 19 years, 26,356 CLE cases were registered, yielding a prevalence of 76 cases per 100,000 population. CLE was more frequent in females, at a 5:1 ratio compared to males. The most common clinical presentation was discoid lupus erythematosus, in 45% of cases. The majority of cases occurred in people between 55 and 59 years old. This is the first study that describes CLE demographics in adults in Colombia. Findings regarding clinical subtypes and female predominance are consistent with those in the medical literature.
Diagnosis and treatment of interstitial lung disease related to systemic autoimmune myopathies: a narrative review
Authors: De Souza F.H.C. , De Araújo D.B. , Hoff L.S. , Baldi B.G. , Faria M.S.M.S. , Da Rocha Junior L.F , Da Silva L.R.S , Behrens Pinto G.L , Bezerra M.C. , Miossi R. , Cordeiro R.A. , Shinjo S.K
Published: May 2023

Systemic autoimmune myopathies (SAMs) are rare diseases that lead to muscle inflammation and may be associated with a variety of systemic manifestations. Although there is great heterogeneity in the spectrum of extra-muscular involvement in SAMs, interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most frequent lung manifestation. SAM-related ILD (SAM-ILD) presents significant variations according to geographic location and temporal trends and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Several myositis autoantibodies have been discovered over the last decades, including antibodies targeting aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase enzymes, which are associated with a variable risk of developing ILD and a myriad of other clinical features. In this review, the most relevant topics regarding clinical manifestations, risk factors, diagnostic tests, autoantibodies, treatment, and prognosis of SAM-ILD are highlighted. We searched PubMed for relevant articles published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish from January 2002 to September 2022. The most common SAM-ILD patterns are nonspecific interstitial pneumonia and organizing pneumonia. The combination of clinical, functional, laboratory, and tomographic features is usually sufficient for diagnostic confirmation, without the need for additional invasive methods. Glucocorticoids remain the first-line treatment for SAM-ILD, although other traditional immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine, mycophenolate, and cyclophosphamide have demonstrated some efficacy and, therefore, have an important role as steroid-sparing agents.
Pilot study to understand and compare challenges being faced in reporting of transfusion reactions in various types of blood banks enrolled under Haemovigilance Programme of India
Authors: Bhat Rayaz Ahmad , Tiwari Vishal , Singh Satyajeet , Rao Ruchi , Chaudhary Akash , Bisht Akanksha
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND:

Hemovigilance has become one of the important quality check systems of blood transfusion process, but under/non-reporting of transfusion-associated adverse reactions despite the presence of reporting systems emphasize the need to understand the challenges being faced in active reporting of adverse transfusion reactions.

AIM:

To identify and document the possible factors leading to under-reporting and impacting the quality of blood transfusion reactions being submitted under Haemovigilance Programme of India (HvPI).

SETTINGS AND DESIGN:

This was a cross-sectional, observational type study, carried out in six blood banks, two each of government, private, and stand-alone sectors in Delhi National Capital Region enrolled under HvPI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study was carried out for a period of 6 months with a-month residence in each blood bank. During this period, data related to adverse transfusion reactions and their reporting were collected using a designed data collecting form and a validated questionnaire from all the six blood banks.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED:

MS Excel Ver. 2007 was used for compilation and descriptive analysis of collected data, and SPSS Ver. 25.0 was used for determining the Cronbach’s alpha for the questionnaire which was statistically significant (α > 0.7).

RESULTS:

In a period of 6 months, a total of 5136 blood products were issued from these blood banks along with 5136 reaction reporting forms, but only 515 transfusion reaction report forms were returned to these blood banks. It was found that each blood bank faces some challenges with respect to identifying and reporting adverse transfusion reactions.

CONCLUSION:

Addressing the gaps identified during this study will result in robust hemovigilance system in our country and having reliability of data being reported under HvPI.
A Study of Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions in a Tertiary Care Center in South India
Authors: Rajendran Lakshmi , Thyvalappil Anoop , Sridharan Rajiv , Ajayakumar S , Sparshadeep E.M. , Divakaran Binoo
Published: May 2023

Background:

Cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADRs) are common among adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Early identification of ADRs can reduce the morbidity and mortality rates.

Objectives:

To know the pattern of various types of CADRs and to find out the causative drugs involved.

Materials and Methods:

Retrospective analysis was performed from ADR register, kept in Dermatology department in a tertiary care center. Naranjo's algorithm was used to determine the causality assessment. Details regarding drug intake, morphology of eruption, offending drugs, history regarding hospitalization, drug rechallenge or drug dose modifications, and treatment given to the patients were assessed. The data were subjected to descriptive analysis.

Results:

A total of 216 patients were recruited into the study, of which 118 were male and 98 were female. Antimicrobials (30.1%) were noted to be the most common offending drugs, followed by antiepileptics (18.1%), analgesics and antipyretics (11.1%), and anticancer drugs (11.1%). The most common presentation of CADR was maculopapular drug eruption (31.5%), followed by fixed drug eruption (13.4%).

Conclusion:

Among the antimicrobials, penicillins (13.9%) were the most common cause of CADR, followed by cephalosporins (8.8%) and fluoroquinolones (6.9%). A total of 28 patients (13%) were found to have severe cutaneous adverse reactions to drugs. It is important to closely monitor the patient, when a new drug is introduced, which will aid in detecting and preventing of CADRs.
Staphylococcal-Scalded Skin Syndrome
Authors: Gulanikar Anirudha , Arghya Arpita
Published: May 2023

Staphylococcal-scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is also known as Ritter's disease. The symptoms produced by the strains of staphylococcus occur due to exfoliative toxins. Here, we have presented a case series of four children aged <2 years, who were admitted in MGM Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad, for fever in association with superficial fluid-filled lesions leaving large denuded areas behind Nikolsky's sign – positive. The mucosal area was spared. Blood culture served as diagnostic test, besides clinical history and examination. All the children were treated with cephalosporin and responded well. Hydration was maintained with topical mupirocin over the eroded areas. A high degree of suspicion has to be there for SSSS. We emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary management, association with dermatologist, pediatrics, and plastic surgeon for better outcome. Although considered rare, we came across four cases of SSSS with classical presentation.
Intriguing Case of Porokeratosis of Mibelli on Gluteal Region
Authors: Lunge Snehal B , Dhorigol Vijayalakshmi M , Bindagi Anisha P
Published: May 2023

Porokeratosis (PK) is a rare group of heterogeneous disorders of keratinization representing diverse phenotypic expressions of the same genetic defect, which is mainly inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. This report describes the case of a 40-year-old female with PK over the gluteal region. The rarity of this disorder, unusual site of presentation, and involvement of unilateral side of gluteal region, which is unusual in this form of PK, and the occurrence in a female patient motivated to report this case.
Clinicobacteriological Study of Pyoderma with Trends in Antibiotic Sensitivity at a Tertiary Care Center in Western India
Authors: Chavan Kasturi , Doshi Bhavana Ravindra , Dohe Vaishali
Published: May 2023

Background:

Pyoderma refers to any pus-forming infection of the skin. Antibiotic resistance has significantly downplayed the utility of established antibiotics and possesses a serious threat to public health.

Objective:

To study the causative organisms, their trends of antibiotic sensitivity pattern thus helping in prescribing appropriate antibiotics and study the response to the treatment in patients of pyoderma.

Materials and Methods:

A 2-month prospective study on a cohort of 30 pyoderma patients attending the outpatient and inpatient department in our tertiary care hospital under ICMR short-term studentship was undertaken. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software version 24.

Results:

Those in 5th–6th decade were more predisposed. Higher incidence was seen in anemics. Staphylococcus spp. (26/30 case 86.66%) was the most common organisms to be isolated in 12/15 (80%) outpatients and 14/15 (93.33%) inpatients. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was isolated equally (33.33%) in both outpatient and inpatients, with increasing trend in MRSA in out-patients. Higher incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in outpatients was noted. MRSA in superficial pyoderma group was sensitive to one first-line drug which was gentamycin, whereas in deep pyoderma, the only first-line drug to which the MRSA was 100% sensitive was ciprofloxacin. All MRSA, MSSA, MR CONS, and MS CONS were sensitive to all second-line drugs. Sixty-percent patients who showed no response to empirical primary line of treatment showed good response on changing the antibiotics according to the reports of culture and sensitivity.

Conclusion:

An increasing trend in MRSA in outpatients was noticed along with higher incidence of Pseudomonas infection.

Limitation:

Small sample size.
A Study on Pattern of Dermatoses Affecting Periorbital Region and its Clinicodermoscopic Correlation
Authors: Bhavsar Namrata , Nair Pragya Ashok
Published: May 2023

Background:

The periorbital area may be affected by a vast number of dermatoses such as infectious or noninfectious diseases, inflammatory dermatoses, systemic diseases, drug reactions, benign and malignant lesions, and traumatic lesions, thus poses both diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

Objectives:

To study the pattern of dermatoses involving periorbital region and to correlate its clinical and dermoscopic findings.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was carried out in patients with periorbital dermatoses (PODs) attending the Department of Dermatology during April 2018–March 2019 after approval from the ethical committee. A detailed history was taken and investigations including hemoglobin levels, Vitamin B12, serum cholesterol, and wood's lamp examination were done as and when required. A prestructured pro forma was used to collect the data. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2010 and analyzed using EPI INFO. Ver7 software (Developed by united states of America centre for disease control.

Results:

A total of 275 patients were studied of which majority of patients belonged to the age group of 41–60 years (38.5%) with a female-to-male ratio of 1.16:1. The most common group of PODs was skin tumors (25.1%), followed by disorders of pigmentation (17.4%), infections (13.1%), and periorbital dermatitis (11.6%). Most common dermoscopy findings of PODs were as follows: (a) common seborrhoeic keratosis (CSK): comedone-like opening, fissures and ridges, and sharp demarcation; (b) verruca vulgaris: finger-like papilla, red brown dots in center of papilla; (c) periorbital hyperpigmentation: blotches, globules, exaggerated pigment network, and reticular vessels; (d) allergic dermatitis: patchy red dots, pinkish hue, and patchy scale; (e) senile comedone: comedone-like opening; and (f) xeroderma pigmentosus: orange–yellow homogenous structures.

Conclusion:

Periorbital region is an area of cosmetic concern. Dermoscopy improves the differential diagnosis of common PODs and its knowledge may aid to reduce unnecessary invasive procedures such as shaving or incisional biopsies which may lead to scarring.
Amblyopia: Effectiveness of visual screening for early detection in a comparative study between urban and rural school children
Authors: Kapadia Priti R. , Sneha B. V. , Jariwala Shivani B.
Published: May 2023

Background:

Amblyopia an important health problem among young children causing lifelong visual impairment if not treated at correct age. Timely screening of children for amblyopia and its appropriate treatment can prevent the consequences of the problem in their adulthood.

Materials and Methods:

This study carried out a visual screening of 1234 school children in the age group of 3–12 years of urban and rural schools. All children having vision < 6/6, were called for detailed ophthalmic evaluation at tertiary care Government Hospital. Children who met the inclusion criteria and their best-corrected visual acuity found to be <6/6 on Snellen’s chart even after refractive check-up, were assessed for different amblyopia tests to categorize amblyopia into various types and severity.

Results:

The prevalence of amblyopia in study group was 2.41% (8) in rural and 1.43% (13) in urban schools of 78 children from urban and 37 children from rural referred for detailed Ophthalmic evaluation which includes dropout rate of 24.35% and 35.13% from urban and rural, respectively. The prevalence of isoametropic amblyopia (38.46%) was maximum in urban whereas in rural it was anisometropic amblyopia (37.5%). Among the strabismic amblyopia, most frequent pattern was exotropia in both the groups, moderate degree amblyopia was more in urban and severe degree in rural. Amblyopia was bilateral in most of urban (61.53%) whereas unilateral in most of rural (75%) children. Hypermetropic refractive error was more prevalent in both urban and rural.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of amblyopia was found more in rural children. The study highlighted differences in the severity of amblyopia, its types, and common refractive errors in both the groups. On the whole, there was no statistically significant difference in all parameters among both the groups.
Case series of carotid cavernous fistula: Clinical and management outcomes
Authors: Mohanty Lipa , Kachhwaha Appurv , Barath Sitaram
Published: May 2023

A carotid-cavernous sinus fistula (CCF) is an abnormal vascular communication between internal carotid artery or external carotid artery and veins within cavernous sinus (CS). CCF commonly present with ophthalmic manifestations due to venous drainage of the orbit from the CS. Here, we present case series of four CCFs; two direct and two indirect and discuss their ophthalmological and neuroradiological features and management outcomes with digital subtraction angiography and endovascular coiling. CCF is a rare clinical presentation and its early diagnosis and treatment prevents life and vision-threatening complications.
Reliability and validity of the Taiwanese version of the collaborative practice assessment tool: A pilot study
Authors: Ho Chen-Pei , Yeh Hsiu-Chen , Lee Ming-Shinn , Cheng Wei-Chun
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

To promote teamwork communication and collaboration between health-care professionals, educators emphasized proper training programs to develop interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) among postgraduate (PG) trainees. A literature review indicated that the faculty necessarily measured the competency in IPCP with structured and applicable assessment tools in collocation to training programs domestically. A cross-sectional psychometric study was conducted to construct a reliable assessment tool for measuring PG learning outcome in Taiwan through a bidirectional translation. The study aimed to assess the interprofessional team behavior of trainees using the Taiwanese version of the collaborative practice assessment tool (T-CPAT).

Materials and Methods:

The study recruited 43 participants to undergo a PG training program in a single institute and to complete T-CPAT. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software. We employed descriptive analysis of demographic variables. The validity of T-CPAT was analyzed by experts in different specialties and its availability was assessed by item-level analysis. Furthermore, the T-CPAT reliability was tested using Cronbach’s α.

Results:

The average score was 305.2 (standard deviation = 38.08), and the expert validity of the T-CPAT was 0.96. In the item-level analysis, there were no failure items in T-CAPT. Cronbach’s α reached 0.94 (95% confidence interval = 0.90–0.96).

Conclusion:

The study demonstrated good reliability and validity for the T-CPAT. Thus, the T-CPAT can be used to accurately measure and assess the competence of IPCP in PG trainees in general medicine in Taiwan. The results were deemed sufficient to provide faculties with related arrangements for future teaching plans.
An Overview of the Major Constraints in Scylla Mud Crabs Grow-out Culture and Its Mitigation Methods
Authors: Liew Kit-Shing , Yong Francis Kai-Bin , Lim Leong-Seng
Published: May 2023

Scylla mud crabs are economically important portunid species for aquaculture in many countries. However, mass production of mud crabs as a supply of seafood is still difficult up-to-date. This review aimed to provide an overview of the major constraints faced in the grow-out farming of mud crabs, and the potential solutions were discussed. The major constraints in the Scylla mud crabs' grow-out culture are (1) inadequate seed supply, (2) cannibalism, (3) disease outbreaks, and (4) no commercial formulated feed that is specifically designed for mud crabs. The inadequate wild mud crabs seed supply can be solved through artificial seed production seed in the hatcheries, but the knowledge of mud crab requirements at early life stages is needed to improve the rearing techniques and production. Cannibalism in the grow-out culture of mud crabs is manageable, provided that the farmers are knowledgeable about the basic prevention methods (shelter provision, size grading, monosex culture) and they are practicing it. On the disease outbreaks, research into discovering new alternatives to antibiotics and prevention methods should be prioritized. Finally, the commercial formulated grow-out diet that is specific for the Scylla mud crabs should be developed to replace the use of natural products for feeding.
Land-use and Fish Condition Changes for Over a Decade on Konya Closed Basin, are External Anomalies Affecting the Fish Condition?
Authors: Korkmaz Mustafa , Mangit Fatih , Yerli Sedat V.
Published: May 2023

Anthropogenic pressures on freshwater ecosystems are growing and pose serious threats to endemic fish species. This study aimed to identify the effects of anthropogenic pressures on an endangered species, Pseudophoxinus crassus (Ladiges, 1960), in the semi-arid Konya Closed Basin of Türkiye. The distribution area of the species was found to be reduced and the only population sampled exhibited a high incidence of external anomalies. It is hard to identify the origin of the anomalies; however, abrupt increases in salinity and reductions in dissolved oxygen values indicate that intensive agricultural activities might be responsible for the pressures on the population. Additionally, temporal changes in population growth parameters were identified and the effects of anomalies on fish condition factors were examined. Fulton`s condition factor was found to be reduced among specimens with external anomalies. This relationship between anomalies and fitness as reflected by the condition factor was also observed for two other endemic species. It is unclear whether these anomalies affect feeding behaviours, although specimens with lower condition factors are more likely to exhibit anomalies. However, it is clear that without the rehabilitation or restoration of natural habitats, fitness reduction will severely affect the statuses of populations, particularly in cases of isolated populations.
Feedforward Harmonic Suppression for Noise Control of Piezoelectrically Driven Synthetic Jet Actuators
Authors: He Zixin , Mongeau Luc , Taduri Rahul , Menicovich David
Published: May 2023

Piezoelectrically driven Synthetic Jet Actuators (SJAs) are a class of pulsatile flow generation devices that promises to improve upon steady forced cooling methods in air flow generation, surface cleaning and heat transfer applications. Their acoustic emissions and vibrations, an intrinsic by-product of their operation, needs to be mitigated for applications in noise-sensitive contexts. Already used for aerodynamic control [1, 2], thrust vectoring [3], spray control [4], and heat transfer [5, 6], they are increasingly being considered for sensor lens cleaning in automobiles. In this study, the sound generation mechanisms of SJAs are discussed and an active noise reduction method is proposed and evaluated. Driven with a single frequency sinusoidal input, SJAs produce acoustic emissions at harmonic frequencies within the frequency range of speech communication. The sound pressure levels of those emissions are commensurate with that of other automotive subsystems and electronic components. Previous attempts at noise control include passive strategies, such as, nozzle design [7, 8], enclosure design [5], and mufflers. Active strategies, such as out-of-phase actuator pairs [9], and signal modulation have also been considered. Given their relative novelty, further reduction is possible at the source through the tuning of prominent tonal components of their emissions. The present study demonstrates that feedforward active control, achieved through input harmonic tuning, results in significant drops in the loudness of the radiated sound with minimal effects on flow and cleaning performance. Acoustic emissions from all prominent harmonics could be reduced using this method. Tuning is local to the location of the error microphone and further work is required to achieve global tuning. Preliminary performance investigations are presented.
A New Method for Controlling Vibration in Automotive Applications: Circular Force Generator Technology
Authors: Norris Mark A. , Barbulescu Stefan , Kintz Andy , Orzechowski Jeff , Sanderson Michael , Sanderson Brad
Published: May 2023

Automotive Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) continues to be critical to address in passenger vehicles, especially as new vehicles today emphasize the use of lighter weight materials that create even more challenging NVH issues. NVH can negatively impact drivability and comfort, as well as perceived vehicle quality. Moreover, with the development of increased driver ergonomic technologies and capabilities (audible or otherwise), NVH continues to be key in allowing these technologies to be fully effective. Both passive and active control technologies are used extensively to improve automotive NVH. The use of active noise and vibration control has become a standard solution approach in vehicles, especially to mitigate low-frequency noise and vibration inside the vehicle. Linear actuators have been used in active engine mounts as well as frame vibration control to mitigate passenger cabin NVH. This paper introduces a new lightweight approach for active vibration control for automotive applications. Controllable Circular Force Generator (CFG) technology is introduced to displace the use of larger, heavy linear electromagnetic technology, and is shown to provide improved performance with lower weight and cost.
A Psychoacoustic Test for Urban Air Mobility Vehicle Sound Quality
Authors: Boucher Matthew , Rafaelof Menachem , Begault Durand , Christian Andrew , Krishnamurthy Siddhartha , Rizzi Stephen
Published: May 2023

This paper describes a psychoacoustic test in the Exterior Effects Room (EER) at the NASA Langley Research Center. The test investigated the degree to which sound quality metrics (sharpness, tonality, etc.) are predictive of annoyance to notional sounds of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicles (e.g., air taxis). A suite of 136 unique (4.6 second duration) UAM rotor noise stimuli was generated. These stimuli were based on aeroacoustic predictions of a NASA reference UAM quadrotor aircraft under two flight conditions. The synthesizer changed rotor noise parameters such as the blade passage frequency, the relative level of broadband self-noise, and the relative level of tonal motor noise. With loudness constant, the synthesis parameters impacted sound quality in a way that created a spread of predictors both in synthesizer parameters and in sound quality metrics. Forty subjects listened to the suite of UAM noise stimuli in the EER and judged each sound individually on a standard scale of annoyance. Additionally, a subset of the UAM noise stimuli were compared to a reference sound that varied in loudness. From these responses, the relative effect of changes in loudness or changes in other sound quality metrics on annoyance was evaluated. This paper covers background and motivation for the test, details of how the sound stimuli were generated, and details of the test design and execution. Test results investigate how sound quality may affect perceived annoyance to UAM vehicle noise, indicating the importance of sharpness, tonality, impulsiveness, and roughness on annoyance to UAM noise.