bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges in the Diagnosis & Management of Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Bhate Dr. Shreya , Tambe Dr. Pranita , Misal Dr. Ganesh
Published: May 2022

Neonatal sepsis is the main cause of neonatal mortality and a major public health problem, especially in underdeveloped countries. Although recent medical services have improved neonatal care, but still challenges remain in the diagnosis and management of neonatal infections. The diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is complicated by the frequent presence of non-infectious conditions that resemble sepsis, especially in preterm infants, and by the absence of optimal diagnostic tests. Since neonatal sepsis is a high-risk disease, especially in preterm infants, clinicians are compelled to empirically start antibiotics to infants with risk factors with and without signs of suspected sepsis. Unfortunately, both broad-spectrum antibiotics and prolonged treatment with empirical antibiotics are associated with adverse outcomes and increase antimicrobial resistance rates. Given the high incidence and mortality of sepsis in preterm infants and its long-term consequences on growth and development, efforts to reduce the rates of infection in this vulnerable population are one of the most important interventions in neonatal care. In this review, we discuss the most common questions and challenges in the diagnosis and management of neonatal sepsis, with a focus on developing countries.
Reading a Scientific Article
Authors: Andure Dr. Dhananjay
Published: May 2022

To read a scientific article is a comprehensive task. Normally one can approach this task with treating it like textbook; reading the scientific article from title to references cited, accepting everything along the way without any your reflection or criticism over the article, is the most wrong way of reading an article. Reading a scientific research article for the first time may be confusing and little difficult to comprehend. The current information suggests you how to read a scientific article beat by beat and thoroughly. You should not approach a scientific article like a textbook; i.e. reading from beginning to end of the chapter or book without pause for reflection or criticism. Additionally, it is highly recommended that you highlight and take notes as you move through the article. Having proper notes while reading an article will keep you focused on the task and help you work towards proper comprehension of the entire article.
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C): A Case Report
Authors: Tambe Dr. Pranita , Misal Dr. Ganesh , Waydande Dr. Suresh
Published: May 2022

We are in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Although, initially thought to a?ect children less severely, 1–3   SARS-CoV-2 infection has recently been associated with a novel set of clinical manifestations presently called multisystem in?ammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)4  as shown a rapid increment in cases across the world among the pediatric population. Here, we bring a case report, followed up in the rural tertiary care hospital.
Features of changes in prooxidant-antioxidant balance of tissues during activation of seed germination
Authors: Bobrova Mariia , Holodaieva Olena , Koval Svitlana , Tsviakh Olha , Kucher Olena
Published: May 2022

Aim of the research: to identify changes in the value of indicators of the state of the prooxidant-antioxidant system (PAS) in seed tissues at rest and the initiation of its germination processes. The subject of the research is the role of individual components of the PAS in ensuring the activation of seeds before germination. Methodology. Quantitative determination of indicators of the state of PAS was performed on tissue samples of seeds of the following plants: Glycine max L., Helianthus annuus L., Fagopyrum esculentum L., Linum usitatissimum L., Sinapis alba L., Chenopodium quinoa L., Panicum miliaceum L., Oryza sativa L., Avena sativa L., Zea mays L., Hordeum vulgare L., Triticum durum Desf. The concentration of superoxide anion radical (•O2-), TBA-active products, cytochrome oxidase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, catalase, the concentration of ascorbic acid, glutathione was determined. The results of the research show that for the tissues of seeds of experimental Magnoliopsida plants at rest, both links of PAS are more powerful than in Liliopsida, the level of free radical peroxidation (FRPO) is lower, which is achieved by both enzymatic and low molecular weight antioxidants (AO). Germination activation enhances both links of PAS in all experimental groups of plants, however, in Magnoliopsida, we observe the stronger generation of •O2-, and the predominance of protection by enzymatic AO, and in Liliopsida - low molecular weight.
Sosialisasi Pentingnya Pendidikan Untuk Mengurangi Tingkat Pernikahan Dini di Desa Banding Agung
Authors: Rina Oktaviana  , Leni Widiyanti  , Itryah
Published: May 2022

Education is a process of learning the knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people passed down from one generation to the next through a system of training, guidance and research to create a superior generation in the future. Meanwhile, early marriage is a great institution to bind two people of the opposite sex who are still underage teenagers in one family bond (Lutfiati, 2008: ). Economic factors are often accompanied by the level of education. The lower the level of education and knowledge of a teenager, especially those who drop out of school, the higher the probability that these teenagers will be married prematurely. Therefore, there is a need for socialization to increase knowledge and knowledge and remind the importance of education for the younger generation in the future with the aim of this socialization being able to reduce the number of early marriage rates in Banding Agung Village
Pelatihan Penyusunan Instrumen Tes Matematika Online Berbasis PISA Bagi Guru matematika SMP Bengkulu
Authors: Edi Susanto  , Agus Susanta  , Rusdi
Published: May 2022

One of the reference standards in measuring the understanding of secondary school students at the international level is the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey. This is also supported by the implementation of a minimum competency assessment (AKM) in 2021 with a focus on numeracy and literacy skills. However, the results of the PISA survey in 2018 Indonesia only ranked 72 out of 78 participating countries. One of the contributing factors is that students are not accustomed to solving PISA-based questions. So that training on the preparation of PISA-based online mathematics test instruments was carried out. This training activity aims to design a PISA-based online mathematics test instrument. The activity was held at the Bengkulu City Mathematics MGMP which was attended by 45 SMP/MTs mathematics teachers. The implementation of the preparation consists of four stages, namely: (1) module design, (2) question preparation training, (3) structured assignments, (4) online test design. The results of the activity were composed of 25 online PISA test instruments that met the valid criteria. The results of the teacher's response to the training activities on the criteria are good
Primary School Teachers’ Perception on the role of ICT in Collaboration in England/ İngiltere'de İlkokul Öğretmenlerinin Bilgi İletişim Teknolojilerinin (BİT) İşbirliğindeki Rolüne İlişkin Algısı
Authors: ÇİFTÇİ Abdullah , DEMİRDİŞ Bahaddin
Published: May 2022

Technology is ubiquitous and taken-for-granted part of everyday life and education that has become intrinsic in daily life. In many areas, especially education, information and communication technologies (ICT) are seen as being a significant agent for change and improving pedagogical practices, as there has been positive discourse around their value. Teachers’ accounts of everyday classroom use of technology are being explored to build a theoretical, pedagogical, and practical understanding of educational practice that involves technology as an intrinsic component of the classroom. As technology continues to evolve, educational praxis and pedagogy change alongside it. It is therefore important to explore what the role of technology is, as reported by practitioners in mainstream schools within an intensive and particularly challenging urban context. The current study aims to understand teachers’ use of technology in their daily classroom practices to contribute to collaboration between teachers and pupils. Twelve interviews were conducted with primary school teachers in England. The participating teachers came from five different schools based in South and North London, and one school in West London. The findings of the current study showed ICT supports interaction and collaboration; thus, pupils can learn from each other with the supportive pedagogical features of ICT. However, collaboration is limited to creating posters and slides, and also there is limited practices of collaboration between pupils with and without special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), so collaboration that supports problem-solving skills and the development of metacognitive skills was reported as typically absent.
Proposal of a Flipped Classroom Model Based on SPOC
Authors:   A research team in Computer Science and University Pedagogical Engineering (S2IPU) Normal School of Tétouan, Abdel Malek Essaadi University – Morocco., Soufiane Ouariach
Published: May 2022

With the advent of blended learning, a new teaching method has emerged, the flipped classroom is a key component of blended learning and is currently attracting a great deal of interest from researchers and educators. The flipped classroom model involves the organization of an educational process in which classroom activities and assignments are reversed. The birth of the SPOC (Small Private Online course) in the field of education allows us to envisage new approaches and new learning contexts, and also leads to an entirely new working methodology. Combining a learning model based on the SPOC and the flipped classroom can help learners to be more involved in the subject and bring more interaction between the teacher and learners by providing a flexible and feasible model, the latter exploits the possibilities offered by modern technologies and offers many advantages to learners, among its advantages we find the collaborative work that is privileged with the construction of groups that encourage reflection, communication, cooperation, and mutual aid. In this model the teacher is not always physically present, the learner must have all the necessary information for a good exploration of the course.
Centro de Incubación e Innovación Empresarial del Instituto Tecnológico de Huatabampo
Authors:   Instituto Tecnológico de Huatabampo, Arana Lugo Francisca Rosario , Quintana Durán Rosa Guadalupe ,   Instituto Tecnológico de Huatabampo, Zazueta Arguilez Guadalupe ,   Instituto Tecnológico de Huatabampo, Gutiérrez Zavala Patricia ,   Instituto Tecnológico de Huatabampo, Ochoa León Ramón Enrique
Published: May 2022

Una incubadora de empresas sirve para transferir conocimientos de cuerpos colegiados y alumnos, en conjunto con el sector productivo e instituciones gubernamentales, privadas y mixtas. Se puede conformar con o sin registro, y su obtención se deben de cumplir con ciertos requisitos de la Secretaría de Economía (SE), esta institución opera por medio de un modelo que puede o no ser reconocido. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue determinar los pasos y documentos que se requieren para lograr el registro ante la Secretaría de Economía del el Centro de Incubación e Innovación Empresarial del Instituto Tecnológico de Huatabampo (ITHUA) como una oportunidad de mejorar el servicio de ésta. Se desarrollo bajo un enfoque cualitativo con alcance explicativo y descriptivo, se aplicó un instrumento de evaluación a una muestra de 12 individuos, se logró determinar y recabar la información requerida, y se participó en una convocatoria a nivel estatal de la cual aún a estas fechas no se tienen respuesta.
Importancia de la creación de un sistema de indicadores de gestión
Authors:   Universidad Politécnica Territorial Alonso Gamero, Zavala Blanco Yinett Ysmenia
Published: May 2022

El propósito general de esta investigación se enfocó en interpretar la importancia de creación de un sistema de indicadores de gestión, con la finalidad de proporcionarle al Instituto Municipal de la Mujer Colinense Yenny Centeno, Municipio Colina, estado Falcón mecanismos necesarios para gerenciar de manera óptima los recursos materiales y financieros; además, medir la eficiencia, eficacia y economía. El control de la gestión pública mediante indicadores de gestión marca importancia creciente en la administración de entes públicos, como proceso de control de las acciones para alcanzar los objetivos planteados, con la verificación de resultados, que demuestren que las políticas o acciones tomadas corresponden con los objetivos y en caso contrario aplicar los correctivos. De allí nace la inquietud por desarrollar esta investigación, cuyo resultado, proporcione información para la toma de decisiones. Este estudio se fundamenta en la Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela y la Ley Orgánica de la Contraloría General de la República y del Sistema Nacional de Control Fiscal, pues en ellas se establece la legalidad de la aplicación del control de gestión. La Metodología se corresponde con una Investigación documental, con alcance descriptivo, enmarcada en el paradigma interpretativo, de enfoque cualitativo dado que se busca comprender y describir la importancia de la creación de un sistema de indicadores de gestión. Se concluye, que es necesario implementar un sistema de indicadores de gestión como herramienta para disminuir la incertidumbre y la subjetividad en la ejecución de las actividades, aumentar la efectividad en el logro de los objetivos, metas y aportar información significativa en la toma de decisiones oportunas en las etapas del ciclo organizacional, donde las mediciones permitan lograr conocimiento que se traduzca en una mejor calidad de productos y servicios.
Planificación estratégica situacional como herramienta gerencial de la administración pública
Authors:   Universidad Politécnica Territorial Alonso Gamero, Rivero Serradas Lu R
Published: May 2022

La administración pública en Venezuela ha atravesado por cambios a lo largo del tiempo, que están en estrecha relación con cambios políticos, económicos y sociales a nivel mundial. Teniendo como norte la mejora de la capacidad administrativa, a través de una gestión capaz de institucionalizar la gobernabilidad, con los procesos administrativos necesarios para resolver de manera eficaz y eficiente los problemas que presenta la sociedad, como lo establece la Ley. La planificación plantea varios elementos epistemológicos: el sujeto que planifica, el espacio poblacional sobre el que se toman las decisiones, los marcos de trabajo y la utilización del conocimiento científico, mediante la cual se selecciona la evidencia (objetivo/ abstracto vs. subjetivo/experiencial) y se le da significado para la legitimación de las decisiones. Con esta investigación se pretende reflexionar sobre la pertinencia de implementar la planificación estratégica situacional, como herramienta gerencial de la administración pública: Dirección Agrícola Animal, de la Secretaría de Desarrollo Agrícola, de la Gobernación del estado Falcón, como ente encargado de gestionar las políticas, planes, proyectos y programas, en materia agrícola para el estado. Esta investigación de enfoque cualitativo adopta un modelo inductivo; donde la realidad a estudiar es subjetiva, ya que depende del investigador. De diseño documental, tipo monografía y nivel descriptivo. La técnica implementada para el desarrollo de este trabajo fue análisis documental con visión crítica. Donde se pudo constatar, que el perfil del gerente y la designación de recursos son elementos claves en la gestión del ente en cuestión. Independientemente del tipo de organización (pública o privada), al no tener una estrategia bien definida, no hay certeza de que se logre cumplir con los objetivos propuestos, en el caso de la administración pública, se deben orientar a la satisfacción de las necesidades de la comunidad.
Sistema IOT para el monitoreo de variables físicas agroambientales determinantes en la producción agropecuaria
Authors:   Universidad Popular del Cesar, Navarro Pino Darwin , Guerrero Sumalave Didier Fernando ,   Universidad Popular del Cesar, Arango Trillos Jhon Elier ,   Centro Agroempresarial SENA, Rincón Pinzón Miguel Alberto ,   Universidad Popular del Cesar, Ramírez Orellano Luis Octavio ,   Universidad Popular del Cesar
Published: May 2022

Internet de las Cosas (IoT) es una de las tendencias tecnológicas que soportan el paradigma Industria 4.0, convirtiéndose en su base tecnológica fundamental, por esto, el desarrollo de objetos conectados a internet que permitan recolectar grandes volúmenes de información y ser analizados en tiempo real, es una necesidad y requerimiento para mejorar la productividad en cualquiera de los sectores socio económicos, y la agricultura no puede estar ajena a esta exigencia. El Centro Agroempresarial Aguachica del SENA, se propuso iniciar un proceso de tecnificación de la finca donde realizan las prácticas productivas sus aprendices, por tal motivo financió a través del Sistema de Investigación, Desarrollo Tecnológico e Innovación del SENA (SENNOVA), un proyecto de investigación aplicada titulado prototipo de finca inteligente utilizando tecnologías IoT como estrategia para mejorar la productividad agropecuaria, con el propósito de desarrollar un prototipo IoT para el monitoreo de variables físicas agroambientales determinantes en la producción agropecuaria. La metodología implementada fue la de prototipado, cuyo objetivo es construir un prototipo IoT de manera rápida para experimentar, retroalimentar y posteriormente hacer ajustes. Las fases desarrolladas fueron: especificaciones y requerimientos, diseño, construcción, pruebas y optimización. Los resultados del estudio demostraron la factibilidad de monitorear y analizar variables físicas en tiempo real desde cualquier parte donde se logre conectividad, mostrando la necesidad de hacer estudios situacionales que permitan identificar los requerimientos técnicos y tecnológicos de los sistemas agropecuarios y de conectividad en las zonas rurales. Adicionalmente, el desarrollo del proyecto se puede utilizar como una guía para ser aplicada en el desarrollo de sistemas IoT.
Herramientas TIC en el campo pedagógico para el desarrollo de competencias ingenieriles desde la educación media
Authors:   Universidad Popular del Cesar, Cristancho Portillo Yerly , Córdoba Murillo María Dilia ,   Colegio Distrital Montebello, Ortega Santiago Yina Paola ,   Universidad Popular del Cesar, Jorge García José Gregorio ,   Universidad Popular del Cesar, Lozano Rivera Dagoberto ,   Universidad Popular del Cesar
Published: May 2022

Cada vez es más frecuente el uso de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones en las instituciones de educación media y de orden superior. El objetivo de este proyecto fue mostrar como la integración de estas teorías en automatización de procesos de aula y tecnología de sensores, mediante la construcción de un curso virtual de robótica educativa para apoyar el desarrollo curricular, contribuye a la optimización de los procesos de aprendizaje en entornos ingenieriles específicos, además de potenciar habilidades del pensamiento computacional en los estudiantes. El proyecto fue guiado por la metodología de Diseño Instruccional (DI), en lo referente a la validación de la intervención se realizó bajo un enfoque mixto y una triangulación entre los datos recopilados por medio de la aplicación de un pre-test y pos-test, entrevistas al personal docente y los investigadores, así como de los registros de la plataforma Moodle. La intervención estuvo centrada en actividades de aprendizaje mediante un curso virtual de robótica educativa a través de las herramientas Scratch y Arduino, bajo el cual se puede concluir que mantener la motivación de los estudiantes es posible mediante la innovación de prácticas educativas sujetas a la elección de estrategias asertivas en cuanto al desarrollo eficaz de competencias ingenieriles en los educandos.
Teoría de acción interpretativa como complemento de un estudio etnográfico en docentes del Programa Nacional de Formación en Mecánica
Authors:   Universidad Politécnica Territorial de Falcón Alonso Gamero, Piña López Luis Eduardo , Marcano Yelitza ,   Universidad del Zulia, Senior Alexa ,   Universidad del Zulia, Payares Lesbia ,   Universidad Politécnica Territorial de Falcón Alonso Gamero
Published: May 2022

Esta investigación reúne los aportes basados en la teoría de acción interpretativa sobre los hallazgos de un estudio etnográfico hecho en la gestión instruccional de un programa de formación universitaria. Usó un riguroso proceso lógico-metódico con variadas formas de captación de datos y profundo análisis informativo con hetero-triangulación, para luego presentar un mapa ilustrativo del hecho educativo. Se desarrolló para la búsqueda de una explicación fenomenológica del sentido y modos de vida de los actores sociales, cuya intención fue la de redescubrir sus significancias más resaltantes, en una vuelta a sus momentos escénicos. Se siguió un método sociológico de vida cotidiana asentado en postulados de Alfred Schütz y Harold Garfinkel. Entre las implicaciones derivadas, se cita la trascendencia del esquema en red que influencia los procesos de gestión currículo-instruccional, a la vez de propiciar cambios conductuales socioeducativos.
Indicadores de eficiencia como una herramienta financiera para la toma de decisiones idóneas en las organizaciones
Authors:   Tecnológico de Antioquia, Rico Buitrago Jesús Daniel , Herrera Martínez José Mauricio ,   Corporación Universitaria Remington, Cárcamo Hernández Catalina ,   Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios
Published: May 2022

Los nuevos retos mundiales, exigen a las empresas incurrir en métodos eficaces para la toma de decisiones que les genere valor y aumente la productividad de sus activos. El presente estudio es parte del resultado de investigación de la tesis doctoral denominada “sistema de indicadores de eficiencia financiera en las pymes del sector textil de Medellín”, planteando como objetivo principal observar los indicadores de eficiencia como una herramienta financiera para la toma de decisiones idóneas en las organizaciones, referenciando los postulados teóricos de Estupiñán (2020); Zamorano (2020); Ortiz (2018); Lavalle (2017); Izar (2016); Córdoba (2016); Rodríguez (2012); entre otros. La metodología implementada durante el desarrollo del presente estudio es: un enfoque cualitativo y se tipificó con un diseño descriptivo, explicativo y no experimental. En cuanto a la ejecución de la misma se utilizó la revisión sistemática de bibliografía como técnica de recolección de datos y para su interpretación, se empleó el resumen lógico y análisis de contenido. Mediante el análisis de resultados del presente estudio se puede evidenciar que, los indicadores de eficiencia sirven como herramienta financiera en las organizaciones, por cuanto miden los resultados organizacionales, propician el análisis y evaluación de datos, generan la construcción de metas, optimizan los recursos financieros y complementan la información suministrada por los estados financieros.
Aproximación histórica a los conceptos de abducción, hermenéutica, conjetura y estética para llegar a la narrativa apócrifa
Authors:   Universidad de Antioquia, Arroyave Rave Yovany
Published: May 2022

La presente investigación tuvo como propósito realizar una aproximación histórica a los conceptos de abducción, hermenéutica, conjetura y estética para aterrizar en la categoría de la narrativa apócrifa. El estudio estuvo fundamentado sobre los postulados de algunos investigadores en el área: Pierce (1903), Popper (1972), Torres (2016), Aguirre (2003), Bayer (1980), entre otros. El estudio se enmarcó en el paradigma cualitativo con diseño de tipo no experimental y documental, con alcance descriptivo. Para la búsqueda de la información se utilizaron bases de datos indexadas como como Scopus, Elsevier, Dialnet, Google Scholar. Es este sentido, se presentaron los conceptos de abducción, una inferencia ampliatoria donde se generan teorías -un tipo de argumentación distinta a la deducción e inducción-; la hermenéutica que es la forma de interpretar y comprender el mundo; y la conjetura, un camino válido para la obtención de la verdad. Una vez presentados los conceptos en tanto presupuestos de definición se procedió al trabajo documental. Es así como cada uno de estos conceptos aportan elementos para poder apuntalar hacia una narrativa apócrifa. En conclusión, este ejercicio creativo puede converger, desde el acontecer pedagógico y didáctico, en narrativas apócrifas que influyan de manera positiva en los diversos procesos de la educación superior.
Práctica y didáctica de la historia en el bachillerato universitario: una evaluación integral del desempeño docente
Authors:   Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Flores Gamboa Silvestre , Tisnado Zamudio Lilia ,   Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa
Published: May 2022

De acuerdo al contexto educativo actual que se vive dentro del nivel de bachillerato universitario en la Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, cuyo modelo educativo centrado en el alumno a partir de un enfoque pedagógico por competencias, siendo el espacio áulico el sitio ideal donde las prácticas son guiadas por un facilitador que comprende la asimilación conceptual y construye, a partir de diferentes contextos y situaciones un aprendizaje trascendental, significativo. Por lo tanto, el maestro debe tener la capacidad de diseñar aquellos procesos que le permitan cumplir con sus propósitos, siendo uno de ellos a través del diseño de estrategias didácticas. En este sentido, el presente estudio tiene por objetivo principal delimitar las estrategias de enseñanza-aprendizaje más exitosas implementadas por el docente en la enseñanza de la historia, identificando aquellos elementos pedagógicos utilizados para fomentar dicho aprendizaje. De acuerdo al enfoque y el contexto de la presente investigación, los métodos, técnicas e instrumentos para llevar a cabo la recolección de datos están cimentados en la investigación documental y de campo bajo un enfoque cuantitativo. Entre los principales resultados se demuestra que los docentes que imparten asignaturas del campo histórico social realizan sus planeaciones de clase de forma constante (88.9%), considerando las características de los estudiantes, el plan de estudios, las competencias a desarrollar, los criterios de evaluación, entre otros factores. Así mismo, utilizan diversas estrategias de enseñanza-aprendizaje que le permiten tener un impacto positivo en su práctica educativa, por lo que se concluye que existe una práctica y didáctica de la historia aceptable entre los docentes bajo estudio.
Rectifying Color Blindness by Graded Colored Filters
Authors:   Associate Professor in Clinical Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine of Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, USA, Shimmyo Mitsugu , Chen Xiao Guan ,   Professor of Mathematics, Jilin University, China
Published: May 2022

Significant number of men (5-8%) and a smaller number of women (about 0.4%) suffer from color perception deficiencies. This study introduces new computerized anomaloscope, new graded color filters to rectify color perception deficiencies based on quantitative analyses of the individual color sensitivity spectrum. This also reports mass survey of color blindness in 205,266 Chinese military candidates.
Is Omicron a Tsunami? What should be the strategy to prevent the loss?
Authors: Mulazim Hussain Bukhari
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic began in December 2019 with the 5th wave setting in from January 2022. Every wave was due to the emergence of a new variant of the virus. The first wave was caused by the Wuhan Virus from 26th February- September 2020, second wave lasted from 28th Oct 2020 to February 2021 whereas the third wave or UK variant emerged from our neighbouring country India. Corona first and second wave in Pakistan, and strategies The 1st and 2nd waves were associated with a low death rate. It was well controlled due to being timely managed by the Government. It was short lived as the case and death rates began to recede rapidly after peaking. The management policies of smart and partial lockdowns proved successful by curbing the transmission of the disease. The same strategies were adopted in the second wave. The first wave claimed 6795 lives, infected 332,186, left behind 632 on ventilators. During the 2nd wave, there were 579,973 infected and 12,860 died till 28th February 2021.

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Myelomeningocele among Pakistani population
Authors: Fatima Urooj , Shabnam Khan  , Syeda Urooj Riaz  , Hussain Mehdi  , Meesam Iftikhar  , Nida Fatima
Published: May 2022

Objective: To investigate the mutation in Vangl1 gene in patients of myelomeningocele.
Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2017 to December 2017 in the Dow Diagnostic and Research Laboratory, Karachi, after approval from the ethics review committee of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, and comprised clinically diagnosed infants and 10 healthy individuals from the outpatient department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Several anatomical parameters were considered, such as size and site of the cyst. Blood samples were drawn and polymerase chain reaction was conducted for the identification of mutation in Vangl1 gene. Mutation analysis was carried out by aligning the sequence with the reference sequence.
Results: Of the 60 subjects, 50(83.3%) were cases with age range 0-10 years, and 10(16.6%) were age matched controls. Majority of the patients 44 (88%) were aged <1 year. Novel mutation in Vangl1 gene was identified at position 239, showing the substitution of valine with glycineV239G. Lumbar region was the most common site for the presentation of myelomeningocele in most of the patients 46(92%).
Conclusion: The rare mutation of myelomeningocele was found present in the sample, and the disease was found mostly in the lumbar region.
Key Words: Myelomeningocele, Neural tube disorders, Valine, Glycine, Mutation.
‘Haemodialysis burden’ overweighs the associations of demographic, social and clinical factors on quality of life: a single centre study from Pakistan
Authors: Saleem Imran , Dhrolia Murtaza , Qureshi Ruqaya , Nasir Kiran , Ahmad Aasim
Published: May 2022

Objective: To assess health-related quality of life in haemodialysis patients, and the impact of various factors in this regard.
Method: The retrospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted at The Kidney Centre Post-Graduate Training Institute, Karachi, and comprised data from June to December 2019 of patients on maintenance haemodialysis. The health-related quality of life was assessed using the self-administered Urdu version of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form version 1.3. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.
Results: Of the 150 questionnaires distributed, 110(73.3%) were received fully completed. There were 64(58.2%) males, 46(41.8%) were females, 90(81.8%) were under aged <60 years, 76(69%) were married, 54(49.1%) had income up to PKR50,000, 64(58.2%) had received education up to secondary school, and 56(50.9%) had been on haemodialysis for <5 years.  The overall health-related quality of life mean score was 52.0±11.7, and it had no significant association with age, gender, haemodialysis duration, marital status, education level, and income of the subjects (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The health-related quality of life in haemodialysis patients was not found to have significant association with age, gender, haemodialysis duration, marital status, education level, and income.
Key Words: Quality of life, Haemodialysis, Kidney disease.
Trends and outcomes of admissions in the Paediatrics ward at a tertiary care hospital of urban Karachi
Authors: Shazia Durrani Fakhir  , Nadia Khalid  , Fatima Fakhir Musharraf  , Shakeel Ahmad
Published: May 2022

In order to improve the health care system in Pakistan, the first step is to assess which diseases are the most prevalent and to what extent among children and lead to hospital admissions. This would help to improve the facilities and management and thus reduce the duration of hospital stay. This study aimed to determine the spectrum of disease presentation and the outcome and duration of hospital stay of patients presenting to the paediatric ward of a tertiary care hospital.
A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in the paediatric ward of a semi-private hospital PNS SHIFA in Karachi. The duration of the study was six months (March 2019 to August 2019) and the sample size was 431. Non probability convenience sampling was done and p-value =/< 0.05 was taken as significant. Data was analysed through SPSS version 22.
The study showed that gastroenterological diseases were the most common (138 [32%]), and all patients with these problems were discharged after treatment. Out of the 96 (22%) patients presenting with pulmonary diseases all were discharged except 2/96 patients (2%) who died as they had some co-morbidity (congenital heart disease and measles, respectively). One was referred (congenital heart disease). Seventy-five (17.5%) had infectious diseases with good outcome, 2 out of 19 (4.9%) had cardiac related illnesses. One neurological patient died, while the rest of 41 were discharged.---Continue
Rising Glaucoma Burden in Pakistan: A Wake-up Call for Nationwide screening?
Authors: Sana Kazmi  , Adina Jabeen  , Gul Rabbia
Published: May 2022

A significant rise of 55% in blindness and vision impairment in Pakistan has been reported over the last few decades, with blindness being the third most common eye disorder in the country1. Among its different causes one of the leading cause is glaucoma, with an age standardized prevalence of 0.14 million1. Glaucoma comprises a group of diseases that can result in irreversible damage to optic nerves and vision loss, it affects 3.1 million people around the world2. The occurrence of glaucoma in elderly has increased in the last few decades and a significant rise in the burden of eye diseases, including glaucoma, in Pakistan, is predicted by the year 20251.
Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma; it is asymptomatic in the early stages and patients usually present after significant damage to nerve fibres. One of the major risk factors for this disease is advancing age, being most prevalent in people over 40 years of age1. Moreover, a study conducted in Pakistan reported a high prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma in individuals over the age of 503. While glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness, the risk of blindness posed may be profoundly diminished with early diagnosis; a study suggests a marked decrease in blindness due to glaucoma owing to early diagnoses4.
In Pakistan, however, health seeking behaviour is already suboptimal. Additionally, a significant lack of awareness about glaucoma has also been reported in Pakistan, specifically in populations over the age of 455, which is the age group at the greatest risk of development of glaucoma. Proper access to eye health has been associated with employment prospects and economic productivity, especially in developing countries like Pakistan2, while loss of vision can lead to poor quality of life, especially in a country with very few options for meeting the needs of those who are visually impaired, leaving them with limited options for employment, hence forcing them to be dependent on others. This can collectively have a negative impact on a developing nation’s economy.
Considering the aforementioned factors, it goes without saying how incredibly imperative it is to devise a thorough strategic plan for screening, prevention and diagnosis, coupled with necessary awareness programmes to curb and reduce the instances of glaucoma and glaucoma-associated complications as a whole.
Development of a protocol for conducting a randomized control trial on effects of artificial intelligence on nutritional status of children post cardiac surgery
Authors: Zahid Maryam , Ume Sughra
Published: May 2022

Objectives: To assess the effect of diet-related mobile application based on artificial intelligence on the nutritional status of children post-cardiac surgery, and to compare their diet-related problems with their counterparts having the usual diet.
Method: The two-arm double-blind randomised controlled trial will be conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, over an expected duration of 6 months from March to August 2021. Intervention group A will be given a diet-related mobile application based on artificial intelligence, while usual-care group B will be handed a pamphlet with instructions related to post-operative diet on discharge.
Results: The findings will improve perception about the influence of artificial intelligence on nutritional status of children post-cardiac surgery. If proven to be effective, this mobile application can be used in other hospitals.
Conclusion: The study protocol will give an indication that whether diet-related mobile application can contribute to improving the nutritional status of children post-cardiac surgery. As the pandemic has forced people to minimise hospital visits, this is the right time to evaluate the utility of such an application.
Key Words: Artificial intelligence, Diet-related mobile application, Nutritional status, Children post-cardiac surgery, Randomised controlled trial.
Knowledge and practice of ethics among postgraduates in a public sector tertiary care hospital
Authors: Sahlish Kumar  , Iqra Ismail  , Komal Noorani  , Fatima Ashraf Ganatra  , Insiya Hashim  , Sara Maratib Ali  , Abu Talib
Published: May 2022

Objective: To explore the present state of competency in clinical ethics among postgraduate trainees in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: The interview-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Civil Hospital, Karachi, from September 2018 to March 2019, and comprised postgraduate trainees of either gender in any year of the training program across all specialties. Data was collected using self-reported questionnaire seeking opinion about present working conditions regarding clinical ethical issues on the hospital ground and problems they face from day to day. Data was analysed using SPSS 23.
Results: Of the 153 subjects, 96(62.7%) were females, 73(47.7%) were from Medicine and allied disciplines, and 80(52.3%) were from Surgery and allied disciplines. The primary source of their clinical ethics’ understanding was derived from their workplace [116(75.82%)]. While only 104 (68%) of the subjects knew about the Hippocratic Oath’s contents, less than 10% knew about Nuremberg Code and Helsinki declaration.  They mainly relied on their seniors at work for guidance on ethical issues [108 (70.59%)]. Overall, the subjects lacked basic knowledge of medical ethics and failed to practise ethical conduct during their training.
Conclusions: The knowledge of medical ethics was found to be unsatisfactory among doctors, and timely intervention was needed to improve the situation.
Key Words: Clinical ethics, Postgraduate education, Knowledge, Practices, Pakistan.
Effects of Covid-19 on physical activity and eating behaviours and their mutual relationship
Authors: Munir Fakhra , Ibrar Rimsha , Malik Yusra , Sana Bashir  , Ashfaq Madiha , Shafi Hina
Published: May 2022

The study aimed to determine the relationship between physical activity and eating behaviours among the physical therapy students of various physical therapy institutes of Rawalpindi/Islamabad during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study was conducted from September 2020 to February 2021. It was a cross sectional co-relational survey of a total of 209 physical therapy students, and the sampling technique was purposive sampling. Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) Questionnaire and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used as the data collection tools. Healthy young students of 18-26 years of age, of both genders, were included and students with major functional limitations were excluded from the study. The results showed that 87 (41.6%) participants had normal EAT-26 scores whereas 122 (58.4%) had abnormal EAT-26 scores.
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Challenges in Screening of Sexually Transmitted Viral Infections of the Female Genital Tract: Where Do we Stand? - A scoping review
Authors: Jamshed Bushra , Javed Maham , Zaki Saima , Khalid Huma , Idrak Sobia , Naseem Nadia
Published: May 2022

Globally more than a million sexually transmitted infections occur daily, and over 53 000 [47,000–60,000] women aged 15 and over were living with human immunodeficiency virus / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Pakistan by the year 2020. This situation becomes graver when the sexually transmitted infections exist as co-infections while remaining undiagnosed or under-diagnosed. Additionally, herpetic or papillomavirus lesions are more recurrent, more extensive and have more serious consequences in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients. Literature shows a dramatic increase in morbidity and mortality due to the occurrence of malignancies in genital co-infections. There is a key concern that every single adolescent female living in Pakistan is at a high risk of acquiring viral sexually transmitted infections along with malignancy of the cervix.
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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Postgraduate Training in Pediatrics
Authors: Hamid Muhammad Haroon , Bilal Mazher  , Saamia Aslam  , Aiman Shirin  , Tayyab Javed
Published: May 2022

Objective: To assess the impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic on paediatric postgraduate training as perceived by the trainees.
Method: The cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted at the Department of Paediatrics, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan, from May to June 2020, and comprised paediatric postgraduate trainees associated with various hospitals across the country who were approached online with a pre-designed 24-item questionnaire during the peak months of the pandemic. Data was analysed using SPSS 25.
Results: Of the 226 postgraduates, 134(59.2%) were females. The overall mean age was 28.85±3.06 years. Of the total, 200(88.5%) and 195(86.2%) reported that pandemic had adversely impacted their training and research. The number of trainees managing >30 patients and doing >5 procedures per week before the pandemic decreased from 126(55.8%) and 150(66.4%) to 38(16.8%) and 41(18.1%), respectively, during the pandemic (p=0.01). Regarding e-learning, 168(74.3%) trainees thought it might partly compensate for training, 135(59.7%) showed readiness for it, and 179(79.2%) believed this could not replace actual patient interaction.
Conclusion: The coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic was found to have adversely impacted paediatric postgraduate training.
Key Words: COVID-19, Paediatrics, Impact, Postgraduate, Training.
Mucormycosis- A growing concern in this pandemic?
Authors: Muhammad Hamayl Zeeshan
Published: May 2022

Mucormycosis (likewise called 'Dark Fungus') is a significant uncommon parasitic disease brought about by a gathering of moulds called mucormycetes. They regularly influence the sinuses or the lungs as a result of the inward breath of parasitic spores from the air. These moulds are available all around the year. [1] They can likewise influence the skin following a cut, consumption, or any kind of injury. Possibly, the mind could be in danger additionally because of this sickness. Indications of this illness fluctuate as per the site of development of the sickness and the state of the patient. It could either be rhinocerebral, pneumonic, cutaneous, gastrointestinal or spread and mucormycosis of unprecedented sorts. [1] Cutaneous mucormycosis happens after the parasites enter the body through a physical issue or opening in the skin (for example a cut, mishap, or perhaps a medical procedure). This sort of mucormycosis is found in those patients whose safe framework is as yet not compromised. Individuals who are immunocompromised are more powerless to the aspiratory and gastrointestinal sorts. Even though the actual illness is very uncommon, as per a new article distributed by Dawn News (first July 2021) there has been a disturbing flood in the instances of Mucormycosis inside India. [2]
After the United States, India is the country with the most number of affirmed Covid-19 cases with the figures being around 30.4 million. What's more, during this pandemic, the quantity of detailed instances of Mucormycosis has additionally expanded, right now revealed around 40,845 cases. [2] A new report made in December 2020 by Pasero et.al showed that patients with serious intense respiratory condition Covid 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease turned out to be more vulnerable to sharp contaminations like Mucormycosis. [3] This was because of the explanation that SARS-CoV-2 disease may modify the safe arrangement of a person by influencing T lymphocytes, especially the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, which may be associated with the obsessive course of Covid-19 contamination. With the quantity of Covid-19 cases in Pakistan on the ascent, with it nearly hitting the 1 million imprint (989,000+ cases), the danger of different complexities like Mucormycosis is becoming unavoidable. In May 2021, there was an occurrence in Karachi where 5 instances of Mucormycosis were accounted for inside Covid-19 patients. [4] Out of the 5, four patients lost their lives because of this disease.
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Application of Heat Treatment to Aluminum Alloy Wires and Comparison of Full Alloy AAAC Conductor Manufactured with These Wires and Conventional ACSR Stranded Conductors
Authors: KISTI Ebru , SAYIN Erhan , OCAK Necati , UNCU Ümit Galip , FEYZİOGLU Ahmet
Published: May 2022

Conventional ACSR conductors are formed by stranding aluminum wires over a steel core. The steel core does not contribute to current carrying and is used only for carrying purposes. The steel core has a great role in the shedding of the line weight. With the increase in line weight, longer poles are used at shorter distances, but it cannot be abandoned because it undertakes the transport task. Nowadays, the search for alternatives to the ACSR conventional conductor has accelerated. One of these alternatives is AAAC (Full aluminum alloy conductors). The wires in AAAC are hardened with special alloy production and eliminate the need for a steel core as a carrier in the center. While producing the aluminum overhead line conductor, after the aluminum ingots are melted in the melting furnaces and taken to the resting furnaces, after the addition of alloy elements such as Si, Mg in certain proportions, it is solidified by pouring it into a copper mold through refractory runners, and after the rolling process, 9.5 mm or 12 mm Aluminum Alloy rod (wire rod) semi-finished products are produced. While producing wire in the diameter determined in the standards for the overhead line conductor to be produced, 9.5 mm or 12 mm Aluminum rod (wire rod) is thinned with a certain reduction ratio in the semi-finished drawing process, and aluminum wire of the desired diameter is obtained. In the drawing process, the rod is rolled with a reduction ratio suitable for the machine and the final product to be produced. The wires produced are brought together with the step ratio in the standards to form a conductor. In order to gain the mechanical and electrical properties of the produced aluminum alloy wire, heat is applied at a certain time and temperature in heat treatment furnaces. Considering the heat treatment time and degree applied in this study, the properties before and after the heat treatment will be compared and the effect of the heat treatment process on the wire will be shown with experimental studies. Mechanical and electrical tests of AAAC 774 AL7 conductor made of alloy wires and ACSR Pheasant conductors made of aluminum wires knitted on steel cores will be carried out and the two conductors will be compared considering some parameters in line selection.