bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
School-based physical activity interventions among children and adolescents in the Middle East and Arabic speaking countries: A systematic review
Authors: Alalawi Abdullah , Blank Lindsay , Goyder Elizabeth
Published: July 2023

Background

It is widely recognised that noncommunicable diseases are on the rise worldwide, partly due to insufficient levels of physical activity (PA). It is a particularly concerning health issue among children and adolescents in Arabic countries where cultural and environmental factors may limit their opportunity for engaging in physical activities.

Aim

This review sought to assess the effectiveness of school-based PA interventions for increasing PA among schoolchildren aged six to 18 years in Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking countries.

Methods

A systematic literature search was developed to identify studies reporting the evaluation of school-based PA interventions in Arabic-speaking countries. Four different databases were searched from January 2000 to January 2023: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus and CINAHL. Article titles and abstracts were screened for relevance. Full article scrutiny of retrieved shortlisted articles was undertaken. After citation searches and reference checking of included papers, full data extraction, quality assessment and narrative synthesis was undertaken for all articles that met the inclusion criteria. This review adhered to PRISMA guidelines for conducting systematic reviews.

Results

Seventeen articles met the inclusion criteria. Eleven articles reported statistically significant improvements in the levels of PA among their participants. Based largely on self-reported outcomes, increases in PA between 58% and 72% were reported. The studies with a follow-up period greater than three months reported sustained PA levels. There are a limited range of types of programmes evaluated and evaluations were only identified from 30% of the countries in the region. Relatively few studies focused solely on PA interventions and most of the interventions were multi-component (lifestyle, diet, education).

Conclusions

This review adds to the existing body of research about the efficacy of school-based interventions to increase physical activity levels. To date, few evaluations assess PA specific interventions and most of the interventions were multi-component including education components on lifestyle and diet. Long-term school-based interventions combined with rigorous theoretical and methodological frameworks are necessary to develop, implement and evaluate PA interventions for children and adolescents in Arabic-speaking countries. Also, future work in this area must also consider the complex systems and agents by which physical activity is influenced.
Production of Beauregard Sweet Potato in vertical farming under different fertilization technologies
Authors: Gonçalves Lilian Fernanda Sfendrych , Rossa Überson Boaretto , Gomes Erik Nunes , Radetski Claudemir Marcos , Vischetti Costantino , Martins Amarildo Otávio , Sobreira Fabrício Moreira
Published: July 2023

Ipomoea batatas, popularly known as sweet potato, is a species of the Convolvulaceae family, with probable origin between Mexico and northern South America. Among the genotypes with economic potential, the biofortified cultivar Beauregard (Ipomoea batatas) stands out due to its rusticity and easy handling. Controlled-release fertilizers were mostly used in studies developed in other countries, and their study being necessary in Brazilian soil and climatic conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the development of Beauregard biofortified cultivar, submitted to different fertilization technologies in vertical farming system. The plantlets received different doses of controlled-release fertilizer: 0.0 (control); 30; 60; 90; 120g and a dose of 40g per pit of NPK 13-13-28 of ready solubility. At 180 days, biometric and production parameter data were collected and submitted to regression analysis and variance analysis followed by the Scott-Knott test for mean separation. The application of controlled-release fertilizer showed a positive effect on the production of the studied cultivar, favoring the performance of the plants and promoting the increase especially in height, length of branches and number of leaves. The base application of controlled-release fertilizer at a dose of 30g per plant and traditional NPK fertilizer at a dose of 40g per plant promote higher yields of dry mass of shoots and root when compared to unfertilized plants in the cultivation of sweet potatoes in vertical farming.
Perceptions of Government Subsidy Programs for Reimbursing Financial Losses of Hospitals due to COVID-19: An In-Depth Interview
Authors: Yun Eunji , Ahn Boryung , Ko Hey jin , Jang Won Mo , Lee Jin Yong
Published: July 2023

Purpose: The government of the Republic of Korea funded more than ￦15 trillion to healthcare providers to counter COVID-19. This study was conducted to examine the perception of the government funding program; to analyze it; and to explore its future direction to better prepare for upcoming pandemics.Methods: In-Depth Interview (IDI) was carried out of 16 subjects including doctors, policymakers, and professors from 7th June to 13th July 2021.Results: Every participant agreed that the subsidy made a huge contribution to preventing providers from bankruptcy and to stopping a collapse of healthcare system during the pandemic. However, different views occurred in the range of reimbursement. Providers recognized that it should have covered opportunity costs, extra expenses, and financial damage during the pandemic recovery. Whereas, the government perceived that the COVID-19 grant was enough to offset their financial damages. For future responses, most participants admitted that the program should be enhanced to be highly responsive to future pandemics. The standard of reimbursement needs to be eased to raise the funding rates; to reimburse more hospitals; and increase the compensation period and range.Conclusion: A pandemic like COVID-19 is highly likely to emerge more often forward. In a better response to future pandemics, it’s required to level up disaster response capability; to keep healthcare services well-functioning during the emergency; and restructure healthcare system to be resilient even after the pandemic. To this end, an increase in subsidies should be positively reviewed.
El modelo del agronegocio y su expansión en la región de la Altillanura colombiana
Authors: Cuéllar Benavides Juanita
Published: July 2023

En las últimas tres décadas han ocurrido importantes transformaciones en el campo colombiano, tanto a nivel productivo como a nivel de las políticas públicas. Estos cambios están asociados a la adopción de políticas neoliberales desde la década del noventa, que han causado un profundo impacto en la matriz productiva del país. Estas dinámicas se observan con intensidad en la región de la Altillanura, en donde se presentan una serie de procesos ligados a transformaciones en el uso de la tierra, la incorporación de nuevos territorios a las dinámicas productivas, principalmente para el desarrollo de cultivos multipropósito como la caña de azúcar, la palma de aceite, el maíz y la soya, así como la presencia de empresas, tanto nacionales como extranjeras, que buscan el acceso a nuevas tierras. Vale destacar que esta región cuenta con gran cantidad de tierras baldías, es decir, tierras públicas tradicionalmente destinadas para fines de reforma agraria. En este sentido, el artículo resalta los cambios en la matriz productiva y destaca el papel del Estado en la promoción de la expansión del modelo del agronegocio en la Altillanura, en algunos momentos a través de la omisión de acciones tendientes a regular el acceso a tierra en esta región, y en otros, a través de acciones concretas, como es el caso de la promulgación de la ley 1776 de 2016 que crea las Zonas de Interés de Desarrollo Rural, Económico y Social (Zidres).
NUTRIÇÃO ANIMAL: UMA ÁREA DE ATUAÇÃO FARMACÊUTICA POUCO EXPLORADA
Authors: Oliveira Anselmo Gomes de , Silveira Damaris
Published: July 2023

NUTRIÇÃO ANIMAL: UMA ÁREA DE ATUAÇÃO FARMACÊUTICAPOUCO EXPLORADA
ÁCIDO TRANEXÂMICO NO TRATAMENTO DE MELASMA
Authors: Conograi Brenda , Kist Darla Juliana , Machado Karina Elisa
Published: July 2023

O melasma é uma hipercromia adquirida, caracterizada por manchas assimétricas, de cor castanha, localizadas preferencialmente em regiões fotoexpostas, como rosto, e áreas como pescoço, colo e antebraços. O distúrbio afeta homens e mulheres de fototipos intermediários, com idade média de 30 a 55 anos, embora atinja principalmente mulheres. Sua etiologia ainda não se encontra totalmente esclarecida, mas sabe-se, que existem vários fatores envolvidos na sua formação, tais como influências genéticas, exposição à radiação ultravioleta, gravidez, terapias hormonais, cosméticos, fármacos fototóxicos, endocrinopatias, fatores emocionais e medicações anticonvulsivantes. Existem diversos tratamentos disponíveis para o melasma, sendo que para o presente artigo foi selecionado o ativo cosmético ácido tranexâmico (ATX), um fármaco hidrofílico, com peso molecular de 157,2 g/mol, encontrado em forma de pó branco cristalino que contém de 99% a 100% do ativo. O presente artigo é uma revisão bibliográfica descritiva e qualitativa e tem como objetivo analisar o potencial uso do ativo ATX no tratamento do melasma. Os resultados mostraram que o ATX exerce seu mecanismo das ações antifibrinolítico, anti-hemorrágico e despigmentante, devido à sua ligação reversível aos sítios da lisina, na molécula de plasminogênio, inibindo o ativador de plasminogênio, sendo desta forma considerado um agente clareador seguro com resultados eficazes, no tratamento do melasma e com baixos efeitos colaterais. Desta forma, conclui-se que o ATX se mostrou um ativo eficaz e seguro para o tratamento do melasma, em comparação com outros ativos despigmentantes, sendo bem tolerável e com mínimos efeitos adversos.
Non-Price Competitivenes Factors in a Value Chain of a Tourism Product
Authors: GARASYMLIUK Mariia , DANYLYSHYN Bohdan , MARTYNIUK Uliana , MAKAROVYCH Viktoriia , POLIVODA Olha , NEZVESHCHUK-KOHUT Tetiana , POPADYNETS Nazariy
Published: July 2023

The paper addresses the detection and hierarchical composition of non-price factors influencing the quality of a tourism product in the environment of its value chain components from the viewpoint of the way the customers of travel companies understand these factors. The competitiveness dimensions are outlined for micro- and nanolevels, and the scheme to develop the competitive strategy based on the change of external environment factors is offered. The tourism product value chain scheme is generalized from the viewpoint of a travel company. The paper proves that the customers’ desire to maximize the value of a tourism product is based not only on the understanding of the acceptability of respective costs but also the level of awareness about the exclusiveness and quality of the infrastructural framework of the offer. The authors reveal that the components of the customers’ understanding of the tourism product value chain are related to the integral understanding of tourism service. The components of non-price factors are outlined chronologically and non-price factors of impact on the competitiveness in various links of the value chain are identified. The priority of inclusion was estimated by the rapid test method. The suggested hierarchy can foster the more qualitative ranging and updating of certain components of a tourism product to improve its understanding by customers, which will impact the competitive positions of the travel companies.
Collective Intelligence and Structural Transformation in the Moroccan Tourism Industry during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Field Survey in the Marrakech-Safi Region
Authors: MERIOUMI Wijdane , AIBOUD BENCHEKROUN Bouchra
Published: July 2023

This paper discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry, with a focus on the Moroccan tourism sector. It highlights the need for the government to reflect on the crisis's implications and foster a more resilient tourism economy through structural transformation and collective intelligence. This research defines key concepts of collective intelligence and analyzes the mechanisms of actors in the Moroccan tourism sector. The study conducted a field survey in the Marrakech-Safi region, showing that market actors have developed effective tools and methods of collective action in line with collective intelligence principles. By promoting collective intelligence, Morocco can create a sustainable and resilient tourism industry. The study's contributions can provide valuable information for similar contexts worldwide, and its findings are of interest to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the tourism industry.
Identification of Features for the City Branding: The Case of Shusha City, Azerbaijan as Tourism Destination
Authors: HUSEYNLI Bahman
Published: July 2023

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the strategic importance of the creation of the city brand of Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, based on the studies in the literature, and to determine the branding elements. The study was prepared in accordance with the methodology of qualitative research methods and is exploratory research. Systematic approach, synthesis and induction methods were used in the study. The branding of Shusha as a city of music, architecture, heroism, and culture is one of the results of the research. As a result of the study, the brand elements that can be used in the branding of the city of Shusha in Azerbaijan were tried to be determined. Brand elements that can be used in the branding of Shusha are Kharibulbul flower (Ophrys Caucasica), Karabakh horses, Shusha fortress, Govhar Agha mosque, mugham, carpet art, famous people. The creation of the Shusha city brand can make it one of the world's tourism destinations.
From Decision Making to Practice: Economic Growth on Halal Tourism Policies Based on Sharia Regulation in Lombok, Indonesia
Authors: SYAMSURRIJAL M. , NURMANDI Achmad , JUBBA Hasse , HIDAYATI Mega , QODIR Zuly , ABDULLOH Irwan
Published: July 2023

This study explores the motivation behind the birth of sharia-based regulations regarding halal tourism in Lombok, focusing on factors beyond religious values and economic development, but also the interests of a sustainable society. This research is case study research using a qualitative descriptive method. The data search process was carried out by means of interviews, observation, and documentation. The data obtained went through several stages of analysis including data reduction, data coding, data display, data triangulation, and drawing conclusions. The findings show that the decision-making process for halal tourism regulation is driven by the desire to accommodate religious values, improve the local economy, and promote sustainable social, cultural, and ecological attractions. The establishment of this regulation is also seen as a political strategy to present Lombok as an international halal tourist destination. This study recommends policymakers consider various factors, including religious values, economic developments, and broader socio-cultural and political strategies, to make policies that benefit society at large
Spinal cord injury as a trigger for changes in the intestinal microbiota
Authors: Ivanova E. Yu. , Kirilina S. I. , Sirota V. S. , Gusev A. F.
Published: July 2023

Objective. To analyze the peculiarities of changes in intestinal microbiota in spinal cord injury.

Material and Methods. The literature search was carried out for the period of 2012–2022 in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, eLibrary and GoogleScholar databases for the following keywords: spinal cord injury, microbiota, and dysbacteriosis. Out of 220 literature sources, 40 full-text articles were selected which analyze the influence of spinal cord injury on the state of the intestinal microbiota using an innovative method of metagenomic high-throughput 16S sequencing.

Results. Literature data on the pathogenesis of organ dysfunction in spinal cord injury, as well as its impact on the state of the intestinal microbiota are presented. The results of experimental and clinical studies of the intestinal microbiota in spinal cord injury and its influence on the development and course of the pathological condition are reported.

Conclusion. Understanding how the intestinal microbiota changes after spinal cord injury and what role it plays in potentiating inflammation or protecting the spinal cord from secondary injury and infections is very important in determining the strategy and tactics for managing patients. Possession of methods for correcting intestinal microbiota disorders in SCI is important in the treatment of such patients.
Spinal aspergillosis: a rare clinical case and review of the literature
Authors: Naumov D. G. , Vishnevsky A. A. , Karpushin A. A. , Shchelkunov M. M. , Tkach S. G.
Published: July 2023

Objective. To analyze long-term results of treatment of a patient with recurrent lumbar aspergillosis and to systematize the literature data.

Material and Methods. Long-term follow-up results of treatment of recurrent Aspergillus spondylitis in a 48-year-old patient who underwent primary surgery for reconstruction of the anterior spinal column through the anterior approach were studied. Literature data on the treatment of spinal aspergillosis from 2000 to 2022 were systematized.

Results. The key method for the etiological verification of spinal aspergillosis is percutaneous bone biopsy from the lesion, followed by histological and bacteriological examination of the material. Isolated anterior spinal column reconstruction through the anterior approach ensures the achievement of local control of the infection process, but a short course of antimycotic chemotherapy after surgery is a factor of disease recurrence. The optimal duration of antimycotic chemotherapy in the postoperative period is at least 3 months, with voriconazole being the drug of choice.

Conclusion. Spondylitis caused by Aspergillus spp. is a special form of inflammatory spine disease requiring obligatory percutaneous bone biopsy for etiological verification. A multidisciplinary therapeutic approach including a course of conservative antimycotic therapy for at least 3 months, surgical debridement and reconstruction of the affected spinal motion segments provide the best clinical results.
Öğretmenlerin Öz Yeterliklerinin Yaşam Doyumlarına Etkisinde Öz Merhametin Düzenleyici Rolü
Authors: NAS Eşref
Published: July 2023

Öz yeterlik ile yaşam doyumu arasında pozitif bir ilişki bulunduğu belirtilmektedir. Öz merhametin, öz yeterlik ve yaşam doyumu arasındaki bu ilişkiye katkı sağlayan düzenleyici bir değişken olabileceği tahmin edilmektedir. Öğretmenlerin öz merhametli olmasının, onların öz yeterlik algılarını ve inançlarını olumlu yönde etkileyebileceği ve bununla birlikte öz merhametin yaşam doyumunu arttırıcı bir işlev gösterebileceği düşünülmektedir. Bu bağlamda, bu çalışmada öğretmenlerin öz yeterlik ile yaşam doyumu düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkide öz merhametin düzenleyici rolünün incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmada Öğretmen Öz Yeterlik Algısı Ölçeği-Kısa Formu, Yaşam Doyumu Ölçeği ve Yetişkin Öz Merhamet Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Ölçekler 358 öğretmen tarafından doldurulmuştur. Elde edilen veriler SPSS 25.0 paket programı ile analiz edilmiştir. Öğretmenlerin öz yeterlik düzeylerinin yaşam doyumlarına etkisinde öz merhametin düzenleyici rolünün test edilmesi için Process Makro üzerinden bootstrap tekniği kullanılmış ve regresyon analizi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Analiz sonucunda öğretmenlerin öz yeterliklerinin yüksek düzeyde, yaşam doyumlarının orta düzeyde ve öz merhametlerinin yüksek düzeye yakın olduğu bulunmuştur. Üç değişken arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu görülmüştür. Son olarak, öğretmenlerin öz yeterlikleri ile yaşam doyumları arasındaki ilişkide öz merhametin düzenleyici etkisinin olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
Correlation between Maternal Characteristics and The Incidence of COVID-19 in Pregnant Woman: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Utami Sekar Ayu Putri , Aryani Rini , Sari Rita Kartika
Published: July 2023

Background: COVID-19 is an infectious disease that attacks the respiratory tract. Pregnancy is considered as a risk factor because during pregnancy several physiological changes occur, namely increased expression of ACE2, changes in the respiratory system, and changes in the immune system, which make pregnant women more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Objective: This study aims to determine the relationship between the characteristics of pregnant women and the incidence of COVID-19.Methods: This observational analytic study used 51 samples of pregnant women, both infected with COVID-19 and those who were not, which were taken using a total sampling technique. The characteristics of pregnant women were taken through secondary data in the form of medical records at K.R.M.T. Wongsonegoro Regional Public Hospital Semarang, then analyzed univariately and bivariately using Spearman's test and contingency coefficient.Results: The results obtained from the bivariate analysis were p = 0.863 (> 0.005) for the comorbid history variable, p = 0.367 (> 0.005) for the body mass index variable, and p = 0.423 (> 0.005) for the hypertension incident variable.Conclusion: The results of this study concluded that there was no correlation between the characteristics of pregnant women (history of comorbidities, body mass index, and incidence of hypertension) with the incidence of COVID-19 in patients at K.R.M.T. Wongsonegoro Regional Public Hospital Semarang.
Differences of Schirmer’s Test Result In Patients With Controlled And Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Hazmi Atika , Prihatningtias Riski , Hutami Hesti Triwahyu , Cahyono Maharani
Published: July 2023

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease whose prevalence continues to increase every year. Peripheral neuropathy as a microvascular complication of DM can cause dry eye syndrome. HbA1c levels can determine controlled or uncontrolled DM.Objective: To determine the differences of the Schirmer’s test result for patients with controlled and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.Methods: This study was an analytic observational study with cross sectional design. The study subjects were 44 diabetes mellitus patients consisting of 22 patients with controlled DM and 22 patients with uncontrolled DM who were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, using consecutive sampling method. Data were collected from primary data that consists of name, age, gender, duration of DM, medical history, Hb, MCV, HbA1c and the Schirmer’s test result. The data were analyzed using non parametric Mann Whitney test and p < 0.05 was taken as significance.Results: The Schirmer’s test result < 10 mm which indicated the presence of dry eye syndrome was mostly found in female (71.4%), age > 45 years (85.7%), duration of DM > 10 years (78,6%), and patients with uncontrolled DM. The non parametric Mann Whitney test showed that there was a significant difference in the Schirmer’s test result (p < 0,05) between patients with controlled and uncontrolled DM.Conclusion: The Schirmer’s test result in patients with controlled DM was higher than patients with uncontrolled DM.
Sport elektroniczny i jego medialne interfejsy
Authors: Felczak Mateusz
Published: July 2023

This paper provides an overview of changes on the electronic sports information circuit in the period from 2012 to 2022. The research here focuses on visual components of e-sports events, especially games’ GUIs and interactive elements of the digital platform interfaces that provide technological scaffolding for e-sports broadcasts (such as Twitch). The analysis is conducted from the software studies perspective, with the StarCraft franchise as a chief example of the phenomena assessed in the paper. The findings presented in this study stem from the juxtaposition of divergent modes of interaction between the viewers, players and e-sports media professionals, which are subsequently confronted with the computational rules of e-sports games’ mechanics.
Ludologia – naukowe badania gier. Przeszłość, teraźniejszość, przyszłość
Authors: Surdyk Augustyn
Published: July 2023

The aim of the article is to present similarities and differences in the approaches to the field of ludol- ogy (also known as games research, game studies) in Poland and abroad, on the basis of an analysis of publications and papers presented at conferences of two representative contemporary academic ludological associations – the Polish Polskie Towarzystwo Badania Gier (Games Research Associa- tion of Poland), and the Digital Games Research Association. The achievements of these societies are comparable because of their similar period of activity. The subject of the analysis is the scope of research declared by both associations, the topics of papers presented at international academic conferences organised by them, and the topics of articles occurring in their publications. For the purposes of the analysis, two crucial categories concerning games of all types have been introduced to enable further study of selected texts: the distinction between digital and non-digital games – the former ones refer to electronic games of all types (requiring electricity and based on electronics), and the latter, to any other kinds of games (in some cases also requiring electricity but not electronics). In the analysis, four main thematic categories of papers and articles have been established: (1) texts concerning research in the sphere of digital games, new technologies, new media and related phenomena; (2) texts concerning research on non-digital games and related phenomena; (3) texts concerning other aspects of games and ludology including research on non-specific kinds of games or, quite contrary, concerning different types of games (digital and non-digital) in a particular approach (e.g. educational aspects), methodology of games research, issues common to all games (e.g. players, gameplay, winning/ losing etc.); (4) reviews, reports, forewords, introductory articles and lectures, texts on outstanding scholars etc. The aim of the quantitative analysis is to show the proportions of research devoted to digital games and other issues concerning games research carried out by Polish and foreign ludologists.
THE TURKISH VERSION OF THE COPING RESPONSES INVENTORY ADULT FORM (CRI-A) AND TESTING ITS PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES
Authors: ATALAY ATA Deniz , SERTEL BERK H. Özlem
Published: July 2023

Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping highlights the significance of community- individual interaction in coping. Accordingly, CRI-A, as developed by Moos involves four sub-dimensions for each of approach and avoidance coping responses. The aim of this research to evaluate the psychometric properties of CRI-A. Data were collected from a total of 400 university students whose ages vary between 17- 48. Of the 250 participants, the validity of the Inventory has been tested through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and correlations with Stress Coping Styles (SCSI), Locus of Control (LCI), and Eysenck Personality (EPI) Inventories. With the remaining 150 students, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) has been conducted. The results indicate that alpha coefficients of approach and avoidance subtests of CRI-A range between .60-.70, and .53-.68, respectively. CRI-A and most SCSI subtests, CRI-A’s avoidance and LCI scores, and CRI-A and EPI scores yielded significant correlations. The CFA showed good fit indices for the factor structure extracted from EFA. The findings provide acceptable evidence for the validity and reliability of CRI-A.
Effect of alkali charge on the performance of Eucalyptus globulus kraft pulps for tissue applications
Authors: Henriques Ana , Evtuguin Dmitry V.
Published: July 2023

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of active alkali charge, in kraft cooking of Eucalyptus globulus wood, on the properties of the laboratory-produced tissue paper. Eucalyptus wood chips were cooked under similar conditions at four different active alkali (AA) levels of 16, 19, 21, and 23 % and DEDED sequence was used for subsequent ECF bleaching. Pulps were analyzed for their intrinsic viscosity, chemical composition, and fiber morphology, while the corresponding papers (20 g/m2) were examined for their strength properties, absorptivity, and softness. It was demonstrated that changes in the AA upon cooking, not only affected the chemical composition of the obtained pulps and their intrinsic viscosity, but also the fiber’s shape (e.g., curl and kink). These changes caused variations in the properties of laboratory-produced tissue papers. Thus, the increase in AA led to paper with lower tensile strength, but with better softness. Even though the increase of AA in cooking led to bulkier papers, their absorptivity was not significantly enhanced. This was explained, at least in part, by the lower water retention of the pulps obtained from cooking with higher AA.
Blood pressure in girls with central precocious puberty receiving GnRH analogue therapy
Authors: Fisch-Shvalb Naama , Alfandary-Harani Hadas , Lazar Liora , Davidovits Miriam , Shvalb Nir , Demol-Eliaz Sharon , Yackobovitch-Gavan Michal , de Vries Liat
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Case reports show hypertension in children treated with GnRH analogues for central precocious puberty (CPP). However, relevant data on blood pressure are scarce. We aimed to evaluate blood pressure (BP) among girls with idiopathic CPP and early-onset puberty before and during GnRH analogue therapy; and to examine associations of blood pressure with clinical parameters.

Methods

For this retrospective longitudinal cohort study, demographic, anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory data were collected from electronic files. The study group included 112 girls with idiopathic CPP or early-onset puberty followed in a tertiary pediatric endocrinology institute, and a control group of 37 healthy pre-pubertal girls. The main outcome measures were BP percentile, before, and during treatment with GnRH analogue.

Results

At baseline, similar proportions of the study and control groups had BP values>90th percentile: 64 (53 %) and 17 (46 %), respectively (p=0.57). The mean systolic and diastolic BP percentiles measured under treatment remained unchanged. In the study group, baseline BP>90th percentile compared to normal baseline BP was associated with lower birthweight and a higher body mass index-standard deviation score: 2,821 ± 622 vs. 3,108 ± 485 g and 1.0 ± 0.7 vs. 0.70 ± 0.8, respectively, p=0.01 for both.

Conclusions

GnRH analogue therapy for precocious or early puberty was not associated with increased blood pressure. The stability of mean blood pressure percentile during treatment is reassuring.
Current status of synthesis and consolidation strategies for thermo-resistant nanoalloys and their general applications
Authors: Dhand Vivek , Jeon Yongseok , Doh Jaehyeok , Han Gyeonghun , Kim Sanghoon , Rhee Kyongyop
Published: July 2023

Thermo-resistant nanoalloys are a new class of materials that combine high-temperature refractory compounds (such as carbides, nitrides, borides, and oxides) with nanoscale particles of metals, ceramics, or carbon. These composites exhibit remarkable thermal stability and anti-ablation/oxidation properties, making them highly attractive for various high-temperature applications in aerospace, energy, and high-temperature manufacturing. Despite their potential, the fabrication of these materials is challenging due to their complex synthesis and processing. Many researchers have summarized the challenges and suggested solutions to produce high-density, superior physicochemical properties of nano refractory materials for specific applications. Thus, in view of these perspectives, the present review provides an overview of the production criteria, processing, and synthetic routes for producing high-temperature nano refractory material composites with exceptional thermal and anti-ablation/oxidation properties. The review also highlights the challenges encountered by researchers and their solutions for fabricating these materials. Potential applications of high temperature refractory materials are found in various industries, such as refractory ceramics, high-temperature components in wear resistant, neutron shielding, and high power-density microelectronics manufacturing to name a few.
Preoperatively assessed offset analgesia predicts acute postoperative pain following orthognathic surgery
Authors: Kono Ryoko , Oono Yuka , Takagi Saori , Uth Xenia Jørgensen , Petersen Kristian Kjær , Arendt-Nielsen Lars , Kohase Hikaru
Published: July 2023

Objectives

High intensity and longer duration of acute postoperative pain are generally associated with a higher risk of developing chronic postoperative pain. Therefore, it is important to identify the preoperative predictors for acute postoperative pain. Preoperative evaluation of offset analgesia (OA) and the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS) may be potential predictors for acute postoperative pain. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between preoperative OA, PCS, and acute postoperative pain following orthognathic surgery.

Methods

Thirty patients (19 females) scheduled to undergo orthognathic surgery were included in this study. OA and PCS were evaluated preoperatively, and the patients reported their postoperative pain intensity using the visual analogue scale [0–100 mm] until it reached zero (number of days with pain). OA was induced on the dominant forearm via three consecutive painful heat pulses delivered for 5 s (T1=46 °C), 5 s (T2=47 °C), and 20 s (T3=46 °C). Subsequently, the associations between OA, PCS, and the number of days with pain were analysed.

Results

The median duration of postoperative pain was 10.3 days. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant (p=0.0019) predictive value of OA (p=0.008) for the number of days with pain. The PCS-magnification component was positively correlated with the number of days with pain (R=0.369, p=0.045), with no predictive values of PCS-total and PCS-subscale scores observed.

Conclusions

Preoperative evaluation of OA may be a new individualised, predictive tool for the number of days with acute postoperative pain following orthognathic surgery; hence, a possible biomarker for the patient’s vulnerability to developing chronic postoperative pain.

Ethical committee number

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Meikai University (A1624, A2113).

Trial registry number

This study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) Clinical Trial (Unique ID: UMIN000026719, UMIN000046957).
Blinde Flecken, Erzählungen, Mythen
Authors: Wolff Robert
Published: July 2023

Die Flugzeugentführung nach Entebbe im Sommer 1976 wird häufig neben dem versuchten Anschlag auf das Jüdische Gemeindehaus in West-Berlin am 9. November 1969 als die schlimmste antisemitische Gewalttat des bundesdeutschen Linksterrorismus gewertet. Robert Wolff vertritt die These, dass es einer kritischen Überprüfung des Themenkomplexes Entebbe unter Berücksichtigung von bisher nicht beachteten, jedoch für das Gesamtverständnis der Ereignisse wichtigen Perspektiven und Quellen bedarf. Dazu analysiert er auf der Basis weitgehend unbekannter Dokumente die Vorgeschichte der Flugzeugentführung sowie die Ereignisse in Entebbe zwischen dem 27. Juni und dem 4. Juli 1976.
„Schwul gleich links?“
Authors: Griffiths Craig
Published: July 2023

Die Geschichte schwuler Befreiung in den 1970er Jahren ist bisher hauptsächlich aus dem Blickwinkel radikaler oder links-alternativer Aktivisten erzählt worden, mit einem Fokus auf Gruppen wie der Gay Liberation Front in New York oder der Homosexuellen Aktion Westberlin. Um dieses Narrativ zu differenzieren, analysiert der Autor Kulturen des Konservativen in der Schwulenbewegung der 1970er Jahre durch einen Vergleich der Bundesrepublik mit den USA. Craig Griffiths beleuchtet Diskurse über Verantwortung und Vorsicht näher und konzentriert sich darauf, dass es schwule Männer gab, die sich als normal und vernünftig charakterisierten. Sie lehnten Konfrontation oder Extravaganz ab, und schon darin zeigt sich, dass Begriffe wie Befreiung, Emanzipation oder sogar gay power keine festen Bedeutungen hatten – schon gar nicht solche, die ausschließlich radikal oder konservativ gewesen wären.
Interchangeable Role of Motor Cortex and Reafference for the Stable Execution of an Orofacial Action
Authors: Elbaz Michaël A. , Demers Maxime , Kleinfeld David , Ethier Christian , Deschênes Martin
Published: July 2023

Animals interact with their environment through mechanically active, mobile sensors. The efficient use of these sensory organs implies the ability to track their position; otherwise, perceptual stability or prehension would be profoundly impeded. The nervous system may keep track of the position of a sensorimotor organ via two complementary feedback mechanisms—peripheral reafference (external, sensory feedback) and efference copy (internal feedback). Yet, the potential contributions of these mechanisms remain largely unexplored. By training male rats to place one of their vibrissae within a predetermined angular range without contact, a task that depends on knowledge of vibrissa position relative to their face, we found that peripheral reafference is not required. The presence of motor cortex is not required either, except in the absence of peripheral reafference to maintain motor stability. Finally, the red nucleus, which receives descending inputs from motor cortex and cerebellum and projects to facial motoneurons, is critically involved in the execution of the vibrissa positioning task. All told, our results point toward the existence of an internal model that requires either peripheral reafference or motor cortex to optimally drive voluntary motion.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTHow does an animal know where a mechanically active, mobile sensor lies relative to its body? We address this basic question in sensorimotor integration using the motion of the vibrissae in rats. We show that rats can learn to reliably position their vibrissae in the absence of sensory feedback or in the absence of motor cortex. Yet, when both sensory feedback and motor cortex are absent, motor precision is degraded. This suggests the existence of an internal model able to operate in closed- and open-loop modes, requiring either motor cortex or sensory feedback to maintain motor stability.
What Women Want
Authors: Keller Sarah
Published: July 2023

The feeling of being caught between immersion in cinematic fictions and having one’s attention pulled away from them by a range of distractions has shaped the experience of cinema for many decades. In the 1910s, several developments emerged in tandem with each other: the promotion of films and their stars/directors, narrative becoming the dominant form of cinema production, and the materialization of tension between immersion and distraction for audiences. The environment in which 1910s promotional and narrational strategies thrived set the stage for how we have thought about the bodies of women on screen, behind the camera, and in the seats of the theater. This essay focuses on the example of Cleo Madison as a filmmaker, actress, and a site of discursive energy to explore these issues.
Convalescing Profiles
Authors: Jacobs Carolyn Condon
Published: July 2023

The influenza epidemic of 1918–20 was one of the deadliest events in recent human history, killing at least fifty million people worldwide and at least 675,000 Americans in just two years. Yet, because of government censorship during the pandemic and a lasting cultural silence about the flu, we still have a great deal to learn about this period. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, remembering the experience of the Spanish flu has become especially urgent. This essay argues that motion picture fan magazines, many of which are available digitally through the Media History Digital Library, are crucial archives of women’s experiences during the pandemic. Interactive sections of these publications gave readers—especially women and girls—rare opportunities to publicly share their own experiences with the flu. Celebrity “convalescing profiles” expressed anxieties and established expectations for women during the flu pandemic. Revisiting these publications today reveals the importance of celebrity and sites of fan engagement in forging ideas about illness and health.
The Proto-Hollywood Novel
Authors: Musser Charles
Published: July 2023

Before the Hollywood novel emerged as a well-established literary genre in the early 1920s, various American authors were writing novels about moviemaking in both serial and book form. Not unlike the preclassical Hollywood movies of the 1910s, these “proto-Hollywood novels” were more than simple antecedents. Many were set in New York City and took their cues from novels about the theater world. Others were set in the Far West, including California, but before Hollywood had assumed its mythic identity. Of particular interest: most of these novels were feminist in their rhetoric and narratives. Some engaged issues of sexual harassment that would be picked up a century later by the #MeToo movement. This article focuses on the works of two male writers associated with the radical magazine The Masses—Robert Carlton Brown and James Oppenheim, and two women who were involved in screenwriting on the West Coast—B. M. Bower and Margaret Turnbull.
At Home with Polly and Henry
Authors: Abel Richard
Published: July 2023

This essay addresses the question: what distinguished the popular Drew comedies (1915–1919)? First, in what essentially were situation comedies, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew played a white middle-class couple who squabbled over issues or disagreements, usually minor but sometimes not, that were resolved through deft deceptions. Second, and most important, not only was Mrs. Drew (1890–1925) an accomplished comedienne, but she also scripted all of the films, directed or codirected nearly as many, and eventually became a producer. While on screen she may have played a seemingly conventional wife (but not always), behind the scenes she created stories that poked gentle fun at white middle-class domestic life and often challenged, however lightly transgressive, the prevailing patriarchy of the period.
Numerical simulation of the boundary layer development behind a single quarter elliptic-wedge spire
Authors: Fitriady Muhammad Arifuddin , Rahmat Nurizzatul Atikha , Mohammad Ahmad Faiz , S.A. Zaki
Published: July 2023

For decades wind tunnel has been utilized to generate a quasi-atmospheric boundary layer to observe the wake flow around objects submerged within the Atmospheric Boundary Layer. The quarter elliptic-wedge spire is the most commonly used as a vortex generator among other passive devices. However, despite numerous past studies that utilize rows of spires to generate deep quasi-ABL, only a few researchers targeted spires as the main subject of their investigation. Hence, the present work originally aims to investigate the wake flow structure behind a single quarter elliptic-wedge spire and its aerodynamic interaction with a smooth wall boundary layer. A computational fluid dynamics simulation predicting the wake flow structure behind a single quarter elliptic-wedge spire was conducted using the OpenFOAM® software. The computational domain consists a smooth flat plate, and a single quarter elliptic-wedge spire. A comparison of two Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes turbulence models, namely the k-ɛ model and the SST k-ω model, was conducted. A SIMPLE algorithm was used as the solver in the simulation iteration and ParaFOAM® was used as the post-processing software. The development of the boundary layer height from streamwise x0=0.5S to downwind x0=20S was observed. The mean vertical velocity profiles predicted by both turbulence models are in good agreement with the previous wind tunnel experimental results. However, the results obtained with the k-ɛ model were overpredicted compared to the results of the SST k-ω model causing deviation of the boundary layer height from the wind tunnel experimental data. This anomaly might be caused by the velocity deficit recovery above the boundary layer height region where the turbulence is low.
Performance degradation analysis of a medium pressure superheater due to tube deactivation
Authors: Haqim Ahmad Syafiq , WAN MOHAMED WAN AHMAD NAJMI , Tijjani Al Hassan Salami
Published: July 2023

Steam is essential in petrochemical industries for the transportation of thermal energy and usage in some reforming process. Superheaters are heat exchangers that convert saturated steam to dry steam by utilizing waste heat from the flue gas stream. Medium pressure steam superheaters are prone to tube deterioration due to service at elevated temperatures and erosion from the presence of liquid phase in the steam, leading to tube plugging after tube failure. This reduces the overall surface heating area of the superheater. Relations between the tube plugging practice and the energy dynamics of the superheaters are important for engineers to identify the responses of the superheater for operation planning, and this issue has not been extensively explored academically. This article analyses the deterioration of superheater performance due to reduction of surface heating area based on operational data of a petrochemical steam generation line. The objective is to find relations between the effect of tube plugging on the states of both steam and flue gas streams, as well as its impact on the overall energy exchange. The operating conditions of a superheater at two separate service years, before (year 2014) and after (year 2017) tube plugging, were compared through the first law energy analysis. The average steam inlet temperatures were between 248 °C and 250 °C, at flow rates between 70 and 90 ton/hour. The analysis indicated that 0.3 to 0.8 % increase in inlet energy is required for every plugged tube to compensate for the reduction of heating surface. At 3 % reduction of heating surface area, the heat exchanger effectiveness decreases by an average of 11 % that also leads to a lower steam temperature output by approximately 6% from the design operating temperature. These results would assist steam engineers to analyse changes to the energy economics of the whole plant and decide the feasibility of replacing existing superheaters with new ones. Also, another significant finding to be considered by steam engineers is that the current practice of increasing the steam flow rate does not offset the loss of energy effectiveness due to tube plugging.