bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 Pandemic and Hungarian Family Businesses
Authors: Nagy Henrietta , Oláh Izabella
Published: April 2023

The pandemic has had a very serious influence on the businesses, organizations, and on the everyday life of the population, though the impact may vary from region to region. In general, the pandemic brought unfavourable situations, though there are businesses that could take benefit from this “new normal” situation. The extent of the impact surely depends on the specific economic and social conditions of the region that determine the adaptability to the new tendencies. Regardless of the sector, or the size of the businesses, there is one thing in common: all the businesses had to be creative, innovative, and had to have a strategy for the short and middle term. In this chapter, the authors would like to provide a national-level overview of the economic and social impacts of the pandemic,and the measures are taken to boost the economy. Secondly, the authors intend to provide a more targeted picture about the Hungarian family businesses, and how they managed to survive and offset the unexpected impacts of the pandemic, based on primary research.
Christian Ethics and Xinyong Practices Leading to Longevity Post COVID-19 Pandemic Among Chinese Family Businesses in Indonesia and Malaysia
Authors: Yew Lee Kean , Tan Jacob Donald
Published: April 2023

The emergence of the novel Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has changed our norms and lifestyles. In facing this crisis, businesses in general are often struggling to sustain their livelihood and legacy. For Chinese family dynasties that are in their third generations, i.e. YTL Corporation Berhad in Malaysia and Lippo Group in Indonesia, they are able to apply Christian ethics and xinyong “信用” virtues that enable longevity and fostering workplace innovation during the Covid-19 crisis. Christianity business ethics and xinyong practices can be connected through routine applications of Christ-centered decision-makings that are evident in business environments and social impacts. Nevertheless, integrating cultural norms and Chinese confucion virtues such as xinyong in family businesses can be challenging in ensuring the CFBs sustainability. Hence, this chapter sheds light on the journey of the two families' Chinese dynasties, as they apply Christian faith and xinyong along with impactful actions to develop new solutions leading to longevity.
Food Waste to Bio-Products
Authors: Andey Asyifa , Daim Wafiqah , Lim Syazana Abdullah
Published: April 2023

Food waste (FW) poses significant risks to the sustainability of our food supply chains and systems. Considerable contributors to waste from the food supply chain include open markets, landfills, and marketplaces. Bio-circular-green (BCG) therefore aims to transform society by turning FW into value-added products using technology and innovation as a sensible solution to the problem of FW. The advancement of creative technologies and alternative agricultural practices have been presented in response to this rising issue. FW valorization provides a huge prospective solution both economically and environmentally. This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of the valorization of FW into biofuels, biochemicals, biofertilisers, and biopolymers. Current approaches and their challenges for bioprocessing FW to create concepts for BCG, with a focus on its contribution to income production as value-added products are covered. Challenges and constraints together with strategies for overcoming them are also presented along with future perspectives.
Sustainable Supply Chains for Circular Economy in the Health Sector: Challenges and Opportunities Post Pandemic
Authors: Medhekar Anita
Published: April 2023

The key economic problem is a scarcity of resources, the ‘circular economy' has the potential solution to efficiently use resources and reduce production and consumption waste. Adopting a sustainable circular economy model for human production and consumption is necessary for securing sustainable supply chains, for the sustainable future of households, firms, governments, and the rest of the world, particularly under the ‘new normal' situation; to reduce, reuse, and recycle in order to restore, and regenerate the environment for inclusive economic growth and prosperity. The circular economy in the health sector has the potential in achieving numerous sustainable development goals. There are various challenges and opportunities related to adopting and transitioning to a circular economy model and embedding the culture by the various stakeholder in production and consumption in different sectors of the economy such as agriculture, manufacturing, and the health sector in developed and developing countries.
Quadruple Helix Logistics Model
Authors: Zawawi Nur Fadiah Mohd , Wahab Sazali Abd , Azmi Siti Nurulaini , Hairin Assayidatul Laila Nor , Awang Khairil Wahidin , Yaacob Mohd Rafi
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this chapter is to review the concept of circular economy in the context of logistics and supply chain, which it is crucial in dealing with climate change. To strengthen the circular supply chain, this chapter proposed the Quadruple Helix logistics model (QHLM). The model emphasized corporate spirituality values that instill responsibility for environmental, social, and economic sustainability in four key components: the government, university, logistics companies/departments, and community, all of which are thought to be critical for the success of circular economy implementation, resulting in sustainable development. Finally, this chapter discusses the future prospects of logistics within the circular economy concept, presenting a win-win situation between environmental conservation, societal well-being, and business sustainability.
Digital Learning During COVID-19
Authors: Kollmayer Marlene , Ikanovic Selma Korlat , Holzer Julia , Pelikan Elisabeth Rosa , Spiel Christiane , Schober Barbara , Lüftenegger Marko
Published: April 2023

The spread of COVID-19 led to an interruption of physical school attendance for around 1.6 billion students worldwide. During the school closures, schools switched to digital teaching which created a unique situation for all students but especially for groups disadvantaged in the (virtual) classroom. The current study is theoretically based on the situated expectancy-value theory that argues that an individual's motivation is shaped by their social identities. Following the intersectionality framework, the impact of gender and first language on motivation is examined simultaneously. The chapter presents an empirical study of motivation and perceived teacher support for digital learning among 19,337 secondary school students from Austria, shortly after the first pandemic-induced school closures in spring 2020. Results show differences in perceived teacher support, competence beliefs, intrinsic value, and engagement regarding digital learning between students of different gender and first languages. Practical and theoretical implications of the study's findings are discussed.
The Effects of Broadband Internet on Employment and Wages
Authors: Bu Wei , Tang Yuni
Published: April 2023

This article examines how high-speed internet development across Chinese provinces affects firm employment and average annual wages. The authors exploit a national policy reform by which the government launched a project to improve internet speed in 2000 and devise a difference-in-differences with a continuous treatment method for empirical identification. The authors first find that high-speed internet significantly increases employment and slightly reduces average wages. Specifically, after one percentage point increase in the number of fixed-line users per capita at the province level, there is a 0.14 percent increase in firm employment and a 0.06 percent decrease in average wages, respectively. Also, this paper shows that the gains and losses from high-speed internet on firm performance are likely to have risen from the higher probability of firm entry and the improvement of productivity in existing firms. Third, the authors find rich heterogeneity across firm ownership, size, and regional characteristics.
Optimization of a Developed Multi-Cyclone Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to Control Fine Particulate Emission
Authors: Hasyimah Nur , Rashid M. , Norelyza H.
Published: April 2023

The effects of increasing volumetric air flow rate and inlet particulate loading on overall collection efficiency of MR-deDuster; a developed multi-cyclone system was investigated using various segregated sizes of palm oil mill boiler fly ash. The operating conditions of the fabricated pilot plant scale of the unit were predicted theoretically and screened experimentally. Increasing volumetric air flow rate theoretically will increase the overall collection efficiency, yet the experimental results during screening stage demonstrated contradict finding when the increment of volumetric air flow rate caused the overall collection efficiency to be decreased for a constant particulate loading. Subsequently, the optimization work was done to determine the optimum operating conditions of the system using Response Surface Method (RSM) with Box-Behnken design. The parallel arrangement of multi-cyclone units proved the ability of the system to uniformly disseminate the gas flow with high volume of gas carrier. Nevertheless, excessive pressure drops between each unit of multi-cyclone due to high volumetric air flow rate should be avoided as such condition may lower the overall collection efficiency by allowing dust re-entrainment from the hopper to circulate between the cyclones. Through statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA), validation and verification studies, it is suggested that the developed pilot scale multi-cyclone unit would be able to meet the targeted limit of 150 mg/m3 for solid fuel burning equipment industry in Malaysia by operating with optimized volumetric air flow rate of 0.27 m3/s, and maximum inlet particulate loading rate and size of 2 g/m3 and 1000 μm respectively.
A Novel Ensemble of Support Vector Machines for Improving Medical Data Classification
Authors: Huynh Phuoc Hai , Nguyen Van Hoa
Published: April 2023

In recent years, the increasing volume and availability of healthcare and biomedical data are opening up new opportunities for computational methods to enhance healthcare in many hospitals. Medical data classification is regarded as the challenging task to develop intelligent medical decision support systems in hospitals. In this paper, the ensemble approaches based on support vector machines are proposed for classifying medical data. This research’s key contribution is that the ensemble multiple support vector machines use the function kernel in the style of gradient boosting and bagging to produce a more accurate fusion model than the mono-modality models. Extensive experiments have been conducted on forty benchmark medical datasets from the University of California at Irvine machine learning repository. The classification results show that there is a statistically significant difference (p-values < 0.05) between the proposed approaches and the best classification models. In addition, the empirical analysis of forty medical datasets indicated that our models can predict diseases with an accuracy rate of 82.82 and 81.76 percent without feature selection in the preprocessing data stage.
Dipeptidyl peptidase IV in two human glioma cell lines
Authors: Sedo A , MalÃ­k R , Drbal K , LisÃ¡ V , VlasicovÃ¡ K , Mares V
Published: April 2023

There is growing evidence that dipeptidyl peptidase IV [DPP-IV, EC 3.4.14.5] takes part in the metabolism of biologically active peptides participating in the regulation of growth and transformation of glial cells. However, the knowledge on the DPP-IV expression in human glial and glioma cells is still very limited. In this study, using histochemical and biochemical techniques, the DPP-IV activity was demonstrated in two commercially available human glioma cell lines of different transformation degree, as represented by U373 astrocytoma (Grade III) and U87 glioblastoma multiforme (Grade IV) lines. Higher total activity of the enzyme, as well as its preferential localisation in the plasma membrane, was observed in U87 cells. Compared to U373 population, U87 cells were morphologically more pleiomorphic, they were cycling at lower rate and expressing less Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein. The data revealed positive correlation between the degree of transformation of cells and activity of DPP-IV. Great difference in expression of this enzyme, together with the phenotypic differences of cells, makes these lines a suitable standard model for further 57 studies of function of this enzyme in human glioma cells.
Prognostic factors affecting disease-free survival rate following surgical resection of primary breast cancer
Authors: Horita K , Yamaguchi A , Hirose K , Ishida M , Noriki S , Imamura Y , Fukuda M
Published: April 2023

In order to identify the prognostic factors that significantly influence the disease-free survival rate after surgical resection of primary breast cancers, we determined tumour and lymph node grades, and immunohistochemical staining for estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR), c-erbB-2, p53, bcl-2, bax and PCNA in 76 patients. Univariate analysis showed that increased grade of tumour and lymph nodes, negative immunostaining for ER, positive immunostaining for c-erbB-2, and a high PCNA index (³30%) negatively influenced the disease- free survival rate, but PR, p53, bcl-2 and bax had no predictive value. Although p53 was not an independent prognostic factor by itself, the combination of p53, bcl-2, and bax proved to correlate with the disease-free survival, with the best prognosis noted in tumours negative for p53 and positive for both bcl-2 and bax, intermediate prognosis in tumours negative for p53 and positive for either bcl- 2 or bax and worst prognosis in tumors negative for p53 as well as bcl-2 and bax. Tumour grade correlated positively with PCNA index, while positive staining for ER correlated negatively with tumour grade as well as with PCNA index, although this was statistically insignificant. Immunostaining of breast cancers for Bcl-2 correlated negatively with tumour grade and PCNA index. Immunostaining for c-erbB-2 correlated positively with PCNA but not with tumour grade. Immunostaining for p53 tended to correlate positively with PCNA, but not with tumour grade. Immunostaining for PR and bax did not correlate with tumour grade and PCNA index. These results suggest that in addition to tumour size and lymph node involvement, immunostaining for ER, c-erbB-2, and a high PCNA index are important prognostic factors in human breast cancer. Wild-type p53 with preserved bcl-2 and bax gene products is also a favorable prognostic factor indicating breast cancer at an early stage of cancer progression.
An updated checklist of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from Chandigarh, India and its surrounding area
Authors: Rani Ranjana , Kaur Sandeep , Kaur Sukhbir , Kaur Sagandeep
Published: April 2023

Background & objectives:

The affirmation about the prevalence of mosquito species at a particular place and time is very significant, not only to predict the danger of diseases or future outbreaks but also to control the vectors in time. Despite mosquitoes being medically important, the information about its faunal diversity is very scanty as far as Chandigarh in India and its nearby areas are concerned. So, this study was carried out to survey the mosquito fauna from areas in and around Chandigarh in northern India.

Methods:

Detailed mosquito surveys were carried out to explore the mosquito fauna from various habitats of developed urban areas, gardens, slums and surrounding villages of Chandigarh from June 2017–November 2019 using hand nets and oral aspirators.

Results:

A total of 34 mosquito species belonging to 8 genera viz; Anopheles, Aedes, Armigeres, Culex, Coquillet-tidia, Mansonia, Mimomyia and Verrallina were recorded, identified and preserved along with detailed collection data, of which eight are new records from Chandigarh.

Interpretation & conclusion:

The present checklist of mosquito fauna comprising 34 species provides information on the occurrence of mosquito vectors in Chandigarh and its adjoining areas which will be beneficial for the health authorities to adopt appropriate measures in time for the control of these vectors.
A year of COVID-19: effects of a global pandemic on a hip fracture bundled care protocol
Authors: Wong Khai Cheong , Tay Kenny Xian Khing , Koh Suang Bee , Howe Tet Sen
Published: April 2023

Introduction:

Our aim was to analyse how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affects a hip fracture bundled care protocol. We hypothesised that key performance indicators, but not short-term outcomes, may be adversely affected.

Methods:

Patients admitted under a hip fracture bundled care protocol were divided into two arms: ‘COVID’ group included patients admitted in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and ‘PRE-COVID’ group included patients admitted in 2019. We retrospectively analysed time to admission, time to surgery, length of stay, discharge disposition, as well as rates of 30-day revision surgery, 30-day readmission and inpatient mortality.

Results:

There were 307 patients in the PRE-COVID group and 350 patients in the COVID group. There was no significant difference in terms of gender, age and type of hip fracture. The COVID group had a higher proportion of American Society of Anesthesiologists classification III and IV patients (61.4% vs. 50.2% in the PRE-COVID group; P = 0.004). In the COVID group, similar proportion of patients were admitted to the ward within 4 h, but the mean time to surgery was longer (71.8 ± 73.0 h vs. 60.4 ± 72.8 h in the PRE-COVID group; P = 0.046) and few patients underwent operations within 48 h (41.7% vs. 60.3% in the PRE-COVID group; P < 0.001). Mean postoperative length of stay, discharge disposition, as well as rates of inpatient mortality, 30-day revision surgery and 30-day readmission were similar.

Conclusion:

The volume of hip fractures during the COVID-19 pandemic remained unchanged, although patients admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to be more deconditioned. Nevertheless, having robust protocols and staff familiar with hip fracture treatment can preserve short-term outcomes for this group of patients, even with strict isolation measures in place during a pandemic.
Blood eosinophils to direct oral corticosteroid treatment for patients with nasal polyps – an open label, non-inferiority, randomized control trial
Authors: Deng J. , Wang Z. , Xu Z. , Lai Y. , Zheng R. , Gao W. , Shi J. , Sun Y.
Published: April 2023

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a heterogeneous disorder. We aimed to evaluate the value of blood eosinophil count (BEC) for guiding oral corticosteroid therapy for CRSwNP. Methods: Subjects with CRSwNP were entered into a 2:1 randomized biomarker-directed corticosteroid versus standard therapy study base on the principle of potential benefits to patients. Subjects in the standard arm received oral prednisone (30mg/day) alone for 7 days, whereas in the biomarker-directed arm, prednisone (30mg/day), or nasal steroid spray (budesonide 256ug/day) was given according to the BEC which was measured to define eosinophil-high and -low CRSwNP (BEC ≥ and < 0.37×109/L, respectively). The primary outcome was the total nasal symptom scores (TNSS) of the two arms with the non-inferiority margin of 1.8. Secondary outcomes included nasal polyp size scores (NPSS) and SNOT-22. Patients were followed up the day after last dose of treatment. Results: A total of 105 subjects with CRSwNP were randomized into the biomarker-directed therapy group or the standard care group. The biomarker therapy demonstrated non-inferiority compared to standard care. There were no between-group differences for TNSS, NPSS and SNOT-22 improvements after treatment. Comparisons of TNSS, SNOT-22 and NPSS revealed no significant difference in terms of the effectiveness ratios of the biomarker-directed therapy and the standard care. Conclusion: A biomarker-directed strategy using the BEC can be used to direct corticosteroid therapy without increasing treatment failure or worsening of symptoms in patients with CRSwNP.
COVID-19 Pandemic: Hard lessons to learn
Authors: Sheek-Hussein Mohamud , M Abu-Zidan Fikri
Published: April 2023

NIL
Human immunodeficiency virus positive status disclosure among children in northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Asmare Adella Getachew , Abie Yimer Meklit , Chekol Abebe Endeshaw
Published: April 2023

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive status disclosure is an essential component of pediatric care and longterm disease management. However, one of the greatest challenges that caregiver/mothers and health care workers face is the disclosure of HIV positive status to children living with the virus. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess HIV positive status disclosure and associated factors among HIV positive children in northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 417 sampled HIV positive children attending pediatric ART clinics of public health facilities from February 01 to March 30 2020 in northwest Ethiopia. Simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. A structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used for data collection and the collected data entered into Epi data software. Binary logistic regression analysis was done and variables with P-value <0.05 was considered as a significant predictors of HIV positive status disclosure of HIV positive children.

Result: From 417 sampled population, 390 were involved in this study making 93.5% response rate. The study revealed that 53.6% with 95% CI (0.486-0.586) of HIV positive children knew their HIV positive sero status. Caregiver/mothers who had greater than three family sizes (AOR=1.984, 95% CI=1.046-3.762), children whose ages greater than 10 years (AOR=6.679, 95% CI=3.372-13.227) and children on ART for more than 5 years (AOR=8.96, 95% CI=6.402-12.257) were predictors of HIV positive status disclosure.

Conclusion: The HIV positive status disclosure was high in the study area relative to other studies. Family size, children age, and length of children on ART were predictors of HIV positive status disclosure for HIV positive children. Health care providers, especially those working at pediatrics ART clinics should keep these factors in mid while working with caregivers to encourage disclosure of HIV positive status.

Keywords: ART; Bahir Dar; Caregiver/mother; Children; HIV; HIV positive status disclosure.
Case control study of CD4 cell count and some haematological parameters among hepatitis and non-hepatitis B patients in Oyo State, South-west, Nigeria
Authors: Funmilayo Odusanya Adebomi , Ifeoluwa Makinde Gabriel , Oladimeji Idowu Michael , Matthew Adebayo Ayodeji
Published: April 2023

Aim: Hepatitis B virus HBV infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. CD4 count and haematological parameters (HPs) could be used to monitor the health status of hepatitis B (HB) individuals. This study aimed at assessing levels of CD4 count and some HPs among sufferers of HB patients and controls.

Methods: Fifty (50) HB patients as cases and 50 age-matched controls were recruited into the study. 5ml of whole blood sample was collected from all eligible participants of which 20μl and 10μl were used for CD4 count and HPs analysis respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess statistical difference within them using SPSS version 20.

Results: There was significant increase between the normal values of the CD4 count of both cases and controls (p<0.05). Significant correlations were found in some HPs such as HCT with WBC; HB and RBC with PLT; RBC, HCT and PLT with WBC.

Conclusion: There were no significant differences between the values of the CD4 count and hematological parameters among HB subjects in this study. There is need for future studies to detect changes in CD4 count and other HPs in HB patients to increase options of screening for immunological changes during management.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; CD4 count; hematological parameters; patients.
Comparison of efficacy of intravenous labetalol and intravenous hydralazine for management of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women
Authors: Kausar Mauzma , Husain Samia , Hussain Rubina
Published: April 2023

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of intravenous Labetalol and intravenous Hydralazine in reduction of blood pressure in patients with severe pre-eclampsia.

Methodology: This comparative study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi from1st June 2019 to 30th June 2020. Total 208 pregnant women having severe pre-eclampsia (systolic pressure ≥160 mmHg and diastolic pressure ≥110mmHg) were included in study. Group A received I/V Labetalol. Group B received I/V Hydralazine. Efficacy of drugs was observed by reduction in blood pressure and the number of doses administered. Data was analysed using SPSS version 26.

Results: Systolic blood pressure reduction in Labetalol group was significantly lower than in hydralazine group (105.5 ±11.3 vs. 115.8 ±17.1, p≤ 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure reduction was also lower in labetalol group than in hydralazine group (p= 0.03). Number of dosage of drugs in Group A (Labetalol) was 3.2 ±1.2 vs. Group B (Hydralazine) was 4.4±1.4, p =0.006).

Conclusion: The results of this study show that Labetalol is more effective as compared to Hydralazine in terms of reducing the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and number of doses (Drugs) for in patients with severe preeclampsia.

Keywords: Preeclampsia; bolus dose; Hydralazine; Labetalol.
Prevalence and determinants of inconsistent condom use among unmarried sexually active youth. a secondary analysis of the 2016-2017 Eswatini HIV incidence measurement survey
Authors: S Simelane Maswati , B Chemhaka Garikayi , S Shabalala Fortunate , T Simelane Portia , Vilakati Zodwa
Published: April 2023

Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, youth continue to have a high burden of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies that could be reduced through improved condom use. We aimed to investigate inconsistent condom use with the three most recent sexual partners among unmarried sexually active youth in Eswatini

Methods: Data were analysed for 1,324 youth from the 2016-2017 Swaziland HIV incidence measurement survey (SHIMS2) using multivariable logistic regression method.

Results: The prevalence of inconsistent condom use among youth was 56.8% in 2017. Higher odds of inconsistent condom use were observed among youth aged 20-24, residents in the Lubombo region, those aged less than 18 years at sexual debut and those who had two or more sexual partners in the last 12 months before the survey. Lower odds of inconsistent condom use were observed among males, and those that knew their partners reported HIV status to be negative.

Conclusion: Our findings highlight a notable prevalence of inconsistent condom use among youth in Eswatini. Programs that aim to reduce the incidence of HIV infections and STIs among youth in Eswatini should focus on these factors associated with inconsistent condom use.

Keywords: Inconsistent condom use; youth; factors; Eswatini
A validation of adult suicidal ideation questionnaire among Nigerian University students
Authors: Adeyemo Sunday , Olukolade Olugbemi , Aroyewun Afolabi
Published: April 2023

Background: To prevent completed suicide among young adults in the university, assessment of suicidal ideation should be encouraged. This study aims to investigate the reliability, exploratory factor analysis, and validity of adult suicidal ideation questionnaire among Nigerian university students.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional survey was the preferred choice of research design for this study utilizing convenience sampling technique to recruit participants. 6 universities divided into two equal numbers between federal-funded and state-funded ones in Nigeria were selected, and 2,702 students were sampled to fill the questionnaires. Instruments for data collection included Rosenberg Self-esteem questionnaire and Kessler Psychological distress scale to validate ASIQ. Ethical clearance for this study was collected from Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Results: The results of the study showed that internal consistency of ASIQ was .951 while validity analyses proved that self-esteem and psychological distress diverged and converged respectively with the three subdomains of suicidal ideation as measured by ASIQ.

Conclusion: This study concludes that ASIQ has slight modification from the original version among young adults in Nigeria. The scale is reliable and valid but as a 22-item instrument on a 5-point Likert scale.\

Keywords: Adult suicidal ideation questionnaire; psychometric properties; Nigerian University students.
The effect of adding kinesiotaping versus pelvic floor exercise to conventional therapy in the management of post-colonoscopy coccydynia: a single-blind randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hadaya Mosaad Eladl , Yasser Mohamed Aneis , Asmaa Fawzy Attalla , Heba Mohamed Mohamady
Published: April 2023

Background: Coccydynia is a challenging disorder that is frequently managed conservatively.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of adding kinesiotaping versus pelvic floor exercise to conventional therapy in the management of post-colonoscopy coccydynia.

Methods: Forty-two participants, aged 25–45 years, were randomly assigned to: the conventional therapy group (CT) receiving Piriformis and Iliopsoas muscle stretching exercise, clamshell exercise, and seat cushioning; the CT plus kinesiotaping group (CT-KT) receiving additional kinesiotaping; or the CT plus pelvic floor exercise (PFE) group (CT-PFE) executing additional PFE. All groups completed 4 weeks of training, 3 days a week. Pain intensity, assessed by the Pain Numeric Rating Scale (PNRS), and functional disability, evaluated by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), were estimated at baseline and after 4 weeks.

Results: There were significant inter-group variations in PNRS and ODI, where (P = 0.0001) and (P = 0.03), respectively. Differences between experimental groups were noteworthy in terms of NPRS, where the major change was in favor of group CT-KT (P = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between them regarding their impact on ODI.

Conclusion: CT-KT is more effective than CT-PFE in reducing pain associated with coccydynia post-colonoscopy, but there is no difference in their effects on functional disability. CT-KT is therefore recommended as an alternative treatment option for post-colonoscopy coccydynia.

Keywords: Coccydynia; colonoscopy; kinesiotaping; pelvic floor; tonic spasm; exercise.
Imaging of developmental delay in black African children: A hospital-based study in Yaoundé-Cameroon
Authors: Nguefack Seraphin , Ndongafack Fongue Nasser , Armand Kago Tague Daniel , Igor Mbessoh Kengne Ulrich , Roger Mouliom Tapouh Jean , Nguefack Félicitée , Chiabi Andreas , Moifo Boniface
Published: April 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to describe the anomalies observed on imaging for developmental delay in black African children.

Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study, which included children aged between 1 month to 6 years with developmental delay and had done a brain MRI and/or CT scan.

Results: We included 94 children, 60.6% of whom were males. The mean age was 32.5 ± 6.8 months. A history of perinatal asphyxia found in 55.3% of cases. According to the Denver developmental II scale, profound developmental delay observed in 35.1% of cases, and severe developmental delay in 25.5%. DD was isolated in 2.1% of cases and associated with cerebral palsy, pyramidal syndrome, and microcephaly in respectively 83%, 79.8%, and 46.8% of cases. Brain CT scan and MRI accounted for 85.1% and 14.9% respectively. The tests were abnormal in 78.7% of the cases, and cerebral atrophy was the preponderantanomaly (cortical atrophy = 80%, subcortical atrophy = 69.3%). Epileptic patients were 4 times more likely to have abnormal brain imaging (OR = 4.12 and p = 0.05),. We did not find a link between the severity of psychomotor delay and the presence of significant anomalies in imaging.

Conclusion: In our context, there is a high prevalence of organic anomalies in the imaging of psychomotor delay, which were dominated by cerebral atrophy secondary to hypoxic ischemic events.

Keywords: developmental delay; brain MRI; CT scan; children.
Assessment of knowledge and socioeconomic status of caregivers of children with malnutrition at a district hospital in Ghana
Authors: Ameyaw Rita , Ameyaw Emmanuel , K Agbenorhevi Jacob , Kumi Hammond Charles , Arhin Benard , Jibril Afaa Taiba
Published: April 2023

Background: Malnutrition is a significant public health problem and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children.

Aims: To assess knowledge and socioeconomic status of caregivers of children under 5 years with malnutrition at a district hospital in Ghana.

Methods: Case Report forms were used to gather data in a cross-sectional study which was carried out among 189 caregivers and their children aged from zero to fifty-nine months at the Out-Patient Department clinic.

Results: Most (80.95%) children had marasmus. Sixty-two point four-two percent had severe wasting, while 35.45% had mild stunting. The rest, 21.69% had moderate stunting; while only 2.12% severe stunting. Almost all caregivers (94.71%) had heard of exclusive breast feeding as a good feeding practice but only 58.20% practiced it. Most caregivers (68.26%) had no education or only up to basic level, p=0.035. The average number of children per family was 4.8 per household (SD: 1.69) with majority of them (64.55%) having 4-6 children per family and 13.23% of them had more than 7 children per family, p=0.009. More thana third (37.04%) of the caregivers earned less than a hundred Ghana cedis (GhC 100 [US$ 19] per month and 50.26% of them earned between GhC 101 (US$ 19) and GhC 500 (US$ 96) per month.

Conclusion: Lower level of caregivers’ education and large family size were risk factors for developing malnutrition among children.

Keywords: Caregivers; knowledge; malnutrition; socioeconomic status.
Nutritional knowledge, dietary habits and nutritional status of adults living in urban Communities in Lagos State
Authors: FA Olatona , DB Adeniyi , OE Obrutu , AO Ogunyemi
Published: April 2023

Background: Malnutrition is a major threat to the world's public health. While under-nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies persist, obesity is increasing worldwide. Although malnutrition has been extensively researched among children, it has become of increasing concern among adults because of the relative increase in the prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the nutritional knowledge, dietary habits and nutritional status of adults in an urban community in Lagos State.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 320 adults selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data was obtained using interviewer-administered questionnaires and standard anthropometric measurements. Chi-square analysis was used to compare prevalence between categories.

Results: Only 15.9% of respondents had good nutritional knowledge. The dietary habits and estimated nutrient intake showed a deficiency of fiber, energy and most micro-nutrients with the exception of zinc, iron and vitamin A. Dietary carbohydrate, protein as well as sodium levels were elevated. BMI findings estimated the prevalence of overweight at 24.8% and obesity at 17.3%. However, there was no statistically significant association observed between nutritional knowledge and status of respondents.

Conclusion: Nutritional knowledge was poor and obesity was relatively high among participants. Improved nutrition education intervention is necessary to increase knowledge and reduce obesity among adults living in urban communities in Lagos, Nigeria.

Keywords: Nutritional knowledge; dietary habit; nutritional status of adults.
Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in Nigeria
Authors: A Olowe Rita , A Ojo Johnson , I Funwei Roland , I Oyedeji Segun , A Olowe Olugbenga , N Thomas Bolaji , Ojurongbe Olusola
Published: April 2023

This study investigated the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-Sp) in Osogbo, southwest Nigeria. Blood sample was obtained from consenting pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. Microscopy and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were employed to diagnose and analyse genetic diversity. Of the 301 samples, 53 (18%) and 83 (28%) were positive for P. falciparum by microscopy and PCR, respectively. Using the merozoite surface protein (msp)-1, msp-2, and glutamate-rich protein (glurp) genes of P.falciparum as polymorphic markers, the msp-1 gene showed nine alleles with R033 (66.7%) being predominant, followed by K1 (45.5%) and MAD20 (33.3%). The msp-2 gene had 16 alleles (eight each for FC27 and 3D7). The 3D7 alleles (82.1%) was significantly more than FC27 alleles (48.2%) (p = 0.0093). Nine alleles were detected with glurp gene, presenting with the highest monoclonal and the lowest polyclonal infection. The multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1.5, 1.8, and 1.2 were obtained for msp-1, msp-2 and glurp genes. In light of the high P. falciparum genetic diversity among pregnant women on IPT-Sp in this study, additionalstrategies for preventing and controlling malaria in pregnancy might be required.

Keywords: Malaria; pregnancy; allelic frequency; multiplicity of infection; Merozoite surface protein; glutamate-rich protein.
Characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria
Authors: Adekanmbi Olukemi , Ilesanmi Olayinka , Idowu Olusola , Esan Arinola , R Raji Yemi , Fowotade Adeola , Ogunlade Olubunmi , Akere Adegboyega , Ololade Oluwaseun , Ojifinni Kehinde , Akinola Olurotimi , Orunmuyi Akintunde , Eze Uwom , Akinmoladun Victor , Adeoye Abiodun , Adebiyi Akindele , Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa E , A Otegbayo Jesse , Osungbade Kayode
Published: April 2023

Background: Data regarding the features and outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Africa are increasingly available.

Objectives: To describe socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 86 adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between March and November 2020. Characteristics were described in survivors and non-survivors.

Results: Mean age was 60.9±16.1 years, 53(61.6%) were male. Co-morbidities were found in 77(89.5%) patients. On severity, 6(7%) were mild, 23(26.7%) moderate, 51(59.3%) severe and 6(7%) critical. Oxygen saturation and respiratory rate were 71±22% and 38±11/minute in non-survivors and 90±7% and 31±7/minute in survivors respectively (p<0.001, p<0.001)). Overall mortality was 47.7% with no death among patients with mild disease and deaths in all patients with critical disease. Duration of hospitalization was 2.0(1.0-4.5) days in those who died and 12(7.0-15.0) days in those who survived (p<0.001). Of the42 patients that received dexamethasone, 11(26.2%) died, while 31(73.8%) survived (p=<0.001).

Conclusion: Most of the patients had co-morbidities and there was high mortality in patients with severe and critical COVID-19. Mean oxygen saturation was low and respiratory rate high overall. Factors associated with mortality included: Significantly greater hypoxia and tachypnea, less dexamethasone use and shorter hospitalization.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 mortality; SARS CoV-2.
The Challenges of Nursing Presence at the Patient’s Bedside from the Perspective of Nurses: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Fallahnezhad Tahereh , Aghaie Bahman , Norouzadeh Reza , Ebadi Abbas , Abbasinia Mohammad
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND፡ Presence is one of the vital aspects of nursing care that improves the outcome of treatment, self-care, satisfaction, loneliness, and anxiety of patients. The literature review shows that most of the studies have been conducted on the conceptual analysis of the presence of nurses, while there are many challenges for the presence of nurses at the bedside. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the perceived challenges of nurses from being at the bedside of patients.METHODS: This is a qualitative descriptive study. Conventional inductive content analysis was used. Field notes and in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with nineteen clinical nurses. Participants were selected from general and intensive care units. Data analysis was performed using Zhang and Wildemuth approach.RESULTS: Three categories emerged: (1) professional challenges with subcategories: Supervision of novice nurses, insufficient skills and cultural unfamiliarity, (2) Management challenges with subcategories: managers' negligence toward nurse's needs, Strategies of nursing managers, lack of medical staff, inadequate medical facilities, inappropriate planned visits and appointments, (3) work environment challenges with sub-categories: ward overcrowding and non-standard hospital environment.

CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the challenges and obstacles of nurses' presence at the bedside in different dimensions from the perspective of clinical nurses. To increase the presence of nurses at the bedside, nursing managers should create a standardized work environment.
Comparison of the Quality of Life of Physically Active and Inactive Grandmothers Caring and Non-caring for Grandchildren: A Cross- Sectional Study
Authors: Hemmati Homa , Golestani Ali , Hashemi Mitra , Tabatabaeichehr Mahbubeh , Mortazavi Hamed
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, grandparents have a major role in taking care of their grandchildren. Also, caring for grandchildren is a common and normative experience for many Iranian grandparents. The present study aimed to compare the quality of life of physically active and inactive grandmothers caring and non-caring for grandchildren.METHODS: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 grandmothers at the age range of 50 to 70 years old, who lived in Bojnurd, northeastern Iran (2018). Data were collected using the questionnaires of 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Baecke Physical Activity, and demographic information.RESULTS: The total scores of quality of life in caring physically active, physically inactive, non-caring physically active and noncaring physically inactive grandmothers were 76.95±6.33, 71.74±9.41, 75.56±5.9, and 56.06±11.23, respectively. There was a significant difference in the comparison of the quality of life score in caring grandmothers in two active and inactive groups (P<0.001). In addition, the quality of life score of non-caring grandmothers indicated a significant difference in physically active and inactive grandmothers (P<0.001).CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, it seems that caring physically active grandmothers have higher quality of life. It can be suggested that the grandmothers who care for their grandchildren may improve their health and quality of life by incorporating the programs to increase physical activities in their daily life.
Use of Conservation Practices among Arable Crop Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria
Authors: Akinnagbe Oluwole Matthew , John Adenike Mojisola
Published: April 2023

Conservation practices are tools used to help conserve and improve natural resources necessary to maintain sustainable arable crop production. This  study assessed the extent of use of conservation practices among arable crop farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling procedure  was used in selecting 200 arable crop farmers. Data were collected through the use of a structured interview schedule. Percentages and mean statistic  were used in presenting the results. Findings showed that the major conservation practices adopted by arable crop farmers were mulching (100%), crop  rotation (100%), ridging (100%), bush following (99.0%) and mixed cropping (99.0%). The most frequently utilized conservation practices were ridging  (95.0%), mulching (91.0%) and mixed cropping (89.9%). Population pressure on land (𝑥̅=3.77) and availability of funds (𝑥̅=3.74) are factors influencing the  effective use of conservation practices. The results further revealed that longterm continuity of yield from land (𝑥̅=2.84), long-term sustainability and  productivity of land (𝑥̅=2.76) and increased yields (𝑥̅=2.69) were reasons for conservation practices by arable crop farmers. To ensure improvement in  yields, arable crop farmers should be extensively encouraged through access to land and funds to promote the adoption of conservation practices.
Comparative Study of Patients' Adherence between Hospital-based and Communitybased Treatment for Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Kaduna State,
Authors: Adagba K.O. , Aliyu A.A. , Ejembi C.L. , Olorukooba A.A. , Joshua I.A.
Published: April 2023

Background: Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) epidemic is threatening the global control of TB. It is driven by the programme, health system  and patient related factors. This study aimed at comparing the level of adherence to treatment among MDR-TB patients treated in hospital-based and  community-based models of care.

Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional survey conducted in 2019 with mixed methods of data collection. The study population were 360 MDR-  TB patients treated in hospital-based and community-based facilities in Kaduna between 2013 and 2018. Questionnaire, FGD and KII guides respectively  were the quantitative and qualitative data collection tools used. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 was used to analyze the  quantitative data while thematic analysis was used for analysing qualitative data. The quantitative results were presented in descriptive statistics with  level of significance set at p<0.05 and the qualitative results were presented as prose.

Results: The majority were males in the community-based 135 (71.8%) and the hospital-based model 126 (73.3%), with median (IQR) ages of 33 (27-40)  years and 34 (27-43) years respectively. Adherence to treatment was significantly higher among patients in hospital-based (64%) compared to  community-based (36%), (p 0.001). Availability of family and community support encourages adherence while lack of food supplies, dissatisfaction with  services and drug side effects were factors against adherence to treatment. Treatment success rate was similar in both models.

Conclusion: Adherence was better among patients initiated on treatment in the hospital-based model. Adherence should be strengthened in the  community-based model by regular counselling and health education.
El rol de la enfermería del trabajo, un debate abierto
Authors: González-Caballero Javier , Romero-Saldaña Manuel
Published: April 2023

En una realidad social y laboral variable, compleja e inestable, la presencia de la enfermería del trabajo en las organizaciones constituye un valor añadido por su trayectoria y atención especializada. El periodo de formación de la especialidad tiene como objetivo formar a profesionales que puedan realizar actividades dirigidas a prevenir, promover, proteger y restaurar la salud de la población trabajadora. El enfoque de su actuación será laboral con perspectiva de salud pública, integral con mirada holística, integrado en el servicio de prevención de riesgos laborales y basado en la mejor evidencia científica disponible. A su vez, el ejercicio de la actividad debe realizarse también de acuerdo con estándares profesionales y ajustada a principios éticos. Por tanto, esta disciplina debe considerar no sólo que su práctica clínica sea efectiva, sino también coste-eficiente.