bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single-breath diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide in children with cystic fibrosis: methods of interpreting results
Authors: Bystrova S. G. , Simonova O. I. , Akhmedova E. E. , Kustova O. V.
Published: March 2023

Introduction. Progression of pulmonary and heart failure often causes death in patients with cystic fibrosis (95%). Therefore, monitoring of lung condition is very important for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Structural changes are visualized by computed tomography of the chest (CT) and are scored using the Brody scale. For children older than 5 years, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) tests (which are evaluated in percent of predicted (%) values) are available, such as spirometry, body plethysmography (BP), diffusion capacity of the lungs (DL) test. The results of the single-breath (SB) DL for carbon monoxide test are DLCO-SB, alveolar volume (VA-SB) and their ratio (KCO-SB). In the presence of non-communicative zones for gas perfusion, VA-SB may not present true VA. For patients with CF, it is proposed to use VA determined by BP for calculating KCO-BP, or to adjust the predicted DLCO-SB and KCO-SB for VA.

Aim. To assess the informativeness DLCO-SB, KCO-SB and KCO-BP in children with CF.

Materials and methods. 28 children with CF (8–18 years old) were examined in the department of pulmonology of the National Research Center for Children’s Health. PFTs included DLCO-SB, spirometry and BP. Additionally, we evaluated the data of the blood gas and acid-base values, age, body mass index and CT scores.

Results and discussion. We found that in most patients DLCO-SB and KCO-SB were within the normal range, and decreased in children older than 14 years with background of severe bronchiectasis.

Conclusion. Thus, in children with CF the DL test is informative, and adjustment for VA is useful.
Quality of life in children after a new coronavirus infection
Authors: Isaeva E. P. , Zaytseva O. V. , Lokshina E. E. , Murtazaeva O. A. , Zaytseva S. V. , Sirota N. A. , Ponkratov D. A. , Zyabkin I. V.
Published: March 2023

Introduction. After an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in some cases, the so-called post-covid syndrome is formed, which includes conditions and symptoms that develop during and / or after the disease, lasting more than 12 weeks, occurring in waves or on a permanent basis, and without a confirmed alternative diagnosis. Vegetative, psycho-emotional disorders, as well as disorders of the cardiovascular system, digestive and some others can be considered as manifestations of the post-covid syndrome. The variety of clinical manifestations of post-COVID syndrome in children can have a significant impact on their quality of life (QoL).

Aim. To estimate the quality of life of children aged 5 to 17 years after COVID-19.

Materials and methods. The study included 92 children aged 5 to 17 years, divided into two groups. The study group included 62 children (31 boys, 31 girls; mean age 12.0 (7.4; 14.5) years) after a new coronavirus infection. The control group consisted of 30 children who had acute respiratory tract infection of a different etiology and did not have COVID-19 (16 girls and 14 boys; mean age 12.5 (7.5; 15.1) years). The assessment of QoL in children of the study groups was carried out using the Russian version of the PedsQL 4.0 questionnaire. Parental and child forms of the questionnaire were used.

Results. The average follow-up period after a coronavirus infection was 6 months (from 3 to 12 months). 92 patient questionnaires were analyzed: 14 in the group of children 5–7 years old, 36 in the group of children 8–12 years old, 42 in the group of children and adolescents 13–17 years old, and 14 parental questionnaires in the group of children 5–7 years old. The indicators of the quality of life of children after COVID-19 were statistically significantly reduced compared to the control group in all age groups. Differences in the assessment of the quality of life by preschool children and their parents were revealed.

Conclusions. A significant decrease in the life quality was revealed in children with COVID-19 history after six months (3–12 months) of the disease manifestation in comparison with control group.
Prediction of bone metabolism disorders in premature babies
Authors: Druzhinina N. A. , Merzlyakova D. R. , Vakhitova G. A. , Gilyazova G. G. , Shakirova L. G. , Khayretdinova T. B.
Published: March 2023

Introduction. Premature newborns suffer from osteopenia, which scientists attribute to vitamin D deficiency. Its deficiency leads to impaired development, the success of which depends on the first years of life. Given the increase in the number of premature babies born after in vitro fertilization, the question arises regarding the risk of them developing vitamin D deficiency.

Aim to establish risk factors and develop prognostic tables for vitamin D deficiency in premature infants of the first three years of life born by in vitro fertilization and naturally.

Materials and methods. We studied premature newborns (n = 189), which we divided into two groups, born by in vitro fertilization and naturally (comparison group). In each group, two subgroups of infants were identified. In the main in vitro fertilization group, the 1st subgroup included newborns weighing 1,000–1,500 g (n = 52), and the 2nd – weighing less than 1,000 g (n = 49). The comparison group included infants born naturally with a body weight of 1,000–1,500 g (n = 46) and those with a body weight of less than 1,000 g (n = 42).

Results. Vitamin D deficiency was established in 67.7 ± 4.8% premature babies during the first year of life. In the second year of life, with intake of vitamin D 1000 IU/day, the level of calcidiol stabilized to normal value. The most sensitive group concerning vitamin D insufficiency is the group of babies with breast-milk substitutes. Factors associated with in vitro fertilization had not shown statistically significant influence on the vitamin D insufficiency in premature babies.

Conclusion. We have proposed beneficial predictive tables for an individual risk evaluation of possible bone metabolic conditions in premature babies.
Nutritional support for different conditions accompanied with protein and energy insufficiency in children
Authors: Zakirova A. M. , Faizullina R. A. , Kadriev A. G. , Shayapova D. Т. , Palmova L. Yu. , Rashitova E. L. , Zaripov I. R. , Kadriev A. A. , Kiselеv R. P.
Published: March 2023

Introduction. Malnutrition in children manifests itself in the form of general metabolic disorders and leads to impaired cellular differentiation of tissues. The state of nutritional status is an important success factor in the treatment of any disease, therefore, the development of methodological approaches to optimize the nutritional status of children with protein-energy malnutrition is an urgent task.

Aim. To study the efficacy and safety of nutritional support in various conditions accompanied by protein-energy malnutrition in children.

Materials and methods. 62 cases were analyzed: including 29 with antibiotic-associated diarrhea, 8 with celiac disease, 14 with gastrointestinal allergy (allergic enteropathy), 11 with hypostature against the background of low gestational age with birth. Age – 1–10 years. All patients were divided into groups identical in age, nosology, gender, duration of the pathological condition, degree of malnutrition. In the main group (31 children), the main treatment included a low-microbial diet, sips, parenteral nutrition with glucose-salt solutions (7–10 days), enteral nutrition. The control group consisted of 31 children, in whose therapy there was no enteral nutrition. Anthropometry, clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination were used to assess the nutritional status.

Results and discussion. The main syndromes during treatment are: underweight, loss of appetite, intestinal dyspepsia and malabsorption. Analysis of the diet indicated the monotony of the set of products. The course of nutritional support was 15 days. The survey was conducted on the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th days of the study. The effect of using enteral nutrition in terms of physical development, clinical and laboratory parameters was more significant in the main group compared to conventional methods of nutrition optimization.

Conclusions. The use of enteral nutrition in combination with drug therapy shows more significant effectiveness compared to conventional methods of nutrition optimization.
Will E. coli retain its leading position as a causative agent of urinary tract infection in children?
Authors: Nikitin S. S. , Guseva N. B. , Nikitin V. S.
Published: March 2023

Introduction. According to information from various literature sources, Escherichia coli is the most common (80–90%) causative agent of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children, it also significantly exceeds the frequency of occurrence of other bacteria, although there is a tendency to gradually decrease its specific gravity, especially against the background of other pathogens of the intestinal group.

Aim. To determine the specific gravity of E. coli as the causative agent of UTI, depending on age against the background of other pathogens.

Materials and methods. The study involved 133 children aged 1–17 years with UTI, girls – 107, boys – 26. The bacteriological method determined the pathogen, its sensitivity to standard antibiotics and the ability to produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL). Statistical processing was carried out in the Excel program. In the statistical study of the conjugacy of the signs age and infection, the Kruskal – Wallis criterion was used. Patients are grouped into the following age categories: 1–3, 4–7, 8–11, 12–14 and 15–17 years.

Results. The authors of the article provided information that E. coli, although it is the leader, but its share is not as large as is commonly believed and is only 26–29%, while 18% of the total are producers of ESBL. The article shows the distribution of UTI pathogens by age groups of children and calculates the empirical probability of detecting various pathogens at different ages. It is shown that the age group of 8–11 years is most susceptible to mixed infection. According to the structure of mixed infections, these are combinations of pathogens of the intestinal group: E. coli with E. faecalis or E. faecium or with Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Conclusions. The authors raised the question of the need in the near future to correct the schemes of empirical antibacterial therapy in connection with the excess of the justified 10–20% resistance of E. coli to cephalosporins of the 3rd generation due to an increase in the frequency of ESBL production.
Therapeutic efficacy and safety of the use of the homeopathic preparation during teething in children
Authors: Galaktionova M. Yu. , Gritsinskaya V. L.
Published: March 2023

Introduction. The variability of the dentition terms is caused by numerous factors: the age and health of the parents, the parity, etc. Children may experience discomfort, which may be relieved by various pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods. Aim. To study the effect of factors on the temporary teeth eruption in children, the severity of discomfort symptoms and the therapeutic efficacy of a homeopathic medicine during the period of dentition.

Materials and methods. The study included patients aged 4 months to 2 years. All children were divided into two groups. Group I included 97 apparently healthy children, Group II included 318 children with verified somatic pathology, who had residual effects of the perinatal hypoxic nervous system injury.

Results and discussion. The analyses of correlation relationship between the dentition terms and medical and biological factors during pregnancy and childbirth in children showed the pronounced relationships: in group I – between the 53rd tooth eruption timing and the age of the mother, the mother’s disease during pregnancy, the threat of miscarriage (r = 0.98, p < 0.05); in group II – a high correlation coefficient between the 65th tooth eruption timing and acute infections suffered by the mother during pregnancy (r = 0.76; p < 0.05). Symptoms associated with teething were observed in 61% of children in group I and 72% (p < 0.05) in group II. Given the low awareness of parents about the homeopathic medicine (8.5%), we gave a talk and suggested using a homeopathic medicine during the next tooth eruption in a child.

Conclusions. The temporary teeth eruption timetable is influenced by the course of the antenatal period, the mother’s age and the residual effects of the perinatal hypoxic nervous system injury. The homeopathic medicine is indicated to relieve symptoms of discomfort during the dentition period in the first year of life.
Self-monitoring with a home glucometer as a reliable method for controlling for diabetes mellitus type 1: pilot study
Authors: Samoilova Iu. G. , Koshmeleva M. V. , Oleynik O. A. , Trifonova E. I. , Kachanov D. A. , Mutalimi V. E.
Published: March 2023

Introduction. According to current clinical guidelines for the effective treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) in children and adolescents, regular self-monitoring of blood glucose using a glucose meter is an integral part of all training and long-term follow-up programs.

Aim. To evaluate the clinical and metabolic efficiency of the method of self-monitoring of glycemia with a home glucometer in patients with diabetes DM1.

Materials and methods. The study included 107 patients with DM1 using the method of self-monitoring of glycemia using a home glucometer. Based on the received reports was evaluated the average level of glycemia, glycemia above the target range, time in range, glycemia below the target range, frequency of hypoglycemia, the frequency of daily measurements, as well as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Statistical analysis was carried out using the program IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0.

Results. During the work, children and adolescents with DM1 showed a decrease in HbA1c from 8.5% [7.2; 9.7] to 8.0% [6.9; 9.0] (p < 0.005). There was a decrease in TAR and TBR by 5 and 0.4%, respectively (p = 0.002, p < 0.001), which causes an increase in TIR from 44.4% [33; 56] to 49.8% [32; 75] (p = 0.003). During the study, patients were divided into groups according to the frequency of daily measurements, which revealed a decrease in HbA1c from 8.2% [7.2; 9.4] to 7.8% [6.9; 8.8] (p < 0.001) in the group with a frequency of daily measurements 6 per a day and more compared with the group where the frequency of measurements was less than 6 per a day.

Findings. Conscious self-monitoring, combined with quality physician support, ensures the achievement of diabetes targets and a decrease in glycemic variability when using the self-monitoring method with a home glucometer. Using specialized software to work with a home glucometer helps to reduce the time to achieve compensation for type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents.
Análise quantitativa da fase oral da deglutição em indivíduos com Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica
Authors: Tomasi Lidia Lis , Rockenbach Nathalia de Morais , Maciel Jeferson Nei Gonçalves , Da Silva Roberta Gonçalves , Pasqualoto Adriane Schmidt , Mancopes Renata
Published: March 2023

Introdução: Estudos sobre análise quantitativa da deglutição são de extrema importância, porém ainda não estão definidos na literatura os parâmetros de normalidade e existem diferentes escalas de avaliação dos fenômenos biomecânicos desta função. Investigar as diferentes definições das variáveis quantitativas temporais pode contribuir para a melhor definição e determinação dos tempos e marcadores fisiológicos da deglutição para diferentes populações. Objetivo: Analisar, de forma quantitativa, a fase oral da deglutição de indivíduos com Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica (DPOC). Método: Foram incluídos 25 indivíduos adultos clinicamente estáveis com DPOC, média de idade de 65,7±8,9, de ambos os sexos. A análise foi feita a partir da Videofluoroscopia da deglutição (VFD). Três juízes cegados e treinados realizaram a análise da variável quantitativa temporal Tempo de Trânsito Oral seguindo a classificação proposta por dois diferentes autores (TTO e TTOT), bem como das variáveis visuoperceptuais. O estado de conservação dentária também foi avaliado. Resultados: Observou-se TTO de 2,09s para líquido e 1,61s para pastoso, e TTOT de 2,34s e 1,84s para líquido e pastoso, respectivamente. Os TTOs estão alterados e maiores à medida que a gravidade da DPOC aumenta. Para ambas as consistências, o local do disparo da deglutição ocorreu em regiões anatômicas superiores. Houve ausência de escape posterior precoce e resíduo faríngeo na maioria dos pacientes. Conclusão: Observou-se alteração na fase oral da deglutição em indivíduos com DPOC, os quais apresentaram TTO aumentado e mau estado de conservação dentária.
 
Palavras-chave: doença pulmonar; transtornos de deglutição; saúde bucal; fenômenos biomecânicos; análise quantitativa; fluoroscopia.
Perfil epidemiológico da doença do novo coronavírus em um município do interior do Mato Grosso
Authors: Jordão Fabiana Morandi , Massmann Patrícia Fernandes , Alves Dhennifer Garcia , Aires Wilmara Batista Silva , De Sousa Amanda Pinheiro , Silva Lusiângela Soares
Published: March 2023

Objetivo: analisar o perfil epidemiológico da doença do novo coronavírus no município de Pontal do Araguaia, Mato Grosso. Método: estudo epidemiológico do tipo descritivo e retrospectivo, utilizando dados secundários referentes ao período de 17 de abril a 23 de outubro de 2020. Resultados: no intervalo de 28 semanas epidemiológicas 288 casos foram confirmados, sendo 52,4% eram mulheres, com idade entre 30 a 39 anos (24,7%). 92,36% dos pacientes apresentaram sintomas, predominando a tosse (51%), foi associado comorbidades em apenas 8%, destes a maioria eram portadores de diabetes mellitus e ocorreu hospitalização em 10% dos casos. Em relação aos óbitos a maioria foram mulheres com idade média de 74 anos. O município apresentou um percentual de recuperação de 96,18% e 2,4% de letalidade. Conclusão: a atenção primária à saúde vem conseguindo sustentar os cuidados necessários para controle da transmissão do novo coronavírus no município estudado.
Avaliação do suporte social de pessoas idosas vivendo com HIV/AIDS
Authors: Souza Luciária Silva , De Oliveira Alessandra Souza , Lima Pollyanna Viana , Dos Santos Naiane Pereira , Dos Reis Luciana Araújo
Published: March 2023

Objetivo: avaliar o suporte social a idosos vivendo com HIV/Aids por meio da satisfação desses com o suporte social recebido. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo de caráter exploratório descritivo com abordagem quanti-qualitativa, desenvolvido em um Centro de Atenção e Apoio especializado de referência em atendimento para pessoas convivendo com ISTs e HIV/Aids em um município baiano. A amostra constituiu-se de 26 pessoas com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos diagnosticadas com o HIV/Aids. A coleta de dados ocorreu mediante entrevista, utilizando-se um roteiro semiestruturado, questionário com dados sociodemográficos, questionário para busca em portuário e a Escala de Satisfação com o Suporte Social (ESSS) para avaliação do suporte social. Resultados: evidenciou-se uma maior frequência de idosos do sexo masculino (69,23%), com maior score para o estado civil sem companheiro (65,38%), com escolaridade (84,62%) e renda de até 1 salário mínimo (69,23%). Em relação ao nível de satisfação com o suporte social, verificou-se nível médio de satisfação com o suporte social (36,31), nível muito baixo com a satisfação familiar (5,69), moderadamente satisfeitos com a intimidade (10,23) e com as atividades sociais (9,38). Conclusão: constatou-se que os idosos que convivem com o HIV/Aids demonstram um comprometimento com o suporte advindo socialmente, e apresentam uma instabilidade com o nível de satisfação em relação ao suporte social recebido. Deste modo, tal fator interfere na qualidade de vida das pessoas idosas, o qual pode resultar em danos psicossociais. Assim, é fundamental a rede de apoio familiar, profissional e social.
Qualidade de vida, depressão e adesão medicamentosa de pacientes em hemodiálise
Authors: Sonza Magali Feron Kirschner , Pretto Carolina Renz , Benetti Sabrina Azevedo Wagner , Colet Christiane de Fátima
Published: March 2023

Objetivo: comparar qualidade de vida, adesão medicamentosa e indicativos de depressão em pacientes renais crônicos em tratamento hemodialítico, em duas unidades nefrológicas. Método: estudo transversal com 183 pacientes em hemodiálise que possuíam diagnóstico de doença renal crônica. Foi realizada entrevista individual utilizando os instrumentos: questionário sociodemográfico, Kidney Disease and Quality of Life Short-Form, Inventário de Depressão de Beck e Escala de Adesão a Medicação de Morisky – 8 itens. Dados analisados com estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados: 63,4% dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino e 90,7% aposentados. A dimensão da qualidade de vida que obteve maior média em ambas as unidades foi “Apoio da Equipe de Diálise”, enquanto “Situação de Trabalho” e “Limitações causadas por problemas físicos” foram as menores médias. “Efeitos da Doença Renal” e adesão medicamentosa apresentaram médias mais elevadas na Unidade I. Também 47% dos pacientes da Unidade I e 33% da outra unidade possuíam sintomas indicativos de depressão. Conclusões: a comparação dos pacientes de duas unidades reafirmou que a doença renal crônica interfere negativamente na qualidade de vida, que a prevalência de depressão é elevada e que a adesão medicamentosa pode reduzir a percepção dos efeitos da doença. Intervenções são necessárias no intuito de promover a adesão medicamentosa e o bem-estar.
The multi-point hydraulic control method for advanced controller design of the open canal irrigation systems
Authors: Zhu Zheli , Guan Guanghua , Wang Kang
Published: March 2023

Most studies about the automatic control of open canal irrigation systems only focus on the distant downstream water level, which ignores the fact that the offtakes may be located anywhere along the canal. Such a simplified control strategy is likely to result in uncontrollable and inefficient water delivery. Therefore, a multi-point hydraulic control method is proposed, in which a simplified Saint-Venant model is formulated to describe the hydraulic states of multiple controlled points. Then, it is underlined that the controlled points with and without the offtakes may have different control objectives. It is suggested to implement soft constraints to the downstream end when there is no offtake, meaning that moderate water level fluctuations are acceptable. By comparing with the common model predictive control (MPC) controller, where the Integrator Delay model and hard constraint are used for distant downstream water level control, the proposed MPC controller successfully improved the water level control stability before the offtakes and the water supply reliability by 91 and 69.5% under the conventional condition and by 54.9 and 27.1% under the water-deficient condition. Accordingly, the proposed multi-point hydraulic control method shows great potential for the precision irrigation of large irrigation districts.
Towards a new spatial representation of faecal sources and pathways in unsewered urban catchments using open-source data
Authors: Sultana M. Sufia , Waine Toby , Bari Niamul , Tyrrel Sean
Published: March 2023

Spatial representation of sanitation infrastructure and service coverage is essential for management planning and prioritising services. The provision of sanitation services in developing countries is inherently unequal because the sanitation infrastructure is lacking, and onsite sanitation is managed individually. Here, we developed a prototype method for creating a spatial representation of faecal sources and movement in a small area in Rajshahi city in northwest Bangladesh, which is representative of 60 other such secondary cities. We demonstrate an approach to estimate spatial variability in faecal production at the building scale by combining widely accessible buildings, ground elevation, and population data. We also demonstrate an approach to attribute potential faecal movement pathways by integrating drainage data, and faecal production at the building scale. We made use of free and open-source data and provide answers to the broader topic of spatial representation of faecal mobility in unsewered urban settings, which has implications in a similar setting in developing countries.
POWER PLANT
Authors: Wang Yun
Published: March 2023

INTRODUCTION

Power plants or generating stations are facilities for generating electric power,
which has become essential to our present lifestyle. Electric power supports
many of our daily activities, including lighting, air circulation, HVAC, TV
watching, cell phones, computers, elevators, etc. The generated power is
delivered using complex systems of wires, towers, underground stations,
transformers, control stations, etc., to consumer sites such as homes,
apartments, stores, industry, and schools. These interconnected systems are
known as grids.
PIPE FLOW AND FLOW METERING
Authors: Wang Yun
Published: March 2023

INTRODUCTION

Flow and volume measurement of incompressible fluids are prevalent in many
engineering processes. Flows in a pipe network, also called pipe flow, are
widely encountered in industry and our daily activities. For example, water is
delivered to homes via the pipelines of a water distribution infrastructure. In
power plants, numerous pipe flows are used to transport liquid, vapor, and two-phase flows: steam produced in boilers is transported in pipes to steam turbines
for energy conversion. Boiler feed water (BFW) is pumped to a boiler via a
BFW pipe.
OTTO AND DIESEL CYCLES
Authors: Wang Yun
Published: March 2023

INTRODUCTION

Otto and Diesel cycle engines play an important role in our transportation and energy
use. They are typically reciprocating heat engines that convert the thermal energy from
fuel combustion to mechanical energy in the form of piston movement. The mechanical
energy further drives a vehicle over a distance. The Otto and diesel cycle engines are
the most common engine in passenger cars, light trucks, and other applications where
small (10 Hp) to medium power (500 Hp) is required. Some large turbo supercharged
radial aircraft engines reach 5,000 Hp. Applications of small power, such as
lawnmowers and hand-held devices like trimmers and chain saws, require a level of
100-1,000 W power. Typical values of their thermal efficiency are 30-35% for Otto
cycle engines and 30-40% for Diesel engines. Small utility-type engines may have
~20% efficiency due to simple design and control. While the basic principles of these
reciprocating engines have not changed significantly since invention, advances in fuel
induction, ignition systems, and exhaust emission controls have improved economy
and performance and reduced pollution.
Dizziness in Patients with Vestibular Epilepsy
Authors: Lee Wankiun , Kim Jae-Moon
Published: March 2023

Objectives: Vestibular epilepsy refers to epilepsy in which vertigo is the sole or main symptom of a seizure. However, epilepsy is rarely considered as a differential diagnosis in patients complaining of dizziness. Here, we reviewed ten cases of vestibular epilepsy and analyzed the dizziness complained by the patient.Methods: In this study, the medical records of dizziness patients with epileptic discharges observed on electroencephalogram were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who had other obvious causes of dizziness, lacked a description of dizziness, or were not taking antiseizure medications were excluded. We finally recruited 10 patients, and investigated their dizziness characteristic, brain imaging tests, electroencephalograms, and blood test findings.Results: Patients with vestibular epilepsy usually felt dizzy abruptly while not moving, and often complained of dizziness in the form of spinning around or becoming dazed. Dizziness was short, usually between a few seconds and a few minutes, and the frequency of occurrence was variable, so there was no consistent trend. There were no abnormal findings in blood tests. In brain imaging test, most patients did not show significant abnormalities. The electroencephalographic abnormalities of the patients were mainly observed in the temporal lobe, and the dizziness they complained of improved when they started taking antiseizure medications.Conclusions: If a patient with dizziness complains of dizziness that occurs suddenly and lasts for a short time, early electroencephalogram should be considered to prevent the diagnosis of epilepsy from being overlooked or delayed.
Gender relations in the livestock production in Koinadugu district, Sierra Leone
Authors: Sesay Abdul Rahman
Published: March 2023

Gender relations are how a culture or society defines men’s and women’s rights, obligations, and identities. In rural agricultural contexts, gender dynamics play an integral role in determining who gets what with respect to livestock ownership, decision-making, and distribution of the associated profits. The study aims to assess gender relations in the management, ownership, and decision-making of small-holder livestock in the Koinadugu district, Sierra Leone. Data were collected from six different chiefdoms located within the Koinadugu district. A total of 267 farmers who raised animals participated in the study. Data were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire. A statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the collected data. The study result shows that men mainly own cattle, goats, and sheep, while women own poultry. Men contributed more to the following tasks: vaccination, Harding, and selling live animals. At the same time, women participate largely in the following activities, such as cleaning gutters and shades, milking animals, processing, selling milk, and selling eggs. The results also show that men make decisions mainly about assigning tasks to family members, purchasing livestock, cultivating grain, and building animal shades. At the same time, the decision to breed animals and feed animals is greatly influenced by women. However, the decision about hiring labor, the treatment of animals, the purchase of feed and concentrate, the sale of live animals, and the size of the herd are influenced by both men and women. Therefore, it is vital to create and enact laws and policies that promote equal rights and opportunities for women so that rural women can contribute significantly to inclusive economic development and the long-term success of the Sierra Leonean livestock industry.
The Medium is the Data Set: Art and AI
Authors: Mansoor Jaleh
Published: March 2023

A review of the exhibition, The Imitation Game: Visual Culture in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Hoverboards in the Metaverse: A Conversation with Asad J. Malik
Authors: Murphy Brian Michael , Malik Asad J.
Published: March 2023

This interview, which took place in September 2021, explores the history of projects carried out by Jadu and the possibilities of Web3, NFTs, and the futures of data in the metaverse.
Unburning: Technics of Opacity, Oversight, and the Police Surveillance State
Authors: Stern Abram
Published: March 2023

The subject of this paper is a collection of 18½ hours of FBI aerial surveillance video documenting the Baltimore Uprising of 2015. Working from the premise that the video footage reproduces a criminalizing and racialized gaze, my analysis centers on what remains in the media if the video is absent (or abstracted): video metadata embedded within the media’s “.mp4” container during its redaction, but also “burned” onto the video image by the infrared sensor that captured it.
Even as it works to decode what these documents “speak” about the anti-Black apparatus that produced them, this paper argues beyond a forensic reading, through the lens of expertise: metadata is more than a tool for establishing evidentiary authenticity; it is also a site for creative intervention and contestation.
New Technologies to Support People with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Selective Review
Authors: Ciarmoli Donatella , Stasolla Fabrizio
Published: March 2023

Neurodevelopmental disorders represent a cluster of conditions first diagnosed during childhood or adolescence (i.e., including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, motor deficits, and communication deficits). The main characteristic of neurodevelopmental disorders is the presence of a deficit or a delay in the acquisition of skills that may affect different areas of evolution (e.g., cognitive, affective, and motor). These clinical conditions make the child or adolescent passive, isolated, and unable to carry out daily activities. Additionally, challenging behaviors and emotional disruption may be acknowledged. Accordingly, negative outcomes on personal well-being may be recognized. To enhance the well-being of those persons, assistive technology-based interventions (AT) may be useful. Among the new assistive technology are virtual reality, telemedicine, telerehabilitation, serious games, computer-brain interface, and other new technologies aimed at specific rehabilitation objectives. This document aims to give the reader a framework of reference to the literature on the most recent contributions available on the technology-based programs used to improve the well-being of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders such as: serious games, virtual reality, wearable technologies, and telerehabilitation. The results were argued and several options were outlined. The studies reviewed on the eight classes of new technologies showed the accessibility, effectiveness, and suitability of the implemented technologies to enable adaptive skills for participants with NDD. Some helpful solutions for both future research and practice have been evidenced.
Estado nutricional, comorbilidades y factores de riesgo asociados a la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional en niños, Francisco Morazán, Honduras.
Authors: Barahona Aguilar Nilda Suyapa , Alvarado García Maylin Yesenia , Alvarado Barahona Dayanna Michelle , Zelaya María Victoria , DelCid Barahona Manuel Alejandro DelCid Barahona
Published: March 2023

A nivel mundial 52 millones de niños presentan desnutrición aguda, 155 millones sufren desnutrición crónica, mientras que 41 millones tienen sobrepeso u obesidad. En Honduras, el 1.9% de los niños presentan desnutrición aguda, 19% sufren desnutrición crónica y el 4.5% tiene sobrepeso u obesidad. Es necesario analizar la situación de seguridad alimentaria y nutricional (SAN) de las poblaciones, para prevenir las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles y garantizar el derecho humano a la alimentación adecuada. Caracterizar el estado nutricional, incidencia de comorbilidades y factores de riesgo asociados a la situación de seguridad alimentaria y nutricional en los niños que asisten a los Centros de Desarrollo Integral (CDI). Métodos: Estudio cuantitativo tipo descriptivo transversal realizado entre enero y junio de 2019. Se obtuvo una muestra de 170 niños posterior a un tamizaje nutricional de una población de 1,150 niños. La recolección de datos se realizó mediante la aplicación de dos instrumentos, instrumento 1 recolectó los datos antropométricos y el instrumento 2 recolectó los datos que corresponden a la determinación de la calidad y diversidad de la dieta e índice de SAN. El estudio fue socializado en los CDI obteniendo su aprobación, se solicitó consentimiento informado a los padres y asentimiento informado a los niños participantes. Resultados: La categorización de la malnutrición fue de: 24.0% (41) con desnutrición, 38.0% (64) con sobrepeso y 38.0% (65) con obesidad, con un 61.2% (104) de incidencia de comorbilidades. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de la malnutrición fue del 16.0% (179), la calidad de la dieta de los niños es intermedia y la diversidad de la dieta se categorizó predominantemente como media. La población infantil con malnutrición reflejó inseguridad alimentaria en un 70.0% (119) relacionado a un nivel pobre de acceso a los alimentos y a un consumo deficiente de alimentos.

Palabras clave: calidad dieta; comorbilidades; malnutrición; seguridad alimentaria y nutricional
Characterization of alcohol levels in autopsies carried out by Forensic Medicine (Honduras) during December 2022 and January 2023
Authors: Raudales Ismael , Pineda Josué , Zablah José Isaac , García Loureiro Antonio , Molina Yolly , Madrid Marcio , Agudelo Carlos A. , Valle-Reconco Jorge Alberto
Published: March 2023

To determine the existing relationship between ethanol levels in biological fluids, such as blood and urine, and their correlation with causes of death in corpses admitted to the forensic medicine autopsy service in Honduras. The gas chromatography method was employed to determine the concentration of ethyl alcohol. After a statistical analysis using measures of central tendency, it was found that the urine sample presented a median of 227.30mg/dL, while in the blood, it was 276.86mg/dL. After some distribution tests and correlation, it was determined that higher alcohol concentrations influence the "ACCIDENTAL" cause of death, with values of median alcohol concentration of 228.56mg/dL in blood and 277.44 mg/dL in urine. Still, the most frequent cause of death was "HOMICIDE", which differs in the age of the subjects and their ethanol concentration, with values of median alcohol concentration of 227.20mg/dL in blood and 276.86mg/dL in urine; similarities of median indicates that both samples are related or share a standard feature. Subsequent statistical tests showed that blood concentration values are more representative than urine values since the latter represents the final metabolic stage of alcohol in the body and exhibits more excellent dispersion. The average age of the individuals analyzed was 33 years old. However, it should be noted that individuals involved in "ACCIDENTAL" causes of death were in the lower age range corresponding to the so-called young adults.

Keywords: Forensic sciences; blood alcohol concentration; autopsy; alcohol in urine
Purification and characterization of lipase produced from Bacillus cereus (PCSIR NL-37)
Authors: Mazhar Haniya , Afzal Ali , Aman Suneela , Babar Khawar Muhammad , Hamid Syeda Eisha , Ishaq Saira , Shahid Ali Syed , Zhu Hongxin , Hussain Zahid
Published: March 2023

There is a growing trend to produce lipase from microorganisms owing to their commercial demand in various industries. Bacillus cereus has been shown to have extracellular lipase activity and high growth rates. This study explains the purification of microbial lipase to homogeneity by dialysis, precipitation and chromatography. The purified enzyme with 56kDa relative molecular mass exhibited the highest activity at 60°C (95.56U/ml) and pH 7 (124.50U/ml). The enzyme activity was highly promoted in the presence of K+ (136.17U/ml) and Zn++(133.07 U/ml), and SDS did not affect the enzyme activity, whereas in the company of triton X100 activity of lipase is maximum (23.90 U/ml). The enzyme activity was enhanced by using almond oil (120.00 U/ml) as a substrate. We deduce cheaper protocols for producing extracellular lipase via simple laboratory techniques, which could be a good insight for its production at the commercial level.

Keywords: Lipase; Bacillus cereus; chromatography; enzyme activity; purification.
Association of the Extent of Internet Use by Patients With Cancer With Social Support Among Patients and Change in Patient-Reported Treatment Outcomes During Inpatient Rehabilitation: Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Study
Authors: Lange-Drenth Lukas , Schulz Holger , Endsin Gero , Bleich Christiane
Published: March 2023

Background

Given the increasing number of cancer survivors and their rising survival rates, rehabilitation plays an increasingly important role. Social support among patients is an essential element of inpatient and day care rehabilitation. The internet can empower patients with cancer to become more active health care consumers and facilitate information and supportive care needs. By contrast, therapists suspect that high internet use during rehabilitation may severely limit social interactions between patients, thus interfering with the patients’ rehabilitation program and jeopardizing treatment success.

Objective

We hypothesized that the extent of internet use would be negatively related to social support among patients with cancer during their clinical stay as well as fewer improvements in patient-reported treatment outcomes from the first to the last day of their clinical stay.

Methods

Patients with cancer participated during their inpatient rehabilitation. Cross-sectional data, such as the extent of participants’ internet use and perceived social support among patients, were collected during the last week of their clinic stay. The treatment outcomes, that is, participants’ levels of distress, fatigue, and pain, were collected on the first and last day of the clinic stay. We used multiple linear regression analysis to study the association between the extent of internet use and social support among patients with cancer. We used linear mixed model analyses to study the association between the extent of internet use by patients with cancer and the change in patient-reported treatment outcomes.

Results

Of the 323 participants, 279 (86.4%) participants reported that they used the internet. The extent of the internet use (t315=0.78; P=.43) was not significantly associated with the perceived social support among the participants during their clinical stay. In addition, the extent of participants’ internet use during their clinical stay was not associated with changes in participants’ levels of distress (F1,299=0.12; P=.73), fatigue (F1,299=0.19; P=.67), and pain (F1,303=0.92; P=.34) from the first to the last day of their clinical stay.

Conclusions

The extent of internet use does not seem to be negatively associated with the perceived social support among patients with cancer or with the change in patients’ levels of distress, fatigue, or pain from the first to the last day of their clinical stay.
Neck Collar Assessment for People Living With Motor Neuron Disease: Are Current Outcome Measures Suitable?
Authors: Spears Samuel D J , Abdulle Yusuf F , Korovilas Dionisios , Torii Ryo , Kalaskar Deepak M , Sharma Nikhil
Published: March 2023

A majority of people living with motor neuron disease (MND) experience weakness of the neck and as a result, experience head drop. This exacerbates problems with everyday activities (eating, talking, breathing, etc). Neck collars are often used to support head drop; however, these are typically designed for prehospitalization settings to manage and brace the cervical region of the spine. As a result, it has been recorded that people living with MND often reject these collars for a variety of reasons but most notably because they are too restricting. The current standardized outcome measures (most notably restricting cervical range of motion) used for neck collars are summarized herein along with whether they are suitable for a bespoke neck collar specifically designed for people living with MND.
Effectiveness of Interactive Digital Decision Aids in Prenatal Screening Decision-making: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Wong Hong Yat Conrad , Asim Saba , Feng Qi , Fu Sherry Xiao-hong , Sahota Daljit Singh , So Po Lam , Dong Dong
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND

Increasing prenatal screening options and limited consultation time have made it difficult for pregnant women to participate in shared decision-making. Interactive digital decision aids (IDDAs) could integrate interactive technology into health care to a facilitate higher-quality decision-making process.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of IDDAs on pregnant women’s decision-making regarding prenatal screening.

METHODS

We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Google Scholar, and reference lists of included studies until August 2021. We included the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the use of IDDAs (fulfilling basic criteria of International Patient Decision Aid Standards Collaboration and these were interactive and digital) as an adjunct to standard care with standard care alone and involved pregnant women themselves in prenatal screening decision-making. Data on primary outcomes, that is, knowledge and decisional conflict, and secondary outcomes were extracted, and meta-analyses were conducted based on standardized mean differences (SMDs). Subgroup analysis based on knowledge was performed. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used for risk-of-bias assessment.

RESULTS

Eight RCTs were identified from 10,283 references, of which 7 were included in quantitative synthesis. Analyses showed that IDDAs increased knowledge (SMD 0.58, 95% CI 0.26-0.90) and decreased decisional conflict (SMD –0.15, 95% CI –0.25 to –0.05). Substantial heterogeneity in knowledge was identified, which could not be completely resolved through subgroup analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

IDDAs can improve certain aspects of decision-making in prenatal screening among pregnant women, but the results require cautious interpretation.

CLINICALTRIAL
The Effectiveness of Wearable Devices Using Artificial Intelligence for Blood Glucose Level Forecasting or Prediction: Systematic Review (Preprint)
Authors: Ahmed Arfan , Aziz Sarah , Abd-alrazaq Alaa , Farooq Faisal , Househ Mowafa , Sheikh Javaid
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND

In 2021 alone, diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder primarily characterized by abnormally high blood glucose (BG) levels, affected 537 million people globally, and over 6 million deaths were reported. The use of noninvasive technologies, such as wearable devices (WDs), to regulate and monitor BG in people with diabetes is a relatively new concept and yet in its infancy. Noninvasive WDs coupled with machine learning (ML) techniques have the potential to understand and conclude meaningful information from the gathered data and provide clinically meaningful advanced analytics for the purpose of forecasting or prediction.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to provide a systematic review complete with a quality assessment looking at diabetes effectiveness of using artificial intelligence (AI) in WDs for forecasting or predicting BG levels.

METHODS

We searched 7 of the most popular bibliographic databases. Two reviewers performed study selection and data extraction independently before cross-checking the extracted data. A narrative approach was used to synthesize the data. Quality assessment was performed using an adapted version of the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool.

RESULTS

From the initial 3872 studies, the features from 12 studies were reported after filtering according to our predefined inclusion criteria. The reference standard in all studies overall (n=11, 92%) was classified as low, as all ground truths were easily replicable. Since the data input to AI technology was highly standardized and there was no effect of flow or time frame on the final output, both factors were categorized in a low-risk group (n=11, 92%). It was observed that classical ML approaches were deployed by half of the studies, the most popular being ensemble-boosted trees (random forest). The most common evaluation metric used was Clarke grid error (n=7, 58%), followed by root mean square error (n=5, 42%). The wide usage of photoplethysmogram and near-infrared sensors was observed on wrist-worn devices.

CONCLUSIONS

This review has provided the most extensive work to date summarizing WDs that use ML for diabetic-related BG level forecasting or prediction. Although current studies are few, this study suggests that the general quality of the studies was considered high, as revealed by the QUADAS-2 assessment tool. Further validation is needed for commercially available devices, but we envisage that WDs in general have the potential to remove the need for invasive devices completely for glucose monitoring in the not-too-distant future.

CLINICALTRIAL

PROSPERO CRD42022303175; https://tinyurl.com/3n9jaayc