bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of the Software-Hardware Complex “Rytm” for Measurement of the RR Intervals and Heart Rate Variability Analysis During Exercise and Recovery Period
Authors: Vovkanych Lyubomyr , Boretsky Yuriy , Sokolovsky Viktor , Berhtraum Dzvenyslava , Kras Stanislav
Published: March 2021

The study purpose was estimation of the accuracy of RR time series measurements by SHC “Rytm” and validity of derived heart rate variability (HRV) indexes under physical loads and recovery period.

Materials and methods. The participants were 20 healthy male adults aged 19.7 ± 0.23 years. Data was recorded simultaneously with CardioLab CE12, Polar RS800, and SHC “Rytm”. Test protocol included a 2 minute step test (20 steps per minute, platform height – 40 cm) with the next 3 minute recovery period. HRV indexes were calculated by Kubios HRV 2.1.

Results. The RR data bias in the case of physical loads was -0.06 ms, it increased to 0.09-0.33 ms during the recovery period. The limits of agreement for RR data ranged from 3.7 ms to 22.8 ms, depending on the period of measurements and pair of compared devices. It is acceptable for the heart rate and HRV estimation. The intraclass correlation coefficients (0.62–1.00) and Spearman correlation coefficient (0.99) were high enough to suggest very high repeatability of the data. We found no significant difference (p > 0.05) and good correlation (r = 0.94-1.00) between the majority of HRV indexes, calculated from data of Polar RS800 and SHC “Rytm” in conditions of physical loads (except for LF/HF ratio) and in the recovery period. The only one index (RMSSD) was different (p < 0.05) in case of Polar RS800 and SHC “Rytm” data, obtained in the recovery period. The largest numbers of different HRV indexes have been found during the comparison of CardioLab CE12 and Polar RS800 – RMSSD, pNN50, and SD1. Correlation between HRV indexes (r = 0.81-1.00) was very high in all pairs of devices in all periods of measurements.

Conclusions. The SHC “Rytm” appears to be acceptable for RR intervals registration and the HRV analysis during physical loads and recovery period.
GROWTH AND DECLINE OF OPPOSING MOVEMENTS: GUN CONTROL AND GUN RIGHTS, 1945–2015*
Authors: Laschever Eulalie , Meyer David S.
Published: March 2021

Movement-countermovement pairs develop in opposition to one another as they battle for position, influence, and survival in a shifting political and cultural context. While theoretical work on countermovements and the political context posits a rough symmetry between opposing movements, our analysis demonstrates significant asymmetries in the fight over gun policy in the United States. Drawing on news accounts, government records, public opinion polls, and organizational-capacity data for twenty-six gun control and twenty-nine gun rights groups, we show that both sides grow during policy fights and after focusing events, but the side with more stable revenue sustains growth longer. The gun rights movement’s financial advantages made it far less dependent on attention-grabbing moments. This imbalance reflects resource differences that affect each side’s capacity for responding to political opportunities and threats. Our findings highlight the need for more research on the implications of resource and power imbalances for effective organizing.
MESSAGE RECEIVED? THE ROLES OF EMOTION, RACE, AND POLITICS IN SOCIAL MOVEMENT PERCEPTIONS AND SUPPORT
Authors: Valentino Lauren , Nicholson D. Adam
Published: March 2021

Scholars have long studied how social movements frame and deliver their messages, yet less is known about how these “signals” are received by the public. In this study, we examine how a social movement participant’s characteristics interact with a bystander’s to influence movement support. In addition, we examine how perceived likelihood of violence mediates these outcomes. We propose five competing models based on previous theories of emotion, race, and political views in social movement support. To adjudicate between these frameworks, we conduct an experiment using a 2x2 factorial design in which participants read a news story about a protest accompanied by an image of a neutral/angry, white/Black protestor, measuring three types of social movement support, and examine results and model fit. Results provide support for a politicized-race model: a Black protestor is more motivating for liberals’ social movement support, while a white protestor is more motivating for conservatives. Both liberals and conservatives are more likely to associate the protest with violence after seeing a Black protestor compared to a white one. Racialized perceptions of violence explain part of conservatives’ hesitancy to support the movement when seeing a Black protestor and inhibits part of the otherwise-positive effect of seeing a Black protestor for liberals.
PERSONAL STORYTELLING IN PROFESSIONALIZED SOCIAL MOVEMENTS*
Authors: Polletta Francesca , DoCarmo Tania , Ward Kelly Marie , Callahan Jessica
Published: March 2021

Professionalized movement organizations today rely on outside expertise in fundraising, recruitment, lobbying, management, and public messaging. We argue that the risks that accompany that development have less to do with experts’ mixed loyalties to the movement than with the tendency of expert discourse to remake political problems into technical ones, thereby obscuring the dilemmatic choices movement groups must make. We focus on expert discourse around personal storytelling, a strategy that has become popular for raising funds, advocating for policy, and building public support. Our interviews with activists and consultants and content analysis of stories they rated as successful point to an expert discourse that emphatically rejects “victim” storytelling. Instead, activists are instructed to tell stories of hope and resilience, avoid referring to the graphic details of abuse, and only hint at their emotional pain. Experts justify these strategies as the best way to avoid exploiting storytellers, and only coincidentally as also appealing to audiences. However, we argue that, rather than superseding the tension between empowering movement participants and persuading those outside the movement, storytelling as currently practiced has reproduced that tension.
Molecular Fingerprinting for Detecting Genetic Relationships among different Accessions of Pterocarpus marsupium
Authors: Ahmad Anees
Published: March 2021

Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. is a valuable multipurpose forest tree in India. Generally, it is valued greatly for its excellent wood qualities. Due to its significant multipurpose properties, this tree has been overexploited, which ultimately has led to its inclusion in the list of threatened species. In this regard, studying the genetic diversity in P. marsupium is not only significant for the protection of this species, but also necessary for the development and utilization of germplasm resources for its improvement. Before developing any tree improvement program, information on actual genetic diversity and the cryptic number of the differentiated genetic resource are important aids for its conservation and effective utilization. Thus, in the present study, analysis of phylogenetic relationship among P. marsupium species plays an important role in the identification and selection of elite genotype among the wildly distributed accessions. The phylogenetic relationship among 18 genotypes obtained from various forest regions of central India was studied using DNA based molecular markers. In RAPD analysis, out of 40 scorable amplified bands, 29 were polymorphic resulting in expression of polymorphism percentage (73.2%) with an average of 2.90 amplicons per primer. Based on RAPD analysis, the lowest (37%) similarities among accessions were recorded in Anuppur (MAA), Mandla (MMK) and Jabalpur (MJH) and the highest similarity (100%) were observed among Mandla (MMK), Jablapur (MJH); Jashpur (CJM), Surguja (CSA), Bilaspur (CBP) and Durg (CDB) and Raigarh (CRK) accessions. While the ISSR analysis found 66 amplified bands, 45 were polymorphous and average 68.3 percent polymorphic with an average 4.5 bands per oligo. The lowest (36%) similarity was observed among Anuppur (MAA) and Jabalpur (MJH) accessions and the highest similarity (88%) was recorded among Jashpur (CJM), Chhindwara (MCD) and Bilaspur (CBP) accessions. The combined analysis data of RAPD and ISSR showed that Chandrapur (RCC) and Anuppur's (MAA) acessions had the lowest (35%) similarity, with Jabalpur's (MJHs) and Mandla's (MMKs) accession being the highest similarities (100%) reported. As a result, the study of genetic diversity by means of RAPD and ISSR markers alone or in combination, i.e. the MAA, CKB and CRK accessions, was found to be more diverse among 18 accessions of Central India and given greater space for the collection of elite/superior trees to be used in conservation and forest development programs. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Germination Characteristics and Dynamic Changes of Antioxidant Enzymes during Storage of Viola dissecta Pollen
Authors: Jia Wenqing
Published: March 2021

Knowledge about pollen ultra-morphology, storage characteristics and germination rate are essential for directional plant breeding and plant improvement. The objective of this study was to determine a suitable medium for pollen germination in vitro of Viola dissecta and to evaluate the effect of different storage temperatures on its pollen longevity. The pollen ultra-morphology of V. dissecta was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the suitable medium for pollen germination in vitro was determined by orthogonal test. Dried pollen of V. dissecta was stored at different temperatures (room temperature, 4, -20 and -80°C) and different storage times (24, 40, 72, 120, 184, 264 and 365 d), the germination rate of the stored pollen and the activities of SOD, POD and CAT were investigated. Pollen grains of V. dissecta were medium-sized with three germination ditches. The surface ornamentation was smooth with small grains set on the surface, which was different from Viola spp. pollen. The most suitable medium for V. dissecta was composed of 285 g•L-1 sucrose, 6 g•L-1 agar, 50 mg•L-1 GA3, 250 mg•L-1 boric acid, and 200 mg•L-1 Ca(NO3)2, The best storage temperature of pollen was -80oC, after 365 d of storage, the germination rate was still 57.86%. During storage, the pollen germination rate decreased significantly after the peak of the activities of the three antioxidant enzymes. Correlation analysis showed that SOD was major factor affecting the germination rate of V. dissecta pollen, and it has a significant positive correlation with pollen germination rate, followed by CAT and POD. SOD was a sensitive antioxidant enzyme at room temperature, 4 and -80°C, whereas at -20°C, both SOD and CAT were sensitive antioxidant enzymes. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers © 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers© 2021 Friends Science Publishers©
Selection of Rhizobium spp. Isolates for Inoculation of Field Pea (Pisum sativum)
Authors: Küçük Çiğdem
Published: March 2021

Rhizobium isolates from wild pea nodules were characterized on the basis of microbiological characteristics. P4, P7, P12, P14, P16, P19, P20, P22, P23 and P24 isolates grew at the 4.5 pH, P5, P6, P11, P12, P13, P14, P16, P17, P19, P20 and P21 isolates grew at 4% NaCl and P7, P8, P10, P11, P12, P14, P19, P20, P22, P23, P24 and P25 isolates grew at 40°C. Resistance to antibiotics (μg mL-1) was investigated in a large propotion of isolates; streptomycin sulphate (80), rifampisin (40), erythromycin (30), chloramphenicol (100), Penicillin (40). In this study, local Rhizobium bacterial isolates were isolated from wild pea root nodules and their efficacy was investigated. Isolates significantly increased plant dry matter weight. The highest nitrogen fixation was achieved with P4 inoculation. Glutamine synthetase and leghemoglobin content of the nodules were determined in the inoculated with the highest P4 isolate. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Effect of Replacing Corn Silage with Various Forage Silages in the Diet on Carcass Parameters, Meat Quality, Fatty Acid Profile and Amino Acid Composition of Beef Cattle
Authors: Zhang Xia
Published: March 2021

Carcass parameters, meat quality, fatty acid profile, and amino acid composition of Simmental bulls fed a diet based on various forage silages (VS) compared with the one based on only corn silage (CS) were investigated. A total of thirty male Simmental (440.5 ± 11.5 kg) was selected and assigned randomly divided into two treatments. All animals were fed twice daily (0700 and 1700 h) and water was supplied ad libitum, feed considering 5 to 10% refusals. The period of 207 days fattening trial was divided into three stages as P1 (1 to 64 days), P2 (65 to 130 days), P3 (131 to 207 days). Six beef cattle were slaughtered from each group at the end of the experiment. Substituting CS with VS in the finishing diet did not have a significant effect on slaughter performance, nutrient content, fatty acids, and amino acids profile (P > 0.05). However, the intramuscular fat and connective tissue content of the VS diet was lower compared with the CS diet (P < 0.05). Also, beef cattle fed VS diet could improve eye muscle area, increase histidine content and diameter of muscle fiber. In conclusion, substituting corn silage with various forage silages in the diet of beef cattle could potentially reduce the negative effect under the studied conditions. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Práticas pedagógicas em áreas naturais: experiências e possibilidades
Authors: Ernst Frizzo Taís Cristine , Paradeda Muhle Rita , Azevedo da Rosa Aurici
Published: March 2021

Esse artigo apresenta experiências de educação ambiental desenvolvidas no Centro de Pesquisas e Conservação da Natureza Pró-Mata, no Refúgio de Vida Silvestre Morro Santana e no Refúgio de Vida Silvestre Banhado dos Pachecos, no Rio Grande do Sul, a fm de contribuir para a valorização e para a prática dessas ações em áreas naturais. Entre as difculdades enfrentadas para a implementação de programas de educação ambiental em unidades de conservação, podemos citar o não reconhecimento da área protegida pela comunidade do entorno, a violência, as difculdades de gestão, a realização de atividades apenas pontuais e a falta de infraestrutura. Apontamos para a necessidade de um trabalho conjunto e continuado entre escola/universidade e unidades de conservação.
Recensión: López Viñas, Xoán / Lourenzo Módia, Cilha / Moreda Leirado, Marisa: Gramática práctica da lingua galega. Comunicación e expresión
Authors: Freixeiro Mato Xosé Ramón
Published: March 2021

Recensión: López Viñas, Xoán / Lourenzo Módia, Cilha / Moreda Leirado, Marisa: Gramática práctica da lingua galega. Comunicación e expresión, A Coruña, Baía Edicións, 2010, 547 pp.
Sobre o Dicionario de afixos do galego medieval
Authors: López-Viñas Xoán
Published: March 2021

Neste artigo presentamos unha versión parcial e provisoria do Dicionario de afixos do galego medieval, que constitúe o primeiro repertorio temático de formacións afixais derivativas dentro do sistema lingüístico galego-portugués e que está en fase de elaboración. O corpus textual en que nos baseamos cínxese, polo momento, á produción literaria do galego medieval, isto é, á poesía profana e relixiosa, á Arte de Trovar, ao Livro de Tristan, á Crónica Troiana, aos Miragres de Santiago e á Crónica de Santa Maria de Íria. Canto á organización da información deste traballo, após a descrición da creación deste dicionario e do seu proceso de elaboración, detallamos a macroestrutura e a microestrutura dos artigos lexicográficos, cunha breve mostra de voces afixadas que aparecerán neste catálogo lexical.
Le rubriche in volgare del códice 7-1-52 della biblioteca Colombina di Siviglia
Authors: Zvonareva Alina
Published: March 2021

Il presente contributo propone uno studio storico-linguistico delle rubriche in volgare del ms. 7-1-52 della biblioteca Colombina di Siviglia. Si tratta di un codice francescano trecentesco trascritto in Italia settentrionale, contenente testi di carattere didattico-religioso e contraddistinto da uno spiccato ibridismo linguistico: nel corpus di riferimento si riscontrano tratti veronesi, veneziani o venezianeggianti, padovani ed emiliani. Il quadro dei fenomeni linguistici che emerge dalle rubriche viene confrontato nell’articolo con le peculiarità linguistiche che presenta il testo principale dei componimenti tràditi dal manoscritto; sulla base dello studio svolto si formulano delle ipotesi riguardo la datazione e la localizzazione delle rubriche. Inoltre, tale confronto permette di mettere il materiale linguistico in relazione con il problema della trasmissione e ricezione dei testi copiati. In particolare, viene postulato che i titoli del nostro codice rappresentino un volgarizzamento delle rubriche latine dell’archetipo perduto, e a tale proposito vengono esaminati anche gli altri testimoni manoscritti dei testi del corpus. Ci si interroga anche sul valore stilistico di tratti latineggianti, toscaneggianti e marcatamente locali, nonché su cosa significhi il fatto stesso di volgere le rubriche in un volgare settentrionale.
Recensión: Teresa Moure, Ecolingüística: entre a ciencia e a ética
Authors: Varela Armas Luz
Published: March 2021

Recensión: Teresa Moure: Ecolingüística: entre a ciencia e a ética. A Coruña: Universidade, Servizo de Publicacións, 2011, 132 páxinas.
Topónimos de base Sarand- e Serant-: unha hipótese etimolóxica común
Authors: Hermo González Gonzalo
Published: March 2021

Este traballo ten por obxectivo abordar a análise etimolóxica dos topónimos de base Sarand- (Sarandeses, Sarandín, Sarandón e Sarandós) e Serant- (Serantellos e Serantes). Para a análise do corpus bótase man das fontes existentes, refutando as diferentes propostas etimolóxicas en base á estrutura lingüística e á presenza documental de cada forma. A hipótese que aquí defendo é que todos estes topónimos teñen unha orixe común, que asenta nun antigo radical indoeuropeo especialmente produtivo en Galicia: *ser-, *sor- ‘fluír, discorrer’.
Contributos para o estudo do marcador discursivo ‘claro’ em Português europeu
Authors: Macário Lopes Ana Cristina
Published: March 2021

Neste artigo, caracterizam-se os valores do marcador discursivo ‘claro’ no Português europeu contemporâneo, a partir de dados recolhidos no Corpus de Referência do Português Contemporâneo. Distinguem-se dois contextos de ocorrência do marcador: (i) em intervenções reativas, num contexto de diálogo, nas quais o marcador funciona quer como resposta enfática a perguntas ou pedidos, quer como expressão de acordo, quer ainda como mero sinal de retroalimentação conversacional e (ii) em intervenções de um só participante, em que o marcador funciona como modalizador de reforço epistémico. Na secção final do artigo, avança-se uma hipótese sobre o processo de gramaticalização que terá conduzido ao atual marcador.
As notas marxinais coetáneas da Historia Troiana (BMP ms. 558). Edición e estudo
Authors: Pichel Gotérrez Ricardo
Published: March 2021

Neste traballo achegamos a edición das notas marxinais coetáneas conservadas nos folios galegos da Historia Troiana (séc. XIV), a maior parte delas aínda inéditas, así como a descrición dos seus caracteres externos, das súas funcións e do xeito en que se adaptaron na escritura principal ou decorativa do manuscrito.
Relationship of diet and exercise compliance with blood sugar stability in diabetes mellitus type 2
Authors: . Rikayoni , Rahman Nurhamidah
Published: March 2021

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a health problem that has become a threat. Prevalence DM based on the symptoms increases with age. The prevalence of women tends to be higher than that of men. The purpose of this study was to look at the relationship between diet and exercise compliance with blood sugar stability.Methods: This type of research is a cross sectional study carried out in the Kuranji public health center in Padang city from March to April 2020 with the sample in this study all patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who went to Kuranji health center and did not come again in the last 3 months totaling 30 people. with the sampling technique purposive sampling. Statistical test using chi-square.Results: The results of this study show that as many as (50%) of respondents obey the diet and (15%) of the respondents do not obey the diet. With the obtained value of p=0.021. while as many as (60%) of respondents obeyed sports and (40%) did not obey sports, with a value of p=0.018. Conclusions: There is a relationship between diet and exercise adherence to blood sugar stability in type 2 DM patients.
Sexual education for adolescent autism spectrum disorders: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
Authors: Lestari Lilis , Aunurrahman Aunurrahman
Published: March 2021

Background: The need for sexual education for adolescents with ASD in the formal education setting is increasingly important. The "taboo" perception of talking about sexual development and the absence of sexual education for adolescents with ASD in schools and therapy centers, then forces parents to take full responsibility for the sexual development of adolescents with ASD. The imbalance between the needs of sexual development, sexual education facilities, and the limitations of adolescents due to ASD disorders suffered, placing adolescents with ASD are in a group that is vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse. This study discusses the experiences of parents in meeting the sexual development needs of adolescents with ASD.Methods: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 parents who have teenagers with ASD in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.Results: The results showed a sexual orientation, romantic behavior of adolescents with ASD, sexual harassment committed, and experienced by adolescents with ASD and sexual education efforts provided by parents to adolescents with ASD.Conclusions: These findings indicate the emergence of sexual education emergencies needed by ASD adolescents in the formal education setting to facilitate the needs of the adolescent stage of sexual development, especially those with ASD as part of improving adolescent quality of life and preventing sexual harassment.
Determinants of knowledge and practices of postnatal mothers on essential newborn care in a selected area of rural Haryana
Authors: Choudhary Mangi Lal , Joshi Poonam , Murry L. Levis , Malhotra Sumit , Sankar M. Jeeva
Published: March 2021

Background: Knowledge and practices of postnatal mothers is very crucial in providing care to newborns. Aim was to assess determinants of the knowledge and practices of postnatal mothers on essential newborn care.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 postnatal mother - neonate dyads in one of the selected Primary Health Centres (PHC) of rural Haryana. A self-developed, pre-tested and validated structured interview schedule containing socio-demographic, clinical profile information and a knowledge and practice questionnaires (α-0.79, 0.86) having 38 multiple choice questions (MCQs) and 28 items respectively were used for data collection covering various aspects of essential newborn care such as thermal care, breastfeeding, cord care, eye care, handwashing, and danger signs. Results: More than half (52%) of the postnatal mothers had moderate knowledge and 76.7% of postnatal mothers reported of adequate practices. Gaps were identified in terms of knowledge and practices in the domains of thermal control, breastfeeding, cord care and eye care. Overall knowledge and practice scores of postnatal mothers were positively correlated (r =0.71, p<0.001). Significant association was observed between the overall practice scores and socio-demographic variables of postnatal mothers such as religion [AOR] (4.96 95%CI; 1.21-20.2), level of education (47.5 95%CI; 2.8-820.2), socio-economic status (16.9 95%CI; 0.9-288.4).Conclusions: Some gaps were observed in the adopting safe practices in the domains of thermal control, breastfeeding, cord care and eye care among the postnatal mothers; necessitating need for education, reinforcement and dispelling the cultural beliefs.
Assessment of knowledge regarding diet among hospitalized patients undergoing treatment for chronic ailments in a tertiary care hospital from Hyderabad
Authors: Gaiki Varun Vijay , Sonkar Venkartamana K. , Butta Ramesh
Published: March 2021

Background: Nutrition plays important tole in the health, and specially in chronic diseases.  It plays important role in all levels if prevention. Thus awareness of patients, suffering from chronic diseases is important in view of secondary and tertiary levels of prevention.Methods: The present cross sections study was carried out with 20 question predesigned and tested questionnaire, in patients admitted to hospital for chronic diases with stay more than 15 days. Scores were calculated from the questionnaire administered and results compared.Results: it was observed that awareness of patients about diet in chronic conditions was not adequate. Average scores on the 40-point questionnaire scale was 13.34, with SD±2.23. It was observed that awareness increased as education, socio economic status increases.Conclusions: It is recommended to have special nutritional counselling sessions for patients.
Suicide prevention and media reporting: an evaluative study from Chandigarh
Authors: Sharma Nitasha , Chauhan Nidhi , Chavan Bir S. , Arun Priti
Published: March 2021

Background: Responsible reporting represent an evidence-based population-level strategy for suicide prevention.Methods: The present investigation aimed to evaluate the print media news items in leading newspapers from Chandigarh between January 2015 to December 2016 in terms of compliance to desirable media reporting guidelines issued collaboratively by WHO and International Association of Suicide Prevention.Results: A total of 284 news item from English and Hindi newspapers were evaluated for compliance using a 12 item checklist. The data was analysed for frequency in terms of compliance to each item of checklist. The compliance was also compared in English and Hindi news papers. 92% of the news items failed to educate public on the complex issue of suicide and related mental illness. 60% news items portrayed it in a sensationalizing way. 98.5% news items revealed the identity of the suicide victim, much in contradiction to what guidelines promote.Conclusions: There is overall poor compliance to media reporting guidelines. The present study highlights a strong need for a country like India to develop and implement media reporting guidelines at a policy level.
COVID-19 patients with hypothyroidism: a retrospective cohort study from a dedicated COVID hospital of Mumbai, India
Authors: Gokhale Chinmay N. , Chavhan Smita S. , Adsul Balkrishna B. , Kumbhar Maharudra A. , Kinge Kirti V. , Dhikale Prasad T. , Ingale Aniket R.
Published: March 2021

Background: India was one of the leaders in terms of COVID-19 cases across year 2020. Hypothyroidism is one of the common morbidities that may influence prognosis of infectious diseases. However, some previously published literature had suggested that hypothyroidism may not be affecting outcomes of COVID-19 disease. Objective of this study was to analyze the outcomes of COVID-19 patients with pre-existing hypothyroidism and further suggesting determinants of worse outcomesMethods: This retrospective cohort study was carried out at one of largest Dedicated COVID-19 Hospital in Mumbai, India. Of the 16306 patients that got admitted at this hospital in year 2020, all those having hypothyroidism were included. Bivariate analysis was performed using Chi-square test and Multivariate analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression.Results: A total of 251 patients were having pre-existing hypothyroidism (1.54%). More females had hypothyroidism (73.7%) while death rate was more in males (26.3%). ICU admissions (27.5%) and death proportions (18.3%) were significantly more in hypothyroidism. Diabetes and hypertension were common concomitant Co-morbidities and odds ratios for death for diabetes group, hypertension group and diabetes+hypertension group were 4.9, 8.1 and 4.4 respectively in comparison to those having exclusive hypothyroidism.Conclusions: This study deals with an important topic of co-existing Hypothyroidism in COVID-19 patients and we can conclude that patients with Hypothyroidism must be considered to be at risk of severe outcomes. Furthermore, age, male gender and presence of concomitant Co-morbidities increase the risk of worse outcome.
Assess the knowledge and attitude regarding antenatal care among spouses of pregnant women attending antenatal OPD in selected tertiary care hospital Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Authors: Gupta Indresh , Mandal Anindita
Published: March 2021

Background: Antenatal care is an umbrella term used to describe the medical procedures and care that are carried out during pregnancy. Every day, approximately 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Worldwide, the annual number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births fell by 44% between 1990 and 2015, from approximately 385 to 216. The sub-Saharan African region accounted for an estimated 66% (201,000) of global maternal deaths, followed by southern Asia at 22% (66,000 deaths).Basically, only 5% of the world’s countries accounted for over half of maternal deaths.Methods: A cross-sectional hospital based study was conducted on 384 spouses attending antenatal OPD. Interview Schedule was conducted to assess their knowledge and attitude using a self-structured questionnaire. Knowledge score of spouses has been computed on the basis of correct response to 18 knowledge questions and by converting it to percentage score.Results: The mean knowledge score was 61.10% taken as the arithmetic average of all the scores.  Mean attitude score was very high 94.29% with small SD 3.87. The attitude of spouse towards antenatal care is found to be extremely high. The educational status (p<0.000), age (p<0.002), type of family (p<0.018) and average income earned per month (p<0.000) were statistically significant to the level of knowledge.Conclusions: The study shows that the knowledge and attitude among spouses of pregnant women about antenatal care is good.
A comparative study of blood transfusion services before and during COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges faced: retrospective study done at a tertiary care hospital in North Western India
Authors: Sharma Sarita , Bundas Sunita , Malakar Prem Chand , Sharma Amit , Gupta Ankit
Published: March 2021

Background: The aim of blood transfusion services is timely and uninterrupted supply of safe blood. SARS-COV-2 pandemic has created the major disruption worldwide at all levels of health care. Announcement of national lockdown by Government of India and Janta Curfew to control the spread of virus has affected blood bank services majorly. Monitoring of supply and demand was done to maintain sufficient blood stocks to support emergency needs. In this article we have compared the blood bank services provided in the year 2019 to how COVID-19 pandemic has affected blood transfusion services in 2020 with reference to blood collection, blood supply and organization of voluntary blood donation camps.Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in the department of Immunohematology and blood transfusion in a tertiary care hospital in North Western India. In this study blood collection and blood supply data was evaluated retrospectively for 2 years i.e. from January 2019 to December 2020.Results: Total 89948 blood components were supplied in the year 2019 and 55152 in the year 2020. Total blood collection was 51317 units in the year 2019 and 34151 units in 2020 from voluntary and replacement blood donors. Major decline in blood collection and blood supply was observed in the months of April and May.Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on blood donation and blood supply and thus adversely affected blood transfusion services.
Sociodemographic profile of HIV patients at a tertiary care hospital in Goa, India
Authors: Nayak Chitralekha A. , Da Silva Savita Pinto S. , Velho Rachita Gupta
Published: March 2021

Background: Despite the improved access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), India accounts for the third largest cases of HIV in the world. Nearly 86% of reported cases are occurring in sexually active and economically productive age group (15-44 years). The current study was conducted to study the socio demographic profile of newly diagnosed HIV patients attending ART centre at Goa Medical College in Goa.Methods: A hospital based observational retrospective study was carried out in the department of Medicine of Goa Medical College in collaboration with ART centre from October 2015 to January 2016. Patient’s relevant data about the infection was collected from their treatment record card at the ART centre using preformed questionnaire.Results: In the present study out of 211 patients, male patients 112 (53.08%) outnumbered female patients 99 (46.92%). 80.56% of the study group were in the age group of 20-39 years. Although the total number of male HIV positive patients was more, there was also significant increase in the female group. The most common route of transmission was found to be heterosexual (78.67%) followed by blood transfusion route (2.3%). With regard to the level of education, 25%, 69% and 12% of patients had education up to primary, secondary and college level respectively.Conclusions: Rising number of HIV patients in small state of Goa is alarming and they are likely to contribute to spread of the disease due to rise in migrant population. Better awareness of the disease especially among migrants is utmost necessary to prevent increased number of young population from getting infected. Increasing number of female infected patients warrants us to educate housewives regarding safe sexual practices and contraception in preventing the spread of the disease.
Prevalence of smartphone addiction: correlates of smartphone use and its association with social phobia in post-graduate medical students in Assam
Authors: Ghosh Prosenjit , Ghosh Anweshan , Khasnabis Madhurima
Published: March 2021

Background: Smartphone use has become pervasive in everyday lives of university students. Excessive smartphone use leads to various physical problems, as well as psychological issues like reduced academic achievement, social interactions, and leading to relationship problems. Depression, loneliness and anxiety have emerged as important predictors of smartphone addiction. Social anxiety also known as social phobia is an intense anxiety or fear of being negatively judged or rejected in a socially demanding situation. This may lead to individuals avoiding face-to-face interaction and increasingly engaging in online interaction. Medical post-graduate students are more vulnerable to stress due to the demanding nature of their course as well as extensive smartphone users. Objectives of the study were to see the socio-demographic distribution of the post-graduate medical students, to assess the pattern of smart phone use and prevalence of smartphone addiction in the post-graduate medical students, to see the association of smartphone addiction with pattern of use and to see the association of smartphone addiction with social phobia among the study participantsMethods: This study was cross-sectional non-interventional study. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect information from 70 postgraduate medical students. The data was collected the smartphone addiction scale-short version and Liebowitz social anxiety scale.  The data obtained was analysed using SPSS version 23.Results: Majority of the participants were female, in the age group 26-30 years, single, belonging to upper middle class of an urban locality, with no past history of psychiatric illness. Most common functionality was social networking. The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 28.6% with similar gender predisposition. 37.1% of the study participants were found to have social phobia.Conclusions: No association was found between smartphone addiction and social phobia. The smartphone addiction was found to have significant association with pattern of use and duration of use (p<0.05).
Reproductive and sexual health knowledge along with menstrual hygiene practices among late adolescent girls 15-19 years in an urban slum
Authors: Verma Mayuri , Kazi Yasmeen K. , Suryawanshi Sudam R.
Published: March 2021

Background: Many biological changes occur in the body of girls during the adolescent period. Menstruation, an important natural process, is linked with several perceptions and practices which may result in adverse health outcome.Methods: The study was conducted among late adolescent girls in the age group of 15-19 years. Details of their socio demographic profile, knowledge about growing up changes, menstruation, pregnancy and contraception, Reproductive tract infections, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. Their source of information regarding the same was also enquired into. Their menstrual hygiene practices were also asked in detail.Results: The girls in this study were mostly Hindus, around 16 years of age, belonged to nuclear families, lived in pukka houses, only half of them had a sanitary latrine in their house, and majority of the girls had their mother’s educated up to middle school. Knowledge about puberty, especially physical changes was better than that about conception, pregnancy and contraception and STI/RTI and HIV. However, adequate menstrual hygiene was practiced only by a few of them. Girls who had symptoms related to RTI/STI were seen to have poor knowledge.Conclusions: Importance of focusing on menstrual hygiene and reproductive health among adolescent girls, should start early and should be regularly reinforced to minimize the risk of infections.
Socio-cultural barriers for menstrual hygiene management among adolescent school girls of southern India
Authors: K. Logeswari , Parmar Jeram , Suryawanshi Deodatt M.
Published: March 2021

Background: India is home to 20% of the world’s adolescent population, with 1 in 10 children currently experiencing puberty. Menstruation, a physiological process in females is influenced not only by race, nutrition and heredity but also by the socio-cultural milieu. In Indian society, the social and cultural restrictions influence the knowledge, attitudes and the practices of adolescent girls towards menstrual hygiene. The present study was carried out to find out the level of knowledge, attitude and practice and the restrictions they face during the process of menstruation.Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study where 489 adolescent school going females of the age group of 13-15 were recruited using simple random sampling from a cluster of schools and interviewed using a semi structured questionnaire for their knowledge, attitudes, practices and the restrictions they face during menstruation. A scoring system was adopted and categorised as poor, average and good.Results: 423 (88.6%) participants demonstrated average to poor knowledge scores, while 279 (57.1%) participants demonstrated average to poor practice scores. There was a significant difference observed between the educational status of mother (p=0.041) and the knowledge scores of study participants. There was no correlation observed between the monthly per capita income of households and the knowledge (r=0.097) and practice scores (r=0.0034). 375 (76%) study participants faced multiple restrictions during menstruation like not allowed to pray or visit temples (93.6%), total seclusion (74.6%), wash clothes separately (74.6%), sleep on floor (74.6%), restriction on leisure (70.4%), eat out of separate utensils (70.4%), and restriction on consumption of food items (49.8%).Conclusions: Knowledge and practices regarding menstrual hygiene was low among study participants and was influenced by various prevalent socio-cultural restrictions.
Does obesity affect the respiratory muscle strength? An observational study
Authors: Shripad Isha , Nagarwala Razia
Published: March 2021

Background: Obesity is a condition where the energy intake exceeds energy expenditure of the body. Obesity is seen to affect different aspects of life both physically and emotionally. One such physical aspect is the breathing pattern. Studies on the behavior of respiratory muscle strength (RMS) in obese patients have found conflicting results.Methods: Using purposive sampling, 60 subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited in the study. Each individual was subjected for the assessment of Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP), Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist circumference (WC).   Results: A Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient showed a positive correlation between MIP and WC (r=0.378, n=60, p=0.003 with α at 0.01) and between MEP and WC (r=0.288, n=60, p=0.026 with α at 0.05). There was no correlation found between BMI and MIP (r=0.138, n=60, p=0.292) and BMI and MEP (r=0.150, n=60, p=0.252).Conclusions: The findings of the study suggest that the respiratory muscle strength is more in individuals with higher waist circumference values whereas with BMI it is inconclusive.
A study on sexual behaviour practiced by the adolescent and its source of inspiration
Authors: Maaan Ashok , Yadav Manoj K. , Chaudhary S. S. , . Manisha
Published: March 2021

Background: Adolescence is a developmental period of rapid physical, psychological, sociocultural, and cognitive changes characterized by efforts to confront and surmount challenges and to establish a sense of identity and autonomy. Objective was to study the sexual behavior practiced by the adolescent and its source of inspiration.Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out in Department of Community Medicine, Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad and Urban area of district Ghaziabad. 750 Adolescents aged 10 to 19 years studying in the selected schools of urban Ghaziabad were included for the study. The period of study was from November 2011 to October 2012.Results: 26.8% of the students were sexually active. Boys were sexually more active than girls (34.7% vs. 18.9%). Condom use was present in 51.2% of the sexually active students. Nearly half (52.3%) of sexually active males had sex under the influence of pornography, almost one-third (32.3%) had sex merely because of peer pressure and 15.4% did it for curiosity and fun. Among girls who experienced sex 70.4% succumbed to peer pressure and 23.9% under the influence of pornography. In the present study more boys (77.9%) than girls (54.1%) had knowledge about reproductive health issues and this difference between two sexes were found to be statistically significant.Conclusions: The present health status of the study population has the potential possibility of leading to increased health problems for this vulnerable population, in future.
Prevalence and associated risk factors of polycystic ovarian disease in professional college going girls of Agra City: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Tripathi Neelika , Agrawal Renu , Singh Richa , Misra S. K. , Singh Geetu
Published: March 2021

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Disease is the most common endocrine disorder among females of reproductive age group. This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of PCOS and its associated risk factors in girls of 18-30 years of age, studying in various professional colleges of Agra city.Methods: Sample size for this study was calculated as 1108. Girls from various professional colleges in Agra were approached (n=1280), 36 girls disagreed to give consent and 64 forms were incomplete. 1200 agreed to participate. They were asked to fill up a questionnaire asking details of menstrual cycle and features of hyperandrogenism. Anthropometric measurements like height, weight, waist and hip circumference were taken. Blood pressure was measured. A probable case was defined as a girl with menstrual irregularity or hirsutism or both. All the probable cases were asked for detailed examination, hormone estimation, and ovarian ultrasonography.Results: Of the 1200 girls, 220(18.30%) had menstrual irregularity, 101(8.40%) had hirsutism, and 65(5.40%) had both menstrual irregularity and hirsutism. After hormonal evaluation and ultrasonography, prevalence of PCOS according to Rotterdam’s criteria was found to be 16.60% .PCOS was found to be significantly associated with socioeconomic status I and II, non-vegetarian diet, snacking, inadequate physical activity, obesity and overweight, central obesity, prehypertension and hypertension, family history of PCOS and self-perceived feeling of disturbed emotional health in girls.Conclusions: An early lifestyle modification and health education among girls is required to reduce PCOS and its complications in girls.
Bacterial enteropathogens causing acute diarrhoea in children in a tertiary care hospital, Imphal
Authors: Angom Sarda , Damrolien Shan , Wangmu Tsering , Devi K. Mamta , Devi K. Sulochana , Singh C. Shyamsunder
Published: March 2021

Background: Diarrhoeal diseases are responsible for causing 3 million deaths worldwide every year especially among the children and also the commonest cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries like India. Infective diarrhoea could be either bacterial, viral, parasitic or occasionally a combination of these.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in children below 12 years with acute diarrhoea in theMicrobiology Department, RIMS, Imphal for a period of 2 years. Stool samples were subjected to routine microbiological examination, followed by culture and sensitivity. Data were collected in a predesigned data collection sheet.Results: Majority of the diarrhoeal cases were seen among the age group of 1-3 years (44.3%), predominantly among the male children (66.2%) and mostly in summer. Out of 210 culture positive stool samples, Escherichia coli(83.3%) was the predominant enteropathogen with followed by Shigella spp.(12.9%), Klebsiella spp. (2.9%) and Salmonella spp. (1%). Serotyping revealed thirty five enteropathogenic E. coli, eighteen Shigella flexneri, seven Shigellasonnei, two Shigella boydii and two Salmonella typhimurium. Majority of the isolates showed high resistance to amoxicillin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and cotrimoxazole.Conclusions: Bacterial enteropathogens are an important cause of acute diarrhoea among children. Rehydration therapy remains the initial treatment. Though it is usually self-limiting, empirical and specific antimicrobial therapy can be considered in certain situations. Awareness of improving hygiene and infectious diseases may help reduce the burden of infection.