bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Not the same as it ever was: A review of memory modification, updating, and distortion in humans and rodents
Authors: Brunswick Chad , Carpenter Catherine M , Dennis Nancy , Kwapis Janine
Published: February 2025

Memory is a reconstructive and continuous process that enables existinginformation to be updated in response to a changing environment. Being able to dynamicallyupdate outdated memories is critical to an organism’s survival. Memory updates ormodifications have been extensively studied within the context of a variety of conceptualmodels in both rodents and humans, but these diverse bodies of literature have not yet beenfully integrated into a comprehensive cross-species review uniting regional, cellular,neurotransmitter, and subcellular molecular mechanisms. Integrating the findings acrossrodent and human work is important for developing a comprehensive understanding of howmemory modifications are encoded and retrieved and crucial to revealing similarities anddifferences in the methods, behavioral findings, and underlying neural mechanisms thatsupport memory modification in both humans and rodents.Here, we discuss advances in our understanding of adaptive (memory updating) andmaladaptive (memory distortion) memory modification in terms of both underlyingmechanisms (regional, cellular, and molecular) and behavioral outcomes. By emphasizingfindings from both humans and rodents, the two major model systems in which memorymodifications have been studied, we are able to highlight converging mechanisms and pointto open questions in the field. Specifically, we discuss the major findings from severalmemory paradigms including declarative, aversive and procedural memory designs andhighlight paradigms and models that have been readily translated between rodent andhuman models. Ultimately, this review identifies key parallels underlying memory updatingacross species, paradigms, tasks, and models.
Earliest Depiction of Port wine stains, Eye Signs and Ear Deformity in the Portrait of Edward Grimston (c. 1399–1478) by Petrus Christus
Authors: Ashrafian Hutan , Harling Leanne
Published: February 2025

Background: The portrait of Edward Grimston (c. 1446) by Petrus Christus represents one of the earliest known artistic depictions of a port-wine stain (PWS) and associated craniofacial anomalies. This study examines the clinical features observed in the painting and explores possible underlying neurocutaneous syndromes.Methods: A detailed clinical assessment of Grimston’s portrait was conducted, focusing on facial vascular malformations, ocular findings, and auricular anomalies. Differential diagnoses were considered based on contemporary medical understanding.Results: The subject exhibits a PWS distributed in the ophthalmic (V1) and maxillary (V2) trigeminal regions, external ear deformity, strabismus, and possible hemifacial weakness. These findings are suggestive of Sturge-Weber syndrome, though other differential diagnoses, including PHACE syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, and Goldenhar syndrome, were considered.Conclusion: This historical case provides a unique insight into the earliest artistic representation of PWS and potential neurocutaneous syndromes. The anatomical accuracy of Netherlandish portraiture allows for retrospective medical analysis, offering perspectives on historical figures’ health conditions and the persistence and impact of dermatopathy on mankind.
Mapping Demographic Variations in Purpose and Meaning Across the World: An Analysis of 22 Countries in the Global Flourishing Study
Authors: Kim Eric S. , Padgett R. Noah , Bradshaw Matt , Shiba Koichiro , Chen Ying , RItchie-Dunham James L. , Case Brendan , Johnson Byron R. , VanderWeele Tyler J.
Published: February 2025

Are certain parts of the world home to people who experience heightened levels of purpose and meaning? Do differences vary across key demographic factors? We analyzed nationally representative data from 22 countries (N=202,898) to evaluate these questions. Countries from Asia (#1 Indonesia, #4 Philippines), Africa (#5 Egypt, #7 Nigeria, #8 Kenya), and Latin America (#2 Mexico, #6 Argentina, #9 Brazil) reported the highest purpose and meaning. The results suggest high levels of purpose and meaning are achievable in diverse geographical and cultural contexts but are often found in societies with strong community bonds, rich cultural heritage, or a greater reliance on spiritual or religious frameworks. Strikingly, high-income societies (#14 Spain, #15 Hong Kong, #16 Germany, #17 the United States, #18 Australia, #19 Sweden, #20 the United Kingdom, #22 Japan) reported lower purpose and meaning. Meta-analytic results showed a progressive increase in purpose and meaning with age. Women and men had similar levels of purpose and meaning. Further, self-employed, married, highly educated, and regular religious attendees reported higher purpose and meaning. Our research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of global patterns in purpose and meaning, and also suggests pathways for fostering these factors within and across diverse contexts.
ESTADO DA ARTE DE VALOR-NOTÍCIA (PRIMEIRA PARTE)
Authors: Seixas Lia
Published: February 2025

This article is the first of a series of two papers on the state of news value studies in Brazil and around the world. In this one, we searched five Brazilian and foreign scientific journals that are well rated in the Qualis Periódicos Capes and the Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations. We studied 64 papers in detail, including theses, dissertations and articles published between 2016 and 2021. The reference authors in Brazil are Gislene Silva (1985), Mauro Wolf (1995) and Nelson Traquina (2005). Outside Brazil, they are Galtung and Ruge (1965), Eilders (1997, 2006), Harcup and O'Neill (2001, 2016), Bednarek and Caple (2017). The academic debate does not consider the cultural level within communities of meaning or journalistic cultures. The perpetuation of the lists seems to be worldwide. The foreign articles recognize the differences between news value and newsworthiness, but do not distinguish values from factors. For them, the distinction between extrinsic and intrinsic makes no sense. Only 25% of the Brazilian theses and dissertations have a literature review, while 100% of the foreign articles do. The most common methodology is content analysis, both in Brazil and abroad.
Reasoning about people reduces class differences in tests of cognitive aptitude
Authors: Fendinger Nicholas , Dittmann Andrea G. , Knowles Eric
Published: February 2025

Class differences in aptitude testing are often attributed to working-class deficiencies in cognitive skills. The present research challenges this deficit narrative in the context of logical reasoning. We argue that, rather than being culture-neutral, reasoning tests often privilege middle-class norms and provide a poor match to cultural competencies promoted in working-class contexts. We evaluate this hypothesis in two pre-registered experiments on logical deduction (N = 990) and data from an international study of mathematical reasoning (N = 158,216). In Studies 1 and 2, reframing an abstract task to recruit social-cognitive skills (social inference and theory of mind) reduced differences in performance between working- and middle-class adults. In Study 3, questions higher in social-relational content (mentions of people) yielded smaller class gaps among eighth-grade students from 46 countries—an effect most pronounced in highly unequal countries. Our results support a cultural-psychological account of reasoning performance, highlight working-class strengths in social reasoning, and support inclusive approaches to testing.
Room to Breathe: Testing the Efficacy of Mindful Breathing and Mindful Design in Enhancing Museum Experiences
Authors: Igdalova Aleksandra , Humphries Stacey , Chamberlain Rebecca
Published: February 2025

Mindfulness-based activities are increasingly offered in arts institutions, yet little is known about the effectiveness of different interventions. Across two experiments, we examined the impacts of mindful breathing and mindful design on mood and aesthetic experience at Manchester Art Gallery. In Experiment 1, 202 participants viewed two portraits in Room to Breathe, a gallery space designed for mindful art viewing, after watching either a mindful breathing video, an informational video, or no video. Mindful breathing had no significant effect on mood or aesthetic experience. Experiment 2 replicated Experiment 1 in a traditional, non-mindful gallery space, allowing for a direct comparison of mindful breathing and mindful design (N = 261). While mindful breathing again had no impact, mindful design led to increased valence, decreased arousal, higher perceptual engagement, and more time spent viewing. These findings suggest that mindful design, as in Room to Breathe, may enhance aesthetic engagement and well-being.
Sumerian civilization as the basis of human specialized psychology
Authors: Roik Boris
Published: February 2025

(Part of the Emotional Supra-Genetic Theory of Universe Development. First published online on 01.01.2000)This article examines the multi-level specialization that emerged within the Sumerian civilization and became the foundation for the further development of the human mind, social organization, and technology. The main emphasis is placed on the step-by-step optimization of economic, social, and genetic spheres of activity, which led to the formation of civilized societies, the advancement of science, and the creation of complex cognitive models.Particular attention is given to the role of linguistic programming, which was used to transmit knowledge and shape behavioral models, as well as its impact on human cognitive development and the subsequent evolution of intelligent systems.The key conclusion is that the development of civilization is directed not only towards adaptation to the environment but also towards the creation of new technologies and conditions for the emergence of higher-order mind carriers. This process can be regarded as preparation for the development of Artificial Mind, possessing enhanced capabilities for reflecting and transforming reality.Thus, the presented concept is part of the Theory of Emotional Supra-Genetic Development of the Universe, which describes the gradual development of consciousness and the formation of new levels of mind within the framework of natural and technological evolution.
What the Press Reveals About "The Unemployed": A Lexicometric Analysis of 12,996 Articles from French Written Newspapers from 2005 to 2022
Authors: Marie Charly , Bourguignon David
Published: February 2025

Unemployed people carry a stigma that leads to negative consequences. Little is known about this stigma's origins, content, evolution, and transmission channels. Combining insights from social psychology and communication studies, we used lexicometric methods to analyze 12,996 articles on "the unemployed" published in the French written press between 2005 and 2022. We found that unemployed people were largely invisible in the media, that they were mostly represented as dehumanizing accounting, political, or welfare program issues rather than as individuals, and that unemployment was mostly framed as an individual concern. When they were visible, which was rare, they were mostly portrayed as perseverant and willing poor men with a strong social norm to work, who took personal responsibility for their situation, saw their unemployment and job search as an individual concern, and tried to find a job by doing (almost) anything possible. In addition, we showed that frames about unemployed people could emerge from both political party leaders in a top-down approach and from mostly liberal and local newspapers in an opposing bottom-up view that reports on the lives of unemployed people. Our findings contribute to the understanding of unemployment stigma and offer opportunities for further research on its consequences.
Threshold priors in item factor analysis under DELTA and THETA parameterizations
Authors: Padgett R. Noah , Winter Sonja Désirée
Published: February 2025

Bayesian estimation approaches for item factor analyses (IFA) can provide a valuable tool to overcome difficulty in parameter estimation in frequentist approaches when the marginal response distribution is highly skewed. Highly skewed marginal response distributions are problematic in Bayesian IFA models with binary factor indicators depending on how the latent response distribution is parameterized. We provide an alternative implementation of Bayesian IFA under a DELTA, or a unit total variance, parameterization of the latent response distribution. We show that parameterizing the latent response distribution using fixed total variances improves coverage rates of credible intervals for threshold parameters. We apply our implementation of Bayesian IFA to data on psychopathology to illustrate the consistency in threshold recovery under relatively small sample sizes (n=200 sampled from the full population of N=9,282) when some indicators are highly skewed in the population (e.g., <3% of the population are positive on a factor indicator).
Measuring Gambling Harm in Self-Reported Questionnaires: A Scoping Review
Authors: Mou Cong , Kailasnathan Sai Abirami , Ferguson Eamonn , Tunney Richard , James Richard J. E.
Published: February 2025

Objectives: This review aims to examine how gambling harms are measured by mapping existing self-report measures, analyzing scoring methodologies, and identifying key gaps to inform future research and practice. Study design: Scoping review. Methods: The scoping review coded data from 108 studies, analyzing harm measures, corresponding scoring methods, sample-related variables, and associated measures. Results: (1) This review identified 37 distinct instruments used to measure gambling-related harm over the past two decades, encompassing gambling harm-specific surveys, problem gambling screening tools, custom questionnaires, and questionnaires on harm to affected others. (2) The current landscape reveals that most surveys capture only a subset of harm domains, with dichotomous scoring methods being widely used. (3) Additionally, harm measurement has been largely dominated by a few well-validated instruments, with criterion variables primarily focused on problem gambling severity, gambling engagement, and health-related constructs, and mainly delivered in the global north. Conclusions: This review highlights discrepancies between conceptual frameworks and real-world practices in the measurement of gambling harm, exposing critical gaps in quantification that have implications for policy decisions, clinical assessments, and public health management. It also questions the generalizability of existing measures to non-WEIRD populations. Future research should prioritize rigorous domain selection, refinement of assessment items, and improvements in quantification methods to better serve the needs of policymakers, researchers, and clinicians. Additionally, establishing cross-cultural validity and utility of gambling harm measures outside of WEIRD contexts is also essential.
A Tutorial for Conducting Intersectional Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA)
Authors: Evans Clare , Leckie George , Subramanian SV , Bell Andrew , Merlo Juan , Borrell Luisa N. , Webb Calum J R
Published: February 2025

Intersectional multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (I-MAIHDA) is an innovative approach for investigating inequalities, including intersectional inequalities in health, disease, psychosocial, socioeconomic, and other outcomes. I-MAIHDA and related MAIHDA approaches have conceptual and methodological advantages over conventional single-level regression analysis. By enabling the study of inequalities produced by numerous interlocking systems of marginalization and oppression, and by addressing many of the limitations of studying interactions in conventional analyses, intersectional MAIHDA provides a valuable analytical tool in social epidemiology, health psychology, precision medicine and public health, environmental justice, and beyond. The approach allows for estimation of average differences between intersectional strata (stratum inequalities), in-depth exploration of interaction effects, as well as decomposition of the total individual variation (heterogeneity) in individual outcomes within and between strata. Specific advice for conducting and interpreting MAIHDA models has been scattered across a burgeoning literature. We consolidate this knowledge into an accessible conceptual and applied tutorial for studying both continuous and binary individual outcomes. We emphasize I-MAIHDA in our illustration, however this tutorial is also informative for understanding related approaches, such as multicategorical MAIHDA, which has been proposed for use in clinical research and beyond. The tutorial will support readers who wish to perform their own analyses and those interested in expanding their understanding of the approach. To demonstrate the methodology, we provide step-by-step analytical advice and present an illustrative health application using simulated data. We provide the data and syntax to replicate all our analyses. Please cite this paper as: Evans, C.R., G. Leckie, S.V. Subramanian, A. Bell, & J. Merlo. (2024.). A Tutorial for Conducting Intersectional Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA). SSM - Population Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101664
Questioning the Canon: Feminine English Romanticism
Authors: Panta Shiva Raj , Regmi Laxmi
Published: February 2025

Addressing the need for the historical phenomenon called Romanticism merits its gendered study or the female-authored Romantic literature. Although the cursory and introductory configurations of the terra incognita might risk the lopsided position, the inclinations to reconfigurations and the question of terra incognita itself are assumed the valuable efforts. This research paper questions the traditional English Romanticism that is all about the Big six male poets Wordsworth, Coleridge, Blake, Shelly, Keats and Byron. This paper, thus, employs the comparative analysis method embedded in the textual analysis method. The analytical framework includes: the inclusion of critical statements and the incorporation of conventional themes. To that end, two representative women poets of Romanticism: Felicia Dorothea Hemans and Mary Robinson and their four poems have been chosen for consideration. Hemans’ “Casabianca” and “I Dream of All Things Free”; Robinson’s “Ode to Beauty” and “Elegy on the Death of Lady Middleton”. The analysis has established the need for alternative Romanticism: Feminine Romanticism is an effort to question the hegemonic masculine Romanticism. Female writers also have been adequately capable of pursuing the continuities and innovations in regard to the Romantic studies.
Impact of Business Development Services on Performance of Micro-enterprises: Evidence from Field Survey in Kavreplanchok, Nepal
Authors: Neupane Rabindra Kumar , Basnet Bhupindra Jung
Published: February 2025

This article reveals the relationship between Business Development Services (BDS) and micro-enterprise performance based on the survey undertaken in Kavrepalanchok District of Nepal.  The survey was undertaken for the completion of Ph. D. dissertation on Business Development Services (BDS) for Enterprise Promotion in Nepal. The objective of this article is to analyze the relationship between the different components of BDS with enterprise performance development. The primary nature of data is used in this article collected from the field survey of micro-entrepreneurs at Kavrepalanchok District. A quantitative approach is used in this research. The population of this study is all the micro-entrepreneurs created in the Kavrepalanchok District by Business Development Service program of the Ministry of Industry, Nepal. The collected survey data has been analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis techniques to examine the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Survey finding concluded that BDS components have a significant impact for improving performance of micro-enterprises having more than 90 per cent variability explained by BDS in the enterprise performance. This article contributes to lessen the dearth of publications in this topic in Nepal. Findings of this research will be useful to policy makers working in industry and enterprise development, management students, would-be entrepreneurs, and training and enterprise development service providers of Nepal.
Assistant Writer in Examinations: Lived Experiences of Students with Deafblindness
Authors: Shiwakoti Rabindra , Chaisir Shankar Singh
Published: February 2025

Background: Students with deafblindness face significant educational challenges, including a lack of accessible learning materials and discriminatory assessment practices. These barriers prevent them from fully exercising their educational rights, revealing a gap between inclusive education policies and their practical implementation. Despite constitutional mandates and international agreements advocating for inclusive education, marginalized students with disabilities continue to experience systemic neglect.
Objective: This study aims to explore the lived experiences of students with deafblindness in educational settings, focusing on the challenges they face in accessing learning materials, participating in assessments, and receiving institutional support.
Methods: A phenomenological research approach was used to capture the firsthand experiences of students with deafblindness. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with three participants, allowing for an in-depth understanding of their educational struggles and the systemic barriers they encounter.
Findings: The study reveals that students with deafblindness frequently experience marginalization due to inadequate support for braille literacy from government officials. Additionally, the lack of accessible assessment accommodations places an undue burden on these students, further limiting their educational opportunities. Participants stressed the need for government institutions to take active measures to fulfill constitutional and international commitments to inclusive education.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure that inclusive education policies translate into meaningful support for students with deafblindness. Strengthening accessibility measures, improving braille literacy support, and adapting assessment practices are essential steps toward reducing educational disparities.
Novelty: This study provides a critical examination of the disconnection between inclusive education policies and their real-world implementation, emphasizing the specific struggles of students with deafblindness. By centering their lived experiences, the research offers valuable insights into the urgent reforms needed to create a truly inclusive educational system.
Factors Affecting graduate Students' Academic Achievement of Tribhuvan University
Authors: Devakota Surya Pd. , Khadka Ajaya Kumar , Shahi Bhupendra Jung , Shah Kapil
Published: February 2025

The present research study was design to investigate the factors affecting academic performance of graduate students of Tribhuvan university of Nepal. The variables under consideration were the academic performance (student’s grades/marks) as a dependent variable and the gender, age, schooling, father/guardian social economic status, and residential area, medium of schooling; tuition trend, daily study hours and accommodation trend were independent variables. The data were collected from 335 students through separate structured questionnaire from different collages of Tribhuvan University of Nepal using the simple random sampling technique. For analysis, correlation analysis, and descriptive analysis were used. The findings revealed that age, father/guardian social economic status and daily study hours significantly contribute the academic performance of graduate students.
Attitude of Islamic Studies Students towards Learning Arabic Language in Secondary Schools in Asa Local Government, Kwara State
Authors: Solahudeen Owoyale-Abdulganiy Ibrahim , Oluwatosin Yahya Isiaq , ISSA Babatunde Nurudeen , Babatunde Aliyu Shehu
Published: February 2025

The study examined attitude of Islamic studies students’ towards learning of Arabic language in Asa Local Government, Kwara State, Nigeria. The study involved senior secondary school students of Islamic studies that offer Arabic Language in schools. In an attempt to do justice to this paper, the researcher used relevant materials such as text books, journals from Internet and other relevant materials in the course of this study. The finding of the study revealed that most Islamic studies students have positive attitude toward Arabic language and that Islamic studies students’ competence in learning Arabic language is relatively poor. It is concluded that teachers and students of Arabic Language should be giving adequate support to enhance to enhance effective teaching and learning of Arabic Language. Recommendations are provided, including improving teacher training, curriculum design, and creating a more supportive environment for Arabic language education. This paper underscores the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to enhance students’ motivation and performance in Arabic learning, ultimately bridging the gap between Islamic Studies and Arabic language acquisition.
Assessing the Pedagogical Potential of Google Translate's Speech Capabilities: Focus on French Pronunciation
Authors: Papin Kevin , Cardoso Walcir
Published: February 2025

As the capabilities of web-based machine translation develop, online translators such as Google Translate (GT) have attracted computer-assisted language learning (CALL) researchers’ attention for their potential to aid second/foreign language (L2) instruction. Using its built-in text-to-speech (TTS) and automatic speech recognition (ASR) features, GT can be used for L2 pronunciation practice. The aim of this study (part of a larger project investigating L2 learners’ use of speech technologies in homework settings) is to examine the impact of self-regulated pronunciation practice using GT's TTS and ASR features on the development of French liaison (the re-syllabification of latent consonants when they appear in consonant-plus-vowel contexts across words, e.g., /z/ in tes amis [te.za.mi] “your friends”). Participants were 20 adult beginner learners of French studying at an English-speaking university in Canada. Their phonological development (i.e., awareness, perception, and production) was assessed before (pretest) and after (immediate and delayed posttests) the completion of a semi-autonomous, GT-based pronunciation practice. The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA, the statistical method used) indicate that the proposed treatment led to a statistically significant improvement in liaison production between the pretest and the delayed posttest, while phonological awareness and perception remained unaffected, probably due to a ceiling effect.
RESILIENCE REDEFINED: A QURANIC PERSPECTIVE THROUGH THE STORY OF PROPHET YUSUF
Authors: Dr. Mohammad Mohiuddin  , Nadya Farisha Binti Radhilufti
Published: February 2025

It is commonly known that the concept of resilience, even though familiar to the human brain, could be challenging to implement in daily life. This paper studies the conceptualisation of resilience from two disciplinary perspectives with an emphasis on the significance of the concept through the lens of Islam. This paper is based on chapter twelve of the Quran—Surah Yusuf, which manifested and set the roots for resiliency in Islamic history. In completing this study, the methods of discourse and textual analysis were incorporated to identify, evaluate, and extract lessons of resiliency from Yusuf (Alayhissalam)’s story. A systematic analysis of various journal articles, Quranic texts and tafsirs was employed by using keywords in examining data related to the topic. Findings indicate that Western ideology acknowledges the concept of resilience as the ability to bounce back after facing adversities. On the other hand, Islamic theology argues beyond that as adversities are regarded as a “system of tests” for mankind in attaining spiritual elevation where Islam provides guidance to overcoming them. Three main sub-concepts were found from the story of Yusuf (A.S.), which became the core findings of this research in explaining the concept of resilience: (i) sabr, (ii) shukr, and (iii) taqwa. The paper presents how the three sub-concepts were implied in the life of Yusuf (A.S.) and have been proven to aid the resiliency of an individual. Therefore, this research aims to accentuate and encourage the implementation of being resilient in the life of today’s society.
Keywords: Surah Yusuf, Resilience, Sabr, Syukr, Taqwa.
Theoretical and methodological aspects of the analysis of the financial condition of the enterprise in conditions of instability
Authors: Minakov Andrei Vladimirovich
Published: February 2025

Financial stability of business entities is determined by analyzing their financial condition and is an essential parameter showing the current state of the company and the availability of opportunities for further development. In conditions of instability, the independence of enterprises in making management decisions increases and the role of financial analysis in the activities of the enterprise increases. The purpose of the study: to consider the theoretical aspects of the results of the financial and economic activities of the enterprise, reflecting the use of assets and resources, financial stability, efficiency of operations and prospects for its development. It is concluded that conducting an analysis of the financial condition of enterprises allows identifying threats to the financial security of the enterprise, and will also allow choosing the optimal approach for a specific organization and improving both financial stability and the overall financial condition and efficiency
Effectiveness of COVID-19 Communication in Primary Care Settings in Dubai at the Time of Consultation: Lesson Learned From COVID-19
Authors: Prasad Sajitha
Published: February 2025

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Covid related communication during the pandemic between the healthcare providers and suspected COVID-19 patients at the time of consultation in primary health care clinics.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at 4 different primary care clinics (Al-Khawaneej, Al-Badaa, Al-Mamzar, Nad-AlHammar, and AlMizher clinics) of Dubai Health Authority from March 2021 to June 2021. Multiple Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) utilized a system through which suspected COVID-19 patients were approached by a questionnaire regarding COVID-19 care communication or counselling services they have received, in addition to their perception about these services, by a phone call. The questionnaire items were adopted from multiple validated sources including The Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ), and World Health Organization (WHO).

Results: Out of 200 subjects approached, 99 participants completed the survey. They almost equally distributed between females (49.5%, n = 49) and males (50.5%, n = 50) aged between 20 and 70. females had less perceived awareness of symptoms management (75.5%) in comparison with males (92%), p-value: 0.02584574 Age was a factor in perceived awareness of COVID-19 as elder patients (>40) had better perceived awareness (100%) and better perceived awareness of informing contacts to test (84.4%) compared to younger patients (20-40) (83.3%, 66.7%; 0.0040752, 0.04263445) respectively. The proportion of males and females who understood the concept of hand hygiene, proper use of face mask (82%, 81.6%), the concept of social distancing (84%, 85.7%) were evenly similarly as respectively. Respondents of all age groups had low understanding of proper disposal of used face mask and gloves (20-40yrs) (53.7%), (>40yrs) (51.1%) and disinfection of home and surroundings (20-40yrs), 50%, and (>40yrs) 55.6% after consultation. Majority of the participants were comfortable with the consultation service (80.8%), and trusted the information provided by the primary care clinics (96%).

Conclusion: This study revealed that covid related communication during consultation is an effective method to optimize the appropriate perception of pandemics and to improve the relationship between healthcare providers (HCPs) and the patients.
Structural Scheme of Transverse Piezo Engine for Nano Medical and Clinical Research
Authors: SM Afonin
Published: February 2025

Background/Aim: With the availability of biosimilars, hospital formulary drug selection among biologics extends beyond clinical and safety considerations when comes to hospital resource management, to factors like human resource allocation and financial sustainability. However, research assessing the time and cost of labor, supplies, and waste disposal of biologics from the standpoint of hospitals remains limited. This study focuses on short-acting granulocyte-colony stimulating factor originators (Granocyte® and Neupogen®) and biosimilar (Nivestim®), comparing them based on mean total handling times per dose and total annual expenses.

Materials and Methods: Ten nurses from a Taiwanese cancer center were recruited; they each prepared three doses of each drug.

Results: Findings showed that the mean total handling times per dose of Granocyte® and Neupogen® were significantly higher than that of Nivestim®. Handling Nivestim® required the lowest total annual expense.

Conclusion: Nivestim® is an advantageous alternative to Granocyte® and Neupogen®, benefiting hospital resource management.
A Study on Influence of Psychological Distress and Job Satisfaction on Psychological Wellbeing Among Nurses
Authors: Sochukwuma Ezaka Emmanuel
Published: February 2025

Evidences have shown negative relationships between psychological distress and psychological well-being, job satisfaction, and psychological well-being among nurses; however, to the best of our knowledge, no study before now has investigated the interaction of these variables (psychological distress and job satisfaction) on the psychological well-being of nurses. In addition, the present study examined how psychological distress and job satisfaction influence the psychological well-being of nurses. The pool of participants consisted of one hundred and twenty (120) nurses in the Federal Teaching Hospital, Beaklike, Nigeria. Their ages ranged from 24 to 51 years, M=34.00; SD=08.30, and the data collection lasted from May to June 2023. The participants completed several self-report questionnaires, such as the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), the Minnesota Satisfaction questionnaire, and the Psychological Well-being Scale (PWS). The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that psychological distress significantly influenced psychological well-being among nurses, and job satisfaction also significantly influenced psychological well-being among nurses, while no significant interaction influence was recorded on the impact of psychological distress and job satisfaction on psychological well-being among nurses. We concluded that the working conditions of nurses should be reviewed to ascertain these psychosocial factors that elicit psychological distress and job dissatisfaction. This will improve nurses’ mental well-being and quality of patient care.
Management Of Toxic Multinodular Goiters.
Authors: Ilhem Ouahab
Published: February 2025

Introduction:
Goiter is a very common endocrine pathology worldwide. The aim of this study is to study the epidemiological, clinical, biological, radiological, therapeutic and post- operative profile of multi-nodular toxic goiters treated in the general surgery department, Seti University Hospital.

Patients and methods:
Between January 2017 and December 2023, 134 patients were operated on for toxic multi-nodular goiter in the general surgery department, Seti University Hospital.

Epidemiological, clinical, radiological and therapeutic data were analyzed from the files of operated patients according to a retrospective study.

Results:
One hundred and thirty-four patients were operated on over a period of 7 years. The female gender was dominant (58%). Clinical signs of thyrotoxicosis were present in all patients, mainly tachycardia and palpitations. Ultrasound revealed multi-nodular goiters in all patients. Hormonal dosage showed a decrease in TSH (us) in all cases and an increase in T4 in % of patients. Medical preparation was carried out in all patients before total thyroidectomy. Morbidity consisted of temporary recurrent damage, transient hypocalcemia and postoperative hematoma.

Discussion:
Surgical treatment is the standard treatment for toxic multinodular goiters. The management of toxic multi-nodular goiters requires medical preparation before any surgical procedure.

Conclusion:
Toxic multi-nodular goiters require preoperative medical preparation to avoid intraoperative bleeding and the occurrence of thyrotoxicosis attacks postoperatively.
Influence of Sodium Reduction Using KCL and MSG on the Nutritional Profile and Consumer Acceptability of Bhutanese Cheese Curries
Authors: Wangchuk Tenzin , On-nom Nattira , Chamchan Rungrat , Khemthong Chanakan , Thangsiri Sirinapa , Chupeerach Chaowanee
Published: February 2025

Objective: The rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs); such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and cancers, in Bhutan is linked to unhealthy diets that are high in salt and saturated fats. This study aimed to reformulate popular high-sodium Bhutanese cheese curries—Shakam Datshi and Kewa Datshi—by reducing their sodium content using potassium chloride (KCl) and monosodium glutamate (MSG), while preserving traditional flavors and improving their nutritional profiles.Material and Methods: Shakam Datshi and Kewa Datshi were identified as the highest sodium content dishes among commonly consumed Bhutanese meals. Sodium was partially replaced with KCl and MSG, and additional ingredient adjustments to align with WHO dietary guidelines. Sensory and Satiety evaluations with 50 Bhutanese panelists compared the modified recipes to the original and assessed the acceptance and fullness provided by the reformulated dishes in four healthy set menus.Results: The reformulation achieved a 20% reduction in sodium for Shakam Datshi and over 40% for Kewa Datshi. Potassium levels significantly increased to 377.47 mg in Shakam Datshi and 651.51 mg in Kewa Datshi. Both dishes also showed reductions in total and saturated fats. Sensory evaluations indicated that the modified recipes retained high overall liking scores, similar to the originals (7.96 vs. 8.28 for Shakam Datshi and 7.48 vs. 7.90 for Kewa Datshi). Satiety assessments revealed sustained feelings of fullness.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that significant sodium reduction in traditional Bhutanese cheese curries can be achieved without compromising taste or cultural authenticity. These findings provide a viable strategy to reduce hypertension in the Bhutan population through healthier dietary options.
Functional outcomes of microdiscectomy in Bertolotti syndrome: the relationship between lumbosacral transitional vertebrae and lumbar disc herniation: a prospective study in Greece
Authors: Kapetanakis Stylianos , Gkoumousian Krikor , Gkantsinikoudis Nikolaos , Chaniotakis Constantinos
Published: February 2025

Study Design: The lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) in patients with Bertolotti syndrome (BS) cause alterations in the biomechanics of the lumbosacral junction. These entities have been associated with secondary conditions, such as lumbar disc herniation (LDH).Purpose: To investigate the clinical outcomes of microdiscectomy in patients with symptomatic LDH and BS. Overview of Literature: There is limited data in the literature on the functional outcomes of patients with LSTV who undergo microdiscectomy.Methods: This study enrolled 308 patients diagnosed with LDH and concurrent LSTV. All patients underwent microdiscectomy. Clinical evaluation was performed preoperatively and at distinct follow-up intervals of 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and 2 and 5 years postoperatively. Assessment included clinical examination and implementation of the well-established, patient-reported outcome measures Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Medical Health Survey Questionnaire for Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) analysis. Furthermore, the anatomical relationship between LSTV and LDH was also studied.Results: The SF-36 indices and VAS score were statistically significantly ameliorated within the follow-up period. Maximum improvement was noted at 3 months, with further minimal improvement after 6 months, and stabilization of indices until the end of followup. Castellvi type IB was the most frequent LSTV type. The adjacent level (L4–L5) just above the LSTV was the most affected with an incidence of 72.1%. In the subgroups of Castellvi type IA, IIA, and IIIA, the LDH side was ipsilateral with the LSTV in 38.3% of patients. In this study, all patients underwent microdiscectomy and demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes (functional recovery and pain relief) and notable amelioration of HRQoL.Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to conduct a holistic assessment in an attempt to delineate the impact of LSTV presence on the postoperative HRQoL of these individuals.
Lateral view fulcrum bending radiographs predict postoperative hypokyphosis after selective thoracic fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Hui Victoria Yuk Ting , Cheung Jason Pui Yin , Cheung Prudence Wing Hang
Published: February 2025

Study Design: A retrospective observational study.Purpose: To identify the surgical and preoperative risk factors on fulcrum bending radiographs for postoperative hypokyphosis in patients with Lenke 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Overview of Literature: AIS is associated with thoracic hypokyphosis. Persistent hypokyphosis causes reduced pulmonary function and spinopelvic malalignment. Indications for Ponte osteotomies and releases to improve postoperative kyphosis restoration in patients with hypokyphosis are still unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated that kyphosis correction was limited by sagittal flexibility based on lateral view fulcrum bending radiographs.Methods: Patients with Lenke 1 AIS undergoing posterior spinal fusion were included. Standing and fulcrum bending radiographs on the coronal and sagittal planes were analyzed at preoperative, immediate, and 2-year postoperative periods. The primary outcome was postoperative hypokyphosis (T5–12 thoracic kyphosis [TK] <20°). Risk factors for postoperative hypokyphosis were identified by multivariate logistic regression, and the optimal cutoff for significant risk factors was determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis.Results: In total, 156 patients were included in the analysis, of which 68 (43.6%) were hypokyphotic at 2-year follow-up. Low T5–12 TK on lateral view fulcrum bending films (immediate postoperative odds ratio [OR], 0.870; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.826–0.917; 2-year postoperative OR, 0.916; 95% CI, 0.876–0.959; p<0.001) and high convex side implant density (2-year postoperative OR, 1.749; 95% CI, 1.056–2.897; p=0.03) were significant risk factors for postoperative hypokyphosis. Other baseline demographic and surgical factors did not affect postoperative kyphosis correction. The T5–12 TK cutoff on fulcrum bending for 2-year postoperative hypokyphosis was 12.45° (area under the curve, 0.773; 95% CI, 0.661–0.820).Conclusions: Fulcrum bending radiography is useful in assessing coronal and sagittal flexibility for preoperative planning. In patients with T5–12 kyphosis <12.5° on lateral view fulcrum bending radiographs, Ponte osteotomies or releases, or a decrease in convex side implant density should be considered to improve kyphosis restoration and reduce the risk of 2-year postoperative hypokyphosis.
ПУБЛІЧНО-ПРИВАТНЕ ПАРТНЕРСТВО В УПРАВЛІННІ ПРОГРАМАМИ РОЗВИТКУ СФЕРИ БУДІВНИЦТВА В УКРАЇНІ
Authors: ТОПАЗЛИ Роман
Published: February 2025

The article examines the role of public-private partnership (PPP) in the implementation of construction sector development programs in Ukraine, which is an important direction for ensuring sustainable economic growth and infrastructure modernization. The main PPP models that can be applied in construction are identified, such as concession agreements, BOT (build-operate-transfer) mechanisms, DBO (design-build-operate) and others. The current state of regulatory regulation of PPP in the construction industry is analyzed, key problems that hinder effective interaction between the state and the private sector are identified, including the complexity of regulatory procedures, insufficient level of institutional support, high risks for private investors and limited access to long-term financing. Special attention is paid to the analysis of financial mechanisms that can contribute to the development of PPP in the construction sector, in particular, the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) mechanism, which allows compensating investors' costs by increasing tax revenues from newly created infrastructure facilities. Successful examples of PPP implementation in Ukraine are considered, including transport and utility infrastructure, as well as social projects. Based on the research conducted, the main directions for improving PPP mechanisms in construction are formulated, including simplifying the regulatory environment, expanding the financial capabilities of private investors, introducing risk management mechanisms, and strengthening state support for such initiatives. It is concluded that the effective use of PPP in construction can become a powerful tool for infrastructure modernization, improving the investment climate, and creating new jobs. However, to achieve these results, it is necessary to implement comprehensive reforms aimed at eliminating administrative and financial barriers that hinder the development of partnership between the state and business. The relevance of the study of public-private partnership in construction is due to the need to improve public administration mechanisms in this area, optimize financial flows, and increase the efficiency of the implementation of construction programs. The purpose of this article is to analyze the current state of PPP in the construction sector of Ukraine, identify the main problems and develop recommendations for improving mechanisms for cooperation between the state and business. To achieve this goal, the article considers the theoretical foundations of public-private partnership, analyzes the current regulatory framework, examines successful examples of PPP implementation in construction, and identifies the main problems that hinder its development. Based on the analysis, recommendations are formulated for improving PPP mechanisms in the construction sector of Ukraine, in particular in the areas of simplifying the regulatory environment, introducing modern financial instruments, and strengthening institutional support.