bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices toward Acute Respiratory Infection among Parents of Children under Five Years
Authors:   Jordan University of Science and Technology, N. Abu-Baker Nesrin , F. Shtayyat Khwlah , Jamila Abu Dhail,
Published: April 2024

Background: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) causes high morbidity and mortality rates among children. As parents are the main caregivers for these children, it is essential to assess and strengthen their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) toward ARI. Purpose: To assess KAPs toward ARI among Jordanian and Syrian parents with children under five years, and KAPs relationships with the parental sociodemographic variables. Methods: A cross-sectional design was conducted using a sample of 204 parents (124 Jordanians and 80 Syrians). The data was collected at community associations in Irbid city in the northern part of Jordan, between December 2021 and February 2022. A self-reporting questionnaire was used to measure parents’ KAPs toward ARI in children under five years. Results: The results revealed that 48% of the fathers and 61% of the mothers were educated to college level. The total score of knowledge was 10 out of 18 (SD =2.75), while that of attitudes was 8 out of 12 (SD = 1.97), and that of practices was 4 out of 5 (SD = 0.89). Spearman correlation indicated that mother’s education and father’s education were positively correlated with the knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. Pearson correlation indicated that family income was positively correlated with the attitude and practice scores. Independent sample t-test indicated that Jordanian parents reported significantly higher attitude and practice scores than Syrian parents (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Overall, Jordanian and Syrian parents’ knowledge about ARI in Irbid city is insufficient and mainly correlated with their level of education. Implications for Nursing: The study highlights the need for health education in primary health care centers, public places, and community organizations. Health education should target parents with low socioeconomic status and Syrian refugee parents. Keywords: Acute respiratory infection (ARI), Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAPs), Parents, Children under five years.
Long-term administration of morphine specifically alters the level of protein expression in different brain regions and affects the redox state
Authors: Hejnova Lucie , Hronova Anna , Drastichova Zdenka , Novotny Jiri
Published: April 2024

We investigated the changes in redox state and protein expression in selected parts of the rat brain induced by a 4 week administration of morphine (10 mg/kg/day). We found a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation that mostly persisted for 1 week after morphine withdrawal. Morphine treatment led to a significant increase in complex II in the cerebral cortex (Crt), which was accompanied by increased protein carbonylation, in contrast to the other brain regions studied. Glutathione levels were altered differently in the different brain regions after morphine treatment. Using label-free quantitative proteomic analysis, we found some specific changes in protein expression profiles in the Crt, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum on the day after morphine withdrawal and 1 week later. A common feature was the upregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins and dysregulation of the extracellular matrix. Our results indicate that the tested protocol of morphine administration has no significant toxic effect on the rat brain. On the contrary, it led to a decrease in lipid peroxidation and activation of anti-apoptotic proteins. Furthermore, our data suggest that long-term treatment with morphine acts specifically on different brain regions and that a 1 week drug withdrawal is not sufficient to normalize cellular redox state and protein levels.
VSP-2 attenuates secretion of inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS in BV2 cells by mediating the PPARγ/NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors: Cui Jingxin , Xu Liwei , Sun Yimeng , Dai Lingfei , Mo Yuxiu , Yun Keli , Chen Yifei , Chen Linglin
Published: April 2024

Neuroinflammation, characterized by microglial activation and the subsequent secretion of inflammatory cytokines, plays a pivotal role in neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries, often leading to neuronal damage and death. Alleviating neuroinflammation has thus emerged as a promising strategy to protect neurons and ameliorate neurodegenerative disorders. While peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists have demonstrated potential therapeutic actions on neuroinflammation, their prolonged use, such as with rosiglitazone, can lead to cardiac risks and lipid differentiation disorders. In this study, we investigated the effects of a newly synthesized PPARγ agonist, VSP-2, on secretion of inflammatory cytokines in BV2 cells. Treatment with VSP-2 significantly reduced the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Furthermore, VSP-2 attenuated the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) (65 kD) and IκBα, as well as the nuclear translocation of NF-κB (65 kD). Additionally, the use of PPARγ small interfering RNA was able to attenuate the effects of VSP-2 on proinflammatory cytokines and the NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, our findings suggest that VSP-2 effectively suppressed the expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α via the PPARγ/NF-κB signaling pathway. Given its potential therapeutic benefits, VSP-2 may emerge as a promising candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases or brain injuries associated with neuroinflammation.
Factors influencing spontaneous hypothermia after emergency trauma and the construction of a predictive model
Authors: Feng Xia , Zhu Fangxiang , Qiao Anhua , Li Wenfang , Jiang Ying , Han Zengtao , Dong Lan
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to investigate spontaneous hypothermia among emergency trauma patients and develop a predictive model. A cohort of 162 emergency trauma patients was categorized into hypothermic (n = 61) and control (n = 101) groups, with trauma severity assessed using the modified Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between the groups in trauma severity, posture, garment wetness, warming measures, pre-hospital fluid resuscitation, and modified GCS scores (P < 0.05). The hypothermic group exhibited lower prothrombin time compared to the control group (P < 0.05). A logistic regression model was constructed, expressed as Y = 25.76 − 1.030X
1 + 0.725X
2 + 0.922X
3 − 0.750X
4 − 0.57X
6, and its fit was evaluated using the Hosmer–Lemeshow test. The receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.871, with 81.2% sensitivity and 79.5% specificity. The Youden index identified the optimal predictive cut-off at its highest (0.58). Validation results included 86.21% sensitivity, 82.93% specificity, and 84.29% accuracy. Risk factors for spontaneous hypothermia after emergency trauma encompassed trauma severity, posture during consultation, clothing dampness upon admission, warming measures during transfer, pre-hospital fluid resuscitation, and modified GCS scores. The risk prediction model demonstrated high accuracy, enabling effective assessment of spontaneous hypothermia risk in emergency trauma patients and facilitating preventive measures.
Reference values for plasma and urine trace elements in a Swiss population-based cohort
Authors: Perrais Maïwenn , Trächsel Bastien , Lenglet Sébastien , Pruijm Menno , Ponte Belen , Vogt Bruno , Augsburger Marc , Rousson Valentin , Bochud Murielle , Thomas Aurélien
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Trace elements (TEs) are ubiquitous. TE concentrations vary among individuals and countries, depending on factors such as living area, workplaces and diet. Deficit or excessive TEs concentrations have consequences on the proper functioning of human organism so their biomonitoring is important. The aim of this project was to provide reference values for TEs concentrations in the Swiss population.

Methods

The 1,078 participants to the SKiPOGH cohort included in this study were aged 18–90 years. Their 24-h urine and/or plasma samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine 24 TEs concentrations: Ag, Al, As, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, I, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pt, Sb, Se, Sn, Tl, V and Zn. Statistical tests were performed to evaluate the influence of covariates (sex, age, BMI, smoking) on these results. Reference intervals for the Swiss adult population were also defined.

Results

TEs concentrations were obtained for respectively 994 and 903 persons in plasma and urine matrices. It was possible to define percentiles of interest (P50 and P95) for almost all the TEs. Differences in TEs distribution between men and women were noticed in both matrices; age was also a cofactor.

Conclusions

This first Swiss biomonitoring of a large TEs-panel offers reference values in plasma and in urine for the Swiss population. The results obtained in this study were generally in line with clinical recommendations and comparable to levels reported in other population-based surveys.
Confounding factors of the expression of mTBI biomarkers, S100B, GFAP and UCH-L1 in an aging population
Authors: Calluy Emma , Beaudart Charlotte , Alokail Majed S. , Al-Daghri Nasser M. , Bruyère Olivier , Reginster Jean-Yves , Cavalier Etienne , Ladang Aurélie
Published: April 2024

Objectives

To evaluate some confounding factors that influence the concentrations of S100 calcium binding protein B (S100B), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L-1 (UCH-L1) in older individuals. Indeed, recent guidelines have proposed the combined use of S100B and the “GFAP-UCH-L1” mTBI test to rule out mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI). As older adults are the most at risk of mTBI, it is particularly important to understand the confounding factors of those mTBI rule-out biomarkers in aging population.

Methods

The protein S100B and the “GFAP and UCH-L1” mTBI test were measured using Liaison XL (Diasorin) and Alinity I (Abbott), respectively, in 330 and 341 individuals with non-suspected mTBI from the SarcoPhAge cohort.

Results

S100B, GFAP and UCH-L1 were all significantly correlated with renal function whereas alcohol consumption, Geriatric Depression Score (GDS), smoking habits and anticoagulant intake were not associated with any of these three biomarkers. Body mass index (BMI) and age were associated with GFAP and UCH-L1 expression while sex and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) were only associated with GFAP. According to the manufacturer’s cut-offs for mTBI rule-out, only 5.5 % of participants were positive for S100B whereas 66.9 % were positive for the “GFAP-UCH-L1” mTBI test. All positive “GFAP-UCH-L1” mTBI tests were GFAP+/UCH-L1-. Among individuals with cystatin C>1.55 mg/L, 25 % were positive for S100B while 90 % were positive for the mTBI test.

Conclusions

Our data show that confounding factors have different impacts on the positivity rate of the “GFAP-UCH-L1” mTBI test compared to S100B.
Development of a disease-based hospital-level diagnostic intensity index
Authors: Ellenbogen Michael I. , Feldman Leonard S. , Prichett Laura , Zhou Junyi , Brotman Daniel J.
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Low-value care is associated with increased healthcare costs and direct harm to patients. We sought to develop and validate a simple diagnostic intensity index (DII) to quantify hospital-level diagnostic intensity, defined by the prevalence of advanced imaging among patients with selected clinical diagnoses that may not require imaging, and to describe hospital characteristics associated with high diagnostic intensity.

Methods

We utilized State Inpatient Database data for inpatient hospitalizations with one or more pre-defined discharge diagnoses at acute care hospitals. We measured receipt of advanced imaging for an associated diagnosis. Candidate metrics were defined by the proportion of inpatients at a hospital with a given diagnosis who underwent associated imaging. Candidate metrics exhibiting temporal stability and internal consistency were included in the final DII. Hospitals were stratified according to the DII, and the relationship between hospital characteristics and DII score was described. Multilevel regression was used to externally validate the index using pre-specified Medicare county-level cost measures, a Dartmouth Atlas measure, and a previously developed hospital-level utilization index.

Results

This novel DII, comprised of eight metrics, correlated in a dose-dependent fashion with four of these five measures. The strongest relationship was with imaging costs (odds ratio of 3.41 of being in a higher DII tertile when comparing tertiles three and one of imaging costs (95 % CI 2.02–5.75)).

Conclusions

A small set of medical conditions and related imaging can be used to draw meaningful inferences more broadly on hospital diagnostic intensity. This could be used to better understand hospital characteristics associated with low-value care.
Two Tales of the Energy Commons Through the Lens of Complexity
Authors: Hoops Björn
Published: April 2024

The Energy Commons embody the small-scale generation of renewable energy by groups of citizens. Existing scholarship and the European Union’s rules on the internal governance of citizen and renewable energy communities envision the Energy Commons as making the energy transition more democratic, equitable, inclusive, and local. Based on empirical research on citizen-led energy generation in Germany, this contribution examines the extent to which Energy Commons in practice live up to these normative ideals, why they partially fail to do so and how regulatory change can enable Energy Commons to converge to these ideals. This contribution sets out different types of Energy Commons and assesses how each type performs against scholarly expectations and the EU rules on their internal governance. It identifies the complexity of the energy sector as the main obstacle to achieving said normative ideals and sketches guidelines for regulatory change to reduce this complexity.
Dysmenorrhea in Tunisian high school adolescent girls: frequency, effects, and absence from school
Authors: Bannour Badra , Rouis Nour , Bannour Rania , Alouane Chourouk , Saadouli Souhir , Bannour Imen
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Dysmenorrhea is a known phenomenon and not just recently, and investigations conducted recently have shown that female adolescents are very susceptible to this condition. Our goal is to determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in Tunisia, its risk factors, its impact on truancy rates, and the therapeutic attitudes of girls attending high school about this illness using an epidemiological survey.

Methods

This eight-month study, which spans from October 2022 to May 2023, focuses on 160 high school girls between the ages of 13 and 21. It is a transversal descriptive study. The required data is gathered through the distribution of a self-administered questionnaire.

Results

The mean age of female adolescent participants is 16.44 years and 68 % of them reported dysmenorrhea. The most common symptoms of the pain were headaches (40.0 %). There is a notable prevalence of absenteeism during the menstrual cycle. There seems to be a trend toward self-medication.

Conclusions

In Tunisia, primary dysmenorrhea is a common cause of school absenteeism among female adolescents. Girls’ attitudes toward dysmenorrhea indicate a lack of knowledge, which is why it is crucial for midwives and physicians to educate teenage girls about the condition.
From Below, to Inclusion, Through Transformation: Urban Theology in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Huotari Rosa , Grönlund Henrietta
Published: April 2024

Urban theology is an enduring theme in scholarly literature, yet to our knowledge, no comprehensive reviews have been carried out on its recent developments. To answer this shortcoming, we present a systematic literature review on the following question: “How is urban theology understood in Western academic literature published in English in the twenty-first century?” We present the 29 research outputs yielded from our review and findings of a thematic content analysis. The findings propose three main themes: 1) Theological rootedness, 2) Societal rootedness, and 3) Reforming urban theology. Through these themes, urban theology emerges as an intertwining research of theology and society that includes both reflection and praxis. It aims to understand and diagnose the city as a place and space through theological reflection and doing theology, and vice versa; to transform the way and content of (doing) theology through the engaged analysis of urban society. Urban theology is done for, by, and within individuals and communities of the urbanized planet holistically, whereby it emerges as theology “from below.” It distinguishes itself from the urban theology of the last century, highlighting the critical need for inclusion and reflexivity in the emerging context and the positionality of the researcher.
A decade development of lipase catalysed synthesis of acylglycerols using reactors: a systematic review
Authors: Abd Razak Nurul Nadiah , Cognet Patrick , Pérès Yolande , Aroua Mohamed Kheireddine , Gew Lai Ti
Published: April 2024

Glycerol esterification produces a variety of valuable chemicals and has been a subject of great interest in recent years. Lipase-catalysed synthesis of acylglycerols reactions have many potential applications, including in the production of structured lipids, biofuels and pharmaceuticals. It offers several benefits over traditional chemical methods, including higher selectivity, milder reaction conditions and increased sustainability. In this systematic review, we summarize 52 primary research of lipase catalysed synthesis of acylglycerol published from 2012 to 2022. Different types of reactions employed in the synthesis of acylglycerols using various lipases are thoroughly discussed. The use of lipase in as biocatalyst in the synthesis of acylglycerols is safe for consumption and sustainable as it can reduce the utilization of toxic and hazardous organic solvents and chemicals that cause harm to human health and the environment. This review serves as a reference for the research and development of acylglycerols using biocatalysts and reactors. It could be an interest to the food and pharmaceutical industries or individuals who are interested to explore this field. Several limitations associated with the overall research on production of acylglycerols are presented in the conclusion section.
The Impact of Remittance Inflows on Inflation: The Case of Lebanon
Authors: Kassab Sara
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates the impact of workers’ remittance inflows on inflation in Lebanon. The data used is monthly data spanning the period from December 2007 to May 2019. I estimate a structural vector autoregressive model using 24 monthly lags and find that a one-time remittance growth shock leads to a statistically significant increase in the inflation rate in the short run in Lebanon. Also, the results show that a remittance growth shock makes a considerable contribution to the forecast error variance for the inflation rate in Lebanon.
Investigation of AcXO3 (X = Al, Ga) perovskites for energy harvesting applications: a DFT approach
Authors:   Department of Physics, College of Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P. O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia, Aldaghfag S. A. , Ishfaq M. ,   Spin-Optoelectronics and Ferro-Thermoelectric (SOFT) Materials and Devices Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan, Nasarullah Nasarullah ,   Spin-Optoelectronics and Ferro-Thermoelectric (SOFT) Materials and Devices Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan, Yaseen M. ,   Spin-Optoelectronics and Ferro-Thermoelectric (SOFT) Materials and Devices Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Published: April 2024

Full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) based computational study is presented for AcAlO3 and AcGaO3. Tolerance factor (τG) is 0.93 for AcAlO3 and 0.90 for AcGaO3 which reveal the stability of proposed perovskite oxides in cubic phase. The calculated band structures for both materials reveal the nonmagnetic semiconductive nature with energy band gaps of 3.98 and 2.75 eV for respective Al and Ga based perovskites. Total, and partial density of states (DOS) are computed for meaningful understanding of semiconducting behavior of the proposed perovskites. The partially filled O-2p and Ac-6d states are observed to lie in the vicinity of Fermi level. Furthermore, various parameters of optical spectra have also been computed to study the light matter interaction. Moreover, thermoelectric (TE) properties of both materials have been investigated by using semiclassical Boltzmann theory with constant relaxation time approximation. Calculated figure of merit (ZT) values for AcAlO3 and AcGaO3 are 0.23 and 0.20 at 800 K, respectively. Overall, computational study for titled perovskites indicate that these materials have application in UV sensors, photovoltaic and thermoelectric devices.
Modified zinc oxide nanoparticles as potential drug carrier
Authors:   Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Chemistry and Inorganic Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, Cracow 31-155, Poland, Pulit-Prociak J. , Staroń A. ,   Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Chemistry and Inorganic Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, Cracow 31-155, Poland, Domagała D. ,   Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Food Technology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 122, Cracow 30-149, Poland, Kojs J. ,   Gabriel Narutowicz Specialist City Hospital, Neurology Ward and Stroke Ward, Prądnicka 35-37, 31-202 Cracow, Poland, Zielina M. ,   Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, Cracow 31-155, Poland, Banach M. ,   Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Chemistry and Inorganic Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, Cracow 31-155, Poland
Published: April 2024

The objective of this research was to investigate the feasibility of creating a stable drug carrier using zinc oxide. This carrier, with its surface modified by a galactose coating, aimed to demonstrate reduced toxicity compared to the uncoated zinc oxide nanoparticles. A series of zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized, each modified with galactose. The processes were carried out in a microwave radiation field. The synthesized products underwent analysis, including XRD, ATR-FTIR and TEM-EDS analysis. Also, DLS technique was applied to determined size and electrokinetic potential of nanoparticles in different media. Further investigation assessed the impact of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles on CHO cell cytotoxicity and their proliferation. XRD technique confirmed the obtaining of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Modification with galactose didn't impact their purity. ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed Zn-O bonds. Galactose presence was confirmed at its highest molar ratio. TEM-EDS analysis revealed pure zinc oxide nanoparticles' spiked structure and modified nanoparticles' less organized arrangement, both showing bar-like shape. DLS technique determined nanoparticle sizes between 217 and 764 nm. Nanoparticle suspensions were found stable in various environments. In vitro cell viability analysis indicated reduced cytotoxicity and enhanced cell development with modified zinc oxide nanoparticles compared to reference unmodified particles. Regarding the outcomes, it can be deduced that the suggested process parameter values consistently yield stable galactose-modified zinc oxide nanoparticles. These modified nanoparticles exhibit lower cytotoxicity towards CHO cells compared to pure zinc oxide. Furthermore, they actively promote the proliferation of normal cells, aligning with the desired outcome.
Pilot Study: Exploring PCSK9 in Maternal Serum as Potential Noninvasive Biomarker for Neural Tube Defects
Authors: Shaker Mai M. , Zaki Sahar S. , Shalabi Taghreed A.
Published: April 2024

Objectives: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are caused by inadequate closing of the neural tube. Alpha-fetoprotein has limitations due to its poor sensitivity and specificity in NTD detection. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) appears to have an escalating role in neurogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the two forms of PCSK9 (Mature PCSK9 and furin cleaved) circulating in NTD maternal sera as a potential novel non-invasive biochemical marker for prenatal screening of NTDs. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, the presence of PCSK9 in serum samples of 30 pregnant women with current NTD fetuses (case group) and 30 pregnant women with a healthy singleton pregnancy (control group) was evaluated by Western blot analysis followed by the immuno-precipitation approach. Results: Median of mature PCSK9/furin ratio among the case group was 0.92 (0.05-2.54) versus 1.29 (0.19-6.62) among the control group (P = 0.02). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for mature PCSK9/furin ratio displayed a sensitivity and specificity equal to 63.3%. Conclusions: The ratio of mature PCSK9 to furin cleaved form was significantly reduced among women with current NTD fetuses compared to women having healthy pregnancies. This ratio can be a potential original biochemical marker in the non-invasive prenatal screening of NTDs.
Designing and Validating Infertility Data Recording Tools in Iran
Authors: Farzadi Laya , Ghasemzadeh Alieh , Sadeghi-Bazargani Homayoun , Taghavi Simin , Nouri Mohammad , Hamdi Kobra , Navali Nazli , Vaez Maryam , Dopour Masumeh , Abedi Gheshlaghi Leili , Tabrizi Aydin , Tehrani-Ghadim Sepideh
Published: April 2024

Objectives: Considering that the prevalence of infertility in Iran is higher than the world average and there is no system for recording these individuals’ data, this study aimed at designing and validating infertility data recording tools in Iran. Materials and Methods: This questionnaire study was conducted in Tabriz in 2019. Five areas were prepared for the questionnaire (i.e., in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, intrauterine insemination, ovulation induction) and treatment outcomes) and used after reviewing the studies. The Delphi quantitative technique was applied to standardize and validate the questionnaire through evaluating five infertility specialists. The content validity index (CVI), content validity ratio (CVR), and coefficient of agreement (Cohen’s kappa coefficient) were employed to assess content validity through a quantitative approach. Finally, the reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated using the Kuder-Richardson formula through the evaluation of 50 infertile couples visiting AL-Zahra specialized and super-specialized hospital in Tabriz. Results: The CVI and CVR of all items were calculated and obtained greater than 0.8 except for items 8, 17, and 18 and thus were identified as appropriate items in the questionnaire. Kappa coefficients (k) were also calculated and found to be greater than 0.8 for all items except for the three above-mentioned items. The items with lower than an acceptable CVI, CVR, and k were modified, and the k of the total items was obtained as 0.95. Eventually, the reliability of the questionnaire and its domains were assessed, and the reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was higher than 0.64, which was acceptable. Conclusions: A questionnaire was designed to evaluate the history and clinical problems of infertile couples with 5 domains and 61 items to record their information (desirable validity and reliability) in their clinical records.
Comparison of Ovulation Triggering Outcomes by Standard Dose of hCG versus Declined hCG Dose With GnRH Agonist in Antagonist Cycles: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Valipour Fahime , Navali Nazli
Published: April 2024

Objectives: Today, infertility is a global complication affecting 8%-12% of couples. The use of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) gives couples to have taken the home baby chance. In this study, we compare the outcomes of the ARTs after using the standard dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRh) agonist plus declined dose of hCG for final oocyte maturation in antagonist cycles. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in Al-Zahra hospital, Tabriz, Iran from June to December 2019 on 100 infertile women who were candidate for in vitro fertilization in two groups: group A received standard dose of hCG and group B received GnRH agonist 0.2 mg and hCG 2500 international unit as dual trigger. The number of oocytes retrieved, embryo obtained, implantation rate, pregnancy rate, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) were compared between two groups. Results: The number of retrieved oocytes in the group B was more than group A (P=0.024), and the embryo obtained in both groups was similar. The implantation and pregnancy rate in the group B increased compared to group A (P= 0.001). There was no OHSS case in the group B, while in the group A two cases suffered from OHSS. Conclusions: Dual trigger with GnRH agonist plus declined hCG dose increased the number of retrieved oocytes, implantation, and pregnancy rates and decreased the risk of OHSS compared to standard hCG trigger. The gynecologists should select the best strategy based on the patient’s condition.
Effect of Vitex agnus-castus and Salvia officinalis Extracts on Serum Lipids in Postmenopausal Women: An Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Zeidabadi Afsaneh , Jafari Maryam , Emamghoreishi Masoumeh , Sasani Mohammad Resa , Akbarzadeh Marzieh
Published: April 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Vitex agnus-castus (VAC), and Salvia officinalis extracts on serum lipids in postmenopausal women referred to the Bone Densitometry Center, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 89 postmenopausal women in 2016 using random permuted blocks with a block size of 3 in the three groups, including the VAC group (3.2-4.8 mg/q8h), S. officinalis group (100 mg/q8h), and placebo group for three months. Women were finally compared in terms of low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides (TG), and highdensity lipoprotein before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 software. Descriptive statistical tests and paired t test were used to compare the groups. Results: A significant decrease in serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides levels and also increase in mean serum high-density lipoprotein levels were observed in VAC and S. officinalis groups before and after the intervention (P = 0.0001). In comparison, no significant change was observed in serum level of any lipoproteins in the placebo group. Conclusions: Considering the decrease in the level of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and increased highdensity lipoprotein after using VAC and S. officinalis in this study, these herbs can be proposed as blood lipid-lowering agents in postmenopausal women.
Dimensions of Menstrual Rights for Menstruators: A Systematic Review
Authors: Valipour Nassimeh Setayesh , Farnam Farnaz , Abbasi Mahmoud , Damghanian Maryam
Published: April 2024

Objectives: The concept of menstrual rights is usually discussed as a marginalized topic; in addition, the realization of women’s menstrual rights faces ambiguous structures and challenges. This study, therefore, aimed to systematically review the concept and the most important structural dimensions of the menstrual rights of menstruators in order to evaluate the suggestions on different dimensions of menstrual rights and to raise the awareness of health service providers in this regard. Methods: In this study, all papers and documents addressing this subject and accessible in international databases (i.e., PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science) and Iranian ones (i.e., IranMedex and Magiran) were reviewed from September to November 2021. Then 28 papers and documents were selected for final review and analysis. Results: The concept of menstrual rights concerned with the ability of women and girls to manage menstrual issues and enjoy a healthy and sanitary period of menstruation. The structure of menstrual rights consisted of menstrual rights in subcultures and religions, components of menstrual rights (e.g., social rights, health rights, educational rights) and menstrual rights in special cases (e.g., natural disasters, disabilities, transgender, etc). Conclusions: According to our findings, decisive evidence was found about different dimensions of menstruation rights, which may have provided useful background information for the authorities involved in national and reproductive health, private sectors, charities, and activist groups in this field. These authorities, in turn, may have used the obtained evidence to perform civil acts focused on women and girls’ menstruation and reproductive health.
Dual FSH and HCG Triggering Increases Clinical Pregnancy Rate in IUI for Unexplained Infertility: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Alborzi Mahshid , Pouya Khadijeh , Asadi maman Reza , Fattahi Amir , Hamdi Kobra , Hakimi Parvin
Published: April 2024

Objectives: Despite advancements in the assisted reproduction technology (ART), the proportion of unexplained infertility is 30% among infertile couples. This study aimed to explore the pregnancy proportions in women with primary unexplained infertility who were given follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) along with the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger compared with those who were only given the hCG trigger. Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, the women eligible for intrauterine insemination (IUI) were investigated between April 1, 2022 and April 1, 2023 at Al-Zahra referral academic center. To this end, a total of 130 women were primarily screened and then 50 ones were excluded from the study based on the pre-defined inclusion criteria. Therefore, the final study population consisted of 80 eligible women with primary unexplained infertility, who were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=40) and control group (n=40). The patients in the intervention group received two ampules (75 IU) of FSH in addition to two ampoules (5000 IU) of hCG, while the patients in the control group only received hCG. Both groups underwent IUI 34-36 hours after the hCG triggering. The biochemical and clinical pregnancy rates were evaluated as primary outcomes. Results: No significant differences were observed between the baseline and clinical characteristics, including endometrial thickness and the number of follicles before intervention (P>0.05). However, the clinical pregnancy rate was higher in the dual FSH and hCG group (40.0%, 16/40) than that in the hCG group (20.0%, 8/40) (P=0.048). The chemical pregnancy rates were 32.5% (13/40) and 37.5% (15/40) for the hCG and dual FSH and hCG groups, respectively. No significant relationships were detected between the biochemical pregnancy and the number of gestational sacs (P>0.05). Conclusions: The dual administration of FSH and hCG for oocytes, compared with the injection of hCG alone, improved the clinical pregnancy. The biochemical pregnancy and live birth rates as well as the number of gestational sacs were not improved significantly.
A szubjektív egészségi állapot és a dohányzás összefüggése rendfenntartó dolgozók körében
Authors: Ambrusz Aliz , Németh Ferenc , Borbély Zsuzsanna , Malét-Szabó Erika
Published: April 2024

Bevezetés: Világszerte nagy figyelmet fordítanak a dohányzásra
mint legfőbb megelőzhető halálokra, ugyanakkor szakmacsoportok szerinti
prevalenciájáról keveset tudunk. Célkitűzés: A rendvédelem
területén a dohányzás előfordulási gyakoriságának felmérése, valamint a
dohányzási status és a szubjektív egészségi állapot összevetése.
Módszer: Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg Vármegyei
Rendőr-főkapitányság hivatásos állományú tagjai között kvantitatív, papíralapú
felmérés. Keresztmetszeti vizsgálat (N = 1704; átlagéletkor: 39,2 év; SD: 8,12;
nő: 13,7%; férfi: 86,2%). Eredmények: A vármegyében a rendőrök
32,3%-a dohányzik, a férfiak 32,8%-a, míg a nők 29,1%-a. 24,3% már leszokott a
dohányzásról, és 43,4% sohasem dohányzott. A munkarend tekintetében a dohányzás
prevalenciája a váltásos 1. (12/24) munkarendben dolgozók esetében a
legmagasabb: 36,3%. A dohányzók között a hivatali (napi 8 óra) munkarendben
dolgozók aránya a legkisebb: 23,8%. A szubjektív egészségi állapot és a
dohányzási status közötti összefüggés nem szignifikáns, de tendeciózusnak
mondható (Kruskal–Wallis: p = 0,054). A dohányzóknál amellett, hogy jónak
minősítik egészségi állapotukat, az átlagérték alacsonyabb (M: 3,96; SD: 0,61).
Akik soha nem dohányoztak (M: 4,03; SD: 0,60), vagy akik már leszoktak a
dohányzásról (M: 4,04; SD: 0,61), szintén jónak érzik egészségi állapotukat.
Következtetés: A rendvédelemben dolgozók dohányzási
prevalenciája magasabb a magyar népességi adatok viszonylatában és a nemzetközi
rendvédelmi területen történő összehasonlításban. Az egészségfejlesztési
programoknak továbbra is kiemelten kell kezelniük a dohányzás leszoktatását
segítő intervenciókat. Orv Hetil. 2024; 165(15): 584–594.
ScreenGPT – A mesterséges intelligencia alkalmazásának lehetőségei és korlátai a primer, szekunder és tercier prevencióban
Authors: Angyal Viola , Bertalan Ádám , Domján Péter , Dinya Elek
Published: April 2024

Bevezetés: A prevenció és a szűrővizsgálatok manapság egyre
népszerűbbek. A páciensek – tudatosabbá válásuknak köszönhetően – többet
kutatnak az interneten egészségi állapotukkal kapcsolatosan, függetlenül attól,
hogy az mennyire megbízható. A ChatGPT megjelenése forradalmasította az
információszerzést, így elkezdték azt öndiagnózisra és egészségi állapotuk
menedzselésére használni. Annak ellenére, hogy a mesterségesintelligencia-alapú
szolgáltatások nem helyettesíthetik az egészségügyi szakemberekkel történő
konzultációt, kiegészítő szerepet tölthetnek be a hagyományos szűrési eljárások
során, így érdemes megvizsgálni a lehetőségeket és a korlátokat.
Célkitűzés: Kutatásunk legfőbb célkitűzése az volt, hogy
azonosítsuk azokat a területeket, ahol a ChatGPT képes bekapcsolódni a primer,
szekunder és tercier prevenciós folyamatokba. Célunk volt továbbá megalkotni az
olyan mesterségesintelligencia-alapú szolgáltatás koncepcióját, amely segítheti
a pácienseket a prevenció különböző szintjein. Módszer: A
prevenciós területen a ChatGPT által nyújtott lehetőségeket a rendszernek
feltett specifikus kérdésekkel térképeztük fel. Ezen tapasztalatok alapján
létrehoztunk egy webapplikációt, melynek elkészítéséhez a GPT-4 modell szolgált
alapul. A válaszok helyességét strukturált pontos kérdésekkel igyekeztük
javítani. A webapplikáció elkészítéséhez Python programozási nyelvet
használtunk, az alkalmazást pedig a Streamlit keretrendszer felhőszolgáltatásán
keresztül tettük elérhetővé és tesztelhetővé. Eredmények: A
tesztek eredményei alapján több olyan prevenciós területet azonosítottunk, ahol
a ChatGPT-t hatékonyan lehetne alkalmazni. Az eredmények alapján sikeresen
létrehoztuk egy webapplikáció alapjait, amely a ScreenGPT nevet kapta.
Következtetés: Megállapítottuk, hogy a ChatGPT a prevenció
mindhárom szintjén képes hasznos válaszokat adni pontos kérdésekre. Válaszai jól
tükrözik az emberi párbeszédet, ám a ChatGPT nem rendelkezik öntudattal, így
fontos, hogy a felhasználók kritikusan értékeljék a válaszait. A ScreenGPT
szolgáltatást e tapasztalatok alapján sikerült megalkotnunk, számos további
vizsgálatra van azonban szükség, hogy megbizonyosodjunk a megbízhatóságáról. Orv
Hetil. 2024; 165(16): 629–635.
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Opportunities for Black College Athletes: Strategically Facilitating Academic Achievement and Successful Career Transitions
Authors: Jay Coakley  , C. Keith Harrison  , Jean Boyd
Published: April 2024

Omitted in discussions of college athletes’ use of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities is a focus on equity, educational issues, and transition into post-college careers. We frequently hear National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) declarations stating that nearly all college athletes ‘will go pro in something other than sports,’ but little is said about the challenges faced by Black athletes as they deal with coursework and the transition into post-college careers. In this paper, we summarize how the changing contexts of collegiate sports and race relations in higher education have intensified those challenges for Black athletes. We discuss how NIL opportunities can be used by Black athletes to expand identities, create and nurture relationships with mentors from Black-owned businesses, and develop programs in Black communities and organizations that promote social justice and racial equity. We assert that NIL can be combined with Happenstance Learning Theory (HLT) to develop skills for using unanticipated NIL-related opportunities in meeting challenges in courses and the transition into post-college lives. Lessons learned from support programs for Black athletes serve as a basis for recommending that universities fund the formation of a NIL Alliance of Black Athletes on campuses and provide career counselors to guide athletes as they meet people in connection with NIL deals that involve a combination of financial and personal development benefits relevant to education and future careers.
Contemplating A 21st Century View of Title IX’s Application to College Sport
Authors: Ellen Staurowsky
Published: April 2024

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is arguably one of the most consequential pieces of legislation to affect change within college sport. In retrospect, Title IX’s influence on college sport programs and its governing bodies is a lesson in what legislation can achieve in promoting gender equity within an entrenched male hegemonic system and what its legal limitations are in a predominantly white system of college sport. Title IX’s implementing regulations reflect a negotiated settlement between commercial, economic, and state interests invested in men’s sports and some educational leaders leveraging the optics of what the general public would think of colleges and universities engaged in outright gender discrimination (Hextrum & Sethi, 2022; Staurowsky, 2023). The result in the late 1970s was a series of “last stand” protections for men’s sports, contained in such mechanisms as the “contact sports exception”, designed to resist the incursion of women into those all-men’s spaces. Connected to the idea that in the athletic arena, “separate” could be “equal,” the framework of a gender binary was embedded in the regulations (Staurowsky et al., 2022). This paper explores the limits of Title IX’s liberal feminist conception of equality through Title IX’s impact on the college sport system and compliance; Title IX’s embrace of “separate but equal” and fears regarding strong women; the insulation of men’s sports from women through the contact sports exemption; Title IX, race and intersectionality in college sport; the manipulation of Title IX by the NCAA and the case of NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament in 2021; and the NCAA’s pretense of leadership regarding gender equity and gender discrimination.
Bridging the Gap in Elderly Care in Old Age Homes: An Automated Lighting and Handrail Solution
Authors:   Department of Automation And Robotics, KLE technological university, Hubballi., Nagur Shradha , Kalkeri Muskan D ,   Department of Automation And Robotics, KLE technological university, Hubballi., N Kedareshwaragouda ,   Department of Automation And Robotics, KLE technological university, Hubballi., D Varun Sagar ,   Department of Biotechnology, KLE technological university, Hubballi., Amashi Radhika ,   Center for Engineering Education Research, KLE technological university, Hubballi., M Vijayalakshmi ,   School of Computer Science and Engineering, KLE technological university, Hubballi.
Published: April 2024

An old age home offers a place to live for the elderlyand those in need who have either been abandoned by their families or require nursing care. They encounter numerous issues in old age homes because of inadequate funding, a lack of infrastructure, mental illness, a lack of emotional engagement between the elderly, a lack of societal support, etc. However, lacking adequate infrastructure amenities might result in numerous illnesses and accidents. Consequently, their independence and standard of living at home are limited. Building an automatic lighting system with handrails as part of our firstyear course "Design Thinking For Social Innovation", allowed us to construct a modest prototype for a proper and simple lighting system to address this issue. We used the user-centered Design Thinking process to design this project, starting with accurate data collection and ending with developing a creative solution. This prototype has railings connected to infrared sensors, and numerous nearby ultrasonic sensors that can identify people and turn on the lights for any specified time when they are detected. The findings of this study show that the stakeholders' input on the solution was generally positive, and they even suggested several significant changes. Although this concept was not really implemented, it would be beneficial if it were in the future with more adjustments. Keywords—Accidents; Design thinking; Handrails; Infrastructure; Lighting system; Old age home.
Quality Practices and Accreditation in Higher Education Institutions: A Roadmap for Excellence in Engineering Education
Authors:   Professor of CSE, Hyderabad Institute of Technology and Management, Hyderabad, Siddapuram Dr. Arvind , SV Dr. Devika ,   Professor of ECE, HITAM, Hyderabad Institute of Technology and Management, Hyderabad, Bonkuri Mr. Abhinesh ,   Executive Assistant, Hyderabad Institute of Technology and Management, Hyderabad
Published: April 2024

In the current scenario of educational system, there is an increasing demand for higher education in India. Particularly, there is exponential growth and competition visible among Engineering Institutions in coming days. To stand out, it is very important for undergraduate educational institutions to maintain high-quality standards. Accreditations like NAAC and NBA has emerged as potential tool for assuring the quality of educational institutions in India. Stakeholders started believing in these scores to judge the performance of the Institutions. Hence, it is mandatory for Higher Educational Institutions to maintain the high-quality standards will not only help in getting accreditation but also helps in the growth of the Institution. This paper presents the quality practices to be followed by the educational institutions to achieve maximum accreditation scores. A new mantra which has 10 key points are proposed in this paper which will help the higher educational institutions to follow it as a road map for achieving excellence in Engineering Education. Keywords— Quality practices; Accreditations; Engineering Education; Quality standards; Higher Education.