bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health-related quality of life in Indian children
Authors: Raj Manu , Sudhakar Abish , Roy Rinku , Champaneri Bhavik , Joy Teena Mary , Kumar Raman Krishna 
Published: December 2024

Background & objectives:
There are limited data on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) related to Indian children. The objective of this study was to construct a generic HRQOL reference for children aged 2-18 yr from a community setting.

Methods:
The study was a community-based cross-sectional survey. A total of 719 children/adolescents in the age group of 2-18 yr were enrolled using stratified random cluster sampling. A total of 40 clusters (cluster size 18) were selected for the study. The data contained child self-report and parent proxy report from healthy children and their parents/caretakers. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL4.0) Generic Core Scale was used to collect HRQOL data. Questionnaires were self-administered for parents and children aged 8-18 yr. In the age group of five to seven years, parents assisted the children in filling questionnaires.

Results:
The mean HRQOL total scores from child self-report and parent proxy report were 87.50±11.10 and 90.10±9.50 respectively, for children aged 2-18 yr. Social functioning had the highest scores and emotional functioning had the lowest scores for the entire sample and subgroups. The mean values for HRQOL in the current study were significantly different from the reference study for both child (87.39 vs. 83.91, P<0.001) and parent proxy reports (90.03 vs. 82.29, P<0.001) when compared between children aged 2-16 yr.

Interpretation & conclusions:
The study provided reference values for HRQOL in healthy children and adolescents from Kerala, India, that appeared to be different from existing international reference. Similar studies need to be done in different parts of India to generate a country-specific HRQOL reference for Indian children.
Construction & establishment of two minigenome rescue systems for Chandipura virus driven by recombinant vaccinia virus expressing T7 polymerase
Authors: Chakraborty Prasenjit 
Published: December 2024

Background & objectives:
Chandipura virus (CHPV) is an emerging pathogenic rhabdovirus with a high case fatality rate. There are no reports of a minigenome system for CHPV, which could help its study without having to use the infectious agent. This study was, therefore, undertaken for the establishment of T7 polymerase-driven minigenome system for CHPV.

Methods:
The minigenome rescue system for CHPV consists of three helper plasmids expressing the nucleocapsid protein (N), phosphoprotein (P) and large protein (L) based on a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing bacteriophage T7 polymerase (vTF7-3). The minigenome construct is composed of a reporter gene, flanked by the non-coding regions of CHPV. Two minigenomes were constructed in an antigenome or complimentary sense, expressing luciferase or green fluorescent protein (GFP). The minigenome system was evaluated by co-transfection of the minigenome construct and three helper plasmids into CV-1 cells and analysis of the reporter gene activity.

Results:
All the helper proteins were expressed from the helper plasmids confirmed by Western blotting. Expression of reporter genes was observed from both the GFP and luciferase-based minigenomes. Green fluorescence could be visualized directly in live CV-1 cells. Luciferase activity was found to be significantly different from control.

Interpretation & conclusions:
The results showed that the helper plasmids provided all the necessary viral structural proteins required for the production of minigenome mRNA template, which in turn could rescue the expression of reporter genes. Thus, these minigenomes can be applied to mimic the manifestation of CHPV life cycle.
Multiplex polymerase chain reaction of genetic markers for detection of potentially pathogenic environmental Legionella pneumophila isolates
Authors: Valavane Arvind , Chaudhry Rama , Malhotra Pawan 
Published: December 2024

Background & objectives:
Genomic constitution of the bacterium Legionella pneumophila plays an important role in providing them a pathogenic potential. Here, we report the standardization and application of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of molecular markers of pathogenic potential in L. pneumophila in hospital environment.

Methods:
Culture of the standard strains of L. pneumophila was performed in buffered charcoal-yeast extract agar with L-cysteine at pH 6.9. Primers were designed for multiplex PCR, and standardization for the detection of five markers annotated to L. pneumophila plasmid pLPP (11A2), lipopolysaccharide synthesis (19H4), CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase (10B12), conjugative coupling factor (24B1) and hypothetical protein (8D6) was done. A total of 195 water samples and 200 swabs were collected from the hospital environment. The bacterium was isolated from the hospital environment by culture and confirmed by 16S rRNA gene PCR and restriction enzyme analysis. A total of 45 L. pneumophila isolates were studied using the standardized multiplex PCR.

Results:
The PCR was sensitive to detect 0.1 ng/μl DNA and specific for the two standard strains used in the study. Of the 45 hospital isolates tested, 11 isolates had four markers, 12 isolates had three markers, 10 isolates had two markers, nine isolates had one marker and three isolates had none of the markers. None of the isolates had all the five markers.

Interpretation & conclusions:
The findings of this study showed the presence of gene markers of pathogenic potential of the bacterium L. pneumophila. However, the genomic constitution of the environmental isolates should be correlated with clinical isolates to prove their pathogenic potential. Rapid diagnostic methods such as multiplex PCR reported here, for elucidating gene markers, could help in future epidemiological studies of bacterium L. pneumophila.
Effects of polysaccharide fractions isolated from Caltha palustris L. on the activity of phagocytic cells & humoral immune response in mice with collagen-induced arthritis
Authors: Suszko Agnieszka , Obmińska-Mrukowicz Bożena 
Published: December 2024

Background & objectives:
The extracts from Caltha palustris L. have been shown to be beneficial for treating arthritis and rheumatism. In this study, the immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharide fractions B and C of C. palustris extracts were studied, using the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse arthritis experimental model. The aim was to determine the activity of blood phagocytic cells and humoral immune response in CIA mice treated with polysaccharide fractions from C. palustris.

Methods:
The effects of fractions B and C of C. palustris were explored by evaluating phagocytic activity of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes and humoral immune response in sheep red blood cell (SRBC)-immunized mice. The results were compared with methotrexate (MTX) treatment. Following the onset of CIA, DBA/1J mice were treated for 21 days with B or C fractions (10 mg/kg; i.p.) or MTX (every 48 h, 6.6 mg/kg; i.p.).

Results:
The results showed that fraction B reduced the level of interleukin (IL)-1β, boosted nitric oxide synthesis in murine peritoneal macrophages stimulated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide and enhanced the monocyte phagocytic activity. Exposure of SRBC-immunized mice to fraction B and MTX during the course of CIA resulted in decreased total anti-SRBC haemagglutinin titres.

Interpretation & conclusions:
Fraction B of C. palustris polysaccharides modulated macrophage function and exerted beneficial effects on the clinical course of CIA in mice. The results also suggested efficacy of fraction B was comparable to that of MTX treatment for certain parameters.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase A1298C genetic variant & risk of schizophrenia
Authors: Rai Vandana , Yadav Upendra , Kumar Pradeep , Yadav Sushil K. , Gupta Sanjay 
Published: December 2024

Background & objectives:
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an important enzyme of folate metabolism, whose role in schizophrenia is debatable. Numerous case-control studies have investigated the association of MTHFR A1298C polymorphism with schizophrenia, but results are controversial. The aim of the present study was to find the association between MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism and schizophrenia.

Methods:
PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Springer link databases were searched for case-control association studies in which MTHFR A1298C polymorphism was investigated as a risk factor for schizophrenia. In all, 19 studies with 4049 cases and 5488 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95 per cent confidence intervals (CIs) were used as an association measure.

Results:
The results of meta-analysis reported a significant association between A1298C polymorphism and schizophrenia risk in overall comparisons in all genetic models (C vs. A: OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.01-1.27, P=0.02; CC vs. AA: OR=1.20, 95% CI=1.03-1.39, P=0.02; AC vs. AA: OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.03-1.23, P=0.009; AC+CC vs. AA: OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.02-1.24, P=0.002; CC vs. AA+AC: OR=1.17, 95% CI=1.01-1.35, P=0.04).

Interpretation & conclusions:

MTHFR A1298C polymorphism was found to be a risk factor for schizophrenia and might have played a significant role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
Perioperative antimicrobial therapy in preventing infectious complications following pancreatoduodenectomy
Authors: Barreto Savio George , Singh Amanjeet , Perwaiz Azhar , Singh Tanveer , Singh Manish Kumar , Sharma Sunil , Chaudhary Adarsh 
Published: December 2024

Background & objectives:
Infectious complications have been reported to occur in up to 45 per cent of patients, following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). The incidence of perioperative infectious and overall complications is higher in patients undergoing preoperative invasive endoscopic procedures. The aim of the study was to compare the role of a carbapenem administered as three-once daily perioperative doses on infectious complications in patients at high risk for these complications versus those at low risk.

Methods:
A retrospective study with some secondary data collected from records was carried out on the data from a prospectively maintained surgical database of patients undergoing PD for pancreatic and periampullary lesions at a tertiary referral care centre, between June 2011 and May 2013. Patients were divided into two groups for comparison based on whether they underwent at least one preoperative endoscopic interventional procedure before PD (high-risk - intervention and low-risk - no intervention). All patients were administered three-once daily doses of ertapenem (1 g).

Results:
A total of 135 patients in two groups were comparable in terms of demographic and nutritional, surgical and histopathological factors. No significant difference between the two groups in terms of the overall morbidity (38.7 vs 35.7%), infectious complications (9.7 vs 4.8%), mortality (2.2 vs 2.4%) and mean post-operative hospital stay (9.2 vs 8.9 days) was observed.

Interpretation & conclusions:
Perioperative three-day course of once-daily administered ertapenem resulted in a non-significant difference in infectious and overall complications in high-risk patients undergoing PD as compared to the low-risk group.
Panel Great Saphenous Vein Reconstruction in Emergency: A Case Report and Literature Review of Traumatic Venous Injuries
Authors: Pandian Adharsh Kumar Maruthu , Balaji S K , Sharmila D N , Robinson C Saravanan , Christo Roy , Raj Poorna , Manojh  , Yadav Krishna Prasad 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Vascular injury of the lower limbs is considered one of the common vascular traumas in our locality. Management of vascular extremity trauma remains challenging and has no fixed algorithms of management. A young male presented to us with bull gore traumatic injury to the femoral vein. We repaired the injury with panel great saphenous vein (GSV) graft in the emergency setting. Ligation or repair (venorrhaphy/interposition) of venous injury in traumas has always been a controversy. Herein, we discuss briefly the available literature on venous injuries and why we preferred panel over spiral GSV graft repair.
One-year Impact of Clinical and Echocardiographic Parameters in Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infection after Transvenous Extraction
Authors: Weisz Sara Hana , Sordelli Chiara , Fele Nunzia , Guarino Angela , Verde Raffaele , Zucchelli Giulio , Severino Corrado , Attanasio Vittorio , De Vivo Stefano , Tascini Carlo , Severino Sergio 
Published: December 2024

Introduction:
Cardiac implantable electronic device infection (CIEDi) represents a serious complication with a poor prognosis. Many studies have underlined the importance of comorbidities on prognosis, but less is known about the impact of echocardiographic parameters. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of patients hospitalized for CIEDi submitted to transvenous extraction and their impact on 1-year follow-up.

Materials and Methods:
This is a retrospective cohort study that evaluated patients hospitalized for CIEDi in 2019 in two high-volume centers (Cotugno Hospital of Napoli and University Hospital of Pisa).

Results:
Sixty-eight patients (72 ± 12 years, 24% females) were included. Isolated pocket infection was present in 30 patients (44%), whereas systemic infection in 38 (56%). In 24 patients (35%), it was possible to identify responsible germ, with a higher prevalence of Staphylococcus epidermidis (24%) and Staphylococcus aureus (16%). The mean ejection fraction (EF) was 45 ± 14%, 44% of patients had one vegetation (11.0 ± 8.0 mm), and 19% had multiple. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) failed to identify vegetation in 16 patients, whereas transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was diagnostic. All patients underwent transvenous extraction of infected devices. After the procedure, echocardiographic ghosts were found in six patients (9%). At 1-year follow-up, all-cause mortality was 16%, mortality for cardiovascular cause was 12%, and no reinfection was recorded. Patients with EF ≤40% showed a significantly higher incidence of all-cause mortality (32% vs. 5%, P = 0.003) and mortality for cardiovascular causes (25% vs. 3%, P = 0.005). At adjusted Cox regression model, reduced EF ≤40% (adjusted hazard ratio [AdjHR] = 9.887, confidence interval [CI] =1.782–54.863; P = 0.009) and diabetes (AdjHR = 5.687, CI = 1.243–26.011; P = 0.025) were strong independent predictors of all-cause mortality. Moreover, reduced EF ≤40% (AdjHR = 17.382, CI = 1.379–219.037; P = 0.027), the presence of ghost (AdjHR = 14.584, CI = 1.465–145.197; P = 0.022), and diabetes (AdjHR = 11.334, CI = 1.506–85.315; P = 0.018) were strong independent predictors of mortality for cardiovascular cause.

Conclusions:
Echocardiography (TTE and TEE) is a fundamental tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of CIEDi. In our population, diabetes mellitus and echocardiographic-derived parameters as reduced EF ≤40% and the presence of ghosts were strongly associated with 1-year mortality.
Federal democracy: the very idea
Authors: Tierney Stephen 
Published: December 2024

This commentary reflects upon federalism as a distinct category of constitutionalism, one that has often been misconstrued by those who view the federal idea either through a moral-normative lens or with a fixed conception of institutional determinism. Construing federalism through the modern turn in constitutionalism is essential both to locate it within contemporary constitutional thinking and to draw out its distinctiveness, liberating the idea from contested moral precepts and from misleading and ultimately circular conceptions of federal design. In doing so, the commentary reflects upon Cheryl Saunders’ contribution to federal studies and in particular to the relationship between federalism and democracy.
The commentary also seeks to demonstrate that the connection between federalism and democracy need not be addressed as a normative aspiration, but is in fact axiomatic within the federal idea itself. It does so, however, by arguing that federal democracy takes on its own character and that key to understanding this is to recognise the distinctive constitutional subjecthood which characterises any federal constitution. To this end federalism, and the model of democracy that attends it, must be understood primarily through the register of constitutional, rather than political, theory.
Heterodoxia económica, pluralismo y paridad epistémica
Authors: Laera Rodrigo 
Published: December 2024

El objetivo del presente trabajo consiste en identificar la relación entre el pluralismo metodológico y la economía heterodoxa junto con dos derivas: el imperialismo inverso y el debate entre pares epistémicos. En el primer apartado se expondrá cuatro variedades elementales del pluralismo económico. Seguidamente, se expondrá la similitud y diferencia entre la economía heterodoxa y la corriente principal. En el tercer apartado se indagará a favor del vínculo entre pluralismo y el imperialismo inverso; mientras que el último abarcará la idea de que un debate honesto entre posiciones conciliadores de pares epistémico como sería beneficioso tanto para la economía heterodoxa como para la corriente dominante.
PENDAMPINGAN PENGGUNAAN BRANDING UNTUK SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING BAGI PELAKU UMKM KOTA PATI
Authors: Setiadi Teguh , Wibawa Eka Satria , Sudirman Bagus , Wijayanti Aris 
Published: December 2024

Business actors who fall under the criteria for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from Langse Margorejo Pati Village still do not have clear branding and digital marketing due to various obstacles in promoting to online media. Even though this business has had a good impact on the surrounding environment. Having a logo that is still considered outdated and less attractive is also a major factor that prevents this business from growing rapidly. Surveys, interviews, discussions and implementation are used in this community service activity. The results of this activity are the creation of an attractive new logo, new packaging and the creation of social media accounts as well as assistance with branding and digital marketing, providing outreach materials so that small and medium business actors in Langse Margorejo Pati Village have a new understanding of this MSME digital promotion because they have been able to apply it. Online promotion with social media is a necessity. Keywords: Social Media, MSMEs, Branding, Digital Marketing
PENGEMBANGAN STRATEGI PEMASARAN PADA USAHA TUMPI ALMEERA DI DESA BAGAN KECAMATAN LASEM
Authors: Lukiarti Ming Ming , Nikmah Nur Laili Jaziratun , Putri Rizka Oktavia Yunia , Ilhami Susanti Dwi 
Published: December 2024

Kegiatan pengabdian pada masyarakat bertujuan untuk membantu mengembangkan usaha menengah (UMKM) Tumpi “Almeera”. Permasalahan yang dialami mitra yaitu: Permasalahan yang dihadapi oleh UMKM Tumpi “Almeera” diantaranya adalah: tidak memiliki papan nama sehingga membuat produk kurang dikenal oleh masyarakat luas, kurang optimal dari segi packaging dan kurangnya pengetahuan dalam strategi pemasaran online. Solusi yang disepekati antara mitra dan pelaksana pengabdian pada masyarakat ini yaitu: (1) Pembuatan papan nama atau banner (2) Pembuatan stiker kemasan, (3) Pembuatan akun Facebook, (4) pembuatan google maps, (5) Pembuatkan kemasan baru. Hasil dari kegiatan pengabdian pada masyarakat yang telah dilaksanakan adalah pembuatan banner yang bertujuan agar masyarakat mengetahui adanya produk Tumpi “Almeera” serta media promosi supaya lebih dikenal masyarakat dan dapat meningkatkan penjualan. Pembuatan stiker kemasan produk bertujuan untuk membuat kemasan produk lebih menarik. Google maps yang memudahkan konsumen atau pelanggan untuk menuju tempat usaha. Pembuatan Akun Facebook bertujuan agar produk tidak hanya dikenal masyarakat sekitar tetapi juga masyarakat yang berada di luar desa. Pembuatan kemasan baru bertujuan untuk menambah variasi ukuran pengemasan pada pemasaran Tumpi “Almeria”.
Ready, Set & Go! An anticipatory action system against droughts
Authors: Guimarães Nobre Gabriela , Towner Jamie , Nhantumbo Bernardino , João da Conceição Marcos Matuele Célio , Raiva Isaias , Pasqui Massimiliano , Quaresima Sara , Lemos Pereira Bonifácio Rogério Manuel 
Published: December 2024

Abstract. The World Food Programme, in collaboration with the Mozambique National Meteorology Institute, is partnering with several governmental and non-governmental organizations to establish an advanced early warning system for droughts in pilot districts across Mozambique. The “Ready, Set &amp; Go!” system is operational in Mozambique for activating anticipatory action (AA) against droughts based on predefined thresholds, triggers and pre-allocated financing. The system uses bias-corrected and downscaled seasonal forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) as core information to anticipate severe reductions in rainfall during the rainy season. This information guides the implementation of actions to reduce the impacts of rainfall deficits in the critical window between a forecast and the onset of the drought event. Within this window of opportunity, the system releases an alert for readiness (Ready) and activation (Set) preceding the mobilization of anticipatory action on the ground (Go). With the recent adoption of the Southern African Development Community “Maputo Declaration on Bridging the Gap between Early Warning and Early Action”, member states have committed to enhancing the reach of early warning system by leaving no one behind. Therefore, there is a need to assess the opportunities and limitations of the Ready, Set &amp; Go! system to scale up drought AA information to all districts in Mozambique. This study describes the Ready, Set &amp; Go! system, which uses ensemble forecasts of the Standardized Precipitation Index to trigger anticipatory action against droughts on a seasonal timescale. The Ready, Set &amp; Go! optimizes the use of seasonal forecast information by choosing triggers for anticipatory action based on verification statistics and on a double-confirmation process, which combines longer lead times with shorter lead time forecasts for issuing drought alerts. In this study, we show the strengths of the system by benchmarking it against three simpler triggering approaches. Our findings indicate that the Ready, Set &amp; Go! system has significant potential to scale up AA activities against severe droughts throughout the entire rainy season, covering on average 76 % of the Mozambican districts. This approach outperforms the three benchmarked methods, demonstrating higher hit rates, extended lead times and a lower false alarm. If efforts are concentrated on the first part of the rainy season, national coverage against severe droughts could be expanded to 87 % of all districts. By aligning with the objectives outlined in the “Maputo Declaration” and the “Early Warning for All” initiative, this research contributes to safeguarding communities against the adverse impacts of climate-related events, aligning with the ambitious goal of universal protection by 2027.