bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Pre-operative Parenteral Testosterone on Penile Dimensions and Vascularity in Proximal Hypospadias: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Ali Md Mokarram 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Introduction:
Severe or proximal hypospadias is associated with inadequate local tissue and small phallus size. Pre-operative androgens have been used to increase phallus size, but there are very few studies on its role in proximal hypospadias. This study aimed to assess the effects of pre-operative intramuscular (IM) testosterone on proximal penile hypospadias in terms of penile morphology and tissue characteristics of penile skin.

Materials and Methods:
This prospective observational study was conducted on 27 patients of proximal hypospadias over a period from June 2017 to July 2018. The patients were sequentially enrolled into two groups: Group A and Group B. Group A patients received IM testosterone before surgery, whereas Group B patients were operated without pre-operative testosterone. Outcomes were analysed in terms of change in penile dimensions and effect on vascularity of penile skin.

Results:
Pre-operative IM testosterone in Group A caused a significant increase in stretched penile length from a mean of 3.058 cm (±0.691) to 3.9 cm (±0.875) (P = 0.002), penile circumference from a mean of 4.142 cm (±0.772) to 4.667 cm (±1.174) (P = 0.029) and glans width from a mean of 1.225 cm (±0.245) to 1.750 cm (±0.571) (P = 0.002). There was higher microvessel density in the preputial skin of Group A (mean: 12.212 [±4.745] blood vessels/high-power field [HPF]) compared to Group B (8.867 [±3.258] blood vessels/HPF) (P = 0.043).

Conclusion:
Pre-operative testosterone in proximal hypospadias causes significant changes in penile dimensions and tissue characteristics. Improvement in penile dimensions leads to ease in operability and better tissue handling. However, more studies with large sample size are required to establish the beneficial effects of pre-operative hormone stimulation on urethroplasty.
Post-operative Pain Control: A Comparison between Bupivacaine and Tramadol Local Wound Infiltration in Children Undergoing Herniotomy and Orchidopexy
Authors: Aisien Efosa , Chibuzom Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi , Osifo David Osarumwense , Evbuomwan Iyekeoretin 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background:
Post-operative pain control improves patient’s satisfaction and affects the period of admission. Local wound infiltration following hernia surgery using xylocaine or bupivacaine has been a common practice. The use of tramadol for such infiltration is relatively new and has not been studied in our environment. This study compared the efficacy of post-operative pain control between Bupivacaine and Tramadol wound infiltration in children who underwent herniotomy and orchidopexy.

Materials and Methods:
This was a prospective randomised study involving 104 patients. A simple random method was used to allocate the study group into two equal groups (A, n = 52 and B, n = 52) using sealed envelopes with contents labelled A or B. Pre- and post-operative respiratory rate, heart rate, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were all recorded. Time to first and subsequent analgesia was determined using face, legs, activity, cry, consolability (FLACC) pain score.

Results:
Fifteen patients in Group A and 18 patients in Group B received each two doses of supplemental analgesia within the first 24 h, (P = 0.527). Time to first analgesia was significantly different between the two groups, (6.93 ± 0.80 h and 6.11 ± 1.08 h, P = 0.020). The mean FLACC pain score at the time of first analgesia in hours was 4.93 ± 0.59 and 4.72 ± 0.67 for Group A and B, respectively, P = 0.350. The changes in CRP were not different in the two groups, (P = 0.665). Four patients in Group A, but none in Group B had an episode each of post-operative vomiting.

Conclusion:
Tramadol showed comparable efficacy with bupivacaine in post-operative pain control by wound infiltration in children who had unilateral herniotomy or orchidopexy. Tramadol, however, achieves a longer duration of action before rescue analgesic is required. Caution is necessary to avoid post-operative vomiting.
Effects of adjuvant yoga therapy on craving and perceived stress in alcohol dependence syndrome: A randomized control study
Authors: Rajasekaran Balaji , Ramanathan Meena , Bhavanani Ananda Balayogi , Karri Rama Reddy 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Introduction:
Alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) is a global health concern that causes a significant disease burden, with harmful alcohol use responsible for 2.5 million deaths annually. Stress is a known trigger for alcohol relapse, and effective management of stress can improve treatment outcomes in individuals with ADS.

Materials and Methods:
This randomized control study evaluated the effects of adjuvant yoga therapy on craving and perceived stress in 80 individuals with ADS undergoing deaddiction treatment. The yoga group received yoga therapy three times a week for 2 months in addition to medical management, while the control group received standard medical treatment. The Alcohol Craving Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale were administered before and after the study period.

Results:
The yoga group had significantly lower levels of alcohol craving (P < 0.001) and perceived stress (P < 0.001) as compared to the control group. Changes in those receiving additional yoga were more pronounced, and the intergroup differences were highly significant. Yoga induces a sense of self-discipline and relaxation, which may have contributed to these positive changes.

Conclusion:
Yoga therapy may be a valuable adjunct to deaddiction therapy for individuals with ADS, offering a cost-effective and safe nonpharmacological modality to reduce craving and perceived stress. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of yoga therapy on alcohol craving and stress in individuals with ADS.
Human Urinary Metabolomics as Biomarkers in Tobacco Users: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sharma Somya , Rai Shalu , Misra Deepankar , Misra Akansha , Sharma Shalini , Sharma Anusuya , Prayasi Manish Singh 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Aim:
Urine as a biofluid has been rarely used as a diagnostic fluid in oral diseases. The article aims to systematically review the utility of human urinary carcinogen metabolites as an approach for obtaining important information about tobacco and cancer.

Materials and Methods:
The following article reviews the use of urine and its metabolites as biomarkers in various lesions of the oral cavity including oral squamous cell carcinoma and as a screening method in evaluating tobacco and its components. A bibliographic comprehensive search was carried out in the main databases: PUBMED, SciELO, Google Scholar, VHL, and LILACS for articles that were published from 1985 to 2020. The inclusion criteria were “urinary metabolites,” “oral cancer/HNSCC,” “body fluids,” “tobacco,” and “metabolomics.” A total of 55 articles were collected which included laboratory studies, systematic reviews, and literature of urinary metabolites in tobacco users.

Results:
Most of the studies carried out show accurate results with high sensitivity of urinary metabolite biomarkers in individuals with tobacco-based habits and lesions caused by them.

Conclusion:
The review indicates that urinary metabolite analysis demonstrates its applicability for the diagnosis and prognosis of disease. Urine is a remarkable and useful biofluid for routine testing and provides an excellent resource for the discovery of novel biomarkers, with an advantage over tissue biopsy samples due to the ease and less invasive nature of collection.
Anomaly‐based Alzheimer's disease detection using entropy‐based probability Positron Emission Tomography images
Authors: Baydargil Husnu Baris , Park Jangsik , Ince Ibrahim Furkan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDeep neural networks trained on labeled medical data face major challenges owing to the economic costs of data acquisition through expensive medical imaging devices, expert labor for data annotation, and large datasets to achieve optimal model performance. The heterogeneity of diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, further complicates deep learning because the test cases may substantially differ from the training data, possibly increasing the rate of false positives. We propose a reconstruction‐based self‐supervised anomaly detection model to overcome these challenges. It has a dual‐subnetwork encoder that enhances feature encoding augmented by skip connections to the decoder for improving the gradient flow. The novel encoder captures local and global features to improve image reconstruction. In addition, we introduce an entropy‐based image conversion method. Extensive evaluations show that the proposed model outperforms benchmark models in anomaly detection and classification using an encoder. The supervised and unsupervised models show improved performances when trained with data preprocessed using the proposed image conversion method.
Enhancing spectral efficiency with low complexity filtered‐orthogonal frequency division multiplexing in visible light communication system
Authors: Hujijo Hayder S. R. , Ilyas Muhammad 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe filtered‐orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (F‐OFDM) scheme has gained attention as a promising solution in the field of visible light communication (VLC) systems. One crucial aspect in VLC is the conversion of the complex F‐OFDM signal into a real signal that corresponds with direct detection and intensity modulation. Traditionally, achieving a real F‐OFDM signal has involved imposing Hermitian symmetry (HS) on the samples of the Inverse Fast Fourier transform (IFFT), which requires 2N‐point IFFT and obtains an N‐point FFT, thus adding complexity. In this study, a novel approach is presented and implemented, aiming to enhance spectral efficiency and reduce system complexity by generating a real F‐OFDM signal without relying on HS. This approach is then compared with HS‐free (HSF)‐OFDM, direct current biased optical OFDM, and asymmetrically clipped optical OFDM. The suggested method offers a remarkable improvement of ~50% in the required IFFT/FFT volume. Consequently, this method reduces hardware complexity and power usage compared with the traditional F‐OFDM method. Moreover, regarding error rates, the proposed method demonstrates better spectral efficiency than HSF‐OFDM.
Performance analysis of transmit antenna selection and maximum‐ratio combining in overlay networks powered by harvested energy
Authors: Ho‐Van Khuong 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe aim to improve both the energy harvesting efficiency and communication reliability of overlay networks powered by harvested energy. To this end, multiple antennas are considered to collect energy efficiently and perform reliable decoding by selecting the transmitting antenna and applying maximum‐ratio combining. To further improve communication reliability, nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA)‐relied decoding is applied to the secondary receiver. For performance evaluation, exact formulas for the secondary/primary outage probability are derived in a closed form. The evaluation results show that the proposed method substantially outperforms a baseline without the NOMA‐relied decoding in all the system settings. The performance of the proposed method is determined by multiple specifications and optimized by allocating the times for energy harvesting and information processing.
Misconceptions in Biology Education: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Konu Kadirhanogullari Meryem , Ozay Kose Esra 
Published: March 2024

It is of great importance to examine and organize the misconceptions researches in biology education at regular intervals and to determine the trends. The aim of this study is to examine the studies on misconceptions in biology education in terms of different variables. Bibliometric network analysis method was used in the research. Here, firstly, reports on misconceptions in biology education were obtained by using “biology and misconception” in the “Social Sciences” category from SCOPUS. Accordingly, 410 publications was recorded. The documents were exported to CSV form and in turn subjected to the bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer Software. According to the results obtained, it was determined that the most studies were carried out in 2013. It showed that the most frequently used keywords in articles were “evolution” and other related words. Looking at the most frequently used terms, the terms "respiration" and “photosynthesis” are respectively according to their high relevance scores. In conclusion, we must state that misconception studies on the subjects that students have the most difficulty with in biology have remained up-to-date for many years.
EVALUASI PROGRAM EXTRAKURIKULER BACA TULIS AL QUR’AN DI SD NEGERI BALOWERTI 2 KOTA KEDIRI
Authors: Nurul Islami Yuliana , Mar’atus Binti , Amalia Fitri , Solikah Alfiatu , Arman Maulana Muhammad 
Published: March 2024

Penelitian evaluasi ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi program ekstrakurikuler baca Al-Qur’an di SDN Balowerti 2 Kelurahan Kediri dengan menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif. Sumber data yang digunakan adalah observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi, dengan teknik analisis data meliputi reduksi, presentasi, verifikasi, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa aspek context dinilai baik karena program sudah sesuai dengan kebutuhan di SDN Balowerti 2 Kelurahan Kediri dan mendapat dukungan sumber daya yang memadai. Aspek input juga dinilai baik karena program telah memenuhi kriteria yang ditetapkan, seperti kompetensi pembina program, tersedianya sarana dan prasarana, serta jumlah siswa yang mengikuti program. Namun, aspek process dinilai cukup baik karena masih terdapat hambatan, terutama dalam hal kedisiplinan siswa. Sementara itu, aspek product dinilai kurang baik karena tujuan program belum tercapai secara maksimal, terlihat dari jumlah siswa yang berhasil membaca Al-Quran yang masih rendah dibandingkan dengan jumlah peserta program. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan perbaikan dalam pelaksanaan program untuk mencapai tujuan yang diinginkan.
Kata kunci: Evaluasi, Program, Ekstrakurikuler ,Baca Tulis Al-Qur’an
THE IMPACT OF TEACHER’S WRITTEN CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK ON EFL STUDENTS’ PARAGRAPH WRITING PERFORMANCE
Authors: Nhan Lam Ky 
Published: March 2024

Written Corrective Feedback (CF) is a contentious issue among L2 theorists and researchers. The current study intends to investigate the impact of written corrective feedback from teachers on the writing achievements of Vietnamese EFL university students. The current study’s sample included 60 students chosen at random from Nam Can Tho University’s Department of English. The students were split into two groups: experimental (n=30) and control (n=30). Data for comparable groups were collected over a 10-week period using a pre-/posttest method. The results showed that the students in the experiment group performed better on the measure than the students in the control group, demonstrating that the teacher’s written CF had a substantial beneficial influence on participants’ writing abilities. The study finishes with a discussion of the findings’ limits and implications, as well as recommendations for further research.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0080/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>
CLUSTER AND CAREERS: EXPLORING SALARY STRUCTURES AND FACULTY RECRUITMENT IN ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Authors: Montaño Vicente E. , Sobrejuanite Glenndon C. 
Published: March 2024

This research explores the dynamic of faculty recruitment challenges within academic sectors through the lens of human capital theory, social cognitive theory, and expectancy theory. Utilizing the k-Means Cluster Algorithm to delineate the distribution of programs and associated salary ranges, the study examines the implications for attracting faculty graduates. The findings reveal a concentration of programs in Cluster 0, reflecting serious difficulties in faculty recruitment attributed to lower salary offerings. Drawing on Human Capital principles, the research recommends a comprehensive review of salary structures, strategic communication efforts, collaborative benchmarking, professional development initiatives, and program diversification to enhance faculty recruitment strategies. This study contributes valuable insights to the discourse on optimizing faculty recruitment in academic sectors, presenting practical recommendations for aligning programs with evolving industry needs.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0514/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>
THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT OF A FAR-FLUNG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL: STAKEHOLDERS’ PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Alcontin Phoebe Christina S. , Concepcion Khristine Marie D. 
Published: March 2024

This study explored the learning environment of a rural public national high school in the Municipality of Don Marcelino, Province of Davao Occidental using a qualitative phenomenological research design. Forty (40) purposively selected participants from the different stakeholders like the students, teachers, parents, and members of the Local Government Unit, and only one (1) participant for the school head underwent an In-Depth Interview and Focused Group Discussion using a semi-structured interview guide/protocol. Data collected were analyzed with the data reduction approach, Thematic Analysis, and Patton's directions. Results revealed the following emergent themes on the learning environment of a far-flung school: Improving school setting amenable to learning; Inadequate proficient teaching force; Insufficient instructional technology; Deficient classroom facilities; and distinctly average academic outcomes. More so, stakeholders addressed challenges through Self-motivation and academic resourcefulness; Aiming high with Faith in the Divine; creating a positive learning atmosphere through Homerooms and Home Visits; Using best pedagogies to motivate learners; Collaborating with stakeholders and getting parents involved; and Coordinating school, community, and LGU. Shared insights of the stakeholders were: Addressed the pandemic challenges; Showed academic value despite modular learning difficulty; Improved teachers' proficiency and classroom scaffolding; Kept learning support mechanism; Sustained parents' support for learners; and Unified medium of instruction. The implications of the study were presented.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu/0758/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>
ASSESSMENT OF GUIDANCE SERVICES IMPLEMENTED BY SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN GENERAL SANTOS CITY, PHILIPPINES: BASIS FOR INTERVENTION PROGRAM
Authors: Dionaldo Miraflor J. , Espinosa Francisco M. 
Published: March 2024

This study assessed the implementation of guidance services in secondary schools within General Santos City, focusing on fundamental functions performed by guidance offices, including individual inventory/cumulative records, educational and occupational information, counseling, testing, research and evaluation, follow-up and referral, and extension services. The research employed a descriptive-evaluative design, emphasizing judgment in the evaluation process. Participants in the study included 60 guidance advocates and principals or school heads from secondary schools in the DepEd Division of General Santos City. A meticulously validated survey questionnaire served as the primary tool for evaluating the services, with data analysis conducted through weighted means. The findings indicated areas in counseling and research and evaluation services that require intervention for improved implementation. Specifically, the study highlighted the inadequacy of guidance counselors for effective counseling and the limited capacity of guidance offices to conduct research and evaluation. To address these gaps, an intervention program was proposed, aiming to enhance the overall implementation of guidance services in secondary schools.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0744/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>
DEVELOPMENT OF THE 21ST CENTURY INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS SCALE, VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY STUDY
Authors: Kalaycı Rüstem , Eşgi Necmi 
Published: March 2024

In this study, it was aimed to develop a valid and reliable scale to determine the opinions of high school students about 21st-century information literacy skills. During the scale development phase, an item pool of 34 items that provided content validity was created, the number of items was reduced to 32 items in total after expert opinion, and a total of 794 people were administered the scale for the first application of the scale development phase. The data obtained as a result of the first application were subjected to exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and reliability studies. As a result of the analysis, a two-factor scale (“Using Information and Legal Elements”, “Accessing Information and Sharing Information”) consisting of a total of 12 items with validity and reliability was obtained. In order to test the suitability of the factor structure of the scale, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed by applying the scale to a total of 418 people. As a result of the analysis, the factor structure (fit index values) of the scale was found within the desired reference ranges. In line with the sub-objectives of the study, there was no significant difference according to the variables of the gender of the students, the gender of the teachers, and the years of seniority of the teachers. It was observed that there was a significant difference between students and teachers in favor of teachers among all dimensions. As a result of all the analysis of the scale, a scale consisting of a total of 12 items, which can be applied to high school students with proven validity and reliability, was developed.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0768/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>
BULLYING ENCOUNTERED AND THEIR PERCEIVED IMPACTS ON STUDENTS’ SENSE OF SELF
Authors: Salamanca Dindo V. , Rollo Cornelio R. 
Published: March 2024

This cross-sectional research study explores various forms of bullying experienced by students and their impacts on their sense of self at selected national high schools in Apopong District, Division of General Santos City. Three key questions are addressed: identification of encountered bullying forms, examination of their effects on students' sense of self (physical, emotional, intellectual, behavioral, social, and creative), and development of school interventions based on the findings. Data was collected from forty-five high school students through a survey questionnaire adapted from Anderson's (2007) work, with triangulation through focus group discussions. Results show verbal bullying is most prevalent, followed by emotional and physical bullying. The impact on students' sense of self varies, with physical sense moderately affected. perceived impact leads to feelings of powerlessness, inferiority, and fighting back. Recommendations include debriefing workshops to address self-esteem issues. Further research in diverse settings is advised to understand bullying prevalence and design effective interventions. The proposed "Bullying Prevention Program" empowers teachers to create secure learning environments and enhance student well-being. Continuous monitoring and evaluation ensure program efficacy.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0728/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>