bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Ferritin Level and Gene Expression of β-globin Promoter with β-thalassemia Patients in Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, Iraq
Authors: Salih Mayssam Makki , Al-Ziaydi Ahmed Ghdhban , Alzamili Aelan Hadi Hassan 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
The genetic condition β-thalassemia causes a deficit in the β-globin chain. Goblins are produced under the supervision of at least nine different genes. Thalassemia can be distinguished from other disorders by changes in these genes, which can lead to issues with hemoglobin synthesis. A typical side effect of thalassemia syndromes is iron overload, which raises the risk of mortality and can cause organ damage. Blood ferritin levels as well as total iron of body reserves have a positive correlation when there is no inflammation.

OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study was to assess the ferritin level of an Iraqi patient and the relationship between β-thalassemia and gene expression of β-globin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:
A case–control study included 60 samples with mean age (17.76 ± 0.88; 28 males and 32 females) which had been collected from patients who were diagnosed with β-thalassemia and 60 samples with mean age (22.7 ± 0.75; 29 males, 31 females) which were collected from apparently healthy individuals as a control group (CG). The procedure’s outcome is monitored using polymerase chain reaction and the Fluorecare instrument.

RESULTS:
Ferritin levels in thalassemia patients were higher than in CG patients. The β-globin expression in the thalassemia group was significantly lower than in the CG. The discovery of two essential sequences thymine-adenine-thymine-adenine and cytosine-adenine-thymine-adenine in the β-gene promoter that are crucial in the start of transcription can account for this downregulation. Changes made to these sequences decreased the affinity of transcription factors, which in turn restricted the transcription of the messenger ribonucleic acid. Examples of these transcription factors are erythroid Kruppel-like factor and specificity protein 1.

CONCLUSION:
Ferritin can be a useful indicator of severe iron overload. The results showed that the level of expression of β-globin was dramatically downregulated within the thalassemia group as compared with the CG future prospective of this study.
Accuracy of the postnatal growth and retinopathy of prematurity screening criteria in predicting prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity in the tertiary hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Authors: Bunyavee Chavisa , Hemarat Kornwipa 
Published: December 2023

PURPOSE:
The postnatal growth and retinopathy of prematurity (G-ROP), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) predictive model, was developed in North America with high sensitivity and fewer infants examined. This study aimed to validate this model in Thai infants by assessing sensitivity and comparing it to the current American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) screening guideline.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The records of infants screened for ROP were retrospectively reviewed from 2015 to 2020. G-ROP model was applied to calculate sensitivity for prethreshold type 1 and 2 ROP and the reduction of the number of infants examined.

RESULTS:
Of 129 infants screened, there were 102 infants who met G-ROP criteria. The mean gestational age at birth was 29.7 ± 2.7 weeks. The mean birth weight was 1177.8 ± 401.3 g. Both G-ROP and AAO detected prethreshold type 1 ROP in 24 of 24 infants (sensitivity, 100%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 85.8%–100%). Furthermore, they detected all four infants prethreshold type 2 ROP with 100% of sensitivity (95% CI, 39.8–100.0). The reduction in infants receiving examinations using G-ROP was 20.9%.

CONCLUSIONS:
G-ROP model provided high sensitivity and lessen unnecessary examinations for ROP screening in Thai infants.
Efficient Course Recommendation using Deep Transformer based Ensembled Attention Model
Authors: Madhavi A , Nagesh A , Govardhan A 
Published: December 2023

The exponential development of online learning resources has led to an information overload problem. Therefore, recommender systems play a crucial role in E-learning to provide learners with personalised course recommendations by automatically identifying their preferences. In addition, e-Learning platforms such as MOOCs and LMS have been criticised for their low course completion rates, and one of the primary reasons is that they do not provide personalised course recommendations for users with varying interests. Rapidly locating the courses that users are interested in on enormous e-Learning platforms can have a significant impact on the quality of learning and the dissemination of knowledge to the learner. This paper examines the most prevalent recommendation techniques utilised in E-learning. We examined how to apply Deep Transformer based Ensembled Attention Model (DTEAM) on e-Learning system in order to achieve personalized course recommendations. The proposed recommendation model uses BERT as its foundation integrated MLM and Transformers. Predicted course recommendations are more aligned with the interests of users. Our experimental results proved that traditional recommendation algorithms, such as collaborative filtering and item-based filtering are incapable of producing superior results. The consequence of the research can assist students in selecting courses according to their preferences and improve their learning caliber
Development of Systematic Reviews to Inform WHO’s Recommendations for Elimination and Prevention of Re-Establishment of Malaria: Methodology
Authors: Tusell Maria , Steinhardt Laura C. , Gutman Julie , Schneider Zachary D. , Bhamani Beena , Shah Monica P. , Martí Coma-Cros Elisabet , Gimnig John E. , Allen Koya C. , Akl Elie A. , Lindblade Kim A. 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT.
The basis for an evidence-based recommendation is a well-conducted systematic review that synthesizes the primary literature relevant to the policy or program question of interest. In 2020, the WHO commissioned 10 systematic reviews of potential interventions in elimination or post-elimination settings to summarize their impact on malaria transmission. This paper describes the general methods used to conduct this series of systematic reviews and notes where individual reviews diverged from the common methodology. The paper also presents lessons learned from conducting the systematic reviews to make similar future efforts more efficient, standardized, and streamlined.
Reducing Malaria Transmission through Reactive Indoor Residual Spraying: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gimnig John E. , Steinhardt Laura C. , Awolola Taiwo Samson , Impoinvil Daniel , Zohdy Sarah , Lindblade Kim A. 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT.
In the final stages of malaria elimination, interventions to reduce malaria transmission are often centered around a confirmed case of malaria, as cases tend to cluster together at very low levels of transmission. The WHO commissioned a systematic review of the literature and synthesis of evidence for reactive indoor residual spraying (IRS) to develop official recommendations for countries. Several electronic databases were searched in November 2020. A total of 455 records were identified and screened; 20 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Two cluster-randomized trials met the inclusion criteria for epidemiological outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using standard criteria. Because one study was a superiority trial in which the comparator included reactive case detection or mass drug administration and the other was a noninferiority trial in which the comparator was proactive, focal IRS, results could not be pooled. In the superiority trial, reactive IRS reduced malaria prevalence by 68% (risk ratio [RR]: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.13–0.80; certainty of evidence: HIGH) compared with no reactive IRS. No difference was observed for clinical malaria (RR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.38–1.11; certainty of evidence: MODERATE). In the noninferiority study, the mean difference in incidence between reactive IRS and proactive IRS was 0.10 additional case per 1,000 person-years, which was within the prespecified noninferiority bound (95% CI: −0.38 to 0.58; certainty of evidence: MODERATE). The evidence indicates that reactive IRS may be a cost-effective tool for the prevention of malaria in elimination settings. As only two cluster-randomized controlled trials from sub-Saharan Africa were found, additional high-quality studies should be encouraged.
Dermatitis flagelada por hongos shiitake
Authors: Betancourth Cantero Leydi Natali , Noguera Valeria , Staiger Hernán , Mazzuoccolo Luis Daniel 
Published: December 2023

El consumo de las setas shiitake (Lentinula edodes) crudas o mal cocidas puede generar una erupción pruriginosa lineal de aspecto flagelado. El lentinan es un polisacárido termolábil que está presente en la pared celular del hongo y se descompone a altas temperaturas, pero si se consume crudo puede generar una reacción tóxica cutánea. Esta típicamente ocurre 24 horas a 5 días luego de la ingesta. Es una entidad rara, pero en los últimos tiempos ha sido comunicada con mayor frecuencia en relación al auge de la cocina oriental a nivel mundial que utiliza hongos de esta especie.
Impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en la calidad de vida de para-futbolistas con lesión cerebral (Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on quality of life among para-footballers with brain impairment)
Authors: Herrera Felipe , Cornejo María Isabel , Henriquez Matias , Muñoz Hinrichsen Fernando , Bernardes Nathalia , Auricchio José Ricardo , Castelli Correia de Campos Luis Felipe 
Published: December 2023

Las personas con discapacidad pueden correr un mayor riesgo de sufrir el impacto psicosocial de la pandemia por la enfermedad de coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) en su calidad de vida (CV) debido al aislamiento y las restricciones sociales. El propósito de este estudio fue describir el impacto del confinamiento provocado por la pandemia de COVID-19 en la CV de para-futbolistas chilenos con lesión cerebral. Cuarenta jugadores de fútbol masculino con lesión cerebral participaron en este estudio. Todos los participantes completaron el cuestionario de calidad de vida WHOQOL-BREF en dos momentos diferentes (antes y durante el confinamiento). Se encontró una reducción significativa en la percepción de la CV entre los diferentes períodos. Además, los dominios físico, psicológico, social y ambiental presentaron puntajes más bajos durante la pandemia. Estos resultados sugieren que el impacto del encierro redujo la percepción de la CV en todos los dominios. Son necesarias estrategias diferenciadas con apoyo profesional multidisciplinar para hacer frente a las consecuencias psicosociales de la pandemia por COVID-19 en para-futbolistas con lesión cerebral.
Palabras clave: Pandemia, discapacidad, coronavirus, calidad de vida, paradeporte, salud deportiva
Abstract. People with disabilities might be at a higher risk of suffering from the psychosocial impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on quality of life (QoL), due to isolation and social restrictions. The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of confinement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the QoL of Chilean para-footballers with brain impairment. Forty male football players with brain impairment participated in this study. All participants completed the WHOQOL-BREF QoL questionnaire at two different moments (before and during confinement). A significant reduction in the perception of QoL was found between the different periods. Moreover, the physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains presented lower scores during the pandemic. These results suggest that the impact of confinement reduced the perception of QoL in all domains. Differentiated strategies with multidisciplinary professional support are necessary for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic’s psychosocial consequences on para-footballers with brain impairments.
Keywords: Pandemic, disability, coronavirus, quality of life, para-sport, sports health
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in octogenarians: a prospective comparative study on clinical, endoscopic findings and outcomes with younger patients
Authors: DURAK Muhammed Bahaddin , ŞİMŞEK Cem , ÇAĞIR Yavuz , YÜKSEL İlhami 
Published: December 2023

Background: Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a critical medical emergency that becomes more prevalent with advancing age. This study aimed to compare clinical and endoscopic features, as well as clinical outcomes, between patients below 80 years of age and octogenarians (80 years of age) presenting with UGIB.
Methods: Data related to past medical history, physical examination, laboratory, and endoscopic findings were collected prospectively. The clinical outcomes evaluated in both octogenarian and younger groups included: (1) necessity for endoscopic intervention; (2) transfusion requirement; (3) hospital stay duration; (4) rebleeding events; and (5) 30-day mortality rate.
Results: The study revealed that comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic renal failure, and hypertension were statistically more prevalent in octogenarians. Furthermore, octogenarians had lower serum albumin and hemoglobin levels and higher INR and BUN levels. High-risk categorization, according to risk scoring systems, was significantly more prevalent among octogenarians. Upon evaluating clinical outcomes, octogenarians demonstrated a longer hospital stay, higher transfusion needs, and a higher 30-day mortality rate. Peptic ulcers were identified as the most common cause of bleeding in both groups, but gastric ulcers were statistically more common in octogenarians.
Conclusions: The severity of UGIB is notably increased in octogenarians than in younger people because of more comorbid disease, lower serum albumin hemoglobin levels, higher INR BUN, and high-risk scoring systems. Gastric ulcers were statistically more common in octogenarians.
Evaluation of serum neopterin levels in patients with Graves disease
Authors: GÜRCÜ Sinem , YORULMAZ Göknur , KOCATÜRK Evin , HAMARAT Hatice , ŞAHİN TEKİN Melisa , KAYA YAŞAR Yeşim , ALATAŞ İ. Özkan 
Published: December 2023

Aim: Graves' disease is a disease with an autoimmune basis in which the synthesis and release of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland increases. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) released from activated T lymphocytes causes macrophages to produce neopterin (NPT), increasing its concentration in serum and other body fluids. There is a relationship between NPT and the production of free oxygen radicals by these cells. In this study, it was aimed to measure serum NPT levels in individuals with Graves' disease.
Material and Method: The study included 13 newly diagnosed Graves' patients (neopterin levels were measured at the time of first diagnosis and at the 3rd month of treatment) and 16 Graves' patients who were followed up in endocrinology outpatient clinics for at least one year. NPT levels of 23 healthy individuals without any disease were taken as the control group. Free triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (T4), thyroglobulin, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were measured in the blood samples of the participants.
Results: Serum NPT levels were found to be higher in Graves' patients compared to the control group (6.66 nmol/L in newly diagnosed patients, 9.24 nmol/L in patients at the 3rd month of treatment, 10.68 nmol/L in patients followed for one year or more, 1.44 nmol/L in the control group, respectively, p
Systemic immune inflammation indices: novel predictors for preterm premature rupture of membranes and associated complications
Authors: KÜÇÜKBAŞ Gökçe Naz , YAVUZ Arzu 
Published: December 2023

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between systemic immune inflammation (SII) and response indices (SIRI), which are new markers of systemic inflammation derived from immune cells, and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Materials and Methods: The retrospective study included 75 singleton pregnancies complicated with PPROM between 24 and 34 gestational weeks and 75 healthy pregnant women who delivered at term (control group). Inflammation indices were calculated based on neutrophil (N), platelet (P), lymphocyte (L), and monocyte (M) counts as follows: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) = N/L; the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) = P/L; SII = (N×P)/L; and SIRI = (N×M)/L.
Results: The median NLR (4.8 vs. 3.5, p
Effect of Legal Factors on Strategic Leadership Practices and Devolved Administrative Structures in Selected Semi-Arid Counties in Kenya
Authors: Jumanne Andrew Shangarai , Njoroge Jane , Moi Edna Jemutai 
Published: December 2023

Purpose: Kenya's devolved administrative structures are yet to realize full implementation of the envisaged devolved units hence underscoring outstanding service delivery. The challenges crippling the progress of devolution have ranged from deficient human resource, legal and institutional infrastructure, capacity gaps, corruption and conflicting association with national government's deliverables. As such, the current study focused on the effect of Legal factors on strategic leadership practices and the devolved administrative structures in Taita Taveta and Makueni Counties, Kenya.
Materials & Methods: The population targeted was 500 respondents of the study site. Both Purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were utilized where sample size of 223 was drawn. The design of the study deployed was descriptive research that sought to produce answers to phenomenon’s questions on what, where, and when. Instrument’s reliability was tested using Cronchba’s alpha reliability of 0.7 that was acceptably reliable. Quantitative and qualitative analytical methods therefore were used. Multiple linear regression was used to test the effects of legal factors on strategic leadership practices and the devolved administrative structures. Data was presented in tables and thematic narrations.
Findings: The study concluded that, there was a significant effect of legal factors on the relationship between the strategic leadership practices and devolved administrative structures. Hence, legal factors were found to have moderating effects on relationship between strategic leadership ipractices and devolved administrative structures.
Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study's findings provide constructive perspectives for policymakers at the National and County government levels, addressing impediments to decentralized administrative systems in county governments, contributing to enhanced knowledge aligned with the 2010 Kenyan Constitution, influencing resolutions for Vision 2030, and serving as a reference for the national government to address shortcomings in county administrations' policy implementation.
YA VAHDET YA DA FELAKET: BİRİNCİ HARBİN SONUNDA BİR KURTULUŞ REÇETESİ OLARAK BİRLİK ÇAĞRISI
Authors: BİLGENOĞLU Ali 
Published: December 2023

İmparatorluktan Cumhuriyete geçiş süreci hiç kuşku yok ki modern Türk tarihinin en kritik dönemidir. Son dönem Osmanlı, erken dönem Cumhuriyet devrinin son derece üretken bir mütefekkiri olarak Ömer Rıza hem çöküşe hem de dirilişe şahitlik etmiş; bu sancılı sürecin tüm boyutlarına vakıf olmuş kıymetli bir yazardır. Gerek Mısır ve Türkiye basınında yayımlanmış siyasi makaleleri gerekse telif ve tercüme eserleri göz önüne alındığında bunu sağlıklı bir şekilde gözlemleyebilmek mümkündür. Modern Osmanlı-Türk İslamcı düşüncesinin önemli isimlerinden biri olan Rıza Osmanlı’nın son senelerinde çöküşe giden sürecin bizzat tanığı olarak Hilafet çatısı altında Müslümanlar arasındaki birliğin sağlanmasına, birliği zedeleyen çatışma ve ihtilafların izalesine nasıl çaba harcadıysa aynı azim ve inançla cumhuriyet devrinde de Türkiye’nin öncü rolüyle İslam dünyasında birliğin sağlanabilmesi yolunda emek vermiştir.
Bu çalışmanın ana araştırma konusunu teşkil eden Ömer Rıza’nın Birinci Dünya Savaşı’nın sonunu müteakip Sırat-ı Müstakim Dergisi’nde yayımladığı yazılar ömrü boyunca kalemini vakfettiği İslam’da birliğin tesis edilmesine yönelik gayretlerinin bir parçası olarak görülmelidir. Özellikle büyük harbin sona erdiği, Osmanlı Devleti’nin savaştan yenik çıktığı 1919 yılı gibi kritik bir dönemde yazarın Müslümanlara dönük olarak yaptığı birlik çağrılarını, İslam’da birlik idealine zarar verdiğine inandığı başta milliyetçilik hareketleri olmak üzere muhtelif çatışma noktalarından uzak durulması hakkındaki ısrarlı vurgularını ve politik öz eleştirilerini içeren bu yazılar Ömer Rıza’nın bir taraftan her şeye rağmen ümitsizliğe düşmediğini, istiklal arzusunun en canlı biçimde yaşamaya devam ettiğini öte yandan da kendi düşünce evreninde olgunlaştırdığı kurtuluş reçetelerini içerisinde barındıran birer tarihi vesika niteliği taşımaktadır.
On the identification of the omnivorous humpback fly <i>Megaselia scalaris (Loew)</i>
Authors: Zhmurkina P. S. , Budovich M. V. , Karpenko A. A. , Kalyuzhnaya T. V. , Orlova D. A. 
Published: December 2023

Ant-decapitating flies (lat. Megaselia scalaris (Loew)) is a quarantine object in the Russian Federation and is included in the Single list of quarantine objects of the Eurasian Economic Union, approved by the of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission dated 30.11.2016 No. 158, because it is a vector of dangerous diseases that cause great economic damage. The range covers large areas of North America, Africa, southern Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, as well as the European part of Russia, namely the Southern Federal District and the Republic of Crimea. The list of regulated products subject to research to identify M. scalaris (Loew) is very extensive, and accurate identification to species of the received samples by entomological method by morphological features of copulatory organs is very labor-intensive and not accurate. Therefore, methods of molecular diagnostics were developed for identification, namely, comparison of the studied nucleotide sequence with the reference one using NCBI database and determination of genetic distances. The studies were carried out on the basis of the Department of Molecular Research of the North-West Testing Laboratory of FGBU «ARRIAH». Six samples of the genus Megaselia were used in this work. At the first stage, DNA was isolated using DNA-Extran 2 kits. Then genetic markers were obtained by classical PCR with subsequent detection by electrophoresis using the T100 Thermal Cycler, sequenced on a 3500 Genetic Analyzer. Identification was performed by comparing the obtained sequence in BioEdit program using NCBI database and by calculating genetic distances using two-parameter Kimura model and Tajima-Nei model. The study revealed advantages and disadvantages of the presented methods of molecular identification.