bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Water Quality at the Confluence Region of Diyala and Tigris Rivers Based on the Weighted Arithmetic Method
Authors: Khadeeja G. Sabeeh  , Mustafa T. Mustafa  , Alhassan H. Ismail  , Corina Boncescu  
Published: April 2023

This study is conducted to assess the water quality index (WQI) of the Diyala and Tigris River confluence region south of Baghdad (Al-Tuwaitha), based on the Weighted Arithmetic method. Sixteen samples of water were collected from different location in the region through two periods 5/11/2021 and 13/3/2022. Water quality parameters such as (PH, EC, TDS, TH, Ca, Mg, Cl, Turbidity, ALK, SO4, HCO3, Na, and K) were used to evaluate WQI in the study area.
The final results showed that the water was not suitable for drinking due to the high concentration of water quality parameters. In the 5 November 2021, the water quality in the study area was classified into (good, poor, very poor, and polluted) where the percentages of the above classes were 4%, 6%, 39%, and 51% respectively, while the percentages for the season 13thMarch 2022 were 1%, 41%, and 58% with very poor, polluted, and very polluted class, respectively.
The water was not suitable for drinking due to the high concentration of water quality parameters in most locations in the study area. There are many sources of pollution in the region that dump their harmful waste into the river, which led to increase the concentrations of water quality parameters in most locations of study area.
Computer Vision System for Facial Palsy Detection
Authors: Ali Saber Amsalam  , Al-Naji Ali , Yahya Daeef Ammar , Javaan Chahl  
Published: April 2023

Facial palsy (FP) is a disorder that affects the seventh facial nerve, which makes the patient unable to control facial movements and expressions with other vital activities. It affects one side of the face, and it is usually diagnosed by the asymmetry of the two sides of the face through visual inspection by a doctor. However, the visual inspection is human-based, which is prone to errors because the doctor is exposed to omission due to fatigue and work stress. Therefore, it is important to develop a new method for detecting FP through artificial intelligence and use a more accurate computerized system to reduce the effort and cost of patients and increase the accuracy of diagnosis. This work aims to establish a safe, useful and high-accuracy diagnostic system for FP that can be used by the patient and proposes to detect FP using a digital camera and deep learning techniques automatically. The system could be used by the patient himself at home without needing to visit the hospital. The proposed system trained 570 images, including 200 images of FP palsy. The proposed FP system achieved an accuracy of 98%. This confirms the effectiveness of the proposed system and makes it an efficient medical examination tool for detecting FP.
Single Objective Optimization Methods in Electrical Power Systems: A Review
Authors: Ali Abdulmunim Ibrahim Al-kharaz  , Ahmed Bahaaulddin A.Wahhab  , Mohammed Fadhil Ibrahim  , Shahab Abdulla  
Published: April 2023

Although the scheduling of maintenance tasks for generators is not a new issue, it has recently attracted new attention due to the significant rise in demand for expanding power system size in modern power systems. Generator Maintenance Scheduling (GMS) is a nonlinear optimization problem, highly dimensional and constrained, and determines when power-producing units must undertake well-planned preventative maintenance. The objective function includes binary variables to indicate whether a generator is undergoing maintenance at a given time and is subject to several restrictions described in this paper. However, the biggest concern of GMS is to produce a precise timetable for preventive maintenance of generating units with low cost and high reliability. Despite that, regrettably, a large volume of research works has accomplished solutions towards a model of GMS with the consideration of either maximizing system reliability or minimizing operation costs as an objective of their research work. This is called Single-Objective Problem (SOP), which involves one objective function that needs to be optimized. SOP is solved by Single-Objective Optimization Method (SOOM). The primary purpose of the research is to present a review of SOOM methods used in solving GMS problems.
نظام الحوافز وانعكاساته (الايجابية والسلبية) على اداء العاملين: بحث في الشركة العامة للنقل البحري – بغداد
Authors: Adnan Yasser Muhammad  , Basima Hazem Muhammad  
Published: April 2023

.الفرد العامل يتأثر بنظام الحوافز الذي يمثل احد اهم العناصر الأساسية في تحسين اداء عمله، إذ إن نجاح المؤسسات يعتمد على المورد البشري الذي يمثل عاملا حيوياً في بيئة العمل ومتطلباً ضرورياَ لإنجاز الاعمال التي تختلف من فرد لآخر نتيجةً لاختلاف حاجاتهم ودوافعهم وجديتهم في العمل، والهدف الاساس من هذا البحث هو بيان تأثير نظام الحوافز الايجابية او السلبية ودورها المهم والفاعل في نتائج اداء العاملين والفوائد المتحققة جراء تطبيق هذا النظام سواء أكان للعاملين أم الشركة في ذات الوقت، لذا طبق البحث في الشركة العامة للنقل البحري على عينة عشوائية بسيطة بلغت (118) موظفاً، باستخدام المنهج التحليلي وكانت اداة جمع البيانات (الاستبانة) ولتحليلها احصائيا تم استخدم برنامج الحزمة الإحصائية للعلوم الاجتماعية ( Spss – Ver – 19 ) ( معامل الثبات، الوسط الحسابي، الانحراف المعياري، معامل الاختلاف، معامل الارتباط بيرسون، اختبار t، اختبار f، عامل التحديد R²) وبرنامج ( Microsoft Excel)، وقد توصل البحث الى عدد من الاستنتاجات اهمها وجود علاقة تأثير ذات دلالة معنوية بين الحوافز الايجابية المعنوية في اداء العاملين في الشركة أكثر تأثيراً من الحوافز المادية، كذلك تبين لنا لا يوجد علاقة تأثير بين الحوافز السلبية (المادية والمعنوية) في اداء العاملين أي ن الفرد العامل لا يوجد لديه اي تأثير من الحافز السلبي سواء أكان سلوكه ايجابيا باندفاعه لتحسين اداء عمله أم عدوانيا وقيامه بتصرفات سلوكية غير لائقة في انجاز عمله، ومن أهم ما أوصى به البحث ضرورة التغيير والاهتمام والتطوير لنظام الحوافز المطبق في الشركة بشكل يخلق فرص وتحديات جديدة للعاملين تعمل على تنمية الابداع والتميز بعيدا عن النمط المألوف في انجاز الاعمال.
Effect of kinetic exercises versus isometric exercises among patellofemoral arthritis patients: An experimental study
Authors: K. Lakshmiprabha , Singh Dhanpal , Arulprakasam  , Viswanathan  , S. Subbiah 
Published: April 2023

Introduction and Aim: Patellofemoral arthritis (PFOA) is one of the most common causes of anterior knee pain in adults and is more common in women than men. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of kinetic chain exercises versus isometric exercises and to reduce the pain and improve the quality of Life.

Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in a physiotherapy clinic. For the comparative experimental study, 30 subjects were taken in each group and the total duration of the study was 6 weeks (30 minutes duration /once a day /5 day a week) from June 2022 to mid-August 2022. Method of sampling was a purposive sampling technique.

Results: Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) Kujala Scoring Questionnaire (Anterior knee pain scale).

Conclusion: From the data obtained it was evident that the kinetic chain exercise group patients showed marked improvement than group B.
Effect of chair yoga on heart rate variability, perceived stress, and sleep quality among nursing professionals from a tertiary care hospital
Authors: S. Balamadhuwanthi , R. Latha , D. R. Vedapriya , K. Tamilselvan , D. C. Mathangi 
Published: April 2023

Introduction and Aim: Health care professionals that provide treatment to individuals most prone to experience sadness and anxiety are experiencing public health difficulties due to the linked elevated death rate brought on by the COVID epidemic. The purpose of this study was to determine how Chair Yoga affected nursing professionals' Heart Rate Variability (HRV), a measure of autonomic functioning, stress level, and sleep quality index.

Materials and Methods: The randomized controlled trial was conducted among 60 Nursing professionals in a tertiary care hospital aged >=23 years for a period of 2 months and they were divided into two groups: control (n=30) and intervention (n=30) groups. A set of chair yoga sessions was taught by a professional yoga trainer to the intervention group for a duration of 20 minutes, 5 days a week for two months. Both groups' sleep quality and HRV were measured using the PHYSIOPAC-PP4 (MEDICAID SYSTEMS, Chandigarh) software, as well as their levels of stress using the Perceived Stress Scale.

Results: After training of Chair yoga for 2 months, a significant decrease in HR, MAP and a significant increase in Mean RR, SDNN and PNN50 and a significant increase in TP and HFnu and a significant decrease in LFnu and LF/HF ratio in the intervention group was found. After doing chair yoga at work, the intervention group's stress levels dropped and their quality of sleep increased.

Conclusion: The findings of the study concluded that the Chair yoga practice in Nursing professionals led to the improvement in parasympathetic activity. It is also beneficial for stress reduction and improvement of sleep quality in nursing professionals.
Correlation between diastolic dysfunction and global longitudinal strain imaging in patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Jenish Beautlin Abishkauf , Govindaraj Ashok , Durgadevi  , Maheswari Uma , Yamini  
Published: April 2023

Introduction and Aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) on its own resulting in left ventricular volume overload which may further impair left ventricular (LV) function. The aim of the study is to evaluate the diastolic dysfunction and global longitudinal strain (GLS) imaging in patients which helps to predict the cardiovascular mortality.

Materials and Methods: This study included 45 patients over 50 years with their evidence of fasting blood sugar and PPBS level. E/A, E/E’ and E’ are measured by TDI and Traditional 2D echocardiography; the following parameters are assessed: IVRT, IVCT, pulmonary venous flow and hepatic vein flow. GLS and strain rate were measured in AP4C, AP3C and AP2C views.

Results: In our study 93% of patients had normal GLS and 7% of patients had reduced GLS 16% of patients had normal diastolic dysfunction (DD), 68% had grade I DD and 16% of patients had grade II DD. DD does not correlate with GLS in diabetes mellitus patients.

Conclusion: According to current guidelines, patients with diabetes mellitus frequently have diastolic dysfunction, but it can also be caused by other reasons. It should be aimed to detect pre-diabetic patients with DD and optimize their clinical management which can be improved by utilizing tissue doppler imaging due to its potential to fill current need for a reliable tool that can demonstrate the effectiveness of therapy in future studies for preventing insulin resistance, DM, and cardiovascular disease.
Molecular characterization and mutational analysis of beta-globin gene among Kodagu population of Karnataka, India
Authors: Babu T. V. Suresh , Prasada Kabekkodu Shama , K. Satyamoorthy , Shantaram Manjula 
Published: April 2023

Introduction and Aim: Beta-thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder caused by genotypic alterations in the HBB gene. Over 400 mutations have been identified, which are known to be responsible for this disease. In this study, we investigated the mutations for the globin gene prevalent among adult beta-thalassemia trait positive individuals and their distribution within the Kodagu community of Karnataka, India.

Materials and Methods: This study included 100 individuals (81 Females and 19 males) in the age group of 18-28 years previously tested as carriers for beta-thalassemia trait. Blood collected from each individual was subjected to genomic DNA extraction and PCR amplification of a 610 bp fragment of the beta-globin gene. The PCR product was purified and sequenced. The gene sequences were subjected to mutation analyses and characterization using bioinformatics tools.

Results: The study identified 13 known and 27 novel mutations for this study population. Among the known mutations observed 2 were of type synonymous (HBB:c.9T>C and HBB:c.18T>G), 5 missense (HBB:c.146T>G; HBB:c.149C>T; HBB:c.151A>T; HBB:c.203T>G; HBB:c.269G >A) and 6 intronic (HBB:c.92+2T >G; HBB:c.92+5G>C; HBB:c.315+16G>C; HBB:c.315+74T>G and HBB:c.315+81C>T). HBB:c.-6G>C at the 5'UTR region and IVS-II-16 G>C, an intronic variant, was observed to be the most common mutation showing highest frequency of 82.1%. Several novel mutation types were identified in Exon 2 (3 missense; 2 synonymous), Intron I and Intron II.

Conclusion: This study is the first of its kind for the Kodagu population, which identified several previously known and novel mutations in the HBB gene within this population. Since, our study subjects were carriers of very mild or silent beta-thalassemia trait, the mutations observed particularly the novel mutations warrant further investigation for a better understanding and management of beta-thalassemia in this population.
ANALISIS KEPUASAAN PENGGUNA SISTEM INFORMASI MENGGUNAKAN METODE PIECES FRAMEWORK (STUDI KASUS STARTUP PANAK.ID)
Authors: Ni Putu Nita Artaningsih  , Nengah Widya Utami  , Helmy Syakh Alam  
Published: April 2023

Perkembangan sistem informasi memberikan dampak yang baik kepada masyarakat sehingga peningkatan ini menjadi penopang dalam kegiatan operasional perusahaan berupa sistem informasi berbasis website. Salah satu perusahaan yang menggunakan sistem informasi berbasis website yaitu StartUp Panak.Id akan tetapi bahwa sampai saat ini sistem tersebut belum melakukan pengembangan sistem dan belum melakukan survey terhadap pengguna terkait sistem tersebut, sehingga penulis melakukan penelitian terhadap kepuasan pengguna dari sistem tersebut dengan menggunakan metode PIECES Framework. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitan ini merupakan metode kuantitatif dan kualitatif dengan menggunakan sumber data sekunder dan primer. Data sekunder akan didapatkan dari artikel, jurnal, dan penelitian sebelumnya sedangkan data primer akan didapatkan dari responden yang digunakan sebagai objek informasi dengan menggunakan 87 sampel pengguna yang sudah menggunakan sistem. Berdasarkan hasil analisis dari enam variabel yang dimiliki PIECES framework memiliki nilai rata-rata yaitu nilai performance (4.31), nilai information and data (4.24), nilai economics (4.27), nilai control and security (4.40), nilai efficiency (4.38), nilai service(4.44). Dapat ditarik kesimpulan bahwa dinyatakan sangat puas. Berdasarkan hasil penyebaran bahwa responden memberikan saran agar adanya peningkatan dalam segi penanmabahan produk, pembayaran, peningkatan pelaporan kepada pengguna, penambahan fitur chating pada website, dan penambahan mengenai video edukasi ternak.
PERANCANGAN TATA LETAK FASILITAS GUDANG PADA PROYEK PEMBANGUNAN JETTY PLTMGU LOMBOK PEAKER MENGGUNAKAN METODE SYSTEMATIC LAYOUT PLANNING (SLP) DENGAN ALGORITMA BLOCPLAN
Authors: Adiasa Iksan , Sartika  , Hudaningsih Nurul 
Published: April 2023

Nindya Karya (Persero) adalah perusahaan Badan Usaha Milik Negara (BUMN) yang bergerak dibidang jasa kontruksi. Saat ini PT. Nindya Karya (Persero) memegang sebuah proyek yang berlokasi di Kelurahan Tanjung Karang Permai, Kec.Sekar Bela, Nusa Tenggara Barat yakni Proyek Pembangunan Jetty PLTMGU Lombok Peaker. Adapun permasalahan yang ditemukan yaitu tata letak fasilitas di area pergudangan terbilang tidak teratur.Tujuan penelitian ini untuk merancang usulan perbaikan layout pada Proyek Pembangunan Jetty Lombok Peaker. Metode yang digunakan adalah Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) dan algoritma BLOCPLAN. Hasil dari penelitian ini, diperoleh 3 usulan layout dengan aplikasi BLOCPLAN namun yang dipilih hanya satu layout sebagai usulan terbaik yakni layout nomor 1 dengan nilai R- Score tertinggi yaitu 0,73 dengan jarak perpindahan material handling 80,76 meter dan total luas area sebesar 31,9 m^2. Simpulan dari penelitianini semakin nilai R-Skor mendekati angka 1 maka layout tersebut merupakan layout terbaik yang dianjurkan untuk dipilih sebagai sebagai layout usulan.
Gut microbiota in Chinese and Japanese patients with cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liao Linjie , Huang Junli , Zheng Jinghui , Ma Xiaocong , Huang Longjian , Xu Wenhua 
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major threat to public health.

OBJECTIVE:
Compare the gut microbial composition between Chinese and Japanese patients with cardiovascular diseases and healthy subjects.

STUDY SELECTION:
Observational studies with Chinese and Japanese populations. Reviews, duplicate, book chapters, and other irrelevant studies were excluded.

DATA EXTRACTION:
Independent searching by two investigators (LLJ, HJL).

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Data from eleven studies (with 960 subjects) were included for the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that the abundance of Firmicutes in patients with cardiovascular disease was [ES=0.42, 95%CI, (0.34, 0.50),
P
<.01], while the abundance of Firmicutes in control subjects was [ES=0.36, 95%CI, (0.23, 0.49),
P
<.01] (ES: effect size). When compared to control subjects, the differential expression of Firmicutes abundance in patients with CVDs was [MD = 15.21, 95%CI (8.95, 21.48),
P
<.01] (MD: mean difference). The ratio of Firmicutes abundance in patients with CVDs to the control subjects was [RR=1.28, 95%CI (0.98, 1.67),
P
=.07]. The ratio of Firmicutes in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients and controls was [RR=1.42, 95%CI (1.05, 1.94),
P
=.02]. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio is [OR=1.64 95%CI (1.11, 2.42),
P
=.01].

CONCLUSION:
Our data show that patients with cardiovascular disease had higher levels of gut Firmicutes when compared to healthy controls. In addition, gut microbial dysbiosis was present in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

LIMITATIONS:
Due to limited quality and quantity of selected studies, conclusions from the current study need to be validated by future studies.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
None.
Comparison of general pediatric ward admissions between the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-pandemic period
Authors: Güç Muhammed , Sözeri Betül 
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of life as well as hospital admissions. We hypothesized that many infectious diseases and hospitalizations in the pediatric age group might have decreased during the pandemic period.

OBJECTIVE:
Evaluate patients admitted to the general pediatric wards during the pandemic in comparison with the pre-pandemic period.

DESIGN:
Retrospective cross-sectional

SETTING:
General pediatrics wards of a tertiary hospital in Istanbul

PATIENTS AND METHODS:
The study included patients aged 0-18 years who were followed up while hospitalized in the general pediatrics wards between 11 March 2019 and 11 March 2021. The hospitalizations were grouped as pre-pandemic and pandemic based on the date when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic (11 March 2020).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Hospital admissions, length of stay, diagnoses, gender, age.

SAMPLE SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS:
4343 hospitalizations.

RESULTS:

Of the total 4343 hospitalizations meeting the inclusion criteria, 2786 (64.1%) occurred before the pandemic and 1557 (35.9%) during the pandemic, a 44% decrease. The distribution of all hospitalization diagnoses during the two years was as follows: respiratory tract diseases, 1768 (40.7%); neurological diseases, 946 (21.8%); gastrointestinal diseases, 550 (12.7%); hematological and oncological diseases, 514 (11.8%); genitourinary system and nephrological diseases, 504 (11.6%); and soft tissue infections, 255 (5.9%). During two years, there were 1418 (32.7%) patients with lower respiratory tract infections, 316 (7.3%) with gastroenteritis, and 440 (10.1%) with urinary system infections. The median hospital stay was 6 days before the pandemic and 4 days during the pandemic (
P
<.0001). During the pandemic, the rate of respiratory diseases decreased from 48.7 to 26.5%, and that of lower respiratory tract infections decreased from 40.5 to 18.6% (
P
<.0001).

CONCLUSION:
Both previous studies and our results indicate that many infectious diseases in the pediatric age group significantly decreased, especially in the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

LIMITATIONS:
Single-center study.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
None.
Deterioration in renal function after stoma creation: a retrospective review from a Middle Eastern tertiary care center
Authors: Al Khaldi Shimaa Saad , Al Harbi Reem , Albastaki Sara , Al Turki Neamat , Ashari Luai , Alhassan Khuloud , Abduljabbar Alaa , Hibbert Denise , Almughamsi Asim , Al Homoud Samar , Alsanea Nasser 
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND:
Stomas are associated with multiple complications including dehydration which ultimately affects renal function. These complications begin with changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

OBJECTIVES:
Evaluate changes in GFR after stoma creation by stoma type and identify how different types of stoma affect GFR.

DESIGN:
Retrospective, analytical cohort

SETTING:
Tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia

PATIENTS AND METHODS:
The colorectal surgery database was reviewed for all adult patients who underwent stoma creation (permanent and temporary ileostomies and colostomies) or reversal in 2000–2015. GFR was estimated at the first encounter, before the index surgery, at the time of stoma reversal, and upon the last follow-up. Patients with renal impairment, including low GFR before stoma creation, patients who had a temporary stoma converted to a permanent stoma, and patients who died with a stoma were excluded. We studied the association of several demographic and clinical factors on changes in GFR by univariate and multivariate analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Estimated GFR at the last clinic visit for the permanent stoma group and at stoma closure for the temporary stoma group.

SAMPLE SIZE:
394 patients (149 ileostomates, 245 colostomates)

RESULTS:

Thirty-three (8.4%) of the 394 patients had a low GFR: 11 (7.4%) in the ileostomy group and 22 (9%) in the colostomy group (
P
= .579). The rate of readmissions with ileostomies was higher (11.4%) than with colostomies (3.3%) (
P
≤.001). The number of temporary ileostomies (n=9, 7.0%) differed from temporary colostomies (n=2, 1.9%) but the difference was not statistically significant (
P
=.06). In the multivariate analysis, stoma permanency, hypertension, chemotherapy and nephrotoxic drugs were risk factors associated with low GFR.

CONCLUSION:
Ileostomies were not associated with a high rate of renal function deterioration in comparison to colostomies, but had a significantly higher rate of readmission due to dehydration and electrolytes imbalance possibly due to the hot climate in Saudi Arabia.

LIMITATIONS:
Retrospective nature and limited sample size which may have resulted in a type 2 statistical error.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:
None.