bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimal positive airway pressure requirement and polysomnography indices of obstructive sleep apnea severity in the Saudi population
Authors: Bamagoos Ahmad A. , Alshaynawi Shahad A. , Gari Atheer S. , Badawi Atheer M. , Alhiniah Mudhawi H. , Alshahrani Asma A. , Rajab Renad R. , Bahaj Reem K. , Alhejaili Faris , Wali Siraj O. 
Published: January 2023

CONTEXT:
Positive airway pressure (PAP) is the first-line therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Overnight PAP titration for determining optimal PAP requirements is expensive and often inconvenient. Prediction of optimal PAP requirements from diagnostic polysomnography via mathematical equations is possible but variable across populations.

AIMS:
We aimed to (1) determine the optimal PAP requirement, (2) determine differences in optimal PAP requirements across OSA severity groups, (3) determine the relationship between optimal PAP requirement and diagnostic polysomnography measurements of OSA severity, and (4) develop a pilot equation to predict the optimal PAP requirement from diagnostic polysomnography in a sample from the Saudi population.

METHODS:
We analyzed records pertaining to adult OSA patients (n = 215; 63% of males) who underwent standardized diagnostic and titration polysomnography in our sleep laboratory between 2015 and 2019. Demographic, anthropometric, and clinical information were also collected for the analysis. Inferential statistics were performed for comparisons between diagnostic and titration studies and between OSA severity groups. Regression analyses were also performed to determine the potential predictors of optimal PAP requirements. Data were presented as the mean (± standard deviation) or median (25th–75th quartiles) according to normality.

RESULTS:
The median optimal PAP requirement was 13 (9–17) cmH2O. The optimal PAP requirement was significantly greater for male versus female participants (14 [10–17] vs. 12 [8–16] cmH2O) and for participants with severe OSA (16 [12–20] cmH2O, n = 119) versus those with moderate (11 [8–14] cmH2O, n = 63) or mild (9 [7–12] cmH2O, n = 33) OSA. When combined, nadir oxygen saturation, oxygen desaturation index, and arousal index could be used to predict the optimal PAP requirement (R
2= 0.39, F = 34.0, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:
The optimal PAP requirement in the Saudi population is relatively high and directly correlated with OSA severity. Diagnostic polysomnography measurements of OSA severity predicted the optimal PAP requirement in this sample. Prospective validation is warranted.
Effect of a Caring-Based Training Program on Caring Behaviors of Indonesian Nurses as Perceived by Patients
Authors: Bachtiar Arief , Baua Elizabeth C. , Pizarro Jesus B. 
Published: January 2023

Background:
A caring education program is proven effective in improving nurses' behavior in several countries. This study aimed to assess the effect of the Caring-Based Training Program (CBTP) on nurses' caring behaviors of Indonesian nurses as perceived by patients.

Materials and Methods:
This non-equivalent control group post-test-only design was conducted on 74 patients from a public hospital in Malang district, Indonesia, in 2019. The patients who only met the inclusion criteria were recruited through convenience sampling. The Caring Behaviors Inventory-24 (CBI-24) items were utilized to measure nurses' caring behaviors as perceived by patients. Data were analyzed using frequency, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and ANOVA test at 0.05 levels of significance.

Results:
The overall mean score of CBI-24 for the experimental group was higher than the control group (5.48 and 5.04, respectively). According to the patient's perception, these findings indicated that the caring behavior of nurses in the experimental group was better than that in the control group. The independent t-test showed a significant difference in the nurses' caring behaviors between the experimental and control groups (p-value = 0.001).

Conclusions:
The study demonstrated that a CBTP could improve nurses' caring behaviors. Therefore, the developed program is essential and required by Indonesian nurses to increase their caring behaviors.
The Effect of Interactive Virtual Psycho-Educational Interventions via Social Networks on Self-Efficacy and Anxiety Among Patients Infected with COVID-19 and Living in Home Quarantine
Authors: Shaygan Maryam , Yazdani Zahra , Rambod Masoume 
Published: January 2023

Background:
Psycho-educational interventions might play a crucial role in the management of diseases. This study was conducted to determine the effect of psycho-educational interventions via social networks on self-efficacy and anxiety among Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in home quarantine.

Materials and Methods:
This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 72 COVID-19 patients, in Shiraz, Iran, in 2020. The patients were randomly assigned to an intervention and control group. Patients in the intervention group underwent psycho-educational interventions daily for 14 days. The data were collected using the Strategies Used by People to Promote Health (SUPPH) questionnaire and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and 2 weeks after the intervention.

Results:
After the intervention, the mean score of SUPPH was mean = 120.75 (16.56) and mean(SD) 111.27 (14.40) in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Moreover, after the intervention, the mean score of state and trait anxiety were 34.69 (10.75) and 38.31 (8.44) in the intervention group, and mean(SD) 45.75 (13.01) and 43.50 (8.44) in the control group, respectively. After the intervention, a difference was observed between the groups concerning the mean score of SUPPH (t70 = 2.58; p = 0.01), state anxiety (F1 = 16.52; p < 0.001), and trait anxiety (t70 = −2.49; p = 0.01).

Conclusions:
Considering the effectiveness of psycho-educational interventions in self-efficacy and anxiety, healthcare providers are recommended to use these interventions in COVID-19 patients.
Effect of an Empowerment Program on Life Orientation and Optimism in Coronary Artery Disease Patients
Authors: Kuchi Zeinab Ghasemzadeh , Matourypour Pegah , Esmaeili Maryam , Zakerimoghadam Masoumeh 
Published: January 2023

Background:
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) complications cause patients to experience a great deal of concerns and challenges that have adverse effects on their mental health. This study aimed to assess the effect of an empowerment program on life orientation and optimism in CAD patients.

Materials and Methods:
This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 84 CAD patients admitted to post-CCU wards of Tehran Heart Center during 2018–2019 Patients were allocated to intervention and control groups by block randomization method based on inclusion criteria. Demographic and disease characteristics, and optimism and Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) questionnaires were completed before and eight weeks after intervention. In the intervention group, an empowerment program was implemented. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, paired t-test, and Chi-square test.

Results:
The results showed that the mean of patients' age in the intervention and control group was Mean [Standard Deviation (SD)] 54.59 (7.93) and 55.92 (7.81) years, respectively. Most patients in both intervention (61.90%) and control (66.70%) groups were male. The majority of patients in the intervention group (92.90%) and the control group (95.20%) were married. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics and disease history before the intervention (p > 0.05). After the intervention, a significant difference was observed in the life orientation and optimism scores between the intervention and control groups (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:
By stimulating self-awareness, providing knowledge and encouraging patients to control, and manage their disease, the empowerment program changes patients' view of their disease, and increases their optimism and positive life orientation.
Factors Influencing the Delay in Childbearing
Authors: Safdari-Dehcheshmeh Faranak , Noroozi Mahnaz , Taleghani Fariba , Memar Soraya 
Published: January 2023

Background:
Delay in parenthood and the related consequences for health, population, society, and economy are significant global challenges. This study was conducted to determine the factors affecting delay in childbearing.

Materials and Methods:
This narrative review was conducted in February 2022 using databases: PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cochrane, Scientific Information Database, Iranian Medical Articles Database, Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology, Iranian Magazine Database, and Google Scholar search engine. The search terms used included “delayed childbearing,” “delayed parenthood,” “delayed fertility,” “delay of motherhood,” “parenthood postponement,” “deferred pregnancy,” “reproductive behavior,” and “fertility.”

Results:
Seventeen articles were selected for final evaluation. The factors were studied at micro and macro levels. The factors in micro level fell into two classes: personal and interpersonal. Personal factors included extension of women's education, participation in the labor market, personality traits, attitude and personal preferences, fertility knowledge, and physical and psychological preparation. The interpersonal factors included stable relations with spouse and other important people. The macro level included supportive policies, medical achievements, and sociocultural and economic factors.

Conclusions:
Policy-making and enforcement of interventions, such as improvement of the economic conditions, increased social trust, providing adequate social welfare protection, employment, and support of families using such strategies as creating family-friendly laws, taking into consideration the conditions of the country will reduce the insecurity perceived by the spouses and contribute to a better childbearing plan. Also, improving self-efficacy, increasing couples' reproductive knowledge and modifying their attitude can be helpful to better decision-making in childbearing.
The Role of Occipital Cortex Hyperexcitability in Visual Snow Syndrome
Authors: Unal-Cevik Isin 
Published: January 2023

INTRODUCTION
Visual snow syndrome (VSS) is an emerging clinical entity, mainly characterized by persistent, bilateral, whole-visual field, disturbing, small flickering dots or pixelation, floaters, palinopsia, nyctalopia, photopsia, and photophobia. Patients with VSS also describe associated symptoms such as tinnitus, concentration difficulty, lethargy, depression, anxiety, and irritability, all of which affect the patients' quality of life. The consistency of these visual and nonvisual symptoms has recently led to proposed criteria for VSS. The diagnosis relies on the exclusion of other ophthalmic or neuropsychiatric disorders. Interestingly, many patients may have a comorbid migraine, and the symptoms were previously attributed as a persistent visual phenomenon in migraine. VSS is listed in the International Classification of Headache Disorders-Third Edition Appendix as a complication of migraine; however, VSS is a new disease entity distinct from persistent migraine aura. Some patients with VSS recall exposure to illicit hallucinogenic drugs, amphetamines, cannabis, or Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). The stereotypic clinical characteristics of VSS are currently well defined, and the pathophysiology is under investigation. Due to the subjective perceptual descriptions of patients with VSS, objective electrophysiologic parameters and functional brain imaging studies using magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography are warranted for defining the quantifiable and reliable outcome measures. Patients with migraine, idiopathic occipital epilepsies, patients with Alice in Wonderland syndrome, patients with Charles Bonnet syndrome, visual hallucinations in recovery from cortical blindness, and recreational 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine/ecstasy users have been suggested to have occipital cortex hyperexcitability. VSS is attributed to involving a dysfunctional magnocellular pathway, thalamocortical dysrhythmia, dysfunctional central visual processing, and occipital cortex hyperexcitability as possible underlying mechanisms. This review will focus on the role of occipital cortex hyperexcitability in VSS and hopefully provide insight into its pathophysiology and therapeutic strategies.
Association of Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput Rs1801260 and Hypocretin Receptor 1 Rs2271933 Polymorphisms in Patients with Chronic Migraine and Sleep Disorder
Authors: Hamit Genc , Ayca Ozdemir Asena , Omer Barlas Ibrahim , Nevra Oksuz , Aynur Ozge 
Published: January 2023

Background:
Insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) are frequently reported as sleep disorders, especially in patients with chronic migraine (CM). The main drive of conducting a study on the relationship of genes that regulate circadian rhythm is that migraine contains a robust genetic background, and it is known that migraine attacks have circadian characteristics. This study aims to evaluate the relationship of circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) rs1801260 and hypocretin receptor 1 (HCRTR1) rs2271933 gene-related circadian rhythm of patients with CM and sleep disorders.

Methods:
The present study was designed prospectively in the Mersin University Neurology Clinic. Volunteer individuals aged 18–75 were included in the study in three groups. Each group was made up of 100 individuals. The first group was created among the patients diagnosed with CM. The sleep disorders of patients were evaluated by Epworth Sleep Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale. The second group healthy first-degree relatives of patients. Finally, the third group was formed by the other healthy volunteers who did not have blood relations with the patients. Genotyping was performed for the CLOCK rs1801260 and HCRTR1 rs2271933 genes.

Results:
Eighty-seven (87%) of the patients, 56 (56%) of the control group 1, and 50 (50%) of the control group 2 consisted of female patients. Their mean ages were 41.1 ± 11.5, 45.7 ± 15.2, and 35.9 ± 10. EDS was detected in 27% of the patients, and poor sleep quality was detected in 67%. About 21% of the patients were found to be suffering from both EDS and poor sleep quality. The CLOCK rs1801260 AG genotype was 6.71 times higher than the AA genotype in the migraine patient group with EDS compared to the second control group (odds ratio [OR]: 6.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.819–54.992, P = 0.076). The GG genotype, according to the AA genotype, also was found 2.87 times higher in this group (OR = 2.87, 95% CI: 0.336–24.566, P = 0.335). In the group of patients with CM and insomnia, the CLOCK rs1801260 AG genotype was 17.763 times higher than the AA genotype compared to the second control (OR = 17.763, 95% CI: 2.242–140.740, P = 0.006).

Conclusion:
When CM patients were compared with control groups, CLOCK rs1801260 gene AG genotype was associated with both insomnia and EDS. However, there was no significant relationship between patients and control groups regarding the HCRTR1 rs2271933 gene.
Why Electrophysiological Reassessment is Needed? the Experience of Our Laboratory – a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Gençdal Işil Yazici , Özdağ Acarlı Ayşe Nur , Elmalı Ayşe Deniz , Emekli Ahmed Serkan , Öge Ali Emre , Baslo Mehmet Bariş , Orhan Elif Kocasoy 
Published: January 2023

Introduction:
Requesting repetition of an electrodiagnostic examination (EDX) for follow-up and/or diagnostic verification is common in the daily practice of a reference center.

Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate demographical and electrophysiological characteristics of the patients who were referred to a reference electrophysiology laboratory for reassessment, to explore the underlying reasons, and motives for ordering a reassessment.

Methods:
Patients who had at least one EDX study within the last year in one of the two different time periods (winter and summer) were included in the study. Their demographical features, preliminary diagnosis, and electrophysiological findings were assessed and compared with their previous EDX interpretations.

Results:
Thirty-five (14 female, 21 male) patients (7,7%) out of 457 patients from the winter period (November 11, 2018[FIGURE DASH]December 12, 2018) and 38 (20 female, 18 male) patients (7,8%) out of 487 patients from the summer period (July 01, 2019[FIGURE DASH]August 08, 2019) were included in the study. Age, gender, preliminary diagnosis, and the number of previous electrophysiologic tests were statistically similar between the two groups. The most common reason for reassessment was to verify or to follow-up on a diagnosis of motor neuron disease or polyneuropathy. Compared to the summer group, the patients who had previous EDX in a different center were more common in the winter group, mean duration between EDX studies was also shorter.

Conclusion:
In this study, we have inspected the patients referred to our laboratory within two different time frames in a year for a repeat EDX study. It was observed that the number of patients who underwent a repeat EDX was relatively low, and there was no significant difference not only in the preliminary diagnosis but also in the electrophysiological findings.
Hydrogeochemical Characterization and Quality Assessment of Groundwater Based on Water Quality Index in Imo state, South Eastern Nigeria
Authors: Osisanya O. W. , Agho I. F. , Saleh A. S. , Thompson E. 
Published: January 2023

Water Quality Index (WQI), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Correlation matrix, Metal Pollution Index (MPI), Contamination Factor (CF), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Health Risk Assessment, and Hydrogeochemical facies were used to analyze statistical indexes and hydrogeochemical facies in groundwater resources in Imo state, Nigeria. All across the study area, twenty (20) groundwater samples were collected in a systematic manner. The samples were examined in accordance with the American Public Health Association standard (APHA) method. Findings from the study revealed that WQI, is of poor quality and should only be used for irrigation. Weathering and redox reactions are important in groundwater geochemistry, according to PCA results. TDS and Cl, HCO3 and Zn, Cl; Mg and Ca, Ca and Na were all found to have a positive correlation in the correlation matrix while PH and K, HCO3 and Fe, Cl and SO4 are found to have a negative correlation in the correlation matrix. The findings show that the items have a weak correlation and that there is no relationship between the two variables. Further MPI, CF, and PLI findings revealed that groundwater is pure, the main source of pollution is geological and anthropogenic processes, and there is no pollution in sampled groundwater. Hydrogeochemical trend revealed that groundwater is Na++K+ > HCO3¯+CO3> Mg+ > SO4> Cl¯ > Ca+. Based on the finding, pre-use treatment of water resources is strongly advised.
Serre-invariant stability conditions and Ulrich bundles on cubic threefolds
Authors: Feyzbakhsh Soheyla , Pertusi Laura 
Published: January 2023

We prove a general criterion which ensures that a fractional Calabi--Yau category of dimension $\leq 2$ admits a unique Serre-invariant stability condition, up to the action of the universal cover of $\text{GL}^+_2(\mathbb{R})$. We apply this result to the Kuznetsov component $\text{Ku}(X)$ of a cubic threefold $X$. In particular, we show that all the known stability conditions on $\text{Ku}(X)$ are invariant with respect to the action of the Serre functor and thus lie in the same orbit with respect to the action of the universal cover of $\text{GL}^+_2(\mathbb{R})$. As an application, we show that the moduli space of Ulrich bundles of rank $\geq 2$ on $X$ is irreducible, answering a question asked by Lahoz, Macr\`i and Stellari.Comment: 32 pages
PENGARUH PENDEKATAN CONTEXTUAL TEACHING AND LEARNING (CTL) TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN PEMAHAMAN KONSEP MATEMATIS SISWA
Authors: Daulay Leni Agustina 
Published: January 2023

Tujuan dalam penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh pendekatan pembelajaran Contextual Teaching And Learning (CTL) terhadap kemampuan pemahaman konsep Matematika Siswa Kelas VIII SMP Negeri 4 Takengon. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Kelas VIII SMP Negeri 4 Takengon dengan total jumlah siswa 116, dan terdiri dari 5 kelas. Cara pengambilan sampel peneliti menggunakan purposive sampling untuk menunjuk kelas tertentu sebagai sampel, dan didapatkan kelas yang menjadi sampel adalah kelas VIII4 sebanyak 24 siswa. Desain penelitian menggunakan desain One Group Pretest-Posttest Design Penggumpulan data dalam penelitian ini dilakukan dengan cara tes dan observasi, sedangkan untuk pengukurannya menggunakan uji hipotesis dengan uji-t untuk melihat pengaruh. Berdasarkan hasil perhitungan di dapat nilai > atau 48,606 > 2,068, maka Ha diterima. Artinya terdapat pengaruh secara signifikan menggunakan Pendekatan Contextual Teaching And Learning (CTL) terhadap kemampuan pemahaman konsep matematis siswa kelas VIII SMP Negeri 4 Takengon
INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION SEEKING BEHAVIOR ON ACCESS TO PREFERENTIAL GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT BY SPECIAL GROUPS (YOUTH AND WOMEN) IN NAIROBI COUNTY KENYA
Authors: Muthoka Jackline , Iravo Prof. Mike 
Published: January 2023

Purpose: The main aim of this study was to investigate influence of information seeking behavior on access to preferential government procurement by special groups (youth and women) in Nairobi county Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to; to determine the extent to which influence of sources of information has on access to preferential government procurement by Special Groups (Youth and Women) In Nairobi County ,to assess the extent to which type of information has on preferential Government Procurement by Special Groups (Youth and Women) In Nairobi County Kenya, to investigate the purpose of information has on preferential government procurement by special groups (youth and women) in Nairobi county Kenya.to assess the influence of frequency of information on preferential government procurement by special groups (youth and women) in Nairobi county Kenya.Methodology: The study was based on the public interest theory, transaction cost theory and youth empowerment theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The study targeted the 150 special group’s youth and women in Kenya. The study used descriptive survey design. The study used primary data collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study used the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) computer software for analysis. The statistics generated included descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Microsoft excel was used to complement SPSS especially in production of diagrams and tables. A multiple linear regression model was used to test the significance of the influence of the independent variables on the dependent variable. The analyzed data was presented in frequency tables and charts.Results: The study found out that source of information and Preferential Government Procurement are positively and significant related (r=0.196, p=0.000), type of information and Preferential Government Procurement are positively and significantly related (r=0.191, p=0.000). It was further established that purpose of information and Preferential Government Procurement were positively and significantly related (r=0.099, p=0.005). Similarly, frequency of information and Preferential Government Procurement were positively and significantly related(r=0.165, p=0.001).Recommendation: The study recommends that PPOA should roll out youth and women based training for all members of staff dealing with any procurement matters. The training should focus on formal tools and methods of procurement friendly to youth and women participation.