Disruption Of Network Research Articles

Flood-resilient and inclusive futures: Integrating community, governance and ecology

Various parts of the Davao region, particularly in Davao del Norte, have recently experienced severe flooding and landslides caused by prolonged heavy rainfall due to the shear line weather system and a low-pressure area. The aftermath has led to significant displacement, disruptions in transportation networks, and loss of homes and lives. The response requires a collective effort from local authorities, NGOs, private sectors, and affected communities, focusing on well-equipped evacuation centers, meeting basic needs, and sustainable design principles. Safeguarding vulnerable populations, including women, children, and senior citizens, is emphasized, requiring tailored assistance and inclusive decision-making processes. Regenerative solutions beyond temporary relief, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable urban planning are imperative to address long-term challenges. Flood management is a comprehensive, multi-sectoral, and integrated approach, involving community participation, collaborative governance, and application of ecological principles. A holistic understanding of the nexus between human societies and the environment is crucial for fostering resilient social-ecological systems, encompassing coping mechanisms, adaptive strategies, and transformative capacities to thrive amidst the dynamics of nature.

English Foreign Language Teachers’ Perception on The Use of Information and Communication Technology in Teaching English at SMKN 3 Langsa

This study aimed to explore English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers' perceptions of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use in the English language teaching and learning process. The main purpose of this article is to explore the challenges of teacher face in using ICT. Two experienced teachers, recognized for their ICT integration, selected as the research subjects at SMK Negeri 3 Langsa. Employing a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design, data was collected through semi-structured interview. The findings reveal that both teachers acknowledge the positive role of ICT in enhancing teaching efficiency, student engagement, and diversifying learning resources. Despite encountering technical challenges, such as network disruptions, both teachers advocate for continuous teacher training, increased investment in ICT infrastructure, and innovative research to optimize ICT integration in English language teaching, ultimately contributing to a more effective learning environment.

Technogenic Reservoirs Resources of Mine Methane When Implementing the Circular Waste Management Concept

From a commercial viewpoint, mine methane is the most promising object in the field of reducing emissions of climate-active gases due to circular waste management. Therefore, the task of this research is to estimate the technogenic reservoirs resources of mine methane when implementing the circular waste management concept. The novelty of the authors’ approach lies in reconstructing the response space for the dynamics of methane release from the front and cross projections: CH4 = ƒ(S; t) and CH4 = ƒ(S; L), respectively. The research established a polynomial dependence of nonlinear changes in methane concentrations in the mixture extracted by type 4 wells when a massif is undermined as a result of mining in a full-retreat panel. And the distance from the face to the start of mining the panel is reduced by 220 m. For this reason, the emission of mine methane, in case of degasification network disruption in 15 days, can amount to more than 660 thousand m3 only for wells of type no. 4.

Large-scale functional network connectivity mediates the association between nigral neuromelanin hypopigmentation and motor impairment in Parkinson's disease.

Neuromelanin hypopigmentation within substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) reflects the loss of pigmented neurons, which in turn contributes to the dysfunction of the nigrostriatal and striato-cortical pathways in Parkinson's disease (PD). Our study aims to investigate the relationships between SN degeneration manifested by neuromelanin reduction, functional connectivity (FC) among large-scale brain networks, and motor impairment in PD. This study included 68 idiopathic PD patients and 32 age-, sex- and education level-matched healthy controls who underwent neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI, and motor assessments. SN integrity was measured using the subregional contrast-to-noise ratio calculated from neuromelanin-sensitive MRI. Resting-state FC maps were obtained based on the independent component analysis. Subsequently, we performed partial correlation and mediation analyses in SN degeneration, network disruption, and motor impairment for PD patients. We found significantly decreased neuromelanin within SN and widely altered inter-network FCs, mainly involved in the basal ganglia (BG), sensorimotor and frontoparietal networks in PD. In addition, decreased neuromelanin content was negatively correlated with the dorsal sensorimotor network (dSMN)-medial visual network connection (P = 0.012) and dSMN-BG connection (P = 0.004). Importantly, the effect of SN neuromelanin hypopigmentation on motor symptom severity in PD is partially mediated by the increased connectivity strength between BG and dSMN (indirect effect = - 1.358, 95% CI: - 2.997, - 0.147). Our results advanced our understanding of the interactions between neuromelanin hypopigmentation in SN and altered FCs of functional networks in PD and suggested the potential of multimodal metrics for early diagnosis and monitoring the response to therapies.

Social Experiences and Health Needs of Patients with Severe Mental Illness and their Caregivers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

Background The strict isolation measures for the population imposed by the health authorities caused a prolonged disruption of informal social support networks. Both this new social situation and the decrease in accessibility to health care have generated new needs in people with severe mental illness (SMI) and their caregivers. Objectives This study provides insight into life experiences and health needs of a population with SMI during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. Methods Qualitative design using semi-structured dyadic interviews, conducted from January through December 2022. A purposive sampling of patients with SMI and their caregivers was carried out through key informants in rural and urban localities in southern Spain. Verbatims were identified and classified by triangulation after the evaluation of the interview transcripts. The codes were defined through content analysis using the NVivo software. Results Semi-structured dyadic interviews (21), identifying three main categories: 1. Social isolation: increased, causing greater personal vulnerability, exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms and exhaustion in caregivers. 2. Accessibility to Health Services : decreased with fewer face-to-face consultations, with difficulty in managing urgent situations and telephone attention in decompensated and disabled patients. 3. Continuity of healthcare: decreased with distrust in health professionals due to lack of communication between primary care and the hospital Conclusion COVID-19 confinement exacerbated loneliness and worse health self-perception in SMI people. Greater formal social support was required. GPs role is key to avoiding delays in appointments and lack of coordination between primary and specialised care.

RNAi-directed knockdown in the cnidarian fish blood parasite Sphaerospora molnari

RNA interference (RNAi) is an effective approach to suppress gene expression and monitor gene regulation. Despite its wide application, its use is limited in certain taxonomic groups, including cnidarians. Myxozoans are a unique group of cnidarian parasites that diverged from their free-living ancestors about 600 million years ago, with several species causing acute disease in farmed and wild fish populations. In this pioneering study we successfully applied RNAi in blood stages of the myxozoan Sphaerospora molnari, combining a dsRNA soaking approach, real-time PCR, confocal microscopy, and Western blotting. For proof of concept, we knocked down two unusual actins, one of which is known to play a critical role in S. molnari cell motility. We observed intracellular uptake of dsRNA after 30 min and accumulation in all cells of the typical myxozoan cell-in-cell structure. We successfully knocked down actin in S. molnari in vitro, with transient inhibition for 48 h. We observed the disruption of the cytoskeletal network within the primary cell and loss of the characteristic rotational cell motility. This RNAi workflow could significantly advance functional research within the Myxozoa, offering new prospects for investigating therapeutic targets and facilitating drug discovery against economically important fish parasites.

Passenger service-oriented timetable rescheduling for large-scale disruptions in a railway network: A heuristic-based alternating direction method of multipliers

Unpredictable disruptions arising in railway operations can cause significant inconvenience for passengers, including missed connections or deviations from their travel plans. To address this issue, this paper proposes a service-oriented timetable rescheduling approach to assist dispatchers in managing major disruptions in a railway system that incorporates a seat reservation mechanism. The railway network is abstracted at a near-microscopic level, and the actual passenger service is explicitly modeled at the station platform. An integer linear programming (ILP) formulation is then constructed based on the space-time network, which considers train retiming, reordering, and local rerouting to minimize the adverse effects on passengers. A compact form of an incompatible set is formulated to describe the coupling connections of train headway and station capacity, to minimize weighted passengers' inconvenience. To overcome computational barriers and practical complexities, the paper proposes an Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers Heuristic, i.e., ADMM-H. The ADMM-H decomposes the original problem into a series of train-specific subproblems that are easy to solve. An importance-based heuristic sorting strategy is adopted while individually solving train-level path subproblems based on their duality and feasibility. The proposed methods were tested using numerical instances based on real-world data to verify their effectiveness and efficiency. The results showed that the service-oriented train rescheduling approach significantly improves the passenger experience during disruptions, with an improvement (up to 19.86 %) compared to traditional operation-oriented approaches. The ADMM-H algorithm can reduce the computational time (up to 8.41 %) and obtain a sub-optimal solution with a lower gap compared with the naive ADMM. The proposed approach and algorithm can be valuable for railway operators to mitigate the negative effects of disruptions and enhance passenger satisfaction.

Abstract WP220: Structural Connectivity Injury is Associated With Poor Language Outcomes in Perinatal Stroke

Introduction: Perinatal stroke refers to brain injury sustained between 28 weeks of gestational age (GA) and 28 days of life. Stroke risk in the newborn period is significantly higher relative to other life stages, and over half of all survivors endure lifelong neurological sequalae. Language deficits are observed in many patients, can emerge at any stage in development, and are difficult to predict. Lesion laterality and location are not sufficient to explain language outcomes in a rapidly developing brain with capacities for reassignment of functions to non-injured structures. Structural connectivity studies describe a “rich club” organization of the brain with 6 bilateral highly connected anatomical structures that form the information backbone for all networks. This organization has been found to exist as early as 30 weeks GA. The effects of injury to this rich club have been studied in adult stroke patients with respect to stroke severity and outcome. Given that language is a network function, we hypothesized that injury to rich club regions - a measure of structural network disruption - is associated with poor language outcomes in perinatal stroke. Methods: Retrospective study that identified perinatal stroke patients in a pediatric stroke clinic database. Clinical and imaging data retrieved included brain MRI scans and longitudinal scores of standardized neuropsychological tests. Multiple linear regression models were created for the following variables: age, sex, Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, lesion volume (cm 3 ), and number of rich clubs affected by the stroke. All analyses were conducted using the computing environment R. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Cohort of 75 patients was identified. Median time to follow up was 7 years, and median time between the first and last test was 30 months. Lesion volume significantly influenced receptive language outcomes at younger ages (beta = -0.446), however the number of rich clubs affected by the injury was the only significant variable associated with a poor expressive language outcome at follow-up (beta = -0.699). Discussion: Number of rich clubs affected by injury, as a global measure of structural network disruption in the neonatal period, can be used to inform language outcome prognostication.

Osteoclasts and osteoarthritis: Novel intervention targets and therapeutic potentials during aging.

Osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic degenerative joint disease, is highly prevalent among the aging population, and often leads to joint pain, disability, and a diminished quality of life. Although considerable research has been conducted, the precise molecular mechanisms propelling OA pathogenesis continue to be elusive, thereby impeding the development of effective therapeutics. Notably, recent studies have revealed subchondral bone lesions precede cartilage degeneration in the early stage of OA. This development is marked by escalated osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, subsequent imbalances in bone metabolism, accelerated bone turnover, and a decrease in bone volume, thereby contributing significantly to the pathological changes. While the role of aging hallmarks in OA has been extensively elucidated from the perspective of chondrocytes, their connection with osteoclasts is not yet fully understood. There is compelling evidence to suggest that age-related abnormalities such as epigenetic alterations, proteostasis network disruption, cellular senescence, and mitochondrial dysfunction, can stimulate osteoclast activity. This review intends to systematically discuss how aging hallmarks contribute to OA pathogenesis, placing particular emphasis on the age-induced shifts in osteoclast activity. It also aims to stimulate future studies probing into the pathological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches targeting osteoclasts in OA during aging.

The Concept of Fog Computing with IoT, Algorithms and Challenges

Fog computing has emerged as a solution to the challenges faced by cloud computing (CC) in the context of the Internet of Things (IOT), including performance, security, latency, and network disruptions. By bringing CC closer to the IOT, fog computing effectively tackles these issues. The primary function of fog computing is to provide proximity to IOT device-generated data at the edge. Instead of transferring the data to the cloud server, local information processing and storage occur at the fog node. When compared to the cloud, fog computing offers services characterized by high quality and fast response times. Hence, fog computing might be the ideal choice to allow the Internet of Things to supply a green and exceptionally secure carrier to IOT clients.

State- and trait-related dysfunctions in bipolar disorder across different mood states: a graph theory study.

The interplay between state- and trait-related disruptions in structural networks remains unclear in bipolar disorder (BD), but graph theory can offer insights into global and local network changes. We sought to use diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and graph theory approaches to analyze structural topological properties across distinct mood states and identify high-risk individuals by examining state- and trait-related impairments in BD. We studied changes in white matter network among patients with BD and healthy controls, exploring relationships with clinical variables. Secondary analysis involved comparing patients with BD with unaffected people at high genetic risk for BD. We included 152 patients with BD, including 52 with depressive BD (DBD), 64 with euthymic BD (EBD) and 36 with manic BD (MBD); we also included 75 healthy controls. Secondary analyses involved 27 unaffected people at high genetic risk for BD. Patients with DBD and MBD exhibited significantly lower global efficiencies than those with EBD and healthy controls, with patients with DBD showing the lowest global efficiencies. In addition, patients with DBD displayed impaired local efficiency and normalized clustering coefficient (γ). At a global level, γ correlated negatively with depression and anxiety. Compared with healthy controls, and across mood states, patients with BD showed abnormal shortest path lengths in the frontolimbic circuit, a trend mirrored among those at high genetic risk for BD. Considerations include medication effects, absence of recorded BD episode counts and the cross-sectional nature of the study. Mood-specific whole-brain network metrics could serve as potential biomarkers in BD for transitions between mood states. Moreover, these findings contribute to evidence of trait-related frontolimbic circuit irregularities, shedding light on underlying pathophysiological mechanisms in BD.

Individualized Texture Similarity Network in Schizophrenia

BackgroundStructural covariance network disruption has been considered an important pathophysiological indicator for schizophrenia. Here, we introduced a novel individualized structural covariance network measure, referred to as a texture similarity network (TSN), and hypothesized that the TSN could reliably reveal unique intersubject heterogeneity and complex dysconnectivity patterns in schizophrenia. MethodsThe TSN was constructed by measuring the covariance of 180 three-dimensional voxelwise gray-level co-occurrence matrix feature maps between brain areas in each participant. We first tested the validity and reproducibility of the TSN in characterizing the intersubject variability in 2 longitudinal test-retest healthy cohorts. The TSN was further applied to elucidate intersubject variability and dysconnectivity patterns in 10 schizophrenia case-control datasets (609 schizophrenia cases vs. 579 controls) as well as in a first-episode depression dataset (69 patients with depression vs. 69 control participants). ResultsThe test-retest analysis demonstrated higher TSN intersubject than intrasubject variability. Moreover, the TSN reliably revealed higher intersubject variability in both chronic and first-episode schizophrenia, but not in depression. The TSN also reproducibly detected coexistent increased and decreased TSN strength in widespread brain areas, increased global small-worldness, and the coexistence of both structural hyposynchronization in the central networks and hypersynchronization in peripheral networks in patients with schizophrenia but not in patients with depression. Finally, aberrant intersubject variability and covariance strength patterns revealed by the TSN showed a missing or weak correlation with other individualized structural covariance network measures, functional connectivity, and regional volume changes. ConclusionsThese findings support the reliability of a TSN in revealing unique structural heterogeneity and complex dysconnectivity in patients with schizophrenia.

Timing of connection to mycorrhizal networks matters: Nutrition, N fixation, and transfer of fixed N in maize-bean intercropping

The mycorrhiza-mediated transfer of nutrients to plants connected through mycorrhizal networks may be managed through the timing at which plants integrate to the networks and the integrity of those networks. This is particularly relevant for intercropping agrosystems. We used soil tillage to disrupt mycorrhizal networks and sowing time treatments to manipulate the connection time of maize and bean in a field experiment. We hypothesized that 1) the benefits from connecting to mycorrhizal networks would be greater for the crop that is established first and retrieved resources from the network without competition, and 2) tillage disruption delaying colonization and connection to preserved mycorrhizal networks would reduce mycorrhizal colonization in roots and soil, crop nutrition, N fixation by beans, and transfer of fixed N to maize. Mycorrhizal network disruption with tillage reduced early mycorrhizal development in roots and soil, and N and P nutrition of both crops. In general, sowing time had no effect in maize but tillage increased plant density, growth, and the yield of maize by alleviating soil compaction. Reduced tillage and early sowing increased nutrition, development, N fixation and yield of bean. N derived from symbiotic fixation in bean and transferred to maize were higher with bean sown before maize under reduced tillage. Early connection to mycorrhizal networks favored mostly bean and made little difference to maize regardless of sowing time, contrary to our expectations. The greatest overall benefit for both crops was obtained when bean was sown before maize and connected early to preserved mycorrhizal networks under reduced tillage.

Reformulation of The Post-Pandemic Learning System in Responding the Challenges of Lost Learning and Lost Generation

This study aims to reformulate the post-pandemic learning system at UIN Imam Bonjol and UIN Syekh Ali Hasan Ahmad Addari in responding to the challenges of lost learning and lost generation. This research used a qualitative approach with a multi-case study method. Participants in this study were selected by purposive sampling, namely institutional field, and academic leaders, LPM, lecturers and students. Data collection techniques using focus group discussions and interviews. The data analysis technique was carried out with individual and cross-case analyses. The research findings stated that the pandemic affected the learning system, for example, through changes in student attitudes, low motivation in learning, readiness of teaching materials, limited ability to use technology, and network disruption. Policies related to the implementation of distance learning bring challenges that must be faced by UIN Imam Bonjol and UIN Syahada, including determining learning goals, adapting the learning system, adjusting the characteristics of lecturers and students, as well as the need for learning facilities. UIN Imam Bonjol and UIN Syahada reformulated the learning system by implementing the hybrid learning system to anticipate the occurrence of lost learning. Lecturers and students responded positively to the new learning system policy, in line with the benefits obtained, for example, flexibility in learning, students are used to self-study, digital-based learning materials, still respect face-to-face learning, flipped learning innovation, curriculum appropriate to the industrial era 4.0, and the implementation of an independent curriculum.

A Review of Current Perspectives on Motoric Insufficiency Rehabilitation following Pediatric Stroke.

Pediatric stroke (PS) is an injury caused by the occlusion or rupture of a blood vessel in the central nervous system (CNS) of children, before or after birth. Hemiparesis is the most common motoric deficit associated with PS in children. Therefore, it is important to emphasize that PS is a significant challenge for rehabilitation, especially since the consequences may also appear during the child's growth and development, reducing functional capacity. The plasticity of the child's CNS is an important predecessor of recovery, but disruption of the neural network, specific to an immature brain, can have harmful and potentially devastating consequences. In this review, we summarize the complexity of the consequences associated with PS and the possibilities and role of modern rehabilitation. An analysis of the current literature reveals that Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, forced-use therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, functional electrical stimulation and robot-assisted therapy have demonstrated at least partial improvements in motor domains related to hemiparesis or hemiplegia caused by PS, but they are supported with different levels of evidence. Due to the lack of randomized controlled studies, the optimal rehabilitation treatment is still debatable, and therefore, most recommendations are primarily based on expert consensuses, opinions and an insufficient level of evidence.

Longitudinal default mode sub-networks in the language and visual variants of Alzheimer's disease.

Disruption of the default mode network is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, which has not been extensively examined in atypical phenotypes. We investigated cross-sectional and 1-year longitudinal changes in default mode network sub-systems in the visual and language variants of Alzheimer's disease, in relation to age and tau. Sixty-one amyloid-positive Alzheimer's disease participants diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (n = 33) or logopenic progressive aphasia (n = 28) underwent structural MRI, resting-state functional MRI and [18F]flortaucipir PET. One-hundred and twenty-two amyloid-negative cognitively unimpaired individuals and 60 amyloid-positive individuals diagnosed with amnestic Alzheimer's disease were included as controls and as a comparison group, respectively, and had structural and resting-state functional MRI. Forty-one atypical Alzheimer's disease participants, 26 amnestic Alzheimer's disease participants and 40 cognitively unimpaired individuals had one follow-up functional MRI ∼1-2 years after the baseline scan. Default mode network connectivity was calculated using the dual regression method for posterior, ventral, anterior ventral and anterior dorsal sub-systems derived from independent component analysis. A global measure of default mode network connectivity, the network failure quotient, was also calculated. Linear mixed-effects models and voxel-based analyses were computed for each connectivity measure. Both atypical and amnestic Alzheimer's disease participants had lower cross-sectional posterior and ventral and higher anterior dorsal connectivity and network failure quotient relative to cognitively unimpaired individuals. Age had opposite effects on connectivity in Alzheimer's disease participants and cognitively unimpaired individuals. While connectivity declined with age in cognitively unimpaired individuals, younger Alzheimer's disease participants had lower connectivity than the older ones, particularly in the ventral default mode network. Greater baseline tau-PET uptake was associated with lower ventral and anterior ventral default mode network connectivity in atypical Alzheimer's disease. Connectivity in the ventral default mode network declined over time in atypical Alzheimer's disease, particularly in older participants, with lower tau burden. Voxel-based analyses validated the findings of higher anterior dorsal default mode network connectivity, lower posterior and ventral default mode network connectivity and decline in ventral default mode network connectivity over time in atypical Alzheimer's disease. Visuospatial symptoms were associated with default mode network connectivity disruption. In summary, default mode connectivity disruption was similar between atypical and amnestic Alzheimer's disease variants, and discriminated Alzheimer's disease from cognitively unimpaired individuals, with decreased posterior and increased anterior connectivity and with disruption more pronounced in younger participants. The ventral default mode network declined over time in atypical Alzheimer's disease, suggesting a shift in default mode network connectivity likely related to tau pathology.

Synthesis and Morphology of Flexible Polyurethane Foams Containing Neem Oil and Clove Powder

Polyurethane foams are a versatile class of polymeric materials whose physico-chemical structure and properties can be modified by incorporating additives. This study examined the effect of naturally occurring insect-repelling additives such as neem oil (NO) and clove powder (CP) on the formulation and morphology of flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) composites. The foams were prepared by the prepolymer method using a box test as applied in the foam industry. The composite material was formulated by varying the isocyanate index (103 and 108) as an excess amount of isocyanate was required to react with the additives. The formulation at 103 was unsuccessful as the foams collapsed immediately after rising. However, at 108, two main categories of foams were successfully prepared: foams containing either NO or CP and the other containing both additives. The effect of these additives on the formulation was examined by monitoring the foam reaction using the cream, tack-free, and rising times. It was observed that the cream, tack-free, and rising times increased with increasing NO/CP content. Conversely, the morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscope (OP). The SEM images revealed disruption of the foam network with 1 wt% NO, likewise those containing 1 wt% CP. The cellular network of the foams with simultaneous addition of NO and CP was similar to that of the neat foams and had no broken cell joints and struts due to better dispersion of the additives in the polyurethane matrix. The study indicates that the combined addition of NO and CP modifies the morphology of FPUF, which can influence their physico-mechanical properties.

Structural investigation and effect of gamma-ray irradiation on barium borate glasses containing vanadium oxide

This work investigates the structural changes induced in barium borate glasses by gamma irradiation doses and vanadium doping using FTIR spectroscopic technique. Binary Barium borate parent glass and samples of the same composition containing different concentrations of vanadium oxide with formula xV2O5-(65-x)B2O3-35BaO (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) were synthesized by melt quenching technique. FTIR spectroscopy approves the formation of both BO3 trigonal and BO4 tetrahedral structural units within the network backbone. V2O5 additions lead to borate network depolymerization by breaking B-O-B bonds and increasing V2O5 content causes systematic reductions in boroxol rings and B-O-B linkages, indicating disruption of the borate network. Gamma irradiation also damages the borate structure by cleaving B-O-B bonds in boroxol rings and BO3 units. This progressively converts BO3 to BO4 groups. Infrared spectroscopy reveals decreases in BO3 vibrations at higher doses as the network degrades. The radiation-induced network damage leads to changes in glass properties including thermal stability and hardness. A clearer understanding of borate structural modifications helps target these glasses for optical devices with controlled properties.

Application of short-term analysis of skin temperature variability in prediction of survival in patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is a complex disorder, involving several different organ systems and physiological network disruption. Various physiological markers have been developed for survival modelling in patients with cirrhosis. Reduction in heart rate variability and skin temperature variability have been shown to predict mortality in cirrhosis, with the potential to aid clinical prognostication. We have recently reported that short-term skin temperature variability analysis can predict survival independently of the severity of liver failure in cirrhosis. However, in previous reports, 24-h skin temperature recordings were used, which are often not feasible in the context of routine clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to determine the shortest length of time from 24-h proximal temperature recordings that can accurately and independently predict 12-month survival post-recording in patients with cirrhosis. Methods: Forty individuals diagnosed with cirrhosis participated in this study and wireless temperature sensors (iButtons) were used to record patients' proximal skin temperature. From 24-h temperature recordings, different length of recordings (30 min, 1, 2, 3 and 6h) were extracted sequentially for temperature variability analysis using the Extended Poincaré plot to quantify both short-term (SD1) and long-term (SD2) variability. These patients were then subsequently followed for a period of 12 months, during which data was gathered concerning any cases of mortality. Results: Cirrhosis was associated with significantly decreased proximal skin temperature fluctuations among individuals who did not survive, across all durations of daytime temperature recordings lasting 1hour or more. Survival analysis showcased 1-h daytime proximal skin temperature time-series to be significant predictors of survival in cirrhosis, whereby SD2, was found to be independent to the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and thus, the extent of disease severity. As expected, longer durations of time-series were also predictors of mortality for the majority of the temperature variability indices. Conclusion: Crucially, this study suggests that 1-h proximal skin temperature recordings are sufficient in length to accurately predict 12-month survival in patients with cirrhosis, independent from current prognostic indicators used in the clinic such as MELD.

Assessing COVID-19 Lockdown's Impact: Domestic Violence Against Women in a Selected community of Lalitpur

This study examines at how prevalent domestic violence was against women in a particular Lalitpur community during the Covid-19 lockdown. Violence against women encompasses acts of aggression directed primarily or exclusively towards women and girls. The confluence of economic strain, movement restrictions, heightened partner frustration, and the disruption of social and protective networks during the lockdown amplifies women's susceptibility to exploitation and abuse. Employing a descriptive cross-sectional design, the study employed a convenient sampling technique to select 74 married women within the reproductive age group. A systematic interview schedule was used for data collection, and inferential statistics like the Chi-square test were used in conjunction with descriptive statistics like frequency and percentage for the analysis that followed. The study found that during the Covid-19 shutdown, domestic violence against women was prevalent in 31.1% of cases. Victims reported experiencing emotional (37.7%), economic (23.0%), physical (31.1%), and sexual (8.2%) violence. The primary contributing factors to the occurrence of violence were identified as being confined at home with the abuser (31.1%), financial concerns (28.4%), and problematic inter-relationships within family members (28.4%). Of the variables taken into account, the only ones that showed a significant correlation with the occurrence of domestic violence during the Covid-19 lockdown era were the husband's employment, education, and history of violence. The results highlight how urgent it is to address domestic abuse of women in Nepal, especially during times of crisis like the Covid-19 lockdown. It is imperative for the country to prioritize the enhancement of support systems to prevent the occurrence of such violence and safeguard the well-being of victims.