Physical Role Research Articles

Health-related quality of life among adult patients with cancer in Uganda – a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Objectives The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with poor health-related quality of life in adults with cancer in Uganda. Methods This cross-sectional study surveyed 385 adult patients (95% response rate) with various cancers at a specialised oncology facility in Uganda. Health-related quality of life was measured using the EORTC QLQ-C30 in the Luganda and English languages. Predetermined validated clinical thresholds were applied to the instrument in order to identify patients with poor health-related quality of life, that is, functional impairments or symptoms warranting concern. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with poor health-related quality of life in six subscales: Physical Function, Role Function, Emotional Function, Social Function, Pain and Fatigue. Results The mean age of the patients was 48 years. The majority self-reported poor functioning ranging between 61% (Emotional Function) to 79% (Physical Function) and symptoms (Fatigue 63%, Pain 80%) at clinically concerning levels. These patients were more likely to be older, without formal education and not currently working. Being an inpatient at the facility and being diagnosed with cervical cancer or leukaemia was a predictor of poor health-related quality of life. Conclusion Improvement of cancer care in East Africa requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses various challenges specific to the region. Such strategies include investment in healthcare infrastructure, for example, clinical guidelines to improve pain management, and patient education and support services.

Association between quality of life and mortality risk in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patients with breast cancer present with various problems that have an adverse effect on the quality of life (QOL). However, the association between the QOL and mortality among patients with breast cancer remains controversial. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine whether QOL impacts prognosis in patients with breast cancer. The databases of CINAHL, Scopus, and PubMed databases were searched to retrieve observational studies that assessed the QOL and mortality risk in patients with breast cancer published before December 2022. Among the 119,061 articles retrieved, six observational studies were included in the meta-analysis. Physical QOL (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.07, p = 0.003), emotional QOL (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.03, p = 0.05), and role QOL (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.01, p = 0.007) showed significant associations with mortality risk. In contrast, global QOL, cognitive QOL, and social QOL showed no associations with mortality risk. Subgroup analysis performed according to treatment time points revealed that the post-treatment physical QOL was associated with mortality risk. Physical QOL, emotional QOL, and role QOL are associated with mortality risk in patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, post-treatment physical QOL showed a more significant association with prolonged survival than pre-treatment physical QOL.

Evaluation of Pediatric Oral Health-Related Quality of Life score in children with traumatic dental avulsion injury: A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional survey.

Dental avulsion injury, being one of the traumatic dental injuries, has negative impacts on children's life quality. This study aims to evaluate the Pediatric Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (POQL) scores of children with dental avulsion history from their perspective. The population of this cross-sectional study comprises 40 patients, aged between 8 and 14, who have a history of dental avulsion, in comparison to 40 other healthy peers. A questionnaire including general questions (such as age, gender, loss of tooth due to dental avulsion, malocclusion) and POQL instrument, with subscales including physical function, social function, emotional function, and role function, were completed by these children. Mann-Whitney U-test is used when comparing the POQL scores. The social scores (median: 47, interquartile range [IQR]: 17-95) and total score percentages (median: 30, IQR: 14-40) of children with a history of avulsion were higher than those of their healthy peers (p < 0.05). The higher total POQL scores among girls (median: 37, IQR: 31-47) with a history of dental avulsion compared to boys (median: 19, IQR: 8-34) (p = .002) can be attributed to girls achieving higher scores in both social (median: 81, IQR: 39-100) and emotional (median: 35, IQR: 17-47) scores following dental avulsion (psocial = .02, pemotional = .006). Whether the avulsed tooth is replanted or not, it has not made any visible impact on the POQL scores. However, the loss of replanted teeth over time has created a borderline significant difference in emotional scores (median: 21, IQR: 11-35, p = .055). Within the limits of our study, avulsion injuries have negative effects on children's emotional, social, and total quality of life. Even though avulsion injuries may be inevitable, to prevent these negative effects, it is vital to provide appropriate psychological support in the treatment of these children.

The quality of life after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Cervical discopathy is commonly associated with pain in the cervical spine which may affect patients’ quality of life. If conservative treatment fails to relieve the pain for at least 6 months and/or if neurological deficit progresses, the surgical treatment is taken under consideration. The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and disability of patients after single- and multi-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with standalone polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages. The study evaluated how ACDF influenced particular aspects of patients’ quality of life in the context of radiological outcome. The study included 30 consecutive patients with single- or multi-level cervical disc herniation. Patients underwent clinical and radiological evaluation before and one year after the ACDF procedure. For each patient, we assessed the severity of cervical pain with a numerical rating scale (NRS) and filled the neck disability index questionnaire (NDI). The health-related quality of life was assessed with the Polish version of 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). A significant decrease in all NDI aspects indicates a significant improvement after surgery. The quality of life in all aspects assessed with SF-36 scale was also improved. A moderate decrease in cervical spine mobility coexisted with a good outcome of the neurosurgical procedure. In the opinion of patients, the most important aspect after the cervical spine surgery is the reduction of pain severity. ACDF surgery is an effective method to reduce the severity of pain in patients with degenerative disc disease. ACDF improves the quality of patient’s life. According to the study results the physical role improved most significantly; the least improvement was noted in role-emotional aspect. Up to 83% of patients achieved a reduction of the NDI index by 5 or more points after surgical treatment which proves the high effectiveness of the surgical treatment. No statistically significant difference was noted between patients with single and multi – level discopathy. Up to 97% of patients who underwent ACDF reported a significant decrease in pain severity measured with NRS.

Symmetry and symmetric transformations in mathematical imaging

The article delves into the intricate relationship between symmetry and mathematical imaging, spanning various mathematical disciplines. Symmetry, a concept deeply ingrained in mathematics, manifests in art, nature, and physics, providing a powerful tool for understanding complex structures. The paper explores three types of symmetriesreflection, rotational, and translationalexemplified through concrete mathematical expressions. Evariste Galoiss Group Theory emerges as a pivotal tool, providing a formal framework to understand and classify symmetric operations, particularly in the roots of polynomial equations. Galois theory, a cornerstone of modern algebra, connects symmetries, permutations, and solvability of equations. Group theory finds practical applications in cryptography, physics, and coding theory. Sophus Lie extends group theory to continuous spaces with Lie Group Theory, offering a powerful framework for studying continuous symmetries. Lie groups find applications in robotics and control theory, streamlining the representation of transformations. Benoit Mandelbrots fractal geometry, introduced in the late 20th century, provides a mathematical framework for understanding complex, self-similar shapes. The applications of fractal geometry range from computer graphics to financial modeling. Symmetrys practical applications extend to data visualization and cryptography. The article concludes by emphasizing symmetrys foundational role in physics, chemistry, computer graphics, and beyond. A deeper understanding of symmetry not only enriches perspectives across scientific disciplines but also fosters interdisciplinary collaborations, unveiling hidden order and structure in the natural and designed world. The exploration of symmetry promises ongoing discoveries at the intersection of mathematics and diverse fields of study.

Sensitivity of HAFS-B Tropical Cyclone Forecasts to Planetary Boundary Layer and Microphysics Parameterizations

Abstract Understanding how model physics impact tropical cyclone (TC) structure, motion, and evolution is critical for the development of TC forecast models. This study examines the impacts of microphysics and planetary boundary layer (PBL) physics on forecasts using the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFS), which is newly operational in 2023. The “HAFS-B” version is specifically evaluated, and three sensitivity tests (for over 400 cases in 15 Atlantic TCs) are compared with retrospective HAFS-B runs. Sensitivity tests are generated by 1) changing the microphysics in HAFS-B from Thompson to GFDL, 2) turning off the TC-specific PBL modifications that have been implemented in operational HAFS-B, and 3) combining the PBL and microphysics modifications. The forecasts are compared through standard verification metrics, and also examination of composite structure. Verification results show that Thompson microphysics slightly degrades the days 3–4 forecast track in HAFS-B, but improves forecasts of long-term intensity. The TC-specific PBL changes lead to a reduction in a negative intensity bias and improvement in RI skill, but cause some degradation in prediction of 34-kt (1 kt ≈ 0.51 m s−1) wind radii. Composites illustrate slightly deeper vortices in runs with the Thompson microphysics, and stronger PBL inflow with the TC-specific PBL modifications. These combined results demonstrate the critical role of model physics in regulating TC structure and intensity, and point to the need to continue to develop improvements to HAFS physics. The study also shows that the combination of both PBL and microphysics modifications (which are both included in one of the two versions of HAFS in the first operational implementation) leads to the best overall results. Significance Statement A new hurricane model, the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFS), is being introduced for operational prediction during the 2023 hurricane season. One of the most important parts of any forecast model are the “physics parameterizations,” or approximations of physical processes that govern things like turbulence, cloud formation, etc. In this study, we tested these approximations in one configuration of HAFS, HAFS-B. Specifically, we looked at two different versions of the microphysics (modeling the growth of water and ice in clouds) and boundary layer physics (the approximations for turbulence in the lowest level of the atmosphere). We found that both of these sets of model physics had important effects on the forecasts from HAFS. The microphysics had notable impacts on the track forecasts, and also changed the vertical depth of the model hurricanes. The boundary layer physics, including some of our changes based on observed hurricanes and turbulence-resolving models, helped the model better predict rapid intensification (periods where the wind speed increases quickly). Work is ongoing to improve the model physics for better forecasts of rapid intensification and overall storm structure, including storm size. The study also shows the combination of both PBL and microphysics modifications overall leads to the best results and thus was used as one of the two first operational implementations of HAFS.

The Role of Diagnostic Medical Physics in Medicine: An Overview

This paper provides a thorough overview of the vital role diagnostic medical physicists play in the medical field, focusing on diagnostic radiology. This paper investigates the relationship between medical practices and physics highlights the fundamental role that physics plays in understanding the cosmos and outlines the numerous applications of physics, including medical physics. The paper's main focus is on the many applications of medical physics, especially in diagnostic imaging, which includes nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasound. There is an in-depth discussion of specialized fields such as radiation protection, nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, and radiotherapy physics. The authors stress the importance of medical physics in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, providing new technologies such as Positron-Emission Tomography (PET) that provide insights into structural and biological changes. The article outlines the duties of diagnostic medical physicists, including quality assurance and control as well as equipment evaluation and compliance. The critical role that radiation treatment programs play in preserving patient, staff and public safety is emphasized. The authors discuss how modern radiation therapy is becoming more complex and how important strong protocols are for patient safety. The important role that medical physicists play in guaranteeing the highest standards of medical care is highlighted, along with the European Union's efforts to standardize radiotherapy treatments among its member states. It is recommended that the health care system needs medical physicists to ensure the safety and protection of both patients and medical/ x-ray staff.

Mathematical concepts as the basis for solving physical problems

Mathematical concepts play a fundamental role in physics. They are used to express physical laws and relationships, build models of physical systems, and solve physical problems. In the article, we noted that the application of mathematics in physics has a number of features that distinguish it from the application of mathematics in other fields of science. In particular, physicists use mathematics to express physical meaning rather than to study mathematical structures abstractly. This leads to a number of differences in the use of symbols and semantics by physicists and mathematicians. In physics, symbols are often used to represent physical quantities, not just abstract numbers. For example, the symbol E can be used to represent energy, M for mass, and c for the speed of light. This allows physicists to use mathematics to express physical laws and relationships in a natural and intuitive way. In addition, physicists often use units of measurement when interpreting mathematical expressions. For example, the equation E=mc^2 means that energy is equal to mass multiplied by the speed of light squared, provided that all values are expressed in the appropriate units of measurement. The application of mathematics in physics is a complex and multifaceted process. This requires not only mathematical skills, but also an understanding of the physical meaning of mathematical concepts.

Esophagus Dilation and Quality of Life in Adults with Scleroderma and Concomitant Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

(1) Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare systemic disease, which often affects the esophagus, leading to dilation and complications such as dysphagia and reflux. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic condition with recurrent episodes of upper airway collapsibility and is known to impair quality of life (QoL). The primary aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of esophagus dilation in patients with SSc and concomitant OSA and, further, to address the impact of these conditions on QoL. (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional cohort study, 62 consecutive patients with SSc underwent chest computer tomography (CT) and home sleep apnea testing. The OSA diagnosis was based on AHI ≥ 15 events/h. The QoL was quantified using the short-form (SF)-36 questionnaire. The patients were dichotomized as high- vs. low-esophageal-diameter groups, based on the median cut-off values. (3) Results: The mean age was 48 ± 11 years; 58 (93.5%) were female; the mean BMI was 26.7 ± 5.0 kg/m2. The median esophageal diameter was 17.47 mm. A larger esophageal diameter was more frequently associated with the diffuse cutaneous subtype of SSc (p = 0.002) and significantly higher Warrick scores (p < 0.001), indicating more severe pulmonary fibrosis. There was a significant linear correlation between the Warrick score and the esophageal diameter (standardized β coefficient 0.544 [%95 confidence interval 0.250-0.609]; p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the patients with both OSA and enlarged esophageal diameter experienced a significant decline in QoL, particularly in the domains of physical functioning, role physical, general health, role emotional, and vitality. (4) Conclusions: While OSA was not directly associated with enlarged esophageal diameter in patients with SSc, those with both OSA and enlarged esophageal diameter exhibited a significant decline in QoL. These findings suggest that the presence of OSA may exacerbate the adverse effects of esophageal dilation on QoL in SSc patients. Our results underline the importance of considering both gastrointestinal and sleep-related aspects in SSc management to enhance patient QoL.

The Assessment of SF-36 Survey for Quality-of-Life Measurement after Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review.

This study presents a systematic review of the literature on individuals' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), utilizing the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) as a primary assessment tool. The review was designed as an exhaustive literature search across three major databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Embase up to December 2023, using the PRISMA guidelines. The selection process refined 2281 identified articles down to 11 studies meeting our inclusion criteria. These studies encompassed a diverse demographic and clinical profile of 774 participants, with follow-up durations ranging from 3 to 130 months, thereby offering insights into both short-term and long-term HRQoL outcomes. The results highlighted significant alterations in individuals' HRQoL across various domains post-radical cystectomy. Notably, the Physical Functioning (PF) and Bodily Pain (BP) domains generally scored higher, indicating a moderate to high perceived physical health status. However, the Role Physical (RP) and Role Emotional (RE) domains showed variability, reflecting the challenges in daily role fulfillment and emotional adjustment post-surgery. A marked variability in physical recovery was observed, with studies reporting significant differences in PF and RP scores between patient groups. The General Health (GH) and Vitality (VT) domains sometimes reflected perceived deteriorations, whereas the Mental Health (MH) scores suggested that many patients maintained or achieved high levels of well-being post-operatively. The conclusions drawn from this systematic review underscore the profound and multi-faceted impact of radical cystectomy on HRQoL, varying widely between studies, being influenced by geographic factors, surgical methods, and the time of evaluation. The findings emphasize the necessity for holistic patient care approaches that address both physical and emotional rehabilitation, aiming to improve HRQoL outcomes.

Self-perceived muscular strength, physical activity, and Mediterranean Diet: Impact on health-related quality of life in older adults

The global rise in life expectancy poses challenges for individuals in maintaining independence, health, and quality of life. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), a key indicator encompassing physical and mental well-being, is crucial for population health monitoring. Regular physical activity (PA), especially muscle-strengthening routines and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD), positively influence HRQoL. Understanding the link between muscular strength and HRQoL is essential for effective physical activity interventions. This study explores the association between self-perceived muscular strength (MS), HRQoL, MD, and sports habits in older adults.The study followed a cross-sectional, descriptive and comparative design, with a sample of 433 physically active Spanish subjects aged 41 to 80. Stratified by MS levels, the high-level group (n= 210; 74.76% men; 57.00 years old (SD: 8.28), and the low level (n= 223; 51.50%; 71.30% men; 55.64 years (SD: 8.56). Self-reported data on MS, HRQoL, MD and PA were collected using the Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP 30), Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36), Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) and Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity Questionnaire (RAPA-Q) questionnaires, respectively. An ad-hoc questionnaire captured sports habits and sociodemographic data.The higher MS group exhibited superior physical function (p=0.002, d=0.16), physical role (p=0.023, d=0.22), general health (p<0.001, d=0.61), vitality (p<0.001, d=0.52), and mental health (p<0.001, d=0.29), along with stronger adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (p<0.001, d=0.31). Logistic regression models indicated that a high MS level is associated with engagement in maintenance sports (ORcr = 1.71, 95% CI 1.17-2.50, p=0.005), practicing 3 or more sports (ORadj = 1.78, 95% CI 0.95–3.36, p = 0.028), leading a very active lifestyle (ORadj = 1.96, 95% CI 1.32–2.94, p < 0.001), and adherence to MD (ORadj = 1.64, 95% CI 1.10–2.45, p < 0.016).Engaging in diverse sports, giving priority to maintenance activities and including daily muscle-strengthening routines beyond WHO guidelines, correlates with higher self-perceived strength in older adults. This, in turn, aligns with an elevated quality of life encompassing both physical and mental health, as well as increased adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. Consideration of these factors is crucial when prescribing physical activity for this population and designing institutional health programs.

Elliptical magnetic trajectories of a point on the elliptical 2-sphere

Elliptical trajectories play numerous significant roles in mathematics and physics. The focus of this work is to analyze the trajectories of a point on the ellipsoid S a 1 , a 2 , a 3 2 while it is under the influence of a killing vector field K. For this purpose, we introduce the generalized Darboux frame and the variational vector fields of S a 1 , a 2 , a 3 2 . We were able to get the trajectory equations of the charged particle on the ellipsoid by utilizing the elliptical structure and elliptic inner and cross product. We adopted a clearer and more comprehensible strategy in this way. With the aid of a mathematical program, we were able to display the paths we had determined based on the particle's velocity vector's position in the magnetic field. These trajectories are spiral, helical, and elliptical.

Health-related quality of life after hysterectomy for endometrial cancer: the impact of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) shifting paradigm.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols provide well-known benefits in the immediate recovery with a shorter length of stay (LOS) also in gynecological surgery. However, the impact of ERAS has not been clearly showed yet regarding long-term consequences and health-related quality of life (HRQL). The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of ERAS on HRQL after hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Observational retrospective study with propensity score matching (PSM). Participants We administered the SF-36 validated questionnaire to women underwent hysterectomy and lymph nodal staging before and after introducing ERAS protocol, getting, respectively, a standard practice (SP) and ERAS group Settings Academic hospital Methods We collected demographic, clinical, surgical and postoperative data and performed a PSM of the baseline coufouders. We administered the questionnaire four weeks after the surgery. The SF-36 measures HRQL using eight scales: physical functioning (PF), role physical (RLP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (Vt), social functioning (SF), role emotional (RLE) and mental health (MH). Results After PSM, we enrolled a total of 154 patients, 77 in each group (SP and ERA). The two groups were similar in terms of age, BMI, anaesthesiologic risk, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and surgical technique (minimally invasive versus open access). Median LOS was shorter for ERAS group (5 versus 3 days; p = 0.02), while no significant differences were registered in the rates of postoperative complications (16.9% versus 17.4%; p = 0.66). Response rates to SF-36 questionnaire were 89% and 92%, respectively, in SP and ERAS group. At multivariate analyzes, the mean scores of SF-36 questionnaire, registered at 28 days weeks after surgery (range 26-32 days), were significantly higher in ERAS group for PF (73.3 vs 91.6; p < 0.00), RLP (median 58.3 vs 81.2; p = 0.02) and SF (37.5 versus 58.3; p = 0.01) domains, when compared to SP patients. Limitations Further follow-up was not possible due to the anonymized data derived from clinical audit. Conclusions ERAS significantly increases HRQL of women underwent surgery for endometrial cancer. HRQL assessment should be routinary implemented in the ERAS protocol.

The Puzzling of Stefan–Boltzmann Law: Classical or Quantum Physics

Stefan–Boltzmann law, stating the fourth power temperature dependence of the radiation emission by a black-body, was empirically formulated by Stefan in 1874 by fitting existing experiments and theoretically validated by Boltzmann in 1884 on the basis of a classical physical model involving thermodynamics principles and the radiation pressure predicted by Maxwell equations. At first sight the electromagnetic (EM) gas assumed by Boltzmann and following Rayleigh (1900) identifiable as an ensemble of N classical normal-modes, looks like an extension of the classical model of the massive ideal-gas. Accordingly, for this EM gas the internal total energy, U, was assumed to be function of volume V and temperature T as [Formula: see text], and the equation of state was given by [Formula: see text], with P the radiation pressure. In addition, Boltzmann implicitly assumed that, for given values of V and T, U and the number of modes N would take finite values. However, from one hand these assumptions are not justified by Maxwell equations and classical statistics since, in vacuum (i.e., far from the EM sources), the values of N and U diverge, the so-called ultraviolet catastrophe introduced by Ehrenfest in 1911. From another hand, Boltzmann derivation of Stefan law is found to be macroscopically compatible with its derivation from quantum statistics announced by Planck in 1901. In this paper, we present a justification of this puzzling classical/quantum compatibility by noticing that the implicit assumptions made by Boltzmann is fully justified by Planck quantum statistics. Furthermore, we shed new light on the interpretation of recent classical simulations of a black body carried out by Wang, Casati, and Benenti in 2022 who found an analogous puzzling consistency between Stefan–Boltzmann law and their simulations to induce speculations on classical physics and black body radiation that are claimed to require a critical reconsideration of the role of classical physics for the understanding of quantum mechanics.

Exact non-Abelian supertubes

Supertubes are supersymmetric configurations in string theory in which branes are extending along a closed curve. For a supertube of codimension two, its dipole charge is characterized by the duality monodromy around the closed curve. When multiple codimension-2 supertubes are present, the monodromies around different supertubes can be non-commuting, namely non-Abelian. Non-Abelian configurations of supertubes are expected to play an important role in non-perturbative physics of string theory, especially black holes. In this paper, in the framework of five-dimensional supergravity, we construct exact solutions describing codimension-2 supertubes in three-dimensional space. We use an extension formula to construct a three-dimensional solution from a two-dimensional seed solution. The two-dimensional seed is an F-theory like configuration in which a torus is nontrivially fibered over a complex plane. In the first example, there is a stack of circular supertubes around which there is a non-trivial monodromy. In some cases this can be thought of as a microstate of a black hole in AdS2 × S2. The second example is an axi-symmetric solution with two stacks of circular supertubes with non-Abelian monodromies. In addition, there is a continuous distribution of charges on the symmetry axis.

Graded nutritional interventions in patients with dysphagia after stroke: an assessment of the effectiveness of therapeutic strategies for different swallowing functions

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of graded nutrition intervention strategy in improving patients with different degrees of impaired swallowing function after stroke. Methods According to the way of nursing, the patients were divided into two group. The main outcome measure was Kota swallowing index (WSI) score, and the secondary outcome was complications during the intervention. SF-36 scale was used to evaluate the improvement of quality of life before and intervention. Results The WSI score in the control group was 62.34 ± 10.23 at 1 week after treatment, 70.52 ± 13.45 at 6 weeks after treatment, and 80.48 ± 9.87 at 12 weeks after treatment, while that in the intervention group was 71.45 ± 9.68 at 1 week after treatment, 75.81 ± 11.78 at 6 weeks after treatment, and 84.12 ± 14.32 at 12 weeks after treatment. The WSI scores of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group (t = 5.634, p < 0.001), suggesting better swallowing function of the patients The incidence of pulmonary infection, malnutrition and gastroesophageal reflux in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in throat inflammation and dehydration between the two groups (p > 0.05). In addition, graded nutrition interventions significantly improved patients’ quality of life, including dimensions of physical functioning, role physics, physical pain, and social functioning. Conclusion Compared with conventional treatment, personalized graded nutrition intervention can significantly improve the swallowing function and reduce the pulmonary infection rate in patients with swallowing disorders after stroke.

Preface to the Proceedings of the 10th Asian Physics Symposium (APS) 2023

The 10th Asian Physics Symposium 2023 (APS 2023) was held on 3-4 October 2023, in Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia with the theme of “The Role of Physics in Supporting Sustainable Development Goals” and was implemented in a hybrid manner in purpose of increasing sustainability of this scientific event, accessibility and also increasing participants engagement. This event provides the widest possible opportunities for the young Indonesian scientists to present the latest research results in the physics and its related fields, to foster research collaborations with well-known overseas scientists and to extend international research networking in the future.The 10th APS 2023 is organized by the Undergraduate and Graduate Programs in Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, in collaboration with Physical Society of Indonesia (PSI). The program of APS 2023 features 7 invited talks in 45 minutes for each plenary session and 116 contributed oral presentations in 15 minutes of presentation including the Q&A session, which come from several countries: Japan, Malaysia, Turkey and Indonesia. All abstracts and papers have been reviewed by selected reviewers from the APS committee.I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Prof. Wahyu Srigutomo, Dean of Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science (FMIPA) ITB for the support and advice in preparing this scientific event and to Institute of Research and Community Service (LPPM) ITB Support Program for organizing the Year International Conference 2023.I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. David Andrew Bradley (Sunway University, Malaysia), Assoc. Prof. Seda Aksoy Esinoglu (Istanbul Technical University, Turkey), Prof. Alexander Iskandar (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Prof. Kayoko Yamamoto (University of Electro-Communications, Japan), Prof. Fumiyuki Ishii (Kanazawa University, Japan), Dr. Hijaz Kamal Hasnan (University of Malaya, Malaysia), and Prof. Nandang Mufti (University of Malang, Indonesia) as the Keynote speaker for sharing the knowledge and research to all the participant in APS 2023. I would like to say my deepest thanks to Prof. Agung Nugroho (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Dr. Ahmad Ridwan Nugraha (National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia), Prof. Camelia Panatarani (Padjadjaran University, Indonesia), Prof. David Marpaung (University of Twente, the Netherland), Prof. Ding Lu (Institute of Materials Research and Engineering- A*Star, Singapore), Dr. Dwi Irwanto (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Prof. Fatimah Arofiati Noor (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Dr. Freddy Haryanto (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Prof. Halim Kusumaatmaja (Durham University, England), Prof. Husin Alatas (Institut Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia), Prof. I Made Joni (Padjadjaran University, Indonesia), Prof. Khairurrijal (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Prof. Mitra Djamal (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Prof. Rizal Kurniadi (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Dr. Satria Zulkarnaen (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan), Prof. Sidik Permana (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Prof. Triyanta (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Prof. Umar Fauzi (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Prof. Widayani (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Dr. Yuliati Herbani (National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia), Prof. Yudi Dharma (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia) and Prof. Zaki Su’ud (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia) for their willingness as an advisory board to give guidance and advice for the implementation of this scientific event.Finally, I would like to say thanks to all the organizing committee members and reviewers for their excellent work and all of authors for their valuable contributions in APS 2023.Bandung, January 2024Chairman of APS 2023,Dr. Eng. Priastuti WulandariFaculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandungpwulandari@itb.ac.idList of Advisory Board of the 10th Asian Physics Symposium (APS) 2023, Technical Committee of the 10th Asian Physics Symposium (APS) 2023 are available in this Pdf.

Analysis of the quality of life of tuberculosis patients based on the SF-36 form (case study in Banyumas Regency)

IntroductionIndonesia is one of the countries with the largest TB burden. To date, the success of TB treatment has only been seen from microscopic examination but has not really taken into account the quality of life of TB patients. Decreased quality of life in TB patients can cause delays in treatment and have a negative impact on the continuity of treatment, causing treatment to be interrupted or incomplete (drop out). This research was conducted with the aim of knowing the quality of life of TB patients during the treatment period along with the factors that influence it. MethodsMeasuring quality of life in this study used the SF-36 instrument. This study was analytical research with a cross-sectional study design. Study subjects were all TB patients who were still undergoing TB treatment. This study was conducted in September–November 2020. Independents variables were gender, education, marital status, occupation status, income, comorbidity, smoking habits, anxiety level, emotional support, and material support. Dependent variable was quality of life of TB patients. The data analysis used was univariate and bivariate (chi square test). ResultsThe majority of TB patients had a poor quality of life (51,2%). Mental health was the highest domain with a score of 88.48, while physical role was the lowest domain with a score of 40.24. The factor that significantly influenced the quality of life of TB patients was emotional support from their families (p value 0.039). ConclusionMore TB patients had a poor quality of life with physical health was the lowest domain. Emotional support from the families of TB patients was the main factor causing the TB patient's quality of life to be low. It is important for health service providers to promote health and provide assistance to families of TB patients in an effort to increase emotional support for TB patients. Thus, TB patients can undergo treatment well and their quality of life improves during treatment.

Radiation and heat transport in divergent shock–bubble interactions

Shock–bubble interactions (SBIs) are important across a wide range of physical systems. In inertial confinement fusion, interactions between laser-driven shocks and micro-voids in both ablators and foam targets generate instabilities that are a major obstacle in achieving ignition. Experiments imaging the collapse of such voids at high energy densities (HED) are constrained by spatial and temporal resolution, making simulations a vital tool in understanding these systems. In this study, we benchmark several radiation and thermal transport models in the xRAGE hydrodynamic code against experimental images of a collapsing mesoscale void during the passage of a 300 GPa shock. We also quantitatively examine the role of transport physics in the evolution of the SBI. This allows us to understand the dynamics of the interaction at timescales shorter than experimental imaging framerates. We find that all radiation models examined reproduce empirical shock velocities within experimental error. Radiation transport is found to reduce shock pressures by providing an additional energy pathway in the ablation region, but this effect is small (∼1% of total shock pressure). Employing a flux-limited Spitzer model for heat conduction, we find that flux limiters between 0.03 and 0.10 produce agreement with experimental velocities, suggesting that the system is well-within the Spitzer regime. Higher heat conduction is found to lower temperatures in the ablated plasma and to prevent secondary shocks at the ablation front, resulting in weaker primary shocks. Finally, we confirm that the SBI-driven instabilities observed in the HED regime are baroclinically driven, as in the low energy case.

Associations Between Patterns of Daily Stepping Behavior, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Pain Symptoms Among Older Adults with Chronic Pain: A Secondary Analysis of Two Randomized Controlled Trials.

One's amount, intensity, and distribution of physical activity may have implications for whether it has positive or negative effects on pain and quality of life for older adults living with chronic pain. Thus, we investigated baseline patterns of stepping related to pain symptoms and health-related quality of life at baseline and over a 12-week follow-up period. Participants were low-active older adults (69.54±6.74 years) with obesity and chronic pain who enrolled in one of two randomized controlled trials. Participants completed measures of pain intensity, interference, and health-related quality of life and wore an accelerometer for 7 days at baseline and week 12. Functional principal components analysis identified patterns of within-day stepping behavior at baseline, and linear regressions were used to investigate how these component scores related to pain and health-related quality of life at baseline and over 12 weeks. Two patterns were extracted; one describing more vs less stepping and the second capturing movement later vs earlier in the day. More baseline stepping was associated with better physical functioning (B=0.148, p<0.001) and energy (B=0.073, p=0.033), while a later start in the day was associated with worse social functioning (B=-0.193, p=0.031). More stepping at baseline predicted positive changes in physical functioning (B=0.094, p=0.019), emotional role limitations (B=0.132, p=0.049), energy (B=0.112, p<0.001), social functioning (B=0.086, p=0.043), pain (B=0.086, p=0.009), general health (B=0.081, p=0.003) and pain intensity (B=-0.039, p=0.003). A later start to the day was associated with worsening physical functioning (B=-0.229, p<0.001), physical (B=-0.282, p=0.047) and emotional role limitations (B=-0.254, p=0.048), general health (B=-0.108, p=0.041), and pain interference (B=0.055, p=0.043). Findings suggest there is value in activity patterns as an indicator for additional behavioral intervention, as those who move little and/or delay daily movement are likely to experience subsequent decrements in quality of life and pain symptoms.