Place Of Birth Research Articles

Association Between Anxiety and Academic Procrastination among Chinese College Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Anxiety and academic procrastination are general among university students. And experiencing anxiety has been claimed to be related to academic procrastination. This study aims to conduct a cross-sectional investigation on the relationship in college students in China. A cross-sectional study was conducted in colleges and universities in China. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and academic procrastination was determined by procrastination assessment scale for students (PASS). Potential confounders included age, gender, major, study program, birth place, and place of residence. Participants were divided into anxiety and non- anxiety group based on SAS score. Pearsons correlation test was used to explore association between anxiety and academic procrastination. We further performed the multivariate linear regression analysis to estimate the relationship before and after adjusting with potential confounders. A total of 523 students participated the survey and completed the questionnaire. Based on SAS threshold of 50, 258 (49.3%) subjects were classified as Non anxiety group (SAS score <50), 185 cases (35.4%) were divided into Mild anxiety group (SAS score 50-59), and 58 cases (11.1%) were divided into Moderate anxiety group (SAS score 60-69).The remaining 22 participants (4.2%) were in the Severe anxiety group (SAS score 70). Academic procrastination was positively associated with anxiety, additionally. This indicated that more anxious people went through more severe academic procrastination. The findings of this study provide evidence that anxiety is positively related to academic procrastination in college students in China. Higher levels of anxiety were linked to increased procrastination behaviors, particularly in academic tasks such as exam preparation and thesis writing.

Intellectual capability and its association with severe dental caries treatment needs in young Israeli adults: a cross-sectional record-based study

BackgroundDisparities in dental health resulting from social and economic inequality are a pressing public health concern. Poor and vulnerable populations bear a higher burden of caries exacerbated by limited access to quality dental care. Recent publications have suggested a possible association between intellectual capability and caries risk, as well as lower compliance with publicly funded healthcare services among populations with lower educational levels. The objective of this study was to explore potential associations between severe dental caries treatment needs (root canal treatments and extractions), socioeconomic factors and intellectual capability.MethodsDental records of 21,052 soldiers recruited into Israeli military service between 2019 and 2021 were reviewed, and data on the need for root canal treatments and extractions were retrieved. Sociodemographic information, including age, sex, socioeconomic strata, intellectual capability scores, body mass index, and place of birth, were extracted and analyzed.ResultsThe findings from the multivariate generalized linear model indicated that lower intellectual capability scores and socioeconomic strata were associated with a significantly greater requirement for root canal treatments and extractions (p < 0.001). The model also identified male gender and older age as predictors for higher treatment needs. Non-native Israelis were found to be at a greater risk for needing root canal treatments compared to native Israelis. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was observed between intellectual capability scores and socioeconomic strata (p < 0.001).ConclusionsGroups with lower intellectual capability scores and socioeconomic strata exhibited a greater need for dental treatments, including root canal treatments and extractions. Given their higher likelihood of requiring more invasive treatments, health policy should prioritize intervention plans aimed at improving attendance at preventive care services for these disadvantaged populations under the Israeli free dental care reform.

How does an entrepreneur rise? Proposition of a conceptual model of entrepreneurs’ background analysis

Goal: We propose a conceptual model that gathers different factors preceding the entrepreneur’s formation, the so-called entrepreneur’s background. Methodology/approach: The present research was operationalized according to three stages, namely: systematic literature review, in-depth interviews with experts and focus group with entrepreneurs; being followed by the model stage, which comprised in-depth interviews based on reports by 12 entrepreneurs. Originality/relevance: Much is studied about the life of an entrepreneur after starting his/her activity. However, little is analyzed about this before the initial moment of the entrepreneurial activity. Main findings: The study proposes a model for analyzing the entrepreneur's background, which presents six analysis axes capable of foreseeing the entrepreneurial profile, named: family, place of birth or raising, schooling, sociodemographic relationships, professional activity; and philosophical or religious aspects. Theoretical contributions: The present study introduces an instrument that enables mapping prior characteristics to the entrepreneurial activity. Management contributions: As its general contribution, it can be used in public policies focused on encouraging entrepreneurship, as well as help private institutions for entrepreneurship support.

Abstract 6214: Vitamin metabolites in neonatal dried blood spots and risk of retinoblastoma in California

Abstract Background: Vitamin intake may influence carcinogenesis through various pathways. In particular, vitamin B6 metabolites have been implicated in cancer development due to their involvement in processes such as oxidative stress and inflammation. However, conclusions remain inconsistent, and epidemiological studies are limited, particularly for retinoblastoma. In this exploratory study, we examined associations between vitamin metabolites in neonatal dried blood spots and retinoblastoma risk in California. Methods: This study included 497 retinoblastoma cases born between 1983 to 2011 and 893 controls matched by birth year in California. Vitamin feature intensities were measured in neonatal blood spots from the California newborn Genetic Disease Screening Program. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between quartiles of vitamin levels and retinoblastoma risk, adjusting for sex, birth year, maternal age, maternal race and ethnicity, maternal place of birth, and socioeconomic status. We also stratified the analyses by retinoblastoma subtypes (i.e., unilateral, bilateral), sex and maternal birthplace (U.S. vs. Mexico). Results: For vitamin B6 metabolites, the highest quartile of pyridoxamine was associated with a 32% increase in retinoblastoma risk (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97-1.80), while the highest quartile of 4-pyridoxic acid was associated with a 32% reduction (95% CI: 0.56-1.07), compared to the lowest quartile. Additionally, the highest quartiles of NAD+ were associated with a reduced risk (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.78; 95% CI: 0.57-1.06 and aOR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.55-1.05). No overall association with retinoblastoma risk was observed for pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), vitamin A, vitamin D2, or methylcobalamin (vitamin B12). After stratification, we did not observe clear dose-response relationships, although some estimates suggested an increased risk. For example, the 3rd quartile of pantothenic acid was associated with an increased risk among female (aOR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.40-1.04) and children with Mexican-born mothers (aOR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.30-1.05). The 2nd quartile of methylcobalamin was associated with a 56% increase in retinoblastoma risk among males (95% CI: 1.01-2.44). Conclusion: Several vitamin metabolites showed a differential abundance in neonatal blood spots of children who later did or did not develop retinoblastoma in California. These results suggest that further research into the role of maternal vitamin intake during pregnancy may hold promise for pediatric cancer prevention. Citation Format: Chuanjie Deng, Kimberley C. Paul, Douglas I. Walker, Dean P. Jones, Beate R. Ritz, Julia E. Heck. Vitamin metabolites in neonatal dried blood spots and risk of retinoblastoma in California [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 6214.

Intrapartum and childbirth care and outcomes in midwife-led birth centres in France: A nationwide descriptive study with an analysis of maternal and neonatal transfers.

Intrapartum and childbirth care and outcomes in midwife-led birth centres in France: A nationwide descriptive study with an analysis of maternal and neonatal transfers.

Attention to diversity in higher education: Economic and cultural factors for labor market insertion

The purpose of this study was to determine how socioeconomic and cultural factors influence the labor market insertion of graduates from three study programs at the National University of Northern Border, Peru. The research design was non-experimental and cross-sectional. The population consisted of 825 graduates and a sample of 263 graduates. The data collection technique was a survey, and the instrument was a questionnaire. The study used discrete choice Logit and Probit models; the following variables were identified as socioeconomic and cultural factors that positively influence labor market insertion: age, sex, professional background, marital status, educational level, area of residence, work activity, association affiliation, monthly income, seniority, length of service, home ownership, basic services (internet, cable), language proficiency, media, place of birth, mother's education, and use of social media (WhatsApp). On the other hand, the variables related to the number of children, leisure activities, housing materials, television preferences, and father's education decrease the likelihood of a graduate working. In conclusion, these social, economic, and cultural factors explain the labor market integration of university graduates from a diversity perspective. The findings can guide the design of educational public policies, considering attention to diversity. This research expands the literature on attention to diversity and labor market integration, especially factors that determine whether graduates can enter the labor market from a diversity perspective.

From cradle to congress: the effect of birthplace on legislative decision-making

Abstract The extent to which legislators pursue their privately held preferences in office has important implications for representative democracy and is exceedingly difficult to measure. Many models of legislative decision-making tacitly assume that members are willing and able to carry out the wishes of their constituents so as to maximize their reelection prospects and, in so doing, relegate their personal preferences. This project explores this assumption by examining the role that members’ place of birth plays in shaping legislative behavior, apart from other politically relevant factors like partisanship. We find that birthplace exerts an independent influence on members’ voting behavior. Using a variety of geographic measures, we find that members who are born in close proximity to one another tend to exhibit similar patterns in roll call voting, even when accounting for partisanship, constituency attributes, and a variety of other determinants of voting. We also demonstrate in a secondary analysis that the agricultural composition of members’ birthplace influences their support for agricultural protection. Our findings suggest that members’ personal history shapes the representational relationship they have with their constituents.

A Slowly Pulsating Run‐Away B Star at High Galactic Latitude Ejected From a Spiral Arm

ABSTRACTWe report the discovery of the young B6 V run‐away star LAMOST J083323.18 + 430825.4, 2.5 kpc above the Galactic plane. Its atmospheric parameters and chemical composition are determined from LAMOST spectra, indicating normal composition. Effective temperature ( = K) and gravity ( = ) suggest that the star is close to terminating hydrogen burning. An analysis of the spectral energy distribution allowed us to determine the angular diameter as well as the interstellar reddening. Using evolutionary models from the MIST database we derived the stellar mass () and age ( Myr). The spectroscopic distance (4.17 kpc), the radius (), and the luminosity ( = ) then result from the atmospheric parameters. Using Gaia proper motions, the trajectory is traced back to the Galactic disk to identify the place of birth in a spiral arm. The ejection velocity of 92 km s−1 is typical for runaway stars in the halo. The age of the star is larger than its time of flight ( Myr), which favors a binary supernova event as the likely ejection mechanism. The TESS light curve shows variations with a period of 3.58 days from which we conclude that it is a slowly pulsating B‐star, one of very few run‐away B‐stars known to pulsate.

Investigating the measles susceptibility gap in Ontario infants.

Investigating the measles susceptibility gap in Ontario infants.

Optimising neonatal services for very preterm births between 27+0 and 31+6 weeks gestation in England: the OPTI-PREM mixed-methods study.

To investigate, for preterm babies born between 27+0 and 31+6 weeks gestation in England, optimal place of birth and early care. Mixed methods. National Health Service neonatal care, England. To investigate whether birth and early care in neonatal intensive care units (tertiary units) compared to local neonatal units (non-tertiary units) influenced gestation-specific survival and other major outcomes, we analysed data from the National Neonatal Research Database, for 29,842 babies born between 27+0 and 31+6 weeks gestation and discharged from neonatal care between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018. We utilised an instrumental variable (maternal excess travel time between local neonatal units and neonatal intensive care units) to control for unmeasured differences. Sensitivity analyses excluded postnatal transfers within 72 hours of birth and multiple births. Outcome measures were death in neonatal care, infant mortality, necrotising enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, severe brain injury, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and receipt of breast milk at discharge. We also analysed outcomes by volume of neonatal intensive care activity. We undertook a health economic analysis using a cost-effectiveness evaluation from a National Health Service perspective and using additional lives saved as a measure of benefit, explored differences in quality of care in high compared with low-performing units and performed ethnographic qualitative research. The safe gestational age cut-off for babies to be born between 27+0 and 31+6 weeks and early care at either location was 28 weeks. We found no effect on mortality in neonatal care (mean difference -0.001; 99% confidence interval -0.011 to 0.010; p = 0.842) or in infancy (mean difference -0.002; 99% confidence interval -0.014 to 0.009; p = 0.579) (n = 18,847), including after sensitivity analyses. A significantly greater proportion of babies in local neonatal units had severe brain injury (mean difference -0.011; 99% confidence interval -0.022 to -0.001; p = 0.007) with the highest mean difference in babies born at 27 weeks (-0.040). Those transferred in the first 72 hours were more likely to have severe brain injury. For 27 weeks gestation, birth in centres with neonatal intensive care units reduced the risk of severe brain injury by 4.2% from 11.9% to 7.7%. The number needed to treat was 25 (99% confidence interval 10 to 59) indicating that 25 babies at 27 weeks would have to be delivered in a neonatal intensive care unit to prevent one severe brain injury. For babies born at 27 weeks gestation, birth in a high-volume unit (> 1600 intensive care days/year) reduced the risk of severe brain injury from 0.242 to 0.028 [99% confidence interval 0.035 to 0.542; p = 0.003; number needed to treat = 4 (99% confidence interval 2 to 29)]. Estimated annual total costs of neonatal care were £262 million. The mean (standard deviation) cost per baby varied from £75,594 (£34,874) at 27 weeks to £27,401 (£14,947) at 31 weeks. Costs were similar between neonatal intensive care units and local neonatal units for births at 27+0 to 29+6 weeks gestation, but higher for local neonatal units for those born at 30+0 to 31+6 weeks. No difference in additional lives saved were observed between the settings. These results suggested that neonatal intensive care units are likely to represent value for money for the National Health Service. However, careful interpretation of this results should be exercised due to the ethical and practical concerns around the reorganisation of neonatal care for very preterm babies from local neonatal units to neonatal intensive care units purely on the grounds of cost savings. We identified a mean reduction in length of stay (1 day; 95% confidence interval 1.029 to 1.081; p < 0.001) in higher-performing units, based on adherence to evidence- and consensus-based measures. Staff reported that decision-making to optimise capacity for babies was an important part of their work. Parents reported valuing their baby's development, homecoming, continuity of care, inclusion in decision-making, and support for their emotional and physical well-being. Birth and early care for babies ≥28 weeks is safe in both neonatal intensive care units and local neonatal units in England. For anticipated births at 27 weeks, antenatal transfer of mothers to centres colocated with neonatal intensive care units should be supported. When these inadvertently occur in centres with local neonatal units, clinicians should risk assess decisions for postnatal transfer, taking patient care requirements, staff skills and healthcare resources into consideration and counselling parents regarding the increased risk of severe brain injury associated with transfer. This study is registered as Current Controlled Trials NCT02994849 and ISRCTN74230187. This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR award ref: 15/70/104) and is published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 13, No. 12. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes of women intending to give birth in a Birth Center: A single-center retrospective study

Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes of women intending to give birth in a Birth Center: A single-center retrospective study

Spectroscopic follow-up of candidate runaway stars

ABSTRACT Runaway stars are characterized by higher space velocities than typical field stars. They are presumed to have been ejected from their birth places by one or more energetic mechanisms, including supernova explosions. Accurate radial velocities are essential for investigating their origin, by tracing back their Galactic orbits to look for close encounters in space and in time with neutron stars and young associations. While most studies of runaways have focused on OB stars, later-type stars have also been considered on occasion. Here, we report the results of a long-term high-resolution spectroscopic monitoring program with the goal of providing accurate radial velocities for 188 runaway candidates of spectral type A and later, proposed by Tetzlaff, Neuhäuser, and Hohle. We obtained multiple measurements over a period of about 13 yr to guard against the possibility that some may be members of binary or multiple systems, adding archival observations going back another 25 yr in some cases. We report new spectroscopic orbital solutions for more than three dozen systems. Many more are also found to be binaries based on available astrometric information. A small-scale study carried out here to trace back the paths of our targets together with those of four well-studied, optically visible neutron stars among the so-called Magnificent Seven, resulted in no credible encounters.

“I went to the primary health centre close to my workplace, but their capacity cannot deliver the baby”: exploring why women choose different providers for maternal health services in Nigeria

BackgroundMaternal health remains a significant public health concern globally, including Nigeria. Despite concerted efforts to improve maternal health services, maternal mortality rates in Nigeria remain unacceptably high. Understanding the factors that shape women’s choices in selecting the place of birth could help tailor services and improve quality of care for mothers and infants. Therefore, our study explores the experiences, barriers and facilitators that influence where women choose to access maternal health services in three diverse Nigerian states of Lagos, Oyo and Jigawa.MethodsWe conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with nursing mothers and healthcareworkers (HCWs) in Lagos, Oyo and Jigawa states, and community birth attendants (CBAs) in Lagos and Oyo. We used maximum variation sampling to purposefully recruit nursing mothers in their puerperium who gave birth in different places. HCWs and CBAs were purposively selected from health facilities and birth homes. All interviews were conducted between September - December 2023. We used reflexive thematic analysis to generate themes across participant types and states.ResultsWe recruited 44 participants for this study, 25 nursing mothers and 19 HCWs. We identified five major themes: (1) Preference for safe, comfortable and quality health services; (2) Social diffusion and cultural/religious influences; (3) Physical, geographical and financial inaccessibility; (4) Symbolic perception of health facilities and (5) Misunderstanding of health promoting and preventive care in pregnancy. The main reasons for choosing a particular place of birth were the preference for safe, comfortable, and high-quality healthcare, as well as the perceived convenience and accessibility of birth homes within close proximity to the women’s homes.ConclusionsWe found women’s choice of place of birth is influenced by a complex interplay of factors. Among these are health system inadequacies, socio-economic factors, and the desire for comfortable and quality maternal healthcare. HCWs, CBAs, and nursing mothers emphasised these determinants as critical in shaping women’s decisions regarding where to give birth. This highlights the need for comprehensive interventions across policy, healthcare delivery, community engagement, and individual levels to overcome barriers, improve maternal health outcomes, and support women in making informed childbirth decisions.

Socio-Cultural Effects of Tourism on Local People: Antalya Example

The primary purpose of this study is to analyze how tourism movements in the centre and districts of Antalya affect the local people and their feelings and thoughts about tourism. The research population consists of local people born and raised in Antalya and people living there for a long time. The study determined face-to-face interviews with 82 participants by snowball sampling between 01.02.2024 and 01.04.2024. Content analysis and descriptive analysis were applied to the data. Participants' perceptions and support for tourism development were examined through variables such as gender, age, place of birth, education level, life expectancy, profession, and interaction with tourists, and the hypotheses were tested. According to the research findings, 31 participants do not work in a tourism-related job, while 51 participants work in the tourism sector. While 98% of the participants who have relations with tourism stated that they want tourism to develop further in the region, 42% of participants who have no connection with tourism stated that they wish for further tourism development in the area. Local participants in the area have a more antagonistic approach to tourism development and support tourism development less than those who are not local. In addition, in line with the research findings, it was observed that individuals who interact with tourists approach the development of tourism more positively, and their support for tourism development is higher than individuals who do not interact with tourists.

Pondering the non‐return of ageing migrants in the Finnish–Russian everyday transnational context

AbstractIn the Finnish–Russian migratory context, return migration does not exist as such. In this article, we examine the non‐return migration of Russian‐speaking elderly migrants through the lens of the transnational everyday. The transnational everyday of Russians in Finland has, until recently, enabled their back‐and‐forth trips from Finland to Russia. The combination of Finnish and Russian migratory regimes, welfare policies, closeness of places of birth and dwelling, as well as the constantly changing and tightening geopolitical situation can be seen as explanations for the almost non‐existent return migration. This article also questions the concept of the ‘host’ and the ‘home’ society and explains that, in everyday transnational reality, which is lived ‘in between’ the ‘host’ and the ‘home’ concepts do not meet the lived experience of immigrants. The article is based on our long‐term ethnographic work on immigration in the Finnish province North Karelia since the beginning of the 2000s. We have used ethnographic data (interviews, observations, ethnographic and autoethnographic notes) accumulated during our long‐term studies in the Finnish–Russian border area. We are committed to a transnational multisited methodology. Additionally, our view is situated in border and everyday ethnography and in narrative ethnography. As a result of the study, we conclude that the contemporary geopolitical situation with the closure of the border in 2023 forces elderly Russian‐speaking immigrants to become immobile, or at least diminish their travels to Russia. The everyday transnational ties of Russian speakers in Finland are now possible only in virtual forms or through laborious and expensive back‐and‐forth trips through Estonia, Norway, Turkey or some other third countries. This situation has tied elderly Russian speakers even more closely to Finnish society and its welfare system. The closure of the border has affected social ties of ageing Russian immigrants in different ways: Some are keen to keep up social relations despite political disagreement, but some social relations have, however, severed.

A Scoping Review Mapping Economic Evaluations of Midwifery Service Provision and the Midwifery Workforce.

Midwives are essential in achieving universal health coverage targets and the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, yet a significant global shortfall exists in the midwifery workforce. Economic evaluations of midwifery are scarce but can assist in supporting evidence-informed decision-making for sustainable and equitable health care for women and girls. This review aimed to systematically identify, map and report on available literature regarding economic evaluations conducted on midwifery service provision and the midwifery workforce in all settings. A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. A comprehensive search strategy was developed and run in six health databases. Peer-reviewed studies and unpublished research theses conducting economic evaluations on midwifery service provision or midwifery workforce strategies were included. Sources were limited to English-language literature published in the past 20 years. Identified sources were screened and reviewed, and data from included sources were extracted, reviewed, mapped and synthesised to report findings. Quality appraisal was conducted on all included sources using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Economic Evaluations. A total of 32 studies were included in the review. Most were from high-income countries (26/32), and very few were from low- and middle-income countries (6/32). The quality of included studies varied greatly. Under half of the studies conducted full economic evaluations (15/32), and the remainder were partial economic evaluations (17/32). Most studies evaluated midwifery service provision (29/32) through either midwife-led models of care (15/29) or by place of birth (13/29), mostly for low-risk women (23/29) from the perspective of healthcare funders. Evaluation of midwifery education programs was less common, and these were all conducted in low- and middle-income countries (3/32). Most studies concluded that midwifery service provision was cost-saving, cost-effective or cost-beneficial. Our review identified a significant gap in economic evaluation of midwifery from low- and middle-income countries. However, there is ongoing need for robust, quality economic evaluations on midwifery service provision and workforce strategies in all global regions. Such studies would further support health policymakers and governments to make evidence-informed decisions to address midwifery workforce shortages and provision of evidence-based and respectful care that meets the healthcare needs of women and girls.

Сoncept of personal data of the employee

The article is devoted to the study of the concept of «personal data of an employee» and the features that are characteristic of it. In this context, the definition of «personal data of an individual» contained in the regulatory legal acts of Ukraine and the General Regulation on the Protection of Personal Data of the European Union is analyzed. The category of «personal data of an employee» currently has no legal definition in labor legislation, which, in turn, leads to a violation of one of the fundamental rights of an individual and, including an employee, the right to non-interference in personal life. It is important to provide more detailed legal regulation of the procedure for protecting the employee’s personal information, since the employee transfers a significant amount of his personal data to the employer, starting from the recruitment stage and ending with dismissal, and sometimes even for an even longer period during which the employer stores information about the employee in its databases. Having analyzed the definition of the concept of «personal data of an employee», which is given by scientists, it is possible to distinguish its main features: the information concerns a specific person who works on the basis of an employment contract; the information is related to the qualifications of the employee, his business and professional qualities and/or is necessary for the employee to perform a certain labor function; it is provided to the employer by the employee or collected by him independently; the grounds for collecting information are the requirements of the law. The author’s definition of the concept of «personal data of an employee» is proposed - this is information about a person who works on the basis of an employment contract (contract) and which relates to his professional and business qualities, and in cases provided for by law - other information provided to the employer or collected by him independently, when employing a person and during the performance of his labor function. The author considers it advisable to determine at the legislative level the information related to the employee’s personal data, in particular: age, date and place of birth, citizenship, registration number of the taxpayer’s registration card, employment, health status, level of education, knowledge of Ukrainian and foreign languages. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the norms of special legislation provide for the employer’s obligation to obtain additional information from the employee depending on the field of activity, that is, the list of personal data may be supplemented with special information that will relate to the employee’s labor function. It is concluded that the legislative consolidation of the concept of «personal data of an employee» will have positive consequences for the protection of employee rights and will outline for the employer the extent of the lawful collection, storage and processing of personal data of its employees without violating the boundaries of their privacy.

Regional Distribution of Ataxia-Telangiectasia Cases in Iran

Background: Ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is a rare, autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease charac- terized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, oculocutaneous telangiectasia, immunodeficiency, recurrent infec- tions, radiosensitivity, and an increased risk of malignancies. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of A-T patients, parenteral consanguinity status, and diagnostic delays in different provinces of Iran. Methods: A retrospective observational and analytical study in which all A-T patients with a recorded place of birth or residency were included. A questionnaire was designed and filled out for each patient to extract data including date of birth, gender, parental consanguinity status, family history, age of disease onset, and age of disease diagnosis. Results: A total of 203 A-T patients (104 males and 99 females) were included in the study. Out of a total of 31 provinces, A-T patients were diagnosed and reported in 25 different provinces, while six provinces had no registered A-T patients. Tehran province, the most densely populated province in Iran, reported the pre- dominant number and frequency of cases (52 patients or 25.6%), followed by Khouzestan (16 cases, 7.9%), Alborz (12 cases, 5.9%) and Isfahan (12 cases, 5.9%) provinces. No statistically significant relationship was found regarding family history status. Hamedan followed by Sistan and Baluchestan, and Yazd provinces had the highest delay in diagnosis. Conclusion: Our study showed that A-T is distributed in most provinces of Iran. We found a considera- bly high diagnostic delay among A-T patients in Iran, especially in resource-limited provinces, including Hamedan followed by Sistan and Baluchestan, and Yazd.

Indications, complications and short term outcomes of mechanical ventilation in NICU.

Objective: To determine the indications, complications and outcome of neonates requiring mechanical ventilation in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: The NICU of National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi, Pakistan. Period: February 2024 to July 2024. Methods: A total of 89 neonates who required mechanical ventilation for at least 6 hours were analyzed. At the time of enrollment, gender, age (day of life), gestational age (weeks), birth weight (grams), place of birth, and mode of delivery were noted. Main cause influencing need for mechanical ventilation was also documented. During the course of mechanical ventilation, associated complications were recorded. Outcome was noted in the form of survival or death. Results: In a total of 89 neonates, 54 (60.7%) were boys. The mean age was 10.64±9.67 days. The most common causes behind the need for mechanical ventilation were sepsis, perinatal asphyxia, tetanus, and RDS, noted in 26 (29.2%), 22 (24.7%), 14 (15.7%), and 12 (13.5%) neonates, respectively. The most frequent mechanical ventilation associated complications were pneumonia, pulmonary hemorrhage, atelectasis, and pneumothorax, observed in 23 (25.8%), 12 (13.5%), 6 (6.7%), and 2 (2.2%), respectively. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 6.97±5.87 days (ranging between 2 to 25 days). Mortality was reported in 44 (49.4%) neonates. Conclusion: The most common causes behind the need for mechanical ventilation were sepsis and perinatal asphyxia. The most frequent mechanical ventilation associated complications were pneumonia, and pulmonary hemorrhage, while overall mortality was very high.

Reliability of large language models as a tool for knowledge extraction from biographical dictionaries: the case of the Polish Biographical Dictionary

Abstract Large language models are tools with great potential for text processing. This study aims to assess the reliability of the models’ results in extracting structured knowledge from unstructured textual sources, particularly biographies from the Polish Biographical Dictionary. The task of the model was to extract information about the individuals, such as date and place of birth, death and burial, family relationships, important people, related settlements and institutions as well as occupied positions. The test was conducted on a sample of 250 biographies. The texts were written in Polish from the 1930s onwards and described the lives of individuals from various historical periods. The results show that the large language model (LLM) is very effective in identifying basic personal data, important family relationships, occupations, or offices held by the characters. Weaker results were obtained when attempting to find institutions and places associated with the protagonists. The outcome of the test suggests that LLMs can efficiently assist in digitizing and structuring historical biographical data and offer a promising tool for improving historical knowledge bases and speeding up the work compared to manual extraction of information.