Scale Values Research Articles

Is intrathecal bupivacaine plus dexmedetomidine superior to bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia for a cesarean section? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to investigate whether the administration of intrathecal dexmedetomidine as a bupivacaine adjuvant for caesarean section can prolong the duration of analgesia compared with bupivacaine alone. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain, the time interval to the first analgesic request, the level of sedation, the incidence of adverse effects, and the fetal outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. The study compared the intrathecal administration of bupivacaine plus dexmedetomidine (group BD) to the intrathecal administration of bupivacaine alone (group B) for cesarean sections. Fourteen publications were included. Among patients who underwent spinal anesthesia for a cesarean section, 514 patients received intrathecal bupivacaine alone, and 533 patients received intrathecal bupivacaine plus dexmedetomidine. The onset of sensory and motor block was essentially the same in both groups; the time for sensory and motor block regression was significantly longer in the BD group. Postoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) values were similar in group BD when compared to group B. Postoperative VAS scores remained consistently low in Group BD compared to Group B, starting from 1 hour after surgery. The level of sedation measured at the end of the cesarean section in both groups was almost similar. No difference in terms of safety, adverse events, and neonatal outcomes was found between the two groups. Use of intrathecal dexmedetomidine for spinal anesthesia in cesarean section significantly prolongs sensory and motor block compared to using bupivacaine alone as an adjuvant. It also improves analgesia after 1 hour with no difference in the incidence of maternal and neonatal adverse effects compared to bupivacaine alone. The optimal dose of dexmedetomidine to use remains to be ingested.

A novel colorimetric sensor through peroxymonosulfate activated by CoFe@CN nanozymes for on-site resorcinol detection

The presence of resorcinol (RS) in water contaminated with pollutants may engender environmental and ecosystem risks. In this study, we developed rapid and efficient colorimetric methods for the on-site quantitative determination of RS. Specifically, a synthetic nanozyme composed of nitrogen-doped carbon-coated cobalt-iron (CoFe@CN) was utilized to initiate the oxidation reaction of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) with the activator of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Compared to the activator of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), PMS demonstrated a sixfold enhancement in catalytic efficacy, markedly elevating the detection performance. Density Functional Theory calculations indicate that RS can serve as a reducing agent for oxTMB, confirming the theoretical feasibility of this process. A linear relationship between inhibition rate (IR %) of RS concentration and absorbance was established and the colorimetric analysis revealed a linear relationship between RS concentration and gray scale values over the range of 0–45 μM, with a detection limit of 3.39 μM. Furthermore, smartphone-based analysis of color images allows for on-site quantitative analysis of RS concentration, leveraging portability and real-time detection capabilities. This study provides pioneering analytical support for on-site water quality monitoring within the ecological environment.

Analisis Perilaku Persepsi Pengendara Sepeda Motor Terhadap Keselamatan Berkendara

People need a mode of transportation to facilitate daily activities, one of the modes of transportation in Aceh is the increase in motorbike ownership. The increase in motorbike ownership is not matched by increased awareness of traffic safety by road users, which will certainly have an impact on increasing the number of accidents. WHO (2018) reports the number of deaths based on road users in Indonesia, 74% of deaths were contributed by motorcyclists. This research aims to identify personal characteristics and unsafe driving behavior on the traffic safety of motorbike users. Research data was collected in Banda Aceh and parts of greater Aceh using the Driving Behavior Inventory (DBI) instrument through an online survey questionnaire approach "self-reporting driving behaviors". The results of research on socio-demographics using cross tabulation show that men aged 20-29 years have more than 6 years of experience with the highest score of having experienced a traffic accident. Perception of the respondent variable Violation (V) on the indicator "driving very close to another vehicle in front" which has the lowest value of 2.91, variable Error (E) on the indicator "maneuvering without turning on the turn signal" which has the second lowest value of 2 .98, variable Driving Safety (DS) in the indicator that has the highest scale value is "be careful in accident-prone places" of 3.66.

The Relationship Between Interleukin-1β Levels and Visual Analog Scale Value in Preeclampsia Patients Who Received Perioperative C-Sectional Parecoxib With Spinal Anesthesia

Background: Interleukin1β (IL-1β) increases during inflammation and functions as a mediator that terminates endothelial dysfunction and regulates cellular apoptosis in preeclampsia. Parecoxib is a potential agent because of its superiority as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory that can work peripherally and centrally, with minimal side effects on the mother and baby.Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between IL-1β levels and visual analog scale (VAS) scores in preeclampsia patients who received parecoxib perioperatively for cesarean section with spinal anesthesia.Methods: Non-experimental cross-sectional research on preeclampsia patients who received perioperative parecoxib and underwent cesarean section with spinal anesthesia as many as 18 people at Arifin Ahmad Hospital, Riau Province, and Bina Kasih Hospital, Pekanbaru. Samples were taken by Consecutive Sampling.Result: There was a moderate negative correlation between IL-1β and VAS (p <0.05; correlation coefficient -0.487).Conclusion: In preeclampsia patients who received parecoxib following a 24-hour spinal anesthetic cesarean surgery, there is a correlation between IL-1β levels and VAS scores.

Rancang Bangun SPK Kualitas Air Sungai Metode Fuzzy Tsukamoto (Studi Kasus: 4 Kecamatan Karawang)

Research reveals that the Citarum River in West Java is seriously polluted, causing problems for humans and the environment, so monitoring of river water quality is necessary. This research proposes the development of a web-based Decision Support System with the SDLC Waterfall model, using the Fuzzy Tsukamoto method based on seven water parameters (EC, TDS, Salinity, pH, ORP, SG, Temperature) to simplify the determination of water quality. This research uses the Research and Development methodology with the SDLC Waterfall model software development approach, which includes the stages of analyzing data requirements and fuzzy logic systems, designing system architecture and features, implementing technology and process results, functional manual testing and model accuracy, and maintenance in the form of documentation and storage. The results showed that the developed DSS can classify water quality based on 7 parameters with a value scale divided into five categories, namely Good, Poor, Medium, Good, and Very Good. Testing was conducted using data from 8 river points in 4 sub-districts in Karawang Regency on April 1, 2024. The accuracy of the DSS model reached 80%. The development of this DSS is expected to provide an initial overview of water quality in a location without requiring an in-depth technical understanding of the water parameters used. This data can also be an initial indicator to determine whether further action or further investigation is required. Suggestions for future research are to integrate the system with IoT to improve its performance and benefits.

The Role of Systemic Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Spontaneous Intracranial Hemorrhage in the Presence or Absence of Effective Cerebral Blood Flow.

Background: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the leading causes of mortality in intensive care units. The role of systemic hyperintense inflammation (SHI) in the pathogenesis of critical complications of ICH remains a poorly understood problem. There is a specific variant of severe ICH associated with increased intracranial pressure and occlusion of intracranial vessels, defined as ineffective cerebral blood flow (IECBF). Methods: To evaluate the role of SHI in the pathogenesis of severe (comatose) ICH in a dynamic comparison of patients with IECBF (n-26) and without IECBF (n-52). The SHI integral score criterion (SI scale) was used, including certain values of plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10; TNF-α, PCT, cortisol, myoglobin, troponin I, D-dimer, and, additionally, SOFA scale values. Blood levels of ACTH and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were also assessed. Results: Twenty-eight-day mortality in severe ICH reached 84.6% (without IECBF) and 96.2% (with IECBF). Clear signs of SHI were detected in 61.5%/87.8% (without IECBF) and 0.0%/8.7% (with IECBF) within 1-3/5-8 days from the onset of ICH manifestation. The lower probability of developing SHI in the IECBF group was associated with low blood NSE concentrations. Conclusions: The development of SHI in ICH is pathogenetically related to the permeability of the blood-brain barrier for tissue breakdown products and other neuroinflammatory factors.

Ethical values held by nursing students. Comparative study in two country

IntroductionEthical values are a guideline for behavior in certain situations. They take on particular importance in patient care. Ethical values depend on many factors including culture. The aim of this study is to compare the ethical values of nursing students.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 463 students participated in the survey, including 191 from Poland and 272 from Turkiye. The study was conducted from April to June 2022. For the purposes of this study was used Ethical Values Scale (IEVS). The criteria for excluding participants from the study were nursing student status and consent to participate in the study.ResultsThe IEVE total score for all respondents was 68.20 and the median was 68. In the individual subscales: Love-Respect 34.76 (median 35), Justice-Honesty 21.29 (median 21) and Cooperation 12.14 (median 12). Polish students’ total IEVS score average was 70.48 ± 6.81 and Turkish students’ IEVS total score average was 66.61 ± 9.65. There is a statistically significant difference between the total score average on the IEVS of students from the two countries (p < 0.001).ConclusionStudents in both countries generally demonstrate high ethical standards. There are noticeable differences between the responses of students from Poland and Turkiye.

Nursing Professional Values Scale (NPVS-3) in an Austrian context: validation of a scale and reliability assessment

BackgroundThe Nurses Professional Values Scale-3 (NPVS-3) is a psychometric instrument derived from a set of values initially established by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics. The present study evaluates the reliability of the NPVS-3 scale for nursing students and nurses in Austria.MethodsA cross-sectional methodological study was conducted on 209 research participants, comprising 139 nursing students and 70 nurses, with the objective of determining the reliability of the Austrian version of the scale. A multilevel approach was employed in the study, encompassing cultural and linguistic validation, content validity, face validity, and construct validity. The scale translation was performed per the established translation stages of back-translation and was subsequently reviewed by an expert committee. The translated instrument was applied to the participants who completed an online survey between April and July 2023. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha, while construct validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).ResultsThe Cronbach's alpha values obtained were deemed appropriate, with the following results: Caring (0.852), Activism (0.832), and Professionalism (0.676). Through factorial analysis, three factors were identified as original NPVS-3 and construct validity was verified.ConclusionThe Austrian version of the NPVS-3 demonstrated satisfactory validity, efficiently evaluating the professional values of nurses and nursing students in Austria.

Pemberian Akupresur terhadap Perubahan Nilai Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) pada Pasien Penurunan Kesadaran

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of acupressure on changes in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) values in patients with decreased consciousness. The research design used was a quasi-experiment, one group pre-test, and a post-test design. The results of the univariate analysis showed that before the acupressure intervention, the majority of respondents (23.3%) were at the somnolent level of consciousness, and after the intervention, the majority of respondents, six people (20.0%), were at the delirium level of consciousness. The results of bivariate analysis showed that the p-value (0.004). In conclusion, acupressure has an effect on changes in GCS values in patients with decreased consciousness. Keywords: Acupressure, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

Optimal design of electro-thermo-mechanical microactuators considering minimum length scale constraints

To ensure the manufacturability of compliant mechanisms, this paper presents a new approach for optimal design of electro-thermo-mechanical microactuators by employing minimum length scale constraints. A sequential coupling method is adopted to carry out finite element analysis for electric-thermal-mechanical coupling multiphysics. The inflection point fields of the solid and void phases are identified by structural indicator functions. The minimum length scales of the solid and void phases are adopted as constraints. The optimization objective is designed to maximize the output displacements of electro-thermo-mechanical microactuators. The validity of the proposed optimal design method is demonstrated through several numerical examples. In the optimal designs obtained by the proposed method, the minimum length scales of the two phases can be properly controlled. The electro-thermo-mechanical microactuator’s output displacements decrease when the allowable value of the minimum length scale is increased. The effects of different mesh discretizations and output spring stiffnesses on the optimized designs are discussed.

Can Pre-Transplant Psychometric Testing Predict Tacrolimus Intrapatient Variability After Living Kidney Transplantation?

Tacrolimus intrapatient variability (Tac IPV) has been considered a marker for post-graft risk. We investigated pre-transplant psychometric testing to predict Tac IPV after living kidney transplantation. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) examined during pre-transplant evaluation by 102 recipients were analyzed. Subjects were divided into two groups, low IPV (L-IPV) and high IPV (H-IPV), by cutoffs of Tac IPV: median of 24 and value of 30. T-scores of MMPI-2 scales were used to analyze difference between L-IPV and H-IPV using independent t-tests. Stepwise multiple logistic regression was used to test whether MMPI-2 scales affected Tac IPV. Confusion matrix of logistic regression was used to explain statistical power. Cutoff values of significant scales for H-IPV were analyzed by constructing receiver operating characteristic curves. Hysteria (Hy) and depression (D) scale scores and Tac IPV were associated in IPV 24 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.08, p<0.01 for Hy; OR: 0.93, p<0.01 for D) and IPV 30 models (OR: 1.09, p<0.01 for Hy; OR: 0.92, p<0.01 for D). Paranoia (Pa) scale scores were associated with Tac IPV in IPV 24 model (OR=1.10, p<0.01) and were significantly higher in H-IPV 24 (p<0.01). F1 scores of confusion matrix in IPV 24 and 30 models were 0.70 and 0.71, respectively. Cutoffs of Hy, D, and Pa scales were 51, 57, and 47, respectively. MMPI-2 profile is suggested as a predictor for high Tac IPV after living kidney transplantation.

Integrative Learning Model in Pediatric and Sorches on Athletics Materials with Science Education Biology Materials for Junior High School Students

This research aims to produce an integrative learning model for junior high school students that is suitable for use. The integrative learning model is expected to be used by physical education teachers in teaching and learning activities. This development research was carried out by adapting the following research steps: data collection, analysis of the information collected, development of initial product draft, expert validation and revision, small-scale trials and revisions, large-scale field trials and revisions, and final product creation. A small-scale trial was carried out on 25 students of SMP Negeri 1 Samarinda. Large-scale trials were carried out on 31 students of SMP Negeri 2 Samarinda, SMP Negeri 3 Samarinda, and SMP Negeri 4 Samarinda. Data collection instruments are interview guides, field notes, validation value scales, teacher participation, student responses, performance tests and knowledge tests. Data analysis uses qualitative and quantitative descriptive analysis. The results of this research are in the form of a guidebook containing syntax (steps), assessment forms, 6 integrative games, and plans for implementing appropriate and effective learning.

Rapidity distribution of pseudoscalar Higgs boson to NNLOA+NNLL¯

We present the differential predictions for the rapidity distribution of pseudoscalar Higgs boson through gluon fusion at the LHC. These results are obtained taking into account the soft-virtual (SV) as well as the next-to-soft virtual (NSV) resummation effects to next-to-next-to-leading-logarithmic (NNLL¯) accuracy and matching them to the approximate fixed order next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLOA) computation. We perform the resummation in two-dimensional Mellin space by limiting ourselves to the contributions only from gluon-gluon (gg) initiated channels. The NNLOA rapidity distribution of pseudoscalar Higgs is obtained by applying a ratio method on the NNLO rapidity distribution of the scalar Higgs boson. We also present the first analytical results of N3LO rapidity distribution of pseudoscalar Higgs at SV+NSV accuracy. The phenomenological impacts of NNLOA+NNLL¯ predictions for 13 TeV LHC are studied. We observe that for mA=125(700) GeV the SV+NSV resummation at the NNLL¯ level brings about 14.76% (11.48%) corrections to the NNLOA results at the central scale value of μR=μF=mA. Further, we find that the sensitivity to the renormalization scale gets improved substantially by the inclusion of NSV resummed predictions at NNLL¯ accuracy. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Printing and dyeing of halloysite nano clay hybrid with natural chlorophyll dye on cotton fabric

This work deals with the synthesis of hybrids formed by the natural dye chlorophyll and halloysite for their subsequent application in the textile field. Once the pigments have been synthesized, with 98 % adsorption, they are used for two textile colouring functions, namely printing and dyeing. In both cases, satisfactory and interesting results were obtained. The hybrids were characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM-EDX, BET and all the appropriate colour measurements were carried out to obtain the coordinates in CIELAB space and also to know their total solar reflectance (TSR) 45.98 %. In addition, statistical techniques were used with the use of ANOVA to evaluate the results obtained. The dyeing was carried out by exhaustion and its use was compared with the use of nibbled and non-nibbled fabrics. The textiles were tested for fastness and the results are presented in instrumentally obtained grey scale values, achieving in some cases values of 4–5. Thus, the chlorophyll adsorption capacity of halloysite and its stabilisation for subsequent application in printing and dyeing processes on textile substrates has been demonstrated. This process could be scalable at an industrial level.

Peculiarities of Applying Partial Convolutions to the Computation of Reduced Numerical Convolutions

A method is proposed that reduces the computation of the reduced digital convolution operation to a set of independent convolutions computed in Galois fields. The reduced digital convolution is understood as a modified convolution operation whose result is a function taking discrete values in the same discrete scale as the original functions. The method is based on the use of partial convolutions, reduced to computing a modulo integer q0, which is the product of several prime numbers: q0=p1p2…pn. It is shown that it is appropriate to use the expansion of the number q0, to q=p0p1p2…pn, where p0 is an additional prime number, to compute the reduced digital convolution. This corresponds to the use of additional digits in the number system used to convert to partial convolutions. The inverse procedure, i.e., reducing the result of calculations modulo q to the result corresponding to calculations modulo q0, is provided by the formula that used only integers proved in this paper. The possibilities of practical application of the obtained results are discussed.

Extraction and reduction of parameters from hand-drawn Archimedes spirals for clinical tremor assessment

BackgroundPatients’ hand-drawn Archimedes spirals are widely used in the neurological community to grade tremors. These spirals are either drawn on paper and Xeroxed/scanned into digital images or digitizing tablets are used for the drawings. This process introduces artifacts such as variable widths of the drawn lines with varying pixel grey scale values. Xeroxing introduces additional artifacts resulting from paper misalignments. These artifacts and the presence of the reference spiral in the image complicate an automatic extraction of a mathematical spiral signal from the image. New methodsWe introduce a mathematical mapping that transforms the image pixels of the patient's hand-drawn spiral into a one-dimensional discrete signal that can be used for mathematical analysis. ResultsA cohort of 18 hand-drawn spirals with various artifacts is used to validate our method.We extract the parameters of the discrete signals and show that the signals can be represented by truncating to as few as 150 parameters with a truncation RMS error of 6.26 % across the cohort. Using only 150 features makes machine learning a viable option for future applications. Furthermore, our method can be used to evaluate the frequency and the amplitude of the tremor. Comparison with existing methodsIn existing methods, the patient draws the spiral on a digitizing tablet, and features are extracted from this data for machine learning. We recognize that a vast majority of hospitals are still using the pencil-and-paper approach, and there is an abundance of ready-to-be-mined tremor-related data already stored as paper or digitized drawings. Our procedure is equally applicable to Xeroxed documents as well as files generated from digital tablets. ConclusionsWe have validated a new procedure requiring minimal user intervention to automatically extract a patient's hand-drawn spiral as a discrete mathematical one-dimensional signal from a scanned image or a file from a digital tablet.

The relationship between nurses' professional values and ethical attitudes to pain.

Background: Pain management is a fundamental human right for everyone who experiences it. The management of pain is an ethical obligation for all health professionals. Professional values have an important place in appropriate clinical decision-making. Research aim: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between nurses' ethical attitudes in pain management and their compliance with professional values. Research design: The study was conducted as a descriptive and correlational research. The study data were collected by online survey method using the Introductory Characteristics Form, Ethical Attitude Scale for Pain Management in Nursing, and Nurses Professional Values Scale - Revised. Participants and research context: The population of the study consisted of nurses working in tertiary treatment centers in a country. A total of 388 nurses participated in the study. Ethical considerations: Ethical approval was obtained from the University Ethics Committee. Consent was obtained from the nurses. Results: The mean total score of the Ethical Attitude Scale for Pain Management in Nursing was 98.96 ± 9.37, and the mean total score of the Nurses Professional Values Scale was 101.51 ± 15.20. The scores of the Ethical Attitude Scale for Pain Management in Nursing were positively and moderately correlated with the total scores of the Professional Values Scale. Compliance with professional values explained 41% of the total variance of ethical attitude for pain management. Conclusions: In this study, it was found that nurses' ethical attitudes for pain management and compliance with professional values were at a high level, compliance with professional values was associated with ethical attitudes for pain management, and ethical attitudes for pain management decreased with increasing working years. A nurse with high ethical sensitivity and compliance with professional values can easily recognize ethical problems, effectively manage the ethical decision-making process, and provide appropriate patient care.

Developing and Validating a Perceived Digital Customer Value Scale in Restaurants

ABSTRACT Customers are switching to being “digital customers” when interacting with restaurants more digitally than traditionally. Therefore, the current study aims to create a multidimensional scale for measuring perceived digital customer value derived from ordering and payment functionalities in restaurants. Seven stages were taken in the development of the scale; the first was qualitative for item generation, and the other steps were quantitative for empirically establishing the scale’s psychometric qualities. Four hundred twenty-five customers filled out the questionnaires from two different types of restaurants (i.e. fast-food and casual dining restaurants) in Cairo, Egypt. This study found five dimensions of the perceived digital customer value scale: price, hedonic, experiential, transient, and service quality. This measurement helps restaurants comprehend digital customer behavior and change customer preferences and interactions in a digitalized environment. Accordingly, the study extends customer value theory and previous models within the hospitality industry, addresses gaps in the literature, and improves understanding of customer value in digital transformation. The developed multidimensional scale helps restaurant management understand their digital customers’ preferences and deliver value that meets their desires in a digital transformation.

A Comparison of Evaluation Methodologies of the Fractal Dimension of Premixed Turbulent Flames in 2D and 3D Using Direct Numerical Simulation Data

AbstractA Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) database of statistically planar flames ranging from the wrinkled flamelets to the thin reaction zones regime and DNS data for a Bunsen premixed flame representing the wrinkled flamelets regime have been utilised to evaluate the fractal dimensions of flame surfaces using the filtering dimension method, the box-counting algorithm and the correlation dimension approach. The fractal dimension evaluated based on the fully resolved three-dimensional data has been found to be reasonably approximated by adding unity to the equivalent fractal dimension evaluated based on two-dimensional projections irrespective of the methodology of extracting fractal dimension. This indicates that the flame surface can be approximated as a self-similar fractal surface for the range of Karlovitz and Damköhler numbers considered here. While all methods, provide results identical to each other for benchmark problems, it has been found that the fractal dimension evaluation based on box-counting method provides almost identical results as that obtained using the filtering dimension method for both three and two dimensions, while the fractal dimensions based on the correlation dimension tend to be slightly smaller. The findings of the current analysis have the potential to be used to reliably estimate the actual fractal dimension in 3D based on experimentally obtained 2D binarised reaction progress variable field. The inner cut-off scales estimated based on all three methodologies yield comparable results in terms of order of magnitude with the box-counting method predicting a smaller value of inner cut-off scale in comparison to other methods. The execution times for fractal dimension extraction based on filtering dimension and box-counting methodologies are found to be comparable but the correlation dimension method is found to be considerably faster than the two alternative approaches and provides results consistent with theoretical bounds in all cases.

Predicting the Intravenous Pharmacokinetics of Covalent Drugs in Animals and Humans.

30 covalent drugs were used to assess clearance (CL) prediction reliability in animals and humans. In animals, marked CL underprediction was observed using cryopreserved hepatocytes or liver microsomes (LMs) supplemented for cytochrome P450 activity. Improved quantitative performance was observed by combining metabolic stability data from LMs and liver S9 fractions, the latter supplemented with reduced glutathione for glutathione transferase activity. While human LMs provided reliable human CL predictions, prediction statistics were improved further by incorporating S9 stability data. CL predictions with allometric scaling were less robust compared to in vitro drug metabolism methods; the best results were obtained using the fu-corrected intercept model. Human volume of distribution (Vd) was well predicted using allometric scaling of animal pharmacokinetic data; the most reliable results were achieved using simple allometric scaling of unbound Vd values. These results provide a quantitative framework to guide appropriate method selection for human PK prediction with covalent drugs.