Qeios最新文献

{"title":"Mekong Multi-Cooperation Frameworks: States, Regional Institutions, Private Sectors and Elites","authors":"M. Sithirith","doi":"10.32388/r348og","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32388/r348og","url":null,"abstract":"Conflict and cooperation are key governance challenges in transboundary river basin governance. Hydropower has been at the center of conflict and cooperation in the transboundary river basin governance. Over time, hydropower produces a sort of material geopolitics within regions. Technological changes and the changing regional geopolitics create different power relations over hydropower. One of the gaps in current research seems to be about how technological and material transformations of hydropower have affected the transboundary river cooperation in the post-Cold War era.The paper uses a literature review and a case study of the Lower Sasan 2 (LS2) Dam to to study the changing political dimensions of the Mekong region from a confronting platform to multi-regional cooperation frameworks; and how powerful actors such as states, regional institutions, private sectors, and elites shape regional cooperations and produce competing programs and projects in the Mekong region..\u0000\u0000It concludes that hydropower has been politicized and technologically manipulated by powerful actors in the last five decades of the Mekong River Cooperation. Cambodia has positioned itself strategically in its relationships with these hydro-hegemons to compete for hydropower dam projects and protect its interests but runs a significant risk of increased social and environmental impacts along with local resistances.\u0000","PeriodicalId":500839,"journal":{"name":"Qeios","volume":"3 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140963451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recovery Rate and Predictors for Cure of Admitted COVID-19 Patients in Ethiopia; A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis","authors":"Fassikaw Kebede, Tsehay Kebede, B. Beletew, Atitegeb Abera Kidie","doi":"10.32388/q79v3u","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32388/q79v3u","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND. Despite the global efforts to curb COVID-19 infection using vaccines and drugs, the burden of illness, hospitalization, and death are continued as a deadly pandemic. Previous study finding estimated recovery time of 2 weeks for mild and 3 to 6 weeks for hospitalized cases. However, in low and middle-income countries like Ethiopia, recovery rate and viral negative conversion time are lowballed and underestimated due to the new variant incidence, limited resources and lacked skilled healthcare providers for admitted COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to estimate pooled recovery rate, and predictors for cure among admitted COVID-19 patients in Ethiopia.\u0000\u0000METHODS. Five electronic databases (Medline, PubMed, HINARY, Africa Journals Online, and Google Scholar) were searched. A total of 529 articles were extracted from cohort studies published in English spanning from December 30, 2019, to December 30, 2023. PRISMA guidelines were adhered to articles screening and extracted using Microsoft Excel. The quality of eligible articles was evaluated using the JBI checklist. The pooled effect size and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were determined using the random-effect meta-regression using STATA version 17. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using Cochran's Q-test, and the variation was estimated by I2, and presented in a forest plot. Subgroup analysis was also used to identify sources of heterogeneity among studies.\u0000\u0000RESULT. A total of 12 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. During the recovery screening of 5,152 admitted COVID-19 cases, 4,411 participants were discharged as cured. The pooled recovery rate was estimated at 90.6% (95% CI: 87.1-94.23, I² = 96.11%, P = 0.001). In subgroup analysis, Addis Ababa exhibited the highest recovery rate with 95.1%, followed by Oromia (94.6%), and Southern nation nationalities (SNN) region (91.55%). The recovery rate was higher for individuals aged 15-30 years (AHR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.41-2.86, P = 0.001), males’ gender (AHR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.14-1.88, P=0.002), and cases admitted with ≥37.5°C (AHR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.41-2.86, P = 0.001) compared to their counterparts. This manuscript is ongoing a submitted for registered in Prospero. \u0000\u0000CONCLUSION. In Ethiopia, nearly nine in every ten (90%) admitted COVID-19 cases recovered. However, the recovery rate exhibits a significant variation across each study region, setting, and pandemic phase. Therefore, healthcare providers prioritize care for critical cases to increase the overall survival rate of admitted patients.\u0000","PeriodicalId":500839,"journal":{"name":"Qeios","volume":"35 17","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140969753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of a Curriculum for Emergency Physicians to Teach Transesophageal Echocardiography for Cardiac Arrests: A Kern Six-Step Model","authors":"Barry Swerdlow","doi":"10.32388/9unb92","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32388/9unb92","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: The Kern model facilitates the development, implementation, and evaluation of successful educational systems in medicine. It involves six steps that link curricular content to health care needs. One such need is the design of a curriculum to teach emergency physicians practical use of focused transesophageal echocardiography employing a limited number of views for management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The objective of this analysis was to describe the components of such a curriculum based on a Kern model that could be employed to train emergency department providers in this diagnostic modality. \u0000\u0000METHODS: We predicated our analysis on the American College of Emergency Physicians’ recommendations and goals for use of transesophageal echocardiography to guide emergency department cardiac arrest resuscitation. We then detailed an asynchronous pre-didactic learning experience followed by a synchronous didactic and simulation-based curriculum to teach emergency physicians how to acquire and interpret images for this purpose based upon steps set forth by a Kern model. \u0000\u0000RESULTS: The component steps in designing a curriculum constructed to teach focused transesophageal echocardiography for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests to emergency physicians are rigorously outlined. These components based on a Kern model include problem identification and a general needs assessment, a targeted needs assessment, defining goals and objectives, choosing educational strategies, curricular implementation, and program evaluation. \u0000\u0000CONCLUSIONS: Use of a six-step Kern model as a template can facilitate the development and dissemination of a curriculum to teach emergency physicians successfully to employ focused transesophageal echocardiography in the treatment of cardiac arrests. In order to promote its widest dissemination, this model should be pursued in a “train-the-trainer” fashion. In so doing, appropriate education of emergency physicians and their use of transesophageal echocardiography to manage cardiac arrests likely can be rapid and impactful, especially among providers with training and experience in transthoracic echocardiography. \u0000","PeriodicalId":500839,"journal":{"name":"Qeios","volume":"3 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140974710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Cinnamon on Cancer Prevention and Progression","authors":"Madison Anderson, William Hrivnak, Khanneth Prak, Amy Stockert","doi":"10.32388/eviqdp","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32388/eviqdp","url":null,"abstract":"Cinnamon has been used medicinally for centuries, but recently research has suggested it may have a role in cancer prevention and potentially treatment. The search for alternative and subjunctive therapies is essential due to the public demand and the increasing cost of healthcare. Here we review the biologically active components of cinnamon and discuss the methods of potential cinnamon activity against cancer including: transcription factor regulation and kinase activity. Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-(𝜿)B) is a stress sensitive transcription factor that regulates transcription of genes involved in tumor progression and is inhibited by cinnamon components. Another way that cinnamon inhibits tumor growth is by suppression of transcription factor activator protein -1 (AP-1) which interacts with genes responsible for apoptosis, metastasis and inflammation. Hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-1 (HIF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are involved in angiogenesis, especially in the tumor microenvironment. The HIF-1-VEGF pathway are targeted by cinnamaldehyde, a compound found in cinnamon. Nuclear factor erythroid related factor 2 (Nrf2) is also examined and has been indicated to both potentially prevent cancer as well as induce it; various cinnamon derivatives target Nrf2. A cinnamaldehyde derivative has been implicated in a reduction of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), which are a group of kinases that regulate proliferation. Additionally, cinnamon components have been tied to cancer prevention by positively affecting the gut microbiome and inhibiting inflammation. The review concludes with a discussion of the future research needed and potential risk associated with cinnamon intake.\u0000","PeriodicalId":500839,"journal":{"name":"Qeios","volume":"63 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140973617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review of: \"Cytobiological Alterations Induced by Celecoxib as an Anticancer Agent for Breast and Metastatic Breast Cancer provide a new insight related to breast cancer treatment\"","authors":"Samaira Mumtaz","doi":"10.32388/qc2hp3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32388/qc2hp3","url":null,"abstract":"<jats:p/>","PeriodicalId":500839,"journal":{"name":"Qeios","volume":"53 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140973925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into the Psychological Strains of University Life: A Study of Albanian Students","authors":"Juna Muca, Entela Kostrista, Drilona Abazaj, Suada Hawa, Ledion Musaj, Juventina Ngjela, Elton Kazanxhi, Laura Longhi, E. Begotaraj","doi":"10.32388/q30w3z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32388/q30w3z","url":null,"abstract":"During university years, mental health and behavioural challenges become more prevalent. The unique lifestyle of students often exposes them to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Additionally, mental well-being is closely linked to factors such as anxiety, stress, and adjustments to new lifestyle habits, particularly in the crucial transition period of the first year at university.\u0000\u0000A longitudinal study was conducted among students enrolled at universities in Albania. Descriptive statistics were used to show the difference between gender, levels of education and age. A sample of 594 students participated in the study completing the battery of questionnaires. Psychological instruments and exposure measurements were considered.\u0000\u0000Research has confirmed the challenges faced by students during their university years, revealing a correlation between insufficient financial support and a rise in symptoms of depression and anxiety. The findings underscore the impact of lifestyle changes on the manifestation of clinically significant psychological symptoms. It suggests that enhancing financial support and providing additional resources could alleviate psychological distress among university students.\u0000","PeriodicalId":500839,"journal":{"name":"Qeios","volume":"8 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140979647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Commentary] The NPM University: A Satirical Examination of New Public Management in Higher Education, Drawing Lessons from a Fictional Norwegian Institution","authors":"Kjetil Haugen, Kai A. Olsen","doi":"10.32388/r7ulg2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32388/r7ulg2","url":null,"abstract":"This brief commentary presents a satirical critique of New Public Management (NPM) practices in higher education, using a fictional university in Norway as a case study. Drawing parallels with Soviet-era production methods, we explore the implications of applying industrial management tactics to academic settings. Through a humorous lens, we discuss how such approaches can lead to a dilution of academic standards and integrity, evidenced by tactics such as lowering student assessment criteria to artificially boost pass rates and employing superficial methods to enhance institutional reputations. This analysis aims to provoke thoughtful reflection on current educational policies and their long-term impacts on academic quality, university governance, and policy formulation. We critically examine the metrics-driven approach to educational success and its consequences on teaching quality and academic freedom. By engaging with themes such as accountability in education, marketization of higher education, and the commodification of learning, this concise contribution invites a broader discussion on the sustainability of NPM strategies in nurturing genuine educational excellence.\u0000","PeriodicalId":500839,"journal":{"name":"Qeios","volume":"34 25","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140979697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustained Muscle EMG Activity to Contractile Failure During Incremental Exercise and Intense Constant Load Cycling: No Evidence of a Central Governor","authors":"Alexander R Holmans, R. Robergs, Bridgette O'Malley","doi":"10.32388/f7ew12","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32388/f7ew12","url":null,"abstract":"Since 1997, debate has continued over the presence of a central governor that constrains neuromuscular activity during severe, intense exercise. This study aimed to challenge the central governor model (CGM) through acquiring surface electromyography (sEMG) data from the vastus lateralis (VL) and gluteus maximus (Gmax) muscles of 14 healthy participants during 4 different bouts of constant load, non-steady state cycling exercise (110, 125, 140, 160 %watts at the ventilation threshold), and 1 incremental bout to volitional exhaustion. sEMG activity was processed to isolate and capture each contraction of the VL and Gmax during all bouts of exercise. sEMG data was then graphed to profile sEMG root mean square (rms) activity over time with linear curve fitting used to quantify this relationship for data preceding (segment 1) and during the final 30s of each test (segment 2). Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for differences between the slopes of the two linear segments of the sEMG rms response of the VL for each bout. Results during the VO2max trial revealed a significant main effect for SEGMENT where segment 2 was significantly greater than segment 1 (F=6.741, p=0.023). During the critical power trails there were significant differences in sEMG rms for each of INTENSITY (F=9.349, p<0.001), SEGMENT (F=5.443, p=0.036), and the interaction effect (F=2.837, p=0.005). Muscle sEMG rms data revealed sustained increases in muscle activity in all bouts of intense exercise to volitional exhaustion in both the VL and Gmax, which is inconsistent with the predictions made from the CGM.\u0000","PeriodicalId":500839,"journal":{"name":"Qeios","volume":"51 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140980933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Mini Review Article] Practicality of Piezo Surgery in Periodontics","authors":"Harish Prabhudev Pillutla, Aravind Kumar Pavuluri, Reddy Joseph Kishore, Mounisha Kondepati, Gudipati Kameswari","doi":"10.32388/lsqfus","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32388/lsqfus","url":null,"abstract":"The ongoing advances in periodontics, have led to the introduction of Piezosurgery, which has been rejuvenating in the field of osseous surgeries. Piezosurgery® device is based on the piezoelectric effect by ultrasonic vibrations. The linear vibrations and cavitation effect gives blood free zone for clear visibility and operating accuracy. The display unit guides the user to choose from a variety of operational settings that optimize the ultrasonic frequency for desired procedures. It has various applications in periodontics particularly in osteotomy procedures and implant dentistry.\u0000","PeriodicalId":500839,"journal":{"name":"Qeios","volume":"35 36","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140979901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the Economic Dynamics of Mobile Money in Post-Conflict Economies: Empirical Evidence from Somalia","authors":"Mohamed Ibrahim Nor, Abdinur Ali Mohamed","doi":"10.32388/y8c0mk","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32388/y8c0mk","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigates the economic dynamics of mobile money in Somalia, focusing on its transformative potential to impact economic activities in the short and long term. Adopting a quantitative research design, the study utilizes secondary data from 2010 to 2022. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach is employed to assess the impact of mobile money on household consumption, real income, exports, and imports. Theoretical insights from the quantity theory of money further guide the examination of how mobile money influences economic activities. The findings demonstrate that mobile money has a significant positive effect on household consumption, real income, export growth, and import activity both in the short and long term. The study reveals that mobile money not only facilitates financial transactions but also enhances trade efficiency and promotes financial inclusion, thereby stimulating economic activities and growth. The study underscores the need for a supportive regulatory environment for mobile money services. It highlights that financial institutions and mobile money service providers should expand innovative services to include the unbanked population. By doing so, they can leverage mobile money to foster greater economic engagement and empowerment. Policymakers are encouraged to develop strategies that promote financial inclusion and economic development to harness the full potential of mobile money. This study enriches the existing literature by uniquely investigating the economic impacts of mobile money in Somalia, a post-conflict setting, thereby broadening the understanding of how financial technologies can catalyze economic activities and growth in similar contexts.\u0000","PeriodicalId":500839,"journal":{"name":"Qeios","volume":"118 20","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140985631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}