The Zoom Effect: A Google Trends Analysis

Background Increased video-chatting, stimulated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been correlated with increased appearance concerns. Initial lockdown restrictions correlated with a decrease in aesthetic/cosmetic plastic surgery case volumes. Objectives We aim to delineate public interest in aesthetic procedures surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic via Google Trends (GT). We hypothesize that because of the pandemic, public interest in plastic surgery procedures increased, especially localized above the shoulder. Methods Trends in the US for given search terms and volumes were gathered via Google Trends between January 2015 to March 2021. The search volumes were normalized, and a bivariate regression analysis of panel data was then applied to the aggregate trendlines to determine if a statistically significant change in search volume occurred following the stay-at-home orders. Results The following search terms had statistically significant (p < 0.000) increases in search volumes after February 2020: blepharoplasty, Botox, brachioplasty, breast implant removal, breast reduction, brow lift, buccal fat removal, hair transplantation, lip augmentation, mentoplasty, otoplasty, platysmaplasty, rhinoplasty, and thighplasty. Chi-squared analysis demonstrated a statistically significant association (Chi-squared = 4.812, p = 0.028) between increases in search volume and above the shoulder procedures. Conclusions Public interest in above the shoulder surgical procedures showed a statistically significant increase following February 2020 compared to below the shoulder procedures. Continued examination of specific procedure trends, as well as determining correlations with more accurate procedural datasets, will provide increased insight into consumers’ mindsets and to what extent video conferencing plays on the public’s interest in pursuing aesthetic surgery.

The severity of malnutrition in children with epidermolysis bullosa correlates with disease severity

WHO defines malnutrition as severe if the z-scores are less than − 3 Standard deviation (SD), moderate if between − 2 and − 3 SD and mild if between − 2 SD to – 1 SD. This study was aimed to assess nutritional aspects of Indian children suffering from EB and to evaluate the effect of severity of EB on the severity of malnutrition. In this study, pediatric EB patients were evaluated prospectively for baseline nutritional status using anthropometric parameters and WHO growth charts, and its correlation with disease severity using instrument for Scoring Clinical Outcomes for Research of Epidermolysis Bullosa-iscorEB. In second phase, an individualized diet chart was given to meet the energy, protein and micronutrients needs and its effects were observed after 6 months. The median age of participants was 3 years (IQR-9). Of 57 patients, malnutrition was seen in 40.35% patients (22.81%-moderate and 17.54%-severe), and significantly correlated with iscorEB (r = 0.45, p < 0.0001). On bivariate regression analysis, iscorEB was independently associated with moderate-to-severe malnutrition (p = 0.047; OR 1.038, CI 1.011–1.066). iscorEB enabled the identification of patients with moderate-to-severe malnutrition with an Area Under Receiver Operating Curve (AUROC) of 0.72 (95%CI 0.58–0.85; p < 0.005). In phase 2, there was significant improvement in nutritional status in children with recessive dystrophic EB (RDEB) and dominant dystrophic EB (DDEB) subtype (p < 0.0001). The severity of malnutrition in EB children significantly correlates with disease severity, and is an independent predictor of moderate-to-severe malnutrition.

Effectors of income-child health gradient: Role of dietary diversity on child nutritional status in selected slums of Dhaka city

Child dietary diversity (CDD) is an important nutritional outcome measuring the economic ability of a household to access a variety of foods during a determined period. Relating household income to CDD and child anthropometric failure, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 275 selected Dhaka city slum children of 6-12 years. Prevalence of stunting (18%), wasting (19.4%), and underweight (22%) among them were found similar to the current national figure. However, a sizable number of households showed increased DDS (>5), thereby indicating an increased household purchasing power (PP). Bivariate regression analysis showed that children from lower family income (≤6000 BDT) were 3 times more likely to be stunted as compared to children with greater family income [Unadjusted OR=3.097, 95% CI (1.578-6.077), p=0.001]. Furthermore, logistic regression showed that children who had <5 DDS were 2 times more likely to be stunted than children who had ≥5 DDS [Adjusted OR=2.127, 95% CI (1.051- 4.305), p=0.036]. Therefore, an inverse association has been found between CDD and their anthropometric failure. J. Bangladesh Acad. Sci. 45(1); 85-94: June 2021

Clinical characteristics of 199 discharged patients with COVID-19 in Fujian Province: A multicenter retrospective study between January 22nd and February 27th, 2020

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has quickly spread throughout the country and the world since first broke out in Wuhan, China. The outbreak that started from January 22, 2020, in Fujian Province has been controlled as the number of indigenous cases has not increased since March. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 in Fujian Province, China. Methods In this retrospective, multicenter study, we collected and analyzed the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data of all cases confirmed by nucleic acid tests in five designated hospitals in Fujian Province between January 22 and February 27, 2020. All patients were followed up until discharge. COVID-19 severity was classified as mild, moderate, severe, or critical. Results Of 199 discharged patients with COVID-19, 105 patients were male, with a median age of 46.3 years, and 17 patients were severe, and 5 patients were critical on admission. Hypertension and diabetes were the most common comorbidities. The symptoms at illness onset were mainly fever (76.4%), cough (60.8%), and myalgia or fatigue (27.6%). A total of 96.5% of patients had abnormal imaging findings on chest computed tomography. Lymphopenia (37.2%) and hypoxemia (13.6%) were observed. Acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure occurred in 9 patients (4.5%) and 8 patients (4.0%) respectively. One patient died and the others were cured and discharged with the median hospital stay of 19 days. Old age was negatively correlated with lymphocyte count (r = - 0.296, p < 0.001) and oxygenation index (r = - 0.263, p = 0.001). Bivariate regression analysis revealed that old age (≥ 75 years), hypertension, diabetes, and lymphopenia were correlated with the severity of COVID-19. Conclusions Patients in Fujian Province were mostly nonsevere cases with mild or moderate symptoms, and had a lower mortality than patients in Wuhan (4.3%-15%). Older age, hypertension, diabetes, and lymphopenia were risk factors for severity of COVID-19.

Family Matters: The Support of Parents to Change Black Male’s Attitudes Towards HIV

This study explored the associations between family (mother and father support), peers, and individual factors (self-efficacy) and how these relationships influence HIV attitudes among African American males 12 to 19 years of age, with an average age of 16 years. For this study, we used restricted data obtained from Wave I of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (ADD Health). Descriptive statistics suggest that most of the sample had negative attitudes towards HIV. Bivariate regression analysis followed by a linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors that were associated with HIV attitudes. Major findings from regression analysis indicate that mother support, father support, self-efficacy, and age, predicted HIV attitudes. Mother support positively predicted positive HIV attitudes and surprisingly, father support negatively predicted HIV attitudes. Our findings can be used to better inform HIV prevention and intervention programs to help Black males stay healthy.

Survey Data for Measuring Musical Creativity and the Impact of Information

This paper presents data about the analysis of Webster’s model of creative thinking in music products, and the impact of information on musical creativity. For this purpose, a specially designed closed-ended structured questionnaire was developed and distributed. The questionnaire was completed by 238 musicians and was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.0. The data are presented though descriptive and inferential statistics, principal component analysis for variable reduction, and finally, bivariate regression analysis. The data provide information on Webster’s model of creative thinking in music as well as on the impact of music information on musical creativity. The survey results indicate that the overall sense of musical creativity includes conceptional and replicational musical creativity components. These are significantly positively correlated with music information. Musicians’ sense of creativity is impacted by music information availability when dealing with various musical creative activities.

The Socioeconomic Impacts of Boko Haram Activities on the Host Community of Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi State, Nigeria

The study examined the socioeconomic impacts of Boko Haram activities on the host community of Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Data for this study were gathered from primary and secondary sources. The data sought was on the level of socioeconomic activities before and after the emergence of Boko Haram, among others. However, in order to achieve the aim, 142, 40 and 327 of staff, tourists and host community members were respectively identified and successfully administered questionnaire copies. The responses obtained from the questionnaire were further analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. For the community, farming and rearing (86.4%) is the most important occupation in the community followed by trading, civil servant and others. In terms of buying and selling in the community, 90.3% of the respondents stressed that patronage level was very high before the emergence of Boko Haram but crumbled after the emergence of Boko Haram as alleged by 97.1% of the respondents. 65% of the respondents were of the opinion that since the emergence of Boko Haram, many of their youths have been relieved of their duties (jobs) in the game reserve and other places as a result of low patronage in the area while, 35% of the respondents believed that employment level in the community is still high even with the emergence of Boko Haram. The hypothesis was tested using bivariate regression analysis. F = 26.525, p<0.05 indicated that Boko Haram activities have significant influence on the local livelihood of adjoining community. It is recommended that the government should step up with their poverty alleviation programs especially in the northeastern part (Alkaleri L.G.A to be précised) of the nation because poverty and unemployment level are still relatively high in the area which can result to security uproar.

Innovativeness of SMEs in Small Non-Oil Producing Post-Communist Economies

This paper aims to study the determinants of innovation propensity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in five small non-oil exporting Former Soviet Union countries. Empirical analysis is based on the data from the fifth wave of the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS). Innovation of SMEs is measured by five innovation practices: innovation in goods services, process, organization, marketing and R&D spending. For each aspect of innovation bivariate regression analysis is applied. Estimation results shows that experience of managers has curvilinear effect on the innovation in SMEs. Foreign participation, export orientation and competitiveness in sectors are important for innovation.