bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Intraoperative Use of Tranexamic Acid in Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Madhuchandra P , Hemachandra P
Published: August 2023

Background:

Blood loss is among the commonly encountered problems in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgeries. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is commonly used intravenously to decrease the blood loss during TKA. However, it has got its own contraindications. In such patients, it can also be used locally to prevent blood loss. We assessed the effectiveness of local TXA by determining the amount of blood loss and transfusion required.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 60 patients with 72 TKA surgeries were included and analyzed in this observational prospective study. Three Gram of TXA was infiltrated locally into the tissues immediately after skin closure before the release of the tourniquet. The amount of blood loss was calculated by comparing the preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin (Hb) levels.

Results:

The mean blood loss in patients whom local TXA was used was 433.3 ml. The mean postoperative Hb loss was 1.01. Only one patient with bilateral TKA required postoperative blood transfusion. There were no issues with wound healing in any of our patients. The P value in Hb loss was 0.002 and in total blood was 0.001 and were statistically significant.

Conclusion:

Local use of TXA is very effective in reducing the amount of postoperative blood loss and the need for the blood transfusion. We recommend for the local use of TXA in primary knee arthroplasty surgeries.
A lexical review on Vishaghna Dravyas of Kaideva Nighantu
Authors: Yadav Sunita , Sharma Anita , Vishnoi Rinkesh , Rani Jyoti
Published: August 2023

Introduction:

Agad Tantra being the unique branch that deals with toxicology and its management enlists several antitoxic drugs used for various poisonings. Ancient texts comprise the list of a wide range of traditional medicines, but they are not explored due to lack of incomprehension.

Aims:

The review has been written with the aim to dig out the hidden knowledge of Vishaghna Dravyas (alexeterics) mentioned in Kaiydeva Nighantu.

Materials and methods:

This Nighantu was written in the 15th century A. D. by Kaiydeva with the name “Pathya-Apathya-Vibodhaka” it comprising of total 514 Dravyas out of which 175 drugs possess Vishagna (anti-poisonous) property.

Results:

These Vishaghna Dravyas (alexeterics) have been distributed based on various Vargas (classes) which is described as 121 belonging to Ausghada Varga (drug class) as single drugs and four as groups, total of 16 from Dhatu Varga (metal class) as single drugs and one as compound or as a group, 9 from Dhanya Varga (cereal class) as a single drug, 15 in Dravya Varga as single drugs, and 5 as compound or as a group. Two each in Kritana Varga and Vihara Varga and one in Mansa Varga as compound or as a group. Out of all the 175 Vishagna Dravayas (alexeterics), 18 Dravyas (substances) are specific indications in combating particular types of envenomation or poisoning conditions.

Conclusion:

All the abovementioned drugs are screened for the purpose of revalidation to bring out their therapeutic utility.
Modulation of gut microbiota with Ayurveda diet and lifestyle
Authors: Chauhan Ashutosh , Semwal Deepak Kumar , Semwal Ruchi Badoni , Joshi Sunil Kumar , Adhana Rajesh Kumar , Goswami Madhavi Sanjay
Published: August 2023

Background:

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has increased substantially in the past few decades throughout the world. In India, the epidemic of diabetes continues to increase irrespective of area, status, and age. Despite various scientific societies involved in the treatment of diabetes, still, the burden of diabetes keeps growing.

Aims:

The aim of this work is to explore the Ayurvedic concept of a personalized diet to modulate the gut microbiota for the treatment of T2D.

Material and methods:

A thorough study of literature from online scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar as well as from classical texts of Ayurveda was done. A careful compilation was done to extract the valuable output of the personalized diet to modulate the gut microbiota.

Results:

There are various diets used to control blood glucose levels, and their effects are also being studied on the transcriptome or epigenome despite 99.9% genomic similarity among human beings. However, microbiomes have only 10% similarity. Ayurvedic diet is given on the basis of Prakriti (body constitution), therefore, it is also called personalized diet.

Conclusion:

The diets prescribed for T2D in Ayurveda are high in fibers, polyphenols, and complex carbohydrates which enrich butyrate-producing bacteria and decrease lipopolysaccharide-producing bacteria. Hence, there is a need to have a personalized diet to manage the glucose level by enriching beneficial gut microbiota. The approach of a personalized diet associated with gut microbiota can be helpful in maintaining blood sugar in T2D patients.
A narrative review on types of data and scales of measurement: An initial step in the statistical analysis of medical data
Authors: Shukla Durgesh
Published: August 2023

Statistical tools for data analysis differ for various data types and scales of measurements. The purpose of this review is to discuss these different types of data and measurement scales. To prepare this article, an online literature search was performed in Google and PubMed, using specific keywords. All relevant articles published in the English language between January 2010 and December 2022 were assessed for relevance. Screening of 34 articles was done and eventually 15 were included that had complete information. This review provides detailed information with examples regarding the data types and scales of measurement. Knowledge of the correct data type or scale of measurement is essential for the application of the appropriate statistical tools, and for making accurate inferences.
Safety and Efficacy of Golimumab in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Prospective, Multicenter, Real-World Study from India
Authors: Pandey Bimlesh Dhar , Krishnamurthy Venkataraman , Kumar Uma , Upadhyaya Sundeep Kumar , Jain Neeraj , Dugar Manish , Panchal Sagar , Shah Nishita , Korde Tanuja , Dixit Jitendra
Published: August 2023

Background:

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been associated with inflammation and joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and several anti-TNF agents, including golimumab, are currently in clinical use. This postmarketing surveillance (PMS) study was carried out at six rheumatology centers in India to assess the safety and efficacy of golimumab in patients with moderate-to-severe RA, in a real-world setting.

Methods:

This was a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm, PMS study, where golimumab 50 mg subcutaneous was administered monthly as per locally approved prescribing regulations. The primary endpoint was to assess the safety of golimumab. Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), auto-injector satisfaction/user-friendliness, injection-site pain/reactions, and 28-joint Disease activity score (DAS-28) including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (DAS-28-ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (DAS-28 CRP), were evaluated as per investigator’s routine practice.

Results:

Over 6 months, 120 patients were enrolled and 109 completed the study. Sixty-two (51.7%) patients experienced ≥1 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). The majority of TEAEs reported in the study were mild to moderate in severity. No deaths were reported. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) change from baseline in HAQ-DI (−0.9 [0.65]) and FACIT-F (14.8 [10.20]) suggested improvement in physical function and fatigue, respectively. The majority of patients (n = 77 [64.2%]) were “very satisfied” on the satisfaction/user-friendliness parameters of auto-injector and majority (n = 99 [91.7%]) did not experience injection-site reactions. Mean (SD) change from baseline of DAS-28 scores (not assessed for all patients; DAS-28 ESR [n = 62]: −2.0 [1.25]) indicated an improvement in disease activity.

Conclusions:

Golimumab (50 mg) in combination with methotrexate was found to be safe and well-tolerated in Indian patients with moderate-to-severe RA. No new safety signals emerged.
Molecular modeling, synthesis, and antiproliferative evaluation of new isoxazole ring linked by Schiff bases and azo bond
Authors: Taha Duha E. , Mahdi Monther F. , Raauf Ayad M. R.
Published: August 2023

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide, with approximately 1.8 million new cases yearly. Cytotoxic drugs are frequently used in cancer treatment. Even though the medicine enhances patients’ quality of life, several drawbacks diminish its efficacy. Drug resistance and many disadvantages associated with chemotherapeutic drug side effects continue to be significant factors limiting the efficiency of cancer treatment. This necessitates developing new effective strategies that target tumors with minimal adverse effects. This research aims to overcome these issues by synthesizing a new series of compounds with an isoxazole ring attached by Schiff bases and azo bonds based on molecular docking with the (Genetic Optimization of Ligand Docking) program and estimating the pharmacokinetic properties with the Swiss ADME. The greatest-fitting compounds were then manufactured and verified by spectral analysis (FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR), in vitro MTT assay for assessment of antiproliferative activities against A549 lung cancer cell lines showed that compounds 5a and 5b had an inhibitory concentration half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) (17.34 and 18.32 μM), respectively, which was significantly lower than the inhibitory concentration of erlotinib (IC50 = 25.06 μM).
Awareness toward breast cancer and practice of breast self-examination among Iraqi female students at faculty of basic education
Authors: Hassan Nahed Ahmed
Published: August 2023

The most prevalent cancer and the one with the highest fatality rate is breast cancer, accounting for 27% of all malignancies in women and ranking one among all cancers in women. It appears that breast cancer affects both developed and developing nations. Hence, raising public awareness of breast malignancy prevention strategies is crucial in lowering the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. The awareness and practices of female undergraduate students at Tikrit University regarding breast self-examination (BSE) were evaluated in this study. This cross-sectional investigation was performed on 420 Iraqi undergraduate scholars at the Faculty of Basic Education, University of Tikrit. The students were polled online using a self-administrated Google Forms that was disseminated through social media. Microsoft Office Excel and SPSS version 22 were used to analyze the data that had been gathered. The majority of responders (70.2%) claimed to be knowledgeable about breast cancer. Out of the participants, around 31.8% expressed the belief that a positive family history, followed by obesity 18.9% was responsible for its occurrence. BSE as a technique to find breast cancer early was only known by 33.2% of individuals who were aware of breast cancer. The significant relationships between BSE practice and breast cancer were demonstrated (P = 0.01). Timely identification and treatment of breast cancer potentially lead to improved outcomes and complete recovery when individuals promptly report signs and symptoms. By promoting awareness of breast cancer and conducting BSE, it is possible to minimize the financial burden of the treatment plan and mitigate the impact of synonyms.
Theoretical issues in medical library and information sciences' articles published in scopus and web of science databases: A scoping review
Authors: Abdekhoda Mohammadhiwa , Ashrafi-Rizi Hasan , Ranjbaran Fatemeh
Published: August 2023

Nowadays, professions with stronger theoretical background usually have a better standing among other academic fields. The field of Medical Library and Information Science (MLIS) also requires developments in theoretical issues to increase its ranking and provide more effective support services and higher quality research. The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review of publications in MLIS in Scopus and Web of Sciences databases to identify the underlying theoretical issues in this field. The research method was a scoping review conducted in February 2022. Articles published in the field of MLIS for which the main theme or research outcomes were based on theoretical foundations, patterns, frameworks, theories and models, and without limitation on time were retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus databases. The retrieved articles were analyzed after necessary screening and evaluation. Based on the determined criteria, 49 articles were eventually analyzed. Patterns, theories, frameworks, and models used in the articles have been categorized into six general groups: (1) information (general) and information literacy; (2) models of evaluation and support services in libraries and information centers; (3) clinical, embedded librarianship, and professional librarianship; (4) scientometrics, selection and evaluation of articles, journals, and serials; (5) open access content; and (6) psychological and sociological models. The results indicate that published articles in the field of MLIS have used a considerable range of models, theories, and frameworks as the most important elements of theoretical concepts. These models, theories, and frameworks have been categorized into six main groups, a number of which have been involving collection development, organization of material, and most have been overseeing the distribution of information and support services in libraries and information centers. Whereas MLIS is an interdisciplinary field with specific applications for access to and distribution of information, it still has considerable potential for presenting models, frameworks, and theories.
Systematic review of assessment in undergraduate competency-based medical education and extrapolation of an assessment framework for Indian context - A study protocol
Authors: Gupta Sandeep K. , Srivastava Tripti
Published: August 2023

There is a lack of studies that have systematically synthesized the existing literature related to the competency-based medical education (CBME) assessment process and identified gaps in existing knowledge about the assessment process structure. The aims of this study are as follows: 1. A systematic review of the assessment framework of CBME 2. Designing a model framework of assessment for CBME that will be relevant in the Indian context. The databases searched will be PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. General limits to the search will be set in the English language, published between January 2006 and December 2020, specific to competency-based education and assessment methods. After initial screening for duplicates and search limits, the title and abstract of the remaining studies will be screened. Subsequently, the full text of the articles will be screened against the inclusion and exclusion criteria for final selection. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowchart of the systematic review will be used to describe the selection of the studies. The article quality will be assessed using the quality assessment tool for diverse study designs (QATSDD). The data synthesis will start with a descriptive summary (in tabular form) of the included studies. This study will try to provide comprehensive data to address challenges related to the CBME assessment process, which can help in evolving the robust assessment framework of CBME.
Is simulation useful in preparing doctors-to-be for patient death: A narrative review
Authors: Wong Grace , Kenny Ross , Hannam Matthew , Colucci Gianluca
Published: August 2023

Clinical and communication skills involved in managing patient death are essential for medical practitioners, yet these skills are often neglected in undergraduate medical education. We aim to review current reported evidence of simulation-based education on medical students' preparedness and performance toward patient death. A narrative review of the literature on simulation-based education for medical students on patient death was conducted. Data on study design, simulation dimension, evaluation tool, and outcome were collected and summarized. Eleven prospective studies were included for narrative review. Simulation modalities included mannequins, standardized patients, and online virtual reality. Heterogeneity in the evaluation tool of simulation-based education was demonstrated. Ninety percent of studies concluded positive outcome of simulation on improving medical students' preparedness in patient death. No negative or adverse learner reaction was reported. Simulation-based education may safely improve medical students' competence in handling patient death. Current data and evaluation tools of education outcomes are sparse and heterogeneous. Future research is encouraged to explore this under-researched topic, amid increasing interest in the use of simulation in medical education.
Sirenomelia- A rare congenital anomaly: Case report
Authors: Thombare Dipanjali , Dixit Prachi , Chavan Ankit , Najan Ashwini
Published: August 2023

Sirenomelia is an extremely uncommon congenital deformity in which neonate has fused lower limbs associated with various visceral malformations including urogenital and gastrointestinal tract, pulmonary hypoplasia, and potter's facies. The prevalence is 0.8 to 1 per 100,000 newborns. About 300 cases were recorded till date. We describe a case of 31-year G4P1L1A2 with previous lower segment caesarean section with gestational age of 22 weeks 5 days with anomaly scan suggestive of single live intrauterine pregnancy of 21 weeks 5 days with bilateral renal agenesis with placenta previa and no demonstrable amniotic fluid pocket seen. Her pregnancy was uneventful without any medical disorder, drug history, and no congenital anomaly in the family. Termination of pregnancy done by emergency hysterotomy and delivered anomalous foetus with fused lower limb with absent toes, low set ears, absent left ear ostium, imperforate anus, and absent external genitalia. Sirenomelia is fatal congenital anomaly with unclear etiology. Early antenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy is the treatment.
Aggressive behavior and its associated factors among persons with mental illness: An observational study
Authors: Parakkal Kurian Leemol , Rentala Sreevani , Belsiyal C Xavier , Srinivasan P , Govindar Thimmajja Sunanda
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND:

Aggressive behavior of psychiatric inpatients causes severe complications during treatment; nursing staff needs to understand the factors associated with aggression in inpatient units to prevent aggression.

AIM:

This study aimed to examine the level of aggression and its associated factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A descriptive observational design was conducted among aggressive patients. An aggressive behavior event was observed during the aggression episode. Data were collected from 55 patients with aggressive behavior using the Staff Observation Aggression Scale-Revised (SOAS-R) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Patient-, staff-, and ward-related factors were assessed using a structured questionnaire.

RESULTS:

About 69% of patients had a severe level of aggressive behavior. There was a significant association between gender, the severity of symptoms, staff-to-patient ratio, ward milieu, and the number of caregivers with levels of aggression.

CONCLUSION:

The majority of the persons with mental illness exhibited severe aggression in a psychiatric setting. Being male, the presence of psychotic symptoms, ward milieu, staff-to-patient ratio, and availability of caregivers were significantly associated with aggression. This study adds to the existing literature by focusing on managing ward-related factors (avoiding noise and overcrowding) to prevent aggressive behavior among mentally ill patients.
Investigating the effect of educational interventions on maternal competence: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fasanghari Maryam , Keramat Afsaneh
Published: August 2023

There have been many studies on maternal competence, but in the studies conducted in this field, different methods have been applied to educate mothers on maternal competence, which do not have a unified approach. This study aims to investigate the effect of educational interventions on maternal competence using a meta-analysis method. In this meta-analysis, a search was made in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Proquest, Google scholar, SID, and Magiran databases using Mesh and non-Mesh keywords between January 1992 and September 2022. The inclusion criteria included: Studies in which educational and counseling interventions on maternal competence have been investigated, studies that have used the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC), RCT or interventional studies, participants who were primiparous women, articles that were published in English and Farsi, studies that reported sample size, mean and standard deviation of maternal competence scores in the intervention and control groups, and studies that scored at least 3 on the Jadad scale. Data were analyzed using Review Manager 5 (RevMan 5.3). In this meta-analysis and systematic review, finally, seven articles met the criteria for entering the research. The number of samples in the intervention group was 430 and in the control group was 429. The average maternal competence score with a 95% confidence interval was 3.51. This meta-analysis showed that educational interventions during pregnancy and after delivery could affect improving the competence of primiparous mothers. Education has increased the maternal competence score in the intervention group by 3.51 units compared to the control group.
The relation between alexithymia, eating attitude, and sleep pattern among university students during the lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Rizvi Moattar Raza , Sharma Mahak , Sanghi Divya , Sharma Ankita , Saraswat Shubra , Saini Preeti , Kumari Sunita
Published: August 2023

Background:

COVID-19 lockdown's impact on physical and mental health includes increased prevalence of alexithymia (difficulty recognizing emotions) among university students. Alexithymia is strongly correlated with eating disorders and disrupted eating behaviors. Understanding these associations is crucial for assessing the well-being of students during lockdown.

Aims:

The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of alexithymia and eating disorders in relation to sleep disturbance during this lockdown phase amongst university students.

Settings and Design:

This study employed an online cross-sectional design to collect data from participants. The study included adolescents of either gender, aged between 20 and 27 years, who were enrolled in the faculty of Allied Health Sciences at Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies.

Methods and Material:

The study comprised 419 university students during the COVID-19 lockdown. Alexithymia was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, eating disorders with the Eating Aptitude Test-26, and sleep patterns with a modified Pittsburgh Sleep Scale.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Descriptive statistics, including Mean±SD for continuous variables and frequency/percentages for categorical data, were calculated. Statistical analysis involved Student t-test and chi-square. Reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha.

Results:

This study involved 77.8% (n=326) female students as compared to 22.2%(n=93) male students. The prevalence of alexithymia was found to be considerably higher(30.5%) in the present study, with female students more affected than males. An eating disorder was found to be only 16.7%, and the majority of students (65.4%) had BMI in the range of normal weight. Further, the students reported the absence of sleep apnea with 41% of students having a sleep duration of 6-7 hours and 32% more than 7 hours. Only 19% of students reported poor sleep quality. Trouble sleeping during the initial 30 minutes prior to lying down, waking up in the middle of the night, and waking up to use the bathroom were the main factors causing sleep disturbances.

Conclusions:

This study reported a high alexithymia prevalence since there were under house arrest and going through psychological stress during lockdown phase of COVID-19 pandemic. Eating disorders was not prevalent because the students ate healthy balanced diets at home rather than junk food. Sleep patterns were also significantly improved and did not show any relation to the increased prevalence of alexithymia.
Prospective audit of transfusion utilization trends and transfusion practices at a rural tertiary care hospital in Central India
Authors: Vaidya Vihanka Devchand , Deshmukh Abhay Vilas , Shivkumar Vitaladevuni Balasubramanyam , Meshram Manish Arun
Published: August 2023

Background:

In modern health-care system, practicing safe and appropriate transfusion services is essential. Care should be taken at all three phases of transfusion practices, i.e. pretransfusion, transfusion, and posttransfusion. The blood unit should be appropriately used by the clinicians.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to evaluate blood transfusion practices at pretransfusion level at blood center as well as bedside and posttransfusion practices.

Settings and Design:

This was a prospective observational study.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 15022 requisition forms were received in our blood center for a total of 19904 units of blood and blood products during the study period of 21 months.

Statistical Analysis Used:

The data were recorded using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using the IBM Corp. Released 2011. The categorical variables were expressed in terms of number and percentage.

Results:

During the study period, blood bank received transfusion request for a total of 12840 units of blood bag for cross matching. Out of which only 9907 blood units were transfused to the recipients while rest of 2573 blood units were not transfused to the recipient and thus it was ordered excessively for cross match. When looked for overall utilization trends, we found that crossmatch-to-transfusion ratio was 1.26, transfusion probability was 79.38, and transfusion index was 0.79. There were 65 transfusion reactions, out of which only 27.69% (n= 18) reactions were reported and 72.31% (n= 47) were not reported to our blood center.

Conclusions:

It is important to sensitize the clinicians about the importance of ordering blood unit only when it is absolutely indicated along with correctly and completely filled blood transfusion request forms to lessen the transfusion reactions. It will ultimately improve the clinical practices in the hospital.
Is There Any Relation Between Smartphone Usage and Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic?: A Study by Exploring Two Objective App Usage Datasets
Authors: Ahmed Sabbir , Khan Syeda Shabnam , Ahmed Nova
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND: Though smartphone is popular and loneliness is higher among the youth, in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) such as Bangladesh, the relation of loneliness with actual app usage is unexplored amid pandemic. Also, the studies conducted in developed countries are limited by exploration of some app categories.
METHODS: We conducted two studies in Bangladesh: in 2020 (N1=100) and 2021 (N2=105). We collected participant’s ULS-8 score and 7 days’ actual app usage. We extracted app usage behavioral data from 1.69 million events and did semi-partial and partial correlation analyses.
RESULTS: Our analysis did not present any significant relation which may indicate a negative impact on loneliness. However, we found higher usage of Social Media, Communication, Education, Books, and Shopping apps and higher entropy of Browser apps had significant (q<.05) relation with lower loneliness.
CONCLUSION: Smartphone may not negatively impact loneliness. Instead, some app categories can play a role to mitigate loneliness.
Changes in Invasive Breast Carcinomas after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Can Influence Adjuvant Therapeutic Decisions
Authors: Jaime dos Santos Bárbara , Balabram Débora , Mara Reis Gomes Virginia , Costa Café de Castro Carolina , Henrique Costa Diniz Paulo , Araújo Buzelin Marcelo , Buzelin Nunes Cristiana
Published: August 2023

Purpose Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) can change invasive breast carcinomas (IBC) and influence the patients’ overall survival time (OS). We aimed to identify IBC changes after NACT and their association with OS.Materials and Methods IBC data in pre- and post-NACT samples of 86 patients were evaluated and associated with OS.Results Post-NACT tumors changed nuclear pleomorphism score (p=0.025); mitotic count (p=0.002); % of tumor-infiltrating inflammatory cells (p=0.016); presence of in situ carcinoma (p=0.001) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI; p=0.002); expression of estrogen (p=0.003), progesterone receptors (PR; p=0.019), and Ki67 (p=0.003). Immunohistochemical (IHC) profile changed in 26 tumors (30.2%, p=0.050). Higher risk of death was significatively associated with initial tumor histological grade III (hazard ratio [HR], 2.94), high nuclear pleomorphism (HR, 2.53), high Ki67 index (HR, 2.47), post-NACT presence of LVI (HR, 1.90), luminal B–like profile (HR, 2.58), pre- (HR, 2.26) and post-NACT intermediate mitotic count (HR, 2.12), pre- (HR, 4.45) and post-NACT triple-negative IHC profile (HR, 4.52). On the other hand, lower risk of death was significative associated with pre- (HR, 0.35) and post-NACT (HR, 0.39) estrogen receptor–positive, and pre- (HR, 0.37) and post-NACT (HR, 0.57) PR-positive. Changes in IHC profile were associated with longer OS (p=0.050). In multivariate analysis, pre-NACT grade III tumors and pre-NACT and post-NACT triple negative IHC profile proved to be independent factors for shorter OS.Conclusion NACT can change tumor characteristics and biomarkers and impact on OS; therefore, they should be reassessed on residual samples to improve therapeutic decisions.
Diet Analysis of the Amur Sleeper (Perccottus glenii) from the Danube River Drainage Channel (Serbia)
Authors: Djikanovic Vesna , Skoric Stefan , Mickovic Branislav , Nikolic Dusan
Published: August 2023

The stomach content of 277 Amur sleeper individuals has been analyzed to present its feeding habits. Fish were sampled using electrofishing from July to November 2017 in the Danube River drainage channel near Veliko Gradište (Serbia). Fish age was estimated by otoliths examination. Ingested prey organisms were identified to the lowest reliable taxonomic level. The biotic indices: vacuity index (VI), frequency of occurrence (F), abundance (Cn), index of importance (PV), Shannon`s diversity index (H`), and equitability index (Eh) were calculated. A total of 18 prey categories and 1144 individual prey were identified in the fish diet, dominantly aquatic macroinvertebrates. There were no significant difference in diet composition between sampling months as well as 0+, 1+, and 2+ age groups (both 3+ and 4+ had one individual). Only eight individuals were found with empty intestines, thus VI was low (2.9). In average, each fish had 4.1 prey items in their intestines. For whole sample, H′ was 1.84 and Eh was 0.64. Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Gastropoda were the most frequent, dominant, and abundant. The greatest diversity of prey items was recorded for fish sampled in October as well as for 2+ individuals, and the lowest for fish from August and 0+ individuals.
Aluminum Alloy, Sheet and Plate 4.4Cu - 1.5Mg - 0.60Mn (2024-T361) Solution Heat Treated and Cold Worked
Authors:   AMS D Nonferrous Alloys Committee
Published: August 2023

This specification covers an aluminum alloy in the form of sheet and plate 0.020 to 0.500 inch (0.508 to 12.70 mm), inclusive, in thickness, supplied in the -T361 temper (see 8.5).
High-Precision Positioning for V2X Systems
Authors:   V2X Core Technical Committee
Published: August 2023

This SAE Information Report identifies some enhancements that may be applied to V2X standards, addressing new use cases that require or benefit from high levels of position precision and integrity.
Teaching Both Simplified and Traditional Characters to Learners of Chinese as L2
Authors: Li Xiao
Published: August 2023

In the acquisition of Chinese as a second language, learning Chinese characters is an essential part of the learning process. There are various approaches to how and when Chinese characters should be introduced. Some scholars claim simplified characters should be given priority, while others promote teaching traditional characters first. Yet to some, teaching traditional and simplified characters simultaneously is preferable, while others believe that learning Hanyu Pinyin alone reduces the learning load and advocate the idea that learning characters be postponed to the later stages. This study discusses reading priorities for students of L2 Chinese in an environment that promotes balanced teaching of traditional and simplified characters from scratch. Results show that most learners prefer simplified characters though the number of students who equally acquired both characters in a set is also high. Fewer students prefer traditional characters, whereas texts in Hanyu Pinyin were not students’ preferred choice. Moreover, learners’ text comprehensions were better and more accurate when texts were written in characters.
К вопросу оптимизации судебной нагрузки: о роли последовательного обжалования судебных актов
Authors: Захаров В.В.
Published: August 2023

В СТАТЬЕ ИССЛЕДУЕТСЯ, В КАКОЙ МЕРЕ ПОСЛЕДОВАТЕЛЬНОЕ ОБЖАЛОВАНИЕ СУДЕБНЫХ АКТОВ СПОСОБСТВУЕТ СНИЖЕНИЮ СУДЕБНОЙ НАГРУЗКИ. АНАЛИЗИРУЮТСЯ РАЦИОНАЛЬНОСТЬ И ОПРАВДАННОСТЬ ВЫДЕЛЕНИЯ ИСКЛЮЧЕНИЙ ИЗ ПРАВИЛА ПОСЛЕДОВАТЕЛЬНОГО ОБЖАЛОВАНИЯ СУДЕБНЫХ АКТОВ И ДЕЛАЮТСЯ ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЯ ДЛЯ РАСШИРЕНИЯ ПЕРЕЧНЯ ПОДОБНЫХ ИСКЛЮЧЕНИЙ ДЛЯ РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЯ НАГРУЗКИ В АПЕЛЛЯЦИОННОЙ И КАССАЦИОННОЙ ИНСТАНЦИЯХ.
A Theory of Formal Choreographic Languages
Authors: Barbanera Franco , Lanese Ivan , Tuosto Emilio
Published: August 2023

We introduce a meta-model based on formal languages, dubbed formal
choreographic languages, to study message-passing systems. Our framework allows
us to generalise standard constructions from the literature and to compare
them. In particular, we consider notions such as global view, local view, and
projections from the former to the latter. The correctness of local views
projected from global views is characterised in terms of a closure property. We
consider a number of communication properties -- such as (dead)lock-freedom --
and give conditions on formal choreographic languages to guarantee them.
Finally, we show how formal choreographic languages can capture existing
formalisms; specifically we consider communicating finite-state machines,
choreography automata, and multiparty session types. Notably, formal
choreographic languages, differently from most approaches in the literature,
can naturally model systems exhibiting non-regular behaviour.
SNSF Datastory - 2021: strongest improvement in Open Access-share yet
Authors: Philipp Tobias , Gorin Simon
Published: August 2023

77% of the 15,722 publications resulting from SNSF-funded research in 2021 are available in Open Access (OA). An unprecedented increase over the 63% measured for 2020.
High Medieval Silver Mining and Non-Ferrous Metallurgy in Northern Siegerland, Germany An Interim Report
Authors: Garner Jennifer , Golze Rolf , Zeiler Manuel
Published: August 2023

In northern Siegerland, located in the ore-rich Mittelgebirge region of Germany, a mining landscape based on copper, lead and silver  metallurgy developed in the High Middle Ages. Beginning at least in the 10th century AD, silver-rich fahlore was mined and smelted. The 13th century is interpreted by archaeologists as the height of mining in the region with multiple mines, smelting sites as well as an impressive mining settlement at Altenberg near Müsen (Hilchenbach). At the current state of research, the decline in this high  medieval mining area began at the end of the 13th century. Since 2013, with cooperation partners from Altenberg & Stahlberg e.V. Müsen, the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum and the LWL Archaeologie für Westfalen, new interdisciplinary research has focused  on the prospection and excavation of mines, mine tailings, charcoal pits and smelting sites as well as the re-investigation and re-evaluation of the mining settlement of Altenberg near Müsen. This research, which is still in the initial phase, has already begun to  provide new information on aspects of the development and organization of medieval non-ferrous metal production in this region.
„QUESTI SCHIAVONI”: ITALIJANSKA RENESANSA I SLOVENI U DELU RASTKA PETROVIĆA
Authors:   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Filology and Arts, Matić Aleksandra
Published: August 2023

This paper explores Rastko Petrović’s last essay entitled Questi Schiavoni, which represents a trilogy about Italian Renaissance artists of Slavic origin. In his recognizable genealogically fluid manner, Petrović shapes three essayistic-documentary texts with historical-novelistic ele- ments, with the aim of illuminating the key features of the brightest era of European art, but also to point out the Slavic participation and importance in building the Italian cultural herit- age. Rastko Petrović’s two major themes, Slavism and Renaissance art, intertwine in this essay, created during his stay in America, a fact which activates another narrative and semantic com- plex in the text: alienation and immigrant experience as a universal ontological quality of the artist’s being. This paper tries to point out the poetic stimuli that came to the avant-garde writer precisely from the Renaissance, and to indicate the intercultural connections and permeations, the importance of which the avant-garde artist emphasized in both his explicit and implicit poetics, proving that intensive communication of ethnically, religiously, geographically distant cultures can be achieved through art. The last segment of the paper follows the so-called Slavic messianism as an idea that Rastko Petrović built upon during his entire creative engagement, mainly dealing with Slavic tribes at cultural and historical epochs turning points.
METADISKURS U VAZARIJEVIM „ŽIVOTIMA SLAVNIH SLIKARA, VAJARA I ARHITEKATA“
Authors:   University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, Serbia, Đorović Danijela S.
Published: August 2023

As a particular form of writer-reader interaction, metadiscourse is an umbrella term for a number of linguistic and rhetorical devicesthatserve to signal the author’s presence in the text, his idea of textual organization as well as his attitudes towards the propositional content and the readers. Using Hyland’s taxonomy we were able to examine all the major metadiscourse markers employed by Vasari in his Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Archi- tects. The results obtained were analysed and interpreted in terms of their somewhat archaic forms and functions within the genre- and language- specific text. The qualitative analysis was conducted on each of Hyland’s metadiscourse categories and illustrated by examples from various parts of Vasari’s Dedica, Proemio, technical chapters on artistic processes as well as biographies. The results show that metadiscourse had played a significant role in the written communication long before its categories and devices were described, although its linguistic manifestations and frequency may have been different than they are today.
PRIKAZ ONOSTRANOG PUTOVANjA NA PRIMERU ODABRANIH TEKSTOVA BOBE BLAGOJEVIĆ I DINA BUCATIJA
Authors:   University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philology, Serbia, Maloku Аndrijana M.
Published: August 2023

A comparative analysis of the selected prose texts by Boba Blagojević (1947–2000) and Dino Buzzati (1906–1972) allowed us to highlight the presence and change of the encounter with the dead motif, as well as similarities and differences between the poetics of the afore- mentioned writers. The intertextual connections established with Dante’s otherworldly jour- ney, primarily through Hell (Inferno) are noticeable in both writers. We began the research with the text Put u zemlju mrtvih by Boba Blagojević and Buzzati’s story Viaggio agli inferni del secolo. In the paper, we partly relied on the posthumously published novel Putnica by the Serbian writer, as well as the story Sotto i nostri piedi by the Italian author. Critical insights of Romano Luperini proved as important in a brief overview of the transformation of the motif of the encounter with the dead, with a special reference to the work by Dante Alighieri. Also, we considered the presence of the fantastic literary mode based on the theoretical assumptions of Remo Ceserani.
ITALIJA U PUTOPISU „ORIJENT“ VISENTEA BLASKA IBANjESA
Authors:   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Filology and Arts, Sekulić Mirjana
Published: August 2023

The paper analyzes the image of Italy in the travel texts Orient by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, published after the journey of this Spanish writer from France to Istanbul in 1907. Although Blasco Ibáñez did not pass through Italy during this trip, there are references to Italian culturein many texts, since the author had already stayed in Italy in 1896, when he published a travelogue In the Land of Art, dedicated to this country. Using the principles of imagology, the current paper analyzes how Italy becomes a cultural reference and the basis for comparing the peoples and places the travel writer visited in 1907. The image of the other is interpreted as a construct, a con- vention, as a subjective product of Blasco Ibáñez, taking into account the entire cultural mate- rial that was used for writing, that is, what the author of the image knew and experienced. In addition to its informative character, we note the reality embodied in the travelogue as a poetic projection of subjectivity. Although the typical comparison in travelogues is between us and the other, it is evident that Blasco Ibáñez does not put the Spanish in the relationship with the Other, instead there are mutual comparisons of other peoples. We conclude that Italian referencesfunc- tion as mediating elements in depicting other nations. Many places gain their identity precisely by contrasting or alluding to reference places in Italian culture.
ESTETIKA RUŽNOG U „RIMSKIM PRIČAMA“ ALBERTA MORAVIJE
Authors:   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Filology and Arts, Vlašković Ilić Biljana
Published: August 2023

The paper juxtaposes the key postulates of Kant’s and Hartmann’s aesthetics of the beau- tiful and the sublime with Karl Rosenkranz’s aesthetics of ugliness in order to examine the dynamics of the relationship between the beautiful, the sublime, and the ugly in art. The paper’s working hypothesis is that the aesthetics of ugliness is necessary since the ugly and the beautiful form a binary opposition, given that the concept of the beautiful cannot be known and understood without the concept of the ugly. To investigate this hypothesis, the paper analyzes selected Roman Tales by Alberto Moravia (1907-1990), one of the most significant modern Italian writers, whose characters come from the margins of the society and belong to various categories of the ugly based on Rosenkranz’s nomenclature from The Aesthetics of Ugliness. With their physical and spiritual ugliness, Moravia’s characters negate the banalities of life and prove that the mundane is not beautiful per se, but is more often than not ugly and ordinary, and even as such it deserves to be the object of art.
PRILOG UNIVERZITETSKOJ NASTAVI KNjIŽEVNOG PREVOĐENjA S ITALIJANSKOG NA SRPSKI: O ISKUSTVIMA U RADU S NOVIM PRAKTIKUMOM
Authors:   University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philology, Serbia, Ceković Nevena
Published: August 2023

Translation competence, although important as a practical outcome of the second language acquisition process and a fundamental prerequisite for entering the job market, seems to be unfairly neglected in terms of the availability of printed instructional materials supporting its development. In such context and aiming to contribute to teaching translation from Italian to Serbian at the university level, a new workbook was created – Praktikum za vežbe prevođenja sa italijanskog na srpski jezik (Ceković 2018), intended for Serbian-speaking students of the Ital- ian language and literature at intermediate-advanced level of competence. This paper aims to describe some of the procedures used in the creation of the workbook as well as to illustrate its use in the classroom. The workbook is not only designed for literary translation but also as a source for reading exercises, text interpretation and contrastive Italian-Serbian analysis.
KREIRANjE TEKSTUALNE KOHEZIJE PUTEM ANAFORSKIH IZRAZA U ROMANU „OSTAJEM OVDE“ MARKA BALCANA
Authors:   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Filology and Arts, Kukić Tijana N.
Published: August 2023

In order for the narration to succeed, it is necessary to create textual cohesion, i.e. the the- matic continuity of narration. Anaphora is one of the key mechanisms for connecting the parts of a text into a whole. It consists of antecedent and anaphoric expression. The antecedent refers to the extratextual referent while the anaphoric expression refers to the antecedent. In order to create a connection between these two elements, the reader needs to possess the knowledge of the world as well as the knowledge of the text itself. The very essence of the textual cohesion and anaphoric expressions lies in the fact that the reader is increasingly relying on the knowl- edge based on the text, as the narration keeps progressing. Through anaphoric expressions the writer provides the reader with new information that is gradually building on, thus making the reader familiar with the characters and events in the narration. The anaphoric expressions can refer to the antecedent through various expressions, such as synonims, hyponims, hyper- onims, deminutives, but above all the equivalent expressions which are the most numerous in the novel. This kind of anaphora is called indirect anaphora because the anaphoric expression is lexically different from the antecedent, but refrerentially still the same. This lexical differ- ence presents the starting point of our research on anaphoric expressions in the novel Resto qui by Marco Balzano. Through anaphoric expressions Balzano introduces the reader to the context of narration and creates a coherent text using the very expressions through which he provides new information to the reader about the characters and events. Via careful analysis we have concluded that there are three types of anaphoric expressions in this novel: 1) an informative anaphoric expression that provides new information to the reader, 2) an evaluative anaphoric expression through which the protagonists express their opinions, emotions and attitudes towards events around them and 3) anaphoric chains in which Balzano combines the first two anaphoric expressions creating a strong, expressive and deep reflections and perception of both the events and the protagonists of the novel.