bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NOVELS OF HASAN MANZAR
Authors: Nawaz Shahid
Published: October 2022

Hasan Manzar is a renowned Urdu fiction writer. He has been writing for almost four decades. In his novels, He has presented local as well as international cultural landscapes. It seems his novels are based on knowledge and information rather than self-observation and experience. The diction and characters of these novels are less colorful and also have lesser affiliation from the locale they present. Hasan Manzar also uses popular and satirical narrative techniques in his novels. Owing to these features, he may not be counted as big gun of Urdu novel, although he has written more than half a dozen. In this article, some of his novels, especially his latest Novel, Habs have been analyzed on cultural grounds.
STRATEGI PENINGKATAN MINAT DAN KEPUASAN KONSUMEN TERHADAP KERAJINAN UKIR KAYU DALAM PERSPEKTIF SYARIAH
Authors: Falika Amanda Divia
Published: October 2022

Strategi kepuasan konsumen menyebabkan para pesaing harus berusaha keras dan melakukan biaya yang tinggi dalam usaha merebut konsumen suatu perusahaan. Dampak kepuasan konsumen terhadap loyalitas konsumen dan pembelian ulang berbeda-beda setiap perusahaan. Karena konsumen puas belum berarti mereka puas, akan tetapi konsumen yang puas akan cenderung menjadi konsumen yang loyal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis terkait strategi peningkatan minat dan kepuasan konsumen terhadap kerajinan ukir kayu dalam perspektif syariah. Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah analisis deskriptif kualitatif, sedangkan teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui wawancara, dan observasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa untuk meningkatkan minat dan kepuasan konsumen yaitu dengan cara yakni memiliki attitude yang baik seperti jujur dan Amanah, Meningkatkan kualitas produk, memiliki komunikasi dua arah dengan konsumen, aktif meminta kritik dan sara, menggunakan strategi marketing yang unik dan menarik. Jika seseorang bekerja sesuai dengan kemampuannya maka akan melahirkan hal-hal yang optimal. Melayani dengan sepenuh hati, tidak mengabaikan perintah serta aturan-aturan yang telah ditetapkan Allah SWT merupakan pelayanan yang Islami.
Helminths Derived Immune-Modulatory Molecules: Implications in Host-Parasite Interaction
Authors: Das Koushik , Upadhyay Shashi , Mahindroo Neeraj
Published: October 2022

The parasitic life cycle of helminths greatly relies on sophisticated manipulation of host environment and successful evasion of host defense. Helminths produce a repertoire of secretory molecules (including, extracellular vesicles and/or exosomes) to invade and generate habitable host-environment, and also to modulate the host immune responses in such a way that ensures their prolonged survival within host. An outline on helminths derived immune-modulatory molecules and their implications in host-parasite crosstalk have been presented. Queries with regard to the new direction of investigation to reveal specific molecular strategies, used by helminths to manipulate the host systems are also discussed.
National Health Insurance, the Informal Sector, and Elements of a New Social Contract in the 2019 UHC Act of the Philippines
Authors: Cristina G. Bautista Maria
Published: October 2022

This chapter explores the governance issues in the implementation of insurance coverage for the informal labour sector in the context of universal health coverage (UHC). The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the vulnerabilities of the informal sector that remain overlooked by employer health insurance and are not targeted by the government’s cash transfer programmes for the poor. While universal health coverage may, on paper, assure every one of the basic minimum health care packages, issues of capturing subsidies for and availing of similar no user charges for the poor may be a Gordian knot before universal coverage is achieved. The chapter interrogates this issue as follows—firstly, we present key health financing features of the Philippine efforts to cover the informal sector in the national health insurance programme; and secondly, based on a concept approach, we analyse the elements of a social contract that may enhance or break down relationships in informal sector health insurance—with the market, bureaucratic and networks in health systems. Implications are drawn on the design of institutional arrangements to capture subsidies, contributions, and provider payments as part of a post-pandemic new normal of greater health security through the financing of health in the context of a social contract.
Perspective Chapter: Application of Probiotics to Inactivate Helminth Parasitic Zoonosis
Authors: M. Darwesh Osama , Samir El-Sayed Hoda
Published: October 2022

Zoonotic infections may be defined as infections of animals that might be obviously transmissible to people. The contamination may transfer from ingestion of infective level of worms with food, infected soil, skin penetration, or direct animal contact. Parasitic helminths are a group of parasites that remains poorly studied in comparison to viruses and bacteria but may pose a considerable future risk to humans. Zoonotic parasites may be separated into four classes—direct-zoonotic, meta-zoonotic, cyclo-zoonotic, and sapro-zoonotic. Helminth parasitic zoonosis is possible to prevent and manage by simple service of hygiene and sanitation or regular deworming with anthelmintic pills. However, because of the lack of effective vaccines and appeared of anthelmintic resistance to medication, suppression of parasitic infestation still lingers a venture, which needs to improve the new possibility techniques. As a result, the hobby of exploiting probiotics as an alternative to pills has accelerated significantly during the last couple of years. Probiotics are exogenous residing microorganisms, which are beneficial to the host’s fitness when administered inside the digestive tract. The most extensively used microorganisms, for this reason, are microorganisms of the genus Lactobacillus and Enterococcus, and a few fungi and yeasts. The current chapter is proposed to summarize some topics related to the use of probiotics toward helminth parasitic zoonosis.
Ocular Drug Delivery System: Barrier for Drug Permeation, Method to Overcome Barrier
Authors: Diwan Prakriti , Jangde Rajendra , Khunte Sulekha , Bhardwaj Harish , K. Suresh Preeti
Published: October 2022

The physiological and anatomical barriers are major obstacles in the field of ocular drug delivery systems. The barriers involve nasolacrimal drainage, blinking, cornea, sclera, and blood-aqueous barriers whereas dynamic barriers involve conjunctival blood flow, lymphatic clearance and tear drainage. These barriers are showing natural protective functions, as well as limiting drug entry into the eye. Nanocarriers have been found to be effective at overcoming the problems and associated with conventional ophthalmic dosage forms. In this chapter emphasizes overcome to barriers and discusses advanced novel techniques used in the field of ocular drug delivery systems including nano dispersion systems, nanomicelles, lipidic nanocarriers, polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, noisome, and dendrimer, have been investigated for improved permeation and effective targeted drug delivery to various ophthalmic site.
Reanimation of Mouth Corner with Free Gracilis Muscle Flap
Authors: Nasir Serdar , Cirak Alaz
Published: October 2022

Gracilis muscle is the most commonly used muscle in facial paralysis. Although the use of the contralateral buccal branches with the sural nerve graft as the recipient nerve provides spontaneous smiling, the main disadvantage is the weak contraction due to insufficient muscle innervation. Although the masseter nerve is a chewing muscle, it can be used as a recipient nerve to provide a strong contraction. However, postoperative adaptation of the brain is required to ensure spontaneous smiling. In this article, I will evaluate the results of the postoperative third-year results of 11 patients with partial thickness gracilis muscle. I carried on the masseter recipient nerve for oral corner reanimation in facial paralysis.
Impact of Abiotic Stress on Phytoplankton and Zooplankton with Special Reference to Food Web
Authors: Gokhale Golden , Dutt Sharma Guru
Published: October 2022

In aquatic ecosystems, bacterial colonies constitute an important aspect of biological diversity and biogeochemical cycling. Phytoplankton is the primary producer of the food web and zooplanktons are an important part of freshwater food webs and biogeochemical cycles, as they serve as the main trophic connection between primary producers (phytoplankton) and fish. This chapter conducts abiotic stress effects on phytoplankton and zooplankton along with the impact of abiotic stress on their energy succession. Abiotic stress shows the decreasing supply of essential vitamins due to abiotic stress can have huge consequences for the aquatic food web. Abiotic factors had a significant impact on the biomass of phytoplankton and zooplankton communities exposed including increased temperature, acidification, nutrient enrichment and increasing ultraviolet (UV) environment of the aquatic ecosystem that significantly affect their survival, behaviour, nutritional procurement, reproduction and their overall population dynamic. Oxygen stress also is a widespread occurrence in freshwater environments, with the depletion of DO in the water layers under the epilimnion becoming increasingly common. At moderately high salinities, a decreased top-down control by zooplankton on phytoplankton may be an indirect result, leading to a worsening of eutrophication symptoms.
Chemistry with Schiff Bases of Pyridine Derivatives: Their Potential as Bioactive Ligands and Chemosensors
Authors: K. Joshi Kaushal
Published: October 2022

Pyridine is a valuable nitrogen based heterocyclic compound which is present not only in large number of naturally occurring bioactive compounds, but widely used in drug designing and development in pharmaceuticals as well as a precursor to agrochemicals and chemical-based industries. Pyridine derivatives bearing either formyl or amino group undergo Schiff base condensation reaction with appropriate substrate and under optimum conditions resulting in Schiff base as product which behave as a flexible and multidentate bioactive ligand. These Schiff bases are of great interest in medicinal chemistry as they can exhibit physiological effects similar to pyridoxal-amino acid systems which are considered to be very important in numerous metabolic reactions. They possess an interesting range of bioactivities including antibacterial, antiviral, antitubercular, antifungal, antioxidant, anticonvulsants, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anticancer activity etc. and considered as a versatile pharmacophore group. Further, several pyridine-based Schiff bases show very strong binding abilities towards the various cations and anions with unique photophysical properties which can be used in ion recognition and they are extensively used in development of chemosensors for qualitative and quantitative detection of selective or specific ions in various kinds of environmental and biological media. These chapter insights the bioactivity and ion recognition ability of Schiff bases derived from pyridine derivatives.
Expression of Certain Cytokine Genes in Avian Cells Infected with Newcastle Disease Virus
Authors: Jayaprakash Bindhu , Nair Divya
Published: October 2022

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an inescapable and financially significant microbe, which actually keeps on tormenting the Indian poultry industry. The illness has a wide variety in seriousness going from asymptomatic to 100% mortality. The causal specialist, NDV, is a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus. Transmission happens by exposure to fecal and different discharges from tainted birds, and through contact with contaminated feed, water, devices, and apparel. In this study expression of cytokine genes in avian cells is identified as a basic proposal for researchers to tackle new castle disease.
Perspective Chapter: COVID-19 and Cyber Threats – Aggression, Frauds, and Infodemic in Cyberspace during the Pandemic
Authors: Vilić Vida
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic made both individuals and the whole society extremely vulnerable in all respects. Technology has become even more important in both our working and personal lives. The social distancing made significant consequences in developing different types of cyber criminality, because it made possible for the perpetrators to become invisible during the constant harassing their victims and to turn over current vulnerability of the society in general to their own advantage. Crime and violence have shifted from real life to cyberspace, leaving visible consequences in our reality as well. This chapter will present new types of cyber criminality, as well as some new forms of classic types of crime, the occurrence of which was, directly or indirectly, conditioned by the pandemic and the new way of life imposed on us all around the world. Also, practical recommendations will be given about the possibilities of avoiding possible victimization, which occurs as a secondary victimization due to a pandemic.
Factors Contributing to Staff Turnover in the Hotel Industry: A Literature Review
Authors: Codling Shaniekay , Pinnock Jheanelle , Barrett Eyonisha , Gayle Shanoya , Stephenson Nataki , Sibblies Nikima , Sinclair-Maragh Gaunette
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this chapter is to analyze the factors that are contributing to staff turnover in the hotel industry. Staff turnover rate usually affects an organization’s performance, productivity and profitability, and can contribute to the loss of assets and resources. This sector of the hospitality and tourism economy was selected for the study as it is deemed to be very demanding and oftentimes overwhelming. In general, the sector is believed to be very stressful especially since the employees have to deal with satisfying the needs and wants of customers and uncertain working conditions. Literature review was used as the methodology for ascertaining the factors that are contributing to staff turnover in hotels. From this review, the chapter identifies that these are both push and pull factors. Push factors are dissatisfactions with the current job which cause employees to seek alternative employment and pull factors are the reasons that attract employees to a new workplace. The chapter concludes that it is important for hotel managers to establish an employee-centric environment with deliberate and effective workplace practices to retain employees. The findings of this study will be very useful in advancing the literature as well as informing hotel practitioners.
Table Tennis and Physics
Authors: Schneider Ralf , Lewerentz Lars , Kemnitz Stefan , Schultz Christian
Published: October 2022

Table tennis is a fascinating sport with a lot of physics elements. This chapter will concentrate on the forces acting on a table tennis ball. Insights from molecular dynamics simulations clarify the basic properties of table tennis balls interacting with surfaces and their high coefficient of restitution. The table tennis ball trajectory is discussed considering the different force balance contributions. The sum of the gravitational force and the forces from aerodynamics, namely drag and lift, determine the flight path. Extensive numerical modeling is used to study the impact of changes in ball size and net height to the game characteristics. Half a billion different initial conditions like hitting location, initial spin and velocities were analyzed to reach sufficient statistical significance for the different cases. An advanced statistical analysis of the database generated by the simulation is presented.
Nauseous Nexus between the Organ Industry and the Risks of Illegal Organ Harvesting
Authors: R.V. Francis-Cummings Karen
Published: October 2022

Organ transplantation saves lives and provides the best alternative for patients at the end-stage of their illness. Interestingly in some jurisdictions, a person who knowingly buys or sell organs for transplantation, could be penalized. However, there continues to be a lucrative global trade and a booming business in human organs as some companies prefer to remain as a private entity rather than undergo increase scrutiny by outside financiers. The common belief is that public health should be made to prevail over private wealth. Therefore, the troubling query is, why some health institutions that conduct organ and tissue transplantation are less transparent, and their work and processes shrouded in secrecy. The vulnerable, voiceless, and marginalized of society are more at risk with illegal organ harvesting activities. Donors’ rights are violated as they benefit little economically, and the lack of donor information could result in serious health and social risks. Law enforcement officers struggle to offer the relevant intelligence for swift action by policy decision -makers. This chapter gives attention to and increase awareness among researchers and community activists that this special gift of organ donation appropriately scheduled should be of a high quality and improve the lives of persons terminally ill.
Perspective Chapter: Models of Sanctions Compliance and Regulatory Expectations
Authors: Primakov Denis
Published: October 2022

This article is devoted to the analysis of models of sanctions compliance in different countries. In the first part, I discuss the definition of sanction compliance. Concept compliance is an institution of private law, it is a mechanism (function, system, and culture) of self-regulation for companies, and the methodology of compliance risk management is based on a risk-based approach stemming from different corporate governance and culture. A comparative methodology is based on three criteria: 1) principles of compliance; 2) the ability to interact with regulators and the ability to exclude themselves from sanctions (delisting); and 3) methods of appeal. In paragraph 1.2, I concisely describe models under the above-mentioned criteria of sanctions compliance in the US, the UK, the EU, Germany, and Russia. I carry out a comparative analysis of various models. Each of these models of sanctions compliance has its own specifics.
Behaviour of a Sialo-Oligosaccharide from Glycophorin in Teleost Red Blood Cell Membranes
Authors: Aoki Takavhiko
Published: October 2022

Glycophorins (GPs) in red blood cell (RBC) membranes of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) exhibit bacteriostatic activity against various gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria including fish pathogens. This physiological property also exists in the GPs of yellow tail (Seriola quinqueradiata) and red sea bream (Pagrus major). Thus, we concluded that this antimicrobial activity is not confined to these teleost species but can be found in all fish. This bacteriostatic activity is caused by the sialo-oligosaccharide from these teleost GPs. Only the N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) form of sialic acid was detected in the carp. Using NMR and GC–MS, we determined that the structure of the bacteriostatic sialo-oligosaccharide from carp was NeuGcα2→6 (Fucα1→4) (Glcα1→3) Galβ1→4GalNAc-ol. The bacteriostatic activity of this monosialyl-oligosaccharide is due to the property of the lectin receptor. It is supposed that some lectin-like proteins exist on the surface of gram-positive bacteria or the flagellum of gram-negative bacteria. Based on the electron microscope observations, teleost GPs containing the sialo-oligosaccharide are released from RBC membranes and then adsorbed onto the surface or the flagellum of invading bacteria in the blood.
Interactions of lncRNAs and miRNAs in Digestive System Tumors
Authors: Al-Dahmoshi Hussein , Al-Khafaji Noor , E. Al-Gazally Moaed , F. Smaism Maha , Abdul Ameer Mahdi Zena , Y. Abed Suhad
Published: October 2022

Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) includes short (miRNA) and long (lncRNA) that have important regulatory role in different biological processes. One of the important issue in which ncRNA involved is tumor induction and suppression. miRNA and lncRNA were vital players in many tumors including digestive system tumors. This study includes studying the role of 140 hsa-miR including miR-1 to miR-140 and their sponger lncRNA in esophageal and stomach cancers by 249 studies. The review revealed that each miR may play as oncogene only or tumor suppressor via upregulation and downregulation regulatory proteins in cell cycles and activation of physiological cascades. Some of miR have dual role in same type of tumor as oncogene and suppressive miR. Same thing is for lncRNA tacting as oncogenic via sponging some of miR when overexpressed to upregulate oncogenic protein or acting as suppression lncRNA when overexpressed to downregulate some oncogenic proteins activated by miR. The current review concludes the vital role of ncRNA (both miRNA and lncRNA) in some digestive system tumors as oncogene-promoting cancer viability, invasiveness, proliferation, and metastasis or as tumor suppressor inhibiting tumorigenicity or inducing apoptosis.
Long Non-Coding RNA in Neural Stem Cells Self-Renewal, Neurogenesis, Gliogenesis and Synaptogenesis
Authors: Singh Neetu
Published: October 2022

Evidence reports the key roles of lncRNAs in several regulatory mechanisms of neurons and other brain cells. Neuronal lncRNAs are crucial for NSCs mediated-neuronal developmental stages like neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, and synaptogenesis. Moreover, multilineage properties of NSCs and their association to specific cell types render them to identify the commonly accepted biomarkers for the brain. It is important to delineate the correlation between lncRNAs and NSCs fate decisions during neuronal development stages. In this review, we will summarize how NSCs fabricate embryonic tissue architecture of the central nervous system (CNS) and act as residuum in subventricular zone (SVZ) nearby the lateral wall of the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of hippocampus dentate gyrus (DG) of the adult brain. Additionally, describe the roles and molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs involved in NSCs self-renewal, neurogenesis, gliogenesis and synaptogenesis over the course of neural development. This will help us to better understand neuronal physiology.
Aflatoxin Occurrence, Detection, and Novel Strategies to Reduce Toxicity in Poultry Species
Authors: Kanta Mishra Surya , Kumar Swain Bijaya
Published: October 2022

Aflatoxins (AF) are the commonly occurring mycotoxins produced by various Aspergillus species including A. flavus, A. parasiticus, and A. nominus. As secondary metabolites of these fungi, AF may contaminate a variety of food and feedstuffs, especially corn, peanuts, and cottonseed. Among the many known AFs, AFB1 is the most commonly encountered and the most toxic. In poultry, adverse effects of AF include reduction in growth rate and feed efficiency, decreased egg production and hatchability along with increased susceptibility to diseases, besides residues in food chains. Many rapid screening methods for detecting aflatoxin are available currently, namely: thin layer chromatography (TLC), HPTLC, HPLC, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), monoclonal antibody kits, and affinity column chromatography, making the detection of AF precise. For field application, rapid assay kits, e.g., Aflatest of Vicam and Afla-2-cup of Romers Labs, are currently available. The most novel ways to counteract aflatoxin already accumulated in the feed could be by getting them bound to inert compounds before absorption from host’s intestine. Among various classes of poultry, ducks followed by turkeys form the two most vulnerable poultry species, among others. Considering the inherently high genetic variation between duck breeds for AFB susceptibility, a genetic selection program to improve AFB resistance can be a long-term option. Further epigenetic sensitization of the AFB-susceptible poultries through mild AFB exposures is getting reported as an emerging genetic approach to counter AFB susceptibilities. The chapter discusses most of these, in greater detail.
The Contribution of Humic Substances in Improving Agriculture and Livestock Sector in African Great Lakes Region: A Review
Authors: Nsengumuremyi Daniel , Havugimana Sylvestre , V. Barakova Nadezhda
Published: October 2022

The economy of the Great lakes region (GLR) depends on livestock and agricultural production. Although the region boasts massive diverse natural resources, such as humic substances (HSs), it is yet to benefit from this valuable natural resource. The current review sought to establish the contribution of HSs in improving the agriculture and livestock sector in the GLR. The outcome of the review establishes a positive relationship between the use of HSs and the improvement of the agriculture and livestock sector in the GLR. These substances stimulate the growth of plants, enhance soil fertility, and increase the availability of nutrients to plants. Conversely, HSs are vital components in controlling mycotoxins in animal feed. While the GLR is reputable for its massive agricultural production, this review affirms that the region has yet to fully explore HS’s benefits. Further research is necessary to specifically explore ways to maximize the use of HSs in boosting agricultural and livestock production in the GLR.
Design for Recycling of E-Textiles: Current Issues of Recycling of Products Combining Electronics and Textiles and Implications for a Circular Design Approach
Authors: Eppinger Elisabeth , Slomkowski Alina , Behrendt Tanita , Rotzler Sigrid , Marwede Max
Published: October 2022

Circular economy principles and eco-design guidelines such as design for recycling gain increasing importance to improve recyclability of products. The market of textiles with electronic components—so-called electronic textiles (e-textiles)–grows quickly entailing an increase in waste due to obsolete and defect products. This chapter presents insights into the current state of e-textile recycling in Europe. As electronic recycling differs from textile recycling, a survey of sorting and recycling businesses in Europe was conducted to obtain insights into the current and future handling of e-textiles. The survey results reveal that e-textiles have so far played a minor role for sorting and recycling companies, but about one-third of the businesses already experienced issues in recycling e-textiles. While some of the respondents have already developed processing concepts, the overall occurrence of e-textiles is so low that businesses are unlikely to develop recycling solutions. However, with increasing market volume, waste will also increase and recycling requires improvement to reduce environmental impact. Based on the survey results, recommendations for improving the recyclability and recycling rate of e-textiles are proposed. This includes expanding the scope of current regulations to e-textiles to apply guidelines for integrating sustainable end-of-life solutions in the product design process, acknowledging current shortcomings of the recycling industry.
Panic Disorder and Burnout in the Workplace: Review of the Evidence and Recommendations for Future Research
Authors: Lainidi Olga , Tzioti Eva , Spiliou Maria , Koutsimani Panagiota , Montgomery Anthony
Published: October 2022

Both panic disorders and burnout are significant challenges in the workplace. However, to date knowledge in these areas has progressed in parallel and there have been few attempts to systematically connect these overlapping syndromes. The objectives of this chapter are to address this gap in the literature by addressing the following: how panic disorder symptoms can be masked under the “burnout-umbrella” meaning they can go under-the-radar, how the overlap between sub-clinical anxiety physical symptoms and panic disorder symptoms might lead to the latter remaining undiagnosed, and the extent to which burnout can contribute to experiencing panic disorder symptoms. Particularly, we will focus on professions that require high levels of emotional labor (e.g., healthcare employees, teaching professions) and which are characterized by pathological altruism, where individuals feel that they are not allowed to experience a panic attack in their work environment—and if they do, they will have to hide it. Moreover, such hiding leads to increased feelings of guilt and apathy, which in turn increases the likelihood of a depressive symptomatology to be developed. Finally, we argue that the field is hampered by the fact that employees are less likely to report the real intensity of their anxiety and stress-related symptoms.
Perspective Chapter: Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) and Their Impact on Transmission Rate, Disease Severity and Breakthrough Infections
Authors: Kumar Arbind , Sharma Aashish , Vijay Tirpude Narendra , Padwad Yogendra , Sharma Shaifali , Kumar Sanjay
Published: October 2022

SARS-CoV-2, like all RNA viruses, evolves over time, and genetic mutations have been linked to increased replication fitness and evolvability. SARS-CoV-2 spreads quickly between countries, resulting in new mutations. SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing reveals that variants emerge through point mutations, insertions, and deletions. Concerns have been raised about the ability of currently approved vaccines to protect against emerging variants. Viral spike protein is a component of many approved vaccine candidates, and mutations in the S-protein may affect transmission dynamics and the risk of immune escape, resulting this pandemic last-longer in populations. Understanding the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as its potential relationship with transmissibility, infectivity, and disease severity, may help us predict the consequences of future pandemics. SARS-CoV-2 genome studies have identified a few mutations that could potentially alter the transmissibility and pathogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. At the moment, it is worth mentioning that a few variants have increased the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2. The Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Delta+, and omicron variants are designated as variants of concern (VOCs) by the World Health Organisation and have been linked with an increased risk to the community in terms of transmission, hospitalisation, and mortality. This chapter thoroughly discusses the impact of SARS-CoV-2 mutations, mainly VOCs, on public health by mining many published articles.
Safety in the Home Care Environment of Families Caring for the Elderly
Authors: Monteiro Viegas Laura , Moreira Rodrigues Fátima
Published: October 2022

Background: The family is the main provider of care for the elderly, which generates stress, with negative effects on the caregiver’s health. It is necessary to relieve the stress of caregivers for the safety of the caregiver and the dependent family member. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a nursing intervention based on a psychoeducational program for caregivers of elderly family members. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study, with a sample of caregivers (n = 77), distributed between the intervention group (n = 37) and the control group (n = 40). The instruments comprised a questionnaire with the Zarit Burden scales and the Carers Management Assessment Index. The intervention group benefited from the psychoeducational program, and the control maintained the usual care. Results: The intervention group increased coping and decreased the burden compared to the control group. After six months, both groups decreased coping, but it was lower in the intervention group compared to the control group. The intervention group slightly decreased the burden while the control group increased it. Conclusions: The nursing intervention is a procedure that relieves the caregiver’s burden and increases the coping, contributing to reduce the impact of the damage caused by the provided care.
Signal Transmission by Auditory and Vestibular Hair Cells
Authors: Masetto Sergio , Spaiardi Paolo , J. Johnson Stuart
Published: October 2022

We interact with the world around us by sensing a vast array of inputs and translating them into signals that can be interpreted by the brain. We have evolved many sensory receptors, each uniquely specialised to detect diverse stimuli. The hair cells are sensory receptors, initially developed to provide a sense of body position and movement, but later adapted to sense minute pressure waves in the environment that are perceived as sounds. As such, hair cells bestow a sense of hearing and balance, which are major advantages for survival. Mammals have four different types of hair cell, two of which are dedicated to hearing, the inner and outer hair cells, and the other two to balance, the type-I and type-II hair cells. While all hair cells employ common mechanisms to detect and relay signals from sound or motion, they also have unique attributes that specialise them for a specific functional role. In this chapter we describe the process of signal transmission in mammalian auditory and vestibular hair cells. Since mammalian hair cells do not regenerate, their loss results in permanent auditory or vestibular deficit. Efforts to regenerate or repair malfunctioning hair cells have recently intensified, mainly through gene, stem-cell and molecular therapy.
High Ionic Conductivities of Ionic Materials as Potential Electrolytes
Authors: K. Bhowmik Pradip , L. Chen Si , Han Haesook , Anwar Ishak Khairul , Selvi Velayutham Thamil , Bendaoud Umama , Martinez-Felipe Alfonso
Published: October 2022

Ionic liquids (ILs) are salts consisting of organic cations and inorganic/organic anions having melting transitions lower than 100°C. They hold promise as engineered materials in a variety of modern fields. They are used as green solvents or catalysts for chemical reactions, biocatalysts, biopolymers processing, active pharmaceutical ingradients in medicine, even as electrolytes for batteries. For batteries applications, ionic liquids must have high ionic conductivity, but most of the ionic liquids (monocationic) have low conductivities. To address this limitation, we describe in this chapter dicationic ionic liquids based on extended viologens. The colossal conductivities, σdc ~ 10−1.5·S cm1 of new diatonic ionic liquids in the same range of benchmark materials/electrolytes applied in fuel cells and batteries is reported. The relatively new class of ionic liquids consist of extended viologen bistriflimides containing oligoethyleneoxy groups were prepared via Zincke reaction under mild conditions and are excellent candidates as components in devices for energy conversion and storage applications. The synthesis and ionic conductivities of other ionic liquids and dicationic organic salts will be contrasted with dicationic ionic liquids in this chapter.
Free Association, Synchrony, and Neural Networks as Evolutionary Exponents in Psychoanalysis
Authors: Novac Andrei
Published: October 2022

The author is proposing a reexamination of our own attitude toward psychoanalysis in modern society. Free association remains a fundamental psychoanalytic technique that has been reported to have separate curative functions. Deconstruction and reconstruction of the human thought process; the reshaping of implicit memory; and the aspects of an individual’s self have all been linked to spontaneous thought and free association. Additionally, neuroscience has revealed that very different and complex neural networks (default mode network, interacting variably, with the executive cortex, etc.) are at play in all these “mental reshaping” processes. Taken together, contemporary psychoanalysis, similar to ancient forms of meditation, stream of consciousness, and the creative process itself in different fields, constitutes evolutionarily based natural processes that are meant to allow for the creation of adaptive thoughts. This, in turn, allows for the creation of solutions in life, mental/psychological survival, and social adaption. The author will conclude with recommendation for further integration of different schools of thought into a unified understanding of psychoanalytic change, in view of nonlinear dynamics in complex system theory.
The Effect of Modified Push-up Exercise Using Electromyography Biofeedback on Selection of Scapular Stabilizing Muscles
Authors: Miri Hadi , Dostdar Rozbahani Abbas , Rahimi Bidhendi Mojtaba , Hamidi Mahya
Published: October 2022

Background: The serratus anterior (SA) muscle is an important scapular stabilizer and has a profound role in retaining the scapulohumeral rhythm. Therefore, modified push-up plus (MPUP) has been advised to strengthen this muscle as a closed chain workout. However, few previous studies have reported the possibility of a reparative motion from pectoralis major (PM) that could replace and amend SA's function during push-up plus. Objectives: The current study examined MPUP's effect using biofeedback EMG on some of the selected scapular stabilizers. Methods: Sixteen healthy young subjects voluntarily participated in this study. Each subject performed push-ups, from the quadruped position, under two conditions (i.e., with or without visual and auditory biofeedback). Surface EMG measured pectoralis major, serratus anterior, and upper trapezius activity. A paired t-test was used to determine any statistically significant difference between the two conditions. Additionally, the effect size was calculated to quantify the magnitude of EMG biofeedback in each muscle. Results: MPUP training using biofeedback significantly increased SA muscle activity and decreased PM muscle activity, but there was no significant change in UT activity. Conclusions: Excessive PM activity was repressed because of biofeedback, and the workout was done with the enhancement of SA muscular activity. Thus, including biofeedback while doing MPUPs helps limit PM's supplementary action and enhance SA muscle activity.
Exosomes as Biochemistry Tools for Stem Cell Differentiation: A Novel Cell-Based Treatment for Diseases
Authors: Azandeh Saeed , Bijan Nejad Darioush , Karimi Samaneh , Fakhredini Fereshtesadat
Published: October 2022

: For tissue engineering and clinical translation strategies, it is essential to have a reliable and safe lineage-specific differentiation of stem cells. To deal with several problems caused by growth factor delivery systems and growth factors, exosomes have been used as biomimetic tools to trigger the differentiation of stem cells. It is believed that cell type-specific exosomes can induce lineage-specific differentiation of stem cells. Exosomes trigger cell viability, cell proliferation and differentiation, embryonic implantation, and migration. They have been used successfully in regenerative medicine, such as liver fibrosis, renal diseases, cardiac ischemia, stroke, and skin injuries. The findings highlighted the necessity to take into account the condition and source of exosome donor cells before selecting them for therapeutic use.
Item Analysis of Multiple Choice and Extended Matching Questions in the Final MBBS Medicine and Therapeutics Examination
Authors: Kumar Alok , George Colette , Harry Campbell Michael , Krishnamurthy Kandamaran , Michele Lashley Paula , Singh Virendra , Motilal Shastri , Sakhamuri Sateesh , Thompson Tamara , SinQuee-Brown Corrine , Sa Bidyadhar , Majumder Md Anwarul Azim
Published: October 2022

Background: Most universities around the world use the multiple-choice question (MCQ) examination format to evaluate medical education. However, the suitability and advantages of traditional MCQs and extended matching questions (EMQs) continue to be debated. Objectives: This study mainly aimed to perform a comprehensive comparative analysis of the performance of the EMQ and traditional MCQ formats in the final MBBS exit examination. Methods: We conducted an item analysis of 80 EMQs, and 200 MCQs administered to 532 examinees across the four campuses of the University of the West Indies during the final MBBS medicine and therapeutics examination of 2019. Exam performance measures included central tendency, item discrimination, reliability, item difficulty, and distractor efficacy. Results: For the 532 students who sat the exam, the highest, lowest, and mean (± SD) scores for the EMQs were 93, 41, and 69.0 (± 9.8), respectively; for the MCQs, the respective values were 82, 41, and 62.7 (± 7.4). The predictive value of the EMQ and MCQ grades individually in the overall failure was 0.67 (95% CI = 0.39, 0.87) and 0.89 (95% CI = 0.65, 0.98), respectively. KR-20 coefficients for the EMQs and MCQs ranged from 0.52 to 0.70 and 0.71 to 0.79, respectively. The proportion of questions with two or more functional distractors was consistently higher for the MCQs than for the EMQs in all four cohorts of students. Conclusions: The MCQs were more predictive of the overall failure and had higher inter-item reliability, making the MCQ format more suitable for high-stakes examinations.
Description of the first Cretaceous (Santonian) articulated skeletal lungfish remains from South America, Argentina
Authors: PANZERI Karen M. , CAVALLI Soledad GOUIRIC , CIONE Alberto L. , FILIPPI Leonardo S.
Published: October 2022

The fossil record of dipnoans is mostly represented by tooth plates and jaw bones, whereas nearly complete or complete skulls are rare. Here, we describe a new dipnoan from the Santonian (Upper Cretaceous) of Patagonia (Argentina) using three-dimensional renderings generated by CT scans. It consists of a near-complete skull and postcranial material. Rinconodus salvadori n. gen., n. sp. is diagnosed by a combination of features, such as medial series composed of two unpaired bones, mediolateral series composed of two paired bones, lateral series with at least one bone, medial edge of tooth plates longer than the lingual edge and equally curved, upper tooth plates contiguous or close to one another with five denticulations, lower tooth plates widely separated with four denticulations, first denticulation of upper tooth plates longer and thinner than the remaining denticulations, and posteriorly curved, first denticulation of lower tooth plates relatively straight and longer than the remaining ones, among other characters. The new species is based on the first two nearly complete Santonian dipnoan skulls from South America. Moreover, the materials presented here are the geologically youngest dipnoan remains consisting of a near-complete skull and postcranium from the Cretaceous of Gondwana.
Defining risks on road sections during the transport of dangerous goods in the Serbian army using the linear mathematical programming model
Authors: Planić Jovana
Published: October 2022

Introduction/purpose: The paper presents a model for the selection of a route for the transport of dangerous goods using DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) models and fuzzy logic systems. The presented model is used to define the risk on road sections during the transport of dangerous goods as well as to select the optimal route for the realization of the transport task. Methods: The model consists of two phases. The first phase includes the application of DEA models in which formed input and output models are connected in the output DEA final form which shows routes with a satisfactory level of traffic safety and at the same time eliminates routes with low traffic safety. The second phase involves the application of fuzzy logic systems, and as a way out of the fuzzy system, preference is given to one route. Route evaluation is based on six criteria, namely: route length, number of access points, AADT (annual average daily traffic), the number of traffic accidents with fatalities, the number of traffic accidents with the injured and the number of traffic accidents with material damage. When the values of the input criteria are entered, a calculation and evaluation is performed, and, as an exit from the fuzzy system, preference is given to one of the entered routes (the route with the lowest level of risk). The criteria used were defined on the basis of expert assessments. Results: A user program that represents decision support in traffic service. Conclusion: The user platform was created for the Matlab R2015a software package with the ability to be adapted to specific problems.
Evacuation of aircraft on land
Authors: Jevtić Radoje
Published: October 2022

Introduction/Purpose: Aircraft present one of the safest and most frequently used means of transport. However, despite taking many security measures, accidents happen. No matter a damage level, if the aircraft somehow manages to land, the most important is to evacuate passengers from the aircraft, fast and safely. Evacuation of aircraft is very complex and depends on many different factors such as a damage degree, presence of fire, speed of passengers, presence of panic and fear, etc. So, it is important to, somehow, as much as possible, predict potential ways of evacuation and potential evacuation strategies and routes. Landed aircraft can be in different conditions so fast and safe evacuation of passengers is very important. The only way to predict safe evacuation routes, to determine proper evacuation strategies and to calculate potential evacuation times needed to leave the aircraft is to use some adequate simulation software. Methods: In this paper, for calculating needed evacuation times and potential evacuation routes, the simulation method was used. Simulations of evacuation scenarios and calculations of evacuation times were realized in Pathfinder software. The simulation model created in Pathfinder was a model of the A 321 aircraft related to its real dimensions. Results: The results of this paper, obtained on an appropriate simulation model of the aircraft with stairs and emergency slides, have shown the evacuation times for two different evacuation scenarios with different speeds of passengers/occupants. Conclusion: A proper evacuation strategy and the fastest evacuation of occupants are crucial for saving lives. Simulation software use in evacuation problems presents a very effective way in terms of safety, cost-effectiveness and prediction. This kind of software presents an obligatory engineering tool for more effective and more precise dealing with evacuation and similar problems. This paper was written to show how simulation software can be used for calculating evacuation times from an airplane on land.
Numerical analysis of a frontal impact of a 12.7 mm projectile on an armor plate
Authors: Pešić Miloš , Živković Aleksandra , Aničić Aleksa , Blagojević Lazar , Bonchev Petko , Pantović Predrag
Published: October 2022

Introduction/purpose: The paper presents a numerical simulation of an impact of a 12.7 mm projectile on an armored metal plate with a velocity of 500 m/s at a distance of 900 m. Numerical simulations offer the possibility of drastically reducing the time required to obtain results in comparison to the time required for planning, organization and execution of experiments. The numerical simulation is done by variations in the thickness of the armor metal plate, specifically an armor metal plate of a thickness of 10 mm, 17 mm, 18 mm, and 23 mm. The mentioned armored plate thicknesses were chosen based on the results in order to determine the limit thickness of the armored plate for the projectile perforation limit, as well as for complete ballistic protection. Methods: Finite element modeling is used for analyzing stresses and deformations of the armored plates. The mentioned method calculates the impact of the projectile on the obstacle, precisely the collision of the projectile and the armor plate. Results: For the comparative analysis, the parameters used are the values of the stress and the displacement. For each of the above-mentioned thicknesses of the armored metal plate, the values of stress and displacement during projectile impact were determined. The results of this study show how the thickness of the armor plate affects the interaction of the projectile and the armor plate. Conclusion: If the physical and chemical characteristics of the armored plate remain unchanged, as the thickness of the armored plate increases, the possibility of projectile penetration decreases, and vice versa. This research is of essential importance because it analyzes the stresses and deformation of armor plates whose basic role is the protection of personnel and equipment from the projectile impact. In this regard, the thickness of the armored plate for semi-penetration of the projectile is determined.