bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
4D surface shape measurement system with high spectral resolution and great depth accuracy
Authors: Luo Jing , Li Shuo , Forsberg Erik , He Sailing
Published: April 2021

A 4D surface shape measurement system that combines spectral detection and 3D surface morphology measurements is proposed, which can realize high spectral resolution and great depth accuracy (HSDA system). A starring hyperspectral imager system based on a grating generates precise spectral data, while a structured light stereovision system reconstructs target morphology as a 3D point cloud. The systems are coupled using a double light path module, which realize point-to-point correspondence of the systems’ image planes. The spectral and 3D coordinate data are fused and transformed into a 4D data set. The HSDA system has excellent performance with a spectral resolution of 3 nm and depth accuracy of 27.5 μm. A range of 4D imaging experiments are presented to demonstrate the capabilities and versatility of the HSDA system, which show that it can be used in broad range of application areas, such as fluorescence detection, face anti-spoofing, physical health state assessment and green plant growth condition monitoring.
MicroRNA biomarkers of type 2 diabetes: A protocol for corroborating evidence by computational genomics and meta-analyses
Authors: Zhu Hongmei , Leung Siu-wai
Published: April 2021

Background

Few microRNAs were found consistently dysregulated in type 2 diabetes (T2D) that would gain confidence from Big Pharma to develop diagnostic or therapeutic biomarkers. This study aimed to corroborate evidence from eligible microRNAs-T2D association studies according to stringent quality criteria covering both biological and statistical significance in T2D for biomarker development.

Methods and analyses

Controlled microRNA expression profiling studies on human with T2D will be retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Embase for selecting the statistically significant microRNAs according to pre-specified search strategies and inclusion criteria. Multiple meta-analyses with restricted maximum-likelihood estimation and empirical Bayes estimation under the random-effects model will be conducted by metafor package in R. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses further examine the microRNA candidates for their disease specificity, tissue specificity, blood fraction specificity, and statistical robustness of evidence. Biologically relevant microRNAs will then be selected through genomic database corroboration. Their association with T2D is further measured by area under the curve (AUC) of receive operating characteristic (ROC). Meta-analysis of AUC of potential biomarkers will also be conducted. Enrichment analysis on potential microRNA biomarkers and their target genes will be performed by iPathwayGuide and clusterProfiler, respectively. The corresponding reporting guidelines will be used to assess the quality of included studies according to their profiling methods (microarray, RT-PCR, and RNA-Seq).

Ethics and dissemination

No ethics approval is required since this study does not include identifiable personal patient data.

Protocol registration number

CRD42017081659.
Factors influencing TB treatment interruption and treatment outcomes among patients in Kiambu County, 2016-2019
Authors: Kimani Evelyn , Muhula Samuel , Kiptai Titus , Orwa James , Odero Theresa , Gachuno Onesmus
Published: April 2021

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of mortality as a single infectious agent globally with increasing numbers of case notification in developing countries. This study seeks to investigate the clinical and socio-demographic factors of time to TB treatment interruption among Tuberculosis patients in Kiambu County, 2016–2019. We retrospectively analyzed data for all treatment outcomes patients obtained from TB tracing form linked with the Tuberculosis Information Basic Unit (TIBU) of patients in Kiambu County health facilities using time to treatment interruption as the main outcome. Categorical variables were presented using frequency and percentages. Kaplan-Meir curve was used to analyze probabilities of time to treatment interruptions between intensive and continuation phases. Log-rank test statistics was used to compare the equality of the curves. Cox proportion model was used to determine determinants of treatment interruption. A total of 292 participants were included in this study. Males were 68%, with majority (35%) of the participants were aged 24–35 years; 5.8% were aged 0–14 years and 5.1% aged above 55 years. The overall treatment success rate was 66.8% (cured, 34.6%; completed 32.2%), 60.3% were on intensive phase of treatment. Lack of knowledge and relocation were the major reasons of treatment interruptions. Patients on intensive phase were 1.58 times likely to interrupt treatment compared to those on continuation phase (aHR: 1.581; 95%CI: 1.232–2.031). There is need to develop TB interventions that target men and middle aged population in order to reduce treatment interruption and increase the treatment success rates in the County and Country.
The impact of Tsunamis on land appraisals: Evidence from Western Japan
Authors: Sato Yasuhiro , Shiba Keita
Published: April 2021

This paper estimates the impact of the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan earthquake on land appraisals of various locations outside of directly damaged areas. The focus is on locations that are expected to be extensively damaged by a tsunami if the Nankai Trough earthquake occurs. We use the DID and DDD approaches and show that locations with low elevation and close to the sea experienced decreases in appraised land prices compared to locations with high elevation and far from the sea. Especially, locations with less than 3.6m elevation and within 1.46km of the coastline experienced significant decreases in appraised land prices. This result implies that people have changed their location preferences regarding elevation and distance from the sea.
Relationship between diabetes self-care practices and control of periodontal disease among type2 diabetes patients in Bangladesh
Authors: Hasan S. M. Mahmudul , Rahman Mosiur , Nakamura Keiko , Tashiro Yuri , Miyashita Ayano , Seino Kaoruko
Published: April 2021

Introduction

The prevalence of periodontal disease is high in diabetes patients worldwide, including Bangladesh. Although associations of periodontal disease outcomes and clinical determinants of diabetes have been investigated, few studies have reported on the relationship between periodontal diseases outcomes with modifiable factors, such as self-care and oral hygiene practices, in patients with diabetes. Moreover, in order to develop targeted strategies, it is also important to estimate their aggregated contribution separately from that of the established sociodemographic and diabetics related clinical determinates. Therefore, this study was performed to elucidate 1) the relationship of diabetes patients’ self-care and oral hygiene practices to periodontal disease and 2) the relative contributions of selected factors to periodontal disease outcome in type 2 diabetes patients.

Methods

The data were obtained from the baseline survey of a multicentre, prospective cohort study. A total of 379 adult patients with type 2 diabetes from three diabetic centres in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Barishal, received periodontal examinations using the community periodontal index (CPI) probe, glycated haemoglobin examination, other clinical examinations, and structured questionnaires. Multiple logistics regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between selected factors and prevalence of any periodontal disease and its severity.

Results

More than half of the participants were female (53.8%) and 66.8% of the total participants was 21–50 years old. The prevalence of any (CPI code 2+3+4; 75.7%) and severe form (CPI code 4; 35.1%) of periodontal disease were high in type 2 diabetes patients. In multivariate analysis, the odds of periodontal disease increased with unfavourable glycaemic control indicated by HbA1c ≥ 7%, and decreased by 64%, 85% and 92% with adherence to recommended diet, physical activity, and oral hygiene practices, respectively. Diabetes self-care practice explained the highest proportion of the variance (13.9%) followed by oral hygiene practices (10.9%) by modelling any periodontal disease versus no disease. Variables of diabetes conditions and oral hygiene practices explained 10.9% and 7.3% of the variance by modelling severe (CPI code 4) or moderate (CPI code 3) forms of periodontal disease versus mild form of periodontal disease. Findings also conferred that while poor diabetes control had an individually adverse association with any form of periodontal diseases and its severity, the risk of diseases was moderated by oral hygiene practices.

Conclusions

This study suggested that, in addition to diabetes-related clinical determinants, self-care practices, and oral hygiene practices must be taken into consideration for prevention and control of periodontal disease in patients with diabetes.
Nutrient uptake and assimilation in fragrant rosewood (Dalbergia odorifera T.C. Chen) seedlings in growing media with un-composted spent mushroom residue
Authors: Li Xiaowen , Xia Haitao , Wang Jinwang , Chen Qiuxia
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study was to detect nutrient uptake and assimilation in woody plants subjected to growing media with some peat replaced by spent mushroom residue (SMR). Fragrant rosewood (Dalbergia odorifera T.C. Chen) seedlings were cultured in five types of growing media with SMR and peat in volumetric proportions of 0% (control), 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. With the increase of SMR proportion, ammonium- and nitrate-nitrogen (N) concentrations declined but available phosphorus (P) concentration and electrical conductance both increased. Seedlings in the full SMR substrates showed obvious mortality. Seedlings in substrates with SMR in proportions higher than 25% showed symptoms of excessive N and P toxicities. The utilization efficiency for P was highest in the 25% SMR growing-media. Mineral N in substrates had a positive relationship with growth and biomass but not with glutamine synthetase activity. Available P was negatively related with acid phosphatase activity in both leaves and roots. Un-composted SMR can replace 25% of peat in growing media for fragrant rosewood seedlings, benefitting P uptake and assimilation.
Heparin binding protein in severe COVID-19—A prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Mellhammar Lisa , Thelaus Louise , Elén Sixten , Fisher Jane , Linder Adam
Published: April 2021

Background and aims

Neutrophil-derived heparin binding protein (HBP; also known as azurocidin or CAP-37) is a key player in bacterial sepsis and a promising biomarker in severe infections.

The aims of this study were to assess whether HBP is involved in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and, if so, whether it can be used to predict severe disease preferably using a point-of-care test.

Methods

This was a prospective convenience sample study of biomarkers in patients admitted to Skåne University hospital in Sweden with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Plasma samples and clinical data were collected within 72h after admission, during hospital stay and at discharge. Plasma HBP concentrations samples were measured both with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and with a novel dry immunofluorescence analyzer (Joinstar) point-of-care test.

Results

Thirty-five COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study. Twenty-nine patients had blood samples taken within 72h after admission. We compared the highest HBP value taken within 72h after admission in patients who eventually developed organ dysfunction (n = 23) compared to those who did not (n = 6), and found that HBP was significantly elevated in those who developed organ dysfunction (25.0 ng/mL (interquartile range (IQR) 16.6–48.5) vs 10.6 ng/mL (IQR 4.8–21.7 ng/mL), p = 0.03). Point-of-care test measurements correlated well with ELISA measurements (R = 0.83). HBP measured by the POC device predicted development of COVID-induced organ dysfunction with an AUC of 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70–1.0).

Conclusions

HBP is elevated prior to onset of organ dysfunction in patients with severe COVID-19 using a newly developed point-of-care test and hence HBP could be used in a clinical setting as a prognostic marker in COVID-19.
BH4-deficient hyperphenylalaninemia in Russia
Authors: Gundorova Polina , Kuznetcova Irina A. , Baydakova Galina V. , Stepanova Anna A. , Itkis Yulia S. , Kakaulina Victoria S. , Alferova Irina P. , Lyazina Lidya V. , Andreeva Lilya P. , Kanivets Ilya , Zakharova Ekaterina Y. , Kutsev Sergey I. , Polyakov Aleksander V.
Published: April 2021

A timely detection of patients with tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) -deficient types of hyperphenylalaninemia (HPABH4) is important for assignment of correct therapy, allowing to avoid complications. Often HPABH4 patients receive the same therapy as phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) -deficiency (phenylketonuria) patients—dietary treatment—and do not receive substitutive BH4 therapy until the diagnosis is confirmed by molecular genetic means. In this study, we present a cohort of 30 Russian patients with HPABH4 with detected variants in genes causing different types of HPA. Family diagnostics and biochemical urinary pterin spectrum analyses were carried out. HPABH4A is shown to be the prevalent type, 83.3% of all HPABH4 cases. The mutation spectrum for the PTS gene was defined, the most common variants in Russia were p.Thr106Met—32%, p.Asn72Lys—20%, p.Arg9His—8%, p.Ser32Gly—6%. We also detected 7 novel PTS variants and 3 novel QDPR variants. HPABH4 prevalence was estimated to be 0.5–0.9% of all HPA cases in Russia, which is significantly lower than in European countries on average, China, and Saudi Arabia. The results of this research show the necessity of introducing differential diagnostics for HPABH4 into neonatal screening practice.
If you don’t see me, I will burn myself: The necropower of fiery protests
Authors: Cvejić Bojana
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Recognized in the twentieth and twenty-first-century history of political suicides as a radical act of protest and a spectacular expression of an intense experience of suffering, self-burning has returned since 2010 when Mohamed Bouazizi’s act sparked protests
in Tunisia. Its last wave in Europe includes those cases of self-incinerations in which the conditions for their political performativity are only partly fulfilled: the acts are public and communicate with the antagonist in the symbolic places of power, but their motivations aren’t explicitly
formulated as political. When self-annihilation is triggered by the basic needs and rights to maintain life, such as unemployment, housing crisis, conflicts at work, and other forms of precarity, means and ends with respect to life become indistinguishable. How can life be weaponized as a
transindividual form of dissent if self-destruction also brings an end to desperation and suffering of the person? How are we to attend to irreparable acts of self-annihilation, which stand in dire contrast to contemporary practices of self-care, vitalist intensity and self-enhancement?
D. Francisco de Azevedo e Ataíde: Subsídios para a sua biografia
Authors: Cardoso Augusto­-Pedro Lopes
Published: April 2021

Transcrição e estudo de um manuscrito inédito, escrito em finais do século XVII, por D. Inácio de Ataíde, professor da Universidade de Coimbra e pregador sacro, com a biografia de um militar da Guerra da Restauração, D. Francisco de Azevedo e Ataíde, mestre-de-campo general e governador das armas do Entre-Douro-e-Minho, com o relato de numerosos episódios ocorridos nesta província e na do Alentejo
Interstate rivals’ intervention in third-party civil wars: The comparative case of Saudi Arabia and Iran in Yemen (2004-2018)
Authors:   , Palik Júlia
Published: April 2021

How does interstate rivals’ intervention in a third-party civil war impact conflict duration and outcome in that country? More specifically, (1) how do interstate rivals engage in third party civil conflicts and (2) how do conflict parties attract, utilize, and sustain the external support they receive from their supporters? I answer these questions by comparing Saudi Arabia and Iran’s intervention in two distinct conflicts in Yemen. This dissertation applies a qualitative case study method and selects two within-case methods: structured-focused comparison and process tracing. In the structured-focused comparison, I compare the support Saudi Arabia and Iran has provided to the Government of Yemen (GoY) and the Houthis respectively, differentiating between military and non-military types of support. I compare these during the Saada wars (2004-2010) and in the current internationalized civil war (2014-2018). To ensure the validity of my causal inferences I triangulate data from three sources: the development of a novel mediation and ceasefire dataset1 (1), semi-structured in-depth elite-interviews2 (2), and document reviews (3). This dissertation develops a mechanism-focused analytical framework that integrates both rivalry and civil war dynamics to explain civil war duration and outcome. I build on five distinct literatures (strategic rivalry, civil war studies, third-party intervention in civil wars, mediation, and rebel governance) and complement them with the literature on Middle East Area Studies. In the analytical framework first, I look at the inter-state dimension and propose that rivals’ initial decision to intervene and their subsequent decisions to remain engaged in third-party civil wars are two distinct processes. Rivals seek to inflict costs on their counterparts, but at the same time they seek to avoid direct confrontation. Their cognitive rigidities lock them in their own conflicts and give rise to the mechanism of conflict integration in third-party conflicts. Besides interveners, I also take into account domestic dynamics and examine civil war conflict parties’ capacity to impact rivals by keeping them engaged in their conflict through the mechanism of rivalry instrumentalization. The external and internal perspectives are reinforcing each other and create networked interdependencies. With this two-dimensional logic, I move beyond the conventional framework of proxy wars.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Lean Subjects: Associations With Metabolic Dysregulation and Cardiovascular Risk—A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Semmler Georg , Wernly Sarah , Bachmayer Sebastian , Wernly Bernhard , Schwenoha Lena , Huber-Schönauer Ursula , Stickel Felix , Niederseer David , Aigner Elmar , Datz Christian
Published: April 2021

INTRODUCTION:

Although a milder metabolic phenotype of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in lean patients (body mass index [BMI] <25 kg/m2) compared to overweight/obese patients with NAFLD is assumed, the relevance of NAFLD among lean subjects remains a matter of debate. We aimed to characterize the metabolic/cardiovascular phenotype of lean patients with NAFLD.

METHODS:

In total, 3,043 subjects (cohort I) and 1,048 subjects (cohort II) undergoing screening colonoscopy between 2010 and 2020 without chronic liver disease other than NAFLD were assigned to one of the following groups: lean patients without NAFLD, lean NAFLD, overweight NAFLD (BMI 25–30 kg/m2), and obese NAFLD (BMI >30 kg/m2). Diagnosis of NAFLD was established using ultrasound (cohort I) and controlled attenuation parameter (cohort II).

RESULTS:

The prevalence of lean patients with NAFLD was 6.7%/16.1% in the overall cohort I/II and 19.7%/40.0% in lean subjects of cohort I/II. Compared with lean subjects without NAFLD, lean patients with NAFLD had a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia, dysglycemia, and the metabolic syndrome, together with a higher median Framingham risk score in both cohorts (all P < 0.001). On multivariable analyses, NAFLD in lean subjects was associated with higher odds of metabolic syndrome (adjusted odds ratio cohort I: 4.27 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.80–6.51], P < 0.001; cohort II: 2.97 [95% CI: 1.40–6.33], P < 0.001), and higher Framingham risk score (regression coefficient B cohort I: 1.93 [95% CI: 0.95–2.92], P < 0.003; cohort II: 1.09 [95% CI: 0.81–2.10], P = 0.034), among others. Only 69.8% of lean patients with NALFD in cohort I and 52.1% in cohort II fulfilled the novel criteria for metabolic associated fatty liver disease.

DISCUSSION:

NAFLD in lean patients is associated with the metabolic syndrome and increased cardiovascular risk. Novel metabolic associated fatty liver disease criteria leave a considerable proportion of patients unclassified.
Spatial and temporal variability of precipitation concentration in northeastern Brazil
Authors: Siqueira Beatriz , Nery Jonas Teixeira
Published: April 2021

La sequía es un fenómeno natural recurrente. Se considera desastre natural cuando se produce de manera intensiva en regiones densamente pobladas, lo que provoca daños (materiales y humanos) y pérdidas (socioeconómicas) importantes. En la región semiárida de Brasil son frecuentes las sequías durante la temporada de lluvias que, dependiendo de la intensidad y duración, pueden causar daños importantes a los cultivos familiares, con un sistema de producción caracterizado por bajos índices de productividad. La agricultura de secano tiene gran expresión económica y una alta importancia social, ya que la región está densamente poblada y contribuye al establecimiento de comunidades rurales. Analizamos los cambios espaciales y temporales en la concentración de la precipitación utilizando el Índice de concentración de precipitación (CI) y el Índice de precipitación concentrada (PCI). Se usó la prueba no paramétrica de Mann-Kendall para detectar tendencias monotónicas en el total anual, el IC y las series de tiempo de ICP. El área de estudio es la región noreste de Brasil, representada por 82 estaciones pluviométricas con datos de precipitación diaria. Los resultados revelaron que, con base en los valores de CI, la precipitación se presentó en gran parte del noreste de Brasil, cubriendo el Polígono de Sequía y la parte costera de esta área de estudio. De las 82 series analizadas, 26 mostraron tendencias positivas o negativas, lo que corresponde al 32% de las series utilizadas. De este total, el 14% mostró tendencia negativa, es decir, una disminución de las precipitaciones en el área de estudio. Estos porcentajes indican que no se pueden generalizar tendencias (positivas o negativas) en el noreste de Brasil.
Respuestas, resistencias y oportunidades del turismo comunitario en la península de Yucatán frente al COVID-19 y las crisis recurrentes
Authors: Jouault Samuel , Rivera-Nuñez Tlacaelel , García de Fuentes Ana , Xool Koh Manuel , Montañez Giustinianovic Alejandro
Published: April 2021

La contingencia sanitaria COVID-19 pasó a ser una más, aunque no cualquiera, entre las crisis de diferente naturaleza y envergadura que suelen afectar al sector turístico en la Península de Yucatán. Ante la recurrencia de múltiples crisis, las cooperativas que se dedican al turismo comunitario han adoptado diversas estrategias para sobrevivir a los períodos de adversidad, destacando entre ellas la pluriactividad que ha sido la forma histórica y cultural de respuesta de los hogares campesinos a las eventualidades de sus prácticas productivas. Sin embargo, debido a la prolongada duración de la reactivación del sector ocasionada por el confinamiento de la emergencia sanitaria, las empresas de turismo comunitario que ya han visto afectados sus ingresos en más del 50% con respecto al 2019, están surgiendo nuevas respuestas y resistencias para lidiar con la ambivalencia de afrontar la pérdida de dos temporadas de alta afluencia, por un lado, y el no poner en riesgo la seguridad sanitaria de sus comunidades, por el otro. Entre las estrategias de respuesta sobresalen el retorno al autoabasto, el intercambio solidario de productos entre empresas sociales, el ahorro y la previsión; entre las expresiones de resistencia el blindaje de los pueblos y los conflictos intercomunitarios vinculados a reaperturas. Partiendo de la experiencia de acompañamiento a 24 empresas de turismo comunitario ante dicha coyuntura, en la última sección presentamos una reflexión teórica para imaginar las posibles reconfiguraciones post-pandemia que podría experimentar un turismo comunitario “profundo”, a la luz de ideas-fuerza como las de proximidad y cotidianidad turística.
Use of Chelex-100 for the molecular diagnosis of five animal pathogens
Authors: TOMAZIC Mariela Luján , HAMER Micaela , BUSTOS Carla Paola , ARREGUI Matías , ASCENCIO Mariano , SARAULLO Vanina , WATANABE Olivia , BRIHUEGA Bibiana , RODRIGUEZ Anabel Elisa , GRUNE-LOFFLER Sylvia
Published: April 2021

The goal of this work was to evaluate the nutritional quality in 3 cultivars of alfalfa, belonging to different winter dormancy (GRI), subjected to two cutting frequencies during one year of cultivation, based on the abundant information existing in studies carried out in productivity, coverage and persistence, not so in the determination of quality of forage subjected to different frequencies of cuts and contrasting GRI. Three cultivars (GR6-Verzy), (GR9-Mecha) and (GR10-Ruano) were tested. The experimental design was a complete split plot with four repetitions. Two treatments defined by the cutting intervals were established: T1: 25 days and T2: 35 days. These were specified for spring, summer and fall seasons. For winter the interval was 45 and 55 days in T1 and T2, respectively.  The evaluated variables were: percentage of dry matter (% DM), percentage of crude protein (% PB), percentage of neutral detergent fiber (% FDN) and percentage of acid detergent fiber (% FDA). Significant differences were found for all the nutritional variables studied, for both treatment with p <0.05 with InfoStat program. Interaction between cultivars and treatment was observed for % PB. The 35 days cutoff frequency of yielded the lowest percentages of PB and the highest percentages of FDN and FDA. Hence the forage resulting from this frequency is of a lower quality, leading to decreased digestibility and lower performance of pasture for livestock.
Effects of STEM applications on the scientific process skills and performance of secondary school students
Authors: Köngül Özge , Yıldırım Mehtap
Published: April 2021

In this study, it was aimed to examine the effect of STEM applications on the scientific process skills and process performance of 6th grade secondary school students. Convergent parallel design, one of the mixed research designs, was used in the study. The sample of the study consists of 35 6th grade students studying at a public school in the district of Küçükçekmece, Istanbul in the 2018-2019 academic year. Three STEM lesson plans developed by the researchers were implemented for six weeks. Scientific Process Skills Test was used as a data collection tool in the quantitative part of the research. In the qualitative part, activity papers were used. While the data obtained in the scientific process skills test were analyzed using a statistics program, the activity papers were analyzed with descriptive analysis. As a result of the study, it was seen that science teaching supported by STEM applications positively affected the scientific process skills and improved the process performance of the students positively.
 
Özet
 
Bu araştırmada, STEM uygulamalarının ortaokul altıncı sınıf öğrencilerinin bilimsel süreç becerilerine ve STEM performanslarına olan etkisinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmada karma araştırma desenlerinden iç içe karma desen kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 2018-2019 eğitim-öğretim yılında İstanbul Küçükçekmece ilçesinde bir devlet okulunda okuyan 35 öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmacılar tarafından geliştirilen üç STEM ders planı ve bir ön etkinlik planı olmak üzere dört uygulama yapılmıştır. Çalışma grubu öğrencilerine STEM uygulamaları ile desteklenmiş fen öğretimi 5E modeli kapsamında verilmiştir. Etkinlikler sınıf ortamında ve sınıf dışı alanda gerçekleştirilmiştir. Öğrencilere "Bilimsel Süreç Becerileri Testi" ön ve son test olarak uygulanmıştır. Öğrencilerin öğrenme sürecindeki STEM performanslarını öğrenebilme amacıyla "Etkinlik Kâğıdı" uygulama sürecinde öğrencilere uygulanmıştır. Araştırma toplam altı hafta sürmüştür.  Veri toplama aracı olarak araştırmanın nicel kısmında Bilimsel Süreç Becerileri Testi kullanılmış ve veriler bir istatistik programı kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmanın nitel kısmında ise uygulama ile ilgili etkinlik kâğıtları kullanılmış ve betimsel analiz ile incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın sonucunda STEM uygulamaları ile desteklenmiş fen öğretiminin öğrencilerin bilimsel süreç becerilerinde anlamlı farklılık yarattığı ve STEM performanslarını olumlu yönde etkilediği görülmüştür.
Synthesis and transformation in the series of 2-((5-(2,4- and 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-yl)thio)acetic acids
Authors: Dovbnia D. V. , Kaplaushenko A. H. , Frolova Yu. S.
Published: April 2021

The aim of the work is to develop preparative methods for the synthesis of 2-((5-(2,4- and 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-yl)thio)acetic acids, to study the esterification reaction in this regard, to study physical and chemical properties of the obtained substances, and to predict their toxicity.

Materials and methods. Compounds were synthesized using reagents and solvents qualified as “ch.p.”. The IUPAC nomenclature as supplemented was used during the preparation. The melting temperature was determined with the capillary method according to HFC (2.2.14) on the device PTP (M). Elemental analysis was determined with the ELEMENTAR vario EL cube analyzer (manufactured in Germany) (standard – sulfonamide). IR spectra were recorded using spectrophotometer Specord M-80 (manufactured in Germany) within the range of 4000–500 cm-1 (scanning was performed under the following conditions: slot program 3.0, time constant – τ = 3 s, scanning time 34 min, samples were analyzed in the form of tablets with potassium bromide). 1H NMR spectra were recorded using Varian VXR-300 spectrophotometer (manufactured in the USA), dimethyl sulfoxide-D6 solvent, and tetramethylsilane was used as an internal standard. The spectra were decoded using the computer program ADVASP 1.43. Thin layer chromatography was performed using Sorbfil plates (analytical, size 10 × 15 cm, base: polymer substrate, sorbent: silica gel STX-1A, grain: 5–17 μm, layer thickness: 110 m combination – silicazole).

Results. The synthesis of new 2-((5-(2,4- and 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-yl)thio)acetic acids was carried out. These products became a basis for synthesis of a number of relevant esters. Physical and chemical properties were investigated for the synthesized compounds. The structure of the obtained substances was confirmed by elemental analysis, IR-spectroscopy, 1H NMR-spectrometry, and their individuality were established by thin-layer chromatography. Computer GUSAR-online prediction of acute toxicity of 2-((5-(2,4- and 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-yl)thio)acetic acids and their esters was performed.

Conclusions. Preparative methods for the synthesis of 2-((5-(2,4- and 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-yl)thio)acetic acids have been developed, for which esterification reactions have been studied. Thus, physical and chemical properties of the received substances were investigated, and indicators of their toxicity were predicted.
Synthesis and physical-chemical properties of (3-benzyl-8-propylxanthin-7-yl)acetohydrazide derivatives and their evaluation for antimicrobial and diuretic activities
Authors: Aleksandrova K. V. , Mykhalchenko Ye. K. , Shkoda O. S. , Vasyliev D. A.
Published: April 2021

One of the most important tasks of our indigenous pharmaceutical science is the necessity for new medicines because existing drugs are characterized by various side effects, resistance, high toxicity, and so on. New bioactive molecule synthesis utilizes substances of natural origin as well as chemically modified ones. Thus, the researcher’s attention is mainly focused on 3-,7-,8-substituted derivatives of the natural heterocyclic xanthine system, which possess a wide range of pharmacological action. Synthesis of a novel of (3-benzyl-8-propylxanthin-7-yl)acetohydrazides with antimicrobial and diuretic activities described in the paper.

The aim of this work is to develop efficient methods for synthesis of (3-benzyl-8-propylxanthin-7-yl)acetohydrazide derivatives, and to study their physical-chemical properties.

Materials and methods. Two-hour boiling of propyl 2-(3-benzyl-8-propylxanthine-7-yl)acetate by excess hydrazine hydrate in propan-2-ol medium have yielded the key the key intermediate 2-(3-benzyl-8-propylxanthine-7-yl)acetohydrazide. Further transformation of the latter has led to formation of corresponding acetohydrazide derivatives achieved by the reaction with aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic aldehydes, and ketones. The structure and the relative configuration of the synthesized compounds were elucidated by analyzing their physical-chemical data.

Results. The synthesis and optimization of reaction conditions of (3-benzyl-8-propylxanthin-7-yl)acetohydrazide derivatives were conducted. The identification of all synthesized compounds was aided by various physical-chemical methods (thin layer chromatography, elemental analysis, IR, and 1H NMR spectroscopy).

Conclusions. As a result of synthetic research the preparative synthesis method of (3-benzyl-8-propylxanthin-7-yl)acetohydrazide derivatives possessing antimicrobic, and diuretic activities was developed.
Identification of anise (Anisum vulgare Gaertn.) herbs by morphological and anatomical characteristics
Authors: Kolisnyk S. V. , Gontova T. M. , Umarov U. A. , Hordiei K. R.
Published: April 2021

The fruits of anise contain different classes of biologically active compounds, due to which they have antidepressant, antiperoxidant, antidiabetic effect; extracts of this plant have an antibacterial effect. Professional literature lacks information on the chemical composition of anise herbs and prospects for their use in medicine.

The aim of the work is to study of the morphological and anatomical structure of the aboveground organs of anise and to establish of macro- and microscopic diagnostic characters necessary for the identification of the plant raw materials.

Materials and methods. Anise herbs consisting of stems, leaves flowers, and unripe fruits were used for the study. Fresh and dried raw materials were macroscopically analyzed with the naked eye and using a magnifying glass (×10). Studies of transverse and longitudinal sections, epidermis and surface preparations were performed using conventional techniques: with microscopes MBS 9, MS 10 (glasses ×5, ×10, ×15, lenses ×10, ×40), Micromed XS-4130 (eyepiece WF15X, lenses ×40/0.65, ×10/0.25) with a photomicrographic attachment. The micrographs were taken with Samsung PL50 camera.

Results. As a result of the macro- and microscopic analysis, diagnostic properties of anise herbs were established.

Conclusions. It is for the first time that macro- and microscopic characteristics of anise herbs were studied, which confirms the identity of raw materials. The obtained results will be used for the development of domestic normative documentation on anise herbs raw materials.
Scientific substantiation of the concentration of excipients for the manufacture of eye drops Angiolin
Authors: Kucherenko L. I. , Mazur I. A. , Akopian R. R. , Portna O. O. , Tkachenko H. I.
Published: April 2021

Throughout human history, cataracts have been one of the leading causes of blindness. For this disease, we studied the market of drugs of domestic and foreign production.

The object of our study was the subgroup S10X Other ophthalmic drugs. Employees of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry of Zaporizhzhia State Medical University (ZSMU) together with specialists of the NGO “Pharmatron” was synthesized a new compound, which was named Angiolin. A rational dosage form in the form of eye drops was proposed for the new drug. Since the drops continue to be the most common and widely used in practice dosage form.

We have previously selected the optimal content of the active substance in eye drops. As is known from the technological parameters, eye drops must be isotonic, ie in their composition should be added excipients.

The aim of our work is to select the concentration of excipients for the manufacture of eye drops Angiolin.

Materials and methods. During the work at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry of ZSMU, three solutions of eye drops Angiolin with different composition were prepared, and later the theoretical osmolarity was calculated.

Results. Accurate theoretical calculation of the osmolarity of solutions containing substances with high molecular weight, complex total extracts, and highly concentrated solutions is impossible. Since the excipient was used methylcellulose, it was better to perform such a calculation experimentally, through the determination of osmolality. On the basis of the conducted researches, for correction of osmolarity, we were chosen – sodium chloride. Sodium chloride was selected at a concentration of 7.0 g/l, which creates an osmolality of the drug equal to 234.3 mosmol/kg. The estimated value at the same concentration of sodium chloride was 239.56 mosmol/l. The value of osmolarity of eye drops was calculated from it makes 302,18 mosmol/l that was confirmed the correctness of the chosen concentration of sodium chloride as a part of eye drops.

Conclusions. Based on the above, we selected the concentration of excipients for the manufacture of eye drops Angiolin.
Research of marketing and pharmacoeconomic aspects of the domestic market of preparations used for biorevitalization
Authors: Tkachenko N. O. , Chervonenko N. M. , Demchenko V. O. , Lytvynenko O. V.
Published: April 2021

The aim of the work is to study the Ukrainian market for biorevitalization products with the subsequent formation of an information array, which can be used to improve the system for supplying target consumers and for correct strategic marketing decision-making.

Materials and methods. Data obtained from 2020 edition of the State Register of 3rd Class Medical Devices (Injection Implants for Soft Tissues), as well as from the State Register of Medicines of Ukraine, the information retrieval system Compendium Online, the database “Regulatory and Directive Documents of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine”, publications in scientific and practical journals connected to the research topic, were used as the main material for the study. The following research methods were employed: content analysis, comparative, analytical, graphic, and marketing research methods.

Results. Biorevitalization affects the internal course of metabolic processes in the deep layers of the dermis, thereby accelerating the production of collagen and elastin at the expense of the body resources.

Based on the analysis of information sources about the means used in the biorevitalization procedure, two assortment groups were formed: medical devices and cosmetics. An intragroup analysis of the assortment and corporate structure of the studied market segments was carried out, and the availability of the procedure based on various drugs was studied.

Conclusions. The pharmacotherapeutic basis of biorevitalization was studied for all spectra of aesthetic problems, which are solved using this procedure under consideration.

The established list of preparations for biorevitalization made it possible to divide them into two assortment groups. The most numerous (101 preparations – 96.20 %) is cosmetics group, including one-component (35.25 %) and combined (60.95 %) preparations. The second group embraces medical devices; it consists of 4 preparations (3.80 %).

The analysis of brand structure of the studied market segment showed that the leading manufacturers here are Russian companies (21.9 % of the total amount of all preparations is imported from this country). Domestic manufacturers are represented by only one company, Yuria-Pharm, which produces, respectively, 1 drug in three different concentrations.

Based on the study of the average cost of the procedure in beauty salons of Zaporizhzhia and the coefficient of accessibility of the procedure based on the varieties of drugs for biorevitalization, it was found that the procedure using Juviderm Volift, RRS® HA SKIN RELAX WITH BoNtA 568® and JUVEDERM® VOLIFT RETOUCH is more affordable for consumers; the least availability is characteristic of the procedure with RRS® HYALIFT® 35.
Physical therapy of spasticity for correction of spatiotemporal impairments of gait in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Byoung Yul Yun , Nekhanevych О. B.
Published: April 2021

The aim of the work is to increase the effectiveness of physical therapy of motor impairments in children with spastic form of cerebral palsy by applying a program of therapeutic training on the device developed for rehabilitation of people with musculoskeletal disorders.

Materials and methods. 30 children aged 6 to 11 years with cerebral palsy-associated spastic diplegia were included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In addition to the standard rehabilitation program, all patients were prescribed therapeutic gait training using a device for rehabilitation of people with musculoskeletal disorders: group I (n = 14) – according to the dynamic method; group II (n = 16) – by static method.

The spatiotemporal characteristics of gait, activity daily indicators, the level of spasticity of lower extremity muscles, functional characteristics of gait, and the methods of mathematical statistics were studied.

Results. The implementation of the elaborated program of therapeutic exercises using a device for rehabilitation of people with musculoskeletal disorders had a positive effect on the level of muscle spasticity of the lower extremity, stride length, walking speed, general endurance. It also improved balance and reduced the risk of falling in children with cerebral palsy.

Conclusions. The application of the elaborated therapeutic program had a positive effect on the spatiotemporal characteristics of walking, balance and functional condition of children with cerebral palsy, as well as reduced the level of spasticity. The increase in the stride length occurs during the first 4 weeks of training, and functional condition indicators showed the greatest dynamics only after 6 weeks of training. The elaboration of the rehabilitation device with the ability to move and apply the technique of exercising with partially unstable pelvic support by the abductor-lift moving along the vertical axis, positively affected the balance and reduced the risk of falling.
Estimation of Damage Evolution within an In Situ Rock Mass Using the Acoustic Emissions Technique under Incremental Cyclic Loading
Authors: Kim Jin-Seop , Lee Changsoo , Kim Geon-Young
Published: April 2021

The acoustic emissions (AE) technique has been regarded as a promising method for real-time structural health monitoring of a waste repository and is widely used to evaluate the damage mechanism. However, relatively little effort has been made to use AE monitoring to evaluate the quantitative damage assessment of a rock mass. The objective of this study was to identify the progressive damage evolution of an in situ rock mass based on AE monitoring under a dynamic loading condition, which could serve as primary information for quantifying rock-mass damage. The shape of the damage evolution curve in granite was first determined from a uniaxial compression test with incremental cyclic loading. Based on the results of a laboratory test, the in situ damage evolution curve of a rock mass was subsequently estimated from in situ tests using a Goodman jack and simultaneous AE monitoring in the Underground Research Tunnel of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. With regard to in situ estimation of damage evolution, numerical simulation was also applied to infer the localized strength of a rock mass, in which elastic constants were measured using in situ tests and applied as the basic input parameters. The method suggested in this study could contribute to quantification of rock mass damage from AE observations.
Voting for Diversity? Politische Einstellungen und formale politische Partizipation von schwulen und lesbischen Bürger_innen in Deutschland
Authors: Hunklinger Michael
Published: April 2021

Der Artikel beschäftigt sich mit politischen Einstellungen (Gabriel 2009) sowie formeller politischer Partizipation (Ekman/ Amna 2012) auf individueller Ebene (Wahlen) und auf kollektiver Ebene (Mitgliedschaft in politischen Parteien, NGOs und Gewerkschaften) von schwulen und lesbischen Bürger_innen in Deutschland. Die Mehrheit der schwulen und lesbischen Wähler_innen, die an der Umfrage teilgenommen haben, unterstützten dabei eine progressive Agenda und wählen progressive bzw. linke Parteien. Die wichtigsten Themen für ihre Wahlentscheidung waren dabei neben Diskriminierung und Homophobie, Migration und Umwelt. In Bezug auf formelle politische Partizipation auf kollektiver Ebene sind schwule Männer stärker in politischen Parteien engagiert als lesbische Frauen, die hingegen mehr in NGOs aktiv sind.
Vergangene Versprechen der Ersten Republik: Der Zusammenhang sozialer und gleicher Rechte von Minderheiten am Beispiel Kärnten/ Koroška
Authors: Clar Maria
Published: April 2021

After the First World War, states disintegrated in Europe, and in some regions, questions arose about the demarcation of borders. This was also the case in the then mainly Slovenian-speaking part of Carinthia in southern Austria. In October 1920, a vote was taken on state affiliation. The decisive factor was the political system of the so-named First Republic and the associated promises of social and equal rights as well as economic factors. A hundred years later, it becomes clear, that not all promises have been kept. It encourages reflection on how the rights of minorities can be incorporated into democracies. The present article, with a focus on the minutes of the provisional Carinthian federal-state assembly and the Carinthian provincial government, examines how participation, social rights, and the relationship between minority and majority, have found their way into a momentous political decision. It becomes clear how social issues and the possibility of language retention are an intertwined part of the regional history of Carinthia. Subsequently, the dependence of minority rights on the willingness of hegemonic groups to implement them can be discussed.
Understanding Beliefs, Intention, and Behavior on Daily PrEP Uptake Among MSM in California and New York
Authors: Dai Minhao , Grant Harrington Nancy
Published: April 2021

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective daily prevention medicine to reduce the risks of HIV infections. Even though the number of PrEP users has been rapidly growing in the United States since 2012, only approximately 5% of the men who have sex with men (MSM) population is currently taking PrEP. This study examined PrEP uptake among MSM using the integrative model of behavioral prediction (IMBP) as the theoretical framework. The authors conducted formative elicitation interviews and a cross-sectional survey with MSM. Among the survey respondents, half of them were PrEP takers and half were not. The path modeling results showed that attitudes and norms predicted behavioral intention, and intention predicted PrEP uptake among MSM. The results also identified the strongest attitudinal predictors and normative referents of PrEP uptake. The study offers practical implications in helping professionals and scholars to understand PrEP uptake among MSM in a theoretically grounded way.