bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Home Visits by Nurses on the Physical and Psychosocial Health of Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ergin Emine , Akin Belgin , Kocoglu-Tanyer Deniz
Published: April 2022

Background: One of the best ways to maintain and develop physical and psychosocial health is to make regular home visits. This meta-analysis aimed to determine (by subgroups) the effects of interventions based on nurses’ home visits on physical and psychological health outcomes of older people.
Methods:  This search was carried out using the The CINAHL, Cochrane, MEDLINE, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Turkish databases. Experimental and observational studies were included.
Results: The meta-analysis included 26 (with subgroups 50) out of 13110 studies. The minimum and maximum values of the effect size (Hedges g) were g = -0.708 and g = 0.525, respectively. The average effect size was g = 0.084 (SD = 0.21).
Conclusion: Home visit interventions are effective in reducing the frequency of hospitalization in the older adults, and improving physical and psychosocial health. They are negatively effective on falls and have no significant effect on the quality of life.
Mediterranean Fast Food: A Leading Cause of Hypercholesterolemia among University Students in Northern Jordan
Authors: Khatatbeh Moawiah , Momani Waleed , Altaany Zaid , Saad Reem Al , Al Bourah Abdul Rahman , Melhem Omar , Omari Omar Al
Published: April 2022

Background: Consumption of fast food is pervasive among young adults. This research aimed to assess the impact of consuming fast foods on total cholesterol level among university students in Northern Jordan.
Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, a blood sample to investigate cholesterol level was drawn from a sample of university students in Northern Jordan. Besides, students’ dietary habits and anthropometric measurements were obtained.
Results: Out of 201 participants, 57% (n=115) were male and 43% (n=86) were female. More than three quarters of the sample ate shawarma (Mediterranean fast food) at least once per week. About 44% of the study subjects had increased BMI and about 37% had increased serum cholesterol level. Participants’ gender, age, marital status, physical activity, BMI, living status, and daily pocket money significantly correlated with cholesterol level (P<0.05). In the regression analysis, eating fast foods and increased BMI were strong predictors of high cholesterol level. Students who ate shawarma more than 3 times a week had more than 8 folds to have hypercholesterolemia (OR=8.4; CI: 2.62-26.72), and obese students were more than 14 folds at higher risk to have hypercholesterolemia compared to those with normal BMI (OR=14.2; CI: 4.80-42.29). In addition, male students had doubled odds for having abnormal cholesterol level compared to females (OR=2.1; CI: 1.10-4.44).
Conclusion: Fast food consumption among university students in Jordan was significantly associated with increased total cholesterol level. Encouraging healthy diet and lifestyle are the basis for prevention of dyslipidemia.
Effects of Positive Mental Nursing on the Post-Traumatic Growth, Negative Emotions, and Coping Style of Patients after Chemotherapy for Leukemia
Authors: Wei Feng , Li Qin
Published: April 2022

Background: Patients with leukemia easily develop negative emotions, such as anxiety and depression, during their treatment. To improve the available mental intervention measures for patients with tumors, we explored the influences of mental nursing based on Rosenthal effect on the post-traumatic growth, negative emotions, and coping style of patients after undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia.
Methods: A total of 90 patients who underwent chemotherapy for leukemia in The First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University from January 2019 to December 2020 were selected. They were randomly divided into the control group (n=45) and observation group (n=45). Patients in the observation group received mental nursing based on Rosenthal effect. The post-traumatic growth, negative emotions, and coping styles of these two groups were assessed using the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ).
Results: After the intervention, patients in the observation group show higher scores in the dimensions of reflections on life, individual power, new possibilities, and self-transformation in PTGI, and their total scores are overall higher than those of the control group. The observation group also receive lower scores in SAS and SDS compared with the control group. While the observation group also receive significantly higher scores in some dimensions in MCMQ compared with the control group, the former received significantly lower scores in retreating and succumbing.
Conclusion: Mental nursing based on Rosenthal effect can positively promote the physical and psychological health of patients after receiving chemotherapy for leukemia.
The Application Effect of Doctor-Nurse Collaborative and Hierarchical Management Combined with Nursing Risk Management in Nursing Management of Patients with Postpartum Hemorrhage
Authors: Xia Zhihui , Tan Youping , Ru Cui
Published: April 2022

Background: To study the application effect of doctor-nurse collaborative and hierarchical management combined with nursing risk management in nursing management of patients with postpartum hemorrhage.
Methods: Overall 200 patients with postpartum hemorrhage treated in Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital (Guangzhou, China) from Mar 2018 to Mar 2019 were divided into the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group received the nursing model of doctor-nurse collaborative and hierarchical management combined with nursing risk management while the control group received nursing risk management to compare the satisfaction, medical record quality before and after nursing, incidence of nursing risk events and treatment effect between the two groups.
Results: After nursing management, the bleeding volume in the experimental group was significantly less than that in the control group (P<0.05). The quality score of nursing records in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The occurrence of nursing risk events in the experimental group was significantly less than that in the control group (P<0.05). The overall nursing satisfaction of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.01). The treatment effect of the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Doctor-nurse collaborative and hierarchical management combined with nursing risk management had a significant effect in the nursing management of patients with postpartum hemorrhage, which is worthy of promotion and application.
Incidence and Mortality of Cardiovascular Disease in the Republic of Kazakhstan: 2004-2017
Authors: Mukasheva Gulbarshyn , Abenova Madina , Shaltynov Askhat , Tsigengage Oxana , Mussabekova Zhanna , Bulegenov Tolkyn , Shalgumbaeva Gulnara , Semenova Yuliya
Published: April 2022

Background: We aimed to evaluate the impact of national health programs implemented in Kazakhstan from 2011 on CVD incidence and mortality.
Methods: Incidence and mortality rates from CVD were studied in Kazakhstan from 2004 to 2017. The official data obtained from “Medinform” company were analyzed based on the annual population statistics.
Results: There was an increase in the incidence of cardiovascular disease among the population of Kazakhstan from 1845.4 per 100,000 in 2004 to 2597.5 per 100,000 in 2017. This might be attributed to the implementation of the national health programs, which improved early CVD identification. Incidence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) was grown almost in all provinces of Kazakhstan during the study period. The mortality from cardiovascular disease had a considerable decline over the study period, in particular after 2010, it might be influenced by early diagnosis and provision of timely treatment.
Conclusion: The experience of Kazakhstan national health programs shows improved identification of CVD and IHD and timely treatment for cardiovascular disease. A significant variation in incidence and mortality rates of cardiovascular disease was observed between the country provinces.
A Retrospective Study of Serum Calcium Status in Tehran, Iran (105,128 Samples, from 2009-2018)
Authors: Farhud Dariush D. , Zarif-Yeganeh Marjan , Mehrabi Atefeh , Afshari Ali-Reza , Rokni Mohammad Bagher , Majidi Keyvan , Jalali Maryam , Zargar Ali Akbar Amir , Sarafnejad Abdolfattah , Sadeghipour Hamid Reza , Zokaei Shaghayegh , Khosravi Farideh , Jalali Mahmoud , Khazeni Mohammad
Published: April 2022

Background: Calcium is a necessary mineral for life to keep the body and bones healthy. Various factors including hormones, diet, age, and gender affect serum calcium status. The aim of this sturdy was to assess the serum calcium level (SCL) of Tehran population, which has about 10 million multi-Ethnic populations and represents from the whole country.
Methods: In this retrospective study, the measured SCL of 105,128 individuals referred to different laboratories of Tehran, Iran were evaluated and its relationship with the age, gender, seasons, and different years during 2009-2018, were analyzed.
Results: After excluding outliers, 91,257samples remained, which 61162 (58.64%) and 30,095 (41.36%) were female and male, respectively.  The mean SCL was 9.36 (9.35, 9.37) mg/dl (95%CI). The highest and lowest SCLs were 3.1 and 18.2mg/dl, respectively. From the total study population, 74127 (81.23%) had normal SCLs, 14110 (15.46%) had hypocalcemia, and 3020 (3.31%) had hypercalcemia. SCLs were normal in 83.6% of men and 79.66% of women. Women had a significantly higher frequency of hypocalcemia compared to men (17.2% vs. 12.83%, p<0.0001).
Conclusion: Normal and abnormal SCLs were significantly different in age groups and in both genders. It means that gender and age affect SCLs. Every year of increasing age, reduces the chance of hypercalcemia by 40%, significantly. Age seems to affect hypercalcemia more than hypocalcemia. Age in men increases the risk of hypocalcemia, and reduces the risk of hypocalcemia in women. Therefore, it is recommended to encourage dietary calcium intake among premenopausal women and older men.
Body Composition Assessment by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Prediction of Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS)
Authors: Heidari Almasi Minoo , Barzin Maryam , Serahati Sara , Valizadeh Majid , Momenan Amirabbas , Azizi Feridoun , Hosseinpanah Farhad
Published: April 2022

Background: We aimed at evaluating the best body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (PBF) cutoffs related to cardio-metabolic risk factors and comparing the discriminative power of PBF and BMI for predicting these risk factors.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study in phase V (2012-2015), 1271 participants (age ≥ 20 yr; 54.3% women) were enrolled. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was used to estimate PBF. Joint Interim Statement criteria were used for defining metabolic syndrome (MetS). We compared PBF with BMI through logistic regression and area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Percent body fat cutoff points were > 25 in men and >35 in women.
Results: Percent body fat and BMI cutoff points for predicting MetS were 25.6% and 27.2 kg/m2 in men and 36.2% and 27.5 kg/m2 in women, respectively. There were no significant differences between BMI and PBF area under the ROC curves for predicting MetS and its components, except for abdominal obesity in men and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in women in favor of BMI. Logistic regression analysis indicated that BMI in women was better for predicting MetS and its components, except for abdominal obesity. Moreover, BMI was equal or superior to PBF in men, except for low HDL and high triglyceride levels.
Conclusion: Comparison of PBF with BMI showed that the use of PBF is not significantly better than BMI in predicting cardio-metabolic risks in the general population.
Relationship between General Health and Musculoskeletal Discomfort along with Psychosomatic Complaints in Nurses
Authors: Mesgartehrani Majid , Kakolarimi Mahin , Farhud Dariush D , Shabany Maryam , Mesgartehrani Zainab , Norozian Dariush , Mesgartehrani Mohammad
Published: April 2022

Background: Workplace problems can lead to psychosomatic complaints. We aimed to assess the relationship between general health and occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders along with psychosomatic complaints.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study.  This research was conducted about the nurses who worked at the hospitals located in the northwest of Tehran, Iran (Valiasr, Farhikhtegan, and Khatam), and participated in this study from Aug 2019 to Feb 2020. The data were collected by the demographic and clinical information questionnaire. Goldberg's general health questionnaire and psychosomatic complaint scale were completed by nurses.
Results: In total, 158 nurses participated in this study. There was a significant relationship between the score of the general health questionnaire (GHQ) and psychosomatic complaints in three categories (low, moderate, and high) (P≤0.0001). There was a significant relationship between the mean score of GHQ and musculoskeletal discomfort in the neck, shoulder, forearm, hand and wrist, upper/lower back, knee, and ankle (P≤0.0001).
Conclusion: Continuity of psychosomatic complaints may be a risk factor for mental health in nurses and may affect the quality of care. Hence, health policymakers and hospital managers should consider it in service training for nurses.
The Dynamic Effective Reproductive Number of COVID-19 during the Epidemic in Iran
Authors: Doosti-Irani Amin , Haji-Maghsoudi Saiedeh , Haghdoost Aliakbar , Eybpoosh Sana , Mostafavi Ehsan , Karami Manoochehr , Mahjub Hossein
Published: April 2022

Background: We aimed to determine the generation time, the best model for estimating reproduction number (R), and to estimate the basic reproduction number (R0) and effective reproduction number (Rt) for COVID-19 in Iran.
Methods: We used the daily incidence cases of COVID-19, hospitalized due to a probable diagnosis of COVID-19 from 19 February 2020 to 17 November 2020 in Iran. Four models, including maximum likelihood (ML), exponential growth (EG), time-dependent (TD), sequential Bayesian (SB) were evaluated. The weekly reproduction number with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated.
Results: TD model shows the best fit compared to other models for estimating reproduction number in Iran. The R0 in Iran in the first week of the epidemic, leading up to 21 February 2020 was 7.19, 95% CI: 5.56, 9.00.  The lowest value for the Rt was equal to 0.77 between 3 to 10 March 2020 and 4 to 11 December 2020. From 11 June 2020 up to13 August 2020, the Rt was more than one but after then to 24 September 2021 was less than one.
Conclusion: TD model was the best fit for estimating the R in Iran. The worst situation of the epidemic in Iran was related to the weeks leading up to 26 February 2020 and 28 October 2020, and better status was related to the weeks leading up to 10 March 2020 and 11 December 2020.
Socioeconomic Status and Changes in Iranian Household Food Basket Using National Household Budget and Expenditure Survey Data, 1991-2017
Authors: Sobhani Seyyed Reza , Eini-Zinab Hassan , Rezazadeh Arezoo
Published: April 2022

Background: Socioeconomic factors are major determinants of health and food consumption. The aim of the present study was assessing the changes in energy and different food groups consumption related to the socioeconomic status of Iranian households.
Methods: In this repeated cross-sectional study, 717432 households data from the Households Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) conducted yearly by the Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI) from 1991 to 2017 was used. The food consumption outcome was modeled as a function of household head age, household head age-squared, socioeconomic variables, household size, place of residence, and household`s head sex. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) was used to extract a socioeconomic status variable based on the educational, occupational, and income status of households.  A cross-classified random effects modeling (CCREM) specifications of Hierarchical Age-Period-Cohort (HAPC) models was used in the present study.
Results: In the present study, by moving to the higher quartiles of SES had higher calorie intake increased. There was a positive relationship between “Vegetables”, “Fruits”, “Dairy”, “Meat, Poultry, Fish, Eggs, Legumes, and Nuts” and “Fats, Oils, Sugars, and Sweets” with socioeconomic statues category. In the case of “Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta”, there was a reverse relationship, and lower SES quartile consumed a higher amount of this food group.
Conclusion: Lower income, education, and occupational status in lower SES quartile groups lead to lower calorie consumption and higher consumption of  “Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta" food group, which had lower energy cost compared to the other food groups.
How Much Excess Body Weight, Blood Pressure, Triglyceride, or Age Can Double the Likelihood of Diabetes Type 2?
Authors: Jangipour Afshar Parya , Najafipour Hamid , Farokhi Mitra Shadkam , Shahesmaeili Armita
Published: April 2022

Background: We aimed to identify the level of known risk factors of diabetes associated with doubled likelihood of diabetes type 2.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, an analysis was performed on the data of 9930 individuals aged 15 yr and older participating from 2014 to 2018 in the second phase of the Kerman coronary artery disease risk factors study (KERCADRS), Kerman, Iran. Data were collected using a standard questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with doubled chance of diabetes.
Results: The mean age of participants was 46.1±15.5 yr from which 59.5% were women. Overall, 1105 (11.1%) individuals had type 2 diabetes. An increase of 13.86 yr in age, an increase of 17.32 kg/m2 unit in the amount of body mass index, an increase of 0.17 in the waist-to-hip ratio, a 77 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure and 6.07 unit increase in triglyceride to HDL ratio doubled the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Conclusion: Slight changes in the waist-to-hip circumference ratio (0.17), aging (14 yr), and increase in TG/HDL ratio (6.07 unit) were the most important risk factors, while intense physical activity was the most important protective factor associated with doubling of the chances of developing diabetes. Since most of these risk factors are modifiable, increase in physical activity and providing facilities to improve lifestyle in the community seems necessary.
Performance Appraisal of Tehran Firefighting Stations in Attempted and Threating Suicide with National and Global Standards (The First 6 Months of 2018)
Authors: Sadri Damirchi Esmaeil , Kheirdast Afrasyab , Grjibovski Andrej M , Khodabandehlou Eslamali , Pireinaladin Saeed
Published: April 2022

Background: We aimed to compare the performance of Tehran firefighting stations in the incidents of suicide attempt and threats among Tehran citizens using international standards.
Methods:  A research method was a descriptive-analytical study based on library studies. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential methods such as single group t-test and independent t-test. The statistical population of this study included all citizens in 22 districts of Tehran City that committed or threated to commit suicide in the 2018 year. They were selected in a targeted manner. All data were extracted and analyzed through the fire department in the first half of 2018 in the action and threat of suicide.
Results: Men commit suicide more than women do. Moreover, the average time of exit from station and the average travel time are shorter than Iranian and world standards. The people saved by firefighters outnumber the people who died in suicide, which indicates the satisfactory performance of firefighters in relief and rescue operations. In suicide operations, according to the general results obtained from statistical calculations of departure time from the station and the average travel time, which are the two main factors in evaluating the performance of firefighters in suicide accidents, which in comparison with international standards. It was significantly lower and the performance of firefighters was positive.
Conclusion: The average duration of exit from station and the average travel time, are significantly lower than international standards, which demonstrates the good performance of firefighters.
Paternal Age at Birth and Hemoglobin Levels in Early Adolescents: A Nationwide Survey
Authors: Choi Jae Hee , Ko Ki Dong , Hwang In Cheol , Ahn Hong Yup
Published: April 2022

The article's abstract is not available.
Evaluación fisicoquímica y sensorial de mollejas de pollo (Gallus gallus) al sillao enlatadas
Authors: Miranda Jara Angélica Ysabel , Miranda Chávez Alcibiades Helí , Chuquilin Goicochea Roberto Carlos
Published: April 2022

Las “mollejas de pollo al sillao” es un plato peruano tradicional, originario de la ciudad de Trujillo (Perú), muy apreciado por su agradable sabor. Con el diseño de este producto en conserva se puede aprovechar las proteínas, el hierro y otros micronutrientes que contiene. En este estudio se evaluó el efecto del tamaño de pieza y de la concentración de vinagre, usando un diseño factorial completo 3x2. La materia prima y los tratamientos estudiados fueron caracterizados fisicoquímicamente. La evaluación sensorial de sabor, color y textura se hizo mediante la prueba de ranking, de 1 a 5 puntos. La condición seleccionada para el diseño del producto fue tamaño de pieza de ¼ unidad y 100 mL/kg de vinagre, mostrando características fisicoquímicas y sensoriales adecuadas, para su comercialización. El producto final presentó: proteína (13,45%), grasa (10,40%), humedad (67,49), cenizas (1,82) y pH (5,14); además tuvo puntajes de sabor (4,23), color (4,53) y textura (4,27). El tiempo de proceso de esterilización fue de 35 min y letalidad 9,882 min, en un envase tipo fiesta.
Scouting for Multiple Disease Resistance in Urdbean
Authors: Kumar N. Kiran , Kumar A.R. Nirmal , Reddy B.V. Bhaskar , Prasanthi L.
Published: April 2022

Background: Dry root rot (DRR), yellow mosaic disease (YMD) and stem necrosis diseases are inflicting the economic losses in urdbean. Information on the interrelation of morphological and biochemical parameters of the urdbean cultivars with the disease resistance is scarce. Methods: Thirty nine cultivars of urdbean were screened in the field for their resistance to DRR, YMD and stem necrosis diseases during Rabi, 2019-2020. The incidence of the diseases is compared with the morphological characters viz., trichome density, leaf thickness, root thickness and biochemical composition viz., total free amino acids, total soluble sugars and phenol content of cultivars. Result: Cultivar GBG 103 was found resistant to DRR and YMD with the maximum amount of trichome density. No cultivar was found resistant to stem necrosis under field conditions. Correlation analysis revealed the positive correlation of phenol content with the DRR incidence; trichome density and total soluble sugars with YMD incidence. Albeit the leaf thickness and total free amino acid content of the cultivars were negatively correlated with the incidence of the DRR, YMD and stem necrosis diseases.
Evaluación de la eficacia disolvente de una sustancia experimental a base de Aceite esencial de Myrciaria dubia en la desobturación de conductos radiculares
Authors:   , Wiess Laurencio Fabrizzio Alfredo
Published: April 2022

Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia disolvente de una sustancia experimental a base de Aceite esencial de Myrciaria dubia en la desobturación de conductos radiculares. Materiales y métodos: Se utilizaron 60 tubos de PLA (ácido poliláctico)que fueron divididos en 5 grupos de 12 especímenes. Estos se rellenaron con un material de restauración temporal (coltosol) el primer tercio y el tercio medio con gutapercha. Se añadió un total de 0,1 ml de disolvente dependiendo del grupo de estudio (Agua destilada,camu camu, xilol,aceite de cascara de naranja y de eucalipto) a la parte superior de los tubos de PLA. Después de 5 minutos, se utilizó la máquina Instron 5566 (Instron, Buckinghamshire, UK) se movió hacia abajo a través de gutapercha con una velocidad de cabecera de 5 mm / min a una profundidad de 5 mm min. La carga(fuerza) utilizada para penetrar el separador en la profundidad de 5 mm se registró en Newton. Para el análisis se realizará la prueba de kruskal Wallis para comparar la medida fuerza de penetración según el tipo de solvente, posterior a comprobarse los supuestos estadísticos. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas al comparar todos los solventes (p= 0.001), obteniendo 14.02N para la sustancia experimental. Los resultados de la profundidad de disolución superficial y la fuerza utilizada para penetrar el esparcidor a 5 mm revelaron que el Aceite de Myrciaria Dubia ( Camu Camu) fue significativamente el mejor solvente para ablandar la gutapercha (P <0.05), seguido del xilol y el aceite de cascara de naranja, mientras que el disolvente con menos efectividad fue el aceite de eucalipto. Conclusiones: El aceite esencial de Myrciaria Dubia presento mayor poder reblandecedor que las demás soluciones en estudio.
New archaeological research in the Arctic (on the materials of field expeditions 2014вЂ“2020)
Authors:   Museum Association of the Nenets Autonomous Area, Korotaev A.V.
Published: April 2022

The paper deals with the results of field archaeological research carried out by the staff of the Museum Association of the Nenets Autonomous Area on the right bank of the lower reaches of the Pechora River and the Bolshezemelskaya tundra in 2014-2020. The territory of the Nenets Autonomous Area has been studied archaeologically insufficiently and unevenly, therefore the tasks of carrying out both archaeological excavations and exploration work in remote areas are relevant. During the period under consideration, 197 new archaeological sites have been identified, dating from the Mesolithic to the Iron Age. The finds are represented by various flint items (arrowheads, scrapers, etc.), ceramics, metal-wares. The archaeological excavations of Pustozersk, the site Salindeyty 3, the Kheybidya-Pedar sacrificial site, the Yugorskaya Sopka settlement and the ancient settlement of Kobylikha yielded valuable results. The paper gives a brief description of the sites, part of the material obtained in the course of research.
Resolution of the Russian-Ukrainian territorial dispute during the creation of the Donetsk province in 1920
Authors:   Southern Science Centre RAS, Krinko E.F. , Tatarinov I.E. ,   Lugansk State University
Published: April 2022

The paper deals with the formation of the Russian-Ukrainian border and the peculiarities of the territorialization of the Donetsk province in 1920. It is based on documents stored in domestic and foreign central and local archival institutions. The authors note that the administrative-territorial dispute that arose during the formatting of the specified border was due to the orientation of the parties to different factors and criteria for delimitation. The priority in the application of economic criteria by Moscow, which led to the formation of the Donetsk province as part of the Ukrainian SSR and the transfer of part of the Don lands to it, did not satisfy both sides. The Ukrainian side insisted on transferring significant territories of the RSFSR to it, inhabited, in its opinion, by the Ukrainians. The Russian side strongly protested against the transfer of the lands of the Don Cossacks, insisting on preserving the unity of the region. The most fierce disputes arose around the transfer of Taganrog to the Ukrainian SSR. The degree of tension in Russian-Ukrainian inter-republican relations has somewhat decreased due to the intervention of the central authorities, but it was not possible to find an optimal solution that satisfies both sides. Moscow resolutely suppressed all disputes between the fraternal Soviet republics and rejected all the claims of the parties. As a result, this led to the conservation of territorial disputes and mutual dissatisfaction with the results of the Russian-Ukrainian inter-republican delimitation of the 1920s. However, the results of the Russian-Ukrainian demarcation carried out in 1920 concealed a significant conflict potential, so it is not surprising that border disputes between the RSFSR and the Ukrainian SSR not only resumed the following year, but also put the implementation of national economic tasks at risk. Subsequently, representatives of the RSFSR and the Ukrainian SSR repeatedly called for a revision of the established borders, which required more reasoned approaches and decisions from the Kremlin.
Assessment of biological safety of graphene nanostructures in vivo: literature review
Authors:   Institute of Biology FRC Komi SC UB RAS, Raskosha O.V. , Starobor N.N. , Bashlykova L.А.
Published: April 2022

Graphene is a flat monoatomic layer of carbon arranged in a two-dimensional crystalline struc¬ture. The active study of graphene is growing exponentially, attracting scientists from various fields of science. Graphene-based nanomaterials have unique physical and chemical properties suitable for diverse applications in electronics, telecommunications, ener-gy, healthcare and ecology. There is also an increasing interest in the biomedical application of graphene nanomaterials. However, a significant obstacle to the wider practical use of graphene and materials based on it remains the lack of an unambiguous answer to the question of their potential danger. The paper presents a review of the literature on the study of the biological safety of graphene-based nano-materials in vivo using mice and rats as test objects, as a generally accepted human model. The scientific community has identified the need for a more detailed study of the tox¬icity of graphene and materials based on it, with the mandatory identification of the relationship between their characteristics and biological effi¬ciency. In studies on the whole organism, the biological effect depends not only on the chemi¬cal nature of nanomaterials, but also on the dose, route of administration, the time and mode of exposure, as well as on the animals used for testing. In addition, given the possible toxic effect of graphene-based nanoparticles, it is nec¬essary to investigate and critically assess the potential long-term risks. A detailed comprehen¬sive assessment of the biological safety of graphene nanostructures will contribute to the advancement of knowledge necessary for the de¬velopment of safe graphene-based technologies and products suitable for medical applications, and to minimize risks to human health.
Impact of nitrogen sources in the nutrient medium on the growth and cellulase activity of streptomycetes
Authors:   Federal Agrarian Science Centre of the Northeast, Shirokikh I.G. , Bokov N.A. , Nazarova Ya.I.
Published: April 2022

Biomass accumulation and cellulase activity were determined in two promising soil isolates during liquid phase cultiva-tion depending on organic (peptone, casein hydrolysate) and mineral (NH4Cl, NaNO3, NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4, KNO3) nitrogen sources. The only source of carbon in the medium was straw (1ob.%). Using two-factor analysis of variance, it was found that the production of cellulase complex enzymes is equally influenced by the nitrogen source (F= 225,92; p<0,0001), the producer strain (F=205,98; p<0,0001), the interaction of these factors (F=225,06; p< 0,0001). Inorganic nitrogen sources were the most preferred for cellulase production: NH4NO3 provided enzymatic activity in Streptomyces sp. Mb 4-2 is 912,82±60,40 units/10 min /g, and NH4Cl in Streptomyces sp. 1.3 NH4Cl is 531,37±27,25 units/10 min /g, which is 58–481 % and 34,5–409% more, respectively, than on other tested nitrogen sources. The accumulation of biomass during growth was more dependent on the nitrogen source (F= 65,47; p<0,0001) than on the strain of streptomycetes (F=18,65; p<0,0001). The interaction of these factors did not have a significant effect on the accumulation of biomass (F=1,11; p=0,38). Peptone and casein hyd-rolysate became the best nitrogen source for the growth of streptomycetes, providing an average of 19 % more biomass than inorganic nitrogen sources. It is shown that the optimization of the nutrient medium by the nitrogen source makes it possible to regulate the growth rates of streptomycetes-producing cultures and achieve maximum cellulase yield. The results obtained are of interest for the development of new environmentally friendly technological processes using streptomycetes in the production of cellulase complex enzymes and in the destruction of cellulose-containing agricultural waste.
The growth of graduate studies programs in International Relations in Brazil
Authors: Lessa Antônio Carlos
Published: April 2022

This article seeks to analyze the effects and foundations of the large expansion of postgraduate programs in International Relations in Brazil, which took place recently.
Series of Floor and Ceiling Function—Part II: Infinite Series
Authors: Shah Dhairya , Sahni Manoj , Sahni Ritu , León-Castro Ernesto , Olazabal-Lugo Maricruz
Published: April 2022

In this part of the series of two papers, we extend the theorems discussed in part I for infinite series. We then use these theorems to develop distinct novel results involving the Hurwitz zeta function, Riemann zeta function, Polylogarithm and Fibonacci numbers. In continuation, we obtain some zeros of the newly developed zeta functions and explain their behaviour using plots in complex plane. Furthermore, we provide particular cases for the theorems and corollaries which show that our results generalise the currently available functions and series such as the Riemann zeta function and the geometric series. Finally, we provide four miscellaneous examples to showcase the vast scope of the developed theorems.
Ostrich-Inspired Soft Robotics: A Flexible Bipedal Manipulator for Aggressive Physical Interaction
Authors: Mochiyama Hiromi , Gunji Megu , Niiyama and Ryuma ,   University of Tsukuba 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan,   Toyo University 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura-machi, Ora-gun, Gunma 374-0113, Japan,   The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
Published: April 2022

In this letter, ostrich-inspired soft robotics, an approach to intelligent robots that can achieve dexterous manipulation and locomotion without hesitating to collide with the surrounding environment, is proposed. The rationale behind the approach is described from the history of bio-inspired mechanisms, biology, and the theory of robot control. This letter focuses on the manipulator. The first prototype of an ostrich-inspired manipulator was developed to investigate its feasibility. This prototype is a serial chain of 18 rigid links connected with rotation joints moving in a vertical plane and driven through two asymmetric antagonistic wire systems connected to two levers that are directly operated by a human operator playing the role of the controller. Therefore, this manipulator is a highly underactuated mechanism that is flexible against external forces. The experimental results show that a human operator can control this manipulator so that its tip (i.e., the head) can reach several positions, including an upper position against gravity, indicating the potential of ostrich-inspired manipulators.
Toward Self-Modifying Bio-Soft Robots
Authors: Umedachi Takuya , Shimizu Masahiro ,   Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda City, Nagano 386-8567, Japan,   Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University 1-3 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, Japan
Published: April 2022

Soft robotics can dramatically increase the affinity between machines and biological systems. Designing the machine/device to be soft and deformable allows the biological system to interact with the robotic system(s) mechanically, electronically, and chemically. This advantage is evident from the rapid growth of collaborative robotics, where a robot can be mechanically guided by an operator to learn motions from them without the need for coding. This letter introduces a method for combining a soft robotic system with a biological system, demonstrated through a series of case studies of ongoing research projects. These various projects have a common purpose in creating self-modifying bio-soft robots.
From a Deployable Soft Mechanism Inspired by a Nemertea Proboscis to a Robotic Blood Vessel Mechanism
Authors: Tadakuma Kenjiro , Kawakami Masaru , Furukawa Hidemitsu ,   Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University 6-6-01 Aramaki Aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan,   Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Yamagata University 4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa, Yamagata 992-8510, Japan
Published: April 2022

In this project, we aim to establish a design theory as well as implementation methods for deformable robot mechanisms that can branch and change in shape, structure, and stiffness. As the first step in our research on this project, we present an initial prototype of a branched torus mechanism that uses an inflatable structure inspired by a nemertea proboscis. We develop a basic mechanical model of this proboscis structure, and we confirm the basic performance and effective functionality of the configuration experimentally using a real prototype, specifically, a deployable torus mechanism and a retractable torus mechanism with an incompressible fluid. In addition, as an expanded concept from the branched torus mechanism, robotic blood vessels that can have an active self-healing function are prototyped, and the basic performance of the actual prototype is confirmed through experiments.
Green Robotics: Toward Realization of Environmentally Friendly Soft Robots
Authors: Shintake Jun ,   Department of Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications  1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan
Published: April 2022

An important research direction in soft robotics could be the realization of environmentally friendly “green” soft robots that are biodegradable, sustainable, and recyclable. We present recent findings from our ongoing research on biodegradable robotic devices made of gelatin-based materials and discuss future directions in this contribution.
Development of Microdevices Combining Machine and Life Systems
Authors: Tanaka Yo ,   Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Published: April 2022

A number of recent studies have exploited the sizes and functional properties of microdevices and cellular mechanical components to construct bio-microdevices. As the scale of microdevices can accommodate different cell sizes and processing capabilities, a number of efficient bioreactors and bioassay systems using cellular functions have been produced. To date, the main focus of these devices has been the analysis of cellular chemical functions. On the other hand, our concept is to use cells as components of devices for fluidic control. To date, various devices have been developed that exploit cellular mechanical functions. The working principle of these devices is novel because they only use chemical energy inputs. In this letter, the recent progress of this study and its characteristics are reviewed.
Neural Interface for Biohybrid Prosthetic Hands to Realize Sensory and Motor Functions
Authors: Yagi Tohru ,   Tokyo Institute of Technology 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan, Peng Zugui , Kanno Shoichiro
Published: April 2022

A neural interface is a technology that facilitates communication between the brain and external devices. One potential clinical application of a neural interface is in prosthetic arms. These devices can realize motor and sensory functions, enabling amputee patients to perform daily tasks. However, such prosthetic arms are still challenging because of the poor resolution of conventional neural electrodes and the difficulty in sorting the motor and sensory nerve cells. In this study, we attempt to utilize deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nanotubes to develop a novel intracellular electrode with high resolution. Our results indicate that DNA nanotubes can transport ions, such as Ca2+. Moreover, a microchannel device for sorting motor and sensory nerves is introduced.
Exploring the Bio-Functional Breaking Point of Living Tissue Subjected to External Physical Pressure
Authors: Tanaka Shotaro ,   Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women’s Medical University 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan, Nakamura Fumio
Published: April 2022

Long before reaching its mechanical breaking point, a bio-system begins responding to stress at its own “bio-functional breaking point,” a phase of life activity dysfunction. However, little is known about the correlation between tissue flexibility and the conditions under which cellular response, damage, and death occur. We are now developing a new confocal microscopy-based observation method to analyze cell aggregates (spheroids) that are under physical pressure. The method concomitantly assesses cellular responses, stress levels, and cellular structure changes. Using this method, we found that the artificial suppression of the gene expression of fibronectin, a major component of the extracellular matrix, provides different mechanical characteristics to hepatoma-derived cell line spheroids than does the control wild type. This study may aid in the prediction of the characteristics of a tissue of interest by simply analyzing the tissue gene expression pattern, providing valuable information for the development and operation of wearable devices. It may also help in the preparation of custom devices that suit specific individuals.
Robostrich Arm: Wire-Driven High-DOF Underactuated Manipulator
Authors: Misu Kenji , Ikeda Masahiro , Or Keung , Ando Mitsuhito , Gunji Megu , Mochiyama Hiromi , Niiyama Ryuma ,   University of Tsukuba 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan,   The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan,   Ritsumeikan University 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan,   Toyo University 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura-machi, Ora-gun, Gunma 374-0113, Japan
Published: April 2022

We propose a wire-driven robotic arm inspired by the ostrich neck. It can pick up a small piece of feed from the ground while colliding with it. This arm is named robostrich arm (shortened form of robotic ostrich arm). It consists of a serial chain of 18 rigid bodies connected by free rotational joints that are designed to have angle limitations similar to the bones of a real ostrich. It moves in a vertical plane and is driven by two DC motors through antagonistic wires. The task considered in this study was to lift the arm tip (the “head” of the robostrich arm). The experimental results indicate that the tensioner balance and timing between the two wires are important for achieving the head-up task. This paper indicates the contribution of antagonist muscles to the performance of head-up tasks by high-degree-of-freedom underactuated manipulators in robotics and ostrich necks in biological studies.
Local Discrimination Based on Piezoelectric Sensing in Robots Composed of Soft Matter with Different Physical Properties
Authors: Sudo Ikuma ,   Graduate School of Science and Technology, Yamagata University 4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa, Yamagata 992-8510, Japan, Ogawa Jun , Watanabe Yosuke , Shiblee MD Nahin Islam , Khosla Ajit , Kawakami Masaru , Furukawa Hidemitsu
Published: April 2022

The coronavirus epidemic has attracted significant attention to the applications of pet robots which can be used to treat and entertain people in their homes. However, pet robots are fabricated using hard materials and it is difficult for them to communicate with people through contact. Soft robots are expected to realize communication through contact similar to that of actual pets. Soft robots provide people with a sense of healing and security owing to their softness and can extract rich information through external stimuli by applying a machine learning framework called physical-reservoir computing. It is crucial to determine the differences between the physical properties of soft materials that affect the information extracted from a soft body to develop an intelligent soft robot. In this study, two owl-shaped soft robots with different softnesses were developed to analyze the characteristics of the signal data obtained via piezoelectric film sensors embedded in models with different physical properties. An accuracy of 94.2% and 95.9% was obtained for touched part classification using 1D CNN and logistic regression models, respectively. Additionally, the relationship between the softness of material and classification performance was investigated by comparing the distribution of part classification accuracy for different hyper-parameters of two owl models.
Development of Flexible Electro-Hydraulic Spherical Actuator
Authors: Kobayashi Wataru , Tamaki Hiroaki , Akagi Tetsuya , Dohta Shujiro , Shimooka So ,   Okayama University of Science  1-1 Ridai-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-0005, Japan,   SMC Corporation  4-2-2 Kinunodai, Tsukubamirai-shi, Ibaraki 300-2436, Japan,   Okayama University  2-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Published: April 2022

Voluntary rehabilitation at home helps to prevent the joint contracture after medical treatment. Our previous studies concerned a low-cost portable rehabilitation device using a flexible spherical pneumatic actuator as a passive exercise device. However, the device requires a bulky compressor to drive it. This study results in a compact fluidic driving system that is highly flexible. The system adopts a flexible electro-hydraulic cylinder driven by an electric motor and a hydraulic gear pump. An empirical equation for the suitable pump rotation for the desired displacement of the system has been determined. As a result, the multi-position control of the system within the tracking error of 4 mm has been realized by using the on/off control scheme based on the obtained equation. In addition, a flexible, spherical electro-hydraulic actuator using two proposed drive systems is developed and tested. Control of the attitude of the tested spherical actuator is successfully realized.
Development of Self-Powered 5-Finger Pneumatically Driven Hand Prosthesis Using Supination of Forearm
Authors: Nishikawa Kotaro , Hirata Kentaro , Takaiwa Masahiro ,   Department of Integrated Science and Technology, National Institute of Technology, Tsuyama College 624-1 Numa, Tsuyama, Okayama 708-8509, Japan,   Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan,   Graduate School of Technology, Industrial and Social Sciences, Tokushima University 2-1 Minamijyousanjima-cho, Tokushima 770-8506, Japan
Published: April 2022

Recently, myoelectric hand prostheses produced by the combination of 3D-CAD and printer have gained attention. 3D printing of hand prosthesis has resulted in cost reduction. However, when an electric actuator with reduction gears is used as the driving source of the hand prosthesis, the joint rigidity becomes high; therefore, compliance control is required to grasp soft target objects. In this study, we propose a pneumatically driven hand prosthesis using a flexible bellows actuator. The hand prosthesis is lightweight and inexpensive because it is self-powered and generates compressed air through the supination motion of the user’s forearm instead of an external compressor, which is essential for conventional pneumatic systems. Stable flexible grasping of the target object was achieved by driving a five-finger hand using this system.