bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness-Analysis of one-stage Operation for Combined Ankle Fracture and III Degree Lateral Ligament Injury: A Retrospective Study of 23 Cases
Authors: Zhu Chunquan , Deng Linglong , Zhang Chong , Yu Guorong , Yu Li
Published: July 2020

Background: Ankle fracture is often accompanied by injuries of lateral collateral ligaments, which results in ankle instability and traumatic arthritis in the later period, causing pain and discomfort in patients. However, the repair of the lateral collateral ligament is still inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the operative outcome of one-stage simultaneous repair of the foot and ankle fracture combined with the III grade injury of lateral ligament. Methods: 15 males and 8 females (mean age 37.8 [10.5] years) underwent X-ray and CT scan to determine the type of fracture. MRI, Ultrasound and intraoperative fluoroscopic stress testing were applied to confirm the ligament injury. After the operative treatment of fracture, the ruptured ligament was repaired with suture anchor in 21 cases, meanwhile 1 case combined with chronic ankle instability was repaired with modified Broström-Gould method and another case with middle ligament rupture was applied with the InternalBrace approach. Routine postoperative X-rays and physical examination were carried out, and the American Orthopaedic Food & Ankle Society score was recorded to assess the function and the pain of the wounded ankle. Results: After the operation, the range of ankle motion in all patients was improved, and the bone healing time of the patients was 6-24 (10.09±3.61) weeks. There was no chronic instability of lateral ankle or subtalar joint in all the cases. Moreover, 2 cases presented as cartilage lesions of the medial talus, and the micro-fracture surgery were performed one year later; 1 case suffered from subtalar arthritis, and underwent subtalar arthrodesis 14 months after operation. Furthermore, the patients’ last follow-up AOFAS score was (83.70±4.69) points. There was no occurrence of adverse events and complications such as neurovascular injury, infection or delayed healing of operative incision.Conclusions: One-stage simultaneous repair of the foot and ankle fracture combined with the III grade injury of lateral ligament contributes to the stability of ankle and subtalar joint, and improves the joint function of ankle. It proved to be safe and effective.
Trends in oral corticosteroids use in severe asthma: a 14-year population-based study from Canada
Authors: Sadatsafavi Mohsen , Khakban Amir , Tavakoli Hamid , Ehteshami-Afshar Solmaz , Lynd Larry , FitzGerald J Mark
Published: July 2020

Background: Oral corticosteroids are important components of pharmacotherapy in severe asthma. Our objective was to describe the extent, trends, and factors associated with exposure to oral corticosteroids (OCS) in a severe asthma cohort.Methods: We used administrative health databases of British Columbia, Canada (2000–2014) and validated algorithms to retrospectively create a cohort of severe asthma patients. Exposure to OCS within each year of follow-up was measured in two ways: maintenance use as receiving on average ≥2.5 mg/day (prednisone-equivalent) OCS, and episodic use as the number of distinct episodes of OCS exposure for up to 14 days. Trends and factors associated with exposure on three time axes (calendar year, age, and time since diagnosis) were evaluated using Poisson regression.Results: 21,144 patients (55.4% female; mean entry age 28.7) contributed 40,803 follow-up years, in 8.2% of which OCS was used as maintenance therapy. Maintenance OCS use declined by 3.8%/calendar year (p<0.001). The average number of episodes of OCS use was 0.89/year, which increased by 1.1%/calendar year (p<0.001). Trends remained significant for both exposure types in adjusted analyses. Both maintenance and episodic use increased by age and time since diagnosis.Conclusions: This population-based study documented a secular downward trend in maintenance OCS use in a period before widespread use of biologics. This might have been responsible for a higher rate of exacerbations that required episodic OCS therapy. Such trends in OCS use might be due to changes in the epidemiology of severe asthma, or changes in patient and provider preferences over time.
VASP is upregulated by WDR5-MYC nexus and promotes cell migration in breast cancer
Authors: Xu Xiaolong , Tian Yihao , Chen Fangfang , Gao Yang , Xu Jingjing , Jiang Qi , Wei Lei , Zhang Jingwei
Published: July 2020

Backguroud: Breast cancer is one of the most threatening diseases for women, whose metastasis and recurrence are important causes of death in breast cancer patients. Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) is a cytoskeletal regulatory protein that promotes invasion and metastasis of tumor cells by regulating cell migration. Bioinformatics data indicated that H3K4me3, WDR5 and MYC co-enriched in the VASP promoter region. Aims: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the regulatory function and mechanism of WDR5-MYC nexus complex on VASP in breast cancer.Method: In this present study, the expression of VASP in breast cancer and adjacent normal tissues was detected by RT-qPCR. The enrichment of H3K4me3, WDR5 and MYC on the VASP promoter was analyzed by ChIPseeker R package and verified by ChIP-PCR. The interaction of H3K4me3, WDR5 and MYC in breast cancer cells was detected by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. Transcriptional activation function of MYC on VASP was detected by site-directed mutagenesis and dual fluorescence reporter system. The regulatory effect of WDR5 on breast cancer cell migration was tested by wund healing and transwell.Result: VASP is up-regulated in breast cancer tissues as compared with adjacent normal tissues. There is interaction between H3K4me3, WDR5 and MYC and co-enrichment on the VASP promoter. MYC can activate VASP transcription by binding to the VASP promoter-842 binding site. WDR5 and MYC can enhance the migration ability of breast cancer cells by up-regulating VASPConclusion: Our results suggest that WDR5-MYC nexus can activate the transcription of VASP by binding to the VASP promoter region, and promote the migration of breast cancer by up-regulating the expression level of VASP.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Ceftazidime-Avibactam Versus Colistin-Meropenem in the Treatment of Infections Due to Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Colombia
Authors: Varón-Vega FA , Castaño N , Lemos E , Reyes Juan Manuel
Published: July 2020

Background: Ceftazidime-Avibactam (CAZ-AVI) may offer a significant advance over previously antimicrobials against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). We evaluate the cost-effectiveness of CAZ-AVI compared to colistin-meropenem (COL+MEM) in the treatment of CRE infections in ColombiaMethods: A decision tree model was developed from healthcare system perspective assuming a 30-day time horizon. Inputs were derived from a published observational study. The clinical course was simulated based on treatment response between 48-72 hours, and the duration of the treatment was 7-14 days. The clinical failure was assumed as the addition of an antibiotic. The model considered that combination therapy of COL+MEM was not superior to monotherapy to reflect real clinical behavior. Cost inputs were extracted from a published Colombian manual tariffs and official databases, expressed in 2019 dollars (USD). Utility values were from published literature. The sensitivity analyses were performed.Results: In the base case analysis, CAZ-AVI was associated with reduced mortality, length of hospital stay and fewer add-on antibiotics, resulting in an increase of 1.76 QALYs per patient versus COL+MEM. and incremental costs associated in CAZ-AVI were $2,521 higher per patient compared to COL+MEM ($755 versus $3,276). The incremental costs were partially increased due to the lower mortality rate observed with CAZ-AVI. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was estimated to be $3,317 per QALY. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, with a willingness to pay above $2,438, CAZ-AVI has a higher probability of being cost-effective.Discussion: CAZ-AVI demonstrates cost-effectiveness as a treatment for CRE infections by reducing the number of deaths and increasing QALYs.
COVID19 Response in low-income country: The case of a Lockdown in Zambia
Authors: Muzyamba Choolwe
Published: July 2020

Background

The onset of the covid19 pandemic has sparked heated debate among scholars on the relevance of lockdowns. There are those in favor of the lockdown and others who are critical of it. However, despite the increased interest in understanding the relevance of lockdowns, there still has not been much focus on its relevance in low income countries like Zambia. Thus with the help of the SRT, we set out to explore and document the local characterization of the lockdown by residents of Lusaka, Zambia.

Methods

A qualitative study in the form of interviews was conducted in Lusaka, Zambia involving a sample of 68 participants. Due to the lockdown measures that were in place during the study, the interviews were conducted via phone calls and the data collected were later analyzed by use of thematic analysis technique.

Results

The lockdown was on one hand lauded for slowing down the incidence rates, preventing fatalities, and for protecting the healthcare system from collapse. On the other hand, it was criticized for exacerbating poverty levels, unemployment rates, increasing the rate of mental health problems, aiding gender based violence, and intensifying political repression and corruption. The results speak to the complexity in the characterization of the lockdown as a response to covid19 in Zambia. This observation demonstrates the folly of viewing, applying and characterizing the covid19 lockdown as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach in Zambia.

Conclusion

Thus rather than definitely establishing the lockdown as an incontestable good, as it is depicted by some scholars or as useless by its critics, our findings instead demonstrate the diversity and complexity in how it is locally viewed by Zambians. The study provides grounds for caution on simplistic and binary characterization of lockdowns. It indicates the need for careful dialog between the designers of lockdowns and citizens in order to tailor such interventions to local realities in context-specific ways. It also shows that though the development of such interventions, all the various and complex elements it embodies must be taken into account in order to realize optimum outcomes.
WITHDRAWN: Up-Regulation of HDAC6 Results in Poor Prognosis and Chemoresistance in Patients with Advanced Ovarian High-Grade Serous Carcinoma
Authors: Yano Mitsutake , Miyazawa Mariko , Ogane Naoki , Ogasawara Aiko , Hasegawa Kosei , Narahara Hisashi , Yasuda Masanori
Published: July 2020

Background: Ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) gradually acquires chemoresistance after recurrence. In our previous study on ovarian clear cell carcinoma, histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) led to chemoresistance. This study aimed to evaluate HDAC6 as a predictor of chemoresistance and therapeutic target for ovarian HGSC. Methods: We evaluated the clinical significance of HDAC6 as a predictor of prognosis and chemoresistance in HGSC. Immunohistochemical expressions of HDAC6, programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) were analyzed using clinical samples from 88 patients with ovarian HGSC. The clinicopathological characteristics were reviewed. Results: Twenty-three patients had high HDAC6 expression; 10, positive PD-L1 expression; and 33, high HIF-1α expression. HDAC6 up-regulation was correlated with not undergoing interval debulking surgery (p < 0.001), incomplete surgical resection (p = 0.002), and frequent occurrence of stable disease/progressive disease according to the RECIST (p = 0.005) criteria. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, high HDAC6 expression was significantly associated with decreased progression-free survival (p = 0.001) and overall survival (p = 0.008). On multivariate analysis, high HDAC6 expression (hazard ratio = 1.65; 95% confidence interval 1.03–2.66, p = 0.039) and surgery status were independent prognostic factors of progression-free survival. PD-L1 and HIF-1α expressions positively correlated with HDAC6. Conclusion: HDAC6 is a potential therapeutic target since HDAC6 up-regulation might cause poor prognosis in patients with ovarian HGSC.
A study and identification of COVID-19 viruses using N-grams with Naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbors, Artificial Neural Networks, Decision tree and Support Vector Machine
Authors: Boujnouni Mohamed El
Published: July 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 is a global health crisis caused by a virus officially named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and well known with the acronym (SARS-CoV-2). This very contagious illness has severely impacted people and business all over the world and scientists are trying so far to discover all useful information about it, including its potential origin(s) and inter-host(s). This study is a part of this scientific inquiry and it aims to achieve two main objectives: (1) to identify precisely the origin(s) of a large set of genomes of SARS-COV-2 collected from different geographic locations in all over the world, and (2) to study the relation between these genomes and the regions of sampling. This research is performed through the combination of five powerful techniques of machine learning (Naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbors, Artificial Neural Networks, Decision tree and Support Vector Machine) and a widely known tool of language modeling (N-grams). The experimental results have shown that the majority of techniques gave the same global results concerning the origin(s) and inter-host(s) of SARS-COV-2. These results demonstrated that this virus has multiple origins with different degrees. Also, they were used to study the relation that exists between the geographic locations from where the genomes of COVID-19 were collected and the origins of this virus.
Attitudes and concerns of health sciences students in Croatia regarding complete switch to e-learning during COVID-19 pandemic: a survey
Authors: Puljak Livia , Civljak Marta , Haramina Ana , Malisa Snjezana , Cavic Dalibor , Klinec Dinko , Aranza Diana , Mesaric Jasna , Skitarelic Natasa , Zoranic Sanja , Majstorovic Dijana , Neuberg Marijana , Miksic Stefica , Ivanisevic Kata
Published: July 2020

Background: Croatia has closed all educational institutions after 32 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were confirmed and switched to exclusive e-learning. Health sciences university students may have been particularly disrupted with this change due to lack of practical education. It is not known how health sciences students and schools have adjusted to exclusive e-learning. The aim of this study was to explore attitudes and concerns of health sciences students in Croatia regarding complete switch to e-learning during COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Eligible participants were students from 9 institutions offering university-level health sciences education in Croatia enrolled in academic year 2019/2010, and participating in e-learning. Data were collected with questionnaire distributed via email during April/May 2020.Results: A total of 2520 students (aged 25.7±7.7 years) responded to the questionnaire (70.3% response rate). General satisfaction with exclusive e-learning was rated with average grade 3.7 out of 5. Compared with previous education, exclusive e-learning was rated with average grade 3.2 out of 5. Compared to classroom learning, equal or higher motivation to attend exclusive learning was reported by 64.4% of participants. With longer duration of exclusive e-learning, equal or higher motivation was reported by 65.5% of participants. Less than half of the students indicated they felt deprived or concerned due to the lack of practical lessons. Most participants indicated that in the future, they would prefer to combine classic classroom and e-learning (N=1403; 55.7%).Conclusions: Most health sciences students were satisfied with the exclusive e-learning, as well as their personal and institutional adjustment to it. Students’ feedback can help institutions to improve exclusive e-learning experience for students in time of pandemic.
Factors that Influence Professional Socialization in Nursing Students A Multigroup Analysis
Authors: Pai Hsiang Chu , Cheng Hui-Hua , Huang Yu-Ling
Published: July 2020

Background

Nursing professional socialization significantly influences the sustainable development of nursing students’ careers. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of research on the factors that influence nursing professional socialization in nursing education. This study aims to examine the factors that influence professional socialization in nursing students. The study adopts a multigroup approach for comparison between female and male subsamples.
Methods

This is a cross-sectional, quantitative study of a sample of 108 nursing students (80 females and 28 males). The Simulation Learning Effectiveness Scale, Caring Assessment Report Evaluation Q-sort, Self-Reflection and Insight Scale, and Holistic Nursing Competence Scale were used to collect the data on the independent variables. The Team Skills Scale, Nursing Image as a Profession questionnaire, and Nursing Professional Commitment Scale were used to assess the level of students’ nursing professional socialization, which is an outcome construct variable. A multigroup analysis with partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data and to examine the professional socialization research model.
Results

The full model findings show that individual learning effectiveness had a significantly positive effect on nursing students’ caring behavior (ß = 0.47, p < .001) and on self-reflection and insight (ß = 0.32, p < 0.1). In addition, caring behavior (ß = 0.64, p < .001) and self-reflection and insight (ß = 0.29, p < .001) had a significantly positive effect on nursing competence. Finally, nursing competence also had a significantly positive effect on nursing professional socialization (ß = 0.61, p < .001). Overall, all independent variables were significant predictors of nursing professional socialization, explaining 36.7% of the variance in the integrated model of professional socialization. In addition, a permutation test revealed no differences in the two comparisons’ path coefficient estimates in the model (female vs. male).
Conclusion

The findings reveal that the result of an all-path coefficient parametric on the professional socialization model does not differ by gender. Therefore, for both female and male students, it is important to further strengthen nursing students’ self-learning effectiveness to promote their self-reflection and caring behavior. Increasing students’ nursing competence is a key factor in improving their professional socialization.
Predictive scoring models for persistent gram-negative bacteremia that reduce the need for follow-up blood cultures: a retrospective observational cohort study
Authors: Jung Jongtak , Song Kyoung-Ho , Jun Kang Il , Kang Chang Kyoung , Kim Nak-Hyun , Choe Pyoeng Gyun , Park Wan Beom , Bang Ji Hwan , Kim Eu Suk , Park Sang-Won , Kim Nam Joong , Oh Myoung-don , Kim Hong Bin
Published: July 2020

Background: Although the risk factors for positive follow-up blood cultures (FUBCs) in gram-negative bacteremia (GNB) have not been investigated extensively, FUBC has been routinely carried out in many acute care hospitals. We attempted to identify the risk factors and develop a predictive scoring model for positive FUBC in GNB cases.Methods: All adults with GNB in a tertiary care hospital were retrospectively identified during a 2-year period, and GNB cases were assigned to eradicable and non-eradicable groups based on whether removal of the source of infection was possible. We performed multivariate logistic analyses to identify risk factors for positive FUBC and built predictive scoring models accordingly. Results: Out of 1,473 GNB cases, FUBCs were carried out in 1,268 cases, and 122 produced positive results. In patient with eradicable source of infection, we assigned points according to the coefficients from the multivariate logistic regression analysis: Extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing microorganism (+1 point), Catheter-related bloodstream infection(+1), unfavorable treatment response (+1), and quick sequential organ failure assessment score of 2 points or more (+1), administration of effective antibiotics (-1), and adequate source control (-2). In non-eradicable source of infection, assigned points were end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis (+1), unfavorable treatment response (+1) and the administration of effective antibiotics (-2). The areas under the curves were 0.861 (95% confidence interval [95CI] 0.806-0.916) and 0.792 (95CI, 0.724-0.861), respectively. When we applied a cut-off of 0, the specificities and negative predictive values (NPVs) in the eradicable and non-eradicable sources of infection groups were 95.6/92.6% and 95.5/95.0%, respectively.Conclusions: FUBC is commonly carried out in GNB cases, but the rate of positive results is less than 10%. In our simple predictive scoring model, zero scores—which were easily achieved following the administration of effective antibiotics and/or adequate source control in both groups—had high NPVs. We expect that the model reported herein will reduce the necessity for FUBCs in GNB cases.
The Emerging Role of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (COVID-19)
Authors: Arcanjo Angélica , Logullo Jorgete , Menezes Camilla Cristie Barreto , Giangiarulo Thais Chrispim de Souza Cravalho , Barroso Shana Priscila Coutinho , Todeschini Adriane , Freire-de-Lima Leonardo , Decoté Debora Ricardo , Freire-de-Lima Celio Geraldo , Silva Fátima Conceição , Savino Wilson , Morrot Alexandre
Published: July 2020

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 causes COVID-19, a highly pathogenic viral infection threatening millions. The majority of those infected are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic showing typical clinical signs of common cold. However approximately 20% of the patients can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and eventually death in about 5% of cases. Recently, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been shown to be a functional receptor for virus entry into host target cells. The upregulation of ACE2 in patients with comorbidities may represent a propensity for increased viral load and spreading of infection to extrapulmonary tissues. This systemic infection is associated with higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in infected tissues and high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines leading to an extensive microthrombus formation with multiorgan failure. Herein we investigated whether SARS-CoV2 can stimulate extracellular neutrophils traps (NETs) in a process called NETosis. We demonstrated for the first time that SARS-CoV2 in fact is able to activate NETosis in human neutrophils. Our findings indicated that this process is associated with increased levels of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in neutrophils. The ROS-NET pathway plays a role in thrombosis formation and our study suggest the importance of this target for therapy approaches against disease.
Bioremediation of Spent Engine Oil on Selected Contaminated Soils within Ilorin Metropolis
Authors: AJIBOYE Adeyinka Elizabeth , SULAYMAN Hikmat Omolara , AJAO Abdullahi Taiwo
Published: July 2020

The research aimed to investigate the bioremediation of spent engine oil on selected contaminated soils within Ilorin metropolis. To achieve this, soil samples were collected from three (3) mechanic workshops along Taiwo axis within the metropolis. The soil samples were then subjected to bioremediation using the land-farming approach. The physicochemical parameters of the soil samples before and after bioremediation were analyzed using standard methods. Bacteria were isolated using standard procedures and identified using biochemical tests and molecular methods. Results for the physicochemical parameters of the soil samples before bioremediation include particle size (all sandy in nature); pH (6.00 ± 0.14 - 6.20 ± 0.14); Organic carbon (14.65 ± 3.20 - 17.54 ± 1.87), Organic matter (33.50 ± 0.85 - 43.45 ± 9.12) and heavy metals (ND - 11.74 ± 0.07). Values after bioremediation for pH, organic carbon, organic matter and heavy metals were 8.25 ± 0.07 - 8.90 ± 0.14, 13.07 ± 0.05 - 13.25 ± 0.84, 37.25 ± 1.06 - 44.80 ± 1.13, ND - 9.40 ± 0.04 respectively. Values for bacterial count before and after bioremediation of the soil samples were 8.00  1.41 - 67.50 ± 2.12 x 105 CFU/mL and 6.50 ± 2.12 - 164.00 ± 11.31 x 105 CFU/mL respectively. Bacterial isolates were identified as Pseudomonas sp., Enterobacter sp., Acinetobacter sp., and Bacillus sp. while the hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria were identified as Thalassospira mesophila strain JCM 18969; Pseudomonas fluorescens F113; Siccibacter turicensis LMG 23730; Pseudomonas Zeshuii strain KACC 15471; Pseudomonas stutzeri strain CGMCC 1.1803 and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus strain ATCC 49840. In conclusion, the bacteria isolates effectively bioremediated the spent engine oil contaminated soils with a reduction of hydrocarbon pollutants.
Assessment of Water Quality Index and Irrigation Indices in Ese Odo Area of Ondo State, Southwestern Nigerian
Authors: Olumuyiwa Falowo Olusola , Olayemi Ojo Olajumoke
Published: July 2020

An assessment of the ground water quality was carried out in Ese Odo local government area of Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria. The study was aimed at examining the various samples of ground water and the quality of the ground water as it relates to drinking and irrigation purposes. Forty-Five ground water samples were taken from boreholes and open wells and analyzed for physical, chemical and biological properties. The results were compared with World Health Organization standards. The usefulness of these parameters in predicting ground water quality characteristics were studied and water quality index was determined from these parameters. In assessing the water for irrigation uses, indices such as percent (%Na), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), permeability index (PI), Kelly’s ratio (KR), magnesium ratio (MR), equivalent salinity concentration (ESC) and Wilcox plot were used.   The result obtained shows that the water studied has a mean value of 2.8 NTU for turbidity, 7.3 for pH, 294 μS/cm for electrical conductivity, 52mg/L for total dissolved solids, temperature 28.3°C, total hardness 41 mg/L, chloride 38.3 mg/L, calcium 15.8 mg/L, 5.64 mg/L for magnesium, nitrate 1.47mg/L, sulphate 51.7 mg/L, bicarbonate 15mg/L. Zinc, iron, manganese have mean values less than 1mg/L. The results indicated all the physicochemical parameters are within the recommended levels set by World Health Organization (WHO). Although traces of heavy metal and mineral oil contaminations are observed some of the samples. All the samples are plotted on the “Excellent irrigation class” of Wilcox plot with good/excellent irrigation indices. Consequently, the groundwater in the study area is good and suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes.
Fabrication and Investigation of Mechanical Properties of SiC Particulate Reinforced AA5052 Metal Matrix Composite
Authors: Patel Murlidhar , Sahu Sushanta Kumar , Singh Mukesh Kumar
Published: July 2020

In this present research particulate reinforced aluminium metal matrix composite is developed by using sand mould and liquid stir casting processing route in which AA5052 reinforced with 5 wt. % SiC particulates of 63µm particle size. The density, porosity, micro-hardness, and compressive strength of SiC particulate reinforced AA5052 MMC were investigated and compared these properties with similar properties of unreinforced AA5052. The microstructure of the developed composite was also analysed by using optical microscopy, SEM, and XRD. Developed particulate reinforced Al metal matrix composite gives improved hardness and compressive strength as compared to the unreinforced AA5052. The addition of 5 wt. % SiC particulates increases the density of AA5052.
Sites Suitability Analysis of Potential Urban Growth in Pabna Municipality Area in Bangladesh: AHP and Geospatial Approaches
Authors: Parvez Mazed , Islam Shormi
Published: July 2020

For a long prior time, planning is being deprived of resulting unplanned urban growth that happen consequences the urban problems. A GIS-based site suitability analysis using the AHP model is performed with criterion: land use, population distribution, water network, drainage network and road network. The suitable growth sites are determined through expert opinion, pair-wise comparison matrix and finally determining the weighted value. This paper found out the potential urban growth mainly in ward no. 2, 7, and 6. Optimally suitable places are those sites where future urban development can easily occur and have all the required facilities with available commercial, industrial, and official land use, moderate and highly suitable places need some facilities e.g., water supply, drainage management, road network and rearrangement of land use. Very few and partly suitable sites need major involvement of facilities and revisions of present land use for potential urban development. This information can be useful for policy makers for planning processes as an acceptable scientific process for site suitability analysis in the municipality area for avoiding the urban problems and ensuring sustainable development.
3D numerical modelling and analysis of a magnetorheological elastomer (MRE)
Authors: Syam Thaer M. I. , Muthalif Asan G. A. , Salem Ayman M. H. , Hejazi Ahmed A. A.
Published: July 2020

Magneto rheological elastomer (MRE) is a smart material consists of a polymer matrix embedded micro/nano-sized magnetic particles. Its mechanical properties are altered by external magnetic fields. In this article, a magnetic-mechanical coupled physics is done for MRE using COMSOL multi-physics finite element analysis (FEA) software for a particle level (micro-scale). Both linear and torsional transmissibility analysis are done on MRE under influence of magnetic fields. Simulation results indicate both linear and torsional stiffness increased with magnetic field. Under the initial influence of magnetic field, it is shown that an increase of 28.75 % and 20.12 % of the stiffness in linear and torsional modes, respectively. Transmissibility curve showed shift in the natural frequency due to increase in stiffness when exposed to a magnetic field. Vibration isolation was reached by achieving a minimum transmissibility factor.
Composition and Quality Standards of Functional Caramel
Authors: Reznichenko Irina , Renzyaeva Tamara , Renzyaev A.
Published: July 2020

Introduction. Functional foods help to improve the diet, maintain health, and prolong active longevity. Therefore, food science constantly develops new formulations of functional products. Caramel can hardly be called healthy food as it possesses low nutritional and high energy value. Moreover, caramel contains easily digested sugars but no physiologically functional ingredients, e.g. vitamins, minerals, etc. In order to increase the nutritional value of caramel, we fortified the traditional formulation with ascorbic acid and Valetek-3 vitamin premix.

Study objets and methods. The research featured laboratory and pilot samples of caramel. The quality indicators of the finished product were determined according to the industry standards.

Results and discussion. The research provided advanced formulations and technology for the development of the new functional caramel fortified with ascorbic acid and a vitamin complex. A set of experiments resulted in a nomenclature of regulated quality indicators and functional properties. The changes in the quality of the caramel during storage made it possible to define the shelf-life of the product.

Conclusion. The research defined the optimal formulation for the new kind of functional caramel and determined its quality indicators. The present article introduces a list of quality standards for caramel fortified with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and Vitalek-3 vitamin premix, as well as the indicators of its functional properties. The research provided the new functional food with the regulatory and technical documentation necessary for its mass production.
Instant Drinks with Amaranth Flour: Simulation of Mechatronic Systems of Production
Authors: Popov Anatoly , Plotnikov Konstantin , Ivanov Pavel , Donya Denis , Pachkin Sergei , Plotnikova Irina
Published: July 2020

Introduction. The world market of instant drinks is a highly competitive environment. New mechatronic production systems can help food companies maintain their competitiveness: they determine process modes, analyze them, and choose the optimal parameters, thus increasing the efficiency of the whole food enterprise. Another problem is the low biological and nutrient value of the finished product. New biologically active instant drinks could solve the problem that occurs in conditions of unsocial hours and unbalanced diet. Products of plant origin contain a lot of useful substances. Amaranth flour increases the biological value of the final products. The research objective was to develop mechatronic systems that could be used to produce instant drinks fortified with amaranth flour at the granulation stage.

Study objects and methods. The present research featured a new line of production of instant granular drinks fortified with amaranth flour. The study focused on the granulation section. A drum vibro-granulator with controlled segregated flows was used to make a hardware design of the granulation process. The granulation process often demonstrates an unstable particle size distribution, which is associated with non-uniform mixing of the dry bulk components with the binder solution. A mechatronic module can solve this problem. However, it requires detailed information about the process conditions.

Results and discussion. The research determined the specific energy consumption on the operating and design parameters for the granulation process in the new drum vibro-granulator. The experiment made it possible to obtain the optimal process parameters and improve the quality of the finished product. The flow rate of the binder solution depended on the readings of the power consumed by the kneading body engine, which stabilized the system. The value of this parameter is so small that its direct regulation is technically impossible. The paper introduces a block diagram of a multi-circuit cascade system to control the quality of the mixture automatically. The authors installed a valve on the pipeline that feeds the binder fluid in the pressure tank. The valve made it possible to control the process with sufficient accuracy.

Conclusion. In the new mechatronic module of the drum vibro-granulator, the quality indicators of the resulting mix depend on the amount of power consumed by the kneading body engine and on the level of the binder solution in the pressure vessel.
Acessibilidade em meios de hospedagem: o retrato da rede hoteleira de Barra do Garças-MT
Authors: Meira Celso Maciel , Kushano Elizabete Sayuri , Teixeira Cristina Maria Silva , Marchetto Ana Caroline Mocelin
Published: July 2020

Compreende-se como espaço acessível aquele que permite o acolhimento de todas as pessoas, sem distinção e/ou qualquer tipo de restrição. Nesse sentido, esta pesquisa se pautou em realizar uma análise sobre a acessibilidade nos meios de hospedagem, do tipo hotel, cadastrados no Cadastur (Cadastro de Prestadores de Serviços Turísticos do Ministério do Turismo), no município de Barra do Garças (MT). Para alcançar tal escopo, se aplicou técnicas da pesquisa exploratória, com abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa. Outrossim, a fim de consubstanciar a investigação, foram utilizadas recursos da pesquisa bibliográfica com vistas às temáticas: meios de hospedagem, hotelaria, humanização e hospitalidade e suas relações com o objeto de estudo, qual seja, a acessibilidade. Para coleta de dados foram utilizadas técnicas de observação in loco, com a aplicação de um check-list, elaborado com base na Norma Brasil (NBR) nº 9050/2004. Os resultados apurados revelaram que o cenário atual da localidade em análise é desfavorável, por consequência dos indicadores de não hospitalidade no que se refere aos recursos de acessibilidade, que, de forma não incomum, pode reverberar ao acolhimento de hóspedes com deficiência e na imagem do destino.
Visitar/Acolher: Arquitetura, Turismo e Encontros
Authors: Loureiro Felipe , Bartholo Roberto , Barcelos Fernanda , Mattos Flávia
Published: July 2020

O artigo desenvolve uma abordagem teórica que compreende a produção arquitetônica como uma produção de presença (Gumbrecht, 2010), com implicações tanto para a visitação quanto para a acolhida. A possibilidade de diálogos e encontros em meio a práticas turísticas é pensada a partir da perspectiva apresentada por Buber no clássico “Eu e Tu” (1977). A formatação típica do que Pedro Abreu chama de “turismo cultural híper-moderno” (Abreu & Malheiros, 2013) busca poupar do turista o “trabalho” de interagir com as presenças que configuram e habitam o sítio visitado, restringindo sua experiência à dimensão de um entretenimento espetacularizado. Para que a experiência do turista no contexto do turismo cultural híper-moderno possa ser transformadora, é preciso afirmá-la em sua inteireza como uma experiência estética e sinestésica que acontece como um encontro face a face entre um “Eu” e um “Tu”.
Long-Acting Formulations: A Promising Approach for the Treatment of Chronic Diseases
Authors: Kumar Somaraju R. , Mehta Chetan H. , Nayak Usha Y.
Published: July 2020

Medication and patient adherence are the two main aspects of any successful treatment of chronic
disease. Even though diseases and its treatment existed for several hundred years, the treatment optimization for
a given patient is still a researcher question for scientists. There are differences in treatment duration, prognostic
signs and symptoms between patient to patient. Hence, designing ideal formulation to suit individual patient
is a challenging task. The conventional formulations like oral solids and liquids gives a partial or incomplete
treatment because the patient needs to follow the daily pills for a longer time. In such cases, the long-acting
formulations will have better patient compliances as drug will be released for a longer duration. Many such approaches
are under the clinical investigation. The favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationships,
will be promising option for the treatment of chronic diseases. In this review, we have highlighted the
importance of long-acting formulations in the treatment of chronic diseases and the advent of newer formulation
technologies.
Disulfide Bond-Responsive Nanotherapeutic Systems for the Effective Payload in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Shende Pravin , Deshpande Gauraja
Published: July 2020

Background:

The progressive treatment of cancer using disulfide bond-based therapeutics offers improvement
in therapeutic potency of active, reduction in adverse events, prolongation of drug release pattern and
on-site action by interacting with neoplastic cell microenvironment.

Objective:

The objective of this article is to highlight the research carried out on disulfide bond-based drug delivery
systems as a potential candidate for cancer treatment.

Methods:

The article provides an overview of the importance of disulfide bonds in cancer treatment in terms of
their properties, mechanism of formation/fragmentation and applications. Properties of disulfide bonds, such as
pKa, entropy, and dihedral angle contribute to the structural stability of the bonds in a nanotherapeutic system,
while their formation and fragmentation are attributed to the presence of a high concentration of GSH in cancer
cells. The article further focuses on various drug delivery systems like dendrimers, liposomes, micelles, etc. involving
disulfide cross-linked polymers for the preparation of redox-responsive drug delivery systems.

Results:

The use of nanotechnology with disulfide bond creates an anticancer drug delivery system with higher
target specificity, improved bioavailability, and good therapeutic efficacy.

Conclusion:

In the near future, the combination of DSB with active, cellular material, stem cell and biological
fluid will be considered as a new thrust area for research in healthcare.
Features of mathematical modeling of dynamic processes of car passing railroad turnouts
Authors: Romen Yu. S. , Glyuzberg B. E. , Timakova E. A. , Bykov V. A.
Published: July 2020

Dimensions and tolerances in the “wheelset — railway track” system are interconnected, since the normative values of geometric parameters and shape of the elements of the wheelsets and the track's upper structure are directly de pendent. In 2018– 2019 in order to establish the minimum permissible thickness of wheel flanges for freight cars in operation and to determine the influence of the thickness and shape of wheel flanges on the safe passage of turnout elements, JSC “VNIIZhT” conducted comprehensive stu dies, including the development of a methodo logy and mathematical modeling of the interaction of wheelsets and turnout elements. Features of modeling the dynamic proces ses of the entry of the first bogie of a freight car into the railway turnout when running to the side track are presented. The process of moving a freight car along the turnout is described de pending on the geometric parameters of the wheelset and track elements of the turnout, the position in the gauge of its first bogie before running into the switch point. Results of calculations of the lateral forces of the interaction of the wheelset and the turnout show that when running on, the maximum forces occurred during wheel impacts in the turnout elements, which depend on the conditions of the bogie entering the turnout. The initial position of the bogie and the peculiarities of its motion in the gauge determine the position of the meeting point and the value of the angle of incidence, their combination determines the maximum value of the force when moving to the lateral track, which, depending on the entry conditions, can differ by more than twice. Calculations showed that a change in the angle of inclination of the flange from 60 to 70° leads to a decrease in the safety factor of rolling stock on the turnout by 1.5 times. Required minimum value of the inclination of the wheel flange, ensuring safety (qR parameter), is determined by the creation of conditions that do not allow the wheel to run onto the tip of the switch point. Under existing norms of wear of turnout elements and the relative position of their rail elements, as well as taking into account the results of the calculations, the permissible value of qR should be in the range of 6.0...6.5 mm.
The developmental effect of the small industries in the Kurdistan region – Iraq
Authors: Maher Asaad Hamdi
Published: July 2020

The small industries have played a great role achieving the objectives of the industrial development through certain features such as increasing and varying the production and also the opportunities of jop  as well the integration between the industrial sectors.
As a result there should be an emphasis on developing and encouraging such industries, because they are very important for the social and economic development .
This research concentrates on a hypothesis that such industry (the smallest industries) has a crucial role to achieve the industrial development, and how to eliminate the problem of unemployment in Kurdistan's region, furthermore.
The research also aims to discuss the reality of the mini industries and their significant in the industrial development through the analysis of the measures of growth of these industries in Kurdistan's region.
The investment trend of Sulaimany Governorate for the period 2006 – 2013
Authors: Ahmed Arshad Mohammed
Published: July 2020

This study deals with the strategic and important role of investment in stimulating the economic development of the country through directing the investment into different sectors to contribute in promoting the level of the productivity and efficiency of the economic resources which is positively reflected on the capital construction of the country which leads to achieving acceptable growth rates. The research aimed at framing a theoretical aspect of the investment and manifesting the trends and distributions of the investment projects on the economic sectors in Sulaimany Governorate as well as showing the nationality of the investor and the amount of the capital invested in these projects. The research also shows the vast expansion in the investment flows whether foreign, national or corporate and especially the national ones which represented the biggest portion of the projects and the capital invested in the aforementioned governorate which is attributed to a set of reasons including the political and security stability of the governorate as well as the issuance of the investment law No. (4) for the year 2006 which encourages the investors in the governorate by a group of incentives that this law includes. The more important reason in the escape of the capitals from the other Iraqi governorates, other than Kurdistan governorates, (the governorate of the center) as a result of the fragile security and political as well as the economic circumstances from which the Iraqi society suffer. Finally, the research reached a number of conclusions and recommendations which support the investment sector in Sulaimany Governorate.