bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Liability of doctors based on negligence for culpable homicide: No need to change the law concerning medical negligence or to establish special medical malpractice courts – use mediation and medical assessors instead
Authors:   Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, McQuoid-Mason D J
Published: March 2022

Doctors’ organisations have called for special legislation regarding the criminal charging of doctors for culpable homicide, and the need for special medical malpractice courts to deal with the huge increase in the number of medical malpractice cases. However, there are very few criminal prosecutions, because the prosecuting authorities generally accept that doctors do not intend to kill their patients, and are only likely to charge them for intentional or very serious deviations from the standard of a reasonably competent doctor in their profession. Doctors are also generally not held liable for mere errors of judgement. Although the call is for special legislation, the issues concerned can generally be dealt with administratively by existing legislation. For instance, the requirement of mediation before litigation could be introduced by the Chief Justice. Doctors need not fear making admissions during mediation proceedings in civil matters, because legislation provides that such admissions and evidence may not be used in subsequent civil actions. The Chief Justice can also issue a practice directive that all presiding officers must appoint medicolegal experts as assessors in medical malpractice cases. The medical profession can assist the process by arranging a panel of such experts who can be called upon to serve as assessors by the courts.
Pandemic escape plan: Discontinuing policies that have reached their expiry date
Authors:   Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa, van Zyl G U ,   National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, Dramowski A ,   Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa, Preiser W ,   Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Published: March 2022

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When secrecy and expert advice collide in a pandemic: Access to information and the National Department of Health’s tardy publication of Ministerial Advisory Committee advisories
Authors:   Health Justice Initiative, Cape Town, South Africa, Richter M ,   and African Centre for Migration and Society, School of Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Nokhepheyi Y ,   Health Justice Initiative, Cape Town, South Africa, Hassan F ,   Health Justice Initiative, Cape Town, South Africa
Published: March 2022

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Factors Associated with Underweight among Two Years Old Children in DKI Jakarta Province (Indonesian Family Life Survey 2014)
Authors: Atelya Nabilla , Sartika Ratu Ayu Dewi , Mulianingsih Winda
Published: March 2022

Abstract A good health status, cognitive development, and productivity cannot be achieved without good nutrition. Nutritional status and its fulfilment of two years old children will be shaping the health status in the next age period. Unfortunately, nutritional problems like underweight is still a significant health problem in Indonesia, especially Special Capital Region of Jakarta. This study used secondary data achieved from Indonesian Family Life Survey 5 data in 2014. This study used a cross-sectional study design with a total of 135 samples of two years old children using a total sampling. Accordingly, the chi square test was used to find factors associated with underweight among two years old children. The result showed that the prevalence of underweight among under two years old children in DKI Jakarta Province was 30,4%. This result showed that child characteristics such as gestational age (OR= 5,813; CI= 1,291 - 26,178), low birth weight (OR= 5,060; CI= 1,136 - 22,533), and frequency of eating sweets (OR= 3,5; CI= 1,118 – 10,962) were associated with underweight (p-value < 0,05). The result of the study suggests that government should involve more in order to increase the role of community such as health center staff and cadres on preventing, detecting, and handling underweight cases by providing education and solutions to this phenomenon. AbstrakStatus kesehatan yang baik, perkembangan kognitif, dan produktivitas tidak dapat dicapai tanpa gizi yang baik. Status gizi dan pemenuhannya terhadap anak usia dua tahun akan mempengaruhi derajat kesehatan pada periode usia berikutnya. Sayangnya masalah gizi seperti kekurangan berat badan masih menjadi masalah kesehatan yang serius di Indonesia, khususnya di ibu kota negara, DKI Jakarta. Penelitian ini menggunakan data sekunder dari data Indonesia Family Life Survey 5 tahun 2014. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain studi cross sectional dengan jumlah sampel sebesar 135 bayi dua tahun menggunakan total sampling. Uji chi square digunakan untuk mengetahui faktor-faktor yang berhubungan dengan berat badan rendah pada anak usia dua tahun. Hasil penelitian menyatakan bahwa prevalensi anak dengan berat badan rendah pada balita di Provinsi DKI Jakarta sebesar 30,4%. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa karakteristik anak seperti usia kehamilan (OR= 5,813; CI= 1,291 - 26,178), BBLR (OR= 5,060; CI= 1,136 - 22,533), dan frekuensi makan yang manis berhubungan dengan berat badan kurang pada balita (OR= 3,5; CI= 1,118 – 10,962) (p-value <0,05). Hasil penelitian menyarankan pemerintah untuk lebih banyak terlibat untuk meningkatkan peran masyarakat seperti petugas puskesmas dan kader dalam pencegahan, pendeteksian, dan penanganan kasus anak dengan berat badan rendah dengan memberikan edukasi dan solusi pencegahannya.
Factors Determining Successful Exclusive Breastfeeding on Working Mothers in Indonesia: An Exploration by Using Positive Deviance Concept
Authors: Mastan Melinda , Achadi Endang Laksminingsih
Published: March 2022

Despite the fact that exclusive breastfeeding brings a lot of benefits for infants and mothers, breastfeeding rates in Indonesia remain low, standing only at 42% of all infants aged 0-5 months in 2012. This study aims to apply the positive deviance concept to explore the factors determining the success of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in the high risk group in Indonesia. The study uses the cross-sectional, DHS 2017 data on 1.178 mothers with 0-5 months old infants in Indonesia. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression test with 95% confidence intervals are used in identifying the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Maternal employment is shown to be the most significant risk factor in preventing mothers to breastfeed exclusively. Furthermore, the data suggest that, out of 376 working mothers, 45,5% can be identified as positive deviants – those succeeding in implementing exclusive breastfeeding. The study finds ANC visits, PNC visits, and economic status display significant association with exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers. In the sample, ANC visit is the dominant factor associated with exclusive breastfeeding (OR: 1,831; 95% CI: 1,075-3,118). Completion of ANC and PNC visits should be taken to consideration in improving exclusive breastfeeding rate among working mothers in Indonesia.
Trans-Saharan Belt Provenance: A Potential Source for the Ordovician Succession of the Balkan Terrane (Svoge Unit) - Clues from LA-ICP-MS Detrital Zircon Dating Analysis
Authors: Georgiev Stoyan , Sachanski Valeri , Andreeva Polina , Kiselinov Hristo , Balkanska Eleonora , Lakova Iskra , Tanatsiev Stoyan
Published: March 2022

Two sandstone samples from the upper and lower part of the Ordovician succession of Svoge Unit were analyzed in order to determine their detrital zircon U–Pb age spectra using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). One sample was collected from the Hirnantian siliciclastic glaciomarine deposits of the Sirman Formation. The other sample is amiddle Darriwilian sandstone from the lower half of the Grohoten Formation. Additionally, micropetrographic studies were performed. They are composed predominantly of detrital monocrystalline quartz grains with uniform or rarely undulose extinction and only sporadically presented feldspar grains, muscovite flakes and single rock fragments. The heavy mineral assemblages are also characterized mostly by detrital zircon. As suggested from previous studies of the Hirnantian glaciomarine deposits of Sirman Formation, the provenance of siliciclastic material was most probably associated with sedimentary recycling of maturesands deposited across the North Gondwana Platform. Multi-dimensional scaling statistical technique allowed a reliable objective identification of the potential source areas in Northern Africa and palaeogeographic reconstructions were made. Both samples are close to the Trans-Saharan Belt provenance, which is the most probable source for the detrital component. Our data supportthe idea proposed by previous researchers that the present-day position of some of these terranes implies significant dextral strike-slip displacement, probably due to the movement on the Pangea megashear during the Carboniferous and Permian.
Factors Influencing the Modelling of Transport Flow Dynamics in Cities
Authors: Ozerova Olha , Lytvynenko Sergiy , Sushchenko Roman , Zapara Yaroslav , Ovchar Petro , Lavrushchenko Yuliana
Published: March 2022

The article defines the regularities in the influence on the traffic flows dynamics in cities using mathematical modelling, taking into account the historical features of this process, as well as the most relevant issues. In the queuing theory obstruction of free movement is considered a service, and the duration caused by this delay is called service duration, which is not applicable to the delay of transport at intersections. By means of mathematical modelling, the dependence of the influence of increasing the congestion degree on the increasein vehicle delays was determined. Results of studying transport flow characteristics in large cities should be considered when determining loading of urban passenger vehicles and calculating duration of delivering passengers to their destination. Application of the proposed mathematical model will help to reduce the probability of traffic congestion in the urban transport network of large cities, providing high-quality public transport services to clients.
Effect of Non-surgical Periodontal Treatment on Lipoxin A4 Levels in Periodontitis Patients
Authors: Turkmen Еmrah , Gokmenoglu Ceren , Kara Cankat , Dede Figen , Yılmaz Huriye , Canakcı Varol
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study was to determine the lipoxin A4 (LXA4) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and saliva in chronic periodontitis (CP) patients before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT). A total of twenty subjects, ten patients with CP and ten healthy individuals were included in this study. Clinical measurements, GCF and saliva samples were obtained at the beginning and one month after NSPT. GCF and salivary LXA4 were investigated by ELISA. Salivary LXA4 were significantly higher in CP than in healthy subjects (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed after NSPT (p > 0.05). GCF LXA4 were lower in CP and decreased after NSPT, but these differences were not significant (p > 0.05). However, GCF LXA4 in post-treatment CP group were significantly lower than in healthy subjects (p < 0.05). Negative correlation was found between probing depth and GCF LXA4 in CP group (r = −0.717; p < 0.05). Within the limitations of this study, LXA4 might have a potential role in both the pathogenesis of periodontitis and the healing process.
Tom70-based transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and aging
Authors: Liu Qingqing , Chang Catherine E , Wooldredge Alexandra C , Fong Benjamin , Kennedy Brian K , Zhou Chuankai
Published: March 2022

Mitochondrial biogenesis has two major steps: the transcriptional activation of nuclear genome-encoded mitochondrial proteins and the import of nascent mitochondrial proteins that are synthesized in the cytosol. These nascent mitochondrial proteins are aggregation-prone and can cause cytosolic proteostasis stress. The transcription factor-dependent transcriptional regulations and the TOM-TIM complex-dependent import of nascent mitochondrial proteins have been extensively studied. Yet, little is known regarding how these two steps of mitochondrial biogenesis coordinate with each other to avoid the cytosolic accumulation of these aggregation-prone nascent mitochondrial proteins. Here, we show that in budding yeast, Tom70, a conserved receptor of the TOM complex, moonlights to regulate the transcriptional activity of mitochondrial proteins. Tom70’s transcription regulatory role is conserved in Drosophila. The dual roles of Tom70 in both transcription/biogenesis and import of mitochondrial proteins allow the cells to accomplish mitochondrial biogenesis without compromising cytosolic proteostasis. The age-related reduction of Tom70, caused by reduced biogenesis and increased degradation of Tom70, is associated with the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, mtDNA, and mitochondrial proteins. While loss of Tom70 accelerates aging and age-related mitochondrial defects, overexpressing TOM70 delays these mitochondrial dysfunctions and extends the replicative lifespan. Our results reveal unexpected roles of Tom70 in mitochondrial biogenesis and aging.
Common Gastric Subepithelial Tumors in Koreans
Authors: Ryu Dae Gon , Choi Cheol Woong
Published: March 2022

Gastric subepithelial tumors (SETs) are often discovered incidentally and are usually benign. Their subepithelial location complicates accurate diagnosis; however, most lesions can be differentiated using either endoscopy or endoscopic ultrasonography. Gastric SETs location, color, surface change, size, consistency, and movability are evaluated during endoscopy. Endoscopic ultrasound assesses their originating layer, echogenicity, and homogeneity. Common gastric SETs in Koreans include ectopic pancreas, lipoma, leiomyoma, other benign lesions, neuroendocrine tumors, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors with malignant potential. Furthermore, extraluminal compression by normal organs or benign lesions as well as other malignant tumors may have a similar appearance to gastric SET. Understanding the endoscopic and endoscopic ultrasound characteristics of common gastric subepithelial lesions can reduce the rate of unnecessary examinations and excessive treatment. In this article, these characteristics are reviewed through various images that are common in the Korean population.
Intestinal Type Gastric Cancer and Gastric Adenoma
Authors: Huh Cheal Wung , Lee Sang Kil
Published: March 2022

Gastric adenoma (dysplasia) is a precursor for gastric cancer and is closely associated with intestinal type gastric cancer. Thus, accurate diagnosis and proper management of gastric adenoma are extremely critical for preventing gastric cancer. The revised Vienna and World Health Organization classifications have categorized gastric adenomas into two types: high-grade and low-grade dysplasia. High-grade dysplasia requires endoscopic resection due to synchronous carcinoma or the high risk of progression to carcinoma. Although the treatment for low-grade dysplasia remains controversial, endoscopic resection is also recommended due to the potential of progression to carcinomas and the unrevealed histologic discrepancies between forceps biopsy and endoscopic specimens. According to the Lauren classification, gastric cancer is categorized into three histologic types: intestinal, diffuse, and mixed types. Intestinal and diffuse types show a distinct difference in their clinical and epidemiological features. The intestinal type, in its pathogenesis, follows the cascade of non-atrophic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, adenoma, and intramucosal neoplasia (correa cascade). It tends to appear in older ages than diffuse type and show some predominance in the distal portion of the stomach. It is more common in males and is often associated with environmental factors. In this review, the current knowledge of gastric adenoma and intestinal type gastric cancer, together with relevant diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, is discussed.
Facial expression recognition based on active region of interest using deep learning and parallelism
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Alamgir , Assiri Basem
Published: March 2022

The automatic facial expression tracking method has become an emergent topic during the last few decades. It is a challenging problem that impacts many fields such as virtual reality, security surveillance, driver safety, homeland security, human-computer interaction, medical applications. A remarkable cost-efficiency can be achieved by considering some areas of a face. These areas are termed Active Regions of Interest (AROIs). This work proposes a facial expression recognition framework that investigates five types of facial expressions, namely neutral, happiness, fear, surprise, and disgust. Firstly, a pose estimation method is incorporated and to go along with an approach to rotate the face to achieve a normalized pose. Secondly, the whole face-image is segmented into four classes and eight regions. Thirdly, only four AROIs are identified from the segmented regions. The four AROIs are the nose-tip, right eye, left eye, and lips respectively. Fourthly, an info-image-data-mask database is maintained for classification and it is used to store records of images. This database is the mixture of all the images that are gained after introducing a ten-fold cross-validation technique using the Convolutional Neural Network. Correlations of variances and standard deviations are computed based on identified images. To minimize the required processing time in both training and testing the data set, a parallelism technique is introduced, in which each region of the AROIs is classified individually and all of them run in parallel. Fifthly, a decision-tree-level synthesis-based framework is proposed to coordinate the results of parallel classification, which helps to improve the recognition accuracy. Finally, experimentation on both independent and synthesis databases is voted for calculating the performance of the proposed technique. By incorporating the proposed synthesis method, we gain 94.499%, 95.439%, and 98.26% accuracy with the CK+ image sets and 92.463%, 93.318%, and 94.423% with the JAFFE image sets. The overall accuracy is 95.27% in recognition. We gain 2.8% higher accuracy by introducing a decision-level synthesis method. Moreover, with the incorporation of parallelism, processing time speeds up three times faster. This accuracy proves the robustness of the proposed scheme.
Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) responds to phosphorus application and rhizobium inoculation on Acrisols of the semi-deciduous forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana
Authors: Adjei-Nsiah Samuel , Martei David , Yakubu Adam , Ulzen Jacob
Published: March 2022

Soybean cultivation in Ghana is limited mainly to the Guinea savanna and the forest/savanna transitional agro-ecological zones. Although soybean can be cultivated in the semi-deciduous forest zone, low soil pH and limited nodulation limit its productivity in this zone. In this study, a randomized complete block design, with four replications, was used to test if rhizobia inoculation and/or p-fertilizer could improve yield of soybean in the semi-deciduous forest zone. The residual effects of the treatments were tested on maize and soybean sequentially during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. The inoculation study was repeated in 2020. Phosphorus and inoculation significantly (p = 0.0009) increased soybean grain yield in the 2018 cropping season by 88% and 108%, respectively over the control. Co-application of P and inoculant increased grain yield 3-fold over the control. Maize grain yield ranged from 4.3 t ha−1 in the control plots to 5.2 t ha−1 in treated plots but did not differ significantly among treatments. In 2020, the combined application of P and inoculant produced a significantly (0.002) higher yield than any of the other treatments. This demonstrates that soybean can be grown economically in the semi-deciduous forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana. Co-application of P and inoculant appeared cost-effective, in terms of return on investment.
Physiological stress and higher reproductive success in bumblebees are both associated with intensive agriculture
Authors: Krama Tatjana , Krams Ronalds , Munkevics Maris , Willow Jonathan , Popovs Sergejs , Elferts Didzis , Dobkeviča Linda , Raibarte Patrīcija , Rantala Markus , Contreras-Garduño Jorge , Krams Indrikis A.
Published: March 2022

Free-living organisms face multiple stressors in their habitats, and habitat quality often affects development and life history traits. Increasing pressures of agricultural intensification have been shown to influence diversity and abundance of insect pollinators, and it may affect their elemental composition as well. We compared reproductive success, body concentration of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and C/N ratio, each considered as indicators of stress, in the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris). Bumblebee hives were placed in oilseed rape fields and semi-natural old apple orchards. Flowering season in oilseed rape fields was longer than that in apple orchards. Reproductive output was significantly higher in oilseed rape fields than in apple orchards, while the C/N ratio of queens and workers, an indicator of physiological stress, was lower in apple orchards, where bumblebees had significantly higher body N concentration. We concluded that a more productive habitat, oilseed rape fields, offers bumblebees more opportunities to increase their fitness than a more natural habitat, old apple orchards, which was achieved at the expense of physiological stress, evidenced as a significantly higher C/N ratio observed in bumblebees inhabiting oilseed rape fields.
Influence of Lymphangio vascular (V) and perineural (N) invasion on survival of patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Xie Chengke , Chen Zhiyao , Xu Jie , Meng Zhiyong , Huang Zhijun , Lin Jianqing
Published: March 2022

Background

Lymphangio vascular invasion (LVI) and perineural invasion (PNI) are associated with survival following resection for gastrointestinal cancer. But the relationship between LVI/PNI and survival of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still unclear. We aim to demonstrate the prognostic significance of LVI/PNI in ESCC.

Methods

A total of 195 ESCC patients underwent curative surgery from 2012 to 2018 was collected in the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. All the patients were divided into four groups based on the status of the neurovascular invasion: (1) neither LVI nor PNI (V0N0); (2) LVI alone (V1N0); (3) PNI alone (V0N1); (4) combined LVI and PNI (V1N1). First, the analysis included the Kaplan-Meier survival estimates with the Log rank test were performed to determine median overall survival (OS) in different groups divided according to the clinical factor, respectively. And the association between OS with multi clinical factors was examined using Cox regression analysis. Next, the risk factors for recurrence in patients with V1N1 were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, respectively.

Results

The cases in V0N0, V1N0, V0N1, and V1N1 groups were 91 (46.7%), 62 (31.8%), 9 (4.6%) and 33 (16.9%), respectively. The OS in the four groups was different (P< 0.001). The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS in V0N0 group was higher than that in V1N1 group, respectively (1-year OS: 93.4%vs75.8%, 3-year OS: 53.8 %vs24.2%, 5-year OS: 48.1%vs10.5%). The OS in stage I-II for patients with V1N1 was significantly lower than that in the other groups (V0N0, V1N0, V0N1) (P< 0.001). The postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was a significant impact factor of OS for ESCC patients with V1N1 (P= 0.004). Lymphatic invasion and LVI were significantly prognosis factors associated (P= 0.036,P= 0.030, respectively). The ulcerative type is a risk factor for V1N1 occurance (P= 0.040).

Conclusions

The LVI and PNI are important prognosis factors for ESCC patients. ESCC patients with simultaneous lymphangio vascular and perineural invasion (V1N1) showed worse OS than patients with either lymphangio vascular or perineural invasion alone (V1N0 or V0N1) or none (V0N0). In addition, adjuvant chemotherapy may prolong the OS for ESCC patients with V1N1.
Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Stressors in Nursing Students Scale
Authors: Cho Mijung , Lee Jisun , Kwon Heuijeong , Kim Bomi
Published: March 2022

Purpose: This study sought to translate the Stressors in Nursing Students Scale (SINS) into Korean (SINS-K) and verify its validity and reliability for identifying stressors of Korean nursing students.Methods: A methodological design was used. The SINS scale was translated into Korean and administered to 428 nursing students. The results of 213 students were used for exploratory factor analysis, and 215 responses were used for confirmatory factor analysis.Results: The SINS-K showed good internal consistency. The measurement items were consistent, and the independence between factors was maintained. After confirming convergent validity and discriminant validity, the final scale was completed with 33 items. The four factors extracted from the SINS-K were named “clinical practice”, “finance”, “education”, and “conflict”.Conclusion: Despite differences in culture and language between countries, the results of this study are similar to those of the original tool. The findings provide information for developing strategies to reduce stressors among nursing students in a global context.
The Influence of Knowledge of Coronary Artery Disease and Self-Efficacy on Health Behavior Compliance among Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Kil A Ram , Shin Yong Soon
Published: March 2022

Purpose: This study was conducted to estimate the influence of knowledge of coronary artery disease (CAD) and self-efficacy on health behavior Compliance among patients with CAD.Methods: Data were collected from August 11, 2020 to April 28, 2021. In total, 159 patients with CAD participated in this study. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis.Results: Health behavior compliance was correlated with knowledge of CAD (r=.33, p<.001) and self-efficacy (r=.71, p<.001), Multiple regression analysis found self-efficacy (β=.67, p<.001) and knowledge of coronary artery disease (β=.16, p=.004), to be statistically significant influ encing factors, and the explanatory power of the model was approximately 52% (F=30.39, p<.001).Conclusion: Interventions to enhance self-efficacy and education programs to improve disease-related knowledge are essential for patients with CAD to improve their self-care health behaviors compliance.
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among the Healthcare Workers of a Tertiary Care Hospital of Northeast India during First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Medhi Mithu , Nath Reema , Hussain Ezaz
Published: March 2022

Introduction: During Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID19) pandemic, Healthcare Workers (HCWs) are the frontline personals who are engaged in different facilities of the health system. So they always remain at a greater risk of exposure and acquiring the disease. They may also become a potential source of infection to the other patients as well to the community. Aim: To estimate the seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies among asymptomatic, COVID-19 negative HCWs of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology in a tertiary care hospital of North-East India. A total of 215 HCWs were recruited from 15th October to 14th December 2020 after taking written and informed consent. Inclusion criteria were: a) >18 years of age and both genders, b) asymptomatic, negative for COVID19 either by Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) or Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), c) working in the hospital for atleast last four months. Predesigned questionnaire was used for data collection. Serum samples were tested for SARSCoV-2 IgG antibodies by Enzyme Linked Fluorescence Assay (ELFA) using VIDAS (VITEK ImmunoDiagnostic Assay System) platform. Chi-square test was used (Epi Info version 7 software) for data analysis. Results: The prevalence of SARS-COV-2 IgG was 54 (25.12%) out of 215, which was highest in ≤30 years age group, 27 (32.14 %) out of 84 (p=0.0261). Significant seropositivity was found among cleaners 22 (61.11%) out of 36 (p<0.01) and participants who reported having COVID-19-related symptoms in the previous months (p<0.013). However gender, daily patient contact, close contact with COVID-19 cases and working in COVID-19 units showed no significance. Conclusion: The study highlighted a high burden of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs. A proper surveillance system is needed for estimating the burden of COVID-19 among HCWs as well as in the community for better understanding of the dynamics of the infection.
Aptamer Functionalized Liposomes for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Danila Delia
Published: March 2022

Cancer is a common disease affecting many people. It is considered that 1 out of 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer in the course of their lives. The current treatments for different types of cancers are conventional radiation and chemotherapy. However, their use becomes limited due to the adverse side effects caused by using overwhelming amounts of radiation or drugs. Targeted drugs look promising since they can reduce the required dose by orders of magnitude and minimize the damage done to normal cells. Targeting the cancer cells is accomplished by using targeted delivery vehicles that specifically recognize the affected cells. The vehicles are functionalized by coupling ligands such as antibodies, peptide, or aptamers. This review paper describes the main FDA approved or in clinical trials formulations of liposomes, aptamers, and aptamer-liposomes. Aptamer-liposomes seem to be very attractive systems for the delivery of drugs for the treatment of various types of cancer.
Chen Software Reliability Growth Model
Authors: Hanifatu Mumuni Napari , Nasiru Suleman , Dioggban Jakperik
Published: March 2022

Software reliability analysis is very vital in software development. Software manufacturers assess the quality of their developed software through this analysis. This has triggered the development of reliability models. Software reliability growth models have been used extensively to examine the quality of manufactured software before they are sent to the market. This study presents a new software reliability growth model using Chen distribution. The Chen software reliability growth model is then used to establish sequential probability ratio test limits for determining whether a manufactured software is reliable or unreliable. The applications of the proposed model revealed that it performs better than some of the existing software reliability growth models for the given datasets.
Molecular Characterization of Resistance and Virulence Genes in Escherichia coli Isolated from Bats (Eidolon helvum) Faeces in Osun State, Nigeria
Authors: Oluwatoyin Modupe Aladejana, , Antonia Olufunke Oluduro, , Oluwakemi Abike Thonda, , Ayodele Oluwayemisi Ogunlade , Oladiran Famurewa,
Published: March 2022

Escherichia coli is one of the primary intestinal commensal organisms found in endothermic      animals and hence, it is widely disseminated in the environment. A total of 36 (10.68%)               Escherichia coli was isolated from 101 faecal samples collected from straw coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) faeces  from three different major cities (Ile-Ife, Osogbo and Ilesa) in Osun State, Nigeria. The E. coli isolates showed a higher percentage antibiotic resistance to augumentin (83.33%), followed by cefuroxime (69.44%), ceftazidime (55.55%), amoxicillin (38.88%), and cefotaxime (33.33%), but relatively low to eterpenem, meropenem, and tetracycline (11.11%) and also nitrofurantoin (8.33%). Multiple antibiotic resistance to three or more antibiotics was recorded among the isolates in all the study locations. Escherichia coli (16.7%) were multiple antibiotic-resistant. Six (100%) of the multiple antibiotic-resistant E. coli posesses MultiDHA gene while 3 (50%) were positive for TEM gene.  The virulence gene eaeA had the highest prevalence of 83.3% while the least was observed in PAPC (16.7%) and ISS (16.7%) but no biofilm production was observed in all the isolates. The resistance found across the three locations indicated that resistance genes can be transmitted to other animal and human through direct and or indirect contact. The antibiotic resistance profile and patterns as well as the antibiotic resistance genes detected indicated the possibility of cross transmission and spread of the resistance trait among the organisms with great consequences in therapeutic management of infections resulting from such              a source. The dendrogram shows that the isolates were genetically related across the three locations.
Temperative Dependence of Electrical Conductivity in Semiconductors
Authors: Ujam Chinedu James , Adeniyi D. Adebayo
Published: March 2022

The electrical conductivity of a semiconductor material is between that of a conductor, such as metallic copper, and that of an insulator, such as glass. Its resistivity decreases as the temperature rises, whereas metals have the reverse effect. By adding impurities ("doping") into the crystal structure, its conducting characteristics can be changed in beneficial ways. A semiconductor junction is formed when two differentially doped areas in the same crystal occur. Diodes, transistors, and most contemporary electronics are built on the behavior of charge carriers such as electrons, ions, and electron holes at these junctions. Silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, and elements near the periodic table's "metalloid staircase" are examples of semiconductors. Gallium arsenide is the second most common semiconductor after silicon, and it's utilized in things like laser diodes, solar cells, and microwave-frequency integrated circuits. Silicon is a crucial component in the production of most electrical circuits. The electrical conductivity of semiconductors varies significantly with temperature. It acts as an insulator at absolute zero. Some of the semiconductor's covalent bonds disintegrate at room temperature due to thermal energy.
Establishment of Optimal Conditions to Extract Bioactive Substances from Gamazumi Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Sato Kumiko , Saito Takayuki , Hasegawa Akira , Kadoma Yoshihiro , Kobune Marina , Sato Yoshio , Kawaguchi Satomi , Yamamoto Ayumi , Furuya Kazuyuki , Nakamura Takanori , Sasaki Yu F.
Published: March 2022

The fruits of Gamazumi (Viburnum dilatatum THUNB) have been previously reported to suppress the adverse effects of oxidative stress in rats.  To reduce time and cost, we attempted to establish optimal conditions for extracting bioactive components from Gamazumi fruits using supercritical carbon dioxide.  To verify whether the conventional hexane extraction may be replaced by the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, component analysis results and antigenotoxic potential in mice were used to compare bioactivity of the supercritical carbon dioxide and hexane extracts.  

At the same extraction pressure, the extraction rate was maximized when supercritical carbon dioxide with a low temperature was used, and extraction efficiency was improved.  GC/MS analysis revealed that vitamins E and stigmasterols were included in supercritical carbon dioxide and hexane extracts, and that no qualitative differences between supercritical carbon dioxide and hexane extracts were observed.  The antigenotoxic potential of Gamazumi extracts was studied in mice exposed to cigarette smoke inhalation.  Mice received single or 5 consecutive oral administrations of Gamazumi extracts at 0, 3, and 6 h prior to smoke inhalation.  Although single administration decreased nuclei tail length in the stomach when both administration and the intervals of smoke inhalation were short, five consecutive administrations decreased tail length in the lung and stomach regardless of the interval.  At short intervals, inhaled cigarette smoke and orally administered extracts may be simultaneously present in the gastric cavity, and direct reaction between cigarette smoke and extract is possible.  The antioxidant activity of Gamazumi extracts may result in antigenotoxic potential.  There were no differences in component analysis and antigenotoxic potential between supercritical carbon dioxide and hexane extracts of Gamazumi; thus, it is possible to replace the conventional hexane extraction with the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.
Evaluation of Apoptotic Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Andrographis paniculata Linn in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines
Authors: Kannan Sneha , Lakshmi T. , Kumar Raghunandha , Roy Anita
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Andrographis paniculata is one of the highly used potential medicinal plants in the world. This plant is traditionally used for the treatment of common cold, diarrhoea, fever due to several infective cause, jaundice, as a health tonic for the liver and cardiovascular health, and as an antioxidant. It is also used to improve sexual dysfunctions and serve as a contraceptive. All parts of this plant are used to extract the active phytochemicals, but the compositions of phytoconstituents widely differ from one part to another and with place, season, and time of harvest.

Materials and Methods: All data obtained were analysed by Student t test using MS- Excel. The results were computed statistically using one way ANOVA.The reagents used were MTT [3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl) 2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide]: 0.5 mg MTT/ml of serum-free DMEM, Solubilization solution: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)and Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS; pH 7.4).The cytotoxic effects of lycopene Ag NP on 3T3 cells. Cells were treated with Lycopene Ag NP(10, 20, 30, 50, 100 and 200 μM) for 24 h, and cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. Data are shown as means ± SD (n = 3). * compared with the control-blank group, p < 0.001.

Results: The results were evaluated using three tests namely, MTT assay, Dual staining (acridine orange/ethidium bromide) and morphological changes.

Conclusion: Different stages of apoptosis revealed the importance of A.paniculata in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Andrographolide and analogues have been subjected to extensive chemico- biological investigations for anticancer drug development. Several andrographolide analogues have shown superior anticancer activities in both in vitro and in vivo models. Further clinical and biomedical studies are required to confirm the pharmacological, pharmaceutical and toxicological properties of andrographolide.
Prevalence of Denture Stomatitis among Patients Visiting Private Dental Hospital in Chennai - An Institutional Study
Authors: Lakshmi S. B. Sree , Ramani Pratibha
Published: March 2022

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of denture stomatitis among patients visiting private dental colleges in Chennai.

Introduction:  Denture stomatitis is the inflammation of the denture bearing mucosa mostly affecting elderly population. The classical signs of denture stomatitis are burning sensation, bad taste, discomfort and sometimes they are asymptomatic. It occurs mostly under the maxillary denture due to less salivary gland, high retention, poor cleansing activity of the tongue.

Materials and Method: This is a descriptive study which was performed under a university setting in which the data of patients who were diagnosed with denture stomatitis in the department of oral medicine at a private dental college in Chennai, India from June 2019- February 2021. The data was collected by reviewing patient records and the analysis of data of n =5,35,951 was done. The parameters such as age of the patient, gender of the patient, site of lesion and clinic type were noted in the study. The collected data was compiled, reviewed, tabulated in spss software (version 22.0) for statistical analysis.

Results: The prevalence of denture stomatitis is about 30.58% and  more common among the age group of 70-79 years and had a more female prediction. The most common site of denture stomatitis was the maxillary denture (80%) and most of the patients had undergone treatment in Undergraduate clinics (86.78%).

Conclusion: Thus the knowledge of prevalence of denture stomatitis and correlation with various parameters is essential in dental practices for improving clinical performance.
Developing Process for Multi-modal Sustained Pressure Trigger Point
Authors: Nikam Prasannajeet Pramod
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Myofascial torment disorder presents as clinically alluded torment, a restricted scope of movement in the joints, and is related with a nearby jerk reaction and engine endplates following mechanical incitement of the MTRP.

Objective: Of the present disclosure is to provide a multi-modal sustained pressure trigger point release process intended to treat myo-fascial trigger points (MTrP’s) in both static as well as dynamic ways.

Method: The multimodal sustained pressure trigger point release process comprises the steps of keeping the muscle in shortened or contracted position and applying apply gradual pressure over the MTrP using the thumb pad of the dominant side.

Result: The MTrP is located by superficial palpation throughout the length of the muscle.

Conclusion: The patients who were observed after giving treatment under MRTP have showed better recovery when compared with those who were not given such treatment.
Upper Crossed Syndrome: Trends and Recent Advances in the Physiotherapy Treatment a Narrative Review
Authors: Mol Neha , Ashok Abeeshna , K. U. Dhanesh Kumar
Published: March 2022

Background: How does it affect the quality of life of the patient?

Upper Crossed Syndrome (UCS) is also discussed as proximal or shoulder crossed syndrome. According to Vladimir Janda, UCS is characterized by the tightness of the levator scapulae muscle, upper trapezius muscle, on dorsal sides crosses with tightness of pectoralis major muscle and minor muscle. Weakness of the deep cervical flexors ventrally crosses along with weakness of the middle and the lower trapezius. The weakness and tightness lead to postural imbalance. In addition to this, it creates postural patterning of rounded shoulder forward head posture, loss of cervical lordosis, and increased kyphosis. These can lead to postural adjustment in the upper quarter of the body.

Materials and Methods: Out of 17 articles screened 8 studies are included in this review according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria are forward head posture, articles from the year 2011 to 2021, patient age between 20-50 years, article published in English languages, articles available in full text, and RCT’S. The exclusion criteria are, articles published before 2011, age less than 20 years and more than 50 years old, articles published other than English language, and articles not available with full text. Relevant studies were retrieved through Cochrane, PubMed, CINHAL, and Embase databases from the year 2011 to 2021.

Results: All the physiotherapeutic treatments including conventional and recent trends showed a beneficial effect on patient with upper crossed syndrome or postural abnormalities.

Conclusion: All physiotherapy interventions like strengthening and stretching, resistance exercises, postural correction exercises, and ROM exercises has a positive effect on the prevention and treatment of upper crossed syndrome. Also, recent trends like dry needling, yoga therapy, myofascial trigger release, eccentric muscle energy technique, Kinesio taping, and IFT and EMG activity has also shown positive result in UCS.
Insight on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as an Adjunctive Treatmentin Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Review
Authors: Eladl Hadaya M. , Allam Nesma M. , Abdelbasset Walid Kamal , Eid Marwa M.
Published: March 2022

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a source of major concern for both patients and health care systems. DFU is the most expensive and devastating complication of diabetes mellitus, which affect 15% of diabetic patients during their lifetime. That can lead to infection, gangrene, amputation, and even death if necessary care is not provided. On the other hand, once DFU has developed, there is an increased risk of ulcer progression that may ultimately lead to amputation. Overall, the rate of lower limb amputation in patients with diabetes mellitus is 15 times higher than patients without diabetes. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can be defined as a mode of medical treatment in which the patient is entirely enclosed in a pressure chamber and breathes 100% oxygen at a pressure greater than 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA). HBOT can be used as an adjunct to standard wound care in the treatment of diabetic patients with foot ulcers. HBOT has been demonstrated to have an antimicrobial effect and to increase oxygenation of hypoxic wound tissues. This enhances neutrophil killing ability, stimulates angiogenesis, and enhances fibroblast activity, collagen synthesis and alter vascular activity. Thus, theoretically, HBOT could improve the healing of ischemic foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. This review focuses on providing an up-to-date summary of the currently available evidence-based data on HBOT in DFU, as well as elaborating its use in the management of diabetic injuries both ischemic and non-ischemic ulcers.
The clinically relevant triple mutation in the mtND1 gene inactivates Escherichia coli complex I
Authors: Hoeser Franziska , Weiß Maximilian , Friedrich Thorsten
Published: March 2022

NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (respiratory complex I) plays a major role in cellular energy metabolism. Complex I deficiencies are the most common cause of mitochondrial dysfunction. Patients suffering from a variety of neurodegenerative diseases carry numerous mutations in the mitochondrially encoded subunits of the complex. The biochemical consequences of these mutations are largely unknown because these genes are difficult to access experimentally. Here, we use Escherichia coli as a model system to characterize the effect of a 7 bps inversion in mtND1 (m.3902‐3908inv7) that results in a triple mutation. The triple mutant grew poorly but contained a normal amount of the stably assembled variant. The variant showed no enzymatic activity, which might contribute to the deleterious effect of the mutation in humans.