bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The compound role of a coordinator for home-dwelling persons with dementia and their informal caregivers: A qualitative study
Authors: Fæø Stein Erik , Tranvåg Oscar , Samdal Rune , Husebo Bettina S. , Bruvik Frøydis
Published: November 2020

Background: As the number of persons with dementia is increasing, there has been a call for establishing sustainable clinical pathways for coordinating care and support for this group. The LIVE@Home.Path trial is a multicomponent, multi-disciplinary intervention combining learning, innovation, volunteer support and empowerment. To implement the intervention, a municipal coordinator has a crucial role. Implementation research on multicomponent interventions is complex and we conducted a qualitative study, aiming to explore the coordinator role and how a coordinator may empower persons with dementia in decision-making processes. Methods: Qualitative program evaluation combined with a hermeneutic interpretive approach was chosen as methodological approach. Sixteen dyads, consisting of the person with dementia and their main informal caregiver received the intervention by two coordinators. Of these, six dyads, three informal caregivers alone and the two care coordinators along with their leader, in sum, eighteen persons, participated in in-depth or focus group interviews, sharing their experiences after six months intervention.Results: We found that the coordinators fulfilled three functions for the participating dyads: being a safety net, meaning that the dyads might have little needs at the moment, but found safety in a relation to someone who might help if the situation should change; being a pathfinder, meaning that they supported the dyads in finding their way through the complicated system of care and support services; being a source for emotional care and support, meaning that they listened, acknowledged and gave counsel in times of distress. The coordinators emphasized that a trusting leader and work environment was crucial for them to fulfill these functions. We also found that it was challenging for the coordinators to build a relation to the persons with dementia in order to pursue genuine empowerment in decision-making processes. Conclusion: We found the framework for follow-up to be a feasible starting point for establishing empowering coordination and a sustainable care pathway for persons with dementia and their informal caregivers. More meeting points between coordinator and person with dementia should be pursued in order to fulfill the persons’ fundamental rights to participate in decision-making processes.
Level and determinants of willingness to donate organs among the general public: A cross-sectional survey in China
Authors: Fan Xiaojing , Zheng Sirui , Li Meng , Wang Duolao , Li Enchang , Zhou Zhongliang , Zheng Weirong , Wang Lingling , Zhang Qing , Li Yingying , Lin Jianfeng
Published: November 2020

Background: This study aims to assess the level and determinants of the general public’s willingness to organ donation. Methods: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of 4261 participants in China. The primary outcome was the willingness to donate organs. Logistic regression modelling was used to determine the factors that affect willingness to donate organs. Results: Overall, the proportion of participants who showed a willingness to donate organs was 47.45% (95%CI: 0.46, 0.49) in this study. Logistic regression modelling showed participants from Western (OR=1.33, 95%CI=1.11-1.59) and Eastern China (OR=1.40, 95%CI=1.19-1.65) were more willing to donate organs compared with those from Central China. The odds of being willing to donate organs was higher in females than males (OR=1.35, 95%CI=1.17-1.55); and was higher in those participants with experience of organ donation (OR=1.58, 95%CI=1.13-2.21), experience of caring for organ transplant patients (OR=1.45, 95%CI=1.01-2.07), and those undertaking related voluntary activities (OR=1.67, 95%CI=1.45-1.94), than those without. Conclusion: The general public’s level of willingness to organ donation was not high in China. Geographical region, gender, experience of organ donation related activities, taking care of organ transplant patients and volunteering in related activities were independently associated with participants’ willingness to donate organs.
A comparative case study of prescribing and non-prescribing physiotherapists and podiatrists
Authors: Carey Nicola , Edwards Judith , Otter Simon , Gage Heather , Williams Peter , Courtenay Molly , Moore Ann , Stenner Karen
Published: November 2020

Background: Increasing numbers of nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals across the world have prescribing rights for medicines: over 90,000 of the eligible United Kingdom workforce are qualified as non-doctor prescribers. In order to inform future developments, it is important to understand the benefits and impact of prescribing by allied health professionals including physiotherapists and podiatrists.Aim: to compare outcomes of physiotherapist and podiatrist Independent Prescriber (PP- IP) patients with those of physiotherapist and podiatrist non-prescribers (PP-NPs). Outcome measures included patient satisfaction, ease of access to services, quality of life and cost implications.Design: a mixed method comparative case study Methods: Using mixed methods of data collection, outcomes were compared between 7 sites where care was provided from a PP-IP (3 podiatrist and 4 physiotherapist IPs) and 7 sites from a PP-NP (3 podiatrist and 4 physiotherapist NPs). Patients were followed up for 2 months (2015-2016). Results: 489 patients were recruited: n=243 IP sites, and n=246 NP sites. Independent prescribing was found to be highly acceptable, and equivalent in terms of quality of life (p>0.05) and patient satisfaction (p≤0.05) compared to care provided by NPs. PP-IP care delivery was found to be more resource intensive than PP-NP, with longer consultation duration for IPs (around 6.5 mins), and a higher proportion of physiotherapy patients discussed with medical colleagues (around 9.5 minutes). Conclusion: This study provides new knowledge that PP-IPs provide high levels of care. PP-IP care delivery was found to be more resource intensive. Further research is required to explore cost effectiveness. A more focussed exploration within each profession using targeted outcome measures would enable a more robust comparison, inform future developments around the world and help ensure non-doctor prescribing is recognised as an effective way to alleviate shortfalls in the global workforce.
A designathon to co-create community-driven HIV self-testing services for Nigerian youth: findings from a participatory event
Authors: Tahlil Kadija M , Obiezu-Umeh Chisom , Gbajabiamila Titi , Nwaozuru Ucheoma , Oladele David , Musa Adesola Z , Idigbe Ifeoma , Okwuzu Jane , David Agatha N , Bamidele Tajudeen A , Airhihenbuwa Collins O , Rosenberg Nora E , Tang Weiming , Ong Jason J , Conserve Donaldson F , Iwelunmor Juliet , Ezechi Oliver , Tucker Joseph D
Published: November 2020

Background: Youth are at high risk for HIV, but are often left out of designing interventions, including those focused on adolescents. We organized a designathon for Nigerian youth to develop HIV self-testing (HIVST) strategies for potential implementation in their local communities. A designathon is a problem-focused event where participants work together over a short period to create and present solutions to a judging panel.Methods: We organized a 72-hour designathon for youth (14-24 years old) in Nigeria to design strategies to increase youth HIVST uptake. Proposals included details about HIVST kit service delivery, method of distribution, promotional strategy, and youth audience. Teams pitched their proposals to a diverse seven-member judging panel who scored proposals based on desirability, feasibility, potential impact and teamwork. We examined participants’ socio-demographic characteristics and summarized themes from their HIVST proposals.Results: Forty-two youth on 13 teams participated in the designathon. The median team size was 3 participants (IQR: 2–4). The median age was 22.5 years (IQR: 21–24), 66.7% were male, 47.4% completed tertiary education, and 50% lived in Lagos State. Themes from proposals included HIVST integration with other health services, digital marketing and distribution approaches, and engaging students. Judges identified seven teams with exceptional HIVST proposals and five teams were supported for further training.Conclusions: The designathon provided a structured method for incorporating youth ideas into HIV service delivery. This approach could differentiate HIV services to be more youth-friendly in Nigeria and other settings.
Employment Changes among Chinese Family Caregivers of Long-Term Cancer Survivors
Authors: Liu Siqi , Su Mingzhu , Yao Nengliang , Zhang Nan , Wang Jialin , Anderson Roger. T. , Sun Xiaojie
Published: November 2020

Background: Family caregivers (FCGs) play a key role in the plan of care provision for long-term cancer survivors, yet few studies have been conducted on the impact of long-term caregiving on FCGs and their employment patterns. This study aims to further our understanding of the effect that caregiving role has on FCGs by identifying what cancer-related characteristics influence reduction of employment hours among FCGs in the post-treatment phase in China. Methods: A total of 1155 cancer survivors participated in this study. Patients reported changes in the employment patterns of their FCGs. Descriptive analysis looked at demographic and cancer-related characteristics of cancer survivors and types of FCGs’ employment changes in both primary- and post-treatment phases. Chi-square test was used to statistically test the association between survivors’ characteristics and changes in FCGs’ hours of labor force work in post-treatment phase. Separate multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between cancer-related characteristics of participants and employment reduction patterns among FCGs in post-treatment phase while controlling for demographic factors.Results: In the primary-treatment phase, 45.6% of all FCGs reduced their working hours and 17.4% stopped working altogether. In the post-treatment phase, 25.2% of FCGs worked fewer hours and 6.6% left the workforce completely. The results show that a higher probability of change in employment hours among FCGs is associated with the following patient characteristics: having comorbidities, receiving chemotherapy treatment, limited ability to perform physical tasks, limited ability to perform mental tasks, and diagnosis of stage II of cancer.Conclusions: Care for cancer patients in both primary- and post- treatment phases may have substantial impacts on hours of formal employment of Chinese FCGs. Interventions helping FCGs balance caregiving duties with labor force work are warranted.
Trait Emotional Intelligence and Its Correlates with the Level of Burnout Syndrome among First-year Resident Physicians in Oman
Authors: Huseini Salim Al , Alawi Mohammed Al , Al-Balushi Naser , Sinawi Hamed Al , Mirza Hassan , Balushi Rola Al , Balushi Manal Al , Jose Sachin , Al-Sibani Nasser , Al-Adawi Samir
Published: November 2020

Background:Existing literature is replete of the magnitude of occupational burnout among physicians and the role of emotional intelligence in moderating poor coping among physicians. However, these domains have not been explored in physicians in the Arabian Gulf countries. The study aims to quantify the rate of the presence of occupational burnout and trait emotional intelligence, the relationship between trait emotional intelligence and domains of occupational burnout, and demographic factors associated with occupational burnout.Methods:This was a cross-sectional, observational study conducted between June to August 2018 among first-year residents in Oman. The outcome measure included indices of composite and subscale (emotional exhaustion-EE, depersonalization -DP and personal accomplishment -PA) of Abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI) and a composite score of Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEI) and its subscales (Self-control, Sociability, and Emotionality).Results:The overall rate of high burnout was 25.8.%, with 57.5% residents reporting high levels of EE, 50.8% high DP, and 49.2% reporting a low sense of PA. Age was significantly associated with DP and PA (P < 0.003) and (P < 0.0001) respectively. Marital status was the only variable associated with EE (p = 0.001). EE was significantly lower in single residents compared with married (P = 0.001). The global mean (± SD) of the TEI was 4.77. A statistically significant relationship was between PA and EI (r = 0.203, P = 0.026). The role of age and marital status were also significant.Conclusion:Among first-year medical trainees in Oman, the prevalence of burnout was 25.8%. This collaborates the trend in the existing literature that occupational burnout is common among tomorrow’s doctors. From this cross-cultural population, TEI did not impact the variation in aMBI, therefore, suggesting orthogonality of such domains.
Social and cognitive interactions through an interactive school service for RTT patients at the COVID-19 time
Authors: Dovigo Lucia , Caprì Tindara , Iannizzotto Giancarlo , Nucita Andrea , Semino Martina , Giannatiempo Samantha , Zocca Lia , Fabio Rosa Angela
Published: November 2020

Background: The closure of all educational institutions and most rehabilitation centres represents a precautionary measure to face the COVID-19 pandemic, but the isolation and social distancing may be particularly challenging for children with special needs and disabilities (SEND), such as Rett Syndrome (RTT). The main aim of this study was to promote cognitive and social interactions among children with RTT through an interactive school program. Methods: The Interactive School palimpsest was composed of moments in which a teacher spoke directly to children with RTT and expected a response through eye gaze, and moments in which stories-cartoon were presented while tracking the eye gaze of children. We investigated behavioural, social and cognitive parameters.Results: Children participated in both social and cognitive tasks with the spontaneous reduction of stereotypies and with increase in attention. They recalled more significant indexes when music or a song was presented together with a cartoon or a cognitive task. Conclusions: This study provides initial insights in promoting cognitive and social interactions and in the support needs of families with a child with RTT during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Machine learning prediction for mortality of patients diagnosed with COVID-19: a nationwide Korean cohort study
Authors: An Chansik , Lim Hyunsun , Kim Dong-Wook , Chang Jung Hyun , Choi Yoon Jung , Kim Seong Woo
Published: November 2020

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has resulted in the shortage of medical resources, which necessitates accurate prognosis prediction to triage patients effectively. This study used the nationwide cohort of South Korea to develop a machine learning model to predict prognosis based on sociodemographic and medical information. Of 10,237 COVID-19 patients, 228 (2.2%) died, 7,772 (75.9%) recovered, and 2,237 (21.9%) were still in isolation or being treated at the last follow-up (April 16, 2020). The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that age > 70, male sex, moderate or severe disability, the presence of symptoms, nursing home residence, and comorbidities of diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic lung disease, or asthma were significantly associated with increased risk of mortality (p ≤ 0.047). For machine learning, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), linear support vector machine (SVM), SVM with radial basis function kernel, random forest (RF), and k-nearest neighbors were tested. In prediction of mortality, LASSO and linear SVM demonstrated high sensitivities (90.7% [95% confidence interval: 83.3, 97.3] and 92.0% [85.9, 98.1], respectively) and specificities (91.4% [90.3, 92.5] and 91.8%, [90.7, 92.9], respectively) while maintaining high specificities >90%, as well as high area under the receiver operating characteristics curves (0.963 [0.946, 0.979] and 0.962 [0.945, 0.979], respectively). The most significant predictors for LASSO included old age and preexisting DM or cancer; for RF they were old age, infection route (cluster infection or infection from personal contact), and underlying hypertension. The proposed prediction model may be helpful for the quick triage of patients without having to wait for the results of additional tests such as laboratory or radiologic studies, during a pandemic when limited medical resources must be wisely allocated without hesitation.
Lateral lymph node dissection reduces local recurrence of locally advanced lower rectal cancer in the absence of preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gao Xiang , Wang Cun , Yu Yong-Yang , Singh Dujanand , Yang Lie , Zhou Zong-Guang
Published: November 2020

Background: The impact of lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) in locally advanced lower rectal cancer remains controversial. This study is to compare total mesorectal excision (TME) with or without LLND in lower rectal cancer cases of stage II/III.Methods: The electronic databases were systematically searched that compared TME with or without LLND among patients with lower rectal cancer in clinical stage II/III. Subgroup analysis was performed considering neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). The hazard ratios (HR), relative risk (RR), and weighted mean difference (WMD) were pooled.Results: Twelve studies of 4458 patients of this meta-analysis demonstrate, LLND alone significantly reduced the local recurrence rate of patients who did not receive nCRT (RR 0.71, P=0.004), while the difference was not significant when combined with nCRT (RR 0.70, P=0.36). The analysis shows TME with LLND was associated with significantly longer operation time (WMD 90.73 min, P<0.001), more intraoperative blood loss (WMD 303.20 mL, P<0.001), and postoperative complications (RR=1.35, P=0.02). Whereas Urinary dysfunction (RR 1.44, P=0.38), sexual dysfunction (RR 1.41, P=0.17), and postoperative mortality (RR=1.52, P=0.70), were similar between these two groups. Statistically, no significant differences were observed in OS (HR 0.93, P=0.62), DFS (HR 0.99, P=0.96), total recurrence (RR 0.98, P=0.83), lateral recurrence (RR 0.49, P=0.14), or distal recurrence (RR 0.95, P=0.78) between these two groups regardless of whether nCRT was performed or not.Conclusions: The study shows LLND alone decreases the local recurrence without using nCRT irrespective of the survival advantage in locally advanced lower rectal cancer. The benefit of controlling local recurrence by LLND alone makes us reconsider the usage of nCRT with LLND.Registration: The protocol for this meta-analysis was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (CRD42020135575) on May 16, 2019.
Incident reports involving hospital administrative staff: analysis of data from the Japan Council for Quality Health care nationwide database
Authors: Akiyama Naomi , Akiyama Tomoya , Hayashida Kenshi , Shiroiwa Takeru , Koeda Keisuke
Published: November 2020

Background: Task shifting and task sharing in health care are rapidly becoming more common as the shortage of physicians increases. However, research has not yet examined the changing roles of hospital administrative staff. This study clarified: (1) the adverse incidents caused by hospital administrative staff, and the direct and indirect impact of these incidents on patient care; and (2) the incidents that directly involved hospital administrative staff. Methods: This study used case report data from the Japan Council for Quality Health care collected from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2019, including a total of 30,823 reports. In April 2020, only the 88 self-reported incidents by hospital administrative staff were downloaded, excluding incidents reported by those in medical and co-medical occupations. Data from three reports implicating pharmacists were rejected and the quantitative and textual data from the remaining 85 case reports were analyzed in terms of whether they impacted patient care directly or indirectly.Results: Thirty-nine reports (45.9%) involved direct impact on patient care, while 46 (54.1%) involved indirect impact on patient care. Most incidents that directly impacted patient care involved administrative staff writing prescriptions on behalf of a doctor (n=24, 61.5%); followed by errors related to system administration, information, and documentation (n=7, 17.9%). Most reported errors that indirectly affected patient care were related to system administration, information, and documentation used by administrative staff (n=22, 47.8%), or to reception (n=9, 19.6%). Almost all errors occurred during weekdays. Most frequent incidents involved outpatients (n=23, 27.1%), or occurred next to examination/operation rooms (n=12, 14.1%). Further, a total of 14 cases (16.5%) involved patient misidentification. Conclusions: Incidents involving hospital administrative staff, the most common of which are medication errors from incorrect prescriptions, can lead to severe consequences for patients. Given that administrative staff now form a part of medical treatment teams, improvements in patient care may require further submission and review of incident reports involving administrative staff.
Dentists’ entrepreneurial intention and associated factors in public hospitals in major cities in Guangdong (South China): a cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Jiabi , Peng Bin , Zhou Hongzhi , Zhang Jing Hua
Published: November 2020

Background: A rapid growth in private dentistry in China has been observed during recent years. Promoting the entrepreneurship of dentists has increasingly received attention in both dentistry and dental education worldwide. However, understanding about the unique features of entrepreneurial behaviors of dentists remains inadequate.Methods: This study examines dentist’s entrepreneurial intention (EI), which was represented by his/her intention of leaving the public hospital system to be engaged in the private sector. Through a snowball sampling method, a total of 336 questionnaires from public hospitals in five major cities in Guangdong Province (China) were collected. The association between the dentists’ EI and their individual characteristics were analyzed using a logistic regression model.Results: In the sample studied, 35.7% of the respondents reported to have EI. Female dentists are less likely to report EI (OR=0.365, p =0.001). Dentists in the age group of 36 to 45 years (OR=14.205, p =0.012) and those aged over 45 years (OR=8.45, p =0.066) reported respectively a much stronger EI than those in their 20s. Compared with intern dentists, attending dentists (OR=7.812, p =0.016) and associate/chief dentists (OR=9.857, p =0.021) were significantly more likely to report EI. Those with master level (OR=0.221, p =0.021) or doctorate degrees (OR=0.118, p =0.005) are much less likely to report EI. Meanwhile, those in mid-large hospitals (with 101-200 employees) (OR=3.554, p =0.036) and small hospitals (with < 50 employees) (OR=2.398, p =0.044) reported a stronger EI than those in large hospitals. Additionally, dentists’ entrepreneurial behaviors, risk aversion attitudes and their family background all have significant associations.Conclusions: Since dentistry is a knowledge-intensive industry, dentists’ entrepreneurial behaviors have their own features. The findings by this study suggest that, accumulation of practical skills in a dental career, as implied by age, professional qualifications and leadership skills, help to promote EI, whereas an academic oriented education degree per se does not. Dentists in mid-large and small hospitals, rather than in top large hospitals in China, have higher EI. Additionally, female dentists may need more social supports to develop a higher EI. These findings have practical implications for the promotion of EI among dentists.
Influence of Educational background in Pathological Stage and Treatment Modalities in Iranian Breast Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Single Center Study
Authors: Kashi Amir Shahram Yousefi
Published: November 2020

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent diagnosed visceral cancer with 13400 new cases annually in Iranian women. There are a few studies in the west countries that indicates that breast cancer patients with higher educational background had better prognosis than patients with lower education background.Objectives: In a retrospective single center study we compared educational background and its relationship to pathological stage and their treatment modalities among 3010 breast cancer patients.Methods: Medical records of 3010 patients with breast cancer from database at Cancer Research Center of the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were reviewed and univariate logistic regression analysis was used for association between education background and its relationship to pathological breast cancer stage and treatment modalities.Results: The average age at diagnosis was 49.1 years ± 11.6 years. The proportion of breast cancer patients’ levels of education were 4.2 % illiterate, 7.8% primary school, 7.5% middle school, 21.8% high school and diploma, 18.6% university and above and 40.1% unspecified.Based on univariate logistic regression analysis, the illiterate group had 65.1% of early stage breast cancer (stage I and stage II), and the university and above group had 73.4% of early stage breast cancer (p-value<.001). The rate of receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endocrine therapy was in the illiterate group 35.7%, 42.1%, 50% and was in the university and above group 93.7%, 64.3% and 71.1% respectively(p-value<.001). The rate of breast conserving surgery (BCS) in the illiterate group, the primary school, the middle school, the high school and diploma, and the university and above group was 15.1%, 18%, 16.3%, 42.5%, and 73.2% respectively (p-value<.001).Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that education background have a signiﬁcant impact on pathological staging and the selection of treatment modalities.
Treatment of Anosmia and Ageusia in COVID-19 Patients by Using Coffee
Authors: Hosseini Asiyeh , Mirmahdi Esmaeil , Moghadam Mina Akbari
Published: November 2020

Introduction: The sudden onset of smell and taste loss has been reported as a symptom related to COVID-19. There is new evidence for the loss of smell and taste as a symptom of COVID-19 infection. Objectives: This study aims to examine influence of coffee on smell and taste of patients with Covid-19. Methods: In order to investigate the effect of coffee consumption on the taste and smell of COVID-19 patients, we attempted to sample in 20 provinces of the country, COVID-19 patients were separated by gender and underlying and non-underlying disease, doses of 15-20 mg for non-underlying patients and 25-30 mg for underlying patients. The reason for determining this amount of coffee is that every coffee we want to prepare needs a scoop of 14 grams of coffee, which we determine. For some people, it was determine 14 grams and for some people 28 grams of coffee was determined due to consumed in two cups of coffee.Results: Patients with COVID-19 had reversibility on the first and second day. It was clear that there is a small gap between the proportion of recovered patients in the underlying and non-underlying patients, but due to the high volume of observations, this small difference is evident.Discussion: The effectiveness time of coffee is debatable by prescribing its amount. The time efficiency of improving the sense of smell and taste with coffee consumption was lower in non-background patients than in patients.Conclusions: Anosmia and Ageusia is more prevalent in COVID-19 patients. Caffeine in coffee reduced the reversibility of the sense of smell and taste of people with COVID-19. It was concluded that the chances of recovery are higher for those who do not have the underlying disease than for the other groups and for those who suffer from all three types of the underlying disease than for the other groups.
SKiM - A generalized literature-based discovery system for uncovering novel biomedical knowledge from PubMed
Authors: Raja Kalpana , Steill John , Ross Ian , Tsoi Lam , Kuusisto Finn , Ni Zijian , Livny Miron , Thomson James , Stewart Ron
Published: November 2020

Literature-based discovery (LBD) uncovers undiscovered public knowledge by linking terms A to C via a B intermediate. Existing LBD systems are limited to process certain A, B, and C terms, and many are not maintained. We present SKiM (Serial KinderMiner), a generalized LBD system for processing any combination of A, Bs, and Cs. We evaluate SKiM via the rediscovery of discoveries by Don Swanson, who pioneered LBD. Using only literature from the 19th century up to a year before Swanson’s discoveries, SKiM uncovers all five discoveries. We apply SKiM to repurposing drugs for 26 conditions of high prevalence. Manual analysis confirmed 65 discoveries useful for four diseases from Swanson’s discoveries from one to 31 years prior to their first validation by clinical trials. SKiM predicts many new potential drug candidates representing prime targets for wet lab validation. SKiM can be applied to any biomedical inquiry sufficiently mentioned in the literature.
A theory of particle physics about quantum number constrained equation and particle singularity
Authors: Hua Ma
Published: November 2020

In this paper, two fundamental problems of particle physics are studied theoretically. The first one is: to solve the problem of establishing general quantum number constrained equation, the symmetry transformation mechanism of charge eigenstates for elementary particles is adopted, and the quantum number constrained equation is established, which is applicable to physical particles. For hadrons, this equation is completely consistent with Gell-Mann-Nishijima formula. For leptons, the lepton quantum numbers are exactly the solutions of this equation. The second one is: to solve the problem of understanding singularity and calculating singular numbers, a hypothesis that a composite particle may has virtual structure is proposed. According to this hypothesis, the singular particles must be composite particles, and have virtual structures. In a virtual structure, the particles and antiparticles of component particles can form particle-antiparticle pairs, which have great influence such as improving mass and changing life of composite particles. Therefore, the composite particle with particle-antiparticle pairs in its virtual structure is singular particle, and the singular number is the number of particle-antiparticle pairs. These two theoretical results are in good agreement with the already achieved experimental results of particle physics, can explain the related phenomena of physical particles from a deeper physical mechanism, and theoretically predict the existence of singular leptons and several new singular hadrons.
Effect of animal origin and farm altitude on some physicochemical properties and minerals of milk samples
Authors: Mohammed Mohammed Elimam , Brima Eid Ibrahim , Alasidy Aed , Qurishi Nasir , Algarni Moad
Published: November 2020

The physicochemical properties of milk depend on many factors, including the animal origin, animal health status, size, age, and nutrition, genetics, and environmental factors. This study investigated the effect of animal origin and altitude on some physicochemical properties of milk. The studied parameters were the pH, conductivity, moisture and ash percentages, total dissolved solids (TDS), specific gravity, sodium, potassium, and calcium. The animals from where the milk samples were collected were camels (8), goats (5) and sheep (6) and from two altitudes; 14 and 2110 meters above sea level. Standard methods were used to determine the physicochemical properties of milk samples while the flame photometer technique was used for the determination of the studied mineral concentrations. At the low altitude the conductivity was significantly different between the milks of the three ruminants and the moisture, TDS, specific gravity and calcium were significantly different between the camel and sheep milks. With regard to the animals living at the high altitude, the moisture, TDS, specific gravity and the ash were significantly different between the camel and sheep milks and between the sheep and goat milks while the minerals were insignificantly different between the three milk samples. Concerning the effect of altitude on each milk, it significantly affected the pH, conductivity, ash percentage, and potassium in the camel milk samples, while it significantly affected the conductivity, specific gravity, ash percentage and the calcium in goat milks whereas it significantly affected the ash percentage in the sheep milk samples. The animal origin and the altitude have significant effects on the majority of the studied parameters.
Mist chamber extraction for improved diagnosis of Meloidogyne spp. from golf course bermudagrass
Authors: Crow William T. , Habteweld Alemayehu , Bean Thomas
Published: November 2020

Meloidogyne spp. are among the most damaging plant-parasitic nematodes to golf course bermudagrass in the southern United States. Diagnostic samples processed by centrifugal flotation often recovered only low numbers of vermiform Meloidogyne spp. life stages (J2 and males) from soil, while roots were found to be heavily infested by sedentary life stages. Therefore, the University of Florida Nematode Assay Lab (NAL) evaluated mist extraction from turf plugs as a method for diagnosis of Meloidogyne spp. from golf course bermudagrass. Soil and turf plugs were obtained from 596 golf course bermudagrass small plots from multiple locations and cultivars over several years, and vermiform Meloidogyne spp. extracted from 100 cm3 of soil by centrifugal flotation and by mist chamber extraction from four 3.8-cm-diam. turf plugs were compared. Additionally, both extraction methods were performed on 431 golf course bermudagrass diagnostic samples received by the NAL from Florida, 36 golf course bermudagrass diagnostic samples from Texas, and 34 golf course bentgrass/bluegrass samples from California. In the small plots, and the bermudagrass samples from Florida and Texas, mist extraction had higher detection and recovery rates of vermiform Meloidogyne spp. than did centrifugal flotation. However, centrifugal flotation had higher detection and recovery rates than mist extraction from bentgrass/bluegrass samples from California. Mist extraction from turf plugs is superior to centrifugal flotation from soil for diagnosis of Meloidogyne spp. on golf course bermudagrass, but not on golf course bentgrass and bluegrass.
RELIGIOUS PROCESSES IN SOCIAL LIFE OF EARLY MEDIEVAL SUGHD
Authors:   PhD Student,Samarkand State University., Bobirogli Sattorov Eldor
Published: November 2020

This article presents the problem of religious processes, one of the most significant aspects of early medieval Sogdian society.The article discusses facts about the development of Zoroastrianism and Buddhism. The influence of Turkish-Sogdian relations on religious processes is also shown.The archival documents of the Sogdian inscription found on Mount Mugh describe the processes related to religious processes.
An analysis of Granger causality between sovereign credit rating and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Mutize Misheck , V. Mugobo Virimai
Published: November 2020

Interest in the relationship between credit rating and economic growth is growing as emerging economies increasingly integrate into international financial markets. Without credit ratings, developing economies would not have been able to successfully issue their sovereign bonds to support economic growth. Therefore, this paper examines a causality relationship between Standard & Poor’s long-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings and economic growth in 19 Sub-Saharan countries over the period from 2003 to 2018. The results of the Granger causality tests show a unidirectional causality from sovereign credit ratings to economic growth, not vice versa. This implies that economic growth is not significant in determining sovereign credit ratings. It can thus be concluded from these findings that sovereign credit ratings are proactive actions by rating agencies that are relevant in determining future economic growth. Thus, investors benefit from utilizing credit ratings to prevent inherent information asymmetry in fundamental economic factors. Therefore, it is important for policy makers to pay attention to sovereign credit ratings when formulating macroeconomic policies.
Development of Socio-Psychological Adaptation of Personality in College Students from Substitute Families
Authors: Morozova Irina , Borisenko Alena
Published: November 2020

The research featured various means of psychological and pedagogical support of college students from foster families aimed at developing their socio-psychological adaptation. The authors identified the key characteristics of the socio-psychological adaptability of underage orphan students. Students that spent less than a year in foster families combined adaptation with behavioral regulation and demonstrated communicative potential, long-term goals, interest in life, and a sense of purpose. They were active, strong, and satisfied with their self-realization and self-image. Their maladaptation disorders, as well as asthenic and psychotic reactions, were minimal. The key characteristics of the socio-psychological adaptation of minor students from foster families were manifested in the inverse relationship of maladaptation with the life process, locus of self-control, behavioral regulation, communicative potential, moral norms and maladaptation disorders. In underage students from orphanages, adaptation was associated with the locus of control – life, behavioral regulation and minimized asthenic reactions. The authors designed and tested a set of means of psychological and pedagogical support that improve the socio-psychological adaptation of students from foster families. The experiment demonstrated a positive dynamics in the level of adaptation, emotional comfort, sense of purpose, internality and personal adaptive potential, as well as a decrease in the level of maladaptation.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OFFENCE IN THE SPHERE OF LABOR: THE CONTEMPORARY SITUATION AND PERSPECTIVES OF DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Grishkovets Alexey A.
Published: November 2020

This article analyzes the principles of the new project of the Code of the Russian Federation of Administrative Offences in the sphere of the labor relationships. The importance of this topic lies in the fact that the draft of the new Code provides significant changes in the administrative responsibility in the study area. Its analysis is of interest to legal scholars and practitioners who use the RF Code, as it allows scientific assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of the upcoming innovations. Additionally, in theory, it can provide a better understanding of the relationship between the administrative and labor law as an illustrative example of the interaction between the branches of public and private law.
This research has required using the formal-dogmatic, logical, systematic and statistical methods of cognition, which are widely used in legal science in general, as well as the science of the administrative and labor law in particular.
The results show that the norms of administrative and labor laws interact closely as a result of their systematic use in certain spheres of legal regulation. One of them is the sphere of administrative responsibility for offence in the sphere of the labor relationships.
Having compared the appropriate norms of the acting RF Code of Administrative Offences with the new project, the author presents the changes which will take place in legislative regulation of administrative responsibility for the offences in the sphere of the labor relationships as a result of adopting the new RF Code on administrative offences.
The author concludes that after the adoption and legal implementation of the new RF Code of Administrative Offences, the legal mechanism of administrative responsibility will be noticeably improved, which will allow for more effective protection of human rights at work and ensurance of the legality in the sphere of labor.
THE FUTURE COMPETENCIES OF SERVICE SPECIALISTS IN THE CURRENT SERVICE ECONOMY
Authors: Pesha Anastasiya V. , Shavrovskaya Marina N. , Polushina Irina S.
Published: November 2020

This article analyzes the relationship between the requirements for the development of specialists’ supra-professional competencies in the service activities, imposed by the dynamics development of the service economy, and the students’ opinions about the importance of their development at the university.
The methodological basis of the research includes the theoretical concepts of competence management and the service economy. The main method of the research is a comparative analysis of data from a students’ survey of the International Institute of Design and Service regarding the importance, self-assessment and opportunities for developing the specialists’ supra-professional competencies on the labor market. The authors have also applied the theoretical research methods (analysis, synthesis, specification, generalization, method of analogies), the methods of graphical presentation of the results and the mathematical statistics.
The authors present a model of the specialist’ supra-professional competencies in the service economy, which has formed the basis for the development of the empirical part of the study. As a result, the authors have confirmed the hypothesis of lower self-esteem indicators in comparison with the students’ opinion on the importance of developing pre-professional competencies in the labor market. The revealed fact does not depend on the presence of students of a sample of current employment. It is established that there are statistically significant differences in the students’ opinions on the importance and the possibilities of developing the supra-professional competencies at the university. The authors make a conclusion about the need to increase attention to the development of the supra-professional competencies, the list of which is supposed to be supplemented with socio-emotional and digital competencies that are important for the effective activity of the graduates in the digital service environment.
Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Hybrid 2-Heteroaryl Benzimidazole- Chalcone Derivatives as Anticancer Agents
Authors: Kumar Gajula Shyam , Rathnakar Bethi , Gattu Sridhar , Jadav Surender Singh , Rameshwar Nimma , Boyapati Shireesha , Satyanarayana Mavurapu
Published: November 2020

A series of 2-heteroaryl benzimidazole-chalcone hybrids were synthesized and the anticancer
activity was estimated by MTT assay in human breast, lung, colon, and ovarian cancer cell lines. The
biological results indicate that the compounds showed good anticancer activity with IC50 value in the
range of 0.056-19.5 μM. Compound 11b with hexa methoxy groups, bearing three methoxy groups on
each terminal aryl ring exhibited a significant IC50 value (56 nM) against human breast carcinoma cells,
which is 37 times higher potency in comparison with the reference Etoposide. Further compounds substituted
variably with methoxy and nitro groups on the phenyl ring of chalcone showed more promising
anticancer activity than the compounds with unsubstituted phenyl ring or variably alkyl-substituted phenyl
ring of chalcone. The molecular docking results indicate that the synthesized compounds bind in the
active site of Abl tyrosine kinase, the target of anticancer drug Imatinib. The present study provides the
synergistic effect of hybrids, benzimidazole-chalcones as potential anticancer agents that will aid in the
discovery of new anticancer agents.
An Eco-friendly and Economical Approach for Removal of Remazol Blue, Malachite Green and Rhodamine B Dyes from Wastewater using Bio-char Derived from Chlorella Vulgaris Biomass
Authors: Jayaseelan Arun , Panchamoorthy Gopinath Kannappan , Nithianantharaj Vinitha
Published: November 2020

Background::

Rapid urbanization and industrialization has led to depletion of water resource and generation of enormous amount of wastewater. One among them is textile industry which discharge huge amount of dye wastewater into aquatic environment.

Methods::

This study deals with adsorption of Remazol blue, Malachite green and Rhodamine B dyes into bio-char derived from Chlorella vulgaris biomass cultivated from municipal wastewater. Column studies were performed to depict the industrial usage of bio-char for treatment of large quantity of wastewater. Effect of temperature, time, pH, dye concentration and adsorbent dosage on dye removal was studied in batch process.

Results::

The best batch adsorption conditions are temperature (25⁰C), time (60min), pH (7), dye concentration (100ppm) and adsorbent dosage (1g) with ± 5% for all three dyes. Dye removal percentage of bio-char increased with increased in adsorbent dosage to 94.5%, 88.2% and 90.1% for Remazol blue, Malachite green and Rhodamine B dyes at 1g/L adsorbent dosage. Freundlich isotherm exhibited correlation coefficient (R2) values of 0.99, 0.98 and 0.99 for Remazol blue, Malachite green and Rhodamine B dyes respectively. Kinetic studies revealed that all three dyes followed pseudo first order model. Increase in column bed height resulted in increased dye removal percentage since increase in bed height resulted in increase in bio-char quantity with more number of surface area.

Conclusion::

From the study, it can be concluded that Bio-char was the economical and eco-friendly alternative adsorbent for wastewater treatment process. Bio-char reusability study revealed that it could be used for 3-4 consecutive cycles.
Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Pyogenic Iliopsoas Abscesses: A Case Series from Jodhpur, India
Authors: Vijayvergia Parag , Vijayan Neeraja , Midha Naresh Kumar , Kumar Deepak , Gopalakrishnan Maya , Tiwari Sarbesh , Garg Mahendra Kumar
Published: November 2020

Early recognition of iliopsoas abscess is important for limiting morbidity and mortality.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains an important cause of iliopsoas abscess in developing countries
and most patients are initiated on empirical anti-tubercular therapy. In this context, methicillin-
sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) as a cause of iliopsoas abscess is rare in India. Four
cases were diagnosed with pyogenic iliopsoas abscesses caused by MSSA. Half of the patients had
a typical clinical triad of fever, difficulty in walking and backache. Primary iliopsoas abscesses
were present in three patients. All patients were managed with percutaneous drainage and antibiotics
with a favourable outcome. MSSA as a cause of primary iliopsoas abscesses is rare in India.
Early diagnosis of microbial aetiology also minimizes the non-judicial use of antibiotics and anti-tubercular
therapy.