bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Invasive Drosophila suzukii outnumbers native controphics and causes substantial damage to fruits of forest plants
Authors: Bühlmann Irene , Gossner Martin M.
Published: October 2022

Impacts of biological invasions are diverse and can have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems. The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, is a major invasive pest of fruits, which negatively affects fruit and wine production. However, little is known about the ecological impact of this fly species on more natural ecosystems it has invaded, such as forests. In this study, we investigated the use of potential host plants by D. suzukii at 64 sites in different forest communities in Switzerland from mid-June to mid-October 2020. We examined more than 12,000 fruits for egg deposits of D. suzukii to assess its direct impact on the plants. We recorded symptoms of fruit decay after egg deposition to determine if D. suzukii attacks trigger fruit decay. In addition, we monitored the drosophilid fauna with cup traps baited with apple cider vinegar, as we expected that D. suzukii would outnumber and potentially outcompete native controphics, especially other drosophilids. Egg deposits of D. suzukii were found on the fruits of 31 of the 39 potential host plant species studied, with 18 species showing an attack rate > 50%. Overall, fruits of Cotoneaster divaricatus (96%), Atropa bella-donna (91%), Rubus fruticosus corylifolius aggr. (91%), Frangula alnus (85%) and Sambucus nigra (83%) were attacked particularly frequently, resulting also in high predicted attack probabilities that varied among forest communities. Later and longer fruiting, black fruit colour, larger fruit size and higher pulp pH all positively affected attack rates. More than 50% of the plant species showed severe symptoms of decay after egg deposition, with higher pulp sugar content leading to more severe symptoms. The high fruit attack rate observed was reflected in a high abundance and dominance of D. suzukii in trap catches, independent of forest community and elevation. Drosophila suzukii was by far the most abundant species, accounting for 86% (81,395 individuals) of all drosophilids. The abundance of D. suzukii was negatively associated with the abundance of the native drosophilids. Our results indicate that the invasive D. suzukii competes strongly with other frugivorous species and that its presence might have far-reaching ecosystem-level consequences. The rapid decay of fruits attacked by D. suzukii leads to a loss of resources and may disrupt seed-dispersal mutualisms through the reduced consumption of fruits by dispersers such as birds.
Megabranchiella gen. nov., a new mayfly genus (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae) from Thailand with description of two new species
Authors: Phlai-ngam Sirikamon , Boonsoong Boonsatien , Gattolliat Jean-Luc , Tungpairojwong Nisarat
Published: October 2022

Megabranchiellagen. nov. (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) is established as a new baetid mayfly genus from northern Thailand. Two new species, Megabranchiella scutulatasp. nov. and Megabranchiella longusasp. nov., are described. This genus is distinguished from other Baetidae by abdominal segment I, bearing a pair of enlarged, ventrally oriented single gills, covering abdominal sternites II–V; other gills have normal size and are dorsolaterally oriented. The two new species Megabranchiella longusasp. nov. and Megabranchiella scutulatasp. nov. can be differentiated by the setation of femur dorsal margin and the shape of abdominal gill I. This mayfly genus was found in flowing water with cobble microhabitats in headwater streams of northern Thailand.
Event-triggered stabilization for networked control systems under random occurring deception attacks
Authors: Xu Dong , Li Xinling , Tai Weipeng , Zhou Jianping
Published: October 2022

This paper copes with event-triggered stabilization for networked control systems subject to deception attacks. A new switched event-triggered scheme (ETS) is designed by introducing a term regarding the last triggering moment in the trigger condition. This increases the difficulty of triggering, thus reducing trigger times compared to some existing ETSs. Furthermore, to cater for actual deception attack behavior, the occurrence of deception attacks is assumed to be a time-dependent stochastic variable that obeys the Bernoulli distribution with probability uncertainty. By means of a piecewise-defined Lyapunov function, a sufficient condition is developed to assure that the close-loop system under deception attacks is exponentially stable in regards to mean square. On the basis of this, a joint design of the desired trigger and feedback-gain matrices is presented. Finally, a simulation example is given to confirm the validity of the design method.
Application of intelligent X-ray image analysis in risk assessment of osteoporotic fracture of femoral neck in the elderly
Authors: Du Juan , Wang Junying , Gai Xinghui , Sui Yan , Liu Kang , Yang Dewu
Published: October 2022

The paper focuses on establishing a risk assessment model of femoral neck osteoporotic fracture (FNOF) in the elderly population and improving the screening efficiency and accuracy of such diseases in specific populations. In literature research, the main risk factors of femoral neck osteoporosis (FNOP) in the elderly were studied and analyzed; the femur region of interest (ROI) and the hard bone edge segmentation model were selected from the X-ray digital image by using the image depth learning method. On this basis, the femoral trabecular score and femoral neck strength (FNS) in the set region were selected as the main evaluation elements, and the quantitative analysis method was established; an X-ray image processing method was applied to the feasibility study of FNOP and compared with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements of bone mineral density; Finally, the main risk factors of FNOP were selected and the prediction model of FNOP in the elderly population was established based on medical image processing, machine learning model construction and other methods. Some FNOP health records were selected as test samples for comparative analysis with traditional manual evaluation methods. The paper shows the risk assessment model of FNOF in the elderly population, which is feasible in testing. Among them, the artificial neural network model had a better accuracy (95.83%) and recall rate (100.00%), and the support vector machine prediction model had high specificity (62.50%). With the help of a machine learning method to establish the risk assessment model of FNOF for the elderly, one can provide decision support for the fracture risk assessment of the elderly and remind the clinic to give targeted interventions for the above high-risk groups in order to reduce the fracture risk.
Data-Driven Behaviour Finance for Mutual Fund Investment Decision Making
Authors: Gupta Chabi
Published: October 2022

When it comes to money and investing funds, the individual portfolio investor isn't always as logical as he feels he is, which is why there's a whole school of thought dedicated to explaining why people behave in irrational and weird ways. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the effects of five major behavioural biases on individual investor decisions in a metro city India, with a focus on mutual funds, as well as to examine how individuals make decisions to ensure that their investments generate greater returns for a better future. The statistical evidence shows that a variety of behavioural elements have a significant part in people' investment decision-making patterns, which has an impact on the population's economic situation. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how an individual's perspective, attitude, and conduct affect mutual fund investments.
Theoretical Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Falcó Javier Martínez , Marco-Lajara Bartolomé , Zaragoza-Saez Patrocinio
Published: October 2022

The research aims to analyze the different theoretical perspectives under which corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been analyzed. Based on the narrative review conducted, five motivations have been identified that drive the implementation of CSR practices: (1) the alignment of interests between agents and principal, (2) the satisfaction of stakeholder demands, (3) compliance with the institutional context, (4) obtaining a competitive advantage, and (5) maintaining congruence between the objectives of society and the objectives of the organization. These objectives are not mutually exclusive, but complementary. Thus, the reason why organizations develop CSR practices can be an accumulation of the five factors mentioned above.
Social Management of Pharma Products for Sustainable Development
Authors: Waghmode Meghmala S. , Gunjal Aparna Baban , Patil Neha N.
Published: October 2022

Social aspects, management, and development are important in all the industries including the pharmaceutical industries. Sustainability management is necessary to be followed even in pharmaceutical industries, and there are many measures or pharmaceutical management practices that will help to achieve social management of pharma products. The chapter will cover the effective pharma products management through proper disposal of medicines and their use by sustainable approach.
Community-Based Rehabilitation Programs for the Acid Victims' Community in Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Tahmina , Ah Siti Hajar Abu Bakar , Omar Noralina
Published: October 2022

Acid violence is not only a violation of human rights, women's rights, and humanity, but also a terrible crime regardless of location. The chapter seeks to concentrate the overall picture with a historical description of acid crime across the world with a succinct and critical review of acid violence from an activist's perspective, including its background history, contributing factors, consequences on victims' lives, and national and international perspectives on acid burn rehabilitation and treatment from Bangladesh context. A proposal is given for future study, which, understandably, will be under the SDGs regime and local legal provision in achieve social justice and human rights.
Chemical composition, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and toxicityactivities, of the essential oil of Fortunella margarita peels
Authors: Lakache Zineb , Hacib Hinda , Aliboudhar Hamza , Toumi Mohamed , Mahdid Mohamed , Lamrani Nassima , Tounssi Hassina , Kameli Abdelkrim
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study was to identify the principal components of the essential oil extracted from Fortunella margarita peels via hydrodistillation and to evaluate in vitro its anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and toxicity properties. Among the detected compounds were limonene, D-germacrene, β-myrcene, and α-pinene. Method of inhibiting the denaturation of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) was utilized to assess the anti-inflammatory properties of Fortunella margarita. At a concentration of 400g/mL, a high anti-inflammatory effect was observed. The percentage of BSA protection against heat increased with increasing concentration. Also, the evaluation of antidiabetic activity by glucose uptake by yeast cells revealed that Fortunella margarita was more effective than the standard drug novoformine in the presence of 5 mM glucose. The antioxidant potential of the essential oil was evaluated using the DPPH free radical scavenging, reducing power and β-carotene/linoleic acid tests, where the essential oil had much lower antioxidant activity. A bioassay on the lethality of brine shrimp was conducted to determine the toxicity of the essential oil. The study reveals that the essential oil is a possible source of important bioactive compounds and that its constituents may exhibit synergistic effects. Our findings suggest that the essential oil from Fortunella margarita could be used in the future as a substitute for synthetic anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agents with potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Intestinal twin-to-twin transplant for short gut: Review of the literature and discussion of a complex case
Authors: Ugolini Sara , Coletta Riccardo , Morabito Antonino
Published: October 2022

Paediatric Intestinal Transplantation (IT) presents the highest mortality on the waiting-list due to anatomical disproportion. Living-Donor IT (LDIT) offers the best advantages and when performed among identical monozygotic twins, it also benefits from unique immunology. According to MEDLINE/Pubmed, twin-to-twin LDIT has been performed in seven cases (6:7 males, median age of 32 years). None of the patients received immunosuppression postoperatively. Only one paediatric twinto- twin LDIT was carried out with a 160-cm mid-ileum tract: an interposed 4/5-cm arterial graft was required to ensure a tensionfree anastomosis to the anterior wall of the infra-renal abdominal aorta. In contrast, venous anastomosis was done directly to the inferior cava vein. We present a case for debate of a 13- month-old SBS patient where a twin-LDIT was discussed with parents, who decided to wait after careful analysis and ethical considerations.
Gastric cancer risk is reduced by a predominance of antioxidant factors in the oxidative balance: a hospital-based case-control study in Korea
Authors: Kim Jimi , Lee Jeonghee , Choi Il Ju , Kim Young-Il , Kim Jeongseon
Published: October 2022

OBJECTIVES: Gastric carcinogenesis is linked to oxidative stress from both exogenous and endogenous exposures. This study aimed to determine the association between the risk of gastric cancer and the oxidative balance score (OBS), which comprises antioxidant and pro-oxidant factors, including diet and lifestyle.METHODS: For this hospital-based case-control study, 808 controls and 404 patients with gastric cancer who had clinical records indicating Helicobacter pylori infection and the histological subtype of cancer were recruited. The OBS was determined based on diet and lifestyle factors obtained from a 106-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and a constructed questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).RESULTS: A higher OBS was associated with a reduced gastric cancer risk (OR, 0.49; 95% CI T3 vs. T1, 0.33 to 0.71; p for trend <0.001). In a subgroup analysis, antioxidant factors showed inverse associations with gastric cancer risk (OR, 0.53; 95% CI T3 vs. T1, 0.35 to 0.79; p for trend=0.003). A stronger association with antioxidant factors was observed in patients with intestinal gastric cancer (OR, 0.34; 95% CI T3 vs. T1, 0.19 to 0.62; p for trend<0.001) and those with H. pylori infection (OR, 0.57; 95% CI T3 vs. T1, 0.37 to 0.88; p for trend=0.014).CONCLUSIONS: A predominance of antioxidant factors compared to pro-oxidant factors from diet and lifestyle reduced the risk of gastric cancer. The combined effect of oxidative stress, which involves an altered balance between antioxidants and pro-oxidants, is important for modulating the risk of gastric cancer.
Multimorbidity adjusted years lost to disability rates calculated through Monte-Carlo simulation in Korea
Authors: Shin Yoonhee , Choi Eun Jeong , Park Bomi , Lee Hye Ah , Lee Eun-Kyung , Park Hyesook
Published: October 2022

OBJECTIVES: To efficiently utilize limited health and medical resources, it is necessary to accurately measure the level of health, which requires estimating the multimorbidity-corrected burden of disease.METHODS: This study used 2015 and 2016 data from the National Health Insurance Service, and employed the list of diseases defined in a Korean study of the burden of disease, the criteria for prevalence, and the “cause–sequelae–health state” disease system. When calculating the years lost to disability (YLD), multimorbidity was corrected using Monte-Carlo simulation.RESULTS: Correcting for multimorbidity changed YLD at all ages in Korea by -1.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], -24.1 to 3.6) in males and -12.4% (95% CI, -23.0 to 0.3) in females in 2015, and by -10.8% (95% CI, -24.1 to 4.6) in males and -11.1% (95% CI, -22.8 to 1.7) in females in 2016. The YLD rate for non-communicable diseases in males decreased more than that of other disease groups in both years, by -11.8% (95% CI, -19.5 to 3.6) and -11.5% (95% CI, -19.3 to -3.0), respectively. The overall YLD rate changed by -1.3% in the 5-year to 9-year age group, and the magnitude of this change remained similar until the 10-19-year age group, gradually decreased after 20 years of age, and steeply increased to more than 10% in those aged 60 and older.CONCLUSIONS: Calculations of YLD should adjust for multimorbidity, as the disease burden can otherwise be overestimated for the elderly, who tend to exhibit a high prevalence of multimorbidity.
Incidence of edentulism among older adults using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, 2013-2018
Authors: Go Hyeonjeong , Kim Eun-Kyong , Jung Hoi-In , Ahn Song Vogue , Shin Hosung , Amano Atsuo , Choi Youn-Hee
Published: October 2022

OBJECTIVES: Population aging is rapidly accelerating worldwide. Oral diseases related to aging are also on the rise. This study examined trends in the incidence of edentulism among the older Korean population using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS).METHODS: Data on older adults, aged ≥75 years of age, were obtained from the KNHIS for the period 2013-2018. Edentulism was defined as a treatment history of complete dentures in the KNHIS database. The exclusion criteria consisted of both disease codes and treatment codes related to conservative dental treatment, including periodontal and extraction treatment afterward. Crude incidence rates (CIRs) and age-standardized incidence rates (AIRs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and reported per 100,000 person-years by the direct method. Trends were tested by Cochrane Armitage models.RESULTS: Statistically significant increasing trends in both CIRs and AIRs were found among the older Korean population registered in the KNHIS (CIRs, 707.92 to 895.92; AIRs, 705.11 to 889.68; p<0.01). The incidence tended to increase in both genders (p<0.01). Both CIRs and AIRs in specific regions also showed slight but significant annual increases except for Jeju Island (p<0.01 or <0.05). The incidence showed increasing trends (p<0.01) in all income quintiles apart from the highest quintile. The edentulism incidence was highest in the lowest income group (the first quintile).CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that the incidence of edentulism among the elderly showed an increasing trend from 2013 to 2018. This result provides a basis for future epidemiological studies on the incidence of edentulism in the older Korean population.
El periodismo rosa como telenovela de no-ficción en el marco de la libertad de expresión
Authors: Pérez Ariza Carlos
Published: October 2022

Este artículo intenta enfocar el fenómeno del periodismo amarillista en España en los años recientes, proponiendo la hipótesis de que entre nosotros tal sensacionalismo está instalado en la llamada prensa del corazón o rosa. Realizamos una breve, aunque exhaustiva relación del significado del periodismo amarillo o de vena sensacionalista en sus orígenes estadounidenses, cuyo objetivo era y es vender periódicos, así como los tímidos y poco relevantes intentos de esta forma de periodismo en España. Su desarrollo, potenciado por la televisión, viene dado por la proliferación de programas al uso en los canales públicos y privados, así como el incremento de la circulación de revistas del corazón, tanto las tradicionales como Hola a las más recientes como Qué me dices, entre otras. Afirmamos que el ejercicio de esta peculiar forma de información, traspasa con demasiada frecuencia los límites del derecho del ciudadano a estar verazmente informado y la libertad de expresión, tanto la de los protagonistas de las informaciones, como la de sus audiencias. Asimismo, colocamos tal ejercicio periodístico frente a su estructura, que pensamos está muy cercano al metarrelato de ficción en que se basan las telenovelas, tomando aquí la forma de un discurso de no-ficción y utilizando los recursos propios de los géneros periodísticos.
Aproximación a la investigación y a la situación de las relaciones públicas en Europa. Estudio comparativo entre el caso español y el alemán
Authors: Míguez González María Isabel
Published: October 2022

Con la finalidad de acercar las aportaciones europeas sobre las Relaciones Públicas al ámbito académico español, el presente artículo realiza una revisión comparada de la situación de esta disciplina y profesión en Alemania y España. Este repaso muestra importante similitudes en cuanto a la consideración del concepto de “relaciones públicas”, la confusión de esta disciplina con otras actividades comunicativas, el desarrollo profesional y los problemas de las Relaciones Públicas como disciplina académica. Sin embargo, el artículo también revela que Alemania cuenta con una mayor tradición investigadora en este ámbito y, por tanto, con un corpus más extenso de teorías propias sobre la disicplina. Por este motivo, y dadas las similitudes existentes en otros aspectos, la investigación desarrollada en Alemania puede resultar de interés en el ámbito académico español para ayudar a explicar la realidad de las relaciones públicas en España y para impulsar su desarrollo teórico en nuestro país.
Animal contact and paediatric acute febrile illness in Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Authors: N. Sidote Melissa , Stoler Justin , Amoako Nicholas , Duodu Samuel , Awandare Gordon
Published: October 2022

Objective: To examine the association between animal contact (primarily dogs and cats) and non-malarial fever, as well as with secondary symptoms of headache, nausea, vomiting, and cough, in 687 children in Greater Accra Region, Ghana.Design: Cross-sectional study of acute febrile illness among children aged 1-15 years old between October 2016 and August 2017.Setting: Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) Hospital, Teshie, Greater Accra Region.Participants: The study included children with acute fever, defined as a measured temperature of greater than 37.5°C, occurring less than seven days before the hospital visit, and afebrile children as controls.Main outcome measures: Measured fever, self-reported fever, and secondary symptoms, each adjusting for patient household characteristics.Results: Animal contact was neither associated with measured fever (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.73-1.49) nor with self-reported fever (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.68-1.39). Animal contact was associated with headache (OR = 3.26, 95% CI 2.23-4.77, P < .01) and nausea (OR = 3.05, 95% CI 1.99-4.68, P < .01), but not with vomiting or cough. Additional models that used alternate inclusion criteria to define non-malarial fever yielded similar results. Several bacterial zoonoses that could plausibly have been transmitted by dogs and cats were diagnosed in the study population.Conclusion: These findings suggest the need for future studies to evaluate animal contact as a risk factor for bacterial zoonoses that may serve as an etiological driver of acute febrile illness.
Communication planning and technology integration on implementation of water construction projects in Bomet County, Kenya
Authors: Rotich Emmy Chelangat , Mukulu Elegwa , Paul Samson Nyang’au
Published: October 2022

Globally over 40 million people are faced with deficiency supply of water and more than 110 million of the worlds’ 240 million population have no access to clean and safe drinking water. In Africa, water shortages are related to both under-development of potentially available water resources and their uneven distribution while conserving the catchments’ sustainability. The country like many other developing countries is facing formidable freshwater planning and management challenges. Despite the fact that a lot of resources have been invested in water infrastructure, there has been little impact on implementation water infrastructures and water supply systems in most parts of the countries. Communication planning is the key component to project success, but the main focus has been on project management practices and project performance. The main objective of this study was to assess the influence of communication planning on implementation of water projects in Bomet County, Kenya. Communication theory was used to guide this study. The study used descriptive survey design and ideally data was collected by use of self-administered Questionnaires. The study targeted 440 respondents and the sample size was 164 respondents. This study carried out a census on 88 initiated water projects in the county of Bomet. Pre-test study was administered to 18 respondents of Kajiado County to test the reliability and validity of the instruments. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires. Regression results showed that communication planning, positively influenced effective implementation of water project with the F statistics value of 98.068, and P-value of 0.000. Regression resulted in R2 of 0.43. In conclusion, therefore communication planning influenced implementation of water projects. The study recommends that the government can embrace the use of technology to equally enhance communication among stakeholders of water projects. The study can be replicated in other counties so as to improve water services.
Sensory, chemical and nutritional evaluation of flour blends for preparation of stiff dough
Authors: Awofadeju O.F.J. , Ademola I.T. , Afolabi J.O. , Oloyede E.O. , Oyeleye A.O , Akanni F.O
Published: October 2022

One of the nutritional advantages of flour blend is to promote the nutritional composition of indigenous crops for food application. This study utilized, African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) and unripe plantain (Musa paradisca) to create flour blends at different ratios of 100:0 (GAB), 90:10 (ORE), 80:20 (TAM), 70:30 (MFY), 60:40 (MED) and 50:50 (KSK). These blends were subjected to calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium; pasting; anti-nutritional factors and colour using Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The blends were made into pastes [stiff dough (amala)] and subjected to sensory evaluation. Nutritionally derived essential elements such as calcium (0.01-0.02), iron (0.08-0.35), magnesium (0.11-0.18) and potassium (0.83-1.30) contents increased with increase in the addition of African yam bean flour. Composite flours showed improved chromaticity in the unripe plantain flour. The peak (1733-4205), trough (1609-3199), breakdown (124-1007), final viscosity (2246-4901) and setback (63-1703) decreased while peak time (5.07-5.90) and pasting temperature (79.80-83.70) increased as African yam bean flour increases. MFY blend from blends performed best in overall acceptability but there was no significant difference (p>0.05) among other samples. Results from this study have further shown the possibility of enhancing the nutritional composition of stiff dough (Amala) using African yam bean and unripe plantain flours.
Evaluation of durability performance of rice husk - cement bonded particleboards
Authors: Oriire L.T , Aina K.S , Olajide O.B , Aguda L.O , Adiji A.O
Published: October 2022

Alternative resources as substitute for wood raw materials has increased in the particleboard industry because of the depletion of forest resources. Studies of particleboard using wood residues and agricultural by-products have examined wheat straw, rice straws, husks, bagasse, walnut/almond shells, and palm trunks. Rice husk is the by-product in rice milling operation with an approximately 20 percent of the total weight of the paddy grain being processed. Despite the abundant nature of this waste product and its unique physical and chemical properties, it is not being fully harnessed in Nigeria. Only a little portion of the rice husk produced is utilized in a meaningful way, the remainder is burnt into ashes or dumped as a solid waste with little being used in animal feed formulation.

Particle board was produced from rice husk, an agro-waste and cement as binder. Physical and mechanical properties of the board were determined. The results show that, the percentage of thickness swelling and water absorption increased with increase in proportion of the binder to the rice husk. The Modulus of elasticity (MOE) values increase with increased mixing ratio for both the board thickness, while MOR values decrease with increase in mixing ratio for both particle sizes. Since the construction industry is a growing one, the use of renewable resources such as rice husk can reduce the strain on forest resource and form an excellent replacement for wood and wood based composite materials.
Ethiopia’s Criminal Justice System relating to Children in Conflict with the Law: Interrogating the Legal Framework on Measures and Penalties
Authors: Nega Belayneh Berhanu
Published: October 2022

This article critically examines the provisions of the Criminal Code governing measures and penalties relating to children in conflict with the law in light of the principles of ‘detention or imprisonment as a measure of last resort’ and ‘for the shortest period’. The assessment shows that the Ethiopian criminal justice system does not adhere to the principle of ‘detention as a measure of last resort’ since corrective detention and home arrest are measures of first resort. Imprisonment on the other hand is a measure of last resort as it applies after the failure of the measures for the most serious crimes and if the child is incorrigible. The system is not designed to ensure full compliance with the principle of ‘detention or imprisonment for the shortest appropriate period’. The article also identifies lack of clarity in the provisions of the Code which can exacerbate the preceding problems. Therefore, the Criminal Code provisions need revision to adhere to the principles and must clarify the existing provisions.
Comment: Court’s Reluctance to Safeguard Rights of the Accused in the Ethiopian Counter-terrorism Prosecutions and its Broader Implication
Authors: Kassa Wondwossen Demissie
Published: October 2022

Ethiopia’s former and current anti-terrorism laws recognize information obtained through court authorized interception as evidence in counterterrorism prosecutions. This comment briefly examines Federal High Court rulings in two counterterrorism prosecutions where the accused challenged the admissibility of intercepted materials into evidence for not being obtained with court warrant. Though the objections in both cases could have been easily addressed by verifying whether a court warrant was in fact issued prior to intercepting the material in question, the court did not take this course of action. In one of the cases, the court presumed that a court warrant was issued; in the other it ignored the objection altogether and admitted the contested material into evidence. The comment can serve as a basis to undertake further research on whether the courts are doing justice in enforcing rights of the accused the safeguarding of which do not require constitutional interpretation. It might also invite investigation into its broader implication on whether the courts have the readiness to meet public and legal professionals’ expectation in safeguarding human rights were they empowered in the realm of constitutional interpretation.
Comment: Post-divorce Maintenance under Ethiopia’s Revised Family Code: Some Observations
Authors: Afesha Nigussie
Published: October 2022

The Revised Family Code (RFC) of Ethiopia states the circumstance in which a spouse can claim maintenance. These are during a divorce proceeding and, ordinarily, as any person, citing the provisions that explicate the obligation to supply maintenance. The RFC puts spouses at the top rank in the maintenance claimants’ order. This raises the question whether this applies to a spouse while the marriage is intact, a spouse while divorce proceedings are in progress, or an ex-spouse. This comment examines the existence (or otherwise) of a legal ground for an ex-spouse to claim maintenance under the RFC. I argue that the issue of maintenance does not arise in relation to a spouse while marriage is intact because the spouses have joint ownership and equal entitlement with regard to their property. Besides, a spouse can invoke temporary maintenance while divorce proceeding is underway due to a petition filed by one of the spouses. It can thus be argued that the obligation to supply maintenance embodied in the Revised Family Code entitles an ex-spouse (who is needy and unable to earn livelihood) to claim maintenance.
Preference for grasscutter offal by some consumers in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions of Ghana
Authors: Wajah A. , Emikpe B.O. , Asare D.A. , Asenso T.N. , Essel-Cobbinah D.
Published: October 2022

The objective of this study was to assess the preference for grasscutter offal among consumers in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions of Ghana. The stratified three-stage random sampling was adopted for the selection of respondents. A total of 140 respondents (120 consumers; 20 operators) were used in this study. In the Ashanti region, 93 consumers and 13 chop bar operators were considered. Within the Greater Accra region, only one market was selected (Agbogbloshie market), where 27 consumers and seven chop bar operators were considered. Relevant information was collected through the administration of well-structured questionnaires. Results obtained showed a relatively higher offal preference by consumers in the Ashanti region (91.4%) as compared to the Greater Accra region (81.5%). Most consumers preferred the intestines and intestinal contents in both represented areas 60% from the Ashanti region and 45.6% from the Greater Accra region. 90.6% and 81.8% of the consumers from the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions, respectively preferred cooked offal to either smoked or roasted. These regional differences were not statistically significant. The rate of offal consumption was higher in the Ashanti region (i.e., on a weekly basis) as compared to the Greater Accra region (i.e., occasionally), represented by 63.5% and 68.2%, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The taste was considered the most significant, relevant and important factor affecting consumer preference for grasscutter offal consumption in both regions. It is concluded in this study that the grasscutter offal has relatively high patronage by the respondents in this study. Further studies should be focused on the possible health implication of offal consumption on consumers as the intestines, and their contents might contain some parasites and other bacteria which can be harmful to humans. Further studies should be carried out to obtain a nationwide view of grasscutter offal consumption.
Susceptibility of Japanese quails (Cortunix cortunix japonica) to experimental infection with Newcastle disease virus, Kudu 113 strain
Authors: Mshelia S.H. , Ibrahim U.I. , Hassan S.U. , Malgwi K.D. , Jauro S. , Daniel N.
Published: October 2022

This study was carried out to determine the response of Japanese quails experimentally infected with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) kudu 113 strain using a haemagglutination inhibition test and the ability of the species to transmit the infection to chickens. The administration of kudu 113 strain of Newcastle disease virus (108.5 /ml) orally at 0.1ml/quail in the infected group (group B) resulted in an antibody response with a geometric mean titre of 23.79 on day 32 when compared to non-infected quails (group A) which did not show (p>0.05) evidence of Newcastle disease antibodies throughout the experiment and also differed significantly (p<0.05) from group B, indicating that oral inoculation of the virus was successful and the birds were infected. Clinical signs of ND were first observed in the quails 7 days post-infection (pi) with effects on egg production and egg quality. The transmission of the velogenic NDV from the quails (group B) to the sentinel chickens was clinically evident 4 days after they were placed in close contact with the infected quails. There was 100% mortality in the sentinel chickens between 4 to 7 days post contact. Thus, quails could serve as a potential source of ND for chickens.
Biliary cystadenoma in an 8-year-old Caucasian bitch
Authors: Gurumyen G.Y. , Tizhe E.V. , Polycarp T.N. , Adekunle L.A. , Usman A.A. , Omadevuaye T.O. , Patrobas M.N. , Unanam E.S. , Jubril A.J. , Antia R.E. , Taiwo V.O.
Published: October 2022

Biliary cystadenoma is reported in an 8-year-old female Caucasian dog diagnosed by gross and microscopic examination. The gross lesion observed during postmortem examination on the liver was a 3×2cm cream-coloured raised nodule that extended into the parenchyma and another 2×4cm cyst filled with mucoid fluid. Histopathology showed multiloculated cysts lined by columnar and occasionally flattened epithelial cells, with papillary projections into the lumens. These findings are discussed in the paper.
Dexmedetomidine alleviates high glucose-induced podocyte damage by inhibiting EDA2R
Authors: Lin Yongqiang , Chen Xiang , Lin Zaizai , Yan Weiwei
Published: October 2022

Purpose: To investigate the effect and mechanism of action of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on podocyte injury.

Methods: Cells were incubated with high glucose (50 mM) to induce a podocyte injury model in vitro. Cell viability, apoptosis, the expression of related protein related in podocyte injury and albumin permeability were evaluated by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), flow cytometry, western blot and Transwell assays.

Results: Dex administration enhanced HG-induced cell viability and the relative protein expression of Bcl-2, but reduced the HG-induced relative protein level of Bax and apoptosisrate in podocytes (p < 0.05). Besides, Dex incubation compensated HG-induced relative protein expressions of nephrin and podocin in podocytes but did the reverse with regard to relative protein expression of desmin and albumin permeability (p < 0.05). Moreover, Dex treatment resulted in a decrease in ectodysplasin A2 receptor (EDA2R) expression in HG-induced podocytes. The level of EDA2R was upregulated by the transfection of overexpression plasmid containing the EDA2R sequences. Overexpression of EDA2R reversed Dex-induced increase in cell viability, apoptosis, expression of nephrin, podocin and desmin, as well as albumin permeability in HG-stimulated podocytes (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Dex ameliorates HG-induced podocyte injury via inhibition of EDA2R, indicating that Dex is a potential alternative drug for the treatment of podocyte injury.
Selective simultaneous ultra-performance liquid chromatographic quantification of some benzodiazepines drug residues in pharmaceutical industrial wastewater
Authors: Abdel-Gawad Sherif A , Alamri Mubarak A
Published: October 2022

Purpose: To investigate the sensitivity and selectivity of ultra-performance liquid chromatographic (UPLC) quantification of bromazepam (BRZ) and diazepam (DZP) in pharmaceutical industrial wastewater.

Methods: Wastewater samples were collected from the effluents of a pharmaceutical industrial plant producing BRZ and DZP in tablet dosage forms. The quantification of BRZ and DZP was done after their solid-phase extraction. The resolution process was performed on WatersTM column as the stationary phase. The mobile phase was acetonitrile: methanol: 0.05 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.5), at a volume ratio of 5:2:3, with a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. Detection was carried out at 240 nm in a concentration range of 10 – 250 ng/mL. The method was fully validated in line with ICH-Q2B regulations.

Results: The UPLC method was validated for the quantification of BRZ and DZP. The relative percentage recoveries were 99.55 ± 0.48 (n = 5) and 101.34 ± 0.86 (n = 5), for BRZ and DZP, respectively, in spiked distilled water, and 99.16 ± 0.77 (n = 5) and 99.32 ± 0.56 (n = 5), in tap water, respectively. The UPLC revealed effluent content ranging from 20.68 – 44.77 mg/mL for BRZ and 22.77 – 41.83 ng/mL for DZP. These values were not significantly different from their reference standards (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: A sensitive and selective UPLC-method has been developed for the reproducible determination of BRZ and DZP in industrial wastewater samples. The effective monitoring of the pharmaceutical industrial pollutant will help to conserve the environment and minimize the hazardous effects of these pollutants.
Clinical efficacy of the combined use of levofloxacin and different courses of isoniazid and rifampicin in the treatment of mild spinal tuberculosis
Authors: Chen Xuanyu , Cui Mingxing , Ji Xiang , Jin Kaifeng , Zhao Hui , Zhong Weitao , Zhang Zhenhua , Zhang Liming , Geng Yuankun , Yang Aizhen , Zhao Ying
Published: October 2022

Purpose: To investigate the clinical effectiveness of the combined use of levofloxacin and different courses of isoniazid and rifampicin in the treatment of mild spinal tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: The clinic data of 100 patients with light spinal TB were retrospectively reviewed. A double-blind technique was used to divide the patients into 6-month treatment group (M6 group, n = 32), 12-month treatment group (M12 group, n = 34) and 18-month treatment group (M18 group, n = 34). All patients were given isoniazid and rifampicin, in combination with levofloxacin. The effects of the different treatment courses on mild spinal TB were determined.

Results: There were significantly higher post-treatment levels of inflammatory factors in M6 group than in M12 and M18 groups (p < 0.001). Moreover, there were significantly higher Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and larger focus size in M6 group than in M12 and M18 groups (p < 0.05). However, after treatment, M18 group had significantly higher total incidence of adverse reactions than M6 and M12 groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Compared with the short-course treatment, long-course treatment with isoniazid and rifampicin in combination with levofloxacin is more effective in reducing the levels of inflammatory factors and decreasing focus size in patients with mild spinal TB. However, patients given the 18-month treatment tend to develop more adverse reactions. Therefore, 12-month treatment with the combined therapy is a better therapeutic option.
Effect of tenofovir disoproxil and telbivudine on the growth and development of infants by blocking mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus
Authors: Tao Chengjing , Hu Jiannv , Zhang Suying , Bai Xiuli , Zhao Chun , Zuo Zhongbao , Liu Shourong
Published: October 2022

Purpose: To investigate the effect of tenofovir disoproxil and telbivudine on the growth and development of infants after blocking mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: Seventy pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were recruited and allocated to tenofovir disoproxil group (n = 35) and telbivudine group (n = 35) using random number table method. Tenofovir disoproxil group was given 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil orally four times daily, while telbivudine group was given telbivudine 600 mg orally four times daily.

Results: After treatment, both groups showed no significant differences in serum HBV-DNA and ALT levels before delivery and 3 months after delivery (p > 0.05). Both groups showed no remarkable differences in the incidence of hypohydramnios, cholestasis, hypothyroidism, anemia, prolonged labor, fetal distress, and placental adhesions (p > 0.05). Both groups showed no significant differences in the rates of premature rupture of membranes, preterm birth, vaginal delivery, and cesarean section (p > 0.05). Both groups showed no significant differences in neonatal sex, gestational age at birth, weight, length, and Apgar scores (p > 0.05). The differences in the positive rates of HBVsAg, HBsAb, and HBeAg at birth and at 12 months were not statistically noticeable (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Tenofovir disoproxil and telbivudine reduce HBV-DNA levels, effectively blocks MTCT, and have a similar safety profile for infants. Further investigations to confirm th
Effect of combined use of home blood pressure monitoring and nifedipine on blood pressure compliance and quality of life of patients with essential hypertension
Authors: Wang Yingchao , Wang Yunru , Du Hua
Published: October 2022

Purpose: To investigate the effect of combination of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) and nifedipine on blood pressure compliance and quality of life in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: One hundred and twenty essential hypertension patients admitted to Jiaozuo Coal Industry (Group) Co. Ltd Central Hospital from February 2020 to February 2021 were retrospectively studied. They were equally divided into study group (SG) and control group (COG) according to the order of admission. All patients were treated with nifedipine. Blood pressure was regularly measured in COG patients in the consulting room, while for SG patients, blood pressure was measured at home. Treatment compliance, blood pressure-related indices and quality of life of the two groups were determined.

Results: Treatment compliance values of patients in SG at 6 weeks (T2) and 12 weeks (T3) were significantly better than the corresponding values for patients in COG (p < 0.05). The related indices of blood pressure at T2 and T3 were significantly better in SG than in COG (p < 0.05), with higher blood pressure compliance at T2 and T3 in SG (60 and 70 %, respectively) than in COG (p < 0.05). The quality-of-life scores at T3 in SG were significantly higher than those in COG (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The combined use of HBPM and nifedipine improves treatment compliance, enhances the levels of related indices of blood pressure, increases blood pressure compliance, and quality of life of patients with essential hypertension. Therefore, the combined therapy merits further investigation on a larger scale.
Generation of Geochemical Exploration Targets from Regional Stream Sediment Data Using Principal Component and Factor Ana
Authors: Shine Yusto J. , Moye Charles D. , Mallya Godfrey J. , Tamambele Ambaliche L.
Published: October 2022

A regional-scale stream sediment geochemical sampling was carried out with an averagesampling density of one sample per nine square-kilometre in Kiteto District, Manyara Region.A total of 358 stream sediment samples were collected and analysed for major and traceelements by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and fire assay with atomic absorption spectrometry(AAS) finish methods. In this study, Factor and Principal Component Multivariate (FPCM)analyses have been used to the stream geochemical data to delineate potential mineralizationzones by plotting correlated factors as geochemical anomaly maps. Four factors that accountfor 73.7% of the total variance of the stream sediment geochemical data were established.Factor 1: Ni–Ba–Co–Cu–Sr which possibly defines the underlying metamorphosed graniticunits with some contribution from mafic and ultramafic rocks. Factor 2: Cr–Zn–Mn whichdefines crustal forming elements reflecting the mafic rocks. Factor 3 which entails Rb and Pbprobably attributed to metamorphosed granitic lithology. Factor 4 is arsenic, a chalcophileelement with affinity to sulfide phases. The FPCM analyses have been successfully indelineating potential target areas for gold, nickel and copper exploration in the study area.

Keywords: Stream sediment; principal component; factor analysis; exploration targets;Kibaya-Kiteto, Manyara.