bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Older people at risk in times of pandemic? A qualitative study of coping narratives that support resilience in older people
Authors: Pérez Sánchez Lucía , Maza Pérez Beatriz Guadalupe , Fernández De Lara López Guiana Fernández De Lara López
Published: October 2021

Background: The World Health Organization mentions that the stress that COVID-19 triggers and confinement are causing a strong psychological impact on societies, due to the relationship made of the binomial pandemic and death. The above exposes the political scenario of COVID-19 for the elderly that once again exhibits the image of the elderly as fragile beings, incapable of thinking and deciding for themselves, who must be cloistered and isolated. However, despite the empirical evidence that shows a vulnerable and at-risk population in the context of the current pandemic, other theoretical views differ and emphasize the strengths that are manifested in this stage of life. Objective: To understand the narrative construction and resilient processes that the older adult population has experienced concerning COVID-19. Special attention was paid to the discourse on psycho-emotional consequences, social beliefs about old age, discrimination, as well as the omissions of human rights and dignity of the elderly. Method: qualitative descriptive cross-sectional ethnomethodological design, with a continuous inclusion sample, corresponding to 15 participants, between 64 and 85 years old, living in Mexico. Results: It was identified that the participating older adults have sufficient psycho-emotional coping resources, due to the efficacy of the regulation of the feelings experienced. However, it is still influenced by the social perception of stereotypes and stigmatization. Conclusions: The results coincide with the postulates of positive psychology and psycho-gerontology regarding the development of capacities and potentialities as a continuous process, and that in older adulthood they become present, thanks to the accumulation of experiences, individual and collective. This underlines the importance of including other ways in which old age is lived and studied, and therefore in the methodologies and proposals for intervention.
Comparative Analysis of Off-grid Small Hydro-Solar PV-Diesel Hybrid System in South-west, Nigeria
Authors: Ajeba W. , Adebanji B. , Fasina T.
Published: October 2021

Reliable, efficient, and affordable power supply system is a necessary tool for rapid socio-economic development of any country. Power supply in Nigeria is grossly inadequate and inefficient. This work presented a comparison analysis of Off-Grid Small hydro-Solar Photovoltaic-Diesel Generator hybrid system in three selected locations in South-west, Nigeria. The selected locations are Molete (Oyo state), Abeokuta (Ogun state) and Ede (Osun state). The hydro data for the three locations were collected from their respective River Basin Development Authorities, while the solar data were obtained from National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s global satellite database. The hybrid components consisting of Small hydropower (SHP), Solar Photovoltaic (PV), Battery (BB) and Diesel Generator (DG) were modelled and run using Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable software with the stream flow, the solar radiation, load and the system components costs as inputs. The work also carried out a comparative analysis based on economic parameters-return on investment and simple payback period different from the conventional use of net present cost, cost of energy(COE) and operating cost. The optimal hybrid combinations for these areas were compared with the usage of autonomous DG. The most optimal hybrid combination for Molete and Ede is PV-BB-SHP System with COEs of $0.347/kWh and $0.161/kWh respectively. The most optimal configuration for Abeokuta is PV-DG-BB-SHP with COE of $0.290/kWh. The results obtained (based on economic and technical considerations) showed that the hybrid system is viable for these areas. The outcome of the research will serve as guide for the government and prospective investors in formulating effective policies towards rapid development of renewable energy technologies in these areas.
Evaluation of the Effect of Deposition pH on the Physico-chemical Properties of Electrochemically Deposited Cadmium Telluride for Photovoltaic Device Applications
Authors: Ojo Ayotunde A. , Olanipekun Kolade A. , Oluwadare Benjamin S. , Oni Taiwo O.
Published: October 2021

Two-electrode (2E) configuration was successfully utilised in the electrochemical deposition of cadmium telluride (CdTe) on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate with the main emphasis on the electrolytic bath pH. The electrochemical deposition pH explored is within the range of (1.00 to 6.00)±0.02 for the aqueous electrolyte comprising of tellurium oxide (TeO2) and cadmium nitrate (Cd(NO3)2) which are the respective precursors of Te and Cd. The optical, structural, morphological, compositional, and electrical properties of the electroplated CdTe thin-films were respectively explored using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell measurements. The optical characterisation show that the CdTe samples exhibit dissimilar absorbance depending on the growth pH for both the as-deposited layers and post-growth treated CdTe layers. A decrease in the absorption edge slope and dip in the bandgap was observed away from pH2. The bandgap of the post-growth treated CdTe layers showed enhancement as it leans towards 1.45 eV, with the trend retention of absorption edge slope, similar to the as-deposited CdTe layers. The electrodeposited CdTe thin-films show a dominant orientation along the cubic (111) CdTe plane, while both the the calculated crystallite size and the XRD peak intensity Pi decreases with the electroplating pH outside the (2.00 to 3.00)±0.02 range. The EDX analyses depicts an alteration in the ratio of Cd to Te atomic percentage relative to the pH of the electrolyte. Comparatively high Te atomic ratio was observed at lower pH values and vice versa with increase alkalinity of the electrolyte. The obtained morphology depicts that the underlying FTO layers are well covered with a gradual reduction in the grain size of the CdTe observable away from pH value (2.00 and 3.00). The photoelectrochemical cell study depicts that the conduction type of the CdTe layers can also be attributed to the CdTe-electrolytic bath pH value.
Comparison of the Thermal and Electrical Conductivities of Pretreated Kenaf–Polyester Composites
Authors: Obianuko P. U. N. , Obianuko J. C. , Onuegbu T. U.
Published: October 2021

Conductivity of a material is an important physical property that determines its suitability or otherwise in all engineering designs and construction. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of two pretreatment methods viz acetylation and permanganate on the thermal and electrical conductivities of pretreated kenaf bast fibres applied in polyester resin. Fully grown kenaf (hibiscus cannabalis) were manually retted from the stalk, washed, and cut into short fibre lengths of about 10 cm. One portion of the fibres was pretreated with 5%pbw NaOH solution before immersing it in glacial acetic acid and then in acetic anhydride. The second was also pretreated with5%pbw of NaOH before being pretreated with 0.125%of KMnO4. The third portion of fibres was untreated to serve as control. The ground fibre was incorporated into ortho unsaturated polyester rand cast with moulds of dumb-belland square shapes. The electrical conductivity of the composites was deduced by measuring the resistance of the composites using the high voltage insulation tester model 3122 and calculating from equations. The thermal conductivities were determined by analytical method. The results show that chemical pretreatments of fibres by acetylation and permanganate methods have no appreciable effect on the thermal conductivities of composites. Further findings show that the acetylated fibre composites have no effect on the electrical conductivities of the composites. The permanganate pretreated fibre composites however increased the electrical conductivities of the composites significantly.
Оn the Analysis of Certain Flotation Processes with Velocities Depending on Time and Height of the Column
Authors: Parashkevova Daniela D.
Published: October 2021

— The present paper is an extension of the previous paper of the author where the flotation column dynamics has been investigated. Here we consider the case when particle sedimentation rate and bubble lifting speed depend on time and position in the column. We use the methods for examining the transmission lines set out in the papers mentioned in the References. We formulate a mixed problem for the system describing the processes in the column and present it in a suitable operator form. Then we prove an existence - uniqueness of generalized solution by the fixed point method. We show an explicit approximated solution as a step in the sequence of successive approximations.
Application of Correlation and Regression Models in Predicting the Physico-chemical Quality of Groundwater from Insitu Measured Parameters
Authors: Agori J. E. , Nwoke H. U. , Okoro B. C. , Dike B. U.
Published: October 2021

Groundwater is the major source of municipal and private potable water supply for meeting the drinking, domestic, agricultural and industrial requirements on man around the world. The cost of analyzing water quality in the laboratory to ascertain its potability is usually high and sometimes not available. Groundwater samples were collected from fifty (50) spatially referenced bore well locations in Warri and its environs in the dry and wet seasons (November 2019 to January 2020) in the study area. The water samples were analyzed for twenty-six (26) physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters both in the field and laboratory in line with APHA standard procedures for testing water and waste water inorder to evaluate the status of potability of groundwater across Warri, Delta State Nigeria. The data analysis tool in Microsoft Excel was used to explore and study the interrelationship between some conservative parameters measured in the field (pH, EC, TDS, and DO) as independent variables and some cations, anions and heavy metals (Na, Mg, Ca, HCO3, SO4 Cl, Fe, Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb) analysed in the laboratory as dependent variables. The results obtained from the parameters analysed insitu in the field which are cheap to perform and easily affordable were used to check and evaluate and the inter-relationships with some cations, anions and heavy metals. Highly correlated water quality parameters were determined by correlation coefficient (R) values obtained from correlation matrix and related by Regression equations (models). The regression models can be adopted to predict the concentration of these cations, anions and heavy metals before the rigorous laboratory analysis, to serve as a quick check for concentration of most disease-causing pollutants and to save time, money and resources, especially the near absence of AAS for analysing heavy metals in a good number of laboratories. The regression models developed in the study can be used for monitoring the water quality parameters by knowing the concentration of independent parameters obtained in the field alone. There is a relationship between variables which show that one variable actually causes changes in another variable. It was observed that multiple regression models can predict most parameters at 5% level of significance. Significantly positive correlation at 1 and 5% was found between many parameters. This technique studied and calculated the correlation coefficients between various physico-chemical parameters of drinking water and provided an excellent device for the calculation of parameter values within realistic degree of accuracy. The results proved to be easiest, useful, and rapid means for monitoring of water quality with the help of systematic calculations of correlation coefficient. It is recommended to treat groundwater prior to domestic use.
The Constrains Affecting Competitiveness of Emerging Household Citrus Farmers in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
Authors: Manenzhe Teboho D.
Published: October 2021

This study looked at the constrains affecting competitiveness on emerging citrus household farmers using primary data collected from a convenience sample of 150 emerging farming households in Nelspruit and Onderberg citrus administration regions of Ehlanzeni District Municipality of South Africa. The results showed that tertiary education and farming models inﬂuenced farming households to produce good quality citrus fruit and access both export and local fruit markets. In addition, study results indicated that other household socioeconomic constraints such as gender, age, training, business plan, water, input costs, barriers to engaging in farming on a commercial level, food safety, and good agricultural practice standards, and lack of title deed had a negative inﬂuence on the competitiveness of emerging household farmers in the study area. Policies that encourage a regular visit to farmers to follow up on the compliance of food safety and good agricultural practice standards by CGA advisors and agricultural extensionists are recommended for increased compliance.
Production of Fine Count Yarns from Some Extra-long Egyptian Cottons on Different Spinning Systems
Authors: El-Sayed Eman Rashwan , Abd-Elkawe Eman Yehia
Published: October 2021

The current research was carried out to produce fine count yarns from extra-long Egyptian cotton varieties using compact and ring spinning systems.in addition, to compare between compact yarns and ring yarns in terms of their physical and mechanical properties. Three commercial extra-long staple Egyptian cottons Giza92, Giza93 and Giza 96 were used to produce four linear densities of 80, 100, 120 and 140 at 3.6 twist multiplier. Results obtained showed that Giza 92 was surpassed significantly other extra -long staple varieties. It recorded the highest mean values of yarn strength and yarn evenness While, the same variety recorded the lowest mean values of yarn hairiness and imperfections. Compact yarns were much better than yarns spun on the ring spinning in yarn strength, yarn elongation, evenness, yarn imperfections and yarn hairiness. Yarn count 80,s gave higher single yarn strength (20.89cN/tex), yarn elongation (5.03%) and yarn evenness (17.49%) and lower yarn hairiness (2.04) and imperfections than yarn count 140s. Single yarn strength, yarn elongation and yarn evenness were decreased with increasing yarn count. While the number of neps, hairiness, the number of thin and thick places were increased with increasing yarn count. Concerning, the effect of interaction between cotton varieties × yarn counts × spinning systems on yarn quality properties. Yarn count 80s recorded the highest mean values of yarn strength (23.14, 21.1 and 20.2 cN/tex) and yarn evenness (17.72, 16.53 and 16.79%) for varieties Giza92, Giza93 and Giza96, respectively for compact spinning system. Yarn strength at count 80, 100, 120 and 140 correlated negatively and highly significant with micronaire value and maturity ratio.
Karst-Induced Geoharzards in Kenya’s Coastal Region: A Case Study of Vipingo Coral Limestone Quarry
Authors: Onyango Joan A. , Moses Dyson N.
Published: October 2021

As the human population grows, the demand for space to settle and infrastructure development puts a strain on land resources hence people move to occupy areas of difficult terrain such as mountainous regions and karst environments. The trends in anthropogenic activities mean that there will be increased human interaction with the perilous terrain and consequently geohazards associated with them. Studies on geohazards in Kenya have focused mostly on landslides in mountainous regions but not much has been reported on geohazards that are common in areas of carbonate rocks such as coral limestone. Vipingo coral limestone quarry, a coastal quarry, is taken as a case study as a number of hazardous situations have been encountered during mining. This paper outlines the karst features, their formation processes in the coralline limestone rock mass, and the resultant geohazards. Field visits made to the quarry complemented with previous exploration reports enabled the collection of field data on rock mass characteristics, karst features, and potential hazardous sites were mapped out. Karstification is evident in traces of pores and fissures filled with soil in the upper layers of the rock. Cavities, voids, and caves occur randomly in the rock mass and are the genesis of incidents such as bench collapse, sagging of overlying rock slaps leading to sinkholes. The rock mass is weak and prone to slope failures. Suggestions have been fronted for geohazard mitigation and further research work for the scientific community. Thus, this work constitutes an important knowledge base for infrastructure development and any other quarries around the area, and for those who are settled around this karst environment in order to preempt geo-accidents.
Concentration of Vehicular and Generators Soot in Lafia Metropolis, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Authors: Onwukwe F. , Nasirudeen M. B. M , Binin M. E.
Published: October 2021

The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr, Al and Fe in Heavy Duty Trucks (HDT), Power Generating Plants (PGP), Motor Vehicles (MV) and Small Generator (SG) Soot derived from the College of Agriculture, Bukan Sidi and Mararaba Akunza in Lafia City, Nigeria, were assessed for the level of contamination using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results indicated that the ranges of heavy metal concentrations in soot (mg/kg) were: Pb (0.0911±0.001 to 0.069±0.008) for the HDTs, (0.775±0.008 to 0.002±0.000) for the PGPs, (0.456±0.000 to 0.091±0.000) for the MVs and (0.837±0.000 to 0.027±0.000) for the SGs. The concentrations of Cd and Cr in the HDTs and PGPs were below the detection limits of the AAS. More so, Cd and Cr in MVs were below the detection limits of the AAS except for one of the MVs which gave a highly objectionable Cr concentration of 4.336±0.004 above WHO permissible limits for emissions into air and water. Al concentrations across the soot samples ranges from (0.126±0.002 to 0.093±0.001) for HDT, (0.170±0.001 to 0.097±0.000) for PGPs, (0.150±0.000 to 0.057±0.001) for MVs; and (1.348±0.000 to 0.518±0.000) for SGs. Iron concentrations ranges from (65.885±0.006 to 27.834±0.009) for HDTs, (62.663±0.004 to 11.422±0.019) for PGPs, (52.448±0.003 to 2.418±0.001) for MV, and (129.433±0.008 to 9.129±0.002) for the SGs. The results revealed that the concentration of Pb, Al and Fe in the HDTs, PGPs, MVs and SGs are above the WHO permissible limits for emissions into air and water. Cd, Cr, Al and Fe concentrations were higher in concentrations in SGs. The presence of heavy metals in the sampled soot portends their transfer to the food chain, especially as crop and vegetable cultivation in and around Lafia city.
On Reactive Force in Thin Unclosed Conductor and Displacement Current
Authors: Gerasimov Sergey A.
Published: October 2021

The linear momentum density carried by electromagnetic fields creates the hidden force acting on the displacement current between ends of an unclosed conductor with alternative electric current. This force compensates the self-force exerted by the unclosed conductor with zero thin. The magnetic field produced by displacement current does not contribute to the force acting on the conductor. The unclosed conductor can move under action of the self-force.

At small heights of cylindrical open conductor, the reactive force equivalent to the self-force becomes very large
PENGARUH PENGETAHUAN TENTANG PASAR MODAL SYARIAH TERHADAP MINAT INVESTASI SAHAM DI PASAR MODAL SYARIAH
Authors: Malkan  , Indra Kurniawan  , Nurdin  , Noval
Published: October 2021

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh pengetahuan tentang pasar modal syariah terhadap minat investasi saham di pasar modal syariah Jenis penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian verifikatif dengan menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif. Populasi sebanyak 790 responden, sampel sebanyak 89 responden dengan menggunakan pengambilan sampel non Porbability sampling, yakni teknik purposive sampling. Variabel independen yaitu pengetahuan tentang pasar modal syariah (X) dan variabel dependen yaitu minat investasi saham di Pasar Modal Syariah (Y). Pengumpulan data menggunakan dua teknik yaitu kepustakaan dan kuesioner. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode analisis regresi linear sederhana yang mempunyai bentuk persamaan Y= a + bX dengan bantuan program komputer IBM SPSS for Windows Relese 21.0. Untuk menganalisis pengaruh variabel independen terhadap variabel dependen digunakan uji-t. Hasil pengujian menunjukkan bahwa pengaruh pengetahuan tentang pasar modal syariah memiliki pengaruh signifikan terhadap minat investasi saham dipasar modal syariah pada mahasiswa FEBI IAIN Palu angkatan 2017-2018, dengan nilai signifikan 0,000 < 0,05, serta nilai thitung 8,734 > nilai ttabel 1,663.  Implikasi dalam penelitian ini adalah bagi mahasiswa terlebih dahulu harus menggali, mengetahui dan memahami berbagai informasi tentang pasar modal syariah sebelum berinvestasi saham di pasar modal syariah.
Transferability of international knowledge and experience for the management of low-risk Emergencies, in on-call Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) in Greece
Authors: Martakis Κyriakos , Manomenidis George , Bellali Thaleia
Published: October 2021

Overcrowding in hospital Emergency Departments (ED) is a major problem of public healthcare systems both in Greece and internationally, leading to delay in provision of adequate and high-quality healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic a significant reduction in ED overcrowding was observed, as many relative urgent cases, usually at lower risk reduced their visits to the ED, in fear of a possible infection. Several healthcare systems abroad have tried to tackle with the problem, establishing or redesigning Primary Health Care (PHC) centers, both rural and urban, which would manage both low-risk emergencies of the general population, but also the routine care of patients with chronic diseases.

The purpose of this article was twofold and included on the one hand the presentation of the characteristics such PHC centers treating low risk emergencies and on the other hand the preparation of a transferability plan for these centers in the PHC of the Greek healthcare system. For the study of the transferability we used a new methodology, which includes and assesses a number of criteria that should be considered to facilitate of effective health interventions from a primary context to a specific target context.

The researchers identified obstacles, but also opportunities for the transferability of PHC centers that should be established to manage low-risk emergencies in the Greek healthcare system. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of such centers to improve overcrowding in hospital ED, patient satisfaction, and to ensure an effective, as well as cost-effective emergency management, for instance through a small-scale pilot program in urban centers in Greece.
Investigating healthcare professionals’ views regarding the quality of provided healthcare services
Authors: Koulouri Agoritsa
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Quality in healthcare services means doing the right things, making continuous improvements in order to get the best results, being interested in satisfying both healthcare providers and recipients.

Aim: To investigate the views of health professionals on the quality of the provided health and social care services.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out on healthcare professionals working in public and private healthcare organizations in December 2017 and January 2018. In total, the study involved 155 healthcare professionals who answered 25 questions on the dimensions of quality and the way they perceive the quality of the provided healthcare to its recipients. Data were collected using a structured anonymous self-report questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS 24.0 statistical package.

Results: The majority of the sample was female (75%) with higher education (44.5%) holding a master’s or doctorate degree (45.2%). Participants (86%) consider integral to providing quality healthcare services a combination of appropriate patient care that was linked to a framework of continuous evaluation, control and improvement even after treatment ended. Furthermore, as healthcare quality characteristics are considered the healthcare professional’s satisfaction of their relationship with the user of the services regarding the amount of information provided to the later and the provision of personalized services (>80%). In addition, empathy of health professionals (82%), compliance with the standards and quality of procedures (68%) are qualitative parameters.

Conclusions: The way healthcare professionals perceive the quality of customer/user interaction with healthcare services, empathy, personalized care and long-term utility are among the most important quality parameters of health services.
Parents’ perceptions and views regarding vaccination: A pilot survey of parents-healthcare professionals and parents non-healthcare professionals
Authors: Stampoltzi Aglaia , Stylianaki Εrene , Stavrinou Εfstratia
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Children’s immunization has been one of the most important public health measures in the 20th century. However, a number of parents consider the vaccines unsafe and they are skeptical about their use.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate parents’ perceptions and views on children’s vaccination.

Methods: Twenty parents (2 male and 18 female) were included in the present pilot study which was based on semi-structured interviews. Ten parents (females) were healthcare professionals (nurses and health visitors) and ten (2 males and 8 females) were not healthcare professionals. Interview data were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique.

Results: Results show that parents were concerned about vaccination safety, side effects of the vaccines, lifelong coverage of children, immune system overload, commercial purposes of vaccines and validity of information about vaccination. Comparisons between parents who were healthcare professionals and parents who had a different profession showed that the latter were more hesitant and had more misconceptions about vaccines.

Conclusions: The decision to vaccinate children or not is a huge responsibility towards every child, but also towards society. Healthcare professionals are able to provide objective information to parents to take informed decisions.
Hemorrhagic thrombocytopathy with defective signal transduction CalDAG-GEFI
Authors: Koposova A. O. , Fedorova D. V. , Pshonkin A. V. , Poletaev A. V. , Seregina E. A. , Plyasunova S. A. , Polokhov D. M. , Kurnikova M. A. , Raykina E. V. , Mann S. G. , Zharkov P. A.
Published: October 2021

Hemorrhagic thrombocytopathy with defective signal transduction CalDAG-GEFI is a rare disease associated with a mutation in the RASGRP2 gene. At the moment, this disease is described in 10 person in the world. We present clinical case report of this pathology of a 9-year-old child. We also offer a review of the available literature about pathogenetic features, clinical manifestations and prevalence of this rare disease. The patient’s parents gave their consent to the use of their child’s data, including photographs, for research purposes and in publications.
Application of high-performance liquid chromatography in porphyrias diagnostics
Authors: Puzikova А. I. , Litvin Е. А. , Kildyushkin D. А. , Druy А. Е.
Published: October 2021

Porphyrias are distinguished by the stage of heme synthesis at which a failure occurs, leading to the accumulation of intermediate products – porphyrins. Due to the low specificity of clinical manifestations of porphyria and the latent course of the disease, their timely diagnosis is difficult. This article substantiates the effectiveness of high-performance liquid chromatography method in the determination of porphyrins. The method is suitable for porphyrin determination in urine, blood and feces of patients. Examples of its work are shown.
Red cell distribution width as a differential parameter between iron deficiency anemia and a-thalassemia: an empirical approach
Authors: Keikhaei Bijan , Bahadoram Mohammad , Mahmoudian-Sani Mohammad-Reza , Bahadoram Sara
Published: October 2021

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and thalassemia minor are the most common hypochromic microcytic anemias in the world. Different formulas have been proposed to differentiate IDA from beta thalassemia minor. However, yet no formula has been proposed to differentiate IDA from alpha thalassemia minor, and Hb electrophoresis is not helpful in this hemoglobinopathy. Red cell distribution width (RDW) as indicator of changes in red blood cell size is primarily employed to differentiate IDA from other microcytic anemias. An empirical approach involving iron therapy over 1 month has shown that an increase in Hb concentration by 1 g/dL over this period is indicative of IDA, while no changes in Hb concentration are suggestive of alpha thalassemia. RDW measured after iron therapy in order to differentiate IDA and related disorders from alpha thalassemia is a better index than an increased reticulocyte count. Due to the high prevalence of IDA and costly and time-consuming nature of specific diagnostic tests, the RDW index is considered as a very sensitive and cost-effective tool in the differential diagnosis of IDA.
Prognostic evaluation of immune thrombocytopenia outcomes in Egyptian children: a retrospective single-center experience
Authors: Diab Aliaa Mohammed , Abouamer AlRawhaa Ahmed , Motaleb Ghada Saad Abdel , Eid Khaled Abdelaziem , Abdelnaiem Heba Ismaiel
Published: October 2021

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is the most common cause of thrombocytopenia in children. This retrospective study was designed to analyze presenting features of ITP cases in Benha, evaluate outcomes in children and determine prognostic factors. This research was accepted by Research Ethics Committee (REC) of Faculty of Medicine, Benha University (chairman: Prof. Nermeen Adly Mahmoud). Ethics comittee refrence number MS 40-3/2019. Records of 308 children with ITP in Benha University Hospitals and Benha Children Hospital haematology clinics between May 2014 and January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Socio-demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of the studied children such as age, gender, the type of residence, the date of diagnosis, complaints at presentation, preceding vaccination or infection, the type of bleeding, initial platelet count, LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) level, initial treatment, and outcomes were recorded. A total of 308 children diagnosed with ITP were included, clinical courses were determined as newly diagnosed and chronic in 71.4% and 28.6%, respectively. The median age of patients at diagnosis was 5 ± 3.4 years. The male/female ratio was 1.14. The median age at diagnosis was significantly higher in chronic ITP patients (p < 0.001); patients ≥ 10 years were more likely to develop chronic ITP than younger ones (p = 0.029). Regarding residency, seasonality, type of bleeding and history of preceding infection or vaccination, the difference was not statistically significant. Initial platelet counts > 20 × 109 were significantly more prevalent in chronic ITP (p < 0.001). LDH level at presentation was significantly higher in chronic cases (p = 0.046). Initial lines of treatment were the following: steroids, IVIG, and IVIG with steroids (in 88%, 5.2%, and 2.9% of the cases, respectively). A total of 3.9% of the children did not receive any treatment. There was no significant difference in the outcomes between the initial lines of treatment (p = 0.105). In our study, age > 10 years, female gender, higher platelet count and high LDH level at presentation were found to increase the probability of chronic ITP.
Study of transcranial Doppler ultrasound and endothelin-1 in children with sickle cell anemia: a single-center study
Authors: Ragab S. , Badr E. , El-Kholy H. , El-Hawy M.
Published: October 2021

To assess the impact of our transcranial Doppler (TCD) screening program on the incidence of a first stroke in children with sickle cell anemia and to study the role of elevated serum endothelin-1 (an inflammatory mediator) in these children. Background: stroke is a major complication of sickle cell disease (SCD), even in very young children. About 11% of children with homozygous sickle cell anemia (SS) develop stroke by the end of the second decade of life. The underlying etiology in most cases is an ischemic stroke caused by large-vessel stenosis or occlusion. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) recommended as a routine screening test to identify children at high risk of developing a stroke, measures flow velocities within large intracranial arteries. TCD should be routinely performed in children between 2 and 16 years as this age group is at the highest risk of sickle cerebral vasculopathy. We carried out a prospective case-control study which included 2 groups: a patient group consisted of 30 children with sickle cell anemia and sickle thalassemia and a group of 30 healthy children of matched age and sex. Each group included 11 males (36.5%) and 19 females (63.5%); the age range was 2 to 17 years. Both groups underwent a thorough clinical examination and laboratory tests (CBC, liver and renal function, serum ferritin and endothelin-1). Additionally, TCD was performed in all children included in the patient group. According to the results of TCD, time-averaged mean of the maximum velocity (TAMMX) was < 170 cm/s (normal), 170–200 cm/s (conditional), ≥ 200 cm/s (high risk) in 20 (66.7%), 4 (13.3%) 6 (20%) patients, respectively. The level of endothelin-1 was significantly higher in the patients (57.1 ± 91.3) than in the controls (21.9 ± 14.8). Hemoglobin concentration was significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group, but the levels of reticulocytes, WBCs and serum ferritin were significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy controls. Serum Endotheline-1 level was higher in patients with sickle cell anemia than control group.
Incidence of venous thromboembolism in children with primary lymphomas
Authors: Evstratov D. A. , Anderzhanova L. H. , Pshonkin A. V. , Abugova Yu. G. , Myakova N. V. , Zharkov P. A. , Fominykh V. V. , Ershov N. M. , Dyakonova Yu. Yu. , Vavilova L. A.
Published: October 2021

Cancer increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adults and children. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence of VTE in children and adolescents with lymphomas. The study was approved by the Independent Ethics Committee of the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology. A retrospective analysis based on medical data of 262 children and adolescents (0–18 years) with primary lymphomas (n = 262) who were treated in Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology since 01.01.2013 to 31.12.2019 had been performed. Such parameters as age and sex distribution of patients, the frequency, as well as the cumulative incidence of detection (CI) and differences in localization, the median time of detection of symptomatic (sVTE) and asymptomatic episodes of VT (aVTE), their relationship with central venous catheters (CVC) were analyzed. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out using the XLSTAT 2020 program (Addinsoft, France). The median age was 11,1 years (interquartile range (IQR) 6.5–15 years), the ratio of males to females was 2.2:1. There were 71 episodes of VTE in 65 patients (24.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 19.6–30). Among all episodes of VTE 31% were defined as sVTE at 400 day CI for sVTE was found to be 8.1% (95% CI: 5.4–12.2) and CI for aVTE – 18.7% (95% CI: 14.4–24.2). The median time to VTE episode was 38 days (IQR 16.5–91.5 days). There was a trend towards an earlier diagnosis of sVTE (median 23.5 days, IQR – 17–42 days) than aVTE (median 62 days, IQR 14–80 days), p = 0.075. VTE was CVC-related in 67.7 of all VTE cases. In one case, asymptomatic thrombosis of right atrium led to pulmonary embolism (PE). VTE is a frequent complication in children and adolescents with lymphomas. Most episodes of VTE were asymptomatic, one of which was the most likely cause of PE in the child. Further research is needed to find risk factors for VTE.
Intracranial hemorrhages in children with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Suntsova E. V. , Sadovskaya M. N. , Spichak O. V. , Ozerov S. S. , Khomyakova S. P. , Pishchayeva N. Yu. , Kalinina I. I. , Kazaryan G. R. , Shako I. D. , Maschan A. A. , Novichkova G. A.
Published: October 2021

Primary immune thrombocytopenia is a benign and self-limiting process in the majority of children. Severe life-threatening hemorrhages, including intracranial, develop rarely. Risk factors predisposing for development of severe hemorrhagic complications have not been determined. In order to decrease the severity of neurological consequences and mortality in intracranial hemorrhages, timely combined urgent therapy is neсessary. There are four clinical cases of intracranial hemorrhage in immune thrombocytopenia in children with different outcomes in this article. The parents of the patients agreed to use the information, including photos of children, in scientific research and publications.
Russia's ‘Sharp Power’ Manifestations in Lithuania's Mass Media
Authors: Jakštaitė-Confortola Gerda
Published: October 2021

The concept of ‘sharp power’ has recently emerged as a reaction to the assertiveness of authoritarian regimes. It serves to underline the complexity of challenges which are posed by authoritarian regimes, referring to diverse front lines in the overall ‘battle’, be they culture, education, or the media. The latter, according to Dmitri Trenin, “has become such a crowded battlefield”. This paper attempts to fill in the information gap regarding Russia’s ‘sharp power’ manifestations in Lithuania’s mass media and focuses on NATO related messages in particular. The paper presupposes that messages which evoke an air of support for Russia’s foreign and security policy tend to pass through to Lithuania’s mass media, and argues that, as a result of the insufficient activity by Lithuania’s mass media in terms of forming an independent perception of Russia vis-à-vis NATO, the preconditions for possible manifestations of Russia’s use of sharp power are therefore created. The article is organised into four parts. The first section sets out a theoretical framework for the analysis which focuses on the concept of sharp power. Then the research methodology is outlined. The third section presents features of the informational environment of Lithuania in 2016 and 2019. The final, and most elaborated, section investigates messages which apparently serve to support Russia’s foreign and security policy in terms of the NATO‘s topic in Lithuania’s mass media based on the aforementioned criteria.
Contribution of a Geographic Information System to Assess the Vulnerability to Groundwater Pollution of the Free Water Table from the Oued Souf Region (South-East Algeria)
Authors: Khelfaoui Fayçal , Sayad Lamine , Attoui Badra , Bouselsal Boualem , Ghezaili Salah
Published: October 2021

The Oued Souf free aquifer located in the South East of Algeria represents the main water resource used mostly for urban and agricultural activities. The intensive use of chemical fertilizers has led to serious environmental problems such as contamination of the free aquifer in the region. Thus, aquifer vulnerability has been assessed using several different methods (DRASTIC, GOD, and the Susceptibility Index ‘SI’) based on a geographic information system (GIS). For each method, two vulnerability maps have been developed in the years 2002 and 2012. These maps show that the study area is more exposed to urban, and especially agricultural, pollution. Two classes of vulnerability (moderate and high) have been identified by both DRASTIC and GOD methods. A combined analysis reveals that the moderate class showing 48% (for the GOD method), and the high class showing 57% (for the DRASTIC method) are the most dominant. However, the Susceptibility Index method (SI) revealed that the vulnerability varies from moderate to very high-level classes. In 2012, about of 53% of the study area was dominated by moderate vulnerability classes. The high vulnerability class also includes a considerable part of the land (41%) around urban or strongly agricultural areas, while only 6% is under very high vulnerability groundwater contamination. In addition, a marked decrease in the vulnerability level was noticed in 2012 compared to 2002. This decrease is mainly due to the lowering of the water table after the installation of a vertical drainage network to evacuate the surplus water to the depression and Chotts areas in the North of the region. These results provide a guide for decision-makers involved in the protection of groundwater pollution in such a vulnerable area.
Pressure Settlement Behaviour and Bearing Capacity of Asymmetric Embedded Plus Shaped Footing on Layered Sand
Authors: Rawat Priyanka , Dutta Rakesh Kumar
Published: October 2021

The aim of the present numerical study was to analyse the pressure settlement behaviour and bearing capacity of asymmetric plus shaped footing resting on loose sand overlying dense sand at varying embedment depth. The numerical investigation was carried out using ABAQUS software. The effect of depth of embedment, friction angle of upper loose and lower dense sand layer and thickness of upper loose sand on the bearing capacity of the asymmetric plus shaped footing was studied in this investigation. Further, the comparison of the results of the bearing capacity was made between the asymmetric and symmetric plus shaped footing. The results reveal that with increase in depth of embedment, the dimensionless bearing capacity of the footings increased. The highest increase in the dimensionless bearing capacity was observed at embedment ratio of 1.5. The increase in the bearing capacity was 12.62 and 11.40 times with respect to the surface footings F1 and F2 corresponding to a thickness ratio of 1.5. The lowest increase in the dimensionless bearing capacity was observed at embedment ratio of 0.1 and the corresponding increase in the bearing capacity was 1.05 and 1.02 times with respect to the surface footing for footings F1 and F2 at a thickness ratio of 1.5.
The Influence of the Poles’ Lifestyle on the Quantity and Quality of Municipal Wastewater
Authors: Płuciennik-Koropczuk Ewelina , Myszograj Martyna , Myszograj Sylwia
Published: October 2021

The article presents lifestyle as an important factor determining the quantity and quality of municipal wastewater. The characteristic of wastewater in Poland has changed significantly in recent years. The qualitative characteristics of municipal wastewater indicate an increase of organic compounds and in the scope of micro-contaminants identified in them, e.g. nanoparticles, microplastics, pharmaceutical and personal care products or heavy metals. Therefore, the knowledge of parameters such as: BOD5, COD, total N, total P and suspension solids is no longer sufficient for the design and operation of wastewater treatment systems. Comprehensive research in this area is necessary to select those indicators that better describe the characteristics of wastewater.
On the completeness of total spaces of horizontally conformal submersions
Authors: Abbassi Mohamed Tahar Kadaoui , Lakrini Ibrahim
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we address the completeness problem of certain classes of Riemannian metrics on vector bundles. We first establish a general result on the completeness of the total space of a vector bundle when the projection is a horizontally conformal submersion with a bound condition on the dilation function, and in particular when it is a Riemannian submersion. This allows us to give completeness results for spherically symmetric metrics on vector bundle manifolds and eventually for the class of Cheeger-Gromoll and generalized Cheeger-Gromoll metrics on vector bundle manifolds. Moreover, we study the completeness of a subclass of g-natural metrics on tangent bundles and we extend the results to the case of unit tangent sphere bundles. Our proofs are mainly based on techniques of metric topology and on the Hopf-Rinow theorem.
Art and Image in Henri Maldiney's Aesthetics
Authors: Moreira do Carmo Alexandra M.
Published: October 2021

In the debate over the ontological structures of the entity that exists as being-in-the-world, the French philosopher Henri Maldiney focuses his theoretical developments on the unintentional and pre-predicative dimension of experience, where sensing (sentir) takes its origin, and based on which the Existentials of “encounter”, “surprise” and “rhythm”, that are key to understanding the aesthetic-artistic experience, are explained in the horizon of transpassibility and transpossibility. Given that that dimension is the privileged field of encounter with art, this paper will raise the question of the nexus of the articulation between art and image. This question will be developed through the opposition of form and image, of the reality of image and the image of reality, and the aesthetic vision and imaginative vision. In this analysis, we will rely upon the Heideggerian conception of Existence, as well as some of Husserl’s and the neuro-psychiatrist Erwin Straus’s researches into the passive dimension of experience, with the purpose of showing how Maldiney, starting from them, contributed in a singular and significant way to the deepening of that unintentional dimension of existence which he calls “pathic”.
Evaluation of an Asphalt Mixture Containing a High Content of Reclaimed Asphalt and Different Crumb Rubber Modified Binders
Authors: Belhaj Majda , Vacková Pavla , Valentin Jan
Published: October 2021

Recently, environmental concerns have become a primary driving force in most countries and industries dealing with natural resources. As a part of this category, asphalt pavement industry is trying to implement more green and sustainable features in its products, while maintaining the mechanical and performance-based properties of the resulting asphalt mixtures. Among potential recycled materials, vehicle tires and aged asphalt pavement have been demonstrated to show economic, ecological, and behavioral improvements in the mixtures. However, mixtures with a high content of reclaimed asphalt (RA) and crumb rubber present some limitations. Therefore, using another group of additives, i.e., a warm mix asphalt (WMA) additive, has been considered. The presented paper investigates the use of an elevated content of RA with different crumb rubber modified binders and (in some mixtures) a warm mix additive in an asphalt concrete (AC) binder mix. Regular empirical tests have been conducted and more advanced performance or functional characteristics, i.e., stiffness, thermal induced cracking, resistance to permanent deformation, complex modulus have been determined and evaluated. Selected results are presented in the paper.