bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of TNF-α gene polymorphism on fertility insufficiency in Holstein cows
Authors: Mohsen Thakir U. , AL-Khuzai Hamza M. H.
Published: August 2022

The current study was conducted in private station located in the middle of Iraq by using 100 blood samples from 100 Holstein cows to isolate DNA and determine the genotypes of TNF-α gene in tow regions on reproductive performance. Results showed two alleles with co-dominance and three genotypes was detected in 1st position (4th exon), the allele frequency was 0.695 and 0.305 for A and C allele respectively. The allele frequency in 2nd region (Flank region) was 0.64 and 0.36 for A and G allele respectively. Results showed a significant effect of gene polymorphism in 4th exon on retained placenta rate which differed significantly (P≤0.01) among cow groups, the highest rate was recorded in cows with cows with AC genotype about 0.24. A significant effect of gene polymorphism in 4th exon on ovulation weakness rate, the highest rate was recorded in cows with cows with CC genotype about 0.12. Parturition difficulties rate differed significantly (P≤0.01) , the highest rate was recorded in cows with mutant genotype namely,0.18. Results showed a significant effect of gene polymorphism in flank region, retained placenta rate was differed significantly (P≤0.01) among cow groups, the highest rate was recorded in cows with GC genotype about 0.20.
performance evaluation of permissionless distributed ledger technology ethereum
Authors: Shah Jignasha R , Sharma Deepak H.
Published: August 2022

Permissionless or public Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs) provide full decentralization and transparency. The performance evaluation of permissionless Distributed Ledger Technologies is difficult due to their dynamic nature. This paper focuses on the performance evaluation of permissionless Ethereum DLT. Public test networks highly resemble the main network and capture the dynamic nature of permissionless DLTs. The paper proposes the BloodTrace application to trace the donated blood from the donor to the patient. The performance is evaluated by deploying the BloodTrace smart contract on the public test network Ropsten. The data collection for the calculation of the performance parameters can be performed in two ways: i) RPC based method ii) Log-based method. RPC based method involves polling the blockchain for each transaction data. The log-based method involves the collection of logs and fewer RPC calls to the Blockchain. The probabilistic nature of transaction confirmation is also taken into consideration while calculating the Latency (Finality) by analysing the effect of block confirmations on the latency. The evaluation results are then compared with the results obtained by the Hyperledger Caliper Benchmarking tool as it is using RPC based approach for calculation of performance parameters.
Some Elements About the Classical Employment Theory and the Keynesian Perspective
Authors: Argoti Primera , Samuleson George
Published: August 2022

The fundamental aim of this paper is to lay out essential elements concerning classical economic theory about employment, and compare them with the Keynesian approach. In other words, this document shows a comparative-contrasting study of the classical and more modern theoretical claims, concerning employment. Since employment is a crucial variable related to economic growth and development, this paper is focused on a revision of conceptual issues concerning such a critical indicator. The approach presented here is important not only for professional economists but also for other social scientists. One of the major conclusions of this study is referred to the evidence that the Keynesian “General Theory” is not precisely the most completed and updated theoretical approach to solve problems of employment, but it has a particular richness in its contents that is important to rescue; in fact that theory was extremely useful to undertake unemployment and economic growth problems during the Great Recession in the United States.
FROM WAR ON TERROR BACK TO GREAT POWER COMPETITION
Authors: ALKANALKA Mehmet
Published: August 2022

In this article, selected documents of American national security strategy (NSS) in the 2000-2018 period are analyzed in the light of Stephan Walt’s “balance of threat” concept. Year 2000 was chosen as the starting point since 9/11 terror attacks correspond to a historic turning point in U.S. foreign policy, and the last NSS concerned is NSS 2017, prepared by the Trump administration. National Defense Strategy (NDS) documents are also taken into consideration, to further clarify the dominant trends in policy making. The aim of the article was to plot the evolution of key concepts and guiding principles in the NSS documents. It is seen that there has been a conceptual shift in the NSSs after the Cold War, where no great power existential threat was perceived, and the new threat definition was based on the Global War on Terror (GWOT). This new approach dominated the first NSSs of the new millennium, after the 9/11 terror attacks. However, in the last NSSs, there has been a return to the previous, threat-based approach, where competitor nation-states such as China and Russia are explicitly mentioned. It is concluded that there has been a conceptual return to the classical sense of great power competition.
THE IMPORTANCE OF USING THE CLUSTER APPROACH IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS
Authors:   Doctoral Student Of The Tashkent State Pedagogical University Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Madatov Ravshan
Published: August 2022

The article deals with the main approaches to the creation of educational clusters, an analytical review of the functioning of clusters in the space of the CIS and abroad. From this perspective, the essence and characteristics of the national educational research and innovation cluster continuous pedagogical education.
PRINCIPLES FOR TRANSLATING VOCABULARY WITH BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Authors:   Doctor Of Philology, Associate Professor Tashkent State University Of Oriental Studies Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Nasirova Dr. Saodat A.
Published: August 2022

This article has incorporated the content analysis material and the problems of translating the socio-political terminology of the modern Chinese language. The question of the theory of translation, the main imperatives of this field, as well as the question of the formation of the main directions of development of the theory of translation in ancient China is touched upon. The lexica-stylistic and semantic features of terms have an important role in the study of the socio-political layer of the vocabulary of modern Chinese. Analysis of these features can give a new solution in the search for the adequacy and equivalence of new concepts. The characteristic features of the socio-political terminology of the Chinese language in terms of the political and cultural perspective, the importance of the historical context of speech and the original understanding of the terms in the socio-political layer of speech also constituted the main core of the subject of analysis.
MODEL OF FORMATION OF LINGUO-METHODOLOGICAL COMPETENCE OF FUTURE PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
Authors:   Lecturer, Tashkent State Pedagogical University Named After Nizami Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Sadikov Rustam Mansurovich
Published: August 2022

This article reveals various approaches to improving the linguo-methodological competence of future primary school teachers, gives a definition of linguo-methodological competence, and also proposes and describes an improved model for the formation of linguo-methodological competence of future primary school teachers.
Bioinformatics of pathogenic food bacteria
Authors: Mondal Uttam K , Sen Arnab , Bothra Asim K
Published: August 2022

Cholera is a fatal water borne disease caused by Vibrio cholerae. The primary symptoms include profuse watery diarrhea, muscle cramps and vomiting of clear fluid leading to rapid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. and death in some cases. The causal organism i.e. Vibrio cholerae was first isolated by an Italian anatomist. Filippo Pacini in 1854. With the advent of genome sequencing technology, several Vibrio cholerae strains have been sequenced and available in public domain. This provided the opportunity for the scientists to study their genome in details. In the present review we have looked into the genetics of food pathogen as a whole, with special reference to research on V. cholerae. We have also critically reviewed various aspects of Bioinformatics like codon usage patterns, phylogenetic studies, studies on structural bioinformatics etc. on food borne bacteria. We are confident that the present review will help the researchers of food pathogenic biology to obtain valuable information about the present status of bioinformatics of food pathogenic bacteria and future outlook of these aspects.
Designing primers to fish auto-inducer synthase gene(s) of the quorum sensing system in Y -proteobacteria and their in-silico PCR validation
Authors: Yadav Krishna Kant , Chakraborty Ranadhir
Published: August 2022

Quorum sensing is a well known phenomenon in bacteria that control diverse functions including colonization and formation of biofilm. The luxl gene, involved in quorum sensing of gram negative hacteria. codes tor auto-inducer synthase/ acylhomoserine lactone synthase. As loxI homologues are sequence-diversc it is dificult to identify its loci by hybridization technique in different bacteria whose whole genome sequence(s) are unknown. We have used diferent bioinformatics tools taking the existing genome database into cognizance to design manually suitable degenerate primers for amplifying huxl gene homologues from diverse representatives of gamma-proteobacteria. Two primer pairs, DeglF/Deg2R and Deg3F/Deg4R, were capable of in- silico PCR amplification from genome sequence() of Halothiobacillus neapolianus. Acinetobacter baunanii ATCC 17978, Acidiuhiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 53993 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAOI (with first primer pair); Edwardsiella ictaluri, Edwardsiella tarda, Enwinia tasmaneinsis, Serratia proteamaculans, Pectobacterium wasabiae, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Pectobacterium atrosepticum, Dickeya zeae and Yersinia pestis (with second primer pair). The phylogenetic trees derived from sequences of horl homologues and 16S rRNA gene sequences of the respective genomes were almost identical showing two distinct clusters. The degenerate primer pairs were also found to be cluster specific.
In-vitro free radical scavenging activities of the leaves of Malva verticillara L
Authors: Chhetri P K , Mandal Palash
Published: August 2022

Antioxidants act as major defense against radical-mediated toxicity by protecting against the damages caused by free-radicals. Research on herbal products are increasingly focused on their effects on scavenging of different newly generated free-radical species and associated oxidative stress mediated complications on human health, but there are unexpectedly few studies evaluating the bioactivity of edible leafy vegetables of North Bengal, India. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant potential of methanol extract and aqueous decoction of Malva verticillata L. [MV] leaves, consumed by local people of North Bengal. Extracts of leaves were analyzed for in vitro free radical scavenging capacity, the total phenol and flavonoid content and preliminary phytochemical analysis. The antioxidant property was estimated using reducing power, superoxide radical scavenging activity and DPPH assays. Methanol extract of leaves were found to be effective in DPPH and superoxide radical scavenging activity when compared with aqueous decoction of MV. Overall strong correlation between the mean values of total phenol content and IC50 values of DPPH and superoxide free radical scavenging capacity was observed. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that phenolic functional groups and reducing potential of methanol and aqueous extracts were mostly contributed for their antioxidant capacity. The present study revealed that methanol extract of the leaves of MV comprise effective source of natural antioxidants, which might be helpful in preventing the progress of various oxidative stress induced diseases.
Evaluation of genetic variation among three species of Allium on the basis of karyomorphology and SDS-PAGE profiling
Authors: Roy Subhas Chandra , Bhutia Tshering
Published: August 2022

Determining the base number, ploidy level and type of ploidy are important aspects in the cytogenetic study of a species. Genetic variation among the three species of the genus Allium (A. cepa, A. sativum and A. hookeri) has been carried out on the bases of chromosomal karyotype and protein banding patterns on SDS-PAGE. Protein profiling was prepared from the observed bands on SDS-PAGE after electrophoresis and staining with coomassie brilliant blue. Shoot protein was extracted in phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) and run on gel for 3 hours at 20 mA constant current. Band numbers were varies from 31 to 39 in different position on the gel according to their Rf value. Bands were scored as binary data and computed in MVSP software for dendrogram analysis to examine their genetic relationship using Jaccard's coefficient. Three species were grouped into three distinct clusters in the dendrogram. Species cepa and sativum was grouped at the similarity coefficient value of 0.53 and species hookeri was placed in separate group at coefficient level of 0.40. Genetic variation was also examined on the basis of PCA analysis. The number of chromosome were found to be present 16 in Allium cepa,16 in Allium sativum, and 22 in Allium hookeri. The shortest chromosome in Allium cepa was 8.75(μm) and the longest one was 23.12(μm) with the ratio of shortest/longest chromosome of 0.37, the mean chromosome length of 15.23(μm) and a mean centromeric index of 0.16%. The shortest chromosome in Allium sativum was 10.62(μm) and the longest one was 30.0 (μm) with the ratio of shortest/longest chromosome of 0.35, the mean chromosome length of 17.41(μm) and a mean centromeric index of 0.60%. The shortest chromosome in Allium hookeri was 5.62 (μm) with the ratio of shortest/longest chromosome of 0.21, the mean chromosome length of 16.58(μm) and the mean centromeric index of 0.46%. Allium hookeri is considered to be much more advanced than the rest of the species (Allium sativum, and Allium cepa) because karyotype of the A. hookeri was ranges from submediam to telocentric chromosome, which is evolutionarily advance characters.
Present status of flora, fauna and vegetation structure in the wetlands of Maldah district of West Bengal, India
Authors: Chowdhury Monoranjan , Das Abhaya Prasad
Published: August 2022

The highest area of fresh water wetlands in the West Bengal is situated in the district of Maldah. Out of 23 larger wetlands of West Bengal 11 are located in this district. Maldah-wetlands are quite old and natural with good biodiversity and healthy ecosystem. These wetlands are the house of around 351 vascular plant species and several animal species like waterfowl, fishes, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and numerous insects. The local people largely depend also on these wetlands for their sustenance. But several threats, mainly anthropogenic, are gradually destroying these important ecosystems since the last decade.
Characterization of Rice [Oryza saliva L.] germplasm based on iron and zinc content
Authors: Roy Subhas Chandra , Sharma B D , Singha S , Sinha B
Published: August 2022

Hidden hunger is caused by the consumption of food grains (rice) which are deficient in mineral micronutrients specifically iron and zinc. This hunger affects more than one-half of the world's population especially woman and children in developing countries causing anemia and child blindness because 60 per cent of the world's population is dependent on rice as their staple food. Considering this biofortification as one of the suitable approaches was considered for improving the Fe and Zn content and their bioavailability in rice grain. Local landraces of rice were collected and Fe and Zn content were quantified for their genotypic characterization. Iron (Fe) and Zinc (Zn) content of 112 local landraces were estimated according to Lindsey and Norwell by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer Varian Speetra AA 50B. Iron concentration ranged from 0.25μg/g to 3.25μg/g and zinc from 0.85μg/g to 195.3μg/g in the landraces. Highest iron containing rice was Swetonunia with 34.8μg/g and highest Zn was found in Nepali Kalam which was 195.3μg/g. Zn content is quite comparable to other HYVs and can be used as donor parent in breeding program for biofortification of micronutrient Zn.
Operationalization of green behavior at workplace: Analyzing three major constructs
Authors: Roy Shreyasi , Sia Surendra Kumar , Nishma V M
Published: August 2022

Pro-environmental behavior is a broad construct of individual activity that minimizes harm to or benefits the environment. Different researches have given different terminology for different aspect of those environment oriented behavior. Present research compares between the three different constructs of pro-environmental behavior at workplace which has been extensively researched upon in the last decade- employee green behavior, voluntary workplace green behavior and organizational citizenship behavior towards environment. Theoretical comparisons of the three variables were done. Comparisons among the three variables were also done by collecting data using measures of three variables. Data was collected from 234 employees from chemical manufacturing firm. Factor analysis was done to find out factors. Result of factor analysis showed similarities among the variables. The items of three scales loaded into three factors – daily pro-environmental activities, lesser consumption of resources and alternative pro-environmental steps. The similarities among the variables along with theoretical contribution are discussed. Comparison among three major initiatives have been done.. A comprehensive tool which has been suggested can be used by future researchers to measure environmental behavior at workplace.
Internalised stigma and self-esteem in patients with remitted schizophrenia and their spouses
Authors: Jobin A , Mishra Prabha , Pandey Manoj K
Published: August 2022

There are plenty of studies on stigma and self-esteem in patients with schizophrenia. Patients with remitted schizophrenia and particularly their spouses had not been studied sufficiently to explore the association between stigma and self-esteem. Keeping this in view, the current study was initiated. This study was aimed at exploring the association between internalised stigma and self esteem in patients with remitted schizophrenia and their spouses. This study was carried out in100 participants (50 patients with remitted schizophrenia and their spouses) at the outpatient Department Post Graduate Institute of Behavioural and Medical Sciences, India. Patients and spouses, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study, were interviewed and data were collected by Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory (ISMI). Patients with remitted schizophrenia were observed with a significant negative correlation (r=- .80, pandLT) between internalized stigma and self-esteem. Similarly, also in spouses there was a significant negative correlation (r=-.39, pandlt between these two variables. The current study is concluded with the comment that in patients with remitted Schizophrenia and their spouses, high internalized stigma and its relation with low self-esteem require the attention of clinicians for better functional outcomes in patients and enhanced well-being in their spouses.
Social Anxiety Among College Students and Its Relation to Negative Self-Portrayal
Authors: Micheal Raj Annu Priya P , Babu Stephen
Published: August 2022

Social anxiety is a fear of social activities, and the people associated with them, which leads to high levels of anxiety, and serves as a reason for the socially-anxious person to avoid them.People with social anxiety disorder frequently report experiencing heightened negative self-portrayal i.e., a person who would negatively evaluate themselves in relation to the way they think they appear before others in feared social situations. The purpose of this study was to find the relationship between college students ‘social anxiety and their negative self-portrayal, age group between 18 to 25 years. Seventy (N= 70) undergraduate and post graduate students completed self-report measure of social anxiety scale and negative self-portrayal scale The collected data is analyzed by using correlation and regression. Results suggested that the college students who have more level of social anxiety also experience a significant level of negative self-portrayal. In addition, the negative portrayal of social competencies has significant relationship with their social anxiety but the negative portrayal does not have significant relationship with social anxiety, the study also revealed that there was no gender difference in negative self-portrayal and social anxietyand Clinical implications of these results are discussed.
Applied Psychology in Bangladesh: Progress and Prospect
Authors: Saha Asoke Kumar
Published: August 2022

Psychology classes were first taught at Rajshahi University in 1956. In 1965, the University of Dhaka established the Department of Psychology. The Department of Psychology at Jagannath University offered an MSc programme in Psychology within the Faculty of Science in 1986. Chittagong University’s Department of Psychology was founded in 2005 as part of the Biological Sciences Faculty. During the 1993–94 academic years, the University of Dhaka began a postgraduate professional training program in conjunction with the University of London as part of the link initiative. In 1995, the MS in Clinical Psychology program began. Since 1997, Dhaka University has had a separate Department of Clinical Psychology within the Faculty of Biological Sciences, which offers clinical psychology masters and training program as well as produces professional clinical psychologists. In 2012, the Department of Psychology at Jagannath University introduced one-year master’s degrees in psychology in three areas: clinical and counseling psychology; industrial and organizational psychology; and educational and developmental psychology. In 2015, Rajshahi University created a new Clinical Psychology Department inside the Faculty of Life and Earth Science. The Department of Clinical Psychology provides a fouryear BSc Honors degree in Clinical Psychology and a one-year Master’s program in Clinical Psychology. The availability of applied psychologist placement chances in Bangladesh is still limited, indicating that there is a great need for and numerous opportunities to work as a professional psychologist in various fields in Bangladesh.
JİGSAW TEKNİĞİNİN HEMŞİRELİK ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN AİLE PLANLAMASI YÖNTEMLERİNİ ÖĞRENMELERİNE ETKİSİ VE ÖĞRENCİLERİN TEKNİĞE İLİŞKİN GÖRÜŞLERİ
Authors: ABALI ÇETİN Serpil , ÇİÇEK Özlem , SEZER Hale
Published: August 2022

Bu çalışmanın amacı; işbirlikli öğrenmede kullanılan Jigsaw tekniğinin hemşirelik öğrencilerinin aile planlaması yöntemlerini öğrenmelerine etkisini ve öğrencilerin tekniğe ilişkin görüşlerini belirlemektir. Ön test – son test yarı deneysel tipte çalışmadır. Örneklemi hemşirelik bölümü 3. sınıfından 68 öğrenci oluşturmuştur. Öğrenciler Jigsaw tekniğine uygun olarak uzman gruplara ayrılarak akran çalışması yapmıştır. Araştırma verileri Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Aile Planlaması Yöntemleri Soru Formu ve Jigsaw Görüş Ölçeği ile sınıf ortamında çevrimiçi anket platformu kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Veriler SPSS 26.0 programı ile analiz edilmiştir. Öğrencilerin %68,6’sı kız, katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 20,63±0,82 ve %82’9’u aile planlaması yöntemleri hakkında daha önce eğitim almamıştır. Aile Planlaması Yöntemleri Soru Formu son test puan ortalaması (95,47±5,73) ön test puan ortalamasından (61,23± 14,46) anlamlı olarak daha yüksektir (t=137,234; p
Analysis Of Health Promotion Implementation In Pulmonary Tuberculosis Disease Control In Puskesmas Harapan Raya Kota Pekanbaru 2022
Authors: Fitriani Feby , Syukaisih Syukaisih , Septiani Winda
Published: August 2022

Pulmonary Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Tuberculosis which can attack various organs, especially the lungs. According to data from the Harapan Raya Health Center in 2020 there were 63 TB cases, in 2021 there were 73 TB cases, a total of 136 cases of people affected by pulmonary TB. This study aims to determine the implementation of health promotion in the control of pulmonary tuberculosis. This research uses a qualitative type of research with an in-depth observation and interview design. Informants were determined by purposive sampling technique Research variables are empowerment, advocacy and partnership. The research informants were 7 people, 1 key informant, namely the head of the Harapan Raya Health Center, 2 main informants, namely the person in charge of health promotion and the person in charge of tuberculosis. and 4 supporting informants, namely 2 general public people and 2 TB patients. Data collection was carried out in the work area of puskesmas Harapan Raya through in-depth interviews and observations. Data management techniques with triangulation. The results of this study indicate that empowerment is less than optimal due to the wide working area of ​​the Harapan Raya Health Center so that the empowerment is not evenly distributed, advocacy in TB control is still lacking because the budget for TB control still expects only a small amount of BOK funds and lack of support from community leaders in finding suspects TB case. Partnerships in TB control have been implemented. It is hoped that the Harapan Raya Health Center will further increase Health  empowerment, advocacy and partnerships in tb control programs.
Analysis of the Application of Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management at Pt. W Year 2022
Authors: Pangestu Dimas , Purnawati Rahayu Endang , Sando Welly , Alhidayati Alhidayati , Muhamadiah Muhamadiah
Published: August 2022

Risk management is a systematic method of looking at risks and ensuring appropriate action on those risks. It is a means of identifying sources of risks and uncertainties and being able to predict the consequences that will arise and develop the reactions that should be tried to address those risks. This research aims to obtain in -depth information on the analysis of the application of occupational safety and health risk management in PT.W in 2022. This research was conducted using a qualitative research design by conducting in -depth interviews, to 5 people, namely 1 person HSE Super Intendent as the main informant, 1 person supervisor as key informant, and 3 workers as supporting informant . This study was conducted in January-April 2022. The results showed that in the assessment and determination of risk levels were found as many as 20 sources of hazards (hazards) that and cause 22 Accident risks that include 13 risks with low category (Low), 4 risks with category medium (Medium), 5 risks with a high category (High), namely: falling lifting load, overturned lift, hitting workers or other equipment, workers or eqiupment being hit or disturbing other road users, bouncing can injure workers. Recommended to PT.W to pay attention to field activities in each pipe sleeve installation process so that there are no accidents in the field while working.
Is the Cube One Framework Sufficiently Resilient to Explain and Predict Organizational Performance during a COVID Environment? Examination of Data Collected over 18 Months
Authors: Kopelman Richard , Augugliaro Jeffrey
Published: August 2022

Data are examined for three semesters during the midst of COVID: fall 2020, spring 2021, and fall 2021. Contrary to hypotheses, predictive and discriminant validity was as strong as results obtained from three prior surveys (using identical instrumentation) conducted in three countries. It had been anticipated that the sets of practices that comprise the Cube One Framework would experience declining frequency, as organizations cut back on either effort to raise motivation or ability (enterprise-directed practices); price and quality concerns for products/services (customer-directed practices); or practices designed to increase employee loyalty and satisfaction (employee-directed practices. Overall, there were no declines in the three sets of practices, and moderator analyses examining the posited effects of declines in employment across ten industries showed only one significant effect in twelve analyses. We conclude that, surprisingly, the Cube One Framework remains a robust predictor of organizational performance both before and during the COVID environment.
The Evaluation of Diagnostic Values of Clinical Symptoms for COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients in Northern Iran: The Syndromic Surveillance System Data
Authors: Hatami Hossein , Saeidi Kiasari Mohammad Reza , Rezapour Maysam
Published: August 2022

Background: A novel coronavirus led to a rapidly spreading outbreak of COVID-19, which caused morbidity and mortality worldwide. Appropriate case definitions can help diagnose COVID-19. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the COVID-19 clinical symptoms and their potential patterns using latent class analysis (LCA) for identifying confirmed COVID-19 cases among hospitalized patients in northern Iran according to the syndromic surveillance system data. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with COVID-19 admitted to hospitals in Mazandaran Province, Iran. Respiratory specimens were collected by nasopharyngeal swabs from the patients and tested for COVID-¬19 using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Latent class analysis was used to identify patterns of the symptoms. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of each symptom pattern were compared and plotted. Also, multiple logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio for each symptom pattern for predicting COVID-19 infection by adjusting for gender and age groups. Results: Among 13,724 hospitalized patients tested for COVID-19 and included in the analyses, 4,836 (35, 2%) had RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19. The symptoms of fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, myalgia, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, headache, and arthralgia were significantly more common in patients positive for COVID-19 than in other patients and were used in LCA. Latent class analysis suggested six classes (patterns) of clinical symptoms. The AUC of symptom patterns was poor, being 0.43 for class 5, comprising patients without any symptoms, and 0.53 for class 3, comprising patients with fever, chills, and cough. Also, multiple logistic regression showed that class 1, comprising patients with fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and arthralgia, had an odds ratio of 2.87 (1.39, 3.43) relative to class 5 (patients without any symptoms) for positive COVID-19. Conclusions: This study showed that the clinical symptoms might help to diagnose patients with COVID-19. However, the defined clinical symptoms suggested in the surveillance system of COVID-19 in Iran during this time were not appropriate for identifying COVID-19 cases.
Designing and Development of Simultaneous Detection of Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae based on EvaGreen Real-Time PCR
Authors: Sohrabi Majid , Alebouyeh Masoud , Fallah Fatemeh , Tahmasebi Fatemeh , Goudarzi Hossein , Kazemi Aghdam Maryam
Published: August 2022

Background: Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae are serious causes of invasive infections associated with high mortality and morbidity worldwide, particularly meningitis. Efficient diagnostic strategies play a crucial role in the management of disease and the prevention of overtreatment. The low sensitivity and time-consuming nature of culture and gram stain methods have led to the demand for alternative methods in clinical laboratories. Objectives: This study aims to design and develop a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective EvaGreen-based real-time PCR to simultaneously detect N. meningitidis and S. pneumoniae. Methods: We designed and evaluated an accurate, reliable, and inexpensive approach based on EvaGreen dye real-time PCR to simultaneously detect N. meningitidis and S. pneumoniae in a single tube from cerebrospinal fluid. Melting curve analysis was used to differentiate the amplicons of each pathogen. Analytical sensitivity and specificity of the assay were conducted by reference bacterial strains genomes. Besides, in order to clinical validation we used 53 positive CSF samples and 7 negative CSF samples. Results: Our assay demonstrated no amplification curve with non-target microorganisms indicating 100% analytical specificity. In the EvaGreen multiplex assay, the lower limit of detection (LLD) was nine copies/reaction for N. meningitidis and 13 copies/reaction for S. pneumoniae. The clinical validation of positive CSF samples revealed 100% sensitivity and no false positives. The reproducibility and repeatability of tested replicates indicated low intra-assay and inter-assay CVs of less than 1.5%. Conclusions: EvaGreen-based multiplex real-time PCR offers a rapid, affordable, and appropriate diagnostic tool to identify the main cause of bacterial meningitis.
Development of a Natural Preservative System in Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Spray Formulation Using Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil
Authors: kheirkhah Rahimabadi Shahnaz , Tabatabaee Bafroee Akram Sadat , Khalili Hadad Babak
Published: August 2022

Background: Replacing all or part of synthetic preservatives with natural antimicrobials in pharmaceutical formulations can be a way to improve the safety and quality of products. Evaluating the preservative effectiveness of essential oils is valuable since most of them are generally known to be safe. Objectives: In the current research, the efficacy of Eucalyptus globulus essential oil was investigated as an antimicrobial agent individually and in combination with benzalkonium chloride in fluticasone propionate nasal spray. Methods: To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of E. globulus essential oil, in vitro antimicrobial activity was assayed. The stability of nasal sprays was studied in intended preservation conditions at 40°C and RH: 25 %, and also the microbial challenge test was performed according to the United States Pharmacopoeia procedure, using reference strains: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 1112, Escherichia coli ATCC 1330, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 1074, Candida albicans ATCC 5027, and Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 5011. Results: The combined application of E. globulus essential oil and benzalkonium chloride at a concentration of 0.675/0.005% v/v, in nasal spray formulation could decrease the bacterial and fungal populations, in compliance with United States Pharmacopoeia criteria, with considerable preservation within 28 days of the study compared to those preserved with only benzalkonium chloride (0.02%). Conclusions: In the current research, notable antimicrobial effectiveness of the combinational preservative system was observed and followed by a decrease in the functional level of the synthetic preservative. Therefore, after further studies, a combinational preservative system can be considered as an alternative preservative for pharmaceutical formulations.
Elastin Peptides with Ferrous Ferric Chloride Activate Human Melanocytes and Elastin Fibers
Authors: Hirobe Tomohisa , Enami Hisao
Published: August 2022

Background: Elastin peptides stimulate the development of mouse melanocytes in neural crest culture. Ferrous ferric chloride (FFC) promotes mammalian melanocyte growth in culture. However, it is unclear whether elastin peptides in the presence of FFC can stimulate human melanocyte growth in situ. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of human melanocyte growth for skin and stem cell science since melanocytes control human skin color. Methods: In this clinical trial study, a lotion containing elastin peptides and/or FFC was applied to the normal skin of 6 volunteers twice a day for 1 to 3 months. Punch biopsies were taken from treated skin and surveyed by histochemical methods using the dopa reaction (detect melanocytes) and dopa-premelanin reaction (detect melanocytes and melanoblasts). Elastin fibers were detected by Victoria blue staining. Results: Only the combined treatment of elastin peptides and FFC increased melanocyte populations in addition to dopa reactivity, melanogenesis, dendritogenesis, and epidermal melanin pigmentation. Mitotic divisions of melanocytes were also observed. However, the melanoblast population failed to increase, and no mitotic melanoblasts were observed. In the dermis, elastin fibers became thicker and denser after the treatment. The data of statistical analyses were performed by tabulation, mean, and SD on Microsoft Excel for Macintosh OS Catalina 10 system. Conclusions: Our present study suggests that elastin peptides with FFC can promote melanocyte growth, melanin synthesis, skin pigmentation, and elastin fiber formation. Our study can be expected to contribute to advancing skin and stem cell science.
Secured Wireless Sensor Network Protocol using Rabin-assisted Multifactor Authentication
Authors:   School of Computing & Information Technology, REVA University, Bengaluru, India, Ambareen Javeria , M Prabhakar
Published: August 2022

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) when combined with Internet-of-things (IoT) enable a wide range of applications across multiple domains. Sensor nodes in these wireless sensor networks like any other Internet-connected device are resource constrained and vulnerable to a variety of malicious attacks thereby compromising security. Consequently, a secure and efficient lightweight cryptographic protocol is required that can provide a balance between end-to-end security offering all features but yet lightweight. For secure data transmission and access, newer multi-factor authentication and key management features must be developed as majority of existing techniques have high computational overheads and are vulnerable to a wide range of attacks. In this paper, we propose a Rabin-assisted three-factor authentication protocol that uses the computational asymmetry of Rabin cryptosystem in addition to user password, smartcard and biometric for increased security. NS2 based simulation proves that the proposed protocol outperforms the baseline ad-hoc on-demand distance vector (AODV) protocol in terms of throughput, computation cost, and delay performance. Also, it has the ability to tolerate most common attacks and offers additional functionality features thereby offering a lightweight and highly secure protocol that can be extended to other critical domains like Smart Transportation Systems (STS), Smart grids, Smart buildings etc.
Smartphone-based Biometric Authentication Scheme for Access Control Management in Client-server Environment
Authors:   Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering, National Institute of Technology Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Lone Sajaad Ahmed , Mir A.H.
Published: August 2022

As the information put together by the blend of smartphones, the cloud, the IOT, and ubiquitous computing continue to expand at an alarming rate, a data breach increases. Today, users' strong authentication and authorization approaches are increasingly important to secure sensitive, confidential, secret information. Possession and knowledge-based authentication techniques for computers, the internet, email accounts, etc., are commonly used to access vital information; they do not link a user to an established identity, resulting in most security vulnerabilities. Biometric authentication, on the other hand, has the privilege of being more reliable than traditional authentication as biometric characteristics of a person can’t be lost; they are tough to distribute, exchange or duplicate; and it requires the user to be present during the authentication process, thereby relating the users to established identities. Biometrics provides a higher level of assurance that the individual attempting to ascertain is the individual in question. Thus, resulting in a more reliable, usable, and cost-effective model with a higher level of protection to deter an attacker from obtaining entry to a computer or network and gaining access to confidential data. This paper introduces a novel fingerprint-based authentication scheme for mobile environments, enabling user authentication based on fingerprint features using a challenge-response-based authentication process. In this study, the proposed authentication system has been developed on a real Android-based smartphone, tested on actual users, and performance analysis has been carried out; empirical results reveal that the proposed authentication scheme achieves increased performance. Moreover, a usability analysis has been done to determine efficiency, effectiveness, and user satisfaction. The evaluation results indicate its feasibility to use it as an effective authentication mechanism for mobile phone environments.
Performances com musicares enquanto performances de existência
Authors: Brietzke Marta , Oliveira Mário , Presgrave Fabio
Published: August 2022

Este texto se estrutura como uma interface entre as áreas de Performance e de Educação Musical. O seu objetivo é apresentar a ideia de Performances com Musicares enquanto Performances de Existência. A ideia de musicar faz referência à concepção de Christopher Small (1999). O texto faz parte de uma pesquisa de Doutorado em andamento que se realiza por meio da etnografia, a autoetnografia e a cartografia como métodos de trabalho. A investigação contou com a pesquisa de campo, sendo realizadas entrevistas on-line com doze professores de violoncelo de oito espaços musicais de ensino e aprendizagem de estudantes iniciantes no Brasil. Entre os resultados apontados pela investigação, se incluem a ideia de que as performances se estruturam sobre contextos sobrepostos e dialógicos. Como reflexões, a pesquisa aponta que as performances com práticas musicais podem ser interpretadas como processos pedagógicos de representação de formas de existir que se ampliam à vida cotidiana.
Factors Associated With Treatment-Related Changes in Voice Volume in People With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Crispiatico Valeria , Baldanzi Cinzia , Bertuletti Martina , Grassi Silvia , Tedeschi Francesca , Groppo Elisabetta , Rovaris Marco , Cattaneo Davide , Vitali Chiara
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND

Vocal disorders are frequent in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Cognitive impairment, fatigue, depression, and other clinical characteristics can be associated with treatment effectiveness in rehabilitation. Finding baseline characteristics that identify those who are responding to treatment can help the clinical decision-making process, which can then help improve the effectiveness of voice treatment. We developed a model to identify factors associated with treatment-related improvement on voice intensity in people with MS.

METHODS

Data are from a randomized controlled trial of the effects of voice therapy. Forty-four people with MS were enrolled and randomized to receive Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD, specifically addressing voice intensity, or conventional speech-therapy group. Voice intensity (dB) was measured during monologue before and after treatment and was used to differentiate those who responded (posttreatment voice intensity > 60 dB) from those who did not. Possible associated factors were cognitive impairment, fatigue, depression, disability, and disease duration. Associations were assessed by univariate logistic regression and univariate and multivariate linear regressions.

RESULTS

Mean ± SD monologue voice intensity is improved in the whole sample (before rehabilitation: 51.8 ± 4.2 dB; and after rehabilitation 57.0 ± 6.5 dB; P < .001), and 11 people with MS (27.5%) responded to treatment. Specificity of treatment was associated with the return to normal voice intensity (OR, 14.28; 95% CI, 12.17–309.56) and we found a linear association between voice improvement and the specificity of treatment (6.65 [SE = 1.54] dB; P < .05). Moreover, the analysis revealed a nonlinear association between improvement and fatigue, suggesting increased benefits for people with MS with moderate fatigue. Other factors were not significantly associated with treatment effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate fatigue and the specificity of the intervention seem to be key factors associated with clinically relevant improvement in voice intensity even in people with MS with a high level of disability and long disease duration.
DESENHOS NO CHÃO E PINTURAS NO AR
Authors: Paula Débora Campos de
Published: August 2022

A proposta deste artigo é discutir a importância do corpo como protagonista no processo de autoconhecimento e produção de saber, em consonância com um ambiente propício aos diálogos de corpo, à experiência e à reflexão. Pretende-se apontar algumas pistas que instiguem o leitor ao exercício imaginativo de deslocar o centro do pensamento de uma perspectiva hegemônica para um olhar pessoal e ao mesmo tempo coletivo de percepção do corpo-pensamento.1 O espaço no qual se desenvolveram estas investigações e de onde emergiram estas questões são as aulas de dança afro. O foco é a busca de uma dança em afroperspectiva que informe diferentes possibilidades de mover-se com base na relação com a ancestralidade, com a coletividade e com o autoconhecimento.
Prepare for impact of proposed new Title IX regs on sexual assault and discrimination
Authors: Bowers Blaze M.
Published: August 2022

The Title IX saga continues. The U.S. Department of Education under the Biden administration released new, proposed Title IX regulations on June 23 — the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education and has been subject to several regulatory overhauls in past decades. The latest proposed regulations were published in the Federal Register on July 12.
Review recent rulings regarding Title VII
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: August 2022

An overview of the key topics faced by campus administrators with citations to noteworthy cases, statutes, regulations, and additional sources.
Case report of experience of misdiagnosis of Currarino syndrome as ovarian cyst
Authors: Le Aiwen , Xu Ya hong , Wang Zhonghai
Published: August 2022

The medical information was collected for Currarino syndrome. The patient had anal surgery for congenital anal stenosis when 2 years old. Clinical manifestations were pelvic cystic mass and low abdominal pain. The pelvic mass was found with a diameter of about 20 cm during the transabdominal exploration. At the second day after operation, the patient complained of neck pain. Neurosurgeon performed surgical treatment and diagnosed it as anterior sacral meningocoele. Currarino syndrome has female pelvic mass, sacral malformation, and congenital anorectal malformation, blindly puncture or drainage before operation should not be permitted.