bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interdisciplinary Periodontics
Authors: Chandra Raj Subash , Tabassum Shaheda , Mahapatra Annuroopa , Patnaik Kaushik
Published: August 2021

Evidence based periodontics has made us understand that most of the patients having various dental or medical treatment requirements require multidisciplinary approach rather than personalised periodontal approach. Periodontal disease may be evident in the periodontal tissue but its onset and progression could be affected by systemic condition also. The intercommunication and liaison between periodontics and endodontics, fixed prosthodontics, implant dentistry, Orthodontics, oral pathology, Aesthetic dentistry, oral & maxillofacial surgery, Paediatric dentistry, gerodontology, radiology, special needs dentistry and general medicine needs to be discussed. Increasing life expectancy, higher quality of Biomaterials used in dentistry and rapid evolution of clinical procedures has led to more demanding patient requests & more complicated treatment choices. It requires holistic management. In this chapter we have made a conscious effort to touch upon various fields of medical science and its relation to periodontics, by which we wish to create a healthy referral protocol, benefiting the general population.
Carbon Storage of Some Rubber Trees (Hevea brasiliensis) Clones in HEVECAM’s Plantations in South Cameroon
Authors: A. Ngon René Menoh , Esaïe Tsoata , Manga Milie Lionelle Tsouga , Ndongo Pierre-André Owona
Published: August 2021

The objective of this work was to estimate the quantity of carbon stored by four main clones of rubber tree cultivated in South Cameroon: GT 1, PB 217, PR 107 and RRIC 100. The forest inventory method was used to measure trees morphological parameters, the latter used to calculate carbon storage using the allometric equation of Wauters et al., (2008). The main morphological parameters measured were: leaf area index (LAI), circumference (C), diameter at breast height (DBH) and total tree height (h). Comparing the morphological parameters of clones two by two using a Dunn test, we observe significant differences in the circumference, the diameter and even very significant in the leaf area index, but not in the height. The clones GT 1, PR 107, PB 217, and RRIC 100 stored on average: 111.05 tC / ha, 150.18 tC / ha, 165.25 tC / ha, and 187.25 tC/ha respectively. A significant difference was established between the means of carbon storage of the clones GT 1 and PB 217 (p = 0.0488) on one hand and, that of the clones GT 1 and RRIC 100 (p = 0.0240), on the other hand. These results are an estimation of models, further research can be undertaken for exact measurements.
Future of Bovine Amniotic Membrane: Bovine Membrane Application on Wound Healing, Surgery and Prospect of Use for Urethral Reconstruction
Authors: Gusti Bagus Adria Hariastawa I , Andijaya Sutantio Jemmy
Published: August 2021

This chapter describes how bovine amniotic membrane could be indicated for wound healing, especially in complex surgery such as urethral reconstruction. Chemical studies have assessed both histologically and immunohistochemically that bovine amniotic membrane creates scaffold for wound healing. Whereas, clinical studies have shown that bovine amniotic membrane property could be substituted for wound dressing hence improving skin or mucosal integrity. Bovine membrane has been known to be used for many specialties such as ocular surgery, neurosurgery, maxillofacial and orthopedic surgery. This chapter includes such studies and shows the usage possibility of bovine amniotic membrane for other complex defect as shown in urethral reconstruction.
Future Climate Change Impacts on River Discharge Seasonality for Selected West African River Basins
Authors: Esther Babalola Toju , Gbenro Oguntunde Philip , Ebenezer Ajayi Ayodele , Omowonuola Akinluyi Francis
Published: August 2021

The changing climate is a concern to sustainable water resources. This study examined climate change impacts on river discharge seasonality in two West African river basins; the Niger river basin and the Hadejia-Jama’are Komadugu-Yobe Basin (HJKYB). The basins have their gauges located within Nigeria and cover the major climatic settings. Here, we set up and validated the hyper resolution global hydrological model PCR-GLOBWB for these rivers. Time series plots as well five performance evaluation metrics such as Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE),); the ratio of RMSE-observations standard deviation (RSR); per cent bias (PBIAS); the Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency criteria (NSE); and, the coefficient of determination (r2), were employed to verify the PCR-GLOBWB simulation capability. The validation results showed from satisfactory to very good on individual rivers as specified by PBIAS (−25 to 0.8), NSE (from 0.6 to 0.8), RSR (from 0.62 to 0.4), r2 (from 0.62 to 0.88), and KGE (from 0.69 to 0.88) respectively. The impact assessment was performed by driving the model with climate projections from five global climate models for the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5. We examined the median and range of expected changes in seasonal discharge in the far future (2070–2099). Our results show that the impacts of climate change cause a reduction in discharge volume at the beginning of the high flow period and an increase in discharge towards the ending of the high flow period relative to the historical period across the selected rivers. In the Niger river basin, at the Lokoja gauge, projected decreases added up to 512 m3/s under RCP 4.5 (June to July) and 3652 m3/s under RCP 8.5 (June to August). The three chosen gauges at the HJKYB also showed similar impacts. At the Gashua gauge, discharge volume increased by 371 m3/s (RCP8.5) and 191 m3/s (RCP4.5) from August to November. At the Bunga gauge, a reduction/increase of -91 m3/s/+84 m3/s (RCP 8.5) and -40 m3/s/+31 m3/s/(RCP 4.5) from June to July/August to October was simulated. While at the Wudil gauge, a reduction/increase in discharge volumes of −39/+133 m3/s (RCP8.5) and −40/133 m3/s (RCP 4.5) from June to August/September to December is projected. This decrease is explained by a delayed start of the rainy season. In all four rivers, projected river discharge seasonality is amplified under the high-end emission scenario (RCP8.5). This finding supports the potential advantages of reduced greenhouse gas emissions for the seasonal river discharge regime. Our study is anticipated to provide useful information to policymakers and river basin development authorities, leading to improved water management schemes within the context of changing climate and increasing need for agricultural expansion.
Advancements in Intravesical Chemotherapy in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Mittal Ankur , Kumar Panwar Vikas , Singh Gurpremjit
Published: August 2021

The treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is transurethral resection of bladder cancer followed by intravesical chemotherapy or BCG. There have been various advancements in low risk, intermediate risk, high risk, and BCG failure cases of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. There has been increased research on hyperthermia and intravesical chemotherapy, new agents like apaziquone, use of gemcitabine in low-risk cases, and combination chemotherapy in cases of BCG failure. Combining docetaxel and gemcitabine has taken a significant stage because of BCG shortage in some parts of the world. This chapter will discuss the latest advancements in intravesical chemotherapy in low, intermediate, and high-risk patients.
Green Synthesis of Metal Nanostructures and Its Nonlinear Optical Properties
Authors: Ramya Emusani
Published: August 2021

Simple green synthesis of metal nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was prepared by using Raphanussativus leaf extract. This extract acts as reduce and stabilizing agent. The formation of silver NPs was confirmed and characterized by XRD, UV–visible absorption spectrum, TEM, and FTIR. The luminescence enhancement and quenching of Eu3+and Sm3+ ions were observed in the presence of silver NPs. The luminescence enhancement is owing to arise in the electric-dipole transition with alteration of the field around Ln3+ ions. Nonlinear studies in femtosecond (fs) and picosecond (ps) time scales have been studied by using the Z-scan technique. Third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of silver nanoparticles was obtained with Degenerate Four-Wave Mixing (DFWM) in the fs regime. The lifetimes of lanthanum complexes were increased by the concentration of silver NPs and decreased for further silver. The high enhanced luminescence and nonlinear studies of green synthesized silver nanoparticles can be used in optics and bio applications.
Superconductivity in Materials under Extreme Conditions: An ab-initio Prediction from Density Functional Theory
Authors: Bovornratanaraks Thiti , Tsuppayakorn-aek Prutthipong
Published: August 2021

The relation between thermodynamically stable and electronic structure preparation is one of the fundamental questions in physics, geophysics and chemistry. Since the discovery of the novel structure, this has remained as one of the main questions regarding the very foundation of elemental metals. Needless to say this has also bearings on extreme conditions physics, where again the relation between structure and performance is of direct interest. Crystal structures have been mainly at ambient conditions, i.e. at room temperature and ambient pressure. Nevertheless it was realized early that there is also a fundamental relation between volume and structure, and that this dependence could be most fruitfully studied by means of high pressure experimental techniques. From a theoretical point of view this is an ideal type of experiment, since only the volume is changed, which is a very clean variation of the external conditions. Therefore, at least in principle, the theoretical approach remains the same irrespective of the high pressure loading of the experimental sample. Theoretical modeling is needed to explain the measured data on the pressure volume relationships in crystal structures. Among those physical properties manifested itself under high pressure, superconductivity has emerged as a prominent property affected by pressure. Several candidate structure of materials are explored by ab initio random structure searching (AIRSS). This has been carried out in combination with density functional theory (DFT). The remarkable solution of AIRSS is possible to expect a superconductivity under high pressure. This chapter provide a systematically review of the structural prediction and superconductivity in elemental metals, i.e. lithium, strontium, scandium, arsenic.
The Tissue Plane
Authors: Cornish Philip
Published: August 2021

In recent times, terms such as ‘interfascial plane block’ and ‘fascial plane block’ have become common in describing regional anaesthesia blocks such as transversus abdominis plane (TAP), serratus anterior plane (SAP) and erector spinae plane (ESP). In fact, none of these names accurately describes the applied anatomy involved in each named technique, as the acronym is only one part of the anatomic jigsaw puzzle. The correct term is ‘tissue plane block’, which derives from surgical terminology. The tissue plane is not new to regional anaesthesia, as it has been the endpoint of ‘loss of resistance’ and ‘pop’ techniques for many decades. However, the game-changer is that now we can see the tissue plane courtesy of ultrasound. The purpose of this chapter is to review the history of the tissue plane in relation to its use in regional anaesthesia, and to see how ultrasound has further advanced the regional anaesthesiologist’s options in this regard. The chapter will also review how an understanding of tissue dynamics can further enhance our clinical results by manipulating the characteristics of the tissue plane.
The Association Between Uric Acid and Symmetric Dimethylarginine Levels in the Patients Undergoing Twice-weekly Hemodialysis
Authors: Lydia Aida , Yassir Yassir , Hidayat Rudy , Suwarto Suhendro
Published: August 2021

Background: Uric acid (UA) levels are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in hemodialysis patients. However, there are still conflicting data on the mechanism of increased risks related to uric acid levels. Objectives: This study assessed the association between uric acid levels and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), as a marker of cardiovascular disease, in the subjects undergoing hemodialysis twice weekly. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. We included all the adults who underwent hemodialysis twice weekly for at least three months in our hospital. Subjects already on uric acid lowering therapy, pregnant or lactating women and those with a history of malignancy were excluded. Uric acid and SDMA levels were measured at the same time in pre-dialysis venous blood samples. Bivariate analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test or one-way ANOVA. Results: A total of 126 subjects were included. The median level of UA was 8.4 mg/dL (IQR: 2.6, min: 4.1, max: 13.6), and 72 subjects (57.14%) had UA levels of 8 mg/dL or higher. The median SDMA level was 535.5 (312.7) mmol/dL (min: 119.7, max: 1895.5). Subjects with UA levels > 8 mg/dL had significantly higher SDMA levels compared to subjects with UA levels < 8 mg/dL (550.1 (IQR: 357.25) vs 491.35 (IQR: 181.1), P: 0.0475). Conclusions: In twice-weekly hemodialysis patients, UA levels above 8 mg/dL were associated with increased SDMA levels.
Cul4a attenuates LPS-induced acute kidney injury via blocking NF-kB signaling pathway in sepsis
Authors: Zhao Jing , Duan Qiuxia , Dong Cuihong , Cui Jing
Published: August 2021

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common disease that can develop into end-stage kidney disease. Sepsis is one of the main causes of AKI. Currently, there is no satisfactory way to treat septic AKI. Therefore, we have shown the protective function of Cul4a in septic AKI and its molecular mechanism. Methods: The cellular and animal models of septic AKI were established by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Western blot (WB) was employed to analyze Cul4a expression. RT-qPCR was employed to test the expression of Cul4a, SOD1, SOD2, GPX1, CAT, IL-6, TNF-a, Bcl-2, IL1b, Bax and KIM-1 mRNA. ELISA was performed to detect the contents of inflammatory factors and LDH. CCK-8 was utilized to detect cell viability. Flow cytometry was utilized to analyze the apoptosis. DHE-ROS kit was used to detect the content of ROS. Results: Cul4a was down-regulated in cellular and animal models of septic AKI. Oxidative stress is obviously induced by LPS, as well as apoptosis and inflammation. However, these can be significantly inhibited by up-regulating Cul4a. Moreover, LPS induced the activation of the NF-kB pathway, which could also be inhibited by overexpression of Cul4a. Conclusions: Cul4awas found to be a protective factor in septic AKI, which could inhibit LPS-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation of HK-2 cells by inhibiting the NF-kB pathway.
Vračanje športnika v proces treniranja po prebolelem covidu-19
Authors: Planinc Nejc , Zupet Petra , Kavaš Gregor , Turel Matjaž , Zbačnik Rok , Jug Borut , Fras Zlatko , Ažman Juvan Katja
Published: August 2021

Večina športnikov s covidom-19 nima simptomov ali pa ima blage simptome, a vse več je primerov, ko simptomi vztrajajo še nekaj tednov do mesecev po okužbi. Najpogosteje so prizadeta dihala, vendar so lahko v sklopu sistemskega vnetja prizadeti tudi drugi organski sistemi. Športnika najbolj ogroža prizadetost srčno-žilnega sistema. Pri obravnavi je potrebno poleg srčno-žilnega sistema in dihal upoštevati tudi druge organske sisteme, ki jih lahko covid-19 prizadene (centralni in periferni živčni sistem, prebavila, skeletne mišice …). Pri športnikih so v posameznih primerih ugotavljali različno stopnjo prizadetosti miokarda, kar je lahko povezano z razvojem miokarditisa, ki je pomemben vzrok za nenadno srčno smrt športnikov. V prispevku predstavljamo vračanje v proces treniranja po prebolelem covidu-19 za tri skupine športnikov: tekmovalni športniki, športniki otroci (do 15 let) in zelo aktivni rekreativni športniki. Razdelili smo jih v štiri skupine glede na potek covida-19: športniki brez simptomov, športniki z blagimi simptomi, športniki s težjimi ali z vztrajajočimi simptomi (≥ 14 dni) in športniki s težjim potekom bolezni, ki zahteva bolnišnično obravnavo. Vsebina prispevka je usklajena s trenutnim znanjem, z omejevalnimi ukrepi, organizacijo zdravstvenega varstva športnikov in zmogljivostmi zdravstvenega sistema v Sloveniji. Treba jo bo prilagajati novimi dognanjem.
Korean researchers’ motivations for publishing in data journals and the usefulness of their data: a qualitative study
Authors: Lee Jungyeoun , Kim Jihyun
Published: August 2021

Purpose: This study investigated the usefulness and limitations of data journals by analyzing motivations for submission, review and publication processes according to researchers with experience publishing in data journals.Methods: Among 79 data journals indexed in Web of Science, we selected four data journals where data papers accounted for more than 20% of the publication volume and whose corresponding authors belonged to South Korean research institutes. A qualitative analysis was conducted of the subjective experiences of seven corresponding authors who agreed to participate in interviews. To analyze interview transcriptions, clusters were created by restructuring the theme nodes using Nvivo 12.Results: The most important element of data journals to researchers was their usefulness for obtaining credit for research performance. Since the data in repositories linked to data papers are screened using journals’ review processes, the validity, accuracy, reusability, and reliability of data are ensured. In addition, data journals provide a basis for data sharing using repositories and data-centered follow-up research using citations and offer detailed descriptions of data.Conclusion: Data journals play a leading role in data-centered research. Data papers are recognized as research achievements through citations in the same way as research papers published in conventional journals, but there was also a perception that it is difficult to attain a similar level of academic recognition with data papers as with research papers. However, researchers highly valued the usefulness of data journals, and data journals should thus be developed into new academic communication channels that enhance data sharing and reuse.
La contribution de la sociologie à la praxis théologique chez Jean-Marc Ela
Authors: Mbungu Mutu Joseph
Published: August 2021

La pratique interdisciplinaire pour trouver des solutions aux problèmes de développement en Afrique est prônée par plus d’un penseur. Et le sociologue et théologien camerounais Jean-Marc Ela, d’heureuse mémoire, fait partie de ceux-là. En effet, chez lui, sociologie (sciences sociales) et théologie sont deux disciplines qui s’appellent, s’interpellent et se complètent. La connaissance et la pratique de la sociologie quotidienne deviennent, pour lui, une voie d’évangélisation, de développement et de libération du peuple africain. Cet article développe donc la manière dont les deux sciences entrent en dialogue. En outre, il veut répondre à la préoccupation de la réception de la riche pensée de Jean-Marc Ela et de son infatigable engagement, au moment où nous célébrons le dixième anniversaire de sa mort.
Le Magnificat dans la pensée de Jean-Marc Ela
Authors: Kihandi Kubondila Hyacinthe
Published: August 2021

Cet article réfléchit sur la possibilité d’une mariologie sociale en Afrique à partir de l’analyse du Magnificat dans la pensée de Jean-Marc Ela. Il part de l’évocation des moments forts de cette analyse pour ensuite mettre en relief trois perspectives porteuses (issues de celle-ci) pouvant aider à penser une telle mariologie. Celle-ci reposerait sur plusieurs axes en l’occurrence la lutte pour la justice sociale, l’engagement pour l’instauration de la paix durable en Afrique et le combat pour la libération des femmes sur ce continent.
Objeto, gozo e corpo nas toxicomanias e adições: uma leitura psicanalítica
Authors: Fernandes Carla Oliveira
Published: August 2021

O livro é fruto de uma pesquisa teórico-clínica fundamentada na experiência com pacientes que recorrem ao uso de drogas como forma de tratamento do sofrimento. A obra apresenta os resultados de uma investigação sobre as especificidades das toxicomanias e das adições, o estatuto do objeto e sua relação com o gozo e o corpo. Além disso, frente a uma variedade de usos e abusos do objeto droga, promove a discussão, a partir de casos clínicos, sobre a singularidade do recurso à droga em cada caso, considerando o tratamento possível pela psicanálise de orientação lacaniana.
Proxies
Authors: Mulvin Dylan
Published: August 2021

How those with the power to design technology, in the very moment of design, are allowed to imagine who is included—and who is excluded—in the future.

Our world is built on an array of standards we are compelled to share. In Proxies, Dylan Mulvin examines how we arrive at those standards, asking, “To whom and to what do we delegate the power to stand in for the world?” Mulvin shows how those with the power to design technology, in the very moment of design, are allowed to imagine who is included—and who is excluded—in the future.

For designers of technology, some bits of the world end up standing in for other bits, standards with which they build and calibrate. These “proxies” carry specific values, even as they disappear from view. Mulvin explores the ways technologies, standards, and infrastructures inescapably reflect the cultural milieus of their bureaucratic homes. Drawing on archival research, he investigates some of the basic building-blocks of our shared infrastructures. He tells the history of technology through the labor and communal practices of, among others, the people who clean kilograms to make the metric system run, the women who pose as test images, and the actors who embody disease and disability for medical students. Each case maps the ways standards and infrastructure rely on prototypical ideas of whiteness, able-bodiedness, and purity to control and contain the messiness of reality. Standards and infrastructures, Mulvin argues, shape and distort the possibilities of representation, the meaning of difference, and the levers of change and social justice.

The open access edition of this book was made possible by generous funding from Arcadia – a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.
The Resistance Dilemma
Authors: Hoberg George
Published: August 2021

How organized resistance to new fossil fuel infrastructure became a political force and how this might affect the transition to renewable energy.

Organized resistance to new fossil fuel infrastructure, particularly conflicts over pipelines, has become a formidable political force in North America. In this book, George Hoberg examines whether such place-based environmental movements are effective ways of promoting climate action, if they might inadvertently feed resistance to the development of renewable energy infrastructure, and what other, more innovative processes of decision-making would encourage the acceptance of clean energy systems. Focusing on a series of conflicts over new oil sands pipelines, Hoberg investigates activists' strategy of blocking fossil fuel infrastructure, often in alliance with Indigenous groups, and examines the political and environmental outcomes of these actions.

After discussing the oil sands policy regime and the relevant political institutions in Canada and the United States, Hoberg analyzes in detail four anti-pipeline campaigns, examining the controversies over the Keystone XL, the most well-known of these movements and the first one to use infrastructure resistance as a core strategy; the Northern Gateway pipeline; the Trans Mountain pipeline; and the Energy East pipeline. He then considers the “resistance dilemma”: the potential of place-based activism to threaten the much-needed transition to renewable energy. He examines several episodes of resistance to clean energy infrastructure in eastern Canada and the United States. Finally, Hoberg describes some innovative processes of energy decision-making, including strategic environment assessment, and cumulative impact assessment, looking at cases in British Columbia and Lower Alberta.
Helmholtz and the Conservation of Energy
Authors: Caneva Kenneth L.
Published: August 2021

An examination of the sources Helmholtz drew upon for his formulation of the conservation of energy and the impact of his work on nineteenth-century physics.

In 1847, Herman Helmholtz, arguably the most important German physicist of the nineteenth century, published his formulation of what became known as the conservation of energy—unarguably the most important single development in physics of that century, transforming what had been a conglomeration of separate topics into a coherent field unified by the concept of energy. In Helmholtz and the Conservation of Energy, Kenneth Caneva offers a detailed account of Helmholtz's work on the subject, the sources that he drew upon, the varying responses to his work from scientists of the era, and the impact on physics as a discipline.

Caneva describes the set of abiding concerns that prompted Helmholtz's work, including his rejection of the idea of a work-performing vital force, and investigates Helmholtz's relationship to both an older generation of physicists and an emerging community of reformist physiologists. He analyzes Helmholtz's indebtedness to Johannes Müller and Justus Liebig and discusses Helmholtz's tense and ambivalent relationship to the work of Robert Mayer, who had earlier proposed the uncreatability, indestructibility, and transformability of “force.” Caneva examines Helmholtz's continued engagement with the subject, his role in the acceptance of the conservation of energy as the central principle of physics, and the eventual incorporation of the principle in textbooks as established science.
Linker histone H1.8 inhibits chromatin binding of condensins and DNA topoisomerase II to tune chromosome length and individualization
Authors: Choppakatla Pavan , Dekker Bastiaan , Cutts Erin E , Vannini Alessandro , Dekker Job , Funabiki Hironori
Published: August 2021

DNA loop extrusion by condensins and decatenation by DNA topoisomerase II (topo II) are thought to drive mitotic chromosome compaction and individualization. Here, we reveal that the linker histone H1.8 antagonizes condensins and topo II to shape mitotic chromosome organization. In vitro chromatin reconstitution experiments demonstrate that H1.8 inhibits binding of condensins and topo II to nucleosome arrays. Accordingly, H1.8 depletion in Xenopus egg extracts increased condensins and topo II levels on mitotic chromatin. Chromosome morphology and Hi-C analyses suggest that H1.8 depletion makes chromosomes thinner and longer through shortening the average loop size and reducing the DNA amount in each layer of mitotic loops. Furthermore, excess loading of condensins and topo II to chromosomes by H1.8 depletion causes hyper-chromosome individualization and dispersion. We propose that condensins and topo II are essential for chromosome individualization, but their functions are tuned by the linker histone to keep chromosomes together until anaphase.
Folk i nord møtte prester fra sør
Authors: Svebak Kåre
Published: August 2021

Dette nummeret av Septentrio Reports inneholder undersøkelser av den norske kirkens prestestands forhold til den læstadianske bevegelsen. Kåre Svebak har gjort et viktig og grundig kildearbeid og gjennom dette bidratt til å klarlegge kirkens ulike holdninger til læstadianismen, hvordan det har variert, samt hvordan deres møter med læstadianismen har påvirket deres kirkelige arbeid.
Exploration of Zoo felids in North-East China for the prevalence and molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp.
Authors: Hussain Shakeel , Mohsin Bukhari Syed , Wang Lixin , Khalid Nimra , Hou Zhijun
Published: August 2021

Cryptosporidium spp. is a protozoan having the potential to cause zoonosis in humans and animals. Despite the zoonotic importance of this protozoan parasite, limited data are available about its prevalence in zoo felids in North-Eastern China. Hence, the current study was designed to determine the occurrence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. from the fecal samples of captive zoo felids. Fecal samples (N = 244) were collected from different felids from five different zoos of North-Eastern China. 18S rRNA gene was amplified from the genomic DNA using species specific primers in nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) and Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium spp. was found. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 9.43% (23/244). The 18S rRNA gene similarity analysis showed that 6 Cryptosporidium isolates were Cryptosporidium parvum and the remaining 17 Cryptosporidium isolates were resembling to a Cryptosporidium spp., which is similar to Cryptosporidium NEV10. Phylogenetic tree was constructed based on 18S rRNA of Cryptosporidium spp. The similarity of Cryptosporidium parvum was with its other isolates in China, India, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Czech Republic, Spain and USA while Cryptosporidium NEV10 alike had a close relationship with Turkish isolates. In conclusion, Cryptosporidium was prevailing in feline animals of China zoo and zoo officials are directed to consider their control policy as it can be a cause of zoonosis.
Combined Effects of Thermotherapy along with Scapular Muscles Strenghtening in Cervical Radiculopathy: A Case Report
Authors: Aeraj Shaikh Mohammad , Chitapure Tajuddin
Published: August 2021

Cervical radiculopathy is a syndrome in which the patient complains of pain along with sensorimotor deficits. This syndrome commonly develops due to compression of the cervical nerve roots. This report describes the case of 52-year-old histopathology laboratory technician who developed cervical radiculopathy due to prolonged cervical forward flexion while working on his table. The patient also complained of pain on the right scapular border. Radiographic analysis showed cervical spondylosis having osteophyte formation on spinous process of C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6 vertebras. Neural tissue tension test was positive for median nerve. He was treated consecutively with strengthening for shoulder abductors, shoulder adductors, scapula elevators and scapular protractors along with thermotherapy. His right medial border scapular pain and symptoms of cervical radiculopathy decreased in severity after the seventh day of treatment. Although the authors cannot suggest a cause-and effect relationship, this report allows for initial hypothesis development that thermotherapy approach may have clinical merit. Future studies in the form of well-designed, randomised clinical trials should be performed to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in patients with cervical radiculopathy
Looking into Array of Clinical Presentations of Patients with Leprosy and their Clinico-epidemiological Profile: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Goel Seema , Chopra Dimple , Gera Geetika
Published: August 2021

Introduction: The prevalence of leprosy in India has decreased to <1 per 10,000 population by 2016 after the introduction of Multidrug Therapy (MDT) in 1982; still wide variations in Prevalence Rates (PR) continue to exist across the states and regions in the country. Aim: To determine the current clinical profile of leprosy and study various presenting features of patients with leprosy at a tertiary care hospital in North India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study, based on seven years data, was conducted on patients diagnosed and registered in the leprosy clinic of a tertiary care hospital in North India, from January 2013 to December 2019. Data regarding their demographic details, presenting complaints, clinical features, associated complications and treatment administered was analysed and was entered into Microsoft Excel and presented as tables. Results: A total of 181 patients of leprosy were registered over a period of seven years. There were 133 males and 48 females with M:F ratio of 2.77:1. Of the total patients registered, 3.86% were children (≤14 years) and 97.8 % patients were immigrants from the adjoining states. The most common clinical type was Multibacillary (MB) leprosy in 88.95% patients whereas most frequent morphological type was Borderline Tuberculoid (BT) leprosy (72.93%). Thirty-three (18.23%) patients presented with leprosy reaction (Type 1 reaction in 16.6% and Type 2 reaction in 1.66%). World Health Organisation (WHO) grade 2 deformities (G2D) were diagnosed in 3 (1.66%) patients, with claw hand being the most common deformity (1.10%). Anaesthetic to hypoaesthetic patches were the most common presenting feature (64.1%). Conclusion: Despite statistical elimination, MB disease and leprosy reactions are commonly seen as presenting manifestations. It highlights the need for high quality leprosy services including good referral system for an active case detection. Varied clinical presentations of leprosy should be contemplated while examining patients that can assist in an early and better case detection that will prevent delay in therapy and associated deformities and also decrease the transmission of disease in the community.
Using wildlife rehabilitator surveys to identify threats: a case study of koalas in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Ashman K. R. , Watchorn D. J. , Whisson D. A.
Published: August 2021

Identifying threats and their regional occurrence across a species’ range is increasingly valuable for prioritising threat-specific interventions and achieving effective conservation outcomes. We surveyed registered wildlife rehabilitators to identify (i) threats faced by the koala across Victoria and (ii) their perceptions on koala population trends and potential threat mitigation actions. Wildlife rehabilitators identified habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation as the biggest threat to koalas, while vehicle collisions, heatwaves and wildfire were also identified as key threats. Accordingly, reducing the clearing of native vegetation was considered the most effective threat mitigation action, while creating of wildlife corridors, planting of more food trees, and educating communities living in koala occupied areas were also considered appropriate mitigation strategies. Finally, 89% of wildlife rehabilitators believed that koala numbers are declining in their region.
Heavy Metals in Water, Soils and Sediments of La Villa River Basin- Panama
Authors: Núñez José Villarreal , Pineda Adolfo Santo , Pérez Jhon Villalaz , Zachrisson Iván Ramos
Published: August 2021

Determine the concentration of heavy metals in water, sediments, and crops within the La Villa river basin, Herrera and Los Santos provinces, republic of Panama. La Villa river Basin, south central of Panama, in the rainy season of 2016 (May to November) and in the dry season of 2017 (December to April). Twenty two sediments and water samples were taken using the systematic method which consists of selecting sampling points at uniform distances and crops in upper, middle and lower basin. The selected sampling was confined to a preferably rectangular area of 10.0 m x 30.0 m, on which the sub-samples were taken with a number of 15 on each grid, at 0.20m depth. For collecting the water samples, a rod with a clean plastic bottle was introduced against the current of the river. The digestion of sediments and crops to determine the concentration of heavy metals (As, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn, Zn and Cd) was carried out according to USEPA (25) method (3051A) (SW-846). In the sediments, in the rainy season, Cu (upper and lower basin) and Mn (all levels) values were found above the USEPA Standards. In the dry season, high values of Mn were found in the middle and lower basin, Cr in the upper and lower basin and As in all areas of the basin. In the rainy and dry seasons, high levels of Mn, Zn, Cr, Cd and Pb were found in the waters of the rivers that make up the basin. The main crops at each height of the basin were analyzed, determining high levels of As and Cr in the upper basin, in the middle and lower basin Cr and Cd. It is necessary to monitor the concentration of heavy metals in sediments of La Villa river basin because 90% of the agrochemicals that enter the country is destined for agriculture. Each Panamanian consumes (does not ingest) 3 kg of agrochemicals annually, exceeding six times the amount used in Central America.  Due to their geological origin, these soils are rich in copper, manganese and arsenic, latter being associated with iron oxides and sulfides but there is also great influence of anthropogenic activities, agriculture and industries. Some metals such as lead and arsenic showed low solubility in water but showed high concentration in sediments. Chromium and cadmium present in crops come from water.
Dapsone Induced Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome - A Case Report
Authors: Ali Safi Eldin E. , Ibrahim Osama M. , Abdalla Sami F.
Published: August 2021

A 50-year-old male Sudanese patient presented with a three-week history of jaundice, high-grade fever, and mucocutaneous eruption. For last months he was on compound therapy for leprosy, which had been confirmed recently. The patient’s face was prominent, along with the erythematous dusky morbilliform rash covering all the body. On examination, we detected hepatosplenomegaly and generalized lymphadenopathy. Laboratory investigations revealed hepatorenal impairment, and hematological analysis revealed leukocytosis mainly due to eosinophilia. The clinical and laboratory findings interpretation ranked DRESS or Drug-Induced Hypersensitivity Syndrome (DIHS) on top of possible causes before Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome (DHS) and lepra reactions. We promptly discontinued MDT, admitted him to the dermatological ward. Two skin biopsies were sent to two different histopathologists, MF was suggested by one and Sezary syndrome by the other one. Besides the general conservative measures and vital functions monitoring, he received systemic and topical steroids. However, unfortunately, within the next three weeks, his condition deteriorated, and passed away from multi-systems failure.
Effects of Spider Cage Therapy in Combination with Conventional Speech Therapy on Speech and Language Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy of Age between 05 and 15 Years
Authors: Masood Fahad , Khan Muhammad Sikander Ghayas , Afzal Farjad , Rashid Amna , Mubarak Saba
Published: August 2021

Objective: The objective of study was to determine the effects of spider cage therapy in combination with conventional speech therapy on speech and language function in children with cerebral palsy of age between 05 And 15 Years.

Materials and Methods: A total of 20 children from a special institute with cerebral palsy who were provided with spider cage therapy in combination with conventional speech therapy were evaluated from January 2017 to June 2017. Effect of spider cage therapy in combination with conventional speech therapy was determined by applying dysarthric profile revised before and after the treatment.

Results: Baseline score on dysarthric profile was 34.76±2.67 and post intervention score was 69.93±8.14. Result indicated that out of 20 children with cerebral palsy, there was a statistically significant difference in total score.

Conclusion: The findings suggested that the Mean score of spider cage therapy in combination with conventional speech therapy post treatment in children with cerebral palsy was improved. On the basis of this study it is concluded that speech therapy in combination with conventional speech therapy is more effective in children with cerebral palsy.
A novel anti‐c‐Kit antibody–drug conjugate to treat wild‐type and activating‐mutant c‐Kit‐positive tumors
Authors: Kim Jin‐Ock , Kim Kwang‐Hyeok , Baek Eun Ji , Park Bomi , So Min Kyung , Ko Byoung Joon , Ko Han‐Jik , Park Sang Gyu
Published: August 2021

c‐Kit overexpression and activating mutations, which are reported in various cancers, including gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC), acute myeloid leukemia, acral melanoma, and systemic mastocytosis (SM), confer resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). To overcome TKI resistance, an anti‐c‐Kit antibody–drug conjugate was developed in this study to treat wild‐type and mutant c‐Kit‐positive cancers. NN2101, a fully human IgG1, was conjugated to DM1, a microtubule inhibitor, through N‐succinimidyl‐4‐(N‐maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane‐1‐carboxylate (SMCC) (to give NN2101‐DM1). The antitumor activity of NN2101‐DM1 was evaluated in vitro and in vivo using various cancer cell lines. NN2101‐DM1 exhibited potent growth‐inhibitory activities against c‐Kit‐positive cancer cell lines. In a mouse xenograft model, NN2101‐DM1 exhibited potent growth‐inhibitory activities against imatinib‐resistant GIST and SM cells. In addition, NN2101‐DM1 exhibited a significantly higher anti‐cancer effect than carboplatin/etoposide against SCLC cells where c‐Kit does not mediate cancer pathogenesis. Furthermore, the combination of NN2101‐DM1 with imatinib in imatinib‐sensitive GIST cells induced complete remission compared with treatment with NN2101‐DM1 or imatinib alone in mouse xenograft models. These results suggest that NN2101‐DM1 is a potential therapeutic agent for wild‐type and mutant c‐Kit‐positive cancers.
Casella, George
Authors: Piegorsch Walter W. , Young Linda J.
Published: August 2021

George Casella was an American statistician who taught at Rutgers University, Cornell University, and the University of Florida. He made major contributions to a wide variety of topics, including Bayesian analysis & empirical Bayes methods, environmetrics, experimental design, frequentist decision theory, Monte Carlo methods, ridge regression, and statistical genetics/genomics. He was a leader in late‐twentieth century statistics and data science, serving as the editor of the
Journal of the American Statistical Association
(Theory & Methods Section), the
Journal of the Royal Statistical Society (Series B)
, and
Statistical Science
as well as a council member of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, a member of the Board on Mathematical Sciences of the U.S. National Research Council, and a member of the Advisory Boards for the U.S. National Institute of Statistical Sciences and SAMSI (the U.S. Statistical and Mathematical Sciences Institute).
Supervised Learning
Authors: Mo Weibin , Liu Yufeng
Published: August 2021

Supervised learning is an important area in machine learning. In practice, many problems can be solved using supervised learning techniques to deal with the corresponding covariate–response data. One general goal is to find a model that predicts the response from the covariates well. We focus on supervised learning methods that can be formulated into the optimization of “loss + penalty.” In particular, the loss term keeps the fidelity of the resulting model to the data, while the penalty term penalizing the complexity can prevent the fitted model from overfitting. In this article, we review some commonly used supervised learning methods under this framework. We mainly focus on the statistical models and computational algorithms.
Interaction Networks in Microbiome Studies
Authors: Ma Rong , Li Hongzhe
Published: August 2021

Motivated by the problem of analyzing the microbe–metabolite interaction network in microbiome studies, this article introduces estimators for the high‐dimensional sparse precision matrix of a random vector that consists of both compositional and Gaussian random variables. Based on the idea of centered log‐ratio (CLR) transformation, we construct estimators whose rates of convergence are obtained under various matrix norms as well as an estimator that is consistent for graphical model selection. The proposed method is then applied to analyze the microbe–metabolite interaction network in Crohn's disease patients. We observe that most of the metabolites are associated with very few bacteria, and a given bacterium is associated with a small set of metabolites.
Overdiagnosis Related to Organized Screening Programmes
Authors: Oke Jason L. , Nicholson Brian D.
Published: August 2021

Overdiagnosis is the detection of disease that would not concern a patient within their lifetime if it had not been detected. It is an unintentional consequence of screening and other attempts to find disease before symptoms appear. It represents the most significant potential harm associated with early disease detection.

Overdiagnosis cannot be observed directly. Statistical methods are needed to quantify it at the individual and population levels. Three concepts are key to understanding and appraising the literature on overdiagnosis. Lead time, the time the diagnosis is advanced; length time, the propensity of screening to find the slow‐growing forms of disease and excess incidence. Excess incidence is observed in populations where overdiagnosis has occurred; however, not all excess incidence can be attributed to overdiagnosis. Randomized control trials of screening remain the gold standard for the estimation of excess incidence, but estimates are only valid under certain conditions. Analyses using observational data can be further complicated by a lack of a comparable unscreened population. In all settings, estimates can vary considerably depending on the choice of methods to account for lead time and length time.

This article gives an introduction to the fundamental concepts and methods involved in identifying and quantifying overdiagnosis.
Measures of Concordance and Discordance
Authors: Aerts Marc
Published: August 2021

A concordance (discordance) measure characterizes a particular facet of the agreement (disagreement) between two binary random variables. Association measures such as the odds ratio focus on the dependence between the two variables. Agreement and dependence are different characteristics, and depending on the research question and data at hand, a particular characteristic may be more appropriate, and seldom the question can be approached satisfactorily with the use of both. In this article, we introduce and discuss measures of positive and negative concordance and discordance and relate them to the odds ratio.
Survival Signatures for System Reliability
Authors: Coolen Frank P. A. , Coolen‐Maturi Tahani
Published: August 2021

In system reliability, the structure function models functioning of a system for given states of its components. The survival signature provides a useful summary of the structure function to aid quantification of system reliability with components of multiple types. It is easily applicable to systems with multiple types of components. We present an introductory overview of the survival signature together with some recent developments. We also discuss some practical challenges of using the survival signature for large systems.