bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment success rates among tuberculosis patients notified from the private sector in West Bengal, India
Authors: Sharma Vivek , Thekkur Pruthu , Naik Poonam R. , Saha Brojo Kishore , Agrawal Niraj , Dinda Milan K. , Parthiban S. , Dey Abhijit , Poojar Basavaraj , Shamanewadi Amrita N. , Satyanarayana Srinath
Published: February 2021

In India, an estimated 50% of tuberculosis (TB) patients are diagnosed and managed by private providers (PPs). However, there is limited information on treatment outcomes among those treated by PPs largely because of a lack of systems for patient follow-up and documentation of the outcomes. Tuberculosis Health Action Learning Initiative (THALI) project implemented in six districts of West Bengal, supported PPs in managing TB patients and systematically documented the TB treatment outcomes of such patients. This provided us an opportunity to describe the treatment outcomes and assess factors associated with ‘unsuccessful outcomes’ among TB patients notified by PPs from January to April 2018. This was a retrospective cohort study using routinely collected data. During the study reference period, 2347 patients were notified from 389 PPs. The patient’s mean (SD) age was 39.9 (17.2) years and 61% were males. Of the total, about 86% had pulmonary TB, 95% were new cases, and 23% were microbiologically confirmed (either on sputum smear microscopy or Xpert assay). Among 2347 patients, 19% received free drugs from the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) under the supervision of PPs while the rest purchased anti-TB drugs from the private pharmacies. The ‘successful outcomes’ (cured and treatment completed) were seen in 86.1% (95% confidence interval (CI), 84.6%-87.4%) patients and 8.6% were ‘not evaluated’. The patients who received free NTP drugs (adjusted relative risk-4.0 (95% CI: 3.1-5.0)) had a higher risk of ‘unsuccessful outcomes’ than those who availed of drugs from private pharmacies. The high ‘successful outcomes’ among TB patients treated by PPs are promising. However, higher ‘unsuccessful outcomes’ among patients on free NTP drugs need to be explored, and suitable corrective actions have to be taken.
Effects of an emotional regulation program on maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation, stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression among South Korean mothers of premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Choi Hyo Sin , Lee Kyung Eun , Shin Yeonghee
Published: February 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)-based emotional regulation program for mothers of premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: The study utilized a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Seventeen mothers were recruited for the experimental group and 21 mothers for the control group. Data were collected from July 9, 2018, to Oct 12, 2018 from mothers of premature infants in the NICU regarding parental stress, state anxiety, depression, and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation. The experimental group received eight sessions of the REBT-based emotional regulation program for 3~4 weeks, and the control group only received standard nursing care.Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups in maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation (Z=-3.88, p<.001), stress (Z=-2.76, p=.006), state anxiety (Z=-3.72, p<.001), and postpartum depression(Z=-2.62, p=.009) after the intervention in the experimental group.Conclusion: The REBT-based emotional regulation program for mothers of premature infants was effective for reducing maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation, stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression. Therefore, it may be necessary to provide an REBT-based emotional regulation program for mothers of premature infants in the NICU in clinical practice.
Negus Ezana: Revisiting the Christianisation of Aksum
Authors: Rukuni Rugare
Published: February 2021

The Christianisation of Ethiopia is decoded within the reign of Ezana. The person of Ezana as a real-time figure and within the context of then Aksumite religious-cultural and political dynamics creates the background of the narrative for Ethiopian Christianity. In a revised study as a follow-up to the investigations of the dating of Ezana, revisiting his conversion, the study attempts to locate the Negus within the complex of then emergent Christian orthodoxy continuum whilst assigning due regard to the Judaic background enveloping Aksumite religion and antiquity. This attempt adds to the development of an integrated approach to church history, where the integrated narrative of Aksumite Christianity will be composite to the complete documentation of early Christianity. The investigation was accomplished through a multi-approach, whilst the main method was document analysis, as commensurate with the nature of the study, cultural historiography and the archaeology of religion was dually engrained. A review of the conversion and reality of Ezana in tangent with the recorded accounts of Ethiopian Christianity, when exerted through reference to archaeological, epigraphic and numismatic evidence, enhances a comprehensive narrative on the recorded inceptions of Ethiopian Christianity. The conversion of Ezana and the narrative of Frumentius’ ordination as the first Abuna though an account mainly ascribed to narratives by ecclesiastical historians; is an event that can be substantiated through the re-examination of archaeological-epigraphical data. Therefore, Aksumite Christianity should be composite to wholistic Christian narratives as paralleling the manner Vandal episodes and eastern Christianity are duly noted.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: Whilst the article takes the main form of a historical review of Ethiopian Christianity’s origins, there are inferences to biblical studies and archaeological establishments. The main methodology takes the form of a document analysis in the form of comprehensive literature review which also includes references to epigraphy.
Prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth infections among school-age children in the Cagayan Valley, the Philippines
Authors: Labana Ryan V. , Romero Vimar A. , Guinto Analette M. , Caril Alvin N. , Untalan Kimberly D. , Reboa Alejandro Jose C. , Sandoval Khristine L. , Cada Kristel Joy S. , Lirio Gary Antonio C. , Bernardo Iris Rowena A. , Arocha Lanieleen Jerah Mae , Dungca Julieta Z.
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To identify the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) among school-age children in the Cagayan Valley, the Philippines, assess their level of awareness on the disease, and determine predisposing factors of the disease.

Methods:

A total of 478 Grades III-V school-age children in Pamplona and Sanchez-Mira School Districts in the Cagayan Valley answered the questionnaire assessing their knowledge, attitude, and practices on STH, subjected to anthropometric measurements, and provided faecal samples for parasitologic assessment (direct smear, Kato-Katz, and formol-ether concentration techniques).

Results:

The participants of the study, with 55.86% females, were 8 to 14 years old. Their nutritional status was assessed ‘normal’ (84.31%), ‘severely wasted’ (6.49%), ‘wasted’ (5.23%), ‘overweight’ (2.72%), and ‘obese’ (1.26%). The prevalence of infection with at least 1 STH species was 25.99% in Pamplona and 19.40% in Sanchez- Mira. Overall, the prevalence of heavy intensity was 7.11% for Ascaris lumbricoides and 1.67% for Trichuris trichiura. All hookworm infections had light intensities. The majority of the school-age children had a low score in the KAP test. In knowledge of STH, ‘stunted growth as a symptom of infection’ was associated with a lower risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection (OR 0.448; 95% CI 0.212, 0.945; P=0.035) while ‘playing with soil as a mode of transmission’ was associated with an increased risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection (OR 2.067; 95% CI 1.014, 4.212; P=0.046). In attitude towards STH, ‘I think I have intestinal worm now’ was associated with a higher risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection (OR 1.681; 95% CI 1.061, 2.662; P=0.027).

Conclusions:

The prevalence rate of Ascaris lumbricoides among the school-age children in the Cagayan Valley shows the need to further intensify intervention in the area to meet the threshold set by the World Health Organization. The identified predictors of infection, which concerns the school-age children's knowledge and attitude toward STH, can be used in augmenting intervention programs in the future.
How knowledge of hepatitis B disease and vaccine influences vaccination practices among parents in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Authors: Huynh Giao , Pham Le An , Tran Thien Thuan , Cao Ngoc Nga , Nguyen Thi Ngoc Han , Bui Quang Vinh
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To assess the influences of the knowledge of parents about hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the benefit of HBV vaccination on the practice of HBV vaccination among children.

Methods:

A prospective cross-sectional study recruited parents whose children, aged 12-24 months, received HBV vaccination at Commune Health Centers (CHCs) in Ho Chi Minh City from Feb. 2016 to Jul. 2017. Parents were interviewed using a questionnaire that included 11-item binary knowledge questions and checked their children's vaccination cards.

Results:

A total of 768 parents had a mean age of (30.8±5.1) years. The mean knowledge score of the 11- item questions was (7.0±2.4). The knowledge score was positively associated with full and timely HBV vaccination. In addition, children who received complete and timely HBV vaccination were significantly more likely to live in rural areas (Adjusted OR 4.02, 95% CI 2.79-5.79, P<0.001). Also, children whose parents received vaccination information from health care providers, and had knowledge about HBV risk, had a higher rate of full and timely HBV vaccination (Adjusted OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.13-2.29, and Adjusted OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.01-2.13, P all<0.05).

Conclusions:

Parents possessed a great deal of incorrect knowledge about HBV. More health education from health care providers should target parents living in specific locations and focus on the benefits of HBV vaccine.
Burkholderia pseudomallei infection manifests as mediastinal/hilar lymphadenopathy
Authors: Li Qi , Xia Qian-Feng , Sun Qiong-Fang , Zhou Xiang-Dong
Published: February 2021

Rationale:

This case report presents the diagnosis and etiology of hilar/mediastinal lymphadenopathy in a male patient.

Patient concerns:

A 49-year-old man presented with fever and dyspnea after physical exertion.

Diagnosis:

The patient was diagnosed with melioidosis by cultivation of lymph node aspirate on blood agar using the VITEK 2 compact system.

Interventions:

The patient was treated with ceftazidime intravenously, combined with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole orally for 1 week. Once the patient was discharged, he began a 12-week course of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.

Outcomes:

The patient recovered after treatment with ceftazidime and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.

Conclusions:

Melioidosis is an infectious disease that mainly occurs in tropical regions. It can cause severe sepsis and pneumonia, and the infection in some patients may become chronic. Endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration is a useful technique in the diagnosis of patients with hilar/mediastinal lymphadenopathy.
Study of Serum Uric Acid and Homocysteine Levels in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Patil Srinith B. , Belli Basawaraj , Biradar Sangram , Patil Anil
Published: February 2021

Introduction:

Worldwide, stroke is the third most common cause of death after coronary heart disease and all cancer deaths. All the physicians have a role to play in the prevention of stroke by encouraging the reduction in risk factors. Ischemic stroke accounts for >80% of total stroke events. There is growing evidence that high serum uric acid and homocysteine levels contribute to the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke, and early identification of individuals at risk could be of help in primary prevention strategies.

Aims:

The aim was to study the association between levels of serum uric acid and homocysteine and acute ischemic stroke and to compare them with control subjects.

Materials and Methods:

A case–control study was carried out among 100 subjects, which included 50 cases of first-time ischemic stroke and 50 healthy controls attending the outpatient department and casualty, in whom serum uric acid levels, serum homcysteine, and other associated risk factors were evaluated.

Results:

The overall mean age of the case population was 55.84 ± 15.57 years and control was 59.92 ± 11.62 years. Among the 50 cases of first-time ischemic stroke and 50 controls, males constituted 32 (64%) and 30 (60%), respectively. The mean uric acid level in case population was 5.32 ± 1.09 mg/dl and in controls was 3.21 ± 1.01 (P = 0.001). The mean homocysteine level in case population was 20.85 ± 10.85 μmol/l and in controls was 8.10 ± 3.54 (P = 0.001). Among the case population, 28 (56%) were found to have hypertension, followed by smoking 19 (38%), diabetes mellitus 18 (36%), and alcoholism 13 (26%).

Conclusion:

Significant elevation of both uric acid and homocysteine in a cohort of stroke patients when compared to the control group was found. Thus, it is concluded from the present study that an elevated uric acid and homocysteine level appears to be an important risk factor for stroke. Hypertension was found to be the most common modifiable risk factor.
Prognostic Significance of Thyroid Dysfunction in Acute Stroke
Authors: Nagri Shivashankara Kaniyoor , Kudru Chandrasekhar Udayavara , Amaravadi Sampath Kumar , Prasad Laxmi
Published: February 2021

Background:

Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Several comorbidities have been associated with increased mortality in acute stroke patients. Conditions such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid dysfunction are identified as risk factors in the etiology of stroke.

Methods:

This is a prospective study involving 40 patients admitted with acute stroke between October 2010 and July 2012 in Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, under the Departments of Medicine and Neurology.

Results:

Thyroid dysfunction has been associated with CVAs and is an area of active research in the present times.

Conclusion:

Low T3 level was associated with unfavorable outcome and with posterior circulation stroke as accessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.
Laboratory Accreditation and Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Abhijith D. , Kusuma K. S. , Suma M. N.
Published: February 2021

Laboratory accreditation is a process by which an authoritative body gives formal recognition of technical competence for specific tests or measurements usually following international standards such as ISO/IEC 15189/17025. The process checks on inaccuracy or imprecision that may crop up during the preanalytical, analytical, or postanalytical phases, which could have an impact on the patient's reports and thereby the treatment aspects. The process itself helps the personnel of the laboratory to be alert, be quality conscious, and provide the best to the customers, namely patients and health-care providers, thereby helping the health-care providers to give the best of their services to the patients. This enhances the quality of the health-care services on the whole due to quality management system being in place in laboratories. The accreditation agency which takes interest in the laboratories of India and ensures quality in them is National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. The developed countries already have the system in place, and it is mandatory for every lab to be accredited before releasing patient reports. We are not far behind in this process, and shortly it may be considered to be mandatory for all labs to obtain the accreditation to run the tests. However, there are several challenges one needs to address in the process of accreditation, with the most important being the finances, team work, and planning.
Dysfunctional Kidney Due to Dysfunctional Thyroid!
Authors: Rashmi S. , Nirmala A. C.
Published: February 2021

Hypothyroidism can have various musculoskeletal manifestations such as myalgia, myopathy, or myositis. However, hypothyroidism causing rhabdomyolysis is rare. Moreover, the occurrence of acute kidney injury due to rhabdomyolysis precipitated by hypothyroidism is a rare, life-threatening yet reversible cause for renal dysfunction. Here, we report a case of an 18-year-old girl who presented with renal dysfunction following acute gastroenteritis, and on evaluation for worsening renal functions, she was found to have rhabdomyolysis due to hypothyroidism.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft – An Interesting Case
Authors: Premanath Manjunath
Published: February 2021

A 58-year-old male presented himself with swelling, pain, and color change of the left shoulder, arm, and hand of 3 months duration. His problems started a week after he underwent a coronary artery bypass graft for triple-vessel coronary artery disease. The function of the left upper limb was severely restricted. Investigations done to know the cause of his problems were negative. A clinical diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome was made. Even though this syndrome was observed after myocardial infarction, its occurrence after CABG has been quite rare. This case is presented as CABG is on the rise, and more and more cases may occur which should not be missed.
Scrub Typhus
Authors: Rahman Shaila , Bahar Tamanna
Published: February 2021

Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness caused by a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium named Orientia tsutsugamushi. Although this zoonotic disease is common in tropical and subtropical regions, it is often underreported in Bangladesh. We present a case of scrub typhus in a 15-years-old male who presented with fever, eschar, hepatitis, and positive serology and got complete recovery with doxycycline.
Laparoscopic anterior resection
Authors: Ganapathi Senthil Kumar , Subbiah Rajapandian , Rudramurthy Sathiyamoorthy , Kakkilaya Harish , Ramakrishnan Parthasarathi , Chinnusamy Palanivelu
Published: February 2021

Purpose:

Laparoscopic rectal surgery has moved from being experimental to getting established as a mainstream procedure. We aimed at analysing how rectal cancer surgery has evolved at our institute.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 1000 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal adenocarcinoma over a period of 15 years (January 2005 to December 2019) was performed. Technical modifications were made with splenic flexure mobilisation, intersphincteric dissection and anastomotic technique. The data collected included type of surgery, duration of surgery, conversion to open, anastomotic leak, defunctioning stoma and duration of hospital stay. The first 500 and the next 500 cases were compared.

Results:

The study patients were predominantly males comprising 68% (n = 680). The mean age of the patients was 58.3 years (range: 28–92 years). Majority of the procedures performed were high anterior resection (n = 402) and low anterior resection (LAR) (n = 341) followed by ultra-LAR (ULAR) (n = 208) and ULAR + colo-anal anastomosis (n = 49). A total of 42 patients who were planned for laparoscopic surgery needed conversion to open procedure. Forty-one patients (4.1%) had an anastomotic leak. The mean duration of stay was 5.3 + 2.8 days. The rate of conversion to open procedure had reduced from 5.4% to 3.0%. The rate of defunctioning stoma had reduced by >50% in the recent group. The anastomotic leak rate had reduced from 5.0% to 3.2%. The average duration of stay had reduced from 5.8 days to 4.9 days.

Conclusion:

This is one of the largest single-centre experiences of laparoscopic anterior resection. We have shown the progressive benefits of an evolving approach to laparoscopic anterior resection.
A case of Endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma with synchronous low-grade Appendiceal mucinous neoplasm and Pseudomyxoma peritonei
Authors: Raje Shweta , Arvind Sharda , Rao Gayatri
Published: February 2021

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare condition usually associated with ruptured low-grade mucinous neoplasm of the appendix. Rarely, PMP can originate from mucinous adenocarcinoma of the ovary. However, the coexistence of adenocarcinoma of the endometrium and appendiceal mucinous neoplasm has not been reported. We present the case of a post-menopausal woman with endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma with unexpected low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm and PMP.
Comparison of surgical outcome between conventional laparoscopic cystogastrostomy method and plication of the edge of anterior gastrotomy in patients with pancreatic pseudocyst
Authors: Naik Prabhas , Sahoo Manash Ranjan , Nayak Jyotirmay
Published: February 2021

Background:

In retro-gastric Pancreatic pseudocyst (PP) Laparoscopic cystogastrostomy (LCG) is an established procedure of drainage.

Aims and Objectives:

To compare surgical outcome between laparoscopic cysto-gastrostomy conventional method and plication of the edge of anterior gastrotomy in patients of pancreatic pseudocyst.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty six patients were underwent LCG from 2010-2020 by a single surgeon. Both the conventional LCG group Group-1(Gr-1) and the plication group Group-2 (Gr-2) where plication of edge of anterior gastrostomy was performed, contained 13 patients each.

Results:

The numbers of male/female in Gr-1 was 9/4 and that in Gr-2 was 10/3 (P = 1). Mean ages of patients were 45.3 ± 10.4 years (range 23-60) in Gr-1 and 48.0 ± 12.3 years (range 27-65) in Gr-2. Etiological factors were alcohol (46.1% in Gr-1, 53.8% in Gr-2), gallstone disease (38.4% in Gr-1,15.3% in Gr-2), trauma (15.3% in each groups), idiopathic cause (15.3% in Gr-2). The cyst size was 9.0 ± 1.5 cm in Gr-1and 8.9 ± 2.1cm in Gr-2. The mean operative time in Gr-1 (107.6 ± 12.5 minutes) was longer than Gr-2 (97 ± 1 3.6 minutes) (P = 0.06). The size of cystogastric anastomosis in Gr-1 was 4.6 ± 0.7 cm and that in Gr-2 was 4 ± 0.8 cm (P = 0.04). The intra-operative blood loss in Gr-1 and Gr-2 were 101.9 ± 21.7ml and 78.4 ± 30.7 ml respectively. There was a significant change in intraoperative blood loss and stoma size in Gr-2. The postoperative complications were managed conservatively. No recurrence over a period of 18 months of follow-up.

Conclusion:

Plication of edges of anterior gastrostomy result in reduction in operative time, smaller anastomosis without complication and less intra-operative blood loss.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Immunochromatographic Strip for Rapid Detection of Atrazine in Three Medicinal Herbal Roots
Authors: Wang Yu-Dan , Qin Jia-An , Wu Liu , Wang Bao-Min , Eremin Sergei , Yang Shi-Hai , Yang Mei-Hua
Published: February 2021

Objectives:

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic (ICG) strip assay will be developed for the rapid and high-throughput detection of atrazine (ATZ) in medicinal herbs.

Methods:

A monoclonal antibody against ATZ was obtained after the immunization of mice, cell fusion, and hybridoma screening, and the antibody was used to develop direct competitive ELISA (dcELISA) and the ICG strip assay.

Results:

Both dcELISA and ICG strip methods were established, optimized, and validated for the detection of ATZ in Salviae miltiorrhizae radix et rhizome, Astragali radix, and Isatidis radix. dcELISA had a half-maximum inhibition concentration of 10.56 ng/mL (Salviae miltiorrhizae radix et rhizome), 7.6 ng/mL (Astragali radix), and 8.15 ng/mL (Isatidis radix). The limit of detection (LOD) of the ICG strip assay was 12.5 ng/mL (Salviae miltiorrhizae radix et rhizome), 12.5 ng/mL (Astragali radix), and 6.25 ng/mL (Isatidis radix) in different herb matrices. Due to the recognition characteristics of the monoclonal antibody for the pesticides ATZ, propazine, sebuthylazine, and prometryn, the detection results of real samples by the two immunoassays were confirmed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, which proved the accuracy and reliability of the established methods.

Conclusion:

The proposed dcELISA and ICG strip methods were suitable for the rapid, convenient, and high-throughput detection of ATZ in these medicinal herbs.
Differentiation of Belamcandae Rhizoma and Iridis Tectori Rhizoma by Thin-Layer Chromatography and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Xu Lu-Lu , Zhang Yang , Chai Yue , Chen Kuan , Wang Hai-Dong , Yang Chun-Guo , Ye Min , Qiao Xue
Published: February 2021

Objective:

Belamcandae Rhizoma and Iridis Tectori Rhizoma are easily confused with each other. The main objective of this study is to distinguish them using chemical analysis.

Materials and Methods:

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint methods were established to compare the chemical profile, while HPLC quantitation was used to determine the contents of three isoflavones in thirty batches of Belamcandae Rhizoma and Iridis Tectori Rhizoma samples.

Results:

The two herbs could be distinguished by TLC using acetic acid-n hexane-ethyl acetate (1:90:80 v/v/v) as the mobile phase, according to the fluorescent band under 366 nm at R
f 0.2. In total, 12 compounds were identified in the 24-min HPLC fingerprint. The similarity coefficient between the two herbs was 0.54 ± 0.01. Mangiferin (1), tectoridin (2), iridin (3), irigenin (5), irisflorentin (6), and iristectorin A (9) were the main peaks in Belamcandae Rhizoma, while tectoridin (2) and tectorigenin (4) were the major peaks in Iridis Tectori Rhizoma. The contents of 2 in Iridis Tectori Rhizoma (2.50 ± 0.20 %) were 8.93 times higher than that of Belamcandae Rhizoma (0.28 ± 0.08 %), while the ones of 5 and 6 were slightly lower in Iridis Tectori Rhizoma.

Conclusions:

The study established fast and effective methods to distinguish Belamcandae Rhizoma from Iridis Tectori Rhizoma.
Discrimination of Five Species of Panax Genus and their Geographical Origin Using Electronic Tongue Combined with Chemometrics
Authors: Tian Li-Xia , Li Jin-Hua , Zhang Li , Ahmad Bashir , Huang Lin-Fang
Published: February 2021

Objective:

Authentication is vital to the reduction of the misuse of Panax species due to their extensive array of uses and similarities between species. However, the current authentication approach is time-consuming, laborious, and costly. The aim of this study is to discriminate the botanical origins of five species in Panax genus by a rapid and simple approach.

Methods:

Here, an electronic tongue (E-tongue) was applied to discriminate the botanical origins of five species of Panax, i.e., Panax quinquefolius, Panax japonicus, P. japonicus var. major, Panax zingiberensis, and Panax notoginseng (representative high-, middle-, and low-latitude plants), and the four geographical origins of P. japonicus and P. japonicus var. major plants. Data preprocessing methods, including principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), were used.

Results:

Three models can discriminate five species of Panax genus and four plants of P. japonicus and P. japonicus var. major from different geographical origins. LDA was superior to PCA and HCA in terms of satisfactory classification.

Conclusion:

The findings confirmed the potential of the E-tongue for performing rapid, simple, and cost-effective discrimination via LDA.
Enhanced Brain Tumour MRI Segmentation using K-means with machine learning based PSO and Firefly Algorithm
Authors: Kapoor Anjali , Agarwal Rekha
Published: February 2021

INTRODUCTION: Medical image segmentation is usually integrated as a critical step in medical image analysis, often associated with numerous clinical applications. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides detailed visualization of the various anatomical structures decisive for interventions and surgical plans.OBJECTIVES: The objective of this paper is to design and apply an enhanced brain tumor MRI segmentation using K-mean with K-means as machine learning based Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Firefly Algorithm (FA).METHODS: A novel fitness function of Swarm Based PSO works on velocity variation is introduced, which enhances the segmented regions. The traditional k-means algorithm is enhanced by applying PSO to the segmented part. Another extension of Swarm Intelligence named Firefly is applied to compare the results of the PSO based segmentation, and Firefly based segmentation is used.RESULTS: The simulation results are evaluated in terms of precision (98%), recall (0.95), f-measure (0.96), accuracy (97%), and segmentation time (2.63s) to measure the image segmentation the quality of main results obtained.CONCLUSION: Comparative studies have shown that the proposed design using k-means combined with FA exhibited high accuracy and precision in detecting brain tumor RoI.
Does antiretroviral therapy cause congenital malformations? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Alemu Fekadu Mazengia , Yalew Alemayehu Worku
Published: February 2021

OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis investigated the risk of congenital anomalies among infants of human immunodeficiency virus-infected pregnant women who were exposed to antiretroviral therapy (ART).METHODS: Cohort studies, case-control studies, randomized controlled trials, and controlled clinical trials were reviewed by searching MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, AIDSLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google/Google Scholar. Methodological quality was assessed using the GRADE evaluation. A DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was used. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were used to investigate heterogeneity.RESULTS: The electronic searches yielded 765 items. After quality assessment and grading, 30 studies were suitable for metaanalysis. In total, 1,461 congenital anomalies were found among 53,186 births. Children born to women receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) had an approximately 10% higher risk of developing congenital anomalies (relative risk [RR], 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.14). A subgroup analysis found no significant difference in the risk of congenital anomalies between cART and efavirenz users. However, zidovudine and protease inhibitor (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.19) users were found to have a 10% increased risk of congenital anomalies, and integrase inhibitor users had a 60% increase in risk (RR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.60 to 2.43). The subgroup results should be interpreted cautiously because of the moderate heterogeneity (I2 =58%).CONCLUSIONS: The use of protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, zidovudine, and newer drugs should be carefully considered in pregnant women. Further studies are needed to address environmental, nutrition, and adherence factors related to ART. Establishing a congenital anomalies surveillance system is recommended.
Association between gallstones and the risk of biliary tract cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Huang Dan , Joo Hyundeok , Song Nan , Cho Sooyoung , Kim Woosung , Shin Aesun
Published: February 2021

OBJECTIVES: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are rare but highly fatal. Although the etiology of BTC is poorly understood, gallstones are proposed to be a major risk factor. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the associations between gallstone characteristics and BTC risk.METHODS: We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases and systematically reviewed cohort and case-control studies published before April 9, 2018. All the included studies reported appropriate risk estimates and confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between the presence, size, number, or duration of gallstones and the risk of BTC, including gallbladder cancer (GBC), extrahepatic bile duct cancer (EBDC), and ampulla of Vater cancer (AOVC). Summary odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% CIs were calculated using a random-effects model in the meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were conducted to inspect sources of potential heterogeneity, and the Egger test was performed to assess publication bias.RESULTS: Seven cohort studies and 23 case-control studies in Asian, European, and American populations were included. The presence of gallstones was associated with an increased risk of BTC (OR, 4.38; 95% CI, 3.23 to 5.93; I2=91.2%), GBC (OR, 7.26; 95% CI, 4.33 to 12.18), EBDC (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 2.24 to 4.50), and AOVC (OR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.33 to 8.11). Gallstone size (>1 vs. <1 cm; OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.10 to 3.22) was significantly associated with the risk of GBC.CONCLUSIONS: Gallstone characteristics, such as presence, size, and number, are associated with an increased risk of BTC. However, significantly high heterogeneity in the meta-analyses is a limitation of this study.
Human papillomavirus: footprints in the population of western India
Authors: Thobias Ashi Robert , Patel Kinjal Ankit , Bhatt Supreet Dhananjay , Mehta Kruti Ashvinkumar , Parekh Chetana Deepal , Dave Pariseema Sharad , Patel Prabhudas Shankarbhai
Published: February 2021

OBJECTIVES: Cancer is a multi-factorial disease, with various intrinsic and environmental factors contributing to its occurrence. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been associated with the occurrence of many cancers. India severely suffers from 3 HPV-associated cancers (cervical cancer, oral cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer). Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the HPV burden in these 3 cancers among patients from the western region of India.METHODS: DNA was isolated from samples from 400 cervical cancer, 127 oral cancer, and 75 oropharyngeal cancer patients. Polymerase chain reaction was performed using degenerate primers for HPV infection.RESULTS: Overall, HPV infection was observed in 87% of cervical cancer cases, 12.5% of oral cancer cases, and 26.7% of oropharyngeal cancer cases when analyzed with a cumulative detection method using the MY 09/11, GP 5+/6+, and CP I/II primer sets.CONCLUSIONS: A significant prevalence of HPV infection was detected in all 3 cancers using the degenerate primer sets. This finding implies that testing for HPV infection using multiple primer sets is crucial for determining its actual prevalence in various malignancies.
Palynostratigraphic and palynofacies analysis of x and y wells, offshore Niger Delta, Nigeria
Authors: Fadiya S.L. , Ogunleye S.O. , Oyelami A.B. , Aroyewun F.R.
Published: February 2021

A detailed palynostratigraphic and palynofacies study was carried out on two shallow offshore wells, codenamed Well X and Well Y, from the Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria. The study is aimed at establishing the age and palaeoenvironment of the sedimentary sequences penetrated by the wells. Standard palynological/palynofacies laboratory procedures were used to free the palynomorphs and palynomacerals from the embedding matrices.Prepared palynological slides were studied using the Leitz Ortholux II transmitted light microscope. The palynofloral assemblages recorded from the two well sequences include well-preserved palynomorphs such as Zonocostites ramonae, Monoporites annulatus, Retitricolporites irregularis, Cyperaceaepollis sp., Echitricolporites spinosus and Nymphaeapollis clarus among others. The recognition of diagnostic pollen of Cyperaceaepollis sp. and Nymphaeapollis clarus as well as the associated palynomorph assemblage aided the delineation of the well sequences into the P830, P840-P850 and P860 subzones of the P800 palynological zone in the late Miocene. The relative abundance of particulate organic matter (Amorphous Organic Matter (AOM), Phytoclasts and Palynomorphs) revealed the delineation of three palynofacies assemblages, PF-A, PF-B and PF-C, suggesting three distinct paleoenvironments of deposition. These paleoenvironments range from distal shelf through marginal to proximal with varying conditions from oxic, suboxic to anoxic, thus suggesting marginal marine to coastal deltaic environments of deposition for the sedimentary sequences penetrated by the two wells.

Keywords: Late Miocene, Niger Delta, Paleoenvironment, Palynostratigraphy, Palynofacies.
Feasibility Evaluation on Single-Collector Collision Model to Separate Microplastics in Micro Bubble Flotation Process
Authors: Jang Min-Ho , Choi Yong-Ho , Jung Heung-Joe , Jeong Yong-Hoon , Kwak Dong-Heui
Published: February 2021

Objectives:The single collector collision (SCC) model is a model that predicts the separation efficiency of particles based on the collision efficiency between microbubbles and particles in the particle separation process. In order to remove micro-plastics (MPs) particles, which have recently been known to be harmful, we tried to analyze the impact and separation efficiency of MPs based on the SCC model and evaluate its application feasibility.Methods:Based on the SCC model, the collision efficiency prediction for MPs particle removal was simulated and the separation efficiency was evaluated. In addition, a series of flotation experiments were conducted using a flotation device that injects microbubbles to remove MPs particles suspended in water, and the experimental results and predicted values were compared.Results and Discussion:Using the SCC model, the collision efficiency according to the size distribution of MPs particles was not significantly different from that of typical particles (clay, kaolin) in water. Based on this collision efficiency, the maximum removal efficiency of MPs particles separated from the water body is predicted to reach about 90%. On the other hand, the initial collision-adhesion coefficient () of the MPs particles based on the SCC model was 0.03 to 0.1, showing a slight difference from the clay particles having the range of 0.3 to 0.4. The flotation separation efficiency of the MPs particles evaluated and predicted by applying this initial collision-adhesion coefficient showed a range similar to the measured value. In addition, the particle separation efficiency according to the increase of the measured bubble volume concentration to improve the particle separation efficiency also showed a pattern similar to the predicted value.Conclusions:In the flotation process, the initial collision-adhesion efficiency of the MPs particles predicted by the SCC model was lower than that of the kaolin particles. Based on the simple and simple model SCC theory, it was confirmed that it can be applied to the flotation separation analysis of MPs particles.
Emzirme Sürecinde Olan Annelerin Emzirme Davranışlarını Yönlendiren Tutumlarının İncelenmesi
Authors: AKCAY Nurdan , UZŞEN Hatice , BULDUR Emel
Published: February 2021

Amaç: Emzirme sürecinde olan annelerin emzirme davranışlarını yönlendiren tutumlarının incelenmesi amacıyla uygulanmıştır.Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı ve kesitsel olarak planlanan araştırma, Haziran 2017-Haziran 2018 tarihleri arasında bir üniversite hastanesinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Gönüllü 307 anne ile tamamlanan çalışmada ‘Birey Tanılama Formu’ ve ‘Emzirme Tutumunu Değerlendirme Ölçeği’ kullanılmıştır. İstatistiksel olarak tanımlayıcı analizler yapılarak değişkenler arasında One Way Anova testi ve bağımsız gruplarda t testi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Annelerin sosyo-demografik özellikleri doğrultusunda yaş ortalamasının 28±6 olduğu, %30,9±1’u liseden mezun olup ve %50,2±0,5’sinin çalıştığı saptanmıştır. Annelerin %72,3’ünün emzirme deneyimi olduğu, %28,8’inin bebeğini 13-18 ay emzirdiği, %28,4’ünün 19-24 ay emzirdiği belirlenmiştir. Annelerin %75,6’sı emzirme eğitimi almıştır. Emzirme eğitimi alan annelerin bu eğitimi %44.,6’sının sağlık personelinden, %6,8’inin aile büyüklerinden aldıkları saptanmıştır. Çalışmada emzirme tutumu değerlendirme ölçeği toplam puan ortalamasının 85.73±18 olduğu belirlenmiştir. Eğitim durumu ve emzirme süreleri ile ölçek toplam puanları arasında anlamlı bir fark saptanmıştır (p<0,05). İlkokul mezunu olan ve gebelik sayısı çok olan annelerin emzirme tutum puanının arttığı saptanmıştır.Sonuç: Annelerin emzirme davranışlarını yönlendiren tutumlarının incelendiği çalışmada, emzirme eğitimini büyük oranda almış olmalarına rağmen emzirme tutumu değerlendirme ölçek puan ortalamaları düşüktür. Bu durumun örneklem grubunun az olmasından kaynaklanabileceği gibi emzirmeyi etkileyecek diğer biyolojik, psikolojik, sosyal, kültürel ve ekonomik etkenlerden kaynaklanabileceği düşünülmektedir. Annelerin ve anne adaylarının doğum öncesinden başlanarak emzirme davranış ve tutumlarının geliştirilmesi için gerekli eğitimler düzenlenmelidir.
Proje Tabanlı Öğretimin Öğrencilerin Öğrenme Tutumları ve Öğretme- Öğrenme Ortamı Algılarına Etkisi
Authors: DENAT Yıldız , TUĞRUL Emel
Published: February 2021

Amaç: Araştırma proje tabanlı öğretim yönteminin öğrencilerin öğretme- öğrenme tutumları ve öğretim ortamı algılarına etkisini incelemek amacıyla tek grup ön test- son test yarı deneysel desen olarak planlanmıştır.Yöntem: Araştırmanın örneklemini Türkiye’nin batısındaki bir üniversitenin hemşirelik fakültesinde 2019-2020 eğitim öğretim yılında hemşirelikte öğretim dersi alan ve çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden 133 öğrenci oluşturdu. Veriler “Bilgi Formu”, “Öğrenmeye İlişkin Tutum Ölçeği”, “Öğretme-Öğrenme Ortamı Algısı Ölçeği” ile toplandı. Verilerin değerlendirilmesinde frekans, yüzde, aritmetik ortalama, t-testi (Paried Samples t-test) analizleri kullanıldı. Bulgular: Öğrencilerin öğrenmeye ilişkin tutum ölçeği alt faktör puan ortalamaları incelendiğinde öğrencilerin tüm alt faktör puan ortalamalarının proje tabanlı öğretim öncesi ve sonrası oldukça yüksek olduğu öğrenmenin doğasına ilişkin puan ortalamalarının proje tabanlı öğretim sonrası anlamlı düzeyde azaldığı (p<0.05), diğer alt faktörler açısından anlamlı bir fark olmadığı (p>0.05) saptandı. Öğrencilerin öğrenme-öğretme ortamı algısı ölçeği alt faktör puan ortalamaları incelendiğinde öğrencilerin proje tabanlı öğretim sonrası öğretme-öğrenme etkinliklerine ilişkin algılarının anlamlı düzeyde arttığı (p<0.05), değerlendirme ve iş yükü algılarının ise anlamlı düzeyde azaldığı (p<0.05) belirlendi.Sonuç: Bu çalışma sonucunda proje tabanlı öğretimin öğrencilerin öğrenmenin doğasına ilişkin tutumlarını değiştirdiği, öğrenme-öğrenme ortamının derinlemesine öğrenmeye yönlendiriciliğini arttırdığı saptandı.
İyileştirici Bir Tebessüm: Mizah
Authors: ÇEVİK AKTURA Seher , ÖZDEN Gürkan , ÇITLIK SARITAŞ Seyhan
Published: February 2021

Mizah, olayların komik ve eğlenceli tarafını görmeye çalışmaktır. Mizah, bireylerin bilişsel düzeylerini değiştirerek farklı bir perspektiften düşünmelerine yardımcı olur. Mizah duygusu negatif bir olayla karşılaşılsa bile pozitif bakış açısı geliştirmeyi sağlar. Mizah beden ile ruhu kapsayan ve birbirine bağlayan bir enerji olarak değerlendirilebilir. Literatür, hemşireliğin ilk yıllarından itibaren az da olsa mizah kullanımının varlığını ortaya koymaktadır. Gelişen zamanla beraber hemşirelerin rolleri de değişmekte, mizah stili ve uygulamaları da tedavi ve bakımda kullanılmaya başlanmıştır. Mizahın sağlık üzerinde etkileri olduğuna dair çalışmalar bulunmaktadır. Mizahın bireye fiziksel, duygusal, sosyal ve bilişsel olarak birçok yararı vardır. Hastaların stres ve anksiyetesini azaltmak, baş etme mekanizmalarını daha iyi kullanmalarını sağlamak ve pozitif etkileşimlerini arttırmak amacıyla yapılan espri ve şakaları içermektedir. Mizah eğlenceli karikatürler, hikayeler, komik videolar, hemşirelerin hastalarla iletişim kurarken yaptığı şakalar ve hastane palyaçoları gibi farklı şekillerde olabilmektedir. Hastaya yapılacak girişimler sırasında dikkatini başka yöne çekmek, anksiyetesi yüksek hastayı rahatlatmak ya da hastanın tedaviye, tanıya veya ortama uyumunu arttırmak gibi hemşirelik bakımı alanlarında mizah kullanımı yaygınlaşmalıdır. Bu derlemenin amacı mizahın hemşirelik alanında kullanım amaçlarını incelemektir.
Some Operations Over Interval-Valued Fuzzy Matrices
Authors: I. Silambarasan
Published: February 2021

The objective of this paper is to apply the concept of fuzzy matrices to interval-valued fuzzy matrices. In this paper, we introduce the Hamacher operations of interval-valued fuzzy matrices and prove some desirable properties of these operations, such as commutativity, idempotency and monotonicity. Further, we prove De Morgan's laws over complement for these operations . Then we constructe the scalar multiplication (n._h A) and exponentiation (A^(∧_h n)) operations of interval-valued fuzzy matrices and investigates the algebraic properties.
The Mental Lexicon of Low-Proficiency Korean Heritage Learners
Authors: Shin Kim Mary
Published: February 2021

Previous studies have examined word association behaviors of native speakers and non-native speakers, pointing out differences in the organization of their mental lexicon. This study investigates a relatively underexplored area in word association studies—the word association of heritage learners. The study compares word association behaviors of low-proficiency Korean heritage learners to those of native Korean speakers and non-heritage learners. Preliminary results indicate that heritage learners exhibit a great deal of variability in their word association patterns compared to native speakers and non-heritage learners. All three subject groups show an overall preference for meaning-based association over position-based association for nouns. However, in subcategories of meaning-based and position-based responses, the three groups show significant differences. Heritage learners tend, like native speakers, to produce more responses based on strong conceptual associations than non-heritage learners. Yet heritage learners, despite their larger vocabulary size and their exposure to the language in authentic socio-cultural contexts at home, show little difference from non-heritage learners in their weak collocation-based associations. This preliminary study provides insight into heritage learners’ mental lexicon in contrast to those of native speakers and non-heritage learners, and also discusses pedagogical implications for teaching vocabulary to heritage learners.
Heritage and Foreign Language Learner Use of the Spanish Subjunctive in Advice
Authors: Mikulski Ariana , Elola Idoia
Published: February 2021

Previous research indicates that heritage language (HL) learners of Spanish tend to produce the subjunctive more than FL learners (e.g., Fairclough, 2005; Potowski, 2007). However, these studies have focused mainly on written production, and research on oral production has yielded contradictory findings (Fairclough, 2005; Lynch, 2008; Martínez Mira, 2006). This classroom-based research study (1) compares HL and FL learners’ subjunctive use and patterns of interlanguage mood choice in a paired oral activity in which students gave advice and (2) investigates whether learners negotiate meaning or form with each other in regard to mood selection. Twenty university students enrolled in fifth-semester Spanish (13 HL and 7 FL) were grouped into 7 HL-FL and 3 HL-HL pairs. Results indicate that HL learners were significantly more likely than their FL peers to produce the subjunctive in the structures where it was expected. HL and FL learners alike rarely negotiated for meaning or form with regard to mood choice.
The Development of Japanese as a Heritage Language in the Los Angeles Conurbation
Authors: Douglas Masako O. , Kataoka Hiroko C. , Chinen Kiyomi
Published: February 2021

This paper examines the current status of Japanese as a heritage language (JHL) in the Los Angeles conurbation, applying the Capacity-Opportunity-Desire (COD) framework. After briefly describing the Japanese-American community and the history of JHL education in the United States with a focus on the Los Angeles conurbation, we review research to date on JHL capacity development in JHL schools and the role of the family in JHL development. We then present the results of two studies and analyze factors that contribute to JHL development,reflecting on COD principles. We conclude by presenting suggestions for future research on JHL based on this framework.