bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Work Environment on Job Stress of Occupational Therapists During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors:   The Korean Society of Occupational Therapy, Kim Tae-hoon , Kim Su-kyoung
Published: April 2024

Objective: This study investigated the effects of work environment on the job stress of occupational therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: We surveyed occupational therapists providing face-to-face occupational therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The independent variables included 11 items on general characteristics and 11 items on work environment, whereas the dependent variable consisted of 24 items on job stress. The survey, comprised of a total of 46 items, was conducted using a shared link to an online questionnaire. Online surveys were collected over a three month period beginning from September 2022, and a final amount of 216 surveys were analyzed. The data were analyzed through their descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis to identify factors influencing job stress, including variables showing a correlation.
Results: As the results of the correlation analysis indicate, the working institution, patient, increased musculoskeletal pain, difficulties in intra-departmental communication, difficulties in co-work with other departments, difficulties in the use of personal protective equipment, insufficient personal protective equipment, and an increase in the burden of infection risk were significant correlation factors. Through a multiple regression analysis, insufficient personal protective equipment and an increased burden of risk of infection were identified as factors affecting job stress.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that insufficient personal protective equipment and an increased burden of infection risk affected the job stress of occupational therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is therefore necessary to provide adequate personal protective equipment to occupational therapists who work face-to-face with patients under situations of infectious disease outbreaks in order to help them reduce their risk of infection.
The Mediating Effect of Activity of Daily Life Dependence on the Association Between Cognition and Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
Authors:   The Korean Society of Occupational Therapy, Jeong Jiin , Yoo Eun-Young
Published: April 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between cognitive function, dependence on activity of daily life (ADL), and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in older adults, and to investigate the mediating effect of ADL dependence.
Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using 2015 data from an older adult cohort database (DB) provided by the Korea National Health Insurance Service. Those who received a diagnosis of dementia more than once between 2002 and 2015 and had a grade of 1 to 5 in terms of long-term care service were selected. In addition, a total of 12,363 data were used for analysis. Cognitive function, BPSD, and ADL dependence were extracted. A path model was established to analyze the relationship between the three major variables and the mediating effect of ADL dependence, and the direct effects of each path, the total effect, and indirect effects of the full model were calculated.
Results: As a result of a path analysis, the effect between cognitive function and ADL dependence showed a value of .616 (p < .0001), the effect between cognitive function and BPSD was .199 (p < .0001), and the effect between ADL dependence and BPSD was .039 (p = .0005). The total effect of the path model of the three variables was .223 (p < .0001), and the indirect effect was .024 (p = .0005). In addition, there was a partial mediating effect of ADL dependence.
Conclusion: As a result of analyzing the mediating effect of ADL dependence through a path model, the ADL dependence partially mediated the effect of cognitive function on BPSD. These results suggest that a program promoting ADL function may be useful for alleviating the BPSD in people with dementia. It is hoped that this study will be used as a basis for the need and development of intervention programs.
Robert Gramsch-Stehfest, Bildund, Schule und Universität im Mitttelalter, Berlin – Boston 2019
Authors: Boukal Jan
Published: April 2024

Book review on Robert Gramsch-Stehfest, Bildund, Schule und Universität im Mitttelalter. De Gruyter Oldenbourg, Berlin – Boston 2019, 273 s., ISBN 978-3-11-045214-3
Maria Theisen (Hg.), Gotteskrieger: der Kampf um den rechten Glauben rund um Wien im 15. Jahrhundert, Klosterneuburg [2022]
Authors: Boukal Jan
Published: April 2024

Book review on Maria Theisen (Hg.), Gotteskrieger: der Kampf um den rechten Glauben rund um Wien im 15. Jahrhundert. Stift Klosterneuburg, Klosterneuburg [2022], ©2022, 223 s., ISBN 978-3-903229-39-6
Vysokoškolská kolej na Hradčanech (1919–1949). Institucionální dějiny koleje pro nemajetné posluchače vysokých škol v Praze
Authors: Kynkorová Jana
Published: April 2024

This article describes the history and functioning of the Hradčany dormitory for poor university students in Prague, which functioned in 1919–1949. First introduced is the foundation of this dormitory and of the association that administered it. Then the attention turns to student self-governance, which formed one of the organs of the association. In 1927, there arose a conflict between the student administration and curators of the founding association, which led to the foundation of a new dormitory administered solely by students. The conclusion then describes a gradual loss of power of the student administration: after 1945, its powers were gradually transferred to the National Administration of Student Property. In 1949, the dormitory finally ceased to exist in its original form.
Assessment of the condition severity and prediction of postoperative complications in elderly and senile patients with perforated gastric and duodenal ulcer
Authors: Danyliuk M. B. , Zavhorodnii S. M. , Kubrak M. A. , Boiko K. A.
Published: April 2024

Aim. To assess the condition severity and predict postoperative complications and mortality in elderly and senile patients with perforated gastric and duodenal ulcer using the P-POSSUM score.
Materials and methods. To conduct a scientific study, 80 (100.0 %) cases of treatment for patients aged 60 to 89 years with a diagnosis of gastric or duodenal ulcer perforation were analyzed. At the stage of hospitalization, the general condition was assessed using the variables of the P-POSSUM score. All patients underwent emergency surgery.
Results. The obtained sum of points was compared with postoperative complications and mortality. We defined the discrimination point as >43 points for postoperative complications and >48 points for mortality. Based on the result, the patients were divided into group A with a sum of points up to 43 inclusive – 39 patients (48.8 %), and with a greater number of points – 41 patients (51.2 %) – group B. Evaluation of the detected complications in the postoperative period and comparison with the sum of points significantly confirmed an increase in their frequency in group B (sum of points >43) as compared to group A (sum of points ≤43) – p = 0.0018, U = 474.0. To compare the mortality rate, all the patients were divided into group C – 48 (60.0 %) patients with a sum of points ≤48, and group D – 32 patients (40.0 %) with a sum of points ≥49. In the group of patients with a total score >48 (group D), the mortality rate was significantly increased compared to group C with a score ≤48, p = 0.0002, U = 384.0.
Conclusions. Our study has led to the following conclusions: the P-POSSUM score use in elderly and senile patients with perforated gastric and duodenal ulcers significantly confirms the increase in the frequency of postoperative complications, in group A – 6 (15.4 %) patients, while in group B – 23 (56.1 %), p = 0.0018, U = 474.0 and increased mortality, in group C – 6.3 %, in group D – 56.3 %, p = 0.0002, U = 384.0; the P-POSSUM score provides reliable prediction an increase in the risk of postoperative complications and mortality. This, in turn, makes it possible to predict and change treatment approaches and improve the quality of emergency surgical care for elderly and senile patients.
Results of patient survival after surgical interventions for complicated forms of colon cancer performed in general surgical hospitals
Authors: Kubrak M. A. , Zavhorodnii S. M. , Danyliuk M. B.
Published: April 2024

The aim of the study: to evaluate the 1- and 3-year survival of patients operated for complicated forms of colon cancer (СC) in general surgical hospital.
Materials and methods. The study group included 71 (100 %) patients with complicated forms of СС. Acute intestinal obstruction was detected in 49 (69.1 %) patients, tumor perforation – in 13 (18.3 %), acute colonic bleeding – in 3 (4.2 %) patients, a combination of acute intestinal obstruction with tumor perforation – in 4 (5.6 %) and intestinal obstruction with bleeding – in 2 (2.8 %) operated patients. Radical operations were performed in 48 (67.6 %) patients, palliative operations – in 18 (25.4 %), symptomatic operations – in 5 (7.0 %) patients. II stage of the disease was diagnosed in 15 (21.1 %), III stage – in 32 (45.1 %), IV stage – in 24 (33.8 %) operated patients. 19 (30.2 %) patients underwent specific chemotherapy after surgery.
Results. Among patients with the II stage of the oncological process 1-year survival was 76.9 ± 11.7 %, 3-year – 53.8 ± 13.8 %; with stage III, 1-year survival was 65.6 ± 8.4 %, 3-year – 50.0 ± 8.8 %; in persons with IV stage of СC – 29.2 ± 9.3 % and 8.3 ± 2.6 % respectively (χ2 = 21.8, p = 0.0001). Among male patients, 1-year survival was 51.4 ± 8.5 %, 3-year – 31.4 ± 7.9 %; women – 61.1 ± 8.1 % and 44.4 ± 8.3 %, respectively (χ2 = 2.3, p = 0.1302). Better indicators were found in the case of cancer of the left sections of the large intestine than the right sections – the 1-year survival rate was 60.4 ± 7.1 % and 43.5 ± 10.3 % respectively; 3-year – 39.6 ± 7.1 % and 30.4 ± 9.6 % (χ2 = 0.74, p = 0.3906).
Conclusions. The conducted analysis indicates a clear dependence of the survival results on the stage of the disease, gender and localization of the tumor process.
Coupling thin layer chromatography with mass spectrometry for detection and identification of sertraline and its metabolite in the urine
Authors: Baiurka S. B. , Karpushyna S. A. , Kosmina N. M. , Krichkovskaya L. V. , Bylov I. Ye. , Altukhov O. O.
Published: April 2024

The aim of the study was to detect sertraline and its metabolites in urine under standardized thin layer chromatography (TLC) screening conditions and identify the metabolites using the mass spectrometry method.
Materials and methods. Urine samples, collected within 30 hours in portions of 20–50 mL, commenced from the seventh hour after the administration of a single therapeutic dose of the drug. The sample preparation process involved dilute acid hydrolysis, followed by the extraction of the native compound and metabolites with chloroform at a pH of 8–9. Thin layer chromatography studies of the extracts were conducted using four unified TLC systems recommended by The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists for general drug screening. Chromatograms were subjected to color reactions with a variety of chromogenic reagents. For the analysis of eluates from chromatograms, a Varian 1200 L mass spectrometer (Netherlands) equipped with a dual quadrupole mass analyzer was employed. Identification was performed through direct sample introduction into the ion chamber, electron-impact ionization (70 eV), and full ion scanning mode.
Results. The spot of the native drug on the chromatogram was identified by the Rf, value. Metabolite of sertraline was identified as N-desmethyltrihydroxysertraline by the molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum.
Conclusions. The study demonstrated the ability of TLC to detect sertraline and its metabolite, N-desmethyltrihydroxysertraline, in urine after the administration of a single therapeutic dose of the drug. The chromatographic mobility of the native compound and N-desmethyltrihydroxysertraline in the unified TLC screening systems, along with the results of their visualization using chromogenic reagents for toxicological drug screening, was determined. Furthermore, the potential of coupling TLC with mass spectrometry for the separation, detection, and confirmatory identification of sertraline and its metabolic products in urine was established.
Dynamic cerebral autoregulation is preserved during orthostasis and intrathoracic pressure regulation in healthy subjects: A pilot study
Authors: Skytioti M. , Wiedmann M. , Sorteberg A. , Romundstad L. , Hassan Ali Y. , Mohammad Ayoubi A. , Zilakos I. , Elstad M.
Published: April 2024

Resistance breathing may restore cardiac output (CO) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) during hypovolemia. We assessed CBF and cerebral autoregulation (CA) during tilt, resistance breathing, and paced breathing in 10 healthy subjects. Blood velocities in the internal carotid artery (ICA), middle cerebral arteries (MCA, four subjects), and aorta were measured by Doppler ultrasound in 30° and 60° semi‐recumbent positions. ICA blood flow and CO were calculated. Arterial blood pressure (ABP, Finometer), and end‐tidal CO2 (ETCO2) were recorded. ICA blood flow response was assessed by mixed‐models regression analysis. The synchronization index (SI) for the variable pairs ABP–ICA blood velocity, ABP–MCA velocities in 0.005–0.08 Hz frequency interval was calculated as a measure of CA. Passive tilting from 30° to 60° resulted in 12% decrease in CO (p = 0.001); ICA blood flow tended to fall (p = 0.04); Resistance breathing restored CO and ICA blood flow despite a 10% ETCO2 drop. ETCO2 and CO contributed to ICA blood flow variance (adjusted R2: 0.9, p < 0.0001). The median SI was low (<0.2) indicating intact CA, confirmed by surrogate date testing. The peak SI was transiently elevated during resistance breathing in the 60° position. Resistance breathing may transiently reduce CA efficiency. Paced breathing did not restore CO or ICA blood flow.
Emergence and evolution of standardization systems in medical biology laboratories
Authors: Khattar Rita B. , Nehme Maha E.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The history of standardization relating to the activities of medical laboratories traces the development of quality system standards in the world, and their evolution.

Content

In this study, we have included the key benchmarks that represent the stages of the quality system’s evolution in recent decades. Accreditation of medical laboratories has become compulsory in most countries, regarding national or international standards. International acknowledgment of the effectiveness of the results delivered to the many stakeholders, particularly patients and prescribers, is conferred through the use of standards.

The ISO 15189 standard represents the latest and most specific international standards for medical laboratories of all types.

Outlook

More research is necessary to study if laboratory practices reflect the evolution of standards within the medical laboratory field.
An improved implementation of metrological traceability concepts is needed to benefit from standardization of laboratory results
Authors: Panteghini Mauro
Published: April 2024

Non-harmonization of laboratory results represents a concrete risk for patient safety. To avoid harms, it is agreed that measurements by in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVD-MD) on clinical samples should be traceable to higher-order references and adjusted to give the same result. However, metrological traceability is not a formal claim and has to be correctly implemented, which in practice does not happen for a non-negligible number of measurands. Stakeholders, such as higher-order reference providers, IVD manufacturers, and External Quality Assessment organizers, have major responsibilities and should improve their contribution by unambiguously and rigorously applying what is described in the International Organization for Standardization 17511:2020 standard and other documents provided by the international scientific bodies, such as Joint Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine and IFCC. For their part, laboratory professionals should take responsibility to abandon non-selective methods and move to IVD-MDs displaying proper selectivity, which is one of the indispensable prerequisites for the correct implementation of metrological traceability. The practicality of metrological traceability concepts is not impossible but relevant education and appropriate training of all involved stakeholders are essential to obtain the expected benefits in terms of standardization.
Contexts and pragmatic strategies of COVID-19 related cartoons in Nigeria
Authors: Olajimbiti Ezekiel Opeyemi , Jolaoso Oluwafemi Bolanle
Published: April 2024

The global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has been experienced differently by people depending on their socio-cultural contexts. These varied experiences are expressed in various forms of communication, including cartoons. This paper examines the pragmatic resources inherent in COVID-19-related cartoons depicting the impact of the virus on Nigerian society. Forty COVID-19-related cartoons, circulated on social media, were collected on Twitter and WhatsApp platforms between March and April 2020 as data. Multimodality and presupposition served as theoretical framework and descriptive research design was adopted. Findings reveal five socio-contextual domains, religion, health, economy, politics and governance nd family, characterizing the social experiences of Nigerians during the pandemic. Through the evocation of situational reality, pragmatic sarcasm, punning, and orientation to government insensitivity, the cartoonists evoke pragmatic functions of informing and warning about social behaviours in the religion, family and health domains; recreating situational realities on socioeconomic impacts in the domain of economy; and satirizing government policies and mocking politicians’ insincerity in the domain of politics and governance on sociopolitical experiences of Nigerians before and during the pandemic. The study concludes cartoons are a strong means of portraying societal realities and people’s experiences comically and graphically.
Minority genders in quantitative survey research: a data-driven approach to clear, inclusive, and accurate gender questions
Authors: Vriesendorp Hielke , Wilson Rory Thomas
Published: April 2024

Whilst linguistic research on speakers of minority genders has increased in the past decade, much less is known about how they can best be included in broader (socio)linguistic research. The current paper compares the way a range of five different gender measures for survey research are filled out and evaluated by a sample of LGBTQ+ people (N = 682). It finds that providing a larger range of answering options allows researchers to gain a better view of the gender diversity in their sample, whilst preventing refusals and loss of participants. The gender question that was least likely to be refused and was rated the most accurate, most inclusive, and clearest was a six-option multiple-choice question which included a “prefer not to say” and a write-in option. This question reconciles two competing interests in the treatment of queer data: it explicitly recognizes and names minority genders and simultaneously carves out space for participants to refuse categorization or write out gender identities beyond those preset by the researcher.
Preparation and properties of acrylate/polyvinyl alcohol self-healing hydrogels based on hydrogen bonds and coordination bonds
Authors: Gu Yaxin , Sun Minghui , Liu Yunxue , Fan Zhaorong , Jin Henggang , Li Xiaoming
Published: April 2024

Despite the widespread attention garnered by self-healing hydrogels in various fields, achieving a balance between high mechanical strength and self-healing capability remains a challenge. Particularly, the addition of fillers in the fabrication of spray-coated waterproof materials hinders the movement of molecular chains. Simultaneously, the self-repair of metal ions is hindered by issues such as a prolonged required time and low repair rate. Therefore, we introduce a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution subjected to freeze–thaw cycles into the acrylic acid magnesium/calcium hydrogel system, creating a self-healing hydrogel with an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN). Due to the abundance of hydroxyl groups on the PVA molecular chains, during the freezing process, some PVA chains form microcrystals that do not dissolve upon thawing at room temperature. These microcrystals act as cross-linking points, connecting PVA chains into a 3D network. Consequently, the hydrogel, under the dual effects of hydrogen bonds and coordination bonds, exhibits excellent mechanical properties and the ability to self-heal at room temperature. Furthermore, by adjusting the concentration of the PVA solution, the mechanical properties and healing ability of the hydrogel can be tailored to meet various construction requirements.
Structural Neuroplasticity Effects of Singing in Chronic Aphasia
Authors: Sihvonen Aleksi J. , Pitkäniemi Anni , Siponkoski Sini-Tuuli , Kuusela Linda , Martínez-Molina Noelia , Laitinen Sari , Särkämö Essi-Reetta , Pekkola Johanna , Melkas Susanna , Schlaug Gottfried , Sairanen Viljami , Särkämö Teppo
Published: April 2024

Singing-based treatments of aphasia can improve language outcomes, but the neural benefits of group-based singing in aphasia are unknown. Here, we set out to determine the structural neuroplasticity changes underpinning group-based singing-induced treatment effects in chronic aphasia. Twenty-eight patients with at least mild nonfluent poststroke aphasia were randomized into two groups that received a 4-month multicomponent singing intervention (singing group) or standard care (control group). High-resolution T1 images and multishell diffusion-weighted MRI data were collected in two time points (baseline/5 months). Structural gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) neuroplasticity changes were assessed using language network region of interest-based voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and quantitative anisotropy-based connectometry, and their associations to improved language outcomes (Western Aphasia Battery Naming and Repetition) were evaluated. Connectometry analyses showed that the singing group enhanced structural WM connectivity in the left arcuate fasciculus (AF) and corpus callosum as well as in the frontal aslant tract (FAT), superior longitudinal fasciculus, and corticostriatal tract bilaterally compared with the control group. Moreover, in VBM, the singing group showed GM volume increase in the left inferior frontal cortex (Brodmann area 44) compared with the control group. The neuroplasticity effects in the left BA44, AF, and FAT correlated with improved naming abilities after the intervention. These findings suggest that in the poststroke aphasia group, singing can bring about structural neuroplasticity changes in left frontal language areas and in bilateral language pathways, which underpin treatment-induced improvement in speech production.
Missing the Mark
Authors: James Juliene , Hayre Dylan
Published: April 2024

For several years, Arnold Ventures has been investing in supervision reform, supporting researchers, practitioners, advocates, and scholars who are seeking to achieve a fundamental shift in policy, practice, and outcomes. We envision systems that are grounded not in catching failure, but in facilitating and supporting success. Understanding and challenging current norms on condition setting and enforcement is a key piece of that, and drug testing conditions in particular warrant significant scrutiny and assessment. Ubiquitously imposed, potentially enormously harmful, and minimally supported by research and evidence, we are proud to support field leaders who are reexamining punitive drug testing and developing innovative solutions to help support all people on supervision, particularly people with substance use histories.
Protótipo de aplicativo móvel para autoavaliação cultural de Enfermagem no cuidado às pessoas com deficiência
Authors: Benedito Maria Heloisa Alves , Maia Evanira Rodrigues , Lacerda Josefa Fernanda Evangelista de , Feitosa Jéssica Gonçalves , Pagliuca Lorita Marlena Freitag
Published: April 2024

Objetivo: descrever a construção de um protótipo de aplicativo móvel para a autoavaliação da competência cultural dos profissionais e acadêmicos de Enfermagem no fornecimento do cuidado à pessoa com deficiência. Métodos: estudo metodológico do tipo protótipo de aplicativo, a partir do Instrumento de Autoavaliação da Competência Transcultural para o Cuidado da Pessoa com Deficiência, que possui cinco níveis de responsividade e 23 itens agrupados nos cinco tipos de deficiências, em observância a Teoria Transcultural de Enfermagem. O conteúdo de layout da tecnologia foi criado conforme as cinco metodologias do aplicativo “One-Minute Preceptor”. Resultados: o protótipo possui 42 telas, compostas por telas iniciais com informações sobre o Instrumento de Autoavaliação e Interface de cadastro com login e senha. As telas seguintes são compostas pela autoavaliação cultural de cada deficiência. Conclusão: a construção do protótipo, fundamentado no Instrumento de Autoavaliação da Competência Transcultural para Cuidar da Pessoa com Deficiência, direciona os profissionais/acadêmicos de Enfermagem à autoavaliação e à aquisição de competência cultural para o cuidado de Enfermagem. Contribuições para a prática: o protótipo possui qualidade de conteúdo constatada a partir da validação com especialistas, o que possibilita o aprendizado e melhoria no cuidado de Enfermagem com competência cultural à pessoa com deficiência.
Enzymatic Mechanism and Energetics in the Optimized Biosynthesis of the Flavor and Fragrance Ester Geranyl Acetate
Authors: Yaakub Nor Suhayati , Mohamad Annuar Mohamad Suffian , Razak Nurul Nadiah Abdul , Khalid Khalisanni
Published: April 2024

Geranyl acetate, a significant natural fragrance compound, is typically available only in minute quantities from plant sources. This study focuses on the biosynthesis of this compound through enzymatic esterification of geraniol with acetic acid, utilizing the

environmentally benign and generally safe solvent, acetone. The optimization process

initially involved key synthesis variables, including acetic acid and geraniol concentrations, temperature, and enzyme loading. Subsequently, a thermodynamic investigation of

the biosynthesis was conducted alongside kinetic elucidation, providing insights into the

mechanism of the lipase-mediated esterification, which was revealed to follow a Ping-Pong Bi-Bi mechanism with no apparent inhibition by either substrate. The reaction is endothermic, with calculated changes in enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy, (ΔS) at 66 kJ mol–1

and 217 J mol–1 K–1, respectively. The activation energy, Ea, was determined to be 28 kJ mol−1. Esterification was non-spontaneous below 30 °C but shifted to spontaneous at higher temperatures. These findings hold significance for the development of biocatalytic processes.
Reactive Separation of Vanillic Acid Using Tri-n-butyl Phosphate
Authors: Eshwar Dhanush Shylaja , Antony Fiona Mary , Kumar Anuj , Wasewar Kailas
Published: April 2024

The aim of this study was to extract vanillic acid from an aqueous solution through reactive extraction. Vanillic acid is utilized in the food and beverage industry as a flavoring agent. Tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) served as the reactive extractant, while natural oils like sesame oil and groundnut oil acted as diluents. The recovery of vanillic acid from fermentation broth or wastewater poses challenges due to toxicity concerns. However, employing natural solvents in the extraction process can significantly reduce toxicity. Various parameters, such as extraction efficiency, loading ratio, distribution coefficient, and equilibrium complexation constant, were determined to evaluate the extent of extraction achieved. Groundnut oil emerged as more effective than sesame oil as a diluent, exhibiting a maximum distribution coefficient of 13.31 and an extraction efficiency of 93.01 % at 5.27 mmol L–1 of acid concentration and 40 % v/v of TBP. Additionally, the number of theoretical stages required for the reactive extraction system was calculated, resulting in five stages for groundnut oil and four stages for sesame oil.
Extraction of Common Bile Duct Stones Refractory to Mechanical Lithotripsy Using Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy
Authors: Chung Kwang Hyun , Cho Jeong Man , Oh Il Hwan , Kim Soo Hyung , Son Byoung Kwan
Published: April 2024

The standard treatment for choledocholithiasis is to remove the stones by performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). With various techniques such as basket extraction, balloon catheter extraction, mechanical lithotripsy, followed by endoscopic papillary sphincterotomy or endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation, the success rate of stone extraction is known to be over 90%. However, stone extraction can fail in cases with large common bile duct stones or biliary stricture. We report a case of impacted choledocholithiasis after conventional ERCP and mechanical lithotripsy treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
The model of tandem content and language integrated learning: Justification and evaluation of its effectiveness by education stakeholders
Authors:   Ishim Pedagogical Institute named after P.P. Ershov – a branch of the Tyumen State University, Yurinova Evgenia Alexandrovna , Byrdina Olga Gennad’evna ,   Ishim Pedagogical Institute named after P.P. Ershov – a branch of the Tyumen State University, Dolzhenko Svetlana Gennad’evna ,   Ishim Pedagogical Institute named after P.P. Ershov – a branch of the Tyumen State University
Published: April 2024

Introduction. The need to master a foreign language in the professional field of education is determined by contemporary challenges: the rapid growth of intercultural interaction, as well as the processes of globalization and informatization of education. The article examines the problem of using tandem content and language integrated learning focused on developing future teachers’ readiness and ability to communicate effectively in a foreign language in the professional environment. The purpose of the article is to propose the model of tandem content and language integrated learning and evaluate the effectiveness of its implementation in the process of developing foreign language professional communicative competence of future teachers. Materials and Methods. The study was conducted during 2020–2023 period. The sample included 86 students of 3–5 years majoring in Primary education and English as a Foreign language. The authors used the following research methods: theoretical and methodological analysis, comparison, interpretation, modeling, questionnaires, analysis and systematization of accumulated experience of tandem content and language integrated learning. Results. The main results consist in substantiating the model of tandem content and language integrated learning and in assessing the effectiveness of its implementation in the process of developing foreign language professional communicative competence of future teachers. The authors identified a mechanism of interaction between all education stakeholders in dynamic groups based on task level-differentiation within the framework of content and language integrated learning (CLIL). Conclusions. The study concludes that the model of tandem content and language integrated learning was substantiated and the effectiveness of its implementation in the process of developing foreign language professional communicative competence of future teachers was assessed.
Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte to monocyte ratio and Systemic Inflammatory Index in sexually transmitted diseases
Authors: Pintea-Trifu Martina-Luciana , Balici Silvia-Ștefana , Vică Mihaela Laura , Leucuța Daniel-Corneliu , Coman Horia George , Nemeș Bogdan , Matei Horea-Vladi
Published: April 2024

Introduction. Hematologic biomarkers of inflammation may serve as valuable adjuncts in clinical practice, aiding in several aspects such as differential diagnosis, prognostic assessment for patient stratification and monitoring the efficacy of antimicrobial therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio (LMR), and Systemic Inflammatory Index (SII) in predicting bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI).
Methods. This prospective study was conducted in the north-west region of Romania and included patients from several medical special units such as dermatology, obstetrics-gynecology, urology, and general practice. The study group comprised patients with a high suspicion of STI, while the control group consisted of healthy subjects. Quantitative data are presented as medians (interquartile ranges).
Results. The median values of SII, NLR, and SIRI were higher in the group of subjects with sexually transmitted diseases compared to the control group [604.06 (432.36 - 880.02) vs. 556.89 (388.63 - 874.19); 2.61 (1.57 - 3.3) vs. 2.29 (1.66 - 3.26); and 0.95 (0.53 - 1.52) vs. 0.89 (0.67 - 1.34)]. Regarding PLR, the median values were lower in the group of subjects with sexually transmitted diseases compared to the control group [138.1 (99.19 - 169.6) vs. 140.65 (117 - 190.32)]. As for LMR, the median values were equal between the two groups [4.64 (3.74 - 6.11) vs. 4.64 (3.75 - 5.45)]. Nevertheless, the differences did not reach the significance level.
Conclusion. Our study suggests that inflammatory biomarkers might aid in detecting bacterial STIs, but their significance was not statistically confirmed. Further research on alternative laboratory tests is needed for improved STI diagnosis and management.
Nutritional quality of bakery products enriched with alternative flours
Authors: Ramos Paulo Roberto
Published: April 2024

This study assesses the nutritional quality of bakery products with the addition of alternative flours, derived from unconventional cereals or legumes, which have the potential to enrich products with essential nutrients. The growing demand for more nutritious bakery products has driven the search for alternatives to traditional wheat flours. However, including these flours can affect the taste, texture, and physicochemical characteristics of the final products, making it crucial to understand the impact of these substitutions on the nutritional quality of bakery products. The main objective is to evaluate the influence of incorporating alternative flours on the nutritional composition of the products. To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive literature review using renowned scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The selection of articles prioritized recent studies (last five years) and controlled experiments that evaluated the nutritional quality of bakery products enriched with alternative flours. The results indicated that the inclusion of alternative flours, such as amaranth and quinoa, resulted in a significant increase in protein, fiber, and mineral content in bakery products. There was also a diversification in the profiles of essential amino acids, contributing to the improvement of the protein quality of the final products. However, variations in sensory and textural characteristics were observed, suggesting the need for adjustments in formulations to optimize consumer acceptance. These findings offer valuable insights for the formulation of more nutritious and functional bakery products, promoting healthier and balanced eating.
ГЕНЕЗА ЛІЦЕНЗУВАННЯ ЯК ОДНОГО ІЗ ОСНОВНИХ ЗАСОБІВ РЕГУЛЮЮЧОГО ВПЛИВУ ДЕРЖАВИ НА ДІЯЛЬНІСТЬ СУБ’ЄКТІВ ГОСПОДАРЮВАННЯ В УКРАЇНІ
Authors: Svitlychnyi Oleh
Published: April 2024

Проаналізовано генезу ліцензування як одного із основних засобів регулюючого впливу держави на діяльність суб’єктів господарювання в Україні та надання пропозицій для вироблення максимально ефективного законодавства, яке б враховувало інтереси усіх учасників процесів ліцензування. Виявлено особливості генези ліцензування і визначено перспективи його подальшого розвитку як одного із основних засобів регулюючого впливу держави на діяльність суб’єктів господарювання в Україні. Розглянуто ліцензування не як адміністративну процедуру, а як один із основних засобів регулюючого впливу держави на діяльність суб’єктів господарювання. Аналіз генези ліцензування дав змогу визначити та схарактеризувати три етапи його легітимації на теренах України у своєму новітньому розвитку. Запропоновано після завершення російсько-української війни поширювати ліцензування на види господарської діяльності, які несуть підвищену загрозу суспільству та/або економіці та які мають значно вищий за середній у галузях і сферах економіки рівень прибутковості або рентабельності. А з метою нівелювання негативних рис ліцензування як адміністративної процедури, зокрема суб’єктивізм чиновників, корупційні прояви, вимагання неправомірної вигоди, прояви недобросовісної конкуренції тощо, запропоновано унормувати: ефективніший підбір кадрів до органів ліцензування; підвищену адміністративну та кримінальну відповідальність для чиновників — порушників законодавства; передачу ухвалення окремих рішень з питань ліцензування штучному інтелекту.
ПРАВОВЕ РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ ТАЙМШЕРА В ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКОМУ ЗАКОНОДАВСТВІ ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ЙОГО ВПРОВАДЖЕННЯ В УКРАЇНІ
Authors: Nekit Kateryna
Published: April 2024

Досліджено підходи до визначення правової природи та особливості правового регу- лювання відносин таймшера у різних країнах. Зазначається, що в силу історичних чинників та особливостей правових систем розуміння сутності таймшера істотно різниться залежно від країни. З урахуванням цих чинників, на європейському рівні відсутнє уніфіковане регулювання відносин таймшера. У Європейському Союзі було ухвалено Директиву 2008/122/ЄС «Про захист прав споживачів у зв’язку з деякими аспектами таймшера, довгострокових відпусток, перепродажу та обміну прав» від 14.01.2009. Основним аспектом механізму захисту прав споживачів у цій сфері є запровадження гарантії щодо змоги скасувати договір таймшера протягом вста- новленого законодавством часу без можливості відмови від такого права. За резуль- татами вивчення практики інших країн у питаннях правового регулювання відносин таймшера, було виявлено, що у деяких країнах, зокрема Румунії та Республіці Молдова, інститут таймшера було запроваджено в рамках процесів рекодифікації. Результатом цього стало визначення таймшера як особливої форми спільної власності, що виникає у ситуації, коли кілька осіб (співвласників) послідовно та не- одноразово здійснюють користування права власності на рухоме або нерухоме май- но протягом визначених, рівних чи нерівних, інтервалів часу. Положення румунсько- го та молдовського законодавства щодо таймшера є досить цінними в контексті рекодифікації, що відбувається в Україні.
ІНСТРУМЕНТАРІЙ СИТУАЦІЙНОГО АНАЛІЗУ ЕЛЕКТРОЕНЕРГЕТИЧНОЇ ГАЛУЗІ УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ ВІЙНИ
Authors: Akhromkin Yevhen , Bezsmertnyi Serhii , Nevmerzhytskyi Dmytro
Published: April 2024

Проаналізовано функції учасників українського ринку енергетики та ситуації щодо трендів, обсягів імпорту та експорту електроенергії за час війни. Наголошено, що попри складні умови сьогодення, воєнний стан, численні ворожі обстріли, електроенергетика України змогла впоратись з усіма викликами, втримати свої позиції та трансформувати необхідним чином технологічні та бізнес-процеси. Зауважено, що актуальним є виокремлення інструментарію ситуаційного аналізу стану та проблем розбудови електроенергетичної галузі України в умовах війни. Для проведення ситуаційного аналізу стану та проблем розбудови енергетичної галузі України в умовах війни виокремлено базові індикатори (показники) та перелік заходів щодо її розвитку. Зазначено, що для ситуаційного аналізу навіть в умовах війни в Україні функціонують та використовують відкриті дані (сервіси) енергетичного сектору. Представлено базовий інструментарій ситуаційного аналізу електроенергетичної галузі України в умовах війни, який охоплює дві складові: відкриті дані (сервіси), зокрема інфографіку (моделі, проєкти, таблиці, графіки) і карти та методичну складову, зокрема показники та індикатори. Визначено деякі заходи щодо забезпечення стійкості електропостачання в умовах війни.
Improving Guideline-Concordant Care for Febrile Infants Through a Quality Improvement Initiative
Authors: McDaniel Corrie E. , Kerns Ellen , Jennings Brittany , Magee Sloane , Biondi Eric , Flores Ricky , Aronson Paul L. ,   AAP REVISE II QI Collaborative
Published: April 2024

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to examine the impact of a quality improvement (QI) collaborative on adherence to specific recommendations within the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for well-appearing febrile infants aged 8 to 60 days.

METHODS

Concurrent with CPG release in August 2021, we initiated a QI collaborative involving 103 general and children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada. We developed a multifaceted intervention bundle to improve adherence to CPG recommendations for 4 primary measures and 4 secondary measures, while tracking 5 balancing measures. Primary measures focused on guideline recommendations where deimplementation strategies were indicated. We analyzed data using statistical process control (SPC) with baseline and project enrollment from November 2020 to October 2021 and the intervention from November 2021 to October 2022.

RESULTS

Within the final analysis, there were 17 708 infants included. SPC demonstrated improvement across primary and secondary measures. Specifically, the primary measures of appropriately not obtaining cerebrospinal fluid in qualifying infants and appropriately not administering antibiotics had the highest adherence at the end of the collaborative (92.4% and 90.0% respectively). Secondary measures on parent engagement for emergency department discharge of infants 22 to 28 days and oral antibiotics for infants 29 to 60 days with positive urinalyses demonstrated the greatest changes with collaborative-wide improvements of 16.0% and 20.4% respectively. Balancing measures showed no change in missed invasive bacterial infections.

CONCLUSIONS

A QI collaborative with a multifaceted intervention bundle was associated with improvements in adherence to several recommendations from the AAP CPG for febrile infants.
Development and validation of a quantitative minilab system for quality evaluation of selected medicines: Albendazole, arthemether-lumefantrine combination (Co-artem®), and mebendazole finished pharmaceutical products
Authors: Hasen Gemmechu , Birhane Worku , Suleman Sultan , Ashenef Ayenew
Published: April 2024

The current technologies for substandard and counterfeit drug detection are either too expensive for low-resource settings or only provide qualitative or semi-quantitative results. GPHF minilab™ is one of them based on thin layer chromatography(TLC) principles with a semi-quantitative capability by visual observation of the spot area and intensity for medicine quality analysis. Thus, its use as a quality control tool for pharmaceutical products has limitations as spot area and intensity visual observation by the naked eye highly varies from analyst to analyst. As such, in this study, the semi-quantitative technique has been transferred to a quantitative approach by capturing the developed TLC plate image using an Android-based mobile phone inside a simple carton box. Then, the spot area was quantified using justTLC software. The quantitative results were compared with the-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method as the golden standard. Accordingly, linearity was observed in the assayed range (80–120% label claim), and the correlation coefficients found were (R2 = 0.958, 0.997, 0.941, and 0.956 for Albendazole, Mebendazole, Artemether, and Lumefantrine, respectively.). The values are satisfactory. The %RSDs found were less than 2% for all drugs [intraday (n = 6) (RSD = 1.17, 1.61, 1.87, and 1.64), and interday (n = 18) (RSD = 1.16, 0.72, 1.12, and 1.18) for Artemether, Lumefantrine, Mebendazole, and Albendazole, respectively]. Moreover, comparisons of results obtained from the sophisticated CAMAG UV cabinet (R2 =0.991, 0.971, 0.946, and 0.967) and the developed simple carton box (R2 = 0.958, 0.997, 0.941, and 0.956) for Albendazole, Mebendazole, Artemether, and Lumefantrine, respectively. The values are comparable and reveal the accuracy of the method. Robustness testings' that were performed under different altered conditions revealed the robustness of the method (RSD less than 2% for all factors). Additionally the deviations from the golden HPLC results were on average −8.62% for albendazole, −3.79% for artemether, and −4.52% for lumefantrine samples. The developed method shows a satisfactory performance capability to utilize the GPHF minilab™ as a quantitative technique for medicine quality control purposes. It will be a very useful tool in a resource-limited setting. The target method profile, which encompasses a simple, low-cost, linear, precise, robust, accurate, and quantitative GPHF minilab™ system, was obtained for Albendazole, Mebendazole, and Arthemeter lumefantine combinations (Co-artem). The proposed method was successfully applied to analyze the content of the marketed medicines in the above mentioned tablets and offered acceptable deviations from the golden HPLC method. Automation of quantitative GPHF minilab™ was highly recommended to enhance the appropriateness and use of this system.
Validation of HPLC-DAD method for analysis of paracetamol and potassium sorbate in liquid oral formulations and its application to forced degradation study
Authors: Mikulić Mira , Sazdanić Darija , Kladar Nebojša , Radulović Jovana , Srđenović Čonić Branislava , Atanacković Krstonošić Milica
Published: April 2024

Due to the frequent use of paracetamol formulations, it is useful to develop an analytical technique for the determination of intact paracetamol in presence of other drugs and excipients or the degradation products. In this study, a simple, isocratic, fast, specific, accurate and precise stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed and validated for simultaneous quantitative determination of paracetamol (PCM) and potassium sorbate (PS) in oral liquid formulations. The chromatographic separation was achieved on Zorbax SB C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with Zorbax SB C18 precolumn (12.5 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) using distilled water pH 2 with ortho-phosphoric acid and acetonitrile (70:30, v/v) as a mobile phase, and UV detection at 235 nm. The temperature of the column was kept constant at 25 °C. The method was validated according to International Conference on harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The method demonstrated excellent linearity, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996 and 0.9998 for PCM and PS, respectively, over the concentration ranges of 10–600 μg mL−1 (PCM) and 6–500 μg mL−1 (PS). The retention time was found to be 1.98 and 4.86 min for PCM and PS, respectively. Oral liquid formulation samples were subjected to various stress conditions (acidic and alkaline hydrolysis, as well as oxidative, heat and photolytic degradation) for the purpose of forced degradation study. The major degradation of paracetamol was achieved in acidic and basic stress conditions, while thermal and photolytic degradation generally had the least influence. On the other hand, potassium sorbate was highly susceptible to photolytic degradation. It was also shown that the formulation has strong influence on stability of tested compounds. Forced degradation studies demonstrated the stability-indicating power of the method and can be used to assess the stability of paracetamol and potassium sorbate in oral liquid formulations.