bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supplementation with sodium butyrate improves growth and antioxidant function in dairy calves before weaning
Authors: Liu Wenhui , La A. La Teng Zhu , Evans Alexander , Gao Shengtao , Yu Zhongtang , Bu Dengpan , Ma Lu
Published: January 2021

Background

There is increasing research interest in using short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) including butyrate as potential alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in animal production. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementation of sodium butyrate (SB) in liquid feeds (milk, milk replacer, and the mixture of both) on the growth performance, rumen fermentation, and serum antioxidant capacity and immunoglobins in dairy calves before weaning. Forty healthy female Holstein calves (4-day-old, 40 ± 5 kg of body weight) were housed in individual hutches and randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatment groups (n = 10 per group) using the RAND function in Excel. The control group was fed no SB (SB0), while the other three groups were supplemented with 15 (SB15), 30 (SB30), or 45 (SB45) g/d of SB mixed into liquid feeds offered. The calves were initially fed milk only (days 2 to 20), then a mixture of milk and milk replacer (days 21 to 23), and finally milk replacer only (days 24 to 60).

Results

The SB supplementation enhanced growth and improved feed conversion into body weight gain compared with the SB0 group, and the average daily gain increased quadratically with increasing SB supplementation. No significant effect on rumen pH; concentrations of NH3-N, individual and total VFAs; or acetate: propionate (A:P) ratio was found during the whole experimental period. Serum glutathione peroxidase activity increased linearly with the increased SB supplementation, while the serum concentration of maleic dialdehyde linearly decreased. Serum concentrations of immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, or immunoglobulin M were not affected by the SB supplementation during the whole experimental period.

Conclusions

Under the conditions of this study, SB supplementation improved growth performance and antioxidant function in pre-weaned dairy calves. We recommended 45 g/d as the optimal level of SB supplementation mixed into liquid feeds (milk or milk replacer) to improve the growth and antioxidant function of dairy calves before weaning.
Effects of brewers’ spent grain protein hydrolysates on gas production, ruminal fermentation characteristics, microbial protein synthesis and microbial community in an artificial rumen fed a high grain diet
Authors: Ran Tao , Jin Long , Abeynayake Ranithri , Saleem Atef Mohamed , Zhang Xiumin , Niu Dongyan , Chen Lingyun , Yang Wenzhu
Published: January 2021

Background

Brewers’ spent grain (BSG) typically contains 20% – 29% crude protein (CP) with high concentrations of glutamine, proline and hydrophobic and non-polar amino acid, making it an ideal material for producing value-added products like bioactive peptides which have antioxidant properties. For this study, protein was extracted from BSG, hydrolyzed with 1% alcalase and flavourzyme, with the generated protein hydrolysates (AlcH and FlaH) showing antioxidant activities. This study evaluated the effects of AlcH and FlaH on gas production, ruminal fermentation characteristics, nutrient disappearance, microbial protein synthesis and microbial community using an artificial rumen system (RUSITEC) fed a high-grain diet.

Results

As compared to the control of grain only, supplementation of FlaH decreased (P < 0.01) disappearances of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), CP and starch, without affecting fibre disappearances; while AlcH had no effect on nutrient disappearance. Neither AlcH nor FlaH affected gas production or VFA profiles, however they increased (P < 0.01) NH3-N and decreased (P < 0.01) H2 production. Supplementation of FlaH decreased (P < 0.01) the percentage of CH4 in total gas and dissolved-CH4 (dCH4) in dissolved gas. Addition of monensin reduced (P < 0.01) disappearance of nutrients, improved fermentation efficiency and reduced CH4 and H2 emissions. Total microbial nitrogen production was decreased (P < 0.05) but the proportion of feed particle associated (FPA) bacteria was increased with FlaH and monensin supplementation. Numbers of OTUs and Shannon diversity indices of FPA microbial community were unaffected by AlcH and FlaH; whereas both indices were reduced (P < 0.05) by monensin. Taxonomic analysis revealed no effect of AlcH and FlaH on the relative abundance (RA) of bacteria at phylum level, whereas monensin reduced (P < 0.05) the RA of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and enhanced Proteobacteria. Supplementation of FlaH enhanced (P < 0.05) the RA of genus Prevotella, reduced Selenomonas, Shuttleworthia, Bifidobacterium and Dialister as compared to control; monensin reduced (P < 0.05) RA of genus Prevotella but enhaced Succinivibrio.

Conclusions

The supplementation of FlaH in high-grain diets may potentially protect CP and starch from ruminal degradation, without adversely affecting fibre degradation and VFA profiles. It also showed promising effects on reducing CH4 production by suppressing H2 production. Protein enzymatic hydrolysates from BSG using flavourzyme showed potential application to high value-added bio-products.
Targeting phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase in multiple myeloma
Authors: Elsaadi Samah , Steiro Ida , Abdollahi Pegah , Vandsemb Esten N. , Yang Rui , Slørdahl Tobias S. , Rø Torstein Baade , Menu Eline , Sponaas Anne-Marit , Børset Magne
Published: January 2021

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the clonal expansion of plasma cells in the bone marrow. To date, this disease is still incurable and novel therapeutic approaches are required. Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo serine synthesis pathway, and it has been attributed to bortezomib-resistance in MM.

Methods

Two different PHGDH inhibitors, CBR5884 and NCT-503, were tested against human myeloma cell lines, primary MM cells from patients, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from healthy donors. The PHGDH inhibitors were then tested in combination with proteasome inhibitors in different MM cell lines, including proteasome-resistant cell lines. Furthermore, we confirmed the effects of PHGDH inhibition through knocking down PHGDH and the effect of NCT-503 in vivo in the 5T33MM mouse model.

Results

All the tested myeloma cell lines expressed PHGDH and were sensitive to doses of NCT-503 that were tolerated by peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from healthy donors. Upon testing bortezomib in combination with NCT-503, we noticed a clear synergy in several HMCLs. The sensitivity to bortezomib also increased after PHGDH knockdown, mimicking the effect of NCT-503 treatment. Interestingly, targeting PHGDH reduced the intracellular redox capacity of the cells. Furthermore, combination treatment with NCT-503 and bortezomib exhibited a therapeutic advantage in vivo.

Conclusions

Our study shows the therapeutic potential of targeting PHGDH in MM, and suggest it as a way to overcome the resistance to proteasome inhibitors.
Comment on “Conserved phylogenetic distribution and limited antibiotic resistance of class 1 integrons revealed by assessing the bacterial genome and plasmid collection” by A.N. Zhang et al.
Authors: Roy Paul H. , Partridge Sally R. , Hall Ruth M.
Published: January 2021

An article published in Microbiome in July 2018 uses incorrect definitions of integron integrase IntI1 and of class 1 integrons that affect the interpretation of the data.
Alu retrotransposons and COVID-19 susceptibility and morbidity
Authors: Li Manci , Schifanella Luca , Larsen Peter A.
Published: January 2021

SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly across the world and is negatively impacting the global human population. COVID-19 patients display a wide variety of symptoms and clinical outcomes, including those attributed to genetic ancestry. Alu retrotransposons have played an important role in human evolution, and their variants influence host response to viral infection. Intronic Alus regulate gene expression through several mechanisms, including both genetic and epigenetic pathways. With respect to SARS-CoV-2, an intronic Alu within the ACE gene is hypothesized to be associated with COVID-19 susceptibility and morbidity. Here, we review specific Alu polymorphisms that are of particular interest when considering host response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially polymorphic Alu insertions in genes associated with immune response and coagulation/fibrinolysis cascade. We posit that additional research focused on Alu-related pathways could yield novel biomarkers capable of predicting clinical outcomes as well as patient-specific treatment strategies for COVID-19 and related infectious diseases.
A pilot investigation of emotional regulation difficulties and mindfulness-based strategies in manic and remitted bipolar I disorder and major depressive disorder
Authors: Musket Christie W. , Hansen Natasha S. , Welker Keith M. , Gilbert Kirsten E. , Gruber June
Published: January 2021

Background

Both bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder are characterized by difficulties in emotion regulation. Little is known about which specific emotion regulatory patterns may be transdiagnostic versus disorder specific, and how such patterns change as a function of current mood states.

Methods

This preliminary investigation examined specific patterns of self-reported trait emotion regulation difficulties and mindfulness-based regulations strategies across four groups: remitted adults with bipolar I disorder (BD-remitted; n = 32), currently manic adults with bipolar I disorder (BD-manic; n = 19), remitted adults with major depressive disorder (MDD-remitted; n = 32), and healthy controls (CTL; n = 30).

Results

All three clinical groups reported significantly greater difficulties with emotion regulation and decreased overall mindfulness-based strategies.

Conclusions

These results suggest that increased emotion regulation difficulties, decreased mindfulness, and increased emotion-driven impulsivity may be transdiagnostic across mood disorders and states, and that impulsivity may be particularly impaired during periods of mania.
Medicines dispensing practice during the era of COVID-19 pandemic: a commentary
Authors: Hasen Gemmechu , Edris Rashed , Chala Gadisa , Tefera Yesuneh , Hussen Hawi , Tekassa Tamirat , Suleman Sultan
Published: January 2021

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is putting a huge strain on healthcare systems and is a turning point for the beginning of a global health crisis of an unprecedented condition. As such, the provision of quality pharmacy services particularly, dispensing practice with pre-existing challenges in resource-limited settings is a grave concern in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, in this commentary we described the pattern of dispensing practice in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic by evaluating the current condition of drug dispensing practice in drug retail outlets of Jimma Town.
Tectonic tremors in the Northern Mexican subduction zone remotely triggered by the 2017 Mw8.2 Tehuantepec earthquake
Authors: Miyazawa Masatoshi , Santoyo Miguel Ángel
Published: January 2021

Surface waves from the 2017Mw8.2 Tehuantepec earthquake remotely triggered tectonic tremors in the Jalisco region, approximately 1000 km WNW in the northern Mexican subduction zone. This is the first observation of tremor triggering in this region and one of the largest known examples of a triggered tremor in the world. Although prior studies have found tectonic tremors triggered by teleseismic waves in subduction zones and plate boundaries, further investigation of tremor triggering is crucially important for understanding the causative mechanism. We calculate the stress and strain changes across the three-dimensional plate interface attributable to seismic waves from the earthquake by full wavefield simulation. The maximum magnitude of the dynamic strain tensor eigenvalues on the plate interface, where tremors likely occur, is approximately 10–6. The subducting slab geometry effectively amplifies triggering waves. The triggering Coulomb failure stress changes resolved for a thrust fault plane consistent with the geometry are estimated to be approximately 10–40 kPa. The relationship between the triggering stress and triggered tremor amplitude may indicate that theaσof the rate–state-dependent friction law is 10–100 kPa.
Magnetostratigraphic evidence for post-depositional distortion of osmium isotopic records in pelagic clay and its implications for mineral flux estimates
Authors: Usui Yoichi , Yamazaki Toshitsugu
Published: January 2021

Chemical stratigraphy is useful for dating deep-sea sediments, which sometimes lack radiometric or biostratigraphic constraints. Oxic pelagic clay contains Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides that can retain seawater 187Os/188Os values, and its age can be estimated by fitting the isotopic ratios to the seawater 187Os/188Os curve. On the other hand, the stability of Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides is sensitive to redox change, and it is not clear whether the original 187Os/188Os values are always preserved in sediments. However, due to the lack of independent age constraints, the reliability of 187Os/188Os ages of pelagic clay has never been tested. Here we report inconsistency between magnetostratigraphic and 187Os/188Os ages in pelagic clay around Minamitorishima Island. In a ~ 5-m-thick interval, previous studies correlated 187Os/188Os data to a brief (< 1 million years) isotopic excursion in the late Eocene. Paleomagnetic measurements revealed at least 12 polarity zones in the interval, indicating a > 2.9–6.9 million years duration. Quartz and feldspars content showed that while the paleomagnetic chronology gives reasonable eolian flux estimates, the 187Os/188Os chronology leads to unrealistically high values. These results suggest that the low 187Os/188Os signal has diffused from an original thin layer to the current ~ 5-m interval, causing an underestimate of the deposition duration. The preservation of the polarity patterns indicates that a mechanical mixing such as bioturbation cannot be the main process for the diffusion, so diagenetic redistribution of Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides and associated Os may be responsible. The paleomagnetic chronology presented here also demands reconsiderations of the timing, accumulation rate, and origins of the high content of rare-earth elements and yttrium in pelagic clay around Minamitorishima Island.
Forecasting directional movement of Forex data using LSTM with technical and macroeconomic indicators
Authors: Yıldırım Deniz Can , Toroslu Ismail Hakkı , Fiore Ugo
Published: January 2021

Forex (foreign exchange) is a special financial market that entails both high risks and high profit opportunities for traders. It is also a very simple market since traders can profit by just predicting the direction of the exchange rate between two currencies. However, incorrect predictions in Forex may cause much higher losses than in other typical financial markets. The direction prediction requirement makes the problem quite different from other typical time-series forecasting problems. In this work, we used a popular deep learning tool called “long short-term memory” (LSTM), which has been shown to be very effective in many time-series forecasting problems, to make direction predictions in Forex. We utilized two different data sets—namely, macroeconomic data and technical indicator data—since in the financial world, fundamental and technical analysis are two main techniques, and they use those two data sets, respectively. Our proposed hybrid model, which combines two separate LSTMs corresponding to these two data sets, was found to be quite successful in experiments using real data.
Anesthetic management of pulmonary artery replacement for idiopathic dilatation of the pulmonary artery with a Kommerell’s diverticulum: a case report
Authors: Nishioka Akira , Takahashi Kyosuke , Maehara Yasuhiro
Published: January 2021

Background

Idiopathic dilatation of the pulmonary artery (IDPA) is a rare condition in which the pulmonary artery dilates without an obvious cause. Pulmonary artery replacement is indicated in severe cases to prevent serious complications.

Case presentation

A 59-year-old man was diagnosed with an IDPA of 64 mm and Kommerell’s diverticulum (aortic aneurysm located at the aberrant left subclavian artery). A computed tomography scan revealed slight compression of the aneurysm to the trachea, although not interfering with airway management. The surgical approach was a median sternotomy, and cardiopulmonary bypass was established through aortic and bicaval cannulations. The perioperative course was uneventful.

Conclusions

To prevent injury to the dilated pulmonary artery, a strategy for cardiopulmonary bypass and a surgical approach should be discussed beforehand. As dilatation of the pulmonary artery is often complicated by anatomic abnormalities, preoperative evaluation should be aimed at appropriate assessments using imaging modalities.
Isolation and identification of Bacillus thuringiensis strains native of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Hassan Amina A. , Youssef Mohamed A. , Elashtokhy M. M. A. , Ismail I. M. , Aldayel Munirah , Afkar Eman
Published: January 2021

Background

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produces a group of δ-endotoxin proteins designated as cry toxins. No doubt that Bt isolates are excellent potential candidates for biological control strategies.

Results

The present study showed that 12 Bt strains were isolated and characterized at morphological, biochemical, and molecular levels. All the tested 12 Bt strains were gram-positive, endospore-forming, and possessing typical Bt crystal structures under the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Universal primers direct and reverse of five pairs were used to detect five Cry-type genes (Cry1, Cry2, Cry3, Cry4, Cry7, and Cry8) by the PCR sizes produced from the studied Bt strains. The 16S rRNA PCR technique, 16S gene primer, DNA template, dNTPs, and Taq polymerase produced unique and distinguishable restriction patterns used for the molecular characterization of the studied Bt strains. Based on the PCR products, the frequency of Cry-gene distribution among the tested strains was Cry1 100%, Cry4 85%, and Cry3 62%, and Cry2 and Cry7 frequency was 54%. Based on the activity of insecticidal of the tested Bt strains, Bt1, Bt9, Bt10, and Bt11 were extremely pathogenic; their pathogenicity ranged from 93 to 100% against dipteran and lepidopteran larvae, compared to the other Bt isolates. The nucleotide sequences of amplified 1500 bp conserved region of 16S rRNA genes of four strains blasted using NCBI database compared to NCBI database sequences, and they were reported as native strains of Bt showing high homology with the known Bt strains (99–100%). The nucleotide sequences of Bt1, Bt9, Bt10, and Bt11 were placed in the GenBank database under accession numbers MN860017, MN843958, MN843959, and MN843960, respectively.

Conclusion

The strategies of enhancing the sustainability of crops and vegetables that are targeted by a large number of pathogenic insects require a great effort of exploring novel species and strains of Bt. Herein, native strains of Bt were documented from the eastern province of Saudi Arabia that displayed bio-insecticidal action on larvae of Diptera and Lepidoptera.
Revolution andRevellion
Authors: Boyer Dominic
Published: January 2021

It has been increasingly common to hear talk of the need for “revolutionary action” to break the Anthropocene/Capitalocene trajectory of northern petroculture. Sometimes this talk is deployed by transition-oriented political movements like Sunrise and Extinction Rebellion. At other times, it is the mild liberal-consumerist “join the revolution” discourse put forward by green capitalist ventures. In both cases it raises the question of what is meant by revolution, a term that Arendt observed has both radical and conservative valences. As we contemplate revolutionary solarity in the twenty-first century, we must further settle accounts with the legacy of twentieth-century revolutions, many of which were predicated on energy-intensive and technoaccelerationist principles. This essay discusses what should and should not belong to revolutionary solarity and puts forth an alternate ethical and practical horizon of “revellion” in which the violent legacies of revolution are displaced by a politics that seeks to rewire the overheated pleasure circuits of northern civilization toward the pursuit of humbler joys and playful relations.
Susceptibility
Authors: Crawley Ashon
Published: January 2021

This essay argues that political theology does not interrogate the contexts of emergence for the joining of the political to the theological; it takes these concepts to have meaning without accounting for how these categories are created by racialized, gendered, sexed exclusion. What is it to be susceptible, and can such a thing be the antidote to political theology? Why would political theology need an antidote? Arguing that susceptibility is lined out in the sounds of the Hammond organ emanating from Blackpentecostal musicianship, perhaps attending to the sound and song emerging from such a space might give us a cue and clue regarding a way of life that does not take racialization and its exclusions as the grounds for thought.
Queer Political Astrology
Authors: Winstanley-Smith Alexa
Published: January 2021

The resurgence of fascism has quickly become an unavoidable fact of the Western world. Perhaps it comes as no surprise to today’s inheritors of cultural studies and critical theory that astrology has made its own comeback; however, it has made its comeback with a difference. The vanguard of today’s astrological movement is led by the queer Left. Uprooted from its role as fate’s theological handmaiden for mounting figures of authority and apparently removed from the (implicitly heterosexual) reproductive model of a mainstream “culture industry,” queer astrology has come to the fore as an antitraditionalist, anticonservative mode of rethinking human biography in community. The queer astrological model of self-understanding and self-analysis has potential: it is not held in thrall to the perpetually outmoded biological paradigms of scientific “fact,” nor does it require cleaving to secularized but still-fraught figures for the self such as the “martyr,” the “saint,” or the “heretic.” Queer astrology unquestionably breaks the fearful mold beheld by critics like Aby Warburg and Theodor Adorno. But is it political? And if it is, how so? What are its potentials? How do we construe a queer astrological politics that is capable of mounting more than a therapeutic alternative to tradition — one that can play an activist role in a political scene that has already donned the kitsch comb-over of that tabloid credential to which tawdry horoscopes once made their claims?
Cerebral Palsy: Sport and Exercise Considerations
Authors: Toldi James , Escobar Joseph , Brown Austin
Published: January 2021

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of debilitating motor disorders that carries a wide array of clinical presentations ranging from isolated physical or cognitive impairment to global loss of function. Despite the prevalence of CP, recommendations and benefits of physical activity/exercise have historically not been clearly defined. The research on the subject has several limitations, including small sample size, power, standardized measures/outcomes, and poor classification regarding severity of the disease. Nonetheless, the general consensus and new research shows that individuals with CP who participate in sports and exercise regimens, even at reduced frequency and intensity, exhibit improvements in health care benefits, including cardiorespiratory endurance, gross motor function, gait stability, and reduction in pain. These regimens can be prescribed safely and individualized by health care providers to improve morbidity and mortality in patients suffering from CP.
Assessment of prevalence of Anxiety in adult population and development of anxiety scale: A study of 819 patients with anxiety disorder
Authors: Bano Zaqia , Ejaz Maria , Ahmad Ishtiaq
Published: January 2021

Objective: To develop an indigenous anxiety scale for adults and to assess the prevalence of anxiety among the adults.

Methods: Descriptive explanatory research design was carried out from 1st January 2018 to 31st May 2019 at the Department of Psychology, University of Gujrat. The indigenous anxiety scale for adults was used for data collection. Scale consisted on three sub scales which are used to assess the cognitive symptoms, behavior and physiological symptoms through CFA value and alpha reliability. Sample of adequacy is .965, Confirmatory Factor Analysis value .914, alpha reliability .974 were taken as standard. In cognitive symptoms subscale’s alpha was 0.958, Behavior subscale .943 and Physiological symptoms subscale alpha was α .912.

Results: The prevalence of anxiety in 20-29 years individuals exhibited 17.5% (male 38.8%; female 62.2) symptoms of anxiety. 30-39 Years people showed 12.9% (male=56.9%; female=43.1%), 40-49 years individuals showed 16.5% of anxiety and in late adulthood 50-60 years old people showed highest level of anxiety 22.10% (male=68.3%; female=31.7).

Conclusion: The anxiety scale for adults is a reliable indigenous scale for measuring anxiety in adults. Further, the prevalence rate of anxiety in adult population is alarming indication and middle and late adulthood suffered more anxiety as compare to early adulthood.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.2158

How to cite this:Bano Z, Ejaz M, Ahmad I. Assessment of prevalence of Anxiety in adult population and development of anxiety scale: A study of 819 patients with anxiety disorder. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(2):472-476. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.2158

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Comparison of mean operative time in patients undergoing Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy and pneumatic lithotripsy in ureterorenoscopy for ureteric calculus
Authors: Sajid Muhammad Tanveer , Ameen Mohammad , Murtaza Badar , Alvi Muhammad Sarwar , Khan Zakir , Kiani Faran
Published: January 2021

Objective: To compare the mean operative time (MOT) in patients undergoing Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy (LL) and pneumatic lithotripsy (PL) for ureteric stones.

Methods: This randomized study was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Urology (AFIU) Rawalpindi, Pakistan from July 2016 to November 2018. Non probability consecutive sampling technique utilized to enroll 60 patients of both gender aged 18-60 years, having ureteric calculus ≤1.5cm. Randomization was done into group I (LL) and II (PL) via computer generated number tables. Six Consultant Urologists performed surgeries under spinal anesthesia utilizing Swiss Lithoclast® Master (EMS+ S.A. Switzerland) in group II and holmium laser fiber (365μm, 8-10Hz, 9.6-16W, 2100nm wavelength) in group I respectively. MOT was noted from insertion of cystoscope till removal out of meatus. Data obtained was analyzed through IBM SPSS 24.0.

Results: Analysis involved 60 patients (30 each group) having similar baseline characteristics (age, gender, laterality, location). There was statistically significant different MOT between LL & PL (25.48±6.99 vs 34.83±7.47 minutes, p < 0.001). Data stratification with respect to age, gender, laterality and stone location revealed similar trend. Lithotripsy technique significantly affected MOT (p < 0.001) on Multiple Linear Regression Analysis.

Conclusions: Ho: YAG LL is an efficient technique when compared with PL in terms of MOT for ureteric stones.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3049

How to cite this:Sajid MT, Ameen M, Murtaza B, Alvi MS, Khan Z, Kiani F. Comparison of mean operative time in patients undergoing Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy and pneumatic lithotripsy in ureterorenoscopy for ureteric calculus. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(2):415-420.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3049

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Interprofessioal collaboration among Speech Language Pathologists and Nurses in Acute Care in Pakistan
Authors: Ch Fariha Ambreen , Babur Muhammad Naveed , Rashid Sajid , Liaqat Maria
Published: January 2021

Objective: To find out inter-professional collaboration among speech-language pathologists and nurses in acute care in Pakistan.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study which was conducted in all government and private hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi having facility of ICUs after taking consent from authorities. The duration of study was six months from October 2018 to February 2019. A total number of 350 participants (200 nurses, 150 speech language pathologists) working in ICU of different private and government hospitals of Pakistan were included in the study. Standardized questionnaire of “assessment of inter-professioal collaboration scale” (AITCS) was circulated to nurses and speech language pathologists (SLPS) working in ICU with its subscale’s partnership, coordination, cooperation and shared decision making on a 5-point likert scale. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Measure of mean was obtained by independent sample t-test. P-Value less than 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: Statistical analysis showed measures of mean differences obtained by t-test revealed significant differences at p<0.001 level between partnership scores of SLPS and nurses. This reveals good partnership between two disciplines. Measures of mean differences obtained by t-test revealed significant differences at p<0.001 level between partnership scores of SLPS and nurses. Both do not value each other in cooperation. Measures of mean differences obtained by t-test showed significant differences at p<0.001 level amongst coordination scores of SLPS and nurses. Both have good coordination. Measures of mean differences obtained by t-test revealed significant differences at p<0.001 level amongst shared decision-making scores of SLPS and nurses. Both are involved in shared decision making.

Conclusion: Results show significant difference in partnership, coordination, and shared decision making. There is no significant difference in cooperation.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3545

How to cite this:Ch FA, Babur MN, Rashid S, Liaqat M. Interprofessioal collaboration among Speech Language Pathologists and Nurses in Acute Care in Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(2):489-493. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3545

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Chest Trauma Experience: Incidence, associated factors, and outcomes among patients in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Hajjar Waseem M. , Al-nassar Sami A. , Almutair Omar S , Alfahadi Abdulrahman H. , Aldosari Nawaf H. , Meo Sultan Ayoub
Published: January 2021

Background and Objective: Worldwide chest trauma is considered one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. There is a lack of sufficient information on the etiology, pattern, and management of these injuries in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the current study was conducted to determine the spectrum of chest trauma and its associated factors among patients admitted to King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A quantitative observational cross-sectional analysis was performed, data obtained from the medical records of the chest trauma patients which were admitted in the thoracic surgery unit, King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from January 2013 to Jan 2019. The records of all these patients were reviewed and data were collected and analyzed prospectively.

Results: A total of 236 patients (male: 87.3%; mean age: 32.4 years) were included in the analyses. The majority of these chest trauma cases (n=205; 86.9%) were caused by road traffic accidents (RTA). Blunt trauma predominated the cases n=225 (95.3%). Ribs fracture had the highest prevalence among the chest injuries with a number of 150 (63.5%) followed by lung contusion 140 (59.3%). Pneumothorax occurred in 131 (55.5%) and hemothorax occurred in 80 (33.8%) with most common indication for emergency thoracotomy. Extra-thoracic injuries involving the head/brain, limbs, and abdominal organs occurred in 189 (80%). 130 (55%) were intubated and ventilated, and almost half of the patients 115 (48.7%) were required a chest tube insertion.

Conclusions: Chest trauma is a major health issue particularly in young male adults and road traffic accidents are the leading cause of chest trauma in Saudi Arabia. Early recognition of the patterns, etiology and appropriate management of trauma reduce the incidence of chest trauma related injuries.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3842

How to cite this:Hajjar WM, Al-Nassar SA, Almutair OS, Alfahadi AH, Aldosari NH, Meo SA. Chest Trauma Experience: Incidence, associated factors, and outcomes among patients in Saudi Arabia. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(2):373-378. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3842

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Seqpare: a novel metric of similarity between genomic interval sets
Authors: Feng Selena C. , Sheffield Nathan C. , Feng Jianglin
Published: January 2021

Searching genomic interval sets produced by sequencing methods has been widely and routinely performed; however, existing metrics for quantifying similarities among interval sets are inconsistent. Here we introduce Seqpare, a self-consistent and effective metric of similarity and tool for comparing sequences based on their interval sets. With this metric, the similarity of two interval sets is quantified by a single index, the ratio of their effective overlap over the union: an index of zero indicates unrelated interval sets, and an index of one means that the interval sets are identical. Analysis and tests confirm the effectiveness and self-consistency of the Seqpare metric.
WIND (Workflow for pIRNAs aNd beyonD): a strategy for in-depth analysis of small RNA-seq data
Authors: Geles Konstantinos , Palumbo Domenico , Sellitto Assunta , Giurato Giorgio , Cianflone Eleonora , Marino Fabiola , Torella Daniele , Mirici Cappa Valeria , Nassa Giovanni , Tarallo Roberta , Weisz Alessandro , Rizzo Francesca
Published: January 2021

Current bioinformatics workflows for PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) analysis focus primarily on germline-derived piRNAs and piRNA-clusters. Frequently, they suffer from outdated piRNA databases, questionable quantification methods, and lack of reproducibility. Often, pipelines specific to miRNA analysis are used for the piRNA research in silico. Furthermore, the absence of a well-established database for piRNA annotation, as for miRNA, leads to uniformity issues between studies and generates confusion for data analysts and biologists.

For these reasons, we have developed WIND (Workflow for pIRNAs aNd beyonD), a bioinformatics workflow that addresses the crucial issue of piRNA annotation, thereby allowing a reliable analysis of small RNA sequencing data for the identification of piRNAs and other small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) that in the past have been incorrectly classified as piRNAs. WIND allows the creation of a comprehensive annotation track of sncRNAs combining information available in RNAcentral, with piRNA sequences from piRNABank, the first database dedicated to piRNA annotation. WIND was built with Docker containers for reproducibility and integrates widely used bioinformatics tools for sequence alignment and quantification. In addition, it includes Bioconductor packages for exploratory data and differential expression analysis. Moreover, WIND implements a "dual" approach for the evaluation of sncRNAs expression level quantifying the aligned reads to the annotated genome and carrying out an alignment-free transcript quantification using reads mapped to the transcriptome. Therefore, a broader range of piRNAs can be annotated, improving their quantification and easing the subsequent downstream analysis. WIND performance has been tested with several small RNA-seq datasets, demonstrating how our approach can be a useful and comprehensive resource to analyse piRNAs and other classes of sncRNAs.
Depiction of Lenin and Stalin in Estonian Art as an Indicator of Shifts in the Soviet Authoritative Discourse
Authors: Tatar Tõnis
Published: January 2021

The paper provides an analysis of changes in depiction of Soviet leaders by Estonian artistsduring the period of Soviet occupation of Estonia. More specifically, changes in theiconography of Lenin and Stalin are viewed in light of Alexei Yurchak’s concept ofperformative shift of the Soviet authoritative discourse.

During the over 40-year period of Soviet occupation conventions of depicting Leninand Stalin underwent several notable changes that more or less reflected shifts in the Sovietpolitics as well as the developments in Estonian arts. The paper argues that changes in thedepiction of the leaders amounted to the fundamental meaning and message of these works ofart. Especially from the end of the 1960s, an increasingly playful and ironic undertoneprevailed.

In using the depictions of the Soviet leaders in Estonian art to test the aforementionedtheoretical constructions, the paper however concludes that changes in the official discoursein Estonian arts did not wholly conform to the performative shift as described by Yurchak.
“The Phenomenon of Culture is the Phenomenon of Bread”: The Debate on Culture in Belarus (1988–1991)
Authors: Astrouskaya Tatsiana , Liavitski Anton
Published: January 2021

The scope and content of public debate in the USSR increased radically with the onset of perestroika. The ‘new thinking’ introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sought to embrace both societal organisation and the individual set of values. This change in political organisation made broad public discussion possible, centring on change as well as the means leading to it. Culture happened to be at the very epicentre of this debate, as it lay at the intersection of collective and private.

Socialist culture claimed to be an intrinsically ‘serious’, ‘genuine’ culture setting itself against the ‘trivial’ and ‘superficial’ bourgeois culture of the West. The CPSU used socialist realism to promote and encourage monumental genres in literature (novel and poem), music (symphony), art and architecture.

The late 1980s challenged the established notion of culture. In the BSSR (Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic), the younger generation of intellectuals (for the main part literati) explored previously neglected genres of mass culture such as the comic, detective novel, erotica, and rock music, thus questioning the ‘sacred’ status of literature and art. Simultaneously, they pushed the boundaries between the local and the global (looking for worldwide connections with Belarusian culture), past and present (rehabilitating authors and ideas rejected by Soviet censorship).

Such semantic processes were coincident with a material turn. A group of intellectuals arose willing to invest personal time and finances into projects that prompted a revolution in the field of culture. Individual efforts had a cumulative effect, in one way or another requiring the re-distribution of public resources: for example, the publishing plans of the state publishing houses, the thematic scope and structure of academic research, school and university education.

Considering these two aspects of structural change and relying on publications in the leading intellectual journal of the time, this paper seeks to grasp the features of this structural change. Staying away from teleological, lineal interpretations, we emphasize the discrepancy, contradiction and multilayering of the structural change as understood by Foucault and Skinner. The third concern of the article is the grip of the old language structures with the new discursive reality of perestroika.
Impressionistic Search in Artistic Interpretation of Dance at the Turn of the 20th Century
Authors: Portnova Tatiana V.
Published: January 2021

This paper is an attempt to theoretically comprehend the interaction of classical dance and fineart in the context of Impressionism. The data is mainly based on two representatives of Frenchand Russian art: Edgar Degas and Zinaida Serebriakova. Some impressionistic pursuit insculpture has also been considered. The studied works of the artists, which have their uniquefeatures of compositional organization and stylistic manner of writing and modelling, are viewedas a single process of fine dramaturgy reflected in the meaning of artistic works. A newimpressionistic approach to the theme of dance, which is associated with its expressive and finenature, is stated on the basis of trend generalization of the compositional-visual thinking of theartists at the turn of the 20th century.
Cotoneaster Acuminatus Leaf Extract Mediated Synthesis, Characterization and in Vitro Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Kumar Goutam , Badoni P.P. , Khajuria Arun K. , Singh Mahender , Tyagi Sapna , Singh Navneet
Published: January 2021

In recent years, there is significant increase in the attention towards the green synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles, particularly by the interaction of plant extracts and metal salts; still there is no such published evidence is available on the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles from aqueous leaf extract of Cotoneaster acuminatus. The synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles was confirmed by using several spectroscopic techniques i.e., UV-Vis, FT-IR, powder-XRD and TEM. It was confirmed from the spectroscopic data that the synthesized nanoparticles were hexagonally orientated, size in the 16-38 nm range and encapsulated by biochemicals present in the leaf extract. These nanoparticles were further evaluated for antimicrobial activity Bacillus subtilisNCFT.583.08, Staphylococcus aureusNCFT.576.08, Pseudomonas aeruginosaNCFT.645.11, Candida albicansNCFT.1006.11 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCFT.1008.11strains. This research work might be considered as a successful attempt to create and evaluate medicinal properties of ZnO nanoparticles in combination with Cotoneaster acuminatus leaf extract.
Towards Reducing the Impact of Localisation Errors on the Behaviour of a Swarm of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
Authors: El-Mihoub Tarek , Tholen Christoph , Nolle Lars
Published: January 2021

Localisation errors have a great impact on Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) as search agents. Different approaches for solving the localisation problem can be used and combined together for greater accuracy in estimating AUVs’ locations. The effect of localisation errors on locating a target can be lightened by designing a search algorithm that avoids extensive use of exact lo-cation information. In this paper, two cooperative search algorithms are proposed and evaluated. In these algorithms, a high-level mechanism is employed for building a global view of the search space using minimum possible search information. These algorithms rely on low-level search algorithms with exploring roles. Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) and all-to-one Self-Organising Migrating Algorithm (SOMA) are selected as high-level mechanisms. The conducted experiments demonstrate that both algorithms show a robust behaviour within a range of localisation errors.
Dog Face Detection Using YOLO Network
Authors: Tureckova Alzbeta , Holik Tomas , Kominkova Oplatkova Zuzana
Published: January 2021

This work presents the real-world application of the object detection which belongs to one of the current research lines in computer vision. Researchers are commonly focused on human face detection. Compared to that, the current paper presents a challenging task of detecting a dog face instead that is an object with extensive variability in appearance. The system utilises YOLO network, a deep convolution neural network, to~predict bounding boxes and class confidences simultaneously. This paper documents the extensive dataset of dog faces gathered from two different sources and the training procedure of the detector. The proposed system was designed for realization on mobile hardware. This Doggie Smile application helps to snapshot dogs at the moment when they face the camera. The proposed mobile application can simultaneously evaluate the gaze directions of three dogs in scene more than 13 times per second, measured on iPhone XR. The average precision of the dogface detection system is 0.92.
Cardiac Arrhythmia Prediction by Adaptive Analysis via Bluetooth
Authors: Rodrguez-Jorge Ricardo , Bila Jiri
Published: January 2021

In this work, the development of a data acquisition system for adaptive monitoring based on a dynamic quadratic neural unit is presented. Acquisition of the continuous signal is achieved with the BITalino biomedical data acquisition card. The system is trained sample-by-sample with a real time recurrent learning method. Then, possible cardiac arrhythmia is predicted by implementing the adaptive monitoring in real time to recognize patterns that predict cardiac arrhythmia up to 1 second in advance. For the evaluation of the interface, tests are performed using the obtained signal in real time
Assessing Factors Affecting Intention to Adopt AI and ML: The Case of the Jordanian Retail Industry
Authors: Alghamdi Mohammed I.
Published: January 2021

Aim: The aim of this research is to evaluate the factors that affect the adoption intention of AI and ML in the context of Jordan’s retail industry

Method: For this research paper, primary data was collected with the help of surveying different retail companies that are operational in Jordan with a sample of 400 participants. The survey questionnaire was based on a Likert scale where five points ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree were provided to the participants. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) used to analyse the impact and significance of the different factors on the adoption of AI and ML in Jordanian retail sector.

Results: It has been concluded from this research paper that communication, government regulations, market structure, and technological infrastructure are important factors that influence the adoption of AI and ML in the retail industry of Jordan. However, the results of this research have pointed out that managerial support and vendor relationship do not have a significant influence on the adoption of AI and ML.

Limitations: The scope of the research is restricted to the context of the retail industry only. This research has been carried out in the context of Jordan thus it cannot be applied on to other geographical backgrounds. Due to the time and scope limitations, there are restricted factors considered in the framework.
Underwater hyperspectral imaging system using a prism–grating–prism structure
Authors: Xue Qingsheng , Tian Zhongtian , Yang Bai , Liang Jishen , Li Chang , Wang Fupeng , Li Qian
Published: January 2021

An underwater hyperspectral imager (UHI) detection system is designed and developed, and a push-broom scan imaging mode was used. The telescope system adopts an image-side telecentric design with 22 mm focal length and

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field of view. A prism–grating–prism structure was used as the spectral unit of spectrometer system to reduce spectral line bending. The UHI system reaches 5 nm spectral resolution in spectral range from 400 nm to 800 nm, and its modulation transfer function is greater than 0.62 at characteristic frequency in spectral range. An underwater hyperspectral detection experiment was carried out with an electric turntable, and the UHI system is of good imaging quality and spectral resolution, being able to distinguish various underwater targets.