bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Todo lo cercano se aleja
Authors: Gutiérrez García Ana Alexandra
Published: September 2024

Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) fue uno de los escritores argentinos más importantes del siglo XX. Padeció una patología ocular crónica y progresiva que lo llevó a consultar a los mejores especialistas de su época. Esta revisión busca establecer cómo influye el tipo de patología ocular de Jorge Luis Borges en su producción literaria, tomando como fuente de información datos biográficos y algunas de sus obras comprendidas entre 1955 y 1977.
De esta forma se determinó que, si bien su patología ocular de base fue la miopía degenerativa, también presentó otras anomalías concomitantes producto de la progresión de la enfermedad, tales como desprendimiento de retina, glaucoma, estrabismo y ptosis palpebral. Durante toda su vida sus problemas visuales empeoraron y lo llevaron a un deterioro progresivo y severo de la visión, a pesar de lo cual Borges no paró de ver más allá y convertir su realidad en fuente de inspiración para superarse, mostrando con su ejemplo que se puede ver lejos incluso ante la adversidad.
Finalmente, se sugiere una futura investigación que incluya la búsqueda y revisión de la historia clínica oftalmológica de Borges (si es que ésta se pudiera encontrar) para tener más datos sobre su patología ocular y profundizar la comprensión de su potencial impacto en su obra literaria. Esto también resulta un ejercicio para comprender la importancia de la miopía como una enfermedad médica más allá de resultar un defecto de refracción, resaltando la función del oftalmólogo como médico que cuida y trata a las personas más allá de sus ojos.
COVID-19 an Emerging Infectious Disease (EID)
Authors: Khandaker S
Published: September 2024

Corona virus (COVID-19) disease is a contagious onecaused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus2 (SARS-Cov-2). The first case was identified in Wuhan,China on December 2019. Since then it spreads worldwideas an ongoing pandemic. The Corona virus can spread froman infected person's mouth or nose in small liquid particleswhen they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe. Theseparticles range from larger respiratory droplets to smalleraerosols. The virus spreads mainly between people who arein close contact with each other, typically within 1 meter(short-range).

Corona, a type of virus of many different kinds and among1them some cause disease. On 31 December 2019, theWorld Health Organization (WHO) was formally notifiedabout a cluster of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan City, hometo 11 million people and the cultural and economic hub ofcentral China. By 5th January, 59 cases were known andnone had been fatal. Ten days later, WHO was aware of 282confirmed cases, of which four were in Japan, South Koreaand Thailand. There had been six deaths in Wuhan, 51people were severely ill and 12 were in a critical condition.The virus responsible was isolated on 7th January and itsgenome shared on 12th January. The cause of the severeacute respiratory syndrome that became known as COVID-219 was a novel corona virus, SARS-CoV-2. On January 30,2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a globalhealth emergency. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared3COVID-19 a global pandemic. This virus has a large familythat cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to moresevere diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome4(MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).4Corona viruses are zoonotic, however no animal reservoir5has yet been found. Several known corona viruses arecirculating in animals that have not yet infected humansbutit appears that COVID-19 has crossed species from batsto snakes , and pangolins then to humans, initially via the6live animal 'wet markets' of Wuhan. As of 12 May, 82,591new cases of COVID-19 worldwide were being confirmed daily and the death rate was over 4200 per day. The US hasthe highest number of reported infections and deaths in theworld. India, Brazil, Russia, and France have the highestnumber of infections and Brazil, India, Mexico, and Peru4have the highest number of deaths after the US. InBangladesh, from 3rd January 2020 to 3rd September 2021,there have been 1,510,283 confirmed cases of COVID-197with 26,432 deaths, reported to WHO
Factors influencing rural youth migration in North Macedonia
Authors: Gjosheva Kovachevikj Marija , Dimitrov Lazo , Popovska Stojanov Despina , Martinovska Stojcheska Aleksandra
Published: September 2024

The migration of young people from rural to urban areas poses a significant challenge to the sustainable development of rural communities in North Macedonia, leading to an aging population and diminished natural growth. This trend exacerbates socioeconomic inequalities, fostering social insecurity and the exclusion of rural youth. The far-reaching consequences of this migration influence both urban and rural landscapes across various developmental domains. To that end, this research aims to investigate the impact of main socioeconomic factors on rural youth migration. A survey of 550 rural residents aged 18-40 addressed was conducted using a tailored questionnaire. The data collection approach ensured nationwide diversity across all Macedonian planning regions, nationalities, genders, and village types. Data processing involved the application of standard descriptive analysis and a binary logistic regression approach. Key findings show that factors such as gender, marital status, region, nationality, education, employment, and ownership of family agricultural holdings do not significantly impact rural youth migration. On the contrary, having children, household size, perceptions of employment opportunities, urban or rural lifestyle preferences, and overall rating of the quality of life in rural areas exhibit notable significance. These findings contribute to a greater understanding of the complexities surrounding rural youth migration. In conclusion, the logistic regression model serves as a powerful tool to pinpoint crucial factors influencing rural youth migration. These insights provide a solid foundation for shaping targeted policies, essential for retaining and supporting rural youth and fostering sustainable development in both urban and rural areas of North Macedonia.
Evaluation of Pimpinella anisum essential oils on egg-laying behaviour of Drosophila suzukii: A Multiple-choice test approach
Authors: Bošković Dragana , Baser Nuray , Vuković Slavica , Lazić Sanja , Šušnjar Aleksandra , Čulum Dušan , Žunić Antonije , Ećimović Jelena , Šunjka Dragana
Published: September 2024

Drosophila suzukii, spotted wing drosophila, is recognized as an economically significant new invasive pest of stone and, especially, berry fruits. This pest has been registered on the EPPO-A2 quarantine list. Due to the limited presence of natural predators on the European continent, this pest quickly proliferates, posing a significant threat to the agricultural economy by causing substantial losses in fruit production. As D. suzukii infestations commonly occur during the ripening stage, the main obstacle with chemical control methods is the risk of high residue in fruits. To face this issue, it is crucial to explore alternative control strategies. One of the possible effective methods involves the use of plant-derived bioactive compounds. Currently, there is ongoing research to identify essential oils with potential insecticidal properties for combating this challenge. The objective of this study was to assess the insecticidal and behavioural impacts of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) essential oils on D. suzukii adults in a multiple-choice test using blueberries treated with three concentrations of the anise essential oil. Additionally, the study monitored the emergence of adults from the treated berries. Using GC-MC chromatography, the chemical composition of anise essential oil was determined, in order to understand the possible mode of action. The essential oil of anise showed high efficacy in the multiple choice test, since a lower number of laid eggs was recorded at all three application concentrations (1%, 5% and 10%) compared to the control (water and acetone). Our findings suggest that anise essential oil can serve as an alternative to chemical insecticides, which would enable the use of bioinsecticides based on this oil, in conventional, integrated, and organic crop production.
Uso de Instagram como canal de comunicación en el fútbol modesto
Authors: Marín Dueñas Pedro Pablo , Gómez-Carmona Diego , Cano-Tenorio Rafael
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Social networks have revolutionised the way organisations communicate with their audiences, regardless of their size or sector. In the case of football, any team, no matter how small, should be aware of the importance of this communication channel to establish relationships with their fans and improve their global visibility.
Objective: The aim of this research work is to study modest Spanish football and the communication management they carry out in the digital environment. More specifically, the aim of the work is to analyse how clubs in the first federation category (1ª RFEF) of Spanish football communicate with their different audiences of interest through Instagram.
Methodology: The content analysis methodology has been implemented to study, among other variables, the engagement they achieve, the formats they use and the type of content they publish in a sample of 33 teams out of the total of 40 that make up this category and which are the ones with an active profile on Instagram during the 2022/2023 season.
Results: These clubs have a good presence on this social network, although they can improve their communication on it, especially in the use of more dynamic content resources.
Limitation: Extending the time frame of the study to have a broader study sample that allows, in turn, to establish comparisons between different seasons.
Contribution: This work stands out because, although there is research that analyses the big football teams and the major leagues, the same does not occur with those more modest clubs, despite the fact that are the soul of small towns and that they manage to mobilise thousands of people.
Intergenerational transport of double-stranded RNA limits heritable epigenetic changes
Authors: Shugarts Nathan , Sathya Aishwarya , Yi Andrew L , Chan Winnie M , Marré Julia A , Jose Antony M
Published: September 2024

RNAs in circulation carry sequence-specific regulatory information between cells in plant, animal, and host-pathogen systems. Such RNA can cross generational boundaries, as evidenced by somatic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in the nematode
C. elegans
silencing genes of matching sequence in progeny. Here we dissect the intergenerational path taken by dsRNA from parental circulation and discover that cytosolic import through the dsRNA importer SID-1 in the parental germline and/or developing progeny varies with developmental time and dsRNA substrates. Loss of SID-1 enhances initiation of heritable RNA silencing within the germline and causes changes in the expression of the

s

id-1
-
d
ependent
g
ene
sdg-1
that last for more than 100 generations after restoration of SID-1. The SDG-1 protein is enriched in perinuclear Z granules required for heritable RNA silencing but is expressed from a retrotransposon targeted by such silencing. This auto-inhibitory loop reveals how retrotransposons could persist by hosting genes that regulate their own silencing.
Hypersensitivity of the vimentin cytoskeleton to net-charge states and Coulomb repulsion
Authors: Unger Bret A , Wu Chun Ying , Choi Alexander A , He Changdong , Xu Ke
Published: September 2024

As with most intermediate filament systems, the hierarchical self-assembly of vimentin into nonpolar filaments requires no nucleators or energy input. Utilizing a set of live-cell, single-molecule, and super-resolution microscopy tools, here we show that in mammalian cells, the assembly and disassembly of the vimentin cytoskeleton is highly sensitive to the protein net charge state. Starting with the intriguing observation that the vimentin cytoskeleton fully disassembles under hypotonic stress yet reassembles within seconds upon osmotic pressure recovery, we pinpoint ionic strength as its underlying driving factor. Further modulating the pH and expressing differently charged constructs, we converge on a model in which the vimentin cytoskeleton is destabilized by Coulomb repulsion when its mass-accumulated negative charges (-18 per vimentin protein) along the filament are less screened or otherwise intensified, and stabilized when the charges are better screened or otherwise reduced. Generalizing this model to other intermediate filaments, we further show that whereas the negatively charged GFAP cytoskeleton is similarly subject to fast disassembly under hypotonic stress, the cytokeratin, as a copolymer of negatively and positively charged subunits, does not exhibit this behavior. Thus, in cells containing both vimentin and keratin cytoskeletons, hypotonic stress disassembles the former but not the latter. Together, our results both provide new handles for modulating cell behavior and call for new attention to the effects of net charges in intracellular protein interactions.
Morfologias urbanas: a experiência de planejamento regional no rio São Francisco
Authors: Silva Antonio Willamys Fernandes da , Luz Rodolfo Alves da
Published: September 2024

O objetivo deste estudo é identificar os conceitos urbanísticos utilizados nos planos urbanísticos para as cidades relocadas nas construções das hidrelétricas de Sobradinho, Itaparica e Xingó na bacia do rio São Francisco. São oito exemplos que agrupados, conforme suas referências, evidenciam suas características formais e ideológicas. A análise se utiliza do diálogo para apreender as contradições tanto na escala global com todos os planos juntos, como na escala interna de cada plano, no micro urbanismo de cada plano, identificando as influências. Fez-se uso da técnica da sintaxe espacial. Com o mapa axial, obteve-se algumas variáveis, como a medida de integração, a forma do núcleo integrador e a medida de conectividade. O artigo constitui-se de cinco partes: Estruturas urbanas; Estrutura viária; Estruturas arquitetônicas; Relação entre os elementos urbanos e a estrutura espacial e Representação dos setores pela teoria dos grafos.
Economic Shifts in India Due to COVID-19: An In-Depth Look at the Pre and Post-Pandemic Conditions Highlighting the Farmer's Perspective
Authors: Thakur Niyati , T N Srinatha , Prashant  , K L Manish , Chaudhary Atul , Kumar Pramod , Hanji Shreya S , Naik Popavath Bhargav
Published: September 2024

In 2019-20, the global economic sky overcasted with COVID-19, a virus of the size of 0.12 microns. The global pandemic has produced a variety of unanticipated shocks to the economies around the world. It adversely affected the Indian economy also.  The year 2021 has commenced with both hope and fear – several parts of the world are locking down and bracing against new waves of infections and speedily communicable mutations. The main objective of this study is to explore the impact of the novel coronavirus pneumonia on the economy of India and the government response to it. The pandemic has drastic impact on different aspects of economy – GDP, GVA, agriculture, trade, employment, service, industry. India’s GDP growth rate faced a drastic decline of -7.25 per cent in FY 2020-21 as compared to previous year, with a V shaped recovery. Due to the restrictions imposed by the government, the availability of agricultural inputs decreased leading to the hike in the prices. The agricultural producers throughout the country faced various marketing problems. Also, the farmers of Himachal Pradesh were also affected in various terms. Based on a survey among smallholder farmers of Himachal Pradesh, it was concluded that the main impact of the pandemic was witnessed by lack of financial assistance, restricted movement during marketing of produce, packaging problem and postharvest loss of the produce. The growth rate change (Y-O-Y) in 2020-21 over 2019-20 in different sectors of Indian economy declined, including GVA (-6.61), agriculture (3.63), industry (-6.37%), service (-8.38) and GDP (-7.25). In 2020, unemployment was high from April (23.52 %), May (22.75 %) and June (10.10 %) due to the lockdown, whereas, during 2021, it was higher in May (11.84%) and June (9.17%) months. The pandemic has negative impact on trade as depicted by the Y-O-Y per cent change in export and import during 2019-20 (-5.06%) and 2020-21 (-6.88%). The central and state governments have recognized the challenge and have responded and the policy makers need to be prepared to scale up the response so as to minimise the impact of the shock on all the sectors and pave the way for a V-shaped recovery.
The Ethnic Flower Festival of Ladakh, India: A Comprehensive Coverage of Sngo lha or Mendok rgyaspa
Authors: Hussain Anwar , Dolkar Rinchan , Hussain Shabber , Hussain Nazir
Published: September 2024

The current study provides a comprehensive coverage of the Sngo lha or Mendok rgyaspa, the ethnic flower festival of Ladakh, India, a remote, high-altitude region known for its unique cultural traditions. In the face of modernization and religious restrictions, this time-tested festival has been abandoned or practiced on a limited scale, necessitating urgent efforts to revive it. Using a qualitative, ethnographic approach, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 festival organizers and 42 prominent villagers, complemented by a review of 76 previously documented resources. The findings reveal how this annual celebration marks a transformative moment when Ladakh's barren landscapes blossom into a vibrant tapestry of colors, offering a unique glimpse into the region's rich traditions and the resilience of its residents. The study underscores the festival's multifaceted benefits, including its contributions to the sustainability of Ladakh's culture, environment, economy, and holistic development. Additionally, the research highlights how reviving this overlooked tradition could provide a significant boost to the region's tourism industry. As one of the few empirical studies documenting this festival, the current work lays the foundation for future research that can further explore the cultural, environmental, and socioeconomic dimensions of this endangered community practice.
Profiling the Post-Graduate Students Utilizing E-resources in J.N.K.V.V., Jabalpur
Authors: Yadav Rakesh , Agrawal Sonam , Bisht Kamini , Naberia Seema , Sharma Chandrika
Published: September 2024

The current study was undertaken in Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur at College of Agriculture, Jabalpur among post-graduate students with 108 students as respondents with the aim to study their profile characteristics. On studying eight independent and one dependent variable, it was found that majority of the respondents were male, from rural background with less than 3 lakh family income per annum, had 7-8 OGPA and had medium awareness about e-resources, medium availability of ICT tools, medium accessibility of e-resources, most of them trainings on e-resources and medium utilization of e-resources. Strengthening the infrastructure for e-resources, providing more training and ensuring easy access to these tools within college libraries will be vital for fostering academic excellence andbridging the digital divide. Investing in these areas will not only support students in their current academic endeavors but will also better prepare them for future challenges in an increasingly digital world.
Effect of Nanoparticle and Essential oil Addition on Kappa Carragenan-based Bionanocomposite Films: A Review
Authors: Agustinawati Wanda , Rochima Emma , Maulina Ine , Rostini Iis
Published: September 2024

The issue of plastic waste has become a global concern due to its negative impact on environmental sustainability. Bionanocompsites are a combination of composite materials made from natural materials with nano-sized organic or inorganic fillers that are biodegradable. Kappa carrageenan-based bionanocomposite films offer an eco-friendly solution for packaging. Kappa carrageenan is one of the natural polymers that can be used as a biofilm constituent material which is recognized to form a good film due to its ability to form a strong and stiff gel, but still has limitations in water vapor permeability and lower mechanical properties. The use of nanoparticles and essential oil into carrageenan-based films can improve the characteristics including mechanical properties, optical properties, barrier properties, and act as antibacterial and antioxidant in the films.
The Potential Use of Pheromone Traps in Managing the Invasive Pest Spodoptera frugiperda
Authors: Londhe Sachin S , Goswami Dhanraj B , Goswami Manish D
Published: September 2024

The Spodoptera frugiperda invasive pest was first reported in Karnataka in the year 2018 and now 2024 it has spread all over India. Commonly known as the fall armyworm, it is a destructive pest that affects a wide range of crops, particularly maize (corn), but also sorghum, rice, cotton, and various vegetable crops. Agricultural insect pest management is heavily reliant on synthetic pesticides, which do not accomplish long-term pest population reductions, particularly in areas with warm climates and extended growing seasons whereas continuous long-term pheromone-based control reduces population levels of targeted pest species. The lure for lepidopterans is generally based on the sex pheromone emitted by females Mating disruption, monitoring, and mass trapping are the major techniques of lepidopteran pest management that use female sex pheromones and they can be utilized alone, as in mating disruption or mass trapping, or in conjunction with pesticides, entomopathogens, and sterilants.  In the experimental design, different densities of pheromone traps were used against Spodoptera frugiperda for monitoring pest populations in the study area.
By using different densities of pheromone traps, it was discovered that at trap densities of 8, 16, 24, 32, and Control, the Spodoptera frugiperda infection in maize crops was 61%, 51%, 30%, 10%, and 91.25%. The 10% infestation result lowest in maize crop with pheromone traps was an effective component of integrated pest management and often used in conjunction with other control methods such as biological control agents, cultural practices, and selective pesticide applications to manage fall armyworm populations sustainably and effectively.
The results showed that the percentage of fall armyworm infestation in maize crops dropped as pheromone trap densities increased. The F-test Two Sample for Variance indicated that there was a significant difference in FAW infestations between the trap densities (F = 13.05, P <0.01446) and F critical one tail 6.3882. This suggests that pheromone traps could be useful for monitoring fall armyworm males in the Maharashtra district of Nashik.
Effect of Different Levels of Phosphorus and Biofertilizers on Yield and Economics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Kumar Akash , Arya Sushila , Handa Preeti
Published: September 2024

An experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2023 at the Crop Research Farm, Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University, Dehradun. The study, designed as a Randomized Block Design (4x3 factorial) with three replications, aimed to evaluate the effects of various levels of phosphorus, PSB, and VAM on wheat development and production. Among the treatments, P3 (60 kg ha⁻¹ phosphorus) yielded the best results in growth parameters such as plant height, dry weight, number of tillers, crop growth rate, and relative growth rate. Additionally, treatment P3 showed significantly higher yield attributes and overall yield compared to other treatments. Among the biofertilizers, O3 (PSB + VAM) exhibited the highest growth attributes, yield attributes, and yield for wheat. Conversely, the lowest growth parameters, including plant height, leaf area index (LAI), biomass accumulation, root length, and yield components, were observed in the treatment combining PSB with phosphorus application at 70 kg ha⁻¹, indicating its relative ineffectiveness in enhancing overall plant growth and development.
The Stability for the Two-dimensional Incompressible MHD System with Mixed Dissipation
Authors: Song Hang
Published: September 2024

The global well-posedness and stability on the two-dimensional (2D) incompressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) system are studied in this paper. More precisely, when the MHD system only has the dissipation of the second component of the magnetic field and mixed dissipation of velocity, this system is stable. Another main goal is to establish the large-time behavior of the solution for the linear system.
Total Offensive Alliances on Some Graphs
Authors: Hablo Maxene S. , Jr. Isagani S. Cabahug
Published: September 2024

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Hilbert Graceful Labeling on Complete Multipartite Graph
Authors: Kumar J. Suresh
Published: September 2024

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Cervical Cancer in Burkina Faso: Current Status, Government Strategies, and the Role of Traditional Medicine in Treatment
Authors: Ouedraogo Estelle , Bayala Bagora , Zohoncon Théodora Mahoukèdè , Ouedraogo Samiratou , Dovo Essi Etonam , Lompo Olga Mélanie , Simpore Jacques
Published: September 2024

In Burkina Faso, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women, and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Both incidence and mortality rates have risen steadily in recent years. Its natural history is linked to persistent infection with an oncogenic human papillomavirus, a necessary but not sufficient factor in its development. However, cervical cancer is said to be preventable, due to its slow evolution. To date, it is the only cancer that can be prevented by vaccination against human papillomaviruses (HPV). Systematic and regular screening enables early detection of precancerous lesions so that they can be treated, thereby preventing the onset of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, access to these preventive measures remains limited for the majority of the population due to cost. The government of Burkina Faso, through its Ministry of Health, has put in place strategies to facilitate access to screening and care. Burkina Faso's researchers and teacher-researchers are also collaborating with traditional health practitioners in the search for better remedies and active substances with no side effects, through the use of medicinal plants. This review aims to take stock of cervical cancer in Burkina Faso: achievements, shortcomings, strategies implemented by the government and the contribution of scientific research to the fight against this scourge.
Land Suitability Evaluation for Improvement of Banana/Plantain Production in Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria
Authors: Dickson Achimota A. , Ogboin Payou T. , Kamalu O.J.
Published: September 2024

With climate change affecting the world, increasing population requires improved soil resource assessment, management and environmentally friendly use of land to support food security. Bayelsa State is known to be one of the topmost producers of banana/plantain but the escalating climate change variability in Nigeria has heightened irregular rainfall patterns, exacerbating land degradation resulting in more severe floods and erosion reducing land available for banana/plantain cultivation. Hence, this land suitability evaluation of some communities land situated on the lower Niger River plain of Bayelsa State through field study approach supported by laboratory analysis. Land suitability classes were determined by matching land characteristics with plant growth requirements. Apart from Elemebiri 3 (ELM3) and Trofani 3 (TFN3) considered not suitable (N2) due to annual flooding, the actual land suitability of the remaining sixteen SMUs were marginally suitable (S3). The inhibiting characteristics affecting land suitability for plantain/banana production included high rainfall, annual flooding, poor drainage, low CEC and low organic carbon. Improvement efforts recommended included dredging of the river systems, elaborate drainage structure, fertilization and application of organic manure/organic fertilizer. Potential suitability classes obtained following improvement efforts included not suitable (N2) for ELM3 and TFN3, and moderately suitable (S2) for Elemebiri1, Elemebiri 2 (ELM2), Odoni 1 (ODN1), Odoni 2 (ODN2), Odoni 3 (ODN3), Trofani 1 (TFN1), Trofani 2 (TFN2), Odi 1 (ODI1), Odi 2 (ODI2), Odi3 (ODI3), Koroama 1 (KRM1), Koroama 2 (KRM2), Koroama 3 (KRM3), Niger Delta University 1 (NDU1), and Niger Delta University 2 (NDU2) as well as marginally suitable for Niger Delta University 3 (NDU3). The flood plain soils of Bayelsa State will have moderately suitable (S2) potential for plaain/banana production provided the relevant improvement efforts are carried out.
Antibiogram Profiles of Bacteria Isolated from Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Patients' Lesions
Authors: Aboukhadeer Bushra E , Doro Basma M , Aqeehal Hanan A , Dakhil Bushra M
Published: September 2024

Background: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease that arises from the presence of an intracellular protozoan parasite. The occurrence of secondary bacterial infections in wounds caused by cutaneous leishmaniasis not only worsens the development of lesions but also hinders the healing process. Additionally, there is limited knowledge regarding the various bacterial species that co-infect leishmaniasis wounds and their susceptibility patterns in Tripoli. This study aimed to ascertain the resistance patterns of bacteria co-infecting cutaneous leishmaniasis wounds in patients seeking treatment at the NCDC Dermatology clinic.
Methods: A study at the NCDC Dermatology Clinic involved 81 patients with confirmed CL. Bacteria were isolated and characterized from wound swabs collected using sterile cotton-tipped applicators. The isolates were cultivated on various agar plates and tested for bacterial identification using tests like oxidase, catalase, and coagulase slide tests and also biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using the agar disc diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute breakpoint values.
Results: The study identified 93 secondary bacteria in Cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions, with Staphylococcus aureus (39.8%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.6%) being the most prevalent. Other pathogenic bacteria included Staphylococcus epidermidis (8.6%), Streptococci pyogenes (1.1%), and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Other pathogenic bacteria included Escherichia coli (7.5%), Enterobacter cloacae (6.5%), Citrobacter braakii (2.2%), Klebsiella pneumonia (2.2%), Pantoa sp. (2.2%), Pasteurella multocida (2.2%), Proteus mirabilis (2.2%), Protus Vulgaris (1.1%), and Serratia plymutica (1.1%). The study found that Ciprofloxacin had the most effective impact on bacterial isolates, followed by Rifampicin and Bactrim.
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that cutaneous leishmaniasis wounds are colonized by a diverse range of bacterial species, which exhibit a high degree of resistance to Augmentin, Amoxicillin, and Fusidic acid antibiotics.
Evaluation of Efficacy of Low Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols (FODMAP) Diet in Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): An Updated Meta-Analysis of RCTs
Authors: Haq Ahtisham UL , Batool Abida , Chitneni Keerthi S. , Dumpala Maheshwar , Ullah Ashraf , Moondra Mudit , Dayo Jamil A. , Masmoum Mohd Diya , Senjaliya Darshakkumar J. , Ullah Imdad
Published: September 2024

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder causing chronic abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits, with inadequate treatments integrating into daily patient care. The low FODMAP (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols) diet has emerged as a dietary intervention to help alleviate IBS-related symptoms. This updated meta-analysis investigates the effectiveness of a low FODMAP diet in reducing gastrointestinal symptoms and improving quality of life among patients with IBS. This systematic review and meta-analysis identified 18 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) that evaluated primary outcomes, including the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms, severity of abdominal pain, and quality of life. The findings reveal that the FODMAP diet provided greater relief of IBS symptoms, including abdominal pain and bloating, with improvements in quality of life compared to other dietary interventions. Specifically, the meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in abdominal pain (mean difference; -6.86; 95% CI: -9.25 to -4.47; P < 0.05) and an improvement in quality of life (mean difference; 6.61; 95% CI: 3.42 to 8.78; P < 0.05). However, concerns exist regarding long-term compliance and nutritional adequacy. These analyses highlight the need for personalized IBS management and suggest that more research is required to determine long-term outcomes and adherence to a low FODMAP diet.
Assessment of Land Use Systems on for Soil Quality in the Semi-A Arid Region, of Bengaluru, India
Authors: Sathish Karan , Devakumar A. S. , Kokila A. , Vairavan C. , D. Thrilekha , K. B. Chethan Kumar , M. Shankar , Jeevan Narayanaswamy , Kannihalli Saleemali , V. Moorthy A. , Kousalya V. , G. S. Shruthi , Saraswat Shweta
Published: September 2024

Understanding the impact of diverse land-use systems (LUS) on soil quality is crucial for sustainable land management practices. This study was conducted in Bengaluru, India, to estimate the soil quality index (SQI) under different LUSs. Twenty-four sampling sites were identified in four different LUSs across the Bangaluru, and soil samples were collected monthly over five months during the Rabi cropping season of 2020-2021. The soil quality assessment involved selecting the minimum data set (MDS) via principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation, scoring soil indicators, and combining these scores to create the soil quality index (SQI). PCA was used to identify key soil properties, which included soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, dehydrogenase, nitrogen (N), and urease, for different LUSs derived from the MDS. The SQI was highest in the horticulture cropping system (0.58), followed by the agro + horticulture cropping system (0.53) and the vegetable cropping system (0.49), and lowest in the pulse cropping system (0.44). These findings emphasize the importance of sustainable land management practices to preserve and boost soil quality across cropping systems.
Women Migration from South Asia: Comparative Perspectives on Policies
Authors: Sahoo Sadananda , Khan Feroz
Published: September 2024

The main objective of this paper is to examines the existing policies on women from one of the largest migrants sending corridors (South Asia) to one of the largest migration destination corridors of world (GCC countries) and provide a comparative picture. Migration needs to be safe and orderly as envisaged in the Global Compact for Migration (GCM). The recent global migration has seen women from various regions, particularly South Asia, making their presence in every sector, from high-skilled professional to low skill domestic helps. Women from South Asia cross borders to look for better opportunities, to take care of their families' economic security back in their native countries and for their personal growth. Indeed, their movements are not free as it appears. Both men and women have to go through a long and important legal authority process to migrate. These legal processes have to be clear from native and host countries, importantly, when it comes to the issue of women's migration, they face a double legal burden compared to their male counterparts. This legal process takes the form of protective policies enacted by the native government. The policies are enacted to protect women from exploitation. Nonetheless, the central question that arises is whether these policies were to protect migrant women, or whether they are creating barriers and restricting or limiting their free movement. The paper uses push and pull theory of Everett S. Lee (1966) where migration occurs in a host of positive, negative and intervening factors. The study is based on secondary data from national and international organisations. There are no coherent migration data available any South Asian countries. However, this paper analysed available data from the various sources directly and indirect available. The policies of many of these South Asian countries still poses barriers for women to migrate. The impact the overall migration experience owing to cultural -social and economic factors needs more proactive policies.
Ready for testing: ensuring conformance to industrial standards through formal verification
Authors: Feo-Arenis Sergio , Westphal Bernd , Dietsch Daniel , Muñiz Marco , Andisha Siyar , Podelski Andreas
Published: March 2016

The design of distributed, safety-critical real-time systems is challenging due to their high complexity, the potentially large number of components, and complicated requirements and environment assumptions that stem from international standards. We present a case study that shows that despite those challenges, the automated formal verification of such systems is not only possible, but practicable even in the context of small to medium-sized enterprises. We considered a wireless fire alarm system, regulated by the EN 54 standard. We performed formal requirements engineering, modeling and verification and uncovered severe design flaws that would have prevented its certification. For an improved design, we provided dependable verification results which in particular ensure that certification tests for a relevant regulation standard will be passed. In general we observe that if system tests are specified by generalized test procedures, then
verifying
that a system will pass any test following those test procedures is a cost-efficient approach to improve the product quality based on formal methods. Based on our experience, we propose an approach useful to integrate the application of formal methods to product development in SME.
Neuropädiatrische Differenzialdiagnostik der Mikrozephalie im Kindesalter
Authors: von der Hagen Maja , Hennermann Julia B. , von Bernuth Horst , John Rainer , Spors Birgit , Kaindl Angela M.
Published: March 2016

Eine Mikrozephalie betrifft 2–3 % der Bevölkerung und geht oftmals mit einer Intelligenzminderung einher. Die zugrunde liegende Reduktion des Gehirnvolumens kann sowohl durch exogene Faktoren als auch durch genetische Ursachen bedingt sein. Problematisch sind sowohl die uneinheitliche Klassifikation als auch die große Heterogenität der hinter dem klinischen Zeichen Mikrozephalie stehenden Erkrankungen. Im vorliegenden Artikel stellen wir unseren Vorschlag für die diagnostische Herangehensweise an ein Kind mit Mikrozephalie aus neuropädiatrischer Sicht vor.
The mediating role of catastrophizing in the relationship between pain intensity and depressed mood in older adults with persistent pain: A longitudinal analysis
Authors: Wood Bradley M. , Nicholas Michael K. , Blyth Fiona , Asghari Ali , Gibson Stephen
Published: March 2016

Background and aims

Depression is common in older adults with persistent pain. Cognitive-behavioural models of pain propose that the relationship between pain and depression is influenced or mediated by interpretations of events (cognitions), rather than by the event itself. Almost exclusively, the evidence for this position has come from studies of people aged less than 65 years. The role of cognitions in the pain experience of older adults has been unclear due to the limited and conflicting evidence available. The aim of our study was to examine the role of catastrophizing in mediating the relationship between pain intensity and depressed mood in older adults with persistent pain using reliable and valid measures for this population.

Methods

In a two-wave longitudinal design, a sample of 141 patients (89 women, 52 men) 65 years and over with persistent pain participating in an evaluation of a pain self-management programme completed questionnaires measuring usual level of pain intensity (NRS), depressed mood (DASS-21) and the catastrophizing factors of magnification and helplessness (PRSS) at the beginning of the programme and 6 months later. Demographic data and pain history were collected by self-completion questionnaires, which were mailed to patients prior to participating in the programme and returned by post.

Results

Change scores for usual level of pain intensity (NRS), depressed mood (DASS-21) and the magnification and helplessness factors on the PRSS-Catastrophizing were calculated by subtracting the scores at 6 months after completion of the study (Time 2) from the scores at the beginning of the study (Time 1). In the longitudinal analyses of mediation, using a series of regression analyses, change scores for both factors (magnification, helplessness) of the measure of catastrophizing (PRSS) totally and significantly mediated the relationship between change scores for pain intensity and depressed mood. The significant relative magnitude of beta between pain intensity and depression reduced from 0.22 to 0.13 and became non-significant after introducing magnification as a mediating variable, whilst the significant relative magnitude of beta reduced from 0.22 to 0.12 and also became non-significant after introducing helplessness as a mediating variable.

Conclusions

These results support a cognitive-behavioural model and highlight the importance of cognitive factors, in this case catastrophizing, in the relationship between pain intensity and depressed mood in older adults with persistent pain.

Implications

These findings also have important clinical implications for the treatment of older adults with persistent pain. They highlight the importance of targeting interventions to reduce the influence of catastrophizing as a prerequisite for reducing depressive symptoms in this growing population.
Survey of Ebola Preparedness in Washington State Emergency Departments
Authors: Wong C. Hayes , Stern Susan , Mitchell Steven H.
Published: March 2016

Objective

The 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa remains the most deadly in history. Emergency departments (EDs) are more likely to come into contact with potential EVD patients. It is important for EDs to be prepared to care for suspected EVD patients. Our objective was to understand the perceived challenges experienced by Washington State ED medical directors in EVD preparedness.

Methods

An anonymous, electronic survey was sent to a convenience sample of ED medical directors across Washington State between November and February of 2014–2015. The perceived challenges of and attitudes toward EVD preparations were assessed and reported as stratified proportions.

Results

Of 85 medical directors contacted, 59 responses (69%) were received. This included EDs with annual patient volumes of <20,000 (20 hospitals, 34%), 20,000 to 40,000 (21 hospitals, 36%), 41,000 to 60,000 (4 hospitals, 6.8%), and >60,000 (12 hospitals, 20%). Among the perceived challenges in EVD preparations were spatial modifications (eg, building an anteroom for donning and doffing of personal protective equipment) and waste management planning. Ninety-five percent of respondents moderately or strongly agreed that it is important to have a predesignated hospital to care for EVD patients.

Conclusions

Washington State ED medical directors have faced significant challenges in ensuring their EDs are prepared to safely care for suspected EVD patients. Attitudes toward EVD preparations are mixed. Varying levels of perceived importance may represent an additional barrier to statewide EVD preparedness. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:662–668)
Re-presenting Genocide: The Canadian Museum of Human Rights and Settler Colonial Power
Authors: Dhamoon Rita Kaur
Published: March 2016

In settler societies like Canada, United States, and Australia, the bourgeoning discourse that frames colonial violence against Indigenous people as genocide has been controversial, specifically because there is much debate about the meaning and applicability of genocide. Through an analysis of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, this paper analyzes what is revealed about settler colonialism in the nexus of difficult knowledge, curatorial decisions, and political debates about the label of genocide. I specifically examine competing definitions of genocide, the primacy of the Holocaust, the regulatory role of the settler state, and the limits of a human rights framework. My argument is that genocide debates related to Indigenous experiences operationalize a range of governing techniques that extend settler colonialism, even as Indigenous peoples confront existing hegemonies. These techniques include: interpretative denial; promoting an Oppression Olympics and a politics of distancing; regulating difference through state-based recognition and interference; and depoliticizing claims that overshadow continuing practices of assimilation, extermination, criminalization, containment, and forced movement of Indigenous peoples. By pinpointing these techniques, this paper seeks to build on Indigenous critiques of colonialism, challenge settler national narratives of peaceful and lawful origins, and foster ways to build more just relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Environmental Inspections and the EU: Securing an Effective Role for a Supranational Union Legal Framework
Authors: Hedemann-Robinson Martin
Published: March 2016

Over several years, the European Union (EU) has gradually developed its legal framework to assist in the proper application of EU environmental protection rules, both at Member State as well as at EU institutional levels. This article focuses on one particular and relatively recent emerging element of that supranational framework, namely the range of EU secondary legislative measures and provisions concerning the management of environmental inspections. In addition to appraising the extent of EU legislative engagement in relation to environmental inspections, this article reflects on certain challenges of a constitutional nature that the EU will need to address in the future if its intervention in this particular policy field is to continue to develop.
The Role of Neuroticism in the Maintenance of Chronic Baseline Stress Perception and Negative Affect
Authors: Abbasi Irum Saeed
Published: March 2016

The influence of neuroticism on stress perception and its associated negative affect is explored in a quasi-experimental repeated measure study. The study involves manipulating the stress perception and affect of high N group (n = 24) and low N group (n = 28) three times; first, through exposure to neutral stimuli; second, through exposure to a laboratory stressor; third, through exposure to positive stimuli. The results reveal that after exposure to neutral stimuli, there is a significant difference in the baseline Perceived Stress Scores (PSS) (p = .005) and Negative Affect (NA) scores (p = .001) of the two groups. During the stress task, however, both groups show a non-significant difference in the PSS (p = .200) and NA scores (p = .367). After exposure to positive stimuli, there is a significant difference in the PSS scores (p = .001), but a non-significant difference in the NA scores (p = .661) of the two groups. When compared across three conditions, the high N group report significantly higher perceived stress (p = .002), but not significantly higher negative affect (p = .123) than the low N group. Finally for both PSS and NA scores, there is no interaction between neuroticism and any of the three treatment conditions (p = .176; p = .338, respectively). This study shows that the high N group may be at risk for health disparities due to maintaining a chronic higher baseline stress perception and negative affect state under neutral conditions, than the low N group. Implications of the study are discussed.
The North Atlantic Ocean's Missing Heat Is Found in Its Depths
Authors: Sullivan Cody
Published: March 2016

In the 2000s, the North Atlantic stopped absorbing as much atmospheric warmth. However, the ocean lost only a little heat—the rest was held deeper below the surface by altered circulation patterns.