bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Joint Modeling of Longitudinal Changes of Respiratory Rate, Pulse Rate and Oxygen Saturation with Time to Convalescence among Pneumonia Patients: A comparison of separate and joint models
Authors: Wube Yenefenta , Azmeraw Sindu
Published: February 2022

Background: Globally, pneumonia is the first infectious disease which is the leading cause of children under age five morbidity and mortality with 98% of deaths in developing countries.Objective: The study aimed to identify the determinant factors that jointly affect the longitudinal measures of pneumonia (respiratory rate, pulse rate and oxygen saturation) and time to convalescence or recovery of under five admitted pneumonia patients at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.Methods:A prospective cohort study design was used on 101 sampled under five admitted pneumonia patients from December 2019 to February 2020. The study was conducted using joint model of longitudinal outcomes and survival outcomes.Results: The significant values of shared parameters in the survival sub model shows that the use of joint modeling of multivariate longitudinal outcomes with the time to event outcome is the best model compared to separate models. The estimated values of the association parameters for \({\gamma }\_1,\) \({\gamma }\_2 \text{a}\text{n}\text{d} {\gamma }\)_3 were -0.297, -0.121 and 0.5452 respectively and indicates that; respiratory rate and pulse rate were negatively related with recovery time, whereas oxygen saturation was positively associated with recovery time. As age of patients increased by one month, the average respiratory rate and pulse rate were significantly decreased by 0.3759 bpm and 1.1012 bpm respectively keeping other variables constant, but age has no information about oxygen saturation.Conclusion: Residence, birth order, severity and visit were found as determinants of the longitudinal measures of pneumonia and time to recovery of under-five admitted pneumonia patients jointly. To improve child survival, the community should be responsible for post ponding child birth and marriage.
Expression Of Serum Cytokines Profile In Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Kuang Mengjiao , Chen Suipeng , Qu Ying , Huang Shirui , Gong Binbin , Lin Suzhen , Wang Huiyan , Wang Guiye , Tao Hongqun , Yu Jian , Yang Zuqin , Jiang Minghua , Xie Qipeng
Published: February 2022

Objectives: Sepsis remains a major cause of neonatal death. In order to better characterize the inflammatory response during neonatal sepsis, we compared the differences in cytokines and chemokines between children with neonatal sepsis and full-term neonates without infection.Methods: We enrolled 40 full-term neonates with sepsis and 26 full-term neonates without infection as controls between October 2016 and June 2018. Forty cytokines /chemokines in serum were analyzed using the Luminex Bead Immunoassay System.Results: Our results showed that serum IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1β, MIF, CXCL13, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL5, CXCL6, CXCL16, CCL27, CCL2, CCL8, CCL3, CCL20, CCL23, CCL27, and CX3CL1 levels were significantly increased in neonates with sepsis compared to those in the control group (all adjusted p<0.1). The levels of serum CCL20, and IL-17 were higher in late-onset sepsis (LOS) than those in early-onset sepsis (EOS) (all adjusted p<0.1). Conversely, serum CXCL16 was lower in LOS than that in EOS (adjusted p<0.05).Conclusions: Our findings revealed that excessive pro-inflammatory cytokines might be involved in neonatal sepsis. In addition, chemokines significantly increased the recruitment of immune cells after infection to participate in the anti-infection defense of neonates, but this could lead to damage.
Classification and Yield Prediction in Smart Agriculture System Using IoT
Authors: Gupta Akanksha , Nahar Priyank
Published: February 2022

The Modern agriculture industry is data-centred, precise and smarter than ever. Advanced development of Internet-of-Things (IoT) based systems redesigned “smart agriculture”. This emergence in innovative farming systems is gradually enhancing the crop yield, reduces irrigation wastages and making it more profitable. Machine learning (ML) methods achieve the requirement of scaling the learning performance of the model. This paper introduces a hybrid ML model with IoT for yield prediction. This work involves three phases : pre-processing, feature selection(FS) and classification. Initially, the dataset is pre-processed and FS is done on the basis of Correlation based FS (CBFS) and the Variance Inflation Factor algorithm (VIF). Finally, a two-tier ML model is proposed for IoT based smart agriculture system. In the first tier, the Adaptive k-Nearest Centroid Neighbour Classifier (aKNCN) model is proposed to estimate the soil quality and classify the soil samples into different classes based on the input soil properties. In the second tier, the crop yield is predicted using the Extreme Learning Machine algorithm (ELM). In the optimized strategy, the weights are updated using modified Butterfly Optimization algorithm (mBOA) to improve the performance accuracy of ELM with minimum error values. PYTHON is the implementation tool for evaluating the proposed system. Soil dataset is utilized for performance evaluation of the proposed prediction model. Various metrics are considered for the performance evaluation such as accuracy, RMSE, R2, MSE, MedAE, MAE, MSLE, MAPE and Explained Variance Score (EVS).
Improving the Performance of HF Radio Networks in Presence of Interference: Frequency Hopping Automatic Link Establishment
Authors: Haghbin Afrooz , Khodaverdizadeh Masoud , Razzazi Farbod
Published: February 2022

Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) is crucial in channel assignment and data exchange in HF radio networks. The time of link establishment and its quality are two main concerns in this criterion establishment. In jamming environments, the quality of the channels is seriously influenced by the jammer signals. Frequency Hopping (FH) approaches supports communication links to overcome the jamming impairments, and the traditional ALE algorithm can be made more stable by using this approach. This paper has developed ALE algorithms to automatically establish links to handle different jamming scenarios and establish robust links to exchange data with the proposed FH-ALE system. Besides, in the proposed algorithm, we have considered the time of link establishment to be almost identical to the current ALE scenario. Hence, in the normal channel condition, the throughput value is approximately identical in proposed and traditional cases. The simulation results represent the superiority of the proposed FH-ALE approach in jamming environments.
Cytokine Biomarker Phenotype for Early Prediction and Triage of Sepsis in Blunt Trauma Patients
Authors: Wang Jun , Wen Dalin , Zeng Shi , Du Juan , Cui Li , Sun Jianhui , Chen Guosheng , Zeng Ling , Du Dingyuan , Zhang Lianyang , Deng Jin , Jiang Jianxin , Zhang Anqiang
Published: February 2022

Background: The study aimed to establish the profiles of cytokines in trauma patients to characterize the nature of the immune responses to sepsis, which might enable early prediction and individualized treatments to be developed and targeted.Methods: A 15-plex human cytokine magnetic bead assay system was used to measure analytes in citrated plasma samples. Analysis of these cytokine kinetics was performed on 40 patients with severe blunt trauma admitted to our trauma center between March 2016 and February 2017 with Injury Severity Score (ISS) more than 20 with regard to sepsis (Sepsis-3) over a 14-day time course.Results: In total, six cytokines changed in trauma patients between the different timepoints at day 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14. Additionally, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15, MDC, GRO, sCD40L, G-CSF, and FGF-2 significantly distinguished between sepsis and nonsepsis at day 3 and afterward with an area under the curve of up to 0.90 when the eight biomarkers (P < 0.001) were combined. Event-related analysis demonstrated 1.5- to 4-fold serum level changes for these cytokines within 72 hours before clinically apparent sepsis. Conclusion: Cytokine profiles demonstrate high discriminatory ability to timely identify evolving traumatic sepsis. These abrupt changes allow sepsis detection up to 72 hours before clinically overt deterioration. Measurement of these cytokines might enable future studies to better predict, diagnose, and characterize traumatic sepsis, as well as confer the potential for physicians to timely initiate treatment with reduced mortality and costs.Trial registration: Clinicaltrials, NCT01713205. Registered 22 October 2012, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/NCT01713205
Data Packet Optimization Incognitive Radio Sensor Network Using Ofdm
Authors: Kandasamy Ravishankar , G Ravi
Published: February 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Increased Numbers of Circulating Th22 and Th17 Cells in Children with Kawasaki Disease
Authors: Liwen Zhang , Zhiying Huang , Mei Xue , Xiaoyu Zhang , Fei Wang , Xuan Zhao , Yu Wan , Liang Ma
Published: February 2022

Background
T-helper (Th) 17 and Th22 cells are critical for the pathogenic process of Kawasaki Disease (KD).
Methods
A total of 43 children with freshly diagnosed KD and 20 healthy controls (HC) were quantified for the numbers of Th17, Th22 and Th1 cells by flow cytometry. The concentrations of serum IL-17, IL-22, IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α were examined by ELISA.
Results
Compared to those in the HC, significantly increased numbers of Th17 and Th22 cells, but not Th1 cells, and higher levels of serum IL-17 and IL-22, but not IFN-γ, were found in KD patients. Stratification analysis indicated the numbers of both Th17 and Th22 cells and the concentrations of serum IL-17 and IL-22 in KD patients with coronary artery lesions (CAL) were significantly greater than that in those with noncoronary artery lesions (NCAL). Treatment with the intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy significantly decreased numbers of Th22 and Th17 cells as well as the serum concentrations of IL-22 and IL-17 in KD patients. The concentrations of serum IL-22 and IL-17 were correlated positively with C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) values as well as N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in those patients respectively.
Conclusions
Our study provided direct evidence that Th22 and Th17 cells might contribute to the pathogenesis of KD.
A Unified Primary Care Approach for the Management of Insomnia and Confusion Using the Clinical Pathway
Authors: Kabeya Megumi , Yuasa Shu , Ina Kenji , Tokoro Chiaki , Kubota Yosuke , Kayukawa Satoshi
Published: February 2022

Background
Delirium -characterized by an acute or subacute decline in cognitive functioning- and confusion are risk factors for falls and its related injuries. Therefore, we designed a unified clinical pathway to reduce the risk of delirium among hospitalized patients.
Methods
A unified approach of pharmacotherapy for managing insomnia and confusion, which is subdivided based on the patients’ age (<70 versus ≧70 years) and presence of diabetes mellitus, was implemented in Nagoya Memorial Hospital, Japan. Risk factors for delirium were assessed via a multidisciplinary approach. For older high-risk patients, suvorexant or trazodone was prophylactically prescribed to promote sleep. If delirium occurred, either quetiapine or perospirone was administered prior to the usage of risperidone or haloperidol. The amounts of prescribed sleep inducers and antipsychotic agents were examined. The application rate of the clinical pathway and incidence of falls were compared before and after its introduction.
Results
The application of a unified approach significantly decreased the prescribed amounts of benzodiazepines and may be associated with the reduced incidence of falls among inpatients.
Conclusions
A clinical pathway assisted the selection of sleep inducers and antipsychotic agents. This is useful for managing elderly patients safely by preventing delirium and subsequent falls.
Pleural and pulmonary dissemination patterns from gastric adenocarcinoma among patients with treated primary disease in Latin-America.
Authors: Restrepo Juliana , Fierro Carlos Andrés Carvajal , Facundo Helena , Gonzalez Felipe , Ramirez Ana María , Beltrán Rafael , Buitrago Ricardo , Jiménez Andrés Felipe , Carreño José , Oliveros Ricardo
Published: February 2022

Background: Latin-America is one of the regions with the highest incidence of gastric cancer. Even though, there are not reports about the patterns of pleural and pulmonary metastases in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma treated with curative intent and the prognosis according to each dissemination pattern.Methods: retrospective cohort study at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Colombia. Results: the study included 450 patients, 51.3% were male and the median age was 63 years. Intestinal adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histological subtype, in 261 cases (58.0%). Gastric cancer initial pathological stage was stage I in 23.3% of the patients, stage II in 19.3% and stage III in 53.6%. During a median follow-up of 31.9 months, 37(8.2%) patients developed lung or pleural abnormalities; among those, 14(3.1%) met the criteria for pleuro-pulmonary metastases: 6(1.3%) had lymphangitic metastasis, 4(0.9%) had a mixed pattern of pleural and lung nodules, 3(0.7%) had pleural metastasis, and only one (0.2%) had hematogenous metastasis. The median overall survival was 114.5 months for the entire cohort and 38.2 (95%CI,19.2–57.2) months for patients with pleuro-pulmonary metastases. Patients with pleural metastasis and lymphangitic carcinomatosis had median survival of 24.3 (95%CI,0.01–51.0) and 26.4 (95%CI,18.2–34.7) months, respectively.Conclusions: incidence of pleuro-pulmonary metastases in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma treated with curative intention was low. In our series, lymphangitic carcinomatosis was the main pattern of dissemination; meanwhile, hematogenous metastasis was rare and patients with pleural carcinomatosis had the lowest median survival. These findings and their prognosis were different compared to those reported in Eastern countries.
Identification of Key Genes and Biological Pathways of Tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T Cell in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Bao Lingling , Sun Kai , Zhang Xuede
Published: February 2022

Background: The immune microenvironment of lung cancer is complex, and T-cell tolerance is a primary mechanism of immune evasion. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) miRNAs regulate immune cells in tumor microenvironment (TME), contributing to tumor immune suppression. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Methods: TEX miRNA expression dataset (GSE111803) and CD8+ T cells mRNA expression profile (GSE90728) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed. The intersection of target genes of DEMs and DEGs was defined as the overlapped target genes. We performed the function and pathway analysis for DEGs and the overlapped genes by the DAVID tool and constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network to screen modules and hub genes. Results: In total, 7 DEMs (5 upregulated and two downregulated miRNAs) and 672 DEGs (219 upregulated and 453 downregulated genes) were identified, then 185 overlapped genes for upregulated DEMs were selected for further analysis. GO analysis indicated the DEGs were mainly enriched in positive regulation of B cell activation, innate immune, while the overlapped genes were primarily involved in regulation of immune response. The pathway analysis suggested DEGs were primarily enriched in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, while the overlapped genes were primarily enriched in osteoclast differentiation. The PPI network revealed three significant modules for DEGs and the overlapped genes sets. These modules genes were mainly enriched in cell cycle, chemokine signaling pathway, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, respectively.Conclusions: These results preliminarily revealed the mRNA expression profiles and the molecular regulatory mechanism of TEX miRNA regulated tumor immune response in LUAD.
Root Absorption and Xylem Movement of Ethephon in Tomato
Authors: Miller William B. , Lu Wanxiang , Tang Dongqin
Published: February 2022

Although ethephon is commonly used as a plant growth regulator during commercial production of horticultural crops, information on its movement within plants is limited. In this study, we developed a method to detect ethephon in plant tissues, and determined ethephon localization and movement using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as a model system. Tissues were ground in an acidic buffer that preserved ethephon intact. Ethylene was released from the extracts by adding sodium hydroxide and was determined subsequently by gas chromatography. Ethephon was detected in leaves within 1 hour of application to peat-based root zones and within 10 minutes in hydroponics. In a pulse–chase experiment, ethephon levels increased initially, then decreased after the plants were returned to ethephon-free solutions. Ethephon was present in directly collected xylem fluid; fluid collected from petiole stumps (after leaf blade excision) had similar ethephon levels between the different petioles. Stem girdling had no effect on ethephon accumulation in leaves. Together, these data indicate ethephon is readily mobile in the xylem stream and provides insight into the commercial use of ethephon as a root zone-applied growth regulator.
Major Tendencies in Special Education Within the Framework of Educational Technology Between 1960-2019
Authors: HAMUTOĞLU Nazire Burçin , İŞBULAN Onur , KIYICI Mübin
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Amazing technological advances in transportation, health, communication and education continue to facilitate our lives from past to present. Considering the developmental and professional characteristics of students with special needs; It is thought that educational technologies have a very important place in enriching the learning and teaching processes in terms of gaining competence.Method: Previous studies on special education and educational technologies indexed in the Education Research Index (ERIC) database between 1960-2019 were reviewed with scientometric methods, and in this context, 22049 studies with "Special Education", "Educational Technology" labels are obtained. This study, carried out by using content analysis, is a descriptive/depictive study in terms of purpose.Findings: One of the most important findings of this study is that the word "handicapped" was used in the abstract parts of articles in 1980s and early 1990s. However, it was later replaced with "disability". Another significant finding of the study is that computers are often used as a technology tool in special education. Accordingly, it can be said that studies from past to present have been focusing on school and there is a consistency in the articles on educational programs. It is thought that the computer software used in obtaining this result has an effect considering the results on trends in real life skills related to children and teachers who also play an important role in the studyDiscussion: Based on the findings, it is recommended to future researchers to renew curriculum programs in this direction and arrange them by making use of technological development to include the target audience which is not only families but also teacher candidates.
Synthesis and SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease Inhibitory Effects of Oxazolidinone Derivatives
Authors: Zhao Shengxian , Wang Chaojie , Lu Yiming , Zhang Xin , Wu Siyu , Mao Hui
Published: February 2022

The 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) is an attractive target for the development of anti- SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) drugs. In this work, a series of oxazolidinone derivatives 3a-3v were synthesized and their inhibitory activities against SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 3CLpro were evaluated by the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based enzymatic assay. Among synthesized compounds, 3g displayed the best inhibitory activity, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 14.47 μM. Also, docking studies implied that compound 3g was fitted into the active pocket of 3CLpro, forming a hydrogen bond with Glu166.
Carnivalization as a Means of Developing Ideas about the Future Profession in Students of Journalism
Authors: Dzvonik Veronika , Tkacheva Ol'ga , Skalon N.
Published: February 2022

The article features various creative activities that can be implemented at university during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors compare the concepts of game, carnival, and initiation and describe how these activities shape the image of professional self in students of journalism. Carnival is a game with a fixed set of roles. The authors define carnivalization as a form of pedagogical initiation or a controlled chaos that preserves the autonomy of the academic process. Its participants develop their professional qualities: from passive objects of education, they become its subjects. The article describes the advantages of pedagogical initiation via carnivalization in teaching junior students of journalism. It introduces some useful technologies that can be applied at a university media center.
Dynamic Transformations of Cognitive Processes in Senior Preschoolers in the Context of Role-Playing Games
Authors: Kozlovskaya Natal'ya , Tolstova Evgeniya
Published: February 2022

The present research featured the development of cognitive processes in senior preschoolers. It focused on the specifics of role-playing games, which provide positive dynamic transformations of cognitive abilities at this age. The article describes various theoretical approaches to game as a cultural phenomenon that facilitates socialization and enriches experience. It also describes the cognitive processes and their development, which depend on the personality of a particular preschooler. A role-playing game is a leading type of preschoolers' activity. They acquire new ideas about the world, learn to compare data about objects, develop useful patterns, and accumulate experience in problem solving. Children's emotional attitude to their own activities and those of their game partners accompany the dynamic transformations of cognitive processes, thus increasing the productivity of various types of activities.
Practical system approaches to realise the human rights to water and sanitation: results and lessons from Uganda and Cambodia
Authors: Kimbugwe C. , Sou S. , Crichton-Smith H. , Goff F.
Published: February 2022

The United Nations General Assembly's 2010 legal recognition of the human rights to water and sanitation shaped approaches of many actors working to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Persistent challenges of poor WASH sustainability, scale and inclusion are increasingly being tackled through system thinking and system strengthening. However, little has been written about how participatory system analysis and monitoring can equip and empower WASH actors to apply system thinking, self-assess and course-correct in their own work to improve sustainable WASH for all. WaterAid's Sustainable WASH Services at Scale (SusWASH) programme applies a system approach, underpinned by human rights principles. In this paper, we share perceptions of local stakeholders, engaged in empowerment evaluation in Cambodia and Uganda, and lessons learned for future initiatives that seek to catalyse WASH system improvements for the realisation of the human rights to water and sanitation. We argue that a system approach, underpinned by human rights principles, can help advance progress towards inclusive and sustainable WASH for all. Working in this way fosters inclusive, locally led decision-making about how system blockages can be overcome, strengthening local ownership of a shared vision for change and the capacities and skills required to achieve it.
A new tool for disinfecting household drinking water for rural residents: protonated mordenite-embedded sheet
Authors: Johan Erni , Fernando Verónica Américo António , Sadia Salma , Mitsunobu Satoshi , Hirai Soichiro , Matsue Naoto
Published: February 2022

Many rural residents in developing countries drink water contaminated with feces due to inadequate purification, causing many diarrheal deaths, most of them infants. We have fabricated a protonated (H+-retaining) mordenite-embedded non-woven fabric sheet (H-MES) as a new tool for disinfecting drinking water at home. Proton retention amount was 1.2 mmol per gram of mordenite, 75% of its cation-exchange capacity. The H-MES released protons through cation exchange with cations in aqueous solutions, lowering the pH of the solutions to below 4. This low pH led to disinfecting 100 mL of 100-fold diluted TSB solutions containing an Escherichia coli species (DH5α). For example, an initial viable count of around 5,000 CFU mL−1 decreased to 14 CFU mL−1 after 24 h shaking at 25 °C with added H-MES containing 0.2 g protonated mordenite; 3.8×107 CFU mL−1 without the H-MES. Adding a nitric acid solution showed a similar effect, but using chemical reagents at home might lead to unexpected accidents. Adding and removing the H-MES to and from household waterpots by hand is easy. Besides the H-MES, similar sheets embedded with bactericides and bacterial adsorbents could be a simple water-disinfection tool for rural residents.
Water quality improvement performance of two urban constructed water quality treatment wetland engineering landscaping in Hangzhou, China
Authors: Li Tianjie , Jin Yang , Huang Yan
Published: February 2022

For typical wastewater treatment processes of urban sewage, plants are often noneffective to improve water qualities of lightly polluted domestic sewage, and urban constructed water quality treatment (WQT) wetlands designed with engineering landscape methods are utilized to optimize both water qualities and landscape values in recent years. The research determines the effects of two typical ecological engineering landscaping projects of urban constructed WQT wetlands by analysing their effects of wastewater quality improvements. Differences of water quality indicators (WQI) respectively among different treatment stages of wetlands includes surface flow wetland, vertical flow wetland, floating wetland islands etc., which have been measured and compared. Evaluation of urban constructed WQT wetlands engineering landscaping has been concluded based on comparisons among hydrological indicators and water quality indicators, i.e. pH, DO, NH3-N, CODCr, TP. Removal effects of individual indicators, includes NH3-N, CODCr and TP during different treatment stages have been quantitatively analysed. In accordance with quantitative analysis, benefits and deficiencies of practical landscape design of urban constructed WQT wetlands are concluded. By adapting proper principles in engineering landscaping, environmental and economic benefits can be achieved to create sustainable landscapes of urban constructed WQT wetlands.
Comparison of two different augmentation techniques
Authors: BALCİ YUCE Hatice , TAŞDEMİR Zekeriya
Published: February 2022

Aim: This study aims to compare Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) performed using autogenous block graft to particulate autograft with xenograft from physicians’ and patients’ perspectives.Methods: 30 systemically healthy individuals participated in this study. GBR using block graft (GBR-BAX) was performed in 15 of the patients and GBR using particulate autograft with xenograft (GBR-PAX) was performed in the other 15 patients. Bone thickness was recorded preoperatively and in the 6th month postoperatively. Bleeding, hematoma, flap dehiscence, infection, and paresthesia were evaluated. Patients were requested to record pain intensity and swelling levels using the visual analog scale (VAS) on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days after surgery. The swelling levels were also recorded by a clinician on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days after surgery. The cost of the surgery, the time spent on preparing the patient for the surgery, the time spent during the surgery, and the fatigue levels of the physician resulting from surgery were also determined.Results: Both GBR-BAX and GBR-PAX provided significant bone gain. Bleeding, hematoma, flap dehiscence, infection, and paresthesia levels found also similar. Both techniques caused similar pain, swelling, and discomfort on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days. VAS results showed no differences in terms of pain and discomfort. GBR-BAX was found more time-consuming in both preparation and surgical period and tiring for the physician but was less costly compared to GBR-PAX. Conclusion: Within the limitation of the present study, GBR with autogenous block graft and particulate autograft plus xenograft provided similar bone gain and caused similar complications, pain, and discomfort. In terms of efficacy, none of the two techniques was found superior to the other; however, block graft was more time-consuming, tiring, and costly.
Favipiravir in the Battle with Respiratory Viruses
Authors: Majewska Anna , Smyk Julia M.
Published: February 2022

Among antiviral drugs, the vast majority targets only one or two related viruses. The conventional model, one virus - one drug, significantly limits therapeutic options. Therefore, in the strategy of controlling viral infections, there is a necessity to develop compounds with pleiotropic effects. Favipiravir (FPV) emerged as a strong candidate to become such a drug. The aim of the study is to present up-to-date information on the role of favipiravir in the treatment of viral respiratory infections. The anti-influenza activity of favipiravir has been confirmed in cell culture experiments, animal models, and clinical trials. Thoroughly different - from the previously registered drugs - mechanism of action suggests that FVP can be used as a countermeasure for the novel or re-emerging influenza virus infections. In recent months, favipiravir has been broadly investigated due to its potential efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19. Based on preclinical and clinical studies and a recently published meta-analysis it seems that favipiravir may be a promising antiviral drug in the treatment of patients with COVID-19. FPV is also effective against other RNA respiratory viruses and may be a candidate for the treatment of serious infections caused by human rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza viruses and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Exogenous Enzymes in Cheese Making: An Overview
Authors: Mandrich Luigi , Caputo Emilia , Meinardi Carlos Alberto
Published: February 2022

The flavour in mature cheese results from a complex series of biochemical events that
occur in the curd during ripening. More than 500 varieties of cheese are produced in the world,
and each of them possesses its typical sensory characteristics. Flavour depends on milk variety,
starter bacteria used in cheese-making and ripening.
Amino acids and free fatty acids (FFA) act mainly as precursors of a series of catabolic reactions,
still not well understood. These reactions lead to the production of aroma compounds such as esters,
fatty acids, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons, lactones, and sulphur.
Enzymes involved in all these processes are derived from milk, Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB),
Non-Starter Lactic Acid Bacteria (NSLAB), rennet, or fungi. In cheese industrial production, the
milk pasteurization process leads to the removal of endogenous bacteria; therefore it is necessary
to add exogenous enzymes to enrich and standardize cheeses flavour.
Here, we reviewed some exogenous enzymes used in industrial cheeses production or which
have interesting potential in cheese making and ripening.
Design, Synthesis, Molecular Docking and In vitro Biological Evaluation of
Benzamide Derivatives as Novel Glucokinase Activators
Authors: Kazi A.A. , Chatpalliwar V.A.
Published: February 2022

Background:

Glucokinase (GK) is a cytoplasmic enzyme that metabolises glucose to glucose-6-phosphate and supports adjusting blood glucose levels within the normal range in humans. In pancreatic β-cells, it plays a leading role in governing the glucose-stimulated secretion of insulin, and in liver hepatocyte cells, it controls the metabolism of carbohydrates. GK acts as a promising drug target for treating patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Objectives:

The present work has been designed to discover some novel substituted benzamide derivatives

Method:

This work involved designing novel benzamide derivatives and their screening by docking studies to determine the binding interactions for the best-fit conformations in the binding site of the GK enzyme. Based on the results of docking studies, the selected molecules were synthesized and tested for in vitro GK enzyme assay. The structures of newly synthesized products were confirmed by IR, NMR, and mass spectroscopy.

Results:

Amongst the designed derivatives, compounds 4c, 4d, 4e, 5h, 5j, 5l, 5m, 5n, 5p, and 5r have shown better binding energy than the native ligand present in the enzyme structure. The synthesized compounds were subjected to in vitro GK enzyme assay. Out of all, compounds 4c, 4d, 5h, 5l, and 5n showed more GK activation than control.

Conclusion::

From the present results, we have concluded that the synthesized derivatives can activate the human GK enzyme effectively, which can be helpful in the treatment of T2DM.
Towards Resilience in Social Sciences-from Psychology to Social Pedagogy
Authors:   Ateneum - University of Gdańsk, Bzymek Agnieszka
Published: February 2022

In the view of recent social sciences, the concept of resilience is associated primarily with positive adaptation regarding people exposed to various adversities and traumatic events for both children and adults. The majority of researchers ultimately agree on the coexistence of several factors affecting the disruption of an individual's functioning, illness or social maladaptation. With reference to social pedagogy, the category of resilience being not only psychological, finds comprehensive application to human and social life, including social problems, social exclusion and threats regarding family, school and education environment, and, finally, assistance in development processes and education of adults and the elderly. The aim of the article is to point out the indicated aspects.
Transformations of Health Factors in Students Aged 18-24 Engaging in Unprotected Sexual Activity
Authors:   The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Kulik Agnieszka , Kajka Natalia ,   The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Dacka Monika
Published: February 2022

The aim of the research was to identify the determinants of students' engagement in risky sexual activity. The analyses took into account the health locus of control, health activities and attitude to God. The research allowed to select three types of approaches to sexual activity: people engaging in risky sexual activity, people engaging in safe sexual activity, and people not undertaking sexual activity. The article will present the results of analyses conducted among 32 respondents aged 18 to 23 undertaking risky sexual activity, who account for 11% of total research respondents. Young adults falling into this category are characterised by a tendency to over-idealise themselves and their actions. They tend to engage in risky activities and avoid health-promoting activities.
Woman and Pleasure. The Attitude of Polish Female Students to Pleasure, Based on Empirical Studies from 2020
Authors:   University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski in Warsaw, Uklańska Katarzyna
Published: February 2022

Pleasure is an important component of the contemporary culture of consumption. The pursuit of it is encouraged by, inter alia, media, shopping malls, but also other types of institutions. This incentive is conveyed through, inter alia, advertising. Symptoms of this culture can also be observed at universities. Today's students are only familiar with this reality and have no experience of the “culture of scarcity”. Therefore, it is worth asking if young women desire pleasure, whether it is important to them, and what is its place among other aspirations. The aim of the article is to analyze the hierarchy of values of young women and the position of pleasure in it. This will be achieved through referring to their choices of important values in life - those which constitute the meaning of their lives, and the priority of moral values or pleasure as essential criteria for selection. Among the surveyed women, “the hedonists” will also be indicated - namely women who indicated pleasure as their supreme value - and their axiological choices will be analyzed. The analysis is based on the results of the study “Academic youth on family and religion 2020” conducted among academic youth in 2020 by the Research Laboratory of the Polish Measurement of Attitudes and Values (PPPiW), in which the author of the article also participated.
Determining the Band Alignment at the BiVO4|NiOOH Interface Using the Hybrid DFT Technique
Authors:   Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica, CSIC, Marie Curie 2, 20049 Madrid, Spain, Conesa José C.
Published: February 2022

It is important to understand the band offsets between semiconductors, which are crucial to determine the direction of electron transfer at the interfaces. Two methods are normally used to determine the direction from the first principles: alternating slabs put in contact (without empty spaces between them) and separate calculations for each material surface in the presence of vacuum spaces. The first method may introduce distortions due to insufficient epitaxial match, which may lead to bandgap changes, and the second may neglect electron transfer at the interface, which may be important in systems exhibiting very different average electronegativities. This can also imply a spill of electronic density into the vacuum spaces, which will not be present at real interfaces. Herein, both approaches were used to study the BiVO4/NiOOH interface, and the results were compared; the results are here relevant for photoelectrochemistry. The method is based on hybrid Density Functional Theory methods which give for the bulk phases Bandgap values that agree with the experimental ones (in one case, a value reflecting the theoretical value). The distances between the (hybrid DFT-derived) band positions and the corresponding profiles of the Hartree electrostatic potential were transferred to the interfaces. This helps determining the appropriate positions of the valence and conduction bands (as has been suggested by C. G. Van de Walle & R. M. Martin, Phys. Rev. B 1987, 35, 8154). It is ensured that the interfaces are nonpolar (Tasker’s criterion: P.W. Tasker, J. Phys. C: Solid State Phys. 1979, 12, 4977).
Smart Speakers: The Next Frontier in mHealth
Authors: Sunshine Jacob
Published: February 2022

The rapid dissemination and adoption of smart speakers has enabled substantial opportunities to improve human health. Just as the introduction of the mobile phone led to considerable health innovation, smart speaker computing systems carry several unique advantages that have the potential to catalyze new fields of health research, particularly in out-of-hospital environments. The recent rise and ubiquity of these smart computing systems holds significant potential for enhancing chronic disease management, enabling passive identification of unwitnessed medical emergencies, detecting subtle changes in human behavior and cognition, limiting isolation, and potentially allowing widespread, passive, remote monitoring of respiratory diseases that impact public health. There are 3 broad mechanisms for how a smart speaker can interact with a person to improve health. These include (1) as an intelligent conversational agent, (2) as a passive identifier of medically relevant diagnostic sounds, and (3) by active sensing using the device's internal hardware to measure physiologic parameters, such as with active sonar, radar, or computer vision. Each of these different modalities has specific clinical use cases, all of which need to be balanced against potential privacy concerns, equity concerns related to system access, and regulatory frameworks which have not yet been developed for this unique type of passive data collection.
A Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (CIA) Framework for Health Literacy Education (HLE) in Medical and Health Professions Schools
Authors: Ubbes Valerie A. , Njoku Benedict
Published: February 2022

There is increasing need to implement Health Literacy Education (HLE) as essential curriculum content in medical and health professions schools, supported by skill-based instructional strategies and authentic assessments. This paper reviews two decades of historical progress in health literacy and advances a new conceptual model to organize Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (CIA) themes for Health Literacy Education (HLE). Three themes are integrated into the Health Literacy Education (HLE) curriculum: 1) interprofessional communication in HLE, 2) cultural and linguistic competencies in HLE, and 3) a language typology that informs HLE. Two pedagogical themes are integrated into HLE instruction: 1) skill-based instructional strategies to improve oral communication (n = 7), and skill-based instructional strategies to improve written communication (n = 3). Skill-based instructional strategies to improve oral communication of medical and health professions students includes use of plain language, use of Teach Back or Show Me, encourage patients to ask questions, use medical interpreters and translators, be an active listener, respond with empathy when breaking bad news to patients, and use Chunks and Checks method. Skill-based instructional strategies to improve written communication of medical and health professions students includes write in plain language, evaluate written materials, and use pictures or visual aids to aid patient understanding. Two themes are integrated into HLE assessments: 1) formative assessment, and 2) summative assessment. The paper promotes the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Framework for Health Literacy Education (CIA-HLE) for use by faculty in medical and health professions schools to ensure their students are well prepared to use oral and written communication with their patients as guided by selected research studies and initiatives. To further advance interprofessional collaboration and dialogue across the medical and health professions, a language typology and a knowledge typology are provided as building blocks to health literacy education.
Antibiotic Profile of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Tertiary Hospital in Chennai, India
Authors: Bindu D. , Saikumar Chitralekha
Published: February 2022

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an adaptable bacteria causing an extensive spectrum of infections and intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics. As antimicrobial resistance has increased due to many resistance mechanisms. This study was done to evaluate the antibiogram of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a tertiary care centre. Thirty seven isolates were recovered from various specimens for a period of 6 months from June to December 2020 and the disc diffusion method was used for antibiotic susceptibility testing as per CLSI guidelines. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be high (45.9%) in pus/wound than other samples. Antibiotic resistance rate of the isolates were 29.7% to ceftazidime, 16.2% to Piperacillin-tazobactam, 27 % to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin, 16.2% to tobramycin and imipenem, 24.3% to meropenem, 27% to ciprofloxacin, 13.5% to aztreonam, 21.6% to amikacin, 24.3% to cefepime and levofloxacin, 21.6 to tigecycline. All strains were sensitive to colistin. 27% of the organism were found to be multidrug resistance. Hence periodic susceptibility testing can curb the resurgence of these bacterial pathogens.
The Current Epidemiology of Rotavirus Infection in Children Less than 5 Years of Age after Introduction of RV Vaccine in India
Authors: Kumar Ankur , Pandey Anita , Singh Amresh Kumar , Dubey Archana , Singh Asmita , Gaur Vivek
Published: February 2022

Rotavirus is a major cause of severe acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children worldwide. It is responsible for 40% of childhood hospitalization. It has been estimated that about 23% of diarrhoeal death occurs due to the rotavirus infection in India. To study the epidemiology of rotavirus infection in children less than 5 years of age at a tertiary care teaching hospital. A total of 240 stool samples were collected from children <5 years of age suffering from acute diarrhea at a tertiary health care referral hospital in Western Uttar Pradesh, India. Rotavirus antigen was detected in stool by Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) which utilizes monoclonal antibodies directed against VP6 antigen. Molecular genotyping was done by nested multiplex PCR. The rotavirus antigen positivity rate was found to be 14.58% in this study. There was male preponderance and the male: female ratio was 1.5:1. Rotavirus diarrhoea was reported predominantly (42.85 %) in the age group of 13 to 24 months. The most common circulating G/P genotype strain was G9P[4] accounting for 36% of cases. Rotavirus remains a major cause of diarrhoea in children <5 years of age in Uttar Pradesh. However, the positivity rate has decreased after introduction of rotavirus vaccine into the Universal immunization program (UIP) in UP.
Light and Ultrastructural Studies on Corpus luteum of bat Taphozous kachhensis (Dobson)
Authors: Chavhan Pankaj R.
Published: February 2022

Abstract: The ultrastructure of Corpus luteum and the different cell types in the functional corpus luteum of the bat were studied using the electron microscope. Two types of luteal cell, a large and small, were present in the corpus luteum of this species of bat. The large more rounded luteal cell possessed numerous cell organelles such as mitochondria and electron dense membranebound granules, agranular endoplasmic reticulum and granular endoplasmic reticulum which at times appeared as stacks of cisternae. With this lipid droplets were present in the luteal cell cytoplasma while whorled agranular endoplasmic reticulum was absent. Small luteal cell present amongs the large luteal cells with tapering cytoplasmic processes. These cells differed from the large luteal cells in that they possessed fewer mitochondria and electron dense membrane- bound granules. Occasional nuclei of the small luteal cells contained cytoplasmic inclusion bodies
Enhancing the Surface Finish of Product Coming From High Precision CNC- Milling Center by Varaying the Machtine Parameters Through Taguchi Approach
Authors: Vangani Niraj , Motwani Komal
Published: February 2022

Abstract: The manufacturing process for products with high degree of precision is very critical and hence increasing the surface quality, wherever possible has been the prime motive, so many leading companies are working with high precision CNC-VMC series for operations such as Drilling, Tapping, Turning, Milling, etc. Surface roughness is the most important indicator of surface quality in machined items. So as to achieve that changing machine parameters as per product size and environment is necessary. In this research, the parameters which are taken into account are : spindle speed, feed rate, and depth of cut. Taguchi Design is utilized in this study to find the best combination of parameters to reach out to the maximum surface finish criteria. For various combinations of three parameters: spindle speed, feed rate, and depth of cut, experiments are carried out using the Taguchi orthogonal array. The surface roughness Ra is analyzed for each experiment run using Taguchi. Keywords: Taguchi Method, Spindle Speed, Feed rate, Surface finish, Surface roughness, Depth of cut.