bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personalisation of Therapies in COVID-19 Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Using Electrical Impedance Tomography
Authors: Shono Atsuko , Kotani Toru , Frerichs Inéz
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Each patient suffering from severe coronavirus COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring mechanical ventilation, shows different lung mechanics and disease evolution. Therefore, lung protective strategies should be personalised for the individual patient.

Case presentation

A 64-year-old male patient was intubated ten days after the symptoms of COVID-19 infection presented. He was placed in the prone position for sixteen hours, resulting in a marked improvement in oxygenation. However, after being returned to the supine position, his SpO2 rapidly dropped from 98% to 91%, and electrical impedance tomography showed less ventilation at the dorsal region and a ventral shift of ventilation distribution. An incremental and decremental PEEP trial under electrical impedance tomography monitoring was carried out, confirming that the dependent lung regions were recruited with increased pressures and homogenous ventilation distribution could be provided with 14 cmH2O of PEEP. The optimal settings were reassessed next day after returning from the second session of the prone position. After four prone position-sessions in five days, oxygenation was stabilised and eventually the patient was discharged.

Conclusions

Patients with COVID-19 associated ARDS require individualised ventilation support depending on the stage of their disease. Daily PEEP trial monitored by electrical impedance tomography can provide important information to tailor the respiratory therapies.
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Anomalous Coronary Origin – Underlying Cause of Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Young Woman: A Case Report
Authors: Lazar Roxana-Daiana , Rus Abigaela , Tolescu Cosmin , Gerculy Renata , Opincariu Diana , Benedek Imre
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) represents a very rare and poorly understood condition that is gaining recognition as an important cause of myocardial infarction, especially among young women. The pathogenesis of SCAD is not well established yet, but several theories have been proposed.

Case presentation: We report the case of a 25-year-old woman without any history of cardiovascular disease who presented with acute anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to the luminal obstruction generated by an intramural hematoma from a SCAD of the left main coronary artery, which was successfully treated by coronary artery stenting. Additionally, the patient presented anomalies of coronary origins (ACO) with separate emergences of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery from the left coronary cusp and the left circumflex artery (LCX) from the right coronary cusp, with no apparent clinical significance.

Conclusion: SCAD should always be included in the differential diagnosis of young patients presenting with STEMI. In case of prompt diagnosis, SCAD-STEMI patients are successfully treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Moreover, it is of vital importance to identify variants of ACO, even without clinical relevance at the moment of the acute event, in order to initiate an appropriate management, since ACO increases the risk of routine PCI.
The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in the Progression and Vulnerabilization of Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaques
Authors: Opincariu Diana , Rat Nora , Benedek Imre
Published: April 2021

Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Changes in the ECM are involved in the pathophysiology of many cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent proteases, also known as matrixins, with proteolytic activity in the ECM, being responsible for the process of tissue remodeling in various systemic pathologies, including cardiac and vascular diseases. MMPs play an important role in maintaining normal vascular structure, but also in secondary cardiovascular remodeling, in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and in their vulnerabilization process. In addition to the assigned effect of MMPs in vulnerable plaques, they have a well-defined role in post-infarction ventricular remodeling and in various types of cardiomyopathies, followed by onset of congestive heart failure, with repeated hospitalizations and death. The aim of this manuscript was to provide a summary on the role of serum matrix metalloproteinases in the process of initiation, progression and complication of atherosclerotic lesions, from a molecular level to clinical applicability and risk prediction in patients with vulnerable coronary plaques.
Government Data Openness and Coverage. How do They Affect Trust in European Countries?
Authors: Gonzálvez-Gallego Nicolás , Nieto-Torrejón Laura
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to assess if the extent of openness and the coverage of data sets released by European governments have a significant impact on citizen trust in public institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for openness and coverage have been collected from the Open Data Inventory 2018 (ODIN), by Open Data Watch; institutional trust is built up as a formative construct based on the European Social Survey (ESS), Round 9. The relations between the open government data features and trust have been tested on the basis of structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

The paper reveals that as European governments improve data openness, disaggregation, and time coverage, people tend to trust them more. However, the size of the effect is still small and, comparatively, data coverage effect on citizens’ confidence is more than twice than the impact of openness.

Research limitations

This paper analyzes the causal effect of Open Government Data (OGD) features captured in a certain moment of time. In upcoming years, as OGD is implemented and a more consistent effect on people is expected, time series analysis will provide with a deeper insight.

Practical implications

Public officers should continue working in the development of a technological framework that contributes to make OGD truly open. They should improve the added value of the increasing amount of open data currently available in order to boost internal and external innovations valuable both for public agencies and citizens.

Originality/value

In a field of knowledge with little quantitative empirical evidence, this paper provides updated support for the positive effect of OGD strategies and it also points out areas of improvement in terms of the value that citizens can get from OGD coverage and openness.
Why Open Government Data? The Case of a Swedish Municipality
Authors: Golub Koraljka , Lund Arwid
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this exploratory study is to provide modern local governments with potential use cases for their open data, in order to help inform related future policies and decision-making. The concrete context was that of the Växjö municipality located in southeastern Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology was two-fold: 1) a survey of potential end users (n=151) from a local university; and, 2) analysis of survey results using a theoretical model regarding local strategies for implementing open government data.

Findings

Most datasets predicted to be useful were on: sustainability and environment; preschool and school; municipality and politics. The use context given is primarily research and development, informing policies and decision making; but also education, informing personal choices, informing citizens and creating services based on open data. Not the least, the need for educating target user groups on data literacy emerged. A tentative pattern comprising a technical perspective on open data and a social perspective on open government was identified.

Research limitations

In line with available funding, the nature of the study was exploratory and implemented as an anonymous web-based survey of employees and students at the local university. Further research involving (qualitative) surveys with all stakeholders would allow for creating a more complete picture of the matter.

Practical implications

The study determines potential use cases and use contexts for open government data, in order to help inform related future policies and decision-making.

Originality/value

Modern local governments, and especially in Sweden, are faced with a challenge of how to make their data open, how to learn about which types of data will be most relevant for their end users and what will be different societal purposes. The paper contributes to knowledge that modern local governments can resort to when it comes to attitudes of local citizens to open government data in the context of an open government data perspective.
Effect of Storage Temperature and Postharvest Tuber Treatment with Chemical and Biorational Inhibitors on Suppression of Sprouts During Potato Storage
Authors: Murigi Winnie Wanjiku , Nyankanga Richard Ombui , Shibairo Solomon Igosangwa
Published: April 2021

Consumption of ware potatoes in the tropics may be enhanced by storage under conditions that inhibit sprouting, most important of which is the temperature. The effects of storage temperatures (10 °C and 23 °C) and two alternatives to the chlorpropham (CIPC): 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (DMN) and peppermint oil (PMO), a biorational inhibitor, were evaluated for tuber sprout suppression at postharvest. Tubers of three cultivars – ‘Asante’, ‘Kenya Mpya’, and ‘Shangi’ – with different dormancy lengths were assessed. Storage temperatures and suppressant effects on tuber sprouting, sprout length and sprout numbers per tuber were investigated in replicated storage experiments. Significant differences in sprout inhibition were observed between the two temperatures with suppressive effects higher at 10 °C than in 23 °C. CIPC had the greatest suppressive effect on tuber sprout inhibition at both temperatures. After 24 weeks of storage, the suppressive effects of CIPC at 10 °C was 100% on the three cultivars, whereas all the nontreated tubers sprouted after six (‘Shangi’), twelve (‘Asante’), fourteen (‘Kenya Mpya’) weeks of storage. At 23 °C, the effectiveness of CIPC followed the dormancy period of the cultivars, with ‘Shangi’ recording significantly more sprouted tubers followed by ‘Asante’ and ‘Kenya Mpya’. The inhibition of sprouting by DMN and PMO varied with storage temperatures and cultivars, but were significantly greater than the nontreated tubers. At 10 °C, the effectiveness of DMN treatment was equal to that of CIPC for ‘Kenya Mpya’ resulting in 100% inhibition. In the PMO treatments, complete inhibition of sprouting was observed for 18 weeks on cultivars ‘Asante’, ‘Kenya Mpya’ and 14 weeks on ‘Shangi’. At 23 °C, PMO suppressed sprouts for 14 weeks on ‘Asante’ and ‘Kenya Mpya’ and on ‘Shangi’ for 8 weeks. Storage temperature effects on sprout length and numbers varied with inhibitor type and cultivar. These findings showed that in potato tuber storage, inhibitors can replace low temperature but to an extent depending on the cultivar dormancy character and storage length, thus enabling greater consumption of potatoes in tropical regions.
Aus der Not geboren oder sinnvolle Substitution? Chancen und Grenzen des Einsatzes von „Pflegerobotern“ in der stationären Altenpflege aus ethischer Sicht
Authors: Giesbers Markus
Published: April 2021

This article deals with a differentiated examination of robotics and its evaluation in inpatient geriatric care. It examines the extent to which nursing robots fit into person-centered nursing work and possibly change it significantly. The advantages and new possibilities are shown, but also the dangers and problems from the point of view of different area ethics are pointed out. In the centre of the considerations are residents and employees as a benchmark for the ethical evaluation of robots in geriatric care.
Emergence and advancement of basic human capacities
Authors: Ilyin Mikhail
Published: April 2021

The article departs from the Teilhardean opposition of the inside (le dedans) and the outside (le dehors), notions of reflection and self-enclosure (enroulement sur lui-même), and an experimental law of recurrence (une loi expérimentale de recurrence). The author supplements them with his own apparatus of simplex-complex transformations as an epistemic principle and a set of related practices. The article starts with quantum emergence, forging its inside and outside by an interface and an alternative way to represent it as Diracean membrane, branes of the string theory, and the eigenform. The interface instrumentality for operating the inside and outside of the quantum allows their structured totality to enact agency potential. Simplex-complex transformations allow to represent an evolutionary series of agency transformations as modules of a single model up to a developed human self. The article discusses the recurrence, enclosure, and other trickeries of emergence as well as their representation with the help of cognitive metaphors likme Ouroboros or mathematical formalisms like the Moebius strip. It proceeds to chemical catalysis and autocatalysis, further to emergence of autopoiesis, and finally to biogenesis. Forms of life internalize environmental productive factor (Umwelt) by duplication, recursion, enclosing, folding, etc. to evolve a series of codes, making up integral genetic agency and genome as its key vehicle. The article considers organismic symbiosis and respective autocatalytic recursions, addresses the emergence of signal systems and cognition, which is parallel to and duplicating neural processes. It discusses primary cognitive abilities and their further autocatalytic transformations into a range of more advanced capabilities, along with the emergence of higher levelhigher-level signal systems. Finally, it ends up by discussing anthropogenesis and stepwise emergence and advancement of human language and thought in a series of internalizations of communicative contexts (frames, typical communicative settings, mementoes and typical remembrances, etc.) into codes of the first, second, and further orders.
Knowledge, complexity, power: social semiotics as metadiscipline
Authors: Hodge Bob
Published: April 2021

This article contributes to this special journal issue by developing concepts and methods from social semiotics to analyse, interpret and comment on text and ideas from the issue plus an RFS-project on interdisciplinarity, knowledge transfer and methodology convergence within and across STEM and HASS disciplines. It follows and extends this project’s focus on three disciplines, politics, biology and linguistics, and connects them with emerging features of contemporary knowledge production, especially complex, problematic relations between scientific and non-scientific knowledges, and new forms of operations of power on knowledge.

The article develops a modified Kuhnian framework to argue that this project can be understood as a significant intervention into a currently unfolding crisis and opportunity in knowledge. It diagnoses crises of knowledge that stem from inadequacies in traditional disciplinary organisations when confronted by challenges and “wicked problems” arising from the scale and complexity of a hyper-connected world. It sees new opportunities arising from new forms of disciplinary organization, constituted by metadisciplinary structures and functions, within a Kuhnian framework of paradigms and metaparadigms. It uses social semiotics as tool and case study, to show how disciplines can evolve into metadisciplines, and demonstrate the productivity of metadisciplines within meta- paradigm processes.
A systematic review of research on reading in English on screen and on paper
Authors: Çetin Kenan , Kılıçkaya Ferit
Published: April 2021

The introduction and wide use of devices, especially mobile ones, has changed the way learners read and do research for a variety of reasons, and this trend has attracted a number of studies conducted regarding reading on screen and on paper in addition to those dealing with the students’ behavior in using online resources to print ones. This paper aims at identifying the major findings and trends in reading research by describing the current state of knowledge and practice in the studies comparing reading on screen and on paper and to provide guidance for practitioners by analyzing and summarizing the existing research. The current review adopted a systematic review as the research methodology as well as the article selection and screening process. The articles published between 2009 and 2017 were reviewed, and 37 articles were included in the analysis. The review revealed that the research on onscreen and paper-based reading focused on comparing the learners’ performances in reading activities in both contexts and sharing preliminary findings and students’ views. However, the findings are inconclusive as mixed findings were produced as to the effects of reading on screen and on paper. Moreover, the review also indicates that practitioners are also interested in examining the factors and affordances in reading on screen. As a result, there is still further research needed to establish the factors affecting reading and comprehension while reading on screen and on paper.
Experiential Marketing: Effects on Brand, Customer and Market Experience, and Industrial Applications with Perspectives from Nigeria
Authors: Fatoki Oluwaseyi Philip , Fatoki Toluwase Hezekiah
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study is to provide comprehensive review of experiential marketing with focus on its effects and industrial applications. We report that experiential marketing has effect on brand, consumers and the market. Experiential marketing provides a lively brand experience that give consumers the chance to engage with the brand. It promotes brand experience effects more in the Generation Y than in Generation X. Experiential marketing focuses on customer experiences. The future would be about customer relationship management (CRM), due to the fact that CRM strategy helps the company to know more about the customers. Markets are changing faster than marketing. Experiential marketing has beneficial impact on the marketing mix. Experiential marketing finds application in different businesses or industries such as hospitality and tourism, retail, health care, airline, automotive, real estate, banking, FMCG and others, in emerging markets, because it motivates customers to make faster and more positive purchasing decisions. In Nigeria, experiential marketing has become so vital to brands to cut through the media clutter.
Improvisation som ett didaktiskt och konstnärligt verktyg i jazzdans
Authors: Lundmark Katarina
Published: April 2021

In my work as a Senior Lecturer in jazz dance and a dance teacher I have been able to explore the possibilities and difficulties I see in the teaching of jazz dance. This article focuses on a currently ongoing pedagogical and artistic project I am involved in. The goal of the project is to create teaching methods that are contemporary, flexible and individually adjustable, and have a clear starting point in the characteristics of the genre. My wish has been to articulate and clarify the artistic potentials of jazz dance. This article describes my work with improvisation in jazz dance: the purpose and the process with course of actions and use of the dance form.
Pedagogical conceptions of Finnish teachers of transnational dances. Cases: African dance, Oriental dance and Flamenco
Authors: Siljamäki Mariana , Anttila Eeva , Sääkslahti Arja
Published: April 2021

Today, multiculturalism is increasing in the Nordic societies. It is also evidently reflected in the arts, including dance. Simultaneously, understanding different dance cultures is becoming more important in the field of dance pedagogy. This article discusses the pedagogical conceptions of Finnish teachers of transnational dances and their experiences in teaching African dance, Oriental dance and flamenco. Through a process of a phenomenographic data analysis, the authors have identified three different ways to understand the nature of transnational dances: 1) Dance is art, 2) Dance is culture open to all people and simultaneously art and physical education, and 3) Dance is a part of well-being. These different views seem to be reflected in the teachers’ pedagogical conceptions that are the main focus of the data analysis. The article includes descriptions of the different pedagogical ways of thinking of the teachers. The present findings can be used to increase the awareness of teachers who focus on teaching the dances of different cultures. They are also relevant for the future development of physical education and dance teacher programs, where cultural consciousness is considered relevant.
Becoming Gypsy: Tell Me What the Body Knows in Flamenco Dance
Authors: Oatley Diane
Published: April 2021

In The Meaning of the Body, philosopher Mark Johnson makes a case for the significance of movement in terms of the body processes he holds as essential to the generation of meaning and knowledge acquisition in physical interaction with the world–equally essential as language and cognition. The article employs this theory in interpreting the experiences of women learning flamenco dance in Spain. The investigation of the perceptions of women studying flamenco dance, a dance tradition often defined as “gypsy,” indicates that exposure to flamenco dance and culture leads to revision of stereotypes regarding embodiment and difference, but respondents did not relate this revision to bodily engagement, or physical processes particular to dancing flamenco. Although Johnson’s failure to properly account for the role of the unconscious proved to be a serious shortcoming in the theory, and one which had implications for the findings, application of the theory disclosed the parameters of a discourse on the body in flamenco. The theory thus represents a radical gesture in redefining embodiment in its own right in a manner that precludes dualism with the consequent opening of a range of alternative perspectives on the articulation of embodied knowledge.
Superficial, shallow and reactive
Authors: Ólafsson Jón Gunnar
Published: April 2021

This article illustrates how the crisis of the news media is impacting political coverage in Iceland. Perceptions of routine political coverage in the Icelandic media have not been studied before, and this article fills this research gap and situates the Icelandic case within the wider news media crisis literature. My exploration is guided by two research questions. The first focuses on how journalists and politicians in Iceland perceive political coverage in the Icelandic media and how the coverage is seen to affect their working practices. The second question concerns how the public in Iceland perceives political news content. Findings show that, according to journalists and politicians, the mix of mainly commercial funding models and the smallness of the media market results in even more superficial and problematic coverage than in larger states. Survey answers illustrate that the public mostly agrees with interviewee perceptions concerning how the Icelandic media covers politics.
Over-the-top and under the radarAn analysis of Internet distribution and its structural consequences in Denmark
Authors: Flensburg Sofie
Published: April 2021

The article traces the evolution of over-the-top (OTT) services in order to analyse how the growing use of Internet distribution influences the structural conditions and institutional arrangements in Denmark. This story is told in four parts: first, I outline how the shift from postal services to e-mail restructured the conditions for asynchronous one-to-one communication; second, I examine the introduction of web-based services and the declining role of the press as gatekeeper for asynchronous one-to-many communication; third, I focus on the impact of mobile broadband and smartphones on synchronous one-to-one communication and the telecommunications sector; and fourth, I analyse the emergence of streaming technologies and the reorganisation of synchronous one-to-many communication and broadcasting. Building on these examples, I argue that key welfare state principles have come under pressure and that research tends to underestimate the fundamental transformations of the institutional order.
The Possibility of Introducing Bioethical Education to High Schools and Faculties in North Macedonia
Authors: Donev Dejan , Stojanov Trajche
Published: April 2021

Bioethics is a very important and complex contemporary field of thinking and activity. Knocking strong on our doors, various problems of health, environmental pollution, violence, conflicts, human indolence, criminal deeds, as well as bad behaviors of all different kinds, come to the core of humankind. All these problems require a serious and rapid human action. That is why it is very important to introduce bioethical education to all people. This paper is dealing with the issue of implementing ethical and bioethical education in the North Macedonian school system. It offers a brief review of the activities in this field so far, and it attempts to contextualize some theoretical approaches for ethical and bioethical education. The main thesis is that at the basic level ethical and bioethical education should be organized as moral education, but at the level of secondary school and faculty teaching the approach should be through critical thinking as the most appropriate for that age.
Russian Influence in the Czech Republic as a Grey Zone Case Study
Authors: Baqués-Quesada Josep , Colom-Piella Guillem
Published: April 2021

In recent years, the concept of grey zone has been popularised to analyse the activities a State can use to influence the decisions and to limit the strategic choices of another State below the threshold of war. This article presents a case study, aimed at verifying if the Russian activities in the Czech Republic may constitute a grey zone. The paper commences by introducing the concept of the grey zone and developing the appropriate theoretical framework to identify its main characteristics. It continues by examining the Russian influence in the Czech Republic by using open sources, local sources and documents from the Czech intelligence services. It concludes by asserting that the analysed case meets most of the requirements to classify it as a ‘limited grey zone’. This new theoretical development may help to assess similar situations that may occur in this or other nations.
Sustainable development through morphogenetic analysis: The case of Slovenia
Authors: Golob Tea , Makarovič Matej
Published: April 2021

This article addresses Slovenia as a case of a post -communist country in terms of its sustainable development. It deploys an in -depth historical analysis and extensive empirical data while exploring Slovenian society through the analytical lens of morpho-static/morphogenetic approach (Archer 2017). The focus is on (1) the country’s structural and cultural settings in each selected period in order to explore whether there has been a mutual reinforcement of the levels of both, contributing to the sustainable development; (2) ways in which agents respond to such changes reinforcing or changing the structural settings. The selection of quantitative structural indicators of sustainable development is based on the indicators of sustainable development that have a direct reference to the Sustainable Development Agenda of the United Nations 2030 and also adopted by the current Strategy of Development of Slovenia. The selection of survey data was based on their connection with the same sustainability issues and their availability for a longer period, particularly close to the time points of the cycles observed. The findings show that in terms of contributing to sustainable development, the presence of morphogenesis in the selected cycles turns out to be rather limited, and there is a severe lack of political reflexivity (cf. Al -Amoudi 2017) among actors.
Transitional Justice and Democratic Consolidation in the Post-Communist Space: A Comparative Review of the Czech Republic, Latvia and Slovakia
Authors: Sairambay Yerkebulan
Published: April 2021

In this comparative review, I first evaluate scholarly findings attempting to dis/prove a relationship between transitional justice and the consolidation of democracy. Second, I outline several criteria for ‘democratic’ transitional justice in order to be able to judge transitional justice policies. Third, I examine and judge transitional justice policies of the Czech Republic, Latvia and Slovakia by these criteria. Last, I argue that transitional justice is neither a prerequisite for the successful consolidation of democracy nor inherently democratic unless it is carried out in coordination with the ideals of liberal democracy, which might support the achievement of peace and societal stability in a transition period.
The Gnostic and Hellenistic Backgrounds of Sophia in 1 Corinthians 1-4
Authors: Mihăilă Corin
Published: April 2021

First Corinthians 1-4 discusses the concept of sophia or wisdom as a central theme. It seems to be both a worldly standard by which the Corinthians judged their teachers and a concept which Paul redefines in light of the cross. Over the last century, two major proposals have been put forth as an explanation for the background of sophia: Gnosticism and Hellenistic Jewish wisdom. Those who advance the hypothesis of Gnosticism behind the concept, correctly identify in these chapters words and terminology that are commonly associated with Gnosticism. However, the literary context of 1 Corinthians 1-4, as determinative of meaning for these words, suggests different meanings associated with the cross. Moreover, claiming Gnostic influence on the writing of 1 Corinthians is guilty of anachronism. The Hellenistic Jewish wisdom proposal is likewise based on alleged linguistic and conceptual parallelism with Philonic type wisdom. It is argued, among other things, that the Corinthians were taught such wisdom by Apollos. This argument, however cannot be sustained, when we look at Apollos’ ministry in light of the information we have in the New Testament. As a result, both Gnosticism and Hellenistic Jewish wisdom are not viable hypothesis for the background of sophia.
The Number and Nature of Parties In 1 Corinthians 1-4
Authors: Mihăilă Corin
Published: April 2021

The Corinthian church had many issues, among which the dissensions, as can be seen from 1 Corinthians 1-4. There are several theories concerning these dissensions. Some say that there are clearly four parties in the church, according to the slogans in 1 Corinthians 1:12. Others, go to the other extreme and talk about just disagreements among the members of the church, but no real schisms. Between these two extremes are those who seek to make sense of the slogan of allegiance to Christ, the role of Apollos in the dissensions, and ultimately the issue that the Corinthians had with Paul. There is probably some truth in all these theories and most likely the reality was that the Corinthians had preferences among their teachers, of whom the centre of attention were Paul and Apollos, the distinction made between the two were most presumably based on who played better into Corinthians’ social expectations.
Applications and benefits of using gradient percentage depth dose instead of percentage depth dose for electron and photon beams in radiotherapy
Authors: Kastrati Labinot , Hodolli Gezim , Kadiri Sehad , Demirel Elvin , Istrefi Lutfi , Kabashi Yllka , Uka Burim
Published: April 2021

Introduction: The aim of this study is to analyze the gradient of percentage depth dose for photon and electron beams of LINACs and to simplify the data set.

Materials and Methods: Dosimetry measurements were performed in accordance with Technical Reports Series No. 398 IAEA.

Results and discussion: The gradient of percentage depth dose was calculated and compared with the available published data.

Conclusion: Instead of percentage depth dose for increasing and decreasing parts, the findings suggest using only two numbers for specific gradient of dose, separately. In this way, they can replace the whole set of the percentage depth dose (PDD).
Automatic validation of the gantry tilt in a computed tomography scanner using a head polymethyl methacrylate phantom
Authors: Noviliawati Rakhma , Anam Choirul , Sutanto Heri , Dougherty Geoff , Mak’ruf Muhammad Ridha
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study was to develop an automatic method for validating the computed tomography gantry tilt. A head polymethyl methacrylate phantom with a diameter of 16 cm was used. Gantry tilt angles were measured both manually and automatically. Manual measurements were performed by measuring the length of the anteroposterior and lateral diameters from acquired images using electronic calipers. Automatic measurements consisted of a number of steps: phantom segmentation, determination of the center of the phantom, measurement of the anteroposterior and lateral diameters, and computation of the gantry tilt angle. The method was implemented on the gantry angles from 0° to 15°. The proposed method of measuring gantry angles produced accurate gantry tilt angles. The differences with the angles displayed on the gantry were less than 1°. The results of the automatic method were the same as those of the manual method (R2 > 0.98).
Study of the impact of clicks and murmurs on cardiac sounds S1 and S2 through bispectral analysis
Authors: Baakek Yettou Nour El Houda , Debbal Imane , Boudis Hidayat , Debbal Sidi Mohammed El Amine
Published: April 2021

This paper presents a study of the impact of clicks, and murmurs on cardiac sound S1, and S2, and the measure of severity degree through synchronization degree between frequencies, using bispectral analysis. The algorithm is applied on three groups of Phonocardiogram (PCG) signal: group A represents PCG signals having a morphology similar to that of the normal PCG signal without click or murmur, group B represents PCG signals with a click (reduced murmur), and group C represent PCG signals with murmurs.

The proposed algorithm permits us to evaluate and quantify the relationship between the two sounds S1 and S2 on one hand and between the two sounds, click and murmur on the other hand. The obtained results show that the clicks and murmurs can affect both the heart sounds, and vice versa. This study shows that the heart works in perfect harmony and that the frequencies of sounds S1, S2, clicks, and murmurs are not accidentally generated; but they are generated by the same generator system. It might also suggest that one of the obtained frequencies causes the others.

The proposed algorithm permits us also to determine the synchronization degree. It shows high values in group C; indicating high severity degrees, low values for group B, and zero in group A.

The algorithm is compared to Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) and continuous wavelet transform (CWT) analysis. Although the STFT can provide correctly the time, it can’t distinguish between the internal components of sounds S1 and S2, which are successfully determined by CWT, which, in turn, cannot find the relationship between them.

The algorithm was also evaluated and compared to the energetic ratio. the obtained results show very satisfactory results and very good discrimination between the three groups.

We can conclude that the three algorithms (STFT, CWT, and bispectral analysis) are complementary to facilitate a good approach and to better understand the cardiac sounds
Optical investigation of bovine grey and white matters in visible and near-infrared ranges
Authors: Shahin Ali , Bachir Wesam , El-Daher Moustafa Sayem
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Due to enormous interests for laser in medicine and biology, optical properties characterization of different tissue have be affecting in development processes. In addition, the optical properties of biological tissues could be influenced by storage methods. Thus, optical properties of bovine white and grey tissues preserved by formalin have been characterized over a wide wavelength spectrum varied between 440 nm and 1000 nm.

Materials and Methods: To that end, a single integrating sphere system was assembled for spectroscopic characterization and an inverse adding-doubling algorithm was used to retrieve optical coefficients, i.e. reduced scattering and absorption coefficients.

Results: White matter has shown a strong scattering property in comparison to grey matter. On the other hand, the grey matter has absorbed light extensively. In comparison, the reduced scattering profile for both tissue types turned out to be consistent with prior works that characterized optical coefficients in vivo. On the contrary, absorption coefficient behavior has a different feature.

Conclusion: Formalin could change the tissue’s optical properties because of the alteration of tissue’s structure and components. The absence of hemoglobin that seeps out due to the use of a formalin could reduce the absorption coefficient over the visible range. Both the water replacement by formalin could reduce the refractive index of a stored tissue and the absence of hemoglobin that scatters light over the presented wavelength range should diminish the reduced scattering coefficients over that wavelength range.
An atypical case: RT-PCR-negative, sero-positive covid-19 patient
Authors: Suriady William , Putra Andika Chandra , Wiyono Wiwien Heru , Alatas Mohammad Fahmi , Bermawi Bettia , Moniqa Ratna , Koncoro Hendra , Pramono Laurentius Aswin , Fransiska  , Sulistio Maria Edith , Ramzi  , Sinto Robert , Hamonangan Rachmat , Komala Adi Surya , Krismini Dwi Irianti C. , Endrotomo Sumargono J.B.
Published: April 2021

The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a public health emergency of international concern. The first confirmed COVID-19 case in Indonesia was announced on 2 March 2020, and later on, 11,192 confirmed cases were reported as of 3 May. The World Health Organization has stated that performing a real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) specific for SARS-CoV-2 on specimens from the upper and the lower respiratory tracts, especially nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, is the standard diagnostic procedure for COVID-19. In Indonesia, we also use other diagnostic tests, such as rapid antibody tests specific for SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we report an atypical case of COVID-19 and describe the diagnostic process, the clinical course, with progression to severe pneumonia on Week 3 of illness and the case management. We also try to highlight the possibility of false-negative RT-PCR tests.
Systemic inflammation, TNM staging and survival in patients with lung cancer
Authors: Erhan Ionela , Dumitrache-Rujinski Stefan , Toma Claudia , Bogdan Miron
Published: April 2021

Background

It is recognised that systemic inflammation plays an important role in the development and progression of lung cancer. Several affordable biomarkers could be used to evaluate systemic inflammation: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). These biomarkers may be linked with survival in lung cancer.

Aim

To assess the relation between systemic inflammation evaluated by NLR, PLR and ESR, tumour nodes metastasis (TNM) staging and negative outcome in lung cancer.

Materials and methods

Patients with lung cancer were classified (7th TNM lung cancer staging) into two groups: Group A (resectable stages) and Group B (nonresectable stages). Each group was divided into two subsets: survivors (As, Bs) and deceased (Ad, Bd) patients. Complete blood count (CBC) and ESR were determined. NLR and PLR were calculated. NLR, PLR and ESR values were compared between the two groups and their subsets.

Results

102 consecutive patients completed the protocol. In Group A (31 patients): NLR: 2.74 (0.87–12.94), PLR: 33.95 (21.61–416.66), ESR: 35 mm/h (6–135). Subgroup As: NLR: 2.36 (0.87–8.36), PLR: 138.82 (21.61–416.66), ESR: 15 mm/h (6–110). Subgroup Ad: NLR: 2.77 (1.25–12.94), PLR: 132.57 (41.11–371.17), ESR: 62 mm/h (11–135). In Group B (71 patients): NLR: 3.51(0.76–25.60), PLR: 170.37 (3.38–651.25), ESR:40 mm/h (3–120). Subgroup Bs: NLR: 1.40 (1.32–1.73), PLR: 112.89 (91.14–140.54), ESR: 31 mm/h (9–90). Subgroup Bd: NLR: 3.59 (0.70–25.60), PLR: 183.50 (3.38–651.25), ESR: 44 mm/h (3–120). NLR and PLR values were significantly higher (p: 0.04; p: 0.05) in Group B versus Group A. No significant difference was noted for ESR values between the two groups. In patients with nonresectable stages who were deceased (subgroup Bd), NLR and PLR values were significantly higher (p: 0.01; p: 0.03) versus survivals. In patients with resectable stages who were deceased (subgroup Ad), only the ESR value was significantly higher versus survivals.

Conclusions

Systemic inflammation assessed by affordable biomarkers as NLR and PLR is more prominent in advanced, nonresectable lung cancer. It may be a contributor, along with TNM staging, to the poor outcome of patients with nonresectable lung cancer.

Clinical implication

NLR and PLR may represent a valuable additional tool in the clinical management of patients with nonresectable lung cancer.
Management of neoplastic pericarditis – overview of 156 patients
Authors: Jianu Elena , Motas Natalia , Davidescu Mihnea , Rus Ovidiu , Bluoss Corina , Manolache Veronica , Iliescu Madalina , Horvat Teodor
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Neoplastic pericarditis may develop in any type of cancer, but it is found more frequently in lung cancer, breast cancer and lymphoma.

Methods

We studied 156 consecutive oncological patients presented with pericardial fluid between 2010 and 2015. Among them, 80 patients were stable, with no indication for pericardial drainage or biopsy, and 76 patients needed surgery to evacuate the pericardium and obtain biopsy.

Results

Echocardiography and computed tomography were essential in evaluating the topography of the pericardial fluid and the haemodynamic effect, and these investigations helped us choose the appropriate surgical procedure. We performed pericardiocentesis, subxiphoid pericardial drainage, left paraxifoidian pericardial drainage, pericardio-pleural window through intercostal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) or through classical thoracic surgery. Twenty-three patients (14.7%) were admitted and treated for cardiac tamponade. The rate of recurrence after pericardial drainage was 3.89%. The immediate survival at 48 h was 97.3%.

Conclusion

Long-term survival in patients with malignancy and drained pericardial effusion is influenced mainly by the type of underlying malignant disease. We observed a better survival in patients without cardiac tamponade. Immediate survival depends on the pericardial shock complication – postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) or pericardial decompression syndrome (PDS). The indication for pericardial drainage depends on the quantity of pericardial fluid, presence of tamponade, associated pleural effusion and need for biopsy, offering the maximum possible benefit and safety for the patient.
Challenges in the diagnosis, treatment and management of asthma during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Elena Rohozneanu Oana , Adrian Crișan-Dabija Radu , Cristina Vicol , Magdalena Țurcanu Adina , Carmen Trofor Antigona , Ioana Buculei
Published: April 2021

People over the age of 65 and those suffering from chronic diseases, such as asthma, are part of the risk group for severe acute respiratory syndrome-COV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In the past, a connection between viral infections and asthma has been presented. Patients with asthma appear to be at risk of contracting viral infections, and also viruses can cause asthma exacerbations. Another concern during this period was about the chronic administration of corticosteroids in asthmatic patients, because of the consideration that corticosteroid therapy would decrease the immunity of these patients, thus increasing the risk of infections, including the infection with SARS-CoV-2. Thus, several questions have emerged about the role of corticosteroid therapy in the development of COVID-19 in patients undergoing corticosteroid treatment. Most guidelines recommend continuing the administration of chronic treatment to this category of patients. At the same time, the health system had to adapt to the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and deviate from the standard methods of managing most chronic diseases and these changes had an impact on these category of patients.
Investigating the Applicability of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Photogrammetry for the Estimation of the Volume of Stockpiles
Authors: Ajayi Oluibukun Gbenga , Ajulo John
Published: April 2021

Accurately estimating the volume of earthworks is very important in mining engineering and construction. This estimation can be difficult because of the morphological condition of the stockpiles, hence, devising simpler, yet accurate methods of stockpile volume estimation is still a research problem in mining. Two non-invasive survey methods were compared in this research: the conventional ground-based and UAV-approach, for the survey of a twin-stockpile of gravel using Leica TS06 Total Station and DJI Mavic Air UAV, respectively. About 128 images of the area were acquired at 50 m flying height and 75% overlap during the flight mission. The images were processed using Agisoft Metashape Pro; a digital photogrammetric software, and the DEM obtained was used for the volume estimation. The total station data was also processed in ArcGIS to generate a TIN-model from which the volume was also estimated. The volume estimated from the TIN-model was compared with the volume estimated from the UAV-based DEM, using the volume obtained from the mill-machine as the standard. The obtained result shows that while 2750 m3 was obtained as the cumulative volume from the mill machine, the UAV approach yielded 2686.252 m3 and the ground survey approach gave 2830.713 m3. The percentage difference between the two methods compared to the actual volume is 2.94% and −2.31%, respectively. These results, and the result of the processing time analysis show that UAV approach is both accurate and time economical, which attests to the potentials of low-cost UAVs to provide robust alternative to the time-consuming and rigorous ground survey approach.
Designing and re-designing the e-learning course «Teaching with Episodes of Situated Learning»
Authors: Triacca Serena , Petti Livia , Rivoltella Pier Cesare
Published: April 2021

In order to satisfy the several training requests regarding the method of Episodes of Situated Learning by teachers of all levels, in the academic year 2018/2019, CREMIT (Catholic University) has developed an e-learning course. This paper aims to describe the training structure, designed according to the ADDIE instructional system model, focusing on the elements such as micro-learning, e-tivities and e-tutoring. The course was delivered in two editions (November–December 2018 and May–June 2019). The evaluation process highlights some relevant aspects: the high level of participants’ satisfaction, the moderate numbers of dropouts and the completely positive results of the assessment activities. The analysis of the gathered data allowed us to re-design the e-learning course.