bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on grade inflation in higher education in Turkey
Authors: Karadag Engin
Published: August 2021

This study analyzes the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on grade inflation in higher education. Data were collected from five universities in Turkey, including grades of 152,352 students who attended 2,841 courses conducted by 903 instructors before the COVID-19 pandemic and grades of 149,936 students who attended 2,841 courses conducted by 847 instructors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic causes a marginal increase in grades in higher education when the other factors that might explain the differences are controlled. Grade inflation of 9.21% is the highest ever reported in literature. Compared with a year ago, DD and DC grades decreased 55%; FD and FF grades decreased 31%; and the highest-grade AA increased 41% for courses taken during the pandemic. Additionally, classroom population, academic history of the instructor, class level, field, university entrance scores, and course execution and evaluation (grading) forms of course notes are important determinants. This increase can be explained by the effort of instructors who are accustomed to face-to-face settings. When they suddenly switch to distant education, they might try to grade higher to compensate for the unforeseen negative circumstances.
Antibody responses induced by SHIV infection are more focused than those induced by soluble native HIV-1 envelope trimers in non-human primates
Authors: van Schooten Jelle , van Haaren Marlies M. , Li Hui , McCoy Laura E. , Havenar-Daughton Colin , Cottrell Christopher A. , Burger Judith A. , van der Woude Patricia , Helgers Leanne C. , Tomris Ilhan , Labranche Celia C. , Montefiori David C. , Ward Andrew B. , Burton Dennis R. , Moore John P. , Sanders Rogier W. , Crotty Shane , Shaw George M. , van Gils Marit J.
Published: August 2021

The development of an effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) vaccine is a high global health priority. Soluble native-like HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimers (Env), including those based on the SOSIP design, have shown promise as vaccine candidates by inducing neutralizing antibody responses against the autologous virus in animal models. However, to overcome HIV-1’s extreme diversity a vaccine needs to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Such bNAbs can protect non-human primates (NHPs) and humans from infection. The prototypic BG505 SOSIP.664 immunogen is based on the BG505 env sequence isolated from an HIV-1-infected infant from Kenya who developed a bNAb response. Studying bNAb development during natural HIV-1 infection can inform vaccine design, however, it is unclear to what extent vaccine-induced antibody responses to Env are comparable to those induced by natural infection. Here, we compared Env antibody responses in BG505 SOSIP-immunized NHPs with those in BG505 SHIV-infected NHPs, by analyzing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). We observed three major differences between BG505 SOSIP immunization and BG505 SHIV infection. First, SHIV infection resulted in more clonal expansion and less antibody diversity compared to SOSIP immunization, likely because of higher and/or prolonged antigenic stimulation and increased antigen diversity during infection. Second, while we retrieved comparatively fewer neutralizing mAbs (NAbs) from SOSIP-immunized animals, these NAbs targeted more diverse epitopes compared to NAbs from SHIV-infected animals. However, none of the NAbs, either elicited by vaccination or infection, showed any breadth. Finally, SOSIP immunization elicited antibodies against the base of the trimer, while infection did not, consistent with the base being placed onto the virus membrane in the latter setting. Together these data provide new insights into the antibody response against BG505 Env during infection and immunization and limitations that need to be overcome to induce better responses after vaccination.
Prevalence of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Contributing to Causing of Functional Decline in Elderly Individuals in the Rural Population of Karad, India
Authors: Baurai Urwashi Kamal Kant , Bhambure Malti Vijay , Srinivasana Anandh
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND Functional decline refers to increase in dependence towards activities of daily living and is common with increasing age, chronic diseases, and previous hospitalization. We wanted to determine the rate of intrinsic and extrinsic factors of functional decline in different age groups among elderly population and in relation to gender. METHODS The study population was composed of 64 individuals which were above the age group of 60 years, further subdivided into 3 groups: 60 - 70, 70 - 80 and 80 years and above. The validated questionnaire was provided through which the intrinsic and extrinsic factors were determined. RESULTS In all the studied subjects, extrinsic factors had a mean value of 31.24 % while intrinsic factors had a mean value of 28.12 % which indicates that extrinsic factors are more prevalent than intrinsic factors in all the age groups. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors were more prevalent in the female population than the male population with the prevalence rate of intrinsic factors as 34.37 % in males and 50 % in females and for the extrinsic factors prevalence rate of 39.06 % in males and 54.68 % in females. In age group of 60 – 70 yrs. we found that the prevalence of intrinsic factors was (23.43 %) and extrinsic was (26.56 %), for 70 - 80 intrinsic it was (29.68 %) extrinsic was (32.81 %) and for 80 and above prevalence intrinsic was (31.25 %) and extrinsic was (34.37 %). CONCLUSIONS The study showed that the extrinsic factors contributed more to the functional decline as compared to the intrinsic factors. These findings are important as the functional decline and increasing care needs are potentially modifiable. KEY WORDS Functional Decline, Intrinsic Factors, Extrinsic Factors, Disability
Evaluation of Chitosan Modified Glass Ionomer Cement for Microleakage under Spectrophotometer - An In-Vitro Study
Authors: Sajjeev Arjun , Shivkumar Ashwini Tumkur , Kalgeri Sowmya Halasabalu
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND Marginal integrity of glass ionomer as a restorative material is an important factor for the longevity of the restoration. Class V and cervical abrasions are the most critical and challenging lesions for restorations. The choice of material for restoring class V and cervical abrasions is glass ionomer cement (GIC). Sensitivity to moisture contact during the early setting stages is the drawback of GIC. To overcome the drawback, modifications of glass ionomer cement were made by the addition of chitosan. Chitosan (CH) is a natural linear polysaccharide obtained partially and fully by deacetylated chitin compounds, which are found in crab and shrimp shells, with properties like nontoxicity, biodegradability, bioadhesive, biocompatibility, and biorenewabilty which has led to its use in various fields. Thus, this study intended to evaluate the microleakage of conventional glass ionomer cement and chitosan modified glass ionomer cement using a spectrophotometer. METHODS 60 teeth extracted for orthodontic propose were selected for the study and randomly divided into two groups, class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surface and samples were restored with conventional glass ionomer cement and chitosan modified glass ionomer cement respectively, teeth were immersed in 0.5 % methylene blue for 24 hours and assessed using a spectrophotometer. RESULTS The data were analysed using the Unpaired T - test, and with statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) for Windows, version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA). The confidence interval was set at 95 % and values of P < 0.05 were interpreted as statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The study concluded that the addition of chitosan improves the mechanical properties of conventional glass ionomer cement, and a spectrophotometer can be used as a better evaluation tool in assessing microleakage. KEY WORDS Chitosan Modified GIC, Glass Ionomer Cement, Microleakage, Spectrophotometer
A Study of Clinicopathological Correlation in Patients with Lupus Nephritis in a Tertiary Centre in South India
Authors: Magal Abhijith S. , Acharya Vasudeva , A. Ravindra Prabhu
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND Lupus nephritis (LN) is very common and significantly affects the prognosis of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although the diagnosis of LN is obvious sometimes from the simple lab tests, it is important to perform a renal biopsy. We wanted to study the correlation between the clinical, lab parameters and the histopathological grade of LN in a tertiary care centre in South India. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among all patients with biopsy proven LN who underwent a renal biopsy from 19 / 09 / 2017 to 30 / 06 / 2019. Data of 51 patients were obtained. For all the study subjects, a history was obtained, clinical examination was done, and their lab parameters and the renal biopsy report were noted in the proforma. The histology was correlated with the laboratory and clinical data. RESULTS The majority of the patients were females. Maximum patients had class IV LN and class III had more males than any other class of LN. When clinical and laboratory parameters were correlated with histopathological findings, pedal oedema and facial puffiness were found to be correlated with the classes of lupus nephritis with statistical significance. Among investigations, haemoglobin, C3, activity score and 24 -hour urine protein had a statistically significant correlation with the various classes of lupus nephritis. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests some meaningful correlation between pedal oedema, facial puffiness, 24 hours urine protein, haemoglobin levels, C3 levels and activity score with lupus nephritis classes of ISN / RPS 2003 classification. KEY WORDS Lupus, Clinicopathological Correlation
Platelet Rich Fibrin - A Saviour for Replanted Teeth – A Review
Authors: Mall Sanjana , Shetty Rajmohan , Hegde Amitha , Rai Kavita
Published: August 2021

The periodontal ligament is a unique specialised connective tissue between the cementum covering the tooth root and the alveolar bone. It is believed that periodontal ligament cells are responsible for not only osteogenesis and osteoclasia of the alveolar bone but also for fibrogenesis and fibroplasia of the ligament itself, as well as cementogenesis and the presence of cementoblasts on the root surface. Injury to the periodontal ligament (PDL) and its compromised healing (external inflammatory resorption and replacement resorption) has been cited as one of the major reasons for the failure of transplantation and replantation procedures. The necessity of having a healthy PDL so that the tooth can re-attach and be retained in the socket determines the prognosis of replanted teeth. Thus, the importance of maintaining the periodontal viability has led to an increased interest in the development of platelet concentrates, which have been considered as autologous biomaterials having the ability to potentiate healing, repair, and regenerate. PRF (platelet rich fibrin) is a living biomaterial derived from human blood containing fibrin, platelets, growth factors, leukocytes and stem cells entrapped in a fibrin-based scaffold / matrix, which has been documented to promote bone and soft tissue healing and regeneration. PRF technology has grabbed the attention of clinicians because it is readily available, is easy to prepare, can be produced immediately at the chairside, is easy to use, and widely applicable in dentistry, while being financially realistic for the patient and the clinician. Thus, the purpose of this review is to enumerate the biologic, chemical and physical properties of PRF and highlight the essential role it plays in periodontal regeneration and repair, which can be highly beneficial in improving the treatment success rate of transplantation and replantation procedures. KEY WORDS Platelet Rich Fibrin, Replantation, Transplantation, Periodontal Ligament, Periodontal Regeneration
A lojalitás dimenzióinak longitudinális mérése a hazai lakossági energiafogyasztók körében faktoranalízis alapján
Authors: Hetesi Erzsébet
Published: August 2021

Az utóbbi évtizedekben számos nemzetközi tanulmány figyelmeztetett arra, hogy a jó minőség és a fogyasztói elégedettség nem elég a cégek profitjának növeléséhez, hanem sokkal inkább a lojalitást, a hűséget kell a középpontba állítani. Bár a kilencvenes évek végén már több kutatás eredményei megkérdőjelezték a minőség-elégedettség-lojalitás-jövedelmezőség lánc szilárd logikáját, a kapcsolatot leíró modelleket és mérési eljárásokat továbbra is használják a kutatásokban. A szerzők dolgozatukban két kutatás eredményei alapján e témakörrel foglalkoznak.
Az információgazdaság kompetens munkavállalói
Authors: Tóth László
Published: August 2021

A szerző dolgozatában a tudás, a kompetenciák, az oktatás és a tanulás viszonyait, egymásra hatásait elemzi. Mi a tudás szerepe a mai gazdaságban, hogyan alakul a tudás és a kompetencia viszonya? Mennyire képes hozzájárulni a formális oktatás a kompetenciák kialakításához? A szerző ezeket a kérdéseket vizsgálja.
Eosinophilic Colitis in Recurrent Sigmoid Volvulus
Authors: Zucker Kelly , Pradhan Faruq , Gomez Adam , Nanda Rakesh
Published: August 2021

Eosinophilic colitis (EC) falls along the spectrum of a series of inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders in which eosinophils infiltrate the gut without known tissue eosinophilia. Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders include eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastritis, and the least common EC. The presentation of EC is extremely variable in mucosal, submucosal, and transmural inflammation. We present a case of recurrent volvulus with histologic findings of eosinophilia.
De Novo Crohn's Disease Triggered After COVID-19: Is COVID-19 More Than an Infectious Disease?
Authors: Senthamizhselvan Kuppusamy , Ramalingam Rajendran , Mohan Pazhanivel , Kavadichanda Chengappa , Badhe Bhawana , Hamide Abdoul
Published: August 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated immune dysregulation is believed to trigger the onset of various autoimmune diseases. These occur either during active COVID-19 or soon after recovery. We report ileocolonic Crohn's disease in a 35-year-old woman after her recovery from a milder form of COVID-19. She achieved remission of her symptoms with oral corticosteroids and sulfasalazine.
Polypharmacy in elderly patients with falls
Authors: Khovasova N. O. , Naumov A. V. , Tkacheva O. N. , Dudinskaya E. N. , Moroz V. I.
Published: August 2021

Background: Falls in elderly–a multifactorial syndrome. One of the modifiable factors is polypharmacy. STOPP/START criteria are used for correction of polypharmacy in geriatrics.

Aim: Assessment of the prevalence of polypharmacy, analysis and correction of pharmacotherapy using STOPP/START criteria in patients with falls.

Materials and methods: The study included 655 patients hospitalized in the geriatric department over 60 years of age, who were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n=332, 50.7%)–patients with 1 or more falls, group 2 (n=323,49.3%)–patients without falls. The analysis of the received therapy before hospitalization was performed. After that, based on the indications, contraindications and STOPP/START criteria, drug therapy was corrected in patients with falls.

Results: Patients of group 1 took 4.5±2.18 drugs, group 2–4.3±2.6. Polypharmacy was diagnosed in 150 (45.2%) patients with falls and in 122 (37.8%) patients without falls. Patients with falls were more likely to receive sleeping pills, NSAIDs. Univariate analysis showed that falls were associated with NSAIDs (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.38–3.35, p=0.001) and sleeping pills (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.02–4.02, p=0.047). An audit and correction of therapy was performed: in 108 (32.5%) patients the number of prescribed drugs was reduced. Patients with falls were prescribed statins, antidementia drugs, anticonvulsants and antidepressants as components of therapy for chronic pain syndrome, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate for the treatment of osteoarthritis, calcium and antiresorbtive therapy, antianemic drugs, vitamin D. Antiplatelet agents, digoxin, sleeping pills and NSAIDs were less frequently prescribed. STOPP/START criteria and their frequency in patients with falls were analyzed. 141 cases of potentially non-recommended but prescribed medications were identified. STOPP criteria were for the administration of NSAIDs (n=53, 37.6%) and acetylsalicylic acid (n=62, 44%). There were 458 cases of potentially recommended but not prescribed medications. The most common START criteria were not for the administration of vitamin D and statins.

Conclusion. Half of elderly patients with falls have polypharmacy. These patients are more likely to take sleeping pills and NSAIDs. STOPP criteria most often concerned the appointment of NSAIDs and acetylsalicylic acid, and the START criteria revealed the absence of the appointment of vitamin D and statins.
New records of desmids from Ropar wetland (a Ramsar Site) of Punjab, India
Authors: Komal  , Khattar J.I.S. , Singh D.P. , Singh Yadvinder
Published: August 2021

This study deals with exploration of freshwater desmids for the first time from Ropar wetland (Ramsar site) of Punjab (India) to assess their taxonomic aspects and bio-geographical distribution. During this study, samples of planktonic, epiphytic and epilithic desmids were collected from littoral zone and were observed under light microscope for their morphometric characteristics based identification. Total 21 desmids species belonging to 4 genera of 2 families (Closteriaceae and Desmidiaceae) were identified from the collected samples. Among them, Cosmarium with 11 species (C. awadhense, C. bioculatum, C. trilobatum, C. divergens, C. granatum, C. moniliforme, C. nitidulum, C. subtumidum, C. reniforme, C. undulatum and C. obtusatum) was found to be most abundant followed by Closterium with 7 species (C. acerosum, C. dianae, C. incurvum, C. leibleinii, C. lunula, C. pritchardianum and C. aciculare), Euastrum with 2 species (E. spinulosum and E. platycerum) and Staurastrum with 1 species (S. crenulatum). The geographic distribution of identified desmid taxa in India has been also recorded. All the desmid taxa identified during this study are new record for the Punjab state of India. The results of this study provide significant baseline data for the future taxonomic and ecological studies from the similar habitats.
Alchemy in the Cairo Genizah: the Nachlass of an untidy Jewish alchemist
Authors: Ferrario Gabriele
Published: August 2021

Among the hundreds of thousands of fragments of mediaeval manuscripts found in the genizah of the Ben Ezra Synagogue of al-Fusṭāṭ (Old Cairo), a noteworthy corpus of alchemical material preserves alchemical recipes and theoretical works that have the potential to shed light on the oft-debated question of the involvement of Jews in alchemy during the Middle Ages. After an assessment of the status quaestionis, this article offers an introduction to the corpus and to its codicological, palaeographic and linguistic features, and focusses on a discreet number of fragments that were composed by the same alchemist/copyist. The first Judaeo-Arabic edition, Arabic transcription and English translation of a selection of passages from these fragments is presented, together with discussion of their contents. While the first of the fragments is a collection of practical alchemical recipes, the second fragment preserves the Judaeo-Arabic version of a work by the famous alchemist Jābir ibn Ḥayyān that was previously considered lost.
Biodegradable macromers for implant bulk and surface engineering
Authors: Krieghoff Jan , Gronbach Mathis , Schulz-Siegmund Michaela , Hacker Michael C.
Published: August 2021

Macromers, polymeric molecules with at least two functional groups for cross-polymerization, are interesting materials to tailor mechanical, biochemical and degradative bulk and surface properties of implants for tissue regeneration. In this review we focus on macromers with at least one biodegradable building block. Manifold design options, such as choice of polymeric block(s), optional core molecule and reactive groups, as well as cross-co-polymerization with suitable anchor or linker molecules, allow the adaptation of macromer-based biomaterials towards specific application requirements in both hard and soft tissue regeneration. Implants can be manufactured from macromers using additive manufacturing as well as molding and templating approaches. This review summarizes and discusses the overall concept of biodegradable macromers and recent approaches for macromer processing into implants as well as techniques for surface modification directed towards bone regeneration. These aspects are reviewed including a focus on the authors’ contributions to the field through research within the collaborative research project Transregio 67.
Satire as safety valve: moving beyond a mistaken metaphor
Authors: Declercq Dieter , El Khachab Chihab
Published: August 2021

The safety valve metaphor is ubiquitous in scholarship on satire and usually implies that, although the genre seems intent on upsetting the political order, it really has unintended conservative effects which maintain the status quo. Although there is previous criticism of the safety valve theory, which focuses on the inadequacy of its empirical predictions or the flawed theoretical foundations of the associated relief theory of humor, the metaphor remains in common use – and continues to obscure our understanding of satire’s political effects. What remains overlooked in humor studies is the fundamental mistakenness of the metaphor itself. We argue that comparing satire to a safety valve always implies a reasoning about the genre which is mistaken because the mechanistic function of a safety valve cannot be informatively mapped onto the political effects of satire. As a result, the safety valve metaphor is problematically opaque (because its actual meaning is unclear) and elastic (because it means whatever anyone wants it to mean). The metaphor fails to elucidate how satire works even in authoritarian political contexts, like Egypt, which should, in principle, act as a fertile ground for its purported function as a safety valve.
Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC): fear it or dare it? An evaluation of potential risk factors
Authors: Lazarou Anastasia , Oestergaard Magdalena , Netzl Johanna , Siedentopf Jan-Peter , Henrich Wolfgang
Published: August 2021

Objectives

The consultation of women aspiring a vaginal birth after caesarean may be improved by integrating the individual evaluation of factors that predict their chance of success. Retrospective analysis of correlating factors for all trials of labor after caesarean that were conducted at the Department of Obstetrics of Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Clinic from 2014 to October 2017.

Methods

Of 2,151 pregnant women with previous caesarean, 408 (19%) attempted a vaginal birth after cesarean. A total of 348 women could be included in the evaluation of factors, 60 pregnant women were excluded because they had obstetric factors (for example preterm birth, intrauterine fetal death) that required a different management.

Results

Spontaneous delivery occurred in 180 (51.7%) women and 64 (18.4%) had a vacuum extraction. 104 (29.9%) of the women had a repeated caesarean delivery. The three groups showed significant differences in body mass index, the number of prior vaginal deliveries and the child’s birth weight at cesarean section. The indication for the previous cesarean section also represents a significant influencing factor. Other factors such as maternal age, gestational age, sex, birth weight and the head circumference of the child at trial of labor after caesarean showed no significant influence.

Conclusions

The clear majority (70.1%) of trials of labor after caesarean resulted in vaginal delivery. High body mass index, no previous spontaneous delivery, and fetal distress as a cesarean indication correlated negatively with a successful vaginal birth after cesarean. These factors should be used for the consultation of pregnant women.
Media debates over the renaming of the cityscape
Authors: Fabiszak Małgorzata , Rubdy Rani
Published: August 2021

This contribution presents two case studies: Poznań in Poland and New Delhi in India, focusing on the media coverage surrounding the re-naming of one street in each location. We apply a uniform method – the Discourse Historical Approach – to analyse newspaper articles, below-the-line comments and Internet forum discussions. As symbolic marking of the territory can be recruited for a political agenda going beyond memory politics, this article not only investigates the public controversy surrounding the (re-)naming of the cityscape, but also addresses the questions of how these debates link inter-discursively with other issues in contemporary politics, such as the independence of the judiciary in Poland and social justice in India.
Transverse shifts and time delays of spatiotemporal vortex pulses reflected and refracted at a planar interface
Authors: Mazanov Maxim , Sugic Danica , Alonso Miguel A. , Nori Franco , Bliokh Konstantin Y.
Published: August 2021

Transverse (Hall-effect) and Goos–Hänchen shifts of light beams reflected/refracted at planar interfaces are important wave phenomena, which can be significantly modified and enhanced by the presence of intrinsic orbital angular momentum (OAM) in the beam. Recently, optical spatiotemporal vortex pulses (STVPs) carrying a purely transverse intrinsic OAM were predicted theoretically and generated experimentally. Here we consider the reflection and refraction of such pulses at a planar isotropic interface. We find theoretically and confirm numerically novel types of OAM-dependent transverse and longitudinal pulse shifts. Remarkably, the longitudinal shifts can be regarded as time delays, which appear, in contrast to the well-known Wigner time delay, without temporal dispersion of the reflection/refraction coefficients. Such time delays allow one to realize OAM-controlled slow (subluminal) and fast (superluminal) pulse propagation without medium dispersion. These results can have important implications in various problems involving scattering of localized vortex states carrying transverse OAM.
AI and robotics to help older adults: Revisiting projects in search of lessons learned
Authors: Cortellessa Gabriella , De Benedictis Riccardo , Fracasso Francesca , Orlandini Andrea , Umbrico Alessandro , Cesta Amedeo
Published: August 2021

This article is a retrospective overview of work performed in the domain of Active Assisted Living over a span of almost 18 years. The authors have been creating and refining artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics solutions to support older adults in maintaining their independence and improving their quality of life. The goal of this article is to identify strong features and general lessons learned from those experiences and conceive guidelines and new research directions for future deployment, also relying on an analysis of similar research efforts. The work considers key points that have contributed to increase the success of the innovative solutions grounding them on known technology acceptance models. The analysis is presented with a threefold perspective: A Technological vision illustrates the characteristics of the support systems to operate in a real environment with continuity, robustness, and safety; a Socio-Health perspective highlights the role of experts in the socio-assistance domain to provide contextualized and personalized help based on actual people’s needs; finally, a Human dimension takes into account the personal aspects that influence the interaction with technology in the long term experience. The article promotes the crucial role of AI and robotics in ensuring intelligent and situated assistive behaviours. Finally, considering that the produced solutions are socio-technical systems, the article suggests a transdisciplinary approach in which different relevant disciplines merge together to have a complete, coordinated, and more informed vision of the problem.
Ketamine therapy for chronic pain in The Netherlands: a nationwide survey
Authors: Mangnus Thomas J.P. , Bharwani Krishna D. , Stronks Dirk L. , Dirckx Maaike , Huygen Frank J.P.M.
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Ketamine is used to treat chronic refractory pain. However, there are no scientific guidelines for ketamine use in the Netherlands. The aim of this survey was to provide an overview of the use of ketamine for chronic pain in the Netherlands.

Methods

All pain clinics in the Netherlands were contacted. A digital survey, available from June 2019 to January 2020, was sent to 68 pain clinics. The survey was completed by one pain physician as a representative of the entire pain department. The survey included questions about ketamine treatment indications, administration, dose, duration, treatment repetition and the inpatient or outpatient setting.

Results

The survey was completed by 51 pain clinics (75.0%). Thirty-one clinics used ketamine for chronic pain treatment. The most common indication was Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (83.9%). Pain clinics administered ketamine via intravenous infusions (96.8%), iontophoresis (61.3%), subcutaneous (3.2%) or oral administration (3.2%). Intravenous ketamine treatment was offered in an inpatient setting in 14 pain clinics, in both an inpatient and outpatient setting in 11 pain clinics and in six pain clinics in an outpatient setting. In the outpatient setting, the median starting dose was 5 mg/h (IQR=17.5–5). The median maximum dose was 27.5 mg/h (IQR=100–11.9). The median infusion duration was 6 h (IQR=8–4). In the inpatient setting, the median starting dose was 5 mg/h (IQR=5–1.5) and the median maximum dose was 25 mg/h (IQR=25–14). Patients were admitted to hospital for a median of 4 days (IQR=5–1).

Conclusions

The results of this Dutch nationwide survey study show that there are heterogeneous treatment protocols with different indications, treatment setting and dosing regimen for the treatment of chronic pain with ketamine. This study encourages the formulation of a broader consensus and the development of evidence based guidelines for ketamine treatment.
Do Good Citizens Need Good Laws? Economics and the Expressive Function
Authors: Gilbert Michael D. , Hayashi Andrew T.
Published: August 2021

We explore how adding prosocial preferences to the canonical precaution model of accidents changes either the efficient damages rule or the harm from accidents. For a utilitarian lawmaker, making the potential injurer sympathetic to the victim of harm has no effect on either outcome. On the other hand, making injurers averse to harming others reduces the harm from accidents but has no effect on efficient damages. For an atomistic lawmaker — one who excludes prosocial preferences from social welfare — cultivating a taste for either harm aversion or perfect sympathy can reduce efficient damages, though neither has any effect on the amount of harm from accidents. On the other hand, causing people to act as if they are averse to harm creation, such as out of habit or moral obligation, reduces both the efficient amount of damages and total harm. In general, encouraging either a distaste for, or moral commitment against, harm creation is useful while inculcating sympathy for victims of harm is not.
Sr7N2Sn3: a layered antiperovskite-type nitride stannide containing zigzag chains of Sn4 polyanions
Authors: Yamane Hisanori , Steinberg Simon
Published: August 2021

Metallic black platelet single crystals of a new ternary compound, Sr7N2Sn3, were obtained by heating Sr and Sn in a Na flux together with NaN3 as a nitrogen source at 1073 K, followed by slow cooling. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that this compound crystallizes in an orthorhombic cell with the cell parameters a = 10.4082(2), b = 18.0737(4), and c = 7.43390(10) Å (space group Pmna, Z = 2), and has a layered (modular) antiperovskite-type structure which could be related to the inverse structure of Ca2Nb2O7 ((Ca2)[Ca2Nb4O14]). Four-membered zigzag [Sn4] chains are situated between slabs comprising four antiperovskite layers cut by the (110) plane of the ideal anitiperovskite structure, and Sr7N2Sn3 can be expressed as [Sn4][Sn2N4Sr14]. Although an electron-precise valence electron distribution according to the formula (Sr2+)14(N3−)4(Sn4−)2([Sn4]8−) is proposed for this ternary compound, yet, there are certain structural peculiarities which cannot be explained by this idealized picture. Therefore, first principles-based means were employed to account for the aforementioned structural features.
TMEM16A and TMEM16B Modulate Pheromone-Evoked Action Potential Firing in Mouse Vomeronasal Sensory Neurons
Authors: Hernandez-Clavijo Andres , Sarno Nicole , Gonzalez-Velandia Kevin Y. , Degen Rudolf , Fleck David , Rock Jason R. , Spehr Marc , Menini Anna , Pifferi Simone
Published: August 2021

The mouse vomeronasal system controls several social behaviors. Pheromones and other social cues are detected by sensory neurons in the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Stimuli activate a transduction cascade that leads to membrane potential depolarization, increase in cytosolic Ca2+level, and increased firing. The Ca2+-activated chloride channels TMEM16A and TMEM16B are co-expressed within microvilli of vomeronasal neurons, but their physiological role remains elusive. Here, we investigate the contribution of each of these channels to vomeronasal neuron firing activity by comparing wild-type (WT) and knock-out (KO) mice. Performing loose-patch recordings from neurons in acute VNO slices, we show that spontaneous activity is modified byTmem16aKO, indicating that TMEM16A, but not TMEM16B, is active under basal conditions. Upon exposure to diluted urine, a rich source of mouse pheromones, we observe significant changes in activity. Vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs) fromTmem16acKO andTmem16bKO mice show shorter interspike intervals (ISIs) compared with WT mice, indicating that both TMEM16A and TMEM16B modulate the firing pattern of pheromone-evoked activity in VSNs.
Divergence in Population Coding for Space between Dorsal and Ventral CA1
Authors: Chockanathan Udaysankar , Padmanabhan Krishnan
Published: August 2021

Molecular, anatomic, and behavioral studies show that the hippocampus is structurally and functionally heterogeneous, with dorsal hippocampus implicated in mnemonic processes and spatial navigation and ventral hippocampus involved in affective processes. By performing electrophysiological recordings of large neuronal populations in dorsal and ventral CA1 in head-fixed mice navigating a virtual environment, we found that this diversity resulted in different strategies for population coding of space. Populations of neurons in dorsal CA1 showed more complex patterns of activity, which resulted in a higher dimensionality of neural representations that translated to more information being encoded, as compared ensembles in vCA1. Furthermore, a pairwise maximum entropy model was better at predicting the structure of these global patterns of activity in ventral CA1 as compared with dorsal CA1. Taken together, the different coding strategies we uncovered likely emerge from anatomic and physiological differences along the longitudinal axis of hippocampus and that may, in turn, underpin the divergent ethological roles of dorsal and ventral CA1.
Information Theoretic Approaches to Deciphering the Neural Code with Functional Fluorescence Imaging
Authors: Climer Jason R. , Dombeck Daniel A.
Published: August 2021

Information theoretic metrics have proven useful in quantifying the relationship between behaviorally relevant parameters and neuronal activity with relatively few assumptions. However, these metrics are typically applied to action potential (AP) recordings and were not designed for the slow timescales and variable amplitudes typical of functional fluorescence recordings (e.g., calcium imaging). The lack of research guidelines on how to apply and interpret these metrics with fluorescence traces means the neuroscience community has yet to realize the power of information theoretic metrics. Here, we used computational methods to create mock AP traces with known amounts of information. From these, we generated fluorescence traces and examined the ability of different information metrics to recover the known information values. We provide guidelines for how to use information metrics when applying them to functional fluorescence and demonstrate their appropriate application to GCaMP6f population recordings from mouse hippocampal neurons imaged during virtual navigation.
Excitatory Contribution to Binocular Interactions in Human Visual Cortex Is Reduced in Strabismic Amblyopia
Authors: Hou (侯川) Chuan , Tyson Terence L. , Uner Ismet J. , Nicholas Spero C. , Verghese Preeti
Published: August 2021

Binocular summation in strabismic amblyopia is typically reported as being absent or greatly reduced in behavioral studies and is thought to be because of a preferential loss of excitatory interactions between the eyes. Here, we studied how excitatory and suppressive interactions contribute to binocular contrast interactions along the visual cortical hierarchy of humans with strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia in both sexes, using source-imaged steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP) over a wide range of relative contrast between the two eyes. Dichoptic parallel grating stimuli modulated at unique temporal frequencies in each eye allowed us to quantify spectral response components associated with monocular inputs (self-terms) and the response components because of interaction of the inputs of the two eyes [intermodulation (IM) terms]. Although anisometropic amblyopes revealed a similar pattern of responses to normal-vision observers, strabismic amblyopes exhibited substantially reduced IM responses across cortical regions of interest (V1, V3a, hV4, hMT+ and lateral occipital cortex), indicating reduced interocular interactions in visual cortex. A contrast gain control model that simultaneously fits self- and IM-term responses within each cortical area revealed different patterns of binocular interactions between individuals with normal and disrupted binocularity. Our model fits show that in strabismic amblyopia, the excitatory contribution to binocular interactions is significantly reduced in both V1 and extra-striate cortex, whereas suppressive contributions remain intact. Our results provide robust electrophysiological evidence supporting the view that disruption of binocular interactions in strabismus or amblyopia is because of preferential loss of excitatory interactions between the eyes.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWe studied how excitatory and suppressive interactions contribute to binocular contrast interactions along the visual cortical hierarchy of humans with normal and amblyopic vision, using source-imaged SSVEP and frequency-domain analysis of dichoptic stimuli over a wide range of relative contrast between the two eyes. A dichoptic contrast gain control model was used to characterize these interactions in amblyopia and provided a quantitative comparison to normal vision. Our model fits revealed different patterns of binocular interactions between normal and amblyopic vision. Strabismic amblyopia significantly reduced excitatory contributions to binocular interactions, whereas suppressive contributions remained intact. Our results provide robust evidence supporting the view that the preferential loss of excitatory interactions disrupts binocular interactions in strabismic amblyopia.
Performance of Porous Asphalt Mixture Containing Seashell as Aggregate Replacement
Authors: Siaw Ing Nicole Liew , Putra Jaya Ramadhansyah , Masri Khairil Aazman
Published: August 2021

Porous asphalt pavement is mainly used for parking lots which able to let water to drain through the pavement surface into a stone recharge bed and infiltrate into soils under the pavement. This study is to investigate the performance of seashell in porous asphalt and determine the image analysis. The seashell used in this study is cockle shell. The strength of seashell was determined through the Aggregate Impact Value Test (AIV) and Aggregate Crushing Value Test (ACV). The grade of bitumen used was grade 60/70. The porous asphalt volumetric properties was determined through Marshall Stablity Test. The permeability coefficient of sample that contain seashell as aggregate replacement was determined through Permeability Test. Generally, the results shows that the seashell’s percentage loss (AIV and ACV) is suitable use for porous asphalt mixture, where the percentage of loss for AIV and ACV was 27.84% and 7.65% respectively. Based on the Marshall Test, porous asphalt that containing seashell as aggregate replacement shows a different result, where it had lower stability value and it can increase the bulk density of porous asphalt mixture. Furthermore, the permeability coefficient also increase. The surface of seashell able to bond with bitumen. Lastly, the trend of VFA and VTM value is effected by the surface and position of seashell in the porous asphalt sample.
Road Construction Equipment Management: A Case Study on Selected Industry
Authors: Atnaw Samson Mekbib , Singh Lakhveer , Hagos Ftwi Yohaness , Yousuf Abu
Published: August 2021

The major share of capital and equipment intensive operation goes to the road sector and the hydro – electric power projects. The construction sector in Ethiopia is developing at a fast rate and its capital budget is increasing from year to year. One of the reasons for this high growth is the number of new construction projects underway and those in the pipeline. In addition, the hydro-electric power projects the government has given a great emphasis to increase the current installed power of 780Mw to a total of 10,000Mw in the coming few years. These hydro-power projects are known for using a great deal of high investment heavy machineries. Therefore, the construction equipment management plays a great role in finalizing the projects with fewer budgets and no time over run. Considering the higher operation, maintenance and investment cost of construction equipment, it is important to have a carefully optimized decision making model that will help in the sizing and selection of the right combination of equipment for a given project. Even the rental versus purchase evaluation needs careful consideration of the project requirement and its duration. This study tries to analyze the existing situation taking a selected company as a case study with regard to construction equipment management. The study tries to cover the equipment management policy of the company, suppliers/manufacturers evaluation and selection criteria, types of purchase processes employed, as well as different make types and capacities of equipment owned by the company. Moreover, capacities of standard facilities available for the central maintenance workshop and replacement plan of equipment of the company in the coming five years will be investigated and commented on.
Experimental Investigation of Edm Die Sinking Process Parameters on Aluminium Alloy 5083 Using Design of Experiment
Authors: Safiei Wahaizad , Radin Muhamad Amin Muhamad Ridzuan
Published: August 2021

In this paper, the results of surface roughness (Ra) and material removal rate (MRR) are presented based on experimental studies of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) process parameters. Pulse ON time, pulse OFF time, peak current, gap voltage and jump speed are the selected input parameters and the experiments were conducted with Aluminium Alloy 5083 as a workpiece, copper as an electrode and the response variables are surface roughness (Ra) and material removal rate (MRR). Design of Experiment and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were applied to identify the optimum settings.The result shows that the significant factors for the value of surface roughness (Ra) and material removal rate (MRR) are pulses ON time and peak current.
Regression Analysis for the Adsorption Isotherms of Betacyanin Extracts from the Dragon Fruit Peel onto the Spun Silk Yarn.
Authors: Hamid Norasiha , Abdul Munaim Mimi Sakinah , Abu Seman Mazrul Nizam
Published: August 2021

The betacyanin pigment extracted from the dragon fruit peel has a potential to be a natural dye as an alternative to replace the synthetic dyes. To investigate the dyeability of spun silk with betacyanin pigment, the adsorption isotherm models were performed. The equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models. In order to determine the best-fit isotherm for each system, three error analysis methods were used to evaluate the data, namely the sum of the squares of the errors, residual root mean square error and chi-square test. On the basis of low three error analysis and high correlation of determination, it was found that the Langmuir isotherm model fitted well with the experimental data. Therefore, it can be concluded that the adsorption process of betacyanin pigment onto the spun silk followed the Langmuir isotherm model. Moreover, the adsorption features of the experimental system might be caused by the monolayer adsorption.
Investigation of Optimal Dilution Ratio from a Dilution Tunnel Using in Particulate Matter Measurement
Authors: Obaidullah Md. , Svend Bram , Jacques De Ruyck
Published: August 2021

Combustion of fuels leads to the formation of gaseous and particulate matter pollutants that have an impact on air quality and the environment. Comparison to the gaseous emissions from stack, measuring of particulate matter (PM) needs extra attention because particles do not behave as a continuum. Dilution tunnels are used with the PM measuring instruments to dilute the hot exhaust gases leaving from the stack. The main focus of this study was to investigate the dilution ratio results obtained from a partial flow dilution tunnel. The partial flow dilution system consists of a porous tube diluter, an ejector diluter and an air heater. The dilution air flow settings into the porous tube diluter and ejector diluter are selected for a wide range of dilution ratios. Two mass flow controllers were used to regulate the flow of dilution air into the diluters. The experiments were conducted at the Renewable Energy Laboratory of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).There were a total of fifteen experiments with four flow settings conducted. Dilution ratio (DR) is evaluated based on the ratio of the CO2 (dry) concentration in the raw sample to the diluted sample. The results obtained from the experiments with the partial flow diluters are limited between 34 and 110. The experimental results are also compared with other works and found quite similar
A Review: The extraction of active compound from Cymbopogon sp. and its potential for medicinal applications
Authors: A. Muttalib Shuhada , Edros Raihana , M. A. Nor Azah , V. Kutty Rajaletchumy
Published: August 2021

Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon nardus are plants categorized under the family of Poaceae that have been recognized with high demand in pharmaceutical industry for its wide range of pharmacological activities. The potential bioactive compounds can be obtained either through traditional or conventional methods. The plant extracts are commonly used in numbers of products for culinary, pesticides and cosmetic purposes for its flavours and fragrances. Besides, bioactive compounds extracted from both species possess good biological activities that can be applied in the pharmaceutical field.