bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accumulation by dispossession and green grabbing: wind farms, lease agreements, land appropriation in the Brazilian semiarid
Authors: Traldi Mariana
Published: November 2021

Abstract Wind power presents itself as an alternative to fossil fuels, playing an important role in fighting climate change. In that context, the Brazilian semiarid inland emerges as a new frontier for the wind industry given its high potential. Since being the landowner also means being the wind owner, we sought to understand how the processes of wind and land appropriation to produce wind power occur in the light of two concepts, ‘accumulation by dispossession’ and ‘green grabbing’. To that end, fourteen wind lease agreements were analyzed. It was concluded that: the wind lease contracts are the legal instrument that enables the appropriation of wind and land; that the appropriation of the wind is a process of ‘accumulation by dispossession, in which there is the privatization of a common good; and that this process only happens because of the land appropriation, understood as being a green grabbing process.
Socio-Environmental Conflicts: A Study on the Logistic Center in Paranapiacaba and Involved Social Representations
Authors: Campagnaro Virgínia Hamer , Farias Luciana Aparecida , Candiani Giovano
Published: November 2021

Abstract Socio-environmental conflicts have been intensifying in the 21st century, which has prompted new approaches seeking to identify the origin of these conflicts and enrich their analyses. This study monitored the environmental licensing of the Campo Grande Logistic Center, in Paranapiacaba, a district in Santo André (SP), in order to identify the social representations of the environment for different actors involved in the licensing process and discuss the interference of the social representations in the established conflict. The case study employed multiple methods of data collection, including participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. A prototypical analysis was carried out in line with the theory of social representations by Moscovici, Abric, and Reigota’s environment classification. The social representations found were globalizing for civil society and anthropocentric for the entrepreneur, relating the origin of the conflict to different material and symbolic appropriations of environmental resources, in this case, the territory itself.
Dezoito anos em dois dias
Authors: Aita Schmitz Carlos André , Rodrigues Gonçalves Marcelo , Nunes Umpierre Roberto , Martins Costa Manuela , Harzheim Erno , Souza da Silva Rodolfo , Goulart Molina-Bastos Cynthia , Ambrosini Mendonça Marcos Vinícius , Katz Natan
Published: November 2021

Este é um artigo de opinião que objetiva subsidiar a discussão pós-pandemia da Doença causada pelo Novo Coronavírus de 2019 (COVID-19) a respeito da regulamentação do atendimento por meio de recursos digitais. Buscou-se, por meio de revisão de literatura, conceituar a consulta remota e fazer um levantamento tanto da evolução histórica da apropriação tecnológica pela saúde como da regulamentação sobre o tema. Foram avaliados textos cobrindo os períodos pré-pandêmico e pandêmico no Brasil, Estados Unidos, União Europeia e Austrália. Procurou-se evidenciar as principais falácias, sofismas e dissensos que orbitam o tema, bem como os reais pontos onde há necessidade de maior empenho para os tomadores de decisão: segurança de dados e privacidade, paridade de reembolso e licenciamento interestadual. Conclui-se que a apropriação tecnológica pela saúde dividiu o mundo em pelo menos três segmentos: os que mantiveram a autonomia de profissionais e pacientes; os que retardaram o avanço tecnológico por meio de burocracia; e os que proibiram os avanços. A pandemia gerou realocações positivas entre esses grupos e existe a necessidade de refinar avanços e evitar retrocessos.
Activation of the Calcium Receptor by Calcimimetic Agents Is Preserved Despite Modest Attenuating Effects of Hyperphosphatemia
Authors: Goodman William G. , Ward Donald T. , Martin Kevin J. , Drayer Debra , Moore Carol , Xu Jiahong , Lai James , Chon Yun , Nemeth Edward. F.
Published: November 2021

Significance Statement

Hyperphosphatemia may contribute to secondary hyperparathyroidism among patients with CKD, but the mechanism responsible remains uncertain. Recent in vitro studies indicate that high levels of phosphorus attenuate the level of calcium receptor activation, and this observation has led to speculation that hyperphosphatemia diminishes the efficacy of calcimimetic agents when used clinically. Using data from large, prospective clinical trials of the calcimimetic agents etelcalcetide and cinacalcet, the authors demonstrate that hyperphosphatemia modestly reduces the effect of these agents in lowering parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels among those with secondary hyperparathyroidism undergoing hemodialysis. These findings demonstrate a role for phosphate as a negative modulator of calcium receptor activation in vivo in humans, but overall, it does not modify the PTH-lowering effect of either agent in a therapeutically meaningful way.

Background

Phosphorus levels in the range seen clinically among patients undergoing dialysis have been reported to attenuate calcium receptor activation and modify parathyroid hormone (PTH) release from isolated parathyroid glands in vitro. Some clinicians and providers of dialysis thus have suggested that calcimimetic agents are ineffective and should not be used to manage secondary hyperparathyroidism among those undergoing dialysis when serum phosphorus concentrations exceed certain threshold levels.

Methods

To determine whether hyperphosphatemia diminishes the therapeutic response to calcimimetic agents, we used data from large clinical trials to analyze the effects of etelcalcetide and cinacalcet to lower plasma PTH levels in individuals on hemodialysis who had secondary hyperparathyroidism and varying degrees of hyperphosphatemia.

Results

Plasma PTH levels declined progressively during 26 weeks of treatment with either etelcalcetide or cinacalcet without regard to the degree of hyperphosphatemia at baseline. However, with each calcimimetic agent, the decreases in PTH from baseline were less at each interval of follow-up during the trials among participants with serum phosphorus levels above one of three prespecified threshold values compared with those with serum phosphorus levels below these thresholds.

Conclusions

These in vivo findings are the first in humans to support the idea that hyperphosphatemia attenuates calcium receptor activation by calcium ions and by calcimimetic agents. The effect of hyperphosphatemia on the responsiveness to calcimimetic agents appears relatively modest, however, and unlikely to be significant therapeutically. The efficacy of treatment with calcimimetic agents for lowering plasma PTH levels among those with secondary hyperparathyroidism remains robust despite substantial elevations in serum phosphorus.
Identification, characterization and evaluation of honeybee floras in Kafa, Sheka and Benchi Maji Zones of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfu Shegaw , Dawit Habte Giorgis
Published: November 2021

The study was aimed with identifying and characterizing honeybee floras and their flowering seasons in south western parts of the country. Relevant data were collected through conducting questionnaire survey, focus group discussions, field observations and lab analysis of pollen and honey samples. In addition, seasonal performance of colonies in terms of brood area, adult population, pollen and nectar stores were evaluated. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS-ver.20 and MsExcels. Accordingly, a total of 200floral species categorized under 77families identified. Of which, 26(13%) grouped under 16 families characterized as major bee floras. Seasons, January to February, July to August were considered as Dearth periods; March, September to October were brooding seasons, April, November to December were major nectar flow seasons. March to April and November to December were major honey flow seasons being the first for high land and mid land areas and the later for lowland areas whose major botanical origin was Schefflera abyssinica and Guizetia scabra respectively. However, in some areas with better forest covers, Manilkara butij become a major honey source plant. Whereas, January, June to July, March (in low lands) were considered as minor/mini harvesting seasons whose major botanical origin was Vernonia species, Croton macrostachyus and Combritum species respectively. It was noted that there was a significant correlation among brood area, adult population, pollen store and nectar stores at p<0.01.
Evaluation of the yield performance of maize cultivars (Zea mays L.) in a Semi-Arid Region of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Mxolisi Mtyobile
Published: November 2021

Maize is considered as one of the important grain crop in the world. Maize is in high demand within district because it is one of the staple food and also used for animal feed. Current yield attained by small scale farmers is lower than the potential of our existing varieties. In field experiment at Njizweni situated in Gqeleni sub-district was conducted in November 2018 to evaluate the agronomic and yield performance maize cultivars in a semi-arid environment. Plant population, plant height, leaf area, number of cobs/plant, cob length, number of grains per cob, 100 grain weight and number of cobs were significantly different (p<0.05) between cultivars. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) on maize grain yield although maximum number of cobs per plant (1.76) was recorded on PAN 6R-710BR, PAN5R-591R, BG 5285 and WE 6208B.
Transdifferentiation of stem cells: from the cell to the body
Authors: Moskalev Alexander V. , Gumilevsky Boris Yu. , Apcel Vasiliy Ya. , Tsygan Vasiliy N.
Published: November 2021

The phases of embryo development, starting with the formation of gametes and germlines, are considered. This study described the differences in the selection of germ and somatic cells. The formation of true germ cells is associated with the induction of bone morphogenetic protein. The zinc-finger transcription factor is the marker of the formation of true germ cells in primates. True germ cells have two types: germ cells that form endoderm and those that form an epiblast. Their differentiation is provided by the growth factor of fibroblasts due to the signaling protein FGF4, which interacts with the FGFR2 receptor in the primary endoderm. The migration of germ cells is controlled by the factors of stromal cells. The implantation of a fertilized egg is associated with the peculiarities of the differentiation of the trophectoderm and the influence of transcription factors. Since stem cell lines are isolated from non-brain tissues, their origin and development remain not fully established. In mice, the chorion is formed from a small area of trophectoderm covered with an out-of-the-mouth mesoderm on the proximal end of the egg lumen. In humans, the chorion, together with its basisnon-embryonic mesodermis the earliest appearance of tissue emanating from the primary endoderm. Modern research has confirmed the possibility of obtaining clones from the nuclei of early blastomere embryos. However, the use of cell nuclei at later stages yielded unsatisfactory results. The use of embryonic stem nuclei has produced much better results than the use of cells in the later stages of development. Therefore, whatever the source of the cores, they should be in the G0 or G1 phase, but not in G2.
The 100th birth anniversary of Ravil Garifovich Imangulov
Authors: Davydova Еlena V. , Starkov Alexander V. , Grebenyuk Alexander N.
Published: November 2021

October 12, 2021, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Head of the Department of Medical Protection, Head of the Department of Armed Defeat and Protection of the Medical Academy, the Great Patriotic War, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, and Colonel of the Medical Service, Ravil Garifovich Imangulov. For many years, R.G. Imangulov fruitfully worked in the field of military medical science and gone through all formational stages of a scientist and a teacher from an adjunct to the head of the department and professor-consultant of the Academic Council of the Military Medical Academy. During his service at the Military Medical Academy, Professor R.G. Imangulov took an active part in testing weapons of mass destruction and special field experimental studies in various regions of the country, aimed at the practical implementation of the latest achievements in the field of medical and technical means of anti-chemical and anti-radiation protection. For a long time, under his leadership and with his direct participation, fundamental research was carried out on the fundamentals of medical protection of troops and population from mass destruction weapons. His achievements in the field of medical protection against mass destruction weapons, both educational and scientific and practical disciplines, are of great importance for Russian military medicine. His fruitful years of activity did not only result in monographs, textbooks, teaching aids, scientific reports, and articles, but also the adaptation of official normative documents for the military personnel protection from mass destruction weapons, technical and medical means of individual, and collective protection.
Choledocholithiasis: modern possibilities of diagnosis and surgical treatment
Authors: Zherebtsov Eveniy S. , Romashchenko Pavel N. , Maistrenko Nicolay A.
Published: November 2021

Studies have examined various approaches in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of patients with cholelithiasis complicated by choledocholithiasis, evaluated the possibilities of using modern methods of treating the disease, and proposed a strategy to prevent the abandonment of bile duct concretions. The relevance of this problem is related to the variety of diagnostic and surgical treatment methods of choledocholithiasis, high disease frequency, and nonexistence of a unified approach to the examination and choice of surgical treatment in patients with cholelithiasis complicated by choledocholithiasis. These issues indicate the need to study this problem and identify optimal approaches to examination and treatment, including modern minimally invasive methods of treatment. The analysis of the diagnostic value of various examination methods and surgical outcomes was based on the experience of treating 154 patients with cholelithiasis complicated by choledocholithiasis in the clinic of the S.P. Fedorov Faculty of Surgery of the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy. An algorithm for examining patients with cholelithiasis was formed based on the diagnostic value of various research methods, which allows timely detection of choledocholithiasis. The results of various approaches to the surgical treatment of patients with cholelithiasis complicated by choledocholithiasis were analyzed. In the absence of general somatic contraindications and the availability of technical capabilities, a one-stage approach to surgical treatment was suggested. Moreover, an individual approach is necessary for the treatment of patients with cholelithiasis complicated by choledocholithiasis, taking into account the nature of the disease course and its complications, comorbid status of the patient, and technical capabilities of a particular hospital. The sequence and timing of operations with a two-stage approach should be determined, taking into account the acute conditions and comorbidities of the patient. The use of modern minimally invasive technologies, such as transpapillary and trans-bubble choledochoscopy, dosed papillotomy, and rendezvous technique for the cannulation of the large papilla of the duodenum, allows us to improve the results of surgical treatment and reduce the risk of complications. Transpapillary and trans-bubble nanoelectroimpulse lithotripsy are alternative methods of resolving major choledocholithiasis in both one-stage and two-stage treatment.
Evolution of bile duct surgery by the scientific school of professor S.P. Fedorov
Authors: Romashchenko Pavel N. , Maistrenko Nicolay A. , Aliev Arsen K. , Aliev Rustam K.
Published: November 2021

This study highlighted the main stages of the formation and development of surgery of bile ducts by the scientific school of Doctor of Medical Sciences, Honored Scientist of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Professor Sergey Petrovich Fedorov. The current state of this area of surgery and its prospects are also considered. The works of S.P. Fedorov and his students opened a new page in surgery of that time: surgical treatment of patients with liver and biliary tract diseases. The results of research of the last three decades are the subject of particular pride in the successful continuation of the work of the founder of hepatobiliary surgery in our country. The scientific search and relay of the achievements of the scientific school of Professor S.P. Fedorov were performed in numerous publications, such as in periodicals, monographs, manuals, and speeches in our country and abroad, in a cumulated form, and this is presented in dissertations. In the study of the peculiarities of housing and communal services, both fundamental and applied aspects of solving this social problem of modern society are being developed. After the death of Sergey Petrovich, 17 candidate and 5 doctoral dissertations on the problems of biliary tract surgery were defended in the clinic of S.P. Fedorov Faculty of Surgery of S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy. After over the past years, more than 200 articles, four monographs and manuals were published, and many messages were made at scientific forums in our country and abroad.
Pathohistological study of the ganglion plexuses of the sigmoid colon in patients with chronic slow-transit constipation
Authors: Chumasov Evgenii I. , Romashchenko Pavel N. , Maistrenko Nicolay A. , Samedov Vadim B. , Petrova Elena S. , Korzhevskii Dmitry E.
Published: November 2021

The morphological study of the resected sections of the colon obtained at the S.P. Fedorov Department of Faculty Surgery of S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy, as a result of surgical treatment of patients with severe chronic slow-transit constipation, included an assessment of the changes in the structures of ganglion plexuses. Three cases were considered (women, aged 3740 years). Various degrees of pathological changes were detected in the ganglion plexuses (Auerbach and Meissner) of the sigmoid colon from patients with chronic slow-transit constipation using Nissls toluidine blue staining. In all cases, reactive, dystrophic, severe degenerative-necrotic changes of ganglion cells, as well as the details of their death, were described in detail. Along with pathological changes in nerve cells in the myenteric nerve plexus and gliosis, features of neuronglial relationships were described, and the death of ganglion cells in the human colon with the active participation of specialized astrocyte-like glial cells was also established for the first time. In the third case, a pattern of pronounced dysplasia and dysgangliogenesis was revealed in the myenteric ganglion plexus of the sigmoid colon, and the presence of diffuse lymphmonocytic infiltrates was noted in the circular muscle layer. Pathological changes in the enteral nervous system in chronic slow-transit constipation reflect neuropathy, which can serve as the main cause of impaired intestinal functions and of some symptoms.
Prevention of complications of transpapillary endoscopic interventions
Authors: Feklyunin Aleksey A. , Romashchenko Pavel N. , Maistrenko Nikolai A. , Omran Valentin S.
Published: November 2021

This study analyzed the treatment results of 345 patients who underwent planned and emergency transpapillary surgical interventions for various diseases of the biliopancreatoduodenal region. Among these patients, 68.9% were women and 31.1% were men aged 1892 (mean age, 63.7 4.5) years. The study included patients who used various types of transpapillary endoscopic interventions as a treatment method, such as endoscopic papillo-sphincterotomy (71.9%, including choledocholite extraction in 68.7% of the patients), endoprosthetics of the common bile duct and main pancreatic duct (17.8%), balloon dilatation and bougienage of bile duct strictures (6.2%), mechanical lithotripsy (2%), nasobiliary drainage (1%), endoscopic wirsungotomy (0.8%), and endoscopic papillectomy (0.3%). Variants of the inflow of hepaticoholedochus and Wirsung duct were assessed using magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. The active implementation of preventive measures regulated by the global community made it possible to reduce the overall incidence of complications of transpapillary interventions to 13.1% and the rates of postoperative mortality to 1.3% (p 0.05). The use of these measures led to a significant decrease in the incidence of acute post-manipulation pancreatitis from 10.3% to 4.8%, postoperative bleeding from 8.9% to 5.5%, cholangitis from 2.8% to 0.7%, and a low incidence of retroduodenal perforation in 1.1%. Personalized consideration of the modern recommendations of the global endoscopic communities (Europeans, Americans, and Japanese) when performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, as well as original approaches associated with the determination of the anatomical features of the structure of the Vater papilla with variants of fusion of hepaticocholedochus and Wirsung duct, helped to significantly reduce the overall incidence of complications following transpapillary endoscopic procedures from 22.2% to 13.1%.
Physiology of vagus nerves
Authors: Polumordvinov D. V.
Published: November 2021

Automatic movements of the gastrointestinal canal are regulated by the central nervous system by nerves, motor and inhibitory, which make up two separate groups; for the stomach and small intestines, the vagus nerves are motor, inhibiting n. n. splanchnici superiores, while the colon gets its motor fibers from n. n. erigentes (n. n. pelvici), and retardant from n. n. splanchnici inferiores, i.e., withdrawal of the nerve trunks, which go from the sympathetic borderline trunk to the lower mesenteric node and the post-node continuations of which are n. n. hypogastrici and n. mesentericus inf.
Problematika Pembelajaran Qiro’ah untuk Kelas VIII di Madrasah Tsanawiyah Darussalam Aur Duri Sumani Solok
Authors: Pakihun M. , Ritonga Mahyudin , Bambang Bambang
Published: November 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kesulitan yang dihadapi peserta didik di Madrasah Tsanawiyyah dalam membaca bahasa Arab, tujuan didasarkan pada hasil observasi awal yang menunjukkan lemahnya kemampuan peserta didik dalam membaca bahasa Arab. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan ialah kualitatif, informan utama dalam penelitian ini adalah guru bahasa Arab, dan untuk informan tambahan kepala madrasah dan beberapa peserta didik yang dipilih secara purposive sampling. Untuk mendapatkan data dari sumber yang ditentukan dalam penelitian ini digunakan observasi, wawancara dan studi dokumentasi, semua data dianalisis dengan pendekatan interaktif. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian diketahui bahwa kesulitan mempelajari materi qiro’ah yang dihadapi peserta didik ialah mulai dari aspek makharij al-huruf, shifat al-huruf, tajwid, dan gramatika, data menunjukkan secara umum peserta didik tidak memiliki ilmu dasar yakni gramatika bahasa Arab, sementara pada aspek makharij al-huruf, shifat al-huruf dan tajwid banyak di antara peserta didik yang telah memiliki kemampuan yang baik. Hasil penelitian merekomendasikan agar pembelajaran makharij al-huruf, shifat al-huruf dan tajwid dilakukan secara intensif di luar jadwal formal. Di samping itu, penguatan gramatika dalam bentuk aplikasinya menjadi semakin penting, untuk itu sinkronisasi materi pada kurikulum pesantren dengan materi bahasa Arab sebagai kurikulum Kemenag dapat menjadi alternatif.
Diseño y validación de un ensayo de minisecuenciación múltiple para detectar polimorfismos asociados con Síndrome Metabólico
Authors: Pérez-Forero Viviana Lucía , Castillo-Pico Adriana , Mantilla–Mora Gerardo , Pereira Rui
Published: November 2021

Introducción: es importante identificar los polimorfismos de interés clínico en patologías complejas como el Síndrome Metabólico. Por esto, las metodologías para su evaluación deben estar diseñadas y validadas correctamente, esto permite optimizar recursos y tiempo en la genotipificación y detección correcta de los alelos presentes en los individuos. Objetivo: diseñar y validar una PCR múltiple, seguida de detección por minisecuenciación, para la genotipificación de ocho polimorfismos de nucleótido simple ubicados en el gen del Receptor Beta 3-Adrenérgico (rs4994 y rs4998), gen de la Apolipoproteina A5 (rs3135506 y rs2075291), gen de la Adiponectina (rs1501299 y rs2241766) y gen del Receptor Activador de la Proliferación de los Peroxisomas tipo gamma (rs1801282 y rs1800571), asociados con el síndrome metabólico. Materiales y métodos: se diseñaron 24 cebadores para la amplificación y detección de ocho polimorfismos de nucleótido sencillo ubicados en cuatro genes candidatos a estar asociados con el síndrome metabólico, usando el software Primer3®. Dieciséis fueron diseñados para amplificar los polimorfismos y ocho para detectarlos por minisecuenciación. Las estructuras secundarias entre los cebadores se verificaron con el software Autodimer. Los polimorfismos se amplificaron simultáneamente y los fragmentos amplificados se acoplaron a las sondas diseñadas para detectar por minisecuenciación el alelo presente, por medio de bases marcadas con fluorocromos. Finalmente, los alelos fueron detectados por electroforesis capilar en un analizador genético ABI 310 y se interpretaron con el software GeneMapper®. La validación del multiplex se realizó genotipando 20 muestras de individuos, cada uno de ellos autorizó este procedimiento por medio del consentimiento informado. Resultados: se obtuvieron los perfiles genéticos de los 20 controles genotipados, a partir de la amplificación múltiple, seguida de minisecuenciación, diseñada y validada para detectar los ocho polimorfismos. Conclusión: se diseñó y validó un ensayo para la detección simultánea de los polimorfismos, ubicados en cuatro genes asociados con el Síndrome metabólico. Los cuales pueden ser empleados como referencia para futuros estudios poblacionales.
Remote Working Environment Challenges in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Al- Rfou Ahmad. N
Published: November 2021

As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, employees have begun working remotely from home, which has resulted in new challenges in the work environment. The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges of the remote work environment in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the level of these challenges according to the worker’s gender and job. This study was conducted on 11 Jordanian IT companies at the end of 2020. The intentional sample was used,125 valid questionnaires were used in the analysis. The results show that the respondents' perceptions of the challenges of the remote work environment in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic were high. There are also statistically significant differences at the level of significance (α≤0.05) for the level of challenges in the remote working environment according to gender (male/female) in favor of females and according to job level (supervisory or non-supervisory) in favor of non-supervisory jobs. To increase organisational performance, all parties—employees, families, and management—must cooperate to overcome the challenges of the remote work environment.
Volatility Forecasting Performance of Smooth Transition Exponential Smoothing Method: Evidence from Mutual Fund Indices in Malaysia
Authors: Kin Wan Cheong , Chong Choo Wei , Nassir Annuar Md , Habibullah Muzafar Shah , Yusop Zulkornain
Published: November 2021

This paper aims to empirically compare the performance of the smooth transition exponential smoothing (STES) method against the well-known generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model in one-step-ahead volatility forecasting. While the GARCH model captured most of the stylized facts of the financial time series, threats of outliers in the leptokurtic distributed series remain unresolved. The study compared volatility forecasting performance of a total of 22 models and methods comprising STES, GARCH, and some ad-hoc forecasting. The daily returns of seven mutual fund indices (derived from 57 individual equity mutual funds) under two different economic conditions (sub-periods) were applied across all competing models. Findings revealed that the STES method with error and absolute error as transition variables emerged as the best post-sample volatility forecasting model in both sub-periods with and without financial crisis impact, as verified by model confidence set (MCS) procedure. The implications based on the results are: (1) both the sign and size of yesterday’s news shock have an impact on today’s volatility; (2) the STES method is resilient to outliers, and hence superior to GARCH and other volatility forecasting approaches examined. This study contributes an empirical approach in forecasting the risk of mutual funds investment for investors and fund managers, as well as extending the scope of volatility forecasting literature into the less explored mutual funds.
Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Persistent Epithelial Defects and Ulceration due to Pseudomonas Keratitis in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Mehdi Soltan Dallal Mohammad , Nikkhahi Farhad , Mostafa Imeni Seyed , Molaei Saber , Kazem Hosseini Seyed , Kalafi Zohreh , Sharifi Yazdi Sara , Molla Agha Mirzaei Hedroosha
Published: November 2021

Purpose: The use of amniotic membrane has been suggested in the treatment ofinfectious keratitis for its intrinsic anti-infective properties probably mediated by its antiinflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) along with ciprofloxacin to cure the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis.
Methods: In total, 28 rabbits were selected and divided in four groups as follows: group 1 as control, group 2 with amniotic membrane, group 3 with ciprofloxacin, and group 4 with amniotic membrane combined with ciprofloxacin. About 0.05 cc suspension of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 27853 ATCC was injected into corneal stroma.
Results: The results showed groups of AMT, AMT + ciprofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin had 0% perforation while the control group had 85.6%. Average infiltration of 5.5 mm was observed in ciprofloxacin group, 5 mm in AMT + ciprofloxacin group, 24 mm in AMT group, and finally 23.75 mm for control. Amniotic membrane showed to be effective in prevention of cornea perforation as well as remission of Pseudomonas keratitis. There was no significant difference between ciprofloxacin groups in comparison with ciprofloxacin + AMT group. However, regarding the anti-inflammatory effect, the process of improvement of inflammation in ciprofloxacin + AMT group was faster.
Conclusion: Transplantation of amniotic membrane in the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis treatment remarkably prevents the disease and it can be used to control its process.
Variable Expressivity of Wolfram Syndrome in a Family with Multiple Affected Subjects
Authors: Mirrahimi Mehraban , Safi Sare , Mohammadzadeh Maryam , Doozandeh Azadeh , Suri Fatemeh
Published: November 2021

Purpose: To study the genetic basis and clinical manifestations of Wolfram syndrome in a multi-affected family.
Methods: Complete clinical examinations including urological, ophthalmic, neurological, and endocrinologic assessment were performed for three affected family members. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes with salting out method and all WFS1 exons and their flanking regions were sequenced. Candidate variation was screened for segregation in the pedigree by Sanger sequencing.
Results: A known pathogenic missense mutation in WFS1 gene (c.1885C>T which leads to p.Arg629Trp in the encoded protein) was identified in all affected individuals. Both clinical and genetic investigations confirmed Wolfram syndrome diagnosis with variable phenotypic features.
Conclusion: Identical mutations in the Wolfram syndrome causative gene can lead to variable manifestations of the syndrome even in the same family. Although the medical findings and clinical examination are imperative for the diagnosis of Wolfram syndrome, genetic testing is useful to confirm the diagnosis, especially in cases with possible reduced penetrance of the characteristic signs.
3D Printed Models for Teaching Orbital Anatomy, Anomalies and Fractures
Authors: Vatankhah Roya , Emadzadeh Ali , Nekooei Sirous , Tafaghodi Yousefi Bahar , Khadem Rezaiyan Majid , Karimi Moonaghi Hossein , Etezad Razavi Mohammad
Published: November 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of using 3D printing models in the learning process of orbital anatomy and pathology by ophthalmology residents.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study was performed with 24 residents of ophthalmology at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Each stratum was randomized into two groups. The educational booklets were distributed, and various forms of orbital 3D models were printed from orbital computed tomography (CT) scans. Knowledge enhancement on the topics was measured by comparing pretest and posttest scores.
Results: Thirteen residents who were trained using traditional methods were deemed the control group; while 11 residents who were trained using the 3D printed models were classed as the intervention group. The control group was younger than the intervention group (P = 0.047). The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the total posttest scores between the two groups. Based on the repeated measures of the analysis of variance (ANOVA), score variables were significant between the two groups (P = 0.008). Interestingly, the use of the 3D educational model was more effective and statistically significant with the year one residents as compared to the year two residents (P = 0.002).
Conclusion: This study is the first one in Iran quantifying the effects of learning using 3D printed models in medical education. In fact, 3D modeling training is seemingly effective in teaching ophthalmic residents. As residents have never encountered such technology before, their experience using 3D models proved to be satisfactory and had a surprising positive effect on the learning process through visual training.
Prevalence Rates and Risk Factors for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in the Middle East
Authors: Torabi Rana , Harris Alon , Siesky Brent , Zukerman Ryan , Oddone Francesco , Mathew Sunu , Januleviciene Ingrida , Verticchio Vercellin Alice C.
Published: November 2021

Glaucoma is a multifactorial disease and a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Current data has demonstrated the approximate distribution of primary openangle glaucoma (POAG) in patients of European, African, Hispanic, and Eastern Asian descent. However, a significant gap in the literature exists regarding the prevalence of POAG in Middle Eastern (ME) populations. Current studies estimate ME POAG prevalence based on a European model. Herein we screened 65 total publications on ME prevalence of POAG and specific risk factors using keywords: “glaucoma”, “prevalence”, “incidence”, “risk factor”, “Middle East”, “Mideast”, “Persian”, “Far East”, as well as searching by individual ME countries through PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Scopus, and Trip searches with additional reference list searches from relevant articles published up to and including March 1, 2021. Fifty qualifying records were included after 15 studies identified with low statistical power, confounding co-morbid ophthalmic diseases, and funding bias were excluded. Studies of ME glaucoma risk factors that identify chromosomes, familial trend, age/gender, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, intraocular pressure, vascular influences, optic disc hemorrhage, cup-to-disc ratio, blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus were included in this systematic review. We conclude that the prevalence of POAG in the ME is likely higher than the prevalence rate that European models suggest, with ME specific risk factors likely playing a role. However, these findings are severely limited by the paucity of population-level data in the ME. Well-designed, longitudinal population-based studies with rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria are ultimately needed to accurately assess the epidemiology and specific mechanistic risk factors of glaucoma in ME populations.
Intravitreal Methotrexate
Authors: Abdi Fatemeh , Mohammadi S. Saeed , Ghasemi Falavarjani Khalil
Published: November 2021

Intravitreal methotrexate (MTX) has been proven to be an effective treatment for various intraocular diseases. In this article, a comprehensive review was performed on intravitreal applications of methotrexate. Different aspects of the administration of intravitreal MTX for various clinical conditions such as intraocular tumors, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and uveitis were reviewed and the adverse effects of intravitreal injection of MTX were discussed. The most common indications are intraocular lymphoma and uveitis. Other applications remain challenging and more studies are needed to establish the role of intravitreal MTX in the management of ocular diseases.
OCT Angiography-based Evaluation of the Choriocapillaris in Neovascular Age Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Pramil Varsha , Moult Eric M. , Fujimoto James G. , Waheed Nadia K.
Published: November 2021

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can lead to rapid, irreversible vision loss in untreated eyes. While the pathogenesis of neovascular AMD remains incompletely understood, the choriocapillaris has been hypothesized as the initial site of injury. Due to limitations of dye-based angiography, in vivo imaging of the choriocapillaris has been a longstanding challenge. However, the clinical introduction of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has enabled researchers and clinicians to noninvasively image the choriocapillaris vasculature, allowing the evaluation of the choriocapillaris in eyes with a variety of pathologies. In this perspective, we review important OCTA-based findings regarding choriocapillaris impairment in neovascular AMD and discuss limitations and future directions of OCTA technologies in the context of this disease.
Complete Traumatic Luxation of the Eyeball
Authors: Singh Manpreet , Singh Jassi Amandeep , Kaur Manpreet , Gupta Pankaj
Published: November 2021

Purpose: To report the computed tomography features of a case with complete luxation of the globe after a road traffic accident.
Case Report: A 35-year-old male presented with pain, loss of vision, and bleeding from the left eye 48 hr after a road traffic accident. The ophthalmic examination of the left upper and lower eyelids showed edema with subcutaneous hematoma, crepitus, and complete blepharoptosis. On retracting the eyelids, the left eyeball was not visible and the patient was not able to perceive light. The left temporal region appeared filled with a soft, palpable globular structure situated beneath the temporalis muscle. A non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) of the head and orbits showed a comminuted and displaced fracture of the floor, medial, and lateral orbital walls in addition to a displaced tripod fracture of the left zygomatic bone. The intact left eyeball was seen below the temporalis muscle without any optic nerve or extraocular muscle attachment. The virtual reality reconstruction highlighted a contributory supero-temporal defect in the bony orbit, which appeared large enough to accommodate the intact eyeball.
Conclusion: The computed tomography of the orbits provided a detailed location of the luxated eyeball and provided guidance in further management of the case.
Transforming Ophthalmology Training via Mobile Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Sadoughi Mohammad-Mehdi , Ahmady Soleiman , Kalantarion Masomeh , Khajeali Nasrin
Published: November 2021

This is a Letter to the Editor and does not have an abstract. Please download the PDF or view the article HTML.
Cataract Surgical Coverage in Kurdistan, Iran
Authors: Mohammadi Seyed-Farzad , Ashrafi Elham , Mohazzab-Torabi Saman , Delshad-Aghdam Hanieh , Katibeh Marzieh
Published: November 2021

This is a Letter to the Editor and does not have an abstract. Please download the PDF or view the article HTML.
Assessment of heavy metals and their estimated daily intakes from two commonly consumed foods (kulikuli and robo) found in Nigeria
Authors:   Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Lanre-Iyanda TY , Adekunle IM ,   University of Agriculture, Nigeria
Published: November 2021

Most foodstuffs sold in Nigerian outdoor markets are often susceptible to pollution due to poor packaging. As a case study, this work was aimed at the evaluation of heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Zn, As, Pb and Ni) content of two widely consumed snack foods in the country, namely melon (robo) and groundnut (kulikuli). The Robo and kulikuli used in this study were purchased from Abeokuta. The products procured directly from the source of preparation served as control samples. All together, a total of two hundred and ninety-four samples were collected for both (kulikuli and robo) from seven different motor parks and forty-two samples of both (50% for each) formed the control. Samples were ground to powdered form and subjected to acid digestion. The resulting digests were analyzed for the heavy metal concentrations using calibrated atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Field survey was conducted to assess the average consumption of the two food types by an adult of 70 kg body weight and the daily intake of each was then calculated using standard procedures. Results showed that kulikuli; robo metal concentrations (mg/kg) were 0.23 to 1.25; 0.018 to 0.069; 6.73 to 9.23; 0.07 to 0.47; 13.83 to 33.13 and 16.15 to 53.91 for As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn respectively. Estimated daily dietary intake (mg/kg body weight) from the respective robo and kulikuli, for a 70 kg body weight, were 5.71 x 10 -5; 8.57 x 10 -5, 9.57 x 10 -3; 1.1 x 10 -2 , 1.57 x 10 -4; 4.14 x 10 -4 , 8.86 x 10 -4; 1.2x 10 -3 , 2.33 x 10 -2; 3.5 x 10 -2 and 2.76 x 10 -2; 6.5 x 10 -2 for Cd, Cu, Ni, As, Pb and Zn, respectively. Only Pb was above permissible level and based on estimated daily intake, risk factor decreased as Pb > As > Zn > Cu > Cd > Ni.
Assessing the impact of credit constraints on farm household economic welfare in the hinterland of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors:   Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Muayila KH , Tollens E
Published: November 2021

This study investigates the impact of credit constraints on farm household economic welfare. Data were cross sectional and collected at household level in the Hinterland of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The sample survey consists of 202 farm households randomly selected. The survey was conducted from February to March 2008. The non-parametric method known as the Propensity Score Matching was applied to compute the impact of credit constraints on farm household welfare. The credit constraints were identified based on direct questions to households about their credit status. The household economic welfare was measured using the consumption approach. The results from descriptive statistics establish the existence of high level of credit constraints among farm households in the area of study. The majority of farm households (71%) have to endure credit constraints. The results of descriptive statistics indicate that the lack of collateral, the loan terms conditions, the credit technology, the higher level of agricultural risks, the high interest rates and the low returns on farming activities explain the limited access to credit by farmers. The results of logit model show that household social capital, household access to remittances, household land holding and household access to extension service tend to reduce the probability of being credit constrained, while the household size tends to increase the propensity of being credit constrained. The results of the propensity score matching report that credit constraints reduce per capita food consumption per day from -197 FC to -219 FC (-0.35$ to -0.39$). The impact of credit constraints on per capita non-food consumption per day is quite difficult to be supported. The results report that only ATT obtained from Radius estimator shows a negative and significant effect at p<0.010. The average effect of credit constraints on per capita total consumption per day is estimated at about -328 FC (-0.59$) under Radius matching, -269FC (-0.48 $) under Kernel matching and -280 FC (-0.50$) under Stratification matching. The average impact on the ratio of per capita total consumption per day to poverty line of 1$ and to poverty line of 2$ ranges from -0.59 to 0, 48 and from -0.29 to -0.23, respectively. The study concludes that the improvement of farm household access to credit could result in increasing economic welfare.
Crop Concentration and Crop Diversification in Birbhum District of West Bengal: Recent Situations
Authors: Ray Prabuddha
Published: November 2021

Background: Crop concentration focuses on the pre-dominance of certain crops over other crops in a specific area under study. On the other hand, crop diversification refers to the various types of crops grown in a specific time period under the study area. If the numbers of different types of crops grown in an area during a specified time period is more, the area will have the higher crop diversification and vice versa. So, crop concentration and crop diversification reveal changing pattern of competition among various crops for getting prominence over other crops.
Methods: The present study was initiated to have an analysis of present situation regarding the crop concentration and crop diversification in Birbhum district of West Bengal over the years of 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 through interpretation of the data related with the area, production and productivity data of the major crops of the district obtained from the Govt. of India data source. (aps.dac.gov.in/APY/Public­_Report1.apx). In this study, the crop concentration of Birbhum district is delineated with the help of the crop concentration Index of Bhatia (1965) and crop diversification is assessed with the help of the Gibbs and Martin Index of diversification (1962).
Result: The present study clearly finds out that the crop concentration index of Birbhum district is low as the mean of the Indices is 34.01 with corresponding standard deviation (SD) of 0.2997 and co-efficient of variance (CV) of Indices is as low as 0.0088 over a period of five years from 2012-13 to 2016-17. This study also reveals that in Birbhum district only 2 crops having more than 10 per centage point share in the gross cropped area (GCA) of the district provides the farmers a wide scope of farming various different crops or group of crops. The present study also points out that the district has a fairly diversified pallet of crops as the Mean value of crop diversification indices is 00.64754 with a standard deviation of as negligible as 00.0001 with a minute CV of Indices of 00.00016 for the time period of 5 years i.e. from 2012-13 to 2016-17, having potential for further well planned diversification of the crops.