bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Now I am hopeless’: exploring the lived experiences of people refused asylum
Authors:   , Taylor Lucy
Published: March 2022

Evidence from NGOs and the charitable sector suggests that people who are refused asylum in the UK lead highly marginalised lives, experiencing levels of deprivation that flout UK and international human rights legislation. However, the number of studies engaging with this largely hidden population is small, with little attention paid to understanding how this marginalisation is engendered, perpetuated and experienced. This thesis addresses this gap by engaging with social theory to understand empirical research findings. Research was carried out with fifteen destitute refused asylum seekers in Sheffield using a qualitative methodology comprising in-depth interviews and participant-led auto-photography and photo-elicitation. This thesis makes three main contributions to knowledge. Firstly, it expands empirical understanding of the lived experience of being a refused asylum seeker in the UK. In line with previous studies, participants experienced extreme material and social marginalisation. This impacted on their health, wellbeing and social relationships. Secondly, the thesis develops an analytical framework of theoretical concepts to engage with the empirical data that might prove useful to other scholars seeking to understand marginalised groups. Thirdly, novel theoretical insights are generated in relation to the data. Elias and Scotson’s (1994 [1965]) theory of established-outsider relations is utilised to explain how power disparities between the established UK ‘group’ and refused asylum seekers underpin participants’ marginalisation. Other concepts, including Wacquant’s urban marginality (2008), situate the findings in the context of the modern city. Additional analytical lenses, such as Goffman’s (1963) work on stigma, provide nuanced insights into participants’ day-to-day lived realities, and the way that stigma seemingly perpetuates segregation. The research finds that participants frequently experience their marginalisation as a form of imprisonment, and Foucault’s concepts of governmentality and the carceral archipelago help to further understand this, providing new perspectives on what it feels like to be a refused asylum seeker in the UK today.
Factors to Consider in Syrian Refugee Families' Journeys to Social Inclusion: A Literature Review
Authors: Dodd Jennifer , Clandinin D. Jean , Vigneau Gillian , Kubota Hiroko , Caine Vera
Published: March 2022

This paper offers a review of the research literature on the experiences of young children and their families who left Syria as refugees and resettled in Canada. We identify five key factors that influence Syrian refugees’ experience of social inclusion within the context of the public-school systems as well as unveil the silences in and across the current studies. The five factors are pre-arrival experiences, mental health, social supports, acquisition of English language skills, and lack of preparedness of teachers and schools. Based on limited availability of research, we outline needed research to better understand social inclusion of Syrian refugee families with young children in Canada. There is a call to pay particular attention to their educational and social encounters.
Ofício de professor/a
Authors: Oliari Gilberto , Tomazetti Elisete Medianeira
Published: March 2022

O presente artigo apresenta uma discussão de caráter filosófico sobre a relação pedagógica escolar. Busca-se compreender e argumentar a possibilidade de considerar a produção dessa relação a partir dos princípios da artesania (oficina, professor/a artesão/ã, perícia artesanal, consciência material). Assim encontra-se dividido em subseções que buscam: apresentar uma leitura do cenário educacional brasileiro, fundamentado nas políticas públicas educacionais; relacionar os conceitos que definem uma oficina artesanal às considerações sobre a definição do espaço escolar, ampliando a compreensão da escola como oficina; refletir sobre a possibilidade de compreender a relação humana como obra e a relação pedagógica como obra artesanal; e, apresentar o diálogo como meio para constituição desta relação pedagógica escolar. Utiliza-se de uma metodologia artesanal, caminhante, bibliográfica, com inspiração hermenêutica para relacionar os diferentes argumentos e expressões que fundamentam a tese. Considera-se que o/a professor/a pode desenvolver ações inspiradas na artesania para a constituição da relação pedagógica escolar embasado em algumas características que atribuem o adjetivo de ‘bom’ ao/a artesão: o reconhecimento da importância do esboço para a constituição de obras; o valor positivo das contingências; o evitar a busca inflexível da solução de problemas; o evitar o perfeccionismo; e, aprender a identificar o momento de parar.
Escolas criativas, complexidade e consciência planetária
Authors: Pedroso Daniele Saheb , Zewierewicz Marlene , Maura Maria Antònia Pujol , Vieira Alboni Dudeque Pianovski
Published: March 2022

O dossiê Escolas criativas, complexidade e consciência planetária tem como proposta apresentar diferentes pesquisas que versam sobre a necessidade de mudanças paradigmáticas nos processos de ensino e de aprendizagem. Nesse sentido, as análises envolvem reflexões e práticas que buscam elucidar a necessidade de superação de iniciativas pautadas na fragmentação do conhecimento e no distanciamento entre as disciplinas e dessas em relação à realidade.
A educação dialógica transformadora aliada à visão da complexidade: a experiência de escolarização aberta no Projeto CONNECT
Authors: Behrens Marilda Aparecida , Torres Patrícia Lupion
Published: March 2022

Este artigo foi gerado em torno do Projeto CONNECT, o qual envolve como base os conceitos de escolarização aberta, educação aberta, recursos e práticas educacionais abertas e escola criativa. Esses temas inovadores da pesquisa qualitativa participante fundamentaram-se nas concepções de Edgar Morin sobre o a visão da complexidade e de Paulo Freire sobre a educação dialógica, como sustentação epistemológica dos processos formativos de escolarização aberta do referido projeto. A escolarização aberta e o uso de REAs e PEAs em escolas criativas se apresentam como subsídios aos processos de formação para a cidadania com vistas à consciência planetária. Nessa etapa do Projeto CONNECT, o problema investigado foi: como provocar os estudantes, por meio de REA, para o exercício do papel de cientistas em temas emergentes da sociedade local e mundial, mediado pelo processo de cocriação de professores e pesquisadores, com fins de realização de registros de produção de conhecimento? O objetivo geral foi elaborar REAs, em processo de cocriação em um grupo de pesquisa, como subsídios aos docentes das escolas envolvidas, com a intenção de levar os estudantes ao exercício do papel de cientistas em temas emergentes, como a Covid-19. Os resultados mostraram que professores e alunos das duas escolas envolvidas no processo de formação participante puderam refletir, problematizar e desenvolver projetos, além de usufruir da construção colaborativa de REAs, com temáticas ligadas aos conhecimentos científicos, no caso, a Covid-19. Assim, os participantes puderam começar a tomar consciência de sua responsabilidade social como cidadãos protagonistas no cuidado e na preservação da vida e do planeta.
Complexidade-transdisciplinaridade-ecoformação
Authors: Pedroso Daniele Saheb , Zwierewicz Marlene , Hülse Levi
Published: March 2022

Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir a tríade conceitual complexidade- transdisciplinaridade-ecoformação por meio da análise de artigos de um dossiê, publicado em 2020, sobre o conceito de complexidade. Além deste, os outros dois conceitos têm pautado o movimento das Escolas Criativas, iniciativa impulsionada por Torre (2009) e mobilizada por núcleos vinculados a diferentes instituições universitárias do Brasil e do exterior que integram a Rede Internacional de Escolas Criativas (RIEC). Assim, este trabalho é resultado de uma pesquisa bibliográfica que prioriza a abordagem qualitativa, possuindo como aporte teórico contribuições de autores como Moraes (2015), Morin (2015, 2019), Nicolescu (2018) e Torre e Zwierewicz (2009). Entre os resultados, a análise dos artigos possibilitou sua categorização em quatro grupos: i) relação entre autores; ii) as Escolas Criativas e suas especificidades; iii) contribuições da epistemologia da complexidade; iv) e formas de pensar os problemas complexos. Em relação à tríade conceitual, apesar da existência de artigos que não abordam os três conceitos simultaneamente, observou-se que nessa tríade se encontram princípios para a metamorfose da educação, com iniciativas que priorizam a articulação entre conteúdos curriculares e demandas locais e globais, com o objetivo de valorizar vias comprometidas com a solidariedade global a partir de condições localmente criadas.
A combinação entre Mindfulness e método ArtSci estimula a criatividade de forma transdisciplinar
Authors: Meneses Danilo Andrade de , Lopez Luiz Carlos Serramo , Fróes Maira Monteiro
Published: March 2022

Sistemas complexos podem se organizar de forma direcionada para a criatividade e autenticidade, uma característica chamada de autotranscendência.  Neste artigo, a sala de aula criativa é vista como um sistema complexo que busca a autotranscendência, uma característica de cunho transdisciplinar. Nosso objetivo foi saber se o nosso grupo de pesquisa sobre criatividade desenvolvia essas competências — criatividade e autotranscendência — nos alunos através de práticas que envolviam Mindfulness e o método Artsci. Nossa metodologia foi dividida em duas análises qualitativas.  A primeira foi o processo simbólico-arquetípico sobre a última prática do semestre. A segunda análise foi a de conteúdo de Bardin, sobre a melhora da criatividade e outros benefícios das práticas do grupo de pesquisa. Nos resultados da primeira análise encontramos símbolos e arquétipos que remetiam ao aspecto de segurança necessário para o alcance da autonomia e realização pessoal dos estudantes.  Na segunda análise encontramos que as práticas criativas foram importantes para o desenvolvimento da criatividade, autoconhecimento, autoestima, autorreflexão e bem-estar. Esses resultados indicam que as competências de criatividade e autotranscendência foram desenvolvidas.  Acreditamos que esse modelo contribui para o desenvolvimento de escolas criativas que promovam não só a criatividade, mas a consciência integral do ser humano.
Reflexões sobre o movimento na educação infantil e o trabalho pedagógico
Authors: Souto Debora Luppi , Saito Heloisa Toshie Irie
Published: March 2022

O movimento é um aspecto fundamental a ser trabalhado com as crianças entre zero e três anos, pois por meio dele os pequenos exploram os objetos, seu corpo e do outro e se expressam de modo a se comunicarem com os sujeitos em seu entorno. Chegamos a esse entendimento tendo como base nossos estudos que ocorreram na graduação em Pedagogia, no mestrado e em nossa atuação com crianças, fatores que impulsionaram a pesquisa do referido tema. Defendemos que, ao ser trabalhado de forma qualitativa nas ações pedagógicas da Educação Infantil, o movimento possibilita aos pequenos estabelecerem relações sociais positivas, apropriando-se da cultura humana de modo a desenvolverem aspectos físicos, afetivos e cognitivos. Tendo tal compreensão, objetivamos nesse artigo trazer um recorte da pesquisa realizada no mestrado de modo a refletir sobre a importância do trabalho com o movimento na creche, defendendo uma ação pedagógica qualitativa com as crianças. Para isso, trazemos alguns aspectos voltados ao desenvolvimento do movimento humano e algumas possibilidades de trabalho qualitativo com o movimento na educação infantil, tendo como respaldo os pressupostos da teoria histórico-cultural. Concluímos que é importante na área educacional, principalmente na educação infantil, a reflexão sobre o movimento e uma ação organizada que o contemple, pois, por meio dele, as crianças exploram o mundo ao seu redor e estabelecem importantes relações sociais, as quais contribuem para uma formação integral.
The out-of-field dose in radiation therapy induces delayed tumorigenesis by senescence evasion
Authors: Goy Erwan , Tomezak Maxime , Facchin Caterina , Martin Nathalie , Bouchaert Emmanuel , Benoit Jerome , de Schutter Clementine , Nassour Joe , Saas Laure , Drullion Claire , Brodin Priscille M , Vandeputte Alexandre , Molendi-Coste Olivier , Pineau Laurent , Goormachtigh Gautier , Pluquet Olivier , Pourtier Albin , Cleri Fabrizio , Lartigau Eric , Penel Nicolas , Abbadie Corinne
Published: March 2022

A rare but severe complication of curative-intent radiation therapy is the induction of second primary cancers. These cancers preferentially develop not inside the planning target volume (PTV) but around, over several centimeters, after a latency period of 1–40 years. We show here that normal human or mouse dermal fibroblasts submitted to the out-of-field dose scattering at the margin of a PTV receiving a mimicked patient’s treatment do not die but enter in a long-lived senescent state resulting from the accumulation of unrepaired DNA single-strand breaks, in the almost absence of double-strand breaks. Importantly, a few of these senescent cells systematically and spontaneously escape from the cell cycle arrest after a while to generate daughter cells harboring mutations and invasive capacities. These findings highlight single-strand break-induced senescence as the mechanism of second primary cancer initiation, with clinically relevant spatiotemporal specificities. Senescence being pharmacologically targetable, they open the avenue for second primary cancer prevention.
Dysregulated heparan sulfate proteoglycan metabolism promotes Ewing sarcoma tumor growth
Authors: Vasileva Elena , Warren Mikako , Triche Timothy J , Amatruda James F
Published: March 2022

The Ewing sarcoma family of tumors is a group of malignant small round blue cell tumors (SRBCTs) that affect children, adolescents, and young adults. The tumors are characterized by reciprocal chromosomal translocations that generate chimeric fusion oncogenes, the most common of which is EWSR1-FLI1. Survival is extremely poor for patients with metastatic or relapsed disease, and no molecularly targeted therapy for this disease currently exists. The absence of a reliable genetic animal model of Ewing sarcoma has impaired investigation of tumor cell/microenvironmental interactions in vivo. We have developed a new genetic model of Ewing sarcoma based on Cre-inducible expression of human EWSR1-FLI1 in wild-type zebrafish, which causes rapid onset of SRBCTs at high penetrance. The tumors express canonical EWSR1-FLI1 target genes and stain for known Ewing sarcoma markers including CD99. Growth of tumors is associated with activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway, which we link to dysregulated extracellular matrix metabolism in general and heparan sulfate proteoglycan catabolism in particular. Targeting heparan sulfate proteoglycans with the specific heparan sulfate antagonist Surfen reduces ERK1/2 signaling and decreases tumorigenicity of Ewing sarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. These results highlight the important role of the extracellular matrix in Ewing sarcoma tumor growth and the potential of agents targeting proteoglycan metabolism as novel therapies for this disease.
Adaptation in cone photoreceptors contributes to an unexpected insensitivity of primate On parasol retinal ganglion cells to spatial structure in natural images
Authors: Yu Zhou , Turner Maxwell H , Baudin Jacob , Rieke Fred
Published: March 2022

Neural circuits are constructed from nonlinear building blocks, and not surprisingly overall circuit behavior is often strongly nonlinear. But neural circuits can also behave near linearly, and some circuits shift from linear to nonlinear behavior depending on stimulus conditions. Such control of nonlinear circuit behavior is fundamental to neural computation. Here, we study a surprising stimulus dependence of the responses of macaque On (but not Off) parasol retinal ganglion cells: these cells respond nonlinearly to spatial structure in some stimuli but near linearly to spatial structure in others, including natural inputs. We show that these differences in the linearity of the integration of spatial inputs can be explained by a shift in the balance of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs that originates at least partially from adaptation in the cone photoreceptors. More generally, this highlights how subtle asymmetries in signaling – here in the cone signals – can qualitatively alter circuit computation.
Activation of the CaMKII-Sarm1-ASK1-p38 MAP kinase pathway protects against axon degeneration caused by loss of mitochondria
Authors: Ding Chen , Wu Youjun , Dabas Hadas , Hammarlund Marc
Published: March 2022

Mitochondrial defects are tightly linked to axon degeneration, yet the underlying cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, PVQ axons that lack mitochondria degenerate spontaneously with age. Using an unbiased genetic screen, we found that cell-specific activation of CaMKII/UNC-43 suppresses axon degeneration due to loss of mitochondria. Unexpectedly, CaMKII/UNC-43 activates the conserved Sarm1/TIR-1-ASK1/NSY-1-p38 MAPK pathway and eventually the transcription factor CEBP-1 to protect against degeneration. In addition, we show that disrupting a trafficking complex composed of calsyntenin/CASY-1, Mint/LIN-10, and kinesin suppresses axon degeneration. Further analysis indicates that disruption of this trafficking complex activates the CaMKII-Sarm1-MAPK pathway through L-type voltage-gated calcium channels. Our findings identify CaMKII as a pivot point between mitochondrial defects and axon degeneration, describe how it is regulated, and uncover a surprising neuroprotective role for the Sarm1-p38 MAPK pathway in this context.
Pericyte-mediated constriction of renal capillaries evokes no-reflow and kidney injury following ischaemia
Authors: Freitas Felipe , Attwell David
Published: March 2022

Acute kidney injury is common, with ~13 million cases and 1.7 million deaths/year worldwide. A major cause is renal ischaemia, typically following cardiac surgery, renal transplant or severe haemorrhage. We examined the cause of the sustained reduction in renal blood flow (‘no-reflow’), which exacerbates kidney injury even after an initial cause of compromised blood supply is removed. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, or NG2-dsRed male mice were used in this study. After 60 min kidney ischaemia and 30–60 min reperfusion, renal blood flow remained reduced, especially in the medulla, and kidney tubule damage was detected as Kim-1 expression. Constriction of the medullary descending vasa recta and cortical peritubular capillaries occurred near pericyte somata, and led to capillary blockages, yet glomerular arterioles and perfusion were unaffected, implying that the long-lasting decrease of renal blood flow contributing to kidney damage was generated by pericytes. Blocking Rho kinase to decrease pericyte contractility from the start of reperfusion increased the post-ischaemic diameter of the descending vasa recta capillaries at pericytes, reduced the percentage of capillaries that remained blocked, increased medullary blood flow and reduced kidney injury. Thus, post-ischaemic renal no-reflow, contributing to acute kidney injury, reflects pericytes constricting the descending vasa recta and peritubular capillaries. Pericytes are therefore an important therapeutic target for treating acute kidney injury.
Monkey plays Pac-Man with compositional strategies and hierarchical decision-making
Authors: Yang Qianli , Lin Zhongqiao , Zhang Wenyi , Li Jianshu , Chen Xiyuan , Zhang Jiaqi , Yang Tianming
Published: March 2022

Humans can often handle daunting tasks with ease by developing a set of strategies to reduce decision-making into simpler problems. The ability to use heuristic strategies demands an advanced level of intelligence and has not been demonstrated in animals. Here, we trained macaque monkeys to play the classic video game Pac-Man. The monkeys’ decision-making may be described with a strategy-based hierarchical decision-making model with over 90% accuracy. The model reveals that the monkeys adopted the take-the-best heuristic by using one dominating strategy for their decision-making at a time and formed compound strategies by assembling the basis strategies to handle particular game situations. With the model, the computationally complex but fully quantifiable Pac-Man behavior paradigm provides a new approach to understanding animals’ advanced cognition.
Early lock-in of structured and specialised information flows during neural development
Authors: Shorten David P , Priesemann Viola , Wibral Michael , Lizier Joseph T
Published: March 2022

The brains of many organisms are capable of complicated distributed computation underpinned by a highly advanced information processing capacity. Although substantial progress has been made towards characterising the information flow component of this capacity in mature brains, there is a distinct lack of work characterising its emergence during neural development. This lack of progress has been largely driven by the lack of effective estimators of information processing operations for spiking data. Here, we leverage recent advances in this estimation task in order to quantify the changes in transfer entropy during development. We do so by studying the changes in the intrinsic dynamics of the spontaneous activity of developing dissociated neural cell cultures. We find that the quantity of information flowing across these networks undergoes a dramatic increase across development. Moreover, the spatial structure of these flows exhibits a tendency to lock-in at the point when they arise. We also characterise the flow of information during the crucial periods of population bursts. We find that, during these bursts, nodes tend to undertake specialised computational roles as either transmitters, mediators, or receivers of information, with these roles tending to align with their average spike ordering. Further, we find that these roles are regularly locked-in when the information flows are established. Finally, we compare these results to information flows in a model network developing according to a spike-timing-dependent plasticity learning rule. Similar temporal patterns in the development of information flows were observed in these networks, hinting at the broader generality of these phenomena.
Selective YAP activation in Procr cells is essential for ovarian stem/progenitor expansion and epithelium repair
Authors: Wang Jingqiang , Liu Chunye , He Lingli , Xie Zhiyao , Bai Lanyue , Yu Wentao , Wang Zuoyun , Lu Yi , Gao Dong , Fu Junfen , Zhang Lei , Zeng Yi Arial
Published: March 2022

Ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) undergoes recurring ovulatory rupture and OSE stem cells rapidly generate new cells for the repair. How the stem cell activation is triggered by the rupture and promptly turns on proliferation is unclear. Our previous study has identified that Protein C Receptor (Procr) marks OSE progenitors. In this study, we observed decreased adherent junction and selective activation of YAP signaling in Procr progenitors at OSE rupture site. OSE repair is impeded upon deletion of Yap1 in these progenitors. Interestingly, Procr+ progenitors show lower expression of Vgll4, an antagonist of YAP signaling. Overexpression of Vgll4 in Procr+ cells hampers OSE repair and progenitor proliferation, indicating that selective low Vgll4 expression in Procr+ progenitors is critical for OSE repair. In addition, YAP activation promotes transcription of the OSE stemness gene Procr. The combination of increased cell division and Procr expression leads to expansion of Procr+ progenitors surrounding the rupture site. These results illustrate a YAP-dependent mechanism by which the stem/progenitor cells recognize the murine ovulatory rupture, and rapidly multiply their numbers, highlighting a YAP-induced stem cell expansion strategy.
Associative learning drives longitudinally graded presynaptic plasticity of neurotransmitter release along axonal compartments
Authors: Stahl Aaron , Noyes Nathaniel C , Boto Tamara , Botero Valentina , Broyles Connor N , Jing Miao , Zeng Jianzhi , King Lanikea B , Li Yulong , Davis Ronald L , Tomchik Seth M
Published: March 2022

Anatomical and physiological compartmentalization of neurons is a mechanism to increase the computational capacity of a circuit, and a major question is what role axonal compartmentalization plays. Axonal compartmentalization may enable localized, presynaptic plasticity to alter neuronal output in a flexible, experience-dependent manner. Here, we show that olfactory learning generates compartmentalized, bidirectional plasticity of acetylcholine release that varies across the longitudinal compartments of Drosophila mushroom body (MB) axons. The directionality of the learning-induced plasticity depends on the valence of the learning event (aversive vs. appetitive), varies linearly across proximal to distal compartments following appetitive conditioning, and correlates with learning-induced changes in downstream mushroom body output neurons (MBONs) that modulate behavioral action selection. Potentiation of acetylcholine release was dependent on the CaV2.1 calcium channel subunit cacophony. In addition, contrast between the positive conditioned stimulus and other odors required the inositol triphosphate receptor, which maintained responsivity to odors upon repeated presentations, preventing adaptation. Downstream from the MB, a set of MBONs that receive their input from the γ3 MB compartment were required for normal appetitive learning, suggesting that they represent a key node through which reward learning influences decision-making. These data demonstrate that learning drives valence-correlated, compartmentalized, bidirectional potentiation, and depression of synaptic neurotransmitter release, which rely on distinct mechanisms and are distributed across axonal compartments in a learning circuit.
Full vaccination coverage and associated factors among children aged 12 to 23 months in remote rural area of Demba Gofa District, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Darebo Tadele Dana , Oshe Bahru Belachew , Diro Chala Wegi
Published: March 2022

Background

Full vaccination refers to the administration of vaccines/antigens recommended for children in the first year of life. However, little is known about full vaccination in remote, rural Ethiopia. This study aimed to measure full vaccination coverage and associated factors among children aged 12 to 23 months in Demba Gofa District, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in April and May 2019 using a multistage sampling technique to select 677 mothers with children 12–23 months of age. Data was collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, and data were edited, coded, entered, and cleaned using Epi Info v3.1 and analyzed using SPSS v20. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to understand associations between dependent and independent variables.

Results

Three-hundred and nine children (47.0%) were fully vaccinated, 274 (41.7%) were partially vaccinated, and 74 (11.3%) were not vaccinated at all. Children were more likely to be vaccinated if decisions were made jointly with husbands (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI [1.06–3.34]), were made by mothers (AOR = 4.03, 95% CI [1.66–9.78]), followed postnatal care (AOR = 5.02, 95% CI [2.28–11.05]), if the child’s age for completing vaccination was known (AOR = 2.54, 95% CI [1.04–6.23]), and if vaccinations did not make the child sick (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI [0.16–0.64]).

Conclusion

Full vaccination coverage was less than average in the study district and far below the governmental target (90%) necessary for sustained control of vaccine-preventable diseases. Interventions targeted towards maternal healthcare decision-making, postnatal care, knowledge on vaccination timing, and importance should be prioritized to improve full vaccination coverage. A continuous supply of vaccination cards needs to be ensured to improve vaccination conditions.
Collagen Dressing Versus Conventional Vaseline Gauze Dressing in Reducing Pain and Infection at the Donor Area for Skin Grafting: A Prospective Interventional Study
Authors: Jain Adeesh , Aaudichya Abhay , Rathwa Ankit , Jain Prathiti , Patel Piyush
Published: March 2022

Introduction: The harvest of a split thickness skin graft causes a partial thickness injury and an outflow of blood and protein rich exudate from the donor site wound. Conventionally, closed dressings are employed using petroleum jelly impregnated gauge which are permeable to bacteria and wound exudate soaks through. This may lead to pain and infection of the donor site. Biological dressings create the most physiological interface between the wound surfaces and the environment and also dressings are natural, non immunogenic, non pyrogenic and hypo allergenic. Collagen sheet is one such dressing material used. Aim: To compare the conventional dressing using petroleum jelly impregnated gauze versus biological dressing with collagen sheets in terms of pain, infection and healing at skin graft site. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective interventional study conducted in Department of Surgery, SSG Hospital and Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India over a period of November 2012 to November 2017 on 220 participants. Randomisation was done by choosing an envelope containing cards marked ‘A’ or ‘B’. The group A (110) was a study group with collagen sheet dressing while group B (110) was the control group with conventional vaseline gauze dressing. Both group patients were examined at six hours postoperatively and then two times a day at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm daily. They were evaluated for pain with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, infection, haematoma formation, healing at donor site and allergic reaction to collagen. Results: Mean VAS score for pain showed that it decreased over a period of time in both the groups. The group with collagen sheet dressing shows decreasing means VAS score from 4.34 on 1st day to 0.29 on 3rd day (p<0.0001). Similarly, the vaseline gauze dressing shows decreasing mean VAS score from 5.64 on 1st day to 1.39 on 3rd day (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Collagen sheet dressing are easy to apply, with advantage of less pain at donor site and lower infection rate. Also healing time required is less than the vaseline gauze dressing. collagen sheet dressing is clinically more efficient overall.
Corpus Callosal Morphometry in Mid-sagittal Plane MRI in Patients of Different Age Groups: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Krishna Vadana Bala Murali , Sekhar Kondragunta Chandra , Pravallika Dasari , Chandana Thota
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Corpus callosum is the largest and most important of the forebrain commissural tracts connecting the two cerebral hemispheres. This white matter tract plays essential role in sensory, motor, and cognitive signal transmission across the right and left cerebral hemispheres. Hence, corpus callosal thickness and morphology reflects the hemispheric volume and functional ability of the brain. Thinning of corpus callosum which can be due to abnormal or absent myelination, demyelinating conditions, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and metabolic diseases affecting the white matter can lead to developmental impairment and behavioural disorders which need to be properly evaluated. Aim: To identify possible age-associated variability in the anteroposterior diameter and the thickness of different parts of the corpus callosum. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 420 patients over a period of two years from January 2019 to December 2020 done at Dr. PSIMS and RF, Gannavaram, Andhra Pradesh. Magnetic Resonance (MR) examinations were performed with 1.5T Philips Healthcare Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner. The subjects who underwent MRI for various suspected or known central nervous system diseases were included in the study. The thickness of various parts along with the anteroposterior diameter of the corpus callosum were measured with mid-sagittal T1 weighted MR sequence and the mean and standard deviation was calculated. Results: The anteroposterior diameter of the corpus callosum was more in older adults (61-70 age group) than in children and younger adults. The mean thickness of genu, body and isthmus was found to be significantly more in younger adults (21-30 age group), whereas thickness of splenium was more significant in the age group of 31-40 years. Conclusion: The anteroposterior diameter was more in the elderly age group, whereas the thickness of corpus callosal regions was more in the young adult age group. Therefore, variations in corpus callosal thickness would help in the diagnosis of disease presence and progression.
Endoscopic Management of Intracranial Arachnoid Cysts: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Balasubramanium Anandh , Banerjee Anirban Deep , Rengarajan Santhanam , Kulkarni Aniruddh
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Endoscopic method is an alternative to shunt placement and open surgery; it creates a communication between cyst, ventricular system and subarachnoid system. Aim: To describe the demographic, clinical profile, operative technique, complications and outcome following endoscopic management of intracranial arachnoid cysts at a tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in tertiary care hospital in southern India in which case records of all 42 symptomatic patients diagnosed with intracranial arachnoid cyst and who underwent surgical management by endoscopic techniques from 1995 to 2010 were included. Demographics, clinical presentations, type of surgery, complications and clinical outcome were recorded and results were expressed in terms of frequency and percentages. Results: Study included 30 males and 12 females with a mean (SD) age of 14.8 (15.5) years. The most common presenting feature was raised intracranial pressure (27.6%). Cysts were commonly located inposteriorfossa(35.7%)followedbyintraventricularregion(31.0%). All patients (100%) underwent endoscopic fenestration with either cystoventriculostomy or cystocisternostomy. Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) was done in 21.4% of patients associated with hydrocephalus. Postoperative complications (11.9%) included Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) leak, subdural hygroma and metabolic complications. Mortality rate was 2.4%. Follow-up period ranged between one month to 99 months (median 24 months). Success rate of the procedure was 95%. Conclusion: Prevalence of intracranial arachnoid cyst is common in males and is often located in the posterior fossa. The endoscopic management of intracranial arachnoid cyst is safe and is associated with superior clinical outcome
Diagnostic Significance of Wet Mount Microscopy- A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Sharma Abha , Lomba Poonam Sood , Mishra Bibhabati , Bhasin Ashna , Reshi Sulmaz
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Wet mount microscopy is a rapid and easy conventional technique that provides a quick answer when positive and it provides an approximation of the infection burden. In this era of modern medicine where almost every infection is being diagnosed, using expensive and sophisticated molecular techniques, a simple wet mount examination of a clinical sample can still be relevant in several infections and play a significant role in the early diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Aim: To focus and review the significance of wet mount examination of clinical specimens for diagnosis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study with 11 cases was conducted at a superspeciality hospital in New Delhi over a period of six months from March 2019 to August 2019. Direct microscopic demonstration of motile E. histolytica trophozoites in saline wet mount of colonic biopsy specimens was done in patients presenting with non specific gastrointestinal symptoms. Positive cases were immediately reported to the clinician for further management. In view of this study, literature search was done on PubMed and Google scholar platforms for studies on wet mount examination of clinical specimens, data was analysed and all infectious diseases were identified for which wet mount microscopy will help in decreasing the Turn around Time (TAT) for diagnosing the infection from 24 hours to 20-30 minutes in real time. Results: Motile trophozoites of E. histolytica were seen in eight out of 11 cases studied. Amoebic serology by Enzyme-linked Immunoassay (ELISA) and histopathology for amoebic trophozoites was positive in all eight patients with 100% association between microscopic demonstrations of motile E. histolytica trophozoites in saline wet mount for amoebiasis. Conclusion: Right test at right time for clinical management of infectious diseases requires good communication between laboratory and clinicians. Direct Wet mount microscopy of clinical samples is rapid, simple, cost-effective method to decrease TAT and guide the clinicians to rule out infections and avoid unnecessary empirical use of antimicrobial drugs.
Estimation of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Mediator CD40 Ligand Levels in Young Tribal Subjects of Tripura- An Observational Study
Authors: Chakrabarti Debaprasad , Pal Partha Sarathi
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Obesity is the established risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic heart diseases and atrial fibrillation. Cytokines such as Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-12 (IL-6,IL12) play a significant role in the development of obesity related disorders. Cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40) Ligand, a trimetric protein structurally related to Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) family contributes to atherothrombosis by being a link between platelets, inflammation, thrombosis and atherogenesis. The present study was undertaken to explore the interplay between inflammatory cytokines and CD40 Ligand (CD40L) in young obese tribal subjects. Aim: To estimate the level of proinflammatory cytokines like IL-6, IL-12 and CD40 Ligand in obese subjects and compare with non obese tribal subjects of Tripura, India. Materials and Methods: In this observational study, 60 non obese and 60 young obese tribal subjects within age group of 18-36 years were enrolled, over a period of 2 years from March 2014 to March 2016 at Tripura Medical College (TMC) and Dr. BRAM Teaching Hospital. Serum levels of IL-6, IL-12 and CRP were estimated by Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay (ELISA). Plasma level of fibrinogen activity was measured by coagulation assay. The Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) of insulin resistance was calculated as insulin (micro unit per milliliter) x glucose (milimoles/Ltr)/22.5. Soluble Cluster of differentiation 40 Ligand (sCD40L) in serum was determined by ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test and regression analysis. Results: Cohort consisted of 19 (31%) males and 41 (68.3%) females whereas the control non obese group comprised of 16 (26.6%) males, and 44 (73.3%) females. In the present study, the authors had observed that the biochemical parameters like fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and HighDensity Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were significantly higher in obese subjects compared to non obese subjects. Further, the authors observed that C-reactive Protein (CRP), IL-6, IL-12 and Fibrinogen level were statistically higher in obese subjects. A statistical significant difference was found in fasting insulin level and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) between obese and the non obese group. Finally, there was positive relationship between CD40 Ligand and cytokines with obesity. Conclusion: The present study has demonstrated that the circulating levels of IL-6 and IL-12 have a strong relationship with obesity and other parameters of metabolic risk. It was also observed that there is a clear positive relationship between CD40L and cytokine families.
Efficacy of Hot and Dry Bath (H ˙ amma¯ mi-Ha¯ r-Ya¯ bis) in Activities of Daily Living for Management of Post Stroke Hemiplegia: An Exploratory Clinical Trial
Authors: Abbas Mobassir , Ansari Abdul Nasir , Nayab Mohd , Afzal Umar , Abalkhai Adil Abdalrhman
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Hemiplegia (Fa¯ lij) is usually caused due to obstruction (sudda) in ventricles of brain (butu¯ n-i-dima¯ gh) or base of the brain (mabda-un-nukha). Viscid and tenacious phlegm (Balgham) chokes the passages present in the nerves and blocks the transmission of motor impulses (Ru¯ h-iMuharrik) into the organs to cause paralysis of a limb. Rarely, in the absence of any obstruction, the paralysis occurs due to unresponsiveness of organs due to their changed constitution (Sue-Miza¯ j-i-A′za¯ ). Turkish bath (H ˙ amma¯ m) is recommended for the resolution (Tahllul) and evacuation (Tanqiya) of viscid phlegm (Ghaleez Balgham) from impacted nerves by virtue of heat therapy to rejuvenate the motor functions in hemiplegia. Aim: To evaluate the effect of hot and dry bath (H ˙ amma¯ m-i-Ha¯ rYa¯ bis) in activities of daily living in management of post stroke hemiplegia. Materials and Methods: This open, single arm, exploratory clinical trial was conducted during January 2018 to February 2019 at NIUM hospital, Bangalore, on 30 diagnosed patients of Post Stroke Hemiplegia. Patients were subjected with hot dry bath for 15 minutes at a temperature of 60°C from day 1st till 30th day. A total of 10 sittings were given on every 3rd day. Barthel Index (BI), which consists of Activities of Daily Living (ADL), was used to assess the efficacy of hot and dry bath in the patients of hemiplegia. Friedman test with multiple Dunn’s comparison test was used to assess the efficacy of the treatment. Results: The mean age of the participants in the study was 42.54±3.3 with male dominance. Statistically significant improvement was observed in BI scores between pretreatment to 15th day (p<0.01); 15th to 30th day (p<0.001) and pretreatment to 30th day (p<0.001). Conclusion: Hot and dry bath significantly improved the activities of daily living in the patients of post stroke hemiplegia. Another benefit of this therapy is infrequent and mild severity of side effects as compared to the oral medications in conventional system of medicine for post-stroke neuro-disabilities.
Electronic Payment System and Revenue Collection at Immigration Department Zanzibar
Authors: Khamis Thania P. , Mwinyi Amir K. , Salim Adilu M. , Hafidh Hafidh A.
Published: March 2022

The study attempted to examine the contribution of electronic payment systems on revenue collection at Immigration department Tanzania- Zanzibar. It employed both primary and secondary data for analysis guided by questionnaires.  Regression analysis was applied to examine the impact of electronic payment system on revenue collection at Immigration department in Zanzibar, the efficiency of the electronic payment system on revenue collection at Immigration department of Zanzibar and to analyse challenges face electronic payment system on revenue collection at Immigration department of Zanzibar. The result regression analysis revealed that all independent variables of Visa fees, permits fees and passport fees have positive relationship with total revenue collection at Immigration department of Zanzibar. The study concluded that there is a huge difference of revenue collected at immigration department before and after the installation of the electronic payment system. The study recommended that the immigration department of Zanzibar should provide awareness to the customers on the electronic payment system.
Attributable Fraction and Forecasting for COVID-19 Confirmed Cases in Nigeria Using Facebook- Prophet Machine Learning Model
Authors: Ibidoja Olayemi Joshua , Rapheal Fowobaje Kayode
Published: March 2022

Aims: The motivation is to know the attributable fraction among Nigerians who tested positive for covid-19 and forecast the covid-19 cases.

Place and Duration of Study: We extracted data from (https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/) on 8th September,2021 and covid.19analytics package on 7th September, 2021, from Data Repository by Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering , Status of Cases in Toronto – City of Toronto , COVID-19: Open Data Toronto ,COVID-19: Health Canada , Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 isolate Wuhan-Hu-1, COViD-19 Vaccination and Testing records from “Our World In Data” and Pandemics historical records from Visual Capitalist. Data in Nigeria contained the number of samples tested, confirmed cases, active cases, discharged cases and deaths.

Methodology: Attributable fraction was used to compute the proportion of patients who tested positive to Covid-19. By using the time for regressor, Prophet model will fit many non-linear and linear functions of time components. Prophet uses the Fourier series to get flexible model to forecast and fit the seasonality effects. A fast solution for L-BFGS which stands for Limited memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shannon algorithm, is used with Stan backend for the prediction problem.

Results: As at Saturday 11th September 2021,7:18am Nigeria local time, a total of 2884034 samples have been tested for covid-19, with 198239 confirmed cases,9871 active cases,185780 discharged cases and 2588 deaths. The attributable fraction for covid-19 in Nigeria was 0.0687. The r square is very high (0.999), and the p value is very low (2.2e-16).

Conclusion: The attributable fraction gives the percentage of the patients who tested positive to covid-19, among the 2884034 samples tested. It implies that the remaining percentage of patients who tested negative to covid-19 only exhibit covid-19 symptoms or were exposed to the virus. The confirmed cases were found to be highest on Saturdays with the lowest on Tuesdays.
High Time of Pacing Nilgai Antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) into Mainstream as Community Conservation for Influencing Macroeconomics
Authors: Prasad Suday
Published: March 2022

The Nilgai antelope is a large bovid free-ranching in 17 Indian states and 31 districts of Bihar, India. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and while there are major populations in northern India. The government of many Indian states have declared this mammal (Nilgai) as vermin due to damage of crops and ordered to kill them in favour of farmers. In Bihar 3228 nilgais were killed by a professional shooters during 2017-2019. However, the brutality of this elegant species (Nilgai) is not a long-term explanation to conquer the human-animal battle. All the species on the earth dispense some structure and function to an ecosystem. In the present nearby investigation was executed to commence the availability, efficacy, economic worth, structure, the functional and ecological significance of Nilgai. Additionally this study gives an idea that how to use the nilgai to coverage on long term human resolve to the conflict. Its monetary economic betterment for human in many ways only requirement to reconnoitre their conventions. Silviculture based cropping system, domestication, agricultural husbandry, nilgai ranches, tourism and recreation help manage the eco-friendly earth’s climate. Nilgai antelope may be beneficial in other ways like its by-products, pedigree of food, industry outcome, taming ranches etc. Blue bull or Nilgai meat and alternative non-cow milk may provide a source of protein for ever-creasing human population. The flesh of Nilgai is highly demanded in national as well as foreign countries. It may be exported after taming, domestication. The domestication of Nilgai corresponds to pivoted changes in history not only of human but also of the biosphere. Nilgai is powerful succeeding economic contender it may prove a driving force in upliftment of socio-economic of farmers & local humans communities and eco-friendly, sustainable development of India.