bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation the Capability of Isolated Bacteria from Stabilized Compost for Bioremediation of Pyrene and Phenanthrene from Contaminated Soil with Municipal Solid Waste Leachate
Authors: Javaheri Masoume , Mokhtati Mehdi , Samaei Mohammad Reza , Sedighi Khavidak Samane , Shamsi Farimah , Zamani Parvin , Ebrahimi Ali Asghar
Published: September 2019

Introduction: Pyrene and phenanthrene are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are priority pollutants. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of isolated bacteria from stabilized compost‌ for biodegradation of pyrene and phenanthrene from soil contaminated with municipal solid waste leachate.
Materials and Methods: In this study, phenanthrene and pyrene were selected as priority PAHs pollutants. The degrading bacteria of these compounds were isolated from the stabilized compost and their ability to remove different concentrations of pyrene and phenanthrene investigated. The remaining concentrations of pyrene and phenanthrene were measured by GC-MS. The growth kinetics of bacteria were also studied using a spectrophotometer at 595-nm wavelength. One-way ANOVA was used to determine the statistical significance and plot the related curves, and the Excel software and SPSS version 24 to do statistical analysis.
Results: The most potent bacteria in removing pyrene and phenanthrene were Paenibacillus and Bacillus, respectively. The concentrations to be studied were determined as 10, 25, 40 and 55 μg/kg according to the concentrations of PAHs in the soil contaminated with municipal solid waste leachate. At constant temperature of 30 °C after 30 days at these concentrations, the removal efficiency was, respectively, 96.3%, 83%, 77.8%, and 72.4% for pyrene and 100%, 99.6%, 95.9%, and 94.6% for phenanthrene. The growth kinetics of phenanthrene-exposed bacteria were better than those of pyrene-exposed bacteria.
Conclusion: The results show that bacteria in stabilized compost are able to remove pyrene and phenanthrene. The bacteria of the highest efficiency for removal of pyrene and phenanthrene are Paenibacillus and Bacillus, respectively.
Clinical and electrophysiological follow-up of modafinil treatment for multiple sclerosis patients with fatigue symptom
Authors: AKDOĞAN Özlem , HAKİ Cemile , TURAN Ömer Faruk , TAŞKAPILIOĞLU Özlem
Published: September 2019

Objectives: In our study, we investigated the effects of modafinil therapy on clinical and neurophysiological tests of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with fatigue.Methods: The study was performed on 18 MS patients (16 females, 2 males) at Uludağ University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, who are followed up according to Mc Donald’s criteria, who had 36 points or above based on the fatigue assesment scala (FAS), whose Beck depression inventory points were 16 and below, whose thyroid, liver and renal functions were evaluated as normal, and who had no systemic disorder. All patients had neurological examination and their expanded disability status scale (EDSS), fatigue impact scala (FIS) and multiple sclerosis quality of life (MSQoL-54) were evaluated. Somatosensory evoked potential (SEP), visual evoked potential (VEP), brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP), visual event related evoked potential (visual P300) were performed in our neurophysiology laboratory. After that the patients were given modafinil 100 mgr 1×1 (morning) for 1 week, the following weeks 2×1 (morning and noon). At the end of the 6 weeks of therapy the patients were called to the neurology polyclinic, and their neurological examinations, EDSS, FIS, MSQoL-54, SEP, VEP, BAEP and visual P300 were repeated.Results: When the patients’ previous and subsequent FIS and MSQoL-54 total scores were compared, a significant statistical difference was found. When all 3 subgroups of FIS (consciousness, physical and social) were evaluated after the modafinil therapy, a significant statistical decrease in previous and successive scores were found. It is found out that modafinil therapy improves life quality which is evaluated due to MSQoL-54 (p < 0.05). A significant statistical relation between the number of MS disease attacks and the three subgroups of MFIS was not figured out (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant relation between the FAS, EDSS and Beck depression inventory scores before the modafinil therapy had been applied (p > 0.05). There was a statistically correlation between Beck depression inventory score and FIS’s social subgroup (p = 0.017). When the patient’s SEP, VEP, BAEP, visual P300 average test values before and after the modafinil therapy were compared, a statistically significant difference was not observed.Conclusions: In our study, it is found that modafinil therapy, which is used against fatigue, one of the MS disase’s most common symptom, has a positive impact on MS life quality and patients’ clinical symptoms of fatigue, although it has no effect on patients’ evoked potential methods (BAEP, SEP, VEP, visual P300) performed in neurophysiology laboratory.
Kilka uwag i refleksji nt. turystyki sportowej na marginesie artykułu pt. "Relacje turystyki i sportu w aspekcie organizacji nauki o turystyce"
Authors: Liszewski Stanisław
Published: September 2019

Tekst jest dyskusją z J. Kotusem – autorem artykułu, który podjął się próby zdefiniowania pojęcia „turystyka sportowa”. Artykuł został opublikowany w niniejszym zeszycie na stronach 21–28.
The Perspective of Islamic Law on a Mismatched Object in Online Sales and Purchases Transactions
Authors: Mustikawati Intan Mukarromah , Handono Mardi , Zulaika Emi
Published: September 2019

Online transaction is a cross-personal action done by two or more parties to reach an agreement. The law of sales and purchases in Islam requires the double coincidence of wants as a measure of transaction validity. However, humans will always find the double coincidence of wants as a remote probability. Therefore, the previous Ulamas set an ijab-qabul as a symbolization of the double coincidence of wants. A qabul is an expression of the handed over of one's ownership rights to a particular party, and vice versa, as well as a sign that both of the parties have agreed on the contract (akad).

Keywords: Online Transactions, Buying and Selling in Islamic Law, Object Mismatches.
Purification and properties of a phytate-degrading enzyme produced by Enterobacter sakazakii ASUIA279
Authors: Farouk Abd El Aziem , Greiner Ralf , Hussin Anis Shobirin Meor
Published: September 2019

An extracellular phytate-degrading enzyme produced by Enterobacter sakazakii ASUIA279 was purified to homogeneity using FPLC anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The enzyme was purified about 66-fold with a recovery of 27%. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 43 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The Michaelis constant (KM) and turnover number (kcat ) for sodium phytate at pH 5.0 and 50°C were calculated from the Lineweaver-Burk plot to be 760 µM and 4.14s-1, respectively. The enzyme showed narrow substrate specificity and not phytate, but GTP was dephosphorylated with the highest relative rate of hydrolysis. However, according to the kcat/KM values, phytate was concluded to be the in vivo substrate of the enzyme. Optimal activity was determined at pH 4.5 and 45-55°C. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by Fe3+, Cu2+, Zn2+, molybdate, vanadate, fluoride and phosphate (1 mM).
Extraction of Polyphenols and Synthesis of New Activated Carbon from Spent Coffee Grounds
Authors: Ramón-Gonçalves Marina , Alcaraz Lorena , Pérez Ferreras Susana , León-González María Eugenia , Rosales Conrado Noelia , López Félix Antonio
Published: September 2019

A valorization process of spent coffee grounds (SCG) was studied. Thus, a two-stage process, a stage of extraction of the polyphenols and a stage of obtaining activated carbon (AC) by a carbonization process, was performed. The extraction was carried out with a hydro-alcoholic solution in a pressure reactor, modifying time and temperature. To optimize the extraction of polyphenols, a two-level factorial design with three replications at the central values was used. The best results were obtained by performing the extraction at 80 °C during 30 min, using a mixture of EtOH:H2O 1:1 (v/v) as extraction solution. Caffeine and chlorogenic acid were the most abundant compounds in the analyzed extracts, ranging from 0.09 to 4.8 mg∙g-1 and 0.06 to 9.7 mg∙g-1, respectively. The precursor obtained in the extraction stage were transformed into AC. An experimental design was realized in order to analyze the influence of different variables in the AC obtained process (reaction time and amount of potassium hydroxide used). Actived carbons with BET specific surface (SBET) comprised between 1600 m2∙g-1 and 2330 m2∙g-1 had a microporous surface. Under the optimum conditions, the obtained AC presented a maximum adsorption capacity of methylene blue (qm) between 411 mg∙g-1 and 813 mg∙g-1.
Lungs Nodule Detection Using Semantic Segmentation and Classification with Optimal Features
Authors: Meraj Talha , Hassan Arslan , Zahoor Saliha , Rauf Hafiz Tayyab , Lali M.IkramUllah , Ali Liaqat , Bukhari Syed Ahmad Chan
Published: September 2019

Lung cancer is a deadly disease if not diagnosed in its early stages. However, early detection of lung cancer is a challenging task due to the shape and size of its nodules. Radiologists need support from automated tools for precise opinion. Automated detection of the affected lungs nodule is difficult because of the shape similarity among healthy tissues. Over the years, several expert systems have been developed that help radiologists to diagnose lung cancer. In this article, we propose a framework to precisely detect lungs cancer by classifying it between benign and malignant nodules. The framework is tested using the subset of the publicly available at the Lung Image Database Consortium image collection (LIDC-IDRI). Multiple techniques including filtering and noise removing are applied for pre-processing. Subsequently, the OTSU and the semantic segmentation are used to accurately detect the unhealthy lungs nodules. In total, 13 nodules features were extracted using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) algorithm. Four optimal features are selected based on the classification performance. In the classification phase, 9 different classifiers are used along with two types of validation schemes i.e. train test holdout validation with 70-30 data split and 10 fold cross-validation. Our experiments show that the proposed system provides 99.23\% accuracy using logic boost classifier.
Software Run-time Entropy: A Novel Type of Indicators for Software Failure Prediction
Authors: Kong Shiyi , Lu Minyan , Sun Bo
Published: September 2019

With the development of computer science and software engineering, software becomes more and more complex. Traditional software reliability assurance techniques including software testing and evaluation can't ensure software reliable execution after being deployed. Software failure prediction techniques based on failure indicators can predict software failures according to abnormal indicator values. The latter can be collected using runtime monitoring techniques. An essential part of this method is finding proper indicators which have strong correlation with software failures. We propose a novel type of indicators in this work named software runtime entropy, which takes both software module execution time and call times into consideration. Three common open source software, grep, flex and gzip are used as study cases for finding the relationships between the indicators and software failures. Firstly, a series of fault injection experiments are conducted on those three software respectively. The decision tree algorithm is used to train those data to build the correlation models between software runtime entropy and software failures. Several common measures in machine learning domains such as accuracy, recall rates, and F-measure are used to evaluate the models. The decision tree models can be used as failure mechanisms to assist the failure prediction work. One can examine the value of runtime entropy and make a warning report when it ranges from the normal interval to abnormal one.
Mechanotransduction in Neuronal Cell Development and Functioning
Authors: Chighizola Matteo , Dini Tania , Lenardi Cristina , Milani Paolo , Podestà Alessandro , Schulte Carsten
Published: September 2019

Although many details remain still elusive, it became increasingly evident in recent years that mechanosensing of microenvironmental biophysical cues and subsequent mechanotransduction are strongly involved in the regulation of neuronal cell development and functioning. This review gives an overview about the current understanding of brain and neuronal cell mechanobiology and how it impacts on neurogenesis, neuronal migration, differentiation, and maturation. Therein; we are focussing particularly on the events in the cell/microenvironment interface and the decisive extracellular matrix (ECM) parameters (i.e. rigidity and nanometric spatial organisation of adhesion sites) that modulate integrin adhesion complex-based mechanosensing and mechanotransductive signalling. It will also be outlined how biomaterial approaches mimicking essential ECM features help to understand these processes and how they can be used to control and guide neuronal cell behaviour by providing appropriate biophysical cues. In addition, principal biophysical methods will be highlighted that have been crucial for the study of neuronal mechanobiology.
Four‑Stage Evolution of Diabetes or Whole Body Insulin Resistance (WBIR): Debunking of the Lipid‑Induced Insulin Resistance (LIIR) and Proposing of the Glycation‑Induced Insulin Resistance (GIIR)
Authors: Lee Song Jae , Shin Sang Won
Published: September 2019

Even though it has long been known that diabetes develops in distinctive stages over a long span of time, no comprehensive diabetes development model has been developed yet. Insulin resistance (IR) plays a major role in development of diabetes. A widespread belief regarding IR is that it is a global parameter affecting the whole body simultaneously by merely impairing glucose uptake in tissues. However, investigation by a new methodology that we have named integrated approach suggests that IR not merely impairs glucose uptake in tissues but also produces tissue‑specific metabolic disruptions varying widely from tissue to tissue, and that IR would not necessarily develop simultaneously over the whole body but instead develop first preferentially in the muscle tissue with a relatively low cell turnover and then progresses in sequence to the subcutaneous adipose tissue to the visceral adipose tissue to the liver with higher cell turnovers. This is the most important rationale for subdividing IR into the four distinct tissue‑specific IRs: muscle insulin resistance (MIR), subcutaneous adipose insulin resistance (s‑AIR), visceral adipose insulin resistance (v‑AIR), and hepatic insulin resistance (HIR). Sequential development of tissue‑specific IRs, in the order of MIR, s‑AIR, v‑AIR, and HIR, producing tissue‑specific metabolic disruptions is nothing but the whole body insulin resistance (WBIR) evolving in four distinctively insulin‑resistant stages. Four‑stage evolution from rapid weight gain to visceral obesity to rapid weight loss to full‑blown diabetic state not only complies well with the natural development history of diabetes, but also resolves most of controversies on diabetes or obesity. Development of the four‑stage WBIR evolution model, which also refutes the entrenched notion of the lipid‑induced insulin resistance (LIIR) but instead supports the glycation‑induced insulin resistance (GIIR) proposed in this study, may possibly be considered a breakthrough in study of diabetes or obesity.
Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA): A Review and Analysis of Policies, Practices and Local Indicators in Nepalese Context
Authors: Maharjan Shree Kumar
Published: September 2019

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is a new and emerging concept in climate discourse to address the issues of climate change impacts in agriculture. Few researchers and organizations have concentrated on CSA policies and practices in Nepal. This study aims to review and analyze the policies and practices in relation to CSA and define local level CSA indicators in the Central and Western Nepal. This study adopted the scoping review of climate policies and practices in Nepal and also utilized the household survey information particularly focusing on climate adaptation relating to agriculture. Through the scoping review, it is recognized that the number of climate policies in Nepal has specifically prioritized agriculture and food security as an important thematic area. Among those policies, National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), National Framework for Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) have specific sections on CSA practices, however, these policies/plans lack specific indicators. Different categories of CSA practices are common in Nepal, but many of these practices are popular as agricultural and environmental practices prior to the CSA concept and approach. The output indicators specific to CSA practices help the communities and policymakers to measure and monitor the progress of its implementation. Additional researches are required in this field to better understand the CSA concept, approaches, and mechanisms in the Nepalese context.
Electrical Characteristics and Reliability of Nitrogen-Stuffed Porous Low-k SiOCH/ Mn2O3-xN/Cu Integration
Authors: Cheng Yi-Lung , Lin Yu-Lu , Lee Chih-Yen , Chen Giin-Shan , Fang Jau-Shiung
Published: September 2019

In our previous study, a novel barrier processing on a porous low-dielectric constant (low-k) film was developed: an ultrathin Mn oxide on a nitrogen-stuffed porous carbon-doped organosilica film (p-SiOCH(N)) as a barrier of the Cu film was fabricated. To form a better barrier Mn2O3-xN film, an additional annealing at 450°C was implemented. In this study, the electrical characteristics and reliability of this integrated Cu/Mn2O3-xN/p-SiOCH(N)/Si structure is investigated. The proposed Cu/Mn2O3-xN/p-SiOCH(N)/Si capacitors exhibited poor dielectric breakdown characteristics in the as-fabricted stage, although, less degradation was found after thermal stress. Moreover, its time-dependence-dielectric-breakdown electric-field acceleration factor slightly increased after thermal stress, leading to a larger dielectric lifetime in a low electric-field as compared to other MIS capacitors. Furthermore, its Cu barrier ability under electrical or thermal stress was improved. As a consequent, the proposed Cu/Mn2O3-xN/p-SiCOH(N) scheme is a promising integrity for back-end-of-line interconnects.
Predicting Job Satisfaction in Military Organizations: Unpacking the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence, Teamwork Communication, and Job Attitudes in Spanish Military Cadets
Authors: Valor-Segura Inmaculada , Navarro-Carrillo Ginés , Extremera Natalio , Lozano Fernández Luis Manuel , García-Guiu Carlos , Roldán Bravo María Isabel , Ruiz Moreno Antonia
Published: September 2019

Although prior research has extensively examined the association of emotional intelligence (EI) with various job attitudes (e.g., job satisfaction), the empirical and systematic investigation of this link within military institutions has captured considerably less research attention. The present research analyzed the relationship between EI, teamwork communication, and job satisfaction among Spanish military cadets. We tested the potential unique contribution of EI to job satisfaction over and above demographics (i.e., gender and age), proactive personality, and resilience. Moreover, we also examined whether EI indirectly affects job satisfaction via its relationship with teamwork communication. A sample of 363 cadet officers of the Spanish General Military Academy completed questionnaires assessing EI, teamwork communication, proactive personality, resilience, and job satisfaction. Our results revealed that EI exhibited incremental variance in predicting job satisfaction even after accounting for demographics, proactive personality, and resilience. Additionally, we found that the effect of EI on job satisfaction was partially driven by enhanced teamwork communication. This research provides empirical evidence suggesting a pathway (i.e., effective teamwork communication) through which EI helps military cadets to experience higher job satisfaction. Implications for future academic programs including EI and teamwork communication to promote positive job attitudes among military personnel are discussed.
Effects of the Body Wearable Sensor Position on the UWB Localization Accuracy
Authors: Otim Timothy , Díez Luis Enrique , Bahillo Alfonso , Iturri Peio Lopez , Falcone Francisco
Published: September 2019

In recent years, several Ultrawideband (UWB) localization systems have already been proposed and evaluated for accurate position estimation of pedestrians. However, most of them are evaluated for a particular wearable sensor position; hence the accuracy obtained is subject to a given wearable sensor position. In this paper, we study the effects of body wearable sensor positions i.e., chest, arm, ankle, wrist, thigh, fore-head, hand, on the localization accuracy. The conclusion drawn is that the fore-head is the best, and the chest is the worst body sensor location for tracking a pedestrian. While the fore-head position is able to set an error lower than 0.35 m (90th percentile), the chest is able to set 4 m. The reason for such a contrast in the performance lies in the fact that in NLOS situations, the chest as an obstacle is larger in size and thickness than any other part of the human body, which the UWB signal needs to overcome to reach the target wearable sensor. And so, the large errors arise due to the signal arriving at the target wearable sensor from reflections of a nearby object or a wall in the environment.
Multilevel Strategies and Geological Parameterizations for History Matching Complex Reservoir Models
Authors: Liu Yimin , Durlofsky Louis J.
Published: September 2019

In this study, we explore using multilevel derivative-free optimization (DFO) for history matching, with model properties described using principal-component-analysis (PCA) -based parameterization techniques. The parameterizations applied in this work are optimization-based PCA (O-PCA) and convolutional-neural-network (CNN) -based PCA (CNN-PCA). The latter, which derives from recent developments in deep learning, is able to accurately represent models characterized by multipoint spatial statistics. Mesh adaptive direct search (MADS), a pattern-search method that parallelizes naturally, is applied for the optimizations required to generate posterior (history-matched) models. The use of PCA-based parameterization considerably reduces the number of variables that must be determined during history matching (because the dimension of the parameterization is much smaller than the number of gridblocks in the model), but the optimization problem can still be computationally demanding. The multilevel strategy introduced here addresses this issue by reducing the number of simulations that must be performed at each MADS iteration. Specifically, the PCA coefficients (which are the optimization variables after parameterization) are determined in groups, at multiple levels, rather than all at once. Numerical results are presented for 2D cases, involving channelized systems (with binary and bimodal permeability distributions) and a deltaic-fan system using O-PCA and CNN-PCA parameterizations. O-PCA is effective when sufficient conditioning (hard) data are available, but it can lead to geomodels that are inconsistent with the training image when these data are scarce or nonexistent. CNN-PCA, by contrast, can provide accurate geomodels that contain realistic features even in the absence of hard data. History-matching results demonstrate that substantial uncertainty reduction is achieved in all cases considered, and that the multilevel strategy is effective in reducing the number of simulations required. It is important to note that the parameterizations discussed here can be used with a wide range of history-matching procedures (including ensemble methods), and that other derivative-free optimization methods can be readily applied within the multilevel framework.
Investigation of Shale-Gas-Production Behavior: Evaluation of the Effects of Multiple Physics on the Matrix
Authors: Jia Bao , Tsau Jyun-Syung , Barati Reza
Published: September 2019

Shale gas is a major component of natural-gas supply in the United States. Multistage-fractured horizontal wells significantly improve the production performance of ultralow-permeability shale-gas reservoirs. Researchers have believed that shale-gas-production simulations should take into account the complex-flow behaviors in both fractures and the matrix. However, multiple physics applied on the matrix are generally incomplete in previous studies. In this study, we considered the comprehensive physics that occurred in the matrix including the effective stress, slip flow/pore diffusion, adsorption/desorption, and surface diffusion, as well as the dynamic properties of fractures. We investigated the importance of these features of the physics separately and in an integrated fashion by step-by-step production simulations. Afterward, comprehensive sensitivity analysis was performed with regard to stress dependency of the matrix and fractures. This work shows that natural-fracture spacing is the most prominent factor affecting shale-gas-reservoir performance. The work highlights the importance to gas recovery of mechanical squeezing of the pore volume by the effective stress. Surface diffusion might be essential for gas recovery that depends on surface-diffusivity values. Slip flow and pore diffusion do not significantly contribute to gas recovery even though they increase gas apparent permeability under low pressures.
Vaccine Dropout Rate and Associated Factors Among Childeren Age 12-23 Month in Shewa Robit Town, North Shewa Zone, Amahra Region, Ethiopia, A community Based Cross-sectional Study Design
Authors: Yehualashet Sisay Shewasinad , Nigussie Yalew Dessie , Yilema Tirsit Dereje , Mengiste Semu Tegene , Alemu Yoseph Terefe
Published: September 2019

Background: Immunization against disease is one of the most important public health interventions with cost effective means of preventing childhood morbidity, mortality, and disability. However, children in Africa was not fully immunized with in the recommended vaccines thus, many children are still susceptible to the expanded program on immunization target disease. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of vaccine dropout rate and associated factors among children age 12-23 month in Shewa Robit town in 2019.Methods: Community based cross sectional study was conducted from April 5 to April 10, 2019 with a total of 432 mothers/caregivers who have children 12-23 month of age were include in the study. Template was prepared and the data was entered, categorized, coded, and summarized using Epi data version 3.1 and analysis by using SSPSS version 21 for further analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to see the association of each categories of variable with the outcome variable. Significance was checked at 95% CI with p-value <0.05.Result: From the total 432 children 392(90.7%) were fully vaccinated and the BCG- Measle dropout rate were 9.3%. Occupation of mothers/caregiver’s being student (AOR: 0.075(0.006,0.971)), distance of time to reach health facility <15 minute (OR:15.617(2.06, 118.4) and ANC follow-up of mothers/caregivers(AOR:4.87(1.39,16.98)) were significantly associated to vaccine dropout rate.Conclusion: The overall immunization dropout rate in Shewa Robit town was 9.3% in 2019. Time to reach health facility, ANC follow-up of mothers and occupation of mother were statistically significant predictors of vaccine dropout rate of children.
Differences in Muscle Strength, Balance Function, Quality of Life, and Fatigue Levels between Cancer Survivors and Healthy Subjects: a cross-sectional study.
Authors: Morishita Shinichiro , Hirabayashi Ryo , Tsubaki Atsuhiro , Aoki Osamu , Fu Jack B , Onishi Hideaki , Tsuji Tetsuya
Published: September 2019

Objectives　We aimed to investigate the differences as well as the relationship between muscle strength, balance function, quality of life (QOL), and fatigue in cancer survivors and healthy subjects. Design A cross-sectional observational study.Setting The Relay For Life Niigata in JapanParticipants Forty-one cancer survivors and 33 healthy subjects were included. Methods Muscle strength was evaluated via handgrip and knee extensor strength. Balance function was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and body sway was tested using a force platform. QOL was assessed using the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. Fatigue was measured using the brief fatigue inventory. Results Cancer survivors exhibited significantly decreased muscle strength, higher TUG, lower QOL, and higher fatigue than healthy subjects (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups for any parameters of the body sway tests. There was a relationship between body sway test and QOL (P < 0.05) among cancer survivors. Additionally, some subscales for fatigue and QOL (P < 0.05) were related among cancer survivors; these relationships were stronger than those observed among healthy subjects. Conclusion Cancer survivors have the same balance function as healthy subjects despite a decrease in muscle strength. Cancer survivors initially tend to have decreased muscle strength, and thereafter worse balance function.
American foulbrood in a honeybee colony: spore-symptom relationship and feedbacks between disease and colony development
Authors: Stephan Jörg G , De Miranda Joachim Rodrigues , Forsgren Eva
Published: September 2019

Background: The most severe bacterial disease of honeybees is American foulbrood (AFB). The epidemiology of AFB is driven by the extreme spore resilience, the difficulty of bees to remove these spores, and the considerable incidence of subclinical, spore-producing colonies. Collective defence and its feedback on colony development involves role allocation at multiple levels in colony organization and are difficult to model. To better predict disease outbreaks we need to understand the feedback between colony development and disease progression within the colony. We therefore developed Bayesian models with data from 40 infected colonies monitored over an entire foraging season to (i) investigate the spore-symptom relationship, (ii) disentangle the feedback loops between disease epidemiology and natural colony development, and (iii) discuss whether larger insect societies promote or limit within-colony disease transmission. Results: Rather than identifying a fixed spore count threshold for clinical symptoms, we estimated the probabilities around the relationship between spore counts and symptoms, taking into account modulators such as brood amount/number of bees and time post infection. We identified a decrease over time in the bees-to-brood ratio related to disease development, which should ultimately induce colony collapse. Lastly, two contrasting theories predict that larger colonies could promote either higher (classical epidemiological SIR-model) or lower (increasing spatial nest segregation and more effective pathogen removal) disease prevalence. Conclusions: AFB followed the predictions of the SIR-model, partly because the hygienic behaviour of brood removal and disease prevalence are decoupled with worker bees acting as disease vectors, infecting new brood. We therefore established a direct link between disease prevalence and social group size for a eusocial insect.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is a safe and effective method to treat intrathoracic unicentric Castleman’s disease
Authors: Wang Yan-qing , Li Shan-qing , Guo Feng
Published: September 2019

Background: Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare non-clonal lymphadenopathy. Application of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATs) in intrathoracic unicentric Castleman's disease (UCD) is rarely reported. This study is aimed to clarify the role of VATs for diagnosis and treatment in intrathoracic UCD. Methods: The authors reviewed and identified patients who had received a histologic diagnosis of CD through VATs at our hospital from January2010 to June 2018. Clinical and radiologic variables, histopathology, type of approach, complications, and long-term effect were analyzed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of VATs. Results: A total of 10 patients were included in this study, with 8 hyaline vascular type and 2 plasma cell type. The mean maximum diameter of the lesions was 4.66cm. Nine cases underwent complete surgical excision by VATs, and 1 case was converted to thoracotomy. All patients had no postoperative complications. With a median follow-up of 5 years (range: 1-9 years), no tumor recurrence was found in 9 patients receiving complete tumor resection, and 1 patient with incomplete tumor resection remained symptom free without clinical or radiographic progression. Conclusions: VATs is an acceptable, minimally invasive technique which results in excellent rates of cure in patients with intrathoracic UCD.
Heme Oxygenase-1 and Neopterin Plasma/Serum Levels and their role in Diagnosing Active and Latent TB among HIV/TB Co-Infected Patients
Authors: Esther Uwimaana , Bagaya Bernard S , Castelnuovo Barbara , Kateete David P , Godwin Anguzu , Kiwanuka Noah , Whalen Christopher C. , Joloba Moses
Published: September 2019

Background: Tuberculosis(TB) diagnosis in the presence of HIV co-infection remains challenging. Heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) and neopterin have been validated as potential biomarkers for TB diagnosis. Infection of macrophages with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M .tb ) causes the production of HO-1 and neopterin and previous studies have shown these to be markers of immune activation. This study was conducted to determine the levels of HO-1 and neopterin and their utility in the diagnosis of TB among individuals enrolled in the Community Health and Social Network of Tuberculosis(COHSONET) study and the Kampala TB Drug Resistance Survey(KDRS).

Methods: A total of 210 participants were enrolled in a study of a diagnostic method aimed at determining the levels of HO-1 and neopterin and determine their diagnostic accuracy as biomarkers in TB diagnosis from March to May 2019. M. tb culture was performed on sputum to confirm active TB(ATB) and QuantiFERON TB gold test to confirm latent TB infection(LTBI). ELISAs were performed to determine the levels of HO-1 and neopterin. Data analysis was done using Kruskal Wallis and Receiver Operating Characteristic curves to determine the diagnostic accuracy.

Results: HO-1 levels among ATB/HIV patients, LTBI/HIV patients and TB negative individuals were 10.7ng/ml (IQR: 7.3-12.7ng/ml), 7.5ng/ml (IQR: 5.4-14.1ng/ml), 3.3ng/ml (IQR: 2.0-7.1ng/ml) respectively. Neopterin levels among ATB/HIV patients, LTBI/HIV patients and TB negative individuals were 11.7ng/ml (IQR: 5.219.4ng/ml), 8.8ng/ml (IQR: 2.4-19.8ng/ml), and 5.9ng/ml (IQR: 3.410.2ng/ml) respectively. HO-1 showed a sensitivity of 78.57% and a specificity of 71.43% with area under the curve(AUC) of 0.839 when used to diagnose ATB. HO-1 showed AUC of 0.79, sensitivity of 70% and specificity 70% when used to diagnose LTB. Neopterin showed a sensitivity of 61.43% and a specificity of 74.29% with AUC 0.71 when used to diagnose ATB. Neopterin as a biomarker in LTB diagnosis showed AUC of 0.56 which was not significant.

Conclusion: HO-1 and neopterin are valuable diagnostic biomarkers for ATB and LTB which could be further utilized to develop less costly rapid diagnostic tools to overcome current TB diagnostic challenges.
Evaluation of a Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Assay for Second-line Tuberculosis Drug Concentrations in Small Hair Samples
Authors: Metcalfe John , Bacchetti Peter , Esmail Ali , Reckers Andrew , Aguilar David , Wen Anita , Huo Shu , Muyindike Winnie R. , Hahn Judith A. , Dheda Keertan , Gandhi Monica , Gerona Roy
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Background
Treatment monitoring of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in resource-limited settings is challenging. We developed a multi-analyte assay for eleven anti-TB drugs in small hair samples as an objective metric of drug exposure.
Methods
Small hair samples were collected from participants at various timepoints during directly-observed MDR/XDR-TB treatment at an inpatient tertiary referral facility in South Africa (DR-TB cohort). We assessed an LC-MS/MS index panel assay including isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ethionamide, prothionamide, linezolid, clofazimine, pretomanid, and bedaquiline against a reference standard of inpatient treatment records. Because treatment regimens prior to hospitalization were not available, we also analyzed specificity (for all drugs except isoniazid) using an external cohort of HIV-positive patients treated for latent TB infection with daily isoniazid (HIV/LTBI cohort) in Uganda.
Results
Among the 57 DR-TB patients (58% with pre-XDR/XDR-TB; 70% HIV-positive) contributing analyzable hair samples, the sensitivity of the investigational assay was 94% or higher for all drugs except ethionamide (58.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 40.7-99.9). Assay specificity was low across all tested analytes within the DR-TB cohort; conversely, assay specificity was 100% for all drugs in the HIV/LTBI cohort.
Conclusions
We developed an 11-drug panel assay to quantitatively ascertain drug exposure within second- and third-line DR-TB treatment regimens. Because hair concentrations reflect long-term exposure, multiple successive regimens commonly employed in DR-TB treatment may result in apparent false-positive qualitative and falsely elevated quantitative hair drug levels when prior treatment histories are not known.
Effectiveness of a village-based intervention for depression in community-dwelling older adults: a randomised feasibility study
Authors: Oh In Mok , Cho Maeng Je , Hahm Bong-Jin , Kim Byung-Soo , Sohn Jee Hoon , Suk Hye Won , Jung Bu Young , Kim Hye Jung , Kim Hyeon A , Choi Ki Bok , You Da Hye , Lim Ah Reum , Park In Ok , Ahn Jeung Hyuck , Lee Hee , Kim Yeon Hee , Kim Mi Ra , Park Jee Eun
Published: September 2019

Background Although a focus on late-life depression may help preventing suicide in older adults, many older people, especially those living in rural areas, have relatively low accessibility to treatment. This study examined the feasibility and effectiveness of a village-based intervention for depression targeting older adults living in rural areas.Methods A community-based randomised pilot trial was performed in two small rural villages in South Korea. Two villages were randomly selected and assigned to the intervention or active control group; all older adults living in the two villages (n = 451) were included in the intervention program or received standard Community Mental Health Service (CMHS) care, and the effectiveness of the program was examined using representative samples from both groups (n = 160). The 12-week intervention included case management according to individual risk level and group-based activities. Healthy residents living in the intervention village who played major roles in monitoring at-risk older individuals were supervised by CMHS staff. The score on the Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (SGDS-K) was the primary outcome, while social network, functional status, and global cognitive function were secondary outcomes. Linear mixed models including the factors of intervention group, time, and their interaction were used to examine group differences in changes in primary and secondary outcomes from baseline to follow up.Results Overall, there was no significant group × time interaction with respect to the SGDS-K score, but older individuals with more depressive symptoms at baseline (SGDS-K ≥ 6) tended to have a lower likelihood of progressing to severe depression at post-intervention. The social network was strengthened in the intervention group, and there was a significant group × time interaction ( F [ df1, df2 ], 5.29 [1, 153], p = 0.023).Conclusion This study examined a 12-week village-based intervention for late-life depression in which the CMHS helped village-dwellers deal with late-life depression in their communities. Although the intervention improved social interactions among older adults, it did not reduce depressive symptoms. Further studies including more rural villages and long-term follow up are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this prevention program.
The Iranian Version of Theory-Based Intention for Cesarean Section (IR-TBICS) Scale: Development and First Evaluation
Authors: Naghibi Seyed Abolhassan , Khazaee-Pool Maryam , Moosazadeh Mahmood
Published: September 2019

Background: The rate of mothers experiencing a cesarean section in the absence of medical signs is growing in the world. Women beliefs and intentions have an essential role in the request or choosing a delivery method. At present, there is no comprehensive, validated scale for assessing pregnant women' beliefs about cesarean section in the Iranian population. This study performed to develop and assess the validity and reliability of the belief-based cesarean section scale using the theory of reason action (TRA) constructs as a theoretical framework for measuring intention toward delivery method selection. Methods: In this cross-sectional validation study, 480 pregnant women were recruited of Sari, north of Iran, through a multi-stage random sampling approach. Content validity was examined using the content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR). Furthermore, both exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were applied to assess the construct validity of the developed scale. Reliability was measured by internal consistency and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Results obtained from factor analysis showed that the data were fit to the model (χ2= 2298.389, P<0.001) and TRA consisted of 24 items assessing five domains which describing 62.46% of the common variance. The CFA showed a model with suitable fitness for the data. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the domains of the scale ranged from .609 to .843, and the ICC value ranged from .71 to .84, which is within satisfactory ranges. Conclusion: The belief-based cesarean section scale is a reliable instrument and now is suitable and appropriate and can be applied in other researches. Keywords: Cesarean section, Intention, Scale development, Psychometrics, Pregnant women
Applications of good corporate governance relating to shareholders, commissioners, and directors of limited liability companies in Indonesia
Authors: Andy Hartanto Joseph , Sulaksono Sulaksono
Published: September 2019

This critical analysis seeks to explore the inclusivity and feasibility of the legal application of organizational governance principles related to limited liability companies (LLCs) in Indonesia, which are considered essential pillars of Indonesia’s economic stability. The investigators employed the non-probability purposive sampling to select 150 study participants from a population of 250 administrative panel members working in PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia and PT Bank Mandiri. Structured and semi-structured questionnaires were constructed and distributed online through emails. The subjects’ responses were coded manually, using the NVivo software for ease of analysis. The result showed that (1) 84.5% of participants believed that ineffective relationship building approaches, corruption, and inadequate information disclosure mechanisms among internal and external shareholders formed the main challenges to implementation of corporate governance principles in Indonesian LLCs, (2) 97.8% of the respondents believed the Indonesian Company Law (ICL) had achieved significant milestones in guiding the application of sound corporate governance principles by explicitly outlining the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and providing sufficient protection for minority stakeholders, and (3) 78% of participants agreed that the ICL has introduced and reinforced critical rights and protections to shield shareholders from unfair regulations internally formulated by a company. In its findings, the investigation confirmed that poorly structured information sharing systems, fraud, and ineffective relationship building were the main factors that contributed to current inadequacies. 84.5% of the respondents believed that ineffective relationship building approaches, corruption, and inadequate information disclosure mechanisms among internal and external shareholders formed the main challenges, trends, and issues to the implementation of corporate governance principles in Indonesian LLCs. The study also confirmed that the implementation of GCG related legislations had reinforced the professional duties and obligations of stakeholders, alongside offering legal protections for minority business actors.
241Am on the territories adjacent to the Belarusian sector of the Chernobyl NPP resettlement zone: soil contamination, foodstuffs and population internal dose assessment
Authors: Nilova E. K. , Bortnovsky V. N. , Tagai S. A. , Dudareva N. V. , Zhukova L. V.
Published: September 2019

241Am is the only radionuclide of Chernobyl radioactive fallout the content of which until 2058 continues to increase. The purpose of this work is to assess the 241Am internal exposure doses of residents of settlements on the territory adjacent to the resettlement lands of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. To achieve this goal the current levels of 241Am and accompanying 137Cs content in the soil and foodstuffs were determined at the private settlements of the Bragin district of Gomel region of Belarus. 241Am (Eγ 59.6 keV) content in soil samples and 137Сs (Eγ 661 keV) content in soil/food samples were determined by gamma spectrometry. Determination of 241Am specific activity in food samples was performed by the radiochemical method using selective extraction-chromatographic resins. With an average level of 1.3 kBq/m2 , the maximum soil contamination density of 241Am can reach 3.6 kBq/m2 , and for 137Cs it is one or two orders of magnitude higher and ranges from 50 kBq/m2 to 350 kBq/m2 . The maximum specific activity of 241Am in products is determined in samples of leafy parsley – 33 mBq/kg, and in samples of potatoes, beets, onions per feather – not exceed 5 mBq/kg. The content of accompanying 137Cs in samples of plant products is in the range of 3-12 Bq/kg. In estimation of the internal dose of exposure by the food chain it is conservatively assumed that the population receives all the main components of the diet in their own farmstead. Calculation of the dose of internal exposure during inhalation is made under the assumption that the population performs work in the garden 4 hours a day for 7 months. The total expected dose of internal exposure from 241Am residents of settlements is dominated by the inhalation component, while the oral route is dominant in the formation of the total dose of internal exposure from concomitant 137Сs, which is 20 or more times higher than 241Am.