bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive factors of COVID-19 pneumonia: a retrospective cross-sectional survey in a Japanese university hospital
Authors: Fukui Sayato , Inui Akihiro , Komatsu Takayuki , Ogura Kanako , Ozaki Yutaka , Sugita Manabu , Saita Mizue , Naito Toshio
Published: September 2021

BackgroundThe predictive factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, including clinical parameters with symptoms, vital signs, and laboratory data, have not been compared directly between cases with and without complicated pneumonia. AimsWe aimed to identify predictive factors for COVID-19 patients with complicated pneumonia, and determine which COVID-19 patients should undergo computed tomography (CT). MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Juntendo University Nerima Hospital in Tokyo, Japan. We recruited patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between 1 January and 31 December 2020 and all patients underwent blood tests and CT. Clinical information, including vital signs, symptoms, laboratory results, and CT findings, were extracted from medical charts. Factors potentially predicting COVID-19 pneumonia were analysed using Student’s t -test or the chi-squared test, and variables with a p- value of < 0.05 in the bi-variate analysis were entered into multivariate logistic regression models. ResultsAmong 221 included patients (119 males [53.8%]; mean age, 54.59 ± 18.61 years), 160 (72.4%) had pneumonia. The significant factors in the multi-variate analysis were the lactate dehydrogenase (odds ratio [OR], 3.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47–7.95; p < 0.01) and C-reactive protein (OR, 3.94; 95% CI, 1.05–14.80; p = 0.04) levels. No significant differences were observed in vital signs and the symptoms. ConclusionLDH and CRP level of > 220 IU/L and > 3.0 mg/dL, respectively, are independent risk factors for COVID-19 pneumonia. The present results are extremely useful for deciding whether to perform CT among COVID-19 patients.
Recently evolved Francisella-like endosymbiont outcompetes an ancient and evolutionarily associated Coxiella-like endosymbiont in the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) linked to the Alpha-Gal Syndrome
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Sharma Surendra Raj , Adegoke Abdulsalam , Kennedy Ashley , Tuten Holly C. , Li Andrew Y. , Karim Shahid
Published: September 2021

BackgroundTicks are hematophagous arthropods that transmit various bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens of public health significance. The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is an aggressive human-biting tick that transmits bacterial and viral pathogens, and its bites are suspected of eliciting the Alpha-Gal Syndrome, a newly emerged delayed hypersensitivity following consumption of red meat in the United States. While ongoing studies have attempted to investigate the contribution of different tick-inherent factors to the induction of Alpha-Gal syndrome, an otherwise understudied aspect is the contribution of the tick microbiome and specifically obligate endosymbionts to the establishment of the Alpha-Gal syndrome in humans.MethodsHere we utilized a high throughput metagenomic sequencing approach to cataloging the entire microbial communities residing within different developmental stages and tissues of unfed and blood-fed ticks from laboratory-maintained ticks and three new geographical locations in the USA. The quantitative insights into microbial ecology (QIIME2) pipeline were used to perform data analysis and taxonomic classification. Moreover, using a SparCC network construction model, we investigated potential interactions between members of the microbial communities from lab-maintained and field-collected ticks. ResultsOverall, Francisellaceae was the most dominant bacteria identified in the microbiome of both lab-raised and field-collected Am. americanum across all tissues and developmental stages. Likewise, microbial diversity was seen to be significantly higher in field-collected ticks compared to lab-maintained ticks as seen with a higher number of both OTUs and measures of species richness. Several potential positive and negative correlations were identified from our network analysis. We observed a strong positive correlation between Francisellaceae, Rickettsiaceae, and Midichloriaceae in both developmental stages and tissues from lab-maintained ticks, while ovarian tissues had a strong positive correlation of bacteria in the family Xanthobacteraceae and Rhizobiaceae. A negative interaction was observed between Coxiellaceae and Francisellaceae in Illinois, and all the bacteria detected from ticks from Delaware were negatively correlated.ConclusionThis study is the first to catalog the microbiome of Am. americanum throughout its developmental stages and different tissue niches and report the potential replacement of Coxiellaceae by Francisellaceae across developmental stages and tissues tested except in ovarian tissues. These unique and significant findings advance our knowledge and open a new avenue of research to further understand the role of tick microbiome in tick-borne diseases and develop a holistic strategy to control Alpha-Gal syndrome.
Characteristics and influencing factors of soil microbial communities in different subtropical forest stands in Jinyun Mountain, Southwest China
Authors: An Xiaonan , Wang Yunqi , Zhang Jialiang
Published: September 2021

BackgroundAn insight into the soil microbial functions and spatial distribution of soil resources is an important basis for evaluating and managing plant growth in subtropical forests. Soil samples were collected from five forest stands in Jinyun Mountain Natural Reserve (JMNR) in Chongqing located at the Three Gorges Reservoir area: Gordonia acuminata evergreen broad-leaved forest (GAEBF), Cunninghamia lanceolata forest (CLF), Phyllostachys pubescens forest (PPF), coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest (CBLMF) dominated by Pinus massoniana and Gordonia acuminata (PM&GA), and the CBLMF dominated by Pinus massoniana and Symplocos setchuensis (PM&SS). Combined with phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and Sherlock microbial identification system (MIS), the structure of soil microbial communities in different forest stands was investigated.ResultsThe results showed that the PLFAs of soil microorganisms under the forest in JMNR have a high diversity. The PLFA dominance values of the five stands were 16:0, 19:0 cyclo ω7c, 18:0, 15:0 iso and 16 :0 10-methyl. Furthermore, soil microorganisms are dominated by Gram-negative bacteria, and the PLFAs content of soil bacteria in different forest stands is higher than that of fungi PLFAs. Regarding the phospholipid fatty acid biomarkers, the two CBLMFs are the highest, followed by CLF and GAEBF and PPF is the least. Moreover, the proportion of microorganisms in the soil of different forest stands varies. Among them, MP&SS has the highest gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi.ConclusionsRDA analysis shows that the main influencing factors of PLFAs in the soil of different forest stands are the content of iron oxide, aluminium oxide, organic matter and total nitrogen in the soil, which are considered to be able to reflect the soil nutrient status of JMNR effectively.
The Effects of 2,2',4'-Trihydroxychalcone on the Cell Proliferation, Metastasis, and Apoptosis in Human Lung Cancer Cell Line A549
Authors: Sun Jialin , Cao Zhanqi , Sun Shiwei , Sun Zhonghua , Sun Shuhong , Ye Jinfeng , Leng Ping
Published: September 2021

Objectives：Our study aimed to evaluate the antitumor effects of 2,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone (7a) on human lung cancer cell line A549. Methods：A549 cells were treated with different concentrations of 7a for different times. The cells without 7a were set as the negative control group. The cell proliferation, invasion, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation, heterogeneous adhesion, apoptosis were, respectively, measured by CCK-8, transwell invasion assay, vasculogenic mimicry assay, adhesion assay and flow cytometry. In addition, the expression of related proteins were examined via western blot or ELISA. Results：Our research found that 7a had a significant inhibitory effect on the survival rate of lung cancer A549 cells, while almost had no effect on human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells and human venous endothelial cells (HUVECs). The migration rate, VM length, invasion and heterogeneous adhesion number of cells treated with 7a significantly decreased as the increase in concentration, while the apoptosis rate increased. Western blot analysis showed that 7a treatment significantly upregulated the expression of E-cadherin, cleaved PARP, Bax, caspase-3, and simultaneously downregulated the expression of MMP-2/9, Bcl-2, p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-MTOR, VEGF, E-selectin and N-cadherin. At the same time, ELISA results found that the pro-angiogenic factor VEGF level in culture media was reduced in the presence of 7a. Additionally, 7a could also reduce the nucleus NF-κB protein level, which would inhibit gene transcription of tumor activity-related proteins. Conclusion：7a might exert inhibitory effects on A549 cells via inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, VM formation, heterogeneous adhesion and inducing apoptosis through suppressing the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting that 7a might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of lung cancer.
Clinical efficacy of arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior talofibular ligament with preservation of the stump
Authors: Liu Changcheng , Wu Guozhi , ZHANG HAO , Li Kun
Published: September 2021

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of anatomic reconstruction of the anterior talofbular ligament with preservation of the stump.
Methods

This retrospective study included 42 patients who underwent an endoscopic lateral ligament reconstruction between from June 2015 to June 2019.Fourteen consecutive patients (10 [71.4%] males and 4 [28.6%] female, mean age 27.79 ± 4.56[range 26 to 36] years) with preserved anterior tibiofibular ligament stump were enrolled in this study.On the other side ,there were 18 patients with unpreserved tibiofibular ligament stumps (unpreserved stump group), 12 males and 6 females, aged 20–36 years, mean (28.56 ± 5.67) years.The functional evaluation was carried out according to the Ankle-Hindfoot Score by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.The Tegner system was used to evaluate range of motion after the index procedure. Ankle proprioception was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess the degree of subjective pain symptoms. Operative time, fever time and wound healing time were also recorded.
Results

There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative outcomes such as postoperative fever time and wound healing time between the two groups (P > 0.05). The operative time was slightly longer in the stump-preserving group than in the non-stump-preserving group (94.14 ± 11.59 vs. 82.94 ± 15.61 P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores, Tegner motor level scores, and VAS scores between patients in the retained-stump group and the non-reserved-stump group (P > 0.05). At 1 year after surgery, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores and Tegner motor level scores improved and the VAS pain scores decreased in both the presurgical and non-presurgical groups. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores and Tegner motion level scores 1 year after surgery were higher in the group with preserved stump than in the group without preserved stump (P < 0.05).
Conclusion

Arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior talofibular ligament with and without preservation of the stump can achieve good clinical outcomes. Although arthroscopic anterior talofibular ligament reconstruction with preserved stump prolonged the operative time compared with surgery without preserved stump, it could better improve the subjective ankle function and motion status of patients and improve the prognosis.
Expanding Structural Diversity In A Library Of Disulfide Macrocycles Through In-Situ Imide Hydrolysis
Authors: Konopka Marcin , Stefankiewicz Artur R.
Published: September 2021

We describe here an unorthodox approach to dynamic covalent chemistry in which the initially-unexpected in-situ hydrolysis of a bis-imide component is used to control the composition of a library of structurally diverse macrocycles. The dual-stimuli method is based on simultaneous changes in pH and DMSO concentration to expand the diversity of the macrocyclic architectures.
NR2C Subfamily as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker for Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Li Xiaofen , Huang Kaiyan , Fu Wenfen , Liu Yushan , Lin Yuxiang , Zhang Jie , Song Chuangui
Published: September 2021

The overall outcome of hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer is relatively good, but it still faces the dilemmas of drug resistance and long-term recurrence. The NR2C subfamily are nuclear receptors like ER, PR and AR. However, the prognostic value and molecular mechanism of NR2Cs remain unclear. In our study, we identified the association between expression of NR2C1 or NR2C2 and survival of BRCA patients using Kaplan-Meier plotter. Next, miRNAs-NR2Cs regulatory networks were predicted by ENCORI. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis was performed via PPI networks and KEGG pathways. Finally, CellMiner was used to obtain thecorrelation analysis of NR2Cs expression and drug sensitivity. We found that both NR2C1 and NR2C2 were significantly down-regulated in BRCA compared to normal tissues. Survival difference between high and low NR2C1 group only observed in luminal B, while high expression levels of NR2C2 were significantly associated with good prognosis in luminal A, luminal B, LAR and ER+ breast cancer. Moreover, only NR2C1-has-miR-196a network was related to the prognosis of BRCA. For NR2C2, there were thirteen miRNAs of low expression associating with good prognosis, such as hsa-miR-21, hsa-miR-656, hsa-miR-103a. The main biological functions of NR2Cs were metabolic pathways, drug metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and so on. Altogether, NR2C1 and NR2C2, especially the latter, might be novel important prognostic factors like ER/PR/AR in HR+ breast cancer.
Stable transmission characteristics of double-hump solitons for the coupled Manakov equations in fiber lasers
Authors: Ma Guoli , Zhou Qin , Yu Weitian , Biswas Anjan , Liu Wenjun
Published: September 2021

The fiber laser has become an ideal ultrashort pulse source because of its cheap structure, high integration, convenient and controllable output direction, which greatly promotes the development and application of ultrafast optics. This paper mainly focuses on the control and amplification of double-hump solitons in fiber lasers theoretically. The bilinear forms and soliton solutions of the coupled Manakov equations are presented, and the transmission of double-hump solitons is discussed. The factors affecting the stable transmission of double-hump solitons are analyzed. The relevant conclusions have important guiding significance for understanding the generation of stable double-hump solitons in fiber lasers.
Identification of Perturbed Pathways Rendering Susceptibility to Tuberculosis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Using BioNSi Simulation of Integrated Network of Implicated Human Genes
Authors: Rani Jyoti , Bhargav Anasuya , Datta Malabika , Bajpai Urmi , Ramachandran Srinivasan
Published: September 2021

Adaptive immune response of the Th1 arm is the main defense against tuberculosis (TB). However, in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients, chronic hyperglycemia and inflammation underlie susceptibility to TB and results in poor TB control. The molecular pathways causing susceptibility of diabetics to tuberculosis is not fully understood. Here, an integrative pathway-based approach is used to investigate the perturbed pathways in T2DM patients rendering susceptibility to TB. We obtained 36 genes implicated in the Type 2 diabetes associated tuberculosis (T2DMTB) from literature. Gene expression analysis on T2DM patients’ data (GSE28168) showed that DEFA1 is differentially expressed at Padj < 0.05. The genes CAMP, CD14, CORO1A, LAMP1, TLR4, IL17F and SOCS3 were differentially expressed in T2DM patients at P value < 0.05. 7 microRNAs associated with these T2DMTB genes were obtained from NetworkAnalyst and verified for their literature evidences. The hsa-miR-146a microRNA was differentially expressed at Padj < 0.05. The human host TB susceptibility genes TNFRSF10A, MSRA, GPR148, SLC37A3, PXK, PROK2, REV3L, PGM1, HIST3H2A, PLAC4, LETM2, EMP2 and were also differentially expressed at Padj < 0.05. We included all these genes and added the remaining 28 genes from the T2DMTB set and the rest of differentially expressed genes at Padj < 0.05 in STRING and obtained a well-connected network with high confidence score greater than 0.7. From this network we extracted the KEGG pathways at FDR < 0.05 and retained only Diabetes and TB pathways among the disease pathways. The network was simulated with BioNSi using gene expression data from GSE26168. The Necroptosis pathway showed the maximum perturbations in T2DM patients, followed by NOD-like receptor signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling, NF-kappa-B signaling and MAPK signaling. These pathways likely underlie susceptibility to TB in T2DM patients.
An Approach for Online Determining the Entrance Surface Air Kerma (ESAK) in Digital Radiology
Authors: Suliman Ibrahim Idris
Published: September 2021

An online method is proposed to determine the entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) in digital radiology from console-displayed kerma area product (PKA) data. ESAK values were calculated from X-ray tube outputs and patient exposure factors across five X-ray examinations. The corresponding PKAvalues were taken from the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) header. Using linear regression between ESAK and values, the slope and intercept coefficients for each type of X-ray equipment and procedure were determined. The coefficient to determine ESAK from ranged from 59% for a posteroanterior chest to 88% for anteroposterior lumbar spine view X-ray procedures. The results demonstrated the possibility of online estimates of ESAK from a console that displayed using readily available digital information in radiology. The results may have important implications in interventional radiology, where ESAK values are crucial for preventing skin injuries due to prolonged fluoroscopy times.
Design and Parametric Analysis of GaN on Silicon High Electron Mobility Transistor for RF Performance Enhancement
Authors: Singh Jeetendra , Verma Archana , Tewari Vijay Kumar , Singh Shailendra
Published: September 2021

The need of performance enhancement at the RF and millimeter wave is highly desirable to eliminate the heating effects and power dissipation. Silicon substarte found to be a suitable candidate which reduces about 70% channel temperature than sapphire. To achieve high performance, a GaN on the Silicon substrate high electron mobility transistor is designed and its various performance paramters are analyzed by varying the design specifications. Moreover, the problem of blocking voltage improvement is resolved by epitaxial design approach. Since, threshold voltage, doping-level, work-function of gate material and channel length are considered as some of the important parameters while device modeling. Therefore, the impact of these parameters is examined and analyzed to enehace the performance and reliability of the device for RF applications. The performance parameters like trans-conductance, drain current curves are plotted at different state of device physical and electrical parameters. Results exhibits maximum value of transconductance gm=13 milli-mho, minimum gate capacitance Cg=0.5pf, wheras Vth is varied between − 0.25 volts to 0.25 volts.
Oscillation intervals of cutaneous blood perfusion as indicators of aging
Authors: Wang Guangjun , Jia Shuyong , Song Xiaojing , Wang Shuyou , Zhang Weibo
Published: September 2021

A total of 30 healthy participants (Old, aged >40 years, n=12; Young, age<40, n=18) were recruited, and their bilateral upper limb blood flow was recorded. The results showed that on either the left or right side, the average oscillation intervals of the lower age were significantly higher than those of the older age and that on the left or right side, the average interval was negatively and weakly correlated with age. The current study provides a window to access age-related changes on the oscillation interval of cutaneous laser Doppler flowmetry.
Leaf thickness of barley: genetic dissection, candidate genes identification and its relationship with yield-related traits
Authors: Zheng Zhi , Hu Haiyan , Gao Shang , Zhou Hong , Luo Wei , Kage Udaykumar , Liu Chunji , Jia Jizeng
Published: September 2021

Leaf thickness (LT) is an important characteristic affecting leaf functions which have been intensively studied. However, as LT has a small dimension in many plant species and technically difficult to measure, previous studies on this characteristic are often based on indirectly estimations. In the first study of detecting QTL controlling LT by directly measuring the characteristic in barley, large and stable loci were detected from both field and glasshouse trials conducted in different cropping seasons. Four loci (locating on chromosome arms 2H, 3H, 5H and 6H, respectively) were consistently detected for flag leaf thickness (FLT) in each of these trials. The one on 6H had the largest effect, with a maximum LOD 9.8 explaining up to 20.9% of phenotypic variance. FLT does not only show strong interactions with flag leaf width and flag leaf area but has also strong correlations with fertile tiller number, spike row types, kernel number per spike, and heading date. Though with reduced efficiency, these loci were also detectable from assessing second last leaf of fully grown plants or even from assessing the third leaves of seedlings. Taken advantage of the high-quality genome assemblies for both parents of the mapping population used in this study, three candidate genes underlying the 6H QTL were identified based on orthologous analysis. These results do not only provide direct evidence showing the importance of LT in improving kernel yield of cereal crops but also form the bases for cloning and functional analysis of genes regulating LT in barley.
DETERMINATION OF ANIMAL LOAD AND GRAZING SYSTEM IN THE WEIGHT GAIN OF BOVINES WITH SECONDARY VEGETATION FEEDING
Authors:   Instituto Nacional de InvestigacionesForestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Campo Experimental Chetumal, Km 3.5 carreteraChetumal - Bacalar, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico., Edgar Enrique Sosa-Rubio , Gilbert Jose Herrera-Cool ,   Instituto Nacional de InvestigacionesForestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Campo Experimental Chetumal, Km 3.5 carreteraChetumal - Bacalar, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico., Maria Del Carmen Zavaleta-Cordoba ,   Instituto Nacional de InvestigacionesForestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Campo Experimental Chetumal, Km 3.5 carreteraChetumal - Bacalar, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Published: September 2021

The present study was to evaluate the weight gain of bovinesin three animal loads with two grazing systems and three levels of grazing, furthermore to evaluate the botanic composition of secondary vegetation areas. The study was carried out during two years, in the first year, the animal loads used were 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 animal unit per hectare (AU/ha).The vegetation which animals were evaluated was secondary vegetation of 8 years old. Botanic composition was determined by transects at the beginning of experiment. The two systems used were rotational and alternate grazing with three animals per each load and system.The initial average weights were 175 kg and evaluation were carried out each 56 days. The experimental design used was random totally with factorial arrange of 3X2, the first factor was the animal load and the second was the grazing system. Results indicated changes in botanic composition caused by grazing effect (Pâ‰¤0.05), furthermore, grazing system and animal loads showed significative statistical differences between treatments and interaction. The best weight gain was 520 g of weight gain average per day detected in 0.50AU/ha with rotational grazing system (Pâ‰¤0.05).
DYNAMIC THREE-POINTS-BENDING TEST MODE OF TWO AMORPHOUS POLYMER MATERIALS (PMMA, PC) FOR THEIR VISCOELASTIC AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION
Authors:   Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Superior School of Engineering, University of Lome TOGO., Afio Ayarema , Lolo Komlan ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Superior School of Engineering, University of Lome TOGO., Attipou Kodjo ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Superior School of Engineering, University of Lome TOGO., Assogba Kassegne Komla ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Superior School of Engineering, University of Lome TOGO., Tiem Sonnou ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Superior School of Engineering, University of Lome TOGO.
Published: September 2021

This paper presents an approach to classifying amorphous polymer materials. Temperature is This classiÃƒÂ¯Ã‚Â¬Ã‚Âcation involves the determination of mechanical and viscoelastic characteristics considered a descriptive variable to clarify the speciÃƒÂ¯Ã‚Â¬Ã‚Âc ÃƒÂ¯Ã‚Â¬Ã‚Âeld of practical applications of amorphous polymers. according to the reference temperature characterizing the behaviour of polymer materials. The mechanical and viscoelastic characteristics of amorphous polymers such as methyl poly-methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC) and imide poly ether (PEI) are determined through the three-point dynamically embedded test carried out in an adiabatic close enclosure. The complex dissipative or conservative modules according to the temperature are represented. The results obtained show that the ÃƒÂ¯Ã‚Â¬Ã‚Â‚uidity index of these materials is linked to their viscosity, which is a determining property which is decisive for the choice of the technique of the application of the material. Our method of measuring properties is therefore, in principle, comparable to the techniques used in industrial development.
Cover crop management in the maize-wheat offseason
Authors: Link Lucas , Pereira Luara Silva , Batista Vanderson Vieira , Oligini Karine Fuschter , Pellizari Erick Vinicius , Adami Paulo Fernando , Sartor Laércio Ricardo
Published: September 2021

This research studied a suitable cover crop considering biomass accumulation and nutrient cycling and its herbicide management to be adopted in the maize-wheat offseason as well as its influence on wheat yield. Experiment was laid out as a randomized block design in a factorial scheme with five cover crops (Fagopyrum esculentum, Crotalaria juncea, Pennisetum glaucum, Urochloa brizantha and Crotalaria spectabilis at 2017/18 growing season and at 2018/19, Fagopyrum esculentum and Crotalaria spectabilis were switched for Dolichos lablab) and two herbicide management (Desiccation 17 days before and at the wheat Sowing day) with four replications. Fallow was used as a control. Fagopyrum esculentum showed the fastest cycle and can be recommended for shorter offseason periods (50 days). Pennisetum glaucum showed the highest biomass yield at both years, standing out as the best option for offseason periods of 70 to 80 days. Tradeoff between the additional biomass produced by millet and brachiaria between herbicide desiccation periods does not cover the wheat grain yield reduction, suggesting that its herbicide management should be anticipated. On the other hand, Crotalarias showed a linear increase in biomass along the periods without wheat yield effects and its herbicide dissection at the wheat sowing day is recommended
Thermal-biological aspects of germination of seeds in tropical forest tree species
Authors: Melo Luan Danilo Ferreira de Andrade , Junior João Luciano de Andrade Melo , Soares Larice Bruna Ferreira , Chaves Lívia Francyne Gomes , Neto João Correia de Araújo , Ferreira Vilma Marques , Neves Maria Inajal Rodrigues da Silva das , Gonçalves Edilma Pereira , Viana Jeandson Silva , Paes Reinaldo de Alencar , Costa Jaqueline Figueredo de Oliveira , Assis Wesley Oliveira de
Published: September 2021

The present study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the ecological and applied aspects of temperature in the germination of Colubrina glandulosa (Rhamnaceae), Chloroleucon dumosum (Fabaceae), Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Fabaceae), Mimosa bimucronata (Fabaceae) and Sapindus saponaria (Sapindaceae). Then we assessed germination, average germination time, germination uniformity and germination activation energy as a function of temperatures. The experiment was conducted at the Plant Propagation Laboratory, on the Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Campus, at the Federal University of Alagoas, Rio Largo, AL, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized with four replications of 25 seeds per treatment. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the means were compared using the Tukey test at 5% probability. The isothermal incubation was performed in Biochemical Oxigen Demand (B.O.D.) germination chamber, at constant temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 ºC and alternating at 20-30 ºC. The seeds of C. glandulosa, C. dumosum, E. contortisiliquum and M. bimucronata germinated in the range of 10 ºC ≤ T ≤ 35 ºC, and S. saponaria germinated in the range of 20 ºC ≤ T ≤ 35 ºC. We found that seeds in the optimal temperature range has unimodal distribution of relative frequency, concentrating germination in the shortest time. The activation energy was positive in the range of 10 ºC ≤ T ≤ 30 ºC, with an inversion of the signal at a temperature of 35 ºC. The studied species had a wide range of temperature tolerance and the speed was curvilinearly dependent on them. The germination process is predominantly endergonic
Financing public infrastructure in Zimbabwe: Current trends and future alternatives
Authors: Kapesa Tonderai , Mugano Gift , Fourie Houdini
Published: September 2021

Zimbabwe requires USD2 billion annually until 2032 for financing economic infrastructure. However, the Government of Zimbabwe currently affords about 20% of this financing requirement leaving an 80% gap. The aim of the study was to establish the main sources of finance for economic public infrastructure and recommend alternative financing sources to supplement the current sources. The qualitative descriptive study collected primary data through 23 interviews conducted with officials from ministries of the Government of Zimbabwe, government departments and parastatal enterprises. Secondary data was obtained from documentary analysis. The study revealed bilateral loans from the China Exim Bank as the main source of finance for economic infrastructure, contributing USD2.1 billion whilst budget appropriations from the Government of Zimbabwe contributed USD1 billion during the 10-year period under study. Infrastructure finance was also obtained from development partners (USD200 million) and commercial and multilateral lenders (USD400 million). The study recommends developing a framework that promotes and protects private sector and/or innovative financiers of infrastructure through policy stability.
THE LEVEL OF SOCIAL DISTANCE TOWARDS VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS REGARDING TO OCCUPATION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Authors:   Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Tuzla, Teskeredžić Amela , Radžo Alibegović Dženana ,   The Association of visually impaired citizens of Tuzla, Salkić Senada ,   The Association of visually impaired citizens of Tuzla
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study was to determine the level of social distance towards visually impaired people in relation to the occupation of respondents. The study included 361 adult respondents from the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and who had no personal, not professional contact with persons with impaired vision. For the purpose of this study was used scale of social distance (Oullette-Kuntz, Burge, Brown, Arsenault, 2010), which is adapted in terms of required statements and opinions of respondents to visually impaired people, rather than toward people with intellectual disabilities. For statistical analyzes were used methods of descriptive statistics, and methods of analysis of variance (ANOVA). All results of the study were conducted at a significance level of 0.05. The results indicate that there is no statistically significant difference in the opinions and level of social distance in relation to the occupation of respondents.
THE ATTITUDES OF PARENTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES IN CHILDREN WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT
Authors:   The Center for Education and Rehabilitation of hearing and speaking Tuzla, B&H, H. Mahmutović Esad , Čajlaković Kurtalić Sanela ,   The Center for Education and Rehabilitation of hearing and speaking Tuzla, B&H
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study was to examine the attitudes of audiologists and hearing parents severely impaired children on the application of different ways of carrying out the diagnostic procedures. It was assumed that the attitudes of audiologists and parents of children with impaired hearing on the current - the classical method of performing diagnostic procedures unfavorable and that they need to be modernized with new information and communication technologies. The sample consisted of 90 subjects, divided into two subsample (45 audiologists and 45 parents). To estimate the attitudes applied questionnaire, specifically designed and tested for this study. Measuring response to claims made according to the Likert scale. For the processing of survey data were used descriptive analysis, one-way ANOVA and canonical discriminative analysis. By analyzing the data showed that there were unfavorable attitudes towards implementation of diagnostic procedures in the traditional manner and the need for their modernization of information and communication technologies. Also, it was found that there is a statistically significant difference in the attitudes of audiologists and parents towards the implementation of diagnostic procedures. The reasons for these results, visible on the basis of the coefficient of canonical discriminant function, can be traced to an insufficient level of knowledge of parents, low self-criticism audiologists to performing tasks, possibly their lack of expertise, as well as other latent causes.
COOPERATIVE APPROACH TO LEARNING IN MATHEMATICS
Authors:   Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tuzla, Rešić Sead , Šantić Jelena ,   Elementary School in Kaonik, Kaonik, Čajić Elvir ,   Elementary School „Lukavac City“
Published: September 2021

A cooperative approach to learning in math class, and especially the fear ofmathematics are the actuality of contemporary class. That would be the subject of much loved depends on the teacher or the methods applied in the process ofrealization of teaching units. The fact is that students often declare how do not like math and choose high school and colleges where there is a minimum of mathematics. Their thinking is a product of the experience with the teacher andthe curriculum in the starting teaching mathematics. In this paper, the statistically significant differences between the written co-operative learning access and success of students in relation to the traditional classes.
THE ROLE OF COOPERATION AND TEAMWORK BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES IN TRANSITION COUNTRIES
Authors:   University ", Ajdarpašić Suada ,   Haxhi Zeka",   , Faculty of Business, Muharemi Rialda ,   University "Haxhi Zeka", Faculty of Business, Buxhovi Edonis ,   University "Haxhi Zeka", Faculty of Business
Published: September 2021

A topic that tells a lot about us as human beings, about our abilities and virtues is the fact that shows and explains how much we are able to work together and make collective decisions in the operating process. How much people are willing to cooperate, plan, organize, coordinate, manage and control the situation, depends on many factors. In continuation of my work, I will explain how much people are willing to provide the support to their colleagues, friends and random people in teamwork when making decisions on a specific field, and also the cooperation process between the people on many stages in transition countries. This work comes down to personal study, where, I have based on the questionnaire dedicated to the students, academic and administrative staff at the different Universities and Secondary schools of Kosovo. What is their general perception about cooperation and teamwork, its quality, advantages and disadvantages, its reflection on success or failure, the significance of individual and collective decisions, current and future application of, friendships with other ethnicity, and many other issues, it is stated in the further work. According to the data collected it can be said that the interviewed people are familiar in a large % with the process of cooperation, whether in a small group but also in a large group. However, why is it applied or not you will read throughout this paper.
PHYSICAL THERAPY AND FUNCTIONAL REHABILITATION IN PATIENTS WITH HAEMOPHILIC ARTHROPATHY SURGICALLY TREATED
Authors:   2nd Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoaraa, V. Poenarua Dan , Andrei-Popa Diana ,   Department of Balneology Medical Rehabilitation and Rheumatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoarab, Marian Patrascua Jenel ,   Department of Balneology Medical Rehabilitation and Rheumatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoarab, Andora Bogdan ,   2nd Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoaraa, Opreaa Manuel ,   2nd Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoaraa, Amaricaib Elena ,   Department of Balneology Medical Rehabilitation and Rheumatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoarab
Published: September 2021

Patients with haemophilia type A or B may develop, over time, haemophilic arthropathy with different degrees of joint dysfunction. This disorder is a consequence of repeated episodes of intraarticular bleeding, with either spontaneous or traumatic aetiology. In the recent years, the therapeutic management of these patients has changed, still, without prompt early diagnosis and prophylactic treatment, the joints deteriorate to such a degree that only a complex multi-disciplinary approach can offer an optimal outcome. Modern high resolution MRI and prophylaxis treatment can detect and delay early signs of haemophilic arthropathy, but, not all patients have access to these types of early interventions. As a result, there are still patients presenting with different of degrees haemophilic arthropathy, which require surgical treatment. Despite the use of modern, minimal invasive approaches, surgical treatment alone can’t offer a good symptom relief and can’t provide a good functional outcome. Thus, the integration of physical therapy and functional rehabilitation in the therapeutic scheme can provide a good support in order for these patients to be socio-economically re-integrated. Keywords: haemophilic arthropathy; synovectomy; functional rehabilitation; physical therapy;
NOISE INFLUENCE ON HEARING STATUS OF USERS OF HEARING AIDS
Authors:   Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation, University of Tuzla, B&H, Hasanbegović Husnija , Čajlaković Kurtalić Sanela ,   The Center for Education and Rehabilitation of hearing and speaking Tuzla, B&H, H. Mahmutović Esad ,   The Center for Education and Rehabilitation of hearing and speaking Tuzla, B&H
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study was to determine the cause and effect relationship of noise and hearing status users of hearing aids. It was assumed that increased continously and intensity of noise in urban areas has resulted in postponement of the assessment of hearing impairment in relation to age. Also, it was assumed that the inferior status hearing aid users of hearing aids in the city, compared to the auditory user status hearing aids from the suburbs. The sample (N = 60) consisted of the hearing impaired, which is assigned to a hearing aid. The sample was selected randomly and divided into two sub-samples, 30 patients from the city and 30 patients from the suburbs. The survey was administered questionnaire intensity noise levels and users of hearing aids. The processing of the collected data was used descriptive analysis, and testing the difference T - test and Mann Whitney U test, with the selected level of statistical significance 0.05. The results showed a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of users of hearing aids urban and suburban areas, in relation to the age of the respondents. The population of urban settlements are likely accustomed to communicate on a higher level of intensity socio-voice communication, and thus later in life notice hearing loss and later appears at diagnosis. Results hearing loss and hearing loss percentage by Fowler-Sabine-in, in clinical terms, they showed slight differences, with somewhat unfavorable hearing status urban, suburban relative to the population. Not confirmed the statistical significance of these differences, which are only partially can be argued that increasing the intensity of noise in urban areas has resulted in inferior status hearing aid users of hearing aids in this, in relation to the hearing aid user status from the suburbs.
THE MANIFESTATION OF PROSOCIAL AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN DEPENDING ON SEX AND AGE
Authors:   Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tuzla, B&H, Bulić Aid , Pinkas Gabriel ,   Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tuzla, B&H
Published: September 2021

In this paper we present the results of research on a sample of 101 children. All children attending kindergarten "Sunčica" that exists within the Public Institution for pre-school education "Our child" Tuzla. Our goal was to investigate and determine which behavior, prosocial or aggressive, is more manifested by pre-school children. Also, we wanted to determine whether there is a significant difference in the expression of aggressive and prosocial behavior of children in relation to their age and gender. The results we obtained showed that preschool children manifested more prosocial than aggressive behavior, that there are significant differences in the expression of prosocial and aggressive behavior of children in relation to sex, and that there are significant differences between certain age groups of children in the context of prosocial behavior while among some age groups in the context of prosocial behavior and among all age groups in context of aggressive behavior there were no statistically significant differences.
FRACTIONS: CONCEPTUAL AND DIDACTIC ASPECTS
Authors:   Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tuzla, B&H Faculty of Education Travnik, B&H, Rešić Sead , Botonjić Ismet ,   Faculty of Education Travnik, B&H, Omerović Maid ,   Faculty of Education Travnik, B&H
Published: September 2021

Fractions represent the manner of writing parts of whole numbers (integers). Rules for operations with fractions differ from rules for operations with integers. Students face difficulties in understanding fractions, especially operations with fractions. These difficulties are well known in didactics of Mathematics throughout the world and there is a lot of research regarding problems in learning about fractions. Methods for facilitating understanding fractions have been discovered, which are essentially related to visualizing operations with fractions.
Laser gyro signal filtering by combining CEEMDAN and principal component analysis
Authors: Huang Rongrong , Yan Lei , Liu Jing
Published: September 2021

In order to suppress the random shift error of laser gyro and improve the practical precision of inertial navigation system, an improved gyro filtering method is proposed by combining the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) and principal component analysis (PCA). Firstly, the gyro signal is decomposed by CEEMDAN, and the noise energy of each intrinsic mode function (IMF) is estimated according to the distribution model of noise energy. Then, on basis of noise energy, the principal component analysis is used to remove the noise IMF to achieve the final denoising of gyro signal. In the proposed method, CEEMD can improve the mode mixing and denoising effect of gyro signal. Moreover, PCA is used to decompose each IMF. According to the noise energy, the noise of each IMF is removed adaptively to avoid the selection of noise IMF and better retain the useful information of the signal. The proposed method is completely dependent on the characteristics of gyro signal and has good adaptability and strong denoising ability. Furthermore, the filtered effect of different methods is analyzed by overlapping Allan variance. The experimental results show that the proposed method can suppress the gyro random drift more efficiently, and the effect of removing noise is better than EMD threshold method and EMD correlation coefficient method.
Spontaneous pneumothorax: some aspects of etiology, pathogenesis and treatment (literature review)
Authors: Bezhin Alexandr I. , Kletkin Maksim E. , Litvinenko Iryna V. , Fisyuk Anna A.
Published: September 2021

The review article discusses the prevalence, etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. The vascular, mechanical, obstructive, infectious, and enzymatic theories of the occurrence of emphysematous lung changes as the main cause of developing spontaneous pneumothorax are described; the role of smoking as the main etiological factor and its influence on the recurrence rate of spontaneous pneumothorax are studied. The issues of choosing primary cure tactic are considered. The effectiveness of conservative treatment, puncture and drainage of the pleural cavity as methods of treatment and pleurodesis for the prevention of recurrences of spontaneous pneumothorax are described. A comparativeassessment of various methods of pleural cavity obliteration is given: chemical pleurodesis (by sterile talc, minocycline, povidone-iodine, 50% glucose solution, autologous blood and its components, autologous adipose tissue, pseudomonas aeruginosa sensitive hemagglutinin, picibanil), apical pleurectomy, pleuroabrasion. The experience of using YAG-ND and CO2 as methods of physical pleurodesis, intraoperative Staple Line Coverage with polyglyconic acid and fibrin gel is described. The necessity of active surgical tactic in the treatment of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax developed on the base of undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia has been substantiated. The advantages, disadvantages, indications and contrindications to different ways of surgical treatment (thoracotomy, video-assisted minithoracotomy, thoracoscopy) are discussed. The strategy for choosing treatment methods depending on the volume of pneumothorax, the severity of bullous changes, the presence of concomitant diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the value of the Charlson comorbidity index is considered. The expediency of using video-assisted minithoracotomy as the safest and most effective method of surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax has been substantiated. The effectiveness of surgical interventions depending on the timing of their implementation is considered.