bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice about the menstruation among secondary school girls in Herat, Afghanistan - A cross sectional study
Authors: Neyazi Ahmad , Faizi Gulalai , Afzali Habibah , Ahmadi Mozhgan , Razaqi Nosaibah , Frough Zahra , Bhattacharya Sudip
Published: August 2021

Background: The experience of menarche is often horrifying for adolescent girls due to their lack of information on menstruation cycle and menstrual vaginal bleeding. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice about menstruation and menstruation hygiene among secondary school girls in Herat, Afghanistan.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 10th March 2021 to 15th April 2021 among secondary schools’ girls in Herat, Afghanistan to evaluate the secondary school girls’ knowledge on menstruation and menstruation hygiene. Sample size was calculated as 768 girls. Data were evaluated in IBM SPSS program.Results: In this study 53.3% of girls a good knowledge on menstruation and menstruation hygiene. Only 15.9% of girls who did not experienced menarche at the time of this study, has a good knowledge score on menstruation and menstruation hygiene. 32.9% of the participants took rest and may missed their school during menstrual bleeding. Only 2.1% of the participants’ first source of information on menstruation and menstruation hygiene was their teachers. The findings of the study show significant association between the fathers’ educational level and girls’ knowledge of menstruation and menstruation hygiene.Conclusion: Girls knowledge on menstruations and menstruation hygiene was found to be lower than other countries. Awareness campaigns regarding the menstruation and menstruation hygiene are recommended to be conducted. However, it would be better to add a subject for secondary school girls so they can learn more and openly on this matter.
Psychosocial burden and associated factors among nurses in care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from a retrospective survey in Germany
Authors: Hering Christian , Gangnus Annabell , Budnick Andrea , Kohl Raphael , Steinhagen-Thiessen Elisabeth , Kuhlmey Adelheid , Gellert Paul
Published: August 2021

Background
Care homes were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although high levels of psychosocial burden (i.e., anxiety, depression and stress) during the pandemic have been described for healthcare workers in hospitals, evidence on the psychosocial burden for nurses in care homes during the pandemic is scarce.
Methods
A total of 811 nurses participated in a retrospective online survey between November 2020 and February 2021. Information about the COVID-19 situation (i.e., working demands, COVID-19 cases in their facility, and COVID-19-related burden) of nurses in German care homes during the first wave of the pandemic (March 2020 to June 2020) was gathered. The Stress Scale of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (SDASS-21), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-2 (GAD-2), the Patients-Health-Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) were used to screen for psychosocial burden.
Results
Among nurses, 94.1% stated that work demands since the COVID-19 pandemic increased. Further, 57.5% showed clinically relevant levels of either stress, anxiety, and/or depression. Multiple regression analysis showed significant associations between COVID-19-related burden and qualification (p < .01), dissatisfaction with COVID-19 management of care home manager (p < .05), COVID-19-related anxiety (p < .001), and dementia as a focus of care (p < .05). Stress, depression, and anxiety showed associations with COVID-19 related burden at work (p < .01), COVID-19-related anxiety (p < .001), social support (p < .01), and sense of community (p < .05). Stress was also associated with COVID-19 cases among residents (p < .05), and size of care home (p < .05).
Conclusion
Short- and long-term strategies (i.e., psychosocial counseling, mandatory team meetings, more highly qualified nurses, additional training) in the work environment of nursing, in crises, but beyond, should be encouraged to reduce the burden on nursing staff in care homes.
Analysing the Malaysian Higher Education Training Offer for Furniture
Design and Woodworking Industry 4.0 as an Input Towards Joint
Curriculum Validation Protocol
Authors: Zainal Abidin Shahriman , Bahari Shahril Anuar , Ibrahim Azmi , Mohd Ghazali Aruan Efendy , Ahmad Mohammad Azroll , Mujir Mohd Shaleh , Delgado María Victoria Bueno , Zbiec Marcin , Garrido Josefina , Ortega Juan José , Gómez Maria Victoria Gómez , Ratnasingam Jegatheswaran , Hashim Rokiah , Zakaria Sarani , Mat Amin Mohd Nor Zamri
Published: August 2021

An education programme at the master’s level normally aims to facilitate graduates’ acquisition, mastery and application of advanced knowledge in specialised areas of education. However, there is no learning pathway that aims to improve the level of specific and transversal competencies and skills, with particular regard to those relevant for the labour market in the furniture sector, such as management, entrepreneurship, language competences and leadership toward wood and furniture
industry 4.0. The methodology for this research inquiry was based upon a survey questionnaire of 54 respondents during the MAKING4.0 Seminar at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. The results were analysed from the Work Package 1 (WP1) “Analysis and comparison of the current Higher Education training offer and furniture and woodworking industry”, before the learning outcomes were defined for each of the identified topics. The definition of learning outcomes was made considering the Recommendations of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), and subsequently harmonised with the Programme Learning Outcomes defined in the Malaysian Qualification Framework 2nd edition (MQF2.0) for a Master´s Degree Level 7. The identified learning outcomes have been grouped into four modules: (1) Processes and Production of Furniture, (2) Intelligent and Sustainable Design, (3) Wood and New Materials, and (4) Innovation Management. Results of the study indicated that MAKING4.0 is in line with the actions highlighted in the Malaysian Education Blueprint (2015–2025) and the objectives of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in developing
the National Industry 4.0 policy framework. MAKING4.0 aims to ensure an adequate supply of human capital and skills, as well as develop an innovative master’s degree to modernise the current training offer in wood and furniture technology processes and design around Industry 4.0 in Malaysia.
Secondary School English Teachers’ Knowledge and Practice on CEFR-Aligned English Curriculum
Authors: Ng Hui Yin , Ahmad Mohamad Zohir
Published: August 2021

The Ministry of Education aligned the national English curriculum with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to increase the quality and standard of English Language. The success in implementing this educational reform is highly dependent on teachers. Teachers need to have sufficient knowledge in the incorporation of CEFR in their teaching to develop the ability of students to meet targeted CFER levels of English proficiency. The purpose of this study is to identify the teachers’ level of knowledge and practice on CEFR-aligned
English curriculum. A total of 148 teachers who teach Form 1 and Form 2 English
from the secondary schools in Pulau Pinang were involved in this study. The instrument of this study was a closed-ended questionnaire adapted from Kır (2011) and Ngo (2017). The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Inferential analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test. The findings showed that the level of knowledge (M = 3.49, SD = 0.58) and practice of teachers (M = 3.50, SD = 0.55) on CEFR-aligned English curriculum were moderate. Also, there was a strong relationship between
teachers’ knowledge and practice on CEFR-aligned English curriculum. There was a significant difference existed in the level of knowledge and practice on CEFR-aligned English curriculum based on demographic factor namely the type of training received by teachers on CEFR. The findings of this study implied that the training and workshops ought to be conducted frequently as a support for teachers towards the implementation.
Frequency and Association of Stress Levels with Modes of Commuting Among Medical Students of a Developing Country
Authors: Jahangeer Syed Muhammad Ashraf , Hasnain Nimra , Tariq Muhammad Taha , Jamil Ammara , Zia Syeda Yamna , Amir Washma
Published: August 2021

Introduction: This study aimed at determining the frequency and association of stress levels with modes of transportation and was likely to reveal the contributing transportation-related factors for stress in medical students.
Methods: This was a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study that included undergraduate medical students of a public sector medical university in Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 573 students participated voluntarily, of which 300 were provided a manual questionnaire and 273 filled it online. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha at 0.791. The collected data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 21.0.
Results: Out of 573 participants, 99.3% (n = 298) of students filled the questionnaire manually, whereas 100% of students filled the questionnaire online. Almost two-thirds of students used university transport; more than 90% lived more than 5 km from the university and 56% had a traveling time of more than an hour. Approximately 15.4% of students reported physical trauma and some form of harassment. Sheldon Cohen’s stress scale surprisingly revealed 90% of students to be within the moderate-to-high stress category. Risk factors were associated with stress levels and significant associations were observed with noise exposure (P = 0.023) and sleep quality (P = 0.001). The most common reported stressors associated with commuting included overcrowding, long travel, and air and noise pollution. Noise pollution was the main predictor of stress among commuters.
Conclusion: Poor transportation has adverse effects on health and academic performance. Administration in their respective jurisdictions is needed to investigate this matter to make commuting a routine rather than a hassle.
Characterisation of the Prevailing Multidrug Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains from Surgical Wound Using 16S rRNA Sequencing Technique
Authors: Aibuedefe Eremwanarue Osagie , Udogadi Nwawuba Stanley , Hakeem Shittu Olalekan
Published: August 2021

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is prevalent in hospital-acquired surgical wound infections. It exhibits both innate and acquired resistance to a broad range of antimicrobials and remains a principal problem in clinical practice.
Methods: In total, 284 sterile surgical wound swabs (142 each) were collected from two government hospitals: Central Hospital Benin (CHB) and University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin City, Nigeria. Pseudomonas spp. isolated from both hospitals were screened with eight different antibiotics by way of disk diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of 34 multiple drug-resistant isolates was carried out using genus-specific primer set on extracted genomic DNA for the identification of Pseudomonas spp. and substituent 16S rRNA sequencing to determine the prevailing strains in the two locations.
Results: Sixty-two Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from the two locations (27 isolates from CHB and 35 isolates from the UBTH). Surgical wound infections screened with regularly used antibiotics revealed that 17 (62.9%) isolates from CHB and 20 (57.1%) isolates from UBTH were multiple drug resistant Pseudomonas spp. PCR identification using Pseudomonas spp. specific primer showed that 16 (94.1%) isolates from CHB and 18 (90%) isolates from UBTH were confirmed. 16S DNA sequencing revealed that P. aeruginosa strain H25883 was dominant in both locations.
Conclusion: High antibiotic resistance among P. aeruginosa isolates was established in our study. PCR technique revealed a more reliable method of bacterial identification. H25883 strain of P. aeruginosa is the prevalent strain in both locations and it should be given attention in nosocomial surgical wound infections.
Determinants of corporate debt maturity: Evidence from the consumer goods sector in Vietnam
Authors: Van Trang Do Thi
Published: August 2021

Debt maturity structure plays an important role in enterprises’ capital structure policies, and debt maturity varies from industry to industry. The paper investigates the determinants that affect the debt maturity structure of listed firms in the consumer goods industry from 2009 to 2019. The data is collected from consumer goods companies listed on the Vietnam Stock Exchange. The feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) estimation is demonstrated to consider not only micro but also macroeconomic variables that have influenced the corporate debt maturity policy. The empirical results show that five microeconomic factors, such as capital structure, asset structure, asset liquidity, profitability, and firm size, have influenced the debt maturity and are statistically significant. Meanwhile, macroeconomic factors such as inflation rate and credit growth have significantly affected the corporate debt maturity. Finally, the paper provides some suggestions for financial managers on the optimal corporate debt maturity in the consumer goods sector and recommendations for policy-makers when implementing macroeconomic policies.
SEPARAÇÃO ENANTIOSSELETIVA DA OXIBUTININA: UMA INVESTIGAÇÃO TEÓRICA E EXPERIMENTAL
Authors: Zin Lilian , Silva Camilla , Guimarães Luciana , Borges Keyller , Nascimento Clebio
Published: August 2021

ENANTIOSELECTIVE SEPARATION OF OXYBUTYNIN: A THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION. In this work, we have studied both experimentally and theoretically the oxybutynin chiral discrimination. According to the main results, the enantioseparation of oxybutynin was efficiently achieved by high performance liquid chromatography in normal phase using the Chiralpak® AD column, which has amylose tris (3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) as a chiral selector. The energetic and structural parameters obtained via density functional theory calculations pointed out the chiral discrimination as well as the enantiomeric elution order of oxybutynin, thus explaining, at molecular level, the experimental data. Finally, the strength of the hydrogen bonds played a key role in the discrimination between the oxybutynin diastereomeric complexes formed.
Metapragmatic discourses in differentiating genres in online media
Authors:   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Molodychenko Evgeni N.
Published: August 2021

One of the possible ways to explore contextualization is through external discourses referencing the pragmatics of the discourse in question. These are known as metapragmatic discourse. The purpose of this article is to theoretically integrate the concept of metapragmatics into genre analysis and apply metapragmatic tools to the analysis of specific genres. Five YouTube videos together with their accompanying comments exhibiting metapragmatic properties were analyzed. Methodologically, the analysis relies on the textually oriented content analysis. The results indicate that placing discourses nominally relying on one and the same generic form into a certain genre may be predicated on contextual variables that may have nothing to do with said form per se. These variables, however, may be verbalized by the original author and by their audience in the form of metapragmatic markers. This may mean that for the final addressee, the “effect” of the original discourse will depend on the attribution of this discourse, based on the metapragmatic markers, to one of the “competing” genre variations emerging, as it were, in an ongoing exchange between the author and his audience. A case in point are sponsored and “honest” review genres. A second observation resides in the realm of hybrid genres. An example here is integrating sponsored content into one of the “legitimate” lifestyle-genres (“hot tips”, vlog, etc.). A fraction of the discourse community seems to view this as delegitimizing the discourse and the genre in question, while others see it as an “unfortunate insert”, which does not, however, change the genre’s overall value. This leaves the question open whether such genres should be considered new and full-fledged genres, with sponsored content being one of their integral features.
Corpus-based methods in stylistic studies: reshitel’nyi/reshitel’no in Fedor Dostoevskii’s individual style
Authors:   V. V. Vinogradov Russian Language Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Sharapova Ekaterina V.
Published: August 2021

The article discusses the idiolectic features of the adjective reshitel’nyi and the adverb reshitel’no in Fedor Dostoevskii’s writing style. Conceived as one lexical item, reshitel’nyi and reshitel’no have a semantic structure that includes three blocks of meanings: quality/mode of action; discursive meaning; intensity (corresponding to the lexical function Magn). The dictionary definitions suggest that all of them were common to reshitel’nyi/reshitel’no in Russian language of the 19th century. Ноwever, a corpus-based study shows that reshitel’nyi/reshitel’no in discursive or intensifying use is one of Dostoevskii’s idiolectic patterns. The study comprises 1219 contexts from Dostoevskii’s five great novels and from Leo Tolstoy’s, Mikhail Saltykov Shchedrin’s, Ivan Turgenev’s and Ivan Goncharov’s literary texts accessible in the Russian National Corpus. The analysis reveals the closeness of intensification tо discursive meanings up to nondistinction. Almost half of the contexts extracted from Dostoevsky’s texts are discursive or intensifying uses of reshitel’nyi/reshitel’no. This share is much smaller for the texts of other authors (12%, 22%, 15% and 14% respectively). The article considers some types of contexts and constructions that refer to discursive or intensifying uses of reshitel’nyi/reshitel’no in Dostoesvskii’s literary texts.
Problems of the Historical Past in Japanese-Taiwanese Relations during the Chen Shui-bian Administration (2000–2008)
Authors:   Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Perminova Vera A. ,   Russian Federation Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Published: August 2021

Taiwan, which was ruled by the Japanese Empire from 1895 to 1945, still remains one of the few regions whose inhabitants do not emphasize the negative aspects of the colonial period. Discussions in Taiwanese society about the problems of the historical past traditionally are represented by two issues: the question of sovereignty over the Diaoyudao/Senkaku islands and the demand from Tokyo of an apology and compensation for Taiwanese “comfort women”. Moreover, both of these problems, even if they appeared on the domestic political agenda, were never acute and did not have a significant impact on the development of traditionally close Japanese-Taiwanese relations. Questions of the historical past, as a rule, represented only one part of the larger discussions regarding the national identity of the islanders and the search for models of further development of Taiwan. All these aspects of the “Taiwanese approach” to issues related to the problematic past came into full play during the presidency of Chen Shui-bian (2000–2008). During this time, Tokyo and Taipei maintained a rather high level of political contacts and encouraged cooperation between Japan and Taiwan despite the actualization of the “comfort women” issue, which became the baseline for new discussions about the colonial past and the role of Japan in developing modern Taiwan. The article discusses the approaches of Taiwanese authorities in 2000–2008 to the interpretation of Japan’s war-time past and colonial period of Taiwan history in the context of development of relations between Tokyo and Taipei.
Man in a network society
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Markov Boris V.
Published: August 2021

Today we are not talking about criticism of the traditional image of man, but about the end of faith in human exceptionalism. The human rights movement is recognized as a form of logo-centrism and is shifting towards the protection of the rights of women, children, the disabled, prisoners, migrants and other minorities. Voices are heard in defense of the rights of animals and non-human beings with artificial intelligence (a pair of robots have already obtained citizenship rights); scientists are discussing the possibility of reconstructing human beings based on gene technology. A profound transformation of perceptions about man is taking place in the models of the new network globalization, which replaces the liberal and conservative projects of the unity of mankind. The development of PR technology, which dealt a blow to the ideals of individual freedom and democracy in civil society, has turned man into a controlled being. The order of a global network society is no longer determined by human criteria of good and evil, but by information and financial flows. The digital revolution in work and entertainment, education and culture, as well as economics and politics has led to the creation of many digital counterparts, while man himself, deprived of the protection of the state and society, has found himself in a situation of anomie and total loneliness. Thus, transhumanism is no longer a mental experiment of marginal philosophy, but a post-human stage of civilization development. Discussions about the future of a network society, artificial intelligence and human construction based on gene technologies should not be perceived as intellectual entertainment, which free minds have been exposed to in recent years. They should not be neglected, because the more scenarios of possible development will be created and calculated, the better humanity will respond to the next crisis.
The phenomenon of conflicts around art in the context of the contemporary public sphere
Authors:   Ural State Medical University, Gomes Karolina-Dzhoanna , Kruglova Tatyana A. ,   Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin
Published: August 2021

The article examines a new type of conflict in the form of public protests against contemporary art that appeared at the end of the 20th — beginning of the 21st century. Typical signs of contemporary conflicts are highlighted: the discourse of the offense is central, the protests are usually organized and collective, accusations are brought against art institutions, and collec-tive affective reactions and symbolic violence often become forms of conflict interaction. In the article, protests against contemporary art are examined through the prism of the analysis of the public as an actor in the conflict, transformations of the public sphere and relations in it as an autonomous field of art (the “art world”) and the fields of influence of other social forces. Relations between the art world and the public go beyond the framework of the educational paradigm, which was dominated by asymmetry and passive influence of consumers on the dynamics of the artistic field. The activization of a part of the public, for which the consumption of contemporary art is not a cultural norm, indicates that the origins of the conflict cannot be explained by the rules of artistic communication that has developed in modern society. Contemporary art spaces are turning into noticeable and important places for the manifestation of social tension and political struggle. Art in the public sphere is becoming the space of vulnerability (J. Butler). It is substantiated that one of the factors in the activation of public conflicts was a change in the structure of the side of the conflict which we call the “public” as opposed to the “audience of art”. In the framework of the concept of the public sphere as an agonistic space (Ch. Mouffe), the need for a review of the value orientations of art institutions and strategies for their interaction with the public is constituted.
Socio-political technology of war and armed conflict: Some aspects of history and modernity
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Nagaichuk Andrei F.
Published: August 2021

The theme of war worries everyone in the modern world, it is the most dangerous and large-scale socio-political conflict that has the prospect of developing to the level of a global catastrophe, characterized as the “third world war”, “nuclear war”, “war with weapons of mass destruction”, etc. Furthermore, the theme includes the whole complex of knowledge and events that affect all spheres of social life and the scientific knowledge. Owing to its pervasive and multidimensional nature, war is studied simultaneously within the framework of military history, economic and the managerial paradigms, political-legal and the psychological realms of research. At the same time, there is almost no serious and detailed study of this type of conflict within conflictology, aimed at presenting an integrated and an interdisciplinary approach to the most dangerous form of a large-scale conflict. The article is an attempt to understand the essence and nature of war, its types and the forms of its manifestation, the foundations of war, technology for the development of this violent social-political conflict and the goals and functions it performs. The methods of theoretical analysis of a specific conflict situation, war and armed conflict, abstraction, specification, analysis, classification, procedure of terms and data operationalization and interpretation are used. Applied research methods are also used (document analysis, observation, etc.). As a result, a socio-political model for analyzing the technology of war is proposed, which characterizes its base, structural elements (tools, methods, procedures, techniques, operations), and algorithm. In conclusion, derivative knowledge about the main socio-political methods and technologies for study, analysis of modern wars and armed conflicts, their peaceful regulation and peacekeeping is proposed.
Аnalyzing the phenomenon of musicality through the lens of modern neuroscience
Authors:   Ulyanovsk State University, Bazhanov Valentin A. , Kraeva Alexandra G. ,   Ulyanovsk State University
Published: August 2021

From the standpoint of biocultural co-constructivism methodology, the article analyzes the phenomenon of musicality, which is understood as a set of intonation-rhythmic patterns that can act as predictors of a number of cognitive traits already in the process of neurogenesis. The authors claim that this phenomenon has the status of a universal of human existence, which is an integral neurophysiological factor in the formation of analytical, verbal-logical and linguistic components of reasoning. Analysis of the numerical nature of the rhythmic component of innate ontogenetic structures makes it possible to show the general points of growth of artistic, proto-mathematical and mathematical cognitive abilities in the process of ontogenesis. It is shown that synchronization, expressed in resonance (or asynchronization) of mental processes at the level of neural systems in which ideas about beauty are genetically “tuned”, is associated with the status of the golden ratio and Fibonacci numbers. The processes of synchronization can be assessed as indicators of the harmonious relationships of nature, humans, and particular features of cognitive potential, aesthetic perception, and the formation of musical tastes. This may be considered as an argument in favor of the numerical nature of music being a relatively autonomous cognitive activity in the process of self-organization of mental systems, in the field of which the functional and structural patterns of the golden ratio play the role of the fundamental creative and hedonistic components. The article substantiates the correlative relationship between harmony and the golden ration in the context of the search for factors of optimality for the functioning of physiological parameters of living systems. The nature of this relationship speaks in favor of the conceptual enrichment of methodology in the field of modern cognitive research, which is associated with a revision of the reductionist type of fundamental concepts and attitudes towards holism, the ratio of the intuitive and discursive components of the cognitive process.
La interculturalidad como principio rector del Sistema Nacional Anticorrupción de México
Authors: Ocampo Muñoa Manuel Gustavo
Published: August 2021

El objetivo de este trabajo es demostrar que la implementación del Sistema Nacional Anticorrupción en escenarios de diversidad cultural requiere de la interculturalidad como principio rector. Se toma como referente teórico el pluralismo jurídico y se utilizan el método histórico y el derecho comparado para demostrar, mediante un estudio de caso, que en los municipios de mayoría indígena del estado de Chiapas (México) combatir la corrupción desde el referido sistema implica la existencia y el reconocimiento de sistemas normativos alternos con su propia percepción del tema y que solo por medio de la inclusión de componentes de la interculturalidad se puede propiciar el diálogo entre los diferentes participantes. Lo anterior justifica la consideración de la interculturalidad como uno de los principios rectores del Sistema Nacional Anticorrupción, en especial en escenarios de diversidad cultural, pues de esta forma se garantizaría el combate a la desigualdad social y la corrupción, desde el contexto de cada pueblo y comunidad indígena, promoviendo la transparencia y la honradez como valores del servicio público.
Is the Prevalence of Estimated Pelvic Congestion Higher than Examined? A Retrospective Study of Consecutive Abdominopelvic Computed Tomography Analyses
Authors: Akdeniz Hüseyin
Published: August 2021

Background:

Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) is a common complaint in women, and is the
key factor in the diagnosis of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS).

Introduction:

Consecutive abdominal and pelvic Computed Tomography (CT) scans in adult female
patients not diagnosed with PCS and collected over a period of 3 years were evaluated retrospectively
to determine the prevalence of underestimated Pelvic Congestion (PC).

Methods:

500 consecutive abdominal and pelvic CT scans collected from female patients aged
18-80 years were retrospectively analyzed for the presence of PC.

Results:

90 of the CT scans examined showed the presence of PC (18%). These patients were divided
into two groups: Group I had 52 scans with unilateral PC, while Group II had 38 scans with the
bilateral enlarged Ovarian Vein (OV). Left and right OV diameters were measured as 7.14±2.15
and 5.56±1.87 mm, respectively. Co-occurrence of additional vascular anomalies, such as nutcracker-
type compression of the left renal vein, and May Thurner, was significantly higher in Group I
than Group II (p<0.001). The diameter of the OV remained wide irrespective of age in Group I, but
showed a decrease with increasing age in Group II. The most common complaint was abdominal
pain; these patients required an average of six referrals to two different clinics (primarily general
surgery and internal medicine) before being diagnosed with PC.

Conclusion:

The diagnosis of PCS remains to be an important problem for patients because of insufficient
perception of physicians. PCS should be considered in female patients with complaints
of chronic abdominal and pelvic pain and CT may be a valuable examination tool for diagnosis.
Chaotic Dynamics and Stability of Liposomal Nanosystems
Authors: Naziris Nikolaos , Chountoulesi Maria , Stavrinides Stavros , Hanias Michael , Demetzos Costas
Published: August 2021

Background:

Natural and living systems are dynamical systems that demonstrate complex
behavior, which appears to be deterministic chaotic, characterized and governed by entropy increase
and loss of information throughout their entire lifespan. Lipidic nanoparticles, such as liposomes, as
artificial biomembranes, have long been considered appropriate models for studying various membrane
phenomena that cell systems exhibit. By utilizing these models, we can better comprehend
cellular functions, stability, as well as factors that might alter the cell physiology, leading to severe
disease states. In addition, liposomes are well-established drug and vaccine delivery nanosystems,
which are present in the market, playing a significant role; therefore, due to their importance, issues
concerning their effectiveness and stability are research topics that are constantly investigated and
updated.

Methods:

In this study, the emergent deterministic chaotic behavior of liposomes is described, while
evaluation in accordance to their colloidal physical stability, by utilizing established nonlinear dynamics
tools, is presented. Two liposomes of different composition and physical stability were developed
and a chaotic evaluation on the time series of their size and polydispersity was conducted.

Results:

The utilized models revealed instability, loss of information and order loss for both liposomes
in due time, with important differentiations. An initial interpretation of the results is apposed,
whereas the foundations for further investigating possible exploitation of the demonstrated nonlinearity
and adaptability of artificial biomembranes is laid, with projection on biosystems.

Conclusion:

The present approach is expected to impact the application of lipidic nanoparticles and
liposomes in various crucial fields, such as drug and vaccine delivery, providing useful information
for both the academia and industry.
Reliability Assessment of Power Generation System Using an Optimized State Enumeration Method
Authors: Wang Kaixuan , Zhang Zhiyan , Tian Guangxi , Xu Gang , Zhao Hongfei
Published: August 2021

Background:

The single state enumeration method cannot meet the requirement of accuracy
and high efficiency in the reliability assessment of complex power systems because of many
uncertain factors and the large scale of the power grid.

Methods:

A new method of generating system reliability assessment based on Self-Organizing
Map (SOM) neural network and state enumeration is presented. First, the input parameters of the
state enumeration method are optimized by using the feature of the SOM neural network algorithm
that can automatically, quickly, and accurately classify the sample parameters in this method. Second,
combining with Markov Model, the optimized system state samples are divided into fault
state and normal state, and then the reliability indexes are enumerated. Finally, this method is used
to calculate the reliability indexes of IEEE-RTS single-stage power units under different operation
conditions.

Results:

The results show that this method is superior to the single state enumeration method in
calculating time; it can be used to evaluate the reliability of modern complex power systems.

Conclusion:

The optimized state enumeration method is more suitable to evaluate the reliability of
the system with a large network scale, and its reliability index is more accurate; while retaining the
higher calculation accuracy of the state enumeration method, it can promote the safe, reliable, and
economical operation of the power system.
Kaempferol-3-O-Rhamnoside Inhibits the Proliferation of Jurkat Cells
Through Jun Amino-Terminal Kinase Signaling
Authors: Barliana Melisa Intan , Diantini Ajeng , Subarnas Anas , Abdulah Rizky
Published: August 2021

Background:

Indonesian herbal medicine has become target of new drugs against diseases,
including cancer. The high incidence and mortality rate of cancer, anticancer resistance, and
side effects of chemotherapy contribute to the urgency of researching novel anticancer drugs. A natural
product from Schima wallichii Korth., an Indonesian herbal medicine empirically used for
many diseases, has shown anticancer activity in MCF-7 and LNCaP cells.

Objective:

In this study, we investigated the antiproliferative mechanism of the active compound of
S. wallichii, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside, against Jurkat cells.

Methods:

Treated cells were analyzed using a proliferation assay and real time-reverse transcriptase
polymerase chain reaction for IL-2 mRNA measurement. The mechanism of antiproliferative
activity was assesed by western blotting analysis for Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs).

Results:

Kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside has an antiproliferative activity at IC50 of 76.3 μM and
slightly inhibited IL-2 mRNA expression. The mechanism to inhibit Jurkat cells proliferation was
through the stimulation of phosphorylated Jun amino-terminal kinase.

Conclusions:

The present study observed the molecular mechanism of antiproliferative activity of
kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside.
Research of Spherical Capsule Feeding System in Hydraulic Pipelines
Authors: Ulusarslan Deniz
Published: August 2021

Feeding the material to be transported in the hydraulic pipelines to the system is a subject open to research. The shape, size and density of the material gain importance in the selection of feeding systems. Finding the pressure drops that occur in the flow of spherical ice capsules with water is the basis of the research. However, before the measurements were made, preliminary research was carried out on feeding the capsules to the system during the installation of the experimental set-up. In the experimental study with solid particles with the diameter ratios (0.8) and densities (960 kg/m3) with smaller dimensions (d=0.014m), a pipe construction was obtained in which the solid particles are easily fed into the hydraulic pipeline. Experimental study revealed that lower than predicted pressures occur at the point where solid particles are fed into the pipe. This result means a greater pressure drop than the pressure drops obtained in the venturimeter zone with the same diameter ratio. In this article includes a step-by-step method and a sample pipe geometry for studies that require a low pressure zone in hydraulic pipelines. The pipe geometry designed in this study will form a model for the supply systems in the pipelines. The low pressure region is provided with a pipe and flow arrangement without consuming energy.
Регистрация высокочастотных рельефно-фазовых голографических структур на фотоматериале ПФГ-04
Authors: Ганжерли Н.М. , Гуляев С.Н. , Маурер И.А. , Архипов А.В.
Published: August 2021

A new variant of processing photographic plates for holography based on dichromed gelatin PFG-04 (produced by JSC "Slavich Company", Pereslavl-Zalessky) for the manufacture of high-frequency relief–phase holographic gratings with a spatial frequency up to 1500 mm-1 is proposed. The technology is based on the selective destructive effect of short-wave UV radiation on gelatin and subsequent etching of the layer with various reagents. For the first time, relief-phase high-frequency holographic gratings with a maximum diffraction efficiency of 67% were obtained on PFG-04 photographic plates.
Особенности эволюции канала при глубоком проплавлении металлов лазерным излучением
Authors: Сейдгазов Р.Д. , Мирзаде Ф.Х.
Published: August 2021

The results of high-speed registration of the formation of the keyhole in titanium under the point effect of laser radiation are presented. It was found that the evolution of the keyhole ends with a collapse even before the cessation of the action (switching off) of the continuous laser radiation.
Responding to Students’ Errors in Online Practical Translation Classes
Authors: Rasul Sabir
Published: August 2021

In practical translation classes it is inevitable that students make translation errors. Making errors is in fact a characteristic of translation training process, and the role of the teacher is to respond and offer timely and appropriate correction/feedback so that students are able to differentiate between correct and erroneous translations. Training students to develop the ability to produce correct and accurate translation is part and parcel of any practical translation classes. This paper, which has a pedagogical nature, investigates the treatment of students’ errors in online practical translation classes. It extends the area of ‘responding to errors’ to translation studies, on the one hand, and to online classes, on the other hand. Following Thompson’s (2007) model of responding to errors, the paper attempts to find out when and how teachers respond to translation errors made by students in online English-Kurdish practical translation classes. The results show that the teachers respond to the vast majority of translation errors occurred in the course of the online classes. In terms of time, the teachers never interrupted students instantly but waited until the end of translation units or utterances and then responded to the errors. In terms of the method of responding, the results revealed that the teachers mostly focused on meaning and used various techniques of error responding, including students’ involvement and offering their own corrections (with or without feedback). These results, coupled with critical comments provided, are hoped to offer useful insights to would-be translation teachers and trainers to better understand how and when to respond to students’ errors in online practical translation classes.
Potential Uses of Blockchain Technology for Outcomes Research on Opioids
Authors: Gonzales Aldren , Smith Scott R , Dullabh Prashila , Hovey Lauren , Heaney-Huls Krysta , Robichaud Meagan , Boodoo Roger
Published: August 2021

The scale and severity of the opioid epidemic call for innovative, multipronged solutions. Research and development is key to accelerate the discovery and evaluation of interventions that support pain and substance use disorder management. In parallel, the use and integration of blockchain technology within research networks holds the potential to address some of the unique challenges facing opioid research. This paper discusses the applications of blockchain technology and illustrates potential ways in which it could be applied to strengthen the validity of outcomes research on the opioid epidemic. We reviewed published and gray literature to identify useful applications of blockchain, specifically those that address the challenges faced by opioid research networks and programs. We then convened a panel of experts to discuss the strengths, limitations, and feasibility of each application. Blockchain has the potential to address some of the issues surrounding health data management, including data availability, data sharing and interoperability, and privacy and security. We identified five primary applications of blockchain to opioids: clinical trials and pharmaceutical research, incentivizing data donation and behavior change, secure exchange and management of e-prescriptions, supply chain management, and secondary use of clinical data for research and public health surveillance. The published literature was limited, leading us to rely on gray literature, which was also limited in its discussion of the technical aspects of implementation. The technical expert panel provided additional context and an assessment of feasibility that was lacking in the literature. Research on opioid use and misuse is challenging because of disparate data stored across different systems, data and system interoperability issues, and legal requirements. These areas must be navigated to make data accessible, timely, and useful to researchers. Blockchain technologies have the potential to act as a facilitator in this process, offering a more efficient, secure, and privacy-preserving solution for data exchange. Among the 5 primary applications, we found that clinical trial research, supply chain management, and secondary use of data had the most examples in practice and the potential effectiveness of blockchain. More discussions and studies should focus on addressing technical questions concerning scalability and tackling practical concerns such as cost, standards, and governance around the implementation of blockchain in health care. Policy concerns related to balancing the need for data accessibility that also protects patient privacy and autonomy in revoking consent should also be examined.
Internet-Based HIV Self-Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Through Pre-exposure Prophylaxis: 3-Month Prospective Cohort Analysis From China
Authors: Zhang Jing , Tucker Joseph , Tang Weiming , Wang Hongyi , Chu Zhenxing , Hu Qinghai , Huang Xiaojie , Chen Yaokai , Wang Hui , He Xiaoqing , Li Yao , Zhang Lukun , Hu Zhili , Bao Rantong , Li Shangcao , Li Hang , Ding Haibo , Jiang Yongjun , Geng Wenqing , Xu Junjie , Shang Hong
Published: August 2021

Background

Routine HIV testing accompanied with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) requires innovative support in a real-world setting.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the usage of HIV self-testing (HIVST) kits and their secondary distribution to partners among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China, who use PrEP, in an observational study between 2018 and 2019.

Methods

In 4 major cities in China, we prospectively followed-up MSM from the China Real-world oral PrEP demonstration study, which provides daily or on-demand PrEP for 12 months, to assess the usage and secondary distribution of HIVST on quarterly follow-ups. Half of the PrEP users were randomized to receive 2 HIVSTs per month in addition to quarterly facility-based HIV testing. We evaluated the feasibility of providing HIVST to PrEP users.

Results

We recruited 939 MSM and randomized 471 to receive HIVST, among whom 235 (49.9%) were daily and 236 (50.1%) were on-demand PrEP users. At baseline, the median age was 29 years, 390 (82.0%) men had at least college-level education, and 119 (25.3%) had never undergone facility-based HIV testing before. Three months after PrEP initiation, 341 (74.5%) men had used the HIVST provided to them and found it very easy to use. Among them, 180 of 341 (52.8%) men had distributed the HIVST kits it to other MSM, and 132 (51.6%) among the 256 men who returned HIVST results reported that used it with their sexual partners at the onset of intercourse. Participants on daily PrEP were more likely to use HIVST (adjusted hazard ratio=1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.6) and distribute HIVST kits (adjusted hazard ratio=1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.7) than those using on-demand PrEP.

Conclusions

MSM who used PrEP had a high rate of usage and secondary distribution of HIVST kits, especially among those on daily PrEP, which suggested high feasibility and necessity for HIVST after PrEP initiation. Assuming that fourth-generation HIVST kits are available, HIVST may be able to replace facility-based HIV testing to a certain extent.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800020374; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=32481

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036231