bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empanelment of health care facilities under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) in India
Authors: Joseph Jaison , Sankar D. Hari , Nambiar Devaki
Published: May 2021

Introduction

India’s Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is the world’s largest health assurance scheme providing health cover of 500,000 INR (about USD 6,800) per family per year. It provides financial support for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization expenses to about 500 million of India’s poorest households through various insurance models with care delivered by public and private empanelled providers. This study undertook to describe the provider empanelment of PM-JAY, a key element of its functioning and determinant of its impact.

Methods

We carried out secondary analysis of cross-sectional administrative program data publicly available in PM-JAY portal for 30 Indian states and 06 UTs. We analysed the state wise distribution, type and sector of empanelled hospitals and services offered through PM-JAY scheme across all the states and UTs.

Results

We found that out of the total facilities empanelled (N = 20,257) under the scheme in 2020, more than half (N = 11,367, 56%) were in the public sector, while 8,157 (40%) facilities were private for profit, and 733 (4%) were private not for profit entities. State wise distribution of hospitals showed that five states (Karnataka (N = 2,996, 14.9%), Gujarat (N = 2,672, 13.3%), Uttar Pradesh (N = 2,627, 13%), Tamil Nadu (N = 2315, 11.5%) and Rajasthan (N = 2,093 facilities, 10.4%) contributed to more than 60% of empanelled PMJAY facilities: We also observed that 40% of facilities were offering between two and five specialties while 14% of empanelled hospitals provided 21–24 specialties.

Conclusion

A majority of the hospital empanelled under the scheme are in states with previous experience of implementing publicly funded health insurance schemes, with the exception of Uttar Pradesh. Reasons underlying these patterns of empanelment as well as the impact of empanelment on service access, utilisation, population health and financial risk protection warrant further study. While the inclusion and regulation of the private sector is a goal that may be served by empanelment, the role of public sector remains critical, particularly in underserved areas of India.
Binding and neutralization of C. difficile toxins A and B by purified clinoptilolite-tuff
Authors: Ranftler Carmen , Nagl Dietmar , Sparer Andreas , Röhrich Andreas , Freissmuth Michael , El-Kasaby Ali , Nasrollahi Shirazi Shahrooz , Koban Florian , Tschegg Cornelius , Nizet Stephane
Published: May 2021

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection is a major public health problem worldwide. The current treatment of C. difficile-associated diarrhea relies on the use of antibacterial agents. However, recurrences are frequent. The main virulence factors of C. difficile are two secreted cytotoxic proteins toxin A and toxin B. Alternative research exploring toxin binding by resins found a reduced rate of recurrence by administration of tolevamer. Hence, binding of exotoxins may be useful in preventing a relapse provided that the adsorbent is innocuous. Here, we examined the toxin binding capacity of G-PUR®, a purified version of natural clinoptilolite-tuff. Our observations showed that the purified clinoptilolite-tuff adsorbed clinically relevant amounts of C. difficile toxins A and B in vitro and neutralized their action in a Caco-2 intestinal model. This conclusion is based on four independent sets of findings: G-PUR® abrogated toxin-induced (i) RAC1 glucosylation, (ii) redistribution of occludin, (iii) rarefaction of the brush border as visualized by scanning electron microscopy and (iv) breakdown of the epithelial barrier recorded by transepithelial electrical resistance monitoring. Finally, we confirmed that the epithelial monolayer tolerated G-PUR® over a wide range of particle densities. Our findings justify the further exploration of purified clinoptilolite-tuff as a safe agent in the treatment and/or prevention of C. difficile-associated diarrhea.
A framework to measure the taxonomic of economic anchor: A case study of the Three Seas Initiative countries
Authors: Kozera-Kowalska Magdalena , Uglis Jarosław , Lira Jarosław
Published: May 2021

This research is aimed at determining the characteristics of the current level of entrepreneurial potential of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) countries, the ability to overcome the consequences of extraordinary events, such as COVID-19 and prospects for the return to an accelerated development once the destabiliser of the economic system, the coronavirus pandemic, has ceased. Eurostat, World Bank and the World Economic Forum data for 2015–2019 were used for the purpose of the research. The research was divided into three stages, i.e. assessment of economic development on the basis of a synthetic ratio of economic anchor development, for which a relative benchmark method based on spatial median (so-called L1 median or Weber point) was used, identification of conditions for the development of entrepreneurial capacity and statistical analysis showing the correlation between economic anchor measures and selected factors of the 3SI countries economic development. Our study found that the entrepreneurial capacity of the 3SI countries in 2015–2019 was determined by nine characteristics, belonging to six areas, i.e. local economy, demographic situation, social situation, trade exchange, innovation and tourism economy. The entrepreneurial potential of the 3SI countries was spatially diversified, and its development was determined, among others, by the entrepreneurial activity of residents (entrepreneurship index) and the conditions for running a business.
Computational modelling of hip resurfacing arthroplasty investigating the effect of femoral version on hip biomechanics
Authors: Bourget-Murray Jonathan , Taneja Ashish , Naserkhaki Sadegh , El-Rich Marwan , Adeeb Samer , Powell James , Johnston Kelly
Published: May 2021

Aim

How reduced femoral neck anteversion alters the distribution of pressure and contact area in Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty (HRA) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively describe the biomechanical implication of different femoral neck version angles on HRA using a finite element analysis.

Materials and methods

A total of sixty models were constructed to assess the effect of different femoral neck version angles on three different functional loads: 0°of hip flexion, 45°of hip flexion, and 90° of hip flexion. Femoral version was varied between 30° of anteversion to 30° of retroversion. All models were tested with the acetabular cup in four different positions: (1) 40°/15° (inclination/version), (2) 40°/25°, (3) 50°/15°, and (4) 50°/25°. Differences in range of motion due to presence of impingement, joint contact pressure, and joint contact area with different femoral versions and acetabular cup positions were calculated.

Results

Impingement was found to be most significant with the femur in 30° of retroversion, regardless of acetabular cup position. Anterior hip impingement occurred earlier during hip flexion as the femur was progressively retroverted. Impingement was reduced in all models by increasing acetabular cup inclination and anteversion, yet this consequentially led to higher contact pressures. At 90° of hip flexion, contact pressures and contact areas were inversely related and showed most notable change with 30° of femoral retroversion. In this model, the contact area migrated towards the anterior implant-bone interface along the femoral neck.

Conclusion

Femoral retroversion in HRA influences impingement and increases joint contact pressure most when the hip is loaded in flexion. Increasing acetabular inclination decreases the area of impingement but doing so causes a reciprocal increase in joint contact pressure. It may be advisable to study femoral neck version pre-operatively to better choose hip resurfacing arthroplasty candidates.
Teacher Identity under Reconstruction: Positional Analysis of Negotiations in an International Teacher Education Programme Negotiations in an International Teacher Education Programme
Authors:   Tampere University, Finland, Zen Satia , Ropo Eero ,   Tampere University, Finland, Kupila Päivi ,   Tampere University, Finland
Published: May 2021

This paper explores the international learning experiences of Indonesian teachers participating in a Finnish master’s degree programme as an identity reconstruction process. We study the participants’ experiences based on dialogical identity construction to explore the positioning and repositioning occurring during an international learning experience. Given the conception of this experience as a boundary experience, repositioning is a way to create continuity and support the multiplicity of identity. From the narrative analysis of the participants' stories about the programme, we found that the participants' repositioning during the programme involved negotiation with temporality, sociality and spatiality. Throughout this process, the participants' understanding of their identities and practices evolved. The post-conflict and post-disaster context in Aceh, Indonesia, manifests itself through a unique constellation of positionings and stimulates new understandings of its impact on teaching and learning processes. This study contributes to understanding the international teacher programme as a repositioning process for teacher identity reconstruction that supports local meanings and has practical consequences.
Contact Between Non-Resident Parents and Their Children During the COVID-19 in Hungary
Authors: Szalma Ivett
Published: May 2021

Several studies have examined the factors that can influence contact between non-resident parents and their children (Goldberg & Carlson 2015, Skevik 2006). The distance between the place of residence of the non-resident parent and their child(ren) has been found to be important in terms of the frequency of in-person contact (Manning et al. 2003; Cheadle et al. 2010). The majority of research on this topic focuses on the frequency and quality of face-to-face visitation between non-resident parents and their children (Kalmijn, 2015, Köppen et al., Szalma & Rékai 2019). Although some studies have explored other types of contact such as overnight stays (Haux & Platt, 2020; King et al. 2004) and phone contact (Leite & McKenry, 2002; Meggiolaro & Ongaro, 2014), these remain marginal. Other types of communications between non-resident parents and their children might be under-researched because face-to-face contact is a condition for other types of contact (Schier 2016).
Social Perceptions of Conventional Versus Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Slovakia
Authors: Loučanová Erika , Nosáľová Martina
Published: May 2021

The aim of the paper is detecting the attitudes of society in Slovakia towards conventional and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). A modified methodological approach of Kano model was used for tracking the object under examination on a random set of 275 individuals from Slovakia. The stated hypothesis was that conventional medicine is preferred to complementary and alternative medicine. The results confirmed the society in Slovakia prefers conventional medicine to complementary and alternative in case of diseases. Complementary and alternative medicine is more used to reduce the symptoms associated with a disease or eliminate the side effects of conventional medicine.
Die postmigrantische Gesellschaft
Authors: Foroutan Naika
Published: May 2021

Das Erstarken rechtspopulistischer Bewegungen führt zu einer Normverschiebung in europäischen Gesellschaften und erzeugt Spannungen, die sich in Polarisierung widerspiegeln. Es geht dabei weniger um Migration selbst als um die Prozesse, die stattfinden, wenn Migrant*innen und ihre Nachkommen ihre Rechte einfordern. Die Frage des Umgangs mit Migration wird so zur Chiffre für Anerkennung von Gleichheit in demokratischen Gesellschaften. Naika Foroutan zeigt, dass die Migrationsfrage zur neuen sozialen Frage geworden ist - an ihr werden Verteilungsgerechtigkeit und kulturelle Selbstbeschreibung ebenso wie die demokratische Verfasstheit verhandelt. »Wie hältst Du es mit der Migration?« steht für die Frage danach, was ausgehandelt werden muss, damit die plurale Demokratie zusammenhält. Die postmigrantische Gesellschaft ist also eine, die sich im Kontext der Debatten um den Stellenwert von Migration neu ordnet.
A Non Contact Multiple Ring CSRR Based Planar Microwave Sensor for Accurate Quality Estimation of Water Samples with Varying TDS
Authors: Agarwal Smriti
Published: May 2021

Water pollution and scarcity of pure drinking water is a current challenging problem. In this situation, quality monitoring of water is of vital importance in order to avoid any health issues caused due to intake of contaminated water. Hence, in this paper, a non-destructive technique using multiple ring CSRR based microwave sensor has been proposed for accurate estimation of relative permittivity of unknown water of varying TDS values. Further, a closed form numerical expression using the curve fitting technique has been developed in order to accurately estimate the quality of any unknown water sample. Less than 1% of error has been achieved in the prediction of relative permittivity and hence, TDS of unknown water sample. The proposed planar microwave sensor will be of great importance towards the real-time water quality monitoring systems development.
Simulation Investigations of High Power Overmoded Relativistic Backward Wave Oscillator with Trapezoidal Resonant Reflector
Authors: Venkata Reddy V. , Ansari M.A. , Thottappan M.
Published: May 2021

An S-band high power relativistic backward wave oscillator using a trapezoidal resonant reflector and overmoded slow-wave structure is demonstrated by finite difference time domain based Particle-In-Cell code. The trapezoidal resonant reflector and slow-wave structure are chosen to improve the RBWO power handing capability to gigawatt (GW). The Trapezoidal resonant reflector enhances the pre-modulation during electron beam propagation, thus increasing the generated RF signal overall efficiency and coherency. The particle-in-cell simulation generated an RF output power ~5.4 GW in TM01 mode at ~3.6 GHz in a 2.0 T magnetic field and developed a 13.5 kA current for a 1.2 MV DC cathode voltage. The power conversion efficiency is achieved as ~33 %. Further, the influence of different design parameters on frequency, RF output power, and efficiency are analysed through Particle-In-Cell simulations.
Действия россиян по улучшению собственного материального положения в эпоху COVID-19
Authors: Каравай Анастасия Вадимовна
Published: May 2021

Исследование посвящено анализу действий россиян по улучшению своего материального положения в условиях экономического кризиса, вызванного пандемией коронавируса. Эмпирической базой выступили данные опросов Института социологии ФНИСЦ РАН за ряд лет, один из которых был проведен в сентябре 2020 г. В статье продемонстрированы изменения поведения россиян в условиях различных экономических кризисов, в частности, сокращение популярности наиболее универсальных, сформировавшихся еще в 1990-е годы, способов улучшения своего материального положения, связанных со случайными заработками и подсобным хозяйством. Показано также, что, в отличие от кризиса 2014—2016 гг., в 2020 г. у многих ранее благополучных представителей массовых слоев общества произошло настолько серьезное сокращение источников доходов, что части из них пришлось изменить свое поведение и искать дополнительные способы поддержания материального положения. В результате среди представителей массовых слоев населения стало шире распространено привлечение помощи от близкого окружения, а также действия, характерные для относительно высокоресурсных социальных групп — совместительство, сверхурочная занятость, использование накопленных ранее материальных и финансовых активов. Однако собственных ресурсов даже у сравнительно благополучных представителей массовых слоев населения страны постепенно становится все меньше, а их наращивание в современных социально-экономических условиях затруднительно, поэтому для многих россиян единственной возможностью улучшения своего материального положения становится интенсификация занятости по найму. Однако внешним барьером для ее распространения оказывается ограниченность числа рабочих мест, предполагающих высококвалифицированный и высокооплачиваемый труд и/или оплату сверхурочной занятости.
Благодарность. Исследование выполнено за счет гранта Российского научного фонда (проект № 17-78-20125).
Ритмы современной жизни. Рец. на кн.: Dawn Lyon. Rhythmanalysis: Research Methods. London, Oxford, New York, New Delhi, Sydney: Bloomsbury Academic, 2021
Authors: Вершинина Инна Альфредовна
Published: May 2021

Публикация представляет собой рецензию на книгу британского социолога Д. Лайон «Ритманализ: методы исследования», в которой рассматривается история возникновения метода, его видение французским социологом А. Лефевром, а также современные исследования, выполненные с его помощью. Автор подчеркивает, что возможности данного метода довольно широки, и полагает, что он может помочь выявить взаимосвязи между индивидуальными и социальными ритмами, тем самым дополнив современную картину социальной реальности.
Дональд Трамп и американский авторитаризм
Authors: Попов Николай Петрович
Published: May 2021

Выдвижение Дональда Трампа кандидатом республиканской партии и его победа на выборах 2016 г. над опытным политиком Хилари Клинтон для многих стали неожиданностью. Социологические исследования показывали, что Трамп использовал широко распространившиеся идеи авторитарного правления, правого консерватизма и расизма. Его поддержали люди разных политических взглядов, объединенные стремлением выдвинуть сильного авторитарного лидера, который вернет уважение белой Америке, восстановит рабочий класс, перекроет бесконтрольную иммиграцию, возродит традиционные ценности в противовес новым «аморальным» нормам. Этот слой людей оказался сплоченным, их авторитарные и расистские воззрения обрели агрессивную форму и привели к готовности применять насилие против нонконформистов, сторонников Демократической партии и ее лидеров, членов аут-групп, чьи взгляды не вписываются в представления об американских нормах и традициях. Данные выводы социологов подтвердились, когда сторонники уходящего президента штурмовали Капитолий в попытке силой добиться победы на выборах Трампа, а не Байдена.
В работе рассматриваются слагаемые авторитарного класса — право-консервативные, расистские группы и течения, такие как «Чайное движение». Анализируются причины, приводящие, особенно в последние десятилетия, к росту авторитарных настроений и их проявлений в американской политике.
Sex differences in innate and adaptive neural oscillatory patterns link resilience and susceptibility to chronic stress in rats
Authors: Thériault Rachel-Karson , Manduca Joshua D. , Perreault Melissa L.
Published: May 2021

Background: Major depressive disorder is a chronic illness with a higher incidence in women. Dysregulated neural oscillatory activity is an emerging mechanism thought to underlie major depressive disorder, but whether sex differences in these rhythms contribute to the development of symptoms is unknown. Methods: We exposed male and female rats to chronic unpredictable stress and characterized them as stress-resilient or stress-susceptible based on behavioural output in the forced swim test and the sucrose preference test. To identify sex-specific neural oscillatory patterns associated with stress response, we recorded local field potentials from the prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, nucleus accumbens and dorsal hippocampus throughout stress exposure. Results: At baseline, female stress-resilient rats innately exhibited higher theta coherence in hippocampal connections compared with stress-susceptible female rats. Following stress exposure, additional oscillatory changes manifested: stress-resilient females were characterized by increased dorsal hippocampal theta power and cortical gamma power, and stress-resilient males were characterized by a widespread increase in high gamma coherence. In stress-susceptible animals, we observed a pattern of increased delta and reduced theta power; the changes were restricted to the cingulate cortex and dorsal hippocampus in males but occurred globally in females. Finally, stress exposure was accompanied by the time-dependent recruitment of specific neural pathways, which culminated in system-wide changes that temporally coincided with the onset of depression-like behaviour. Limitations: We could not establish causality between the electrophysiological changes and behaviours with the methodology we employed. Conclusion: Sex-specific neurophysiological patterns can function as early markers for stress vulnerability and the onset of depression-like behaviours in rats.
Theoretical Estimate of the Total Shelf Length in a Gas Fields Model
Authors: Skiba Alexander K. , Skiba Nadezhda K.
Published: May 2021

The authors consider a continuous dynamic approximating model of a gas fields group and, on its basis, set maximum and minimum issues. The tasks proposed for research are optimal control problems with mixed constraints with free-final-time and moving right end. We analytically solve the rapid-action problem. The central mathematical apparatus is Pontryagin maximum principle in Arrow form, using Lagrange multipliers. The theoretically obtained results of the analysis are of particular interest.
The homoclinic breather wave solution, rational wave and n-soliton solution to a nonlinear differential equation
Authors: Zheng Zhenzhen , He Guoliang , Xu Tao
Published: May 2021

According to the homoclinic breather limit method, we obtain the homoclinic breather wave and rational wave of a nonlinear evolution differential equation. The n-soliton wave solutions are derived by utilizing the Hirota method. In addition, the graphs of these solutions are shown by selecting the appropriate parameters.
Millimeter (MM) wave and microwave frequency radiation produce deeply penetrating effects: the biology and the physics
Authors: Pall Martin L.
Published: May 2021

Millimeter wave (MM-wave) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are predicted to not produce penetrating effects in the body. The electric but not magnetic part of MM-EMFs are almost completely absorbed within the outer 1 mm of the body. Rodents are reported to have penetrating MM-wave impacts on the brain, the myocardium, liver, kidney and bone marrow. MM-waves produce electromagnetic sensitivity-like changes in rodent, frog and skate tissues. In humans, MM-waves have penetrating effects including impacts on the brain, producing EEG changes and other neurological/neuropsychiatric changes, increases in apparent electromagnetic hypersensitivity and produce changes on ulcers and cardiac activity. This review focuses on several issues required to understand penetrating effects of MM-waves and microwaves: 1. Electronically generated EMFs are coherent, producing much higher electrical and magnetic forces then do natural incoherent EMFs. 2. The fixed relationship between electrical and magnetic fields found in EMFs in a vacuum or highly permeable medium such as air, predicted by Maxwell’s equations, breaks down in other materials. Specifically, MM-wave electrical fields are almost completely absorbed in the outer 1 mm of the body due to the high dielectric constant of biological aqueous phases. However, the magnetic fields are very highly penetrating. 3. Time-varying magnetic fields have central roles in producing highly penetrating effects. The primary mechanism of EMF action is voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation with the EMFs acting via their forces on the voltage sensor, rather than by depolarization of the plasma membrane. Two distinct mechanisms, an indirect and a direct mechanism, are consistent with and predicted by the physics, to explain penetrating MM-wave VGCC activation via the voltage sensor. Time-varying coherent magnetic fields, as predicted by the Maxwell–Faraday version of Faraday’s law of induction, can put forces on ions dissolved in aqueous phases deep within the body, regenerating coherent electric fields which activate the VGCC voltage sensor. In addition, time-varying magnetic fields can directly put forces on the 20 charges in the VGCC voltage sensor. There are three very important findings here which are rarely recognized in the EMF scientific literature: coherence of electronically generated EMFs; the key role of time-varying magnetic fields in generating highly penetrating effects; the key role of both modulating and pure EMF pulses in greatly increasing very short term high level time-variation of magnetic and electric fields. It is probable that genuine safety guidelines must keep nanosecond timescale-variation of coherent electric and magnetic fields below some maximum level in order to produce genuine safety. These findings have important implications with regard to 5G radiation.
Beyond the Indian Ocean Public Sphere
Authors: Pham Chi P.
Published: May 2021

During the colonial period, particularly in the 1920s, Vietnamese intellectuals frequently debated Rabindranath Tagore’s Greater Indian, pan-Asian vision in their political exchanges. Drawing on scholarship on the rise of an Indian Ocean public sphere, this article analyzes periodicals covering Tagore in colonial Vietnam in order to explore alternative and less researched trajectories of contemporary Vietnamese nationalism. Specifically, it examines media coverage of Tagore’s works, ideas, personality, and appearance, and, in particular, his visit to Sài Gòn in 1929, to answer the question of how those depictions reflected and shaped different anticolonial imaginaries and ideological debates at the time. Radical and moderate forms of Vietnamese nationalism reflected both appreciation and criticism of Tagore’s views of Indian nationhood. The engagement of both moderate and radical Vietnamese intellectuals with Tagore’s work was thus an important early moment in the turn of Vietnamese intellectuals away from colonial models of nationalism toward those articulated by other colonized populations.
Generation of Genetically Engineered Livestock Using Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
Authors: Polejaeva Irina
Published: May 2021

Genetic engineering (GE) of livestock initially has been accomplished primarily using pronuclear microinjection into zygotes (1985 – 1996). The applications of technology were limited due to low integration efficiency, aberrant transgene expression resulting from random integration and presence of genetic mosaicism in transgenic founder animals. Despite enormous efforts to established embryonic stem cells (ESCs) for domestic species, the ESC GE technology does not exist for livestock. Development of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) has bypassed the need in livestock ESCs and revolutionized the field of livestock transgenesis by offering the first cell-based platform for precise genetic manipulation in farm animals. For nearly two decades since the birth of Dolly (1996 – 2013), SCNT was the only method used for generation of knockout and knockin livestock. Arrival of CRISPRS/Cas9 system, a new generation of gene editing technology, gave us an ability to introduce precise genome modifications easily and efficiently. This technological advancement accelerated production of GE livestock by SCNT and reinstated zygote micromanipulation as an important GE approach. The primary advantage of the SCNT technology is the ability to confirm in vitro that the desired genetic modification is present in the somatic cells prior to animal production. The edited cells could also be tested for potential off-target mutations. Additionally, this method eliminates the risk of genetic mosaicism frequently observed following zygote micromanipulation. Despite its low efficiency, SCNT is a well-established procedure in numerous laboratories around the world and will continue to play an important role in the GE livestock field.
Fuel pellets from fine paper mill sludge supplemented by sawdust and by refined recovered lubricating oil
Authors: Ahmad Ishaq , Lee Min-Seok , Goo Ho-Kyung , Lee Chang-Yeong , Ryu Jeong-Heon , Kim Chul-Hwan
Published: May 2021

Fine paper mill sludge (FPMS) disposal has emerged as a problem since the dumping of FPMS was banned. This study investigated the effects of adding a refined recovered lubricating oil (ion-refined oil) to FPMS pellets to increase its heating value and combustion time and decrease ash content and ignition time. Fuel pellets were prepared in three conditions, C-1, C-2, and C-3. In C-1, ion-refined oil was added to FPMS to examine its burning capability. In C-2, two types of pellets were produced mixing sawdust and FPMS ratios of 25:75 and 50:50. A ratio of 50:50 was selected for C-3, to which the ion-refined oil was added in different ratios. The quality of the energy fuel pellets was determined using proximate and ultimate analyses, except for chlorine content, which was determined through liquid ion chromatography. The properties of fuel pellets were determined and compared with national standards. It was confirmed that the results for pellets at a ratio of 50:50 with 10% and 15% ion-refined oil were acceptable, because these results were comparatively similar to the standards. Finally, it was concluded that ion-refined oil was an effective additive to FPMS to increase the heating value for energy demand and lower the ash content.
Effect of hot-water extraction on the hygroscopicity, shrinkage, and swelling of Paulownia tomentosa wood
Authors: Jo Jae-Ik , Kim Seong-Hyun , Kim Do-Hoon , Purusatama Byantara Darsan , Suri Intan Fajar , Yang Go-Un , Kim Jong-Ho , Febrianto Fauzi , Lee Seung-Hwan , Kim Nam-Hun
Published: May 2021

Liquid water and water vapor absorption on each separate surface and all surfaces at once, as well as the oven-dry shrinkage before and after the hot-water extraction of the wood, were examined using Korean Standards. The extractives content was examined using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. The highest water absorption and moisture adsorption were found in the transverse sections of both unextracted and extracted wood samples. There was no change in the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) in the unextracted vs. extracted wood samples at a relative humidity (RH) of 75%. However, the EMC in the extracted sample was higher than that in the unextracted sample at a RH of 90%. Swelling per 1% moisture content remained unchanged in the radial direction before and after extraction, while it increased in the tangential direction. The linear and volumetric shrinkage, as well as the coefficient of anisotropy, considerably increased after extraction. There was no difference in the extractive content between sapwood and heartwood. In conclusion, it was confirmed that the extractives in wood considerably affect the hygroscopicity and shrinkage of Paulownia wood.
Brake Power Required to Avoid Vehicular Obstruction with a Steadfast Obstacle
Authors: Suhir Ephraim
Published: May 2021

A probabilistic approach is applied to assess the level of the available brake power needed to avoid obstruction with a steadfast obstacle suddenly detected in front of a moving vehicle. The obtained results can be used to establish, on the design stage, the level of this power for an extraordinary situation of the type in question and for an acceptable (in effect, never-zero) probability of an accident.
Practical experience as a determining factor of preparedness of medical and nursing students in Romania during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Magdas Tudor-Mihai , Jolobai Andrei-Nicolae , Simonescu-Colan Ruxandra , Mosteanu Elena Ofelia , Pop Teodora Atena
Published: May 2021

Introduction. In the context of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the extent of the damage in the worldwide population and health systems forced governments to find rapid and efficient countermeasures. Thus, global efforts are made to combat this disease and among the identified possible solutions to enforce the frontline workforce is to allow medical and nursing students to help in medical care. This survey proposes to assess the Romanian students’ self-perceived preparedness, considering their theoretical and practical knowledge.

Methods. The survey was based on an 11-item form which aimed to evaluate the preparedness of the students to efficiently protect against the COVID-19 infection in a hospital setting, the overall willingness of the students to volunteer and the possible barriers that might prevent their involvement. For this purpose, a total number of 1021 responders, from which 18% nursing students and 82% medical students, from public and private medical schools of Romania, were included. Data processing was made using a free trial of GraphPad PRISM 8.0. The calculated parameters were: mean value, standard deviation, and confidence intervals (CI) and the level of significance was P<0.05.

Results. Based on the collected data, we evidenced that the majority of the respondents (93%) acknowledged practical skills as a main positive factor for the decision to join the healthcare frontline. A strong, positive correlation between the self-perceived practical skills level, preparedness and the willingness to voluntarily involve in medical assistance was found.

Conclusion. A significantly high level of practical skills and preparedness level in self-protecting effectively against COVID-19 was mainly seen in the following subgroups: the nursing students and the students that had previously been part of organized medical volunteer structures, revealing the practical experience to be a determining factor of preparedness.
Assessment of the greenness of micellar HPLC method for rapid separation and simultaneous estimation of chlorpheniramine maleate in presence of some co-administered drugs in three pharmaceutical dosage forms using single run
Authors: Nasr Zeinab Adel , Soliman Marwa M. , Mohamed Ekram H. , Fouad Fatma A.
Published: May 2021

Sustainable chemistry established one of kind standards to maintain protection of environment through using safer mobile phase composition and/or lower solvent consumption. A fast green micellar HPLC method was developed and applied for the first time aiming at simultaneous determination of chlorpheniramine maleate, one of the most widely used antihistamine in combination with levochlopersatine fenodizoate or dextromethorphan hydrobromide or dexamethasone, in their pure forms, laboratory prepared mixtures and pharmaceutical dosage forms used in alleviating the symptoms of cough resulting from common colds and allergy. The separation was achieved on Kinetex C18 column (100 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 2.6-μm particle size) using micellar aqueous mobile phase consisting of (30 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate and 50 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate, pH 5) and ethanol (85:15) with UV detection at 230 nm. The four drugs were successfully separated using isocratic elution in a single run not exceeding 7 min. According to ICH guidelines, the method was confirmed to be linear, accurate and precise over the concentration ranges of 5–60 μg mL−1 for chlorpheniramine maleate, 10–100 μg mL−1 for levocloperastine fenodizoate and dextromethorphan hydrobromide and 5–30 μg mL−1 for dexamethasone. In addition, the greenness of the developed method was assessed using two different tools indicating their least hazardous effect on the environment.
Monitoring of coastline change using Sentinel-2A and Landsat 8 data, a case study of Cam Pha city - Quang Ninh province
Authors: Loi Duong Thi , Khac Dang Vu , Hung Dao Ngoc , Dong Nguyen Thanh , Vinh Dinh Xuan , Weber Christinae
Published: May 2021

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of Sentinel - 2A and Landsat 8 data in monitoring coastline change from 1999 to 2018 at Cam Pha city, Quang Ninh province. Both data were collected under similar conditions of time and weather features to minimize the differences in interpretation results caused by these factors. The coastline was extracted from Sentinel-2A and Landsat 8 in 2018 by using the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI). Coastline map from Quang Ninh Department of Natural Resources and Environment with a scale of 1: 50.000 in 1999 was used as a reference of the same mask and overlaid on coastline maps in 2018 to identify the changes in the study area. The data from fieldwork and Google Earth was used to evaluate the accuracy and make comparative comments. The results presented that changes dramatically occurred between 1999 and 2018 with the accretion process prevailing. This process took place quite strongly on the East and Southeast coast while the erosion process only occurred with small areas at scattered points in the study area. The results also showed that the overall classification accuracy of Sentinel-2A imagery (95.0%) was slightly higher than that of Landsat-8 (87.5%). The combined use of Landsat-Sentinel-2 imagery is expected to generate reliable data records for continuous detecting of coastline changes.
RANCANG BANGUN REPACKING DRUM 200 LITER KOROSI HASIL PENGELOLAAN LIMBAH RADIOAKTIF PADAT
Authors: Pangestu Dzulfikri , Setyawan Ajrieh , Hendro Hendro
Published: May 2021

RANCANG BANGUN REPACKING DRUM 200 LITER KOROSI HASIL PENGOLAHAN LIMBAH RADIOAKTIF PADAT TERKOMPAKSI. Telah dilakukan repacking drum 200 liter korosi hasil pengolahan limbah radioaktif padat terkompaksi di Pusat Teknologi Limbah Radioaktif (PTLR). Tujuan dari repacking adalah menjamin keselamatan radiasi dan penanganan lebih lanjut dari drum 200 liter yang mengalami korosi pada penyimpanan limbah di Interm Storage 2 (IS2) Pusat Teknologi Limbah Radioaktif. Tahapan awal dimulai dengan melakukan pendataan terhadap drum 200 liter yang mengalami korosi serta analisa fisik dimensi dari drum 200 liter menjadi produk repacking dalam bentuk shell beton. Desain gambar menggunakan software google sketch up dengan mengubah 3 buah drum 200 liter korosi menjadi shell beton yang memenuhi standar kualitas IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) dengan kuat tekan sebesar 20 – 50 N.mm2. Hasil desain gambar diperoleh bahwa repacking  untuk 3 buah drum 200 liter korosi  diperoleh dimensi dengan tinggi 120 cm dan diameter 138 cm. Untuk mencapai kuat tekan yang sesuai standar IAEA digunakan matriks semen camp beton K500 lengkap dengan besi bertulang. Hasil akhir kegiatan repacking drum 200 liter korosi diperoleh bahwa untuk satu buah proses menggunakan 3 buah drum 200 liter yang mengalami korosi dan kualitas beton dapat diterima karena sesuai dengan standar IAEA
Coral Lipid Assay for 96-well plates v1
Authors: B Bove Colleen
Published: May 2021

This protocol is designed to work with coral host tissue slurry that has been processed by airbrushing to remove the tissue from the skeleton and after removal of symbiont cells and homoginization. This protocol will allow quantification of lipid concentrations of samples using 96-well plates for rapid assessment. This protocol was adapted from Folch et al 19571 and Cheng et al 20112. For calculation of lipid concentrations, follow the directions presented in the materials section or use the custom Markdown file that can be found on my GitHub (LipidAssay_96wellplate). Folch J, Lees M, Sloane Stanley GH. A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipides from animal tissues. J Biol Chem. 1957 May;226(1):497-509. PMID: 13428781. Cheng YS, Zheng Y, VanderGheynst JS. Rapid quantitative analysis of lipids using a colorimetric method in a microplate format. Lipids. 2011 Jan;46(1):95-103. doi: 10.1007/s11745-010-3494-0. Epub 2010 Nov 11. PMID: 21069472.
Covid-19: A Different Economic Crisis but the Same Paradigm of Democratic Deficit in the EU
Authors: Sebastião Dina
Published: May 2021

Based on a normative orientation and an interdisciplinary perspective, this is a comparative study, using the process tracing methodology, between the EU responses to Eurozone and Covid-19 crises to assess if, despite different outcomes, institutional decision-making processes evidence a change. The study concluded that the EU democratic deficit remains, which assumes special features in economic crises, providing a political oversize power to the economically hegemonic states, thus constraining ideological debate and making national interest prevail over politicisation. This perpetuates the conversion of structural economic positions into political power at the expense of political representative power and democracy.
An observational study to find association of serum vitamin B12 and folate level with neonatal weight at a tertiary care centre
Authors: Chaudhary Ankita , Sethi Saloni , Mahawar Gayatri , Mital Premlata , Arora Aditi , Kasana Vikash Kumari , Bansal Sakshi , Kala Bhawani
Published: May 2021

Background: In developing countries like India, low birth weight is a challenging and important public health problem as it has adverse effect on growth and development of children. Vitamin B12 and folate are micronutrients essential for normal foetal growth and development. Maternal folate and B12 concentrations have been positively associated with birth weight. The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal folate and vitamin B12 status in pregnant women in third trimester of pregnancy and to find their relation with foetal birth weight.Methods: 171 pregnant women in their third trimester with live singleton pregnancy were included in the study. S. vitamin B12 and folate levels were measured and results were analysed.Results: Mean maternal vitamin B12 level in mothers with LBW infants was significantly lower than that of mothers of ABW infants (143.23±91.79 vs 188.8±109.64 respectively p≤0.001) and mean maternal folate level in mothers with LBW infants was lower than that of mothers of ABW infants (8.46±8.94 vs 9.96±12.57 respectively p=0.054). There was a weak positive but statistically significant correlation between baby weight (kg) and S. vitamin B12 (rho=0.24, p=0.002) and S. folate (rho=0.17, p=0.029).Conclusions: The present study confirms that maternal low vitamin B12 level and low S. folate levels are associated with low birth weight so during antenatal visit women should be screened for vitamin B12 and folate deficiency and vitamin supplementation should be continued throughout the pregnancy.
Clinical profile of tuberculosis with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Gautam Pooja , Sharma Neelima , Gautam Bishal , Sharma Preksha , Sharma Neha
Published: May 2021

Background: There is now good evidence that people with diabetes mellitus (DM) have 2–3 times the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) compared with those who do not have DM. The aim of the study was to analyze typical / atypical presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis with diabetes mellitus.Methods: This study was carried out in the Department of Respiratory Medicine and General Medicine, SAIMS, Indore during the period of July 2012 to June 2014. A prospective study including 100 microscopically proven cases of sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Among these, 50 are diabetic patients with sputum positive tuberculosis and 50 are non-diabetic patients with sputum positive tuberculosis.Results: The mean age in diabetic group was 51.92±9.96 years. The mean age in non-diabetic group was 39.58±15.19 years. In the diabetic group, there were 38 (76.00%) male and 12 (24.00%) females, while in the non-diabetic group there were 40 (80.00%) males and 10 (20.00%) females. Fever, cough and weakness were the three most common symptoms seen in patients with tuberculosis in both the groups.Conclusions: There was a preponderance of male in both the groups over the female patients. There is no significant difference in the symptoms in both the groups.
Primary signet ring carcinoma of the rectum: a rare entity
Authors: Puri Monica , Singh Neha , Bal M. S. , Gupta Neelam
Published: May 2021

Signet ring cell carcinoma constitute an uncommon histological type of rectal cancer with less than 1% of all rectal neoplasms. It usually behaves aggressively and has an inferior prognosis. Herein, we present a rare case in young male diagnosed by trucut biopsy.
Comparison of CT scan and intraoperative findings of cervical lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma with post-operative histopathology
Authors: Sharma Raghav , Agarwal Navneet
Published: May 2021

Background: In oral cancer are 90% are squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and lymphatic metastasis influences prognosis .With help of contrast CT scan finding done preoperatively and intraoperative finding during neck dissection we tried to generate a scoring system by which we can predict cervical lymph nodes metastasis systematically.

Methods: Biopsy proven oral SCC cases underwent surgery between May 2012 to December 2018. Contrast enhanced computerized tomography (CECT) neck, intraoperative finding and post operative HPR (histopathology) were compared for the largest size node in the neck. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were calculated by using the hpr findings in the neck dissection specimen as control. Out of 68 cases, supraomohyoid neck dissection was done in 16 cases and radical neck dissection in 52 cases. Scores were put in Open Epi screening test software. Best cut off point was calculated using Youden Index.

Results: Best cut off score (using Youden index and ROC curve) for CT scan was >1 out of 7 features (size >10 mm, central necrosis of lymph node, matting of lymph node, shape, extracapsular spread, vascular invasion, central hypodensity). Best cut off for intraoperative palpation was ≥3 out of 4 features (size, feel on palpation, adherence to surrounding structure, shape).

Conclusions: Intraoperative findings can change the extent of surgery for being high sensitive and specific as compared to CT scan which is high sensitive but low specificity. A scoring system can be generated preoperative and intraoperatively to predict a node being malignant or not.

 
Sandbox regulatorio multi-jurisdiccional para América Latina y el Caribe
Authors: Herrera Diego , Vadillo Sonia
Published: May 2021

¿Cómo deberían adoptarse las herramientas regulatorias y de supervisión para facilitar la internacionalización de las plataformas Fintech? La búsqueda de escala, nuevos socios y bases más estables de clientes, así como la diversificación de la inversión por parte de los propietarios de las plataformas y los efectos de la pandemia del COVID-19, entre otras razones, llevan a que las plataformas fintech busquen participar en mercados diferentes al de origen. Conjuntamente, tanto el sector financiero tradicional como fintech vienen cambiando la forma en que se ofrecen los servicios financieros, haciéndolos más asequibles y accesibles a la población mediante la digitalización, al mismo tiempo que incrementan los niveles de inclusión financiera. Desde esta perspectiva, se requieren marcos regulatorios que permitan el desarrollo de la innovación en más de una jurisdicción. Este documento presenta una propuesta para poner en marcha sandboxes regulatorios multi-jurisdiccionales (SRMJ) para que los encargados de ofrecer innovaciones financieras tengan la posibilidad de participar en este mercado en varias jurisdicciones de manera paralela o consecutiva. Dicha propuesta podría utilizarse para otras innovaciones regulatorias como los hubs de innovación.
Reverse Causality between Oil Policy and Fiscal Policy?: The Venezuelan Experience
Authors: Manzano Osmel , Saboin José Luis
Published: May 2021

This paper uses a model of intergenerational accounting to simulate the intergenerational distribution of oil wealth in Venezuela. Venezuelan oil production does not seem to follow an optimal extraction path. Nevertheless, this is true if we do not consider what the government does with the resources received from the oil sector. In this paper we explored the interaction of oil policy and fiscal policy using an intergeneration accounting model. We found that these interactions could explain certain outcomes. In particular, the model could explain why the sector was open for investment in 1991 and then “re-nationalized” in 2001. Results suggest that when fiscal policy could leave an important burden to future generations, voters seem to favor a more tax oriented oil policy, leaving the oil in the subsoil.
Inter-American Development Bank Annual Report 1992
Authors:   Inter-American Development Bank
Published: May 2021

The Annual Report contains a review of the Bank's operations in 1992.