bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bicentric Milling Approach Enables the Recovery of the Horizontal Section of an Unconventional Well in Turkey
Authors: Franco Delgado Ernesto , Jahn Felix , Weir Liam , Bruce Brian , Carreno Nestor
Published: March 2021

During the completion phase of an unconventional well in Turkey, casing deformation represented a challenge to the operator and Coiled Tubing (CT) service provider due to the potential loss of almost 70% of the horizontal section. The deformation obstructed the path to continue the milling the remaining plugs. The implementation of bicentric mills and Multi-Cycling Circulation Valve (MCCV) incorporated in the milling assembly allowed efficient recovery of the horizontal section.

The tubing condition analysis done by the engineering team showed that symmetric mills would not be beneficial. Conformance tubing was not an option. Bicentric milling approach was deemed the most viable solution. This approach consists of using offset mills where rotation causes the cutting head to cover an area larger than the mill's frontal face. However, this approach could lead the CT pipe getting stuck due to big junk left. The use of a MCCV, limiting the number of milled plugs, and performing a fishing run between milling runs were key to the success of the bicentric milling approach.

The Turkish well was completed with ten stages isolated by nine aluminum plugs. During the fracturing of stage seven, an abnormal pressure drop was observed while keeping the same pump rate, indicating possible casing damage. After all the stages were fractured, the CT proceeded to mill the plugs using a 4.63-in Outside Diameter (OD) mill. After three plugs were milled, an obstruction was detected, indicated by frequent aggressive motor stalls at the same depth.

A tapered mill was run to perform a tubing conformance, and after several hours of unsuccessful penetration, the tool was recovered. At the surface, the tool showed signs of wear around 4.268 in. A 4.0-in OD mill was used to drift this section, and it passed free.

An analysis of both the plug anatomy and the casing condition was done to determine the most viable solution. A 4-in OD bicentric mill was designed to pass across the restriction with an adjusted eccentricity to allow higher contact area. Three bicentric milling runs were made with the limit of a maximum of two plugs per run to avoid a CT stuck situation due to the larger cuttings as a result of the mill's asymmetry.

The sparsity of information on using bicentric mills for plug milling required research into unpublished practices for such scenarios. This paper documents bicentric milling approach, the use of offset mills, and the mitigation measurements taken during this project to avoid a stuck situation due to large debris generated.
Application of Real-Time Solid Measurement and Return Flow Rate During Coiled Tubing Milling Operations
Authors: Yekta Kaveh , Phung Ray , Stang Benjamin , Woitas Tyler
Published: March 2021

Among the many applications of Coiled Tubing (CT) services, milling plugs and wellbore sand cleanout are two of the major applications. The transport of solids to the surface, as well as monitoring the return rates, are two sources of information which can have a significant impact on the execution of these jobs. Traditionally the flowback crew communicates this information to the CT control cab upon request. However, by utilizing an acoustic monitor and ultrasonic flowmeter, it can reduce the dependence on flowback operators and provide real-time solid measurement and return flow rate. The acoustic monitor is a passive, non-intrusive device that is designed to measure the acoustic noise induced into the pipe wall as solids impact the inside wall of the pipe. The ultrasonic flowmeter is a clamp-on device that is designed with two transducers that serve as both a transmitter and receiver.

In order to prove the concept, five stages of trials were planned and executed. In stage one, CT was rigged into a 150m vertical test well. The equipment included CT mast unit, CT pump, choke manifold, and acoustic monitoring device. Several debris piles from previous milling operations were introduced to the test well, and a CT cleanout was performed. The acoustic monitor system measured the amount of solid to surface, and the results were evaluated. Solids retrieved were then compared to the initial debris piles and correlated to the data received by the acoustic monitor. On the 2nd stage, the acoustic monitoring device was utilized in actual milling operation. The 3rd stage was a yard trial of ultrasonic flowmeter using a CT pump and data acquisition system to evaluate the working envelope of this device, followed by a field trial, in stage 4, utilizing the flowmeter in actual milling operations. The final stage of this trial was planned and executed in milling operations on a five wells pad, utilizing the combined applications of acoustic monitoring (solid measurement) and ultrasonic flowmeter (return rate) devices.

All five stages contributed to proof of concept for the applications of solid measurement and return flow rate devices. These trials were successfully planned, executed, and evaluated. The acquired data throughout the five stages of these trials were utilized during and post job operations as lessons learned to optimize the process for future applications.

The real-time measurement of solids and flow rate monitoring, independent of flowback operators, enables the CT operator to make informed decisions throughout milling and cleanout operations. The real-time streaming of solids to surface and return flow rate enables the operator and service company’s Engineering team to evaluate and optimize the execution of milling and sand cleanout operations.
The right of access to patient's health data: a comparative analysis of the case law of the European court of human rights, the European court of justice, and the practice of the courts of the United States and some European countries
Authors: Lytvynenko A.A.
Published: March 2021

The legal relationships between the physician and the patient involve a duty to maintain the confindentiality of information concerning the patient’s health which is based upon the acting legislation and case law. The non-fulfillment of the said duty mostly brings to civil or criminal responsibility. However, both legislation and case law of various states bear a substantial number of exemptions from the duty of medical confidentiality. With the enhancement of patient’s role in decision-making concerning his treatment, various issues concerning his data privacy arose. Apart from his data privacy maintenance, there is an issue of the patient’s right to access to his medical records. The purpose of access may not be as prosaic as it may initially look like, as in various jurisprudence, including the case law of international courts, plaintiffs frequently applied to courts to obtain an order for medical records productions so as to file an action against hospitals for negligence. Hence, medical records would be used as evidence of negligence at trial. The positions of the United States courts and the courts in Europe (the given paper embraces several trials from Germany and Portugal) may have divergencies concerning direct access to medical data, proprietary status of the health records, a right to access of third parties and its conditions, the categories of personal data banned from patient’s access under certain circumstances etc. The issue of access to medical records in known in the ECJ jurisprudence since the mid 70s, especially in a number of judgments wherein the plaintiffs sued various EEC bodies attempting to impugn the decision of their human resourse department concerning their ineligibility of holding a certain position in the structures of EEC – therein, the defendants did not give reasonable justifications for the such decisions and didn’t present any medical documentation to the prospective plaintiffs as a proof of their unfitness for office. Since the 1980s, similar actions were filed to the European Court of Human Rights. In some cases, not only the issue of the patient’s right to inspection of the respective health records was risen, but the aspect of accessing the information on plaintiff’s biological forbearers as well (trials of Odievre v. France and Godelli v. Italy).
DIVERSITY OF WEEDS AND HERBICIDES IN SHALLOW RICE GRWING IN DALOA
Authors:   Assistant Professor, Departement Of Agroforestry, University Jean Lorougnon Guede Of Daloa, Cote dIvoire., Souleymane Diomande , Kouadio Claude Kouassi ,   Assistant Professor, Departement Of Agroforestry, University Jean Lorougnon Guede Of Daloa, Cote dIvoire., Charly Dorval Guehi ,   Research Scholar, Departement Of Agroforestry, University Jean Lorougnon Guede Of Daloa, Cote dIvoire.
Published: March 2021

Rice farming in the Cote dIvoire faces enormous constraints, including that of adventitious management. A study on rice adventitious was conducted with the objective of inventorying rice adventitious as well as herbicides that are used for chemical control in the city of Daloa. Thus, 60 rice growers selected at random and from three (3) bunds representing plots of approximately four (4) meters were randomly selected. In each plot, all the weeds met were identified as well as the herbicides used by the rice growers. Floristic surveys have identified 34 species divided between 30 genera and 15 families. The most represented families are the Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceaes and Amaranthaceae. A total of 14 herbicides have been identified and their choice by the rice grower is essentially guided by the experience of rice growers on their effectiveness. We have counted as for the herbicides used, 2,4-D amine salt and glyphosate because of their large spectrum of action on weeds.
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION OF ALCOHOL, POWER AND BIOCOMPOST IN SUGAR INDUSTRY OF KARNATAKA
Authors:   Department of Economics, Bangalore University, Jnanabharathi Campus, Bengaluru-560056, India., D. M. Asha , Ramanjaneyulu M. ,   Department of Economics, Bangalore University, Jnanabharathi Campus, Bengaluru-560056, India.
Published: March 2021

Karnataka state stands 3rd position in terms of sugar production and 4th position in cultivation of sugarcane in the India. In fact, there are presently around 64 working sugar factories with annual crushing capacity of 3.29 lakh MT/day, cogeneration capacity of 1500 MW/day, alcohol production capacity of 2100 KLPD and ethanol production capacity of 1130 KLPD. In the year 2017-18, Karnataka sugar industry had crushed a total of 347.5 lakh MT of cane and produced around 36.87 Lakh MT of sugar. The sugar industry in Karnataka is able to manufacture sugar in such huge quantities due to the fact that sugarcane is abundantly available in the state. But, Karnataka encounters up and down situations of sugar production and price fluctuations after few years. However, it is realized that the importance of integrated sugar-energy complexes to counterbalance the problem of wide sugar price fluctuation in domestic market. In the present work we undertook the cost-profit analysis of production of alcohol, power and bio-compost in sugar industry of Karnataka. We found that the economic returns on capital invested on sugar mills in Karnataka would be stable, if co-products i.e. bagasse, molasses and press mud are efficiently used for production of bio-ethanol, power and bio-compost.
Smart sustainability ranking system within local budgeting
Authors: Srivastava Pankaj , Srivastav Saurabh , Zhyber Tetiana , Hryzohlazov Denys
Published: March 2021

The study focuses on the need to update tools for making local governance decisions using modern information technology in an environment of unpredictability added by the pandemic. Policy formulation by the authorities, especially local governments, is faced with the demand for sustainable development due to the obstacles and risks that have arisen. The purpose of the paper was to create a model for an intelligent information system to rank input qualitative information as an object in accordance with sustainability criteria for determining the local government’s policy on budgetary support for entrepreneurial activity. Fuzzy informatics methods used in soft computing based on fuzzy logic improve estimation potential. The activity in сommunity-based tourism (CBT) was chosen as a basis for simulating the “Intelligent Ranking System” for local budgeting. In the paper, the system ranks four factors of sustainability according to the importance of local government activity by nine criteria, whose fuzzy values are calculated based on expert judgments within the framework of six linguistic variations. Simulation of future directions of budgeting was developed using unified answers from the example of India for applying in local tourism. The basis of the system matrix is formed through the subsequent analysis of deviations from the limiting variations of the maximum positive and maximum negative impressions of experts. The model of this ranking system will be useful for service-oriented activities where consumer impressions are an important development requirement.
El desafío de integrar teoría, investigación y práctica clínica en psicoterapia
Authors: Espinosa Duque Daniel , Krause Mariane
Published: March 2021

En psicoterapia, así como en otros ejercicios profesionales, hay tres elementos en juego: teoría, práctica e investigación, que se espera que evolucionen y se nutran mutuamente. Sin embargo, en el desarrollo de la psicoterapia actual, diferentes condiciones históricas y profesionales han generado importantes distanciamientos entre los estudios científicos en el área, las teorías y enfoques teóricos que dan base a la formación psicoterapéutica, y los espacios clínicos de los profesionales que ejercen dicha actividad (Von Bergen & Krause, 2016; Watkins, 1997).
Del malestar a la depresión: dinámicas en la construcción del significado personal de la experiencia de la depresión
Authors: Vásquez Daniel , Altimir Carolina , Ocampo Lopera Diana María , Reinel Pineda Mahaira Catalina , Espinosa Daniel , Mesa Posada Camila , Montenegro Cristian R. , Fernández Olga María , Krause Mariane
Published: March 2021

Objetivo. Comprender las dinámicas mediante las cuales los pacientes significan su experiencia de la depresión. Metodología. Se utilizó una metodología cualitativa, basada en la Teoría Fundamentada. Se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a 10 pacientes diagnosticados de un trastorno del ánimo con episodio depresivo, por el que habían estado en tratamiento psicoterapéutico previamente. Las entrevistas fueron analizadas desde un enfoque descriptivo-relacional, para reconocer las principales unidades temáticas referidas por los  participantes y luego identificar sus relaciones y significados subyacentes. Resultados. El significado de la experiencia de la depresión se reveló como un proceso denominado “Construcción subjetiva de la experiencia de la depresión”, caracterizado por tres momentos. (1) “La experiencia de un malestar sin nombre”; (2) “Anclaje de la experiencia del paciente en la palabra depresión”; (3) “Apropiación de la experiencia de la depresión”. Conclusión. la experiencia de la depresión se presenta como un proceso dinámico de interacción entre el malestar subjetivo y la construcción de significados asociados a él; transitando de una experiencia desconcertante observada en el cuerpo, el ánimo y/o lo conductual, hacia una experiencia elaborable discursivamente, a través de una referencia semántica (depresión) que integra los significados y origina un proceso de apropiación de lo que implica para cada individuo tener depresión o estar deprimido.
Withdrawal Notice: Identification of Chaperone Proteins by Integration of PseAAC and Statistical Moments
Authors: Alghamdi Wajdi , Khan Yaser Daanial , Alzahrani Ebraheem , Ullah Malik Zaka
Published: March 2021

The article has been withdrawn with an agreement between the editors and the publisher. The authors are not responding to the
editor’s requests.

Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused.

The Bentham Editorial Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial-policies-main.php

BENTHAM SCIENCE DISCLAIMER:

It is a condition of publishers that manuscripts submitted to this journal should not be simultaneously submitted or published
elsewhere. Furthermore, any data, illustration, structure, or table that has been published elsewhere must be reported, and copyright
permission for reproduction must be obtained. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and while submitting the article for publication,
the authors must agree that the publishers have the legal right to take appropriate action against the authors if plagiarism
or fabricated information is discovered. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright of their article is transferred
to the publishers once the article is accepted for publication.
A Cross-Sectional Study of Acoustic and Perceptual Changes in Voice During
Pregnancy
Authors: Balasubramanium Radish Kumar , Jacob Anitta Susan , Krishnamurthy Rahul
Published: March 2021

Introduction:

Voice is one of the many systems which may show deviancies during pregnancy. The present study aimed to profile the acoustic and perceptual characteristics of voice during pregnancy.

Methods:

Pregnant women in the age range of 18-30 years were divided into seven groups starting from the third month of pregnancy to the ninth month of pregnancy, with 30 participants in each group. Praat software was used to collect the phonation and narration sample from each participant at their most comfortable pitch and loudness. The acoustic and perceptual analyses were performed on recorded voice samples.

Results:

Results revealed that fundamental frequency (F0) is affected by the 6th month of pregnancy until the 9th month of pregnancy. However, jitter and shimmer abnormalities are evident from the 3rd month of pregnancy. The results of the perceptual analysis indicated the presence of roughness and breathiness from the third month of pregnancy until the 9th month of pregnancy.

Discussion:

The results indicated that fundamental frequency (F0) was affected by the 6th month of pregnancy and continued until the 9th month of pregnancy. The jitter and shimmer abnormalities were evident from the 3rd month of pregnancy. These findings were further supported by perceptual deviations on the Grade Roughness Breathiness Asthenia Strain (GRBAS) scale.

Conclusions:

These findings are of value for a pregnant woman who is sensitive to the vocal deviations and also for a professional voice user as they are more prone to voice changes or disorders due to their extensive voice usage.
Thromboembolic Complications in Severe COVID-19: Current Antithrombotic Strategies and Future Perspectives
Authors: Rodriguez Juan J. , Munoz Oscar C. , Porres-Aguilar Mateo , Mukherjee Debabrata
Published: March 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus (SARS- CoV-2) is our latest pandemic and has turned out to be a global public health
crisis. One of the special characteristics of this disease is that it may predispose patients to thrombotic
disease both in the venous and arterial circulation. We review arterial and venous thromboembolic
complications in patients with COVID-19, epidemiology, pathogenesis, hematologic biomarkers,
and current antithrombotic strategies. Future perspectives and clinical trials are ongoing to
determine the best thromboprophylaxis strategies in the hospitalized patients with severe
COVID-19.
Prediction of Potential Targets of an Emerging Zoonotic Paramyxovirus: An Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Sai Minnikanti Venkata Satya , Subeesh Viswam , GNS Hema Sree , Saraswathy Ganeshan Rajalakshmi , Gouri Nair
Published: March 2021

Background:

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic paramyxovirus that can cause severe respiratory
illness and encephalitis in humans, with no effective targets and treatment.

Objective:

To investigate potential targets involved in the progression of NiV infection by bioinformatics
studies.

Methods:

To identify the key gene involved in NiV infection, a microarray dataset (GSE32902)
was downloaded from the National Centre of Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The differentially
expressed genes were unraveled by using Geo2Enrichr, and the functional enrichment analysis
was facilitated by using Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery
(DAVID). Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) was used to construct the
Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and visualized by using Cytoscape.

Results:

A total of 500 genes (262 up-regulated and 238 down-regulated) were identified among
NiV infected cells. Nineteen upregulated genes were found with a node degree of more than 10,
Among which MX1, ISG15, and IFIT1 were found to have the highest node degree (degree=20),
followed by RSAD2 and IRF7 with node degree 18 and MX2 and IFIT3 with node degree 17.

Conclusion:

The above results explicitly demonstrate that the expressed genes attribute to a defensive
response against the virus. Henceforth finding agonists for these genes would help in the effective
management of Niv infection.
Potential of Antibiotics for the Treatment and Management of Parkinson's Disease: An Overview
Authors: Yadav Narayan , Thakur Ajit Kumar , Shekhar Nikhila , Ayushi
Published: March 2021

Evidence has emerged over the last 2 decades to ascertain the proof of concepts viz. mitochondrial
dysfunction, inflammation-derived oxidative damage and cytokine-induced toxicity
that play a significant role in Parkinson's disease (PD). The available pharmacotherapies for PD are
mainly symptomatic and typically indicate L-DOPA to restrain dopamine deficiency and its consequences.
In the 21st century, the role of antibiotics has emerged at the forefront of medicines in
health and human illness. There are several experimental and pre-clinical evidences that support
the potential use of antibiotics as a neuroprotective agent. The astonishing effects of antibiotics and
their neuroprotective properties against neurodegeneration and neuro-inflammation would be
phenomenal for the development of effective therapy against PD. Antibiotics are also testified as
useful in not only preventing the formation of alpha-synuclein but also acting on mitochondrial dysfunction
and neuro-inflammation. Thus, the possible therapy with antibiotics in PD would impact
both pathways leading to neuronal cell death in substantia nigra and pars compacta in the midbrain.
Moreover, the antibiotic-based pharmacotherapy will open a scientific research avenue to add more
to the evidence-based and rational use of antibiotics for the treatment and management of PD and
other neurodegenerative disorders.
The rise of a mediated state in northern Kenya: the Wajir story and its implications for state-building
Authors: Menkhaus Ken
Published: March 2021

In an anarchic corner of northern Kenya in the mid-199os, a collection oflocal non-state actors led by a women's market group created an umbrella movement that came to establish an impressive level of peace and security across an entire region. The Kenyan government forged a formal relationship with this group in Wajir, essentially sub-contracting out important functions oflocal government to local civic leaders, and using its partnership with the Wajir group as a template for similar state-sanctioned governance arrangements in other troubled border areas of the country. The Wajir story is examined in this article as an example of a "mediated state" approach to rebuilding rule oflaw through non-state actors in a conflict and post-conflict setting. Key words: mediated-state, state-building, civil society, peace-building,failed state, northern Kenya
Sociocultural Relevance of Communication Strategies of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Programmes in Mozambique: A Study of Programa Geraçao Biz Activities in Nampula Province
Authors: Da Silva Lurdes
Published: March 2021

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) challenges in Mozambique include early marriages, early pregnancies and HIV/AIDS. In 1999 the Programa Geração Biz (PGB) was created to address youths’ problems and improve their sexual and reproductive health (SRH). However, studies show Mozambican youths continue to be exposed to risks related to their SRH. Mozambique is a multicultural country but only 40% of Mozambicans speak Portuguese, the official language, while 93.5% of the population uses a Bantu language as their mother tongue. This raises an important issue – should PGB communication strategies (CS) take into account the country’s complex cultural reality? Studies recognise the role of culture in enhancing effective delivery of communication programmes. Concurrently, studies point to a lack of research analyzing CS of health campaigns.

This paper’s aims are: (i) to examine PGB communication strategies; (ii) identify cultural challenges to these strategies; and (iii) determine the implications of these impediments for the PGB.

Research methods included non-participant observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Research questions were based on the McGuire Communication/Persuasion Model, and data analyzed thematically using Nvivo Pro11.

Results revealed the following: (i) interpersonal methods are used to deliver preventive messages, with sociocultural approaches often ignored or not used to reduce cultural barriers; (ii) cultural challenges identified include initiation rites, taboos surrounding sexuality, language and health terminologies, and parents’ attitudes towards early marriages; and (iii) these factors hinder effective delivery of programme messages.

The conclusion is that the CS used by PGB does not sufficiently take into account the Mozambican sociocultural context. Taboos around sexuality have silenced open communication in this regard. Ideas of sexual abstinence, condom use and campaigns against early marriage stand in opposition to certain orientations of traditional initiations.

KEY WORDS: COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES, SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, PROGRAMA GERAÇÃO BIZ, McGUIRE’S COMMUNICATION/PERSUASION MODEL, CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Implications of the Failure to pay the Required Electoral Deposit in South Africa: Analysing National Freedom Party v Electoral Commission
Authors: Dube Angelo
Published: March 2021

The right to participate in elections is one of the cornerstones of any democratic country. This is true of South Africa’s electoral process, which was put to the test in the case of National Freedom Party v Electoral Commission in 2016. To promote free and fair elections, certain safeguards must be put in place. These include notifying the Electoral Commission of an intention to participate in elections through the payment of a deposit on a specified date by the party intending to participate in elections, and the publication of an election timetable by the government. This research has found that once published, the Electoral Commission has no power to change the electoral timetable.

The only remedy for a party that fails to comply with the electoral prescripts such as the payment of an electoral deposit lies under section 11(2)(a) of the South African Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act. Additionally, it found that the concept of free and fair elections takes into account the interests of all parties concerned, and not just that of the party that alleges unfairness stemming from the exclusion. Whilst the exclusion of a party can lead to the violation of certain fundamental rights, such as the right to regular free and fair elections, and the right to vote, it is important to note that this case clearly establishes the legal position that a party’s failure to comply with the legal prescripts, will bar that political party from obtaining a remedy for exclusion.

KEY WORDS: ELECTORAL COMMISSION, ELECTORAL TIMETABLE, FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, CONDONATION, NON-COMPLIANCE.
The Myth of Zheng He: Kenya-China Encounters in Yvonne Owuor's The Dragonfly Sea
Authors: Yuan Mingqing
Published: March 2021

The year 2005 marked the 600th anniversary of Zheng He’s first voyage on the Indian Ocean and the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. In the same year Mwamaka Sharifu, a girl from Lamu island in Kenya, also a descendent of sailors of Zheng He’s fleet (1405-1433), was awarded a scholarship to study in her “home country”. In 2019, the novel The Dragonfly Sea by the Kenyan female writer Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, which incorporates the story of Mwamaka Sharifu, was publishedby Alfred A. Knopf. By using the concept of “fictive ethnicity”, proposed by Balibar, and “push back”, as articulated by Ruth Simbao, this paper tries to explore how the history of Zheng He is adopted and narrated to construct, blur or refute boundaries of nation and ethnicity in The Dragonfly Sea. It also investigates how fictional writing, both aesthetically and culturally, intervenes and responds to the dominant discourses surrounding “China-Africa” by exhibiting the ambiguity and nuances within. It shows that an epistemological and discursive fracture exists between Africa and China that leads to a binary construction of the myth of Zheng He, which might be effective to some degree but runs the risk of repeating nation-state and ethnic configurations.

KEY WORDS: ZHENG HE, CHINA-KENYA LITERATURE, FICTIVE ETHNICITY, THE DRAGONFLY SEA
The Democratic Republic of the Congo-China's Deals on Construction of Roads in Exchange of Mines
Authors: Shirambere Philippe Tunamsifu
Published: March 2021

After 32 years of dictatorship regime and a decade of various armed conflicts, the newly elected DRC government in 2006 was expected to receive US$4 billion from the traditional Western donors for reconstruction and development to help cement peace. Based on the issue of the lack of trust in the public institutions, the West failed to provide its promised aid following its conditionality. Alternatively, Joseph Kabila approached China to secure his cinq chantiers. Without prior conditionality on good- governance and human rights, China agreed to provide its financial support valued at US$ 9 billion in exchange for mines.

Using historical and comparative methods, findings reveal that the Chinese presence in the DRC goes back to the colonial era of the 19th century. The conditionality for financial support seems inadequate for post-conflict countries in need of reconstruction. Also, the Chinese non-interference policy as an alternative to the western approach needs to be transparent.

KEY WORDS: CHINESE POLICY, CINQ CHANTIERS, DRC, MINING DEALS, WESTERN CONDITIONALITY
The impact of Behaviour Change Intervention (BCI) on adolescent HIV risk reduction in selected schools in Northren Malawi
Authors: Mwale M. , Muula A.S.
Published: March 2021

Introduction: We conducted a study to explore the impact of adolescent exposure to HIV and AIDS behaviour change Interventions (BCI) on their HIV risk reduction and sexual behaviour change in some selected secondary schools in the district of Mzimba, district of Nkhata Bay and Mzuzu city in Northern Malawi.

Methods: We used mixed methods in a descriptive survey design triangulating both quantitative and qualitative approaches, with questionnaires and focus groups as instruments for data collection. Adolescent boys and girls [n = 552], were randomly sampled to participate in the quantitative component. For qualitative focus groups we sampled participants purposively. We analyzed quantitative data through multiple regression analysis. On the other hand qualitative data was analyzed through thematic content analysis.Results: Multiple regression analysis indicated that exposure to BCI did not impact risk reduction [Beta = -.082, p= .053, p > .05]. Qualitative focus group findings showed that proximate correlates such as: early sexual debut, lack of condom use, drug related sex, multiple and concurrent partnerships drive infection. Distal structural factors in socio-cultural, gender disparities and poverty were also noted drivers of sexual risk taking in the study area.Conclusion: Studies aimed to inform HIV prevention through top-down design of models involving primary beneficiaries are vital for the registering of positive outcomes in HIV programming for young people. Apart from identifying factors driving high HIV incidence in the study area, the study informed an intervention to test the efficacy of a risk reduction behavioural model [RRBM] developed and designed with input from adolescent participants.

KEY WORDS: ADOLESCENT, HIV AND AIDS, BEHAVIOUR CHANGE, RISK REDUCTION, MALAWI
The devil is in the detail. Disclosing the impact of religion on the milk system in Ethiopia
Authors: D'Haene Eline
Published: March 2021

The influence of religion within food systems in developing economies has been understated in scholarly studies. With its different Christian, Islamic, and traditional faiths, Ethiopia offers a promising field for investigating the impact of religion on the milk system, the most important animal protein source in Ethiopian diets. In a first chapter, we investigate how the presence of a religious fasting period influences household milk intake in the country. The second and third chapter explore how milk producers have adapted to the demand seasonality caused by religious fasting practices in two different major milk production areas. In the two final chapters we investigate if and how religious ties facilitate milk transactions. This dissertation concludes that religious fasting practices have a clear impact on milk consumption and production in the country, thereby creating considerable market inefficiencies. Furthermore, we find evidence of market coordination problems along.

KEY WORDS: COORDINATION PROBLEMS, DEMAND SEASONALITY, ETHIOPIA, MILK SYSTEM, RELIGION
The Value of Applying Ethical Principles in Telehealth Practices: Systematic Review
Authors: Keenan Amanda Jane , Tsourtos George , Tieman Jennifer
Published: March 2021

Background

As the use of technology to deliver health services is increasing rapidly and has further intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, these initiatives may fail if ethical impacts are not fully identified and acted upon by practitioners. Ignoring the ethical impacts of information and communication technology health service delivery creates an unintended risk for patients and can lead to reduced effectiveness, noncompliance, and harm, undermining the best intentions of governments and clinicians.

Objective

Our aim was to explore how ethical considerations or impacts may be different, greater, or more variable in information and communication technology methods versus face-to-face health care delivery models, and how they may be applied in practice.

Methods

We undertook a systemic literature review to provide a critical overview of existing research into the incorporation of ethical principles into telehealth practice. Six databases were searched between March 2016 to May 2016 and again in December 2020 to provide the benefit of currency. A combination of broad terms (“ethics,” “ethical,” “health,” and “care”) with the restrictive terms of “telehealth” and “telemedicine” was used in keyword searches. Thematic analysis and synthesis of each paper was conducted, aligned to the framework developed by Beauchamp and Childress.

Results

From the 49 papers reviewed, authors identified or discussed the following ethical principles in relation to telehealth practice: autonomy (69% of authors, 34/49), professional–patient relationship (53% of authors, 26/49), nonmaleficence (41% of authors, 20/49), beneficence (39%, of authors, 19/49), and justice (39% of authors, 19/49).

Conclusions

Although a small number of studies identified ethical issues associated with telehealth practice and discussed their potential impact on service quality and effectiveness, there is limited research on how ethical principles are incorporated into clinical practice. Several studies proposed frameworks, codes of conduct, or guidelines, but there was little discussion or evidence of how these recommendations are being used to improve ethical telehealth practice.
Absolute temperature directly from plank’s profile: A simulation
Authors:   B-111, Saivihar, Sector-15, CBD-Belapur, NaviMumbai-400614 (India), VIJAYAKUMAR V.
Published: March 2021

The measured thermal radiation from a material surface will, in general, have a wave length (\lambda) dependent scale-factor to the Planck profile (PT) from the contributions of the emissivity (Є\lambda) of the surface, the response function (A\lambda) of the measurement setup, and the emission via non-Plank processes. For obtaining the absolute temperature from such a profile, a procedure that take care of these dependencies and which relay on a temperature grid searchis proposed. In the procedure, the deviation between the Plank profiles at various temperatures and the measured spectrum that is made equal to it at a selected wavelength, by scaling, is used. The response function (A\lambda) is eliminated at the measurement stage and the polynomial dependence of the remnant scale factor mostly dominated by Є\lambda) i s extracted from the measured spectrum by identifying its optimal \lambda dependence. It is shown that when such a computation is carried out over a temperature grid, the absolute temperature can be identified from the minimum of the above deviation. Here, search for T and Є\lambda) d elinked, unlike in the leastsquare approaches that are normally employed. Code that implements the procedure is tested with simulated Planck profile to which different viable values of Є\lambda) a nd noise is incorporated. It shown that if the \lambda dependence of scale-factor is not too high, the absolute temperature can be recovered. A large \lambda dependent scale-factor and the consequent possible error in the temperature obtained can also be identified.
DEVELOPMENT OF CODI (CO-DRUG INTERACTION) SOFTWARE AS DRUGS PRESCRIPTION ANALYSIS
Authors: TANDAH MUHAMAD RINALDHI , YUSRIADI  , MUKADDAS ALWIYAH , DIANA KHUSNUL , SADEWA AHMAD ANGGARA
Published: March 2021

Objective: This study intends to design software algorithms, which is called Co-Drug Interaction (CODI), that able to analyse drug interactions in prescription and recommendations for further correction by replacing active substances based on the E-book Drug Interaction Facts and provide drug information features.

Methods: The research used data collection and conversed into programming languages. Java language programme choosed to build the entire application as its considerable free of charge and recognizable interface to use. The reference book is also used to help in prescribing and evaluating the reliability and efficiency of the software.

Result: The evaluations were performed by analyzing 30 groups of medicine based on 2 diseases, which are hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion: The algorithm design and evaluation are in accordance with the planned output.
MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDY BETWEEN 3 THAI MEDICINAL PLANTS COMPOUNDS AND COVID-19 THERAPEUTIC PROTEIN TARGETS: SARS-COV-2 MAIN PROTEASE, ACE-2, AND PAK-1
Authors: ASIH SAFIRA CANDRA , IRDIANI RAFIDHA , SAHLAN MUHAMAD , NASIKIN MOHAMMAD
Published: March 2021

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate those 3 compounds among 122 Thai natural products by using a molecular docking approach to inhibit Main Protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 (PDB code: 6Y2F), Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE)-2 (PDB code: 1R4L), and PAK-1 kinase (PDB code: 5DEW).

Methods: The evaluation was performed on the docking scores calculated using AutoDock Vina as a docking engine and interaction profile analysis through 2-dimensional visualization using LigPlot+. The determination of the docking score was done by selecting the conformation of the ligand that has the lowest binding free energy (best pose).

Result: The results of this study indicate that overall, Panduratin A has the best affinity in inhibiting the main protease of SARS-CoV-2, ACE-2, and PAK-1 compared to other compounds.

Conclusion: The three thai medicinal plants compound has the potential to be developed as specific therapeutic agents against COVID-19.
COMPLIANCE TO DRUG USE IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH VARIABLES AFFECTING IN THREE CITIES IN INDONESIA
Authors: MUHLIS MUHAMMAD , KARLINA DEWI , NAMITA MERLI , MARESTA LALA , FEROLIA YOCIKA ESTI
Published: March 2021

Objective: Patient noncompliance in taking medication is the problem in hypertension therapy. This study aims to describe the compliance to drug use in hypertensive patients in Bengkulu, Banjarmasin, and Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Methods: This study is an observational study using a questionnaire, with a total sample size of 300. Data are analyzed by using bivariate analysis with the chi-square method to see if there is a relationship between compliance and predetermined variables.

Results: The study in three cities showed that there were 0 patients (0%) Low compliance and non-compliance category patients; the compliance category was 91%, 10%, 8%, respectively. High compliance categories were 9%, 90%, 92%. Chi-square test shows that compliance has a significant relationship (*P<0.05) in the three cities on the variable "treatment motivation", other variables that show a significant relationship in the city of Yogyakarta are "drug side effects", "role of health workers", "social support", in Bengkulu is "Therapeutic beliefs", in Banjarmasin is" Knowledge of therapeutic effects ".

Conclusion: All hypertensive patients have good compliance; compliance is significantly associated in all three cities on the variable "treatment motivation."
EFFECT OF FLAVONOIDS ON OXIDATIVE STRESS, APOPTOSIS, AND CELL MARKERS OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD-DERIVED ENDOTHELIAL PROGENITOR CELLS: AN IN VITRO STUDY
Authors: WIDOWATI WAHYU , GUNANEGARA RIMONTA F. , WARGASETIA TERESA LILIANA , KUSUMA HANNA SARI WIDYA , ARUMWARDANA SEILA , WAHYUNI CINTANI DEWI , GIRSANG ERMI , LISTER I NYOMAN EHRICH , GINTING CHRISMIS NOVALINDA , RIZAL RIZAL , BACHTIAR INDRA , MURTI HARRY , KIM YOUNG HO
Published: March 2021

Objective: Circulating EPCs (endothelial progenitor cells) play a role in neovascularization and vascular repair. Oxidative stress impairs endothelial progenitor. Flavonoid is a phytochemical compound for antioxidant activity. Flavonoid effects toward oxidative stress, apoptosis, and expression of the cell markers on EPCs are not fully understood. This study was aimed to elucidate the effects of quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin toward oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cell markers of peripheral blood-derived-EPCs.

Methods: EPCs (endothelial progenitor cells) were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) using cultivation under EPCs spesific media. Oxidative stress in EPCs was induced by H2O2 and then treated by quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin. Cytotoxicity was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay, while intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis and characterization of cells, which expressed CD133 and KDR, was measured using flow cytometry.

Results: Quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin at concentration 12.50 µmol/l were not toxic on EPCs as the cells viability were 96.11±4.03%, 95.42±7.75%, and 94.22±9.49%, respectively. Flavonoids decreased intracellular ROS level in EPCs (quercetin: 14.38±1.47%, kaempferol: 20.21±6.25%, and myricetin: 13.88±4.02%) compared to EPCs treated with H2O2 (30.70%±1.04). Percetage of EPCs apoptosis was not significantly different among each treatment. Immunophenotyping showed the increasing of CD133 and KDR expression in EPCs treated with flavonoids.

Conclusion: Quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin were safe for EPCs, decreased ROS levels, and increased CD133 and KDR expression. However, the flavonoids did not significantly affect EPCs apoptosis.
NEPHROPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF KIRINYUH (CHROMOLAENA ODORATA L) IN GENTAMICIN INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN WISTAR RATS
Authors: IDACAHYATI KENI , NURDIANTI LUSI , HUSNI SILVI SIPTANUL , GUSTAMAN FIRMAN , WULANDARI WINDA TRISNA
Published: March 2021

Objective: The global prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) was 9.1% (697.5 million cases). Chronic kidney disease can occur, one of which is caused by drug nephrotoxicity. Nephrotoxicity remains major problem for its effective long-term clinical use. Gentamicin is known to cause many morphologic, metabolic and functional alterations in the kidney and the specificity of gentamicin nephrotoxicity is related to its accumulation in the renal proximal convoluted tubules leading to tubular necrosis. Nephrotoxicity can be prevented by nephroprotective by giving antioxidants. Kirinyuh leaves (Chromolaena odorata L.) has potential as a nephroprotective because it contains chemical compounds that have antioxidant activity.

Methods: Wistar rats as many as 25 animals were divided into five groups, namely the normal control negative control (gentamicin 60 mg/kg BW rat), and kirinyuh leaf extract at a dose of 225, 450 and 675 mg/kg BW treatment was carried out for 10 d. Serum creatinine and urea levels were evaluated along with histopathological investigation in various experimental groups of rats. Data analysis using the One Way Anova test and continued LSD test.

Results: Serum creatinine was a significant difference between groups P = 0.000 (P<0.05). The results of LSD analysis on creatinine levels showed a significant difference between the normal group and the negative group (P = 0.00); negative group to dose group 1 (P = 0.020) (P<0.05); dose 2 (P = 0.005) (P<0.05); and dose 3 (P = 0.000) (P<0.05). Dose 3 had the lowest creatinine level compared to other dose groups.

Conclusion: Serum creatinine level at dose 675 significantly changes compare by a negative group of other dose groups. Renal histopathology results showed that the group with a dose of 450 mg/BW of rats had the lowest necrosis rate compared to the negative control group and other dose groups.
ANTIPYRETIC ACTIVITY OF CENTELLA (CENTELLA ASIATICA (L.) URBAN) HERB IN VACCINE INDUCED MICE
Authors: SAPTARINI NYI MEKAR , KARTIKAWATI ENDAH
Published: March 2021

Objective: This study aimed to determine the antipyretic activity of the infusion of centella (Centella asiatica (L.) Urban) herb, based on empirically usage of Indonesian people.

Methods: Antipyretic activity assay was conducted to Swiss-Webster mice, which induced by diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine with paracetamol as positive control.

Results: Centella herb was contained tannins, flavonoids, monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, and saponins. The antipyretic activity of centella infusion has a ratio 1:44.6, compare to paracetamol.

Conclusion: Antipyretic activity of centella herbs was predicted due to its secondary metabolites.
TREATMENT POSSIBILITIES FOR ACQUIRED AND HEREDITARY DISEASES BY GENE THERAPY: A REVIEW
Authors: KUMARI P. V. KAMALA , HARIKA G. EKSHITHA, V.
Published: March 2021

Therapeutic nucleic acids demand specificity and accuracy in design as well as delivery strategies used in replacement or silencing of the target gene. Gene therapy is believed to be the therapy in which the root cause of the diseases can be treated at the molecular level. Generally gene therapy helps in the identification of the origin of the disorder instead of using drugs to diminish or control the symptoms. The application of nucleic acids to treat and control diseases is known as “gene therapy.” Gene therapy consists on the substitution or addition of a functional gene into the nucleus of a living cell, in order to treat a disease or repair a dysfunction, caused by this gene failure. This therapy is used to correct defective genes, which are responsible for genetic diseases. Thus, gene therapy can be used to prevent, treat or regulate hereditary or acquired disorders, by the production of therapeutic proteins. The gene therapy is mediated by the use of viral and non-viral vectors to transport foreign genes into somatic cells to restorative defective genes. This review focuses on viral vectors in detail.