bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wind-adjusted Turc equation for estimating reference evapotranspiration at humid European locations
Authors: Trajkovic Slavisa , Kolakovic Srdjan
Published: July 2018

The Turc equation is one of the simplest empirical equations used for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ET0) under humid conditions. However, this equation generally overestimates ET0 values at windless humid locations and underestimates ET0 at windy humid locations. The main objective of this study is to develop a new adjusted Turc equation through introduction of the wind adjustment factor. In this study, data from CLIMWAT database have been divided into two groups in order to verify the model on half of the dataset. As the mean monthly data from CLIMWAT refer to the long-term average year, the detailed Western Balkans (WB) dataset with the monthly data from real years has been used for additional verification of the wind adjustment factor. For each verification station, ET0 estimates from the original and adjusted Turc equations have been statistically compared with FAO-56 Penman–Monteith (PM) ET0 estimates. The adjusted Turc equation provides good agreement with the evapotranspiration, and produces a reliable estimation at all locations. These results support the use of the adjusted Turc equation for estimating reference evapotranspiration at European humid locations where humidity data are not available.
Graphene Modified Molecular Imprinting Electrochemical Sensor for Determining the Content of Dopamine
Authors: Liu Rong , Li Jie , Zhong Tongsheng , Long Liping
Published: July 2018

Background:

The unnatural levels of dopamine (DA) result in serious neurological disorders
such as Parkinson’s disease. Electrochemical methods which have the obvious advantages of
simple operation and low-cost instrumentation were widely used for determination of DA. In order to
improve the measurement performance of the electrochemical sensor, molecular imprinting technique
and graphene have always been employed to increase the selectivity and sensitivity.

Methods:

An electrochemical sensor which has specific selectivity to (DA) was proposed based on the
combination of a molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) with a graphene (GR) modified gold electrode.
The performance and effect of MIP film were investigated by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV)
and cyclic voltammetry (CV) in the solution of 5.0 ×10-3 mol/L K3[Fe(CN)6] and K4[Fe(CN)6] with
0.2 mol/L KCl at room temperature.

Results:

This fabricated sensor has well repeatability and stability, and was used to determine the dopamine
of urine. Under the optimized experiment conditions, the current response of the imprinted
sensor was linear to the concentration of dopamine in the range of 1.0×10-7 ~ 1.0×10-5 mol/L, the linear
equation was I (µA) = 7.9824+2.7210lgc (mol/L) with the detection limit of 3.3×10-8 mol/L.

Conclusion:

In this work, a highly efficient sensor for determination of DA was prepared with good
sensitivity by GR and great selectivity of high special recognization ability by molecular imprinting
membrane. This proposed sensor was used to determine the dopamine in human urine successfully.
Electrochemical Detector for Liquid Chromatography: Determining Minoxidil in Hair-Growth Pharmaceuticals
Authors: Wang Lai-Hao , Cheng Pei-Tung
Published: July 2018

Background:

The electrochemical behavior of minoxidil on gold (Au), Glassy Carbon (GCEs),
and Carbon Paste Electrodes (CPEs) was investigated in an aqueous supporting electrolyte (phosphate
buffer [pH 2.0-6.5], acetate buffer [pH 4.3], and Britton and Robinson buffer [pH 2.0-7.4]).

Methods:

For cyclic voltammetric measurements with suitable methodical parameters, CPEs catalyze
electrooxidation of minoxidil more efficiently than do other electrodes. Minoxidil was detected using
high-performance liquid chromatography with an electrochemical (carbon paste) detector (HPLCECD).
For direct current mode, with the current at a constant potential, and measurements with suitable
experimental parameters, a linear concentration from 0.02 to 2.6 mg L-1 was found. The detection
limit was approximately 20 ng m L-1.

Results:

The developed method detected minoxidil samples.

Conclusion:

Findings using HPLC-ECD and HPLC with an ultraviolet detector were comparable.
A Validation and Estimation of Total Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic acids Using LC-MS/MS with Rapid Hydrolysis Enzymatic Method for Hydrolysis of Omega Lipids in Human Plasma and its Application in the Pharmacokinetic Study
Authors: Viswanathan Sekarbabu , Verma Priya Ranjan Prasad , Ganesan Muniyandithevar
Published: July 2018

Background:

In this study, we have developed a novel, rapid enzymatic hydrolysis method for conversion of omega lipids (omega fatty acid triglycerides, phospholipids, omega conjugates) in to free fatty acids at room temperature using lipase and esterase enzymes.  Objective: To develop simple enzymatic hydrolysis and rapid sample extraction method for quantification of free (un-esterified) and conjugated (esterified) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to provide the total EPA and DHA lipids present in human plasma. Quantification of total EPA/DHA was performed using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometer instrument.

Methods:

The plasma sample is digested with lipase and esterase enzymes and extracted by using combined precipitation and liquid-liquid techniques. The LC-MS/MS method was optimized using EPA-D5 and DHA-D5 as labeled internal standards for EPA/DHA respectively. The analytical method is validated, utilized for simultaneous quantification of total EPA and DHA lipids in plasma collected from healthy human volunteers clinical study.

Results:

The reproducibility of the established enzymatic hydrolysis method was demonstrated by incurred sample reanalysis and the results for total EPA and DHA lipid were 93.33% and 96.67% respectively. The pharmacokinetic and statistical analysis was performed using baseline corrected concentration of total EPA and DHA lipids.

Conclusion:

The enzymatic hydrolysis method for conversion of omega fatty acid triglycerides, phospholipids, omega conjugates in to free fatty acid was reported first time for the quantitative application. The shorter time for sample workup procedure, simple enzymatic hydrolysis at room temperature and 3 minutes chromatography run time are well suitable for bioavailability/ bioequivalence studies.
Dental Students’ Perceptions and Performance in Use of Conventional and Virtual Microscopy in Oral Pathology
Authors: Fernandes Carla I.R. , Bonan Roberta F. , Bonan Paulo R.F. , Leonel Augusto C.L.S. , Carvalho Elaine J.A. , de Castro Jurema F.L. , Perez Danyel E.C.
Published: July 2018

Virtual microscopy (VM) is a technology for showing microscope slides using computers and could be considered a progression of classic methodology using optical microscopes. The aim of this study was to analyze the perceptions and performance of dental students in oral pathology regarding the use of conventional microscopy (CM) and VM in relation to teaching and learning. All fourth‐semester dental students (N=165) in an oral pathology course at the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco in Brazil in 2016–17 were invited to participate in the study. Students first answered a questionnaire with ten multiple‐choice items on VM in comparison with CM and then took an exam divided into two sections: the first contained three virtual slides on the computer; in the second, three glass slides were positioned in an optical microscope. Each slide question, asking students to identify the oral lesion shown, was worth two points. Both conventional and virtual slides were chosen from the main lectures in the oral pathology classes. Of the students, 132 completed the questionnaire (80% response rate), and 77 completed the exam (46.7% response rate). On the questionnaire results, most students perceived that VM was a superior method for teaching and learning compared to CM. Students earned a total of 312 points on the questions with virtual slides and earned 190 points on the questions with conventional slides. In this study, the use of VM in oral pathology teaching was favored by the students over CM and also contributed to these students’ learning.
Co-Design of a Consultation Audio-Recording Mobile App for People With Cancer: The SecondEars App (Preprint)
Authors: Lipson-Smith Ruby , White Fiona , White Alan , Serong Lesley , Cooper Guy , Price-Bell Georgia , Hyatt Amelia
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Many patients choose to audio-record their medical consultations so that they can relisten to them at home and share them with family. Consultation audio-recordings can improve patients’ recall and understanding of medical information and increase their involvement in decision making. A hospital-endorsed consultation audio-recording mobile app would provide patients with the permission and means to audio-record their consultations. The Theory of Planned Behavior provides a framework for understanding how patients can be encouraged to appropriately audio-record consultations.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to use a co-design process to develop a consultation audio-recording mobile app called SecondEars.

METHODS

App development began with stakeholder engagement, followed by a series of 6 co-design workshops and then user acceptance testing. Stakeholder engagement included advice from legal, information technology (IT), clinical and allied health leads; digital strategy; and medical records. he co-design workshops were attended by: patient consumers, members of the research team, IT staff, the app designers, clinicians, and staff from medical records. During workshops 1 to 4, the purpose and scope of the app were refined, possible pitfalls were addressed, and design features were discussed. The app designers then incorporated the results from these workshops to produce a wireframe mock-up of the proposed SecondEars app, which was presented for feedback at workshops 5 and 6.

RESULTS

The stakeholders identified 6 requirements for the app, including that it be patient driven, secure, clear in terms of legal responsibilities, linked to the patient’s medical record, and that it should require minimal upfront and ongoing resources. These requirements informed the scope of the co-design workshops. The workshops were attended by between 4 and 13 people. The workshop attendees developed a list of required features and suggestions for user interface design. The app developers used these requirements and recommendations to develop a prototype of the SecondEars app in iOS, which was then refined through user acceptance testing.

CONCLUSIONS

The SecondEars app allows patients to have control and autonomy over audio-recording and sharing their consultations while maintaining privacy and safety for medical information and legal protection for clinicians. The app has been designed to have low upkeep and minimal impact on clinical processes. The SecondEars prototype is currently being tested with patients in a clinical setting.
A smartphone-online intervention for youth diagnosed with major depressive disorders: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. (Preprint)
Authors: Ritvo Paul , Daskalakis Zafiris , Tomlinson George , Ravindran Arun , Linklater Renee , Kirk Chang Megan , Knyahnytska Yuliya , Lee Jonathan , Alavi Nazinan , Bai Shari , Harber Lillian , Jain Tania , Katz Joel
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Seventy percent of mental health problems appear before the age of 25 years and when untreated can become long-standing, and significant, impairing multiple life domains (1). Although the problem is especially acute for youth from First Nations backgrounds, all Canadian youth aged 15- to 25 years are highly likely to experience mental health disorders, substance dependencies and suicide. Progress in the treatment of youth that capitalizes on tendencies to respond to online contacts strategically addresses mental health problems, particularly depressive disorders.

OBJECTIVE

We will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT), to compare online mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy combined with standard psychiatric care vs. psychiatric care alone (wait-list controls) in youth diagnosed with major depressive disorder. We will enrol N = 168 subjects in the age range of 18-30 years, 50% of whom will be from First Nations backgrounds and the other 50% from all other ethnic backgrounds, equally stratified in two intervention groups and two (wait-list) control groups (42 subjects per group, where INT1 and CTL1 are FN background, and INT2 and CTL2 are non-FN background).

METHODS

In this RCT, the primary outcome will be self-reported depression on the Beck Depression Inventory II. Secondary outcomes include anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), depression (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-24)), pain (Brief Pain Inventory) and mindfulness (Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire).

RESULTS

Recruitment/retention rates will be assessed with estimates for the proportion of participants with complete data per outcome and time points divided by the total number of study participants.
Variability of the main and interaction effects will be examined in the primary clinical outcome and each secondary outcome using separate repeated measures ANCOVA models, with Bonferroni corrections applied to the models applied. Hedges' g and associated confidence intervals will be calculated as an estimate of the effect size both over time (within groups) and between groups. Missing data will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis such that drop-outs will be excluded.

CONCLUSIONS

If results confirm hypotheses that youth can be effectively treated with online mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy at reduced costs, effective services can be delivered more widely with less geographic restrictions.

CLINICALTRIAL

Clinical Trials.gov
Body Mass Index Screening and Follow-Up: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study of Pennsylvania School Nurses (Preprint)
Authors: Francis Erica , Hoke Alicia Marie , Kraschnewski Jennifer Lynn
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Childhood overweight and obesity health concerns can affect a student’s academic performance, so it is important to identify resources for school nurses that would help to improve self-efficacy, knowledge, and confidence when approaching parents with sensitive weight-related information and influence overall obesity prevention efforts in the school setting.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to conduct a Pennsylvania (PA) state-wide 29-item survey addressing school nursing barriers and practices, supplementing information already known in this area. Although the survey covered a range of topics, the focus was body mass index (BMI) screening and its related practice within the schools.

METHODS

We conducted a state-wide Web-based survey of school nurses in PA to understand current areas of care, find ways to address child health through school BMI screenings and follow up, and identify current educational gaps to assist school nurses with providing whole child care within the realm of weight management. Chi-square test of independence was conducted to determine the relationship between BMI screening follow up and interest in a BMI toolkit.

RESULTS

Nurse participants (N=210), with a 42% (210/500) response rate, represented 208 school districts across PA. Participants were asked about their current process for notifying parents of BMI screening results. The majority (116/210, 55.2%) send a letter home in the mail, while others (62/210, 29.5%) send a letter home with students. A small number (8/210, 3.8%) said they did not notify parents altogether, and some (39/210, 18.6%) notify parents electronically. More than one-third (75/210, 35.7%) of nurses reported receiving BMI screening inquiries from parents; however, under half (35/75, 46.7%) of those respondents indicated they follow up with parents whose child screens overweight or obese. Overall, the vast majority (182/210, 86.7%) do not follow up with parents whose child screens overweight or obese. The majority (150/210, 71.4%) of the nurses responded they would benefit from a toolkit with resources to assist with communication with parents and children about BMI screenings. A significant association between respondent follow up and interest in a BMI toolkit was observed (P=.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Schools must start recognizing the role school nurses play to monitor and promote children’s health. This goal might include involving them in school-based preventive programs, empowering them to lead initiatives that support whole child health and ensuring opportunities for professional development of interest to them. Nonetheless, the first step in facilitating obesity prevention methods within schools is to provide school nurses with meaningful tools that help facilitate conversations with parents, guardians, and caregivers regarding their child’s weight status and health through a BMI screening toolkit.
“But His Yelp Reviews Are Awful!”: Analysis of General Surgeons’ Yelp Reviews (Preprint)
Authors: Liu Cynthia , Uffenheimer Meka , Nasseri Yosef , Cohen Jason , Ellenhorn Joshua
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Patients use Web-based platforms to review general surgeons. However, little is known about the free-form text and structured content of the reviews or how they relate to the physicians’ characteristics or their practices.

OBJECTIVE

This observational study aimed to analyze the Web-based reviews of general surgeons on the west side of Los Angeles.

METHODS

Demographics, practice characteristics, and Web-based presence were recorded. We evaluated frequency and types of Yelp reviews and assigned negative remarks to 5 categories. Tabulated results were evaluated using independent t test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis to determine associations between the number of total and negative reviews with respect to practice structure and physician characteristics.

RESULTS

Of the 146 general surgeons, 51 (35%) had at least 1 review and 29 (20%) had at least 1 negative review. There were 806 total reviews, 679 (84.2%) positive reviews and 127 (15.8%) negative reviews. The negative reviews contained a total of 376 negative remarks, categorized into physician demeanor (124/376, 32.9%), clinical outcomes (81/376, 22%), office or staff (83/376, 22%), scheduling (44/376, 12%), and billing (44/376, 12%). Surgeons with a professional website had significantly more reviews than those without (P=.003). Surgeons in private practice had significantly more reviews (P=.002) and more negative reviews (P=.03) than surgeons who were institution employed. A strong and direct correlation was found between a surgeon’s number of reviews and number of negative reviews (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

As the most common category of complaints was about physician demeanor, surgeons may optimize their Web-based reputation by improving their bedside manner. A surgeon’s Web presence, private practice, and the total number of reviews are significantly associated with both positive and negative reviews.
Exploring the Impact of the Prescription Automatic Screening System in Health Care Services: Quasi-Experiment (Preprint)
Authors: Li Yan , Guo Xitong , Hsu Carol , Liu Xiaoxiao , Vogel Doug
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Hospitals have deployed various types of technologies to alleviate the problem of high medical costs. The cost of pharmaceuticals is one of the main drivers of medical costs. The Prescription Automatic Screening System (PASS) aims to monitor physicians’ prescribing behavior, which has the potential to decrease prescription errors and medical treatment costs. However, a substantial number of cases with unsatisfactory results related to the effects of PASS have been noted.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study were to systematically explore the imperative role of PASS on hospitals’ prescription errors and medical treatment costs and examine its contingency factors to clarify the various factors associated with the effective use of PASS.

METHODS

To systematically examine the various effects of PASS, we adopted a quasi-experiment methodology by using a 2-year observation dataset from 2 hospitals in China. We then analyzed the data related to physicians’ prescriptions both before and after the deployment of PASS and eliminated influences from a variety of perplexing factors by utilizing a control hospital that did not use a PASS system. In total, 754 physicians were included in this experiment comprising 11,054 patients: 400 physicians in the treatment group and 354 physicians in the control group. This study was also preceded by a series of interviews, which were employed to identify moderators. Thereafter, we adopted propensity score matching integrated with difference-in-differences to isolate the effects of PASS.

RESULTS

The effects of PASS on prescription errors and medical treatment costs were all significant (error: 95% CI –0.40 to –0.11, P=.001; costs: 95% CI –0.75 to –0.12, P=.007). Pressure from organizational rules and workload decreased the effect of PASS on prescription errors (95% CI 0.18-0.39; P<.001) and medical treatment costs (95% CI 0.07-0.55; P=.01), respectively. We also suspected that other pressures (eg, clinical title and risk categories of illness) also impaired physicians’ attention to alerts from PASS. However, the effects of PASS did not change among physicians with a higher clinical title or when treating diseases demonstrating high risk. This may be attributed to the fact that these physicians will focus more on their patients in these situations, regardless of having access to an intelligent system.

CONCLUSIONS

Although implementation of PASS decreases prescription errors and medical treatment costs, workload and organizational rules remain problematic, as they tend to impair the positive effects of auxiliary diagnosis systems on performance. This again highlights the importance of considering both technical and organizational issues to obtain the highest level of effectiveness when deploying information technology in hospitals.
Digital Presence of a Research Center as a Research Dissemination Platform: Reach and Resources (Preprint)
Authors: Lord Sarah E , Seavey Katherine M , Oren Sonia D , Budney Alan J , Marsch Lisa A
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Web-based platforms can be powerful tools for research dissemination. By leveraging the advantages of mass media and interpersonal channels of communication, Web-based dissemination platforms may improve awareness about, and subsequent adoption of, evidence-based practices (EBPs). Digital dissemination strategies can augment traditional dissemination models, improving stakeholder access to digestible and actionable information and promoting translation of EBPs.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the reach and content of the Web presence of a National Institute on Drug Abuse Center of Excellence and how it is used to disseminate research related to digital behavioral health approaches.

METHODS

The Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (CTBH) has a website and regularly updated Facebook and Twitter accounts. The website features include summaries of digital behavioral health approaches and related empirical literature, a blog feed focused on the state of the science and technology concerning digital health care approaches, and a newsletter about Center activities. We extracted website usage metrics from Google Analytics and follower counts from social media accounts for the period from March 1, 2013, to July 17, 2018.

RESULTS

Since the implementation of analytic tracking, 70,331 users have initiated 96,995 sessions on the CTBH website. The website includes summaries of 86 digital therapeutic programs, encompassing 447 empirical articles. There are 1160 posts in the CTBH blog feed, including 180 summaries of scholarly articles. The Twitter and Facebook accounts have 577 and 1500 followers, respectively. The newsletter has reached a growing subscriber network and has a high open rate relative to industry standards.

CONCLUSIONS

The CTBH Web presence serves as a model for how to leverage accessible and easily updatable digital platforms as research dissemination channels. Digital dissemination tools can augment traditional dissemination strategies to promote awareness about evidence-based digital therapeutic approaches for behavioral health and health care more broadly.
Utilization of the Veterans Affairs’ Transgender E-consultation Program by Health Care Providers: Mixed-Methods Study (Preprint)
Authors: Blosnich John R , Rodriguez Keri L , Hruska Kristina L , Kavalieratos Dio , Gordon Adam J , Matza Alexis , Mejia Susan M , Shipherd Jillian C , Kauth Michael R
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

In 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nationally implemented a transgender e-consultation (e-consult) program with expert clinical guidance for providers.

OBJECTIVE

This mixed-methods project aimed to describe providers’ program experiences, reasons for nonuse of the program, and ways to improve the program use.

METHODS

From January to May 2017, 15 urban and rural VA providers who submitted at least one e-consult in the last year participated in semistructured interviews about their program experiences, which were analyzed using content analysis. From November to December 2017, 53 providers who encountered transgender patients but did not utilize the program participated in a brief online survey on the reasons for nonuse of the program and the facilitators encouraging use.

RESULTS

Qualitative analysis showed that providers learned of the program through email; colleagues; the electronic health record (EHR) system; and participation in the VA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender committees or educational trainings. Providers used the program to establish care plans, hormone therapy recommendations, sexual and reproductive health education, surgical treatment education, patient-provider communication guidance, and second opinions. The facilitators of program use included understandable recommendations, ease of use through the EHR system, and status as the only transgender resource for rural providers. Barriers to use included time constraints, communication-related problems with the e-consult, impractical recommendations for underresourced sites, and misunderstanding of the e-consult purpose. Suggestions for improvement included addition of concise or sectioned responses, expansion of program awareness among providers or patients, designation of a follow-up contact person, and increase in provider education about transgender veterans and related care. Quantitative analysis showed that the common reasons for nonuse of the program were no knowledge of the program (54%), no need of the program (32%), and receipt of help from a colleague outside of e-consult (24%). Common suggestions to improve the program use in quantitative analyses included provision of more information about where to find e-consult in the chart, guidance on talking with patients about the program, and e-mail announcements to improve provider awareness of the program. Post hoc exploratory analyses showed no differences between urban and rural providers.

CONCLUSIONS

The VA transgender e-consult program is useful for providers, but there are several barriers to implementing recommendations, some of which are especially challenging for rural providers. Addressing the identified barriers and enhancing the facilitators may improve program use and quality care for transgender veterans.
Digital Exclusion Among Mental Health Service Users: Qualitative Investigation (Preprint)
Authors: Greer Ben , Robotham Dan , Simblett Sara , Curtis Hannah , Griffiths Helena , Wykes Til
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Access to internet-enabled technology and Web-based services has grown exponentially in recent decades. This growth potentially excludes some communities and individuals with mental health difficulties, who face a heightened risk of digital exclusion. However, it is unclear what factors may contribute to digital exclusion in this population.

OBJECTIVE

To explore in detail the problems of digital exclusion in mental health service users and potential facilitators to overcome them.

METHODS

We conducted semistructured interviews with 20 mental health service users who were deemed digitally excluded. We recruited the participants from a large secondary mental health provider in South London, United Kingdom. We employed thematic analysis to identify themes and subthemes relating to historical and extant reasons for digital exclusion and methods of overcoming it.

RESULTS

There were three major themes that appeared to maintain digital exclusion: a perceived lack of knowledge, being unable to access the necessary technology and services owing to personal circumstances, and the barriers presented by mental health difficulties. Specific facilitators for overcoming digital exclusion included intrinsic motivation and a personalized learning format that reflects the individual’s unique needs and preferences.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple factors contribute to digital exclusion among mental health service users, including material deprivation and mental health difficulties. This means that efforts to overcome digital exclusion must address the multiple deprivations individuals may face in the offline world in addition to their individual mental health needs. Additional facilitators include fostering an intrinsic motivation to overcome digital exclusion and providing a personalized learning format tailored to the individual’s knowledge gaps and preferred learning style.
WEARABLE HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY – THE REGULATORY PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Akshay Anand M , Venkatesh M P , Kumar Pramod T.M.
Published: July 2018

The world today isn’t the one which it was yesterday. With the continuing evolution in technology and technologicalapplications on medical field, innovative products and services have been emerging every day. Wearable gadgetshave risen up as revolution in the medical field for patient care. A number of tech giants are pouring into thissegment; wearables have already shown an impact on various fields such as communication and navigation; butperhaps the greatest potential lies in healthcare. With this article, an attempt has been made to unlock the potential ofwearable healthcare technology and the regulatory aspects imparted on them currently.
GLOBAL REGULATORY APPROACH TOWARDS M-HEALTH
Authors: M. Akshay Anand , Venkatesh M.P. , T.M. Pramod Kumar
Published: July 2018

The past decade has witnessed rapid advancement in telecommunication and computer technologies. The smart phone is one result of that technological development and has been adopted by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Innovators in the medical device industry quickly recognized the potential to use smartphones to expand the capabilities of healthcare professionals via mobile medical applications (apps) resident on these devices. These apps raise unique challenges for regulation by the drug regulatory authorities worldwide including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medical Association (EMA) etc. The focus of this article is to shed light on the current trends and future aspects of the regulatory framework implied on the Mobile Health (mHealth).
BIOBETTERS: THE BETTER BIOLOGICS AND THEIR REGULATORY OVERVIEW
Authors: Verma Sandeep , Jain Parveen , Chauhan P.
Published: July 2018

The continuous innovation of the biopharmaceutical industry has led to development of a new category of biopharmaceuticals i.e. Biobetters or Biosuperiors. Biobetters may have better efficacy, a longer half-life, lower dosing frequency, a reduced risk of immunogenicity, reduced toxicity and side effects along with lower early-stage research risk and development costs. Biobetters rather than biosimilars may capture significant share of market and are the next wave for companies to ride on. Although it sounds intuitive, biobetters will have to face various ordeals like identification of the apparent unmet need, quantification of the potential market opportunity, expensive investment in clinical trials, challenging regulatory approval, pressures of price erosion and patent litigations. Thus, development of biobetters truly requires the right balance between providing life-changing medical management for patients and maintaining an innovative pipeline for continued business success. This review will focus on technical and regulatory prospects of biobetters.
STEVIA AN UNTOUCHED NATURE’S GIFT CAN BE A BOON TO DIABETIC
Authors: Walia Ramanpreet , Verma Abhay
Published: July 2018

Plants and fungi are a vital part of healthcare. Over 80% of the global population rely on traditional medicine, much of which is based on plant remedies. Traditional Chinese medicine alone uses over 5,000 plant species.

There is a healing quality in nature, which has been known for centuries, be it taking time to smell the roses, meditating on a mountain, lying in a wildflower field, strolling by a meandering stream, or hiking in ancient redwood groves. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, recognized this powerful attribute in his humbling statement:

Nature cures—not the physician.   Hippocrates
SOFTWARE AS MEDICAL DEVICE
Authors: Alekya Tejaswi P. , Venkatesh M.P. , T.M. Pramod Kumar
Published: July 2018

The use of software in a medical device allows the manufacturer to concentrate on the application needed to run device-specific functions. The medical device manufacturer using software generally neglect software life cycle control, but still bears the responsibility for the continued safe and effective performance of the medical device. Software created for medical purposes and non-medical purpose is being used in healthcare. Earlier, hardware was more important; but in the recent times software one of the element for overall implementation has surpassed the prominence than hardware. Software is vital for the design, architecture and functionally of medical devices. Regulatory bodies have taken approaches in developing definitions and frameworks for software that have common public health goals, with variations in approach. Regulatory guidelines from such regulatory bodies for medical software established and implemented, serves as an environmental scan to provide direction on the guidelines on proposed regulatory framework for adoption, based on best practices. Medical software regulation is aimed to facilitate member economies to establish and harmonize an economic and effective approach for control of medical software in the interest of public health, in the continued innovation of medical software development.
REVIEW ON SPONSOR / APPLICANT MEETINGS WITH FDA: HIGHLIGHTS OF NEW GUIDANCE OVER EXISTING
Authors: Kothari Charmy , Shah Kavina
Published: July 2018

The United States Department of Health and Human Services has a federal agency called the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA). A pre-planned assembling of two or more people who have been together for the purpose of getting a common goal via verbal interaction is called a formal meeting. During development stage of any drug or biological products pharmaceutical companies face trouble for both scientific and regulatory point of view, here role of formal meetings comes. Formal meetings between sponsor or applicant and FDA are usually related to development and review of drug and biological products. Center for Drug evaluation and Research (CDER) and Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) regulates the formal meetings. These meetings are applicable to Pre – Investigational New Drug Application, Pre – Biologics License Application, New Drug Application for drugs and biological products and not applicable to Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDA), application of medical devices and submission of biosimilar biological products. Meetings between FDA and sponsor or applicant are for resolution of dispute, clinical holds discussion, Assessment of protocols of clinical trial, during clinical trials, in between clinical trials – at the phase 1 ending or at the phase 2 ending, to discuss development program. The FDA has classified these formal meetings in different types based on the nature of the request, the information in the meeting request and each meeting type is handled through different procedures. The principles of Good Meeting Management Practices (GMMPs) must be maintained. There are specific requirements and procedures to request, prepare, schedule, conduct and document formal meetings. As the guidance documents for meetings are revised by FDA, Change in procedure and requirements takes place. Any pharmaceutical company need to be in line with new guidance requirements to avoid rejection. Formal meetings between sponsor or applicant and FDA save time, cost and will increase the probability of product approval.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT VALUES DRIVEN IN PHARMA INDUSTRY
Authors: Tripathy Swagat , Mohanty Bishnu B.
Published: July 2018

In the pharmaceutical industry, project management is key to addressing the unique regulatory, compliance and quality related needs of the industry. As the process of drug development and the critical issue of time to market can capitalize on project management techniques to effectively apply scheduling, risk management, and comprehensive quality assurance and control to the process of bringing a drug to market in a cost-effective but safe way.

“JUST DO IT” is the approach that XYZ Generic Company was using before this project arrives.

Disclaimer statement: The writing and views expressed are those of purely of author’s personal view and is not related to the organization, where authors are working.
Interview with Umm Zakiyyaih
Authors: Brioua Nadira , Quayum Mohammad A.
Published: July 2018

Umm Zakiyyah is one of the most prominent African-American Muslim writers writing about Muslims and Islam in the post-9/11 period. Her novels touch on the interfaith struggles of Muslims and Christians in a post-modern world and on the moral, spiritual and intercultural struggles of Muslims as minorities in a country where Muslims have been systematically marginalised after twin-tower attacks in 2001 and the subsequent American invasions of Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003). She also writes about racism, women’s issues, the practice of Muslim women wearing headscarfs, and polygamy. In this interview, Umm Zakiyyah talks about her favourite writers, about the function of the writer in general, about the critical reception of her novels and about the influence of Islam on her imagination. She also addresses the issues of Islamophobia in the West, the future of Islamic fiction and questions pertaining to If I Should Speak and other novels.
The Bard on the Banks of Dulung Sings: Conversation with Jaydeep Sarangi
Authors: Singh Ruchi
Published: July 2018

Jaydeep Sarangi is a bilingual writer, academic, editor, interviewer, translator and author of a number of significant publications on postcolonial issues, Indian writing in English, Australian literature, marginal literatures and creative writing, in journals and magazines both in India and abroad. He is on the editorial board of several refereed journals in different continents. Widely anthologised and reviewed as a poet and a critic on marginal writings. He has authored and edited many books. I was prompted to interview him after reading his collection of poems titled "Faithfully, I Wait: Poems on rain, thunder and lightning at Jhargram and Beyond." I conducted this interview via a series of e-mails in the month of February.
Mapping Forgotten Worlds: a conversation with Danielle Clode
Authors: Dooley Gillian
Published: July 2018

Danielle Clode is an Adelaide-based author who has written on prehistoric megafauna, Pacific exploration, killer whales and bushfires. She writes children’s books, essays, fiction and popular zoology, which have won awards, fellowships and prizes too numerous to mention. Her latest book, at the time of writing, is The Wasp and the Orchid, a biography of Australian nature writer Edith Coleman. Danielle and I have known each other for some years, and we are currently working together on an edited book about first contact between Australian Aboriginal people and explorers. For details of her publications and career, see her website at danielleclode.com.auA graduate in zoology from Oxford University, Danielle has worked as a zookeeper and a museum researcher. Growing up on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, she spent some of her childhood travelling coastal Australia with her family by boat. Danielle teaches creative and academic writing and in all her work she is conscious of the importance of form and voice. In this interview I asked her about style, genre and technique in her writing, particularly The Wasp and the Orchid (2018), Voyages to the South Seas: In Search of Terres Australes (2007) and A Future in Flames (2010).We spoke at her home in the Adelaide Hills in June 2018, and I first asked her about the combination of styles in A Future in Flames, her book about the history, science and future impact of bushfires in Australia.
Interview with Nick Papadimitriou
Authors: Chatterjee Arup K
Published: July 2018

Nick Papadimitriou is a British author, whose widely acclaimed novel Scarp was published in 2013. He is also the author of Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Barnet, Finchley and Hendon (2009). Papadimitriou designed the Middlesex County Council website in 2007, and in the same year he helped provide material for Will Self’s The Book of Dave. in 2009, John Rogers made a film on Papadimitriou’s life and thought, called The London Perambulator. From 2009 to 2011, along with Rogers, Papadimitriou hosted Ventures and Adventures in Topography, a radio show on Resonance FM. Papadimitriou calls his walks and writing ‘deep topography,’ and is in turn described by his professional colleagues as a ‘deep topographer’, distinguishing his field of research and literature from ongoing trends of psychogeography.This interview was conducted on a rainy afternoon, in a small café at Golders Green, near Hampstead Heath, in London.
Ontogenesis of Corydalis intermedia (l.) Merat in the “Bitsevsky forest” natural and historical park
Authors: Pavlova M E , Istomina I I , Terechin A A
Published: July 2018

The authors conducted a study of a cenopopulation Corydalis intermediate related to rare species included in the Red data book of Moscow. For the first time in Bitsevsky Park revealed extensive cenopopulations locus of this type, age range which is polnotsennym with a shift towards young individuals, indicating a promising population status of this species in this habitat.
A comparative behavioral evaluation of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) under different containing regime
Authors: Yousefichahardehi M , Nikishov A A , Abtahi B
Published: July 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, in the containers, type of motion in the water recirculating system, and to find the optimal frequency of exchange of water in this system. According to the results, there are found that the living conditions, created in the experimental group with a recirculation of water at the rate of 48 times a day, had the best positive impact on the welfare of the medicinal leech.
Constructing 3D model of air pollution of Moscow and recommendations at the choice of gas resistant plant variety for landscaping areas of Moscow
Authors: Myasnikova A S , Vasenev V I
Published: July 2018

A consequence of the rapid growth in production is the intensive during recent decades an atmosphere saturation of cities by gaseous and waste dust. A necessary tool for monitoring the state of the air basin is the monitoring of ambient air, the results of which are extremely important and necessary for the sustainable development of the environment. The best means to work with a wide variety of data are geo-information systems. Among the components of the biosphere's living matter the most important factor of neutralization of the gaseous toxicants is the vegetation, especially trees and bushes.
Efficiency of cultivation of lupine grass mixtures in the condi-tions of radio-active contamination
Authors: Ivanov Y I
Published: July 2018

As a result of three-year experiments, carried out on the radio-active contaminated sod-podzol sandy soil, the influence of different seeding rates of lupine grass mixtures on two backgrounds of potash fertilizer in doses K180 and K120 on the yields of green mass, grain forage and specific activity of Ce137 in the yields of marketable products has been determined. The optimal seeding rates of different lupine-grass mixtures ensuring maximum yields of green mass at the level of 32,1-35,4 t/ha, grain forage - 2,56-2,91t/ha and specific activity of Ce137 being lower in levels set by sanitary standard (SanPin 2.3.2 1078-01) on the background of potash fertilizer in dose K210.
To a question of influence of herbicides on the content of humic acids and heavy metals in soils
Authors: Konchits V A , Belopukhov S L , Fedorova T A
Published: July 2018

Results of research of accumulation of Mg, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn in the soil and humic acids are given in article. The method of the X-ray fluorescent analysis was used for an assessment of accumulation of chemical elements. Influence on humic acids of podsolic soil in the conditions of use of various fertilizers - mineral and organic, herbicides 2M-4HP (1,5 kg/ha) and 2M-4X (0,6 kg/ha) at cultivation of winter wheat was investigated in article. It is established that there is no change in the maintenance of elements depending on a way of introduction of herbicides, it isn't noted intensifications of processes of a mass transfer in the soil of heavy metals, pollution of agricultural production heavy metals is improbable at use of herbicides. As a part of humic acids on both systems of fertilizers there are no Mg and Mn, but there is S. It is possible to assume that magnesium and manganese are components of mineral part of the soil, and is gray, generally is a part of organic part of soils.
THE LEGAL PROTECTION FOR REAL LAND RIGHT HOLDER IN CASE OF FORGED RINCIK
Authors: Nirwana Nirwana , Patittingi Farida , Nur Sri Susyanti
Published: July 2018

The legal Protection For Real Land Right Holder in Case of Forged Rincik. The research aimed to investigate (1) the legal protection for the land owner whose possession was based on rincik evidence, and (2) the legal protection on the good-will buyer based on the forged rincik document used in the land sale transaction. This was the normative legal research, also called the library research or documentary study because the research was only conducted on the written regulations or other legal materials or secondary data consisting of the primary and secondary legal materials. The interview was performed to strengthen the theories and opinions in the research. The research also used the Secondary data. the data were analysed and presented using the qualitative descriptive method. The research result indicate that: (1) the real land owner with rincik possession issued after the year 1960 based on the decision of Indonesian Supreme Court No. 560K / PID / 2008 has not been fully protected due to the fact that the seller is funished for forging the rincik., returning the right to the land owner can not be carried out due to the decision of Indonesian Supreme Court Number. 482 / PK / Pdt / 2014 which make the buyer win, while the real land owner is the directed to sue the land seller to give the compensation: and (2) the legal protection on the good faith buyer based on forget rincik in the land sale transaction has been fully protected and has the ringt to possess the land based on the decision of Indonesian Supreme Court Number. 482/PK/Pdt/2014 because the buyer has bought the land in the presence of Temporary Land Title Registar.