bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A implementação do Núcleo de Trabalho, Pesquisas e Práticas Sociais: proposta de reorganização curricular em uma escola da rede estadual de educação cearense
Authors:   , Rodrigues Francisco Romário Ferreira
Published: September 2021

A presente dissertação foi desenvolvida no âmbito do Mestrado Profissional em Gestão e Avaliação da Educação (PPGP) do Centro de Políticas Públicas e Avaliação da Educação da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (CAEd/UFJF). O caso de gestão discutiu a implementação do projeto Núcleo de Trabalho, Pesquisa e Práticas Sociais (NTPPS), uma política de reorganização curricular do Ensino Médio diurno, em uma escola da rede estadual de educação do Ceará, localizada no município de Santa Quitéria. Os objetivos definidos para este estudo foram: descrever o projeto de redesenho curricular NTPPS da rede estadual cearense e suas implicações no ambiente escolar; analisar os problemas na implementação do NTPPS no “contexto da prática”, a partir da visão de professores e gestão escolar; e propor ações que possam minimizar os problemas na efetivação da reorganização curricular do NTPPS na esfera escolar. A fim de cumprirmos os objetivos propostos, empregamos uma metodologia do tipo pesquisa qualitativa, através do desenvolvimento de entrevistas coletivas semiestruturadas, sendo três delas realizadas com grupos de professores e duas com a diretora, a primeira de caráter exploratório e a última, de forma complementar, para a construção da análise. Os dados da pesquisa apontaram que os professores sentem dificuldades em compreender o Ensino Médio como possibilidade de integração dos objetivos propedêuticos à preparação para o mundo do trabalho, bem como a integração das competências socioemocionais na prática em sala de aula. O resultado das análises indicou ainda que a “não-diretividade” dos planejamentos coletivos por área do conhecimento e a ausência de espaços ou canais de escuta efetiva dos professores têm contribuído para a falta de engajamento e articulação entre esses profissionais, com reflexos negativos no desenvolvimento da política de reorganização curricular da escola. Como resposta aos problemas identificados, propomos: formação continuada de professores, canal sistematizado para comunicação direta e contínua com os professores e instrumento para o acompanhamento pedagógico dos planejamentos.
БИС считывания с инкрементальным ΔΣ-АЦП в столбце для цифровой МФПУ
сканирующего типа с режимом ВЗН
Authors: Якимов Ю.А. , Мощев И.С. , Храпунов М.Л.
Published: September 2021

Задача регистрации малоразмерных объектов часто решается с помощью применения многорядных
ФПУ с режимом временной задержки и накопления (ВЗН), к которым предъявляются высокие
требования по характеристикам и функциональным возможностям. В первую очередь эти требования
распространяются на предварительную обработку и оцифровку сигнала, выполняемую в БИС
считывания.
Представлен результат разработки большой интегральной схемы (БИС) считывания для усиления и
обработки сигнала фотоприёмного устройства (ФПУ) коротковолнового ИК-диапазона сканирующего
типа формата 1024х10 с цифровым выходом. В состав фоточувствительного модуля входит матрица
фоточувствительных элементов из CdHgTe, состыкованная с кремниевой БИС, имеющей следующую
структуру: четыре субматрицы 256х10, сдвинутые на 15 мкм поперек направления сканирования,
входные ячейки размером 60х45 мкм, далее сигнал коммутируется в блок ВЗН суммирования, после
которого следует блок 1024 каналов ΔΣ-АЦП с разрешением 14 бит. Реализован новый способ
расширения динамического диапазона с использованием схемы динамического антиблюминга, а также
способ снижения шума с помощью фильтра на переключаемых конденсаторах.
Адмиттанс МДП-структур на основе пентацена с двухслойным диэлектриком
Authors: Войцеховский А.В. , Несмелов С.Н. , Дзядух С.М.
Published: September 2021

Органо-неорганические системы актуальны из-за перспектив создания на их основе приборов опто-
, наноэлектроники и нановольтаики с расширенными функциональными возможностями [1]. Для
получения детальной информации о свойствах органо-неорганических систем необходимо проведение
комплексных исследований процессов в таких системах, что возможно при использовании различных
экспериментальных методик.
Evaluation of nutritional amendments and fungicides against brown leaf spot of rice
Authors: Mohsin Fiza , Ali Safdar , Ghani Muhammad Usman , Ashraf Waqas , Zeshan Muhammad Ahmad , Mahmood Rizwan , Muntazir Muhammad , Khan Mehdi
Published: September 2021

Helminthosporium oryzae, the causal organism of bacterial leaf spot (BLS) has brought a tremendous loss of rice crop in the field. Rice seedlings of four commercial varieties (Nayab basmati, Kiran 434, Super basmati, and Pak 386) were screened against BLS in the field by using a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The present experiment was encompassed the evaluation of fermented farmyard manure, leaf manure, Boron, and NPK solution against BLS. The effect of different fungicides (Score, Flumax, Melodyduo, and Polyram) was also checked on the mycelial growth of Helminthosporium oryzae in-vitro and in-vivo. The results showed that Pak 386 was highly resistant with 17.22% disease severity and Super Basmati was found moderately resistant with 22.31% disease severity; variety Kisan 434 was found moderately susceptible (24.15%) and Nayab Basmati (24.82%) was susceptible. Among all NPK solutions showed the best results in growth enhancement, plant vigor as well as reduction in disease severity followed by FFYM, boron and leaf manure. Under in-vitro conditions, all the fungicides performed best at 150 ppm in terms of colony growth reduction. The maximum growth inhibition was recorded in Score followed by Flumax, Melodyduo, and Polyram. Score gave a significant reduction in BLS disease severity and maximized the agronomic attributes. The fungicides performed best at 150 ppm in terms of colony growth reduction. The maximum growth inhibition was recorded in Score followed by Flumax, Melodyduo, and Polyram. Score gave a significant reduction in BLS disease severity and maximized the agronomic attributes.

Keywords: HBV, HCV, ICT, PCR, Risk factors, Mansehra
Identification of Vancomycin Resistance Determinants in Twin Cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad
Authors: Ullah Sidra Rehmat , Andleeb Saadia , Raza Taskeen , Mehmood Khalid
Published: September 2021

Vancomycin resistant Enterococci have emerged rapidly in the recent years leading to treatment failure. The aim of this work was to identify vancomycin resistance determinants; vanA and vanB genes in Enterococci. The blood, urine and throat samples were collected from 150 patients from local hospitals of twin cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Forty-nine phenotypically confirmed isolates were further confirmed by PCR amplification for vancomycin determinants (genes for vanA and vanB) for vancomycin resistant Enterococci. Dependence and frequency distribution of VRE and VSE bacteraemia with respect to age, gender and source was also studied. Phenotypically resistant strains were positive for vanA while negative for vanB. vancomycin susceptible enterococci (VSE) could be isolated more from urine samples as compared to blood whereas vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) was found more prevalent in the blood samples (p value= 0.000). VRE was more frequently isolated from patients aged 50 or above whereas VSE prevalence was same in both age groups (p value=0.002). Gender was not found to have any significant impact on VRE or VSE bacteraemia. This study reports vanA gene cluster responsible for resistance in Pakistani population and frequently isolation of VRE from blood samples.

Keywords: Enterococcus, Vancomycin resistant Enterococci, Pakistan
Association between Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphism with type 2 Diabetes mellitus
Authors: Hassan Hafiz Umair , Ali Rana Haider , Siddiq Hafiz Muhammad Usman , Ahmed Fahad , Taj Hafiz Hanan , Rashid Muhammad Farhan , Ullah Sami
Published: September 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial illness triggered by a complicated interplay of various genetic variants with various environmental variables. The quantity of replicated common genetic variants associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus has increased rapidly with the recent genome-wide association (GWA) research. Major health issue in the public are type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is common throughout the world. Diabetes mellitus incidence is growing and is anticipated to affect 300 million individuals by 2025. Diabetes has been suggested to alter patterns of cytokine expression as an immune-dependent illness. Insulin resistance (IR) is a disease that results in less than anticipated biological impact of a specified insulin concentration. Insulin resistance and insulin secretion decreased are both defined pathophysiology of T2DM. One of the most alarming health issues of the 21st century is the spread of diabetes around the globe. Our goal in this study was to identify the role of IL-10 polymorphism in T2DM patients. The average age of 60 median patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (31 males and 29 females) +-SD (45.91667 +-16.08799), fasting blood sugar (FBS) is +-SD (184.25 +-57.76387), hypertension (35 positive/25 negative) and 60 non-diabetic controls (32 males and 28 females) is +- SD (47.31667 +-15.13722). The group (T2DM patients and their control) had not a substantial distinction (P=0.33) and in each group (CC, TT, CT) there was a comparison between IL-10 gene polymorphism. T2DM patients and healthy individuals are not associated with the polymorphism of the gene IL-10 (SNP rs 3021097 (C/T).

Keywords: Insulin, Diabetes Mellitis Type 2, Polymorphism, Interleukin-10, Genotype frequencies.
Diagnostic approaches and prevalence of Rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in District Mardan
Authors: Kamil Atif , Ullah Haseeb , Hussain Farooq , Jamal Muhsin , Ali Azmat , Shah Muhammad , Ahmad Ayaz , Khan Jawad , Anwar Faheem , Nabila
Published: September 2021

The disease tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) is most common infectious disease in developing countries. The disease is fatal if not treated during the early stages of infection, thereby early and precise detection is a decisive step in curing the disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of tuberculosis in patients reporting to Mardan Medical Complex (MMC), located in the district Mardan, KPK, Pakistan. The sputum of patients was analysed by Ziehl-Nilsen (ZN) staining technique followed by light microscopy called Acid-Fast Bacillus (AFB) staining. The sputum samples were collected from the patients and analysed by special PCR method called GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay, for genomic detection and resistance assay for rifampicin antibiotic were used, are the commonly used medicine for the treatment of MTB infection. Total 121 patients reported to MMC, represented 74 % patients from Mardan, 12% from Nowshera and 14% from Swabi. These patients were screened for the aim to evaluate the techniques for the detection of MTB. The light microscopy method confirmed 66 (55%) of the patients positive for MTB, whereas the same samples reported 78 (68%) patients positive for MTB through GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay, The Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) found for light microscopy were 99% and 78.1% respectively. The most used drug rifampicin was found ineffective in 9 patients (7%). Additionally, 83% of the patients when interviewed had a folk history of tuberculosis.

Keywords: Microscopy, PCR, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Rifampicin.
Effect of Maternal Pethidine on Breast Feeding Behavior of Infants in Cesarean Section by Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Dejbakht Majid , Montaseri Zohreh , Saem Jalal , Rezaei Mehrdad , Akbarzadeh Marzieh
Published: September 2021

Background: Pain control methods after cesarean section may interfere with infant breast-feeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pethidine on breast feeding of infants born via cesarean section with spinal anesthesia. Methods: In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, we evaluated 116 infants born via cesarean section in Gerash Amiralmomenin hospital (Southern Iran) in 2017. The subjects were selected through purposive sampling and randomly by permuted block randomization and assigned to intervention and control groups. The test group received 100 mg of pethidine as intravenous infusion and the control group received only routine cares. Infants’ breast feeding behavior in both groups was recorded within 48 hours of hospitalization, using the standard tool for rapid assessment of infant feeding behavior, which consists of 4 main components of breastfeeding, including readiness to feed, rooting, latching, and sucking with a score range of 0 to 3 for each component evaluated at 1, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours postnatally. Data were analyzed using independent t tests and chi-square test. Results: The highest score of breast-feeding behavior pertained to sucking reflexes in the control group and the lowest score to breast feeding readiness in the pethidine group. Readiness for feeding in the control group (2.09±0.53) was significantly higher than the pethidine group (1.81±0.61) (95% CI: 0.0552, 0.5092 and P=0.015). Sucking reflex (95% CI: -0.1461, 0.2208 and P=0.687), latching (95% CI: -0.3012, 0.0345 and P=0.118) and rooting reflexes (95% CI: -0.1685, 0.2342 and P=0.747) were almost equal in the control group (2.54±0.49, 2.52±0.38, 2.5±0.48, respectively) and pethidine groups (2.51±0.43, 2.65±0.45, 2.46±0.53, respectively). The total score of feeding behavior in the control group (9.66±1.04) was higher than that of the pethidine group (9.44 ±.69) (95% CI: -0.2032, 0.6412 and P=0.306). There was no significant difference between the infants’ feeding frequency (95% CI: -0.269, 1.930 and P=0.137) and duration of feeding (95% CI: -3.2067, 0.4597 and P=0.14). Conclusion: Evaluation of infants in the first 48 hours after birth showed that those babies whose mothers received pethidine were less willing to start breast-feeding. However, other components of breast-feeding behaviors were similar.
Conditioned Medium of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Promising Candidate to Protect High Glucose-Induced Injury in Cultured C28I2 Chondrocytes
Authors: Safari Sedighe , Eidi Akram , Mehrabani Mehrnaz , Fatemi Mohammad Javad , Sharifi Ali Mohammad
Published: September 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of conditioned mediumderived from human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (CM-hADSCs) on C28I2 chondrocytesagainst oxidative stress and mitochondrial apoptosis induced by high glucose (HG).Methods: C28I2 cells were pre-treated with CM-hADSCs for 24 hours followed by HG exposure(75 mM) for 48 hours. MTT assay was used to assess the cell viability. Reactive oxygen species(ROS) and lipid peroxidation were determined by 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFHDA)and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assays, respectively. Expressionsof glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX 3), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NAD(P)H quinonedehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) were analyzed by RT-PCR. Finally, western blot analysis was used tomeasure Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, and Nrf-2 expression at protein levels.Results: CM-hADSCs pretreatment mitigated the cytotoxic effect of HG on C28I2 viability.Treatment also markedly reduced the levels of ROS, lipid peroxidation, and augmented theexpression of HO-1, NQO1, and GPx3 genes in HG-exposed group. CM-ADSCs enhancedNrf-2 protein expression and reduced mitochondrial apoptosis through reducing Bax/Bcl-2 ratioand Caspase-3 activation.Conclusion: MSCs, probably through its paracrine effects, declined the deleterious effect ofHG on chondrocytes. Hence, therapies based on MSCs secretomes appear to be a promisingtherapeutic approaches to prevent joint complications in diabetic patients.
Novel Chronic Wound Healing by Anti-biofilm Peptides and Protease
Authors: Ghoreishi Fatemeh Sadat , Roghanian Rasoul , Emtiazi Giti
Published: September 2021

Chronic wounds have made a challenge in medical healthcare due to their biofilm infections, which reduce the penetrance of the antibacterial agents in the injury site. In infected wounds, the most common bacterial strains are Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biofilm disruption in chronic wounds is crucial in wound healing. Due to their broad-spectrum antibacterial properties and fewer side effects, anti-biofilm peptides, especially bacteriocins, are promising in the healing of chronic wounds by biofilm destruction. This study reviews the effects of antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents, including bacteriocins and protease enzymes as a novel approach, on wound healing, along with analyzing the molecular docking between a bacterial protease and biofilm components. Among a large number of anti-biofilm bacteriocins identified up to now, seven types have been registered in the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) database. Although it is believed that bacterial proteases are harmful in wound healing, it has recently been demonstrated that these proteases like the human serine protease, in combination with AMPs, can improve wound healing by biofilm destruction. In this work, docking results between metalloprotease from Paenibacillus polymyxa and proteins of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa involved in biofilm production, showed that this bacterial protease could efficiently interact with biofilm components. Infected wound healing is an important challenge in clinical trials due to biofilm production by bacterial pathogens. Therefore, simultaneous use of proteases or anti-biofilm peptides with antimicrobial agents could be a promising method for chronic wound healing.
An Overview of Antimicrobial Properties of Carbon Nanotubes-Based Nanocomposites
Authors: Saleemi Mansab Ali , Kong Yeo Lee , Yong Phelim Voon Chen , Wong Eng Hwa
Published: September 2021

The development of carbon-based nanomaterials has extensively facilitated new discoveries in various fields. Carbon nanotube-based nanocomposites (CNT-based nanocomposites) have lately recognized as promising biomaterials for a wide range of biomedical applications due to their unique electronic, mechanical, and biological properties. Nanocomposite materials such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), polymers, biomolecules, enzymes, and peptides have been reported in many studies, possess a broad range of antibacterial activity when incorporated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). It is crucial to understand the mechanism which governs the antimicrobial activity of these CNT-based nanocomposite materials, including the decoupling individual and synergistic effects on the cells. In this review, the interaction behavior between microorganisms and different types of CNT-based nanocomposites is summarized to understand the respective antimicrobial performance in different conditions. Besides, the current development stage of CNT-based nanocomposite materials, the technical challenges faced, and the exceptional prospect of implementing potential antimicrobial CNT-based nanocomposite materials are also discussed.
Implementation of a Design of Experiments to Improve Periplasmic Yield of Functional ScFv Antibodies in a Phage Display Platform
Authors: Aghdam Marjan Abri , Tohidkia Mohammad Reza , Ghamghami Elham , Ahmadikhah Asadollah , Khanmahamadi Morteza , Baradaran Behzad , Mokhtarzadeh Ahad
Published: September 2021

Purpose: Production of functional recombinant antibody fragments in the periplasm of E. coli isa prerequisite step to achieve sufficient reagent for preclinical studies. Thus, the cost-effectiveand lab-scale production of antibody fragments demands the optimization of culture conditions.Methods: The culture conditions such as temperature, optical density (OD600) at induction,induction time, and IPTG concentration were investigated to optimize the functional expressionof a phage-derived scFv molecule using a design of experiment (DoE). Additionally, the effectsof different culture media and osmolyte supplements on the expression yield of scFv wereexamined.Results: The developed 2FI regression model indicated the significant linear effect of theincubation temperature, the induction time, and the induction OD600 on the expression yieldof functional scFv. Besides, the statistical analysis indicated that two significant interactions ofthe temperature/induction time and the temperature/induction OD600 significantly interplay toincrease the yield. Further optimization showed that the expression level of functional scFvwas the most optimal when the cultivation was undertaken either in the TB medium or in thepresence of media supplements of 0.5 M sorbitol or 100 mM glycine betaine.Conclusion: In the present study, for the first time, we successfully implemented DoE tocomprehensively optimize the culture conditions for the expression of scFv molecules in aphage antibody display setting, where scFv molecules can be isolated from a tailor-made phageantibody library known as "Human Single Fold scFv Library I."
Sclareol Inhibits Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Accumulation and Induces Apoptosis in Hypoxic Cancer Cells
Authors: Vandghanooni Somayeh , Farajzadeh Vahid Zahra , Nakhlband Ailar , Bahadori Mir Babak , Eskandani Morteza
Published: September 2021

Purpose: The hypoxia in solid tumors is associated with the resistance to chemo/radiotherapy.Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) plays a key role in cell remodeling to hypoxia. Therefore, theinhibition of HIF-1 accumulation is considered a hopeful strategy for the treatment of cancer.Here, we aimed to evaluate the geno- and cytotoxicity properties of sclareol, a natural bicyclicditerpene alcohol, on A549 cells in CoCl2-induced hypoxia.Methods: The cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing properties of sclareol on the A549 cell wereevaluated using MTT assay and Annexin V/PI staining, respectively in hypoxia. DAPI staining,DNA ladder, and comet assay were used to evaluate the genotoxicity. Further, the qPCRtechnique was employed to assess the expression of HIF-1α, HIF-1β, and downstream targetgenes (GluT1, and Eno1). Finally, the level of HIF-1α protein was evaluated through Westernblotting in sclareol-treated cells in hypoxia.Results: The inhibitory concentration (IC50) of sclareol against A549 cells was 8 μg/mL at 48hours in hypoxia. The genotoxicity of sclareol was confirmed in the cells treated with sclareolin hypoxia. Sclareol induced ~46% apoptosis and also necrosis in the hypoxic condition. TheqPCR analyses showed an enhanced suppression of HIF-1α, HIF-1β, GluT1, and Eno1 due tothe sclareol treatment in the hypoxia. Moreover, protein quantification analysis showed dosedependentlydegradation of HIF-1α in hypoxia upon treatment with sclareol.Conclusion: The results obtained here indicate that sclareol possesses dose-dependentcytotoxicity effects against A549 cells in hypoxia through inhibition of HIF-1α proteinaccumulation, increasing cell sensitivity to intracellular oxygen levels, and disruption of celladaptation to hypoxia.
Evaluation of in-situ gel-forming eye drop containing bacteriophage against Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratoconjunctivitis in vivo
Authors: Rahimzadeh Golnar , Saeedi Majid , Nokhodchi Ali , Moosazadeh Mahmood , Ghasemi Maryam , Rostamkalaei Seyyed Sohrab , Mortazavi Parham , Eghbali Mohammad , Pourbakhshian Reza , Rezai Mohammad Sadegh , Nemati Hevelaee Ebrahim
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become increasingly difficult due to its remarkable capacity to resist antibiotics. Bacteriophages have been suggested as an alternative treatment for bacterial infections. Methods: In-situ gel-forming eye drop containing phage against P. aeruginosa keratoconjunctivitis was prepared. The Cystoviridae phage was formulated as in-situ gel-forming formulation which is a solution formulation but turns into gel when it contacts the eye. Therapeutic effectiveness of the in-situ gel forming formulation was evaluated by histological examination on day 12 post-infection. Results: The viscosity of selected formulation increased when it was instilled into the eye. The histological results showed edema, abscesses, and destruction of the stromal structure of cornea in groups where no in-situ gel-forming formulation was used. In the group where in-situ gel forming formulation was used, re-epithelialization and normal corneal structure were observed. Conclusion: In-situ gel-forming ophthalmic formulation containing phage can be effective in the treatment of P. aeruginosa keratoconjunctivitis.
Mesenchymal stromal cells therapy alone does not lead to the complete restoration of the skin parameters in diabetic foot patients within a 3-year follow-up period
Authors: Maksimova Nadezhda V. , Michenko Anna V. , Krasilnikova Olga A. , Klabukov Ilya D. , Gadaev Igor Yu. , Krasheninnikov Michael E. , Belkov Pavel A. , Lyundup Aleksey V.
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) administration is an effective option for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). However, to date, studies assessing long-term outcomes and evaluating skin parameters after cell-based therapy are lacking. We presented the clinical outcomes of 3 patients, treated for DFUs with the bone marrow MSCs 3 years earlier. Methods: Ultrasound examination was used to compare collagen density and epidermal thickness in areas of healed ulcers in comparison with non-affected skin used as a control. Ultrasound and dermatoscopy were used to exclude neoplasm formation, to assess scar contracture and wound recurrence. Results: In all patients, no ulcer recurrence was detected, which was lower than the expected 60% rate of re-ulceration in diabetic patients in a 3-year period (OD [odds ratio] = 0.095, P = 0.12). No neoplasm formation, no contracture of hypertrophic scar, and adjacent tissue were registered. Collagen ultrasound density was decreased by 57% (P = 0.053) and epidermal thickness was increased by 72% (P = 0.01) in the area of healed ulcers in all patients. Conclusion: MSCs therapy alone did not result in the complete restoration of the skin parameters within a 3-year period. MSCs may represent important adjuvant to the therapy, however, other novel approaches are required to achieve better results.
Osteoblastic cell response to Al2O3-Ti composites as bone implant materials
Authors: Bahraminasab Marjan , Arab Samaneh , Ghaffari Somaye
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Alumina-titanium (Al2O3-Ti) composites with enhanced mechanical and corrosion properties have been recently developed for potential applications in orthopaedics and hard tissue replacements. However, before any clinical use, their interactions with biological environment must be examined. Methods: The aim of this study, therefore, was to assess the biocompatibility of three Al2O3-Ti composites having 25, 50, and 75 volume percentages of titanium. These materials were made by spark plasma sintering (SPS), and MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured onto the sample discs to evaluate the cell viability, proliferation, differentiation, mineralization, and adhesion. Furthermore, the apatite formation ability and wettability of the composites were analysed. Pure Ti (100Ti) and monolithic Al2O3 (0Ti) were also fabricated by SPS and biological characteristics of the composites were compared with them. Results: The results showed that cell viability to 75Ti (95.0%), 50Ti (87.3%), and 25Ti (63.9%) was superior when compared with 100Ti (42.7%). Pure Al2O3 also caused very high cell viability (89.9%). Furthermore, high cell proliferation was seen at early stage for 50Ti, while the cells exposed to 75Ti proliferated more at late stages. Cell differentiation was approximately equal between different groups, and increased by time. Matrix mineralization was higher on the composite surfaces rather than on 0Ti and 100Ti. Moreover, the cells adhered differently to the surfaces of different biomaterials where more spindle-shaped configuration was found on 100Ti, slightly enlarged cells with dendritic shape and early pseudopodia were observed on 75Ti, and more enlarged cells with long dendritic extensions were found on 0Ti, 25Ti, and 50Ti. The results of EDS analysis showed that both Ca and P deposited on the surfaces of all materials, after 20 days of immersion in SBF. Conclusion: Our in-vitro findings demonstrated that the 75Ti, 50Ti, and 25Ti composites have high potential to be used as load-bearing orthopedic materials.
SU8/glass microchip capillary electrophoresis integrated with Pt electrodes for separation and simultaneous detection of phenylephrine and acetaminophen
Authors: Abdollahi-Aghdam Abdollah , Majidi Mir Reza , Veladi Hadi , Omidi Yadollah
Published: September 2021

Introduction: A new microfluidic-based method with electrochemical detection was developed for the simultaneous quantification of acetaminophen (AP) and phenylephrine (PHE) pharmaceuticals in the human blood and pharmaceuticals (e.g. tablet and drop). Methods: The separation was achieved on a SU8/glass microchip with a 100 µm Pt working electrode that was positioned out of the channel and 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid was used as a running buffer (pH 7, 10 mM). Home designed modulated high voltage power supply and dual time switcher was used for controlling the injection and separation of the analytes in the unpinched injection mode. Results: The injection was carried out using +750 V for 7 seconds, and the separation and detection voltages were set at +1000 V and +0.9 V, respectively. Critical parameters such as detection potential, buffer concentration, injection, and separation voltage were studied in terms of their effects on the resolution, peak height, and migration times. For each analyte, the correlation coefficients were over 0.99 (n = 6). The developed microchip was able to detect AP and phenylephrine simultaneously with the limit of detection of 7.9 and 5.2 (µg/mL) respectively for PHE and AP and excellent linear range of 10-200 (µg/mL). The recovery of the drugs ranged from 96% to 103%, while the repeatability of the method through inter- and intra-day was lower than 7%. Conclusion: The developed method offers several advantages, including easy sample pretreatment process, simplicity, very fast analysis compared to other typical chromatographic methods. Thus, the proposed microfluidic-based method is proposed to be used as a time- and cost-effective monitoring method for the analysis of AP and PHE.
Melatonin increases 5-flurouracil-mediated apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells through enhancing oxidative stress and downregulating survivin and XIAP
Authors: Mihanfar Ainaz , Yousefi Bahman , Ghazizadeh Darband Saber , Sadighparvar Shirin , Kaviani Mojtaba , Majidinia Maryam
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most lethal human malignancies with a global alarming rate of incidence. The development of resistance against common chemotherapeutics such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) remains a big burden for CRC therapy. Therefore, we investigated the effects of melatonin on the increasing 5-FU- mediated apoptosis and its underlying mechanism in SW-480 CRC cell line. Methods: The effects of melatonin and 5- FU, alone or in combination, on cell proliferation were evaluated using an MTT assay. Further, Annexin-V Flow cytometry was used for determining the effects of melatonin and 5-FU on the apoptosis of SW-480 cell lines. The expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, pro-caspase-3/activated caspase 3, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (XIAP), and survivin were measured after 48 hours incubation with drugs. Cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were also evaluated. Results: Melatonin and 5-FU significantly decreased the cell proliferation of SW-480 cells. Combination of 5-FU with melatonin significantly decreased the IC50 value of 5-FU from 100 μM to 50 μM. Moreover, combination therapy increased intracellular levels of ROS and suppressed antioxidant enzymatic activities (P < 0.05). Treatment with either melatonin or 5-FU resulted in the induction of apoptosis in comparison to control (P > 0.05). XIAP and survivin expression levels potently decreased after combination treatment with melatonin and 5-FU (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We demonstrated that melatonin exerts a reversing effect on the resistance to apoptosis by targeting oxidative stress, XIAP and survivin in CRC cells. Therefore, more studies need for better understanding of underlying mechanisms for beneficial effects of combination of melatonin and 5-FU.
A fuzzy logic-based computational method for the repurposing of drugs against COVID-19
Authors: Masoudi-Sobhanzadeh Yosef , Esmaeili Hosein , Masoudi-Nejad Ali
Published: September 2021

Introduction: COVID-19 has spread out all around the world and seriously interrupted human activities. Being a newfound disease, not only many aspects of the disease are unknown, but also there is not an effective medication to cure the disease. Besides, designing a drug is a time-consuming process and needs large investment. Hence, drug repurposing techniques, employed to discover the hidden benefits of the existing drugs, maybe a useful option for treating COVID-19. Methods: The present study exploits the drug repositioning concepts and introduces some candidate drugs which may be effective in controlling COVID-19. The suggested method consists of three main steps. First, the required data such as the amino acid sequences of targets and drug-target interactions are extracted from the public databases. Second, the similarity score between the targets (protein/enzymes) and genome of SARS-COV-2 is computed using the proposed fuzzy logic-based method. Since the classical approaches yield outcomes which may not be useful for the real-world applications, the fuzzy technique can address the issue. Third, after ranking targets based on the obtained scores, the usefulness of drugs affecting them is examined for managing COVID-19. Results: The results indicate that antiviral medicines, designed for curing hepatitis C, may also cure COVID-19. According to the findings, ribavirin, simeprevir, danoprevir, and XTL-6865 may be helpful in controlling the disease. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the similarity-based drug repurposing techniques may be the most suitable option for managing emerging diseases such as COVID-19 and can be applied to a wide range of data. Also, fuzzy logic-based scoring methods can produce outcomes which are more consistent with the real-world biological applications than others.
Gut microbial signature and gut-lung axis: A possible role in the therapy of COVID-19
Authors: Mahmoodpoor Ata , Shamekh Ali , Sanaie Sarvin
Published: September 2021

The impact of gut as the origin of different disorders has led to the "gut-origin concept" of diseases. The gut microbiome regulates host defenses against viral infections, thus dysbiosis can play a major role in triggering the cascade of inflammation and causing immune imbalances in COVID-19 patients. It appears that gut microbial signature in COVID-19 patients can be used as a potential diagnostic, therapeutic, and even a prognostic marker. Personalized nutrition therapy can be used by profiling the gut microbiota of individual patients and specialized probiotics/synbiotics to modify gut dysbiosis. Hence, improving overall immune responses can be recommended in these patients.
Evaluation of in vitro fibroblast migration by electrospun triple-layered PU-CA/gelatin.PRGF/PU-CA scaffold using an AAVS1 targeted EGFP reporter cell line
Authors: Shams Forough , Moravvej Hamideh , Hosseinzadeh Simzar , Kazemi Bahram , Rajabibazl Masoumrh , Rahimpour Azam
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Migration of fibroblast cells in wound areas is a critical aspect of the wound healing process. Employment of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) labeled fibroblast cells facilitates real-time monitoring and functional evaluation of these cells in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Plasma rich in growth factor (PRGF) is a potent accelerator of wound healing; therefore, in this study, a novel method to fabricate an electrospun bioactive scaffold containing PRGF was employed to induce in vitro cell proliferation and migration. Methods: First, the EGFP reporter gene was integrated into the AAVS1 locus of fibroblast cells using CRISPR/Cas9 system. Then, PRGF was obtained from platelet-rich plasma, and a multi-layered scaffold was fabricated using polyurethane-cellulose acetate (PU-CA) fibers as the outer layers and PRGF-containing gelatin fibers were located in the internal layer like a central strip. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tensile, water contact angle, and FTIR tests were performed to assess the characteristics of the scaffolds. The EGFP targeted cells were cultured on scaffolds with or without PRGF to investigate their viability, toxicity, and migration pattern in response to the release profile. Results: Fluorescence images showed that the number of migrating cells on scaffold containing PRGF was more significant than PU-CA scaffold up to day 6. Increased expression of SGPL1, DDR2, and VEGF genes was also observed on the scaffold containing PRGF compared to PU-CA using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis with around 3-, 2-, and 2-fold enhancement, respectively. Conclusion: The current scaffold provides the appropriate template for cell attachment and migration. In addition, the present results highlight the potential of reporter gene targeting for the in vitro analysis of biological processes such as migration.
Investigating the reduction of BTEX in automotive paint sludge combined with biological sludge by vermicomposting process using Eisenia fetida
Authors: Ghomi Avili Rahman , Takdastan Afshin , Atabi Farideh , Omrani Ghasem Ali
Published: September 2021

Background: Due to the fact that in the process of car painting in the automotive industry, sludge containing dangerous compounds of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene which cannot be released into the environment without purification, is inevitably produced, this study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of removing BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) from the paint sludge of Saipa Automotive Company using Eisenia fetida worms. Methods: This is an experimental study. First, mixtures with different proportions of sludge were prepared and loaded in suitable boxes. After preparing the desired sludge, their quantitative and qualitative characteristics were determined in terms of type and amount of BTEX, volatile materials, moisture content, and C/N ratio. Then, to check the changes in BTEX, sampling was performed on different days during 90 days. BTEX measurements were performed using GC-MS method (NIOSH Method 1501). Results: The results showed that in the best mixing ratio of sludge, the amount of benzene decreased from 3 mg to less than 0.01 mg in 30 days, toluene decreased from 1.5 mg to zero over a 45-day period, ethyl benzene was reduced from 7 mg to zero mg over 70 days, and xylene decreased from 18 mg to 0.9 mg over 90 days. In addition, in the same optimal mixing ratio, the amount of volatile organic matter, pH, and C/N ratio also had a decreasing trend in the vermicomposting process. Conclusion: According to the results, E. fetida worms are able to work in mixed sludge and have the ability to break down BTEX.
Presenting an environmental performance evaluation model for gas refineries: A case study in the South Pars Gas Complex, Iran
Authors: Mohammadi Mahmoud , Ghasemi Saber , Parvaresh Hossein , Dehghani Ghanateghestani Mohsen
Published: September 2021

Background: Controlling and validating the environmental performance of organizations, is a major problem that has been stated in the international standard ISO 14031. The aim of this study was to present a model for evaluating the environmental performance of Iran’s gas refineries using the environmental performance evaluation (EPE) method, based on the operational performance index (OPI) and management performance index (MPI). This case study was conducted in the ninth refinery of the South Pars Gas Complex (SPGC), Bushehr province, Iran, during 2019-2020. Methods: The research method comprises two stages. The first stage was distinguishing the standards and markers of the MPI and OPI using the Fluffy Delphi strategy and the second one was focusing on and relegating loads to the measures and pointers using the logical analytical hierarchy process (AHP) prior to confirming the outcomes by applying the TOPSIS. Results: The total normal scores of the total OPIt and OPTt were obtained to be 2.3409 and 2.2647, respectively. Considering these coefficients, the organization is balanced in terms of the environmental performance. The implementation steps of the TOPSIS method in the ninth refinery (A1 ) with the first (A2 ), second (A3 ), and third (A4 ) refineries, which had the same extraction indices of OPIt and MPIt, were ranked as A1 > A3 > A4 > A2 , respectively. Conclusion: Petrochemical industries have the potential to cause adverse effects on the environment due to the nature of activities and effluents production, emissions, and hazardous wastes. However, they can increase their weight to be more competitive and reach the ranks of mature organizations by planning on important indices.
Mental health and well-being of children in the Philippine setting during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Malolos Grace Zurielle C. , Baron Maria Beatriz C. , Apat Faith Ann J. , Sagsagat Hannah Andrea A. , Pasco Pamela Bianca M. , Aportadera Emma Teresa Carmela L. , Tan Roland Joseph D. , Gacutno-Evardone Angelica Joyce , Lucero-Prisno III Don Eliseo
Published: September 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has subjected the mental health and wellbeing of Filipino children under drastic conditions. While children are more vulnerable to these detriments, there remains the absence of unified and comprehensive strategies in mitigating the deterioration of the mental health of Filipino children. Existing interventions focus on more general solutions that fail to acknowledge the circumstances that a Filipino child is subjected under. Moreover, these strategies also fail to address the multilayered issues faced by a lower middle-income country, such as the Philippines. As the mental well-being of Filipino children continues to be neglected, a subsequent and enduring mental health epidemic can only be expected for years to come.
COVID-19 and persons with disabilities in the Philippines: A policy analysis
Authors: Velasco Jacqueline Veronica , Obnial Joseph Christian , Pastrana Adriel , Ang Hillary Kay , Viacrusis Paulene Miriel , Lucero-Prisno III Don Eliseo
Published: September 2021

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic warrants an immediate response. Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are one of the most vulnerable populations susceptible to marginalization. While there are existing guidelines in the Philippines that aim to assist their basic needs, a call for inclusivity in policymaking for the COVID-19 response is highly advocated. This paper aims to analyze existing policy guidelines concerning the welfare of PWDs in the country based on several policy domains. Methods: Relevant documents were acquired through extensive search of government and nongovernment websites and news agencies. Literature included memorandums, circulars, and news bulletins in the period between January 2020 to May 2021. This study conducted a framework analysis on policies enacted by the Philippine government during the COVID-19 pandemic concerning PWDs. The framework was divided into eight areas: access to (1) information, (2)healthcare, (3) education, and (4) financial support, (5) protection from infection in residential settings, (6) reasonable accommodation, (7) consideration for disabled people facing multiple exclusions, and (8) inclusion to decision-making process. Results: Fifteen PWD related COVID-19 response documents from the Philippines were reviewed and analyzed. Most policies corresponded to themes related to financial support and reasonable accommodations. Most documents were limited to proposals and suggestions with only a few documents including specific details on how the program will be implemented and monitored. Conclusion: The state has proven its cognizance for PWDs; however, implementation and its impact remain to be seen. The government needs to evaluate these efforts to identify gaps and barriers. A comprehensive national database should be implemented to centralize registration of PWDs, and efforts should be made to inform and educate PWDs of their rights and of existing programs. Most importantly, PWDs should be included in the discourse and decision-making process to ensure programs are acceptable and accessible.
Examining intentions to engage in sun protective behaviors among Latino day laborers: An application of the theory of planned behavior
Authors: Boyas Javier Francisco , Woodiwiss Jana L. , Nahar Vinayak K.
Published: September 2021

Background: The past two decades has revealed an unprecedented increasing incidence of skin cancer within the Latinx population. Although Latino day laborers (LDLs) are at heightened risk for developing skin cancer because of the outdoor work in which they engage, there is limited research examining their intentions to engage in sun protective behaviors (SPBs). Therefore, this study sought to assess the explanatory power of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to identify attitudinal, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control factors associated with intentions to engage in SPB among LDLs. Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study consists of a non-random convenience,community-based, sample of 137 LDLs residing in Mississippi and Illinois. Data were collected using a self-report survey centered on health practices and sun-protective behaviors. Results: Findings revealed that five significant factors shaped intentions to engage in SPBs, including barriers to engaging in SPBs (β =.30, P<0.001), benefits of engaging in SPBs (β =.27,P<0.001), education (β=0.20, P<0.01), and acculturation (β=0.18, P≤0.05). The independent variables tested in the model accounted for 42% of the change in intentions to engage in SPBs. Conclusion: This study demonstrates TPB’s usefulness for predicting future intentions to engage in SPBs among LDLs. Moreover, the strongest factor associated with predicting intentions to engage in SPBs among LDLs was perceived behavioral control. Thus, since SPBs are malleable, emphasis is placed on implementing interventions for this population that promote intentions and address perceived behavioral control.