bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INVESTIGATING THE ELECTROLYTE MEDIUM FOR ELECTRIC GENERATION USING PROBIOTIC YOGURTS
Authors: HAHN JOSHUA , JUNG YEIN
Published: August 2022

Rationale: The importance of energy generation cannot be emphasized enough in every aspect. Even though the traditional electrical generation has been mainly focused on high voltage sources such as hydroelectric and nuclear power, the low-power sources of electrical acquisition are also essential, particularly in the era of digital technology. Batteries have been advanced as an integral component of electric devices for decades.   The advent of digital technology leads us to the necessity of low-power energy sources. Electrolyte batteries consist of a pair of metal electrodes in an aqueous solution that facilitates electron transfer through the medium when a circuit is formed.   New ideas for these low-power electrical generations have been tried around, even using potatoes, apples, and mud.

Methods: This study investigated yogurt as the electrolyte medium using a metal pair of stainless steel and coiled magnesium electrode. A four-channel data acquisition system recorded the electric generation waveforms from the electrochemical battery cells changing the variables as examined, such as temperature, concentration, pH, stirring power, serial connection, and whole concentration. 

Results: The study confirmed that the pair of coiled Mg and stainless-steel electrodes produced the highest electrical potential, 25% higher among the metal pairs tested, while Chobani brand yogurt was the best electrolyte, 10% higher for electricity generation.    The variables of temperature, concentration, pH, and stirring power were all highly linearly related to electricity generation.   Serial combination with the 4 battery cell study demonstrated the feasibility of high voltage generation up to 7.8V.

Conclusions: The highest electrical potential was acquired when used the whole yogurt of Chobani with stainless steel and coiled-type electrodes.   The study demonstrated the superiority of probiotic yogurt electrolytes, which might need to elaborate for further detailed mechanisms.
The Role of Languages in International Trade Disputes
Authors: Alam Quamrul , Mostafiz Fahmida
Published: August 2022

This paper examines the role of languages in international trade disputes using a comprehensive data set of 160 countries covering 565 WTO trade dispute cases from 1995 to 2018. In international trade disputes, languages play a notable positive role either as a language similarity or as a language barrier. The findings indicate that language-like trading countries tend to be more actively involved in trade disputes, such as similarity in spoken language between trading countries increase trade disputes likelihood by 0.34% and language similarity with both trade partners and WTO increase trade disputes probability by 0.79%, suggesting that more communication and negotiating capacity increase the probability of trade disputes. The findings further indicate that trade partners having language barriers are also involved in trade conflicts with an average probability of 0.19 %, which implies language barriers increase ineffective communication and misunderstandings. English and Spanish speaking countries participation in trade disputes are noteworthy. This paper contributes to the existing literature by illustrating the role of languages as language similarity and barriers with inherent communication, negotiation capacity, and incapacity channels in international trade disputes. Keywords: Trade Disputes, Language similarity, Language Barriers, Common Spoken Language, WTO official languages.
People with disabilities in the COVID era
Authors: Agheana Viorel , Popovici Doru Vlad
Published: August 2022

People with disabilities are prone to health problems and face discrimination and stigma and these problems were exacerbated during the COVID-19 epidemic. People with disabilities have an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 for several reasons, including due to difficulties in using basic protection measures and the need to comply with the requirements set for social distancing, and the risk of death due to COVID is estimated for persons with disabilities as being approximately double that of persons without disabilities. The society's response to the COVID-19 pandemic should also include disability as concern, protection of the rights and needs of people with disabilities, as provided for in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainability and Development.
Time management. Challenges in the pandemic period
Authors: Urea Roxana Ionela , Adler Carmen
Published: August 2022

The COVID 19 Pandemic has changed life to everybody. In current social context, marked by regulations and restrictions, each person, daily, shapes his/her time-table and approaches “time” from a new perspective.The current paper tries to reveal the time management’ difficulties that teachers faced in on-line activities with pupils with deficiencies.The conclusions that we found, based on a survey on 28 teachers first didactic degree, give the experts in special education the opportunity to a better: understanding of time – as educational resource; planning the educational activities; center on the utility, for pupils with deficiencies, of the taught information.
Impact of emotional vulnerabilities on the students’ engagement in online courses during the lockdown period in SARS-COV2 pandemic crisis
Authors: Costea-Bărluțiu Carmen , Roșan Adrian
Published: August 2022

Our study investigated the association between the severity of impact of the SARS-COV2 pandemic crisis, the level of vulnerability (depression, anxiety, anger-hostility and somatic symptoms), emotional regulation (cognitive reappraisal and emotional suppression) and the level of engagement in online courses at the beginning of the SARS-COV2 crisis, during the lockdown period. A number of 931 participants, students in various Romanian universities, completed measures for the impact of events, emotional symptoms, emotional regulation and engagement in online course. The correlations show that the impact of the pandemic as traumatic event was associated with higher levels of vulnerability to psychopathology in our sample but did not have a highly negative impact on student engagement in online education. In turn, higher severity of psychopathological symptoms, especially hostility, was associated with lower engagement. Emotional regulation strategies had only a small effect on both vulnerability to psychopathology and trauma effects, with cognitive reappraisal being associated with higher engagement in online education.
The Sign Language Interpreter in the Pandemic Context: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Tufar Ioana , Trânca Ramona
Published: August 2022

This study explores the situation of Sign Language interpreters in Romania during the Covid-19 pandemic from a pragmatic perspective. After a theoretic framework about Sign Language interpreting and competences of the interpreters, we described the data of our investigation. Results of the study indicate changes in Sign Language practice during Covid-19 pandemic, opportunities and challenges faced by interpreters during this period, interpretation requests, distance work with the sub-themes: platforms used, stressors, home interpretation with difficult aspects and advantages, balance between personal and professional life.
The effects of COVID-19 pandemic on stress and difficulties in foster parents of children with intellectual disabilities: effects of the online specialized support
Authors: Tiba Alexandru , Vădineanu Andreea , Szanto Ildiko
Published: August 2022

Foster care of children with intellectual disabilities raises important problems. Much evidence suggests that foster parents of children with special needs face elevated levels of stress and care difficulties. We examined the differences between foster parents who received and those who did not receive online support during the COVID-19 pandemic in the level of emotional mental health, objective and subjective care stress. Results showed that helpful online support during the COVID-19 pandemic is significantly related with fewer children’s problem behaviours. Actions related to stress in foster care of children with disabilities during COVID-19 pandemic are recommended.
From Deafblindness to Multiple Sensory Impairment: a few explanatory notes on definition, terminology, and historical context
Authors: Buică-Belciu Cristian
Published: August 2022

In deafblindness (DB), the consequences of visual and hearing impairments are not additive, but multiplicative creating unique problems in information, communication and mobility, hence the need to recognize it as a distinct disability. There are three types of approaches that depend on several factors, taking into account the structure of educational and support services for people with DB/MSI and the nature of human, technological and financial resources. In our country, according to the law, the broadest approach is promoted, meaning the inclusion of other disabilities in addition to sight and/or hearing. In other countries there are other names that, depending on the context or user, are synonymous with DB. The huge variability of DB/MSI cases causes some specialists to refer to a spectrum disability in which there are different weights and different degrees of sensory loss, cognitive deficit, language impairments and/or somatic pathologies. All this individual “puzzle” generates a state of multi-handicap, which is reflected both in a specific pattern of learning and communication difficulties, and in the emergence of derived disabilities that hinder or obstruct the overall somatic and psychological development through restrictions on using the remaining hearing and sight.
Psychological intervention for groups based on integrative psychotherapy model
Authors: Ciobanu Iana
Published: August 2022

This article summarizes the results of the study, that was made to follow the analysis of gender differences distribution, related to the adolescents attachment with their parents and its impact within their interraction with other significant persons. In this study, we present the psychological intervention program, based on the Integrative model in which the person is approached in all aspects of personal identity, of relating to oneself, to others and to the world.J. Bowlby (1988), mentions that, if our early relationships were problematic, then our future relationships might offer us another chance, by giving us the potential to love, feel and reflect, having the freedom that comes from a secure attachment.The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the important role the secure attachment has in forming the relationships throughout the lifespan.
Education and personality in relation to visual impairment. Visual impairment during the Coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Sandu Paula-Bianca , Stancu Andreia-Mihaela , Șerban Corina-Andreea , Vasile Roberta-Nicoleta , Voicu Alexandra-Maria
Published: August 2022

This article focuses on identifying the differences between the personality of people with visual impairments and people without such disabilities, identifying the influences of Covid-19 pandemic on people with visual impairments and understanding the possibilities of alleviating their difficulties.We also intended to highlight the daily struggles of the visually impaired. During this difficult period -the pandemic - they went through a lot: they could not shop, they could not receive help from other people, because they had to keep their distance and they had to give up their jobs.
Visionen im Alltag umsetzen
Authors: Epe Hendrik
Published: August 2022

Die Methode »Objectives and Key Results« verknüpft die mittel- und kurzfristigen Ziele der Organisation, die Ziele der einzelnen Bereiche der Organisation, der Teams und den Beitrag jeder*s Mitarbeiter*in zur Erreichung der Ziele mit dem Unternehmensleitbild. Der Organisationsberater Hendrik Epe zeigt die Einsatzmöglichkeiten dieser Vorgehensweise im betrieblichen Alltag sozialer Dienste und Einrichtungen.
Management als demokratische Praxis
Authors: Geyer Christian
Published: August 2022

Das kollegiale Organisations- und Führungsmodell kann als Handlungskonzept eines demokratischen Sozialmanagements verstanden werden und einen Beitrag zur effektiven und effizienten Gestaltung von Teilhabe und Kohäsion leisten.
Arbeitsergebnisse fordern
Authors: Rauchfuß Andreas
Published: August 2022

Bei unzureichenden Arbeitsergebnissen einzelner Mitarbeitender ist das Management gefordert. Es gibt verschiedene Handlungsoptionen in der Führungspraxis.
Coopération judiciaire et lutte contre l’impunité des crimes internationaux et violations des droits de l’homme dans la région des Grands Lacs
Authors: Magadju Pacifique Muhindo
Published: August 2022

Pour assurer le respect des droits de l’homme et du droit international humanitaire et lutter ainsi contre l’impunité, les États doivent mettre en place des mécanismes de coopération judicaire, car les moyens dont dispose chaque pays isolément pour faire face aux crimes internationaux et/ou aux violations graves des droits de l’homme, sont relativement insuffisants. Entre le Rwanda, le Burundi et la RDC, il existe des accords de coopération judiciaire en matière d’extradition, d’entraide judiciaire et d’échange d’informations. Cependant, certaines formes de coopération judiciaire comme le transfert de procédures pénales, l’investigation de la corruption, de la criminalité économique et financière et du blanchiment des capitaux n’ont pas été intégrées dans le cadre conventionnel. Aussi, le Burundi ne dispose pas de loi sur la coopération judiciaire, et celle de la RDC date du 19ème siècle. De plus, il semble s’être formé une sorte de « consensus » autour de l’impunité entre ces Etats au regard de l’absence de volonté dans leur chef de lutter contre l’impunité des crimes internationaux et transnationaux. Il faudra donc compléter le cadre conventionnel, adopter des lois nationales qui intègrent les obligations conventionnelles, et mener des plaidoyers auprès des Etats, par les acteurs sociaux de la région, pour mettre pleinement en exécution toutes les formes de coopération judiciaire, et lutter ainsi contre l’impunité des crimes internationaux et des violations des droits de l’homme.
Machtspiele im Theater
Authors: Koutouan Yaël
Published: August 2022

In this book, the author describes how racism operates as a system of power, based on her experiences in the theatre (Mittelreich, 2017 and Die Kränkungen der Menschheit, 2019) and a conversation with the director Anta Helena Recke. She sees that theatrical performances have the potential to reverse racist thought patterns internalised by spectators. Koutouan follows a critical, phenomenological approach and combines performance analysis, an interview and German colonial history with her own biography. The author makes her position as a Black cisgender woman transparent and reflects on her personal experiences of racism with regard to her academic writing as a methodological approach.
Essential oils as antimicrobial and anti-adhesion agents against bacteria Salmonella Typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus, and yeasts Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Tomičić Zorica , Tomičić Ružica , Kocić-Tanackov Sunčica , Raspor Peter
Published: August 2022

A serious global problem with the increasing resistance of microorganisms to currently used antimicrobials has opened up the promotional research in the identification of new, more effective drugs with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities. Plant essential oils, due to the large biological and structural diversity of their components, are known to have many potential benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and anti-adhesion activity of fifteen essential oils and their compounds against two bacterial and two yeast species responsible for food spoilage and infectious diseases. Antimicrobial activity was determined by testing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of essential oils and compounds. The essential oils of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Eugenia caryophyllus showed the highest antimicrobial activity with MICs ranging from 0.078 to 1.25 mg/mL, and 0.039 to 1.25 mg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, essential oils of Eucalypti aetheroleum and Salvia officinalis had significantly weaker antimicrobial properties than the others. Further, MICs were used to assess the inhibition of adhesion of bacteria Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 25923 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 14208, and yeasts Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 9763 in a microtiter plate using the crystal violet staining method. Based on the percentage of adhesion inhibition, yeast S. cerevisiae ATCC 9763 showed a high level of antimicrobial resistance. E. caryophyllus had the strongest effect with inhibition up to 73%. Consistent with the antimicrobial susceptibility results, the most active anti-adhesion compounds were carvacrol and thymol. Considering the role of biofilm in food spoilage and clinical diseases, inhibition of the initial phase of biofilm formation by natural antimicrobial agents may be an alternative to commonly used synthetic ones.
A Focus on Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Brigle, PhD, ANP Kevin , Verina, DNP, RN, ACNP-BC Daniel , Faiman, PhD, MSN, APRN-BC, AOCN, BMTCN, FAAN Beth
Published: August 2022

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell disorder that affects nearly 35,000 people annually. Over 149,000 individuals are estimated to live in the United States with MM. Research has generated a greater understanding of the pathology of this disease, now combined with mature clinical trial data that support the use of combination therapy in treatment. This article focuses on updated diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of newly diagnosed patients. While the diagnosis of MM remains based on the 2014 International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) guidelines, we review these and updated recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of myeloma as well as relevant supportive care. The prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed MM relies heavily on the cytogenetic profile of the disease, along with other patient-specific risk factors. There are multiple first-line treatment options that combine three or four novel agents with the goal of reducing plasma cell burden and achieving minimal residual disease (MRD) negative status early in the treatment trajectory. Supportive care interventions aimed at minimizing the risk of infection and thromboembolic events, and protecting bone health are critical for maintaining quality of life and are as important as therapeutic treatment interventions.
IBN ʿARABĪ - CAPITOLO 2 DI AL-FUTŪḤĀT AL-MAKKIYYA: I GRADI DELLE LETTERE E DELLE VOCALI NEL MONDO
Authors: Marconi Maurizio
Published: August 2022

Resumen: En este artículo presentamos una introducción, traducción y notas al capítulo sobre las letras del alfabeto árabe. Se trata de la primera traducción al italiano del capítulo segundo de al-Futūḥāt al-makkiyya. Este capítulo es un capítulo muy largo, lo cual nos indica la importancia y amplitud del tema que Ibn Ibn ʿArabī quería tratar, ya que mientras estaba redactando este capítulo había comenzado a escribir una obra titulada Kitāb al-mabādī wa-l-gāyāt en la que pretendía explicar aún más ampliamente los temas tratados sólo de forma sucinta en el capítulo. El presente capítulo contiene, además, un total de 35 poemas (qaṣā'id).

Ibn ʿArabī escribió dos manuscritos de este texto de su puño y letra, el primero iniciado en La Meca en el año 599 de la Hégira y terminado en Damasco en el año 629, el segundo iniciado en Damasco en el año 632 y terminada en el 636, del que se conserva casi íntegro un manuscrito en Estambul.

Abstract: This article presents an introduction, translation and notes to the chapter on the letters of the Arabic alphabet. This is the first Italian translation of the second chapter of al-Futūḥāt al-makkiyya. This chapter is a very long chapter, which indicates the importance and vastness of the subject that Ibn Ibn ʿArabī wanted to deal with, since while he was writing this chapter he had begun to write a work entitled Kitāb al-mabādī wa-l-gāyāt in which he intended to explain even more extensively the topics dealt with only succinctly in the chapter. This chapter also contains a total of 35 poems (qaṣā'id).

Ibn ʿArabī wrote two manuscripts of this text in his own handwriting, the first begun in Mecca in Hegira 599 and he completed in Damascus in 629, and he begun the second one in Damascus in 632 and he finished in 636, of which a manuscript survives almost intirely in Istanbul.
Data Science Applications and Implications in Legal Studies: A Perspective Through Topic Modelling
Authors: Tan Jinzhe , Wan Huan , Yan Ping , Zhu Zhen
Published: August 2022

Law and legal studies has been an exciting new field for data science applications whereas the technological advancement also has profound implications for legal practice. For example, the legal industry has accumulated a rich body of high quality texts, images and other digitised formats, which are ready to be further processed and analysed by data scientists. On the other hand, the increasing popularity of data science has been a genuine challenge to legal practitioners, regulators and even general public and has motivated a long-lasting debate in the academia focusing on issues such as privacy protection and algorithmic discrimination. This paper collects 1236 journal articles involving both law and data science from the platform Web of Science to understand the patterns and trends of this interdisciplinary research field in terms of English journal publications. We find a clear trend of increasing publication volume over time and a strong presence of high-impact law and political science journals. We then use the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) as a topic modelling method to classify the abstracts into four topics based on the coherence measure. The four topics identified confirm that both challenges and opportunities have been investigated in this interdisciplinary field and help offer directions for future research.
Traducir poesía de Cancionero. Reflexiones sobre la traducción al italiano de las poesías de fray Diego de Valencia de León
Authors: Proia Isabella
Published: August 2022

La obra poética del franciscano Diego de Valencia de León, activo entre los siglos XIV y XV en círculos cercanos a la corte castellana, consta de 42 composiciones de muy variada extensión. Aunque fue uno de los principales exponentes de la más antigua escuela de autores castellanos de poesía cortés, su refinada y culta técnica ha recibido escasa atención por parte de la crítica literaria. La traducción al italiano de sus poemas, publicada en 2012, nos ofrece un punto de partida para examinar, teniendo en cuenta los rasgos métricos, temáticos y léxicos peculiares de la poesía de cancionero, las dificultades a las que se enfrentan los editores y traductores de textos pertenecientes a esta escuela poética. Así, pues, partiendo de ejemplos sacados del corpus poético de fray Diego, caso por caso se comentarán los problemas de traducción y las estrategias traductoras utilizadas.
Ruth Matilda Anderson: el olvido de una pionera de la traducción y de la paratraducción de la literatura gallega
Authors: Rodríguez-Saavedra Alba
Published: August 2022

En el año 1939 Ruth Matilda Anderson publicó su primera monografía, Gallegan Provinces of Spain: Pontevedra and La Coruña, bajo el sello de la institución cultural en la cual trabajaba como investigadora y fotógrafa, ; e Hispanic Society of America (HSA) en Nueva York. Este volumen recogía el mayor número de traducciones de composiciones de Rosalía de Castro en una sola publicación, del gallego al inglés, hasta la fecha, la mayor parte de ellas, además, volcadas por primera vez a otro idioma. Tan solo otra investigadora antes de ella, Annette B. Meakin, había traducido a esa misma lengua, en 1909, dos poemas rosalianos. A partir de un enfoque pragmático y desde una óptica feminista, analizo las causas que, de acuerdo con la documentación estudiada, pudieron haber motivado la marginación de Anderson y su libro durante más de ochenta años. Para ello, en primer lugar, establezco comparativas con obras análogas y coetáneas, también de autoría femenina, que sí acabaron siendo acogidas en el sistema gallego, incluida una antología sobre poesía española publicada por la misma HSA, en 1938, y en la que Ruth Matilda participaba con una traducción de un texto rosaliano. A continuación, analizo cómo la imagen que tanto las paratraducciones aparecidas en el libro de 1939, y la descripción directa que de la autora padronesa y de las mujeres gallegas realiza Anderson, antagónica a la difundida por el canon, pudieron haber motivado el ostracismo hacia esta obra y su autora.
Traducción periodística y recepción: la opinión de los lectores
Authors: Palomo Ferrer Ana Belén , Hernández Guerrero María José
Published: August 2022

La recepción de las noticias traducidas es un campo de la traducción periodística prácticamente inexplorado, como han puesto de manifiesto Holland (2013) o Davier (2019). Hasta la fecha, muy pocos estudios han analizado cómo reciben las audiencias la información traducida. Se trata de análisis de casos centrados en medios concretos, con diferentes enfoques y en diferentes pares de lenguas (p. ej. Conway y Vaskivska 2010, Tian y Chao 2012). El presente estudio se inscribe en esta línea de investigación y pretende analizar cómo reciben los lectores españoles la información traducida. Para esta primera aproximación, nos hemos servido del caso de "El País", un medio que utiliza ampliamente la traducción en la producción de noticias. Nuestro estudio se ha centrado en las opiniones de sus lectores recogidas en la sección del Defensor del Lector, un espacio dinámico de la edición digital de este medio, abierto a los lectores que están suscritos. El defensor atiende sus dudas, quejas y sugerencias sobre los contenidos del periódico y les responde mediante la publicación regular de una columna cada dos semanas. El corpus analizado comprende tanto las opiniones de los lectores como las respuestas del defensor. De los datos obtenidos, se han extraído todas las opiniones en torno a la traducción con el objetivo de analizar la (in)satisfacción de los lectores con respecto a la información traducida publicada por este medio.
Research progress in toxicological effects and mechanism of aflatoxin B1 toxin
Authors: Li Congcong , Liu Xiangdong , Wu Jiao , Ji Xiangbo , Xu Qiuliang
Published: August 2022

Fungal contamination of animal feed can severely affect the health of farm animals, and result in considerable economic losses. Certain filamentous fungi or molds produce toxic secondary metabolites known as mycotoxins, of which aflatoxins (AFTs) are considered the most critical dietary risk factor for both humans and animals. AFTs are ubiquitous in the environment, soil, and food crops, and aflatoxin B1(AFB1) has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most potent natural group 1A carcinogen. We reviewed the literature on the toxic effects of AFB1 in humans and animals along with its toxicokinetic properties. The damage induced by AFB1 in cells and tissues is mainly achieved through cell cycle arrest and inhibition of cell proliferation, and the induction of apoptosis, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy. In addition, numerous coding genes and non-coding RNAs have been identified that regulate AFB1 toxicity. This review is a summary of the current research on the complexity of AFB1 toxicity, and provides insights into the molecular mechanisms as well as the phenotypic characteristics.
Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Section Tuberculosis among Outpatients of a Rural Field Practice Area: A Cross-sectional Study in Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Agrawal Neha , Kumar Ashok , Ali Nawazish , Uppadhaya Sandeep Kumar , Singh Hemant Kumar
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant cause of morbidity worldwide, especially in the low and middle-income countries like India and is found to be more common in the rural areas. Delays in diagnosis and initiation of treatment along with lower treatment adherence and completion rates have increased the morbidity and mortality of TB in the rural areas. The collation of information accumulated through the assessment of people's Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) towards TB, helps in charting new health programs for the public, identifying lacunae, and devising interventions based on these lacunae which in turn will help us to achieve the vision of a "TB free India” by 2025. Aim: To find out KAP and any association amongst them regarding TB among the study subjects. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on patients attending Outpatient Department (OPD) at the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) attached to NCR Institute of Medical Sciences, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, during January 2021 to April 2021. From a sample of 106 patients data of KAP regarding TB was collected via a structured questionnaire which was predesigned and pretested. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to ascertain the association between subjects' KAP about TB. A p-value <0.05 was taken as the predictor of statistical significance. Results: Out of 106 patients, 72 (67.92%), 80 (75.47%) and 52 (49.06%) had adequate KAP respectively. Participants having adequate knowledge showed positive attitude and good practices and this association was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The study results reflect that having adequate knowledge of the disease transforms into good practices and a positive attitude towards a person suffering from the said disease as well as helps the people to have a positive frame of mind in case they themselves contract the disease. Health education and behaviour change communication hence needs to be scaled up in rural communities to prevent, detect and treat tuberculosis in order to achieve a TB free India.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Health Care Workers of a Hybrid Tertiary COVID-19 Hospital in Kerala, India
Authors: Jessy SJ , Beegum Shamha , Genga S , Bindu G , Chintha S , Sasidharan Sukshma , Tonio Ansu , Reghukumar Aravind
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Health Care Workers(HCWs) have more risk of exposure, and those working in critical care units are likely to have exposure to higher viral inoculum load from aerosol generating procedures. The risk of acquisition of infection is higher in those who work in hybrid hospitals compared to those designated as Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) hospitals. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2019 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among Health Care Workers (HCWs) of a hybrid COVID-19 treatment hospital in Kerala. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Central Biochemistry Laboratory, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, during the period 8th January 2021 to 19th January 2021. Among 3550 HCWs, 979 subjects were selected and grouped into high risk and low risk category, based on their job profile in the hybrid hospital. Results: Finally, 940 HCWs were analysed in the study grouped as high risk (n=859) and low risk (n=81). SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin (Ig) was detected in 180/940 (19.1%) of them. Seroprevalence among the high-risk group was 20.3% (174/859) and that in low-risk group was 7.4% (6/81) (p=0.005). In high-risk group, seropositivity was noted in 30.54 % (76/249) of nurses, 19% hospital attenders (30/158), 18.9% (59/312) resident doctors and 6.4% (9/140) consultant doctors. In those with a positive history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, seropositivity was found among 75.4% (101/134). In those who were COVID-19 positive during July 2020, 33.3% (6/18) were still IgG reactive. Conclusion: The study reported 19.1% SARS-CoV-2 IgG reactivity among HCWs. Seropositivity was significantly higher in high-risk group compared to low-risk. Antibody decay kinetics was comparable to that in published literature. Infection control challenges in hybrid hospitals account for higher seropositivity in this study, compared to overall seroprevalence among HCWs in Kerala.
Study of Serum Magnesium, Potassium and their Correlation with Lipid Profile in Ischaemic Heart Disease
Authors: Dasgupta Arkajit , Maiti Saumyajit , Choudhury Jayati Roy , Bhattacharjee Debojyoti
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD) is a common health burden. Dyslipidemia is an established risk factor for the disease. Studies have been conducted to evaluate any possible relation of the disease with alterations of magnesium and potassium. But, among patients of Eastern India, studies to associate the condition with these analytes as well as their possible relationship with serum lipid profile have been rare. Aim: To evaluate the non diabetic, normotensive IHD patients attending a tertiary care hospital to find out whether there was any association of the disease with altered serum magnesium and potassium and to detect possible correlation of these electrolytes with serum lipid levels. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted in the Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine of the Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, from January 2019 to June 2020. This study included 106 non diabetic, normotensive IHD cases {encompassing 52 Chronic Coronary Syndrome (CCS) and 54 Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) patients} along with 103 age and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum magnesium, potassium and lipid profiles were assessed. Student’s unpaired t-test and Pearson correlation tests were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 software. Results: The case and control groups were comparable for age and gender distribution as no statistically significant difference was found. The cases had a significantly lower serum magnesium and potassium (p<0.001 in each case) than the controls. There were significant positive correlations between serum Magnesium (Mg) and Potassium (K) (r=0.498, p<0.001) while significant negative correlations (r=-0.204, p=0.036) were established between magnesium and low density lipoprotein cholesterol of the cases. Conclusion: Low levels of serum magnesium and potassium are associated with coronary heart disease. Patients with deranged lipid profile should be regularly screened for deficiencies in serum magnesium. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to establish potential therapeutic role of supplementation of magnesium and potassium in IHD.
Impact of Radiation-induced Trismus on Patients’ Life Quality
Authors: Somay Efsun , Yilmaz Busra , Kucuk Ahmet , Topkan Erkan
Published: August 2022

Head and neck cancers (HNC) account for 10–15% of all cancers globally. Curative radiation therapy (RT) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with or without surgery are widely accepted standard treatment modalities for these patients. Radiation-induced fibrosis is one of the side effects of these treatments, and it causes degeneration, inflammation, pain, and atrophy of the masticatory muscle fibers and the temporomandibular joint, resulting in trismus. Trismus, also known as hypomobility of the mouth, is defined as a restricted opening of the mouth. Radiation-induced trismus (RIT) can occur within the first three months of treatment or up to 12–48 months later during the follow-up period. It has a significant negative influence on daily activities and vital oral functions, including speech problems, difficulty eating or drinking, psychological problems, malnutrition, dehydration, and difficulty with oral hygiene, reducing the quality of life (QoL). Given the underappreciated nature of trismus and its negative consequences in HNC patients receiving RT or C-CRT, the purpose of this review was to provide a concise review of the physical, social, and emotional implications of RIT and their impact on QoL measures, as well as the available evaluation methods for physicians in the related medical fields.
Regulatory Deferral Account: A Review of Literature
Authors: Eyibio Okon, Edet , Tunji Siyanbola, Trimisiu , Kafayat Aliu, Arinola , Adeleye Okunade, Richard
Published: August 2022

The study investigated into the IFRS 14 Regulatory Deferral Standard which came into effect in 2016 as an interim standard to explore its strength. Paper review using purposive sampling method was made. The works of four world professional accountant namely; Grant Thornton; KPMG; Delloitte; and IFRS staffer news; including IASB Discussion paper on Rate Regulation (2014) were reviewed. The study revealed that IFRS 14 is a work in progress and serve as interim standard; except for limited changes required, it allows for new adopters of IFRS with regulated Deferral balances to continue with their accounting policies rate regulation based on GAAP; Both the statement of financial position and statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income are to present a separate regulatory deferral account balance as a separate line of item; entities are to disclose the kind and risk that are associated with the form of rate regulation giving birth to recognising the regulatory deferred account balances. The finding also reveal that the IFRS 14 fully regulated may have beneficial effect than the current approach as a mock comparison move a negative earnings per share of (N3,606) in unregulated to N5,041 on fully regulated deferral.
Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Maize Performance through Application of Urea Stable and Urea in Highland Nitisol of Midakegn and Toke Kutaye Districts
Authors: Tufa Tolcha , Abera Tolera , Midega Tesfaye , Adugna Adane , Tola Bezuayehu
Published: August 2022

The field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 cropping season to determine the effects of urea stable and urea on nitrogen use efficiency and maize performance in highland Nitisol of Midakegn and Toke Kutaye districts. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Nine treatments of urea stable and urea with different application times was used. Application of different nitrogen rate from urea stable and urea were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced mean plant height, leaf area index, dry biomass, grain yield, thousand seed weight and harvest index of maize crop. Significantly higher mean leaf area index (4.1), thousand seed weight (357 g), dry biomass (16472 kg ha-1) and grain yield (5475 kg ha-1) were recorded from split application of 138 kg N ha-1 from urea stable whereas higher mean plant height was recorded from split application 138 kg N ha-1 from urea. Application of nitrogen rate were also affected nitrogen uptake and agronomic nitrogen efficiency of maize. Mean agronomic nitrogen efficiency showed decreasing trend with increasing of nitrogen fertilizer application. Significantly higher and lower value of agronomic nitrogen efficiency were obtained from split application of 46 kg N ha-1 from urea stable and 138 kg N ha-1 from urea stable applied at planting. Agronomic parameters and nitrogen uptake were only influenced by nitrogen rate indicating slow releasing of nitrogen from urea stable and confirmed this form fertilizer reduce N loss. Both urea stable and urea sources of nitrogen gave similar yield at the same rates. Therefore, urea stable could be used as alternative nitrogen source in addition to urea if the cost and accessibility of this fertilizer is the same for the area.
Effect of Irrigation and Fertigation Levels on Soil Fertility and Yield of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.)
Authors: Tayade V. D. , Sonkamble A. M. , Ramteke P. R. , Jawarkar A. K. , Kale V. S.
Published: August 2022

Aims: To study the effect of different irrigation and fertigation levels as well as their Indeterminate on soil fertility, nutrient uptake, and fruit yield of watermelon.

Study Design:  Strip-plot design.

Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Vegetable Science, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during the summer season 2018-19 and 2019- 2020.

Methodology: Two factors of irrigation and fertigation and three levels in each factor and the nine combinations of irrigation and fertigation levels were evaluated against the soil fertility, nutrient uptake, and fruit yield of watermelon.

Results: The results revealed that the soil pH was reduced while the organic carbon content increased with an increase in fertigation levels. In general, pooled mean revealed that available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were higher by 4.8, 16.9, and 4.5%, respectively, in F1 (125% RDF through fertigation) over F3 (75% RDF through fertigation) and significantly maximum availability was observed under the treatment combination of I2F1. The uptake of N, P, and K under I1 (100% of irrigation water requirement (IWR)) and F1 were increased by about 12 and 22, 27 and 21, and 32 and 31% over that of irrigation level I3 (60% IWR) and fertigation level F3, respectively. The pooled data of fruit yield revealed that the I2 (80% IWR) irrigation level and F1 fertigation level had 35.39 and 36% higher fruit yield of watermelon as compared to I3 and F3, respectively. Among the different irrigation and fertigation levels, a significantly maximum fruit yield of watermelon was observed under I2F1, followed by I2F2.

Conclusion: The study demonstrated the superiority of combining irrigation and fertigation combination of I2F1 for improving soil fertility and watermelon yield, potentially saving up to 20% of irrigation water.
Ileum Histoarchitecture Following Aspartame Consumption: Assessment of Actions of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract
Authors: Mbadugha Christopher Chiedozie , Edem Donatus Gabriel , Edet Iboro Efiong , Amagwu Iberi Patrick , Odinukaeze Francis Nkem , Godwin Abasikponke Ralphael
Published: August 2022

This study aims to determine the effect of Moringa oleifera seed extract on ileum histoarchitecture following aspartame consumption. Twenty-seven adult male Albino Wistar rats were used for the study. They were divided into nine groups comprising of: group A (control), administered distilled water; group B, given 0.4 ml (low dose) aspartame; group C, given 1.5 ml (high dose) aspartame; group D1, given 0.6 ml (low dose) aspartame for the first three weeks followed by 1.5 ml (low dose) ethanolic extract of M. oleifera seed on the fourth week; group D2 given 0.5 ml (low dose) aspartame for the first three weeks followed by 1.30 ml (low dose) n-hexane extract of M. oleifera seed on the fourth week; group E1, given 1.5 ml (high dose) aspartame for the first three weeks and on the fourth week 2.5 ml (high dose) ethanolic extract of M. oleifera seed; group E2, given 1.5(high dose) aspartame for the first three weeks and on the fourth week 3.0 ml (high dose) n-hexane extract of M. oleifera seed; group F1 given 1.4ml (high dose) aspartame followed by 2.8ml (high dose) ethanolic extract of M. oleifera seed for four weeks; group F2, given 1.3 ml (high dose) aspartame followed by 2.5 ml (high dose) n-hexane extract of M. oleifera seed for four weeks. Weight measurement of rats was taken once a week throughout the twenty eight days duration of the study. Following anaesthetization, their ileum were harvested and fixed in 10 % buffered formalin. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining technique was adopted for routine histological procedure. Data were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean (M ± SEM) and subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). At 95 % confidence interval, P is significant (P< 0.05). There was a significant increase (P= 0.05) in body weight of both the control and the experimental groups as the experiment progressed. Histological findings revealed that aspartame both in low and high doses has disruptive effects on the histoarchitecture of ileum and high dose ethanolic extract of M. oleiferia seed has the capacity to ameliorate the effects. Hence, caution is needed in aspartame consumption.
Patient-Controlled Intravenous Analgesia With Tramadol and Lornoxicam After Thoracotomy: A Comparison With Patient-Controlled Epidural Analgesia
Authors: Jin Juying , Min Su , Chen Qibin , Zhang Dong
Published: August 2022

Objective

To determine efficacy and safety of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with tramadol and lornoxicam for postoperative analgesia, and its effects on surgical outcomes in patients after thoracotomy.

Summary of background data

Adequate pain relief after thoracic surgery is of particular importance, not only for keeping patients comfortable but also for reducing the incidence of postoperative complications. PCIA with tramadol and lornoxicam could be an acceptable alternative to patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) for pain management after thoracotomy.

Methods

The records of patients who underwent thoracotomy for lung resection between January 2014 and December 2014 at our institution were reviewed. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to postoperative pain treatment modalities. Patients of PCEA group (n = 63) received PCEA with 0.2% ropivacaine plus 0.5 μg/mL sufentanil, while patients in PCIA group (n = 48) received PCIA with 5 mg/mL tramadol and 0.4 mg/mL lornoxicam. Data were collected for quality of pain control, incidences of analgesia-related side effects and pulmonary complications, lengths of thoracic intensive care unit stay and postoperative hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality.

Results

Pain at rest was controlled well in both groups during a 4-day postoperative period. Patients in PCIA group reported significantly higher pain scores on coughing and during mobilization in the first 2 postoperative days. The incidences of side effects and pulmonary complications, in-hospital mortality, and other outcomes were similar between groups.

Conclusions

PCIA with tramadol and lornoxicam can be considered as a safe and effective alternative with respect to pain control and postoperative outcomes after thoracotomy.
Learning Curve of Resident Surgeons for Open Mesh Repair of Inguinal Hernia
Authors: Ueda Junji , Yoshida Hiroshi
Published: August 2022

Objective

We evaluated the effect of postgraduate surgical education on inguinal hernia repair for resident surgeons.

Methods

A total of 93 adult patients underwent open mesh repairs for inguinal hernias. These patients were randomly assigned to junior or senior resident surgeon groups for inguinal hernia repairs. The surgical training program for inguinal hernia repair was subdivided into 3 consecutive steps: sections A, B, and C. The sections were defined as follows: (A) the starting point of the surgery to hanging the spermatic cord, (B) dissection of the hernia sac, and (C) placement of the hernia mesh. The time to complete each procedure was recorded. We then evaluated the learning curve of the junior resident surgeons for open mesh repair of inguinal hernia.

Results

The mean operative time of the junior resident group was significantly longer than that of the senior resident group. Particularly, the mean times of the junior residents for sections B and C were significantly longer than those of the senior resident group. However, the volume of intraoperative blood loss and the short-term outcomes were not significantly different between the groups. For section C of the procedure, the learning curve seemed shorter for junior resident surgeons who had completed the training program for inguinal hernia repair than that for junior resident surgeons who were just beginning this program.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that a junior resident surgeon's initial experience with hernia repair is associated with an identifiable learning curve when participating in a suitable training program.