bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GHG Emissions Affected by Agricultural Drainage Ditch Dredging and Vegetation Brushing
Authors: Schietzsch Andrew , Emilia Craiovan , Mark Sunohara , Blume Oliver , Amos Richard , Doucet Anne-Martine , Ian Clark , Lapen David , Blowes David , Ptacek Carol
Published: October 2022

Vegetation management and dredging of agricultural drainage ditches are practices often necessary to improve field drainage. However, these practices can influence soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in and around the drainage ditches by influencing, for instance, soil/sediment profiles, water/air temperatures, plant nutrient uptake, and hydrology (soil). In this study, surface GHG fluxes (CO2, CH4, N2O) were compared between a vegetation brushed + dredged (managed) agricultural drainage ditch and an adjacent ditch that was not brushed or dredged (control), in eastern Ontario, Canada, during three growing seasons (2018–2020). Fluxes were measured on ditch shoulders, midslopes, hyporheic zones, and channel areas. Soil CO2 emissions increased (15–40%) along the managed ditch after trees were removed, in relation to the control ditch and this increase was likely due to warmer temperatures (3°C) and increased soil microbial activity as a result of decreased shading effects. And, moreover, the rapid natural re-establishment of shrubs and grasses after initial woody vegetation brushing did not cause substantial change in fluxes, in relation to time periods immediately following ditch management intervention. In-stream CH4 emissions after dredging were lower (> 90%). CO2 and CH4 were the dominant GHGs fluxes (20-yr CO2eq) in the riparian areas of the drainage ditches, with N2O emissions being significantly smaller (1–3%).
A holistic social-ecological systems resilience approach based on performance-based wildfire engineering
Authors: Tampekis Stergios , Palaiologou Palaiologos , Arabatzis Garyfallos , Kantartzis Apostolos , Sakellariou Stavros , Fafalis Dimitrios , Malesios Chrisovalantis , Stergiadou Anastasia , Tsiaras Evangelos
Published: October 2022

The recent worldwide increase of large, uncontrolled, and catastrophic wildfires events, caused important socio-economic issues and with considerable effects to the natural environment. Wildfires’ impacts on social-ecological systems derive from the complicated and multidimensional interconnected relationships between society and ecosystems. To enforce environmental and community resilience against wildfires, it is critical to holistically comprehend the local social-ecological systems. In this paper we present a holistic social-ecological systems resilience approach, built on performance-based wildfire engineering, that is envisioned to be a steppingstone towards the social-ecological resilience after a wildfire. To attain this objective, the performance assessment and design series of actions are disaggregated into explicit components of a rigorous mathematical framework. They are linked to a causal inference chain, providing an integrated picture, and enabling decision analysis to identify the optimal management strategies given a number of constraints. The proposed approach is proceeding from the total probability theorem and divides the risk assessment into single (underlying) parts, particularly: (1) hazard (wildfire) analysis, (2) damage analysis, (3) loss analysis, and social-ecological (4) impacts characterization, (5) interaction analysis, and (6) impacts analysis. A consistent probabilistic framework is proposed that explicitly considers and quantifies the inherent uncertainties for reliable wildfires performance resilient assessment. The suggested framework can be implemented by emergency agencies directly for performance assessment of society and ecosystems recovery after a wildfire, making more effective the emergency management and policy making.
EdgeAlign: platform for deep reinforcement learning based pairwise DNA sequence alignment compatible with embedded edge devices
Authors: Lall Aryan , Tallur Siddharth
Published: October 2022

Sequence alignment is an essential component of bioinformatics, for identifying regions of similarity that may indicate functional, structural, or evolutionary relationships between the sequences. Genome-based diagnostics relying on DNA sequencing have benefited hugely from the boom in computing power in recent decades, particularly due to cloud-computing and the rise of graphics processing units (GPUs) and other advanced computing platforms for running advanced algorithms. Translating the success of such breakthroughs in diagnostics to affordable solutions for low-cost healthcare requires development of algorithms that can operate on the edge instead of in the cloud, using low-cost and low-power electronic systems such as microcontrollers and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). In this work, we present EdgeAlign, a deep reinforcement learning based framework for performing pairwise DNA sequence alignment on stand-alone edge devices. EdgeAlign uses deep reinforcement learning to train a deep Q-network (DQN) agent for performing sequence alignment on fixed length sub-sequences, using a sliding window that is scanned over the length of the entire sequence. The hardware resource-consumption for implementing this scheme is thus independent of the lengths of the sequences to be aligned, and is further optimized using a novel AutoML based method for neural network model size reduction. Unlike other algorithms for sequence alignment reported in literature, the model demonstrated in this work is highly compact and deployed on two edge devices (NVIDIA® Jetson NanoTM Developer Kit and Digilent Arty A7-100T, containing Xilinx® XC7A35T Artix®-7 FPGA) for demonstration of alignment for sequences from the publicly available Influenza sequences at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Virus Data Hub.
Soft Tissue Esthetic using Pink esthetic score with Autogenous Dentin Chips and Immediate Implantation versus Conventional Immediate Implantation with Xenograft in Thin Buccal Bone:
(Randomized Controlled clinical trial)
Authors: Shoeib Mona Aly , hamada cherine emad mahmoud mohamed , Abdelrahman Ahmed Reda
Published: October 2022

Objective: When restoring teeth in the aesthetic zone, soft tissue aesthetics for an immediate implant is considered challenging. This study aimed to evaluate soft tissue aesthetics around immediate dental implants with dentin chips and xenograft in thin buccal bone.
Methodology: 16 patients with non-restorable teeth were recruited in this study for immediate implant placement with augmentation. Patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups; dentin chips group with immediate implant and xenograft group with immediate implant also. Pink aesthetic scores are recorded on loading at 6 months & after 1 year of implant insertion according to Vanlıoğlu. Also, buccal bone and crestal bone resorption were measured using CBCT at 6 months & 1 year; implant stability was measured using osstel immediately on implant insertion & before loading, and pain is recorded as a Numerical rating scale according to Breivik.
Results: In the present study, both groups showed better PES after 6 months and 1 year P-value = 0.343; P-value = 0.199 ; nearly same level of crestal bone & buccal bone at 6 months & 1 year P-value = 0.031; P-value = 0.029 P-value = 0.546; P-value = 0.268 ; implant stability is better at 6 months and one year P-value = 0.514; P-value = 0.340 and reduction in the post-operative pain within 1 week following implant placement with but with statistically significant difference within each group and also between both groups.
Conclusions: The use of autogenous dentin chips proved to be a valid alternative to bone grafting materials to fill the jumping gap in conjunction with immediate implants in the aesthetic zone.
PES, the overall difference between the control and the intervention groups showed no statistical significance.
Research Trend of Organ-Preserving Pancreatic Resection from 2000 to 2022: A Bibliometric and Visualized Analysis
Authors: Zhou Chang , Wang Hang-yan , Ma Zhao-lai , Jiang Bin , Li Lei , Zhang Li , Li Mu-xing , Xiu Dian-rong , Yuan Chun-hui
Published: October 2022

Background
Organ-preserving pancreatic resection has drawn more and more attention in the recent decades. This bibliometric analysis aimed to analyze the relevant articles to investigate the development trend and research distribution of this discipline.
Methods
Based on Web of Science database, the relevant terms of organ-preserving pancreatic resection were used to retrieve articles for bibliometric analysis. The relevant articles were retrieved and further analyzed by their publication journals, countries and institutions of origin, authors, and keywords.
Results
The 200 top-cited (T200) articles published from 2000 to 2022 were identified. These articles were published in 43 journals; among which Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery published the most articles (n = 30). The articles came from 25 countries, with Germany accounting for the plurality (n = 43). Of the 886 scholars contributed to the research, Buchler MW, from Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg in Germany, published the most articles (n = 17), with the total citations of 1158. Furthermore, Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg, Germany, published the largest number of articles in organ-preserving pancreatic resection (n = 16), with the total citations of 955. Among articles retrieved, newly burst keywords showed the development trend of further attention in perioperative care, functional convention, and international cooperation.
Conclusion
Our study analyzed articles in organ-preserving pancreatic resection in the 21st century. The study was expected to provide panoramic information and shed light on future studies.
Expected and Predicted Curves of Markov Stochastic Processes and a New Interpretation of Deterministic Models
Authors: Sokol Miloslawa
Published: October 2022

Two curves characterizing a set of realizations of Markov stochastic process were analyzed: the expected curve and the predicted curve. Although the definition of the predicted curve is new, curves with the same formulas are known in science as so-called deterministic models. This can be seen in the examples of the most well-known models in biology: logistics, Lotka-Volterra and Hardy-Weinberg. Attention was paid to the efficiency of calculating these both curves and their interpretation as the central tendency characteristics of Markov stochastic processes.
Percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy for L5-S1 calcified lumbar disc herniation: a retrospective study
Authors: Cheng Yuanpei , Zhang Qianru , Li Yongbo , Chen Xipeng , Wu Han
Published: October 2022

Background: Calcified lumbar disc herniation (CLDH) is considered to be a special type of lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID), with safety and efficacy, has been proved to be a minimally invasive surgery for LDH. However, there are few studies on PEID in the treatment of CLDH at L5-S1 level. This study aimed to analyze the clinical efficacy of PEID for L5-S1 CLDH.
Methods: From August 2016 to April 2020, we retrospectively analyzed 28 consecutive patients (17 males; 11 females) with L5-S1 CLDH treated with PEID at our institution. All the patients were followed up for greater than 1 year postoperatively. The demographic characteristics, surgical results and clinical outcomes estimated by the visual analog scale (VAS) for leg pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI) and modified MacNab criteria were collected.
Results: All patients were successfully performed by PEID. The mean operative time and intraoperative blood loss were 65.36 ± 5.26 minutes and 13.21 ± 4.35 ml, respectively. The VAS for leg pain and ODI scores improved remarkably from 7.54 ± 0.96 to 1.50 ± 0.51 (P < 0.05) and from 69.29 ± 9.91 to 17.43 ± 3.69 (P < 0.05) a year after operation, respectively. According to the modified MacNab criteria of the last follow-up, the excellent and good rates are 92.86%. Two of the patients had complications, one had nerve root injury and the other had postoperative dysesthesia.
Conclusions: PEID achieved good clinical outcomes in the treatment of L5-S1 CLDH. And PEID was a safe and effective minimally invasive surgery for L5-S1 CLDH.
PPARG, GNG12, and CD19 are potential independent predictors of central nerve recurrence in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: zhang shan , Tu Yansong , Lai Hurong , Tu Huaijun , Li Jian
Published: October 2022

Objective
To identify biomarkers that can predict the recurrence of the central nervous system (CNS) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Materials and Methods
The transcriptome and clinical data collected by the Children's Oncology Group (COG) collaboration group in the Phase II study and Phase I study of ALL in children were downloaded from the TARGET database. Transcriptome data were analyzed by bioinformatics method to identify core (hub) genes and establish a risk assessment model. Univariate Cox analysis was performed on each clinical data, and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed on the obtained results and risk score. The children ALL phase I samples collected by the COG collaboration group in the TARGET database were used for verification.
Results
A total of 1230 differentially expressed genes were screened out between the CNS relapsed and non-relapsed groups. Univariate multivariate Cox analysis of 10 hub genes identified showed that PPARG (HR = 0.78, 95%CI = 0.67–0.91, p = 0.007), CD19 (HR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.05–1.26, p = 0.003) and GNG12 (HR = 1.25, 95%CI = 1.04–1.51, p = 0.017) had statistical differences. The risk score was statistically significant in univariate (HR = 3.06, 95%CI = 1.30–7.19, p = 0.011) and multivariate (HR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.16–2.32, p = 0.046) Cox regression analysis. The survival analysis results of the high and low-risk groups were different when the validation group was substituted into the model (p = 0.018). In addition, the CNS involvement grading status at first diagnosis CNS3 vs. CNS1 (HR = 5.74, 95%CI = 2.01–16.4, p = 0.001), T cell vs B cell (HR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.06–2.49, p = 0.026) were also statistically significant.
Conclusions
PPARG, GNG12, and CD19 may be predictors of CNS relapse in childhood ALL.
Editorial
Authors: Nohelia Hewitt Ramírez
Published: October 2022

El volumen 16, N.o 1 de nuestra revista, publica seis artículos, en esta ocasión dos internacionales uno de la Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Pes- hawar y otro de la Universidad de Buenos Aires de Argentina.
Land expropriation without compensation : a study of constructions of the Parliamentary process in selected mainstream and “ground-up” media from 27 February – 12 August 2018
Authors:   , Jacobs Luzuko
Published: October 2022

This study investigates the constructions of land expropriation without compensation (LEwC) in the discourses of two mainstream media, Moneyweb and City Press, and two ground-up platforms, Afriforum and the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA). It follows the February 2018 adoption by Parliament, of LEwC as a policy to reorder the country’s unequal and racially bifurcated economy. The motivations for, and opposition to the policy locate land as ‘the issue’ in conquest and capitalism. How land is signified therefore, is important to the understandings of ‘restitution’ and/or ‘resolution’. The news platforms selected here are diverse: Moneyweb focuses on investments. City Press concerns itself with politics. Afriforum and AFASA are alternative sphericules linked to ethnically- polarised quotidian concerns with land as a key focus. Discourses are central to how citizens see and construct themselves and one another as subjects. As such, media frames can be connected to justice and inter-‘race’ complexities. This is a study of media influences in cultivating certain meanings and understandings of tenuous and fractious political situations characterised by inequality and interracial enmity. The thesis draws from the Epistemologies of the South as well as Marxism to constitute the locus of its enunciation of colonisation, liberal capitalism, land question, justice, ideology, discourse, and framing. This framework is geared towards emic understanding of interrelated local and global contexts of the land question. Conceptual clarity is key to the development of an emancipatory imagination. Qualitative framing analysis and critical discourse analysis are used in this study to examine a diachronic corpus of 124 articles from the four platforms covering 167-days, from the adoption of the LEwC motion through the initial round of public hearings. The findings suggest a strong influence of the structures of coloniality in discourses across a wide political spectrum. The frames and counter-frames in the four platforms are simultaneously divergent and similar. Some are reactionary and conservative, others are liberal-transformational and even radical-prefigurative. All however, orbit around abyssal, North-centric, liberal capitalist normativity as the centripetal centre. The study proposes rethinking of the land question, a radical exorcism from land discourses, of structures of coloniality of power, knowledge, and being. Their mobilisation, predominance and naturalisation in political communication is anti-transformation and helps keep Black South Africans to this day, under the heavy yoke of an oppressive colonial and Apartheid reality as perpetual economic slaves.
Assessment of endogenous intoxication based on the study of medium and low molecular weight substances in patients with myocardial infarction against a background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Prokofieva T. V. , Polunina O. S. , Polunina E. A. , Sevostyanova I. V. , Voronina P. N.
Published: October 2022

Introduction. Frequent comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and myocardial infarction is due to the commonality of a number of etiopathogenetic links and the development of endogenous intoxication syndrome. The convincing markers of endogenous intoxication syndrome are medium and low molecular weight molecules including medium and low molecular weight substances and oligopeptides.

Aim. To study the levels of medium and low molecular weight substances in patients with myocardial infarction against the background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Materials and methods. 225 patients with myocardial infarction were examined. In 195 patients the infarction developed against the background of COPD, in 130 patients – without COPD. The comparison group consisted of 110 somatically healthy individuals. Substances of medium and low molecular weight (MLMWS) and oligopeptides (OP) were determined by direct spectrometry (according to M.Y. Malakhova, 1995) in plasma, erythrocytes and urine. Endogenous intoxication indices and intoxication coefficient were calculated on the basis of these indices. Statistical processing of the data was performed using SPSS 26.0 software package.

Results. In blood plasma and erythrocytes, the levels of average molecules in both studied groups were statistically significantly higher compared to controls. The highest levels were detected in comorbid patients. In the group of patients with myocardial infarction without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 60% of the examined patients had phase I endogenous intoxication. Phase III intoxication prevailed among comorbid patients with myocardial infarction against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – 62,6%.

Conclusions. Molecules of average mass have proven to be informative indices of endogenous intoxication syndrome in patients with myocardial infarction accompanied by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This opens the prospect of using these indices in the development of assessment scales and the creation of prognostic algorithms in patients with cardiorespiratory comorbidity.
The role of clinical and genetic factors in the progression of hypertrophy of the left ventricular myocardial in arterial hypertension
Authors: Mulerova T. A. , Morozova N. I. , Tsygankova D. P. , Indukaeva E. V. , Bazdyrev E. D. , Nakhratova O. V. , Ogarkov M. Yu.
Published: October 2022

Introduction. A special position among the structural changes of the heart is occupied by left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy (LVH), which refers to the subclinical signs of heart damage in arterial hypertension (AH). Currently, the role of not only demographic, neuroendocrine, but also genetic factors in the development and progression of LVH is no longer in doubt.

Aim. To assess the role of clinical and genetic factors in the progression of LVH in patients with hypertension based on the results of a dynamic 5-year follow-up of a cohort of Shors.

Materials and methods. The survey of the indigenous population in Gornaya Shoria was carried out in two time periods: onetime (from 2013 to 2017) and prospective (from 2018 to 2020). The study included the adult population (18 years and older) – a total of 901 people – by continuous method. A group of patients with hypertension was identified – 367 people (40.7%). LVH was assessed by electrocardiography and/or echocardiography. The prospective stage of the study included patients with hypertension who had not previously received antihypertensive therapy (263 people). The control and correction of blood pressure numbers was carried out annually, the dynamics of LVH was assessed after five years.

Results. Clinical predictors of negative dynamics of LVH were established: obesity (OR = 3.61), abdominal obesity (OR = 4.11), impaired carbohydrate metabolism (OR = 2.83), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR = 2.05). Genetic markers also demonstrated their involvement in the progression of LVH: allele D of the ACE gene, allele C of the AGTR1 gene, and 4a of the eNOS gene (OR = 9.69; OR = 6.72; OR = 6.37, respectively).

Conclusion. The associations of clinical and genetic factors with LVH identified in the Shor cohort can be considered as predictors of myocardial remodeling in hypertension. The data obtained support the hypothesis that polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and endothelial function can influence the phenotype, creating new approaches to the possible prediction of unfavorable outcomes.
New principles for the treatment of chronic heart failure: the phenomenon of sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors
Authors: Kanorskiy S. G.
Published: October 2022

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is one of the most important problems in clinical cardiology due to high morbidity, frequent hospitalizations and poor prognosis of patients. Quite unexpectedly, sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2i) inhibitors dapagliflozin and empagliflozin, which were created for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, proved to be effective means of reducing the risk of an adverse outcome in patients with CHF, they were included in a new four-component therapy for CHF with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with a class of recommendations I and level of evidence A. The basis for changing the clinical guidelines for CHF was the results of large randomized trials of DAPA-HF and EMPEROR-Reduced. Despite the obvious clinical benefit of using SGLT2i in CHF, the mechanisms of the observed effects remain speculative and continue to be actively studied. In particular, the literature discusses the role of osmotic diuresis, lowering blood pressure and body weight, increasing erythropoietin production, influencing myocardial remodeling, modifying the energy metabolism of the heart, inhibiting the sodium-hydrogen exchanger, autophagy, and influencing leptin and adiponectin levels. SGLT2i has many of the qualities of an ideal agent for the treatment of CHF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, including a single dose without the need for titration, once daily administration, early positive effects on clinical outcomes and quality of life, a favorable safety and tolerability profile with a frequency of serious side effects not different from placebo. At the same time, the choice of medical tactics may be influenced by the features of the evidence base of SGLT2i, in particular, the reduction in cardiovascular mortality and death from any cause in a randomized trial of dapagliflozin.
Anticoagulant therapy with direct oral anticoagulants in the context of polypragmasy: a course to safety
Authors: Sychev I. N. , Fedina L. V. , Gabrielyan D. A. , Rastvorova T. D. , Strigunkova E. V. , Mirzayev K. B. , Sychev D. A.
Published: October 2022

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in the world. For almost 60 years vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have been the mainstay of anticoagulant therapy, but in recent years direct oral anticoagulants (DAACs) have become the anticoagulant of choice, as they have many well-known advantages: more predictable anticoagulant effect, no need for dose selection (there is  a  need for  dose adjustment only for  renal dysfunction), routine laboratory monitoring of  pharmacodynamic effect  (except in special clinical situations), less frequency of clinically significant drug interactions compared with warfarin, and less dependence on patient genetic characteristics. The main indications for POAC are: prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients who have undergone endoprosthesis of lower limbs, prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation, treatment and prevention of recurrent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. The administration of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has long been considered a major therapeutic advance, mainly because they do not require therapeutic monitoring. Despite this, POACs, like vitamin K antagonists, can still cause major and clinically significant minor bleeding, even when used correctly. Considering that POAC patients are often older and have multiple comorbidities, polypragmasy is widespread. Drug interactions involving POACs are important contributors to the increased risk of bleeding. Awareness of these drug interactions and how to address them is critical to optimizing treatment while reducing the risk of bleeding. This review provides an overview of POAC metabolism, the most common drugs that may interact with POACs, and ways to eliminate these interactions.
Effect of phosphate binder therapy on FGF-23 levels in dialysis patients
Authors: Rind A. R. , Essaian A. M. , Zaraiskii M. I.
Published: October 2022

Introduction. Fibroblast growth factor type 23 (FGF-23) inhibits phosphate reabsorption and vitamin D hormone synthesis in the kidneys. There is a known relationship between FGF-23 levels and serum phosphate, as well as a direct correlation between hyperphosphatemia and the risk of cardiovascular events.

Aim. To evaluate associations between serum FGF-23 levels and bone and mineral metabolism in patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) with hemo- and peritoneal dialysis, receiving and not receiving phosphate binders.

Materials and methods. The study included 65 patients, of which 43 received maintenance hemodialysis tratment (HD), and  22 – peritoneal dialysis (PD). The control group consisted of 28 healthy volunteers.

Results. The increase in the concentration of FGF-23 in the blood serum in patients on maintenance HD correlated with the vintage of dialysis treatment (rs = 0,765; p = 0,04). The positive correlation was found between the serum concentrations of FGF-23 and inorganic phosphorus (rs = 0,54; p = 0,03). The serum level of FGF-23 positively correlated with the serum PTH level (rs =  0,5; p = 0,01). In patients receiving sevelamer carbonate levels of  FGF-23  was lower, than in  control group (12.4 ± 5.9, and 23 ± 7.3, respectively; p = 0.003), as well as PTH (110 ± 27 ng/mL, and 340 ± 15, respectively; p = 0.01).

Conclusions. The level of FGF-23 in dialysis patients directly correlated with the serum level of PTH and “dialysis vintage”. The use of phosphate binders, in particular sevelamer carbonate, positively affects the expression of FGF-23 and PTH in dialysis patients.
The place of diltiazem in the treatment of patients with stable angina in concomitant bronchial asthma
Authors: Grigorieva N. Yu. , Kolosova K. S. , Soloveva D. V. , Blokhina E. I.
Published: October 2022

Introduction. In the treatment of stable angina in patients with concomitant bronchial asthma (BA), the bronchopulmonary system may be adversely affected by a number of drugs. Diltiazem may be the drug of choice when antianginal therapy with a pulseslowing effect is required, but β-blockers are contraindicated.

Aim of the study. To compare the antianginal, pulse-slowing and vasoprotective effects of the calcium antagonist (CA) diltiazem, the calcium antagonist verapamil and the cardioselective beta-adrenoblocker (BAB) bisoprolol in the treatment of stable angina (SA) patients with concomitant BA.

Materials and methods. The study included 60 patients with stable angina II-III FC with concomitant mild or moderate persistent BA. The patients were divided into three groups of 20 patients depending on antianginal drugs: Group 1 received betaadrenoblocker bisoprolol, Group 2 – calcium antagonist verapamil, Group 3 – calcium antagonist diltiazem. All patients underwent cardiography (Doppler EchoCG), external respiration function (ERF), endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDVD) study at baseline and after 2, 4, 6 weeks of treatment.

Results. No negative dynamics of FEV1 was found in patients of all groups during the study of ERF after 6 weeks of treatment. There was a statistically significant increase in FEV1 after 6 weeks of treatment in group 3 patients receiving diltiazem (p = 0.032). There was a statistically significant decrease in HR in all three groups during treatment, but in group 2 the dynamics were significantly lower when treated with verapamil. Analysis of mPAP of patients showed that it decreased in all groups after 6 weeks of treatment, but significant dynamics was noted only in Group 3. EDVD test after 6 weeks of treatment revealed positive dynamics, with a statistically significant increase in the index registered in patients of groups 1 and 3.

Conclusions. In treatment of patients with stable angina with mild and intermediate persistent disease without exacerbation, antianginal therapy with the calcium antagonist diltiazem has marked antianginal, pulse-slowing action, has vasoprotective effect on the small and large circulatory vessels, improves the parameters of bronchial permeability.
Functional and quantitative computed tomographic changes in the bronchopulmonary system in patients who have undergone COVID-19
Authors: Cherniak A. V. , Karchevskaya N. A. , Skorobogach I. M. , Leshchinskaya O. V. , Kalmanova E. N. , Zykov K. A. , Petrikov S. S.
Published: October 2022

Introduction. COVID-19 is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. After the acute phase and discharge from the hospital, convalescent people continue to have respiratory symptoms, changes in pulmonary function (PF) and indicators of chest computed tomography (CT).

Aim. To evaluate changes in PF and quantitative CT data in patients after severe coronavirus pneumonia.

Materials and methods. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted: 55 patients (including 28 men, aged 32–78 years) with a diagnosis of “lung interstitial process due to a coronavirus infection” were examined. All patients underwent a study of PF (spirometry, body plethysmography, measurement of the diffusion lung capacity: DLCO) in the interval of 24–305 days after discharge from the  hospital. CT scan of  the chest was performed simultaneously with the  functional examination (±30 days), the parameters were calculated: ground glass areas, functional lung tissue volume (FV), affected tissue volume (AV), CovidQ (AV/FV ratio).

Results. A decrease in DLCO was found in 28 patients. Restrictive disorders – in 13 patients, obstructive disorders – in 2 patients. At the time of the CT examination, all patients had residual changes in both lungs of varying severity. Functional parameters (FVC, TLC and DLCO) were statistically significantly correlated with the CT data.

Conclusion. During the  recovery period in  patients after COVID-19, lung structural changes, according to CT scans, persist for at least 3 months. Pulmonary ventilation indicators in most patients normalize during this time, half of the patients retained a decrease in diffusion lung capacity. Acknowledgment. The study was carried out as part of the state task on the topic: “The impact of the new coronavirus infection SARS-CoV-2 on the functional parameters of the respiratory system during the convalescence period” (code: “PostCOVID-functional diagnostics”).
Prospects for studying the role of some essential and toxic trace elements in the pathogenesis of COVID-19
Authors: Sharipova M. M. , Romanov A. O. , Ivkina M. V. , Arkhangelskaia A. N. , Gurevich K. G.
Published: October 2022

Despite the development and implementation of vaccines in various countries of the world, COVID-19 remains a significant medical and social problem. This is directly related to the characteristic feature of SARS-CoV-2 to form new strains, which reduces the effectiveness of vaccination. In connection with the foregoing, the priority in the prevention of COVID-19 is to improve and maintain the normal functioning of the human immune system. Recently, more and more scientists have noted the significant role of micronutrients in ensuring immune function. However, most research focuses on micronutrients such as zinc, selenium, iron and copper, while it is known that the balance of micronutrients depends on all its constituents. Consequently, any change in the content of one mineral substance can affect the level of others, leading to an imbalance of trace elements in the body. The aim of this work was to analyze literature data on less studied microelements in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, both essential and toxic, that can affect the state of the immune system and, as a result, the incidence and risk of complications and adverse outcomes in COVID-19. An analysis of the literature on the effect of manganese, chromium, iodine, cadmium, mercury, lead, arsenic and lithium on human antiviral protection, including in the case of a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, showed that the determination of the microelement status, taking into account the above microelements and, with necessary, the appointment of preparations containing minerals is promising for the purpose of prevention and as an additional therapy for COVID-19.
New coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and respiratory diseases / pathological conditions
Authors: Trukhan D. I.
Published: October 2022

The respiratory system is the main target of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID19) spread by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The interim guidelines of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation “Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)” (14th version of December 27, 2021) discuss pneumonia in COVID-19 in detail. The issues of the course of other respiratory diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD, bronchial asthma) are considered in them very briefly. Other diseases and pathological conditions of the respiratory organs are ignored. The federal clinical guidelines Bronchial Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults published in 2021 do not discuss the  course of  these diseases in  the context of  the COVID-19  pandemic. A  search was made for  literature on the association of major diseases and pathological conditions of the respiratory organs with the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 in the electronic search engines PubMed and Scopus. The literature sources found indicate that the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 certainly has a specific, often negative, effect on the respiratory system as a whole, and in particular, on certain respiratory diseases and pathological conditions. However, this influence is sometimes ambiguous. Thus, patients with COPD, along with patients with arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, belong to a vulnerable group of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there was a decrease in the frequency of  exacerbations of  COPD during the  pandemic, especially hospitalizations. due to severe exacerbations. A  number of meta-analyses and systematic reviews have shown that the risk of contracting COVID-19 in people with asthma is lower than in  people without asthma. There is no association between asthma and a  more severe course and worse prognosis of COVID-19. The relationship of diseases/pathological conditions of the respiratory system and COVID-19, therefore, requires further study and clarification.
Jute (Corchorus olitorius) stick charcoal: a potential bioadsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) from an aqueous solution
Authors: Zaman Samina , Biswas Pipasa , Zaman Rafiuz , Islam Md. Shahnul , Mehrab Md. Nayeem , Ghosh Gopal Chandra , Habib Ahsan , Chakraborty Tapos Kumar
Published: October 2022

This study investigated the performance of jute stick charcoal (JSC) as a biosorbent for the removal of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] from an aqueous solution. The batch adsorption experiment was conducted by influencing various experimental conditions like contact time (5–240 min), pH (2–8), initial Cr(VI) concentration (10–100 mg/L), and JSC dose (2–10 g/L). The study result shows that maximum Cr(VI) removal (99%) was found at pH 2, 20 mg/L of initial Cr(VI) concentration, 8 g/L of the JSC dose, and 150 min of equilibrium contact time. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) were used to characterize the JSC surface characteristics. The Cr(VI) adsorption data of JSC were better described by the Freundlich (R2= 0.995) and Halsey (R2= 0.995) isotherm models. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of JSC was 11.429 mg/g. Kinetic adsorption data of JSC followed the pseudo-second-order model (R2=1.0) as compared with the pseudo-first-order model (R2=0.97) and this adsorption process was controlled by chemisorption with multi-step diffusion. Finally, this study revealed JSC as an effective adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal from an aqueous solution.
Application of tannin-based coagulant for high-range turbidity surface water clarification
Authors: de Oliveira Camila , Trevisan Viviane , Skoronski Everton
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a tannin-based coagulant in clarifying drinking water from a high-range turbidity river and characterizing the sludge. Tanfloc MTH product was selected for this investigation. The study site was surface water located in southern Brazil (Caveiras River, Brazil). Samples were collected just before the Parshall flume in the municipal water treatment plant in Lages (Brazil) for nine months, at least once a week. Jar testing evaluated turbidity removal, alkalinity consumption, optimal coagulant dosage, and settling velocity. After flocculation and settling, the sludge generated from the jar test was submitted to metal and thermogravimetric analyses. The use of tannin reduced the average water turbidity from 26.1 ± 56.1 to 0.94 ± 0.26 NTU, apparent color from 145 ± 190 to 3 ± 3 Pt-Co, and there was no variation in the pH. Additionally, the settling velocity of the flocs reached a maximum turbidity removal at 3.5 cm·min−1. Furthermore, the metal concentrations in the sludge showed a majority of aluminum and iron, and thermogravimetric analysis revealed 64% weight loss. In conclusion, Tanfloc presented the potential to be used in surface water clarification from the Caveiras river, and the extensive turbidity range observed during this study did not affect the operational stability.
Factors influencing the adsorption of antibiotics onto activated carbon in aqueous media
Authors: Singh Surya , Lundborg Cecilia Stålsby , Diwan Vishal
Published: October 2022

Widespread use of antibiotics for treating human and animal ailments has increased their discharge in the environment through excreta. Moreover, unscientific disposal of unused antibiotics has further increased their presence in the environmental matrices. Thus, occurrence of used and/or discarded antibiotics in water resources is becoming a growing concern across the globe. Antibiotics and their residues in the aquatic environment are emerging contaminants which pose a serious threat to the aquatic biota as well as human beings by enhancing antibiotic resistance. Various methods are being adopted for the removal of these contaminants. Adsorption over activated carbon is one such promising method which is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient. However, there are various factors which affect the overall process efficiency, such as, properties of activated carbon/antibiotics/reaction medium etc. In this article, emphasis has been laid down on evaluating these factors, so that the experimental procedures may be optimized to obtain the highest possible removal efficiency for antibiotics in the aqueous media.
Perangkat Pembacaan Data Analog Peralatan Industri Dengan Komunikasi Standard RS-485
Authors: Sutikno Stephanus Budi , Aswin Muhammad , Rusli Mochammad
Published: October 2022

Perekaman data-data parameter atau variabel di perangkat kendali jaring tertutup di  industri dapat dilakukan dengan berbagai macam cara. Dengan menggunakan programmbale Logic controller (PLC), perekaman data-data parameter berbasis waktu telah dilakukan. Namun keterbatasan memori PLC mempersulit pembacaan dan meningkatkan biaya perekaman. Perekaman dngan pena bergerak di industri, juga sering ditemui. Kelemahan cara ini adalah pemborosan kertas dan pengamatan variabel yang cukup sulit, sehingga tumpukan kertas hasil rekaman semakin banyak dan semakin mempersulit dokumentasi proses kendali industri. Oleh karena itu diperlukan perangkat yang fleksibel dengan memori yang dapat diekspansi dengan biaya murah dan tanpa kertas. Paper ini menjelaskan desain perangkat perekam dengan menggunakan komputer PC untuk data-data di lapangan industri.

 

 
Modeling Si/SiGe/Si Quantum Well Solar Cell Using Different Well Width and Mole Fraction
Authors: Setyawan Raden Arief
Published: October 2022

Quantum Well Solar Cell ( QWSC) was proposed as a means to achieve higher efficiencies compare with conventional monolithic solar cell structures. Quantum well formed by adding lower band gap material within intrinsic region of p-i-n solar cell with less than 100 A thicknesses. In this research, five structure of QWSC device were designed with different quantum well thickness. Each structure using different SiGe mole fraction in order to achieve the influence of mole fraction variation to quantum efficiency (QE). Parameters of SiGe in simulations were obtained from various references to use with PC1D and Simwin Software. From simulation result, quantum efficiency will increase from mole fraction 0.2 (84.5135 %) until reaching maximum efficiency at mole fraction 0.75 (91.5703 %). Quantum efficiency begin to decrease at mole fraction higher than 0.75. At mole fraction 0.85 quantum efficiency equal to 90.4830 % and at mole fraction 0.95 quantum efficiency sharply become 71.6327 %.
Pengujian Struktur Program Dengan Pengujian Jalur Dasar (Basis Path Testing) : Teori Dan Aplikasi
Authors: Kurniawan Tri Astoto
Published: October 2022

Pengujian perangkat lunak adalah sebuah proses eksekusi program yang dilakukan untuk menemukan kesalahan-kesalahan (errors). Salah satu teknik yang digunakan adalah pengujian struktur program/kotak putih (structural/white box/glass box testing) dengan menggunakan pengujian jalur dasar (basis path testing).

 

Pengujian jalur dasar adalah merupakan suatu teknik pengujian struktur program yang dilakukan berdasarkan jalur-jalur lojik yang ada. Jalur dasar (basis path) didefinisikan sebagai suatu jalur unik yang terdapat pada struktur program dimana tidak diperbolehkan terjadinya perulangan lintasan jalur yang sama persis. Semua kemungkinan jalur dasar diidentifikasi dengan melakukan kombinasi-kombinasi jalur yang ada. Untuk bisa melakukan pengujian jalur dasar maka harus ditentukan dulu grafik alir (flow graph) yang diterjemahkan dari algoritma/flow chart struktur program yang akan diuji. Pengujian jalur dasar menggunakan cyclomatic complexity/number untuk mengukur tingkat kompleksitas dari struktur program yang akan diuji sekaligus sebagai dasar untuk menentukan kasus-kasus uji (test cases) yang akan dilakukan. Pada pembahasan artikel ini akan dijelaskan bagaimana menggambarkan grafik alir berdasarkan algoritma/flow chart yang akan diuji, menghitung cyclomatic complexity, menentukan jalur-jalur dasar dan mendefinisikan kasus-kasus uji yang akan dilakukan.

 

Teknik pengujian jalur dasar diimplementasikan pada pengujian unit (unit testing) dan integrasi (integration testing). Teknik pengujian ini dapat digunakan untuk melakukan proses penjaminan mutu (quality assurance) terhadap produk perangkat lunak sebelum diserahkan kepada pengguna (customer).

 

Pengujian Struktur Program Dengan Pengujian Jalur Dasar (Basis Path Testing) : Teori Dan Aplikasi

 
Skenario Pemerintah Daerah dalam Pengembangan Geopark Nasional Karangsambung Karangbolong
Authors: Kurniawan Murtiadi hajar
Published: October 2022

This study aims to explain the local government scenario in developing Karangsambung Karangbolong National Geopark. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach using the TAID analysis framework (Tracking, Analyzing, Imaging, Deciding). The results of this study indicate two main factors that influence the development of the Karangsambung Karangbolong National Geopark. First, the availability of budget, and second, the role of the government, stakeholders, and community. This study offers 4 (four) alternative scenarios for developing Karangsambung Karangbolong National Geopark, namely Wonderful Future, Floating Future, Refraction Future, and Downfall Future. Based on scenarios that are following current conditions, a vision and strategy for developing geopark for 2021-2030 are then drawn up according to the main pillars of geopark development. This study recommends that local governments make a financing framework plan for geopark development and establish partnerships with central and provincial governments, stakeholders, and the public. In addition, local governments need to formulate regulations as guidelines for developing the Karangsambung Karangbolong National Geopark.
Pengaruh Kepemimpinan Transformasional, Budaya Organisasi dan Kepuasan Kerja terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Kementerian Pemberdayaan Perempuan dan Perlindungan Anak RI
Authors: Friosa Yudith Restia
Published: October 2022

This riset were to determine effect of transformational leadership on organizational culture within the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA), to determine the impact of leadership one job satisfied within Kemen PPPA, to determine the impact of transformational leadership on performances appprisal within Kemen PPPA, knowing the influence of organization culture on job satisfaction within Kemen PPPA, purposive the influence of organizational culture on performance within Kemen PPPA then knowing the impact of job satisfaction to performance within Kemen PPPA. The research is included the explanatory research, measurements in this study were carried out by testing primary data, data analysis in this research used SEM-PLS technique to analyzed latent variables, indicator variables, comparisons between dependent variables. The relationship between the variables of transformational leadership, organizational culture, job satisfaction and performance shows a positive and significant.