bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SIMPLEKS DAN MULTIPLEKS PRE-ENRICHMENT-PCR UNTUK DETEKSI Salmonella Enteritidis DAN Typhimurium PADA KARKAS AYAM
Authors:   Departemen Ilmu dan Teknologi Pangan, Fakultas Teknologi Pertanian, IPB University, Bogor, Nurjanah Siti , Rahayu Winiati P. , Dewanti-Hariyadi Ratih , Asthiti Ni Gusti Ayu Made Widyatari , Melati Rahadina Praba ,   Departemen Ilmu dan Teknologi Pangan, Fakultas Teknologi Pertanian, IPB University, Bogor
Published: February 2022

A PCR assay has been developed and applied to detect Salmonella contamination in chicken carcasses. However, a concentration fewer than 3 cells per gram lead to false-negative results due to difficulties in the DNA extraction. The objective of this study was to evaluate of the influence of pre-enrichment on the sensitivity of simplex and multiplex PCR methods the detection of for Salmonella spp., S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium in chicken carcasses. Artificial contamination was done using very low number of Salmonella Hadar, S. Enteritidis dan S. Typhimurium and pre-enrichment was carried out by 8 hours incubation in non-selective (BPW) medium. The results showed that simplex PCR could detect Salmonella spp., S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium at initial numbers of 2.3, 0.9 and 2.3 MPN/mL of cells in broth medium, respectively. A multiplex PCR could detect mixed culture of the three Salmonella serovars at an initial number of 0.73 MPN/mL of cells. When compared to non-enrichment treatment, simplex pre-enrichment-PCR gave an increase in the percentage of positive results in chicken carcasses (n= 12), from 75 to 100% for Salmonella spp., from 8 to 58% for S. Typhimurium, and from 58 to 75% for S. Enteritidis. Increasing in the positive percentage was also occurred at multiplex pre-enrichment-PCR, however the concentration of S. Enteritidis primer was not optimum for detection. Pre-enrichment step significantly increases the sensitivity of PCR-based assay for detection Salmonella.
Mulige NP-placeringer ved retningsadverbium + præposition
Authors: Nguyen Michael
Published: February 2022

Denne artikel tager udgangspunkt i konstruktioner hvor en NP (nominalfrase) er foranstillet et retningsadverbium, fx Australien rundt, livet ud og et andet sted hen. Den fremlagte analyse bygger på generative standardantagelser om hvordan frasestrukturer ser ud, og om hvordan NP'er får tilskrevet kasus, herunder at en NP skal tilskrives én og kun én kasus. Analysen bygger også på at en såkaldt pP-konstituent eksisterer, dvs. en konstituent hvor retningsadverbiet p er en kerne der selekterer en PP (præpositionalfrase), fx [pP rundt [PP om Australien]]. Det er desuden en vigtig antagelse at p-elementet kan selektere en PP med en implicit eller "usynlig" præposition P (dvs. et slags nulmorfem). Med udgangspunkt i pP-strukturen og alle de nævnte antagelser redegør analysen for hvorfor konstruktioner som rundt om Australien og Australien rundt er grammatiske, hvorimod konstruktioner som *rundt Australien og *Australien rundt om er ugrammatiske. I de grammatiske tilfælde får NP'en tilskrevet én og kun én kasus, enten af et p-element eller af P. I de ugrammatiske tilfælde får NP'en hhv. ingen kasus eller to kasus.
Breaking away from Capital? Theorising activity in the shadow of Marx
Authors: Jones Peter
Published: February 2022

The paper reflects on the relationship between the understanding of human activity which Marx expresses in Capital and the theoretical model of activity offered by an influential contemporary variant of Activity Theory. The paper argues that this variant departs significantly from Marx’s conception of human activity and its role in what he calls the ‘labour process’. In particular, Activity Theory has failed to distinguish between the labour process and the valorization process, a distinction which is fundamental to Capital and to Marx’s theoretical and political perspective more generally. The paper also argues that this conceptual conflation is also evident in the theoretical discourse of the founders of the Activity Theory tradition. The paper goes on to consider the theoretical and practical implications of this departure from the method and conclusions of Capital.
Culture and Cognitive Science
Authors: Cole Michael
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this paper is to review the way in which cultural contributions to human nature have been treated within the field of  cognitive science. I was initially motivated to write about this topic when invited to give a talk to a Cognitive Science department at a sister university in California a few years ago. My goal, on that occasion, was to convince my audience, none of whom were predisposed to considering culture an integral part of cognitive science, that they would indeed benefit from recognizing some affinities between the ideas of some of the founders of cognitive science and ideas about culture emanating from the Soviet (now Russian) cultural-historical school. My task in presenting this argument to the readers of  Outlines is most likely the mirror image of that earlier effort. On the one hand, the ideas of the cultural-historical school are well known to this readership and you do not need to be lectured on the topic by an American whose knowledge of the topic is no greater than your own. At best, the ways in which I have appropriated those ideas and put them to work might provide an opportunity to reflect on the strange fate of ideas when they move between national traditions of thought. On the other hand, owing to a double twist of fate (after all, what was an American doing in Moscow in 1962 doing post-doctoral work in psychology) I was also present during the discussions leading to the founding of Cognitive Science in the early 1970’s and subsequently became a member of the Cognitive Science Program at UCSD in the early 1980’s, arguably one of the pioneering efforts to institutionalize this new discipline.My hope is this unusual confluence of experiences, and the ideas that they have generated, will be of some use to those who see value in a dialogue between these different intellectual projects. With this goal in mind, I will begin by providing my own brief history of key ideas associated with the origins of cognitive science. My presentation will of necessity be highly selective – it is the relevance of the inclusion of culture in cognitive science that is my major focus. I will then summarize some major milestones in the development of cognitive science at UCSD before turning to describe my own fusion of ideas from cultural-historical psychology and cognitive science as a kind of existence proof of the potential value of inter-disciplinary dialogue.
Documenting Practices: The indexical centering of medical records
Authors: Østerlund Carsten
Published: February 2022

This paper explores how organizational members use documents to share their knowledge within and across work settings. I suggest that organizational studies of distributed knowledge sharing and information systems would greatly benefit from the linguistic analysis of communicative practices. Specifically, the paper highlights the notion of indexical centering as formulated by the linguistic anthropologist William Hanks and demonstrates its analytical power in studying documenting as a communicative practice. Drawing on a 15-month, multi-sited ethnographic study in several pediatric healthcare settings, the paper focuses on how two doctors compose and use two medical histories found in two distinct medical information systems. The analysis suggests that the doctors use documents to index the temporal, spatial, and participatory dimensions of their knowledge sharing. They do so by indexing, on the one hand, the participants, times and places for their communicative practices and, on the other hand, the participants, times and places of their general care practices. The indexical analysis allows us to perceive documents, as more than mere vessels for knowledge transfer among organizational members, but as an integrated part of how people structure their work practices and situate their knowledge sharing in complex distributed organizational settings.
Examining Boundaries In Health Care - Outline Of A Method For Studying Organizational Boundaries In Interaction
Authors: Kerosuo Hannele
Published: February 2022

The care of patients with many illnesses often appears fragmented by many boundaries in the health care system when the care is provided in several locations of primary and secondary care. In the article, boundaries are examined in an interaction between patients and multiple providers in an effort to develop collaboration in inter-organizational provision in a Change Laboratory intervention. Firstly, it will be traced how the boundaries are expressed in the interaction. Secondly, it will be studied how the boundaries expressed in the interaction relate to health care organizations and patient care practices. Thirdly, the practical activity that was embedded in the interaction between patients and providers will be focused on at the laboratory. The expression of boundaries was examined in activity theoretical terms as discursive actions. In discursive actions the ‘lived past’ becomes involved in the situational actions that orient towards future activity. The findings suggest that expressing boundaries uses various linguistic means and it seems relevant to propose that boundaries cannot be studied in a formal way; the analysis needs to be related to the organizational context of the specific study. However, the linguistic means may serve as useful “landmarks” or “pointers” of boundaries that are often expressed implicitly in the interaction. The laboratory session provides an opportunity to study boundaries “on the spot”, or “in their own right”. The realization of the emergent inter-organizational care at the session created challenges for the provision while contradicting some elements of the prevailing provision. During these kinds of interaction, the boundaries between providers became obvious. Furthermore, challenging the boundaries in the normal flow of interaction may be a potential for boundary crossing and even further, a re-constitution of boundaries. Consequently, a boundary crossing represents an interesting unit of analysis for future studies of boundaries and boundary crossing in interaction and discourse. At the laboratory setting was displayed the ability to control others through an indirect use of power that may reflect a simultaneous value system supported by the prevailing hierarchies. In the studies to come, it will be important to pay attention to these implicit power linkages when monitoring the boundaries in horizontal collaborations.
Workplace development and learning in elder care – the importance of a fertile soil and the trouble of project implementation
Authors: Westerberg Kristina
Published: February 2022

Workplace learning and competence development in work are frequently used concepts. A wide spread notion is that societal, institutional, and organizational changes require the development of knowledge, methods and strategies for learning at workplaces, in both public and private enterprises. In research on learning and competence development at work, the organizational learning and development as well as individual accomplishments are investigated from various perspectives and in different contexts. The theoretical base for research projects can, accordingly, be focused at a number of organizational and system levels. This paper describes a research project called "Workplace development and learning in elder care" in which learning and knowledge were key issues and where Activity Theory was used as the theoretical base. The project was joint project between two research and development field units. These were UFFE, a municipal social services’ field research unit, and Äldrecentrum Västerbotten, a county council field research unit which aims to serve the interests of the elderly. The project was launched in the fall of 2000 and ended in the summer of 2003. I was employed part-time as a research leader at the municipal research unit and became the research leader for this particular project. A number of students, as well as employees from the county council geriatric care services and the municipal elder care participated in the project. The general aims of the project were to: a) investigate the prerequisites for development and learning; b) test and evaluate interventions at a workgroup level; and c) identify the need for new knowledge. The results were expected to be useful for the field research units as well as for the municipal and county eldercare services in their research and development work.I start with a presentation of the theoretical concepts and apply them in order to form a tentative hypothesis on the status of learning and knowledge in elder care. The next section contains a short description of the different parts of the project and the main results are presented. Finally, the results are discussed and related to the conditions and impact of workplace interventions.
From Theory to Practice: What does the Metaphor of Scaffolding Mean to Educators Today?
Authors: Verenikina Irina
Published: February 2022

The current emphasis on rising educational standards in Australian society (eg A Commonwealth Government Quality Teacher Initiative, 2000) has stimulated a growing interest in Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory widely renowned for its profound understanding of teaching and learning. The metaphor of scaffolding commonly viewed as underpinned by socio-cultural theory and the zone of proximal development in particular, has become increasingly popular among educators in Australia (Hammond, 2002). Teachers find the metaphor appealing as it "offers what is lacking in much literature on education - an effective conceptual metaphor for the quality of teacher intervention in learning" (Hammond, 2002, p.2). However, there is no consensus of opinion among educators on the specific characteristics that constitute successful scaffolding. On the contrary, the current interpretation of scaffolding seems to have been drifting away from the Vygotskian view of teaching and learning and appears to have become an umbrella term for any kind of teacher support (Jacobs, 2001) and therefore, cannot serve the purpose of justifying the quality of teacher intervention. Furthermore, when taken out of its theoretical context, scaffolding tends to be interpreted as a form of direct instruction (Donovan & Smolkin, 2002), which invalidates the Vygotskian idea of teaching as co-construction of knowledge within student-centred activities. Such an interpretation of the metaphor of scaffolding is an unfortunate step back to a traditional, pre-Piagetian way of teaching which is adult-driven in nature and often results in "the imposition of a structure on the student" (Searle, 1984, in Stone, 1998, p. 349). In spite of a number of limitations of the metaphor, that have been discussed by socio-cultural theorists (e. g., Stone, 2001), it remains highly popular among educators. To fulfil teachers' expectations of scaffolding as being an effective teaching tool, it needs to be understood within the framework of its underlying theory. This project aims to analyse understanding of the concept of scaffolding by educational researchers and practitioners in its connection to the Vygotskian view of the role of instruction in nurturing children as active learners.
Broadening the Circumference: A Socio-Historical Analysis of Family Enactments of Literacy and Numeracy within the Official Script of Middle Class Early Childhood Discourse
Authors: Fleer Marilyn , Robbins Jill
Published: February 2022

Informed by s socio-historical theory, this paper will report on a study that sought to document the literacy and numeracy outcomes for children living in low socio-economic circumstances in a region south-east of Melbourne, Australia.  The research focused on children in preschool and child care centres in the year prior to beginning school, and was designed to map literacy and numeracy experiences of children in the home and in the early childhood centre. In this paper an analysis of the cultural tools that families were intentionally developing in the context of their homes and communities is featured.  A socio-historical analysis of the data revealed children’s active engagement in the funds of knowledge (Moll and Greenberg 1990, Moll, 1990, and Moll, 2000) available within the community, the situated nature of learning (Lave and Wenger, 1991) within their communities, and the challenge for families transcending the constraints of ‘everyday learning’ to engage with ‘schooled learning’ (Hedegaard, 1998).  The study also revealed the institutional barriers to learning the landscape of schooling  (Greeno, 1991) and the deficit positioning evident for children and their families within the official script of middle class early childhood discourse (Fleer, 2003).
Learning By Teaching: A Cultural Historical Perspective On A Teacher’s Development
Authors: Gordon Sue , Fittler Kathleen
Published: February 2022

How can teacher development be characterised? In this paper we offer a conceptualisation of teacher development as the enhancement of knowledge and capabilities to function in the activity of a teacher and illustrate with a case study. Our analytic focus is on the development of a science teacher, David, as he engaged in an innovative, collaborative project on learning photonics at a metropolitan secondary school in Australia. Three dimensions of development emerged: technical confidence and competence, pedagogical development and personal agency. We explore the transformative effects of intrapersonal tensions within the teacher’s constitution of his role in the emerging community of enquiry — positioning him in turn as learner, instructor and facilitator. We view the context for David’s actions as a complex and dynamic system and interpret David’s development as arising from his responses to the differences in his emerging roles in the project.
Understanding Collaborative Practice: Reading between the Lines Actions
Authors: Hwang Sung Won , Roth Wolf-Michael , Pozzer-Ardenghi Lillian
Published: February 2022

Collaboration is the central aspect of human practice; without it and the associated division of labor human society as we know it today would not exist. Successful collaboration enables a collective subject to produce more than the sum of what its members can do individually. But which conditions enable successful collaboration and how does it come about? In a case study of artifact designing in a class of sixth- and seventh-grade students, we articulate how the social interaction produces and reproduces the prerequisite and required intersubjectivity for successful collaboration and thereby constitutes a configuration of successful collaboration at two dominant modes of design practice. In face-to-face communication, human bodies produce a variation of available social and material resources and thereby concretely realize the generalized possibilities of making individual subjectivity available to others. This, we show, produces and reproduces intersubjectivity. During cooperative action, human bodies take up different parts of the collective labor and thereby achieve a division of labor, but the different contributions are accomplished into a collective one through human bodies in action, which constitutes a form of communication. We conclude that evaluating collaboration requires reading the productive value from communication and the communicative value from the division of labor, which, in dialectical unfolding of collaborative interactions, articulates itself in and as of creating new action possibilities (room to maneuver) through acting human bodies and therefore requires reading between the actions.
Marginalization and Power in Living with and Researching Living with HIV
Authors: Pedersen Bodil
Published: February 2022

This article takes its point of departure in a research project studying the psychosocial problems of living with HIV. The project was intended to participate in changing practices dealing with these problems. It became a project including many differently situated and intersecting personal and generalized perspectives. The article researches the development of the HIV project as a contribution to discussions related to Participatory Action Research and Practice Research. In mainstream approaches methodological indications are often presented as rules to follow in order to ensure the quality of the obtained knowledge. But situated historical and societal processes are involved in the effectuation of the HIV project, like they are in any other project. Researching the project heightens the awareness of the necessity of reflecting on situated and historical issues of power and marginalization and on the positions of the researcher in a given field of research. Methodological flexibility may also be necessary in order to encompass different perspectives. Such reflections and strategies are necessary precisely to ensure the development of knowledge and practice alike.
Deaths in Police Custody: The ‘acceptable’ consequences of a ‘law and order’ society?
Authors: Pemberton Simon
Published: February 2022

This article seeks to explain the acceptance of the rising numbers of police custody deaths in England and Wales over the last 20 years. It argues that these deaths are a consequence of the transformation in the U.K., from a social democratic to an increasingly neo-liberal mode of social organisation. The article links the characteristics of the authoritarian state, which emerged at this point in time, to the current profile of police custody deaths. Then, by using interview material with those who have investigated these cases, the article seeks to understand the narratives which are mobilised to legitimate these deaths as the ‘acceptable’ consequences of a ‘law and order’ society.
Administracyjno-finansowe konteksty zarządzania. Wybrane zagadnienia
Authors: Iglicka-Okólska Krystyna , Dobrzyński Marian
Published: February 2022

The monograph addresses selected issues from the borderline of law, finance and management of the public and private sectors, which have significant implications for the global functioning of enterprises and the economy. The authors focus on fiscal policy poroblems during a pandemic time, the rise of cryptocurrencies, aspects of the functioning of capital companies, ways of carrying out family business succession and the activity of an insurance broker through the prism of the legal environment. The book was written on the basis of current research, therefore it can be valuable material for researchers and practitioners managing organisations, as well as for students of management, economics and law looking for news on management in the administrative and financial context.
UTICAJ FUNDAMETALNIH POKAZATELJA POSLOVANJA NA STRUKTURU KAPITALA LISTIRANIH DRUŠTAVA U REPUBLICI SRPSKOJ
Authors: Grujić Miloš , Janjić Dragan , Todorović Aleksandar
Published: February 2022

U nekim fazama svog razvoja, kod kompanija se vrlo èesto pojavljuje potreba da se privuku spoljni izvori finansiranja. Jedan od naèina za privlaèenje novca za finansiranje neke kompanije ili investicionog projekta su pozajmice. Te pozajmice mogu biti u obliku vlastitih izvora finansiranja, u vidu emisije akcija i u obliku pozajmljenih izvora finansiranja u vidu emisije obveznica ili kredita od banaka. Meðutim, jedno od osnovnih pitanja koje se postavlja jeste: koji je optimalan odnos duga i akcijskog kapitala u finansiranju kompanije, odnosno kako se odreðuje optimalna struktura kapitala neke kompanije? Dakle, ovdje je rijeè o strukturiranju pasive bilansa stanja preduzeæa, odnosno o uspostavljanju optimalnog odnosa sopstvenog kapitala i dugova (obaveza). Istraživanje je obuhvatilo analizu godišnjih finansijskih izvještaja 612 nefinansijskih akcionarskih društava koja jesu ili su bila listirana na Banjaluèkoj berzi hartija od vrijednosti u periodu od 2011. do 2020. godine. Istraživaèko pitanje glasi: "Kako menadžeri listiranih akcionarskih društava u Republici Srpskoj komponuju strukturu kapitala?" Kao zavisna varijabla u modelu posmatran je odnos kratkoroènog duga prema ukupnom zaduženju. Kao nezavisne varijable korišteni su sljedeæi fundamentalni pokazatelji poslovanja: povrat na akcijski kapital, povrat na aktivu, fiksna imovina, tekuæi racio, tekuæa aktiva prema ukupnoj aktivi, ukupan dug prema ukupnom kapitalu i velièina firme. Ukupan broj opservacija iznosio je 2.905. Svrha rada je identifikovati faktore specifične za privredna društva koja posluju u zemljama u razvoju, a koji značajno utiču na odluke o zaduživanju, odnosno finansiranju, te uzimajući u obzir te faktore konstruisati odgovarajući ekonometrijski model. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da su najjači uticaj na zavisnu varijablu, tj. kratkoročni dug prema ukupnim obavezama, zabilježile sljedeće nezavisne varijable: fiksna aktiva/ukupna aktiva i neto dobit/prosječan kapital (ROE). Sa druge strane, negativan uticaj na zavisnu varijablu imale su ostale varijable. Kada se uzorak podijeli na društva u većinskom javnom i u većinskom privatnom vlasništvu, zaključak je da kod obje vrste društava najveći uticaj ima odnos fiksna aktiva/ukupna aktiva ali da su ostali pokazatelji različitog uticaja.
Numerical analysis of boundary line between liquid-like zone and gas-like zone of supercritical CO2
Authors: Sun Hui , Liu Jing-Nan , Zhang Li-Xin , Yang Qi-Guo , Gao Ming ,   School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China,   Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer in Power Engineering, Shanghai 200093, China
Published: February 2022

Supercritical carbon dioxide has gradually been becoming an important research subject in the academic field due to the fact that it has a promising application prospect in the field of extraction, precipitation, thermodynamic cycle and chemical reaction. In recent years, the interest in studying the region near the critical point was aroused and a large variation of the physical properties could be detected due to the change of temperature and pressure. The rapid development of molecular simulation technology benefits the traditional experimental methods to study the variations of relevant physical properties in the near-critical region. In order to find out the Widom line range of supercritical carbon dioxide in the near-critical region and the molecular structure characteristics of the liquid-like gas region, both the molecular dynamics simulation technology and the cluster analysis are used to investigate the relation between variation coefficient and skewness of CO2 density time series with Widom line and liquid-gas-like interval, under the condition of the temperature and pressure range of 300–350 K and 5.5–18.5 MPa, respectively. The results show that the Widom line of supercritical carbon dioxide in the near-critical region can be determined by connecting the maximum coefficient of variation of the density time series curve. The Widom line begins to extend along with the critical point until it stops at 350 K. The molecular distribution structure of supercritical carbon dioxide liquid-like region and gas-like region can be differentiated by the skewness of the number density distributions. The skewness is positive in the gas-like region, but negative in the liquid-like region, and reaches the maximum at the Widom line.
Clinical predictors and electrodiagnostic characteristics in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome with respiratory failure: a retrospective, matched case-control study
Authors: Charoentanyarak Kanchana , Singjam Apiradee , Saengsuwan Jittima
Published: February 2022

Background

Respiratory failure is a common complication of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This study aimed to determine the clinical predictors and electrodiagnostic (EDx) characteristics in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) with respiratory failure.

Methods

The retrospective study included 29 confirmed GBS cases with respiratory failure and age- (±5 years) and sex-matched controls (1:1). The dependent t-test and McNemar–Bowker test were used to analyse the continuous and categorical data, respectively. In addition, a multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the predictive factors for respiratory failure.

Results

Among both cases and controls, the majority were male (72.4%), and the average age was 50.9 years. The data showed that patients with respiratory failure had higher GBS disability scores, lower motor power (≤3) of the hip flexors and ankle dorsiflexors, and experienced facial and bulbar palsy. In the multivariate analysis, the significant predictive factors were bulbar palsy (AOR 10.4 [95% CI [2.6–41.4]) and motor power of hip flexors ≤ 3 (AOR 31.4 [95% CI [3.1–314.5]). Patients with respiratory failure had lower compound muscle action potential amplitude of the ulnar and tibial nerves. The median, ulnar, and tibial nerve conduction studies were more likely to reflect inexcitability. The GBS subtypes in GBS patients with and without respiratory failure were not significantly different.

Conclusions

Bulbar palsy and motor power of the hip flexors ≤ 3 were significant predictors for respiratory failure. The GBS subtypes in patients with and without respiratory failure were not significantly different.
Scleral Necrosis in Porphyria Cutanea Tarda: A Case Report
Authors: Shukla Ruchi , Mishra Ashutosh Kumar , Pandey Prasoon
Published: February 2022

Scleral necrosis is a rare but well documented ocular manifestation of Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT). The PCT is caused by a deficiency of Uroporphyrinogen Decarboxylase (Uro-D). The typical clinical manifestations of PCT in the form of cutaneous photosensitivity are due to the accumulation of fluorescent polycarboxylated porphyrins. Here, a case of 30-year-old male patient who was referred to the cornea services department for scleral thinning in right eye has been presented. Slit lamp biomicroscopy revealed focal area (5×5 mm2 ) of punched out scleral thinning (>80%) with uveal show in the interpalpebral area, 2 mm temporal to the limbus in right eye and a partial thickness scleral melt in nasal area. The left eye was phthisical. Patient had multiple blisters and pigmented, slightly depressed scars on the skin, especially in the sun-exposed parts such as face, hands and legs. Digital shortening, atrophy and contractures were seen in hands and legs. Based on the clinical, biochemical and dermatological evaluation, the diagnosis of PCT was made. A rare case of scleral necrosis with uveal show in a patient with PCT which was successfully treated with allogenic scleral patch graft has been reported. On follow-up visits scleral patch graft was well taken up.
Effect of Low Dose Intravenous Dexmedetomidine with 4% Sevoflurane on Haemodynamic Response during Laryngoscopy and Tracheal Intubation: A Randomised Controlled Study
Authors: Kaur Maninder , Goel Sargam
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Over the last decade, the use of dexmedetomidine has found favour in obtunding the haemodynamic response during laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation but the use of higher doses has lead to a number of adverse effects. Aim: To compare the effect of low dose dexmedetomidine (0.5 µg/kg) and 4% sevoflurane (dial setting) with, Normal Saline (NS) and 4% sevoflurane (dial setting) on haemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation. Materials and Methods: This randomised double blind controlled study was carried out in 60 patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) class I, undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia. The patients were allocated to group DX (n=30) and group NS (n=30), who received dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg/kg infusion and NS infusion intravenous (i.v.) respectively, in equal volume over 10 minutes before anaesthesia induction. They were evaluated for the requirement of thiopentone sodium, vecuronium bromide and sevoflurane, total i.v. fluids transfused haemodynamic parameters intraoperatively (pre and post induction) and postoperatively at regular intervals, and side effects. Results: On statistical comparison, Heart Rate (HR), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) were found to be significantly less in group DX than in group NS with a p-value of <0.05. The total i.v. fluids infused in group NS and DX expressed as mean±Standard Deviation (SD) were 1145.00±228.21 and 1325.00±359.64, respectively. This was statistically significant. Thiopentone requirement was statistically more in group NS with a mean±standard deviation of 249.17±37.99 than in group DX (225.00±38.84). Similarly, sevoflurane requirement was statistically less in the DX group at various time intervals. Ten patients (33%) in group DX required antiemesis, compared to 13 patients (43%) in group NS. Two patients in group NS and three patients in group DX required injection (inj.) atropine to treat bradycardia. Conclusion: On comparison, a combination of 4% sevoflurane with 0.5 µg/kg dexmedetomidine was more effective in attenuating pressor response than 4% sevoflurane (dial setting) alone, but is associated with minor and manageable risk of bradycardia and hypotension.
Influence of Season on the Incidence of Postdural Puncture HeadacheA Clinical Audit
Authors: Parthasarathy S , Shanthi TS
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Postdural Puncture Headache (PDPH), even though becoming uncommon, is still one of the distressing postoperative complications after spinal anaesthesia. The reports on the incidence of PDPH are inconsistent, being 2-40% with different sizes of needles. A previous study conducted by us in the winter months in non obstetric cases, found a low incidence of PDPH and authors had suggested that there is a need to examine the association between PDPH and different seasons. Aim: To find out the incidence of PDPH in obstetric population and any finding to differential incidence with different seasons. Materials and Methods: This study was a single centre clinical audit of lower segment caesarean cases under spinal anaesthesia with 25-gauge Quincke needle. The records of summer and winter months were separated as two groups for each year of 2019 and 2020. The cases done in the months of March, April and May formed the summer group, while the October, November and December patients formed the winter group. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to age (p-value=0.5). The incidence of PDPH was significantly higher in summer months than winter months in two consecutive years (p-value=0.0068). Fourteen out of 390 patients in the summer group and one out of 392 patients of the winter group suffered from PDPH overall. Conclusion: There should be an urgent need to control ambient temperature in patients at risk of PDPH. The optimisation of coincident dehydration is essential.
Assessment of Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids across Spacings for Variability, Trait Association and Path Analysis in North Eastern India
Authors: Kanna M. Ramesh , Barua N. Sarma , Sharma K. K. , Sarma R. N. , Das R. , Barooah M. , Sarma D. , Bordoloi Dibosh
Published: February 2022

The present investigation was conducted with nine genotypes in randomized block design (RBD) during Rabi, 2019-20 across the spacings viz., 60 cm x 20 cm and 50 cm x 20 cm at the ICR farm, AAU, Jorhat. In pooled analysis of variance, the genotype mean square across spacing was significant to highly significant for all the traits except ears per plant. The mean square due to genotype x spacing was significant to highly significant for the traits days to 50% silk, ears per plant, leaf area index at 60 DAS (days after sowing), leaf area index at 90 DAS, harvest index and grain moisture. Each of the hybrids responded similarly from spacing to spacing for the traits viz., days to 50% pollen shed, days to 100% dry husk, anthesis-silking interval, plant height, ear length, ear diameter, kernel rows per ear, kernels per row, 100 kernel weight and grain yield per hectare. One or more hybrids responded differently in the two spacings for the traits viz., days to 50% silk, ear height, ears per plant, chlorophyll content, leaf area index 60 DAS, leaf area index 90 DAS, harvest index, grain moisture and grain yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for plant height, ear height, kernels per row, chlorophyll content, leaf area index at 60 DAS, leaf area index at 90 DAS, harvest index, grain yield per plant and grain yield per hectare across spacing and it indicated the preponderant role of additive gene action for these traits. Significant genetic association of both grain yield per plant and grain yield per hectare with days to 50% pollen shed, days to 50% silk, day to 100% dry husk, kernels per row, leaf area index at 60 DAS and leaf area index at 90 DAS indicated that grain yield could be improved indirectly by selecting superior plants for easily heritable traits like days to 50% pollen shed, days to 50% silk and days to 100% dry husk across spacing. Genotypic path analysis revealed that the characters viz., days to 100% dry husk, days to 50% pollen shed, ear length and kernel rows per ear had the highest positive direct effects on grain yield per plant while days to 50% silk and kernels per row had the highest negative direct effect on grain yield per plant across spacing.
Study of Jamun (Syzygium cumini Skeels.) Genotypes Based on Shelf life and Interspecific Crossability
Authors: Kumar K. Ajay , Mounika K. , Shulee Ariina M. M. , Maiti C. S.
Published: February 2022

An experiment was conducted during 2019 to study the jamun genotypes based on shelf life of fruit. Shelf life studies were conducted on eight jamun genotypes and results indicated that, the maximum shelf life of the Jamun fruit was 5 days under normal room temperature after harvest at ripened stage. Genotypes Dhoopdal, Selection-45 and Savadatti had better shelf life compare to other genotypes. In crossing (S. cumini × S. jambose), out of 100 crossed flowers, only 5 crossed flowers were set and produced fully mature fruits.
Meat Production from Cull Bali Cows as Compared to Ongole Cows
Authors: Jelantik I. Gusti N. , Benu Imanuel , Malelak Gemini E. M.
Published: February 2022

Aims: The need for beef in the cattle production centers in Indonesia is mostly met by slaughtering of culled cows. However, the quality of culled female’s beef is often lower than that of fattened bulls. Until now, the quality of meat and processed products of culled Bali and Ongole cows is unknown. This research was carried out to to compare the carcass and beef production of culled Bali and Ongole cows.

Materials and Methods: A total of 6 culled cows, 3 each from Bali and Ongole cows, were slaughtered for evaluation of meat production and qualities. The percentage of carcass and carcass parts were determined after being removed from the non-carcass parts. The carcass parts were dissected to separate the meat and bones. Meat samples were taken to determine the chemical composition of the meat from the main meat parts. The organoleptic qualities of the meat including color, smell, and cooking loss were compared between the two breeds.

Results: The results showed that carcass production was higher (P<0.05) in Bali cows as compared to cull Ongole cows. The weight of carcass parts having good meat quality with high economic value was higher in culled Bali cows compared to Ongole cows.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that at the similar body condition and age, culled Bali cows produces more meat and carcass parts having higher quality meat.
Management of Open Gingival Embrasures: A Scope for Prosthetic Dentistry
Authors: Kothiwan Prajakta Prashant , Borle Anjali Bhoyar , Sathe Seema
Published: February 2022

A smile that is pleasing and beaming can be achieved by appropriate position of tooth, periodontal status of the tooth, type of prosthesis, as well as condition of the soft tissue. Any disharmony in these factors can lead to the formation of black triangles which are unesthetic.  These unesthetic zones can be corrected by an interdisciplinary approach which includes orthodontic, prosthodontic, periodontic, endodontic branches. The treatment modality that is opted for a particular patient depends on the age of the patient, the biotype of gingiva, the form and condition of the radicular portion of the tooth as well as the interproximal space available. Surgical approach includes the recontouring, reconstructing, preserving of the interdental papilla. Surgical technique includes releasing, reflecting and stabilizing the interdental papilla. The non-surgical approach includes proper aligning of the maligned teeth by fixed orthodontic appliances thus decreasing the crest of bone and contact point distance. Endodontically the gingival black triangles can be treated by the use of composite resin in shades of pink to reproduce gingival contour. Open gingival embrasures can also be corrected with the help of ovate pontics that are easy to design and are more esthetic as compared to the conical pontic. To restore the scalloped architecture of the soft tissue, recontouring of the soft tissue surrounding the restoration followed by placement of ovate pontic can be done which is supported by the adjacent teeth. Open gingival embrasure can be masked with the use of silicones or removable acrylics as a gingival veneer. This type of prosthesis is also helpful in patients who have exposed radicular portion of the tooth because of excessive loss of alveolar bone. This review article discusses about the various etiologic factors accounting to the formation of open gingival embrasures, along with its classification and the various treatment modalities that are taken into consideration.
Lip Surgeries in Periodontics: A Review
Authors: Kalariya Pallavi , Durge Khushboo , Bajaj Pavan , Kale Bhairavi
Published: February 2022

Purpose: The goal of this presentation is to describe and assess the many types of operations that can be used to treat excessive gingival display and puffy lips.

Methods: Aesthetic dentistry is swiftly becoming as one of dentistry's most innovative and challenging fields. Patients are becoming more conscious of their physical appearance, and the grin has gotten a lot of attention as a result. Lip operations are becoming more popular among the general public. Various lip surgeries and their modifications have been described in this article, as well as their surgical techniques, indications, and post-operative care. Lip repositioning and lip reduction are discussed in this article. Lip repositioning is a less expensive and time-consuming option for excessive gingival show than more expensive and time-consuming procedures. Lip repositioning has psychological benefits, especially when compared to the low risk. Lip reduction surgery, on the other hand, strives to achieve a balanced relationship between the upper and lower lips that is proportional to the rest of the face, as well as typical lip competence and the appearance of lips that are larger or fuller than desired.
Comparative Evaluation for the Efficacy of Collecting Sample by using Vaginal Atrophy Screening Combistick (VAS Combistick) as against the Traditional Method of Collecting Sample for Screening of Vaginal Atrophy in Perimenopausal Women
Authors: Tiwari Megha , Acharya Neema , Shukla Samarth , Mahakarkar Manjusha
Published: February 2022

Background: Genitals and sexuality is an essential element of healthy and happily aging perimenopausal women with their partners. Vaginal atrophy (VA) of menopause is a condition associated to physiological, histological and anatomical changes noticed in the genital and urinary tracts in peri and postmenopausal women. Vaginal atrophy is the sequel of the decrease levels of estrogens in plasma, which are symptoms of menopause.

Objectives: 1. To evaluate the baseline data for vaginal maturation index (VMI) & pH in perimenopausal women. 2. To evaluate and compare the method of collecting sample by using VAS combistick & traditional method. 3. To evaluate and compare the accuracy of VMI score & pH using VAS combistick & traditional method. 4. To evaluate and compare the feasibility & acceptability using survey based analysis in VAS combistick method and traditional method.

Methodology: This will be an interventional-cross sectional comparative study. This study will include women who will come to Acharya Vinobha Bhave Rural Hospital (Obstetric and Gynaecology) OPD with at least one symptoms of vaginal atrophy. These women will take self sampling by using VAS combistick will be included in ‘sampling A’ (self sampling group) while, samples of the same group of patients taken by the traditional method will be included in ‘sampling B’ (clinician sampling group).

Results: In this study we have hypothesized that vaginal sampling by vaginal atrophy screening (VAS) combistick may be better when compared to traditional method of sampling for screening of vaginal atrophy in terms of adequacy, feasibility and acceptability.

Conclusion: VAS combistick may be considered as an alternative and better examining strategy which may give a reproducible and equivalent result to screening of vaginal atrophy in comparison to that of traditional sampling methods.
Lipid Profile and Vitamin B 12 levels in Women Having Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Control Study
Authors: Khan Shehmeen , Memon Shahida Hassan , Zaheen Zakia , Rubeen Rukhsana , Bhatti Urooj , Chohan Muhammad Nadeem
Published: February 2022

Aim: To assess the lipid profile and vitamin B12 levels in women having gestational diabetes mellitus.

Study Design: Case Control study.

Place and Duration: Department of Biochemistry and Gynecology/Obstetrics LUMHS Hospital Jamshoro total 1 year duration from January 2018 to December 2018.

Methodology: A sample of 291 pregnant women was grouped as; 216 diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 75 non gestational diabetes mellitus were selected according to criteria. Sera were evaluated for glucose (hexokinase method), blood lipids and Vitamin B12 (ECLIA assay method) by Cobas chemistry analyzer. Triglyceride/high density lipoprotein (TAGs/HDLc) ratio was calculated as log of transformed TAGs to HDLc. TAGs/HDLc ratio was labelled as low risk (0.3 – 0.1), medium risk (0.1 – 0.24) and high risk (>0.24). Statistical SPSS software 21.0 (IBM, Inc USA) was used to analyze the research variables at 95% CI (P ≤ 0.05).

Results: Age of cases was 37.9±5.19 years (P=0.051). Fasting and random blood glucose levels were elevated significantly (P=0.0001). Vitamin B12 in cases was low noted as 155.6±71.3 ng/mL compared to 251.5±33.1 in control (P=0.0001). Any type of vitamin B12 deficiency was present in 153 (70.51%) GDM cases compared to 37 (49.4%) control (P=0.0001). Low, medium and high atherogenicity risk was found in 56.01%, 37.5% and 6.4% GDM cases and 50.5%, 36.6% and 0% in control respectively (P=0.0001).

Conclusion: It was found in the present study that triglyceride to HDLc ratio was found elevated in Gestational Diabetes mellitus women with vitamin B12 deficiency.
In-vivo Antidiabetic Activity of Saccharum Spontaneum on STZ- Induced Diabetic Mice
Authors: Assung Hage , Bharali Manuj Kr.
Published: February 2022

Objectives: Saccharum spontaneum is traditionally used in Arunachal Pradesh, India for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Review of existing literature, found no scientific investigation on this claim. Therefore, this study was aim to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of ethanolic extract of S. spontaneum on STZ induced diabetic mice.

Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in male albino mice by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (100mgkg-1 BW). Initially Starch tolerance test, blood glucose level and area under the curve (AUC) were evaluated after S. spontaneum treatment in diabetic mice. The test extract was administered for three weeks and the antidiabetic activity was evaluated by means of monitoring the change in blood glucose level, body weight and biochemical parameters.

Results: The extract showed a significant decrease in the blood glucose level, slight enhancement of body weight after the treatment. Daily oral treatment of extract also showed a significant reduction in the Serum ALT, creatinine and triglyceride when compared to the diabetic control.

Conclusion: The results provide supports to the traditional claim made on Saccharum spontaneumand provide evidence that this plant might be a potential source of antidiabetic agent.