bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SEROPREVALENCE OF TRANSFUSION TRANSMISSIBLE INFECTIONS AMONG BLOOD DONORS AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN AJMER, RAJASTHAN: A 5 YEAR STUDY
Authors: MEENA GOKUL CHAND , Beelwal Dinesh , SUNARIA RAVI KANT
Published: September 2022

Objective: The objective of the study was to study the seroprevalence of TTIs (transfusion transmissible infections) among blood donors from the records (June 2017–May 2022) at blood center, JLN Hospital and associated group of Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out over a period of 5 years from June 2017 to May 2022. Serum samples were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) (III generation ELISA), antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Type 1 and 2 (IV generation ELISA kits), Syphilis and Malaria parasite using modified Treponema pallidum hemagglutination test and rapid card test, respectively. Results: A total of 75,034 healthy donors were included out of which majority of donors were male (97.4%). The overall seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, Syphilis, and Malaria were 0.07%, 0.71%, 0.06%, 0.29%, and 0.05%, respectively. Conclusion: Methods to ensure a safety blood supply should be encouraged. The increase in public awareness regarding voluntary blood donation, meticulous donor screening, counseling and use of highly sensitive tests can help in reducing the risk of TTIs.
IoT Based Power Consumption
Authors: Reddy Ravikumar , Sulegaon Sangamnath , Shastri Dr. Shailaja
Published: September 2022

Abstract: With the increasing electrical demand and new devices focused on getting the most and cheapest energy possible, the usage of energy management system is escalating both in end user and for utilities. The main objective is to minimize energy cost without affecting comfort. This project enables the user to monitor the power consumption through webpage so that the appliances can be controlled through mobile. Data is collected as a input which is further processed using Nodemcu in order to get the magnitude of the various power consumption. This data is later sent to the cloud-based platform Thingspeak for data analysis. It helps in plotting daily and annual load curve using data analysis technique. By graphical analyses in Thingspeak we can control the energy wastage using blynk app. The software implementation IOT allows objects to be sensed or controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, this leads towards more secure, cost-effective and sustainable energy in future
A Spotlight on Novel Coronavirus (COVID – 19) with Various Types of Strains
Authors: Biswas Souvik , Roy Dipan , Debnath Biplab , Das Arijit , Nath Rajarshi , Nag Mrinmoy , Boral Poushali , Biswas Poulomi , Dewan Debajit , Pramanick Nabanita , Sarkar Utkalika , Chattopadhyay Souvik , Datta Soumya
Published: September 2022

Deadly COVID-19 viruses have raised a pandemic situation in the year 2019, causing serious and contagious respiratory infections in humans. SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) is the main causative agent for this disease outbreak. The pandemic created a critical impact on the global economy. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 was followed by a period of relative evolutionary stasis that lasted about 11 months. Since, late 2020, SARS-CoV-2 evolution has been characterized by the emergence of sets of mutations. This resulted so far, in over 2.7 million deaths and near about 122 million infection cases. Most mutations in the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome are either deleterious and swiftly purged or relatively neutral. As far as the concern is the variants it impacts the virus characteristics, including antigenicity and transmissibility in response to the modification of the human immune profile. In recent days, COVID-19 affected cases are rapidly increasing and it became difficult to inhibit this virus as they are continuously mutated in the host cell forming various new strains like B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, P.2, B.1.1.529, etc. These monitoring, surveillance of variation, and sequencing efforts within the SARS-CoV-2 genome enabled the rapid identification of the first some of Variants of Concern (VOCs) in late 2020, where genome changes became the most observable impact on virus biology and disease transmission. In this review article, we tried to focus and spot the light on the genetic diversification of various strains, their nature, similarities and dissimilarities, mechanism of action, and the prophylactic interventions which could prevent this life-threatening disease in the long run.
Improved two-dimensional DOA estima-tion of Non-circular Signals for Parallel Sparse Array
Authors: Wang Jiawei
Published: September 2022

In this letter, an extended virtual array based on sum-difference
co-array (SDC) of parallel sparse array (PSA) is derived, which have
more Degrees-of-freedoms (DOFs) than the conventional virtual array only
based on difference co-array (DC), for two-dimensional (2-D) direction
of arrival (DOA) estimation of non-circular (NC) signal. Specifically,
be placing two subarrays symmetrically with the coordinate axis, the
com-plex joint three-dimensional (3-D) problem of 2-D DOA and
one-dimensional (1-D) NC phase is simplified to two 1-D problems, which
greatly reduces the computational complexity and improves the accuracy
of results. At end, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed
algorithm are validated by numerical simulations.
Least-squares formulations for Stokes equations with non-standard boundary conditions - A unified approach
Authors: Mohapatra Subhashree , Kumar Naraparaju Kishore , Joshi Shivangi
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we propose a unified non-conforming least-squares
spectral element ap- proach for solving Stokes equations with various
non-standard boundary conditions. Ex- isting least-squares formulations
mostly deal with Dirichlet boundary conditions and are formulated using
ADN theory based regularity estimates. However, changing boundary
conditions lead to a search for parameters satisfying supplementing and
complimenting con- ditions [4] which is not easy always. Here we
have avoided ADN theory based regularity estimates and proposed a
unified approach for dealing with various boundary conditions. Stability
estimates and error estimates have been discussed. Numerical results
displaying exponential accuracy have been presented for both two and
three dimensional cases with various boundary conditions.
CMMSE: Estimates of singular numbers ( s -numbers) and eigenvalues of a mixed elliptic-hyperbolic type operator with parabolic degeneration
Authors: Abylayeva Akbota , Muratbekov Mussakan , Muratbekov Madi
Published: September 2022

a) | k ( w ) | ≥ 0 is a piecewise continuous
and bounded function in R = ( - ∞ , ∞ ) . The coefficients b ( w ) and q
( w ) are continuous functions in R and can be unbounded at infinity.
The operator L admits closure in the space L 2 ( Ω ) and the
closure is also denoted by L. Taking into consideration certain
constraints on the coefficients b ( w ) q ( w ) , apart from the
above-mentioned conditions, the existence of a bounded inverse operator
is proved in this paper; a condition guaranteeing compactness of the
resolvent kernel is found; and we also obtained two-sided estimates for
singular numbers ( s-numbers). Here we note that the estimate of
singular numbers ( s-numbers) shows the rate of approximation of
the resolvent of the operator L by linear finite-dimensional
operators. It is given an example of how the obtained estimates for the
s-numbers enable to identify the estimates for the eigenvalues of
the operator L. We note that the above results are apparently
obtained for the first time for a mixed-type operator in the case of an
unbounded domain with rapidly oscillating and greatly growing
coefficients at infinity.
Assessing the comparability of cycle threshold values derived from five external quality assessment rounds for omicron nucleic test in Beijing, China
Authors: Fan Gaowei , Jin Yali , Wang Qingtao , Yue Yuhong
Published: September 2022

Backgroud: A variety of open-system Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assays for
several acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 are currently in use.
The impact of omicron on the laboratories’ testing capacity is unknown.
This study aimed to ensure the quality of omicron testing and to assess
the comparability of cycle threshold (Ct) values derived from RT-PCR.
Methods: Five external quality assessment (EQA) rounds using the omicron
virus-like-particles were organized between February 2022 and June 2022
in Beijing, China. Results: A total of 1401 qualitative EQA reports have
been collected. The overall positive percentage agreement was 99.72%,
the negative percentage agreement was 99.75%, and the percent agreement
was 99.73%. This study observed a significant variance in Ct values
derived from different test systems. While interlaboratory using the
same test system yielded comparable Ct values. Conclusion: There was
strong concordance among laboratories performing qualitative omicron
testing. However, caution is needed when comparing Ct values derived
from the different test systems.
Study on differentially expressed genes between stage M and stage MS neuroblastoma
Authors: Wu Yuying , Jun Zhang
Published: September 2022

Objective: To search for the DEGs between stage MS NB and stage
M NB and speculate the possible mechanism of spontaneous regression of
stage MS NB. Methods: The NB datasets GSE49710 and GSE45547 in
the GEO database were selected to screen the DEGs between children with
NB stage MS vs. stage M, < 18 months. GO enrichment and KEGG
pathway analysis of DEGs was performed using DAVID. The intersecting
genes among DEGs and RCD-related genes were selected, and their survival
roles and functions were assessed. Results: BIRC5, SLCO4A1,
POPDC3, and HK2 were found to be downregulated in stage MS NB and
related to apoptosis. BIRC5 and HK2 also participate in autophagy. The
TF gene is upregulated in stage MS NB and related to ferroptosis. The
above five genes are closely related to the survival of children with
NB. Conclusion: BIRC5, SLCO4A1, POPDC3, HK2 and TF are expected
to become new important indicators to predict the prognosis of NB and
can be used as the basis for further explored the benign prognosis and
spontaneous regression mechanism of stage MS NB.
Hypothesis Article: Efficacy of early treatments with some NSAIDs in COVID-19. Might it also depend on their zinc chelation ability?
Authors: Zamal Loris
Published: September 2022

The present work argues the involvement of zinc chelation ability of
some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as an additive mechanism able
to increase their efficacy against COVID-19.
Course and Outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Presence of New Coronavirus Infection COVID-19
Authors: Kokov L. S. , Petrikov S. S. , Pisankina M. M. , Dashevsky E. A. , Popugayev K. A. , Parkhomenko M. V. , Kuzmina I. M. , Babayan I. S. , Vorontsova K. I. , Khamidova L. T. , Klychnikova E. V. , Goncharov S. P. , Spassky A. A. , Kramarenko A. I.
Published: September 2022

AbstractWe analyzed the clinical condition of patients with COVID-19 of varying severity, changes in instrumental and laboratory parameters, and assessed the impact of the severity of the course of a new coronavirus infection on the outcomes of acute coronary syndrome.

AIM OF STUDYTo study the mutual influence of acute coronary syndrome and the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 on the nature of the course and outcomes of the disease.

Materia l and methodsIn March 21, 2020 – May 31, 2021, 3 625 patients were treated for COVID-19, including 131 patients with acute coronary syndrome due to COVID-19 disease. All patients underwent a number of studies: computed tomography of the chest, electrocardiography, echocardiography, monitoring of biomarkers of myocardial damage, diagnostic coronary angiography and, if necessary, intracoronary therapeutic intervention.

ResultsData on the distribution of patients with COVID-19 according to the presence or absence of ST segment elevation on the electrocardiogram and the degree of lung tissue damage, as well as information on mortality in these groups, are presented. The role of troponin I in the assessment of myocardial ischemia was analyzed. The direct dependence of its level on the volume of lung damage was found. The inverse relationship was shown between the degree of damage to the lung tissue and the indices of oxygen saturation in the blood. A poor prognostic value of low left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with COVID-19 disease has been described.

ConclusionsThe development of acute coronary syndrome in the course of COVID-19 significantly worsens the prognosis of the disease, which requires the development of algorithms for providing medical care to patients in this category, as well as maximum vigilance in their treatment.
On the Treatment of Acute Poisoning With Paracetamol
Authors: Simonova A. Yu. , Potskhveriya M. M. , Belova M. V. , Ilyashenko K. K. , Kulabuhov V. V. , Stolbova N. Y. , Klyuev A. E.
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND Currently, despite the optimization of diagnostic methods in order to predict the development of liver damage, improvement of treatment protocols, paracetamol poisoning is a serious problem in medicine, being the most common cause of acute liver failure worldwide.

AIM OF STUDY To determine the indications for the use of acetylcysteine in paracetamol poisoning and evaluate the effectiveness of the 21-hour protocol for its administration.

MATERIAL AND METHODS We examined 20 patients with acute paracetamol poisoning (15 women and 5 men), the median age was 21.5 (19.8–32.3) years. ALT and AST were assessed during the entire period of stay in the hospital, the time period from the moment of taking paracetamol to hospitalization and the beginning of the administration of ACC, the concentration of paracetamol in the blood, and mortality. According to the level of ALT and AST in the blood, the patients were divided into 2 groups: Group I consisted of 14 patients, in whom the concentration of ALT and AST during the entire observation period did not exceed 50 U/L; in Group II (6 patients), an increase in the level of ALT and AST in the blood of more than 50 U/L was observed. To assess the risk of liver lesion, the Rumack-Matthew nomogram was used. To compare the concentrations of paracetamol in the blood of patients, the paracetamol index was used.

RESULTS It was found that in 10 patients with a high risk of liver damage, who were treated with a 21-hour regimen of ACC administration, no hepatotoxic effect was found. The use of ACC according to a 21-hour protocol in patients with initially elevated ALT and AST levels of more than 50 U/L (n = 4) (25%) led to a rapid positive dynamics of laboratory and clinical parameters. It was found that in 2 patients, despite the introduction of ACC, the development of liver damage was observed. At the same time, the level of paracetamol in their blood was 6.6 and 10.6 fold higher than the “therapeutic” line of the nomogram, and the time from the moment of taking the drug to the beginning of the administration of ACC was 8 and 20 hours. High risk factors for the development of hepatotoxic effect in case of paracetamol poisoning are the time range from the moment of taking the drug to the beginning of the administration of ACC and the value of the paracetamol index.

CONCLUSION Indications for the use of acetylcysteine in acute poisoning with paracetamol is a high risk of liver damage. Its criteria are high doses, increased concentrations of ALT and AST when patients are admitted to the hospital; if it is possible to determine the concentration of paracetamol in the blood, an increase in the value of the paracetamol index is more than 1. The use of a 21-hour protocol of intravenous administration of acetylcysteine is effective in case of paracetamol poisoning and its early use in the complex of treatment almost always prevents the development of acute liver failure.
Endoscopic Diagnosis and Treatment of Iatrogenic Ruptures of the Trachea
Authors: Mironov A. V. , Danielyan S. N. , Tarabrin E. A.
Published: September 2022

Abstract Respiratory tract trauma is not only the result of injuries to the chest and neck, but may be iatrogenic as well. Diagnosis of iatrogenic damage to the trachea is based on data from clinical and instrumental studies. Among the instrumental diagnostic measures, preference is given to early fibrobronchoscopy.

The aim of the study is to assess the possibilities of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of iatrogenic tracheal injuries. Materials and methods. This study analyzed the use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 51 patients with suspected iatrogenic damage to the trachea. For iatrogenic ruptures of the trachea, the location on the posterior (membranous) wall and the longitudinal direction (100%), as well as location in the lower and middle thoracic sections of the trachea (71.4%), are typical.

Conclusion Bronchoscopy is a direct method for diagnosing this type of damage, which allows the location, size of the defect and tactics to be accurately determined.
Combined Double-Segment Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia With Fixation of the Epidural Catheter in the Subcutaneous Canal Using a Modified Spinal Needle
Authors: Protsenko D. N. , Yamshikov O. N. , Marchenko A. P. , Yemelyanov S. A. , Marchenko R. A. , Kolobova E. A.
Published: September 2022

Aim of study To develop a new safe and reliable method of fixing an epidural catheter (EC), to study and compare the results of this method of fixing EC in the subcutaneous canal using a modified spinal needle (MSN) and an adhesive tape with a standard method of fixing an EC using only an adhesive tape when performing the combined double-segment spinal-epidural anesthesia (CDSEA) in the surgical treatment of fractures of the bones of the lower limb.

Material and methods A comparative study of two methods of EC fixation was carried out in patients undergoing CDSEA during the surgical treatment of fractures of the bones of the lower limb. The patients were divided into two groups. The Group 1 (comparison, n=65), where EC was fixed at the site of epidural access with adhesive tape and the Group 2 (study, n=65), where EC was fixed in the subcutaneous canal using MSN and adhesive tape at the site of EC exit on the skin.

Results In the study group, where EC was fixed in the subcutaneous canal using MSN and adhesive tape at the site of EC exit to the skin, there were 32.3% fewer cases with clinically significant dislocation (more than 15 to 30 mm) than in the comparison group, where EC was fixed at the site of epidural access only with adhesive tape.

Conclusions A used spinal needle in a modified version can be used to perform EC in the subcutaneous canal. The dimensions of the MSN allow tunneling of the EC less traumatic and at a great distance from the site of the epidural access, which provides more reliable fixation of the EC, the number of cases with clinically significant + dislocation decreases, this allows for a longer and better postoperative epidural analgesia. This method does not solve all the problems of EC fixation; it is required to develop new methods of EC fixation, including fixation in the subcutaneous canal.
Features of Diagnosis and Treatment of Spontaneous Extraorganic Hematomas of the Soft Tissues of the Neck and Chest
Authors: Vladimirova E. S. , Tarabrin E. A. , Popova I. E. , Popugayev K. A. , Kramarenko A. I.
Published: September 2022

The possibilities of computed tomography in the diagnosis of spontaneous hematomas (sh) of the soft tissues of the neck and chest and the features of their treatment are shown. Computed tomography with intravenous bolus contrast enhancement is the main method for diagnosing sh, which allows you to specify its exact localization, distribution, determine the structure and volume of the hematoma, the contrast agent exiting the contours of the vessel, and, taking into account the data obtained and the clinic, determines the tactics of treatment.

Stable sh does not require surgical treatment. In the case of a large volume of chest hematoma, compression syndrome, hemothorax, drainage is indicated. Unstable sh dictate the need for angiography and, if necessary, endovascular embolization.
Treatment of Patients with Myocardial Infarction in Modern Conditions of a Regional Vascular Center
Authors: Kuzmina I. M. , Muradyan N. A. , Parkhomenko M. V.
Published: September 2022

The article highlights the problem of providing care for patients with acute coronary syndrome, given the high myocardial infarction (mi) morbidity and mortality among the youth population. The main method of managing acute myocardial infarction is reperfusion therapy, performing revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (pci) in the shortest possible time from the disease onset. Only rational and timely treatment can reduce mortality after mi, the frequency of its complications, as well the period of inpatient treatment and disability of the population.
Imaging of Septic Pulmonary Embolism in Right-Side Infective Endocarditis
Authors: Vinokurov A. S. , Chipigina N. S. , Zyuzya Yu. R. , Yudin A. L.
Published: September 2022

Early and correct diagnosis of infective endocarditis (ie) of the right heart does not lose its importance due to the persistence of the problem of intravenous drug use and an increase in the number of surgical interventions on the heart. Septic pulmonary embolism (spe) is a typical sign of right-side ie, and, with a number of nonspecific respiratory symptoms in patients with fever, its detection by radiology allows to start a diagnostic search for ie and locate the primary embolic source in the right parts of the heart. The review examines the current state of the problem of right-side ie, morphology and clinical evidence, main ct signs and differential diagnostics of spe, including the context of the covid-19 pandemic.
Endovascular Treatment of Pelvic Venous Injuries
Authors: Prozorov S. A. , Ivanov P. A. , Zadneprovsky N. N.
Published: September 2022

Elvic vein injuries can occur with pelvic bone fractures, gunshot wound injury, iatrogenic injuries and lead to life-threatening bleeding. Ct is the main diagnostic tool in differentiating arterial from venous bleeding. Open surgical repair of venous injuries can be technically difficult. Endovascular treatment is an attractive alternative strategy. Embolization is the main method to stop arterial bleeding; balloon occlusion and stent graft implantation are also used. Arterial embolization cannot help in the situation of venous bleeding. The problem of endovascular treatment of pelvic vein injuries was not given enough attention. The purpose of this review is to summarize the available reports on the use of endovascular techniques in pelvic vein trauma and show the capabilities of the methods.
Robotics in Cranial Neurosurgery, 35 Years of Evolution
Authors: Dmitriev A. Yu. , Dashyan V. G.
Published: September 2022

We reviewed the experience of robotic devices in cranial neurosurgery for 35 years. The brief history is represented, prerequisites for robotics development are specified. The most popular devices are listed, which are used for surgical instruments positioning and remote manipulations. We pointed key robotic features, main results of their application, showed advantages, shortcomings and ways to resolve some problems. The accurateness of robotic systems is shown in comparison with frame-based stereotactic surgery. The main trends in robotic development in the future are described as well.
Features of Diagnosis and Intensive Care of Drotaverine Poisoning at the Prehospital Stage (on the Example of a Case Study)
Authors: Pikovsky V. Yu. , Barklaya V. I.
Published: September 2022

The article presents a case study with a detailed solution, reflecting the features of the clinical features of drotaverine poisoning, the principles of diagnosis and treatment of this condition at the prehospital stage. This type of educational technology is applicable both for practical training with elements of simulation training and for monitoring the level of training of medical personnel.
Restoration of Bile Outflow in Case of Damage to Hepaticocholedochus and Failure of the Biliary Anastomosis After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Authors: Novozhilov A. V. , Movsisyan M. O. , Grigoryev S. E.
Published: September 2022

The aspect of injuring bile ducts during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is still of current concern. Causes of this complication include insufficient experience of surgical team, poor knowledge of topographic anatomy of subhepatic space, particularly when perivesical inflammatory infiltrate presents, inadequate approach conversion and so on. Most of patients with bile duct injuries undergo repeated operation in the same surgical unit where cholecystectomy was performed. In many cases, this results in a shortening of the segment of the common hepatic duct, which is favorable for restoration. Subsequent reconstructive surgery is usually performed in the worse conditions with a high risk of complications such as failure of sutures, biliary fistula, anastomotic stricture, etc. Most specialists recommend to abstain from primary reconstruction of the biliary tree in hospitals with no proper experience in hepatobiliary surgery and to perform only the external drainage of subhepatic space with subsequent admission of patient to a specialized clinic. We report a case of a young woman who suffered an excision of hepaticocholedochus fragment during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A primary reconstructive surgery (hepatico-hepaticoanastomosis) was performed in the same clinic and resulted in external fistula of the common hepatic duct. The subsequent operation (hepaticoejunostomy) was performed in a specialized department of the regional clinical hospital. The woman underwent right-sided hypochondrium laparotomy with debridement of postoperative scar tissues. The stumps of common bile duct were mobilized in compact inflammatory infiltrate. The operation ended with distal stump closure and hepaticoenteroanastomosis formation. The patient was discharged with recovery. Six months later, her condition was satisfactory, and she was engaged in occupational activity.
A Rare Case of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with the Formation of a Thrombosed Aortocaval Fistula, Thrombosis of the Inferior Vena Cava and Iliac Veins
Authors: Vishnyakova (Jr) M. V. , Larkov R. N. , Kolesnikov Y. Y. , Muzafarova G. S.
Published: September 2022

This article considers a rare case of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm with thrombosed aorto-caval fistula formation, with thrombosis of the inferior vena cava and iliac veins. During the multiphase computed tomography, early enhancement of inferior vena cava was not obtained, but non-contrasting aorto-caval fistula was revealed in the venous contrast phase, as well as the absence of the contrast in the adjacent parts of the inferior vena cava and iliac veins. The patient was successfully operated and the diagnosis was confirmed intraoperatively.
Effects of Agricultural Extension Services on Leaf Vegetables Farmers Use of Agro-Chemicals in Imo State, Nigeria
Authors: Enwerem Vitus Ayo , Osuagwu Olivia Chizoma , Okereke-Ejiogu Eucaria Ngozi , Ajaero Joseph Onyewuchi , Osugiri Irenaeus Iro , Ohajianya Donatus Otuiheoma
Published: September 2022

This study was designed to analyze the effects of agricultural extension services on leaf vegetables farmers’ use of agro-chemicals in Imo State, Nigeria. The study described socioeconomic characteristics of leaf vegetables farmers that use agro-chemicals, ascertained the role of extension services on use of agro-chemicals by leaf vegetable farmers, ascertained the sources of information on the use of agro-chemicals among leaf vegetable farmers, determined the influence of extension services on agro-chemicals use by leaf vegetable farmers and determined the extension variables influencing use of agro-chemicals by leaf vegetables farmers. Data were collected in 2021 with structured and validated questionnaire from 128 proportionately and randomly selected leaf vegetables farmers that use agro-chemicals in Imo State. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency distribution and percentages as well as econometric tools of bivariate and logit regression models. Major roles of extension services in farmers’ use of agro-chemicals for leaf vegetables production were acting as catalyst to speed up adoption rate, technology transfer and source of information. The major sources of information to the leaf vegetables farmers on agro-chemicals use were fellow farmers association and traders on vegetables. Extension services positively and significantly influenced leaf vegetables farmers’ use of agro-chemicals. The agricultural extension variables influencing use of agro-chemicals by leaf vegetables farmers were availability of certain communication media, extension agents familiarity, relevance of subject matter, size of extension staff, size of audience, frequency of use of familiar teaching methods, farmers’ satisfaction with extension information, perceived usefulness of extension information, perceived quality of extension staff and relative cost of the extension teaching methods. There is need for extension services to intensify efforts at visiting and training leaf vegetable farmers on the appropriate application techniques of agro-chemicals to their vegetables to minimize the hazardous effects of the agro-chemicals on farmers’ health and the environment and consequently increase productivity and farm income.

Keywords: Extension services, leaf vegetables, farmers, agro-chemicals, Imo State.
Cocoa Beans Microwave Pulse Drying: Characterization of the Moisture Transfer
Authors: Nogbou Arsène , Kone Kisselmina , Akmel Djedjro , Assidjo Emmanuel
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study was to characterize the moisture transfer during microwave pulse drying of cocoa beans. Experiments were carried out on fermented cocoa beans using a domestic microwave oven. Three microwave power levels (450 W, 600 W and 700 W) were used. The moisture transfer characterization was made using the estimation of mass transfer parameters and a modeling. The estimated mass transfer parameters were the Biot number (Bi), the diffusivity (D) and the mass transfer coefficient (km). They were given by the analytical method of Dincer. The 2nd Fickâ€™s law was used for the moisture transfer modelling. The results obtained showed that for the whole microwave powers, the Bi values were included between 0.57 and 0.62. The D values, for the various microwaves powers (450 W, 600 W and 700 W), were respectively 6.01Ã—10-9 mÂ².s-1, 10.27 Ã—10-9 mÂ².s-1and 11.94Ã—10-9 mÂ².s-1. The km values varied between 9.87Ã—10-7 m.s-1and 21.33Ã—10-7 m.s-1. The Fickâ€™s model application showed a good adequacy between the experimental values and those simulated. RÂ² of the Fickâ€™s model for the whole microwave power levels, was higher than 0.998.
General Limit Formulae Involving Prime Numbers
Authors: Farhadian Reza , Jakimczuk Rafael
Published: September 2022

Let p

n
be the n th prime number. In this note, we study strictly increasing sequences of positive integers A

n
such that the limit lim
n

→∞ (A
1
A
2
· · · A

n
)1

/pn
= e holds. This limit formula is in fact a generalization of some previously known results. Furthermore, some other generalizations are established.
Deepest Nodes in Marked Ordered Trees
Authors: Prodinger Helmut
Published: September 2022

A variation of ordered trees, where each rightmost edge might be marked or not, if it does not lead to an endnode, is investigated. These marked ordered trees were introduced by E. Deutsch et al. to model skew Dyck paths. We study the number of deepest nodes in such trees. Explicit generating functions are established and the average number of deepest nodes, which approaches

5
3

{5 \over 3}

when the number of nodes gets large. This is to be compared to standard ordered trees where the average number of deepest nodes approaches 2.
Temporal Variations in Hematological, Immunological and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Acclimated to High-Saline Water in the Northern Aegean Sea
Authors: Buyukates Yesim , Kesbiç Osman , Yigit Murat , Yilmaz Sevdan , Ergün Sebahattin , Bulut Musa , Ozalp Baris
Published: September 2022

The present study evaluated the health status of rainbow trout (30.24±5.34 g) acclimated to high-saline water (28‰). Among adaptation procedures, gradually-acclimated (for 48 h) fish showed best performance, which were then introduced to the offshore cage-farm for further monitoring of fish health in marine environment over a long-term period of 100 days, until harvest weight of 319.9±48.51 g. Fish health and welfare was evaluated by means of biochemical parameters (viscerasomatic index, hepatosomatic index, mesenteric fat index, and spleen somatic index), hematological parameters (serum glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin), and immune parameters (lysozyme, myeloperoxidase, respiratory burst and potential killing values). Gradual acclimation to high-saline water did not show any adverse effects on health parameters. No significant differences were found in biometric measures (P>0.05). However, a time-dependent increase was recorded in hematology markers (P<0.05) after seawater transfer, and the health status improved over long term from March 7 to June 14, 2018. All serum biochemical markers, except the total protein showed significant alterations (P<0.05) in long term but without detrimental influence by day 100. Therefore, it seems possible to expand trout farms from brackish water sites to higher saline environments up to 28‰ salinity, with no detrimental impacts on fish health, that in turn may significantly contribute to the extension of potential aquaculture sites to wider areas.
Analysing Effects on Ground Water Levels Due to Conversion of Rural to Urban Landscapes
Authors: Kumar Ashwani , Kumar Deepak , Veerabhadrappa S.M.
Published: September 2022

Greater NOIDA evolved from 1991 with 101 villages to 2020 with 293 villages. This is an ideal case of rural to urban transformation in the immediate past. This transformation led to a decrease in recharging natural surfaces and an increase in impermeable surfaces. Along with the reduction in recharge areas, an increase in population has necessitated more and more extraction of groundwater resulting in an imbalance of water extraction and recharge. The result is depletion of groundwater levels in this area. The area is part of the wide Indo-Gangetic alluvium with sand, silt and clay layers resting on quartzite’s of Delhi Super Group. Geomorphological map prepared using digital elevation models of the area shows older and younger alluvial plains and active flood plains of the river Hindan. Time series analysis of key land use land cover classes shows that recharge areas were reduced from 77 % to 30 % from 2005 to 2019 and impervious surfaces have increased from 19 % to 65 % for the same period. Aquifers of the area are both phreatic and semi-confined. The aquifer parameters estimated through step drawdown test and long duration aquifer performance test indicates that the average coefficient of transmissivity of the area is 1752 m2/day and the average coefficient of storage is 4.84 x 10-4. Discharge of the wells shows a yield of 8 to 16 lps for a drawdown of 3 to 6 m. An attempt has been made to know the behaviour of groundwater levels during the same period as that of land use land cover. The results indicate a 74 % depletion in groundwater levels with an average annual depletion of 21 %. An interrelationship between urban growth and groundwater levels has been established in this study. This analysis indicates that as agriculture declined water levels also depleted and have a positive correlation of 0.852. On the contrary, as the built-up increased water level has depleted hence have a negative relationship with a correlation coefficient of -0.851. To make it a sustainable resource, these overexploited aquifers need careful participatory management by communities, Scientists, and policymakers.
Impact of Land Use/Land Cover Change on Soil Retention Service: A Case of Agricultural-Urbanized Landscape in Northern Iran
Authors: Keshtkar Mostafa , Mokhtari Zahra , Sayahnia Romina
Published: September 2022

Globally, urbanization changes land use/land cover (LULC) and alters ecosystem functions and services. Soil retention (SR) is a critical ecological service that is strongly related to LULC change. The topic of this study is assessment of LULC change on soil retention service (SRS) in a fragile seminatural-urbanized landscape of the Jajrood basin in Northern Tehran, Iran, from 2000 to 2020. To achieve the goal, the LULC maps and the other relevant datasets were imported into the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs tool (InVEST) using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). Calibration and validation were performed using Goodness-of-fit test for observational and modeled data. The results revealed that LULC change had both negative and positive effects on SR. The built-up area increased dramatically by about 133 percent, while the rangeland shrunk by approximately 5 % during the twenty-year, leading to an increase in soil erosion and reducing SR. On the other hand, the agricultural and gardening activities expanded by 41 %, which caused an increment in SR. Due to the outgrowth of man-made areas compared to the other land uses, the overall SR decreased by about 17,000 tons. Moreover, the result indicated that slope, elevation, and land management factors, respectively, had the highest correlation with SRS. The finding of this research can provide insight to land use planners to protect the areas with high soil erosion.
DANCE PERFORMANCE TO ACHIEVE MURI: STUDY OF REJANG SANDAT RATU SEGARA DANCE PERFORMANCE IN TANAH LOT, TABANAN, BALI
Authors: Putri Negara Ni Made Ari Yanti , Darma Putra I Nyoman , Arjani Ni Luh
Published: September 2022

Rejang is a sacred dance that has certain standards in its creation and performance. This sacred dance is performed during the Dewa Yadnya ceremony by taking into account the place, time, and means of offerings that have been determined. However, recently a new creation of Rejang dance has emerged which has a function not for religious ceremonies, but for other purposes such as entertainment to achieve a MURI (Indonesian Record Museum) record. This type of Rejang Dance is the Rejang Sandat Ratu Segara Dance which was staged on August 18, 2018 in Tanah Lot, Tabanan, Bali. This certainly attracts the attention of the people of Tabanan and causes this dance to be widely discussed on social media and in real life. This article examines the form of the Rejang Sandat Ratu Segara Dance and finds out how it differs from the Rejang dance in Bali. The research method used is qualitative research with descriptive and explanatory exposure. In this study, there are several differences in the form of the Rejang Sandat Ratu Segara dance with the Rejang dance that developed in Bali such as movement, dancers, clothing, and settings.

Keywords: Rejang Sandat Ratu Segara Dance, Tanah Lot Tabanan, MURI record, sacred art
STUDY ON FASHION DESIGN STUDENTS' DIFFICULTIES IN THE 2018 EXHIBITION AND FASHION DESIGN AND DEMONSTRATION COURSES AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF MALANG
Authors: Aini Nurul , Prahastuti Endang , Ziyan Nur
Published: September 2022

Fashion has become a part of modern society. Fashion designers show today's fashion works through activities such as exhibitions. The Bachelor of Fashion Education and Diploma of Fashion Design, Faculty of Industrial Technology, State University of Malang, hosted a show as a part of the Exhibition and Fashion Design and Demonstration courses. Students who participated reported problems at certain stages of the exhibition process. This study aimed to analyze these difficulties using a quantitative approach descriptively. Questionnaires were used for the data collection process with 58 samples. The results suggested that the main problem lay in production design and inspiration. Students' design challenges were material choices, storyboard creation, design principles application, and ideas generation. During the fashion production phase, a difficulty occurred during the sewing process and creating an action plan. The main organizational problem for students was cooperation with internal committees at the organizational stage.

Keywords: exhibition, difficulty, fashion creation, demonstration
TRANSFORMATION OF GONDANG SABANGUNAN TRADITIONAL MUSIC INTO UNING-UNINGAN MODERN MUSIC AT THE BATAK TOBA ETHNIC TRADITIONAL CEREMONY IN DENPASAR CITY
Authors: Simbolon Rianti , Suarka I Nyoman , Wiasti Ni Made
Published: September 2022

The practice of using music at the Batak Toba ethnic traditional ceremony in Denpasar city has transformed. The transformation was from gondang sabangunan traditional music into uning-uningan modern music. Furthermore, uning-uningan modern music dominated or used more often rather than gondang sabangunan traditional music in Denpasar city. The main factor which causes this transformation is there are no artists who are able to use gondang sabangunan traditional ensemble music. The aims of this study are to know the causes of the transformation of gondang sabangunan traditional music into uning-uningan modern music, the forms of the transformation of gondang sabangunan traditional music into uning-uningan modern music, to figure out the implication of the transformation of gondang sabangunan traditional music into uning-uningan modern music.

The results showed that the transformation occurred because of the internal factors which consist of economic factors, artists’ creativity factors, the lack of understanding of the Batak Toba gondang traditional, and the lack of cultural transmission to the young generation. Otherwise, the external factors consist of globalization factors, and pop culture factors. The transformation forms of gondang sabangunan traditional music into uning-uningan modern music such as the formation transformation of music instruments, the transformation in using repertoire types, the position transformation of the musicians, the transformation of execution time, and the musician’s identity transformation. The implications of the transformation of gondang sabangun traditional music into uning-uningan modern music are the fading of gondang traditional music, switching functions into entertainment, the artists are more concerned with material, and the young generation is less familiar with gondang traditional music.

Keywords: transformation, gondang sabangunan traditional music, uning-uningan modern
POTENSI KAVAIN DALAM PIPER METHYSTICUM SEBAGAI TATALAKSANA PREVENTIF GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER
Authors: Mahendika Devin
Published: September 2022

Pendahuluan: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) merupakan gangguan psikiatri yang ditandai dengan kecemasan, ketegangan motorik, dan overaktivitas autonomik. Piper methysticum merupakan tumbuhan yang memiliki khasiat dalam berbagai terapi termasuk GAD karena senyawa kavain sebagai substansi kimiawinya. Kavain merupakan kandungan biologis dalam Piper methysticum yang memiliki aktivitas ansiolitik poten. Ekstrak Piper methysticum dapat digunakan sebagai terapi preventif GAD terkait dengan kemampuannya dalam efek ansiolitik mengatasi gejala dari GAD.

Pembahasan: Piper methysticum dalam khasiatnya mampu untuk mempotensiasi GABAARs tanpa selektivitas subtipe, selain itu konsentrasi GABA merespon kinerja ?4?2? GABAARs secara signifikan, sehingga kinerja kavain bekerja secara efektif dan sensitif dalam sistem target disamping pada reseptor ?1?2?2L. Kavain juga menunjukkan peningkatan sederhana pada konsentrasi GABA di bawah EC45, tetapi tidak memengaruhi EC50 dan kemanjuran maksimal GABA. Selain itu rantai kalkon sintase yang terputus akibat adanya neurodegenerasi oleh enzim RpBASi yang dapat memperpanjang rantai polipeptida tunggal dapat diperbaiki oleh kavain. Efek kavain lainnya adalah kavain mampu memodulasi saluran kalsium juga natrium volt-gated dan berperan antagonis terhadap saluran Ca2+. Aktivitas penting lain dari kavain yaitu mampu mengikat reseptor GABA dalam sistem saraf pusat disamping berfungsi sebagai ansiolitik di jalur serotonergik dan glutamanergik.

Simpulan: Penggunaan Piper methysticum sebagai upaya preventif GAD terbukti unggul karena murah dan mudah didapatkan, tidak ada efek samping, serta memiliki efektivitas tinggi dalam menurunkan GAD yang sesuai dengan efek dan fitur klinisnya. Oleh karena itu, penelitian lebih lanjut mengenai uji klinis penggunaan Piper methysticum terus dikembangkan agar dapat diimplementasikan secara etis untuk mencegah GAD.

Kata kunci: Piper methysticum, kavain, GAD
POTENSI FOTODINAMIK SEBAGAI MODALITAS TERAPI ALTERNATIF NON INVASIF PADA ORAL CANCER
Authors: Yusuf Timotius William , Chen Jason , Yusuf Vincentius Mario
Published: September 2022

Pendahuluan: Oral cancer didefinisikan sebagai keganasan yang terjadi pada kavitas oral dan kini menempati 10 besar penyebab kanker tertinggi sedunia. Tingkat mortalitas oral cancer masih tinggi dengan five-year survival rate hanya mencapai 50-60%. Tatalaksana saat ini bersifat invasif, berisiko tinggi, dengan berbagai efek samping yang berpotensi tinggi mengurangi efektivitas terapi hingga quality of life pasien. Berdasarkan studi terdahulu, fotodinamik merupakan modalitas terapi alternatif oral cancer yang menjanjikan karena bersifat selektif dan non invasif dengan efikasi serta outcome klinis yang baik. Metode: Tinjauan pustaka dibuat dengan kriteria PICO dari studi klinis yang memenuhi kriteria inklusi. Studi diekstraksi dari database “PubMed”, “ScienceDirect”, dan “SpringerLink” menggunakan metode pencarian “boolean operator”. Hasil & Pembahasan: Terdapat total 11 studi klinis yang memenuhi kriteria inklusi dan menyatakan terapi fotodinamik efektif dalam tatalaksana oral cancer. Efikasi klinis dilihat dari tingkat complete response dan survival rate yang baik disertai tingkat rekurensi yang rendah. Mekanisme yang melatarbelakangi efikasi yakni eksitasi photosensitizer memicu produksi reactive oxygen species yang mengakibatkan destruksi sel kanker. Selain itu juga ditemukan paparan fotodinamik dapat menyebabkan shut-down pembuluh darah jaringan tumor dan aktivasi sistem imun. Efek samping yang paling umum ditemukan adalah nyeri, pembengkakan, dan fotosensitivitas. Secara garis besar, efek samping tidak bersifat fatal, dapat dikendalikan dan tidak menyebabkan dampak fungsional maupun estetik yang persisten. Kesimpulan:  Fotodinamik efektif sebagai modalitas terapi alternatif non invasif pada oral cancer dengan efikasi klinis dan profil keamanan yang baik.