bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Awareness of Covid–19 and Practice Modification among Dentists during Covid–19 Outbreak
Authors: Jhamunarani Jeyavel Murugan , Narayanan Mohan , Thangavel Ravikumar , Mohan Karthik Rajaram , Raj Sabitha Gokul , Fenn Saramma Mathew , Appusamy Kumar
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND Not long after the widespread surge in the corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases globally, dentistry was identified as one of the riskiest profession during this pandemic. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), similar to many other microorganisms, was found to be prevalent in the mucous and salivary secretions of the infected patients. The proximity of dentists to these bodily fluids demands appropriate enhancement of the safety precautions followed to avoid the spread of infection. During the initial phase of the pandemic lockdowns globally, most dental practices were closed, except for emergency procedures. The fear of the virus was largely prevalent. However, prolonged closures of dental practices with the subsequent halt of all routine and elective dental procedures led to the additional fear of financial losses. This questionnaire study intends to gauge the awareness of Covid19 risks among dentists and evaluate the modifications done in their practices to enhance safety and avoid the spread of infection. METHODS 311 dentists participated in an online questionnaire study conducted via google survey. Answers were recorded and statistically analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). RESULTS 97.4 % of the dentists were aware of Covid-19 while 95.2 % had made at least one or more modifications in their clinical practice to prevent risk of spread of covid-19 viral infection. CONCLUSIONS On the whole, this study implies that majority of the dentists are aware of Covid-19 and have taken some safety precautions to curb the viral spread. In order to ensure that the left out people have sufficient knowledge, help or support, recommendations have been given whenever possible. KEY WORDS Covid-19, Coronavirus, Dentists, Dental Practice Modifications
Role of Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test in Diagnosing Tuberculous Empyema Thoracis – A Study from Telangana, India
Authors: Yadav Gaddam Ramulu , Reddy Vankayala Veena , Eshwaramma Pampana , Kumar Tarigopula Pramod , Krishna Murthy Mandarakala Gopala , Kumar Peruka Kiran
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND The pleura is involved in pulmonary or systemic tuberculosis by various mechanisms like delayed hypersensitivity. Tuberculous empyema usually results from failure of a primary tubercular effusion to resolve and further progresses to chronic suppurative form. In tuberculous empyema, the pleural fluid is purulent, and is loaded with tuberculous organisms on direct acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear examination and / or culture of pus. We need to assess the role of cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) in the diagnosis of tuberculous empyema. METHODS This study was a prospective observational study of all adult patients of empyema above 15 years of age, admitted in the Department of Pulmonology, over a period of 1 year, 6 months after obtaining clearance from ethical committee and proper consent from the study subjects. RESULTS A total of sixty-three (63) empyema cases were recruited and analysed further. On evaluation, we diagnosed 26 cases with tubercular aetiology (41.27 %) and remaining thirty-seven (58.73 %) cases with non-tubercular aetiology. CONCLUSIONS Pleural fluid (pus) cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) is very sensitive and provides a rapid confirmed diagnosis within 2 hrs. including drug susceptibility. In this study, sensitivity of CBNAAT in suspected tuberculous empyema patients was 88.5 % and specificity was 100 %. Pleural fluid CBNAAT is more sensitive in both pleural fluid AFB smear positive (100 %) and pleural fluid AFB smear negative (72.7 %) cases. So, pleural fluid and sputum direct AFB smear and CBNAAT should be sent in all suspected tuberculous empyema cases for early diagnosis of tuberculosis and early detection of rifampicin resistance. KEY WORDS Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Tubercular Empyema, Pleural Fluid, CBNAAT, AFB, Anti-Tubercular Drugs
Comparison of the Effects of Epidural Clonidine and Fentanyl on Spinal Anaesthesia in Lower Abdominal and Lower Limb Surgeries – A Randomised Controlled Study from Delhi, India
Authors: Chungkrang Dhriti , Kaur Mohandeep , Singh Priyanka
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND Addition of epidural adjuvants like opioids or α2-adrenoreceptor agonists can enhance the effectiveness of local anaesthetics for surgical procedures on lower abdomen, pelvis, and lower limbs, by intensifying the block and prolonging the duration of analgesia. We wanted to compare the duration of spinal blockade (sensory and motor) and the degree of analgesia between epidural clonidine and fentanyl before giving spinal anaesthesia. METHODS A prospective double blind randomized comparative study was conducted among 100 patients (18 - 65 years) scheduled for elective lower abdomen and lower limb surgeries. Patients were divided into two groups. For C group – clonidine 0.75ug / kg epidural given with spinal anaesthesia (5 % bupivacaine), in Group F fentanyl was given 1.5 ug / kg epidural with 5 % bupivacaine. The outcome measures were time of onset of sensory blockade, duration and level of sensory blockade, time to achieve highest blockade level, duration of motor blockade, vital parameters, and time of first rescue analgesia. All data was entered in MS excel and analysed. P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS The demographic data (age, gender) were comparable in both the groups. The preoperative blood pressure, pulse rate, SpO2 were comparable. Clonidine group had significantly lesser mean time of onset of sensory block and motor block (P < 0.001), higher duration of motor blockade (P < .0001) and higher time for first rescue analgesia (P < .0001) as compared to fentanyl group. The incidence of hypotension and bradycardia was more with clonidine group than with fentanyl group. CONCLUSIONS Clonidine 0.75 ug / kg is a better epidural adjuvant than fentanyl 1.5ug / kg when given by intrathecal route with 5 % bupivacaine in terms of mean time of onset and duration for both sensory and motor blockade. It also has better analgesic effect postoperatively. Whereas fentanyl is found to be safer in view of haemodynamic stability. KEY WORDS Clonidine, Fentanyl, Spinal Anaesthesia
Epidemiology of Traumatic Dental Injuries in Children and Adolescents - A Review
Authors: Hegde Amitha M. , Sodhi Sonali
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND Every child is prone to traumatic injuries, the impact of these injuries is directly related to the intensity, force and direction from which the trauma is inflicted. Trauma to the oral cavity is rather more common in children and adolescents as compared to the adult population. Since dental trauma is unanticipated, instantaneous and accidental, it often needs immediate and emergency management, depending on the severity of the injury. Thus, it is tremendously important to understand the patterns of incidence, prevalence, aetiology and risk factors associated with traumatic dental injuries. This article aims to review the epidemiology, incidence, prevalence, aetiology, risk factors and current trends of traumatic dental injuries in children and adolescents. The aetiologic factors vary among countries and within different age groups. The risk of sustaining traumatic dental injuries is generally dependent on several elements like age, circumstance, geography, behaviour and culture. Changing lifestyle especially related to urbanisation has led to amplification in the prevalence of dental trauma. The emergence of new trends in the modern society has led to creation of newer patterns and risk factors for the same. Traumatic dental injuries are linked to biological, social, financial and psychological factors. This article provides an overview on the epidemiology of traumatic dental injuries. This topic is of public health importance. This review is important to understand the underlying risk factors in order to reduce the prevalence and incidence of dental trauma. Educating the public regarding this will reduce the incidence of dental trauma. KEY WORDS Dental Trauma, Aetiology, Risk Factors, Epidemiology, Prevalence, Prevention, Paediatric Dentistry
Effective Interventions to Promote the Mental Health of Caregivers of Patients with Breast Cancer - A Systematic Review
Authors: Hossein Nezhad Seyedeh Zeynab , Elyasi Forouzan , Mousavinasab Noraddin , Samami Elahe , Shahhosseini Zohreh
Published: June 2021

Breast cancer is one of the most important health problems in Iran and the world, which accounts for about one third of all gynaecological cancers and is the second most common cancer after lung cancer and the most common cause of cancer mortality among women. Considering the extent of the impact of breast cancer in all physical, psychological, and social dimensions on the patient and her caregivers, the purpose of this study is to review the effective interventions in promoting the mental health of breast cancer caregivers. A systematic review study with a comprehensive search of Internet sites, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Elsevier, Springer, Science Direct, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Iranian databases such as Scientific Information Database (SID) and Magiran was conducted using the keywords intervention, promotion, mental health, caregivers, and breast cancer. A total of 28,188 related articles without year limit and 8 articles were obtained manually. Then, out of these articles, 27,964 articles were excluded due to duplication, 119 articles due to non - relevance, 94 articles were in the screening stage of abstracts and 13 articles in the full text review stage, and finally, the quality of 6 experimental and semi - experimental clinical trial studies was evaluated using Jadad scale. Interventions in effective studies in promoting mental health of caregivers of patients with breast cancer include education, support package, psychosocial intervention, and motivational interview. The results of studies showed that all interventions improved the quality of life, reduced the burden of care and positive changes in the psychological dimension of caregivers. Also, four studies based on Jadad scale were of good quality. According to the results of the present study, which is based on the effect of all interventions on positive changes in the psychological dimension of caregivers' lives, and due to the fact that the number of studies in this field was limited and out of 6 studies, 4 studies were of good quality, it seems more and better studies are needed in order to access stronger evidence to implement effective interventions in promoting the mental health of caregivers of breast cancer patients. KEY WORDS Interventions, Promotion, Mental Health, Caregivers, Breast Cancer
Impact of post-disaster government policy on reconstruction: A case study of post-earthquake Christchurch, New Zealand
Authors:   School of Built Environment, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand, Rodrigo Niransha , Wilkinson Suzanne ,   School of Built Environment, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
Published: June 2021

The New Zealand government, following the Canterbury earthquakes 2010-2011, adopted new ways to rebuild the city. Given an opportunity to find solutions to pre-existing issues in the city, the government was keen to rebuild faster and better. The blueprint that was finalised mid-2012, had 17 anchor projects to lead its rebuilding efforts along with governance and legislative changes to facilitate rebuilding. Drawing on past literature using the case study of Canterbury earthquakes 2010-2011, this paper first reviews the rebuilding process in Christchurch. 14 face to face interviews were held with those involved in and subjected to these governance and structural changes. The study suggests the complex post-disaster environment limit the effectiveness of the imposed changes. Rebuilding efforts were hindered by the absence of a proper legislative framework, the ambiguity in defining roles and responsibilities of recovery agents, the time-pressure to rebuild resulting in hasty planning, limited public involvement in rebuilding and the lack of strategic relevance to ensure the outcomes are accepted by the public and fit with the city’s image in the long run. It is recommended that future research focuses on implications of post-disaster rebuilding practices on the wider community, businesses, and the government.
A rank order of determinants of construction organisations' performance in New Zealand
Authors:   Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, Alqudah Hamzah E. , Poshdar Mani ,   Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, Tookey John ,   Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, Rotimi James O. B. ,   Massey University, New Zealand
Published: June 2021

There are certain factors within and outside organisations that can influence organisational performance. The presence or absence of those factors impacts organisations' ability to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals. As a risk-prone business sector, construction organisations need to identify those determinants that could ensure their superior performance. To date, global studies have identified many determinants that govern the performance of construction organisations. However, few of these are known in New Zealand, and their weightings could be useful in forming business strategies. Therefore, this paper measures the significance of identified determinants of construction organisational performance. A total of 100 professionals participated in a questionnaire survey administered using a snowball sampling technique. The Relative Importance Index approach was used to rank the determinants according to their importance to organisational performance. Five main determinants were significant and ranked highly, with more than 80% relative importance index scores. These determinants are resources and capabilities, competitive strategies, organisational characteristics, environmental factors, and customers relationship management. This finding provides a useful benchmark for future research on the significance of some determinants that could explain the performance differentials experienced in the construction domain in New Zealand
Determination of the best method for processing gambier liquid by-product [Uncaria gambir (hunter) roxb] as natural antioxidant sources
Authors: Ismail A. S. , Rizal Y. , Armenia A. , Kasim A.
Published: June 2021

The study was conducted to determine the best gambier liquid by-product (GLB) processing methods based on antioxidant activity as natural antioxidant sources. The processing methods were A (ethyl acetate fractionation), B (oven drying) and C (freeze drying) methods. The observed variables were dry extract (using weighing method), tannin (using hide powder method), catechin (using SNI 01- 339-2000 method), total phenol (using folin ciocalteu reagents) and antioxidant activities (DPPH method) based on ICAO50. These antioxidant activities were compared with vitamin C as a positive control. The results indicated that the different processing methods significantly affected (P<0.05) dry extract, tannin, catechin, total phenol and antioxidant activity of GLB. The highest dry extract, tannin, catechin, total phenol, and antioxidant activity from GLB were at treatment B (10.76%), B (39.69%), A (86.07%), C (80.97 mg GAE/g), and C (ICAO50 2.74 µg/mL), respectively. The antioxidant activity on treatment C was not different from vitamin C antioxidant activity (2.88µg/mL). Thus, the treatment C (freeze drying method) was the best method to process GLB based on antioxidant activity as natural antioxidant sources.
Posterior urethral valves (PUVs): prenatal ultrasound diagnosis and management difficulties: a review of three cases
Authors: Aliyu Labaran Dayyabu
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) has different etiologies. The most common form is posterior urethral valve (PUVs). It is a condition that can lead to end stage renal disease (ESRD) in later life and severe renal and pulmonary damage in utero. Those born alive may end up with residual kidney disease leading to life long morbidity or death. This condition can be diagnosed through prenatal ultrasound but because diagnosis is done late when kidney injury has already happened it does not guarantee healthy survival after birth. There are various treatments in utero and after birth but they all have their complications. In developing countries diagnosis is possible but in most cases pregnant women with fetuses with PUVs present very late in pregnancy. In utero interventions are in most cases not possible and the only way out is expectant management with serial ultrasound assessment until the fetus has achieved level of maturity at which time it is delivered and further postnatal evaluations and treatment given. This series is aimed at highlighting the prenatal ultrasound features of PUVs and the management challenges faced by physicians in developing countries.

Case presentation

The three cases were managed in three different hospitals. All the cases presented at different gestational ages and different levels of fetal affectation. Because of these, outcomes of management and prognosis of each case differ.

Conclusions

Fetal PUVs pose specific challenges in management because of late presentation and lack of resource for intervention even where cases present early with minimal renal damage.
The Costumbrismo of Conflict inEl ideal de un calavera
Authors: Hanson Cody C.
Published: June 2021

Alberto Blest Gana’s 1863 novelEl ideal de un calaveracontains frequent and highly detailedcuadros de costumbresdepictions of Chile’s unique national culture. In the novel, the parlour and rodeo scenes explore imbalances of power which result from Chile’s economic and social inequalities. These inequalities further exacerbate the rural versus urban divide to reveal a national identity that is hegemonic and contradictory. Power, money, and class coalesce in the aristocratic parlour. The parlour conversation between Abelardo Manríquez and don Calixto Arboleda reveals unscrupulous economic behaviour and questions the feasibility of a united and homogeneous society. In the rodeo, Manríquez and Juan Miguel Sendero compete against each other in a metaphorical contest between the rural versus urban and underprivileged versus elite segments of society. The contradictory nature of urban and rural cultures receives further attention through a depiction of folk medicine. The novel presents the role of religion in creating a shared national culture through the Christmas nativity tradition. These scenes contextualise Chile’s unique and contradictory national identity to reveal what it means to be Chilean. Chile is a heterogeneous nation that is trying to reconcile its social, economic, and regional inequalities.
Explaining predictive models using Shapley values and non-parametric vine copulas
Authors: Aas Kjersti , Nagler Thomas , Jullum Martin , Løland Anders
Published: June 2021

In this paper the goal is to explain predictions from complex machine learning models. One method that has become very popular during the last few years is Shapley values. The original development of Shapley values for prediction explanation relied on the assumption that the features being described were independent. If the features in reality are dependent this may lead to incorrect explanations. Hence, there have recently been attempts of appropriately modelling/estimating the dependence between the features. Although the previously proposed methods clearly outperform the traditional approach assuming independence, they have their weaknesses. In this paper we propose two new approaches for modelling the dependence between the features. Both approaches are based on vine copulas, which are flexible tools for modelling multivariate non-Gaussian distributions able to characterise a wide range of complex dependencies. The performance of the proposed methods is evaluated on simulated data sets and a real data set. The experiments demonstrate that the vine copula approaches give more accurate approximations to the true Shapley values than their competitors.
Quality control of ultrasonography markers for Down’s syndrome screening: a retrospective study by the laboratory
Authors: Badal Blanca , Ballesteros Antonieta , Crespo Miriam , Morell-Garcia Daniel , Bauçà Josep Miquel , Pastor Maria , Ruiz de Gopegui Rosa , Martín Inmaculada
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Quality control of ultrasonography markers is necessary to ensure greater efficacy of prenatal aneuploidy screening. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of the crown-rump length (CRL) and nuchal translucence (NT) measurement accuracy by the laboratory according to quality indicators.

Methods

Retrospective observational study on 4,908 single-foetus pregnant women who underwent prenatal aneuploidy screening in the first trimester of pregnancy. Euploid foetuses with CRL between 45 and 84 mm were included, while those with NT≥3.5 mm were excluded. CRL measurement was considered to be accurate if the median multiples of the median (MoM) for pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) was between 0.90 and 1.10. Fifteen sonographers participated in the study, six of whom comprised the control group. Systematic error for a sonographer was considered when CRL measurement was greater than ±2 mm with respect to the control group. Quality for NT was assured by means of the WHIRI method and each sonographer cumulative sum control chart (CUSUM).

Results

For CRL accuracy, five sonographers underestimated the measurements, while another four overestimated them, with no statistical differences. For smaller sized foetuses, all sonographers met the established specifications. Regarding NT control, three sonographers did not meet the quality criteria for the median MoM. All sonographers met the specifications for the logarithmic standard deviation of the NT MoM levels. Thirteen sonographers met the CUSUM specifications.

Conclusions

Evaluation of a quality control of ultrasonography parameters by laboratory professionals is necessary to avoid under- or overestimation tendencies for CRL and NT measurements. CUSUM is a useful tool for the immediate correction of errors in NT measurements.
Evaluation of glutathione reductase activity in colon tissue of patients with irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Lorestani Shima , Bahari Ali , Asadi Mahdi , Zahedi Avval Farnaz
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is known as one of the most common irritating gastrointestinal disorders. The mechanism behind IBS is still under investigation and it is thought that it may arose from multi factors among which free radicals have been previously mentioned. Studies have found an association between oxidative stress and IBS; however, little is known about the mechanisms and oxidative stress components status during IBS. One of the key factors playing a central role in oxidative stress network is glutathione reductase (GR). Here we report the GR activity in colon tissue samples during IBS to explore a part of contributing components in IBS pathogenesis.

Methods

The GR enzyme activity was measured in 15 active IBS colon biopsy samples and was compared to our best available age and sex matched colorectal tissue samples from normal marginal tissue of resected colon cancers (n=15). The enzyme activity in the two groups was determined and compared using a commercial GR Assay Kit (Cayman chemical).

Results

A significant decrease in GR activity among IBS tissue samples was observed compared to anatomically normal marginal colon tissue samples (p=0.007).

Conclusions

Lower GR activity may increase oxidized glutathione there by in turn could contribute as a main component in oxidative stress network. The lower GR activity results in hampered defense mechanism against produced free radical species. This finding may clarify a part of IBS pathogenesis.
Investigation of the effect of training on serotonin, melatonin and hematologic parameters in adolescent basketball players
Authors: Kocahan Sayad , Dundar Aykut , Onderci Muhittin , Yilmaz Yucehan
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Exercise can improve both health and mood. Some beneficial effects of exercise are attributed to endocrine status. This study aims to evaluate the effect of eight weeks of basketball training on melatonin, serotonin, and hematologic parameters in basketball players.

Methods

The experimental group was selected form 34 healthy young boys, aged between 13 and 16 years old. The participants were randomly assigned to the control group (n=17) and the exercise group (n=17). The exercise program consisted of 2 h/day aerobic activity of basketball training in 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Venous blood was taken on the day before experiment (pre-exercise) and on the day following the last exercise (post-exercise) and hormone levels were detected by ELISA.

Results

Serotonin and melatonin levels significantly increased in the post-exercise group compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Exercise caused increase in WBC, RBC, HCT and Hb levels (p<0.05) while did not alter PLT, MCH, and PCT levels (p>0.05). This study indicates that an eight weeks-long regular aerobic exercise increased melatonin and serotonin levels, and also altered some hematological parameters.

Conclusions

In conclusion, it is believed that improvement in levels of serotonin, melatonin, and hematological parameters after eight weeks of regular basketball training in basketball players could be attributed to beneficial effects of exercise. Investigation in other branches of sports and in different gender and age groups would make contribution into exercise physiology and training science.
Delay-Dependent Stability Conditions for Non-autonomous Functional Differential Equations with Several Delays in a Banach Space
Authors: Gil’ Michael
Published: June 2021

Let Bj
(t) (j = 1,..., m) and B(t, τ) (t ≥ 0, 0 ≤ τ ≤ 1) be bounded variable operators in a Banach space. We consider the equation

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u'\left( t \right) = \sum\limits_{k = 1}^m {{B_k}\left( t \right)u\left( {t - {h_k}\left( t \right)} \right)} + \int\limits_0^1 {B\left( {t,\tau } \right)u\left( {t - {h_0}\left( \tau \right)} \right)d\tau \,\,\,\,\left( {t \ge 0} \right),}

where hk
(t) (t ≥ 0; k = 1, ..., m) and h
0(τ) are continuous nonnegative bounded functions. Explicit delay-dependent exponential stability conditions for that equation are established. Applications to integro-differential equations with delay are also discussed
Track and Trace, and Other Collaborative Art/Archaeology Bubbles in the Phygital Pandemic
Authors: Reilly Paul , Dawson Ian
Published: June 2021

This paper describes our creative responses to a surface assemblage (a scatter) of lithic artefacts encountered on either side of a worn track across a field early on in the pandemic. Our art/archaeology response takes place within a phygital nexus in which artefacts or assemblages can be instantiated either physically or digitally, or both. In the nexus we create, connect and explore an ontological multiplicity of – more or less – physical and digital skeuomorphs and other more standard forms of records for sharing (i.e. Latour’s immutable mobiles, such as photographs), but rendered with radically different properties and affordances, at different scales, with different apparatus. These include interactive Reflectance Transformation Images, graphical surface models, machine intelligence style transfer, and 3D prints, all of which were produced in a variety of isolated analytical “bubble” settings and transmitted to and from (both digitally and physically) a home office in an isolated Hampshire village and a home studio in a London suburb. Our approach is to describe, diffractively, the ontological shifts and itineraries associated with some of these objects and assess how this assemblage came to matter as an art/archaeology installation. Ultimately, some of these deterritorialised, (re)colourised, affective, biodegradable, and diffractively born metamorphic instars, now inscribed with new meanings, are returned to the original findspot of the lithics to be (re)discovered.
Networks in the mind – what communities reveal about the structure of the lexicon
Authors: Kovács László , Bóta András , Hajdu László , Krész Miklós
Published: June 2021

The mental lexicon stores words and information about words. The lexicon is seen by many researchers as a network, where lexical units are nodes and the different links between the units are connections. Based on the analysis of a word association network, in this article we show that different kinds of associative connections exist in the mental lexicon. Our analysis is based on a word association database from the agglutinative language Hungarian. We use communities – closely knit groups – of the lexicon to provide evidence for the existence and coexistence of different connections. We search for communities in the database using two different algorithms, enabling us to see the overlapping (a word belongs to multiple communities) and non-overlapping (a word belongs to only one community) community structures. Our results show that the network of the lexicon is organized by semantic, phonetic, syntactic and grammatical connections, but encyclopedic knowledge and individual experiences are also shaping the associative structure. We also show that words may be connected not just by one, but more types of connections at the same time.
On the spectrum of linear combinations of finitely many diagonalizable matrices that mutually commute
Authors: Kişi Emre , Sarduvan Murat , Özdemir Halim , Kalaycı Nurgül
Published: June 2021

We propose an algorithm, which is based on the method given by Kişi and Özdemir in [Math Commun, 23 (2018) 61], to handle the problem of when a linear combination matrixX=∑i=1mciXiX = \sum\nolimits_{i = 1}^m {{c_i}{X_i}}is a matrix such that its spectrum is a subset of a particular set, whereci,i= 1, 2, ...,m, are nonzero scalars andXi,i= 1, 2, ...,m, are mutually commuting diagonalizable matrices. Besides, Mathematica implementation codes of the algorithm are also provided. The problems of characterizing all situations in which a linear combination of some special matrices, e.g. the matrices that coincide with some of their powers, is also a special matrix can easily be solved via the algorithm by choosing of the spectra of the matricesXandXi,i= 1, 2, ...,m, as subsets of some particular sets. Nine of the open problems in the literature are solved by utilizing the algorithm. The results of the four of them, i.e. cubicity of linear combinations of two commuting cubic matrices, quadripotency of linear combinations of two commuting quadripotent matrices, tripotency of linear combinations of three mutually commuting tripotent matrices, and tripotency of linear combinations of four mutually commuting involutive matrices, are presented explicitly in this work. Due to the length of their presentations, the results of the five of them, i.e. quadraticity of linear combinations of three or four mutually commuting quadratic matrices, cubicity of linear combinations of three mutually commuting cubic matrices, quadripotency of linear combinations of three mutually commuting quadripotent matrices, and tripotency of linear combinations of four mutually commuting tripotent matrices, are given as program outputs only. The results obtained are extensions and/or generalizations of some of the results in the literature.
Lepidium sativum as candidate against excitotoxicity in retinal ganglion cells
Authors: Al-Dbass Abeer , Amina Musarat , Al Musayeib Nawal M. , El-Anssary Amira A. , Bhat Ramesa Shafi , Fahmy Rania , Alhamdan Majd M. , El-Ansary Afaf
Published: June 2021

Glutamate excitotoxicity is considered one of the major causes of retinal ganglion cell death in many retinal diseases. Retinal ganglion cell degeneration causes severe blindness since visual signals from the eye to the brain are conducted only through retinal ganglion cells. Objective: We aimed to explore the potential ameliorative effects of L. sativum against glutamate excitotoxicity-induced retinal ganglion cell damage. Methods: Pure retinal ganglion cells were divided into a control group (untreated); L. sativum-treated groups in which retinal ganglion cells were treated with 5, 10, 50, or 100 µg/mL L. sativum seed extract for 2 h; glutamate-treated groups in which cells were treated with 5, 10, 50, or 100 µM glutamate for 48 h; and L. sativum/glutamate groups [pretreatment with L. sativum for 2 h (50 or 100 µg/mL) before glutamate treatment at 100 µM for 48 h]. Cell damage was assessed by comet assay and cell viability was by MTT test. Results: Tailed DNA, tail length, and tail moment of the 50 and 100 mM glutamate-treated groups were significantly greater than those of the blank control group, while the L. sativum-treated groups demonstrated nonsignificantly different tailed DNA, tail length, and tail moment compared with the blank control group, but significantly lower values compared with the glutamate-treated groups. Conclusion: L. sativum ameliorated the cell viability in retinal ganglion cells after high-concentration glutamate exposure. L. sativum seed extracts were efficient anti-excitotoxic and antioxidant agent that might improve the clinical presentation of many neurological disorders.
Hydrogenation and Dopant Concentration-Dependent Structural, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Synthesized Manganese/Aluminum–Codoped Anatase Nanoparticles
Authors: Dakhel A. A.
Published: June 2021

In the present work, titanium oxide (TiO2) codoped with 2 at % and 5 at % manganese/aluminum nanoparticle samples were synthesized by a coprecipitation method. The effects of manganese/aluminum dopant concentrations and hydrogenation temperatures on the structural, optical, and magnetic properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were studied. The investigation was aimed at considering manganese dopant ions as the foundation of stable magnetic properties and using Al3+ ions to supply itinerant electrons to study and synthesize a dilute magnetic semiconductor based on TiO2. The synthesized doped nanopowders were studied by several methods: X-ray diffraction, optical absorption spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements. It was established that the Anatase structure was the main structure of the synthesized codoped powders. The dopant and the hydrogenation did not introduce qualitative change in the phase structure of the powder. It was found that the hydrogenation increased the crystallite size, and the high-temperature hydrogenation (500°C) deteriorated the crystalline structures. The optical study was aimed at investigating the formation of F+-centers. The shift in the optical absorption edge was explained in terms of the Urbach and Moss-Burstein effects. The magnetic energy parameter was calculated to compare the strength of the resulting room-temperature ferromagnetic ordering in the samples. The greatest saturation magnetization parameter was 0.005 μB/manganese for the sample with the lower studied doping level (2 %) and hydrogenated (H) at low temperature (400°C); TiO2: 2 % manganese: aluminum–H (hydrogenated). The magnetic saturation magnetization was lowered for a higher doping level and higher hydrogenation temperature (500°C).
Association of cardiovascular morbidity with residual renal function in twice weekly versus thrice weekly hemodialysis patients
Authors: MZ Ahsan , MO Faroque , SMz Hossain , SB Khan , SM Ershad , AK  Singha , RR Gomes , MM Shahid
Published: June 2021

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a non-communicable global problem. In patients of chronic kidney disease especially in hemodialysis patient mortality and morbidity due to atherosclerosis induced cardiovascular complications is very high despite the advances of hemodialysis procedure. Residual renal function contributes significantly to the overall health and cardiovascular morbidity of dialysis patients. So, the loss of residual renal function, especially in patients on hemodialysis, is a powerful predictor of mortality. Preserving residual renal function is the goal of nephrologists. Objective: To find the association between residual renal function and cardiovascular morbidity in twice weekly and thrice weekly hemodialysis patient. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted on 72 hemodialysis patients received dialysis more than three months in the dialysis centre of BSMMU and DMCH, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of October 2018 to September 2019. Study populations were divided into two groups on the basis of residual renal function (RRF). RRF was defined by interdialytic 24 hours urine volume and average of urinary urea and creatinine clearance. Preserved RRF was defined 24 hours urine volume more than 100 ml. Chi-square test (χ2), Student’s paired t-test and multiple regression analysis were used to find association between cardiovascular morbidity and RRF. Result: A significant difference of diastolic dysfunction, systolic dysfunction, LVH (p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.004 respectively) was seen in between preserved RRF and without preserved RRF group but the difference of regional wall motion abnormality and valvular heart disease was found to be non-significant. In regression analysis, loss of RRF was found to be a significant predictor of cardiovascular morbidity. Conclusion: Preserved RRF was significantly associated with less frequent diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy and higher level of left ventricular ejection fraction compared to without preserved residual renal function in both twice weekly and thrice weekly HD patient.
Beta 2 microgloblin increase prognosis effectiveness in aggressive diffuse large b-cell lymphoma and high clinical risk
Authors: Aviles Agustin , Cleto Sergio
Published: June 2021

Introduction: We conducted an open label clinical to assess if beta 2 microglobulin (B2M) can be useful as prognostic factor that can increase the usefulness of International Prognostic Index (IPI)in patients with aggressive lymphoma ; with stage IV and high clinical risk. Methods: Between January 1999 to December 2015, 1388 patients with aggressive lymphoma ,in that were classified as high-clinical risk and stage IV, treated with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) or R-CHOP (CHOP+rituximab); B2M was adding to the staging procedures; they were classified in two groups: normal (< 3.0 mg/L) or elevated ( >3.0 mg/L) levels that were compared in response type and outcome. Results: Complete response, actuarial curves of progression-free survival and overall survival, were statistically better in patients with normal levels of B2M: 68%; 78% (95% Confidence interval(CI):(69% - 83%)) and 73%(95%CI: 67%-82 %) ; and 73% (95%CI:67%-81%) compared with patients with high levels were: 54%; 58%(95%CI; 48%-67%); and 47% (95%CI:39%-58%), (p <0.001) respectively. Multivariable analysis confirm that B2M and lactate dehydrogenase have powerful to detect a worse prognostic course. Conclusion: B2M appear to be a no-expensive, simple and reproducible marker to help defined an worse prognosis in patients with high clinical risk and advanced stage. Thus, will be considered to planned a clinical trial to test the efficacy of different chemotherapeutic regimens in these setting of patients.
Deficiency of coagulation factor Vll in a 4 years old child with 13q deletion syndrome: a case report
Authors: Madani Housam AL , Hassan Soltan , Ajwa, Ghada , Dahlawi Basel
Published: June 2021

Background: Factor VII deficiency is rare inherited bleeding disorders, have been identified in the Factor VII gene located on chromosome 13 with very few cases reported. Factor VII deficiency was first described by Alexander et al. in 1951.The disorder has also been known as Alexander's disease. It is the rare inherited bleeding disorders’ with an estimated incidence of 1 case per 3,00,000 to 5,00,000 individuals. Objective and method: We did a case report and literature review for deficiency of coagulation factors VII was found in a 4 years patient who had chromosomal aberration 13q deletion syndrome (46, XX, del 13q32-13q33). This loci involved in synthesis or constitution of factor VII. Results: A review of the gene map of chromosome 13 indicated that Factors VII and X are coded on the long arm of chromosome 13, within the deleted region. Conclusion: Congenital Factor VII deficiency is a rare cause of bleeding disorder, which should be suspected in a bleeding child presenting in infancy when platelets and aPTT are normal with abnormal PT. Congenital Factor VII deficiency association with 46, XX, del (13q32– 13q33) syndrome is very rare disorder and further cases should be reported to know the outcome and the risk of complication in such a cases.
Transcervical foley catheter and oxytocin compared with transcervical foley catheter alone for induction of labour
Authors: Neelakandan Anandhita , Guleria Kiran , Sharma Richa
Published: June 2021

Objective: To evaluate whether transcervical Foley catheter with Oxytocin used concurrently for induction of labour (IOL) increases the delivery rate within 24 hours as compared to transcervical Foley catheter alone. Methodology: 220 women with Bishop score ≤6 undergoing IOL were randomized into a concurrent transcervical Foley catheter & Oxytocin group and a transcervical Foley catheter alone group and delivery rate ≤24 hours was assessed as primary outcome. Results: Of the 220 women who completed the trial, there were 110 subjects (52 nulliparae and 58 multiparae) randomized in each group. Delivery rate within 24 hours was > 95% in both groups (96.36% vs 95.45%, p=0.748). Oxytocin use was significantly longer in the concurrent group than in Foley alone group (10.50 vs 7.75 hours). Multiparae fared better than nulliparae in both the groups in terms of parameters like delivery rate within 24 hours (concurrent group: 100 vs 92.30%, p=0.046; & Foley only group: 98.27 vs 94.23%, p=0.342), delivery in 12 hours, caesarean sections, Foley expulsion time, oxytocin required and successful inductions. They also delivered much faster (combined group: 9 vs 12 hours; Foley only group: 9.41 vs 12.5 hours). Conclusion: Both methods- combined and Foley catheter alone is equally good for IOL. Concurrent use of oxytocin at the initiation of IOL exposes to a longer duration of oxytocin without expediting the induction thereby questioning oxytocin’s efficacy on the unprimed cervix. Thus concurrent methods (Foley & Oxytocin)) offers no extra advantage over the conventional methods (Foley alone) for IOL.
Buschke-LÃ¶wenstein tumour (BLT)/giant condyloma acuminatum (GCA): An immunopathogenesis insight
Authors: Christopher Paulus Mario , Kosim Hartono , Wijaya Ratna Sari , Suhardi Silvi , Wijayadi Linda Julianti
Published: June 2021

Buschke LÃ¶wenstein tumor (BLT)/giant condyloma acuminatum is a rare variant ofÂ sexually transmitted infection caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) type 6 and 11. HPV has its viral factors that exist to avoid immune surveillance and control through 1) infecting only the basal layer of the epithelium, 2) downregulation of host immunity, 3) suppression of proinflammatory proteins essential for viral clearance. The incidence of BLT/GCA is estimated to be 0.1% in the general population, with males having 2.7 times increased risk than females.Â BLT/GCA is characterized by verrucous tumor or palpable cauliflower-likemass, exophytic growth, flesh-colored, and uneven surface. The definitive diagnosis of BLT/GCA is typical morphology along with histopathological examination, and/or viral serotyping. Treatment of BLT/GCA requires a multidisciplinary approach, determined based on age, the extent of the lesion, organ involvement, and organ location.
Negative correlation between interleukin-2 (IL-2) serum with bacterial index in leprosy
Authors: Putri Patricia Dian , Rusyati Luh Made Mas , Adiguna Made Swastika
Published: June 2021

Background: Leprosy is strongly influenced by the host immunity response. One of the cytokines that play a role in cellular immunity is IL-2. IL-2 will stimulate macrophages to activate phagocytosis and form granulomas, and this occurs in the tuberculoid type of leprosy.Objective: Aim of this study was to verify the IL-2 serum levels are negatively correlated or not with bacterial index in leprosy.Methods: This study was a cross-sectional observational analytic study involving 50 leprosy subjects (41 MB and 9 PB types). Study was conducted at Dermatolovenerology Polyclinic of Sanglah General Hospital from December 2019 to March 2020. Sample was taken using a consecutive sampling method. IL-2 serum levels were measured by ELISA.Â Result: The mean of IL-2 serum in PB was 75.53Â±10.32 pg/mL and in MB was 37.59Â±17.13 pg/mL. Strong negative correlation (r= -0.67; p<0.001) between serum IL-2 levels with bacterial index (CI 95%= 25.96â€“49.93; p<0.001) was found. Every 1 pg/mL increase in IL-2 serum levels will be accompanied by a decrease in the bacterial index of 0.039 and vice versa. Determinant coefficient shows that 42.2% of bacterial index affected by the IL-2 serum levels. Low IL-2 serum levels were the risk factor of high bacterial index 2.8 times (PR= 2.8; CI 95%= 1.444â€“5.519; p<0.001).Conclusion: IL-2 serum levels were found to be higher in PB than MB. There was a negative correlation between IL-2 serum levels with bacterial index. Low IL-2 serum levels were the risk factor of a high bacterial index in leprosy patients.
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) : A review of the literature
Authors: Dewi Lidya Trisna
Published: June 2021

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common cause of vaginitis after bacterial vaginosis. VVC often occurs in women of reproductive age (20-40 years). Risk factors for VVC can be divided into two, such as host factors (pregnancy, hormone replacement, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, antibiotics, use of glucocorticoids, genetic influences) and behavioral factors (oralÂ  Â contraceptives, cotraceptives and also some sexual habits, hygiene, and clothes that are used). To diagnose VVC in a person, evaluation from anamnesis and clinical manifestation can be conducted. It can also be confirmed by laboratory examination. The management based on the classification. Uncomplicated VVC is most effectively treated with topical azoles, but a single dose of fluconazole can also be given orally. Treatment of VVC with complications can be given fluconazole 150 mg for 3 days or topical azole for 7 days. However, when the VVC case that caused by Candida non-albicans not responding to conventional treatment such as antimycotics, the Â Â amphotericin B can be given to cure the disease. VVC caused by Candida glabrata can be given topical boric acid or flucytosine. This article consists of several theoretical references that has been viewed to have a better understanding regarding candidiasis vulvovaginitis.Â