bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of the level of testosterone, DHEA and prolactin among Toxoplasma gondii infected and uninfected infertile couples attending to Fatima Al-Zahra infertility treatment center, Babol, Northern Iran
Authors: Bayani Masomeh , Kalantari Narges , Esmailzadeh Sedigheh , Ghaffari Salman , Mahjoub Soleiman , Ghofrani Faezeh , Ghaffari Taraneh
Published: May 2022

Introduction/Aims: Toxoplasmosis modifies various hormones and cytokines in the infected hosts which may result in several disorders. This study was conducted to assess testosterone, DHEA, and prolactin concentration levels among Toxoplasma gondii infected and uninfected infertile couples. Methods: Blood samples were collected and sera were separated. The sera were analyzed for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma (IgG& IgM) antibodies using commercial ELISA kits. The level of DHEA was measured by ELISA and the levels of testosterone and prolactin were evaluated by enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA, VIDAS). Results: The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 58.0% (218/376). Among women, 56.9% (107/188) and 6.5% (7/107) were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies IgG and IgM, respectively. The IgG and IgM were detected in the sera of 111/188 (59.0%) and 9/111 (8.1%) in male subjects, respectively. A positive association was observed between T. gondii infection and the upper and lower ranges of the normal value of testosterone in males (x 2 = 6.8, p = 0.033) but not in females (x 2 = 0.62, p = 0.99). A positive correlation was seen between toxoplasmosis and the upper and lower ranges of the normal value of prolactin in females (x 2 = 6.5, p = 0.039) but not in male cases (x 2 = 1.06, p = 0.59). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the level of sexual hormones between Toxoplasma-infected individuals and Toxoplasma-free subjects suffering from infertility. These findings suggest that further studies should be performed on infertile cases with large sample sizes in a case-control format.
Spaces and technologies of the circus spectacle
Authors: Divac Marija , Milošević Sara , Jevtić-Novaković Katarina , Timčenko Olga
Published: May 2022

Contemporary circus is a complex, interdisciplinary form of performing arts. The new circus was built on the basis of the traditional one, but it is more complex than it and brings a combination of elements of acrobatics, dance and drama theater, shadow theater, puppet theater, as well as contemporary visual arts and digital technologies. The circus spectacle, its architectural concept and its content, have changed over the centuries, following social events and the cultural framework of the time. Although the spectacle is still adapting and changing, we ask the question, whether stationary circuses have managed to adapt and transform for the needs of modern society. In this paper, through a brief history of the circus spectacle and important typological characteristics of the objects, one of the most significant objects of this spectacle will be analysed.
The frequency of infection with high-risk human papilloma virus types on the cervix uteri of women of reproductive age
Authors: Prelić Jovana , Knežević Aleksandra
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Human papilloma virus is the most important etiological factor that leads to the malignant alteration of cervical epithelium. More than 200 types of human papillomavirus are identified. Based on its oncogenic potential, human papillomavirus can be classified as low-oncogenic and high-oncogenic types. Aim: To determine the frequency of infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses in the cervical swabs of reproductively active women in our population. Material and methods: The research is designed as descriptive study. Data on the presence of HPV infections, as well as the virus genotype in 707 cervical swabs from the period from January 2019 to August 2020, together with the correlation with the woman's age and cytological status on the cervix, were analyzed. Results: Human papilloma virus infection was present in 223 out of 707 tested samples (31.54%). The highest frequency of HPV infection, as well as the highest number of HPV genotypes was in the group of women aged 25 - 34 years (36.32%). The frequency of HPV infection correlates with altered cytological status. The presence of 26 HPV genotypes was determined, 16 highly oncogenic and 10 low oncogenic types, of which the most common was highly oncogenic type 16 (25.11%). Conclusion: These findings showed a high frequency of highly oncogenic HPV genotypes, primarily type 16 in most groups of women of reproductive age. In addition, the frequency of infection correlates with cytological status, which indicates the great importance of prevention of genital HPV infection in our female population.
Los primeros años del pintor barroco Cristóbal García Salmerón: ¿un discípulo de Pedro Orrente?
Authors: Casal Valencia Sonia
Published: May 2022

Cristóbal García Salmerón fue un pintor barroco nacido en Cuenca en torno al año 1603 y cuya biografía ha sido tratada por pocos estudiosos a lo largo de los siglos. Estos autores, además de difundir escuetos datos del conquense, en ocasiones lo hacían con errores que se han ido repitiendo durante centurias. Una de las informaciones perpetradas acerca del artista vincula su formación con el maestro murciano Pedro Orrente, aprendizaje que se habría producido bien en Toledo, bien en la propia ciudad de Cuenca, en una presumible estancia que el murciano habría tenido en estas localidades.El objetivo de este trabajo es intentar verificar este dato para lo que se ha tenido que buscar información en archivos y bibliotecas diversas que han dado como resultado la obtención de una serie de documentos que no sitúan a Orrente en ninguna de dichas ciudades el tiempo suficiente como para haber formado a un discípulo, por lo que habría que valorar otras opciones en torno al aprendizaje de García Salmerón.
Fernanda Francés (Valencia, 1862-Madrid, 1939): una vida dedicada a la pintura y la enseñanza
Authors: López Terrada María José
Published: May 2022

Fernanda Francés fue una de las artistas más conocidas del periodo de entre siglos en España. Sin embargo, la visión que hasta el momento se tiene de su doble faceta como pintora y docente es muy limitada y no siempre fiel a la realidad. El objetivo del artículo es contribuir a corregir dicha situación, aportando nuevos datos que permitan reconstruir su trayectoria biográfica y artística. Para ello se han empleado principalmente fuentes de la época, sobre todo publicaciones periódicas, en las que se constata su valoración por parte de la crítica como «verdadera artista».
Arnold Hauser (1892-1978) y la gestación de Manierismo (1964): la precariedad económica del intelectual independiente
Authors: Saldaña Puerto César
Published: May 2022

Según Arnold Hauser, el propósito de la historia es comprender el presente. Su controvertida Historia social de la literatura y el arte (1951) culmina «bajo el signo del cine». Este interés por el cine se remonta a su experiencia como distribuidor de películas en Viena (1924-1938), cuando proyectó una inacabada Dramaturgia y sociología del film. No obstante, su siguiente investigación, Manierismo: la crisis del Renacimiento y los orígenes del arte moderno (1964), parece renunciar a la problemática del medio artístico de masas, habiendo sido interpretado como una «retirada del marxismo». Recurriendo a los archivos de C. H. Beck (Múnich), de la Biblioteca del Congreso (Washington D.C.), y del archivo de literatura alemana (Marbach), indagamos en por qué Hauser escribió Manierismo y no un libro sobre cine, recogiendo su contacto con Theodor Adorno, Herbert Read y Siegfried Kracauer. Concluimos que la historia de su gestación documenta la elección pragmática de un intelectual independiente, exiliado, y en intranquila precariedad económica.
Pioneros de la historia del arte en España: cartas entre Manuel Gómez-Moreno Martínez y José Gestoso y Pérez
Authors: De Tena Ramírez Carmen
Published: May 2022

En este artículo presentamos la correspondencia que establecieron dos destacados estudiosos de la historia del arte: Manuel Gómez-Moreno y José Gestoso. A través del análisis contextualizado de esta fuente de información, ofrecemos una visión panorámica del proceso de institucionalización de la Historia del Arte en España, y la vinculación del mismo con el interés creciente en la protección del patrimonio cultural, a comienzos del siglo XX. Finalmente, valoramos la implicación de dichos personajes en ambos campos y subrayamos el papel relevante que desempeñaron.
Arquiteturas efêmeras de jogo e Educação Infantil: diálogos com a Arte Contemporânea
Authors: Santos Nathalia Scheuermann dos , Carvalho Rodrigo Saballa de
Published: May 2022

O presente artigo com base nos Estudos Sociais da Infância e no campo da Arte, deriva do trabalho de conclusão de curso de Pedagogia da Faculdade de Educação da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). O qual, buscou entender quais as possibilidades envolvidas em arquiteturas efêmeras de jogo (ABAD, 2008) para crianças pequenas, inspiradas em instalações de arte contemporânea em uma Escola de Educação Infantil em Porto Alegre, no primeiro semestre de 2018. O percurso metodológico da investigação foi pautado pela pesquisa-ação. Metodologicamente, foram propostas sete sessões de arquiteturas de jogo para um grupo de crianças de 2 a 5 anos. Evidenciando a potencialidade envolvida nesse trabalho, foi possível perceber que as arquiteturas de jogo se caracterizam como um espaço para o jogo simbólico e para o exercício do protagonismo infantil.
Os (entre) lugares da Arte na Educação Infantil
Authors: Colbeich Marisete Machado , Nunes Carolina Ramos
Published: May 2022

Esse artigo propõe um momento de reflexão sobre o Ensino da Arte na Educação Infantil. Do ideal ao possível verifica-se um extenso percurso de fazeres e desafios. Apontamos um breve panorama de como o campo de conhecimento arte é entendido na Educação Infantil e para contraponto apresentam-se algumas praticas pedagógicas onde tangenciamos as linguagens artísticas. Propondo pensar em como a arte está colocada nesse entremeio de construção de conhecimentos neste tempo de ensino, o referencial teórico é pautado em autores que possibilitaram embasar nossa fala a fim de evidenciar a arte como um campo de conhecimento que contribui para as praticas pedagógicas.
Entre conflitos, pandemia e proposições: formação inicial de professoras e professores de Artes Visuais
Authors: Vasconcellos Sônia Tramujas , Momoli Daniel Bruno
Published: May 2022

O texto apresenta percursos reflexivos e relacionados a um conjunto de ações realizadas nas disciplinas vinculadas aos estágios durante o período pandêmico da COVID-19 em um curso de Licenciatura em Artes Visuais. A construção da identidade docente se vincula às singularidades das relações das e dos discentes com os estágios no território das Artes Visuais e os percursos formativos realizados nesse espaço/tempo da disciplina. Ao articularmos tais questões com as reflexões sobre cultura docente e docência compartilhada, pretendemos evidenciar escolhas, conflitos e movimentos que perpassam os estágios na formação inicial de docentes para além de situações marcadas pela pandemia da COVID-19. São gestos de escuta e de partilha, com mudanças de percursos, que foram feitos em contextos educativos e formativos, em um exercício que envolveu acolhimento e construção de estratégias para a formação profissional na universidade.
A aula ateliê como experiência de ensino e aprendizagem no Grupo de Estudos Estúdio de Pintura Apotheke
Authors: Facco Marta , Wosniak Fábio
Published: May 2022

O texto busca explanar sobre as experiências de ensino e aprendizagem do Grupo de Estudos Estúdio de Pintura Apotheke no campo da Arte e da Arte Educação em meio ao espaço do ateliê de pintura. Compreende-se como eixo principal desta proposta, a filosofia da Arte como experiência, pautada em John Dewey (2010) e as práticas desenvolvidas nas aulas ateliês como espaço-tempo do exercício da experiência estética.
Effectiveness and safety of anticoagulant versus antiplatelet therapy in patients after endovascular revascularisation of the lower limb
Authors: Pelicon Kevin , Petek Klemen , Boc Anja , Boc Vinko , Kejžar Nataša , Vižintin Cuderman Tjaša , Blinc Aleš
Published: May 2022

Background. Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are routinely prescribed antiplatelet treatment (APT) after revascularisation. An exception are patients who receive anticoagulant treatment (ACT) due to comorbidity. We set out to determine possible differences in the effectiveness and safety between ACT and APT in patients who underwent endovascular revascularisation of the lower limb arteries.

 

Methods. In a single-centre retrospective study, we analysed the data of 1,587 consecutive patients with PAD who underwent successful endovascular revascularisation of the lower limb arteries due to disabling intermittent claudication or chronic critical limb ischemia in a 5-year period. Patients were divided in the ACT and APT group based on their prescribed treatment. After balancing both groups' baseline characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors with propensity score matching (PSM), we compared the effectiveness and safety of both treatment regimens in the first year afterrevascularisation.

 

Results. Compared to patients with APT, patients with ACT were older, more often reported arterial hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, and a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack. After PSM, the odds ratio (OR) for an effective outcome with ACT versus APT was 0.78 (95% CI 0.39–1.59; p=0.502), while the OR for a safe outcome with ACT versus APT was 4.12 (95% CI 0.82–20.73; p=0.085).

 

Conclusions. Patients who required ACT were older, had more cardiovascular risk factors, and more advanced PAD than patients with APT. After matching, we found no statistically significant difference in the effectiveness and safety of both treatment regimens.
Det Lykkelige Aarhus
Authors: Olesen Mattias Gori
Published: May 2022

På Aarhus Universitet er Arabisk- og islamstudier en selvstændig uddannelse, som er knyttet til Afdeling for Religionsvidenskab. Den 29. oktober 2021 afholdte afdelingen sit 30-års jubilæum. I den anledning præsenterede Mattias Gori Olesen denne tale om ‘ægteskabet’ mellem Arabisk- og islamstudier og Religionsvidenskab.
Jonas Otterbeck: The Awakening of Islamic Pop Music. In the series Music and Performance in Muslim Contexts. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2021. 220 pages.
Authors: Illman Ruth
Published: May 2022

Something has happened to the Islamic music scene since the turn of the twenty-first century. A gradual change towards increased diversity seems to be underway: new forms of musical expressions, including instruments and popular musical tropes, and new kinds of musicians who are stylish and savvy perform their music to enthusiastic audiences, who dig their idols and share their concert experiences in social media as fans all over the world do, but with an added, faith-based flavour. This music is not merely intended to entertain and sell, even if it is orchestrated by the commercial laws of the global music industry – it also has “the goal of being perceived and accepted as Islamic” (p. 4). By experimenting with sounds, formats and styles of performance, the agents of Islamic pop or pop-nashid (nashid being an old, Arabic term for Islamic song) challenge conceptions of legitimate Islamic art, pushing the limits of what can be regarded as purposeful, ethical and authentic ways of expressing Islam in music. In his recent book, Jonas Otterbeck explores this dynamic musical context based on rich ethnographic data (interviews, participant fieldwork) and multi-media analyses, placed in dialogue with central concepts and analytical frameworks from classical Islamic theology and philosophy, ethnomusicology and various strands of the study of contemporary religion and culture.
‘Advanced TV’: nuevos modelos de consumo
Authors:   Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Fernández Martínez Sonia
Published: May 2022

La televisión ha sido el medio por excelencia durante muchos años y está cambiando radicalmente en términos de consumo. Estamos viviendo un momento histórico en cuanto a la digitalización de los procesos de cualquier medio. El modelo de suscripción ha llegado para quedarse y para dar más importancia al contenido. Decidimos pagar por servicios bajo demanda para escoger una película, serie o documental, noticia o contenido afín a nuestros gustos e intereses, cosa que hace tres o cuatro años era impensable en España.
Perfect squares in the sum and difference of balancing-like numbers
Authors:   National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Orissa, India, Sahukar M. K. , Şiar Zafer ,   Department of Mathematics, Bingöl University, Keskin Refik ,   Department of Mathematics, Bingöl University, Panda G. K. ,   National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Orissa, India
Published: May 2022

In this study, we deal with the existence of perfect powers which are sum and difference of two balancing numbers. Moreover, as a generalization we explore the perfect squares which are sum and difference of two balancing-like numbers, where balancing-like sequence is defined recursively as $G_{n+1}=AG_n-G_{n-1}$ with initial terms $G_0=0,G_1=1$ for $A \geq 3$.
Reducing lipid bilayer stress by monounsaturated fatty acids protects renal proximal tubules in diabetes
Authors: Pérez-Martí Albert , Ramakrishnan Suresh , Li Jiayi , Dugourd Aurelien , Molenaar Martijn R , De La Motte Luigi R , Grand Kelli , Mansouri Anis , Parisot Mélanie , Lienkamp Soeren S , Saez-Rodriguez Julio , Simons Matias
Published: May 2022

In diabetic patients, dyslipidemia frequently contributes to organ damage such as diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Dyslipidemia is associated with both excessive deposition of triacylglycerol (TAG) in lipid droplets (LDs) and lipotoxicity. Yet, it is unclear how these two effects correlate with each other in the kidney and how they are influenced by dietary patterns. By using a diabetes mouse model, we find here that high-fat diet enriched in the monounsaturated oleic acid (OA) caused more lipid storage in LDs in renal proximal tubular cells (PTCs) but less tubular damage than a corresponding butter diet with the saturated palmitic acid (PA). This effect was particularly evident in S2/S3 but not S1 segments of the proximal tubule. Combining transcriptomics, lipidomics, and functional studies, we identify endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as the main cause of PA-induced PTC injury. Mechanistically, ER stress is caused by elevated levels of saturated TAG precursors, reduced LD formation, and, consequently, higher membrane order in the ER. Simultaneous addition of OA rescues the cytotoxic effects by normalizing membrane order and increasing both TAG and LD formation. Our study thus emphasizes the importance of monounsaturated fatty acids for the dietary management of DKD by preventing lipid bilayer stress in the ER and promoting TAG and LD formation in PTCs.
A persistent behavioral state enables sustained predation of humans by mosquitoes
Authors: Sorrells Trevor R , Pandey Anjali , Rosas-Villegas Adriana , Vosshall Leslie B
Published: May 2022

Predatory animals pursue prey in a noisy sensory landscape, deciding when to continue or abandon their chase. The mosquito Aedes aegypti is a micropredator that first detects humans at a distance through sensory cues such as carbon dioxide. As a mosquito nears its target, it senses more proximal cues such as body heat that guide it to a meal of blood. How long the search for blood continues after initial detection of a human is not known. Here, we show that a 5 s optogenetic pulse of fictive carbon dioxide induced a persistent behavioral state in female mosquitoes that lasted for more than 10 min. This state is highly specific to females searching for a blood meal and was not induced in recently blood-fed females or in males, who do not feed on blood. In males that lack the gene fruitless, which controls persistent social behaviors in other insects, fictive carbon dioxide induced a long-lasting behavior response resembling the predatory state of females. Finally, we show that the persistent state triggered by detection of fictive carbon dioxide enabled females to engorge on a blood meal mimic offered up to 14 min after the initial 5 s stimulus. Our results demonstrate that a persistent internal state allows female mosquitoes to integrate multiple human sensory cues over long timescales, an ability that is key to their success as an apex micropredator of humans.
Lowland plant arrival in alpine ecosystems facilitates a decrease in soil carbon content under experimental climate warming
Authors: Walker Tom WN , Gavazov Konstantin , Guillaume Thomas , Lambert Thibault , Mariotte Pierre , Routh Devin , Signarbieux Constant , Block Sebastián , Münkemüller Tamara , Nomoto Hanna , Crowther Thomas W , Richter Andreas , Buttler Alexandre , Alexander Jake M
Published: May 2022

Climate warming is releasing carbon from soils around the world, constituting a positive climate feedback. Warming is also causing species to expand their ranges into new ecosystems. Yet, in most ecosystems, whether range expanding species will amplify or buffer expected soil carbon loss is unknown. Here, we used two whole-community transplant experiments and a follow-up glasshouse experiment to determine whether the establishment of herbaceous lowland plants in alpine ecosystems influences soil carbon content under warming. We found that warming (transplantation to low elevation) led to a negligible decrease in alpine soil carbon content, but its effects became significant and 52% ± 31% (mean ± 95% confidence intervals) larger after lowland plants were introduced at low density into the ecosystem. We present evidence that decreases in soil carbon content likely occurred via lowland plants increasing rates of root exudation, soil microbial respiration, and CO2 release under warming. Our findings suggest that warming-induced range expansions of herbaceous plants have the potential to alter climate feedbacks from this system, and that plant range expansions among herbaceous communities may be an overlooked mediator of warming effects on carbon dynamics.
Linking multi-level population dynamics: state, role, and population
Authors: Takashina Nao
Published: May 2022

The dynamics of an ecological community can be described at different focal scales of the species, such as individual states or the population level. More detailed descriptions of ecological dynamics offer more information, but produce more complex models that are difficult to analyze. Adequately controlling the model complexity and the availability of multiple descriptions of the concerned dynamics maximizes our understanding of ecological dynamics. One of the central goals of ecological studies is to develop links between multiple descriptions of an ecological community. In this article, starting from a nonlinear state-level description of an ecological community (generalized McKendrick–von Foerster model), role-level and population-level descriptions (Lotka–Volterra model) are derived in a consistent manner. The role-level description covers a wider range of situations than the population-level description. However, using the established connections, it is demonstrated that the population-level description can be used to predict the equilibrium status of the role-level description. This approach connects state-, role-, and population-level dynamics consistently, and offers a justification for the multiple choices of model description.
The choice of reference point for computing sagittal plane angular momentum affects inferences about dynamic balance
Authors: Liu Chang , Park Sungwoo , Finley James
Published: May 2022

Background

Measures of whole-body angular momentum in the sagittal plane are commonly used to characterize dynamic balance during human walking. To compute angular momentum, one must specify a reference point about which momentum is calculated. Although biomechanists primarily compute angular momentum about the center of mass (CoM), momentum-based controllers for humanoid robots often use the center of pressure. Here, we asked if the choice of the reference point influences interpretations of how dynamic balance is controlled in the sagittal plane during perturbed walking.

Methods

Eleven healthy young individuals walked on a dual-belt treadmill at their self-selected speed. Balance disturbances were generated by treadmill accelerations of varying magnitudes and directions. We computed angular momentum about two reference points: (1) the CoM or (2) the leading edge of the base of support and then projected it along the mediolateral axes that pass through either of the reference points as the sagittal plane angular momentum. We also performed principal component analysis to determine if the choice of reference point influences our interpretations of how intersegmental coordination patterns contribute to perturbation recovery.

Results

We found that the peak angular momentum was correlated with perturbation amplitude and the slope of this relationship did not differ between reference points. One advantage of using a reference point at the CoM is that one can easily determine how the momenta from contralateral limbs, such as the left and right legs, offset one another to regulate the whole-body angular momentum. Alternatively, analysis of coordination patterns referenced to the leading edge of the base of support may provide more insight into the inverted-pendulum dynamics of walking during responses to sudden losses of balance.
Curcumol alleviates liver fibrosis by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated necroptosis of hepatic stellate cells through Sirt1/NICD pathway
Authors: Sun Sumin , Huan Sheng , Li Zhanghao , Yao Yue , Su Ying , Xia Siwei , Wang Shijun , Xu Xuefen , Shao Jiangjuan , Zhang Zili , Zhang Feng , Fu Jinbo , Zheng Shizhong
Published: May 2022

Liver fibrosis is a repair response process after chronic liver injury. During this process, activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) will migrate to the injury site and secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) to produce fibrous scars. Clearing activated HSCs may be a major strategy for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Curcumol isolated from plants of the genus Curcuma can effectively induce apoptosis of many cancer cells, but whether it can clear activated HSCs remains to be clarified. In the present study, we found that the effect of curcumol in treating liver fibrosis was to clear activated HSCs by inducing necroptosis of HSCs. Receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3) silencing could impair necroptosis induced by curcumol. Interestingly, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced cellular dysfunction was associated with curcumol-induced cell death. The ER stress inhibitor 4-PBA prevented curcumol-induced ER stress and necroptosis. We proved that ER stress regulated curcumol-induced necroptosis in HSCs via Sirtuin-1(Sirt1)/Notch signaling pathway. Sirt1-mediated deacetylation of the intracellular domain of Notch (NICD) led to degradation of NICD, thereby inhibiting Notch signalling pathway to alleviate liver fibrosis. Specific knockdown of Sirt1 by HSCs in male ICR mice further exacerbated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Overall, our study elucidates the anti-fibrotic effect of curcumol and reveals the underlying mechanism between ER stress and necroptosis.
Comparison of Two Home-based Chemically-induced Teeth Whitening in Adults: A Randomised Clinical Trial
Authors: Santos José Sebastião Galvão Dos , Silva Kamilla Yolanda de Souzae , Felix Larissa Hellen de Paiva , Dias Marlon Ferreira , Filho Paulo Cardoso Lins , Silva Claudio Heliomar Vicente da , Rena .
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Whitening strips are one of the Over The Counter (OTC) bleaching products which performed tooth whitening through an easy-to-use, low-cost product with good esthetic results. Aim: To compare the bleaching efficacy, tooth sensitivity and gingival irritation, and of home-based chemically-induced teeth whitening treatment performed using either a conventional customised tray or strips as delivering systems for whitening agents. Materials and Methods: This randomised clinical trial was conducted at Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Brazil, from 15th May 2015 to 20th January 2018. Total 21 subjects, with maxillary incisor’s shade A3 or darker were selected for this study. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups, according to the bleaching technique used i.e, G1 (n=10) was carbamide peroxide 10% (Whiteness Perfect/FGM) delivered in a customised tray, G2 (n=10) was hydrogen peroxide 10% delivered in strips (3D White Whitestrips/OralB). Color changes were evaluated by an objective (Easyshade Spectrophotometer/ VITA) method at baseline, middle of treatment period, end of treatment, 15 and 30 days after treatment end. Tooth sensitivity, gingival irritation and degree of satisfaction were also recorded. Fisher’s-exact test was used for categorical variables i.e, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Normality Test for quantitative variables and Mann-Whitney’s test for comparison between two groups. Results: No significant difference was observed in occurrence of tooth sensitivity (p-value=0.635), gingival irritation (p-value=0.090) and treatment satisfaction (p-value=0.476) between groups. Increased whitening effectiveness was observed in both groups after 30 days of clinical evaluation, however with no significant difference between groups (p-value=0.139). Conclusion: Both bleaching systems showed similar effectiveness and high degree of satisfaction. Low degree of tooth sensitivity and gingival irritation was observed with no difference between groups.
Spatial Relationship Perception is Not Affected by Short-term Cortical Reorganization
Authors: Aleci Carlo , Rosa Claudio , Mazzon Alessia
Published: May 2022

Aims: Long-term cortical reorganization after cortical damage can induce abnormal spatial relationship perception (spatial anisotropy) but there is also evidence of short-term, reversible cortical re-modulation even in the absence of cerebral damage: simulated hemianopic deprivation, in fact, is found to affect the positional judgment. This study investigates if the same occurs for spatial relationship perception.

Study Design: Case series.

Place and duration of Study: Service of Neuro-Ophthalmology, University of Turin, Italy, from January 2020 to July 2020.

Methodology: Spatial relationship perception (SRP) of three subjects was measured in the presence of simulated homonymous hemianopia with a psychophysical procedure that estimates the discrimination threshold between elliptical and circular stimuli centered to the fixation point. The extent of the deprivation was graded as the distance of the proximal border of the nonresponsive area from the fixation point.

Results: Overall, spatial relationship perception is not affected by the hemifield deprivation in terms of distance of the scotoma from the fixation point (P= 0.26), laterality (P= 0.07), and distance X laterality (P= 0.15). However, a significant effect of distance and laterality (P= 0.01 and P= 0.02, respectively) was found in the sole observer who showed an anisotropic perception in normal (no-simulated) condition.

Conclusion: SRP appears to be robust toward the reversible spatial remapping induced by simulated hemianopia along the deprived area. However, the response of the visual system to artificial visual deprivation seems conditioned by pre-existing anisotropy.
Costs, Returns, Profitability and Resource use Efficiency of Chickpea Production in Rain-fed Micro Farming Situation in Irrigated North Western Plain of Rajasthan
Authors: Kumar Pradeep , Singh I. P.
Published: May 2022

An investigation on cost, returns, profitability and resource use efficiency of chickpea production was conducted in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, India in 2018-19. A sample of 50 farmers from Nohar tehsil of Hanumangarh district were interviewed to collect relevant information related to various expenses incurred in the cultivation of chickpea. In all 50 cultivators were selected for present study with equal distribution in small, medium and large groups.  The techniques like cost concept of cost-A, cost-B and cost-C and Cobb-Douglas production function used for resource use efficiency. The results revealed that cost total cost of per hectare was small, medium and large farms Rs.17911.68, Rs.18982.34 and Rs.19990.89 respectively. The output-input ratio on C3 cost was 2.35 on small farm followed by that of 2.55 and 2.72 on medium and large farm, respectively. Coefficient of multiple determinations (R2) in the fitted Cobb-Douglas production function was use for resource use efficiency, R2 was found 0.665 indicating the included variables explained 66 per cent variations in dependent variable.
Effect of Lycopene on Selected Electrolytes in Sprague Dawley Rats Exposed to Dimethoate
Authors: Obulor Adetutu Olubunmi , Orlu Efioanwan Eme
Published: May 2022

Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of lycopene on some selected electrolytes in Sprague Dawley rats exposed to Dimethoate.

Experimental Design: A completely randomized experimental design using standard methods for analysis.

Location and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Department of Biology, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. GPS 4o48ʹ14ʹʹ N 6o59ʹ12ʹʹ E. The study lasted for 28days.

Methodology: Thirty male rats were randomly selected into five (5) groups A-E (n=6/group). Groups B, C and D recieved 10,20 and 30 mg/kg/bw/day of dimethoate respectively co-administered 10mg/kg/bw of lycopene daily. Group E were administered 30mg/kg/bw/day of dimethoate without lycopene. All animals were allowed access to cool clean water and standard rat pellet ad libitum. Twenty-four hours to the termination of the experiment, feed was withdrawn from the animals. Blood samples for electrolytes analysis were collected through ocular puncture between the hours of 7:00am and 9:00am into plain sample tubes according to the approved protocol of blood collection techniques, while statistical analysis was carried out using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and expressed as their respective units using SPSS 20 software.

Results: Result showed a significant (P=0.05) increase in the concentrations of sodium, calcium, potassium and bicarbonate with increase in the concurrent administration of lycopene. The highest concentration of all electrolytes was observed at the concentration of 30mg/kg/bw/day with coadministration of lycopene. Administration of lycopene at the concentration of 10mg/kg/bw appeared not to have any significant effect on production of electrolytes since all the electrolytes assessed increased with increased concentration of the pesticides. However, further work is required to make any conclusive statement with lycopene effect on electrolyte.
Modeling the Differences between the Genders in Olympic Weightlifting Performance
Authors: Mijena Jebessa B. , Renshaw Elyse
Published: May 2022

This article studies Weightlifting results from the 2000-2016 Olympic Games for both males and females to determine the differences between gender performance. The data showed that there are considerable differences in the competitive level between male and female lifters. This article compares the results of winners in a weight class with a given lifter in the weight class from year to year. This article shows that males in every competition studied had a lower mean percent difference from first than the same comparison for women. This article also compares the winner from each weight class to the weight class above them and observes the place that they would have received. Overall we see that for males, a winner in a weight class would be around 6th place in the weight class above them, while for females, a winner in a weight class would be around 4th in a weight class above them. We observe that as place increases, the difference between male and female results as well as the standard deviation between the results increases. We show that females are less competitive than males as the place that the lifter attained increases. There appears to be no association between weight class and mean percentage difference of the fifth place from first place for females. For males, there appears to be a decrease in the average percentage difference of the fifth place from first place as the weight class increases, meaning that the higher weight classes for males are more competitive than the lower weight classes.
Study on the Prognostication of Crop Diseases using Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Eleena B. Srujana , Mangipudi Meghana , Apoorva K.
Published: May 2022

It is universally accepted fact that crop diseases are one of the major threats in agriculture that ultimately result in drastic reduction of food supply. The present project study aims to use artificial intelligence in building a model which is integrated with a user-friendly web application. The web application is created using the Python-based Django framework. This user interface allows the user to choose a crop name and upload an image of a leaf wherein the trained model then begins the process of feature extraction on the image and tries to make an accurate prediction. The final result is displayed to the user confirming whether the crop may be “healthy” or the “diseased “and even the name of the disease that infects the plant will be displayed. The application also suggests a suitable treatment to combat the disease. Thus, the scope of this project study is very scalable as it can be easily be used by amateur gardeners as well as by farmers. The model itself can also be extended to include more plant types along with any new diseases which may arise due to factors like climate change, pest - resistance etc.
Effectiveness of Some Bio-pesticides in Managing Major Lepidopteran Insect Pests of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)
Authors: Choyon Md. Masudunnabi , Akhter N. , Rahman M. M. , Hossain Md. Emam
Published: May 2022

Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of some bio-pesticides applied against major insect pests of cabbage.

Study Design: With three replications, the experiment was set up in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD).

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment took place in the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University's experimental field in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from October 2019 to January 2020.

Methodology: Seven treatments, viz. T1 (Abamectin 1.2EC @ 1 ml/L of water); T2 (Azadirachtin 1EC @ 1 ml/L of water); T3 (Potassium salt of fatty acid @ 1 ml/L of water); T4 (Spinosad 45SC @ 1 ml/L of water); T5 (Bacillus thuringiensis @ 1 ml/L of water); T6 (Abamectin + Bacillus thuringiensis @ 1 ml/L of water) and T7 (untreated control) were used.  All the treatments were applied at ten days interval.

Results: Among the management practices, the lowest mean leaf infestation by cabbage caterpillar (6.00 leaves/5 plants) and diamondback moth larvae (4.48 leaves/5 plants) was found in Spinosad treated plot that reduced the highest leaf infestation over control (62.02% and 49.85 % respectively); whereas the highest infestation by cabbage caterpillar (15.80 leaves/5 plants) and diamondback moth larvae (8.93 leaves/5 plants) was found in un-treated plot. The lowest cabbage head infestation (21.37%) was recorded in Spinosad treatment, that gave the highest yield of cabbage (36.40 t/ha) followed by Abamectin (34.07 t/ha).

Conclusion: From the above study it was found that, the treatment T4 comprised of Spinosad 45SC @ 1 ml/L of water at 10 days interval produced the highest performance compared to all other treatments used under the present study.
CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF Score as a Predictor of Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography
Authors: El-Deeb Maher El-Sayed , Mostafa Dina Abd-El-Salam , El-Gindy Ihab Abdel Latif , Badr Seham Fahmy
Published: May 2022

Background: Cardiovascular atherosclerosis, particularly coronary artery disease (CAD), represents the main reason for death prematurely over the world. Risk stratification and prevention by risk factor modification are crucial aspects of CAD therapy. The CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores are effective in determining the risk of thrombosis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). The current research aimed to determine the CHA2 DS2-VASc-HSF score as a predictor for CAD severity in CAD patients after coronary angiography.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was assessed on 100 patients who attended the coronary care unit and underwent coronary angiography. They were categorised into three groups: Group I: Low syntax scores (2-13), Group II: Intermediate syntax score (14-20), and Group III: High syntax score (21-40).

Results: Our study showed that the SYNTAX score revealed a statistically significant relation with patient's age, gender, and presentation. Regarding the medical history of the studied participant in relation to SYNTAX score, most patients reported a history of HTN, DM, Dyslipidemia, CHF, and previous history of vascular disease showed intermediate and high SYNTAX score in comparison to those with normal blood pressure, glucose level, lipid profile, no CHF history and those no previous history. SYNTAX score showed significant relation with ejection fraction and CHA2 DS2-VASc-HSF score of the patient. Significant low ejection fraction in high SYNTAX score patients compared to low SYNTAX score patients. Significant high average of CHA2 DS2-VASc-HSF score among those with high and intermediate SYNTAX score compared to those with low SYNTAX score.

Conclusions: CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF should be constituted as the ideal scoring scheme for predicting the severity of CAD. Risk scoring systems may be effective as predictors due to their simplicity and easy employment by physicians in ordinary practice without incurring additional costs.
Studies on Transmission of Phytoplasma in Sesame
Authors: Revathi K. , Prasad K. V. H. , Chalam M. S. V. , Reddy B. V. B. , Reddy B. R.
Published: May 2022

The experiment was conducted to artificially transmit phytoplasma, the causal organism of sesame phyllody by mechanical sap inoculation and with insect vectors (Orosius albicinctus and Hishimonus phycitis). The experimental findings revealed that the phytoplasma could not be transmitted by sap inoculation. The mean transmission rate was found to be 54.67 per cent, with the highest rate of phyllody transmission (93.33%) observed in both treatments T8 and T9 with 3 insects/plant + 7 Days of Acquisition Feeding (DAF) + 5 Days of Inoculation Feeding (DIF) and 3 insects/plant + 7 DAF+ 7 DIF, respectively, while the lowest was observed in the treatment  T1 with 3 insects/plant + 3 DAF+ 3 DIF (13.3%) phyllody transmission from infected to healthy sesame plants. All the treatments were found to be statistically significant over control, however, the treatments T8 and T9 with three insects/plant and with acquisition feeding period of 7 days and inoculation feeding of 5 and 7 days, respectively were found to be at par with each other statistically.
Physicochemical, Nutritional and Biochemical Impact of Cow dung on heavy metal Polluted Quarry Mining Site. A Case Study of Ishiagu Mining Site
Authors: Onyema C. T. , Osuoha K. , Osuoha J. O. , Iwueke A. V. , Ejileugha C.
Published: May 2022

The present study evaluated physicochemical, nutritional and biochemical impact of cow dung on heavy metal polluted quarry mining site using standard analytical methods. Physicochemical results shows an increase in soil pH, temperature and other physicochemical parameters in the mining site relative to control (P≤0.05). Nutritional studies shows increase in vitamin, mineral and phytochemical composition of vegetables treated with cow dung while biochemical assay indicates a reduction in high density lipoprotein as well as liver enzyme concentrations compared to control  (P≤0.05). Findings from this study reveals the nontoxic potentials of these vegetables planted in cow dung amended soils. This also indicates these vegetables when grown in cow dung amended soils have reduced phytoaccumulation potentials to heavy metals. This however may be due to nutrient availability and hence we recommend that cow dung may be a remediating, non-phytotoxic agent in heavy metal polluted sites.
Improving Short Story Writing Ability Using Experiential Learning Model for Class 11th Student of Smk Maarif Pringsewu during The Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Vurnianti Alista , Samhati Siti , Sunarti Iing
Published: May 2022

Aims: One alternative to solving problems in improving writing skills in class XI students at Maarif Pringsewu Vocational School during the covid-19 pandemic is to implement an experience-based learning model. The purpose of this research is to improve students' ability to write short stories using experiential learning models during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Study Design: This research is classroom action research (CAR) which is carried out in three cycles. The subjects in this study were class XI students of SMK Ma'arif Pringsewu, Pringsewu Regency as many as 21 students. The place of this research is SMK Ma'arif Pringsewu, Pringsewu Regency. In cycles I, II, and II the researchers applied the experiential learning model. The data collections technique in this study used observation, documentation and writing test. The analysis technique in this study used quantitative by distribution frequency. 

Results: The experiential learning model could improve students' ability to write short stories. The increase in students' ability to write short stories can be seen from the level of mastery of students who reach MPC 75 in learning to write short stories in the first cycle as many as 2 students (9.5%), in the second cycle students who reach MPC 75 increase by 13 students (61.9%) and in the third cycle, students who achieved MPC 75 increased by 19 students (90.5%) or had succeeded in achieving the expected target, which was > 75% of the total number of students.
PRODUÇÃO TEXTUAL COLABORATIVA NO ATENDIMENTO EDUCACIONAL ESPECIALIZADO: SITUANDO UMA PRÁTICA DE LINGUAGEM COM O APOIO DO DESIGN THINKING
Authors: Ildebrand Isaías dos Santos
Published: May 2022

Este artigo discorre sobre uma experiência pedagógica de um docente do Atendimento Educacional Especializado (AEE) realizado em uma escola na região sul do Brasil. Desse modo, com base no relato de experiência, descreve-se sobre como um professor articulou a abordagem do Design Thinking (DT) em uma prática de produção textual colaborativa, planejada e desenvolvida com o apoio do estudante do AEE. O detalhamento do relato mostra que foi possível se valer do DT no AEE, sendo que o repertório cultural do estudante foi o ponto de partida para a organização pedagógica na produção textual. Almeja-se que a abordagem possa integrar as tomadas de decisões e as dinâmicas envolvendo o AEE, evidenciando o potencial da colaboração, as aprendizagens e as interações neste serviço especializado pedagógico que podem ser repercutidas na sala comum. Para tanto, são apontadas as possibilidades e as produções vivenciadas com uso dessa abordagem no AEE.
A invenção da família moderna: funções, particularidades e sentimento de pertencimento
Authors: Edinaldo dos Santos Cícero
Published: May 2022

Este artigo tem o objetivo de criar um panorama histórico sobre a invenção da família moderna, enfatizando os discursos acerca da educação moral das crianças e jovens. Centra-se, principalmente, nas funções, particularidades e sentimento de pertencimento, providenciados para serem executados na e a partir da família moderna. De cunho qualitativo e embasado numa revisão bibliográfica interdisciplinar, considera que o ideal de educar moralmente as crianças e jovens não emergiu “de dentro” das casas familiares. Foi criado externamente e propagado para ser reiterado no cotidiano do lar. Os pensadores da época inventaram o que deveria ser a família moderna, ao mesmo tempo em que justificaram motivos para que e por que ela tinha razão de existir. A ideia de educação moral estava articulada a vontade de conduzir e direcionar os corpos, os sexos.