bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Hospital Protocol for Decision Making in Emergency Admission for Acute Diverticulitis: Initial Results from Small Cohort Series
Authors: Ruscelli Paolo , Cirocchi Roberto , Gemini Alessandro , Bruzzone Paolo , Campanale Michelangelo , Rimini Massimiliano , Santella Sergio , Anaia Gabriele , Graziosi Luigina , Donini Annibale
Published: July 2020

Background and objectives: We present initial results from a small cohort series for a hospital protocol related to the emergency hospitalization decision-making process for acute diverticulitis. We performed a retrospective analysis of 53 patients with acute diverticulitis admitted to the Department of Emergency and Trauma Surgery of the “Azienda Ospedaliero Universiaria-Ospedali Riuniti” in Ancona and to the Department of General and Emergency Surgery of the “Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria” in Perugia. Materials and Methods: All patients were evaluated according to hemodynamic status: stable or unstable. Secondly, it was distinguished whether patients were suffering from complicated or uncomplicated forms of diverticulitis. Finally, each patient was assigned to a risk class. In this way, we established a therapeutic/diagnostic process for each group of patients. Results: Non-operative treatment (NonOP) was performed in 16 patients, and it was successful in 69% of cases. This protocol primarily considers the patient’s clinical condition and the severity of the disease. It is based on a multidisciplinary approach, in order to implement the most suitable treatment for each patient. In stable patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis or complicated Hinchey grade 1 or 2 diverticulitis, the management is conservative. In all grade 3 and grade 4 forms, patients should undergo urgent surgery. Conclusions: This protocol, which is based on both anatomical damage and the severity of clinical conditions, aims to standardize the choice of the best diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for the patient in order to reduce mortality and morbidity related to this pathology.
Risk of Breast Cancer in Women with Mastitis: A Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Chen Ying-Cheng , Chan Chi-Ho , Lim Yu-Bing , Yang Shun-Fa , Yeh Liang-Tsai , Wang Yu-Hsun , Chou Ming-Chih , Yeh Chao-Bin
Published: July 2020

Background and objectives: Breast cancer is a common cancer in women and has been the fourth leading cause of death in Taiwanese women. Risk factors for breast cancer include family history of breast cancer, genetic factors, and not breastfeeding. Several studies have reported an association between repeated inflammation at a young age, especially among lactating women, and cancer; however, the number of studies about the association of mastitis and breast cancer in nonlactating women is still limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between mastitis in women aged ≥40 years and breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study design. The data source was the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010 (LHID 2010), comprising data collected by Taiwan’s National Health Insurance program. Cases of newly diagnosed mastitis in women aged ≥40 years (ICD-9-CM code = 611.0) were selected from the years 2010 to 2012. Women not diagnosed with mastitis were selected as the control group, and their data for the years 2009 to 2013 were obtained through the database. In addition, the non-mastitis group was matched 1:10 by age. Results: A total of 8634 participants were selected from the LHID 2010, which included 734 cases with mastitis and 7900 cases without mastitis. After adjustment for age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and autoimmune diseases, the Cox proportional hazard model showed that patients with mastitis had a higher risk of breast cancer (aHR = 3.71, 95% CI = 1.9–7.02) compared with the non-mastitis group. The Kaplan–Meier curve also showed that women with mastitis had a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Conclusions: This study confirmed that women with mastitis have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Therefore, women aged ≥40 years could reduce breast cancer risk by taking precautions to prevent mammary gland infection and mastitis.
Positron Emission Tomography-Based Response to Target and Immunotherapies in Oncology
Authors: Donegani Maria Isabella , Ferrarazzo Giulia , Marra Stefano , Miceli Alberto , Raffa Stefano , Bauckneht Matteo , Morbelli Silvia
Published: July 2020

2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) is a promising tool to support the evaluation of response to either target therapies or immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors both in clinical trials and, in selected patients, at the single patient’s level. The present review aims to discuss available evidence related to the use of [18F]FDG PET (Positron Emission Tomography) to evaluate the response to target therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Criteria proposed for the standardization of the definition of the PET-based response and complementary value with respect to morphological imaging are commented on. The use of PET-based assessment of the response through metabolic pathways other than glucose metabolism is also relevant in the framework of personalized cancer treatment. A brief discussion of the preliminary evidence for the use of non-FDG PET tracers in the evaluation of the response to new therapies is also provided.
Calphad Modeling of LRO and SRO Using ab initio Data
Authors: Enoki Masanori , Sundman Bo , Sluiter Marcel H. F. , Selleby Malin , Ohtani Hiroshi
Published: July 2020

Results from DFT calculations are in many cases equivalent to experimental data. They describe a set of properties of a phase at a well-defined composition and temperature, T, most often at 0 K. In order to be practically useful in materials design, such data must be fitted to a thermodynamic model for the phase to allow interpolations and extrapolations. The intention of this paper is to give a summary of the state of the art by using the Calphad technique to model thermodynamic properties and calculate phase diagrams, including some models that should be avoided. Calphad models can decribe long range ordering (LRO) using sublattices and there are model parameters that can approximate short range ordering (SRO) within the experimental uncertainty. In addition to the DFT data, there is a need for experimental data, in particular, for the phase diagram, to determine the model parameters. Very small differences in Gibbs energy of the phases, far smaller than the uncertainties in the DFT calculations, determine the set of stable phases at varying composition and T. Thus, adjustment of the DFT results is often needed in order to obtain the correct set of stable phases.
Assessing the Immunochromatographic Test Strip for Serological Detection of Bovine Babesiosis in Uganda
Authors: Stuart Tayebwa Dickson , Magdy Beshbishy Amany , Batiha Gaber El-Saber , Komugisha Mariam , Joseph Byaruhanga , Vudriko Patrick , Yahia Ramadan , Alkazmi Luay , Hetta Helal F. , Yokoyama Naoaki , Igarashi Ikuo
Published: July 2020

In Uganda, bovine babesiosis continues to cause losses to the livestock industry because of shortages of cheap, quick, and reliable diagnostic tools to guide prescription measures. In this study, the presence of antibodies to Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis in 401 bovine blood samples obtained from eastern and central areas of Uganda were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and immunochromatographic test strips (ICTs). The ELISA and ICT test used targeted the B. bigemina C-terminal rhoptry-associated protein (RAP-1/CT17) and B. bovis spherical body protein-4 (SPB-4). Using ELISA, single-ICT and dual-ICT, positive samples for B. bovis were detected in 25 (6.2%), 17 (4.3%), and 14 (3.7%) samples respectively, and positive samples for B. bigemina were detected in 34 (8.4%), 27 (6.7%), and 25 (6.2%), respectively. Additionally, a total of 13 animals (3.2%) had a mixed infection. The correlation between ELISA and single-ICT strips results revealed slight agreement with kappa values ranging from 0.088 to 0.191 between both methods, while the comparison between dual-ICT and single-ICT results showed very good agreement with kappa values >0.80. This study documented the seroprevalence of bovine babesiosis in central and eastern Uganda, and showed that ICT could, after further optimization, be a useful rapid diagnostic test for the diagnosis of bovine babesiosis in field settings.
Leprosy in Refugees and Migrants in Italy and a Literature Review of Cases Reported in Europe between 2009 and 2018
Authors: Beltrame Anna , Barabino Gianfranco , Wei Yiran , Clapasson Andrea , Orza Pierantonio , Perandin Francesca , Piubelli Chiara , Monteiro Geraldo Badona , Longoni Silvia Stefania , Rodari Paola , Duranti Silvia , Silva Ronaldo , Fittipaldo Veronica Andrea , Bisoffi Zeno
Published: July 2020

Leprosy is a chronic neglected infectious disease that affects over 200,000 people each year and causes disabilities in more than four million people in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The disease can appear with a wide spectrum of clinical forms, and therefore the clinical suspicion is often difficult. Refugees and migrants from endemic countries affected by leprosy can remain undiagnosed in Europe due to the unpreparedness of clinicians. We retrospectively describe the characteristics of 55 refugees/migrants with a diagnosis of leprosy established in Italy from 2009 to 2018. Continents of origin were Africa (42%), Asia (40%), and South and Central America (18%). The symptoms reported were skin lesions (91%), neuropathy (71%), edema (7%), eye involvement (6%), fever (6%), arthritis (4%), and lymphadenopathy (4%). Seven patients (13%) had irreversible complications. Overall, 35% were relapses and 66% multibacillary leprosy. Furthermore, we conducted a review of 17 case reports or case series and five nationwide reports, published in the same decade, describing 280 migrant patients with leprosy in Europe. In Europe, leprosy is a rare chronic infectious disease, but it has not completely disappeared. Diagnosis and treatment of leprosy in refugees and migrants from endemic countries are a challenge. European guidelines for this neglected disease in this high-risk population would be beneficial.
Combining In Silico and In Vitro Studies to Evaluate the Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Profile of Different Accessions and the Biomarker Triterpenes of Centella asiatica
Authors: Jusril Nor Atiqah , Muhamad Juhari Ain Nur Najihah , Abu Bakar Syahrul Imran , Md Saad Wan Mazlina , Adenan Mohd Ilham
Published: July 2020

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the most cause of dementia in elderly adults. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an important beneficial target for AD to control cholinergic signaling deficit. Centella asiatica (CA) has proven to be rich with active ingredients for memory enhancement. In the present study, the chemical profiling of three accession extracts of CA namely SECA-K017, SECA-K018, and, SECA-K019 were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Four biomarker triterpene compounds were detected in all CA accessions. Quantitative analysis reveals that madecassoside was the highest triterpene in all the CA accessions. The biomarker compounds and the ethanolic extracts of three accessions were investigated for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity using Ellman’s spectrophotometer method. The inhibitory activity of the triterpenes and accession extracts was compared with the standard AChE inhibitor eserine. The results from the in vitro study showed that the triterpene compounds exhibited an AChE inhibitory activity with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values between 15.05 ± 0.05 and 59.13 ± 0.18 µg/mL. Asiatic acid was found to possess strong AChE inhibitory activity followed by madecassic acid. Among the CA accession extracts, SECA-K017 and SECA-K018 demonstrated a moderate AChE inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 481.5 ± 0.13 and 763.5 ± 0.16 µg/mL, respectively from the in silico docking studies, it is observed that asiatic acid and madecassic acid showed very good interactions with the active sites and fulfilled docking parameters against AChE. The present study suggested that asiatic acid and madecassic acid in the CA accessions could be responsible for the AChE inhibitory action and could be used as markers to guide further studies on CA as potential natural products for the treatment of AD.
Phenylselanyl Group Incorporation for “Glutathione Peroxidase-Like” Activity Modulation
Authors: Obieziurska-Fabisiak Magdalena , Pacuła Agata J. , Capoccia Lucia , Drogosz-Stachowicz Joanna , Janecka Anna , Santi Claudio , Ścianowski Jacek
Published: July 2020

The ability of organoselenium molecules to mimic the activity of the antioxidant selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) allows for their use as antioxidant or prooxidant modulators in several diseases associated with the disruption of the cell redox homeostasis. Current drug design in the field is partially based on specific modifications of the known Se-therapeutics aimed at achieving more selective bioactivity towards particular drug targets, accompanied by low toxicity as the therapeutic window for organoselenium compounds tends to be very narrow. Herein, we present a new group of Se-based antioxidants, structurally derived from the well-known group of GPx mimics—benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-ones. A series of N-substituted unsymmetrical phenylselenides with an o-amido function has been obtained by a newly developed procedure: a copper-catalyzed nucleophilic substitution by a Se-reagent formed in situ from diphenyl diselenide and sodium borohydride. All derivatives were tested as antioxidants and anticancer agents towards breast (MCF-7) and leukemia (HL-60) cancer cell lines. The highest H2O2-scavenging potential was observed for N-(3-methylbutyl)-2-(phenylselanyl)benzamide. The best antiproliferative activity was found for (−)-N-(1S,2R,4R)-menthyl-2-(phenylselanyl)benzamide (HL-60) and ((−)-N-(1S,2R,3S,6R)-(2-caranyl))benzamide (MCF-7). The structure–activity correlations, including the differences in reactivity of the obtained phenyl selenides and corresponding benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-ones, were performed.
Tamoxifen and the PI3K Inhibitor: LY294002 Synergistically Induce Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells
Authors: Abdallah Mohamed E. , El-Readi Mahmoud Zaki , Althubiti Mohammad Ahmad , Almaimani Riyad Adnan , Ismail Amar Mohamed , Idris Shakir , Refaat Bassem , Almalki Waleed Hassan , Babakr Abdullatif Taha , Mukhtar Mohammed H. , Abdalla Ashraf N. , Idris Omer Fadul
Published: July 2020

Breast cancer is considered as one of the most aggressive types of cancer. Acquired therapeutic resistance is the major cause of chemotherapy failure in breast cancer patients. To overcome this resistance and to improve the efficacy of treatment, drug combination is employed as a promising approach for this purpose. The synergistic cytotoxic, apoptosis inducing, and cell cycle effects of the combination of LY294002 (LY), a phosphatidylinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, with the traditional cytotoxic anti-estrogen drug tamoxifen (TAM) in breast cancer cells (MCF-7) were investigated. LY and TAM exhibited potent cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells with IC50 values 0.87 µM and 1.02 µM. The combination of non-toxic concentration of LY and TAM showed highly significant synergistic interaction as observed from isobologram (IC50: 0.17 µM, combination index: 0.18, colony formation: 9.01%) compared to untreated control. The percentage of early/late apoptosis significantly increased after treatment of MCF-7 cells with LY and TAM combination: 40.3%/28.3% (p < 0.001), compared to LY single treatment (19.8%/11.4%) and TAM single treatment (32.4%/5.9%). In addition, LY and TAM combination induced the apoptotic genes Caspase-3, Caspase-7, and p53, as well as p21 as cell cycle promotor, and significantly downregulated the anti-apoptotic genes Bcl-2 and survivin. The cell cycle assay revealed that the combination induced apoptosis by increasing the pre-G1: 28.3% compared to 1.6% of control. pAKT and Cyclin D1 protein expressions were significantly more downregulated by the combination treatment compared to the single drug treatment. The results suggested that the synergistic cytotoxic effect of LY and TAM is achieved by the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest through cyclin D1, pAKT, caspases, and Bcl-2 signaling pathways.
Antihyperglycemic Effects of Annona diversifolia Safford and Its Acyclic Terpenoids: α-Glucosidase and Selective SGLT1 Inhibitiors
Authors: Valdés Miguel , Calzada Fernando , Mendieta-Wejebe Jessica Elena , Merlín-Lucas Verenice , Velázquez Claudia , Barbosa Elizabeth
Published: July 2020

Annona diversifolia Safford and two acyclic terpenoids were evaluated to determine their antihyperglycemic activity as potential α-glucosidase and selective SGLT-1 inhibitiors. Ethanolic extract (EEAd), chloroformic (CHCl3Fr), ethyl acetate (EtOAcFr), aqueous residual (AcRFr), secondary 5 (Fr5) fractions, farnesal (1), and farnesol (2) were evaluated on normoglycemic and streptozocin-induced diabetic mice. EEAd, CHCl3Fr, Fr5, (1) and (2) showed antihyperglycemic activity. The potential as α-glucosidase inhibitors of products was evaluated with oral sucrose and lactose tolerance (OSTT and OLTT, respectively) and intestinal sucrose hydrolysis (ISH) tests; the potential as SGLT-1 inhibitors was evaluated using oral glucose tolerance (OGTT), intestinal glucose absorption (IGA), and urinary glucose excretion (UGE) tests. In OSTT and OLTT, all treatments showed significant activity at two and four hours. In ISH, half maximal effective concentrations (CE50) of 565, 662 and 590 μg/mL, 682 and 802 μM were calculated, respectively. In OGTT, all treatments showed significant activity at two hours. In IGA, CE50 values of 1059, 783 and 539 μg/mL, 1211 and 327 μM were calculated, respectively. In UGE Fr5, (1) and (2) showed significant reduction of the glucose excreted compared with canagliflozin. These results suggest that the antihyperglycemic activity is mediated by α-glucosidase and selective SGLT-1 inhibition.
Preclinical Evaluation of NHS-Activated Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with Bombesin or Neurotensin-Like Peptides for Targeting Colon and Prostate Tumours
Authors: Chilug Livia Elena , Niculae Dana , Leonte Radu Anton , Nan Alexandrina , Turcu Rodica , Mustaciosu Cosmin , Serban Radu Marian , Lavric Vasile , Manda Gina
Published: July 2020

Recent advances and large-scale use of hybrid imaging modalities like PET-CT have led to the necessity of improving nano-drug carriers that can facilitate both functional and metabolic screening in nuclear medicine applications. In this study, we focused on the evaluation of four potential imaging nanoparticle structures labelled with the 68Ga positron emitter. For this purpose, we functionalized NHS-activated PEG-gold nanoparticles with 68Ga-DOTA-Neuromedin B, 68Ga-DOTA-PEG(4)-BBN(7-14), 68Ga-DOTA-NT and 68Ga-DOTA-Neuromedin N. In vitro binding kinetics and specific binding to human HT-29 colon carcinoma cells and DU-145 prostate carcinoma cells respectively were assessed, over 75% retention being obtained in the case of 68Ga-DOTA-PEG(4)-BBN(7-14)-AuNP in prostate tumour cells and over 50% in colon carcinoma cells. Biodistribution in NU/J mice highlighted a three-fold uptake increase in tumours at 30 min post-injection of 68Ga-DOTA-NT-AuNP and 68Ga-DOTA-PEG(4)-BBN(7-14)-AuNP compared to 68Ga-DOTA-NT and 68Ga-DOTA-PEG(4)-BBN(7-14) respectively, therewith fast distribution in prostate and colon tumours and minimum accumulation in non-targeted tissues.
Bidirectional Modulation of the Voltage-Gated Sodium (Nav1.6) Channel by Rationally Designed Peptidomimetics
Authors: Dvorak Nolan M. , Wadsworth Paul A. , Wang Pingyuan , Chen Haiying , Zhou Jia , Laezza Fernanda
Published: July 2020

Disruption of protein:protein interactions (PPIs) that regulate the function of voltage-gated Na+ (Nav) channels leads to neural circuitry aberrations that have been implicated in numerous channelopathies. One example of this pathophysiology is mediated by dysfunction of the PPI between Nav1.6 and its regulatory protein fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14). Thus, peptides derived from FGF14 might exert modulatory actions on the FGF14:Nav1.6 complex that are functionally relevant. The tetrapeptide Glu-Tyr-Tyr-Val (EYYV) mimics surface residues of FGF14 at the β8–β9 loop, a structural region previously implicated in its binding to Nav1.6. Here, peptidomimetics derived from EYYV (6) were designed, synthesized, and pharmacologically evaluated to develop probes with improved potency. Addition of hydrophobic protective groups to 6 and truncation to a tripeptide (12) produced a potent inhibitor of FGF14:Nav1.6 complex assembly. Conversely, addition of hydrophobic protective groups to 6 followed by addition of an N-terminal benzoyl substituent (19) produced a potentiator of FGF14:Nav1.6 complex assembly. Subsequent functional evaluation using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology confirmed their inverse activities, with 12 and 19 reducing and increasing Nav1.6-mediated transient current densities, respectively. Overall, we have identified a negative and positive allosteric modulator of Nav1.6, both of which could serve as scaffolds for the development of target-selective neurotherapeutics.
Analysis of the Stochastic Quarter-Five Spot Problem Using Polynomial Chaos
Authors: AbdelFattah Hesham , Al-Johani Amnah , El-Beltagy Mohamed
Published: July 2020

Analysis of fluids in porous media is of great importance in many applications. There are many mathematical models that can be used in the analysis. More realistic models should account for the stochastic variations of the model parameters due to the nature of the porous material and/or the properties of the fluid. In this paper, the standard porous media problem with random permeability is considered. Both the deterministic and stochastic problems are analyzed using the finite volume technique. The solution statistics of the stochastic problem are computed using both Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE) and the Karhunen-Loeve (KL) decomposition with an exponential correlation function. The results of both techniques are compared with the Monte Carlo sampling to verify the efficiency. Results have shown that PCE with first order polynomials provides higher accuracy for lower (less than 20%) permeability variance. For higher permeability variance, using higher-order PCE considerably improves the accuracy of the solution. The PCE is also combined with KL decomposition and faster convergence is achieved. The KL-PCE combination should carefully choose the number of KL decomposition terms based on the correlation length of the random permeability. The suggested techniques are successfully applied to the quarter-five spot problem.
Tunable Infrared Metamaterial Emitter for Gas Sensing Application
Authors: Xu Ruijia , Lin Yu-Sheng
Published: July 2020

We present an on-chip tunable infrared (IR) metamaterial emitter for gas sensing applications. The proposed emitter exhibits high electrical-thermal-optical efficiency, which can be realized by the integration of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microheaters and IR metamaterials. According to the blackbody radiation law, high-efficiency IR radiation can be generated by driving a Direct Current (DC) bias voltage on a microheater. The MEMS microheater has a Peano-shaped microstructure, which exhibits great heating uniformity and high energy conversion efficiency. The implantation of a top metamaterial layer can narrow the bandwidth of the radiation spectrum from the microheater to perform wavelength-selective and narrow-band IR emission. A linear relationship between emission wavelengths and deformation ratios provides an effective approach to meet the requirement at different IR wavelengths by tailoring the suitable metamaterial pattern. The maximum radiated power of the proposed IR emitter is 85.0 µW. Furthermore, a tunable emission is achieved at a wavelength around 2.44 µm with a full-width at half-maximum of 0.38 µm, which is suitable for high-sensitivity gas sensing applications. This work provides a strategy for electro-thermal-optical devices to be used as sensors, emitters, and switches in the IR wavelength range.
FCoV Viral Sequences of Systemically Infected Healthy Cats Lack Gene Mutations Previously Linked to the Development of FIP
Authors: Lutz Mirjam , Steiner Aline R. , Cattori Valentino , Hofmann-Lehmann Regina , Lutz Hans , Kipar Anja , Meli Marina L.
Published: July 2020

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)—the deadliest infectious disease of young cats in shelters or catteries—is induced by highly virulent feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) emerging in infected hosts after mutations of less virulent FCoVs. Previous studies have shown that some mutations in the open reading frames (ORF) 3c and 7b and the spike (S) gene have implications for the development of FIP, but mainly indirectly, likely also due to their association with systemic spread. The aim of the present study was to determine whether FCoV detected in organs of experimentally FCoV infected healthy cats carry some of these mutations. Viral RNA isolated from different tissues of seven asymptomatic cats infected with the field strains FCoV Zu1 or FCoV Zu3 was sequenced. Deletions in the 3c gene and mutations in the 7b and S genes that have been shown to have implications for the development of FIP were not detected, suggesting that these are not essential for systemic viral dissemination. However, deletions and single nucleotide polymorphisms leading to truncations were detected in all nonstructural proteins. These were found across all analyzed ORFs, but with significantly higher frequency in ORF 7b than ORF 3a. Additionally, a previously unknown homologous recombination site was detected in FCoV Zu1.
Job Satisfaction among Swedish Pharmacists
Authors: Mattsson Sofia , Gustafsson Maria
Published: July 2020

Understanding the role of pharmacists’ job satisfaction is important because a lack of job satisfaction might have negative impacts on patient care and safety. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore and compare job satisfaction among pharmacists graduating from the pharmacy programs at Umeå University, Sweden. Data concerning job satisfaction and associated factors were collected using an alumni survey conducted among pharmacists graduating between 2015 and 2018. Ethical committee approval is not required for this type of study in Sweden. A majority (92.6%) of the pharmacy graduates were female. A majority of the graduates (91.4%) were satisfied with their job most of the time or all of the time, which was similar to a previous investigation among pharmacists graduating between 2006 and 2014. High access to continuous professional development (CPD) was associated with higher job satisfaction (odds ratio (OR): 18.717 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.685–207.871)). In total, 65.6% considered access to CPD to be high (i.e., satisfactory to very good). Variables like gender, age, employee category, workplace, years since graduation, and income did not affect job satisfaction. Knowledge regarding job satisfaction will enable employers to respond to employees’ needs, decrease turnover, and improve the work environment.
Ancestors Are Watching: Ritual and Governance at Peck San Theng, a Chinese Afterlife Care Organization in Singapore
Authors: Choi Chi-cheung
Published: July 2020

Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng 新加坡廣惠肇碧山亭 (hereafter PST) is a non-profit organization registered under Singapore’s Societies Ordinance, founded in 1870 by Chinese immigrants from three prefectures of Guangdong province: Guangzhou 廣州, Zhaoqing 肇慶 and Huizhou 惠州. Until the mid-1970s, it managed more than 100,000 graves spread over 324 acres of land. After the Singapore government acquired its land for urban development PST continued its service to the departed by managing a columbarium that accommodates urns and spiritual tablets. PST’s governing body is formed by regional associations of the three prefectures although these associations receive neither dividends nor shares from PST. Besides annually celebrated activities such as ancestral worship at halls, grave sweeping at tombs every spring and autumn and the Hungry Ghost festival PST has, since 1922, organized irregularly a Grand Universal Salvation Ritual (the Wan Yuan Sheng Hui 萬緣勝會) for both ancestors and wandering spirits. The ritual was held not only to generate income but was also designed to serve the afterlife of the homeless overseas migrants and also as an informal sanction to regulate the behavior of committee members. Based on PST’s institutional archives and participant observations, this paper analyzes the ritual over a period of 90 years. It argues that formal institutional behavior is checked and balanced by informal sanction constructed in the form of ancestors watching from above. This paper further argues that while filial piety is an essential Chinese cultural value, the Chinese people of Singapore rely on institutions such as PST to integrate their ancestors with individual characteristics into collective ancestors taken care of by the institutions, releasing them from the burden of daily ancestral worship. Religious charity and filial piety are equally important.
Mapping the Geographic Distribution of Tungiasis in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Deka Mark A.
Published: July 2020

The geographic distribution of tungiasis is poorly understood, despite the frequent occurrence of the disease in marginalized populations of low socioeconomic status. To date, little work is available to define the geography of this neglected tropical disease (NTD). This exploratory study incorporated geostatistical modeling to map the suitability for tungiasis transmission in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In SSA, environmental suitability is predicted in 44 countries, including Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Cote de Ivoire, Mali, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Gabon, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and South Africa. In total, an estimated 668 million people live in suitable areas, 46% (304 million) of which reside in East Africa. These evidence-based maps provide vital evidence of the potential geographic extent in SSA. They will help to guide disease control programs, inform policymakers, and raise awareness at the global level. Likewise, these results will hopefully provide decisionmakers with the pertinent information necessary to lessen morbidity and mortality in communities located in environmentally suitable areas.
Multivariate Analysis of Soil Salinity in a Semi-Humid Irrigated District of China: Concern about a Recent Water Project
Authors: Zhang Jing , Du Dong , Ji Dongli , Bai Yaonan , Jiang Wanjun
Published: July 2020

The Chaobai River (CBR) basin in northern China is experiencing an unprecedented continuous inflow of external water via the South–North Water Diversion Project, which has channeled water from the southern part of the country to the north. Consequently, the steady rise of groundwater table in recent years is threatening soil salinity regulation. The purpose of this study was to describe the status of salinity of the surface soil in the CBR basin and to evaluate the impact of environmental factors including groundwater table on the spatial distribution of soil salinity using multivariate analysis (MVA) technique. In this study, 10 chemical variables of soil samples collected in 204 sites along CBR were analyzed, considering their interaction with three environmental factors: the density of irrigation canals, groundwater depth and topography. Statistical analysis mainly consisted of principal component analysis (PCA), redundancy analysis (RDA) and clustering analysis (CA). The results allow defining the surface soil in the CBR basin as a slightly saline and moderately alkaline media. The first two axes of multivariate model approximately explains 51% of the observed variability and allows distinguishing two main domains: the saline and the alkaline. The variability of the saline domain, defined by major cations and anions, is obviously controlled by macro environmental factors, of which the density of irrigation canals and groundwater depth contributes 71% and 28%, respectively, while that of the alkaline domain, related to pH and bicarbonate, mainly manifests as singular behaviors of soil groups like rice cultivation or sewage irrigation. The results suggests that more attention should be paid to the ongoing water table rise to help inform future land management decisions and to prevent a double threat of both groundwater and surface water on soil salinization. Meanwhile, this study shows the enormous potential of MVA technique, specifically the complementary duo of RDA and CA, for integrating both global and local information of soil salinity and environmental factors.
PENENTUAN AREA BERISIKO ASPEK DRAINASE KOTA CIMAHI BERDASARKAN PEDOMAN STRATEGI SANITASI KOTA 2018
Authors: Utami Elvira Rizqita , Juwana Iwan
Published: July 2020

Cimahi City is one of the cities that participated in the Accelerated Habitation Sanitation Development Program in 2011. This was done because the Cimahi City Government realized that the sanitation conditions in Cimahi City were still of concern. In 2015, the coverage of drainage system services reached 89.87%. Meanwhile, inundation and flood area in 2018 in Cimahi City reached 36.4 hectares or equal to 0.76% of the total area of Cimahi City. Inundation and floods that occur resulting in displaced residents as well as financial losses. Based on the following problems, this study was conducted to calculate the level of risk in each urban village in Cimahi City. The level of risk is expressed in scores ranging from 1 - 4. A score of 1 means very low risk, a score of 2 means low risk, a score of 3 means high risk, and a score of 4 means very high risk. Determination of risk scores involves exposure factors and impact factors Exposure factors consist of inundation area percentage, sanitation risk index (IRS) score based on EHRA, and OPD perceptions. While the impact factors consist of population, population density, poverty rate, and urban / rural function.
ANALISIS WILLINGNESS TO PAY MASYARAKAT TERHADAP PENGADAAN LAYANAN PDAM TIRTA RAHARJA MENGGUNAKAN METODE CONTINGENT VALUATION
Authors: Raihana Farah Fauzia
Published: July 2020

Gandasari is one of the villages in Katapang Sub District, Bandung Regency. Most people in Gandasari Village use groundwater as their main water source to fulfill their needs of water. Groundwater in Gandasari Village has bad quality and quantity. Hence, the provision of a safe water supply is needed in Gandasari Village. On the other hand, Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum (PDAM) Tirta Raharja is developing their House Connection (SR) in Gandasari Village RW 5,6,7,9, and 11. Provision and management of water supply required to achieve full cost recovery. Therefore, it is necessary to know the willingness to pay (WTP) value for the provision of PDAM’s pipe connection. This study aimed to determine households’ WTP for the provision of piped water service and identify the factors affecting it. The WTP was estimated through questionnaires collected from 89 households in Gandasari Village using Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) and bidding games technique. Based on the questionnaire result, the Estimated Mean WTP (EWTP) value of WTP for installation fee is Rp961.798 and Total WTP is Rp735.775.281. Meanwhile the EWTP value of WTP for retribution fee is Rp51.180/month and TWTP is Rp39.152.528. Factors affecting the value of WTP for installation fee is household size and average income, meanwhile for retribution fee WTP value average income was the affecting factor. Provision of communal well is recommended for households who cannot afford to pay for PDAM.
Influence of Government Price Regulation on the Price, Volume and Spending of Antibiotics in China: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Study
Authors: Wushouer Haishaerjiang , Luo Zhenhuan , Guan Xiaodong , Shi Luwen
Published: July 2020

Background: Chinese government established maximum retail prices for antibiotics listed in China’s National Reimbursement List in February 2013. This study aimed to analyze the impact of pharmaceutical price regulation on the price, volume and spending of antibiotics in China. Methods: An interrupted time series design with comparison series was used to examine impacts of the policy changes on average daily cost, monthly hospital purchase volume and spending of the 11 price-regulated antibiotics and 40 priceunregulated antibiotics in 699 hospitals. One intervention point was applied to assess the impact of policy. Results: After government price regulation, compared to price-unregulated antibiotics, the average daily cost of the price-regulated group declined rapidly (β=-5.68, P<.001). The average hospital monthly purchase spending of priceregulated antibiotics also decreased rapidly (β=-0.49, P<.010) and a positive trend change (β=0.04, P<.001) in average hospital spending of price-unregulated antibiotics was found. Conclusion: Government regulation can reduce the prices and spending of price-regulated antibiotics. To control increasing expenditure, besides price caps regulation, factors determining drug utilization also need to be considered in policy designing.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in a young man due to tramadol overdose
Authors: Ataee Zahra , Dadpour Bita
Published: July 2020

Objective: Tramadol is a synthetic analgesic with two mechanisms. The opioid and non-opioid mechanisms are responsible for tramadol side effects. Non-opioid side effects of tramadol are due to the reuptake inhibitions of serotonin and norepinephrine. Some of the side effects include anaphylactoid reactions, CNS depression, hypoglycemia, hypotension, respiratory depression, seizures, and serotonin syndrome. Seizure may happen in therapeutic doses. If the frequency of tramadol seizures increases, ischemic brain injury and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy can be induced. Case Report: We report a young man with a history of tramadol abuse that was admitted with status epilepticus in Imam Reza hospital in Mashhad, Iran. Due to his altered mental status, he was intubated and antiepileptic agents were prescribed. He was transferred to ICU. After regaining consciousness, he was extubated and with the prescription of rehabilitation support he was discharged. Conclusion: Tramadol is a synthetic analgesic agent with less potential for dependence. It is important to mention that the overdose of this drug is common. This drug has two mechanisms. This paper reports a case that developed generalized tonic clonic seizures due to tramadol and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. With adequate treatment and supportive care, patient’s mental status improves and he/she can be discharged.
A look on trauma code activation in a major trauma centre in UAE: a descriptive study
Authors: Mahmood Eid Mustafa , Al-Kaisy Maythem
Published: July 2020

Objective: Trauma is considered to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. This descriptive study has an emphasize on the epidemiology, mechanism and patterns of trauma, with a consideration of why trauma code was activated, and the imaging results in regard to the severity of the trauma. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in Al Ain Hospital over the year of 2017. Totally 886 patients were included who presented with a trauma and considered dangerous according to hospital guidelines. They underwent a full body trauma CT, and were admitted to the hospital. We looked at the mechanisms, patterns, time of the day and radiological findings. Injury severity score (ISS) and Revised trauma score (RTS) were calculated, and the cause of trauma code activation was evaluated. Results: The study showed that; positive imaging findings were found in 364 (41%) of patients while 522 (59%) had normal radiological tests. The principal mechanism of injury was motor vehicle accident (54.4%) followed by falls (21.4%) and pedestrian accidents (10.2%). Overall, 69.75% (618 patients) were admitted to the hospital, 22 patients (2.5%) needed immediate interventions and 36 patients (4%) needed ICU admission. Only 2 patients (0.25 %) died in the emergency room. Conclusion: The hospital policy in activating a trauma code should be revised, with more care being paid to the mechanisms of injury and the condition of the patient, without missing any injury that could harm the patient. So, the emergency physician should be better prepared to do a detailed physical examination and weigh the risk of radiation against missing a dangerous injury.
SARS-CoV-2 and its dynamic impact on emergency department preparedness and management
Authors: Pothiawala Sohil
Published: July 2020

Introduction: Emerging viral diseases (EVDs) pose a significant threat to public health. There have been a few viral epidemics in the last two decades. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now a global pandemic. Objective: To provide emergency physicians an update on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its dynamic impact on the emergency department (ED) in terms of preparedness and management of patients presenting to ED with suspected COVID-19 disease. Discussion: COVID-19 has a human-to-human transmission through close contact and even from asymptomatic carriers. Symptoms are similar to a viral respiratory illness. The disease is mild and self-limiting in most patients, but some develop severe illness like pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiorgan failure. Emergency physicians should prioritize early identification of these patients at risk, isolate them and after collaborating with relevant hospital and national authorities, develop clinical pathways to safely evaluate, manage and dispose patients with COVID-19. Various strategies for managing these patients in the ED are discussed. Disposition of these patients depends on symptoms and hemodynamic status and potential to self quarantine versus admission to an isolation facility. Conclusion: This review provides an overview of patients presenting to the ED with suspected COVID-19 and its impact on the ED. It reiterates the fact that emergency physicians, in close collaboration with relevant hospital authorities, play a pivotal role during EVDs. It emphasizes the need for pandemic preparedness, enabling us to better manage such events in the future.
DETERMINING THE INCREASE OF THE POWER SUPPLY OF THE PILED PIER THROUGH THE USE OF DRIVEN ANCHOR
Authors: Perfil'ev Pavel , Murashova Ol'ga , Zadrauskayte Natalya
Published: July 2020

The forest industry in the Russian Federation is actively developing. At the same time, technological and production equipment is being modernized, and timber supply chains are being optimized. A large number of timber industry enterprises have increased the volume of transportation of round timber by water modes of transport, in particular, in rafts in the North-West Federal District of the Russian Federation in recent years. Pile piers are used to prevent "drying" of rafts and fastening of forest transport units in a riverbed. In the case when the enterprise’s raid is at the mouth of the river, the pile pier is subjected to additional loads due to freezing of ice and fluctuation of the water level in the river as a result of tidal phenomena in the spring-winter period. ВAs a result, pile pier is dismantled by ice. It leads to the annual replacement of pile dolphins in spring after passing the ice drift. According to the authors, this is not economically profitable, as it forces enterprises to spend annually labor and material resources on the manufacture and installation of pile channel piers. However, their installation should be carried out in a short time. When studying the state of the issue, a pile pier with an increased holding force has been selected, which is additionally equipped with a holding device in the form of a driven anchor. The paper presents the results of a study of the state of the question under study, the research methodology, analysis of experimental data and the obtained mathematical dependencies. The obtained experimental data and dependences have been processed by standard statistical tools.
EVALUATION OF THE RESULTS OF PRODUCTION UNITS ON TIMBER PROCESSING AND TRANSPORTATION IN PRODUCTION ACCOUNTING AND PLANNING SYSTEMS
Authors: Sokolov Anton
Published: July 2020

The article describes the solution to the problem of a comparative analysis of the results of the production facilities involved in harvesting and transportation of round timber in the conditions of logging enterprises. The possibility of using specially developed methods for determining the ratings of production units (teams, machine complexes, contractors, etc.) is being considered, not only to assess the effectiveness of their work, but also to make decisions on attracting each specific production unit to work in the future. Rating is based on the calculation of an integral indicator. It depends on a number of various factors. The most important criteria, such as productivity, quality of work and costs associated with the implementation of a particular type of work, are taken into account. In addition, the skill level of the involved work performers and their mode of operation are taken into account. The approach described in the article focuses on the use of computer information systems of production accounting and production planning, similar to the 1C: Sawmill system, used at the logging enterprises as source data. The proposed methodology has been used in the Opti-Wood computer-aided planning and management system for the Opti-Wood logging company and used there to justify the selection of the involved production resources for logging and transporting wood in the process of optimal automated planning of these works
RATIONAL VALUES OF THE PARAMETERS OF THE END PRESSING PROCESS OF TENON JOINT ELEMENTS
Authors: Rubleva Olga
Published: July 2020

Glue tenon joints are widely used in wood products. The face pressing method of the tenon joint elements is an economical alternative to traditional milling. The industrial implementation of the new method requires a reasonable choice of process operating parameters that ensure high quality processing with minimal resource costs. This multicriteria problem belongs to the field of operations research and is solved by mathematical modeling methods. The goal of the work is to determine the rational values of the parameters of the end face pressing process of rectangular eyes in blanks from wood of typical species: coniferous (pine), broad-leaved diffuse-porous (birch), leaf ring-porous (oak). The development of the objective function for the optimization procedure was carried out on the basis of the principle of fair compromise with the reduction of particular criteria to dimensionless form. To construct the objective function, we used regression models that describe the output parameters of the process: the pressing force, the hardness of eye bottoms, and the depth of the deformed zone. The search for solutions to optimization problems was performed using the generalized reduced gradient method in the Microsoft Excel software package. The rational values of the input parameters (moisture content, depth and width of the eyes) and the expected values of the output parameters for each of the studied species have been determined. Recommended moisture values for blanks from pine wood are 8%, birch - 9.5%, oak - 7%; the depth of the pressed eyes is 11, 8 and 9 mm, respectively, the width of the eyes is 4 mm. The objective function has the potential in the direction of reducing the width of the eyes, which can be used to improve the strength characteristics of adhesive joints on multiple extruded spikes.