bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Translating pathogen knowledge to practice for sanitation decision-making
Authors: Tumwebaze Innocent K. , Rose Joan B. , Hofstra Nynke , Verbyla Matthew E. , Musaazi Isaac , Okaali Daniel A. , Kaggwa Rose C. , Nansubuga Irene , Murphy Heather M.
Published: November 2019

Sanitation planners make complex decisions in the delivery of sanitation services to achieve health outcomes. We present findings from a stakeholder engagement workshop held in Kampala, Uganda, to educate, interact with, and solicit feedback from participants on how the relevant scientific literature on pathogens can be made more accessible to practitioners to support decision-making. We targeted Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practitioners involved in different levels of service delivery. Practitioners revealed that different sanitation planning tools are used to inform decision-making; however, most of these tools are not user-friendly or adapted to meet their needs. Most stakeholders (68%) expressed familiarity with pathogens, yet less than half (46%) understood that fecal coliforms were bacteria and used as indicators for fecal pollution. A number of stakeholders were unaware that fecal indicator bacteria do not behave and persist the same as helminths, protozoa, or viruses, making fecal indicator bacteria inadequate for assessing pathogen reductions for all pathogen groups. This suggests a need for awareness and capacity development around pathogens found in excreta. The findings underscore the importance to engage stakeholders in the development of support tools for sanitation planning and highlighted broader opportunities to bridge science with practice in the WASH sector.
New Folate-Modified Human Serum Albumin Conjugated to Cationic Lipid Carriers for Dual Targeting of Mitoxantrone against Breast Cancer
Authors: Ridha Abbas A. , Kashanian Soheila , Azandaryani Abbas H. , Rafipour Ronak , Mahdavian Elahe
Published: November 2019

Aim:

In the present work, folic acid-modified human serum albumin conjugated to cationic solid lipid nanoparticles were synthesized as nanocarriers of mitoxantrone for the treatment of breast cancer.

Background:

Dual-targeted drug delivery is a new drug dosing strategy that is frequently used to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs.

Objective:

Dual targeting of the cancer cells was achieved by dual tagging of human serum albumin and folic acid on the surface of the lipid nanoparticles.

Methods:

The targeted drug-loaded nanocomplexes were synthesized and characterized using transmission electron microscopy along with photon-correlation and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic techniques. The anti-cancer activity of the nanocomplexes was screened against an in-vitro model of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines to examine drug efficacy.

Results:

The entrapment efficiency and drug loading values for mitoxantrone were calculated to be 97 and 8.84%, respectively. The data from the drug release studies for the system indicated the release profile did not significantly change within a pH range of 5.5-7.4. The hemolysis ratio of the hybrid carrier was less than 5% even at the upper doses of 3 mg/mL, demonstrating its safety for intravenous injection with limited hemolysis and a long blood circulation time.

Conclusion:

The cell cytotoxicity results confirmed that the drug hybrid nanocomplex was more toxic to breast cancer cells compared with the free drug. Furthermore, the weakly cationic and small size particles prevented opsonin binding of nanocomplexes, improving blood circulation time and cancer tissue uptake.
A Novel Drug Repositioning Approach Based on Integrative Multiple Similarity Measures
Authors: Yan Chaokun , Feng Luping , Wang Wenxiu , Wang Jianlin , Zhang Ge , Luo Junwei
Published: November 2019

Background:

Drug repositioning refers to discovering new indications for the
existing drugs, which can improve the efficiency of drug research and development.

Methods:

In this work, a novel drug repositioning approach based on integrative
multiple similarity measure, called DR_IMSM, is proposed. The process of integrative
similarity measure contains three steps. First, a heterogeneous network can be
constructed based on known drug-disease association, shared entities information for
drug pairwise and diseases pairwise. Second, a deep learning method, DeepWalk, is
used to capture the topology similarity for drug and disease. Third, a similarity
integration and adjusting process is further conducted to obtain more comprehensive
drug and disease similarity measure, respectively.

Results:

On this basis, a Bi-random walk algorithm is implemented in the constructed
heterogeneous network to rank diseases for each drug. Compared with other
approaches, the proposed DR_IMSM can achieve superior performance in terms of
AUC on the gold standard datasets. Case studies further confirm the practical
significance of DR_IMSM.
Anti-VEGF/VEGFR2 Monoclonal Antibodies and their Combinations with PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors in Clinic
Authors: Gao Feng , Yang Chun
Published: November 2019

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signaling pathway is one of the most important pathways responsible for tumor angiogenesis. Currently, two monoclonal antibodies, anti-VEGF-A antibody Bevacizumab and anti-VEGFR2 antibody Ramucizumab, have been approved for the treatment of solid tumors. At the same time, VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling is involved in the regulation of immune responses. It is reported that the inhibition of this pathway has the capability to promote vascular normalization, increase the intra-tumor infiltration of lymphocytes, and decrease the number and function of inhibitory immune cell phenotypes, including Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs) and M2 macrophages. On this basis, a number of clinical studies have been performed to investigate the therapeutic potential of VEGF/VEGFR2-targeting antibodies plus programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/ programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors in various solid tumor types. In this context, VEGF/VEGFR2- targeting antibodies, Bevacizumab and Ramucizumab are briefly introduced, with a description of the differences between them, and the clinical studies involved in the combination of Bevacizumab/ Ramucizumab and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are summarized. We hope this review article will provide some valuable clues for further clinical studies and usages.
Social Media as a Means to Disseminate and Advocate Cardiovascular Research: Why, How, and Best Practices
Authors: Lee Giuliana , Choi Andrew D. , Michos Erin D.
Published: November 2019

:

The use of Twitter or other social media platforms for research can transcend current
limitations in the dissemination of research and present new opportunities for research networking
by connecting researchers, clinicians, policymakers, the public, and other stakeholders on a global
scale. As social media influence continues to expand, it becomes increasingly important for cardiovascular
researchers to employ social media strategies to increase the impact of their research work,
for the ultimate goal of improved outcomes for patients living with or at risk for cardiovascular diseases.
Altmetrics are novel metrics that track the attention that scholarly outputs are receiving in
non-traditional sources such as in the news, blogs, and social media posts. These alternative metrics
record research dissemination beyond traditional journal citation indices, while also predicting and
even promoting future citations. This review outlines various methods of how social media can be
used to disseminate research, guidance on how to develop a social media portfolio for consideration
of academic promotion, and some best practices for promoting one’s research work.
Corrosion Protection of Nano-biphasic Calcium Phosphate Coating on Titanium Substrate
Authors: Fathi Ahlam M. , Mandour Howida S. , Abd El-Hamid Hanaa K.
Published: November 2019

Background:

Increasing the bioactivity of metallic implants is necessary for biomaterial applications where hydroxyapatite (HA) is used as a surface coating. In industry, HA is currently coated by plasma spraying, but this technique has a high cost and produces coating with short-term stability.

Objectives:

In the present study, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was used to deposit nano-biphasic calcium phosphate compound (β-tri-calcium phosphate (β-TCP) /hydroxyapatite (HA)) bio-ceramics on the titanium surface. The microstructural, chemical compositions and bioactivity of the β- TCP/HA coatings were studied in a simulated body fluid solution (SBF).

Methods:

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used. Additionally, the antibacterial effect was studied by the agar diffusion method. The corrosion behavior of the β-TCP/HA coating on titanium surface (Ti) in the SBF solution at 37oC was investigated by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization tests.

Results:

The Ti surface modification increased its biocompatibility and corrosion resistance in the simulated body fluid. The antibacterial inhibition activity of the β-TCP/HA bio-ceramic was enhanced by electroless silver deposition. The enhanced properties could be attributed to the use of nano-sized biphasic calcium phosphates in a low-temperature EPD process.

Conclusions:

The β-TCP/HA and β-TCP/HA/Ag coatings well protect Ti from the corrosion in SBF and endow Ti with biocompatibility. The β-4-TCP/HA/Ag/Ti substrate shows good antibacterial activity.
Prediction of Neddylation Sites Using the Composition of k-spaced Amino Acid Pairs and Fuzzy SVM
Authors: Ju Zhe , Wang Shi-Yun
Published: November 2019

Introduction:

Neddylation is the process of ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8 attaching
substrate lysine via isopeptide bonds. As a highly dynamic and reversible post-translational
modification, lysine neddylation has been found to be involved in various biological processes and
closely associated with many diseases.

Objective:

The accurate identification of neddylation sites is necessary to elucidate the underlying
molecular mechanisms of neddylation. As traditional experimental methods are often expensive
and time-consuming, it is imperative to design computational methods to identify neddylation
sites.

Methods:

In this study, a novel predictor named CKSAAP_NeddSite is developed to detect
neddylation sites. An effective feature encoding technology, the composition of k-spaced amino
acid pairs, is used to encode neddylation sites. And the F-score feature selection method is adopted
to remove the redundant features. Moreover, a fuzzy support vector machine algorithm is
employed to overcome the class imbalance and noise problem.

Results:

As illustrated by 10-fold cross-validation, CKSAAP_NeddSite achieves an AUC of
0.9848. Independent tests also show that CKSAAP_NeddSite significantly outperforms existing
neddylation sites predictor. Therefore, CKSAAP_NeddSite can be a useful bioinformatics tool for
the prediction of neddylation sites. Feature analysis shows that some residues around neddylation
sites may play an important role in the prediction.

Conclusion:

The results of analysis and prediction could offer useful information for elucidating
the molecular mechanisms of neddylation. A user-friendly web-server for CKSAAP_NeddSite is
established at 123.206.31.171/CKSAAP_NeddSite.
High-dimensional Causal Mediation Analysis with a Large Number of Mediators Clumping at Zero to Assess the Contribution of the Microbiome to the Risk of Bacterial Pathogen Colonization in Older Adults
Authors: Liu Wei , Haran John P. , Ash Arlene S. , Allison Jeroan J. , Ye Shangyuan , Tjia Jenifer , Bucci Vanni , Zhang Bo
Published: November 2019

Background:

Causal mediation analysis is conducted in biomedical research with the
goal of investigating causal mechanisms that consist of both direct causal pathways between the
treatment and outcome variables and intermediate causal pathways through mediators. Recently,
this type of analysis has been applied in the context of bioinformatics; however, it encounters the
obstacle of high-dimensional and semi-continuous mediators with clumping at zero.

Methods:

In this article, we develop a methodology to conduct high-dimensional causal mediation
analysis with a modeling framework that involves (i) a nonlinear model for the outcome variable,
(ii) two-part models for semi-continuous mediators with clumping at zero, and (iii) sophisticated
variable-selection techniques using machine learning. We conducted simulations and investigated
the performance of the proposed method. It is shown that the proposed method can provide reliable
statistical information on the causal effects with high-dimensional mediators. The method is
adopted to assess the contribution of the intestinal microbiome to the risk of bacterial pathogen
colonization in older adults from US nursing homes.

Conclusions:

The proposed high-dimensional causal mediation analysis with nonlinear models is
an innovative and reliable approach to conduct causal inference with high-dimensional mediators.
Antitumour Activity of Muricatacin Isomers and its Derivatives in Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cell HCT116
Authors: Wang Wencong , Zhang Rui , Wang Jinxing , Tang Jun , Wang Mingan , Kuang Yu
Published: November 2019

Background and Purpose:

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in
elderly people. The natural product muricatacin is an important member of the γ-lactone family, and it has exhibited
antitumour activity in multiple cancer cell lines; however, the antitumour activities of muricatacin
stereoisomers and their derivatives in colorectal cancer cells have not yet been systematically explored.

Methods:

The colorectal carcinoma cell line HCT116 was investigated in this study. Cell proliferation was
assessed by MTT assay or crystal violet staining. Cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis were evaluated by flow
cytometry assay. The expression levels of p53, p21, cyclin E, cyclin D1, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-9,
cleaved caspase-9 and LC3B were measured using western blot analysis. Autophagy induced by M2 was monitored
by immunofluorescence assay with an antibody against LC3B.

Results:

Cell proliferation assays showed that both naturally occurring muricatacin (M4) and its synthetic
stereoisomer (M2) are potent cell growth inhibitors in HCT116 cells, with IC50 values of 79.43 and 83.17μM,
respectively; these values are much lower than those of the other two isomers, M1 and M3, and those of the sixmembered
lactone analogues. The flow cytometry analysis revealed that M2 and M4 induced significant cell
cycle arrest during G0/G1 phase and caused relatively low apoptosis rates in HCT116 cells. Further analysis
indicated that M2 caused p53-independent p21 induction and cyclin E/cyclin D1 downregulation. In addition,
M2 also markedly induced autophagy in the early stage of administration.

Conclusions:

Our results suggested that muricatacins possess potent antitumour activity against the colorectal
carcinoma cell line HCT116 through inducing G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and autophagy in the early stage of
administration.
Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in the Southwest of Iran: A Four-year Retrospective Study
Authors: Soltani Shahrzad , Salmanzadeh Shokrollah , Soltani Sheyda , Kahvaz Mehdi Sagha , Mobarak Sara , Hezarian Maryam , Foroutan Masoud
Published: November 2019

Background:

The current study was aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic
infections (IPIs) in persons who were referred to selected hospitals of Abadan and Khorramshahr
cities, in the southwest of Iran.

Materials and Methods:

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 43200 and 28821 stool specimens
were gathered from Abadan and Khorramshahr cities, respectively, during four consecutive
years (2014-2017).

Results:

A decreasing trend was seen in the prevalence rate of IPIs in Abadan and Khorramshahr
cities. The overall prevalence of IPIs was estimated to be 5.82% and 6.11% in Abadan and Khorramshahr
cities, respectively. In Abadan city, the proportion of IPIs in male persons with 56% was
higher than females 44%, while in Khorramshahr city, more prevalence was observed in females
(54% vs. 46%). Moreover, according to the season, the highest prevalence was recorded in Spring
(30.4%) and Summer (31.1%) in Abadan and Khorramshahr cities, respectively. We found
Giardia lamblia, as the most frequent parasite in studied individuals of both cities (Abadan:
2.92%; 1261/43200 and Khorramshahr: 3.15%; 908/28821). Other parasites were as follows: Entamoeba
histolytica/dispar, E. coli, E. hartmanni, Blastocystis hominis, Hymenolepis nana, Enterobius
vermicularis, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Taenia spp.

Conclusion:

This was the first study on the prevalence of IPIs in Abadan and Khorramshahr cities,
southwest of Iran. Intestinal parasites are still the main public health concern in these regions.
Health education, improving sanitary conditions, screening and treatment of infected people, particularly
in rural and semi-urban areas can be helpful.
Study of Antihypertensive Activity of Anvillea radiata in L-Name-Induced Hypertensive Rats and HPLC-ESI-MS Analysis
Authors: Akdad Mourad , Ajebli Mohammed , Breuer Andrea , Khallouki Farid , Owen Robert W. , Eddouks Mohamed
Published: November 2019

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the aqueous extract of Anvillea radiate
(A. radiata) aerial parts (AEAR) on arterial blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Methods:

The effect of the acute and sub-chronic administration of AEAR on the following blood
pressure parameters: systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean blood pressure (MBP), diastolic blood pressure
(DBP), and heart rate (HR) was evaluated in normotensive and L-NAME induced hypertensive
rats. In the second experiment, the vasorelaxant effect of AEAR was assessed in isolated aortic rings
from rats with functional endothelium pre-contracted with epinephrine (EP) or KCl, and six antagonists/
inhibitors were used to explore the mechanisms of action involved in the vasorelaxant effect. In
order to determine the phytochemical contents of Anvillea radiata, HPLC-ESI-MS analysis was conducted.

Results:

Daily oral administration of AEAR (100 mg/kg) provoked a significant decrease in SBP,
MBP, and DBP without affecting HR in hypertensive rats. In addition, AEAR (0.08-0.64 mg/ml) revealed
a vasorelaxant effect in thoracic aortic rings pre-contracted by EP (10 μM) or KCl (80 mM).
This effect was reduced in the presence of Nifedipine, L-Name or Methylene blue. The polyphenolic
compounds of AEAR were determined.

Conclusion:

This study revealed that AEAR possesses a potent antihypertensive activity and its
vasorelaxant activity seems to be mediated through Ca2+ channels, direct nitric oxide (NO), and
NO/cGMP pathways. Chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid identified in A. radiata could be at least partially
responsible for the antihypertensive activity of this extract.
Is the Cerebellum Involved in the Nervous Control of the Immune System Function?
Authors: Rizzi Anna , Saccia Matteo , Benagiano Vincenzo
Published: November 2019

Background:

According to the views of psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology, many interactions exist between nervous, endocrine and immune system the purpose of which is to achieve adaptive measures restoring an internal equilibrium (homeostasis) following stress conditions. The center where these interactions converge is the hypothalamus. This is a center of the autonomic nervous system that controls the visceral systems, including the immune system, through both the nervous and neuroendocrine mechanisms. The nervous mechanisms are based on nervous circuits that bidirectionally connect hypothalamic neurons and neurons of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system; the neuroendocrine mechanisms are based on the release by neurosecretory hypothalamic neurons of hormones that target the endocrine cells and on the feedback effects of the hormones secreted by these endocrine cells on the same hypothalamic neurons. Moreover, the hypothalamus is an important subcortical center of the limbic system that controls through nervous and neuroendocrine mechanisms the areas of the cerebral cortex where the psychic functions controlling mood, emotions, anxiety and instinctive behaviors take place. Accordingly, various studies conducted in the last decades have indicated that hypothalamic diseases may be associated with immune and/or psychic disorders.

Objective:

Various researches have reported that the hypothalamus is controlled by the cerebellum through a feedback nervous circuit, namely the hypothalamocerebellar circuit, which bi-directionally connects regions of the hypothalamus, including the immunoregulatory ones, and related regions of the cerebellum. An objective of the present review was to analyze the anatomical bases of the nervous and neuroendocrine mechanisms for the control of the immune system and, in particular, of the interaction between hypothalamus and cerebellum to achieve the immunoregulatory function.

Conclusion:

Since the hypothalamus represents the link through which the immune functions may influence the psychic functions and vice versa, the cerebellum, controlling several regions of the hypothalamus, could be considered as a primary player in the regulation of the multiple functional interactions postulated by psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology.
Characterization of Hybrid Bio-Ceramic Hydroxyapatites Reinforced by Expanded Perlite-TiO2-ZrO2-MgO-P2O5
Authors: Karip Erdoğan , Muratoğlu Mehtap
Published: November 2019

Background:

Hydroxyapatite, which is naturally and synthetically available, is
often used as a biomaterial because of its similarity to bone.

Aim:

In this study, Natural hydroxyapatite powder, synthesized from sheep bone, and synthetic
hydroxyapatite were used as matrix.

Materials and Methods:

Hybrid bio-ceramic composites were obtained by adding 5 wt. %
expanded perlite-TiO2-ZrO2-MgO-P2O5 to both matrixes. The bio-ceramic materials which
were mixed with mechanical mixer for 30 minutes were pressed with hydraulic press under
25 MPa pressure and sintered at 900°C for 1 hour. Density, micro-hardness, X-Ray Diffraction
(XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy
(EDS) analysis were performed to determine characteristics of the samples.

Results:

As a result, it was identified that the micro-hardness of natural hydroxyapatite was
higher. In addition, the increase in micro-hardness values of ZrO2-reinforced samples was
higher than the TiO2-reinforced samples.

Conclusion:

Hydroxyapatite, calcium silicate, calcium phosphate structures were observed
in XRD analysis. Micro-pores were observed in TiO2-reinforced samples while more dense
structures were observed in ZrO2-reinforced samples.
Inventory Management and Financial Performance of Small Scale Apicultural Enterprises in Cameroon: The Case of Oku Honey Cooperative Society Limited
Authors: Sengla Dorine Neitebef , Shillie Peter Ngek
Published: November 2019

This study examines inventory management and financial performance of Small Scale Apicultural Enterprises in Cameroon, the case of Oku Honey Cooperative Society Limited (OHCSL). The independent variable (Inventory management) proxy by raw materials inventory, work-in-progress inventory, finished products inventory, and packaging material inventory was regressed against dependent variable (financial performance) proxy by gross profit margin. Data used in this study cover the period 1988-2017. The primary data was collected using interviews, structured and semi- structured questionnaires administered to the management staff of the organization. Using magazines, internship reports and annual reports of the enterprise, secondary data was collected. Using multiple regression analysis, the study established that a positive relationship exist between the independent (inventory management) and dependent variables (financial performance) at OHCSL. However, it was uncovered that holding raw material inventory contributed minimal on the financial performance of OHCSL. This was attributed to the fact that honey is processed within 24hours post harvest and hence the cooperative avoids holding raw material inventory. Consequently, the study recommended improvement in inventory management practices including improving staff capacity at the cooperative.
Measuring Mindfulness among Entrepreneurs: An empirical study in India
Authors: Mukherjee Ujjal
Published: November 2019

Mindfulness is defined as the attentiveness that surfaces through awareness on reason, in the current moment, and non-judgmentally to the recitation of occurrence, instant by instant. It has been found to influence individual's openness to experience, attention span, and creativity. Studies in the western context, have suggested the influence of mindfulness on severalfacets of an entrepreneur. The present study tests the influence of demography on the level of mindfulness among entrepreneurs in the Indian context.Data is collected using the survey method, from 114 entrepreneurs in Bengaluru. Snowballing sampling technique is used to conduct the study.The 14 item Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory scale developed by Walach et al. (2006), is used to measure the level of mindfulness among the entrepreneurs. The reliability of the instrument was found to be 0.75, which is acceptable. T- test and ANOVA were employed to test the hypothesized relationships between the study variables.The current research did not find any evidence of demography on the levels of mindfulness among entrepreneurs in the Indian context.The findings of this study reaffirms the limited role of demography on the mindfulness of individuals and suggests that mindfulness can be developed using mindfulness improvement techniques irrespective of their demography. The study was cross-sectional, so the inferences about causality are limited. Future studies can collect data at different points in the career of an entrepreneur and compare the same.
A study on gender and course of the study differences on determinants of social entrepreneurial intention: the view point of developing country
Authors: Kumar Anil
Published: November 2019

In developing countries like India, entrepreneurship can be a solution of many economy-related problems. This article is an attempt to determine the determinants of social entrepreneurship intentions with gender and course of study differences. Understanding the antecedents of social entrepreneurial intentions is important for policy makers and educators who want to motivate students to engage in social entrepreneurship. The theoretical framework is proposed in the study. The paper based questionnaires were used for students' survey enrolled in a Bachelor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Business Administration program in India to collect the data. The convenience sampling procedure was employed as the sampling method. The usable sample size was 347. The model and hypotheses were tested using structured equation modeling with the help of smart PLS 3.0. The results of the study show that empathy, social support, moral obligation, self efficacy and government support show significant relationship with entrepreneurial intention. The social support has the highest impact on entrepreneurial intention while moral obligation is the least contributing factor towards entrepreneurial intention among students. The course of study played a key role to become an entrepreneur. The study also reveals that entrepreneurial intentions are more likely to arise in students in business disciplines than in students in engineering and pharmacy. Furthermore, the findings of the study suggest that male and female students have differences in entrepreneurial intention. In the end article presents the limitation and future research scope of the study.
Critical Review of Trends, Drivers, Issues, and Challenges of Primary Healthcare Services in India
Authors: Shah Bhumit A , Pandya Madhusudan N.
Published: November 2019

The Indian health care system is typical in nature and the Government has invested in building a strong public healthcare infrastructure. The pivotal role is played by the evolution of foremost non-public sector facilities created by the Government as healthcare emerges as the priority sector of the Government of India. However, with a population of virtually 1.35 Billion, with a majority living within the rural hinterlands, there is a scope to enhance the healthcare facilities to improve the health of individuals. It is noteworthy to mention that approximately about 70 per cent of the disbursal on health expenditure is borne by the individual, a steep value that pushes several families into debt. The recently proclaimed “Ayushman Bharat” scheme in India, that will cowl a minimum of 40 per cent of the population, envisages a holistic approach. It seeks to deal with the inherent issues of accessibility and affordability and supply an all-around answer to healthcare needs for the masses. The bottom line of the scheme entails enhancing accessibility, and providing cost- effective insurance to the people at the bottom of pyramid. It leverages the strengths of the general public sector and private players to redefine the health care delivery system. An attempt is made in this research article is made to review in brief the current status of healthcare in India and components of healthcare sector. This article also provides brief discussion on the challenges and opportunities faced by India's Healthcare sector in delivering healthcare services.
Enseñanza abierta como factor de fortalecimiento conceptual y de las concepciones sobre educación virtual, un estudio de caso
Authors: Lee Linda L.
Published: November 2019

A continuación se presenta el desarrollo y resultados de una investigación de naturaleza cualitativa, a manera de estudio de caso, alrededor de un proceso de enseñanza abierta aplicado a los estudiantes de la Facultad de Educación y Ciencias Humanas de la Universidad de Córdoba. Para tal efecto, se diseñó e implementó un ambiente virtual de aprendizaje sobre educación virtual, en el que se aplicaron atributos de “lo abierto”, con el propósito explorar y documentar los alcances y limitaciones de la enseñanza abierta como factor de fortalecimiento conceptual y de las concepciones sobre la práctica docente. El análisis de la experiencia de formación abierta se abordó a partir de los atributos de lo abierto aplicados a la luz de las categorías de análisis propuestas: contendidos, interacciones y mediaciones. Los resultados de dicha implementación mostraron un avance en la apropiación conceptual y de las concepciones sobre la práctica docente en educación virtual.
ENHANCEMENT SOLUBILITY AND DISSOLUTION RATE OF PARACETAMOL AND IBUPROFEN BY COAMORPHOUS PARTICLES USING MICROWAVE TECHNIQUE
Authors: ANILKUMAR SHINDE  , NAMDEO JADHAV  , OJAS SHINDE  , PRAVIN PATIL
Published: November 2019

Objective: The objective of the present study was to the preparation of a coamorphous (COAM) system of paracetamol (PA) (Biopharmaceutics Classification System [BCS] Class-III) and ibuprofen (IB) (BCS Class-II) for enhancement of solubility and dissolution of IB.
Methods: The COAM system was prepared by chemical electric magnetic field microwave-assisted method. Several batches with different concentrations of COAM PA and IB were prepared at constant temperature, pressure, and holding time. Solubility studies were carried out in different pH condition and the batch, which show the highest increase in solubility 98.00%. COAM samples were characterized by solubility, dissolution, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies.
Results: FTIR results showed evidence of molecular interactions between both the drugs. Maximum increase in aqueous solubility of IB was seen 500:200 mg dose ratio (COAM) batch E in phosphate buffer 7.4. The COAM system increased solubility of IB about 98.70%. The solubility and dissolution rate of IB were also enhanced. In vitro drug release study, 100% of the drug was released within 120 min. Thus, saturation solubility and dissolution rate of IB were found significant improved unlike PA. XRD and DSC results confirmed amorphization of IB. FTIR results evidenced hydrogen bonding interactions between both the drugs. In accelerated stability studies, powder XRD and DSC results demonstrated insignificant changes, thus confirming successful stabilization of IB by PA.
Conclusion: Hence, it concluded that the study of COAM of PA and IB successfully prepared by microwave-assisted method to enhance solubility, dissolution, stability, and bioavailability.
ACUTE TOXICITY STUDIES AND EVALUATION OF ANALGESIC PROPERTY OF TECTONA GRANDIS METHANOLIC SEED EXTRACT IN SWISS ALBINO MICE
Authors: JHANSI RANI G  , LAKSHMI BHAVANI N
Published: November 2019

Objective: Tectona grandis which is well known as teak possesses a wide range of applications in Indian and African folklore medicine. All the plant parts are having diverse bioactivities, especially the seeds, having hair growth-promoting activity, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity. Xanthones, proteins, amino acids, and fatty acids have been isolated from the oil and seeds of T. grandis.

Methods: The present study was to explore the antinociceptive properties of methanolic seed extract of T. grandis. Dried seeds of the plant were defatted with non-polar solvents such as petroleum ether and extracted with methanol. Acetic acid-induced writhing test, tail flick test, and tail immersion test were employed for the extract using Swiss albino mice.

Results: From the results, it is clear that the methanolic teak seed extract is safe at 1000 mg/kg and having a potent analgesic property (at a dose of 200–250 mg/kg body weight) by inhibiting pain response time.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that the methanolic seed extract of T. grandis is analgesic in nature. It is considered as safe and the activity may be due to the presence of various bioactive chemicals such as flavonoids, xanthones, and glycosides.
CHARACTERIZATION, ANTIMICROBIAL, AND METABOLIC ACTIVITY OF GREEN AND CHEMICALLY SYNTHESIZED ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES
Authors: SUMATHI S  , BANUPRIYA SJS  , AKHILA V  , PADMA PR
Published: November 2019

Objectives: The aim of the present study is a synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) by green and chemical method. The nanoparticles were tested for their antimicrobial, antibiofilm activity, biocompatibility, and hemolysis activity.

Methods: We have synthesized ZnONPs both by green and chemical synthesis using the coprecipitation method. To understand the functional group, absorbance, crystalline nature, size, and shape of the synthesized particles, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy were done. Antibacterial activity was carried out using different bacterial strains. The cytotoxicity of synthesized nanoparticles was checked using MTT assay with Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antibiofilm activities of both synthesized nanoparticles were done using Staphylococcus aureus and to assess the toxicity of nanoparticles at the cellular level, hemolysis assay was performed.

Results: The yield of nanoparticles in green synthesis was much higher when compared to chemical synthesis. Spectral results showed that the synthesized nanoparticles were ZnONPs. Antibacterial, antibiofilm, and hemolysis assay showed that green nanoparticles were more potent than chemical nanoparticles.

Conclusion: Hence, green synthesis provides an advantage over chemical synthesis as it is cost effective, environmentally friendly, and easily scaled up for large-scale synthesis.
THE IMPACT OF 2-AMINOETHANESULFONIC ACID, GUARANINE METHYL THEOBROMINE 1, 3, 7-TRIMETHYLXANTHINE THEINE AND/OR ISOBUTYLPHENYL PROPIONIC ACID ON MASCULINE FECUNDITY, AND MORPHOPATHOLOGICAL DISORDERS IN RATS
Authors: WAEL ABU DAYYIH  , YAZAN S BATARSEH  , ZAINAB ZAKAREIA  , MOHAMED HAMMAD  , KAMAL MANSI  , WALID ABU RAYYAN
Published: November 2019

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the impact of caffeine (CAF), taurine (TUR), and ibuprofen (IBF) consumption on the masculine fecundity in rats and fetuses development.

Methods: The 1st group was kept as a normal control received distilled water. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th groups received orally 250 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, and 270 mg/kg of TUR, CAF, and IBF, respectively. In addition, the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th groups received TUR with CAF, TUR with IBF, CAF with IBF, and TUR, CAF, IBF combination, for 45 days. Blood samples were taken to determine testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels and oxidation levels. Moreover, in testes, malondialdehyde and nitrite/nitrate were estimated. Besides, the abnormality of sperms, sperm counts, and percentage of sperm motilities was characterized. These masculines were allowed to mate with untreated masculine rats to determine the rate of pregnancy and study any malformation in their fetuses.

Results: The study revealed that each of CAF and/or IBF decreased the weights of fetuses, as well as sperm counts and motilities significantly. Besides, percentages of head and tail abnormalities were increased in CAF and/or IBF. The histopathological examination revealed the presence of marked degenerative changes in testes in CAF and/or IBF-treated groups.

Conclusion: CAF and IBF have a teratogenic effect on spermatozoa and masculine fecundity, whereas TUR almost improved undesirable impacts induced by IBF or/and CAF.
EVALUATION OF ANTISTRESS ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CHROMOLAENA ODORATA LEAVES IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS
Authors: VANITA KANASE  , SANA SHAIKH
Published: November 2019

Objective: The objective of this study was to study the effect of ethanolic extract of Chromolaena odorata (EECO) Linn. on acute restraint stress (ARS)-induced stress-like behavior and biochemical alterations in albino Wistar rats.

Methods: The ARS was induced by immobilizing the rats for a period of 12 h using rodent restraint device preventing them from any physical movement. Immediately, after 12 h rats were released and doses were given to each rat. 40 min post-release various behavioral parameters such as immobility time in force swim test and tail suspension test (TST), locomotor activity in open field test (OFT), and oxidative stress parameters and biochemical alterations in rat brain tissue were also performed.

Statistical Analysis: Expression of data was done as mean±standard error of mean. The normally distributed data were subjected to one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Experimental findings revealed that rats subjected to ARS exhibited significant increase in immobility time in forced swim test and TST models, decrease in locomotor activity in OFT model, and increase in malondialdehyde formation and impaired superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in hippocampus and cerebral cortex as compared to non-stressed rats. EECO treatment (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) significantly attenuated immobility time, locomotion, and restored the antioxidant enzymes after ARS.

Conclusion: EECO significantly alleviated ARS-induced stress-like behavior.
PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION AND SPECTRAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS IN THE DRIED EXTRACTS OF THE WHOLE PLANT ARGYREIA IMBRICATA (ROX) SANT AND PATEL
Authors: SEBASTIN V  , GOPALAKRISHNAN G  , SREEJITH M  , ANOOB KUMAR KI
Published: November 2019

Objective: The present study was designed with the aim of preliminary phytochemical evaluation and spectral characterization phytochemicals present in the extracts of whole plant Argyreia imbricata (Rox) Sant and Patel.

Methods: The whole plant A. imbricata was collected, authenticated, and dried in the shade for powdering in mechanical grinder. The powdered plant material was extracted with Soxhlet apparatus using different solvents, and the dried extract obtained was subjected to preliminary phytochemical evaluation, and then column chromatography separation and the separated fractions were subjected to thin-layer chromatography (TLC) separation. Based on the yield in TLC, the selected compounds were subjected to carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, proton NMR (1H NMR), and mass spectroscopic evaluation.

Results: In the preliminary phytochemical evaluation, the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carbohydrates, saponins, sterols, and terpenoids was found in different extracts. In column chromatography separation, totally 650 fractions were collected, and four compounds were isolated with the help of TLC. Among the four, two compounds were selected for spectral evaluation based on the yield obtained. The selected compounds were identified and named as, 3-ethyl-5-(hydroxymethyl) phenol and methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate with the help of spectral evaluation.

Conclusion: The outcome of this study is beneficial, and further investigation in the future directed toward the detailed pharmacological screening of the extracts may give more valuable results.
A LITERATURE REVIEW ON ORAL HYPOGLYCEMIC DRUGS – MECHANISTIC ASPECTS
Authors: SYED WAJID  , MENAKA M  , FAZIL AHMED  , SANA SAMREEN
Published: November 2019

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a worldwide rising concern that leads to an increased rate of morbidity, mortality, and health-care costs. DM is a chronic, endocrine disorder associated with hyperglycemia. The current estimated DM prevalence is over 422 million and has been progressively increasing over the past decades. Consequently, it is considered a significant problem in health-care settings. Health-care professionals who deal with such patients need to have an adequate information and drug therapy management including drugs and its regimen that are presently available in the market. This review provides an overview of potential diabetic drugs and their mechanisms. Hence, it will be proved beneficial for health-care professionals.
ACUTE BRADYCARDIA AND ATELECTASIS AFTER ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION IN CLEFT CHILD: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF ANESTHESIA MANAGEMENT IN CLEFT LIP AND PALATE PATIENTS
Authors: SWETHA K  , SAI PRIYANKA K
Published: November 2019

The most common craniofacial anomalies in children are cleft lip and palate with an incidence of 1:800 live births. Associated anomalies are common in patients with both cleft lip and palate (28%). Most commonly these anomalies affect the vertebral column or limb (33%) and the cardiovascular system (24%). Almost 150 syndromes are associated with cleft deformities and well known are Pierre Robin’s, Goldenhar, and Treacher Collins syndrome. On an average, 5–10% of these patients have congenital heart disease (CHD) such as ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, and cyanotic CHD. Until now, there are no clear guidelines regarding the timing of cleft surgery, especially if the child is having airway problems. In this article, we report an unusual case of a 6-month-old female child with weight of 6.5 kg with no medical history, who underwent surgical repair of congenital cleft lip in general anesthesia, leading to sudden collapse.
Exceptionality Education International: Responding to Change and Promoting Dialogue on Inclusive Education for All
Authors: Young Gabrielle , De Lugt Jenn , Penney Sharon , Specht Jacqueline
Published: November 2019

Exceptionality Education International (EEI) provides a forum for research and dialogue on topics relevant to the education of people with exceptionalities and on how barriers to the full participation of all people in education can be reduced and removed. As current editors of this journal, we provide you with an overview of the editorship of the journal over the years, address changes to policies and practices in inclusive education, and explain how our journal has adapted to reflect these changes. We conclude with concerns currently being experienced by journals, and plans for moving forward with addressing these issues and maintaining a journal in the 21stcentury.

Résumé

Exceptionality Education International (EEI) fournit un espace pour la recherche et le dialogue sur des sujets relatifs à l’éducation de personnes comportant des « exceptionalités » et sur la réduction et l’élimination d’obstacles empêchant à quiconque de participer pleinement en éducation. À titre de directeurs, nous vous présentons un survol de la direction de cette revue au fil des années, traitons de changements aux politiques et pratiques en éducation inclusive, et expliquons comment notre revue s’est adaptée pour refléter ces changements. Pour conclure, nous décrivons les problèmes auxquels les revues font face aujourd’hui ainsi que nos projets pour résoudre ces problèmes et maintenir une revue au 21esiècle.
DEVLOPMENT AND INVITRO EVALUATION OF NANOSUSPENSION GEL OF BENZOYL PEROXIDE
Authors: Ancheria Rahul Kumar , Jain Saloni , Kumar Deepak , Soni Shankar Lal
Published: November 2019

Novel drug delivery systems are designed with an intend to deliver drugs to the specific site at a rate and extent directed by the needs of the body and it directs an active entity to specific site of action during the period of treatment. Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease, affecting about 70-80% of adolescents and young adults. It is a multifactorial disease of the pilosebaceous unit. it has been developed as possible carriers to deliver antifungal drugs to the target site and to enhance an epidermal permeation across the skin.this article we present benzoyl peroxide can increase solubility and permeability of topical used.when benzoyl peroxide is very widely used  in the  mild to moderate acne vulgaris and rosacea.

 

KEYWORDS-
THE EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF DAYAK ONION (Eleutherine palmifolia (L) MERR) TUBER ON BLOOD GLUCOSE AND INSULIN LEVEL OF STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR RAT
Authors: Yaturramadhan Hasni , Dalimunthe Aminah , Widyawati Tri
Published: November 2019

Objectives: The current investigation was conducted to examine the ability of ethanolic extract from onion dayak (Eleutherine palmifolia) (L) (Merr) tuber to reduce blood glucose and increase insulin production in streptozotocin-induced diabetic wistar rat.

Materials and Methods: Extraction was accomplished using maceration method with 96% ethanol. Antidiabetic activity was evaluated using observation of blood glucose levels utilize glucometer (Easy Touch). Analysis of insulin plasma concentration was determined utilize the Insulin Elisa Kit (Chem Cruz).

Results: The administration of dayak onion extract as a form of therapy in diabetes, although it has not been able to increase insulin levels significantly, but has shown a tendency to increase insulin levels at higher doses of 500 mg/bw.

Conclusion: Ethanolic extract from dayak onion tuber exhibited activity of decrease blood glucose level and increase plasma insulin concentration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic wistar rat.