bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetics of Sirenomelia, the Mermaid Syndrome
Authors: Prasad Verma Rita
Published: May 2021

Sirenomelia (SML) is a rare, almost universally fatal congenital malformation presenting pathognomically with fused lower extremities and absent or malformed perineum. The classic Sirenomelia sequence includes a uniform spectrum of caudal malformations, spinal defects, and a single umbilical artery. SML is postulated to be due to a genetic predisposition, unmasked by biochemical or environmental triggers. Primary developmental defects in the formation of caudal mesoderm or embryonic caudal vessels with resultant local tissue hypoperfusion are proposed hypotheses for its pathogenesis. SML occurs sporadically in humans, presumably due to a spontaneous mutation, and is speculated to have an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. In mutant mice, specific defects in Cyp26a1 and Bmp 7 genes are demonstrated to produce offsprings with SML. Bmp 7 is a signaling protein, which belongs to the transforming growth factor-β (TGF β) superfamily. Tsg 1, a Bmp and chordin-binding protein, functions as an activator-inhibitor of Bmp signaling in the embryonic caudal region (ECR). Loss of Bmp7 genes combined with a complete loss or half-dose of Tsg 1 is demonstrated to produce an invariable SML phenotype. SML is also demonstrated to occur with increased Retinoic acid (RA) signaling in the ECR. The Cyp26a1 gene is involved in coding for an enzyme, which expresses in ECR and degrades RA. A specific defect in this gene leads to excess local RA concentration and SML generation with a reported 20% penetrance in mutant mice. However, the mutational screening of Cyp26a1 and Bmp 7genes has failed to confirm their involvement in mankind and the molecular defect and genetic inheritability of SML in humans remain undefined.
Virtue Ethics and the Trilemma Facing Sentiocentrism
Authors: Pereira Rafael Rodrigues ,   Center for Environmental Philosophy, The University of North Texas
Published: May 2021

This article aims to question the value of impartiality in environmental ethics by highlighting a problem internal to the bioethics approach known as sentiocentrism. The principle that all beings with the same degree of consciousness should receive the same moral treatment would lead to a trilemma, i.e., the need to choose among three morally unacceptable choices. I argue those problems are related to the premise, shared by Utilitarianism and rights-centered theories, that impartiality is the constitutive feature of the moral point of view. In the last part of my article, I discuss how this problem points to some advantages of a virtue ethics approach to environmental ethics.
Gastrointestinal Pathology in Samples From Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)–Positive Patients
Authors: Westerhoff Maria , Jones Dan , Hrycaj Steven M. , Chan May P. , Pantanowitz Liron , Tu Huolin , Choi Karen , Greenson Joel , Lamps Laura
Published: May 2021

Context.—

Although primarily considered a respiratory illness, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause gastrointestinal manifestations.

Objective.—

To evaluate histopathology and in situ hybridization for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in gastrointestinal samples from patients with recent and remote COVID-19.

Design.—

Patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal tests and a gastrointestinal tissue specimen were included. SARS-CoV-2 in situ hybridization (ISH) was performed on each sample. A subset had SARS-CoV-2 next-generation sequencing (NGS) performed.

Results.—

Twenty-five patients met inclusion criteria. Five had positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal tests within 7 days of their gastrointestinal procedure. Two were ulcerative colitis patients on steroid therapy who lacked typical COVID-19 symptoms. Their colectomies showed severe ulcerative colitis; one demonstrated SARS-CoV-2 by NGS but a negative ISH. Another had an ischemic colon resected as a complication of the COVID-19 course; however, both ISH and NGS were negative. A fourth had a normal-appearing terminal ileum but positive ISH and NGS. The fifth patient had ileal ulcers with SARS-CoV-2 negativity by both modalities. The remaining 20 patients had positive nasopharyngeal tests an average of 53 days prior to procedure. None of their samples demonstrated SARS-CoV-2 ISH positivity, but one was positive on NGS despite a negative nasopharyngeal test.

Conclusions.—

Gastrointestinal findings from SARS-CoV-2–infected patients ranged from normal with virus detected by ISH and NGS to bowel ischemia secondary to systemic viral effects without evidence of virus in the tissue. No distinct histologic finding was identified in those with gastrointestinal tissue specimens demonstrating SARS-CoV-2 positivity in this cohort.
El Smartphone en el campo escolar: análisis del discurso científico producido en los artículos que reposan en la base de datos de la Red de Revistas Científicas de América Latina y el Caribe, España y Portugal (REDALYC)
Authors: González Rafael Alberto González , Bonilla María Helena Silveira
Published: May 2021

La escuela del siglo XXI atraviesa un singular proceso de mutación; la entrada en escena de lo digital (en términos genéricos) y del smartphone (en términos particulares), ha posibilitado la emergencia de una serie de nóveles realidades cuyos principales trazos se han venido constituyendo, en los más recientes lustros, en el campo escolar. A tales efectos, el discurso científico ha venido produciendo, en la intersección temática smartphone-escuela, unas regularidades enunciativas, un topoi, que ha pasado a definir las fronteras de lo enunciable/pensable en el marco de ese particular campo de saber que fusiona lo tecnológico con lo escolar. En tal sentido, el corriente trabajo se detiene a examinar, a través de las posibilidades de análisis que ofrece el Análisis Crítico del Discurso (ACD), 28 artículos que forman parte de la base de datos de la Red de Revistas Científicas de América Latina y el Caribe, España y Portugal (REDALYC). Al caso, se identificaron las regularidades discursivas que tipifican la intersección temática objeto de interés (smartphone-escuela), perfilando, de manera preliminar, el campo enunciativo instrumental-utilitario a partir del cual se constituyen las relaciones de saber-poder a través de las cuales lo científico-escolar viene pensando, enunciando, el eje temático en consideración.
Environmental Education, a Case Study: Meliponary in the Colégio Estadual Modelo in the Municipality of Ijuí, RS
Authors: Schock Indaia , Nogueira Jorge Orlando Cuellar
Published: May 2021

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a ação conjunta das associações Ijuiense de Proteção ao Ambiente, Associação Bandeirantes do Verde Meio Ambiente e do Colégio Estadual Modelo de Ijuí acerca da importância da polinização das abelhas para o ecossistema. Sendo este um estudo de caso, que resultou na possibilidade da práxis de um Meliponário dentro de uma escola. Para tanto, realizou-se uma pesquisa bibliográfica sobre abelhas sem ferrão: Michener (2007), Almeida (2008), Villas-Bôas (2018), Imperatriz-Fonsceca; Dias (2004) e educação ambiental e ludicidade: Bölter (2018), Almeida (2008), Freire (2004), Vieira (2011), Louv (2016). Constatou-se com este estudo de caso que a união de esforços destas entidades permitiu o envolvimento da comunidade escolar incluindo os docentes e discentes, oferecendo uma possibilidade prática focada na educação ambiental e seu universo, com a observação e interação direta.
Influence of verbal, auditory and visual incentives on art perception and reception of primary school students
Authors: Popadić Marko
Published: May 2021

Introduction. Art reception and experiencing is a complex process, containing creative components. The experience of a work of art involves reproduction, in the viewer's consciousness, of the experiences and excitement that the artist himself or herself have undergone in the process of creating the same works of art. When viewing visual images, our perception is directed towards the identification of objects, and when viewing visual images as works of art, we also tend to experience them - we subjectively react to elements, such as stylistic and structural characteristics. The aim of the research is to examine the effectiveness of the experimental program named the Impact of Verbal, Auditory and Visual Incentives, designed to foster students' visual perception and visual reception during art education. Methods. The experimental method with parallel groups was used. The research included the sample consisting of 98 students, out of which 45 belonged to experimental group while 53 were control students from Trebinje region. Test LV1, examining visual creativity, as well as visual perception and visual reception (art appreciation), was used. Results. The results indicated that the experimental program influenced the development of the visual perceptive (F = 3.76; p = 0.05) and visual receptive (F = 8.01; p = 0.00) abilities among students during art education because the experimental group students achieved significantly better results than the control group students. The experimental program was aligned with the curriculum and designed to influence the development of students' visual-perceptual and visual-receptive abilities. Conclusion. The obtained results indicate that it is possible to influence the development of students' visual-perceptual and visual-receptive abilities by using a specially designed program, aimed at stimulating verbal, auditory and visual aspects of visual expression.
Gender differences in concentration of itraconazole and hydroxyitraconazole
Authors: Stanojković Tijana , Miljković Milijana , Rančić Nemanja , Kovačević Aleksandra , Dragojević-Simić Viktorija
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Itraconazole is an antifungal drug belonging to the triazole group. After oral application, it is rapidly absorbed, but its bioavailability is reduced due to an intensive first-pass through the liver metabolism effect. A large number of metabolites (the most important of which is hydroxyitraconazole) are produced by isoform CYP3A4 of cytochrome P450. The variability of itraconazole pharmacokinetics is the result of numerous factors that have not yet been fully clarified. Our study aimed to investigate the influence of gender on itraconazole and hydroxyitraconazole plasma concentrations in healthy adults after an oral application of a single dose of itraconazole. Methods: Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed after oral administration of itraconazole in a single dose of 100 mg to 22 male and 16 female healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected before taking the drug and at appropriate time intervals up to 72 hours later. Itraconazole and hydroxyitraconazole concentrations were determined using a validated liquid chromatography method with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS/MS) and their pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by using the Kinetica programme, version 5.0: Cmax, Tmax, PIK (0-72), PIK (0-∞), T1/2, and Ke. Results: The median values of both itraconazole and hydroxyitraconazole were lower in women in comparison to men during the whole period of observation. Moreover, median values of Cmax, PIK(0-72) and PIK(0-∞) parameters were also significantly lower in women, concerning both itraconazole (p=0.005, 0.036 and 0.036, respectively) and its metabolite (p=0.004, 0.010 and 0.044, respectively). Elimination parameters - T1/2 and Ke did not differ between genders. Conclusion: Women were less exposed to itraconazole and its active metabolite than men following an oral application of the drug, possibly as a result of lower bioavailability due to a more intense pre-systemic metabolism, as a result of a higher expression and/or activity of the isoform enzyme, which metabolises itraconazole, and which would need to be confirmed by pharmacogenomic analysis.
Brugada syndrome detected at the prehospital level
Authors: Kašćak Jelena , Anđelić Slađana
Published: May 2021

Introduction/Objective Brugada syndrome (BS) is becoming less of a mystery and more of a challenge for early recognition and treatment. We are presenting the case of a patient with Brugada syndrome recognized at the prehospital level. Case report The Emergency Medical Team (EMT) treated a 23-year-old Syrian native, who had fallen ill in a public place. He declared that he had experienced chest pain, 7/10 in strength, and weakness on the left side of his body followed by a short-term collapse some 20 minutes earlier. After that, he felt weak, languid, very tired and had neck pain. As declared by witnesses, he did not lose consciousness, but was confused, pale, covered with sweat and was breathing rapidly. All this happened after a prolonged quick-paced walk in high air humidity conditions. He declared that he hadn't had similar episodes before, nor had he had significant injuries, allergies or chronic diseases. There was no sudden cardiac death history in his family. Upon examination, he was conscious, afebrile, eupnoeic (18 breaths per minute) with normal heart frequency (70 per minute), blood pressure of 120/90 mmHg and blood oxygen saturation level of 100%. His heart and breath sounds were normal. All other physical examination findings were normal as well. ECG: sinus rhythm, 70 beats per minute, saddleback ST-segment elevation > 1mm in V2. An IV line was inserted and an ECG monitor placed. He was transported to the hospital with the diagnosis of having collapsed and a suspected Brugada syndrome. After short observation and a repeated ECG recording, the Brugada syndrome type II diagnosis was confirmed. Conclusion The Emergency Medical Team doctor must recognize the ECG pattern of this disease, apply necessary CPR measures including early defibrillation if needed, and closely monitor the ECG and vital signs of the patient during transport.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the prone position
Authors: Emiš-Vandlik Nada , Anđelić Slađana , Bogunović Snežana , Simić Vladimir , Nikolić Tanja
Published: May 2021

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a series of life-saving procedures aimed at restoring and maintaining the functions of breathing and circulation in patients suffering from cardio-respiratory arrest. Old and new CPR guidelines assume that the patient is lying on the back, on a hard and stable surface. The prone position where the patient is lying on the stomach is often used in the operating room to enable an easier approach to the operative field and in intensive care units (ICU) to enable better oxygenation for patients in advanced stages of hypoxic respiratory insufficiency. During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients suffering from the infection are often treated in the prone position. Should cardiac arrest occur, it is necessary to initiate high-quality chest compressions and early defibrillation as soon as possible for the patient to have the best chance of survival. Current guidelines stipulate that CPR should be initiated immediately, even in the prone position, and kept up until conditions are met for the patient to be turned over onto the back. It is recommended to place hands on the patient's back at the level of the T7-T10 vertebrae and perform chest compressions with the usual strength and velocity (5-6 cm deep, 2 compressions per second). For defibrillation, self-adhesive disposable electrodes should be placed in an anterior-posterior or a bi-axillary position. Sternal counterpressure could increase the efficacy of chest compressions. Educating health workers to perform this CPR technique and using it in selected patients can increase survival.
Overview of brown coal reserves in Banovići basin in accordance with PERC reporting standard
Authors: Baraković Damir , Modrić Kasim , Simić Vladimir
Published: May 2021

In this paper the mineral reserves of brown coal deposits in the Banovici basin have been preliminary correlated to the international standard for reporting of minerals. It can act as a "key code and guidelines" for any country that wants to adopt its own standard reporting based on PERC and represents a new way of unique way of reporting and cadastre of mineral resources on the territory of Europe.
Traffic capacity improvement factor when VAMOS technique is applied
Authors: Matić Vladimir , Mitić Dragan , Markov Žarko , Lebl Aleksandar , Marinković-Nedelicki Verica
Published: May 2021

New modern technologies in mobile telephony overcome the possibilities of GSM systems. VAMOS technique is one way to improve traffic properties of traditional GSM systems. Our aim is to analyze the level of this improvement achieved by VAMOS implementation. The number of traffic resources is doubled, but it is proved that traffic capacity is more than doubled for full rate connections implementation and more than quadrupled for half rate connections regardless of offered traffic for all values of emission power difference between 4dB and 10dB when considering two paired subchannels. There are two loss types in VAMOS systems: unpairing loss and traffic loss when all subchannels are busy. The values of these two loss types whose sum presents the total loss in VAMOS systems are determined by originally developed simulation program. The achievable total loss may be decreased for 45% or even more when allowable power difference between paired channels is increased from 4dB to 10dB.
Creative work environment as a factor of innovations in transport companies in the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Žarevac-Bošković Milica , Rajković Dragan , Lakićević Marija
Published: May 2021

The variability of environment, growing number of external factors of companies' businesses, inaccessible key organizational resources, inability of management to understand or predict changes and trends in the general organizational environment due to growing uncertainties are just some of the characteristics of the modern business world, especially the transport sector as one of the most complex segment of each country's economic system. The paper analyzes the level of development of creative work environment in transport companies in the Republic of Serbia in order to formulate possible, and possibly necessary, guidelines for greater encouragement of employees' creativity, as organizational innovations today represent, it seems, the only potential solution for overcoming all obstacles and surviving in such a complex market.
Diez consideraciones ético-jurídicas en relación con la reutilización y big data en el ámbito sanitario
Authors: Ausín Txetxu , Andreu Martínez Belén , Valero Torrijos Julián , Cayón de las Cuevas Joaquín
Published: May 2021

Diferentes grupos de investigación con proyectos vigentes en materia de protección de datos de carácter personal, reutilización de la información del sector público y datos abiertos organizaron el pasado día 29 de octubre de 2020 un seminario sobre reutilización y big data en el ámbito sanitario, en el que participaron investigadores, gestores y policymakers de diferentes disciplinas. Partiendo de la premisa de la especial importancia del acceso a los datos de salud como recurso para la investigación, la gestión y el desarrollo de productos, tratamientos e intervenciones sanitarias y, a la vez, de su consideración como categoría de datos especialmente sensibles, privados y protegidos, el presente documento persigue sistematizar las principales conclusiones alcanzadas.

Various research groups with ongoing projects in the areas of personal data protection, reuse of public sector information and open data organised a seminar on October 29, 2020, on reuse and big data in the field of health in which researchers, managers and policymakers from different disciplines participated. Starting from the premise of the special importance that access to health data has as a resource for research, management and development of health products, treatments and interventions and, at the same time, its consideration as a special category of data that is particularly sensitive, private and protected, this document seeks to systematise the main conclusions reached.
Consumer Boycotts in Perspectives of Young Consumer of Generation Y in Poland and France
Authors:   Wydział Zarządzania, Uniwersytet Warszawski, Polska, Szwed Małgorzata
Published: May 2021

Young consumers are watching closely the activities of brands on the market and increasingly express their dissatisfaction by participating in consumer boycotts. This article focuses on showing the phenomenon of consumer boycotts through the prism of generation Y representatives in Poland and France. In the first part, the notion of consumer boycotts is explained and the characteristics of generation Y are presented, taking into account the differences between Poland and France. Then the results of quantitative research (CAWI), which concerned the willingness to get involved and forms of participation of young consumers from France and Poland in consumer boycotts, are presented. The analysis of the results showed that French students declare greater willingness to participate in boycotts than Polish ones. The main reason for participation for the French is that the boycott concerns an important issue, and for the Poles, that it concerns them personally. No significant differences have been shown as regards the preferred forms of participation in boycotts.
Electric Car Sharing as an Interdisciplinary Test Ground of Various Fields of Study
Authors:   Centre for Research in Energy Transformation, Mobility and Climate Change, Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw, Tchorek Grzegorz , Allen Agnieszka ,   Centre for Research in Energy Transformation, Mobility and Climate Change, Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw, Dziewanowska Katarzyna ,   Centre for Research in Energy Transformation, Mobility and Climate Change, Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw, Geodecki Tomasz ,   Faculty of Public Economy and Administration, Cracow University of Economics, Kozioł Waldemar ,   Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw, Poland, Kurtyka Michał ,   Centre for Research in Energy Transformation, Mobility and Climate Change, Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw, Skrzypek Jurand ,   Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Jagiellonian University, Institute of Economics, Finance and Management, Targowski Filip , Wójtowicz Stefan ,   Centre for Research in Energy Transformation, Mobility and Climate Change Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw, Poland
Published: May 2021

The aim of the article is to present car sharing, with particular emphasis on electric car sharing, as an interdisciplinary research area. This applies not only to social sciences – management (strategy or marketing), sociology, economics (including the sharing economy), consumer psychology, but also to urban planning, engineering sciences (electrical engineering or energy) and, finally, ecology. Only the use of a broader perspective allows the understanding of the importance of car sharing, including electric vehicles, in contemporary social and economic processes. The diagnosis of factors that may affect the widespread use of car sharing, which we treat as an element of cities’ response to congestion and smog, requires a reference to the knowledge of the previously mentioned scientific disciplines. The core value of this article is that it provides a multi-faceted perspective on the consumer and prosumer, urban mobility and the energy ecosystem from the point of view of the sharing economy and zero/low carbon cars. In recent years, the number of research articles on car sharing has been growing (Ferrero, Perboli, Rosano, & Vesco, 2018); however, studies written from the point of view of a single, less often two scientific disciplines dominate. We propose to extend this perspective. Although, in research terms, this work is preliminary and exploratory, adopting a broad observation perspective should allow for establishing a dialogue between disciplines to ensure better formulation of research problems and solve socio economic dilemmas not only in the field of the sharing economy, and to better introduce the issue of car sharing to the area of management sciences.
Product-IT Inclusive Enterprise Architecture Management: An Approach Based on Ecosystems, Customer Journey and Data-Driven Business Opportunities
Authors: Kaidalova Julia , Sandkuhl Kurt , Seigerroth Ulf
Published: May 2021

Products have evolved from being solely composed of mechanical and electrical parts to complex systems that are connected to the Internet and form the basis for new kinds of functionalities and services. Such smart connected products include a substantial amount of software and information technology which can be called the “product-IT”. Enterprise architecture (EA) management is an established function in enterprises providing methods and tools for a systematic alignment of business and IT in an organization. However, EA models capture the details of business, information and technology architecture of an enterprise (i.e., the enterprise-IT) but usually do not include the product-IT. When value creation and delivery in an enterprise’s business model also includes the product-IT, a product-IT inclusive view on EA urgently is required. The focus of this article is the methodical support for integration of product-IT and enterprise-IT using enterprise architectures. The main contributions in this article are the conceptual expansion of EA management to become product-IT inclusive that is manifested in a proposal for an extended EA meta-model, and an approach and method components to handle product-IT inclusive EAM.
Using i* and UML for Blockchain Oriented Software Engineering: Strengths, Weaknesses, Lacks and Complementarity
Authors: Vingerhoets Anne , Heng Samedi , Wautelet Yves
Published: May 2021

New blockchain-based projects do appear every day. The technology has indeed been popularized by cryptocurrencies but is now gaining interest in various domains and new types of applications are evaluated constantly. Understanding the impact of blockchain adoption on the organization and the internals of blockchain-related behavior nevertheless remains a challenge for managers but also for IT professionals. This article studies how two existing organizational and software modeling languages can be fit to document a blockchain development project in Supply Chain Management (SCM) at its earliest stages. These two frameworks are i* on the one side and the Unified Modeling Language (UML) use case and sequence diagrams on the other side. The real life project used as a case study in this application is ‘Farm-to-Fork’ where a blockchain solution for the Supply Chain (SC) of farm animals is developed. The application of the frameworks is intended to identify their strengths and weaknesses. An extension of i* is proposed to deal with blockchain privacy issues as well as laws and norms. We finally point to the complementarity of i* and UML use case and sequence diagrams in a Blockchain-Oriented Software Engineering (BOSE) context. The i* framework indeed supports early requirements to understand the impact of the project on stakeholders while UML use case and sequence diagrams support the late requirements and the design by depicting the use of blockchain and some of its behavioral mechanisms.
An Introduction to Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
Authors: Jensen Johannes , Von Wachter Victor , Ross Omri
Published: May 2021

Decentralized financial applications (DeFi) are a new breed of consumer-facing financial applications composed as smart contracts, deployed on permissionless blockchain technologies. In this article, we situate the DeFi concept in the theoretical context of permissionless blockchain technology and provide a taxonomical overview of agents, incentives and risks. We examine the key market categories and use-cases for DeFi applications today and identify four key risk groups for potential stakeholders contemplating the advantages of decentralized financial applications. We contribute novel insights into a rapidly emerging field, with far-reaching implications for the financial services.
Kan tjenestedesign bidra til økt medvirkning og involvering for pasienter og brukere på individnivå i helse- og omsorgstjenestene?
Authors: Eines Trude Fløystad , Mundal Ingunn Pernille , Grønvik Cecilie Katrine Utheim
Published: May 2021

Pasient – og brukermedvirkning er en lovfestet rettighet som skal sikre pasienter og brukere økt innflytelse i helse og omsorgstjenesten. Forskning viser imidlertid at helsepersonell anvender en paternalistisk tilnærming i sin yrkesutøvelse, noe som truer pasienters rettigheter. Helsepersonell anbefales derfor å ta i bruk tjenestedesign som metodikk for å øke den reelle medvirkningen og involveringen av pasienter og brukere. Formålet med økt bruker- og pasientmedvirkning og involvering er å utvikle tjenester av høy kvalitet med utgangspunkt i brukernes behov. Behovsdrevne tjenester vil oppleves som nyttige og meningsfulle for brukerne. Det er derfor viktig at helsepersonell forstår verdien av brukermedvirkning i kvalitetsarbeid og tilegner seg kunnskap om tjenestedesign.

Can service design promote expanding user participation and user involvement in health care services?

Patient- and user participation is a legislative right intending to ensure service users involvement in health care services. However, research shows that healthcare professionals employ a paternalistic approach in their professional practice, which may threaten patients' rights. Healthcare professionals are recommended to use service design as a methodology to increase the genuine user participation and user involvement, aiming to develop high-quality services based on users' needs. Demand-driven services may be perceived as beneficial and meaningful for the patients. Therefore, the health professionals’ knowledge and comprehension of the value of user participation and service design are of importance.
Detection of diabetic retinopathy using a fusion of textural and ridgelet features of retinal images and sequential minimal optimization classifier
Authors: Ramasamy Lakshmana Kumar , Padinjappurathu Shynu Gopalan , Kadry Seifedine , Damaševičius Robertas
Published: May 2021

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world, which is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar. Diabetes complications are leading to Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). The early stages of DR may have either no sign or cause minor vision problems, but later stages of the disease can lead to blindness. DR diagnosis is an exceedingly difficult task because of changes in the retina during the disease stages. An automatic DR early detection method can save a patient's vision and can also support the ophthalmologists in DR screening. This paper develops a model for the diagnostics of DR. Initially, we extract and fuse the ophthalmoscopic features from the retina images based on textural gray-level features like co-occurrence, run-length matrix, as well as the coefficients of the Ridgelet Transform. Based on the retina features, the Sequential Minimal Optimization (SMO) classification is used to classify diabetic retinopathy. For performance analysis, the openly accessible retinal image datasets are used, and the findings of the experiments demonstrate the quality and efficacy of the proposed method (we achieved 98.87% sensitivity, 95.24% specificity, 97.05% accuracy on DIARETDB1 dataset, and 90.9% sensitivity, 91.0% specificity, 91.0% accuracy on KAGGLE dataset).
DNA methylome and transcriptome analysis established a model of four differentially methylated positions (DMPs) as a diagnostic marker in esophageal adenocarcinoma early detection
Authors: Peng Weilin , Tu Guangxu , Zhao Zhenyu , He Boxue , Cai Qidong , Zhang Pengfei , Peng Xiong , Shi Shuai , Wang Xiang
Published: May 2021

Background

Esophageal carcinogenesis involves in alterations of DNA methylation and gene transcription. This study profiled genomic DNA methylome vs. gene expression using transcriptome data on esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) tissues from the online databases in order to identify methylation biomarkers in EAC early diagnosis.

Materials and Methods

The DNA methylome and transcriptome data were downloaded from the UCSC Xena, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases and then bioinformatically analyzed for the differentially methylated positions (DMPs) vs. gene expression between EAC and normal tissues. The highly methylated DMPs vs. reduced gene expression in EAC were selected and then stratified with those of the corresponding normal blood samples and other common human cancers to construct an EAC-specific diagnostic model. The usefulness of this model was further verified in other three GEO datasets of EAC tissues.

Result

A total of 841 DMPs were associated with expression of 320 genes, some of which were aberrantly methylated in EAC tissues. Further analysis showed that four (cg07589773, cg10474350, cg13011388 and cg15208375 mapped to gene IKZF1, HOXA7, EFS and TSHZ3, respectively) of these 841 DMPs could form and establish a diagnostic model after stratified them with the corresponding normal blood samples and other common human cancers. The data were further validated in other three GEO datasets on EAC tissues in early EAC diagnosis.

Conclusion

This study revealed a diagnostic model of four genes methylation to diagnose EAC early. Further study will confirm the usefulness of this model in a prospective EAC cases.
Prevalence of the Caroticoclinoid Foramen in Brazilian Dry Skulls
Authors: Pires Lucas Alves Sarmento , Periss è Jan-Peter Correia Sousa , Marques Sè rgio Ricardo , Fernandes Rodrigo Mota Pacheco , Manaia Jorge Henrique Martins , Babinski Marcio Antonio
Published: May 2021

Introduction: The Caroticoclinoid Foramen (CCF) is a variation found in the sphenoid. It gives passage to the internal carotid artery and it is a surgically significant structure when dealing with the cavernous sinus. There is debate, however, regarding its prevalence, especially in populations from South America. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and size of the CCF in a Brazilian sample. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out for a period of 10 months during March 2019 and January 2020. The present study was conducted in 365 dry human skulls from two Universities in the Southeast region of Brazil. The caroticolinoid foramen was observed and if present, measured. Results: Of the 365 skulls examined, the foramen was present in 101 (prevalence of 27.6%). The foramen was bilateral in 88 cases, while 13 skulls presented this variation unilaterally (7 on the right and 6 on the left side), thus reaching a total of 189 foramina. The mean anteroposterior diameter was 4.87±0.69 mm (right side) and 4.86±0.79 mm (left side), and the Transverse Diameter (TD) was 4.85±0.75 mm (right side) and 4.74±0.73 mm (left side). Sixty-nine skulls had data regarding sex and age. The age ranged from 1 month old to 104-year-old (mean of 37.79±21.85-year-old). The male to female ratio was 2:1, being the only relation with statistical significance (p<0.05). Conclusion: The CCF can be a common variation depending on the population analysed. Thus, the surgeon should always be concerned of its presence, as its misidentification may lead to a negative surgical outcome.
Subclinical Hypothyroidism: A Modifiable Risk Factor for Retinal Vein Occlusion
Authors: Gupta Amit Kumar , Lahiri Kapil Deb
Published: May 2021

Introduction: It is well established that overt hypothyroidism, itself was a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Retinal Venous Occlusion (RVO) is caused by localised atherosclerosis. Subclinical Hypothyroidism (SCH) also cause arteriosclerosis thereby could be an important causative factor for RVO. But no study on SCH in RVO has taken place in Indian population. Aim: To find the prevalence of SCH in RVO in Indian Population. Materials and Methods: Thyroid hormones and Anti-Tissue Peroxidise (TPO) antibody was measured in 479 RVO cases in this two year prospective cross-sectional study in ESIC medical college. Data was entered into Microsoft Excel and presented in tables. Results: In this study, 312 males (aged 52±7.2 years) and 167 females (aged 47±7.7 years) with RVO were screened for thyroid hormones and anti-TPO antibody. Thyroid disorders were found in 162 patients out of 479 participants in this study (33.8%). Moreover, 52 cases were found to have SCH (10.8%) which is 32.1% of total thyroid disorder among RVO cases.An118 patients had high anti-TPO antibody among 162 RVO cases with thyroid disorders (72.8%) and only 67 had high anti-TPO antibody among 317 euthyroid RVO cases (21.1%). Conclusion: This study has shown that SCH was a modifiable risk factor of RVO. Therefore, understanding the prevalence of SCH in this population might help in the prevention of RVO by secondary preventive intervention. Moreover, all SCH cases should be referred to ophthalmologist for evaluation of retinal vasculature.
Syncephalastrum racemosum as aRare Agent of Rhino-orbital Mucormycosis:A Case Report and Review
Authors: Gulati Neelam , Gupta Poonam , Nayyar Charu , Sherwal BL , Kumar Sunil
Published: May 2021

Fungal infection of the paranasal sinuses is an increasingly recognised entity both in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Aspergillus species are the most common aetiologic agents of this disease. Zygomycete agents are the common culprits in the immunocompromised group. The most common agent causing human disease is Rhizopus species followed by Rhizomucorspp. The important risk factors are uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and immunsupression. Here, a rare case of pansinusitis with Syncephalastrum racemosum was reported in a 13-year-old male child with aplastic anaemia. Syncephalastrum racemosum has been debated for its role in human diseases and very few reports are documented. To the best of our knowledge this was the third report of rhino-orbital infection caused by this fungus. Syncephalastrum racemosum should be considered as one of the aetiologic agents of rhino-orbital infections especially in the immunocompromised group.
Fenugreek Seeds as a Therapeutic Supplement for Patients with Noninsulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Bhadauria Shailendra Singh , Kushwah Archana
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder, for which there is no known cure except in very specific situations. Management of diabetes is based on keeping blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible, without causing hypoglycaemia. Usually, this can be accomplished with diet, exercise and use of appropriate medications. In India, herbs are used in treatment to maintain normal blood glucose and lipid levels. In any form of management of diabetes with drug or insulin, diet is a common factor. Besides diet, many plants and foods of medicinal value have proved to be very useful in which one of them is fenugreek seed. Aim: The present study was aimed to evaluate the blood glucose modulating effect of Fenugreek Seed Powder (FSP) in patients of Noninsulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 25 patients of NIDDM of age group 40 to 50 years. A 5 gm Fenugreek seed powder was given to the patients on empty stomach early in the morning every day. Before beginning the study and at the end of every month, the blood glucose level (fasting and postprandial) was measured consecutively for three months. Statistics Program for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 17.0) computer software package was used for statistical analysis of the data. Results: Administration of FSP lowered the blood glucose levels in patients of NIDDM and a significant reduction in blood glucose level (fasting and postprandial) was observed in the study. Conclusion: Present study suggested that FSP might have potential to modulate blood glucose level which can serve as an effective supportive therapy in the prevention and management of long-term complications of diabetes.
A Scoping Review of Parenting Programs for Indigenous People in Canada: What Approaches Are Being Applied in Indigenous Communities?
Authors: Toombs Elaine , Dalicandro Lauren , Schmidt Fred , Mushquash Christopher J.
Published: May 2021

There has been a significant disruption in the transmission of parenting practices across generations of Canadian Indigenous communities (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada [TRC], 2015). As a result, there is a pressing need for effective and culturally appropriate programs for Indigenous parents (TRC, 2015). Review of currently available parenting programs in Canada may help by synthesizing Indigenous and non-Indigenous parenting knowledge. To that end, a scoping review of sources that described parenting programs for Indigenous families was completed using 11 databases and available grey literature. All programs integrated cultural components into treatment, though specific activities, content, and structure varied. Recommendations for clinical practice and future research are provided.
Breast Self Examination and Cancer Awareness among Female Staff in Federal Medical Center, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State (Knowledge and Practice)
Authors: Oku Y. E. , Orieno E. O. , Micah N. O. , Eric E. U. , William-Ebil I. , Akpan E. J. , Iyabi-Allagoa J. O. , Olowu E. A.
Published: May 2021

Breast self-examination (BSE) is a recommended technique in medical science for early detection of breast cancer. It is a simple technique with no specific equipment and no cost implication. It has been shown to improve breast health awareness and thus detect potential abnormalities in the breast.  It should be practiced by all women (or females known to be more at risk) from the moment the breast is developed.

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of BSE in relation to breast cancer awareness among female staff in Federal Medical Center, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Methods: A simple random technique was used to select a total of 411 female staff from different departments of the hospital. The data were collected using structured pretested questionnaire.  Descriptive statistical method and correlation method was employed to analyze the variables.

Results: The findings of this study revealed that 369(89.8%) had knowledge of BSE. It also revealed that 210 (51.1%) about half of the total number practice BSE regularly. Majority of the respondents, 187 (45.5%) heard of BSE through awareness programme. There was a statistical significant association between knowledge of breast self- examination and its practice.

Conclusion: The study revealed that majority of the respondents had knowledge of BSE but the practice of BSE was poor. Knowing when to perform, how to perform, position to perform and confidence of what to look for during BSE were seen as a major issue or objective determinant of successful examination, in this study.

Therefore, there is need for intensified sensitization programmes to address knowledge and the practice of BSE among females in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
IoT and ICT based Smart Water Management, Monitoring and Controlling System: A Review
Authors: Yasin Hajar Maseeh , Zeebaree Subhi R. M. , Sadeeq Mohammed A. M. , Ameen Siddeeq Y. , Ibrahim Ibrahim Mahmood , Zebari Rizgar R. , Ibrahim Rowaida Khalil , Sallow Amira B.
Published: May 2021

Water is a basic human need in all economic operations. Farmland, renewable energy, the industrial industry, and mining are all critical economic areas. Water supplies are under severe strain. With the population increase, the requirement for water from competing economic sectors is increased. So, there is not enough water left to meet human needs and maintain environmental flows that maintain the integrity of our ecosystems. Underground water is becoming depleted in many sectors, making now and future generations near the point of being deprived of protection from the increasing climate variability. Therefore, the critical role that information technology methods and internet communication technologies (ICT) play in water resources managing to limit the excessive waste of fresh water and to control and monitor water pollution. In this paper, we have to review research that uses the internet of things (IoT) as a communication technology that controls the preservation of the available amount of water and not wastes it by homeowners and farmers. In contrast, they use water, and we have also reviewed some researches that preserve water quality and reduce its pollution.
Comparison of Broadcast and Row Planting Methods on Growth, Grain yield and Yield Components of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Khost Province, Afghanistan
Authors: Ahmadi Ahmad Yar , Arian Mohammad Jan
Published: May 2021

Appropriate planting method is an important work from the agronomic practices for the high and qualitative yield of wheat crop according to the agro - ecological condition of one area. This study was conducted to investigate the agronomic performance of three wheat varieties (Junt 01, Kabul 013 and Lalmi 04) in two planting methods (broadcast and row methods) in the growing season of 2019 - 2020 in Nadir shah kot District, Khost Province. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block with three replications. Planting method differed significantly (p < 0.05) for days to heading (DH) 50%, plant height (PH) and significantly (p<0.01) for grain yield (GY). Row planting methods had superior means of the mentioned traits compare to broadcast method. In case of varieties, also were significant differences (p<0.01). Junt 01 variety produced the highest GY followed by Kabul 013 and Lalmi 01 produced the lowest GY. From the study found that the above mentioned varieties to be cultivated in row planting method under Khost climate conditions, and can be used in local studied area.
Career Aptitude Assessment of the Undergraduate Agricultural Students in Kerala Agricultural University
Authors: Vinodkumar Bheemanpalli , Seema B.
Published: May 2021

The study entitled ‘Career aptitude assessment of the undergraduate agricultural students in Kerala Agricultural University’ was undertaken with 120 undergraduate agricultural students of the three colleges under Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) during 2018-19. Ex post facto research design was used for conducting the study and  sample of the study comprised of 120 third year and final year students i.e., 60 students from COA, Vellayani, 35 students from COH, Vellanikkara and 25 students from COAP, Padannakkad were selected based on proportionate random sampling method.  The results of the study revealed that majority of the undergraduate agricultural students had medium to high mechanical reasoning, language usage capability and numerical ability. Almost 71.68 per cent of the undergraduate agricultural students had high verbal reasoning ability and majority (78%) of the students had medium to low word knowledge. It was also observed that majority (95%) of the undergraduate agricultural students had medium to high career aptitude. These results indicated that undergraduate agriculture students have the desired skills to succeed in plethora of jobs i.e., from low profile jobs to high profile administrative and management jobs. Further, Man – Whitney test had been undertaken to test the significant difference between career aptitude of male and female students. The results revealed that regardless of their gender the career aptitude of the male and female students remained same. From this study it is evident that undergraduate students of KAU are suitable for wide range of occupations / vocations / careers from farming to agribusiness, from clerical job to the high profile administrative jobs, from farmer to the management professional, from private jobs to the government job, from extension agent to the agricultural scientist and so on.