bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Optimal Sites for the Insertion of Orthodontic Mini-implants at Mandibular Symphysis Region Through Cone-beam Computed Tomography
Authors: Zhang Shizhen , Wei Xiaoyu , Wang Lufei , Wu Zhouqiang , Liu Lu , Yan Xinyu , Pu Lingling , Lai Wenli , Long Hu
Published: July 2021

Background: This study evaluates the overall bone thickness (OBT) and cortical bone thickness (CBT) of mandibular symphysis and to determine the optimal sites for the insertion of orthodontic mini-implants.Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 32 patients (18 males, 14 females), including 16 adults and 16 adolescents were included in this study. The sample was further categorized into three facial types: low angle, average angle, and high angle. OBT and CBT were measured at the mandibular symphysis region. All measurements were performed at six different heights (2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm from cementoenamel junction [CEJ]) and at seven different angles (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 degrees to the occlusal plane). Results: Neither OBT nor CBT was influenced by age or sex, except for that CBT was significantly thicker in adults than in adolescents. OBT and CBT were significantly thicker in low-angle cases than in average- and high-angle cases. Both OBT and CBT were significantly influenced by insertion locations, insertion heights, insertion angles, and their interactions. CBT and OBT gained the greatest value at the location between two lower central incisors, and became greater with the increase of insertion height and insertion angle. Both recommended and optimal insertion sites were mapped. Conclusions: Mandibular symphysis region was suitable for the placement of orthodontic mini-implants. The optimal insertion site was 6-10 mm apical to CEJ between two lower central incisors with an insertion angle being 0-60 degrees to the occlusal plane.
Brush Swab As A Noninvasive Surrogate for Tissue Biopsies in Oral Cancer Patients To Develop Clinically Translatable Epigenetic Biomarkers
Authors: Viet Chi Tonglien , Zhang Xinyu , Xu Ke , Yu Gary , Asam Kesava , Thomas Carissa M. , Callahan Nicholas F. , Doan Coleen , Walker Paul C. , Nguyen Khanh , Kidd Stephanie C. , Lee Steve C. , Grandhi Anupama , Allen Clint T. , Young Simon , Melville James C. , Shum Jonathan W. , Viet Dan T. , Herford Alan S. , Roden Dylan F. , Aouizerat Bradley E.
Published: July 2021

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has poor survival rates. There is a pressing need to develop more precise risk assessment methods to tailor clinical treatment. Epigenome-wide association studies in OSCC have not produced a viable biomarker. These studies have relied on methylation array platforms, which are limited in their ability to profile the methylome. In this study, we use MethylCap-Seq (MC-Seq), a comprehensive methylation quantification technique, and brush swab samples, to develop a noninvasive, readily translatable approach to profile the methylome in OSCC patients.
Methods

Three OSCC patients underwent collection of cancer and contralateral normal tissue and brush swab biopsies, totaling 4 samples for each patient. Epigenome-wide DNA methylation quantification was performed using the SureSelectXT Methyl-Seq platform. DNA quality and methylation site resolution were compared between brush swab and tissue samples. Correlation and methylation value difference were determined for brush swabs vs. tissues for each respective patient and site (i.e., cancer or normal). Correlations were calculated between cancer and normal tissues and brush swab samples for each patient to determine the robustness of DNA methylation marks using brush swabs in clinical biomarker studies.
Results

There were no significant differences in DNA yield between tissue and brush swab samples. Mapping efficiency exceeded 90% across all samples, with no differences between tissue and brush swabs. The average number of CpG sites with at least 10x depth of coverage was 2,716,674 for brush swabs and 2,903,261 for tissues. Matched tissue and brush swabs had excellent correlation (r = 0.913 for cancer samples and r = 0.951 for normal samples). The methylation profile of the top 1,000 CpGs was significantly different between cancer and normal samples (mean p-value = 0.00021) but not different between tissues and brush swabs (mean p-value = 0.11).
Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that MC-Seq is an efficient platform for epigenome profiling in cancer biomarker studies, with broader methylome coverage than array-based platforms. Brush swab biopsy provides adequate DNA yield for MC-Seq, and taken together, our findings set the stage for development of a non-invasive methylome quantification technique for oral cancer with high translational potential.
Establishment of a Qualified Integrated Care System After Total Knee Arthroplasty as a Role of Regional Rheumatoid and Degenerative Arthritis Centers
Authors: Han Eun Young , Kim Sang Rim , Hee Sang
Published: July 2021

Background: The geriatric population and advanced knee osteoarthritis are rapidly increasing in Korea, and the socioeconomic burden of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is increasing. This study aimed to analyze the demographic, clinical and socioeconomic characteristics of patients who underwent TKA and to differentiate the factors affecting participation in inpatient-intensive rehabilitation programs after TKA in oo regional rheumatoid and degenerative arthritis centers established by the government.Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 845 patients (735 females; 72.0±5.8 years) diagnosed with primary osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee who underwent elective unilateral primary TKA between January 2013 and June 2016. Demographic, clinical and socioeconomic characteristics, including age, body mass index, obesity, length of stay, OA severity, underlying disease, education level, occupation, and location of residence, were reviewed. Patients were allocated to the TKA-only group (home discharge) and to the TKA+ rehab group (participation in post-TKA rehabilitation). The variables were analyzed and compared before and after the establishment of the center and according to participation in intensive rehabilitation.Results: They showed a predominance of females and geriatrics and a high prevalence of comorbidities and obesity. Additionally, the only factor differentiating participation in intensive rehabilitation was the location of residence.Conclusion: The regional rheumatoid and degenerative arthritis center was appropriate to meet the high need for participating in intensive rehabilitation after TKA and for the qualified integrated post-TKA care system. Policy support should ensure early rehabilitation and a qualified integrated care system and prepare for the increased burden of revision, and future longitudinal studies should be conducted to assess the long-term effect of the integrated post-TKA rehabilitation program on functional outcomes and patient survivorship free from revision.
Comprehensive Analysis of Inflammation Response Related Genes and Immune Infiltrates in Osteosarcoma
Authors: Xu Weilong , Niu Wei
Published: July 2021

Background:Osteosarcoma is one of the most common bone malignant tumors in children and young adults. Inflammatory response in the microenvironment which acts as active cross-talk signals between host and tumor may play a vital role in osteosarcoma. In present study, bioinformatics algorithms were applied to establish inflammatory response-related genes (IRG) signature to improve prognosis prediction in osteosarcoma.Methods:Clinical and mRNA expression profiles data of osteosarcoma patients were collected via Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) databases. Prognostic values of IRG were evaluated via univariate and LASSO Cox regression analysis and combined to construct risk siganture. Relationship between immune cell infiltration and signature was investigated in present study. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was implemented to calculate immune related pathway activity and immune cell infiltration score. Results:We found 17 IRG were correlated with overall survival (OS). From LASSO Cox regression analyses, 11 IRG were identified as candidate genes to combine into risk score formulas. Patients were divided into high and low risk subgroups. patients in low-risk subgroup had a significantly better OS than patients in high-risk according to Kaplan-Meier curve result. In addition, gene set variation analysis of risk stratification may explain the different survival. Immune infiltration result demonstrated that high risk subgroups had lower levels of key antitumor infiltrating immune cells and antitumor immunity.Conclusion:The present study established IRG signature to act as a robust predictor of prognosis and a novel therapeutic target for treatment in osteosarcoma.
New Clues to Untangle the Question: Was the Volcanic Eruption Triggered by the Earthquake?
Authors: González Gino , Fujita Eisuke , Shibazaki Bunichiro , Hayashida Takumi , Chiodini Giovanni , Lucchi Federico , Yokoyama Izumi , Nemeth Karoly , Mora-Amador Raúl , Moya Aaron , Chigna Gustavo , Martí Joan , Rouwet Dmitri
Published: July 2021

Understanding the cause/effect relationship between tectonic earthquakes and volcanic eruptions is a striking topic in Earth Sciences. Volcanoes may erupt due to the impact of seismic waves (i.e. dynamic stress) and changes in the stress field (i.e. static stress) with variable reaction times. In 2012, three large (Mw≥7.3) subduction earthquakes struck Central America within ten weeks; some volcanoes in the region erupted days after, meanwhile for others it took months to years to erupt. Here we show that the three earthquakes contributed to the increase in the number of volcanic eruptions during the seven years that followed. We found out that only those volcanoes that were already in a critical state of unrest effectively erupted, indicating that the earthquakes only prompted the eruptions. We recommend the permanent monitoring of active volcanoes to reveal which are more susceptible to culminate into eruption when the next large-magnitude earthquake hits a region.
How fast societies reach consensus over elections?: a methodology to study the evolution of Twitter conversations before election day
Authors: Cárdenas-Sánchez Daniel , Sampayo Andrés Miguel , Rodríguez-Prieto Maykol , Feged-Rivadeneira Alejandro
Published: July 2021

Technological developments in media and communications such as press, radio, and television have disrupted electoral processes and reshaped political landscapes. Similarly, the development of surveys enabled the social sciences to study the voting processes and measure consensus in a population prior to democratic elections. Literature on social networks and elections has focused on predicting electoral outcomes rather than understanding how the discussions between users evolve over time. As a result most studies focus on a single election and few comparative studies exist. In this article, a methodology to analyze Twitter conversations about election candidates is proposed. Using DeGroot’s consensus model-an assumption that all users are attempting to persuade others to talk about a candidate-the methodology allows to identify the structure and strength of connections of the mention networks on each month prior to an election day. It also helps to make comparisons between elections and identify patterns on different contexts. In the end, an analysis on the elections where the incumbent was running and the political regime is presented.
A Set Theory- And ROC-Based Patient-Specific QA Measure To Compare Planned And Delivered Isodose Distributions In Photon Radiotherapy
Authors: Baran Mateusz , Tabor Zbisław , Kabat Damian , Tulik Monika , Jeleń Kinga , Waligórski Michael PR
Published: July 2021

Background:The DVH-based and Gamma Index patient-specific QA measures commonly applied in radiotherapy planning are unable to simultaneously deliver detailed locations and magnitudes of discrepancy between isodoses of planned and delivered dose distributions. By exploiting the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) statistical classification tool, compliance between a planned and delivered isodose may be locally evaluated, both for OAR and PTV, at any given isodose level. Thus, a patient-specific QA tool may be developed to supplement those presently available in clinical radiotherapy.Materials and Methods:A method to locally establish and report dose delivery errors in 3-D isodoses of planned (reference) and delivered (evaluated) dose distributions as a function of both the dose level and spatial location was developed. At any given isodose level, the total volume of dose delivery containing the reference and the evaluated isodoses is locally decomposed into four subregions: true positive – subregions within both reference and evaluated isodoses, true negative – outside of both of these isodoses, false positive – inside the evaluated isodose occurs but not the reference one, and false negatives – inside the reference isodose but not the evaluated one, as established over the total volume of dose delivery. From this decomposition a confusion matrix is derived and various indices calculated to quantify the discrepancies between the given planned and delivered isodose distributions.Results:Examples of clinical photon radiotherapy plans underwent analysis using the method developed. At some isodose levels, at anatomically significant locations, dose delivery errors were found which would not be highlighted either by dose volume histogram (DVH)-based QA metrics or by gamma analysis.Conclusions:The proposed method which generalizes the DVH-based QA method approach and is able to spatially locate delivery errors at selected isodose levels may supplement the presently applied gamma analysis and DVH-based QA measures in patient-specific radiotherapy planning.
Environmental Sustainability By Recycling of PET Plastic Bottles And Reusing Them In Textile Industry: A Game-Theoretic Approach
Authors: Jafari Hamed
Published: July 2021

This study considers a sustainable supply chain including the collector, cleaner, and recycler for recycling of PET plastic bottles and reusing them in textile industry. In the market, some suppliers of textile industry purchase cleaned and non-fragmented bottles and then they fragment them, whereas others prefer to buy recycled materials (i.e., cleaned and fragmented bottles). The collector collects used plastic bottles. To meet demand of the recycled materials, the collector transfers a portion of the collected bottles to the recycler and then the recycler cleans and fragments them. Furthermore, the collector cleans another portion of the collected bottles himself or via a cleaner to meet demand of the cleaned and non-fragmented bottles. In this setting, two different structures are established for transferring the cleaned bottles to suppliers. Under the first structure, the collector cleans the collected bottles through the cleaner by giving a share of the profit to him, while he is equipped with the bottles cleaning technology by paying a setup cost under the second structure. Moreover, the game-theoretic models are developed including Nash, Stackelberg, and Centralized to make decisions under two considered structures.
Inhibition of Neuropilin-1 Improves Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease via PI3K/AKT/Mtor Signaling in High-Fat-Diet induced Obese Mouse
Authors: Zhou Jian , Xu Sihuan , Zhu Yue , Li Xin , Wang Ao , Liu Kun , Hu Junfang , Li Li , Liu Yan
Published: July 2021

Background: Research findings indicate Neuropilin-1 plays a critical role in lipid metabolism and obesity-associated insulin resistance, on such a basis, this study aims to explore the effects and working mechanism of Neuropilin-1 inhibition on the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in high-fat-diet induced obese mice. Methods: Firstly, the pcDNA3.1-NRP-1 recombinant plasmid containing Neuropilin-1 gene and the Neuropilin-1 gene RNA interference plasmid shRNA-NRP1 were successfully constructed. A total of 36 C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 6 groups, blank group, control group, pcDNA3.1 injection group, pcDNA3.1-NRP-1 injection group, pGenesil-1.1 injection group and shRNA-NRP1 injection group. Expression of phospho-PI3K, phospho-AKT, phospho-mTOR and Neuropilin-1 in liver was measured as well as body and liver weight, blood glucose, serum transaminases and lipid levels of the mice.Results: The weight and liver mass of high-fat-diet fed mice injected with pcDNA3.1-NRP-1 were significantly higher than those from the control group, but their body weight and liver mass decreased significantly after shRNA-NRP1 injection. The results also showed that Neuropilin-1 expression can significantly influence the severity of hepatic steatosis in high-fat-diet fed mice, decreased serum FPG, LDL, AST, ALT levels and the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 mRNA. In addition, the Neuropilin-1 expression will also influence the p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-mTOR in mice.Conclusions: This study concluded that the inhibition of Neuropilin-1 could improve Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by decreasing body weight and reduce inflammation in high-fat-diet induced obese mice by modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
Glycaemic control at risk? - Impact of temperature, humidity and other physical factors on the analytical quality of point of care testing of blood glucose, a systematic review protocol
Authors: Sindt Cilia Maria Katharina , Noehr-Jensen Lene
Published: July 2021

Background
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by increased blood glucose concentration. Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is a corner stone in lowering the risk of vascular complications of diabetes and requires reliable measurements by the blood glucose meter and test strips (BG System). Environmental factors as temperature, humidity, altitude, and electromagnetic radiation may affect the measurement of blood glucose to a level that might compromise the glycaemic control. Manufactures often restrict the validation and approved use a limited span of environmental conditions and there is a considerable risk of exposing the equipment to temperature outside the range recommended by manufacturers. This systematic review aims to explore, aggregate, and present the current knowledge of the effect of environmental factors on the quality of results measured by BG systems.
Methods
Relevant studies will be found by using a comprehensive search strategy in the following databases: EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, Academic Search Premier, SweMed+, DANS Easy and Cochrane Library. The search strategy will assess if there is an impact on precision and accuracy of BG systems under varying environmental conditions compared to precision recommended by manufacturers. Both authors will screen titles and in case of disagreement, the study will be included for screening by abstract. After screening of all titles, the procedure will be repeated for screening and reading of abstracts. Full text of papers selected by abstract will be assessed according to in- and exclusions criteria. Homogenous results will be pooled and summarized statistically for meta-analysis. Narrative synthesis will be performed for heterogeneous data that cannot be pooled for meta-analysis. Reporting will follow the Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis 2020 (PRISMA 2020). The risk of bias will be evaluated by choosing an appropriate tool from acknowledged institutions I.e., Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal for Systematic Reviews Checklist tools or the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP).
Discussion
This systematic review protocol utilizes rigorous methodology to provide a comprehensive search for outcomes of the impact of environmental factors on BG systems. The outcomes will be examined, and a summary of the current knowledge will be provided.
SARS-COV-2 Seroprevalence among Health Care Workers in Private and Public Hospitals in Tehran, Iran
Authors: Darvishian Maryam , Sharafkhah Maryam , Mohammadi Zahra , Sadeghniiat-haghighi Khosro , Abdollahi Alireza , Jafary Mohamadreza , Talaschian Mona , tabarsi Payam , Baghai Parvaneh , Mardani Masoud , Shayanrad Amaneh , Shafighian Fatemeh , Markarian Melineh , Roozafzai Farzin , Zamani Mohammad , Alvand Saba , Hariri Sanam , Sadeghi Anahita , Poustchi Hossein , Malekzadeh Reza
Published: July 2021

BackgroundEstimating the prevalence of SARS-COV-2 antibody seropositivity among health care workers (HCWs) is crucial. In this study the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-COV-2 antibodies among HCWs of five hospitals of Tehran-Iran with high COVID-9 patient’s referrals was assessed.MethodsHCWs from public and private hospitals were included and were asked questions on their demographic characteristics, medical history, hospital role and usage of personal protective equipment (PPE). Seroprevalence was estimated on the basis of ELISA test results (IgG and IgM antibodies in blood samples) and adjusted for test performance.ResultsAmong the 2065 participants, 88.4% and 11.6% HCWs were recruited from the public and private hospitals, respectively. The overall test-performance adjusted seroprevalence estimate among HCWs was 22.6 (95% CI 20.2-25.1) and it was higher in private hospitals (37.0%; 95% CI 28.6-46.2) than public hospitals (20.7%; 95% CI 18.2-23.3). PPE usage was significantly higher among HCWs of public versus private hospitals (66.5% vs. 20.0%). Test-adjusted seroprevalence estimates were highest among assistant nurses and nurses, and lowest among janitor/superintendent categories. ConclusionsSeroprevalence of SARS-COV-2 among HCWs depends on hospital type, hospital department, and hospital role. The PPE usage was especially suboptimal among HCWs in private hospitals. Continued effort in access to adequate PPE is warranted.
Cabozantinib inhibits melanoma brain metastasis in vitro
Authors: Mannsåker Trond Are , Hoang Tuyen , Aasen Synnøve Nymark , Bjørnstad Ole Vidhammer , Parajuli Himalaya , Sundstrøm Terje , Thorsen Frits
Published: July 2021

Background

Melanoma is one of the cancer types that have high potential to metastasise to the brain. Recent advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapies have changed the therapeutical landscape of extra-cranial melanoma. However, few patients with melanoma brain metastases (MBM) respond effectively to recent treatments and new therapeutic strategies are needed. Cabozantinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor, already approved by FDA for treatment of renal cell carcinoma, medullary thyroid cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. The drug also targets several of the proteins which are known to be dysregulated in melanomas and may therefore have a potential role in melanoma treatment. In this study, we investigated the effect of cabozantinib on MBM cell growth and migration in vitro, and further identified its associated molecular components.
Methods

The anti-tumour activity of cabozantinib was investigated on three human MBM cell lines (H1, H3, H10) developed in our laboratory, through monolayer cell viability assays, tumoursphere experiments, cell migration assays, flow cytometry and caspase 3/7 apoptosis assays, RTK array screening and western blots (WB) to validate the array findings.
Results

Cabozantinib treatment decreased the viability of MBM cell lines both when grown in monolayer cultures and as tumour spheroids. The in vitro cell migration was also inhibited, and apoptosis was induced by cabozantinib. The phosphorylated RTKs p-PDGF-Rα, p-IGF-1R, p-MERTK and p-DDR1 were found to be downregulated in the p-RTK array of MBM cells after cabozantinib treatment. These results were validated with WB. Further, WB showed that cabozantinib treatment inhibited p-Akt and p-MEK 1/2.
Conclusions

For the first time, we show that cabozantinib effectively inhibits viability, growth and migration of MBM cells in vitro. Moreover, the drug induces apoptosis and downregulates the p-RTK p-PDGF-Rα, p-IGF-1R, p-MERTK and p-DDR1 in MBM cells. Further in vivo experiments are needed to bring cabozantinib forward as a potential, adjuvant treatment of patients with MBM.
Refractive and Ocular Indices in Kindergarten Israeli Children
Authors: Bahir Daniel , Raj Rhody David , Ben-Zion Itay
Published: July 2021

Purpose
To report normative data on paediatric refractive and ocular indices in kindergarten Israeli children.
Methods
Retrospective cross-sectional study of 101,417 Israeli children from 4–5 years old, obtained from 2013–2018. Data was collected using the PlusoptiX S12. We studied the number of referrals made for hyperopia, myopia, astigmatism and anisometropia.
Results
Mean sphere value was 0.83D ± 0.73 for the right eye and 0.85D ± 0.73 for the left eye. Mean SE was 0.56D ± 0.66 for the right eye and 0.59D ± 0.67 for the left eye. Mean cylinder value was − 0.53D ± 0.48 for the right eye and was the same, -0.53D ± 0.47, for the left eye. Mean axis values for the right and left eyes were 80.85°±55.57 and 80.42°±56.60 respectively. Mean pupil size was 5.83mm ± 0.87 for the right eye, and 5.82mm ± 0.88 for the left eye. 13.26% had anisocoria ≥ 0.4mm; of these, 0.66% had anisocoria > 1.0mm. There was no difference in pupil size between sexes or different cities. Mean IPD was 49.58mm ± 3.50, and mean gaze vector value was 2.64 ± 1.66. According to the Vision Screening Guidelines, 0.8% of children had hyperopia and 0.17% had myopia. 6.22% of children had astigmatism and 10.85% had anisometropia.
Conclusion
Amblyopia is the most common cause of unilateral vision loss in childhood. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome, hence the importance of investigating the causative indices leading to amblyopia in kindergarten. After searching the literature, this is the largest study population for this topic to our knowledge.
Political marketing: impact of public relations on the change in voter behaviour of consumers (voters)
Authors: Bacik Radovan , Gavurova Beata , Gburova Jaroslava
Published: July 2021

Companies use marketing public relations to support the marketing department or product promotion and image-making. The discipline of public relations usually used to be of secondary importance in marketing communication activities for ages. Marketing public relations could affect public awareness at a fraction of the cost of advertising and is often much more credible. Public relations are intended to positively influence development in society by aligning one's own interests with those of the public. Public relations objectives in politics focus on building image, securing market share, or increasing consumer (voter) conviction. Political parties should inform the public of their activities based on truthfulness and without any distortion. The paper aims to theoretically summarize public relations and differences between public relations and advertising and an analysis of the impact of public relations and public relations tools on the change of voting behavior and decision-making of Slovak consumers (voters). The empirical study was carried out based on a research of 362 in Slovakia consumers (voters). The primary information was the actual collection. The sample consisted of 362 respondents. The obtained primary data were processed in the statistical program. The method Pearson's Chi-squared test was used to confirm or reject the stated hypothesis. The subject of the research were consumers living in the region of eastern Slovakia. The obtained results showed statistically significant differences in the perception of tools and public relations methods depending on respondents' education. The findings could be beneficial for several target groups, namely marketing managers in the political field, political parties, political candidates, not only in Eastern Slovakia but within the framework of whole Slovakia. At the same time, they could serve as a source of information and as a basis for deciding and establishing the right tools of public relations in promoting political parties and political candidates.
The influence of intercultural management factors as elements of management innovation
Authors: Gallo Peter , Balogova Beata , Mihalcova Bohuslava
Published: July 2021

In the current globalization conditions, companies operate in an open environment and constant contact with foreign managers and other interest groups. Intercultural management is an integral and important part of any international company employing and cooperating with employees from different cultures. The proper implementation of intercultural management enables the innovation of employee relations and thus supports achieving the company's goals. This paper aims to examine the influences and relations between local and foreign employees and/or managers. Research on intercultural communication and management was conducted in IT companies by collecting questionnaire data from respondents, formulating hypotheses, and examining them through the Kruskal-Wallis test. Hypotheses verification stated that statistically significant differences are in the relation between the knowledge of the company's cultural differences and the employees' years of experience. The calculated value of p = 0.04728 proved that the longer the employees work in a company interconnecting different cultures, the greater their knowledge of its cultural differences. The research verified the hypothesis on statistically significant differences in the acceptance of cultural differences in the company concerning employee training. The result of the hypothesis verification was the value of p = 0.6539, which did not confirm the hypothesis. The research showed that the employee training did not affect the acceptance of cultural differences. In companies with a labor force from diverse countries and cultures, disputes often arise in communication. The last formulated hypothesis concerning the issue focused on examining the relationship between the acceptance of disputes based on cultural differences in the company and the employee training. The calculated value of p = 0.1 did not confirm this relationship. Therefore, the employee training does not affect the acceptance of disputes in the examined companies. The present research on intercultural management could expand knowledge and innovate relationships to prevent disputes in international companies.
Enhancing online business sector: digital trust formation process
Authors: Zhghenti Tsotne , Chkareuli Vakhtang
Published: July 2021

The paper reviews Georgia's digital trust formation process and underlines the most important challenges for the online business sector. This research can be generalized for most developing countries where the digital transition process is on the agenda, especially for countries that have recently emerged from economic-political transition. Georgia has completed the transition from a centrally planned economic system (the heritage of being part of the Soviet Union) to a free market economy. Although trust in institutions is improving gradually, mistrust in business processes is still a great challenge for local business sectors. A wide-reaching lockdown caused by the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic pushed both firms and individuals further towards online activity worldwide. In this regard, trust has become the key determinant in facilitating electronic transactions. Technological advances are providing dozens of tools to improve customer satisfaction and trust, which should lead to customer loyalty. On the other hand, lack of digital skills and digital security problems raises digital untrust concerns. Therefore, trust research in the digital economy is becoming more actual for academic or business studies. Digital trust is a multidimensional factor that is under the influence of digital and physical operations. In Georgia, businesses have to overcome obstacles built-in people's minds as a heritage of the Soviet Union. Georgia was a part of the Soviet Union for 70 years, which critically degraded the trust of both formal and informal institutions. Therefore, building digital trust in business is getting more complex as it includes traditional trust problems and digital challenges too. The main research purpose in this paper is to present the digital trust forming process in Georgia to reveal the major problems. This study involved the trust stack model in analysing three different stages of trust formation in the Georgian digital economy (trust in the idea, trust in the platform, trust in the individual). The research identified challenges and steps which should be carried out soon. Research academic findings and methodological approaches can be used to analyze other developing countries whose economies are influenced by the digital transformation process.
From marketing to crisis management: how key messages changed during corona pandemic in Saudi food industry
Authors: Abdulhadi Almutairi Faisal
Published: July 2021

The paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marketing. The main purpose of the research is to analyze how COVID-19 has affected the critical messaging strategies in the Saudi food industry. Systematization of scientific background on the investigated issue indicated that pandemics and epidemics significantly impact business processes, including marketing activities. The motivation behind this study is derived from several observations on how companies have adapted their business goals to contribute to tackling the impact of COVID-19. With changes in consumers' behavior, companies had to readjust their strategies to address the anticipated short- and long-term changes in market dynamics. The research aims to reveal trends in marketing communication in the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 eras. Therefore, the process of investigation of the topic in the paper is carried out using quantitative approaches. The article specifically focuses on the objectives such as 1) establishing how Shawarmer SA, Maestro Pizza, and Hungerstation interacted with their customer before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) uncovering changes in social media messaging strategies used by Shawarmer SA, Maestro Pizza, and Hungerstation. Specifically, online survey on three major companies in Saudi Arabia, Shawarmer SA, Maestro Pizza, and Hungerstation. The paper presents the results of an empirical analysis of data from each of the above company's Twitter pages, which showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed how companies interact with their customers. Therefore, the author sought to identify the appropriate strategies adopted by the three major players in the Saudi food industry, Maestro Pizza, Hunger Station, and Shawarmer, to interact with customers. The research empirically confirmed and theoretically proved that messaging is a crucial aspect of marketing. The results of the study can be helpful in the development of customer-oriented marketing strategies.
Expression of PDL-1 and Its Correlation with TIL in Triple Negative Cases of Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Sharma Neha , Singh Akashdeep , Kaur Arshdeep , Manjari Mridu
Published: July 2021

Background:  In the present study, we aimed to determine the expression of PDL1 and its correlation with TIL in Triple Negative (ER, PR and Her 2neu negative) cases of breast carcinoma (immune-histochemical study) 

Methods: Expression of PD-L1 was seen on 40 proven triple negative cases of breast carcinomas (TNBC) and to correlate it with other parameters affecting prognosis of the disease. All the cases were infiltrating ductal carcinoma NOS (not otherwise specified)

Result: Maximum cases were Grade III (67.5%) followed by Grade II (32.5%). PD-L1 positivity was seen in 32.5% cases whereas TIL was positive for PD-L1 in 27.5 %. 5 cases were positive for both epithelial cell and TIL. Out of 13 PD-L1 positive tumors, 38.5% cases showed TIL positivity whereas out of 27 PD-L1 negative tumors, only 22.2% were TIL positive. PD-L1 expression in TIL was seen in 38.5% of cases however there was no statistically significant correlation between PD-L1 positivity and TIL positivity. PDL-1 positivity was more in Grade III (33.3%) as compared to Grade II (23%) lesions. Thus, it was observed that PD-L1 positivity increased from grade II to grade III lesions.

Conclusion: Intra-tumoral expression of PD-L1 is directly proportional to histological grade, aggressive subtypes in TNBC cases however there was no statistically significant correlation between PD-L1 positivity in tumor cells and TIL positivity. We thus postulate that measurement of PD-L1 expression in TNBC cases could enhance the accuracy of predicting patient prognosis and allow for optimal treatment selection.
Clinicopathological Evaluation of Metastatic Carcinomas of Bone Marrow Presenting as Cytopenia
Authors: Poosarla Pavani , Bollineni Prasad , S Rama Rajasekhar
Published: July 2021

Background – Metastatic carcinomas can involve bone marrow and may lead to subsequent marrow fibrosis and failure. The Bone marrow examination is important in patients diagnosed or patients on chemotherapy for cancer, who presented with peripheral cytopenia. The metastasis of bone marrow by these tumors is a sign of advanced stage of disease with poor prognosis.

Methods – Our study is a retrospective study, in which we reviewed a total of 702 bone marrow procedures, out of which 118 bone marrow procedures done in patients with a diagnosis of cancer or patients on chemotherapy presented as cytopenia in Great Eastern Medical College and Hospital during a period of 10 years.

Result – In our study of 118 patients 74 males and 44 females. Peripheral smear examination of these cases - 24 out of 32 (75%) presented with anemia, which was the commonest clinical presentation. Others were, thrombocytopenia in 18 (50%), bleeding manifestations in 10 (31.2%), Pancytopenia in 9 (28.1%), bi-cytopenia in 4 (12.5%). During this study period, among 118 malignancies reported in histopathology, 32 cases show bone marrow metastasis.   17.1% were carcinoma breast, 25% were carcinoma stomach 33.3% were carcinoma prostate and carcinoma urinary bladder, 23.5% were SCC carcinoma lung, 0% carcinoma Cervix, all cases of Ewing’s sarcoma, neuroblastoma and poorly differentiated carcinoma show bone marrow metastasis.

 

Conclusion - Bone marrow examination is valuable tool in the diagnosis and staging of hematologic and nonhematological disease, as well as in the assessment of overall bone marrow cellularity, pattern of marrow involvement in metastatic carcinomas.
Lipid Indices vs Anthropometric Indices in Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Augusthy Asha , Sahu Suchanda , Jeppu Ashok Kumar
Published: July 2021

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease known by chronic hyperglycemia which results from defective insulin action and secretion. Metabolic Syndrome consists of a constellation of metabolic abnormalities that confer increased risk of diabetes mellitus. The aim of our study is to find out whether non-invasive, clinically measurable surrogates could be useful in identifying body fat distribution and help predict metabolic syndrome and diabetes risk and to compare the performance of anthropometric indices with lipid indices in identifying metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Methods: 50 individuals with metabolic syndrome ,50 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 50 controls were selected by purposive sampling technique. For cases and controls history was taken, physical examination was done .Fasting blood sugar, Serum High density lipoprotein and Serum Triglyceride levels were estimated. Body mass index, a body shape index, visceral adiposity index, lipid accumulation factor was calculated.

Results: The mean values visceral adiposity index, lipid accumulation factor were significantly increased (p<0.001) in cases compared to controls.

Conclusion: Our study concluded that lipid indices visceral adiposity index, lipid accumulation factor is better than anthropometric indices like body mass index, a body shape index in predicting metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Anthropometric indices when used should be correlated with metabolic variables and clinical symptoms.
Impact of HR practices on corporate image building in the Indian IT sector
Authors: Rana Renu , Kapoor Shikha , Kumar Gupta Sandeep
Published: July 2021

HR practices have been always significant for researchers and industries because of the large expansion of the companies in various fields, which requires leaders who can identify and introduce innovative and effective HR practices to utilize and retain human resources for the long period. In the 21st century, there has been tremendous growth in the IT sector all around the world. The Indian IT sector has become globally competitive and high-tech in the rapidly developing Indian economy. Hence, this study was undertaken in the Indian IT sector to identify the impact of HR practices on corporate image building. This paper applied a quantitative research method. Data from 100 respondents were collected with the help of a structured questionnaire to test the hypotheses. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and SPSS 20 software were used for data analysis. The findings of the regression analysis proved that there is a significant relationship between employer branding and corporate image building. The analysis of this study indicates that the IT companies implementing the HR practices based on employer branding and corporate social responsibility get benefits in building the corporate image and give positive results to them. HR practices have a significant relationship with corporate image building.
PRÁTICAS PEDAGÓGICAS DESENVOLVIDAS NA ESCOLA MULTISSERIADA RIBEIRINHA DA AMAZÔNIA PARAENSE
Authors: Silva Hellen do Socorro de Araújo , Lopes Luís Carlos Santos
Published: July 2021

Este estudo trata de reflexões teórico-prática acerca de experiências educativas interdisciplinares desenvolvidas nos anos iniciais de uma escola pública do campo. Nosso objetivo foi compreender como as práticas pedagógicas nas turmas multisseriadas nas aulas de História, Geografia e Ciências Naturais tem se materializado de forma interdisciplinar considerando a realidade das comunidades ribeirinhas. A metodologia abordada foi a pesquisa-ação, pois buscou-se a participação ativa do objeto de pesquisa, a vivência e intervenção junto ao contexto escolar. A realidade investigada foi uma turma multisseriada de ensino fundamental do 2º ao 5º ano. O enfoque principal esteve voltado para a interdisciplinaridade das temáticas abordadas, assim como uma ampla discussão sobre as comunidades camponesas no Brasil e na Amazônia, bem como a identidade e o trabalho dos sujeitos. As atividades ocorreram durante o ano de 2018 na EMEF Fé em Deus, Rio Ana Igarapé, município de Igarapé-Miri, no estado do Pará. Os resultados revelaram que trabalhar a interdisciplinaridade e a dialogicidade com turmas heterogênea nas escolas multisseridas anconrado nos princípios dos temas geradores freireano permite ao professor e aos alunos uma dinâmica promissora para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem e ao aprofundamento do conhecimento da realidade social e escolar.
NÍVEIS DE MATURIDADE E CAPACIDADE DO PENSAMENTO COMPUTACIONAL AO TÉRMINO DO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL
Authors: De Souza Eduardo Cardoso , Yonezawa Wilson Massashiro
Published: July 2021

O conceito de Pensamento Computacional tem sido polêmico e estudos recentes mostram que esse tipo de pensamento não está bem estabelecido, sobretudo no currículo da educação básica. Contudo, esse trabalho teve como objetivo construir uma métrica que representa a capacidade de pensamento computacional dos estudantes ao término do ensino fundamental. Para isso, foi utilizado um instrumento espanhol de diagnóstico de Pensamento Computacional, que por meio de uma abordagem quantitativa de característica exploratória-descritiva, atendendo ao rigor das técnicas estatísticas de análise multivariada de dados, possibilitou construir e validar um modelo integrado por três dimensões estruturantes: algoritmo, reconhecimento de padrão e decomposição.  Buscou-se responder à pergunta chave de quais são as habilidades que os estudantes ao término do ensino fundamental de uma cidade do oeste paulista mobilizam e articulam diante da resolução de problemas, por meio de tarefas desplugadas de fundamentos da ciência da computação. Um total de 462 estudantes responderam voluntariamente ao teste de Pensamento Computacional no período de outubro a dezembro de 2019, o que corresponde a 74,6% dos concluintes do ensino fundamental no município de Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo.
SISTEMA DE BAIXO CUSTO PARA EXECUÇÃO E MONITORAMENTO ON-LINE DE REAÇÕES FOTOCATALÍTICAS: APLICAÇÃO EM REDUÇÃO DE NITRO-FENOL
Authors: Salvati Byanca , Blaskievicz Sirlon , Corradini Patricia , Mascaro Lucia
Published: July 2021

LOW-COST SYSTEM FOR ONLINE MONITORING OF PHOTOCALYTICAL REACTIONS: APPLICATION IN NITROPHENOL. There is a global concern with pollutants and organic contaminants and efficient and inexpensive methods are sought for the treatment of these toxic products. Generally, large volume reactors and the use of expensive equipment are required to monitor a photoreaction. The present work proposes the construction of a colorimetric equipment, which allows the online monitoring of photoreactions, using low-cost materials that allow the analysis from small aliquots. To show the applicability of the system, we studied the reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol (4NP) with NaBH4. The impedimetric sensor enabled to construct the kinetic curve of the decrease in the chromophore band. It was possible to observe that the 4NP reduction reaction depends on: (i) chromophore concentration; (ii) stability of the reducing agent and; (iii) repulsion between the anions. The system developed here opens doors, as it can be used using a photocatalyst in the form of film, and it has also proved to be an inexpensive alternative for both research and teaching laboratories, as it allows the execution of chemical physics practices such as kinetic monitoring of reactions and mathematical adjustment of the curves.
Effects of environmental factors on the methane and carbon dioxide fluxes at the middle of Three Gorges Reservoir
Authors: Qin Yu , Gou Yujia , Yu Zongtai , Tan Wei
Published: July 2021

In recent years, scientists have paid special attention to the greenhouse gas emissions of the Three Gorges Reservoir. This study took Fuling to Wanzhou, located at the middle section of the Three Gorges Reservoir, as the research locations. From August 2017 to August 2018, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) and the flux of CO2 and CH4 at the water–gas interface were studied. Spearman's correlation between the partial pressure and discharge flux of CO2 and CH4 in water and environmental variables was analyzed. The research results showed that the variation of partial pressure and flux was consistent. At different sample locations, there was no statistical difference in CO2 and CH4 fluxes, but under different operating periods, the CO2 and CH4 fluxes were significantly different. The highest values happened during the drainage period as well as the low-water period, respectively. Total organic carbon and total nitrogen were significantly positively correlated, and dissolved oxygen was extremely negatively correlated. The high value of CH4 flux in the middle of the reservoir area was related to the spatial distribution of the sediment and the amount of sediment deposition.