bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Therapeutic Role of Nanoparticle Shape in Traumatic Brain Injury : An in vitro Comparative Study
Authors: Youn Dong Hyuk , Jung Harry , Tran Ngoc Minh , Jeon Jin Pyeong , Yoo Hyojong
Published: February 2022

Objective : To perform a comparative analysis of therapeutic effects associated with two different shapes of ceria nanoparticles, ceria nanorods (Ceria NRs) and ceria nanospheres (Ceria NSs), in an in vitro model of traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods : In vitro TBI was induced using six-well confluent plates by manually scratching with a sterile pipette tip in a 6×6-square grid. The cells were then incubated and classified into cells with scratch injury without nanoparticles and cells with scratch injury, which were treated separately with 1.16 mM of Ceria NSs and Ceria NRs. Antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects were analyzed.Results : Ceria NRs and Ceria NSs significantly reduced the level of reactive oxygen species compared with the control group of SH-SY5Y cells treated with Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline. The mRNA expression of superoxide dismutases was also reduced in nanoparticle-treated SH-SY5Y cells, but apparently the degree of mRNA expression decrease was not dependent on the nanoparticle shape. Exposure to ceria nanoparticles also decreased the cyclooxygenase-2 expression, especially prominent in Ceria NR-treated group than that in Ceria NS-treated group.Conclusion : Ceria nanoparticles exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in TBI models in vitro. Ceria NRs had better antiinflammatory effect than Ceria NSs, but showed similar antioxidant activity.
Evaluation of the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Delivery of Paediatric Cardiac Services in Nigeria
Authors: Olukemi T Bamigboye-Taiwo , O Ojo Olugbenga , AO Okeniyi John , U Onakpoya Uvie , S Adeyefa Babajide , O Eyekpegha Joel , Abayomi Oguns
Published: February 2022

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a highly contagious infection first diagnosed in China has rapidly spread worldwide. The resultant pandemic has witnessed over one million deaths with unprecedented and severe disruption of socioeconomic activities and healthcare services globally. Hitherto, paediatric cardiac services in Nigeria were underdeveloped and the impact of this disease remains unexamined. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the paediatric cardiac services in Nigeria. Methods: Self-administered digital questionnaires were sent directly into the private accounts of Paediatric Cardiologists and Paediatric Cardiac Surgeons in Nigeria using the Nigerian Cardiac Society and the Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nigeria Register. Thereafter, each person was contacted personally and requested to fill the questionnaires. Results: There were 31 (51.7%) respondents; 23 Paediatric Cardiologist and 8 Cardiac Surgeons, 28 (90.3%) practice in the public sector and the remaining practice privately. About a third reported temporary outpatient clinic closures. Others’ weekly clinic attendance dropped from an average of 17.55 ± 12.6 patients before to 3.90 ± 4.37 during the pandemic. Over 90% of respondents had instituted use of personal protective equipment in their centres. Over 70% of respondents reported suspension of procedures including echocardiography, pericardiocentesis, and partial exchange transfusion. Only one centre performed open-heart surgery during this period. Conclusions: Paediatric cardiac services in Nigeria are grossly inadequate and the COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the plight of Nigerian children with heart disease.
Distal Intracoronary Delivery of Epinephrine versus Verapamil to Prevent No-Reflow During Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Randomized, Open-Label, Trial
Authors: Yassin Ihab , Ahmed Ashraf , Abdelhady Gamal
Published: February 2022

Background: Previous trials showed a promising potential use of epinephrine in the treatment of no-reflow phenomenon (the no-reflow phenomenon is multiple pathogenetic processes, which may be attributed to ischemic injuries, distal atherothrombotic embolization, coronary-microcirculation susceptibility to injury, and reperfusion injuries (6)). This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of distal intracoronary delivery of epinephrine versus verapamil to prevent no-reflow during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Materials and Methods: We conducted a randomized, open-label, trial on patients undergoing PPCI. Patients were randomized to one of three groups: group I who received distal intracoronary administration of epinephrine; group II who received verapamil; and group III who served as a control group. The primary endpoint in our study was the incidence of no-reflow, defined as a post-procedural (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) TIMI flow grade (TFG) is < 3 or, in the case of a TFG of 3, when TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) is 0 or 1. Results: A total of 120 patients were randomized. The angiographic flow and perfusion parameters were significantly improved in group I and II versus the control group, with better results in epinephrine group only TMPG3 was significantly higher with epinephrine (77.5%) than verapamil (55%) (p = 0.037) and TMPG2 was higher in verapamil (32.5%) than epinephrine (7.5%) (p = 0.003). No reflow is lower with epinephrine than verapamil (25% vs 27.5%); however, with no statistically significant difference (P=0.785). Patients in the three groups has no statistical significant difference in (MACE) or heart failure hospitalization. Conclusion: Epinephrine and verapamil are safe and effective in managing patients with no-reflow during PPCIs. Further studies with a larger sample and a longer duration of follow-up are required to confirm these findings
Conversion Rates to COVID-19 Infection Among Exposed Healthcare Workers
Authors: Brooks Jackson J. , L. Salinas Jorge , John Heinemann , Patrick Hartley
Published: February 2022

Objectives: To determine the percentage of exposed healthcare workers who converted to COVID-19 after exposure to an individual with COVID-19, and to describe the venue of exposure and time to conversion among healthcare workers at an academic health system. Methods: 1,749 healthcare workers who self-reported a significant COVID-19 exposure from June 10, 2020 to November 30, 2020 were quarantined or could be allowed to work while wearing a mask, and tested at least once by day 14 from time of exposure. Exposure was defined as being within six feet from a person with COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes without a face covering. Venues of exposure were categorized by either household, community, or workplace. Results: 290 (17%) of 1,749 converted to COVID-19 in a median of 4.1 days (range: 1–13). The median days to conversion by venue of exposure were four for household, and community, and five for workplace. Between September 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020, the percentage of healthcare workers who converted to COVID-19 by venue of exposure was 26% (N=159), 18% (N=75), and 10% (N=14) for household, community and workplace exposure, respectively. Conclusion: The conversion rate to COVID-19 among healthcare workers after an exposure was relatively low, but was higher in household exposures and lowest in the workplace.
Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines During Pregnancy: A Short Communication
Authors: Vijayan Rupa Lakshmi , Senatus Andrelle , Pradhananga Swostik , Kamwal Chhaya , Zaidi Madiha , Choudhry Ali Sanaullah , Hassan Syed Adeel , Gonsalez Marcos Sanchez , Diaz Miguel A , Garcia Efrain
Published: February 2022

Background: COVID-19 a novel viral infection has taken many lives worldwide in a very short period. The first case of SARS CoV-2 was reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The number of infected cases subsequently increased, leading to a pandemic declaration by WHO in March 2020. Several clinical trials are currently underway to produce effective vaccines to fight against this virus; however, a few of them include pregnant women; leaving us to question the efficacy of the vaccine. Pregnant women are immune-compromised and considered a high-risk group for SARS-CoV-2 and therefore experience maternal and fetal consequences. It seems to be essential to incorporate them in these clinical trials. This study was led to understand the factors preventing pregnant women from participating in such trials and to assess the safety of potential COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy. Methods: This study was conducted using the available literature was done in May 31 2021 by searching databases: PubMed, WHO, clinicaltrials.gov and Google Scholar. Keywords such as COVID-19 Vaccine, COVID Vaccine Clinical Trials, COVID prevention in pregnancy, and their combinations were used. We included patients with a positive COVID-19 test and excluded systematic reviews on COVID-19 negative pregnant patients. The search was comprehensive according to the cross-checking of reference lists from the articles retrieved. Results: Our search results led to 4320 studies after removing duplicates; title and abstract screening were done for 20 studies. We also performed the manual search to look for related articles and 13 studies were included in the final analysis. Conclusion: To enable and ameliorate the participation of pregnant and lactating women for the development of vaccines against COVID-19, we are left with a question pertaining to the short as well as long term prognosis of COVID-19 in pregnant women, their fetus, and also the infants. With such approach we can establish and enable a proper guidance and framework to emphasize the inclusion of pregnant women in the development of future vaccine.
Novel COVID Model to Help Early Diagnosis of COVID-19 and Prediction of Disease Severity: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Abdel Ghaffar Muhammad Mostafa , Shousha Hend Ibrahim , Omran Mohamed , Heiba Ahmed , ElAskary Ahmad , Hafez Samah Abdel , Azeem Wahdan Ahmed Abdel , Omran Dalia
Published: February 2022

Early identification of patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) particularly those who develop critical illness is of great importance and aids in delivering proper treatment and optimizing the use of resources. This work aimed to develop a clinical score at hospital admission for COVID-19 diagnosis and predicting severe disease. This is a multicenter case-control study including 2793 PCR-confirmed consecutive COVID-19 patients and 251 patients without COVID-19 presented to 6 hospitals affiliated to the General Organization for Teaching Hospitals, Egypt (1st-May-2020 to 31st-July-2020). There was no difference among groups regarding age and gender distribution. Patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher white blood cell count, platelet count, ALT, AST, total serum bilirubin, serum creatinine, CRP, Ferritin, D-dimer, and fibrinogen and lower serum albumin and more prolonged INR. ALT, ferritin, D-dimer, and Fibrinogen were significantly higher and oxygen saturation was significantly lower, in patients with severe COVID-19. Multivariate regression analysis revealed Oxygen saturation, ferritin, D-dimer and CRP are the independent factors associated with severity. We developed a novel COVID model which enabled the correct diagnosis of COVID-19 at cutoff point (0.1) with an AUC=0.99, (P-value<0.0001), sensitivity 99%, and specificity 89%. At this point, COVID-19 severity could be diagnosed with AUC of 0.88, sensitivity 87%, specificity 71%.
Impact of Vaccination on COVID-19 case fatality in the United Kingdom
Authors: Harris Randall E. , Schwartzbaum Judith A.
Published: February 2022

We examined trends and differences in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths and corresponding estimates of case fatality in the United Kingdom (UK) during the 20-month period, 3/1/2020-10/31/2021. Three distinct stages of the epidemic in the UK population of 68.4 million were noted corresponding to successive surges in the number of cases and deaths. For these three successive time periods, crude case fatality rates (case fatality = number of deaths / number of cases) fell dramatically: 12.4% during the early months of the epidemic, (335,210 cases and 41,564 deaths during 3/1-8/31/2020), 2.08% during the autumn, winter and spring months of 2020 and 2021 (4,148,076 cases and 86,254 deaths during 9/1/2020-5/31/2021), and 0.28% during the summer and autumn months of 2021 (4,573,571 cases and 12,814 deaths during 6/1-10/31, 2021). A high proportion (80-90%) of the UK population was vaccinated against SARS CoV-2 during the latter stage when the dominant infection was due to the Delta variant of SARS CoV-2. Results suggest that COVID-19 vaccines did not prevent viral transmission in the UK but were associated with a marked reduction in case fatality.
Psychological Stressors among Hemodialysis Patients in Selected County Dialysis Centre's in Kenya
Authors: Mugi Elizabeth , Githemo Grace , Wala Jonathan
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Though hemodialysis treatment modality remains the most sought option among patients with kidney disease, the modality is associated with multiple psychological stressors that confronts the hemodialysing patients and subject them to mental disturbances and poor quality of life. Study aim: The study aimed at describing the psychological stressors faced by the hemodialysis patients in the new county dialysis centers in Kenya and to correlate the psychological stressors to the patients’ demographic characteristics. Methodology: This was a descriptive correlation study among hemodialysis patients in four selected county dialysis centers in Kenya. Sample size was determined through a census method. Data was collected by means of a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0.Findings were presented using graphs and frequency tables while Chi-square was used to test for the association between study variables. Results: Despite opening new county dialysis centers, majority of the respondents identified inadequate number of hemodialysis machines as the major psychological stressor (M=2.9, SD ± 0.8) uncertainty in life (M=2.74, SD ± 0.6) and lack of hemodialysis commodities (M=2.69, SD=0.7) as the leading psychological challenges faced by the patients who are dialyzing in the newly opened county dialysis centres in Kenya. There was a statistically significant association (p=0.016) between waiting time for hemodialysis sessions and gender and also a significant association (p=0.04) between marital status and dependency on others to bring them for dialysis session. Conclusion: Despite the Government initiative to increase the availability and accessibility of the hemodialysis services to hemodialysis patients, inadequate hemodialysis machines, lack of hemodialysis commodities and difficulties in raising the cost of treatment still remains the major psychological stressors among hemodialysis patients. Therefore, opening of new dialysis centers should be accompanied with adequate resource allocation to guarantee positive patient outcomes.
The Prevention of Alopecia Induced by Chemotherapy by Enhancing Self-Esteem and Reducing Distress. Observational Study between the Level of Distress from Chemo-Induced Alopecia and Self-Esteem in Patients Belonging to the Oncology Department of the Bat Health Authority, Italy
Authors: Vitale Elsa , Massaro Michele , Lavecchia Carmela Debora , Pietà Cosimo della , Germini Francesco
Published: February 2022

The general goal we have set ourselves is to statistically determine the degree of correlation between chemo-induced alopecia distress and self-esteem as the different degree of alopecia varies. To obtain a representative sample, we decided to perform a cluster sampling, in which the clusters of units were the women affected by the neoplastic disease. 50 female patients who belonged to the oncology day-hospital department of the Local Health Authority Barletta, Italy. The Nurse has a particularly important role in the patient's care path, as he remains in close contact with him in the various moments of the diagnostic-therapeutic process. For many patients it may be easier to relate to the nurse rather than to other health professionals. For this reason, in the assistance, the nurse is placed at the center of the humanization process, entrusting him with many of the planned interventions.
Prevalence of Childhood Overweight and Obesity in Primary Care Observations on Birth Cohorts 2002-2011
Authors: Piffer Silvano , Rizzello Roberto , Lauriola Anna Lina , Betta Marta
Published: February 2022

Objectives: The study evaluates the trend over time of overweight and obesity in children of the province of Trento subjected to the health check of the sixth year of age. Study Design: It is a retrospective observational study of all children subjected to the health check of the sixth year of age in Trento province, North East Italy. Ten birth cohorts have been considered 2009-2018. The data was collected through paper forms filled in by family pediatricians. The collective national agreement for family pediatrics allows carrying out the health check of six years with a tolerance of ± 90 days from the 6th birthday. Weight status was analyzed and categorized using the Body Mass Index (BMI) threshold values established by Cole et al., as recommended by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). The percentages of overweight and obesity, with 95% confidence intervals, were computed at 6 years for each birth cohort, considering sex and the time of the assessment: before the 6th birthday, exactly at the 6th birthday and after the 6th birthday. We also compute, based on the data of the birth cohorts 2009-2011, the percentages of overweight and obesity, according the territorial area of residence of the children, the individual pediatrician and the citizenship (child with mother with foreign nationality vs. child with Italian mother). Results: A total of 27,039 (51,6 % males) children were analysed. In males, the average proportions of overweight or obese subjects in all the cohorts under study are respectively 10.4% (CI 95% 10.1- 10.7) and 4.9% (CI 95% 4.7- 5.1). In Females, the corresponding values are 13.5% (CI 95% 13.1-13.9) and 5.7%, (CI 95% 5.2-6.1). The proportions of overweight or obese subjects, calculated in relation to the chronological moment in which the health check of the 6th was carried out show no statistically significant differences, as well as in relation to territorial area of residence of children. There is a wide variability in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in individual family pediatricians. In part, the different proportion of foreign children registered with individual pediatrician can explain this wide variability. Data relating to the birth cohorts 2009-2011 confirm a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in foreign children. Socio-cultural factors can explain this fact, especially in reference to second-generation immigrants. Conclusions: The surveillance system based on family pediatricians can integrate with the national surveillance system “OKkio alla SALUTE” with the second oriented towards the general population and the first oriented towards individual “case” children, providing a possible tool for identifying and taking charge of children with overweight/obesity.
Personality Traits and Subjective Well-being of Fathers of Preterm and Full-term Infants: A Case Study of A Medical Center in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Chia-Shing , Tsai Ruei-Yu
Published: February 2022

Background: This study aimed to elucidate whether the demographics and personality traits of fathers, who are considered to be responsible for their families’ well-being, influence the fathers’ subjective well-being. Purpose: To investigate the relationship between the personality traits and well-being of fathers of preterm and term infants; and related factors. Design: Descriptive sampling was used in a cross-sectional study. Methods: The “Personality Inventory Scale” and “Subjective Well-Being Scale” were administered, which had respective internal consistencies of 0.83 and 0.95. Results: (1) The two groups reported moderate subjective well-being; (2) there was no significant difference in the overall personality traits between the two groups; (3) In both groups, the fathers’ subjective well-being increased with age; (4) In both groups, the core subjective well-being of fathers was higher than that of the noncore family, and their subjective well-being was not significantly affected by the number of children or by family socioeconomic status. In short, in both groups, the fathers’ subjective well-being was influenced by their personality, age, and family structure. Practice implications: Examining issues related to the personality traits of fathers of preterm infants is useful not only in the formulation of care and medical systems, solutions, and strategies for preterm infants but also in understanding family relationships to enhance subjective well-being. The present findings serve as a reference for the development of family-centered, whole-person health care.
Spotlight on Nursing Home Care
Authors: Shalom Jim
Published: February 2022

Nursing homes often receive unfavorable press, [1,2] and this trend has intensified because of their involvement in multiple horrific COVID outbreaks [3,4]. On the one hand, high morbidity and mortality in nursing homes during the pandemic, apart from being a serious problem in itself, exposed ongoing inadequacies in the provision of quality care, which external supervision addressed only partially [5]. Running an effective nursing home is an expensive enterprise, which, unfortunately, is frequently underfunded [6,7]. Even with adequate funding, it is a complex endeavor at which it is not easy to excel [8]. On the other hand, as nursing homes are repositories for people with high morbidities whose health will invariably worsen over time, we may conclude that unmet expectations and unfortunate outcomes are not always preventable or the result of poor care. Nursing home care is not a government priority in the U.S., [9] and probably not in other Western countries either. This is unfortunate for many reasons, not least because of the likelihood that some of us will eventually end up in one. I believe that, while some criticism is justified, as nursing home care is sometimes suboptimal, in other cases there is inappropriate malignment. This paper will analyze how a nursing home works and attempt to distinguish between preventable and unpreventable poor outcomes.
Interview with Home Nurses to Accept Nursing Students for Home Nursing Practice
Authors: Hattori Keiko , Shimizu Junko , Koyama Michiko
Published: February 2022

In home nursing practice, we are practicing at a home-visit nursing station. In Japan, the number of home-visit nursing stations has increased in recent years. This is because the length of stay in hospitals has decreased and the number of patients receiving medical treatment at home has increased. The number of nurses working at home-visit nursing stations is scarce and always busy. We interviewed a nurse at a home-visit nursing office who accepted the training to find out what kind of changes the nursing students would have when they came to the training while the work was busy. Unlike hospital training, it is difficult to convey to nursing students the importance of etiquette when visiting the home of a patient who is undergoing medical treatment at home, and the nursing student accompanies the patient who is undergoing medical treatment at home. they told us that it was a stimulus. In addition, the visiting nurses also said that the presence of nursing students provided an opportunity to review their knowledge and skills, leading to better nursing. In the busy work, some nurses hoped that nursing students would choose to work as visiting nurses in the future. It turned out that the visiting nurses who answered the interview was thinking about deepening the learning of nursing students even though they were busy.
Coronavirus Disease Brings Death without the Opportunity of Saying Goodbye
Authors: Niwano Mototaka , Sawada Kazuko , Yamaguchi Harue , Watanabe Tomoko , Hasegawa Noriko
Published: February 2022

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victims have spread worldwide, and in Japan, 1.5 million people are infected and 16,000 have died from February 2020 until the end of August 2021. The COVID-19 starts from relatively light symptoms such as cold, and then the conditions worsen rapidly in 7 to 10 days, and results in an unexpected sudden death. The major impacts of COVID-19 in the society of the COVID-19 pandemic is the implementation of social distancing strategies and isolation procedures. We cannot provide care and comfort at the end of the patient’s life, share grief with bereaved family members, and hold normal funeral ceremonies. The COVID-19 pandemic causes the absurdity of death without the opportunity of saying goodbye, and ambiguous loss occurs, and continues to cause the prolonged grief disorder. Medical personnel make efforts to prevent ambiguous loss and the prolonged grief disorder using cognitive behavioral therapy and digital transformation. We examined the COVIT-19 pandemic from the viewpoint of an emergency hospital, and showed the experience and results of COVID-19 patients in our hospital, and reconsidered the essence of grief care and bereavement care of family members who lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pengaruh Ekstrak Batang Bajakah Tampala (Spatholobus littoralis Hassk) Terhadap Perilaku Mencit Jantan (Mus musculus) yang Terinfeksi Bakteri Salmonella typhimurium
Authors: Susanto Bela Novita Amaris , Zayani Nofri , Susanto Nindita Clourisa Amaris
Published: February 2022

Bajakah tampala stem (Spatholobus Littoralis Hassk) has the potential to be used for health, especially to increase immunity. The results of the phytochemical screening test showed that the main ingredients of bajakah were saponins, flavonoids, and tannins. The study used an experimental design with a completely randomized design (CRD), which consisted of 5 treatments (dose) and 6 replications. The dose is aquadest (K1/control); 25 mg/kg (K2); 50 mg/kg (K3); 100 mg/kg bw (K4) and 30 mg/kg of brand X immunomodulatory drug (K2). Mice were injected orally with the treatment according to the prescribed dose for 30 days. On the 31st day, the mice were infected with Salmonella typhimurium bacteria. On the 32nd-34th day, physical condition and activity were observed. data on changes in physical condition and activity were processed by descriptive statistics. Batang bajakah tampala extract (Spatholobus littoralis Hask) can improve the immune system as seen from the behavior and external morphology of mice (Mus Musculus) exposed to salmonella typhimurium, especially at a dose of K4 (100 mg/kg bw).

 Keywords: Bajakah tampala, behavior, mice, salmonella typhimurium
PELATIHAN KETERAMPILAN OLAHRAGA, KETERAMPILAN MEMBUAT STRAP MASKER, DAN PENYULUHAN KEBERSIHAN LINGKUNGAN SEKOLAH
Authors: Napfiah Siti , Yazidah Nok Izatul , Argarini Dian Fitri , Abner Dean
Published: February 2022

This PMBP activity aims to increase the interest and knowledge of students or the public in doing sports with good and correct techniques, Increase awareness of students or the public to store masks in a clean and safe place when not worn or not advised to wear a mask on the chin, and Increase students' awareness of the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of the school environment at SD Kristen Brawijaya 1 Malang. The method used in the implementation of PMBP is in the form of counseling methods, training, and question and answer tones. The activity began with observation at SD Kristen Brawijaya 1 Malang. Followed by core activities in the form of Sports Skills Training, Mask Strap Making Skills Training, and School Environment Hygiene Counseling. The target in this PMBP activity is the students of SD Kristen Brawijaya 1 Malang. The result of the implementation of PMBP at SD Kristen Brawijaya I Malang is: Students are able to practice basic techniques in sports that have been taught,, students are able to answer questions related to sports techniques performed, when asked questions after activities,, Many students already have the awareness to put masks in a clean and safe place. As well as not wearing masks in dagu, students have begun to have an awareness of the cleanliness of the school environment, judging by the enthusiasm of students in carrying out mutual assistance. From the discussion above can be said to be successful, because from the observations after the training activities there is a better change. But there is still a slight drawback, there are still some students who have to be reminded not to wear masks on the chin. Perhaps in the upcoming activities will be given more understanding for how to wear a mask properly and properly.
PELATIHAN BUDIDAYA SISTEM VERTIKULTUR PADA PETANI BAWANG MERAH DI DESA BULUHARJO KABUPATEN MAGETAN
Authors: Pujiati Pujiati , Sari Dwi Rosita , Primiani Cicilia Novi , Setiawan Mohammad Arfi
Published: February 2022

Buluharjo Village, Magetan Regency is a rural area, the majority of which are horticultural crops. Shallots are one of the commodities in the region. The productivity of shallots for the last three years has decreased due to the reduction in agricultural land caused by the construction of housing projects. The decline in shallot production is caused by the lack of land and the presence of plant pests such as worms, caterpillars, fungi and bacteria. The use of high chemical fertilizers, improper selection of seeds makes the quantity and quality of shallot production not optimal. The purpose of the activity is to provide training on red onion cultivation with verticulture techniques as a solution for using narrow land. The method used is pre survey, survey, socialization and training. The activity was carried out for 6 months. The result of the activity is an increase in understanding of modern agricultural techniques, namely verticulture in the field of red onion farming. Public understanding of modern agricultural systems, and increasing the productivity of shallots. The community is very enthusiastic and actively involved in applying vertical culture techniques. The community can apply the shallot verticulture technique on narrow land.
Yeni Toplumsal Hareketler Bağlamında Kadın Hareketleri: Dijital Aktivizm
Authors: ÖZÜDOĞRU ERDOĞAN Halide Nur
Published: February 2022

Toplumsal hareketler küreselleşmenin de etkisiyle dönüşüme uğramış, farklı yönleriyle çeşitli disiplinlerde ele alınmaya başlanmıştır. Yeni toplumsal hareketler ekonomi ve sınıf mücadelesi yerine endüstrileşme sonrası eşitlik, farklılık ve kimlik temelli sorunlar ile ilgilenmektedir. Yeni toplumsal hareketler içinde yer alan kadın hareketlerinin tarihsel süreci, 19. Yüzyılda başlamakta ve dört dalgaya ayrılmaktadır. Gerekli toplumsal değişimleri hedefleyen kadın hareketleri de birçok toplumsal hareket gibi, 1960'lardan sonra sivil toplum anlayışının önem kazanmasından sonra farklı bir yapı içine girmiştir. İletişim teknolojilerinin gelişmesi ile birlikte artık insanlar bilgiye hızlı ve kolay bir şekilde ulaşmakta ve rahatlıkla paylaşımlarda bulunabilmektedir. İnternet kullanımın artmasına bağlı olarak dijital aktivizmin yaşandığı bu dönemde kadın hareketleri de değişim sürecinden etkilenmiştir. Kadınlar, çeşitli sosyal paylaşım sitelerini kullanarak ortak sorunları kolayca dile getirebilmektedir. Artık kadın hareketleri, dijital platformlar sayesinde organize olmakta ve etkinliklerini arttırmaktadırlar. Ortak bir amaç için bir araya gelen kadınlar seslerini duyurmak ve kamuoyuna yön vermek için dijital platformlar sayesinde aktivizme yeni bir boyut kazandırmıştır. Bu çalışmada, toplumsal hareketler, kadın hareketleri, dijital aktivizm gibi kavramlar üzerinde durulmuştur. Dijital kadın aktivizminin bir örneğini oluşturan ve kendini ilk Müslüman feminist derneği olarak tanıtan Havle kadın derneğinin @HavleKadin hashtagi ile twitter üzerinden paylaşmış olduğu içerikler incelenerek hangi konuları ele aldıkları belirlenmiştir.
Turizm Sosyolojisine İlişkin Yeni Gelişmeler
Authors: KAYA Şehriban
Published: February 2022

Turizm Sosyolojisi, 1970'li yılların başından itibaren gelişim gösteren bir disiplindir. Sosyolojinin diğer alt uzmanlık alanlarına kıyasla, biraz geç sayılabilecek bir tarihte ortaya çıkan Turizm Sosyolojisi, bugün yerel, ulusal ve küresel boyutlarda gittikçe önem kazanan bir dinamik olan turizm olgusunu toplumsal çerçevede analiz ederken, üzerinde çalıştığı nesnede yaşanan yeniliklere duyarlı olmak zorundadır. İlk önce, modern toplumun yerleşmesiyle birlikte bir “otantiklik arayışı” olarak ortaya çıkmış olan turizm olgusu, zamanla, önemli değişimler yaşamış ve bir bakıma dönüşmüştür. Bu dönüşen olguya ilişkin toplumsal analiz ortaya koyması gereken Turizm Sosyolojisinin perspektifini genişletmesi ve turizmde yaşanan yeniliklere odaklanması elzem görünmektedir. Bu makalede, öncelikle tarihsel olarak Turizm Sosyolojisinin ortaya çıkışı, çalışma konularında yaşanan değişim ve neticede bugün özellikle odaklanması gereken hususlar analiz edilecektir. Kısacası, turizm olgusunun modernliğin ilerleme sürecinde ortaya çıktığını, bu ortaya çıkan yeni olguyu çalışmak üzere sosyolojinin yeni bir alt uzmanlık alanı olarak Turizm Sosyolojinin geliştiğini ve günümüzde de turizm olgusunda yaşanan değişimler üzerine odaklanması gerektiğini tartışacağız.
The Effect of Complementary Measurement and Evaluation Techniques on Academic Achievement: A Meta-Analysis Study
Authors: MUTLUER Ceren
Published: February 2022

Bu araştırma, tamamlayıcı ölçme ve değerlendirme tekniklerinin akademik başarıya etkisini araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu araştırma bir meta-analiz çalışması olup 40 araştırma çalışmasından (makale, tez ve tam metin sunumlar) oluşmaktadır. Meta-analiz süreci için rastgele etkiler modeli seçilmiştir. Çalışmada ele alınan üç çalışmada tamamlayıcı ölçme ve değerlendirme tekniklerinin akademik başarı üzerinde olumsuz etkisi bulunurken, 40 çalışmada tamamlayıcı ölçme ve değerlendirme tekniklerinin akademik başarı üzerinde olumlu etkisi bulunmaktadır. Rastgele etkiler modeli kullanılarak hesaplanan genel etki +1.080'dir. Bu araştırma sonucunda tamamlayıcı ölçme ve değerlendirme teknikleri akademik başarı üzerinde geniş bir etkiye sahiptir.
Understanding the Fundamentals of Motor Current Signature Analysis
Authors: Shirley Matthew , Champneys Alan , Marrin Nico , Moore Matthew , Piette Bernard , Shaw Alexander
Published: February 2022

Motor current signal analysis is a method to perform on-line monitoring of the condition of electrical motors by examining the spectrum of the residual current of the motor for sidebands around the main frequencies. The interpretation of these spectra would be improved by having a physics based understanding of how particular perturbations appear in a spectrum. This report considers two possible models for an induction motor and its residual current. The first model uses the Steinmetz equivalent circuit, a standard model from the literature. The second model is derived from first principles based on Faraday and Ohms law and the conservation of angular momentum. It is able to capture the coupling between the rotor dynamics and the residual current. Some initial results are given for both models using a combination of asymptotic and numerical techniques.
Tolerance and Biological Removal of Fungicides by Trichoderma Species Isolated From the Endosphere of Wild Rubiaceae Plants
Authors: Escudero-Leyva Efraín , Alfaro-Vargas Pamela , Muñoz-Arrieta Rodrigo , Charpentier-Alfaro Camila , Granados-Montero María del Milagro , Valverde-Madrigal Katherine S. , Pérez-Villanueva Marta , Méndez-Rivera Michael , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Carlos E. , Chaverri Priscila , Mora-Villalobos J. Aníbal
Published: February 2022

The transition from conventional to organic agriculture is often challenged by the adaptation of biological control agents to environments heavily exposed to agrochemical pollutants. We studied Trichoderma species isolated from living leaf tissues of wild Rubiacaeae (coffee family) plants to determine their fungicide tolerance and potential for bioremoval. First, we assessed the in vitro tolerance to fungicides of four Trichoderma isolates (Trichoderma rifaii T1, T. aff. crassum T2, T. aff. atroviride T3, and T. aff. strigosellum T4) by placing mycelial plugs onto solid media supplemented with seven different systemic and non-systemic fungicides. After a week, most of the fungicides did not significantly inhibit the growth of the isolates, except in the case of cyproconazole, where the only isolate able to grow was T1; however, the colony morphology was affected by the presence of fungicides. Second, biological removal potential was established for selected isolates. For this experiment, the isolates T1, T2, and T4 were independently inoculated into liquid media with the fungicides azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, cyproconazole, and trifloxystrobin. After 14 days of incubation, a removal of up to 89% was achieved for chlorothalonil, 46.4% for cyproconazole, and 33.1% for trifloxystrobin using viable biomass. In the case of azoxystrobin, the highest removal (82.2%) occurred by adsorption to fungal biomass. Ecotoxicological tests in Daphnia magna revealed that T1 has the highest removal potential, achieving significant elimination of every fungicide, while simultaneously detoxifying the aqueous matrix (except in the case of cyproconazole). Isolate T4 also exhibited an intermediate efficiency, while isolate T2 was unable to detoxify the matrix in most cases. The removal and detoxification of cyproconazole failed with all the isolates. These findings suggest that endosphere of wild plants could be an attractive guild to find new Trichoderma species with promising bioremediation capabilities. In addition, the results demonstrate that attention should be placed when combining certain types of agrochemicals with antagonistic fungi in Integrated Pest and Disease Management strategies or when transitioning to organic agriculture.
Abcc6 Null Mice—a Model for Mineralization Disorder PXE Shows Vertebral Osteopenia Without Enhanced Intervertebral Disc Calcification With Aging
Authors: Boneski Paige K. , Madhu Vedavathi , Tomlinson Ryan E. , Shapiro Irving M. , van de Wetering Koen , Risbud Makarand V.
Published: February 2022

Chronic low back pain is a highly prevalent health condition intricately linked to intervertebral disc degeneration. One of the prominent features of disc degeneration that is commonly observed with aging is dystrophic calcification. ATP-binding cassette sub-family C member 6 (ABCC6), a presumed ATP efflux transporter, is a key regulator of systemic levels of the mineralization inhibitor pyrophosphate (PPi). Mutations in ABCC6 result in pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a progressive human metabolic disorder characterized by mineralization of the skin and elastic tissues. The implications of ABCC6 loss-of-function on pathological mineralization of structures in the spine, however, are unknown. Using the Abcc6−/− mouse model of PXE, we investigated age-dependent changes in the vertebral bone and intervertebral disc. Abcc6−/− mice exhibited diminished trabecular bone quality parameters at 7 months, which remained significantly lower than the wild-type mice at 18 months of age. Abcc6−/− vertebrae showed increased TRAP staining along with decreased TNAP staining, suggesting an enhanced bone resorption as well as decreased bone formation. Surprisingly, however, loss of ABCC6 resulted only in a mild, aging disc phenotype without evidence of dystrophic mineralization. Finally, we tested the utility of oral K3Citrate to treat the vertebral phenotype since it is shown to regulate hydroxyapatite mechanical behavior. The treatment resulted in inhibition of the osteoclastic response and an early improvement in mechanical properties of the bone underscoring the promise of potassium citrate as a therapeutic agent. Our data suggest that although ectopic mineralization is tightly regulated in the disc, loss of ABCC6 compromises vertebral bone quality and dysregulates osteoblast-osteoclast coupling.
Synthesis and Antitumor Evaluation of Menthone-Derived Pyrimidine-Urea Compounds as Potential PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway Inhibitor
Authors: Huang Mei , Duan Wengui , Chen Naiyuan , Lin Guishan , Wang Xiu
Published: February 2022

A series of novel menthone derivatives bearing pyrimidine and urea moieties was designed and synthesized to explore more potent natural product-derived antitumor agents. The structures of the target compounds were confirmed by FTIR, NMR, and HRMS. The in vitro antitumor activity was tested by standard methyl thiazolytetrazolium assay and showed that 4i, 4g, 4s, and 4m are the best compounds with IC50 values of 6.04 ± 0.62µM, 3.21 ± 0.67µM, 19.09 ± 0.49µM, and 18.68 ± 1.53µM, against Hela, MGC-803, MCF-7, and A549, respectively. The results of the preliminary action mechanism studies showed that compound 4i, the representative compound, could induce cell apoptosis in Hela cells in a dose-dependent manner and might arrest the cell cycle in the G2/M phase. Furthermore, the results of network pharmacology prediction and Western blot experiments indicated that compound 4i might inhibit Hela cells through inhibit PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. The binding modes and the binding sites interactions between compound 4i and the target proteins were predicted preliminarily by the molecular docking method.
Modular 3D-Printed Peg Biofilm Device for Flexible Setup of Surface-Related Biofilm Studies
Authors: Zaborskytė Greta , Wistrand-Yuen Erik , Hjort Karin , Andersson Dan I. , Sandegren Linus
Published: February 2022

Medical device-related biofilms are a major cause of hospital-acquired infections, especially chronic infections. Numerous diverse models to study surface-associated biofilms have been developed; however, their usability varies. Often, a simple method is desired without sacrificing throughput and biological relevance. Here, we present an in-house developed 3D-printed device (FlexiPeg) for biofilm growth, conceptually similar to the Calgary Biofilm device but aimed at increasing ease of use and versatility. Our device is modular with the lid and pegs as separate units, enabling flexible assembly with up- or down-scaling depending on the aims of the study. It also allows easy handling of individual pegs, especially when disruption of biofilm populations is needed for downstream analysis. The pegs can be printed in, or coated with, different materials to create surfaces relevant to the study of interest. We experimentally validated the use of the device by exploring the biofilms formed by clinical strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, commonly associated with device-related infections. The biofilms were characterized by viable cell counts, biomass staining, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. We evaluated the effects of different additive manufacturing technologies, 3D printing resins, and coatings with, for example, silicone, to mimic a medical device surface. The biofilms formed on our custom-made pegs could be clearly distinguished based on species or strain across all performed assays, and they corresponded well with observations made in other models and clinical settings, for example, on urinary catheters. Overall, our biofilm device is a robust, easy-to-use, and relevant assay, suitable for a wide range of applications in surface-associated biofilm studies, including materials testing, screening for biofilm formation capacity, and antibiotic susceptibility testing.
Total Laboratory Automation for Rapid Detection and Identification of Microorganisms and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles
Authors: Cherkaoui Abdessalam , Schrenzel Jacques
Published: February 2022

At a time when diagnostic bacteriological testing procedures have become more complex and their associated costs are steadily increasing, the expected benefits of Total laboratory automation (TLA) cannot just be a simple transposition of the traditional manual procedures used to process clinical specimens. In contrast, automation should drive a fundamental change in the laboratory workflow and prompt users to reconsider all the approaches currently used in the diagnostic work-up including the accurate identification of pathogens and the antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods. This review describes the impact of TLA in the laboratory efficiency improvement, as well as a new fully automated solution for AST by disk diffusion testing, and summarizes the evidence that implementing these methods can impact clinical outcomes.
Challenges and Opportunities for the Large-Scale Chemoenzymatic Glycoengineering of Therapeutic N-Glycosylated Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Ivanova Adelina , Falcioni Francesco
Published: February 2022

Variability in the glycosylation profile of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), due to recombinant production technologies, leads to inconsistencies in effector functions and pharmacokinetic properties, both batch-to-batch and within single batches. It also poses regulatory concerns over the effectiveness of commercially available formulations. In vitro chemoenzymatic glycoengineering of variants displaying a homogeneous glycan profile is a trending strategy for ensuring consistent, controlled, and enhanced therapeutic performance, but reported successes are largely limited to small-scale applications. The major challenges for the industrial-scale introduction of the technique stem from the need for activated sugar donors, which can participate in undesired side reactions, and from the economic cost of the additional enzymatic steps and purification stages. While recent developments within the area address some of these obstacles, it appears that more effort is required in order to access the untapped potential of biocatalysis to enable the robust production of therapeutically superior constructs.
The Burden of Ventricular Premature Complex Is Associated With Cardiovascular Mortality
Authors: Lee Po-Tseng , Huang Ting-Chun , Huang Mu-Hsiang , Hsu Ling-Wei , Su Pei-Fang , Liu Yen-Wen , Hung Meng-Hsuan , Liu Ping-Yen
Published: February 2022

Background

Ventricular premature complex (VPC) is one of the most common ventricular arrhythmias. The presence of VPC is associated with an increased risk of heart failure (HF).

Method

We designed a single-center, retrospective, and large population-based cohort to clarify the role of VPC burden in long-term prognosis in Taiwan. We analyzed the database from the National Cheng Kung University Hospital-Electronic Medical Record (NCKUH-EMR) and NCKUH-Holter (NCKUH-Holter). A total of 19,527 patients who underwent 24-h Holter ECG monitoring due to palpitation, syncope, and clinical suspicion of arrhythmias were enrolled in this study.

Results

The clinical outcome of interests involved 5.65% noncardiovascular death and 1.53% cardiovascular-specific deaths between 2011 and 2018. Multivariate Cox regression analysis, Fine and Gray's competing risk model, and propensity score matching demonstrated that both moderate (1,000–10,000/day) and high (>10,000/day) VPC burdens contributed to cardiovascular death in comparison with a low VPC burden (<1,000/day).

Conclusion

A higher VPC burden via Holter ECG is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular mortality.