bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Models of diagnosing finance security of industrial enterprises
Authors: Sergeeva I. A. , Chunaev S. Yu.
Published: October 2018

The article grounds the necessity to develop a logit-model capable of showing specificity of Russian economy for diagnosing finance security of industrial enterprises in the Russian Federation. As a result of the research the authors designed two specialized models and put forward a classification of finance security for small and medium business. They showed the role of ensuring finance security of industrial enterprises and gave facts, which makes it possible to diagnose the start of finance threats. The article provides the analysis of Russian industrial enterprises dealing with machine and equipment manufacturing. The designed logit-models show finance processes of home industrial enterprises, which can cause finance insolvency. Testing was done on the basis of official open accounting of 173 Russian industrial enterprises. The authors produce evidence of their use for forecasting finance standing of Russian industrial enterprises. The research was done with the help of software IBM SPSS Statistics and it made it possible to give precise and trustworthy tests of the quality of logit-models. This research can be recommended for choosing efficient managerial solutions on ensuring finance security of industrial enterprises among diversified alternative concepts.
Taxation digitalization and incentive foundation of developing the real sector of economy
Authors: Bratcev V. I. , Roybu A. V.
Published: October 2018

The article shows the necessity to intensify digitalization of Russian economy leaning on rational taxation legislation. Penetration of information technologies in the agrarian sector is so fast that it raises questions about possible underestimation of economic activity of the sector in improving the food provision of the country connected with digital products. The authors researched digitalization of the Russian taxation system stimulating the development of business and changes in the tax mechanism, which provides preconditions for shaping fixed capital of the agrarian sector. Key forms of tax incentives were described, their impact on the agrarian sector was shown and on this basis the necessity to develop a new taxation mechanism of prolonging tax payments on capital growth till the full completion of the information-investment process was grounded. The authors identify priorities of Russian taxation policy in today’s conditions of complicated geopolitical situation and sanction restrictions. They came to the conclusion about the inevitable entry of Russia into the community of information-developed economics. A set of measures was put forward aimed at creating optimal conditions for involving all economic agents in information innovation work and filling economy with digital content. Among key findings of the research we should mention substantiation of taxation system transformations, which could stimulate business development and practical recommendations dealing with upgrading the taxation impact on information technologies’ penetration on digital platforms of the agrarian sector of economy.
The development of competitive forms of agricultural entrepreneuship in Kirgizia in conditions of integration
Authors: Mardalieva L. A. , Abdildaeva N. K.
Published: October 2018

The article analyzes the development of agriculture in the Republic of Kirgizia and output of products by categories of entrepreneur structures. During the research the authors found out that reforms in agriculture caused serious changes in structure and forms of agricultural entrepreneurship, which can be seen in the fact of the primary settingup and developing the small-peasant family form. The reasons for the development of small-peasant forms of entrepreneurship were shown and it affects negatively the use of economic potential in industry. It was revealed that in agriculture of the Republic organizational forms of agricultural units were: joint stock companies, production cooperatives. It was grounded that insufficient development of big commodity production was caused by week stimulation of this form of entrepreneurship. On the basis of comparative analysis of entrepreneurial structure in the industry of Eurasian Economic Union country-members the authors identified the lines in shaping competitive forms of agricultural entrepreneurship in Kirgizia in conditions of integration. They proposed measures aimed at development of agricultural cooperation and setting-up competitive forms of economic management, which could promote transformation of the agrarian sector of the country within the frames of the Eurasian Economic Union.
The approach of portfolio matrix to assess efficiency of budget policy of Russia
Authors: Volkov I. I.
Published: October 2018

The article studies the issue of efficiency of federal budget expenses in Russia. To do that the authors propose to apply the approach of portfolio matrix of the state sector based on principles of the Boston matrix and the Ashridge matrix used in corporate finance. Within the frames of this approach key lines in budget policy expenses were analyzed that correspond to sections of the federal budget. For each of them basic services generated during using funds on separate lines in budget policy expenses were identified. It was found that in the structure of the federal budget expenses there are rather many lines, which form popular and needed for the population services that do not have a high quality. The authors suggest ways of raising efficiency of spending finance resources inside these lines at the expense of improving quality of such services. On this basis possible lines of raising efficiency of budget policy in Russia were identified, which show the potential of positive impact of the federal budget on business activity in Russia at the expense of higher satisfaction of customers with quality of state services. Provisions of this article can be used for designing recommendations for the federal budget within the frames of assessing economic expediency of its expenses’ structure.
Raising resource-efficiency of enterprises of grain-productive sub-complex with regard to raw material factors
Authors: Bogomolova I. P. , Vasilenko I. N. , Bogomolov A. V.
Published: October 2018

The article on the basis of scientific methods, theories and approaches provide findings of the research of acute trends and promising lines in development of enterprises in grain-productive sub-complex in view of adapting and applying resource-saving technologies. For example, the authors study principles of using resource-saving technologies in grain production, promising technological solutions of strategic economic and technical direction, reasons blocking the introduction of resources-saving technologies in the process of grain-crops production, as well as a set of resource-oriented measures as an integral part of the organizational and economic mechanism adjusted to modern methods of grain production. Advantages of resource-saving technologies were analyzed in comparison with traditional ways of grain-crops production (both economic and agro-ecological). The authors ground the necessity to use the model of segregated technological flows control in modern technology of grain processing. They provide a thorough analysis of raw protein components market for production of well-balanced fodder in view of adjustment and use of managerial resources-saving approaches and on this basis they draw constructive conclusion and proposals.
Anti-leishmanial Nanotherapeutics: A Current Perspective
Authors: Shah Aditi , Gupta Souvik Sen
Published: October 2018

Background:

Leishmaniasis is a dreaded disease caused by protozoan parasites belonging to the genus
Leishmania which results in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are no vaccines available currently
for the treatment of Leishmaniasis and chemotherapy still remains the mainstay for anti-leishmanial therapeutics.
However, toxicity, reduced bioavailability, high cost and chemoresistance are the principal problems which limit the
use of the available drugs. In this context, anti-leishmanial nanotherapeutics may show the way for effective treatment
of this dreaded disease.

Methods:

We carried out extensive literature search of bibliographic database using keywords strictly within the
scope of the present study for peer reviewed research articles. We focused specifically on articles related to the application
of nanotechnology in drug development, drug delivery and vaccine delivery for anti-leishmanial therapeutics.

Results:

This study shows the immense potential of the application of nanotechnology in the field of anti-leishmanial
therapeutics. This will aid the targeted delivery of different drugs which is expected to increase the bioavailability,
reduce toxicity and also address the problem of chemoresistance.

Conclusion:

We surmise that exciting research in the field of anti-leishmanial nanotherapeutics is already showing
the promise for effective applicability. Though direct use of nanoparticles as therapeutic agents does not seem to be a
good option, the application of nanotechnology in this field for vaccine development is still in its early days. The
nano based drug delivery system for anti-leishmanial therapeutics has evolved considerably over the past ten years
and holds the potential to drastically change the landscape of anti-leishmanial therapeutics.
Snake Venom Disintegrins: An Overview of their Interaction with Integrins
Authors: Cesar Pedro Henrique Souza , Braga Mariana Aparecida , Trento Marcus Vinicius Cardoso , Menaldo Danilo Luccas , Marcussi Silvana
Published: October 2018

Disintegrins are non-enzymatic proteins that interfere on cell–cell interactions and signal transduction, contributing to the toxicity of snake venoms and play an essential role in envenomations. Most of their pharmacological and toxic effects are the result of the interaction of these molecules with cell surface ligands, which has been widely described and studied. These proteins may act on platelets, leading to hemorrhage, and may also induce apoptosis and cytotoxicity, which highlights a high pharmacological potential for the development of thrombolytic and antitumor agents. Additionally, these molecules interfere with the functions of integrins by altering various cellular processes such as migration, adhesion and proliferation. This review gathers information on functional characteristics of disintegrins isolated from snake venoms, emphasizing a comprehensive view of the possibility of direct use of these molecules in the development of new drugs, or even indirectly as structural models.
Aromaticity of C20H10-xFx Corannulene: A Comparative Study by NICS and EFG Methods
Authors: Nikmaram Farrokh Roya , Kalateh Khadijeh
Published: October 2018

Corannulene (C20H10) and its fluorinated derivatives, C20H10-xFx (x=1-10), are investigated at the B3LYP/6-31G level of density functional theory. The degree of electron delocalization is evaluated using Nucleus Independent Chemical Shift (NICS) method, Electric Field Gradient (EFG) method and factor of Ellipticity (ε). In this study, the benzene is the scale of comparison as a more aromatic structure. The aromaticity has been evaluated at three points of structures; center of five-member ring (5-MR), center of fluorine-substituted ring (6-MR), and center of other six-member rings. This comparison shows that substitution of fluorine for four and five hydrogen atoms in the Corannulene structure, C20H10-xFx (x=4, 5), results in more aromaticity compared to the other substitutions, and C20H10 and C20H10-xFx (x=1, 3) are more antiaromatic. It seems that the EFG method is more reliable for forecasting the aromaticity of structures, than NICS method. The factor of Ellipticity and bond lengths resulted from Atom in Molecule (AIM) analysis support the EFG method.
Synthesis and Antitumor Activity Evaluation of New Phenanthrene-Based Tylophorine Derivatives
Authors: Li Songtao , Zhao Hongling , Yin Zhifeng , Deng Shuhua , Gao Yang , Li Yunfeng , Dai Tao
Published: October 2018

A series of new phenanthrene-based tylophorine derivatives (PBTs) were synthesized in
good yield and their structures were characterized by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and ESI MS. In vitro antitumor
activity of these compounds against five human carcinoma cell lines, including HCT116 (colorectal),
BGC-823 (gastric), HepG-2 (hepatic), Hela (cervical) and H460 (lung) cells, was evaluated by
MTT assay. Among these PBTs, compound 6b showed the highest antitumor activities against
HCT116 and HepG-2 cell lines with IC50 values of 6.1 and 6.4 μM, respectively, which were comparable
to that of adriamycin hydrochloride. The structure-activity relationship of these compounds was
also discussed based on the results of their antitumor activity.
Bimetallic Catalyzed N-arylation Used in Synthesis of Novel β-carbolines Derivatives
Authors: Cai Rui , Zhu Li , Wang Pengfei , Zhao Yu
Published: October 2018

Background:

Natural occurring β-Carbolines alkaloids are abundant in the plant kingdom
or other organisms, and they were found to possess good antitumor activity through multiple
mechanisms. Based on previous summarized SARs of β-carboline derivatives, the modification on
pyridine ring would have a great impact on their antitumor activities. Therefore, we plan to synthesized
arylated β-carboline-3-amides to find more valuable β-Carbolines derivatives.

Methods:

A novel bimetallic Pd(OAc)2/AgOAc catalyst system was developed for the amidation of
aryl iodides under acid condition. A series of N-arylated β-carbolines derivatives were synthesized
using this method. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and
HRMS, and their in vitro antiproliferative activity was investigated against HepG2 and Hela tumor
cell lines by MTT assay.

Results:

Eleven N-arylated β-carboline-3-amides were synthesized using this bimetallic catalyzed
method in 58-98% yields. These synthesized N-arylated compounds showed no antiproliferative
activity at 20 μM.

Conclusion:

We have discovered an efficient and bimetallic catalytic system allowing the Narylation
of secondary acyclic amides. This is the first report that N-arylation of aliphatic secondary
acyclic amides under acid condition.
Conceptual Model of Medication Adherence in Older Adults with High Blood Pressure-An Integrative Review of the Literature
Authors: Oori Mehdi Jafari , Mohammadi Farahnaz , Norouzi Kian , Fallahi-Khoshknab Masoud , Ebadi Abbas
Published: October 2018

Background:

Medication adherence (MA) is the most important controlling factor of high blood pressure (HBP). There are a few MA models, but they have not been successful in predicting MA completely. Thus, this study aimed to expand a conceptual model of MA based on an ecological approach.

Methods:

An integrative review of the literature based on theoretical and empirical studies was completed. Data source comprised: Medline (including PubMed and Ovid), ISI, Embase, Google scholar, and internal databases such as Magiran, Google, SID, and internal magazines. Primary English and Persian language studies were collected from 1940 to 2018. The steps of study included: (a) problem identification, (b) literature review and extracting studies, (c) appraising study quality, (d) gathering data, (e) data analysis using the directed content analysis, (f) concluding.

Results:

Thirty-six articles were finally included and analyzed. After analysis, predictors of MA in older adults with hypertension were categorized into personal, interpersonal, organizational, and social factors. Although the personal factors have the most predictors in sub-categories of behavioral, biological, psychological, knowledge, disease, and medication agents, social, organizational and interpersonal factors can have indirect and important effects on elderly MA.

Conclusion:

There are many factors influencing MA of elderly with HBP. The personal factor has the most predictors. The designed model of MA because of covering all predictor factors, can be considered as a comprehensive MA model. It is suggested that future studies should select factors for study from all levels of the model.
Validation of Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Electrospray Ionization Method for Quantitative Determination of Ornidazole in Solid Dispersion
Authors: Agrawal Gopal Prasad , Maheshwari Rajesh Kumar , Mishra Pradeep
Published: October 2018

Background and Objective:

The present study describes the UPLC-MS/MS method validation
for the analysis of ornidazole in solid dispersion.

Methods:

The proposed UPLC-MS/MS method utilizes BEH Shield RP18 column (2.1 mm 100 mm,
1.7 μm) with a gradient programmed mobile phase composed of water and acetonitrile at a flow rate of
0.4 mL/min which varies with time program. Ornidazole was detected by UPLC-MS/MS with three
proton adducts at m/z 82.04, 128.05 as daughter ions and 220.03 as a parent ion in Multiple Reaction
Monitoring (MRM) operated in positive mode.

Results:

Adducts at m/z 128.05 was found to be the most stable and showed higher intensity was selected
for quantification of ornidaozle in solid dispersion. In the method, validation linearity was determined
at concentration range of 10-100ng/mL and a correlation coefficient was found (r2) ≥0.9994. The
limit of detection and limit of quantification were found to be 1.5 and 4 ng/mL, respectively. Inter and
Intra-day precision was found within 0.33 and 0.11% and accuracy within 100.08% and 100.04%.

Conclusion:

A sensitive and selective UPLC-MS/MS method had been validated for the analysis of
ornidazole in solid dispersion. The proposed method of analysis of ornidazole in solid dispersion can be
used in quality control laboratories.
IL-1β and IL-1Ra Variant Profiles in Turkish Patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Nursal Ayse Feyda , Inanir Ahmet , Rustemoglu Aydın , Uzun Suheyla , Sahin Kubra , Yigit Serbulent
Published: October 2018

Background:

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common complications
of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study was conducted to investigate the possible association
between interleukin-1β (IL-1β) rs16944 /IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) VNTR variants and
genetic susceptibility to DPN in a Turkish cohort.

Methods:

A total of 200 subjects were enrolled in this study, 98 patients with DPN and 102 cases of
age and sex-matched healthy controls. Genotyping was performed for all individuals using PCR-RFLP
analysis.

Results:

IL-1β rs16944 CC genotype had a 3.20-fold increased risk for DPN (p=0.0003, OR=3.20,
95% Cl:1.72-5.96). IL-1β rs16944 CT genotype was higher in healthy control than patients (p=0.004).
IL-1β rs16944 C allele was higher in the patient group compared to controls while T allele was lower
in patients than controls (p=0.003). IL-1Ra VNTR a1/a1 and a2/a2 genotypes were lower in DPN patients
while a1/a2 genotype was higher in patients (p=0.045). The patients carrying a1/T haplotype
had decreased risk of DPN than control groups (p=0.004). The patients carrying a2/a2 genotype had
lower HDL level (p=0.039). The subjects carrying a2/a2 genotype had higher total cholesterol level
while the subjects carrying a1/a2 genotype had lower total cholesterol (p=0.026 and p=0.037, respectively).
IL-1Ra a1 allele was associated with higher HDL level (p=0.041).

Conclusion:

Findings of this study indicated that the IL-1β rs16944 and IL-1Ra VNTR variants are
probably to be associated with susceptibility DPN risk in a Turkish cohort.
An Integral Equation Model for a Pile in a Layered Transversely Isotropic Saturated Soil
Authors: Fabrice Uwiduhaye , Lu Jian-Fei , Jin Dan-Dan
Published: October 2018

Objective:

In this paper, an integral equation model is established to predict the time-dependent response of a vertically loaded pile embedded in a layered Transversely Isotropic Saturated Soil (TISS).

Methods:

Based on the fictitious pile method, the pile-soil system is decomposed into an extended saturated half-space and a fictitious pile. The extended half-space is treated as a layered TISS, while the fictitious pile is considered as a 1D bar. The pile-soil compatibility is accomplished by requiring that the axial strain of the fictitious pile be equal to the vertical strain of the extended layered TISS along the axis of the pile. The second kind Fredholm integral equation of the pile is then derived by using the aforementioned compatibility condition and the fundamental solution of the layered TISS, which is equivalent to the solution of the layered TISS subjected to a uniformly-distributed load acting vertically over a circular area with the radius equal to that of the pile. The fundamental solution of the layered TISS is obtainedviathe Reflection-Transmission Matrix (RTM) method for the layered TISS. Applying the Laplace transform to the Fredholm integral equation, and solving the resulting integral equation, the transformed solution is obtained. The time domain solution of the pile-soil system is retrievedviathe inverse Laplace transform.

Results and Conclusion:

Numerical results of this paper agree with existing solutions very well, validating the proposed pile-soil interaction model. A parametric study is carried out to examine the influence of some parameters on the response of the pile-soil system.
The Epidemiology and Management of Bell’s Palsy in the Sudan
Authors: Mustafa Ahmed Hassan Kamil , Sulaiman Ahmed Mohammed
Published: October 2018

Background:

Bell’s palsy is an acute idiopathic facial nerve paralysis of sudden onset. It is the most common cause of lower motor neuron facial nerve paralysis with an annual incidence of 15-30 per 100,000.

The objective of this work is to study the prevalence and the management of Bell’s palsy in the Sudan. A descreptive retrospective cross-sectional study was carried at Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital, Khartoum General Teaching Hospital.

In the retrospective, the records and files of 698 patients with Bell’s palsy, were reviewed in relation to age, gender, site, risk factors, season, and type of treatment.

In addition, 48 patients with Bell’s palsy were evaluated using the House–Brackman scale in relation to the above-mentioned variables.

Therefore, a total number of 746 cases were studied. Fifty five percent of them were females and the remaining 45% were males, around 38% of them were in the age group 21-40 year. Fifty seven percent of the patients were affected on the right side of the face. Winter was the commonest season of onset where 53.5% of the cases occurred. Steroids are the commonly prescribed drugs in majority of the cases, accounting for 47.3%.

Study Design:

The study is a retrospective cross sectional hospital based study. The study was carried out in Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital and in the Physiotherapy Department of Khartoum Teaching General hospital.

The files and records of the patients with Bell’s palsy in Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital in the years 1/1/2004 -31/12/2008, and Khartoum Teaching General Hospital (physiotherapy department) in the years 2007- July 2009 (total number 746).

Results:

A total number of 746 cases were studied . Fifty five percent of them were females and the remaining 45% were male. Around 38% of them were in the group 21-40 year. Fifty seven percent of the patients were affected on the right side of the face. Winter was the commonest season of the onset where 53.5% of the cases occurred.

Conclusion:

The study showed predominance of females. A peak incidence was seen in the age group 21-40 years. A predilection was found for the right side of face.
Microbiological Response to Periodontal Therapy: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Checchi Vittorio , Pascolo Gaia
Published: October 2018

Background:

Periodontitis is a multifactorial infection caused by a complex of pathogenic bacterial species that induce the destruction of periodontal structures.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence and bacterial load of six periodontal pathogens bacteria, measured at initial visit and after osseous surgery in patients affected by chronic periodontitis and treated between 2005 and 2007.

Methods:

This cohort study was carried out on a sample of 38 consecutive patients affected by severe chronic periodontitis, diagnosed at baseline on the basis of probing depths equal to 6.68 ± 1.47 mm. On each subject, a microbiological test was performed before periodontal initial therapy and after osseous surgery (one year later). Five compromised teeth were chosen for each patient (the same teeth, before and after surgery), for a total of 190 teeth. Real-time PCR based analysis computed total bacterial load of the samples and quantified six periodontal pathogens:Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia,Treponema denticola, Fusobacterium nucleatumandPrevotella intermedia. Data collection was made consulting medical charts.

Results:

Pocket probing depth reduction after surgery was 4.50 ± 1.54 mm (p=0.0001). The mean number of sites with bleeding at baseline was 2.08 ± 1.17 and 0.58 ± 1.00 after surgery (p=0.001). The mean number of sites with suppuration at baseline was 0.26 ± 0.86 and 0 after surgery (p=0.02). Cell count of each pathogen and total cell count were significantly higher at baseline than after surgery. Almost all bacteria presented a mean percentage reduction equal to that of the total count, except forAaandPi,which seemed to show a greater resistance. The difference of bacterial load, both before and after surgery, between smokers and non-smokers was not statistically significant (p<0.05). A statistically significant correlation was detected between pocket probing depth variation and bleeding on probing variation before and after the surgery, controlling for age (r=0.6,p=0.001). No significant correlations were observed between pocket probing depth and bacterial loads, except forPg(r=0.5,p=0.001),Tf(r=0.6,p=0.001) andTd(r=0.4,p=0.02).

Conclusions:

Reduction of presence and bacterial load of the examined periodontal pathogens bacteria after osseous surgery, along with periodontal pocket reduction, appeared to be essential to achieve and maintain periodontal stability over years.
Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Involving Anterior Shoulder Instability
Authors: Khatri Kavin , Arora Hobinder , Chaudhary Sanjay , Goyal Darsh
Published: October 2018

Background:

Arthroscopic repair is gaining popularity over open repair for the treatment of bankart lesions. The study aims to evaluate the outcome of arthroscopic repair with open repair in randomised controlled trials conducted comparing the two techniques.

Methods:

We searched the Cochrane library, PubMed and EMBASE up to December 2017 for clinical trials comparing the outcomes of arthroscopic bankart repair with open bankart repair. We used fixed or random effects model depending upon heterogenicity. Dichotomous variables were presented as Risk Ratios (RRs) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs), and continuous data were measured as measured differences with 95% CIs.

Result:

Five studies were included, with sample size ranging from 42 to 196. Fixed effect analysis showed that the shoulder was more stable in open repair (RR=0.897, 95% CI: 0.821 to 0.980, P= 0.94) but the loss of external rotation at shoulder joint was also higher in those had open repair (RR=0.325, SMD=-0.411, 95% CI: -1.229 to 0.407). The functional outcome assessed by Rowe score was better in open repair (P=0.325). The operative time was lesser in arthroscopic repair but was not statistically significant (P=0.085).

Conclusion:

Our meta-analysis showed that the use of arthroscopic repair though offers better shoulder movement but the open repair is superior in terms of shoulder stability.
Synthesis of Some 5-(substituted benzylidene-2, 4-dioxothiazolidin-3-yl) benzoic Acid Derivatives by Conventional and Microwave-assisted Methods and Evaluation of their Potential as Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Shukla Karuna S. , Pandey Shailendra , Chawla Pooja
Published: October 2018

Background: Multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria represent a challenge in the treatment
of infections. It is imperative, therefore, that new substances with antimicrobial properties should
be searched to fight these microorganisms.

Objective:

A series of 5-benzylidene-2, 4-dioxothiazolidin-3-yl benzoic acid derivatives were synthesized
and evaluated their antimicrobial potential. The compounds were synthesized by both
conventional and microwave synthesizers.

Methods:

In this study, a series of 5-benzylidene-2, 4-dioxothiazolidin-3-yl benzoic acid derivatives
were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation of 2, 4-thiazolidinedione with substituted aryl
aldehydes followed by substitution of 3-amino group with p-chlorobenzoic acid. All the synthesized
compounds were characterized by spectral (FT-IR, mass and 1HNMR) and elemental analysis.
The compounds were evaluated for their in-vitro antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive
bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and a fungal strain by agar well diffusion assay method and solid
dilution method.

Results:

The compounds exhibited appreciable antimicrobial activity. Compound 4-(5-(2-
chlorobenzylidene)-2, 4-dioxothiazolidin-3-yl)benzoic acid (3f) expressed potent antimicrobial activities
against all of the microbial strains examined in this study with MIC values ranging between
0.6-0.8 µg/mL and diameter of the zone of inhibition between 17.2-19.5 mm at the concentration
of 200 µg/mL.

Conclusion:

There was a marked decrease in the reaction time, under mild conditions through microwave
synthesis wherein it presented a green approach towards syntheses of the thiazolidinedione
derivatives. All compounds exhibited mild to moderate antimicrobial activity. The results of
tested bioactive assay showed that the nature of the substituent on the phenyl ring significantly
influenced the antimicrobial activity. Among the chloro, bromo and methoxy substituted
derivatives, chloro derivative possessed the highest activity followed by bromo and then methoxy.
The position of the substituents on the arylidene nucleus also affected the activity and it was found
that generally ortho-substituted derivatives showed better antimicrobial activity than others.
The QardioArm Blood Pressure App for Self-Measurement in an Obese Population: Validation Study Using the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol Revision 2010 (Preprint)
Authors: Mazoteras-Pardo Victoria , Becerro-De-Bengoa-Vallejo Ricardo , Losa-Iglesias Marta Elena , López-López Daniel , Palomo-López Patricia , Rodríguez-Sanz David , Calvo-Lobo César
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

Obesity and high blood pressure (HBP) pose high cardiovascular risks, and they are frequent causes of cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to validate the mobile app QardioArm for high blood pressure monitoring in obese subjects (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) according to guidelines in the European Society of Hypertension-International Protocol 2 (ESH-IP2).

METHODS

We recruited 33 obese subjects and measured their blood pressure using QardioArm (test device) and Omron M3 Intellisense (Omron Healthcare, Kyoto, Japan; standard device). We compared systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) according to the ESH-IP2.

RESULTS

A total of 95 of 99 differences for SBP and 91 of 99 for DBP displayed absolute differences within 10 mm Hg. A total of 98 of 99 differences for SBP and 98 of 99 for DBP exhibited absolute differences within 15 mm Hg. This result satisfied requirements for part 1 of the ESH-IP2. A total of 27 out of 33 individuals for SBP and 30 out of 33 individuals for DBP had a minimum of 2 of 3 comparisons within 5 mm Hg difference. None of the subjects had 3 differences outside 5 mm Hg for SBP and DBP, satisfying part 2 of the ESH-IP2. For HR measurements, a total of 90 of 99 differences had absolute differences within 3 beats per minute (bpm), and a total of 94 or 99 differences had absolute differences within 5 bpm. A total of 98 of 99 differences had absolute differences within 8 bpm. Therefore, the test device satisfied part 1 of ESH-IP2 criteria for HR. For part 2 of ESH-IP2, 31 of 33 individuals had a minimum of 2 of 3 comparisons within 3 bpm difference for HR. Only 1 of 33 subjects had 3 differences outside 3 bpm.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to show that an app that measures blood pressure and HR meets the requirements of the ESH-IP2 in an obese population. We believe the ESH-IP2 should publish explicit criteria for validation of blood pressure devices in specific populations.
Physician Confidence in Artificial Intelligence: An Online Mobile Survey (Preprint)
Authors: Oh Songhee , Kim Jae Heon , Choi Sung-Woo , Lee Hee Jeong , Hong Jungrak , Kwon Soon Hyo
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

It is expected that artificial intelligence (AI) will be used extensively in the medical field in the future.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to investigate the awareness of AI among Korean doctors and to assess physicians’ attitudes toward the medical application of AI.

METHODS

We conducted an online survey composed of 11 closed-ended questions using Google Forms. The survey consisted of questions regarding the recognition of and attitudes toward AI, the development direction of AI in medicine, and the possible risks of using AI in the medical field.

RESULTS

A total of 669 participants completed the survey. Only 40 (5.9%) answered that they had good familiarity with AI. However, most participants considered AI useful in the medical field (558/669, 83.4% agreement). The advantage of using AI was seen as the ability to analyze vast amounts of high-quality, clinically relevant data in real time. Respondents agreed that the area of medicine in which AI would be most useful is disease diagnosis (558/669, 83.4% agreement). One possible problem cited by the participants was that AI would not be able to assist in unexpected situations owing to inadequate information (196/669, 29.3%). Less than half of the participants(294/669, 43.9%) agreed that AI is diagnostically superior to human doctors. Only 237 (35.4%) answered that they agreed that AI could replace them in their jobs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that Korean doctors and medical students have favorable attitudes toward AI in the medical field. The majority of physicians surveyed believed that AI will not replace their roles in the future.
Physical Activity Behavior Change Driven by Engagement With an Incentive-Based App: Evaluating the Impact of Sweatcoin (Preprint)
Authors: Elliott Mark , Eck Felicia , Khmelev Egor , Derlyatka Anton , Fomenko Oleg
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

Physical inactivity, now the fourth leading cause of death, is a primary element of noncommunicable diseases. Despite a great number of attempts, there is still a lack of effective approaches that can motivate sedentary populations to increase their levels of physical activity over a sustained period. Incentives for exercise can provide an immediate reward for increasing activity levels, but because of limited funding to provide rewards, previous programs using this approach have only shown short-term changes in behavior. Sweatcoin (Sweatco Ltd, UK) is an app-based platform that converts physical movement into virtual currency. The currency can be exchanged for goods and services on their marketplace, providing a continuous incentive to be active. This study investigates the physical activity behavior change observed in Sweatcoin users over a 6-month period of app usage.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the change in physical activity (measured using daily step count) of a sample of Sweatcoin users, the longevity of the change, and whether this change can be predicted by demographic and other lifestyle variables.

METHODS

Activity data from a sample of 5892 Sweatcoin users were used to analyze daily step count. Activity change was measured in terms of the percentage change in average daily step count for each month after registration, relative to that in the 3 months before using the app. Users were grouped according to having no or negative, moderate, or high activity change. A subset of users completed a questionnaire that allowed differences between groups in terms of activity and demographic status to be investigated using regression analyses.

RESULTS

Daily step count increased by 19% on average over the 6 months following registration (P<.001). Of the questionnaire respondents, 728 were valid responses. A multinomial logistic regression identified the key drivers of moderate and high activity behavior change relative to no or negative change based on the defined groupings. There was a clear impact of seasonality, with those registering for the app in winter (odds ratio [OR] 4.67; P=.001) and spring (OR 5.05; P=.001) being more likely to show high positive activity behavior change than those registering in summer. More striking were the results identifying those classified as overweight (measured through body mass index [BMI]; OR 1.83; P=.02) and less active (based on a self-reported scale of physical activity; OR 0.88; P=.048), being most likely to show high levels of physical activity change following registration with the app.

CONCLUSIONS

The results highlight that an incentives-based app can induce significant physical activity behavior change, sustained over a 6-month period. Importantly, the results suggest that those typically lacking motivation to exercise (sedentary and high BMI) are most likely to be incentivized to increase their activity levels.
Development and Evaluation of the Online Addiction Medicine Certificate: Free Novel Program in a Canadian Setting (Preprint)
Authors: Gorfinkel Lauren Renee , Giesler Amanda , Dong Huiru , Wood Evan , Fairbairn Nadia , Klimas Jan
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

Despite the enormous bur­den of disease attributable to drug and alcohol addiction, there remain major challenges in implementing evi­dence-based addiction care and treatment modalities. This is partly because of a persistent lack of accessible, specialized training in addiction medicine. In response, a new online certificate in addiction medicine has been established in Vancouver, Canada, free of charge to participants globally.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate and examine changes in knowledge acquisition among health care professionals before and after the completion of an online certificate in addiction medicine.

METHODS

Learners enrolled in a 17-module certificate program and completed pre- and postknowledge tests using online multiple-choice questionnaires. Knowledge acquisition was then evaluated using a repeated measures t test of mean test scores before and after the online course. Following the certificate completion, a subset of learners completed the online course evaluation form.

RESULTS

Of the total 6985 participants who registered for the online course between May 15, 2017 and February 22, 2018, 3466 (49.62%) completed the online pretest questionnaire. A total of 1010 participants completed the full course, achieving the required 70% scores. TThe participants self-reported working in a broad range of health-related fields, including nursing (n=371), medicine (n=92), counseling or social work (n=69), community health (n=44), and pharmacy (n=34). The median graduation year was 2010 (n=363, interquartile range 2002-2015). Knowledge of the addiction medicine increased significantly postcertificate (mean difference 28.21; 95% CI 27.32 to 29.10; P<.001). Physicians scored significantly higher on the pretest than any other health discipline, whereas the greatest improvement in scores was seen in the counseling professions and community outreach.

CONCLUSIONS

This free, online, open-access certificate in addiction medicine appeared to improve knowledge of learners from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. Scaling up low threshold learning opportunities may further advance addiction medicine training, thereby helping to narrow the evidence-to-practice gap.
The Role of Campus Data in Representing Depression Among College Students: Exploratory Research (Preprint)
Authors: Mei Guang , Xu Weisheng , Li Li , Zhao Zhen , Li Hao , Liu Wenqing , Jiao Yueming
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

Depression is a predominant feature of many psychological problems leading to extreme behaviors and, in some cases, suicide. Campus information systems keep detailed and reliable student behavioral data; however, whether these data can reflect depression and we know the differences in behavior between depressive and nondepressive students are still research problems.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the behavioral patterns of depressed students by using multisource campus data and exploring the link between behavioral preferences and depressive symptoms. The campus data described in this paper include basic personal information, academic performance, poverty subsidy, consumption habit, daily routine, library behavior, and meal habit, totaling 121 features.

METHODS

To identify potentially depressive students, we developed an online questionnaire system based on a standard psychometric instrument, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). To explore the differences in behavior of depressive and nondepressive students, the Mann-Whitney U test was applied. In order to investigate the behavioral features of different depressive symptoms, factor analysis was used to divide the questionnaire items into different symptom groups and then correlation analysis was employed to study the extrinsic characteristics of each depressive symptom.

RESULTS

The correlation between these factors and the features were computed. The results indicated that there were 25 features correlated with either 4 factors or SDS score. The statistical results indicated that depressive students were more likely to fail exams, have poor meal habits, have increased night activities and decreased morning activities, and engage less in social activities (eg, avoiding meal times with friends). Correlation analysis showed that the somatic factor 2 (F4) was negatively correlated with the number of library visits (r=–.179, P<.001), and, compared with other factors, had the greatest impact on students’ daily schedule, eating and social habits. The biggest influencing factor to poor academic performance was cognitive factor F1, and its score was found to be significantly positively correlated with fail rate (r=.185, P=.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The results presented in this study indicate that campus data can reflect depression and its symptoms. By collecting a large amount of questionnaire data and combining machine learning algorithms, it is possible to realize an identification method of depression and depressive symptoms based on campus data.
The Integration of Interlinkages Between Nature and Human Health in Primary Health Care: Protocol for a Scoping Review (Preprint)
Authors: Lauwers Laura , Bastiaens Hilde , Remmen Roy , Keune Hans
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

International overview reports and the majority of scientific publications on interlinkages between nature and human health (NHI) do not seem to focus on the role of the health care sector. Primary health care (PHC) is often the first point of contact people have with the health care system and provides comprehensive, accessible, and community-based care that meets the health needs of individuals throughout their life. PHC is a vital backbone for linking knowledge and practice within the organization of health care. This scoping review aims to focus on the potential role of PHC in relation to NHI.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this protocol is to present the method used to scope international overview reports and scientific publications on what is mentioned on the integration of NHI in PHC.

METHODS

The international overview reports have been screened for keywords relating to PHC. We developed a specific search strategy to scope scientific literature on NHI in relation to PHC. The scientific literature search ran in Web of Science (WOS) and PubMed from inception to May 2017. The scientific publications are screened by 2 independent reviewers, which will result in a list of relevant publications that meet eligibility and inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

On the basis of a first screen on the title of the first 200 results in both search engines, we decided to restrict to WOS. First insights in the international overview reports and the quantitative overview of the results in WOS give a first impression of a missing link between NHI and PHC. The findings are expected to identify knowledge gaps in the translation of evidence on NHI in PHC practices and the role of PHC regarding the application of that evidence in health care practice.

CONCLUSIONS

This is, to our knowledge, the first study that seeks to relate existing knowledge on NHI to PHC. The presentation of our method through this protocol allows researchers to build upon and improve our work in future research on the practical implementation of NIH. The findings of the scoping review are expected to guide future scientific research, international policy directives, and PHC workers to fill the gaps in the integration of NHI in PHC.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR

DERR1-10.2196/12510
Telemedicine Training in Undergraduate Medical Education: Mixed-Methods Review (Preprint)
Authors: Waseh Shayan , Dicker Adam P
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine has grown exponentially in the United States over the past few decades, and contemporary trends in the health care environment are serving to fuel this growth into the future. Therefore, medical schools are learning to incorporate telemedicine competencies into the undergraduate medical education of future physicians so that they can more effectively leverage telemedicine technologies for improving the quality of care, increasing patient access, and reducing health care expense. This review articulates the efforts of allopathic-degree-granting medical schools in the United States to characterize and systematize the learnings that have been generated thus far in the domain of telemedicine training in undergraduate medical education.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review was to collect and outline the current experiences and learnings that have been generated as medical schools have sought to implement telemedicine capacity-building into undergraduate medical education.

METHODS

We performed a mixed-methods review, starting with a literature review via Scopus, tracking with Excel, and an email outreach effort utilizing telemedicine curriculum data gathered by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. This outreach included 70 institutions and yielded 7 interviews, 4 peer-reviewed research papers, 6 online documents, and 3 completed survey responses.

RESULTS

There is an emerging, rich international body of learning being generated in the field of telemedicine training in undergraduate medical education. The integration of telemedicine-based lessons, ethics case-studies, clinical rotations, and even teleassessments are being found to offer great value for medical schools and their students. Most medical students find such training to be a valuable component of their preclinical and clinical education for a variety of reasons, which include fostering greater familiarity with telemedicine and increased comfort with applying telemedical approaches in their future careers.

CONCLUSIONS

These competencies are increasingly important in tackling the challenges facing health care in the 21st century, and further implementation of telemedicine curricula into undergraduate medical education is highly merited.