bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perspectives on employers’ expectations on tertiary education graduates’ employability skills in Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Obioha Emeka , Sotshangane Yonela
Published: June 2022

Given that undergraduates, graduates and tertiary institutions of higher learning are uncertain Given that undergraduates, graduates, and tertiary institutions of higher learning are uncertain regarding the expectations of employers in the work organizations on the skill that graduates possess, the study presented in this paper attempts to provide some meaningful clues in that directions. The study followed a research question that interrogates what employability skills employers expect graduates to possess for an entry-level job. Designed as a descriptive study, a quantitative research approach was chosen, where the survey method of data collection was employed through a closed-ended structured questionnaire. The study targeted employers (managers) of public and private work organizations in the health and education sectors in a South African town Mthatha, from where a sample of 41 participants (representing organizations) was drawn. The study employed a stratified random sampling in selecting the participants, which ensured that the principle of selecting representatives of the target population was met. Data collected from the participants were analyzed by the use of selected descriptive tools. The analyzed data revealed that all employers expect graduates to possess all the 13 skill areas that employees require to function in the workplace. Surprisingly, the employers mostly expect least from the young graduates in terms of quantitative skills and leadership capabilities. While this finding corroborates what exists in the literature, it provides a new dimension with regard to priority skills needed by employers in the South African labor market. The study, therefore, recommends that the work organizations and higher institutions of learning should form a partnership and a close relationship so that they can assist one another in building the employability skills of graduates.
Investigating the dynamic impact of firm-specific and macroeconomic drivers on profitability of general insurance companies in Bangladesh
Authors: Lalon Raad Mozib , Das Joy
Published: June 2022

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between profitability measured with ROE along with EPS and several industry-specific factors such as underwriting risk, reinsurance dependence, solvency margin, leverage, liquidity risk, premium growth, size of the company, tangibility of assets as well as macroeconomic factors such as GDP growth, inflation, and stock market development of the general insurance companies of Bangladesh based on the sample of 7 insurance companies for the period of 2010-2019. For the analyses, several econometric models have been adopted to estimate the coefficients such as Pooled OLS, Cross-sectional GLS, Fixed-effect, Random-effect, and One-step GMM approaches. Moreover, diagnostic tests have also been conducted to examine the validity of the models such as model specification tests, heteroskedasticity tests, multicollinearity tests, autocorrelation tests, and unit-root tests. According to the computed coefficients, none of the macroeconomic variables utilized in the model affects profitability, except inflation, which positively affects ROE. Underwriting risk and size are found to negatively affect ROE but positively affect EPS. Of the two measures of profitability, only the EPS is affected by premium growth. Except for Fixed-effect, reinsurance dependence has a large positive influence on EPS and ROE. In contrast, liquidity and leverage have a positive impact on ROE. The tangibility of assets negatively affects both EPS and ROE where EPS is significant and ROE is insignificant only under fixed effect. Aside from premium growth, underwriting risk and solvency margin have a positive impact on EPS. Finally, using the GMM technique, we find that no lag variables are significant, indicating no profitability persistence. However, the model fits the data well for predicting EPS and ROE as profitability measures explaining 89.38 percent of EPS variation and 80.38 percent of ROE variation using Pooled OLS.
Temporary staff performance in universities
Authors: Rakotoarizaka Nandrianina Louis Pierre , Qamari Ika Nurul , Nuryakin Nuryakin
Published: June 2022

This empirical research evaluates the mediating role of the employee-organization relationship through work flexibility and perceived organizational support variables on temporary employee performance in an academic institution. This research included 116 temporary administrative respondents as samples. The census sample selection approach was used to analyze primary data using SmartPLS. The present study revealed that work flexibility has no significant effect on employee-organization relations. Meanwhile, perceived organizational support has a substantial and positive impact on the employee-organization relationship. Work flexibility and employee-organization relationship positively and significantly impact temporary staff performance. Perceived organizational support does not affect temporary staff performance. Employee-organization relationship fully mediates the positive relationship between perceived organizational support and temporary staff performance. This paper is one of the first papers to investigate the role of the employee-organization relationship as an intervening variable in the relationship between workplace flexibility and perceived organizational support of temporary staff performance at a private university.
Intergenerational succession mode and selection mechanism of female successors in Chinese family businesses
Authors: Chen Xi , Wu Zefan
Published: June 2022

This study explains the modes of intergenerational succession by female successors in Chinese family businesses and the selection mechanism. In view of the family businesses to which females (daughters) belong, this paper proposes five types of intergenerational succession modes of family businesses, namely the kindred-based succession by the daughter, kindred-based succession by others, joint succession by the daughter and her siblings, joint succession by the daughter and her husband (son-in-law), and succession by a professional manager. By means of case analysis, this study also explores the driving forces for choosing a proper model from the above five succession modes, including family structure, the father’s and business owner’s attitudes, and the daughter’s attitude toward succession, etc. This paper contributes to the domain of the intergenerational succession mode by ‘female (daughter) successors’ in Chinese family-owned businesses theoretically and practically.
Does marketing strategy support the sustainability of the school industry?
Authors: Parahiyanti Cesya Rizkika , Nurmalita Rosa
Published: June 2022

The competition in the early childhood education industry is getting tougher with new preschools with various types and innovations on offer. This exploratory research reviews the situation and condition of preschools in Indonesia with a qualitative approach based on case studies. Secondary data collection and interviews with millennial mothers were carried out to support the existing data to analyze the gaps in the marketing strategies used by preschools with expectations in the community. The results of this study indicate that preschools must understand the current needs of their prospective customers, especially millennial mothers who currently have great potential to become their primary target market. The strategy used can depart from the marketing mix analysis, such as optimizing the school's website and social media as a reference communication medium for parents in choosing a preschool for their children.
National Development Policies in the Face of Global Challenges: the Irish “Pendulum”
Authors: Semenenko I.
Published: June 2022

Divided societies project new cleavages into the contemporary divided world. Assessing cleavages as drivers of social change and evaluating their positive potential versus evident negative impacts is a key element in forecasting prospects of social development. The paper addresses social and economic statistical data, opinion polls and academic research input of the past decade to prove the need to balance tradition and innovation and combine tangible and intangible assets to support the progress of national and local communities. The trend to reduce social inequalities is an important criterion for evaluating the strategic consistency of such policies, whereas the main contextual factor important for their success is the dynamics of support for these policies and the engagement of citizens and communities in their implementation. The example of Ireland as a society that has managed to integrate divisions of the nation and of its historic territory into its development strategies and to promote past cultural traumas as drivers of social cohesion with a long-lasting effect is a representative case in this sense. This case is relevant for explaining the pendulum effects of economic development that can be compensated by consistent social policies, and by recurring to intangible cultural resources and diaspora support to promote an inclusive national identity. Ongoing deep transformations of the existing world order are creating new political spaces, and recourse to intangible resources of development may stimulate a reevaluation of the current conflictual political agenda.
Russia on the Eve of Participating in the War of Indentists and Antiidentists
Authors: Lunkin R. , Filatov S.
Published: June 2022

The article analyzes the role of Russia in the framework of the current opposition of traditionalists to Western anti-identity influence. In this context, anti-identity is the main characteristic of the modern “new liberalism”, or liberal democracy. It is emphasized that the “new liberalism” has little to do with traditional European liberalism, it has completely different roots, which go also into the Russian soil. The authors see the origins of the “new liberalism” in Marxism, on the basis of which the ideology of overcoming identity was born in the second half of the 20th century. The dictatorship of minorities and a specific form of ostracism – Cancel culture – have become a tool for combating identity as the need to realize one’s connection with any community and its values. In contrast to Western countries, radical forms of anti-identity in Russia were already embodied by the Bolsheviks after the 1917 revolution in the field of gender policy, sexual morality and the national question. The rollback of Soviet policy from Bolshevik maximalism did not lead to a complete return to traditional values, which especially affected family values. From the point of view of the Central and Eastern European traditionalists (Poland, Hungary), whom the leaders of the European Union consider authoritarians, Russia is a defender of traditional values, but there were no statements that the Russian government embodies “true European values” and the ideals of “real” democracy. For many conservative politicians in Western Europe and the USA (Protestants and Catholics, Muslims), although Russia is important as a country that opposes anti-identity, its role is largely symbolic, since in Russia there are no influential political and significant public circles that consistently defend, for example, biblical values, like in the United States (prohibition of abortion, in addition to rejecting same-sex marriage, a high degree of religiosity and protection of the interests of their church, following biblical norms in life).
REB indexes
Authors: Aukutsionek S. , Batyaeva A. , Dyomina N. , Egorov A. , Matveev A.
Published: June 2022

“REB indexes” cover a wide range of economic indicators of Russian industrial enterprises. The article presents basic statistical data collected on a monthly, quarterly and semi-annual base by the Russian Economic Barometer by means of direct questioning of managers of industrial and agricultural enterprises. Regular extension of rows allows seeing dynamics of more than 70 series of indicators and conducting comparative analysis of data collected since 1991.
Analysis of College Students' Consumption and Its Influencing Factors
Authors: You Xuyang
Published: June 2022

University is a special stage in life. As a special consumer group, the shaping and cultivation of college students' consumption concept has a more prominent and direct impact on the formation and development of their world outlook, and then has an important impact on people's life moral behavior. It is an effective way to describe college students' consumption in their daily life. In this paper, questionnaire survey, stratified sampling and other methods are used to investigate the consumption of college students, and multivariate statistical analysis is used to analyze the consumption structure.
Analisis Perencanaan Jaringan Wi-Fi untuk Mendukung Konsep Desa Digital di Wilayah Kota Tasikmalaya
Authors: Isnawati Anggun Fitrian , Nurseha Helmi , Danisya Ahmad Rizal
Published: June 2022

Abstrak- Perkembangan teknologi di era serba digital menjadikan penggunaan internet sebagai media baru dan sangat diperlukan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Perkembangan ini menimbulkan tantangan bagi pembangunan ekonomi pedesaan. Desa harus mampu beradaptasi dengan kemajuan teknologi dengan mengurangi kesenjangan digital melalui pengembangan desa digital. Digitalisasi desa bertujuan untuk mengembangkan potensi desa, mempermudah layanan publik dan mempercepat akses jaringan. Dalam mendukung penerapannya, pemerintah berupaya memberikan layanan internet dengan membangun infrastruktur teknologi jaringan Wi-Fi di pedesaan. Untuk itu dalam penelitian ini dilakukan perencanan jaringan Wi-Fi untuk mendukung konsep desa digital di daerah Desa Setiajaya. Perencanaan jaringan dilakukan menggunakan software Atoll dengan metode perencanaan berdasarkan cakupan dan kapasitas yang disimulasikan. Penelitian ini menggunakan parameter simulasi seperti signal level dan traffic maps. Dari dua perencanaan yang sudah dilakukan, berdasarkan cakupan memiliki 4 access point (AP), sedangkan berdasarkan kapasitas memiliki 10 AP. Dari hasil yang telah diuji, perencanaan berdasarkan kapasitas lebih baik dibanding perencanaan berdasarkan cakupan. Data yang diperoleh adalah daerah Desa Setiajaya seluas 1,886 km2 tercakup oleh Wi-Fi dengan memiliki signal level kurang dari -90 dBm. Banyaknya user yang dapat terhubung dengan Wi-Fi sebanyak 59,7% (total 1916 user) dan mendapatkan nilai throughput sebesar 137,04 Mbps.
Prototype Robot Manipulator 4 DOF Berbasis Raspberry Pi Zero W
Authors: Supriyono Joko , Wahjudi Dody , Watiningsih Tri
Published: June 2022

Pemanfaatan mikrokontroler untuk menunjang pekerjaan manusia serta didunia industri menuntut adanya perkembangan dalam hal ketepatan, kecepatan serta teknologi yang terbaru. Raspberry Pi merupakan papan tunggal single board circuit (SBC) seukuran kartu kredit yang dapat digunakan untuk menjalankan program perkantoran, permainan komputer, sebagai pemutar media beresolusi tinggi serta menjadi mikrokontroler. Dengan menggunakan bahasa pemrograman PYTTHON yang mudah dipahami dan populer, Raspberry Pi dapat dengan mudah dalam pengembangannya. Salah satu penggunaan Raspberry Pi yaitu sebagai mikrokontroler robot lengan yang digunakan oleh manusia untuk mengangkat benda berat atau membutuhkan perpindahan yang mempunyai jarak jauh. Prototype Robot lengan dibuat menggunakan motor penggerak yaitu 1 servo  Tower Pro MG996R dan 3 mini servo MG90S serta 4 buah potensiometer sebagai kendali manualnya. Robot difungsikan untuk memindahkan benda secara manual yaitu dengan memutar potensiometer. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian yang telah dilakukan robot lengan dapat memindahkan barang dari titik tertentu ke titik yang lain dengan berat kurang dari 90 gram dan benda berdimensi kurang dari P=60mm, L=36mm dan T=44mm. Mikrokontroler Raspberry Pi Zero W dinilai sangat efektif dalam menjalankan fungsinya, dalam pengembangannya Prototype Robot Manipulator 4DOF Berbasis Raspberry Pi Zero W dapat dengan mudah dikembangakan sesuai dengan kebutuhan manusia.

 

Kata Kunci: Robot 4DOF, Raspberry Pi Zero W, PYTHON

 

ABSTRACT

The use of microcontrollers to support human work and in the industrial world requires developments in terms of accuracy, speed and the latest technology. Raspberry Pi is a single board circuit (SBC) the size of a credit card that can be used to run office programs, computer games, as a high-resolution media player and a microcontroller. By using the PYTTHON programming language that is easy to understand and popular, Raspberry Pi can be easily developed. One of the uses of Raspberry Pi is as a microcontroller robot arm that is used by humans to lift heavy objects or require long distance movements. Prototype Robot arm is made using a drive motor namely 1 servo Tower Pro MG996R and 3 mini servo MG90S and 4 potentiometers as manual control. The robot functions to move objects manually by turning the potentiometer. Based on the results of research that has been done robot arms can move things from one point to another with a weight of less than 90 grams and objects with dimensions less than P = 60mm, L = 36mm and T = 44mm. The Raspberry Pi Zero W microcontroller is considered to be very effective in carrying out its functions, in its development the 4DOF Prototype Robot Manipulator Based on the Raspberry Pi Zero W can be easily developed according to human needs.

 

Keyword: Robot 4DOF, Raspberry Pi Zero W, PYTHON
Consciousness and Life after Death in the Evolution of Intelligence
Authors: Senarath Dayathilake Kande Lekamalaya
Published: June 2022

It seems that no scientific study has been able to find evidence of an afterlife, and the mechanism of consciousness is two of the most challenging questions. Here, I show a hypothesis for consciousness and the probability of an afterlife through three simple thought experiments and theoretical evidence, yet more studies need to precisely understand the mechanism. I found that consciousness might be discussed from three fundamental theories: (1) quantum-level particles of functional neurons in the brain according to quantum mechanics, (2) the brain and it's larger matter than quantum particles behave to general relativity, and (3) a new theory is needed for the function of two ultraquantum particles. When a person or animal dies, the selection of a new neuronal system's quality of new life might depend on the quality of the finally evolving ultraquantum genome. Here, I suggest that the positive or negative development of the ultraquantum genome depends on the natural evolution of the brain's cognition, including intelligence. When a brain dies, the ultraquantum particles might emit from the dead brain and simultaneously bond with the suitable early vacant nervous system anywhere in the universe/s, creating a new life with the impact of new nurture.
Microbiological Safety of Fresh-Cut Produce and Salads Served at Quick Service Restaurants
Authors: Shahbaz Muhammad Shahbaz , Bilal Muhammad
Published: June 2022

The consumption and sale of fresh-cut products and salads have been growing tremendously in the present era. Therefore, the microbial safety of such products is of great concern. In the current study, a survey of general microbiological safety of fresh-cut produce and salads at quick-service restaurants (QSR) was undertaken across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These findings were compared with microbiological criteria for foodstuffs by Saudi standards, metrology, and quality organization SASO-GSO-1016. Of the 82 samples of fresh-cut produce, 7% of samples were found to be unsatisfactory or beyond the acceptable limits. TPC count was unsatisfactory at 22%, coliform at 48%, and Staphylococcus aureus at 4%. For 108 samples for fresh salads, 11% of samples were found to be unsatisfactory or beyond the acceptable limits,13%, 27%, 4%, and 27% of samples showed an unsatisfactory range of TPC, coliforms, S. aureus, and Escherichia coli, respectively. The fresh-cut produce and salads were microbiologically safe in the central region compared to the eastern region followed by the western region. The relatively higher count was found in green pepper, mixed vegetables, and lettuce followed by fresh-cut onions and coleslaw salads. No Salmonella was detected in both fresh-cut produce and salads. The restaurants should be more stringent in their processing to ensure the consumer safety. Washing and sanitization of produce is the only way to reduce the diffusion of food borne pathogens.
Three-Dimensional Lower Limb Kinematics from Accelerometers and Gyroscopes with Simple and Minimal Functional Calibration Tasks: Validation on Asymptomatic Participants
Authors: Carcreff Lena , Grouvel Gautier , Payen Gabriel , Massé Fabien , Armand Stéphane
Published: June 2022

The use of inertial measurement units (IMUs) to compute gait outputs such as the 3D lower limb kinematics is of huge potential, but no consensus on the procedures and algorithms exists. This study aimed at evaluating the validity of a 7-IMUs system against the optoelectronic system. Ten asymptomatic subjects were included. They wore IMUs on their feet, shanks, thighs and pelvis. The IMUs were embedded in clusters with reflective markers. Reference kinematics was computed from anatomical markers. Gait kinematics was obtained from accelerometer and gyroscope data after sensor orientation estimation and sensor-to-segment (S2S) calibration steps. The S2S calibration steps were also applied to the cluster data. IMU-based and cluster-based kinematics were compared to the reference through root mean square errors (RMSEs), centered RMSEs (after mean removal), correlation coefficients (CCs) and differences of amplitude. The mean RMSE and centered RMSE were respectively 7.5° and 4.0° for IMU-kinematics, and 7.9° and 3.8° for cluster-kinematics. Very good CCs were found in the sagittal plane for both IMUs and cluster-based kinematics at the hip, knee and ankle levels (CCs>0.85). The overall mean amplitude difference was about 7°. These results reflected good accordance of our system with the reference, especially in the sagittal plane, but the presence of offsets requires caution for clinical use.
Dynamics of Gut Microbiome and Transcriptome in Korea Native Ricefish (Oryzias latipes) during Chronic Antibiotics Exposure
Authors: Yoon Ju Bin , Hwang Sungmin , Yang Jun Hyeok , Lee Seungki , Bang Woo Young , Moon Ki Hwan
Published: June 2022

Antibiotics have been used in various fields such as livestock farm and fish farm as well as hospital in order to treat diseases caused by bacteria. However, the antibiotics that are not completely decomposed, but remains as residue and discharge to aquatic environment, can cause an imbalance in the gut flora of host, as well as regulate abnormal host gene regulatory system. We investigated the effects of chronic exposure with the low concentrations of erythromycin and ampicillin on gut microbiome and immune and stress-related gene expression using Korea native ricefish (Oryzias latipes). As a result of microbiome analysis, the proportion of Proteobacteria was increased in the ricefish when exposed to erythromycin and ampicillin chronically, whereas the proportion of other bacterial phyla decreased. In addition, the immune and stress-related genes were significantly influenced in the ricefish under the chronic antibiotics exposure. These results show that the internal microbial flora and the host gene expression are susceptible even in the low concentration of chronic antibiotic existing environments. This study provides the importance of the appropriate use of antibiotics dose to maintain the sustainable and healthy aquaculture industry and water ecosystem.
Early Carboniferous Ostracods (Crustacea) from Death Valley, California, USA
Authors: McMenamin Mark A. S.
Published: June 2022

Silicified ostracods from the Lower Carboniferous (Lower Tin Mountain Limestone; Kinderhookian-early Osagean; 350-358.9 Ma) of Lost Burro Gap, Death Valley region, Inyo County, California, USA augment the diversity of Paleozoic ostracods of western North America. Acid maceration of pelmatozoan, micritic and silicate clay-rich micritic marine limestones yielded the following palaeocopid and podocopid ostracods: Acratia spp., Bairdia quasilecta Bushmina, 1975, Bairdia sp. cf. B. orientalis, Ceratobairdia sp., Kirkbya panamintensis sp. nov., Rectobairdia sp. cf. R. legumen, and Silenites sp. This is the first report of Ceratobairdia and Silenites from the Tin Mountain Limestone. These ostracods occupied a Panthalassan carbonate ramp environment, and represent part of a fauna that was widespread in shallow marine waters of Panthalassa.
Effectiveness of Agreement Criteria and Flows of Collaborative Care in Primary Mental Health Care in Brazil
Authors: Silva Valdecir Carneiro da , Coelho Ardigleusa Alves , Queiroz Ana Angélica Rêgo de , Costa Gabriela Maria Cavalcanti , Alchieri João Carlos , Arcêncio Ricardo Alexandre , Uchôa Severina Alice da Costa
Published: June 2022

The supply of mental health processes in primary care has gaps. This study aims to analyze the association of agreement criteria and flows between primary care teams and the Family Health Support Center (NASF) for mental health collaborative care, considering the difference between capital and non-capital cities in Brazil. This cross-sectional study was conducted based on secondary data from the Primary Care Access and Quality Improvement Program. Agreement criteria and flows were obtained from 3883 NASF teams of the matrix support or collaborative care. The Chi-square test and multiple Poisson regression were used; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Prevalence ratios of negative associations demonstrated protective factors for support actions: follow-up at Psychosocial Care Center, management of psychopharmacotherapy, offer of other therapeutic actions, care process for users of psychoactive substances, and offer of activities to prevent the use of psychoactive substances. Collaborative care in primary care was effective, and capital cities were a protective factor compared with non-capital cities.
A System of Selecting Progressive Methods and Technologies to Improve the Management of Production Processes
Authors: Bubenik Peter , Kolesnyk Olha , Rakyta Miroslav , Binasova Vladimira , Capek Juraj
Published: June 2022

The contribution deals with the selection of progressive methods and technologies to improve the management of production processes in the industrial area. The first chapter of the contribution summarises the theoretical starting points for the management of production processes and their progressive concepts. Chapter 2 deals with the analysis of the current state of play in the use of methods and technologies in production management and summarise its problem areas. Chapter 3 presents the design of a system for selecting the appropriate method and technology to improve the management of the production process. The system presented is designed from data collection blocks, a benchmark for the performance of industrial enterprises' production processes, and data mining to gain knowledge of the impact of the methods and technologies used on the performance of production processes. The last block of the system allows the presentation of the obtained results, which sets out the recommendation for the choice of progressive method and technology. The system is partially verified in the last chapter of the contribution.
THE EFFECT OF SELECTED FACTORS ON MILKING RATE IN POLISH HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN BLACK-AND-WHITE COWS
Authors:   Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland, PYTLEWSKI Jarosław , ANTKOWIAK Ireneusz R. ,   Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland, CZERNIAWSKA-PIĄTKOWSKA Ewa ,   Department of Ruminant Science, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland
Published: June 2022

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of selected physiological factors (age, lactation stage and daily milk yield) on milking rate by Polish Holstein-Friesian Black-and-White cows. The duration of morning, evening and diurnal milking was determined. Milking rate of cows was characterized based on the mean actual and corrected milk yield per 1 minute of milking. Statistical analysis showed a lack of any dependence between the age group of cows and milking duration as well as mean actual and corrected milk yields in the minute of milking. Milking time decreased with progress in lactation. In terms of the mean milk yield the lowest value of this parameter was recorded for cows being in their first stage of lactation (≤ day 40). Cows with greater daily milk yields compared to those producing less milk were characterized by longer milking times and greater mean actual and corrected milk yields in the minute of milking. Milking rate of cows is a functional trait of considerable importance in the economics of raw milk production. The selection towards of an increase in milk yield, may have a positive effect on milking rate in cows.
DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY IN THE DOMESTIC DOG (CANIS LUPUS FAMILIARIS) – IN SILICO ANALYSIS OF SELECTED GENES
Authors:   Scientific Association of Experimental and Laboratory Animals, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Warszawa, Poland, WILIM Daria , GRUSZCZYŃSKA Joanna ,   Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Warszawa, Poland, GRZEGRZÓŁKA Beata ,   Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Warszawa, Poland, SHUVAR Ivan ,   Lviv National Agrarian University, Dublyany, Lviv, Ukraine
Published: June 2022

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a progressive loss of contractility of the heart muscle as the disease progresses. It causes a decrease in the heart’s minute capacity, i.e. the volume of blood pumped by the heart into the blood vessels in one minute. DCM leads to congestive heart failure and sudden death. The aim of this study was to identify in silico genes within which mutations have occurred that may cause DCM in the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), to identify dog breeds at risk, and to propose breed-specific diagnostic molecular tests. For bioinformatic analyses of sequences retrieved from GenBank (NC_006587.3 – FGGY, NC_006583.3 – DCC and CM023383.1 – PDE3B) and from scientific publications (PDK4 – from patent publication number US 2011/0307965 A1 and STRN – Meurs et al. 2010), the following programs were used: Primer3 v. 0.4.0, NEBcutter v. 2.0 and BLAST. Based on literature data, domestic dog breeds such as Doberman Pinscher, Boxer, Portuguese Water Dog, Newfoundland, Irish Wolfhound and Great Dane were found to be among the breeds with the highest risk of DCM. In order to identify relevant mutations in the genes studied (FGGY, DCC, PDE3B, PDK4 and STRN) that may cause the occurrence of dilated cardiomyopathy, the use of specific restriction enzymes has been proposed in molecular diagnostic tests: BmiI for mutations in the PDK4 gene and Tth111I for SNPs in the FGGY gene (Doberman Pinscher) and TaqI for SNPs in the DCC gene and HinfI for SNPs in the PDE3B gene (Irish Wolfhound). This work, may serve as a prelude to analysis for targeted genetic testing to enable correct diagnosis of DCM in asymptomatic dogs
Isolated Lateral Tibiofemoral Compartment Osteoarthritis
Authors: Plancher Kevin D. , Briggs Karen K. , Chinnakkannu Karthikeyan , Dotterweich Kathryn A. , Commaroto Sarah A. , Wang Karina H. , Petterson Stephanie C.
Published: June 2022

Background:

Lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is an excellent option to alleviate disability and restore function in patients with lateral compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA). The purpose of the present study was to determine the survivorship and long-term outcomes in both younger/middle-aged and older patients with lateral compartment OA following non-robotically-assisted, fixed-bearing lateral UKA and to determine if an acceptable symptom state can be achieved.

Methods:

All patients were managed with fixed-bearing lateral UKA by a single surgeon utilizing a lateral parapatellar approach without robotic assistance. The primary outcome variables were the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Sport subscale scores. In addition, the other KOOS subscores, the Lysholm score, the achievement of the Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS), and the Veterans RAND (VR-12) Physical Component Summary score (PCS) and Mental Component Summary score (MCS) were collected. Failure was defined as conversion to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: younger/middle-aged patients (<60 years of age) and older patients (≥60 years of age).

Results:

A cohort of 256 patients underwent medial (n = 193) or lateral (n = 63) UKA. Sixty-one patients met the inclusion criteria. At mean of 10 years (range, 4 to 17 years) of follow-up, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of any patient-reported outcome measures (p > 0.05). The percentage of patients in whom PASS was achieved on the KOOS ADL and Sport subscores was 82% and 88%, respectively, in the younger cohort and 80% and 80%, respectively, in the older cohort. The mean survival estimate of the prothesis was 15.3 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.5 to 16.2 years) for the entire cohort. The estimated rate of implant survival in the younger cohort was 100% at 5 and 10 years, and the estimated rate of implant survival in the older cohort was 98% at 5 years and 96% at 10 years.

Conclusions:

Lateral fixed-bearing, non-robotic UKA for the treatment of isolated lateral compartment OA resulted in >80% of patients reaching an acceptable symptom state in terms of both activities of daily living and sporting activities. UKA provides an excellent option that provides longevity with high PASS rates and return to activities with a low risk of complications and failure.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Prediction of Elastic Properties of Thin Homogeneous Layers Based on Seismic Data
Authors: Alekseeva P.A. , Kerusov I.N.
Published: June 2022

—Many attributes and inversion transformations solving the problem of extracting information on the elastic properties of a medium are based on the Zoeppritz equation or its approximations calculated for a boundary between two half-spaces. In a real medium, a seismic signal is in interference as a result of reflection from the top and bottom of individual thin layers or units, the elastic properties of which differ from those of the adjacent rocks. In such media, there is a discrepancy between experimental and theoretical dependences of the reflection coefficient amplitude developed for half-spaces. For a homogeneous thin layer, the change in the frequency response of the reflection coefficient is associated with the reflection coefficients of the layer top and bottom interfaces and the wave traveltime within the layer at the same time. A detailed analysis of the reflection coefficient amplitude of a homogeneous thin layer using the spectral decomposition technology allows us to isolate only the change in the reflection coefficients, regardless of the thickness. The proposed method for predicting the elastic properties of thin beds is based on the analytical derivation of the reflection coefficient of a homogeneous thin bed, according to which there is a parabolic relation between the squared reflection coefficient amplitude and the squared frequency. The approximation coefficient at the zero degree of the argument mainly characterizes the properties of a medium, unlike the first- and second-degree coefficients, which depend both on the properties and on the thickness of the bed. Therefore, it makes sense to use the approximation coefficient at the zero degree of the argument as an attribute of the wavefield to predict the elastic properties of thin beds in the interwell space. A good example of a relatively homogeneous thin layer is a narrow riverbed. Determining the properties of the rock filling the channel feature helps identify more sandy areas that are promising for further development of the field.
Application of the Milan System of Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology: A Retrospective Cytohistological Study in a Tertiary Medical Center
Authors: Legaspi Carolyn Marie , Alcazaren Elizabeth Ann , Carnate Jr. Jose
Published: June 2022

Background. A fine needle aspiration biopsy has been established as a safe, minimally invasive procedure in evaluation of salivary gland lesions. The complex overlapping cytomorphology of these lesions are challenging for pathologists, hence the introduction of an evidence-based system, the Milan System of Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology, to improve overall patient care. The study was taken up to reclassify salivary gland lesions from previous FNA biopsies in order to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of FNA, and evaluate the risk of malignancy of the various categories of the Milan system.
Methodology. This was a 6-year retrospective descriptive study in a tertiary medical center. All salivary gland FNA cases were reviewed by two pathologists, and re-classified into the six categories of the Milan System. The number of false positive, false negative, true positive and true negative cases were obtained by comparingwith the final histopathology diagnosis, and the risk of malignancy per category were calculated.
Results. A total of 76 cases were reviewed and the overall average of the two readers diagnostic accuracy were 85.02% (95% CI: 84.50-85.60%), sensitivity and specificity were 80.77% (95% CI: 79.90-81.60%) and 86.19% (95% CI: 85.70-86.70%), respectively; positive and negative predictive values were 62.16% (95% CI: 60.70-63.60%) and 94.17% (95% CI: 94.00-94.40%), respectively.
Conclusion. The Milan System category with highest risk of malignancy was Malignant (Category VI – 100%). FNAB is still a reliable tool for clinicians, and use of the Milan System of Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology is beneficial in increasing efficacy of communication among clinicians to improve patient care.
Prevalence and Clinico-Pathologic Features of ALK Rearrangement Among Adult Filipinos with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in a Private Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Tamayo Steffanie Charlyne , Nagtalon Rebecca , Balolong-Garcia Joanmarie , Mascardo Yancel Donna , Andal Jose Jasper , Ang Daphne , Imasa Marcelo Severino , Santiago Rex Michael
Published: June 2022

Introduction. With advancements in the understanding of lung cancer biology, targeted therapy has become the rule rather than the exception. Patients with ALK rearrangements are amenable to therapy with Alectinib and other ALK inhibitors, which has been associated with better patient outcomes. While ALK rearrangement should be routinely tested in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the cost and availability of this test is a prohibitive factor, particularly in the Philippine setting.
Objectives. This study aimed (1) to determine the prevalence of ALK-rearranged NSCLC among adult Filipino lung cancer patients in St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) from 2016 to 2018 and (2) to determine the clinico-pathologic features of adult Filipinos with ALK-rearranged NSCLC.
Methodology. This is a retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study wherein the prevalence of ALK-rearranged NSCLC, detected using fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) or immunohistochemistry (IHC), was determined. Clinical data of patients for whom ALK testing was performed were collected. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) slides were retrieved and reviewed for the presence of certain morphologic features. Patients whose H&E slides cannot be retrieved were excluded from the study.
Results. ALK rearrangement was seen in 7.8% (8/103) of tumors submitted for ALK testing. Patients with ALK-rearranged tumors were generally young, light smokers, and presented with advanced clinical stage. Clear cell features and solid pattern were noted in one case and three cases, respectively. However, due to small sample size, further statistical analysis could not be performed to analyze the association of these features with the presence of ALK rearrangement.
Conclusion. Despite a small sample size, the prevalence and clinical profile of ALK-rearranged NSCLC in our institution are congruent with those previously described in Western populations. The association of clinical profile and morphologic features with the presence of ALK rearrangement can be further explored in future studies.
Ectopic Schistosomiasis Presenting as Ruptured Appendicitis with Periappendiceal Abscess Formation
Authors: Del Fierro Marcel Joshua , Tan Yvette , Torno Larissa Lara
Published: June 2022

Schistosomiasis is still a public health burden in the Philippines. Chronic infection with Schistosoma japonicum, the only species endemic in the Philippines, clinically manifests itself in a wide variety of pathologies usually correlated with the anatomical site of adult worm activity and deposition of eggs. One of the documented ectopic sites for Schistosoma ova is the appendix. A rare sequela of this is acute appendicitis and an even rarer consequence is progression to appendiceal rupture leading to acute peritonitis. We present a case of a 27-year-old Filipino residing in Davao City but born in Agusan Province who initially complained of right lower quadrant abdominal pain but presented at the emergency room with generalized abdominal tenderness with signs of peritoneal irritation. Exploratory laparotomy with an infraumbilical incision revealed ruptured appendicitis with periappendiceal abscess formation and appendectomy was subsequently done. Schistosoma infection of the appendix was subsequently established by histopathological analysis. Furthermore, features observed suggest an atypical pathogenetic process contrary to the putative pathogenesis of most cases of acute appendicitis.
Determination of Rates of Malignancy on Archival Salivary Gland Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy after Application of the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology in the Philippine General Hospital
Authors: Cablao Nikko Paolo , De Grano Pauleen , Abelardo Agustina , Avila Jose Ma. , Argamosa Dahlia Teresa
Published: June 2022

Background. The Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRGC) aims to increase the overall effectiveness of salivary gland FNAB by defining six general diagnostic categories with corresponding Rates of Malignancies (ROM). This study aims to use this system to categorize salivary gland FNAB in the Philippine General Hospital and stratify ROM per category.
Methodology. In this study a total of 326 cases have been collected and reviewed, of which 154 (47.2%) had either surgical or clinical follow-up. The cases were assigned a Milan category by 3 cytopathologists blinded from the original diagnoses and from each other’s readings.
Results. The overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV in detecting neoplasm is at 71.6%, 90.9%, 88.3%, and 76.9%, respectively. On the other hand, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV in detecting malignancy is at 52%, 92.9%, 59.1%, and 90.7%, respectively. The computed ROM is as follows: Category I 7.89%, Category II 9.43%, Category III 20%, Category IVa 10.53%, Category IVb 60%, Category V 75%, and Category VI 100%.
Conclusion. The overall diagnostic utility of salivary gland FNAB, as well as the computed ROM per diagnostic category are comparable to internationally published literature. This study also validates the MSRSGC as a valuable tool in stratifying ROM in salivary gland lesions.
Fitorremediación de suelos contaminados por relaves mineros en zonas áridas mediante Melocactus peruvianus y Haageocereus acranthus
Authors:   , Macedo Romero Hector Ivan
Published: June 2022

El crecimiento de la minería y las actividades de procesamiento de minerales ha provocado un aumento peligroso en la cantidad de materiales que se liberan, generalmente metales pesados que representan un riesgo grave para los seres humanos, animales y para el ambiente. El uso de plantas para descontaminar suelos es una tecnología prometedora dados sus potenciales fitorremediadores. La fitorremediación es un proceso ecológico con un enfoque práctico para limpiar suelos contaminados con metales, siendo uno de los métodos más rentables de extracción de metales del suelo. El presente estudio evaluó la eficacia de la fitorremediación de suelos contaminados por relaves mineros con las cactáceas Melocactus peruvianus y Haageocereus acranthus. Se realizó un experimento donde se encontró acumulación heterogénea de metales tanto en raíces y tallos, así como en el suelo de siembra para ambas especies de cactáceas. Se obtuvieron resultados positivos en el factor de translocación de todas las especies, se encontró que Melocactus peruvianus tiene el BFC (Factor de bioconcentración) máximo para cobre de 50,016 en la raíz y seguido de Haageocereus acranthus que posee un BCF máximo de 32,327 para cobre. Ambas especies han demostrado tener un potencial fitorremediador que puede ser usado con enfoque sostenible, respondiendo a los desafíos y las oportunidades en la fitorremediación para la recuperación de metales pesados de suelos contaminados de ambientes áridos como biotecnología sostenible en el campo ambiental.
Determinación de la resistencia antibiótica de cepas de Salmonella enterica aisladas en canales de cuyes (Cavia porcellus) en un mercado de abasto en Lima, Perú, 2021
Authors:   , Mansilla Quispe Mariana Gabriela
Published: June 2022

Salmonella enterica es una de las principales causas de enfermedades de transmisión alimentaria a nivel mundial que continúa generando preocupación debido a su carácter zoonótico, patogenicidad y capacidad de generar resistencia a antibióticos de uso común en humanos y animales. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar el perfil de resistencia antibiótica de cepas de Salmonella enterica aisladas de 384 canales de cuyes provenientes de un mercado de abasto en Lima, Perú durante agosto y setiembre del 2021. Las muestras fueron enriquecidas y cultivadas en medios de cultivo selectivos para Salmonella enterica. Las muestras sospechosas fueron sometidas a pruebas bioquímicas para su identificación, y mediante el método de difusión en placa Kirby – Bauer. Las cepas positivas a Salmonella enterica fueron enfrentadas a los siguientes discos antibióticos: ácido nalidíxico, ciprofloxacina, gentamicina, cloranfenicol, enrofloxacina, estreptomicina, fosfomicina, amoxicilina + ácido clavulánico, nitrofurantoína, furazolidona, tobramicina, ceftazidima, cefotaxima, ceftriaxona, sulfametoxazol – trimetoprima y ampicilina. Se aislaron 28.9 % ± 4.53 % (111/384) cepas positivas a Salmonella enterica. En el perfil de resistencia antibiótica el 84.7 % (94/111) mostró resistencia al menos a 1 de los 16 antibióticos, entre ellos á. nalidíxico, cloranfenicol y sulfametoxazol - trimetoprima, amoxicilina + ácido clavulánico y tobramicina, mientras el 15.3 % (17/111) fue sensible a todos los antibióticos. Se observó sensibilidad a enrofloxacina, ceftriaxona, ceftazidima y cefotaxima y el 100 % de las cepas mostró sensibilidad a estreptomicina. Finalmente, el 40.5 % (45/111) mostró multidrogo resistencia (MDR) a 3 o más antibióticos. Estos hallazgos confirman el riesgo que representa para la salud pública y la seguridad alimentaria el expendio de canales contaminadas con cepas de Salmonella enterica resistentes a antibióticos.