bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Removal of Congo Red Dye Using Green Kyllinga Weed Extract and Silver Nanoparticles as Catalysts
Authors: Isa Norain , Khalid Siti Hajar , Azizan Aishah Nur Addia , Wahab Nor Aimi , Osman Mohamed Syazwan , Inderan Vicinisvarri
Published: May 2023

This study describes the ability of green kyllinga weed extract (GKWE) with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as catalysts for the removal of congo red (CR) dye from synthetic coloring wastewater. AgNPs were synthesized using GKWE as a reducing agent, resulting in the formation of AgNPs with an average size of 17.64 nm. For the catalytic study, the experiment was carried out in batch mode. Different parameters such as the effect of pH, amount of AgNPs as a catalyst, initial CR dye concentration, and amount of GKWE were evaluated for the removal of CR dye for 30 mins reaction times. The CR removal was achieved between 91.2% and 96.7% at the optimum condition which is at pH 2, 0.5 mL of 2 mM AgNPs as a catalyst, 60-100 mg/L of initial CR dye concentration, and 1 mL amount of GKWE were used. The result showed that the combination between GKWE and AgNPs had a synergy interaction in enhancing the removal of CR dye from coloring wastewater via the coagulation-flocculation and sedimentation process.
Screening the Synergistic Components of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition from Phellodendron Bark Based on Fingerprint-Activity Relationship Modeling
Authors: Zhou Hong-Shan , Luo Qi-Ming , Lin Xiao-Bing , Zhu Chuan-Sheng , Li Ping , Gao Wen
Published: May 2023

Objective:

Phellodendron chinense (PC) bark and Phellodendron amurense (PA) bark are two herbal medicines recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) that are easily mistaken for one another. In this study, the chemical constituents of PC and PA were compared using chromatographic fingerprints, and the potential synergistic acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor components were screened based on the correlation of fingerprint activity.

Materials and Methods:

Chromatographic fingerprints based on high-performance liquid chromatography were developed for the analysis and comparison of chemical compounds in PC and PA samples. The AChE inhibitory activity of PC and PA was determined using the Ellman method. Subsequently, the contribution of the characterized alkaloids in PC and PA to the overall AChE inhibition was modeled using partial least squares regression (PLSR).

Results:

The total alkaloid content in PC was higher than that in PA, which causes PC to have stronger anti-AChE activity. Overall, 13 and 20 common peaks were identified in the PC and PA samples, respectively. Among them, berberine (BER) was the dominant alkaloid in PC, which covered more than 65% of the total peak area in PC, but only approximately 25% of that in PA, indicating that the chemical composition is different between PC and PA. The spectrum–effect analysis based on PLSR and the correlation analysis showed that the BER-palmatine (PAL) and BER-jatrorrhizine (JAT) pairs have a synergistic inhibitory effect on AChE activity.

Conclusions:

A high-performance chromatographic fingerprint was established to distinguish PC and PA. The efficacy-associated markers were screened, including the pairs of BER-PAL and BER-JAT with anti-AChE activity, and the findings may assist with the quality control of PA and PC.
Pedigree Analysis of Polycystic Kidney Disease Patients: Bangladeshi Perspective
Authors: Akther Zohora , Amee Samira Sultana , Masum Md. Mohiuddin , Nishat Latifa , Yesmin Zinnat Ara
Published: May 2023

Background:

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), an inheritance disorder which is the fourth leading cause of the end-stage renal disease. The inheritance pattern can be diagnosed and confirmed by pedigree analysis. The aim of the present research was to determine the type and frequency of PKD using pedigree analysis.

Materials and Methods:

The present research was designed as a cross-sectional descriptive study. Thirty-eight adult Bangladeshi PKD patients were recruited using a selection checklist from the Department of Nephrology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected using a data collection sheet after taking informed written consent. The pedigree was drawn using the genetic pedigree chart creation software f-tree V4.0.6. The percentage frequencies of different types of pedigree were calculated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, version 23.

Results:

A total of 24 (63.20%) had a positive family history and 36.80% (14) had no positive family history. All of the patients with a positive family history had vertical transmission; male and female were equally inheriting the gene. Out of these 24 patients, 4.17% (one), 8.33% (two), and 16.67% (four) had a homozygous/heterozygous state, skip generation, and male to male transmission, respectively.

Conclusions:

Pedigree analysis of PKD patients showed an increased value in early diagnosis and better management and prognosis of the disease.
Association of COVID-19 ‘circuit breaker’ with higher rates of elderly trauma admissions
Authors: Liew Yee Har , Liu Zhenghong , Lim Mian Jie , Chong Pei Leng , Jainodin Norhayati Bte Mohamed , Peh Teng Teng , Chan Jing Jing , Mathur Sachin , Wee Jeremy Choon Peng
Published: May 2023

Introduction:

In December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) virus emerged and caused a worldwide pandemic, leading to measures being imposed by many countries to reduce its transmission. Singapore implemented the ‘circuit breaker’, which restricted all movements except for access to necessities and healthcare services. We aimed to investigate the impact of lockdown measures on the pattern of trauma and its effects.

Methods:

An observational, retrospective, single-centre descriptive study was conducted using the trauma registry in Singapore General Hospital. It included patients above 18 years old who presented to the emergency department with trauma and were subsequently admitted. Patients admitted from 1 February 2020 to 31 July 2020 and those admitted during the same timeframe in 2019 were studied. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients aged ≥65 years and those <65 years.

Results:

A total of 1,037 patients were included for analysis. A 17.6% increase in trauma presentations was seen from 2019 to 2020. Patients aged ≥65 years accounted for the rise in admissions. The predominant mechanism of injury was falls at home for older patients and vehicular accidents in patients <65 years. There were no significant differences in injury severity score, intensive care/high-dependency unit admission rates, length of stay, mortality rate, and subsequent need for inpatient rehabilitation.

Conclusion:

Our study provided information on differences in trauma presentations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further studies are required to better inform on additional precautionary measures needed to reduce trauma and improve safety during future lockdowns and pandemics.
Design of a Machine Learning System to Predict the Thickness of a Melanoma Lesion in a Non-Invasive Way from Dermoscopic Images
Authors: Szijártó Ádám , Somfai Ellák , Lőrincz András
Published: May 2023

Objectives: Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, but it can be fully cured through early detection and treatment in 99% of cases. Our aim was to develop a non-invasive machine learning system that can predict the thickness of a melanoma lesion, which is a proxy for tumor progression, through dermoscopic images. This method can serve as a valuable tool in identifying urgent cases for treatment.Methods: A modern convolutional neural network architecture (EfficientNet) was used to construct a model capable of classifying dermoscopic images of melanoma lesions into three distinct categories based on thickness. We incorporated techniques to reduce the impact of an imbalanced training dataset, enhanced the generalization capacity of the model through image augmentation, and utilized five-fold cross-validation to produce more reliable metrics.Results: Our method achieved 71% balanced accuracy for three-way classification when trained on a small public dataset of 247 melanoma images. We also presented performance projections for larger training datasets.Conclusions: Our model represents a new state-of-the-art method for classifying melanoma thicknesses. Performance can be further optimized by expanding training datasets and utilizing model ensembles. We have shown that earlier claims of higher performance were mistaken due to data leakage during the evaluation process.
Dorsal Hand Vein Pattern Recognition: A Comparison between Manual and Automatic Segmentation Methods
Authors: Laghari Waheed Ali , Huong Audrey , Tay Kim Gaik , Chew Chang Choon
Published: May 2023

Objectives: Various techniques for dorsal hand vein (DHV) pattern extraction have been introduced using small datasets with poor and inconsistent segmentation. This work compared manual segmentation with our proposed hybrid automatic segmentation method (HHM) for this classification problem.Methods: Manual segmentation involved selecting a region-of-interest (ROI) in images from the Bosphorus dataset to generate ground truth data. The HHM combined histogram equalization and morphological and thresholding-based algorithms to localize veins from hand images. The data were divided into training, validation, and testing sets with an 8:1:1 ratio before training AlexNet. We considered three image augmentation strategies to enlarge our training sets. The best training hyperparameters were found using the manually segmented dataset.Results: We obtained a good test accuracy (91.5%) using the model trained with manually segmented images. The HHM method showed slightly inferior performance (76.5%). Considerable improvement was observed in the test accuracy of the model trained with the inclusion of automatically segmented and augmented images (84%), with low false acceptance and false rejection rates (0.00035% and 0.095%, respectively). A comparison with past studies further demonstrated the competitiveness of our technique.Conclusions: Our technique can be feasible for extracting the ROI in DHV images. This strategy provides higher consistency and greater efficiency than the manual approach.
Feasibility Study of Federated Learning on the Distributed Research Network of OMOP Common Data Model
Authors: Lee Geun Hyeong , Park Jonggul , Kim Jihyeong , Kim Yeesuk , Choi Byungjin , Park Rae Woong , Rhee Sang Youl , Shin Soo-Yong
Published: May 2023

Objectives: Since protecting patients’ privacy is a major concern in clinical research, there has been a growing need for privacy-preserving data analysis platforms. For this purpose, a federated learning (FL) method based on the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) common data model (CDM) was implemented, and its feasibility was demonstrated.Methods: We implemented an FL platform on FeederNet, which is a distributed clinical data analysis platform based on the OMOP CDM in Korea. We trained it through an artificial neural network (ANN) using data from patients who received steroid prescriptions or injections, with the aim of predicting the occurrence of side effects depending on the prescribed dose. The ANN was trained using the FL platform with the OMOP CDMs of Kyung Hee University Medical Center (KHMC) and Ajou University Hospital (AUH).Results: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) for predicting bone fracture, osteonecrosis, and osteoporosis using only data from each hospital were 0.8426, 0.6920, and 0.7727 for KHMC and 0.7891, 0.7049, and 0.7544 for AUH, respectively. In contrast, when using FL, the corresponding AUROCs were 0.8260, 0.7001, and 0.7928 for KHMC and 0.7912, 0.8076, and 0.7441 for AUH, respectively. In particular, FL led to a 14% improvement in performance for osteonecrosis at AUH.Conclusions: FL can be performed with the OMOP CDM, and FL often shows better performance than using only a single institution's data. Therefore, research using OMOP CDM has been expanded from statistical analysis to machine learning so that researchers can conduct more diverse research.
Improvement of Dialysis Dosing Using Big Data Analytics
Authors: Mumtaz Syeda Leena , Shamayleh Abdulrahim , Alshraideh Hussam , Guella Adnane
Published: May 2023

Objectives: Large amounts of healthcare data are now generated via patient health records, records of diagnosis and treatment, smart devices, and wearables. Extracting insights from such data can transform healthcare from a traditional, symptom-driven practice into precisely personalized medicine. Dialysis treatments generate a vast amount of data, with more than 100 parameters that must be regulated for ideal treatment outcomes. When complications occur, understanding electrolyte parameters and predicting their outcomes to deliver the optimal dialysis dosing for each patient is a challenge. This study focused on refining dialysis dosing by utilizing emerging data from the growing number of dialysis patients to improve patients’ quality of life and well-being.Methods: Exploratory data analysis and data prediction approaches were performed to gather insights from patients’ vital electrolytes on how to improve the patients’ dialysis dosing. Four predictive models were constructed to predict electrolyte levels through various dialysis parameters.Results: The decision tree model showed excellent performance and more accurate results than the support vector machine, linear regression, and neural network models.Conclusions: The predictive models identified that pre-dialysis blood urea nitrogen, pre-weight, dry weight, anticoagulation, and sex had the most significant effects on electrolyte concentrations. Such models could fine-tune dialysis dosing levels for the growing number of dialysis patients to improve each patient’s quality of life, life expectancy, and well-being, and to reduce costs, efforts, and time consumption for both patients and physicians. The study’s results need to be validated on a larger scale.
Design of a Reminder and Recall System in a Contact Tracing Application to Support Coronavirus Booster Vaccination
Authors: Rahmadhan Muhamad Adhytia Wana Putra , Azizi Muhammad Ihsan , Handayani Putu Wuri , Monicha Annisa
Published: May 2023

Objectives: The rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) booster vaccination in Indonesia remains relatively low, representing 15.33% of the overall vaccination target as of April 2022. The implementation of a reminder and recall system has been shown to be effective in increasing vaccination rates. In prior research, reminders and recalls were sent through traditional media, such as mail, and had not yet been integrated into modern media, such as smartphone applications and (in particular) contact tracing applications. Therefore, the present study was conducted to design a reminder and recall system for the PeduliLindungi contact tracing application. Methods: We used the design science research (DSR) methodology with three iterations. The first iteration produced a low-fidelity prototype (or wireframe), and the next yielded a high-fidelity (clickable) prototype. Results: The final prototype included three main features: a reminder and recall mechanism, online registration for COVID-19 booster vaccination, and educational articles. The evaluation consisted of interviews in the first iteration, interviews and the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire in the second, and the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) in the third. The SUS value obtained in the second iteration was 71.6, indicating good (acceptable) results, while in the third iteration, the system usefulness, information quality, interface quality, and overall PSSUQ values were 2.456, 2.473, 2.230, and 2.397, respectively, indicating good quality of the resulting design. Conclusions: This research contributes to two areas: implementation of a reminder and recall system in the PeduliLindungi contact tracing application and enhancement of contact tracing applications using DSR methodology.
Knowledge about Chagas Disease among Family and Community Medicine Residents in a Non-Endemic Region: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ramos-Rincón José-Manuel , Mira-Solves José-Joaquín , Crespo-Mateos Patricia , Oyarzabal Milagros , Pérez-Ortiz Clara-Isabel , Ramos-Sesma Violeta , Navarro Miriam
Published: May 2023

Chagas disease (CD) is a parasitic disease endemic to continental Latin America that has globalized in recent years. The most relevant mechanisms of transmission of CD in non-endemic countries are transfusion with infected blood and mother-to-child transmission. There is limited information regarding practicing physicians’ knowledge of CD transmission, clinical presentation, and treatment in non-endemic countries, including Spain. Our objective was to analyze the level of knowledge about CD in family and community medicine residents and how it has evolved over the last 5 years. A cross-sectional study was performed in the framework of the training program for family and community medicine specialists in Alicante, Spain. Convenience sampling was used to enroll 214 fourth-year family and community medicine residents from 2016 to 2020. Participants completed the validated Chagas Level of Knowledge Scale questionnaire prior to attending the seminar “Health Care for the Immigrant Population.” The mean score on the scale was 7.1/10 points. Only 12 participants (5.6%) answered all questions correctly. Resident physicians who reported having received prior information on CD scored better than those who were not informed (mean, 7.2 versus 6.1 points). Participants from Latin America had scores similar to those of the rest of the participants. Over the 5-year study period, questionnaire scores tended to increase. Knowledge about CD among family and community medicine residents has improved in recent years, although it is still not optimal. Specific training on CD during specialized health care training is warranted.
Acceptability, Feasibility, Drug Safety, and Effectiveness of a Pilot Mass Drug Administration with a Single Round of Sulfadoxine–Pyrimethamine Plus Primaquine and Indoor Residual Spraying in Communities with Malaria Transmission in Haiti, 2018
Authors: Chang Michelle A. , Impoinvil Daniel , Hamre Karen E. S. , Dalexis Paul-Emile , Mérilien Jean-Baptiste , Dismer Amber M. , Fouché Bernadette , Desir Luccene , Holmes Kathleen , Lafortune Willy , Herman Camelia , Rogier Eric , Noland Gregory S. , Young Alyssa J. , Druetz Thomas , Ashton Ruth , Eisele Thomas P. , Cohen Justin , van den Hoogen Lotus , Stresman Gillian , Drakeley Chris , Pothin Emilie , Cameron Ewan , Battle Katherine E. , Williamson John , Telfort Marc-Aurèle , Lemoine Jean Frantz
Published: May 2023

For a malaria elimination strategy, Haiti’s National Malaria Control Program piloted a mass drug administration (MDA) with indoor residual spraying (IRS) in 12 high-transmission areas across five communes after implementing community case management and strengthened surveillance. The MDA distributed sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine and single low-dose primaquine to eligible residents during house visits. The IRS campaign applied pirimiphos–methyl insecticide on walls of eligible houses. Pre- and post-campaign cross-sectional surveys were conducted to assess acceptability, feasibility, drug safety, and effectiveness of the combined interventions. Stated acceptability for MDA before the campaign was 99.2%; MDA coverage estimated at 10 weeks post-campaign was 89.6%. Similarly, stated acceptability of IRS at baseline was 99.9%; however, household IRS coverage was 48.9% because of the high number of ineligible houses. Effectiveness measured by Plasmodium falciparum prevalence at baseline and 10 weeks post-campaign were similar: 1.31% versus 1.43%, respectively. Prevalence of serological markers were similar at 10 weeks post-campaign compared with baseline, and increased at 6 months. No severe adverse events associated with the MDA were identified in the pilot; there were severe adverse events in a separate, subsequent campaign. Both MDA and IRS are acceptable and feasible interventions in Haiti. Although a significant impact of a single round of MDA/IRS on malaria transmission was not found using a standard pre- and post-intervention comparison, it is possible there was blunting of the peak transmission. Seasonal malaria transmission patterns, suboptimal IRS coverage, and low baseline parasitemia may have limited the effectiveness or the ability to measure effectiveness.
Photographs in court: copyright adjudication as a contextual element of a photograph’s meaning
Authors: Ekiz Oğulcan
Published: May 2023

In this study, the courtroom is examined as a discursive space of photography and it is argued that copyright infringement lawsuits introduce a unique frame for photographs that alter the meaning of the images. As a case study, Tony Gentile’s iconic photograph of the Italian judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino is used, it was the subject of the Rome Court of First Instance’s 2019 judgment. Relying on the contextual studies of photography, the shift in the image’s spectator, its surrounding, and its significance is examined. Eventually it is argued that as the eyes that see the image change from the Italian public to the Judge, the purpose of looking changes too.
Od „spokoju archiwalnej pracy na Wawelu” do „urzędolenia w NDAP” — nieznane wątki z biografii Anny Ptaśnik
Authors: Drzewiecki Bartosz
Published: May 2023

Anna Ptaśnik jest powszechnie znana ze swojej wieloletniej pracy w Biurze Prac Naukowych Naczelnej Dyrekcji Archiwów Państwowych. Mniej znanym faktem z jej życia jest wcześniejszy kilkuletni staż w Archiwum Państwowym w Krakowie. Jej przełożonym i nauczycielem był Włodzimierz Budka. Po przeprowadzce do Warszawy A. Ptaśnikowa często korespondowała z dawnym mentorem. Głównym tematem jej listów jest tęsknota za Krakowem i dawną spokojną pracą w archiwum na Wawelu. Skarżyła się na biurokrację, niekompetencję współpracowników, brak przyjaciół. Choć uchodziła za pracownika bardzo solidnego, praca nie sprawiała jej przyjemności. Artykuł dotyczy tego, co dziś nazywamy wypaleniem zawodowym.

From “peaceful archival work in Wawel” to “clerking in the Head Office of State Archives”: Unknown aspects of Anna Ptaśnik’s biography

Anna Ptaśnik is widely known for her long career at the Scientific Papers Bureau at the Head Office of State Archives. A lesser known fact about her is that she had previously worked at the State Archive in Kraków for several years. Her supervisor and teacher was Włodzimierz Budka. When she moved to Warsaw, Anna Ptaśnik often exchanged letters with her old mentor. The main theme of her letters is her longing for Kraków and her previous peaceful work at the Wawel archive. She complained about bureaucracy, incompetent co-workers, and lack of friends. Though she was considered a very reliable employee, her work did not bring her pleasure. The article explores what we now recognize as “professional burnout”.
Niewydane książki Włodzimierza Odojewskiego w poznańskich zasobach archiwalnych
Authors: Przybyszewska Alicja
Published: May 2023

Celem artykułu jest prezentacja niewydanych tekstów literackich Włodzimierza Odojewskiego, zachowanych w Archiwum Wydawnictwa Poznańskiego w O środku Dokumentacji Wielkopolskiego Środowiska Literackiego oraz Archiwum Włodzimierza Odojewskiego na Wydziale Filologii Polskiej i Klasycznej UAM. Zachowane materiały źródłowe pozwalają na weryfikację dotychczasowej wiedzy na temat wczesnych etapów twórczej biografii Odojewskiego, czyli okresu przypadającego na lata studiów uniwersyteckich oraz początków działalności pisarskiej i publicystycznej w Poznaniu. W zasobach archiwalnych zachował się tom opowiadań Codzienna ściana płaczu, którego edycja została w 1958 r. wstrzymana z przyczyn politycznej nagonki na autora. Jedno z kluczowych opowiadań tego zasobu, Tamten świat, dało początek późniejszej o trzy lata powieści Odojewskiego Cień nad wielką równiną, od której zaczyna się ważka w jego twórczości tematyka kresowa i łagrowa, w pełni wybrzmiała dopiero w emigracyjnych opowiadaniach Odojewskiego. Warto rozważyć edycję obu nie wydanych dotąd książek.

Unpublished books of Włodzimierz Odojewski in the collection of Poznań archives

This article aims at presenting unpublished texts by Włodzimierz Odojewski that are stored in the archive of the Poznań Publishing House in the Literary Society Center of Documentation (Greater Poland branch) as well as the Archive of Włodzimierz Odojewski at the Faculty of Polish and Classical Philology at Adam Mickiewicz University. The preserved source materials allow for the verification of the previous knowledge regarding the early stages of Odojewski’s artistic life, i.e. the period of his university studies and his early work as a writer and columnist in Poznań. The archives house a volume of short stories Codzienna ściana płaczu (Everyday wailing wall), the edition of which was cancelled in 1958 due to political attacks on the author. One of the most important stories in this book, Tamten świat (The other world) was expanded three years later into the novel Cień nad wielką równiną (The shadow over a great plain), which is devoted to the subject of Eastern Borderlands and gulags. These themes fully matured in the stories written after the author’s emigration. The edition of the two unpublished books should be considered.
Internationalization of the German Packaging Industry.
Authors:   , Meyer Burkhard
Published: May 2023

Over the past several years, consumers have been paying more attention to the sustainability of products. Sustainability has been identified as a major trend in the global packaging industry; it is expected to dominate the next decade. Moreover, the European Union has banned the use of single-use plastics from July 2021 and the UK government has announced a new tax, the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), that will apply to all plastic packaging produced in or imported into the UK from April 2022. The fragmented German packaging industry (GPI) faces major challenges that call into question existing business models. As the industry encounters consolidated large companies on the supplier side, and branded goods from international groups on the customer side, the voices that suggest more internationalization of the GPI are growing louder. Additionally, some firms may have to rethink their entire business model to comply with the new legal requirements and their customers’ expectations. The product lifecycles of packaging goods will become shorter, and firms need to become more agile and implement innovation systems, improve speed to market and become active in multiple markets to gain quicker returns on expensive research and development (R&D) efforts and remain competitive. There is currently no research on how the GPI would cope with disruptive change, particularly the sustainability trend that calls into question established business models within the GPI as a traditional, mature industry. The GPI has a low level of internationalization and needs to expand its activities abroad. Internationalization can proceed very differently depending on the industry. The impact of the industry, as well as the applied technology on the internationalization behaviour of firms, is still largely unexplored. The GPI itself is characterized by idiosyncratic factors. However, the existing research referring to internationalization does not recognize the GPI as an economically-important industry. An innovative approach to GPI internationalization is developed that takes GPI's requirements into account by the synthesis of stage theory, born global theory, and born-again global theory aspects, and the integration of GPI-specific factors.
Effect of pentoxifylline on the dose of erythropoietin among hemodialysis patients: A double-blind randomized clinical trial
Authors: Pakfetrat Maryam , Malekmakan Leila , Rezazadeh Mohammad Hosein , Aghajanzade Pegah
Published: May 2023

Introduction: It was suggested that pentoxifylline (PTX) might improve the response to recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) in anemic hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, there is no considerable evidence for it. We aimed to evaluate the effect of PTX on anemia and prescription of rhEPO dose in HD patients.

Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 57 HD patients (54.1 ± 13.8 years old and 52.6% of them were women). Patients were randomly categorized into 2 groups (27 PTX cases and control group with 30 cases). Hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and albumin (Alb) were measured before and after the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and p-value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Hb levels increased significantly after treatment in both groups (p<0.002). Although the mean Hb change in the PTX group was more but not significant (p=0.195). rhEPO dose decreased significantly after treatment in the PTX groups (11000.0 ± 3140.0 IU vs. 9100.0 ± 3400.0 IU, p=0.018) compared to the control (11130.0 ± 3180.0 IU vs. 10870.0 ± 3900.0 IU, p= 0.690). CRP levels significantly reduced only in the PTX group (22.8 ± 15.3 vs. 16.5 ± 9.5, p=0.005). Also, a signiﬁcant increase in Alb was observed only in the PTX (3.9 ± 0.4 vs. 4.1 ± 0.3, p=0.031).

Conclusion: Using the PTX may reduce the required rhEPO dose, so it could be used in the anemia treatment in HD patients. Although, as a therapeutic strategy in HD patients with anemia it is controversial. Due to the limitations of the studies in this field, further studies with more sample size are recommended.
HOW VIABLE IS TRACK II AND III DIPLOMACY BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA?
Authors: Qaseem Saeed Muhammad
Published: May 2023

This article examines viability of track II and III initiatives between India and Pakistan and their contribution in creating a cordial environment for track I diplomacy. The objective is the probe whether informal dialogues pave the way for states to communicate formally or their presence is cosmetic in nature. Pakistan and India share a belligerent history of bilateral relationships. Despite four wars, diplomacy has somehow remained at work between the two. Although the two countries have been engaged in official and backdoor dialogues periodically, however, this diplomatic contact appeared fragile and felt prey of severity many times. Track II and Track III diplomacy initiatives were launched and sought as means to reach the end of cordiality in bilateral relationships. The methodology used in this article is qualitative with primary and secondary sources. Through analysis of semi-governmental and people to people initiative, it is found that unofficial contact (track II and III) between the two states has not contributed toward paving the way for track I diplomacy. Such initiatives enjoy at length in good times more, rather than converting hostility into harmony in tense times. From Neemrana Dialogue to Ashoka Theater, track II and track III were unable to substitute track I.
SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS OF THE OLDER ADULTS IN NON-URBAN SETTINGS: AN EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
Authors: Kuranchie Alfred
Published: May 2023

The study was conducted to unveil social connectedness of the older adults in non-urban societies in Ghana, and the ecological and social inclusion theories underpinned the study. The descriptive cross-sectional survey was undertaken based on the positivist school of thought. Older adults who were 60 years or more, participated in the study. Older Adults’ Social Connectedness Questionnaire (OASCQ) was designed to gather data to answer the research questions and test the hypothesis. Frequency counts and percentages, mean and standard deviation and independent samples t-test were the analytical tools employed for the data analysis. The study unveiled, inter alia, that the older adults tend to enjoy moderate level of social connectedness and the major groups of people they frequently socially interact with are relatives, religious group members, neighbours and friends. The study also unveiled that religious activities, phone calls, cultural and social activities are the principal conduits for the older adults’ social interaction with significant others. Finally, the study establ ished a difference in the level of social connectedness of the male and female older adults. It is reckoned that the older adults in the rural settings need more and intensive social interactions to serve as impetus for longevity.
THE IMPACT OF ONLINE EDUCATION ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE BANADIR REGION
Authors: Hassan Mohamed Abubakar
Published: May 2023

This study was intended to investigate the impact of online education on academic performance among university students in Mogadishu Somalia. This study conducted a descriptive research design with a quantitative approach to accomplish research objectives. The study conducted primary data and used a questionnaire as a method of collection. The target population of this study is based on the students among universities in Banadir region. Students with a sample size of 130 respondents. The data was taken from respondents through a questionnaire and the data were analyzed by SPSS version 20 and excel 2010. The specific objectives for the study were to determine the effect of the e-learning system on academic performance, to investigate the effect of class atten dance on academic performance, and satisfaction students' online system on academic performance. Research of this study recommended that the organizations that provide internet service make it easier for the student to access cheap internet and high -speed internet.
LITERARY CONFLICT BETWEEN M.H. PANHWAR AND DR. N.A. BALOCH: AN ARCHIVAL RESEARCH
Authors: Thaheem Aijaz , Sarwar Naseem , Bhutto Mumtaz
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this study was to offer a brief biography of Mr. M.H. Panhwar and Dr. Nabi Bux Khan Baloch, as well as their work in Sindhological studies along with a brief description of their literary differences on the origin of Sindhi language and history. A systematic literature review methodology was used to explore the contribution and contradiction of both the scholars.  The study found that both the scholars were renowned researchers who worked in the fields of history, archaeology, sociology, literature, and language. Both were up-to-dated academicians, but their scholarly interests in history, archaeology, language, and literature were diametrically opposed. The study revealed that M.H. Panhwar was a rigorous researcher who conducted studies using scientific techniques and with the assistance of archaeological and geographical evidence. The study further explored that Dr. N. A. Baloch was a folklorist, educationist and extensive writer whose ideological hypotheses were primarily based on mythology and preserved folk literature.
THE DREAD OF AI REPLACEMENT OF HUMANS REPRESENTED IN MACHINES LIKE ME
Authors: Xu Yuan , Song Yanfang
Published: May 2023

The rapid progress of AI technology prompts British novelists to speculate what a technologically advanced Britain will be like: a utopia or a dystopia? Or somewhere in between? Ian McEwan shows his concern over these questions in Machines Like Me (2019). It is suggested that this novel mainly reveals people’s technophobia and presents a techno-dystopian world, for which many people are ill-prepared. Technophobia and techno-dystopia represented in the selected novel echo the debates among the Neo-Luddites, especially the thoughts of Stephen L. Talbott. From the theoretical angle of Neo-Luddism, the present study aims to explore people’s multifaceted technophobia and the features of techno-dystopia in Machines Like Me, so as to disclose people’s values behind their attitudes to technological advancements. Technophobia as depicted in this novel basically includes people’s dread of AI replacement of humans. Moreover, the world presented in the novel is characteristic of a techno-dystopia: the technological replacement of humans results in people’s obsolete status and poses security risks to human beings. The objective of the research is to arouse people’s awareness about adverse technological impacts and provide some insights into how to handle the tension between technophobia and technological development in the real world. The study concluded that to some degree, such technophobia and techno-dystopia disillusion technophiles who fervently believe that advances in technology will bring about a utopia or at least help to fulfill a utopian ideal. Serving as a warning alarm for the dystopian future, this novel counters cyber-hype in contemporary society and reflects the real world of profit-fueled technology.
EXAMINING THE BACKWASH EFFECT OF TASK-BASED LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT ON READING SKILLS OF EFL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Authors: Abrar Anum
Published: May 2023

This study primarily focused the EFL undergraduate students at a public university in Pakistan. In this study, task-based language assessment (TBLA) was used to assess reading skills because it is one of the most assessed language skills in Pakistan. Reading is an academic skill. Supposedly, students should have good reading skills at higher education. Thus, there are three courses taught specifically focusing on English language at higher education and reading is a prime focus in all three of them. However, the reading test items are criticized for testing rather the writing skills instead of reading. Thus, a Task-based Language Assessment (TBLA) was used to check its backwash effect. TBLA has not been adopted in the local context yet, specifically in a reading context. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine the backwash effect of TBLA on reading skills. In this study, action research design was followed within the qualitative research paradigm. Sample was drawn using convenient sampling. The participants were 12 undergraduate students. Students’ reading journals, exit slips and teacher’s diary were used as data collection instruments. The findings revealed that TBLA has a positive backwash effect on both teaching and learning in the EFL context. Further pedagogical implications are proposed in the study.
Pre-Columbian Mining and Resource Production between Southern Peru and Northern Chile. An Analysis of the Exchange Processes Concerning Lithic and Metal Resources Used by the Pre-Columbian Cultures in the Andes
Authors: Gräfingholt Benedikt
Published: May 2023

The results of this investigation contribute to the ongoing intensification of mining archaeological research in South America. Geochemical analysis and mining archaeological methods were implemented to define a small-scale mining district in Southern Peru. Jichja Parco was identified as the main supplier of obsidian throughout the whole span of human occupation in the research area, but other Trans-Andean sources have contributed raw material for the daily use of the people living in the Nasca-Palpa area. Concerning the consumption patterns of metal the research conducted confirmed the general metallurgical development model for the Andean region as the inhabitants of the research area started to incorporate gold during Early Paracas and probably introduced copper consumption at the beginning of the Nasca culture. However, the results received for the Middle Horizon indicate that an access to exotic Co-Sn and Co-As-Ni alloys from the influence sphere of the Tiwanaku Empire was given.
SOCIAL EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN THROUGH FINANCIAL LITERACY AMONG BLUE COLLAR WORKERS IN BANGALORE
Authors: Jethanandani Anaya
Published: May 2023

Low levels of financial literacy in India continue to persist, especially amongst blue-collared working women. Traditional patriarchal practices continue, where it is observed that “single women outperform married women in terms of their financial literacy score.” Furthermore, women have performed better in financial attitude than in financial knowledge, highlighting low financial literacy levels. (Arora, 2016). In order to bridge the gender finance gap, a not-for-profit organisation, FINWIN conducted a series of workshops for women blue collared workers in Bangalore. The research study is based on the pre-workshop and post-workshop survey undertaken by 45 women who were a part of the course. The aim of the research was to investigate the financial literacy levels of the blue collared women workers in Bangalore. The survey, translated into the regional language was handed out to all the women where they filled in three sections: background, decision making habits and pre-workshop survey. After the workshop was delivered, a post-workshop survey was handed out to see the difference in financial literacy levels and the effectiveness of the workshop. Most modules were reported to be a success as the majority of the women were able to apply the new knowledge gained. This research study paves a path for the financial literacy workshop modules to be refined further, concepts addressed in the workshop can be applied in real life by the women blue collared workers to work towards achieving financial independence and away from patriarchal practices. Lastly, the survey not only tests one’s level of financial literacy but the co-relating psychological impact on one’s self confidence which has scope to be researched further.
EFFICACIOUSNESS OF COUNTERCYCLICAL FISCAL POLICY IN INDIA FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN 2021
Authors: Shree Mundara Ananya
Published: May 2023

Keeping the Indian economic climate in perspective, with receding contribution of private consumption and investment towards the GDP, the Government needs to institute discretionary expansionary fiscal policy in order to inculcate consumer and business confidence and stimulate the economy stuck in a recessionary gap. It is recommended that the Government uses counter cyclical fiscal policy to combat the current economic challenges posed by the business cycle. Nonetheless, a sign-restrictions based structural vector autoregression model unravels that deficit-financed tax cuts are a significantly more reliable and robust tool for the Government to stimulate economic activity than public spending. It is noted that the effects of public spending are rather ambitious. Hence, it is urged that the Indian Government should consider focusing more on developing an effective plan of deficit-financed tax cuts. However, owing to the tendency of taxes to become entrenched and irreversible, the Government must exercise caution in executing the tax cuts via the counter-cyclical policy.
TOURISM AS AN ALTERNATIVE STRATEGY OF INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT FOR THE HILL PEOPLE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
Authors: Kumar Ajay
Published: May 2023

Tourism today finds a prominent place not only in the general planning process of almost every state in India but at the global level as well. The state Government of Himachal Pradesh has also realized the significance of tourism for its enormous economic potential and has given top priority to the promotion of tourism in the state. But unfortunately, in spite of vast tourist potential, Himachal has not been able to get its rightful share while a good deal of tourism potential. The present study aims at identifying the various problems faced by the tourists during their visit to the hill state and for solution there is an alternative strategy. The study is based on the secondary data obtained from the related books, journals and reports and various newspapers such as The Tribune, Business Line, Financial Express, The Economic Times etc.
THE ROLE OF MIGRATION PROCESSES IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY
Authors: Dudauri Tamar , SamchkuashvilI Nino
Published: May 2023

Migration affects the size of the population as well as its age, and occupational and social structure, which ultimately affects the labor market and economic activity. Since the migration, as a phenomenon, produces two effects at the same time - in terms of labor demand and labor supply, its consequences can be multifaceted. On the labor demand side, migration tends to increase output and increase wages, which is the basis for increasing inflationary pressures. Conversely, on the labor supply side, migration flows have a smaller impact on production and lower wages, resulting in weaker inflationary pressures. Thus, regardless of which of the effects of migration dominates, it is indirectly reflected in the dynamics of inflation. Migration is a powerful driver and important consequence of economic, political, and social change. Given its significant impact on society, migration must be fully measured and understood. Reliable statistical data is the key to understanding this important phenomenon. However, in many countries, even the most general data on migration are incomplete, out of date, or non-existent. Improving this area requires knowledge of the principles of collecting, compiling, and analyzing migration statistics. Migration policymakers as well as other specialists need to know the definitions and measurement methods related to migration data in order to be able to interpret them. The High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, chaired by the UN General Assembly, concluded that international migration can contribute to the national development of countries of origin and destination, provided appropriate strategies and policies are implemented. This initiative has helped to increase the effectiveness of international efforts to measure migration and migration. Also, an important result of this meeting was the project developed and implemented by the United Nations Economic Commission: "Strengthening National Capacities to Improve Migration Data: Maximizing Development Gains and Minimizing Negative Impacts.
Breve historia de la Maratón
Authors: Pérez Restrepo Eduardo Antonio
Published: May 2023

El reconocimiento del proceso desde el cual proviene cada disciplina deportiva, corresponde precisamente al abordaje del paradigma histórico del pasado-presente-futuro, aspecto que permite, desde el amparo de las ciencias, abordar el pasado de manera objetiva como herramienta para la comprensión de la realidad actual y la construcción de posibles caminos de transformación futura. La Maratón, como eje articulador de este documento, se presenta como una de las cúspides dentro de las grandes competiciones atléticas, siendo una ardua prueba donde los atletas con gran preparación y experiencia, emplean el máximo de sus capacidades para lograr la ansiada victoria. El origen de esta magna prueba ha sido confundido ocasionalmente, presentándose casos donde se expresa erróneamente que es una competencia empleada en los antiguos Juegos Panhelénicos como parte de sus respectivos programas agonales. El objetivo de este documento es reconocer la riqueza histórica propia de la disciplina deportiva atlética denominada como Maratón.
Investigación en fútbol femenino: antecedentes, progreso y futuros horizontes
Authors: Iván-Baragaño Iyán , Maneiro Rubén
Published: May 2023

El fútbol femenino ha experimentado un crecimiento exponencial en la última década. Patrocinadores y clubes finalmente han tomado la decisión de apostar por el desarrollo de una modalidad históricamente menospreciada. La última Copa Mundial Femenina de la FIFA Francia 2019 supuso un récord de audiencia televisiva: 1,12 billones de personas se conectaron en alguno de los 52 partidos disputados en este campeonato. En cambio, en el ámbito de la investigación, sólo 1 de cada 4 artículos publicados sobre fútbol, está basado en el fútbol femenino. Este aspecto supone una problemática a la hora de poner en prácticas los conocimientos científicos del fútbol femenino. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio fue analizar los artículos publicados sobre fútbol femenino así cómo establecer una guía de actuación para los próximos años. Si bien el progreso ha sido bueno en la última década, se encuentra en un punto de inflexión que puede permitir desarrollar de forma exponencial el conocimiento científico sobre el fútbol femenino en los próximos años, mejorando el rendimiento colectivo e individual en un futuro cercano.