bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food-drug interaction and pharmacokinetic study between fruit extract of Capsicum frutescens L. and glimepiride in diabetic rats
Authors: Raja Mettupalayam Annadurai , Mondal Prasenjit , Venu Kola , Thimmaraju Manish Kumar , Kiran Poudala
Published: July 2020

Background

The present study was designed to explore the food-drug and pharmacokinetic interaction between C.frutescens, a culinary herb on hypoglycemic activity of glimepiride, a sulfonyl urea derivative used in the treatment of type-2 diabetes) in diabetic rats in combination of each as single doses for one day. Further it is also aimed to study the effect of AQEFCF on antidiabetic effect of glimepiride by repeated dose treatment of AQEFCF for 8 days followed by single dose of Glimepiride in diabetic rats and also with repeated dose treatment of both drugs for 8 days in diabetic rats.

Methods

Acute toxicity study was conducted as per OECD guidelines 425, as per this study maximum 2000 mg/kg dose was given to albino mice as observed for mortality of the aqueous extract of C.frutescens. Later in order to know the dose dependent action three doses were selected (1/5th,1/10th and 1/20th) for antidiabetic study. Before treatment with either AQEFCF or Glimepiride fasting ‘0’ blood samples were collected and serum glucose levels were analysed by GOD-POD method using semi-auto analyser. AQEFCF (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o) glimepiride 1/2TD, TD and 2TD (0.036, 0.072 and 0.144 mg/200 g p.o) were administered orally alone as well as in combination i.e. AQEFCF as single dose followed by a single dose of glimepiride 30 min later in Phase I. In II Phase repeated doses of AQEFCF for 8 days followed by a single dose of glimepiride (30 min later) on 8th day. In Phase III both the drugs are administered as single doses for 8 days in the same group of diabetic rats. After the treatment serum glucose levels were determined in all the groups of rats at prefixed time intervals i.e.; 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 24 h.

Results

Both AQEFCF and glimepiride when administered as single doses produced a dose dependent antidiabetic activity in diabetic rats. The combination of AQEFCF and glimepiride at the different dose levels has shown an better antidiabetic effect. AQEFCF augmented the effect of glimepiride in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Conclusion

It has been concluded that no significant food drug interaction occurred between AQEFCF of C. frutescence and glimepiride either single dose or combination of repeated doses. Empirical evidences clears that there is also no pharmacokinetic interaction also observed.
Comparison between volume-controlled ventilation and pressure-controlled volume-guaranteed ventilation in postoperative lung atelectasis using lung ultrasound following upper abdominal laparotomies: a prospective randomized study
Authors: Hassan Bahaa El-din Ewees , El-Shaer Ahmed Nagah , Elbeialy Marwa Ahmed Khairy , Ismail Shimaa Ahmed Mohamed
Published: July 2020

Background

Atelectasis is a common side effect of general anesthesia. Prevention of lung atelectasis, carbon dioxide retention, and chest infection would improve the quality of medical care and decrease hospital stay and costs. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) and pressure-controlled volume-guaranteed ventilation (PCVG) on postoperative lung atelectasis using lung ultrasound (LUS) following upper abdominal laparotomies.

Results

Sixty patients (male and female) scheduled for upper abdominal laparotomies. They were randomly allocated into two equal groups: Group A (n = 30): received intraoperative volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) mode and group (n = 30): received intraoperative pressure-controlled ventilation volume-guaranteed (PCV-VG) mode. Arterial blood samples were obtained immediately after extubation, and 30, 120, 240, and 360 min postextubation. Lung ultrasound was done intraoperatively at 30 min from induction, immediate, and 120 and after 360 min postoperatively. There was difference between two groups favoring PCV-VG group but that difference failed to be statically significant regarding arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCo2) between the two groups in preoperative, immediate postoperative, and 120, 240, and 360 min postoperative. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was significantly lower among patients in the VCV group immediate postextubation compared with patients in group PCV-VG (p value = 0.009*). Although signs of atelectasis were low in group B, 36.7% of the patients showed normal lung ultrasound, 63.3% showed various abnormalities, 46.7% showed the presence of lung pulse (vertical rhythmic movement synchronous with cardiac pulsation through motionless lung), and 46.7% showed B lines (vertical lines indicate abnormal lung aeration), while 30% of the patients showed the absence of A-lines (indicates the absence of lung sliding and abnormal lung aeration). Also, some patients demonstrated more than one sign. However, there was no a significant difference between the two groups both showed atelectasis immediate, 2 h and 6 h postoperatively.

Conclusion

PCV-VG offered no significant advantage over VCV regarding the occurrence of the postoperative atelectasis. However, we prefer to use PCV-VG as postoperative hypoxia and atelectasis was much less in that mode. Further, large-scale studies are required to confirm these findings and to establish a definite conclusion.
Role of cardiometabolic risk in the association between accumulation of affective symptoms across adulthood and mid-life cognitive function: national cohort study
Authors: John Amber , Desai Roopal , Richards Marcus , Gaysina Darya , Stott Joshua
Published: July 2020

Background

Affective symptoms are associated with cognition in mid-life and later life. However, the role of cardiometabolic risk in this association has not been previously examined.

Aims

To investigate how cardiometabolic risk contributes to associations between affective symptoms and mid-life cognition.

Method

Data were used from the National Child Development Study (NCDS), a sample of people born in Britain during one week in 1958. Measures of immediate and delayed memory, verbal fluency and information processing speed and accuracy were available at age 50. Affective symptoms were assessed at ages 23, 33 and 42 years and a measure of accumulation was derived. A cardiometabolic risk score was calculated from nine cardiometabolic biomarkers at age 44. Path models were run to test these associations, adjusting for sex, education, socioeconomic position and affective symptoms at age 50.

Results

After accounting for missing data using multiple imputation, path models indicated significant indirect associations between affective symptoms and mid-life immediate memory (β = −0.002, s.e. = 0.001, P = 0.009), delayed memory (β = −0.002, s.e. = 0.001, P = 0.02) and verbal fluency (β = −0.002, s.e. = 0.001, P = 0.045) through cardiometabolic risk.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that cardiometabolic risk may play an important role in the association between affective symptoms and cognitive function (memory and verbal fluency). Results contribute to understanding of biological mechanisms underlying associations between affective symptoms and cognitive ageing, which can have implications for early detection of, and intervention for, those at risk of poorer cognitive outcomes.
Methylphenidate and mortality in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: population-based cohort study
Authors: Chen Vincent Chin-Hung , Chan Hsiang-Lin , Wu Shu-I , Lu Mong-Liang , Dewey Michael E. , Stewart Robert , Lee Charles Tzu-Chi
Published: July 2020

Background

Little is known about methylphenidate (MPH) use and mortality outcomes.

Aims

To investigate the association between MPH use and mortality among children with an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis.

Method

This population-based cohort study analysed data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). A total of 68 096 children and adolescents aged 4–17 years with an ADHD diagnosis and prescribed MPH between 2000 and 2010 were compared with 68 096 without an MPH prescription, matched on age, gender and year of first ADHD diagnosis. All participants were followed to death, migration, withdrawal from the National Health Insurance programme or 31 December 2013. MPH prescriptions were measured on a yearly basis during the study period, and the association between MPH use and mortality was analysed using a repeated-measures time-dependent Cox regression model. The outcome measures included all-cause, unnatural-cause (including suicide, accident and homicide) and natural-cause mortality, obtained from linkage to the National Mortality Register in Taiwan.

Results

The MPH group had lower unadjusted all-cause, natural-, unnatural- and accident-cause mortality than the comparison group. After controlling for potential confounders, MPH use was associated with a significantly lower all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio AHR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.67–0.98, P = 0.027), delayed use of MPH was associated with higher mortality (AHR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.09) and longer MPH use was associated with lower mortality (AHR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.70–0.98).

Conclusions

MPH use is associated with a reduced overall mortality in children with ADHD in this cohort study, but unmeasured confounding cannot be excluded absolutely.
Evidence that ABC transporter-mediated autocrine export of an eicosanoid signaling molecule enhances germ cell chemotaxis in the colonial tunicate Botryllus schlosseri
Authors: Kassmer Susannah H. , Rodriguez Delany , De Tomaso Anthony W.
Published: July 2020

The colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri regenerates the germline during repeated cycles of asexual reproduction. Germline stem cells (GSCs) circulate in the blood and migrate to new germline niches as they develop and this homing process is directed by a Sphigosine-1-Phosphate (S1P) gradient. Here, we find that inhibition of ABC transporter activity reduces migration of GSCs towards low concentrations of S1P in vitro. In addition, inhibiting phospholipase A2 (PLA2) or lipoxygenase (Lox) blocks chemotaxis towards low concentrations of S1P. These effects can be rescued by addition of the 12-Lox product 12-S-HETE. Blocking ABC transporter, PLA2 or 12-Lox activity also inhibits homing of germ cells in vivo. Using a live-imaging chemotaxis assay in a 3D matrix, we show that a shallow gradient of 12-S-HETE enhances chemotaxis towards low concentrations of S1P and stimulates motility. A potential homolog of the human receptor for 12-S-HETE, gpr31, is expressed on GSCs and differentiating vasa+ germ cells. These results suggest that 12-S-HETE might be an autocrine signaling molecule exported by ABC transporters that enhances chemotaxis in GSCs migrating towards low concentrations of S1P.
A Nodal/Eph signalling relay drives the transition from apical constriction to apico-basal shortening in ascidian endoderm invagination
Authors: Fiuza Ulla-Maj , Negishi Takefumi , Rouan Alice , Yasuo Hitoyoshi , Lemaire Patrick
Published: July 2020

Gastrulation is the first major morphogenetic event during animal embryogenesis. Ascidian gastrulation starts with the invagination of 10 endodermal precursor cells between the 64- and late 112-cell stages. This process occurs in the absence of endodermal cell division and in two steps, driven by myosin-dependent contractions of the acto-myosin network. First, endoderm precursors constrict their apex. Second, they shorten apico-basally, while retaining small apical surfaces, thereby causing invagination. The mechanisms that prevent endoderm cell division, trigger the transition between step 1 and step 2, and drive apico-basal shortening have remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate a conserved role for Nodal and Eph signalling during invagination in two distantly related ascidian species, Phallusia mammillata and Ciona intestinalis. Specifically, we show that the transition to step 2 is triggered by Nodal relayed by Eph signalling. In addition, our results indicate that Eph signalling lengthens the endodermal cell cycle, independently of Nodal. Finally, we find that both Nodal and Eph signals are dispensable for endoderm fate specification. These results illustrate commonalities as well as differences in the action of Nodal during ascidian and vertebrate gastrulation.
Lateralized sound production in the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)
Authors: Ames Audra E. , Beedholm Kristian , Madsen Peter T.
Published: July 2020

Like other toothed whales, belugas produce sound through pneumatic actuation of two phonic lip pairs, but it is unclear whether both pairs are actuated concurrently to generate a single sound (the dual actuation hypothesis) or laterally in the production of their rich vocal repertoires. Here, using suction cup hydrophones on the head of a trained beluga whale, we measure seven different communication signal types and echolocation clicks in order to test the hypothesis that belugas produce distinct sounds unilaterally. We show that, like other delphinoids, belugas produce echolocation clicks with the right phonic lips and tonal sounds from the left. We also demonstrate for the first time that the left phonic lips are responsible for generating communication signals other than tonal sounds. Thus, our findings provide empirical support for functionalized laterality in delphinoid sound production, in keeping with the functional laterality hypothesis of vocal-motor control in toothed whales.
New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records (November 2020)
Authors: ARTICLE A COLLECTIVE
Published: July 2020

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ВЛИЯНИЕ ТЕМПЕРАТУРЫ И РЕГУЛЯТОРА РОСТА НА ПРОРАСТАНИЕ СЕМЯН ИЗ ПРИРОДНЫХ ПОПУЛЯЦИЙ ВИДОВ РОДА TULIPA L. (LILIACEAE)
Authors: Aduchieva Marianna Grachevna , Garyaeva Kermen Mikhailovna , Ochirova Aleksandra Sergeevna , Ubushaeva Saglara Vladimirovna , Lidzhieva Nina Tserenovna
Published: July 2020

Цель. Выявление влияния температуры и регулятора роста на прорастание семян из видовых популяций Tulipa. biflora и T. biebersteiniana, произрастающих в природных растительных сообществах.Материалы и методы. Материалом для исследований послужили сборы семян двух видов: T. biflora - из 8 природных популяций, T. biebersteiniana – из 5 природных популяций в пределах Республики Калмыкия. Для определения всхожести использовали ГОСТ 12038-84.Результаты. Выявлено, что период прорастания всех всхожих семян с момента их замачивания прекращения появления вновь проросших семян в контроле составил у T. biebersteiniana только в четырех популяциях 18–30 дней; у T. biflora в шести популяциях – 15–23 дня; в некоторых популяциях прорастание не отмечалось. Под влиянием 0,001% раствора гетероауксина и температуры +2˚С раздельно и при их совместном действии в популяциях T. biflora период прорастания всех всхожих семян увеличился на 1–2 дня, в популяциях T. biebersteiniana он сократился на 2–10 дней.У семян из популяций обоих видов в контроле средняя всхожесть равна: у T. biflora 3,5%, T. biebersteiniana – 4,4%. У T. biflora всхожесть семян на фоне 0,001% раствора гетероауксина и температуры +2˚С увеличилась по сравнению с контролем в 6,7 и 16,9 раза соответственно, у T. biebersteiniana – в 2,1 и 5,3 раза соответственно. Совместное воздействие низкими температурами и гетероауксином увеличило всхожесть семян в популяциях T. biflora в среднем на 23,06%, в популяциях T. biebersteiniana – на 13,7% по сравнению с контролем.Заключение. Семяна из природных популяций двух видов Tulipa biebersteiniana и T. biflora на следующий после репродукции год они имеют низкую всхожесть семян – на уровне 3,5–4,4%. При использовании для стратификации семян температуры +2˚С и 0,001% раствора гетероауксина раздельно и совместно выявлено, что влияние первого фактора оказалось более эффективным для выведения из покоя семян обоих исследуемых видов.
ПЛОТНОСТЬ И ВИТАЛИТЕТНАЯ СТРУКТУРА ЦЕНОПОПУЛЯЦИЙ TULIPA BIFLORA PALL. (LILIACEAE) В ПРИКАСПИЙСКОЙ НИЗМЕННОСТИ
Authors: Ochirova Aleksandra Sergeevna
Published: July 2020

Цель. Характеристика плотности и виталитетной структуры ценопопуляций Tulipa biflora Pall. (Liliaceae) в Прикаспийской низменности (в пределах Республики Калмыкия).Материалы и методы. Материалом для исследований послужили две видовые популяции тюльпана двуцветкового, произрастающие в естественных растительных сообществах в Прикаспийской низменности. Выделение онтогенетических состояний отдельных растений тюльпана двуцветкового и учет плотности производили в соответствии с классическими методиками, модифицированными к луковичным эфемероидам.Оценку жизненности ценопопуляций тюльпана двуцветкового в трехлетний период исследования производили с помощью определения критерия Q по Ю.А. Злобину и индекса жизненности IVC.Результаты. Плотность растений тюльпана двуцветкового в популяции № 1 составила в среднем на 0,25 кв.м в 2013 году 26,3, в 2014 году – 15,2, в 2015 году – 10,9 растения. В период исследования плотность растений тюльпана двуцветкового в популяции № 2 была значительно больше, чем в ценопопуляции № 1.В популяциях тюльпана двуцветкового плотность была наибольшей в первый год исследования и составила в среднем 26,3–29,9 растения на 0,25 кв.м., в два последующих года была она существенно ниже.Анализ температурных данных и объема осадков в течение марта месяца, предшествующего вегетации растений тюльпана двуцветкового, выявил, что частота растений вида в обеих популяциях была скоррелирована с объемом выпавших осадков.В двух исследованных ценопопуляциях тюльпана двуцветкового в период исследования частость разных классов виталитета была характерной для депрессивных ценопопуляций. Принадлежность их к данному виталитетному типу подтвердили также вычисленные значения индексов жизненности Q и IVC.Заключение. В Прикаспийской низменности в условиях природных фитоценозов плотность растений в ценопопуляциях тюльпана двуцветкового составляла 14,2–29,9 особей на 0,25 кв.м. Популяции тюльпана двуцветкового в Прикаспийской низменности в трехлетний период исследования относились к депрессивному виталитетному типу.
HEREDITARY VARIABILITY OF BIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF MULBERRY SILKWORM UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS
Authors: Mirzaeva Arzu Rafail gizi
Published: July 2020

Исследование проводилось в различные периоды кормления (весна, лето, осень) и основывалось на неблагоприятные условия окружающей среды (высокая температура, низкая влажность, низкое качество корма) с использованием линий тутового шелкопряда Атлаз-1 и Атлаз-2.В ходе исследования были выполнены расчеты ведущих признаков адаптивного отбора, селекционных и генетических параметров (селекционных дифференциалов (SD), генетического воспроизводства (R) и реализованной наследственности (h2R)) в последовательных поколениях линий Атлаз-1 и Атлаз-2.В результате, по сравнению с контрольной популяцией линии, линия Атлаз-1 имела более высокую скорость, чем линия Атлаз-2.для дисперсии выбора. Генетический рост был выше у F7 и F8, чем у линии F6 линии Атлаз-1. Линия Атлаз-2 была самой низкой в F7 и самой высокой в поколениях F7 и F8.Биологические параметры обеих линий по коэффициенту наследственности были; масса живого кокона высокая, масса вуали кокона средняя, шелковистость живого кокона низкая, даже опускается до минусового показателя.Как правило, обе линии обладают способностью наследоваться по биологическим показателям. Результаты наших селекционных экспериментов подтвердили предложенные нами теоретические положения и дали понять, что адаптивное разведение, путем вскармливания всех поколений в пессимистических условиях, будет полезным.
THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF COLLOIDAL COPPER PARTICLES OBTAINED BY “GREEN SYNTHESIS” BASED ON THE EXTRACT OF THE ALCHEMILLA VULGARIS
Authors: Kozlova Valeria Nikolaevna , Nikishina Maria Borisovna , Ivanova Evgenia Vladimirovna , Atroshchenko Yuri Mikhailovich
Published: July 2020

Изучено влияние коллоидных частиц меди на энергию прорастания и биометрические показатели проростков пшеницы.
Technical Debt and Firm Performance
Authors: Banker Rajiv , Liang Yi , Ramasubbu Narayan
Published: July 2020

Technical debt refers to the design, development, and implementation shortcuts taken by firms when deploying accounting information systems. Prior system-level studies have shown that such shortcuts decrease the reliability of systems and increase the long-term system maintenance obligations. On the one hand, technical debt may cause system disruptions that impair firm-level performance. On the other hand, incurring technical debt may aid firms to expedite their systems deployment and to implement idiosyncratic functionalities that may enhance performance. In this firm-level study, we examine the economic implications of technical debt accumulated by 26 firms in their customer relationship management (CRM) systems over an 11-year period. We find that firms operating in industries with higher “clockspeed” and higher competitive threats tend to accumulate more technical debt. After controlling for industry- and firm-level factors, our analysis reveals that technical debt embedded in the CRM systems negatively impacts firms’ performances, measured as gross profit scaled by beginning-of-year total assets (GROA). We estimate that a 10% increase in technical debt reduces GROA by 16% on average. The negative impact of technical debt on GROA increases over the lifecycle of the systems, which significantly reduces the long-term business value of those systems. Highly experienced information technology teams and the presence of a chief information officer in a firm’s top management team, however, serve to mitigate, at least partially, the negative impact of technical debt. We discuss the implications of these findings for research on the business value and governance of accounting information systems and performance evaluation.

This paper was accepted by Shiva Rajgopal, accounting.
Spiritual wellbeing and its relationship with perceived stress, anxiety and depression in Iranian cardiac patients
Authors: Senmar Mojtaba , Hasannia1 Elham , Aliakbari Mohaddeseh , Alamoti Fateme Safari , Gholamhoseini Maryam , Razaghpoor Ali , Noorian Sajad , Rafiei Hossein
Published: July 2020

Aim

This study was conducted to examine spiritual wellbeing and its relationship with perceived stress, anxiety and depression among cardiac patients.

Methods

The present descriptive study was conducted on 120 patients with cardiac diseases. The Perceived Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Paloutzian and Ellison Spiritual Wellbeing Questionnaire were used for data collection.

Results

Of 120 patients, 79 were diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome, 30 were diagnosed with heart failure, and the rest were diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia (mostly atrial fibrillation). The mean scores for depression, anxiety and stress in the studied patients were 10.1, 9.9, and 19.5, respectively. The mean score of the total spiritual wellbeing was 86.2. Results showed an inverse and significant relationship between spiritual wellbeing with perceived stress (R2=−0.535, P=0.001), anxiety (R2=−0.389, P<0.001), and depression (R2=−0.388, P<0.001).

Conclusions

Improving cardiac patients’ spiritual wellbeing should be recognised as an essential part of holistic care and an effective strategy in reducing depression, anxiety and stress among cardiac patients.
Cardiac syncope: lessons from Sir Roger Bannister’s textbook
Authors: Cowan Helen
Published: July 2020

In the third article of the new Neurocardiology series, Helen Cowan looks at cardiac syncope and the link between the heart and brain.
A method for identifying cost-efficient practices in the treatment of thoracic empyema
Authors: Thanassoulis Emmanuel , Takamura-Tweedy Alexander , Patel Mitul , Rao Satish
Published: July 2020

Background/Aims

There is a need to identify cost-efficient practices in delivering healthcare. This study illustrates how cost-efficient practices can be identified and disseminated in treating thoracic empyema.

Methods

Data envelopment analysis was used to identify the scope for reducing length of stay, and therefore costs, at inpatient spell level for thoracic empyema.

Results

The potential for length of stay reduction was identified, representing about 50% of the recorded length of stay. Significant differences in potential for length of stay reduction were also found between consultant teams and between sources of patient admission.

Conclusions

Data envelopment analysis enables multiple conditioning factors affecting costs at inpatient spell level to be taken into account simultaneously. It enables management to identify and disseminate best practice within its own hospital. The approach can be transferred to other inpatient settings beyond thoracic empyema.
Effect of allicin on wound healing: an experimental diabetes model
Authors: Toygar Ismail , Tureyen Aynur , Demir Derya , Cetinkalp Sevki
Published: July 2020

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of allicin on wound healing in an experimental diabetes model.

Method:

In this randomised controlled study, 50 Wistar albino rats (25 females, 25 males) each weighing 200–300g were used. To develop the diabetes model, 30 rats were induced with 50mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ); 20 rats were not induced in order to compare diabetic and nondiabetic rats. The diabetic rats were divided into three groups, according to dressing material used (allicin, physiological serum and control, where no dressing was used), and the nondiabetic rats were divided into two groups (allicin and control, where no dressing was used). The wound area was calculated and recorded on days 0, 7, 14 and 21. In addition, biopsies were taken from the wound area on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 and used for microscopic examination. Day 0 was used as a reference to calculate wound healing percentage.

Results:

On days 7 and 14, there were statistically significant differences between groups. Wound surface areas were smaller in the allicin group than in other groups on days 7 and 14. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups on day 21. In addition, it was determined that neutrophil, mononuclear cell, intraepithelial oedema and dermal oedema density were lower and fibroblast, angiogenesis and collagen density were higher in the allicin groups on days 7 and 14.

Conclusion:

In this study, allicin was found to be potentially effective on wound healing. Future research should be conducted in order to clarify how it affects wound healing.
Treatment of hard-to-heal leg ulcers with hyaluronic acid, sodium alginate and negative pressure wound therapy
Authors: Cetinkaya Omer Arda , Celik Suleyman Utku , Boztug Can Yahya , Uncu Hakan
Published: July 2020

Objective:

Hard-to-heal lower extremity ulcer is a common healthcare problem and can lead to a poor quality of life (QoL). Despite the advances in wound care, conventional therapies, such as necrotic tissue debridement, cleansing, treatment of infection and local treatment with dressing application are still considered the standard of care in patients with hard-to-heal leg ulcers. However, managing hard-to-heal ulcers that do not respond well to these methods has led to new treatment strategies. In this study, the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) and sodium alginate (SA), combined with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), in patients with hard-to-heal leg ulcers are evaluated.

Method:

Patients with hard-to-heal lower extremity ulcers were treated with HA-SA combined with NPWT (HA-SA-NWPT, n=11), or conventional therapy (n=14), between June 2014 and September 2015. Demographics, comorbidities, time to complete healing and change in wound area were recorded and compared.

Results:

A total of 25 patients took part. Complete healing was achieved in 63.6% (n=7) of the patients in the HA-SA with NPWT group, compared with 14.3% (n=2) of the patients in the conventional therapy group (p=0.017). The mean decrease in wound size was significantly higher in the HA-SA-NPWT group than in the conventional therapy group (73.8% versus 34.8%, respectively, p=0.029). Despite a shorter healing period in the HA-SA-NPWT group than in the conventional group, no statistically significant difference was found between groups for time to complete healing (37 days versus 55 days, respectively).

Conclusion:

These results demonstrate that the combination of HA-SA-NPWT is a promising treatment for decreasing the healing time and increasing the success rate by their synergistic effect on wound healing in hard-to-heal lower extremity ulcers. However, further studies with a larger number of patients are needed to confirm the results.
A review of iodine-based compounds, with a focus on biofilms: results of an expert panel
Authors: Wolcott Randall D , Cook Randall G , Johnson Eric , Jones Curtis E , Kennedy John P , Simman Richard , Woo Kevin , Weir Dot , Schultz Gregory , Hermans Michel HE
Published: July 2020

Biofilms play a central role in the chronicity of non-healing lesions such as venous leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers. Therefore, biofilm management and treatment is now considered an essential part of wound care. Many antimicrobial treatments, whether topical or systemic, have been shown to have limited efficacy in the treatment of biofilm phenotypes. The antimicrobial properties of iodine compounds rely on multiple and diverse interactions to exert their effects on microorganisms. An expert panel, held in Las Vegas during the autumn Symposium on Advanced Wound Care meeting in 2018, discussed these properties, with the focus on iodine and iodophors and their effects on biofilm prevention and treatment.
Primary School Students’ Creative Thinking Skills in Mathematics Problem Solving
Authors: Yayuk Erna , Purwanto Purwanto , As’ari Abdur Rahman , Subanji Subanji
Published: July 2020

This study aims to analyze students’ creative thinking skills in answering the problem-solving questions. This study employs qualitative design, involving 110 fifth graders in Malang Municipality and Regency as the subjects. The obtained data were analyzed using the descriptive-explorative approach. The findings reveal that the high-achievers in Mathematics showed good skills in the aspects of fluency and flexibility, but were still struggling in the novelty aspect.  The average-achievers showed good skills in flexibility aspects but were lacking in the fluency and novelty aspects. They showed an understanding of Mathematics problems but found it difficult to decide the solving strategies, and thus their answers were lacking in structure and less systematic. When solving a problem, the calculation made seemed rushing, was less careful, and frequented with trial and error strategy. The low-achievers showed difficulties in understanding the problems. Their answers were not systematic, not well-structured, and not detailed. This indicates that the low-achievers had not shown creative thinking skills in fluency, flexibility, and novelty aspects.
Modeling and Simulation of Flow and Uranium Isotopes Separation in Gas Centrifuges Using Implicit Coupled Density-Based Solver in OpenFOAM
Authors: Ghazanfari Valiyollah , Salehi Ali Akbar , Keshtkar Ali Reza , Shadman Mohammad Mahdi , Askari Mohammad Hossein
Published: July 2020

The performance of a gas centrifuge that is used for isotopes separation is dependent on the gas flow inside it. In this study, for modeling the UF6 gas flow, an Implicit Coupled Density-Based (ICDB) solver, was developed in OpenFOAM. To validate the ICDB solver, the gas flow within the rotor in total reflux state was compared with the analytical solution obtained by Onsager model and the numerical solution obtained by the Fluent software. The results showed that the ICDB solver had acceptable accuracy and validity. Also the computational efficiency of Roe, AUSM (Advection Upstream Splitting Method) and AUSM+ up schemes were compared. The results showed AUSM+ up scheme is efficient. Then, the uranium isotopes separation in a gas centrifuge was simulated. It was revealed that all gas flow characteristics including velocity, pressure, temperature and axial mass flux, as well as uranium isotope separation parameters including separation power and separation coefficients could well be predicted.
Classification of advanced and early stages of diabetic retinopathy from non-diabetic subjects by an ordinary least squares modeling method applied to OCTA images
Authors: Cano Jennifer , O’neill William D. , Penn Richard D. , Blair Norman P. , Kashani Amir H. , Ameri Hossein , Kaloostian Carolyn L. , Shahidi Mahnaz
Published: July 2020

As the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) continues to rise, there is a need to develop computer-aided screening methods. The current study reports and validates an ordinary least squares (OLS) method to model optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images and derive OLS parameters for classifying proliferative DR (PDR) and no/mild non-proliferative DR (NPDR) from non-diabetic subjects. OLS parameters were correlated with vessel metrics quantified from OCTA images and were used to determine predicted probabilities of PDR, no/mild NPDR, and non-diabetics. The classification rates of PDR and no/mild NPDR from non-diabetic subjects were 94% and 91%, respectively. The method had excellent predictive ability and was validated. With further development, the method may have potential clinical utility and contribute to image-based computer-aided screening and classification of stages of DR and other ocular and systemic diseases.
Investigating the dynamic behavior of thermal distortions of the wavefront in a high-power thin-disk laser using the moiré technique
Authors: Daemi Mohammad Hossein , Rasouli Saifollah
Published: July 2020

We measure wavefront (WF) distortions in a high-power thin-disk laser induced simultaneously by the gas-lens/wedge and disk front-surface deformation using a two-channel moiré-based WF sensor. Thermal lensing and tilting effects are characterized versus time, their pressure-dependent fluctuations are quantified, and finally the corresponding pure disk front-surface effects are estimated for zero pressure. A divergent probe beam with a WF mean curvature similar to the curvature of the disk is reflected off the disk front surface. The temporal evolution of the WF at laser start-up is characterized using the WF sensor. A camera records both temporal evolution of the moiré fringe patterns and the intensity profile of the laser beam to have simultaneously both phase and intensity profiles of the laser beam. Successive WF data quantify the temporal evolutions of the dioptric power and induced wedges in two directions and their fluctuations during laser operation. We investigate the effect of air pressure on the produced gas-lens/wedge. The method is not sensitive to translational vibrations and is very low cost with adjustable sensitivity.
Measuring self-steepening with the photon-conserving nonlinear Schrödinger equation
Authors: Linale N. , Fierens P. I. , Bonetti J. , Sánchez A. D. , Hernandez S. M. , Grosz D. F.
Published: July 2020

We propose an original, simple, and direct method to measure self-steepening (SS) in nonlinear waveguides. Our proposal is based on results derived from the recently introduced photon-conserving nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) and relies on the time shift experienced by soliton-like pulses due to SS upon propagation. In particular, a direct measurement of this time shift allows for a precise estimation of the SS parameter. Furthermore, we show that such an approach cannot be tackled by resorting to the NLSE. The proposed method is validated through numerical simulations, in excellent agreement with the analytical model, and results are presented for relevant spectral regions in the near infrared, the telecommunication band, and the mid infrared, and for realistic parameters of available laser sources and waveguides. Finally, we demonstrate the robustness of the proposed scheme against deviations expected in real-life experimental conditions, such as pulse shape, pulse peak power, pulsewidth, and/or higher-order linear and nonlinear dispersion.
‘When the music ends it stays in the brain’: Agency and embodiment in young children’s engagements with recorded music in preschool
Authors: Gluschankof Claudia
Published: July 2020

Listening to recorded music is ubiquitous both for adults and young children. In early educational settings, it is mainly used as background music to set up a certain atmosphere, and to design specific festivity environments and celebrations. Recorded musical pieces – specifically instrumental ones, as the focus of the educational activities, because of their musical characteristics – are seldom used. When they are used, musical pieces are considered isolated musical objects that children have to be taught to contemplate, understand and appreciate. This study presents a less-documented and reported type of young children’s engagement with music: self-initiated and self-directed movement representations of recorded musical pieces documented by Sarit, a preschool teacher, for her educational purposes. The documents include videos of children’s choreographies, Sarit’s accounts, children’s drawings and their explanations of them. These engagements give us opportunities to study agency in listening experiences and children’s multimodal exploring, and ultimately embodied and visual representation of their musical understanding of the pieces. Children exercise agency in their engagement with the music, as they choose the music and what to do, with whom, with what and when, and in these doings, they change their preschool. In their choreographies, they embody their understanding of the music; and in their drawings, they share with us the whole process. Educators are invited to open their eyes and their ears, discovering children’s multimodal engagements with recorded music.
The European Union’s global strategy: Complementarity and specialization
Authors: Barroso Luís , Cruz Marco
Published: July 2020

As a grand strategy, European Union Global Strategy (EUGS) is a roadmap to convert the European Union (EU) in a key strategic actor. The evidence of some conceptual vulnerabilities, particularly the EU lack of classical means and strategic autonomy, limits its implementation. Thus, this article aims to find some relevant actions that the EU needs to put in place to enhance her global image as a credible and specialized actor where the power of her strategic partners, as NATO and United Sates, need to be complemented. To that effect, first, the EU must demonstrate leadership and mobilize the support of member states to carry out its strategy. Second, it must leverage its strategic autonomy by intervening in crises and conflicts where the military means are not the most important. Third, it must focus on preventing or solving the problems in the EU’s neighbourhood as it will suffer direct repercussions if it fails to do so. Implementing the EUGS will require a generic but encompassing grand strategy concept; to communicate its achievements through annual reviews, laying a foundation upon which the EU can build its internal and external credibility, providing it with the strategic autonomy it so direly needs. Finally, the EU must invest on Europeanization processes by ‘transforming’ societies through the ‘global’ application of EU instruments.
Overview of the hybrid solar system
Authors: Alktranee Mohammed , Bencs Péter
Published: July 2020

This paper investigates the uses of solar energy systems in various applications to define the most appropriate system that has highly efficient and reliable. Most of the urban even rural areas that suffer from lack of continuous power supplies it prefer to depend on hybrid systems like solar/wind systems, solar/geothermal system and solar/diesel-battery systems. Investigation indicates that hybrid systems could meet the required loads in different proportions depending on the operating conditions and components of the hybrid system compare with the separate system but has complexity regarding their components of the system with the high initial cost Moreover, Utilize hybrid solar/thermal system is more sufficient than had systems that mentioned as a result of the improvements at his parts to increase the overall efficiency by use PCM, nanofluid or a mix of PCM - nanofluid as cooling the PV panel to keep the efficiency of the solar cells and increase thermal energy. Thus, hybrid solar/thermal systems had proven effective to meet the required loads of electric energy and good capacity to provide thermal energy simultaneously without toxic emissions with a negligible complexity of its components.
Simulation of acacia gasification process
Authors: Bodnár István
Published: July 2020

This electronic document presents the thermokinetical modelling of the gasification process done on acacia-tree with variable operating conditions and different humidity levels. Gasification does not produce flue gas, but due to imperfect burning, synthesis gas appears which is rich in flammable components (CO2 and H2). The chemical structure of this gas depends on the components of the fuel and the humidity level, but greatly affected by the technological parameters too, such as pressure and temperature, as well as the air-ratio. The study shows the change in the amount of the fuel and the reaction efficiency, caused by varying gasification temperature and pressure. Rising temperature results in improved efficiency, while higher pressure worsens reaction efficiency. However, at higher temperature intervals, the effect of the pressure is neglectable.
Intensification of cellulose enzymatic hydrolysis by microwave pretreatment
Authors: Varlı Mücahit , Ertuğral Elif Gülin , Jákói Zoltán , Hodúr Cecilia , Beszédes Sándor
Published: July 2020

A significant representative of the third generation of raw materials is waste containing hemicellulose. Agriculture and the food industry generate a great deal of this type of waste, which has many potential opportunities for processing. Our research group investigated the pre-treatments for the enzymatic saccharification of the cellulose content of the two fractions of corn cob meal. Microwave energy communication was performed in both acidic and alkaline media. It was found that the pH of the medium influences the amount of reducing sugars, but to an almost equal extent. The yield is also significantly dependent on the starting material and the concentration of the suspension.
Túl az excelszemléletű feminizmuson
Authors: Csányi Gergey , Kováts Eszter
Published: July 2020

Tanulmányunkban végigvesszük az interszekcionalitás történetét, az 1960-as évek identitáspolitikai küzdelmeitől napjaink interszekcionális politikai gyakorlataiig. Majd kifejtük a kortárs individualista, excelszemléletű interszekcionalitással szembeni kritikáinkat. Excelszemléletűnek nevezzük az interszekcionalitás azon kortárs kvantifikálódott és individualizálódott inkarnációját, mely az Excel-táblázathoz hasonlóan csak összeszámolja az egyéni elnyomási tapasztalatokat. Végül, ezzel szemben, felvázoljuk egy komplex interszekcionalitás lehetőségét.
« Les Grands Buffets », une éducation commensale
Authors: Lardellier Pascal
Published: July 2020

« Les Grands Buffets » de Narbonne, dont il va être question dans ces pages, constituent un cas unique en France dans l’univers de la restauration. Il s’agit en effet d’un restaurant d'exception qui, entre narrations et discours,  concilie les codes de la « cuisine traditionnelle française » et la formule « buffet à volonté ». Etonnant appariement dont cet article se fera l’écho.
Spatial Distribution Pattern of Village Development Index in Karawang Regency Using Spatial Autocorrelation Approach
Authors: Murtadho Alfin , Pravitasari Andrea Emma , Munibah Khursatul , Rustiadi Ernan
Published: July 2020

Jabodetabek and Greater Bandung Metropolitan areas experiencing the phenomenon of urban expansion which has caused both metropolitan areas to be more connected and become a mega-urban area by a corridor through a conurbation process. Karawang regency is part of the region in the Jakarta-Bandung corridor. The increasing number of population in the region will encourage the addition of number and types of public facilities. The objectives of this study were to analyze the regional development and spatial distribution pattern of the Village Development Index/ Indeks Perkembangan Desa (IPD) in Karawang regency. Regional development was analyzed using scalogram analysis, while spatial distribution pattern of the IPD was analyzed using Global and Local Moran Index. Regional development analysis shows the distribution of the IPD in 2014 has increased from 2003. Analysis of spatial distribution pattern of IPD values from 2003 and 2014 shows the clustered distribution patterns in some sub-districts.
Assessment of maternal health services utilization in Pakistan: the role of socio-demographic characteristics
Authors: Aslam Muhammad , Sadiq Maryam , Mehmood Tahir
Published: July 2020

Background

High-quality prenatal care has a significant positive impact on maternal and infant health as it helps timely diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy complications.

Objective

To examine factors associated with the utilization of maternal health care using the optimal count regression model.

Methods

A sample of 16,314 women of reproductive ages (15–49) was used. Andersen and Newman's behavioral model of health services utilization was employed for the selection of covariates. Poisson, negative binomial, zero-inflated Poisson, zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB), Poisson hurdle, and negative binomial hurdle models were fitted and compared to identify the best model. Maternal health care utilization is found associated with maternal age and education, area of residence, domestic violence, the income level of family, access to media, knowledge about AIDS, parity, birth order, and having a child who later died.

Results

ZINB model is found to be best fitted for the observed data resulting strong influence of mother's education and income level of the family on maternal health care utilization.

Conclusion

Interventions to improve maternal care services utilization should address individuals and systems to reduce social and economic marginalization.
Clinical trials of homeopathy in urological disorders: a systematic review
Authors: Nayak Chaturbhuja , Manchanda Rajkumar , Khurana Anil , Chalia Deepti Singh , Pannek Jürgen , Chattopadhyay Abhijit , Koley Munmun , Saha Subhranil
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Homeopathy remains one of the most sought after therapies for urological disorders. The aim of this paper was to systematically review the available clinical researches of homeopathy in the said conditions.

Content

Relevant trials published between Jan 1, 1981 and Dec 31, 2016 (with further extension up to Dec 31, 2017) was identified through a comprehensive search. Internal validity of the randomized trials and observational studies was assessed by The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool and methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) criteria respectively, homeopathic model validity by Mathie’s six judgmental domains, and quality of homeopathic individualization by Saha’s criteria.

Four controlled (three randomized and one sequentially allocated controlled trial) trials were reviewed and 14 observational studies alongside – all demonstrated positive effect of homeopathy. Major focus areas were benign prostatic hypertrophy and renal stones. One of the four controlled trials had ‘adequate’ model validity, but suffered from ‘high’ risk of bias. None of the non-randomized studies was tagged as ‘ideal’ as all of those underperformed in the MINORS rating. Nine observational studies had ‘adequate’ model validity and quality criteria of individualization. Proof supporting individualized homeopathy from the controlled trials remained promising, still inconclusive.

Outlook

Although observational studies appeared to produce encouraging effects, lack of adequate quality data from randomized trials hindered to arrive at any conclusion regarding the efficacy or effectiveness of homeopathy in urological disorders. The findings from the RCTs remained scarce, underpowered and heterogeneous, had low reliability overall due to high or uncertain risk of bias and sub-standard model validity. Well-designed trials are warranted with improved methodological robustness.

Funding

None; Registration web-link: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42018081624&ID=CRD42018081624.