bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Frequency of Monitoring and Updating a Company's Strategic Business Development Plans
Authors: Shupletsov Alexander , Matveeva Maria , Burov Kirill
Published: January 2022

Amid economic or political uncertainty, strategic planning is an integral attribute of the success of entrepreneurial activities. Strategic planning has a special advantage over other types of business planning, namely its dynamic nature, when the draft plan is adjusted to the changed conditions of the economic environment. But the launch of the plan adjustment process is complicated by the need to select significant indicators of economic processes, on the basis of which the adjustment will be made. The main tool for the company’s management team to address the question of the frequency of the plan updating is the use of accounting and financial statement indicators. The purpose of the work is to analyze alternative methods of making managerial decisions in relation to the adjustment of strategic plans of the enterprise development. The main disadvantages of the management control system are identified on the basis of accounting and financial statements. The authors suggest such alternatives as making management decisions on the basis of intuitive understanding of the economic reality and the use of neural networks to monitor the economic environment at both the macro and micro levels, in order to trace any deviations from the specified vector of development. They also highlight the main advantages and disadvantages of the proposed tools. Thus, the main disadvantage of the intuitive managerial decision-making is the loss of verifiability of the proposed response measures; as for artificial neural networks, the main disadvantages here are a complex mathematical apparatus and a very time-consuming process needed for the effective network training.
Social Dependency: the Values of Collectors, Fishing Logics and the Economics of Gift
Authors: Khaustov Dmitry , Zimina Ekaterina
Published: January 2022

The phenomenon of social dependence is considered as a phenomenon that accompanied the life of society at all times. On the basis of analysis of the theoretical resources and empirical studies, a parallelism of dependency strategies is carried out. The evolution of the moral and ethical values of human communities is analyzed through the works of K. Polanya, I. Morris, T. Shanin and others. The convergence of systems of moral and ethical values of prehistoric, non-historical society and modern societies is described. Dependency is considered as fishing, intermediate equipment and gift economics. A unique phenomenon is being studied, which is practically not reflected in the information field, does not find direct accounting in official statistics, however, is well-known in Russian everyday life — «garage-owners». Based on a deep theoretical analysis, it is concluded that the practices of dependency are characterized by a certain form of extremely archaic egalitarianism, and the convergence of the values of collectors and members of post-industrial communities is expressed in fishing, that is, in essence assigning logics to economic practices of our time. The theoretical constructions of the modern topical studies resonate with the empirical studies, both of the garage socio-economic structure and the practices of social dependence. The conceptual approaches discussed in the article have the potential to study various socially negative phenomena of the modern society.
Features of the Professional Intention of University Students with Disabilities
Authors: Simatova Oksana
Published: January 2022

The author represents a qualitative and meaningful analysis of the results of an empirical study of the professional orientation of university students with disabilities. The obtained results indicate the corresponding statistically-significant differences in the subject area, professional intentions and the status of the professional identity among university students with disabilities and students with a conditional norm of health. The analysis of the results of the empirical study demonstrates the immaturity of the professional awareness of students with disabilities, which consists in the absence of taking into account the existing limitations in their future profession, a low level of awareness of its essence and the opportunities it provides, as well as the problematic nature of the status of their professional identity. This allows us to assert that the relevant vector of educational and professional activity of students with disabilities in higher education should be the directed development of an adequate professional orientation and its components, in addition, taking into account the nature of health limitations.
Formation of Psychological Media Competence of Specialists in the Field of Advertising and Public Relations
Authors: Kyshtymova Ekaterina
Published: January 2022

The importance of media competence research is connected with the totality of media communications; its psychological component is necessary for a person to understand the peculiarities of media influence and is, at the same time, poorly studied. For specialists in the field of advertising and public relations, psychological media competence (PMC) is of particular importance, since their activities involve the creation of an attractive product for the audience, while not violating the psychological safety of consumers. This determines the relevance of the presented research, the task of which was to analyze the components of psychological media competence among students. The study was conducted using the semantic differential (SD) method and a questionnaire methodology compiled by the author, which allows assessing the ability of a person to determine the psychological characteristics of media texts. Factor analysis, nonparametric Mann-Whitney and Kraskal-Wallis criteria were used for processing. The program developed by the author and tested in the course of the formative experiment is presented, it is aimed at increasing students’ PMC as of future specialists in the field of advertising and PR. 110 people participated in the study. A low level of students’ PMC was revealed. According to the analysis of the results of the experiment, a judgment on the effectiveness of the experimental program aimed at the development of psychological media competence, in particular, the skills of psychological analysis of media texts, is substantiated.
Problems of Applying Special Grounds for Exemption from Criminal Liability for Kidnapping
Authors: Bersh Tatiana , Khristyuk Anna
Published: January 2022

Despite the positive attitude towards the presence of compromise norms in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, containing the possibility of exemption from criminal liability for a committed crime, their mere presence seems insufficient. It is important to introduce a mechanism for the functioning of the norms, which will describe in detail all the stages necessary for their application. The article discusses controversial issues of insufficient legislative regulation of exemption from criminal liability on the basis of the application of a note to Art. 126 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The opinions of scientists concerning the application of special grounds for exemption from criminal liability for kidnapping are generalized, the position of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation regarding the understanding of the term “voluntary release of the kidnapped” is considered. A number of controversial issues that have not been taken into account by the legislator, which require mandatory regulation, are cited. The article examines the existing judicial practice of applying the note to Art. 126 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. A lack of uniformity in the law enforcement activities of the judiciary was revealed. Supplements are proposed to the new resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 24, 2019 No. 58 to increase the effectiveness of the application of the considered grounds for exemption from criminal liability. As a result, a proposal was put forward that is aimed at improving the note to Art. 126 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The issues raised in the article are of scientific and practical interest.
The Importance of Border Checkpoints of Goods of Inner Mongolia for the Development of Cross-Border Relations of Peoples Republic of China
Authors: Namzhilova Victoria
Published: January 2022

The article considers the system of operating border checkpoints of a large region in the north of China - the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The author emphasizes the growing importance of the Manchuria and Erlian land checkpoints, through which not only the whole variety of goods of Russian-Chinese and Chinese-Mongolian trade passes, but also international transit is provided. The remaining checkpoints, on the contrary, acquire a narrow specialization or have local significance for border territories. The development of border checkpoints, such as Sehe, Ganzmod and Mandal, is associated exclusively with the development of mineral deposits in the south of Mongolia and their subsequent export to China. In the context of a pandemic, the countries are forced to strengthen the barrier function of borders by tightening quarantine measures, which affects directly the operation of border checkpoints.
The information provided on the border points of Inner Mongolia can become the basis for analyzing China’s opportunities to develop trade cooperation across the borders of Inner Mongolia.
Features of Perception of the Belt and Road Initiative in the Slovak Republic
Authors: Kalyuga Anton
Published: January 2022

The article is part of the research related to the perception of the Belt and Road Initiative of the PRC in the Visegrad Group countries. It presents results of discourse analysis on perception of the Belt and Road Initiative in the Slovak Republic in government and expert circles and data from a sociological survey on the attitude of Slovaks to the Chinese initiative.
The results show that the Slovak perception of the Belt and Road Initiative is pragmatic and focuses on possible economic benefits from participation in the initiative. The experts are not oblivious to the political and economic risks associated with China’s expanding influence in the region, which makes the Slovak discourse rather balanced and utilitarian. The Slovak expert discourse has been found to have a significant influence on the pragmatic sentiments in the Visegrad Group countries regarding the Belt and Road Initiative. The independent think tank of the Central European Institute for Asian Studies (CEIAS) plays a major role in the transmission of these ideas, producing a number of analytical reports and actively engaging researchers from the Visegrad Four countries in its work.
As for the governmental discourse, the Chinese theme is present in it to a limited extent; in recent years there have been several cases that have divided the views of the ruling elite regarding Sino-Slovak relations. In general, these have concerned human rights issues and interaction with the Dalai Lama and the resulting problem of whether it is worth raising sensitive issues and criticising the PRC at the state level to the detriment of economic ties. In conclusion, the author describes the main trends and forecasts of the development of the Slovak discourse about the Chinese initiative.
On the Problem of Mediatization of Intra-Territorial Conflicts in China: A Historiographic Aspect
Authors: Yang Limei , Degtyareva Olga
Published: January 2022

This article explores the role of the media in covering the conflict potential of mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The aim of the study is to analyze the media’s influence on the transformation of public opinion on issues of ethnic or territorial identity. Based on Chinese and Western media coverage, the reasons for unbalanced coverage of intra-territorial conflicts as well as the impact of stereotypes on political behaviour are identified. On the basis of the analysis the role of specific media in neutralizing the intra-regional conflict potential is determined, as well as the peculiarities of the technology of public opinion molding on the part of mainland China.
Formation a Мathematical Modeling of Unemployment Rate in Russian Federation
Authors: Antipina Natalya , Seliverstova Marina
Published: January 2022

The research analyzed the unemployment rate in the Russian Fe­deration using economic and mathematical modeling. The оbject of the research is the dynamics of the unemployment rate in the Russian Federation in the period from 2005 to 2020, depending on some factors that make an impact on the factor under consideration. As a result of this investigation, carried out using the multiple regression method, a linear regression model was obtained, which can be employed for further analysis and forecasting of the unemployment rate in Russia.
Lessons from UNCITRAL for Reforming the South African Legal Framework Concerning Security Rights in Movable Property
Authors: Koekemoer Michel Marlize , Brits Reghard
Published: January 2022

This article analyses the South African legal framework governing security rights in movable property with the view to inspire law reform. The analysis is based on a comparison of the current South African framework with the UNCITRAL Legislative Guide on Secured Transactions, a soft-law instrument containing international best practice. The problematic aspects of the South African framework benchmarked against the UNCITRAL Guide are: (1) not having a common legal framework that equally applies to all types of (including quasi-) real security transactions; (2) the scope of the current framework not being comprehensive (inclusive) enough; (3) not having an efficient enough method of creating the security right; (4) the current publicity method, particularly concerning special notarial bonds, being overly cumbersome and not providing effective public notice to third parties; and (5) the current enforcement measures potentially not being the most efficient. Regarding each of these problem areas, the article makes proposals on how the South African legislature could reform the current framework into one that is legally efficient and in step with international best practice.
A Reply to Camilla Pickles' “Pregnancy Law in South Africa: Between Reproductive Autonomy and Foetal Interests”
Authors: De Freitas Shaun
Published: January 2022

Camilla Pickles’ Pregnancy Law in South Africa. Between Reproductive Autonomy and Foetal Interests (Pregnancy Law) aims at providing a less adversarial angle related to the pregnant woman and the unborn within her, by moving away from the pregnant woman as a single entity (including the unborn within her) as well as from viewing the pregnant woman and the unborn within her as two separate entities of distinctive value and separate needs. This applies to four categories addressed by Pregnancy Law, namely foetal personhood, violence against pregnant women that terminates pregnancies, substance abuse during pregnancy, and termination of pregnancy for especially the South African context. Pregnancy Law positions its argument on a relational model that emphasises the context of pregnancy as signifying a connection between the pregnant woman (with rights) and the unborn (with interests) inside of her, the unborn being fully dependent on the pregnant woman’s body. This in turn is blended with what is referred to as a not-one/not-two approach. Bearing this in mind, Pregnancy Law claims to provide a compromise, middle ground and third approach regarding what is perceived to be the extremes of the single-entity and separate-entities approaches. Bearing this in mind, this article comprises a critical appraisal directed at Pregnancy Law’s claims as alluded to in the above with specific focus on the status of the unborn against the background of abortion (which in turn has implications for matters related to foetal personhood, violence against pregnant women that terminates pregnancies and substance abuse during pregnancy).
Wavelet introscopy of human organism bionets
Authors:   Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation, Aldonin Gennady M. , Cherepanov Vasily V. ,   Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation
Published: January 2022

In domestic and foreign practice, a great deal of experience has been accumulated in the creation of means for monitoring the functional state of the human body. The existing complexes mainly analyze the electrocardiogram, blood pressure and a number of other physiological parameters. Diagnostics is often based on formal statistical data which are not always correct due to the nonstationarity of bioprocesses and without taking into account their physical nature. An urgent task of monitoring the state of the cardiovascular system is the creation of effective algorithms for computer technologies to process biosignals based on nonlinear dynamic models of body systems since biosystems and bioprocesses have a nonlinear nature and fractal structure. The nervous and muscular systems of the heart, the vascular and bronchial systems of the human body are examples of such structures. The connection of body systems with their organization in the form of self-similar fractal structures with scaling close to the “golden ratio” makes it possible to diagnose them topically. It is possible to obtain detailed information about the state of the human body’s bio-networks for topical diagnostics on the basis of the wavelet analysis of biosignals (the so-called wavelet-introscopy). With the help of wavelet transform, it is possible to reveal the structure of biosystems and bioprocesses, as a picture of the lines of local extrema of wavelet diagrams of biosignals. Mathematical models and software for wavelet introscopy make it possible to extract additional information from biosignals about the state of biosystems. Early detection of latent forms of diseases using wavelet introscopy can shorten the cure time and reduce the consequences of disorders of the functional state of the body (FSO), and reduce the risk of disability. Taking into account the factors of organizing the body’s biosystems in the form of self-similar fractal structures with a scaling close to the “golden ratio” makes it possible to create a technique for topical diagnostics of the most important biosystems of the human body.
Position effect on secretion efficiency v1
Authors: Vitor Molino Joao
Published: January 2022

A proposed method to evaluate secretion efficiency dependency on relative position inside the expression vector.
Satisfaction with and use of inhalation devices in patients with bronchial asthma v1
Authors: Machado Alba Jorge
Published: January 2022

Introduction:Greater patient satisfaction with his or her inhalation device is associated with better adherence to pharmacological therapy and better clinical outcomes, such as improved quality of life, greater asthma control and fewer exacerbations. Objective: To determine the satisfaction level of a group of patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma with respect to their devices for inhalation of bronchodilators and glucocorticoids. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of patients treated in the Colombian health system. Satisfaction with inhalation devices was evaluated with the FSI-10 instrument (Evaluation of Satisfaction with the Inhaler). A score of ≥ 44 points indicated high satisfaction. Results: In total, 362 patients from 59 cities were identified, their median age was 55 years, and 74.6% were women. The average score was 44.6; 68.5% of patients showed high satisfaction, especially with metered-dose inhalers, and 63.4% did not use them with an inhalocamera. Users of metered-dose inhalers (OR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.05–3.10) and those who received training by medical specialists (OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.33–3.97) had high satisfaction, while patients who were older (40–64 vs. <40 years: OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.19–0.78 and ≥ 65 vs. <40 years: OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.15–0.81), resided in the Caribbean region (OR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.29–0.81) and had a university education (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0, 32–0.90) had lower satisfaction. Conclusions: The majority of patients with asthma used metered-dose inhalers without an inhalocamera, and their overall satisfaction was higher than that of patients using other inhalation devices. Patients who received special training from medical specialists showed better satisfaction.
Nuclear extraction from endometrial tumors for single nuclei sequencing v1
Authors: not provided gracefoley
Published: January 2022

Modified from: Slyper, M. et al. A single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-Seq toolbox for fresh and frozen human tumors. Nat. Med. 2020 26526, 792–802 (2020). A optimized protocol for nuclear extraction from endometrial tumors. Performed with endometrial adenocarcinoma, endometrioid type, FIGO grade 1.
Rapid, high throughput library preparation of SARS-CoV2 using Illumina’s DNA Prep Library Preparation Kit v3
Authors: Nguyen Jason
Published: January 2022

This procedure provides instructions on how to prepare DNA libraries for whole genome sequencing on an Illumina MiSeq or NextSeq using Illumina’s DNA Prep Library Preparation Kit scaled to half reaction volumes with modifications to the post-PCR procedures; tagmentation stop buffer and associated washes are removed and libraries are pooled post PCR then a single size selection is performed. This protocol is used to sequence SARS-CoV-2 using the cDNA/PCR protocol: https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.b3viqn4e
Assessment of soil erosion risk in Chamchamal catchment using RUSLE integrated into GIS Techniques
Authors: Karim Tariq , Qadir Kamal , Mohammed Danya
Published: January 2022

In Iraqi Kurdistan Region, as in most Mediterranean countries, assessment of soil erosion risks is a challenging task mainly due to the non-availability or insufficiency of relevant data. In the current study, the soil erosion risks have been estimated by integrating the spatial data on potential erosion rates and soil loss tolerance limits for conservation planning at the sub-catchment level in Chamchamal district, Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan Region. To achieve the above objectives, the study catchment was delineated with the support of GIS after obtaining the Dem of Chamchamal district. The remote sensing (RS) and a geographic information system (GIS) were used to estimate the spatial distribution of soil erosion across the Chamchamal district, to identify the risk of soil erosion, and to develop a conservation priority map. People can reach a common goal: to gain actionable intelligence from all types of data. Additionally, the study catchment was subdivided into 12 subcatchments using the same tool. The estimated annual soil loss for different subcatchments is characterized by a wide range of variations. It ranges from a minimum of 7.08 t ha-1 yr-1 at subcatchment 1 to as high as 252.31 t ha-1 yr-1 at sub-catchment 3. With a few exceptions, the soil tolerance limit at the investigated grid points was estimated at10 t ha-1 yr-1. The results also revealed that around 12% of the whole catchment has a negligible risk of soil erosion above the tolerance limits, and does not call for immediate soil conservation measures. The remaining area (454.96 km2) requires conservation planning with different prioritizations. Subcatchments 2, 3, 7, and 10 were identified as the worst affected districts in terms of soil erosion and therefore require immediate attention of natural resources. The weighted soil erosion risk index (WSERI) categorized sub-catchments 2, 3, 7, and 10 as being of topmost priority as it is the most severely affected areas. The recommended measures to conserve soil and water encompassed three broad categories, namely, vegetative, soil, and mechanical measures. Within the same sub-catchment, one or a combination of several measures can be implemented based on the nature and intensity of the problem.
Soil Degradation Mapping in Sulaimani Territories, Kurdistan Region of Iraq using GIS Techniques
Authors: Abdalla Zhino , Abdalkarim Kwestan
Published: January 2022

The phenomenon of desertification refers to the degradation of lands that cause instability in social and economic conditions. This study aims to evaluate desertification intensity in the Sulaimani area, Kurdistan Region, Northeastern Iraq. For this study, the Iranian Model of Desertification Potential Assessment (IMDPA) is adopted to evaluate the intensity based on different soil criteria, including; (i) Soil Depth, (ii) Electrical Conductivity (Ec), (iii) Texture, (iv) Gravel percentage. Three interpolation techniques (Inverse distance weighting (IDW), Kriging, and Spline) are applied to create a spatial distribution map. The results indicated that the soil depth has a significant effect, but Ec and rock fragments have less effect. The desertification map showed that 53.7% and 46.3% of the total study area are classified as low as a medium class of desertification intensity, respectively. These results have a significant role in the decision-making process for better land management.
Fabricated silver nanoparticles by a combination of cell-free supernatant of Fusarium solani and Comamonas aquatica and its antibacterial activity
Authors: Fattah Bikhal , Arif Huner , Hamzah Haider
Published: January 2022

The current study involves silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles produced by a combination of cell-free supernatant (C-FS) of the intimate organisms, Fusarium solani and Comamonas aquatica as synthesis catalysts against Gram-negative and positive human pathogens. The detailed characterization of the Ag NPs was carried out using UV-visible spectroscopy, field emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). From the UV-visible spectroscopy, the absorption peak was found at 442 nm, and FE-SEM images confirmed the formation of AgNPs. Further, TEM and AFM analysis demonstrated that fabricated AgNPs were relatively monodispersed, approximately spherical, and of the size between 2.0 - 7.5 nm. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of AgNPs was determined by the agar well diffusion method, and results showed that AgNPs exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative (E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica) and Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus). Finally, The MIC test was performed to test the inhibitory concentration of AgNO3 against the bacteria under investigation. This is the first study proposing alternative sources to form AgNPs via synergistic metabolites of F. solani and C. aquatica. The results here offer a foundation for developing an effective therapy using AgNPs against various microorganisms which can endanger human beings.
The first record of Gyrodactylus decorus Malmberg, 1957 (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) on Alburnus mossulensis in Iraq
Authors: Abdullah Younis
Published: January 2022

The monogeneans Gyrodactylus decorus Malmberg, 1957 (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) is recorded and described in the current study for the first time in Iraq on the skin, fins, and gill filaments of five Leuciscidae fish Alburnus mossulensis Heckel, 1843. Out of 56 fish samples randomly collected from the Aw-e Shiler in Sharbazher Region, north of Sulaimani Province in Kurdistan Region-Iraq. Overall, 59 gyrodactylid species are to be recorded from Iraqi fishes. Description and detailed measurements of the parasite mentioned above and photomicrograph of them are studies.
Conversion of Natural Bentonite into Effective Adsorbents for Removing of Pb2+ Ions from Wastewater
Authors: Salih Ali
Published: January 2022

Adsorption is an effective techniques using for removing heavy metal contamination from wastewater. In order to study the capacities of both natural and modified bentonite (synthetic analcime zeolite (ANA)) samples to remove lead ions, batch adsorption experiments of Pb2+ were conducted under various conditions. Most essential parameters such as initial solution pH, adsorbent mass and contact time were studied. Bentonite clay was activated and went through various thermal and chemical processes. The result from this route shows that zeolite ANA crystals with regular icositetrahedron have been successfully synthesised. The efficiency of both natural bentonite and zeolite ANA converted from natural bentonite and their ability for the reducing of Pb2+ ions from industrial wastewaters have investigated and the results show that heavy metal removal was enhanced with increased initial solution pH, greater mass of absorbent and fast in the in the first hour. The uptake of Pb2+ ions from solution by synthetic zeolite type ANA was improved compared to natural bentonite.
Comparing the Primary and Secondary Stability of Compressive One-Piece Implants with Conometric Cap vs. Compressive-M Implants
Authors: Shaswar Omer , Al-Zahawi Abdulsalam
Published: January 2022

Background: This research was conducted to assess and compare the stability of compressive one-piece implants with conometric caps and compressive-M implants (screw type) at the time of implant insertion, three months, and six months after insertion. Experimental: A total of 15 patients (8 females and 7 males) with a mean age of 54 ± 17.5 years participated in this study. A total of 82 implants from two implant designs (ROOTT Compressive implants with conometric caps and ROOTT Compressive-M implants with screw-type prosthesis) were placed in the lower premolar-molar areas using standard surgical protocols. The implant stability test (IST) readings were clinically measured by the Anycheck implant stability meter in both buccal and lingual directions immediately after insertion of the implant (T0), three months (T1), and six months (T2) after insertion. Results: The results displayed that the highest mean value was 63.17 using IST for Compressive implants with conometric caps on the buccal direction at T2, while the lowest mean value was 52.47 for Compressive-M implants with a screw-type prosthesis at T1. The comparison of mean values of IST showed statistically significant (P<0.05) differences between Compressive implants and Compressive-M implants at T1 and T2 but non-significant differences at T0 in both buccal and lingual directions. The mean IST values for the 39 compressive implants in lingual direction were 61.83 at T0, 59.77 at T1, and 61.57 at T2, while the mean IST values for the 35 Compressive-M implants in the same order were 59.4, 51.2, and 52.13 at T0, T1, and T2, respectively. Conclusion: We found that the stability of Compressive conometric implants is higher than that of Compressive-M implants in both T1 and T2.
Self-Care Behaviors among Type Two Diabetes Mellitus Patients attending Diabetes and Endocrine Center in Sulaimani City – Iraq
Authors: Shareef Omar , Ramzi Zhian , Abdulla Raza
Published: January 2022

Type Two Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose, polyphagia, polydipsia, and poly-urea. It comes with several devastating complications, including macrovascular and microvascular complications. A patient's self-care behaviors can have a significant role in reducing complications and controlling blood glucose. The overall aim of this study is to assess the self-care behaviors among patients with type 2 diabetes. In this descriptive study, data was collected from October 2020 to January 2021, by which 350 patients consented and were recruited in the study. Self-care scores were obtained by a self-care behavior assessment questionnaire, and patients' clinical parameters were assessed by HbA1c% and fasting blood glucose among the participants. SPSS software version 25.0 was used to determine the self-care behaviors among the patients concerning their socio-demographic characteristics, in which p ≤ 0.05 is considered significant and p > 0.05 is not significant. Generally, participants in this study are a poor self-care score which comprises 59.4% of the sample, and 33% have moderate self-care score meanwhile, only 6.1% have the acceptable level of self-care scores. Negative correlations were found between FBG, HbA1%c, and self-care behaviors. Finally, there are highly significant relationships between level of education, duration of diabetes, types of treatment, and self-care scores.
Instrumentos sobre conhecimentos/atitudes em segurança do paciente: protocolo de revisão de escopo
Authors: Moreira Amorim Amaral Fabrícia , Luíza da Silva Oliveira Samanta , Azevedo Cissa , Alves Hoffmann Marília , Aparecida Rodrigues Tatiana , Cristiny Teodoro Couto Ribeiro Helen , Regina Ferreira Pereira da Mata Luciana
Published: January 2022

Objetivo: mapear os instrumentos disponíveis na literatura para avaliação de conhecimentos e atitudes de estudantes de graduação na área da saúde sobre segurança do paciente. Método: revisão de escopo conduzida a partir da metodologia proposta pelo Joanna Briggs Institute, com utilização da extensão do checklist PRISMA-ScR, nas seguintes fontes de informação: Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, MEDLINE via Pubmed, COCHRANE, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science e Google Scholar. Serão considerados elegíveis estudos que respondam à pergunta de pesquisa, publicados em inglês, português e espanhol e que apresentem a descrição do instrumento utilizado. A seleção ocorrerá de maneira independente por dois revisores, a partir do software Rayyan. Divergências serão apreciadas por um terceiro revisor. Síntese e extração dos dados serão executadas considerando os itens de um formulário elaborado pelos autores. Os resultados serão apresentados por meio de quadro resumo, fluxograma e discussão narrativa. Registro da revisão no Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/wak7f
Experience of the anti-inflammatory eye drops Ivinak®-SOLOpharm use in patients after cataract surgery
Authors: Pirogov Iurii I. , Rozhdestvenskiy Fedor N. , Dzitstsoeva Polina A. , Artiushenko Aleksandra Y.
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of inflammatory complications that occur after phacoemulsification remains an unsolved problem.
AIM: To analyze the results of the use of Ivinak-SOLOpharm eye drops containing 0.09% bromfenac solution in the complex of anti-inflammatory therapy in patients after cataract surgery in comparison with similar drugs from other manufacturers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 60 patients (60 eyes) with a diagnosis of age-related cataract, who underwent phacoemulsification. All patients were divided into 2 groups: in the first group, patients used Ivinac eye drops 3 days before surgery and 20 days after it; in the second group, patients used another similar drug containing 0.09% bromfenac solution according to an identical scheme. All patients underwent visual acuity testing and keratopachimetry before and after surgery. On Day 4 and Day 20 after surgery, the degree of inflammatory reaction of the eye was assessed by the number of cells in the anterior chamber fluid, subjective signs of inflammation in patients, using the OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) questionnaire.
RESULTS: When analyzing the obtained data, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of best corrected visual acuity, corneal thickness, number of cells in the anterior chamber fluid, and subjective symptoms of inflammation in patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Ivinak-SOLOpharm has proven its effectiveness and safety in the perioperative prevention of inflammatory processes in phacoemulsification.
Neurotrophic keratopathy and Wallenberg – Zakharchenko syndrome: a clinical case
Authors: Ezugbaya Maggie B. , Astakhov Sergey Y. , Riks Inna A. , Papanyan Sanasar S. , Boutaba Rafik , Mikhalchenko Yuliya G. , Yakushenko Alexey R.
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND: Degenerative changes of cornea after transection of the trigeminal nerve were first described by F. Magendie in 1824. Neurotrophic keratopathy is considered to be an orphan disease which lately has been recognized more and more often. According to literature data, neurotropchic keratopathy affects 5 individuals in 10,000. The diagnosis is difficult due to the lack of information about this condition, the rare occurrence and the presence of a large number of etiological factors.
AIM: To determine the causes of the neurotrophic keratopathy development and the treatment tactics in a patient with a neurological disease. The article presents a case of neurotrophic keratopathy in a patient with Wallenberg Zakharchenko syndrome.
Because of the fact that neurotrophic keratopathy was diagnosed late and the correct treatment did not start in time, further progression of the pathological process in the cornea could not be avoided. Periodic recurrence of neurotrophic keratopathy is associated with an underlying chronic neurological disease.
CONCLUSIONS: Neurotrophic keratopathy requires early diagnosis. In certain clinical cases, for the successful treatment of this pathology, it is necessary to prescribe systemic therapy.
Preferred treatment regimen of aflibercept after treatment interruption in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Kharakozov Aleksandr S. , Kulikov Alexey N. , Maltsev Dmitrii S.
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration depends on adherence to the intravitreal injection regimen and regular follow-up. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated epidemiological restrictions in ophthalmological care delivery led to a massive lack of appropriate control and management of this condition.
AIM: To determine the preferred regimen of intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who experienced treatment interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty eyes of 26 patients (20 males and 6 females, mean age 73.7 10.4 years) with neovascular age-related macular degeneration were included; all of them experienced treatment interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the second year of aflibercept therapy. Re-starting therapy, all patients were divided in two groups and received treatment as per the fixed dosing (bimonthly), or as pro re nata (PRN) regimen. All patients underwent standard ophthalmological examination and optical coherence tomography before and after treatment interruption as well as six months after treatment re-start.
RESULTS: At six months after treatment re-start, best corrected visual acuity and central retinal thickness did not show statistically significant difference similar between the fixed dosing group and that of PRN dosing regimen (p = 0.34 and p = 0.85, respectively). However, patients of the fixed dosing group received for one more injection than those of the PRN group (median value 2.0 injections, 95% confidence interval 2.0-2.4; p = 0.0001). Preservation of the disease activity according to optical coherence tomography data, in the fixed regimen group was found in 10 eyes (71.4 %) versus 9 eyes (56.2 %) in the PRN group (p = 0.63).
CONCLUSIONS: For neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients at the second year of treatment, an adequate therapeutic strategy for re-starting anti-VEGF therapy after treatment interruption appears to be the PRN regimen. PRN regimen allows reducing one injection in comparison to fixed dosing regimen with comparable functional outcomes during first 6 month.
Resistance to Opportunities of Plastic Recycling
Authors: He Weiling , Layton Astrid C , Creasy Terry S , Borges Alejandro
Published: January 2022

Plastics present a vast and pressing issue in modern society. Currently recycling efforts fall dangerously short of dealing with even a small percent of the millions of tons of plastic waste produced yearly across the globe. This article investigates resistance toward plastic recycling in three areas from both a contemporary and a historical context, highlighting the magnitude of the problem and the insufficient nature of current solutions. The three primary areas covered are the plastics problem from (1) a design perspective, (2) a material science perspective, and (3) a systems perspective. Solutions are proposed that emphasize a synergistic collaboration across disciplines and research modes. Ultimately, the conclusions point to a need for stronger engagement at the level of people (both consumers and decision makers) and reintegrating reused and recycled plastics into everyday life to build a solid foundation for success.
Circular Economy of Dharavi
Authors: Dey Sourav , Iulo Lisa Domenica
Published: January 2022

As developing nations continue to progress, people of these countries face problems of shortages in building materials and rising production of solid waste. The purpose of this research study is to explore the potential of establishing a circular economy by recycling/reusing solid waste as alternative building materials. Focused on the slum of Dharavi in Mumbai, a settlement well-known for its existing recycling business, this article explores the concept of a circular economy utilizing local informal labor by considering the flow of waste materials in the slum. This article presents an analysis of the case studies where waste is reused as a building product and identifies the gaps, advantages, and disadvantages related to how and where the building materials from the case studies could be adapted in the context of the Dharavi slum.
Determination of Antimicrobial Activity of Nasturtium officinale and Its Content of Volatile Organic Compounds and Fatty Acids
Authors: ERCAN Leyla , DOĞRU Mehmet
Published: January 2022

Due to the side effects of antibiotics used in the treatment of diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, and antibiotic resistance that develops due to the misuse of antibiotics, scientists have turned to the search for alternative antimicrobial compounds. Plants and antimicrobial compounds in plants are widely researched because they are natural and have been a familiar resource in the field of complementary medicine for centuries. In this study, antimicrobial activities of the methanol and water extracts of Nasturtium officinale prepared at different concentrations were investigated on gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and fungi by the disc diffusion method. In addition, volatile organic compound and fatty acidcontent of the plant were determined. For this purpose, fatty acids were determined by converting them to methyl esters in GC-FID (gas chromatography flame ionization detector), volatile compounds were determined by SPME (Solid-phase microextraction) method in GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). In addition, the amounts of volatile components in different parts of the plant were shown comparatively within the scope of the research. According to the results obtained; it was revealed that Nasturtium officinale has an antimicrobial effect on Bacillus megaterium, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus Spizizenii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The plant showed a stronger antimicrobial effect, especially on P. aeruginosa, C. Albicans, and E. coli. It has also been determined that Nasturtium officinale has important essential fatty acids as well as many volatile components. In the analyzes made, it was determined that the main volatile component of Nasturtium officinale was alpha-Terpinolene.
Investigation of the Relationship between Body Length and Live Weight of the Pikeperch (Sander Lucioperca Linnaeus, 1758) in Beyşehir Lake Population
Authors: ALTAY Yasin , MIKAIL Nazire , AYTEKİN İbrahim
Published: January 2022

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the total length and standard lengths with live weight of the freshwater pikeperch growing in the Beyşehir Lake population using four mathematical models. 50 female fish materials of marketable size limit age were used. The data obtained were divided into two groups: estimation (70%) and test (30%). The applied models are exponential decay, exponential and Wood models, and in such research generally preferred power model. R2, R2adj, RMSE, AIC, BIC and MAPE values were used as goodness of fit tests and comparison criteria of the models. According to the study results, the total length gives more accurate estimates than a standard length in the estimating live weight. As a result, it was concluded that other models might provide better results than the power model, and they were suggested to be used in estimating the live weight of pikeperch fish.
Hyperlipidemia Diet Reduces Superoxide Dismutase Inhibition Rate in the Brain Organ of Rattus norvegicus
Authors: Adnan Muhammad Luthfi , Pramaningtyas Miranti Dewi , Islamiana Dini , Sudarto Hilmi Ardian
Published: January 2022

Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica L.) egg yolk is one of the high-fat foods which can trigger hyperlipidemia. The condition of hyperlipidemia can have an oxidative stress effect on the brain. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a natural antioxidant that acts as a defense mechanism against oxidative stress. The inhibition rate of SOD decreases when oxidative stress occurs. This study aims to determine the effect of quail egg yolk on the SOD inhibition rate of brain organs on a rat. This study used male Wistar rats aged 2-3 months with 200-300 grams of weight. The rats were divided into two groups. Each group was fed with ad libitum for two weeks. The A groups as control continued ad libitum consumption, and the B group was given additional quail egg yolk 5 ml / 200 g BW for 2 weeks. At the end of the study, the rats were terminated. The brain organs were examined for SOD inhibition rate with spectrophotometry. The mean SOD inhibition rate in the A and B groups was 74.14% ± 6.16 and 24.14% ± 5.65, respectively. The independent t-test showed significant differences in SOD inhibition rate between groups (p 0.001). Furthermore, quail egg yolk significantly reduced the SOD inhibition rate in the brain organ of the rat.
Long-term effectiveness and safety of endoxifen in the treatment of bipolar mania: a case report
Authors: Dubey Vaibhav
Published: January 2022

Bipolar disorder (BD) displays abnormalities in protein kinase C (PKC) signaling, and evidence suggests that inhibiting PKC may help treat mania. Endoxifen a potent inhibitor of the PKC signaling pathway, is effective in controlling acute bipolar mania, at doses of 8 mg OD, for a period of 3-weeks. Here we present the case of a patient with severe mania, increased alcohol consumption administered endoxifen 8 mg BID for a period of 3-months, to achieve a better response. High-dose, long-term treatment with endoxifen was efficacious in controlling manic symptoms, with no adverse effects. Additionally, the patient didn’t consume alcohol during the course of treatment. This case showed the long-term effectiveness and safety of high-dose endoxifen to control mania in a patient with BD.
Coconut oil as a rehydrant in air dried oral buccal smears: An alternative to routine wet fixation
Authors: Antony J Vini Mary , Ramani Pratibha
Published: January 2022

The routine procedure to prepare a Pap smear is done by fixing the slides with 95% ethanol immediately after the sample is taken. This study was performed to determine the alternative method of air-drying and rehydration prior to alcohol fixation instead of conventional method. Paired buccal smears were collected from 50 patients who participated in the study. One set was labeled as (Wet fixed in 95% ethanol) WF and the other one Air-dried fixed (ARF) rehydrated and fixed with coconut oil. The staining quality of the slides was assessed with respect to nuclear details and cytoplasmic details, cytoplasmic staining and background staining. Single blinded study was done. The results were analyzed by Chi square test to compare the defined parameters between the two groups. Air-dried fixed (ARF) slides with coconut oil was significantly better with regard to clearance of background. There was statistically significant difference between the air dried smear rehydrated with coconut oil and normal wet fixed smear. So air dried smear rehydrated with coconut oil can be used as an alternative to wet fixed smear.