bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A digital landscape map of I.I. Sprygin Zhiguli State Nature Biosphere Reserve as a basis for analyzing natural processes and their monitoring
Authors: Klimakov Nikolay I. , Aleinikova Anna M. , Aleinikov Aleksandr A. , Vekhnik Victoria A. , Borisova Ekaterina D. , Khokhlov Konstantin S.
Published: August 2020

This paper discusses the landscape features of I.I. Sprygin Zhiguli State Nature Biosphere Reserve based on the completed landscape map. The landscape map was created using the results of our own field observations, analysis of literature sources and interpretation of satellite images. Two landscapes and 34 tracts are presented on the map, which were distinguished by the nature of the relief and the characteristics of the vegetation and soil cover. Pine forests on the slopes of large and medium steepness on sod-carbonate soils, rocky mountain steppes with endemic red-book herbaceous plants growing on soil plaque from eluvial deposits are typical for the reserve. Broad-leaved forests are typical on the plateau and slopes, represented by linden heart-shaped, maple on the gray forest soils. Most of the reserve is occupied by plateau-like surfaces beneath the secondary birch and maple forests at the site of felling and logging on dark gray forest soils. When comparing the study and the cartographic materials of the 1980s, it can be concluded that aspen forests have almost completely disappeared and have been replaced with maple or birch forests. Anthropogenic landscapes occupy 280 hectares or 1,2% of the total area of the reserve and are cut through clearings under power lines, roads and paths with no tree vegetation. Dirt roads and power lines are located mainly on the plateau-like part of the reserve.
The image of the Russian province nuns based on visual sources of the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries
Authors: Eliseeva Ekaterina A.
Published: August 2020

Studying the history of the past, scientists created a certain cult of a written source. In this regard, visual images were perceived only as additional material to the text. Neglect of images led to the loss of a full historical source in the reconstruction of events and phenomena of the past. The visual turn at the end of the 20th century brought about a change in the research program. Visualism has expanded the source field of research, and enriched methods of data analysis. Photography is not only a fixator of cultural events of everyday life, but also a source of features of the studied region. This research attempts to study the images of the monastic cloisters of the Simbirsk diocese in the second half of the 19th early 20th centuries based on photo sources presented in book editions, online resources, archives of nunneries. The photographs show both abbesses and the nuns of the city nunnery of the Simbirsk eparchy. When analyzing photo sources, the context of creating images was taken into account: design of the photo, background, pose, attributes and information about the authors. The photographs made it possible to construct the image of the nuns of the Russian province and to trace the connection of nunnery with sociocultural phenomena in the urban space at the turn of the 19th20th centuries.
The asymmetry of Laos conflict in the views of the RAND Corporation experts (1960–1973)
Authors: Lyozin Alexander I.
Published: August 2020

The paper deals with analytical reports prepared by the experts of the RAND Corporation on the Secret War in Laos (19601973) between the Royal Laotian Army, tacit living in the United States, and the communist movement Patet Lao, which received assistance from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Initially, it was Laos, not Vietnam that was the strategic and important region of Southeast Asia in the concept of domino theory of the US policy. A vivid example is the study of Laos in the RAND Corporation, which began earlier than the study of Vietnam. Analyst reports were created on the basis of geography, demography, geology, economics, etc. The paper addresses reports on the development of the military-political situation in Laos by the experts of the corporation such as Joel Martin Halpern, Paul Langer and Joseph Zastoff. It is shown that a part of the research was carried out with the aim of developing the theory of counterinsurgency at the request of the Agency for Perspective Research under the Ministry of Defense of the USA for the development of a foreign policy strategy in the countries of the Third world. Special attention is paid to the connection of research on the situation in Laos with the analysis of the prospects of the American policy in Vietnam in the 1960s and early 1970s.
The Turkish army at the turn of the 1960s and 1970s: from left-wing conspiracy to right-wing coup
Authors: Tovsultanova Malika Sh. , Tovsultanov Rustam A. , Galimova Lilia N.
Published: August 2020

This is the first paper in Russian historiography dedicated to the struggle of left and right groups in the Turkish army on the eve of a military coup on March 12, 1971. By 1970, an alliance of leftist intellectuals and officers was formed, led by the editor of the Devrim newspaper, Dogan Avjioglu and one of the organizers of the 1960 coup, a retired lieutenant general Jemal Madanoglu, received the conditional name of the organization of national revolutionaries. The members of the organization sought to approve the socialist system of the bassist type in the country and outlined the number of military coups March 9, 1971. However, the death of one and the opportunist position of two other leaders of the military wing led to the failure of the attempt of a leftist coup. On the contrary, on March 12, 1971, a right-wing military coup took place in Turkey. In the course of subsequent repressions, a powerful blow was dealt to the left groups in the army and in Turkish society as a whole. In an effort to end the repression and achieve consensus in society, moderately leftist forces led by B. Ejevit entered into a coalition with their opponents religious conservatives led by N. Erbakan.
The main ways of students’ activity assessment while training prospective Math teachers at a university
Authors: Evelina Lyubov N. , Kazeev Aleksey E.
Published: August 2020

The authors of the paper pay attention to one of the mandatory structural components of the educational process control and evaluation of educational results. Each prospective teacher of Mathematics should know all types of students educational achievements control, as well as have an idea of how to evaluate their results and independently carry out this type of activity at the stage of University training. Systematic work on this professional competence development is organized within the real educational process while studying methodical courses and during practical training. An important component of the professional competence of a future Mathematics teacher is considered to be first of all the ability to hear and understand the interlocutor, to establish the degree of his/her statements and actions compliance with the existing standards, to identify the level of mathematical training in general and within a specific section, to plan work on correcting noted errors and their prevention in the future. It is these areas of control and evaluation activities development of a Mathematics teacher the authors pay attention to in this paper.
The problem of the individual’s active civil position development in pedagogical literature
Authors: Pets Olga N.
Published: August 2020

The significance of educating students in the value attitude to a person, family, society, the state, the homeland, their readiness for social activity to act independently, actualizes the search for effective means of the students active civil position development. This paper discusses the features of school students active civil position development in pedagogical literature and practice. The author considers such concepts as active citizenship, citizenship and social activity. The paper emphasizes that the issues of educating a person who is interested in the fate of the Fatherland are highlighted in the works of various researchers, thinkers and teachers. Tracing the history of school students active civil position development in pedagogical science, the paper notes that in the 90s of the 20th century in Russia the society had to overcome a number of crisis situations in the socio-political and socio-economic life. As a result, an ideal of a free personality was created; it was believed to be liberated from habitual values, from national traditions and any obligations to society. The paper considers three types of civil position: passive, situational and active. Three main components of a civil position are distinguished: cognitive, active, and evaluative-emotional.
Quality of life of patients with kidney stones
Authors: Protoshchak Vladimir V. , Paronnikov Mikhail V. , Sivakov Aleksei A. , Kiselev Artem O.
Published: August 2020

Relevance. In 2013, the Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life Questionnaire (WISQoL) was developed a specific tool for assessing the quality of life (QoL) in patients with urolithiasis.

Aim. To determine the possibility of using the WISQoL and SF-36 questionnaires to study the treatment results of patients with kidney stones.

Materials and methods. The study included 218 patients with nephrolithiasis. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the first the size of the stone up to 10 mm and the second from 11 to 20 mm. At the first stage, the efficacy of treatment patients by the extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy (PNL) 1 week, 1 and 3 months after surgery was compared. Questionnaires were used to study factors affecting the QOL of patients, including: gender, age, number, density and size of stones, hydronephrosis, stone free rate (SFR), type of surgery. At the next stage, the dynamics of changes in scores for the domains of questionnaires at different stages of treatment was evaluated.

Results. The efficacy of treating kidney stones up to 1 cm in size after 3 months with ESWL was 86,1% and PNL 94,4 %, while stones up to 20 mm using ESWL 73,4% and percutaneous techniques 90,6%. Gender, age, stone size, SFR affected the QoL of patients with nephrolithiasis, while the number and density of stones, the presence of hydronephrosis and the type of operation were not significant. Patients 1 week after PNL had lower QoL scores in the domains of social impact and impact on vitalyty of WISQoL and mental heals of SF-36. After 1 month, these changes were determined only in the social impact domain and completely regressed by the 3rd month.

Conclusion. SFR after ESWL and PNL in the first group is comparable, in the second group, percutaneous operations were 17,2% more effective. Male gender, age up to 40 years, stone size more than 1 cm, and also not reached SFR negatively affects patients with nephrolithiasis. Compared with ESWL and PNL is accompanied by the worst dynamics of QOL scores only 1 week after the operation; upon further observation, negative changes are leveled.
Estimation of efficiency of empirical antibiotic therapy of catheter-associated infection in a urological hospital
Authors: Kuzmenko Andrey V. , Gyaurgiev Timur A. , Halchenko Alexander E. , Vorkel Yaroslav M.
Published: August 2020

An analysis of case histories of 119 patients who underwent treatment in the urology department of the Voronezh City Clinical Emergency Hospital No. 10 was performed. All patients were drained with a urethral catheter, a bacteriological examination of the urine was performed, and empirical antibiotic therapy was prescribed. Microflora growth was detected in the urine of 30 (25.2%) patients, most often revealed Klebsiella spp. and Enterococcus faecalis. A high frequency of resistance of uropathogens to antibacterial drugs prescribed as empirical therapy was noted. 66% were resistant to ceftriaxone, and 70% of the isolated microorganism strains to ciprofloxacin. Significantly lower resistance was noted for amikacin and doxycycline. To increase the effectiveness of empirical antibiotic therapy in patients with catheter-associated urinary tract infections, it is necessary to select antibacterial drugs based on the results of monitoring the sensitivity of hospital strains, followed by treatment correction in accordance with the results of urine bacteriological studies.
Spontaneous rupture of the renal pelvis due to acute obstruction of the upper urinary tract
Authors: Zamyatnin Sergey A. , Tsygankov Andrey V. , Gonchar Irina S.
Published: August 2020

Cases of spontaneous rupture of the pyelocaliceal system of the kidney, not associated with the consequences of endourological surgery, are described extremely rarely in the literature. Most often, such a complication develops in patients with urolithiasis. The article analyzes the literature data on urinary tract apoplexy and presents its own clinical observations.
Efectos de la aplicación del marco normativo para entidades de gobierno en los indicadores financieros
Authors: Agudelo-Rodríguez Laura Andrea , Flórez-Londoño Arnulfo de Jesús , Correa-Mejía Diego Andrés
Published: August 2020

En esta investigación se analiza los impactos de la aplicación del Marco Normativo para Entidades de Gobierno en las cifras contables de los departamentos de Colombia, y la afectación generada en los indicadores financieros. Para esto, se realiza el estudio de las variaciones en la muestra de la información financiera de los 32 departamentos para los años 2017 y 2018, acompañado de un análisis de diferencia de medias elaborado mediante la prueba estadística t - student. Los resultados muestran un aumento de los activos en forma general, sin embargo, se evidencia un mayor aumento en los pasivos totales, ocasionando un efecto negativo en indicadores de endeudamiento y propiedad. Este estudio es exploratorio ya que hasta 2019 se están empezando a reflejar en las cifras de los estados financieros dichos impactos, lo que genera gran utilidad para los entes reguladores y responsables de establecer parámetros legales para su aplicación.
Medical expulsive therapy: a cost effective evidence-based definitive treatment for ureteric stones
Authors: Ali Qutubuddin , Khan Shehtaj , Patel Gambhir , Jaiswal Kritik , . Krishnanand
Published: August 2020

Background: The lifetime risk of kidney stones is between 5% and 10% and rates of recurrence are as high as 50%. Majority of the ureteric stones (70%) are found in the lower third of the ureter. Available setup, type, size of the stone, and expertise of the surgeon are the major factors affecting the treatment modality. Medical expulsive therapy has shown promising results in previous studies. Aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of tamsulosin and deflazacort combination therapy for stone expulsion in relation with site and size of stones.Methods: A total of 97 patients with ureteric calculi of size 10 mm or less attending the urology out-patient department were included. Received medical expulsive therapy using tamsulosin (0.4 mg) and deflazacort (30 mg) for 7 days. Patients were evaluated for stone expulsion on 7th day by non-contrast computed tomography of kidney ureter bladder. Site, side and size of stones were noted.Results: Ureteric calculi was more prevalent in the age group of 21-30 years 38 (39.2%). Male preponderance was observed (76.28%) with male female ratio being 3.2:1. Lower site 64 (65.97%) ureteric calculi were most common. The majority had a stone size of 4-6 mm (42%). Stones were expelled on 7th day in 69 (71.13%) patients. Expulsion rates were highest for the stone size of 2-4 mm (94.4%) followed by 4-6 mm (88.1%). The highest expulsion rates were observed for Lower ureteric stones (84.4%).Conclusions: Medical expulsive therapy using tamsulosin and deflazacort is an effective treatment modality for the management of ureteric stones, especially those present in lower ureter and those ≤8 mm in size.
Streamlined percutaneous atrial septal defect closure in adults
Authors: ARI Selma , ARİ Hasan , CAN Veysi , ÇAMCI Sencer , MELEK Mehmet
Published: August 2020

Objectives: The aim of the study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) guided secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) closure without balloon sizing, sedation or general anesthesia in adults. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 200 secundum ASD closure patients in the tertiary cardiology center. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed to all the patients at least one day before the intervention by the procedure operators. The patients who were closed with a cribriform device, using more than one device, with insufficient rim (<5 mm) (other than the anterior superior rim (aortic rim)), totally flail, and complex interatrial septum anatomy were excluded from the analysis.The size of the ASD closure device was chosen according to the largest diameter measured by TEE. ASD device was selected as 4 mm larger in patients without anterior superior rim and 2 mm larger in other patients than the largest diameter measured in 2D-TEE. Results: In the remaining 166 patients, the procedure was performed with TTE and fluoroscopy guidance without balloon sizing, sedation or general anesthesia. The procedure was performed through right femoral vein. The patients age: 38.56 ± 14.72, gender: 57 male, 109 female, ASD size: 18.88 ± 5.99 mm, anterior superior rim: 5.30 ± 4.04 mm, anterior inferior rim: 14.22 ± 6.46 mm, posterior superior rim: 17.16 ± 4.96 mm, posterior inferior rim: 16.67 ± 7.48 mm. ASD device size: 23.74 ± 6.59 mm. The procedure success rate was 98.1% (163 patients). The complications; 1 patient device embolised, 2 patients device was not placed in the correct position by TTE. Conclusions: TTE and fluoroscopy-guided secundum ASD closure without balloon sizing, sedation or general anesthesia by experienced operators is a safe and effective procedure.
EMPLOYING WEBSITE IN JAPANESE LEARNING AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA FOR PEDAGOGICAL PURPOSE
Authors: Herniwati Herniwati , Aneros Noviyanti , Judiasri Melia Dewi
Published: August 2020

Industrial revolution 4.0 in the development of instructional media for Japanese  language learning is one of the demands of the era that cannot be avoided anymore. Devices that cannot be released from the students' hands make it seems like it's the only source to search for information or answer in the learning process. Learning Japanese is not only through textbooks, but students are able to develop the teaching materials in the form of narratives of tourism and cultural destinations in the city of Bandung using Japanese. Those narratives about the information of destinations are packaged into a website that can be accessed anytime and anywhere, as an interactive instructional media that can increase motivation and interest about the city of Bandung in Japanese. The development of this website is not only for Japanese learners, but also useful as a source of information for Japanese people who will visit the city of Bandung. The latest information about the city of Bandung using Japanese consists of historical sites, tourist attractions, museums, and culinary. Japanese learners can access them at any time and can be used as a medium for discussion, and learners can explain it again about the city of Bandung to their friends. This innovation of learning media is a solution in the era of industrial revolution 4.0 to improve Japanese language skills both orally and in writing.
Backmatter (Copyright Transfer Agreement Form, Publication Ethics, Submission Information)
Authors: Firmansyah Dian Bayu
Published: August 2020

Jurnal Ilmiah Lingua Idea, Volume 10, Issue 2, December 2019
Phytoremediation of Eel (Anguilla bicolor bicolor) rearing wastewater using amazon sword (Echinodorus amazonicus ) and water jasmine (Echinodorus palaefolius)
Authors: Handajani Hany , Widanarni Widanarni , Budiardi Tatag , Setiawati Mia , Sujono Sujono
Published: August 2020

Management of aquaculture wastewater is still the major problems in fisheries, especially in intensive systems. Intensively aquaculture activities often increase organic matter and nutrients (N and P) in the water.  The study was conducted to evaluate the phytoremediator performance of Echinodorus amazonicus and Echinodorus palaefolius in removing inorganic nitrogen and orthophosphate from aquaculture wastewater with the recircula­tion system. This study used a completely randomized design with three treatments and 3 replications. The treatments of this study were P1: E. amazonicus,  P2: E. palaefolius and P3: control (without aquatic plants). The tested fish were elvers  which average weight 6.98 ± 0.19 g,  and  fish density was 4 gL-1. Elvers reared in an aquarium that containing 48 L in  a recirculation system. The paste feed which protein level of  45.25% was given at satiation 3 times/day. Elvers reared for 60 days. The results showed that E. palaefolius significantly reduced concentrations of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3) and orthophosphate (PO4) with an efficiency of 27.10 ± 2.42%; 45.03 ± 9.77%; 20.94 ± 1.29% and 14.19 ± 3.05%, respectively higher than E. amazonicus and control. The best result of elver’s performance (SGR and FCR) was in treatment P2 (E. palaefolius), i.e.  1.19 ± 0.18% and 1.57 ± 0.30. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the use of E. palaefolius as phytoremediator in eel culture with recirculation system can removed inorganic nitrogen and orthophosphate more optimal compared to other treatment.
Heat Shock and Its Consequences on Early Life Performance of Stripped Catfis (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)
Authors: Hartami Prama , Carman Odang , Zairin Muhammad , Alimuddin Alimuddin
Published: August 2020

Researchers have widely applied heat shock on zygote stadia of domesticated aquatic animals especially for the purpose of ploidy manipulation in fish to accelerate growth, intermediate products for the production of infertile seeds, providing prospective brood stock as well as the monosex population.  This is certainly an interesting study to see how far the impact of heat shock on the early development stages. This experiment used a 42 0C heat shock for 2.5 minutes on the zygote at different initial time i.e. 28.5; 29; 29.5; 30 and 30.5 minutes after fertilization. All treated larvae and control were reared in a 25 liters plastic container at density of 5 larvae per liter. The results showed that high percentage of fertilization rate were 92.61 % to 96.32 % and hatching rate was 85.33 % without any abnormalities were achieved in the control. While in all treatments had a very low hatching rate of 4.12 % to 8.93 % with relatively high abnormalities of 12.36 % to 27.60 % and a significant differences (P<0.05) compared to controls, but survival rate, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio after 30 days rearing period showed no significant difference (P>0,05). In terms of seed production, the heat shock treatment will limit 78 % to 82 % of larvae production.
The Dynamics of Water Quality During Culture of Snakehead Fish (Channa striata) in The Aquarium
Authors: Puspaningsih Dewi , Supriyono Eddy , Nirmala Kukuh , Rusmana Iman , Kusmana Cecep , Widiyati Ani
Published: August 2020

Intensive culture of snakehead fish used artificial feed with high protein content. The impact of the high use of artificial feed will cause waste that can cause poor water quality and cause fish mortality. The purpose of this research was to know the dynamics of water quality during culture of snakehead fish Channa striata in the aquarium. The test animals used were snakehead fish with a length of 6.90 ± 0.49 cm and weight of 2.57 ± 0.59 g. Fish was maintenanced with a density of 2 fish L-1, 4 fish L-1 and 6 fish L-1. Fish was cultured for four days in an aquarium  with size of  60x40x40 cm3 and water volume  of 20 L. Water quality were observed, i.e, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, TAN, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, hardness and alkalinity. The results showed that pH, temperature, hardness, TAN, nitrite, nitrate and ortophosphate were not significantly different between treatments (P>0.05), while dissolved oxygen and alkalinity were showed different significantly (P<0.05). On the fourth day of culture with a density of 4 fish L-1 and 6 fish L-1 has led to water saturation in the culture media. Dynamic of water quality was started on the third day of culture, whereas nitrites could not be converted to nitrate maximally. High levels of nitrate in the snakehead culture indicated that that this culture could be combined with an integrated aquaculture with plants.
Moina sp. Powder Supplementation as Artemia sp. Substitute Through Growth, Lysine, Histidine, Methionine, and Leucine Amino Acid Contents in Tiger Grouper x Camouflage Grouper Hybrid Larvae (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus x Epinephelus microdon)
Authors: Qori Tartila Shobrina Silmi , Qori Tartila Shobrina Silmi , Iswara Arga , Choirun Nisa' Frida , Herlambang Nofita Irmayani , Alamsjah Mochammad Amin , Agustono Agustono
Published: August 2020

Tiger Grouper x Cammouflage Grouper (TGCG) (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus x Epinephelus microdon) production is still low nowadays due to the insufficient price of the live feed supply during the larval phase, which is nauplii Artemia sp. One of the live feed types which is able to become a substitute of nauplii Artemia sp. is Moina sp., which has better lysine, histidine, methionine, and leucine contents, besides having the sufficient price for the supply itself. However, Moina sp. is unable to survive in the high salinity, thus it has to be produced as a powder. This condition leads to a further research whether to observe that the Moina sp. powder supplementation is able to become nauplii Artemia sp. substitute through the increased growth and the optimum better lysine, histidine, methionine, and leucine contents in TGCG larvae. The research was conducted using the complete randomized design experimental method. The result showed that Moina sp. powder is compatible as good substitute candidate of nauplii Artemia sp., as it increased the larval length growth, even it had no difference in weight growth, but it was also able to increase the larval lysine, histidine, methionine, and leucine contents.
The Phosphorus and Sulphur Distribution and Culturable Bacterial In Time Chronosequence of Ex-Tin Mining Ponds
Authors: Kurniawan Andri , Oedjijono Oedjijono , Tamad Tamad , Sulaeman Uyi
Published: August 2020

The tin mining had caused ecological changes that can be occured to macro- and microecosystem. This article aims to study the pattern distribution of element of phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) and also to identify culturable bacterial that were isolated form ex-tin mining ponds in time chronosequence. The elemets of P and S were detected by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and the bacterials was isolated in medium agar and biochemistry identification by microbact. The concentration of element of P and S showed the average of P concentration increased in time chronosequnce of ex-tin mining ponds, whereas the average of S concentration showed dynamic pattern. In ex-tin mining pond with age < 1 year the average concentration of P was 33,725 mg.L-1 and S was 311,45 mg.L-1. In ex-tin mining pond with age 5-10 years were P (59,8 mg.L-1) and S (451,75 mg.L-1). In ex-tin mining pond with age > 15 years were P (67,44 mg.L-1) and S (386,125 mg.L-1). While, the culturable bacterials were Kurthia spp; Actinobacillus equuli; Bacillus amyloliquefaciens; Bacillus spp; Micrococcus sp; Enterobacter gergoviae; Veillonella sp; Enterobacter aerogenes; Moraxella bovis; Nitrobater spp; and Enterobacter agglomerans.
Directional preference of otolith-related neurons in vestibular nucleus
Authors: Nguyen Nguyen , Kim Kyu-Sung , Kim Gyutae
Published: August 2020

Background: Due to the paired structure of two labyrinths, their neural communication is conducted through the interconnected commissural pathway. Using the tight link, the neural responding characteristics are formed in vestibular nucleus, and these responses are initially generated by the mechanical movement of the hair cells in the semicircular canals and otoliths. Although the mechanism to describe the neuronal responses to the head movements was evident, few direct experimental data were provided, especially the directional preference of otolith-related neurons as one of critical responses to elucidate the function of the neurons in vestibular nucleus (VN).Experimental Approach: The directional preference of otolith-related neurons was investigated in VN. Also, a chemically induced unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL) was performed to identify the origin of the directional preference. For the model evaluation, static and dynamic behavioral tests were performed. Following the evaluation, an extracellular neural activity was recorded for the neuronal responses to the horizontal head rotation and the linear head translation.Results: Seventy seven neuronal activities were recorded from thirty SD rats (270-450 g, male), and total population was divided into three groups; left UL (20), sham (35), right UL (22). Based on the directional preference, two sub-groups were again classified as contra- and ipsi-preferred neurons. There was no significance in the number of those sub-groups (contra-: 15/35, 43%; ipsi-: 20/35, 57%) in the sham (p=0.155). However, more ipsi-preferred neurons (19/22, 86%) were observed after right UL (p=6.056×10-5) while left UL caused more contra-preferred neurons (13/20, 65%) (p=0.058). In particular, the convergent neurons mainly led this biased difference in the population (ipsi-: 100% after right UL & contra-: 89% after left UL) (p<0.002).Conclusion: The directional preference was evenly maintained under a normal vestibular function, and its unilateral loss biased the directional preference of the neurons, depending on the side of lesion. Moreover, the dominance of the directional preference was mainly led by the convergent neurons which had the neural information related with head rotation and linear translation.
Study of Temperature Distribution and Material Flow in Friction Stir Welding of AA6061-T6
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Kumar Ramesh , Kore Sachin D
Published: August 2020

A fully-coupled 3-D model of FSW was developed for 4 mm plates of AA6061-T6 aluminum alloy based on the Finite Volume Method (FVM) in ANSYS Fluent 14.5 software. Two types of the model; one with the tool and another without tool was developed for different tool geometry and analysis was done for temperature distribution in the workpiece as well as in tool using system coupling for first model and workpiece only in later one. A parametric study was performed at different tool rotational speed regarding temperature distribution, and material flow analysis was carried out for all tool geometries at a single rotational speed. The material behaves differently when passes through the different tool and it was affected by thermal history, viscosity and strain rate for particular tool geometry. Temperature-dependent material properties and a user-defined function (UDF) code of viscosity have been incorporated in the model considering the workpiece as a non-Newtonian viscous fluid. A better material mixing observed in case of threaded pin geometry by using a steady-state laminar flow model. All tapered tool geometries were unable to mix material properly just below and around the pin tip due to very low-velocity magnitude in this region, which may lead to a kind of defect. An asymmetric temperature distribution observed in the workpiece and at higher rotational speed peak temperature observed higher in the workpiece, and the flow of heat was more in tool. Validation of the model was done by performing experiments.
Improvement of Freezing of Gait in Patients with Parkinson's Disease by Music Exercise Therapy: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Li Kun-Peng , Zhou Zong-Lei , Zhou Ru-Zhen , Zhu Yan , Zhang Zeng-Qiao
Published: August 2020

Background: Freezing of gait, a common pathological gait in Parkinson's disease, is progressive with the progression of the disease. It is an important risk factor for patients to fall easily, lose their independent living ability and decline their quality of life. The treatment of Parkinson's disease with freezing of gait is very difficult, and the effect of medicine and operation is not ideal. Music exercise therapy is a kind of treatment technology that can change the behavior, emotion and physiological activity of patients by listening to music at the same time of exercise therapy. In recent years, music exercise therapy has been widely used in motor disorders and neurological diseases, and has achieved remarkable results. The small sample study in the early stage of this research group initially found that music exercise therapy can improve the freezing of gait of Parkinson's patients and improve the quality of life of patients. The overall purpose of this experiment is to expand the sample size to further evaluate the clinical effect of music exercise therapy on freezing of gait of Parkinson's patients.Methods/design: This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the clinical efficacy of music exercise therapy in improving the freezing of gait of Parkinson's patients. The patients will receive music exercise therapy, exercise therapy without music and routine rehabilitation therapy at random. We will recruit 81 inpatients of Parkinson's who meet the trial criteria to observe the changes of gait and limb motor function after 4 weeks of intervention. The first evaluation index is to use three-dimensional gait analysis system to evaluate the change of patients' gait. The second evaluation index includes limb function, activity of daily living and fall risk assessment.Discussion: Our aim is to evaluate the efficacy of music exercise therapy in the treatment of Parkinson's patients with freezing of gait. This result will provide more evidence for the clinical application of this therapy in the future.Trial registration: The trial has been registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn) on September 20, 2019. Registration number: ChiCTR1900026063
Technical aspects of management in the intensive care unit: A single center experience from a tertiary academic hospital
Authors: Alsohime Fahad , Temsah Mohamad-Hani , Al-Eyadhy Ayman , Gulman Sanaa , Issa Haytam , Alsohime Omar
Published: August 2020

Background: Special technical issues arise in medical devices in intensive care units (ICU) that are related to their function and maintenance. This study explored the level of comfort of different ICU staff in dealing with selected equipment, the factors are associated with the staff’s ease of adaptation of new technologies, and the role of technical support staff. Methods: This is a single center cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey that was conducted in February2018 and targeted nurses working in the ICUs of King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Results: Among the 297 nurses who completed the survey, almost all of the respondents (99.3%) were aware of their ICU preventive equipment maintenance program. Most of the nurses received training on how to use infusion pumps (96.2%), cardiac monitoring systems (78.0%), and cardiac defibrillation devices (73.9%). Sixty nurses (20.2%) indicated that at least one super user was available for at least one device. About half of the staff reported one device whose user manual was available. Regarding updates on medical devices, most nurses reported they had no resource for the update. Conclusions: The findings revealed an alarming need to address technical issues related to medical devices used in the ICU and to design a framework for the safe operation of medical devices based on international practices. It is necessary to empower the role of the super user and medical device clinical educator as well as optimize communication between the national regulatory body of medical devices and healthcare providers, especially those working in acute care areas.
Stmn1 up-regulates Cdx2 expression and participates in gastric intestinal metaplasia in vitro and in vivo: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chen Xuan , Chen Lizuan , Ren Zeming , Tong Yeling , Dai Guanhai , Chen Sisi , Wu Renzhao
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stmn1 is over-expressed in almost all pathological stages during gastric cancer development, such as chronic atrophic gastritis, dysplasia, and gastric cancer. IM is an important precancerous lesion of gastric cancer, however, whether Stmn1 was up-regulated or down-regulated in this stage is still unknown. We aimed to evaluate the expression level of Stmn1 in IM in vivo and its relationship with important gene of IM named Cdx2 in vitro.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Wistar rats (n=12, sex in half) were gavaged with MNNG (167μg/ml) to induce IM model in stomach. After pathological examination with AB staining to confirm that the model was successful, relative expression level of Stmn1 was detected between normal group and model group using RT-qPCR. Human gastric cell line GES-1 was used to investigate whether Stmn1 influence expression level of IM essential gene Cdx2 by over-expressing or down-expressing experiments, RT-qPCR and western blot.KEY RESULTS: We have demonstrated that Stmn1 was up-regulated in IM model induced by MNNG in rats in vivo, and it could significantly up-regulate Cdx2 expression level in human gastric cell line GES-1 in vitro.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: We demonstrated that Stmn1 was involved in IM in this model and it could up-regulating Cdx2 in human gastric cell line GES-1 in vitro. These results suggested that Stmn1 might be a potential biomarker or candidate treatment target of IM in stomach.
Optimal treatment and complications for the perforated upper gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Sugase Takahito , Michiura Toshiya , Urabe Shoichiro , Sasaki Kazuki , Hata Tsuyoshi , Hayashi Nobuyasu , Yamabe Kazuo
Published: August 2020

Background The perforation of upper gastrointestinal tract, primarily caused by peptic ulcer or cancer, is afflicted by a notoriously high mortality rate. The selection of appropriate risk assessments and therapeutic alternatives becomes important when addressing the risk for morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the optimal treatment and the post-treatment complications for this condition.Methods We retrospectively analyzed 50 patients with intraperitoneal free air due to perforated stomach or duodenum who were consecutively treated at a single institution between 2010 and 2019.Results All patients received initial inpatient treatment that was categorized as either surgery (n = 43, 86%) or non-surgery (n = 7, 14%). The non-surgically cured patients were significantly younger and had no or localized peritonitis, no ascites, lower C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and shorter hospital stay than the surgery patients. Of seven non-surgery patients, two patients were converted to surgery for worsening symptoms. One of them, who was elderly and had a longer perforation-to-treatment time, stayed at the hospital more than 2 months after surgery with CD Grade Ⅱ. Evaluation of postoperative complications using the Clavien-Dindo classification showed that the patients with Grade Ⅱ–Ⅴ (n=21) were significantly older and had higher heart rates, poorer physical status, and longer perforation-to-surgery than those with Grade 0–Ⅰ (n=24). Preoperative CRP, prothrombin time, and lactate were significantly higher, and hemoglobin was significantly lower in the patients with Grade Ⅱ–Ⅴ. They had significantly longer operation times and found acute renal failure more frequently. Postoperative findings showed a significantly more prolonged period of antibiotic administration, fasting, and hospital stay. The postoperative blood examinations of them showed that minor changes were observed in WBC and neutrophil, and neutrophil and CRP were significantly higher after surgery. The multivariable analyses identified elevated lactate as an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. The postoperative outcomes in patients with perforated gastric cancer depended on the stage and whether a curative resection could be performed.Conclusions Consideration should be given to the indications of non-surgery in elderly patients as well as the delay of treatment and postoperative outcomes of patients with elevated lactate preoperatively.
Frequency of Colorectal lesions among Sudanese Patient attending for endoscopy-multi center study
Authors: Mukhtar Ashwag Mohammed , Hussein Tarig Mohamed , Abdelaziz Muataz SalahEldin , Alhaboob Nassir , Gady ElSagad Eltayeb , ElHassan Lamyaa
Published: August 2020

Background Colorectal cancer is one of the most significant causes of cancer death. With records of high incidence and late detection of the disease in Sudan, and it was found to affect younger age groups.Methods This study aimed to explore the incidence of colorectal lesions in the main endoscopic centers in Khartoum state- Sudan. It was a cross-sectional prospective study; data were collected from patients attending the main endoscopic centers in Sudan- Khartoum state during February 2013 to June 2014 including Khartoum teaching hospital, Neelain medical diagnostic center and Ibn sina hospital.Results One hundred and six participants were diagnosed endoscopically with colorectal lesions, 44 (41.5%) showed inflammatory mucosa, 40 (37.7 %) showed tumor and 22 (20.7%) had polyps.In the whole group of patients the mean age was 45.7 years, 34.2% of tumor patients were less than 50 years old, 46.8% of the lesions were in the rectum, the highest frequency of tumor patients group were from western tribes, and the lesions were located commonly in the rectum. Conclusion We concluded that the rectum is the most common site of cancer within the Sudanese population than other parts of the colon with apparently high incidence within young ages.
Prevalence of multidrug resistant tuberculosis among TB patients in Malaysia.
Authors: Rajendran Mahindran Rajendran , Zaki Rafdzah Ahmad , Bakar Zamzurina Abu , Aghamohammadi Nasrin
Published: August 2020

Background: Currently multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses a significant public health concern in Malaysia.Objective: This study is aimed to evaluate the prevalence of MDR-TB in Malaysian tuberculosis patients. Method. A retrospective analysis was performed, and data was obtained from the Malaysian National TB Information System (TBIS) between 2009 and 2019. A record of 989 MDR-TB cases were identified and associated risk characteristics such as marital status, gender, ethnicity, employment status, alcohol consumption, diabetic status and smoking status were determined. The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software version 20.Results: Overall, the occurrence of MDR-TB among patients with TB infections in Malaysia was 0.34% based on data collected from TBIS. The findings revealed major variations in the incidence of MDR-TB between male and female patients (0.44%, 0.20%, p < 0.001), single and married patients (1.63% vs 0.24%, p < 0.001), ethnicity (p < 0.001), working and non-working patients (0.48% vs 0.32%, p < 0.001), alcoholic and non-alcoholic patients (0.44% vs 0.32%, p < 0.001), diabetic patients and non-diabetic patients (0.39% vs 0.27%, p < 0.001), followed by smoking and non-smoking patients (0.13% vs 0.27%, p < 0.001).Conclusion: This study provides a substantial assessment of MDR-TB prevalence and associated risk factors that could be useful for the implementation of new strategies in Malaysia's national TB policy.
Voxel-Based Morphometric Features of Dysthyroid Optic Neuropathy
Authors: Tu Yunhai , Chen Tingting , Mao Bangxun , Mao Chuanwan , Liu Xiaozheng , Gao Jianlu
Published: August 2020

Background: Dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) is a serious complication of thyroid-associated ophthalmology (TAO), leading to loss of vision or blindness. Numerous studies had reported thyroid dysfunction affects a wide range of visual pathways in adults, from the retina to the visual center. We aimed to explore if there were abnormalities of gray matter density (GMD) in DON patients.Methods: We collected patients with TAO from The Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. All patients underwent routine ophthalmic examination, Clinical Activity Score (CAS), intraocular pressure (IOP), exophthalmos, visual field, OCT,and orbital CT scan. 16 patients with DON and 16 patients without DON (N-DON) were enrolled in this study. Age, gender, orbital congestion index and degree of education of patients were matched between the two groups. High-resolution magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition with gradient echo (MPRAGE) scans was performed on all patients. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was applied to analyze the T1 weighted images of the brain, based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) integrated VBM (FSL-VBM).Results: GDM was significantly decreased in the right middle temporal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, and right middle frontal orbicular gyrus in the DON when compared to N-DON.Conclusions: The DON can result in reduced GMD in specific areas of the brain. This finding suggests that there may be other mechanisms in Don
The Prognostic Value of Cardiac Troponin T in Different Age Groups of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients
Authors: Wang Ruoran , He Min , Kang Yan
Published: August 2020

Background

The cardiac dysfunction has been confirmed as a common non-neurological complication and associated with increased mortality in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. As a biological marker of cardiac injury, the cardiac troponin T (TnT) has been verified correlated with outcome of some non-traumatic brain injury patients. However, the prognostic value of TnT in TBI patients has not been clearly illustrated. We designed this study to explore the association between TnT and outcome of TBI patients in different age subgroups.
Methods

Patients diagnosed with TBI in a prospective critical care database were eligible for this study. Univariate logistic regression analysis was firstly performed to explore the relationship between included variables and mortality. Then, the real effect of TnT on outcome of different age subgroups was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting the confounding effects of other significant risk factors. Finally, we draw receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to evaluate the prognostic value of TnT in different age groups of TBI patients.
Results

520 patients were included in this study with mortality rate of 20.2%. There were 112 (21.5%) non-elderly patients (age < 65) and 408 (78.5%) elderly patients (age ≥ 65). Non-survivors had higher percentage of previous acute myocardial infarction (p = 0.019) and pupil no-reaction (p = 0.028; p = 0.011) than survivors. Survivors had higher GCS (p < 0.001) and lower TnT than non-survivors (p < 0.001). TnT was significantly associated with mortality in non-elderly patients (p = 0.031) but not in overall patients (p = 0.143) and elderly patients (p = 0.456) in multivariate logistic regression analysis. The AUC (area under the ROC curve) value of TnT in overall, non-elderly and elderly patients was 0.644, 0.693 and 0.632, respectively. Combining TnT with GCS increased the sensitivity of predicting mortality of both non-elderly and elderly TBI patients.
Conclusion

The prognostic value of TnT differed between elderly and non-elderly TBI patients. Level of TnT was associated with mortality of non-elderly TBI patients but not elderly patients. Combining the TnT with GCS could increase the sensitivity of prognosis evaluation.