bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The magnitude of anemia and associated factors among adult diabetic patients in Tertiary Teaching Hospital, Northern Ethiopia, 2019, cross-sectional study
Authors: Hailu Nigus Alemu , Tolessa Tesfaye , Gufue Zenawi Hagos , Tsegay Etsay Weldekidan , Tekola Kidanemaryam Berhe
Published: November 2020

Background

Patients with Diabetic Mellitus are at higher risk of different complications. Many previous studies show that anemia among diabetic patients is poorly diagnosed.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of anemia among adult diabetes patients having regular follow up at the diabetic clinic of Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Tigray, 2018/19.

Methods

This study was conducted the Diabetic clinic of Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital, Tigray regional state, Northern Ethiopia from January to March 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. About 5 ml of venous blood was collected by experienced laboratory technologists under a complete aseptic technique. Two ml of the venous blood was used for hemoglobin determination. And three ml of the venous blood was used without any anticoagulant for creatinine determination. The association of variables was assessed using bivariate and multivariable analysis in the logistic regression model with p-value, odds ratio, and 95% CI in the SPSS version 24 software.

Results

From a total of 262 diabetes patients, forty-seven (17.9%) were found to be anemic (6.7% males and 11.5% females). Among the related factors, residency (Adjusted Odds Ratio, 7.69, 95% CI, 2.060, 28.69, p = 0.002,), age of the patients (Adjusted Odds Ratio, 4.007, 95%CI, 1.53–10.51, p = 0.005,) and sex (Adjusted Odds Ratio, 3.434, 95% CI, 1.582, 7.458, p = 0.042,) were significantly associated with anemia.

Conclusion

According to this study, the magnitude of anemia is high among diabetic patients. Occupation of the participants, residency, HIV status, being female, and age was significantly associated with anemia.
A differential expression of pyrethroid resistance genes in the malaria vector Anopheles funestus across Uganda is associated with patterns of gene flow
Authors: Sandeu Maurice Marcel , Mulamba Charles , Weedall Gareth D. , Wondji Charles S.
Published: November 2020

Background

Insecticide resistance is challenging the effectiveness of insecticide-based control interventions to reduce malaria burden in Africa. Understanding the molecular basis of insecticides resistance and patterns of gene flow in major malaria vectors such asAnopheles funestusare important steps for designing effective resistance management strategies. Here, we investigated the association between patterns of genetic structure and expression profiles of genes involved in the pyrethroid resistance inAn.funestusacross Uganda and neighboring Kenya.

Methods

Blood-fed mosquitoesAn.funestuswere collected across the four localities in Uganda and neighboring Kenya. A Microarray-based genome-wide transcription analysis was performed to identify the set of genes associated with permethrin resistance. 17 microsatellites markers were genotyped and used to establish patterns of genetic differentiation.

Results

Microarray-based genome-wide transcription profiling of pyrethroid resistance in four locations across Uganda (Arua, Bulambuli, Lira, and Tororo) and Kenya (Kisumu) revealed that resistance was mainly driven by metabolic resistance. The most commonly up-regulated genes in pyrethroid resistance mosquitoes include cytochrome P450s (CYP9K1,CYP6M7,CYP4H18,CYP4H17,CYP4C36). However, expression levels of key genes vary geographically such as the P450CYP6M7[Fold-change (FC) = 115.8 (Arua) vs 24.05 (Tororo) and 16.9 (Kisumu)]. In addition, several genes from other families were also over-expressed including Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), carboxylesterases, trypsin, glycogenin, and nucleotide binding protein which probably contribute to insecticide resistance across Uganda and Kenya. Genotyping of 17 microsatellite loci in the five locations provided evidence that a geographical shift in the resistance mechanisms could be associated with patterns of population structure throughout East Africa. Genetic and population structure analyses indicated significant genetic differentiation between Arua and other localities (FST>0.03) and revealed a barrier to gene flow between Arua and other areas, possibly associated with Rift Valley.

Conclusion

The correlation between patterns of genetic structure and variation in gene expression could be used to inform future interventions especially as new insecticides are gradually introduced.
Perceived learning difficulty associates with depressive symptoms and substance use among students of higher educational institutions in North Western Ethiopia: A cross sectional study
Authors: Bitew Tesera , Birhan Wohabie , Wolie Demeke
Published: November 2020

Background

The potential role of perceived learning difficulty on depressive symptoms and substance use in the context of student population was seldom studied. This study aimed to investigate the association of perceived learning difficulty with depressive symptoms and substance use among university students in northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted on 710 pre-engineering students. A locally validated version of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess depressive symptoms at a cut off 5–9 indicating mild depressive symptoms and at a cut off 10 for major depressive symptoms. Perceived difficulty in school work was assessed by items dealing about difficulties in areas of course work. The response alternatives of these items were 0 = not at all, 1 = not so much, 2 = quite much, 3 = very much. The types of substances that students had used in their life and in the last three months were assessed. Negative binomial regression and multinomial regressions were employed to investigate the predictors of number of substance use and depressive symptoms respectively.

Results

The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 71.4% (Mild: 30% and Major 41.4%). About 24.6% of participants had the experience of using at least one substance. Increment in perceived difficulties in learning score was associated with more use of substances (aRRR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.06), mild level depressive symptoms (aOR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.56 and major depressive symptoms (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.26). Every increment in anxiety score was associated with increased risk of mild level of depressive symptoms (aOR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.17) and major depressive symptoms (aOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.37). Being male (aRRR = 5.54, 95% CI: 3.28, 9.36), urban residence (aRRR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.62, 3.72) and increment in number of life threatening events (aRRR = 1.143, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.22) were associated with increased risk of substance use.

Conclusion

Perceived difficulties in learning independently predicted increased depressive symptoms as well as substance use among participants.
Evidence of nickel and other trace elements and their relationship to clinical findings in acute Mesoamerican Nephropathy: A case-control analysis
Authors: Fischer Rebecca S. B. , Unrine Jason M. , Vangala Chandan , Sanderson Wayne T. , Mandayam Sreedhar , Murray Kristy O.
Published: November 2020

Background

Although there are several hypothesized etiologies of Mesoamerican Nephropathy (MeN), evidence has not yet pointed to the underlying cause. Exposure to various trace elements can cause the clinical features observed in MeN.

Methods and findings

We measured 15 trace elements, including heavy metals, in renal case-patients (n = 18) and healthy controls (n = 36) in a MeN high-risk region of Nicaragua. Toenails clippings from study participants were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A case-control analysis was performed, and concentrations were also analyzed over participant characteristics and clinical parameters. Nickel (Ni) concentrations were significantly higher in toenails from cases (1.554 mg/kg [0.176–42.647]) than controls (0.208 mg/kg [0.055–51.235]; p<0.001). Ni concentrations correlated positively with serum creatinine levels (p = 0.001) and negatively with eGFR (p = 0.001). Greater Ni exposure was also associated with higher leukocyte (p = 0.001) and neutrophil (p = 0.003) counts, fewer lymphocytes (p = 0.003), and lower hemoglobin (p = 0.004) and hematocrit (p = 0.011).

Conclusions

Low-dose, chronic environmental exposure to Ni is a possible health risk in this setting. Ni intoxication and resulting systemic and renal effects could explain the clinical signs observed during early MeN. This study provides compelling evidence for a role of Ni in the acute renal impairment observed in this MeN high-risk population. Additional work to assess exposure levels in a larger and heterogeneous population, identify environmental sources of Ni and exposure pathways, and evaluate the link between Ni and MeN pathogenesis are urgently needed.
An insight into the evolutionary history of Indonesian cattle assessed by whole genome data analysis
Authors: Sudrajad Pita , Subiharta Subiharta , Adinata Yudi , Lathifah Af’idatul , Lee Jun Heon , Lenstra Johannes A. , Lee Seung Hwan
Published: November 2020

The domestication of Indonesian cattle was investigated through a study of their genetic diversity, up to the genome level. Little documentation exists regarding the history of domestication of Indonesian cattle and questions remain despite a growing body of molecular evidence. In this study, we genotyped seven Indonesian cattle breeds using an Illumina BovineSNP50 Bead Chip to provide insight into their domestication and demographic history in a worldwide population context. Our analyses indicated the presence of hybrid cattle, withBos javanicusandBos indicusancestries being most prevalent, as well as purebred cattle. We revealed that all the breeds were interconnected through several migration events. However, their demographic status varied widely. Although almost all the Indonesian cattle had an effective population size higher than the minimum level required to ensure breed fitness, efforts are still needed to maintain their genetic variability and purity.
Novel participatory methods for co-building an agent-based model of physical activity with youth
Authors: Frerichs Leah , Smith Natalie , Kuhlberg Jill A. , Mason Gretchen , Jackson-Diop Damie , Stith Doris , Corbie-Smith Giselle , Lich Kristen Hassmiller
Published: November 2020

Public health scholarship has increasingly called for the use of system science approaches to understand complex problems, including the use of participatory engagement to inform the modeling process. Some system science traditions, specifically system dynamics modeling, have an established participatory practice tradition. Yet, there remains limited guidance on engagement strategies using other modeling approaches like agent-based models. Our objective is to describe how we engaged adolescent youth in co-building an agent-based model about physical activity. Specifically, we aim to describe how we communicated technical aspects of agent-based models, the participatory activities we developed, and the resulting visual diagrams that were produced. We implemented six sessions with nine adolescent participants. To make technical aspects more accessible, we used an analogy that linked core components of agent-based models to elements of storytelling. We also implemented novel, facilitated activities that engaged youth in the development, annotation, and review of graphs over time, geographical maps, and state charts. The process was well-received by the participants and helped inform the basic structure of an agent-based model. The resulting visual diagrams created space for deeper discussion among participants about patterns of daily activity, important places for physical activity, and interactions between social and built environments. This work lays a foundation to develop and refine engagement strategies, especially for translating qualitative insights into quantitative model specifications such as ‘decision rules’.
Acceptability of self- collection for human papillomavirus detection in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Taku Ongeziwe , Meiring Tracy L. , Gustavsson Inger , Phohlo Keletso , Garcia-Jardon Mirta , Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. , Businge Charles B. , Gyllensten Ulf , Williamson Anna-Lise
Published: November 2020

Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing on vaginal self-collected and cervical clinician-collected specimens shows comparable performance. Self-sampling on FTA cards is suitable for women residing in rural settings or not attending regular screening and increases participation rate in the cervical cancer screening programme. We aimed to investigate and compare high-risk (HR)-HPV prevalence in clinician-collected and self-collected genital specimens as well as two different HPV tests on the clinician collected samples. A total of 737 women were recruited from two sites, a community health clinic (n = 413) and a referral clinic (n = 324) in the Eastern Cape Province. Cervical clinician-collected (FTA cards and Digene transport medium) and vaginal self-collected specimens were tested for HR-HPV using the hpVIR assay (FTA cards) and Hybrid Capture-2 (Digene transport medium). There was no significant difference in HR-HPV positivity between clinician-collected and self-collected specimens among women from the community-based clinic (26.4% vs 27.9%, p = 0.601) or the referral clinic (83.6% vs 79.9%, p = 0.222). HPV16, HPV35, and HPV33/52/58 group were the most frequently detected genotypes at both study sites. Self-sampling for HPV testing received a high positive response of acceptance (77.2% in the community-based clinic and 83.0% in referral clinic). The overall agreement between hpVIR assay and HC-2 was 87.7% (k = 0.754). The study found good agreement between clinician-collected and self-collected genital specimens. Self-collection can have a positive impact on a cervical screening program in South Africa by increasing coverage of women in rural areas, in particular those unable to visit the clinics and women attending clinics where cytology-based programs are not functioning effectively.
Simulation-free estimation of an individual-based SEIR model for evaluating nonpharmaceutical interventions with an application to COVID-19 in the District of Columbia
Authors: Sewell Daniel K. , Miller Aaron ,   for the CDC MInD-Healthcare Program
Published: November 2020

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmingly demonstrated the need to accurately evaluate the effects of implementing new or altering existing nonpharmaceutical interventions. Since these interventions applied at the societal level cannot be evaluated through traditional experimental means, public health officials and other decision makers must rely on statistical and mathematical epidemiological models. Nonpharmaceutical interventions are typically focused on contacts between members of a population, and yet most epidemiological models rely on homogeneous mixing which has repeatedly been shown to be an unrealistic representation of contact patterns. An alternative approach is individual based models (IBMs), but these are often time intensive and computationally expensive to implement, requiring a high degree of expertise and computational resources. More often, decision makers need to know the effects of potential public policy decisions in a very short time window using limited resources. This paper presents a computation algorithm for an IBM designed to evaluate nonpharmaceutical interventions. By utilizing recursive relationships, our method can quickly compute the expected epidemiological outcomes even for large populations based on any arbitrary contact network. We utilize our methods to evaluate the effects of various mitigation measures in the District of Columbia, USA, at various times and to various degrees.Rcode for our method is provided in the supplementry material, thereby allowing others to utilize our approach for other regions.
The immunoglobulin G antibody response to malaria merozoite antigens in asymptomatic children co-infected with malaria and intestinal parasites
Authors: Ndiabamoh Crespo’o Mbe-cho , Ekali Gabriel Loni , Esemu Livo , Lloyd Yukie Michelle , Djontu Jean Claude , Mbacham Wilfred , Bigoga Jude , Taylor Diane Wallace , Leke Rose Gana Fomban
Published: November 2020

Background

Co-infection with malaria and intestinal parasites is common in children in Africa and may affect their immune response to a malaria parasite infection. Prior studies suggest that co-infections may lead to increased susceptibility to malaria infection and disease severity; however, other studies have shown the reverse. Knowledge on how co-morbidities specifically affect the immune response to malaria antigens is limited. Therefore, this study sought to determine the prevalence of co-infection of malaria and intestinal parasites and its association with antibody levels to malaria merozoite antigens.

Methods

A cross sectional study was carried out in two villages with high transmission of malaria in Cameroon (Ngali II and Mfou) where mass drug administration (MDA) had been administered at ~6-month intervals (generally with albendazole or mebendazole). Children aged 1–15 years were enrolled after obtaining parental consent. A malaria rapid diagnostic test was used on site. Four (4) ml of peripheral blood was collected from each participant to determine Plasmodium falciparum infections by microscopy, haemoglobin levels and serology. Fresh stool samples were collected and examined by wet mount, Kato-Katz method and modified Ritchie concentration techniques. A Multiplex Analyte Platform assay was used to measure antibody levels.

Results

A total of 320 children were enrolled. The prevalence of malaria by blood smear was 76.3% (244/320) and prevalence of malaria and intestinal parasites was 16.9% (54/320). Malaria prevalence was highest in young children; whereas, intestinal parasites (IP+) were not present until after 3 years of age. All children positive for malaria had antibodies to MSP142, MSP2, MSP3 and EBA175. No difference in antibody levels in children with malaria-co infections compared to malaria alone were found, except for antibody levels to EBA-175 were higher in children co-infected with intestinal protozoa (p = 0.018), especially those with Entamoeba histolytica infections (p = 0.0026).

Conclusion

Antibody levels to EBA175 were significantly higher in children co-infected with malaria and E. histolytica compared to children infected with malaria alone. It is important to further investigate why and how the presence of these protozoans might modulate the immune response to malaria antigens.
Adiposity, cardiovascular, and health-related quality of life indicators and the reallocation of waking movement behaviors in preschool children with overweight and obesity: An isotemporal data analysis
Authors: Dooley Erin E. , Pettee Gabriel Kelley , Kohl Harold W. , Durand Casey P. , Hoelscher Deanna M. , Byrd-Williams Courtney E.
Published: November 2020

Background

Isotemporal substitution evaluates hypothetical time replacement scenarios of physical movement on health, with few studies conducted among ethnically diverse preschool-aged populations. This study examines the reallocation of waking movement behaviors on adiposity, cardiovascular, and quality of life indicators among low-income, majority Hispanic preschool-aged youth (2–5 years) with overweight.

Methods

Participants wore an ActiGraph monitor (waist) and completed adiposity, cardiovascular, and health-related quality of life health assessments. Covariates included age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The isotemporal substitution approach was employed to address study aims.

Results

Complete data were available for 131 preschoolers. For boys, reallocating 5 minutes of stationary time with light intensity, moderate to vigorous intensity, or total physical activity showed a relation with beneficial reductions in adiposity indicators; for girls, these relations were statistically null. For boys and girls, reallocating 5 minutes of stationary time [-2.2 (95% CI: -3.7, -0.7) mmHg], light intensity [-2.1 (95% CI: -3.7, -0.7) mmHg], or moderate intensity activity [-2.7 (95% CI: -5.0, -0.4) mmHg] to vigorous intensity activity was related to favorable systolic blood pressure. Reallocating 5 minutes of stationary time to moderate to vigorous intensity activity [0.6 (95% CI: -1.0, -0.1) mmHg] or total physical activity [-0.2 (95% CI: -0.3, -0.01) mmHg] was related to lowered systolic blood pressure. Reallocating 5 minutes of stationary time to moderate to vigorous intensity activity [0.6 (95% CI: -1.1, -0.02) bpm] was related to lowered resting heart rate. No significant results for quality of life were found.

Conclusion

Reallocation of time from stationary time to other movement behaviors is associated with several favorable adiposity and cardiovascular health outcomes among preschool children with overweight and obesity.
Do extreme summers increase blood vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) levels?
Authors: Kraus Frank Bernhard , Medenwald Daniel , Ludwig-Kraus Beatrice
Published: November 2020

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, such as extended heat waves and droughts in the northern hemisphere. Besides affecting ecosystems worldwide, these changes in climate patterns will also affect the environmental health of human populations. While the medical community is mostly concerned with the negative impact of climate change, there might also be some beneficial effects. In this study we used laboratory data from a large university clinic in Germany (n = 13 406), to test for any detectable impact of two extreme summers on Vitamin-D [25(OH)D] plasma concentrations over a six year period (2014–2019). For the two years with extreme summers (2018 and 2019) the 25(OH)D plasma concentrations were significantly higher than in the previous four years (p < 0.001). A time series analysis (autoregressive term, AR, φ = 0.84, with an AR of one indicating a persistent effect) showed that 25(OH)D concentrations rise by 0.04 nmol/l (95% CI: 0.04–0.05 nmol/l) per hour of sunshine. The incidence of vitamin D deficiency was generally high (60% for 2014–2017) but dropped by 10% in 2018 and 2019. As such, the summers of 2018 and 2019, which are among the hottest and driest in Germany since the start of modern climate recordings, had a measurable positive effect on 25(OH)D plasma levels of the examined population. Given that 25(OH)D deficiency is widespread in higher latitudes, this implies that while mostly considered negative, climate change might also confer some health benefits with regard to vitamin D related medical conditions.
Socially latent images: Eva and Franco Mattes’s personal photographs
Authors: Warren Kate
Published: November 2020

The age of ubiquitous photography has not only embedded the ability to easily share photographs, it has also constructed widespread expectations of content being shared. Such presumptions of sharing are profoundly influencing our relationship with photography, particularly
as the hypervisibility of shared images produces an increasingly unstable invisibility of ‘unshared’ images. These contemporary concerns can be productively explored and theorized by considering the work of artists Eva and Franco Mattes. In recent works that use personal photographs,
the Matteses reveal prescient insights into photographic concerns around latency, (in)visibility and shifting distinctions between personal/private/public. By investigating the Matteses’ works through these prisms, I argue that the age of social media entails internalized and naturalized
presumptions of sharing. This has not only affected how and why photographs are taken, it transforms the status of contemporary photography more generally, creating conditions where once unshared/private personal photographs may now instead exist in a broader state of ‘social latency’.
Farmacocinética poblacional de fenitoína en pacientes adultos
Authors: Tapia Artiles Carlos , Pérez-Blanco J. Samuel , Santos Buelga Dolores , García Sánchez María José
Published: November 2020

La fenitoína (DPH) es un antiepiléptico considerado de primera elección en el tratamiento de las crisis focales y convulsiones tónico-clónicas. DPH presenta elevada unión a proteínas plasmáticas, un comportamiento cinético no lineal dependiente de la dosis, elevada variabilidad cinética interindividual y un estrecho margen terapéutico; estas características aconsejan su monitorización para optimizar su balance eficacia/toxicidad. El objetivo de este trabajo fue la caracterización de la farmacocinética de DPH en población adulta. Concentraciones en estado de equilibrio de DPH procedentes de 215 pacientes adultos fueron utilizadas para desarrollar un modelo farmacocinético poblacional (PopPK) aplicando una metodología de efectos mixtos no lineales con el programa NONMEM v.7.3. La cinética de DPH fue descrita adecuadamente mediante un modelo monocompartimental con absorción de orden cero y cinética de eliminación no lineal ajustada a la ecuación de Michaelis-Menten. Edad, peso, magnitud de dosis y comedicación con ácido valproico han mostrado influencia sobre la velocidad de eliminación de DPH, reduciendo su variabilidad de forma considerable. Se ha obtenido un modelo PopPK preliminar que ha mostrado una adecuada capacidad descriptiva y predictiva en población adulta en un amplio rango de dosis (50-800 mg/día). No obstante, se precisa su aplicación en el contexto clínico para confirmar su validez.
FLEXIBILITY OF PRANG SABI VERSES
Authors: Rizki Syukri Rizki
Published: November 2020

Verses of prang sabi (holy war) have been receiving various actualization throughout Aceh’s history. This paper investigates the flexible features of the authorship of prang sabi texts and their relation with the conceptualization of the idea of holy war in the Aceh society. The “flexible concept” proposed by Muhammad Haji Salleh (2018) serves as the framework on which the structure of the hikayat is unraveled. Library sources, both online and offline, provide the data for the analysis of how the idea of holy war varies in the Aceh society. Being designed with mixed­method, the selected time frames of Aceh’s history are the times of the Dutch colonization, DI (Darul Islam) revolt, and GAM (Free Aceh Movement) insurgency. The findings reveal that the flexible concept in prang sabi texts rests on the sanjak system employed in the composition of Acehnese hikayats. This system allows improvisation for the texts to suit the contexts in which they are written. The idea of holy war to stand in the name of Islamic faith predominated during the Acehnese defense against the Dutch and of the DI’s and GAM’s revolts against the Indonesian statehood. All these movements claimed justification because the targets of the holy war were regarded as dangerous infidels (kaphé). Certain events served as the starting points of the three struggles. The Dutch annexation in 1873 marked the beginning of prang sabi against the Dutch, the abolishment of Aceh province followed by its incorporation into North Sumatera in 1951 triggered the prang sabi of DI against Indonesia, and the aspiration to separate Aceh as an independent Islamic state declared in 1976 marked the prang sabi of GAM against Indonesia. This study confirms that the flexible properties of prang sabi texts are responsible for the conceptualization of the idea of holy war in Aceh society.
INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, TWO (SS 2) STUDENTS INMAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE,
NIGERIA
Authors: Mbativga Nengenen Shadrach
Published: November 2020

The downward movement of academic output in Nigeria, especially in the past few decades, has raised issues of concern for every academically minded Nigerian. This deterioration has been attributed to many factors suspiciously. Social media, one of the latest breakthroughs in technology, have also been suspected recently by many to be responsible for low academic performance in the secondary schools. This research was carried out to examine the influence of social media on academic achievement of secondary school students. The researcher chose the Senior Secondary School, Two (SS 2) students in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria as the population for this study. A sample of 97 students from a total of 966 SS 2 students in the study area was used for the study. The researcher explored different control variables in relation to social media use as a guide to examining its impact on students. The study examined students exposure to social media, the people they relate with on social media, activities students engage in on social media, how long they stay online and the type of social media sites students patronize. The Ex post facto was adopted as the research design for this study. To obtain the relevant data, the structured questionnaire and achievement test were administered to the respondents. The research questions were answered by frequency count and percentages from the data collected with the questionnaire while the research hypothesis was tested using the student t-test via the SPSS software. Research findings showed that students are exposed to social media; that they relate more among themselves on social media; that they spend only a maximum of thirty minutes when they visit social media and that they majorly visit social media to keep company with their friends. The overall analysis (from hypothesis testing) revealed that social media does not affect students academic performance. Thus teachers were recommended to get involved with students on social media in order to help them derive the best from these sites. Further studies on other variables, apart from social media, were suggested to investigate academic decline since this research proved otherwise.
A Machine-Level Interpretation of Deductive Rules on Enact I and Enact II Model Theorems.
Authors: Appiah Frank
Published: November 2020

This research proposal is on provable forms based on s yntactic theorem using Kleene Axiom schema. Enact model I and II of propositional formulas from enactment logic are proven in terms of theorems based on deductive rules. Work proves by deduction rules that Enact Model I and II are model theorems[1] in machinelevel interpretation. Enactprover is a machine program for reading and writing Kleene theorem proving axioms based one enactment logic.
LSQA Scale: A Tool for Measuring Users’ Perceptions of Service Quality in Libraries
Authors: Dash N. K. , Padhi P.
Published: November 2020

The main aim of the study is to develop library service quality assessment (LSQA) scale. Both qualitativeand quantitative procedures are used to confirm the reliability and validity of the LSQA scale. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with varimax rotation is employed to indentify underlying dimensions of service quality of library. The LSQA scale includes four dimensions: (a) library infrastructure/environment, (b) library collection, (c) library services, and (d) library staff, which contains a total of 44 items. The reliability score Cronbach’s alpha for the scale is found to be 0.969, which shows the excellent nature and a strong relationship of each item. The LSQA scale mean and standard deviation is found to be 162.61 and 35.077, respectively. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value of sampling adequacy of the scale is found to be 0.932. It is hoped that the LSQA scale could help library professionals and scholars better understand users’ needs, to significantly improve and enhance the service quality of libraries.
A Scientometric Assessment of Global Publication Output on RFID with Reference to India During 2006-15
Authors: Kumar Ashok , Gupta Ritu , Gupta B.M.
Published: November 2020

The present paper attempts to study the performance of India in RFID research using a series of bibliometric indicators. As seen from SCOPUS database, India’s research output cumulated to 632 publications in 10 years during 2006-15. Indiais ranked13thtop country in the world in RFID research; it accounted for 2.58 % global publication. India showed faster growth rate of 20.69 % CAGR compared to -0.42 % by the world in RFID research during 2006-15. India’s citation impact was low, 1.32 citations per paper; its output in terms of international collaborative publications was also low, accounting for just 9.81 % during 2006-15.The top 15 most productive Indian organisations in RFID research together contributed 35.60 % publications share and 38.18 % citation share during 2006-15. The top 15 most productive journals together accounted for 47.44% share of total country output in RFID research during 2006-15. Computer science accounted for the largest publication share (57.44 %) in RFID research output, followed by engineering (49.21 %), social sciences (7.28 %), mathematics (6.01 %), materials science (5.85 %), business, management & accounting (5.54 %) and physics & astronomy (4.75 %) during 2006-15.
Phytoconstituents of Zingiber officinale Targeting Host viral Protein Interaction at Entry Point of SARS CoV 2 A Molecular Docking Study
Authors: Sharma Rakesh Kumar , Chakotiya Ankita Singh
Published: November 2020

Current COVID 19 outbreak is a critical issue in safeguarding public health worldwide. The lack of prophylactic drugs, vaccine and effective antiviral and other supporting therapies has prompted researchers to look for promising leads against the virus. Metabolic pathways and biochemicals involved in pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 can be targeted to find out effective inhibitor molecules acting at the entry point of infection. SARS-CoV-2 uses their Spike protein to dock at ACE2 and the serine protease, TMPRSS2 of host cell for Spike protein priming to get entry into the host cell. In the present study phytochemicals from Zingiber officinale were evaluated to find their binding with these proteins by conducting ligand-receptor binding docking study with AutoDockVina. The structures were observed by visualizing softwares Pymol to determine unique amino acids of receptor proteins. Physicochemical properties of phytochemicals and chemotherapeutic markers were assessed with Molinspiration tool. Docking study revealed that Gingerenone (-5.87 kcal/mol) and Zingiberene (-5.77 kcal/mol) have shown effective binding affinity towards ACE2. Shoagol (-5.72 kcal/mol), Zingerone (-5.79 kcal/mol) and Zingiberene (-5.52 kcal/mol) have shown higher binding with extracellular domain of serine protease TMPRSS2. Zingiberene scored significant binding energy of -6.23 kcal/mol with Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. This study provides an evidence base to the experiential learning about use of Zingiber officinale in microbial infections. Once further validated, it may lead to development of herbal based anti-viral adjuvants.
Applications of Personalised Phage Therapy highlighting the importance of Bacteriophage Banks against Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Anand Taruna , Virmani Nitin , Bera Bidhan C , Vaid Rajesh K , Kumar Ashok , Tripathi Bhupendra N
Published: November 2020

Emerging antibiotic resistance is one of the most important microbiological issues of the 21st century. This poses a query regarding the future use of antibiotics and availability of other promising therapeutic alternatives. The awareness about antibiotic misuse has improved insufficiently and is evident by the increased incidences of multidrug resistant infections globally. Amongst different antibacterial therapeutic approaches phage therapy has created a niche of its own due to continuous use for treatment of human infections in Eastern Europe. Synergistic compounds along with phages have also been proposed as a better alternative compared to antibiotics or phage alone for treatment of chronic cases and seriously debilitating diseases. As such, why not allow custom made phage therapy for treatment of chronic infections? However, the success of phage therapy will depend upon instant availability of characterised bacteriophages from bacteriophage banks which may serve as the major catalyst in bringing Phage Therapy to main stream treatment alternatives or in combination therapy at least. In the current article we present a glimpse of comprehensive approach about utility of bacteriophage banks and further present personalised phage therapy in a synergistic role with antibiotics to overcome emerging antimicrobial resistance.
Growing Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata L.) in Cold Winter under Passive Solar Greenhouse in Trans Himalayan Ladakh Region
Authors: Angmo Phunchok , Dolma Tsering , Namgail Desyong , Chaurasia O. P. , Stobdan Tsering
Published: November 2020

Greenhouse experiments were conducted in three seasons (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20) to study the feasibility to grow cabbage, a temperature sensitive crop, during freezing winter months at high altitude (elevation 3340 m) trans-Himalayan Ladakh region. Three varieties viz. Golden Acre, Videshi and Megaton were studied under an improvised passive solar greenhouse. Head was formed in all the varieties despite the temperature extremes (0.0±1.6 to 39.5±0.9 ºC) inside the greenhouse. The mean marketable head weight ranged from 428.6±72.1 g to 831.2±193.0 g, depending on the variety. The mean head weight of Golden Acre was 831 g, which is 15-fold higher as compared to that of the crop grown under traditional greenhouse in Ladakh. However, the marketable head weight was lower as compared to the yield potential of the varieties. It took 133-163 days for Golden Acre to reach maturity for harvest as compared to the expected 60-65 days. Dramatic declines in intercellular CO2 concentration, photosynthesis rate and water-use efficiency were observed at 2:00 PM, which indicated that the plants were severely affected by high temperatures inside the greenhouse. High temperature inside the greenhouse resulted in bolting, head-splitting and loose head forming, and it ranged from 8-36% of the crop depending on the year and variety. The study suggested that cabbage can be successfully grown under improvised passive solar greenhouse during severe winter months in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh.
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Aflatoxins in Dry Fruits and Nuts from Central India
Authors: Patel Anju , Pandey Akhilesh Kumar , Mishra Ravi Prakash
Published: November 2020

In central part of India, dry fruits and nuts are mostly sold in loose conditions and hence may get fungal infections, and may have aflatoxins to the levels beyond the safe limits. The present study is an attempt to showcase the present scenario of aflatoxins in dry fruits and nuts from Central India, both qualitatively and quantatively. Out of 84 samples, 15 were found to have the presence of at least one aflatoxin. HPLC detection showed that AFB1 is the major aflatoxin. The total aflatoxins were found in the range of 25.4 - 393.51 μg kg-1, which is beyond the safe limit set by regulatory authorities. Further, dry figs were the most contaminated among tested dry fruits, and 5 out 12 samples (41.6%) were contaminated, followed by cashew nuts (33.3%). Samples sold in loose packing were found more contaminated with aflatoxins. The study advocates that selling of such dry fruits in loose form should be banned by the regulatory authorities.
The Instructional Design of a 4C/ID-Inspired Learning Environment for Upper Secondary School Students’ Research Skills
Authors: Maddens Louise , Depaepe Fien , Raes Annelies , Elen Jan
Published: November 2020

In today’s complex world, the acquisition of research skills is considered an important goal in education. Consequently, there is a growing body of literature that recognizes the value of well-designed learning environments for effectively supporting the development of this complex set of skills. However, a clear consensus on how these research skills can be facilitated is currently lacking, and the design processes underlying the learning environments aiming to foster students’ research skills are not always clearly outlined. Furthermore, interventions aiming to foster these skills are often implemented in the domains of physics, biology, and chemistry, while other domains (such as behavioral and social sciences domains) remain understudied. In addition, current approaches to foster research skills often refer to only a few epistemic activities (Fischer et al., 2014) related to research skills. Inspired by a design-based research approach, this design effort case seeks to clearly explain the design considerations for, and the development of an online learning environment aiming to foster upper secondary school students’ research skills in a behavioral sciences context. The online learning environment (RISSC or Research In Social SCiences) consists of a lesson series designed based on a systematic approach to four-component instructional design (van Merriënboer & Kirschner, 2018), and was piloted with two different cohorts in upper secondary education and in first year of university.
Questioning the notion of ‘professionalisation’: LANSOD contexts and the specific case of a musicology undergraduate programme
Authors: Labetoulle Aude
Published: November 2020

In Chapter 3, Aude Labetoulle addresses the challenge of designing courses that meet the needs of learners whose major is not languages in French universities – a sector usually referred to as ‘LANSOD’ (LANguages for Students of Other Disciplines). University language requirements are typically related to the increased importance of ‘mobility’ and ‘employability’. Yet, French universities seem to struggle with the design of language courses that are relevant to the future professional needs of learners. To explore this issue, Aude Labetoulle first investigates how ‘professionalization’ has been progressively defined and implemented by French universities and stresses the tensions underlying the various interpretations of the ongoing movement toward the ‘professionalization’ of university courses in France. She then analyzes the specific case of a LANSOD undergraduate course at the University of Lille (France) and demonstrates how complex it can be to design an undergraduate English curriculum relevant to learners’ future professional needs when learners have different disciplinary backgrounds and professional aspirations. This study provides LANSOD course designers with an approach to curriculum design and evaluation that addresses these challenges and offers transferable tools to, generally underprepared, LANSOD teachers.
Online education of students with mild intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Buchnat Marzena , Wojciechowska Aneta
Published: November 2020

The situation of the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease is a new and unknown situation for everyone, causing fear and uncertainty. It is also a situation that has led to numerous changes in the everyday life of many people, including students who had to adapt to the new reality of distance education from day to day. The paper concerns with the situation of online education of students with mild intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. It is an attempt to indicate the difficulties encountered by this group of students in the situation of distance learning from a perspective of both the student and the teacher. The paper also indicates the issues which should be considered in this education, the way of its adaptation to the possibilities of the discussed group of students, as well as elementswhich are really important in this education.
Legumain Induces Oral Cancer Pain by Biased Agonism of Protease-Activated Receptor-2
Authors: Tu Nguyen Huu , Jensen Dane D. , Anderson Bethany M. , Chen Elyssa , Jimenez-Vargas Nestor N. , Scheff Nicole N. , Inoue Kenji , Tran Hung D. , Dolan John C. , Meek Tamaryn A. , Hollenberg Morley D. , Liu Cheng Z. , Vanner Stephen J. , Janal Malvin N. , Bunnett Nigel W. , Edgington-Mitchell Laura E. , Schmidt Brian L.
Published: November 2020

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most painful cancers, which interferes with orofacial function including talking and eating. We report that legumain (Lgmn) cleaves protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) in the acidic OSCC microenvironment to cause pain. Lgmn is a cysteine protease of late endosomes and lysosomes that can be secreted; it exhibits maximal activity in acidic environments. The role of Lgmn in PAR2-dependent cancer pain is unknown. We studied Lgmn activation in human oral cancers and oral cancer mouse models. Lgmn was activated in OSCC patient tumors, compared with matched normal oral tissue. After intraplantar, facial or lingual injection, Lgmn evoked nociception in wild-type (WT) female mice but not in female mice lacking PAR2in NaV1.8-positive neurons (Par2Nav1.8), nor in female mice treated with a Lgmn inhibitor, LI-1. Inoculation of an OSCC cell line caused mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia that was reversed by LI-1.Par2Nav1.8andLgmndeletion attenuated mechanical allodynia in female mice with carcinogen-induced OSCC. Lgmn caused PAR2-dependent hyperexcitability of trigeminal neurons from WT female mice.Par2deletion, LI-1, and inhibitors of adenylyl cyclase or protein kinase A (PKA) prevented the effects of Lgmn. Under acidified conditions, Lgmn cleaved within the extracellular N terminus of PAR2at Asn30↓Arg31, proximal to the canonical trypsin activation site. Lgmn activated PAR2by biased mechanisms in HEK293 cells to induce Ca2+mobilization, cAMP formation, and PKA/protein kinase D (PKD) activation, but not β-arrestin recruitment or PAR2endocytosis. Thus, in the acidified OSCC microenvironment, Lgmn activates PAR2by biased mechanisms that evoke cancer pain.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most painful cancers. We report that legumain (Lgmn), which exhibits maximal activity in acidic environments, cleaves protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) on neurons to produce OSCC pain. Active Lgmn was elevated in OSCC patient tumors, compared with matched normal oral tissue. Lgmn evokes pain-like behavior through PAR2. Exposure of pain-sensing neurons to Lgmn decreased the current required to generate an action potential through PAR2. Inhibitors of adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase A (PKA) prevented the effects of Lgmn. Lgmn activated PAR2to induce calcium mobilization, cAMP formation, and activation of protein kinase D (PKD) and PKA, but not β-arrestin recruitment or PAR2endocytosis. Thus, Lgmn is a biased agonist of PAR2that evokes cancer pain.