bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute Renal Failure and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Overdose With N-acetyl Cysteine After Acetaminophen Poisoning
Authors: Asadzadeh Reza , Khalighi Zahra , Mamizadeh Nahid , Hadavi Marzieh , Ghaysouri Abas , Mozafari Aliashraf
Published: August 2021

Context: Acetylcysteine is an effective treatment for acetaminophen poisoning. The preparation and dose calculation of acetylcysteine is associated with medical errors. The prevalence of this error is 34% globally. Case report: A 15-year-old girl took an overdose of acetaminophen in a suicide attempt. Acetylcysteine intravenous was ordered. Due to the medication error by the nurse, she received a 10-fold overdose of intravenous acetylcysteine in both initial loading dose and maintenance dose, at first day. On the second day, the patient showed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and elevated liver enzymes. Her hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet quickly decreased. Subsequently, she developed oliguria, anuria, and rising serum creatinine levels. The patient was diagnosed with uremic hemolytic syndrome. She underwent hemodialysis and was treated with plasmapheresis, blood transfusions, and platelets. Discussion: The effects of acetaminophen poisoning and acetylcysteine overdose may be much more severe and have a greater impact on patient survival than each poisoning alone. Timely and accurate treatment measures can help prevent long-term side effects.
Distribution of DD Genotype of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene and Its Correlation with Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Ali-Bahar Hamid , Mard-Soltani Maysam , Paridar Yousef , Nasirbaghban Zahra , Hashemi Zahra Sadat , Zakeri Alireza , Khalili Saeed
Published: August 2021

Background: One of the major microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) is diabetic retinopathy (DR). Studies have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms are correlated with DR progression. Accordingly, the elucidation of the association between ACE gene polymorphism and the risk of DR development seems to be highly crucial. Methods: In this study, 195 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were classified as the case group with retinopathy (99 people) and control group without retinopathy (96 people). Screening for DR was performed by ophthalmologists using clinical examination and fluorescein angiography. Different ACE genotypes (II, ID, and DD) were identified by the collection of blood samples, extraction of DNA, and PCR amplification using specific primers. Results: The frequency distribution of genotypes was significantly different between the case and control groups (P = 0.009). Interestingly, possessing a DD genotype made diabetic patients approximately 2.5 folds (95% CI = 1.271 - 4.840, P = 0.007) and 3.25 folds (95% CI = 1.312 - 8.051, P = 0.01) more susceptible to DR when compared to having DI and II genotypes, respectively. Moreover, having a D allele made diabetic individuals nearly 1.75 folds (95% CI = 1.167 - 2.623, P = 0.007) more susceptible to DR than possessing an I allele. Conclusions: Our results potentiate the hypothesis that the DD genotype and D allele of the ACE gene might play a role in the pathogenesis of DR.
Perceptions About the Nursing Assistant Role in Ganjavian Hospital of Dezful: A Conventional Content Analysis
Authors: Sarabi Nasrin
Published: August 2021

Background: Using different skill levels for patient care not only helps better and more fully meet patients' needs but also reduces the need for expert nurses. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the perceptions of nurses and nursing assistants about the nursing assistant role. Methods: This study was conducted based on a conventional content analysis approach. The data was collected at the Ganjavian hospital in Dezful, Iran. Ten nurses and eleven nursing assistants were selected by purposeful sampling, and data were collected using unstructured interviews. The recorded interviews were eventually transcribed verbatim, and meaning units were then identified. Coding was then performed by compressing the meaning units and converting them into codes. The codes were summarized and classified to form categories. At last, the categories formed themes based on their similarities and differences. Results: Displeasure of the position was the main category of the study, which consisted of the two main subcategories of “having a small role in assisting nurses” and “reluctance to work”. Conclusions: The results of the study showed that nursing assistants have problems performing their roles, which need to be addressed by nursing managers.
Financial inclusion as a pillar of sustainable growth: International experience
Authors: Pavón Cuéllar
Published: August 2021

As proposed by the current theoretical framework, the fact that the economic growth of a country depends not only on the formation of physical and human capital and the sustainable exploitation of its natural resources, but also on the financial inclusion that allows economic agents to find solutions to liquidity restrictions and channel savings towards productive investment is exhibited in this paper. By matching multiple databases, static and dynamic panel estimates are developed, verifying the robustness of results and the endogenous nature of economic growth. The current research demonstrates that social inclusion is not only the desired result of economic growth, but a required input for its future sustainability.
Are IFRS acceptable for a developing country with specific business culture: Sudanese accountants' attitudes
Authors: Spasić Dejan , Abouagla Mutaz , Sekerez Vojislav
Published: August 2021

Developing countries are faced with a lot of challenges in providing high-quality financial reports based on modern accounting regulations and practices. With its specific colonial and postcolonial history of socioeconomic relations, Sudan is one of a few countries that has not adopted the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) either as a mandatory or as a voluntary financial reporting framework. Focusing on a sample of 142 respondents, the attitudes towards the obstacles and possible benefits of introducing the IFRS in Sudan expressed by accountants working in the industry sector are examined in the paper. This research study has shown that Sudanese accountants are highly aware of the needs and benefits of the IFRS adoption. The respondents predominantly agree that the IFRS adoption would increase the FDI inflow, reduce frauds and other unlawful activities, and improve the comparability, reliability and transparency of financial information, which currently is not the case. However, the research shows that accountants in Sudan also express a high degree of skepticism, given the numerous restrictions that they believe would make the introduction of the IFRS more difficult.
Features of application of the forecasting simulation model in the planning process in the enterprise
Authors: Olzhabayeva Dinara , Petrovskaya Vladimirovna Maria
Published: August 2021

This article discusses the features of using a multi-level simulation model of financial and economic forecasting when planning the activities of an enterprise operating in the railway industry, in particular in the segment of national and international freight transportation. The authors set a goal to show how, through the use of a multi-level simulation model of forecasting, it is possible to significantly increase the reliability of organizational and managerial decisions and ensure a more efficient allocation of resources and reduction of financial risks. The model constructed by the authors can be used to optimize costs, improve the quality of settlements with debtors and creditors, plan the cost and other indicators of financial and economic activity, the ability to build various forecast scenarios allows you to choose the most acceptable option for the company, taking into account the impact of key factors on the financial result and the level of financial risk.
Development of institutional performance: Study on the secretariat of the Northern Borders region
Authors: Saad Mohamed
Published: August 2021

The study aimed to identify the impact of governance on developing institutional performance in the secretariat of the northern border region, and using the descriptive analytical approach, and collecting theoretical information from office sources, through a questionnaire distributed to 309 individual officials and employees in the secretariat of the northern border region (the main center), 238 valid questionnaires were retrieved, The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses of the study, and the study reached several results, the most important of which is the availability of an adequate and acceptable amount of practices for the two variables of the study, in addition to the presence of a positive correlation between each of the governance with its various principles and institutional performance. The most substantial relationships between accountability were one of the principles of governance and overall institutional performance, and the lowest were the relationships between justice and equality as one of the principles of governance and overall institutional performance. Also, governance, with its various principles, explains its amount (66.2%) of the variance in the overall institutional performance. The study recommended working on the need to pay attention to deepening the understanding and awareness of everything related to the principles and mechanisms of governance in public organizations through the continuous improvement of human resources capabilities and knowledge, as well as providing an appropriate climate for their application and increasing the level of positive impact on the various dimensions of institutional performance.
Features of managing the development of interethnic relations in Russia based on economic and geographical position: On the example of the regions of the Volga Federal District
Authors: Minnahmatovich-Biktimirov Niyaz , Anatolevich-Rubtzov Vladimir , Viktorovich-Rozhko Mikhail , Rafaelevich-Mustafin Marat , Aleksandrovna-Shabalina Svetlana
Published: August 2021

The article shows the relevance of ethnic research in the modern world. The paper summarizes the scientific literature, published by specialists of different sciences concerned with ethnicity and ethnic processes in Russia and other countries. The Volga Federal District, which is one of the most multi-ethnic territories of Russia, was chosen as an object of study. The ethnic composition and interethnic relations in the regions of the Volga Federal District are analyzed. The forecast associated with the ethnic characteristics of the settlement within the district is presented. The influence of the economic and geographical position of the district on the dynamics of the ethnic composition of its population is shown. Conclusions based on current trends in the development of ethnic processes and inter-ethnic relations in the regions of the Volga Federal District.
Systematization of ethnoeconomic vectors within the context of regional development of the Krasnodar Territory
Authors: Nikolaevna-Klochko Elena , Mikhailovich-Reznichenko Sergey , Vladimirovna-Kovalenko Lidia
Published: August 2021

The research aims to study the role of ethnoeconomy in the regional development of a polyethnic region and the structure of its vectors, which allows considering ethnoeconomy as a structure-forming factor for territories. Methodology: the research was conducted among ethnic entrepreneurs of the Krasnodar Territory. The authors studied the Strategy for Socio-Economic Development of the Krasnodar Territory until 2030 and surveyed 40 ethnic entrepreneurs engaged in ethnic tourism and crafts. Conclusions: according to the authors, the basic ethnoeconomic vectors include ethnic and ethnographic tourism, traditional agriculture and traditional nature management. The ethnic entrepreneurs surveyed indicated several problems in the selected ethnoeconomic vectors, for instance: limited availability of state and municipal programmes that would mobilize additional resources; weak infrastructure of the ethnoeconomic segment of the region, which makes the ethnoeconomic environment less competitive; and low financial resource capacity of the segments of the ethnoeconomic environment. Practical significance: the authors compiled a matrix table presenting the application of methods for regulating the ethnoeconomic vectors of the regional development of the Krasnodar Territory, which allows the authorities of the region to distinguish between the methods of regional ethnoeconomic development in order to control the management situation, adapt instruments and guidelines, and provide tangible support to ethnic entrepreneurs in line with the identified vectors of ethnoeconomic development of the region.
Regional level of inclusive development
Authors: Shashyna Maryna , Butko Mykola , Tulchynska Svitlana
Published: August 2021

The concept of inclusive development provides equal opportunities for all participants in access to the labor market and resource allocation. This concept emphasizes the equality of human capital, the ecological state of the environment, social protection and food security. This concept is fundamentally different from the standard perception of economic growth, because it has broader goals than simply increasing incomes and GDP. It rejects the position that positive results are an automatic consequence of growth; here the basic condition is human development and increase of its well-being, reduction of poverty. Therefore, it is not the result of distribution that becomes primary, but the involvement in the process of social reproduction. An alternative system of characterization of the country's position according to the resulting indicator of the Inclusive Development Index was presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In this research the methodical development of the system of estimation of the index of inclusive development for regions of the NUTS 4 level of the European classification is resulted.
Family member's awareness of cyber-security concepts and its correlation with the precautionary procedures taken against cyber-attacks during the Coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Malibari Najat
Published: August 2021

This research aimed to explore the correlation between family members' awareness of cybersecurity concepts and the precautionary procedures taken against cyberattacks during the Coronavirus pandemic. A descriptive-analytical method was used. Also, a questionnaire was conducted to assess the correlation between family members' awareness of cybersecurity concepts and the precautionary procedure taken against cyberattacks during the Corona pandemic. The study sample consisted of 215 family members, males, females, employed and non-employed, students of different ages and educational levels. The results revealed a significant correlation between family member's awareness of cybersecurity concepts and the precautionary procedures taken against cyberattacks during the Corona pandemic. Besides, a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in the family member's awareness level of the cybersecurity concepts, with some demographic variables (gender, employment status, age, education level, and average family income). Also, there was a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in the preventive procedures taken by family members to protect themselves from cyberattacks with the study variables (gender, employment status, age, education level, and average family income).
Considering susceptibility of individuals to digital finance as a factor of increasing its prosperity
Authors: Divaeva E. , Kukharenko Olesya , Gizyatova Aliya
Published: August 2021

The analysis of trading volumes of financial assets of FEC in Russian Federation for the part of private investors has demonstrated that the interest of individuals in the financial markets had increased in 2020. Society's susceptibility to digital finance is closely related to digitalization of brokerage services, which is realized through making adopted for mobile digital platforms and digital products users. Low level of digital literacy of individuals in common on the territory of Russian Federation was not an impediment to growth of digital competences in 2020. The share of brokerage accounts of individuals on Moscow Exchange (MOEX) has increased by 193% in 2020 due to that individuals are looking for alternative ways to save their personal savings against the background of increasing digital financial literacy among the working-age population. Russian brokers are improving the quality of their information and analytical digital resources that aggregate large amounts of statistical information for wide access for interested private investors who have developed digital competencies and want to improve their financial and investment literacy.
Methods to improve the efficiency of the business process of repairing power-generating equipment
Authors: Vasilyevich Pakhomov , Aleksandrovich Siutin
Published: August 2021

The paper considers the methods to improve the efficiency of the business process of repairing power-generating equipment, as one of the main directions for increasing the efficiency and safety of the company activity as a whole. The efficiency of power generating companies is currently determined by the quality of the field-oriented and supporting business processes arrangement. Companies in the power-generating sector have strict environmental and energy security requirements. Accidents at production and transport facilities can cause irreparable environmental deprivations. Also, the failure of the mains sections can completely stymie the work of large settlements, and endanger the life and health of people in the cold season. The performance of the equipment can be impaired as a result of natural causes (corrosive wear, metal fatigue, and other deformations) and due to violation of the operating mode. The good condition of the processing equipment is ensured by the maintenance and repair works performed in time. Company's experience has proven that, for the safe operation of processing equipment, it is necessary to annually appropriate funds in the amount of at least 2% of the initial cost of the equipment. The main focus should be on planning and arranging the processes involved. Safe operation can also mean availability to purchase equipment necessary for production tasks. Many large power generating companies are trying to act under the principle of technological self-sufficiency. It implies the presence of technological developments in intellectual property, as well as production facilities. The implementation of this principle is possible both through the development of own scientific resources, and through the absorption of industrial enterprises. All this gives a competitive advantage to power generating companies, as well as expands the range of services provided.
PR China as a "Responsible Great Power": The Chinese model of foreign investment and assistance
Authors: Arežina Sanja
Published: August 2021

Shortly after its establishment, the People's Republic of China began to implement a policy of providing investments and assistance abroad. Although the motives for this were different in the decades that followed, the Chinese leadership never gave up on the decision to make foreign investment and assistance a central part of Chinese foreign policy. The author employs a structural-functional analysis and comparative analysis to prove the basic hypothesis that the main reason for the development of the Chinese model of foreign investment and assistance is the intention of the Chinese leadership to show that the People's Republic of China is a "responsible great power", one which contributes to the solving important global problems, while simultaneously working to achieve its most important goal, the "Chinese dream", by 2049.
China's ecological path
Authors: Nadić Darko
Published: August 2021

For almost two decades, the People's Republic of China has been on the path of complete environmental transformation and redesign of its image in the international community. China is becoming not only an active but also a dominant participant in the global fight against climate change. In addition, China is firmly determined to change its internal environmental situation and its policy of further industrial progress, harmonizing its own political goals with the generally accepted environmental goals of humanity. The paper presents the basic facts concerning certain historical and political circumstances, which caused flawed attitudes towards the environment in China. It also describes the radical ecological and political distancing from the previous disregard of ecological problems and the recent formulation of ten new goals, i.e., policies, which are contained in the new ideology of "ecological civilization". A special review is given of the ecological elements of the Belt and Road initiative and previous Chinese achievements in ecological and technological development. The conclusion also proposes the directions for possible cooperation between China and Serbia in the field of ecological and technological development.
Political party diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in seven decades since founding of PRC: Innovations in practice and theory
Authors: Xiaohu Shi
Published: August 2021

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Communist Party of China has found itself in a complicated international situation and arduous development tasks. The CPC has steadily promoted its foreign exchanges in the process of inheritance and development. It has achieved leaps in practice of the theoretical innovations in party to party diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, which contributed significantly to the central missions of the Party and the nation, as well as the overall strategy of the state diplomacy. Starting at a new historical phase, it is crucial to summarize the experience of the practical and theoretical innovations in party to party diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. It is also of great importance to discover the basic logic and principles therein. All of which would provide practical significance for promoting a benign interaction between the practice and theory of party to party diplomacy, and make greater contribution.
World economic situation and China's new development pattern against background of COVID-19
Authors: Yifan Ding
Published: August 2021

The COVID pandemic has devastated the world economy, which has also caused serious slumps in Western developed countries. Although they have adopted "ultra-easy" monetary policy, the real economy did not emerge from recessions because of it and a global "liquidity bubble" was caused instead. The economic recession caused by the pandemic in developed countries may last for years. The governments of some countries in the United States and Europe have adopted strong state intervention methods to control the investment and trade behaviors of enterprises, then force them to "decouple" from China. Based on an objective analysis of the current international situation, China has actively taken countermeasures: on the one hand, it emphasizes mainly relying on the "domestic economic cycle" to maintain growth momentum. And on the other hand, it develops an "international economic cycle" that focus on China`s economy. Establishing a "dual circulation" new development pattern, in which domestic economic cycle plays a leading role while international economic cycle remains its extension and supplement, is a major strategic choice for achieving high-quality economic development.
Socialism with Chinese characteristics
Authors: Mrkić Ivan
Published: August 2021

The text speaks about the formation of the Communist Party of China, its beginnings and development, as well as the categorizations ever since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The new geopolitical reality has been explained, especially since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The argumentation is made about the peculiarities of Chinese history and modern development. The immeasurable importance of the Communist Party of China in governing the most populous country is pointed out. A short section on the relations between Serbia and China has been included. The conclusion highlights the general views encompassing most of the claims presented in the previous text.
Viewer as a subject of post-secular era: theoretical-methodological foundations
Authors: Anikin Daniil Aleksandrovich , Ivanova Dina Dmitrievna
Published: August 2021

The goal of this research lies in examination of the phenomenon of viewer, as well as in the attempt to give its definition within the framework of post-secular era. Based on the conditions of human existence and worldview, definition is given in the context of hermeneutical approach, revealing the traits of a viewer through post-secularity, and clarifying his connection with such the socialization process. The peculiarity of the subject of research consists in the fact that post-secular society changes the requirements imposed on a viewer, adding a so-called religious prism to the events unfolding on the screen, which raises the question on the specificity of such prism. The scientific novelty of this work lies in examination of the phenomenon of a viewer in the socio-philosophical context, as well as analysis of a viewer in the post-secular era. It is proven that the viewer of post-secular era faces the clash of religious and non-religious worldviews, which leads to the formation of unstable system of value orientations. The article substantiates that the specificity of post-secular situation is to provoke an internal conflict in a viewer, which would affect the perception of cinematographic plotlines based on compliance with certain moral-ethical norms or preservation of the entertainment principle. Resolution of this conflict is possible in case of creating a specific cinematographic product with quasi-religious content, but enclosed in the entertainment shell.
Structure optimization and optoelectronical property calculation for organic lead iodine perovskite solar cells
Authors: Lu Hui-Dong , Han Hong-Jing , Liu Jie ,   New Energy (Photovoltaic) Industry Research Center, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Published: August 2021

Methylamine lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3 MAPbI3) and formamidine lead iodide (CH(NH2)2PbI3 FAPbI3) are the most commonly used organic lead iodine perovskite materials for solar cell research. For the perovskite solar cell with a layered structure, the optical properties and thickness of each layer affect the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the cell. In this paper, the optical admittance method and rigorous coupled wave analysis method are used to calculate the absorptivities and transmittances of metal oxide transparent conductive films for tin-doped indium oxide (In2O3:Sn), fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnO2:F), TiO2, MAPbI3 and FAPbI3. The influence of each layer thickness and device structure on the short-circuit current density of the cell are analyzed. It is shown that for the FTO(ITO)/TiO2/MAPbI3 structure, when the thickness of the FTO film is 50–450 nm and the thickness of the ITO film is 10–150 nm, the average transmittance for the 360–800 nm wavelength light is 85%. For the FTO(ITO)/TiO2/FAPbI3 structure, when the thickness of the FTO film and ITO film are 50–250 nm and 10–150 nm, respectively, the average values of the transmittance for the 360-840 nm wavelength light are 81.6% and 78%, respectively. Under the optimal thickness of FTO and TiO2, and the thickness of MAPbI3 and FAPbI3 are 300–1000 nm, the corresponding short-circuit current densities are in a range of 21.9–23.7 and 23.0–24.4 mA·cm–2, respectively. The band gap of MAPbI3 and FAPbI3 are 1.56 and 1.48 eV, for which the corresponding absorption cut-off wavelengths are 796 and 840 nm, respectively, indicating that FAPbI3 has a wider absorption spectrum than MAPbI3. In order to maximize the Jsc value of the organic lead iodine perovskite solar cell, the thickness range of each layer for MAPbI3 perovskite solar cell (FTO thickness is (80 ± 50) nm, ITO thickness is less than 120 nm, MAPbI3 thicknessis 300–600 nm) and for FAPbI3 perovskite solar cell (FTO thickness is (120 ± 50) nm, ITO thickness is less than 180 nm, FAPbI3 thickness is 300–600 nm) are given. The research results of this article have guiding significance in designing and preparing the perovskite solar cells with high conversion efficiency.
Laboratory Calibration of Capacitance-Based Soil Moisture Sensor to Monitor Subsurface Soil Moisture Movement in Laterite Soil
Authors: Narayanan Jyothy , Sathian K. K.
Published: August 2021

Subsurface soil moisture movement in the unsaturated zone plays a critical role in the replenishment of groundwater table. This comprehension can be vital for the terrain with lateritic soil followed by the charnockite bedrock system. The conventional techniques to determine the subsurface soil moisture and its movement is cumbersome owing to high cost, large scale time consumption, field drudgery and greater possibility of manual errors. Among many other modern technologies for the measurement of volumetric water content, capacitance-based moisture sensors are capable and less expensive, thus, making them highly suitable for the research scholars worldwide. The study involves the use of TEROS 12 moisture sensors. The capacitance-based sensor TEROS 12, equipped with advanced soil moisture technique curtails the constraints in the conventional technique of soil moisture assessment and can provide precise measurements if suitably calibrated for the site specific soils. The study involves a soil specific calibration of TEROS 12 moisture sensor which was performed for the laterite soil to incorporate the sensor with the automated soil moisture monitoring system. The reliability of the sensor TEROS 12 was assessed by comparing its moisture measurements with that of the gravimetric method. The calibration was performed for three TEROS 12 moisture sensors in order to monitor the interflow at three varying soil depths in the vadose zone. The R2 values obtained from the calibration of sensors at depths of 0-0.4 m, and 0.8-1.2 m were 0.996, 0.994 and 0.992 respectively. Further, during validation it was found that the new measurements coordinated with the gravimetric measurements to a greater extent and increased the preciseness as compared to that of uncalibrated values of moisture contents, thereby establishing TEROS 12 capacitance-based sensor as a reliable and cost effective moisture sensor.
A Comparative Analysis among Different Surface Sterilisation Methods for Rice Invitro Culture
Authors: Hypochlorite Sodium , Singh Brijesh Kumar , Ali Md. Nasim , Samanta Subhasis , Mandal Nirmal
Published: August 2021

Invitro tissue culture establishment is the most important phase in rice (Oryza sativa L.) genetic improvement studies. But, invitro tissue growth demands a sterile condition conducive for unhampered nutrient supply to the explant which otherwise face competition from unwanted microbial contamination of explant origin. To eliminate such contaminants, there are several surface sterilisation techniques available for Invitro culture establishment of mature rice seed explants, which include the application of either mercuric chloride or sodium hypochlorite as sterilizing agents. Therefore, a comparative study was conducted to determine the effect of these sterilization techniques on decontaminating the rice seed explants without affecting their invitro germination potential. The most effective sterilisation was obtained with 0.2% mercuric chloride treatment for 8 minutes, which produced 93.62± 0.191% of contamination free seeds. But, the highest germination (94.53± 0.210%) was obtained with 4% of NaOCl treatment for 10 minutes. The results demonstrated that the level of contamination decreases with increasing concentration of sterilising agents and the duration of the treatment. The germination percentage decreased with increasing concentration of mercuric chloride. Sodium hypochlorite enhanced germination until a concentration increase of 4% and then the germination percentage decreased with increasing concentration and treatment duration. These findings may help in determination of most appropriate surface sterilisation technique in rice for in vitro culture.
A Case of Acute Lead Toxicity Associated with Siddha Medication
Authors: Janardhanan Sandheep , James Allwin , Palaniappan Alagammai , Ardhanari Ramesh
Published: August 2021

Siddha is an indigenous system of medicine practiced exclusively in South India.Some of these formulations have been postulated to cause heavy metal poisoning,like lead toxicity.  Here we present a case of Siddha medicine induced lead toxicity causing intractable chronic abdominal pain.
Does Micro-Credit Lending to Small Scale Enterprises Stimulate Economic Advancement in Nigeria? Evidence from ARDL Analysis
Authors: Nwaogwugwu Chuks , Ihendinihu John U.
Published: August 2021

The microfinance institutions are evident tools for Small Scale Enterprises development due to the roles they perform in the economic advancement. Past studies have shown microfinance serves as a key player in the financial sector that has positively impacted in all works of life through the services it offers. This study is positioned to explore the case of Nigeria by examining the impact of micro-credit lending to Small Scale Enterprises on economic advancement in Nigeria over the period 1992–2019, using the autoregressive distributed lag approach to cointegration analysis. Controlling for the possible effects of crude oil price and trade openness on economic advancement in Nigeria, this study found the relationship between micro-credit lending to Small Scale Enterprises and economic advancement is negative and significant in the long‐run and positive but insignificant in the short‐run, thus, suggesting the weakness of financial intermediary sector in resource mobilization and allocation in Nigeria. The result, in general, illustrates the vulnerability of the financial sector in stimulating economic advancement by providing micro-credit for small businesses and the unbanked.  Hence, this study suggests a well‐articulated policy framework that will facilitate access to financial services.
Bacterial Oxygen Sensing by Globin‐Coupled Sensor Proteins
Authors: Hoque Nushrat J. , Weinert Emily E.
Published: December 2024

Organisms adapt to fluctuating oxygen levels using a variety of strategies, including coupling sensory domains to regulatory functions that modulate physiology and phenotypes. Globin‐coupled sensor proteins are multidomain proteins composed of a heme‐containing globin domain associated with a range of output domains, ranging from methyl‐accepting chemotaxis proteins, kinases, and diguanylate cyclases. These proteins have been found in the genomes of many bacteria, indicating their involvement in regulating diverse cellular pathways and behaviors in response to gaseous ligands. Detailed characterizations of globin‐coupled sensors have utilized a wide array of biochemical and spectroscopic methods to understand ligand binding and signal transduction in the heme domain. The diversity of the globin‐coupled sensory family studied to date highlights unique ligand‐binding characteristics in the heme pocket. While the characterization of the globin‐coupled sensor family has elucidated the mechanisms by which oxygen binds the heme moiety and influences the activity of these sensor protein output domains, the downstream proteins and pathways governed by globin‐coupled sensor signaling are not well understood. Given the breadth of the globin‐coupled sensors studied to date, additional research is needed further to elucidate the role of globin‐coupled sensor proteins in managing oxygen‐dependent microbial physiology both in vitro and in vivo.
Calibration and volunteer testing of a prototype contactless respiratory motion detection system based on laser tracking
Authors: Islami Isnaini Nur , Muhamadi Amar Ma'ruf Irfan , Wibowo Wahyu Edy , Putranto Aloysius Mario Yudi , Sudarmaji Arief , Djuita Fielda , Pawiro Supriyanto Ardjo
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The goal of this study was to assess the feasibility of a cost‐effective prototype of a laser‐based respiratory motion detection system utilizing a Leuze LDS for breath monitoring through calibration and volunteer tests.

Methods

This study was performed using the Anzai AZ‐773 V and computerized imaging reference systems (CIRS) motion phantoms for calibration tests. The calibration of the laser‐based respiratory motion detection system involved spatial accuracy testing, amplitude calibration, and temporal accuracy. Volunteer testing was conducted on eight volunteers at the inferior end of the sternum and the abdomen area. The accuracy of the data recorded by the laser‐based respiratory motion detection system was validated against established clinical reference tracking systems namely real‐time position management (RPM) and Anzai AZ‐733 V system.

Results

Calibration with an Anzai AZ‐773 V and CIRS phantoms demonstrated an average error of 1.17% ± 0.64% and an average amplitude calibration correlation coefficient of 0.975 ± 0.004. Volunteer tests, compared to the Anzai AZ‐733 V clinical system and RPM system, revealed average correlation coefficients for deep inspiration breath‐hold are 0.931 ± 0.02 and 0.936 ± 0.03, respectively, and for free breathing are 0.85 ± 0.07 and 0.77 ± 0.1, respectively.

Conclusions

Overall, the data suggest that the in‐house laser‐based respiratory motion detection system performed well, with an error percentage below 10%. A reasonably good correlation coefficient was obtained, indicating that the readings obtained from the laser system are consistent with those set on the phantom and clinical respiratory motion detection systems. Although promising through the calibration process and volunteer tests, further studies are required to generate trigger data linked directly to computerized tomography and linear accelerator facilities, thereby advancing the clinical viability of this innovative laser‐based respiratory motion detection system.
Partial and full arc with DynamicARC technique in pencil beam scanning proton therapy for bilateral head and neck cancer: A feasibility and dosimetric study
Authors: Rana Suresh , Padannayil Noufal Manthala , Pokharel Shyam , Saeed Hina , Kasper Michael
Published: December 2024

Purpose

A novel proton beam delivery method known as DynamicARC spot scanning has been introduced. The current study aims to determine whether the partial proton arc technique, in conjunction with DynamicARC pencil beam scanning (PBS), can meet clinical acceptance criteria for bilateral head and neck cancer (HNC) and provide an alternative to full proton arc and traditional intensity‐modulated proton therapy (IMPT).

Method

The study retrospectively included anonymized CT datasets from ten patients with bilateral HNC, all of whom had previously received photon treatment. The clinical target volumes (CTV) were categorized into three levels: CTV_7000, CTV_5950, and CTV_5600. IMPT plans included three beams, whereas DynamicARC plans included dual‐partial‐arcs (DPA), single‐partial‐arc (SPA), and single‐full‐arc (SFA). All plans underwent robust optimization considering setup (± 3 mm) and range (± 3%) uncertainties applied to the CTVs. DynamicARC plans were evaluated against the NRG‐HN009 criteria and IMPT plans using various metrics.

Results

All four techniques—IMPT, DPA, SPA, and SFA—demonstrated substantial compliance with NRG‐HN009 dosimetric criteria. DynamicARC produced superior dose conformity, lower hotspot, and improved homogeneity for high‐risk CTV compared to IMPT, with comparable performance for intermediate‐ and low‐risk CTVs. DynamicARC reduced the Dmean to the parotid glands by average differences of 14.5%–22.1% and to the oral cavity by an average difference of 15.75% compared to IMPT. DPA and SPA techniques achieved reductions in total integral dose of 3.7%–5.7% relative to IMPT. Overall, DPA yielded dosimetric results comparable to those of SFA while offering more conformal dose distributions and slightly better organ at risk sparing than SPA.

Conclusion

On the ProteusOne with a partial gantry system, DPA and SPA, in conjunction with DynamicARC PBS protons, provided clear dosimetric advantages over three‐field IMPT. Future clinical implementation and further research into optimizing DynamicARC protocols are warranted to fully realize the benefits of these techniques in clinical settings.
Unveiling the Potential of Natural Resources‐Derived Therapeutics for Improved Malaria Management: Computational to Experimental Studies
Authors: Okoh Michael P. , Egua Maxwell O. , Alli Lukman A. , Dalu Damayanthi , Gundamaraju Rohit , Singla Rajeev K. , Shen Bairong
Published: December 2024

Malaria kills millions of people annually, and it is one of the major causes of preventable mortality in the world. Of the different plasmodium species that induce malaria, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax account for the most severe form of malarial disease in humans. This review focuses on understanding preventive measures, mutation‐based disease evolution, malaria‐related biomarkers, and potential plant bioactive components for the treatment and management of malaria. The burden of malaria drug resistance has made it necessary for scientists to focus on alternative therapeutics, with particular interests in those involving plant‐based bioactive components that could mediate biochemical pathways, consisting of metabolic interactions essential for parasitic inhibition. To avoid artefacts or false positives, these bioactive components from plant sources are further filtered using the “pan‐assay‐interfering compounds” (PAINS) tool. This review discussed the history of malaria treatment, current treatment options, malaria preventive measures, and challenges associated with current treatment strategies. Additionally, this work discusses the barriers while developing drugs from phytochemicals and the steps needed to accelerate the development of new antimalarial from the lead compounds.
Light‐Directed Microalgae Micromotor with Supramolecular Backpacks for Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Wang Zeyu , Yang Zhiqing , Li Sen , Kwong Cheryl H.T. , Zhang Daiyan , Wei Jianwen , Gao Cheng , Zhang Qing‐wen , Wang Ruibing
Published: December 2024

In recent years, the development of micromotors for biomedical applications has surged. However, challenges such as immunogenicity and the difficulty in controlling motion direction have hindered their clinical translation. In this study, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a natural unicellular green microalgae known for its biocompatibility and phototaxis properties in hydrogen peroxide environments is applied, as a micromotor for efficient drug delivery and photodynamic therapy. 5‐Aminolevulinic acid‐loaded liposomes are anchored onto the surface of algae through host–guest complexation between β‐cyclodextrin‐modified algae and adamantane‐modified liposomes. This created a micromotor capable of carrying a drug‐loaded backpack for light‐driven tumor targeting and drug delivery. Additionally, light irradiation activates the photosynthesis of chloroplasts in microalgae leading to oxygen production and alleviation of the tumor's hypoxic microenvironment. In tumor‐bearing mice, light irradiation on tumor tissue directs the micromotor to accumulate in the tumor region, significantly increasing the local drug concentration from 0.007 to 0.069 mg mL−1 compared to free liposomes. Furthermore, oxygen generated from photosynthesis enhances the efficacy of photodynamic therapy, resulting in complete tumor regression in Balb/c mice after 14 days. This system achieves a three‐in‐one effect, combining targeted drug delivery, oxygen generation, and photodynamic treatment. These findings hold promise for the advancement of micromotor‐based biomedical applications.
Built‐In Electric Field Induced Uniform Li Deposition via Construction of CoP/Co2P Heterojunction in 3D Carbon Nanofiber Networks
Authors: Hao Zhimin , Liu Dapeng , Zuo Xintao , Yu Haohan , You Tingting , Zhang Yu
Published: December 2024

Uncontrollable dendrite growth significantly hinders the application of Li metal anodes. To improve the uniformity of Li deposition, it is essential to develop an inorganic‐rich solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) and lithiophilic host surface. However, there exists a big challenge in simultaneously optimizing SEI and anode surface. Herein, the cobalt phosphide/dicobalt phosphide (CoP/Co2P) pp‐heterojunction modified carbon nanofiber networks (CNF‐CoPx) are successfully prepared as 3D Li host, which can form built‐in electric field (BIEF) to accelerate the conversion reaction kinetics of CoP into Li3P, and spontaneously derive into a new BIEF induced by the Co/Co2P Schottky heterojunction facilitates the electron transfer during Li deposition process. Consequently, the CNF‐CoPx@Li symmetric cell exhibits impressive long‐term cycling stability, maintaining low polarization for up to 600 h at a current density of 3 mA cm−2. Additionally, the CNF‐CoPx@Li||LiFePO4 full cell delivers a high‐capacity retention of 89.5% over 500 cycles at 1 C.
Homeothermic P‐Bit Computing Hardware with Stochastic Operations Beyond Limit of Non‐Stochastic Materials
Authors: Maeng Ho‐Young , Han Joon‐Kyu , Han Janguk , Lee Soo Hyung , Cheong Sunwoo , Hwang Cheol Seong , Choi Yang‐Kyu
Published: December 2024

Probabilistic computing (p‐computing) is a customized approach for solving complex combinatorial optimization problems. However, issues of compatibility with well‐established complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) technology, robustness to environmental temperature variations and stochasticity need to be addressed. This study resolves these difficulties using a metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistor (MOSFET) with a floating body as a probabilistic‐bit (p‐bit) device. Unlike previously reported two‐terminal p‐bit structures, such as magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) and memristor‐based devices, a MOSFET is commercialized for conventional von Neumann computing. Although MOSFET operation is sensitive to the ambient temperature, a homeothermic characteristic from 20 °C up to 110 °C is achieved with gate voltage (VG) control, taking advantage of the three‐terminal design. The conventional MOSFET operation is stable, reproducible, and, thus, non‐stochastic. However, the floating body effect in this specific MOSFET enhances stochasticity, enabling an irregular single transistor latch (STL). Invertible logic operations and a max‐cut solver are demonstrated with the proposed p‐bits, maintaining desirable performance even at 110 °C through VG control. Due to its compatibility with CMOS technology, large‐scale cointegration of a p‐bit array and supportive CMOS circuits is feasible.