bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microvesicles derived from leukocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with external genital endometriosis
Authors: Yarmolinskaya M. I. , Durneva E. I. , Markova K. L. , Mikhailova V. A. , Selkov S. A. , Sokolov D. I.
Published: April 2022

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease, which poses a serious problem in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Despite decades of research, there are no specific signs and symptoms and no blood tests to clinically confirm the diagnosis, which makes timely diagnosis and treatment difficult. Therefore, the search for new markers for early non-invasive diagnosis of the disease remains relevant. Various subcellular structures involved in intercellular communication, in particular, microvesicles, can be considered promising biological markers for external genital endometriosis. The aim of this work was to assess the composition of microvesicles derived from leukocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with stage I-II of external genital endometriosis and the possibility of their use as markers of non-invasive diagnosis of peritoneal forms of endometriosis. The study involved 97 women aged 26-40 with stage I-II of external genital endometriosis, whose diagnosis was established intraoperatively and confirmed histologically. Pain syndrome was noted in all patients of the main group, with infertility also detected in 73.2% of the patients. The control group consisted of 20 patients, whose average age was 25.5±1.1 years, who were examined in connection with male infertility factor before the in vitro fertilization, and in whom, on the basis of intraoperative examination, presented no gynecological diseases, and no pain syndrome. Before the surgical intervention, peripheral blood was taken from all patients to determine the content of microvesicles derived from leukocytes. To isolate microvesicles, we used the previously described by M.P. Gelderman and J. Simak method. It was found that patients with stage I-II of external genital endometriosis experience an increase in the number of CD14+, CD16+and CD54+CD14+microvesicles in the peripheral blood by 1.1, 1.38 and 1.55 times, respectively, as well as a decrease in the number of CD45+CD4+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+microvesicles by 1.2, 4 and 1.5 times, respectively, compared with patients from the control group. Therefore, in patients with stage I-II of external genital endometriosis, an increase in the relative number of CD54+CD14+microvesicles in the peripheral blood above 5.22% can serve as a marker for early non-invasive diagnosis of the disease with sensitivity of 80.5% and specificity of 71%.
APLICAÇÃO DE TÉCNICAS DE INTELIGÊNCIA ARTIFICIAL PARA CLASSIFICAÇÃO DE FUGA AO TEMA EM REDAÇÕES
Authors: Pinho Cintia Maria de Araújo , Gaspar Marcos Antonio , Sassi Renato José
Published: April 2022

O processo de correção manual de redações acarreta algumas dificuldades, dentre as quais apontam-se o tempo dispendido para a correção e devolutiva de resposta ao aluno. Para instituições como escolas de ensino básico e fundamental, universidades e o Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM), tal atividade demanda tempo e custo para a avaliação dos textos produzidos. A fuga ao tema é um dos itens avaliados na redação do ENEM que pode anular a redação produzida pelo candidato. Neste contexto, a análise automática de redações com a aplicação de técnicas e métodos de Processamento de Linguagem Natural, Mineração de Textos e outras técnicas de Inteligência Artificial (IA) tem se revelado promissora no processo de avaliação automatizada da linguagem escrita. O objetivo desta pesquisa é comparar diferentes técnicas de IA para classificação de fuga ao tema em textos e identificar aquela com melhor resultado para viabilizar um sistema de correção inteligente de redações. Para tanto, foram executados experimentos computacionais visando a classificação desses textos para normalizar, identificar padrões e classificar as redações em 1.320 redações de língua portuguesa em 119 temas diferentes. Os resultados indicam que o classificador RNC (rede neural convolucional) obteve maior ganho em relação aos demais classificadores analisados, tanto em acurácia, quanto em relação aos resultados de falsos positivos, métricas de precisão, recall e F1-Score. Como conclusão, a solução validada nesta pesquisa contribui para impactar positivamente o trabalho de professores e instituições de ensino, por meio da redução de tempo e custos associados ao processo de avaliação de redações.
Short-term wind power prediction based on data decomposition and fusion
Authors: Guo Xingchen , Jia Rong , Zhang Gang , Xu Benben , He Xin
Published: April 2022

Due to the randomness of wind power generation, the output power of a wind farm will fluctuate. As a result, the power grid can face the need for increased reserve capacity, increasing scheduling difficulties and wind farm abandonment. An effective way to address these problems is to accurately predict the output power of wind farms. Traditional prediction methods usually make predictions based on wind data obtained at a single height. However, with long prediction periods, prediction errors are relatively large because the wind speed and direction at different heights have spatiotemporal correlations within a wind farm. In the model presented here, the wind power data are first decomposed by a ‘complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise’ model to obtain modal components with different fluctuation characteristics. Then, the characteristics of wind speed, wind direction, air pressure and other data at different heights are extracted for spatiotemporal feature fusion. Actual measurement data from a wind farm in Chongqing, China are used to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Develop and implement asset management strategy to create capital works programme for roads
Authors: Zeb Jehan
Published: April 2022

Organisations manage assets to provide services to various customers effectively and efficiently through the development of a comprehensive asset management system. The asset management strategy is a core component of an asset management system that is defined from a different perspective in the area of asset management. An explicit definition will make it easy to comprehend, develop and implement. The development and implementation of an effective asset management strategy play a vital role in formulating a long-term capital works programme as part of capital investment planning. How to develop and implement the strategy to create an effective capital works programme is the main research question. This paper defines the asset management strategy at three levels and develops and implements the strategy to create the capital works programme for roads using a case study approach following a six-step methodology.
Quantum Reservoir Parameter Estimation via Fisher Information
Authors: KORKMAZ Ufuk , TÜRKPENÇE Deniz
Published: April 2022

In this study, we show that as a result of weak interaction of different information environments structured with a single probe qubit, these environments can perform binary classification of the information they contain. In this way, we refer to these environments as quantum information baths because they consist of sequences of identical qubits in certain pure quantum states. A micro-maser like master equation has been developed to clearly describe the system dynamics analytically and the quantum states of different information reservoirs. The model can also be treated as a quantum neuron, due to the single-qubit probe that makes a binary decision depending on the reservoir parameters in its steady state. The numerical results of the repeated interaction process based on the divisibility and additivity of the quantum dynamic maps are compared with the analytical results. Besides being a single quantum classifier, the model we present can also serve as a basic unit of a quantum neural network within the framework of the dissipative model of quantum computing.
The Variation of the Linewidths and Amplitudes of Sub-Doppler Resonances of 87Rb D2 Line with Laser Beam Intensity
Authors: ŞAHİN Ersoy
Published: April 2022

The sub-Doppler resonances linewidths and amplitudes depend on the laser beam intensity. The effect of laser beam intensity on the resonance linewidths and amplitudes obtained from different energy transitions of atoms varies from resonance to resonance. The effect of laser beam intensity on resonance linewidths and amplitudes is of great importance for diode laser frequency stability applications. It needs to be determined by measuring. The effect of the laser beam intensity on the linewidths and amplitudes of sub-Doppler resonances were measured by laser heterodyne spectroscopy using the linearly polarized frequency stabilized extended cavity diode lasers. The measurements are compatible with the theory and the uncertainty of the measurements are fewer than 1.6 MHz and 0.3 mV for linewidths and amplitudes, respectively.
Aeroacoustic Simulation of an Owl Wing Cross-section Using Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: YILDIZ Ferit , TOKGOZ Sedat
Published: April 2022

In this study, we aim to investigate the low noise flights of owls in terms of aerodynamics. The flow around cross-section of an owl wing, which is known for its nearly silent flight, is numerically analyzed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The analysis are based on the parameters of angle of attack and the flight speed. The aerodynamic effects on the acoustic is compared in terms of vorticity and sound pressure level, where the frequency interval for the acoustic data is set to 0-7500Hz. It was seen that the vortical organisations around the airfoils are closely related to the acoustic results. The results show that the increase in both velocity and angle of attack affect the vorticity, thus lead to a rise in sound pressure level. It can be stated that the owl airfoil shape ensures a relatively silent flight.
Comercio internacional y justicia como sinónimos de bienestar La búsqueda de un término medio entre el multilateralismo y el minilateralismo
Authors: Téllez-Núñez Andrés
Published: April 2022

Con una metodología fenomenológico-hermenéutica y con el objetivo de encontrar un término medio entre un multilateralismo clásico y un minilateralismo moderno en el contexto de las relaciones económicas internacionales en aras del logro de situaciones de justicia, orden y, en general, de bienestar global, se propone una hipótesis de trabajo según la cual, siempre que en los acuerdos internacionales se incluyan disposiciones de protección de los derechos humanos a manera de obligaciones erga omnes y considerando la dignidad humana como fuente y valor supremos del derecho, por un lado, se mitiga la posibilidad de erosionar el sistema mediante artilugios propios de la teoría de la elección pública y, por otro lado, se descubre que se le da un sentido de justicia a una fría meta de liberalización comercial en los términos del artículo II del Acuerdo General sobre Aranceles Aduaneros y Comercio. Con esta aproximación a los acuerdos internacionales de comercio puede llegarse a una sinonimia entre comercio justo y comercio libre.
Derecho y políticas públicas: Sentencias judiciales y políticas de salud en México a la luz del caso colombiano
Authors: García Tejeda Enrique , Vieira Silva Juan Guillermo
Published: April 2022

El análisis de la relación entre derecho y políticas públicas implica en la práctica estudiar si las decisiones que toman las instancias constitucionales y judiciales interfieren, se cruzan o definen las políticas públicas respectivas. Esto implica reconocer el papel de las Cortes en las políticas públicas. México y Colombia difieren considerablemente en el impacto que han tenido las decisiones judiciales en materia de protección del derecho a la salud en las políticas de salud. Colombia suele reconocerse como un referente regional de judicialización de la salud, mientras en México la participación judicial en la política de salud es incipiente. Con una metodología novedosa, basada en el concepto de bien público del Derecho y Economía, se presenta un análisis cualitativo de sentencias de juicios de amparo de la Suprema Corte de la Nación para estudiar el modo en que esas decisiones pueden ser el vínculo entre el derecho y las políticas de salud en México. Hallamos que, en algunos casos, los efectos de las sentencias pueden atender una problemática pública y producir efectos no rivales y no exclusivos para beneficios de pacientes ajenos a los juicios. Esto puede sugerir que las sentencias judiciales pueden ser un componente relevante en la relación del derecho y las políticas públicas.
Study of the Bonds Established at Social Programs Implementation in Cali, Colombia, Using the Contextual Interaction Theory
Authors: Peroni Andrea , Otálvaro Bairon , Ulloa Osses Francisco , Morales Balmaceda Cesia
Published: April 2022

This study aims to research the contextual interaction processes set during the implementation of four social programs in Cali. The purpose of this is to identify the social bonds and the approaches to social programs that are configured at the implementation level between the different actors involved. The four programs to be analyzed were selected following a typology where they can be compared according to the degree of interaction and the homogeneity in the tasks involved. Therefore, the chosen programs were studied through 14 semi-directed interviews conducted with the stakeholders: public officials, community-based intermediaries, and beneficiaries. The main results highlight the challenge that the diversity of the communities set to the programs. These are all complex situations that question the totalizing role of the institution within the resolution of the community’s problems, and that open spaces to other approaches, such as the governance, where implementation interfaces located in the same communities of the intervention, on the edge of the limits of the State.
Mapeo de las resistencias. Acción colectiva juvenil y derecho a la ciudad en Manizales, Colombia
Authors: Carvajal Morales Tatiana , Salazar Rendón Milton Andrés , Castaño Urdinola Jessica
Published: April 2022

La política, entendida como prácticas conflictivas de institución de sentido que buscan un orden deseado de «estar juntos», se ve amenazada por actividades que rompen con su naturaleza antagónica apelando al orden del consenso. El artículo expone los resultados de una investigación que busca comprender cómo operan los colectivos sociales y redes que plantean desacuerdos en Manizales, Colombia, a quienes se les aplicó una ficha de caracterización y mapeo. A partir de un enfoque de estudios culturales y metodologías participativas, se concluye que la acción colectiva en la ciudad es agenciada mayoritariamente por jóvenes que se articulan alrededor de múltiples demandas. Si bien las prácticas de resistencia se inclinan hacia lo micropolítico, también inciden en lo macropolítico y finalmente han emergido importantes espacios de articulación que se pueden enunciar como demandas por el derecho a la ciudad.
¿Hay ciclo político económico del gasto público en Colombia? Evidencia empírica para el periodo 1960-2016
Authors: Cañizares Osorio Jesús Daniel , Fernández Londoño Camilo , Cañizares Arévalo Jorge de Jesús
Published: April 2022

Este artículo tiene como finalidad verificar para el gasto público de Colombia en el periodo entre 1960 y 2016 la existencia de ciclos políticos económicos. Para comprobar esto se evaluó la presencia de estos desde los diferentes ciclos planteados en la teoría: los ciclos partidistas y los ciclos oportunistas. Esto se llevó a cabo mediante varias técnicas econométricas: i) análisis del periodograma; ii) extracción del componente cíclico de la serie de tiempo; iii) modelos de componentes no observables (UCM); y iv) la estimación de un modelo Arima. Se encontró que no hay evidencia concluyente que sugiera la existencia de ciclos políticos económicos oportunistas o partidistas, pero a un nivel de confianza de 90% sí hay evidencia que sugiera que el gasto público en Colombia tiende más a un ciclo partidista donde los partidos conservadores han generado un mayor gasto que los partidos liberales; sin embargo, este resultado es contrario a lo que sugiere la teoría ideológica de los partidos Liberal y Conservador en Colombia.
1802 Head Shots
Authors:   University of York, Johns Richard
Published: April 2022

Mary Moser, one of only seven surviving founder Academicians, exhibited for the final time this year (as Mrs Hugh Lloyd). The provocative subject of her finale, Queen Eleanor’s Confession to King Henry the Second, derived from a popular ballad about the salacious deathbed revelations of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Meanwhile, Sarah Siddons contributed for the first (and only) time in 1802 as an Honorary Exhibitor, with a bust of Adam from Milton’s Paradise Lost. The celebrated Shakespearean actor had previously appeared in the Great Room many times as the subject of numerous portraits. J.M.W. Turner and John Soane were elected full Academicians earlier in the year.
The Legal and Factual Function of the Family Law Agreements
Authors: Nizamieva O. N.
Published: April 2022

The paper is devoted to the legal and factual function of the family law agreements. The paper analyzes the views concerning the legal and factual possibilities of agreements in general and family law agreements in particular. The author concludes that despite the fact that family law agreements are not independent grounds for the emergence of legal relations between its parties, they carry out the legal-factual function. The paper describes the legal-factual function with its inherent static and dynamic aspects manifested, among other things, in the ability of family law agreements to entail non-contractual consequences of a private and public legal nature: some agreements in family law are involved in the acquisition of a particular family legal status of persons participating in them; family law agreements are able to directly generate rights and obligations of its parties in relation to other persons; a family law agreement may affect the exercise of the rights of third parties in relation to its participants (or otherwise become a legally significant circumstance in relations with other persons). Since one of the practical tasks of experts is to determine the moment of occurrence of the legal consequences of making of a family law agreement, the author touches on the practical aspects of determining the moment of occurrence of legal consequences under a marriage contract and an agreement on the division of common property of spouses. The author thoroughly analyzes the deferred effect of the marriage agreement that, at the same time, brings specifics to the limitation period calculation for claims of invalidity of the marriage contract. The paper also considers the problem of determining the moment when the legal regime of immovable property (or other property, the rights to which are subject to registration) changes due to the conclusion of a marriage agreement or an agreement on the division of common property of spouses.
Federal Law No. 59-FZ of May 2, 2006 “On the Procedure for Considering Applications from Citizens of the Russian Federation”: Problems and Contradictions
Authors: Stepkin S. P.
Published: April 2022

The author analyzes the norms of Federal Law No. 59-FZ dated 02.05.2006 «On the Procedure for Considering Applications from Citizens of the Russian Federation», amendments made to this Law in 2010, 013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018, and their justifications. The author identifies its problems and contradictions, analyzes the works of scientists and judicial practice, including positions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, expressed in numerous definitions and resolutions. The formulated proposals for amendments to the Law under consideration are based on scientific and practical analysis of the studied materials. In particular, the author justifies the proposals on the need to extend a number of important legal provisions regarding written applications to applications in the form of an electronic document and oral applications, to settle the issue with oral applications (including those submitted by phone), to specify in the law the terms in working days, and not in calendar days, to regulate and expand the possibility of applying the termination of correspondence with citizens, introduce legal regulation of «multiple (‘fan’) applications» and «mass applications», to establish a common understanding of the concept of «obscene or offensive expressions». The publication was prepared on the basis of the general scientific dialectical method. The special methods used in the preparation of the publication are: system-structural, formal-legal, logical and comparative-legal. The author raises the question of the need for legal certainty, the use of the most understandable norms of legislative regulation in the implementation of the right of citizens to appeal. In this article, the citizens’ applications are understood as applications of citizens, associations of citizens, including legal entities.
Budget Regulation as a Complex Legal Institution of Financial Law
Authors: Tkachenko R. V.
Published: April 2022

The paper is devoted to the consideration of issues related to the unification of financial law norms, which govern public relations on the internal distribution and redistribution of budgetary funds, into a single independent legal institution of financial law within its main sub-branch, namely budget law. The system patterns of law inherent in financial law and its structural elements became the conceptual basis of the research. It is established that the norms regulating the activities of public legal entities of the Russian Federation on budget regulation represent an independent complex financial and legal community and are a separate part of budget law. In the course of the study, various factors that determine the formation of a complex legal institution of budget regulation are identified. The author considers and formulates general and special principles of functioning of this legal institution, studies the main sources containing relevant financial and legal norms, analyses the structure of the legal institution of budget regulation and single out its sub-institutions. It is determined that the legal institution of budget regulation is a set of financial and legal norms regulating inter-budgetary relations arising in the process of distribution and redistribution of funds between the budgets of the budgetary system of the Russian Federation. The author concludes that the considered pool of legal norms united by a single purpose, due to their fragmentation, is of a complex character and dialectically includes legal norms of various legal entities of financial law. These include the norms of the Institute of budget revenues, the Institute of budget expenditures, individual norms of the sub-branch of tax law, the institute of legal regulation of state extra-budgetary funds, the Institute of public credit and debt, as well as the integrated financial and legal institute «budget process».
On Constitutional and Legal Regulation of Science
Authors: Atabekova N. K.
Published: April 2022

The sphere of science is one of the important spheres of economic development ensuring the effective functioning of the state. Science has a direct impact on the pace and direction of economic development, thus, it can contribute to improving the socio-economic condition of the citizens. Therefore, science requires the attention of the state at the highest level. In this aspect, the constitutional and legal regulation of relations in the field of science plays an essential role, determining the priorities of state building.

The purpose of this work is to study the specifics of the constitutional and legal regulation of the sphere of science in modern states and to identify the features of the national constitutional legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic in the light of the constitutional reform carried out on April 11, 2021. In the course of the study, a comparative historical method was used, which made it possible to consider the problems in retrospect. The use of the statistical method demonstrated the peculiarities of state support for science in various countries. The comparative legal method contributed to the comparative analysis of the constitutional and legal regulation of the sphere of science in a number of foreign countries and the reflection of the general and specific in this matter, which allowed us to develop practical recommendations for improving domestic constitutional legislation.

The author summarizes that the states claiming leadership in science and education in the global context understand that these areas form the basis of the post-industrial innovation economy, and, therefore, define them as priorities in state building. This is expressed, firstly, in the constitutional consolidation of the state policy in the field of science and education; secondly, in the institutional support of the sphere of science; and thirdly, in sufficient funding of the sphere of science. Constitutional and legal norms presuppose the development of a mechanism for their implementation. In this aspect, one of the important conditions for their implementation are financial and economic guarantees, which, unfortunately, remain insufficient in Kyrgyzstan, which causes low rates of development of domestic science and insufficient representation of its results on the world stage.
Does offshoring boost productivity? A comparison of SMEs and large firms for Germany
Authors: Kreutzer Fabian , Berger Wolfram
Published: April 2022

We use plant-level evidence for Germany to explore the productivity effects of offshoring of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and compare them to those derived for a sample of large companies. SMEs usually face tighter resource constraints than larger companies, thus making it harder for them to reap the potential productivity gains associated with offshoring. We find evidence for the group of SMEs that plants that offshore business activities tend to be among the more productive ones, ex ante. However, offshoring plants lose this edge over their non-offshoring counterparts. The initial productivity gap is reversed, and the productivity of offshoring plants lags behind even several years after offshoring has actually taken place. Neither observation can be confirmed for large companies.
Intensity of competition and firm innovative behavior
Authors: O'Leary Daragh , Doran Justin , Power Bernadette
Published: April 2022

Using a novel self-reported measure competitive intensity and four distinct forms of innovation (product, process, marketing and organisational) from the European Commission Flash Eurobarometer 433 dataset, this paper comprehensively identifies the impact of competitive pressure on firm innovation for four broad sectors of the economy. A logit model by innovation type is used to estimate the impact of the intensity of competition on the firm’s decision to innovate. Firm reported intensity of competition is found to have a positive impact on product and market innovation. Significant heterogeneities exist in the impact of minor and major degrees of competition across innovation types and sectors supporting both Arrow’s (1962), and to a lesser degree Schumpeter’s (1943), perspectives on this relationship.
Pengetahuan sikap dan perilaku berhubungan dengan infeksi COVID-19 pada petugas rumah sakit
Authors: Nadila Niken , Kartini Kartini
Published: April 2022

LATAR BELAKANG

Kasus COVID-19 di Indonesia semakin meningkat dan banyak petugas rumah sakit yang terinfeksi COVID-19, untuk itu diperlukan pengetahuan, sikap dan perilaku yang baik dari petugas rumah sakit agar tidak terinfeksi COVID-19.  Penelitian ini bertujuan menilai hubungan pengetahuan, sikap dan perilaku dengan infeksi COVID-19 pada petugas rumah sakit.

METODE

Desain penelitian adalah observasional analitik dengan pendekatan potong lintang (cross sectional). Subyek penelitian adalah petugas rumah sakit dengan sampel sebanyak 200 responden memenuhi kriteria inklusi dan eksklusi. Pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner pengetahuan, sikap dan perilaku dalam menghadapi COVID-19 dan riwayat terinfeksi COVID-19, dikumpulkan melalui google form. Uji hipotesis dengan menggunakan uji Chi-square/Fisher’s Exact dengan tingkat kemaknaan p<0,05.

HASIL

Hasil penelitian menunjukkan mayoritas pengetahuan responden baik (66%), sikap responden positif (69%), dan perilaku responden positif (95,5%), sebagian besar responden tidak terinfeksi COVID-19 (87,5%). Analisa dengan menggunakan uji Chi-Square menunjukkan terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara pengetahuan (p=0,007), sikap (p=0,002), dan perilaku (p=0,000) dengan infeksi COVID-19.

KESIMPULAN

Pengetahuan, sikap dan perilaku berhubungan dengan infeksi COVID-19 pada petugas rumah sakit.
A comparative study to assess the effect of multiple Kirschner wiring versus plating in the management and functional outcome of proximal humerus fractures
Authors: Chugh Amit , Samant Prakash , Asif Adnan
Published: April 2022

Background: Proximal humerus fractures constitute 5% of all appendicular skeletal injuries and are mainly a menace of the elderly, after hip fractures and distal radial fractures. According to the NEER’S classification, the decision regarding the treatment of such fractures is dependent on whether the four anatomical segments of the proximal humerus are fractured or displaced.

Methods: A total of 50 patients admitted in orthopaedics ward satisfying the inclusion criteria were randomly divided in 2 groups with 25 patients in each group for PHILOS plating and Kirschner wiring management. Groups were compared with respect to their improvement in physical function, pain, quality of life, complications and re-operation rates.

Results: Out of the total 50 cases, 20% were type I, 22% type II, 36% were type III fractures while 22% were type IV fractures. Mean DASH questionnaire was comparable between two groups at 1 month after surgery (p=0.56). During immediate post-op period and at subsequent follow ups, DASH questionnaire was better in plating group as compared to K-wiring. At 3 months and 6 months follow up, functional outcome as calculated by DASH questionnaire was comparable between two groups (p=0.17 and 0.45). Excellent to good outcome was seen in all cases of either group. No difference was observed between study groups with respect to associated complications. K-wire loosening was observed in 2 cases (8%). Plating was associated with infections (8%) and screw break out (4%).

Conclusions: After comparing both the techniques, we recommend PHILOS plating for young adults and percutaneous K wire fixation for the elderly age group.
Case series of orthopaedic complications associated with endocrine disorders presented at tertiary care center and review of literature
Authors: Mahajan Neetin P. , Bagimani Pramod , Sangma Sunny M. , Mhatre Jayesh A. , Dadhaniya Ravi K.
Published: April 2022

Endocrine glands affecting skeletal system are parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, thyroid and gonads. If any abnormality occurs in these glands, they cause structural and functional impairment of the skeletal system. Early diagnosis and treatment of these endocrine problems and ruling out musculoskeletal involvement helps to maintain skeletal integrity and prevent osteoporotic fractures and chronic bone pathologies. Here we present a case series of 4 patients who came to us with chronic bone pathologies or post-traumatic fractures associated with endocrine abnormalities­; such as parathyroid adenoma (hyperparathyroidism), Cushing’s syndrome and thyroid adenocarcinoma. One patient with osteoporotic and pathological fracture was managed operatively and sent for management of endocrine pathology and other three patients after evaluating cause for the bone pathology were referred for primary management of endocrine disease. Osteoclasts and osteoblasts of the bone are affected by the endocrine hormones, such as parathyroid hormone, thyroid, glucocorticoids and gonadotropins. Any abnormality in these hormones leads to alteration of bone mineral density. Hyperthyroidism, glucocorticoid excess, hyperparathyroidism, hypogonadism, and acromegaly decrease bone mineral density and aggravate the osteoporotic tendencies and leading to orthopaedic complications. As an orthopaedic practitioner we should be well aware of endocrine disorders affecting bones. Early diagnosis and treatment of these endocrine problems in older patients helps to maintain their skeletal integrity, prevent osteoporotic fracture and orthopaedic complications.
Outcome of early control of infection using antibiotics impregnated cement beads in early surgical site infection in operated case of intra articular comminuted fracture (AO C3) of distal femur with ORIF: case report and review of literature
Authors: Chaudhari Kunal , Mahajan Neetin P. , Sangma Sunny , Jarika Ashish Kumar , Talukderg Pritam
Published: April 2022

Surgical site infection is the most deleterious complication for any surgery and it's quite a daunting task for the surgeon to manage such post op events which also takes a great toll on patients' health physically as well as financially. Here we are presenting one such case report of early SSI effectively managed with antibiotic cement beads incorporation locally. We report a 65 year old male patient case of left sided comminuted distal femur fracture who was managed operatively with open reduction and internal fixation with 8 holes distal femur plate. Patient developed early SSI and was managed with debridement and antibiotic cement beads which was removed 6 weeks later. Here, we bring to the fore relevant findings to conclude the advantages of antibiotic cement beads for infected surgical wounds. In our case, early intervention resulted in full recovery of the patient from surgical site infection, early rehabilitation of joint mobility, decreased hospital stay and expenses. Looking at the advantages it is concluded from our study that locally impregnated antibiotic beads confers higher effectivity, compliance and cost benefits to the patient.  
Magnification in endodontics -the small is big enough — A review article
Authors: Singh Jaskaran , Goyal Arushi , Kaur Manpreet , Fatima Alvi , Sharma Ruchi , Sood Pooja
Published: April 2022

Recent advances in instruments and materials have improved treatment outcomes. The introduction of magnification into endodontics has brought on a resurgence in endodontics that led to new and exciting discoveries and the blossoming of new ideas and techniques. This review article provides a comprehensive review about the applications of magnification in endodontics.
Medición del impacto socioeconómico del desarrollo de infraestructura de última milla en Brasil
Authors: Puig Gabarró Pau , Katz Raúl , Callorda Fernando , Iglesias Rodriguez Enrique , García Zaballos Antonio , Robles Marcos , Valencia Ramiro
Published: April 2022

El presente documento busca adentrarse en la medición del impacto económico y social del desarrollo de infraestructura de telecomunicaciones de última milla en Brasil, diferenciando el análisis por contexto geográfico (municipios de baja población o muy poblados), género y años de educación formal, detallando los efectos y los canales de transmisión que vinculan el despliegue de banda ancha con los beneficios socioeconómicos. Acceder a esta información puede ayudar al gobierno de Brasil a tomar decisiones de políticas públicas sobre la conveniencia de extender el despliegue de última milla. Los resultados demuestran la importancia de acompañar el despliegue de banda ancha con políticas públicas que promuevan un beneficio equitativo de la tecnología. En este sentido, se destaca la necesidad de realizar acciones de alfabetización digital en municipios menos poblados a fin de apoyar el aprovechamiento de la banda ancha en el tejido productivo.
Evolution of Minimally Invasive Adrenal Surgery at a Tertiary Care Centre in Oman
Authors: AbuDraz Najeeb , Al-Masruri Mohamed S , Al Badaai Ghalib , Al-Shamari Yamam , Elshafie Omayma , Siddiqui Khurram M
Published: April 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to review the case records and report the outcomes of open and laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) cases. Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent adrenal surgery from January 2010 to December 2020 at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. Demographic details, indications, surgical approaches, intra-operative data, complications, final pathology and outcome at the last follow-up were analysed. Results: A total of 52 patients underwent 61 adrenalectomies; six patients had a bilateral procedure while three patients had to undergo revision surgery resulting in a total of 55 individual procedures. Open adrenalectomy (OA) was performed on 11 patients and 44 patients underwent LA. Most patients (n = 27) were obese with a body mass index >30. Functional adenoma was excised in 36 patients with final diagnosis of Conn’s syndrome in 15, pheochromocytoma in 13 and Cushing’s syndrome in nine patients. Five patients had surgery for oncological indications. Non-functional adenoma was excised in 13 patients, with a mean size of 8.9 cm (range: 4–15 cm). The mean duration of surgery was less in laparoscopic procedure compared to open (199 versus 246 minutes). The mean estimated blood loss in LA was significantly less (108 versus 450 mL; P <0.05). Out of 55 procedures, only one patient developed Clavien-Dindo grade 2 complication. Conclusion: Both LA and OA were safely performed at the researchers’ institution. There is a growing trend for LA, and with experience, the duration of surgery and estimated mean blood loss are demonstrating a positive trend.
Keywords: Adrenalectomy; Laparoscopic Surgical Procedure; Adrenal Gland Neoplasia; Adrenal Cancer; Pheochromocytoma; Oman.
Epidemiology of Common Ocular Manifestations among Patients on Haemodialysis in West Bank, Palestine
Authors: Shanti Yousef , Hamayel Hamza , Yasin Anas , Abu Shanab Abdul-Raheem , Hroub Osama , Hamdan Zakaria , Shraim Mujahed
Published: April 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of ocular manifestations and associated factors in patients on haemodialysis. Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients on haemodialysis from a haemodialysis unit in Nablus, Palestine, was conducted. Medical examination for ocular manifestations (intraocular pressure, cataract, retinal changes and optic neuropathy) was performed using Tono-Pen, portable slit-lamp and indirect ophthalmoscope. Predictor variables were age, gender, smoking, medical comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease [IHD], peripheral arterial disease [PAD]) and use of antiplatelet or anti-coagulation medications. Results: A total of 191 patients were included in this study. The prevalence of any ocular manifestation in at least one eye was 68%. The most common ocular manifestations were retinal changes (58%) and cataract (41%). The prevalence of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and NPDR or PDR was 51%, 16% and 65%. Two patients had PDR in one eye and NPDR in the other, and therefore, they were counted only once making the total for this category 71 rather than 73 patients. An increase in age by one year increased the odds of having cataract by 1.10 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06–1.14). Patients with diabetes had higher odds of having cataract (odds ratio [OR] = 7.43, 95% CI: 3.26–16.95) and any retinal changes (OR = 109.48, 95% CI: 33.85–354.05) than patients without diabetes. Patients with diabetes and IHD or PAD had higher odds of having NPDR than those with diabetes without IHD or PAD (OR = 7.62, 95% CI: 2.07–28.03). Conclusion: Retinal changes and cataract are common ocular manifestations among patients on haemodialysis. The findings emphasise the importance of periodic screening for ocular problems in this vulnerable population, especially older patients and those with diabetes, to prevent visual impartment and associated disability.
Keywords: Kidney Failure, Chronic; Renal Dialysis; Eye Diseases; Eye Manifestations; Cross-Sectional Studies; Palestine.
First Report of a Derivative Chromosome 13 with a Duplicated 11p15 Locus Associated with Silver-Russell syndrome
Authors: Hamza Nishath , Al-Araimi Musallam , Al Salmani Kamla , Al Obeidani Salwa
Published: April 2022

Silver-Russell Syndrome (SRS) is a disorder that is primarily characterized by intrauterine growth restriction which may occur asymmetrically or in whole, leading to a fetus being small relative to its gestational age. We present a female infant (proband), with severe congenital anomalies. The proband carried a >25Mb duplication of the chromosomal 11p15-11pter locus of chromosome 13; creating a derivative chromosome 13 [der(13)] and was reported as 46,XX,der(13)add(11p15-11pter). A methylation-sensitive assay confirmed a diagnosis of Silver-Russell Syndrome (SRS). Although the prognosis for SRS patients is generally good, our proband presented with a clinically severe phenotype culminating in death at nine months. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a derivative chromosome 13 with a duplicated 11p15 locus being reported in a patient with SRS.

Keywords: Silver-Russell syndrome, growth retardation, imprinting, derivative chromosome.
Anticancer activity of Germacrone terpenoid in human osteosarcoma cells is mediated via autophagy induction, cell cycle disruption, downregulating the cell cycle regulatory protein expressions and cell migration inhibition
Authors: Li Enhui , Gao Yanfang , Mou Lemming , Zhang Zhongli
Published: April 2022

Germacrone a sesquiterpene is a potential pharmacological agent with important medicinal applications. It is a potential anticancer agent and has been reported for anticancer activity against hepatoma cells and breast cancer cells, additionally, it has also shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifungal activity. Therefore, this study was designed to testify anticancer activity of germacrone terpenoid in human osteosarcoma cells along with studying its effects of autophagy induction, cell cycle disruption, downregulating the cell cycle regulatory protein expressions and cell migration inhibition. Cell proliferation rate was examined by MTT assay and phase contrast inverted microscopy was performed for morphological analysis. Further, flowcytometry was implemented to examine different cell cycle phases. Transwell assay was executed for the monitoring of cell migratory tendency of osteosarcoma cells. Finally, the levels of pro-autophagic and cell cycle allied proteins were checked by Western blot analysis. MTT assay results designated potential inhibition of osteosarcoma cell viability by germacrone drug in a dose and time-reliant manner. Further, phase contrast inverted microscopy depicted significant morphological changes in osteosarcoma cells after germacrone exposure, which were indicative of autophagic cell death. Next, transmission electron microscopy evaluated the formation of autophagic vesicles which are the trademark for autophagy. The autophagy allied protein expressions were observed through Western blotting indicating enhanced levels of pro-autophagic proteins (Becalin-1, LC3-I and –II). Hence, it may be depicted that the anti-proliferation effects of germacrone may be of autophagy inducing potential. Next, flowcytometric analysis revealed the cell cycle inhibitory effects of germacrone in osteosarcoma cells and the results indicated cell cycle arrest at S-phase. Cell cycle allied protein levels indicated declination in their expressions after germacrone exposure. Finally, transwell assay specified inhibitory effects on cell migration of osteosarcoma cells by germacrone in a dose-reliant manner. In conclusion, the results of the present investigation specified that germacrone drug is a potential anticancer agent against osteosarcoma cells. The anticancer effects were found to be mediated via autophagy induction, cell cycle disruption, downregulating the cell cycle regulatory protein expressions, and cell migration inhibition.
An Evaluation on the Problems and Solutions of Cappadocia Regional Tourism
Authors: ARDIÇ YETİŞ Şule , DENİZ Gaye , AYDIN Şule , DALKILIÇ YILMAZ Filiz
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study is to put forth how much of the ongoing tourism problems in the Cappadocia Region could be solved by in-depth analysis or what steps can be taken to solve them. From this point of view, by using the qualitative research approach, the single-case embedded design was used in the study. In this context, the outputs of meetings such as conferences, seminars, and workshops held so far to identify the problems that prevent tourism development in the destination have been examined by document analysis. Regarding the tourism of the Cappadocia region, lack of promotion, vocational/in-service training, and qualified workforce, poor working conditions, insufficient incentives for the sector, failure to manage crises, unplanned construction in the region, security problems, not adopting the concept of sustainability, inability to activate alternative tourism types, standard service quality and inadequate supervision, lack of historical and cultural inventory, transportation problems and many problems regarding inter-institutional communication and cooperation have been revealed. Based on the research results, possible solutions for the problems experienced in the tourism sector in the region are presented. Since there has been limited research in terms of addressing the current problems of the tourism sector in the Cappadocia Region, It is expected that the findings of this study will contribute to the field and provide practical benefits by creating a resource for subsequent research and offering suggestions.
Fostering Critical Cultural Awareness Among Prospective Teachers of English via Virtual Exchange Project
Authors: ÖZTÜRK Samed Yasin , EKŞİ Gonca
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to explore critical cultural awareness improvement of prospective teachers with a transnational virtual exchange project. Within the scope of this study, prospective teachers of English studying at English Language Teaching (ELT) department in Turkey attended a virtual exchange project that was organized with other prospective teachers of English from Germany and Israel. The prospective teachers weekly interacted with each other via online meetings, and they collaborated on assigned tasks to come up with a final product, which is an English teaching lesson plan. The research was designed as a qualitative study and the data were analyzed according to the the principles of directed qualitative content analysis. Directed qualitative content analysis is used when researchers start with a theory to code the qualitative data. In this study, Byram’s (1997) framework was used as a theory to direct analysis of the data. The participants’ weekly interactions were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed according to the principles of qualitative content analysis and Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) framework’s critical cultural awareness dimension. The analysis of the data revealed that the prospective teachers’ critical cultural awareness was significantly improved.