bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concerns of Parents Requesting Screening Tests for Their Children: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ersoy Emrah , Ardic Cuneyt
Published: July 2020

Background and objectiveWhile previous researchers provide insights into parental concerns about emotional, developmental, or behavioural problems in children, it is not known how children's complaints and possible medical conditions related to these complaints impact parent concerns. The aim of this study is to investigate concerns of parents visiting a family physician to request screening tests for their own child.MethodsOur sample was 407 children aged 2-16 years visiting a family physician for screening in Rize, a city in the Black Sea (Northern part) Region of Turkey, from January 2019 to January 2020. After January 2020, the researchers contacted 407 parents of the children by telephone and they completed the questionnaire via phone calls. The questionnaire includes sociodemographic data, parents’ opinion about screening tests, parent concern scores, children's complaints and probable medical conditions related with those complaints during the visit. The data was analyzed using the SPSS (SPSS v26) statistical analysis program.ResultsThe mean age of the children was 7.9 ± 4.2 years and the mean age of the parents was 31.7 ± 8.3 years. Of the parents, 65.8% (n=268) were female and of the children, 54.1% (n=220) were male. Of the parents, 60.0% (n=244) had concerns when they requested screening tests for their own child. Of the children, 40.0% (n=163) had no complaints. Of the parents, 56.8% (n=231) were not in favor of requesting a screening test for their child if he/she had no complaints. There was a significant relationship between parents’ opinion about screening tests and parent concerns/children’s complaints (p<0.001). Children’s complaints and probable medical conditions related with the complaints had significant impact on the mean score of parent concerns (p<0.001).ConclusionsThis study has shown that most of the children who underwent screening were not asymptomatic and most of the parents who requested screening tests for their own child had concerns related with their child's complaint/s. The concerns of parents were the main motivation for requesting screening.
A Novel Approach to Calculate the Case Fatality Rate of COVID-19 in European countries
Authors: Qin Qi , Cao Yong-xiao , Cao Lei
Published: July 2020

As a result of the global epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many European countries and regions have been strongly affected. The case fatality rate (CFR) is the most important index to evaluate the hazards associated with an epidemic situation. We aimed to present a method to calculate the instant CFR and to evaluate and compare the instant CFR of COVID-19 in the four European countries that have been most impacted: Italy, Spain, France and Germany. The daily COVID-19 case data from January 30, 2020, to July 9, 2020 in Italy, Spain, France and Germany were collected from WHO reports. Death time was calculated as the difference between the peak dates of the number of daily confirmed cases and the number of deaths in each of the four countries. The estimated dates of diagnosis of the declared deaths were a death time prior to the dates of death. The instant fatality rate of COVID-19 was calculated as the ratio of the number of cumulative deaths to the number of cumulative confirmed cases; these deaths and confirmed cases occurred on the same estimated dates of diagnosis. As of July 9, 2020, the COVID-19 death time was 6, 4, 6 and 12 days in Italy, Spain, France and Germany, respectively. The instant CFR of COVID-19 was 14.4%~27.6%, 2.2%~14.7%, 8.2%~25.0% and 2.0%~10.5% in Italy, Spain, France and Germany, respectively. The average CFR of COVID-19 was highest in France (16.7%) and lowest in Germany (5.0%). Since late April 2020, the CFR has stabilized at approximately 15%, 20% and 5% in Italy, France and Germany, respectively. Since early June, 2020, the CFR in Spain has stabilized at approximately 11%. We have established a more accurate way to calculate the CFR that may provide a basis for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
Development of a Mortality Prediction Model Combined With time to Positivity for Solid Tumor Patients with Escherichia Coli Bacteremia
Authors: Zhang Qing , Gao Haoyang , Li Ding , Bai Changsen , Li Zheng , Zheng Shan , Zhang Wenfang , Zhou Yunli , Zhang Sihe
Published: July 2020

Background: To develop a scoring model incorporating time to positivity (TTP) into clinical variables for predicting the mortality of tumor patients with Escherichia coli caused bloodstream infection (ECBSI).Methods: A retrospective single center study enrolling hospitalized cancer patients with ECBSI was conducted from 2013 to 2018. The patients were randomly divided into development and validation groups. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to identify risk factors for mortality. The scoring model was developed and validated based on logistic regression coefficients.Results: 315 and 194 patients with ECBSI were included in development and validation groups, respectively. Six significant risk factors for mortality were identified and included in the scoring model: fever ≥ 39℃, inappropriate antibiotic therapy, metastasis, acute respiratory distress (ARDS), blood transfusion, and TTP ≤ 8h. Patients were classified into low-risk (<10% mortality), medium-risk (10%-20% mortality) and high-risk (≥20% mortality) categories based on the predicted mortality rates in each score. The predicted mortality for the three categories was 4.38%, 15.39%, and 51.77%, respectively, in the development group, and 3.72%, 13.88%, and 50.09%, respectively, in the validation group. The model showed excellent discrimination and calibration for both groups, with AUC curves being 0.858 versus 0.835, respectively, and no significant difference in the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (6.709, P=0.48) and the Chi-square test (6.993, P=0.46). Sensitivity and negative predictive values (NPV) increased along with the decrease of cut-off values.Conclusion: The developed TTP-combined scoring model is feasible for clinicians to predict the mortality risk of cancer patients with ECBSI.
Adherence to usage of personal protective equipment among healthcare workers caring for proven COVID-19 patients and alleged non-COVID-19 patients
Authors: Neuwirth Meike Maria , Mattner Frauke , Otchwemah Robin
Published: July 2020

Adherence observations of health care workers (HCW) revealed deficiencies in the usage of recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) among HCW caring on COVID-19 and non-COVID-19-wards during the first period of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in a university hospital in Germany. The adherence wearing surgical face or FFP2-masks, and disinfecting hands prior donning and after doffing of PPE was significantly higher in COVID-19-wards. However, the adherence on COVID-19-wards clearly failed 100 per cent.
Virulence Factors and Molecular Epidemiology of Pyogenic Liver Abscess Causing Multidrug Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Wenzhou, China
Authors: Wang Zhongyong , Zhang Siqin , Huang Na , Liu Shixing , Xu Ye , Zhao Yajie , Cao Jianming , Zhou Tieli
Published: July 2020

Background: To date, little is known about virulence characteristics of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) causing multidrug resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae). It may be these strains are rare. The aim of this study was to analyze the virulence and molecular epidemiology of 12 MDR strains from 163 PLA cases in a tertiary teaching hospital from the perspective of clinical characteristics, virulence phenotypes and genotypes.Results: The virulence phenotypes of the twelve PLA-causing MDR K. pneumoniae were similar or even more obvious than those of sensitive hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae control strains. These MDR strains were mainly non-K1/K2 serotypes and carried multiple virulence genes. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) revealed the PLA-causing MDR strains had low clone correlation.Conclusions: This study was the first analysis on virulence factors of PLA-causing MDR strains. The virulent factors exhibited the coexistence of hypervirulence and multidrug resistance in PLA-causing MDR K. pneumoniae strains, and these MDR strains were mainly polyclonal spread and there was firstly found one ST11 carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent strain in PLA.
Silibinin sensitizes CD133+ hepatocellular carcinoma cells to cisplatin treatment through suppression of OPA1
Authors: Yang Jikang , Xing Zhiyuan
Published: July 2020

Background: Drug resistance is still a major obstacle during the cisplatin-based chemotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, studies have indicated that the population of CD133+ cancer cells is partially responsible for the failure of cancer treatment. However, the potential mechanisms are still unclear.Methods: CD133+ HepG2 and Huh7 cells were sorted via flow cytometry. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and silibinin against HCC cells. Western blot assay was performed to detect the protein expression, cleavage of caspases and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol. Flow cytometry analysis was used to measure the apoptotic rate of CD133+ HepG2 and Huh7 cells.Results: CD133+ HepG2 and Huh7 cells were observed to exhibit obvious resistance against cisplatin. However, co-treatment with silibinin significantly reduced the cisplatin resistance of CD133+ HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Furthermore, although CD133+ HepG2 and Huh7 cells were resistant to cisplatin-induced apoptosis, co-treatment with silibinin enhanced the cisplatin-induced apoptosis through promoting the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol. In the mechanism research, we proved that silibinin inhibited the expression of OPA1 in CD133+ HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Under the stress of cisplatin, silibinin promoted the collapse of mitochondria and increased the release of cytochrome c. As a result, caspases-dependent apoptosis was induced in CD133+ HepG2 and Huh7 cells which were co-treated with cisplatin and silibinin.Conclusion: Silibinin sensitizes CD133+ HCC cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis through suppression of OPA1.
The sniffing bead system: an olfactory dysfunction screening tool for geriatric subjects: A prospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Min Hyun Jin , Kim Sun Mi , Han Doug Hyun , Kim Kyung Soo
Published: July 2020

Background
In the current coronavirus disease pandemic situation, the need for quick, simple, and one-off olfactory function screening test has increased. This study aimed to develop a simple and one-off olfactory screening test, the sniffing bead system, for general clinical use in older adults.
Methods
In this prospective cross-sectional study, we included geriatric subjects (aged > 50 years) who underwent neurocognitive and olfactory function tests. Overall, 137 subjects were enrolled, and the study was conducted at Chung-Ang University. Olfactory detection thresholds were measured by the sniffing bead system using 2-phenylethyl alcohol, n-butanol, and the YSK olfactory function test. Time taken for each olfactory function test was also measured.
Results
The detection threshold of the 2-phenylethyl alcohol sniffing bead was 2.58 ± 1.52, which was significantly associated with the YSK_Threshold (2.41 ± 1.79), YSK_Identification (8.93 ± 3.25), and YSK_Threshold-Discrimination-Identification (17.46 ± 5.49) test scores. Time taken for the 2-phenylethyl alcohol sniffing bead was 5.00 ± 1.51 min, which was significantly lower than that for the YSK_Threshold-Discrimination-Identification (20.43 ± 5.29 min). The detection threshold of 2-phenylethyl alcohol was significantly correlated with that of n-butanol with the sniffing bead system (3.50 ± 1.21).
Conclusions
Although specifically designed for screening olfactory function in older adults, the sniffing bead system may function as a valuable screening tool in general practice, allowing for rapid and accurate assessment of olfactory dysfunction.
Human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote osteogenic differentiation of lipopolysaccharide-induced human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via ANRIL/miR-125a/APC axis
Authors: Wang Yuli , Lv Fengyi , Huang Lintong , Zhang Hengwei , Li Bing , Zhou Weina , Li Xuan , Du Yifei , Pan Yongchu , Wang Ruixia
Published: July 2020

Background: Periodontitis is a chronic inﬂammatory disease inducing the absorption of alveolar bone and leading to tooth loss. Human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HAMSCs) have been studied as a potential strategy for inﬂammatory processes. Here, we explored the role of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) in HAMSCs-droved osteogenesis in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HBMSCs). Methods: Cells were incubated with coculture system. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were used to detect oxidative stress level. Flow cytometry was performed to determine the cell proliferation. The Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Alizarin red assay, cell transfection and rat mandibular defect model were used to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, dual-luciferase reporter assay and immunofluorescence Staining were used to evaluate the molecular mechanisms.Results: Here, we discovered that HAMSCs promoted osteogenesis of LPS-induced HBMSCs, while ANRIL level in HBMSCs was decreased during coculturing. ANRIL had no significant influence on the proliferation of LPS-induced HBMSCs, while its overexpression inhibited the HAMSCs-droved osteogenesis in vivo and in vitro; whereas its knockdown reversed these effects. Mechanistically, we found that downregulating ANRIL led to overexpression of microRNA-125a (miR-125a), and further contributed to the competitively bounding of miR-125a and Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), thus significantly activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Conclusions: Our study indicates that HAMSCs promote osteogenic differentiation of LPS-induced HBMSCs via ANRIL/miR-125a/APC axis, and offer a novel approach for periodontitis therapy.
SphK2/S1P promotes metastasis in triple negative breast cancer through PAK1/LIMK1/Cofilin1 signaling pathway
Authors: Shi Weiwei , Ma Ding , Cao Yin , Hu Lili , Liu Shuwen , Yan Dongliang , Zhang Shan , Zhang Guang , Wang Zhongxia , Wu Junhua , Jiang Chunping
Published: July 2020

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) features poor prognosis which partialy attributed to the high metastasis rate. However, there is no effective target for systemic TNBC therapy due to the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptors (ER, PR, HER-2) up to date. In the present study, we evaluated the role of sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2) and its catalysate sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in TNBC metastasis, and the antitumor activity of SphK2 specific inhibitor ABC294640 in TNBC metastasis. Methods: The function of SphK2 and S1P in migration of TNBC cells was evaluated by Transwell migration and wound healing assays. The molecular mechanisms of SphK2/S1P mediating TNBC metastasis were investigated using cell line establishment, western blot, histological examination and immunohistochemistry assays. The antitumor activity of ABC294640 was examined in TNBC lung metastasis model in vivo. Results: SphK2 regulated TNBC cells migration through the generation of S1P. Targeting SphK2 with ABC294640 inhibited TNBC lung metastasis in vivo . p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), p-Lin-11/Isl-1/Mec-3 kinase 1 (LIMK1) and Cofilin1 was the downstream signaling cascade of SphK2/S1P. Inhibition of PAK1 suppressed SphK2/S1P induced TNBC cells migration. Concusion: SphK2/S1P promotes TNBC metastasis through the activation of the PAK1/LIMK1/Cofilin1 signaling pathway. ABC294640 potently inhibits TNBC metastasis in vivo which could be developed as a novel agent for the clinical treatment of TNBC.
Diffusion Histology Imaging Differentiates Distinct Pediatric Brain Tumor Histology
Authors: Ye Zezhong , Sriniv Komal , Meyer Ashely , Sun Peng , Lin Joshua , Viox Jeffrey D. , Song Chunyu , Wu Anthony T. , Song Sheng-Kwei , Dahiya Sonika , Rubin Joshua B.
Published: July 2020

Background: High-grade pediatric brain tumors exhibit the highest cancer mortality rates in children. While conventional MRI has been widely adopted for examining pediatric high-grade brain tumors clinically, accurate neuroimaging detection and differentiation of tumor histopathology for improved diagnosis, surgical planning, and treatment evaluation, remains an unmet need in their clinical management. Methods: We employed a novel Diffusion Histology Imaging (DHI) approach employing diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) derived metrics as the input classifiers for deep neural network analysis. DHI aims to detect, differentiate, and quantify heterogeneous areas in pediatric high-grade brain tumors, which include normal white matter (WM), densely cellular tumor, less densely cellular tumor, infiltrating edge, necrosis, and hemorrhage. Distinct diffusion metric combination would thus indicate the unique distributions of each distinct tumor histology features. Results: DHI, by incorporating DBSI metrics and the deep neural network algorithm, classified pediatric tumor histology with an overall accuracy of 83.3%. Receiver operating analysis (ROC) analysis suggested DHI’s great capability in distinguishing individual tumor histology with AUC values (95%CI) of 0.983 (0.985 - 0.989), 0.961 (0.957 - 0.964), 0.993 (0.992 - 0.994), 0.953 (0.947 - 0.958), 0.974 (0.970 - 0.978) and 0.980 (0.977 - 0.983) for normal WM, densely cellular tumor, less densely cellular tumor, infiltrating edge, necrosis and hemorrhage, respectively. Conclusions: Our results suggest that DBSI-DNN, or DHI, accurately characterized and classified multiple tumor histologic features in pediatric high-grade brain tumors. If these results could be further validated in patients, the novel DHI might emerge as a favorable alternative to the current neuroimaging techniques to better guide biopsy and resection as well as monitor therapeutic response in patients with high-grade brain tumors.
Apparent Density, Trypanosome Infection Rates and Host Preference of Tsetse Flies in the Sleeping Sickness Endemic Focus of North-Western Uganda
Authors: Opiro Robert , Opoke Robert , Angwech Harriet , Nakafu Esther , Oloya Francis A. , Openy Geoffrey , Njahira Moses , Macharia Mercy , Echodu Richard , Malinga Geoffrey M. , Opiyo Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2020

Background: African trypanosomiasis, caused by protozoa of the genus Trypanosoma and transmitted by the tsetse fly, is a serious parasitic disease of humans and animals. Reliable data on the vector distribution, feeding preference and the trypanosome species they carry is pertinent to planning sustainable control strategies.Methodology: We deployed 109 biconical traps in 10 villages in two districts of northwestern Uganda to obtain information on the apparent density, trypanosome infection rates and blood meal sources of tsetse flies. A subset of the collected samples was analyzed for detection of trypanosomes species and sub-species using a nested PCR protocol based on primers amplifying the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. 34 blood-engorged adult tsetse midguts were analyzed for blood meal sources by sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) and cytochrome b (cytb) genes. Results: Out of the 109 traps deployed, we captured 622 Glossina fuscipes fuscipes tsetse flies (269 males and 353 females). Apparent density (AD) ranged from 0.6 to 3.7 flies/trap/day in the two districts. 29 (10.7%) of the flies were infected with one or more trypanosome species, with infection rate significantly associated with age group (χ2 = 29.733, df = 2, p < 0.05) but not with sex (χ2 = 0.43, df = 1, p = 0.835) and district of origin (χ2 = 1.374, df = 1, p = 0.241). Nested PCR revealed several species of trypanosomes: T. vivax (62.1%), T. congolense (24.14 %), and T. brucei and T. simiae each at 6.89%. Blood meal analyses revealed five principal vertebrate hosts, namely, cattle (Bos taurus), humans (Homo sapiens), Nile monitor lizard (Varanus niloticus), African mud turtle (Pelusio schapini) and the African Savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana).Conclusion: We found a moderately high infection rate at 10.78%, with all infections attributed to trypanosome species that are causative agents for the animal disease only. However, more validation using large-scale passive and active screening of human and tsetse samples should be done. Cattle and humans appear to be the most important tsetse hosts in the region and should be considered in the design of interventions.
Comparison of the previous and current trauma-related shock classifications – The more the better? – A retrospective cohort study from a level I trauma centre
Authors: Jávor Péter , Csonka Endre , Butt Edina , Rárosi Ferenc , Babik Barna , Varga Endre , Hartmann Petra
Published: July 2020

Background: The aim was to compare the predictive performance of the current, extended (VS+BD) Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) classification for hypovolaemic shock over the previous, vital sign (VS)-based classification with respect to mortality outcomes. We also studied the prognostic values of heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and base deficit (BD).Methods: The present study is a retrospective analysis at a level I trauma centre between 11 July 2014 and 11 September 2019. Trauma patients (inclusion criteria: trauma team activation, transport directly from scene, no need for resuscitation on scene, precise and detailed medical documentation, age ≥16, 30-day follow-up, complete dataset for HR, SBP, GCS and BD) were allocated to shock classes (I–IV) based on the VS and VS+BD criteria. The predictive values for the classifications were compared with a two-proportion Z-test, while individual parameters were examined with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses.Results: A total of 156 patients met the inclusion criteria out of 60,037 trauma admissions. Both the VS and VS+BD classifications have shown a strong relation to mortality (P=0.0001 vs. P=0.000009). There was no significant difference in their predictive performance. According to the statistical analysis, GCS, BD and SBP showed significant prognostic values (AUCGCS=0.799 [CI: 0.722, 0.875]; AUCBD=0.683, [CI: 0.576, 0.790]; AUCSBP=0.633, [CI: 0.521, 0.744]). HR was found ineffective in predicting mortality. Conclusions: The current ATLS classification for hypovolaemic shock did not appear to be superior to the previous, VS-based classification in our study setting. GCS, BD and SBP were proven to be useful parameters in prognosticating outcome. The role of HR should be reconsidered, since it does not seem to reflect the clinical condition accurately.
COVID-19 and Children With Down Syndrome: is There Any Real Reason to Worry? Case Report
Authors: Kantar Ahmad , Mazza Angelo , Bonanomi Ezio , Odoni Marta , Seminara Manuela , Verde Ilaria Dalla , Lovati Camillo , Bolognini Stefania , D’Antiga Lorenzo
Published: July 2020

Background: Down syndrome (DS) is characterised by a series of immune dysregulations, of which interferon hyperreactivity is a key one as it is responsible for surging antiviral responses and probable initiation of an amplified cytokine storm. This biological condition is attributed to immune regulators encoded in chromosome 21. Moreover, DS is characterised by the coexistence of cardiovascular and respiratory anomalies as well as obesity, which constitutes a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 respiratory disease (COVID-19).Case presentation: Of the total number of children 55 admitted to paediatric wards in Bergamo in the period between February to May 2020 for COVID-19 infection, we present 2 children with DS and confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis that had a severe course. In addition, both cases had one or more comorbidities, being cardiovascular anomalies, obesity, and/or OSA.Conclusions: Our observations indicate the need to consider children with DS a population at a risk of severe COVID-19.
A Novel Severity Score to Predict Inpatient Mortality in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Altschul David , Unda Santiago R , Benton Joshua , Ramos Rafael de La Garza , Mehler Mark , Eskandar Emad
Published: July 2020

IntroductionCOVID-19 is commonly mild and self-limiting, but in a considerable portion of patients the disease is severe and fatal. Determining which patients are at high risk of severe illness or mortality is essential for appropriate clinical decision making. We propose a novel severity score specifically for COVID-19 to help predict disease severity and mortality.Methods4,711 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. We derived a risk model using the first half of the cohort (n=2,355 patients) by logistic regression and bootstrapping methods. The discriminative power of the risk model was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). The severity score was validated in a second half of 2,356 patients.ResultsMortality incidence was 26.4% in the derivation cohort and 22.4% in the validation cohort. A COVID-19 severity score ranging from 0 to 10, consisting of age, oxygen saturation, mean arterial pressure, blood urea nitrogen, C-Reactive protein, and the international normalized ratio was developed. A ROC curve analysis was performed in the derivation cohort achieved an AUC of 0.824 (95% CI 0.814-0.851) and an AUC of 0.798 (95% CI 0.789-0.818) in the validation cohort. Furthermore, based on the risk categorization the probability of mortality was 11.8%, 39% and 78% for patient with low (0-3), moderate (4-6) and high (7-10) COVID-19 severity score.ConclusionThis developed and validated novel COVID-19 severity score will aid physicians in predicting mortality during surge periods.
The secrets of placental mosaicism: clinical observation of the full form of
confined placental trisomy 22 and literature review
Authors: I.V. Komarova, A.A. Nikiforenko, A.V. Fedunyak
Published: July 2020

Literature reports of placental mosaicism, including trisomy 22, were analyzed. The chance of correlation of
placental aneuploidy with fetus aneuploidy, also the probability of complications in pregnancy and fetal growth
restriction and postnatal patients growth in the cases of confined placental mosaicism, were demonstrated.
The case of prenatal diagnosis of confined placental mosaicism of trisomy 22 with favorable outcome is presented.
The necessity of cytogenic assay of amniocytes and fetal lymphocytes in the case of placental heteroploidy
diagnosis was emphasized.
Strategi Dakwah pada Pengikut Tarekat Khalidiyah wa Naqsabandiyah di Masjid Kwanaran Kudus
Authors: Aida Bakhita
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Tarekat khalidiyah wa naqsabandiyah develops rapidly, but researchers find problems that arise in internal religious practices of the tarekat khalidiyah wa naqsabandiyah, including: 1) The number of members participating in suluk is only half of the total members; 2) Majority of the followers of the tarekat khalidiyah wa naqsabandiyah are the elderly. The purpose of this research is to find out the da'wah strategy in the congregation of khalidiyah wa naqsabandiyah to overcoming problems. The subject of his research was the congregation of the khalidiyah wa naqsabandiyah at the Kwanaran Kudus Mosque. The method in this study is interviews, observations, uses social learning theory and da’wah bil hal. The results of research on to overcoming the problems is to use transformative da'wah, which is to provide direct community assistance in the form of preaching activities Ershad al-Islam. The method used is the dialog method, the applicative method and the exemplary method. Recommendations: 1) Question and answer intersperse and balance lectures to reduce misunderstandings of the mad'u; 2) Applicative methods that emphasize the practice of prayer and reading the Qur'an with sorogan; 3) The exemplary method by involving students of Pondok Yanbu'ul Qur’an in suluk as a companion and role model.
Keywords: Khalidiyah wa naqsabandiyah; transformative da'wa; irsyad al-Islam; suluk.

Abstrak
Tarekat khalidiyah wa naqsaabandiyah berkembang pesat, namun peneliti menemukan permasalahan yang muncul pada internal praktik keagamaan tarekat khalidiyah wa naqsabandiyah, diantaranya : 1) Jumlah anggota yang mengikuti kegiatan khalwat atau suluk pada tarekat ini hanya setengah dari jumlah keseluruhan anggota, yaitu 240 dari 450 anggota; 2) Pengikut tarekat khalidiyah wa naqsabandiyah mayoritas adalah lanjut usia. Tujuan penelitian yaitu untuk mengetahui strategi dakwah yang tepat pada jamaah tarekat khalidiyah wa naqsabandiyah dalam mengatasi masalah pada jama’ah. Subjek penelitiannya adalah jama’ah tarekat khalidiyah wa naqsabandiyah di Masjid Kwanaran Kudus. Metode pada penelitian ini adalah wawancara dan observasi serta menggunakan teori pembelajaran sosial dan dakwah bil hal. Hasil penelitian tentang strategi dakwah dalam mengatasi permasalahan jama’ah tarekat adalah menggunakan dakwah transformatif, yaitu melakukan pendampingan masyarakat secara langsung dan berbentuk kegiatan dakwah Irsyad al-Islam. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode dialog, metode aplikatif dan metode keteladanan. Rekomendasi dalam menghadapi permasalahan meliputi: 1) Tanya jawab menyelingi dan mengimbangi ceramah untuk mengurangi kesalahpahaman para mad’u; 2) Metode aplikatif yang menekankan materi praktek shalat dan membaca Al-Qur’an dengan sistem sorogan; 3) Metode keteladanan dengan melibatkan santri putri Pondok Yanbu’ul Qur’an dalam suluk sebagai pendamping dan teladan kepada anggota tarekat.

Kata Kunci: Khalidiyah wa naqsabandiyah; dakwah transformatif; irsyad al-Islam; suluk.
Assessment of physiological status of felids as indicator of their welfare in the wild
Authors: Pavlova Ekaterina V. , Ivanov Evgeny A. , Kiriluk Vadim E. , Rozhnov Vyacheslav V.
Published: July 2020

One of the main approaches to monitoring the welfare of wild mammal populations in the wild is animal health estimation based on an analysis of their physiological parameters. To assess that for the natural felid populations, we analyzed adrenal activity level, white blood cells (WBC) counts and occurrence of seropositive reactions to different diseases. The first study was conducted in the Southwest Primorye, in natural habitats of Far Eastern leopard. Unevenly cold and snowy winters in 2010 and 2011 provided extreme natural conditions for overwintering mammals across the Russian Far East. Adrenocortical activity of leopards was significantly higher in 2011 (fecal cortisol level was 712.7 ± 92.4  ng g-1) than in 2010 (361.4 ± 80.5 ng g-1). We suggest that abundance and availability of weakened deer and carcasses could facilitate hunting for leopards and help them to avoid starvation. In the second study we used WBC counts as a health index for three felid species: Pallas cat (Daursky State Nature Biosphere Reserve, 2010), Far Eastern leopard (Southwestern Prymorie, 2011), Siberian tiger (Ussuriskii Reserve, 2010-2011). The ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes (N:L) was used as an indicator of stress and/or disease state. Occurrence of seropositive reactions to 12 different pathogens was analyzed in all the animals after the hematological analysis. Pallas cats had the lowest N:L ratio (1.0 ± 0.1), significantly differing from leopards (42.8 ± 16.0) and tigers (24.5 ± 9.2). The N:L ratio correlated with the occurrence of seropositive reactions but not with the pathogen diversity. Pallas cats had the lowest occurrence of positive reactions to 4 pathogens: Toxoplasma gondii (12.5%), Mycoplasma sp. (12.5%), influenza A (7.1%), and feline leukemia virus (8.3%). Leopards had the highest N:L and occurrence of seropositive reactions only to 2 infections: T. gondii (16.6%) and Candida sp. (100%). On the contrary, tigers had positive responses to 6 pathogens, including canine distemper (7.7%), feline immunodeficiency virus (8.3%) and Aujeszky’s disease (31%), which were not found in other cats. Values of N:L depended also on the time spent to get blood samples. In the big felid species effects of glucocorticoids on the WBC ratio (neutrophilia) were obtained in blood samples from anesthetized animals, taken more than 2 hours after capture. In Pallas cats blood samples were collected within 13 ± 2 min without anesthesia. Thus the high N:L ratio in big felids can be explained by several reasons: stress of capture, immunosuppression and a high diversity of detected infections. The present findings may have important implications for creation of effective conservation strategies of rare felid species in the wild.
Etyka środowiskowa a etyka tradycyjna. Różne ujęcia relacji
Authors: Marek-Bieniasz Anna
Published: July 2020

Tis article highlights and explains the major models of the relations between environmental ethics and traditional ethics. These models include: environmental ethics confronting models with traditional ethics, environmental ethics spacer model relative to traditional ethics, and models indicating the existence of correspondence disciplines. Present in the first phase of the development of environmental ethics, “distancing” in relation to traditional ethics contributed, as can be seen today, a peculiar relationship between traditional ethics and environmental ethics existed from the very beginning. In a sense, it can be said that, thanks to the development of traditional ethics, the development of environmental ethics was possible after some time. Environmental ethics can therefore see, inter alia, as a discipline biased against traditional ethics internally (e.g., as a form of ethics detailed, the complementary circle of traditional ethics issues important ecological crisis issues).
Renewable energy resources in students’ opinions
Authors: Roman Michał
Published: July 2020

The article aims to present the research findings regarding the level of knowledge the students of Warsaw University of Life Sciences and the students of Jadwiga Dziubińska Agricultural Education Centre Schools in Golądkowo have about renewable energy resources. The research shows that the university and secondary school students are most knowledgeable about solar energy and wind power. The students whose field of studies is Renewable Energy Technologies demonstrate more knowledge of geothermal energy, biogas or biomass. Most respondents acquire knowledge about renewable energy resources from the Internet and television while the students of Renewable Energy Technologies acquire their knowledge in the course of their studies. The respondents believe that the production of energy from renewable sources is safe for the environment and human health. But most respondents, including the secondary school and university students, think that biogas is harmful for the environment and human health. Almost three fourth of the respondents are most willing to use solar energy. The second most popular source of energy is wind power. According to the respondents, the advantages of the investments are the protection of the environment and reduction of greenhouse gases emission. A big proportion of the students of Renewable Energy Technologies are for becoming independent of the increasing prices of fossil fuels. The research shows that, in the students’ opinion, wind power and solar energy development is most prospective in Poland. The students of Renewable Energy Technologies believe that there are big opportunities for biomass development in Poland.
Budowa i proporcje ciała warszawskiej młodzieży gimnazjalnej
Authors: Grzelak Joanna , Nieczuja-Dwojacka Joanna , Siniarska Anna , Samul Ewa
Published: July 2020

The aim of the study was to assess changes in body build of young Warsaw pupils during the last 14 years and coming from different living conditions and lifestyle. The material comprised youth attending high school (177 individuals) aged 14-16 years. The questionnaire form included parents' education, the number of: family members, offspring, rooms, daily meals; smoking habits of parents; assessment of physical activity and stress at home, school, and high school grades. Measurements included: height and weight, upper and lower extremity length, trunk length, arm, chest, waist and hip circumferences, three subcutaneous fat folds. BMI and WHR were calculated. The living conditions were reduced by principal component analysis to three factors (family size, living conditions, environmental stress). Regression analysis showed the relation of 3 factors to body build. The current youth were characterized by greater: weight, BMI, fat tissue, trunk length and body circumferences than their coevals 14 years before. In more numerous families youth had greater trunk length. In worse living conditions they were characterized by shorter legs and more fat tissue on arm. In stress conditions youth presented greater hip circumference.
Nicienie glebowe w Parku Skaryszewskim – porównanie zagęszczenia i różnorodności zespołów w dwóch typach siedlisk
Authors: Ilieva-Makulec Krassimira
Published: July 2020

This paper deals with the soil nematode fauna in the Skaryszewski Park (Warsaw, Poland). I compared the density, the composition and structure of domination of the nematode genera, as well as the nematode trophic structure in the two typical for thepark habitats - in soil of lawns and soil of tree plantings. The results indicate that nematode communities in the soil of tree plantings were more numerous (nearly 1.5 million ind. m-2) than in the soil of lawns (600 thousand. m-2). However, the number and the diversity of the nematode genera in the soil of the lawns (26 genera, H '= 2.80) were higher than in the soil of tree plantings (22 genera, H' = 2.27). In total 33 nematode genera were found, and only 15 of them were common for the both habitats. The degree of generic similarity between the habitats was 63%. Some differences in the nematode trophic groups structure were also noticed. Although bacterial-feeding nematodes were the dominant group in both habitats, their percentage in the soil of trees was much higher than in the soil of lawns, respectively 70 and 49%. However in soil of lawns the share of plant feeders was 10 times higher than in the soil of tree plantings. On the basis of the results an attempt to assess the conditions of the soil in the two habitats was done.
Turystyka pielgrzymkowa zrównoważona – Karta sanktuarium dostępnego (Ksd)
Authors: Gołębieska Karolina , Ostrowska-Tryzno Anna , Pawlikowska-Piechotka Anna
Published: July 2020

Poznanie społecznych i przestrzennych uwarunkowań zrównoważonego rozwoju turystyki kulturowo – religijnej wydaje się problemem ważnym, ponieważ zainteresowanie tą formą w Polsce nie słabnie. Wśród nich jest wiele osób z niepełnosprawnością, starszych, rodzin z małymi dziećmi. Problematyka dostępności sanktuariów dla niepełnosprawnych nie była dotąd materiałem szerszych i pogłębionych studiów naukowych w Polsce, co zachęca do podjęcia rozważań nad tą problematyką. Szczegółowa analiza problemu możliwości znoszenia barier dostępności sanktuariów wydawała się autorom szczególnie istotna w kontekście spodziewanego ruchu pielgrzymkowego w Polsce w roku 2016 z okazji Światowych Dni Młodzieży. Jednym z założonych i osiągniętych efektów aplikacyjnych dorobku badań jest opracowanie ‘Karty Sanktuarium Dostępnego’(KSD), pomocnego przy ocenie dostępności miejsc kultu religijnego dla osób z różnego rodzaju niepełnosprawnością. W przedstawionym tekście zaprezentowano dorobek badań ds.-144 oraz ds.-245 AWF Warszawa (granty Ministerstwa Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego na lata 2014 – 2018).
Genetic assimilation in the evolution of hominin neuroplasticity
Authors: Do Valle Miranda Luiz
Published: July 2020

The discovery and popularisation of the study of different evolutionary processes outside the current evolutionary framework provide researchers of different areas with new tools to make progress in their field. In this work, I explored how genetic assimilation may have played a role in human evolution, more specifically the evolution of our brains. The results indicate that human brain evolution concerning neuroplasticity fits within a context of genetic assimilation. However, further studies in comparative genomics and neurogenetics are needed to fully understand how the evolutionary changes happened at the genetic level.
Filozofia zrównoważonego rozwoju a realizacja jej postulatów w praktyce
Authors: Hull Zbigniew
Published: July 2020

Pogłębiający się globalny kryzys ekologiczny prowokuje do postawienia pytania o praktyczną skuteczność postulatów formułowanych na gruncie filozofii zrównoważonego rozwoju. Podejmując próbę odpowiedzi na to pytanie, wyszedłem z założenia, że filozofia zrównoważonego rozwoju jest filozofią polityczną, która w sferze życia społeczno-gospodarczego funkcjonuje jako modna/obowiązująca ideologia, aprobowana i postulowana przez dominujące dziś w świecie siły polityczne i wielki biznes. Konfrontując, w skali zglobalizowanej ludzkości, głoszone hasła i deklaracje z praktyką polityczną i funkcjonowaniem światowej gospodarki, doszedłem do wniosku, że dotychczasowe działania zmierzające do realizacji idei zrównoważonego rozwoju w niewielkim tylko stopniu przyczyniły się do zmniejszenia zagrożeń globalną katastrofą ekologiczną. De facto stanowią one swoistą „zasłonę dymną” dla biznesu i polityków, którzy w realnych działaniach kontynuują dotychczasowy, nakierowany na ciągły wzrost konsumpcji i PKB kierunek rozwoju cywilizacyjnego. Ukazuje to, że filozofia zrównoważonego rozwoju jest już praktycznie nieskuteczna, nie jest dziś w stanie teoretycznie sprostać wyzwaniom, przed jakimi staje ludzkość w XXI w.
Compliance – przedmiot, zakres i środki ochrony
Authors: Janik Andrzej
Published: July 2020

Compliance w powszechnej praktyce oznacza działalność zgodną z prawem i etyką. Dotyczy to działalności gospodarczej – zwłaszcza regulowanej (nadzorowanej) – ale również sektora publicznego. W strukturach wewnętrznych organizacji pojawiają się specjalne komórki nadzoru nad zgodnością. Ich istnienie jest obowiązkowe – w branżach nadzorowanych, w szczególności w obszarze usług finansowych – albo opcjonalne, jeśli uzasadnia to skala i znaczenie organizacji. Przepisane prawem zasady organizacji i funkcjonowania compliance w podmiotach nadzorowanych stanowią niewątpliwie wzór dla przedsiębiorstw z innych branż. Instrumenty regulacji compliance mają głównie charakter proceduralny. Przedmiotem ochrony regulacji nie jest sama zgodność (compliance) jako taka. Są nim dobra i wartości podstawowe – środowisko naturalne, równość, godność, solidarność. Ta ostatnia pojawia się zwłaszcza w kontekście rozpowszechnionych – i nagannych – praktyk unikania opodatkowania poprzez księgową alokację aktywów do tzw. rajów podatkowych. Korzystanie z zasobów i infrastruktury kraju prowadzenia działalności, ponoszącego koszty ich powstania i utrzymania, nie towarzyszą żadne, albo tylko szczątkowe, daniny na jego rzecz. Punktem wyjścia compliance były głośne przypadki ujawnione poprzez tzw. sygnalizację (whistleblowing), która dała początek compliance jako problemowi organizacji przedsiębiorstwa. Funkcja ta wymaga określonych gwarancji chroniących osobę sygnalisty (demaskatora), jak i osobę, wobec której formułowane są zarzuty. W szerszym kontekście compliance stała się częścią składową „ładu korporacyjnego” lub „dobrych praktyk.”
Paradoksy wyboru sposobów odżywiania się człowieka
Authors: Góralczyk Katarzyna
Published: July 2020

Od pierwszych dni życia człowiek ma styczność z żywnością. Dlatego wydaje się, że o żywności wie wszystko i jest specjalistą w tej dziedzinie. Jednak czy naprawdę tak jest? Celem pracy jest próba przybliżenia wiedzy na temat zalet i wad różnego typu sposobów odżywiania się tak, aby każdy człowiek mógł w pełni świadomie podejmować decyzję o wyborze diety. Człowiek ewolucyjnie i biologicznie przystosowany jest do diety zróżnicowanej, czyli do żywności pochodzenia zwierzęcego i roślinnego. Coraz więcej jest jednak osób wybierających i propagujących wegetarianizm, ale gdyby większość społeczeństwa podjęła taką decyzję, to ucierpiałaby różnorodność upraw, byłoby głównie zapotrzebowanie na rośliny strączkowe. Zanik bioróżnorodności miałby wpływ na wymieranie owadów pożytecznych. Podobnie jest z decyzją o wyborze żywności z produkcji konwencjonalnej czy ekologicznej. Wydaje się, że żywność ekologiczna jest zawsze zdrowsza i bezpieczniejsza dla człowieka. Żywność ekologiczna na pewno jest wolna od zanieczyszczeń pestycydami, ale obecność metali szkodliwych dla zdrowia w obu typach żywności jest już podobna. Natomiast żywność ekologiczna może być bardziej zainfekowana patogenami i w większym stopniu podatna na zanieczyszczenia biologiczne. Niezbędne jest, aby dieta człowieka uwzględniała indywidualne zapotrzebowanie energetyczne, zapotrzebowanie na wszystkie podstawowe składniki odżywcze, w tym wodę, ale także powinna stanowić przyjemność i być wyrazem kultury danego regionu.
Withdrawal Notice: Mucoadhesive Microspheres: An Emerging Trends in Therapy of Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Singh Deepika , Choudhary Deepak
Published: July 2020

The article has been withdrawn at the request of the editor of the journal Current Diabetes Reviews, due to incoherent content.

Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused.

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An Efficient Routing Protocol for Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks
Authors: Ram Anant
Published: July 2020

Background:

VANETs (Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks) are the subclass of MANETs,
which have recently emerged. Due to their swift changing topology and high mobility nature, it is
challenging to design an efficient routing protocol for routing data amongst both moving vehicles
and stationary units in VANETs. In addition, the performance of existing routing protocols is not
effective due to the high mobility characteristics of VANETs.

Methods:

In this paper, we proposed a link reliabiliy routing strategy that makes use of Restricted
Greedy Forwarding by considering neighborhood vehicle density and the least, and average velocity
with its own neighboring vehicles for the selection of the next forwarder.

Results:

The proposed approach is based on the assumption that at every junction the policepatrolling
car (i.e. PCR junction node), forwards the packet to a vehicle onto the correct road
segment only. The link reliability is ensured by the mechanism of the selection of the next forwarder.

Conclusion:

The objective of this paper is to increase route reliability to provide increased
throughput without significantly affecting end-to-end delay. The simulation results reveal that the
proposed approach Reliable GPSR(R-GPSR) outperforms the existing GPSR and E-GyTAR approach.