bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Historical mercury losses from the gold mines of Victoria, Australia
Authors: Lawrence Susan , Davies Peter
Published: July 2020

Health and ecological risks associated with the use of mercury in gold mining are well known, with much recent attention focussed on contemporary small-scale artisanal mining. Legacy tailings from historical gold mining may also present ongoing risks, as the industry used large quantities of mercury with minimal environmental regulation to limit its discharge. This occurred in both alluvial (placer) mining and in processing auriferous ores. Analysis of historical data on mercury use in the mining industry in Victoria, Australia, indicates that at least 131 tonnes of elemental mercury were discharged into the environment as mine tailings between 1868–1888, with the total amount lost over the historic mining period likely to be much higher. The processing of pyritic ores also concentrated mercury losses in a small number of mining centres, including Bendigo, Ballarat, Castlemaine, Clunes, Maldon and Walhalla. This analysis provides a basis for further research needed to support improved management of legacy mine tailings.
Etnobotánica y uso de plantas medicinales en unidades familiares de salud de Caaguazú, Paraguay
Authors: Soria Nélida , Ramos Pasionaria , Viveros Guiomar , Estigarribia Gladys , Ríos Patricia , Ortíz Analía
Published: July 2020

Se realizó un estudio etnobotánico y se calculó el índice de confianza de las especies medicinales empleadas por los usuarios de la Unidad de Salud Familiar (USF) del Departamento de Caaguazú, Paraguay, buscando incorporar esta medicina al sistema nacional de salud. El estudio fue observacional, descriptivo. El método utilizado fue la entrevista, se empleó el cuestionario semiestructurado a usuarios de las USF, quienes proveyeron las muestras de plantas que reportaban como medicinales. Estas entrevistas se realizaron durante seis meses, entre los años 2015 y 2016. Para el análisis de confianza se empleó el método Uso Significativo TRAMIL (UST). Se identificaron 54 familias botánicas, que corresponden a 93 géneros y 116 especies, siendo Asteraceae la mejor representada con 17 Géneros y 21 especies. El órgano vegetal más frecuentemente empleado fue la hoja, seguido de la parte aérea y la planta entera, existiendo algunas especies de las cuales se emplean más de un órgano vegetal. El índice UST demuestra que las especies con mayor índice de consenso son las introducidas como Artemisia absinthium ajenjo, Mentha x piperita menta, Moringa oleifera moringa. La especie nativa con mayor índice de consenso fue Lippia alba salvia-rã. Las afecciones tratadas con estas especies fueron preferentemente los dolores estomacales y las enfermedades no trasmisibles como colesterol alto, ácido úrico, y estados de ansiedad. Se espera que estos datos sirvan para continuar los estudios hasta la validación farmacológica de las especies que permita el uso de plantas medicinales en atención primaria de salud.
Características del bosque asociadas a la ocurrencia del pulmonado endémico Macrocyclis peruvianus (caracol negro) en la Región del Maule, Chile central
Authors: Gómez Persy , Espinosa Sergio , Hahn Steffen , Valenzuela Miguel , Ormazábal Yony
Published: July 2020

En muchos moluscos terrestres las relaciones entre su abundancia y las características de sus hábitats aún son poco conocidas. En este trabajo, se estudian las relaciones entre el tipo de vegetación y condiciones del micrositio donde habita el caracol terrestre endémico a Chile Macrocyclis peruvianus (caracol negro) en la Región del Maule, Chile central. Nuestros resultados indican que los bosques de Nothofagus alessandrii, árbol en peligro de extinción, así como los bosques higrófilos de la zona central de Chile, son hábitat de M. peruvianus resaltando la importancia de conservar este tipo de bosques para la supervivencia de este molusco.
"Hampshire House, 1938; Dakota, 1980" e "82 metros, ou: Saudades"
Authors: Wolff Renata Fonseca
Published: July 2020

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O discreto fim de nossos dias
Authors: Maffeis Juliana
Published: July 2020

Aurora morre soterrada pelos objetos que guardava em casa. A narrativa integra uma série de contos fragmentados de minha dissertação em Escrita Criativa.
Efecto de 3 tipos de entrenamientos sobre indicadores bioquímicos y antropométricos en personas con prediabetes: una revisión sistemática
Authors: Arrieta-Leandro María Cristina
Published: July 2020

La prediabetes es un trastorno metabólico que si no se atiende puede avanzar progresivamente hacia una diabetes tipo 2. Para poder revertir este proceso el tratamiento es multidisciplinario e incluye mejora en el estilo de vida, alimentación y ejercicio. El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática fue indagar acerca de cuál es la mejor alternativa de ejercicio para la remisión de la prediabetes. Se comparó entre el entrenamiento aeróbico continuo (EAC), entrenamiento contra resistencia (ER) y entrenamiento por intervalos de alta intensidad (HIIT por sus siglas en inglés). La búsqueda se realizó en Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus y SportDiscus en mayo de 2019 para estudios experimentales y pre-experimentales en sujetos con prediabetes, que realizaran alguno de estos tres entrenamientos de forma crónica y midieran parámetros bioquímicos y/o antropométricos relacionados con la condición de prediabetes. Se obtuvo en total 231 estudios de los cuales 11 cumplieron los requisitos de inclusión. Los resultados arrojados indican que EAC, ER y HIIT mejoran los indicadores de prediabetes bioquímicos y antropométricos en estudios de 13 días a 16 semanas con frecuencias de 2 a 5 veces por semana. Algunos estudios no encontraron resultados significativos. Además, hay gran diversidad de metodologías utilizadas que pudieron haber causado sesgos en las mediciones. Se recomienda para futuros estudios el uso de la hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1c) en intervenciones de al menos 12 semanas para disminuir el sesgo.
A South African–Australian Perspective on the Legal Implications Related to being “Entitled to Serve” as a Director
Authors: Kilian Neels
Published: July 2020

This article focuses on an Australian piece of legislation and interesting case law, as well as how the Federal Court of Australia has applied Australia’s Corporations Act 2001, to characterise a person as a de facto director – that is, as a professed director whose appointment as such was defective. In this regard, the decisions of that Court will, as envisaged in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996, constitute persuasive authority. The Australian decision to be discussed in this article is significant in that the South African Companies Act 71 of 2008 does not contain substantively similar provisions to those of Australia’s Corporations Act 2001. For example, section 66(7) of the Companies Act 2008, contains the phrase “entitled to serve” as a director. This article explains the legal implications relevant to that expression, including whether it imposes a statutory condition precedent. This article also considers the validity of decisions taken by a person who is not “entitled to serve” as a director.
Wole Soyinka’s The Road as an intertext
Authors: Maledo Richard Oliseyenum , Emama Emmanuel Ogheneakpobor
Published: July 2020

Studies on African drama have shown the influences and the intertextual relations between African drama and European (Classical and Elizabethan) plays. It is also a known fact that African drama exhibits traces of African tradition and instances of textual relations with already existing oral and written texts. However, existing studies on Wole Soyinka’s The Road have tilted towards the usual literary interpretation or as a piece of theatrical performance with little attention paid to the intertextual nature of the text. Based on the challenges of these usual approaches to the study of literature by contemporary literary and cultural theories, this study adopts intertextual theory as a framework to examine Wole Soyinka’s The Road as an intertext showing traces of textual influences from oral and written external sources. The aim is to reveal the source texts from which the playwright draws in the creation of the text and to show how these sources contribute to the overall thematic significance of the play. Findings reveal that Soyinka draws extensively from Yorùbá oral sacred texts, the Bible, and his own earlier texts and that these sources contribute to the eclectic nature of the thematic preoccupation of the play. It is hoped that this has gone a long way to mitigate the obscure claim of structural and thematic incomprehensibility with which the play is associated.
Espaços Livres Públicos de Práticas Sociais no contexto das Cidades Contemporâneas
Authors: De Jesus Luciana Aparecida Netto , Ramos Larissa Leticia Andara , Menini Mariana Moreira
Published: July 2020

Os Espaços livres públicos possuem papel fundamental na qualidade de vida urbana na medida em que garantem lazer, integração e vivência aos seus usuários, além de interferirem positivamente nos aspectos relativos à saúde física e mental, vitalidade para seu entorno, garantido a segurança e contribuindo para a constituição da esfera da vida pública. Este trabalho apresenta uma análise reflexiva dos Espaços livres públicos de práticas sociais nas cidades contemporâneas, tendo como recorte a Grande Ibes, município de Vila Velha-ES. O estudo é de natureza aplicada e abordagem quanti-qualitativa, desenvolvida a partir de quatro etapas metodológicas: Contextualização, Identificação e Mapeamento, Classificação e Análises das praças. A Grande Ibes apresenta uma distribuição irregular dos espaços livres para práticas sociais. Dos 21 bairros que compõem a Regional, 6 (seis) deles possuem ausência total de praças. Entretanto, as praças existentes atendem cerca 56% da população residente na área de estudo (considerando um raio de 300 metros) e 89% da população (considerando um raio de 500 metros), garantindo acesso e atendendo a grande parte dos moradores. Com relação as análises qualitativas, a maioria das praças possui equipamentos e atrativos relacionados à integração, vivência, saúde e lazer, além de serem em sua maioria limpas e arborizadas. Porém, a falta de manutenção regular é o fator que mais compromete diretamente o uso desses espaços, gerando locais vulneráveis e sem vitalidade. Espera-se com as análises desenvolvidas nesta pesquisa influenciar positivamente nas futuras intervenções a fim de qualificar o espaço urbano.
Puromycin titration of cancer cell lines v1
Authors: Souster Emily , Goodwin Verity , Jackson Adam , Beaver Charlotte , Ansari Rizwan , Behan Fiona , Garnett Mathew
Published: July 2020

This protocol is used to identify the most suitable puromycin concentration for the selection of Cas9 positive cancer cell lines transduced with guideRNA library virus. Process diagram:
Guide RNA Library Transduction of Cas9 Cancer Cell Lines v1
Authors: Goodwin Verity , Souster Emily , Beaver Charlotte , Jackson Adam , Ansari Rizwan , Garnett Mathew , Behan Fiona
Published: July 2020

This protocol is for the whole-genome CRISPR screening of stably expressing Cas9 cancer cell lines in triplicate using the commercially available Kusuke Yusa v1.1 whole genome gRNA library. It can be adapted for other gRNA libraries, under the assumption that there is a BFP reporter in the gRNA library. The protocol can be followed assuming the following is known: - The number of cells to be transduced - The number of days required for screening - How many cells to maintain throughout the screen - The number of cells required per pellet - The required coverage of the library This protocol takes 16 days. Process diagram:
Passaging adherent cancer cell lines v1
Authors: Souster Emily , Goodwin Verity , Jackson Adam , Beaver Charlotte , Behan Fiona , Ansari Rizwan , Garnett Mathew
Published: July 2020

This SOP is for the routine maintenance and expansion of adherent cancer cell lines. It also details how cells are harvested and counted for use in downstream protocols. This protocol is also used in expasion of Cas9 transduced cell lines, prior to banking. Process diagram:
Assessment of Cas9 Activity in Cas9 Transduced Cancer Cell Lines v1
Authors: Goodwin Verity , Souster Emily , Beaver Charlotte , Jackson Adam , Ansari Rizwan , Garnett Mathew , Behan Fiona
Published: July 2020

Cas9 expressing cancer cell lines need to be assessed for cas9 activity to ensure they are capable of efficiently knocking out genes. The activity is assessed by transducing the cells with a BFP-GFP vector containing an anti-GFP guide RNA. If the cas9 is active, the GFP will be knocked down so these cells will express BFP but not GFP as detected by flow cytometry. Process diagram:
PBMC- 01a - Isolation of Human PBMC from Buffy Coat v1
Authors: Cosentino Marco , Storelli Elisa , Luini Alessandra , LM Legnaro Massimiliano , Rasini Emanuela , Ferrari Marco , Marino Franca
Published: July 2020

List of published work using this protocol Kustrimovic, N., Comi, C., Magistrelli, L., Rasini, E., Legnaro, M., Bombelli, R., Aleksic, I., Blandini, F., Minafra, B., Riboldazzi, G., Sturchio, A., Mauri, M., Bono, G., Marino, F., & Cosentino, M. (2018). Parkinson's disease patients have a complex phenotypic and functional Th1 bias: cross-sectional studies of CD4+ Th1/Th2/T17 and Treg in drug-naïve and drug-treated patients. Journal of neuroinflammation, 15(1), 205. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-018-1248-8 Kustrimovic, N., Rasini, E., Legnaro, M., Bombelli, R., Aleksic, I., Blandini, F., Comi, C., Mauri, M., Minafra, B., Riboldazzi, G., Sanchez-Guajardo, V., Marino, F., & Cosentino, M. (2016). Dopaminergic Receptors on CD4+ T Naive and Memory Lymphocytes Correlate with Motor Impairment in Patients with Parkinson's Disease. Scientific reports, 6, 33738. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33738 Cosentino M., Ferrari M., Kustrimovic N., Rasini E., Marino F. (2015). Influence of dopamine receptor gene polymorphisms on circulating T lymphocytes: A pilot study in healthy subjects. Human immunology, 76, 10, 747-752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humimm.2015.09.032
Total Nucleic Acids Extraction from Soil v3
Authors: Angel Roey , Petrova Eva , Lara-Rodriguez Ana
Published: July 2020

The following protocol is intended for the simultaneous extraction of DNA and RNA (total nucleic acids, or TNA) from various soil and sediment samples. The protocol was designed based on two protocols published by Henckel et al. (1999) and Griffiths et al. (2000), with several critical modifications. Recently, we have added option to include an ammonium aluminium sulfate salt for soils with high humic content (Braid et al., 2003). The result is a highly flexible and streamlined protocol, which delivers high yields of nucleic acids with quality suitable for all downstream molecular applications from most types of soil and sediment samples. Please cite Angel et al. (2012).
Total Nucleic Acids Extraction from Soil v4
Authors: Angel Roey , Petrova Eva , Lara-Rodriguez Ana
Published: July 2020

The following protocol is intended for the simultaneous extraction of DNA and RNA (total nucleic acids, or TNA) from various soil and sediment samples. The protocol was designed based on two protocols published by Henckel et al. (1999) and Griffiths et al. (2000), with several critical modifications. Recently, we have added option to include an ammonium aluminium sulfate salt for soils with high humic content (Braid et al., 2003). The result is a highly flexible and streamlined protocol, which delivers high yields of nucleic acids with quality suitable for all downstream molecular applications from most types of soil and sediment samples. Please cite Angel et al. (2012).
Study of malaria and associated co-morbidity in children admitted with fever manifestation in a tertiary care centre
Authors: Ghanghoriya Pawan , Borkar Rahul , Lazarus Monica , Ajmariya Manish
Published: July 2020

Background: Children under five year of age are highly vulnerable to malaria infection and often face dire consequences such as severe malaria if they are not promptly and adequately treated with anti-malarial medications. Authors set out to evaluate malaria and associated co-morbidity among children admitted with febrile illness in tertiary care center NSCB Medical college Jabalpur, India.Methods: This prospective and analytic study focused on children admitted with fever in pediatric unit of N.S.C.B. Medical College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. If any co-morbidity present with malaria their manifestation was noted. Association of co-morbidity with malaria was done, and effect of co-morbidity on severity of malaria and outcome of patients was noted.Results: A total number of 1950 of children suspected to have malaria who were tested by RDT and microscopy (PSMP), out of them 100 children were positive. Mean age calculated was 7.3±4.3 years. Maximum number of severe malaria cases (40.6%) were found in 6 months to <5 years age group. Most common co-morbidity associated with malaria was anemia (53%) followed by pneumonia (36%) hepatitis (26%), diarrhea (24%), enteric fever (15%), septicemia and meningoencephalitis (10%) each, UTI (4%), and AKI (6%), while dengue (3%) and severe acute malnutrition (2%). Out of 69 cases of severe malaria 46.3% cases had two and 34.7% cases had more than two co-morbidities while in 31 cases of uncomplicated malaria 38.7% cases had two co-morbidity and only 3% had more than two co-morbidity.Conclusions: All RDT positive cases have associated co-morbidity with malaria in our study, more is the co-morbidity is longer were the duration of stay and higher the complications and even mortality.
Correlation of weight and hypoxemia in children aged between six months to five years with acute lower respiratory tract infection in a tertiary care hospital
Authors: S. Karthikeyan , E. Adarsh
Published: July 2020

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the leading cause of death among children less than 5 years in India. Poverty and malnutrition underlie both the high incidence and deaths of young children from pneumonia in SEAR countries.Methods: A hospital based prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. A total of 200 children admitted with signs of ALRI were included in the study. A portable oximeter was used to measure oxygen saturation with an appropriately sized sensor on the finger or the toe. Weight was recorded on a standardized digital weighing scale and plotted on standard WHO weight for age chart. Chi-square test was used to test the significance.Results: Out of 200 children studied hypoxemia was present in 90 children with a percentage of 45% and absent in 110 children with a percentage of 55%. Out of 90 children who had hypoxemia, 40 children had weight less than 3rd centile. Out 110 children who had did not have hypoxemia, only 24 children had weight less than 3rd centile. It was observed that children with Weight for age less than 3rd centile according to standard WHO charts had higher incidence of hypoxemia. This correlation was statistically significant at p value of 0.001.Conclusions: Based on the results of this study hypoxemia is widely prevalent in children aged between six months to five years presenting with acute lower respiratory tract infection. There was significant correlation with weight and hypoxemia in children aged between six months to five years with acute lower respiratory tract infection.
Serologic and molecular characterization of rotavirus from children with acute gastroenteritis in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Arun Ponnambalam , Padmanabhan Vidya , Kaveri K.
Published: July 2020

Background: Rotavirus gastroenteritis is the leading cause of diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. Although, Rotavirus vaccine has been introduced in 2017 in states like Tamil Nadu, there are reports of the role of Rotavirus as one of high disease burden agents with genetic variants arising, especially from low-income countries like India.Methods: Authors evaluated stool samples from 507 children with acute gastroenteritis Rotavirus A among the hospitalized children (>5 years) to provide baseline information on changing profile in this state. The stool samples were collected and screened for Rotaviral Antigen by Enzyme Immuno Assay and use of semi-multiplex RT PCR technique was conceded out in order to conclude the P and G genotypes of human rotavirus in rotavirus-positive samples from January 2014 to December 2016 in and around Chennai, India.Results: Of 507 samples collected 213 (42.01%) were positive for rotavirus antigen by Enzyme Immuno Assay (EIA). The maximum positivity (75%) was in the age group of one to two years. Rotavirus positives were subjected to further VP7 and VP4 molecular characterization and the predominant genotypes identified were G9P[4] followed by G9P[8], G1P[8], G3P[8], G2P[4] and mixed types of G2G9 with P[4] and G4P[6][11] with few untypable strains.Conclusions: This study had demonstrated the Rota Virus Gastro Enteritis (RVGE) is a common disease affecting the pediatric population and G9P[4], G9P[8] circulating types among the gastroenteritis cases reported in the city and its suburban area. This study in comparison to previous ones shows that the dominant serotypes and circulating genotypes changes from time to time within country. The results have reemphasized the need of rotavirus vaccines with broad serotype coverage which may help in decreasing the disease burden in this region of the country.
The effect of phototherapy on serum calcium level in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia: a cross sectional study
Authors: Kale Anjali Vasant , Jadhao Pranoti Uttam , Valecha Aashna , Kethepalli Sreelekha
Published: July 2020

Background: Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the leading causes for admission in NICU in the first week of life. This condition if left untreated may lead to irreversible neurological damage hence increasing mortality and morbidity in newborns. Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia is treated with phototherapy which employs blue wavelengths of light to change unconjugated bilirubin in the skin. The bilirubin is then converted to less toxic water-soluble photo-isomers that are excreted in the bile and urine. There are several toxic effects to the use of this treatment, one of them being hypocalcemia.Methods: This study has been done at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in 2016-2018 on 100 new-borns to prove the effect of phototherapy on serum calcium levels in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. New-born who were admitted in NICU for Hyperbilirubinemia were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, their sample for serum calcium and serum bilirubin levels were taken as pre and post phototherapy samples.Results: It was observed that the mean Serum calcium level before phototherapy in neonates was 9.31 mg/dl with standard deviation of 0.69 mg/dl. Whereas after phototherapy mean serum calcium level in neonates was 8.88 mg/dl with standard deviation of 0.73 mg/dl. There was statistically significant mean difference in serum calcium level at before and after phototherapy in neonates (p<0.0001).Conclusions: This study proves the hypothesis that phototherapy can cause hypocalcemia in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia.
Urinary tract infection in nephrotic syndrome in pediatric age group: a hospital based cross-sectional study
Authors: Mandal Subinay , Samanta Subhendu , Bakshi Sabyasachi , Dash Devidutta
Published: July 2020

Background: Nephrotic syndrome, characterized by the presence of heavy proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema and hyperlipidemia, is a common renal disorder in pediatric population. Aim of this study were to find out the prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in nephrotic syndrome, bacterial etiologies and antibiotic sensitivity pattern.Methods: After matching the criteria, 82 cases, were taken for this prospective, single center, observational study. The diagnosis was confirmed by bacterial culture. This is an institution based cross-sectional descriptive observational study. All newly diagnosed and relapse cases of nephrotic syndrome based on inclusion exclusion criteria was included in this study. Respondent was either of the parents or caregiver of the study subjects. Analysis of all data was done by appropriate statistical software (SPSS-23).Results: Among 82 participants evaluated with nephrotic syndrome 29.3% participants had UTI, majority 66.7% were asymptomatic and 33.3% were symptomatic. Significant microscopic hematuria were found in 20.7% study subjects and significant pyuria were found in 58.54% study subjects. Majority of UTI caused by E.coli 33.3% followed by Klebsiella 25%, Proteus 16.7%, Staphylococcus aureus 12.5%, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter and mixed growth were found in 4.2% each. Mean serum cholesterol of group with UTI was 422.13±34.65 and group without UTI was 307.43±26.13. The variation amongst the two groups were found to be significant (p=0.0001).Conclusions: The children with nephrotic syndrome are frequently predisposed to UTI and in most cases it is asymptomatic, often undiagnosed. Higher serum cholesterol level may predispose the nephrotic child for UTI.
Schimke immune osseous dysplasia: a rare case report
Authors: N. Vani H. , Gudur Chidananda , N. Supriya , Kumar Pragalatha , P. Raghupathy
Published: July 2020

Schimke immune-osseous dysplasia (SIOD) is primarily characterized by the combination of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED), unique clinical phenotype, immune complex nephropathy (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis) and progressive immune defects with T-cell immunodeficiency. SIOD is caused by mutations in SMARCAL1 gene. Here we report a case of a 6-year-old girl who presented to us with disproportionate short stature, short neck kyphoscoliosis, hyper pigmented macules and severe herpes zoster. On further evaluation, she had evidence of T cell deficiency and nephrotic range of proteinuria. Renal histopathology documented focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. Genetic analysis confirmed homozygous missense mutation of SMARCAL gene on exon 8 variant c1358G>c. On extensive literature survey, this is noted to be the first case of SIOD reported from India. These children need close surveillance to watch for infections and progressive renal failure and require special care during administration of certain drugs and live vaccines.
Voice outcome after type-1 thyroplasty for unilateral vocal cord paralysis: our experience at tertiary care hospital
Authors: Ali Ihsan , Shafi Omar Mohammad , Khalid Faheem , Makhdoomi Owais
Published: July 2020

Background: Vocal cord paralysis is a clinical sign caused by paralysis of intrinsic muscles of larynx due to dysfunction of recurrent laryngeal nerve or injury to the vagus nerve. One of the common and effective methods of medialization is by using silicone implants. This study was aimed at prospectively assessing and analysing the vocal outcomes and quality of life of patients in type 1 medialization thyroplasty using silicone implants.

Methods: Prospective study of 18 months was done on 17 patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Surgical procedure for the patients was standardized by using silicon implant to medialize the cord. The parameters used for the pre and post treatment objective analysis were stroboscopic analysis, psychoacoustic evaluation, maximum phonation time (MPT) and patient’s self-assessment.  

Results: In our study all 17 patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis who were subjected to vocal cord medialization using silicone implant showed a statistically highly significant improvement in all the parameters of assessment. The mean preoperative MPT was 7.260 and post-operative MPT showed significant improvement and was 17.428 seconds. mean preoperative GRBAS score was 11.695 and post-operative was 3.826. Similarly, pre op vocal handicap index was 31.173 which decreased significantly after the procedure was 7.695.

Conclusions: In the present study, we obtained favourable results of medialization thyroplasty as expressed by objective analysis of voice including GRABS score and acoustic analysis as well as maximum phonation time apart from traditional voice recording.

 
Comparative evaluation of mastoid pneumatization pattern using X-ray mastoid and high-resolution computed tomography temporal bone in unilateral squamosal chronic otitis media
Authors: Dhiman Akanksha , Gupta Ankur , Sharma Nishi , Prasad Akhilandeswari
Published: July 2020

Background: Chronic otitis media (COM) affects 0.5-30% of individuals in any community and over 20 million people are estimated to suffer from this condition worldwide. COM often evolves in a continuum. Squamosal disease is more commonly found in poorly pneumatized bones, but whether the sclerosis is relevant to the etiology of the disease or is caused by it, has not been fully resolved. Our study aimed at comparing the mastoid pneumatization patterns obtained using X-ray mastoid and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) temporal bone. It was an interventional study.

Methods: Sixty patients of unilateral squamosal COM, aged more than 8 years, underwent X-ray mastoid Schuller’s view and HRCT temporal bone, using Philips extended brilliance 48 slice CT.  

Results: Upon analysis, in diseased and healthy ears, the coincidence of X-ray and HRCT findings was 63.33% and 80% respectively.

Conclusions: HRCT temporal bone should be done in all cases of squamosal COM to know the extent of the disease, pneumatization patterns and the presence of anatomical variations.  
Comodulation masking release effect in children with and without dyslexia
Authors: Dhara Sovon , Chatterjee Indranil , Kumar Himansu , Pani Susmi
Published: July 2020

Background: Speech recognition in a modulating noise background can be facilitated by a process attributable to comodulation masking release (CMR). CMR is usually assumed to depend on comparisons of the outputs of different auditory filters. There was an immense importance to study to find the CMR effect in children with and without dyslexia.

Methods: The study was to find the CMR effect in children with and without dyslexia. The current research was carried out through five steps i.e. auditory attention task stimuli preparation, auditory performance test, CMR stimuli preparation, CMR task and statistical analysis. Through these processes for measuring the CMR was done for the children with and without dyslexia. All the data were tabulated and statistically computed for the analysis of the data. SPSS software version 16 was used for the statistical analysis of the data.  

Results: Independent t-test was used for the statistical analysis while the comparison between groups. Paired t- test was used for the statistical analysis while the comparison within the group at 95% confidence interval. These results indicated that the amount effect of CMR is greater in children with dyslexia. There was not a significant difference of CMR between the children with and without dyslexia to the effect of CMR was not significantly different between the ears in children without dyslexia and with dyslexia.

Conclusions: The present study indicates that children with dyslexia have selective inability to use the temporal and spectral cues necessary for signal extraction in CMR.
Role of navigation system in functional endoscopic sinus surgery
Authors: Agrawal Manish , Arya Pooja , Meghwal Deepchand , Samor Vivek , Gupta Gaurav , Kumar Vijay
Published: July 2020

Background: Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a challenging procedure for otorhinolaryngologists. Navigation can reassure the surgeon’s judgement and enhance surgical performance and prevent complication. The study done with aim of comparison between FESS with navigation and conventional FESS and explore other indication of navigation in endoscopic sinus surgery in difficult clinical scenario.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on patients with sino-nasal disease. 100 patients in whom the ability to identify surgical site is assumed to be compromised by various conditions like previous surgery, massive/ recurrent polyposis, front oethmoidal mucocele, frontal, sphenoid sinus disease were included in the study. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups, group A (50 patients) FESS with navigation and group B (50 patients) conventional FESS. Pre-operative preparation time, intraoperative time, blood loss (Fromme–Boezzaart scoring), surgeon satisfaction, patient satisfaction (SNOT-20), complications were documented on a preformed, pretested proforma. Equipments used were –StealthStation S7 system, CD for recording intraoperative findings.  

Results: Preoperative preparation time duration was applicable for group A only. Intraoperative time was slightly and insignificantly higher in group A. Blood loss according to Fromme-Boezzaart scoring had lesser scoring values in group A and difference among gradings was statistically insignificant. Surgeons satisfaction and confidence was statistically significant higher in group A. The SNOT-20 score values were lower and insignificant in group A.

Conclusions: FESS with navigation is more convenient to surgeon, appears to be safer tool.
A comparative study of endoscopic versus conventional septoplasty
Authors: Dhaka Ramniwas , Arya Pooja , Chand Deep , Samor Vivek , Bishnoi Ramchander , Khadav Sukhdev
Published: July 2020

Background: Deviated nasal septum is one of the common causes of nasal obstruction. Correction of deviated nasal septum has been performed by a variety of techniques of which Septoplasty is the most popular one. With the advent of endoscopes and their successful use in endoscopic sinus surgery endoscopes have been tried in septoplasty for better visualization of posterior part of septum and do the surgery more precisely and with less complication as compare to conventional method. The objectives of the study were to compare the outcomes of conventional and endoscopic septoplasty, to evaluate the advantages, disadvantages and complications of both endoscopic and conventional septoplasty.

Methods: It was a prospective observational study conducted on 50 patients with deviated nasal septum, who presented to ENT department of SPMC, Bikaner, patients were randomly divided equally in two groups for conventional and endoscopic septoplasty respectively. Data collected on a prestructured proforma and results analysed.  

Results: The study included 50 cases. Postoperatively significant relief from the symptoms of nasal obstruction (82%) in group A and (96%) group B, was seen. In objective assessment at the end of 3 months of surgery, patient had persistent posterior deviation 24% in group A and 3% in group B, spur 12% in group A and 0% in group B.

Conclusions: Endoscopic septoplasty has an obvious edge over the conventional approach due to better illumination which enables to identify the pathology accurately, excise the deviated part of septum precisely and realignment of the cartilage for best results.
How a COVID-19 positive patient can present to an otolaryngologist, a variable presentation: what not to miss?
Authors: Maqbool Tabish , Mehta Kulvinder Singh , Mustafa Hena
Published: July 2020

Background: COVID-19 has led to the global pandemic which started in Wuhan, in China. It is highly contagious and the presenting symptoms may not alarm the patient or the doctor and can be confused with allergies and other simple viral respiratory tract infections in mild cases. Aim of this study was to evaluate the various presentations of COVID-19 patients in department of otorhinolaryngology.

Methods: This study was done during pandemic, from March 2020 to May 2020 for a period of 3 months in government medical college Srinagar. If the patient had any significant travel or contact with the known or suspected COVID-19 positive patient and the various ENT symptoms with which COVID positive patients presented, to the department were evaluated.  

Results: Majority of patients were males between the age group of 21 to 40 years. The most common symptoms encountered was cough and fever followed by sore throat and rhinitis. One patient also presented with subacute thyroiditis and two others as neck abscess. Two patients presented with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Conclusions: Patients in the department can present with mild respiratory tract infection or also with some peculiar symptoms of subacute thyroiditis or abcess. So, careful history is the key to recognize these patients. And it is highly recommended that doctors during addressing the patients should be in proper protective kits to avoid contracting the disease.
A Framework for Healthcare Resilience During Widespread Electrical Power Loss
Authors: Sell Tara Kirk , Lien Onora , Toner Eric
Published: July 2020

Healthcare delivery systems are vulnerable to a prolonged loss of electric power, particularly an extended regional or multi‐region breakdown in the electric grid. This is attributable to the reliance of acute care and ambulatory facilities on continuous electric supply for both life‐saving and vital facility support functions. We describe how a framework for disaster resilience can be applied to improve healthcare system adaptability to such scenarios. Our recommendations emphasize important preparedness efforts necessary to maintain—as best as possible—healthcare services during a period of extended regional of multi‐region electrical power loss.

Specifically, we call for the development and activation of energy resilient disaster resource hospitals, the need for enhanced healthcare coalition (HCC), Medical Reserve Corps, and national disaster medical system involvement during high‐impact electric outage conditions, the necessity for a centralized federal coordination function, and public engagement to facilitate a culture of resilience to health disasters, including the extended loss of power. In order to increase preparedness, we advocate the development and implementation of pilot projects intended to enhance health sector resilience to power grid failure.
Improving Healthcare Supply Chain Resilience During Extreme Weather Events
Authors: Little Richard G. , Wallace William A.
Published: July 2020

Damage to coastal and inland communities in the United States from extreme weather events has increased dramatically in recent years and the decade of the 2010s was particularly harsh. These violent storms damage civil infrastructure systems, such as transportation, power, water and sewer, and communications, resulting in many people losing access to healthcare services. These breakdowns in the healthcare supply chain can be relatively minor, e.g., a pharmacy closed for a few hours, or life‐threatening, e.g., when dialysis or radiation treatment for cancer is unavailable for days or weeks. In 2017, more than 1,500 deaths were attributed to delayed or interrupted healthcare in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. This paper describes how damage to civil infrastructure from an extreme weather event can disrupt the delivery of critical healthcare services, how such disruptions impact those in need of services, and offer suggestions for improving the resilience of the healthcare supply chain.
Restructuring Public Policy for Large Numbers of Elders Living with Disabilities
Authors: Lynn Joanne , Franco Nils
Published: July 2020

With nearly twice as many elderly Americans living with disabilities expected within a dozen years, public policy must update and revise the social arrangements that support caregiving, disability, and old age. Needs that already often go unmet will mount, growing from quietly suffered indignities to broadly felt breakdowns. Inequities faced by young and old will compound this shared strain.

Creating long‐term care financing arrangements, accessible housing stock, and resilient macroeconomics for an aging population will require long lead times and therefore prompt convergence and enactment of policies and programs to address these needs. For example, while academic and independent policy institutions have recommended public catastrophic long‐term care social insurance and private insurance market reforms, delay in enacting these modest policies keep the US on a default course to underfunded but cripplingly expensive safety net obligations, any gaps in which will impoverish elders and their families. The US has not even developed a serious dialogue on disability adapted and affordable housing or on the macroeconomics facts that demand investment in highly productive young adults.

Equity, efficiency, and capacity of social services, caregiving, and medical care also require redesign over the next few years. Community arrangements shape much of the experience of declining health in old age. The US urgently needs to enable a number of communities (counties, cities, and rural regions) to move ahead aggressively to redefine excellence and affordability in eldercare, making exemplars that the rest of the nation could emulate.

Some critical issues do not yet have the language for public discourse, being treated as taboo subjects. We outline four of these and call for data and reflection.

We all deserve to come to old age confident that we have the needed supports, so that we can enjoy the last of life with comfort and meaningfulness, without impoverishing the next generations.
Public Guardianship: Policy and Practice
Authors: Teaster Pamela B. , Chamberlain Stephanie
Published: July 2020

Guardianship is a process by which a court delegates to a person or entity the duty and power to make personal, property, or both person and property decisions for another individual based upon a determination that he or she is unable able to make decisions for him‐ or herself. Guardianship has at its foundation the protection and care of individuals unable to make decisions about their person, their property, or both; however, far too little is known about this creature of the court system. Public guardianship, or guardianship of last resort, refers to the appointment and responsibility of a public official or publicly funded entity who serves as a legal guardian in the absence of willing, able, and responsible family members or friends to serve as, or without resources to employ, a private guardian. Problems with the guardianship system include prolonged delays for an appointment, a far‐too‐close relationship between judges and guardians, guardians' lack of familiarity with the individuals they serve, their limited expertise in medical decision‐making, and their unconscionably large caseloads. The purpose of this article is to provide a description of the guardianship system, explain what is known in the available research, and identify recommendations for policy and practice.
Treatment of waste water from complex organic substances
Authors: Kenofontov B.S. , Kozodayev A.S. , Taranov R.A. , Vinogradov M.S.
Published: July 2020

The work deals with solving the problem of extraction of polycyclic hydrocarbons from waste water by using physical and chemical technology, including the use of flotation, settling, filtration, adsorption, ozonation. The use of such a technique makes it possible to significantly reduce the concentration of hazardous substances such as benzapirene in the waste water to be purified. Under certain modes of wastewater treatment using physical and chemical technology, the concentration of benzapirene does not exceed the regulatory values. Prospects for the use of biophlotocombines for the treatment of waste water containing complex organic substances are indicated.
Oil Рollution of the Barents Sea Based on Мonitoring with SAR in 2017–2019
Authors: Kucheiko A.Yu. , Ivanov A.Yu. , Evtushenko N.V. , Filimonova N.A. , Terleeva N.V. , Ivonin D.V. , Alexandrova A.G.
Published: July 2020

The results of satellite monitoring with SAR of oil pollution in the Barents Sea conducted in 2017–2019 are presented. The statistics and summary maps of oil pollution of different type, detected and mapped are analyzed.
Effects of sodium alginate capsules as 3D scaffolds on hormones and genes expression in preantral follicles of mice compared to 2D medium: An experimental study
Authors: Jalili Cyrus , Khani Hemmatabadi Fuzieh , Mansouri Kamran , Bakhtiyari Mehrdad
Published: July 2020

Background: The improvement of in vitro maturation methods, which can activate the preantral follicle growth, plays a crucial role in the production of mature oocytes in reproductive technology.
Objective: To evaluate the different concentrations of 3D scaffolds of sodium alginate on hormones and gene expression in mice preantral follicles.
Materials and Methods: Immature female BALB/c mice (12-14 days) were sacrificed. The follicles were removed mechanically and transferred into α minimal essential medium with 5% fetal bovine serum. The preantral follicles were incubated with different concentrations of sodium alginate (0.25%, 0.5%, and 1%) and 2D medium for 12 days. The follicles were examined for antral formation following the 10th day and the diameter on days 6th and 12th. The levels of hormones (AMH, androstenedione, 17
Ramadan 2020 and Beyond in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Scientific Evidence For Action
Authors: Elmajnoun Hala , Elhag Mohammed , Mohamed Hatem , Haris Parvez , Abu-Median Abu-Bakr
Published: July 2020

Background: Ramadan is a sacred month in Islam, which involves 29–30 days of dawn-till-dusk dry-fasting. Millions of Muslims observed Ramadan fasting (RF) this year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Certain ethnic groups worldwide, including Muslims, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, raising fears that fasting could bring additional health risks. This directly impacted on the current challenges faced by health professionals. The COVID-19 virus is expected to become seasonal. Therefore, the evidence presented in this review is valid beyond Ramadan as intermittent fasting is practiced more widely, irrespective of religion, throughout the year as a therapeutic and prophylactic means for several conditions. 
Methods: A wide range of literature databases were searched for the effects of RF and intermittent fasting on human health and then linked to COVID-19 impact to generate the evidence.
Results: This review presents a body of evidence proving RF is safe and beneficial for healthy people who adopt a balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids, and engage in regular physical activity. Fasting reduces levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6), which are associated with severe COVID-19.  Furthermore, increased handwashing and hygiene during Ramadan may reduce infection risks. For some, social isolation, physical inactivity, reduced access to food and stress – linked to the pandemic – may minimize the benefits that is achieved during a “normal” Ramadan.
Conclusions: RF during the COVID-19 pandemic is not a cause of concern for healthy people. However, people who are ill are exempt from fasting and should seek medical advice if they wish to fast. RF during the COVID-19 pandemic is a unique experience and future research will reveal its impact on human health.
Key words: COVID-19; Ramadan; fasting; health; mental; exercise; isolation; lockdown; diabetes; biomarkers
Evaluation of the Automated Testing Framework: A Case Study
Authors: Méndez-Porras Abel , Alfaro-Velasco Jorge , Martínez Alexandra
Published: July 2020

Developing mobile applications without defects or in a minimum number is an important  challenge for programmers and quality assurance teams. Automated software test can be the key to improve the traditional manual testing, often time consuming and repetitive. Mobile applications support user-interaction characteristics, whichareindependentfromtheapplicationlogic.Theyincludecontentpresentationornavigationfeatures,such as scroll or zoom into screens, and a rotating device.
In this paper, an automated testing framework is proposed and evaluated. This framework integrates user- interaction features, historical bug information, and an interest points detector and descriptor to identify new bugs. It has shown that it works well detecting bugs associated with user-interactions.