bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classification of Fruits using Deep Learning Algorithms
Authors: Mirra K. B. , R Rajakumari
Published: April 2022

Classification of variety of fruits is an important framework in agriculture field for import and export. Many algorithms were employed for classification of fruits. To remove the noises from the images Gaussian filter is applied during the pre-processing. Bunch of fruits are classified into different classes such as apple, orange and banana. Also their quality is taken into account for preventing health hazards. In this work, the various combinations of fruits are classified into proper variety and after that the quality of the fruit is checked as whether it is defect or non-defect. For the first part, Convolutional Neural Network, AlexNet and MobileNetV2 are employed. MobileNetV2 achieved 100% accuracy for fruit type classification. In the second part, the same kind of fruits are fed into classifier for quality checking. The above said classifiers are used for defect classification also. For defect classification, MobileNetV2 gives 99.89% accuracy for orange and 100% for apple.
Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy in Diabetic Macular Edema: Real-Life Outcomes from a Multicenter Study in Turkey over 36 months
Authors: Durukan Ali Hakan , Unlu Nurten , Onen Mehmet , Alp Mehmet Numan , Yeşiltaş Yağmur Seda , Kalayci Defne , Acar Mehmet Akif , Sekeroglu Mehmet Ali , Citirik Mehmet , Altintas Ayse Gul Kocak , Hazirolan Dicle , Kucukevcilioglu Murat , Ozdal Pinar Cakar , Toklu Yasin , Bicer Tolga , Ugurlu Nagihan , Budakoglu Ozlem , Yazar Zeliha , Zeki Nil İrem Uçgun , Serdar Kurtuluş , Doguizi Sibel , Erol Yasemin Ozdamar , Atilgan Cemile Ucgul , Yorgun Mucella Arikan , Soba Dilek Ozcelik , Berker Nilufer , Baskan Ceyda , Yilmaz Esra Safak
Published: April 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to report the visual and anatomical outcomes of intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME) in a real-world clinical setting from Turkey over 36 months.Methods: This is a retrospective, multicenter (7 cites) study. The medical records of 1072 eyes (both previously treated and naive eyes) of 706 consecutive patients with visual impairment due to center-involving DME treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections between April 2007 and February 2017, were reviewed. The eyes were divided into mutually exclusive three groups based on the duration of follow-up (12, 24, or 36 months). Primary outcome measures were changes in visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) from baseline to final visit in each cohort, frequency of visits, and intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. As secondary endpoints, VA outcomes were assessed in subgroups stratified by baseline VA [<70 ETDRS letters and ≥ 70 ETDRS letters] and loading dose status of anti-VEGF injections.Results: VA increased by a mean of 8.2 letters (12-month cohort, p<0.001), 5.3 letters (24-month cohort, p<0.001), and 4.4 letters (36-month cohort, p=0.017) at final visits. The eyes with <70 VA letters achieved more significant VA improvement at final visits in all cohorts compared with eyes with >70 VA letters (p<0.001). The mean decreases in CMT from baseline to last visits at 12-, 24-, and 36- month cohorts were -100.5, -107.7, and -114.3 µm, respectively (p<0.001). The mean number of injections given were 4.6, 2.3, and 1.8 during years 1 to 3, respectively. Patients who received loading dose showed greater VA gains than those who did not in all follow-up cohorts.Conclusion: Our study revealed that anti-VEGF treatment improved VA and CMT over a follow-up of 36 months. Although these real-life VA outcomes following anti-VEGF therapy for DME were similar to other real-life studies, they were inferior to those noted in randomized controlled trials, mainly due to undertreatment.
Entropic Principal Component Analysis using Cauchy Schwarz divergence
Authors: Nakao Eduardo , Levada Alexandre
Published: April 2022

Dimensionality reduction has been explored to address the curse of dimensionality in high dimensional datasets of modern pattern recognition applications. In pattern recognition tasks, it is important to quantify how distinct two data samples are. Unsupervised metric learning serves for this purpose. In dimensionality reduction, a more adequate metric for a given dataset is implicitly learned. Principal Component Analysis is still the most used dimensionality reduction algorithm. Several modifications of this method have already been proposed as other algorithms belonging to the nonlinear class as well. However, all of them somehow rely on the Euclidean norm, which is known to fail in high dimensions and to be sensitive to outliers. So, in this paper, a new entropic approach was proposed, where the neighborhood of a data sample was mapped to an entropic space, where a stochastic divergence replaces the Euclidean. This approach was adopted to compute a new entropic covariance matrix that does not use inner product to estimate correlation between two features. A data sample neighborhood was mapped into an univariate Gaussian distribution and the statistical distance used was the Cauchy-Schwarz divergence. This new matrix was supplied to Principal Component Analysis classic algorithm. We compared the new method with existing linear and nonlinear algorithms. Using several real datasets, the comparison was made under two perspectives: cluster analysis and classification. Using a statistical test, it was possible to conclude that the new approach led to significant better results in both perspectives in comparison to all other algorithms considered.
Nematicidal activity of volatile organic compounds produced by Bacillus altitudinis AMCC 1040 against Meloidogyne incognita
Authors: Zhou Bo , Ye Lin , Wang Jian-Yu , Liu Xiao-Fang , Guan Qi , Dou Nong-Xiao , Li Jian , Zhang Qian , Gao Yan-Ming , Wang Min , Li Jian-She
Published: April 2022

The application of nematicidal microorganisms and their virulence factors provides more opportunities to control root-knot nematodes. Bacillus altitudinis AMCC 1040, previously isolated from suppressive soils, showed significant nematicidal activity, and in this study, nematicidal substances produced by Bacillus altitudinis AMCC 1040 were investigated. The results of the basic properties of active substances showed that these compounds have good thermal stability and passage, are resistant to acidic environment and sensitive to alkaline conditions. Further analysis showed that it is a volatile component. Using HS-SPME-GC/MS, the volatile compounds produced by Bacillus altitudinis AMCC 1040 were identified and grouped into four major categories: ethers, alcohols, ketone, and organic acids, comprising a total of eight molecules. Six of them possess nematicidal activities, including 2,3-butanedione, acetic acid, 2-isopropoxy ethylamine, 3-methylbutyric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid and octanoic acid. Our results further our understanding of the effects of Bacillus altitudinis and its nematicidal metabolites on the management of Meloidogyne incognita and may help to find less toxic nematicides for root knot nematodes control.
Supercooling with stepwise algorithm preserves the freshness of salmon and olive flounder during extended storage
Authors: Park Dong Hyeon , Lee SangYoon , Byeon Yeong Mi , Kim Eun Jeong , Choi Mi-Jung
Published: April 2022

Supercooling storage reduces the temperature of a product by lowering its freezing point without phase transition and may extend its shelf life. However, it is difficult to maintain the supercooled state of food as it is thermodynamically metastable. A slow cooling rate and minimal fluctuation are essential for achieving stable supercooling storage. Therefore, a stepwise algorithm was adopted for supercooling storage in this study. Salmon and olive flounder were stored at 3°C (refrigeration), -18°C (freezing), and − 2°C (supercooling) for 12 days. Samples were maintained in a supercooled state and unfrozen during the storage period. Samples stored after the supercooling treatment were superior with respect to drip loss and water holding capacity (WHC) compared to frozen samples, regardless of the type of sample. WHC and total volatile basic nitrogen values of olive flounder was higher than those in salmon owing to the higher water and protein content in olive flounder than in salmon. Moreover, the supercooled samples inhibited the increase in trimethylamine and volatile basic nitrogen levels. Microbial growth was slow. Thus, a stepwise algorithm for stable supercooled storage was achieved, which effectively preserved fish quality better than freezing and refrigeration storage.
Multiplexed measurement of binding- and neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants in 12.000 post-vaccine sera
Authors: Tran Trung , Vaage Eline , Mehta Adi , Chopra Adity , Kolderup Anette , Anthi Aina , König Marton , Nygard Gro , Lind Andreas , Muller Fredrik , Nissen-Meyer Lise-Sofie , Magnus Per , Trogstad Lill-Iren , Mjaaland Siri , Søraas Arne , Midtvedt Karsten , Åsberg Anders , Barratt-Due Andreas , Medhus Asle , Høivik Marte , Lundin Knut , Karlsen Randi , Dahle Reidun , Danielsson Karin , Thomassen Kristine , Kro Grete , Cox Rebecca , Zhou Fan , Langeland Nina , Aukrust Pal , Holter Jan , Melum Espen , Åvitsland Tone , Wiencke Kristine , Munthe Ludvig , Grodeland Gunnveig , Andersen Jan Terje , Vaage John , Lund-Johansen Fridtjof
Published: April 2022

Diagnostic assays currently used to monitor the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines measure levels of antibodies to the receptor-binding domain of ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (RBDwt). However, the predictive value for protection against new variants of concern (VOCs) has not been firmly established. Here, we used bead-based arrays and flow cytometry to measure binding of antibodies to spike proteins and receptor-binding domains (RBDs) from VOCs in 12,000 sera. Effects of sera on RBD-ACE2 interactions were measured as a proxy for neutralizing antibodies. The samples were obtained from healthy individuals or patients on immunosuppressive therapy who had received two to four doses of COVID-19 vaccines and from COVID-19 convalescents. The results show that anti-RBDwt titers correlate with the levels of binding- and neutralizing antibodies against the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon and Omicron variants. The benefit of multiplexed analysis lies in the ability to measure a wide range of anti-RBD titers using a single dilution of serum for each assay. The reactivity patterns also yield an internal reference for neutralizing activity and binding antibody units per milliliter (BAU/ml). Results obtained with sera from vaccinated healthy individuals and patients confirmed and extended results from previous studies on time-dependent waning of antibody levels and effects of immunosuppressive agents. We conclude that anti-RBDwt titers correlate with levels of neutralizing antibodies against VOCs and propose that our method may be implemented to enhance the precision and throughput of immunomonitoring.
CRNDE interference inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promotes apoptosis
Authors: Wang Xiao , Wang Li , Wu Quanxin , Cai Keyin
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) interference on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Lovo, HCT-116, COLO 205, HT-29, SW480, and NCM460 cells were screened by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction after transfection with CRNDE-interference vectors or miR-320a mimics. The levels of APPL1, Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by western blotting. Cell proliferation was evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8. Apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry and cell migration and invasion were assessed using a transwell assay. The relationships between CRNDE and miR-320a levels and between APPL1 and miR-320a levels were determined by luciferase reporter assay. The expression levels of CRNDE and APPL1 were significantly higher in HCT-116 cells than in Lovo, COLO 205, HT-29, SW480, or NCM460 cells (P < 0.05). miR-320a overexpression and CRNDE interference significantly decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion (P < 0.05), but significantly increased apoptosis (P < 0.05). miR-320a overexpression or CRNDE interference significantly increased the number of cells in the G0-G1 phase, compared to the control treatment and empty vector transfection, while decreasing the number of cells in the G2-M phase. miR-320a overexpression and CRNDE interference significantly increased the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins (P < 0.05). miR-320a inhibited luciferase activity in HCT-116 cells transfected with the wild-type CRNDE 3′-UTR (P < 0.05) or the APPL1 3′-UTR (P < 0.05). Thus, CRNDE interference inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells and promoted apoptosis. The mechanism was related to the CRNDE/miR-320a/APPL1 axis.
Sex differences in electrophysiological properties and voltage-gated ion channel expression in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus following repeated stress
Authors: Bhatnagar Seema , Corbett Brian F. , Urban Kimberly , Luz Sandra , Arner Jay , Yan Jason
Published: April 2022

Habituation to repeated stress refers to a progressive reduction in the stress response following multiple exposures to the same, predictable stressor. We previously demonstrated that the posterior division of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (pPVT) nucleus regulates habituation to 5 days of repeated restraint stress in male rats. Compared to males, female rats display impaired habituation to 5 days of restraint. To better understand how activity of pPVT neurons is differentially impacted in stressed males and females, we examined the electrophysiological properties of pPVT neurons under baseline conditions or following restraint. We report here that spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic current (sEPSC) amplitude was increased in males, but not females, following restraint. Further, resting membrane potential of pPVT neurons was more depolarized in males. This may be partially due to reduced potassium leakage in restrained males as input resistance was increased in male, but not female, rats 24 hours following 1 or 5 days of 30-minute restraint. Reduced potassium efflux during action potential firing also occurred in males following a single restraint as action potential half-width was increased following a single restraint. Restraint had limited effects on electrophysiological properties in females, although the mRNA for 10 voltage-gated ion channel subunits was altered in the pPVT of female rats. We hypothesize that restraint-induced changes in pPVT activation promote habituation in males. These findings are the first to describe a sexual dimorphism in stress-induced electrophysiological properties and voltage-gated ion channel expression in the pPVT. These results may explain, at least in part, why habituation to 5 days of restraint is disrupted in female rats.
Rapid on fast resolution of multi-grain mixed broken particles combined with optimization algorithm and VIS-hyperspectral imaging technology
Authors: Lei Yu , Hu Xinjun , Zhang Jiahong , Yan Songcai , Xue Qinyuan , Ma Xiaoyan , Tian Jianping , Chen Manjiao , Huang Dan
Published: April 2022

In this study, the optimization algorithm was combined with the visible light hyperspectral imaging technology to distinguish the multi-grain broken grain varieties and determine their mixing ratio. The Otsu method combined with the watershed algorithm was used to extract the ROI spectral reflectance of the sample particles, DBSCAN-MD was used to remove outliers, IVSO-CARS was used to extract the characteristic wavelength, establish four identification models (PNN, GRNN, BPNN, RBFNN) based on full wavelength and characteristic wavelength. Then input three sets of mixed samples from the outside to verify the effect of the BPNN model trained by 7 different kernel functions. The results show that the BPNN model trained with the One Step Secant function has the best effect, and the average recognition accuracy of the three groups of samples is 99%. Therefore, this method can realize the rapid identification and research of multigrain and multigrain, and determine the mixing ratio.
Relations between serum magnesium and metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome indicators in women with endometrial carcinoma.
Authors: Liu Zesi , Jing Chunli , Yang Hongxia , Kong Fandou
Published: April 2022

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum magnesium and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and serum metabolic parameters in endometrial cancer (EC) patients.Patients and methods: A retrospective study was designed to collect medical records of 291 patients diagnosed with EC from July 2016 to May 2021. Independent samples t-test, ANOVA, and chi-square test were used to compare whether the clinical characteristics of EC patients were statistically different across groups. Correlation analysis and partial correlation analysis were performed to determine whether there was a relationship between serum magnesium and the incidence of MetS and its components in EC patients.Results: Serum magnesium concentration was lower in postmenopausal patients (0.94±0.08 vs. 0.91±0.07; p=0.018) or patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) (0.90±0.09 vs. 0.93±0.07; p=0.005). EC patients with hypomagnesemia had a higher BMI (25.10±4.31 vs. 24.41±3.93 vs. 24.33±3.12; p=0.014) and a higher prevalence of DM (55.6% vs. 22.5% vs. 20.7%; p=0.006) and higher TG (2.29±2.95 vs 1.62±0.91 vs 1.47±0.60; p=0.046) than the other groups. The correlation between the number of MetS criteria patients met and serum magnesium concentration was calculated and there is negative correlation between them (r=-0.201; p<0.001). Significant negative correlations were also found between total serum magnesium and TG (r=-0.147; p=0.025), large waist circumference (LWC) (r=-0.133; p=0.023) and the incidence of MetS in EC patients (r=-0.101; p=0.013) after adjusting for multiple variables.Conclusions: In patients with EC, during the period of treatment, supplementation with magnesium may improve the prognosis outcome. Serum magnesium may also be a novel parameter when investigating the effect of MetS on EC.
Assessing the robustness of composite indicators: The case of the Global Innovation Index
Authors: AlQararah Khatab
Published: April 2022

This research paper introduces a methodology to assess the robustness of the Global Innovation Index (GII), by comparing the rankings provided in it with those achieved using alternative data-driven methodologies such as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). With it, the paper aims to reduce the level of subjectivity in the construction of composite indicators with regard to weight generation and indicator aggregation. The paper relies on PCA as a weighting-aggregation scheme to reproduce the 21 sub-pillars of the GII before the application of DEA to calculate the relative efficiency score for every country. By using the PCA-DEA model, a final ranking is produced for all countries. The paper uses Random Forests (RF) classification to examine the robustness of the new rank. The comparison between the new rank and that of the GII suggests that the countries positioned at the top or the bottom of the GII rank are less sensitive toward the modification than those in the middle of the GII, the rank of which is not robust against the modification of the construction method. The PCA-DEA model introduced in this paper provides policymakers with an effective tool to monitor the performance of national innovation policies from the perspective of their relative efficiency. Ultimately, this would enhance the innovation performance of their respective countries.
Determination of Some Heavy Metals (Cadmium and Lead) in The Blood of Wild Birds
Authors: TEMAMOGULLARI Fusun , EKTIREN Resat , GARIP Zozan
Published: April 2022

It is known that the pollution of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) negatively affects human and animal health in ecosystems. Birds are the bioindicators in the determination of environmental pollution. The present study is the first attempt to determine the pollution of Cd and Pb using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) device in the blood samples (n=40) collected from seventeen wild bird species recorded in Turkey: Common buzzard ( Buteo buteo ) ; Eagle-owl ( Bubo bubo ) ; Barn owl ( Tyto alba ) ; Long-eared owl ( Asio otus ) ; Little owl ( Athene noctua ) ; Marsh harrier ( Circus aeruginosus ) ; Black-crowned night heron ( Nycticorax nycticorax ) ; Sparrowhawk ( Accipiter nisus ) ; Black kite ( Milvus migrans ) ; White stork ( Ciconia ciconia ) ; Common kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ) ; Booted eagle ( Hieraaetus pennatus ) ; Grey Heron ( Ardea cinerea ) ; Common moorhen ( Gallinula chloropus ) ; Griffon vulture ( Gyps fulvus ) ; Golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ) ; and Common crane ( Grus grus ). In the study, the highest Pb concentration (509.58±0.29 ppb) was detected in the blood sample of the Golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ). It was found that the Pb concentration of Golden Eagle was over 150 ppb, which has been determined as the threshold value of lead poisoning for birds. The Pb concentrations in the blood samples of other wild birds were less than the threshold value for poisoning (150 ppb). In the present study, the non-detection of Cd in the blood of wild birds. The results of this first study conducted on seventeen wild bird species in Turkey revealed no heavy metal pollution (Cd and Pb) in wild birds except for one blood sample.
Morphological features and development dynamics of retinal vessels in preterm infants with retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Wang Qiong , Xu Yinsheng , Liu Shuai , Yang Yan , Lu Yu , Cai Yuan , Sun Mingzhai , Liu Hui
Published: April 2022

Purpose: To study the difference in retinal vascular morphology and the developmental dynamics between preterm infants with and without Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP).Methods: 226 preterm infants with ROP and 928 preterm infants without ROP were studied. We developed a deep learning-based method to evaluate the vascular morphological features automatically. Stepwise regression analysis was applied to analyze the differences in the retinal vascular morphology between the two groups. Furthermore, analysis of covariance was used to analyze the differences in vascular development dynamics between preterm infants with ROP and without ROP.Results: Vascular tortuosity, caliber, and branch angle in preterm infants with ROP were significantly higher than those without ROP. Furthermore, preterm infants' vascular density with ROP increased significantly slower with gestational age than preterm infants without ROP.Conclusion: ROP is a disease closely associated with the vessels in the posterior pole region of retinal. Vascular morphology of preterm infants with ROP is significantly different from that of preterm infants without ROP. The density, which could reflect the proliferation of the vessels, develops significantly slower in preterm infants with ROP. The findings could provide insights into the pathogenesis of ROP.
Hilbert’s First Problem and the New Progress of Infinity Theory
Authors: Wang Xijia
Published: April 2022

In the 19th century, Cantor created the infinite cardinal number theory based on the "1-1 correspondence" principle. The continuum hypothesis is proposed under this theoretical framework. In 1900, Hilbert made it the first problem in his famous speech on mathematical problems, which shows the importance of this question. We know that the infinitesimal problem triggered the second mathematical crisis in the 17-18th centuries. The Infinity problem is no less important than the infinitesimal problem. In the 21st century, Sergeyev introduced the Grossone method from the principle of "whole is greater than part", and created another ruler for measuring infinite sets. Grossone theory shows that there is neither the largest infinity and infinitesimal, nor the smallest infinity and infinitesimal.
Final-Year Undergraduate Medical Students’ Feedback-Seeking Behaviour in Primary and Secondary Healthcare Centre Placement
Authors:   Master Program in Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, Pinasthika Anyta , Findyartini Ardi ,   Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
Published: April 2022

Feedback is essential in medical education. Constructive feedback provision from teachers and learners receiving and seeking feedback themselves are both important, particularly in clinical clerkships where students interact with authentic clinical settings. This study aims to explore the feedback-seeking behaviour of final-year undergraduate medical students in primary and secondary healthcare centres and to determine factors influencing this behaviour. A qualitative phenomenology study design was used involving final-year undergraduate medical students at the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia. A maximum variation sampling approach, considering gender and healthcare centre placement, was conducted. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews until data saturation was reached. Data was then analysed using a thematic analysis approach. A total of 10 (4 males, 6 females) students were interviewed. Students displayed acts of both seeking and not seeking feedback in clinical learning environments in primary and secondary healthcare centres. Acts of seeking feedback included asking for feedback on performance when it was not provided, taking the initiative to seek feedback in life-saving situations, confirming feedback, clarifying supervisors’ reasoning and indirect feedback-seeking methods. Acts of not seeking feedback included not seeking further feedback, not clarifying supervisors’ reasoning and not seeking feedback when it was not provided. This study found that supervisor, student and environmental factors may influence feedback-seeking behaviour. This study provides further insights on feedback-seeking behaviour, which must be considered in workplacebased clinical learning environments.
Conceptual Framework for Epidemics and Vaccination Dilemma
Authors: Isabella Odis Adaora
Published: April 2022

Outbreaks of diseases have positive and negative effects on humans. An example of the positive epidemic dilemma was seen in the 2020 lockdown across the world where families spent quality time together and couples seeking for the fruit of the womb conceived after many years, working from home was introduced, Lagosians working from home reduced stress from traffic, remote jobs were increased, online zoom, Webex webinars, online surveys, seminars, conference, Viva Voca, graduation and growth for online business and banking. Apps were available for the masses to access health online, known as Telemedicine. While the negative epidemics dilemma includes loss of jobs, slow down in economy across the world, poverty, drug abuse, self–medication, Anti-microbial resistance, child abuse, rape, divorce, shadow pandemic, death, and no access to education for those that do not have internet facilities to learn/study/school online. Vaccine’s hesitancy is an established dilemma that contributes to significant health challenges which cause a high rate of infant sickness and death. There are certain factors like cultural, social, demographic, and psychosocial factors that contribute to the vaccine dilemma. This conceptual framework illustrates the factors that drive epidemics and vaccine dilemma, which can be vaccination acceptance and hesitancy. For an intervention to be implemented successfully, we need to understand the triggers of epidemics and vaccination dilemma. The socio-demographic characteristics like age, sex, marital status, level of education, choice of hospital, employment status, level of income, health insurance status and the number of children is significantly associated with vaccine uptake among parents.
Assessment Of of Health Worker’r's Pattern of Managing Severe Malaria in Children Under the Age of Five (0-5years) in Northwestern Nigeria - A Cross-Sectional Study of Hospitals in Kebbi State
Authors: Jega Manir Hassan
Published: April 2022

While severe malaria (SM) contributes to high mortality in children in Nigeria, appropriate treatment is cardinal in reducing SM death. However, there exist limited studies on how health workers (HWs) manage SM in children in Nigeria. The study aimed to assess the health worker’s treatment practices for severe malaria in children. A cross-sectional survey of severe malaria (SM) management in children (0- 5 years) was conducted in 377 participants across randomly selected 5 hospitals in Kebbi State. Data abstraction form was used to obtain parameters for SM from the patient’s record. A structured questionnaire was utilized to get information from HWs regarding the management of SM. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0. A total of 377 cases of SM were identified. Documented symptoms for SM symptoms included fever (43.2 %), convulsion –seizure (26.3%), pallor (10.3%), and loss of consciousness (3.2%). All the cases (100%) were tested for malaria, with RDT being the commonest (60.2%) technique used, while 71 (18.83%) cases received intra-artesunate, 24 (6.36%) received intravenous quinine. 125 (33.16%) children fully recovered, with 87 (23.08%) discharge cases, and 41 (19.80%) received a follow-up dose of ACT. However, a mortality rate of 26.79% was observed. The pattern of managing severe malaria in this study resulted in improved quality of life in above half of the studied population. However, a higher rate is possible should health workers be given more on-the-job supervision. Besides, further study would be required to ascertain the source of knowledge of severe malaria management in the region.
Summa és ajánlás
Authors: Pálkuti Anikó
Published: April 2022

Kempf Katalin, Vincze Beatrix és Németh András (2020, szerk.): Rejtett történetek. Az életreform és a művészetek. Budapest: Műcsarnok.
Pedagógusok, pedagógusjelöltek és tanulók viszonyulása a fegyelmezéshez, avagy amit a vonatkozó jogszabályi rendelkezésekről tudnak és gondolnak
Authors: Kormos Kevin
Published: April 2022

A tanulmány egy kétszakaszos iskolafókuszú jogi attitűdkutatás eredményeit szintetizálja, amelyen belül az iskolai fegyelmezésre, illetve a pedagógusok, pedagógusjelöltek, valamint a tanulók fegyelmezéshez való viszonyulására fókuszál. Mindkét kutatási szakaszban kérdőíves módszert alkalmaztunk, amelyben tanárok és tanárjelöltek jogi jelenségekhez fűződő viszonyát vizsgáltuk, illetve azt, hogy szükségesnek érzik-e, hogy a képzésük során részletesebben tanuljanak az iskola mint intézmény jogi környezetéről. A kutatásokból az derül ki, hogy a tanárok és a tanulók is elsősorban fenyegető, nehezen érthető funkciójú jelenségként értékelik a jogrendszert, ugyanakkor a gyermekjogokhoz pozitív értékeket társítanak. A házirendet a tanulók is a rend fenntartásának eszközeként értékelik. A szaktárgyi fegyelmezés körében kirajzolódó fő mintázat a fegyelmezési eszközök hiánya, illetve az elégtelen osztályzat mint fegyelmezési eszköz alkalmazása annak ellenére, hogy ezt maguk a tanárok is aggályosnak tartják. A vizsgálat további eredménye, hogy bemutatja: mind a pedagógusok, mind a pedagógusjelöltek oldaláról igény mutatkozik arra, hogy az iskolai jogrendszerről szóló oktatásnak helye legyen a tanárképzésben.
Értelmezhető-e a fegyelem a felsőoktatásban? Avagy, mi a fegyelmi eljárás az egyetemeken?
Authors: Matyasovszky-Németh Márton
Published: April 2022

A fegyelmi eljárásokat a hatályos felsőoktatási törvény is ismeri, azok, illetve azok előképe, az egyetemek bíráskodási joga azonban a magyar felsőoktatási jog történetének egy viszonylag kevéssé ismert, elhanyagolt területe. Ezen elhanyagolt terület történeti hátterét mégis nagyon fontos megismerni, mert megmagyarázza és érthetővé teszi a jelenleg is élő jogintézményeket, valamint rávilágít arra, hogy a történeti jellegzetességek hirtelen, kívülről jövő átalakítása – akár történelmi/politikai szükségszerűségből fakadó lemetszése – milyen következményeket és problémákat generál a jelen jogalkalmazásában.
Közjó – avagy hogy jó?
Authors: Morcz Fruzsina
Published: April 2022

Látszólag csupán hallgatói hozzájárulás, a valóságban a teljes oktatási folyamatot, a hallgató és az oktató közötti munkát, és a tanári professziót is befolyásoló tényező a tandíj. Jelen tanulmányban az angol felsőoktatásban 1998 óta folyamatosan szedett hallgatói hozzájárulás hatásait vizsgálom a Németországban megfigyelhető folyamatokkal összevetve. A hivatásszociológia fogalmaira támaszkodva értelmezem az Angliában, a tandíjfizetés nyomán kialakult jelenségeket. Az elemzésből kiderül, hogy a tandíj nem csupán anyagi terhet ró a beiratkozókra, hanem a hallgatók magasabb elvárásaival, a tanári szerep átalakulásával, a hallgatók tanulási folyamathoz való hozzáállásának változásával és a felsőoktatás szereplői között fennálló viszonyrendszer minőségének drasztikus romlásával is együtt jár. Az angol felsőoktatásban megfigyelhető változások minden olyan ország számára fontos tanulságokkal szolgálhatnak, ahol a felsőoktatás finanszírozásának átalakítása, privatizációja, a jelentősebb mértékű hallgatói hozzájárulás bevezetésének kezdeményezése zajlik.
Múltidézés és a fogyatékossággal élők történelmi korképe
Authors: Dan Beáta Andrea
Published: April 2022

Magyar Adél Márta (2018). Fejezetek az értelmifogyatékosság-kép történetéből: Elzárás, gyógyítás, fejlesztés a kezdetektől a 19. század végéig. Gondolat Kiadó, Budapest.
Az abdukció mint szakértői eljárás a tanulási zavarok felfedésében
Authors: Vida Gergő
Published: April 2022

A tanulási zavarral küzdő tanulók aránya hazánkban folyamatosan nő (KSH, 2019) és a köznevelés Pareto-elemzése (Mrázik, 2017) azt mutatja, hogy a sajátos nevelési igényű tanulók integrációja áll a problémák jelentős hányadának hátterében. Ugyanakkor nincs a tanulási zavar azonosításában használható egységes meghatározás, mely tanulói képességteszt-eredményekhez rendelhető lenne. Releváns kérdés tehát, hogy milyen elvek alapján azonosítható a tanulási zavar. Ennek kialakítása segítséget jelenthet a hétköznapi pedagógiai praxis számára a tekintetben, hogy mikor kezdeményezzen vizsgálatot. Emellett segítség lehet a tanulási zavar megállapításában is. Hiányában nem alkotható egységes elmélet a tanulási zavarról, ami hatással lehet a diagnosztizáló, ellátó rendszerre és a teljes köznevelésre. Nem a diagnosztikus értékelést és szűrést jelentékteleníti el, hanem a kapott eredmények dekategorizációs értelmezését vetíti előre, és azzal a kockázattal jár, hogy a kapott eredmények egységes értelmezése lehetetlenné válik. A diagnosztikát végző szakember autonómiája és felelőssége ezáltal nő. Kvantitatív kutatás (Vida, 2020) igazolja, a tanulási zavar kategóriája sem a tanulási, sem a kognitív képességek alapján nem egységes. Az is igazolást nyert, hogy a feltárt képességprofil egy szűk szegmense, a memória kap szerepet a tanulási zavar megállapításában. Ez jelenleg a hazai köznevelésben elterjedt oktatási gyakorlattal függ össze, amely igazoltan (Vida, 2020) a küldő pedagógusok tanulási zavarról való vélekedésén alapul. A háttérben meghúzódó vélekedések, nézetek és elméletek kvalitatív eljárásokkal feltárhatók. A tanulmány arra keresi a választ, hogy a vizsgálatot végző szakértők stratégiája a tanulási zavar diagnosztizálása során indukcióként, dedukcióként esetleg abdukcióként értelmezhető-e.
Joint stiffness of a musculoskeletal bionic leg based on the foot stiffness ellipse model
Authors: Lei Jingtao , Chen Ziheng , Xu Zili
Published: April 2022

For the bionic jumping robot, there is contact force between the foot and the environment inevitably. Bionic jumping robots need to interact with the environment for force/position information in a compliant manner. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the joint stiffness and foot stiffness of a bionic jumping robot. Based on analyzing the muscle arrangement and flexible jumping movement principle of a dog leg, a kind of musculoskeletal leg driven by pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs) is presented. The centroid trajectory of the bionic leg is planned for jumping. Each joint stiffness is derived by the joint torque, which is changing with PAM inner pressure and joint angular displacement. On the other hand, joint stiffness can be planned by the foot stiffness. A kind of ellipse stiffness model of foot is proposed by analyzing the foot elastic potential energy caused by the contact force, and each joint stiffness of the bionic leg is calculated by the foot stiffness, which is mapping by the Jacobian matrix. The joint angular stiffness is analyzed by changing the foot stiffness ellipse parameters, and the expected joint stiffness of the bionic leg for jumping is planned based on the foot stiffness model. This study will pay a foundation for controlling the joint stiffness to achieve stable jumping of the bionic leg.
Comparison of urban stormwater plant biofilter designs for nutrient and metal removal in South Africa
Authors: Jacklin D. M. , Brink I. C. , Jacobs S. M.
Published: April 2022

This paper presents a comparison of six plant biofilter designs for urban stormwater quality improvement and reports on their performances. Thirty-six columns were populated with the endemic South African plant Prionium serratum, representing plant biofilter designs that incorporate different pollutant removal mechanisms in the biofiltration process. The experimental biofilter columns were subjected to low, typically observed and high urban nutrient and metal synthetic stormwater pollution for five months. Significant loads of NH3-N and dissolved Cd, Pb and Zn were removed, whereas removal of -N, -P and dissolved Cu was more variable. The most efficient design was found to include standard plant biofiltration techniques with upflow filtration, plenum aeration and a saturated zone supporting anaerobic microbial activity. It was found that the most efficient design removed on average 96% of urban stormwater nutrient and metal loads.
Más allá del ring y del gimnasio
Authors: Castillo-Girón Víctor Manuel
Published: April 2022

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la trayectoria de la práctica del boxeo profesional en Jalisco como una actividad significativa para la sociedad desde la década de 1950. La investigación adopta un enfoque cualitativo con carácter descriptivo, sustentada en información bibliográfica, observación participante y entrevistas con actores clave en diversos gimnasios, en particular de la zona metropolitana de Guadalajara. Los resultados subrayan que, sin menoscabo de la relevancia de las habilidades físico-atléticas del deportista, la trascendencia social del boxeo profesional y su trayectoria a través del tiempo están vinculadas a diversos factores contextuales, entre los que sobresalen las actuaciones de quienes intervienen en los negocios del boxeo como espectáculo de masas, así como diversas políticas y acciones de índole local orientadas a la práctica del boxeo competitivo. Nuevos trabajos deberán profundizar en estas vicisitudes teniendo como referencia las trayectorias de los campeones mundiales locales, y, con ello, explicar las correlaciones entre los logros de estos y los factores de su entorno personal y específico, pero también del contexto global.
Differential Signatures of Bacterial	and Mammalian IMP Dehydrogenase Enzymest
Authors: Zhang Rongguang , Evans Gwyndaf , Rotella Frank , Westbrook Edwin , Huberman Eliezer , Joachimiak Andrzej , Collart Frank R.
Published: April 2022

IMP dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is an essential enzyme of de novo guanine nucleotide synthesis. IMPDH inhibitors have clinical utility as antiviral, anticancer or immunosuppressive agents. The essential nature of this enzyme suggests its therapeutic applications may be extended to the development of antimicrobial agents. Bacterial IMPDH enzymes show bio­chemical and kinetic characteristics that are different than the mammalian IMPDH enzymes,
suggesting IMPDH may be an attractive target for the development of antimicrobial agents. We suggest that the biochemical and kinetic differences between bacterial and mammalian enzymes are a consequence of the variance of specific, identifiable amino acid residues. Identification of these residues or combination of residues that impart this mammalian or bacterial enzyme signature is a prerequisite for the rational identification of agents that specifically target the bacterial enzyme. We used sequence alignments of IMPDH proteins to identify sequence signatures associated with bacterial or eukaryotic IMPDH enzymes. These selections were further refined to discern those likely to have a role in catalysis using information derived from the bacterial and mammalian IMPDH crystal structures and site-specific mutagenesis. Candidate bacterial sequence signatures identified by this process include regions involved in subunit interactions, the active site flap and the NAD binding region. Analysis of sequence alignments in these regions indicates a pattern of catalytic residues conserved in all enzymes and a secondary pattern of amino acid conservation associated with the major phylogenetic groups. Elucidation of the basis for this mammalian/bacterial IMPDH signature will provide insight into the c8talytic mechanism of this enzyme and the foundation for the development of highly specific inhibitors
IMP Dehydrogenase: Mechanism of Action and Inhibition
Authors: Hedstrom Lizbeth
Published: April 2022

Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) catalyzes the conversion of IMP to XMP with the concomitant reduction of NAD to NADH. This reaction is the rate-limiting step in guanine nucleotide biosynthesis. IMPDH is a proven target for immunosuppressive, anticancer and antiviral chemotherapy, and may also be a target for antimicrobial agents. IMPDH is activated by monovalent cations, and one monovalent cation binding site appears to have been identified. The mechanism of IMPDH involves forma­
tion and hydrolysis of a covalent enzyme intermediate (E-XMP*) in a reaction reminiscent of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Substrates bind to IMPDH in a random order, hydride transfer is fast and NADH release precedes hydrolysis of E-XMP*. The hydrolysis of E­ XMP* is at least partially rate-limiting. Two inhibitors, mizoribine-monophosphate and a "fat base" nucleotide appear to act as transition state analogs. In contrast, MPA inhibits by sequestering E­ XMP*
Role of Neurotrophin-Trk Interactions in Oncology: The Anti-tumor Efficacy of Potent and Selective Trk Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Pre-Clinical Tumor Models
Authors: Ruggeri Bruce A. , Miknyoczki Shelia J. , Singh Jasbir , Hudkins Robert L.
Published: April 2022

The increasing knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in cancer cell growth has enabled the implementation of mechanism based drug design approaches rather than the more conventional nonspecific approaches. Drugs that interfere with cellular signal transduction pathways are currently a major focus in development of newer therapeutic technologies in oncology. The therapeutic utility of potent and
selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors in oncologic applications has become widely recognized for
several years, however targeting neurotrophin receptors as a molecular target driven approach has only recently been realized. This review presents the hypothesis of the neurotrophin-trk receptors as a viable molecular target for medicinal chemical intervention in tumor biology, followed by an overview of the pre-clinical studies which culminated in the advancement of the first potent trk tyrosine kinase inhibitor CEP-2563 (KT-8391), and the orally active K -252a analog, CEP-701 (KT-5555) into clinical evaluation.
Protein Kinase C in the Treatment of Disease:	Signal Transduction Pathways, Inhibitors, and Agents in Development
Authors: Goekjian Peter G. , Jirousek Michael R.
Published: April 2022

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of enzymes that play a ubiquitous role in intracellular signal transduction. Our understanding of the precise role of PKC has evolved considerably as a result of improved metho­
dology and a better understanding of the signal transduction pathways. A number of primary
pathways previously attributed to PKC have been re-examined and found to involve other kinases as our understanding of the PKC isozymes has evolved. PKC isozymes appear to play distinct, and in some cases opposing roles in the transduction of intracellular signals. Tt:1e development of potent and selective PKC inhibitors, including isozyme-selective inhibitors, has opened new avenues for biochemical and pharmaceutical studies. The role of PKC in some of the pathways relevant to cardiovascular, peripheral microvascular, CNS, oncology, immune and infectious disease states are surveyed. A survey of the current generation of potent and selective ATP-competitive inhibitors is provided. The progress of PKC inhibitors currently in clinical development, including LY333531, ISIS 3521 (CGP 64128A), bryostatin 1, GF109203x, Ro 32-0432 and Ro 31-8220, Go 6976 and Go 7611, CPR 1006, and balanol (SPC 100840) are discussed.
Chemical Process Synthesis of -Amino Acids and Esters
Authors: Abdei-Magid Ahmed F. , Cohen Judith H. , Maryanoff Cynthia A.
Published: April 2022

The importance of p-amino acids and esters for the synthesis of potential therapeutic agents and biologically active compounds is well known and the subject of this special issue. This review outlines some of the recent approaches reported for the synthesis of both racemic and enantiomeric p-amino acids and e ters with emphasis on those used for large scale production. This compilation is written from a chemical process perspective focusing on the practical application of these processes for large scale synthesis. A survey of procedures described in patent publications as well as current advances from chemical process research groups and results from our laboratory are included with emphasis on asymmetric Michael-type additions, addition of metal enolates to imines/sulfinimines, classical and enzymatic resolutions, and reduction of enantiomeric enamines.
Pharmaceutical VIP: Prospects and Problems
Authors: Gozes I. , Fridkin M. , Hill J. M. , Brenneman D. E.
Published: April 2022

Recently, multiple receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide
(VIP) have been molecularly cloned and our understanding of VIP chemistry
and mechanisms of action has been broadened. The following review outlines the physiological effects of the hormone from growth regulation, reproduction, bronchodilation, vasodilation and immune interactions to neurotrophism. VIP-based drug design and non-invasive innovative delivery modes are discussed with emphasis on tumor diagnosis and treatment, impotence treatment and neuroprotection.
Molecular Characterization of the Ligand-Receptor Interaction of
Neuropeptide Y
Authors: lngenhoven Nikolaus , G. Beck-Sickinger Annette
Published: April 2022

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) consists of 36 amino acids and is one of the most abundant peptides in the peripheral and central nervous system. Several subtype•s of NPY receptors have been described (Y1• Y6) using segments and analogues of NPY. The Y 1-, Y2- and the Y5-receptor, which
have been cloned, belong to the G-protein coupled hormone receptor family
and will be specially addressed, because they are the endogenous binding sites of neuropeptide Y in human. In contrast, Y4-receptors recognize endogenous PP, Y3"receptors are discussed controversially and the y6-receptor is truncated in human. In this review, we summarize the data
of neuropeptide Y with respect to ligand binding, selectivity, receptor structures and ligand-
receptor complexes by using ligand analogues, site directed mutagenesis and photoaffinity labeling.