bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cancers in Iraq: Half century overview
Authors: Jalal Al-Mosawi Aamir
Published: January 2023

Malignancies have been increasingly regarded as one of the main challenges to healthcare systems throughout the world. Malignant diseases were reported by the World Health Organization to be the second leading cause of death throughout the world accounting for about sixth of all deaths during the year 2018. There has been increasing interest in the historic patterns of malignant disease which can help in establishing understanding of the possible changes of pattern of cancer. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the pattern of malignancy in Iraq during the previous half century. The top five cancers reported in Iraq during ten-year period (1976-1985) were different from the top cancers throughout the world as reported by the World Health Organization during the previous years. The pattern of malignant disease in Iraq during the years 2000 to 2004 was rather different from the pattern of malignancies in other countries like United States of America. The incidence rate of new cases of malignancies were increasing during the previous decades as it was 38.91/100,000 population in 1994, 52.8\100,000 in 2006, and 82.62/100,000 population in 2018. The pattern of cancers in Iraq was not very similar to the latest global pattern reported by the World Health Organization. In addition, the pattern of childhood cancers in Iraq witnessed some changes during the previous decades.
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION THROUGH HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROMOTION OF CLIMATE JUSTICE
Authors: Barua Rose
Published: January 2023

Climate change is causing irreversible and widespread disruption that threatens the lives of many people. Undoubtedly, vulnerable nations which are less capable of adapting to the inimical consequences of climate change bear most of the burdens of climate injustices. Moreover, substantial inequities in resources and funding create a vast gap between developed and poor nations’ capabilities in adapting to climate change. Climate justice, a theory associated with justice and fairness for all nations and communities, has in its heart the protection of people’s rights. The significance of human rights in the matter of climate change gives rise to justice concerns in the international community, including the accountability of the developed countries to help the vulnerable nations in adapting to climate change. In this article, climate change will be evaluated from the viewpoint of least developed, developing and environmentally vulnerable nations. Furthermore, this article focuses on insights into climate justice in evaluating the usefulness of acknowledging the human rights claims which are certain to incur, particularly from climate change, through an adaptation-based framework. Though normatively, the developed countries are the highest emitters of greenhouse gases, human rights law obliges the states with the lowest emission of greenhouse gases to take adequate measures within the maximum resources available to minimize the climate change harms within its territory. This article explores the existing liabilities and accountabilities of states relating to social, economic and cultural rights in adapting to the adverse impact of climate change. It also highlights the obstacles to recognising such obligations, including the state’s unwillingness, global injustice and other limitations giving rise to political, economic, and justice concerns of employing human rights in an adaptation-based framework.
IMPAIRED AND IMPUGNED ROLE OF CJEU TOWARDS ‘EQUALITY’
Authors: Islam Md. Rabiul
Published: January 2023

The institutional regimentation, and an exclusive commitment of the European Union (EU) towards the parochial economic integration across Europe, in these days, has been transcended with its subsequent contributions to dealing with many rightsbased concerns. One of the major legal challenges of the EU seems its institutional competence and the legal regime within which they perform. In its continuous mode of modulation, the EU perhaps relied on the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) mostly due to its scope of judicial activism. Departing from a lego-centric pattern, the CJEU started to concentrate on a wide range of sources of human rights and kept the activism up to realize and uphold ‘equality’ in developing socio-economic human rights. Nonetheless, the CJEU has to chase and transcend the questions of competence dilemma, the plea of vitiating state sovereignty even in universalising the norms of human rights, an inherent teleological approach of the EU institutions including CJEU in deciding the legal questions recounting an imbalance between the market-making policies and socio-economic rights, the trend of intergovernmentalism deploying to supersede the merit of CJEU’s verdict, the disproportionate consideration to sexual orientation, and the non-recognition of hypothetical comparators in some member states. Apart from them, considering the internal factors, the absence of dissenting opinions, and time and resource constraints of this court accounted for the insufficient growth of equality norms across the socio-economic rights in the EU regime have been analysed in this research to get the understanding of the challenges located inside the CJEU.
AN EXPANDING DIAGRAM OF RECIDIVISM OF ROHINGYA OFFENDERS IN BANGLADESH: AN OVERVIEW
Authors: Jariah Ainun , Sharmin Shiffat
Published: January 2023

The Rohingya, an ethnic Muslim minority group of Myanmar, have moved into neighboring Bangladesh as their homeland had revoked their citizenship. Despite many limitations, Bangladesh has given them shelter. The massive increase in population has created a disastrous situation in the Myanmar-Bangladesh border areas. Undocumented Rohingya people sought shelter primarily in Cox’s Bazar and the hilly areas of the south-eastern border of Bangladesh. They rely on natural resources and have easy access to the nearby forests which as a result is endangering the ecological balance and overall environmental condition of the surrounding areas. Being non-citizens logically they have no allegiance to the host country. In addition, they do not have any lawful profession to sustain their lives, which is leading them to get involved in various offences like narcotics smuggling, theft, dacoity, human trafficking, murder, deforestation, adverse possession of forest land, and various criminal activities. The Rohingya crisis may threaten the internal stability of Bangladesh in addition to bringing a humanitarian crisis. Rohingya are gradually assimilating with the locals in Cox’s Bazar and spreading throughout the country, posing a threat to Bangladesh’s national values and identity and impeding national development programs. Unfortunately, they are not solely to blame for all the crimes, local offenders are correspondingly engaged with them. This study attempts to draw the attention of the proper authorities to see the real scenario of criminality among the Rohingya and the impacts of such criminality in Bangladesh.
EFIKASI DIRI DAN DUKUNGAN SOSIAL BERHUBUNGAN DENGAN KEPATUHAN HEMODIALISIS
Authors: Agustina Fitriani , Yusra Ainil
Published: January 2023

Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) require renal replacement therapy, one of which is Hemodialysis (HD). HD that needs to be maintained to maintain the quality of life of CKD patients. Adequate hemodialysis can be achieved by increasing adherence to HD. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between self-efficacy and support for hemodialysis social compliance. The research design used cross sectional with consecutive sampling. This study involved 110 respondents. Collecting data using CKD Self Efficacy questionnaire, MOS social support survey and study documentation. Data analysis using Chi-Square test. The results showed that the proportion of patients who complied with hemodialysis was 60%, there was a significant relationship between self-efficacy (p= 0.000) and social support (p= 0.002) with HD adherence. The recommendation from this study is that nurses need to improve patient self-efficacy and involve social support to improve patient compliance with the hemodialysis program.
PEMBERIAN ROM AKTIF TERHADAP TINGKAT KEMAMPUAN ADL DASAR PADA PASIEN POST OPERASI FRAKTUR EKSTREMITAS BAWAH DENGAN TINDAKAN ORIF DI RSUD DR. ZAINOEL ABIDIN BANDA ACEH
Authors: Taufik  , Sitio Roma , Elvin Said Devi , Reubiyana Zakiah
Published: January 2023

Based on data from the WHO, in 2013 there were 1.3 million people suffering from fractures due to traffic accidents. Fracture patients have limitations in carrying out their daily activities and active ROM exercises need to be done. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of giving active ROM on the level of basic ADL ability in postoperative lower extremity fracture patients with ORIF action at RSUDZA Banda Aceh in 2018. The research design used in this study was Quasi Experiment with Static Group Comparison, Sampling in this study conducted by purposive sampling technique totaling 20 respondents. Data was collected using the basic ADL observation sheet. The results showed that the basic ADL ability scores in the intervention group were mostly in the mild dependency category, as much as 60%, while in the control group many were in the moderate dependency category, as much as 40%. Basic ADL in postoperative lower extremity fracture patients with ORIF action in Raudhah 6 and Raudhah 7 RSUDZA Banda Aceh (p = 0.008) which means Ha is accepted and H0 is rejected. The importance of doing active ROM for postoperative lower extremity fracture patients with ORIF action to help the healing process. It is hoped that nurses will provide an explanation of active ROM exercises as a permanent activity in an effort to prevent loss of body function abilities.
ASUHAN KEPERAWATAN PADA PASIEN DENGAN POST OPERATIF HERNIA INGUINALIS : STUDI KASUS
Authors: Muchtar Afdhal , Sitio Roma , Rimadeni Yeni , Muna Naylul
Published: January 2023

Inguinal hernia is defined as a lump of an organ through the inguinal cleft in the abdominal wall. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2010-2015 hernia patients reached nearly 20 million cases and there were 20 million cases of inguinal hernia surgery every year. In Indonesia, it is estimated that there are 300 thousand cases. Based on data obtained from the HCU Room at RSUD Dr. Zainoel Abidin Banda Aceh, from January 2020 to April 2021, there were 14 cases. The purpose of this study was to determine the implementation of nursing care for Mrs. T with postoperative inguinal hernia in the HCU Room of Dr. Zainoel Abidin Hospital Banda Aceh in 2021. In compiling this case study the author uses a descriptive method with a nursing process approach which includes assessment, nursing diagnoses, nursing planning, implementation and evaluation. The results of nursing care were obtained after 3x24 hours the client's pain complaints decreased from a scale of 6 to 4, respiratory status was 18 x/m, daily activities were still assisted. Based on the results of the final evaluation, it was concluded that Mrs. T's problem was partially resolved for the diagnosis of acute pain and activity intolerance. As for the ineffective breathing pattern, the problem is resolved. The suggestions given are expected to improve communication and obtain more accurate data, so that nursing care can be carried out appropriately.
PEMBERIAN RELAKSASI BENSON TERHADAP PENURUNAN NYERI PASIEN POST OPERASI FRAKTUR FEMUR DI RUMAH SAKIT UMUM DAERAH MEURAXA BANDA ACEH
Authors: Nurhayati Nurhayati , Marianthi Dewi , Desiana Desiana , Maulita Raima
Published: January 2023

Pain in postoperative Femur Fracture patients must be addressed immediately because it has an impact on the patient's healing process, because it can affect psychological and physiological conditions. Benson relaxation is one of the methods that can reduce pain, this technique is able to reduce the activity of the sympathetic nerves that control pain, causing a feeling of calm and comfort and will affect the decrease in pain intensity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Benson Relaxation on reducing pain intensity in post-femoral fracture surgery patients at Meuraxa Hospital Banda Aceh in 2019. The method used in this study was a quasi-experimental pre test and post test one group, the number of samples in this study was 14 respondents. Consecutive sampling sampling technique. The time of this research was carried out on June 04 to July 22, 2019. The data were processed using paired t-test and Independent t-test statistical tests. The results of the study used paired t-test statistical tests. It shows that there is a significant difference in pain intensity before and after Benson Relaxation in postoperative femur fracture patients with p value 0.000 (P < 0.05), and the results of the study using the Independent t-test statistic test showed that there was a significant difference in pain intensity between the experimental group and the experimental group. control group of postoperative Femur Fracture patients with p value 0.010 (P < 0.05), so it can be concluded that there is a significant effect on pain intensity after Benson Relaxation in postoperative Femur Fracture patients. It is hoped that patients and nurses can apply the Benson Relaxation Technique after Fracture surgery.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR NURSING DALAM MENGHADAPI BENCANA DI KOMUNITAS
Authors: Rizki Wan Oktabina  , Khaira Nuswatul , Desiana Desiana , Nurhayati Nurhayati , Hayati Wirda , Fitri Rahma Dalila , Furiansyah Putra
Published: January 2023

Nurses are the health profession with the most number when compared to other health professions. The competence of nurses in emergency preparedness is obtained through the educational process in higher education including knowledge, skills and attitudes in dealing with emergencies caused by disasters. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of nursing students about emergency preparedness in disasters. This study uses a quantitative descriptive method using Scale of Perception of Disaster Preparedness among Nurses (SPDPN) questionnaire which consists of 3 (three) components, namely the preparation stage, intervention stage and post-disaster stage. The respondents of this study were 49 students of the Diploma Three Nursing Program in Banda Aceh. The results showed that the mean value for the Preparation Stage is 4.4, the Intervention Stage is 4 and the Post Disaster Stage is 4. The conclusion from this study is nursing students' perceptions for emergency nursing showed a positive perception. Beside it the learning process followed by the simulations can increase students' confidence in dealing with disasters.
Christian Wolff and Immanuel Kant on the Existence of God
Authors: Kryshtop Ludmila E.
Published: January 2023

The positions of Christian Wolff and Im­manuel Kant on the possibility of proving the existence of God require some examination. Wolff’s critique of the physical-theological proof and his proposed ways of improving it are here analysed. God is central to Wolff’s philosophical system and the fundamental prerequisite of his theoretical and practical philosophy. Although Wolff insists that the natural law is inherent in human nature and can therefore be comprehended by human reason without turning to divine revelation, in reality God is the creator of this natural law and the cause of its perfection. Accordingly, faith in the true God in Wolff’s philosophy is obligatory for achieving the supreme degree of virtue, whereas pagans and atheists can achieve only its lowest degree. Kant criticises traditional proofs of the existence of God both in his pre-critical and critical periods. The author looks at the role God plays in Kant’s practical philosophy. Comparing the positions of Kant and Wolff, the author finds many similarities between them. Chief of them is that although both thinkers saw the moral/natural law as universal and obligating regardless of a person’s faith in God, in fact faith in God turned out to be an inevitable consequence of the true moral attitude of the individual.
Kant oder Heidegger – Metaphysik, Anthropologie oder Existenzial-Ontologie? Kritische Bemerkungen zu einer Alternative Heideggers im Jahr 1929
Authors: Enskat Rainer
Published: January 2023

In his first Kant book of 1929 Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics Martin Heidegger focusses, not surprisingly, on one of the two central themes from his two years earlier major book Being and Time — the question of the essence of time. It cannot be overseen that he tries to show that his conception of time is superior to Kant’s. Nevertheless, it is high time to examine whether Heidegger’s claim can bear up against a micro-hermeneutical and micro-analytical test. Such an examination, to be fair and appropriate to the leading aspects of the two philosophers, has to bear in mind from the very beginning the deep differences of these leading aspects: Kant concentrates on the formal structure and the strictly subjective status of time as a form of intuition, Heidegger concentrates on the roles time plays in the daily human world orientation. Under these methodical and conceptional pre-suppositions a close examination must come the result, that both conceptions complement, even complete one another. Heidegger comes closer to the type of time-experience as it is exposed by St. Augustine, Kant exposes a strict analysis of the human way to conceive of the successive form of time. It is evidently possible for us today to continue on both paths.
The Ethics of the Categorical Imperative. Lossky under the Influence of Kant
Authors: Bonadyseva Polina R.
Published: January 2023

The Russian intuitivist philosopher Nikolay Lossky repeatedly admitted Kant’s substantial formative influence on him as a scholar. Moreover, Lossky was a disciple of the Russian Kantian Aleksander Vvedensky, and was one of the most successful translators of the first Critique. However, his own philosophical project is rather the opposite of the critical programme. While in the framework of Lossky’s epistemology the specificities of his reading of Kant have received a fair amount of attention in Russian scholarship, in the ethical field the Russian philosopher’s comments on Kant have passed largely unnoticed. My task is to reveal the link between Kant’s practical philosophy and Lossky’s ethics. A demonstration of the degree of Kant’s influence in this field will enlarge and concretise the current thinking about Lossky’s perception of Kant. We are looking at a whole range of parallels and borrowings. My comparative analysis focuses on the following aspects: 1) definition and uses of the term “categorical imperative”, 2) free will as the condition of the possibility of moral action, 3) the cause of moral evil, 4) the role of the idea of God in ethics. As a result, I reveal how Lossky used elements of Kant’s practical philosophy as conceptual, terminological and rhetorical resources in his theonomic ethics, and how the Russian philosopher interpreted them in line with his own doctrine. I argue that Lossky’s use of the Kantian moral terminology is incautious and debatable and point out several intersections of ethical argumentations in the light of its projection on radically different ontological and epistemological principles.
Space and Time as A Priori Forms in the Works of Hermann Cohen and Ivan Lapshin
Authors: Savintsev Vyacheslav I. , Popova Varvara S.
Published: January 2023

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the need to rethink the status of space and time which Kant considered to be a priori forms of sensibility was prompted by the emergence of new approaches to the methodology of scientific cognition. In neo-Kantian interpretation these cognitive forms acquire a special epistemological status, manifesting themselves in theoretical research as “pre-given” foundations of knowledge. It seems necessary to conduct a comparative analysis of two interconnected neo-Kantian concepts, of Hermann Cohen and Ivan Lapshin. Studying Kant’s philosophy since his student days, Lapshin gradually came to the conclusion that the need to clarify and develop Kant’s transcendental method was dictated by the development of scientific knowledge. Indeed, the works of the Russian neo-Kantian contain echoes and polemical adjustments of Cohen’s spatio-temporal ideas. Our study has revealed common epistemological attitudes in Cohen and Lapshin: the wish to improve elements of Kantian philosophy, adjusting them to prove the possibility of scientific-theoretical cognition and of overcoming psychologism and developing the logicistic approach to the critique of cognition. Each of the two authors developed their own “mechanism” of reducing space and time to a range of intellectual procedures for the construction of the object of knowledge. In Cohen’s account space and time pre-establish the language of observation and found all scientific-theoretical work. Lapshin, on the other hand, in discussing the formal and substantive features of these categories (the introduction of “axioms” of time, the need to specify the concepts of time and space through other categories), notes that their use in scientific judgment implies an epistemological givenness of the concept of the object. This I see as a variant of solving one and the same epistemological task. I submit that Lapshin worked out an independent concept of space and time as cognitive forms that are congruent with the spirit of European neo-Kantianism and contemporary science.
Free-Surface Effects on Two-Dimensional Hydrofoils by RANS-VOF Simulations
Authors: Pernod Laetitia , Sacher Matthieu , Wackers Jeroen , Augier Benoit , Bot Patrick
Published: January 2023

Foiling yachts and crafts are both very sensitive to the flying height in terms of stability and performance, raising the scientific issue of the influence of the free-surface when the foil is at low submergence. This work presents numerical simulations of a 2D hydrofoil section NACA0012 at 5° angle of attack in the vicinity of the free-surface, for different values of the submergence depth, for a chord-based Froude number of 0.571 and a Reynolds number of 159,000. Unsteady-Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations are solved with a mixture model to capture the free surface (Volume Of Fluid method), and using an automatic grid refinement. Verification of the numerical model and validation with data from the literature are presented. Deformation of the free surface and alteration of the hydrodynamic forces compared to the deep immersion case are observed for a submergence depth-to-chord ratio ℎ/𝑐 lower than 2. The foil drag increases up to more than three times the infinite-depth value at ℎ/𝑐≈0.5. The lift force slightly increases until ℎ/𝑐 around 1, and then decreases sharply. For ℎ/𝑐<0.5, the pressure field around the foil is totally modified and the lift is swapped to downward. The study highlights the importance of considering the effect of finite submergence to compute foils’ hydrodynamic forces, for example to be used in Velocity Prediction Programs (VPP) of foiling crafts.
To Live the Piety of Reason: Spinoza’s “Authentic” Choice
Authors: Swazo Norman K.
Published: January 2023

ABSTRACT: Whether rabbinic authorities should remove the excommunication (cherem) of philosopher Benedict de Spinoza has been a matter of debate in recent years. Spinoza’s philosophical thought, however, demonstrates that this debate would not matter to him.  His pantheism, developed in the Theological-Philosophical Treatise and the Ethics, will ever be a radical contestation of monotheism.  Juxtaposing his philosophical views to the fictional narrative that existential psychologist Irvin D. Yalom offers, in his novel The Spinoza Problem, provides plausible psychological insight into Spinoza’s post-cherem identity in pursuit of authentic selfhood (‘authentic’ in Heidegger’s sense of ‘authenticity,’ Eigentlichkeit). Thereby, we can appreciate the enduring import of Spinoza’s radical enlightenment, the authentic choice of the identity he adopted, and his indefatigable commitment to the piety of reason, i.e., intellectual love of God (amor Dei intellectus).
Evaluation of segmentation methods for RGB colour image-based detection of Fusarium infection in corn grains using support vector machine (SVM) and pre-trained convolution neural network (CNN)
Authors:   School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1 Canada, Rathna Priya T.S. , Manickavasagan Annamalai ,   School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1 Canada
Published: January 2023

This study evaluated six segmentation methods (clustering, flood-fill, graph-cut, colour-thresholding, watershed, and Otsu’s-thresholding) for segmentation accuracy and classification accuracy in discriminating Fusarium infected corn grains using RGB colour images. The segmentation accuracy was calculated using Jaccard similarity index and Dice coefficient in comparison with the gold standard (manual segmentation method). Flood-fill and graph-cut methods showed the highest segmentation accuracy of 77% and 87% for Jaccard and Dice evaluation metrics, respectively. Pre-trained convolution neural network (CNN) and support vector machine (SVM) were used to evaluate the effect of segmentation methods on classification accuracy using segmented images and extracted features from the segmented images, respectively. The SVM based two-class model to discriminate healthy and Fusarium infected corn grains yielded the classification accuracy of 84%, 79%, 78%, 74%, 69% and 65% for graph-cut, watershed, clustering, flood-fill, colour-thresholding, and Otsu’s-thresholding, respectively. In pretrained CNN model, the classification accuracies were 93%, 88%, 87%, 84%, 61% and 59% for flood-fill, graph-cut, colour-thresholding, clustering, watershed, and Otsu’s-thresholding, respectively. Jaccard and Dice evaluation metrics showed the highest correlation with the pretrained CNN classification accuracies with R2 values of 0.9693 and 0.9727, respectively. The correlation with SVM classification accuracies were R2–0.505 for Jaccard and R2–0.5151 for Dice evaluation metrics.
Regulatory T cells suppress the formation of potent KLRK1 and IL-7R expressing effector CD8 T cells by limiting IL-2
Authors: Tsyklauri Oksana , Chadimova Tereza , Niederlova Veronika , Kovarova Jirina , Michalik Juraj , Malatova Iva , Janusova Sarka , Ivashchenko Olha , Rossez Helene , Drobek Ales , Vecerova Hana , Galati Virginie , Kovar Marek , Stepanek Ondrej
Published: January 2023

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are indispensable for maintaining self-tolerance by suppressing conventional T cells. On the other hand, Tregs promote tumor growth by inhibiting anti-cancer immunity. In this study, we identified that Tregs increase the quorum of self-reactive CD8+ T cells required for the induction of experimental autoimmune diabetes in mice. Their major suppression mechanism is limiting available IL-2, an essential T-cell cytokine. Specifically, Tregs inhibit the formation of a previously uncharacterized subset of antigen-stimulated KLRK1+ IL7R+ (KILR) CD8+ effector T cells, which are distinct from conventional effector CD8+ T cells. KILR CD8+ T cells show a superior cell killing abilities in vivo. The administration of agonistic IL-2 immunocomplexes phenocopies the absence of Tregs, i.e., it induces KILR CD8+ T cells, promotes autoimmunity, and enhances anti-tumor responses in mice. Counterparts of KILR CD8+ T cells were found in the human blood, revealing them as a potential target for immunotherapy.
Phenome-wide Mendelian randomisation analysis identifies causal factors for age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Julian Thomas H , Cooper-Knock Johnathan , MacGregor Stuart , Guo Hui , Aslam Tariq , Sanderson Eleanor , Black Graeme CM , Sergouniotis Panagiotis I
Published: January 2023

Background:

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the industrialised world and is projected to affect >280 million people worldwide by 2040. Aiming to identify causal factors and potential therapeutic targets for this common condition, we designed and undertook a phenome-wide Mendelian randomisation (MR) study.

Methods:

We evaluated the effect of 4591 exposure traits on early AMD using univariable MR. Statistically significant results were explored further using: validation in an advanced AMD cohort; MR Bayesian model averaging (MR-BMA); and multivariable MR.

Results:

Overall, 44 traits were found to be putatively causal for early AMD in univariable analysis. Serum proteins that were found to have significant relationships with AMD included S100-A5 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, p-value = 6.80E−06), cathepsin F (OR = 1.10, p-value = 7.16E−05), and serine palmitoyltransferase 2 (OR = 0.86, p-value = 1.00E−03). Univariable MR analysis also supported roles for complement and immune cell traits. Although numerous lipid traits were found to be significantly related to AMD, MR-BMA suggested a driving causal role for serum sphingomyelin (marginal inclusion probability [MIP] = 0.76; model-averaged causal estimate [MACE] = 0.29).

Conclusions:

The results of this MR study support several putative causal factors for AMD and highlight avenues for future translational research.

Funding:

This project was funded by the Wellcome Trust (224643/Z/21/Z; 200990/Z/16/Z); the University of Manchester’s Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund (Wellcome ISSF) grant (204796/Z/16/Z); the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Academic Clinical Fellow and Clinical Lecturer Programmes; Retina UK and Fight for Sight (GR586); the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (1150144).
Internal neural states influence the short-term effect of monocular deprivation in human adults
Authors: Chen Yiya , Gao Yige , He Zhifen , Sun Zhouyuan , Mao Yu , Hess Robert F , Zhang Peng , Zhou Jiawei
Published: January 2023

The adult human visual system maintains the ability to be altered by sensory deprivation. What has not been considered is whether the internal neural states modulate visual sensitivity to short-term monocular deprivation. In this study we manipulated the internal neural state and reported changes in intrinsic neural oscillations with a patched eye open or closed. We investigated the influence of eye open/eye closure on the unpatched eye’s contrast sensitivity and ocular dominance (OD) shifts induced by short-term monocular deprivation. The results demonstrate that internal neural states influence not only baseline contrast sensitivity but also the extent to which the adult visual system can undergo changes in ocular dominance.
Better Attitudes toward Foreigners: Effects of Dual-Identity, Identity Fusion with the Country and Humanity
Authors:   Universidad de Atacama, Landabur Ayala Rodrigo , Wilson Alcalde Juan E. ,   Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Chile
Published: January 2023

Social categorization implies a difference between “we” and “they”, motivating people to create or maintain a positive group distinctiveness, which leads to intergroup bias. The common ingroup identity model proposes that recategorization from separated subgroups into an inclusive superordinate group can reduce intergroup bias. However, further research shows that bias reduction is more likely when a dual identity is created, wherein the ingroup and superordinate identities are simultaneously salient and, thus, ingroup distinctiveness is safeguarded within this recategorization process. The present study examined the effect of dual versus common identity representations on attitudes toward foreigners, as well as the dependence of this effect on identity fusion with the country and all humanity. Participants (n = 149) were assigned to one of two conditions: Worldwide (common) Identity, and Dual-Identity. Regression analysis indicated that, relative to the worldwide identity condition, the dual-identity condition produced more positive attitudes toward foreigners: less willingness to fight, greater perceived common identity, and stronger trust. This last result was moderated by identity fusion with the country and all humanity. Findings suggest that to reduce intergroup bias, it is important that people perceive themselves as members of all humanity without having to relinquish their ingroup identity
Trends and Market Integration of Kharif Sorghum in Beed District of Maharashtra
Authors: Chopade Vishakha A. , Perke Digamber S. , Bharti Shriniwas V.
Published: January 2023

Sorghum cultivation has declined over the period of time farmer’s turned to production high lucrative cereals such as rice, wheat, corn, pulses and competitive crops like oilseeds and cotton. The District Statistic Board of  Beed has reported that the cultivation area for Kharif Sorghum in the year 2020 to 2021 were 7194 hectors and 481 kg per hector respectively. The time series data of sorghum arrivals and prices were collected from APMCs Beed, Dharur and Parli during the period 2001-2020 to study the growth and market integration of selected markets.  The trends and annual compound growth rate in arrivals and prices of Kharif Sorghum was calculated by using linear and exponential form respectively where as Market integration was worked out by estimating Bivariate correlation analysis. The present study reported that Beed market has positive annual growth rate, while in Dharur and Parli markets has negatively significant annual growth rate in Kharif Sorghum arrivals. Beed, Dharur and Parli markets showed positive and non-significant growth rate in prices of Kharif Sorghum. The said study also revealed that there was strong association of sorghum prices among the selected markets.
Bacterial Vaginosis: Prevalence and Risk Factors among Women in Dakar, Senegal
Authors: Ndiaye Babacar , Diop Abdou , Gaye Rama , Koko Marcel Koumondji Lauriane , Abdoulaye Diallo Thierno , Mahou Chantal , Ba Abdoulaye , Seck Abdoulaye
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an imbalance of the vaginal flora that most commonly affects women of childbearing age. It is characterised by discomfort due to vaginal discharge and is associated with serious complications in women. We aimed to determine the prevalence of BV and its risk factors.

Methodology: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional descriptive study in November 2020 at the Pasteur Institute of Dakar among women who were seen for vaginal sampling. We collected the following parameters: age, parity, history of infection, pregnancy and contraception. VB was diagnosed using the Amsel criteria and the Nugent score. Scoring is based on the presence of different bacterial morphotypes where a score ≥ 7 indicates the presence of BV, 4-6 indicates intermediate flora and 0- 3 normal flora. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0.A statistically significant difference between the occurrence of bacterial vaginosis and a risk factor was retained for a p value < 0.05.

Results: A total of 236 patients were included with a median age of 38 years. The prevalence of BV was 20.3%. It was more prevalent in women aged between [30-40 years] (28/101, 27.7%) followed by the age group [20-30 years] (13/51, 25.5%) with a statistically significant difference (p=0.0001).VB was more prevalent in nulliparous or primiparous women (28/118, 23.7%) and in those with no history of vaginal infections (20/83, 24.1%). Pregnant women and women without contraception were more affected with respectively (12/42, 28.6%) and (43/199, 21.6%). No relationship was found between BV and these previous potential risk factors.

Conclusion: BV is a very common condition in women of childbearing age. Its complexity motivates numerous researches in order to elucidate its real implication in the occurrence of adverse gynecological conditions.
Anti Colton-A Foeto-Neonatal Haemolytic Disesase: Diagnosis; Clinical Outcome and Family Study
Authors: Gessoni G. , Collodel L. , Vaccara I. , Pivetta M. , Mancuso T. , Lago P. , Cattarozzi A. , Revelli N. , Barzan A. , Cavicchioli P.
Published: January 2023

The authors report a case of neonatal haemolytic disease (HDN) attributable to maternal allo immunization to a high frequency antigen present on paternal red blood cells which have been identified as Colton-a (Coa).

The case seemed worthy of reporting not only for the relative rarity of HDN from anti Coa but for the rigorous approach followed in the immunohaematological follow-up of pregnancy and for the diagnostic effort expended in identifying the specificity of the antibody. A family study of ascendants, collaterals and descendants was also carried out using genotyping techniques.
Ethnobotanical Survey and Some Biological Activities of Ageratum conyzoides Collected in Southern-Benin
Authors: Chabi-Sika Kamirou , Sina Haziz , Boya Bawa , Salami Hafiz A. , A. Dossou Gabin , Mama-Sirou Ibrahima , Dansou Glorieuse , Socohou Akim , Nounagnon Martial , Lehmane Halfane , Adjanohoun Adolphe , Baba-Moussa Lamine
Published: January 2023

Aims: Ageratum conyzoides L. is a small annual herbaceous highly odorous plant use in traditional medicine. The aim of this study is to evaluate in vitro antioxidant potential, toxicity and antimicrobial activity of aerial part extracts of A. conyzoides on strains potentially involved in vaginal infections.

Methodology: An ethnobotanical survey has been carried out on A. conyzoides among ethnobotanists and traditional therapists in fifteen markets in the communes of Abomey- Calavi, Cotonou, Zogbodomey, Bohicon and Abomey in Southern Benin. The phytochemical screening was a qualitative analysis based on staining and precipitation reactions. Antimicrobial activity of A. conyzoides aqueous and ethanolic extracts was evaluated on reference and clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli using micro dilutions method in wells from. The toxicity of A. conyzoides extracts was determine using Artemia salina larvae, whereas the antiradical activity was evaluated using the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) method.

Results: The survey showed that the population of Southern-Benin uses A. conyzoides according to different modes of preparation. Also, the administration in the treatment of a variety of pathologies affecting the female reproductive system. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, triterpenes and C- heterosides. The yield of 6.18% for the aqueous extract and 4.32% for the ethanolic extract as recorded. The highest inhibition diameter (24.05 ± 0.5 mm) was obtained using aqueous extract against the clinical S. aureus strain. In contrast, the lowest inhibition diameter (10±0 mm) was obtained against the S. aureus ATCC29213 with the same extract. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration varied from 2.5 to 5 mg/ml. Both extracts show a bactericidal and fungicidal effect on the different strains studied but the sensitivity of the strains to the aqueous extract is better compared to the ethanolic extract. In addition, the aqueous extracts showed higher antioxidant power compared to the ethanolic extract. No toxicity is revealed for both extracts.

Conclusion: The results obtained show that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the aerial part of A. conyzoides have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties on strains involved in vaginal infections and do not present a toxicity.
Evaluation of Anantapuramu District Watershed Projects Using Remote Sensing & GIS Technology
Authors: Reddy P. Venkataram Muni , Kona Sasidhar , Reddy C. P. , Reddy R. V. Sagar Kumar , Reddy Janardhan
Published: January 2023

Change detection studies have been carried out for evaluation of fifteen watersheds in Anantapuramu District of Andhra Pradesh. The study was carried out using high resolution Resourcesat-2, Linear Imaging and Self Scanning-IV (LISS-IV) data of 2011 (pre-treatment) and 2016 (post-treatment) to assess the changes in land use/land cover and biomass over a period of five years (2011-16). With the implementation of the watershed developmental activities, an additional area of 14440 ha has been brought under cultivation. The output of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index classification indicates the increase in dense vegetation from 5842 ha to 13160 ha. An additional area of 396 ha increased under water bodies and 1101 ha waste land converted to cultivable land due to construction of farm ponds, percolation tanks and check dams.
Screening of Anti-fungal Bacillus Strains and Influence of their Application on Cocoa Beans Fermentation and Final Bean Quality
Authors: Kadjo Adobi Christian , Beugre Guézéré Corinne , Sess-Tchotch Didier-Axel , Kedjebo Kra Brou Didier , Mounjouenpou Pauline , Durand Noël , Fontana Angélique , Guehi Simplice Tagro
Published: January 2023

Aims: Contamination with filamentous fungi reduces the quality of cocoa beans and poses a health risk for consumers due to the potential accumulation of mycotoxins. The aim of this study was to develop antifungal Bacillus cultures for cocoa beans fermentation.

Methods and Results: Antifungal activity of 7 Bacillus isolates was investigated using overlay technique. Solid culture media inoculated with bacterial and fungal isolates were cultivated under aerobic conditions at 30 ºC for 5 days.  The Bacillus strain with strong antifungal activity was studied and inoculated to 18 kg box fermentations cocoa beans in Cote d'Ivoire in three time-independent replications each including a spontaneous control fermentation. The comparison of inoculated and spontaneous fermentation processes revealed that the Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 10792 don't affected the fermentation process and cocoa bean quality. The anti-fungal in vivo assays revealed that the Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 10792 completely inhibited growth of all fungi on the surface of cocoa beans. The result showed that sensory evaluation of chocolates is not significant differences for all treatment. The sensory evaluation of control and chocolates made from the inoculated cocoa beans with Bacillus showed excellent sensory quality, demonstrating that Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 10792 did not affect aroma, texture and appearance of chocolate.

Conclusion: From this study, it is revealed that the addition of Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 10792 during fermentation cocoa beans suppress fungal growth and improve the quality of cocoa beans. Therefore, the anti-fungal culture Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 10792 is recommended for future applications and its capacity to limit fungal growth during industrial-scale cocoa bean fermentation should be investigated in further studies.
Assessment of Serum Level of Chitinase-3-Like Protein-1 (Ykl-40) in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients and Its Relation to Disease Activity
Authors: Gamal El-Agamy Aya , Abdel Noor Rasha , M. Mabrouk Maaly , Ahmed El-Tatawy Rania , Salah Hegab Doaa
Published: January 2023

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder where such progress and prognosis cannot be anticipated. Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40) is a multifunctional pro-inflammatory protein that plays a crucial role in immunity and inflammation, as well as in the control of cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis.

Aim of the Work: To investigate the serum level of YKL-40 in SLE patients contrasted to healthy controls and to link it with symptom severity and organ involvement. 

Patients and Methods: A total of 50 subjects; 25 SLE patients and 25 healthy controls matched for age and sex were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The circulating level of YKL-40 was determined using the ELISA technique in patients and controls and was shown to correlate with clinical and laboratory results in SLE patients.

Results: Serum YKL-40 levels were considerably greater in SLE patients compared to controls (P≤ 0.001) and positively correlated with disease activity., ESR, CRP and serum creatinine level. Serum YKL-40 was greater in SLE patients with malar rash, fever and arthralgia and has no relation to lupus nephritis.

Conclusion: During active disease phases, serum YKL-40 may have a role in the inflammatory aetiology of SLE. It may serve as a valuable laboratory test in the future for detecting SLE activity and joint inflammation.
Association Between Preapproval Confirmatory Trial Initiation and Conversion to Traditional Approval or Withdrawal in the FDA Accelerated Approval Pathway
Authors: Shahzad Mahnum , Naci Huseyin , Wagner Anita K.
Published: January 2023

This study examines the Food and Drug Administration’s accelerated approval pathway and whether preapproval initiation was associated with faster conversion to traditional approval or withdrawal for drugs with nononcology indications.
Peer Review in a General Medical Research Journal Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Perlis Roy H. , Kendall-Taylor Jacob , Hart Kamber , Ganguli Ishani , Berlin Jesse A. , Bradley Steven M. , Haneuse Sebastien , Inouye Sharon K. , Jacobs Elizabeth A. , Morris Arden , Ogedegbe Olugbenga , Perencevich Eli , Shulman Lawrence N. , Trueger N. Seth , Fihn Stephan D. , Rivara Frederick P. , Flanagin Annette
Published: January 2023

Importance

Although peer review is an important component of publication for new research, the viability of this process has been questioned, particularly with the added stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

To characterize rates of peer reviewer acceptance of invitations to review manuscripts, reviewer turnaround times, and editor-assessed quality of reviews before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic at a large, open-access general medical journal.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective, pre-post cohort study examined all research manuscripts submitted to JAMA Network Open between January 1, 2019, and June 29, 2021, either directly or via transfer from other JAMA Network journals, for which at least 1 peer review of manuscript content was solicited. Measures were compared between the period before the World Health Organization declaration of a COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, 2020 (14.3 months), and the period during the pandemic (15.6 months) among all reviewed manuscripts and between pandemic-period manuscripts that did or did not address COVID-19.

Main Outcomes and Measures

For each reviewed manuscript, the number of invitations sent to reviewers, proportions of reviewers accepting invitations, time in days to return reviews, and editor-assessed quality ratings of reviews were determined.

Results

In total, the journal sought review for 5013 manuscripts, including 4295 Original Investigations (85.7%) and 718 Research Letters (14.3%); 1860 manuscripts were submitted during the prepandemic period and 3153 during the pandemic period. Comparing the prepandemic with the pandemic period, the mean (SD) number of reviews rated as high quality (very good or excellent) per manuscript increased slightly from 1.3 (0.7) to 1.5 (0.7) (P < .001), and the mean (SD) time for reviewers to return reviews was modestly shorter (from 15.8 [7.6] days to 14.4 [7.0] days; P < .001), a difference that persisted in linear regression models accounting for manuscript type, study design, and whether the manuscript addressed COVID-19.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, the speed and editor-reported quality of peer reviews in an open-access general medical journal improved modestly during the initial year of the pandemic. Additional study will be necessary to understand how the pandemic has affected reviewer burden and fatigue.