bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
USING OF INFORMATION AND METHODOLOGICAL PROVISIONS BY STUDENTS OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Authors: Tkachuk Stanislav , Melnyk Oleksii
Published: December 2021

The purpose of the article is to substantiate the system of information and methodological support for students of vocational education institutions. The authors analyse the ways of training junior bachelors of speciality 121 “Software Engineering”, taking into account the development of information technologies and changes in science, technology, technologies in the legal framework of economics and education.The author found out that the educational process is inadequately provided with educational and methodical materials aimed at the formation of design skills in the field of software development. The content of information activities of junior bachelors on the use of information and methodological support is developed. It consists of the following: development of algorithms that implement the content, and technological components of the content of information and methodological support; development of the code and adjustment of the applied program of information and methodical maintenance; the experimental use of information and methodological support in the educational process; adjusting the information and methodological support based on the results of experimental use; the introduction of information and methodological support in the educational process of the institution of professional higher education; the development of methodological documentation for users of information and methodological support; the development of methodological documentation for a training seminar for potential users of the developed information and methodological support; the design of the results of interdisciplinary design.
Keywords: information and methodological support; institutions of professional higher education; professional education; educational process; information and educational environment; software engineering; digital competence; information system.
PENDAMPINGAN PEMBUATAN LEMBAR KERJA SISWA (LKS) BERBASIS KONTEKTUAL LUBUKLINGGAU PADA GURU SEKOLAH DASAR 41 DAN 42 KOTA LUBUKLINGGAU
Authors: Adha Idul , Refianti Rani
Published: December 2021

Salah satu tujuan kegiatan pendampingan pembuatan lembar kerja siswa (LKS)  berbasis  kontektual lubuklinggau pada guru sekolah dasar  41 dan 42 kota lubuklinggau adalah sebagai salah satu upaya dalam meningkatkan pemahaman guru mengenai pembuatan bahan ajar berupa LKS.  Pada kegiatan ini LKS yang dihasilkan menggunakan konteks kota lubklinggau. Salah satu alasanp pemi[lihan konteks kota Lubuklinggau yakni agar siswa dapat memahami bahwa pembelajaran matematika dapat diaplikasikan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Pada kegiatan pengabdian ini guru telah menghasilkan soal-soal berbasisi konteks kota Lubuklinggau yang selanjutnya soal tersebuat disusun dalam bentuk LKS yang masih sangat sederhana. Selain itu diakhir kegiatan diberikan angket respon terhadap kegiatan pendampingan yang dilaksanakan. Berdasarkan analisis perhitungan angket respon diperoleh skor 77,58 % hal ini mengunjukan bahwa respon guru terhadap kegiatan yang dilaksanakan sangat baik.
PEMBERDAYAAN IBU-IBU PKK DESA JUNGSEMI, KECAMATAN KANGKUNG, KABUPATEN KENDAL MELALUI PELATIHAN PENGOLAHAN SEMPRONG JAGUNG
Authors: Nurdyansyah Fafa , Ginting Rosalina , Hudah Maftukin , Drifanda Valdyan , Affandi Arief Rakhman
Published: December 2021

Desa Jungsemi merupakan salah satu desa yang terletak di Kecamatan Kangkung Kabupaten Kendal, Jawa Tengah yang memiliki potensi sumberdaya terutama produk pertanian berupa jagung. Tim Pengabdian dari Universitas PGRI Semarang berupaya untuk memberdayakan potensi yang ada di Desa tersebut melalui kegiatan pelatihan pembuatan semprong berbahan dasar tepung jagung hasil produksi pertanian masyarakat setempat, serta pelatihan pengemasan produk secara sederhana dan dilanjutkan dengan kegiatan pelatihan pemasaran secara online dengan menggunakan aplikasi dan juga media sosial. Kegiatan ini diikuti oleh mitra masyarakat yaitu Ibu-ibu PKK Desa Jungsemi selama beberapa tahap. Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan bahwa terdapat peningkatan keterampilan masyarakat mitra lebih dari 80% berdasarkan hasil survey serta masyarakat dinilai sangat antusias dalam mengikuti kegiatan ini. Untuk mendukung keberlanjutan program ini maka tim pengabdian terus melakukan monitoring dan evaluasi pasca kegiatan pengabdian dengan melakukan pemantauan terhadap kegiatan mitra.
PELATIHAN PENGGUNAAN SOFTWARE GEOGEBRA DALAM MATERI GEOMETRI PADA MAHASISWA PRODI PENDIDIKAN MATEMATIKA STKIP PGRI LUBUKLINGGAU
Authors: Purwasi Lucy Asri , Luthfiana Maria , S As Elly , Fitriyana Nur
Published: December 2021

Kegiatan ini bertujuan untuk memberikan membekali pengetahuan dan keterampilan menggunakan software GeoGebra dalam proses perkuliahan terutama yang berkaitan dengan ilmu geometri. metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini adalah ceramah, praktek, pelatihan dan diskusi. Peserta pelatihan adalah mahasiswa Program Studi Pendidikan Matematika STKIP PGRI Lubuklinggau yang berjumlah 18 orang mahasiswa. Instrumen yang digunakan sebagai bentuk evaluasi kegiatan pelatihan ini adalah soal tes dan angket respon mahasiswa. Berdasarkan analisis data melalui perhitungan N-Gain antara pretest dan postest diperolah nilai sebesar  0,85  yang menunjukkan  bahwa  peningkatan  pemahaman peserta pelatihan termasuk dalam  kategori  tinggi dan  hasil angket respon mahasiswa menunjukkan respon positif mahasiswa sebesar 89,55% dengan kategori sangat baik.
PENGOLAHAN SAMPAH ORGANIK RUMAH TANGGA MENJADI PUPUK ORGANIK DI KELURAHAN PONOROGO KOTA LUBUKLINGGAU
Authors: Rozi Zico Fakhrur , Samitra Dian , Harmoko Harmoko
Published: December 2021

Every day residents of Lubuklinggau City produce 158.2 tons of household waste. The concept of reuse, reduce, and recycle is still the best way to manage and handle waste with various existing problems. Household waste is divided into 2 parts into organic and inorganic waste. Organic waste is waste that easily decomposes such as food scraps, vegetables, dry leaves, which can still be processed and utilized. Organic waste can be processed into organic fertilizer. The methods used in this service are lectures, discussions, demonstrations and practices of processing household organic waste into organic fertilizer. This activity received a very good response from residents and the Ponorogo Village, Lubuklinggau City, because after participating in the activity, residents received information and were able to process household organic waste to be used as organic fertilizer. In addition, this activity helps the Lubuklinggau City government overcome the problem of household organic waste in Ponorogo Village, Lubuklinggau City and is expected to be a model for other families.
WORKSHOP PEMBUATAN MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN MATEMATIKA BERBASIS VIDEO SCRIBE SEBAGAI ALTERNATIF PEMBELAJARAN DARING
Authors: Refianti Rani , Adha Idul , AS As Elly , Fauziah Anna
Published: December 2021

Kegiatan workshop pembuatan media pembelajaran untuk media pembelajaran matematika berbasis Video Scribe sebagai alternatif pembelajaran online untuk KKG menghasilkan media pembelajaran sederhana buatan guru yang dapat digunakan selama pembelajaran di masa pandemi saat ini. Berdasarkan hasil analisis angket kepraktisan workshop pembuatan media pembelajaran matematika berbasis video scribe sebagai alternatif pembelajaran online bagi KKG untuk indikator pertama diperoleh skor 56 dengan persentase 73,68%. , untuk indikator kedua diperoleh skor 64 dengan persentase 84,21%, untuk indikator ketiga diperoleh skor 60 dengan persentase 78,94%, untuk indikator keempat diperoleh skor 59 dengan persentase 77,63 %, untuk indikator kelima diperoleh skor 70 dengan persentase 92,10%, untuk indikator keenam diperoleh skor 66 dengan persentase 86,84%, dan untuk indikator ketujuh diperoleh skor 72 dengan persentase persentase 94,73%. Secara keseluruhan, nilai rata-rata kepraktisan workshop pembuatan media pembelajaran matematika berbasis video scribe sebagai alternatif pembelajaran online untuk KKG adalah 84,01% dalam kategori baik.
PENINGKATAN PENGETAHUAN ANIMASI VIDEO DAN ROBOTIK DALAM PENERAPAN PROJECT BASE LEARNING DI SMA IT BAITUL JANNAH
Authors: Phelia Arlina , Pramita Galuh , Susanto Try , Widodo Agus , Putra Rio Aditomo Mahardika
Published: December 2021

Peningkatan kualitas Pendidikan menjadikan perkembangan teknologi semakin meningkat pula dan memaksa berbagai pihak untuk dapat mengikuti semua bentuk kegiatan. Menghadapi tantangan tersebut, guru-guru dituntut untuk lebih menguasai teknologi informasi dan penerapan langsung Iptek di sekolah. Salah satu konsep yang dapat dikembangkan untuk sekolah adalah konsep PjBL dengan berbasis sistem informasi dan komputer. Salah satu hal yang dibutuhkan guru adalah pembelajaran dalam membuat animasi video sedangkan dalam menambahkan wawasan baru siswa/i perlu meningkatkan skill dalam melakukan praktikum di sekolah seperti pengetahuan mengenai robotik. Setelah dilakukan sosialisasi para guru-guru maupun siswa/i SMA IT Baitul Jannah didapatkan hasil evaluasi dari penyuluhan terkait pengenalan robotika sederhana sebanyak 90,44% siswa yang belum mengetahui robotik sederhana menjadi 100%. Untuk evaluasi penyuluhan terkait pembelajaran menggunakan aplikasi animasi video didapatkan sebanyak 97,62% menyatakan belum mengetahui dengan jelas aplikasi-aplikasi yang dapat digunakan dalam membuat animasi video menjadi 100%. Hal ini terjadi peningkatan siswa/i maupun para guru yang ingin meningkatkan pemahaman aplikasi sederhana dan dapat dengan mudah mengembangkan media pembelajaran secara animasi dan pengembangan praktik robotik sederhana.
UPAYA MENINGKATKAN HASIL BELAJAR IPS SISWA DENGAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN JIGSAW KELAS VI SEKOALAH DASAR NEGERI 18 LUBUKLINGGAU
Authors: Triyani Tuti
Published: December 2021

This study aims to improve the social studies learning outcomes of Class VI students of SD Negeri 18 Lubuklinggau by using the Jigsaw learning model. The research method used in this study is a classroom action research method (Action Research) using the Jigsaw learning model. Data collection techniques were carried out by means of observation and tests. Based on the results of research using the Jigsaw learning model in class VI students at SD Negeri 18 Lubuklinggau, it turned out to be able to improve student learning outcomes. Student learning outcomes continue to increase in each cycle, in the first cycle of the first meeting the average student learning outcomes of 51.86, the second meeting of 59.45 then in the second cycle of the first female student learning outcomes of 62.14 and at the second meeting 67 .95. and in cycle 3 the first meeting the average student learning outcomes was 71.14 and the second meeting was 85.76
PENGARUH MODEL DISCOVERY LEARNING PADA HASIL BELAJAR BIOLOGI SISWA KELAS X1 SMA BUDI UTOMO
Authors: Lokaria Eka , Harmoko Harmoko
Published: December 2021

One of the learning models that emphasizes learning activities related to the environment around studens is the doscovery learning model which is able to help and improve each studen’s ability to solve problems streng then self concept, encourage each studen to be more active in seeking information and knowledge. This study aims to determine the effecy of the discovery learning model on biologi students at SMA Budi Utomo. The study was conducted in two classes X1.A (control) and X1.B (Experiment) The results of the post-test data analysis using the t-test, obtained a t-value of 2.97. This result is compared with the ttable value at a significant level of 5%, which is 1.68. This shows that the value of tcount (2,97) > ttable (1,68). So it can be concluded that there is an influence of the Discovery Learning learning model on the learning outcomes of Class XI students at SMA Budi Utomo.
UPAYA MENINGKATKAN KINERJA GURU DALAM MENETAPKAN KRITERIA KETUNASAN MINIMAL MELALUI WORKSHOP DI LUBUKLINGGAU
Authors: Fahrunrosi Fahrunrosi
Published: December 2021

Penelitian tindakan sekolah dengan rumusan masalah Bagaimana upaya untuk meningkatkan kemampuan guru dalam menetapkan Kriteria Ketuntasan Minimal (KKM) ? dan apakah melalui Workshop dapat meningkatkan kemampuan guru dalam menetapkan  Kriteria Ketuntasan Minimal ( KKM )  guru mata pelajaran. Adapun tujuan penelitian ini adalah peningkatkan kemampuan guru dalam menetapkan Kriteria Ketuntasan Minimal (KKM)  mata pelajaran. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan dapat bermanfaat dan memberikan pengalaman belajar bagi guru, karena melalui Workshop  guru diberikan materi dan latihan menetapkan Kriteria Ketuntasan Minimal ( KKM ) sesuai dengan mata pelajarannya. Serta guru mata pelajaran dapat memiliki kemampuan dalam menetapkan Kriteria Ketuntasan Minimal sehingga proses belajar mengajar  lebih baik. Guru yang diikut sertakan dalam  penelitian melalui kegiatan workshop ini sebanyak 40  orang. Rancangan penelitian bersifat siklustik, terdiri dari 4 tahap  yaitu perencanaan, pelaksanaan, observasi, dan refleksi Dari analisis diperoleh bahwa terjadi peningkatan kesiapan dan Kinerja guru dalam menetapkan kriteria ketuntasan minimal dari siklus I ke siklus II. Ketercapaian indikator kinerja terdapat  pada tindakan siklus  II.  Oleh karena itu dapat disimpulkan bahwa melalui workshop  dapat meningkatkan Kinerja guru dalam menetapkan kriteria ketuntasan  minimal di Lubuklinggau. Dengan demikian dapat disarankan kepada pengawas atau peneliti  yang  lain bahwa kegiatan workshop dapat dipakai sebagai salah satu alternatif dalam meningkatkan Kinerja guru  dalam menetapkan kriteria ketuntasan  minimal.
Demographic Pattern, Tumor Size and Stage of Breast Cancer in Africa: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Olayide Agodirin , Isiaka Aremu , Ganiyu Rahman , Samuel Olatoke , Halimat Akande , Julius Olaogun , Anyan Romanoff
Published: December 2021

Purpose: Understanding the epidemiology of breast cancer (BC) in Africa, as well as regional variation is essential for planning future intervention. Our objective was to describe summary estimates of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of BC in Africa, thus providing researchers and policymakers baseline data for planning diagnostic and treatment programs to improve BC outcomes in the future.Method: We screened African publications on BC between 2010 and 2019 in PubMed, AJOL, Google, ScienceDirect, and ResearchGate to estimate the distribution of socio-demographic and clinical tumor characteristics. The meta-analysis used the random effect model. Result: Eighty articles were eligible, including 33,199 total patients. Overall, 58% of patients were <50 years old. In East Africa, 38% (95% CI 31-45) were diagnosed before 40 years. Conversely, in Southern Africa, 37% were diagnosed after 60 years, with Caucasian-like age distribution. The overall prevalence of male BC was high (3%), with East Africa having the highest prevalence (5% (95% CI 5.0-6.0)). Only 2% (95% CI 1-2) of patients were diagnosed with carcinoma-in-situ. Invasive tumors were 7% stage I, 26% stage II, 50% stage III, and 17% stage IV. Seventy per-cent (95% CI 60-80) had clinical nodal involvement. The smallest tumors were in North Africa. The largest and most advanced tumors were in West Africa. Trend analysis showed decreasing age, an increasing population of unmarried BC patients, a relatively high proportion of uneducated BC patients, and a stable proportion of late-stage disease in the last decade. Conclusion: Regional variation in the presentation of BC throughout Africa necessitates region/country-specific targets for improving BC control.
Les infirmiers algologues belges analysent la classification des interventions en soins infirmiers
Authors: Chard’homme N. , Marteau V.
Published: December 2021

Le Groupe des infirmier(ière)s francophones douleur (GIFD) a analysé 102 interventions en soins infirmiers de la classification internationale (Nursing Intervention Classification), en tenant compte de la législation, de la discipline infirmière, des missions exigées par le SPF Santé publique et de l’expérience professionnelle des membres du groupe. Au terme de cette analyse, un consensus a été obtenu pour retenir 102 interventions. Parmi ces interventions, un tiers stipulent des activités réalisées par les infirmiers algologues, un tiers des activités réalisées partiellement et un tiers des activités réalisées en collaboration. Neuf interventions concernent des thérapies non médicamenteuses, nécessitant une formation complémentaire à la formation actuelle en algologie. Ce travail complète le profil de fonctions de l’infirmier algologue, publié en 2009.
Life Imprisonment without Parole in China: Substituting Death for Economic Crimes
Authors: Saleem Hafiz Abdul Rehman , Khan Imtiaz Ahmad , Mukhtar Hamid
Published: December 2021

Life imprisonment without parole and commutation (LWOP) came under Ninth Amendment to the 1997 Criminal Law of Peoples Republic of China as a proviso to the suspended death penalty for corruption crimes. The legislative intent given for the arrival of new punishment depicts LWOP as a solution for the disparity in a suspended death sentence, controlling judicial discretion and proportional punishment for corruption which is debated as not an exhaustive and compelling justification. The manuscript addresses a substantive question; if LWOP is suitable for the criminal justice system in China? And is answered under three normative claims, namely necessity, effectiveness, and humanness.The examination of the topic contends LWOP is more of an effective tool in broader anti-corruption strategy than a need for domestic utilization.LWOP in China gives no hope of release and stands inconsistent with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights
Buffered Border Corridor: The Geo-Political and Strategic Significance of the Wakhan Corridor
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Shakeel , Ahmed Munib , Malik Muhammad Shoaib
Published: December 2021

The geo-political importance of the Wakhan corridor and itspotential has been understood by many writers in differentways. It has its magnificence of its geographical location and a means ofcommunication as well as a highway for trade. During the Soviet occupationof Afghanistan, the Wakhan corridor remained a strategic post for its forcesand had a pivotal position in the global conflict of the two superpowers inthe early 1980's. It has strategic roads towards Afghanistan, Tajikistan,Sinkiang of China, and the northern belt of Pakistan. Pakistan as well asChina both has larger geo-political and geostrategic interests in this region;along with the U.S. strategic clash with China, it seems that the WakhanCorridor would serve as a testing ground for major land warfare in thecoming years. This paper attempts to analyze the geopolitical and strategicsignificance of the Wakhan Corridor.
Social capital as a constitutive element of public security
Authors: Adamczyk Monika
Published: December 2021

When looking for new solutions to the old social problems, people pay attention to important issues for the good functioning of today’s society, including interpersonal relations, trust, or standards. The term “social capital” has been used for several decades to describe and explain social and political as well as economic changes that took place as a result of the social and economic transformation. It also refers to activities including, among others, the creation of partnerships and democratic relations in local communities in which the social capital forms a basis of permanent networks of social involvement, trust, and mutuality. The purpose of this article is to present the benefits of the local community arising from social capital resources and their positive impact on public safety.
Tourism networks - interdependent relationships among public policy actors
Authors: KNUPP Marcos , EMMENDOERFER Magnus , VELASCO GONZÁLEZ Maria
Published: December 2021

This chapter dialogues with the field of studies and analysis of public policy, which has its pioneering work in the 1940s and is in constant development. Given the various definitions of public policies, there is a convergence that these include articulations between various actors - public and private - which makes it important to consider the relational perspective for analysis purposes. Governments have been dedicated to formulating public policies in specific domains, seeking to guide, regulate, as well as develop certain activities, such as tourism. In this sense, the municipality of Ouro Preto, a World Heritage Site, a tourist destination with a highly relevant historical and cultural heritage, which has established public tourism policies and tourism management tools, becomes a potential locus for investigation. In this context, we seek to investigate the interactions, from the perspective of the network approach, between the actors that make up the municipal public management of tourism in the city of Ouro Preto, Brazil, considering the multidimensionality of political interest in the public-private sector. The contribution of this work continues to improve the understanding of the implications of network management in tourist destinations, articulating the themes of governance and policy networks that circumstantially pass-through discussions on social networks. Thus, contribute to the field of studies on collaborative forms in tourism planning and management. Finally, it is concluded that the application of this theoretical-methodological model allows to assess the articulations and behaviors of the actors within spaces of participation, as well as the positions and exchanges that affect the results facing the construction of public tourism policies.
The Contours of New Social and Political Сleavages in the EU Countries
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences (IE RAS), Bisson Lyubov , Lunkin Roman N. ,   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences (IE RAS)
Published: December 2021

Using Lipset and Rokkan's concept of political cleavages as a base, the authors identify the contours of new social and political divisions in EU countries which have been exacerbated by a series of crises. New divisions are caused by two kinds of factors: socio-economic and value-based. The authors characterize the growing gap between the center (metropolis) and the periphery (province cities and towns). The article also examines the processes of erosion of the middle class and the formation of a new working class in European countries, which go beyond the classical opposition of employers and employees. The article outlines the impact of these splits on value orientations of EU citizens and the possible emergence of new political conflicts. The authors conclude that new divides can lead to protest mobilization in the European Union, a vivid example of which was the "yellow vest" movement and demonstrations against lockdown measures during the COVID pandemic. Another consequence of those divisions will be a change in the electorate structure and the transformation of the party landscape. The article concludes with a brief analysis of the significance of new social cleavages for further development of European integration. It is noted that during the coronavirus crisis citizens' demand for a "Social Europe" has increased.
PDGFRB is a potential prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltrates in gastric cancer
Authors: Liu Baohong , Xiao Xingxing , Lin Ziqin , Lou Yongliang , Zhao Lingling
Published: December 2021

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common cancer with high mortality and morbidity rates worldwide. Although medical and surgical treatments have improved, the mechanisms of the progression of GC remain unclear. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRB) plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation and has been suggested as a prognostic marker of cancer. This study aimed to explore the relationship of PDGFRB expression with clinicopathologic characteristics, immune cell infiltration status, and prognosis in GC. In this study, we visualized the expression and prognostic values of PDGFRB in GC using the Oncomine, UALCAN, GEPIA, and Kaplan-Meier Plotter databases. And then we explored the potential relationships between PDGFRB expression and the levels of immune cell infiltration using the TIMER, GEPIA databases and CIBERSORT algorithm. Furthermore, LinkedOmics analysis was performed to explore the functions for PDGFRB. The results showed close correlations between PDGFRB and immune cell infiltration especially M2 Macrophage infiltration in GC. High PDGFRB expression was related to poor outcomes in GC. High PDGFRB expression can negatively affect GC prognosis by promoting angiogenesis and modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. These results strongly suggest that PDGFRB can be used as a prognostic biomarker of GC and provide novel insights into possible immunotherapeutic targets.
Comparative the clinical value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, enhancement CT and MRI for diagnosing of liver lesions
Authors: Zhang Gang , Liu Dandan
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND:

To investigate the accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, CT-enhancement and MRI in the diagnosis of liver-occupying lesions.

METHODS:

176 patients with suspected liver lesions in our hospital were retrospectively studied from July 2014 to July 2016. All of the 176 patients were diagnosed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, enhanced CT and MRI, and the pathological examination was performed. The results of pathological examination were regarded as the results of the diagnosis. The diagnostic accuracywas then compared among contrast-enhanced ultrasound, enhanced CT and MRI of these patients.

RESULTS:

The results of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography showed that 164 of the 176 patients had liver-occupying lesions, and the accuracy of the diagnosis was 95.35%, which was significantly higher than that of CT enhancement and MRI (80.23% 84.30%). The accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, in the diagnosis of primary liver cancer was significantly higher than that of CT enhancement and MRI ( P < 0.05), and the difference was significant difference ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

The examination of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is relatively simple, and the patients can get duplicateexamination, so we should choose the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography as the preferred method of diagnosis in liver mass, especially primary liver cancer.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Treatment for Veterans with Cognitive Impairment and Multiple Comorbidities
Authors: Cheng Jauhtai , Fairchild J. Kaci , McNerney M. Windy , Noda Art , Ashford J. Wesson , Suppes Trisha , Chao Steven Z. , Taylor Joy , Rosen Allyson C. , Durazzo Timothy C. , Lazzeroni Laura C. , Yesavage Jerome
Published: December 2021

Background:

Despite decades of research efforts, current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are of limited effectiveness and do not halt the progression of the disease and associated cognitive decline. Studies have shown that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may improve cognition.

Objective:

We conducted a pilot study to investigate the effect of rTMS on cognitive function in Veterans with numerous medical comorbidities.

Methods:

Participants underwent 20 sessions, over the course of approximately 4 weeks, of 10 Hz rTMS at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with intensity of 120% resting motor threshold. Outcome measures including memory, language, verbal fluency, and executive functions were acquired at baseline, end of treatment, and 4 months after the last rTMS session. Twenty-six Veterans completed the study (13 in the active rTMS group, 13 in the sham rTMS group).

Results:

The study protocol was well-tolerated. Active, compared to sham, rTMS showed improved auditory-verbal memory at the end of treatment and at 4-month follow-up. However, the active rTMS group demonstrated a trend in decreased semantic verbal fluency at the end of treatment and at 4-month follow up.

Conclusion:

These preliminary results show rTMS is safe in general in this elderly Veteran population with multiple co-morbidities. Patients in the sham group showed an expected, slight decline in the California Verbal Learning Test scores over the course of the study, whereas the active treatment group showed a slight improvement at the 4-month post-treatment follow up. These effects need to be confirmed by studies of larger sample sizes.
A Machine Learning-Based Holistic Approach to Predict the Clinical Course of Patients within the Alzheimer’s Disease Spectrum
Authors: Massetti Noemi , Russo Mirella , Franciotti Raffaella , Nardini Davide , Mandolini Giorgio Maria , Granzotto Alberto , Bomba Manuela , Delli Pizzi Stefano , Mosca Alessandra , Scherer Reinhold , Onofrj Marco , Sensi Stefano L. ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI),   the Alzheimer’s Disease Metabolomics Consortium (ADMC)
Published: December 2021

Background:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition driven by multifactorial etiology. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional condition between healthy aging and dementia. No reliable biomarkers are available to predict the conversion from MCI to AD.

Objective:

To evaluate the use of machine learning (ML) on a wealth of data offered by the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and Alzheimer’s Disease Metabolomics Consortium (ADMC) database in the prediction of the MCI to AD conversion.

Methods:

We implemented an ML-based Random Forest (RF) algorithm to predict conversion from MCI to AD. Data related to the study population (587 MCI subjects) were analyzed by RF as separate or combined features and assessed for classification power. Four classes of variables were considered: neuropsychological test scores, AD-related cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, peripheral biomarkers, and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables.

Results:

The ML-based algorithm exhibited 86% accuracy in predicting the AD conversion of MCI subjects. When assessing the features that helped the most, neuropsychological test scores, MRI data, and CSF biomarkers were the most relevant in the MCI to AD prediction. Peripheral parameters were effective when employed in association with neuropsychological test scores. Age and sex differences modulated the prediction accuracy. AD conversion was more effectively predicted in females and younger subjects.

Conclusion:

Our findings support the notion that AD-related neurodegenerative processes result from the concerted activity of multiple pathological mechanisms and factors that act inside and outside the brain and are dynamically affected by age and sex.
Probiotic Bifidobacterium breve Prevents Memory Impairment Through the Reduction of Both Amyloid-β Production and Microglia Activation in APP Knock-In Mouse
Authors: Abdelhamid Mona , Zhou Chunyu , Ohno Kazuya , Kuhara Tetsuya , Taslima Ferdous , Abdullah Mohammad , Jung Cha-Gyun , Michikawa Makoto
Published: December 2021

Background:

Probiotic supplementation reestablishes microbiome diversity and improves brain function in Alzheimer’s disease (AD); their molecular mechanisms, however, have not yet been fully illustrated.

Objective:

We investigated the effects of orally supplemented Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 on cognitive function and AD-like pathologies in App NL- G- F mice.

Methods:

Three-month-old App NL- G- F mice were orally supplemented with B. breve MCC1274 for four months. The short-term memory function was evaluated using a novel object recognition test. Amyloid plaques, amyloid-β (Aβ) levels, Aβ fibril, amyloid-β protein precursor and its processing enzymes, its metabolic products, glial activity, and cell proliferation in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, Aβ ELISA, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA expression levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were determined by qRT-PCR analysis.

Results:

We found that the oral B. breve MCC1 274 supplementation prevented memory impairment in App NL- G- F mice and decreased hippocampal Aβ levels through the enhancement of the a-disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) level. Moreover, administration of the probiotic activated the ERK/HIF-1 α signaling pathway responsible for increasing the ADAM10 level and also attenuated microglial activation, which in turn led to reduction in the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain. In addition, B. breve MCC1274 supplementation increased the level of synaptic proteins in the hippocampus.

Conclusion:

Our findings support the possibility that oral B. breve MCC1274 supplementation might be used as a potential preventive therapy for AD progression.
Optimal threshold padlock systems
Authors: Dreier Jannik , Dumas Jean-Guillaume , Lafourcade Pascal , Robert Léo
Published: December 2021

In 1968, Liu described the problem of securing documents in a shared secret project. In an example, at least six out of eleven participating scientists need to be present to open the lock securing the secret documents. Shamir proposed a mathematical solution to this physical problem in 1979, by designing an efficient k-out-of- n secret sharing scheme based on Lagrange’s interpolation. Liu and Shamir also claimed that the minimal solution using physical locks is clearly impractical and exponential in the number of participants. In this paper we relax some implicit assumptions in their claim and propose an optimal physical solution to the problem of Liu that uses physical padlocks, but the number of padlocks is not greater than the number of participants. Then, we show that no device can do better for k-out-of- n threshold padlock systems as soon as [Formula: see text], which holds true in particular for Liu’s example. More generally, we derive bounds required to implement any threshold system and prove a lower bound of [Formula: see text] padlocks for any threshold larger than 2. For instance we propose an optimal scheme reaching that bound for 2-out-of- n threshold systems and requiring less than [Formula: see text] padlocks. We also discuss more complex access structures, a wrapping technique, and other sublinear realizations like an algorithm to generate 3-out-of- n systems with [Formula: see text] padlocks. Finally we give an algorithm building k-out-of- n threshold padlock systems with only [Formula: see text] padlocks. Apart from the physical world, our results also show that it is possible to implement secret sharing over small fields.
Biotech value chain and technologies for COVID-19 research areas for collaboration on cost quality tradeoff with tool companies
Authors: Huttin Christine C.
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND: Technologies for COVID-19 are in high demand, and supply chains from biotech and pharma industries face critical supply issues. OBJECTIVE: This paper discusses the case on mRNA technologies and quality assurance issues. METHODS: Interviews with managers of biotech companies were performed. These helped to prepare biotech panels at a roundtable on quality of medicine, organized by the Polish Academy of Sciences in Paris (PAN) in 2021. RESULTS: This paper analyzes the new mRNA technology and shows the importance of emerging new biotech firms, especially tool companies providing services in quality assurance. It highlights research areas and types of survey instruments with academic collaborators, to better understand the economics of mRNA technology platforms. CONCLUSIONS: A future research agenda for collaboration with academic communities is proposed on cost-quality tradeoffs and clinical quality attributes for such genomic technologies.
Definition of catheter jamming: A mechanical analysis of catheter fracture tension and fracture strain
Authors: Li Feng-Xian , Su Peng , Li Yan-Ping , Tian Mei-Jing , Zhang Hong-Yang , Gao Huan-Huan
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND: Catheter jamming is an emerging and possibly underrated complication. OBJECTIVE: To find the criteria for determining if the catheter cannot be removed through the mechanical analysis of fracture tension and fracture strain (εf) of Peripheral Inserted Central Catheters (PICC). METHOD: We removed 30 pieces of PICC catheters from patients and recorded the indwelling time. Those with an indwelling time shorter than 12 weeks belonged to the short-term group. Those with an indwelling time longer than 12 weeks belonged to the long-term group. The first half of the same catheter is section A, and the second half is section B. The fraction tension and fracture strain of the catheter were measured, and statistical analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The fracture tension of catheter in sections A and B were 5.8917 ± 1.0095 and 6.0670 ± 0.8066 Newtons respectively (p= 0.393) and the fracture strain of catheter in sections A and B were 6.0611 ± 1.0810 and 6.2543 ± 0.7187 Newtons respectively (p= 0.343). The fracture tension of catheter in short-term and long-term group were 6.0696 ± 0.9414 and 5.9192 ± 0.8972 Newtons respectively (p= 0.535) and the fracture strain of catheter in short-term and long-term group were 6.0067 ± 0.7227 and 6.2584 ± 1.0212 respectively (p= 0.301). CONCLUSION: It is objective and consistent to take the catheter fracture tension as the standard. This standard would be able to accurately define the concept of catheter failure and reduce the risk of catheter fracture and the misdiagnosis of catheter failure. The catheter fracture tension and fracture strain was not affected by the catheter indwelling time. It is recommended to set the tensile force as 5 Newtons and carry it out at a speed of 100 mm/min for the catheter drawing of the PICC single-lumen silicone catheter (4.0F) from Budd Company.
EpidemiXs: Harnessing digital technology in the fight against COVID-19 and the associated infodemic
Authors: Lemaire Jeannine , Ramil Elsa , Thouvenot Veronique Ines , Pons Jordi Serrano
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND: EpidemiXs is an innovative ecosystem of digital tools centralizing official and validated information on COVID-19 for healthcare workers and the general public in a single hub. OBJECTIVE: The vision of EpidemiXs is to foster collaboration between researchers, institutions and individuals to promote “open data” in order to enrich the scientific community and further accelerate science in the fight against COVID-19. METHODS: Through its set of solutions, EpidemiXs Info, EpidemiXs TV and EpidemiXs Studies, this innovative ecosystem contributes to advancing collaborations, data collection and analysis, and helps find funders. RESULTS: EpidemiXs was launched in March 2020 in Spain with 30 healthcare institutions and rapidly reached close to 1 million users and 2 million views. EpidemiXs gained international recognition when it was awarded the Barcelona Health Hub Awards (BHHAwards) 2020 of the category “Best Startup Initiative to help tackle COVID-19”. CONCLUSION: EpidemiXs has proven the efficiency of the rapid deployment of digital tools in times of COVID-19.
Without IPv6, there is no digital transformation for healthcare
Authors: Delgado Rosa M.
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND: Originally, digital healthcare was created to support underserved and rural patients gain access to health services. Phones, devices, and computers need IP (Internet Protocol) addresses to connect to the Internet. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to study the close relationship between the Internet and the transformation of healthcare services. METHODS: The current protocol in use is the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), whose number of Internet addresses has been globally exhausted. The Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) with 47 octillion unique addresses for every person on the planet has become the only option for sustainable growth and innovation. However, most of the worldwide industry is still in IPv4. In the era of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Fifth Generation of Cellular Technology (5G), and Blockchain, there will be a massive need of IP addresses. For 2025, experts predict over 1.5 billion new IPv6 users which will continue to grow exponentially. RESULTS: Nations need to tackle the increasing industry requirements for IPv6 and telehealth adoption to benefit from the full IPv6 connectivity which is the key strategic advantage for the healthcare industry. CONCLUSION: The strategic potential that telehealth brings to the healthcare industry is widely appreciated. However, what are the implications of its expansion around the world? How can we prioritize the poorest and most vulnerable in society without new technologies?
Preliminary results of an adaptive randomized open-label controlled study on the efficacy and safety of enisamium iodide for outpatient treatment of the COVID-19 infection
Authors:   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation, Pshenichnaya N.Yu. , Zhdanov K.V. ,   S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Published: December 2021

Aim: to assess the efficacy and safety of enisamium iodide (film-coated tablets, 250 mg) for outpatient treatment of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 infection. Patients and Methods: this adaptive, randomized, open-label controlled study on the efficacy and safety of enisamium iodide enrolled 194 patients. The study group included 97 patients, and the comparison group included 97 patients. Comparison group patients received standard therapy. Study group patients received orally 500 mg of enisamium iodide three times daily for seven days. In addition, pathogenic and symptomatic treatment was prescribed. The first component of the primary endpoint was composite efficiency parameter. The second component of the primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with respiratory failure. Registration of deaths, adverse events and serious adverse events was carried out by standard methods. Results: cohort enrollment into part 1 of the study and treatment of all patients were completed. The mean time of the relief of major COVID-19 symptoms (primary combination endpoint) and differences between the study and comparison groups (8 days and 9 days, respectively, p=0.028) were revealed. The rate of respiratory failure in the study group and comparison group was: 4 (4,12%) versus 8 (8,25%) cases respectively. In addition, the effect of this drug on mortality in the groups was compared (one death in the study group and five deaths in the comparison group). The statistical reliability of these differences will be determined during part 2 of this study that started in September 2021. Conclusions: the efficacy and safety of enisamium iodide (film-coated tablets, 250 mg) for the COVID-19 were evaluated. A significant reduction in the time to clinical recovery (by one day) was reported in patients who received enisamium iodide. In addition, the rate of severe respiratory failure and associated mortality also tends to reduce after therapy that includes enisamium iodide. KEYWORDS: enisamium iodide, antivirals, etiopathogenic treatment, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, viral lung damage, pneumonia, randomized controlled study, adaptive study, open-label study. FOR CITATION: N.Yu. Pshenichnaya, Zhdanov K.V. Preliminary results of an adaptive randomized open-label controlled study on the efficacy and safety of enisamium iodide for outpatient treatment of the COVID-19 infection. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2021;5(11):705–711 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2021-5-11-705-711.
Cetylpyridinium chloride as a part of a combined medication for adults and children during the COVID-19 pandemic: established and perspective use
Authors:   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation, Melekhina E.V. , Muzyka A.D. ,   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation, Ponezheva Zh.B. ,   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation, A.V. Gorelov A.V. ,   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation,   A.I. Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: December 2021

Despite the measures taken, SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread. However, an increase in acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in autumn 2021 is accounted for by the circulation of seasonal respiratory viruses, i.e., rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, etc. The development of novel agents and study of the antiviral activity of well-established agents that inhibit the binding of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses with nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal receptors significantly reduces viral load. Cetylpyridinium chloride is an antiseptic without searing or damaging oropharyngeal epithelium that provides local effects without systemic immunomodulatory action. This agent is approved in Russian Federation for topical use in children over three years and adults as a part of a combined medication for infectious inflammatory throat diseases. This paper reviews current published data illustrating the antiviral activity of cetylpyridinium and its potential application as an antiseptic for preventive and therapeutic use in the COVID-19 pandemic. KEYWORDS: cetylpyridinium chloride, SARS-CoV-2, antiseptic, coronavirus infection, COVID-19, direct antiviral effect. FOR CITATION: Melekhina E.V., Muzyka A.D., Ponezheva Zh.B., Gorelov A.V. Cetylpyridinium chloride as a part of a combined medication for adults and children during the COVID-19 pandemic: established and perspective use. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2021;5(11):728–736 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2021-5-11-728-736.
Clinical case of secondary syphilis in an HIV-infected patient
Authors:   Kirov State Medical University, Kirov, Russian Federation, Koshkin S.V. , Evseev A.L. ,   Kirov State Medical University, Kirov, Russian Federation, Ryabova V.V. ,   Kirov State Medical University, Kirov, Russian Federation, Kovrova O.S. ,   Kirov Regional Clinical Dermatovenerologic Dispensary, Kirov, Russian Federation
Published: December 2021

Syphilis is one of the urgent problems in modern dermatovenerology. Despite the comprehensive study and wide popularity of the disease, certain diagnostic difficulties arise in some clinical situations. In recent years, there has been a downward trend in the syphilis incidence in the Russian Federation, while the number of HIV-infected people is steadily increasing. The presence of both infections in the patient simultaneously aggravates the clinical picture, and is commonly the cause of diagnostic errors, contributing to the disease spread among the population. The article presents a clinical case of a young female patient with secondary syphilis associated with HIV infection, hepatitis C, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. Secondary syphilis was detected randomly, in an AIDS center. Despite repeated hospitalizations, it was not possible to conduct complete treatment of syphilis due to the patient’s unwillingness to be treated and her unauthorized leaving of the healthcare facility. In this publication, we would like to draw attention to the disease as a problem of modern society: a conniving attitude and lack of responsibility contribute to the spread of syphilitic infection. KEYWORDS: secondary syphilis, HIV infection, mixed infection, sexually transmitted infections, benzylpenicillin. FOR CITATION: Koshkin S.V., Evseev A.L., Ryabova V.V., Kovrova O.S. Clinical case of secondary syphilis in an HIV-infected patient. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2021;5(11):778–781 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2021-5-11-778-781.