bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing a Predictive Model for Asthma-Related Hospital Encounters in Patients With Asthma in a Large, Integrated Health Care System: Secondary Analysis
Authors: Luo Gang , Nau Claudia L , Crawford William W , Schatz Michael , Zeiger Robert S , Rozema Emily , Koebnick Corinna
Published: November 2020

Background

Asthma causes numerous hospital encounters annually, including emergency department visits and hospitalizations. To improve patient outcomes and reduce the number of these encounters, predictive models are widely used to prospectively pinpoint high-risk patients with asthma for preventive care via care management. However, previous models do not have adequate accuracy to achieve this goal well. Adopting the modeling guideline for checking extensive candidate features, we recently constructed a machine learning model on Intermountain Healthcare data to predict asthma-related hospital encounters in patients with asthma. Although this model is more accurate than the previous models, whether our modeling guideline is generalizable to other health care systems remains unknown.

Objective

This study aims to assess the generalizability of our modeling guideline to Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC).

Methods

The patient cohort included a random sample of 70.00% (397,858/568,369) of patients with asthma who were enrolled in a KPSC health plan for any duration between 2015 and 2018. We produced a machine learning model via a secondary analysis of 987,506 KPSC data instances from 2012 to 2017 and by checking 337 candidate features to project asthma-related hospital encounters in the following 12-month period in patients with asthma.

Results

Our model reached an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.820. When the cutoff point for binary classification was placed at the top 10.00% (20,474/204,744) of patients with asthma having the largest predicted risk, our model achieved an accuracy of 90.08% (184,435/204,744), a sensitivity of 51.90% (2259/4353), and a specificity of 90.91% (182,176/200,391).

Conclusions

Our modeling guideline exhibited acceptable generalizability to KPSC and resulted in a model that is more accurate than those formerly built by others. After further enhancement, our model could be used to guide asthma care management.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR2-10.2196/resprot.5039
Multidimensional Machine Learning Personalized Prognostic Model in an Early Invasive Breast Cancer Population-Based Cohort in China: Algorithm Validation Study (Preprint)
Authors: Zhong Xiaorong , Luo Ting , Deng Ling , Liu Pei , Hu Kejia , Lu Donghao , Zheng Dan , Luo Chuanxu , Xie Yuxin , Li Jiayuan , He Ping , Pu Tianjie , Ye Feng , Bu Hong , Fu Bo , Zheng Hong
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Current online prognostic prediction models for breast cancer, such as Adjuvant! Online and PREDICT, are based on specific populations. They have been well validated and widely used in the United States and Western Europe; however, several validation attempts in non-European countries have revealed suboptimal predictions.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to develop an advanced breast cancer prognosis model for disease progression, cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality by integrating tumor, demographic, and treatment characteristics from a large breast cancer cohort in China.

METHODS

This study was approved by the Clinical Test and Biomedical Ethics Committee of West China Hospital, Sichuan University on May 17, 2012. Data collection for this project was started in May 2017 and ended in March 2019. Data on 5293 women diagnosed with stage I to III invasive breast cancer between 2000 and 2013 were collected. Disease progression, cancer-specific mortality, all-cause mortality, and the likelihood of disease progression or death within a 5-year period were predicted. Extreme gradient boosting was used to develop the prediction model. Model performance was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), and the model was calibrated and compared with PREDICT.

RESULTS

The training, test, and validation sets comprised 3276 (499 progressions, 202 breast cancer-specific deaths, and 261 all-cause deaths within 5-year follow-up), 1405 (211 progressions, 94 breast cancer-specific deaths, and 129 all-cause deaths), and 612 (109 progressions, 33 breast cancer-specific deaths, and 37 all-cause deaths) women, respectively. The AUROC values for disease progression, cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality were 0.76, 0.88, and 0.82 for training set; 0.79, 0.80, and 0.83 for the test set; and 0.79, 0.84, and 0.88 for the validation set, respectively. Calibration analysis demonstrated good agreement between predicted and observed events within 5 years. Comparable AUROC and calibration results were confirmed in different age, residence status, and receptor status subgroups. Compared with PREDICT, our model showed similar AUROC and improved calibration values.

CONCLUSIONS

Our prognostic model exhibits high discrimination and good calibration. It may facilitate prognosis prediction and clinical decision making for patients with breast cancer in China.
Developing a Predictive Model for Asthma-Related Hospital Encounters in Patients With Asthma in a Large, Integrated Health Care System: Secondary Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Luo Gang , Nau Claudia L , Crawford William W , Schatz Michael , Zeiger Robert S , Rozema Emily , Koebnick Corinna
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Asthma causes numerous hospital encounters annually, including emergency department visits and hospitalizations. To improve patient outcomes and reduce the number of these encounters, predictive models are widely used to prospectively pinpoint high-risk patients with asthma for preventive care via care management. However, previous models do not have adequate accuracy to achieve this goal well. Adopting the modeling guideline for checking extensive candidate features, we recently constructed a machine learning model on Intermountain Healthcare data to predict asthma-related hospital encounters in patients with asthma. Although this model is more accurate than the previous models, whether our modeling guideline is generalizable to other health care systems remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the generalizability of our modeling guideline to Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC).

METHODS

The patient cohort included a random sample of 70.00% (397,858/568,369) of patients with asthma who were enrolled in a KPSC health plan for any duration between 2015 and 2018. We produced a machine learning model via a secondary analysis of 987,506 KPSC data instances from 2012 to 2017 and by checking 337 candidate features to project asthma-related hospital encounters in the following 12-month period in patients with asthma.

RESULTS

Our model reached an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.820. When the cutoff point for binary classification was placed at the top 10.00% (20,474/204,744) of patients with asthma having the largest predicted risk, our model achieved an accuracy of 90.08% (184,435/204,744), a sensitivity of 51.90% (2259/4353), and a specificity of 90.91% (182,176/200,391).

CONCLUSIONS

Our modeling guideline exhibited acceptable generalizability to KPSC and resulted in a model that is more accurate than those formerly built by others. After further enhancement, our model could be used to guide asthma care management.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

RR2-10.2196/resprot.5039
Using Postmarket Surveillance to Assess Safety-Related Events in a Digital Rehabilitation App (Kaia App): Observational Study (Preprint)
Authors: Jain Deeptee , Norman Kevin , Werner Zachary , Makovoz Bar , Baker Turner , Huber Stephan
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Low back pain (LBP) affects nearly 4 out of 5 individuals during their lifetime and is the leading cause of disability globally. Digital therapeutics are emerging as effective treatment options for individuals experiencing LBP. Despite the growth of evidence demonstrating the benefits of these therapeutics in reducing LBP and improving functional outcomes, little data has been systematically collected on their safety profiles.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the safety profile of a multidisciplinary digital therapeutic for LBP, the Kaia App, by performing a comprehensive assessment of reported adverse events (AEs) by users as captured by a standardized process for postmarket surveillance.

METHODS

All users of a multidisciplinary digital app that includes physiotherapy, mindfulness techniques, and education for LBP (Kaia App) from 2018 to 2019 were included. Relevant messages sent by users via the app were collected according to a standard operating procedure regulating postmarket surveillance of the device. These messages were then analyzed to determine if they described an adverse event (AE). Messages describing an AE were then categorized based on the type of AE, its seriousness, and its relatedness to the app, and they were described by numerical counts. User demographics, including age and gender, and data on app use were collected and evaluated to determine if they were risk factors for increased AE reporting.

RESULTS

Of the 138,337 active users of the Kaia App, 125 (0.09%) reported at least one AE. Users reported 0.00014 AEs per active day on the app. The most common nonserious AE reported was increased pain. Other nonserious AEs reported included muscle issues, unpleasant sensations, headache, dizziness, and sleep disturbances. One serious AE, a surgery, was reported. Details of the event and its connection to the intervention were not obtainable, as the user did not provide more information when asked to do so; therefore, it was considered to be possibly related to the intervention. There was no relationship between gender and AE reporting (P>.99). Users aged 25 to 34 years had reduced odds (odds ratio [OR] 0.31, 95% CI 0.08-0.95; P=.03) of reporting AEs, while users aged 55 to 65 years (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.36-4.84, P=.002) and ≥75 years (OR 4.36, 95% CI 1.07-13.26; P=.02) had increased odds. AEs were most frequently reported by users who had 0 to 99 active days on the app, and less frequently reported by users with more active days on the app.

CONCLUSIONS

This study on the Kaia App provides the first comprehensive assessment of reported AEs associated with real-world use of digital therapeutics for lower back pain. The overall rate of reported AEs was very low, but significant reporting bias is likely to be present. The AEs reported were generally consistent with those described for in-person therapies for LBP.
The Impact of Patient Characteristics on Their Attitudes Toward an Online Patient Portal for Communicating Laboratory Test Results: Real-World Study (Preprint)
Authors: Tossaint-Schoenmakers Rosian , Kasteleyn Marise , Goedhart Annelijn , Versluis Anke , Talboom-Kamp Esther
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Patient portals are promising tools to increase patient involvement and allow them to manage their health. To optimally facilitate patients, laboratory test results should be explained in easy language. Patient characteristics affect the usage of portals and the user satisfaction. However, limited research is available, specified for online communicating laboratory test results, on whether portal use and acceptance differ between groups.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of patient characteristics (gender, age, education, and chronic disease) on the self-efficacy and perceived usability of an online patient portal that communicates diagnostic test results.

METHODS

We used the online-administered eHealth impact questionnaire (eHIQ) to explore patients’ attitudes toward the portal. Patients visiting the portal were asked to complete the questionnaire and to answer questions regarding gender, age, education, and chronic disease. The subscale “information and presentation” of the eHIQ assessed the usability of the patient portal and the subscale “motivation and confidence to act” assessed self-efficacy to determine whether patients were motivated to act on the presented information. Age, gender, education, and chronic disease were the determinants to analyze the effect on usability and self-efficacy. Descriptive analyses were performed to explore patient characteristics, usability, and self-efficacy. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed with age, gender, education, and chronic disease as determinants, and usability and self-efficacy as outcomes.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was completed by 748 respondents, of which 428 (57.2%) were female, 423 (56.6%) were highly educated, and 509 (68%) had no chronic disease. The mean age was 58.5 years (SD 16.4). Higher age, high education, and asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were significant determinants for decreased usability; respectively, b=-.094, 95% CI -1147 to 0.042 (P<.001); b=-2.512, 95% CI -4.791 to -0.232 (P=.03); and b=-3.630, 95% CI -6.545 to -0.715 (P=.02). High education was also a significant determinant for a lower self-efficacy (b=-3.521, 95% CI -6.469 to -0.572; P=.02). Other determinants were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the higher-educated users of a patient portal scored lower on usability and self-efficacy. Usability was also lower for older people and for patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The results portal is not tailored for different groups. Further research should investigate which factors from a patient’s perspective are essential to tailor the portal for different groups and how a result portal can be optimally integrated within the daily practice of a doctor.
COVID-19 Rehabilitation With Herbal Medicine and Cardiorespiratory Exercise: Protocol for a Clinical Study (Preprint)
Authors: Gao Yang , Zhong Linda L D , Quach Binh , Davies Bruce , Ash Garrett I , Lin Zhi-Xiu , Feng Yibin , Lau Benson W M , Wagner Peter D , Yang Xian , Guo Yike , Jia Wei , Bian Zhaoxiang , Baker Julien S
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have revealed that many discharged patients with COVID-19 experience ongoing symptoms months later. Rehabilitation interventions can help address the consequences of COVID-19, including medical, physical, cognitive, and psychological problems. To our knowledge, no studies have investigated the effects of rehabilitation following discharge from hospital for patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE

The specific aims of this project are to investigate the effects of a 12-week exercise program on pulmonary fibrosis in patients recovering from COVID-19. A further aim will be to examine how Chinese herbal medicines as well as the gut microbiome and its metabolites regulate immune function and possibly autoimmune deficiency in the rehabilitation process.

METHODS

In this triple-blinded, randomized, parallel-group, controlled clinical trial, we will recruit adult patients with COVID-19 who have been discharged from hospital in Hong Kong and are experiencing impaired lung function and pulmonary function. A total of 172 eligible patients will be randomized into four equal groups: (1) cardiorespiratory exercise plus Chinese herbal medicines group, (2) cardiorespiratory exercise only group, (3) Chinese herbal medicines only group, and (4) waiting list group (in which participants will receive Chinese herbal medicines after 24 weeks). These treatments will be administered for 12 weeks, with a 12-week follow-up period. Primary outcomes include dyspnea, fatigue, lung function, pulmonary function, blood oxygen levels, immune function, blood coagulation, and related blood biochemistry. Measurements will be recorded prior to initiating the above treatments and repeated at the 13th and 25th weeks of the study. The primary analysis is aimed at comparing the outcomes between groups throughout the study period with an α level of .05 (two-tailed).

RESULTS

The trial has been approved by the university ethics committee following the Declaration of Helsinki (approval number: REC/19-20/0504) in 2020. The trial has been recruiting patients. The data collection will be completed in 24 months, from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022.

CONCLUSIONS

Given that COVID-19 and its sequelae would persist in human populations, important findings from this study would provide valuable insights into the mechanisms and processes of COVID-19 rehabilitation.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04572360; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04572360

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

PRR1-10.2196/25556
Development of Digital Health Messages for Rural Populations in Tanzania: Multi- and Interdisciplinary Approach (Preprint)
Authors: Holst Christine , Isabwe Ghislain Maurice Norbert , Sukums Felix , Ngowi Helena , Kajuna Flora , Radovanović Danica , Mansour Wisam , Mwakapeje Elibariki , Cardellichio Peter , Ngowi Bernard , Noll Josef , Winkler Andrea Sylvia
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Health workers have traditionally delivered health promotion and education to rural communities in the Global South in paper leaflet formats or orally. With the rise of digital technologies, health promotion and education can be provided in innovative and more effective formats, which are believed to have a higher impact on disease prevention and treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this tutorial is to illustrate how a multi- and interdisciplinary approach can be applied in the design process of digital health messages for use in the Global South.

METHODS

The multi- and interdisciplinary team of the Non-discriminating access for Digital Inclusion (DigI) project digitalized and customized available government-approved paper-based health promotion messages into a screen-suitable format. The team worked closely together and used its diverse expertise to develop digital health messages with disease-specific content in Tanzania’s national language (Swahili) as well as English. The development process included the following phases: a local needs assessment; identification of government-approved health promotion materials in a nondigital format; identification of key health messages; creation of a practical and engaging story, easy to understand for the general public; drafting of a storyboard for an animated video with review, feedback, and revisions; forward and backward translation; audio recording of the story in both languages; finalization and presentation of the animations; development of relevant questions related to the health messages in each domain; and development of web and mobile apps to access the digital health messages.

RESULTS

Between 2017 and 2019, we developed key health messages, quizzes, and animated health videos to address HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Taenia solium cysticercosis and taeniasis, and anthrax, all of which are of public health importance in Tanzania. Feedback from local stakeholders and test users was included in various phases of the process. The 4 videos and other content are available in local information spots on a digital health platform (DigI platform), established by the DigI project, in both Tanzanian Swahili and English.

CONCLUSIONS

Our methodological multi- and interdisciplinary approach ensures that the digital health messages for the public are clear, high quality, and align with the government’s objectives for health promotion. It also demonstrates the diversity of scientific disciplines required when collaborating on a digital health project. We recommend this approach to be applied to the development of other digital health messages for a wide range of diseases.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

RR2-10.2196/25128
Public Perceptions and Experiences of Cancelled Surgeries Due to COVID-19: Twitter Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: He Waverley Y. , Yesantharao Pooja , Fadavi Darya , Aliu Oluseyi
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Elective procedures throughout the United States have been deferred in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and treat critically ill patients. The impact of such widespread cancellations on patient well-being is not well understood.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we characterize collective perceptions and experiences related to cancelled surgeries due to COVID-19.

METHODS

The top 200 Twitter posts with the keyword “cancelled surgery” were collected and qualitatively analyzed to identify public attitudes, beliefs, and outcomes.

RESULTS

Patients whose surgeries have been cancelled experience pain and disease progression. Anger and despair arise from long waiting periods and insufficient communication with surgeons, whereas optimism derives from a willingness to reallocate resources for the wider public good. Disagreement with surgical prioritization may stem from gaps in public understanding regarding risk-stratification.

CONCLUSIONS

As elective cases resume, monitoring real-time developments in public opinion and consequences of deferred care will inform best practices in patient communication.
Factors Associated with Nurses' User Resistance to Change of Electronic Health Record (Preprint)
Authors: Cho Younghee , Kim Mihui , Choi Mona
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Electronic health record (EHR) systems often face user resistance in hospitals, which results in a failure to acquire the full benefits of EHR systems. It is crucial to reduce nurses’ resistance to use the EHR to implement the system successfully.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with nurses’ resistance to use the EHR system.

METHODS

A descriptive correlational study was conducted on nurses working at four university hospitals implementing a new EHR within 2 years. Path analysis was performed with seven factors affecting user resistance behavior.

RESULTS

All seven factors were found to be significantly associated with user resistance, whether directly or indirectly. The total effect on user resistance behavior was highest in resistance to change (0.65), followed by perceived usefulness (-0.33), which both have direct but no indirect effects. Conversely, Self-efficacy (-0.25), perceived value (-0.21), colleagues’ opinion (-0.16), perceived ease of use (-0.16), and organizational support (-0.05) were found to have indirect but no direct effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The study explored the factors affecting nurses’ user resistance behavior after the implementation of a new EHR system. These findings could help hospitals develop better EHR implementation strategies to reduce user resistance behavior among the nursing staff.
A Temporal Convolutional Recurrent Neural Network Model for Epidemic Forecasting Using Multi-Dimensional Data: A new method (Preprint)
Authors: Miao Pu , Zheng Xiaolong , Zeng Daniel Dajun
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Infectious diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, Malaria, and Dengue have caused a significant threat throughout the world. For example, the expected yearly cost of pandemic influenza at roughly $500 billion, while COVID-19 has diminished the economic activity and could potentially lead to structural shifts in the global economy. One of the underlying major problems regarding these traditional surveillance epidemic methods is that they are not always effective and also the results produced by these methods usually have a delay of several weeks.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to develop an epidemic forecasting model utilizing the deep learning technology that can be adapted to epidemic datasets and can predict the incidence or number of infectious diseases more accurately than traditional epidemic prediction methods.

METHODS

To predict the incidence of the epidemic, in this study, we collect real-world infectious disease data and transformed the dataset into time series. Our method uses the following information as inputs : (1) environmental and climatic information (2) epidemic–related internet search activity, (3) Google Trends, and (4) CDC ILI, Dengue Fever, Measles Incidence Data and related historical data. The proposed deep learning method utilizes a temporal convolutional technique that enables the exploitation of complex temporal patterns of epidemic activity across historical observations series. In the proposed deep learning model, we use the long and short-term memory units in a recurrent neural network to learn the temporal pattern of historical data.

RESULTS

We compare our model with three state-of-the-art deep learning models to evaluate the performance, accuracy, and relevance of the model predictions. We input the epidemic incidence data and observation data of the past 12 weeks to predict the number of incidence of the next one, two, and three weeks, respectively. We evaluate these models on the four real-world data sets we collected. The experiments demonstrate that our proposed model is better than several other models.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous studies often use autoregressive models or traditional machine learning methods to predict future epidemics. Compared to these, the performance evaluation of our method shows that our proposed method is superior to traditional non-machine methods and basic neural network models.
Pretesting a Poster on Recommended Stress Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia: Qualitative Study (Preprint)
Authors: Wati Risa Laras , Ulfa Annisa Sayyidatul , Kevaladandra Zulfa , Shalihat Shelly , Syahadatina Bella , Pratomo Hadi
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) is a self-report questionnaire developed to evaluate the frequency of anxiety and depression symptoms among individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent study in China showed high CPDI scores among individuals in the 18-30 years age group and those over 60 years. During the COVID-19 outbreak, people were expected to maintain their mental health conditions, especially stress levels. Therefore, many national governments actively published health promotion media in an effort to educate the public. One such media developed by the Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia, was a poster titled “Hindari Stres dan Tetap Optimis dengan Melakukan Aktivitas Sehari-hari dan Tetap Menjaga Jarak.”

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to conduct a test on a stress management recommendation poster developed by the Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak by using pretesting communication theory.

METHODS

In-depth interviews were conducted among 8 key informants and 1 graphic design expert.

RESULTS

Pretesting can identify the strengths and weaknesses of media. The large amount of text and the lack of illustrations made the poster less attractive to readers. Moreover, there was a discrepancy between the title and contents of the poster. The poster was not able to persuade the informants to change their behavior in the near future.

CONCLUSIONS

The poster was understood and accepted by the informants, but there was still much to be improved considering the poster was a product of the Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia.
A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON IN SITU GELS
Authors: PADMASRI BUDUMURU , NAGARAJU RAVOURU , PRASANTH DAMARASINGU
Published: November 2020

The current review on in situ gelling systems becomes one of the most popular and prominent. It had a tremendous potential advantage of delivery systems due to many benefits like easy to use simple manufacturing; improve both adherence and patient comfort by minimizing the frequency of drug administration by its unique characteristics feature of sol to gel transition. It also provides in situ gelling nanoemulsions, nanosphere, microspheres, and liposomes. The drawbacks associated with conventional systems of both solutions and gels, such as accurate dosing, ease of administration overcome by using in situ gelling systems. This review focused on definitions, types, advantages, disadvantages, polymers used, and suitable characteristics of polymers, including the preparation of in situ gels covered in the introduction. Approaches, applications, and evaluation of in situ gels were explained with examples.
DEVELOPMENT OF BINARY AND TERNARY COMPLEX OF CEFUROXIME AXETIL WITH CYCLODEXTRIN FOR IMPROVING PHARMACEUTICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Authors: KAUSHIK SAKSHI , VERMA RAVINDER , PUROHIT DEEPIKA , PANDEY PARIJAT , KUMAR MANISH , KUMARI BEENA , KAUSHIK DEEPAK
Published: November 2020

Objective: The current research objective is systematic development and characterization of binary and ternary inclusion complexes of cefuroxime axetil with β-cyclodextrin to improve its pharmaceutical characteristics by using the kneading method.

Methods: Phase solubility study was carried out using Higuchi and Connors method. Based on its result, binary complexes of cefuroxime axetil with different ratio of β-cyclodextrin were developed and characterized using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD). Then, binary complexes were analyzed for in vitro dissolution testing. The ternary complexes were developed using different ratio of PVP K-30 as a ternary component and evaluated for in vitro dissolution testing and in vitro taste masking.

Results: Binary complex of cefuroxime axetil with β-cyclodextrin (1:1) showed better drug release than pure drug. During the development of the ternary complex, β-cyclodextrin (1:1) and 1% w/v PVP K-30 as a ternary agent resulted in an optimized ternary complex. The DSC, FT-IR and XRD studies clearly revealed the formation of binary and ternary complexes. The ternary complex showed better drug release of>85% within 30 min. in comparison to binary complex. The in vitro taste-masking study revealed the taste masking efficiency of the ternary complex of cefuroxime with β-cyclodextrin.

Conclusion: The developed binary and ternary complex of cefuroxime axetil based on β-cyclodextrin with PVP K-30 showed improved in vitro dissolution rate and taste masking in comparison to pure drug. The drug release was better in ternary complexes. The present research work successfully shows the utility of binary and ternary complexes for improving pharmaceutical characteristics of cefuroxime axetil.
A REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINATION OF ANTI-HIV DRUGS
Authors: MISHRA RAJEEV KUMAR , CHAUBEY NEELESH , PATEL JAY RAM , MISHRA SATISH , SINGH ROHIT
Published: November 2020

Pharmaceutical analysis plays a very prominent role in quality assurance as well as quality control of bulk drugs and pharmaceutical formulations. Rapid increase in pharmaceutical industries and production of drug in various parts of the world has brought a rise in demand for new analytical techniques in the pharmaceutical industries. As a consequence, analytical method development has become the basic activity of analysis. From the times of yore, people were trying to find safe and sound ways to treat viral infections. In the current scenario, due to the emerging of new viruses, the development of drugs for their treatment is also gaining equal importance. Before launching to the market, these drugs should undergo a validation process. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with ultraviolet (UV), Photodiode array detectors (PDA), Mass spectrophotometer (MS) detectors etc. is one of the fastest, safe and precise technologies used for determination and separation of pharmaceutical drugs, impurities and biological samples. HPLC is versatile and it takes less time for quantification of drugs as compared to old liquid chromatography techniques. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), Emtricitabine (FTC) and Efavirenz (EFV) is antiretroviral medicine used treat AIDS as well as chronic Hepatitis-B. It is used alone or with other HIV medications to help control HIV infection. The present review article assesses the published analytical methods and a variety of approach for investigation of TDF, FTC and EFV in bulk drug as well as pharmaceutical formulations including combinations. The present studies revealed that HPLC technique along with the spectroscopic have been most widely explored for the analysis. The investigatory review may provide the comprehensive details to the researchers who are working in the area of analytical research of TDF, FTC and EFV.
NATURE INSPIRED SYNTHESIS, PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF Zn DOPED Fe3O4 NANOPARTICLES USING ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA (BURM. F.) NEES LEAF EXTRACT AND ASSESSMENT OF IN VITRO PANCREATIC ALPHA AMYLASE INHIBITORY ACTIVITY
Authors: ATHITHAN A. S. SAKTHI , JEYASUNDARI J. , RENUGA D. , NAVEENA A.
Published: November 2020

Objective: Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) have gained considerable attention in the Biomedical filed. Evolution of new magnetic material based on the transition metal-doped magnetite has become the subject of increasing research interest. The main aim of the current investigation was to improve the diabetic potential, optical, magnetic, structural properties of magnetite nanoparticles and hence Fe3O4 NPs were doped with a divalent transition element such as Zinc.

Methods: Zinc doped magnetite nanoparticles (Zn-Fe3O4 NPs) were obtained through Co-precipitation methods using aqueous plant extract of Andrographis paniculata acted as an efficient stabilizer and a reducing agent. The structure, morphology, crystalline, optical and magnetic property of synthesized Zn-Fe3O4 NPs were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy with Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy(SEM-EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectrophotometer and Vibrating scanning magnetometer (VSM).

Results: In XRD analysis, the average crystallite size of the synthesized Zn-Fe3O4 NPs was found to be 5 nm exhibiting super paramagnetic behavior, which composes it an appealing possibility for biomedicines. The Zn-Fe3O4 NPs had strongly inhibited the alpha (α)-amylase enzyme and had proved their therapeutic role.

Conclusion: In conclusion, Zn-Fe3O4 NPs is an excellent anti-diabetic agent to control type 2 diabetes mellitus.
FATTY ACID PROFILE AND MONTHLY VARIATION OF TOTAL FATTY ACID AND LIPID OBTAINED FROM THE OIL OF STRIPED SNAKEHEAD CHANNA STRIATA
Authors: DUTTA MITA , DUTTA PINAK
Published: November 2020

Objective: This project was taken up for a period of two years to assess the nutritional capacity of Channa striata, which is consumed as a cheap, nutritious food in most parts of India and East Asian countries by determining its fatty acid profile and monthly variation of lipid and fatty acid in its most edible part.
Methods: Total lipid was extracted by conventional methods laid down by Folch and his associates and was then saponified to obtain the total fatty acid. The fatty acid mixture thus obtained was then converted to their methyl esters and was subjected to Gas Chromatograph using a flame ionization detector to detect the individual fatty acids.
Results: Our investigation shows that the total lipid and fatty acid in the edible part dip to its minimum in the month of July, as one should expect during the breeding season because the stored lipid, as well as fatty acids, are mobilized to the gonads for their development during the reproductive season which is monsoon. C. striata contain more of MUFAs (64.34%) and PUFAs (16.21%), which are more beneficial to human health than SFAs (12.5%), which are most hazardous to health.
Conclusion: C. striata can definitely be marked as a cheap, nutritious food source, with its share of negativity. Our work will surely enlighten future works on this species in the spheres of preservation, organized farming, and maintaining the biodiversity of the place where it thrives.
POWER AND IMPOLITENESS IN HANCOCK ACTION MOVIE
Authors: Sani Favian Reswara , Suhandoko Suhandoko
Published: November 2020

This study examined the strategies employed by the main character in the Hancock movie named John Hancock to attack his interlocutors’ face, the way the recipients responded to his impoliteness, and how he used impoliteness to exercise his power. By using content analysis to draw inferences from utterances in the movie transcript, the study found that positive impoliteness is the most frequent strategy used by Hancock due to its abusive nature and withhold impoliteness is the least used due to its unlikeliness to damage the interlocutor’s face. Also, the study found that the recipients use all strategies to respond to Hancock’s impoliteness, except abrogation and dismissing. At the same time, apart from Hancock’s use of impoliteness to exercise power, such as to appear as superior, to get power over actions, and to dominate the conversation as Beebe (1995) noted, this study found that silence is also a way to exercise power to maintain control of undesired situations. The finding adds substantially to our understanding that silence as an impoliteness strategy might also serve the purpose of exercising power. This, of course, is open to debate and further research may verify or contradict this claim.
THE EFFECT OF TEACHER-AND PEER-ASSISTED EVALUATIVE MEDIATION ON EFL LEARNERS’ METACOGNITIVE AWARENESS DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Fathi Sajjad , Shabani Enayat A.
Published: November 2020

Rooted in the heart of Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory, mediation has recently received considerable attention in the field of TEFL. The existing literature suggests that mediation can play an essential role in language learners’ performance development. In addition, learners need to know about their thinking process which is interpreted as metacognition.  This study aimed to investigate the effect of teacher- and peer-assisted evaluative mediation on learners’ metacognitive awareness development. To this end, 40 homogenized intermediate EFL learners were selected using a test of English language proficiency. The participants were then randomly divided into teacher-assisted (n=20) and peer-assisted (n=20) groups. Before the instructional phase, a metacognitive awareness questionnaire was given to the participants. At the instructional phase, the learners in the teacher-assisted group received teacher-assisted mediation. The learners in the peer-assisted group, however, were exposed to mediation provided by their peers. After the instructional phase, the metacognitive awareness questionnaire was given to the participants as the posttest of the study. SPSS was used to analyze the data. The descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk test of normality, and the Paired Sample T-test for inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings showed that peer-assisted evaluative mediation had positive effects on developing students’ level of metacognitive awareness, whereas teacher-assisted evaluative mediation did not reveal such effects. It could be concluded that peer-assisted evaluative mediation is an effective tool for improving students’ metacognitive awareness.
Oral changes in patients before and after transplantation of solid organs and hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Jovicic Olivera , Mandic Jelena , Mandinic Zoran , Colovic Aleksandra
Published: November 2020

Introduction/Objective. The aim of this paper is to point out the prevalence and severity of oral diseases in patients in the period before and after the transplantation of solid organs and hematopoietic stem cells. Methods. MEDLINE literature search was done via PubMed. Results. The development and improvement of transplantation medicine in specialized centers lead to an increasing number of patients, both adults and children, with transplanted solid organs and hematopoietic stem cells. Despite the success of therapy, numerous changes and complications can be observed on other organs in patients undergoing transplantation of solid organs and hematopoietic stem cells in the pre- and post-transplant phase. Systemic diseases and conditions related to organ and cell transplantation, which are accompanied by numerous oral manifestations. The most common oral changes are gingival enlargement, desquamation of the oral epithelium, very painful ulcerations, polypoid and granulomatous changes in the oral mucosa, hard dental tissues with frequent complications, developmental anomalies of teeth in younger children, and in the later stage also the occurrence of oral cancer. After transplantation of solid organs, hematopoietic changes in the oral cavity and other organs occur depending on the patient?s post-transplantation period as well as on the applied immunosuppressive therapy. Conclusion. Oral changes development before and after transplantation of solid organs and hematopoietic stem cells point to the importance of timely and competent cooperation between the dentist and the doctor who treats the underlying disease.
Interpelações ao currículo intercultural - Lei 11.645/2008 : o pajé na sala de aula
Authors: Neves Josélia Gomes
Published: November 2020

O objetivo deste escrito foi apresentar uma elaboração referente às ações e possibilidades do trabalho pedagógico nas escolas sobre o tema Pajés Indígenas a luz da Lei 11.645/2008 e do Parecer 14/2015. É um estudo de caráter qualitativo cuja principal fonte de dados foi a pesquisa documental possibilitada pela coleta e análise de imagens de cadernos escolares e livros didáticos. Os resultados apontam que apesar de diversas formas de destruição do Pajé, esta autoridade ainda resiste nas práticas sociais das aldeias, uma possível identidade de resistência (CASTELLS, 2018). Neste trabalho, contextualizamos a discussão a partir dos Povos Pataxó, Munduruku e Kamaiurá. Em relação às atividades escolares, notamos a veiculação de imagens do Pajé presentes em cadernos, no entanto, de forma pontual e estereotipada, distante das realidades indígenas. Mas, por outro lado, há mudanças em curso sinalizando que é possível trabalhar as culturas indígenas no ambiente escolar. Concluímos que as abordagens atuais do livro didático sobre o tema sugerem possibilidades de iniciativa decolonial que podem fortalecer a concepção de currículo intercultural com a inserção de conhecimentos efetivos sobre as etnias brasileiras.
Existence of analytical solution, stability assessment and periodic response of vibrating systems with time varying parameters
Authors: Dupal Jan , Zajíček Martin
Published: November 2020

The paper is focused on a solution of a vibrating system with one-degree-of-freedom (1 DOF). The goal of this presentation is to deal with the method for periodical response calculation (if exists) reminding Harmonic Balance Method (HBM) of linear systems having time dependent parameters of mass, damping and stiffness under arbitrary periodical excitation. As a starting point of the investigation, a periodic Green’s function (PGF) construction of the stationary part of the original differential equation is used. The PGF then enables a transformation of the differential equation to the integro-differential one whose analytical solution is given in this paper. Such solution exists only in case that the investigated system is stable and can be expressed in exact form. The second goal of the paper is stability and solution existence assessment. For this reason a methodology of (in)stable parametric domain border determination has been accurately developed.
Project Based Learning Pedagogical Design in STEAM Art Education
Authors: Mohd Hawari Ahmad Dasuki , Mohd Noor Azlin Iryani
Published: November 2020

This paper explores the potential of Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach in a multidisciplinary art classroom involving STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) education. The PBL approach involves a dynamic classroom approach, which emphasises on long-term learning, interdisciplinary and student-centred art activities. This implementation would benefit the teaching strategies in art projects; helping students understand lessons, improving communication and soft skills, as well as enhancing leadership skills and creativity. However, there are some concerns related to the PBL approach: i) difficulties in finding appropriate teaching strategies, ii) choosing suitable projects, iii) selecting relevant measurement tools or assessing rubrics, and iv) developing learning content to suit the objective and the main purpose of the art curriculum. In identifying this approach’s potential, a study was carried out involving two art teachers in their respective classrooms. Data was collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis of their teaching strategies, which included three main phases of PBL implementation in creating art projects. The findings suggest that the PBL pedagogical design has the ability to improve teaching strategies and with potential to replace a traditional, teacher-led art classroom. The approach is effective in guiding teachers to manoeuvre an authentic art lesson while benefiting the students through emphasis on the artistic process of creating a STEAM project, while focusing on culminating the necessary art content through active collaboration, exploration of real-world challenges and curricular activities’ problem-solving. However, a number of challenges were identified, such as curriculum demand, learning content, teachers’ and students’ attitude, and access to instruments. Hence, a number of suggestions and recommendations are proposed to help resolve the challenges. The implications of the study on arts curriculum, school systems and other higher institutions are also discussed.

Keywords: Project-Based Learning, Art Education, STEAM
Preferred Learning Styles for Digital Native and Digital Immigrant Visitors in The Malaysian Music Museum
Authors: Abdul Aziz Mohd Nasiruddin , Harun Siti Norlizaiha , Baharom Mohd Khairi , Kamaruddin Norfadilah
Published: November 2020

The majority of museum experts have agreed that museums are informal learning environments, however, most of the previous studies on digital learning have focused on formal education institutions instead of informal environments. Hence, adapting the new fast-changing technology in museum learning has become one of the major challenges for the digital native and digital immigrant populations due to their different learning styles. These two generations have different levels of thinking patterns, experiences, and digital exposure that lead to different levels of technology accessibility in the learning environment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the preferred learning styles of museum visitors in the Malaysian context based on the learning styles of digital natives and digital immigrants. A total of 265 respondents participated in this study representing the population of N=792 at the Malaysian music museum in the data collection process. These descriptive results on the cross-tabulation analysis from the survey indicated that most of the visitors preferred the digital natives’ learning styles compared to the digital immigrants’, regardless of personal factors (gender, age, nationality, education level, or occupation). Thus, museum institutions should take the necessary steps to enhance or maintain the learning approach for digital natives with elements of entertainment and fun, provide internet connection, less text, out of school environment, digital use, and multi-task activities for skills enhancement. The minority of digital immigrants are suggested to assimilate and become part of the digital native group to stay relevant in this digital era.

Keywords: Digital, Education, Learning, Malaysia, Museum