bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How the Science of Reading Informs 21st Century Education
Authors: Petscher Yaacov , Cabell Sonia , Catts Hugh W. , Compton Donald , Foorman Barbara , Hart Sara Ann , Lonigan Chris , Phillips Beth , Schatschneider Chris , Steacy Laura M. , Terry Nicole Patton , Wagner Richard
Published: May 2020

The science of reading should be informed by an evolving evidence base built upon the scientific method. Decades of basic research and randomized controlled trials of interventions and instructional routines have formed a substantial evidence base to guide best practices in reading instruction, reading intervention, and the early identification of at-risk readers. The recent resurfacing of questions about what constitutes the science of reading is leading to misinformation in the public space that may be viewed by educational stakeholders as merely differences of opinion among scientists. Our goals in this paper are to revisit the science of reading through an epistemological lens to clarify what constitutes evidence in the science of reading and to offer a critical evaluation of the evidence provided by the science of reading. To this end, we summarize those things that we believe have compelling evidence, promising evidence, or a lack of compelling evidence. We conclude with a discussion of areas of focus that we believe will advance the science of reading to meet the needs of all students in the 21st Century.
Political repression motivates antigovernment violence
Authors: Bartusevicius Henrikas , van Leeuwen Florian , Petersen Michael Bang
Published: May 2020

We examined whether political repression deters citizens from engaging in antigovernment behavior (its intended goal), or in fact motivates it. Analyses of 101 nationally representative samples from three continents (N = 139,266) revealed a positive association between perceived levels of repression and intentions to engage in antigovernment violence. Additional analyses of fine-grained data from three countries characterized by widespread repression and antigovernment violence (N = 2,960) identified a positive association between personal experience with repression and intentions to engage in antigovernment violence. Randomized experiments revealed that memories about repression also motivate participation in antigovernment violence. These results suggest that political repression, aside from being normatively abhorrent, motivates anti-repressor violence.
Control your Facebook: An analysis of online privacy literacy
Authors: Bartsch Miriam , Dienlin Tobias
Published: May 2020

For an effective and responsible communication on social network sites (SNSs) users must decide between withholding and disclosing personal information. For this so-called privacy regulation, users need to have the respective skills—in other words, they need to have online privacy literacy. In this study, we discuss factors that potentially contribute to and result from online privacy literacy. In an online questionnaire with 630 Facebook users, we found that people who spend more time on Facebook and who have changed their privacy settings more frequently reported to have more online privacy literacy. People with more online privacy literacy, in turn, felt more secure on Facebook and implemented more social privacy settings. A mediation analysis showed that time spend on Facebook and experience with privacy regulation did not per se increase safety and privacy behavior directly, stressing the importance of online privacy literacy as a mediator to a safe and privacy-enhancing online behavior. We conclude that Internet experience leads to more online privacy literacy, which fosters a more cautious privacy behavior on SNSs.
Spent Bleaching Earth Supported CeFeO3 Perovskite for Visible Light Photocatalytic Oxidation of Methylene Blue
Authors: Saputra Edy , Utama Panca Setia , HS Irdoni , Simatupang Marihot Danield Vyendri , Prawiranegara Barata Aditya , Abid Hussein Rasool , Muraza Oki
Published: May 2020

Dyes substances from the textile industry wastewater are internationally classified as poisonous substances, and they cause a severe threat to humans being and other living things, even at low concentrations. Therefore, this waste has to be treated before discharge to the environment. One of the most effective processes for degrading dyes is photocatalytic oxidation. Two different pretreatments of Spent bleaching earth (SBE) from palm oil refinery plant were applied to produce catalyst supports. The SBEe support was prepared by extraction using n-hexane, SBEc by calcination at 500 oC, and then used as a support for CeFeO3/SBEe and CeFeO3/SBEc perovskite catalyst. Both catalysts were tested for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) using photocatalytic oxidation. The properties of catalysts were characterized using some characterization methods, such as thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with Dispersive Energy X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), specific surface area (BET) and pore size analysis. CeFeO3/SBEe catalyst was found more efficient in photocatalytic oxidation for MB compared with the CeFeO3/SBEc catalyst. CeFeO3/SBEe catalyst could degrade 99.5% of MB during 120 min, at the condition of 25 mg/L MB, 1.0 g/L catalyst, and pH 7. The effect of pH on the performance of the catalyst followed the order of pH 7 > pH 9 > pH 5. Moreover, the CeFeO3/SBEe catalyst demonstrated excellent activity in the degradation of MB, displaying that CeFeO3/SBEe is a favorable catalyst for water purification.
The Politics of Education Policymaking in Nepal
Authors: Dhakal Rebat Kumar
Published: May 2020

I begin this editorial with an assertion that the contemporary public policymaking landscape in Nepal shows little citizens’ participation and thus education policymaking also bears a similar approach. Here, public policies refer to “the decisions and actions of government and the intentions that determine those decisions and actions” (Geurts, 2011, p. 6). Theoretically, governments across the globe in recent decades have committed for larger citizen participation in public policymaking. Therefore, I understand public policymaking as a phenomenon in which wider stakeholders engage in governmental decision-making processes aimed at addressing a public issue.
Civic Education and Pupils’ Civic Dispositions in Ghana and Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Odusanya Sunday Paul , Oni Adesoji
Published: May 2020

The ultimate desire of any sensitive government is to build responsible citizens who will participate meaningfully in the developmental efforts within and outside society. The current social-political upheavals in Ghana and Nigeria underscored the need for national value orientation and reorientation for effective nation-building. The study adopted a descriptive survey to assess gender differences in pupils’ civic disposition in Ghana and Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 920 Basic 8 pupils from four educational circuits in Central Region, Ghana and four Local Government Education Authorities in Lagos and Ogun State in South-West, Nigeria. The research tool was tagged: Basic Education Pupils’ Questionnaire (BEPQ). The data were analysed using simple percentages, mean scores and independent t-tests at 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that there is no significant gender difference in the contribution of basic education to pupils’ civic disposition. The main conclusion drawn from this study is that the difference in the level of civic awareness of basic school pupils is due to the quality of basic education and that civic disposition increases the likelihood of a person engaging in civic activities. Government at all levels should encourage publication of relevant textbooks and research findings on basic school pupils especially in value-laden subjects like civic education.
Parental Involvement in Secondary School Curriculum Implementation: The Case of East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia
Authors: Tuli Dereje Mengistu , Tarekegne Wudu Melese
Published: May 2020

This study assesses the practices of parental involvement in curriculum implementation in East Wollega Zone in Ethiopia. To this end, a cross-sectional survey was designed. The data were collected from randomly selected teachers, students, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) members, school principals, parents and supervisors through questionnaires and interview. Then, the quantitative data were analyzed and interpreted through frequency and mean score and the qualitative data were coded and narrated thematically. The findings indicated that the involvement of parents in general secondary schools curriculum implementation in East Wollega Zone was found to be low. However, efforts of the PTAs in having parents for planning and decision-making of curriculum implementation was high. The major challenges were inadequate school facility, inadequate training, parent’s lack of awareness, lack of good governance, and the unwillingness of teachers. To increase parental involvement, general secondary schools, woreda and zone education offices may train stakeholders, allocate adequate budget and schools should design an income-generating mechanism to fulfil school facilities and making parents active in curriculum implementation.
“Neoprivatisation” in Public Schools in Nepal
Authors: Ghimire Shurendra , Koirala Kamal Prasad
Published: May 2020

This article introduces the term “neoprivatisation” in the literature of economics of education. It exposes the consequence of privatisation in education to public school by taking a community as a case and studying in a mixed-method paradigm. The study uncovers that public schools suffer from lesser preference by parents, and underuse or misuse of public expenditure, so that, like private schools, have added the facilities of English medium, extra-class, preparing students for test by charging fees, as well as advertising to attract more students. As a result, the narrow focus to achievement score rather than developing qualities in students as expected by curriculum has threatened the presumption of ‘quality education’; and the commodification and commercialisation of education along with diminishing professional accountability of teacher victimise students with the undue burden of irrational extra-classes and fees. Therefore, the added facilities rouse for discriminating students in access to education and larceny of ‘right to free education’. These undesirable phenomena are the consequences of privatisation in education, which has been thus conceptualized as “neoprivatisation”.
Factors Affecting Academic Achievement of Secondary School Students in Mauritius
Authors: Atchia Shakeel Mohammad Cassam , Chinapah Vinayagum
Published: May 2020

This paper analyses the contextualised determinants affecting the academic achievement of secondary school students in Mauritius. A mixed methodology was used to understand the effect of the determinants on students’ achievement considering the academic progression of learners from one point (CPE: Examination marking the end of primary schooling) to another (NG9A: Checkpoint assessment after three years of secondary schooling). The first phase had a non-positivist epistemological stand using the qualitative method of ‘focus group discussion’ to identify the determinants and then validate the TIMSS questionnaire. The second phase had a post-positivist epistemological stand where an amended version of the standardised international questionnaire TIMSS was administered to collect data from a sample of 600 students. The primary data were analysed to produce a Linear Multiple Regression Model. The findings reveal that 90.1% achievement can be explained by the variables of school leadership, student, socio-economic factor, and teacher (R square = 0.9.1; p < 0.05). The model shows that school leadership has a higher positive correlation on (β=0.419) students’ achievement followed by student factor (β= 0.227), tuition teacher (β= 0.154), school teacher (β= 0.117) and socioeconomic status (β= 0.048).
Literacy Education and Social Capital: A Study of Women’s Involvement in Community Development Projects in Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Babalola Adejoke Clara , Fasokun Thomas Olusola
Published: May 2020

The study examines the relationship between social capital and women’s involvement in a community development project; assesses the relationship between rural women literacy level and social capital leverage, and determines the interaction effect of literacy level and social capital leverage on rural women involved in community development projects. This research was conducted in Southwestern Nigeria using a descriptive survey research design followed by qualitative methods for in-depth analysis. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 720 rural women from randomly selected three states in Southwestern Nigeria. Moreover, we also conducted in-depth interviews with 12 women (6 each of literate and non-literate) who had indicated participation in community development projects and conducted a focus group discussion in each of the three selected states. The findings reveal that the most significant predictors of rural women involvement in community development are: participation in adult literacy programme; literacy level; strong interaction with people; membership of community development committees; participation in the decision making process and discussion of development issues with friends. Moreover, the number of literate women who made use of social capital to participate in community development is high. The study, therefore, concludes that the relationship between literacy and social capital is strong.
Reading Biographies for Developing Narrative Self
Authors: Shyangtan Sharmila
Published: May 2020

Biography is an important aspect of researching in education once one is planning for a narrative inquiry. Reading biography inspires me to think narratively. I am much interested in knowing and understanding the biography of the Dalai Lama not because of any religious footprints but because of his spiritual endeavours, which go beyond the humanist tradition of thinking. I have not canvassed any social research which questioned life before and after death. I do not have much interest in researching faith-based experience and the mystical experience of such a spiritual leader. I read a book from the sense of developing insights as a narrative inquirer.
Decline in the Moral Foundations of Nepali Politics
Authors: Dhakal Rebat Kumar
Published: May 2020

No abstract available.
Sociology of Development: Towards a Theoretical Option for the Global South
Authors: Aungo Justus B.
Published: May 2020

This article proposes that social analysis should view the idea of global development as a series of actions and practices that seek to fundamentally reconfigure social relations in order to ‘manufacture’ new forms of community in the global South.  The emergent social forms exist at the margins of neoliberal economy, where personhood and morality are flexible, fluid, contested and remade through continuous dispossession and changing survival possibilities. In effect the practice of development is a continuation of the process of rule established by the colonial civilizing projects and maintained under postcolonial modernity’s neoliberal capitalism.  The article elaborates that as a national and regional process and discourse, development continues to generate and maintain forms (subjectivities) of self-regulation and control (governmentality) that both internalize and externalize the South in relation to the global economy and power structure. The paper suggests that sociology of development and related social inquiry should explore a South-aware theory of development in a way that could problematize development itself. It further suggests that the application of Michel Foucault’s concepts to examine the development trajectories may be a starting point that could excite discussions and collaborations for a nuanced exposition of the macro- and micro dynamics and experiences of the development phenomenon.
Civil Society Is the Second Pillar of West African Nation States
Authors: Poulton Robin E.
Published: May 2020

Experience from many African nations – as well as America, Asia and Europe – provides compelling evidence that civil society plays a fundamental role in social progress and in promoting peace and democratic governance. Civil society has organised democratic governance in West African for millennia, and not simply since colonial rule began. Our political science research shows how civil society has been and remains critical to the evolution of West African Nation States – nearly all of which are recent post-colonial creations – and that a Five Pillar conception of the Nation State conforms more closely to West African realities than the traditional Western concept of Executive + Legislative + Judiciary. We propose that Civil Society and the Military should be added to the traditional State Pillars used in American and European analyses, since both have been - and remain - vital actors in the construction of West African Nation States since the 1960s. Moreover, civil society is often able to exert “countervailing power” - an expression coined by Professor J. K. Galbraith (1952) that puts pressure on the West African Executive, Legislature, Judicial and the Military pillars to help them function more effectively. It is civil society (sometimes with support from the nebulous “international community”) that keeps the other four pillars operating within their appropriate roles. This places civil society in the second place, after the Executive pillar.
Defining Justice and Dignity Through Gendered Peace Building: A Case Study of Gender-Based Violence During Armed Conflict in Nepal
Authors: Risal Susan
Published: May 2020

The prolonged transition and the long awaited journey for justice for a decade has led to increased anger and frustration among women who survived gendered violence during the Nepali armed conflict (1996-2006). During April 2017-May 2018, a case study fieldwork was conducted with women who survived conflict-related sexual violence during the armed conflict in Nepal. Using a critical theory framework and case study methodology, this research sought to understand how the women who faced gender based violence during the conflict era of Nepal define dignity and justice from their own lived experience and consequently, their needs for reparations. Ultimately, with resulting interventions by presenting these women’s voices and needs to the truth seeking commissions, other government bodies, and national and international organizations working with conflict affected women, women’s quest for dignity, justice and needs could be addressed. The findings of this study have also expanded the body of knowledge and best practices for reconciliation in contexts where gender based violence has been used as a weapon of war.
Positionality and Creating Dialogue in Nepal: Connecting Ethnomathematics and Modelling - the Importance of Place Through Ethnomodelling
Authors: Clark Orey Daniel , Rosa Milton
Published: May 2020

This paper reflects upon the valuable research in ethnomathematics and principally ethnomodelling, with colleagues in Nepal from 2007 to the present. The main objective of this paper is to identify how dialogic approaches using nonkilling mathematics and ethnomodelling contributes to processes of teaching and learning mathematics. In this article, we discuss the connections related to positionality and ongoing research in ethnomodelling in Nepal, this includes what was learned with a Brazilian-Nepali connection used to reflect on feedback and new ideas related to the dialogical processes that allows us to use and create new forms of emic, etic, and dialogical aspects in ethnomodelling. We seek here to integrate and share ideas related to ethnomodelling dialogue gleaned from discussions and work with the emerging ethnomathematics research group in Nepal. We end this discussion with concrete examples of how we continue to learn and apply dialogue in ethnomodelling research in the context of JB Pradhan and Toyanath Sharma´s work with artifacts in Nepal.
Awareness of Child Sexual Abuse Among Secondary School Students in Kathmandu District
Authors: Basnet Rojina , Gautam Sabyata , Maharjan Sharmila
Published: May 2020

This study explores the awareness among community and institutional school students on child sexual abuse (CSA). The study population was 120 students studying in class 8 and 9 from two institutional and two community schools.  The numbers of male respondents were slightly higher than female respondents in both institutional and community schools (51.5% in institutional and 52.1% in community schools). 66% in community and 86.3% in community schools answered that raping the child and exposing abuser’s body parts to a child is sexual abuse of the child. Children perceive only serious forms or rape as sexual abuse while they are mostly ignorant that less serious types are also sexual abuse. However, comparatively respondents of community school were more aware of the non-contact form of sexual abuse of child than that of institutional school. Students of both institutional and community schools do not have much knowledge about the consequences of sexual abuse, as very few respondents hardly pointed out all the consequences. Furthermore, there was a difference in the level of knowledge between institutional and community school students. The result of the study will be useful to provide baseline information regarding awareness of school adolescents on sexual abuse so that policymakers can develop policies and programs to ensure a protective environment for children in various contexts. Also, awareness needs to be provided regarding CSA from primary school level.
Strained Identity: Cultural and Religious Rituals of a Musahar Community
Authors: Pokhrel Bhabani
Published: May 2020

This article portrays the Musahars, untouchable by tradition, as observing their cultural and religious rituals despite strains of change surrounding their identity. One of the diverse ethnic minorities of the Tarai plains of Nepal, the community exhibits a distinct set of characteristics, meriting ethnographic attention. Past studies have looked into their socio-economic situation but their cultural and religious practices, markers of their identity, are less studied. In that context, this paper has done the desk and field reviews of the cultural and religious traits seen in a small Musahar cluster of Province 1. The objectives were to describe the community’s everyday practices, what its members eat and drink, how they observe their life-cycle rituals, their feast and festivals, dresses and ornaments in light of literature, field observation and intensive interviews. The primary and secondary data are used to describe the everyday practices and strains of change in the Musahar identity. Interviews were held with four participants sampled purposively from Ward 1 of Biratnagar Metropolis, in Morang. The findings of this paper are expected to be useful for researchers interested in this particular community as well as for planners and policymakers who seek to bring the downtrodden community into the mainstream of development.
Book Review: ‘Forget Kathmandu: An Elegy for Democracy’
Authors: Gautam Suresh
Published: May 2020

No abstract available.
Síndrome opsoclonus - mioclonus
Authors: Delgado Castro Liseth Gabriela , Benavides Villalobos José Daniel , Marín Rodríguez German Jesus
Published: May 2020

El síndrome opsoclonus-mioclonus es una condición rara, asociada con una etiología  de carácter autoinmune, tanto paraneoplásica, parainfecciosa o idiopática. Estos pacientes se presentan con ataxia del tronco y extremidades,  con caídas, opsoclonus, mioclonías, y se puede acompañar de diversos grados de encefalopatía, signos cerebelosos y alteraciones del sueño. En el caso de la población pediátrica, se debe evaluar por neuroblastoma; y en adultos con encefalopatía asociada se debe realizar una evaluación exhaustiva para detectar malignidad oculta. Mientras que los síntomas neurológicos agudos pueden controlarse mediante inmunoterapia, y se ha visto respuesta parcial a tratamiento antitumoral, el resultado a largo plazo se caracteriza por la presencia de déficit neuropsicológico.
Comparison of In Vitro Dose Perturbation Effects of Amalgam, Composite Resin, Glass Ionomer Cement and Ketac Silver During Head and Neck Radiation with Photon Beam
Authors: Tuntiwong Kuson , Yu Jian-hong , Tuntiwong Kuson
Published: May 2020

The most common oral manifestation from head and neck radiotherapy is mucositis. A part of complications
is backscattering from metallic dental materials in radiation field, resulting in a dosage enhancement at the
tissue-metal interface. The proper management of the patient’s restorative materials must be performed
preoperatively to reduce these complications. This research compared the relative dose enhancement (RDE)
in the different restorative materials (Amalgam, Composite resin, Glass ionomer cement and Ketac
Silver®), the different tooth preparations (Class I, Class I other, Class II MOD, Cusp Tipping and Core
build-up) and the location of ionizing chamber (buccal, occlusal, lingual surface). The dimension of
controlled 20 teeth are as followed lower third molar, buccolingual width (10.41±0.82mm), mesiodistal
width (11.28±0.72mm), dentin and enamel buccolingual width (1.5±0.5mm). The experiment is set using a
modular radiation beam analyzer with at least 2 cm water as soft tissue equivalent material, 3 times irradiated
with LINAC 6MV 200MU. The backscattering occurred in the amalgam filled tooth at the buccal and
occlusal aspect in every preparation. The highest RDE occurring at the buccal aspect of cusp tipping
amalgam filled tooth was 2.7%. In the lingual aspect, every preparation of amalgam filled tooth
demonstrated lower RDE. The composite resin and glass ionomer cement produced low backscattering,
while Ketac Silver® produced higher RDE. For any amalgam restorations in the radiation field, we
recommended using the one-layer glass ionomer technique, which is suitable in preparing patient ahead of
head and neck radiation. The recommended filling technique may decrease mucositis the adjacent area and
improve the patient’s quality of life.
Exteriorizing the Outer Cuff to Treat Intractable Exit Site Infection and Tunnel Infection in Peritoneal Dialysis Cases: A Single Institute Experience
Authors: Hung Tsung I , Yong Ching Shya , Chang Juiting , Hung Tsung I , Chang Wei Ting , Tsai Yun Chen
Published: May 2020

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an important treatment method for patients with end stage renal disease. Since
its introduction in 1975, clinical studies have shown that PD can improve patient survival, retain residual
renal function, and lower the risk of infection. It can also reduce financial stress in the growing population
with end stage renal disease. However, PD has limitations, mainly technique failures. Of these, catheterrelated infection is a major cause of catheter failure in PD. We reviewed the medical records of 986 PD
patients from 2008 to 2018 at our hospital. The patients with intractable tunnel and exit site infection
received exteriorization of the outer cuff and cuff shaving. The favourable outcomes observed recommend
this treatment for PD patients whose catheter infection is not well controlled.
Current Research Data on Drug Therapy for Novel Coronavirus Associated Disease (COVID-19): Systematic Review
Authors: Omelyanovskiy Vitaly Vladimirovich , Antonov Artem Alekseevich , Bezdenezhnykh Tatiana Pavlovna , Khachatryan Georgii Rubenovich
Published: May 2020

Objective: to analyze clinical studies of drugs used for COVID-19 prevention and treatment and to identify ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCT) of drugs used for COVID-19 prevention and treatment.

Methods. A systematic search of completed clinical studies was performed in MedLine database and in reference lists of the articles found. Ongoing RCT were looked for in clinicaltrials.gov; also the search was made in Google Scholar.

Result. Drugs that are currently used for COVID-19 were assessed in 18 completed clinical studies of other infections, e.g. other coronaviruses and Ebola virus. 15 completed published studies were devoted to their use for COVID-19. Case series reports where COVID-19 drug therapy is mentioned, are cited as well. 41 RCT of COVID-19 therapy were registered in clinicaltrials.gov. Remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and favipiravir are studied most often. Still the results of the completed studies cannot justify confidently the recommendation to use any of the drugs for COVID-19 prevention and treatment.

Conclusion. Currently there is no clinical evidence to reliably support any of the drug’s efficacy for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Nevertheless, a lot of RCT are expected to be completed in the nearest future.
Main Changes in the Model of Diagnosis-Related Groups in Russia in 2020
Authors: Lazareva Maria Leonidovna , Zheleznyakova Inna Alexandrovna , Avxentyeva Maria Vladimirovna , Fedyaev Denis Valerievich , Zuev Alexandr Vladimirovich , Ledovskikh Yulia Anatolievna , Semakova Evgeniya Vasiliyevna , Omelyanovskiy Vitaly Vladimirovich
Published: May 2020

Since 2013 a diagnosis-related groups (DRG) model has been introduced for the payment of medical care provided in inpatient settings and the day hospitals in Russia at the federal level. The DRG model is improved annually by the increasing of DRG number and specifying the classification criteria for attributing treatment cases to a particular group. In this article, we describe the main changes in the DRG model in 2020 compared with the last year. Main changes include the creation of new classification criteria for the formation of DRG, new DRG in the oncology profile, the changes in the DRG for epilepsy and chronic viral hepatitis C treatment, as well as for the use of genetically engineered biological drugs and selective immunosuppressants. The article also describes the innovations regarding the general approaches to paying for health care with respect to DRG: the rules for applying regional correction factors and for simultaneous payment for two DRG within one treatment case.
Analysis of Current Practices of Organizing the Export of Medical Services in the United Kingdom, Italy, South Korea and China
Authors: Daykhes Arkady Nikolaevich , Reshetnikov Vladimir Anatolievich , Manerova Olga Aleksandrovna , Mikhailov Ilya Aleksandrovich
Published: May 2020

Aim of the study. Analysis of medical tourism’s organizational features based on the example of the large medical organizations in the United Kingdom, South Korea, Italy and China.

Materials and methods. The data were collected by the authors by interviewing the heads of medical organizations and their deputies in the United Kingdom, South Korea, Italy and China (3–4 respondents per medical organization) using the developed questionnaire to identify the main mechanisms and tools for organizing the export of medical services. SWOT-analysis (Strengths; Weaknesses; Opportunities; Threats) was performed in order to comprehensively evaluate the received information.

Results. Along with weaknesses and threats that slow down the development of medical services exports, strengths (internal factors) and opportunities ( external factors) that contribute to the development of medical tourism were also identified: the widespread popularity of the brand of medical organizations abroad which is associated with the provision of premium medical services; versatility and ability to conduct high-tech surgical operations; the presence of a separate premium class building and an international department for working with foreign patients and promoting a medical organization in the world market; well-established business relationships with assistance companies; foreign medical personnel who speak foreign languages and possess necessary skills to treat foreign patients; developed electronic medical care system; developed system of quality control of medical care; the presence of branches in other countries; the presence of a medical visa in the system of legislation; established cooperation with many countries at the embassy level; state licensing and accreditation for the provision of medical services to foreign citzens; the availability of a state website on the provision of medical assistance to foreign citizens; the possibility of the age of value added tax.

Conclusion. We identified main patterns in the organization of export of medical services that can be applied to develop this direction in medical organizations of the Russian Federation during the analysis the strengths and weaknesses of four large medical organizations abroad, as well as external factors that affect the work of these medical organizations.
Conceptual Approaches to the Advanced Training of Lean Production Staff in Medical Organizations Providing Primary Health Care
Authors: Zadvornaya Olga Leonidovna
Published: May 2020

The article is devoted to the development of conceptual approaches to training of personnel for the implementation of lean production technologies in medical organizations – one of the modern directions of optimization of primary health care aimed at intensification of activity processes and elimination of resource losses. Conceptual approaches to the nature of content, structuring of the matrix of competences for application in training and professional activity of organizers of lean production, approaches to the professional basis of design of educational programs have been defined.
Approaches to Increasing Access to Innovative Drugs Based on Cost-sharing Agreements
Authors: Zheleznyakova Inna Alexandrovna , Fyodorov Alexey Alexandrovich
Published: May 2020

Existing approaches to the implementation of cost-sharing agreements in the Russian Federation are described. Such agreements are used in practice to
limit budget expenditures while improving access to modern drug therapy for patients. Presently, innovative models of drug provision are not directly
mentioned in federal legislation and are not covered by special legal regulation; therefore, they are regulated by the general rules of the applicable law.
The authors propose approaches to determining the juridical nature of cost-sharing agreements, analyze the organizational schemes used in practice
and assess their compliance with different legislative fields: civil law, legislation on the protection of competition, law on the contract system in the
procurement of goods and services for state and municipal needs, and the law on obligatory medical insurance. The results of the analysis can be used
in the implementation of cost-sharing agreements in the daily activities of medical organizations and public health authorities of the Russian Federation.
Сost of the Biologacal Therapy for Severe Brochcial Asthma Treatment at Inpatient and Day Care Setting
Authors: Nedogoda Sergey Vladimirovich , Salasyuk Alla Sergeevna , Barykina Irina Nikolaevna , Smirnova Victoria Olegovna , Frolov Maksim Yurevich
Published: May 2020

Objective: to assess the cost of the severe bronchial asthma (BA) treatment with various biological agents at inpatient and day care setting from the compulsory medical insurance (CMI) system perspective.

Methods. The authors constructed the MS Excel® analytical decision-making model and calculated the CMI system’s costs of severe BA treatment with various biological drugs at inpatient and day care setting. The costs of treatment with benralizumab, dupilumab, omalizumab, reslizumab and mepolizumab were compared. The cost difference between benralizumab and other drugs was identified taking into account the frequency of the drugs’ administration. The first administration was assumed to be inpatient, followed by the administrations in day care ward.

Results. The use of benralizumab reduces the expenses of the CMI system by 0.8 million rubles per patient (–39%) compared with omalizumab, mepolizumab, resizumab and by 2.9 million rubles per patient (–69%) versus dupilumab due to the lowest frequency of administration, therefore less hospitalizations for therapy. With a 5-year modeling horizon, benralizumab therapy allows to reduce the CMI system expenses by 4.5 million rubles (–48%) compared with omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab and by 13.9 million rubles (–74%) compared with dupilumab. The use of benralizumab will release 5–7 cases per patient per year compared to omalizumab, resizumab and mepolizumab and 18–20 cases per patient per year compared to dupilumab.

Conclusion. Benralizumab therapy in patients with severe BA in inpatient and day care settings will lead to the optimization of CMI expenditures and more rational use of budgets allocated to hospitals.
Pharmacoepidemiological Analysis of Pharmacotherapy for Burn Injuries in Real Clinical Practice
Authors: Zhukova Olga Vyacheslavovna , Nekaeva Ekaterina Sergeevna , Khoroshavina Elena Sergeevna , Kozlova Ekaterina Alexeevna , Dudukina Yulia Alexandrovna , Arefyev Igor Yuryevich
Published: May 2020

Objective: to conduct pharmacoepidemiological analysis and analysis of the costs of pharmacotherapy, taking into account the actual consumption of drugs in the real inpatient clinical practice at the federal center in Russia.

Materials and methods. Data from the medical records of 14 patients with burn injury, who were hospitalized in 2018, was analyzed. Patients’ age was from 23 to 67 years (44,93 ± 14,66). Duration of hospitalization was from 17 to 62 days (35,93 ± 14,17). We calculated rate of prescription foe each drug and its share in general structure of all utilized drug courses (n = 460). We performed frequency analysis of prescription structure, DDD (defined daily doses) analysis, DU90% (Drug Utilization 90%) analysis, ABC-analysis and analysis of average cost of pharmacotherapy.

Results. Most frequently used drugs, prescribed in 75-100% of all hospital cases, included 15 names, e.g. 2 antimicrobial drugs (vancomycin and amikacin), 19 were used commonly, including 4 antimicrobial drugs (co-trimoxazole, cefoperazone/sulbactam, tigecyclin and cefepime). Other drugs were used in less than 25% of cases. 33 drugs made 90% of all consumed NDDD, including 5 antimicrobial drugs (vancomycin, amikacin, co-trimoxazole, cefoperazone/sulbactam and tigecyclin). These drugs comprised 70,24% in the prescription structure. The cost of one DDD in DU90% segments (512,33 rubles) is 1,4 higher than in DU10% segment (649,34 rubles). Average cost of drugs included in DU90% group was 4735,89 rubles vs 4966,80 rubles for drugs from DU10% group. This finding shows positive tendency of burn injuries pharmacological treatment.

Conclusion. We obtained the data, which can be used for comparison of real clinical practice costs with a current payment rates for medical care.
Different Scenarios of Providing Drugs for Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency in Russia: Analysis of Costs and Effectiveness
Authors: Teptsova Tatyana Sergeevna , Fedyaeva Vlada Konstantinovna , Nikitina Anna Vladimirovna
Published: May 2020

The only source of financing for immunoglobulin replacement therapy needed by patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in Russian Federation is the compulsory health insurance system: payment is based on diagnosis-related groups (DRG), including the DRG for immunoglobulin treatment at day care and inpatient setting. PID are not included either into regional program for rare diseases, or into federal program of 12 high-cost diseases. This leads to limited coverage of patients with effective drug treatment. Furthermore, currently in Russian Federation there is no neonatal screening for PID, which could facilitate early detection of the disease and timely start of treatment.

Goal of the study: to conduct the analysis of cost and effectiveness of different scenarios of drug provision for the patients with PID, which differ in coverage of patients with therapy and by presence/absence of neonatal screening.

Materials and methods. The model compared three scenarios of drug provision for patients with PID: a) current practice, when in accordance with available data not all patients get necessary immunoglobulin replacement therapy, b) new scenario 1 – financing of drugs for all registered patients with PID when large-scale neonatal screening for PID is absent; c) new scenario 2 – financing of drugs for all registered patients with PID when large-scale neonatal screening is implemented. In each scenario direct medical costs and number of prevented deaths was calculated. Comparison of scenarios was planned to be made by calculation of additional costs per prevented death due to PID, or by assessment of difference of costs and effectiveness (number of prevented deaths) with identification of a dominant scenario.

Results. Both new scenarios including financing of drugs for all registered patients with PID lead to the prevention of significant number of deaths and also to cost savings if compared with current practice. Total costs for current, 1st new and 2nd new scenario for 15 year was^ 2 285,54, 616,49 and 1 318,61 billions of rubles respectively. Also when comparing 1st and 2nd new scenarios with current practice we expect prevention of 243 and 2076 deaths respectively.

Conclusion. Most effective approach is the introduction of large-scale neonatal screening for PID combined with the new source of financing: this scenario saves less money, but helps to prevent highest number of deaths compared with current practice. This scenario can prevent deaths of patients who would not have been diagnosed with PID in the absence of screening, and also helps to save healthcare system budget by centralization of government procurement of drugs.
Meta-analysis of Studies Investigating Association between FTO Gene Polymorphisms and Breast Cancer
Authors: Gholamalizadeh Maryam , Doaei Saeid , Sanjari Moghadam Ali , Movafagh Abolfazel , Mousavi Jarrahi Seyedeh Zahra , Mosavi Jarrahi Alireza
Published: May 2020

Back Objectives: The aim of this study is to pool the result of studies on the association between FTO gene polymorphisms and breast cancer (BC).Material and Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Science Direct, Scopus, web of science, and Cochran to identify studies investigating the associations between the rs1477196 and rs9939609 polymorphisms and BC risk. We pooled adjusted odds ratios (ORs) as overall. ORs were estimated using a random effects model. Results: In total, 16 articles were included in the final analysis. Considering the dominant model of inheritance, there was an inverse association between the rs1477196 polymorphism and BC (OR 0.76 [0.64- 0.91]). There was not observable heterogeneity (I2: 0.0%, P=.867), but with a small study effect (b=1.19, P=.03) in this analysis. Moreover, there was not any association between the rs9939609 polymorphism and BC (OR 0.98 [0.79- 1.2]). There was not observable heterogeneity (I2: 23.1%, P=.27) and small study effect (b=-3.817, P=.303) in this analysis. Conclusions: The carriers of rs1477196 polymorphism of FTO are at lower risk for BC. Carriers of Rs9939609 polymorphism had no association with Breast cancer risk.
Molecular Study of FLT3 gene mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia from Pakistan : Correlation with clinicopathological parameters.
Authors: Faiz Mariam , Rashid Farzana
Published: May 2020

Introduction: FLT3 mutations are common genetic changes reported to have prognostic significance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Bone marrow/peripheral blood samples of 63 AML Pakistani patients were collected and DNA was isolated.Materials and Methods: The FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) and the D835 activating mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results: Among 63 AML patients, 42 were males and 21 were females with male to female ratio 2.1:1. The age ranged between 15 to 75 years with a median age of 32 years. AML-M2 was the predominant French-American-British (FAB) subtype (32%) followed by M3 (27%), M4 (19%), M5 (6.3%) and M1 (6.3%). The incidence of FLT3/ITD and TKD was 22% and 6.3% respectively. Majority of the FLT3/ITD mutation were detected in AML-M4 (38%) patients while D835 mutation was common in both FAB M1, M2. Presence of mutation was significantly associated with age but significance was not achieved for hyperleukocytosis.Conclusion: This study constitutes the first report from Pakistan reporting significant presence of FLT3/ITD mutations in our adult AML patients with different FAB subtypes Molecular mutation analysis in different cytogenetic groups with follow-up is required to understand the pathogenesis of leukemias and their role as a valuable prognostic marker in our patients.
CDKs family -a glimpse into the past and present: from cell cycle control to current biological functions
Authors: Shah Muzna , Qureshi Muhammad Fazal Hussain , Mohammad Danish , Lakhani Mahira , Urooj Tabinda , Mushtaq Shamim
Published: May 2020

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are the catalytic subunits or protein kinases characterized by separate subunit “cyclin” that are essential for their enzymatic activity. CDKs play important roles in the control of cell cycle progression, cell division, neuronal function, epigenetic regulation, metabolism, stem cell renewal and transcription. However, they can accomplish some of these tasks independently, without binding with cyclin protein or kinase activity. Thus, so far, twenty different CDKs and cyclins have been reported in mammalian cells. The evolutionary expansion of the CDK family in mammals led to the division of CDKs into three cell-cycle-related subfamilies (Cdk1, Cdk4 and Cdk5) and five transcriptional subfamilies (Cdk7, Cdk8, Cdk9, Cdk11 and Cdk20). In this review, we summarizes that how CDKs are traditionally involve their latest revelations, their functional diversity beyond cell cycle regulation and their impact on development of disease in mammals.
Expression of Villin associated with Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in patients with gastric cancer relating to their clinical and morphological specifications
Authors: Azizi Seyed Mohammad , Hashemi Mehrdad , Falsafi Sarvenaz , Azizi Seyedeh Mina , Shirkoohi Reza
Published: May 2020

Aim and Background: Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the world and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The metastatic invasive cells of tumor tissue are the main cause of mortality. Numerous biological phenomena are involved in organizing the metastatic process. The Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition is one of the major mechanisms modulating malignant phenotypes by gastric epithelial cells. Specific cell signals are responsible for epithelial or mesenchymal maintenance of the cells in the tissue. These signals are evaluated by measuring the expression of epithelial and mesenchymal biomarkers in that tissue. Villin is an actin-binding protein mainly expressed in the brush border of epithelium which preserves the shape of the cell and its adhesion to the tissue. The aim of the present research is to study the expression of Villin in the cells as a feasible epithelial biomarker in order to evaluate the cross-sectional situation of the cells. Materials and Methods: 38 patients with gastric cancer that were admitted to the Cancer Institute of Imam Khomeini in a period of 6 months were chosen randomly. two samples were collected from each individual; one from the tumoral tissue and one from normal margin of the tumorous tissue. These samples were evaluated after obtaining informed consent from the patients. RNA was extracted from the samples and used as template for cDNA synthesis. The Villin expression was then measured through Real-Time PCR and statistical data according to tissue type and different grades were collected. Results: The expression of Villin in tumor tissue of the patients with gastric cancer was significantly lower than the normal tissue. Conclusion: As it appears decreased expression of Villin can act as an effective factor toward loss of epithelial nature of the cell and occurring Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition followed by metastasis.