bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ut pictura, ita visio
Authors: Hamou Philippe
Published: March 2022

Dans cet article, on examine quelques aspects de la réception philosophique de la découverte par Kepler des « peintures » rétiniennes, en s’interrogeant sur le sens du dictum képlérien « ut pictura, ita visio ». En quel sens peut-on dire que la vision est semblable à la peinture physiologique formée au fond de l’œil ? On montre qu’il existe sur cette question une tension interprétative assez rarement soulignée entre deux options théoriques : l’une fait de la peinture physiologique (rétinienne ou cérébrale) l’objet proximal, interne, de la perception, inspectée par l’âme à même le corps du voyant ; l’autre considère que la vision, quoiqu’indexée sur la peinture, n’est jamais dirigée sur elle, la peinture n’étant que l’antécédent causal d’un acte de perception direct du monde extérieur.
La révolution passive chez Antonio Gramsci, entre histoire et politique
Authors: Douet Yohann
Published: March 2022

La notion de révolution passive est aujourd’hui reconnue comme l’une des contributions théoriques les plus importantes de Gramsci ; elle a fait l’objet de travaux approfondis en langues étrangères, et est également mise en œuvre pour analyser différents phénomènes historiques et situations concrètes présentes. L’objectif de cet article est de constituer une étude synthétique de l’élaboration et des usages de la notion de révolution passive dans les Cahiers de prison. Pour cela, nous suivons les différentes phases de développement de la notion, ainsi que les déplacements de son sens en fonction des cas pour l’étude desquels elle est mobilisée, même hypothétiquement (le Risorgimento, l’Europe du XIXe siècle, le fascisme, l’américanisme, etc.). Pour Gramsci, il apparaît que les apports de cette notion se situent sur au moins deux plans dialectiquement liés : concevoir une modalité du changement historique qui ne saurait être réduite aux bouleversements révolutionnaires proprement dits ; mettre en évidence d’une manière critique les stratégies politiques des classes dominantes, afin d’œuvrer à l’émancipation de l’activité autonome des subalternes.
La cité et la démocratie : une interprétation du discours de Diodote
Authors: González Mathieu
Published: March 2022

Des différents discours rapportés par Thucydide, l’un des plus étudiés et interprétés est celui de Diodote dans l’affaire de Mytilène. Sa profondeur, le fait qu’il touche un grand nombre de problèmes centraux à la réflexion politique, tels que le rôle de la justice, la place de la force et du droit dans une communauté politique, ainsi que la relation entre la démocratie et l’empire, expliquent cette importance. Mais est-ce que les différents écrits et interprétations ferment l’horizon possible de la réflexion autour de ce sujet ? Non, car ce discours, riche en questions, problèmes et réflexions, mérite une nouvelle lecture, qui dégage son sens profond de la façon la plus claire et précise possible. Pour accomplir cette tâche, l’auteur commence par présenter le contexte du discours, puis expose l’interprétation de Leo Strauss, centrée sur le droit naturel et la supposée paternité de ce concept par Diodote. Puis, il analyse les séminaires de Castoriadis à l’EHESS sur l’ancienne Grèce, où est défendue une lecture fort différente, qui présente Diodote comme un continuateur de la pensée traditionnelle d’Athènes. L’auteur montre ensuite les limites de ces interprétations, en montrant en Diodote un homme politique de premier ordre, qui a proposé une nouvelle politique athénienne, qui cherche à harmoniser l’empire et la démocratie, en fondant une nouvelle institution politique qui dépasse les limites étroites de la cité.
Le Conseil d’État et Vichy
Authors: Fabre Philippe
Published: March 2022

À l’antisémitisme du régime de Vichy, qui ne cesse de se rappeler à la mémoire de notre temps, les historiens ont consacré de très nombreuses recherches. Au Conseil d’État, qui vient de célébrer son deuxième centenaire au sein de l’organisation administrative française, les juristes ont réservé une littérature non moins prospère.

Pourtant, sur les relations troubles entretenues par le Conseil d’État avec la politique antijuive de Vichy, la bibliographie disponible, malgré quelques récents apports, s’avère beaucoup plus restreinte. Le fond de ces quelques contributions, en outre, est parfois contradictoire, souvent discutable, toujours environné de crispations individuelles ou collectives.

C’est partant de ce constat que le présent ouvrage s’est engagé dans la doublé voie d’une synthèse et d’un approfondissement des travaux existants. Ainsi trouvera-t-on d’abord en ces pages la matière des plus fiables recherches qui intéressent le sujet, mais aussi une analyse exhaustive, à ce jour la seule, des arrêts rendus par le Conseil d’État dans le contentieux né de l’application du droit antisémite édicté par les autorités de Vichy.

L’étude, alliant selon une démarche originale l’approche historique au raisonnement juridique, s’efforce de réexaminer posément les conclusions qui ont été formulées sur cette jurisprudence. À cet effet, elle opère d’amples comparaisons, tant avec le reste de l’activité des membres du Conseil durant la période 1940-1944 qu’avec l’attitude des juridictions judiciaires et de l’ensemble des juristes alors confrontés aux lois raciales.

Loin des révisionnismes feutrés, dont la généalogie se trouve également retracée ici, qui depuis la Libération et aujourd’hui encore tentent d’oblitérer les aspects les plus sombres de ce « contentieux de l’antisémitisme », l’auteur retient un bilan nuancé, soucieux de comprendre les errements passés comme d’ouvrir la réflexion à ce qu’est un juge aussi bien qu’à ce qu’est le droit.

Issu d’un mémoire soutenu en 1998 dans le cadre du DEA de droit public interne de l’Université de Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne), cet ouvrage, qui a reçu le soutien du Conseil scientifique de l’Université, constitue le premier volume de la collection de l’École doctorale de droit public et de droit fiscal, « De Republica ».
Editorial
Authors: Wazeer Z. , Drahaman Akram , Perera M. B.
Published: March 2022

No abstract available
CORLHNS News
Authors: Editors Co-
Published: March 2022

No abstract available
Laryngeal paraganglioma
Authors: Balasubramaniam A. , Thirumaran B.
Published: March 2022

Paragangliomas of the head and neck are rare especially in larynx. A 36 year old female patient presented with a history of progressive voice change and difficulty of swallowing for 6 months. During endoscopic examinationsmooth surfaced mass on Left supraglottic region, was noted. Tumour was excised through transcervical excision.  Histology and immunohistochemistry of the tumour revealed that, it was paraganglioma.
Underlying causes of vertigo or dizziness among patients presenting to Ear, Nose and Throat clinic at a tertiary care hospital in North Central province - Sri Lanka
Authors: Domingoarachi G. D. , Muhandiram E. C. , Jayasena K. D. N. U. D. , Abeysundara U. B. , Agampodi S. B.
Published: March 2022

Introduction:Disturbance to the function of vestibular apparatus or sensory processing of its signals presents as vertigo or dizziness. Vertigo/dizziness are common symptoms that can cause significant morbidity to patients.  There is no data on underlying causes for dizziness and vertigo available in Sri Lanka.
Objective: To determine the underlying causes of vertigo/dizziness in a cohort of Sri Lankan population.
Method: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among patients presenting with vertigo/dizziness to ENT clinic at teaching hospital Anuradhapura from March 2016 to February 2017. All patients were assessed and diagnosed according to a common protocol and accepted standard guidelines.
Results: Out of 627 patients, 290(46.3%) were males. Mean age of presentation was 51.1 years (SD 15.8). Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) was the commonest diagnosis (n229, 36.5%) followed by vestibular migraine (n161, 25.7%) andMénière disease (n50, 8.0%). BPPV was significantly higher among males (Chi-square 4.3, p .039) and vestibular migraine was significantly higher among females (Chi square 8.254, p .004). Acute vestibular neuronitis, acute labyrinthine failure, chronic vestibular failure and functional dizziness were diagnosed in 4.6%, 4.1%, 2.4% and 3% respectively. 
Conclusion: The major underlying cause of dizziness/vertigo reported in this rural Sri Lankan population are similar to the data reported in other countries.
COVID-19 associated rhino orbital mucormycosis : Single center experience of 21 cases
Authors: De Alwis A. S. R. , Weerakkody W. P. L. , Kirihena K. D. R. A.
Published: March 2022

Intensifying the burden of the second wave of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, invasive mucormycosis started emerging in numbers among COVID-19 recovered patients. It was commonly found among immunocompromised patients. Prompt initiation of antifungals and aggressive surgical debridement contributes immensely for the overall prognosis.
Editorial Vol.1(2)
Authors: Kumara P.A.P. Samantha
Published: March 2022

COVID 19 impact has compelled businesses to rethink their business management practices and assess emerging trends with the COVID 19 impact. The studies focusing on analysing the impact of COVID 19 on business management practices will offer insights to businesses to adapt and align their businesses according to COVID 19 new normal. This Volume of the SAJBI was interested in publishing papers that have addressed trends present in this new normalcy.The papers of Issue 2 of Volume 1 include four empirical papers and one literature review. As usual, I believe all these papers will bring insights into the business and management landscape not limited to the South Asian context, but relevant in general. Thus, all these papers are academically rigorous as the papers have gone through a rigorous peer-review process.
Impact of COVID-19 on Stock Return in Asian Stock Markets
Authors: Kumarapperuma Oshini , Deyshappriya N.P. Ravindra , Rajapaksha R.M.M.C.
Published: March 2022

This study focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on the stock market in the Asian region, highlighting the impact on stock returns of 15 Asian stock markets while observing the nexus between COVID-19 confirmed cases and stock return. The analysis is based on daily closing price indices of selected 15 markets during the period of 1st January 2019 and 30th June 2020. The Event Study method was employed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on stock returns, by comparing the calculated abnormal return before and after the event day (20th of January 2020) under two event windows such as (0,10) and (10, 20). Fixed Effect Panel Regression Analysis was applied to observe the impact of the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases on stock return in selected stock markets. The analysis reveals that abnormal returns after the event day were negative and therefore it is apparent that the COVID-19 outbreak has drastically affected the stock returns of selected stock markets of the Asian region. Specifically, two event windows indicate that COVID-19 has an immediate negative impact on all selected stock markets while the long-term negative impact has limited only to the emerging and frontier markets. It is observed that COVID-19 confirmed cases negatively affect the stock return of all selected stock markets in the Asian region.
Convivial Conservation Prospects in Europe—From Wilderness Protection to Reclaiming the Commons
Authors: Iordăchescu George
Published: March 2022

Recent high-end EU discussions on biodiversity conservation support the strict protection of wild nature, thereby amplifying concerns about environmental and social injustices. Parallelly, grass-roots and academic proposals advocate for the fair recognition of community-protected areas and broader political negotiations regarding human–wildlife interactions. This paper argues that land commons offer valuable lessons toward implementing the convivial conservation vision as advanced by Büscher and Fletcher (2019). For example, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 endorses strict protection of wild nature as a core element of economic relaunching. However, the focus on wild nature rules out the development of various biodiversity hotspots under human impact. Against this strict separation, various initiatives converge to make visible the efforts of indigenous peoples and local communities who combine resource governance with biodiversity conservation beyond free-market logics and human–nature dichotomies. This contribution takes the case of the Romanian forest commons and explores the synergies between these historical institutions and the convivial conservation proposal which advances post-capitalist conservation politics. The paper argues that the translation of conviviality to concrete pathways towards transformation is timely in Europe, and the commons offer valuable lessons which could advance a transition to more democratic and just forms of conservation.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum with Splenic Abscess- A Rare Association
Authors: Bansal Aditi , Singla Ankur , Singh Aminder , Kaur Sukhjot
Published: March 2022

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, chronic neutrophilic dermatosis of unknown etiology. The classical clinical feature of pyoderma gangrenosum is a pustule or plaque that rapidly progresses to a painful, necrotic ulcer with undermined violaceous margins. Pyoderma gangrenosum may be associated with underlying inflammatory bowel diseases, hematological malignancies, or rheumatologic disorders in 50–70% of the cases. The visceral involvement by pyoderma gangrenosum is rare. Sterile neutrophilic infiltrates in organs other than the skin are uncommon systemic manifestations of neutrophilic dermatoses, but have occasionally been reported. We report a case of a 38-year-old female with pyoderma gangrenosum and visceral involvement manifesting as splenic abscess.
Delineating Injectable Triamcinolone-Induced Cutaneous Atrophy and Therapeutic Options in 24 Patients—A Retrospective Study
Authors: Sharma Reena K. , Gupta Mudita , Rani Ritu
Published: March 2022

Background:

Steroids being the strongest anti-inflammatory agents are used in innumerable disorders in various formulations with excellent results and seemingly known side effects as well. Triamcinolone acetonide used as intralesional injections is seen to be associated with localized atrophy in some patients.

Aim:

To describe the cases of steroid-induced localized atrophy/lipoatrophy after intralesional triamcinolone over various parts of the body in a retrospective study.

Materials and Methods:

All patients, with localized atrophy/lipoatrophy with a history of intralesional triamcinolone, were evaluated clinically and histopathologically over the last 3 years. Patients with localized atrophy/lipoatrophy without a history of intralesional steroids were excluded from the study. Patients were evaluated for number, duration, sites, size, shape, and morphology of lesions and response to treatment.

Results:

There were 24 patients (13 females and 11 males) who had intralesional steroid-induced atrophy/lipoatrophy.All but one patient (4-year-old male child) were adults. Buttock (50%) was the most common site involved followed by wrist (25%), scalp (16.6%), malleolus, and neck (4.1%) each. The most common presentation was asymptomatic depigmented atrophic single oval or ameboid plaque with radial extensions. Histopathology was done in 10 patients showing diminished subcutaneous fat lobules with minimal inflammatory cells. Sixteen patients (66.6%) improved with medications (tacrolimus, platelet-rich plasma, and saline injections), and seven were lost to follow-up.

Conclusion:

Corticosteroids act as a double-edged sword so should be used cautiously. Depigmentation/atrophy is a peculiar side effect of intralesional triamcinolone. Depigmented lesions with minimal clinical atrophy respond well to topical tacrolimus, while normal saline injections appear to have promising results in steroid-induced lipoatrophy.
Increased Predisposition of SJS TEN in COVID-19 Patients, Presenting as Post COVID Complication
Authors: Aulakh Shayna , Arora Raina , Sarangal Rishu , Chopra Dimple
Published: March 2022

We report two consecutive cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis presented to our emergency department in the past 5 months. Both patients had history of fever prior to the onset of skin manifestations and showed radiological findings suggestive of COVID-19 pneumonia and elevated D dimers. ALDEN score was used to assess the drug causality, which showed probable and possible associations, respectively. In this report, along with brief review of literature, we highlight the possible role of viral etiology, that is SARS-Cov2, in triggering toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Cyclosporine in Cholinergic Itch
Authors: Sehgal Sumit , Arora Vanshika , Gupta Lalit , Khare Ashok Kumar , Vyas Kapil , Mittal Asit
Published: March 2022

Cholinergic itch is part of symptom complex that also includes cholinergic erythema and cholinergic urticaria. It mostly occurs during the winters among young adults. It is characterized by onset of severe itching or burning sensation all over body, mostly, on exposure to sunlight, warm atmosphere and in some cases after hot and spicy food intake. In most of the cases, it is poorly responsive to antihistamine therapy.

Materials and methods:

This was a prospective, open labeled, clinical study done in patients of cholinergic itch, refractory to both sedating and non sedating anti-histamine drugs, who attended dermatology clinic of our tertiary care center from November, 2020 to February, 2021. Oral cyclosporine was given as treatment. Numerical rating scale (NRS) was used to record the treatment response.

Results:

Twenty patients with cholinergic itch meeting inclusion criteria were included in the study. Mean age of disease onset was 19.5 years. Average duration of each episode was 4.4-8 minutes. More than one site was involved in all patients with trunk being the commonest (100%). There was significant reduction in the number of episodes and cholinergic itch severity (mean NRS=7.8 to 0.3 at the end of second week after initiating cyclosporine therapy). P value of the study was <0.0001.

Statistics:

Mean and standard deviation were used as measure of central tendency. Paired t test was applied to analyze the data obtained.

Conclusion:

Oral cyclosporine effectively controlled cholinergic itch in all included patients. Drug was well tolerated by the patients.
Bacterial Contamination of Medical Equipment and Surfaces in the Main Operating Theater of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital
Authors: Ndu Ikenna K. , Chinawa Josephat M. , Emeka Chukwubuike K. , Asinobi Isaac N. , Ekwochi Uchenna , Nduagubam Obinna C. , Enebe Joseph T. , Chinawa Awoere T. , Iheji Chukwunonso C. , Onu Ngozi N. , Eze Thaddeus C.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Bacterial contamination of operating theaters is a major contributory factor to the high prevalence of post-operative nosocomial infections. The detection of changing trends of microbial counts and micro-flora is key to reducing microbial contamination and good antibiotic stewardship.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to identify bacterial colonization of surfaces and equipment in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital’s operating theater. It also aimed at determining the sensitivity patterns of the colonized surfaces.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Main Theater of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, Enugu, Nigeria. Samples were collected from equipment, operating room surfaces, and cleaning solutions.

Results:

Out of 92 samples collected from various sites, bacterial growth was observed in 47 (51.1%) specimens. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) was the most common isolate (36.2%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (34%). Among S. aureus isolates, 43.8% were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and the remaining were methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). There was high Gram-negative resistance to meropenem. All the Gram-negative isolates were susceptible to imipenem.

Conclusion:

CoNS and S. aureus were the commonest isolates. Increased efforts are needed to reduce the rate of healthcare-associated and surgical site infections in operating theaters.
Evaluation of the Clinico-laboratory Manifestations of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Ugwu Angela Ogechukwu
Published: March 2022

Background:

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a very common hematological malignancy and constitutes about 10% of hematological malignancies. Laboratory investigations including haematological, biochemical, and molecular studies play an important role in the diagnosis, monitoring of response, and relapse in patients with MM.

Objectives:

The objectives of this article were to assess the initial clinical features, hematological profile, and biochemical parameters of newly diagnosed patients with MM.

Materials and Methods:

This was a retrospective study of MM patients seen from February 2010 to January 2020 at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. A total of 51 patients’ case notes were retrieved from the Medical Records Department of the hospital. The socio-demographic data were collected using a Microsoft Excel Sheet. Data on age, sex, hematological parameters, presence of bone lesions (fractures, and osteolytic findings from radiographs), and biochemical parameters were extracted and analyzed.

Results:

The median age was 60.5 years, and the mean age was 59.6 ± 9.3 with a range of 35–89 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.7:1. Only 1 (2.0%) patient was aged below 40 years, and the rest 50 (98.0%) were above 40 years of age. The 61–70 age group had the highest number of cases, 31 (60.8%). The mean hemoglobin, white cell count, and platelet count were 7.96 ± 2.2; 6.76 ± 0.6; and 213.50 ± 98 respectively. Serum protein was >80 g/L in 33 (64.7%) and <80 g/L in 18 (35.3%) patients. Two-thirds of the patients, 34 (66.7%) had albumin level <35 g/L. The mean albumin and globulin levels were 36.2 ± 10.9 and 59.2 ± 1.9 respectively, giving an albumin–globulin ratio (AGR) of 0.611. The mean calcium level was 2.6 ± 0.29 mmol/L. The overall mean urea and creatinine levels were 8.02 ± 3.2 (mmol/L) and 169.5 ± 89.4 (μmol/L), respectively. The most common clinical presentations were weakness, pallor, and bone pains with a proportion of 49 (96.1%), 47 (92.2%), and 45 (88.3%), respectively.

Conclusion:

The physicians should be alerted on the possibility of MM when an elderly patient presents with weakness and bone pains. The AGR is commonly low, connoting a poor prognosis.
Effect of sertraline and fluvoxamine on quality of life in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder
Authors: Brar Jasmine , Sidana Ajeet , Chauhan Nidhi , Bajaj Manoj Kumar
Published: March 2022

Background:

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with poor quality of life (QoL) and functionality. Treatment leads to improvement in QoL and better functioning.

Aim:

To assess the effect of treatment with SSRIs on QoL and disability in first-episode, drug-naïve patients with OCD.

Materials and Methods:

Fifty first-episode, drug-naïve patients with a diagnosis of OCD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 were assessed for severity of illness (Y-BOCS), World Health Organization QoL (WHO-QoL Bref), and disability (WHODAS 2.0) at baseline and at 12 weeks after receiving treatment with either sertraline or fluvoxamine.

Results:

The scores for QoL were low and for disability were high at baseline, and the scores for WHO-QoL-Bref and WHODAS 2.0 improved significantly after 12 weeks of treatment compared to baseline. This improvement correlated with reduction in the illness severity scores on Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale. The responders to treatment had better QoL and lower disability compared to nonresponders.

Conclusion:

There is an impairment in QoL and disability in first-episode, drug-naïve patients with OCD, and QoL improves and disability decreases with adequate treatment with SSRIs, and this improvement correlates with improvement in the illness severity.
Impact of Treatment with Metformin in Comparison with Insulin in Gestational Diabetes in Libyan Population a Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Busarira Musa O. , Getlawi Omaima H. , Hawda Salima M. , Falgosh Salha A. , Peela Jagannadha Rao
Published: March 2022

Background:

The aim of this study was the comparison of the glycemic control and maternal outcomes in women affected with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) managed with metformin versus insulin.

Materials and Methods:

The participants included in this study were 140 women diagnosed with GDM. They were randomized into two groups, women included in the first group were treated with metformin and the women of the second group were managed with insulin.

Results:

The glycemic control was similar in both the treatment arms and the only noteworthy difference was found in the mean fasting blood glucose, which was significantly higher in the women receiving insulin as compared to the women receiving metformin. There were no substantial differences in the maternal outcome with the use of metformin compared to insulin in women with GDM.

Conclusion:

The incidence of operative delivery was higher in metformin-treated group, whereas the hospital admission rate was considerably elevated in insulin-treated group.
An In vitro Study of Orthosiphon stamineus (Misai Kucing) Standardized Water Extract as a Chemolytic Agent in Urolithiasis
Authors: Ambursa Muhammad Bala , Rahman Mohd Nor Gohar , Sulaiman Siti Amrah , Zakaria Andee Dzulkarnaen , Mohamed Daud Mohamed Ashraf , Zakaria Zaidi , Zahari Zalina , Wong Michael Pak-Kai
Published: March 2022

Background:

Orthosiphon stamineus was reported to have diuretic effects in experimental rats, and this leads to inhibition of kidney stones through the abundant levels of minerals and flavonoids in it. This study aimed to determine the in vitro effects of O. stamineus water extract as a potential chemolytic agent in urolithiasis.

Materials and Methods:

In this prospective experiment, a total of 15 stone samples collected from patients who underwent stone extraction were used in each concentration (4 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml, and 1 mg/ml) of the O. stamineus extract and control solution. The effects of pH change in the chemolysis of the stones were assessed using the O. stamineus extract 4 mg/ml under pH 7 and 8.

Results:

The percentage weight reduction of calcium oxalate stone was highest in the 4 mg/ml concentration. O. stamineus extract 4 mg/ml showed a better effect in terms of chemolytic action on calcium oxalate stone than the potassium citrate solution (70% vs. 41%). Regarding the calcium oxalate stone, the percentage weight reduction has shown about 70% in the pH 5, 48% in pH 7, and <10% in pH 8. The percentage weight reduction of uric acid stone was determined as 47%, 11%, and 14% for pH 5, 7, and 8, respectively. The percentage weight reduction of combination stone was 40%, 60%, and 80% in the pH 5, pH 7, and pH 8, respectively. Data analysis showed that the percentage weight reduction of combination stone was significantly different between acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions (P = 0.027).

Conclusions:

In this in vitro study, we are able to show that O. stamineus water extract do have some dissolving capability of urinary stones.
Analytical Quality by Design Based Systematic Development and Optimization of a Sensitive Bioanalytical Method for Estimation Cinacalcet HCl in Rabbit Serum
Authors: Routray Sudhanshu Bhusan , Patra Chinam Niranjan , Swain Suryakanta , Jena Bikash Ranjan
Published: March 2022

Context:

There is no straightforward method for estimating cinacalcet HCl in biological materials such as serum exists. As a result, the goal of this research is to develop a simple quality by design (QbD) enabled reverse phase-Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography (RP-UFLC) model for analyzing cinacalcet HCl in serum.

Aim:

The current study envisages the development and validation of an isocratic simple, precise, and rapid QbD enabled RP-UFLC method for the quantification of cinacalcet HCl in both solution form and blood samples.

Subjects and Methods:

The optimum conditions were outlined, selecting three influential factors (CMPs) i.e., mobile phase composition, flow rate, and injection volume. Systematic optimization was performed by 32-Box Benkhen experimental design using response surface methodology. The selected variables are further assessed for observed responses Critical Analytical attributes, i.e., peak area, retention time (Rt), USP Plate count. The optimized method used a chromatographic C18 (100 mm × 4.6 mm i.d) column with mobile phase (acetonitrile and Tetrabutyl Ammonium Hydrogen Sulphate [TBSH]) in the ratio of 1:1, with a flow rate of 1 mL/min with UV at λmax 223 nm. The developed method was found to be specific for cinacalcet HCl, enduring no interference of peaks with an overall analytical Rt of 4.3 min.

Results:

The Accuracy reported as % recovery was found to be 96.83%–101.32% and 95.18%–102.49% respectively. Inter-day precision (reproducibility) and intra-day precision (repeatability) were found to be 0.22–1.19 standard deviation (SD) and 0.14–2.12 SD respectively. The calibration curve was found to be linear with a regression equation Y = 195.8x + 21852, with R
2 0.999 over a concentration range from 100 to 100,000 ng/mL.

Conclusion:

The required detection and quantitation limits (Limit of Detection and Limit of Quantitation) values were obtained within the acceptance limit based on S/N ratio which indicates the method was sensitive and rapidity of the method. Further, the developed QbD enabled UFLC method was approved and effectively entreated the blood tests to study the pharmacokinetic parameters which indicate a robust, accurate cost-effective method intended for quality control tool for routine systematic analysis in research labs.
Thyroid Function Assessment in Saudi Males with Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Aldhafiri Fahad Khalid , Abdelgawad Fathy Elsayed , Bakri Gihan Mohamed Mohamed , Saber Tamer
Published: March 2022

Background:

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a multifactor condition associated with cardiovascular risk. Thyroid hormones regulate MetS components via controlling energy homeostasis, lipids, and glucose metabolism. The risk ratio for MetS and related disorders changes between males and females. Aim and Objectives: Study aim to access thyroid functions in Saudi population with metabolic syndrome.

Materials and Methods:

The current study sought to evaluate the impact of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) in predicting the risk of MetS. A total of 200 (MetS 100 and control 100) Saudi Arabian males were enrolled for the study, and after applying eligibility criteria, the eligible study size was examined for the physical test (chest, abdominal, and general examination with stress on blood pressure measurement) and anthropometric parameters (bodyweight, body mass index, and waist circumference).

Results:

In the present study, the biochemical parameters, such as TSH, FT3, FT4, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high-density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting glucose, and fasting insulin were measured in the study group, and statistical analysis was also performed. The results revealed that the MetS and control differ in terms of physical, anthropometric, and biochemical markers. The study showed that thyroid dysfunction (TD) and MetS are closely associated with the difference in physical, anthropometric, and metabolic characteristics.

Conclusion:

The result demonstrated hypothyroidism major risk factor due to TD in MetS. These findings provide a scientific basis for diagnosis and the management of TD, associated MetS, and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Souls in Civilization – Why Do We Struggle to Read Olive Schreiner’s Short Fiction and Allegories?
Authors: Beyers Marike
Published: March 2022

Olive Schreiner’s short fiction, published in Dreams (1890), Dream Life and Real Life (1893) and Stories, Dreams and Allegories (published posthumously in 1923), were very popular on their publication and were praised for their aestheticism and political thought. This paper attempts to explore why these stories and allegories have not been taken up as much as Schreiner’s other work in the present day by reading them in the context of various perspectives on allegory.
Willem Anker’s Red Dog, Cormac McCarthy, and the Enigma of Coenraad de Buys
Authors: Cornwell Gareth
Published: March 2022

Willem Anker has been accused of stealing from Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian (1985) in his novel Red Dog (2018), the English translation of his award-winning Buys (2014). I defend Anker on the charge of plagiarism, while conceding that his novel could not have been the book that it is without the precedent of Blood Meridian. I go on to voice other reservations about Red Dog via discussion, inter alia, of Anker’s characterisation of Coenraad Buys and the rendering in English of his Afrikaans original. I conclude that the historical Coenraad Buys appears intractable to novelistic treatment, and that Anker signals his awareness of this while at the same time making a valiant attempt to bring the character to life.

Keywords: Willem Anker, Red Dog, Buys, Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian, Sarah Gertrude Millin, King of the Bastards
The ‘Staffrider’ figure and the Reading of South African Poetry
Authors: Espin Mark
Published: March 2022

This article revisits the figure of the ‘staffrider’ which inspired the title of the literary journal more than forty years ago. It considers how the disruptive, radical nature of this figure regains a measure of relevance in the aftermath of developments in literary theory, in particular, what is understood as the ‘linguistic turn’ with regard to language and meaning. The discussion here follows the premise that if a white aesthetic practice as a discursive construction is susceptible to a process of dismantling, then it must follow that the same can be applied to the constructed nature of a black aesthetic. These critiques must, simultaneously, trouble the claims that what has been circumscribed as a black aesthetics in poetry constitutes a homogenous counter aesthetic and, thus, a poetic tradition inspired almost exclusively by the terms of a fixed subjectivity. As a consequence, a revision of the antithesis between a black and white aesthetic is required, one which must explode the conventional schematic of South African poetry which has remained prevalent in critical scholarship up to this point. In doing so, I suggest it may be valuable to evoke the figure of the ‘staffrider’ as a productive symbol of the troubling yet always equally dynamic nature of the literary text.

Keywords: Aesthetics, deconstruction, South African poetry, Staffrider, subjectivity
Sharing Life on Earth: Material and Immaterial Needs in The Whale Caller
Authors: Iannaccaro Giuliana
Published: March 2022

The present reading of Zakes Mda’s fifth book, The Whale Caller, aims at capturing the peculiarity of a novel which, besides bringing to the fore the basic material necessities of its characters, is also able to suggest that living beings harbour deep, less tangible and less palpable needs, which make life worth living and must, therefore, be perceived and acknowledged. Within this framework, I also suggest that the novel deals with distinctly human concerns without universalising the human perspective. I argue that The Whale Caller is too firmly anthropocentric to engage, as some scholars have maintained, with the crossing of interspecies boundaries, and at the same time that, revolving primarily around the human sphere, the novel does adopt a slanted, ‘anthropoeccentric’ outlook. The attention paid throughout the narrative to the spiritual dimension of life, one that concerns both human and non-human animals, prompts the reader to recognise the importance of taking into account both the material and the intangible aspects of existence. Besides, suggestions of a deep interconnectedness, not only among living beings, but also between them and traditionally considered non-living entities, are disseminated in the book. Accordingly, the present contribution seeks to counterbalance recent readings of the novel that – albeit particularly insightful in their analyses of eco-social global/local concerns – tend to disregard the spiritual dimension of the novel, which is shared among various characters and apparently pervades both human and non-human experience.

Keywords: Zakes Mda, The Whale Caller, postcolonial ecocriticism, anthropocentrism, eccentricity, immaterial needs
Interview with Nadia Nurhussein Black Land: Imperial Ethiopianism in African America
Authors: Adom Getachew
Published: March 2022

In October 2020, Adom Getachew interviewed Nadia Nurhussein about her recent book “Black Land: Imperial Ethiopianism and African America” published by Princeton University Press in 2019. Black Land delves into nineteenth- and twentieth-century African American artistic and journalistic depictions of Ethiopia, illuminating the increasing tensions and ironies behind cultural celebrations of an African country asserting itself as an imperial power. Nurhussein navigates texts by Walt Whitman, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Pauline Hopkins, Harry Dean, Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, George Schuyler, and others, alongside images and performances that show the intersection of African America with Ethiopia during historic political shifts. From a description of a notorious 1920 Star Order of Ethiopia flag-burning demonstration in Chicago to a discussion of the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie as Time magazine’s Man of the Year for 1935, Nurhussein illuminates the growing complications that modern Ethiopia posed for American writers and activists who wrestled with Pan-African ideal and the reality of Ethiopia as an imperialist state. Black Land was Winner of the MSA Book Prize, from the Modernist Studies Association, finalist for the Pauli Murray Book Prize from the African American Intellectual History Society and shortlisted for the MAAH Stone Book Award from the Museum of African American History.
Optimizing the Effect of pH and Temperature on Atrazine Degradation by Bacillus safensis strain BUK_BCH_BTE6 an Efficient Atrazine Tolerating Bacteria from an Agricultural Soil in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State, Nigeria
Authors: Muhammad F. , Yusuf F. , Ahmad F.A. , Shehu U. , Yakasai H.M.
Published: March 2022

The widespread and long term use of atrazine results in high residue levels of atrazine in soil, which further causes water contamination, it is considered as an endocrine disruptor and is potentially carcinogenic. Microbial degradation of herbicide represents a time cost effective way of eco-restoration. This research was aimed at isolating and characterizing bacteria capable of degrading and utilizing atrazine as a sole carbon source. An enrichment method was used to isolate the bacteria on mineral salt media (MSM) following serial dilution. The isolate was identified morphologically, biochemically and molecularly as Bacillus safensis strain BUK_BCH_BTE6 based on 16S rRNA gene sequence and molecular phylogenetic analysis. The effect of pH and temperature on the degradation of atrazine was studied in MSM medium supplemented with atrazine as sole carbon source. Growth and degradation of atrazine in this isolate was optimal at pH 7.5 and temperature of 35 °C. Bacillus safensis is highly efficient in atrazine degradation with an optimum range of pH and temperature. Bacillus safensis could be a suitable candidate for bioremediation of atrazine polluted sites.
Genetic Diversity Of Andropogon Species With Different Microsatellite Markers For Better Selection And Improvement
Authors: Akinyemi B.T. , Okukenu O.A. , Dele P.A. , Kalenikanse O.B. , Wheto M. , Sanda F. , Jolaosho A.O.
Published: March 2022

Pastures have over the years been selected for important traits and their breeding has resulted in some high yielding forage grasses with great adaptive and population expansion traits. The research was carried out to study genetic diversity of nine Andropogon spp. sourced from Remo zone of Ogun State using four microsatellite markers (Phil227562, Xcup63, CTM59, and Xcup14). Genomic DNA was extracted from succulent leaf part of Andropogon grass using DNA extraction procedure of Zymo spin™ technology. Every one of the loci–populace is in with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrum. A sum of eight alleles were noticed and the quantity of alleles per locus has an estimation of 2.00, while the number of alleles ranged from 1.528 (Phil227562) to 1.946 (Xcup63). The viable number of alleles was lesser than noticed number at all the loci. The Shannon's Information Index differed among the loci with 0.530 (Phil227562) to 0.679 (Xcup63) though Inbreeding coefficient across the Andropogon grass clones was negative (mean = - 0.429), going from 0.07 (Phil 227562) to 0.714 (Xcup63) with 100% polymorphic loci. The noticed heterozygosity was higher than expected heterozygosity for all markers of the grass considered.
Effect of different extraction methods on micro-component composition and oxidative stability of oil produced from African pear (Dacryodes edulis) mesocarp Oil
Authors: Onwuzuruike U.A. , Okakpu C.J. , Ndife J. , Uzochukwu U.C. , Ubochi O.
Published: March 2022

Three different methods, including Soxhlet, traditional and screw press, were used to extract oil from African pear pulp. The oils were analysed for selected minerals and phytonutrients; stored for 4 weeks and analysed for oxidative changes. The micro-components results ranged from 0.00 to 41.50% for chlorophyll, 0.00 to 1.25 µg/100g for total carotenoids, 0.02 to 0.04 mg/100g for iron, 0.00 to 0.01 mg/100g for copper, and 18.25 to 208.50 mg/100g for vitamin E. The oxidative stability results showed that peroxide values ranged from 0.13 to 2.69 meq O2/kg in week 1 to 0.92 to 3.62 meq O2/kg in week 4; FFA ranged from 0.36 to 7.04% in week 1 to 0.39 to 11.47% in week 4; density ranged from 0.89 to 0.91 g/cm3 in week 1 to 0.91 to 0.98 g/cm3 in week 4; viscosity ranged from 17.17 to 51.57 RVU in week 1 to 20.31 to 55.05 RVU in week 4 and thiobarbituric acid level ranged from 0.02 to 1.11 mg/g in week 1 to 0.09 to 1.31 mg/g in week 4. Soxhlet extraction method produced oil of best quality with significantly (p < 0.05) higher mineral and phytonutrient contents, and of a longer storage stability.
The utilization of procedural sedation and analgesia at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Rwanda
Authors: Manirafasha A. , Umuhire O.F. , Muragizi J. , Rosenberg N. , Cattermole G.N.
Published: March 2022

Introduction: In the Emergency Department (ED), safe and effective Procedural Sedation and Analgesia (PSA) is essential. The professional performing procedural sedation has to be prepared to handle any potential adverse effects. Medications are used according to their availability and based on the physician’s experience and preference. Despite the common occurrence of procedural sedation in the ED, it has not previously been studied in Rwanda. The study aimed to describe procedural sedation and analgesia utilization and common adverse events at Rwanda's University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (UTH-K) ED.Methods: This study is a prospective observational study of procedural sedations done at UTH-KED. The effectiveness of sedation was evaluated using the Richmond Agitation Sedation Score (RASS) during sedation. The pain scale was assessed before and after the procedure. Categorical data were analyzed for significant differences using Chi-squared (X) tests and continuous data with Mann-Whitney (MW) tests.Results: Two hundred fifty-one patients were recruited. Seventy-two percent (72%) of patients were male with a median age of 32 years (IQR 23to 40). The most commonly used analgesics included morphine (78%) and tramadol (17%), with ketamine least used (1%). A common adverse event was hypoxia (36%), followed by hallucination (8%). No adverse events were observed in 47% of procedures. Conclusion: Our study findings suggest that although sedation in our low-resource setting did not result in serious adverse outcomes for patients, there was a much higher incidence of minor adverse events (especially hypoxia) than in higher-resource settings.
Modeling Ritual and Performance for Political Change: An Examination of Igu-Aro Ndi-Umueri in Anambra State
Authors: Okadigwe Mary Nkechi
Published: March 2022

This research studied the performance of the Igu-Aro ritual of the Umueri people of Anambra state to investigate its processes in terms of its viability as a model of active and positive social change. Igu-Aro is the Igbo annual communal festival of the prognostication of the year’s events. The performance of the Igu-Aro of the Umueri people was perceived as an essential mechanism for transmitting the people’s cultural identity and a route to collective participation in the structuring of fair leadership and a progressive economy. Victor Turner’s ideologies on rituals, liminality, and social change were adopted for the research. The researcher believes that the understanding and integration of the insights gained from the transitory and collective nature of the performance of Igu-Aro Ndi-Umueri will be beneficial to the understanding of how the Nigerian political system could be bettered. This is because in recent times there seems to be an increasing clamour for the restructuring of the Nigerian political system with a major emphasis on the devolution of powers, duties, and responsibilities to component states. This study has provided insight into the Umueri people and their historical links with others within their common communities.
Applying Data Structure Succinctness to Graph Numbering For Efficient Graph Analysis
Authors: Messi Nguélé Thomas , Méhaut Jean-François
Published: March 2022

Graph algorithms have inherent characteristics, including data-driven computations and poor locality. These characteristics expose graph algorithms to several challenges, because most well studied (parallel) abstractions and implementation are not suitable for them. In our previous work [21, 22, 24], we show how to use some complex-network properties, including community structure and heterogeneity of node degree, to improve performance, by a proper memory management (Cn-order) and an appropriate thread scheduling (comm-deg-scheduling). In recent work [23], Besta et al. proposed log(graph), a graph representation that outperforms existing graph compression algorithms. In this paper, we show that our graph numbering heuristic and our scheduling heuristics can be improved when they are combined with log(graph) data structure. Experiments were made on multi-core machines. For example, on one node of a multi-core machine (Troll from Grid'5000), we showed that when combining our previously proposed heuristics with graph compression, with Pagerank being executing on Live Journal dataset, we can reduce with cn-order: cache-references from 29.94% (without compression) to 39.56% (with compression), cache-misses from 37.87% to 51.90% and hence time from 18.93% to 28.66%.
Verified Approximation Algorithms
Authors: Eßmann Robin , Nipkow Tobias , Robillard Simon , Sulejmani Ujkan
Published: March 2022

We present the first formal verification of approximation algorithms for
NP-complete optimization problems: vertex cover, independent set, set cover,
center selection, load balancing, and bin packing. We uncover incompletenesses
in existing proofs and improve the approximation ratio in one case. All proofs
are uniformly invariant based.