bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relating aspects of critical nutrition literacy at the personal level: using structural equation modelling to empirically test hypotheses
Authors: Naigaga Desire Alice , Pettersen Kjell Sverre , Henjum Sigrun , Guttersrud Øystein
Published: December 2019

Background: Whereas the majority of efforts targeting adolescents’ dietary behaviour have predominantly focused on improving their access to nutrition information, findings indicate that this approach has had little if any effect on their short-term dietary behaviour. Among the reasons for this is that adolescents report finding it difficult to understand the nutrition information that they access, and are thus unable to use the information as intended. Exploring critical nutrition literacy (CNL) might provide insight into how adolescents evaluate and apply the nutrition information that they get from different sources.Methods: The present study employed a cross-sectional study design, in which we sampled 1620 tenth graders, aged 15 and 16 years, enrolled at 58 secondary schools in Norway. Data collection: Using an electronic survey system, the participants responded to scales measuring ‘self-efficacy in Body and Health’ (SEBH), ‘evaluation of nutrition information’ (CNLEval and ‘engagement in dietary behaviour’ (CNLEng). Study hypotheses: We hypothesized that SEBH influences adolescents’ CNLEval and CNLEng, and that CNLEval influences CNLEng directly and mediates the effect of SEBH on CNLEng. Statistical analyses: Using Lisrel 9.30, the present study formulated and evaluated a hypothesized structural equation model (SEM) linking the two subdomains of CNL (CNLEval, CNLEng) and SEBH.Results: The study yielded a simple yet theoretically sound model linking CNL and SEBH; the adequate fit to the goodness-of-fit indices showed that the proposed model adequately described the data.Conclusions: The present study strengthened the hypothesis that there exists a strong association between CNL and SEBH, and between the two aspects of CNL-CNLEval and CNLEng. Hence, efforts aimed at promoting positive dietary behaviour in adolescents and enhancing their nutrition literacy efforts might benefit from enhancing their perceived self-efficacy in nutrition related subjects.
Facing obesity in pain rehabilitation clinics: profiles of physical activity in patients with chronic pain and obesity – a study from the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation (SQRP)
Authors: Dong Huan-Ji , Larsson Britt , Fischer Marcelo Rivano , Gerdle Björn
Published: December 2019

Background: Due to the obesity epidemic, pain rehabilitation clinics have had to reconsider how to best serve their patients. To date, little is known about baseline level of physical activity (PA) in patients referred to pain rehabilitation clinics.Objectives: To investigate the PA levels of patients referred to pain rehabilitation clinics and to evaluate the effect of excess weight on PA level.Methods: Data were obtained from the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation (SQRP) between 2016 and 2017. These data included PA time, Body Mass Index (BMI), sociodemographic factors, chronic pain and psychological aspects (e.g., pain intensity, depressive and anxiety symptoms and insomnia problems). The SQRP collects data on PA using a questionnaire that asks patients to indicate how much time they spend on everyday PA and physical exercise (PE) per week. Insufficient PA was defined as less than 150 minutes per week. We performed logistic regressions as well as orthogonal partial least square regression to estimate the effects of excess weight on PA.Results: Over one-fourth of the patients were classified as obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 , 871/3110, 25.3%) and nearly one-third of these patients were classified as severely obese (BMI ≥35 kg/m 2 , 242/871, 27.8%). Time estimations for PE varied among the BMI groups, but patients in the higher BMI category were more likely to spend less time on everyday PA. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, pain, and psychological aspects, mild obesity (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.53-0.81) and severe obesity (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.42-0.74) were associated with less PA. Compared to normal weight peers, mild obese patients had an elevated risk of 65% and severe obese patients had an elevated risk of 96% for insufficient PA. For obese patients, increased pain intensity was positively related to insufficient PA (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.06-1.29).Conclusion: Having low PA is very common for patients referred to pain rehabilitation clinics, especially for those with comorbid obesity. As a first step to increase PA, obese patients need to be encouraged to increase the intensity and amount of less painful daily PA.
Ankle arthrodesis-Open versus arthroscopic in the Treatment of Ankle Arthritis: A meta-analysis
Authors: Mok Tsz Ngai , He Qiyu , Panneerselvam Soundarya , Hou Huige , Wang Huajun , Zheng Xiaofei , Pan Jinghua , Li Jieruo
Published: December 2019

Background: This study intends in evaluating the comparsion between arthroscopic arthrodesis and open surgery for patients with ankle arthritis by performing a meta-analysis. Methods: A literature search for this meta-analysis was conducted using four English databases (Pubmed, Embase, Medline and the Cochrane Library), up to August 2019. These included two prospective cohort study and 7 retrospective cohort studies, enrolling a total of 507 patients with ankle arthritis. Result: For fusion rate, the pooled data showed significantly higher rate of fusion during the arthroscopic arthrodesis compared with open surgery (odds ratio 0.25, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.57, p = 0.0010). Regarding to the estimated blood loss, the pooled data showed significantly smaller blood losses during arthroscopic arthrodesis as compared with open surgery (WMD 52.04, 95% CI 14.14 to 89.94, p = 0.007). For tourniquet time, the pooled data showed smaller tourniquet time during arthroscopic arthrodesis compared with open surgery (WMD 22.68, 95% CI 1.92 to 43.43, p = 0.03). In the length of stay in the hospital, the pooled data showed less time of hospitalization for patients undergoing arthroscopic arthrodesis compared with open surgery (WMD 1.62, 95% CI 0.97 to 2.26, p < 0.00001). The pooled data showed better recovery for the patients who experienced arthroscopic arthrodesis as compared with open surgery at 1 year (WMD 14.73, 95% CI 6.66 to 22.80, p = 0.0003). Conclusion: For patients with ankle arthritis, arthroscopic arthrodesis seems to be associated with a higher fusion rate, lesser amount of estimated blood loss, shorter tourniquet time, shorter length of hospitalization and better functional improvement at 1 year.
Determinants of managers' self-rated health in Chinese petroleum-producing enterprises
Authors: Zhu Paiyi , Zhang Yong , Guo Jianwei , Zhou Peien , Huang Yixiang , Zhang Lingling
Published: December 2019

Background Self-rated health (SRH) is widely used by health institutions due to its validity, reliability, predicted power for mortality and morbidity and simplicity of collection. However, limited research has been conducted to measure the health and explore the determinants of SRH among managers, especially in petroleum enterprises in China. The purpose of this study was to measure the overall health and identify the determinants of SRH among managers in petroleum production enterprises in China. We committed to provide evidence to improve managers’ health status by exploring the determinants of SRH.Methods From March 2017 to December 2018, 417 managers participated and were categorized into different gender and age groups. The effective rate was 84.2%. The scores for physical, mental and social health subscales were converted to binary categorical variables, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the determinants of SRH.Results The mean scores for SRH measurement scale (MS) dimensions ranged from 65.69 ± 18.13 (mean ± SD) for positive emotion (M2) to 91.81 ± 15.18 for daily physical activities (B2). The findings showed that lower-income and medium-managerial-level managers in the 41- to 50-year-old age group and lower-income male participants were more likely to be of poor mental health, while lower-income managers in the middle age groups and middle-aged female managers tended to report poor social health.Conclusions This study is the first in the Chinese energy industry to report on SRH and its determinants among managers stratified by age and gender. We found that income and managerial level are the main determinants among the managers, especially for those of middle age. Psychological counseling and a harmonious and mutually supportive working environment can contribute to addressing the special needs of managers in Chinese petroleum-producing enterprises.
Ten years risk assessment of Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease using Astro-CHARM and Pooled Cohort Equation in a South Asian population
Authors: Ashraf Tariq , Mengal Muhammad Naeem , Muhammad Atif Sher , Tareen Asal Khan , Khan Muhammad Nauman , Kazmi Khawar , Nadeem Asif , Sarwar Shakil , Bashir Zara , Qamar Nadeem , Karim Musa
Published: December 2019

Background Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) are on the rise in low and middle income countries attributed to modern sedentary lifestyle and dietary habits. This has led to need of assessment of the burden of at-risk population so that prevention measures can be developed. The objective of this study was to assess ten years risk assessment of ASCVD using Astro-CHARM and Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE) in a South Asian population.Methods A total of 386 residents of all six districts of Karachi with no ASCVD were enrolled in the study. The inclusion criteria consisted of age 40 years or above and either gender. Study participants were enrolled after obtaining informed written consent and those study participants who were found to have either congenital heart disease or valvular heart diseases or ischemic heart disease were excluded from the study based on initial screening. For the calculation of 10 years risk of ACVD based on Astro-CHARM and PCE, the variables were obtained including medical history and coronary artery calcium and C-reactive protein measurements.Results Mean estimated 10-year risk of fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction or stroke as per the Astro-CHARM was 13.98±8.01%, while Mean estimated 10-year risk of fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction or stroke as per the PCE was 22.26±14.01%. Based on Astro-CHARM, 11.14% of the study participants were labelled as having high risk, while PCE estimated 20.73% of study participants as having high risk of ASCVD.Conclusion Despite the fact that our findings showed substantial differences in ten-year risk of ASCVD between Astro-CHARM and PCE, both calculators can be used to develop a new population specific risk estimator for the South Asian population. Our study provides the first step towards developing a risk assessment guided decision making protocol for primary prevention of ASCVD for South Asian population.
Evaluations of knowledge, skills and practices of insulin storage and injection handling techniques of patients in Ethiopian primary hospitals
Authors: Netere Adeladlew Kassie , Ashete Eyayaw , Gebreyohannes Eyob Alemayehu , Belachew Sewunet Admasu
Published: December 2019

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders and resulting from deficits in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Insulin therapy is primarily required to attain the recommended goal of blood sugar. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, skills and practices of insulin storage and injection technique of patients.Methods: An interview based cross-sectional study was conducted in conveniently selected participants in Northwest Ethiopian primary hospitals from March, 1, 2019 to May, 30, 2019. Knowledge and practice were measured by administering structured questionnaire with a Likert scale of 1–5 through face-to-face interviews and skills were assessed by five observational (demonstration) techniques from a total of 166 clients.Results: Of the total 166 participants, 54.8% were males and the mean age was 38.33±14 years. The overall knowledge (65.4%.) and practice (53.89%) rate on insulin storage and handling techniques were showed moderate knowledge and fair practices. About 94.6% of participants correctly shown insulin injection sites. One-way ANOVA showed that the level of education [F (3, 162) = 7.283, p<0.001], ways of instruction of insulin injection [F (2, 163) =3.32, p = 0.039], insulin therapy duration [F (3,162) = 3.59, p= 0.015] and assessing insulin storage [F (2,163) = 4.45, p = 0.013] had a significant effect on level of knowledge. Similarly, knowledge level [F (2,163) = 14.17, p < 0.001], educational status [F (3,162) = 10.57, p <0.001], occupation type [F (4,161) = 5.43, p <0.001], time since insulin therapy [F (3, 162) = 5.46, p = 0.001] and diagnosis [F (3,162) = 3.36, p= 0.02] had a significant effect on patients’ insulin storage and administration practices. Conclusion: Patient had marginal knowledge and practices on insulin storage and administration techniques. The patients’ skills on the important and critical steps of administrations are poor. The engagements of healthcare professionals and stakeholders should be in developments of instructions and guidelines are very crucial in addition to focusing on educating and changing their wrong perceptions, believes and attitudes towards storage and administering techniques.
Adiposity reduce prevalence of osteoporosis in Chinese rural population: the Henan Rural Cohort Study
Authors: Tian Huiling , Pan Jun , Qiao Dou , Dong Xiaokang , Li Ruiying , Wang Yikang , Tu Runqi , Abdulai Tanko , Liu Xiaotian , Hou Jian , Zhang Gongyuan , Wang Chongjian
Published: December 2019

Background: Adiposity plays a crucial role in the risk of osteoporosis. However, the impact of body fat distribution on the skeleton is contentious. The study was designed to explore the association of various adiposity indices on bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis based on body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP),waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist to height ratio (WHtR), and visceral fat index (VFI).Methods: A total of 8475 subjects derived from the Henan Rural Cohort Study were analyzed. The BMD of study participants were measured by calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS). Linear and binary logistic regression was performed to estimate the association of adiposity and the outcomes.Results: The crude and age-standardized prevalence of osteoporosis was 20.15% and 14.39%. Per unit increment in adiposity indices was associated with 0.008-0.014g/cm2 increase in BMD. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of osteoporosis for per 1 SD increase in WC, WHR, WHtR, BMI, BFP, and VFI were 0.756 (0.713-0.801), 0.774 (0.728-0.822), 0.763 (0.720-0.809), 0.746 (0.703-0.792), 0.794 (0.729-0.865), and 0.735 (0.688-0.786), respectively. Stratified analyses indicated greater effects on individuals aged 55 years or more.Conclusions: The adiposity indices have an inverse association with the risk of osteoporosis among Chinese rural population, especially in the elderly. Keywords: Adiposity; Bone mineral density; Osteoporosis; Rural population
Burnout Syndrome, Extracurricular Activities and Social Support Among Brazilian Internship Medical Students: a Cross-Sectional Analysis.
Authors: Fontana Maria Carolina Pedro , Generoso Igor Prado , Sizilio Alexandre , Bivanco-Lima Danielle
Published: December 2019

Background: Burnout syndrome (BS) is highly prevalent among medical students and is associated with lower empathy and worsening of medical students ́ mental health. The aim of our study was to identify prevalence of BS during internship and its association with self-related social support and participation in extracurricular activities in one medical school in Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2015, with 121 medical students on internship (56% response rate). They were evaluated using the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services (MBI) and assessed about socio demographic data, social support and extracurricular activities. Results: The overall BS prevalence was 57.5% among medical interns. High emotional exhaustion was present in 33.1% (N=38) of interns, high depersonalization was observed in 45.7% (N=58) and 36.2% of participants (N=46) had low personal accomplishment. Individuals with participation in community services had lower frequency of depersonalization (PR 0.61 CI95% 0.42-0.88). BS was not associated with different types of extracurricular activities and no association was found among BS and the behaviour of seeking social support. Conclusions: We found high prevalence of BS in medical interns, however the behaviour of seeking social support had no association with BS. The interns participating in community activities had lower frequency of high depersonalization.
Anticoccidial effect of "Shi Ying Zi" Powder in chickens infected with Eimeria tenella
Authors: Song Xu , Li Yunhe , Chen Yaqin , Jia Renyong , Huang Yongyuan , Yong Ting , Zou Yuanfeng , Li Lixia , Zhao Xinxin , Yin Zhongqiong
Published: December 2019

BackgroundCoccidiosis is one of the most economically important diseases affecting the poultry industry. Currently, anticoccidial drugs used in veterinary clinical showed many deficiencies, and new control measures are urgently needed. Many plant-derived drugs, such as herbal extracts, showed effects with less drug residues and resistance. Development of herbal medicine as the anticoccidial drug is one of the most prospective method for treating coccidiosis.Methods“Shi Ying Zi” powder is consisted of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss, Taraxacum mongolicum Hand-Mazz and salt with the proportion of 55: 40: 5 (g/g/g). 200 1-day-old broiler chicks free of coccidiosis were equally divided into 10 groups: normal group, untreated group, 4 protective groups (positive control group and three “Shi Ying Zi” powder groups) and 4 therapeutical groups (positive control group and three “Shi Ying Zi” powder groups). At 11th day of age, the chicks in the four protective groups were prophylactically supplemented with “Shi Ying Zi” powder at the doses of 5g/kg, 10g/kg and 15g/kg and monensin (100mg/kg), respectively. At 14th day of age, chicks except those in blank group were inoculated with 2×104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella. When the first hemorrhagic fecal was found, therapeutical drugs started administration. The low (5g/kg), medium (10g/kg) and high doses (15g/kg) of “Shi Ying Zi” powder were added into the diet, respectively. Sulfachloropyrazine sodium (positive control) was added into water (1g/L). The anti-coccidial index, biochemical parameters and tissue lesions were determined from 4 d post infection to 8 d post infection.ResultsSupplement with “Shi Yin Zi” powder for 3d prior to infection or after infection could improve the survival rate and relative growth rate and alleviate the pathological changes in the cecum, liver and kidney. “Shi Yin Zi” powder could recover the contents of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, creatinine, albumin and triglycerides in serum. The hemorrhage and total number of oocysts in feces were reduced. The anti-coccidial index reaches to 165. The anti-coccidial effects were equal to positive controls (monensin and sulfamlopyrazine). Conclusions﻿“Shi Ying Zi” powder possesses potent anticoccidial effect and exhibits the potential to control E.tenella infection.
Socioeconomic impacts of elimination of Onchocerciasis in Abu-Hamed focus, northern Sudan: lessons after elimination
Authors: Ahmed Ayman , Elbashir Anas , Adil Asgad , Alim Asha A. , Mubarak Asia , Abdelrahman Duaa , Mohammed Eilaf , Mohamed Noah Saad , Elaagip Arwa , Zarroug Isam M.A. , Mounkaila Noma , Tahir Hanan
Published: December 2019

Background: Onchocerciasis is one of the most devastating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and it is mostly prevalent in Africa. The disease has important heavy social and economic burdens on the infected populations including low productivity, unemployment, social isolation, and stigma. Abu-Hamed focus is the first WHO certified elimination of Onchocerciasis in Africa.Methods: This a cross-sectional study used a well-established questionnaire to investigate the socio-economic impacts of the Onchocerciasis elimination in Abu-Hamed, River Nile State, Sudan in 2015; 512 participants in ten affected communities were interviewed.Results: Our findings revealed that these communities are recovering from the social and economic burden of the diseases, with 90% of the research participants reported general satisfaction about the elimination of the disease in their community, and about 48.3% of them attended secondary school or university. Only 0.6% reported unemployment, and 25.3% and 24.7% of the participants were workers and farmers respectively. Except about the vector biting and nuisance, the majority of the respondents (90%) had no complain after the elimination of the disease in the area. Also, 90.5% of the participants reported either stable or increase in their work performance during the last twelve months. About 93.8% of the respondents were engaged in normal daily activities and involved in happy events like marriage and giving birth during the last twelve months.Conclusions: Overall, we conclude that the elimination of Onchocerciasis in Abu-Hamed has several positive impacts on the economy and social life of Abu-Hamed local communities, but this could be maximized by controlling the vector, which is still having a negative impact on the populations. Establishing local developmental projects will help these communities greatly to recover and become more productive.
Angiostrongylus cantonensis causes cognitive impairments in heavily infected BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Jhan Kai-Yuan , Lai Guan-Jhih , Chang Pi-Kai , Tang Ren-Yu , Cheng Chien-Ju , Chen Kuang-Yao , Wang Lian-Chen
Published: December 2019

BackgroundParasitic infections may cause significant effects on behavior, learning, and memory of the hosts. In the brain of mice heavily infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis, severe damages have been observed in the hippocampus. This component has been considered to have associations with spatial learning and memory in human and vertebrates. This study was designed to determine the impairments in behavior, learning, and memory in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice heavily infected with the parasite.MethodsEach mouse was inoculated with 50 third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis. After infection, daily changes in weight and dietary consumption, worm recoveries and survival rates were determined. The forced swimming test, open field test, and Morris water maze test were employed to evaluate depression- and anxiety-like behavior as well as impairments in spatial learning and memory, respectively. In addition, in the two strains of mice were also determined.ResultsThe worm recovery rate in the BALB/c mice was significantly lower than that of C57BL/6 mice since day 14 post-infection. The survival rate in infected BALB/c mice decreased to 0% by day 25 whereas those with swim-training survived three more days. On day 42, the C57BL/6 mice had a survival rate of 85.7% in the swimming group and 70% in the non-swimming group. Significant differences were found in weight between infected and non-infected BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice since day 13 and day 12, respectively with corresponding changes in the dietary consumption. Depression-like behavior was found in the infected BALB/c mice but not in C57BL/6 mice. However, anxiety-like behavior was found to occur only in C57BL/6 mice. Impaired spatial learning and memory were also found in the two strains of mice occurred since day 14 post-infection.ConclusionsResults of this study indicate that A. cantonensis causes depression, anxiety, and impairments in spatial learning and memory in heavily infected mice. Moreover, significantly higher severity was observed in the Th-2 dominant BALB/c mice.
Dynamics of Gene Expression in Mice Infected with Different Genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Yu Li , Shwab Keats , Hill Rachel D , zhu Xing-Quan , Gouffon Julia S , Shen Jilong , Su Chunlei
Published: December 2019

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is genetically diverse and different genotypes differ markedly in phenotype. The present study aims to define transcriptional patterns and biological processes that characterize host response to distinct strains of T. gondii. Methods: We conducted a time course study of gene expression microarray in mice during acute infection (days 1 to 7) with the highly virulent type I (GT1 strain), intermediately virulent type II (PTG strain) and non-virulent type III (CTG strain) parasites. Results: Overall, the number of genes affected increased from day 1 to day 5, and decreased on day 7. However, type III and type II infections up-regulated more genes than did type I at the very early phase, whereas type I infection up-regulated more genes at the late phase. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that the genes related to inflammatory and immune response were mostly affected and the majority were up-regulated, with type III infection inducing a higher degree of change and affecting more genes than did type I at the early phase. However, this pattern was reversed at the late phase. The change of expression during type II infection was between that of types I and III. Many genes associated with inflammatory and immune responses showed bimodal effects, with the first peak expression mostly at day 3 and then a second peak expression mostly at day 5. Several differentially expressed genes, including INF-γ, iNOS, CXCL10/IP-10, and numerous immunity-related GTPases (IRGs) and guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) were previously experimentally confirmed important host factors in controlling T. gondii infection. Bioinformatic analysis of biological pathways enriched during infection revealed upregulation of pathways relating to cell-mediated immunity and the inflammatory response during all three infection types, though such enrichment was most expansive and pronounced during type I infection, and much less pronounced during type III infection. Conclusions: The findings in our study revealed dynamic differences of gene expression and different pathways of immune response in mice infected with three distinct strains of T. gondii.
Targeted Imaging of Orthotopic Prostate Cancer by Using Clinical Transformable Photoacoustic Molecular Probe
Authors: Qiu Chen , Yin Tinghui , Bai Yuanyuan , Miao Xiaoyan , Gao Rongkang , Zhou Huichao , Jie Ren , Song Liang , Liu Chengbo , Zheng Hairong , Zheng Rongqin
Published: December 2019

Background: To obtain high yield histological samples by targeted PCa biopsy is the current trend compared of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided systematic histological biopsy which is regarded as golden standard for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis. In this paper, we present a targeted PCa imaging strategy using real-time molecular photoacoustic imaging system integrated with handheld US probe (PAI/US) and synthesized integrin αvβ3 targeted probe based on ICG (cRGD–ICG).
Results: A small molecular PAI probe was synthesized and proved excellent targeted imaging ability in vitro. In vivo photoacoustic imaging was carried out after intravenous injection of cRGD-ICG in orthotopic PCa bearing beard rats under facilitation of PAI/US system. Maximum molecular photoacoustic signals were observed in the tumor area in vivo post probe injection, which showed 3.8 folds higher signal enhancement than in the control group (P < 0.05, respectively). Significant higher cRGD-ICG accumulation was observed under confocal microscopy in tumor region rather than normal prostate tissue.
Conclusions: All our results showed that the comprehensive strategy provided a high-yield and reliable method for PCa diagnosis and targeted prostate biopsy, with great clinical transforming potential.
Periodontal disease, tooth loss, and the risk of liver cancer: A systematic review
Authors: Al-Maweri Sadeq Ali , Ibraheem Wael Ibraheem , Al-Akhali Mohammad Sultan , Shamala Anas , Halboub Esam , Alhajj Mohammed
Published: December 2019

Background A number of epidemiological studies have suggested a positive association between periodontal diseases and oro-digestive cancers, including liver cancer. The present systematic review aimed to assess the potential association between periodontitis and/or tooth loss and the risk of liver cancer.Methods A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted in August 2019. The inclusion criteria comprised all observational studies that assessed the relationship between periodontitis or tooth loss and liver cancer. Case reports, animal studies, experimental studies, and reviews were excluded. Due to great heterogeneity among the included studies, no meta-analysis was conducted.Results Seven studies (five prospective cohorts, one cross-sectional, and one case-control) comprising 620,169 subjects (including 994 liver cancer cases) were included. The studies were conducted in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Four studies reported a positive association between periodontitis or tooth loss and the risk of liver cancer. One case-control study found some association between liver cancer and loss of 12-23 teeth, but such association was not replicated in patients with greater number of tooth loss. Contrarily, two studies failed to report any association between periodontitis and/or tooth loss and the risk of liver cancer.Conclusion The available evidence suggests a possible link between tooth loss/periodontitis and the risk of liver cancer. However, the evidence is not conclusive enough, a fact that drives to conduct more, well-designed, prospective cohort studies to further explore the potential association between periodontitis and the risk of liver cancer.
Spray volume deposits and fungicide efficacy on soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi)
Authors: Prado Evandro Pereira , Raetano Carlos Gilberto , Pogetto Mario Henrique Ferreira do Amaral Dal , Christovam Rafael de Souza , Lopes Paulo Renato Matos , Tomaz Rafael Simões , Filho Pedro José Ferreira , Zied Diego Cunha , Guerreiro Julio Cesar , Cerqueira Denise Tourino Rezende de
Published: December 2019

Soybean rust (SBR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is one of the most destructive fungal diseases affecting soybean yields in many countries. Fungicide application methods that provide better SBR control efficacy may reduce soybean losses due to this disease. We investigated the effects of spray volumes applying the fungicide pyraclostrobin plus epoxiconazol at 133 + 50 g a.i. ha-1 by a conventional sprayer (CS) and an air-assisted sprayer (AAS). Field experiments were conducted comparing the effects of spray volumes of 110, 160, and 210 L ha-1 and two application techniques (CS and AAS) on spray deposits and SBR control. Fungicide efficacies were measured by disease severity, thousand seed weight, and yield. Correlations between disease severity and yield were also assessed. All treatments were applied with an Advance 2000 AM18 sprayer. In general, SBR disease and yield did not differ significantly when fungicide applications were applied with AAS compared to CS. Increasing the spray volume from 110 to 210 L ha-1 did not increase spray deposit coverage on soybean leaves. Low disease severity was obtained by fungicide applications using a spray volume of 210 L ha-1. Safe recommendations of ground spray volumes for SBR control should be between 160 and 210 L ha-1, using hydraulic nozzles.
Project risk management of the construction industry enterprises based on fuzzy set theory
Authors: Gavrysh Oleg , Melnykova Valeriia
Published: December 2019

The construction industry is a crucially important element of the Ukrainian economy, since its development and performance affect other industries. The economic recession consequences and the unforeseen recent events, caused by different types of risks, have adversely affected the construction industry development and necessitated the search for modern methods of risk management. The study is based on a sample of five projects from five construction industry enterprises and covered the period of 2010–2018. A set of project risks, investigated by the group of experts, was analyzed based on fuzzy set theory, and included seven phases of the fuzzy set model construction to assess project risks of construction industry enterprises. Based on the identified elements of a fuzzy set model and a set of significant project risks, a value classifier of significant project risks for construction industry enterprises was developed. This allowed to estimate the current values of project risk indicators and to identify them by levels of their fuzzy subset membership. Besides, a classifier for the quantitative assessment of the total project risks level for investment projects was developed, which allowed estimating the value of the aggregate indicator. In order to improve the existed methodology, the study suggested introducing probabilistic values for the risk of project failure depending on the significance of the overall project risks. Accordingly, the paper identifies the probability of significant project risks simultaneous occurring during the project implementation. However, the higher the likelihood of risk, the higher the probability of investment project failure.
Professional activity of women in light of the Family 500+ Program
Authors: Pasternak-Malicka Monika
Published: December 2019

The article aims to assess the impact of the Family 500+ Program on women’s professional activity. The Family 500+ Program is a governmental support introduced in April 2016 and is designed to assist the families in raising children. The support is provided by monthly payment of PLN 500 for every single child in the family.The study, primarily, attempts to assess the relationship between the level of expenditure on family benefits and the employment rate, and, on the other hand, based on the surveys, to indicate whether the Program encourages women to quit from the formal labor market. The article describes the professional activity of women, the level of social spending in Poland and some selected EU countries. Based on statistical data, an attempt was made to assess the impact of social expenditure on women’s economic activity based on the linear regression method. Based on this method, it was stressed that the amount of benefit has the impact on the economic activity of women and this relationship is highly statistically significant. Fragments of own surveys from 2017 till 2019 were also presented, which suggest that the Family 500+ Program may lead to the withdrawal of women from the labor market. Respondents most often stressed the possibility of appearing reluctance to work for careers in large families. Entrepreneurs’ responses showed the discouraging effect of the Family 500+ Program (35.1% in 2019), which may contribute to a decrease in labor supply according to 16.0% of respondents.
Improvement of the method measuring the security of human development: case of Ukraine
Authors: Nazarova Galyna , Jaworska Monika , Nazarov Nikita , Dybach Inna , Demianenko Alina
Published: December 2019

In conditions of instability of economic, environmental, social and other processes that affect human development, the need to prevent their negative impact actualizes the issue of measuring the security of human development. The aim of the study is to highlight the importance of security phenomenon in the context of human development and improve a Human Development Index. In this paper the method of analysis and generalization was used to identify the existing approaches to the human development measuring; also expert evaluations and correlation analysis were used to improve the composite index.Thus, a method has been proposed for measuring the level of human development security. The peculiarity of this method is phased, three-tier integral measurement of the human development security in terms of the following dimensions: long and healthy life, education, decent standard of living, adjusted to the correction coefficients of prevailing threats for each of the dimensions. The formation of correction coefficients was carried out by identifying the prevailing threats. To illustrate these ideas, data on regions of Ukraine were used and the research period was 2012–2017. The implementation of the proposed method of measurement allows determining the objective level of human development security in the regions of Ukraine and identifying the percentage of lost opportunities. Thus, the study empirically confirms and theoretically proves that human development is a process of enlarging the human opportunities and freedoms, but the dominant threats hinder the expansion of such opportunities and freedoms, that leads to loss of human opportunities.
The effect of regional original income and balance funding on regional government financial performance
Authors: Awwaliyah Noor Farieda , Agriyanto Ratno , Farida Dessy Noor
Published: December 2019

Purpose - The purpose of the research was to determine the effect of local revenue and intergovernmental revenue on the financial performance of local government.

Method - This research used Stewardship Theory. The method used is quantitative research method. The method of data analysis used is multiple linear regression analysis. This research used secondary data. The population in this research is the Regency in Central Java which consists of 29 regencies and 6 cities.

Result - The results showed that first, local revenue had positive effect on financial performance of local government. Second, intergovernmental revenue had positive effect on financial performance of local government. Third, local revenue and intergovernmental revenue together had influence on financial performance of local government.

Implication - The practical implication of this research is that the Regency Governments in Central Java  are expected to reduce dependence on the central government by optimizing the potential of existing income sources to be able to further improve their financial performance.
Originality - An originality of research is focused on two  variables; regional original income and intergovernmental revenue and uses the measurement of independence index for the dependent variable. financing.
Healthy Bakery Composite Mixes
Authors: Nevskaya Ekaterina , Tyurina Irina , Turina Olga , Shulbaeva Margarita , Potapova Marina , Golovacheva Yana
Published: December 2019

Introduction. Bread and bakery are products of mass consumption. However, bread can hardly be considered as a perfectly balanced healthy product. To improve the quality of bread and bakery products, it is necessary to develop new formulations of baking mixes that can improve the nutritional and biological value of the finished product. New varieties of healthier, better quality bread with high nutritional and biological value can improve the diet of the population.

Study objects and methods. The present research featured baking mixes made up of the following components: wheat baking flour, wholemeal barley flour, wholemeal lentil flour, textured lentil flour, brown rice flour, buckwheat flour, wholemeal wheat flour, rye bakery flour, milk whey, and demineralized milk whey. The research employed generally accepted standard methods, as well as the quick dough method.

Results and discussion. The shape stability of the bread was calculated as the ratio of its height to diameter. The research yielded five composite baking mixes: mix 1 – a diabetic mix with barley wholemeal flour; mix 2 – a diabetic mix with buckwheat flour and dry cheese whey; mix 3 – a diabetic mix with buckwheat flour and dry demineralized whey; mix 4 – a mix with lentil wholemeal flour and brown rice wholemeal flour; mix 5 – a mix with textured lentil flour and brown rice wholemeal flour. All five samples demonstrated satisfactory sensory, physical, and chemical quality indicators. The authors also determined nutritional value and percentage from the daily requirements of an adult diet. The results proved that the finished products had a high content of proteins, dietary fibers, and minerals. An analysis of the granulometric composition of the baking composite mixes showed that the particle size varied from 5 to 600 microns. The content of particles in the range from 10 to 50 microns was 30–35% of the total volume. There was no significant difference in the particle size distribution in the samples. The mixes were close to homogeneous, which makes it possible to predict the uniform distribution of prescription components in the storage process and the production of high-quality bakery products.

Conclusions. The obtained characteristics of the developed mixes make it possible to introduce them into the existing technological schemes of bakery production without using special equipment for dosing and storage.
Improvement of Low-Waste Technology of Dairy Raw Material Processing Using New Type Membrane Equipment
Authors: Lobasenko Boris , Kotlyarov Roman , Sazonova Ekaterina , Vagaytseva Elena , Skomorohov Aleksandr
Published: December 2019

Introduction. Rational use of dairy raw materials is important for the national economy. The research objective was to improve the existing technologies of milk raw material processing using new type membrane equipment with polarization layer diversion. The process was mathematically simulated according to the theory of automatic control and transfer functions.

Study objects and methods. The study featured a new installation constructed on the basis of a membrane device with membrane layer diversion. The new equipment can serve as a basis for a novel low-waste and non-waste technology. Unlike traditional membrane apparatus, this one has three flows: a more concentrated polarization layer (concentrate), a core layer of retentat, and a layer of permeat. The mathematical model of the process can describe the behavior of any dynamic system of almost any structure and complexity.

Results and its discussion. The simulation showed that recycling of the diverted concentrate can intensify the concentration. To increase the intensity of membrane concentration in such installations, partial recirculation of the concentrate flow can be recommended, with its subsequent transfer to the main flow. Partial recycling of the retentate flow did not prove effective, as it did no increase the concentration of the final product. However, it can be used for a more complete extraction of the target component. This aspect requires further research.

Conclusions. The paper introduces a new technology that improves the concentration of milk raw materials and possesses practical importance.
Convective-Radiation Drying of Foamed Gelatin Fish Broth
Authors: Makarov Aleksandr , Maksimenko Yuriy , Dyachenko Eduard
Published: December 2019

Introduction. The mechanical characteristics of foam gelatin broth make it a promising material for studying the process of obtaining dry gelatin. The preliminary foaming of the product and the use of infrared (radiation) energy supply during its dehydration can significantly improve the process.

Study objects and methods. The research featured gelatinized gelatin broth prepared from fish wastes. The efficiency of the proposed drying method was assessed by comparative studies of the kinetics and intensity of convective and convective-radiation foam drying. Specific productivity of the process was selected as evaluation criterion.

Results and discussion. The paper introduces a method of convective radiation foam drying of gelatinized fish broth. A set of experiments made it possible to define the optimal process conditions with the maximum yield of dry gelatin, i.e. 0.998 kg/(m2·h): initial concentration of solids in the product C = 0.24 kg/kg; temperature T = 292–295 K, humidity W = 50–60%; the speed of the drying agent v = 4–5 m/s; the initial diameter of the foam rod dI = 0,004 m; the density of the heat flux incident on one side of the rod E = 2.45 kW/m2; the wavelength of infrared emitters λ = 1.01–1.11 microns. The research revealed the effect of the main factors influencing the drying process on the approximating dependences of the specific yield of dry gelatin from a unit area of the working surface per unit of time. The introduction of radiation energy supply into the process of convective foam drying of gelatinized broth under rational conditions was three times as high as the specific productivity of the process. An analysis of the kinetics of convective and convective-radiation drying helped to obtain some functional dependences of the drying speed of the foamed gelatin broth extrusions from the concentration of dry substances in the product for the considered process conditions. An analysis of heat and mass transfer during convective-radiation foam drying was performed using the velocity curves. The nature of the change in the drying rate of the product proved typical of most biopolymers.

Conclusion. The results obtained are applicable in the calculations of the productivity of drying equipment in dry gelatin production and other products with similar complex properties.
Polyurethane Decks in Centrifugal Oat Dehulling
Authors: Mar'in Vasily , Vereshchagin Alexander , Ivanov Andrey
Published: December 2019

Introduction. Oat-meal mills often have a low efficiency ratio of oat grains, which may be improved by new dehulling methods. The present research proved that it is possible to reduce the amount of destroyed cores by replacing elastic steel decks with viscoelastic polyurethane ones. The research objective was to assess the feasibility of using viscoelastic material in oat dehulling.

Study objects and methods. The study featured two size fractions of oats. The grain was harvested in the foothills of the Altai Territory in 2017. A set of comparative tests was performed to define the efficiency of two dehulling machines. One had a standard metal deck, while the other had a deck made of material of A-80-95 ShA and an elastic modulus of 2.8 MPa during the second dehulling.

Results and discussion. The polyurethane deck remained efficient for the first fraction during the second dehulling after 400 tons, for the second fraction – after 1,500 tons. The dehulling coefficient for the polyurethane deck exceeded the results for the metal deck by 12.0% during the second dehulling of the first fraction and by 5.9% during the second peeling of the second fraction. The integrity of the core increased by 34.0% for the first fraction and by 30.0% for the second fraction, which increased the mass fraction of the finished product by 2.9%.

Conclusion. Ppolyurethane decks proved efficient for the second dehulling of the first and second fractions. Their use improved the processing of oat grains into Hercules oat flakes by 3.1%.