bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ATORVASTATIN INDUCED ACUTE PANCREATITIS? - A RARE CASE REPORT
Authors: JAIDEV KUMAR  , ASHOKA  , RAKSHITH  , UMESH
Published: October 2020

Acute pancreatitis is a clinical condition characterized by inflammation of pancreas. The specific time interval to suspect any patient as acute pancreatitis is not clearly defined in any therapeutic guideline and usually symptoms will be lasted for a short period of time. The management of acute pancreatitis always depends on underlying cause. The common medications that can cause acute pancreatitis include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, azathioprine, and pentamidine. According to the patient case history, abdominal pain was on and off; the patient also received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, i.e., tablet aceclofenac 100 mg for abdominal pain, whenever he was experiencing pain and it got subsided only for short period. This case report did not have clear subjective and objective evidence to suspect atorvastatin which was the main culprit of causing acute pancreatitis. The incidence of causing drug-induced acute pancreatitis is very low which was accountable for only 0.1–2%. This case report concludes that all health-care professionals need to have close monitoring of atorvastatin causing acute pancreatitis which is very rarely seen.
BIOLOGICAL SYNTHESIS OF KERATIN NANOPARTICLES FROM DOVE FEATHER (COLUMBA LIVIA) AND ITS APPLICATIONS
Authors: NANTHAVANAN P  , KANDASAMY ARUNGANDHI  , SUNMATHI D  , NIRANJANA J
Published: October 2020

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to synthesize keratin nanoparticles from dove feathers.

Methods: Crude keratin was extracted by chemical method. The protein content was estimated by Lowry’s method and it was found to be 0.18 mg/ml. The keratin nanoparticles were obtained using glutaraldehyde as cross-linking agent.

Results: A single peak maximum at 270 nm corresponds to the surface plasmon resonance of keratin nanoparticles was observed in the ultraviolet-visible spectrum. The size of keratin nanoparticles was 78 nm. The crystalline size of keratin nanoparticles was 79.6 nm and it was obtained by X-ray diffraction. The antibacterial activity of crude keratin and keratin nanoparticles was determined which revealed that keratin nanoparticles showed higher zone of inhibition than crude keratin protein against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. Keratin nanoparticles showed higher antioxidant activity than crude keratin.

Conclusion: Biological synthesis of nanoparticles has many advantages such as ecofriendly and low cost and can be synthesized in large scale. The keratin nanoparticles can be applied in wound dressing, biosorbent, and cosmetics.
ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIBIOFILM ACTIVITY OF QUERCUS INFECTORIA GALLS ON ROTHIA DENTOCARIOSA ISOLATED FROM DENTAL CARIES
Authors: AMBULKAR S  , TALE V  , KHILARI S  , PAWAR J
Published: October 2020

Objective: The present study aimed to study Quercus infectoria gall extract for phytochemical analysis, antibacterial, and antibiofilm activity against Rothia dentocariosa isolated from dental caries.

Methods: R. dentocariosa was isolated, characterized, and identified by 16S rRNA sequence and also checked for biofilm formation ability. Phytochemical analysis of Q. infectoria aqueous gall extracts was carried out. Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity was performed using agar well diffusion method and microtiter plate assay, respectively.

Results: Bacterial isolate from dental caries was identified as R. dentocariosa by 16s rRNA sequencing technique with accession number MH824681 obtained from NCBI. Phytochemical analysis of Q. infectoria aqueous gall extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenol, tannin, glycosides, phenolic compound, and flavonoids. Significant antibacterial activity was observed with 19.00 (±7.07) mm diameter zone of inhibition. The biofilm inhibition assay was performed by microtiter plate method indicated 92.89% inhibition of bacteria at the concentration of 100 mg/mL of aqueous extract.

Conclusion: The results indicated the efficacy of Q. infectoria gall extracts that could be explored as an alternative to current treatment.
EFFECT OF NOISE STRESS-INDUCED NEUROBEHAVIORAL CHANGES ON WISTAR ALBINO RATS
Authors: ARCHANA ARJUNAN  , RAVINDRAN RAJAN
Published: October 2020

Objective: The study aims to investigate the effect of acute noise stress on cognitive functions in male Wistar albino rats.

Methods: Adult albino rats were randomly divided into two groups. Each group contains six animals. Rats exposed to acute noise stress (100 dB/4 h) were compared with control animal and assessed for cognition using T-maze, hole-board test, open-field test, marble burying test, and social interaction behavior.

Results: The rats exposed to acute noise stress showed the significance (p<0.05) of behavioral alterations such as impaired learning and memory, memory retention, increased fear and anxiety, obsessive–compulsive behavior, social avoidance, and decreased social interaction.

Conclusion: The results report that acute noise stress affects the cognition, and it became chronic may confer the increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders.
EFFECT OF FATTY ACID BASED FUNCTIONAL LIPIDOMICS IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER
Authors: PREETHIKA A  , SUCHETHA KUMARI N
Published: October 2020

Objective: Lipid metabolism alteration is a prominent feature during malignant transformation. We investigated the difference in plasma fatty acids (FAs) and molecular biomarkers in breast cancer women and controls.

Methods: This comparative study was carried out on eighty breast cancer women and forty control women. FAs were analyzed in gas chromatography and calculated as a percentage of total FAs. FA molecular markers were estimated by the FA data. Non-parametric statistical tests were used.

Results: Saturated FAs were higher in the case group. Control group had higher linoleic acid (p=0.04), suggesting decreased desaturase activity. N-6 FAs were higher and n-3 FAs were lower in breast cancer cases. The n6/n3 ratio, cardiovascular risk ratio (p<0.001), and inflammatory risk ratio were high, whereas saturation index and unsaturation index (p=0.05) were lower in breast cancer cases.

Conclusion: Lipidomics of the cell membrane is significantly influenced by FAs, and the dietary FAs regulate the enzymatic activities in the FA metabolism pathway.
NIGELLA SATIVA OIL AS AN ADD-ON IN THE CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY: A NOVEL SYNERGISTIC APPROACH
Authors: MOHD ASHRAF ALAM  , MOHAMMAD NASIRUDDIN  , SHAHZAD F HAQUE  , RAHAT A KHAN
Published: October 2020

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate efficacy and safety Nigella sativa oil as an add-on therapy in addition to alpha-keto analog of essential amino acids in patients diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care center of North India on patients of DN. It was a prospective, comparative, and open labeled study. Patients were randomly divided into two interventional groups. Group I (control) received conservative management of chronic kidney disease consisting of alpha-keto analog (600 mg tab. 3 times a day), while Group II (test) received conservative management along with alpha-keto analog and N. sativa oil (2.5 ml, per orally, once daily) for 12 weeks. Hemogram and renal function, serum electrolytes tests were done, and adverse events were recorded at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment.

Results: After 12 weeks of treatment, there was a marked improvement in clinical features and biochemical parameters in both the control and test groups, but it was more statistically significant in the test group as compared to control group especially in renal function (p≤0.05). Both groups showed steady improvement in the biochemical parameters as compared to their pre-treated values which were more marked in N. sativa oil supplemented group. There was a reduction in blood glucose, blood urea, serum creatinine, and 24-h total urine protein, and an increase in hemoglobin, 24-h total urine volume, and glomerular filtration rate.

Conclusion: N. sativa oil supplementation along with alpha-keto analog is more efficacious and safer in delaying the progression of disease patients of DN.
A REVIEW OF PLANTS USED AGAINST DIABETES MELLITUS BY BAPEDI AND VHAVENDA ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA
Authors: SEMENYA SEBUA SILAS  , MAROYI ALFRED
Published: October 2020

Traditional utilization of medicinal plants against diabetes mellitus (DM) is common in South Africa and other African countries. This study was aimed at documenting medicinal plants used against DM by the Bapedi and Vhavenda ethnic groups of the Limpopo province, South Africa. This study was based on a review of literature published in scientific journals, books, reports from national, regional, and international organizations, theses and conference papers obtained from libraries and electronic databases. A total of 61 plant species belonging to 39 botanical families, mainly the Fabaceae (n=6), Asteraceae (n=5), and Cucurbitaceae (n=4) were used by Bapedi (n=33) and Vhavenda (n=25) to treat and manage DM. Cassia abbreviata, Momordica balsamina, and Moringa oleifera are used by both the Bapedi and Vhavenda people. Plant parts widely used to prepare DM medicines include roots (40.0%), leaves (27.0%), bark (15.0%), and whole plant (7.0%). Monotherapy preparations made from a single plant species are the most dominant (88.5%) while 11.5% are prepared from a combination of two or more species. More than half (65.5%) of the species used to treat and manage DM are known to possess antidiabetic activities and various secondary metabolites. This study illustrates the importance of medicinal plants in the treatment and management of DM in South Africa.
FACTORS AFFECTING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH POST-TRANSFEMORAL AMPUTATION
Authors: NUR RACHMAT  , MOHAMMAD FANANI  , DARSONO DARSONO  , SUWARTO SUWARTO
Published: October 2020

Objective: The study aims to investigate the contributions of self-efficacy, motivation, religiosity, social support, optimism, and subjective well-being as factors affecting quality of life on individuals with transfermoral amputation. Through empowerment, it is expected that there will be an increase in independence and socioeconomy. The ultimate goal of the empowerment process is for independence.

Methods: This study used observational analytic with cross-sectional approach. The sample in this study was 110 post-transfemoral amputation patients. Data taken from questionnaires of self-efficacy, motivation, religiosity, social support, optimism, subjective well-being and quality of life were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Results: There was no influence of motivation on quality of life (critical ratio [CR]=0.535 <1.96; p=0.592 <0.05). There was a statistically significant positive effect of self-efficacy on quality of life (CR=3.082> 1.96; p=0.002 <0.05). There was a statistically significant positive effect of religiosity on quality of life (CR=2.919> 1.96; p=0.004 <0.05). There was no influence from social support for quality of life (CR=0.082 <1.96; p=0.935 <0.05). There was a statistically significant positive effect of optimism on quality of life (CR=2.307> 1.96; p=0.021 <0.05). There was a statistically significant positive effect of subjective well-being on quality of life (CR=2.089> 1.96; p=0.037 <0.05).

Conclusion: The quality of life of patients with post-transfemoral amputation is positively and significantly influenced by optimism, religiosity, self-efficacy, and subjective well-being.
BOSCIA ALBITRUNCA: REVIEW OF ITS BOTANY, MEDICINAL USES, PHYTOCHEMISTRY, AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
Authors: ALFRED MAROYI
Published: October 2020

Boscia albitrunca is a medium-sized tree widely used as herbal medicine in Southern Africa. The current study critically reviewed the botany, medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of B. albitrunca. Literature on botany, medicinal uses, phytochemical, and biological activities of B. albitrunca was collected from multiple internet sources including Elsevier, Google Scholar, SciFinder, Web of Science, PubMed, BMC, Science Direct, and Scopus. Complementary information was gathered from pre-electronic sources such as books, book chapters, theses, scientific reports, and journal articles obtained from the university library. This study revealed that the species is used as herbal medicine in 75.0% of the countries in Southern Africa where the species is indigenous. The bark, leaves, and roots of B. albitrunca are mainly used as herbal medicines for constipation, epilepsy, hemorrhoids, headache, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome, skin diseases, syphilis, and as ethnoveterinary medicine. Ethnopharmacological research identified phenolic compounds, alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins, and triterpernoids from leaves of B. albitrunca. The crude extracts of the species and the compound martynoside isolated from B. albitrunca exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activities. B. albitrunca should be subjected to detailed phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological evaluations aimed at correlating its medicinal uses with its phytochemistry and pharmacological activities.
Determinants of Audit Fees for Portugal and Spain
Authors: Valente Cunha Silva Ana Sofia , Coelho Inácio Helena , Simões Vieira Elisabete F.
Published: October 2020

This paper intends to analyze the determinants of audit fees in Portugal and Spain at a time when the audit profession has felt increasingly strong pressures on its ethical, independence and quality posture, showing that audit fees behave differently in these two countries. The liberalization of audit services in Portugal, with the elimination in 2005 of the table setting the minimum fees based on the size standards of the audited company, arouses the interest in perceiving the factors that determine audit fees. In Spain, the various financial scandals have placed audit fees in the main focus. These countries, which form the Iberian Peninsula, have a strongly related economic and cultural history, having also joined the European Union on the same date. In addition, audit fees have not been much studied in these countries, so it is important to perceive their behavior by comparing results. The results indicate that, in Spain, audit fees are determined mainly by the size, complexity and risk of the audited company. It was also found that in Spain the big four companies charge higher fees and that companies that change their audit firm pay lower fees in the year of rotation. In Portugal, the size of the audited company was considered the only factor contributing to the determination of audit fees. The analysis includes a sample of 39 listed companies in Portugal and 104 companies listed in Spain for the period of 2013 to 2015 using the ordinary least squares.
Factores psicosociales en residentes sub-especialistas de neonatología Análisis de contenido desde el modelo demanda-control-apoyo social
Authors: Acosta-Fernández Martín , Aguilera-Velasco María De los Ángeles , Pozos-Radillo Blanca Elizabeth , Parra Osorio Liliana
Published: October 2020

Introducción: La formación académica de residentes está asociada con la exposición a factores psicosociales de riesgo (FPSR) que pueden afectar su salud. Se investigó, bajo los modelos demanda-control-apoyo social y equilibrio esfuerzo-recompensa, la formación académica de residentes de una sub-especialidad en cuidados intensivos neonatales (RCIN).Objetivo: Conocer la exposición de RCIN a FPSR y su percepción de riesgo psicosocial.Método: Estudio cualitativo, seguimiento y análisis de contenido con base en la Guía de Referencia III de la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-035- STPS-2018, Factores de riesgo psicosocial en el trabajo: Identificación, análisis y prevención. Se realizaron 12 entrevistas en profundidad y el procesamiento de datos con Atlas.ti® v.8.4.3.Resultados: Participaron cuatro de cinco residentes de la generación. Durante primer año, los FPSR con un mayor número de testimonios fueron: características del liderazgo [49], cargas de alta responsabilidad [37] y maltrato psicológico [34]. La percepción de riesgo, influencia del trabajo fuera del centro laboral [35] por jornadas de trabajo extensas [29]. En segundo año características del liderazgo [104], escasa o nula retroalimentación del desempeño [31], maltrato verbal [37] y psicológico [27]. Para percepción de riesgo, influencia del trabajo fuera del centro laboral [10] y disminuyó control y autonomía sobre el trabajo [3]. En ambos años fue constante la exposición a características del liderazgo [153], cargas contradictorias o inconsistentes [69], relaciones sociales en el trabajo [68], maltrato psicológico [57] y verbal [41].Conclusiones: Los modelos demanda-control-apoyo social y equilibrio esfuerzo-recompensa explican profusamente las interacciones entre tareas académico-clínicas, la exposición a factores psicosociales de riesgo, y percepción de riesgos psicosociales en los residentes.La NOM-035-STPS-2018 pudiera ser el vehículo para ofrecer a los residentes un entorno organizacional más favorable durante su formación, priorizar el análisis de las exigencias derivadas del proceso de trabajo y exponerlos al menor riesgo psicosocial posible.
Desarrollo de competencias en alimentación de menores de dos años por internos de pediatría
Authors: Aguilar Liendo Ana María
Published: October 2020

Introducción: Crecimiento y alimentación son temas básicos en pediatría; aunque su contenido es parte de pregrado, hay escasa evidencia sobre la adquisición de conocimientos y habilidades logradas.Objetivo: Evaluar competencias desarrolladas para promover alimentación y crecimiento adecuados en los dos primeros años de vida en internos de pediatría que rotan por dos hospitales con procesos educativos diferenciados.Método: Estudio cuasi experimental con intervención realizado en la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia. Incluyó 17 internos del hospital 1, que no contaba con actividades educativas programadas para alimentación y crecimiento; y 24 del hospital 2, con actividades educativas programadas con siete horas teóricas y 25 prácticas, en modalidad individual y grupal, presencial y en línea. Se midieron las competencias con cuatro estaciones de evaluación clínica objetiva estructurada sobre consejería, lactancia materna, alimentación complementaria y crecimiento. Los datos se analizaron en SPSS. Para identificar las diferencias entre los grupos de comparación se utilizó la prueba t de Student, se comprobó normalidad y homogeneidad de varianzas, ajustó el valor de la t de Student si era menor a 0.05.Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que el grupo del hospital 2 tuvo una mejor respuesta en la evaluación clínica objetiva estructurada. En conocimientos, los internos del hospital 2 obtuvieron 23.86 puntos porcentuales de ventaja (p 0,000 IC95% –33.07 a –14.63) y una diferencia de 15.02% en la rúbrica (p 0.000 IC95% –20.68 a –9.35).Conclusiones: El proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje diferenciado mejora conocimientos y habilidades de los internos de pediatría. Los factores que limitan el desarrollo de competencias son: falta de tiempo de los internos, la asignación de actividades no educativas y falta de oportunidad para aplicar cuidados preventivos y de promoción en hospitales; y el factor facilitador es el cumplimiento obligatorio de actividades teóricas y prácticas.
Simulación clínica y dimensiones de pensamiento crítico en estudiantes de medicina de una universidad privada
Authors: Chávez de la Rosa Daniel , Tass Rosado Jocelyn Dayani , Villarreal Del Valle Lineth Iluvinda , Sandoval Bernal Sergio Danset , González Mejía Verenice Zarahí
Published: October 2020

Introducción: El pensamiento crítico es una competencia esencial en un médico general. Por su parte, la simulación clínica es una estrategia innovadora que propone el desarrollo de esta competencia, es por eso que su implementación es cada vez más frecuente en el nivel de pregrado de las escuelas de medicina.Objetivo: Comparar la autopercepción del pensamiento crítico entre un grupo de estudiantes de medicina que participó y uno que no participó en simulación clínica.Método: Estudio observacional, transversal, prospectivo. La población estuvo conformada por estudiantes de sexto y séptimo año de la carrera de medicina del ciclo escolar 2018-2019. Para fines del estudio se utilizó estadística descriptiva e inferencial.Resultados: Participaron 62 alumnos universitarios, de los cuales 45.2% pertenecieron al género femenino y el 54.8% al masculino. No hubo diferencia significativa en la autopercepción del pensamiento crítico entre los dos grupos (p = > 0.05).Conclusiones: En este estudio la implementación de la simulación clínica no mostró diferencia en las autopercepciones del pensamiento crítico entre los grupos comparados.
Colaboración de tres escuelas de medicina de México en un examen clínico objetivo estructurado (ECOE)
Authors: Martínez-González Adrián , Sánchez Mendiola Melchor , Olivares-Olivares Silvia Lizett , Grimaldo-Avilés Juana I. , Trejo-Mejía J. Andrés , Martínez-Franco A. Israel , Alpuche-Hernández Amílcar , Furman Gail E.
Published: October 2020

Propósito: El Examen Clínico Objetivo Estructurado (ECOE) es una estrategia de evaluación que implica desafíos logísticos y de recursos humanos con ciertos requisitos de preparación y planeación para su implementación. El objetivo de este estudio es describir una colaboración entre tres escuelas de medicina para el diseño de escenarios, procesos y productos académicos.Método: Tres escuelas de medicina mexicanas obtuvieron una subvención del Programa de Premios Latinoamericanos de la National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). El proyecto implicó el desarrollo de un ECOE formativo para evaluar la competencia clínica en estudiantes de medicina de pregrado al final del internado médico, y obtener evidencia de validez del examen para su uso. Se creó un consorcio formal para desarrollar y compartir estaciones ECOE. Se implementaron talleres de capacitación del profesorado.Resultados: El consorcio de las tres escuelas diseñó un ECOE de nueve estaciones. Se capacitaron a 81 examinadores y a 36 pacientes estandarizados. Se desarrolló una rúbrica y se creó una aplicación de software para capturar los datos. Se aplicó una prueba piloto con 93 estudiantes de medicina. El alfa de Cronbach fue 0.94 y el coeficiente G 0.80. Se crearon varios productos académicos para divulgar los resultados.Conclusiones: La experiencia formativa entre tres instituciones de educación médica permitió el desarrollo conjunto de escenarios para evaluación de la competencia clínica de estudiantes. La implementación conjunta además hizo posible la conceptualización e implementación de nuevas herramientas de evaluación. Esta oportunidad abre la invitación para aprovechar las oportunidades que brindan las organizaciones internacionales para participar en convocatorias que desarrollen a las escuelas de medicina en México. Los aprendizajes se pueden desplegar con otras escuelas de medicina en el país y América Latina.
Game of Thrones Sebagai Arsitektur Ekonomi Politik Global Versi Indonesia
Authors: Yudithadewi Dien , Parikesit Bonifasius Santiko , Wuryanta Eka Wenats
Published: October 2020

Abstract As part of the political communication channel, speech is an essential tool to convey messages, especially at the global political scope. In a speech at the IMF-World Bank 2018 meeting, President Joko Widodo used the phrase 'winter is coming' from the story of the popular television series Game of Thrones as a presupposition of the global political economy situation. Based on President Jokowi's speech, this paper aims to understand the changes in the international political architecture caused by the spirit of economic liberalism from developed countries. The study applied the discourse analysis approach of Norman Fairclough's version. Referring to Fairclough, presuppositions are the key to understanding how reality is differentiated and presented. In examining the contents of the speech, the author will choose words/sentences that lexically relate to Game of Thrones or the context of de-globalization through the phenomenon of protectionism and trade war. The speech represents an attempt to protest from developing countries to the superpower countries. President Jokowi reminded superpower countries that the protectionism and trade wars will only lead to de-globalization. Instead of competing for power domination, Indonesia is calling for the idea of an equilibrium hegemony in the political economy to all member-states.
Pemekaran Daerah Luwu Raya Sebagai Isu Kampanye Pemilihan Gubernur Sulawesi Selatan
Authors: Syamsu Suhardiman , Burhan Reksa , Haliq Ade Irma Surani
Published: October 2020

Regional expansion is argued to improve people's welfare, the quality of public services, create good and efficient local government, and build substantive democracy at the local level. Regional expansion must consider aspects of urgency and capacity. The policy process for regional expansion in Indonesia is bottom-up and is dominated by a political process rather than an administrative process. This issue raised in the momentum of the Pilkada, but until the 2018 period it had not yet been realized. This study aims to explain the issue of regional expansion of Luwu Raya during the regional elections for Governor and the Vice Governor of South Sulawesi in 2009, 2013 and 2018 and the obstacles. Data obtained from official government documents and reports. The data presented is the result of the clustering process, descriptive analysis of interview transcripts and processed as research results. The relationship between the elite is the focus of the analysis in this study. Researchers further explore the political dynamics of local elites in the discourse of regional expansion. It examines the issue of regional expansion becomes a political campaign maneuver aims to collect electoral votes. The concept of decentralization does not made the political process of regional expansion easily to realize. The practice of decentralization governance not only changing the implementation of governance in the regional administrative but also the implementation of politics at the local level. Political elites compete for electoral barns as a manifestation of local political practices that coincide with the issue of regional expansion.
Penerapan Aspek Keberfungsian Sosial Levin Sebagai Instrumen Asesmen di Panti Lansia Bojongbata Pemalang
Authors: Kodaruddin Wina Nurdini , Sulastri Sri , Wibowo Hery
Published: October 2020

AbstractBased on Central Java Governor Regulation No. 31/2018, the Bojongbata Nursing Home used to providing social services for the elderly. Unfortunately, Bojongbata Nursing Home does not have a special instrument for assessing the elderly's social function. The social function assessment usually used maps of social network and list of questions related to the elderly social relationships. However, this instrument has not been able to thoroughly explore the conditions, problems and needs of the elderly. In fact, an in-depth assessment of social functioning affects the determination of appropriate interventions and helps social workers analyze the conditions and service needs of the elderly. This study aims to identify the social functioning of the elderly through the aspects of Social Resources, Social Activities, Social Networking, Social Support, and Social Role and Role Functioning. This study analyzed several elderly informants with the aim of identifying their social functioning based on potential and non-potential groups. This is done to find differences in the conditions and needs of the two. The results of this study indicate that Levin assessment theory can describe the social functioning of the elderly. There is a relationship between aspects in realizing the better social functioning of the elderly. Elderly who can make good use of social resources and have adequate social activities have a wider and stronger social network. This social network can provide the social support needed by the elderly in carrying out their social roles properly.
Nanostructuring of the surface layer by the method of electric-spark alloying
Authors: Kudryashova Elizaveta Yu. , Shamberov Ivan A. , Zadoroznyy Roman N.
Published: October 2020

The creation of a universal, economical and high-tech way of increasing the life of both worn and new parts has become an urgent task. Such methods include nanostructuring of surface coatings, which can be performed by electric spark alloying. (Research purpose) The research purpose is studying the possibilities of electric spark alloying in the nanostructuring of the surface layer of carbon steels. (Materials and methods) The authors conducted study of the surface layer of 35-carbon steel with coatings obtained by electric spark alloying on the BIG-1 installation with different materials (Cu, Zn, W and WC) and at different modes. To study the surface layer, the elemental content was studied by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, the surface profile was studied by profiling, metallographic studies and microhardness measurements. (Results and discussion) The authors revealed that the chemical composition of the alloying electrode and treatment modes have a direct impact on the saturation of the surface layer with alloying elements, the parameters of the profile of the treated surface, the continuity and mechanical properties of the coating. It was found that harder processing modes increase productivity, but reduce mechanical properties. It was also found that the modified structure of the base material contains nanostructured elements because of electroscopic alloying. A sharp increase in the mechanical properties of the coating material allows suggesting that elements of the nanostructural range are present in the coating. (Conclusion) The conducted research shows that the method of electroscopic alloying can be used for nanostructuring of the surface layer of carbon steels.
Standard for maintenance of agricultural machinery at the level of expertise
Authors: Kazakova Vera A. , Shinkevich Valentina A. , Dunayev Anatoliy V.
Published: October 2020

Revision of GOST 20793-2009 standard updates the list of normative documents required for certification of agricultural machinery and will contribute to the improvement of methods of organization of maintenance of modernized tractors and agricultural machines, will allow using modern methods of increasing of their resource. (Research purpose) The research purpose is increasing the efficiency of maintenance of agricultural and forestry tractors and other self-propelled agricultural machines in their operation by optimizing the periods of work, the implementation of express control of lubricating oils, the use of built-in diagnostic systems, organoleptic diagnosis by quality characteristics, as well as the introduction in motor and transmission oil of repair friction components using a special technology. (Materials and methods) The authors noted the need for examination of the draft standard by specialists of the engineering service of the agro-industrial complex and agricultural machinery and a detailed analysis of the comments and suggestions received during development of the final version of the draft standard. The draft standard of the first edition was sent for feedback to specialists, interested organizations and enterprises of the Russian Federation, as well as organizations of neighboring countries. (Results and discussion) Authors have reviewed the comments and suggestions; accepted all editorial comments; agreed bibliographic references and aligned the units of measurement; prepared the final version of the GOST 20793 project, corresponding to the conditions of the current state of the machine-technical park and engineering service of the agro-industrial complex. Authors have sent the draft of the final version for editing and approval to Rosstandart. (Conclusion) The introduction of the improved standard will contribute to improving the efficiency and increasing the service life of worn-out units of agricultural machines, reducing the cost of their technical operation. For the first time, the types and basic rules of the maintenance procedure were unified. The implementation of the requirements of the standard will build the processes of work in the field of production and distribution of products and certification, improve the efficiency of technical service in the agro-industrial complex, resource reliability and efficiency of the machine and tractor fleet.
Improving the efficiency of hardening of tillage machine working bodies by arc surfacing using wear-resistant rollers
Authors: Slinko Dmitriy B. , Denisov Vyacheslav A. , Dobrin Dmitriy A. , Afanas’yev Andrey V. , Kislov Pavel M.
Published: October 2020

Reducing operating costs during soil processing and increasing the wear resistance of parts and components is an important condition for reducing the cost of agricultural products, increasing its efficiency and competitiveness. The development of materials with increased wear resistance and new effective technologies for strengthening working bodies in their manufacture is now becoming an urgent task. (Research purpose) The research purpose is increasing the wear resistance of the working bodies of soil-processing machines by electric arc surfacing. (Materials and methods) During the experimental study, it has been performed testing of modes and surfacing of a pilot batch of working bodies from Kverneland for field tests in VIM on an automated installation for electric arc surfacing. Authors used eutectic CastolinEnDotec DO*30 powder wire with a diameter of 1.2 millimeters and a boron content of up to 4 percent for surfacing wear-resistant rollers, which allows to obtain wear-resistant rollers with a hardness of up to 65 HRC without pores and cracks. (Results and discussion) It has been revealed that hardened ploughshares that have passed field tests are subject to lower wear rates compared to non-hardened ones. It was found that when operating time is 24.785 hectares per ploughshare, the wear of the linear size of the cutting edge along the width of hardened ploughshares is on average up to 10-11 millimeters less than that of non-hardened ones. It was found that when processing 228 hectares, the wear of the linear size of the cutting edge along the width of hardened bits is on average up to 9-10 millimeters less than that of non-hardened ones. (Conclusions) The technology of surfacing with intermittent wear-resistant rollers provides an increase in the efficiency of hardening of Kverneland working bodies according to the criterion of wear resistance by an average of 20-30 percent. The adjusted technological parameters of the surfacing process will reduce the wear rate and increase the service life of the blade part of the working bodies, as well as reduce the amount of surfaced material by an average of 60 percent. The continuation of work on strengthening the working bodies should be aimed at changing the surfacing scheme and choosing a cheaper domestic cored wire.
Genesis of autotractor diesel engineering and first diesel tractors
Authors: Karasev Andrey V.
Published: October 2020

Agriculture needed a simple engine running on cheap fuel to switch to mechanical traction. Due to its simplicity and ability to work on oil, colorization engines have become widespread, including in agriculture. (Research purpose) The research purpose is in identifying the key issues that influenced the creation of diesel engines with divided combustion chamber: indirect, pre-chamber, as well as studying the story of the creation of the indirect diesel, the first diesel tractors. (Materials and methods) The article notes the importance of the International Congress of figures involved in the construction and use of internal combustion engines, and the exhibition organized at the same time. The exhibition presents 95 engines, 23 of them were created at Russian factories. The holding of the international event and the wide participation of domestic engine manufacturers in it testified to the development of engine design in Russia. (Results and discussion) The article notes that despite the success of the world engine building, the problem of creating a lightweight diesel of high specific power, suitable for installation on automotive equipment, has not been solved yet. The article consideres the history of creation of a high-speed turbocharged diesel engine with a "soft" flow of the working stroke. (Conclusions) A two-cylinder pre-chamber diesel engine with a capacity of 18 kilowatts (25 horsepower) at 800 rpm by P. L'Orange was produced by Benz & Cie in 1922 and intended for agricultural machinery. The Benz-Sendling S6 motor plow with the Benz & Cie diesel was launched in March 1923. In addition to three-wheeled tractors and motor plows, since 1923, Benz and Sendling have offered a four-wheeled model of the BK diesel tractor. The first serial diesel tractor in Europe is considered to be the Deutz tractor. Produced in 1927, the MTH 222 tractor was equipped with a 14-horsepower single-cylinder engine with an additional chamber.
Life cycle of self-propelled machinery with waste generation at its disposal
Authors: Gerasimov Valeriy S. , Ignatov Vladimir I. , Sovin Konstantin G.
Published: October 2020

According to forecasts for 2022, the number of self-propelled agricultural machinery that will fail will be about 100 thousand units. This will have a significant impact on the overall productivity in the field of agricultural production and will require additional financial costs for effective resource-saving environmental-oriented utilization of agricultural machinery with the maximum recovery of secondary resources in the processing of its components. (Research purpose) The research purpose is considering the main life cycles of machinery, including agricultural, and determining the possibility of obtaining secondary resources in the recycling of components of machinery and equipment. (Materials and methods) The authors found that the establishment of an industry-wide recycling system would allow the reuse of usable and recovered parts obtained from decommissioned equipment, as well as receive additional funding from the sale of secondary resources. The authors have found that for the functioning of the whole system, it is necessary to work with a large amount of data related to the ongoing recycling processes, as well as constantly monitor changes in the state and properties of materials. They also found that the maximum use of digital technology is the only way to combine all these requirements and make the system work. (Results and discussion) The article reviews the key points of the use of life cycle method for equipment, including agricultural, reviews the state of machine and tractor park of agro-industrial complex, shows the possibility of using resource-saving ecologically oriented branch system of recycling of agricultural machinery, as well as the movement of waste and material flows in the processing components of utilized machines. (Conclusion) The article presents recommendations on the possibility of efficient disposal of equipment, including agricultural, with the maximum recovery of secondary resources from recycled waste.
PENGGUNAAN ENRICHMENT-SELECTIVE MEDIUM UNTUK MENINGKATKAN SENSITIFITAS PEMERIKSAAN LABORATORIUM DIFTERI
Authors: Sunarno Sunarno , Amalia Novi , Nursofiah Sundari , Febrianti Tati
Published: October 2020

Konfirmasi laboratorium kasus difteri dilakukan dengan isolasi dan tes toksigenisitas bakteri penyebab difteri menggunakan metode konvensional berbasis kultur. Metode konvensional memiliki keterbatasan dalam hal sensitivitas pemeriksaan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji penggunaan darah domba + telurit sebagai enrichment-selective medium untuk meningkatkan sensitivitas pemeriksaan laboratorium difteri dengan metode konvensional. Sebanyak 18 spesimen klinis (swab tenggorok) penderita difteri digunakan sebagai sampel penelitian. Swab tenggorok tersebut sebelumnya telah digunakan untuk pemeriksaan Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) sehingga proses ekstraksi DNA menyebabkan jumlah sel bakteri yang tertinggal menjadi sangat terbatas. Sel bakteri tersebut ditumbuhkan menggunakan 2 cara yang berbeda, yaitu inokulasi langsung dan inokulasi yang didahului dengan penggunaan enrichment-selective medium. Hasil identifikasi bakteri penyebab difteri dibandingkan antara keduanya. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa inokulasi secara langsung hanya berhasil mengisolasi dan mengidentifikasi bakteri penyebab difteri (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) pada 3 dari 18 sampel yang diperiksa. Sebaliknya dengan penggunaan enrichment-selective medium, bakteri penyebab difteri berhasil diisolasi dan diidentifikasi pada 9 dari 18 sampel yang diperiksa. Oleh karena itu, disimpulkan bahwa enrichment-selective medium (darah domba + telurit) dapat digunakan untuk meningkatkan sensitivitas pemeriksaan laboratorium difteri.

Laboratory confirmation for diphtheria cases are performed by using conventional culture-based method for isolation/identification and toxigenicity of the bacteria causing diphtheria. This method has limitation in its sensitivity. This study aimed to examine the sensitivity of sheep blood + tellurite as the enrichment selective medium to improve the sensitivity of the conventional method. The samples were 18 clinical specimens (throat swabs) obtained from diphtheria patient, which had been used for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay, therefore the DNA extraction process caused the number of bacteria cells to be very limited. The samples were cultured by two different methods, directly on the agar medium and indirectly through enrichment selective medium previously. The result showed that the directly inoculation could isolate C. diphtheriae as many as 3 out of 18 samples, whereas indirectly method by using enrichment selective medium could isolate and identify 9 out of 18 samples. In conclusion, enrichment selective medium (sheep blood + tellurite) may improve the examination sensitivity of bacteria causing diphtheria identification in the laboratory.
Cryopreservation of Danube barbel Barbus balcanicus sperm and its effects on sperm subpopulation structure
Authors: Kojadinovic Natasa , Marinovic Zoran , Velickovic Tijana , Miloskovic Aleksandra , Jakovljevic Marija , Horváth Ákos , Simic Vladica
Published: October 2020

The objective of this study was to develop a successful freezing protocol for cryopreservation of Danube barbel sperm, and to identify the presence of different spermatozoa subpopulations. By testing different concentrations of different cryoprotectants, we determined that the use of 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) yielded the highest total motility of ~25%. Cooling rates influenced by frame height and cooling time in liquid nitrogen vapor showed that a frame height of 3 cm and cooling time of 2 min yielded the highest post-thaw motility. Supplementation of cryomedia with 0.1 M of sugars led to an increase in the total post-thaw motility by ~50%, while protein supplementation lowered post-thaw motility. Motile spermatozoa hierarchically clustered according to their motility parameters, displaying a four-subpopulation (SP1-SP4) structure. SP1 was defined by low values of velocity but high overall linearity; SP2 was comprised of fast non-linear spermatozoa, that had high velocity values but low linearity; SP3 was characterized by fast linear spermatozoa, and SP4 by slow non-linear spermatozoa. Protocols developed in this study will lead to the creation of new and enhanced conservation strategies for this species.
Headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the determination of total cyanide concentration in water and postmortem blood samples
Authors: Destanoğlu Orhan , Ateş İsmail
Published: October 2020

In this study, we aimed to develop a headspace gas chromatography? ?mass spectrometry method for determining the total cyanide concentration in the forensic evidences. Total cyanide content of the samples was calculated based on the hydrogen cyanide gas concentration evaporated from the liquid sample in the headspace vial. Hexacyanoferrate(II) was used for the optimization of headspace oven temperature. We have found that iron?cyanide bonds were completely degraded after 0.2 mL of the sample was treated with 1 mL of 1 M sulfuric acid under the optimized headspace conditions where the temperature and the heating time were 120 ?C and 12.5 min, respectively. Satisfactory recovery results for both aqueous and blood samples were obtained. The method was linear in the range 0.05?10 ?g mL-1 of cyanide which was a suitable range for toxicological investigations. The proposed method was validated and applied to the post-mortem blood samples, drinking waters, and the other forensic evidences. The proposed method can easily be performed not only in the forensic laboratories, but in the related laboratories where the total cyanide analysis is a critical issue.
Prediction of retardation factor of protein amino acids in reversed phase TLC and ethanol-sodium azide solution as the mobile phase using QSRR
Authors: Torabi Susan , Honarasa Fatemeh , Yousefinejad Saeed
Published: October 2020

Due to the importance of amino acids (AAs) as the basic bricks of proteins and their application in the drug and food industries, there is great interest in their separation and identification using simple and inexpensive approaches. Application of predictive models for the determination of the behavior of AAs can reduce trial-and-error experiments. Herein, the retardation factor (RF) of 21 protein AAs were studied using the quantitative structureretardation factor (QSRR) model. The RF values of the AAs in ethanol?sodium azide solution as the mobile phase of reversed phase thin layer chromatography (RP-TLC) were correlated with the structural properties of the AAs. The suggested QSRR indicated excellent fitting and prediction ability (R2train = 0.95 and R2test = 0.94). Furthermore, other statistical tests, such as y-scrambling, cross validation and the Williams plot confirmed the stability, absence of chance and the suitable applicability domain, respectively. It was shown that the sum of geometrical distances between oxygen and nitrogen atoms in an AA molecule is an important factor for the RF values of the AAs in the ethanol? sodium azide.
Product Market Peers and Relative Performance Evaluation
Authors: Jayaraman Sudarshan , Milbourn Todd , Peters Florian , Seo Hojun
Published: October 2020

We investigate the role of Relative Performance Evaluation (RPE) theory in CEO pay and turnover using a product similarity-based definition of peers (Hoberg and Phillips 2016). RPE predicts that firms filter out common shocks (i.e., those affecting the firm and its peers) while evaluating CEO performance, and that the extent of filtering increases with the number of peers. Despite the intuitive appeal of the theory, previous tests of RPE find weak and inconsistent evidence, which we argue is due to the imprecise categorization of peers. Using product market peers, we find three pieces of evidence consistent with RPE in relation to CEO pay and forced turnover: (1) on average, firms partially filter out common shocks to stock returns, (2) the extent of filtering increases with the number of peers, and (3) firms completely filter out common shocks in the presence of a large number of peers.

JEL Classifications: M40; M41; G30; J33.