bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“On Social Media Science Seems to Be More Human”: Exploring Researchers as Digital Science Communicators
Authors: Koivumäki Kaisu , Koivumäki Timo , Karvonen Erkki
Published: June 2020

In contemporary media discourses, researchers may be perceived to communicate something they do not intend to, such as coldness or irrelevance. However, researchers are facing new responsibilities concerning how popular formats used to present science will impact science’s cultural authority (Bucchi, 2017). Currently, there is limited research on the microlevel practices of digital science communication involving researchers as actors. Therefore, this qualitative study explores how digital academic discourse practices develop, using the tweeting and blogging of researchers involved in a multidisciplinary renewable energy research project as a case. The results of a thematic analysis of interviews with researchers (n = 17) suggests that the researchers’ perceptions form a scale ranging from traditional to progressively adjusted practices, which are labelled ‘informing,’ ‘anchoring,’ ‘luring,’ and ‘maneuvering.’ These imply an attempt to diminish the gap between science and the public. The interviewees acknowledge that scientific facts may not be interesting and that they need captivating means that are common in the use of new media, such as buzzwords and clickbait. It appears that trials and experimentation with hybrid genres helped the researchers to distinguish the contours of digital academic discourses. The implications support suggestions to broaden the trajectories of expertise and communication, including issues of culture and identity, trust, and the relevance of science. It is argued that scientists’ embrace of new media channels will refine some articulations of the mediatization processes, and these findings support recent suggestions that mediatization could also be conceptualized as a strategic resource.
Coronavirus in Spain: Fear of ‘Official’ Fake News Boosts WhatsApp and Alternative Sources
Authors: Elías Carlos , Catalan-Matamoros Daniel
Published: June 2020

The communication of the Coronavirus crisis in Spain has two unexpected components: the rise of the information on social networks, especially WhatsApp, and the consolidation of TV programs on mystery and esotericism. Both have emerged to “tell the truth” in opposition to official sources and public media. For a country with a long history of treating science and the media as properties of the state, this very radical development has surprised communication scholars.
Covid-19 Misinformation and the Social (Media) Amplification of Risk: A Vietnamese Perspective
Authors: Nguyen Hoa , Nguyen An
Published: June 2020

The amplification of Coronavirus risk on social media sees Vietnam falling volatile to a chaotic sphere of mis/disinformation and incivility, which instigates a movement to counter its effects on public anxiety and fear. Benign or malign, these civil forces generate a huge public pressure to keep the one-party system on toes, forcing it to be unusually transparent in responding to public concerns.
Remodeling the cancer service in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic at the Federal research center of the 1st level
Authors: Kaprin A. D. , Gameeva E. V. , Roshchin D. O. , Kostin A. A. , Alekseeva G. S. , Khoronenko V. E. , Abuzarova G. R. , Fedenko A. A. , Pashigorova L. V. , Samsonov Yu. V.
Published: June 2020

The article is devoted to the most relevant topic at present — the possibilities of providing full medical care to cancer patients in the context of the spread of the COVID‑19 coronavirus pandemic. Cancer patients are the most vulnerable group, because they are at high risk from the position of immunosuppression, which is often combined with other risk factors for infection: old age, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Procrastination and delaying the start of antitumor therapy is unacceptable, since it inevitably leads to a deterioration of treatment results, an increase in one-year mortality and worsens the overall survival rate for malignant neoplasms. Thus, it is necessary to develop a set of measures that will allow all types of anti-cancer treatment to be carried out in parallel with anti-epidemic measures without losing the quality of treatment and preserving the safety of patients and medical personnel.
Combined extensive liver resections in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular cancer – clinical cases
Authors: Sidorov D. V. , Lozhkin M. V. , Petrov L. O. , Isaeva A. G. , Gusakova M. S.
Published: June 2020

Currently the main way of curable treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC)* is a liver resection. Candidates for surgery are patient with good score of liver function (Child-Pugh A group), without destruction of great vessels and distant metastases. Hemihepatectomy is associated with a high risk of postoperative liver failure (including portal hypertension, cirrhosis, portal vein thrombosis). This reason leads to premature failure of the operation. According to current clinical guidelines, system therapy is more suitable, despite of the lack of reliable data on its effectiveness in such clinical situations. The presented cases may support the selection of advanced hemihepatectomy as a treatment for hepatocellular cancer C stage BCLC classification.
New methods of local medical treatment of purulent wounds
Authors: Grigoryan A. Yu. , Bezhin A. I. , Pankrusheva T. A. , Zhilyaeva L. V.
Published: June 2020

Purpose of the study. To study experimental model of purulent wounds efficiency of the combined effects of benzalkonium chloride and metronidazole immobilized on various bases.

Materials and methods. The material was in vitro studies and experimental animals (Wistar rats), which was modeled a purulent wound and then divided into 3 groups according to the treatment method with the three studied combinations, each of which contained benzalkonium chloride and metronidazole, the combinations differed in bases, which were polyethylene oxide or sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose, or polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate. Research methods: in an in vitro experiment, growth retardation zones were determined for the most common pathogens of wound infection using the standard disc method. In an in vivo experiment the healing process was evaluated by Popov's planimetric method, the contamination of the wounds was studied by sowing the biopsy of wounds on nutrient media with subsequent counting of the grown up colonies. The data were processed statistically, the reliability of the differences was assessed by the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results. All test combinations showed high growth retardation areas for all test strains of microorganisms. Objectively, the highest results were observed with a combination of polyethylene oxide (Staphylococcus aureus 30 (29; 30), Bacillus cereus 27 (27; 28), Escherichia coli 20.5 (20; 21), Proteus vulgaris 21.5 (20; 22), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 17 (16; 17), Candida albicans 25.5 (25; 26)). In determining the healing rate, it was noted that the maximum values in the groups when using combinations based on the sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose and polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate occurred on day 1–3 (29.6 (27.6; 31) and 20.2 (18.8; 24.2) mm2/day, respectively), and in the group using a combination on polyethylene oxide — for 3–5 days (20.6 (17.3; 22.8) mm2/day).

Conclusion. Our studies have shown the high antimicrobial activity of all the developed combinations for all the strains of microorganisms studied. It is also possible to recommend combinations on polyethylene oxide and sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose for further preclinical studies at all times of treatment, and a combination based on polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate only in the first phase of the wound process.
YABANCILAŞMA BAĞLAMINDA BİR “TUTUNAMAYAN” KAHRAMAN: BEYAZ MANTOLU ADAM
Authors: Türkmenoğlu Sevgül
Published: June 2020

Oğuz
Atay, Türk edebiyatında modern roman ve hikâye tarzının önemli temsilcilerinden
biri olarak kabul edilir. Kimi eleştirmenler tarafından post modernist
anlayışın ilk temsilcilerinden biri olarak da kabul edilir. Atay eserlerinde,
modern dünyanın ve şehir hayatının yalnız, aidiyetsiz ve iletişimsiz
insanlarına yer verir. Modern dünyanın içinde tutunmaya çalışan bireylerin
hikâyesi onun eserlerinin temelini oluşturur. Atay, modern dünyanın içinde var
olmaya çalışan insanın bunalımı ele alır. Eserlerindeki kahramanlar modernizmin
doğurduğu metalaşmaya ve değersizleşmeye karşı çıkarlar. Atay’ın Beyaz Mantolu
Adam hikâyesi de modernizmin topluma yabancılaştırdığı bir adamın yabancılaşma
serüvenine yer verir. Mantolu adam aidiyetsiz, bulunduğu ortama yabancı ve en
önemlisi de iletişimini kaybetmiş bir figürdür. Hikâye boyunca hiç konuşmaz.
Toplumun kendisine dayattığı herşeye tepkisizce boyun eğer. Yabancılaşmaya
tepkisini hiçbir şey söylememekle dile getirir. Bu çalışmada Oğuz Atay’ın Beyaz
Mantolu Adam hikâyesi yabancılaşma kavramı üzerinden değerlendirilecektir.
Hikâyenin kahramanı olan mantolu adam üzerinden yalnızlık, aidiyetisizlik,
iletişimsizlik gibi kavramlar ele alınacaktır. Modernizmin getirdiği
yabancılaşma ve toplumdan uzaklaşma halinin Beyaz Mantolu Adam hikâyesindeki
işlenişi değerlendirilecektir.
KIRILGAN BEŞLİ EKONOMİLERİ İÇİN YAKINSAMA HİPOTEZİNİN GEÇERLİLİĞİ
Authors: Yılmaz Murat , Kesbiç Cüneyt Yenal
Published: June 2020

Yakınsama hipotezi, Neoklasik teoriye dayanan Solow büyüme modeli temelli, göreli yoksul ülkelerin zengin ülkelere kıyasla daha hızlı büyüyeceği varsayımına dayanmaktadır. Özellikle 1980’lerden sonra bu alanındaki çalışmaların genişlemesiyle yakınsama hipotezi türlerine farklı bakış açıları getirilmiştir. Bunlardan biri de güçlü öngörülebilirliğe sahip, ülke veya bölgelerin kişi başı GSYH seviyelerini baz alan σ-yakınsama türüdür. Çalışmada kırılgan beşli ülkelerinin kişi başı GSYH’lerinin birbirlerine ve grup içindeki lider ülkeye önce topluca ardından bireysel olarak yakınsayıp yakınsamadığı, 1980-2017 örneklem dönemi için çağdaş panel birim kök testleriyle araştırılmıştır. Bulgulara göre, kırılgan beşli ülkelerinin birbirlerine yakınsamadığı belirlenmiştir. Lider ülke olarak seçilen Güney Afrika’ya ülkelerin, %5 anlamlılık seviyesinde kuvvetli yakınsama gösterdikleri tespit edilmiştir. Türkiye açısından ise hem bireysel hem de topluca yakınsama gerçekleşmiştir. Hindistan ve Güney Afrika’nın, Türkiye’ye %5 anlamlılık seviyesinde zayıf yakınsama, Endonezya ve Brezilya’nın ise %5 anlamlılık seviyesinde kuvvetli yakınsama gösterdikleri gözlemlenmiştir.
TÜRKİYE’DE İSTİHDAMIN ARTTIRILMASINA YÖNELİK TEŞVİK POLİTİKALARININ İNCELENMESİ
Authors: Koç Neslihan , Sahin Menekse
Published: June 2020

Her ülke için istihdam olanaklarının
artırılması, gerek ekonomik gerekse sosyal refahın sağlanması açısından büyük
önem arz etmektedir. İstihdam, zenginliğin yaratılmasında ve onun adil bir
biçimde dağıtılmasında kilit öneme sahip bir araçtır. Bu nedenle tam istihdamın
sağlanması ve işsizlikle mücadele etme amaçlı politikaların geliştirmesi
devletin öncelikli hedefleri arasında yer almaktadır. İşsizlikle mücadelede
noktasında uygulanan iktisadi politikaları para, maliye ve gelirler politikasından
oluşan makroekonomik politikalar ve aktif ve pasif istihdam politikalarının
oluşturduğu mikro ekonomik politikalar olarak değerlendirmek mümkündür. Türkiye’de
son yıllarda istihdamı artırmak ve işsizliği azaltmak amacıyla çeşitli ücret ve
istihdam teşviklerinin yer aldığı istihdam paketleri uygulanmıştır. Özellikle
ekonominin daralma ve gerileme dönemlerinde işgücü talebindeki yetersizliğe
karşı uygulanan teşviklerle işgücü maliyetleri azaltılarak istihdamın arttırılması
amaçlanmaktadır. Teşvikler, ücretlerden alınan vergilerin azaltılması veya
ücret dışı maliyetlerin düşürülmesi şeklinde uygulanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada işgücü
arz ve talebini arttırmaya yönelik teşviklere odaklanılarak, Türkiye’de
özellikle son on yıldır istihdamın artırılması amacıyla hayata geçirilen ve
günümüzde uygulamada olan teşviklerin genel bir değerlendirilmesi yapılmıştır.
AN ANALYSIS OF PROSPECTIVE PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT CULTURAL VARIABLES
Authors: Şekerci Hanifi , Doğan M. Cihangir
Published: June 2020

This study aims
to analyze prospective primary school teachers’ levels of intercultural
sensitivity in Turkey according to the variables of national cultural
differences and experiencing the differences at national level socially.
Causal-comparative research model and Simple random sampling method were used
in the study. 387 undergraduate students attending the primary School Teaching
Departments of Ziya Gökalp Faculty of Education of Dicle University and Atatürk
Educational Faculty of Marmara University were included in this research. The
data was collected by the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS). Descriptive
statistics were used in the analysis of the data independent sample t-test and
one-way ANOVA. As a result, it was found that prospective primary school
teachers are at satisfactory levels in terms of intercultural sensitivity.
Additionally, intercultural sensitivity levels of prospective primary school
teachers using two or more languages in communication with their family members
or relatives were significantly higher than those using one language.
SEÇMELİ ZEKÂ OYUNLARI DERSİ ÖĞRETİM PROGRAMININ ÖĞRETMENLER TARAFINDAN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ (Bir Durum Çalışması)
Authors: Sargın Musa , Taşdemir Mehmet
Published: June 2020

Kavramlar ve algıları kullanarak soyut ya da somut nesneler arasındaki ilişkiyi kavrayabilme, soyut düşünme, akıl yürütme ve bu zihinsel işlemleri bir amaca yönelik olarak kullanabilme yetenekleri zekâ olarak adlandırılmaktadır.Zekâ oyunları dersinde öğrencilerin zekâ potansiyellerini tanıması ve geliştirmesi, problemler karşısında farklı ve özgün stratejiler geliştirmesi, hızlı ve doğru karar vermesi, sistematik bir düşünce yapısı geliştirmesi, zekâ oyunları kapsamında bireysel, takım halinde ve rekabet ortamında çalışma becerileri geliştirmesi ve problem çözmeye yönelik olumlu bir tutum geliştirmesi amaçlanmaktadır.Bu araştırma ile 2012 yılında formal okul hayatımıza giren ve de eğitim fakültelerinde lisans eğitimi bulunmayan seçmeli zeka Oyunları dersi öğretim program hakkında öğretmen görüşlerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu çalışma, seçmeli zeka oyunları dersi öğretim programı hakkında görüşlerini belirlemeye yönelik nitel araştırma türünde bir durum çalışmasıdır. Bu araştırma Kırşehir ve Niğde illeri okullarında 8 öğretmen ile yürütülmüştür.Öğretmenlerimiz zeka oyunları dersi öğretim programının sınıf seviyelerine uygun olamadığını, aldıkları zekâ oyunları eğitiminin zeka oyunları dersi öğretim programının kısmen uygun olduğunu, zekâ oyunları dersi öğretim programında yer alan kazanımların uygunluğu hakkında ikiye bölünmüştür. Zekâ oyunları dersi öğretim programının öğrenci ihtiyaçlarını karşılama konusunda fikri olarak ikiye bölünmüşlerdir. Öğretmenlerimiz zekâ oyunları dersi öğretimi programı hakkında okul öncesi eğitime ve ilkokul programına zeka oyunları dersi ve programının eklenmesi gerektiğini düşünmektedirler.
Moral Foundations and Intention to Vote on Presidential Elections in Russia
Authors: Sychev O.A. , Protasova I.N. , Vlasov M.S.
Published: June 2020

Objectives. The aim was to study the relationship between moral foundations and intention of voting on the presidential elections in Russia.
Background. Voting in political elections is important for consensus of society but a large proportion of voters don’t vote that may depend on psychological characteristics among other factors. There is a growing interest in the world in the moral factors of political preferences and voter turnout due to the elaboration of moral foundations theory. However, the relation between moral sphere and intention to vote as well as possible mediators of this relation remains understudied.
Study design. The correlational design with subsequent structural equation modeling was used. The survey was conducted in 2018, 2—6 weeks before the Russian presidential elections.
Participants. 126 university students at the age from 18 to 50 years old (80% are women).
Measurements. To test these hypotheses we used the Moral foundations questionnaire (by J. Graham et al.), the questionnaire of political engagement elaborated for this research and the questionnaire about intention to vote and some socio-demographic variables.
Results. The structural equation modeling showed that binding moral foundations were associated with interest to politics which in turn predicted the intention to vote. We also confirmed the known from the previous researches trend to less intention of voting in youth. Using path analysis we found out that less intention of voting in younger voters was due to their less loyalty and weak interest to politics.
Conclusions. The intention of voting on the presidential elections depends on the political engagement related with the binding moral foundations.
The Role of Individual Values, Authoritarian Attitudes and Social Identity in the General Discriminatory Orientation of the Personal in Russia
Authors: Shamionov R.M.
Published: June 2020

Objective. Study of the role of individual values, authoritarian attitudes and social identity in the expression of discriminatory orientation of the personal in Russia.
Background. Discriminatory attitudes not only hinder social development, but also negatively affect interpersonal and intergroup relationships, creating social and humanitarian problems. Therefore, finding out and explaining the reasons for the formation of a discriminatory attitude and determining how to eliminate them are the most important tasks of modern social psychology.
Study design. The paper studied the relationship between the degree of dislike for representatives of various discriminated groups and the areas of discrimination by calculating the Pearson correlation. Predictors of discriminatory attitudes are established using regression analysis (step-by-step method). Structural modeling of the determinants of discriminatory attitudes of the individual by area (sphere) of discrimination and subject (discriminated group) using the SEM method is carried out.
Participants. The study involved 217 people (the average age is 28.9±11.2 years, 36% of men).
Measurements. We used the developed questionnaire and scales of discriminatory attitudes, the method of assessing values of Sh. Schwartz, a short version of the scales of the method of J. Dukkit. All scales are checked for meaningful validity and reliability.
Results. It was found that the discriminatory attitude is most pronounced in the sphere of sports, education and career. Biases and rejection of representatives of different groups in various spheres of life are associated with the high significance of the values of personal and social security, power — resources, traditions (positive); values of interpersonal conformity and independence — thoughts (negative) and reputation as a desire to maintain a public image (ambivalent in different areas). The directions of relations between values, authoritarian attitudes, social identity and discriminatory attitudes are established.
Сonclusions. It is shown that civil identity is a factor of institutional discrimination rather than domestic one. Adherence to an ethnic group affects the strength of a domestic discriminatory attitude directly, and institutional attitudes indirectly, through civic identity. As a result of structural equation modeling, a suitable model has been determined that explains up to 24% of variations in the outgroup discriminatory attitude and up to 25% of variations in the manifestation of biases in various spheres of life.
The Influence of the Holistic Appearance Design on the Perceived Age of Women
Authors: Vorontsova T.A.
Published: June 2020

Objectives. To study the influence of the holistic design of appearance on the perceived age of women.
Background. The perceived age is interpreted as the age of a person attributed to him by the perceiving subject based on the perception of his appearance. There are a number of studies that study the influence of individual elements of appearance design on perceived age, while the contribution of its holistic design to perceived age has not been studied. The work is based on a socio-psychological approach to the appearance of V.A. Labunskaya.
Study design. Photo images of women (“models”) before and after the holistic appearance design were presented to the subjects of perception to assess their age. The obtained data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test, Wilcoxon T-test, and linear regression analysis.
Participants. The “models” were 72 women (22—89 years old); the “appraisers” were 35 women and 16 men (18—79 years old).
Measurements. The procedure of “Photo-visual presentation of appearance” by T.A. Vorontsova; the questionnaire “Your ideas about your own age” by T.A. Vorontsova; the questionnaire “Attitude to your appearance: satisfaction and concern” by V.A. Labunskaya, E.V. Kapitanova.
Results. 1) The holistic design of the external appearance influenced perceived age of 78% of women-respondents; 2) in 53% of them perceived age was decreased and in 25% it was increased; 3) the perceived age of women is influenced by their age and height as well as the personal characteristics of “evaluators”; 4) “edge” age of women, changing “the effect of rejuvenation” from aging to anti-aging is 36 years.
Conclusions. The holistic design of women’s appearance affects their perceived age. The main trend of this influence is rejuvenation. The “rejuvenation effect” of a woman as a result of a holistic design of her appearance depends on her age.
Experimental evaluation and modeling of the compressive strength of concretes with various strength classes of cements
Authors: MERMERDAŞ Kasım , İPEK Süleyman , BOZGEYİK Muhammet Burak
Published: June 2020

This study aimed to
propose a prediction model for estimation of strength of concretes with various
cements and mixture proportions. The strength of the samples produced with
three different types of cement at different rates of water-to-cement ratios
and cement richness were investigated experimentally and evaluated statistically.
Three type of cement possessing 28-day strengths of 32.5, 42.5, and 52.5 MPa
was used in the production of concretes. The concretes were produced at cement richness
values of 300, 400, and 500 kg/m3 and w/c rates at changing levels within
the interval of between 0.3 and 0.6. By this way, combined influences of cement
strength, amount of cement and w/c ratio was experimentally investigated. Totally
36 mixes were cast then the compressive strength values were examined after specified
moist curing periods (7 and 28 day). A statistical study were conducted on the
experimental results and the significances of the cement strength, w/c values
and amount of cement on the compressive strength of the concretes were assessed.
Another crucial focus of the current paper is to generate an explicit
expression to predict the compressive strength of the concretes tackled with
the current study. To derive an explicit formula for estimation, a soft
computing method called gene expression programming (GEP) was benefited. The
GEP model was also compared with a less complicated estimation model developed
by multi linear regression method. The results revealed that compressive
strength of the samples were significantly influenced by cement type and
aggregate-to-cement ratio. The proposed GEP model indicated a high correlation
between experimental and predicted values.
An efficient method for the plane vibration analysis of composite sandwich beam with an orthotropic core
Authors: YILDIRIM Sefa
Published: June 2020

The free vibration characteristics of composite sandwich beam is examined using an efficient numerical solution scheme. The simply supported beam is assumed to be composed of two isotropic face sheets and an orthotropic core. The plane elasticity formulations are used to derive the equations of motion and the reduced governing differential equation is solved by Complementary Functions Method. The dimensionless analysis of natural frequencies is done to acquire the high precision along with few divisions. The influences of material and geometric parameters on the natural frequency are also illustrated. The solutions are validated with the results obtained from finite element software and it is shown that presented method is an efficient solution technique for the vibration problems of composite beams with a core.
Modelling studies on the investigation of non-linear optical properties of some ExnBox cyclophanes
Authors: SAYIN Koray , REZAEIVALA Majid
Published: June 2020

Modelling studies on some ExnBox Cyclophanes were performed at HF/6-31G(d) level. Structural properties are examined in detail. Density of state (DOS) spectrum and molecular orbital energy diagram of related compounds at ground state were calculated and contour plots of significant molecular orbitals were investigated in detail. Some quantum chemical descriptors were calculated in the gas phase to examine the non-linear optical properties. Finally, UV-VIS spectrum of the mentioned compounds was calculated and examined in gas phase, toluene, chloroform, ethanol, methanol, 1,2-ethanediol, water and n-methylformamide-mixture. As a result, EX2.2Box4+ was found as the best candidate to NLO applications.
Ferroelectricity of Ca9Fe(PO4)7 and Ca9Mn(PO4)7 ceramics with polar whitlockite-type crystal structure
Authors: ADEM Umut
Published: June 2020

Ca9Fe(PO4)7 is a member of the double phosphate family having polar whitlockite-type crystal structure. The phase transition from the room temperature polar R3c to the high temperature non-polar R c phase has been called a ferroelectric phase transition using complementary experiments such as temperature dependent second harmonic generation and dielectric constant measurements however no ferroelectric hysteresis measurement has been reported. In order to be able to call these polar materials ferroelectric, measurement of a saturated ferroelectric hysteresis loop is necessary to demonstrate that the electrical polarization of these materials is switchable. In order to realize this goal, we have synthesized Ca9Fe(PO4)7 as well as structurally identical Ca9Mn(PO4)7 using solid state synthesis. Crystal structure of the ceramics were confirmed using Rietveld refinement of the x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements revealed phase transition temperatures of 848 and 860 K for Ca9Fe(PO4)7 and Ca9Mn(PO4)7, respectively. Our ferroelectric hysteresis measurements and current electric field loops (I-E) derived from the hysteresis loops showed that the loops cannot be saturated and the direction of the electrical polarization of both materials cannot be switched up to the largest applied electric field of 100 kV/cm. Possible origins of this behaviour are discussed.
Integrirana zaštita pšenice u suzbijanju fitopatogene gljive Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Matić Magdalena , Baličević Renata , Novoselović Dario , Ćosić Jasenka , Vrandečić Karolina
Published: June 2020

Fuzarijska palež klasova (FHB) pšenice ekonomski je značajna bolest koja može imati nepovoljne posljedice na prinos i kvalitetu pšenice. Do danas ne postoji mjera zaštite koja osigurava potpunu zaštitu usjeva pšenice, ali kombinacija više mjera može dati dobre rezultate. Učinkovitost svake pojedine mjere pod utjecajem je okolišnih uvjeta koji prevladavaju tijekom vegetacijske sezone, a učinkovitost će ovisiti i o osjetljivosti pojedine sorte na FHB. Sve veći broj istraživanja potvrđuje kako je integrirana zaštita bilja (IZB) ključ za što uspješniju borbu protiv FHB-a. Kako bi primijenjene mjere zaštite bile što uspješnije, od iznimne je važnosti dobro poznavati uzročnika bolesti, njegov životni ciklus i ekologiju. Budući da je F. graminearum dominantni uzročnik FHB-a na području Republike Hrvatske, osobiti naglasak je stavljen na sve dostupne mjere zaštite u njegovu suzbijanju.
Faktori koji utječu na efikasnost genomskih predviđanja u testrižancima biparentalne populacije
Authors: Galić Vlatko , Mazur Maja , Šimić Domagoj , Zdunić Zvonimir , Jambrović Antun , Volenik Mirna , Brkić Andrija
Published: June 2020

Genomic prediction accuracy (r_MP) is affected by many factors, such as the trait heritability, training population size and structure, and the number of markers. This study’s objective was to investigate the factors associated with r_MP for the ear height and the plant height in two planting densities in testcrosses of maize (Zea mays L.) IBM population. Genetic correlations between the training and validation populations were calculated. The high heritability estimates and correlations between the traits were observed. The non-zero estimates of r_MP for all trait-density combinations implied an efficiency of genomic selection. The lower than expected values of genetic correlations were observed between the training and validation populations. However, a strong correlation was observed between a genetic correlation of training and the validation population and r_MP in all three sizes of training populations assessed (20-40%, 40-60%, and 60-80%), suggesting that the size of the training population can be kept low by an appropriate selection while maintaining a high r_MP. Further studies of relationships between the training and validation populations with larger effective population sizes are suggested, as reducing the size of training population while maintaining a high r_MP can facilitate a more effective allocation of resources in a maize breeding program.
Nutritivna iskoristivost staroga crnog kruha u hranidbi pilića
Authors: Krička Tatjana , Bilandžija Nikola , Janječić Zlatko , Grubor Mateja , Bedeković Dalibor , Matin Ana , Voća Neven
Published: June 2020

The most important aspect of broiler production is feeding, whose costs represent about 70% of total costs. Thus, the growth of poultry production has been based on a strong consumer demand for products that are cheap, safe, and healthy. That kind of product is old bread, whose return from the store represent a problem for its remediation. For the use of the old bread as a feed, the European Union has promulgated a series of regulations and directives, which order a ban on its utilization without prior treatment. The most common treatments are pelleting and extrusion. In poultry, the upper limit for the use of the old bread in feedstuff is often prescribed and amounts to 15%. The aim of this paper was to determine a possibility to use 5 and 10% old brown pelleted bread in feed mixtures for broilers fattening. The study has shown that the addition of old bread significantly improves broiler production indicators. The best results and a more favorable ratio of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids in the chicken muscles were obtained in the group fed with a 10‐percent share of old brown bread (p<0.05). Such a processed old bread can be used as a new ingredient in animal feed production as a partial replacement for maize component.
Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of pathogens in children with urinary tract infection in a tertiary care hospital
Authors: N. Madhu G. , C. A. Anjum Aara , Mahamud Shajna
Published: June 2020

Background: The changing pattern of antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial pathogens causing acute UTI is a growing problem. Hence, the knowledge of the local pattern of urinary pathogens and their susceptibility to various antimicrobials is of atmost importance for selection of the appropriate empiric therapy for children with acute UTI.Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 208 children of 1-18 years age group with suspected UTI infection who were admitted in KIMS hospital, Bangalore from January to December 2018. The data of all samples were collected from medical record.Results: Overall 208 children between 1-18 years with suspected UTI were screened. Out of which 48 were culture positive, with a prevalence of 23%. Culture positive UTI was predominantly found in males in 1-5 years age group as against female predominance in 6-18 years age group. E. coli (45.83%) was the commonest organism isolated in our study, followed by Enterococcus (31.25%), Klebsiella (16.67%), Proteus (4.17%) and Acinetobacter (4.17%).  Antibiotics with highest sensitivity to E-coli are Amikacin (91%) and Gentamicin (77%). Klebsiella is most sensitive to Gentamicin (87.5%) and piperacillin (75%). Enterococcus has highest sensitivity to Vancomycin (67%) and Linezolid (60%).Conclusions: It requires regular monitoring to determine the current status of resistance against antimicrobial agents.  The use of antimicrobials must be restricted in order to decline the resistance and we suggest that empirical antibiotic selection should be based on the knowledge of local pattern of bacterial organisms and their susceptibility to various antimicrobials rather than on universal guidelines.
Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in neonatal population
Authors: Kaur Gunjanpreet , Arora Sunita , Singh Kamalpreet , Singh Mandeep , Kaur Arshpreet
Published: June 2020

Background: The objectives of this study was to study the prevalence of thyroid disorders in high risk neonatal populations and to study association of maternal thyroid dysfunction with neonatal thyroid problems and outcome.Methods: This was an observational study, conducted in NICU at Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar. The study included neonates born to mothers with thyroid disorder or with clinical features suggestive of thyroid dysfunction. Neonates with history of maternal thyroid dysfunction were screened at 72 to 96 hrs of postnatal age. Those with TSH >10 mIU/L or free T4 <1.1 ng /ml were followed up after two weeks. The neonates with clinical features suggestive of thyroid dysfunction were screened at presentation and those with abnormal thyroid profile were followed up after two weeks. Results obtained were statistically analyzed using SPSS 17.0 software.Results: Out of 260 neonates screened, 208 neonates were born to mothers with hypothyroidism, 6 neonates had increased levels of TSH during first week which normalised on follow up during third week. One neonate born to hyperthyroid mother, showed increased TSH levels during first week and 2nd week which declined to normal level on follow up at 3rd week. Out of 51 neonates with clinical features suggestive of thyroid dysfunction, born to euthyroid mothers, 3 neonates had increased levels of TSH on presentation which normalised on further follow up. Thus, majority of high risk neonates at birth show transient hypothyroidism.Conclusions: None of the neonate was labelled as hypothyroid, all the 10 neonates showed transient hyperthyrotropinemia.
Renal manifestations of sickle cell disease in children
Authors: Kamble Milind B. , Totewad Vidhya S.
Published: June 2020

Background: Sickle cell disease prevalence is more in central part of India. This study tries to find extent of renal involvement, risk factors and screening tests in sickle cell disease.Methods: Study was Cross sectional observational study. Demographic and clinical findings were recorded. Renal function tests like serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, eGFR were studied. Presence of microalbuminuria was checkeed. Ultrasonography abdomen was done to see the texture and corticomedullary differentiation of kidney.Results: Total 143 patients were studied. Out of which, 117 homozygous (SS type), 26 heterozygous (AS type). Majority belonged to school going age group (i.e. 5 to 10 year age group) with male preponderance in homozygous state. Microalbuminuria was more common in crisis state (61.84% in SS pattern and 83.33% in AS pattern) as compared to steady state in both SS and AS pattern patients. Dipstic method detected more proteinuria than heat coagulation suggesting dipstick method superior to heat coagulation test. Low eGFR was common in patients with SS pattern as compared to patients with AS pattern and was significantly associated with microalbuminuria in both steady state and crisis state. Abnormal USG was seen 3.44% in patients with SS pattern. Renal involvement started below 5 years of age and then increases with age, homozygous childrens in crisis state are affected more.Conclusions: Renal involvement is common in sickle cell anemia i.e it is seen in 50% of the patients. Increasing age, male sex and homozygous state were risk factors. Simple test like dipstic method and heat coagulation test can be used as screening test to detect microalbumiburia, with dipstic method being superior. Presence of microalbuminuria can detect early renal involvement in sickle cell disease. This will help in early diagnosis and management of such patients which avoids further renal complications and thus prevents mortality and morbidity.
A comparative study in the outcome between the two fixed doses of polyvalent anti snake venom, 10 vials versus 20 vials, with mechanical ventilation in children with severe neurotoxic snake envenomation
Authors: V. Shekar , Soren Chapay , Reddy K. Venkataramana , V. V. Lakshmi Aparnadevi , Kumar Sai
Published: June 2020

Background: Every year about 50,000, people die of snake bites in India. Anti-snake venom and mechanical ventilation is mainstay of treatment in cases with severe neurotoxic envenomation. ASV is costly and scarce resource. There is lack of universal consensus towards the optimal dose of ASV in management protocol for children with severe neurotoxic snake envenomation. Objective was to compare the difference in outcome between two fixed doses of ASV, 10vials versus 20 vials, in children with severe neurotoxic snake envenomationMethods: This comparative observational study was carried out for a period of 3 years in Department of Pediatrics of SVS Medical College, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India. Children with history of snake bite and clinical evidence of neuroparalysis were included. In addition to the mechanical ventilation and other supportive measures, every alternate patient was administered with 10vials (low dose) and 20 vials (high dose) of ASV over 1 hour. Outcome was compared between the two groups.Results: Of the 62 patients, 32 were in each group. The median time to extubation was 41 hours and 39.5 hours and mean duration of the hospital stay was 4.6 days and 4.5 days among the low dose and high dose groups, respectively. There were three deaths, one from low dose group and two from high dose group.Conclusions: There was no significant difference in outcome between the 10 vials vs 20 vials of ASV in addition to mechanical ventilation in treatment of children with severe neurotoxic snake envenomation. So, 10 vials of ASV can be utilized to reduce the cost of treatment.
Diagnosis of malaria by the optimal method in children with routine microscopy and its comparison
Authors: Saheb Shaik Ateal
Published: June 2020

Background: The term malaria (meaning bad air of the marsh and swampland) first originated in the 17th century. Malaria is one of the most serious medical conditions, Malaria causes symptoms which usually include fever, fatigue, vomiting, and headaches. It may cause yellow skin, seizures, coma, or death in extreme cases. The population of tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Bihar, Orissa, Northeastern states are contributing 50% of cases of Plasmodium falciparum.Methods: All the clinically suspected cases of Malaria, ‘The optiMAL’ test was done at the bedside and simultaneously thick and thin smears are prepared and sent for microscopic examination. Study was carried out at Narayana Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. The total number of patients in our study was 150. 1-14 years of age were included in the present study after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results: The ‘OptiMAL’test method had excellent sensitivity and specificity (100%) for detecting plasmodium vivax, very good sensitivity, and specificity (98.57%, 100%) for detecting plasmodium falciparum. The optimal test had a positive predictive value of 100%, the negative predictive value of 98.61% with p-value <0.001.Conclusions: Our study has shown that the 'OptiMAL' test is an easy and successful diagnostic test that can be performed at the bedside for malaria diagnosis. This is very similar to traditional microscopy and do not need highly qualified workers to conduct experiments or interpret.
Risk factors responsible for lower respiratory tract infections in children aged under five: a hospital based study
Authors: Seth Samrita , Ganguly Sristi , Satpathy Saroj K.
Published: June 2020

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) contribute significantly in terms of hospital admission and mortality. Along with attempts to improve treatment modalities, it is imperative to identify risk factors that will aid in prevention of these infections.Methods: This was a case-control study done in tertiary care hospital, Cuttack, enrolling inpatients between 2 months to 5 years with symptoms suggestive of LRTI as cases. Those with tuberculosis, aspiration pneumonia, asthma and nosocomial infections were excluded. After obtaining consent, questionnaire was administered to parents, regarding their socio-demographic and other relevant details. Data analysis was done using statistical software Epi Info™, version 6 and association of each variable with LRTI assessed with chi-square test.Results: A total of 314 children were enrolled in the study, with 158 being cases. The case-fatality rate was 23% and 53.8% suffered from complications, the most common being respiratory failure. A significant association was seen between LRTI and social variables namely maternal literacy(p-value<0.005), socioeconomic status (p-value<0.001) and number of children (p-value<0.001), housing pattern (p-value<0.001), fuel used at home (p-value=0.003), ventilation adequacy (p-value=0.004), presence of separate kitchen at home (p-value=0.0009) and presence of overcrowding (p-value<0.001) and individual factors improper breastfeeding(p-value<0.005) and weaning(p-value=0.03), malnutrition (p-value<0.001), vitamin A deficiency(p-value=0.03) and history of respiratory infection in mother (p-value=0.025) or siblings(p-value=0.048).Conclusions: The burden of lower respiratory tract infections can be substantially reduced by prevention using the identification of risk factors such as housing patterns, education of parents and improved nutrition of the children, and measures to combat the same, at each level.
Vitamin D deficiency among hospitalized infants with acute lower respiratory tract infection
Authors: Pratima Kumari , Ambedkar Shivlok Narayan , Mohapatra Jagannath
Published: June 2020

Background: Vitamin D plays important role in immunity and its deficiency might be associated with increased risk of lower respiratory tract infection. This study aimed to determine whether vitamin D deficiency is commoner in infants with acute lower respiratory tract infection as compared to normal infants and to correlate the severity of vitamin D deficiency with severity of ALRTI.Methods: A hospital based prospective case-control study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. A total of 208 infants (109 cases and 99 controls) older than 7 days to 12 months of age, were enrolled. Cases were selected according to the definition of ALRTI given by WHO (2). Controls were chosen from children attending paediatric outpatients department for immunization or minor short duration aliments. Primary outcome measured as serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25OHD3) levels and severity of ALRTI was independent variable.Results: Among 109 cases suffering from ALRTI, vitamin D deficiency was present in 65.11%, 92.3%, 88.9% children of ‘pneumonia, severe pneumonia and very severe pneumonia group respectively. It was found that vitamin D deficiency was commoner in cases as compared to controls (80.70 % vs 25.50% ) with OR of 12.40 (95 % CI was 6.13 - 25.38). There was inverse relationship between the severity of ALRTI and Vitamin D levels (p value <0.001 and Pearson correlation coefficient -0.32).Conclusions: Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in ALRI cases as compared to controls and had negative correlation between vitamin D levels and severity of pneumonia.
Vitamin D level as a predictor of pneumonia and asthma in children less than 5 years of age
Authors: Sharma Neha , Sethi Anuj Shamsher , Sethi R. S.
Published: June 2020

Background: Childhood pneumonia is a global health problem .It the leading cause of death for children under the age of five years. 95% of all pneumonia cases under the age of five occurs in developing countries. Asthma remains the most common chronic disease of childhood in the world. The observation that vitamin D deficiency and asthma share risk factors such as urban residence, obesity and African American ethnicity has generated interest in exploring a link between these two conditions. This study was taken up to assess the role of vitamin D as a predictor of pneumonia and asthma in children less than 5 years of age.Methods: A prospective observational case control study was conducted in MLB Medical college, Jhansi from January 2015 to December 2016 (1 year 11 months). A total of 60 children including 30 asthma cases, 20 pneumonia cases and 10 controls, aged, 6-60 months were enrolled. Controls were healthy children attending outpatient services for immunization.Results: The mean age of the pneumonia patient was 1.5 years, while mean age in asthma patients was 3.1yrs. Ratio of male and female in pneumonia cases was1.5:1, while is asthma ratio was 2:1. In our study 45% pneumonia cases had deficient level of vitamin D (<20ng/ml) and mean level was 11.08±4.68 while 40% of control had deficient level of vitamin D and mean level was 16.04±1.61, p value was 0.0166 and there was significant difference in both the groups. In Asthma cases 53.33% patient had deficient level of vitamin-D and mean level was 10.62±2.908 as compared to 40% control (mean : 16.04±1.62) ‘p’ value was <0.0001 and was highly significant.Conclusions: Our study has illustrated that vitamin-D levels were significantly low in pneumonia and asthma patients as compared to control.
Incidence of pediatric long bone fractures at the university college hospital Ibadan
Authors: Ogunrewo Tolulope O. , Oyewole Olugboyega A. , Omoyeni Richard A. , Balogun Mosimabale J. , Okunola Michael O.
Published: June 2020

Background: Individuals within the paediatric age group sustain different types of fractures, as such the need to determine the incidence and pattern of long bone fractures among patients 16 years and below admitted through the different wards of admittance of the university college hospital Ibadan.

Methods: This was a retrospective hospital-based study involving patients 16 years and below admitted through the accident and emergency department, the children emergency department, the neonatal ward and labour ward of the hospital between January 2013 and December 2018 at the university college hospital Ibadan. Using a proformal completed from the electronically stored data that captured the patient’s history, examination findings, X-ray film and treatment offered which was collected on a weekly basis.

Results: 25.13% of the patients reviewed within the study period were paediatric patients. A total of 337 paediatric patients were reviewed. There were 124 female and 213 males with ratio (F:M-1:1.7). The fractures were mostly secondary to fall and road traffic crash accounting for 68.54% and 23.15% respectively. 65.12% of the fractures involve the bone of the upper limbs while 34.98% occur in the bones of the lower limbs. The radius and the ulnar bones are the most affected. Transverse fracture is the most common pattern observed.

Conclusions: More than 20% of the reviewed population was in the paediatric age group and the radius and ulnar bones were the most commonly fractured bone in this age group. They usually follow trivial falls.