bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
6.1. ИНВЕСТИЦИОННАЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТЬ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЯ КАК ОБЪЕКТ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО АНАЛИЗА
Authors: Astanakulov O.T. , Astanakulov O.T. , Astanakulov O.T.
Published: April 2020

В статье рассматривается роль и значение инвестиционной деятельности предприятия в качестве объекта экономического анализа и фактора роста национальных экономических систем. Исследованы теоретические обоснования факторов анализа инвестиционной деятельности предприятий в современных условиях, проанализированы тенденции развития законодательной базы инвестиций и инвестиционной деятельности в Республике Узбекистан. Сформулировано новое научное понятие инвестиционный контроль , которое позволяет совместить целевой характер инвестиционной деятельности предприятия и элементы мониторинга его финансово-хозяйственной деятельности и достижения плановых показателей, а также наличия их отклонения от фактических.

The article considers the role and significance of the investment activity of an enterprise as an object of economic analysis and a growth factor for national economic systems. The theoretical justifications of the factors of analysis of investment activity of enterprises in modern conditions are studied, the development trends of the legislative framework of investments and investment activity in the Republic of Uzbekistan are analyzed. A new scientific concept investment control is formulated, which allows you to combine the target nature of the investment activity of the enterprise and the elements of monitoring its financial and economic activities and the achievement of planned indicators, as well as the presence of their deviation from the actual.
Influence of feeding systems on Chemical Contents and Sensory Quality of Longissimus thoracis Lamb Muscle cooked in boil and grill
Authors: Berrighi Nabila , Bouderoua Kaddour , Belkacemi Louiza , Ros Gaspar , Nieto Gema
Published: April 2020

Nutritive and sensory characteristics of the lamb meat depend not only on breeding conditions and systems but also on cooking procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two cooking methods on the nutri-tional and sensory quality of L. thoracis meat from lambs reared in two Alge-rian systems. The lambs grazed either in a highland pasture with a hay sup-plementation, or in a steppe pasture with concentrate supplemention. After three months of grazing, all the lambs from both rearing systems were slaughtered, and eviscerated in a local commercial slaughterhouse. The dis-sected muscles were trimmed, minced in a meat grinder and analysed. Grill-ing and broth cooking were respectively performed at 250°C and 100°C for 30 min. The obtained results indicated that cooking methods had a signifi-cant effect (p <0.05) on all the analyzed parameters. It appeared that fat, water loss and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values of the samples increased with cooking procedure. Overall, cooking increased total saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents of the intramuscular lipid (p<0.05) while reducing the n-6/n-3 ratio (p<0.001). The results reported on the color analysis indicated significant difference for the red index (p<0.05) which was more predominant in the Steppe fed lamb muscle than in the highland one (14.05 vs. 8.01, respectively). Changes in a* values appeared to be affected by lipid oxidation and are strongly correlated with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values. Finally, although cooking results in an increase in the lipid oxidation of meat, its nutritional and dietary value is not impaired. It seems that the Algerian rearing systems is an interesting for outdoor sheep breeding and allow to obtain a meat preserving a healthy nutritional quality after cooking.
Analysis and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Parietal Hemicellu-loses of Retama Raetam Roots
Authors: KEBIR Zohra , KAID-HARCHE Meriem , MOUSSAOUI Abdellah
Published: April 2020

Retama raetam is a halophyte shrub belonging to the Fabaceae. This medici-nal species develops a particularly important root system and is adapted to arid areas. This adaptation has accompanied by the appearance of new bio-logical functions and specific metabolites. The present work aimed to evalu-ate the antimicrobial effect of hemicelluloses (HCs). The study consisted of extracting, purifying the parietal HCs of R. raetam roots and characterizing them by thin layer chromatography (CCM), as well as by colorimetric deter-mination of total sugars. The uronic acid content of the HCs was also deter-mined. These estimations revealed that HCs were neutral PLs (arabinoxylans). The activity of this polysaccharide (PLs) was investigated against seven bacterial strains and one yeast using disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was also calculated. HCs of brut residu (HBR) showed a very important inhibitory effect against six bacterial strains tested with maximal inhibition zone of (19±1)mm for Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923) in 100 mg/ml concen-tration, but no activity against Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC4352) and Candida albicans. In opposite, the highest inhibition zone of (16±1) mm was noticed against E.coli, in HCs of delignified residue (HDR). The MIC of HCs ranged from 8.33 to 20 mg/ml. The activity was found to be in an increasing order from the lower to higher concentration. This is a first report on antimicrobial activity of HBR and HDR from R. raetam roots.
Assessment of Critical Convection and Associated Rotation States in Models of Sun-like Stars Including a Stable Layer
Authors: Takehiro Shin-ichi , Brun Allan Sacha , Yamada Michio
Published: April 2020

Recent numerical simulations of rotating stellar convection have suggested the possible existence of retrograde (slow equator, fast poles) or so-called antisolar differential rotation states in slowly rotating stars possessing a large Rossby number. We aim to understand whether such rotational states exist from the onset of convective instability or are the outcome of complex nonlinear interactions in the turbulent convective envelope. To this end, we have made a systematic linear analysis of the critical state of convection in a series of 15 numerical simulations published in Brun et al. We have assessed their degree of supercriticality and most-unstable mode properties, and computed the second-order mean zonal flow response. We find that none of the linear critical cases show a retrograde state at the onset of convection even when their nonlinear counterparts do. We also find that the presence of a stably stratified layer coupled to the convectively unstable upper layer leads to interesting gravity-wave excitation and angular momentum transport. We conclude that retrograde states of differential rotation are probably the outcome of complex mode–mode interactions in the turbulent convection layer and are, as a consequence, likely to exist in real stars.
De l’architexte au computexte Poétiques du texte numérique, face à l’évolution des dispositifs
Authors: Saemmer Alexandra
Published: April 2020

Les « architextes » encodés dans les logiciels et plateformes industriels ont engagé une mainmise sur la forme du texte. À l’heure actuelle, les grandes entreprises interviennent de plus en plus dans l’écriture des contenus textuels – nouvelle mainmise qui se matérialise dans les processus d’auto-complétion et d’écriture prédictive du « computexte ». Certaines tactiques élaborées par la littérature numérique d’avant-garde ont anticipé cette mainmise sous une forme dystopique : elles ont culminé dans des textes que seules les machines peuvent lire. Des expérimentations récentes sur les réseaux sociaux inversent les paradigmes des avant-gardes historiques. Émergent des crypto-langages qui déjouent de l’intérieur les processus d’exploitation de la langue par la machine tout en rétablissant la communication avec le sujet humain.
S’approprier Twitter en artiste : une pratique littéraire en question
Authors: Deneuville Allan
Published: April 2020

À travers l’étude de deux œuvres littéraires s’appropriant des tweets, I wish I could be exactly what you are looking for de Jean-Baptiste Michel et Working on my Novel de Cory Arcangel, le présent article questionne les enjeux des pratiques appropriationistes en art et en littérature à l’ère du numérique. Les œuvres sont également vues comme des portes d’entrée pour questionner les rapports de pouvoir présents dans la structuration de l’expression des utilisateurs des réseaux sociaux et que la décontextualisation des tweets nous donne la possibilité d’étudier. Elles permettent également de réfléchir sur ce que nous appelons « l’oligopole à franges attentionnel » des réseaux sociaux, structure désirant rendre compte de la distribution du capital attentionnel des internautes.
Using Modern Education Technique in Wasit University
Authors: Alaidi Abdul Hadi , Yahya Omar , Alrikabi Haider TH.Salim
Published: April 2020

This New learning educational methods, which depending on Learning Management System (LMS), have been used by universities in the top education universities in the world. However, most of the Iraqi universities use the traditional education methods in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to examine the benefit of using LMS in higher education.  This study shows how to implement and use modern educational techniques in Engineering College of Wasit University. This paper shows that using modern education tools in the class lead to increase the productivity of student, save time with less effort for instructors with high accuracy of exam results. In addition, using LMS system allows students to obtain more information in a short time. Moreover, this system gives students an opportunity to interact with the instructor and among themselves. The findings show the benefits of integrating LMS in higher education and recommend other institutions to implement it.
Multimedia Learning Modules (MLMs) Based on Local Wisdom in Physics Learning To Improve Student Diagram Representations in Realizing the Nature of Science
Authors: Warsono Warsono , Nursuhud Puji Iman , Darma Rio Sandhika , Supahar Supahar , Oktavia Danis Alif , Setiyadi Ahdika , Kurniawan Mas Aji
Published: April 2020

This research was conducted to determine the feasibility of the instrument diagram representation test and the effectiveness of Multimedia Learning Modules (MLMs) integrated local wisdom in physics learning activities. The study design used a pretest-posttest control group design. The research instrument consisted of tests and non tests. The test instrument was in the form of five items arranged according to the diagram representation indicators, namely drawing diagrams and their components and performing mathematical calculations according to the diagram explanation. Non-test instrument is a questionnaire study of test instruments. The validation of the test instrument was carried out using Aiken's V. Data analysis techniques used the General Linear Model (GLM) with a significance level of 0.05 to test the effectiveness of integrated local wisdom MLMs in improving student diagram representation. The results showed that the overall item items were declared valid with Aiken's V score in the range of 0.88 to 0.92 and the integrated local wisdom MLMs were effectively used in physics learning activities to improve student diagram representation based on Mean Difference (MD) values of -54,449.
Factors Affecting Indonesian Pre-Service Teachers’ Use of m-LMS: A Mix Method Study
Authors: Aman Aman , Prasojo Lantip Diat , Sofwan Muhammad , Mukminin Amirul , Habibi Akhmad , Yaqin Lalu Nurul
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this research is to investigate factors affecting Indonesian pre-service teachers’ (PSTs) teachers’ use of m-learning management systems (m-LMS) in higher education. The difference regarding the use of m-LMS based on some demographic information namely gender, university, year in university, and age are also reported as well as gaining an in-depth understanding of the use of m-LMS in Indonesian universities. To achieve this, two approaches, quantitative and qualitative, were applied. First, we developed and distributed a survey instrument to 210 students teachers based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). In addition, we interviewed 7 of the PSTs to obtain an in-depth understanding of the use of m-learning in their learning. Some statistical calculations were presented such as mean, standard deviation, Cronbach’s alpha, t-test, and ANOVA. Findings suggest that PSTs’ use m-LMS are related to their Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, Subjective norm and attitudes Self-efficacy and supporting condition. From these results, we recommend that teacher educators should target these factors within teacher development programs to prepare PSTs for successful use of m-LMS.
The Use of AR-Assisted Storybook to Reduce Mathematical Anxiety on Elementary School Students
Authors: Wangid Muhammad Nur , Rudyanto Hendra Erik , Gunartati Gunartati
Published: April 2020

Mathematics is essential to be mastered by students because it can help students to solve various problems in daily life. Students are anxious and afraid to take mathematics lessons. Augmented Reality (AR)-assisted storybook blends fantasy and reality and is developed to see the impact on students 'mathematics anxiety. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of AR-assisted storybooks on students' anxiety in mathematics learning. This study uses a quantitative approach with the type of research quasi-experiment and with the design of the pretest-posttest control group design. The study sample includes 348 fourth grade students in elementary school in Yogyakarta. The sampling technique used is the cluster random sampling technique. Independent t-test techniques analyzed data. The results showed that the sig value 2-tailed in the independent t-test was 0.00 (<0.05). Thus, it can be stated that AR-Assisted storybook has a positive and significant effect on students' mathematics learning anxiety.
Design and Implementation of an E-learning Platform Using N-Tier Architecture
Authors: S. Alseelawi Nawar , K. Adnan Enas , T. Hazim Hussein , Alrikabi Haider TH. Salim , Nasser Khalid Waleed
Published: April 2020

Any educational institution aimed at developing towards e-learning and creating a more interactive environment and use in all fields of governmental institutions. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) of Iraq and some of the countries in the Middle East suffer from weak use of information technology in general and weak use of e-learning in particular. Therefore, Iraqi MOHESR is in dire need of an electronic educational system that solves most of the problems experienced by most educational institutions.In this paper, we will develop a strategic plan to build an e-learning platform that provides an interactive environment between teachers and students in Iraqi universities and offers many advantages to overcome some problems in the use of traditional old education. This work is related to the use of multi-layered architecture to build the e-learning platform (Standard design of e-learning platform for IraqiMOHESR). The advantage of these layers is that each layer is created in the Asp.Net program using N-Tier architecture that has functions that are independent of the rest of the layers which are(user interface(UI), business Access Layer(BAL),Data AccessLayer(DAL), Database(DB)). A particular object will not affect the rest of the layers or the performance of these layers.

 
CALML6 Controls TAK1 Ubiquitination and Confers Protection against Acute Inflammation
Authors: Sheng Chunjie , Wang Ziyang , Yao Chen , Chen Hui-Ming , Kan Guangyan , Wang Dan , Chen Hongyuan , Chen Shuai
Published: April 2020

Proper regulation of innate immune response is important for individual health. The NF-κB signaling pathway plays crucial roles in innate immunity and inflammation, and its aberrant activation is implicated in diverse diseases and disorders. In this study, we report that calmodulin-like 6 (CALML6), a member of the EF-hand protein family, is a negative regulator of the NF-κB signaling pathway. CALML6 attenuated TNF-stimulated phosphorylation of proteins downstream of TGF-β–activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and inhibited TAK1-induced NF-κB activation. Further studies showed that CALML6 interacted with TAK1 and recruited the deubiquitylating enzyme cylindromatosis to repress the K63-linked polyubiquitination of TAK1. CALML6 transgenic mice had higher tolerances to lethal LPS treatment in vivo. These findings suggest that CALML6 is a negative regulator of the NF-κB signaling pathway, which is important for maintaining the balance of the innate immune response.
COMPETIZIONE E COOPERAZIONE NELLE STORIE VITALI DEGLI ORGANISMI MARINI
Authors: Bavestrello Giorgio
Published: April 2020

Direct and indirect biotic interactions driving community structure, can be positive, increasing the fitness of both partners, or negative, increasing the fitness of only one of the participant to the interaction. Moreover, both partners may produce an integration among them, thus giving rise to an association defined as symbiosis, with parasitism and mutualism as the two extremes of a symbiotic continuum. In the past, negative interactions have been considered more widespread within communities and responsible for most of their structures. By contrast, cooperative interactions have mainly approached with a descriptive aspect. Both parasitism and mutualism can evolve from a commensal interaction depending from the ecological context and have a different role in promoting evolution. In turn commensalism can evolve from epibiosis, a widespread phenomenon in marine benthic environment where the high spatial competition promotes the overgrowth of organisms. Therefore, epibiosis is the starting point for further evolution of different kind of interactions leading to an increasing of biodiversity.
Influence of alcohol consumption on blood coagulation in rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM): an in-vivo study
Authors: Eismann Hendrik , Sieg Lion , Ahmed Hala , Teske Joerg , Behrendt Patrick , Friedrich Lars , Schumacher Carsten , Johanning Kai
Published: April 2020

Background: Twenty-five to 85% of trauma patients are under the influence of alcohol in addition to experiencing injury-related coagulation impairment. Viscoelastic point-of-care tests (thrombelastography [TEG], rotational thromboelastometry [ROTEM]) are popular tools for rapid hemostasis assessment and therapeutic decision-making in this and other settings. While alcohol affects these tests in-vitro, their specific effects in-vivo are unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of alcohol ingestion on ROTEM parameters.Methods: Twenty volunteers provided informed consent to drinking red wine, whisk(e)y, or vodka to a target blood alcohol concentration of 1 ‰ within one hour, calculated with the Widmark formula. Blood samples were collected before drinking, at a breath alcohol concentration of 0.5 ‰, and at 1.0 ‰, but no later than one hour. After each blood collection, ExTEM and FibTEM tests were performed directly "at the bedside."Results: All participants had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.00 ‰ at the beginning. The mean BACs at the second and third collection were 0.48 and 0.76 ‰, respectively. There were no significant differences in the ExTEM parameters. FibTEM measurements showed a significant difference at the A10 value (13.0 vs. 14.0 mm, P = 0.014) and a trend at the maximum amplitude (maximum clot firmness [MCF] 13.7 vs. 16.2 mm, P = 0.075). We saw no significant differences in fibrinolysis parameters and no hyperfibrinolysis in our ROTEM measurements.Conclusions: Ethanol ingestion can impair early fibrin polymerization. These results might be of special relevance in trauma and support routine application of ROTEM/TEG in such cases.
Babbling of an Infant with a Repaired Cleft Lip: A Case Study
Authors: Brenner Carol , Levin Karen
Published: April 2020

The infant born with a cleft lip is faced with risk factors that threaten the development of speech-language skills. The earlier the age of identification and management of the developmental delay, the better the outcome. The attainment of the mature syllable is considered to be a critical measure of babbling competency. This single case study aimed to determine whether the formedness of the syllable in babbling would be affected by the cleft lip repaired prior to the onset of meaningful speech. Three samples of babbling in a naturalistic environment were video-recorded. Data was analysed following the principles of infraphonology, employing a perceptually-based method. A profile of infraphonological features was obtained. Results showed that the development of the mature syllable was attained. The results support the theories that babbling is a robust phenomenon. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Structure of Personality in Patients with Takotsubo Syndrome Versus Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Goetzmann Lutz , Olliges Elisabeth , Ruettner Barbara , Meissner Karin , Ladwig Karl-Heinz , Möller Christian , Deftu-Kloes Daniela , Pohl Stefan , Richardt Gert , Burgdorf Christoph , Steger Alexander , Ronel Joram
Published: April 2020

Context and Aims:

Psychosocial risk factors are known to result in either takotsubo syndrome (TTS) or myocardial infarction (MI). In this article, the results of a cross-sectional study are presented within the framework of “progressive somatization” by comparing the psychosocial traits of TTS and MI patients.

Design/Subjects and Methods:

136 patients were administered a battery of questionnaires comprising the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Questionnaire, and the Operationalised Psychodynamic Diagnosis Structural Questionnaire (OPD-SQ). Life events prior to the onset of cardiac disease were recorded.

Statistical Analysis:

Descriptive statistics data were expressed in absolute numbers, percent, and mean and standard deviation. To identify differences between groups, T-tests for independent samples, Chi-square-tests and Mann-Whitney-Tests were used. Pearson correlations were computed to assess the relationship between the patient samples as well as between the patient samples and norms.

Results:

Few differences were found between TTS and MI patients, with both groups reporting moderate-to-severe “emotional neglect” in their childhood (CTQ). Compared to the norm group, TTS and MI patients showed higher values of “alexithymia” (TAS-20), and MI patients reported higher “attachment avoidance”. There are more “structural limitations of the personality” in TTS and MI patients than in a psychosomatic sample (OPD-SQ).

Conclusions:

TTS as well as MI patients suffer from “adverse childhood experiences” and “structural limitations of personality.” The results sustain the psychosomatic theory of progressive somatization that leads to severe bodily diseases. Patients might benefit from a specific psychotherapeutical support.
Type A Aortic Dissection after Abdominal Aortic Surgery
Authors: Chishti Murtaza A. , Hanjoora Vijay Mohan , Raut Monish S. , Sharma Ashish
Published: April 2020

Aortic dissection after open surgical repair of infrarenal aortic aneurysm and after endovascular procedures is a rarely observed complication. We present one such interesting case where vigilant monitoring plays an important role to diagnose aortic dissection early and subsequently manage successfully.
A fuzzy logic based approach for prediction of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma among the data of skin cancer
Authors: Jha Saurabh , Kumar Mehta Ashok , Azad Chandrashekhar
Published: April 2020

INTRODUCTION: Both basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a type of skin malignancy which are deadly in nature. Although both can cause a serious setback for the human body, SCC is most dangerous as per human life is concerned.OBJECTIVES: It is necessary to spot out the cases of SCC and BCC among various data of skin cancer. In this research, the same is spotted out with the help of the fuzzy logic system.METHODS: At first, the membership function is constructed from the input data provided. Then based on the generated membership function, a set of fuzzy if-then rules are created. The outliers from the source data are also removed before the generation of the fuzzy membership function. Based on the fuzzy if-then rules, the decision, whether the case is of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma is taken.RESULTS: The output prediction by the system is compared with the actual pathological report of the patients. The comparison provides an accuracy of 94.94 percent.CONCLUSION: This paper introduces a new technique to predict the existence of multiple cancers (either basal cell or squamous cell) from the mixed cancer dataset. The outcomes of the examination on the source dataset show that the proposed system achieved extraordinary desire accuracy for the portrayal of squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.
Inhibition of ATR Increases the Sensitivity to WEE1 Inhibitor in Biliary Tract Cancer
Authors: Nam Ah-Rong , Jin Mei-Hua , Bang Ju-Hee , Oh Kyoung-Seok , Seo Hye-Rim , Oh Do-Youn , Bang Yung-Jue
Published: April 2020

PurposeCurrently, the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway represents a key target for new cancer drug development. Advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) has a poor prognosis because of the lack of efficacious treatment options. Although DNA repair pathway alterations have been reported in many patients with BTC, little is known regarding the effects of DDR-targeted agents against BTC.Materials and MethodsIn this study, nine BTC cell lines were exposed to the WEE1 inhibitor (AZD1775). In vitro, MTT assay, colony-forming assay, cell cycle analysis, phospho-histone H3 staining assay, Transwell migration assay, and western blot were performed. Then, to enhance the antitumor effect of AZD1775, the combination treatment of WEE1 inhibitor and ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related (ATR) inhibitor (AZD6738) was conducted using MTT assay and comet assay. Finally, HuCCT-1 and SNU2670 xenograft models were established to confirm the anti-tumor effect of AZD1775 alone. Furthermore, the combination treatment was also evaluated in SNU2670 xenograft models.ResultsAZD1775 blocked the phosphorylation of CDC2 and CDC25C in all cell lines, but significantly increased apoptosis and S phase arrest in sensitive cells. However, increased p-ATR and phosphorylated ataxia telangiectasia mutated levels were observed in less sensitive cells. In addition, in vitro and in vivo data illustrated that AZD1775 combined with AZD6738 exerted more potent anti-tumor effects than either drug alone. Although WEE1 inhibition has promising anti-tumor effects in some BTC cells, the addition of ATR inhibitors could enhance its efficacy.ConclusionTaken together, this study supports further clinical development of DDR-targeted strategies as monotherapy or combination regimens for BTC.
The Dual of the Compressed Shift
Authors: Câmara M. C. , Ross W. T.
Published: April 2020

For an inner function u, we discuss the dual operator for the compressed shift $P_u S|_{{\mathcal {K}}_u}$, where ${\mathcal {K}}_u$ is the model space for u. We describe the unitary equivalence/similarity classes for these duals as well as their invariant subspaces.
A Study Protocol of a Prospective, Open-label, Single-arm, Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Classical Ayurveda Medicines in the Management of Vicharchika (Atopic Eczema)
Authors: Sharma Bhagwan Sahay , Mahajon Bidhan , Rao Bhogavalli Chandra Sekhara , Srikanth Narayanam
Published: April 2020

Background:

In Ayurveda, Vicharchika (atopic eczema, AE) has been discussed under the heading of Kshudra kustha. It is a variety of inflammatory skin disorders diagnosed as a chronic, widespread, noninfective inflammatory condition that causes severe pruritus, erythema with variable degree of exudates and scaling, which can impact at any age. The etiology of AE is complex and not fully understood. Although the traditional Ayurveda medicine is used as an alternative therapy for AE, available evidence relating to its effectiveness and mechanism are not fully implicit. Hence, a protocol of a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label clinical trial using traditional Ayurveda medicine to investigate the effectiveness, mechanism, and safety for patients with Vicharchika (eczema) is being reported.

Materials and methods:

This is a multicenter, single-arm, open-label clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of traditional Ayurveda formulations Panchatikta Ghrita and Nalpamaradi Taila in the management of Vicharchika (eczema). A total of 120 patients with Vicharchika (eczema) will be selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the patients will be provided with classical Ayurvedic formulation, i.e., Panchatikta Ghrita 6 g orally twice daily before food and oil Nalpamaradi Taila 20 mL twice daily externally on the affected skin. Each participant will undergo a 12-week treatment period and a follow-up after 4 weeks. A total of seven visits will be scheduled for each participant: 1 visit each in week 0, week 2, week 4, week 6, week 8, week 10, and week 12. The primary outcome will be measured by the assessment of change in eczema area severity index (EASI) score before and after the recommended therapy. The secondary outcomes will be measured by—changes in clinical sign and symptoms per the Ayurvedic classics; changes in patient-oriented eczema measure (POEM) and changes in dermatology life quality index (DLQI) questionnaire. Therapeutic mechanism outcomes, safety outcomes, and end point outcomes will also be assessed.

Discussion:

Protocol was designed with projected outcome as better clinical deliverables and safety profile in Vicharchika patients and reduced relapse rate of disease during post treatment period. If found effective, the selected drug will be listed in the management protocol of Vicharchika at clinical practice level in terms of better efficacy, safety, and cost-effective treatment. The selected drug may lead to a step ahead of better understanding and management of additional skin disorders.

Trial registration:

Trial has been registered under clinical trials registry-India (CTRI); the registration number for this trial is CTRI/2019/12/022236.
Efficacy of Ayurvedic Interventions in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Goel Sumeet , Khanduri Shruti , Ahmad Azeem , Kumar Arvind , Singh Rajeshwari , Chandra Sekhara Rao Bhogavalli , Srikanth Narayanam
Published: April 2020

Introduction:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been treated in Ayurveda, and substantial work has been done in studying the role of Ayurveda interventions in its management. A systematic review is planned to investigate the safety and efficacy of Ayurveda interventions for RA through analyzing published clinical research work.

Materials and methods:

This study is intended to systematically review the existing published clinical work including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials, parallel-group trials, and single-group clinical studies for Ayurveda interventions for RA. Electronic search of the following databases will be performed: PubMed, AYUSH research portal, digital helpline for Ayurveda research articles (DHARA), Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library (the Cochrane Database of systematic reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and the Cochrane Methodology Register), Ayurveda college/Universities websites, databases for dissertation works without any restriction of publication year. Hand search and snowballing of studies will also be performed to fetch complete available literature. The selection of the studies, data abstraction, and validations will be performed independently by two teams of researchers. Conclusion will be derived with consensus of complete review team. Study selection will follow the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and study quality will be assessed by CONSORT checklist for RCTs, Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs (TREND) checklist for nonrandomized controlled trial (NRCTs), and CONSORT extension for Pilot and feasibility studies for pilot studies. Risk of bias assessment will be performed with the help of Cochrane RoB2 tool for RCTs and Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool for NRCTs. If sufficient and appropriate data are available, a meta-analysis will be conducted. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be performed if found to be necessary and feasible.

Ethics and dissemination:

Formal ethical approval is not required as primary data will not be collected. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication. The review will be updated to inform and guide healthcare practice and policy.

Trial Registration Number:

International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) number 2019 CRD42019133722.
Validation of the Mandarin Version of the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM–PAC) “6-Clicks” Among Patients in Acute Rehabilitation
Authors: Hou Wen-Hsuan , Chiou Hung-Yi , Chang Feng-Hang
Published: April 2020

Importance: A standardized functional measure that can be used across rehabilitation care settings in Taiwan is urgently needed.

Objective: To generate a Mandarin version of the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM–PAC) “6-Clicks” for patients in acute care.

Design: Mixed-methods study with a cross-sectional design.

Setting: Acute care wards of three teaching hospitals in Taiwan.

Participants: A sample of 231 neurological patients in acute care (62.3% female; mean age = 63.2 yr, standard deviation = 14.6).

Outcomes and Measures: The 6-Clicks consist of three subscales: Basic Mobility, Daily Activity, and Applied Cognition. They were translated into Mandarin, and their internal consistency, test–retest reliability, interrater reliability, and convergent validity were tested.

Results: All subscales of the Mandarin version of the 6-Clicks showed good internal consistency (α = .97–.98). Test–retest and interrater reliabilities were excellent for all subscales (intraclass correlation coefficients >.8). Convergent validity was supported by strong correlations of the Basic Mobility and Daily Activity subscales with the Barthel Index (r = .73 and .72, respectively) and between the Applied Cognition subscale and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (r = .82).

Conclusion: Our results provide psychometric evidence supporting the use of the Mandarin version of the 6-Clicks in acute care settings in Taiwan.

What This Article Adds: This study confirms the appropriateness of the use of the Mandarin version of the AM–PAC “6-Clicks” with patients in acute rehabilitation, making it a valuable addition to validated measures available for use by occupational therapists in Taiwan.
Validity and Reliability of the Traffic Sign Naming Test (TSNT) and Written Exam for Driving Decisions (WEDD) as Measures of Fitness to Drive Among Older Adults
Authors: Barco Peggy P. , Wallendorf Michael , Rutkoski Kathleen , Dolan Kathleen , Rakus Danielle , Johnson Ann , Carr David B.
Published: April 2020

Importance: Occupational therapists need valid and reliable tools to help determine fitness to drive of older drivers with medical conditions such as dementia.

Objective: To establish the validity and reliability of the Traffic Sign Naming Test (TSNT) and Written Exam for Driving Decisions (WEDD) as measures of fitness to drive of adults with and without dementia.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Washington University Medical School in St. Louis in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis.

Participants: Older drivers diagnosed with dementia (n = 130) and without dementia (n = 34). Drivers with dementia required a physician referral indicating a medical need for a driving evaluation, a diagnosis of dementia, and an Alzheimer Detection 8 score of 2. Drivers without dementia were required to be age 55 yr or older and not meet criteria for dementia.

Outcomes and Measures: Participants completed a comprehensive driving evaluation (CDE) that included clinical measures of vision, motor, and cognition; TSNT; and WEDD. The outcome measure was performance on a standardized on-road assessment.

Results: The TSNT’s interrater reliability was determined to be strong (κ = .80). The TSNT and WEDD demonstrated convergent validity with cognitive measures (p < .001) and discriminant validity with visual and motor measures in the CDE. The TSNT (area under the curve [AUC] = .74) and WEDD (AUC = .71) had fair ability to predict failure on a standardized on-road assessment.

Conclusion and Relevance: TSNT and WEDD are recommended for use by occupational therapists in combination with other performance measures when determining fitness to drive or need for a CDE.

What This Article Adds: The TSNT and WEDD can be included as screening tools (in addition to other performance measures) to assist clinicians in determining which clients need to be referred for a CDE. The TSNT and WEDD can also be included as part of a CDE to assist driving rehabilitation specialists in making final recommendations regarding fitness to drive. The scores generated from the TSNT and WEDD address driving knowledge in a way that may be more understandable to clients and more relatable to skills needed to actually drive.
Impact of Nontraditional Level I Fieldwork on Critical Thinking
Authors: Nielsen Sarah , Klug Marilyn , Fox LaVonne
Published: April 2020

Importance: Level I fieldwork is an integral part of occupational therapy education, yet limited research exists on how it affects the development of critical thinking skills.

Objective: To compare the influence of a nontraditional Level I fieldwork experience with that of a traditional Level I fieldwork experience on the development of critical thinking.

Design: Nonrandomized, pretest–posttest design.

Setting: Traditional and nontraditional Level I fieldwork.

Participants: Seventy-three fourth-semester Master of Occupational Therapy students enrolled in a physical disabilities or psychosocial Level I fieldwork course. Each group completed the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT) at the beginning and end of each semester.

Intervention: Sixteen-week nontraditional fieldwork or two 1-wk traditional fieldworks.

Outcomes and Measures: HSRT.

Results: All students showed a significant increase in scores on the Analysis subtest of the HSRT (p = .004). Both Analysis (p = .001) and overall HSRT (p = .025) scores improved significantly for 55 students who completed nontraditional fieldwork. Students who completed nontraditional fieldwork and had taken multiple previous science classes (p = .014) and had a higher grade point average (p = .033) had a greater likelihood of improving their HSRT score.

Conclusion and Relevance: Although in this pilot study both Level I traditional and nontraditional fieldwork improved critical thinking, further development and examination of pedagogical approaches that facilitate critical thinking are needed.

What This Article Adds: Both traditional and nontraditional Level I fieldwork can improve occupational therapy students’ critical thinking skills.
Women’s Experiences After Ovarian Cancer Surgery: Distress, Uncertainty, and the Need for Occupational Therapy
Authors: Pergolotti Mackenzi , Bailliard Antoine , McCarthy Lauren , Farley Erica , Covington Kelley R. , Doll Kemi M.
Published: April 2020

Importance: Despite the growing literature on the association of functional, physical, and quality-of-life (QOL) deficits with poor postoperative outcomes, there is a gap in the literature identifying women’s occupational performance needs after ovarian cancer surgery.

Objective: To describe the experiences of women hospitalized after ovarian cancer surgery to identify potential areas for intervention. Goals were to (1) identify functional needs and limitations at time of discharge as measured by the typical acute care occupational therapy evaluation and semistructured interview and (2) understand the women’s perspectives of their needs for occupational therapy and a safe return to home.

Design: Single-arm, cross-sectional descriptive study. Mixed-methods data collection and analysis.

Setting: Academic cancer center.

Participants: Women with ovarian cancer (N = 11) who had completed surgery.

Intervention: Semistructured interviews and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) completed postsurgery.

Outcomes and Measures: PROMs included the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer and Problem List, the PROMIS® Global Physical Health (GPH) and Global Mental Health (GMH) scales, and the Possibilities for Activity Scale–Women (PActS–W).

Results: The mean NCCN Distress score was 6.0 (standard deviation [SD] = 3.1, with the top three concerns being pain (80%), worry (80%), and fatigue (78%). Mean GPH and GMH T scores were 38.0 (SD = 8.8) and 48.2 (SD = 8.4), respectively. Women scored a mean of 39.2 (SD = 11.2, range = 26–58) on the PActS–W. Thematic analyses found that the women were uncertain about potential functional limitations and significantly distressed.

Conclusion and Relevance: Women with ovarian cancer experienced high levels of uncertainty and distress after surgery. Integrating in-home or community-based occupational therapy into routine care could decrease functional distress and uncertainty and help women manage concerns related to pain, worry, and fatigue.

What This Article Adds: This study suggests that occupational therapy evaluation and intervention are needed to decrease distress and improve QOL of women upon discharge after ovarian cancer surgery.
Global response of parameterised convective cloud fields to anthropogenic aerosol forcing
Authors: Kipling Zak , Labbouz Laurent , Stier Philip
Published: April 2020

Abstract. The interactions between aerosols and convective clouds represent some of the
greatest uncertainties in the climate impact of aerosols in the atmosphere. A
wide variety of mechanisms have been proposed by which aerosols may
invigorate, suppress or change the properties of individual convective
clouds, some of which can be reproduced in high-resolution limited-area
models. However, there may also be mesoscale, regional or global adjustments
which modulate or dampen such impacts which cannot be captured in the limited
domain of such models. The Convective Cloud Field Model (CCFM) provides a
mechanism to simulate a population of convective clouds, complete with
microphysics and interactions between clouds, within each
grid column at resolutions used for global climate modelling, so that a
representation of the microphysical aerosol response within each parameterised
cloud type is possible. Using CCFM within the global aerosol–climate model ECHAM–HAM, we
demonstrate how the parameterised cloud field responds to the present-day
anthropogenic aerosol perturbation in different regions. In particular, we
show that in regions with strongly forced deep convection and/or significant
aerosol effects via large-scale processes, the changes in the convective cloud
field due to microphysical effects are rather small; however in a more
weakly forced regime such as the Caribbean, where large-scale aerosol effects
are small, a signature of convective invigoration does become apparent.
A new Eocene genus of the subtribe Tylodina (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and notes concerning local differences of Baltic amber in the Kaliningrad Region
Authors: Bukejs Andris , Alekseev Vitalii I. , Legalov Andrei A.
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Based on a well-preserved specimen from Eocene Baltic amber, a new
weevil – Baltacalles triumurbium gen. et sp. nov. – is described and illustrated. The new fossil genus
is similar to the extant Acalles Schoenherr, 1825 but differs from it in the
denticulate femora, abdominal ventrites 1–2 combined about 2.8 times as
long as ventrites 3–4 combined, distinct scutellum, narrow, subparallel
metepisternum, not flattened rostrum, and narrow forehead. This is the first
described representative of the Tylodina (Molytinae: Cryptorhynchini)
described from Baltic amber. The data on the geographically and
stratigraphically distinct local sources of Baltic amber in the Kaliningrad
Region are provided; the main sampling localities are listed and
photographed. The importance of the possible exact labeling of the material
is emphasized.
The Role of Organizational Flexibility in Organizational Agility: A Research on SMEs
Authors: Koçyiğit Yeşim , Akkaya Bülent
Published: April 2020

Flexibility and agility, which are closely interrelated concepts with organizations’ performance, have effects on managers’ decisions. In this context, this study aims to determine the effect of organizational flexibility on organizational agility and agility abilities in small medium and large enterprises. Two questionnaires were used to get data. The data were collected from 111 managers from 46 firms located in the West of Turkey. Regression analysis was used to depict the relations. The results showed that there is a positive and significant impact of organizational structure flexibility on the organizational agility and agility abilities; competency, flexibility, responsiveness and speed.
Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Human Development Index in South Africa
Authors: KOUNOU Marius
Published: April 2020

Many studies have been done on the impact of Foreign Direct Investment on economic growth and poverty reduction in developing countries, however there is a lack of empirical studies of FDI impact on poverty reduction in South Africa which is the second largest FDI recipients of one of the poorest regions in the world (sub Saharan Africa). We used time series data from 1990 to 2017 with the ARDL method to evaluate the impact of FDI Inflow on HDI in the country. The results show that FDI inflow has no significant impact on HDI both in the short run and long run on the country. This result is consistent with findings reported in the literature.
The Neoliberal Tyrones in Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities
Authors: Ezell Brice
Published: April 2020

With his 2011 play Other Desert Cities, Jon Robin Baitz creates an afterlife of Eugene O'Neill's Tyrone family in a modern-day, mediatized performance context where film and television dominate. Baitz reimagines the Tyrones as the Wyeths, a famous Hollywood family with connections to Ronald Reagan's political circles, to illustrate how a family conditioned by performance can be exploited by political ideologies, in this case neoliberalism. Like the Tyrones, the Wyeths made their living in performance, a discipline that continues to structure their daily interactions with each other. This environment of constant performance collapses the boundary between their private lives and their sociopolitical worlds, thereby rendering their entire existence as a performance tool for furthering neoliberal goals. Baitz situates his play in the domestic dramatic tradition of Long Day's Journey Into Night to illustrate the value of theatre in exposing the artifice behind mediatized political performance.