bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The İmportance of Hematological Parameters in the Prognosis of Patients with Severe COVID-19, A Single-center Retrospective Study
Authors: Gozukucuk R , Kılıc HH , Uyanik BS , Cakiroglu B
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

Inflammation biomarkers known as acute phase reactants (APRs) show significant variations in serum concentrations during inflammation brought on by both viral and noninfectious diseases. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), the C-reactive protein (CRP), the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the ferritin, the fibrinogen, the procalcitonin, the D-dimer, and the troponin I are all significant APRs. During inflammation, the serum levels of each of these positive APRs rise. The sensitivity and specificity of hematologic parameters and indices are as high as the inflammatory biomarkers mentioned above for monitoring disease severity and treatment response.

Aim:

We aimed to evaluate the differences in hematological parameters and indices, and to reveal their treatment and prognostic values, especially in deceased patients with COVID-19.

Materials and Methods:

The hemogram parameters of 169 critical patients with COVID-19 (125 males and 44 females) who received inpatient treatment at …. between 1 March 2020 and 31 December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups—deceased (77) and surviving (92)—noting demographic data such as age and gender. All analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0.

Results:

Analyses of the hematological parameters used during the treatment processes revealed statistically significant differences between the two patient groups. White blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values were significantly higher (P = 0.019, P = 0.000 and P = 0.000, respectively) for deceased subjects, while lymphocyte, platelet and plateletcrit (PCT) values were significantly lower (for all values, P = 0.000). Platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW), as well as MPV/PLT, PDW/PLT, MPV/PCT, and PDW/PCT, levels were significantly higher in deceased subjects (P = 0.000). Particularly in our deceased cases, receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed to reveal the importance of such analyses in prognostic status evaluation in COVID-19 since the hematological parameters are quite different. Cut-off values were determined for each parameter, and sensitivity and specificity ratios were calculated. While the sensitivities of MPV/PLT, PDW/PLT, MPV/PCT, and PDW/PCT indices are over 80%, neutrophil and white blood cell sensitivities were found to be lower (74%, 68.8%, respectively).

Conclusion:

In addition to NLR, which is an important biomarker, the hematological indices MPV/PLT, PDW/PLT, MPV/PCT, and PDW/PCT can be used to determine the risk of death in patients with severe COVID-19.
Quantification and Comparison of Salivary Neutrophils in Periodontal Health and Disease
Authors: Chakravarthy YSHS Reddy , Koppolu P , Alotaibi DH , Alsinaidi AA , Mukhtar AH , Kakti AA , Abdelrahim RK , Lingam AS
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

Neutrophils continuously migrate into the oral cavity from various sources like gingival crevicular fluid and saliva both in health and in inflammation. The migration of the neutrophils into the various tissues and into the oral cavity occurs when the host microbial interplay tips the balance favoring the initiation of the inflammatory and immune reactions which depending on the amount of the microbial load results in the development of acute and chronic infections in the susceptible host.

Aim:

The present study was designed to quantify and compare the oral salivary neutrophil levels in patients with gingivitis and chronic and aggressive periodontitis as well as in healthy controls, before and after scaling and root planing (SRP) and to compare the difference within the selected study groups.

Materials and Methods:

Forty subjects were classified into four groups, that is, healthy controls, gingivitis, and chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Oral rinse samples were collected using Hank’s balanced salt solution from each patient before and after phase I periodontal therapy. Cells in the rinse samples were stained with Acridine orange, and neutrophil counts were carried out using a fluorescence microscope and a hemocytometer.

Results:

Baseline oral salivary neutrophil levels were maximum in the chronic periodontitis group followed by the aggressive group and then the gingivitis group. Oral salivary neutrophil levels also positively correlated to probing pocket depth, plaque index, calculus index, and gingival index in all four study groups. Maximum reduction in the oral salivary neutrophil levels after phase I periodontal therapy was seen in the gingivitis group.

Conclusion:

From our study, we conclude that the oral salivary neutrophil levels decreased significantly after SRP. Estimation of changes in the oral salivary neutrophil levels has the potential to aid in monitoring treatment outcomes. Thus, it suggests that it could be used as a simple, noninvasive laboratory technique to monitor the periodontal status and disease progression.
Clinical and Histological Comparison of Healing by Steel Scalpel, Diode Laser, and Radiofrequency in Palatal Wound: An Animal Study
Authors: Elemek E , Gelmez YM , Hekimoğlu ER , Eşrefoğlu M
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

Wound healing following periodontal soft tissue procedures can differ owing to different techniques, the feasibility of which can be determined through detailed macroscopic and microscopic observations.

Aims:

This study aimed to clinically and histologically evaluate palatal wound healing in rats by secondary intention after excision using a steel scalpel, diode laser, and radiofrequency.

Materials and Methods:

An excision was made in the edentulous anterior maxilla of 42 4-month-old male Wistar rats weighing 289–428 g. Part of the connective tissue was left in the surgical area to observe the dynamics of secondary intention wound healing. Three experimental groups were established: the steel scalpel, an 810-nm diode laser at a power output of 1.5 W in continuous mode, and a monopolar radiofrequency in a fully rectified waveform at 15 W. Clinical and histological analyses were performed on days 2, 4, and 7. Hemostasis, changes in body weight, defect size, epithelial gap, and inflammatory infiltration were evaluated.

Results:

The epithelial gap closed completely in all groups on day 7. Bleeding occurred significantly more in the scalpel group (P < 0.001). No significant changes were observed in body weight between the groups. Macroscopically, the mean wound area decreased over time in all groups. Wound healing was significantly slower in the laser group on day 2 and in the radiofrequency group on days 4 and 7 (P < 0.001). Microscopically, the laser created the cleanest wound area, with minimal inflammatory infiltration and no thermal injury. More damage occurred in the connective tissue of the radiofrequency group. Wound healing was observed on day 7 in all groups.

Conclusions:

Palatal wound healing with secondary intention yielded different outcomes in a rat model when different techniques were used. However, almost complete healing was observed in all wounds, which highlights the importance of the soft tissue left in the surgical area. Wound healing in periodontal soft tissue procedures is not compromised by different techniques, as long as the clinician has sufficient knowledge and experience.
Regenerative Endodontic Treatment of an Immature Incisor Tooth with a Novel Platelet-Rich Product: A Five-Year Follow-Up Case Report
Authors: Kolcu MİB , Yurdakul H , Belli S
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

This case report presents a five-year follow-up and the management of a necrotic, immature incisor tooth treated by a novel platelet-rich plasma/platelet extract solution and platelet-rich fibrin (PRP–PES/PRF) and the restoration by using a stress-reduced direct composite restoration (SRDC) technique. The patient with a broken maxillary lateral tooth was referred to our clinic. Extra/intra-oral examinations were within normal limits. The nonvital tooth having an apical lesion and open-apical apex was treated with a regenerative endodontic treatment procedure (REP), and further root development with continued apical closure was shown in the follow-ups up to 60 months. In conclusion, the SRDC and PRP–PES/PRF combination can be an opportunity for the teeth requiring post-restoration. In contrast to the treatment strategy susceptible to weakening or fracturing the patient’s tooth root, the REP approach may lead to a better prognosis for the patient’s tooth.
Success Rate of Immediately Loaded Implants in the Posterior Zone
Authors: Mugri MH , Sayed ME , Bhandi S , Alaqi HAA , Alsubeaie NHB , Alsubaie SH , Varadarajan S , Raj AT , Yadalam PK , Khurshid Z , Balaji TM , Patil S
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Dental implants are considered an ideal treatment for a missing single tooth. Immediate loading of implants can hasten the procedure, providing comfort to the patients. Recently, immediate loading of implants has gained much importance as it helps hasten the procedure and provides more comfort to patients. A previous systematic review published 5 years ago compared the success rates between immediate and conventional loading. There are several factors that influence the success rate of implants that were not discussed in detail in the previous review. Hence, the present systematic review is done to report differences in the outcomes from single implant restorations of missing teeth in the posterior region in patients who were subjected to immediate loading and conventional loading. A follow up for 1 year was done. Electronic databases of Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for publications in the English Language during May 2021. The search results yielded 306 articles, out of which 225 were excluded based on title and abstract screening. Screening of the remaining 81 full text articles yielded 14 original research articles that satisfied the predefined inclusion criteria. Meta analysis was not possible due to the heterogeneity of the data. The overall success rate of the immediate loading of a single implant is 94.31%. Implants in the maxillary region had a higher survival rate than those in the mandibular region. The age range between 18 and 80 years showed good prognosis and outcomes in older individuals. Good oral hygiene was emphasized for all patients to prevent any secondary conditions or delays in healing.
Bilateral Giant Juvenile Fibroadenoma of the Breast Developing Metachronously in a 10-Year-Old Girl
Authors: Duduyemi Babatunde Moses , Sandy Emmanuel , Onyishi Nnaemeka T. , Sesay Alie Amin , Smalle Isaac Olufemi
Published: September 2023

Giant juvenile fibroadenoma (GJF) is very rare and represents about 0.5% of all fibroadenomas. We describe a case of a 10-year-old premenarche girl that presented with huge bilateral GJFs. The right breast mass appeared first and was managed accordingly. The left mass developed rapidly within three months necessitating a second subtotal mastectomy.
Health-seeking Behavioural Practices of the Elderly in Rural Community of Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Adewoye Kayode Rasaq , Aremu Shuaib Kayode , Ekpo David Sylvanus , Sanni Taofeek Adedayo , Ipinnimo Tope Michael , Ibrahim Azeez Oyemomi
Published: September 2023

Background:

The aging process increases the risks of contracting a disease among elderly people. Health-seeking behaviour is poor among the aged in sub-Saharan countries like Nigeria, escalating the burden of noncommunicable diseases and the cost of health care which further impact the utilisation of orthodox medicine.

Aim:

This study aims to assess the health-care-seeking behavioural practices and associated factors among elderly people in Ido-Ekiti.

Materials and Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 elderly respondents in Ido-Ekiti. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 25 and results were presented in the form of tables and bar charts. Chi-square tests were used to test for associations. All data analysis was done at a 5% level of significance.

Results:

The age range of respondents was between 65 and 95 years, with a mean age of 73.88 ± 6.84 years and 64.0% within the age range of 65–75 years. About 63.3% of the respondents have had an episode of illness in the last year preceding the study and only 35.3% consulted a doctor for treatment (good health-seeking behaviour); however, 57.9% of the respondents admitted utilising any of the following: self-medication, consult spiritualist, and use of herbal medicine (poor health-seeking behaviour). The factors statistically significantly associated with respondents’ health-seeking behavioural practices are employment status (P < 0.001), educational level (P < 0.002), cost of health care, access to the health facility, length of time before consultation, beliefs, and lack of support from relations (P < 001).

Conclusion:

This study shows that the majority of the elderly had poor health-seeking behaviour due to educational and economic factors. Making the free or subsidized cost of health care for the elderly in rural communities and the provision of monthly financial support to the aged by the government will promote and encourage good health-seeking behaviour of old people.
Personality Traits as Key Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Healthcare Workers in Nigeria
Authors: Mahmood Mohammed Yusuf , Ashiru Abdurrahman , Shettima Falmata Baba , Abdullahi Abdulkareem Abashe , Ngulde Abdulhakeem Mamman , Abbas Zaharadeen Umar , Jibrin Inuwa Murtala , Musami Umar Baba , Wakawa Ibrahim Abdu
Published: September 2023

Background:

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a significant global challenge, necessitating the development and administration of vaccines to halt its spread. Nevertheless, there is limited information on the predictors, patterns, and personality variables influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Nigerian health-care workers (HCWs).

Aim:

The study set to assess level of factors including personality factors that influence acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines among.HCWs in Nigeria.

Materials and Methods:

From August 9 to October 11, 2021, a web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted on 300 HCWs in Nigeria, aged 19 and above, with social media access and English language proficiency. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data on the SPSS version 20.

Results:

The findings revealed that while 64% of those who participated in the study received the first dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine, only 48.3% returned for the second dose. The impression of heightened susceptibility to contracting COVID-19 was the primary reason for vaccination uptake. Although education level was associated with vaccination uptake, it did not predict it independently. The age distribution, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and high vulnerability as a rationale for receiving a vaccine were all the independent predictors of vaccine uptake.

Conclusion:

This study reveals that despite their role as vaccination advocates, HCWs can exhibit hesitancy toward novel vaccines. To increase vaccine uptake among HCWs and the general population, it is crucial to recognise the factors that influence vaccine acceptance among them, including individual personality variables, and incorporate this understanding into vaccination promotion programs.
Ocular Morbidity in Children with Allergic Conjunctivitis: A Rural-urban Survey
Authors: Abiola Valerie Nawem Ihinose , Ugalahi Mary Ogbenyi , Cadmus Eniola Olubukola , Baiyeroju Aderonke Mojisola
Published: September 2023

Background:

Allergic conjunctivitis occasionally may result in some ocular morbidities. This ranges from innocuous to severe forms of ocular disorders.

Aim:

This study reports and compares ocular morbidities among children with ocular allergies living in an urban and rural community.

Materials and Methods:

A comparative cross-sectional study conducted in urban and rural schools among children aged 5–15 years using a multistage sampling method. Sociodemographic data, past ocular history, history of ocular allergies, and treatment were collected with an interviewer-based questionnaire and were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25. Descriptive analyses of sociodemographic variables and associated ocular morbidity were carried out. The Chi-square test was used to test associations between rural and urban groups. A P = 0.05 or less was considered significant.

Results:

Associated ocular morbidities were seen in 8% (19/238) of the children with allergic conjunctivitis. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of ocular morbidities observed between both locations (8.1 vs. 7.9 in the rural and urban location, respectively, with a P = 1.000). Children with mild forms of allergic conjunctivitis were 197 (82.8%), and only 1.7% had severe forms. The moderate and severe form of allergic conjunctivitis were more prevalent in the rural area (P = 0.002) while untreated allergic conjunctivitis was found in 168 (70.6%) of those affected.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated a higher proportion of moderate-to-severe forms of allergic conjunctivitis among school children in the rural region with the majority being untreated.
Usability of Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System for Coronavirus Disease among Epidemiology Officers in Delta State Nigeria
Authors: Ozakpo Olise , Awunor Nyemike S. , Oyibo Patrick G. , Okumagba Mamodesan T.
Published: September 2023

Introduction:

Nigeria recently used electronic surveillance tools for epidemic diseases, one such tool is the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS); no readily available study has assessed the use of SORMAS in Nigeria. The title of this study is the usability of SORMAS for coronavirus disease among epidemiological officers in Delta State; it explored the ease of use, the effectiveness of SORMAS, its applicability, and the challenges with its use.

Materials and Methods:

This descriptive qualitative study involved disease surveillance and notification officers (DSNOs) and their assistants DSNOs in the year 2022; 25 of them were interviewed using two audio tape recorders after consent was obtained. Ethical clearance was obtained from the appropriate body. Thematic content analysis, with the help of Analysis of Qualitative Data software, was used to analyze data.

Results:

The findings showed that SORMAS was difficult to use for 100% of the respondents, particularly at the initial time, and subsequent use was relatively easy. About 100% of users found SORMAS to be effective for coronavirus disease 2019 surveillance and claimed it could be applied to other health diseases. About 100% of the respondents had challenges which included network problems, unavailability of adequate airtime, low technological know-how, software glitch, and hardware issues, among others.

Conclusion:

This study helped to outline the factors affecting SORMAS use, demonstrated that SORMAS was relatively easy to use after repeated training, was deemed effective by all respondents; applied to other health diseases, and its use was affected by several challenges.
Hospital Prevalence, Delay in Diagnosis, and Sociodemographic Features of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Nigeria: A Multicentre Retrospective Study
Authors: Anaba Ehiaghe Lonia , Okoro Obumneme Emeka , Ibekwe Perpetua , Sani Hadiza , Otike-Odibi Bolaji Ibiesa , Henshaw Eshan Blessing
Published: September 2023

Background:

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is rare in Africans and so not commonly documented in this population.

Aim:

We aimed to document the hospital prevalence, sociodemographic factors, delay in diagnosis, and factors associated with a delay in diagnosis.

Materials and Methods:

This multicentre retrospective study of 64 HS patients was conducted across seven outpatient dermatology clinics in Nigeria. Data spanning 2017 and 2022 were retrieved following ethical approval. Extracted information included age at onset, age at diagnosis, delay in diagnosis, gender, family history of HS, body mass index, smoking history, socioeconomic status, and Hurley stage. Data were analysed using IBM Statistics version 26. For all statistical tests, P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

Thirteen thousand six-hundred and two new patients composed of 5850 males and 7752 females attended the clinics and 64 of them had HS giving a hospital prevalence of 0.47% (64/13,602). Most of the HS (70.3%) were female. The median (interquartile range) age of the patients was 30 (24, 36) years and the age range was 12–59 years. Age at diagnosis was 20–39 years in 76.6%. There was a delay in diagnosis in 45.3%, a significant relationship between delay in diagnosis with duration and severity of HS with P < 0.001 and P < 0.005, respectively.

Conclusion:

HS is uncommon in Nigeria. Diagnosis is frequently delayed and patients present with a severe form of the disease. Furthermore, HS is rare among individuals with a low socioeconomic status. There is a need for more awareness and prompt referral of this debilitating disease at the primary health-care level.
Corrected QT interval in cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Papadopoulos Vasileios Periklis , Mimidis Konstantinos
Published: September 2023

Surrogate endpoints are needed to estimate clinical outcomes in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Serum alkaline phosphatase was among the first markers studied, but there is substantial variability in alkaline phosphatase levels during the natural history of PSC without intervention. The Mayo risk score incorporates noninvasive variables and has served as a surrogate endpoint for survival for more than two decades. Newer models have better test performance than the Mayo risk score, including the primary sclerosing risk estimate tool (PREsTo) model and UK-PSC score that estimate hepatic decompensation and transplant free survival, respectively. The c-statistics for transplant-free survival for the Mayo risk model and the long-term UK-PSC model are 0.68 and 0.85, respectively. The c-statistics for hepatic decompensation for the Mayo risk model and PREsTo model are 0.85 and 0.90, respectively. The Amsterdam-Oxford model included patients with large duct and small duct PSC and patients with PSC-autoimmune hepatitis overlap and had a c-statistic of 0.68 for transplant-free survival. Other noninvasive tests that warrant further validation include magnetic resonance imaging, elastography and the enhanced liver fibrosis score. Prognostic models, noninvasive tests or a combination of these surrogate endpoints may not only serve to be useful in clinical trials of investigational agents, but also serve to inform our patients about their prognosis.
Planet stories: Using AI-generated science fiction to externalise
conflict in relationships
Authors: Ng Andrea
Published: September 2023

Externalising can be useful in addressing conflict in relationships. It
can provide space for deconstruction, the consideration of shared values and
new meaning-making. It also avoids the labelling and deficit identity
conclusions that can accompany internalised accounts. This audio practice
note describes an emerging practice for working with couples experiencing
conflict: using an artificial intelligence tool to generate science fiction
stories to support the externalising of a problem and open space for
reauthoring conversations. Andrea Ng Siu Har shares her work with Amy
(pseudonym), whose husband valued punctuality while Amy preferred to
prioritise being relaxed over arriving on time. As part of a playful enquiry
into this cultural difference between the spouses, Andrea and Amy prompted
ChatGPT to produce a science fiction story about daily life on a planet
whose inhabitants were always late. As well as being funny and resonant, the
resulting story helped to elicit Amys own values and to identify skills she
had developed, including being able to remain calm and work quickly under
pressure. It also prompted discussion of the family history of these skills
and values. A subsequent AI story about a planet whose inhabitants were
impatient facilitated insight into Amys husbands perspective, and prompted
conversations about shared values and the work of achieving mutual
understanding, accommodation and harmony. Andrea also shares some cautions
for working with AI in this way, and emphasizes the importance of keeping
the person, and their knowledge and preferences, at the Centre
Plant health and the WTO
Authors: Qian Xu
Published: September 2023

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. The Encyclopedia is organised into 12 volumes around top-level subjects – such as water, energy and climate change – that reflect some of the most pressing issues facing us today. Each volume probes the key elements of law, the essential concepts, and the latest research through concise, structured entries written by international experts. Each entry includes an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading. The mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion will make this an essential tool for research and teaching, as well as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers.
Circular economy/low carbon economy
Authors: van Calster Geert
Published: September 2023

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. The Encyclopedia is organised into 12 volumes around top-level subjects – such as water, energy and climate change – that reflect some of the most pressing issues facing us today. Each volume probes the key elements of law, the essential concepts, and the latest research through concise, structured entries written by international experts. Each entry includes an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading. The mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion will make this an essential tool for research and teaching, as well as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers.
Likeness and environment in the WTO years
Authors: Choi Won-mog
Published: September 2023

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. The Encyclopedia is organised into 12 volumes around top-level subjects – such as water, energy and climate change – that reflect some of the most pressing issues facing us today. Each volume probes the key elements of law, the essential concepts, and the latest research through concise, structured entries written by international experts. Each entry includes an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading. The mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion will make this an essential tool for research and teaching, as well as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers.
Environment as a global public good
Authors: Delimatsis Panagiotis , Reins Leonie
Published: September 2023

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. The Encyclopedia is organised into 12 volumes around top-level subjects – such as water, energy and climate change – that reflect some of the most pressing issues facing us today. Each volume probes the key elements of law, the essential concepts, and the latest research through concise, structured entries written by international experts. Each entry includes an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading. The mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion will make this an essential tool for research and teaching, as well as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers.
SCM: fossil fuel subsidies
Authors: Marhold Anna-Alexandra
Published: September 2023

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. The Encyclopedia is organised into 12 volumes around top-level subjects – such as water, energy and climate change – that reflect some of the most pressing issues facing us today. Each volume probes the key elements of law, the essential concepts, and the latest research through concise, structured entries written by international experts. Each entry includes an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading. The mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion will make this an essential tool for research and teaching, as well as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers.
SCM: import substitution and local content requirements
Authors: Z Bigdeli Sadeq , Hamidzadeh Hosein
Published: September 2023

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. The Encyclopedia is organised into 12 volumes around top-level subjects – such as water, energy and climate change – that reflect some of the most pressing issues facing us today. Each volume probes the key elements of law, the essential concepts, and the latest research through concise, structured entries written by international experts. Each entry includes an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading. The mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion will make this an essential tool for research and teaching, as well as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers.
https://www.elgaronline.com/display/book/9781785369520/b-9781783476985-XI_5.xml
Authors: Brown Weiss Edith , Bernasconi-Osterwalder Nathalie
Published: September 2023

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. The Encyclopedia is organised into 12 volumes around top-level subjects – such as water, energy and climate change – that reflect some of the most pressing issues facing us today. Each volume probes the key elements of law, the essential concepts, and the latest research through concise, structured entries written by international experts. Each entry includes an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading. The mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion will make this an essential tool for research and teaching, as well as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers.
DS431, D432, D433: China – Measures Related to the Exportation of Rare Earths, Tungsten and Molybdenum
Authors: Motoc Ioana-Virginia
Published: September 2023

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. The Encyclopedia is organised into 12 volumes around top-level subjects – such as water, energy and climate change – that reflect some of the most pressing issues facing us today. Each volume probes the key elements of law, the essential concepts, and the latest research through concise, structured entries written by international experts. Each entry includes an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading. The mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion will make this an essential tool for research and teaching, as well as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers.
DS426: Canada – Renewable Energy/Canada – Feed-in Tariff Program
Authors: Raina Akhil
Published: September 2023

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. The Encyclopedia is organised into 12 volumes around top-level subjects – such as water, energy and climate change – that reflect some of the most pressing issues facing us today. Each volume probes the key elements of law, the essential concepts, and the latest research through concise, structured entries written by international experts. Each entry includes an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading. The mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion will make this an essential tool for research and teaching, as well as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers.
Trade and food security
Authors: Gruni Giovanni
Published: September 2023

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. The Encyclopedia is organised into 12 volumes around top-level subjects – such as water, energy and climate change – that reflect some of the most pressing issues facing us today. Each volume probes the key elements of law, the essential concepts, and the latest research through concise, structured entries written by international experts. Each entry includes an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading. The mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion will make this an essential tool for research and teaching, as well as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers.
sIgA-protease activity of microorganisms isolated from the prostate secretion
Authors: Pashinina Olga A. , Kartashova O. L. , Pashkova T. M. , Gritsenko V. A.
Published: September 2023

Our aim was to characterize the ability of bacteria from prostate secretions of different taxonomic affiliations to inactivate secretory IgA (sIgA). Materials and methods: We performed experiments with 122 isolates of eight types of microorganisms isolated from prostate secretions of the patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) and healthy males. The bacterial spectrum of microbiota was studied by bacteriological techniques, the species identification of microorganisms was carried out by mass spectrometry. The sIgA-protease activity of microorganisms was determined by the enzyme immunoassay using the “IgA secretory – ELISA-BEST” kit. Results: A wide prevalence of sIgA-protease activity has been detected in the microorganisms of different types isolated from prostate secretions of patients with CBP and healthy males. E. faecalis was the most active producer of sIgA proteases. We revealed an intraspecific and interspecific variability of the levels of sIgA-protease activity among Staphylococci. The microorganisms isolated from CBP were shown to express a significantly more pronounced ability to inactivate sIgA compared to strains isolated from healthy men.
Expression of “non-classical” molecules of the main histocompatibility complex in rheumatoid arthritis and bronchial asthma
Authors: Boeva Olga S. , Borisevich V. I. , Kozlov V. A. , Vladimirovna D. V. , Sizikov A. E. , Pashkina E. A.
Published: September 2023

HLA-E is a minor understudied non-classical HLA genes. HLA-E transcription is revealed in many cell types, especially, in immune cells, e.g., T and B cells monocytes, macrophages. In this work, we evaluated expression of HLA-E on CD8+, CD4+ and CD14+ cells in conditionallу healthy donors and in the patients with bronchial asthma (BA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Peripheral blood mononuclears (PBMNC) were used as initial biomaterial. PBMNC from RA patients (n = 15), BA (n = 11) and healthy donors were separated from peripheral blood in Ficoll-Urographin density gradient (1.077 g/mL). The cells were then stained with fluorochrome-conjugated monoclonal antibodies: anti-CD3-APC, anti-CD4-APC-Cy7, anti-CD-14-FITC, and anti-HLA-E-PerCP/Cy5. The cell phenotype was analyzed by flow cytometry with FACS Canto II (BD Biosciences, USA). We have found an increased expression of HLA-E on CD8+, CD4+Т cells, like as on CD14+ cells (monocytes) in the RA patients, when compared with BA patients. We have also shown significant differences of HLA-E expression on CD8+Т cells between the conditionally healthy donors and RA patients.
Comparison of immune response to various SARS-CoV-2 vaccines within 6 months after starting vaccination and following revaccination
Authors: Astrakhantseva Irina V.
Published: September 2023

The pandemic of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has stimulated the development, testing and widespread use of preventive vaccines based on various platforms. Our aim was to perform a direct comparison of immunogenicity of various vaccines within a single study in small groups within six months of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and revaccination.

The stdy group included subjects vaccinated with Sputnik V adenovirus vaccine, mRNA vaccines, and CoviVac whole-virion vaccine. Their immune status was assessed by enzyme immunoassay as specific antibody levels. Moreover, the neutralizing ability of detected antibodies was assessed using a cell test system based on pseudoviral technology.

All of the mentioned vaccines were shown to elicit an immune response against SARS-CoV-2 RBD antigen, however, appropriate antibody titers and neutralizing capacities differed depending on the type of vaccine. The mRNA vaccines proved to be the most immunogenic, the effectiveness of the immune response to the Sputnik V adenovirus-based vaccine was lower. However, 6 months after vaccination, the effectiveness of virus neutralizing antibodies induced by these vaccines did not differ. The whole-virion CoviVac vaccine with proven efficiency by independent epidemiological studies, induced an antibody response against the RBD protein to a lesser extent.

The seropositive participants of the study, both previously exposed to COVID-19 disease or vaccinated, exhibited high-titer production of antibodies already after the first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine, and a significantly higher antibody titer 6 months after the booster immunization as compared with initial level of antibodies, along with direct correlation between the antibody titers and their neutralizing activity.
To think of interdisciplinarity as intercurrence: Or, working as an interdisciplinary team to develop an ML tool to tackle online gender-based violence and hate speech
Authors: Arora Cheshta , Prabhakar Tarunima
Published: September 2023

The paper reflects on the working of an interdisciplinary team consisting of researchers and activists from the field of computer science and social sciences involved in developing a user-facing, browser plug-in to detect and moderate instances of online gender-based violence, hate speech and harassment in Hindi, Indian English, and Tamil. There have been multiple calls within the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to include qualitative methods in one’s research design. These calls, while attuned to the importance of qualitative methods for HCI, ignore the intercurrent nature of different research methods, disciplines and practices. The paper borrows the concept of intercurrence from Orren & Skowronek (1996) and reorients it to explicate the practice of interdisciplinary research. It argues that intercurrence i.e. (in between, an occurrence within an occurrence) is a useful image to perceive interdisciplinarity wherein we argue that at any given point, an interdisciplinary team navigates multiple, yet simultaneously occurring temporal dimensions of differently disciplined bodies. An awareness of these multiple temporalities adds another dimension to thinking about conflicts and possibilities emerging from interdisciplinary practices and reorients interdisciplinary research towards unexpected outcomes.
Sens și semnificație în arta teatrului
Authors:   Universitatea de Arte din Târgu Mureș, Sabadoș Sabin
Published: September 2023

From its beginnings, the theatre's existence has been marked by its sense and meaning. However, most of the time, in everyday discourse, as well as in critical discourse, the two terms are used with the same meaning. Depending on the study directions specific to linguistics (traditional, pragmatic, discursive, structural, etc.), semiotics, aesthetics, and philosophy, the translations we use for sense and meaning differ, overlap, replace each other, intertwine or noticeably distance themselves. We attempt to outline some of the features of sense and meaning in the context of the performing arts and an artistic “conduct” that gives theatre both the depths of being and an ontological value.
INTRODUÇÃO AO PENSAMENTO DE ANTONIO GRAMSCI
Authors: Nogueira Kleiton Wagner Alves da Silva
Published: September 2023

A resenha objetiva tecer considerações acerca da obra Do sul ao Norte: Uma introdução a Gramsci, de autoria de Luciana Aliaga, professora de Ciência Política do Departamento de Ciências Sociais da Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB). Nas quatro partes que compõem a obra: I) Filosofia da Práxis: Fundadores e Fundamentos; II) Hegemonia, Subalternidade e Estado Integral; III) Os intelectuais e o Moderno Príncipe; e IV) Revolução Passiva e Desenvolvimento Capitalista, destacamos a profundidade que a autora possui em relação ao pensamento de Antonio Gramsci, conjugando forma e conteúdo de modo didático na exposição dos principais temas abordados pelo intelectual italiano. O diálogo que Aliaga mantém com Gramsci e seus interlocutores se torna basilar para o desvelamento dos problemas sociais, dos conflitos de classes e do entendimento da sociabilidade capitalista em formações econômico-sociais dependentes, que necessitam de investigações e reflexões sobre especificidades locais, das quais o livro se torna uma ferramenta importante para discentes de graduação, pós-graduação do Serviço Social e áreas afins.
The Impact of Oil Prices on Inflation and GDP in Sri Lanka: An Econometrics Approach using EViews
Authors: Jayarathna R.M.G.S
Published: September 2023

The study seeks to measure the influence of world oil prices on inflation and GDP in Sri Lanka using monthly data from 2000M01 to 2020M12. All variables are integrated in the same order and satisfy the precondition of the Johansen cointegration test, according to the Augmented Dickey Fuller unit root, Philips and Perron unit root, and Correlogram tests. There is a long-run association between oil price, inflation, and GDP, according to the Johansen cointegration test. Then, using Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), it was discovered that while there is a long-run causal relationship between oil prices and inflation, there is no short-run causal association. There is also a long-run causality from oil prices to GDP, but no short-run connection. Inflation granger causes GPD, and oil price granger causes inflation rate, according to the Granger causality test. The results of a variance decomposition analysis revealed that oil price shocks have little impact on inflation fluctuations, both in the short and long run. In the short run, an increase in oil prices will not have much of an impact on GDP fluctuations, but in the long run, an increase in oil prices will have a significant impact on GDP fluctuations.
Francisca Moreno Romero, La calificación del trabajador subordinado o autónomo como delimitador del régimen protector, Granada, Comares, 2022
Authors: García Quiñones Juan Carlos
Published: September 2023

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POSLEDICE PANDEMIJE ŠPANSKE GROZNICE 1918-1919. NA TERITORIJI OPŠTINE ARANĐELOVAC
Authors:   Public Museum in Aranđelovac, Serbia, Petrović Zorica , Krivošej Vladimir ,   Public Museum in Valjevo, Serbia
Published: September 2023

During the Spanish flu pandemic, which began spreading around the world at the end of the First World War, 1918 to 1919, about 500 people fell ill, and about fifty million died. The pandemic arrived in Serbia from two directions: from the north and northwest (Hungary, Croatia), and the south, along with the liberators. The estimate is that about 3% of the population died from the Spanish flu pandemic in Serbia. Regardless of the number of victims, the research focused primarily on the military and political issues in that period. Until recently, no one addressed the matter of the consequences of the pandemic. To contribute to the study of the total numbers of Spanish flu victims in Serbia, there was an incentive to research the aftermath of the pandemic in the Arandjelovac municipality in 1918-1919. During the research, the only historical source containing such data was the church death records. Due to the lack of the newest data, relevant data were obtained for 16 out of 19 inhabited places in Aranđelovac municipality today. The research showed that in Arandjelovac, the urban spa center of the environment, 0.83% of the town's residents died during the few months of the deadliest epidemic outbreak. More than 2% of the population died in the entire territory, which was used as a sample for research. Mortality in the surrounding villages is higher but also differs. The highest number of deaths was in the following villages beyond Bukulja mountain, most of the residents died in: Gornja Trešnjevica, Garaš, Jelovik, and Vukosavci, where more than 3.44% of the population died from the virus. More precise determinants are impossible to give due to the overlap of the two epidemics. The deadly epidemic of dysentery preceded the outbreak of the Spanish flu. These two diseases combined took the lives of almost 3.4% of the residents of today's municipal territory in four months. The village of Garši suffered the most. 8.82% of villagers died there, and the least in Aranđelovac, where two epidemic diseases claimed the lives of 0.96% of the population.
Keabsahan Akta Notaris yang Menggunakan Cyber Notary dalam Pembuatan Akta Otentik Menurut Undang-Undang Jabatan Notaris
Authors: Nurmawati Bernadete , Fahlevie Rinaldi Agusta , Herman KMS , Suparman Maman , Lusia Anda
Published: September 2023

Cyber notary dapat mengandung pengertian bahwa akta Notaris yang dibuat dengan melalui alat elektronik atau Notaris yang mengesahkan suatu perjanjian yang pembacaan dan penandatanganan aktanya tidak dilakukan di hadapan Notaris. Akta otentik yang dibuat dengan cara cyber notary dapat menimbulkan pertentangan norma antara Pasal 15 ayat (3) dan Pasal 16 Ayat (1) huruf m UUJN. Metodologi penelitian yang digunakan dalam artikel ini adalah metode penelitian hukum normatif, yaitu berdasarkan data sekunder yang dikumpulkan melalui tinjauan pustaka buku, undang-undang, pendapat ahli hukum, dan dokumen resmi yang mendukung penelitian, atau dengan menganalisis laporan ilmiah sebelumnya. Penerapan konsep cyber notary di Indonesia menganut sistem civil law yang memandang akta yang dibuat oleh dan di hadapan Notaris sebagai akta yang otentik. Akta otentik dapat diterapkan dengan membuat akta otentik secara elektronik (cyber notary), sebagaimana dijabarkan dalam Penjelasan Pasal 15 ayat 3 UUJN, yang dimaksud dengan kewenangan lain yang diatur dalam peraturan perundang-undangan antara lain: kewenangan mensertifikasi transaksi yang dilakukan secara elektronik (cyber notary), membuat akta ikrar wakaf dan hipotik pesawat terbang. Namun Penjelasan Pasal 15 ayat (3) UUJN tersebut menyebutkan mengenai cyber notary tidak memberikan definisi yang normatif, sehingga tidak cukup untuk melegitimasi cyber notary di Indonesia. Selain itu konsep cyber notaris masih menghadapi tantangan mengingat Pasal 16(1)(m) UUJN yang mengharuskan Notaris hadir secara fisik dan menandatangani Akta di hadapan pengahadap dan saksi. Dengan tidak berpegang pada ketentuan ini, maka akta Notaris hanya mempunyai kekuatan hukum sebagai akta di bawah tangan, sebagaimana diatur Pasal 16 ayat (9), jika salah satu syarat sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) huruf m dan ayat (7) tidak dipenuhi, akta yang bersangkutan hanya mempunyai kekuatan pembuktian sebagai akta di bawah tangan.