bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Windtech – A Sensory Device for ‘Cold’ Sensation Measurements
Authors: Leyli Amir , Khawaja Hassan , Antonsen Ståle , Swart Daniel
Published: December 2021

Abstract: Windtech device is a novel tool for measuring the sensation of the ‘cold’. Cold poses numerous challenges for industrial operations, human survival, and living convenience. The impact of the cold is not possible to be quantified just based on temperatures; however other factors such as wind speed, humidity, irradiance have to be taken into consideration. Efforts have been made to develop combined indices such as wind chill temperature (WCT), AccuWeather RealFeel®, and others. The presented article discusses these along with the industrial standards that emphasize on the quantification of the ‘cold’. The following article introduces the Windtech device and its operating principle involving ‘heated temperature’, where the ‘heated temperature’ is affected by environmental parameters including ambient temperature, humidity, wind velocity, and irradiance. The discussed Windtech device is calibrated for operation according to the ISO 11079:2007 standard.
SEASONAL CHANGES EFFECTS ON THE SEROTONIN AND MELATONIN TRANSMISSION
Authors: Abbas S.A.
Published: December 2021

Neurotransmission of serotonin and its derivative is said to be effected by changing of season in temperate countries. The effect of photoperiod and temperature can alter the production of serotonin and melatonin in body. The depression in serotonin availability in brain leads to a depressive or bipolar disorder. The activity of tryptophan hydroxylase to synthesis serotonin and monoamine oxidase (MAO) to inactivate serotonin is affected by season change. Calcitriol can stimulate tryptophan hydroxylase to produce serotonin. CREM gene works by memorizing work base on previous memory on how much serotonin will be produce. Melatonin it’s a serotonin derivative act as endocrine because it produce from pineal gland and retina. Melatonin has diurnal circadian pattern. Melatonin production is not decline by increasing in age. Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT) gene is one of the cAMP inducible genes is an enzyme important in production of melatonin.
ACTIVIDADES PARA REFLEXIONAR SOBRE LOS PROCESOS DE APRENDIZAJE EN LA FORMACIÓN INICIAL DEL PROFESORADO DE ENSEÑANZA SECUNDARIA
Authors: PONTES PEDRAJAS ALFONSO , POYATO LÓPEZ FRANCISCO J. , OLIVA MARTÍNEZ JOSÉ M.
Published: December 2021

En este trabajo hemos tratado de conocer cuáles son las concepciones personales en torno al aprendizaje de los alumnos del Máster de Formación del Profesorado de Enseñanza Secundaria de las especialidades de ciencias experimentales. Se ha realizado un estudio piloto de carácter exploratorio en el que han participado 31 estudiantes y se han recogido sus ideas a través de un cuestionario de preguntas abiertas que incluía ocho cuestiones sobre diversos aspectos relacionados con el aprendizaje de la ciencia en el contexto de la educación secundaria. Los resultados obtenidos permiten afirmar que los alumnos de este máster poseen concepciones personales sobre el aprendizaje que pueden influir en su acción docente posterior y que conviene tener en cuenta durante el proceso de formación inicial. Aunque hemos observado gran variedad de ideas, en muchas de estas concepciones se vislumbra un enfoque idealizado de los procesos educativos, ya que conceden gran importancia al alumno como sujeto protagonista del proceso de aprendizaje y a la necesidad de favorecer la comprensión y la motivación del estudiante en toda acción educativa. Estos hechos deberían tenerse en cuenta a la hora de diseñar el proceso de formación inicial docente.
UNIVERSITIES AND DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
Authors: Iañez Domínguez Antonio , Alvarez Pérez Raúl
Published: December 2021

When it comes to human development, justice, and sustainability, universities should play a driving role, given their specific assigned task of providing specialist education and conducting research. They should also educate and promote the values of solidarity and commitment towards a more egalitarian and just society. This involves making a firm commitment to social change, which many Spanish universities have done by cooperating to foster the development of more impoverished countries. To this end, they have developed structures through which they can undertake different actions. The research presented in this paper was conducted as a direct result of the authors’ interest in finding out more about the specific actions carried out by Andalusian universities. The research conducted was qualitative, using in-depth semi-structured interviews with key informants (development cooperation officers and senior policy-makers within each institution) from Andalusia’s ten public universities. All universities incorporate an area for development cooperation within their organisational structures, and they have staffing and funding for the organisation and development of actions, although the panorama is diverse and heterogeneous. The actions carried out encompass academic training and education, research, promotion and awareness, university volunteering schemes, and cooperation out in the field.
TEACHERS’ ATTITUDES AND TECHNIQUES TOWARDS EFL WRITING IN EGYPTIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Authors: DARWISH HOSAM
Published: December 2021

In 2008, the Egyptian Ministry of Education introduced a new national textbook, Hello for Secondary Schools, which recommends a shift in EFL teachers’ instructional practices. Since then, very little attention has been paid to teachers’ techniques in EFL writing classes. Hence, this paper aims at investigating teaching writing practices in secondary schools and exploring the teachers’ attitudes towards EFL writing skills in addition to exploring the difficulties that teachers encountered in EFL writing lessons. The paper depends on data triangulation through administering two questionnaires: one to 44 teachers and the other to 24 students, and conducting semi-structured interviews with 11 teachers. Both teachers and students are asked to describe teaching practices in EFL writing classes while the open-ended questions and interviews collected data about the teachers’ difficulties in writing lessons. The questionnaires indicate that teachers have negative attitudes towards teaching writing, and most of their practices are still traditional. Five factors have influenced teachers’ practices: backwash of the test, teachers’ professional development, students’ culture of reading and large classes. The paper recommends there has to be a necessary change in the students’ examination system, and ongoing teachers’ professional development should be considered. Finally, a teaching model and implications are suggested.
LA FORMACIÓN DOCENTE EN CONTEXTOS MULTICULTURALES: LAS VOCES DE LOS DOCENTES PURÉPECHAS DE MICHOACÁN (MÉXICO)
Authors: García Segura Sonia , Gil del Pino Carmen
Published: December 2021

En este artículo se describe el modelo de educación bilingüe intercultural de la comunidad purépecha situada en la región del Lago de Pátzcuaro (México) y, en concreto, los retos a los que tienen que hacer frente el personal docente indígena en los niveles de educación inicial, preescolar y primaria. El proceso de investigación se centró en la realización de entrevistas semiestructuradas a diferentes docentes en activo de esta región caracterizada por su diversidad cultural y lingüística. El posterior análisis de contenido ha constatado, por un lado, que estos docentes estiman como un elemento clave e importante la formación inicial y permanente para atender y entender a comunidades indígenas y así poder mantener su cosmovisión y hacer frente a los retos de la globalización. Por otro lado, el personal docente señala que en su día a día han de afrontar carencias y debilidades en cuanto a materiales didácticos, infraestructuras, sistemas de evaluación (interna y externa) y el seguimiento.
Infrasound propagation in the Arctic
Authors: Wilson D. , Ostashev Vladimir , Shaw Michael , Muhlestein Michael , Weatherly John , Swearingen Michelle , McComas Sarah
Published: December 2021

This report summarizes results of the basic research project “Infrasound Propagation in the Arctic.” The scientific objective of this project was to provide a baseline understanding of the characteristic horizontal propagation distances, frequency dependencies, and conditions leading to enhanced propagation of infrasound in the Arctic region. The approach emphasized theory and numerical modeling as an initial step toward improving understanding of the basic phenomenology, and thus lay the foundation for productive experiments in the future. The modeling approach combined mesoscale numerical weather forecasts from the Polar Weather Research and Forecasting model with advanced acoustic propagation calculations. The project produced significant advances with regard to parabolic equation modeling of sound propagation in a windy atmosphere. For the polar low, interesting interactions with the stratosphere were found, which could possibly be used to provide early warning of strong stratospheric warming events (i.e., the polar vortex). The katabatic wind resulted in a very strong low-level duct, which, when combined with a highly reflective icy ground surface, leads to efficient long-distance propagation. This information is useful in devising strategies for positioning sensors to monitor environmental phenomena and human activities.
Study on the Mechanism of Water and Heat Transfer in Sandstone Geothermal System: A Case Study of Doublet Well
Authors: Shen Jian , Chen Mingtao , Li Shengtao , Cui Zhenpeng , Yuan Yilong , Feng Bo
Published: December 2021

The development of sandstone-type geothermal energy is an important part of the development of geothermal resources and has great significance in promoting environmental protection and energy structural transformation. In sandstone geothermal energy development, recharging is the main method to ensure bottom hole pressure. However, the pressure and temperature changes of sandstone reservoirs under recharge conditions have not been extensively studied. It is easy to ignore the hydraulic relationship between the production and the injection wells, which leads to an increased risk of thermal breakthrough. Therefore, a three-dimensional hydrothermal coupling model is established, and simulation studies of different flow rates, well lengths, and well spacings are completed in this paper. Here, we show the numerical simulation results. The low temperature expansion zone and hydrostatic pressure near the injection well increase with increasing flow rate, and the maximum expansion of the low temperature zone is about 350 m. The low temperature expansion area near the injection well has a small relationship with the well spacing, and the increase in hydrostatic pressure is proportional to the well spacing. As the length of the well increases, the increase in hydrostatic pressure near the injection well decreases, indicating that the injected water under the long well section easily enters the reservoir. When no thermal breakthrough occurs and the hydrostatic pressure drops significantly near the production well, it is recommended that the flow rate be controlled at approximately 20–25 L/s, the well spacing should be 600–800 m, and the well length should be greater than 100 m.
Improving the Efficiency of Managing the Development of the West Siberian Oil and Gas Province Fields on the Basis of Differentiation and Grouping
Authors: Mukhametshin V.V.
Published: December 2021

—Using image recognition methods (principal component method (PCM) and discriminant analysis) made it possible to group and identify more than 500 research objects developed in five oil and gas areas of the West Siberian oil and gas province (WSOGP), which are confined to 13 large tectonic structures and 10 productive horizons. The grouping was made according to 19 parameters characterizing the mode of oil and gas occurrence and the geologic–physical and physicochemical properties of the reservoirs and hosted fluids exerting a prevailing influence on the recovery of oil reserves and used on projecting the development of research objects. The performed study has identified 19 relatively homogeneous groups of objects, each having a specific set of geologic–physical properties. It is shown that the parameters reflecting the geologic–physical and physicochemical properties of the reservoirs and fluids within the identified groups of objects exert different effects on the recovery of oil reserves. This requires differentiation and grouping of the objects during the solution of various development problems. It has been established that the specific features of groups of objects are determined primarily by areal, tectonic, and stratigraphic factors and that grouping must be performed separately in each stratigraphic system. Algorithms are proposed for grouping the developed oil and gas fields and for searching for groups of analogous objects in fields out of exploration that are most similar to the developed ones. The performed grouping and the results obtained provide the necessary information about the research objects and increase its reliability, thus making it possible to improve the efficiency of managing the oil company assets, i.e., the WSOGP oil fields.
Immunohistochemical Expression of MDM2 and p16 in Adipocytic Neoplasms Measuring Ten Centimeters or more in Diameter among Filipino Patients in a Public Tertiary Hospital from 2017 to 2019
Authors: Masalunga Marvin , Rivera Jonathan , Carnate Jr. Jose
Published: December 2021

Introduction: A size of more than 10 cm suggests that a soft tissue tumor might be malignant. Pertinent ancillary diagnostic testing, such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), may be done to confirm the diagnosis. Several studies have shown that size may be a useful criterion in determining which tumors are candidates for further molecular testing. MDM2 and p16 are IHC markers for atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma (ALT/WDLPS). 
Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to determine the proportion of tumors signed out as “lipomas” from 2017 to 2019, and measuring at least 10 cm, that express MDM2 and p16 on IHC and warrant revision as ALT/WDLPS.
Methodology: This is a descriptive, retrospective cohort study in which all lipomas from 2017 to 2019 that measured at least 10 cm were included. The size, age of the patient, and location of each tumor were documented. The slides of all eligible cases were reviewed and immunohistochemically stained for MDM2 and p16. For each case, the intensity and immunoreactivity of each stain were assessed using a modified, four-tier scoring system. Fisher’s exact test was used to determine if a significant number of tumors expressed MDM2 or p16.
Results: Thirty (30) cases satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The average size of these tumors is 15.10 cm. There is no sex predilection. The most common location of these tumors is the extremities. None of the tumors expressed MDM2, and only one case was p16-positive. The case positive for p16 also showed cytologic atypia and variability in cell size, resulting in the revision of its diagnosis from lipoma to atypical lipomatous tumor. The rate of diagnosis revision after slide review and IHC studies is 3.33%.
Conclusion: None of the adipocytic tumors that measured at least 10 cm in diameter and were signed out as lipomas was MDM2 positive, and only one case was p16-positive. Thus, morphology remains the cornerstone in the diagnosis of adipocytic tumors. Careful microscopic evaluation is necessary to establish the diagnosis of malignancy in these tumors. Ancillary tests should only be considered in cases where the pathologic features are equivocal.
EBV-positive Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, NOS in a Filipino Patient
Authors: Sasis Katreena , Lee Daphne , Arevalo Alejandro , Tiangco Beatrice , Agbay Rose Lou Marie
Published: December 2021

Epstein-Barr virus positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (EBV+ DLBCL) is prevalent among Asians but is underreported in the Philippine setting. We report the case of an 88-year-old male who presented with difficulty swallowing. CT scan showed an ill-defined soft tissue focus with calcifications in the supraglottic to hypopharyngeal region measuring approximately 2.6 x 1.7 x 1.5 cm, and multiple lymphadenopathies in the head and neck. Biopsy of the masses at the left tonsil, left arytenoid mucosa, pyriform sinus, and aryepiglottic fold showed large lymphoid cells with several Reed-Sternberg-like cells in a background of small lymphocytes, neutrophils, few eosinophils and histiocytes. A panel of immunohistochemical stains and EBER-ish were performed to differentiate among six entities that were morphologically similar to the patient’s case, namely, classic Hodgkin lymphoma, T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (THRLBCL), DLBCL, NOS, anaplastic variant, B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between DLBCL and classic HL (gray zone lymphoma), and infectious mononucleosis (IM). The neoplastic cells expressed CD20, CD30, CD45, PAX5, CD10, MUM-1, BCL6, BCL2, and c-myc, while CD3, CD15 and ALK-1 were negative. The cells of interest also showed nuclear staining (30-40%) on Epstein-Barr virus encoding RNA in-situ hybridization (EBER-ish). The Ki-67 showed a proliferation index of 40-50%. Given the differences in prognosis and treatment among these diseases, judicious use of immunostains and EBER-ish is recommended for accurate diagnosis.
Evaluation of Ellipsoid Zone Changes in Different Types of Diabetic Macular Edema After Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection
Authors: Limon Utku , Akcay Betul Ilkay Sezgin
Published: December 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the ellipsoid zone (EZ) changes according to the types of diabetic macular edema (DME) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of the patients who had treatment-naive DME and underwent intravitreal bevacizumab treatment between January 2015 and December 2021 were analyzed. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria and completed the follow-up period of 12 months were divided into 4 groups according to the types of diabetic macular edema on OCT (Diffuse DME [Group-1], cystoid DME [Group-2], diffuse DME with serous retinal detachment (SRD) [Group-3] and cystoid DME with SRD [Group-4]). Primary outcomes were EZ changes between the groups.Results: 125 eyes of 96 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and completed the follow-up period were included in the study. There were no statistically significant differences in EZ improvements between the groups at 4, 6 and 12 months after treatment (p =0,594, p=0,836, p=0,486, p=0,748 respectively). The mean logMAR BCVA and CMT of all eyes showed significant improvement at 4, 6 and 12 months. When the mean CMT was compared between each groups, there were significant differences between the Group-1and Group-4 at 4, 6 and 12 months after treatment. (p<0,05)Conclusion: The BCVA gains and improvement in the CMT were maintained in all four DME types during the first year of intravitreal bevacizumab therapy. The improvement in EZ disruption was not depent on the type of DME and improved similarly in all groups.
Influencing Factors of Humanistic Care Ability in Mental Health Workers: an Online Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Liu Xiaolin , Zhu Hongjin
Published: December 2021

Background Mental health workers may face more obstacles in humanistic care during the COVID-19 pandemic, we aimed to explore the humanistic care ability of mental health workers and its potential influencing factors.Method(s) An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 262 mental health workers working in Chongqing, China from December 1 to 31, 2020. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from the participants. Results Mental health workers’ humanistic care ability score was 186.47 ± 21.34, and most of the them (79.8%) were at a low level. Psychological capital and personality traits were significant influencing factors of humanistic care ability and its sub-dimensions.Conclusion(s) Research has found that the humanistic care ability of mental health workers is at a low level, and psychological capital and personality traits are significant factors influencing the humanistic care ability and its sub-dimensions. Interventions to improve psychological capital of mental health workers or to promote the change of personality traits that they want are recommended, thereby promoting humanistic practice.
Comparison of Intravitreal Ranibizumab and Aflibercept for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema: A Real-World Study
Authors: Isik Puren , Sizmaz Selcuk , Esen Ebru , Uysal Anil , Demircan Nihal
Published: December 2021

Purpose: To compare the visual and anatomic outcomes of intravitreal ranibizumab versus aflibercept in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) in a real-world study.Methods: This is a single-center retrospective comparative study of treatment-naïve patients who received intravitreal ranibizumab or aflibercept administration for DME for at least 12 months on an as needed regimen following three-monthly loading doses. The primary outcomes of the study were the mean change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), central macular volume (CMV). Factors to potentially affect these parameters were also analyzed.Results: A total of 100 eyes (66 patients) were included in the study. Fifty two eyes received ranibizumab and 48 received aflibercept injections. While the decrease in mean CMT at the 4th-month visit was significantly higher in the aflibercept-treated group than in the ranibizumab-treated group (p=0.02), there was no difference between the two groups at the end of the one-year follow-up (p=0.25). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of change in mean CMV during the follow-up. (p=0.26, p=0.27 at 4 and 12 months, respectively). The mean number of injections were also similar between groups (4.5 ± 1 vs. 4.6 ± 1.1 respectively, p=0.63).Conclusion: In a real-world setting, ranibizumab and aflibercept were both found to be effective in the first-line treatment of DME. Patients with DME who received fewer injections in the real-world could achieve visual and anatomical results comparable to randomized controlled trials participants.
Ranking Routes In Semiconductor Wafer Fabs
Authors: Gupta Shreya , Hasenbein John J. , Kim Byeongdong
Published: December 2021

We develop a method to estimate the quality of processing routes in a wafer fabrication process. Ranking such routes can be useful for identifying the “best” and “worst” routes when making adjustments to recipes. Route categorization is also useful in developing efficient scheduling algorithms. In particular, we propose a method for ranking routes based on count-based metrics such as the number of defects on a wafer. We start with a statistical model to produce a “local” ranking of a tool and then build a “global” ranking via a heuristic procedure. Creating a fully statistical procedure for ranking routes in semiconductor fabrication plants is virtually impossible, given the number of possible routes and the limited data available. Nonetheless, our discussions with working engineers indicate that even approximate rankings are useful for making better operational decisions.
Effects of Acid Treatment on The Recovery of Outdated Pre-preg Composite Fibers
Authors: Ali Zaara , Asmatulu Eylem
Published: December 2021

Purpose Carbon fiber, Kevlar® fiber, and glass fiber are the most widely used polymer prepregs in manufacturing high-performance composites to produce vital parts for a wide range of applications. The production of carbon and Kevlar® fibers is an energy-intensive process, requiring 198–595 MJ to produce 1 kg of virgin carbon fiber. However, chemically recycling these expired prepregs takes only 38.4 MJ/kg, which could be significantly sustainable. The work described in this study involves an array of experiments involving acid treatment of outdated prepreg composite fibers to study its effects and reclaim the fibers for future applications.Method The experiments were carried out at two different temperatures: 25°C and also 60°C. Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, acetone, and distilled water were used in the process, with varying treatment times of 60, 120, 240, 360, and 420 seconds. The recovered fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Result The optimum treatment time and temperature were different for all three types of fibers. Initially, the glass fiber yielded promising results at room temperature and with a minimal 120-s processing time. Carbon fiber treatment was successful at 60°C with a 420-s treatment time. However, some surface damage was observed in the Kevlar® fiber at 60°C. Conclusion The chemical recycling process is the most sustainable, energy- and cost-efficient approach compared to all other available recycling processes. Also, it is possible to recover much cleaner fibers with the weave intact with an acid treatment and solvent-based recovery.
Health Status Assessment of a Population of Asylum Seekers in Northern Italy
Authors: Manfredi Luca , Sciannameo Veronica , Destefanis Cinzia , Prisecaru Marta , Cossu Giorgia , Gnavi Roberto , Macciotta Alessandra , Catalano Alberto , Pepe Roberto Raffaele , Sacerdote Carlotta , Ricceri Fulvio
Published: December 2021

BackgroundSince 2011 Italy has faced an extraordinary increase in migrants arrivals, mainly from the Mediterranean route, one of the world’s most dangerous journeys. The purpose of the present article is to provide a comprehensive picture of the migrants' health status in the centre "T.Fenoglio", Settimo Torinese (Turin, Italy).MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from June 2016 to May 2018 on adult migrants (>18 years) from Africa, East and Middle East. Data was collected through the migrants' medical records. Descriptive statistics were performed on socio-demographic variables. The diagnosed diseases were anonymously registered and classified according to the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2).Conditional Inference Trees were used to perform a descriptive analysis of the sample and to detect the covariates with the strongest association with the outcome variables Disease on Arrival and ICPC-2 for diseases on arrival.ResultsAnalyzed observations were 9857. 81.8% were men, median age was 23 (Interquartile range= 20.0-27.4). 70.3% of the sample came from Sub-Saharan Africa. 2365 individuals (24%) arrived at the center with at least one disease. On arrival, skin (27.71%), respiratory (14.46%), digestive (14.73%) and generic diseases (20.88%) were the most frequent. During the stay respiratory diseases were the most common (25.70%). The highest probability of arriving with a disease occurred in 2018 and in the period September-November 2016, in particular for people from the Horn of Africa. During this period and also in the first half of 2017, skin diseases were the most reported. In quarters with lower prevalence of diseases on arrival the most common disease code was generic for both men and women.ConclusionsHorn of Africa was the most troubled area with severe conditions frequently reported regarding skin diseases, in particular scabies. 2018 was the most critical year, especially for migrants from Horn of Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. A better understanding of the health status of asylum seekers is an important factor to determine a more efficient reception and integration process and the better allocation of economic resources in the context of migrants' health care.
WITHDRAWN: Detection of contamination by some trace elements in the muscles of Carassius auratus (Linnaeus) collected from the Euphrates River / Central Iraq
Authors: Khlaif Abbas T . , Mohammed Sadiq Sahib , Al-Sultany Dhurgham A.A.
Published: December 2021

The study involved measuring the concentration of seven trace elements (Cd , Pb , Zn , Fe , Mn , Se and Ni) In edible tissues of three classes of different weight and height of Carassius auratus (Linnaeus) collected from three sites of the Euphrates River, which Al- Hindiya barrage (first site) and Touirij (second location) and the Kifil (third site), for the period from Spring 2015 to Winter 2016 , and included also The study also estimated the concentrations of the trace elements studied in river water, in both dissolved and particular form , as well as exiamining of some physio- chemical properties of water river , which variations depended on the different both sites and seasons The Findings of the present study indicated seasonal changes in the concentration of trace elements studied in both water forms (dissolved and particular form) and in fish muscle in the three locations of the current study. These were noticed that the level of trace elements in the third group, the contrast of the first and second categories was strong, and the finding found a clear link between the length and weight of the fish and the concentration of the fish as elements of concentration increases with increasing length and weight . The results founded that the concentrations of trace elements studied the particular form of higher compared to dissolved form as well as to the effective of certain physical and chemical properties of water such as Temperature, pH, Electrical conductivity and salinity on the concentration of these trace elements.
Assessment of Spatio-temporal Variations of Selected Water Quality Parameters of Lake Ziway, Ethiopia Using Multivariate Techniques
Authors: Tibebe Dessie , Zewge Feleke , Lemma Brook , Kassa Yezbie
Published: December 2021

Lake Ziway is shallow freshwater located in Northern part of Ethiopian Rift Valley. It is characterized as semi-arid to sub-humid type of climate. Expansions of the flower industry, widespread fisheries, intensive agricultural activities, fast population growth lead to deterioration of water quality and depletion of aquatic biota. In this study, spatial and temporal variations of selected water quality parameters of Lake Ziway were evaluated using multivariate statistical techniques in the study periods of 2014 and 2015. Monthly water quality data were collected from nine sampling stations during dry and wet seasonal basis for analysis of 15 water quality parameters. Mean nutrient concentrations showed increasing trend and were higher in Floriculture effluent (Fb) and Floriculture effluent after mixing in the lake (Fa) in all seasons. These sites were also characterized by high electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solid (TDS). All the nine sampling sites were categorized into three pollution levels according to their water quality features using cluster analysis (CA). Accordingly, sampling sites Fb and Ketar River (Kb) are highly and moderately polluted in both seasons, respectively. On the other hand, sampling sites at the center (C), Meki river mouth (Ma), Ketar river mouth (Ka), Meki River (Mb), Korekonch (Ko) and Fa in dry season and Ka, C, Ma, Ko, Bulbula river mouth (B) and Fa during wet season were less polluted. Principal component analysis (PCA) analysis also showed the pollutant sources were mainly from Fb during dry season Mb and Kb during wet season. The values of comprehensive pollution index illustrated the lake is moderately and slightly polluted in dry and wet seasons, respectively. Comparatively, the pollution status of the lake is high around floriculture effluent discharge site and at the two feeding rivers (Kb and Mb) due to increasing trends in agrochemical loads. This may lead to long term ecological changes in the lake unless possible measures taken.
Factors Contributing to the High Prevalence of Multidrug- Resistant/Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis: A Study From Russia
Authors: Bykov Ilia , Dyachenko Olga , Ratmanov Pavel , Wu Qunhong
Published: December 2021

Background: Rapidly growing prevalence of multidrug-resistant/Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB; resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin/Isolated resistance to Rifampicin) is putting in jeopardy the WHO End TB strategy. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the high prevalence of MDR/RR-TB in Khabarovsk krai region of Russia.Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted. Clinical, demographic and drug susceptibility testing data on 1440 patients were analyzed. Factors associated with MDR/RR-TB were identified through logistic regression analysis, along with in-depth interviews with eight patients, five healthcare managers and five doctors.Findings: 618 patients (42.9%) were identified with MDR/RR-TB. Patients with a history of imprisonment were 16.53 times (95% CI 5.37 to 50.88,) more likely to have MDR/RR-TB, whereas re-treatment patients were 2.82 times (95% CI 2.16 to 3.66) more likely to have MDR/RR-TB. Other influencing factors included presence of disability (AOR is 2.32, 95% CI 1.38 to 3.89) and cavitary disease (AOR is 1.76, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.25). Poor knowledge, progressive tiredness of prolonged TB treatment and inability to hospitalize infectious patients without their consent were perceived by the interviewees as major influencing factors. Conclusions: Incarceration and treatment history, regardless of outcome, were identified as major factors influencing MDR/RR-TB prevalence. It is essential for TB care system to eliminate legal loopholes, which deprive doctors of means to enforce quarantine procedures and epidemiological surveillance on infected patients, former and current inmates. In addition, increasing people’s awareness of TB, early detection and appropriate treatment of patients with TB are needed for successfully combating MDR/RR-TB.
Mechanical Overload Regulates Osteoblast Proliferation, Differentiation And Mineralization Through Wnt/Β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Fan Yaru , Yan Yingbin , Liu Han , Luo Rui , Liu Hao , Liu Yingjie , Li Ruixin
Published: December 2021

Objectives: To study the effect of mechanical overload stimulation on proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast and the underlying mechanisms.Methods: MC3T3-E1 cells were divided into overload group and control group. Four-point bending loading device was used to exert mechanical overload stimulation on MC3T3-E1 cells for a certain time. The proliferation of osteoblasts was detected by MTT colorimetric assay. Real-time PCR and Western Blot were used to detect the transcription and expression of osteoblast marker genes and proteins. The specific fluorescent dyes were used to label the actin filament and the nucleus, and the changes of cytoskeleton were observed under laser scanning confocal microscope. The mineralization of osteoblasts was evaluated by the number of calcium nodules formed by alizarin red staining. Results: Compared with the control group, the mechanical overload group significantly inhibited the proliferation of osteoblasts (p <0.05). Real-time PCR and Western Blot showed that the expression of osteoblast differentiation marker gene and protein was inhibited by mechanical overload stimulation. Under laser confocal microscopy, the overload group cell shrinkage deformation was observed, also the microfilament arrangement disorder, the skeleton arrangement loose, the direction difference and the skeleton breakage, but the nucleus does not have obvious change. Alizarin red staining showed that mechanical overload inhibited the formation of calcium nodules in osteoblasts. The expression of β-catenin protein in Wnt signaling pathway was inhibited by overload mechanical stimulation under immunofluorescence microscopy.Conclusion: Mechanical overload stimulation reduces the expression of Runx 2 by affecting the classical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thus it was inhibited osteoblast proliferation, differentiation and mineralization.
Improving the Safety of the Manchester Triage System for Children with Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Leeb Franziska , Sharma Ursula , Yeghiazaryan Lusine , Moll Henriëtte A. , Greber-Platzer Susanne
Published: December 2021

This study is a prospective evaluation of the validity of a Manchester Triage System (MTS) modification for detecting under-triaged pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Children with CHD visiting the emergency unit of the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Vienna General Hospital, in 2014 were included. The MTS modification updated the prioritization of patients with complex syndromic diseases, specific symptoms related to chronic diseases, decreased general condition (DGC), profound language impairment, unknown medical history, or special needs. A four-level outcome severity index based on diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, admission to hospital, and follow-up strategies, was defined as a reference standard for the correct clinical classification of the MTS urgency level. Of the 19,264 included children, 940 had CHD. Of this group, 266 fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the modified triage method. The MTS modification was significantly more often applied in under-triaged (65.9%) than correctly or over-triaged (25%) children with CHD (p-value χ²test <0.0001, OR 5.848 95% CI: 3.636-9.6).Conclusion: The MTS urgency level upgrade modification could reduce under-triage in children with CHD. Applying a safety strategy concept to the MTS could mitigate under-triage in such a high-risk patient group.
A Global Study of COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions: The Role of Personal Experiences and Risk Perceptions
Authors: Akel Kaitlyn , Noppert Grace , Rajamoorthy Yogambigai , Lu Yihan , Singh Awnish , Harapan Harapan , Chang Hao-Yuan , Shih Shu-Fang , Wagner Abram
Published: December 2021

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to assess the impact of personal experiences on vaccine decision-making. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between experiences with COVID-19 and intention to vaccinate against COVID-19.
Methods
We administered 28 repeated cross-sectional, online surveys between June 2020 and June 2021 in the US and Asia. The main exposures were three types of experiences: COVID-19 diagnosis, knowing a friend/family member with COVID-19, and exposures to media containing COVID-19 patients. A series of logistic regression models estimated the association between each experience and acceptance of a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine. We also explored perceived susceptibility as a potential mediator.
Results
Intent to vaccinate was lowest in the US and Taiwan, and highest in India, Indonesia, and China. Personal diagnosis with COVID-19 had the greatest impact on intentions to vaccinate across country sites compared to those who experienced a friend or family member diagnosed with COVID-19 or exposures to personal stories reported through media. In India participants that reported a personal diagnosis with COVID-19 had 12.95 times the odds (95% CI: 4.89, 34.28) of accepting a COVID-19 vaccine compared to those with no diagnosis. Higher risk perceptions were associated with higher intention to vaccinate against COVID-19.
Conclusions
Proximity and seriousness of experiences are influential factors for intention to vaccinate against COVID-19. This study highlights the numerous ways in which pandemic experiences may influence intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 across geographies and cultures, where the course of the pandemic differed.
Feasibility Studies on Treatment of Household Greywater Using Phytoremediation Plants
Authors: Kulandaiswamy Neetha Delphin Mary , Nithyanandam Muralimohan
Published: December 2021

Recycling and reusing of wastewater acquired high priority among the research community to meet the ever-increasing demand for groundwater, and to tackle water scarcity in every country. In this scenario, a grey water treatment system is developed with a vertical flow wetland construction tank (VFWCT)with sand, gravel and silex as media combined with phytoremediation technology using plants like Cyperus rotundus, Canna indica, Typha angustifolia, Cyperus pangorei, and Phragmites australis. The assessment parameters like color, odor, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, free residual chlorine, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), chloride, Sulphate, Total Suspended Solids (TSS),oil & grease, Sulphide,Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Nitrate Nitrogen, E.coli and Salmonella are used to substantiate the performance of proposed greywater treatment system. Simulation outcomes showed that most of the guideline values of the effluent are notably lower compared to the influent. The experimentation also focused on finding the best plant as Typha angustifolia for greywater treatment in the VFWCT. The plant’s rapid growth and the removal efficiency parameters of the plant with regard to the contaminants present in the greywater was highly notable. The removal efficiency was 56.56% and 50.25% for BOD5 and COD, the solids content TSS and TDS was 68% and 64.4%. The salt Cl− and Na+ removal efficiencies are 63.4% and 81.39% respectively. Majority of the parameters like pH value, Electrical conductivity, odor and TDS are higher than the groundwater aquifers, but falls within the world health organization safety limits.
Fast Detection And Quantification of Plasmodium Species Infected Erythrocytes In A Non-Endemic Region By Using The Sysmex XN-31 Analyzer
Authors: Khartabil T.A. , de Rijke Y.B. , Koelewijn R. , Hellemond J.J. van , Russcher H.
Published: December 2021

BACKGOUND: Due to increased travel from endemic countries, malaria occurs more frequently in non-endemic regions. It is a challenge for diagnostic laboratories in non-endemic countries to provide reliable results, as experience of staff is often limited to only a few cases per year. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the fully automated Sysmex XN-31 malaria analyzer in a routine diagnostic setting in a non-endemic region. METHODS: Samples from 112 patients suspected for malaria were examined by the Sysmex XN-31 analyzer to determine the absolute count of malaria-infected red blood cells count (MI-RBC/µl). Microscopic examination of both Quantitative Blood Coat capillary tubes and thick and thin blood films were used as reference methods. Limits of blank (LoB), detection (LoD) and quantification (LoQ) were investigated using an in vitro Plasmodium falciparum culture . Nine hundred twenty samples of patients with RBC abnormalities were included to determine which RBC abnormalities trigger indeterminate or false positive results. RESULTS: No false positive nor false negative results were obtained for the examined patient samples suspected for malaria. For 3% of samples an indeterminate result by the XN-31 was obtained. The Passing-Bablok regression line for diagnostic accuracy of the parasitemia was y = 39.75 + 0.7892x showing a positive bias of about 21% when comparing the MI-RBC results to microscopy. The LoB, LoD and LoQ were calculated to be 4.7, 5.9, and 19.0 infected RBC/mL, respectively. From the 920 abnormal RBC samples collected, 4.6% resulted in a false positive MI-RBC result and almost half of the samples produced indeterminate results. These results were related to increases in nucleated red blood cells, reticulocytes and other abnormal RBC morphologies such as sickle cells. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results we conclude that the XN-31 is a fast and reliable screening method in the detection and quantification of Plasmodium species in patients However, if an abnormal red blood cell morphology is present, the results of the XN-31 should be interpreted with caution as false positive results can be caused by interfering abnormal erythrocytes.
Evaluation of biosimilar trastuzumab MYL-1401O in HER2-positive early-stage and metastatic breast cancer in real-life data
Authors: Eser Kadir , Sezer Emel , Erçolak Vehbi , İnal Ali
Published: December 2021

Background The trastuzumab biosimilar MYL-1401O has demonstrated equivalent efficacy and comparable safety to reference trastuzumab (RTZ) in clinical trials of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) as non-dual HER2 therapy. Here, we present the first real-world comparison of MYL-1401O versus RTZ with single/dual HER2-targeted therapy for the neoadjuvant, adjuvan and palliative first-/second-line treatment with HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC) and metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients in two tertiary hospitals in Turkey. Methods We retrospectively investigated medical records in the Severance Breast Cancer Registry in Turkey. We identified patients with HER2-positive EBC (n=159) who had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n= 92) with RTZ or MYL-1401O±pertuzumab and adjuvant chemotherapy (n=67) with RTZ or MYL-1401O plus taxan between january 2018 and jun 2021. Stage IV MBC (n=53) who had received palliative first-line treatment with RTZ or MYL-1401O, and docetaxel±pertuzumab (THP) or second-line treatment with RTZ or MYL-1401O, and taxan between january 2018 and jun 2021. Primary endpoints were pathological complete response in neoadjuvant grup (pCR) and progression-free survival (PFS) in adjuvant and metastatic grup. Secondary endpoints in the metastatic patient group (MBC) was overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and cardiac safety. Results The rate of achieving pCR in the group receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy was similar between MYL and RTZ (62.7% [37/59] and 55.9% [19/34] p=0.509). Median PFS similar in EBC-adjuvant group, 12-24-36 months PFS respectively 96.3%, 84.7%, 71.5% in patients with MYL and 100%, 88.5%, 64.8% in patients with RTZ (95% CI p=0.577). Median PFS similar in metastatic group, 23.0 (9.8-16.1) months in patients with MYL-1401O and 23 (19.9-26.0) months in patients with RTZ (95% CI p=0.270). The ORR, DCR, and cardiac safety profiles did not also show significant difference efficacy outcomes between two groups. Conclusion These real-world data suggest that biosimilar trastuzumab MYL-1401O has similar effectiveness and cardiac safety to RTZ in HER2-positive EBC and MBC patients when administered as part of single/dual HER2-targeted therapy with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant or palliative setting.
Colonic Mucosa-associated Mycobiota in Individuals With Normal Colons
Authors: Kourkoumpetis Themistoklis , Hoffman Kristi L. , Kim Yuna , Graham David Y. , White Donna L. , Day R. Sue , Brown Eric L. , Rosen Gail , El-Serag Hashem B. , Petrosino Joseph F , Jiao Li
Published: December 2021

To characterize the spatial variation of the mucosa-associated adherent mycobiota along the large intestine in individuals with a normal-colon, we performed eukaryotic rRNA operon’s internal transcribed spacer-2 sequencing to profile fungal community composition and structure in 70 mucosal biopsies taken from the cecum, ascending, transverse, descending colon, and rectum of 14 polyp-free individuals. The bacteriome of these samples was previously characterized by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. We identified 64 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) with the relative abundance no less than 0.05% from these colonic mucosa samples. Each individual has a unique community composition of the gut mycobiome (P = 0.001 for beta diversity). Alpha-diversity and beta-diversity did not differ significantly across the colon segments. The most common phyla (relative abundance) were Ascomycota (45.4%) and Basidiomycota (45.3%). The most common genera were Malassezia (28.2%) and Candida (13.4%). Malassezia was found in 13 of 14 individuals. Other fungi genera were sporadically found in the large intestine. The most common species were Malassezia restricta (22.7%), Candida albicans (11.9%), Malasseziales sp. (8.80%), unclassified fungi (7.80%), and Penicillium paneum (5.70%). Malasseziaceae was co-abundant with Enterobacteriaceae and co-exclusive with Barnesiellaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Acidaminococcaceae. Malassezia was widely colonized whereas other fungal genera were sporadically colonized in the large intestine. The physiologic and pathogenic functions of fungi in human gastrointestinal tract including Malasseziaceae that may interact with several bacterial families remain to be fully elucidated.