bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identity and (Dis)agreement in Congo-Brazzaville Political Discourse on Facebook
Authors: Tsoumou Jean Mathieu
Published: March 2023

Despite the growing research on identity, the connection between (dis)agreement and identity in political debates has received scant attention, even though these phenomena (i.e., identity and [dis]agreement) are common discursive practices in polarizing interactions. This chapter qualitatively examines the relationship between (dis)agreement and identity in a politically-oriented Facebook interaction in Congo-Brazzaville, a sociolinguistic environment where more than 60 languages are regularly spoken. What the findings show is that there is a strong connection between identity and the ways the interactants (dis)agree, since, as the analysis shows, the interactants do not just (dis)agree, but their expression of opinions, points of views, as well as sociopolitical engagement reflect what makes them similar to or different from others. The management of one's positions within the conversation rests on the ability to manage the positive social value one effectively (dis)claims for himself by the line others assume he/she has taken in the interaction.
An Educational Catch-22
Authors: Branson Dana C. , Koth Anna J.
Published: March 2023

This chapter discusses injustices surrounding school social workers (SSW), specifically in schools with high rates of poverty, majority-minority populations, in rural settings, and/or concentrations of high-risk students. The education system is a substantial source of socialization for children, influencing opinions, worldviews, behaviors, and coping skills. Schools with an accumulation of poverty-based social problems commonly struggle with hiring SSWs due to budget deficits and suffer in comparison to richer school districts. Additionally, schools are providing more social services to students and families as a means of increasing educational outcomes; however, schools with the greatest demonstrated needs are less likely to have access to SSWs at the prescribed student ratio to provide services at an optimal level. This chapter discusses the benefits SSWs bring to the educational community, ongoing inequalities due to tax revenue-based budgets, and innovative ideas that can increase SSWs in schools with limited resources.
An Optimised Bitcoin Mining Strategy
Authors: Luo Yizhi , Zhang Jianhui
Published: March 2023

Stale blocks are not avoidable in blockchain, such as the Bitcoin network, when proof-of-work is used as the consensus protocol. However, as the economic loss to the miners and the security risk to the network cannot be ignored, research is needed to identify and analyse stale blocks. By analysing the factors influencing the generation of stale blocks, the authors propose a new machine learning model based on XGBoost. They propose a new data collection method for bitcoin nodes to obtain real data for training prediction model. Then, based on the model, they generate optimal mining strategies and analyse the economic benefits. The experimental data and application cases show that the real-time data detection and machine learning model that they propose can accurately identify and predict the generation of stale blocks and generate an economically optimal mining strategy in the Bitcoin network with the presence of stale blocks.
Teachers as Augmented Reality Designers
Authors: Manna Martina
Published: March 2023

As an emergent technology augmented reality (AR) demonstrated a plethora of advantages in foreign language education, promoting motivation, memorization of contents, as well as contextualized learning. However, the majority of teachers are unfamiliar with AR, and their role as designers and facilitators requires further investigation. Moreover, English is the most explored target language, and the study of AR for the teaching of Italian as a foreign language (TIFL) is limited. Therefore, the investigation explored the perceptions of educators on the experience of designing and implementing mobile AR (MAR) for TIFL. In line with other studies, findings showed that, according to teacher perceptions, MAR can promote the overall learning process. However, the study highlighted issues like the availability of open-source MAR platforms and materials specifically designed for language educators. Moreover, the need of ongoing teacher training as well as possible economical and infrastructural limitations in specific social contexts must be considered, before implementing AR on a large-scale.
The Influence of Vacuum Pressure Heating Treatment on the Characteristic of Crude Palm Oil for Alternative Mineral Oil Insulator
Authors: Mustangin Muhamad , Purwantana Bambang , Hidayat Chusnul , Radi Radi
Published: March 2023

– The research on CPO as an insulator to replace mineral oil. The CPO was heated using vacuum distillation technology. The parameters used are the temperature of 110°C to 170°C with the difference of 10°C and the vacuum pressure of 0 mmHg to-600 mmHg with the difference of 200 mmHg. The highest breakdown voltage measurement of 49 kV (170°C-600 mmHg), the lowest viscosity is 20 mPas (170°C-600 mmHg), the lowest water content was obtained at 30 (160°C-400 mmHg). The vacuum pressure and temperature rise causes the high breakdown voltage and viscosity are high and the water content is low. The relationship between vacuum pressure and breakdown voltage is y = 5.8 x + 7 with R2 of 0.9397, the viscosity is y = -2x + 35.67 with R2 of 0.9231 and the water content is y=-7.25x2 + 22.95x + 106.75 with R2 of 0.9945.
Purification of an Extracellular Amylase Produced by Aspergillus niger ICP2 through Submerged Fermentation
Authors: Winarsa Rudju , Putrasetya Ramdhan , Azizah Azizah , Salma Farah , Siswoyo Siswoyo , Muzakhar Kahar
Published: March 2023

The future applications of amylase have sparked the interest of several industries, resulting in the discovery of possible amylase-producing microbes. Aspergillus niger ICP2 was an indigenous fungus isolated from coffee pulp that shows amylolytic activity after growing on a soluble starch agar. In this study, we optimized the production and successfully purified the amylase from Aspergillus niger ICP2. Amylase optimization production was performed for a 7-day of incubation under submerged fermentation. The amylase activity was measured using the iodin method, and the total protein was quantified spectrophotometrically at 280 nm. Purifying amylase crude extract conducted such as ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, and anion-exchange chromatography. Amylase was maximally precipitated at 90% saturation, followed by dialysis on a 10 kDa column, increasing specific activity up to 12.17 U/mg and purity multiples of 9.31 times. Two peaks of amylase activity were formed when the dialyzed amylase was loaded onto anion exchange chromatography with specific activities of 14.47 U/mg (fraction I) and 32.73 U/mg (fraction II). The increase in specific activity and purity fold indicated that the amylase purification process was successful.
Pulmonary benign metastasizing leiomyoma: A case report
Authors: Panagiotou Emmanouil , Vamvakaris Ioannis , Syrigos Nikolaos , Kotteas Elias
Published: March 2023

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma is a metastasizing form of leiomyoma, which is a benign uterine tumor that typically affects women of reproductive age. Hysterectomy is typically performed 10-15 years before the disease's metastatic progression. We present a case of a postmenopausal woman who presented to the emergency department with worsening dyspnea and a history of hysterectomy due to leiomyoma. A CT scan of the chest revealed diffuse bilateral lesions. An open-lung biopsy was performed, and the lung lesions were found to have leiomyoma cells. The patient began letrozole treatment and showed clinical improvement without any serious adverse events.
Wernicke encephalopathy and beriberi disease presenting as STEMI-equivalent
Authors: Martins Carvalho Miguel , Proença Tânia , Alves Pinto Ricardo , Pinto Roberto , Macedo Filipe
Published: March 2023

Thiamine deficiency is commonly associated with malnutrition, alcoholism and bariatric surgery. Thiamine deficiency can manifest in different ways, especially in developing countries: as peripheric neuropathy, as Wernicke encephalopathy or as beriberi disease. The authors present the case of a 72-year-old male, with a hiatal hernia that led to thiamine deficiency due to malnutrition. The initial clinical manifestation was an ST-elevation myocardial infarct equivalent, an ECG with a shark-fin pattern that evolved to a Wellens type B pattern. The patient evolved with severe altered mental status. A Wernicke encephalopathy diagnosis was confirmed by MRI; the patient was medicated with high-dose thiamine, with quick recovery, both neurologic and cardiac. The clinical history and response to treatment confirm the diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy and beriberi disease.
The effects of epigenetic modifiers on the differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells into neural progenitor-like cells
Authors: Alketbi Fakhira Saif , Khan Amir Ali , Gul Muhammad Tehsil , Khan Khattak Muhammad Nasir , Jayakumar Manju Nidagodu , Samsudin A. R.
Published: March 2023

Background:

Human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs) may be differentiated into neural lineages. The main aim of the study was to assess the DNA demethylation and histone deacetylation inhibition on the differentiation of HDPSCs into neural progenitor-like cells (NPCs).

Methods:

HDPSCs were treated with 5-aza2′-deoxycytidine (AZA), DNA methylation inhibitor, and the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) for 3 and 5 days followed by their differentiation into NPCs. The efficiency of the differentiation was evaluated by apoptosis, cellular proliferation, and relative expression of Nestin among the NPCs derived with the different treatments.

Results:

Five-day treatment of AZA was crucial for the more efficient demethylation of the HDPSCs. Analysis of the proliferation, apoptosis, and relative expression of the Nestin indicated that the AZA and SAHA neither enhance nor inhibit the differentiation of the HDPSCs into NPCs. Howevere, the expression of Nestin decreased at day 7 in NPCs derived with SAHAH treatment compared with NPCs derived with AZA treatmement. However, there was no difference in Nestin expression in any treatment-derived NPCs compared with control NPCs. All of the NPCs derived from all of the groups were able to differentiate into terminal neurons.

Conclusion:

Neither DNA demethylation nor the histone deacetylation has any main effects on proliferation and apoptosis during the differentiation of HDPSCs into NPCs. The only significant effect of the treatments was on the size of the NPCs at day 7; the SAHAH treatment had the smallest NPCs.
Evaluation of serum cystatin C level as an early biomarker of nephropathy in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus attending Suez Canal University Hospital
Authors: Abd-ElWahab Amina M. , Tawfik Mohammad E. , El-Sharkawy Sonia G. , Mohammed Zeinab A.
Published: March 2023

Background

Diabetic nephropathy is a syndrome characterized by a secondary renal disease in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). It is a serious complication of DM and is the most common cause of the end-stage renal disease.

Aim

To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum cystatin C level as an early biomarker of nephropathy in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) attending Suez Canal University Hospital.

Patients and methods

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that included 49 children with T1DM attending the pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic of at Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt, and 49 matched healthy controls during the period from 1/12/2020 to 1/3/2021. The target population was children with T1DM aged between 6 and 18 years of both sexes who were attending the pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic of Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt. All studied patients and healthy controls were subjected to history taking and general and systemic examination. The following investigations were done: fasting blood sugar, serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), urine analysis, hemoglobin A1C, and serum cystatin C level).

Results

ACR and cystatin C levels were significantly higher in albuminuric than nonalbuminuric diabetic patients. There was a significant positive correlation between serum cystatin C and duration of diabetes, hemoglobin A1C, and ACR. For serum cystatin C, regarding detection of microalbuminuria, the sensitivity was 66.7%, specificity was 75%, the positive predictive value was 49%, and the negative predictive value was 0.52%, with the best cut-off value of 0.98 (mg/l).

Conclusion

Microalbuminuric diabetic patients showed an increased serum cystatin C levels, whereas their creatinine levels were still within normal. Serum cystatin C levels well reflect the severity of renal damage caused by DM. The serum cystatin C measurement might become a useful, practical, noninvasive, and accurate tool for early detection of microalbuminuria and renal insufficiency in T1DM.
Analgesic Efficacy of Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Laparotomies for Cancer Surgeries
Authors: Bakeer Ahmed Hussein , Hamimy Waleed , Zaghloul Ahmed , Shaban Ahmed , Magdy Mohammed , Ahmed Mahmoud Badry
Published: March 2023

Background:

Pain has a wide spectrum of effects on the body and inadequate management of postoperative pain outcomes in multiple physiological and psychological consequences; and increases morbidity. The use of opioid-based analgesia in high doses can have multiple adverse effects including respiratory depression, nausea, and vomiting.

Objectives:

Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of analgesic and safety of both techniques (transversus abdominis plane block [TAPB] and erector spinae plane block [ESPB]) in cases having lower abdominal surgery through laparotomy.

Materials and Methods:

This randomized trial was performed on 62 cases who underwent laparotomy for lower abdominal surgery under general anesthesia were recruited. Subjects were equally distributed into either TAPB or ESPB. The primary outcome was total morphine intake postoperatively for 24 h. Other variables were intraoperative fentanyl consumption, delay to first morphine demand, and intraoperative morphine consumption, the number of patients who needed rescue analgesia by morphine, perioperative heart rate and mean blood pressure, numerical rating score (NRS), postoperative nausea and vomiting, and block-related complications.

Results:

ESPB patients consumed less total postoperative morphine than the TAPB group (5.35 ± 2.65 vs. 8.52 ± 3.35 mg; P < 0.001). Patients who received ESPB showed less postoperative pain scores and, thus, needed rescue medication after a longer period than the TAPB group (12.50 ± 7.31 h vs. 7.72 ± 5.69 h; P = 0.008). In addition, ESPB patients needed less intraoperative fentanyl doses than TAPB (138.71 ± 35.85 vs. 203.23 ± 34.00 mcg; P < 0.001). ESPB group demonstrated statistically significant lower scores of NRS at rest and at movement.

Conclusions:

Ultrasound (US)-guided ESPB provides more safe and effective analgesia in lower abdominal surgeries compared with US-guided TAPB.
Risk Factors for Development of Invasive Candidiasis in Critically III Patients
Authors: Sedono Rudyanto , Adisasmita Asri C. , Djuwita Ratna , Sjaaf Amal Chalik , Nadjib Mardiati , Syarif Syahrizal , Alisjahbana Bachti , Karuniawati Anis , Wahyuningsih Retno
Published: March 2023

Background:

Majority of invasive candidiasis in critically ill patients was developed after admission to intensive care unit. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for development of invasive candidiasis among patients admitted to intensive care unit, especially considering the timing of laboratory, microscopic, and culture examinations.

Materials and Methods:

This was a prospective observational study in which critically ill patients were assessed on the first, fifth, and ninth day since admission to intensive care unit. Potential risk factors were demographic and clinical characteristic, clinical managements profile proportions, laboratory profile (leukocyte, platelet, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin), morphological change (from yeast to hypae or pseudohyphae in microscopic examination) and colonization increase (from serial culture examination).

Results:

A total of 115 subjects enrolled in this study. Multivariate analysis identified older age (HR 2.8, 95% CI 0.8–8.9), parenteral nutrition (HR 3.1, 95% CI 0.77–12.3), central venous catheter (HR 1.7, 95% CI 0.43–6.67), corticosteroid (HR 2.8, 95% CI 0.53–14.8), procalcitonin day-5 (HR 3.1, 95% CI 0.89–10.8), morphology change in the axilla and rectal swab (HR 5.1, 95% CI 1.6–18.51), and morphology change and colonization increase in rectal swab day-9 (HR 4.3, 95% CI 1.0–18.02) as independent risk factors of invasive candidiasis.

Conclusion:

In addition to several typical risk factors, procalcitonin test on day-5 as well as serial microscopic and culture examinations were associated with the development of invasive candidiasis, therefore potentially help in the diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients in intensive care unit.
Subthreshold micropulse 532-nm green laser treatment of acute central serous chorioretinopathy
Authors: Mohamed Asmaa A. , Genaidy Mahmoud M. , Zein Hosny A.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 532-nm green subthreshold micropulse laser (GSML) as a treatment for acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).

Patients and methods

This was a prospective study that included 42 eyes of 42 patients with acute CSCR treated with IRIDEX IQ 532-nm GSML. The study was conducted at Minia University Hospital and Genaidy Ophthalmology Center, Minia, Egypt, between October 2019 and May 2022. All patients were subjected to complete ophthalmological examination, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography at baseline and each follow-up visit at 1, 3, and 18 months after laser treatment. The outcome measures included the change in best-corrected visual acuity from baseline, optical coherence tomography-measured central macular thickness, as well as the resolution of subretinal fluid (SRF).

Results

The mean baseline LogMAR best-corrected visual acuity was 0.41±0.27 and significantly improved to 0.29±0.17 at 1 month (P=0.001), 0.21±0.14 at 3 months (P=0.0001), and 0.16±0.12 at 18 months (P=0.0001). The mean central macular thickness was 438.8±141.9 μm before treatment with a significant reduction to 352.8±60.6 μm after 1 month (P=0.005), 291.1±55.3 μm after 3 months (P=0.0001), and 241.8±24.5 μm after 18 months (P=0.0001). Regarding the SRF, it was absent in 40 (95.2%) eyes at the 3-month visit, whereas recurrence was present in only two (4.8%) eyes, with no cases of persistent SRF at the last follow-up. No complications were encountered during or after laser treatment.

Conclusions

GSML may be a safe and effective treatment modality for the acute form of CSCR with a low rate of disease recurrence.
Bisphenol A Used in Plastic Industry Negatively Affects Wild Vimba Bream (Vimba vimba)
Authors: Minaz Mert , Er Akif , Ak Kubra , Nane Ikbal Demet , Ipek Zeynep Zehra , Aslankoc Rahime
Published: March 2023

Used as a component of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins in the modern industrial world, bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the highest volume produced industrial chemicals worldwide. BPA causes important environmental problems including endocrine disrupting effect on the organisms in aquatic environments. This study focused on the histopathological, oxidative and hematological effects of long-term BPA exposure on wild vimba bream (Vimba vimba) for the first time. Twenty-five fish stocked in each aquarium and exposed to 1000 μg/L BPA for four weeks. Hematological parameters of fish did not differ significantly compared to control group. The antioxidant activity of liver and gill tissues created a significant partial difference between the groups. According to the histopathological studies, intense hyperplasia and necrosis were detected in the gill tissues of the fish exposed BPA. In addition, hypertrophy and epithelial lifting symptom were partly observed. Vocalization and hypertrophic cells was determined in the liver tissues. In conclusions, this study revealed that BPA had an oxidative and especially histopathologically adverse effects on V. vimba, even though it did not have a hematological effect on the treated fish. Although BPA has adverse effects on the health of aquatic organisms, future studies should focus on the residue in fish meat and risk assessment on human health.
Application of Modal Analysis and Operating Deflection Shapes on the Study of Trucks and Buses Dynamic Behavior
Authors: de Siqueira Leandro Pugliese , Nogueira Felipe
Published: March 2023

The application of modal analysis and operating deflection shapes (ODSs) in the study of structural vibration problems has been known for years. But these tools are also very useful in the study of vehicle dynamic behavior.

This paper presents applications of these experimental techniques on the study of the dynamic response of trucks and buses. It also discusses the relationship between modal analysis and operating deflection shape measurements.
Therapeutic pluralism and the politics of disclosure: breast cancer patients’ experiences in public healthcare
Authors: Nyawira Githaiga Jennifer , Swartz Leslie
Published: March 2023

Background: Despite the widespread utilisation of complementary and or alternative medicine (CAM) by breast cancer patients in low-and-middle-income countries, few disclose CAM use to their physicians.

Objective: This study examines disclosure CAM use among a small sample of women attending a breast cancer clinic in a public health hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Methods: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was utilised in this study. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 17 women attending a breast clinic in a public hospital.

Results: Non-disclosure of CAM use was attributed to minimal time for patient-doctor interactions due to resource constraints in public health facilities and the superior status accorded to biomedical doctors’ superior knowledge, associated with paternalism, leading to patients’ fear of reproach for using CAM. Consequently, disclosure of CAM only occurred in instances where it was deemed an absolute necessity.

Conclusion: Considering the reality of an overstretched public healthcare system, what may be possible is an active attempt to communicate to patients that doctors are aware that patients may use a range of resources (such as CAM), which is their right, and further, recommend patient disclosure of CAM use to their doctors, because of the possibility of drug interactions and other potentially negative effects.

Keywords: Breast cancer; alternative medicine; South Africa.
Forensic tool for sex prediction- hand dimensions
Authors: Gupta Renu , Kumar Nayyar Ashish , Kumar Gupta Manoj , Lata Bhagat Om
Published: March 2023

Background: Determination of sex from mutilated body fragments can perform vital role for identification of departed soul.Forensic authority pacts with human identification from the hand measurements which is of prodigious assessment during tragedies, terror attacks and in criminality.

Objective: Present study explored the analytical role of the anthropometric measurements of hand dimensions, find demarking points for male and female, check percentage exactitude of sex determination in Western Indian population.

Methods: The study was piloted on a sample of 504 individuals. All the measurements were taken by standard procedure. Discriminant analysis and demarking points were created for all hand measurements.

Results: Males have a significantly higher values of all measurements than females. The left-hand length measurement unveiled  noteworthy sexual dimorphism index (110.80). The higher value of the demarking point labelled as males. The best sexually dimorphic hand dimensions showed the utmost precision left hand length (95% in the male), followed by right hand length (76.1%).

Conclusion: All hand measurements like length, breadth and index are displaying sexual dimorphism, hence they can be used for determination of sex when isolated hand is found.Keywords: Hand measurements; sexual dimorphism; demarking point; discriminant analysis.
Clinico-epidemiological profile of children living with HIV/AIDS managed at Heal Africa Hospital, Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Mapera Emil , Pierre Fina Jean , Body Mabiala Joseph , Phillipe Ngwala Lukanu , Nzaumvila Doudou
Published: March 2023

Background: Conflict in the DRC led to a poor health care. HIV/AIDS in children remains one of the leading causes of pediatric morbidity and mortality.Methods: This cross-sectional study used a sample size of 238 files and aimed to determine the epidemiological profile of childrenliving with HIV at Heal Hospital in 2015.Results: The age ranged from zero to fifteen, with a mean of 6.1 (±3.9) years. Records of PMTCT were noted in 12%. The mean birth weight was 3(±0.8) kg, most cases (88 percent) had normal vaginal delivery. Many of them (71 percent) were living with at least one parent. The majority of the children (92 percent) were from Goma, and 75 percent were diagnosed at WHO Stage 3. At least one episode of hospital admission was reported in 71 percent. Respiratory tract infections were the most common disease, and they were also the leading cause of death. Based on the CD4, which was the most cost-effective method ofmonitoring, there was an improvement in immunity at the last visit.Conclusion: This study pointed out the importance of PMTC and early management of children leaving with HIV/AIDS. Outreach would encourage voluntary HIV/AIDS testing for pregnant women in armed conflict zone.Keywords: Central Africa; civil war; HIV/AIDS; pediatric; presentation.
Overnutrition and its associated factors among adult human immunodeficiency virus positive patients on antiretroviral therapy, Northwest, Ethiopia
Authors: Sewale Yihenew , Tefera Zewudie Bitew
Published: March 2023

Background: Anti-retroviral therapy was introduced to treat human immunodeficiency virus patients; comorbidities affecting individuals with human immunodeficiency virus-positive have changed dramatically, with increasing the prevalence of overnutrition.Overnutrition has increased from time to time in people living with the human immunodeficiency virus. However, there is scarce adequate documented evidence regarding nutrition on human immunodeficiency virus

Objective: The study aimed to assess the magnitude of over nutrition and its associated factors among human immunodeficiency virus receiving antiretroviral therapy

Methods: We used a cross-sectional study design to collect data from 422 participants from Debre Markos hospital. We used a systematic sampling technique to select the total number of participants. The outcomes of Data were entered, and coded using Epi-data version 4.1 and analysed using STATA Version 14.1. We performed a multivariable logistic regression model to identify determinants of over-nutrition at a p-value of less than 0.05.

Results: The magnitude of overnutrition was 19.7% (95%CI: 14.6-25.4). Age group > 45 years (AOR: 3.18:95%CI: 1.09, 9.22), being farmer (AOR: 0.068, 95%CI (0.007, 0.611), family size greater than or equal to 4 (AOR: 3.18:95%CI (1.09-9.22), viral load less than 1000 copies/ml (AOR: 4.45 95%CI (1.69-11.76), and use of prophylaxis therapy (AOR: 2.67:95%CI (1.138-6.291) were significantly associated with over nutrition.

Conclusions: In this study one-fifth of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus patients had over nutrition. In this study, the magnitude of overnutrition is high associated with a viral load of fewer than 1000 copies/cell, age greater than 45, and having taken prophylaxis therapy. Therefore, education about lifestyle change, regular monitoring of weight, regular nutritional assessment, and intervention of the existed problems like doing regular exercise is highly recommended.

Keywords: Overnutrition; ART; HIV.
Evaluation of the operational performance of the Nigerian agricultural cooperatives and rural Development bank (nacrdb) in cross river state
Authors: A  Ajah E , B Ohen S , Asuquo A , F Elem G
Published: March 2023

This study examined the performance of farmers in Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank (NACRD5. in terms of repayment in Cross River State. Specifically the study analyzed lending and loan characteristics, constrants to repayment, repayment performance and compare repayment between crop and poultry farmers. Purposive and random sampling procedures were used to select 270 respondents using both primary and secondary data to accomplish the objectives. Data analyses included the use of mean, frequencies, percentages and

the t-test. The study showed that the institution considered was characterized by untimely delivery of loan owing to complicated. Cumbersome and time consuming procedures in loan processing/ approval decision and amount of loan disbursed. The comparison between crop and poultry producers revealed that crop producers repaid their loan more than their poultry counterparts. The study recommended that timely disbursement policies that increase the accessibility of farmers to loan should be adopted and this would be an effective measure to aid flow of funds into the agricultural sector.
Prognosis of project-based instructional package on public secondary school students’ academic achievement in economics in Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Authors: Ogala A. Egwu , Chukwuma O. Chukwu , Aliyu H. Dalhatu , Inusa Diana
Published: March 2023

The researcher investigated the prognosis of project-based instructional package on public secondary school students’ academic achievement in Economics in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Three (3) specific purposes, three (3) research questions and three (3) hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study employed quasi-experimental research design and the population of the study was two thousand, nine hundred and one (2,901) senior secondary two (SS11) students in public secondary schools in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The instrument for data collection was Economics Achievement Test (EAT). Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for all research questions and analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA) was applied to test the null hypotheses at alpha level of 0.05. The findings of the study revealed among others that students’ academic achievement in Economics improved significantly when taught using project-based instructional package. The implication of the study is that findings of the study justify the urgent need for public secondary school teachers to effectively apply project-based instructional package for Economics classroom instruction in order to improve students’ academic achievement in Economics in both internal and external examinations. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommended among other things that Economics teachers in public secondary schools need to re-access their classroom instructional practices which make students passive listeners and emphasize those practices that engage students in teaching and learning processes. Useful suggestions for further studies were made.
Long non-coding RNA LINC00470 regulates the growth and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of human oral cancer cells
Authors: Liu Fengjia , Liu Min , Li Wannan , Ou Yuejian
Published: March 2023

Purpose: To investigate the role of long non-coding RNA LINC00470 in human oral cancer tissues and cell lines (OC3, SCC9 and CAL27).

Methods: Expression of mRNA was determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell viability and proliferation were measured using MTT and EdU assays, respectively, while cell migration and invasion were determined with transwell assay. Protein expression was assayed with western blotting.

Results: There was significant up-regulation of LINC00470 in the cancer tissues and cell lines (OC3, SCC9 and CAL27) (p < 0.05). Silencing of LINC00470 led to significant inhibition of the proliferation and colony-formation potential of the oral cancer cells (p < 0.05). Furthermore, silencing of LINC00470 in oral cancer cell lines caused significant induction of apoptosis, suppression of migration and invasion, and restoration of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Conclusion: These results strongly demonstrate the oncogenic role of LINC00470 in oral cancer, thereby suggesting its possible prognostic and therapeutic potential in this lethal malignancy.
Formulating hypothetical talk: An action-driven approach to communicating stance in business meetings
Authors: Lohrová Helena , Koester Almut
Published: March 2023

The article focuses on the deployment of hypothetical talk in the CANBEC and CCI corpora of business meetings and examines its use as a discursive tool for communicating stance in encounters where participants represent (potentially) incompatible positions. Through the use of hypothetical talk, interactants signal the potential for agreement and resolution by testing the other participants’ position and their preparedness to shift their view. It is argued that although talk introduced to the meeting may be hypothetical, the stance communicated is real. The analysis provides insights into actions applied to resolve impasse or conflict situations, particularly through the rhetorical move of formulating. Formulating aims to resolve or summarize talk at a particular instance in time. The act of formulating requires an evaluative step on the part of the participants in order to consider their contributions or their opposition to the formulation. It is, therefore, of interest to examine how talk that is known to be hypothetical – hence essentially unreal, speculative, potentially untrue or even counterfactual – can be allowed to feature in meetings discourse and to influence a meeting’s outcome. Two theoretical models were applied to understand this – Du Bois’s (2007) “stance triangle” and Hunston’s (1989, 1994, 2011) three functions of evaluation. These offered a new perspective on the role of hypothetical talk in business meetings, where, as the results demonstrate, hypothetical talk is used to signal stance, test that of the other participants, and advance the speakers’ goals. By integrating the two models and applying them in order to understand how hypothetical talk is formulated in business meetings, it was possible to conceptualize the process through which meeting participants evaluate and act upon talk, by making “real life decisions” upon information which has initially been introduced to the meeting as hypothetical.
Indirect evidentiality and the expression of the speaker’s stance in Romanian
Authors: Popescu Cecilia Mihaela
Published: March 2023

The study aims to emphasize how lexical particles and grammatical constructions express indirect evidentiality and the speaker’s stance in Romanian. As with the other Romance languages, Romanian contains the grammatical means to express the speaker’s knowledge source, such as the Conditional Mood, a prototypical quotative/reportative evidential marking, or the Subjunctive and the Future, which, together with the Presumptive, a modal form specific to this linguistic system alone, function as markers of indirect evidentiality of the inferential type. Additionally, each of these forms can be augmented by a rich lexicalized system of adverbs and particles. For example, pesemne [‘probably’, literally on + signs], poate [‘may be’; a regressive form from the third person singular of the verb a se putea < Late Latin *potere (Classical Latin posse)], probabil [‘probably’, < a borrowing from the Fr. probable and the Lat. probabilis] are lexical particles of inferential evidentiality, and cică [‘supposedly’; a lexicalized form from the expression [se zi]ce că – literally it said that], pasămite [‘apparently’ whose etymology is controversial] and chipurile [‘supposedly’; a borrowing from Hungarian, literally ‘faces’] are means of quotative/reportative evidentiality. This lexical and grammatical system marking indirect evidentiality will be analyzed with respect to their grammaticalization processes, but also addressing the discursive behaviour.
Constructing knowledge at the intersection of disciplines: appraisal in knowledge claims concerning animals in posthumanist discourse
Authors: Rozumko Agata
Published: March 2023

The discursive practices of individual academic disciplines differ in many ways, which is why numerous studies of academic discourse adopt cross-disciplinary perspectives to explore the character and extent of those differences. Less attention has, however, been given to interdisciplinary discourses which incorporate the findings and/or research methods from a number of disciplines. This paper focuses on the discourse of one of the new critical interdisciplinarities: posthumanism. More specifically, it examines how posthumanist discourse integrates knowledge produced by the soft and hard sciences (as well as other sources) to build its perspective on animals and their relations with humans. Using Martin and White’s (2005) appraisal framework to study knowledge claims collected from selected scholarly monographs adopting a posthumanist perspective, this study demonstrates that posthumanist claims referring to biological knowledge and experiential evidence tend to contain neutral, positive and endorsing formulations, while the knowledge from the soft sciences is reported in more critical ways, which is consistent with the aims of critical interdisciplinarities, i.e. questioning and transforming the dominant knowledge structure within different disciplines. Additionally, this paper provides evidence of the importance of popular science within interdisciplinary research in the humanities. It also sheds some light on the rhetorical practices within the scholarly monograph as a genre, particularly concerning the relative flexibility of its discursive conventions in comparison with those expected from a research article.
Studies of plant impressions preserved on daub excavated at the archaeological sites of the Western Desert in the area of Nabta Playa and Bargat El-Shab
Authors: Lityńska-Zając Maria , Bobrowski Przemysław
Published: March 2023

The archaeological and archaeobotanical research conducted in southern part in the Western Desert in Egypt included efforts at identifying the plant material preserved in daub. The samples selected for this type of analysis were taken from site E-05-1 in Bargat El-Shab. This site were occupied seasonally by nomadic people from the beginning of the Holocene. The study provide very little data on plant remains preserved in daub and confirms application of grass, as a temper added to clay before firing or drying.
The Use of a Single-Time Sit-To-Stand Test in Ambulatory Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury by Primary Health Care Providers
Authors: Amatachaya Sugalya , Khuna Lalita , Amatachaya Pipatana , Wiyanad Arpassanan
Published: March 2023

Background

The uncertain health care situations, such as that created by the COVID-19 pandemic, has limited hospital access and facilitated a paradigm shift in health care toward an increased demand for standard home visits and community-based rehabilitation services, including by ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Objectives

This 6-month prospective study explored the validity and reliability of a single-time sit-to-stand (STSTS) test when used by primary health care (PHC) providers, including a village health volunteer, caregiver, individual with SCI, and health professional.

Methods

Eighty-two participants were assessed for the STSTS using four arm placement conditions (arms on a walking device, arms on knees, arms free by the sides, and arms crossed over the chest) and standard measures, with prospective fall data follow-up over 6 months. Thirty participants involved in the reliability study were also assessed and reassessed for the ability to complete the STSTS conditions by PHC providers.

Results

Outcomes of the STSTS test, except the condition with arms on a walking device, could significantly discriminate lower extremity muscle strength (LEMS) and mobility of the participants (rpb = −0.58 to 0.69) with moderate concurrent validity. Outcomes of the tests without using the arms also showed moderate to almost-perfect reliability (kappa = 0.754–1.000) when assessed by PHC raters.

Conclusion

The findings suggest the use of an STSTS with arms free by the sides as a standard practical measure by PHC providers to reflect LEMS and mobility of ambulatory individuals with SCI in various clinical, community, and home-based settings.
Destroying Multicolored Paths and Cycles in Edge-Colored Graphs
Authors: Eckstein Nils Jakob , Grüttemeier Niels , Komusiewicz Christian , Sommer Frank
Published: March 2023

We study the computational complexity of $c$-Colored $P_\ell$ Deletion and
$c$-Colored $C_\ell$ Deletion. In these problems, one is given a
$c$-edge-colored graph and wants to destroy all induced $c$-colored paths or
cycles, respectively, on $\ell$ vertices by deleting at most $k$ edges. Herein,
a path or cycle is $c$-colored if it contains edges of $c$ distinct colors. We
show that $c$-Colored $P_\ell$ Deletion and $c$-Colored $C_\ell$ Deletion are
NP-hard for each non-trivial combination of $c$ and $\ell$. We then analyze the
parameterized complexity of these problems. We extend the notion of
neighborhood diversity to edge-colored graphs and show that both problems are
fixed-parameter tractable with respect to the colored neighborhood diversity of
the input graph. We also provide hardness results to outline the limits of
parameterization by the standard parameter solution size $k$. Finally, we
consider bicolored input graphs and show a special case of $2$-Colored $P_4$
Deletion that can be solved in polynomial time.
Modern aspects of the development of information and control system in energetics
Authors:   SPACE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE - BAS, Chiflidzhanova-Hubenova Zoya
Published: March 2023

In the present paper the energy systems are analyzed as an example of the so called large artificial systems. An example of a multilevel system has been considered which is associated with the problem of dispatching active power within the energy system. The advantages of multilevel control as compared to a centralized approach are shown below. Construction process of the so called integrated production systems aims at providing functional, infor-mation, software, and technical compatibility as well as efficiency of the individual subsystems. In terms of control each information management system, distinguished by a hierarchical structure, consists of three main levels: lowest – field level, the second one – operational and dispatching, and the third level – information level networks.
Theoretical apparatus for analysis and synthesis of system communication protocol with a special set of services
Authors: Andonov Antonio
Published: March 2023

Information about a project of total theoretical apparatus for analysis and synthesis of the pro-tocols for the control of selected system structures of communication system are described in the paper. The methods of analysis are oriented to essential proprieties of all referent model layers interfaces (capacity in both directions, elasticity for the whole set of services, code transparency, reliability, etc.) The methods of synthesis are oriented to the selection of optimality criteria, creation of hypothesis about protocol algorithm, hypotheses testing and to optimization of suitable protocol structures. After the elaboration of theoretical apparatus the solution moves to system application phase. In this step the theoretical apparatus is used for the implementation of typical solutions into the existing systems, for the elaboration of the recommendations for new standards creation and for the elaboration of the procedures for non-standard protocol creation. A lot of experience is laid in the introduced protocols. The consequence of individual stages is respected but expert approach without exact theoretical apparatus is presented.
Timeliness of the scientific and applied research
Authors:   Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen, Zhekov Zhivko
Published: March 2023

The contemporary science is developing with extremely fast pace. The current material emphasizes on the timeliness of the scientific job and the scientific and applied research. Special attention is being paid of the “inner” and “outer” motivation of the scientists when choosing the problems and the approach of the methodology in the scientific research. The role of the scientific leader has been defined as a highly knowledgeable person who knows the trends in the scientific development, the market needs and who is very well prepared to look in advance into current problems and niche markets.
Method for synthesis of large families of signals with low correlation
Authors:   Vasil Levski National Military UniversityThis link is disabled., Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria, Bedzhev Borislav
Published: March 2023

In the paper a new method for synthesis of large families of signals with low auto- and crosscorrelation is presented. It is based on the known method for generation of Gold sets but is not related to a certain value of the decimation coefficient d. As a result it allows generating of families, consisting of p-ary M –sequences, for arbitrary values of p and the degree of their characteristic equation.
Antiinflammatory Activity of Polyherbal Gel Formulation
Authors:   Associate Professor, Vidyabharati College of Pharmacy, Amravati, India, Baitule A.W.
Published: March 2023

The present study has been undertaken with the aim to formulate and evaluate the new polyherbal gel formulation containing 0.3 % hydroalcoholic extract from Trigonellafoenum-graecum and Glycyrrhiza glabra for its topical anti inflammatory activity against carrageenan induced rat paw edema method .The studies were conducted on Wistar rats of either sex (150-180g).The polyherbal gel formulation was designed by using Carbopol 934, SodiumCMC, Trigonellafoenum-graecum, Glycyrrhizaglabra extract, Ethanol, propylene glycol 400, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, and required amount of distilled water. The skin ph (6.8-7) was maintained by drop wise addition of tri- ethanolamine. The prepared polyherbal gels were evaluated for physical appearance, pH, spreadability, skin irritation to observe side effect. It was inferred from the results that polyherbal gel formulations were good in appearance and homogeneity. The overall result of this research the prepared poly herbal gel formulation shows significant anti-inflammatory activity.