bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Menajemen Pendidikan dan Pelatihan Tindak Lanjut Uji Kompetensi Guru SD di LPMP Kalimantan Tengah
Authors: Komalasari Komalasari
Published: July 2020

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengungkap: (1) perencanaan, (2) pengorganisasian, (3) pelaksananaan dan (4) pengawasan pada pendidikan dan pelatihan (diklat) tindak lanjut uji kompetensi guru SD di LPMP Kalimantan Tengah. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara, dokumentasi dan observasi dengan melibatkan pengelola diklat, fasilitator, dan peserta diklat Keabsahan data diukur dengan cara: (a) trianggulasi, (b) perpanjang-an waktu pelaksanaan penelitian, (c) pengumpulan data secara terus menerus, (d) penggunakan data yang berlimpah, (e) pengecekan ulang, dan (f) tanya jawab dengan teman sejawat Analisis data menggunakan teknik yang diajukan oleh Miles dan Huberman (1994) yaitu: (a) reduksi data, (b) penyajian data, dan (c) verifikasL Hasil penelitian mengungkapkan bahwa: (1) perencanaan diklat belum optimal yang dilihat dari: (a) asesmen kebutuhan, (b) tujuan diklat, (c) kesesuaian program dengan waktu diklat, (d) waktu dan tempat pelaksanaan diklat, dan (e) dana yang tersedia; (2) pengorganisasian belum optimal dilihat dari pembagian kerja dengan jabaran tanggung jawab masing-masing unit; (3) Pelayanan non akademik diklat sudah optimal namun pelaksanaan pembelajaran belum optimal, yang dilihat dari: (a) standar jumlah peserta per kelas, (b) bidang kompetensi guru, (c) waktu, dan (d) kelengkapan bahan diklat; dan (4) pengawasan belum terlaksana dengan baik, dilihat dari pencapaian tujuan dan partisipasi peserta Kata kunci: pendidikan dan pelatihan, uji kompetensi, guru SD.
Penskalaan Butir Format Respons Pilihan dan Respons Bebas Berdasarkan Model Rasch dan Partial Credit
Authors: Hariadi Eko
Published: July 2020

Penelitian melihat pengaruh jumlah parameter butir, kategori respons bebas (RB), pengaruh sampel terhadap akurasi estimasi parameter kemampuan untuk menghasilkan estimasi yang stabil dan pengaruh pembobotan butir RP dan butir RB terhadap kesalahan baku. Penelitian dalam dua tahap, simulasi menggunakan 30 kondisi dengan replikasi 50 dengan variabel panjang tes, jumlah kategori, dan jumlah parameter butir, dan analisis deskriptif, dilanjutkan penerapan penskalaan gabungan butir tipe respons pilihan (rp) dan butir respons bebas (rb) pada konstruksi tes elektronika yang terdiri 40 butir pilihan ganda dan 4 butir jawaban tersusun, 3 butir memiliki lima kategori jawaban dan 1 butir dengan 4 kategori jawaban, melibatkan 355 siswa. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan: ukuran sampel kurang berpengaruh pada root mean square error atau (RSME)> dan korelasi antara 9 dengan 0, namun berpengaruh terhadap akurasi estimasi parameter butir pilihan ganda (/>/y,)dan parameter butir respons tersusun (3^)- Jumlah parameter butir berpengaruh terhadap parameter kemampuan, tetapi tidak berpengaruh terhadap akurasi dari b^, dan S„,. Estimasi dari parameter tingkat kesulitan butir jawaban tersusun tiga kategori lebih akurat daripada butir jawaban tersusun lima kategori. Estimasi tahan {robust) untuk parameter kesulitan butir jawaban tersusun 5 kategori memerlukan sampel minimal 250 responden, sedangkan untuk butir respons tersusun 3 kategori memerlukan sampel minimal 100 responden. Estimasi parameter kemampuan dari skor total (0^^) tidak sama dengan rata-rata jumlah tbeta dari masing-masing subtes (0^ + 0CR). Theta dari tes yang dikalibrasi bersama-sama berbeda dengan theta dari total subtes yang dikalibrasi secara terpisah. Korelasi kemampuan yang mengunakan pembobotan dan kemampuan tanpa pembobotan mempunyai suatu rentang dari 0,988 sampai 0,948. Kata kunci: penyekaiaan, model rash dan partial credit.
Pengembangan Animasi Komputer pada Pembelajaran Fisika SMA
Authors: Suharyanto Suharyanto
Published: July 2020

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk: (1) mengembangkan software pembelajaran Fisika SMA; (2) mengungkapkan kelayakan software untuk pembelajaran; dan (3) mengungkapkan kenaikan nilai posttest terhadap nilai pretest setelah pembelajaran dengan software yang dikembangkan. Subjek uji coba adalah tiga orang guru mata pelajaran Fisika, tiga siswa untuk uji coba perorangan, sembilan siswa untuk uji coba kelompok kecil, dan 30 siswa untuk uji coba lapangan. Pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner dan tes. Penilaian terhadap kelayakan software dilakukan oleh ahli materi, ahli media, dan guru mata pelajaran Fisika. Tanggapan terhadap penggunaan software dilakukan oleh siswa SMA Negeri 1 Minggir Sleman kelas X. Analisis data menggunakan statistik deskriptif dengan teknik kategorisasi dan persentase. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa software pada kategori baik menurut penilaian ahli materi dan guru mata pelajaran Fisika, pada kategori sangat baik menurut penilaian ahli media, dan pada kategori baik siswa SMA Negeri 1 Minggir Sleman ditinjau dari aspek pembelajaran, tampilan, dan penggunaan program. Secara umum software dinyatakan layak untuk pembelajaran Fisika SMA. Hasil pretest dan posttest menunjukkan bahwa setelah pembelajaran dengan menggunakan software terjadi kenaikan nilai rata-rata yang cukup besar. Kata kunci: pengembangan animasi^ pembelajaran fisika.
Оптические свойства тонких пленок SiO-=SUB=-x-=/SUB=- (x<2), полученных обработкой термического диоксида кремния в водородной плазме
Authors: Кручинин В.Н. , Перевалов Т.В. , Алиев В.Ш. , Исхакзай Р.М.Х. , Спесивцев Е.В. , Гриценко В.А. , Пустоваров В.А.
Published: July 2020

Using the methods of ellipsometry, quantum chemical modeling, and photoluminescent spectroscopy, the optical properties and composition of thin films of thermal silicon oxide processed in a hydrogen electron-cyclotron resonance plasma are studied. It has been established that treatment of films in plasma leads to their depletion in oxygen and the formation of non-stoichiometric oxide SiOx <2. By comparing the experimental spectral dependence of the refractive index with the theoretically calculated from the first principles, the values ​​of the parameter x in the obtained SiOx films are determined. It was shown that an increase in the processing time of thermal SiO2 in hydrogen plasma leads to an increase in the refractive index of the film, as well as the degree of depletion of the film with oxygen. For the studied films, the dependence of the value of the parameter x on the treatment time in a hydrogen plasma is constructed.
Спектры комбинационного рассеяния света глицина и их моделирование в дискретно-континуальной модели сольватной оболочки воды
Authors: Крауклис И.В. , Тулуб А.В. , Головин А.В. , Челибанов В.П.
Published: July 2020

Annotation. The Raman spectra of glycine in crystalline form and in aqueous solution were obtained. The model of stabilization of the zwitterion state of glycine with a single water molecule connected by hydrogen bonds with the –COO- and –NH3+ groups is proposed. It is shown that quantum chemical calculations at the level of B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2p) using the discrete-continuum model of water environment of glycine complexes Gly + n H2O (n = 1–3) provide a good description of the Raman spectra of glycine.
In-Home Rehabilitation Using a Smartphone App Coupled With 3D Printed Functional Objects: Single-Subject Design Study
Authors: Langan Jeanne , Bhattacharjya Sutanuka , Subryan Heamchand , Xu Wenyao , Chen Baicheng , Li Zhengxiong , Cavuoto Lora
Published: July 2020

Background

Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability. While there is potential for improvements long after stroke onset, there is little to support functional recovery across the lifespan. mHealth solutions can help fill this gap. mRehab was designed to guide individuals with stroke through a home program and provide performance feedback.

Objective

To examine if individuals with chronic stroke can use mRehab at home to improve upper limb mobility. The secondary objective was to examine if changes in limb mobility transferred to standardized clinical assessments.

Methods

mRehab consists of a smartphone coupled with 3D printed household items: mug, bowl, key, and doorknob. The smartphone custom app guides task-oriented activities and measures both time to complete an activity and quality of movement (smoothness/accuracy). It also provides performance-based feedback to aid the user in self-monitoring their performance. Task-oriented activities were categorized as (1) object transportation, (2) prehensile grip with supination/pronation, (3) fractionated finger movement, and (4) walking with object. A total of 18 individuals with stroke enrolled in the single-subject experimental design study consisting of pretesting, a 6-week mRehab home program, and posttesting. Pre- and posttesting included both in-laboratory clinical assessments and in-home mRehab recorded samples of task performance. During the home program, mRehab recorded performance data. A System Usability Scale assessed user’s perception of mRehab.

Results

A total of 16 participants completed the study and their data are presented in the results. The average days of exercise for each mRehab activity ranged from 15.93 to 21.19 days. This level of adherence was sufficient for improvements in time (t15=2.555, P=.02) and smoothness (t15=3.483, P=.003) in object transportation. Clinical assessments indicated improvements in functional performance (t15=2.675, P=.02) and hand dexterity (t15=2.629, P=.02). Participant’s perception of mRehab was positive.

Conclusions

Despite heterogeneity in participants’ use of mRehab, there were improvements in upper limb mobility. Smartphone-based portable technology can support home rehabilitation programs in chronic conditions such as stroke. The ability to record performance data from home rehabilitation offers new insights into the impact of home programs on outcomes.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04363944; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04363944
Assessing the Food and Drug Administration’s Risk-Based Framework for Software Precertification With Top Health Apps in the United States: Quality Improvement Study
Authors: Alon Noy , Stern Ariel Dora , Torous John
Published: July 2020

Background

As the development of mobile health apps continues to accelerate, the need to implement a framework that can standardize the categorization of these apps to allow for efficient yet robust regulation is growing. However, regulators and researchers are faced with numerous challenges, as apps have a wide variety of features, constant updates, and fluid use cases for consumers. As past regulatory efforts have failed to match the rapid innovation of these apps, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed that the Software Precertification (Pre-Cert) Program and a new risk-based framework could be the solution.

Objective

This study aims to determine whether the risk-based framework proposed by the FDA’s Pre-Cert Program could standardize categorization of top health apps in the United States.

Methods

In this quality improvement study during summer 2019, the top 10 apps for 6 disease conditions (addiction, anxiety, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, and schizophrenia) in Apple iTunes and Android Google Play Store in the United States were classified using the FDA’s risk-based framework. Data on the presence of well-defined app features, user engagement methods, popularity metrics, medical claims, and scientific backing were collected.

Results

The FDA’s risk-based framework classifies an app’s risk by the disease condition it targets and what information that app provides. Of the 120 apps tested, 95 apps were categorized as targeting a nonserious health condition, whereas only 7 were categorized as targeting a serious condition and 18 were categorized as targeting a critical condition. As the majority of apps targeted a nonserious condition, their risk categorization was largely determined by the information they provided. The apps that were assessed as not requiring FDA review were more likely to be associated with the integration of external devices than those assessed as requiring FDA review (15/58, 26% vs 5/62, 8%; P=.03) and health information collection (24/58, 41% vs 9/62, 15%; P=.008). Apps exempt from the review were less likely to offer health information (25/58, 43% vs 45/62, 72%; P<.001), to connect users with professional care (7/58, 12% vs 14/62, 23%; P=.04), and to include an intervention (8/58, 14% vs 35/62, 55%; P<.001).

Conclusions

The FDA’s risk-based framework has the potential to improve the efficiency of the regulatory review process for health apps. However, we were unable to identify a standard measure that differentiated apps requiring regulatory review from those that would not. Apps exempt from the review also carried concerns regarding privacy and data security. Before the framework is used to assess the need for a formal review of digital health tools, further research and regulatory guidance are needed to ensure that the Pre-Cert Program operates in the greatest interest of public health.
In-Home Rehabilitation Using a Smartphone App Coupled With 3D Printed Functional Objects: Single-Subject Design Study (Preprint)
Authors: Langan Jeanne , Bhattacharjya Sutanuka , Subryan Heamchand , Xu Wenyao , Chen Baicheng , Li Zhengxiong , Cavuoto Lora
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability. While there is potential for improvements long after stroke onset, there is little to support functional recovery across the lifespan. mHealth solutions can help fill this gap. mRehab was designed to guide individuals with stroke through a home program and provide performance feedback.

OBJECTIVE

To examine if individuals with chronic stroke can use mRehab at home to improve upper limb mobility. The secondary objective was to examine if changes in limb mobility transferred to standardized clinical assessments.

METHODS

mRehab consists of a smartphone coupled with 3D printed household items: mug, bowl, key, and doorknob. The smartphone custom app guides task-oriented activities and measures both time to complete an activity and quality of movement (smoothness/accuracy). It also provides performance-based feedback to aid the user in self-monitoring their performance. Task-oriented activities were categorized as (1) object transportation, (2) prehensile grip with supination/pronation, (3) fractionated finger movement, and (4) walking with object. A total of 18 individuals with stroke enrolled in the single-subject experimental design study consisting of pretesting, a 6-week mRehab home program, and posttesting. Pre- and posttesting included both in-laboratory clinical assessments and in-home mRehab recorded samples of task performance. During the home program, mRehab recorded performance data. A System Usability Scale assessed user’s perception of mRehab.

RESULTS

A total of 16 participants completed the study and their data are presented in the results. The average days of exercise for each mRehab activity ranged from 15.93 to 21.19 days. This level of adherence was sufficient for improvements in time (t15=2.555, P=.02) and smoothness (t15=3.483, P=.003) in object transportation. Clinical assessments indicated improvements in functional performance (t15=2.675, P=.02) and hand dexterity (t15=2.629, P=.02). Participant’s perception of mRehab was positive.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite heterogeneity in participants’ use of mRehab, there were improvements in upper limb mobility. Smartphone-based portable technology can support home rehabilitation programs in chronic conditions such as stroke. The ability to record performance data from home rehabilitation offers new insights into the impact of home programs on outcomes.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04363944; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04363944
Forecasting the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia Using a Modified Singular Spectrum Analysis Approach: Model Development and Data Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Alharbi Nader
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND

Infectious disease is one of the main issues that threatens human health worldwide. The 2019 outbreak of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease COVID-19, has become a serious global pandemic. Many attempts have been made to forecast the spread of the disease using various methods, including time series models. Among the attempts to model the pandemic, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have used the singular spectrum analysis (SSA) technique to forecast confirmed cases.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this paper is to construct a reliable, robust, and interpretable model for describing, decomposing, and forecasting the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and predicting the peak of the pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A modified singular spectrum analysis (SSA) approach was applied for the analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. We proposed this approach and developed it in our previous studies regarding the separability and grouping steps in SSA, which play important roles in reconstruction and forecasting. The modified SSA approach mainly enables us to identify the number of interpretable components required for separability, signal extraction, and noise reduction. The approach was examined using different levels of simulated and real data with different structures and signal-to-noise ratios. In this study, we examined the capability of the approach to analyze COVID-19 data. We then used vector SSA to predict new data points and the peak of the pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

RESULTS

In the first stage, the confirmed daily cases on the first 42 days (March 02 to April 12, 2020) were used and analyzed to identify the value of the number of required eigenvalues (r) for separability between noise and signal. After obtaining the value of r, which was 2, and extracting the signals, vector SSA was used to predict and determine the pandemic peak. In the second stage, we updated the data and included 81 daily case values. We used the same window length and number of eigenvalues for reconstruction and forecasting of the points 90 days ahead. The results of both forecasting scenarios indicated that the peak would occur around the end of May or June 2020 and that the crisis would end between the end of June and the middle of August 2020, with a total number of infected people of approximately 330,000.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm the impressive performance of modified SSA in analyzing COVID-19 data and selecting the value of r for identifying the signal subspace from a noisy time series and then making a reliable prediction of daily confirmed cases using the vector SSA method.
Identification of Adverse Drug Event–Related Japanese Articles: Natural Language Processing Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Ujiie Shogo , Yada Shuntaro , Wakamiya Shoko , Aramaki Eiji
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND

Medical articles covering adverse drug events (ADEs) are systematically reported by pharmaceutical companies for drug safety information purposes. Although policies governing reporting to regulatory bodies vary among countries and regions, all medical article reporting may be categorized as precision or recall based. Recall-based reporting, which is implemented in Japan, requires the reporting of any possible ADE. Therefore, recall-based reporting can introduce numerous false negatives or substantial amounts of noise, a problem that is difficult to address using limited manual labor.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to develop an automated system that could identify ADE-related medical articles, support recall-based reporting, and alleviate manual labor in Japanese pharmaceutical companies.

METHODS

Using medical articles as input, our system based on natural language processing applies document-level classification to extract articles containing ADEs (replacing manual labor in the first screening) and sentence-level classification to extract sentences within those articles that imply ADEs (thus supporting experts in the second screening). We used 509 Japanese medical articles annotated by a medical engineer to evaluate the performance of the proposed system.

RESULTS

Document-level classification yielded an F1 of 0.903. Sentence-level classification yielded an F1 of 0.413. These were averages of fivefold cross-validations.

CONCLUSIONS

A simple automated system may alleviate the manual labor involved in screening drug safety–related medical articles in pharmaceutical companies. After improving the accuracy of the sentence-level classification by considering a wider context, we intend to apply this system toward real-world postmarketing surveillance.
Social Capital–Accrual, Escape-From-Self, and Time-Displacement Effects of Internet Use During the COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Period: Prospective, Quantitative Survey Study (Preprint)
Authors: Cheng Cecilia , Lau Yan-Ching , Luk Jeremy W
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has spread like wildfire across the globe, prompting many governments to impose unprecedented stay-at-home orders to limit its transmission. During an extended stay-at-home period, individuals may engage in more online leisure activities. Internet use is a double-edged sword that may have both desirable and undesirable effects on psychological well-being, and this study sought to disentangle adaptive from maladaptive internet use amidst this unusual health crisis.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of probable depression during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period and to test three hypothesized risk reduction or risk elevation mechanisms, namely social capital–accrual, escape-from-self, and time-displacement effects.

METHODS

This study took place from March to May 2020 at the early stage of the pandemic. The study adopted a prospective design, with an online survey administered to 573 UK and 474 US adult residents at two assessment points 2 months apart.

RESULTS

The prevalence of moderate to severe depression was 36% (bootstrap bias-corrected and accelerated [BCa] 95% CI 33%-39%) at Time 1 (ie, initial time point) and 27% (bootstrap BCa 95% CI 25%-30%) at Time 2 (ie, follow-up time point). The results supported the social capital–accrual hypothesis by showing that the approach coping style was inversely associated with Time 2 depression through its positive associations with both social networking and perceived family support. The results also supported the escape-from-self hypothesis by revealing that the avoidant coping style was positively associated with Time 2 depression through its positive associations with both gaming and cyberbullying victimization, but the serial mediation model was no longer significant after Time 1 depression and some demographic risk factors had been controlled for. Finally, the results supported the time-displacement hypothesis by showing that gaming was positively associated with Time 2 depression through its inverse associations with social networking and perceived family support.

CONCLUSIONS

During the extended stay-at-home period in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of probable depression during the 2-month study period was high among the UK and US residents. Individuals with distinct coping styles may engage in different types of online leisure activities and perceive varying levels of social support, which are associated with risks of probable depression.
Familial Places in Jim Crow Spaces: Kinship, Demography, and the Color Line in William Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County
Authors: Burgers Johannes
Published: July 2020

Hosted out of the University of Virginia, Digital Yoknapatawpha is an international collaboration between scholars of William Faulkner and technologists at the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities. The project team has encoded all the locations, characters, and events in Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha fictions into a relational database that powers an open-access web-portal. Users can avail of an atlas of “deep-maps,” data visualizations, archival material, and aural and visual resources to explore, teach, and research his works. Using techniques common in ecology and demography, this paper leverages the data to investigate the relationship between race, kinship, and space. It concludes, tentatively, that the social world of Yoknapatawpha is far more rigidly bounded along racial lines than current scholarship suggests. In particular, most interactions between characters from different races happen in a familial context, and are the result of racialized labor exploitation or outright enslavement of African-American families by Anglo-Americans. The lack of interactions outside of this context underscores just how little agency non-white characters have in Faulkner’s fiction.
Klotho in Clinical Nephrology
Authors: Neyra Javier A. , Hu Ming Chang , Moe Orson W.
Published: July 2020

αKlotho (called Klotho here) is a membrane protein that serves as the coreceptor for the circulating hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). Klotho is also cleaved and released as a circulating substance originating primarily from the kidney and exerts a myriad of housekeeping functions in just about every organ. The vital role of Klotho is shown by the multiorgan failure with genetic deletion in rodents, with certain features reminiscent of human disease. The most common causes of systemic Klotho deficiency are AKI and CKD. Preclinical data on Klotho biology have advanced considerably and demonstrated its potential diagnostic and therapeutic value; however, multiple knowledge gaps exist in the regulation of Klotho expression, release, and metabolism; its target organs; and mechanisms of action. In the translational and clinical fronts, progress has been more modest. Nonetheless, Klotho has potential clinical applications in the diagnosis of AKI and CKD, in prognosis of progression and extrarenal complications, and finally, as replacement therapy for systemic Klotho deficiency. The overall effect of Klotho in clinical nephrology requires further technical advances and additional large prospective human studies.
Effect of Ferric Citrate versus Ferrous Sulfate on Iron and Phosphate Parameters in Patients with Iron Deficiency and CKD
Authors: Womack Rebecca , Berru Fabian , Panwar Bhupesh , Gutiérrez Orlando M.
Published: July 2020

Background and objectives

Ferric citrate is an oral medication approved for treatment of iron deficiency anemia in patients with CKD not requiring dialysis. The relative efficacy of ferric citrate versus ferrous sulfate in treating iron deficiency in patients with CKD is unclear.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

We randomized 60 adults with moderate to severe CKD (eGFR 15–45 ml/min per 1.73 m2) and iron deficiency (transferrin saturation [TSAT] ≤30% and ferritin ≤300 ng/ml) to ferric citrate (2 g three times a day with meals, n=30) or ferrous sulfate (325 mg three times a day, n=30) for 12 weeks. Primary outcomes were change in TSAT and ferritin from baseline to 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes were change in hemoglobin, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), and hepcidin.

Results

Baseline characteristics were well balanced between study arms. There was a greater increase in TSAT (between-group difference in mean change, 8%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1 to 15; P=0.02) and ferritin (between-group difference in mean change, 37 ng/ml; 95% CI, 10 to 64; P=0.009) from baseline to 12 weeks in participants randomized to ferric citrate as compared with ferrous sulfate. Similarly, as compared with ferrous sulfate, treatment with ferric citrate resulted in a greater increase in hepcidin from baseline to 12 weeks (between-group difference, 69 pg/ml; 95% CI, 8 to 130). There were no between-group differences in mean change for hemoglobin (0.3 g/dl; 95% CI, −0.2 to 0.8), intact FGF23 (−29 pg/ml; 95% CI, −59 to 0.1), or C-terminal FGF23 (61 RU/ml; 95% CI, −181 to 58). The incidence of adverse events did not differ between treatment arms.

Conclusions

As compared with ferrous sulfate, treatment with ferric citrate for 12 weeks resulted in a greater mean increase in TSAT and ferritin concentrations in individuals with moderate to severe CKD and iron deficiency.

Clinical Trial registry name and registration number

Impact of Ferric Citrate vs Ferrous Sulfate on Iron Parameters and Hemoglobin in Individuals With Moderate to Severe Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) With Iron Deficiency, NCT02888171.
MEASUREMENT OF DNA DAMAGE, OXIDATIVE STRESS, AND GENE EXPRESSION OF β-CATENIN AND P53 GENES IN LIVER AND BRAIN OF MALE MICE RECEIVING MONOSODIUM L-GLUTAMATE MONOHYDRATE
Authors: SAID SALEM NOHA IBRAHIM , R.H. MOHAMED HANAN , ABD-ELRAZEK AREEG MOHAMED
Published: July 2020

Introduction: Monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) monohydrate is a widespread nutritional additive and flavoring agent frequently consumed all over the world. In this study, we investigate the action of daily oral intake of MSG monohydrate in vivo using mammalian systems.

Methods: Mice divided as follows: Group I (normal control), Group II, and Group III treated with MSG for 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. Brain and liver dissected out for the detection of fragmented DNA, DNA damage, and assay of oxidative stress markers. Moreover, expression levels of ß-Cat and p53 genes were measured by a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The results showed a significant difference in MSG-treated group at the 2-time intervals than the control one regarding parameters of oxidative stress, and these were accompanied by a significant decline in glutathione (GSH) and a ratio of oxidized and reduced GSH in both tissues. Significant elevation of laddered DNA and oxidative DNA damage was observed in groups treated with MSG. In addition, a significant decline in gene expression of ß-Catenin in liver and brain tissues with elevations in the gene expression of p53 in the brain. Furthermore, the p53 gene in liver tissue was significantly upregulated in mice administered MSG for 15 days and was downregulated after 30 days of MSG intake compared with the control.

Conclusion: According to our results, oral consumption of MSG leads to oxidative stress-mediated DNA damage and apoptosis.
ASSESSMENT OF ACUTE AND SUBACUTE ORAL TOXICITY ELICITED BY ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF TURNERA APHRODISIACA LEAVES IN ALBINO RATS
Authors: BATHULA NAVEEN KUMAR , CHOWDHURY BHIMALENDU
Published: July 2020

Objectives: The medications of plant-based, herb-mineral, and animal sources have been used by the conventional medics to maintain well-being and care for diseases ever since ancient times. The current study aimed to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicities of the ethanolic extract of Turnera aphrodisiaca (TA) leaves in albino rats.

Methods: The acute toxicity studies were carried out where the maximum dosage of 5000 mg/kg body mass was used. The outcome reported for 24 h and singly daily for 2 weeks. The rats were weighed and a range of interpretations, for example, behavior, lesions, mortality, or any indication of sickness, was carried out daily once throughout the study. For the subacute study, four groups of ten animals (female rats) received 10% Tween 20 in distilled H2O (as control), and 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of newly developed extracts, correspondingly, every 24th h orally for about 4 weeks. At the ending of every study, hematological study and biochemical parameters were assessed.

Results: No major variations (p>0.05) were experienced in the comparative organs, body mass, hematological, biochemical parameters, and offensive malfunctions, in comparison to control, with no mortality reported. Hence, the results of the study may direct the outcome that the intermediate-period oral administration of the TA leaves for 4 weeks does not produce toxicity.

Conclusion: Due to these results, we may well wrap up that leaves of TA extract are non-toxic in all doses considered in this study and did not created any obvious signs in the acute and subacute oral toxicity studies.
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY FOR BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCED BY STREPTOMYCES SPP. ISOLATED FROM SOIL SAMPLES
Authors: AL-HULU SAMER M.
Published: July 2020

Objective: The goal of the present study on isolation Streptomyces from soil samples with biosurfactant activity and antibacterial activity analysis.

Methods: (25) The soil samples were taken form Hilla city. (10) It is Streptomyces spp. They were identified. (4) Streptomyces spp. having the ability to hemolysis on blood agar that has the capacity to generate biosurfactants. Streptomyces spp. 8 displayed a high degree of activity by having a blood agar inhibition zone (25 mm).

Results: Antibacterial activity was evaluated for Streptomyces spp. 8 (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia Coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Streptomyces spp. 8 has greatest inhibition zone against S. aureus equal to 14 mm compared 12 mm against E. coli and 8 mm for P. aeruginosa. This Streptomyces spp. 8 characteristic was tested, it showed Gram positive with aerial mycelium gray in color on yeast malt extract agar. Negative for melanin produced on tyrosine broth medium, negative for H2S output, and pigment development, it has for the use of mannitol sucrose, glucose, and fructose as carbon source and negative for xylose.

Conclusion: Isolated Streptomyces spp. having the potential to generate biosurfactants with antibacterial activity.
CASE SERIES: ANTITUBERCULAR THERAPY-INDUCED HEPATITIS
Authors: G SIRISHA
Published: July 2020

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) accounts for 20–40% of cases of fulminant hepatic failure. Antitubercular therapy (ATT) may cause hepatotoxicity which can range from transient asymptomatic rise in liver enzymes to acute liver failure. The drugs in ATT responsible for hepatotoxicity include isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide. Case series was done to present three different cases of ATT-induced hepatotoxicity which came to the Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Department in NIMS for management.
DENGUE PREDOMINANCE IN INDIA: A REPORT
Authors: COJANDARAJ LOUIS , PARA HILAL SULTAN , TSEPAL TENZIN , KUMARI SUMAN
Published: July 2020

Dengue keeps on being a significant reason for infection trouble in India, influencing the population in their typical pace of the life. Dengue in India has drastically extended in the course of the most recent couple of decades, with quickly evolving the study of disease transmission. The pervasiveness of dengue is diverse in different examinations in India, as a result of thought of a population of specific district or state at various purposes of times. The principal major dengue hemorrhagic fever episode in the whole country happened in 1996 by dengue infection serotype 2, and after a hole of very nearly 10 years, the nation confronted one more dengue fever flare-up in the year 2003 by dengue infection serotype 3. An emotional increment in the number and repeat of scenes followed, and, at present, in a huge part of the states of India, dengue is basically endemic. At present, all the four serotypes are discovered accessible for use; however, the prevalent serotype continues evolving. In spite of this pattern, observation, revealing, and conclusion of dengue remain to a great extent uninvolved in India. Progressively dynamic network-based epidemiological investigations with escalated vector control and activities for dengue immunization improvement ought to be outfitted to control the spread of dengue in India. All the distributed information related to dengue from audit of all zones of India from 2015 to 2018 is available on government official websites. Despite the fact that, the quantity of dengue cases has demonstrated a consistent ascent as time passes, the mortality has decreased. The general death pace of 1.2% in 2015 dropped to 0.25% in 2018.
FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF CAFFEINE-LOADED SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES TO TREAT CLINICAL MASTITIS
Authors: SURENDRA B. , KUMAR M. NAVEEN , IRIVENTI PADMINI
Published: July 2020

Objective: The objective of the present study was to formulate and evaluate caffeine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) in the treatment of clinical mastitis.

Methods: These were prepared by homogenization technique using stearic acid, Tween 80, and chloroform as excipients. Pre-formulation studies such as UV spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were performed for the drug. Entrapment efficiency and in vitro dissolution studies were carried out for prepared SLNs and the optimum formulation (F2) was taken for further studies such as FTIR, DSC, SEM, particle size, and zeta potential analysis.

Results: Obtained results stated that prepared SLNs are roughly spherical in nature and are in nano range. These were incorporated in Carbopol gel and further evaluation studies such as pH, spreadability, viscosity, homogenicity, and in vitro drug diffusion studies were carried out. All the results stated that prepared nanogel has shown sustained release of drug. Antimicrobial study was carried out using Staphylococcus aureus and it was confirmed by the appearance of zone of inhibition.

Conclusion: Nanogel that contains caffeine SLNs with 1:2 ratio drug:lipid has shown good in vitro release. Sustained release of caffeine drug till 12 h was achieved by delivering it in the form of nanogel.
FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES CONTAINING CAFFEINE TO TREAT CLINICAL MASTITIS
Authors: U AMRUTHA , B SUSHMITHA , RUBINA SHAIK , IRIVENTI PADMINI
Published: July 2020

Objective: The objective of the present study was to formulate and evaluate caffeine loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) in the treatment of clinical mastitis.

Methodology: These were prepared by homogenization technique using cholesterol, tween 80, and chloroform as excipients. Preformulation studies such as ultraviolet spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were performed for the drug. Entrapment efficiency and in vitro dissolution studies were carried out for prepared SLN’s and the optimum formulation (F2) was taken for further studies such as FTIR, DSC, scanning electron microscopy, particle size, and zeta potential analysis.

Results: Obtained results stated that prepared SLNs are roughly spherical in nature and are in nanorange. These were incorporated in Carbopol gel and further evaluation studies such as pH, spreadability, viscosity, homogeneity, and in vitro drug diffusion studies were carried out. All the results obtained state that prepared nanogel has shown sustained release of drug. The antimicrobial study was carried out using Staphylococcus aureus and it was confirmed by appearance of the zone of inhibition.

Conclusion: Nanogel that contains Caffeine SLNs with 1:2 ratio drug:lipid has shown good in vitro release. Sustained release of Caffeine drug till 12 h was achieved by delivering it in the form of nanogel.
ULTRASOUND-GUIDED RECTUS SHEATH BLOCK ALONG WITH RIGHT SIDE SUBCOSTAL TRANSVERSE ABDOMINIS PLANE BLOCK VERSUS PORTSITE INFILTRATION WITH LOCAL ANESTHETICS IN LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY FOR POST-OPERATIVE PAIN RELIEF: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
Authors: D MISHRA RAJIV , PARIDA MADHUSMITA , SWARO SWASTIKA , SAMAL SOUMYA
Published: July 2020

Objectives: The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy between ultrasound guided rectus sheath block and the right side subcostal transverse abdominis plane with portsite infiltration with local anesthetics in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for post operative pain relief.

Methods: Sixty patients posted for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were divided into two groups of 30 each. Group A received total dose of 80 mg (16 ml) of 0.5% ropivacaine 4 ml in each port and Group B received bilateral rectus sheath block with right-sided subcostal TAP block postoperatively, 80 mg (40 ml) of 0.2% ropivacaine was divided into two parts 20 ml in right-sided subcostal TAP and 20 ml in rectus sheath block, 10 ml in each side. Results: The first request of analgesia was significantly longer in combined block group than in the port site infiltration group (p=0.000). The numeric rating scale was reduced in patients given with abdominal field blocks when compared to patients obtaining port site infiltration. Mean NRS score was peak in pain score at the 6th h postoperatively in Group A and remained higher till 24 h in comparison Group B and was statistically significant. The overall tramadol consumption in Group A was approximately twice (215±51 mg) as compared to Group B (105±28 mg). Three cases of PONV were seen in Group A that is not statistically significant. The patient satisfaction score after 24 h was much higher with Group B in comparison to Group A (P 0.000).

Conclusion: It is concluded that ultrasound-guided right-sided subcostal TAP and rectus sheath block produce effective post-operative analgesia for the incisional pain in laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgeries and act as a supplementary method in multimodal analgesia.
HERBAL NANOSUSPENSION: IN VITRO CANCER STUDY AGAINST DIFFERENT CELL LINES
Authors: MM MITHRA , K KRISHNAKUMAR , K NAIR SMITHA
Published: July 2020

Herbal formulations marketed in India for many years providing its therapeutic benefits in health problems. Medicinal plants or their phytoconstituents are less toxic and free from side effects than synthetic drugs. However, formulation aspects of these phytoconstituents are limited due to its low solubility. Nanotechnology is a promising technique to increase the solubility of herbal drugs. This will lead to a subsequent reduction in drug dose. Nanoformulations such as nanosuspension increase the solubility of poorly soluble drugs and also have good targeting effects on different cells. The efficacy of herbal nanosuspensions evaluated using different cell lines. Here, hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (SMMC-7721), human prostate cancer cell line, human myelogenous leukemia cell line, human epithelial cell line, human breast cancer cell lines (4T1, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-453), carcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cell line (A549), human umbilical vein endothelial cell line, human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29), and human epithelial carcinoma cell line (HeLa) are used in the evaluation procedures. In vitro assays help in the determination of the dose range of drugs for the activity. The present review highlights the in vitro cancer studies of herbal nanosuspensions using different cell lines.
ASSESS THE AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE REGARDING PREVENTION OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019
Authors: MA SAHBANATHUL MISSRIYA , HASSAN SUHAIL
Published: July 2020

Objective: Coronavirus disease is the first pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus. The World Health Organization announced a name for the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This epidemic must stop, contain, control, delay, and reduce the impact of this virus by the people at every opportunity. Every person has the responsibility to contribute, to protect themselves, to protect others, whether in the home, the community, the health-care system, the workplace, or in the transport system. The study was aimed to assess the level of awareness and attitude regarding the prevention of novel coronavirus disease among people and to associate the knowledge level about the prevention of novel coronavirus disease with selected demographic variables of people.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. Using a convenient sampling technique, 950 samples were selected. The data were collected, analyzed in terms of both descriptive, and inferential statistics.

Results: The study results showed that among the total number of people (950) surveyed, 499 (52.6%) were having poor knowledge, whereas 348 (36.6%) were having an average level of knowledge and 103 (10.8%) were showing good knowledge regarding prevention of COVID-19. Some of the people (40.7%) had a negative attitude on the overall aspects of COVID-19 prevention.

Conclusion: The study concluded that there were inadequate awareness and poor attitude among the people about coronavirus diseases, and hence there is a need to create awareness through campaigns by public authorities and media.
SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES USING AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF ASPARAGUS RACEMOSUS RHIZOME – AN IN VITRO APPROACH
Authors: N HEMADEVI , P VENKATALAKSHMI
Published: July 2020

Objective: The proposed study is carried out to synthesize and characterize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using rhizomes of Asparagus racemosus and to evaluate its antimicrobial activity in vitro.

Methods: Aqueous extract of A. racemosus rhizomes was prepared and subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. AgNPs of A. racemosus rhizomes were prepared using standard procedure. The synthesized particles were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis. Further, these nanoparticles were subjected to in vitro antimicrobial studies.

Results: Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of tannins, phlobatannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, triterpenoids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, proteins, anthraquinones, polyphenols, and glycosides. The study of synthesized AgNPs showed a sharp absorbance at 410 nm. The results of FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of phenol, alkanes, aliphatic amine, secondary alcohol, alkenes, and aromatic amines. SEM analysis of the AgNPs revealed higher density polydispersed AgNPs of various sizes. The AgNPs synthesized from rhizome extract showed higher toxicity toward tested microorganisms when compared to extract alone.

Conclusion: It has been concluded that silver nanoparticles of A. racemosus could be a good source of plant-derived antimicrobials.
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Authors: Content Content
Published: July 2020

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PEMBUATAN COOKIES SUBSTITUSI TEPUNG TALAS (Colocasia esculenta (L) Schot) DAN TEPUNG DAUN KELOR (Moringa oleifera Lamk)
Authors: Ardianti Dila Yunita , Anggriani Rista , Sukardi Sukardi
Published: July 2020

Cookies are products that have a sweet taste with ingredients derived from wheat flour. Wheat flour can be replaced with local raw materials, such as taro flour. Moreover, cookies need to be added to functional compounds, namely Moringa leaf flour which has antioxidant properties and give a green color to the product produced. The purpose of this study was to determine the physical-chemical and organoleptic cookies substituted with taro flour and fortified with Moringa leaf flour and to determine the effect of using taro flour and Moringa leaf flour on antioxidant activity in cookies. This study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) which is arranged in a simple manner and with data retrieval, in which each study carried out 4 replications. The factor was the concentration of taro flour and moringa leaf flour. The parameters analyzed were water content, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, the activity of antioxidants, and color. While the organoleptic tests were color, taste, and texture. Cookies for substitution of taro flour and fortification of moringa leaf flour have a very significant effect on K1 (Wheat flour 40 g + Taro flour 50 g + Moringa leaf flour 10 g) on parameters 1,92% of water, 2,11% of ash, 23,34% of fat, 7,52% of the protein in color parameters produces greenish color (a-) 4.65 and yellowish color (b +) 15,83, and organoleptic test appearance 2,60, in treatment K5 (Wheat Flour 40 g + Taro flour 58 g + Moringa leaf flour 2 g) had a very significant effect on fiber content parameters 0,18%, carbohydrate content 71,59%, texture 36,43 N / m2 and in the organoleptic test taste 3.60, treatment K4 ( K4: 40 g of Wheat flour, 56 g of Taro flour, 4 g of Moringa leaf flour) has the highest brightness test value (L) of 46,00 and in the highest value organoleptic parameters of treatment K3 (40 g of Wheat Flour, 54 g of Taro Flour, 6 g of Moringa leaf flour) of 2,75.