bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A TPACK-in Practice Model for Enhancing EFL Students’ Readiness to Teach with Ed-Tech Apps
Authors: Lisa Agatha , Faridi Abdurrachman , Bharati Dwi Anggani Linggar , Saleh Mursid
Published: September 2021

In Indonesia, educational technology courses have been offered in teacher preparation programs to equip students with theoretical knowledge and practical skill of utilizing technology in skill-based language teaching. Despite this, empirical studies focused on online training for EFL teacher candidates on using digital tools appropriately for pedagogical purposes and adjusting to traditional learning processes remain unexplored. Therefore, to address this gap, the present study attempts to investigate the design and implementation of a TPACK-in practice model to enhance students’ preparedness to face the rapidly-growing digital world and, more importantly, understand post-pandemic pedagogy. For this purpose, a qualitative case study was adopted. The data were obtained from multiple sources, including field notes, video-recorded classroom observation, one-on-one online interviews, and task documentation. The population of this research included 163 students in the 5th semester of the English Language Education Study Program of a university in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. We selected one class randomly, consisting of 40 pre-service English teachers during the odd semester of the 2020/2021 Academic Year. Findings demonstrate: 1) lesson activity-specific model in the educational technology course, 2) students’ reports on their hands-on learning experiences in designing teaching-learning activities with a variety of digital tools, 3) the perceived benefits of reviewing ed-tech apps, and 4) challenges encountered by students in completing their project. Finally, pedagogical implications are presented with proposed suggestions offered for future research directions in replicating the study.
A Comparison of Students’ Preferences in Online Algebra Instruction Pre- and Post-Covid-19
Authors: Akcay Ozkan Zeynep , Budak Sirin
Published: September 2021

This study is aimed towards understanding students’ preferences in online learning of College Algebra at a community college in the United States, before and after the Covid-19 pandemic. We analyze the results of Student Satisfaction surveys administered during Fall 19, Spring 20 and Fall 20 semesters. The classes were partially or fully online with synchronous and asynchronous components such as face-to-face and/or virtual meetings, pre-recorded video lessons, assignments through online homework platforms, and discussion board assignments. Our analysis show that students found face-to-face meetings most helpful, when classes were taught partially online. After the transition to online teaching, virtual meetings did not directly replace the face-to-face meetings, instead online homework platforms were preferred. We find that students ultimately started utilizing all components of online classes on an equal basis. Our results reflect students’ adjustment to online teaching, taking more advantage from asynchronous course components and becoming active learners over time.
Organizational Well-Being
Authors: Sahoo Kalpana
Published: September 2021

The aim of this paper is two aspects: to provide an overview of organizational wellbeing (OW) research; to present a new model of OW focusing on successful outcomes and its operationalization of the construct and the recommendations for future. A summary literature review of the OW literature, focusing on organizational well-being and its possible consequences. The literature is used to develop and propose a new model of OW and its success indicators. Testable relationships are proposed between these indicators. The research model has not been tested empirically. It is an external representation, is a new and untested concept in the OW literature. The paper provides a model that leaders, managers and newcomers may find useful to successfully establish the OW process. The model proposed is novel and raises the important issue of appropriate OW success indicators. New propositions are made regarding relationships between antecedents and output variables.
Employee Wellbeing English Language Proficiency a Key to Knowledge Sharing and Social Interaction
Authors: Khaleel Muhammad , Chelliah Shankar
Published: September 2021

This chapter discusses the significance of employee wellbeing at the workplace and self-perceived English language proficiency as a predictor variable. The importance of employee wellbeing has been recognized all around the world. To generalize the findings of previous literature this study has examined the proposed model in the context of telecom MNCs in Pakistan. This chapter starts with what is wellbeing at the workplace? And moves towards it significance in the context of developed and underdeveloped countries. Further, this chapter explains the empirical findings of the proposed model. The results revealed a strong correlation between self-perceived English language proficiency and dimensions of employee wellbeing at the workplace. This is a very important chapter for both researchers and managers.
Knowledge Management and Ergonomics Implementation in Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Maldonado-Macías Aide Aracely , Alferez-Padron Cesar Roberto , García-Alcaraz Jorge Luis , Avelar-Sosa Liliana
Published: September 2021

This chapter presents a knowledge management and Ergonomics implementation in manufacturing systems, through the development and validation of a critical success factors questionnaire. The instrument developed measures the frequency of inclusion of critical success factors for the implementation of Ergonomics and its benefits, validated in the manufacturing industry. The frequency is based on a five-point Likert scale. So far, no instrument able to measure such factors has been found in the literature. The questionnaire comprises 73 questions presented in four main stages: planning, process startup stage, work improvement cycle and long-term development. In addition, it contains a section of benefits regarding health and safety, operational and quality of life at work. The instrument was validated through a pilot test involving 140 participants from seven companies in the manufacturing sector of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, through the use of an intentional selective method.
People and the Digital Enterprise
Authors: Balaraman Vivek , Patel Sachin , Duggirala Mayuri , Raveendran Jayasree , Mahamuni Ravi
Published: September 2021

The transformation of a conventional enterprise from a people-centric model to a technology-centric one has important implications for its human workforce. In this chapter, the authors look at three representative people-related focus areas for the digital enterprise, enhancing workplace wellbeing, enabling continuous learning and compliance to information security. They discuss each of these problems and then look at the technological infrastructure a digital enterprise would require to manage these areas.
Who Will Take Care of Me?
Authors: Honorato-Cia Cristina , De Hert Stefan , De Robertis Edoardo , Grigoras Ioana
Published: September 2021

Foreseeing the needs and availability of anaesthesiologists across Europe is a challenging task. This is influenced by different factors that include the composition of the workforce and the organization and structure of health services in every country. Some trends call for attention, such as changes in work patterns brought about by an ageing specialist population, the increasing numbers of women in anaesthesia, or cultural and societal shifts towards work-life balance. Anaesthesiology is a challenging specialty with an expanding scope of practice, requiring highly motivated professionals, frequent long work hours, and addressing stressful situations often. To ensure quality anaesthesia provision, the wellbeing of this diverse population of anaesthesiologists should be addressed. Achieving rational and flexible work hours, adequate compensation, and promotion of a workplace culture that fosters safety, motivation to learn, and equal opportunities for leadership or academia positions are challenges to be addressed to make sure that excellence in patient care is maintained.
Burnout and Stressors as Influencers on Work Engagement Among Law Enforcement Agents in Selected Cities
Authors: Joshi Mihir
Published: September 2021

Burnout is an underlying issue that has an adverse effect on the working enthusiasm of the employees. In this chapter, the researcher has attempted to assess the influence of stressors on burnout and work engagement in the context of the Indian law enforcement agents. The study evaluates the correlations between burnout factors—emotional exhaustion, cynicism, low professional efficacy—with vigor, dedication, and absorption. For the purpose of this study, items from MBI-GS for assessing burnout, scale for stressors, and employee engagement are adapted. The construct of the scale developed was established using confirmatory factor analysis. The study was carried out for 145 law enforcement agents in the selected cities of a North Indian state. T-test results applied on stressors between male and female groups show varying results. A significant negative effect of burnout factors on work engagement factors is observed through the empirical examination using SEM AMOS.
Knowledge Management Influence on Safety Management Practices
Authors: Deepak M.D. , Gangadhar Mahesh , Kumar Medi Narotham
Published: September 2021

Many studies have been conducted in relation with knowledge management (KM), indicating the benefit associated with KM; among which safety management (SM) improvement is one of them. So, the aim of this article is to assess the influence of KM on SM practices in construction industry. In this regard, various factors that affect KM and SM are identified through literature review. Then, a questionnaire survey was facilitated to collect data based on the identified factors. These factors are ranked using a relative importance index (RII) to ascertain the level of importance among its group. Further, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis are carried out to test and measure the strength of the relationship between KM and SM factors. Results indicate that there exists a definite and significant relationship between the factors of KM and SM in construction industry. Overall, the results obtained from the study will assist practitioners and professionals to develop and upgrade KM and SM practices in construction industry.
Impact of Workplace Diversity on Employee Performance
Authors: Andoh Juliana Serwaa , Ghansah Benjamin , Okogun-Odompley Joy Nana , Benuwa Ben-Bright
Published: September 2021

The authors explore how the milieu of workplace diversity affects the relationship between employee and performance. In particular, we theorize and empirically examine the moderating effects of four (4) categories of diversity context variables: age, gender, ethnicity, and educational background. The authors perform analyses on 175 out of 320 respondents consisting of academic and administrative staff of four selected private universities in Ghana. The results showed, for example, that workplace diversity has an overall influence on employee performance, however, educational diversity has more effect on employee performance in the universities compared to the other competing variables used in this study. Age and educational diversity had a significant impact on employee performance in the universities whilst gender and ethnicity diversity had no influence on their performance. We discuss future research directions regarding diversity, workgroup context, and performance outcomes and outline some recommendations for administrators and university leaders.
Measuring the Different Facets of Diversity Using Quantitative Methods
Authors: Banerjee Gargi
Published: September 2021

The aim of this chapter is to provide quantitative techniques and guidance for analyzing different problems related to the measurement of diversity and inclusion practices present in organizations. The example of only one dimension of diversity; viz Gender diversity is given in this chapter. However, these Quantitative tools can be used to explore other facets of diversity as well. In this way, this chapter shall seek to provide a basic understanding of how to analyze and study the data collected for research on Diversity and Inclusion practices in organizations.
Employee Welfare Measures
Authors: Patro Chandra Sekhar , Raghunath K. Madhu Kishore
Published: September 2021

The welfare measures for employees in an organization have always and will keep playing a pivotal role in enhancing the morale of the employees. These schemes facilitate thrust for both the employee and employer relations. An employee's welfare is inherent core component, as they act as life blood for achieving the objectives of an organization. The main intention behind implementing the welfare measures is to secure the employee force by providing proper human condition of work and minimizing its hazardous effect on the life of the employees and their family members. This chapter determines the various welfare measures implemented with its impact on the employees' work efficacy in different public and private sector manufacturing organizations. This chapter also articulates the importance of welfare, symptoms of frustration, standards set by the employees, implications of welfare measures and its effectiveness on employees' and the organizational productivity.
Workplace Incivility and Job Satisfaction
Authors: Opengart Rose , Reio Jr. Thomas G. , Ding Wei
Published: September 2021

Workplace incivility is common in organizations across the world and can have negative effects on individuals and organizations. The purpose of the reported study is to examine the effects of supervisor and coworker incivility on job satisfaction and examines emotion management as a mediator of these relationships. Data from 268 working adults were collected by survey battery and analyzed via a number of multivariate techniques. The model was supported in that both supervisor and coworker incivility had strong direct negative effects on emotion management and job satisfaction, and emotion management partially mediated the incivility-job satisfaction relationship. With supervisor and coworker incivility, the participants reported lower levels of job satisfaction. However, the participants' emotion management mitigated the negative effect of incivility on job satisfaction partially. The findings suggest that organizations need to be aware of the unfavorable consequences of incivility. Organizations need to discover ways to reduce incivility and implement efforts to help employees develop positive emotional management strategies. These actions may help reduce the negative influences of incivility on important organizational outcomes like job satisfaction.
Discrimination Against People With HIV and AIDS in the Workplace
Authors: Nwanna Chinwe Rosabelle
Published: September 2021

The main thrust of the chapter was to explore the discrimination experienced by people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) in the workplace in Lagos State. A purposive sample of 80 PLHIV was selected from two local government areas (LGAs) of Lagos state: Epe, a rural setting, and Lagos Mainland, an urban one. Secondary data were obtained from internet sources while primary data were collected through structured interviews September 2005–April 2006. Data were analyzed using SPSS versions 11 and 13. Data between and within the rural and urban areas were also analyzed comparatively. The results indicate that PLHIV experienced instant dismissal from offices, mandatory HIV tests, alienation, denial of promotion, and exclusion from insurance schemes. This indicates that PLHIV's rights were violated. The study recommends intensive HIV education and enforcement of national HIV policy and international legal instruments in the workplace to protect PLHIV's rights.
The Impact of the Attitude of Medical Staff From Burnout on the Level of Ongoing Medical Services
Authors: Wójcik Anita
Published: September 2021

This chapter describes how contemporary, dynamic development in all available human areas is unavoidable and necessary. However, along with the benefits and progress made by civilization, there is also a growing margin of vulnerability and unfavorable price developments. Professional burnout is becoming a global problem. It identifies the limits of current human capabilities to the serious phenomenon. In particular, nurses and medical rescuers, who are in direct contact with the patient, experience unpleasant symptoms of burnout.
Occupational Health and Safety Hazards in Agriculture
Authors: Mishra Debesh , Satapathy Suchismita
Published: September 2021

Within the agricultural sector, it becomes essential worldwide to analyze the magnitude of OHS problems. However, there is a lack of study in Odisha (India) to assess the prevailing situations. Hence, an attempt was made in this study to explore the issues related to OHS among the farmers of Odisha in India. There is a dual main contribution in this study. At first the occupational health and safety issues of farmers of Odisha in India were analyzed based on the literature review and the data collected by personal interaction and questionnaires. In the second part, the step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) method was used to rank the different farming processes, as well as different risks involved in various farming activities.
Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders of Odisha Farmers in Selected Agricultural Tasks
Authors: Mishra Debesh , Satapathy Suchismita
Published: September 2021

In the chapter, there are dual main contributions. In the first phase, based on the extensive review of literature on the application of cuckoo search (CS) methodology, its application for the optimization of agricultural pesticide sprayers for maximum efficiency was suggested. In the second phase of study, 75 farmers of Odisha in India were considered to assess their musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) during seeding, fertilizing, and weeding of crops using a Standardized Nordic Questionnaire with a five point rating scale (i.e., 1 = Very less, 2 =Less, 3 = Nil, 4 = Strong, 5 = Very Strong). Factor analysis was performed for “seeding, fertilizing, and weeding characteristics,” “economical characteristics,” and “tools and equipment characteristics of farmers.” Then Pearson correlation coefficient matrix was generated for the seeding, fertilizing, and weeding characteristics of farmers, followed by regression analysis for the economic characteristics of farmers.
Managing Generational Diversity
Authors: Klaffke Martin
Published: September 2021

Germany is undergoing a dramatic demographic change that requires its organizations to make workforce talent of all ages a strategic priority. Practitioners in Germany focus largely on Generation Y employees, because this young employee cohort expresses new and different work-related values. However, diverse attitudes and behaviors of employees in different age groups can potentially lead to conflict and have an overall negative impact on organizational performance. Given US labor legislation and media pressure, managing workforce diversity has been on the agenda of U.S. organizations for many years. Consequently, it can be assumed that there are areas in which German organizations can learn best practices from the U.S. experience. Although data collected from Silicon Valley organizations suggest that taking specific action for managing the multi-generational workforce is currently not a pressing issue in the tech industry, setting up innovative workplaces is an action field in which Germany can learn from its U.S. counterparts.
Who Engineering Includes Impacts How Engineers Work
Authors: Secules Stephen , Strong Alexandra Coso , Fletcher Trina
Published: September 2021

This chapter focuses on the persistent lack of diversity in the engineering profession along intersections of race, gender, and other key demographic categories (e.g., sexual orientation, socioeconomic status). After outlining specific circumstances that have influenced the lack of diversity in engineering, the chapter outlines particular challenges related to this lack of diversity and suggests a design thinking approach to resolving those challenges. Drawing on research from engineering education, design thinking, and workplace practice, the authors provide both familiar and novel strategies for addressing diversity in engineering as well as in other professions.
E-Government of Occupational Safety and Health
Authors: Nathai-Balkissoon Marcia , Pun K. F.
Published: September 2021

Electronic government (e-gov) has not been implemented as extensively in many developing countries as in developed countries, especially in certain fields, such as occupational safety and health (OSH). This chapter considers e-gov that is effected through the websites of leading OSH bodies in a developing country, Trinidad and Tobago, and two developed nations, the USA and UK. Using a content analysis and comparison exercise, OSH e-gov shortcomings and opportunities in T&T are noted. Improvement recommendations include development of a strategy and strategy execution plan to boost stakeholder recognition of the value of the OSH agency and OSH e-gov in T&T; partnership-building to make resources available for OSH e-gov enhancement; enhanced accessibility and utility via a wider range of media formats to users; better stakeholder responsiveness via engagement with social media and better online support; and increased data collection and analysis in order to drive continual improvement.
Investigation of Ni/Al/Ti Ohmic Contact on N-Type 4H-SiC
Authors: Xue Meng Qian , Wan Cai Ping , Ge Nian Nian , Xu Heng Yu
Published: September 2021

In order to understand the contribution of various metals in the formation of ohmic contacts, Ni/Al/Ti ohmic contacts on n-type 4H-SiC in terms of a different annealing temperature and Ti composition are investigated, which is more difficult to form than p-type ohmic contact. The formation of the Ni/Al/Ti metal alloy system is much more sensitive to metal composition than annealing conditions. With the increase of metal composition, the contact with a high Ti content yields a lower specific contact resistivity compared with the low Ti contact. The annealed surface morphology and phase resultants were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM), respectively. With the increase of Ti components, the surface morphology of the samples becomes more uniform and smoother, while the surface roughness remains unchanged. It implies that Ti metal can not only reduce the ohmic resistance, but also protect the surface of the sample and maintain the roughness.
Study of Corrosion and Mechanical Resistance of Structural Pipe Steels of Long-Term Operation in Hydrogen Sulfur Containing Environments
Authors: Makarenko Valerii , Manhura Svitlana , Kharchenko Maksym , Melnikov Oleksandr , Manhura Andrii
Published: September 2021

Analysis of literature sources, as well as practical data indicate that the existing scientific, technical and technological developments to ensure reliable corrosion-mechanical resistance and durability of oil and gas pipelines and other shell metal structures of critical use and subordinate to the State Service for Mining Supervision and Industrial Safety of Ukraine largely find contradictions and uncertainty; there are no quantitatively substantiated recommendations for practical application in order to ensure corrosion and mechanical resistance of pipelines operating in technologically aggressive environments under alternating temperature and barometric conditions and loads; there is a need for a systematic study of the causes, conditions and mechanisms of corrosion and mechanical damage of long-term equipment, which will significantly increase the operational reliability of industrial equipment. Experimental studies have established the causes and substantiated the mechanisms of metal softening with increasing service life (from 0 to 25 years) that leads to its degradation, especially during long-term operation in corrosive environments. A method for forecasting the residual working (accident-free) life of pipeline metal structures has been developed, which makes it possible to purposefully regulate their operational condition. This allows the timely use of technical, design and technological measures to improve the performance of such structures. Numerous and diverse results of experimental tests of metal samples for various purposes have been obtained, which provide an opportunity to create a base for comparative analysis of steels in many parameters of crack resistance, which will become a reliable basis for scientific and practical substantiation of the equivalent replacement of some steel grades with other grades, taking into account technological loads, corrosive environments and others.
Psidium guajava Leaves as Corrosion Inhibitor of Al-6061
Authors: Gapsari Femiana , Ganda Andita Nataria Fitri
Published: September 2021

The anti-corrosion characteristic of the extract of Psidiumguajava leaves on aluminum in 3.5 wt% sodium chloride were examined using electrochemical measurement. The thermodynamic factors such as the free energy adsorption, change in enthalpy, and entropy was also analyzed. The adsorption isotherm was detail described to study the adsorption of the inhibitor on the aluminum surface with various concentrations of the inhibitor. The electrochemical measurement was done through the potentiodynamic polarization test. The results show that the inhibitor act as the mixed type inhibitor and its adsorption on the aluminum surface obeys Temkin adsorption isotherm. The study suggests that the use of Psidium guajava leaves extract for the food industrial application is eco-friendly and safe, especially in salt solution medium.
Development of the Protection Coat for Metallic Structures Based on the Intercalated Graphite Compounds
Authors: Kassov Valeriy , Berezshnaya Elena , Malyhin Nikolay , Antonenko Yana , Zubenko Kateryna
Published: September 2021

The practicability of introducing a synthesized graphite compound, intercalated with oxygen, into the protection coat is grounded. The composition and the method of manufacturing a protection coat based on the oxidized graphite, which does not require preliminary preparation of the metal structures surface before welding with an open arc, have been developed. The effect of the oxidized graphite content in the composition of the protection coat on its thermal stability and thermal expansion coefficient is analyzed. The main technological characteristics of the developed protection coat have been investigated and their compliance with the basic criteria for constructing protection coats has been confirmed.
Nanocurcumin
Authors: Khodabux Rachael Jahander , Parvathi Venkatachalam Deepa , Harikrishnan Thamizhchelvan
Published: September 2021

Oral cancer has high mortality and morbidity. The traditional treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is often a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Curcumin is a natural alkaloid used for centuries against various ailments including cancer. Nanotechnology has its profound application in the diagnosis/prognosis and for therapeutics in cancer. In therapeutics, nanotechnology can convey site-specific delivery of pharmaceutical agents by conferring new properties to the agents and only targeting the drugs to the tumor site, thus reducing systemic toxicity. The encapsulation of curcumin into polymeric nanoparticles seems to be beneficial, since it allows the administration of curcumin hydrophobic drug as an aqueous dispersion. Curcumin reports to inhibit cell proliferation and apoptosis in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma and suppresses OSCC cell growth. Most research studies conducted have focused on the anticancer properties of bulk curcumin and its application in adjuvant therapy. The challenge that bulk curcumin poses in terms of its limited uptake and permeability into tissues cannot be ruled out. The possible efficacy of nanocurcumin its effects on OSCC cell line has not been explored adequately. This study aims to review and assess the efficacy of nanocurcumin and its potential as a natural alkaloid against OSCC.
Predicting Breast Cancer using Machine Learning Classifiers and Enhancing the Output by Combining the Predictions to Generate Optimal F1-Score
Authors: Parekh Disha Harshadbhai , Dahiya Vishal
Published: September 2021

Background:

Biomedical field has gained a lot of interest from active researchers today. Treating various diseases prevailing among the world has believed to bring huge insight in the today's research world. Second, advancement in technology has eased the work of researchers to justify their work. Machine learning (ML) is an approach being used by bioengineers today to predict diseases and to even aid them in drug discovery.

Methods:

Considering both the points, one of the most serious diseases, that is breast cancer here, is predicted using ML approaches. Breast cancer is classified as either benign or malignant which is to be predicted with the help of ML classifiers. A very famous dataset Wisconsin Breast Cancer Dataset is used here and is trained by three classifiers mainly support vector machine, general linear model, and neural network (NNET) against testing dataset. Testing the breast cancer prediction was carried out keeping in mind the accuracy of each of the classifiers.

Results:

This study is involving a generic code in R language.

Conclusions:

The study intends to show the usage of NNETs in breast cancer prediction using single-layered structure.
Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Cytotoxic Activities of Different Parts of Salsola vermiculata
Authors: Mollaei Saeed , Ghanavi Jalaledin , Farnia Poopak , Abedi-Ghobadloo Parvin , Velayati Ali Akbar
Published: September 2021

Background:

Salsola vermiculata is an annual plant which is broadly distributed in southwest of Asia. Due to the lack of data regarding the biological properties of different parts of S. vermiculata, the present research focused on their biological activities.

Methods:

Different parts of plant were harvested, and phytochemical assay of S. vermiculata parts was performed to determine the presence of phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, fixed oils, and volatile oils. Then, their antioxidant and cytotoxicity activities of the extracts and fractions were evaluated according to DPPH and MTT assay, respectively. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activities of the extracts and fractions were determined by the disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration methods.

Results:

According to the results, the antioxidant activity and the phenolic contents in leaves and flowers crude extracts of S. vermiculata were high, and their ethyl acetate fractions had higher activities compared to other fractions. The cytotoxic study indicated that the seeds and roots crude extracts significantly exhibited cytotoxic activities with IC50 values of 33.88, 42.92 μg/mL, respectively, and only the fixed oil fractions had cytotoxic activity. Antibacterial activity showed that the fixed oil fraction of roots had the highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus, followed by fixed oil fraction of seeds and volatile oil fraction of the roots.

Conclusions:

Different parts and fractions of S. vermiculata contain various bioactive compounds with different biological activities, and the results of this study could provide useful information to guide the application of S. vermiculata parts in food and pharmaceutical fields.
The Relationship between the Sugammadex Use and Postoperative Reintubation in the Absence of Neuromuscular Monitoring
Authors: Wu Chung-Yi , Wu Ke-Li , Wu Tsai-Shan , Tseng Wei-Cheng , Lin Bo-Feng , Lai Hou-Chuan
Published: September 2021

Background:

Evidences show that sugammadex may facilate extubation after surgery. Applying neuromuscular monitoring in general anesthesia may prevent postoperatrive reintubation. However, routine general anesthesia does not always include neuromuscular monitoring. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the sugammadex use and postoperative reintubation in the absence of neuromuscular monitoring.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the incidence of postoperative reintubation in the operating room (OR) or postanesthesia care unit following sugammadex use in the absence of neuromuscular monitoring that involved a large number of patients over 4 years (from January 2017 to August 2020). Postoperative reintubation was applied for patients who had peripheric oxygen saturation <90% despite being given 6 L/min oxygen with a face mask. Patients with perioperative neuromuscular monitoring, renal or hepatic failure, electrolyte imbalance, body mass index over 35, incomplete data, and age under 20 years were excluded. All data from the ORs' database and anesthesia records were analyzed.

Results:

Of 6582 patients receiving sugammadex, 6313 were included in this study. Two confirmed cases of postoperative reintubation were detected, with an incidence of 0.03% (2 of 6,313). As of the type of surgery, a 34 years old male received elective thoracic surgery, and another 66 years old male received elective urological surgery. No long-term pulmonary sequelae were found.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that the occurrence of postoperative reintubation following sugammadex (2–4 mg/kg) use is rare even in the absence of neuromuscular monitoring. Further large prospective studies are required to validate the findings of this study.
Endometrial Carcinoma
Authors: Andleeb Asifa , Fatima Kaneez , Nasreen Shahida , Sofi Mushtaq Ahmad , Qadri Sumyra Khurshid
Published: September 2021

Aims:

This study aims to assess the clinicopathological features, treatment, recurrence pattern, survival, and prognostic factors in patients with endometrial carcinoma (EC).

Materials and Methods:

This was a retrospective study of 64 patients with EC who were diagnosed and treated at our institute from January 2010 to December 2013 and were followed till December end 2019. Survival analysis was done using Kaplan–Meier estimates and significance between curves by using the log-rank test.

Results:

The mean age of diagnosis was 60 years. The most common complaint was vaginal bleeding (75%). More than half of the patients (52.6%) had high body mass index (BMI). The majority of patients underwent surgery (90.7%) and had the early-stage disease (Stage I in 82.9%). During a median follow-up of 79 months (range: 4–100 months), 18.8% of patients experienced recurrence and vaginal vault (33.3%) was the most common site for recurrence. The 5-year disease-free survival was 83% and the 5-year overall survival was 84.7%. Elderly age, high BMI, advanced disease stage, more than 50% of myometrial invasion, nonendometrioid histology, Grade II and Grade III tumors, lymphovascular space invasion, and lymph node involvement adversely affected long-term survival.

Conclusion:

EC is mainly a disease of postmenopausal women, and most of them are diagnosed at an early stage and have good survival outcomes.
Metabolic positron-emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging in primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal lobar degeneration subtypes: Reassessment of expected [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake patterns
Authors: Franceschi Ana M. , Naser-Tavakolian Kiyon , Clifton Michael , Bangiyev Lev , Cruciata Giuseppe , Clouston Sean , Franceschi Dinko
Published: September 2021

Clinical assessment of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)/primary progressive aphasia (PPA) patients is challenging, given that common cognitive assessments rely extensively on language. Since asymmetry in neuroimaging biomarkers is often described as a central finding in these patients, our study evaluated [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake patterns in patients meeting clinical and imaging criteria for FTLD, with emphasis on PPA. Fifty-one subjects underwent brain [18F]-FDG positron-emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) as part of their routine clinical workup for dementia and neurodegenerative disease. Images were obtained using a Siemens Biograph mMR integrated 3T PET/MRI scanner. PET surface maps and fusion fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-PET images were generated utilizing MIMneuro software. Two board-certified neuroradiologists and one nuclear medicine physician blinded to patient history classified each FTLD/PPA subtype and assessed for left- versus right-side dominant hypometabolism. Qualitative and semiquantitative assessment demonstrated 18 cases of PPA, 16 behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), 12 corticobasal degeneration, and 5 progressive supranuclear palsy. Among the 18 PPA subjects (11 svPPA, 5 lvPPA, and 2 agPPA), 12 (67%) demonstrated left-dominant hypometabolism and 6 (33%) right-dominant hypometabolism. While existing literature stresses left-dominant hypometabolism as a key imaging feature in the PPA subtypes, a third of our cases demonstrated right-dominant hypometabolism, suggesting that emphasis should be placed on the functionality of specific brain regions affected, rather than left versus right sidedness of hypometabolism patterns.
Deprescribing - Just Do It
Authors: Sadowski Cheryl A.
Published: September 2021

An article published in the JAMA Network in the final days of 2020 titled "Just Do It - Everyone Should
Follow the Guidelines," indicates that not everyone is receiving the message about polypharmacy. Though not a paper about medications, the "just do it" article provides an example of the prevailing culture in healthcare - guidelines become rules, and, if you assess, then you will likely prescribe. The prescriber soothes by prescribing, and the patient bears the burden.
Impact Analysis of a Pharmacist-Led Home-Medication Review Service Within an Interprofessional Outreach Team
Authors: Lin Wuqi , Haq Sabrina , Sinha Samir , Fan-Lun Chris
Published: September 2021

Objective To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of frail and homebound community-dwelling older patients receiving a home medication review (HMR) conducted by a home-visiting pharmacist; the types of drug therapy problems (DTPs) that were identified; the
types of clinical interventions being recommended and their implementation rate. Design Retrospective, cross-sectional chart-review study using data from patient records. Setting Homes of patients receiving a HMR by a community pharmacy-based consulting
home-visiting pharmacist. Patients 171 patients received a HMR between January 1, 2016, and May 31, 2018. Intervention Patients received a comprehensive HMR by a home-visiting pharmacist working as a member of an interprofessional geriatrics team.
Main Outcome Measures Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, comorbidities, use of potentially inappropriate medications, DTPs identified, number and type of clinical interventions being recommended and successfully implemented. Results Patients had a mean
age of 81 years (range: 54-100 years), majority were 65 years of age or older (95%), and female (59%). Fifty-three percent of patients had a CCI score of 1 to 2, and 93.6% were experiencing multi-morbidity and polypharmacy. Patients used an average of 13.0 medications, and 76.1% were found
to be using at least 1 potentially inappropriate medication. In total, the home-visiting pharmacist identified 827 DTPs and made 1088 recommendations with a successful implementation rate of 74%. Conclusions Frail and homebound community-dwelling older adults referred for
a HMR were observed to be using a high number of medications with a significant number of DTPs identified. Offering HMRs was an effective method for a community-based pharmacist to make acceptable recommendations to optimize medication therapy management for frail older patients.
Synthesis, Structure, and Radioprotective Activity of the Palladium (II) Complex with Mexidol
Authors: Gasanov Kh.I. , Nurullayeva S.I. , Babayev Z.H.
Published: September 2021

New complex compounds of palladium (II) with biologically active ligand 2 - ethyl - 6 methyl - 3 - hydroxy-pyridine - mexidol in acidic medium (pH = 5,3) of the following composition have been synthesized – . In this case, the ligand is protonated and as a single-charged cation occupies an external coordination sphere. The structure of the complex is proved by X-ray structure analysis. It is shown that the structure is constructed of an isolated complex anion – and cation . The square planar coordination of the palladium atom is formed from three chlorine atoms and the formed tetraacidoanion ligand forms a hydrogen bond. The average length of Pd-Cl bond is 2, 3030 , there are no deviations from 900 valence angles of Cl-Pd-Cl. The palladium atom is not shifted from the plane coordination polyhedron (square) and therefore trance angles of Cl-Pd-Cl are 1800. Two different lengths -2,289 and 2,713 of hydrogen bonds are related to the geometric location of the ligand functional group. The obtained 2 – ethyl – 6 – methyl – 3 -hydroxypyridinetrachloro - palladium - mexidazole was tested for radioprotective properties. Toxicity of the preparation is LD50 - 240 mg/kg of animal weight. Toxicological studies of mexidazole in mice, rats and dogs did not reveal cardiotoxic, immunotoxic, embryonic, nephrotoxic, hematoxic and other types of side effects. Mexidazole is removed from the body with urine 5-8 hours after intravenous injection. The carried out biological test showed that the compound, along with radioprotective properties, has some antitumor activity.
ĐÁNH GIÁ HIỆU QUẢ KINH TẾ VÀ MÔI TRƯỜNG CỦA VIỆC SỬ DỤNG ĐÈN LED CHUYÊN DỤNG TRONG CÂU MỰC TẠI XÃ HẢI DƯƠNG, THỊ XÃ HƯƠNG TRÀ, TỈNH THỪA THIÊN HUẾ
Authors:   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế, Nguyễn Đăng Nhật , Đỗ Thanh Tiến ,   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế, Hiền Hiền ,   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế, Nguyễn Tử Minh ,   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế, Trương Văn Đàn ,   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế
Published: September 2021

Nghiên cứu nhằm đánh giá hiệu quả kinh tế và môi trường của việc sử dụng hệ đèn LED chuyên dụng trên các thuyền câu mực so với hệ đèn LED tự chế tại xã Hải Dương, thị xã Hương Trà, tỉnh Thừa Thiên Huế. Kết quả cho thấy, chi phí trung bình của thuyền dùng đèn LED chuyên dụng (98,89 ± 2,47 ngàn đồng) thấp hơn thuyền dùng đèn LED tự chế (103,89 ± 2,17 ngàn đồng), trong khi, lợi nhuận trung bình 1 chuyến của thuyền khai thác bằng đèn LED chuyên dụng (946,8 ± 44,31 ngàn đồng) cao hơn đèn LED tự chế (572,4 ± 27,04 ngàn đồng) và tỷ suất lợi nhuận của mô hình khai thác bằng đèn LED chuyên dụng (2,04 ± 0,09) cao hơn so với đèn LED tự chế (1,19 ± 0,06). Sử dụng đèn LED chuyên dụng lượng phát thải khí CO2 hàng năm giảm trên 58 tấn CO2/năm, điều đó cho thấy hiệu quả bảo vệ môi trường cũng như là bảo vệ sức khỏe của con người khi sử dụng đèn LED chuyên dụng cao trong câu mực.
ĐÁNH GIÁ KHẢ NĂNG THÀNH THỤC VÀ THỬ NGHIỆM SẢN XUẤT GIỐNG CÁ BỖNG (SPINIBARBUS DENTICULATUS OSHIMA, 1926) NUÔI TRONG AO ĐẤT TẠI QUẢNG BÌNH
Authors:   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế, Lê Văn Dân , Ngô Hữu Toàn ,   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế
Published: September 2021

Cá Bỗng là loài có thịt mềm, thơm ngon, giá trị kinh tế cao, được xem là loài cá đặc sản nước ngọt hàng đầu ở miền Bắc. Tuy nhiên, sản lượng loài cá này liên tục sụt giảm do khai thác quá mức trong thời gian gần đây. Nghiên cứu này nhằm mục đích hoàn thiện quy trình sản xuất giống để phát triển nuôi ở tỉnh Quảng Bình và góp phần bảo vệ nguồn lợi cá Bỗng nói chung. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy kích thước thành thục sinh dục lần đầu của cá khi nuôi trong ao đất có chiều dài là 48,6 ± 1,85 cm và khối lượng trung bình là 3,05 ± 0,22 kg với cá cái; 41,7 ± 1,97 cm và 2,76 ± 0,18 kg với cá đực. Mùa vụ sinh sản cá Bỗng nuôi trong ao từ tháng 3 đến tháng 6. Tỷ lệ thành thục cao nhất đạt 100% ở cá đực và 90% ở cá cái vào tháng 5. Hỗn hợp kích dục tố phù hợp để kích thích sinh sản cá Bỗng là LRHa + DOM với liều lượng sử dụng hiệu quả nhất là (40 μg LRHa + 10mg DOM)/kg cá cái. Với điều kiện nuôi ở Quảng Bình, thời gian hiệu ứng của cá Bỗng là 15,1 – 20,2 giờ, tỷ lệ đẻ đạt 100%. Sức sinh sản thực tế của cá Bỗng từ 3.797 - 4.491 trứng/kg cá cái. Thời gian nở của trứng dao động từ 70 - 72 giờ ở nhiệt độ nước 24 - 28oC. Tỷ lệ thụ tinh và tỷ lệ nở trung bình đạt 76,6 - 84,6% và 74,1 - 81,1%. Năng suất cá bột trung bình dao động từ 2188 - 2938 con/kg cá cái.
BIỂU HIỆN GEN SINH CƠ Ở GÀ RI LAI VÀ LƯƠNG PHƯỢNG KHI ĐƯỢC NUÔI BẰNG CÁC KHẨU PHẦN CÓ MỨC METHIONINE KHÁC NHAU
Authors:   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế, Hồ Lê Quỳnh Châu , Thân Thị Thanh Trà ,   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế, Dương Thị Hương ,   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế, Đinh Văn Dũng ,   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế, Hồ Trung Thông ,   Trường Đại học Nông Lâm, Đại học Huế
Published: September 2021

Nghiên cứu này được thực hiện nhằm đánh giá ảnh hưởng của các mức methionine khác nhau trong khẩu phần đến mức biểu hiện gen sinh cơ ở gà Ri lai và Lương Phượng 12 tuần tuổi. Tổng cộng 240 Ri lai và 240 gà Lương Phượng 1 ngày tuổi được bố trí vào thí nghiệm 2×3 yếu tố với 4 lần lặp lại trên 20 con gà. Ba khẩu phần có hàm lượng methionine khác nhau (thấp, trung bình, cao so với mức methionine khuyến cáo của Evonik (2010) cho nhóm gà lông màu) được sử dụng để nuôi gà. Khi gà đủ 12 tuần tuổi, tổng cộng 36 con gà ở 2 nhóm gà thí nghiệm được chọn lựa ngẫu nhiên để đánh giá khối lượng và tỷ lệ cơ ức, mức biểu hiện các gen myostatin, myf5, MEF2B trong cơ ức bằng kỹ thuật RT-realtime PCR. Kết quả cho thấy sử dụng khẩu phần có mức methionine cao hơn 0,08% so với mức khuyến cáo của Evonik (2010) cho gà lông màu đã làm tăng đáng kể khối lượng cơ ức ở cả 2 nhóm gà Ri lai và Lương Phượng. Tăng 0,08% methionine trong khẩu phần của gà Ri lai so với khuyến cáo của Evonik (2010) đã làm giảm biểu hiện gen myostatin và tăng biểu hiện gen MEF2B ở gà Ri lai. Ngược lại, giảm 0,08% methionine trong khẩu phần so với khuyến cáo đã không ảnh hưởng đến biểu hiện của cả 3 gen sinh cơ myostatin, myf5 và MEF2B so với khi sử dụng khẩu phần có mức methionine bằng với khuyến cáo của Evonik (2010). Trong khi đó, việc gia tăng hàm lượng methionine trong khẩu phần đã làm giảm biểu hiện gen myostatin, tăng biểu hiện gen myf5 và MEF2B ở gà Lương Phượng.