bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-vivo Anti-Plasmodial Activity of Enantia chlorantha: A Potential Plasmodium berghei Survival Inhibitor
Authors: Saheed-Alimi Rashida , Nassir Suleiman Adebayo , Ehigie Leonard Ona , Oyeleke Kikelomo Olayemi , Adegoke Caleb Oladele , Adedokun Amudalat
Published: December 2024

The emergence of resistance to existing antimalarial drugs has intensified the search for novel, effective, and affordable treatments for malaria. The sensitivity of strains of Plasmodium spp. to the commonly known antimalarial drugs over time undermines the effectiveness of treatment. Enantia chlorantha, traditionally used in African folk medicine, has shown potential antimalarial agents that inhibit parasite survival and growth. This study aimed to investigate the antimalarial efficacy of Enantia chlorantha extracts on Plasmodium berghei using in vivo approach.
A total of 55 albino mice randomized into 5 groups were inoculated with an infection of 1.0 x 107 chloroquine sensitive strain of Plasmodium berghei intra-peritoneally. Methanol, n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Enantia chlorantha stem-bark was extracted successfully using a Sohxlet extractor. Experimental mice were treated orally with doses of 5mg/kg, 10mg/kg, and 20mg/kg of each plant extract (EC2, EEA and EHEX treated groups), a dose of 10mg/kg chloroquine (standard control group), and a dose of 0.2ml Olive Oil (negative control group). The level of parasitaemia and death per day were used to assess the chemosuppressive effect and survival rate of the extracts. Data were analyzed using One Way Analysis of variance ANOVA followed by post hoc test, and were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean (M ± SEM), and percentage. All analyses were carried out at a 95% confidence interval, with a significance level set at P < 0.05.
The treatment with various concentrations of Enantia chlorantha extracts (EC2, EEA, and EHEX) significantly reduced parasitaemia levels, with higher doses showing greater suppression. EC2 reduced parasitaemia from 1.00% (5 mg/kg) to 0.71% (20 mg/kg) with p=0.0003, while EEA reduced it from 1.15% (5 mg/kg) to 0.57% (20 mg/kg) with p=0.0028. EHEX showed a suppression from 1.09% (10 mg/kg) to 0.46% (20 mg/kg) with p=0.0001. Chemosuppression in EC2, EEA, and EHEX increased with dosage, with EEA at 20 mg/kg surpassing chloroquine in chemosuppression (85.64% vs. 69.86%, p=0.0009). In survival outcomes, EC2, EEA, and EHEX exhibited dose-dependent increases in survival index, with EEA at 20 mg/kg reaching 90%, but none matched chloroquine's 100% survival,
Enantia chlorantha extracts particularly EEA significantly reduced parasitaemia level and increased chemosuppressive effect and survival index at high doses, indicating the potent antimalarial activity of Enantia chlorantha.
Morphological Characterization of Citrus Leaves (Citrus species) under Sub-tropical Conditions of Punjab, India
Authors: Kaur Manjot , Hari Satveer Kaur , Singh Jashanpreet , Sharma Ankur , Aman
Published: December 2024

A field experiment was conducted during 2019-2021 at Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh sahib, Punjab to study the morphological characterization of citrus leaves (Citrus species) under sub-tropical conditions of Punjab. For morphological studies, leaves samples collected from the Citrus orchard. Samples were randomly collected from 10 leaves samples which were randomly collected from 5 plants in order to obtain a representative sample. All leaves sample were observed for integrity and absence of dust and insect contamination. The leaves of six different citrus species were used for the morphological characterization. Morphological characters of citrus accessions were observed on basis of UPOV (International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants) descriptors. The experimental results revealed that there were significant variations for morphological characterization in different citrus species. There are no variations in vegetative life cycle, leaf division, leaf colour, leaf lamina attachment in lime, lemon, pummelo, mandarin, grapefruit and sweet orange leaves. Vegetative life cycle was evergreen and leaf division was found to be simple in all the six citrus species. However, maximum mean leaf lamina length, leaf lamina width and leaf lamina length to width ratio was recorded in pummelo followed by grapefruit and mandarin. The maximum leaf area was observed in pummelo which was statistically at par with grapefruit, mandarin, sweet orange, lemon. Thus, there was no significant variation morphological characterization among citrus leaves.
Enhancing Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) Larval Survivability Through Spermidine Supplementation
Authors: Sudan Neha , Sharma Magdeshwar , Gupta R. K. , Bali Kamlesh
Published: December 2024

The silkworm, Bombyx mori L., is a species of great economic significance since it is essential to the manufacture of silk. Improving silkworms' growth, survival rates, and silk yield throughout their larval stages requires increasing their food intake. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of adding spermidine to mulberry leaves on Bombyx mori L. larvae survival. The experimental groups in this experiment were given mulberry leaves treated with different doses of spermidine, such as Spd 25, 50, 75, and 100 µM. The larvae were separated into control and experimental groups. The findings demonstrated that larvae fed leaves laced with spermidine had higher survival rates than the control group. However, compared to the control group, the treated group's mortality rate was decreased. These findings indicate that spermidine could be a useful nutritional enhancement in sericulture, promoting better larval health and increased silk production.
Influence of Extraction Techniques on the Physicochemical Characteristics and Industrial Applications of Chayote (Sechium edule) Tuber Starch
Authors: Panchal Purnima M. , Singh B. K.
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the effect of different starch extraction methods properties of chayote (Sechium edule) tuber starch. Chayote, a tuberous plant rich in starch, was subjected to both physical and chemical extraction methods, with treatments including water, sodium hydroxide, and sodium metabisulfite. The study evaluated for particle size, bulk density, flow ability, pH, amylose, amylopectin content, water and oil absorption capacity, and starch paste clarity. Starch clarity was highest in treatments using sodium metabisulfite, with clarity values up to 73.26%, high clarity, suitable for transparent applications. Treatment T7, which used sodium metabisulfite, yielded the highest amylopectin content (70.46%), making it flexible and ideal for applications requiring low retrogradation, ensuring long-term stability in food products and other applications. such as edible coatings. The study concludes that chayote tuber starch shows great potential for industrial applications such as in coatings, baked goods, thickening agents, and biodegradable packaging materials, with the extraction method significantly affecting its physical and chemical properties. Treatment T7 is recommended for optimal starch yield, clarity, and amylopectin content, making it suitable for use in coatings and food formulations requiring flexibility and stability. These results are also important for producing innovative and sustainable products, providing options to traditional starch sources and encouraging the use of underutilized crops like chayote.
Birth Plan and Safety of the Pregnant Woman from the Nurse's Perspective
Authors: Ribeiro Elaine Rossi , Andrade Diancarlos Pereira de , Garbelini Maria Cecilia Da Lozzo , Reis Alessandra Crystian Engles dos , Moreira Angela Maria Nos
Published: December 2024

Background: The Birth Plan is an essential tool for obstetric care centered on the pregnant woman, reflecting her preferences and expectations during childbirth. This plan aims to personalize the experience, reduce unnecessary interventions and promote a safe and respectful environment.
Aims: To investigate the role of the nurse as an inducer of the implementation of the birth plan, identify the knowledge and professional practice of nurses regarding the birth plan and highlight the nurses' consideration of the relationship between the implementation of the birth plan and patient safety.
Methodology: Descriptive exploratory research with a quantitative approach, carried out with nurses from the Family Health Program and maternal and childcare in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, using an online questionnaire with Likert-type answers and an open-ended question, statistical analysis via R cran software Version 4.1.0.
Results: Twenty-eight nurses participated, predominantly women (85.7%), with an average age between 42 and 50 years, and 39.3% with more than 15 years of experience. Among them, 33.3% had a specialization in Family Health and 22.2% in Gynecology and Obstetrics. The analysis showed that specialized training positively influences the perception of the importance of the Birth Plan in patient safety (P = .05).
Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of continuous training and a collaborative approach to ensure quality obstetric care, respecting the autonomy of the pregnant woman and based on scientific evidence. Although there are challenges in practical implementation, promoting ongoing education and effective communication is crucial for safer and more woman-centered care.
Influence of Nutrient Sources on Growth and Yield of Soybean (Glycine max L.)
Authors: Nagda Vijay , Panchal V.V. , Kawade A.A.
Published: December 2024

The investigation was carried out at experimental cum demonstration fieldShri Vaishnav Institute of Agriculture, Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya, Indore during rabi 2023. The soil of experimental field was medium black clay in texture. It was low in available nitrogen (210.65 kg ha--1), medium in phosphorus (15.22 kg ha-1) and high in potassium (450.27 kg ha-1). The soil organic carbon content, pH, and EC was 0.50 %, 7.30 %, and 0.75 dSm-1, respectively. The field experiment was carried out in randomized block design with eight treatments consisted of T1: absolute control, T2: 100 % RDF, T3: 100 % RDN through FYM,  T4: 100 % RDN through vermicompost, T5: 50 % RDF + 50 % RDN through FYM, T6: 50 % RDF + 50 % RDN through vermicompost, T7: 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through FYM, and T8: 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through vermicompost, and each experimental unit was replicated thrice having the gross plot size of 3.60 x 4.50 m2 and net plot 2.70 x 4.30 m2.
Application of 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through vermicompost recorded significantly maximum growth characters viz., plant height (42.33 cm), number of branches plant-1 (9.90), number of leaves (23.33) plant-1 at 60 DAS, number of root nodules plant-1 (47.27) at 60 DAS , dry matter accumulation plant-1 ( 22.78 g) at harvest, and leaf area plant-1 (13.17 dm2) as compare to all other treatments and was at par with treatment RDF. In a similar vein, noticeably higher yield contributing character such as number of pods (29.33) plant-1, pod yield plant-1 (21.33 g), and seed yield plant-1 (10.83 g), was recorded in treatment 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through vermicompost than rest of the treatments and was on par with treatment RDF. Significantly higher grain yield (15.30 q ha-1),  straw yield    (23.69 q ha-1) and biological yield (38.99 q ha-1) of soybean was recorded in treatment 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through vermicompost, over rest of the treatments and was on par with treatment RDF. The higher protein content (43.40 %), oil yield (314.03 kg ha-1) and protein yield (665.22 kg ha-1) was found in treatment 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through vermicompost than any other treatment.
Land use and Land Cover Classification for Dang District Nepal using Satellite Imagery and Machine Learning on Google Earth Engine
Authors: Dahal Shishir , Dangi Bijaya , B.C. Manisha Kumari , Bhattarai Rajendra Kumar
Published: December 2024

Land use land cover classification (LULC) is a key tool for accessing, monitoring and management of natural resources. Advanced remote sensing technologies such as satellite imageries and machine learning algorithms have been widely used for LULC classification around the globe. This study was aimed to compare and analyze the performance of Random Forest (RF) and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) algorithms for LULC classification of Dang district using Landsat-9 and Sentinel-2 imageries of the year 2023 on Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform.  During the study, satellite images were accessed and filtered by predetermined region of interest, date, cloud percentage (<10%) and spatial resolution (30m) followed by cloud masking and median composite. Several satellite indices including normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference built up index (NDBI), modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI) and barren soil index (BSI) were computed and used to detect five different LULC classes i.e., crop lands, water bodies, forest and shrubs, settlements, and barren and sandy lands. The CART model classified the Landsat-9 and Sentinel-2 imageries more accurately with overall accuracies of 97.43% and 96.41% as compared to RF model i.e., 95.71% and 95.71 respectively. Similarly, the Kappa coefficient for CART was 0.97 for Landsat-9 and 0.95 for Sentinel-2 imageries while that of RF was 0.94 for both image sources. The results indicate that CART performed comparatively better than RF under same level of resolution. The current study suggests government stakeholders and policymakers to employ LULC as major key tool for sustainable land management, ecological conservation, and socio-economic development and addressing global concerns such as urbanization and climate change.
Phytochemical and Antioxidant Evaluations of Chromolaena odorata and Huntaria umbellata
Authors: Eze Ikechukwu Lucky , Onyegbule Felix Ahamefule , Ezugwu Christopher Obodike , Chibuzor Johnson Victor , Aziakpono Omoirri Moses
Published: December 2024

With the increasing demand for herbal medicine, it is imperative to validate the presence of the most anticipated antioxidants present in plants, which motivated the aim of this study. Hence, the efficacy of Chromolaena odorata and Hunteria umbellata were validated. Natural antioxidants in medicinal plants, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, mitigate oxidative stress and serve as alternative treatments for various diseases. We obtained crude extracts through cold maceration and qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screenings for alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins. Antioxidant profiles were assessed using DPPH and FRAP assays for In vitro and MDA, SOD, and CAT assays for In vivo. The liquid (ethanol) extracts from these plants were tested to confirm the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and glycosides in the ethanol extracts of Chromolaena odorata leaves and Hunteria umbellata seeds. The decreasing effect of DPPH experienced in both plant extracts validates the presence of free radical scavenging activities and ferric-reducing antioxidant potential in a concentration-dependent manner. Chromolaena odorata demonstrated superior inhibition in both DPPH (88.89 ± 0.26%) and FRAP (90.16 ± 0.76%) assays compared to Hunteria umbellata. In vivo studies showed dose-dependent antioxidant effects, with 500 mg/kg of Chromolaena odorata exhibiting the best results across MDA, SOD, and CAT indices. This study concludes that Chromolaena odorata leaves possess higher antioxidant activity and phytochemical content than Hunteria umbellata seeds, supporting their potential use in antioxidant therapies.
Navigating the Digital Realm: An In-depth Analysis of Pregnancy Apps for Maternal Health and Nutrition
Authors: Yadav Poonam , Malik Poonam , Bishnoi Samanta
Published: December 2024

Due to the rise in nuclear families, many pregnant women utilize mobile applications to get information about pregnancy, labour, and postpartum care. The development of a baby takes nine months from egg to zygote to embryo to fetus to newborn (nine months to be precise). Whatever happens during this period before birth, determines what he is going to be like at the time of birth as well as in later life. Pregnancy is therefore of the utmost significance. Aim of the study was to analyze the already existing pregnancy apps for their content and quality provided on health care during pregnancy and proper nutrition care during prenatal period. To analyze these pregnancy apps, 40 apps available on Google Play Store were downloaded and installed on an Android phone. Each and every app is critically assessed by the investigator for its content and quality based on different criteria using self-structured schedule. Majority of the apps available on play store lacked crucial information related to health care and nutrition during pregnancy. However, it was determined that the material which was available was found accurate and relevant but insufficient. Women are increasingly using mobile apps to access information about pregnancy. There are several pregnancy apps available, however they do not meet the needs of Indian mothers who are expecting. These apps offer information, but it is sparse and difficult to understand. Therefore, it is necessary to create a pregnancy app specifically for Indian mothers that offers adequate information in Hindi and regional dialects.
Bridging the Gap: Unveiling the Gendered Digital Divide in Haryana State, India
Authors: Yadav Laxmi
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the gender-specific digital divide regarding ICT access, affordability, and ICT skills, focusing on four districts of Haryana: Gurugram, Panchkula, Mahendragarh, and Nuh, selected based on the level of the SDG index ranking for quality education in Haryana. The SDG ranking provides a relevant context for understanding the problem. The researcher collected data from 120 respondents (60 men and 60 women) across four districts. The data was collected with questionnaires and interviews. The questionnaire was related to ownership of ICT devices, employment status, and basic and advanced skills needed for using that device. The findings revealed that women lacked access and affordability; forty percent of women did not own a phone, and 90 percent of women were unemployed, proving the fact. More than 80 percent of women do not have advanced skills, which is a significant ICT skill gap. Additionally, a Statistical analysis using the chi-square test showed a p-value less than 0.05 for all three hypotheses (gender and ICT access, affordability, and skills), indicating a strong impact of gender on the digital divide.
Implementation of a monthly individualized learning plan with emergency medicine residents
Authors: Getto Leila P. , Drake Joshua , Kern Alyssa , Fredette Jenna
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Self‐assessment and self‐directed learning (SDL) are integral to developing competent physicians who are lifelong learners. Individualized learning plans (ILPs) are tools to formalize this process and allow for mentors to guide residents in developing these skills. Pediatric residencies have adopted the ILP process and have demonstrated improvement in resident SDL behavior, but to date there have been no EM residencies to adopt the ILP process into resident education.

Methods

The ILP program was designed around three key elements: (1) resident performance of self‐assessment; (2) a collaborative conversation about learning needs and goals; and (3) a shared development of implementation strategies. The program was implemented with 12 PGY1 EM residents in the 2019–2020 academic year. Following an introduction to ILPs during orientation, residents met monthly with program leadership to create and reflect on ILPs. At the conclusion of the academic year, residents were surveyed about their attitude toward the ILP process and SDL.

Results

A total of nine residents completed the postimplementation survey. Prior to implementing the ILP program, residents universally reported that they had little to no experience with generating an ILP. Following implementation, 55% of residents described themselves as strong independent learners and 89% wanted to continue the program into their second year.

Conclusions

Overall, residents felt that the ILP program helped to focus their goals, monitor their progress, and allowed them to develop a relationship with program leadership.
3D finite‐element modeling of vascular adaptation after endovascular aneurysm repair
Authors: Zhang Shaojie , Laubrie Joan D. , Mousavi S. Jamaleddin , Avril Stéphane
Published: October 2021

Aneurysm shrinkage is clinically observed after successful endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). However, global understanding of post‐operative aneurysm evolutions remains weak. In this work, we propose to study these effects using numerical simulation. We set up a 3D finite‐element model of post‐EVAR vascular adaptation within an open‐source finite‐element code, which was initially developed for growth and remodeling (G&R). We modeled the endograft with a set of uniaxial prestrained springs that apply radial forces on the inner surface of the artery. Constitutive equations, momentum balance equations, and equations related to the mechanobiology of the artery were formulated based on the homogenized constrained mixture theory. We performed a sensitivity analysis by varying different selected parameters, namely oversizing and compliance of the stent‐graft, gain parameters related to collagen G&R, and the residual pressure in the aneurysm sac. This permitted us to evaluate how each factor influences post‐EVAR vascular adaptation. It was found that oversizing, compliance or gain parameters have a limited influence compared to that of the residual pressure in the aneurysm sac, which was found to play a critical role in the stability of aneurysm after stent‐graft implantation. An excessive residual pressure larger than 50 mmHg can induce a continuous expansion of the aneurysm while a moderate residual pressure below this critical threshold yields continuous shrinkage of the aneurysm. Moreover, it was found that elderly patients, with relatively lower amounts of remnant elastin in the arterial wall, are more sensitive to the effect of residual pressure. Therefore, these results show that elderly patients may present a higher potential risk of aortic sac expansion due to intra‐aneurysm sac pressure after EVAR than younger patients.
Acoustofluidic platforms for particle manipulation
Authors: Novotny Jakub , Lenshof Andreas , Laurell Thomas
Published: October 2021

There is an increasing interest in acoustics for microfluidic applications. This field, commonly known as acoustofluidics involves the interaction of ultrasonic standing waves with fluids and dispersed microparticles. The combination of microfluidics and the so‐called acoustic standing waves (ASWs) led to the development of integrated systems for contact‐less on‐chip cell and particle manipulation where it is possible to move and spatially localize these particles based on the different acoustophysical properties. While it was initially suggested that the acoustic forces could be harmful to the cells and could impact cell viability, proliferation, or function via phenotypic or even genotypic changes, further studies disproved such claims. This review is summarizing some interesting applications of acoustofluidics in the manipulations of biomaterials, such as cells or subcellular vesicles, in works published mainly within the last 5 years.
Does perceived susceptibility and severity of health problems serve as drivers for household enrolment in health insurance? A case study from Nepal
Authors: Acharya Devaraj , Devkota Bhimsen , Kreps Gary L.
Published: October 2021

This study was conducted from a behaviour change perspective to assess the association between the constructs of Health Belief Model and enrolment in health insurance (HI). A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 810 households in Kailali and Baglung districts. The study used personal interviews to collect data. Perceived susceptibility, severity of diseases, benefits of enrolment, causes of non‐enrolment, interaction with peers/neighbours, and family member's approval to enrol were independent variables and enrolment in HI served as dependent variable. More than half (52%) of the respondents evaluated themselves as not susceptible to health problems. The severity of the health problem was perceived as an economic burden. General treatment and reduction of financial load were perceived as the main benefits of enrolment. Economic status was described as the main barrier to enrol. A vast majority of the respondents had been invited to enrol, and 73% agreed to enrol. Perceived susceptibility and severity of health problems were significantly associated with HI enrolment but were not significant predictors. However, peers' requests to register in HI, discussion with relatives, and family members' approval to enrol were the most significant predictors enrolment. These factors could be incorporated into future intervention plans for increasing enrolment in HI.
New insights into the effect of fermentation temperature and duration on catechins conversion and formation of tea pigments and theasinensins in black tea
Authors: Hua Jinjie , Wang Huajie , Yuan Haibo , Yin Peng , Wang Jinjin , Guo Guiyi , Jiang Yongwen
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND

The phenol oxidative pathway during fermentation remains unclear. To elucidate the effect of fermentation on phenol conversion, we investigated the effects of fermentation temperature and duration on the conversion of catechins and the formation of theasinensins (TSs), theaflavins (TFs), thearubigins (TRs), and theabrownins (TBs).

RESULTS

During fermentation, TSs formation increased initially and then decreased. Long fermentation durations were unfavorable for liquor brightness (LB) and resulted in the production of large amounts of TRs and TBs. Low fermentation temperatures (20 °C and 25 °C) favored the maintenance of polyphenol oxidase activity and the continuous formation of TFs, TSs, and TRSI (a TRs fraction), resulting in better LB and liquor color. Higher temperatures (30 °C, 35 °C, and 40 °C) resulted in higher peroxidase activity, higher oxidative depletion rates of catechins, and excessive production of TRSII (a TRs fraction) and TBs. Analysis of the conversion pathway of polyphenolic compounds during fermentation showed that, during early fermentation, large amounts of catechins were oxidized and converted to TFs and theasinensin B. As fermentation progressed, considerable amounts of theaflavin‐3′‐gallate, theasinensin A, theaflavin‐3‐gallate, theaflavin‐3,3′‐digallate, and theasinensin C were produced and then converted to TRSI; in the final stage, TRSII and TBs were converted continuously.

CONCLUSION

Different fermentation temperature and duration combinations directly affected the type and composition of phenolic compounds. The key conditions for controlling phenolic compound conversion and fermentation direction were 60 or 90 min and 25 or 30 °C. Our study provides insights into the regulation of phenolic compound conversion during black tea fermentation. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Ensuring respiratory phase consistency to improve cardiac function quantification in real‐time CMR
Authors: Chen Chong , Chandrasekaran Preethi , Liu Yingmin , Simonetti Orlando P. , Tong Matthew , Ahmad Rizwan
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To develop an automatic method for selecting heartbeats with consistent respiratory phase to improve accuracy of cardiac function quantification in real‐time (RT) cardiac MRI.

Methods

The respiratory signal is extracted by a principal component analysis method from RT cine images. Then, a two‐step procedure is used to determine the directionality (sign) of the respiratory signal. With the motion in a manually selected region‐of‐interest as a reference, the quality of the extracted respiratory signal is assessed using multislice RT cine data from 11 volunteers and 10 patients. In addition, the impact of selecting heartbeats with consistent respiratory phase on the cardiac function quantification is evaluated.

Results

The extracted respiratory signal using the proposed method exhibits a high, positive correlation with the reference in all cases and is more robust compared to a recently proposed method. Also, for right ventricular function quantification, selecting heartbeats at expiratory position improves agreement between RT cine and breath‐held reference.

Conclusion

The proposed method enables fully automatic extraction and directionality determinations of respiratory signal from RT cardiac cine images, allowing accurate cardiac function quantification.
Impact of settings and culture on nurses’ knowledge of and attitudes and perceptions towards people with dementia: An integrative literature review
Authors: Yaghmour Sara Mahmoud
Published: October 2021

Background

Well‐trained nurses are required to support dementia patients; however, the quality of the provided dementia nursing care can be impacted by nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards people with dementia.

Aim

To obtain an overview of the current nursing practice towards people with dementia around the world.

Design

An integrated literature review was conducted based on Whittemore and Knafl's method.

Results

A total of 72 articles met the inclusion criteria. Three main themes were identified: (1) nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards dementia; (2) nursing experience of caring for people with dementia in acute and community care settings; and (3) dementia nursing care across health regions.

Conclusion

Nurses play the role of facilitators in the efficient delivery of quality care for dementia patients. A variety of attitudes and perceptions towards people with dementia were found to be triggered by the severity of dementia, religion, ethnicity and gender.

Implications for practice

Healthcare organisations and educational settings need to coordinate and function together to improve nurses’ knowledge and encourage positive attitudes towards people with dementia.
The effect of charged residue substitutions on the thermodynamics of protein‐surface interactions
Authors: Ortega Gabriel , Aguilar Miguel A. , Gautam Bishal K. , Plaxco Kevin W.
Published: October 2021

The interactions of proteins with surfaces are important in both biological processes and biotechnologies. In contrast to decades of study regarding the biophysics of proteins in bulk solution, however, our mechanistic understanding of the biophysics of proteins interacting with surfaces remains largely qualitative. In response, we have set to explore quantitatively the thermodynamics of protein‐surface interactions. In this work, we explore systematically the role of electrostatics in modulating the interaction between proteins and charged surfaces. In particular, we use electrochemistry to explore the extent to which a macroscopic, hydroxyl‐coated surface held at a slightly negative potential affects the folding thermodynamics of surface‐attached protein variants with different composition of charged amino acids. Doing so, we find that attachment to the surface generally leads to a net stabilization, presumably due to excluded volume effects that reduce the entropy of the unfolded state. The magnitude of this stabilization, however, is strongly correlated with the charged‐residue content of the protein. In particular, we find statistically significant correlations with both the net charge of the protein, with greater negative charge leading to less stabilization by the surface, and with the number of arginines, with more arginines leading to greater stabilization. Such findings refine our understanding of protein‐surface interactions, providing in turn a guiding rationale to achieve the functional deposition of proteins on artificial surfaces for implementation in, for example, protein‐based biotechnologies.
Thea: empowering the therapeutic alliance of children with ASD by multimedia interaction
Authors: Francese Rita , Risi Michele , Tortora Genoveffa , Di Salle Francesco
Published: October 2021

The Therapeutic Alliance (TA) between patient and health provider (therapist or clinician) is one of the most relevant factors for the success of a therapy. In the case of people suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the alliance is extended to all the people involved in their care (i.e., teachers, therapists, clinicians, relatives). In this paper, we propose a multimedia application named Thea for empowering the TA of children with ASD by improving the communication among the TA members, sharing guidelines, multimedia contents, and strategies to comply with challenging behaviors and progress with particular attention towards end-users who are occasional smart-users. A detailed process for empowering the TA members by enhancing the informed interaction among all of them is proposed and implemented. A vocal assistant also supports patients/caregivers and therapists in documenting their activity with the person with ASD by recording videos in a free-hand modality. After a contextual analysis based on Thematic Analysis Template, Thea has been implemented using a user-centered development approach. We performed three iterations involving the end-users. A user study is performed at the third iteration. Results of the user study revealed a positive attitude towards the application. In particular, the perception of empowerment of participants increased after the tool had been used. We also highlighted the guidelines and tools that may be adopted for empowering different kinds of patients. The first results seem to suggest that the use of Thea may increase the belief of the caregivers of a person with ASD to be able to better take care of her, in a more controlled and informed way.
Microeconomics of Metabolism: The Warburg Effect as Giffen Behaviour
Authors: Yamagishi Jumpei F. , Hatakeyama Tetsuhiro S.
Published: October 2021

Metabolic behaviours of proliferating cells are often explained as a consequence of rational optimization of cellular growth rate, whereas microeconomics formulates consumption behaviours as optimization problems. Here, we pushed beyond the analogy to precisely map metabolism onto the theory of consumer choice. We thereby revealed the correspondence between long-standing mysteries in both fields: the Warburg effect, a seemingly wasteful but ubiquitous strategy where cells favour aerobic glycolysis over more energetically efficient oxidative phosphorylation, and Giffen behaviour, the unexpected consumer behaviour where a good is demanded more as its price rises. We identified the minimal, universal requirements for the Warburg effect: a trade-off between oxidative phosphorylation and aerobic glycolysis and complementarity, i.e. impossibility of substitution for different metabolites. Thus, various hypotheses for the Warburg effect are integrated into an identical optimization problem with the same universal structure. Besides, the correspondence between the Warburg effect and Giffen behaviour implies that oxidative phosphorylation is counter-intuitively stimulated when its efficiency is decreased by metabolic perturbations such as drug administration or mitochondrial dysfunction; the concept of Giffen behaviour bridges the Warburg effect and the reverse Warburg effect. This highlights that the application of microeconomics to metabolism can offer new predictions and paradigms for both biology and economics.
Challenging hydro-hegemony of India: resistance of Nepal in the Upper Karnali and Saptakoshi dam project
Authors: Tandan Promod
Published: October 2021

The hydropolitical interaction of Nepal and India can be well defined within the framework of hydro-hegemony. Two case studies of hydro-hegemony and counter-hegemony are illustrated in this paper, unleashing the approach of resistance from the vantage point of Nepal: Upper Karnali and Saptakoshi high dam. Both case studies share a common norm that Nepal, as a small state, has been providing access to the Indian hydro-hegemony, which has compelled it to slowly cede its rights from its water resources. As such, in a historical manner, Nepal is not only losing the opportunity of capitalising on its water resources, but also fixing itself in a vulnerable position in terms of the water securitisation. However, for the two projects lying entirely within the (political) territory of Nepal, the state-level resistance is still feasible to deter and deflect the unintended detrimental effect on Nepal.
Direct analysis of tellurium solid samples with a two-jet arc plasma using electrothermal vaporization
Authors: Kuptsov Aleksey V. , Medvedev Nickolay S. , Lundovskaya Olga V. , Saprykin Anatoly I. , Labusov Vladimir A.
Published: October 2021

The combination of two-jet arc plasma optical emission spectrometry (TJP-OES) and electrothermal vaporization (ETV) for sample introduction is proposed for the first time.
Advances and enabling technologies for phase-specific cell cycle synchronisation
Authors: Bordhan Pritam , Razavi Bazaz Sajad , Jin Dayong , Ebrahimi Warkiani Majid
Published: October 2021

Schematic illustration of conventional (left) and microfluidics-based (right) phase-specific cell cycle synchronization strategies.
Saphenous Vein Graft Disease Interventions
Authors: Rao Sarita , Rao K. Roshan , Kumar Achukatla
Published: October 2021

In the current era, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is being increasingly performed using total arterial revascularization or a hybrid procedure of stenting of non-LAD disease and minimal access left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to LAD grafts, in order to minimize the need for vein grafts. Still, we encounter saphenous vein graft (SVG) disease, and it might require PCI, which often presents with unique challenges. The current favored strategy is to attempt PCI of the native coronary, if feasible, especially in long degenerated SVG disease, as it has shown better short- and long-term outcome. PCI is preferred over repeat CABG for early recurrent symptoms after CABG in patent LIMA graft and amenable anatomy patients. Balloon predilatation is not recommended unless delivery of an EPD or stent is not possible. Distal protection should be considered the standard of care for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in most patients with older vein grafts, as periprocedural myocardial infarction and no reflow are the Achilles heel of SVG PCI. Intragraft vasodilators should be used liberally, even before balloon angioplasty/stenting. Avoid postdilatation, and usage of undersized but a longer stent length to reduce plaque extrusion through stent struts is preferred. Consider thrombectomy in lesions with a heavy thrombus burden. Keep activated clotting time on the higher side than in conventional PCI. Prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) based on the DAPT score is recommended. With all the precautions and care, we still need a fair wind in our favor to sail through the vein grafts disease.
Direct Detection of Beta-Lactamase Mediated Antibiotic Resistance In Clinical Specimens
Authors: Bevins Nick , Suhandynata Raymond , Caraballo Mauricio , Reed Sharon , Dorrestein Pieter , Fitzgerald Robert
Published: October 2021

Antibiotic resistance mediated by beta-lactamase enzyme expression is a serious and growing threat. The typical workflow in a clinical microbiology lab leading to identification of beta-lactamase expressing organisms typically requires 48 to 72 hours and involves multiple manual steps. Empiric treatment with potentially ineffective antibiotics often occurs before susceptibility testing results are available. Objective: The objective of our study was to determine if beta-lactamase activity could be detected in clinical urine samples to provide same-day rule-out of select empiric treatment regimens for urinary tract infections. Methods: We acquired urine samples from 40 patients with extended spectrum beta-lactamase expressing (ESBL) infections and 100 patients without ESBL infection as determined by standard culture and sensitivity methods. These samples were incubated with spiked beta-lactam antibiotics susceptible to ESBL degradation (ceftriaxone, cefazolin, and oxacillin) or resistant to ESBL degradation (meropenem). Results: Hydrolysis of spiked drug was detected after a 4 hour incubation with either liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) or matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) methods. A 100 to 1000 fold reductions in measured concentrations of spiked ceftriaxone, cefazolin, or oxacillin were observed with LC-MS or MALDI-TOF methods for all 40 ESBL containing specimens and unchanged concentrations of spiked drug were observed in all 100 non-ESBL containing specimens. Concentration of spiked meropenem (resistant to ESBL degradation) were unchanged in all specimens after incubation regardless of ESBL status. Addition of a beta-lactamase inhibitor prevented ESBL degradation of ceftriaxone, cefazolin, and oxacillin demonstrating that beta-lactamase activity (and not another method of drug degradation or signal masking) is being detected. Incubation times as long as 24 hours (to determine method specificity) and as short as 30 minutes (to determine method sensitivity) all showed robust discrimination between ESBL-containing and non-ESBL containing specimens. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that beta-lactamase activity can be robustly detected in urine samples days before culture and susceptibility results could be available. Clinical utilization of the assay described would enable clinicians to reduce ineffective empiric treatment of ESBL urinary infections.
The efficiency of hypogammaglobulinemia reflex immunofixation electrophoresis in identifying monoclonal proteins
Authors: Zanfagnin V , Petersen P , Ikoma S , Chambliss A
Published: October 2021

Introduction/Objective

Hypogammaglobulinemia can be a common occurrence in disorders with monoclonal gammopathies. Because hypogammaglobulinemia may mask a monoclonal protein on serum protein electrophoresis (sPEP), its presence in the absence of a discernible M-spike is often the basis of reflexive testing by immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE). At our Institution, reflex IFE has historically been performed in cases where the gamma fraction on sPEP is <0.6 g/dL. The aim of this study was to test the predictive performance of hypogammaglobulinemia in identifying abnormal bands on IFE in newly screened patients.

Methods/Case Report

All patients that underwent sPEP testing from November 2020 to May 2021 at our Institution were identified. Among them, patients with gamma fraction <0.6 g/dL and no previous sPEP testing were included for analysis. Reflex IFE results were reviewed for identification of abnormal bands.

Results (if a Case Study enter NA)

Out of a total number of 1,374 patients tested for sPEP in the study period, 72 had serum gamma fraction <0.6 g/dL (5.2%). Among them, 36 patients had no previous sPEP testing, and their reflex IFE were reviewed. In 38.8% of the cases, the IFE showed one or more abnormal (monoclonal) bands. When considering a new threshold for hypogammaglobulinemia IFE reflex of <0.4 g/dL, the diagnostic yield for finding abnormal bands increased to 62.5%. Moreover, a percentage reduction of 64.2% was observed in the number of reflex IFE performed.

Conclusion

Although these data must be confirmed using a larger sample population, a lower threshold for hypogammaglobulinemia may be proposed at our Institution to reduce labor and costs and to improve efficiency of monoclonal protein detection.
Evaluation of Roche Hemolysis Index for Reporting of Plasma Hemoglobin, and Considerations Regarding Hemolysis Detection in Use of Ventricular-Assist Devices
Authors: Alqabbani R , Stickle D
Published: October 2021

Introduction/Objective

Our cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) asked the laboratory to provide plasma hemoglobin testing to monitor effects of ventricular-assist devices (VAD). Roche hemolysis index (HI) has been reported to be suitable for this purpose. Use of HI as a reportable test, however, must be validated in-house as a laboratory- developed test (LDT), according to CLIA regulations. We describe results of our evaluation, and caveats for intended use.

Methods/Case Report

Concentrated hemolysate was produced by osmotic lysis of packed red blood cells in water. Hemolysis in plasma was by dilution of concentrated hemolysate. Verification of HI as a measure of hemoglobin (mg/dL) used the Sigma-Aldrich spectrophotometric hemoglobin assay as a gold standard. Linearity, linear range, sensitivity, were investigated by dilution measurements; interferences by admixture experiments; reproducibility (precision, intra- and inter-assay) in each case by replicate measurements (n = 20).

Results (if a Case Study enter NA)

HI was confirmed to correspond to hemoglobin in mg/dL. Linearity was between 2-1000 mg/dL (r2 >0.99). Intra-assay precisions were <=2.5% (hemoglobin = 74,148 mg/dL); inter-assay precisions were <=4.9% (hemoglobin = 69,139 mg/dL). HI variability was ±2 at very low values (0-10 mg/dL). There were no interferences observed among common therapeutic drugs. Hyperlipemia (evaluated up to lipemic index (LI) = 225) and hyperbilirubinemia (evaluated up to icteric index (II) = 7) demonstrated no significant interference.

Conclusion

Analytically, HI exhibited acceptable performance for reporting of plasma hemoglobin. Deployment would require establishment of quality control (QC) and proficiency testing procedures for HI. Clinically, a caveat for use is that HI cannot distinguish between hemolysis in circulation vs. that due to sample collection. For the CICU, HI >10 mg/dL is characteristic of more than 20% of samples drawn in general, irrespective of use of VAD. Temporal patterns of HI must therefore be carefully evaluated in parallel with haptoglobin measurements to assist in VAD management.