bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The strategies of the players of an RPG game in the context of water resources management: an analysis based on the discourse of the collective subject
Authors: Mota Fernanda Pinto , Born Miriam , Aguiar Marilton , Adamatti Diana Francisca
Published: April 2021

Games are widely used in Education because they enable analyzing strategies that come close to reality. In Environmental Education, the game helps understand a particular theme and allows the observation of the approach from a player’s perspective. In this way, each person can develop strategies that s/he considers relevant in the game. This study analyzes players’ strategies in an RPG (Role-Playing Game) in water resources. This work's main contribution is an empirical and qualitative study on individuals’ motivation and how they developed their strategies. As a result, we present the analysis of the players' habits through a semi-structured interview, which resulted in a set of speeches based on the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD).
Canola oil as an alternative quenchant for the AISI 8640 steel
Authors: Deo Leonardo Pratavieira , Malafaia Artur Mariano de Sousa
Published: April 2021

AISI 8640 is one of the most used steel in the manufacturing industry due its wide range of applicability and properties. The quenching process is commonly applied in parts made of this steel in order to enhance some properties, such as strength and hardness. Petroleum derived oils are the most common quenchants, however this kind of quenchant is considered to be non-biodegradable, toxic to the health and environment, as well as, not renewable. In the present study, canola oil presented the same efficiency than a conventional petroleum derived oil in the quenching process of AISI 8640 steel billets with diameter of 25.4mm.
Factors that influence rural entrepreneurship: case-study evidence from Torbat-e Heydarie, Kadkan district
Authors: Abbasi Mostafa , Jafari Hamid , Alizadeh Katayoun
Published: April 2021

Entrepreneurship is an important instrument in planning and realizing rural community development. Owing to current problems in societies, focusing on the rural entrepreneurship is of utmost importance. Entrepreneurship by creating new opportunities for employment and income plays an important role in improving socioeconomic conditions of villages. The aim of this study is to assess the factors influencing the development of rural entrepreneurship in a case study of villages in Torbat-e Heydarieh, Kadkan district. The research method was descriptive-analytic, and the data collection method was library and field studies. For data analysis, One-sample t-test with principal component analysis was used. The statistical population of the study was the villagers of Kadkan district of Torbat-e Heydarieh, from which 240 people were asked to complete a questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was evaluated using the Content and face validity with expert judgement. Reliability of the questionnaire was examined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient which for all studied domains was above 0.75 which indicated that questionnaire was satisfactory. The results indicated that economic factor was the most influential issue in the rural entrepreneurship. The results also showed that rural entrepreneurship provides a good context for creating jobs in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors and it is an important factor for achieving sustainable rural development.
Supporting victimized children in Iran's legislative criminal policy
Authors: Kazemi Seyyed Sajjad , Sobhani Neda
Published: April 2021

In today's society, children have a special place and it is no longer the case that the child is considered a family property rather, the child is an individual with his or her own personality and social status and the rights that society has for him / her. But what matters is whether the rights in our society are sufficient for children and just by telling them can it stabilize the child's position within society and save him from any attack? What should be accepted without question is that the answer is no. Because children need special rights and special protections because of their age and physical and intellectual weakness and if there is no executive guarantee to protect them, of course, not only will these rights not be respected, but they will also be violated and children who are more vulnerable than others suffer a lot. What this research specifically focuses on, a comprehensive review of child and adolescent protection law whereas , in accordance with the international obligations our country has committed to and adhered to in compliance with the convention on the rights of the child in 2000, it was approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly in 2003. In fact, the author's attempt has been to under the pretext of reviewing and evaluating the aforementioned law, evading the existing penal regulations regarding the protection of children and adolescents in the Iranian penal system and thereby evaluate the weaknesses of the aforementioned laws and thus help the legislator to develop and enforce laws protecting certain vulnerable groups such as children.
NIST time and frequency bulletin :
Authors: Rodriguez Kelsey
Published: April 2021

The Time and Frequency Bulletin provides information on performance of time scales and a variety of broadcasts (and related information) to users of the NIST services.
Psychological foundations of explainability and interpretability in artificial intelligence
Authors: Broniatowski David A
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we make the case that interpretability and explainability are distinct requirements for machine learning systems. To make this case, we provide an overview of the literature in experimental psychology pertaining to interpretation (especially of numerical stimuli) and comprehension. We find that interpretation refers to the ability to contextualize a model s output in a manner that relates it to the system s designed functional purpose, and the goals, values, and preferences of end users. In contrast, explanation refers to the ability to accurately describe the mechanism, or implementation, that led to an algorithm s output, often so that the algorithm can be improved in some way. Beyond these definitions, our review shows that humans differ from one another in systematic ways, that affect the extent to which they prefer to make decisions based on detailed explanations versus less precise interpretations. These individual differences, such as personality traits and skills, are associated with their abilities to derive meaningful interpretations from precise explanations of model output. This implies that system output should be tailored to different types of users.
Challenge design and lessons learned from the 2018 differential privacy challenges
Authors: Ridgeway Diane , Theofanos Mary F , Manley Terese W , Task Christine
Published: April 2021

The push for open data has made a multitude of datasets available enabling researchers to analyze publicly available information using various statistical and machine learning methods in support of policy development. An area of increasing interest that is being made available is public safety data, which can include both sensitive information and Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Release of sensitive data and PII can lead to individual and organizational harm. However, the removal of PII alone is an insufficient approach to preventing linkage attacks -- the process of combining unrelated data to identify individuals and entities. A growing body of academic research in the field of differential privacy exists which claims strict mathematical guarantees of data privacy, but with a potentially greater loss of dataset utility. In 2017 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division initiated efforts to test, evaluate and strengthen research in differential privacy and add to its growing body of knowledge by making available open source algorithms for public safety use. This publication describes the design and results of PSCR's multi-phased innovation prize challenge and makes recommendations for conducting future challenges in differential privacy.
VILLES DÉTRUITES, ESPOIRS RUINÉS
Authors: Lapointe Martine-Emmanuelle
Published: April 2021

Cet article porte sur la ruine du vivre-ensemble dans trois romans québécois qui déjouent les conventions du réalisme littéraire. Oscar De Profundis de Catherine Mavrikakis (2016), Le poids de la neige de Christian Guay-Poliquin (2016) et Tu aimeras ce que tu as tué de Kevin Lambert (2017) ancrent leurs personnages dans des lieux ruinés et mortifères où le vivre-ensemble emprunte une forme spectrale relevant d’une mythologie d’un autre temps. Les gueux du Montréal postapocalyptique de Mavrikakis et les habitants du village enneigé de Guay-Poliquin, s’ils se rassemblent et unissent temporairement leurs forces, le font sous l’influence de jeux d’alliances opportunistes, voués non pas à la défense d’un projet social, mais bien à la survie de quelques individus triés sur le volet. Dans le roman de Kevin Lambert, les lieux urbains sont transfigurés, transformés en pièges parfois mortels, coupables d’infanticides qui illustrent de manière radicale la ruine des solidarités communautaires. Je m’attacherai en somme à la manière dont les lieux romanesques font signe vers les ruines d’un certain idéal, voire d’un fantasme politique, « marqué lui-même par un certain usage du temps, l’usage de la promesse » (Rancière, Aux bords du politique, p. 23).
Turning the Light on
Authors: Nelson Robin
Published: April 2021

Since 1953, the Ontario Historical Society (OHS) has played an important role in establishing the legislative and training framework within which museums in Ontario operate, providing the first recorded museum training workshops in Canada, establishing a newsletter to connect museums, and successfully advocating for provincial support to museums. This article considers the organization’s self-defined role in museum governance since the establishment of a provincial museum policy in 1981, asking: how has the OHS’s role evolved and why and how does their work contribute and relate to support for museums in Ontario more broadly? It examines the OHS’s role in publishing, training, and advocacy or capacity building in three periods. Most recently, the OHS’s focus has shifted to capacity building due to municipal amalgamation, governments’ divestment of heritage resources, and decreased government support for service organizations. Their role takes place within a broader network of relationships aiming to support museums based on the assumed value of heritage preservation and museum work rather than a call for excellence.
Travail de la rencontre et contingence identitaire : une directrice d’école primaire face à l’accompagnement de la mise en place d’une réforme
Authors: Buznic-Bourgeacq Pablo
Published: April 2021

Cet article rend compte du cas d’une directrice d’école primaire, Ella, engagée dans la mise en place d’une réforme vouée à faire se rencontrer plusieurs mondes éducatifs. Il propose une construction conceptuelle autour des notions de « travail de la rencontre » et de « contingence identitaire » dans le but d’appréhender le travail collectif en éducation. Cette construction se déploie méthodologiquement dans l’analyse thématique et énonciative d’entretiens. L’analyse donne à voir les manifestations de ce travail et montre comment, à l’interface entre professionnalité et psychisme, la contingence identitaire, forme d’assomption de l’ambiguïté, en constitue un ressort essentiel.
Le sociogramme de l’« Indien » chez James Fenimore Cooper et Jules Verne
Authors: Prévost Maxime
Published: April 2021

Cette étude repose sur l’hypothèse voulant que l’oeuvre romanesque de James Fenimore Cooper constitue la matrice fondamentale de l’imaginaire transatlantique des Premières Nations. Le roman Le dernier des Mohicans (1826), en particulier, aurait joué un rôle déterminant dans la synthèse et la diffusion de mythes informant la conception euroaméricaine des populations autochtones. L’oeuvre de Cooper présente ainsi ce que la sociocritique appellerait un « sociogramme de l’“Indien” » : différentes réalités ethnologiques y sont représentées de manière contrastée, c’est-à-dire tantôt de manière négative, tantôt de manière positive, de sorte que les Leatherstocking Tales, pas plus que le roman Famille-sans-nom (dans lequel Jules Verne adapte et infléchit certains éléments des romans de Cooper pour créer une image fantasmatique de la Huronie), ne permettent une lecture univoque. La matrice essentielle de ce que Georges E. Sioui appelle « la vision linéaire eurogène » s’y trouve néanmoins.
Insécurité alimentaire en temps de pandémie de la COVID-19 et inégalités en alimentation au Québec
Authors: Plante Céline , Hamel Denis , Rochette Louis , Riopel Meunier Julie , Larocque Isabelle , Dubé Ève
Published: April 2021

L’insécurité alimentaire est reconnue comme un problème majeur de santé publique et peut constituer une barrière importante à la consommation d’une alimentation équilibrée. L’instabilité économique et les pertes d’emploi associées à la pandémie de COVID-19 au printemps 2020 peuvent avoir un impact important sur la sécurité alimentaire des ménages québécois.

À l’aide d’études transversales, 1) décrire l’ampleur, l’évolution et les populations vulnérables à l’insécurité alimentaire au Québec dans le contexte de la pandémie de COVID-19 et 2) identifier les différences sur le plan de la consommation alimentaire habituellement associée à l’insécurité alimentaire chez les adultes québécois.

La proportion des adultes vivant dans un ménage en insécurité alimentaire est passée de 25% au début avril à 16% à la fin mai 2020. La proportion d’adultes déclarant avoir peur de manquer de nourriture avant la prochaine rentrée d’argent a diminué de moitié. Cependant, l’insécurité alimentaire demeure spécialement élevée dans les ménages dont le revenu a diminué de façon importante (37%) et chez les adultes sans emploi (28%). Les dernières données populationnelles sur la nutrition indiquent que les adultes vivant dans un ménage en insécurité alimentaire modérée ou grave sautent plus souvent des repas et ont des apports moindres en de nombreux nutriments.

Notre étude indique une baisse importante de l’insécurité alimentaire entre avril et mai 2020 chez les adultes québécois. Malgré cette baisse, la prévalence demeure élevée en mai 2020 spécialement chez ceux ayant vécu les contrecoups économiques de la pandémie de COVID-19.
L’International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative : revue des qualités métrologiques
Authors: Côté Claudia , Villeneuve-Rhéaume Annie , Gagnon Cynthia , Germain Isabelle
Published: April 2021

L’International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) propose un cadre de référence assorti de méthodes d’évaluation pour la catégorisation et la mesure des aliments et breuvages pour les patients dysphagiques afin de faciliter la comparaison d’études scientifiques internationales et améliorer le traitement de la dysphagie des nouveau-nés aux adultes âgés. La documentation des qualités métrologiques de ces outils est essentielle. Il s’agit d’un prérequis à une pratique clinique basée sur les données probantes.
Les produits aquatiques d’origine québécoise : mieux les connaître pour mieux les apprécier
Authors: Berger Karine
Published: April 2021

Malgré les nombreuses espèces de poissons et fruits de mer peuplant les eaux du Québec et une florissante industrie de la pêche, les Québécois consomment peu de produits aquatiques (PA), et encore moins ceux pêchés, récoltés et transformés dans la province. Pourtant, ils possèdent des atouts nutritionnels indéniables. Cet article dresse la liste des espèces de poissons et fruits de mer commerciales, incluant les macroalgues, provenant du Québec et présente leur valeur nutritive. Il discute également des facteurs limitant leur consommation et énonce des pistes de solution afin d’inciter les Québécois à s’en procurer davantage. En effet, choisir de consommer des PA d’origine québécoise va sans doute devenir encore plus crucial à l’avenir, non seulement pour profiter de leurs bénéfices nutritionnels, mais également pour contribuer au développement d’un système alimentaire durable qui notamment, favorise l’économie des communautés, préserve davantage les ressources, améliore la sécurité alimentaire et valorise les métiers de pêcheurs, d’aquaculteurs et de transformateurs.
Amélioration continue — S’évaluer pour savoir où on en est et là où l’on veut aller
Authors: Duhaime-Potvin Mélissa
Published: April 2021

Pour s’améliorer, il faut dresser le portrait de la situation actuelle en considérant diverses perspectives. La réalisation d’un projet d’amélioration continue permet une gestion de la performance, par la comparaison et le suivi de l’évolution de différents indicateurs sur une période déterminée, dans l’atteinte de l’objectif initialement proposé. L’examen des problématiques, notamment les gaspillages, permet de trouver des solutions et d’accorder la priorité à celles susceptibles d’engendrer des répercussions positives. Les diététistes/nutritionnistes gagnent à appliquer cette démarche d’amélioration continue dans leur pratique professionnelle. Le temps gagné lors de la résolution des problématiques leur permettra d’augmenter efficacité et efficience, pour ainsi être en mesure de passer davantage de temps auprès des usagers à exercer les compétences pour lesquelles elles sont les seules spécialistes.
Distinct clonal evolution of B-cells in HIV controllers with neutralizing antibody breadth
Authors: Cizmeci Deniz , Lofano Giuseppe , Rossignol Evan , Dugast Anne-Sophie , Kim Dongkyoon , Cavet Guy , Nguyen Ngan , Tan Yann Chong , Seaman Michael S , Alter Galit , Julg Boris
Published: April 2021

A minor subset of individuals infected with HIV-1 develop antibody neutralization breadth during the natural course of the infection, often linked to chronic, high-level viremia. Despite significant efforts, vaccination strategies have been unable to induce similar neutralization breadth and the mechanisms underlying neutralizing antibody induction remain largely elusive. Broadly neutralizing antibody responses can also be found in individuals who control HIV to low and even undetectable plasma levels in the absence of antiretroviral therapy, suggesting that high antigen exposure is not a strict requirement for neutralization breadth. We therefore performed an analysis of paired heavy and light chain B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoires in 12,591 HIV-1 envelope-specific single memory B-cells to determine alterations in the BCR immunoglobulin gene repertoire and B-cell clonal expansions that associate with neutralizing antibody breadth in 22 HIV controllers. We found that the frequency of genomic mutations in IGHV and IGLV was directly correlated with serum neutralization breadth. The repertoire of the most mutated antibodies was dominated by a small number of large clones with evolutionary signatures suggesting that these clones had reached peak affinity maturation. These data demonstrate that even in the setting of low plasma HIV antigenemia, similar to what a vaccine can potentially achieve, BCR selection for extended somatic hypermutation and clonal evolution can occur in some individuals suggesting that host-specific factors might be involved that could be targeted with future vaccine strategies.
Sacral acceleration can predict whole-body kinetics and stride kinematics across running speeds
Authors: Alcantara Ryan S. , Day Evan M. , Hahn Michael E. , Grabowski Alena M.
Published: April 2021

Background

Stress fractures are injuries caused by repetitive loading during activities such as running. The application of advanced analytical methods such as machine learning to data from multiple wearable sensors has allowed for predictions of biomechanical variables associated with running-related injuries like stress fractures. However, it is unclear if data from a single wearable sensor can accurately estimate variables that characterize external loading during running such as peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), vertical impulse, and ground contact time. Predicting these biomechanical variables with a single wearable sensor could allow researchers, clinicians, and coaches to longitudinally monitor biomechanical running-related injury risk factors without expensive force-measuring equipment.

Purpose

We quantified the accuracy of applying quantile regression forest (QRF) and linear regression (LR) models to sacral-mounted accelerometer data to predict peak vGRF, vertical impulse, and ground contact time across a range of running speeds.

Methods

Thirty-seven collegiate cross country runners (24 females, 13 males) ran on a force-measuring treadmill at 3.8–5.4 m/s while wearing an accelerometer clipped posteriorly to the waistband of their running shorts. We cross-validated QRF and LR models by training them on acceleration data, running speed, step frequency, and body mass as predictor variables. Trained models were then used to predict peak vGRF, vertical impulse, and contact time. We compared predicted values to those calculated from a force-measuring treadmill on a subset of data (n = 9) withheld during model training. We quantified prediction accuracy by calculating the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE).

Results

The QRF model predicted peak vGRF with a RMSE of 0.150 body weights (BW) and MAPE of 4.27  ±  2.85%, predicted vertical impulse with a RMSE of 0.004 BW*s and MAPE of 0.80  ±  0.91%, and predicted contact time with a RMSE of 0.011 s and MAPE of 4.68  ±  3.00%. The LR model predicted peak vGRF with a RMSE of 0.139 BW and MAPE of 4.04  ±  2.57%, predicted vertical impulse with a RMSE of 0.002 BW*s and MAPE of 0.50  ±  0.42%, and predicted contact time with a RMSE of 0.008 s and MAPE of 3.50  ±  2.27%. There were no statistically significant differences between QRF and LR model prediction MAPE for peak vGRF (p = 0.549) or vertical impulse (p = 0.073), but the LR model’s MAPE for contact time was significantly lower than the QRF model’s MAPE (p = 0.0497).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that the QRF and LR models can accurately predict peak vGRF, vertical impulse, and contact time (MAPE < 5%) from a single sacral-mounted accelerometer across a range of running speeds. These findings may be beneficial for researchers, clinicians, or coaches seeking to monitor running-related injury risk factors without force-measuring equipment.
Effectiveness of Hot Pack with Caudal Glide and Antero-Posterior Glide Mobilisation to Improve Shoulder Abduction Range in Adhesive Capsulitis
Authors: Raja Ramamurthy , Shekadar Mitali , Ravish VN
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Adhesive capsulitis is a self-limiting regional skeletal condition of uncertain aetiology characterised by a progressive loss of both active and passive mobility of the glenohumeral joint in the shoulder complex. It begins insidiously with shoulder pain and dysfunction in middle aged and elderly population. Adhesive capsulitis predominantly affects the older population, affecting both the sexes; however, female patients are affected more. Aim: To find the effect on pain, Range of Motion (ROM) and disability in subjects with adhesive capsulitis treated with hot pack along with caudal glide versus hot pack along with antero-posterior glide mobilisation. Materials and Methods: The study, quasi experimental, was conducted on 80 subjects which were further divided into two groups with 40 subjects in each groups. Subjects were evaluated for pain, ROM and disability index. Group A received antero-posterior glide mobilisation with the hot pack, where as Group B received caudal glide mobilisation with hot pack for thrice a week for three weeks completing a total of nine sessions. The statistical analysis was done using one-way ANOVA and post-hoc t-test for calculating within and between group differences. The parameters that were measured were Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), ROM, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Results: The p-value after three weeks between the groups was 0.02, 0.0001, and 0.014 for VAS, ROM and disability. There was significant difference in the pre and post values in both Group A and Group B. Post-treatment values of VAS (p=0.0001), ROM (p=0.0001), and SPADI (p=0.0001) in Group B were showed more improvement than the post-treatment values of VAS, ROM and SPADI in Group A. Conclusion: Caudal glide mobilisation is more effective in improving pain, abduction ROM and SPADI index in patients with adhesive capsulitis.
Five Common Mistakes for Using Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM) in Management Research
Authors: Afthanorhan Asyraf , Awang Zainudin , Aimran Nazim
Published: April 2021

The value of Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM) in management research has now been acknowledged, although the PLS-PM was developed for a reason. First, the PLS-PM was developed as an alternative to Covariance based Structural Equation Modeling (CBSEM) when exploratory research is conducted. As far as this method concerned, many researchers are misused or overuse the application of PLS-PM without understanding the basic knowledge in structural equation modeling. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the five common mistakes (data distributions, sample size limitations, unsatisfactory fitness index, misunderstanding between confirmatory and exploratory research, and poor factor loadings) for using PLS-PM over CB-SEM in management research. We concluded that the researchers should respect these methods and justify their use when conducting the research projects because some of the projects might be better for CB-SEM or PLS-PM.
Model of the Threats that Disreputable Behavior Present to Esports Sponsors
Authors: Freitas Bruno Duarte Abreu , Contreras-Espinosa Ruth Sofia , Correia Pedro Álvaro Pereira
Published: April 2021

Both esports sponsors and academia are not aware of how disreputable behavior in the esports scene can negatively affect their brands. Hence, this research aimed at identifying which types of disreputable behavior in competitive gaming present the biggest threats to esports sponsors. In this quantitative and exploratory research, a non-probability, purposive, and heterogeneous sampling method was employed to gather a sample of 1,592 esports fans who filled a closed-ended online survey. Results showed that illegal and unregulated gambling was a high-risk threat to esports sponsors; toxic behavior, match-fixing, and cheating were labeled as medium-risk threats; and sexism, cyberattacks, and doping were found to be low-risk threats. Besides being one of the first studies on esports sponsorships, which serves as a basis for future research in this market, the findings contribute to the sustainability of the esports industry and its sponsors. Managerial implications are also discussed.
An Analysis of Pollen Parameters, Fruit Set and Fruit Development During Attempts on Intergeneric Hybridization of Papaya (Carica papaya L.)
Authors: Aseef R. Mohammed , Soorianathasundaram K. , Paramaguru P. , Muthulakshmi P. , Joel A. John , Chandrasekhar C. N.
Published: April 2021

Research was conducted at the University Orchard, Horticultural College and Research Institute, to investigate the extent of pollen production, pollen fertility, fruit set, fruit growth and seed set as well as seedling vigour when two wild relatives of papaya (Vasconcellea cauliflora and Vasconcellea candamarcensis) are involved in the hybridization programme as male parents with three papaya cultivars (CO 7, TNAU Papaya CO 8 and Pusa Nanha) as female parents. Among the two wild relatives, V. candamarcensis was more polleniferous but with significantly lesser pollen viability and germination than V. cauliflora. Among the six intergeneric crosses, although the fruit set ranged from 60.00% to 93.33% the fruit retention till harvest was only 30.77 per cent to 35.71 per cent. The study also revealed metaxenic influence of wild parent on the growth of the fruits derived after crossing. Seed set was observed only with CO 7 as female parent but the seed size and weight, germination and seedling vigour recorded by intergeneric crosses of CO 7 with Vasconcellea were found to be low. The implications of the observations are discussed in relevance to employing the wild relatives for improvement of papaya.
The Placebo Effect on COVID Patients: When the Mind Cures the Body
Authors: Mishra Kirti
Published: April 2021

In this time of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) when everyone is looking for the right treatment and the vaccine a psychological effect can really help make the situation better at homes. There is no doubt in an ideology that the human mind is a compelling tool and so powerful that it is well aware about the concept of placebo effect. It somehow convinces the human body that the placebo medication given in the procedure is equivalent to the proper Medication.  This paper aims to analyses the placebo effect in curing the pain and its role in curing the symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) because it is possible that this method may have healed the body of COVID patients. This has been done by considering the related experiments and researches of placebo effect. In this paper conducting the online survey which is help to find the placebo effects on the COVID-19 Patients and taking their opinion towards it and 280 patients for using as a sampling which help to find the approximation of placebo effect on COVID-19 patient. The influences of the placebo effect on the medical business and COVID treatment both have been highlighted. A discussion in futuristic sense about the placebo effect in treatment of COVID-19.
The Clinicopathological Study of Lichen Planus
Authors: Fathima M. Noori , Lilly S. Mary
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Lichen planus is an unknown origin subacute or chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disease occurring mainly in the epidermal parts of the body such as skin. Apart from commonly arising on cutaneous surfaces, it was also shown affect the oral mucosa, genital mucosa, scalp, or nails. and significantly affect the life styles of the humans. Lichen planus lesions can be explained the six P's -planar [flat-topped], purple, polygonal, pruritic, papules, and plaques. Lichen planus is said to have no cure and only the symptoms can be relieved or healed. Since there are different types of Lichens planus, it is important to study the types in detail for proper treatment.

Objective: The present study is aimed to explore the spectrum of lesions in Lichen Planus and its prevalence on the patients.

Methodology: Out of 100 cases analyzed in our study, 84 cases were clinically analyzed as Lichen planus of which 80 cases were diagnosed to be Lichen planus both clinically and histopathologically and 4 cases were diagnosed as Lichenoid dermatitis (HPE).

Results: The correlation of clinical and histopathological types of Lichen Planus Sex incidence is higher in females (55%), having the ratio of 1:1.2 with a male to the female. Duration of the disease ranged from 10 days to 8 years. Majority of the cases (73%) showed less than 3 months’ duration of the disease.

Conclusion: Our study revealed that the successes of the therapeutic regimes are purely dependent on the types of the lichens and an urgent need to take severe action against it.
A Clinico-pathological Study of Skin Tumours
Authors: Rekha P. , Srivastava Vindu
Published: April 2021

Skin cancers are relatively uncommon malignancies worldwide, but the incidence of skin cancers has progressively increased over the last few decades. The distinction between benign and malignant neoplasm are more difficult to define when they appear in skin than when found elsewhere and histopathological examination is frequently required to establish a definitive diagnosis.  The present study was the incidence of various benign and malignant tumours of skin and its adnexa. Histopathological examination remains the gold standard in diagnosing most skin  tumours. Thus diagnosis of any skin tumor can be done by correlating clinical features and histological features, which in turn can be supported by histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Most of the skin tumours were Nodular lesions (34.3%), followed by papular lesions (28.4%) and by ulcerated lesions (9.8%). Malignant tumours commonly presented as ulcerated lesions. Head and neck region was the most common site of occurrence followed by extremities and trunk. Keratinocytic (31.4%) tumours were the commonest group among all skin tumours.
The Nephroprotective Effects of Moringa Oleifera Extract against Contrast Induced Nephrotoxicity
Authors: Altaee Ruaa Ali , Fadheel Qayssar Joudah
Published: April 2021

Objectives: The present research has been conducted  to assess the Nephroprotective effects of the Moringa Oleifera Extract against contrast -induced nephrotoxicity in  male rabbits.

Study Design: Experimental design

Place and Duration of Study: it was carried out in the Faculty of Pharmacy/University of Kufa, Iraq/Al-Najaf Town .The study began at October 2020 and end at March 2021.

Methodology: Twenty one adult (male rabbits) weighing range(1.2-1.5kg). Rabbits are divided in a random manner into three equal groups each group including seven rabbits. Group1:control group administered DW, Group2:has been treated with Iodide contrast(2.5mg/kg) of (370mg/ml),group 3: dosed alcoholic extracts of Moringa 250 mg/kg and contrast (2.5mg/kg).By accounting data on the MDA levels ,Glutathione level and features of kidney histopathology. All efforts have been made to reduce the suffering of a  animals prior to and throughout the experiment and sampling.

Results: The alcoholic Moringa extract at 250mg/kg body weight doses orally considerably protected contrast induced toxicity of the kidneys in the rabbits through the increment of the level of  GSH and reduces the level of MDA. In the Histological data, the extract activities also protect the damage of the kidney, which is induced by the contrast that has been represented by the de-generation of some tubules and atrophy of glomerular, glomerular tuft congestion and expanded Bowman’s Space.

Conclusions: This study proposed that Moringa’s alcoholic extract results in the enhancement of the defense status of the oxidative stress against the renal toxicity.(Moringa Oleifera have Nephroprotective effect against contrast induce Nephrotoxicity).
Early Recurrence After Initial Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastases
Authors: Hirokawa Fumitoshi , Hayashi Michihiro , Asakuma Mitsuhiro , Shimizu Tetsunosuke , Komeda Koji , Inoue Yoshihiro , Uchiyama Kazuhisa
Published: April 2021

Objective

This study investigated the frequency of early recurrence in patients who had undergone hepatectomy for colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) and assessed the indications for adjuvant chemotherapy in these patients.

Methods

This retrospective analysis included 133 consecutive patients who underwent initial hepatectomy for CRLM between April 2000 and May 2010 and have been followed more than 5 years.

Results

Of the 133 patients, 83 (62%) experienced tumor recurrence, with 14 of the 83 recurrences within 6 months after initial hepatectomy. Overall survival was significantly poorer in patients with recurrences within 6 months than those without any recurrence (P = 0.015). The frequency of adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly lower in patients with recurrences within 6 months than those without recurrences within 6 months. Multivariate analysis showed that H-2 classification was the only independent risk factor for recurrence within 6 months after hepatectomy (P = 0.002). Adjuvant chemotherapy improved prognosis in patients classified as H2.

Conclusions

Patients who experienced tumor recurrence within 6 months after initial hepatectomy for CRLM had a poorer prognosis than patients who experienced recurrence after 6 months. Patients with H2-classification of CRLM should receive preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.
Do the Severity of Peritonitis and Stoma Creation Influence the Occurrence of Incisional Surgical Site Infections in Patients With Colorectal Perforation?
Authors: Yamamoto Takehito , Morimoto Takeshi , Hashida Hiroki , Kaihara Satoshi , Hosotani Ryo
Published: April 2021

Objective

To identify the risk factors for incisional surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing emergency surgery for colorectal perforation.

Summary of Background Data

Emergency surgery for colorectal perforation carries an especially high risk of incisional SSI. Although the risk factors of incisional SSI after colorectal surgery have been analyzed, no study has focused exclusively on patients with colorectal perforation.

Methods

Patients with colorectal perforation who underwent emergent surgery from 2010 to 2015 were enrolled. The factors associated with the occurrence of postoperative incisional SSI were evaluated.

Results

We enrolled 108 patients with colorectal perforation who underwent an emergency operation. Of these, 13 patients who died within 30 days after surgery were excluded. The mean age of the 95 study patients was 70 ± 13 years; 48 (51%) patients were male. The incisional SSI group comprised 26 patients (27%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that stoma creation [odds ratio: 11.34; 95% confidence interval: 2.06–214.14] was an independent risk factor for incisional SSI. However, none of the clinical indicators of severe peritonitis and sepsis, including body temperature, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, preoperative white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein, were associated with the occurrence of incisional SSI.

Conclusions

Stoma creation was an independent risk factor for postoperative incisional SSI. Therefore, in this patient population, meticulous postoperative wound management is essential.
Therapeutic Outcomes of Recurrent Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinomas
Authors: Tsai Chih-Yiu , Lin Shu-Fu , Chen Szu-Tah , Hsueh Chuen , Lin Yann Sheng , Lin Jen-Der
Published: April 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of the recurrent and non-recurrent groups including disease-specific mortality of patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma after multimodality treatment. In addition, prognostic factors for disease-specific mortality were analyzed.

Summary of Background Data

Among 2,844, there were 166 patients with recurrent disease. Recurrent disease was defined as the presence of papillary or follicular thyroid cancer 6 months after the initial thyroidectomy, including locoregional or distant metastasis, diagnosed using diagnostic or therapeutic 131I scans or other imaging techniques.

Methods

The study was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data for a long-term follow-up result of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients.

Results

The mean age of 166 patients was 45.8 ± 1.2 years, 116 (69.9%) were women, 111 (66.9%) had locoregional neck recurrence, and 55 (33.1%) had metastatic recurrence in distant organs. We found that when recurrences were observed, more than half were detected within the first 5 years following the initial therapy. The longest period of time before relapse was 29.8 years. After a mean follow-up period of 12.7 ± 0.5 years, 37 (22.3%) patients experienced disease-specific mortality. Multivariable analysis revealed that older age, male sex, and development of a second primary malignancy were associated with disease-specific mortality. Higher post-operative levels of thyroglobulin predicted a shorter time to relapse.

Conclusions

These data indicate that among the recurrent cases over 50% of recurrent well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas were diagnosed within 5 years after initial thyroidectomy. Additionally, more than 20% of the patients died of thyroid cancer.
Evaluation of Corrosion Inhibition of 316L Stainless Steel by Permanganate Ions in Chloride Solution
Authors: Arboui Fahd , Amzert Sid Ahmed , Boucherit Mohamed Nadir , Hanini Salah , Ghezali Khaoula
Published: April 2021

The efficiency of permanganates to inhibit the scale deposit captured the attention for more investigation on their role as corrosion inhibitor. In this article, the effect of permanganate as corrosion inhibitor on 316L stainless steel in NaCl solution is investigated. The potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) have been performed by varying the electrode stirring speed, the concentration of permanganate ions, pH and the temperature. The results show that the permanganate ions increase the cathodic and anodic currents under effect of stirring speed, due to oxygen reduction reaction and the reduction of permanganate ions. Electrochemical results indicate that the deposit of manganese oxide (MnO2) inhibits the pitting corrosion. The inhibition efficiency is up to 98 % for 10−4 mol.dm−3 of permanganate. The temperature reduces the effectiveness of permanganates against pitting corrosion, the pitting potential shifts cathodically from +0.395 V vs. Saturated Calomel Electrode (SCE) at 298 K to +0.275 V vs. SCE at 343 K. Surface morphology of the deposit oxide films and electrode are studied by emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The analysis of the deposit layer by X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of δ-MnO2 form, with a crystallite size of 3.17 nm.  Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Effect of seminal plasmin on rRNA synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Venkov Pencho , Scheit Karl Heinz
Published: July 2002

Seminal plasmin, the highly basic, antimicrobial protein, isolated from bull semen, was found to inhibit the transcription of ribosomal RNA in yeast. Protein synthesis and processing of rRNA remained unaffected. Seminal plasmin appears to be useful for studies of the biosynthesis of yeast rRNA in pulsechase experiments.
Comparative changes of levels of nitrendipine Ca2+ channels, of tetrodotoxin‐sensitive Na+ channels and of ouabain‐sensitive (Na+ + K+)‐ATPase following denervation of rat and chick skeletal muscle
Authors: Schmid Annie , Kazazoglou Theodossia , Renaud Jean-François , Lazdunski Michel
Published: July 2002

Three major ion transport systems, the nitrendipine‐sensitive Ca2+ channels, the tetrodotoxin‐sensitive Na+ channel and the ouabain‐sensitive (Na+ + K+‐ATPase, have been studied in skeletal muscle from rat and chick after chronic denervation. It is shown that the situation found for the Ca2+ channel differs dramatically from that found for the Na2+ channel and the (Na2+ + K+)‐ATPase and that regulation of the nitrendipine‐sensitive Ca2+ channel in denervated muscle also differs widely from that of the tetrodotoxinsensitive Na+ channel and the ouabain‐sensitive (Na+ + K+‐ATPase which show a quite similar evolution.
Retention of folate receptors on the cytoskeleton of Dictyostelium during development
Authors: Tillinghast H.S. , Newell P.C.
Published: July 2002

A revised folate binding assay was employed to demonstrate the presence of folate receptors on vegetative Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae. These receptors have a dissociation constant of 300 nM and are present at 45000 per cell. We found a pool of receptors attached to the cytoskeleton of vegetative amoebae and these receptors (10000 sites/cell, K
d480 nM) remain associated with the cytoskeleton through the first 12 h of development. We discuss the possible roles for these retained receptors in later D. discoideum development.
Kinetic analysis of glutamine synthetases from various plants
Authors: Acaster Michael A. , Weitzman P.D.J.
Published: July 2002

Glutamine synthetase (GS) was partially purified from the leaves of 7 plant species and the relative contributions of two isoforms, GS1 and GS2, were determined. Only 3 species, Zea mays, Hordeum vulgare and Triticwn aesticwn, contained detectable levels of GS1. Km values for glutamate and ATP of the various GS isolates were all within a narrow range. Both GS isoforms may be inhibited by phosphinothricin, competitively with glutamate. δ‐Hydroxylysine also inhibited both isoforms but acted uncompetitively. The kinetic parameters of GS isolated from all 7 species showed a remarkable similarity.
Qualitative and quantitative distribution of plasminogen activators in organs from healthy adult mice
Authors: Danglot Giséle , Vinson Denise , Chapeville François
Published: July 2002

Twenty organs from healthy adult mice were tested for plasminogen activator activity. All were positive although specific activities varied 200‐fold. Tissues with high activity were lung, uterus, brain and kidney. Endocrine glands were moderately rich in activator activity, and lymphoid tissues were poor. Molecular mass characterization was carried out. Two enzymatic forms were observed in all twenty organs: a 70 kDa form similar to human tissue plasminogen activator and a 48 kDa form analogous to mouse urokinase.
The secondary structures of the Xenopus laevis and human mitochondrial small ribosomal subunit RNA are similar
Authors: Dunon-Bluteau D. , Brun G.
Published: July 2002

Extensive corrections of the nucleotide sequence of the Xenopus
laevis mitochondrial small ribosomal subunit RNA gene [Roe et al. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 9759‐9774] are reported. We found an additional fragment of 142 nucleotides and describe 25 nucleotide differences scattered in the gene. The nucleotide sequence of the X. laevis mitochondrial 12 S rRNA gene presents 80% homology with that of the same gene of bovine mitochondrion. We propose a new secondary structure for the product of the X. laevis gene. Contrary to the finding of Roe et al., we observed the same general organization of stems and loops as for the human mitochondrial 12 S rRNA gene product. On the other hand, the structural homology observed between the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic small subunit rRNAs of X. laevis appears much lower. These results strongly suggest that animal vertebrate mitochondrial DNAs have followed the same evolutionary pathway.
An early intermediate of refolding α‐lactalbumin forms within 20 ms
Authors: Gilmanshin Rudolf I. , Ptitsyn Oleg B.
Published: July 2002

The kinetics of α‐lactalbumin refolding were studied by the stopped‐flow method with the registration of CD and intrinsic fluorescence at several wavelengths. It was shown that the early kinetic intermediate forms during the dead‐time of the experiment (20 ms). This intermediate has a considerable amount of secondary structure and unpolar clusters in its molecular structure but has no rigid tertiary structure.
A membrane fusion strategy for single‐channel recordings of membranes usually non‐accessible to patch‐clamp pipette electrodes
Authors: Criado Manuel , Keller Bernhard U.
Published: July 2002

Membranes of cellular organelles and plasma membranes of some type of cells are not accessible to the high‐resolution recordings that the conventional patch‐clamp technique allows. However, when these purified membranes are dehydrated together with small lipid vesicles and hydrated again, cell‐size vesicles (5–100 μm diameter) are obtained, on which single‐channel recordings are possible. This approach, which has been proven successful with about ten different membrane preparations of varied origin, is further illustrated with two examples. First, a known conductivity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane is compared with data obtained by using other techniques. Second, a new sodium current, present at purified postsynaptic membranes from the Torpedo electric organ, is described.