bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complicated spontaneous intercostal lung hernia - A rare clinical case
Authors: Novakov Ivan Petkov , Hadzhiminev Velizar Dafinov , Timonov Pavel Todorov
Published: October 2021

Spontaneous lung herniation is a rare pathological entity. We present a case of intercostal type of spontaneous lung hernia after heavy lifting complicated with huge soft tissue hematoma, single rib fracture, hemothorax, diaphragmatic laceration, and great omentum pleural cavity herniation in a 46-year-old man. His comorbidities were arterial hypertension, congestive heart failure, and type II diabetes mellitus and had no history of trauma, surgical procedures in his thoracic wall, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Physical examination revealed a huge left-sided flank hematoma. Chest X-ray determined stable intercostal lung hernia confirmed by chest computed tomography. Conventional approach by left mid-lateral thoracotomy was used for surgical repair of the lung hernia and stabilization of the intercostal space. The patient was discharged on the 9th postoperative day in a good condition. Control examination 2 years after the operation found no deformation of the thorax or recurrence of the lung hernia. This is a case of interest of spontaneous intercostal lung hernia because of the number and type of associated injuries. This case demonstrates low morbidity and good postoperative result by conventional surgery in intercostal lung hernias.
May the first-line treatment for foreign body aspiration in childhood be flexible bronchoscopy?
Authors: Yüksel Hasan , Yaşar Adem , Açıkel Arzu , Topçu İsmet , Yılmaz Özge
Published: October 2021

INTRODUCTION:

Rigid bronchoscopy (RB) is the traditional treatment in foreign body (FB) aspiration in childhood but is a traumatic and invasive procedure. However, flexible optic bronchoscopy (FoB) is a noninvasive and nontraumatic respiratory intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate FoB as a first-line treatment modality in pediatric cases presenting with a preliminary diagnosis of FB aspiration.

METHODS:

Subjects who underwent FoB under general anesthesia with the preliminary diagnosis of FB aspiration were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Two cases were inherited from pediatric surgery because they were not removed with FoB. The demographic, clinical, and radiological findings at the presentation were recorded. Results of success rate and complications were recorded.

RESULTS:

Among the FB aspiration cases age range of 7 months to 16 years. FoB demonstrated a FB in the airways of 31 (62.2%) subjects. The duration of the symptoms in the subjects was 9.1 ± 8.8 days. Three of the cases were taken over from pediatric surgery because they were not removed with RB. Most commonly encountered FB's were organic materials (n = 20, 64%). FoB was successful in removing the FB from the proximal and also distal airways in 93% of the subjects. No significant complications and side effects were observed except post-FoB cough.

CONCLUSION:

This result has shown that FoB for the treatment of FB aspiration is successful in removing FB aspiration from both the proximal and distal airway that the RB cannot remove. Furthermore, FoB did not have any significant airway complication. FoB may be used as the first-line treatment modality for FB aspiration instead of RB in childhood the fact that noninvasive and nontraumatic respiratory intervention.
Pain management practices in the emergency departments in Turkey
Authors: Cetin Murat , Kaya Bora , Kilic Turgay Yilmaz , Hanoğlu Nazife Didem , Gökhan Şervan , Eroğlu Serkan Emre , Akar Sakine Neval , Cekic Ozgen Gonenc , Polat Dicle , Üstsoy Emre , Çınar Orhan , Yilmaz Serkan
Published: October 2021

OBJECTIVES:

This study aimed to evaluate pain management practices in the emergency departments (EDs) in Turkey and to evaluate the prevalence and etiologies of oligoanalgesia to identify possible improvement strategies.

METHODS:

This multicenter cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 10 tertiary care hospitals in Turkey. Patients who were admitted to the ED with pain chief complaints were included in the study. Both patients and physicians were surveyed with two separate forms by the research associates, respectively. The patient survey collected data about the pain and the interventions from the patients' perspective. The pain was evaluated using the Numerical Rating Scale. The physician survey collected data to assess the differences between study centers on pain management strategies and physician attitudes in pain management.

RESULTS:

Ten emergency physicians and 740 patients (male/female: 365/375) enrolled in the study. The median pain score at admission at both triage and ED was 7 (interquartile range: 5–8). The most frequent type of pain at admission was headache (n = 184, 24.7%). The most common analgesics ordered by physicians were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n = 505, 67.9%), and the most frequent route of administration was intramuscular injection (n = 396, 53.2%). About half of the patients (n = 366, 49.2%) received analgesics 10–30 min from ED admission. The posttreatment median pain score decreased to 3 (P < 0.001). About 79.2% of patients did not need a second analgesic administration (n = 589), and opioid analgesics were the most frequently administered analgesic if the second application was required. Physicians prescribed an analgesic at discharge from the ED in 55.6% of the patients (n = 414) and acute pain was present in 7.5% (n = 56) of the patients.

CONCLUSION:

Our study on the pain management practices in the EDs in Turkey suggested that high rate of intramuscular analgesic use and long emergency room stay durations are issues that should constitute the focus of our quality improvement efforts in pain management.
Tie-2-expressing monocytes in hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Abdel-Ghaffar Afaf A. , Mahmoud Ola M. , Zahran Manal Y. , Abdelsabour Amr M. , Safwat Nesma A.
Published: October 2021

Background

Angiogenesis is a critical step in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tie-2-expressing monocytes (TEMs) with proangiogenic activity are recruited to the tumor site where they stimulate tumor angiogenesis.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the role of TEMs in diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC.

Patients and methods

The study was conducted on 50 patients diagnosed with HCC and HCV. Patients were categorized into two groups: one included patients with HCC (n=25) and the other included HCV-infected patients (n=25). Moreover, 25 age-matched and sex-matched healthy individuals were recruited as a control group. The frequency of TEMs, as defined as CD14+CD16+Tie-2+ cells, in the peripheral blood was determined by flow cytometry.

Results

The frequency of TEMs in peripheral blood (PB) monocytes was significantly higher in HCC group (53.1±18.2%) than in patients with HCV (27.3±13.9%) and controls (8.4±3.9%). The percentage of TEMs correlates with advanced Child-Pugh stage in patients with HCC and HCV infection (P<0.01). Upon performing receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, a cutoff point of 33% for TEMs was able to differentiate patients with HCC from HCV-infected patients. Regarding differentiating patients with HCC from healthy participants, the cutoff value of 33.8% yielded 88% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The diagnostic performance of combination of TEMs and α-fetoprotein was also assessed, with 98% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

Conclusion

Percentage of TEMs in PB monocytes may be applied as a complementary biomarker for identifying HCV-related HCC along with α-fetoprotein. Inhibiting the proangiogenic functions of TEMs may represent a promising strategy to improve the efficacy of current treatments for HCC.
Comparative study of intravenous high-dose dexamethasone versus intravenous methylprednisolone as an emergent therapy in severe primary immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Khedr Hager M. , Abuelrus Hanan M. , Mekawy Adel H. , Mohammed Saleh Mostafa F.
Published: October 2021

Background

In severe immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), high-dose methylprednisolone (MP) alone or combined with intravenous immunoglobulin showed some efficacy. Reports of use of high-dose dexamethasone (HD-DXM) in this setting are lacking.

Objectives

To compare between the efficacy and safety of HD-DXM versus MP as an emergency therapy in patients with severe ITP.

Patients and methods

A total of 50 adult patients with primary severe ITP were divided into two groups (25 in each): HD-DXM was given 40 mg/day intravenous for 4 days, and MP was given 1 g/day intravenous for 3 days. Platelet count was compared on admission and on days 3 and 5 of therapy. After 1 week, response was defined as platelet count more than 30×109/l and complete response when platelet more than 100×109/l.

Results

The baseline characteristics of the two groups are well balanced. Mean platelet count on third day showed no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.19). On day 5, HD-DXM group achieved significantly higher platelet count (90.13±11.41×106/ml vs. 65.11±10.38×106/ml) than in MP group (P≤0.001). Response and complete response rates after 1 week of therapy were statistically significant higher in HD-DXM group than in MP group (92 vs. 76%; P≤0.001). Hypertension and hyperglycemia were more significant in MP group (28 and 40%, respectively) than in HD-DXM group (8 and 12%, respectively; P=0.01 and 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion

HD-DXM alone could provide an effective and well-tolerated corticosteroid modality in emergency setting of patients with severe ITP. Prospective randomized trials of HD-DXM alone or in combination with intravenous immunoglobulin for higher efficacy are warranted.
The prognostic significance of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (CD26) expression in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Abaza Hala M.H. , Eltawil Ahmed E. , Safwat Nesma A. , Elzeiny Walaa S.
Published: October 2021

Background

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) has a highly variable clinical course. The leukemic transformation is initiated by specific genomic alterations, impairing apoptosis of clonal B-cells. Many prognostic factors have been identified, yet research studies continue to identify new prognostic factors to predict the course of B-CLL.

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of CD26 expression in Egyptian patients with B-CLL and assess its correlation to other clinical and laboratory parameters with known prognostic significance.

Patients and methods

A total of 30 Egyptian adults with newly diagnosed B-CLL and 15 healthy participants (control group) were subjected to full study of clinical, laboratory, flow cytometry, and cytogenetic data. Testing of CD26% expression was done by flow cytometry-immunophenotyping. Detections of ataxia telangiectasia mutated, P53, 13q14 deletions, and trisomy 12 were performed using fluorescent in-situ hybridization. Immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable mutational status was done by PCR. Moreover, smudge cells % was calculated by microscopic evaluation of stained blood smears.

Results

A statistically significant increase of CD26% expression in patients with B-CLL in comparison with normal participants was documented (P<0.001). CD26% expression on B-CLL was statistically significantly correlated with advanced modified Rai's clinical stage of B-CLL at diagnosis (P<0.001), hepatomegaly (P=0.003), low hemoglobin level (P=0.049), low platelets count (P=0.034), high lactate dehydrogenase blood levels (P=0.001), and atypical lymphocytes % (P=0.049). Correlation studies with other prognostic factors revealed statistically significant correlations between CD26% expression and CD38% (P<0.001), ZAP-70% (P=0.007), the unmutated status of immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable (P<0.001), and low % of smudge cells (P<0.001).

Conclusion

CD26% expression could be considered as an adverse prognostic predictor being associated with high-risk markers in B-CLL. It can be routinely used, as a part of immunophenotyping panel, in third world countries at diagnosis, for prognosis, risk-stratification, and tailoring of therapy.
Micro-RNA 155 in non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Hamed Hosny B. , Elgammal Sahar A. , Narouz Merna W. , Elnaggar Mohamed G.
Published: October 2021

Background

Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small RNAs of 17–25 nucleotides in length. miRNA-155 has a great role in lymphomagenesis through several mechanisms. Recent years have shown clearly a growth in knowledge of the etiology and pathogenesis of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs).

Aim

This work aimed to study the expression of miRNA-155 in patients with NHL and its correlation with clinical and pathological criteria of these patients; so that we could achieve a new biomarker in the prediction of progression of the disease.

Settings and study design

This is a cross-sectional study with a nested control group. Cases and controls were recruited from the Clinical Pathology Department at South Egypt Cancer Institute.

Patients and methods

This study was conducted on 32 patients with NHL. Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were analyzed using 7500 Fast real-time PCR (Applied Biosystems).

Statistical analysis

used Results were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 20 (SPSS Inc.).

Results

There was a significant correlation between expression levels of miRNA-155 in patients with NHL and their clinical stages or international prognostic indices.

Conclusion

It has been found that expression levels of miRNA-155 in patients’ samples were higher in cases of advanced clinical stage or higher international prognostic index. In addition, this study showed the correlation between miRNA-155 and behavior of B-NHL subtypes, total leukocytic count, and hemoglobin levels of patients. These findings revealed the great role of miRNA-155 in lymphomagenesis and also its usage as a new predictive biomarker in patients with NHL.
A1 and A2 subtypes of blood group A
Authors: Abdelaziz Hossam M. , Elgawhary Somaya M. , Mohammed Manal N. , Younis Asmaa K. , Eid Mohammed M.A.
Published: October 2021

Objective

To determine the prevalence of A1 and A2 blood subgroups and detect anti-A1 antibodies in the studied population to assess their implication in transfusion practice.

Background

The A blood type contains ∼20 subgroups, of which A1 and A2 are the most common. The distinction between the A1 and A2 subgroups is usually made by using anti-A1 lectin. A2 and A2B subgroups might have anti-A1 antibody, which become clinically significant if they react at 37°C and may lead to hemolytic transfusion reaction.

Patients and methods

Blood samples were collected from 10 662 participants attending Fayoum University Hospital Blood Bank over a period of 8 months. Analysis of ABO and Rh-D blood groups using column-agglutination technique was done. Subgrouping using anti-A1 lectin was performed for A and AB blood groups. Anti-A1 antibodies detection using AHG microcolumn was done for A2 and A2B subgroups.

Results

Blood group A was present in 40.1% (4274 participants), of whom 39.8% were A1 and 0.3% were A2, whereas group AB was present in 7.8% (836 participants), of whom 6.3% were A1B and 1.5% were A2B. Anti-A1 antibodies were not detected in any of the subgroups A2 and A2B.

Conclusion

Despite the large population sample of this study, A2 and A2B are rare subgroups and were only found in 195/10 662 (1.8%) of studied samples, and anti-A1 antibodies were not detected. However, implementation of A1 and A2 grouping is vital to avoid any reactions that could occur from these minor incompatibilities, leading to overall improvement in blood transfusion practice.
Occult hepatitis C in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in thrombocytopenic patients after achieving sustained virological response with direct-acting antivirals
Authors: Elbedewy Tamer A. , Elkholy Rasha A. , Habba Eslam , Abd El-Khalik Sarah Ragab
Published: October 2021

Background/aim

Occult hepatitis C virus infection (OCI) may be present in resolved hepatitis C virus (HCV) after direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). DAAs may improve thrombocytopenia after achieving sustained virological response (SVR), but some patients may be manifested with thrombocytopenia after SVR. The aim of our study was to evaluate the presence of OCI in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in thrombocytopenic patients after achieving SVR with DAAs.

Patients and methods

This cross-sectional study included 32 thrombocytopenic patients who achieved SVR with DAAs and 32 HCV-infected patients who achieved SVR with DAAs without thrombocytopenia as a control group. All patients were investigated for HCV-ribonucleic acid (RNA) in PBMCs, hepatitis C virus core antigen (HCVcAg), platelet autoantibodies, and serum thrombopoietin.

Results

Among thrombocytopenic, non-thrombocytopenic, and both groups, HCV-RNA in PBMCs were detected in 40.63, 6.25, and 23.44%, respectively, although HCVcAg was detected in 31.25, 3.13, and 17.19%, respectively. The comparisons between thrombocytopenic and non-thrombocytopenic patients regarding HCV-RNA in PBMCs and HCVcAg were statistically significant. Comparisons between thrombocytopenic and non-thrombocytopenic and between positive and negative OCI patients regarding serum thrombopoietin were statistically insignificant. Platelet autoantibodies were detected in 56.25% of thrombocytopenic group.

Conclusion

Our study is the first to provide insights into the relationship between OCI and thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic HCV after achieving SVR with DAAs. The association between OCI and thrombocytopenia may be explained by autoimmune mechanism.
Pulmonary hypertension as a risk factor in JAK2-positive polycythemia rubra vera
Authors: Ahmed Shaimaa A. , Rashad Alaa , Nafady Asmaa , Shazly Asmaa Y. , Alkhateeb Areej , Elsenbesya Mohamed A.
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The occurrence of primary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH (in primary myeloid proliferation neoplasms seems quite high, up to 22% in polycythemia vera. Polycythemia rubra vera (PRV) is one of the myeloproliferative neoplasms. We aimed to study the incidence of PAH among patients with PRV.

Patients and methods

A prospective cross-section study was performed on 60 (PRV) patients with PRV confirmed by bone marrow and JAK2 positivity. Abdominal ultrasonography, transthoracic echocardiography, and computed tomography chest were done to estimate the pulmonary hypertension (HTN) and exclude other chest diseases.

Results

Among the studied 60 patients, we found 14 patients with pulmonary HTN (23.4%) who had significantly increased incidence of comorbidities than patients with normal pulmonary pressure (P=0.009). Moreover, there were statistically significant differences in the size of spleen by ultrasound between the two groups (P=0.008). Patients with pulmonary HTN had a higher hemoglobin level compared with those with normal pulmonary pressure (P=0.006). There was a significant positive correlation between pulmonary pressure and existing comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, HTN, or both) but no correlation with the size of the spleen, hemoglobin level, or white blood cells.

Conclusion

The prevalence of PAH in JAK2-positive patients with PRV is 76.6%, and there was significant relationship between hematological parameters (hemoglobin, white blood cells, lactate dehydrogenase, and urea level and PAH in JAK2-positive patients with PRV.
Uterine Parameters of Clinical Importance in North Indian Females of Reproductive Age – An Ultrasonographic Evaluation
Authors: Arya Aruna , Tomar Sushma , Diwan Rakesh K , Pandey Amita , Manik Punita
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

The uterine size is important during planning of assisted reproductive techniques and hysterectomy and there is no established normative data from the women of northern India, this study was undertaken with the objective to report the normal length, width and anteroposterior lengths of non-gravid uterus.

Methodology:

In a prospective observational study, conducted in Department of Anatomy in collaboration with Departments of Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology of King George's Medical University, Lucknow, the ultrasonographic measurements of non-gravid uterus were noted. The ultrasonography was performed on females in dorsal decubitus position having full urinary bladder. Uterine position was identified by placing the probe on suprapubic area Length and anteroposterior diameter of uterus were measured by placing the probe in longitudinal direction (sagittal plane). Length was measured from fundus to external os. The anteroposterior diameter is maximum measurement in mid sagittal plane of body of uterus. The transducer was rotated up to 90 degree to measure the transverse diameter. Transverse diameter is the maximum measurement in transverse plane across the fundus. The volume of uterus was calculated.

Results:

The study included transabdominal ultrasonographic measurements of 100 females of age range 19-49 years (mean age 34.06 ± 0.35 years). Mean length, transverse diameter, anteroposterior diameters and volume noted were 7.71 (±0.47) cm, 4.63 (±0.33) cm, 3.75 (±0.31) cm and 70.54 (± 9.68) cm3.

Conclusion:

Normative values of uterine length, width and anteroposterior diameters of one-hundred non-pregnant women of northern India reported. Accurate measurement of uterine parameters is useful in timely management of various pathologies associated with abnormal size of uterus, infertility related procedures; such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo transfer (ET) and intrauterine device insertion.
Evaluation Of 3D small-scale lithological heterogeneities and pore distribution of the Boda Claystone Formation using X-Ray Computed Tomography images (CT)
Authors:   Dept. of Geology and Paleontology, The University of Szeged, Hungary, Abutaha Saja Mohammad , Geiger Janos ,   Dept. of Geology and Paleontology, The University of Szeged, Hungary, Gulyas Sandor ,   Dept. of Geology and Paleontology, The University of Szeged, Hungary
Published: October 2021

This study was undertaken to quantify and evaluate the density and porosity characteristics of a Boda Claystone Formation (BCF) core sample using medical CT. Each voxel of the 3D CT volume was described with three variables: dry CT number, saturated CT number, and effective porosity. Disparity pore voxels were revealed using the genetic groups’ algorithm of data-mining techniques. The K-fold cross-validation algorithm has been applied to determine the number of the most stable cluster. The 3D spatial distributions of voxel-porosity by rock constituents, as well as the 3D distribution of porosity clusters by rock components, were found by Boolean function implementation. The terrigenous detrital fragments had the lowest porosity mean (0.16%) and highest coefficient variation value (1039.39%). While the Fine siltstone component had the highest porosity mean (3.39%) and lower coefficient of variation (134.99%). The difference in the variation of coefficient proportions is related to the outlier ratios in each rock component. Independently of both the rock types and the sedimentary structures, two clusters could be defined: one for the micro-porosity and one for the macro-porosity regimes. The former showed a continuous 3D spatial appearance, while the latter appeared in patches. These patches may also be connected, at least partly, to some local smectite aggregates. These clay minerals could lose their structured water content during vacuuming and swell when adsorbing water during sample saturation. In each rock type, the micro-porosity regime could be related to low-density rock fragments. The mean effective porosity of the micro-pore regime was about 0.02, which corresponds to the petrophysical core measurements. For the macro regimes, the average was 0.1.
Genesis of ferromanganese deposits from the Central Anatolian province, Yozgat-Aşağı Eğerci village, Turkey: Geochemical properties and fluid inclusions
Authors:   Bozok University, Eng. Arc. Faculty, Yozgat, Turkey, Öksüz Nursel , Kaya Sümeyra ,   Graduate Education Institute, Bozok University, Yozgat, Turkey
Published: October 2021

Eğerci village is located 16 km southwest of Yerköy (Yozgat) area which has a ferromanganese deposit that formed at the contact between basalt and limestone and shows that a banded stockwork structure occurs occasionally within the limestone. The mineralization consists of pyrolusite, goethite, and ramsdellite, together with a lesser quantity of magnetite. Gangue minerals are determined as calcite and quartz. REE data from the mineral samples demonstrate a range from 2.70 - 63.70 ppm and the average value is 28.00. These results permit a comparison to be made with mineralization in hydrothermal deposits. Moreover, mineral samples show a positive Eu anomaly 0.88-48.10 ppm (ave. 9.94 ppm). The Ce anomaly values vary between 0.02 and 0.88 ppm (ave. 0.58 ppm). It is possible that the mineralization may be affected by the mixing of seawater and hydrothermal fluids. The value of the positive Eu anomaly is evidence of modern oceanic hydrothermal manganese deposits. Insight of previous fluid inclusion, studies can be easily inferred that mineralization can occur at three different stages. The temperature of the first stage ranged from 338 oC to 428 oC and other stages vary from 269 oC - 317 oC and 143 oC - 236 oC, respectively. As a comparison, calculated salinity is higher in Type I fluid inclusions (1.9-14.7 wt.% NaCl equiv.) than Type II and III fluid inclusions (1.9-5.1 wt.%NaCl (equiv.) It is possible that the mineralization was formed by the mixing of magmatic and meteoric waters.
Multi-institutional minimal clinically important difference of the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test in medically managed chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Phillips K.M. , Houssein F.A. , Boeckermann L.M. , Singerman K.W. , Liu D.T. , Sedaghat A.R.
Published: October 2021

Background: With a rapid proliferation of clinical trials to study novel medical treatments for CRS, the objective of this study was to study the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) in medically-managed CRS patients. Methods: A total of 183 medically-treated CRS patients were recruited. All patients completed a SNOT-22 at enrollment and subsequent follow up visit. Distribution and anchor-based methods were used for MCID calculation. These data were combined with data from a previously published study on SNOT-22 MCID in 247 medically managed CRS patients to determine a final recommended MCID value using the combined cohort of 430 patients. Results: In our cohort, distribution- and anchor-based methods—using both sinus-specific and general health anchors—provided greatest support for a 12-point SNOT-22 MCID, which had approximately 55% sensitivity but 81% specificity for detecting patients explicitly reporting improvement in their sinus symptoms and general health. In the combined cohort of 430 patients, we also found greatest support for a 12-point SNOT-22 MCID, which had approximately 57% sensitivity and 81% specificity for detecting patients explicitly reporting improvement in their sinus symptoms and general health. We also find evidence that the MCID value may be higher in CRS patients without nasal polyps compared to those with nasal polyps. Conclusions: Our results - which include data from patients from two different institutions and regions - confirm a SNOT-22 MCID of 12 in medically managed CRS patients. The SNOT-22 MCID was specific but not sensitive for identifying CRS patients experiencing improvement in symptoms or general health.
Unsettled Issues Regarding First- and Last-mile Transport
Authors:   Muelaner Engineering, Ltd., Muelaner Jody
Published: October 2021

Sustainable first/last/only-mile (FLO-mile) transport is the key to sustainable travel. It could directly replace private car use for short urban journeys, which account for 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. More importantly, it could enable public transport to be used for longer journeys, which account for 6% of emissions. Active travel, such as walking and cycling, has the lowest emissions and provides huge economic benefits that pay for the required infrastructure many times over. Unsettled Issues Regarding First- and Last-Mile Transport discusses the mass switch to more sustainable modes of transport and how to increase their perceived value to users. It also covers the prioritization of publicly owned cycles over rideshare options due to the latter’s higher lifecycle emissions, including manufacture, redistribution, and service operations and station construction.
Optimization of sparse randomly spaced linear antenna array using hybrid iteratively reweighted least squares
Authors: Mustapha S.A. , Sani S.M. , Abu-Bilal K.A.
Published: October 2021

Uniformly Spaced Antenna Array (USAA) with large radiating elements is characterized with complex feed network as well as high sidelobes level (SLL) leading to interference and power wastage. To solve these problems, research works have been carried out using different methodologies, to synthesize sparse Randomly Spaced An- tenna Array (RSAA) to reconstruct the desired radiation pattern using fewer radiating elements and suppressed SLL. In this paper, a deterministic Iteratively Reweighted Least Squares (IRLS) algorithm based on the concept of compressed sensing was used to achieve better sparsity through thinning. The SLL was also suppressed using Convex Technique (CT). The performance of the synthesized array was evaluated in terms of sparsity and SLL. Simulation results showed that it has a higher sparsity of 12 elements with SLL of -39.44dB which are 14.29% and 28.72% improvements, respectively compared to previous research work with 14 elements and SLL of -30.64dB.
Achieving effective customer relationship using frequent pattern-growth algorithm association rule learning technique
Authors: Ugwu N.V. , Udanor C.N.
Published: October 2021

Customer relationship management (CRM) is a methodology and tool that possesses the plan and techniques that companies should follow in relating with their customers. In today’s business world, the relationship between organizations and their customers is very important in engaging the customers’ interest, which has the direct effect in increasing the business profit. Due to ineffective collaboration and interaction between organizations and their customers, identifying who the real customers are, along with what they need has failed. A breach of trust from the company, and lack of feedback from the customer could make an organization not to be able to compete with her rivals in a business environment and win her customers’ loyalty. Therefore, the guarantee of the customer continuing transactions with the company may no longer be assured. This work deploys an association rule learning technique of data mining using frequent pattern growth algorithm to identify which items are regularly purchased together by customers and based on this result, analyzes and understands the customers’ buying habits. Object-Oriented Analysis and Design methodology (OOAD) is used to analyze and design the system, whereas the implementation is carried out using Python programming language and My-SQL database management system. The contribution of this work is that it enables firms to gather and analyze customers’ interests in a product so that the needs of their valued customers will be met in order to make them return for more business transactions, thereby achieving customer retention.
Thin layer drying kinetics of Freshwater Clawed Lobsters (Astacus astacus)
Authors: Zibokere D.S. , Egbe E.W.
Published: October 2021

Fresh-water Clawed Lobsters is seafood consumed in its cooked, dried or semi-dried state. Drying is a veritable technology for its storage beyond immediate consumption. This study thus, investigated the drying behaviour of the lobster on thin-layers. A laboratory convective oven dryer was used as the heating source, on the temperature range of 50 – 100°C applied in a varying manner on multiples of 10°C. The layer thickness was about 20-mm. As with high moisture sea foods, the drying profile showed a typical falling rate period with no distinct constant rate period for all the temperature levels used in this work. Moisture loss (diffusion) data obtained from the experiments were fitted to three popular semi-empirical thin-layer models of Page, Lewis, and Henderson-Pabis, respectively, and their suitability was validated using statistical parameters (of R2, RMSE and χ2). This was done to select thin-layer model that would suitably describe the drying kinetics of the samples over the range of temperature levels chosen in this work. Consequently, the Page model and that of Henderson-Pabis respectively were taken to have reliably predicted the drying behaviour of the samples at the chosen temperature levels. The effective diffusivity and the temperature-related activation energy values ranged from 2.239 × 10−8 m2/min - 4.005 × 102/min and 28.5kJ/mol, respectively. Drying rates along with characterizing drying constants and curves also showed an exponential increase with temperature.
Use of Higher Order Plate Theory in dynamic analysis of SSFS and CSFS thick rectangular plates in orthogonal polynomials
Authors: Onyechere I.C. , Anya U.C. , Ibearugbulem O.M. , Igbojiaku A.U. , Ihemegbulem E.O. , Igwilo K.C.
Published: October 2021

This study applied polynomial expressions as displacement and shear deformation functions in the free-vibration study of thick and moderately thick isotropic rectangular plates. Rectangular plates with two different edge conditions investigated in this work are: one with simple supports at three of its edges and with no support at the other edge denoted with the acronym (SSFS) and a rectangular plate with simple supports at opposite edges while the other opposite edges has a fixed support at one edge and no support at the other edge, this is denoted with the acronym (CSFS). The total potential energy of the plate was derived using the general theory of elasticity. The general governing equation of the plate was derived by minimizing the total potential energy equation of the plate. Edge conditions of the SSFS and CSFS plates were met and substituted into the general governing equation to obtain a linear expression which was solved to generate fundamental natural frequency function for the plates with various span-depth proportion (m/t) and planar dimensions proportion (n/m). The results obtained from this research were found to agree favourably with the results of similar problems in the literature upon comparison.
Phytoremediation of emulsion paint wastewater using Azolla Pinnata, Eichhornia Crassipes and Lemna Minor
Authors: Echiegu E.A. , Ezimah C.O. , Okechukwu M.E. , Nwoke O.A.
Published: October 2021

The use of three macrophytes namely Azolla pinnata, Eichhornia crassipes and Lemna minor for the phytoremediation of emulsion paint wastewater was investigated. Samples of the paint wastewater and test plants were collected and analyzed for physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal concentrations before and after phytoremediation for six weeks. The TDS of the treated wastewater was reduced by over 80.0% by each of the test plants while the TSS increased as a result of debris from withered test plants. Dissolved oxygen reduction ranged from 12.5% to 50.0%, COD from 49.5% to 57.1%, BOD from 46.7% to 54.7, heavy metals from 11.0 to 92.5%. A. pinnata appears to have performed significantly better (P < 0.05) than the other plants followed by E. crassipies and L. minor. It can be concluded that the test plants (especially A. pinnata) can be effectively used for the preliminary treatment of paint wastewater.
Performance evaluation of rubber seed oil based cutting fluid in turning mild steel
Authors: Osayi A.O. , Lawal S.A. , Ndaliman M.B. , Agboola J.B.
Published: October 2021

Due to the negative effects associated with the wide use of mineral oil, the desire for eco-friendly cutting fluids as alternative to mineral oil has become a global issue. In this study, rubber seed oil was used to formulate oil-in-water emulsion cutting fluid. Full factorial design was used for the formulation of the oil-in-water emulsion cutting fluid. The optimal process parameters obtained were used for the formulation of the novel cutting fluid and the cutting fluid was characterised. The characteristics of the formulated cutting fluid shows viscosity of 4.25 mm2/s, pH value of 8.3, high stability and corrosion resistant. Box-Behnken design was used for the turning operation and the performance of the rubber seed oil cutting fluid was compared with mineral oil. The input parameters were cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut, while the responses were surface roughness and cutting temperature. Coated carbide insert was used as cutting tool. The ANOVA results show that the feed rate had the most significant effect on the surface roughness and cutting temperature followed by the cutting speed and depth of cut during the turning process. It was observed that the rubber seed oil based cutting fluid reduced surface roughness and cutting temperature by 9.79% and 1.66% respectively and therefore, it can be concluded that the rubber seed oil based cutting fluid performed better than the mineral oil in turning of mild steel.
Power loss minimization load flow studies using Artificial Bee Colony swarm intelligence technique
Authors: Jagun Z.O. , Olajide M.B. , Wokoma B.A. , Osegi E.N.
Published: October 2021

This paper presents the capability of an emerging swarm intelligence technique for power loss minimization known as the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) used in the context of an Alternative Load Flow Analysis (LFA) technique (ABC-LFA) for the solution of a power systems network. Studies are performed considering the effect of an important parameter of the ABC, the “maxcycle” on the LFA process; experiments are conducted by applying the ABC-LFA to the Western System Coordinated Council (WSCC) 3-machine 9- bus power system and a section of the Nigerian 132-kV power transmission network Port-Harcourt Region (NPHC-132), and the results reported. The results indicate that increasing the value of the ABC “maxcycle” parameter has a pronounced effect on the results obtained by the ABC-LFA. The results also indicate the sensitivity of the ABC to low values of maxcycle parameter.
Development of auto sanitizer for mitigation of Covid-19 – Using solar powered aluminum structural chamber
Authors: Madu S.C. , Madu E.A. , Anyaoha C.O. , Okonkwo P.A. , Ogbuefi U.C. , Egoigwe S.V. , Aigbodion V.S. , Ejiogu E.C.
Published: October 2021

The use of auto sanitizer in the disinfection of human body and surfaces against dangerous micro-organisms like coronavirus diseases that are infectious is of great importance to schools, family, community, and public health. The outbreak of novel Coronavirus in late 2019, which has crippled the academic, social, and economic activities globally is as a result of unhygienic activities of living creatures like, man, and animals. But a good number of technologies can be developed to tackle the emergence of this novel infectious virus. The challenge of COVID-19 that resulted to ill-health, high death rate, and shutdown of activities was being addressed radically by different medical practitioners, engineers through various practical innovations, methods and mitigation approach - ranging from the use of face shields and respiratory facemasks to practicing of social and physical distancing. This part of preventive measures has led us to developing an Auto Sanitizer that is made of Aluminum Chamber which does not wet the cloth or human body but disinfects it against COVID-19.
A Mathematical Analysis of an In-vivo Ebola Virus Transmission Dynamics Model
Authors: Ismail Seleman , Mtunya Adeline Peter
Published: October 2021

Ebola virus (EBOV) infection is a hemorrhagic and hazardous disease, which is among the most shocking threats to human health causing a large number of deaths. Currently, there are no approved curative therapies for the disease. In this study, a mathematical model for in-vivo Ebola virus transmission dynamics was analyzed. The analysis of the model mainly focused on the sensitivity of basic reproductive number,  pertaining to the model parameters. Particularly, the sensitivity indices of all parameters of  were computed by using the forward normalized sensitivity index method. The results showed that a slight change in the infection rate immensely influences  while the same change in the production rate of the virus has the least impact on . Thus, , being a determining factor  of the disease progression, deliberate control measures targeting the infection rate, the most positively sensitive parameter, are required. This implies that reducing infection rate will redirect the disease to extinction.

Keywords: Ebola virus infection, immune response, sensitivity index, mathematical model.
The contribution of the NEMO-SN1 seafloor observatory to improve the seismic locations in the Ionian Sea (Italy)
Authors: Sgroi Tiziana , Barberi Graziella , Marchetti Alessandro
Published: October 2021

The Western Ionian Sea is characterised by an active and diffuse seismicity, directly related to the convergence of the European and African Plates and by gravitational sinking and rollback of the oceanic lithosphere. In this area, the location of earthquakes is characterised by considerable uncertainties due to large azimuthal gaps, resulting in notable location errors. This problem was partially overcome with the use of data recorded by NEMO-SN1 seafloor observatory (October 2002 - February 2003; June 2012 - May 2013). We relocated 1130 crustal and sub-crustal earthquakes using land network and NEMO-SN1 data. As most events occurred on Mt. Etna, we focused on 358 earthquakes in the offshore area and near the coasts of Sicily and Calabria. The use of the combined land-marine networks has improved the earthquake locations in terms of azimuthal GAP, as well as in horizontal and vertical errors. The comparison between locations performed with and without NEMO-SN1 data shows that differences in latitude, longitude and depths are more evident in the Western Ionian Sea and in the coast of Sicily, where values of the differences over 5 km correspond to structural heterogeneities. The increased number of seismic stations deployed on land from 2003 to 2012 did not influence the location of events occurring offshore, where NEMO-SN1 continued to be the distinctive tool in the location process. Moreover, the new 73 focal mechanisms computed with P-wave polarities from NEMO-SN1 and land stations are in agreement with the regional structural model, showing a prevalent normal, normal/oblique, and strike-slip kinematics. The similarity of two new focal solutions with the mechanisms of the main shock and aftershock of the 1990 earthquake demonstrates that the seismic structures are still active and potentially dangerous. The P-wave travel time residual analysis confirms the activity along the main structural alignments. A single point of observation in the Ionian Sea can significantly improve the quality of locations, giving an opportunity to focus on the seismogenic structures responsible for the occurrence of medium-to-high magnitude earthquakes.
A Conundrum of Peer Evaluation of Predicting Poor Prognostic Models Affecting the Mortality Rate of Covid -19
Authors: J Yashaswini , K R Niranjan , B N Beena Ullala Mata , C S Kaliprasad
Published: October 2021

Mankind is confronting these days a histrionic pandemic scene with the Coronavirus proliferation over all continents. The Covid-19 pandemic outbreak is as yet not very much portrayed, and numerous research teams everywhere on the world are chipping away at one or the other restorative therapeutic issues or immunization issues. The outburst of COVID-19 has constituted a danger to wellbeing of world. With the expanding number of individuals tainted, medical services frameworks, particularly those in economically emerging nations, are bearing gigantic pressing factor for the devising a prognostic model. There is a dire requirement for the analysis of COVID-19 and the anticipation of inpatients. To diminish these issues, a data statistical information driven clinical aid framework is advanced in this paper. In view of two real world datasets in Wuhan, China, the proposed framework coordinates information from various sources with tools of Machine Learning (ML) to anticipate COVID-19 tainted likelihood of suspected patients in their first visit, and afterward foresee mortality of affirmed cases. As opposed to picking an interpretable calculation, this framework isolates the clarifications from ML models. It can do help to patient triaging and give some valuable guidance to specialists and doctors. A prognosis model is in the way of extraordinary premium for specialists to adjust their consideration methodology for therapeutic or diagnosis procedure.
Comparative Study of Various Nuclear Medicine Imaging Technique - A Review
Authors: B N Beena Ullala Mata , Pal Anup Kumar , Sivadasan Hrithik , Mishra Himanshu
Published: October 2021

Nuclear Medicine is a medical specialty that allows modern diagnostics and treatments using radiopharmaceuticals original radiotracers (drugs linked to a radioactive isotope). The radiopharmaceuticals are considered a special group of drugs and thus their preparation and use are regulated by a set of policies that have been adopted by individual member countries. The radiopharmaceuticals used in diagnostic examinations are administered in very small doses. So, in general, they have no pharmacological action, side effects or serious adverse reactions. The most serious issue with their use is the potential for diagnostic mistakes due to changes in their biodistribution. The appearance and development of new radiopharmaceuticals in both the diagnostic and therapeutic domains, as well as the impact of new multimodality imaging techniques, are all having a significant impact on nuclear medicine (SPECT-CT, PET-CT, PET-MRI, etc.). It is crucial to understand the techniques limitations, radiopharmaceutical distribution and potential physiological changes, radiological contrast contraindications and bad responses, and the possibility of both interfering. The process of generating radiopharmaceuticals is introduced and relevant interactions of radiation with matter are discussed. Diagnostic nuclear medicine instrumentation is explained, and future trends in nuclear medicine imaging technology are forecasted.
Analiza zagrevanja bakarnih provodnika sa strujom
Authors:   University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Kasaš-Lažetić Karolina , Mijatović Gorana , Herceg Dejana , Prša Miroslav
Published: October 2021

The method for the temperature measurement on the surface of three copper conductors, with cross-sections of 4 mm2 , 6 mm2 i 10 mm2 , are presented in this paper. After the determination of temperature probe, the series of temperature measurements are performed on chosen wire conductors. The first two series are performed applying DC generator, in two different cases: when, during the measurement the voltage on the conductor’s end was held constant and the current inside the conductor was held constant. After that, the temperature measurements on the conductor’s surface were performed supplying conductors with AC, time harmonic currents, again in two particular cases: constant RMS voltage value on the conductor’s ends and constant RMS value of current inside the conductor. The measuring results were expected for all four cases and for all thee conductors. Due to presence of skin effect, the Joule’s losses were higher in the AC cases, meaning that the temperature increase was faster and that the final reached temperature, for the same values of voltage or currents, was higher. It was also demonstrated that the higher Joule’s losses appeared when the current was kept constant during the measurements, in both DC and AC supplying. The measurements were performed with the instrument which enabled the results recording on USB stick; hence the measurements duration was 30 minutes, recording result every two seconds. The measuring results were presented graphically, together with graphical presentation of the comparison between methods and the results for all investigated conductors.