bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Challenges towards quality assurance of Basic Medical Education in Pakistan
Authors: Khan Abdul Waheed , Sethi Ahsan , Wajid Gohar , Yasmeen Raheela 
Published: December 2019

Objective: There are growing concerns towards the quality of medical education in Pakistan. To help strengthen accreditation processes, this study identifies the challenges towards quality assurance of Basic Medical Education in Pakistan.
Methods: A qualitative case study was carried out from March to August 2018. Participants included inspectors from various disciplines in both public and private medical colleges, and medical educationists from Pakistan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 inspectors, while focus group discussion included 10 medical educationists. All the interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted to capture the intricacies of meaning within the data.
Results: Data identified 14 sub-themes grouped under three major themes. Challenges towards quality assurance included mounting political influence, commercialism in medical education, weak regulatory capacity of accrediting body, violation of rules, lack of valid accreditation standards and skilled inspectors.
Conclusion: Quality assurance of Basic Medical Education in Pakistan involves various systemic, resource and personnel related challenges. The accrediting body needs to bring major reforms in its accreditation system and strengthen its regulatory and technical educational capacity to ensure the quality of medical education in nearly 168 medical and dental colleges of the country.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1319
How to cite this:Khan AW, Sethi A, Wajid G, Yasmeen R . Challenges towards quality assurance of Basic Medical Education in Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(2):4-9. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1319
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Allium-sativum and bakuchiol combination: A natural alternative to Chlorhexidine for oral infections?
Authors: Fahim Ayesha , Himratul-Aznita Wan Harun , Abdul-Rahman Puteri Shafinaz 
Published: December 2019

Objective: Chlorhexidine mouthrinses are considered a gold standard as an adjunct treatment of oral infections. However, owing to its toxicity, discoloration of tooth surface and the emerging prevalence of drug-resistant species, attention is being given to exploring natural alternatives to the drug.
Methods: The experiment was carried out in Azra Naheed Center for Research and Development (ANCRD), Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan from September 2018 till May 2019. Biofilms and planktonic cells of C. albicans alone and in combination with streptococci were subjected to chlorhexidine, allium sativum and bakuchiol individually and to allium-bakuchiol combination. Kirby-Bauer test, antifungal susceptibility testing, CFU count and drug synergy assessment was done on planktonic cells. Dynamic biofilms were formed to mimic conditions similar to oral cavity and CFU was determined.
Results: MIC of all three agents was higher against mixed species when compared to single species planktonic cells and biofilm. Allium sativum and bakuchiol demonstrated synergistic effects. The decrease in CFU count and minimum biofilm reduction to salivary pellicle caused by allium sativum-bakuchiol was comparable to that of chlorhexidine.
Conclusion: Thus, allium sativum-bakuchiol combination demonstrated antimicrobial effects similar to chlorhexidine against planktonic cells and dynamic biofilm. It could serve as a possible natural, economical alternative to chlorhexidine mouthrinses usually recommended in dental clinics. However, in vivo studies are required to determine the correct dosage of these agents.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1457
How to cite this:Fahim A, Himratul-Aznita WH, Abdul-Rahman PS. Allium-sativum and bakuchiol combination: A natural alternative to Chlorhexidine for oral infections? Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(2):271-275. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1457
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Recent advances in taste transduction and signaling
Authors: Kinnamon Sue C. , Finger Thomas E. 
Published: December 2019

In the last few years, single-cell profiling of taste cells and ganglion cells has advanced our understanding of transduction, encoding, and transmission of information from taste buds as relayed to the central nervous system. This review focuses on new knowledge from these molecular approaches and attempts to place this in the context of previous questions and findings in the field. The individual taste cells within a taste bud are molecularly specialized for detection of one of the primary taste qualities: salt, sour, sweet, umami, and bitter. Transduction and transmitter release mechanisms differ substantially for taste cells transducing sour (Type III cells) compared with those transducing the qualities of sweet, umami, or bitter (Type II cells), although ultimately all transmission of taste relies on activation of purinergic P2X receptors on the afferent nerves. The ganglion cells providing innervation to the taste buds also appear divisible into functional and molecular subtypes, and each ganglion cell is primarily but not exclusively responsive to one taste quality.
Making use of evidence in commissioning practice: insights into the understanding of a telecare study’s findings
Authors: Woolham John , Steils Nicole , Forsyth Kirsty , Fisk Malcolm , Porteus Jeremy 
Published: December 2019

Background
This paper discusses findings from a study of English Local Authority (LA) Adult Social Care Departments (ASCDs) that explored how managers use telecare. A decade earlier, a large clinical trial, the ‘Whole System Demonstrator’ project (WSD), funded by the Department of Health (DH) investigated telecare’s effectiveness in promoting and maintaining independence among users. It found no evidence that telecare improved outcomes. Despite these conclusions, the DH did not change its policy or guidance, and LAs did not appear to scale back investment in telecare.

Aims and objectives
The present study explores how English ASCDs responded to WSD findings and why investment continued despite evidence from the WSD.

Methods
Data were obtained from an online survey sent to all telecare lead managers in England. The survey achieved a final response rate of 75%.

Findings
The survey asked questions focused on awareness and use of research in general, and specifically knowledge about the findings of the WSD. Most respondents were highly critical of the WSD methods, and its findings.

Discussion
Critical examination of telecare manager views found widespread inaccurate information about the trial methodology and findings, as well as the wider political and policy context that shaped it.

Conclusions
The WSD could not explain why telecare did not deliver better outcomes. A more nuanced understanding of the circumstances in which it might achieve good outcomes has received little consideration. LA difficulties in using evidence in telecare commissioning potentially leaves the sector at risk of market capture and supplier induced demand.
Some aspects on the uncertainty calculation in Mueller ellipsometry
Authors: Wurm Matthias , Grunewald Tobias , Teichert Sven , Bodermann Bernd , Reck Johanna , Richter Uwe 
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we focus on the metrological aspects of spectroscopic Mueller ellipsometry—i.e. on the uncertainty estimation of the measurement results. With the help of simulated Mueller matrices, we demonstrate that the commonly used merit functions do not return the correct uncertainty for the measurand under consideration (here shown for the relatively simple case of the geometrical parameter layer thickness for the example system of a SiO2 layer on a Si substrate). We identify the non-optimal treatment of measured and sample- induced depolarization as a reason of this discrepancy. Since depolarization results from sample properties in combination with experimental parameters, it must not be minimized during the parameter fit. Therefore, we propose a new merit function treating this issue differently: It implicitly uses the measured depolarization as a weighting parameter. It is very simple and computationally cheap. It compares for each wavelength the measured Jones matrix elements to Cloude’s covariance matrix: ∼

∑
λ

j

sim,

λ

†

H

meas,

λ

+

j

sim,

λ

. Moreover, an extension will be presented which allows us to include the measurement noise into this merit function. With this, reliable statistical uncertainties can be calculated. Except for some pre-processing of the raw data, there is no additional computational cost.
LOS HIJOS DE MAYO: GENERACIONES Y POLÍTICA EN LA ARGENTINA, 1969-1994
Authors: MANZANO VALERIA 
Published: December 2019

Este artículo estudia cómo, cuándo y porqué diferentes grupos e individuos delinearon construcciones generacionales que tomaban al mayo de 1969 -y a otros mayos de comienzos de la década de 1970- como punto de referencia. Mostrará que las construcciones generacionales implican procesos de representación en un sentido doble. Por un lado, especialmente para el quinquenio que siguió a Mayo de 1969, el artículo reconstruye qué grupos y con qué significados políticos y culturales se auto-percibieron, por ejemplo, como “hijos del Cordobazo” e intentaron representar de esa manera tanto a un grupo de edad (joven) como a una posición y situación política. Por otro lado, representación aquí se vincula a las tareas de la memoria social, intentando también identificar de qué manera se desplazaron y transformaron las construcciones generacionales que cristalizaban, por ejemplo, en el marco de las conmemoraciones de fines de la década de 1980. En el último tercio de esa década, enmarcadas en procesos conmemorativos (especialmente, del vigésimo aniversario de las revueltas globales del ’68) y en plena discusión sobre la valencia de conceptos y programas en torno a la “revolución”, algunas memorias de militancia política emergieron imbricadas en clave generacional.
Tourism with No Resources?
Authors: Nagy Benedek 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The main objective of the present study is to examine the changes in national tourism supply and to find out whether these changes are quantifiable or not. Research analysis shows that – contrary to our hypotheses/expectations – tourism is relatively weakly connected to places, to the localization of traditional resources. Results reveal how relationships between tourism factors and resources and tourism supply and demand have changed. While tourism trends become more strongly connected to cultural resources, natural resources tend to lose ground. Post-industrial trends – such as the secondary value of the material environment, the reinterpretation of attractions and authenticity, the appearance of new contents and interpretations, etc. – are barely traceable in the Romanian statistical figures on tourism. At the same time, we have not encountered any studies of such extent on Romanian tourism and its resources or any large statistical analyses involving all settlements (all administrative units) from Romania; therefore, the current research can serve to fill this gap and offer new findings on the topic.
Academic-practitioner collaboration with communities towards social and ecological transformation
Authors: Arko-Achemfuor Akwasi , Romm Norma , Serolong Lesego 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
In this article we offer a discussion around our academic-practitioner involvements with one another and with a targeted community, in relation to a particular project. In the title of the article, we have hyphenated the term academic-practitioner to render fuzzy the distinction between “academic” roles (associated with institutions of higher learning and with professional research) and the roles of “practitioners” operating and learning in the field in engagement with communities. In the article we detail our collaborations with one another and with a farming community in all undertaking (co)inquiries around options for social and ecological development. We explain how this fits the epistemological views as offered by Indigenous authors propounding an Indigenous research paradigm (with transformative intent) to generate visions of realities in-the-making, towards enhanced wellbeing in communities and towards a sustainable future. We provide a detailed example in the course of our deliberations.
Efforts to inspire transformative research with farmers in a small town in the North West Province of South Africa
Authors: McIntyre-Mills J , Karel J , Arko-Achemfuor A , Romm N.R.A , Serolong L 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe project review as outlined in this article explores the questions: What is transformative research and what is transformation as far as the community stakeholders are concerned? To what extent has the transformative research achieved its intended outcomes? The Bokamoso project (founded by Lesego Serolong as facilitator and investor) is an integrated development project designed to create employment and to enable the community to learn while they make a living through a diverse range of farming activities. The participatory research as discussed here is part of the University of South Africa’s research and community engagement programme, and is set in a remote, arid zone. This research coupled with community engagement aims to transform lives and create opportunities by enhancing their participation in education, training and employment creation. The project (which has been running since 2015) supports indigenous ways of being, knowing and doing and has succeeded in enabling the farmers trained through Bokamoso to be less dependent on social benefits (government grants).
A case study of recording soundwalk of Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto, Japan using smartphone
Authors: Lee Heow Pueh , Lim Kian Meng , Garg Saurabh 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe present soundwalk of Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan from the main gate facing the Inari railway station to the summit. The soundwalk was captured from Samsung Galaxy S8 running NoiseExplorer: an app we have developed for Android and iOS. Fushimi Inari Shrine is the main shrine of the god Inari and sits at the base of a mountain also named Inari which is 233 meters above sea level. It also includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines which span 4 kilometers and takes approximately two hours to walk up. This shrine is ranked as the number one most popular sightseeing destination among tourists visiting Japan. A salient feature of the shrine is the rows of nearly 10,000 torii gates in striking orange color, which is known as the Senbon torii. The soundscape at the main gate and the main shrine was found to be dominated by the sound of cicadas. However, midway along the torii gates along the path towards the summit, cicada sound subsides, and the soundscape is more representative of typical footpath on mountain paths. The Leq noise level of 59.6 dBA is well below the typical noise level of other Japanese tourist attractions.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Alzheimer’s Disease: Are We Ready?
Authors: Weiler Marina , Stieger Kevin C. , Long Jeffrey M. , Rapp Peter R. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is among a growing family of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques being developed to treat multiple neurocognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although small clinical trials in AD have reported positive effects on cognitive outcome measures, significant knowledge gaps remain, and little attention has been directed at examining the potential influence of TMS on AD pathogenesis. Our review briefly outlines some of the proposed neurobiological mechanisms of TMS benefits in AD, with particular emphasis on the modulatory effects on excitatory/inhibitory balance. On the basis of converging evidence from multiple fields, we caution that TMS therapeutic protocols established in young adults may have unexpected detrimental effects in older individuals or in the brain compromised by AD pathology. Our review surveys clinical studies of TMS in AD alongside basic research as a guide for moving this important area of work forward toward effective treatment development.
“The most prominent and at the same time most harmful”: D. D. Bokhan in Wilno (1921–1923)
Authors: Lavrinec Pavel 
Published: December 2019

Publicist, editor of periodicals, translator of Polish poetry, literary critic Dorofey Bokhan is an outstanding member of the Russian literary life of Minsk and Wilno. His biography in the Minsk period before the turn of 1919 and 1920 is generally well-known. But the Wilno period (1921–1939) has not been studied enough. The purpose of the study is to reconstruct the activities of Bokhan in Wilno in the first years after fleeing from the Bolshevik Minsk. The material for this study are newspapers in Russian, as well as documents of the Office of Government Commissar for the City of Wilno, Starostwo of Wilno and other institutions stored in the Lithuanian Central State Archives. The documents reveal a confusion about Bokhan’s year of birth: in some documents 1872 is indicated, in others – 1878. On the other hand, the date of Bokhan’s appearance in Wilno is discovered: he was registered at a new address on January 7, 1921. On the same day an edition of “Vilenskoe slovo” was released that included Bokhan’s first publication. Bokhan published articles, reviews, translations of Polish poetry in this newspaper. He also translated a poem by a young Belarusian poetess Natalia Arsenyeva and excerpts from the poem by a classic of Lithuanian literature Maironis “Young Lithuania”, as well as a poem by a Lithuanian poet Matas Grigonis. Bokhan translated Lithuanian poetry into Russian from Polish translations. Some of his articles were signed by the initials D. B., in some cases – N. Serebryansky. Feuilletons and poetic feuilletons were signed by the pseudonym Dodo and Vova Krutikov. The publication of the newspaper “Vilenskoe slovo” ceased in August 1921. In October of the same year, the “Vilenskoe utro” newspaper began to be published. The role of Bokhan in the newspaper was so great that the authorities considered him the actual editor, not the nominal editor Anatoly Romashev. In 1921, Bokhan became one of the leaders of the Wilno Russian society and headed the Literary and artistic section of the society. The literary and artistic section held numerous literary evenings. The authorities were suspicious of the patriotic character of the evenings. Reports on Russian culture were presented as a manifestation of disloyalty to the Polish state. The authorities saw Bokhan as “the most prominent and at the same time harmful” leader of the Russian press and the Wilno Russian society. Thus, in the early years of Bokhan in Wilno, he occupied an important place in the local Russian press and began to play a key role in Russian literary life. But due to conflicts in the Wilno Russian society in 1923, he withdrew from the society’s board and withdrew from participation in the Literary and artistic section.
Intertextual analysis of Viktor Pelevin’s collection of novels Pineapple water for the Fair Lady
Authors: Сenys Tomas 
Published: December 2019

This article aims to analyze Viktor Pelevin’s collection of short stories Pineapple water for the Fair lady in the frame of intertextual theory. The analytical method used in this article is based on a typology developed by Gerard Genette. Using this typology, an analysis of transtextual connections present in the text was conducted. The analysis of paratextual connections in the texts made it possible to make an assumption that all the novels are connected by a specular structure. A closer inspection of the intertextual connection and references presented in the text established a connection with certain works of Nabokov. These references to various works of Nabokov allow to view Pelevin’s collection of short stories not as thematically disconnected narratives but as one cohesive entity.
To be, or not to be a Stelis
Authors: Karremans Adam P. 
Published: December 2019

Despite the availability of multiple sources of evidence and consistency in the support for a broadly circumscribed Stelis Sw. (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), some authors continue to be hesitant in its use. It is certain that the more typical species of Stelis, with their triangular, flattish flowers with very short fleshy petals and lip, form a monophyletic group that is easily recognized. However, it is likewise undisputed that they are not an isolated lineage in the subtribe and that several groups of species with a similar vegetative habit but that lack the typical Stelis flower are in fact very close relatives, sharing a relatively recent common ancestor. Those species groups need to be classified in a way that also reflects their own evolutionary history, and alternatives to a broadly circumscribed Stelis are possible yet neither straightforward or practical at this time. An infrageneric classification for the whole group is provided here in an attempt to clarify which species actually belong where in this highly complex affinity. Emphasis is made on the difficulty of diagnosing the less typical members of each proposed subgenus or section, and on the importance of floral convergence and divergence as a result of pollinator adaptation. As here defined, Stelis is the largest genus in the Pleurothallidinae, with 1243 species.
Key words: convergence; evolutionary history; floral morphology; generic circumscription; Pleurothallidinae; pollinator adaptation
Three Approaches to Teaching Secularism in Religious Studies
Authors: Murphy James 
Published: December 2019

Response to:

Podcast with Donovan Schaefer, 28 November 2016Interviewed by Christopher R. CotterTranscribed by Catrin J. SawfordAudio and transcript available at: https://religiousstudiesproject.com/podcast/is-secularism-a-world-religion/
Keeping the Secular Deck Intact
Authors: Coleman III Thomas J. , Messick Kyle J. 
Published: December 2019

Response to:

Podcast with Donovan Schaefer, 28 November 2016Interviewed by Christopher R. CotterTranscribed by Catrin J. SawfordAudio and transcript available at: https://religiousstudiesproject.com/podcast/is-secularism-a-world-religion/
Skolan som tanke- och praktikvärld.
Authors: Trondman Mats , Winerdal Ulrika 
Published: December 2019

Essäns syfte är närläsa antropologen Mary Douglas föreläsningsserie How Institutions Think (1986) och konstruera en teori om hur just institutioner "tänker" så att den kan inspirera till forskning om skolan som en tanke- och praktikvärld. Så vad är, menar Douglas, en institution? Vad betyder det att den "tänker"? Hur går det till? Och vad avses med sådant som "tankevärld" och "tankestil"? Vilka kan vara mer eller mindre starka och svaga, försvarbara och föränderliga? Därtill: varför bör forskning om utbildning och skola inspireras en teori om hur institutioner tänker?