bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance characteristics of three commercial and one in-house nucleic acid amplification tests for malaria screening
Authors: Altangerel Enkhtsetseg , Frickmann Hagen 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Background
A meta-analysis of previously performed evaluation studies of nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) approaches for the screening for and differentiation of Plasmodium spp. using identical samples was performed to comparatively assess their suitability for the routine diagnostic setting.

Methods
Three commercial NATs for malaria (one loop-mediated isothermal amplification [LAMP] assay, two real-time polymerase chain reactions [PCRs]) and one in-house real-time PCR were comparatively assessed with a collection of 1020 well-characterized ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) blood samples from patients with suspected or confirmed malaria.

Results
Altogether 765 (75%) concordantly negative and 223 (21.9%) concordantly positive results of the four molecular tests were obtained, while discordant results were seen in 32 (3.1%) instances. For genus-specific assays, the observed sensitivity and specificity ranges were 96.4%–98.4% and 99.6%–99.9%, and for species-specific assays, 94.0%–97.6% and 99.6%–100%, respectively. Falsely negative molecular test results comprised microscopically negative samples, samples at the microscopic detection threshold and quantitatively less abundant species in mixed infections.

Conclusions
Excellent test characteristics of all assessed assays with only minor differences encourage molecular malaria screening with genus- and species-specific NAT with discrepancies only within the borderline range of their detection thresholds.
Tunneling-induced broadband and tunable optical emission from plasmonic nanorod metamaterials
Authors: Krasavin Alexey V. , Wang Pan , Nasir Mazhar E. , Jiang Yunlu , Zayats Anatoly V. 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
We demonstrate a metamaterial platform for electrically driven broadband light emission induced by electron tunneling. Both the Fabry-Perot and waveguided modes of the metamaterial slab as well the plasmonic mode of the tunneling gap are identified as contributing to shaping the emission spectrum. This opens up an opportunity to design the spectrum and polarization of the emitted light by tuning the metamaterial modes via the geometric parameters of the nanostructure throughout the visible and near-infrared spectral ranges. The efficient coupling of the tunneling-induced emission to the waveguided modes is beneficial for the development of integrated incoherent light sources, while the outcoupled emission provides a source of free-space radiation. The demonstrated incoherent nanoscale light sources may find applications in the development of integrated opto-electronic circuits, optical sensing platforms, imaging, and metrology.
Elevated TRPV4 Levels Contribute to Endothelial Damage and Scarring in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Kumar Hemant , Lim Chang Su , Choi Hyemin , Joshi Hari Prasad , Kim Kyoung-Tae , Kim Yong Ho , Park Chul-Kyu , Kim Hwan Myung , Han In-Bo 
Published: January 2020

Currently, the role of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4), a nonselective cation channel in the pathology of spinal cord injury (SCI), is not recognized. Herein, we report the expression and contribution of TRPV4 in the pathology of scarring and endothelial and secondary damage after SCI. TRPV4 expression increased during the inflammatory phase in female rats after SCI and was expressed primarily by cells at endothelial-microglial junctions. Two-photon microscopy of intracellular-free Ca2+levels revealed a biphasic increase at similar time points after SCI. Expression of TRPV4 at the injury epicenter, but not intracellular-free Ca2+, progressively increases with the severity of the injury. Activation of TRPV4 with specific agonist altered the organization of endothelial cells, affected tight junctions in the hCMEC/D3 BBB cell linein vitro, and increases the scarring in rat spinal cord as well as induced endothelial damage. By contrast, suppression of TRPV4 with a specific antagonist or in femaleTrpv4KO mouse attenuated inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, prevented the degradation of tight junction proteins, and preserve blood–spinal cord barrier integrity, thereby attenuate the scarring after SCI. Likewise, secondary damage was reduced, and behavioral outcomes were improved inTrpv4KO mice after SCI. These results suggest that increased TRPV4 expression disrupts endothelial cell organization during the early inflammatory phase of SCI, resulting in tissue damage, vascular destabilization, blood–spinal cord barrier breakdown, and scarring. Thus, TRPV4 inhibition/knockdown represents a promising therapeutic strategy to stabilize/protect endothelial cells, attenuate nociception and secondary damage, and reduce scarring after SCI.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTTRPV4, a calcium-permeable nonselective cation channel, is widely expressed in both excitable and nonexcitable cells. Spinal cord injury (SCI) majorly caused by trauma/accidents is associated with changes in osmolarity, mechanical injury, and shear stress. After SCI, TRPV4 was increased and were found to be linked with the severity of injury at the epicenter at the time points that were reported to be critical for repair/treatment. Activation of TRPV4 was damaging to endothelial cells that form the blood–spinal cord barrier and thus contributes to scarring (glial and fibrotic). Importantly, inhibition/knockdown of TRPV4 prevented these effects. Thus, the manipulation of TRPV4 signaling might lead to new therapeutic strategies or combinatorial therapies to protect endothelial cells and enhance repair after SCI.
A comparison of hepatitis E and A in a teaching hospital in Northwestern Romania. Acute hepatitis E – a mild disease?
Authors: Istrate Alexandru , Rădulescu Amanda Lelia 
Published: January 2020

Background and aims. The incidence of locally acquired hepatitis E has increased in recent years across Europe. There are only few data on hepatitis E in Romania. The purpose of our research was to describe and compare hepatitis E and hepatitis A in adult patients.
Methods. We included all consecutive adult patients with hepatitis E and hepatitis A admitted to the Teaching Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Cluj-Napoca, Romania between January 2017 and August 2019.
Results. Hepatitis E incidence increased in 2018-2019 compared to 2017. The average age in hepatitis E (n=48) patients was 50.6 versus 39.1 years in hepatitis A (n=152, not including 262 minors) and two-thirds of the patients in both groups were men. Compared to hepatitis A, patients with hepatitis E presented significantly less modified AST and ALT, bilirubin, prothrombin index and INR levels. We found more comorbidities in hepatitis E patients adjusted for age and gender. Severe forms were found in 5 (3.3%) hepatitis A patients, compared to 12 (25%) of hepatitis E patients, of which 3 died. Ribavirin treatment was considered in 9 patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis E, immunosuppression, cancers or neurological manifestations, showing good results.
Conclusions. We observed an increased number of hepatitis E cases. Although laboratory results were less modified compared to hepatitis A, we found a higher number of severe hepatitis E cases. Ribavirin treatment seems to be beneficial in patients with preexisting conditions.
INFORMAL LABOR RELATIONS WITHIN THE INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES OF THE LATE RUSSIAN EMPIRE
Authors: Kulikov Volodymyr 
Published: January 2020

The article presents a study of informal labour relations within the industrial enterprises of the Russian Empire based on materials from the Dnieper-Donets region during the period 1870–1917. The analysis is based on narrative writings created by the entrepreneurs and workers as primary sources, supplemented by analytical data collected by the zemstvo and state commissions.
The article demonstrates that informal labour relations took various forms such as informal employment, manipulation with the workers’ wages, requiring and performing activates which were not listed in the employment contract, and corruption. The combination of mutual benefits and risks for the main stakeholders determined the system of informal labour relations. The omnipresence of these informal practices was due to the ignorance of both the employees and the employers concerning the relevant legislation. Inefficient state control over labour law also contributed to the expansion of informal institutions.
During the last quarter of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, formal practices dislodged some informal variations. It happened due to the modernization of the work ethic on both the workers’ and the industrialists’ side, the strengthening of the regulatory and controlling role of the state, and, most importantly, the organizational changes within the industrial enterprises. The rise of large modern industrial enterprises with a hierarchy of salaried managers demanded a system of new, more formal labour relations between the employers and employees. However, the formalization of labour relations in the industrial enterprises in Russia was not a linear process. Some informal practices proved to be very viable and have survived to-date.
Assessment of Corrosion of Mild Steel Buried In Soils of the Niger Delta, Nigeria
Authors: ONWUGBUTA G.C. , JOHN G.N. 
Published: January 2020

This study determines the corrosion rate and percent weight loss of mild steel buried in soils of the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria. Six geologic zones representing the upland and wetland soils were used for the assessment. The corrosion rates of mild steel in these soils were monitored to assess the extent of corrosion. However, the upland soils (Odagwa, Ogoni, Ahoada and Omoku) were more resistant to corrosion than the wetland (Kaiama and Elebele) soils. The corrosion rate of mild steel at the 24th month was in the following order of corrosivity: Elebele > Kaiama > Omoku > Ahoada > Ogoni > Odagwa. The percent weight loss was higher at the 24th month, with the highest values found at the Meander Belt Deposits of Elebele. Alternately, the Coastal Plain Sands were found to have the least percent weight loss with the lowest value recorded at Odagwa site at the 24th month. The percent weight loss at the 24th month is in the following order: Elebele > Omoku > Kaiama > Ahoada > Ogoni > Odagwa. The variation in corrosion rate and weight loss of mild steel buried in the different soil types is caused by the aquic moisture regime of the soils, anthropogenic activities carried out, microorganisms present in the soils, and also, the physico-chemical properties of the soils.
Assessment of sorting out in the casualty -emergency and accidents department Omdurman teaching hospital (OTH-EA)
Authors: MANSOUR MUSA Basheer , Ahmedana Sara Elsheikh 
Published: January 2020

Sorting out of sick people in casualty means rating/grouping at triage area rely on their illness and degree of trauma mild, moderate, severe or very severe for handling, therapy, and probability of survival. The objective of this study was to assess, the effectiveness of the system in the casualty concerning rating/grouping of sick people attending triage region.
Methods: It was descriptive-analytical study in EA department OTH May 2008 includes 700 participants by simple random sampling. All cases attend the EA department OTH seeking health care and agreed to be included in this study. All cases attending the EA department in OTH and referred to a specialized hospital or canter should be excluded. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaires, interviews with medical personnel and participants, review of primary registration and files of short stay in the E A department OTH at arrival time and checklist form of medical devices or gear.
Results: In this study 700 patients were seen most cases were cold (mild, not urgent) (396pts) 56.6 %, the hot about 43.4% both are classified into groups or categories according to their degree of illness or injury as follows: severely ill or injured (emergent)(120pts) 17.1%, moderately (urgent)(184 pts) 26.3% . The correctly categorized cases were (599) 85.6% and miss categorized cases were (101) 14.4%, although the sisters did not perform or elicit clinical examination and did not start the first aid or primary survey in addition to there is no medical equipment and surgical instruments.
Conclusion: Sorting of sick people into categories depending upon the degree of sickness or injury in EA department OTH was done only by sisters despite the unavailability of basic elements and equipment, the correctly categorized cases were (599) 85.6% and miss categorized cases were (101) 14.4%.
The cold cases better to be treated in the health centers to overcome the accumulation in the casualty for best medical services particularly for emergent and urgent cases.
Prevalence and Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria among Female Students and Staff of College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University.
Authors: Saber Taisir , Hawsawi Nahed M. , Alharthi Aisha hassen , Algethami Mashael hamad , Alnefaie Reem Abdullah , Asiri Aisha abdul Rahman , Saber Tamer 
Published: January 2020

Background: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is a common condition where bacteria are present in a significant count in urine without symptoms. Pathogen persistence for a long period of time can cause urinary tract infection (UTI) that may lead to a serious complication. This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of ASB among female student and staff in College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif university.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study where a clean-catch midstream urine specimens were collected from 50 participant; 29 staff (group A) and 21 students (group B). The urine specimens were cultured quantitatively onto CLED agar plates and incubated at 35-37 ºC for 24- 48 hours. Bacterial growth equal to or more than 105 CFU/ml was considered significant. Bacteria that grew in significant count were identified by Gram stain, catalase test, coagulase test and novobiocin sensitivity.
Results: Out of the 50 urine specimens screened for ASB, two specimens (4 %) showed significant bacterial growth; where one specimen (3.4 %) in group A and one specimen (4.8 %) in group B showed significant bacterial growth. The rest of urine specimens showed either no or non-significant bacterial growth. Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the isolated organisms.
Conclusion: Low prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was noted in this study. This may be due to the relatively small number of the students and staff investigated. Another likely explanation is that our target group has high educational status as socioeconomic marker.
Las letanías del carnaval de Barranquilla
Authors: Mendez Pilar , Soto-Molina Jairo 
Published: January 2020

En este artículo se hace un estudio de las letanías del Carnaval de Barranquilla, como formas de representar la realidad social del medio local, regional, nacional e internacional, destacando su poder popular y protagonismo durante los cuatro días de festividades, mientras se van mostrando los aspectos relevantes que caracterizan la cultura costeña. La producción de letanías es presentada como una semiosis en las cual existen interrelaciones con otros espacios semióticos vinculantes. Se tratan de probar dos tesis en el contenido de este artículo, que sin lugar a dudas aclara que “lo social” es más que el escenario o contexto de la elaboración y expresión del pensamiento de los hacedores de letanías, sino que también constituye su condición y aporta su lógica al discurso carnavalesco de burlas, sátiras, irónicas, mofas y picaresca, con que son abordados los grandes temas de la actualidad.
Relación del uso del teléfono celular y los niveles de atención en el proceso de enseñanza – aprendizaje
Authors: Vásconez Villavicencio Amparo Marina 
Published: January 2020

El acceso a la telefonía móvil en Ecuador aumenta y la asistencia de estos dispositivos en niños y jóvenes está presente en sus actividades educativas; fundamento para analizar la relación del uso del teléfono celular con los niveles de atención en el proceso de enseñanza – aprendizaje en la Unidad Educativa Francisco Flor, Tungurahua, Ambato, mediante un diseño no experimental, transeccional, de campo. Se aplicó un cuestionario tipo encuesta a 431 estudiantes de bachillerato y la discusión de resultados permiten deducir que el uso del teléfono móvil con relación a los niveles de atención tiene una incidencia poco significativa, por lo que no interfiere en forma negativa, ni como elemento distractor del acto didáctico.
Palabras clave: teléfono celular, enseñanza, aprendizaje, atención.
Removal of Pb2+ ions from aqueous medium by using chitosan-diatomite composite: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies
Authors: ŞENOL Zeynep Mine , ŞİMŞEK Selçuk 
Published: January 2020

Abstract: In
this study, a novel, low-cost, natural, and highly effective
adsorbent, chitosan (Ch) -diatomite (D) composite was synthesized.
Ch-D composite
was tested as
an effective and alternative adsorbent for the removal of Pb2+
ions. The Ch-D composite
was characterized by FT-IR, SEM-EDX and PZC analyses. The
adsorption process
of Pb2+
ions onto Ch-D as initial lead concentration, solution
pH, temperature,
contact time and
recovery was
investigated. From
the adsorption process results, it has been observed that the highest
removal efficiency is approximately 95% at a contact time of 4-hour,
initial Pb2+
concentration
of 500 mg L-1
and agitation speed of 150 rpm at natural pH 4.0.
The maximum Pb2+
adsorption
capacity from the Langmuir model was found
as 0.154
mol kg-1
at 25 oC.
Besides,
adsorption kinetics was also explained with pseudo-first-order
models. Adsorption
thermodynamics have shown that Pb2+
adsorption onto Ch-D is possible, spontaneous and exothermic. Ch-D
composite can become an alternative adsorbent for the treatment of
lead ions in the wastewater.
Antibiotic Susceptibility Of Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains Isolated From Clinical Samples
Authors: ÖZGEN Ahmet Ozan , EYÜPOĞLU Ozan Emre 
Published: January 2020

Antibiotic
resistance in bacteria has become a worrying phenomenon in today's world. K. pneumoniae is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family, which causes
nosocomial infections as an opportunistic pathogen but inherently harboured as
a part of natural human microbiota. Carbapenem resistance of K. pneumoniae was a rare occurrence up
to ten years ago, but in recent years many types of carbapenemase producing K. pneumoniae have become common. The
aim of this retrospective study; analyzing susceptibility to various
antibiotics, commonly used in treatment, against K. pneumoniae strains isolated from various infection sites.
Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed by using the VITEK 2 Compact ®
automated system. In this study, 502 K.
pneumoniae strains isolated from
patients that treated at various services of a university hospital with 515 bed
capacity were examined. When compared to the data available with studies of
recent years in Turkey, especially in intensive care and inpatient services,
resistance of K. pneumoniae strains
to antibiotics, against most carbapenems, are rapidly increasing in the degree
of high concern. Therefore, in all hospitals, antibiotic management policies
should be implemented with a multidisciplinary approach.
Reaktualisasi Kepramukaan sebagai Sarana Pembentukan Moral Peserta Didik
Authors: Ajhuri Kayyis Fithri 
Published: January 2020

Adanya inovasi-inovasi baru dalam pendidikan, sebenarnya bertujuan untuk memberikan output yang semakin baik bagi. Salah satu output yang dimaksud adalah moral. Faktanya, hal ini belum sepenuhnya tercapai. Salah satu hal yang mampu mendorong pencapaian output pendidikan yang baik adalah ekstrakurikuler kepramukaan. Kajian ini memfokuskan terhadap ekstrakurikuler kepramukaan dengan dua alasan, yaitu adanya Undang-undang nomor 12 tahun 2010 tentang Gerakan Pramuka; dan Pramuka dinilai mampu mengajarkan banyak nilai, mulai dari kepemimpinan, kebersamaan, sosial, kecintaan alam, hingga kemandirian. Begitu banyak hal yang mampu diambil manfaatnya dari ekstrakurikuler tersebut. Dengan demikian kajian ini mengulas tentang pengaruh latihan kepramukaan terhadap perkembangan moral peserta didik. Tidak hanya pengaruhnya terhadap output pendidikan, namun tahap perkembangan peserta didik juga tidak luput dari ulasan yang berkaitan dengan ekstrakurikuler ini. Pada akhirnya, latihan kepramukaan memiliki kecenderungan mampu mengembangkan moral peserta didik yang diketahui berdasarkan permainan yang terdapat di dalamnya. Dengan sebuah permainan yang memiliki aturan yang tegas, maka pesertanya pun akan mematuhinya. Permainan yang dimaksud tentunya yang mampu meningkatkan moral. Moral yang dimaksud berupa kesantunan peserta didik dalam bersikap dan bertingkah laku.
Desain Materi Ajar Bahasa Arab Berbasis Komputer untuk Meningkatkan Ketrampilan Membaca
Authors: Munjiyat Munjiyat 
Published: January 2020

Sebagai bahasa asing, pembelajaran bahasa Arab di Indonesia seakan tidak pernah surut dari problematika klasik, mulai dari unsur linguistik sampai non linguistik. Al-mahÄrÄt al-arbaâ€™ yang menjadi fokus pembelajaran bahasa, menjadi tolak ukur keberhasilan sebuah pembelajaran bahasa. Masing-masih mahÄrah (skill) tersebut mempunyai tantangan yang berbeda-beda. Salah satu mahÄrah yang sulit dikuasai adalah maharoh al-QirÄâ€™ah (reading skills), selain faktor huruf yang berbeda, gramatikal, morfologi, dan kosakata, tidak adanya harokat pada teks juga menjadi tantangan utama bagi para pendidik dan pembelajar bahasa Arab. Maka peneliti tertarik untuk membuat format baru, dengan mendesain materi yang sudah ada (buku) menjadi materi yang berbasis komputer (CD Pembelajaran), dengan harapan pembelajaran semakin menarik dan tujuan pembelajaran bisa tercapai. Penelitian tersebut dilaksanakan di SMP Islam yang notabene siswanya tidak pernah belajar bahasa Arab, tetapi ketrampilan IT-nya sudah baik. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian kuantitatif deskriptif, sedangkan instrumen pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah 1. Tes, 2. Interview, dan 3. Angket. Dari penelitian tersebut dapt disimpulkan bahwa desain materi ajar berbasis komputer berdampak signifikan terhadap perkembangan kemampuan membaca siswa, hal tersebut ditunjukkan dengan perubahan rata-rata nilai pretest yang mencapai 57,87 meningkat menjadi 77,40 pada rata-rata nilai posttestnya. Hasil tersebut diperkuat dengan t test yang dilakukan peneliti serta hasil analisa angket dan interview