bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nontuberculous mycobacteria in patients registered in a tuberculosis control program in Southwestern Colombia, 2014-2017
Authors: Delgado Luis Eduardo , Escobar Daniela Rocío , Hoyos Diana Marcela , Luna Lucy , Pacheco López Robinson , Ferro Beatriz E. 
Published: March 2020

Introduction: Pulmonary disease produced by nontuberculous mycobacteria and pulmonary tuberculosis can share clinical signs and symptoms. It is important to discern one from the other in order to provide the proper treatment and programmatic management.
Objective: To describe the frequency of nontuberculous mycobacteria isolated from patients registered in the tuberculosis control program in Cali.
Methods: We conducted a descriptive study to know what extent of the pulmonary tuberculosis load in Cali-Colombia corresponds to nontuberculous mycobacteria, in a four-year period, 2014-2017. Demographic (sex, age, health insurance), clinical (diagnosis dates, laboratory data, comorbidities) and programmatic data (tuberculosis treatment initiation and duration) was collected for statistical analysis.
Results: Of 3,651 patients registered in the local tuberculosis program with an initial diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, 2,904 had sputum culture and among them 1.5% (43/2904) had nontuberculous mycobacteria isolation rather than Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Most of the nontuberculous mycobacteria isolates were not identified at the species level; M. fortuitum and M. abscessus were the most common species identified. 86% of patients initiated unnecessary tuberculosis treatment.
Conclusion: Nontuberculous mycobacteria isolation from pulmonary samples could be frequent in patients registered in the tuberculosis program in Cali, Colombia. The lack of clinical suspicion, the limited laboratory infrastructure, and the absence of a reporting system could be contributing factors to underestimate the importance of nontuberculous mycobacteria in this setting. We recommend that nontuberculous mycobacteria identification should be considered for public health intervention.
Pulmonary Hyalinising Granuloma: A report of two cases
Authors: Kamona Ameen , Al Lawati Fatma , Kamona Atheel , Al Busaidi Nasser , Al Mahrooqi Yaqoob , Al-Tai Saqar , Al Lawati Nabil , Al-Umairi Rashid S. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACT: Pulmonary hyalinising granuloma (PHG) is a rare fibrosclerosing inflammatory lung condition of unknown aetiology. It is characterised by solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules that are usually found incidentally while imaging the chest for other reasons. We report two cases of histologically proven PHG diagnosed at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman. The first case was a 71-year-old male patient who presented in 2010 with a dry cough, weight loss and bilateral pulmonary nodules. The second case was a 58-year-old male patient who presented in 2012 and was found to have incidental bilateral pulmonary nodules on chest X-ray. Both patients were started on prednisolone and on follow-up the PHG nodules remained stable. Although there is no definitive treatment, PHG generally has an excellent prognosis.Keywords: Granuloma; X-Ray Computed Tomography; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules; Lung; Case Report; Oman.
Right Atrial Blood Cyst with Stones Suspended from the Coronary Sinus
Authors: Sabzi Feridoun , Heydari Aghigh , Asadmobini Atefeh , Heidari Mohammad B. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACT: Cardiac blood cysts are rare benign neoplasms, usually involving the cardiac valves and are remnants of the Chiari network. They are usually detected in the first six months of life and rarely occur in children or adults. We report a 76-year-old male patient who was referred to the Imam Ali Hospital affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran, in 2018 with dyspnoea. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a small patent foramen ovale (PFO) and a circumferential mobile cystic mass in the right atrium, with the impression of a tumour or thrombus. The patient underwent open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass to repair to PFO and remove the intra-atrial lesion. During surgical examination of the right atrial cavity, a blood cyst containing small stone-like structures on the coronary sinus valve of the right atrium was found. The post-operative course was uneventful and no recurrence of tumour was detected during six months of follow-up. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a right atrial blood cyst with a few nodule-like stones in an adult with PFO in Iran and the second case in an adult with PFO worldwide.Keywords: Cyst; Coronary Sinus; Adult; Operative Surgical Procedure; Case Report; Iran.
Revisiting the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder among Omani Children: A multicentre study
Authors: Al-Mamari Watfa , Idris Ahmed B. , Dakak Samar , Al-Shekaili Muna , Al-Harthi Zuwaina , Alnaamani Asia M. , Alhinai Fatma I. , Jalees Saquib , Al Hatmi Moza , El-Naggari Mohamed A. , Islam M. Mazharul 
Published: March 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to provide an updated estimate of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among Omani children. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted from December 2011 to December 2018. Data were retrieved from the three main autism diagnostic centres in Oman: Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Royal Hospital and Al-Massarah Hospital. The ASD diagnosis was made by experienced clinicians based on the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The overall population prevalence estimates per 10,000 children aged 0–14 years old in Oman were calculated using the denominator of the mid-period population data. Results: A total of 1,705 ASD cases were identified with the majority of cases being male (78.1%). The overall prevalence rate of ASD was estimated at 20.35 per 10,000 children (95% confidence interval: 19.39–21.32) between 2012–2018. Boys were found to have a 3.4-fold higher prevalence of ASD than girls (31.23/10,000 versus 9.07/10,000). Regionally, the majority of cases were found in the capital, Muscat, where the highest prevalence was 36.51 cases per 10,000 children. Conclusion: The prevalence of ASD among Omani children is 15-fold higher than estimates from 2011. This increase can be attributed to improvements in diagnostic services, increased awareness of ASD, better screening programmes and changes in diagnostic criteria. In addition, this increase in prevalence suggests a need for a registry of developmental disabilities and more extensive diagnostic and rehabilitation services in Oman.Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Epidemiology; Prevalence; Oman.
Urinary Incontinence Among Omani Women: Prevalence, risk factors and impact on quality of life
Authors: Al Kiyumi Maisa H. , Al Belushi Zaleikha I. , Jaju Sanjay , Al Mahrezi Abdulaziz M. 
Published: March 2020

Objectives: Urinary incontinence (UI) in women is a common health problem which can have a negative impact on quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors and impact of UI on the QOL of Omani women attending primary healthcare centres in Muscat, Oman. Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted at three primary healthcare centres in Muscat from April to August 2018. Women who were 20–50 years of age, not pregnant, not in the six-month postnatal period, not seriously ill and not diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse were included. A self-administered questionnaire using the International Consultation Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form was used to evaluate the frequency, severity and impact of UI on QOL. Results: A total of 1,070 women were included in this study (response rate = 92.5%). The mean age was 31.39 ± 7.64 years. UI was reported by 369 (34.5%) women, of whom 182 (49.3%) had stress UI, 97 (26.3%) had urgency UI, 88 (23.8%) had mixed UI and two (0.5%) had other UI. Age, body mass index (BMI), having been married or employed, hypertension, cough, constipation and vaginal or assisted vaginal delivery during the previous birth were significant risk factors for UI. Only 41 (11.1%) out of the 369 women with UI had ever sought medical advice despite the fact that more than two thirds of the women with UI reported negative effects on their QOL. Conclusion: UI is a common medical problem in Oman. Several risk factors, including age and BMI, were identified. Despite its negative consequences for QOL, women were found to be reluctant to seek medical attention for the condition.Keywords: Urinary Incontinence; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Quality of Life; Oman.
Species distribution and susceptibility profiles of Candida species isolated from vulvovaginal candidiasis, emergence of C. lusitaniae
Authors: Hashemi Seyed Ebrahim , Shokohi Tahereh , Abastabar Mahdi , Aslani Narges , Ghadamzadeh Mahbobeh , Haghani Iman 
Published: March 2020

Background and Purpose: The aim of the current study was to investigate the epidemiology of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent VVC (RVVC), as well as the antifungal susceptibility patterns of Candida species isolates.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 260 women suspected of VVC from February 2017 to January 2018. In order to identify Candida species isolated from the genital tracts, the isolates were subjected to polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using enzymes Msp I and sequencing. Moreover, antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines (M27-A3).Results: Out of 250 subjects, 75 (28.8%) patients were affected by VVC, out of whom 15 (20%) cases had RVVC. Among the Candida species, C. albicans was the most common species (42/95; 44.21%), followed by C. lusitaniae (18/95; 18.95%), C. parapsilosis (13/95; 13.69%), C. glabrata (8/95; 8.42%), C. kefyr (6/95; 6.31%), C. famata (5/95; 5.26%), C. africana (2/95; 2.11%), and C. orthopsilosis (1/95; 1.05%), respectively. Multiple Candida species were observed in 28% (21/75) of the patients. Nystatin showed the narrowest range of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (0.25-16 μg/ml) against all Candida strains, whereas fluconazole (0.063-64 μg/ml) demonstrated the widest MIC range. In the current study, C. lusitaniae, as the second most common causative agent of VVC, was susceptible to all antifungal agents. Furthermore, 61.1% of C. lusitaniae isolates were inhibited at a concentration of ≤ 2 μg/ml, while38.9% (n=7)of them exhibited fluconazole MICs above the epidemiologic cutoff values (ECV). Candida species showed the highest overall resistance against fluconazole (61.3%), followed by itraconazole (45.2%) and caspofungin (23.7%). All of C. albicans strains were resistant to itraconazole with a MIC value of ≥ 1 μg/ml; in addition, 87.5% of them were resistant to fluconazole. Moreover, 100% and 87.5% of C. glabrata strains were resistant to caspofungin and fluconazole, respectively.Conclusion: As the findings revealed, the majority of VVC cases were caused by non-albicans Candida species which were often more resistant to antifungal agents. Candida lusitaniae generally had fluconazole MICs above the ECV. Given the propensity of C. lusitaniae to develop resistance under drug pressure, antifungals should be administered with caution. The emergence of these species justify the epidemiological surveillance surveys to watch out the distribution of yeast species.
A rare clinical entity as large intrarenal abscess in a typeII diabetic patient due to Candida tropicalis: A case report
Authors: Chandra Abhilash , Rao Namrata , Das Anupam , Sen Manodeep 
Published: March 2020

Background and Purpose: Fungal renal abscesses are rare entities associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Affected kidneys can have microabscess, pyelonephritis, pyonephrosis, or papillary necrosis.Case report: Herein, we reported an unusual case of a large renal abscess cause by Candida tropicalis in a diabetic patient. The entity presented as a lump in the abdomen and later was diagnosed to be an abscess on computed tomography scan. Candida tropicalis was confirmed on the culture of the aspirate. The abscess was successfully treated by percutaneous drainage and administration of amphotericin B deoxycholate.Conclusion: Candida tropicalis is now a global concern because of its rising prevalence and high virulence. The growing resistance of this Candida species to azoles, as in our case, calls for a more judicious usage of antifungal agents. Empirical therapy with either amphotericin or echinocandins is an option in case of high azole resistance. This case highlights the importance of timely diagnosis and implementation of aggressive management in cases suffering from fungal abscesses.
Economic Profitability of Sweet Pepper Production under Different Irrigation Levels and Polyethylene Mulch in a Plastic Greenhouse
Authors: Abdrabbo Mohamed A. A. , Mohamed Assem A. A. , Hashem Fadl. A. , Hegab Ahmed. S. A. 
Published: March 2020

Field experiment was conducted, during two successive seasons of 2014- 2015 and 2015- 2016, at Dokki protected agricultural site, Giza Governorate, Egypt, to study the profitability of different applied irrigation levels and polyethylene (PE) mulch on plant growth and yield of sweet pepper, (Capsicum annum L.) cv. Godion F1, under plastic house condition. Three irrigation levels (0.50, 0.75 and 1.00) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), using drip irrigation system and three PE mulch treatments (transparent, black and control) were applied. Data revealed that black PE recorded the highest values of early and total fruit yield per plant during the two seasons. Increasing water level up to 1.00 (ETc) enhanced yield with different PE mulch treatments, while water use efficiency (WUE) decreased with increasing water level. However, Using 0.50 (ETc), with different PE mulches increased WUE compared to using 0.75 (ETc) or 1.00 (ETc). The economic assessment of costs and returns from different treatments were calculated. It was found that the average yield was higher in 1.00 ETc with black mulch. Gross margin per 540 m2 were analysed using yield data, price structures and production costs. The 1.00 (ETc) with black mulch had the highest gross margin which is USD 416.8 and USD 533 (1 USD= 9 Egyptian pound) for the first and second seasons, respectively. The benefit cost ratios (BCRs) per 540 m2 were analysed, and 1.00 (ETc) with black mulch had the highest BCR with 1.36 in the first season and 1.45 in the second season.
JEL Classification: Q 01, Q 12, Q 19
Impact of Terrorism on Agricultural Business in Borno State, Nigeria
Authors: Jelilov Gylych , Ayinde Ramat , Tetik Selman , Bilal Bilal , Olali Natalia 
Published: March 2020

This study examines the impact of terrorism on agribusiness in Borno state. Terrorist activities in Borno state dates back to 2009 where a group of Islamic extremists popularly known as Boko Haram (meaning western education is a sin) became violent in their activities. The group operates significantly in north-eastern Nigeria where Borno state is located and since 2009. The presence of the group has led to collapse of socio-economic activities in Borno state among other states. Millions of people have been displaced fromtheir homes and forced to live in camps in neighbouring states. As a result, this study examines the impact of insurgency related activities on agribusiness in BornoState. Agricbusiness in Borno state can be measured using four different parameters, amount of area cultivated, annual crop production, rearing of livestock and fish farming. These are the major agricultural business residents of Borno state are engaged in. However due to unavailability of data, rearing of livestock and fish farming are dropped, thus focusing on area cultivated and annual crop production. As a result of these two variables, two models are developed. The first model measures the relationship between amounts of crop produced with insurgency related killings, while the second model measuresthe relationship between total areasof farmland cultivated with fatalities resulting from terrorist activity. This study employs Ordinary Least Squares methodology and finds that both relationshipsreveal negative results thus indicating statistically significant negative impact of terrorism on agribusiness in Borno State.
JEL Classification: Q10, Q18, Q12
Effect of Training on Small-Scale Rice Production in Northern Ghana
Authors: Anang Benjamin Tetteh , Awuni Joseph A. 
Published: March 2020

Training in modern farming methods enables farm households in developing countries to improve agricultural productivity. Notwithstanding the efforts of governmental and non-governmental organisations to provide farmers with agricultural training, productivity remains low. The existing literature provides little empirical evidence of the effect of training on agricultural productivity in Ghana. This study therefore seeks to bridge this gap by investigating small scale rice farmers’ participation in agricultural training programmes and its effect on productivity in northern Ghana. A treatment effect model was used to account for sample selection bias. The results indicated that participation in training increased with the number of extension visits, group membership, access to credit and the degree of specialisation in rice production. Furthermore, total output and labour productivity both increased with participation in training but the relationship with land productivity (yield) was insignificant. On average, participation in training was associated with 797kg increase in rice output, while labour productivity increased by 7.3kg/man-day. With the exception of farm capital, all the production inputs had a positively significant relationship with output suggesting sub-optimal use of capital in production. The study concludes that farmers’ training needs are not adequately being met while inadequate capital is constraining farm output. Increasing access to extension service and involving farmer-based organisations in the design and implementation of training programmes will enhance participation and farm performance.
JEL Classification: C21, D24, Q12
Tourism Development Challenges of an Island Destination in a Aging Society, Case Study of Ojika Island of Japan
Authors: Perlaky Denes 
Published: March 2020

Japan’s inbound tourism numbers have been steadily rising in the past decade due to active promotion, easing of visa regulations, rapidly developing Asian economies and the depreciation of the Japanese Yen. The government’s goal is welcoming 40 million foreigners yearly by 2020, and leading them to rural destinations. There is a concern whether rural destinations in Japan are prepared for this sudden surge of tourists. The plans to bring masses to rural destinations implies a steady supply of tourism service, but the ageing and shrinking population of Japan together with the migration towards cities, leave some destinations without a key resource: workforce. This paper tries to understand the current situation of such rural, isolated communities, and whether they have the capacity to develop and expand the tourism industry. The case study was carried out on Ojika, an island destination in Nagasaki Prefecture. Several visits to the destination, participant observation and structured as well as unstructured interviews with stakeholders provide the primary data for the research. Through interviews with town officials, businesses and residents, different approaches to the demographic problems are introduced. The results show that the tourism development strategies cannot concentrate only on the strictly tourism industry elements of the destination but have to look at the community and infrastructure too, in this case, the labor market. The demographic change in society can put a limitation on development, thus counter measurements have to be considered and included in the tourism strategy. Further research is needed on less remote destinations, where there is a land-connection with another settlement, and whether a “commute based workforce” can ease the problem or by raising the costs of labour, a different, feasibility problem arises in the accommodations.
JEL Classification: Z32
Clasters and Correlations among the Eu Member States Regarding Agri-Food Foreign Trade
Authors: Gombkötő Nóra 
Published: March 2020

The European Union has a significant role in international trade but this is largely in the area of industrial goods. However, in the case of some agricultural commodities the EU applies tariffs, bans, or different restrictive measures; it manages foreign trade in agricultural goods with many countries all over the world. On the other hand the member states do not contribute to the total trade of the EU to the same extent. In this study, a comparative analysis was performed in relation to the member states by means of data of Eurostat and Faostat. First, a multivariable correlation analysis was carried out in order to find the interrelation between the trade features of each country. In the second part of the study, a cluster analysis was carried out with almost the same component as in the foregoing, also in terms of the EU member states. It can be ascertained that the date of EU accession of a Member State as well as getting EU agricultural subsidies do not affect the agricultural foreign trade of the member states. Countries with significant agricultural production also export food commodities in larger quantities. Countries that have significant exports extra-EU also have larger imports in the case of both basic commodities and prepared food as well. As a result of the cluster analysis, it can be stated that the member states can be divided into specific groups according to the three examined aspects (food trade features, exports of commodities, imports of commodities). The following typical country groups can be divided as follows: non-trade countries, countries with larger trade extra-EU, agri-food exporter and importer countries, non-agri-food exporter and importer countries, primary commodity exporters and importers, and last but not least processed food exporters and importers as well.
JEL Classification: F10
Analysis of Bathing Habits among Spa Visitors
Authors: Lövei-Kalmár Katalin , Jeles Tímea , Ráthonyi Gergely 
Published: March 2020

The valorisation of healthy lifestyle has indicated the dynamic increase of healthcare sector. The consumer behaviour has been forming deterministically in health tourism. Visitors of spa towns can select various combinations of services either to sustain their health, to rest, to relax or to recover. It has a great importance for spas offering complex health tourism services to know the demands of guests and to reach the target groups with special, personalized service packages. After considering the statistical indicators of tourists visiting the spas of Northern Great Plain Region and the competitors of a selected spa, this paper aims to investigate the coherence among bathing habits, influencing factors of service demands, age and non-motivating coherences. The survey was taken place in a selected spa in Hajdú-Bihar County in August 2018 with random sampling questionnaire involving 256 visitors. During data analysis the coherence among indicators was examined with variant analysis (Levene’s test), in case of significant result with Welch’s t-test. Variances in age groups were analysed with Tamhane’s and LSD tests (post hoc analyses). We concluded that the primary information source of spas is still the suggestion of friends, acquaintances independently of the age of the respondent. Knowing this is relevant for further marketing communication. The most important features among the respondents are the condition of the spa and cleanness which are the basics of quality services. Motivations with coherence to age are social life and gaining experience, recovery and disease prevention. Visitors have the largest interest for family and kid programs. Recognition of bathing habits helps in marketing communication, reaching target markets effectively, pricing and service developments as well.
JEL Classification: Z32