bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PROPHYLACTIC EFFECT OF A PROBIOTIC INTERVENTION IN CHILDREN PRONE TO ACUTE UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Authors: Marushko Y.V. , Hyshchak T.V. , Todyka Y.I. 
Published: October 2021

Relevance. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common in children and often progress with secondary complications such as otitis media, bronchitis, or pneumonia, especially in children with recurrent URTIs. Probiotics displayed immunomodulatory effects in children and adults, supporting immune functions to prevent winter diseases or common colds.
Objectives. We assessed the effectiveness of a 6-week prophylaxis with probiotics (Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell®-52, Bifidobacterium infantis Rosell®-33 and Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell®-71) for preventing primary infections and/or secondary complications in URTI-prone children.
Methods. URTI-prone children were randomly divided into the probiotics (3×109 CFU/day; 6 weeks) or control arm (no preventive intervention). The number of URTIs, duration and related complications were monitored for 6 months. Resistance index, number of medical visits, and antibiotics prescriptions were also recorded.
Results. After 2 months, probiotics reduced the number of URTIs (-2.34±0.13 vs -0.24±0.14; P<0.0001) and duration in (-1.13 ±0.18 vs -0.18±0.18 days; P=0.0011), and the number of secondary complications (-53% vs -5.8%; RR 0.5313 95% CI [0.3534, 0.7986] P= 0.0058). Probiotic lowered resistance index (P<0.0001), number of medical consultations with specialized physicians (P=0.0033) and antibiotics prescriptions (P<0.0001).
Conclusions. Overall, a 6-week prophylaxis with combined probiotic (Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell®-52, Bifidobacterium infantis Rosell®-33 and Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell®-71) in URTI-prone children exerted a significant and clinically important health benefit, decreasing the number and duration of URTI episodes and secondary complications and reducing the resistance index to a near-normal value. Furthermore, potential societal benefits of reducing health care use and inadequate antibiotic prescriptions in children favours the use of this probiotic product as a preventive strategy against URTIs and their consequences in frequently sick children.
This trial was retrospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04525040).
Effects of brachytherapy on cytogenetic parameters and oxidative status in peripheral blood lymphocytes of gynecologic cancer patients
Authors: Ivankova V.S. , Domina E.A. , Khrulenko T.V. , Makovetska L.I. , Hrinchenko O.O. , Baranovska L.M. 
Published: October 2021

Summary. Background: The state-of-the-art brachytherapy technologies with high-dose sources of 60Co and 192Ir within contemporary treatment protocols for cancer patients allow achieving maximum dose distribution in the clinical target and with minimum radiation exposure of surrounding organs and tissues. For minimization and overcoming the early and late radiation complications, development of respective radiobiological criteria along with perfecting of physical and technical characteristics of the ionizing radiation sources are required. Aim: To study the effect of 192Ir radiation on the chromosomal aberrations and prooxidant/antioxidant status of blood lymphocytes in gynecological cancer patients. Materials and Methods: The patients (n = 45) with endometrial, cervical and secondary cancer of vagina were enrolled in the study. For brachytherapy, the irradiation of vaginal mucosa was conducted using “GammaMed plus” device for contact radiation therapy with 192Ir source. Prior to irradiation and in 20–24 h after brachytherapy session, the venous blood samples were obtained and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were cultured for cytogenetic analysis. The prooxidant/antioxidant status was determined in hemolysates by the method of hydrogen peroxide-induced chemiluminescence. Results: The average level of spontaneous chromosome aberrations in PBL of the patients was (7.8 ± 0.4) per 100 metaphases, which is more than twice higher than the upper limit of the average population values. The frequency of chromosome aberrations in PBL of patients after brachytherapy session was (15.3 ± 1.0) per 100 metaphases. An increased intensity of O2- generation by PBL after brachytherapy session was also noticed. Conclusion: Local irradiation at a dose of 6 Gy featuring the first dose fraction of brachytherapy induces extra chromosomal aberrations in PBL of gynecological cancer patients and intensifies prooxidant processes in the blood.
Evaluation of serum levels of selected cytokine receptors in adult B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia and their association with prognostic factors and survival
Authors: Horacek J.M. , Kupsa T. , Vanek J. , Jakl M. , Stajer M. , Jebavy L. , Zak P. 
Published: October 2021

Summary. Aim: To evaluate serum levels of selected cytokine receptors in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and their association with acknowledged prognostic factors, relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Materials and Methods: A total of 42 de novo adult B-ALL patients, 19 BCR/ABL positive, were included in this study. Soluble receptor α for IL-2 (sIL-2Rα), soluble receptor for IL-6 (sIL-6R), soluble receptor for TNF-α type I and II (sTNFR-1, sTNFR-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were measured by biochip array technology at diagnosis and in complete remission (CR). Results: At diagnosis of B-ALL, we found significantly higher levels of sIL-2Rα, sIL-6R, sTNFR-1, sTNFR-2 and significantly lower levels MMP-9 in comparison with CR (p < 0.001 in all cases). BCR/ABL positive patients had higher levels of sIL-2Rα at diagnosis (r = 0.484; p = 0.014). Serum levels of evaluated cytokines were not associated with achievement of CR after one cycle of induction therapy, RFS or OS. Conclusion: Serum levels of all evaluated cytokines are significantly altered in newly diagnosed B-ALL reflecting activity of the disease. No significant correlations with response to first induction therapy, RFS or OS were found. Further studies with a longer follow-up will be needed.
Experimental substantiation of the use of hydroxyapatite — tricalcium phosphate bioceramics for replacing bone defects after tumor removal
Authors: Konovalenko V.F. , Ternovyi N.K. , Tuz E.V. , Protsenko V.V. , Solonitsyn E.O. , Audai A. , Drobotun O.V. , Ulianchych N.V. 
Published: October 2021

Summary. Background: Recently, bioactive ceramics based on hydroxyapatite (HAP) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) have been preferred as implants in bone engineering. Aim: To study bone regeneration under conditions of filling metaphyseal defects with the original HAP-TCP composition. Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out on inbred rats, the observation period was 2, 4, 8 weeks. Morphological studies were carried out using light and electron microscopy. Results: In the dynamics of observation at 2, 4 and 8 weeks, a gradual arrangement of osteoclasts and osteoblasts on the surface of HAP-TCP was recorded, which indicates its high biocompatibility with bone tissue. During the experiment, the processes of resorption of implants, mineralization, proliferation of cellular elements of collagen and osteogenesis (osteoblasts and osteoclasts) and the formation of mature bone tissue were recorded. Conclusions. Experimental studies of plastic bone defects proved the presence of the osteoinductive and osteointegrative effect of HAP-TCP composition, which contributes to a more dynamic uncomplicated course of reparative osteogenesis.
Edukasi Perilaku Hidup Bersih dan Sehat (PHBS) Pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19 di Pondok Pesantren
Authors: Nuryanti Siska , Nurung Ayyub Harly , Herwin Herwin , Rusli Rusli , Zulkarnaen Iskandar , Hamsinah Hamsinah 
Published: October 2021

Pesantren adalah salah satu tempat yang beresiko terhadap penularan kasus Covid-19 mengingat jumlah santri yang sangat banyak di satu lokasi. Salah satu upaya yang dapat dilakukan untuk pencegahan penyebaran virus Covid-19 adalah menerapkan perilaku hidup bersih dan sehat (PHBS). Tujuan dari kegiatan ini adalah untuk mendidik para santri untuk menerapkan pola hidup bersih dan sehat dalam pencegahan Virus Covid-19. Kegiatan ini dilaksanakan di Pesantren Darul Istiqamah. Pengabdian masyarakat ini dilakukan melalui serangkaian kegiatan, diantaranya diskusi dengan para pengajar, edukasi santri terkait pola hidup bersih dan sehat (PHBS), serta pemberian bantuan sarana kebersihan seperti sabun cuci tangan, handsanitizer, dan masker. Akhirnya, kegiatan ini dinilai mampu meningkatkan pengetahuan para santri dalam pencegahan virus Covid -19 dengan menerapkan prilaku hidup bersih dan sehat (PHBS).

Kata Kunci : PHBS, Covid-19, Pondok Pesanten
Consumers’ Buying Behavior Towards Online Shopping During The Covid-19 Pandemic: An Empirical Study In Malaysia
Authors: Mohamad Shariff Nurul Sima , Nur Hayani Izzati Abd Hamid  
Published: October 2021

The world has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak recently, affecting the economy worldwide. Due to the booming of online activities, especially online shopping, this study is interested in finding the relationship between factors affecting consumers’ buying behavior on online shopping in Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The least studies related to this issue is needed in Malaysia to further understand the behavior of the consumers on online shopping. Based on available literatures, the factors of interest were trust, convenience, price, product variety and promotion on consumers’ buying behavior in Malaysia. The study employed survey procedures to collect the data, whereby online questionnaires were disseminated and recorded from a total of 335 respondents. The data was then analysed using several statistical analyses, namely pilot test, descriptive statistics and an ordered probit model. The result from an ordered probit model indicated that convenience, product variety, trust and promotion affected the Malaysian consumers’ buying behavior during the pandemic. Only price showed an insignificant impact on online shopping. This gave the sellers insight into understanding the consumers’ buying behavior on the online platform by planning marketing strategies to fascinate more customers.
Forecasting Nestle Stock Price by using Brownian Motion Model during Pandemic Covid-19
Authors: Hamzah Siti Raihana , Halul Hazirah , Jeng Assan , Umul Ain’syah Sha’ari  
Published: October 2021

In the modern financial market, investors have to make quick and efficient investment decisions. The problem arises when the investor does not know the right tools to use in investment decision making. Different tools can be implemented in trading strategies to predict future stock prices. Therefore, the primary objective of this paper is to analyse the performance of the Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM) model in forecasting Nestle stock price by assessing the performance evaluation indicators. To analyse the stocks, two software were used, namely Microsoft Excel and Python. The model is trained for 16 weeks (4 months) of data from May to August 2019 and 2020. The simulated sample is for four weeks (1 month) which is for September 2019 and 2020. The findings show that during the Pandemic Covid-19, short-term prediction using GBM is more efficient than long-term prediction as the lowest Mean Square Error (MSE) value is at one week period. In addition, the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) for all GBM simulations is highly accurate as it shows that MAPE values are less than 10%, indicating that the GBM method can be used to predict Nestle stock price during an economic downturn.
The Influence of Education Level on Urban Travel Decision-making
Authors: Dingil Ali Enes , Esztergár-Kiss Domokos 
Published: October 2021

Personal choices can be changed by educating citizens. Education and learning are decisive factors in shaping the society and its spatial forms, where higher education level is an important proxy to assess the awareness level of people about current issues, such as sustainable transportation. Linking education and travel behaviour can inspire future urban policies to provide modal shift towards sustainable modes. The paper aimed to evaluate the influence of education level on mode choices for 45 cities from 29 countries. In general, education level was controlled by population density and GDP per capita, which are the parameters significantly influencing travel behavior. The main result has demonstrated that an increase in the higher education level is connected with dropping the modal share of driving in cities more than any change in other studied factors, while an increase in population density reduces driving more than an increase in GDP per capita. The results have been assessed and it was showed that higher education level considerably affects travel mode choice in cities. Thus, educating citizens is an important path to reduce car dependency.
Cursing the Curse:Nietzsche on the Machiavellianism of Pity: Reading The Antichrist 2-7 in Light of Ecce Homo
Authors: Steinbuch Thomas 
Published: October 2021

The specific focus of this paper is exegesis of the critique of pity in AC 2-7 by means of the autobiographical account in Ecce Homo of the destructive intrusion of pity on him in Wise/4. There he lists three cases of pity's intrusions: into his great destiny, into his solitude of recovering from wounding in (spiritual) warfare, and into his privileged right to a heavy guilt. As we trace these three cases back to their locations in the chapter where they are first introduced, it can be seen that all are cases of his evolution to Mehrleben, thus to make his critique of pity's intrusion the criticism that it vengefully sought to thwart his evolutionary development. He states that his experience from these cases gives him the right to make a generlization about pity. These cases then become the autobiographical foundation of his criticism of pity in AC 7 that it is hostile to life in thwarting evolutionary development. The more general aim of the paper is to fix the relationship of EH to AC as introduction as the relationship of autobiography as epistemology to the unmasking psychology of Christianity in AC, in this case and several other cases cited. This is to bring the relationship into line with what Nietzsche himself claims for it in his letter to Naumann of November 6, 1888 and to counter the view that the relationship is merely instrumental in EH serving to secure a good reception for AC and, accordingly, was a work of less importance to Nietzsche than was AC.
Optimization of hydrochemical composition of water in plant growing by structurization method
Authors: Tkachuk O. , Demchuk A. 
Published: October 2021

The aim is to study the change of the main hydrochemical indicators of river water quality during its structuring, regarding the optimization of its composition when used in crop production. Water samples were taken from the Southern Bug River within the Vinnytsia Region. Water structuring was performed before analysis using an Ojas structurizer. Laboratory experiments were performed in the chemical-bacteriological laboratory of KP Vinnytsiaoblvodokanal. Indicators were determined: total rigidity; hydrogen pH; content of chlorides, nitrates, ammonium; electrolytic conductivity, taste and aftertaste.
It is established that the hydrochemical composition of water used for irrigation and spraying in crop production and agriculture plays an important role in their efficiency and impact on soils and plants. Among such characteristics of water, the value of water reaction pH, total hardness, concentration of chlorides, nitrates, ammonium and electrical conductivity are paramount.
The hydrogen pH of unstructured water was 7.49 pH. Water structuring reduced this figure to 7.17 pH. The total hardness of unstructured water was 4.8 mg/dm3. The structuring reduced the value of its total stiffness to the level of 4.7 mg/dm3. The structuring did not change the concentration of chlorides in water — 45.0 mg/dm3 in both cases. The content of nitrates in unstructured water was 0.50 mg/dm3, and its structuring reduces this figure below the sensitivity of the measuring instrument (less than 0.50 mg/dm3), which is more than 2.0% or more, but this value could not be established reliably due to the technical sensitivity of the device. The ammonium content in unstructured water was 0.07 mg/dm3. During water structuring, the ammonium concentration decreased to 0.05 mg/dm3. The electrolytic conductivity of unstructured water was 563.0 µm cm/cm. During its structuring, it increased to 568.0 µm cm/cm. The taste of unstructured and structured water did not differ and was 1 point.
The structuring of river water used in crop production and agriculture causes a decrease in the concentration of ammonium in it by 28.57%; nitrates — by 2.0% or more; reduction of hydrogen pH by 4.27% and total hardness — by 2.08%; increase in water conductivity by 0.88%, which optimizes their characteristics. At the same time, the taste and concentration of chlorides in water do not change during its structuring.
Chronic Urinary Infection in Overactive Bladder Syndrome: A Prospective, Blinded Case Control Study
Authors: Khan Zainab , Healey Gareth D. , Paravati Roberta , Berry Nidhika , Rees Eugene , Margarit Lavinia , Gonzalez Deyarina , Emery Simon , Conlan Robert Steven 
Published: October 2021

ObjectivesTo investigate whether women with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms and no evidence of clinical infection by conventional clean-catch midstream urine cultures have alternative indicators of sub-clinical infection.Patients/Subjects, Materials &amp; MethodsThe study was a prospective, blinded case-control study with 147 participants recruited, including 73 OAB patients and 74 controls. The OAB group comprised female patients of at least 18 years of age who presented with OAB symptoms for more than 3 months. Clean-catch midstream urine samples were examined for pyuria by microscopy; subjected to routine and enhanced microbiological cultures and examined for the presence of 10 different cytokines, chemokines, and prostaglandins by ELISA.ResultsThe mean age and BMI of participants in both groups were similar. No significant difference in the number of women with pyuria was observed between OAB and control groups (p = 0.651). Routine laboratory cultures were positive in three (4%) of women in the OAB group, whereas the enhanced cultures isolated bacteria in 17 (23.2%) of the OAB patients. In the control group, no positive cultures were observed using routine laboratory cultures, whereas enhanced culture isolated bacteria in 8 (10.8%) patients. No significant differences were observed in the concentrations of PGE2, PGF2α, MCP-1, sCD40L, MIP-1β, IL12p70/p40, IL12/IL-23p40, IL-5, EGF and GRO-α between the OAB and control groups.ConclusionsPatients with OAB symptoms have significant bacterial growth on enhanced culture of the urine, which is often not detectable through routine culture, suggesting a subclinical infection. Enhanced culture techniques should therefore be used routinely for the effective diagnosis and management of OAB.
Quantitative Analysis of Myocardial Work by Non-invasive Left Ventricular Pressure-Strain Loop in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Huang Danqing , Cui Cunying , Zheng Qiang , Li Yanan , Liu Yuanyuan , Hu Yanbin , Wang Ying , Liu Ruijie , Liu Lin 
Published: October 2021

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The aims of this study were to evaluate the changes in the left ventricular myocardial work in T2DM patients using the left ventricular pressure-strain loop (PSL) technique, and to explore the risk factors for the left ventricular myocardial work impairment.Methods: Fifty patients with T2DM and 50 normal controls (NCs) were included in the study. In addition to conventional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography, the left ventricular myocardial work parameters were measured using PSL technology.Results: The absolute value for global longitudinal strain (GLS), global work index (GWI) and, global constructive work (GCW) were significantly decreased in the T2DM group (P &lt; 0.05), while the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was not significantly different between the T2DM and NC groups. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was independently related to GWI (β = −0.452, P &lt; 0.05), while HbA1c and the diabetes duration were independently related to GCW (β = −0.393, P &lt; 0.05 and β = −0.298, P &lt; 0.05, respectively).Conclusions: Changes in the left ventricular myocardial systolic function in T2DM patients were identified using PSL technology. HbA1c was shown to be an independent risk factor affecting GWI, while HbA1c and diabetes duration were demonstrated to be independent risk factors affecting GCW.
Role of PCSK9 in Homocysteine-Accelerated Lipid Accumulation in Macrophages and Atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− Mice
Authors: Jin Ping , Gao Dengfeng , Cong Guangzhi , Yan Ru , Jia Shaobin 
Published: October 2021

Background: Homocysteine (Hcy) has been established as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, and the involvement of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) in atherosclerotic lesions is complex. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) has vital importance in lipid metabolism, and its inhibitors have intense lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic effects. However, the underlying effect of PCSK9 on HHcy-accelerated dyslipidemia of macrophages is still uncertain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of PCSK9 in Hcy-induced lipid accumulation and atherosclerotic lesions.Methods:In vitro, gene and protein expressions were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot in THP-1 macrophages with Hcy incubation. Lipid accumulation and cholesterol efflux were evaluated with Hcy treatment. SBC-115076 was used to examine the role of PCSK9 in ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 and G1 (ABCA1 and ABCG1)-dependent cholesterol efflux. In vivo, lesion area, lipid deposition and collagen contents were determined in aortas of ApoE−/− mice under a methionine diet. SBC-115076 was subcutaneously injected to explore the potential effects of PCSK9 inhibition on alleviating the severity of HHcy-related atherosclerotic lesions.Results: In THP-1 macrophages, Hcy dose- and time-dependently promoted PCSK9 gene and protein levels without regulating the translation of Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). SBC-115076 used to inhibit PCSK9 largely alleviated lipid accumulation and reversed the cholesterol efflux to apolipoprotein-I(apoA-I) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) mediated by ABCA1 and ABCG1. In ApoE−/− mice, methionine diet induced HHcy caused larger lesion area and more lipid accumulation in aortic roots. SBC-115076 reduced atherosclerotic severity by reducing the lesion area and lipid accumulation and increasing expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1 in macrophages from atherosclerotic plaque. In addition, SBC-115076 decreased plasma Hcy level and lipid profiles significantly.Conclusion: PCSK9 promoted lipid accumulation via inhibiting cholesterol efflux mediated by ABCA1 and ABCG1 from macrophages and accelerated atherosclerotic lesions under HHcy treatment. Inhibiting PCSK9 may have anti-atherogenic properties in HHcy-accelerated atherosclerosis.