bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A cross-sectional study on epidemiology and clinical profile of cleft lip and palate at a tertiary care hospital in Manipur, India
Authors: Dutta Indranil , Guruaribam Nilamani Sharma , Khundongbam Palin 
Published: June 2021

Background:
Cleft lip (CL) and palate have a complex etiology with both genetics and environment playing a role. The risk factors such as folic acid deficiency, maternal age, and maternal smoking have been linked to the development of clefts.

Objectives:
The objective of this study is to study the different types of CL and palate with respect to age distribution, gender, caste, religion, socioeconomic status, and the clinical factors such as congenital anomalies, blood group, and the relationship with maternal addiction during pregnancy.

Materials and Methods:
The present study conducted among 260 patients of Manipur with primary CL, palate, and orofacial clefts of any age group. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by the descriptive statistics as mean, standard deviation, percentage/proportions, etc. For the qualitative data, the association between various variables was done by applying one-way Chi-square test at 5% (P = 0.05) level of significance.

Results:
Female (51.2%) children are more affected with CL and palate. Association of A +ve blood group is statistically significant. 36.2% belongs to lower middle class socioeconomic status. The proportion of consanguineous marriages was higher. 60% of mothers smoke cigarettes or consume tobacco at the time of pregnancy in association with CL and palate. Majority of the cases had left-sided CL and palate and 47.3% were Group III CL and palate. There was significant association of congenital anomalies (38.5%) among CL and palate patients.

Conclusion:
There is a strong association of maternal smoking or tobacco consumption, maternal alcohol consumption, consanguineous marriages, and A +ve blood group in relation to CL and palate.
Histopathological changes associated with exposure of some viscerals and testicular tissues to bisephenol A and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
Authors: Omorodion Nosa Terry , Atoigwe-Ogeyemhe Blessing Emosho , Achukwu Peter Uwadiegwu , Odigie Efosa Bolaji 
Published: June 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the pathological effect associated with the exposure of viscerals and testicular tissues of albino rats to BPA and DEHP.
Methods: A total of sixty adult male Wistar rats weighing 200 – 250 g were divided into four (4) groups of 15 rats per cage in a sanitized environment. Group I animals received normal rodent pellet and water and served as untreated group. Thereafter, the rats in the second group (II) were administered 5 mg/kg per day of BPA mixed with rodent pellet orally; group III received 0.5 mg/kg daily dose of DEHP mixed with rodent pellet; while group IV received orally mixture of 0.5 mg/kg of BPA and 0.5 mg/kg DEHP + pelleted rodent feed. The rats were fed and water provided regularly for 30 days; finally, the animals were weighed and sacrificed by cranial dislocation.
Result: BPA and DEHP resulted in significant (p < 0.05) weight losses, inflammation and fatty deposits in the liver, degenerated bowman capsule and glomeruli of the kidneys, lung oedema, and deteriorated leydig cells in testes.
Conclusion: The results suggest that BPA and DEHP cause significant weight loss and are injurious to the cellular make-up of rat tissues, which may be the same in higher animals.
Effect of albumin administration on post-operation mortality, duration on ventilator, and hospital stay on patients in cardiac intensive care: An observational study
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Dai Xinlun , Qi Ji , Ao Yu , Yang Chunfeng , Li Yumei 
Published: June 2021

Purpose: To justify the use of albumin infusion in patients in post-surgery cardiac intensive care unit.
Methods: All patients who were hemodynamically stable before the operation and admitted into the surgical intensive care unit following coronary artery bypass, cardiopulmonary bypass, or aortic surgery, had no excessive postoperative bleeding and not on diuretic treatment, were included in the analysis. A total of 1998 patients were divided into two cohorts, viz, the first group was placed on albumin infusion (n = 999) while the second group received normal saline infusion (n = 999). Data were obtained from DICOM files of patients and records of pharmacy. Wilcoxon test or two-tailed paired t-test followed by Tukey post-hoc tests were performed for statistical analysis at 95 % of confidence level.
Results: Albumin and normal saline administration did not decrease the duration of mechanical ventilation, incidence of mechanical ventilation, need for blood transfusion, and length of hospital stay (p > 0.05). Albumin infusion decreased the need for fresh frozen plasma transfusion from 85 to 67, reduced mortality (p = 0.0005, q = 3.959), lowered serum lactate level (p < 0.0001, q = 43.853), but increased cardiac index (p < 0.0001, q = 12.192) as well as financial burden (p < 0.0001, q = 95.158) for the patients, compared to normal saline group.
Conclusion: In view of the foregoing, it is recommended that the use of restriction of albumin resuscitation in surgical intensive care unit should be restricted in this subset of patients evluated in this study.
Effect of dry heat, microwave and ultrasonic treatments on physicochemical properties of potato starch with or without pectin
Authors: Gao Haiyan , Meng Kexin , Zeng Jie , Jiang Jikai , Zhao Jinxiang , Cao Meng , Li Guanglei , Su Tongchao 
Published: June 2021

Purpose: To investigate the effects of dry heat, microwave and ultrasonic treatments on the physicochemical properties of potato starch alone or blended with pectin.
Methods: The physicochemical properties of potato starch gels prepared using microwave, ultrasonic and dry heat treatments were assessed. Pasting properties, gel strength, thermal properties and crystal texture of the potato starch were determined using Rapid Visco analyzer, texture profile analyzer, differential scanning calorimeter and x-ray diffractometer.
Results: Dry heat and ultrasonic treatments significantly increased the peak viscosity of the potato starch, and significantly decreased its setback and pasting temperatures (p < 0.05). Dry heat treatment significantly increased the hardness, while dry heat and ultrasonic treatments significantly improved retrogradation of the potato starch (p < 0.05). Transparency of potato starch paste was significantly increased by the different treatments, except microwave treatment (p < 0.05). Potato starch gels blended with pectin and subjected to any of the treatments exhibited significantly increased hardness, when compared with raw potato starch (p < 0.05). The retrogradation of the potato starch was significantly improved by the different treatments. Dry heat and ultrasonic treatments significantly decreased the syneresis of potato starch with or without pectin (p < 0.05). The three treatments also significantly affected the gelatinization enthalpy of the potato starch with or without pectin, and exerted some effects on the crystallinity of the gels.
Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggest that differences in physicochemical properties of potato starch gels are due mainly to the degree of damage to starch granules caused by different treatments. The addition of pectin to potato starch gel greatly improves its hardness and retrogradation.
Macrophages induce natural killer cell dysfunction via KIR2DL1 during Echinococcus multilocularis infection
Authors: Bayindala  , Aji Tuerganaili , Ran Bo , Jiang Tieming , Tongbayier Wulan , Shao Yingmei 
Published: June 2021

Purpose: To investigate the mechanism by which natural killer (NK) cells are compromised by infection with Echinococcus multilocularis in patients with alveolar echinococcosis (AE).
Methods: NK cells from AE patients and healthy individuals were measured by flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the frequency of different types of NK cells and assess their function. E. multilocularis cyst fluid (EMF) was applied to human monocytic leukaemia cells (THP-1 cells) to assess its effect on their differentiation. In a co-culture system with NK and EMF-THP-1 cells, the function of NK cells were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with or without antibody against KIR2DL1.
Results: Blood from AE patients had fewer CD56low NK cells (p < 0.01) with decreased production of IFN-γ and granzyme B due to the elevated expression of KIR2DL1 (p < 0.001). Treatment of THP-1 cells with EMF induced a tolerogenic phenotype upon activation. Incubation of these EMF-THP-1 cells with NK cells isolated from AE patients significantly impaired the cytotoxic function of NK cells, but this effect was largely blocked by an anti-KIR2DL1 antibody (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: E. multilocularis modulates infection macrophages to induce NK cell dysfunction via interaction with KIR2DL1. These results provide a new insight into the mechanisms of parasitic infection-induced dysfunction of NK cells, and may be helpful for the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of alveolar echinococcosis.
FOXQ1 promotes proliferation and metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer via activation of SIRT1/NRF2 signaling pathway
Authors: Lv Yinfeng , He Rongxia , Lu Jia , Wei Aihong , Chen Ruijuan 
Published: June 2021

Purpose: To investigate the role of FOXQ1 in the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer and the underlying mechanism.
Methods: Forkhead Box Q1 overexpression was evaluated by quantitative reverse-transcription (qRTPCR) in clinical epithelial ovarian cancer samples and cell lines. Proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells were determined using CCK8, wound healing and transwell assay.
Results: FOXQ1 depletion inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of `epithelial ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, FOXQ1 overexpression increased the amount of cells in S phase of the cell cycle, and FOXQ1 knockdown arrested cells inG1 phase. Results from ChIP and luciferase reporter assays showed that FOXQ1 was able to bind SIRT1 promoters. In addition, it was involved in sustaining the stability of nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-like 2 (NRF2) by decreasing its acetylation (p < 0.01), which was mediated by SIRT1. The data also demonstrated that NRF2 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells upon FOXQ1 overexpression.
Conclusion: Forkhead Box Q1 contributes to the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer partly via SIRT1/NRF2 signaling pathway, this highlighting a novel strategy for treating epithelial ovarian cancer.
Prolonged Bleeding Following Removal of Arterio-Venous Fistula Needles after Hemodialysis Therapy
Authors: Makuri Chacha M. , Minzi Omary , Marealle Alphonce , Ruggajo Paschal 
Published: June 2021

Background: Bleeding at fistula sites in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) is a common and potentially serious complication that contributes to blood loss (anemia). This study aimed to determine the factors that influence prolonged bleeding at fistula puncture sites following removal of fistula needles.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. We consecutively enrolled patients who underwent maintenance hemodialysis between May and October 2017 at Muhimbili National Hospital and Access Dialysis Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A case report form (CRF) was used for data collection.Prolonged bleeding was assessed by measuring activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and compression time (CT). Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to assess the association between factors and tease out the independent factors associated with prolonged bleeding at fistula puncture site. A two-tailed p-value <0.05 was used as a cut-off for statistical significance.Results: One hundred and fifteen patients were recruited for the study whereby 81(70.4%) of participants had elevated aPTT (> 31 seconds) and 4 (3.5%) had prolonged compression time (> 15 minutes). The mean aPTT and compression time of the participants were 42 ± 17.6 seconds and 5 ± 2.9 minutes respectively. Over half of participants 67(58.2%) had normal compression time (≤ 15 minutes). Elevated serum urea levels (> 7.4mmol/L) was the only factor significantly associated with elevated aPTT (OR=4.143 95% C.I (1.021-16.810), p=0.047).Conclusion: The findings have demonstrated that elevated serum urea levels are significantly associated with prolonged bleeding time following removal of Arterio-Venous fistula needles after completion of a hemodialysis therapy session. This study suggests that, in hemodialysis procedure where a fixed dose of heparin is generalized to all patients there is a chance of exceeding the individual’s requirements.Recommendations: Serum urea levels should be factored in when gauging the individual risk of arterio-venous fistula site bleeding for patients using heparin for anticoagulation during hemodialysis. Further studies with large sample sizes are recommended to elucidate how other predisposing factors may affect A-V fistula bleeding.
Keywords: Hemodialysis, heparin, prolonged bleeding, urea reduction ratio, A-V Fistula, aPTT, Compression time, blood urea.
Towards an Internalist Conception of Justification in African Epistemology
Authors: Ogungbure A A 
Published: June 2021

In current discussions on African epistemology, the issue of justification of beliefs has mainly been considered from an externalist perspective, such that justification is described as achievable merely through the means of empirical verification and social context of discourse. However, this results in a knowledge-gap since both internalist and externalist perspectives are needed to arrive at a holistic notion of epistemic justification. Consequently, the objective of this article is to fill this gap by employing the methods of conceptual and critical analysis to attempt an internalist interpretation of epistemic justification in the quest for a more balanced view of African epistemology. Key Words Internalism, African Epistemology, African Beliefs, Justification
Critique of Nkrumah’s Philosophical Materialism
Authors: Ani E I 
Published: June 2021

Kwame Nkrumah invokes the doctrine of emergentism in the hope of reconciling theism - a tenacious part of the African worldview - with materialism. However, in this article I seek to show that this reconciliation is not only ultimately unsuccessful, but is actually impossible. Towards this end, I identify weaknesses in what I call the six argumentative pillars of Nkrumah’s theory of emergentism (which he calls “philosophical materialism”), namely, his arguments regarding the origin of the cosmic material, the primary reality of matter, idealism, categorial convertibility, dialectic change, and the self-motion of matter. The article should provide not only alternative perspectives to Nkrumah’s metaphysics, but also highlight some broader metaphysical implications for both strong and weak emergentism. Key WordsPhilosophical materialism, consciencism, emergentism, cosmic material, categorial conversion, dialectical change, self motion of matter
Mapping out the Identity of African Arts and Aesthetics
Authors: Situma J , Atoh F , Ndohvu J 
Published: June 2021

This article utilizes the hermeneutic theory of Paul Ricoeur and its concepts of text, historicity, distance, narrative and metaphor to map out the salient features of African arts and aesthetics. It also uses the Ricoeurian concept of metaphor to demarcate the boundary between art and popular art. The focus of this mapping out is literature, visual arts, music and art criticism. The identity of African literature bears imprints of various indigenous and foreign languages, and pertinent to Ricoeur, the deployment of metaphor. Thematic concerns are patently African by virtue of the historicity of the discourses that feature in the novels, poems and plays. On the other hand, art criticism in contemporary Africa manifests a lack of responsibility, and its practitioners would enhance their capacity by drawing from Ricoeur’s philosophy of interpretive responsibility. Although discourse is significantly valuable in mapping out identity in the African novel, its applicability to the identity of painting, poetry and music is slightly constrained. Furthermore, Ricoeur’s concept of textual autonomy is of least value in dealing with the identity features of symbolic painting and symbolic arts. Key WordsAfrican arts, Ricoeur, Criticism and Responsibility, Metaphor, Historicity
Eternal Damnation: A Reply to Karori Mbugua’s “Gentler Theology of Hell”
Authors: Oduor R MJ 
Published: June 2021

This article is a reply to Karori Mbugua’s article titled “The Problem of Hell Revisited: Towards a Gentler Theology of Hell” (Thought and Practice: A Journal of the Philosophical Association of Kenya, New Series, Vol.3 No.2, December 2011, pp.93-103). The present article does not in any way seek to argue for or against the existence of eternal damnation. Instead, it advances the view that while Mbugua raises important philosophical issues around the question of eternal damnation, those questions deserve a more incisive treatment than Mbugua accorded them. The article further argues that as with all other matters touching on the way things are rather than the way they ought to be, the answer to the question as to whether or not eternal damnation exists cannot be determined by our opinions - its existence or non-existence is an objective fact. Consequently, philosophers cannot revise the fact to their liking; what they can do is to accept or reject the doctrine of eternal damnation altogether on rational grounds, but with no assurance that the objective fact is on their chosen side. KeywordsEternal damnation, hell, attributes of God, biblical doctrine
Práticas pedagógicas e formação de professores para o contexto bilíngue
Authors: Mayer Luana Francine , Koerner Rosana Mara , Pesce Marly Krüger de 
Published: June 2021

A partir de uma pesquisa realizada em um contexto de ensino bilíngue, envolvendo seis professoras de turmas de educação infantil e séries iniciais, aqui serão trazidos dados que indicam os modos como questões sobre suas formações afloram a partir de seus relatos sobre suas práticas pedagógicas. O objetivo deste artigo é verificar como suas formações acontecem no cotidiano da sala de aula e no espaço escolar considerando o que pode ser inferido a partir do que relatam sobre seu fazer docente. As reflexões aqui propostas estão baseadas em Nóvoa (2009), Imbernón (2009) e Cunha (2007), que ajudam a compreender a formação docente e García (2009) e MEGALE & LIBERALI (2016) que abordam a questão do ensino bilíngue. Os instrumentos de produção de dados foram um questionário escrito seguido de um grupo de discussão, e entrevista individual recorrente. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, desenvolvida ao longo de 2019 e 2020, cujos dados indicaram que a formação docente acontece a partir dos desafios com trabalho em sala de aula, e apesar de ser um processo individual e assíncrono, se dá principalmente nas trocas entre os pares e com base em experimentações. Os resultados podem dar indícios significativos no que tange às discussões sobre a formação docente para este contexto de ensino que, até este momento, não é prevista por cursos de licenciatura no Brasil e, assim, necessita de algumas regulamentações no que se refere à sua formação inicial.
საქართველოს სადაზღვევო ბაზარი: პრობლემები და პერსპექტივები
Authors: Vekua David 
Published: June 2021

დავით ვეკუა
გურამ თავართქილაძის თბილისის სასწავლო უნივერსიტეტის ასოცირებული პროფესორი
თბილისი, საქართველო
E-mail: david.vekua@yahoo.com
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3933-7746
მოკლე აღწერა
ჩვენი კვლევის საგანს წარმოადგენს ერთის მხრივ საქართველოს სადაზღვევო ბაზრის სირთულეები და გამოწვევები და მეორეს მხრივ კი მისი განვითარების და სრულყოფის პერსპექტივები.
სადაზღვევო ბაზარი წარმოადგენს ფინანსური მომსახურების უმნიშვნელოვანეს სექტორს, რომელიც ინტეგრირებულია თანამედროვე ეკონომიკურ ურთიერთობათა სისტემაში და არის ინვესტიციებისთვის ერთ-ერთი მნიშვნელოვანი ფინანსური წყარო.სადაზღვეო სექტორის განვითარება ზრდის მოსახლეობის სოციალური დაცულობის ხარისხს და შესაძლებლობას იძლევა გაღრმავდეს სახელმწიფოსთან მისი სოციალური და ეკონომიკური თანამშრომლობა.
სადაზღვევო ბაზარი, ისევე როგორც მთლიანად ფინანსური ბაზარი, მსოფლიოს ეკონომიკის უაღრესად დინამიური და სწრაფად ზრდადი სეგმენტია, რომელშიც გლობალიზციის შედეგად ერთვებიან ახალი მონაწილეები, მარკეტინგის თანამედროვე ტექნოლოგიები, ინოვაციური სადაზღვევო პროდუქტები, რის შედეგადაც მსოფლიოს სადაზღვევო ბაზარი განიცდის მნიშვნელოვან ტრანსფორმაციას და მოდერნიზაციას.
კვლევამ გვიჩვენა,რომ საერთაშორისო სადაზღვევო ბაზრიდან საქართველოს სადაზღვევო ბაზარზე წამოსული იმპერატივები აუცილებლად მოითხოვს ჩვენს სადაზღვევო ინდუსტრიაში ჩამოყალიბებული სტერეოტიპების ტრანსფორმაციას, რასაც უნდა მოყვეს საქართველოს სადაზღვევო ბიზნესში არსებული პარადიგმის სერიოზული კორექტირება. კვლევის ჩატარების პროცესში აქცენტი გაკეთდა საქართველოს სადაზღვევო ბაზრის თანამედროვე მდგომარეობაზე და იმ პრობლემებზე, რომლებიც აფერხებს სადაზღვევო ინდუსტრიის განვითარებას.
კვლევის მიზანია, წარმოვაჩინოთ საქართველოში სადაზღვევო ბაზარზე არსებული სირთულეები და მისი განვითარების სამომავლო პერსპექტივები, ხოლო სიახლეს კი წარმოადგენს ანალიზის, დაკვირვების, ინდუქციური და დედუქციური მეთოდების გამოყენების შედეგად ჩამოყალიბებული ის დასკვნები და რეკომენდაციები, რომელთა რეალიზაციის შედეგად შესაძლებელი იქნება სადაზღვევო ბაზრზე არსებული მდგომარეობის შემდგომი სრულყოფა და განვითარება.