bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of Valerian on sleep spindles in a model of neuropathic pain
Authors: Soltani Ashkan , Bahrami Farideh , Bahari Zahra , Shankayi Zeinab , Graily-Afra Mehdi , Sahraei Hedayat 
Published: December 2021

Introduction
Valeriana officinalis is known to be one of the most famous herbal supplements for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Despite its widespread use in most countries all around the world, there is little scientific information and research on how this medication affects sleep patterns, and there are almost no studies on its effects on the characteristics of sleep spindles.
Material and Methods The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Valerian extract (VAL) on sleep spindles and induced anxiety in chronic neuropathic pain model in rats. 24 male rats were divided into three groups: neuropathic group (n=9) in which the rats underwent chronic constriction injury (CCI), sham group (n=7) in which the sciatic nerves of the animals were exposed without any constriction and also fed with the vehicle, and the third group was under CCI condition and treated with Valerian (n=8). All the rats underwent electrode implant surgery so that we could record electroencephalogram and electromyography waves. In all the three groups, EEG and EMG recordings were recorded three times (150min each time). The initial recording was just prior to the CCI surgery and the rest were 3 and 6 days following CCI surgery. Moreover, cold allodynia and elevated plus maze tests were performed 3 and 6 days following the CCI surgery.
Results Valerian treatment could repair the allodynia induced by neuropathy. On the other hand, by Valerian treatment (400mg/kg) during neuropathy, the REM sleep, decreased and the non-REM sleep increased. Moreover, there was an increment in sleep spindle density and spindle frequency even in neuropathic condition.
Discussion This herbal supplement improves the quality of sleep in neuropathy conditions.
Herramientas digitales aplicadas en el escenario de la inclusión educativa en la época de la COVID-19
Authors: Isequilla Alarcón Estela , Martín-Delgado María 
Published: December 2021

El presente estudio tiene por objeto conocer cuáles son las aplicaciones más utilizadas en el ámbito educativo desde que se declaró el estado de alarma, en marzo de 2020. Se aplicó un cuestionario en el cual participaron 65 docentes y 127 estudiantes de la provincia de Málaga. Los datos de éste reflejan que la muestra considerada se adecúa a los parámetros de muestra para proseguir con la investigación. Además, se utilizó el alfa de Cronbach (α=.740 y α=.658, respectivamente) para determinar su validez y fiabilidad. Los resultados obtenidos muestran cómo el alumnado está más familiarizado con las aplicaciones de Google, frente al profesorado que opta por emplear otros softwares, como son las plataformas online. Concretamente, un mayor número de alumnado utilizaba la herramienta Google Meet para recibir sus clases no presenciales. Sin embargo, un elevado porcentaje ha preferido dar sus clases a través de Moodle Centros. Asimismo, la pandemia ha originado conocer otros recursos tecnológicos y aprender a cómo utilizar estos, como es el caso de Google Meet, para los estudiantes y Microsoft Teams, para los docentes. Todo ello, ha supuesto un avance para el sector educativo, proliferando todo el entramado tecnológico y de recursos online, intentando hacer llegar la educación a gran parte de la población para combatir la actual brecha digital existente en muchos hogares.
The present study aims to know which are the most used applications in the educational field since the state of alarm was declared in March 2020. A questionnaire was applied in which 65 were teachers and 127 were students from the province of Málaga. The data from this reflect that the sample considered is adapted to the sampling parameters to continue with the investigation. In addition, Cronbach's alpha (α = .740 and α = .658, respectively) was used to determine its validity and reliability. The results obtained show how students are more familiar with Google applications, compared to teachers who choose to use other software, such as online platforms. More specifically, a greater number of students used the Google Meet tool to receive their non-face-to-face classes. However, a high percentage have preferred to teach their classes through Moodle Centers. Likewise, the pandemic has led to knowing other technological resources and learning how to use them, such as Google Meet, for students and Microsoft Teams, for teachers. All this has meant progress for the education sector, proliferating the entire technological network and online resources, trying to bring education to a large part of the population to combat the current digital gap that exists in many homes.
Ecosistemas locales de aprendizaje ante la globalización tecnológica. Retos de los modelos educativos digitales pospandemia
Authors: Román Mendoza Esperanza , Suárez-Guerrero Cristóbal 
Published: December 2021

La educación frente a la covid-19 ha puesto en práctica una infinidad de respuestas, todas urgentes, tentativas, generadas por ensayo y por error, y todavía pendientes de validación. Para comprender mejor el impacto de estas respuestas, el presente artículo defiende, partiendo de la teoría de los ecosistemas de aprendizaje, la necesidad de investigar cómo han influido las tecnologías de ámbito global en la construcción de experiencias locales de aprendizaje. Además, pone de manifiesto la necesidad de estudiar qué tipo de apoyo tanto teórico como práctico se requiere para reconducir los posibles efectos nocivos de la introducción de la tecnología de emergencia. A tal efecto, se describen las consecuencias de fenómenos globalizadores, como el tecnocentrismo, el solucionismo tecnológico, la plataformización y la economía de datos, proponiendo la reflexión, la concienciación para la transformación y la acción desde los ecosistemas locales de aprendizajes como vía imprescindible para la conceptualización de nuevos modelos educativos digitales pospandemia. El artículo también resume las aportaciones principales de los otros trabajos que forman parte de la monografía.
Education has offered multiple, urgent, and tentative responses to Covid-19, generated by trial and error and still pending validation. To understand the impact of these responses, this article advocates for the study of how global technologies have influenced the pursuit of local learning experiences. In addition, the article emphasizes the need to investigate what kinds of theoretical and practical support are required to counterbalance the possible negative effects of emergency technology responses. Accordingly, it describes the consequences of globalizing phenomena, such as technocentrism, technological solutionism, platformization and data economy, and suggests that the reflection, critical consciousness engaged in transformation and action from within each local learning ecosystem are necessary to conceptualize new post-pandemic educational digital models. The article also summarizes the main contributions of the works included in this special issue.
Compensazione del danno (timoria) e giustizia come reciprocità nella demostenica Contro Midia, sul pugno
Authors: Poddighe Elisabetta 
Published: December 2021

This article offers an analysis of the legal arguments that Demosthenes uses in his speech Against Meidias, concerning the punch to prove that Meidias, who had struck Demosthenes as he exercised his public functions as a choregos, is guilty of hybris, and that he (Demosthenes) deserves adequate (i.e. public) reparation for the outrage suffered. Demosthenes claims his right to a punishment (timoria) capable of repairing the collective, more than individual, damage. This claim appears to allow him, on the one hand, to legitimise, with effective legal argumentation, all the choices made in the aftermath of the episode of the punch, and on the other, to give a strong legal basis for requesting the death penalty for Meidias. The paragraphs 2-3 of the article deal with the choices Demosthenes made after the episode of the punch. Here I intend to show that Demosthenes is able to demonstrate to the judges the relevance of the procedural choices and to qualify them as ‘choices’ precisely because they were motivated and considered at length. In the following paragraphs of the article I discuss the legal argumentation that Demosthenes uses with regard to the ‘measure’ of the penalty required (the death penalty). The aim is to understand what roles the principle according to which Meidias’s hybristic conduct must be assessed from an overall view and the principle of justice as reciprocity play in this argument. The latter must take into account the merit of the epieikes Demosthenes as compared to the hybristes Meidias.
Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of tick-borne diseases (Tick-borne Encephalitis and Lyme Borreliosis) in Germany
Authors: Cunze Sarah , Glock Gustav , Klimpel Sven 
Published: December 2021

Background
In the face of ongoing climate warming, vector-borne diseases are expected to increase in Europe, including tick-borne diseases (TBD). The most abundant tick-borne diseases in Germany are Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme Borreliosis (LB), with Ixodes ricinus as the main vector.

Methods
In this study, we display and compare the spatial and temporal patterns of reported cases of human TBE and LB in relation to some associated factors. The comparison may help with the interpretation of observed spatial and temporal patterns.

Results
The spatial patterns of reported TBE cases show a clear and consistent pattern over the years, with many cases in the south and only few and isolated cases in the north of Germany. The identification of spatial patterns of LB disease cases is more difficult due to the different reporting practices in the individual federal states. Temporal patterns strongly fluctuate between years, and are relatively synchronized between both diseases, suggesting common driving factors. Based on our results we found no evidence that weather conditions affect the prevalence of both diseases. Both diseases show a gender bias with LB bing more commonly diagnosed in females, contrary to TBE being more commonly diagnosed in males.

Conclusion
For a further investigation of of the underlying driving factors and their interrelations, longer time series as well as standardised reporting and surveillance system would be required.
Municipal Solid Waste Analysis: Case Study on Gorakhpur City, Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Choden Yeshi , Gupta Shailesh Kumar , Abdalla Najwa 
Published: December 2021

City sanitation plans are strategic planning processes for city wise sanitation sector development. Exponential increase in population and rapid economic development led to an increase in generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) which impacts the sanitation of a city. Also, emission of toxic gases from MSW dumpsites are the main threat to the environment and public health. In the present study, data regarding solid waste management has been collected and studied the current scenario of the municipal solid waste system of Gorakhpur city, Uttar Pradesh, India. MSW composition, physical and chemical analysis has been performed and Methane gases (CH4) generated from MSW of the city is quantified using LandGEM 3.02. Waste composition shows that city generates paper (6.33%), organic matter (56.1%), wood (1.36%), textile (3.73%), plastic (1.11%), Rubber (0.56%), glass (1.6%) and inert material (29.17%). With the same rate of MSW generation, CH4 emission will amount to 6.6X103 Mg/yr, 1.9x104 Mg/yr of CO2 and 4.33x101 Non methanic organic carbon (NMOC) by 2050. MSW analysis resulted in high moisture content of 35 -40% and organic matter of 56.1%. Based on the physio chemical analysis, suitable waste to energy option that could be adopted are biogas generation and vermi composting from the biodegradable component of MSW. Rest 36% of non-biodegradable part of MSW could be converted to Reduced Derived Fuel (RDF).
Organochlorine Pesticide Residue Levels in Kola Nuts (Cola nitida Schott & Endl.) and Estimation of Risk Exposition in Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Viviane Deigna-Mockey , Henri Biego Godi , Rodrigue Kouadio Kan , Bleouh Nyamien Yves , Adama Coulibaly 
Published: December 2021

Background: The kola nut represents a significant economic interest for Côte d’Ivoire as well as many households and public authorities. Despite its obvious importance, the kola nut sector is facing a delicate sanitary quality of the marketed product. About 90% of produced kolanut is consumed daily fresh by people and poses a serious organochlorine pesticide toxicity health problem for consumers.
Aims: This study aimed to determine the organochlorine pesticide residue levels in kola nuts and assess the risks of kola nuts consumption on population health in Côte d'Ivoire.
Study Design: Samples were collected from Farmers, rural Collectors, urban Stores in Districts (Mountains, Comoe, Lagoons, Down-Sassandra) and big storage Centers of Anyama and Bouake for three separate periods of kola nuts harvesting (2016-2017 ; 2017-2018 and 2018-2019).
Methodology: Concentrations of 24 organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) residues were measured using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector.
Results: The OCPs concentrations ranging from 5.19 to 92.93 µg/kg for Aldrin and Lindane. The results indicate that Methoxychlor, DDE (op'), Endrin ketone, Hexachlorobenzene, Chlorfenapyr, Chlorthal dimethyl and Quitozene concentrations are below the quantification limit (LOQ).
Based on the concentrations and the daily consumption of kola nuts estimated at 0.6 g/person in Côte d'Ivoire, the intakes values estimated of OCPs vary from 5.4.10-5 to 7.96.10-4 µg/kg/day for Aldrin and Lindane, respectively. The Exposure Daily Doses (EDD) are all lower than the toxicological reference values. Thus, the occurrence of a toxic effect from OCPs after kola nuts consumption is very unlikely since the hazard quotient HQ sum is less than 1 (∑HQ = 0.13 < 1). Consumption of kola nuts from Côte d’Ivoire does not pose a health risk to consumers.
Conclusion: Kola nuts would not represent a health risk for humans and would be safe for comsumption.
Antioxidative Activity of Wakouba, a Salt Extracted from Elaeis guineensis Jacq in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Calixte Bahi , Bernadin Dro , Felix Kouame , Konan Kouassi , Justine Tiepka 
Published: December 2021

Background: Oxidative stress plays a major role in the chronic complications of diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer etc. free radicals such as superoxyde anions, hydrogen peroxides cause severe cell damage. The use of plants is increasingly recommended to treat diseases related to oxidative stress.
Aims: This work aims to evaluate the antioxidant properties of Wakouba, a salt extracted from Elaeis guineensis Jacq on biochemical markers of oxidative stress.
Place and Duration of Study: Pharmacodynamie-biochemical UPR, Biology and Health Laboratory and Department of Radiology, Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Services Hospital Lahore, between March 2017 and July 2018.
Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) by streptozotocin 55 mg / kg bw. The biochemical parameters such as insulin and glycemia, the activities and the level of markers of oxidative stress such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the aorta, heart and the kidney were determined in the absence and presence of different doses of WAKOUBA (1000 and 2500 mg / kg bw) and GLIBENCLAMIDE, a reference product at 10 and 20 mg / kg bw.
Results: The results showed that the administration of streptozotocin at 55 mg / kg bw in rats caused a significant drop (P<0.05) in insulin production followed by a significant increase (P < 0.05) in blood glucose. Similarly, during diabetes, the activities, and levels of oxidative stress markers (SOD, CAT and MDA) increased significantly (P < 0.05). WAKOUBA, at 1000 and 2500 mg / kg bw, significantly normalized insulin production, blood sugar levels, SOD and CAT activities and MDA levels in the aorta, heart, and kidneys in diabetic rats. The same results were obtained with GLIBENCLAMIDE at 10 and 20 mg / kg bw.
Conclusion: This study showed that WAKOUBA, a salt extracted from Elaeis guineensis Jacq, lowered and normalized the activities of SOD, CAT and the level of MDA which are markers of oxidative stress in rats made diabetic by streptozocin. WAKOUBA also normalized insulin production and blood sugar levels in diabetic rats. WAKOUBA would have antioxidant properties coupled with antidiabetic properties, which might support its use in traditional medicine to treat diabetes.
Frequency of Thrombocytopenia in Neonates Following Phototherapy in Neonatology Unit of Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Naqvi Hina , Memon Shazia , Shah Mushtaque Ali , Chohan Muhammad Nadeem , Shaikh Numra , Shah Fiza 
Published: December 2021

Aim: To determine the frequency of thrombocytopenia and its severity in relation to level of indirect hyperbilirubinemia in neonates following phototherapy at tertiary care hospital.
Study Design: Descriptive study
Place and duration: This study was conducted at Paediatric department (neonatal ward), Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, from 1st August 2020 till 31st Jan 2021
Methodology: All neonates who fulfilled the inclusion criteria presented at pediatric department (neonatal ward), Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad were included in the study. After written consent, brief history was taken from the mother or family member and complete blood count (CBC) was sent to check the baseline platelet count along with total serum bilirubin, it was repeated after 48 hours of phototherapy.
Results: Out of 231 neonates 70 (30.3%) developed thrombocytopenia after phototherapy. In our study 117 neonates (50.6%) were males & 114 neonates (49.4%) were females with the mean age of 5.9307+1.6640 days. The thrombocytopenia was seen in 70 neonates (30.3%) and type of severity was mild, moderate & severe in 52(22.5%), 13(5.6%) & 5(2.2%) respectively.
Conclusion: There was a decline in mean platelet count after phototherapy but it was not statistically significant. The treating doctor should also keep in mind, other causes of thrombocytopenia when the patient is receiving phototherapy.
Influence of Some Antibiotics and Essential Oils Used Alone or in Combination on the Vitality of Presumptive Probiotic Lactic acid Bacteria
Authors: Kemegne Gislaine Aurelie , Ngahmi Aurore Vanessa Nana , Tong Abraham Nkoue , Kamdem Sylvain Leroy Sado , Ngang Jean Justin Essia 
Published: December 2021

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro antibacterial activity of selected antibiotics and essential oils alone or in combination, on selected presumptive probiotic lactic acid bacteria.
Study Design: Experimental studies.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology of the University of Yaounde I between August 2017 and December 2017 (5 months).
Methodology: The chemical composition of five essential oils was determined by gas chromatography coupled with Solid-phase micro extraction. Then the sensitivity of four lactic acid bacteria to the essential oils and four antibiotics was assessed by the well diffusion and macrodilution method. Subsequently, two essential oils active on these bacteria and broad spectrum antibiotics were combined according to the central composite design plan.
Results: In general, the chemical composition of essential oils is very diverse, with the example of carvacrol found only in Origanum compactum at 53.24% and thymol in Thymus vulgaris at 56.19% and in Origanum compactum at 15.28%. The antibacterial activity shows that the majority of antibiotics used are active on the bacteria in the study compared to the essential oils where two were active (Origanum compactum and Cymbopogon winterianus). The evaluation of the combinations of essential oils and antibiotics in terms of kinetics has given us three cases: the first case is the one with no acidity or no growth at all; the second is the one where growth is normal; the third where growth is delayed with a more pronounced latency phase.
Conclusion: This study suggest that the effect of essential oils and medicinal plant used alone or in combination to antibiotics on the gut microbiota have to be evaluated for validation as well as their toxicity activities before using them for human therapy.
Notes relating to 'A.Z.,' The Anonymous correspondent of the Society, by whom the collection of Books and Mss. relating to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, were presented to the Library (see Archaeologia Scotica, vol. iii., p.267.)
Authors: Fotheringhame W H 
Published: December 2021

W. H. Fotheringhame speculates on the identity of an anonymous correspondent (A. Z.) who provided manuscripts relating to Orkney and Shetland to the Society's library, as listed in the Archaeologia Scotica. He suggests that A. Z. was John Munro, a clerk from Kirkwall. Fortheringhame lists his evidence, including handwriting comparisons and a personal anecdote found in the notes to one of his volumes alluding to A. Z.'s early life in a tenement in Kirkwall. Unfortunately, John Munro's sister had all his papers destroyed when she died, but Fotheringhame concludes that the evidence in this article should be enough to prove that A. Z. was John Munro.
Toward Individualized Prediction of Response to Methotrexate in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pharmacogenomics‐Driven Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Myasoedova Elena , Athreya Arjun P. , Crowson Cynthia S. , Davis John M. , Warrington Kenneth J. , Walchak Robert C. , Carlson Erin , Kalari Krishna R. , Bongartz Tim , Tak Paul P. , van Vollenhoven Ronald F. , Padyukov Leonid , Emery Paul , Morgan Ann , Wang Liewei , Weinshilboum Richard M. , Matteson Eric L. ,   Pharmacogenetics of Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium
Published: December 2021

ObjectiveTo test the ability of machine learning (ML) approaches with clinical and genomic biomarkers to predict methotrexate treatment response in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsDemographic, clinical, and genomic data from 643 patients of European ancestry with early RA (mean age 54 years; 70% female) subdivided into a training (n = 336) and validation cohort (n = 307) were used. The genomic data comprised 160 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously associated with RA or methotrexate metabolism. Response to methotrexate monotherapy was defined as good or moderate by the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) response criteria at the 3‐month follow‐up. Supervised ML methods were trained with 5 repeats and 10‐fold cross‐validation using the training cohort. Prediction performance was validated in the independent validation cohort.ResultsSupervised ML methods combining age, sex, smoking, rheumatoid factor, baseline Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) scores and 160 SNPs predicted EULAR response at 3 months with the area under the receiver operating curve of 0.84 (P = 0.05) in the training cohort and achieved a prediction accuracy of 76% (P = 0.05) in the validation cohort (sensitivity 72%, specificity 77%). Intergenic SNPs rs12446816, rs13385025, rs113798271, and ATIC (rs2372536) had variable importance above 60.0 and along with baseline DAS28 scores were among the top predictors of methotrexate response.ConclusionPharmacogenomic biomarkers combined with baseline DAS28 scores can be useful in predicting response to methotrexate in patients with early RA. Applying ML to predict treatment response holds promise for guiding effective RA treatment choices, including timely escalation of RA therapies.