bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Translational Medicine Research in Sub Saharan Africa – Challenges and Prospects
Authors: Ugwu Chidiebube J. 
Published: February 2021

Translational medicine (TM) is a branch of medicine and research in which basic science research findings are implemented to solve clinical problems and it involves the generation of research questions from clinical problems - the so-called “bench to bedside and back to bench approach” [1]. Despite the vital importance of TM as would be seen in the course of this paper and the steps that other regions of the world have taken, and plan to take to bolster their already working TM sector, sub-Saharan Africa is yet to fully take the first few steps on the road to TM research [2], [3].
This situation of depending on the research findings from technologically advanced countries presents a lot of challenges as environment and genetics play a very important role in what kind of results are obtained [2]. This causes discrepancies in outcome/ inability to replicate study findings using the study methods and design applied by research that a clinical decision or recommendation was made.
Due to the workload on the health professionals, poor health care system, low interest in research, inadequate training and funding, and other factors that would be highlighted in this paper, the clinician is seldom able to lift his/her eyes from the present emergency to consider what may prove useful in the future. This state of affairs is also compounded by the fact that the fruition of TM research may take many years [4]. Some solutions include more efficient record keeping, more government support, improved research training among others. This paper aims to highlight the challenges of TM in sub Saharan Africa and further offer some practical and culturally adaptable solutions to these challenges.
Management of Diabetes at the End of Life
Authors: Chowdhury Sumon Rahman , Alam Sultana Ruma , Chowdhury Rezaul Haider , Barua Shangkar 
Published: February 2021

In terminal illness careful control to avoid long-term complications is not required. Management of diabetes during terminal illness will not only depend on the type of diabetes, but also on prognosis, oral intake and the presence of co-existing disease such as renal and hepatic impairment.
All dietary restrictions relating to diabetes are removed from the early stage of terminal illness. In both T1DM and T2DM, glucose monitoring should be reduced to an acceptable minimum. In the case of a patient treated with insulin, this may be 2–3 times per week and for a patient treated with oral agent’s blood glucose could be monitored 1–2 times per week., only in case of special situation frequent monitoring is advisable. This may include: hypoglycaemia, poor food intake, nausea and vomiting, enteral or parenteral feeding or corticosteroid use. The clear aim is to avoid hypoglycaemia and osmotic symptoms, so the recommendations suggest a target blood glucose range between 10 and 15 mmol/l in the early stage of terminal illness with a more liberal range of 5–20 mmol/l in the later stages.
Subsequently there are no agreed, evidence-based strategies to manage diabetes at the end of life or during terminal illness.
Therefore, in this review I will try to uncover some of the challenges and discuss the available guidelines associated with managing diabetes at the end of life and terminal illness from the available scientific evidence.
Validation Evidence using Generalizability Theory for an Objective Structured Clinical Examination
Authors: Peeters Michael J , Cor M. Kenneth , Petite Sarah E , Schroeder Michelle N 
Published: February 2021

Objectives: Performance-based assessments, including objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), are essential learning assessments within pharmacy education. Because important educational decisions can follow from performance-based assessment results, pharmacy colleges/schools should demonstrate acceptable rigor in validation of their learning assessments. Though G-Theory has rarely been reported in pharmacy education, it would behoove pharmacy educators to, using G-Theory, produce evidence demonstrating reliability as a part of their OSCE validation process. This investigation demonstrates the use of G-Theory to describes reliability for an OSCE, as well as to show methods for enhancement of the OSCE’s reliability.
Innovation: To evaluate practice-readiness in the semester before final-year rotations, third-year PharmD students took an OSCE. This OSCE included 14 stations over three weeks. Each week had four or five stations; one or two stations were scored by faculty-raters while three stations required students’ written responses. All stations were scored 1-4. For G-Theory analyses, we used G_Strings and then mGENOVA.
Critical Analysis: Ninety-seven students completed the OSCE; stations were scored independently. First, univariate G-Theory design of students crossed with stations nested in weeks (p x s:w) was used. The total-score g-coefficient (reliability) for this OSCE was 0.72. Variance components for test parameters were identified. Of note, students accounted for only some OSCE score variation. Second, a multivariate G-Theory design of students crossed with stations (p· x s°) was used. This further analysis revealed which week(s) were weakest for the reliability of test-scores from this learning assessment. Moreover, decision-studies showed how reliability could change depending on the number of stations each week. For a g-coefficient >0.80, seven stations per week were needed. Additionally, targets for improvements were identified.
Implications: In test validation, evidence of reliability is vital for the inference of generalization; G-Theory provided this for our OSCE. Results indicated that the reliability of scores was mediocre and could be improved with more stations. Revision of problematic stations could help reliability as well. Within this need for more stations, one practical insight was to administer those stations over multiple weeks/occasions (instead of all stations in one occasion).
Second Harmonic Generation of 266 nm Laser Beam Using BBO Nonlinear Crystal
Authors: Khorsheed Suha Mousa , Al-Obaidi Raneen Salam 
Published: February 2021

Second harmonic generation (SHG) is a phenomenon observed in nonlinear optics that leads to frequency duplication for a high intensity laser incident on nonlinear crystal using BBO crystal. The SHG yield is achieved when the photons interact with a nonlinear optical material and effectively combine to form new photons with double frequency, and therefore double energy and half wavelength. This paper is concerned with the establishment of an SHG experiment to govern the process of producing half-wavelength laser beam from the input one. The theoretical effort was extended to compute the efficiency by using MATLAB software based on mathematical relationships. The values of the conversion maximum efficiencies, which were computed as a function of the input and output powers of the theoretical computations, were 15.6% and 16% at input and output power values of 0.6 and 0.1, respectively. The experimental results of the laser source of 532nm wavelength (fundamental frequency was 0.563x1015s-1) gave a half wavelength of 266nm (double frequency was 1.126x1015s-1). The conversion efficiencies, computed as a function of the input and output powers of the experimental measurements, were 14.32% and 12.97%, respectively.
The Antimicrobial Effects of Alcoholic Leaves Extract of Salvia Officinalis Against Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Authors: Sweedan Enass Ghassan 
Published: February 2021

Two isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from patients with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial effect of alcoholic leaves extract of Salvia officinalis on Multidrug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa. Using the well diffusion test, the alcoholic leaves extract at 100mg/ml and 200 mg /ml was shown to possess antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganism. The inhibition zones of S. officinalis at 200 mg/ml, and 100 mg/ml of the extract showed diameters of 23mm and 20mm, respectively. But the diameters of the inhibition zones caused by treatment with the antibiotics Ciprofloxacin, Ticarcillin + Clavulanic acid, and Cefotaxime were 28mm, 27mm, and 25mm) for both isolates, respectively. The results indicate that P. aeruginosa was resistant to most antibiotics of different groups used in this study. It was found that the isolates were Multidrug Resistant (MDR) by sensitivity test. The results of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), by using E-test strips, showed that MIC of Cefoxitin was 4Âµg/ml for P. aeruginosa 1, but P. aeruginosa 2 was resistant. MIC value for Cefoperazone was 8Âµg/ml against P. aeruginosa 1, whereas P. aeruginosa 2 was resistant. MIC value was also determined for the alcoholic leaves extract against P. aeruginosa, showing a value of 100 mg/ml, while the plant extract also had synergistic effects with Ciprofloxacin, Cefotaxime, and Ticarcillin+ Clavulanic Acid. It can be concluded that the alcoholic leaves extract of S. officinalis had considerable antimicrobial effects on MDR P. aeruginosa. Thus, it can be used instead of antibiotics for the treatment of UTI caused by MDR P. aeruginosa to reduce the side effects of antibiotics. On the contrary, its use with antibiotics enhances their action without interfere with them.
Patients with psoriasis have a higher risk of dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Charoenngam Nipith , Rittiphairoj Thanitsara , Ponvilawan Ben , Ungprasert Patompong 
Published: February 2021

Background:
Patients with psoriasis may have a higher risk of dementia because of the higher inflammatory burden, although results from previous epidemiological studies have been inconsistent.

Aims:
To determine the association between psoriasis and risk of dementia by pooling the evidence from previous studies.

Methods:
Potentially eligible studies were identified from Medline and EMBASE databases from inception to July 2019 using a search that comprised terms for “psoriasis” and “dementia.” Studies were eligible for the meta-analysis if they were cohort studies that included psoriatic patients and individuals without psoriasis and followed them for incident dementia. Studies were also required to report standardized incidence ratio, hazard risk ratio or relative risk with related 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing the incidence of dementia between the two cohorts. The retrieved point estimates with standard errors from each study were pooled into the final result by the random-effect model, generic inverse variance method.

Results:
A total of 8,861 articles were identified. After two rounds of independent review by three investigators, we included six cohort studies that met the eligibility criteria in the meta-analysis. The risk of dementia was significantly higher among psoriatic patients than in those without psoriasis with a pooled risk ratio of 1.16 (95% CI, 1.04–1.30; I2 95%). A funnel plot was relatively symmetric and was not suggestive of the presence of publication bias.

Limitations:
Limited accuracy of diagnosis of psoriasis and dementia as four included studies were coding-based studies, and high statistical heterogeneity among studies.

Conclusion:
This systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that psoriatic patients have a significantly elevated risk of developing dementia.
A comparative evaluation of the effects of ZLN and TLE anti-retroviral regimens in HIV positive patients: A retrospective record-based study
Authors: Singla Ritika , Sharma Neetu 
Published: February 2021

Objectives:
Until 2012, zidovudine+lamivudine+nevirapine (ZLN) was the first line treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, whereas in 2013, tenofovir+lamivudine+efavirenz (TLE) was recommended as a preferred regimen due to less adverse drug reactions and better virological response. The present study was done to compare the change in CD4 count and emergence of opportunistic infections (OIs) in HIV-positive patients on ZLN and TLE regimens.

Materials and Methods:
This retrospective record-based study was conducted at anti-retroviral therapy (ART) center of a tertiary care hospital on 150 charts of patients on ZLN (Group A) and TLE (Group B) regimens each for 1 year. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism version 6.

Results:
The mean age of patients in Group A was 38.72 (±10.5) years and Group B 37.75 (±11.57) years (P = 0.4460). After 1 year of ART, the mean CD4 count (cells/mm3) increased in both groups (Group A: 223.51 [±111.21] to 415.37 [±218.16] [P = 0.0001] vs. Group B: 255.05 [±164.50] to 433.12 [±247.66] [P = 0.0001]). With the baseline counts being comparable (P = 0.0527), the difference in mean CD4 counts between the groups post-ART was not statistically significant (P = 0.5105). The incidence of OI was 45% in Group A as compared to 25% in Group B. Overall, the most prevalent OI was tuberculosis (TB) (13.33%).

Conclusion:
Both ZLN and TLE regimens are equally effective in improving the immunological status of HIV-positive patients. Patients on ZLN have higher incidence of OI than those on TLE. However, therapy should be individualized as per patient’s suitability.
Comparison between seated medicine ball throw test and Wingate test for assessing upper body peak power in elite power sports players
Authors: Kumar Anuj , Singh Rupak Kumar , Apte Varad Vilas , Kolekar Amey 
Published: February 2021

Objectives:
Upper limb explosive power is an important motor quality for sporting performance and indicates use of anaerobic energy systems. The Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) has been considered to be a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of anaerobic power and functional performance of elite athletes. However, it is expensive and a lab based test and requires skilled manpower. The seated medicine ball throw test (SMBT) is inexpensive, easy to assess and since equipment required is minimal, it can be easily used as a field test. Hence, the purpose of the study was to determine if the SMBT method could be used as an alternative for WAnT test so that a reliable and inexpensive test is available for athlete monitoring and talent identification screening.

Materials and Methods:
Male elite athletes aged 18–30 years (n = 100), who were involved in national level competition of three sports discipline, namely, Boxing (n = 34), Wrestling Greco-Roman (GR) (n = 36), and Wrestling Freestyle (FS) (n = 30), were tested on crank-arm ergometer for WAnT and SMBT to measure an peak power or explosive power for the upper body.

Results:
SMBT test results were significantly positively correlated with upper body peak power measured by WAnT in all sportsmen (r = 0.55, P = 0.0002). One sample t-test results showed that the mean difference between SMBT and peak power is close to zero among Boxers (P = 0.13) and FS wrestlers (P = 0.89) and GR Wrestlers (P = 0.49). Overall, 97% pairs of SMBT and peak power were within the limits of agreement among all sportsmen, showing that results using both the tests were agreeable.

Conclusion:
This study suggests that SMBT tests could be used as an alternative field test to measure anaerobic power in Wrestlers, Boxers, and sports where the involvement of upper body muscles take place predominantly. In addition, the SMBT protocol used in this study provides an easy way for the coaches to assess the athletes on the field during talent identification and also to evaluate their training program.
Thoughts and Practice on the Education Projects of Sino-foreign Credit Mutual Recognition in Private Undergraduate Universities
Authors: Zhao Jing 
Published: February 2021

International development is a challenge that each university must face. The educational mechanism of private undergraduate universities is flexible, and has certain advantages in expanding international education programs. Sino-foreign credit mutual recognition programs are more common in private undergraduate universities. With the continuous development of resources and models on international education cooperation, the forms of Sino-foreign credits mutual recognition cooperation are becoming more diversified. The rapid development of Chinese and foreign credit recognition education programs in private undergraduate universities requires scientific and advanced management concepts and support. Young private universities have short international development time and lack of experience. Therefore, relevant issues should be more researched.This paper analyzes the problems and challenges in the education mode and management of Sino-foreign credit mutual recognition projects in private undergraduate universities, and puts forward relevant countermeasures. This paper will analyze the problems and challenges in the education mode and management of Sino-foreign credit mutual recognition projects in private undergraduate universities, and put forward relevant countermeasures.
Upaya Meningkatkan Kemampuan Membaca Permulaan AnakUsia 5-6 Tahun Melalui Media Puzzle di PAUD Flamboyan Sukasari Kota Tangerang
Authors: Astuti Ratih Fitri , Istiarini Ratna 
Published: February 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui Kemampuan Membaca Permulaan melalui media puzzle pada anak didik kelompok B PAUD Flamboyan Sukasari Kota Tangerang. Metode yang digunakan adalah penelitian tindakan kelas (PTK) yang dilakukan sebanyak tiga (3) siklus. Prosedur penelitian ini terdiri dari 4 tahap yaitu perencanaan tindakan, pelaksanaan tindakan, observasi dan refleksi. Metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Subjek penelitin ini adalah anak didik kelompok B anak yang mengalami masalah kemampuan membaca permulaan, seperti menyebutkan simbol-simbol huruf vokal dan konsonan, menghubungkan lambang huruf vokal dan konsonan dengan gambar yang berawalan huruf vokal dan konsonan, membaca dan menulis nama sendiri. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terjadi peningkatan kemampuan membaca permulaan melalui Media Puzzle. Kemampuan Membaca Permulaan pada Siklus I mencapai 51% , Siklus II meningkat mencapai 74% dan meningkat lebih baik lagi pada Siklus III mencapai 91%. Dengan demikian dapat disimpulkan bahwa variasi dalam pembelajaran memiliki peranan penting dalam penelitian meningkatkan kemampuan membaca permulaan melalui media puzzle. Dengan demikian terbukti bahwa penerapan melalui media puzzle dapat meningkatkan kemampuan membaca permulaan anak kelompok B di PAUD Flamboyan Kel.Sukasari Kec.Kota Tangerang.
Upaya Meningkatkan Kemampuan Logika Matematika Melalui Metode Eksperimen Pada Anak Usia 5-6 Tahun di TK Riyadhul Aulad Kecamatan Cikupa Kabupaten Tangerang
Authors: Apriani Sopia , Widhiasih Angger Prima 
Published: February 2021

Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada kelompok B di TK Riyadhul Aulad Kecamatan Cikupa. Kemampuan logika matematika anak masih tergolong rendah, subyek penelitian 10 anak didik terdiri laki-laki 6 dan perempuan 4 anak. Terdapat 7 anak yang masih rendah dalam kemampuan logika matematikanya, hal ini disebabkan beberapa faktor diantaranya metode pembelajaran yang monoton, kurangnya insiatif dalam menyelesaikan masalah yang ada dilingkungan, dan kurangnya minat anak dalam pembelajaran. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan logika matematika anak melalui metode eksperimen di TK Riyadhul Aulad Kecamatan Cikupa Kabupaten Tangerang. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian tindakan kelas (PTK) yang dilakukan selama 3 siklus. Hal ini terlihat dari adanya peningkatan kemampuan logika matematika anak pada pembahasan siklus 1, siklus II dan siklus III, anak didik yang berkembang sangat baik (BSB). Berdasarkan presentase pencapaian peningkatan kemampuan logika matematika anak dari kondisi awal memperoleh persentase sebesar 45%, kemudian pada siklus I adanya peningkatan yaitu mencapai 57%, pada siklus II mengalami peningkatan kembali sebesar 74%, dan pada siklus III sebesar 96%. Sehingga presentase kenaikan dari pra siklus (kondisi awal) ke siklus I adalah sebesar 12%, presentase dari silus I ke siklus II adalah sebesar 17%, dan prsentase dari siklus II ke siklus III adalah sebesar 22%. Berdasarkan hasil analisis data dan pembahasan maka dapat penulis simpulkan bahwa metode eksperimen dapat meningkatkan kemampuan logika matematika anak pada kelompok B di TK Riyadhul Aulad Kecamatan Cikupa Kabupaten Tangerang.
Analisa Metode Proyek Terhadap Kreativitas Anak Di Masa Karantina Covid 19
Authors: Widiasih Angger Prima , Astuti Ari 
Published: February 2021

Penelitian ini dilakukan dikarenakan adanya permasalahan kreativitas anak selama di sekolah dan juga selama masa karantina covid 19 di Taman Kanak – Kanak Aisyiyah Bustanul Athfal Cirarab. Dan metode proyek yang sudah sering dilaksanakan disekolah, dialihkan dirumah karena BDR (Belajar Dari Rumah) dengan menggunakan video tutorial yang guru buat untuk diikuti oleh anak di rumah. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisa dan mengetahui bagaimana metode proyek dari pengembangan kegiatan kreativitas anak selama masa karantina covid 19, penelitian ini adalah penelitian kualitatif deskriptif dengan mengungkapkan fakta – fakta yang ada. Subjek dari penelitian ini adalah berjumlah 4 anak dari kelas TK B. Pengumpulan data dengan cara menganalisa video rekaman proyek bubur kertas sebanyak 4 kali yang dilakukan oleh siswa dirumah dengan orang tua sebagai fasilitator, instrumen wawancara dan dokumentasi. Penilaian kreativitas berdasarkan 4 tahapan kreativitas yaitu : persiapan, inkubasi, iluminasi, dan verifikasi. Hasil setelah anak diberikan video tutorial proyek bubur kertas yaitu anak menjadi lebih semangat dalam berkreativitas, senang dengan hasil karya, termotivasi untuk mengerjakan proyek hingga selesai, dan metode proyek bisa dilaksanakan dirumah maupun disekolah untuk terus mengasah kemampuan kreativitas anak
Upaya Meningkatkan Kemampuan Berhitung Permulaan Melalui Media Puzzle Pada Anak Usia 5-6 Tahun Di TK Permata Asri Serpong Kota Tangerang Selatan
Authors: Suarsih Suarsih , Istiarini Ratna 
Published: February 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kemampuan berhitung permulaan melalui media puzzle pada anak didik kelompok B TK Permata Asri Serpong Kota Tangerang Selatan. Metode yang digunakan adalah penelitian tindakan kelas yang dilakukan sebanyak tiga (3) siklus. Prosedur penelitian ini terdiri dari 4 tahap yaitu perencanaan tindakan, pelaksanaan tindakan, observasi dan refleksi. Metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Subjek penelitian ini adalah anak didik kelompok B anak yang mengalami masalah kemampuan berhitung permulaan, seperti mengenal konsep bilangan, membedakan lambang bilangan, dan dalam menulis lambang bilangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa terjadi peningkatan kemampuan berhitung permulaan dengan media puzzle. Kemampuan berhitung permulaan anak pada siklus I mencapai 40%, pada siklus II meningkat mencapai 60% dan meningkat lebih baik lagi pada siklus III yaitu 80 %. Dengan demikian dapat disimpulkan bahwa variasi dalam pembelajaran memiliki peranan penting dalam meningkatkan kemampuan berhitung permulaan melalui media puzzle. Dengan demikian terbukti bahwa penerapan melalui media puzzle dapat meningkatkan kemampuan berhitung permulaan anak kelompok B di TK Permata Asi Serpong Kota Tangerang Selatan.