bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improvement of the Efficacy an WHO Alcohol-based Hand Rub Formulation by Reducing Isopropanol Content and Associating Syzygium aromarticum and Piper nigrum Essential Oils
Authors: Ismail Mahamat , Penlap Veronique , Mbacham Wilfred F. , Kamdem Sylvain Leroy Sado 
Published: July 2019

Aim: This work was carried out in order to reduce the isopropanol contain of a World Health Organization (WHO) basic alcohol based hand rub (ABHR) formulation by substituting part of it with ethanol and essential oils.
Study Design: A quasi-experimental design was used, based on WHO basic formulation modification, antimicrobial assessment followed by a panel test and challenge test of the best formulation.
Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out in different laboratory of the University of Yaoundé 1 during March 2017 to July 2018.
Methodology: This study was performed by producing different formulations nested from the WHO basic formulation and testing their antimicrobial capacity on selected strains based on the microbial percentage reduction. Following this, the best formulation was compared to two commercial products trough a panel test and later challenged with selected organism (Staphylococcus aureus SR196, Salmonella Typhi 15SA, Escherichia coli ATTC25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01) inoculated in the product after different storage periods for one year and the antimicrobial stability assessed on the same strain for the same length of conservation.
Results: The partial substitution of isopropanol with ethanol and Piper nigrum and Syzygium aromaticum essential oils proved to possess more antimicrobial properties than the original WHO formulation. The best formulation caused a 6 Log cells/ml reduction of the initial population compared to the 4 Log cells/ml of the WHO formulation. The product also proved to maintain its activity for one year and to be able to deactivate possible contaminations by Salmonella Typhi 15SA, Staphylococcus aureus NCTC10652, Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01.
Conclusion: The present work is a contribution to the improvement of ABHRs and could permit the reduction of hand hygiene associated infections in industries and health care facilities.
Gut Microbiota Dysbiotic Pattern and Its Associated Factors in a Cameroonian Cohort with and without HIV Infection
Authors: Ako Simon Eyongabane , Akum Eric Achidi , Assob Jules Clement N. , Nkenfou Céline Nguefeu , Benjamin Pokam Thumamo , Eteneneng Enoh Jude , Nchang Cho Frederick , Mbanya Mbanya Gladice 
Published: July 2019

Aims: To compare the gut microbiota dysbiotic pattern between the HIV-negative individual and HIV-positive patients with /or without first-line ARV and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis treatment through culture-dependent technique. And additionally to access the associations of gut microbiota at the genus level with sociodemographic and clinical factors.
Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Participants were selected from the South West region at the Buea Regional Hospital UPEC unit. The study spanned from August 2018 to April 2019.
Methodology: We included 160 participants. Fecal and blood samples were collected from HIV-negative individuals (n=40), HIV-positive treatment naïve (n=40), HIV-positive + ARV (n=40) and HIV-positive + ARV + Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (n=40). A self-structured questionnaire was administered to collect sociodemographic data. The stool samples were plated using three non-selective and ten selective media and colonies were identified using biochemical characterization methods. The CD4+ T cells (cells/mm3) count were evaluated with BD FACSCount System. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Categorical variables were analysed using the Chi-square test and multinomial Logistic regression analysis was used to verify associations between variables.
Results: The HIV-treatment naïve individual fecal samples showed a significantly increased growth occurrence for Candida (P < .001) and Fusobacteria (P < .001); and a decreased growth occurrence for Enterobacteriaceae family (P < .001), Staphylococcus (P < .001), Lactobacillus (P < .001) and Bifidobacteria (P < .001) compared to those of HIV-negative individuals. HIV-positive individuals on ARV and Cotrimoxazole had their stool samples showing a significantly decreased growth occurrence for Escherichia (P = .014), Salmonella (P = .002) and Staphylococcus (P = .04) compared to HIV-positive patients on ARV only. Increased growth occurrence of particular gut microbiota among participants was more likely associated with age, origin, residence community, occupation, drink, diet, and CD4+T cell count.
Conclusion: Our findings uncover dysbiotic changes at the genus level in the gut through culture-dependent technique in an adult Cameroonian population. The study enriched our insight on the effect of ART and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in promoting dysbiosis towards a positive outcome by lowering pathobionts levels. Additionally, we revealed associations of sociodemographic and clinical factors with the occurrence of particular gut microbiota, thus reiterating the need for more in-depth and longitudinal studies to corroborate our findings.
Evaluation of Nephroprotective Properties of Aqueous and Hydroethanolic Extracts of Crinum scillifolium against Gentamicin Induced Renal Dysfunction in the Albino Rats
Authors: Bienvenu Koffi Francis , Cyril Droucoula Guillaume , Florian Yessoh Bogui , Felix Yapi Houphouët , Timothée Okpekon Aboua 
Published: July 2019

Aims: Gentamicin, a widely used aminoglycoside antibiotic, is recognized as possessing significant nephrotoxic potential in human beings. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of Crinum scillifolium on gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity using biochemical approaches and determined the most active extract in rat.
Study Design: The leaves of Crinum scillifolium were collected in the district of Me (Côte d’Ivoire). The plant was identified and authenticated by the Department of Botany, Felix Houphouet Boigny University of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire).
Place and Duration of Study: Analysis of the plant samples was done in pharmacodynamics Biochemistry Laboratory, Felix Houphouet Boigny University and the Laboratory of Organic Chemistry and Natural Substances, Felix Houphouet Boigny University between July and August 2018.
Methodology: The extractions were execcuted by macerating 100 g of plant dry powder in 1 liter of distilled water (aqueous extraction) or in 2 liters of water / ethanol mixture (30/70 V / (ethanol extraction). The animals were divided according to weight in seven groups each of six rats. The nephroprotective effects were estimated by comparing the effects of the extracts (100 and 200 mg / kg) to that of vitamin E (250 mg / kg) against gentamicin-induced renal failure by (80 mg / kg). Gentamicin is administered to the animals one hour after treatment with the extracts for seven days.
Results: The administration of gentamicin through intraperitoneal route to rats for seven days, resulted in an increase in urea and creatinine concentrations as well as decrease of total protein concentration in the serum. The level of total protein and albumin increased in urine after administration of gentamicin. The treatment of animals suffering from nephrotoxicity with Hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts of Crinum scillifolium would have significantly reduced (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01) biochemical parameters considered as markers of nephrotoxicity.
Conclusion: This study proved that the aqueous extract of Crinum scillifolium possesses a nephroprotective activity against gentamicin-induced kidney failure in rats. So aqueous extract can be useful for preventives applications.
Malaria in Pregnancy: Prevalence and Risk Factors in the Mamfe Health District, Cameroon
Authors: Elime Felix Amate , Nkenyi N. Rene , Ako-Egbe Luis , Njunda Ann , Nsagha Dickson 
Published: July 2019

Background and Aim: Malaria remains a major public health problem and a global threat to humanity especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In a bit to combat malaria in Cameroon, about 8million Cameroonian received the insecticide treating nets (ITNs) in 2011. However, hospital based reported prevalence of malaria still remains high. Our objective was to determine the community based prevalence and possible risk factors of malaria in pregnancy in the Mamfe health district, south west region-Cameroon.
Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional study involving 269 pregnant women in the Mamfe health district of Cameroon. Three out of the 5 health areas were randomly selected and pregnant women were later sampled by convenience and an interviewer administered questionnaire was done. Also rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for malaria was done for all the participants. Data was analysed using Epi info version 3.5.4 at a level of error of 5%.
Results: Of the 269 pregnant women who took part in the study, 106 (39.6%) were positive for malaria. Risk factors associated with developing malaria among them were: presence of mosquito breeding sites (OR=0.001, 95%CI; 0.02-0.27, p-value=0.001), not sleeping under Insecticide treated nets(ITNs) (OR=0.01, 95%CI; 0.01-0.03, p-value=0.001), bushes around houses (OR=0.24, 95%CI; 0.07-0.79, p-value=0.02) and not taking intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) (OR=0.08, 95%CI; 0.01-0.49 p-value=0.01). Majority of participant knew malaria can be prevented by sleeping under ITNs 75% (95%CI; 69.9-80.5) and uptake of IPT 23.8% (95%CI; 18.8-29.2).
Conclusion: Prevalence of malaria in pregnancy in the Mamfe health district is higher than reported by the regional delegation of public health for the south west. Risk factors include: mosquito breeding sites, bushes around compound, not taking IPT and none use bed nets are known to pregnant women. Interventions to fight against malaria in pregnancy should target intensification of health education on environmental hygiene and use of ITNs.
“Black Ink” Sonographic Pattern as a Predictor for Invasive Papillary Thyroid Micro Carcinoma: A Case Report
Authors: Trapanese Ersilio , Angrisani Basilio , Angrisani Alberto , D’Arco Ermanno , Agrusta Mariano , Bartolomeis Carmine De , Laudati Stefano , Tarro Giulio 
Published: July 2019

Background: This study investigated the utility of the Sonographic pattern "Black Ink" with BRAF mutation testing of thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology specimens for the risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).
Case Presentation: We describe a case of a 41-year-old Caucasian woman affected by a ultrasonography “Black Ink” papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) of the left lobe of the thyroid gland with very tiny size (Ø 0.4 cm). The characteristics, with the Diagnostic Imaging using Ultrasonography (US), Superb Micro-Vascular Imaging (SMI), fine-needle-aspiration cytology (FNAC) and mutation analysis are here discussed. There are more rare subtypes of thyroid cancer as papillary microcarcinoma "Black Ink" that even if small, are invasive and there is why the need to early diagnosis to avoid their aggressive behavior is needed. Nowadays, focusing on the size, the cut-off for non-occult tiny tumors has dropped to 0.3 cm. This value is of great relevance.
Conclusion: Ultrasonography, FNAC and BRAF molecular study have proven to be the most sensitive diagnostic combination for the early detection of thyroid cancer. Despite the size of this micro-lesion, the Black Ink ultrasonographic pattern associated with malignant cytology at FNAC represents an important biological risk factor and could still be a predictor of the PTMC and risk for neck lymph node metastases.
Sensory Evaluation of Shrimp Flavored Nile Tilapia Mortadella
Authors: Filho R. Bernadino , Silva O. S. , Queiroga A. X. M. , Oliveira S. N. , Oliveira M. N. , Vasconcelos U. A. A. 
Published: July 2019

Objectives: The aim was to develop and evaluate the microbiological and sensory characteristics of a mortadella made from mechanically separated shrimp flavored Nile Tilapia.
Study Design: In the data generated in the acceptance test of the mortadellas, the averages and standard deviations were calculated and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was subsequently performed, the averages were compared by the Tukey test, at the level of 5% significance.
Place and Duration of Study: Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Department of Graduate Studies in Process Engineering, between January 2017 and May 2018.
Methodology: Three mortadellas formulations were developed with varying concentrations of shrimp flavored aromatic extract. In formulation M0.5 0.5% was added, in formulation M0.75, 0.75%, and in formulation M1 1% of aromatic extract. In the microbiological analyses, Staphylococcus coagulase-positive, Salmonella sp. and Coliforms at 45°C were determined. Acceptance and purchase intention tests were performed with 100 untrained judges.
Results: All formulations presented microbiological characteristics within the standards established by the legislation in Brazil. The sensory tests indicated a good acceptance of all mortadellas samples, achieving an acceptability rate of 85.97% for formulation M1, and 84.42% and 80.25% for formulations M0.75 and M0.5 respectively. The addition of higher concentrations of aromatic extract had a positive influence on the acceptance of the products. For the purchase intention test, M0,75 and M1 formulations were statistically equal (p<0.05) and had a better evaluation with averages of 4.32 and 4.38 respectively, corresponding to the term "I would possibly buy".
Conclusion: It can be presumed that the formulations developed are an alternative to add value to the residues from the processing of tilapia filleting, and can be used in the elaboration of mortadella with healthier and more nutritious characteristics and with a possible acceptability for marketing.
Assessing the Need for and Constraints to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Integration in the Teaching and Learning of Tourism at Higher Education Institutions in Kenya
Authors: Kinyanjui D. N. 
Published: July 2019

The aim of the current paper is to provide an extensive review of the theoretical and empirical literature that justifies the need for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the teaching and learning of tourism in the Kenyan institutions of higher learning. Further, a review of existing constraints is also explained using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) which has proved to be a suitable theoretical model in helping to explain and predict user behaviour of information technology and subsequently proposes the way forward towards enhanced integration. This study examines literature review that reveals the different points of view in relation to the integration of ICT in teaching and learning in tourism higher education institutions in Kenya. Specifically this paper sought to establish the various ICT resources applicable in tourism education, determine the benefits of integrating ICT in tourism education and lastly establish the external factors and user based factors that influence or constrain acceptance of ICT in tourism education in higher institutions and recommend the way forward.
The findings from the literature reviewed indicates that, the use of ICTs transforms the teaching and learning experience by changing the manner in which the tourism and hospitality skills and knowledge is acquired. However, the need for more appropriate modes of delivery to make the tourism education programmes more convenient for the modern student is quite crucial. Findings further showed that students are willing to adapt and use ICTs for learning but there are numerous barriers that are either user or institutional based. It was established that institutions are slow to implement their use while lecturers are slow to adapt to their use. Other barriers to the integration of instructional technology into higher education that were identified included poor technology infrastructure, lack of proper institutional policies on ICT use and minimal low computer use competency. Further, many higher online educational institutions had failed due to the high cost of technology, poor decisions, competition, and the absence of a business strategy. Consequently, many universities that provide e-learning face enormous difficulty in achieving successful strategies, including the delivery, effectiveness, and acceptance of the courses. To effectively utilise ICT in tourism teaching and learning in Higher Education Institutions (IHEIs) will require proper network infrastructures, increased computer to student ratios, good Internet connectivity speeds with high availability as well as technical support for the users. There is also a need for a change in the tourism curriculum to integrate the use of ICTs in teaching and learning while at the same time, enhance policies that recognise and award those who use of ICTs for teaching.
Photographic Changes in the Alar Base Width in Using Modified Alar Cinch Technique Following Lefort I Osteotomy: A Narrative Review
Authors: Momeni Mehrnoush , Mortazavi Seyed Mostafa 
Published: July 2019

Introduction: The alar cinch techniques are used in order to control the alar base widening following Le Fort I surgeries. Three main alar cinch techniques include classic, Shams-Kalantar and modified techniques. There is scarcity of scientific literature regarding the modified technique therefore, this review was conducted to assess the photographic changes in the alar base width following Lefort I osteotomy using the modified Cinch technique.
Methods: Literature search was performed using the “Modified”, “alar base”, “Lefort I osteotomy” keywords in the Web od Science, PubMed and Scopus databases. Articles published between 2010 till Jun 2019 were included in the study. Identified articles were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria by two researchers independently and the identified articles were discussed afterwards.
Results: The search yielded 7 articles in English language. The findings of all the included studies revealed that the modified technique was as effective as the classic and Shams-Kalantar techniques. Furthermore, it was reported that the modified technique was more effective in controlling the alar base width in case of alar base flaring.
Conclusion: The findings of this review revealed that the modified cinch technique was more effective compared to other techniques. In conclusion, the advantages of the modified technique including better control of the alar base width and improved patient satisfaction following orthognathic surgery out power its disadvantages.
Design of Wavy Ag Microwire Array for Mechanically Stable, Multimodal Vibrational Haptic Interface
Authors: Kang Joohoon , Park Jae Hoon , Choi Dong‐Soo , Kim Do Hwan , Kim Sang‐Youn , Cho Jeong Ho 
Published: July 2019

AbstractA vibrotactile interface is an actuator device to convey haptic information intuitively from electronics to users. For the next‐generation of user‐friendly interface applications, the vibrotactile actuator is required to be vibration intensity/frequency controllable, mechanically stable, transparent, and have large scalability. Previously, although these requirements are satisfied via several approaches using a random network film of Ag wires or a mixture with conductive polymers, the random‐network‐based materials only have limited control on material density and uniformity, which in turn hinders precise control over vibration intensity and device transparency. Here, a new approach to assemble large‐scale Ag microwire arrays is demonstrated by involving an evaporative assembly method and is presented to overcome the current limitations. In particular, the 1D wavy structure derived from fractal designs promotes vibration intensity and cycling due to greater areal coverage and improved mechanical stability. Furthermore, by taking advantage of the precisely aligned microwires array, tunable multimode vibration frequencies are obtained by generating two different voltage frequencies. The large‐scale wavy Ag microwire array with precise spatial controllability will be directly adaptable as a user‐friendly interface in electronic applications like wearable devices, computer interfaces, and flexible mobile phones.
Ionic Modulation of Electrical Conductivity of ZnO Due to Ambient Moisture
Authors: Milano Gianluca , Luebben Michael , Laurenti Marco , Porro Samuele , Bejtka Katarzyna , Bianco Stefano , Breuer Uwe , Boarino Luca , Valov Ilia , Ricciardi Carlo 
Published: July 2019

AbstractMoisture can strongly affect reliability and functionalities of a wide range of electronic devices based on metal‐oxide semiconductors, where the electrical conductivity can be influenced by the deposition technique and the environment. In this work, the influence of moisture on electrical conductivity of zinc oxide (ZnO) is investigated, revealing that moisture and protons can impact not only the electronic conduction, but can provide additional ionic species that actively participate in the conduction mechanism. Single crystalline nanowires are exploited as model systems for investigating the effect of adsorbed species on ZnO surfaces, revealing that hydroxide species are responsible for the creation of a depletion region on the surface that decreases the electronic conductivity. The same mechanism is attributed to the decreasing of conductivity by increasing the moisture content in ZnO polycrystalline films, where moisture is adsorbed at grain boundaries. At high activities of moisture, it is observed that moisture‐related species can migrate along the highly oriented grain boundaries resulting in an increase of the global conductivity due to the ionic current flowing in parallel to the electronic one. More generally, the results highlight the importance of the environment and the ionic contribution in determining the electrical conductivity of nanostructured devices.
A Nonvolatile Phase‐Change Metamaterial Color Display
Authors: Carrillo Santiago García‐Cuevas , Trimby Liam , Au Yat‐Yin , Nagareddy V. Karthik , Rodriguez‐Hernandez Gerardo , Hosseini Peiman , Ríos Carlos , Bhaskaran Harish , Wright C. David 
Published: July 2019

AbstractChalcogenide phase‐change materials, which exhibit a marked difference in their electrical and optical properties when in their amorphous and crystalline phases and can be switched between these phases quickly and repeatedly, are traditionally exploited to deliver nonvolatile data storage in the form of rewritable optical disks and electrical phase‐change memories. However, exciting new potential applications are now emerging in areas such as integrated phase‐change photonics, phase‐change optical metamaterials/metasurfaces, and optoelectronic displays. Here, ideas from these last two fields are fused together to deliver a novel concept, namely a switchable phase‐change metamaterial/metasurface resonant absorber having nonvolatile color generating capabilities. With the phase‐change layer, here GeTe, in the crystalline phase, the resonant absorber can be tuned to selectively absorb the red, green, and blue spectral bands of the visible spectrum, so generating vivid cyan, magenta, and yellow pixels. When the phase‐change layer is switched into the amorphous phase, the resonant absorption is suppressed and a flat, pseudowhite reflectance results. Thus, a route to the potential development is opened‐up of nonvolatile, phase‐change metamaterial color displays and color electronic signage.