bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Study of Antibacterial Effect of Nigella sativa Seed Extracts on Bacterial
Isolates from Cases of Wound Infection
Authors: Babu Boinu , Rao Pooja , Suman Ethel , Udayalaxmi Jeppu 
Published: April 2023

Background:
With an increasing trend of pathogenic bacteria developing resistance to the
existing drugs, there is a need for newer therapeutic measures. Nigella sativa seeds and oil have been
used for decades as Ayurveda, Unani Tibb and other forms of traditional medicine for various disorders.
Thymoquinone is one of the active components of the N. sativa seeds.

Objective:
The present study determines the antibacterial effect of crude methanolic extract N. sativa
seeds and thymoquinone against bacteria causing wound infection.

Methods:
Samples obtained from cases of wound infection received at a Microbiology laboratory attached
to a tertiary care hospital over a period of six months were included in the study. The antibacterial
effect of crude methanolic extract of N. sativa seeds was determined by the Punch Well method.
The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of thymoquinone against bacteria isolated from cases of
wound infection was determined by the Micro Broth Dilution technique.

Results:
A total of 60 isolates were collected from 60 samples of wound infection. By the Punch Well
method, Staphylococcus aureus showed varying zones of inhibition whereas all gram-negative bacilli
and Enterococcus faecalis did not show any zone of inhibition. Thymoquinone showed good antibacterial
activity against S. aureus with MIC values ranging from 2-8μg/ml for most of the isolates. Uniformly,
MIC of thymoquinone against all gram-negative bacilli and E. faecalis was >128μg/ml,
p<0.001. It was found that methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates showed higher MIC than
methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolates p<0.05.

Conclusions:
Antibacterial activity of thymoquinone was very good against S. aureus but showed
limited activity against Enterobacteriaceae members and E. faecalis isolated from patients with wound
infection. Thymoquinone may be considered a potential antibacterial agent against wound infection
caused by S. aureus.
Dexamethasone Acetate Nanocrystals, Characterization and Dissolution
Studies in Presence of Polymorphic Phases
Authors: Lemos Barbosa Thúlio Wliandon , da Gama  Bastos Flavia Lemos Ayres , da Silva Bruna Lallo , Junior João Augusto Oshiro , Chiavacci Leila Aparecida 
Published: April 2023

Background:
A drug with poor water-solubility, like Dexamethasone acetate, can present
lower bioavailability conventional for pharmaceutical formulations, and the presence of polymorphs in
the raw material can lead to drug quality problems.

Objective:
In this study, nanocrystals of dexamethasone acetate were synthesized by high pressure homogenizer
(HPH) method in surfactant poloxamer 188 (P188) solid dispersion and the bioavailable in
raw material with polymorphism presence was evaluated.

Methods:
The powder pre-suspension was prepared by the HPH process, and the nanoparticles formed
were incorporated in P188 solutions. The nanocrystals formed were characterized by techniques of
XRD, SEM, FTIR, thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS) to analyze the particle size and zeta potential, and in
vitro evaluation by dissolution studies.

Results:
The characterization techniques were adequate to show the presence of raw material with physical
moisture between two dexamethasone acetate polymorphs. The nanocrystals formed in the presence
of the P188 in the formulation showed a considerable increase in the rate of dissolution of the drug in
the medium and in the size of the stable nanocrystals, even in the presence of dexamethasone acetate
polymorphs.

Conclusion:
The results showed that it was possible to produce dexamethasone nanocrystals by HPH
process with regular size by the presence of the small amount of P188 surfactant. This article presents a
novelty in the development of dexamethasone nanoparticles that have different polymorphic forms in
their physical composition.
Assessing Patients’ Critical Health Literacy and Identifying Associated Factors: Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Shan Yi , Ji Meng , Dong Zhaogang , Xing Zhaoquan , Xu Xiaofei 
Published: April 2023

Background
Previous studies have revealed that functional health literacy plays a less important role than communicative and critical health literacy (CRHL) and that communicative literacy and CRHL contribute more to better patient self-management. Although improving health literacy has been identified as an approach to fostering community involvement and empowerment, CRHL may be regarded as the neglected domain of health literacy, rarely achieving any focus or interventions that claim to be working toward this outcome. Considering this research background, close scholarly attention needs to be paid to CRHL and its associated factors.

Objective
This study aimed to assess CRHL and identify essential factors closely associated with the status of CRHL among Chinese patients and to provide some implications for clinical practice, health education, medical research, and public health policy making.

Methods
We conducted this cross-sectional study, which lasted from April 8, 2022, to September 23, 2022, following the steps below. We first designed a 4-section survey questionnaire and then recruited Mandarin Chinese–speaking patients from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, China, using randomized sampling. Subsequently, we administered the questionnaire via wenjuanxing, the most popular web-based survey platform in China, between July 20, 2022, and August 19, 2022. Finally, we used latent class modeling to analyze the valid data collected to classify the patient participants and identify the factors potentially associated with different CRHL levels.

Results
All data in the 588 returned questionnaires were valid. On the basis of the collected data, we classified the patient participants into 3 latent classes of limited, moderate, and adequate CRHL and identified 4 factors associated with limited CRHL, including middle and old age, male sex, lower educational attainment, and low internal drive to maintain one’s health.

Conclusions
Using latent class modeling, we identified 3 classes of CRHL and 4 factors associated with limited CRHL among the Chinese study participants. These literacy classes and the predicting factors ascertained in this study can provide some implications for clinical practice, health education, medical research, and health policy making.
Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factors of Sarotherodon galilaeus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Nguru-Gashua Wetlands, Northeast Nigeria.
Authors: Segun Ashley-Dejo Samuel , Abubakar Idi-Ogede Musa , Sabo Mohammed , Musa Musa Alhaji , Ijabo Ogah Samuel 
Published: April 2023

This study examined the length-weight relation and condition factor of Sarotherodon galilaeus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Nguru-Gashua wetlands, Northeast, Nigeria. A total of 375 specimens were purchased from local fishermen at the designated landing sites for six months. Results of morphometric characteristics showed that the body weight of male S. galilaeus ranged from 127-770 g (601.7±28.01) and females ranged from 272 – 704 g (711.3±38.12). Meristic features show that spinous anal fin rays were constant in both sexes while soft dorsal fin rays, pectoral fin rays, soft anal fin rays and spinous dorsal fin rays had the same range for both sexes. The sex ratio (1:2.18) observed in this study tends to favour male species but contrasts with the general assumption of a sex ratio of 1:1. Mean coefficient of determination was 0.89±0.07 and 0.87±0.07 for male and female S. galilaeus respectively indicating that length-weight relationship model is very reliable. This implies that the change in weight of the sampled fish was caused by 88.52% and 86.68% change in length of male and female S. galilaeus respectively. It was further revealed that both sexes (b = 2.86±0.18 and 2.88±0.35) had negative allometric growth patterns. The wetland's environmental conditions were within a tolerable range for cichlids.
State-level Taylor rule and monetary policy stress
Authors: Duran Hasan Engin , Gajewski Pawel 
Published: April 2023

Research background: Taylor rule is a widely adopted approach to follow monetary policy and investigate various mechanisms related to or triggered by monetary policy. To date, no in-depth examination of scale, determinants and spillovers of state-level monetary policy stress, stemming from the Federal Reserve Board?s (Fed?s) policy has been performed.
Purpose of the article: This paper aims to investigate the nature of monetary policy stress on US States delivered by the single monetary policy by using a quarterly dataset spanning the years between 1989 and 2017.
Methods: We apply a wide array of time series and panel regressions, such as unit root tests, co-integration tests, co-integrating FMOLS and DOLS regressions, and Spatial Panel SAR and SEM models.
Findings & value added: When average stress imposed on states is calculated, it is observed that the level of stress is moderate, but the distribution across states is asymmetric. The cross-state determinants behind the average stress show that states with a higher percentage of working-age and highly educated population, as well as those with higher population density and more export-oriented are negatively stressed (i.e. they experience excessively low interest rates), whereas higher unemployment rate contributes to a positive stress (too high interest rates). To the best of our knowledge, the contribution of this paper lies in estimating monetary policy stress at the state level and unveiling some of the determinants of this stress. Moreover, the paper makes the first attempt to empirically test spatial spillovers of the stress, which are indeed found significant and negative.
Managing recurrent otitis externa in dogs: what have we learned and what can we do better?
Authors: Nuttall Tim 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Recurrent otitis externa is a common problem in dogs. Topical treatment for each flare is successful in the short term, but repeated cycles of inflammation and infection lead to chronic inflammatory changes, pain and aversion, and antimicrobial resistance. These make the flares more frequent and harder to control. Eventually, the changes become irreversible and require a total ear canal ablation/lateral bulla osteotomy or ablative laser surgery. Most ear canal surgery is avoidable if recurrent otitis is properly managed at an earlier stage. This requires a different mindset and approach to these cases, taking advantage of recent research and clinical findings. Most importantly, clinicians must appreciate that all recurrent ear infections in dogs are secondary. To achieve a good long-term outcome, it is essential that all the underlying factors in each case are diagnosed and managed using the primary, secondary, predisposing, and perpetuating framework. This means that the primary condition must be diagnosed and managed, the secondary infection treated, predisposing risks identified and corrected, and the perpetuating factors reversed. Treatment is in 2 phases: induction to get the ears in remission and then long-term maintenance therapy to prevent relapses. Treatment should be appropriate to each dog but will typically involve ear cleaning, topical antimicrobial therapy, and topical or systemic glucocorticoids. Novel treatments for infection and inflammation will offer additional options in the future. Understanding the triggers for recurrent otitis in dogs will help clinicians plan effective management regimens that will make a huge difference to the quality of life of their patients and their owners.
Trade Facilitation During COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Petrović Ivana Popović 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The role of international trade was irreplaceable at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, especially the trade in medical supplies and food for all affected countries. Trade as a part of this crisis, certainly should not be an element of further countries` closing and new trade barriers implementation. On the contrary, it could be a way to exceed these problems, especially if all participants in the trade point out the same aims of the normal trading during the pandemic crisis and implementation of Trade Facilitation Agreement provisions. The effects of Trade Policy measures during the COVID-19 crisis and their relation with the Trade Facilitation Agreement were analyzed in this paper. Trade measures applied at the beginning of the crisis have dual character, trade facilitating and trade restricting. This paper highlights the tariff reduction and non-tariff barriers decrease, as possible approaches for the trade policy. The aim of this paper is to show the extent to which the TF agreement, ratified recently, could be applied during the time of the pandemic. This paper provides an overview of a number of trade policy measures that have slowed down the implementation of this agreement. It also points out the role of this agreement, as one of the most important instruments that could be used to expedite the movement of goods, which is especially necessary during the pandemic.
The Challenges of Cloud Technology Implementation in Oil Companies
Authors: Milovanović Slavoljub , Milovanović Goran , Lakićević Bogdan 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Given that data and information have become the most valuable assets of companies that can be efficiently and economically stored in the cloud infrastructure, there is great pressure on business entities to capitalize on this business and technological opportunity. There is a particular pressure on oil companies to find new ways to create a competitive advantage by using the opportunities offered by cloud-based businesses. This is primarily a result of the fact that the reorientation of business activities to this type of storage and integration of data and applications represents a major change in the business world, and the growth trend continues in all aspects of the business. This paper deals with the possibilities and challenges of applying cloud technology in oil companies operating in turbulent conditions caused by fluctuations in oil prices in the global market..
The Effects of Globalization on the International Competitiveness of the Western Balkan Countries
Authors: Savićević Marko , Veselinović Petar , Makojević Nikola 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The Western Balkan countries, which are in the late transition process, fail to take advantage of the opportunities brought by globalization and the removal of restrictions to the free flow of capital, technology, knowledge, people and information. Despite the entry of a significant stock of foreign capital into these countries, they failed to significantly improve the technological level of production and the competitiveness of their economies. The subject of the paper research is the examination of the impact of globalization on the reached level of competitiveness of the economies of the Western Balkan, as well as the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in the period before the emergence of the COVID crisis. The question raised in the paper is to what extent the process of globalization and the entry of transnational corporations into the Western Balkan countries affected their economies’competitiveness. These two issues permeate each other to a large extent, considering that the governments of the transition countries believe that the foreign capital inflow, in the form of highly sophisticated technology, will simultaneously enable the completion of the transition process and a more decisive integration of the five countries of the Western Balkan in global investment and trade flows. The research confirmed that the degree of involvement in international economic flows has a statistically significant and positive impact on the growth of competitiveness, and that these effects are more pronounced in the Western Balkans than in the Central and Eastern European regions.
The Influence of Digital Currency on the Banking Sector in Europe
Authors: Jakšić Milena , Todorović Violeta , Matić Jelena 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Historically, financial and monetary innovations have triggered positive and negative changes in the everyday operations of the financial sector. Similarly, digital currencies can significantly reshape the future of banking and financial intermediaries. Whether the aspect of digital currencies is through the public sector such as in central banks, digital currencies, or private means such as in cryptocurrencies, the eventual rollout of such innovative instruments has a critical influence on the retail use of digital assets. At the same time, digital currencies may create new risks and vulnerabilities in the financial or banking sector whose implications should be thoroughly assessed. However, the magnitude of the risks depends on the designs and policies attached to the digital currencies in use. These features of digital currencies trigger the subject of discussion in this paper. By outlining the benefits and risks associated with digital currencies in the banking sector, the paper aims to highlight the overall impact of digital currencies in the banking sector and available remedies to control the risks. Therefore, the paper provides information that is critical to the banking sector policymakers interested in digital currencies.
Protective Measures Against COVID-19 and their Impact on Guest Satisfaction and Behaviour Intentions: The Case of the Hotel Industry of Serbia
Authors: Perić Goran , Dramićanin Sandra , Sekulić Dejan 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
After drastically changing the global tourism and hospitality industry, the current pandemic made hotel companies better understand the new situation and begin to adapt to new market developments. The hotel industry has made significant advances and changes in its business to guarantee the health and safety of guests. This research aimed to examine the consequence of hotels' protective measures against the COVID-19 virus on guest attitudes about protective measures, satisfaction and behavioural intentions. Research findings indicate the protective measures versus COVID-19 utilized by hotels in Serbia positively impact guest attitude towards the measures and guest satisfaction. In contrast, the impact on behavioural intentions is not statistically significant. Additionally, guest attitude towards the measures positively affects guest satisfaction. Guest satisfaction positively affects guest behavioural intentions, while the relationship between guest attitudes and behavioural intentions is not statistically significant.
Interdependence of Public Health Expenditure Efficiency and Economic Development in Growing OECD Economies and the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Prole Ljiljana , Đurović-Todorović Jadranka , Božić Dragana 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Economic shocks represent a challenge for health systems because they decrease public revenue, and at the same time, increase the need for publicly funded health care. Since health expenditure is rapidly increasing in most countries, its efficiency must be tested. The subject of research in this paper is exactly the interdependence of public health expenditures and their efficiency, expressed through the anticipated life expectancy, as well as their relationship with economic growth. The correlation analysis conveyed in this paper refers to the period 2010-2019 and it is based on OECD countries’ data, growing OECD economies data, and the data for the Republic of Serbia..
Expression of the Non-classical HLA-E, -F, -G Molecules in the Tumour Microenvironment
Authors: Ormandjieva Anastasia 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The human leukocyte antigen complex (HLA) is mainly known for its highly polymorphic classical molecules (class Ia and class II), which play a role in tumour immune modulation. The focus of this review, however, is on non-classical, significantly less polymorphic HLA-E, -F, and -G molecules (HLA-Ib), which are expressed by both immune and malignant cells in the tumour microenvironment. Recent findings indicate that the presence of HLA-G and -E in malignant tumours is associated with lowered overall survival of patients, whereas HLA-F is the least investigated and information about its role is more limited.
Biometric authentication sensor with an encryption module for prevention of h/w hacking in digital custody services
Authors: Lee Soojun , Yeo Hyeopgoo , Kang Mingoo 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
In this paper, a digital personal safe system was proposed with Fast ID Online (FIDO) transaction authentication and multiple decentralized ID (DID) personal authentications based on a home gateway. This individual custody model of personal multiple authentications will be linked to the transaction authentication of digital assets stored in the storage space of the home gateway by the DID of smart devices and the FIDO server for a public platform that excludes digital asset (cryptocurrency [e.g., Bitcoin] or NFT asset) management based on individual private keys and user interaction (user interface and user experience [UI/UX]) at home. To strengthen the security of the proposed digital custody model, it was proposed to apply a local device to which a biometric sensor equipped with an encryption module that can fundamentally block the hacking of biometric information is applied. It is implemented with Verilog for an embedded fingerprint sensor block and decryption program implemented with C.
Changes in the services of general interest in mountainous areas in Poland over the period 1988–2020: Their types, dynamics and driving forces
Authors: Sikorski Dominik , Latocha-Wites Agnieszka , Tomczak Przemysław , Szmytkie Robert , Miodońska Paulina , Kajdanek Katarzyna 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Changes in the services of general interest (SGI) of peripheral locations in the depopulating mountainous areas in Poland, in the context of their socio-economic transformation over the period 1988–2020, are discussed in this contribution. A total of 13 SGI of different importance, scope and purpose, both social and economic, were analysed in the study (e.g. basic health centres, libraries, pharmacies, post offices, primary schools). The institutions were categorised according to the target groups of beneficiaries: residents and tourists. The research was mainly based on the analysis of statistical data using basic statistical methods. This research revealed that the SGI has been declining in quantitative terms, particularly in rural areas, and the service facilities have become concentrated mainly in towns and in some villages with tourist infrastructure. In general, access to SGI in rural areas has become more difficult with exceptions for settlements with developed tourist functions. The number of and access to SGI is largely related to the number of inhabitants of a given settlement, its location, and the development of the tourist functions there.