Use and analysis of UV varnish printed braille information on commercial packaging products

This paper investigates the possibility of reproducing Braille by UV ink-jet printing on self-adhesive labels, previously printed by flexo printing technol- ogy. The aim was to determine whether it is possible to reproduce Braille, the degree of quality of created Braille dots (cells), the legibility of Braille text, and how many layers of varnish are necessary for quality reproduc- tion. The Braille letter was applied to the previously printed label (design) using 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 layers of varnish. It has been found that it is possible to reproduce a quality and legible Braille. With the increase in the number of layers, the assessment of legibility and quality of reproduction by the respondents also increased. Samples reproduced with 12 layers of varnish received a very good grade of legibility and good grade for quality of Braille. Samples reproduced with 8 and 10 layers received bad grades for legibility, and even worse for quality, while samples with a higher number of layers of varnish, 14 and 16, received even better grades. The threshold for quality reproduction would therefore be the use of 12 layers of varnish, where a good ratio of workmanship and economy is obtained.

Early brain injury and cognitive impairment after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage

The first 72 h following aneurysm rupture play a key role in determining clinical and cognitive outcomes after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Yet, very little is known about the impact of so called “early brain injury” on patents with clinically good grade SAH (as defined as World Federation of Neurosurgeons Grade 1 and 2). 27 patients with good grade SAH underwent MRI scanning were prospectively recruited at three time-points after SAH: within the first 72 h (acute phase), at 5–10 days and at 3 months. Patients underwent additional, comprehensive cognitive assessment 3 months post-SAH. 27 paired healthy controls were also recruited for comparison. In the first 72 h post-SAH, patients had significantly higher global and regional brain volume than controls. This change was accompanied by restricted water diffusion in patients. Persisting abnormalities in the volume of the posterior cerebellum at 3 months post-SAH were present to those patients with worse cognitive outcome. When using this residual abnormal brain area as a region of interest in the acute-phase scans, we could predict with an accuracy of 84% (sensitivity 82%, specificity 86%) which patients would develop cognitive impairment 3 months later, despite initially appearing clinically indistinguishable from those making full recovery. In an exploratory sample of good clinical grade SAH patients compared to healthy controls, we identified a region of the posterior cerebellum for which acute changes on MRI were associated with cognitive impairment. Whilst further investigation will be required to confirm causality, use of this finding as a risk stratification biomarker is promising.

Prevalence and Predictors for Depression among Medical Students during Coronavirus Disease-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Since the declaration of the World Health Organization of the coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) as a pandemic, several countries have locked down and quarantined their residents with restrictive procedures to control spread of the disease. Due to pandemic related stressors, concerns and worries have developed regarding negative psychological impact on the mental well-being of the general population, particularly those known to have higher levels of psychological impairment with high vulnerability to mental health diseases such as medical students. AIM: The objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence of self-reported depression and to explore its predictors during the period of Coronavirus Disease 2019 first lock down among medical students. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study design. The study was conducted at Kasr Alainy Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt, in June 2020. A simple random sample was picked of one subgroup of 4th year medical students (No. = 300) at faculty of medicine during the academic year 2019–2020. Self-administered questionnaires including Beck’s Depression Inventory scoring were distributed using Google form through communication social media such as WhatsApp. RESULTS: Out of the 300 participants, 238 responses were received with response rate 79.3%. Results indicated that 38.2% of the respondents were experiencing depression with different degrees with Beck’s Depression Inventory mean scores was 19.4 ± 11.6. Multiple logistic regression analysis point out that gender (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4 and p = 0.022) and “Good” grade level of academic performance (OR = 7.2 and p = 0.045) are significant predictors for developing depression among the participating medical students. CONCLUSION: A significantly high prevalence of depression is detected among medical students during the first wave of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. The prevalence of depression is more among females than males and more with medical students achieving “Good” grade level.

Teacher's Competence

This study aimed to improve the professional competence of Indonesian language teachers in applying the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) learning model at State Senior High School 1 Muara. This research is a Classroom Action Research involving 6 Indonesian language teachers. The research was conducted in two cycles, namely: planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. Aspects measured in the observations were teacher teaching performance, teacher interaction with researchers, interaction with other Indonesian language subject teachers, collaboration with other teachers, making lesson plans, learning processes, evaluating the implementation of Problem-Based Learning (PBL). From the data analysis, it was found that there was an increase in teacher activity and competence in implementing the PBL model. In the initial condition, from 54.00 (criteria for poor score) increased to 66.00 (criteria for sufficient value) and 76.00 (criteria for good value). In the aspect of learning implementation, the average score of 55.21 (criteria for low scores) increased to 65.43 (sufficient value criteria) and 75.43 (good value criteria) in the second cycle. In the aspect of assessment of learning outcomes, from an average of 53.58 (criteria for poor scores) to 65.42 (criteria for good scores) and 77.42 (criteria for good scores). Also, in the aspect of classroom management from 54.00 enough and 75.83 ( good grade criteria). From the results above, it can be concluded that the implementation of the Problem-Based Learning model with academic supervision has been proven to improve the professional competence of teachers in managing the learning process

Evaluation of Hermetia illucens fly maggots zoocompost influence on some agrophysical parameters of soil

Nowadays the application of intensive agriculture methods, based on using mineral fertilizers, plant-protecting agents, cultivating operations, has resulted in soil cover degradation. The usage of organic fertilizers can improve the structure and agrochemical characteristics of soil. As organic fertilizers the composts of various compositions are used, including those based on poultry-farming and stock-raising enterprises’ waste with the use of other components – peat, sapropel, wood processing waste and food production waste. The application of composts represented with vermiculture products is also known – the organic matter vermicomposting products, or those formed at rearing insects, for example, Hermetia illucens fly. As a result of organic waste bioconversion by feeding it to Hermetia illucens fly maggots a zoocompost is formed, which is a mix of maggots’ excrements and undigested waste residues. In this work we researched the influence of zoocompost, formed at rearing maggots of a fly of the dipteran order – Hermetia illucens, – its amount, conditions and methods of its application on physical characteristics of soil fertility – granulometric texture and moisture deposit at the end of growing season. The evaluation was performed by results of a micro-plot field experiment on a specially allotted plot. The research findings have demonstrated that zoocompost in its nutrient elements content corresponds to organic fertilizers, and by its physical parameters it can be used as soil loosener. The application of zoocompost to soil samples in amount of 5 t/ha increases the moisture deposit by 28.4% and improves the structural state of soil to the «good» grade in comparison with the control plot.

Evaluation of Microneedling With or Without Topical 5-fluorouracil in Treatment of Stable Non-segmental Vitiligo

Background This study will evaluate the effect of microneedling of vitiligo lesion with and without topical 5 fluorouracil. Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder of unknown etiology, affecting approximately 1 % of the world population, without predilection for race or sex. It is characterized by white macules and patches, whose size increases over time, due to the loss of melanocytes. Vitiligo can appear at any time, and it significantly impairs the patients’ quality-of-life Objective To compare the efficacy of microneedling followed by 5-FU with microneedling alone in the treatment of stable non-segmental vitiligo. Patients and Methods This interventional study was held in Dermatology, Andrology & STDs department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University during the period from January till November 2019. Fifty patients with stable non-segmental vitiligo were included in the study. Results Regarding the efficacy of treatment with microneedling only vs microneedling with 5-FU in our study, there is statistically significant difference between the two sides according to treatment response, needling with 5-FU side showed response in 76% of cases, while needling side alone showed (0%) response. The degree of improvement among our patients in microneedling with 5-FU side, we detect different grades of repigmentation as 12 patients of the studied participants (24%) showed no repigmentation, 23 patients (46%) showed mild grade (<25% repigmentation), 15 patients (30%) showed moderate grade (25–50% repigmentation) and no one of the studied participants experienced either good grade (50–75% repigmentation) either excellent grade (more than 75% repigmentation). Our study showed no relation between repigmentation response and both demographic and clinical data of the patients as (age, gender, family history, duration of disease, VASI severity score and Fitzpatrick skin phototype). On the other hand, we found statistically significant difference with better repigmentation after microneedling with 5FU on certain sites of vitiligo. We noticed that lesions on the trunk and extremities showed better results while the acral parts showed no response. Observing side effects after treatment, we noticed that, there is statistically significant difference in side effects incidence between two sides. Side treated with microneedling and 5FU experienced more frequent side effects as compared with the side treated with microneedling only, these side effects included, slight to moderate pain and burning sensation during procedure that was tolerated and disappeared within few minutes to hours and minimal erythema in the first few days post procedure. Conclusion On the basis of the current study, we can conclude that microneedling followed by topical 5% 5-FU of vitiligo lesion is safe and tolerable method of treatment of vitiligo. It can induce repigmentation in vitiligo lesion but it could not be considered as effective method of treatment. We need to combined it with other treatment modalities to improve the outcome. However, long followup of the patients is needed.

MENGUATKAN BRANDING TENUN ENDEK KHAS BULELENG MELALUI REVITALISASI PEWARNAAN DENGAN FIKSATOR NANOPASTA ANORGANIK BERBAHAN ABU VULKANIK GUNUNG AGUNG

In the Covid-19 pandemic era, most of craft industries, including Buleleng endek ethnical woven crafts, had an impact on sales drastically. Woven craft industries did some preventive efforts, one of them was through enhancing ecofriendly industry branding, i.e. through intensifying yarn dying using natural colors from local raw materials. However, the main problems on color quality, color fastness, tensile strength and ductile ability of colored yarns resulted by natural dyeing should be handled. Our current finding on inorganic nanopaste fixator of natural colors could be as solution. The natural color dyeing technology was applied for cotton as well as silk yarn by using local color natural resources. It resulted that the yarns had better color quality, good grade color fastness and higher tensile strength and ductile ability. The industrial partner had good response on the natural dyeing technology, where it was also supported by good response from costumer candidates of the endek woven crafts. The revitalization of natural dyeing technology through applying inorganic fixator nanopaste affected the stronger branding of Buleleng endek woven crafts through enhancing the selling revenue.

Part-Time Working Opportunities and the Impact on Students’ Academic Achievement

Purpose: This research investigates the impact of being part-time-worker students towards their academic achievement. Methodology/Approach/Design: This research used qualitative descriptive research method which is appropriate for the design of this research. The data were collected from 44 higher students for the questionnaire and 10 students for the interview at English Department, IAIN Kediri by administering 32 questions for the questionnaire and 14 questions for the interview. Results: The finding of this research is discovering that there are two main motivations to be a part-time-worker student, financial factor and experience factor. However, the part-time-worker students are still able to achieve good grade point average (GPA) or even they can achieve better academic achievement caused by the experience they got by being part-time-worker student and it cannot be got from only being an ordinary academic student. Therefore, higher students can be a part-time worker students by paying attention on time management which plays a pivotal role and finding out a minimum duration for working but it can cover what their purposes are. Practical Implication: The findings of this study present various implications for concerned authorities to address the emerging issues of university students. Joining a part-time job has its merits and demerits. However, further exploration of this phenomenon has to be implemented. Originality/Value: The study examines a social issue that is continually aggravating. The results of the study offer an insider look into the students’ motifs and pressures exerted upon them to join part-time jobs.

Laser-assisted hatching in lower grade cleavage stage embryos improves blastocyst formation: results from a retrospective study

Background Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) has been widely applied to facilitate blastocyst hatching in IVF-ET treatment, however, the effect of LAH on subsequent development and clinical outcomes of the lower grade cleavage stage embryos (LGCE) remains unknown. Our study aimed at evaluating the effect of LAH on blastocyst formation and the clinical pregnancy outcomes of LGCE embryos after transfer. Methods A total of 608 cycles of IVF/ICSI treatment from November 2017 to September 2019 were included in our study as follows: 296 in the LAH group and 312 in the N-LAH group. The total blastocyst rate, usable blastocyst rate, good-grade blastocyst rate and clinical pregnancy rate were statistically compared between the two groups. Results The total blastocyst rate (50.7% vs 40.2%, P < 0.001), usable blastocyst rate (31.0% vs 18.6%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the LAH group than those in the N-LAH group. After analysis of generalized estimating equations, LAH was positively correlated with the blastocyst rate (B = 0.201, OR 95% CI = 1.074–1.393, P = 0.002), usable blastocyst rate (B = 0.478, OR 95% CI = 1.331–1.955, P < 0.001). However, the clinical pregnancy rate after blastocyst transfer did not differ between LAH group and N-LAH group (49.4% vs 40.0%, P > 0.05, respectively). Conclusions A higher proportion of total blastocysts and usable blastocysts can be obtained by LAH in LGCE, which may be beneficial to the outcome of the IVF/ICSI-ET cycle.