Preparing Modified Bonding Representations Inventory: Challenges and Solution

Collecting data on learners' performance in different chemistry contents and analysing them to identify their knowledge and understanding in related content areas is a major task of Chemistry Education Research. The data collection process on the learners' content knowledge and understanding of content knowledge requires a standard measuring tool. The preparation of standardized tools for measuring academic achievement requires computer software. All software used in the standardization of a tool comes at a cost and requires training for the researcher involved in handling the situation, which can impede the smooth running of a project. The same was the situation when the author was working on modifying the bonding representations inventory (BRI) for its local use in South Africa. The data analysis laboratory was situated in a different city, 500 km away from the researcher's field of work. Owing to the long distance and communication delay, the author was concerned with delays in the project. It is known that necessity, which can create an opportunity. The Microsoft Excel (MS-Excel) platform was used for standardizing the modified BRI because MS-Excel is available as a standard in MS-Office on the Windows platform. This paper presents a fact. That, a tool can be standardized by using MS-Excel without any complexity.

Effectiveness of Perioperative Local Use of Anesthetics and Antiseptics in Patients with Purulent-necrotic Lesions of Lower Extremities in Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Every second patient with the diabetes mellitus (DM) needs surgery due to purulent-necrotic changes in the feet. The aim of the study was comparative morphological examination of the course of the wound process in purulent-necrotic lesions of the lower extremities of patients with DM with different approaches to local treatment in the perioperative period. Materials and Methods: We investigated changes in the histological structure and the nature of the reactions of skin tissues, muscles and fascia during the healing of an ulcer in patients with the diabetes mellitus after various types of local treatment. Then the specimens were photographed and analyzed using the OLIMPUS BX 41 light microscope. Results: In the first comparison group, which used standard anesthesia techniques and locally antiseptic povidon-iodine - granulation tissue was characterized by the complete absence of fibrous structures and the presence of a small number of small-sized neoplastic vessels with swollen endothelium. And in patients of the II observation group who received locally decamethoxin and infiltration anesthesia with a 2% solution of lidocaine after surgery during the study of histological preparations of the affected tissues, a significant decrease in signs of pathological vascular reaction was established compared with the comparison group. Conclusions: In group 1 (control) healing of wounds on the third-seventh day is characterized by somewhat slow regeneration. Wound healing was most favorable in patients of the second group, where infiltration anesthesia was used by local anesthetic and antiseptic decamethoxin.

Using knowledge translation to establish a model of hospital-based early supported community reintegration for stroke patients in South Korea

Background In 2019, the South Korean government started designating rehabilitation medical institutions to facilitate the early return of patients with stroke (PWS) to their communities after discharge. However, a detailed operating model has not yet been suggested. We aimed to develop a hospital-based early supported community reintegration model for PWS that is suitable for South Korea based on knowledge translation in cooperation with clinical experts and PWS. Methods Clinical experts (n = 13) and PWS (n = 20) collaboratively participated in the process of developing the early supported community reintegration model at a national hospital in South Korea, using the following phases of the knowledge-to-action cycle: (1) identifying knowledge, (2) adapting the knowledge to the local situation, (3) assessing barriers and facilitators to local use of knowledge, and (4) tailoring and developing the program. Barriers and facilitators to local use of knowledge were assessed multidimensionally at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, and community level based on the social-ecological model. Literature reviews, workshops, individual and group interviews, and group meetings using nominal group technique were conducted in each phase of the knowledge-to-action cycle. Results Each phase of the knowledge-to-action cycle for developing the early supported community reintegration model and a newly developed model including the following components were reported: (1) revision of strategies of organizations related to community reintegration support, (2) establishment of a multidepartmental and multidisciplinary community reintegration support system, (3) standardization of patient-centered multidisciplinary goal setting, (4) multidimensional classification of community reintegration support areas, and (5) development of guidelines for a tailored community reintegration support program. Conclusions We designed a hospital-based multidimensional and multidisciplinary early supported community reintegration model that comprehensively included several elements of community rehabilitation in connection with hospitals and communities, taking into account the South Korean situation of lacking community rehabilitation infrastructure. In developing a guideline for a tailored community reintegration support program, we attempted to take into consideration various situations faced by PWS in South Korea, which is in a transitional stage for community rehabilitation. It is expected that this early supported community reintegration model can be referenced in other countries that are in a transitional stage of community rehabilitation.

Digging Deeper: Understanding the Illegal Trade and Local Use of Pangolins in Palawan Province, Philippines

The illegal wildlife trade represents an urgent conservation challenge, but measuring, understanding, and designing interventions to address it is a complex task. As some of the world's most illegally trafficked wild mammals, pangolins are regularly observed in the illegal wildlife trade, but little is known of the intricacies of the trade at local levels, particularly for lesser-known species such as the Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis). This research represents the first range-wide study to concurrently document local use and trade of the Philippine pangolin across Palawan Province, Philippines, and provides new information on trade actors, dynamics, and the conditions that help to facilitate this industry. The study was carried out across 18 Palawan municipalities, covering all mainland municipalities, Araceli Island, and the Calamianes Island group. A mixed methods approach was used, combining 1,277 bean count surveys to investigate consumption and hunting levels, alongside 59 in-depth key informant interviews to better understand trade logistics and dynamics. Our results suggest that local use of the species is geographically widespread, but trade hubs were most frequently reported from northern municipalities. Several enabling conditions help facilitate trade across the province, and our data suggest the species may be contributing to the international pangolin trade at levels considerably higher than seizure records indicate.

A case of severe corneal-conjunctival xerosis caused by long-term local use of inocaine in a patient with viral conjunctivitis (COVID-19)

The article describes a rare case of conjunctivitis in a 25-year-old patient that developed 5 days before the first typical signs of COVID-19 disease appeared, and led to cicatricial changes in the conjunctiva in the form of bilateral partial external symblepharon and mild dry eye syndrome, and later chronic dacryocystitis of the right eyes. Surgical treatment of simblepharon led to its relapse in the right eye with gradual development of severe DES with a significant decrease in visual acuity. The prescribed complex therapy with drops of dexamethasone, restasis, vitabact and tear-suppressing drugs (Oftagel, Vita Pos ointment) for several days, however, led to extensive detachment of the corneal epithelium and the development of a superficial ulcer of the right eye with a keratomalacia area in its lower part. In the process of inpatient treatment recommended to the patient at one of the councils, it suddenly turned out that the patient had been periodically instilling inocaine into his right eye for anesthesia for several months on his own. It was the decrease in sensitivity against the background of prolonged instillations of the local anesthetic inocaine that aggravated the violation of the stability of the tear film, led to a significant decrease in tear secretion and a cytotoxic effect, which gradually led to the development of severe corneal-conjunctival xerosis. The performed inpatient treatment and subsequent outpatient treatment led to the relief of inflammation, epithelialization of the ulcer. Key words: conjunctivitis, COVID-19, complication, simblefaron, inocaine anesthetic, corneal-conjunctival xerosis.

Zoledronate Bound to Ceramics Increases Ectopic Bone Volume Induced by rhBMP6 Delivered in Autologous Blood Coagulum in Rats

Autologous bone graft substitute (ABGS) containing rhBMP6 in autologous blood coagulum (ABC) with synthetic ceramics is a novel therapeutic solution for bone repair. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the application of Zoledronate (ZOL) with ABGS might enhance the properties of newly formed bone. The effect of ZOL on bone induction was tested in a rat subcutaneous implant model. ZOL bound to synthetic ceramics was added into ABGS implants, and the quantity, quality, and longevity of the induced bone were assessed by micro-CT, histomorphometry, and histology over a period of 365 days. Local use of ZOL in the ABGS implants with ceramics had no influence on the bone volume (BV) on day 14 but subsequently significantly increased BV on days 35, 50, 105, 140, and 365 compared to the control implants. Locally applied ZOL had a similar effect in all of the applied doses (2–20 µg), while its systemic use on stimulating the BV of newly induced bone by ABGS depended on the time of application. BV was increased when ZOL was applied systemically on day 14 but had no effect when applied on day 35. The administration of ZOL bound to ceramics in ABGS increased and maintained the BV over a period of one year, offering a novel bone tissue engineering strategy for treating bone defects and spinal fusions.

Structure, Conduct and Performance Analysis of Sheabutter Marketing in Oyo State, Nigeria

The study investigated the marketing practices, channels of sheabutter distribution and performance using multi stage sampling techniques to select three local government area for the study in Oyo State. The results showed about 91% of the respondents were female, the average age of the respondents was 35.5 years. Most (92.5%) of the respondents were married with average household size of 8 members. Marketing efficiency was 135% which implies that the respondents covered the cost of marketing and made a margin above 100%. Unavailability of sheabutter due to deforestation and credit unavailability were the major constraints faced by sheabutter marketers. Furthermore, Household size (p=0.005), marketing experience and member of organization (p=0.001), source of shea butter (p=0.01) and credit availability (p=0.005) were factors influencing marketing efficiency of the respondents. The study concluded that sheabutter marketing was a profitable enterprise in the study area. The study recommended that there should be proper awareness on the prospect of sheabutter business (either for local use or exportation) among young people; this will be an avenue to alleviate the scourge of unemployment in the country.

DEVELOPMENT OF POLYMERIC MICROPARTICLES WITH RADACHLORINE AND ESTIMATION OF THE PROSPECTS OF THEIR USE IN PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Introduction. Nowadays, the development of delivery systems based on micro- and nanoparticles is being actively pursued to increase the selectivity and efficiency of photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy. Such microparticles could increase the effectiveness of the already used chemotherapeutic drugs due to their accumulation in the tumor and help to overcome the drug resistance of tumor cells.The aim of this research was to obtain microparticles based on a biocompatible block copolymer of lactic and glycolic acids with the inclusion of the photosensitizer radachlorin, magnetic nanoparticles, and perfluorodecalin and their subsequent evaluation as therapeutic agents for photodynamic therapy.Materials and methods. Microparticles were obtained using the double emulsion method, described using of electron microscopy. Evaluation of their photodynamic properties was carried out using spectrophotometry and MTTtest on cell culture.Results. Spherical microparticles with a size of less than 1 μm were obtained. The release of the active substance from microparticles occurred gradually over two weeks, and in the case of the presence of magnetic nanoparticles, the concentration of radachlorin remained practically unchanged for a month. Exposure of microparticles to the light of LED is accompanied by the formation ofsinglet oxygen. Electron microscopy indicated intracellular position of microparticlesin tumor cells. The MTT test revealed a significant inhibition of cell viability in the presence of microparticles.Conclusion. The research results allow us to consider the obtained biocompatible polymer microparticles with the inclusion of radachlorin as a depot of radachlorin for local use in photodynamic therapy of tumors.

CLINICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL SUBSTANTIATION OF TOPICAL APPLICATION OF SORPTION HYDROPHILIC/HYDROPHOBIC COMPOSITION BASED ON NANOSILICA IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH BURNS

Relevance.One of the promising methods of treatment of patients with burns is the local use of sorption agents with antimicrobial properties. Objective: experimental study of antimicrobial properties and clinical evaluation of the effectiveness of local use of a new sorption composition based on nanosilica in the complex treatment of patients with burns. Materials and methods. The suggested sorption nanocomposition included highly dispersed silicon dioxide, polymethylsiloxane, decamethoxine, metronidazole. The experimental study involved the study of the antimicrobial properties of the sorption nanocomposition and antimicrobial agents which are part of it. The clinical material consisted of the results of examination of 42 patients with IIab-III degree burns with an area of 10-30% of the body surface. Depending on the tactics of local treatment, patients were divided into 2 groups: after early necrectomy, xenodermoplasty, the wound surface of the patients in the main group (n = 20) was treated with a solution of decamethoxine in combination with the same sorption powder. Treatment in the comparison group (n = 22) was similar except the use of sorption drugs. The examination included visual inspection of the injured area in combination with microbiological monitoring of the wound contents on the 3rd,7th,14th day. Results. The obtained results confirmed the sufficient antimicrobial potential of the studied sorption nanocomposition, the properties of which are not inferior to the existing antiseptics for museum and clinical strains of microorganisms and fungi. Signs of a more favorable wound healing process of the patients in the main group were observed: faster wound cleaning, less inflammatory reactions and much shorter preparation of wounds for grafting. Conclusions. The obtained results convincingly indicate the effectiveness of a multicomponent composite based on nanosilica with antimicrobial components in a comprehensive treatment of patients with burns.

Organosilane and Lignosulfonate Stabilization of Roads Unbound: Performance during a Two-Year Time Span

The construction of the new Norwegian E39 highway comprises the excavation of extended tunnelling systems, which lead to a tremendous amount of blasted rocks. Among others, a sustainable cost-benefit application of these resources is represented by their local use as construction material in the unbound layers of the roads. Two types of nontraditional additives are investigated to improve the mechanical properties of aggregates; this is particularly useful for those rocks that do not fulfil the design requirements in their natural status. This work focuses on the field application of two innovative stabilizing technologies based on organosilane and lignosulfonate. The performance of these additive agents is characterized by considering three typical road base layer sections built on purpose according to real practice and added with water (no treatment), organosilane, and lignosulfonate. The test sections are subjected to climatic actions only as neither traffic nor surface courses are applied. With the investigation covering two years, the layers’ stiffness, deformation, and resistance to penetration are evaluated by employing a light-weight deflectometer and dynamic cone penetrometer. Both organosilane and lignosulfonate significantly enhance the mechanical properties of the treated base layers.