Urinary Orosomucoid (α-1-Acid Glycoprotein) As A Single Potential Biomarker Through PET Assay for Diagnosis of Early Onset Sepsis in Neonates: A Review

Neonatal sepsis is a condition in which bacteria are present in an infant’s sterile body fluids. It is considered one of the most common causes of infant death, with nearly one million deaths per birthday and approximately 2 million deaths in the first week of life. To aid in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, a potential new biomarker for early neonatal sepsis called orosomucoid (ORM) or α1-glycoprotein (α1AGP) in urine is being evaluated because of its greater accuracy than current diagnostic tools. Combined with particle turbidity analysis (PET), neonatal sepsis can be diagnosed in an immediate, sensitive, specific and non-invasive manner. The early local increase in urinary ORM in sepsis suggests that it could be a new promising marker of sepsis and an important part of routine laboratory and clinical practice.

Students’ Output in the Distance Learning in Relation to the Teachers’ Subjectivity in the Times of Pandemic: A Descriptive Study

The CoViD-19 pandemic has brought change to everything including the landscape of education. It has changed the way how the teachers teach, and the students learn. Due to the different challenges bought by this phenomenon, consideration atop of everything is done including assessment. This study aims to determine the subjectivity of the teachers in assessment in the new normal. This determines whether the challenges in the new normal specifically the channels and forms of assessment influences the teachers’ subjectivity in assessing the students. To achieve this, the study determined the demographic profile, assessment practice, perception on the output of the students in the new normal and their standards in assessment. Mixed method research design was used in the study. It was found that there is relationship between the educational attainment and the teachers’ preference on what to be checked more carefully – hardcopy or softcopy. The teachers’ designation shows that it has a relationship regarding the view on whether to set a maximum and minimum grade limit in assessing the students. Moreover, there is a correlation between the teachers’ perception and their standards in assessment. This study suggests that what the teachers perceive has something to do with their assessment standard. Thus, if they perceive to be more subjective (which the respondents agree as a result of this study) in these times of pandemic, they will be subjective in standardizing their assessment.

Plastic Packaging: A Study on Plastic Imports in Uganda

Plastic packaging is crucial in preserving the quality of products. It has become ubiquitous, and an inseparable part of daily life and the food industry due to its aesthetic attributes, strength, affordability and convenience of use. This has thus led to the increase in demand and imports of plastics in the country. However, plastic packaging alone accounts for 47% of global plastic waste amidst documented threats of plastic waste to the environment-water-food-health nexus. Several reports indicate that between 1994 and 2017, Uganda imported a total of 1.9 million tons of plastic in both raw and finished form compared to 117 million tons across Africa. Imports and use of plastics in Uganda have increased by six-fold within the last three years hence extrapolating the growing challenge for sustainable plastic imports, product packaging, and waste management. The objective of the review therefore was to explore the future trend and impact of plastic imports and packaging in Uganda by analyzing plastic imports and the associated waste. The study further reviews the challenges arising from the growing demand for plastic packaging and presents a discussion on the solutions and potential ways forward for win-win benefits. Several strides to curb the menace of plastic waste are presented, which are manly from the private sector and plastic recycling businesses. A conclusion is made that if these efforts are to meet the intended leaps of change, the government of Uganda has to support the private organisations through grants, space allocation for collection centers and media access across the country. Furthermore, stricter regulations on excess plastic importation have to be implemented by the government as the country develops locally grown solutions to plastic packaging and use.

ROX Index as a Predictor of Intubation Risk and 28-Day Mortality in COVID-19 Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Background: The main concern when treating COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) during high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is delayed intubation, thus increasing the risk of prior mortality. This study aims to analyze the prognostic ability of the Respiratory Rate Oxygenation (ROX) index as a predictor for intubation and 28-days mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of COVID-19 patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Dr. Soetomo General Hospital in Surabaya from July to December 2020 with ARDS. The ROX indices were recorded at the 1st hour, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th, and 48th hours of treatment in ICU with HFNC. Identification of ROX association with HFNC failure led to intubation and 28-days mortality was through Cox proportional hazards regression. The most specific cut-off of the ROX index for predicting intubation and 28-days mortality was assessed. Result: Among 78 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 26 (33.3%) patients required intubation. Out of 26 patients, six patients were extubated and had survived. The 28-days mortality rate is 20 (25.6%) patients. The ROX index at 12th hours (ROX-12) ≤ 4.85 (AUC 0.857; p<0.001; HR 4.7) and the ROX index at 48th hours (ROX-48) ≤ 5.68 (AUC 0.858; p<0.001; HR 5.4) can accurately predict the need for intubation. ROX-12 ≤ 4.745 is a predictor of 28-days mortality (AUC 0.85, p<0.001; HR 10.2). Conclusion: ROX index predicts the risk of intubation and 28-days mortality especially ROX-12 and ROX-48. Utilization of ROX index for rapid assessment of the respiratory deterioration in COVID-19 is recommended.

Financial Statement Analysis of Nanjing Yinfei company based on Harvard Analytical Framework

The Harvard Analytical Framework is a financial analysis framework jointly proposed by three Harvard economists. Analysis of financial statements based on the Harvard framework not only helps to identify problems in the business process, but also to predict future growth potential. In this paper, the publicly traded company Nanjing Sonic was selected as the target company for the study. The Harvard Analytical Framework was adopted as an analytical tool to analyze the operating conditions and financial status of the target company for the years 2015-2019. A comparison with similar companies reveals the problems that exist. Finally, we forecast the future development prospects of the company.

The Need of Performing an Energy Audit in a Metallurgical Industry: A Case Study of The Ajaokuta Foundry Shop

The research work focuses on the need to perform an energy audit in a metallurgical industry concerning the operations of the Foundry Shop of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited. Some basic components for performing the energy audits were discussed. The foundry processes and operations are based on the production of components for other basic industries where their components are used for manufacturing processes like the quarry industries, battery industries, manufacturing, and other process industries. To produce the desired components that the vessel used for the production processes like the Electric Arc Furnaces, the Induction furnace, the crucible furnace, and centrifugal furnaces must be utilized for the effective and optimal production processes tHrough constant monitoring and sustenance of the energy used during the production process. To achieve these production processes, there is always a need to perform energy audits of the facilities used. One method is to design methods of monitoring the power consumed per heat cycle, the duration taken for the production cycle to be completed, and cost expenditure. The need of performing research work was due to the anomalies observed during the melting processes of the two furnaces, the six-tonne Electric Arc Furnace and the One-tonne induction furnace. It was observed that the melting cycle of 2½ to 3 hours was not maintained rather more time, more energy, and more money are wasted on every melting process. To put these situations to check the production processes for the two furnaces were monitored from 5/10/ 2006 to 21/11/2007 for the Six tonnes capacity Electric Arc Furnace and from 03/06/2005 to 01/08/2007 respectively. The data generated were used for the analytical processes of the energy audits. Methods of presenting energy reports and energy action plans were brought to the fore. The performance of the energy audits indicated that much energy was consumed, more time was taken for completing a melting cycle as against the standard while a lot of money is being wasted whenever production processes take place.

Revealing the Tectonic Structure of the Bay of Iskenderun Using the Markov Random Fields Method

One of the important issues in Gravity and Magnetic prospecting is to separate regional and residual anomalies. Determination of this separation between them is also crucial. Markov Random Fields (MRF) method is used to distinguish these anomalies. The most important property of this method is to make use of stochastic characteristic in neighborhood and 2D view. MRF does not need any training before use. This method is first applied to magnetic anomaly map consisting of prisms. After application, MRF method gives satisfactory results. We use Iskenderun Bay magnetic anomaly map to determined off-shore fault lines. According to our results, we reveal fault lines along Iskenderun Bay.

Decision Support System for Green Supplier Selection Using the Fuzzy Inference System Method in Abrasive Companies

The development of information and communication technology makes it easier for users in the industrial world to make decisions in choosing environmentally friendly suppliers more easily. This study aims to determine the selection of green suppliers of all the criteria that have been determined and make a decision support system for selecting green suppliers with the Fuzzy Inference System method. The method used in making identification of green supplier selection is to create criteria based on fuzzy rules and to make digital business modeling using business process modeling notation. Decision support there are 4 criteria used, namely price, reject quality, late delivery and environmental management. Based on the results of research conducted it is known that with the fuzzy inference system method that is assisted using matlab software, the optimization results on the fuzzy inference system show that prices are 20.5%, quality is 5.5%, environment is 5.5%, and material delays are 3%, then supplier performance in selecting green suppliers with a decision making system of 55% so that green supplier selection is obtained at abrasive companies.

Cupola Furnace Design and Fabrication for Industrial Development

The Cupola Furnace Capacity of 450 kilograms per hour was designed and fabricated using locally sourced raw materials which include pig irons, crop ends and foundry shop returns, and ferroalloys for the production of quality cast iron which depends on the customer’s demand. Metallurgical coke is the main fuel source employed for the production processes. The design parameters were analyzed and the metallic shells were then fabricated into four sections to allow proper lining. A mild 5 mm thick steel sheet was collected, marked out according to the required specification. slit and formed into cylindrical shapes. The sections were coupled and joined together through a welding process. Sodium silicate was used as a binder to make them bondable to the interior sections, the internal configurations were first lined with asbestos sheets measured 5 mm thick. with a less dense insulating refractory material. Fireclay refractory bricks were used for furnishing as they directly interfaced with the molten metal, while the flame blower was connected, assembled, and erected in the different segments. Financial analysis was performed to give a general overview of the cost of manufacturing and building a cupola furnace produced locally at N1,467,266.00, which is relatively cheap compared to the imported ones. The technical details were given for the production processes. The raw materials used were sourced locally as they are readily available in quantum and are essential to the government policies on adding values to the production processes by using these materials to promote the addition of these materials for the creation of local content.

Physicochemical, nutritional and functional properties, rate of polyphenols and flavonoids of the Stenochlaena tenuifolia (BLECHNACEAE) leaves

The general objective of this study is to contribute to the promotion of edible wild vegetables available in Madagascar. Its specific objective is to determine the physicochemical, nutritional and functional properties and the polyphenols and flavonoids contents of the Stenochlaena tenuifolia (BLECHNACEAE) leaves. Physical, physicochemical and biochemical methods have been used to characterize the powder from the leaves of this plant. The results obtained showed that the powder of the Stenochlaena tenuifolia leaves has a pH equal to 5.25±0.04 and an acidity equal to 2.57±0.23%. Its water and dry matter contents are respectively equal to 3.35±0.03% and 95.65±0.01%. Its macronutrient content, such as proteins, crude fat and carbohydrates, expressed in grams per 100 grams of dry matter, are respectively 32.30±0.17; 4.27±0.06 and 49.71±0.01. The metabolizable energy provided by this powder (in kcal per 100g) is 292.02±0.01. Its crude ash content is 10.35±0.04%. Its mineral elements content, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, zinc and copper (in mg per 100 g) of this powder are respectively 81.78±0.29; 287.15±6.60; 3140.59±24.64; 15.64±0.16; 540.90±7.71; 4.91±0.13 and 2.85±0.03. The potential renal acid load of this plant is –52.88. The functional properties, such as water and oil retention capacities, the hydrophilic-lipophilic ratio and the solubility index of the powder produced are respectively 486.29±8.44%; 170.00±8.16%; 2.86 and 20.36±0.20%. Its total polyphenols and total flavonoids contents are respectively 457.01±0.15mg pyrogallol equivalent per gram of dry matter and 15.12±0.23mg quercetin equivalent per gram of dry matter. Therefore, this plant has important nutritional, functional and phytochemical properties. Thus, this wild leaf vegetable can be used to fight against malnutrition and especially protein-energy malnutrition which affects almost the entire population in Madagascar.