bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of in vitro resistance to fluoroquinolones in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Zhao Lei , Wang Shiqi , Li Xiaobing , He Xiaojing , Jian Lingyan
Published: August 2020

Fluoroquinolone resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa typically arises through site-specific mutations and overexpression of efflux pumps. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of different resistance mechanisms in P. aeruginosa populations that have evolved under fluoroquinolone pressure, as well as the interactions between these mechanisms in evolutionary trajectories. Bacteria of strain ATCC27853 were selected under different concentrations of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin for six parallel lineages, followed by amplification of four target genes in the quinolone-resistance determining region (QRDR) and Sanger sequencing to identify the mutations. The expression of four efflux pump proteins was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction using the relative quantitation method, with the ATCC27853 strain used as a control. We found that ciprofloxacin killed P. aeruginosa sooner than did levofloxacin. Further, we identified five different mutations in three subunits of QRDRs, with gyrA as the main mutated gene associated with conferring fluoroquinolone resistance. Additionally, we found a larger number of mutations appearing at 2 mg/L and 4 mg/L of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, respectively. Moreover, we identified the main efflux pump being expressed as MexCD-OprJ, with initial overexpression observed at 0.25 mg/L and 0.5 mg/L of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, respectively. These results demonstrated gyrA83 mutation and MexCD-OprJ overexpression as the primary mechanism conferring ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin resistance in P. aeruginosa. In addition, we also show that ciprofloxacin exhibited a stronger ability to kill the bacteria while potentially rendering it more susceptible to resistance.
Correction to: Brain-derived exosomes from dementia with Lewy bodies propagate α-synuclein pathology
Authors: Ngolab Jennifer , Trinh Ivy , Rockenstein Edward , Mante Michael , Florio Jazmin , Trejo Margarita , Masliah Deborah , Adame Anthony , Masliah Eliezer , Rissman Robert A.
Published: August 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Plant diseases detection with low resolution data using nested skip connections
Authors: Pardede Hilman F. , Suryawati Endang , Zilvan Vicky , Ramdan Ade , Kusumo R. Budiarianto S. , Heryana Ana , Yuwana R. Sandra , Krisnandi Dikdik , Subekti Agus , Fauziah Fani , Rahadi Vitria P.
Published: August 2020

At the moment, there are increasing trends of using deep learning for plant diseases detection. However, their implementations may be difficult in developing countries due to several reasons. First, existing deep learning models are usually trained with images with adequate resolutions. In developing countries however, with limited internet connection, models that would perform well even when data with low resolution are used are needed. Secondly, the generated models are large. Hence, most deep learning based applications are available on-line. Unfortunately, the trend for new deep learning architectures are either have larger models or require a heavy memory usage. So, models with smaller size would be preferred. In this paper, we evaluate various existing deep learning models for plant diseases detection when low resolution data are used. They are: VGGNet, AlexNet, Resnet, Xception, and MobileNet. Our focus is deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) which is commonly applied for image data. We also propose a new DCNN architecture with two branches of concatenated residual networks. It is well known that the deeper the networks the better performance of DCNN. However, DCNN with very deep networks and large number of training parameters is prone to vanishing gradient problems. One solutions for that is to apply residual networks as branches to DCNN. While it is found that increasing the branch of the networks benefit the performance, larger memory are required to train the networks. So, we apply two concatenated residual networks only. We called it Compact Networks (ComNet). We compare our method other with six popular CNN architectures. We evaluate the performance on the PlantVillage dataset and our own dataset. We collected images of tea leaves which consist of 6 classes: 5 classes of diseases that are commonly found in Indonesia and a healthy class. Our experiments show that our method is generally better than referenced DCNN networks.
Pulmonary metastasectomy for esophageal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma component at 66 months after esophagectomy
Authors: Sekiguchi Kumiko , Matsutani Takeshi , Nomura Tsutomu , Hagiwara Nobutoshi , Matsuda Akihisa , Hanawa Hidetsugu , Mishima Keisuke , Taniai Nobuhiko , Ohashi Ryuji , Yoshida Hiroshi
Published: August 2020

Background

Solitary pulmonary metastasis from esophageal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) components is an extremely rare recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Case presentation

A 68-year-old Japanese woman was found to have a suspected malignant mass, approximately 2 cm in diameter, in her left lower pulmonary lobe, at 66 months after undergoing a curative esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection for esophageal SCC with a focal basaloid component. After a CT-guided biopsy, pathological examination indicated a metastasis from esophageal BSCC components. She underwent a thoracoscopic partial resection of the left lower pulmonary lobe for the solitary pulmonary metastasis. The pathohistology of the resected specimen led to diagnosis of metastatic esophageal BSCC, which showed immunohistochemical findings similar to those of the primary esophageal carcinoma. The patient received two courses of adjuvant chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil, docetaxel plus nedaplatin) and recovered to resume a normal life with maintenance therapy. However, multiple lung and brain metastases were diagnosed at 2 years after the pulmonary metastasectomy. She survived 5 years and 6 months after the pulmonary metastasectomy, but died at 10 years and 6 months after her initial esophagectomy.

Conclusion

This was a rare surgical resected case of solitary pulmonary metastasis from esophageal BSCC components.
Gender disparity in cardiovascular mortality following radiation therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a systematic review
Authors: Khalid Yaser , Fradley Michael , Dasu Neethi , Dasu Kirti , Shah Ankit , Levine Adam
Published: August 2020

Background

Radiation-induced coronary artery disease (R-CAD) has become an increasingly recognized phenomenon. Although the clinical relationship between radiation therapy and CAD risk is well known, there is minimal investigation of the gender relationship to radiation-induced CAD events and the resulting cardiovascular (CV) events/mortality. We study the gender variation in the incidence of CV events/mortality related to R-CAD in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) patients.

Methods

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used in this systematic review and network meta-analysis. OVID, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials via the Wiley Interface, Web of Science Core Collection, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were investigated to identify prospective and retrospective observational studies comparing women and men following radiation treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Ten studies were included (4 prospective, 6 retrospective). The primary outcome was incidence of cardiovascular events/mortality. The secondary outcome was all-cause mortality. Meta-regression for age was also performed.

Results

Of 13,975 patients, including 41% females and 59% males, CV events/mortality were noted to be significantly higher in women compared to men (OR 3.74, 95% CI 2.44–5.72, p < 0.001). All-cause mortality was also higher in women compared to men (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.10–3.44, p < 0.023). On meta-regression analysis, elderly populations have a higher rate of mortality, which was even higher for women than men (coefficient = 0.0458, p = 0.0374).

Conclusions

Women have a higher rate of R-CAD related CV events/mortality and all-cause mortality compared to men amongst radiation-treated patients. These data highlight the need for increased surveillance to better monitor for R-CAD in female patients treated with mantle or mediastinal radiation.
New US device versus imaging US to assess tumor-in-brain
Authors: Halevy-Politch Jacob , Zaaroor Menashe , Sinai Alon , Constantinescu Marius
Published: August 2020

Background

Applying ultrasonic imaging system during surgery requires the poring of saline, performing the measurement, and acquiring data from its display—which requires time and is highly “performer dependent,” i.e., the measure is of a subjective nature. A new ultrasonic device was recently developed that overcomes most of these drawbacks and was successfully applied during tumor-in-brain neurosurgeries. The purpose of this study was to compare the two types of US devices and demonstrate their properties.

Methods

The study was performed in the following stages: (i) an ex vivo experiment, where slices of the muscle and brain of a young porcine were laid one on top the other. Thicknesses and border depths were measured and compared, using the two types of US instruments. (ii) During human clinical neurosurgeries, tumor depth was compared by measuring it with both devices. (iii) Following the success of stages (i) and (ii), using solely the new US device, the tumor thickness was monitored while its resection.

Correlation, Pearson’s coefficient, average, mean, and standard deviation were applied for statistical tests.

Results

A high correlation was obtained for the distances of tissue borders and for their respective thicknesses. Applying these ultrasonic devices during neurosurgeries, tumor depths were monitored with high similarity (87%), which was also obtained by Pearson’s correlation coefficient (0.44). The new US device, thanks to its small footprint, its remote measurement, and the capability of monitoring intraoperatively and in real-time, provides the approach to tumor’s border before its complete resection.

Conclusions

The new US device provides better accuracy than an ultrasonic imaging system; its data is objective; it enables to control the residual tumor thickness during its resection, and it is especially useful in restricted areas. These features were found of great help during a tumor-in-brain surgery and especially in the final stages of tumor’s resection.
Optimal control on a mathematical model to pattern the progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Indonesia
Authors: Sasmita Novi Reandy , Ikhwan Muhammad , Suyanto Suyanto , Chongsuvivatwong Virasakdi
Published: August 2020

Background

Understanding the pattern of COVID-19 infection progression is critical for health policymakers. Reaching the exponential peak of cases, flattening the curve, and treating all of the active cases are the keys to success in reducing outbreak transmission. The objective of this study was to determine the most effective model for predicting the peak of COVID-19 in Indonesia, using a deterministic model.

Methods

The SEI2RS model considers five strategies for control, namely: large-scale social restriction (u1), contact tracing (u2), mass testing (u3), case detection and treatment (u4), and the wearing of face masks (u5). Three scenarios were developed, each differentiated by the controls. The model used April 10, 2020, and December 31, 2020, as the initial and final times.

Results

The simulation results indicated that the peak of COVID-19 cases for scenarios 1, 2, and 3 occur on the 59th day with 33,151 cases, on the 38th day with 37,908 cases, and on the 40th day with 39,305 cases. For all of the scenarios, the decline phase shows a slow downward slope and about 8000 cases of COVID-19 still active by the end of 2020.

Conclusion

The study concludes that scenario 2, which consists of large-scale social restriction (u1), contact tracing (u2), case detection and treatment (u4), and the wearing of face masks (u5), is the most rational scenario to control COVID-19 spreading in Indonesia.
Pathogenicity of nuclear polyhedrosis virus to Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and its control on stored beeswax foundations
Authors: El Husseini Monir M.
Published: August 2020

A nuclear polyhedrosis virus (GmMNPV) was isolated from the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae from a dead laboratory colony. A semi-synthetic diet was used for rearing G. mellonella at room conditions of 25–30 °C and 60–70% relative humidity. The polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIBs) of the virus were extracted and bio-assayed versus larvae of L3 of G. mellonella in 5 concentrations, i.e., 2 × 102, 2 × 103, 2 × 105, 2 × 107, and 2 × 108 PIBs/ml mixed in the diet (1 ml:1 g). Histopathological study was carried out through a light microscopy of 6–8 μm cross sections in larvae fed on diet contaminated with the virus (2 × 108 PIBs/ml in 1 g diet). The virus infected the nuclei in all organ cells of both ectodermal origins, e.g., hypoderm, tracheal epithelial cells, cells of salivary glands, epithelial cells of fore- and hindgut, and those of mesodermal origin, e.g., fat bodies and cortex of ganglia of the nervous system. Experimental protection of artificially infested beeswax foundations by spraying (2 × 107 PIBs/ml) kept the wax foundations weight loss at 0.4% for 4 months storing, while those artificially infested without virus treatment were completely devoured (100%) by larvae of the pest within 4 months due to successive pest generations. This treatment is recommended for protecting the stored beeswax foundations and combs as a safe alternative to the traditional hazardous chemical insecticides.
Young people, good life narratives, and sustainable futures: the case of Instagram
Authors: Loukianov Anastasia , Burningham Kate , Jackson Tim
Published: August 2020

Background

Young people’s processes of meaning-making in relation to what it means to live well are supported by the shared understandings of the good life that are available in their particular sociocultural and historical contexts. These understandings are tied to questions of environmental impact and social justice, as each ‘good life’ entails different levels of material throughput and some may undermine the ability of others to pursue their chosen ‘good lives’. This paper draws on the insights from an exploration of Instagram posts tagged #goodlife to consider the role of Instagram in the constitution of good life narratives that are available to young people. Using network analysis tools, the researchers analyse the relationships between themes of hashtags appearing on 793 posts tagged #goodlife. The findings from the thematic approach to network analysis are used to support a thematic qualitative exploration of a subsample of 200 of the posts.

Findings

The paper gives an overview of three good life narratives that can be found on the platform: the good life of the self-made affluent entrepreneur, the good life of the world-traveller, the good life as shared experience. Additionally, it highlights the differing levels of popularity of each narrative on the platform, and considers their respective implications for environmental and social sustainability. The paper then provides a conceptual reading of the platform that enables considerations relating to its place in the creation and maintenance of good life narratives. Conceptualising Instagram as a social conversation, the paper suggests that adequate participation on the platform may require engaging in less sustainable practices.

Conclusions

The paper concludes by arguing that while the most popular narratives on the platform are less likely to support sustainable lifestyles, more sustainable understandings of living well are also promoted by users.
Perioperative beta-blocker and its effect on coronary artery bypass graft patients outcome after surgery
Authors: Elshafei Mohamed N. , Hussein Wael Reda , Shehata Oliver M. , Tolba Mohamed A.
Published: August 2020

Background

Beta-adrenergic receptor blockers have been studied for minimizing the effects of catecholamines by blocking their activation of beta receptors. They are used to prevent or treat hypertensive crises, tachycardia, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias. Several studies have shown the efficacy of such drugs in decreasing postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Aim of the study

This study aimed to evaluate the benefit of perioperative beta-blocker therapy in improving the outcome of CABG surgery regarding intra- and postoperative arrhythmias and ventricular function.

Method

It was a prospective controlled nonrandomized study conducted on 50 patients undergoing elective CABG in Ain Shams University hospitals, in which the study group, who were the patients who were compliant on beta-blocker therapy, received 1 mg of propranolol before removal of aortic cross clamp and continued on beta-blocker therapy in the postoperative period, while the control group who were not on beta-blocker therapy received an equivalent volume of normal saline before removal of aortic cross clamp and received beta-blocker therapy in the postoperative period. Both groups were assessed regarding the heart rate, ventricular systolic function by transesophageal echo intraoperatively and transthoracic echo postoperatively, duration of ICU and hospital stay, and incidence of intra- and postoperative arrhythmias.

Results

Perioperative beta-blockers decreased the incidence of intra- and postoperative arrhythmias.

Conclusion

In the absence of contraindications, CABG patients should receive perioperative beta-blockers as they improve the systolic ventricular function, decrease the incidence of intra- and postoperative arrhythmias, and shorten the duration of hospital and ICU stay.
Mean platelet volume dynamics as a prognostic indicator in pediatric surgical intensive care unit: a descriptive observational study
Authors: Abdel-Aal Iman Riad M. , El Adawy Akram Shahat , Mohammed Hany Mohammed El-Hadi Shoukat , Gabah Ahmed Nabil Mohamed
Published: August 2020

Background

Platelet size and activity have a close correlation. The mean platelet volume (MPV) is related to the disease severity and prognosis, especially in critically ill patients.

Objective

To study the relation between MPV changes and postoperative morbidities and mortality in pediatric surgical intensive care unit (PSICU).

Methods and material

We enrolled in this descriptive observational study one hundred PSICU children aged from 1 month to 18 years and stayed for > 48 h for peri-operative or post-trauma management. The 1ry outcome was the association between percentage change in MPV (ΔMPV) value and mortality. We recorded MPV, ΔMPV, and platelet count as a baseline, at day 0, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days and then once weekly until patients were discharged, died, or reached a maximum of 90 days in ICU stay.

Statistical analysis used

We used statistical package for the social science (SPSS) version 22. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney test made comparisons between quantitative variables. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), non-parametric Friedman, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests made the comparison within the same patients. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the detection of sensitivity and specificity.

Results

Patients who developed ICU complications showed higher ΔMPV compared with non-complicated cases, and this was statistically significant on days 2, 3, 5, and 7 of ICU stay. ROC curve analysis showed a sensitivity of 57.2% and 73% on days 2 and 3 and a specificity of 76.6% and 71% on days 2 and 3, respectively.

Conclusions

MPV dynamics have a prognostic role and worth a value in predicting several complications in PSICU.
Ultrasound-guided erector spinae block for postoperative analgesia in thoracotomy patients: a prospective, randomized, observer-blind, controlled clinical trial
Authors: Sobhy Mohammed Gomaa , Abd El-Hamid Ahmed Mostafa , Elbarbary Dina Hosni , Elmeliegy Mohamed Fouad
Published: August 2020

Background and objectives

Thoracotomy is considered the most painful of surgical procedures and providing adequate analgesia is the onus for all anaesthesiologists. This study investigated the efficacy of the ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block in analgesia after thoracotomies.

Patients and methods

Sixty patients with American Society of Anesthesiology physical status (ASA-PS) I–IV, aged more than 18 years were allocated to two groups, ESP group which received the ESP block and C (control) group with no block. Single-shot U/S-guided ESP block with 20 ml 0.25% bupivacaine at the 5th thoracic vertebral level was performed preoperatively in the ESP group. Postoperative 24 h morphine consumption and pain scores were compared between the groups. Also, the side effects of opioid usage were compared.

Main results

Postoperative morphine consumption was 22.06 ± 6.24 mg in the ESP group and 30.6 ± 6.23 mg in the C group (p < 0.001). Results showed that there was a significant difference between both groups in favour of the ESP group regarding visual analogue score (VAS) at rest and with coughing (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study findings show that US-guided ESP block exhibits a significant analgesic effect in patients undergoing thoracotomy surgery.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03749395. Registered 13 November 2018
Overexpressing rice lesion simulating disease 1-like gene (OsLOL1) in Gossypium hirsutum promotes somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration
Authors: WANG Zhian , WANG Peng , HU Guang , XIAO Juanli , ZHANG Anhong , LUO Xiaoli , WU Jiahe
Published: August 2020

Background

Cotton somatic embryogenesis is difficult or rarely frequent to present, which has limited gene function identification and biotechnological utility. Here, we employed a rice key somatic embryogenesis-related gene, rice lesion simulating disease 1-like gene (OsLOL1), to develop transgenic cotton callus for evaluating its function in ectopic plants.

Results

Overexpressing OsLOL1 can promote cotton callus to form embryogenic callus, not only shortening time but also increasing transition of somatic callus cells to embryogenic callus cells. And the regenerating plantlets per transgenic OsLOL1 embryogenic callus were significantly higher than those in the control transformed with empty vector. Analysis of physiological and biochemical showed that OsLOL1 can repress cotton superoxide dismutase 1 gene (GhSOD1) expression, possibly resulting in reactive oxidant species (ROS) accumulation in transgenic callus cells. And OsLOL1-overexpressed embryogenic callus exhibited higher α-amylase activity compared with the control, resulting from the promotion of OsLOL1 to cotton amylase 7 gene (GhAmy7) and GhAmy8 expression.

Conclusion

The data showed that OsLOL1 could be used as a candidate gene to transform cotton to increase its somatic embryogenesis capacity, facilitating gene function analysis and molecular breeding in cotton.
Torsion of a pedunculated subserous leiomyoma: a case report of a rare cause of acute abdominal pain in a pregnant woman
Authors: Costa Marta D. L. , Cunha Teresa Margarida
Published: August 2020

Background

Acute onset abdominal pain through the pedunculated leiomyoma torsion is a rather uncommon presentation and a rare source of acute abdominal pain in the emergency department during pregnancy. Due to its rarity, this condition is not always considered, leading sometimes to inappropriate or unnecessary therapeutic approaches. Given that there are no specific clinical findings, radiological examination represents a fundamental tool for achieving the correct diagnosis. Pelvic ultrasound is usually the first imaging approach, but MRI is recommended for further evaluation, showing high diagnostic accuracy.

Case presentation

A 35-year-old primigravid woman presented at the gynecological emergency department at 21 weeks of gestation, with a complaint of sudden onset of strong intensity right abdominal pain. Vital signs and blood test results were normal. A pelvic ultrasound was requested and showed a heterogeneous pelvic mass in the right lower quadrant, between the uterine body and the right ovary (which was not enlarged and presented normal venous and arterial blood flow) raising the suspicion of a right ovary tumor or an exophytic uterine tumor. An MRI was performed and revealed a well-defined and heterogeneous mass, with predominantly high signal intensity on T2-weighted images (WI) with and without fat saturation and with hyperintense areas on axial T1WI; the presence of bridging vessels in the interface between the tumor and the uterus was also demonstrated—the “bridging vessel sign.” The tumor presented restricted diffusion with high signal intensity on axial diffusion-weighted imaging (b1000) and low signal intensity on the axial ADC map. The set of MR imaging features was consistent with the torsion of a pedunculated subserosal uterine leiomyoma with hemorrhagic necrosis. A successful conservative approach was the first-option treatment, with no further surgical intervention.

Conclusion

The torsion of a pedunculated subserous leiomyoma should be considered in a pregnant woman with acute onset abdominal pain. The correct diagnosis, based on clinical and radiological findings, is essential for good outcomes concerning maternal and fetal well-being, allowing the safest and most appropriate treatment. A conservative approach seems to be a safe and appropriate first-option treatment to this condition.
The role of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in assessment of peritoneal lesions: radiologic-pathologic correlation
Authors: Mahmoud Bahaa Eldin , Abdelzaher Asmaa Ahmed , Mohamed Ahmed Abdellatif , Metwally Lamiaa I. A.
Published: August 2020

Background

Peritoneal diseases can be caused by a wide spectrum of pathologies including benign, primary, and secondary malignant lesions. Benign peritoneal diseases can mimic malignancies and have overlapping clinical, pathophysiological, and imaging appearances. Biopsy and histological assessment remain the gold standard for characterization of the peritoneal lesions; however, functional MRI techniques like diffusion imaging with quantitative assessment by ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient) measurements can help in the detection and characterization of different peritoneal lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of diffusion MR imaging in differentiating between benign and malignant peritoneal lesions with correlation to their pathological results.

Results

Forty patients with peritoneal lesions were included in the study. According to histopathological results, 20 of them were of benign nature, and the other 20 were malignant. The mean ADC value of the benign lesions was 1.5 ± 0.5 × 10−3 mm2/s while that of malignant lesions was 0.9 ± 0.3 × 10−3 mm2/s with statistically significant difference (p < 0.00001), and a cutoff value of 1.15 × 10−3 mm2/s can be used to differentiate benign and malignant lesions with 85% sensitivity and specificity. In particular, we compared the mean ADC values of the eight cases of peritoneal tuberculosis with that of fourteen cases of peritoneal carcinomatosa, and it was also statistically significant (p < 0.001). However, we did not find a statistically significant difference between the mean ADC value of the benign and malignant cystic peritoneal lesions (p = 0.5).

Conclusion

Diffusion MR imaging can provide a reliable non-invasive tool that can help in the differentiation between benign and malignant peritoneal lesions using qualitative and quantitative diffusion assessment through ADC measurements with a recommended cutoff value of 1.15 × 10−3 mm2/s.
Association of vitamin D supplementation with serum leptin and metabolic parameters in Egyptian patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: a prospective study
Authors: Kaisar Hany Haroun , Halima Ahmed Samir Abo
Published: August 2020

Background

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive form of NAFLD, a common cause of liver disease, with increased chance of progression to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Circulating leptin is increased in patients with NASH. It is an independent positive predictor of the severity of hepatic steatosis. Vitamin D is a lipophilic molecule essential to maintain calcium and phosphate balance. Moreover, it has antifibrotic, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory effects on the liver. Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide condition and very common in patients with NASH. Low serum vitamin D has been shown to predispose to intrahepatic lipid accumulation leading to NAFLD. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of vitamin D supplementation with serum leptin and metabolic parameters in Egyptian patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Results

Patients with NASH group had statistically significant higher values of diastolic blood pressure (94.3 ± 11.9 mmHg, p < 0.0001), glycated hemoglobin (8.0 ± 2.4%, p < 0.0001), fasting blood sugar (165.6 ± 62.0 mg/dL, p < 0.0001), fasting insulin level (24.2 ± 3.0 μU/ml, p < 0.0001), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (1.8 ± 0.7, p < 0.0001), alanine transferase (ALT) (78.2 ± 36.7 U/L, p < 0.0001), aspartate transferase (AST) (108.6 ± 85.6 U/L, p < 0.0001), NAFLD fibrosis score (− 0.78 ± 0.9, p < 0.0001), total cholesterol (233.0 ± 40.9 mg/dL, p = 0.0011), low-density lipoprotein (117.5 ± 41.6 mg/dL, p = 0.0084), and triglycerides (229.7 ± 62.1 mg/dL, p < 0.0001) than the control group. Moreover, they had lower serum vitamin D level (15.6 ± 6.6 ng/ml, p = 0.0004) and higher serum leptin level (35.9 ± 28.4 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) than the control group. Following vitamin D supplementation, there was a statistically significant reduction in HbA1c (6.8 ± 1.3%, p = 0.0055), fasting blood sugar (136.1 ± 32.7 mg/dL, p = 0.0094), fasting insulin level (22.9 ± 1.8 μU/ml, p = 0.0236), HOMA-IR (1.4 ± 0.4, p = 0.0026), ALT (55.3 ± 21.3 U/L, p = 0.0010), AST (73.1 ± 54.2 U/L, p = 0.0297), and triglycerides (203.6 ± 49.8 mg/dL, p = 0.0415) in patients with NASH. There was a statistically significant increase in serum vitamin D level (33.0 ± 7.6 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) and decrease in serum leptin level (23.5 ± 12.9 ng/ml, p = 0.0140) after treatment.

Conclusions

Vitamin D supplementation in patients with NASH in a dose of 4000 IU/day for 12 weeks improves severity of hepatic inflammation, decreases insulin resistance, improves glycemic control, corrects dyslipidemia, and protects against lipotoxicity by inhibition of serum leptin.
Disrepair, Distress, and Dispossession
Authors: Lightfoot Natasha
Published: August 2020

The crisis unleashed in Barbuda by Hurricane Irma in 2017 followed centuries of neglect by the British colonial state and then by the postcolonial government of its sister island, Antigua. Barbuda developed customary communal-land tenure as a result of its peculiarities in slavery and freedom, and this survival strategy has doubled as political and economic resistance to encroachment by Antigua, where private land ownership and uneven opportunity abound because of the unstable, cyclical nature of its main industry—tourism. Although Barbudans have long delimited tourism development and refused private land ownership, citing communal land as their shield, these issues have resurfaced in the rebuilding process after Hurricane Irma. Barbudans’ desires to maintain their previous way of life remain hampered by the Antiguan government’s disaster capitalist desires to reconstruct Barbuda as a resort paradise. This essay reveals how climate change, economic fragility, and uncertain sovereignty have collectively undermined Barbuda’s customary forms of independence, leaving dispossession in their wake.
Postdisaster Futures
Authors: Bonilla Yarimar
Published: August 2020

This essay discusses how Puerto Ricans are imagining and building new futures out of a political context of material and affective ruin that is not guided by the promise of a modernist future or the palliative anticipation of a sovereignty to come. It examines how the politics of ruination might lead to a “hopeful pessimism” that could break with the nostalgic immobility of the arrested present. It concludes by exploring the possibilities of an emerging cuir (queer) futurity that breaks with raced and gendered scripts of postcolonial sovereignty to envision a new postdisaster future.
Urban-Rural Gaps in the Developing World: Does Internal Migration Offer Opportunities?
Authors: Lagakos David
Published: August 2020

This article provides an overview of the growing literature on urban-rural gaps in the developing world. I begin with recent evidence on the size of the gaps as measured by consumption, income, and wages, and argue that the gaps are real rather than just nominal. I then discuss the role of sorting more able workers into urban areas and review an array of recent evidence on outcomes from rural-urban migration. Overall, migrants do experience substantial gains on average, though smaller than suggested by the cross-sectional gaps. I conclude that future work should help further explore the frictions—in particular, information, financial, and in land markets—that hold back rural-urban migration and may help explain the persistence of urban-rural gaps.
How You Can Work to Increase the Presence and Improve the Experience of Black, Latinx, and Native American People in the Economics Profession
Authors: Bayer Amanda , Hoover Gary A. , Washington Ebonya
Published: August 2020

Recently in economics there has been discussion of how to increase diversity in the profession and how to improve the work life of diverse peoples. We conducted surveys and interviews with Black, Latinx and Native American people. These groups have long been underrepresented in the economics profession. Participants were at various stages along the economics career trajectory, or on the trajectory no longer, and used their lived experience to reflect on what helps and hurts underrepresented minorities in economics. We heard a few consistent themes: bias, hostile climate, and the lack of information and good mentoring among them. Respondents’ insights and experience point toward action steps that you can take today to increase the presence and improve the work life of underrepresented minorities in the economics profession.
How Close Is Close? The Spatial Reach of Agglomeration Economies
Authors: Rosenthal Stuart S. , Strange William C.
Published: August 2020

This paper considers the attenuation of agglomeration economies. Put another way: how close is close? The paper presents evidence of agglomeration effects operating at various levels of spatial aggregation, including the regional, metropolitan, and neighborhood scales. In fact, agglomeration effects also seem to operate below the neighborhood level, including within buildings and organizations. These effects attenuate, with nearby activity exerting the strongest effects. The attenuation of agglomeration economies has implications for urban spatial structure, the microfoundations of agglomeration economies, and commercial real estate. It also affects the ability of governments and businesses to internalize agglomeration economies.
Stress in nurses’ caring for stroke patients and families: a mixed-method study
Authors: Saramago Ines , Timmons Suzanne , Gallagher Paul , Fox Siobhán
Published: August 2020

Background:Within nursing, caring for stroke patients and helping them with the recovery of their abilities can be strenuous; even more so when considering the nurse’s scope of practice includes the patient and predicts a supportive role to the caregivers. This type of rehabilitative nursing care can be demanding, and nurses may experience increased levels of stress. Despite the extensive literature about the nursing workload and its connection to occupational stress, very little research has been conducted particularly about stress levels experienced by nurses working with stroke patients, who may experience particularly high stress. The rationale for this research emerged from the scarcity of studies worldwide and especially in Irish stroke units.

Methods:Nurses from stroke and medical wards (n=100) were distributed the Perceived Stress Scale and requested to complete it from the perspective of their workplace. A convenience sample of these nurses were interviewed about their experience of stress.

Results:Of 48 survey respondents, 68% reported ‘moderate’ levels of stress, with higher mean levels in nurses working in medical wards (M=20.10, SD=5.42) than nurses in stroke units (M=16.17, SD=4.41; t(46)=2.757, p<0.01). In interviews with nurses on stroke units (n=11), sources of stress included work performance anxiety (e.g. fear of errors), workload burden/conflicting demands, and family/physician interactions. Coping mechanisms included brief “time outs”, direct problem-solving, and peer support. 

Conclusions:The participants’ experiences of stress may help other nurses working with stroke patients to cope better with work-related stress, and provide guidance to managers in improving the organization of stroke networks.
Sweet taste does not modulate pain perception in adult humans
Authors: Mooney Elizabeth R , Davies Alexander J , Pickering Anthony E
Published: August 2020

Background: Sugar is routinely used to comfort neonates undergoing painful procedures, and animal studies have shown that sucrose increases the time to withdrawal from painful stimuli. However, there are no published studies examining the effects of sweet substances on heat pain thresholds and percept in adult humans.

Methods: Healthy adult volunteers (n=27, aged 18-48 years) were recruited to a controlled, double-blind, randomised, cross-over study to characterise the effect of tasting solutions of equivalent sweetness (10% sucrose and 0.016% sucralose) on warm detection and heat pain thresholds and the percept ratings of painfully hot stimuli. The effect of anticipation of a sweet taste on heat pain threshold was also assessed.

Results: Tasting either sucrose or sucralose had no significant effect on the percept of an individually titrated hot stimulus (54.5±4.2 and 54.9±3.2 vs 53.2±3.5 for water, 0-100 visual analogue scale), on the warm detection or heat pain threshold (43.3±0.8, 43.2±0.8 vs 43.0±0.8°C). Anticipation of a sweet substance similarly did not affect heat pain thresholds.

Conclusions: Sucrose and sucralose solutions had no analgesic effect when assessed using heat detection thresholds and percept ratings of painfully hot stimuli despite being perceived as sweeter and more pleasant than water. These findings are in contrast to results reported from previous animal studies in which thermal analgesia from sweet solutions is robust. Given the ubiquitous availability of sugar rich drinks in the modern environment, the lack of observable effect may be due to an insufficient hedonic value of the test solutions when compared to the experience of a laboratory rodent. Alternatively, sweet tastes may have a specific effect on pain tolerance rather than the threshold and acute percept measures assayed in this study.
Independent Monophonic Sets in Graphs
Authors: Sadiquali A , Sudhahar P. Arul Paul
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we obtain two variables for the connected (p,q)-graphs G which is the minimum size of an independent monophonic set and an outer independentmonophonic set of G, termed as an independent monophonic number and an outer independent monophonic number of the connected (p,q)-graphs G, respectively.
On the Readiness of Teachers to Form Functional Mathematical Literacy of Schoolchildren
Authors: Roslova L. , Karamova I.
Published: August 2020

The article is devoted to the problem of the formation of mathematical literacy of primary school students, which, in accordance with the definition proposed in the international program for assessing the educational achievements of students PISA, is considered in the context of functional literacy. The article reflects the concept of a teacher's readiness to form mathematical literacy of schoolchildren, the structure of this concept has been developed, which includes five components: cognitive, motivational, emotional, operational and evaluative.

The article describes the research carried out by the authors aimed at identifying the readiness of mathematics teachers of general education organizations to form students' mathematical literacy, presents a questionnaire developed to solve the research problems. The results of the analysis of ideas, attitudes and beliefs of teachers of mathematics regarding the formation of functional mathematical literacy of students are presented. The analysis of the cognitive, operational and evaluative components of readiness has been carried out in accordance with the following tasks: first, to reveal the level of the teacher's understanding of the pedagogical task and the assessment of its significance for society in modern conditions; secondly, to reveal the ideas of teachers about the methodology for the formation of mathematical literacy and mathematical content aimed at the formation of this ability; thirdly, to reveal the attitude towards the possibilities of forming mathematical literacy within the framework of a general education school, the problems and difficulties arising in solving this pedagogical problem.

The analysis made it possible to reveal a contradiction between the high level of understanding by teachers of the significance of a new pedagogical task for them and the lack of didactic tools and teaching methods necessary for its solution. The directions of further research necessary to increase the level of mathematics teachers' readiness for the formation of functional mathematical literacy of students in Russian schools are proposed.
Visualization of Educational Information by Means of Graphics
Authors: Gadzhieva Elena
Published: August 2020

The article examines the modern direction of information visualization in the context of educational activities. Graphics is a visualization language and it "speaks" with graphemes. Infographics call their works infographics. In our understanding, grapheme is a consequence of information processing by the infocartographic method that we have developed. The method integrates techniques of cartography and infographics. Educational information is a didactically processed scientific information representing concepts, patterns, laws, structure, functioning of systems within the framework of the discipline being studied. Or, we can say that this is information about the subject itself and the methods of studying it.

The versatility of the infocartographic method lies in its "end-to-end" capabilities to show, visualize any information, "translate" it from verbal language into the language of gratification.
Service Quality Using Text Mining: Measurement and Consequences
Authors: Mejia Jorge , Mankad Shawn , Gopal Anandasivam
Published: August 2020

Problem description: Measuring quality in the service industry remains a challenge. Existing methodologies are often costly and unscalable. Furthermore, understanding how elements of service quality contribute to the performance of service providers continues to be a concern in the service industry. In this paper, we address these challenges in the restaurant sector, a vital component of the service industry. Academic/practical relevance: Our work provides a scalable methodology for measuring the quality of service providers using the vast amount of text in social media. The quality metrics proposed are associated with economic outcomes for restaurants and can help predict future restaurant performance. Methodology: We use text present in online reviews on Yelp.com to identify and extract service dimensions using nonnegative matrix factorization for a large set of restaurants located in a major city in the United States. We subsequently validate these service dimensions as proxies for service quality using external data sources and a series of laboratory experiments. Finally, we use econometrics to test the relationship between these dimensions and restaurant survival as additional validation. Results: We find that our proposed service quality dimensions are scalable, match industry standards, and are correctly identified by subjects in a controlled setting. Furthermore, we show that specific service dimensions are significantly correlated with the survival of merchants, even after controlling for competition and other factors. Managerial implications: This work has implications for the strategic use of text analytics in the context of service operations, where an increasingly large text corpus is available. We discuss the benefits of this work for service providers and platforms, such as Yelp and OpenTable.
Collective Action Problems and Resource Allocation During Market Formation
Authors: Struben Jeroen , Lee Brandon H. , Bingham Christopher B.
Published: August 2020

Collective action is critical for successful market formation. However, relatively little is known about how and under what conditions actors overcome collective action problems to successfully form new markets. Using the benefits of simulation methods, we uncover how collective action problems result from actor resource allocation decisions interacting with each other and how the severity of these problems depends on central market- and actor-related characteristics. Specifically, we show that collective action problems occur when actors undervalue the benefits of market-oriented resource allocation and when actors contribute resources that are imperfectly substitutable. Furthermore, we show that collective action problems occur when actors are embedded in networks with others sharing a similar role in market formation. Collectively, our findings contribute new insights to organization theory regarding collective action and market formation and to strategy on value creation and strategic decision making regarding resource allocation.
Tendência da ingestão de frutas e hortaliças por acadêmicas do curso de graduação em nutrição de uma universidade pública nos anos de 1999, 2004 e 2009
Authors: Pinheiro Nicole Mattos , De Brito Mariana Monteiro , Soares Eliane De Abreu , Coelho Gabriela Morgado
Published: August 2020

Objetivo: Avaliar o consumo de frutas e hortaliças de acadêmicas do curso de graduação em Nutrição de uma universidade pública ao longo dos anos. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 161 acadêmicas. Os dados foram coletados por meio de registros alimentares, de dois dias da semana e um dia de fim de semana nos anos 1999, 2004 e 2009. O consumo de frutas e hortaliças foi avaliado em gramatura. Resultados: Houve consumo significativamente menor de hortaliças nos fins de semana (30g; 35g; 44g) quando comparado aos dias de semana (49g; 49g; 75g) em todos os anos, porém não houve diferença significativa do consumo de frutas e hortaliças e no consumo dos 3 dias de registro ao longo do tempo. A prevalência de inadequação foi elevada em todos os anos, variando de 66% a 81,5%. O percentual do consumo médio de frutas nos dias de semana (78,5%; 76,8%; 73,1%) foi mais que o dobro do de hortaliças (21,5%; 23,2%; 26,8%) em 1999, 2004 e 2009, assim como nos fins de semana (82,9%; 79,4%; 81,5%) (17,1%; 20,6%; 18,5%), respectivamente. Conclusão: Faz-se necessário implementar intervenção dietética para aumentar o consumo de frutas e hortaliças em universitárias.