bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
O-GlcNAc transferase OGT-1 and the ubiquitin ligase EEL-1 modulate seizure susceptibility in C. elegans
Authors: Suthakaran Nirthieca , Wiggins Jonathan , Giles Andrew , Opperman Karla J. , Grill Brock , Dawson-Scully Ken
Published: November 2021

Neurodevelopmental disorders such as epilepsy and autism have been linked to an imbalance of excitation and inhibition (E/I) in the central nervous system. The simplicity and tractability of C. elegans allows our electroconvulsive seizure (ES) assay to be used as a behavioral readout of the locomotor circuit and neuronal function. C. elegans possess conserved nervous system features such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and GABA receptors in inhibitory neurotransmission, and acetylcholine (Ach) and acetylcholine receptors in excitatory neurotransmission. Our previously published data has shown that decreasing inhibition in the motor circuit, via GABAergic manipulation, will extend the time of locomotor recovery following electroshock. Similarly, mutations in a HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase called EEL-1 leads to impaired GABAergic transmission, E/I imbalance and altered sensitivity to electroshock. Mutations in the human ortholog of EEL-1, called HUWE1, are associated with both syndromic and non-syndromic intellectual disability. Both EEL-1 and its previously established binding protein, OGT-1, are expressed in GABAergic motor neurons, localize to GABAergic presynaptic terminals, and function in parallel to regulate GABA neuron function. In this study, we tested behavioral responses to electroshock in wildtype, ogt-1, eel-1 and ogt-1; eel-1 double mutants. Both ogt-1 and eel-1 null mutants have decreased inhibitory GABAergic neuron function and increased electroshock sensitivity. Consistent with EEL-1 and OGT-1 functioning in parallel pathways, ogt-1; eel-1 double mutants showed enhanced electroshock susceptibility. Expression of OGT-1 in the C. elegans nervous system rescued enhanced electroshock defects in ogt-1; eel-1 double mutants. Application of a GABA agonist, Baclofen, decreased electroshock susceptibility in all animals. Our C. elegans electroconvulsive seizure assay was the first to model a human X-linked Intellectual Disability (XLID) associated with epilepsy and suggests a potential novel role for the OGT-1/EEL-1 complex in seizure susceptibility.
High-quality whole-genome sequence analysis of Lactobacillus paragasseri UBLG-36 reveals oxalate-degrading potential of the strain
Authors: Mehra Yogita , Viswanathan Pragasam
Published: November 2021

Lactobacillus paragasseri was identified as a novel sister taxon of L. gasseri in 2018. Since the reclassification of L. paragasseri, there has been hardly any report describing the probiotic properties of this species. In this study, an L. paragasseri strain UBLG-36 was sequenced and analyzed to determine the molecular basis that may confer the bacteria with probiotic potential. UBLG-36 was previously documented as an L. gasseri strain. Average nucleotide identity and phylogenomic analysis allowed accurate taxonomic identification of UBLG-36 as an L. paragasseri strain. Analysis of the draft genome (~1.94 Mb) showed that UBLG-36 contains 5 contigs with an average G+C content of 34.85%. Genes essential for the biosynthesis of bacteriocins, adhesion to host epithelium, stress resistance, host immunomodulation, defense, and carbohydrate metabolism were identified in the genome. Interestingly, L. paragasseri UBLG-36 also harbored genes that code for enzymes involved in oxalate catabolism, such as formyl coenzyme A transferase (frc) and oxalyl coenzyme A decarboxylase (oxc). In vitro oxalate degradation assay showed that UBLG-36 is highly effective in degrading oxalate (averaging more than 45% degradation), a feature that has not been reported before. As a recently identified bacterium, there are limited genomic reports on L. paragasseri, and our draft genome sequence analysis is the first to describe and emphasize the probiotic potential and oxalate degrading ability of this species. With results supporting the probiotic functionalities and oxalate catabolism of UBLG-36, we propose that this strain is likely to have immense biotechnological applications upon appropriate characterization.
Labour classified by cervical dilatation & fetal membrane rupture demonstrates differential impact on RNA-seq data for human myometrium tissues
Authors: Lai Pei F. , Lei Kaiyu , Zhan Xiaoyu , Sooranna Gavin , Li Jonathan K. H. , Georgiou Ektoras X. , Das Ananya , Singh Natasha , Li Qiye , Stanfield Zachary , Zhang Guojie , Tribe Rachel M. , Mesiano Sam , Johnson Mark R.
Published: November 2021

High throughput sequencing has previously identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched signalling networks in human myometrium for term (≥37 weeks) gestation labour, when defined as a singular state of activity at comparison to the non-labouring state. However, transcriptome changes that occur during transition from early to established labour (defined as ≤3 and >3 cm cervical dilatation, respectively) and potentially altered by fetal membrane rupture (ROM), when adapting from onset to completion of childbirth, remained to be defined. In the present study, we assessed whether differences for these two clinically observable factors of labour are associated with different myometrial transcriptome profiles. Analysis of our tissue (‘bulk’) RNA-seq data (NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus: GSE80172) with classification of labour into four groups, each compared to the same non-labour group, identified more DEGs for early than established labour; ROM was the strongest up-regulator of DEGs. We propose that lower DEGs frequency for early labour and/or ROM negative myometrium was attributed to bulk RNA-seq limitations associated with tissue heterogeneity, as well as the possibility that processes other than gene transcription are of more importance at labour onset. Integrative analysis with future data from additional samples, which have at least equivalent refined clinical classification for labour status, and alternative omics approaches will help to explain what truly contributes to transcriptomic changes that are critical for labour onset. Lastly, we identified five DEGs common to all labour groupings; two of which (AREGandPER3) were validated by qPCR and not differentially expressed in placenta and choriodecidua.
Factors associated with admission to the intensive care unit and mortality in patients with COVID-19, Colombia
Authors: Machado-Alba Jorge Enrique , Valladales-Restrepo Luis Fernando , Machado-Duque Manuel Enrique , Gaviria-Mendoza Andrés , Sánchez-Ramírez Nicolás , Usma-Valencia Andrés Felipe , Rodríguez-Martínez Esteban , Rengifo-Franco Eliana , Forero-Supelano Víctor Hugo , Gómez-Ramirez Diego Mauricio , Sabogal-Ortiz Alejandra
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected millions of people worldwide, and several sociodemographic variables, comorbidities and care variables have been associated with complications and mortality.

Objective

To identify the factors associated with admission to intensive care units (ICUs) and mortality in patients with COVID-19 from 4 clinics in Colombia.

Methods

This was a follow-up study of a cohort of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March and August 2020. Sociodemographic, clinical (Charlson comorbidity index and NEWS 2 score) and pharmacological variables were identified. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify variables associated with the risk of admission to the ICU and death (p<0.05).

Results

A total of 780 patients were analyzed, with a median age of 57.0 years; 61.2% were male. On admission, 54.9% were classified as severely ill, 65.3% were diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome, 32.4% were admitted to the ICU, and 26.0% died. The factors associated with a greater likelihood of ICU admission were severe pneumonia (OR: 9.86; 95%CI:5.99–16.23), each 1-point increase in the NEWS 2 score (OR:1.09; 95%CI:1.002–1.19), history of ischemic heart disease (OR:3.24; 95%CI:1.16–9.00), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR:2.07; 95%CI:1.09–3.90). The risk of dying increased in those older than 65 years (OR:3.08; 95%CI:1.66–5.71), in patients with acute renal failure (OR:6.96; 95%CI:4.41–11.78), admitted to the ICU (OR:6.31; 95%CI:3.63–10.95), and for each 1-point increase in the Charlson comorbidity index (OR:1.16; 95%CI:1.002–1.35).

Conclusions

Factors related to increasing the probability of requiring ICU care or dying in patients with COVID-19 were identified, facilitating the development of anticipatory intervention measures that favor comprehensive care and improve patient prognosis.
Deleterious neurological impact of diagnostic delay in immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Renaud Arthur , Caristan Aurélie , Seguin Amélie , Agard Christian , Blonz Gauthier , Canet Emmanuel , Eveillard Marion , Godmer Pascal , Graveleau Julie , Lecouffe-Desprets Marie , Maisonneuve Hervé , Perrin François , Hamidou Mohamed , Néel Antoine
Published: November 2021

Background

Immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is a rare life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathy requiring urgent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). However, the exact impact of a slight delay in TPE initiation on the subsequent patients’ outcome is still controversial.

Aim

We aimed to study the frequency, short-term neurological consequences, and determinants of diagnostic delay in iTTP.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective monocentric study including patients with a first acute episode of iTTP (2005–2020) classified into 2 groups: delayed (>24h from first hospital visit, group 1) and immediate diagnosis (≤24h, group 2).

Results

Among 42 evaluated patients, 38 were included. Eighteen cases (47%) had a delayed diagnosis (median: 5 days). The main misdiagnosis was immune thrombocytopenia (67%). The mortality rate was 5% (1 death in each group). Neurological events (stroke/TIA, seizure, altered mental status) occurred in 67% vs 30% patients in group 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.04). Two patients in group 1 exhibited neurological sequelae. The hospital length of stay was longer in group 1 (p = 0.02). At the first hospital evaluation, potential alternative causes of thrombocytopenia were more prevalent in group 1 (33% vs 5%, p = 0.04). Anemia was less frequent in group 1 (67% vs 95%, p = 0.04). All patients had undetectable haptoglobin levels. By contrast, 26% of schistocytes counts were <1%, mostly in group 1 (62% vs 11%, p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Diagnostic delay is highly prevalent in iTTP, with a significant impact on short-term neurological outcome. In patients with profound thrombocytopenia, the thorough search for signs of incipient organ dysfunction, systematic hemolysis workup, and proper interpretation of schistocytes count are the key elements of early diagnosis of TTP.
Narratives of experiences of violence of Venezuelan migrant women sheltered at the northwestern Brazilian border
Authors: Makuch Maria Y. , Osis Maria J. D. , Becerra Alejandra , Brasil Cinthia , de Amorim Helder S. F. , Bahamondes Luis
Published: November 2021

Objectives

To know the experiences of Venezuelan migrant women living in shelters in Roraima state at the northwestern border between Venezuela and Brazil regarding situations of violence as part of the dynamics of everyday life.

Materials and methods

Data were collected in January 2020 through 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) with 5 to 14 Venezuelan migrant women aged 18–49 years old living transitorily in five shelters established by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Brazilian government. We obtained individual and shared views on the experiences regarding violence that migrant women may experience in their everyday life. To organize the FGDs, variations in age and the time women were living at the shelters were considered. All FGDs were held in a place at the shelter that guaranteed privacy and secrecy so that women could express themselves freely. The initial question was broad and open ended and was followed by more specific questions about situations of domestic violence and other types of violence.

Results

The main themes identified were the following: i) women’s perceptions on domestic violence, ii) women’s perceptions on how humanitarian organizations were managing the episodes of domestic violence, and iii) situations considered violence in everyday life at the shelters. The FGDs showed that the reported violence inside the shelters was high, and several forms of violence emerged. Violence was identified as physical aggression and psychological threats, and violence in everyday life at the shelter included xenophobia when the migrants went outside the shelters that was perceived and described as violence.

Conclusions

According to the perspective of Venezuelan migrant women violence was part of everyday life among those living in the UNHCR shelters at the northwestern border of Brazil-Venezuela. These women are not comfortable with this situation, and it is difficult for them to understand and handle the episodes of violence.
Digestibility of insect meals for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and their performance for growth, feed utilization and immune responses
Authors: Shin Jaehyeong , Lee Kyeong-Jun
Published: November 2021

This study was conducted to examine digestibility of insect meals for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and their utilization as fish meal substitutes. The tested insect meals were mealworm, silkworm, black soldier fly, rice grasshopper, two-spotted cricket, dynastid beetle and white-spotted flower chafer. Apparent digestibility coefficients of the tested insect meals were 83–89% for protein, 91–98% for lipid, 84–90% for energy, 77–81% for dry matter, 28–36% for chitin, 76–96% for amino acids and 89–93% for fatty acids. The amino acid availability of insect meals was high in taurine (93–96%), arginine (91–95%) and lysine (90–95%). Availability of fatty acids were 89–93% for saturated fatty acids, 90–93% for monounsaturated fatty acids and 88–93% for polyunsaturated fatty acids. For a feeding trial, a control diet was formulated using 27% tuna byproduct meal as a fish meal source and seven other diets were prepared replacing 10% tuna byproduct meal in the control diet with each insect meal. Triplicate groups of shrimp (initial body weight: 0.17 g) were fed the diets for 65 days. The growth performance was significantly improved when the shrimp were fed black soldier fly or dynastid beetle included diet. Dietary supplementation of insect meals significantly improved non-specific immune responses and antioxidant enzyme activity in the shrimp. These results indicate that the tested insect meals have high potentials to be used as a protein source that could replace fish meal in diets for the shrimp.
Prevalence, beliefs and impact of drug-drug interactions between antiretroviral therapy and illicit drugs among people living with HIV in Spain
Authors: Castro-Granell Vanessa , Garin Noé , Jaén Ángeles , Cenoz Santiago , Galindo María José , Fuster-RuizdeApodaca María José
Published: November 2021

Drug use implies important challenges related to HIV management, particularly due to an increased risk of potential interactions between antiretroviral therapy (ART) and illicit drugs (pDDIs). This study analyses the prevalence and severity of pDDIs among people living with HIV (PLHIV). It also explores their awareness of pDDIs and their beliefs about the toxicity that they may cause, as well as the impact of pDDIs on selected health variables. We conducted an on-line cross-sectional survey across 33 Spanish hospitals and NGOs to collect demographics and clinical data. pDDIs were checked against the Interaction Checker developed by Liverpool University. The sample of the present study was composed of 694 PLHIV who used illicit drugs. They represented 49.5% of the 1,401 PLHIV that participated in the survey. After excluding 38 participants due to lack of information on their ART or illicit drug use, 335 (51.1%) participants consuming drugs presented with some potentially significant pDDIs between their ART and illicit drugs, with a mean of 2.1±1.7 (1–10) pDDIs per patient. The drugs most frequently involved in pDDIs were cocaine, cannabis, MDMA and nitrates ("poppers"). The prevalence of pDDIs across ART regimens was: protease inhibitors (41.7%); integrase inhibitor-boosted regimens (32.1%), and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (26.3%). An awareness of pDDIs and beliefs about their potential toxicity correlated positively with intentional non-adherence (p<0.0001). Participants with pDDIs exhibited a higher prevalence of intentional non-adherence (2.19±1.04 vs. 1.93±0.94;p= 0.001). The presence of pDDIs was not associated with poorer results in the clinical variables analysed. A significant proportion of PLHIV who use drugs experience pDDIs, thereby requiring close monitoring. pDDIs should be considered in the clinical management of HIV patients. Adequate information about pDDIs and indicators about how to manage ART when PLHIV use drugs could improve ART non-adherence.
Cancellation of outpatient appointments in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Nomura Kensuke , Tarumi Ryosuke , Yoshida Kazunari , Sado Mitsuhiro , Suzuki Takefumi , Mimura Masaru , Uchida Hiroyuki
Published: November 2021

Background

Regular visit to psychiatric clinic is essential for successful treatment of any psychiatric condition including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). However, cancellation of outpatient appointments in patients with AD/HD, which represents a significant medical loss, has not been systematically investigated to our knowledge.

Methods

A systematic chart review was conducted for patients visiting the Shimada Ryoiku medical Center for Challenged Children in Japan at the age of ≤15 years from January to December 2013. The primary outcome measure was the cancellation rate, defined as the number of missed visits divided by the number of scheduled visits. The cancellation rates during 24 months after the first visit were compared between outpatients with AD/HD and other psychiatric disorders, including pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), and developmental coordination disorders and/or communication disorders (DCD-CD). A generalized linear model with binomial distribution was used to examine factors associated with cancellation rates exclusively in the AD/HD group.

Results

We included 589 patients (mean ± SD age, 5.6 ± 3.4 years; 432 males) in the analysis. The cancellation rate in patients with AD/HD was 12.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.0–15.1), which was significantly higher than in those with PDD (5.6%, 95% CI: 3.8–8.3) and DCD-CD (5.3%, 95% CI: 3.6–7.8). Prescriptions of osmotic-release oral system-methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) and antipsychotics were associated with fewer cancellations in AD/HD patients (odds ratios: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39–0.95 and 0.49, 95% CI: 0.25–0.95, respectively), although these significances did not find in the subgroup analysis including only patients with ≥ 6 years old.

Conclusions

Patients with AD/HD were more likely to miss appointments compared to those with other psychiatric disorders. The impact of AD/HD medications as well as potential psychiatric symptoms of their parents or caregivers on appointment cancellations needs to be evaluated in more detail in future investigations.
Selected predictors of parental satisfaction with child nursing care in paediatric wards in Poland—Cross-sectional study
Authors: Kruszecka-Krówka Agnieszka , Cepuch Grażyna , Gniadek Agnieszka , Smoleń Ewa , Piskorz-Ogórek Krystyna , Micek Agnieszka
Published: November 2021

Background

Assessment of parental satisfaction with child nursing is the key issue in evaluation of the care quality, enabling the adjustment of the services provided to the needs and expectations of recipients, and thus ensuring safety and achieving better long-term health effects.

Aim

Assessment of parental satisfaction with child nursing in paediatric wards including its determinants.

Material and methods

The study covered 1030 parents of children hospitalised in paediatric and surgical wards of seven hospitals of different levels of health security in Poland. The Polish adaptation of the Empathic standardised questionnaire for assessment of the level of parents’ satisfaction with nursing care, developed by Latour et al. and the self-constructed summary of socio-demographic data were applied in the study.

Results

More than 90% of respondents expressed high level of satisfaction with nurses’ Availability, the lowest, but still high score of respondents’ satisfaction was observed for Parental Participation. The highest satisfaction was observed among the parents of children at the preschool, early school and puberty stage, admitted to the hospital on the elective basis, referred for diagnostic assessment and with the length of hospital stay less than 7 and longer than 28 days. Achieving preschool age was the strongest factor which increased assessment of satisfaction in most domains.

Conclusions

There is a need for optimising nursing care especially in the area of parental participation. The nursing care’ quality improvement plan in paediatric departments should focus particularly on early childhood patients and their parents who are the most critical in satisfaction’ assessment.
A History of Algeria, James McDougall (2017)
Authors: Peterson Terrence G.
Published: November 2021

Review of: A History of Algeria, James McDougall (2017)

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 448 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-52161-730-7, p/bk, $29.99
Morbidities Related to Obesity- A Short Review of Literature
Authors: Butola Lata Kanyal , Kanyal Deepika , Dhok Archana
Published: November 2021

Obesity is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disorders, metabolic disorders, osteoarthritis, multiple cancers, serious mental illness, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. Obesity has been reported to promote oxidative stress, as obesity stimulates the penetration and activation of macrophages and monocytes into adipose tissue which, in turn, releases elevated levels of pro-inflammatory adipokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha ( TNFa) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).Insulin resistance is associated with both type 2 diabetes and obesity. Alteration of lung mechanics in obese patients, including decreased lung capacities, decreased compliance, irregular breathing and perfusion and gas exchange, and respiratory muscle inefficiency, can predispose to increased risk and severity of respiratory infections. Obesity and atherosclerosis pathogenesis have many popular causes. In all cases, lipids, oxidized LDL particles and free fatty acids trigger the inflammatory response and induce the disease. In this review article, we have focused on different morbidities related to obesity. KEYWORDS Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Oxidative Stress, Osteoarthritis
MRI FOR PRE-DEMENTIA TRIALS
Authors: Frisoni G.B. , Boccardi M.
Published: November 2021

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides valid markers of whole brain and regional areas of atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which are sensitive to change and correlate with clinical progression. Recent efforts to develop standardized and harmonized protocols for MRI indicate high measurement stability and good reproducibility, supporting the use of these measures in clinical trials. Newer MRI measures of microstructural and connectivity changes are also showing promise as early stage biomarkers of neurodegeneration and potentially as measures of treatment effects. Further work is needed to validate these markers for use in clinical trials.
SELF-REPORTED MEMORY COMPLAINTS: A COMPARISON OF DEMENTED AND UNIMPAIRED OUTCOMES
Authors: Kryscio R.J. , Abner E.L. , Jicha G.A. , Nelson P.T. , Smith C.D. , Van Eldik L.J. , Lou W. , Fardo D.W. , Cooper G.E. , Schmitt F.A.
Published: November 2021

Background: Subjective memory complaints are common in aged persons, indicating an increased, but incompletely understood, risk for dementia. Objective: To compare cognitive trajectories and autopsy results of individuals with subjective complaints after stratifying by whether a subsequent clinical dementia occurred. Design: Observational study. Setting: University of Kentucky cohort with yearly longitudinal assessments and eventual autopsies Participants: Among 516 patients who were cognitively intact and depression-free at enrollment, 296 declared a memory complaint during follow-up. Among those who came to autopsy, 118 died but never developed dementia, while 36 died following dementia diagnosis. Measurements: Cognitive domain trajectories were compared using linear mixed models adjusted for age, gender, years of education and APOE status. Neuropathological findings were compared cross-sectionally after adjustment for age at death. Results: While the groups had comparable cognitive test scores at enrollment and the time of the first declaration of a complaint, the group with subsequent dementia development had steeper slopes of decline in episodic memory and naming but not fluency or sequencing. Autopsies showed the dementia group had more severe Alzheimer pathology and a higher proportion of subjects with hippocampal sclerosis of aging and arteriolosclerosis, whereas the non-demented group had a higher proportion expressing primary age related tauopathy (PART). Conclusions: While memory complaints are common among the elderly, not all individuals progress to dementia. This study indicates that biomarkers are needed to predict whether a complaint will lead to dementia if this is used as enrollment criteria in future clinical trials.
As dificuldades de mobilidade dos povos originários venezuelanos de etnia Warao no Brasil decorrentes do veto na lei de migrações à sua livre circulação
Authors: Cardoso Squeff Tatiana de A. F. R. , Pelegrino Pecker Julia
Published: November 2021

A Lei de Migrações de 2017 é um marco regulatório importantíssimo para a assecuração dos direitos humanos dos migrantes no Brasil. No entanto, um princípio que era de suma importância para a realização de seus objetivos era a previsão da livre circulação indígena transfronteiriça, a qual, porém, restou de fora do texto final em função de um veto presidencial quando da sua sanção, sob o argumento de ser uma ameaça à segurança nacional. Assim, partindo de uma abordagem hipotético-dedutiva e seguindo os métodos de análise analítico-descritivo e explicativo, argumenta-se neste estudo que esse veto não só é ilegal à luz do direito constitucional e internacional, como também é responsável pelas dificuldades encontradas pelos migrantes indígenas venezuelanos de etnia Warao no Brasil. Ao cabo, realizada uma pesquisa monográfica através dos procedimentos bibliográfico e documental, conclui-se que, sim, os Warao são impedidos de manifestar as suas tradições e identidade cultural no país de forma plena forte no aludido veto, clamando-se, consequentemente, pela criação de políticas migratórias voltadas a essa população específica.
Migrações venezuelanas:
Authors: De Oliveira Santos Domeniconi Jóice , Baeninger Rosana , Belmonte Demétrio Natália
Published: November 2021

As migrações internacionais no século XXI exigem um olhar que contemple a diversidade de processos, heterogeneidade e modalidades migratórias (WENDEN, 2001) em curso. Entre elas, as migrações internacionais qualificadas (PEIXOTO, 1998). O objetivo desse artigo é analisar as migrações internacionais de trabalhadores venezuelanos altamente qualificados para o Brasil em anos recentes. Leva-se em consideração as relações entre a mobilidade do capital e do trabalho (SASSEN, 2007), particularmente ligadas à reestruturação produtiva e à expansão de empresas transnacionais (HAGIU, 2010). Considera-se também as relações geopolíticas e de governança das migrações contemporâneas (ROBERTSON, 2014) em um cenário de crescentes instabilidades políticas e econômicas em âmbito regional que coloca distintos contingentes de imigrantes em movimento (BAENINGER, 2018). Com base na categoria dos imigrantes trabalhadores do conhecimento (DOMENICONI, 2017) e de registros administrativos da Secretaria de Trabalho brasileira, apreende-se um cenário de mudanças na composição, temporalidade e espacialidade das migrações qualificadas venezuelanas e na inserção sociolaboral formal desses imigrantes no país, permeada por mecanismos de seletividade e por diferenciais sociodemográficos e ocupacionais no período de 2011 a 2019.
Structural sensitivity of an asphalt pavement to asphalt binder content and mix design method
Authors: Do Carmo Cássio Alberto Teoro , Pereira Géssica Soares , Marques Geraldo Luciano de Oliveira , Borges Paulo Roberto
Published: November 2021

The goal of this study was to analyze the structural sensitivity of a flexible pavement, whose asphalt layers underwent variations in its mechanical properties due to the asphalt binder content and the mix design method Marshall and Superpave. A variation of ±0.5% within the optimum asphalt binder contents was used (service tolerance) considering possible permissible variations in the asphalt binder content during the asphalt mixture manufacturing process. The values of resilient modulus and indirect tensile strength (Brazilian test) of the resulting asphalt mixtures were applied to the reference pavement structure analyzed by the me-PADS software. The results show that the variations in the asphalt binder content and the asphalt mixtures design method influence the mechanical properties and corresponding structural responses of the pavement investigated: the asphalt layers designed by the Marshall method presented greater sensitivity to the variation in asphalt binder content, which may constitute a technical differential of asphalt mixtures designed by the Superpave method.
An Unusual Gastric Polyp: Brunneroma
Authors: Mhanna Jad , Francis Fadi F. , Sabatto Bassel Zein , Tawil Ayman , Hashash Jana G.
Published: November 2021

Brunneromas or polypoid hamartomas are benign lesions arising from Brunner glands. They are usually benign lesions with low potential for malignancy. They are usually located in the duodenum and manifest with different unspecific symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, or bloating. Other more serious manifestations are also reported in the literature that are related to the size of the lesion. Usually, they are treated with endoscopic resection, with some lesions requiring surgical intervention. We present a case of a gastric antral polypoid lesion that was consistent with Brunneroma on histology.
A Potential Treatment of Congenital Sodium Diarrhea in Patients With Activating GUCY2C Mutations
Authors: van Vugt Anke H.M. , Bijvelds Marcel J.C. , de Jonge Hugo R. , Meijsen Kelly F. , Restin Tanja , Bryant Manuel B. , Ballauff Antje , Koot Bart , Müller Thomas , Houwen Roderick H.J. , Janecke Andreas R. , Middendorp Sabine
Published: November 2021

INTRODUCTION:

Gain-of-function mutations in guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) result in persistent diarrhea with perinatal onset. We investigated a specific GCC inhibitor, SSP2518, for its potential to treat this disorder.

METHODS:

We investigated the effect of SSP2518 on GCC-mediated intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels and on GCC-mediated chloride secretion in intestinal organoids from 3 patients with distinct activating GCC mutations and from controls, with and without stimulation of GCC with heat-stable enterotoxin.

RESULTS:

Patient-derived organoids had significantly higher basal cGMP levels than control organoids, which were lowered by SSP2518 to levels found in control organoids. In addition, SSP2518 significantly reduced cGMP levels and chloride secretion in patient-derived and control organoids (P < 0.05 for all comparisons) after heat-stable enterotoxin stimulation.

DISCUSSION:

We reported in this study that the GCC inhibitor SSP2518 normalizes cGMP levels in intestinal organoids derived from patients with GCC gain-of-function mutations and markedly reduces cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator–dependent chloride secretion, the driver of persistent diarrhea.
Pancreatic Cancer–Related Mutational Burden Is Not Increased in a Patient Cohort With Clinically Severe Chronic Pancreatitis
Authors: Cowan Robert W. , Pratt Erica D. , Kang Jin Muk , Zhao Jun , Wilhelm Joshua J. , Abdulla Muhamad , Qiao Edmund M. , Brennan Luke P. , Ulintz Peter J. , Bellin Melena D. , Rhim Andrew D.
Published: November 2021

INTRODUCTION:

Chronic pancreatitis is associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer, and patients with inherited forms of pancreatitis are at greatest risk. We investigated whether clinical severity of pancreatitis could also be an indicator of cancer risk independent of etiology by performing targeted DNA sequencing to assess the mutational burden in 55 cancer-associated genes.

METHODS:

Using picodroplet digital polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing, we reported the genomic profiles of pancreases from severe clinical cases of chronic pancreatitis that necessitated palliative total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation.

RESULTS:

We assessed 57 tissue samples from 39 patients with genetic and idiopathic etiologies and found that despite the clinical severity of disease, there was no corresponding increase in mutational burden. The average allele frequency of somatic variants was 1.19% (range 1.00%–5.97%), and distinct regions from the same patient displayed genomic heterogeneity, suggesting that these variants are subclonal. Few oncogenic KRAS mutations were discovered (7% of all samples), although we detected evidence of frequent cancer-related variants in other genes such as TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4. Of note, tissue samples with oncogenic KRAS mutations and samples from patients with PRSS1 mutations harbored an increased total number of somatic variants, suggesting that these patients may have increased genomic instability and could be at an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

DISCUSSION:

Overall, we showed that even in those patients with chronic pancreatitis severe enough to warrant total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation, pancreatic cancer–related mutational burden is not appreciably increased.
Analysis of Earnings Management Practices Using the Modified Jones Model on the Industry Company Index Kompas 100
Authors: Indriani Azizah Defi , Pujiono Pujiono
Published: November 2021

This study aimed to examine the issue of differences in earnings management patterns in companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). Earnings management can occur because company management wants to take advantage of accounting descriptions/policies under the character of the assets, existing in each of these industries. This study used a Modified Jones Model approach in determining earnings management proxies. Besides, it also used analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test whether there were differences in earnings management patterns. The data were consisted of 450 companies from 8 industrial sectors in the Kompas 100 Stock Index during 2015-2019. They were from various industries; essential and chemical industry; consumer goods; services; mining, oil, natural gas; plantation; property and real estate; and banking. The result shows that there are differences in earnings management patterns between industrial sectors. Therefore, Â company managementÂ  practices earnings management following the characteristics of each industry. The research also suggests that the next study should analyze the comparison of earnings management with other models to determine the consistency of results.
Valuing PSAK 64 in Reducing Conservatism in The Extractive Industry
Authors: Yantiana Nella , Ricky Ricky , Heniwati Elok
Published: November 2021

In 2011, the Indonesian Institute of Accountants (IAI) issued PSAK 64, which adopted IFRS 6 concerning exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources. It is assumed that this adoption will improve the quality of financial reporting. This current study examines the impact of PSAK 64 implementation and other related factors on financial statement conservatism. The data were collected by using data from extractive industries listed on the IDX over the period 2009-2010 and 2013-2014 to represent before and after IFRS-based PSAK mandatory implementation respectively. This study develops two regression models to analyze first, factors influence on conservatism before implementing PSAK 64 and second, the influential factors after implementing PSAK 64 by interacting among conservatism factors. The study found that exploration aggressiveness has influenced conservatism and there are no influential factors on conservatism when they interact. Generally speaking, there is a no different level of conservatism before and after implementing PSAK 64. This finding adds a body of literature on the accounting of extractive industry in Indonesia and is prospective for countries having yet adopted IFRS.
A new solution to distributed permutation flow shop scheduling problem based on NASH Q-Learning
Authors: Ren J.F. , Ye C.M. , Li Y.
Published: November 2021

Aiming at Distributed Permutation Flow-shop Scheduling Problems (DPFSPs), this study took the minimization of the maximum completion time of the workpieces to be processed in all production tasks as the goal, and took the multi-agent Reinforcement Learning (RL) method as the main frame of the solution model, then, combining with the NASH equilibrium theory and the RL method, it proposed a NASH Q-Learning algorithm for Distributed Flow-shop Scheduling Problem (DFSP) based on Mean Field (MF). In the RL part, this study designed a two-layer online learning mode in which the sample collection and the training improvement proceed alternately, the outer layer collects samples, when the collected samples meet the requirement of batch size, it enters to the inner layer loop, which uses the Q-learning model-free batch processing mode to proceed, and adopts neural network to approximate the value function to adapt to large-scale problems. By comparing the Average Relative Percentage Deviation (ARPD) index of the benchmark test questions, the calculation results of the proposed algorithm outperformed other similar algorithms, which proved the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
A smart Warehouse 4.0 approach for the pallet management using machine vision and Internet of Things (IoT): A real industrial case study
Authors: Vukicevic A. , Mladineo M. , Banduka N. , Macuzic I.
Published: November 2021

Printing companies are commonly SMEs with high flow of materials, which management could be significantly improved through the digitalization. In this study we propose a smart Warehouse 4.0 solution by using QR code, open-source software tools for machine vision and conventional surveillance equipment. Although there have been concerns regarding the usage of QR in logistics, it has shown to be suitable for the particular use-case as pallets are static in the interwarehouse. The reliability of reading of QR codes was achieved by using multiple IP cameras, so that sub-optimal view angle or light reflection is compensated with alternative views. Since surveillance technology and machine vision are constantly evolving and becoming more affordable, we report that more attention needs to be invested into their adaptation to fit the needs and budgets of SMEs, which are the industrial cornerstone in the most developed countries. The demo of proposed solution is available on the public repository https://github.com/ArsoVukicevic/PalletManagement/.
Tactical manufacturing capacity planning based on discrete event simulation and throughput accounting: A case study of medium sized production enterprise
Authors: Jurczyk-Bunkowska M.
Published: November 2021

The article presents the application of the original methodology to support tactical capacity planning in a medium-sized manufacturing company. Its essence is to support medium-term decisions regarding the development of the production system through economic assessment of potential change scenarios. It has been assumed that the developed methodology should be adapted to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Due to their flexibility, they usually have limited time for decision-making, and due to limited financial resources, they rely on internal competencies. The proposed approach that does not require mastery of mathematical modelling but allows streamlining capacity planning decisions. It uses the reasoning of throughput accounting (TA) supported by data obtained based on discrete event simulation (DES). Using these related tools in the design and analysis of change scenarios, make it possible for SME managers to make a rational decision regarding the development of the production system. Case studies conducted in a roof window manufacturing company showed the methodology. The application example presented in the article includes seven change scenarios analyzed based on computer simulations by the software Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. The implementation of the approach under real conditions has shown that a rational decision-making process is possible over time scale and with the resources available to SMEs for this type of decision.
Fiscal Decentralization and Fiscal Multiplier in China
Authors: Guo Fei , Opoku Eric Evans Osei , Hynes Kate , Yan Isabel Kit-Ming
Published: November 2021

A fundamental aspect of China’s transition to a market economy is the change in fiscal decentralization marked by the tax reform in 1993. This paper examines the effect of revenue and expenditure decentralization and their divergences on fiscal spending multipliers in China using nationally aggregate and provincial-level data from 1978 to 2017. Our investigations show that expenditure decentralization weakens the efficacy of spending policies, while revenue decentralization enhances the efficacy. Moreover, the divergence of revenue and expenditure decentralization has significantly decreased the provincial spending multiplier, while its effect on the aggregate spending multiplier is insignificant. The provincial results are robust to the inclusion of off-budgetary expenditure and revenue, using different estimates of multipliers and different measures of fiscal decentralization, considering from a long-run perspective, and addressing the endogeneity issue.
Using humor to disguise racism in television news: the case of the Roma
Authors: Breazu Petre , Machin David
Published: November 2021

It has been argued that more research is needed on the role of humor in the expression of racism. One reason is that, in the ‘post racial’ society, overt racism has become publicly unacceptable and, therefore, tends to appear in more concealed forms. In this paper, as part of a larger project on media representations of the Roma, we look at the role of humor in a Romanian television news clip reporting on the financial rewards of begging. We draw on the critical scholarship in humor research and carry out a multimodal critical discourse analysis of a news report selected from a larger corpus. We argue that through humor a recontextualisation of the Roma’s situation takes place, transforming their actual situation of poverty and social marginalisation into a humorous account of cultural failure, incompetence, stupidity and calculated money grabbing. We show that humor is one way by which culture becomes represented as embodied by ethnic minorities.
Amelioration of sodium fluoride induced oxidative stress by Cynometra travancorica Bedd in mice
Authors: Meera Nair , Divya Menon K. , Silpa Prabha , Pareeth Chennattu M. , Raghavamenon Achuthan C. , Babu Thekkekara D.
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Cynometra travancorica, endemic to Western Ghats of India is pharmacologically similar to Saraca asoca and occasionally used as substitute in a well-known Ayurvedic uterine tonic Asokarishta. S. asoca possess various biological properties, but there are no reports on C. travancorica. The present study evaluated the pharmacological properties of C. travancorica and its efficacy in attenuating the sodium fluoride (NaF) induced oxidative stress in mice.

Methods

Antioxidant potential of methanolic extract of C. travancorica (CTE) stem bark was evaluated using DPPH, superoxide radical scavenging and total antioxidant assays. The effect of CTE on mitigating NaF deteriorated redox status in the liver tissue of mice was evaluated. Functional groups in CTE were analyzed by FTIR analysis.

Results

CTE effectively scavenged the free radicals in in vitro condition. CTE could augment catalase (46.6%), superoxide dismutase (53.8%) activities and GSH level (48.1%) against NaF induced decline in the liver tissue of mice. The peroxidation of lipids was found to be decreased by 44.9% and tissue damage abated as inferred by histopathology. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of biologically active functional groups in CTE.

Conclusions

The study revealed the ameliorative effect of C. travancorica against NaF induced deleterious effect in experimental animals by its potent antioxidant potential.
New and emerging technologies for the diagnosis of urinary tract infections
Authors: Harris Mohammed , Fasolino Tracy
Published: November 2021

Urinary tract infections affect 150 million people worldwide, yet the diagnosis of this common infection is not straightforward. Misdiagnoses and incorrect prescriptions are frequent in the treatment of urinary tract infections; this also contributes to the increase in antibiotic resistance among pathogens. Present diagnostic practices take 2–3 days for pathogen identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. New technologies are urgently needed for improved patient care as well as to promote antibiotic stewardship. An ideal new diagnostic technology will test clinical urine samples directly and identify the pathogen and determine its antibiotic susceptibilities within a few hours such that the patient can be prescribed the appropriate antibiotic treatment the same day. Screening tools, such as flow cytometers and new dipstick assays, can help with rapidly identifying negative samples and improving workflow and reducing costs. Several groups have made progress in optimizing mass spectrometry methods for direct urine processing, and there are also new multiplex PCR panels that are specific for UTI pathogens and antibiotic resistance. We also discuss several emerging technologies – microfluidics, biosensors, real-time microscopy systems, and sequence-based diagnostics – that show huge potential in delivering rapid results.
Introducing Berry phase gradients along the optical path via propagation-dependent polarization transformations
Authors: Dorrah Ahmed H. , Tamagnone Michele , Rubin Noah A. , Zaidi Aun , Capasso Federico
Published: November 2021

As a classical or quantum system undergoes a cyclic evolution governed by slow change in its parameter space, it acquires a topological phase factor known as the geometric or Berry phase. One popular manifestation of this phenomenon is the Gouy phase which arises when the radius of curvature of the wavefront changes adiabatically in a cyclic manner, for e.g., when focused by a lens. Here, we report on a new manifestation of the Berry phase in 3D structured light which arises when its polarization state adiabatically evolves along the optical path. We show that such a peculiar evolution of angular momentum, which occurs under free space propagation, is accompanied by an accumulated phase shift that elegantly coincides with Berry’s prediction. Unlike the conventional dynamic phase, which accumulates monotonically with propagation, the Berry phase observed here can be engineered on demand, thereby enabling new possibilities; such as spin-dependent spatial frequency shifts, and modified phase matching in resonators and nonlinear interactions. Our findings expand the laws of wave propagation and can be applied in optics and beyond.