bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Um olhar sobre o processo criativo de empresas de streaming e a experimentação em produções audiovisuais
Authors: Bousso Karina , Salles Cecilia Almeida
Published: January 2021

A proposta do presente artigo é ilustrar os processos criativos das produções audiovisuais da empresa Netflix. Foram observados diferentes elementos com a finalidade de mapear os nós da rede do processo criativo: a produção de conteúdo, o algoritmo monitorado e a reprodução instantânea. Sobre a produção do conteúdo, identificamos três elementos que auxiliam na compreensão da produção como rede, são eles: a equipe criativa, o roteiro e a busca referencial. Com relação ao algoritmo monitorado, ilustramos a importância do monitoramento de dados no processo criativo destas produções audiovisuais, além de identificar que para o pesquisador da crítica do processo, o acesso e análise de dados digitais faz parte do processo do próprio pesquisador. Por último, tratamos sobre o nó da reprodução instantânea. Aqui, falamos sobre o termo binge-watching e como a forma em que o público se comporta perante a transmissão de séries em plataformas de streaming pode afetar o processo. Com isso, foram apresentadas diferentes reflexões, utilizando como base, as teorias de Cecilia Salles, Domenico De Masi, Vincent Colapietro, entre outros, para mapear os modelos de reprodução reconhecidos nas séries originais da empresa Netflix, e o que podemos classificar como experimentação para o serviço de streaming.
El manuscrito como un cuerpo que insiste
Authors: Goldchluk Graciela
Published: January 2021

Este artículo se ocupa de los efectos de lectura que produce la digitalización de manuscritos nacidos analógicos en un archivo del siglo XX y de cómo considerar un archivo del siglo XXI, que posee múltiples textualidades. El trabajo propone una metodología que mantenga el principio de desapropiación del sentido, únicamente sostenible cuando nuestro trabajo se convierte en una puesta en común, con códigos abiertos y firma provisoria. Es decir que un modo de trabajar que reconozca y ponga al alcance los objetos digitales en tanto objetos, físicos ellos también, que persiguen formas no mediadas por el capital simbólico, sino que sea acorde a la multiplicidad de sentidos que proponemos abierta, provisoria, en movimiento. En ese camino se trata de recordar nuestro ser-con abierto al otro en tanto otro, y si el manuscrito es, como señalara Jean Levaillant el otro del texto, y para nosotres es un cuerpo que vuelve, un cuerpo que insiste, es precisamente en sus sucesivas encarnaciones donde se vuelve a afirmar como otro, resistente a subsumirse en una textualidad consagrada socialmente, y espacio hospitalario para el acontecer de la literatura.
Fractais da literatura: o diálogo epistolar entre Hilda Hilst e Caio Fernando Abreu
Authors: Leitão Andréa Jamilly Rodrigues
Published: January 2021

Importa ao presente trabalho deter-se em um trecho de uma das cartas de Caio Fernando Abreu destinadas a Hilda Hilst e explicitar de que modo se deu o movimento de apropriação exercido pela escritora para conceber parte do enredo da narrativa “Axelrod (da proporção)”, de Tu não te moves de ti (1980). Com base no trânsito contínuo entre vida e ficção, esses escritos remontam, como pano de fundo, ao período histórico da ditadura militar (1964-1985) e inscrevem textualmente uma crítica à violência das formas institucionalizadas de dominação, sob o controle que atravessa os corpos e a ordem ideológica dos discursos.
O diário póstumo de Hervé Guibert como espaço de escritura, de decantação da gramática autobiografemática e ato final de um projeto autoficcional
Authors: Vieira Willian
Published: January 2021

Esse artigo propõe uma análise detida de Le mausolée des amants, considerado o último livro de Hervé Guibert, publicado dez anos após sua morte de AIDS como um diário. Problematiza-se aqui sua constituição genérica, visto tratar-se de um complexo constructo de notação e escrita diarística, processo e fonte de criação romanesca paralelo aos romances e um romance em si – que, por fim, abraça todos os procedimentos típicos da escrita autoficcional guibertiana. Da criação, o foco desse artigo recai na recepção: em meio ao que diz o autor-narrador-protagonista no próprio volume e Guibert, autor, em epitextos diversos, como o leitor recebeu e recebe ainda hoje uma obra como essa?
Escrever para não esquecer: entrevista com Scholastique Mukasonga
Authors: Silva Larissa Esperança da , Teixeira Lucília Lima Souza Lima , Firmino Mariana Cunha , Santos Sandra Coeli Barbosa dos
Published: January 2021

Scholastique Mukasonga, nascida em 1956 em Ruanda, é uma escritora francófona sobrevivente do genocídio dos tutsis ocorrido nos anos 1990. Ela emigrou para a França nesse período e ali estabeleceu residência trabalhando como assistente social. Escrever passou a ser uma necessidade para salvar a memória[1]:

Onde estão eles hoje? Na cripta memorial da igreja de Nyamata, crânios anônimos entre tantas ossadas? Na brousse, sob os espinheiros, em uma fossa que ainda não veio a público? Copio inúmeras vezes o nome que ainda não veio a público? Copio inúmeras vezes o nome deles no caderno de capa azul, quero provar a mim mesma que eles existiram, pronuncio seus nomes um a um na noite silenciosa. Sobre cada nome devo definir um rosto, pendurar um retalho como lembrança. Não quero chorar, sinto as lágrimas escorrerem pelas minhas faces. Fecho os olhos, esta será mais uma noite sem sono. Tenho muitos mortos a velar.[2]

Depois de conferências realizadas em São Paulo em novembro de 2019 sobre três de suas obras traduzidas para o português e publicadas pela editora Nós: A mulher dos pés descalços (2017), Nossa Senhora do Nilo (2017) e Baratas (2018), a autora Scholastique Mukasonga, acompanhada de seu filho Aurélien, gentilmente, nos concedeu uma entrevista em seu hotel, que foi gravada em áudio antes de seu embarque para Nova York, onde concorreu ao prêmio National Book Awards 2019 por A mulher dos pés descalços. Segundo a escritora, esse é o seu livro mais conhecido nos Estados Unidos e no Brasil, lançado na FLIP em Paraty em 2017. Depois de transcrever integralmente a gravação de uma hora de entrevista e traduzi-la, procuramos cortar repetições e hesitações características da oralidade afim de tornar a leitura mais fluida. A escritora teve ciência de todo o processo até a publicação desta entrevista.

 

[1] As citações presentes nessa entrevista foram escolhidas pelas entrevistadoras.

[2] MUKASONGA, S. Baratas. Tradução Elisa Nazarian. São Paulo: 2018, p. 18.
Critica genética en perspectiva: dibujos y montajes de ¡Que viva Mexico!, de Sergei Eisenstein.
Authors: Cucinotta Caterina , Ramé Jes´ús
Published: January 2021

Este artículo pretende analizar, desde el punto de vista de la crítica genética, los documentos de proceso del film inacabado ¡Qué viva México!, el cual Sergei Eisenstein empezó a rodar tras una estancia en Hollywood en los años 30. Por un lado, existen documentos escritos que nos dan información sobre las diferentes etapas de proceso creativo fílmico, y por otro Eisenstein hizo dibujos que se revelan como el estudio primordial de su puesta en práctica del encuadre y del montaje, dando una interpretación personal de su proceso creativo. Así, el interrogante que se nos plantea es: ¿Cómo podría estudiarse una obra cinematográfica inacabada de la que, además de tener varios materiales que perfilan diferentes bocetos, se han intentado realizar varias versiones de montaje con el material existente? Combinando los materiales de la génesis de trabajo en la preproducción, la producción y las versiones de postproducción, expondremos diferentes caminos posibles del proceso creativo. Para ello, partiremos del recorrido de preparación que realizó el director letón, de su investigación sobre la cultura mexicana expresada en los dibujos y de la versión que se considera la más fiel a las intenciones originarias, la cual fue montada por Grigori Alexandrov.
Os novos lugares ou dimensões do fazer manual na arte contemporânea
Authors: Vieira Flávia , Pfützenreuter Edson de Prado
Published: January 2021

O presente artigo incide em modos como a cultura do fazer manual emerge na prática artística contemporânea ocidental, a partir do testemunho e obras de dez artistas entrevistados (Alexandre da Cunha, Arna Óttardóttir, Brie Ruais, Caroline Achaintre, Ingrid Wiener, Jonathan Trayte, Juliana Cerqueira Leite, Luke Armitstead, Sônia Gomes e Tiago Mestre). São ilustradas cinco dimensões do fazer manual enquanto manifestações do processo criativo: novos diálogos com o corpo, performance ou a “mão-em-ação”, permanência do fazer tradicional manual, uso expandido das técnicas tradicionais e reivindicação de uma posição politizada do fazer. Ao reformular as narrativas convencionais de produção através da escolha deliberada de modos de fazer lentos, os artistas reclamam e postulam uma presença ativa e participativa na produção da obra.
Long-term Follow-up of Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Intervention for Abdominal Pain with Minimal Biliary Ductal Dilation, Stone Disease, or Malignancy
Authors: Mortensen Garrett F. , Bhutiani Neal , Brown Amber N. , Davidyuk Vladimir , Palin Hannah , Bahr Michael H. , Vitale Gary C.
Published: January 2021

Background

Safety and efficacy of endoscopic methods in management of biliary colic after cholecystectomy in patients with minimal biliary ductal dilation and no evidence of biliary stones or malignancy have not been clearly demonstrated. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of endoscopic management of such patients.

Methods

The University of Louisville database was queried for patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for colicky abdominal pain between 1996 and 2016 who had a common bile duct (CBD) diameter of ≤12 mm. All patients had undergone prior cholecystectomy and were free of malignancy. Demographic, serologic, procedural, and outcome variables were assessed.

Results

A total of 35 patients underwent a total of 99 ERCPs. Median CBD diameter was 10 (range 4-12) mm. A total of 31 patients (89%) underwent sphincterotomy, 28 (80%) underwent stent placement, and 5 (14%) underwent balloon dilation. The median number of ERCPs performed was 2 (range 1-10). Three of the 35 patients (9%) developed post-ERCP pancreatitis at some point during their treatment. At last follow-up since initial ERCP (median 16 months, range 2.4-184 months), 12 (34%) patients endorsed abdominal pain and 11 (31%) reported experiencing nausea.

Conclusion

For select patients with abdominal pain in the setting of minimal CBD dilation and no evidence of stone disease or malignancy, ERCP can safely and effectively be used to manage symptoms. While patients may require multiple interventions, they can derive long-term relief from these procedures.
To Get Vaccinated or Not? Psychological Safety as a Catalyst for the Alignment Between Individual Beliefs and Behavior
Authors: Stühlinger Manuel , Schmutz Jan B. , Grote Gudela , Nicca Dunja , Flury Domenica
Published: January 2021

While many studies have investigated the consequences of psychological safety for behavior, there is little theorizing on the mechanisms that account for these effects. Since psychological safety makes individuals feel safe to express their true self, we argue that it should act as a catalyst for alignment between individual beliefs and behavior. Drawing on the reasoned action model, we postulate that psychological safety interacts with individuals’ attitudes and perceived norms in predicting intention and behavior. We tested our model with physicians’ influenza vaccination behavior. We surveyed 208 physicians from a Swiss hospital before and after the vaccination phase. Results show that the effect of attitude, but not perceived norm, on intention to get vaccinated was moderated by perceived psychological safety in the physicians’ team: High psychological safety strengthened the effect of physicians’ attitude on their intention, which in turn predicted actual vaccination behavior. We provide first evidence that high psychological safety may render individuals more comfortable to act in accordance with their attitudes. Depending on whether attitudes are in line with organizational goals, increasing psychological safety could facilitate positive or negative consequences. This more differentiated understanding of psychological safety can fruitfully inform both future research and organizational practice.
Video-Assisted Jejunostomy Tube Placement With Two Portals: Surgical Technique in Ten Steps
Authors: Abreu Phillipe , Ferreira Raphaella , Mineli Victor , Bussyguin Danilo S. , Dantas Luiz B. , Szutan Luiz A. , Preti Vinicius B. , Vianna Rodrigo M. , Tomasich Flavio D. S.
Published: January 2021

Objectives. Endoscopic gastrostomy occasionally presents limitations such as costs, availability of equipment and special materials, and difficult access to the gastric cavity in the setting of obstructive esophageal tumors. Open jejunostomies present high rates of postoperative complications and limited capacity for abdominal evaluation due to reduced incision size. Thus, to reduce procedure-related complications and overall costs and provide a thorough intraoperative evaluation of the peritoneal cavity, we present the following simplified technique. Methods. Video-assisted jejunostomy in ten steps. Results. The use of this Video-assisted laparoscopic technique proves to be a safe, viable alternative, with cost reduction, decreased use of disposable materials, shortened operative time, and accelerated recovery, in addition to increased technical ease and wide applicability across a variety of hospital settings.
Trends in and determinants of visiting private health facilities for maternal and child health care in Nepal: comparison of three Nepal demographic health surveys, 2006, 2011, and 2016
Authors: Adhikari Ramesh Prasad , Shrestha Manisha Laxmi , Satinsky Emily N. , Upadhaya Nawaraj
Published: January 2021

Background

Maternal and child health care services are available in both public and private facilities in Nepal. Studies have not yet looked at trends in maternal and child health service use over time in Nepal. This paper assesses trends in and determinants of visiting private health facilities for maternal and child health needs using nationally representative data from the last three successive Nepal Demographic Health Surveys (NDHS).

Methods

Data from the NDHS conducted in 2006, 2011, and 2016 were used. Maternal and child health-seeking was established using data on place of antenatal care (ANC), place of delivery, and place of treatment for child diarrhoea and fever/cough. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify trends in and determinants of health-seeking at private facilities.

Results

The results indicate an increase in the use of private facilities for maternal and child health care over time. Across the three survey waves, women from the highest wealth quintile had the highest odds of accessing ANC services at private health facilities (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.53, 5.91 in 2006; AOR = 5.6, 95% CI = 3.51, 8.81 in 2011; AOR = 6.0, 95% CI = 3.78, 9.52 in 2016). Women from the highest wealth quintile (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.54, 7.09 in 2006; AOR = 7.3, 95% CI = 3.91, 13.54 in 2011; AOR = 8.3, 95% CI = 3.97, 17.42 in 2016) and women with more years of schooling (AOR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.17, 1.27 in 2006; AOR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.14 in 2011; AOR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.16 in 2016) were more likely to deliver in private health facilities. Likewise, children belonging to the highest wealth quintile (AOR = 8.0, 95% CI = 2.43, 26.54 in 2006; AOR = 6.4, 95% CI = 1.59, 25.85 in 2016) were more likely to receive diarrhoea treatment in private health facilities.

Conclusions

Women are increasingly visiting private health facilities for maternal and child health care in Nepal. Household wealth quintile and more years of schooling were the major determinants for selecting private health facilities for these services. These trends indicate the importance of collaboration between private and public health facilities in Nepal to foster a public private partnership approach in the Nepalese health care sector.
Determinants of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance services utilization among childbearing women in Guinea: evidence from the 2018 Guinea Demographic and Health Survey data
Authors: Ahinkorah Bright Opoku , Seidu Abdul-Aziz , Agbaglo Ebenezer , Adu Collins , Budu Eugene , Hagan John Elvis , Schack Thomas , Yaya Sanni
Published: January 2021

Background

Globally, maternal health remains a major priority. Most of maternal deaths globally occur in sub-Saharan Africa, with most of these deaths linked to lack of access to antenatal care and skilled assistance during delivery. This study assessed the determinants of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance services utilization among childbearing women in Guinea.

Methods

Data for this study were obtained from the 2018 Guinea Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). Data of 4,917 childbearing women were considered as our analytical sample. The outcome variables for the study were utilization of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance. Analysis was carried out using chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression.

Results

The results showed that women aged 15-24 (AOR=1.29, CI=1.03-1.62), women who had secondary/higher level of education (AOR=1.70, CI=1.33-2.19), and those whose partners had secondary/higher level of education (AOR=1.46, CI=1.22-1.75), women in the richest wealth quintile (AOR=5.09, CI=3.70-7.00), those with planned pregnancies (AOR=1.50, CI=1.23-1.81), Muslim women (AOR=1.65, CI=1.38-2.12), those who take healthcare decisions alone (AOR=1.53, CI=1.24-1.89), and those who listened to radio less than once a week (AOR= 1.30, CI=1.10-1.53) had higher odds of antenatal care uptake. Also, women with secondary/higher level of education (AOR=1.83, CI=1.25-2.68), those whose partners had secondary/higher level of education (AOR=1.40, CI=1.11-1.76), those in the richest wealth quintile (AOR=10.79, CI=6.64-17.51), those with planned pregnancies (AOR=1.25, CI=1.03-1.52), Christian women (AOR=4.13, CI=3.17-5.39), those living in urban areas (AOR=3.00, CI=2.29-3.94), women with one birth (AOR= 1.58, CI=1.20-2.06), those who take healthcare decisions alone (AOR=1.87, CI=1.46-2.39), those who read newspaper at least once a week (AOR= 1.19, CI=1.01-1.40), those who watched television at least once week (AOR=1.69, CI=1.30-2.19), and those in female-headed households (AOR=1.52, CI=1.20-1.92) were more likely to utilize the services of skilled birth attendants.

Conclusion

The study proved that various socio-economic and contextual factors influence antenatal care and skilled birth attendance in Guinea. These findings suggest the need to design community-based interventions (e.g., miniature local ANC clinics, early screening services) that prioritize women’s education and vocational training, media accessibility, especially among the poor, and those residing in rural settings. Such interventions should not ignore the influence of other socio-cultural norms that hinder the utilization of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance services in Guinea.
An ecological approach to the development of an active aging measurement in urban areas (AAMU)
Authors: Lak Azadeh , Rashidghalam Parichehr , Amiri S. Nouroddin , Myint Phyo K. , Baradaran Hamid R.
Published: January 2021

Background

An essential element in the process of “aging well” is the concept of Active Aging (AA). To propose an operational definition of Active Aging, the present study seeks to develop a new measurement tool through an ecological approach. The aim is to recognize significant indicators that play a role in assessing AA in urban areas.

Methods

This study was conducted through a two-phase process of consensus-building: 1) identifying a set of indicators that were likely candidates for inclusion based on literature review, and 2) a two-round modified Delphi survey using an international panel of academic experts in environmental sciences and gerontology to achieve consensus on the importance of the extracted indicators and validate the items. The panelists were asked to complete a researcher-developed questionnaire with an 11-point Likert scale based on the indicators derived in phase 1. Finally, the Delphi survey’s valid indicators and criteria were utilized to develop the measurement tool.

Results

At the outset, a list of 111 indicators of AA was prepared through the desk study. A panel of 22 experts reviewed the extracted items and arrived at a consensus on 99 items in the first round and finalised in the second round. Thematic analysis of the panelists’ open-ended responses revealed new concepts that would be explicitly considered by the consensus group. This developed measurement scale consists of five domains, i.e., individual, spatial, socio-economic, governance, and health-related, which contain 15 criteria and 99 indicators.

Conclusions

The present researchers have developed the active aging measure for urban settlements (AAMU), which can be used both by policy-makers and as an informal self-reported statement among the elderly. AAM’s results in the elderly’s residential environmental communities can improve policy-making to address urban design to sustain an active, healthy life among older people in urban environments.
Antibacterial activity of methanol extracts of the leaves of three medicinal plants against selected bacteria isolated from wounds of lymphoedema patients
Authors: Nigussie Dereje , Davey Gail , Legesse Belete Adefris , Fekadu Abebaw , Makonnen Eyasu
Published: January 2021

Background

Patients with lymphoedema are at high risk of getting bacterial and fungal wound infections leading to acute inflammatory episodes associated with cellulitis and erysipelas. In Ethiopia, wound infections are traditionally treated with medicinal plants.

Methods

Agar well diffusion and colorimetric microdilution methods were used to determine the antibacterial activity of methanol extracts of the three medicinal plants againstStaphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shewanella alage, methicillin-resistantS. aureusATCC®43300TM,Staphylococcus aureusATCC25923,Escherichia coliATCC25922,Klebsiella pneumoniaeATCC700603, andPseudomonas aeruginosaATCC37853.

Results

The methanol extract ofL. inermisleaves showed high activity against all tested bacterial species, which was comparable to the standard drugs. Similarly, the extracts ofA. indicashowed activity against all tested species though at higher concentrations, and higher activity was recorded againstStreptococcus pyogenesisolates at all concentrations. However, the extract ofA. asperashowed the lowest activity against all tested species exceptStreptococcus pyogenesisolates. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was recorded with the extract ofL. inermisagainstE. coliisolate andS. aureusATCC 25923.

Conclusion

Methanol extracts ofL. inermis, A. indica, andA. asperaleaves exhibited antimicrobial activity against selected bacterial isolates involved in wound infections, of which the methanol extracts ofL. inermisexhibited the highest activity. The results of the present study support the traditional use of plants against microbial infections, which could potentially be exploited for the treatment of wound infections associated with lymphoedema.
Assessment of muscle activity using electrical stimulation and mechanomyography: a systematic review
Authors: Uwamahoro Raphael , Sundaraj Kenneth , Subramaniam Indra Devi
Published: January 2021

This research has proved that mechanomyographic (MMG) signals can be used for evaluating muscle performance. Stimulation of the lost physiological functions of a muscle using an electrical signal has been determined crucial in clinical and experimental settings in which voluntary contraction fails in stimulating specific muscles. Previous studies have already indicated that characterizing contractile properties of muscles using MMG through neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) showed excellent reliability. Thus, this review highlights the use of MMG signals on evaluating skeletal muscles under electrical stimulation. In total, 336 original articles were identified from the Scopus and SpringerLink electronic databases using search keywords for studies published between 2000 and 2020, and their eligibility for inclusion in this review has been screened using various inclusion criteria. After screening, 62 studies remained for analysis, with two additional articles from the bibliography, were categorized into the following: (1) fatigue, (2) torque, (3) force, (4) stiffness, (5) electrode development, (6) reliability of MMG and NMES approaches, and (7) validation of these techniques in clinical monitoring. This review has found that MMG through NMES provides feature factors for muscle activity assessment, highlighting standardized electromyostimulation and MMG parameters from different experimental protocols. Despite the evidence of mathematical computations in quantifying MMG along with NMES, the requirement of the processing speed, and fluctuation of MMG signals influence the technique to be prone to errors. Interestingly, although this review does not focus on machine learning, there are only few studies that have adopted it as an alternative to statistical analysis in the assessment of muscle fatigue, torque, and force. The results confirm the need for further investigation on the use of sophisticated computations of features of MMG signals from electrically stimulated muscles in muscle function assessment and assistive technology such as prosthetics control.
Economic burden of cardiovascular diseases before and after Iran’s health transformation plan: evidence from a referral hospital of Iran
Authors: Alipour Vahid , Zandian Hamed , Yazdi-Feyzabadi Vahid , Avesta Leili , Moghadam Telma Zahirian
Published: January 2021

Background

Different countries have set different policies to control and decrease the costs of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Iran was aiming to reduce the economic burden of different disease by a recent reform from named as health transformation plan (HTP). This study aimed to examine the economic burden of CVDs before and after of HTP.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 patients with CVDs, who were randomly selected from a specialized cardiovascular hospital in the north-west of Iran. Direct and indirect costs of CVDs were calculated using the cost of illness and human capital approaches. Data were collected using a researcher-made checklist obtained from several sources including structured interviews, the Statistical Center of Iran, Iran’s Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, the central bank of Iran, and the data of global burden of disease obtained from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation to estimate direct and mortality costs. All costs were calculated in Iranian Rials (IRR).

Results

Total costs of CVDs were about 5571 and 6700 billion IRR before and after the HTP, respectively. More than 62% of the total costs of CVDs accounted for premature death before (64.89%) and after (62.01%) the HTP. The total hospitalization costs of CVDs was significantly increased after the HTP (p = 0.038). In both times, surgical services and visiting had the highest and lowest share of hospitalization costs, respectively. The OOP expenditure decreased significantly and reached from 54.2 to 36.7%. All hospitalization costs, except patients’ OOP expenditure, were significantly increased after the HTP about 1.3 times. Direct non-medical costs reached from 2.4 to 3.3 billion before and after the HTP, respectively.

Conclusion

Economic burden of CVDs increased in the north-west of Iran after the HTP due to the increase of all direct and indirect costs, except the OOP expenditure. Non-allocation of defined resources, which coincided with the international and national political and economic challenges in Iran, led to unsustainable resources of the HTP. So, no results of this study can be attributed solely to the HTP. Therefore, more detailed studies should be carried out on the reasons for the significant increase in CVDs costs in the region.
Prevalence and associated factors for alcohol use disorder among tuberculosis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis study
Authors: Necho Mogesie , Tsehay Mekonnen , Seid Muhammed , Zenebe Yosef , Belete Asmare , Gelaye Habitam , Muche Amare
Published: January 2021

Background

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) in tuberculosis patients are complicated with poor compliance to anti-tuberculosis treatment and poor tuberculosis treatment outcomes. However, aggregate data concerning this problem is not available. Therefore, this review aimed to fill the above gap by generating an average prevalence of AUD in tuberculosis patients.

Method

Our electronic search for original articles was conducted in the databases of Scopus, PubMed, and EMBASE, African Index Medicus, and psych-info. Besides, the reference list of selected articles was looked at manually to have further eligible articles for the prevalence and associated factors of AUD in tuberculosis patients. The random-effects model was employed during the analysis. MS-Excel was used to extract data and stata-11 to determine the average prevalence of AUD among tuberculosis patients. A sub-group analysis and sensitivity analysis were also run. A visual inspection of the funnel plots and an Eggers publication bias plot test were checked for the presence of publication bias.

Result

A search of the electronic and manual system resulted in 1970 articles. After removing duplicates and unoriginal articles, only 28 articles that studied 30,854 tuberculosis patients met the inclusion criteria. The average estimated prevalence of AUD in tuberculosis patients was 30% (95% CI: 24.00, 35.00). This was with a slight heterogeneity (I2 = 57%, p-value < 0.001). The prevalence of AUD in tuberculosis patients was higher in Asia and Europe; 37% than the prevalence in the US and Africa; 24%. Besides, the average prevalence of AUD was 39, 30, 30, and 20% in studies with case-control, cohort, cross-sectional and experimental in design respectively. Also, the prevalence of AUD was higher in studies with the assessment tool not reported (36%) than studies assessed with AUDIT. AUD was also relatively higher in studies with a mean age of ≥40 years (42%) than studies with a mean age < 40 years (24%) and mean age not reported (27%). Based on a qualitative review; the male gender, older age, being single, unemployment, low level of education and income from socio-demographic variables, retreatment and treatment failure patients, stigma, and medication non-adherence from clinical variables were among the associated factors for AUD.

Conclusion

This review obtained a high average prevalence of AUD in tuberculosis patients and this varies across continents, design of studies, mean age of the participants, and assessment tool used. This implied the need for early screening and management of AUD in tuberculosis patients.
In the era of humanitarian crisis, young women continue to die in childbirth in Mali
Authors: Coulibaly Pierre , Schantz Clémence , Traoré Brehima , Bagayoko Nanko S. , Traoré Abdoulaye , Chabrol Fanny , Guindo Oumar
Published: January 2021

Maternal mortality occurs mostly in contexts of poverty and health system collapse. Mali has a very high maternal mortality rate and this extremely high mortality rate is due in part to longstanding constraints in maternal health services. The central region has been particularly affected by the humanitarian crisis in recent years, and maternal health has been aggravated by the conflict. Sominé Dolo Hospital is located in Mopti, central region. In the last decade, a high number of pregnant or delivering women have died in this hospital.

We conducted a retrospective and exhaustive study of maternal deaths occurring in Mopti hospital. Between 2007 and 2019, 420 women died, with an average of 32 deaths per year. The years 2014–2015 and the last 2 years have been particularly deadly, with 40 and 50 deaths in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The main causes were hypertensive disorders/eclampsia and haemorrhage. 80% of these women’s deaths were preventable. Two major explanations result in these maternal deaths in Sominé Dolo’s hospital: first, a lack of accessible and safe blood, and second, the absence of a reference and evacuation referral system, all of which are aggravated by security issues in and around Mopti.

Access to quality hospital care is in dire need in the Mopti region. There is an urgent need for a safe blood collection system and free of charge for pregnant women. We also strongly recommend that the referral/evacuation system be reinvigorated, and that universal health coverage be strengthened.
Screening and selection strategy for the establishment of biosimilar to trastuzumab-expressing CHO-K1 cell lines
Authors: Lao-Gonzalez Thailin , Bueno-Soler Alexi , Duran-Hernandez Arnelys , Sosa-Aguiar Katya , Hinojosa-Puerta Luis Eduardo , Hernandez-Garcia Tays , de la Luz-Hernandez Kathya Rashida , Palacios-Oliva Julio , Boggiano-Ayo Tammy
Published: January 2021

The high prices of biopharmaceuticals or biologics used in the treatment of many diseases limit the access of patients to these novel therapies. One example is the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab, successfully used for breast cancer treatment. An economic alternative is the generation of biosimilars to these expensive biopharmaceuticals. Since antibody therapies may require large doses over a long period of time, robust platforms and strategies for cell line development are essential for the generation of recombinant cell lines with higher levels of expression. Here, we obtained trastuzumab-expressing CHO-K1 cells through a screening and selection strategy that combined the use of host cells pre-adapted to protein-free media and suspension culture and lentiviral vectors. The results demonstrated that the early screening strategy obtained recombinant CHO-K1 cell populations with higher enrichment of IgG-expressing cells. Moreover, the measurement of intracellular heavy chain polypeptide by flow cytometry was a useful metric to characterize the homogeneity of cell population, and our results suggest this could be used to predict the expression levels of monoclonal antibodies in early stages of cell line development. Additionally, we propose an approach using 25 cm2T-flasks in suspension and shaking culture conditions as a screening tool to identify high producing cell lines. Finally, trastuzumab-expressing CHO-K1 clones were generated and characterized by batch culture, and preliminary results related to HER2-recognition capacity were successful. Further optimization of elements such as gene optimization, vector selection, type of amplification/selection system, cell culture media composition, in combination with this strategy will allow obtaining high producing clones.
Physiological characterization and transcriptome analysis of Pichia pastoris reveals its response to lignocellulose-derived inhibitors
Authors: Paes Barbara G. , Steindorff Andrei Stecca , Formighieri Eduardo F. , Pereira Ildinete Silva , Almeida João Ricardo M.
Published: January 2021

The negative effects of lignocellulose-derived inhibitors such as acetic acid and furaldehydes on microbial metabolism constitute a significant drawback to the usage of biomass feedstocks for the production of fuels and chemicals. The yeast Pichia pastoris has shown a great biotechnological potential for producing heterologous proteins and renewable chemicals. Despite its relevance, the performance of P. pastoris in presence of lignocellulose-derived inhibitors remains unclear. In this work, our results show for the first time the dose-dependent response of P. pastoris to acetic acid, furaldehydes (HMF and furfural), and sugarcane biomass hydrolysate, both at physiological and transcriptional levels. The yeast was able to grow in synthetic media with up to 6 g.L−1 acetic acid, 1.75 g.L−1 furaldehydes or hydrolysate diluted to 10% (v/v). However, its metabolism was completely hindered in presence of hydrolysate diluted to 30% (v/v). Additionally, the yeast was capable to co-consume acetic acid and glucose. At the transcriptional level, P. pastoris response to lignocellulose-derived inhibitors relays on the up-regulation of genes related to transmembrane transport, oxidoreductase activities, RNA processing, and the repression of pathways related to biosynthetic processes and central carbon metabolism. These results demonstrate a polygenetic response that involves detoxification activities, and maintenance of energy and cellular homeostasis. In this context, ALD4, OYE3, QOR2, NTL100, YCT1, and PPR1 were identified as target genes to improve P. pastoris tolerance. Altogether, this work provides valuable insights into the P. pastoris stress tolerance, which can be useful to expand its use in different bioprocesses.
Analysis and best parameters selection for person recognition based on gait model using CNN algorithm and image augmentation
Authors: Saleh Abeer Mohsin , Hamoud Talal
Published: January 2021

Person Recognition based on Gait Model (PRGM) and motion features is are indeed a challenging and novel task due to their usages and to the critical issues of human pose variation, human body occlusion, camera view variation, etc. In this project, a deep convolution neural network (CNN) was modified and adapted for person recognition with Image Augmentation (IA) technique depending on gait features. Adaptation aims to get best values for CNN parameters to get best CNN model. In Addition to the CNN parameters Adaptation, the design of CNN model itself was adapted to get best model structure; Adaptation in the design was affected the type, the number of layers in CNN and normalization between them. After choosing best parameters and best design, Image augmentation was used to increase the size of train dataset with many copies of the image to boost the number of different images that will be used to train Deep learning algorithms. The tests were achieved using known dataset (Market dataset). The dataset contains sequential pictures of people in different gait status. The image in CNN model as matrix is extracted to many images or matrices by the convolution, so dataset size may be bigger by hundred times to make the problem a big data issue. In this project, results show that adaptation has improved the accuracy of person recognition using gait model comparing to model without adaptation. In addition, dataset contains images of person carrying things. IA technique improved the model to be robust to some variations such as image dimensions (quality and resolution), rotations and carried things by persons. Results for 200 persons recognition, validation accuracy was about 82% without IA and 96.23 with IA. For 800 persons recognition, validation accuracy was 93.62% without IA.
Comparative effects of ethanol leaf and stem bark extracts of Irvingia gabonensis (BUSH MANGO) on sodium arsenite-induced lipid profile perturbtions in wistar rats
Authors: Ewere Efosa Godwin , Okolie Ngozi Paulinus , Avan Erhunmwunsee Dalton , Umoh Patience Edet
Published: January 2021

Background

Exposure to arsenic orchestrates a myriad of noxious health effects, including cancer. Different parts of Irvingia gabonensis are used as herbal remedies in traditional medicine. In this study, the comparative effects of the ethanol leaf (ELEIG) and stem bark extracts (ESEIG) of Irvingia gabonensis on sodium arsenite (SA)-induced lipid profile disturbances in Wistar rats were investigated.

Methods

Fifty five Wistar rats weighing between 100 g and 179 g were distributed into eleven groups (n=5). Group 1 (control) received feed and water ad libitum. Group 2 received SA at a dose of 4.1 mg/kg body weight (kgbw) for 14 days. Groups 3–11 were treated with the extracts with or without SA. Treatment was done by oral intubation for 14 days. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c), total lipids (TL) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were used to determine the lipid profile effects of the extracts.

Results

Exposure to SA caused significant (p ˂ 0.05) increases in all assayed parameters, relative to control. Post-treatment and simultaneous treatment with ELEIG and ESEIG mitigated the effects of SA. In addition, ELEIG alone at various doses produced results comparable with control values. However, ESEIG alone caused significant (p ˂ 0.05) increases in all assayed parameters, relative to control.

Conclusion

These results show that ELEIG and ESEIG ameliorate SA-induced lipid profile disturbances in Wistar rats. However, long-term administration of ESEIG alone may be discouraged.
Antimalarial herbal drugs: a review of their interactions with conventional antimalarial drugs
Authors: Erhirhie Earnest Oghenesuvwe , Ikegbune Chidozie , Okeke Anthony Ifeanyi , Onwuzuligbo Chukwunonso Chukwudike , Madubuogwu Ngozi Ukamaka , Chukwudulue Uche Maryann , Okonkwo Onyinye Blessing
Published: January 2021

Development of resistance by malaria parasites to conventional antimalarial drugs has rejuvenated the exploration of herbal medicine as alternatives. Also, the increasing rate of the use of herbal antimalarial remedies in combination with conventional antimalarial drugs (both synthetic and semi-synthetic) has inspired researchers to validate their herb-drug interaction effects. This review evaluated the interaction outcomes between herbal antimalarial drugs in combination with conventional antimalarial drugs. With the aid of electronic databases, Pubmed and Google scholar, articles related to this subject were sourced from English peer reviewed scientific journals published from 2003 to 2020. Search terms used include “antimalarial-herbal drugs interaction”, “antimalarial medicinal plant interactions with conventional antimalarial drugs”, “drug-herbal interactions, “antimalarial drugs and medicinal plants”. Synergistic, antagonistic and none effects were reported among 30 studies reviewed. Among 18 in vivo studies onP. bergheiandP. yoelii nigerenseinfected mice model,14 showed synergism, 3 showed antagonism and 1 involving three plants showed both effects. Among 9 in-vivo studies involving normal animal (non-infected), 2 showed antagonism, 2 showed synergism and 5 showed none-effects. Two (2) studies on human volunteers and one (1) in vitro quantitative study showed thatGarcinia kolareduced plasma concentrations of quinine and halofantrine. Generally, majority of herbal antimalarial drugs showed synergistic effects with CAMDs.Vernonia amygdalinawas the most studied plant compared to others. Consequently, herbal remedies that produced synergistic effects with conventional antimalarial drugs may be prospects for standardization and development of antimalarial-medicinal plant combination therapy that could curtail malaria resistance to conventional antimalarial therapies.
Praegnatio Perturbatio—Impact of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals
Authors: Padmanabhan Vasantha , Song Wenhui , Puttabyatappa Muraly
Published: January 2021

The burden of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight is considerable across the world. Several risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes have been identified. One risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes receiving considerable attention in recent years is gestational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Humans are exposed to a multitude of environmental chemicals with known endocrine-disrupting properties, and evidence suggests exposure to these EDCs have the potential to disrupt the maternal-fetal environment culminating in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. This review addresses the impact of maternal and fetal exposure to environmental EDCs of natural and man-made chemicals in disrupting the maternal-fetal milieu in human leading to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes—a risk factor for adult-onset noncommunicable diseases, the role lifestyle and environmental factors play in mitigating or amplifying the effects of EDCs, the underlying mechanisms and mediators involved, and the research directions on which to focus future investigations to help alleviate the adverse effects of EDC exposure.
A qualitative study of life satisfaction after surgery for adult traumatic brachial plexus injury
Authors: Dy Christopher J. , Brogan David M. , Rolf Liz , Ray Wilson Z. , Wolfe Scott W. , James Aimee S.
Published: January 2021

Aims

Brachial plexus injury (BPI) is an often devastating injury that affects patients physically and emotionally. The vast majority of the published literature is based on surgeon-graded assessment of motor outcomes, but the patient experience after BPI is not well understood. Our aim was to better understand overall life satisfaction after BPI, with the goal of identifying areas that can be addressed in future delivery of care.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 BPI patients after initial nerve reconstruction. The interview guide was focused on the patient’s experience after BPI, beginning with the injury itself and extending beyond surgical reconstruction. Inductive and deductive thematic analysis was used according to standard qualitative methodology to better understand overall life satisfaction after BPI, contributors to life satisfaction, and opportunities for improvement.

Results

Among the 15 patients interviewed, the following themes emerged: 1) happiness and life satisfaction were noted despite limitations in physical function; 2) quality of social support influences life satisfaction during recovery from BPI; and 3) social participation and having a sense of purpose impact life satisfaction during recovery from BPI.

Conclusion

How patients perceive their BPI treatment and recovery varies widely, and is not directly linked to their self-reported functional outcome. Patients with stronger social circles and activities that give them a sense of fulfillment were more likely to be satisfied with their current status. Evaluating a patient’s social network, goals, and potential supportive adaptations early in the treatment timeline through coordinated multidisciplinary care may improve overall satisfaction during recovery from BPI. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;2(1):9–15.
A Cylindrical Superelement for Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Thin Composite Vessels
Authors: Jafarzadeh A. , Taghvaeipour Afshin , Eslami M. R.
Published: January 2021

In this study, a new cylindrical shell superelement with trigonometric shape functions is developed. This element is formulated based on the classical theory of shells, and it is especially designed for coupled-field analysis of thin cylindrical vessels or tubes made of composite materials. As a case study, a thermo-mechanical analysis of a thin composite cylinder is conducted. By invoking to the uniform and non-uniform meshing, the deformation and the stress results are calculated and compared with the analytical solutions. At the end, the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed superelement is also depicted via comparison of the corresponding results with the ones which are calculated by means of shell elements and via a commercial software package.
Inference on Positive Exponential Family of Distributions (PEFD) through Transformation Method
Authors: Kumar Surinder , Gautam Prem Lata , Singh Vaidehi
Published: January 2021

The estimation of R(t) and R=Pr(Y>X) for the Positive Exponential Family of Distribution (PEFD) is considered. The UMVUES, MLES and Confidence Interval are derived. These estimators are derived through the method of Transformation. The α=Pr(X>γ), which is termed as probability of disaster is also derived when random stress X follows PEFD and finite strength follows Power function distribution.