bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time and spatial trends in landing per unit of effort as support to fisheries management in a multi-gear coastal fishery
Authors: Leitão Pedro , Sousa Luis , Castro Margarida , Campos Aida
Published: July 2022

Landings by the multi-gear coastal fleet operating off the Portuguese continental coast include about 300 species, from which only a few are the object of management plans. In this study, daily landings (kg trip-1) are used, along with an effort indicator, vessel length overall (LoA), to obtain landings per unit of effort (LPUE) as a proxy for the species relative abundance, for a total of 48 species. LPUE indices were used as a response variable in linear models where year (2012–2016), season, region (north and south) and NAO index were explanatory variables. Seasonal and regional effects were found to significantly affect species abundance for a total of 41 and 40 species respectively, while year trends were found to be significant for 19 species, and the NAO index for 3 species. LPUE density maps are presented for several selected species and a subsample of trips, where VMS records were available. It is proposed that geographic and seasonal changes in LPUE can be used to understand trends in abundance and obtain information that can be used in support regional management plans.
The indirect impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of the emergency medical services during the first pandemic wave: A system-wide study of Tuscany Region, Italy
Authors: Lastrucci Vieri , Collini Francesca , Forni Silvia , D’Arienzo Sara , Di Fabrizio Valeria , Buscemi Primo , Lorini Chiara , Gemmi Fabrizio , Bonaccorsi Guglielmo
Published: July 2022

Background

Utilization of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) declined during COVID-19 pandemic, but most of the studies analyzed components of the EMS system individually. The study aimed to evaluate the indirect impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of all the components of the EMS system of Tuscany Region (Italy) during the first pandemic wave.

Methods

Administrative data from the health care system of Tuscany were used. Changes in utilization for out-of-hospital emergency calls and emergency vehicle dispatched, emergency department (ED) visits, and patients being admitted from the ED to an inpatient hospital bed (hospitalizations from ED) during the first pandemic wave were analyzed in relation with corresponding periods of the previous two years. Percentage changes and 95%CI were calculated with Poisson models. Standardized Ratios were calculated to evaluate changes in in-hospital mortality and hospitalizations requiring ICU.

Results

Significant declines were observed in the utilization of all the EMS considered starting from the week in which the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in Italy till the end of the first pandemic wave. During the epidemic peak, the maximum decreases were observed: -33% for the emergency calls, -45% for the dispatch of emergency vehicles, -71% for ED admissions. Furthermore, a decline of 37% for hospitalizations from ED was recorded. Significant decreases in ED admissions for life threatening medical conditions were observed: acute cerebrovascular disease (-36%, 95% CI: -43, -29), acute myocardial infarction (-42%, 95% CI: -52, -31) and renal failure (-42%, 95% CI: -52, -31). No significant differences were found between the observed and the expected in-hospital mortality and hospitalizations requiring ICU during the epidemic peak.

Conclusion

All the components of the EMS showed large declines in their utilization during COVID-19 pandemic; furthermore, major reductions were observed for admissions for time-dependent and life-threatening conditions. Efforts should be made to ensure access to safe and high-quality emergency care during pandemic.
A mathematical model of blood flow in a stenosed artery with post-stenotic dilatation and a forced field
Authors: Dhange Mallinath , Sankad Gurunath , Safdar Rabia , Jamshed Wasim , Eid Mohamed R. , Bhujakkanavar Umesh , Gouadria Soumaya , Chouikh R.
Published: July 2022

Arterial stenosis is a common cardiovascular disease that restricts blood flow. A stenotic blood vessel creates tangent stress pressure, which lessens the arterial side and causes an aneurysm. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate blood flowing via an inclination pipe with stricture and expansion after stricture (widening) underneath the influence of a constant incompressible Casson liquid flowing with the magnetism field. The relations for surface shearing stress, pressure drop, flow resistance, and velocity are calculated analytically by applying a mild stenosis approximation. The effect of different physical characteristics on liquid impedance to flowing, velocity, and surface shearing stress are studied. With a non-Newtonian aspect of the Casson liquid, the surface shearing stress declines, and an impedance upturn. Side resistivity and shear-stress increase with the elevations of stricture, whilst together decreasing with a dilatation height.
A commercial ARHGEF17/TEM4 antibody cross-reacts with Nuclear Mitotic Apparatus protein 1 (NuMA)
Authors: Prifti Diogjena Katerina , Lauzier Annie , Elowe Sabine
Published: July 2022

The Rho family Guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) ARHGEF17 (also known as TEM4) is a large protein with only 3 annotated regions: an N-terminal actin-binding domain, a Rho-specific dbl homology (DH)- pleckstrin homology (PH) type GEF domain and a seven bladed β propeller fold at the C-terminus with unknown function. TEM4 has been implicated in numerous activities that rely on regulation of the cytoskeleton including cell migration, cell-cell junction formation and the spindle assembly checkpoint during mitosis. Here we have assessed the specificity of a TEM4 polyclonal antibody that has been commonly used as a Western blotting and immunocytochemistry probe for TEM4 in mammalian cells. We find that this antibody, in addition to its intended target, cross-reacts with the Nuclear Mitotic Apparatus Protein 1 (NuMA) in Western blotting and immunoprecipitation, and detects NuMA preferentially in immunocytochemistry. This cross-reactivity, with an abundant chromatin- and mitotic spindle-associated factor, is likely to affect the interpretation of experiments that make use of this antibody probe, in particular by immunocytochemistry and immunoprecipitation.
Self-stigma among clients of outpatient psychiatric clinics: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Ihalainen Ninni , Löyttyniemi Eliisa , Välimäki Maritta
Published: July 2022

Self-stigma is common among people with mental disorders. A large body of research has examined associations between self-stigma and sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial factors but the results are still conflicting. The aim of this study was to describe self-stigma among persons with affective and psychotic disorders and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with experiences of self-stigma. A cross-sectional survey was performed with Finnish clients (N = 898) at 16 psychiatric clinics using self-reported questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and with one-way and multi-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that clients in community settings experience self-stigma (a total mean SSMIS-SF score of 74.8 [SD 22.3]). Having a diagnosis of an affective disorder, having a long history of mental disorder (>16 years) and the severity of depressive symptoms were the key factors associated with experiences of self-stigma. Clients living in community settings should be assessed regularly for depressive symptoms of mental disorders, and interventions should be conducted, especially at an early stage of the illness, to reduce self-stigma. Factors associated with self-stigma should be taken into account in the future development of interventions to reduce stigma.
The impact of insurance institutional investors on corporate value from selection and creation perspective
Authors: Rong Xing , Zhang Tingting , Liu Kai
Published: July 2022

The majority of insurance investment funds are derived from policy liability debt funds. It differs from other institutional investors in a number of ways, including investment size, horizon, duration, risk, and so on. However, only a small portion of the extant literature focuses on in-depth and extensive analysis of Insurance Institutional Investors’ holdings (IIIs). This study analyses the impact of shareholding by insurance institutions on the value of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies in China’s capital market. The paper offers three major contributions. First, we discovered that long-term equity-holding IIIs have both value selection and value creation functions. Second, the value creation function becomes more significant among long-term stock-holding IIIs with an increase in the period during which they retain the company’s shares; Third, fast-in and fast-out (FIFO) IIIs have a value-inhibiting effect on the held company and serve a value selection role, rather than a value creation function. This study provides more insight on the lack of academic interest in insurance institutions and serves as a foundation and reference for the design of regulatory policies for insurance institutions’ involvement in stock markets. It also gives empirical evidence for corporations to accurately analyze shareholding by insurance institutions. Furthermore, since this study concentrates on China’s capital market, it can serve as a benchmark for other nations, particularly, those designated as developing market economies.
Efficacy and safety of saroglitazar for the management of dyslipidemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies
Authors: Chhabra Manik , Vidyasagar Kota , Gudi Sai Krishna , Sharma Jatin , Sharma Rishabh , Rashid Muhammed
Published: July 2022

Background and objective

Saroglitazar is a newer antidiabetic agent approved to manage dyslipidemia. The objective is tevaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of saroglitazar in patients with dyslipidemia.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar from the inception until January 2022. Interventional studies comparing the anti-hyperlipidaemic effect and safety of saroglitazar with or without a control group(s) were included. The efficacy of saroglitazar was assessed concerning its effect on total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, and non-HDL cholesterol. The effects on serum creatinine levels, bodyweight reduction, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were considered to be safety endpoint.The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies.

Results

A total of six studies with 581 adults with a mean age ranging from 40.2 to 62.6 years were included in this study. A significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed with saroglitazar 4 mg therapy compared to saroglitazar 2 mg [standardized mean difference (SMD): −0.23 mg/dL, 95% CI: −0.47 to 0.00; p  =  0.05; 2 studies], and control [SMD: −0.36 mg/dL, 95% CI −0.59 to -0.12; p  =  0.0026; 3 studies]. Also, a significant decrease in the total cholesterol was observed with saroglitazar 4 mg therapy compared to saroglitazar 2 mg [SMD − 0.28 mg/dL, 95% CI: − 0.52 to -0.04; p < 0.01; 2 studies], and control [SMD − 0.49 mg/dL, 95% CI: − 0.72 to -0.26; p < 0.0001; 3 studies]. Saroglitazar was not associated with adverse effects such as increase in serum creatinine levels, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase and bodyweight reduction.

Conclusion

Saroglitazar appeared to be an effective and safer therapeutic option for improving dyslipidemia in patients. However, comparative studies of saroglitazar with the other pharmacological agents are warranted.
3’UTR-Seq analysis of chicken abdominal adipose tissue reveals widespread intron retention in 3’UTR and provides insight into molecular basis of feed efficiency
Authors: Wang Ziqing , Özçam Mustafa , Abasht Behnam
Published: July 2022

Feed efficiency (FE) is an important trait in the broiler industry due to its direct correlation to efficient muscle growth instead of fat deposition. The present study characterized and compared gene expression profiles in abdominal fat from broiler chickens of different FE levels to enhance the understanding of FE biology. Specifically, traditional whole-transcript RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and 3’ UTR-sequencing (3’ UTR-seq) were applied to 22 and 61 samples, respectively. Overall, these two sequencing techniques shared a high correlation (0.76) between normalized counts, although 3’ UTR-seq showed a higher variance in sequencing and mapping performance statistics across samples and a lower rate of uniquely mapped reads. A higher percentage of 3’ UTR-seq reads mapped to introns suggested the frequent presence of cleavage sites in introns, thus warranting future research to study its regulatory function. Differential expression analysis identified 1198 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between high FE (HFE) and intermediate FE (IFE) chickens with False Discovery Rate < 0.05 and fold change > 1.2. The processes that were significantly enriched by the DEGs included extracellular matrix remodeling and mechanisms impacting gene expression at the transcriptional and translational levels. Gene ontology enrichment analysis suggested that the divergence in fat deposition and FE in broiler chickens could be associated with peroxisome and lipid metabolism possibly regulated by G0/G1 switch gene 2 (G0S2).
Validation of the German version of the STarT-MSK-Tool: A cohort study with patients from physiotherapy clinics
Authors: Karstens Sven , Zebisch Jochen , Wey Johannes , Hilfiker Roger , Hill Jonathan C.
Published: July 2022

Background

The STarT-MSK-Tool is an adaptation of the well established STarT-Back-Tool, used to risk-stratify patients with a wider range of musculoskeletal presentations.

Objective

To formally translate and cross-culturally adapt the Keele STarT-MSK risk stratification tool into German (STarT-MSKG) and to establish its reliability and validity.

Methods

A formal, multi-step, forward and backward translation approach was used. To assess validity patients aged ≥18 years, with acute, subacute or chronic musculoskeletal presentations in the lumbar spine, hip, knee, shoulder, or neck were included. The prospective cohort was used with initial data collected electronically at the point-of-consultation. Retest and 6-month follow-up questionnaires were sent by email. Test-retest reliability, construct validity, discriminative ability, predictive ability and floor or ceiling effects were analysed using intraclass correlation coefficient, and comparisons with a reference standard (Orebro-Musculoskeletal-Pain-Questionnaire: OMPQ) using correlations, ROC-curves and regression models.

Results

The participants’ (n = 287) mean age was 47 (SD = 15.8) years, 51% were female, with 48.8% at low, 43.6% at medium, and 7.7% at high risk. With ICC = 0.75 (95% CI 0.69; 0.81) test-retest-reliability was good. Construct validity was good with correlations for the STarT-MSKG-Tool against the OMPQ-Tool of rs = 0.74 (95% CI 0.68, 0.79). The ability of the tool [comparison OMPQ] to predict 6-month pain and disability was acceptable with AUC = 0.77 (95% CI 0.71, 0.83) [OMPQ = 0.74] and 0.76 (95% CI 0.69, 0.82) [OMPQ = 0.72] respectively. However, the explained variance (linear/logistic regression) for predicting 6-month pain (21% [OMPQ = 17%]/logistic = 29%) and disability (linear = 20%:[OMPQ = 19%]/logistic = 26%), whilst being comparable to the existing OMPQ reference standard, fell short of the a priori target of ≥30%.

Conclusions

The German version of the STarT-MSK-Tool is a valid instrument for use across multiple musculoskeletal conditions and is availabe for use in clinical practice. Comparison with the OMPQ suggests it is a good alternative.
Differences in self-perception of productivity and mental health among the STEMM-field scientists during the COVID-19 pandemic by sex and status as a parent: A survey in six languages
Authors: Heo Seulkee , Peralta Pedro Diaz , Jin Lan , Pereira Nunes Claudia Ribeiro , Bell Michelle L.
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges for working conditions for scientists, but little is known for how the associations of these challenges with scientists’ mental health and productivity differ by sex and status as a parent. This online survey study in six languages collected data from 4,494 scientists in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine fields across 132 countries during October–December 2021. We compared the type of challenges for work, changes in work hours, and perception in productivity during the pandemic by sex and status as a parent (children <18 years living at home). Regression analyses analyzed the impacts of changed working conditions and work-life factors on productivity and mental health. We found that the percentage of participants with increased work hours was the highest in female participants, especially without children. Disproportionately higher increases in work hours were found for teaching and administration in women than men and for research/fundraising in non-parent participants than parent participants (p-value<0.001). Female participants were more concerned about the negative impacts of the pandemic on publications and long-term career progress, and less satisfied with their career progress than their male counterparts. There were differences in the type of institutional actions for the pandemic across study regions. The identified obstacles for work and home-life factors were associated with higher risks of experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress. Decision makers should consider the gender differences in the pandemic’s adverse impacts on productivity in establishing equitable actions for career progress for scientists during pandemics.
Habitat alteration and fecal deposition by geese alter tundra invertebrate communities: Implications for diets of sympatric birds
Authors: Flemming Scott A. , Smith Paul A. , Kennedy Lisa V. , Anderson Alexandra M. , Nol Erica
Published: July 2022

Over the last 60 years, Arctic goose populations have increased while many sympatric tundra nesting bird populations have declined. Hyperabundant geese have well-documented effects on tundra habitats, which can alter habitat use by sympatric bird species. These habitat changes may also alter invertebrate communities and abundances, with potentially important, but as of yet, undocumented effects on insectivorous birds such as shorebirds. Here, we determined the effects of goose-induced habitat alteration on invertebrate communities and relate the observed changes to shorebird diet. At sites and habitat types representing a gradient of goose influence, we identified goose-related changes in ground cover and linked these factors to variation in invertebrate communities. We then used DNA metabarcoding to characterize the diet of six shorebird species across sites and identify inter-site variation in abundance, biomass, and timing of emergence of dominant shorebird prey items. Invertebrate diversity and richness did not vary either among sites or habitat types. However, for prey items identified as part of the shorebird diet, we found significantly higher abundances and biomasses at a moderately goose-influenced site than at either low or high goose-influenced sites. Biomass of Tipulidae, the dominant prey taxon for shorebirds at the study sites, was 7.5 times higher at the moderately goose-influenced site compared to the site where goose influence was minor. We attribute this enhancement of prey biomass to both the fertilizing effect of goose fecal pellets and the moderate grazing pressure. Many studies have documented adverse effects of overabundant geese, but here we show that a moderate degree of goose grazing can lead to enhanced biomass of invertebrates, with the potential for improved shorebird foraging success and chick growth. These benefits, however, might be outweighed by negative effects of goose-induced habitat alteration and predation pressure.
Single-cell specific and interpretable machine learning models for sparse scChIP-seq data imputation
Authors: Albrecht Steffen , Andreani Tommaso , Andrade-Navarro Miguel A. , Fontaine Jean Fred
Published: July 2022

Motivation

Single-cell Chromatin ImmunoPrecipitation DNA-Sequencing (scChIP-seq) analysis is challenging due to data sparsity. High degree of sparsity in biological high-throughput single-cell data is generally handled with imputation methods that complete the data, but specific methods for scChIP-seq are lacking. We present SIMPA, a scChIP-seq data imputation method leveraging predictive information within bulk data from the ENCODE project to impute missing protein-DNA interacting regions of target histone marks or transcription factors.

Results

Imputations using machine learning models trained for each single cell, each ChIP protein target, and each genomic region accurately preserve cell type clustering and improve pathway-related gene identification on real human data. Results on bulk data simulating single cells show that the imputations are single-cell specific as the imputed profiles are closer to the simulated cell than to other cells related to the same ChIP protein target and the same cell type. Simulations also show that 100 input genomic regions are already enough to train single-cell specific models for the imputation of thousands of undetected regions. Furthermore, SIMPA enables the interpretation of machine learning models by revealing interaction sites of a given single cell that are most important for the imputation model trained for a specific genomic region. The corresponding feature importance values derived from promoter-interaction profiles of H3K4me3, an activating histone mark, highly correlate with co-expression of genes that are present within the cell-type specific pathways in 2 real human and mouse datasets. The SIMPA’s interpretable imputation method allows users to gain a deep understanding of individual cells and, consequently, of sparse scChIP-seq datasets.

Availability and implementation

Our interpretable imputation algorithm was implemented in Python and is available athttps://github.com/salbrec/SIMPA.
Use of an efficient unbiased estimator for finite population mean
Authors: Shabbir Javid , Onyango Ronald
Published: July 2022

In this study, we propose an improved unbiased estimator in estimating the finite population mean using a single auxiliary variable and rank of the auxiliary variable by adopting the Hartley-Ross procedure when some parameters of the auxiliary variable are known. Expressions for the bias and mean square error or variance of the estimators are obtained up to the first order of approximation. Four real data sets are used to observe the performances of the estimators and to support the theoretical findings. It turns out that the proposed unbiased estimator outperforms as compared to all other considered estimators. It is also observed that using conventional measures have significant contributions in achieving the efficiency of the estimators.
Performance of NUTRIC score to predict 28-day mortality in critically ill patients after replacing APACHE II with SAPS 3
Authors: Souza Ivens Augusto Oliveira , Ribeiro Paulo Cesar , Jonckheer Joop , De Waele Elisabeth , Taniguchi Leandro Utino
Published: July 2022

Objectives

The Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill (NUTRIC) score has been advocated as a screening tool for nutrition risk assessment in critically ill patients. It was developed and validated to predict 28-day mortality using Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score as one of its components. However, nowadays the Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3) demonstrates better performance. We aimed to test the performance of NUTRIC score in predicting 28-day mortality after replacement of APACHE II by SAPS 3, and the interaction between nutrition adequacy and mortality.

Methods

Adult patients who received nutrition therapy and remained >3 days in intensive care unit were retrospectively evaluated. In order to replace APACHE II component, we used ranges of SAPS 3 with similar predicted mortality. Discrimination between these tools in predicting 28-day mortality was assessed using the ROC curve, calibration was evaluated with calibration belt, and correlation with intraclass correlation. The relationship between nutritional adequacy and mortality was assessed in a subgroup with available data.

Results

542 patients were analyzed (median age of 78 years old, 73.4% admitted for non-surgical reasons and 28-day mortality was 18.1%). Mortality prediction discrimination did not differ between tools (p>0.05), but showed a good agreement (intraclass correlation 0.86) with good calibration. In the subgroup analysis for nutritional adequacy (n = 99), no association with mortality was observed.

Conclusion

Performance of NUTRIC score with SAPS 3 is similar to the original tool. Therefore, it might be used in settings where APACHE II is not available.
Efficacy of rifaximin against covert hepatic encephalopathy and hyperammonemia in Japanese patients
Authors: Nakai Masato , Suda Goki , Ogawa Koji , Yoshida Sonoe , Hosoda Shunichi , Kubo Akinori , Tokuchi Yoshimasa , Kitagataya Takashi , Yamada Ren , Shigesawa Taku , Ohara Masatsugu , Sho Takuya , Morikawa Kenichi , Sakamoto Naoya
Published: July 2022

Covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) impairs patient quality of life and occurs in approximately 30% of liver cirrhosis (LC) cases. Japanese clinical practice guidelines recommend rifaximin to treat overt HE (OHE). However, the usefulness of rifaximin against CHE is not thoroughly investigated in Japanese patients. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of rifaximin against hyperammonemia and CHE in Japan. We observed 102 patients with HE showing hyperammonemia secondary to LC and examined various biochemical and behavioral parameters following rifaximin treatment. CHE was diagnosed when the patients exhibited two or more abnormal neuropsychological test (NPT) scores but did not indicate OHE symptoms. In the 102 cases, a significant therapeutic effect of rifaximin on hyperammonemia was observed from 2 to 48 weeks after starting treatment. Excluding 10 patients diagnosed with OHE upon starting rifaximin treatment, 12 of the 92 remaining patients (11.8%) transitioned to OHE within 1 year. The 1 year cumulative OHE transition rate was 14.5%. Among the 24 patients with CHE diagnosed by the NPT for whom NPT results could be evaluated at 4 and 12 weeks after starting treatment, 10 (41.6%) had recovered from CHE at 12 weeks. When the factors contributing to recovery from CHE were examined by multivariate analysis, an ammonia level <129 μg/dL was a significant factor. Rifaximin was thus significantly effective against both hyperammonemia and CHE in Japanese patients.
Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in patients with chronic otitis media
Authors: Jotic Ana D. , Opankovic Ana M. , Radin Zorana Z. , Cvorovic Ljiljana , Vujovic Katarina R. Savic , Krejovic-Trivic Sanja B. , Bukurov Bojana M. , Milicic Biljana R. , Stojanovic Jasmina D.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Persistent symptoms of chronic otitis media cause limitations in daily routine and social interactions, influencing significantly patients’ quality of life and mental health. The purpose of the study was to assess the intensity depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in patients with chronic otitis media and to examine if patient demographic data, characteristics and reported symptoms of otitis influence reported depression, anxiety and stress symptoms.

Material and methods

The study included 316 adult patients diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma. Patients underwent a complete otological, audiological and radiological assessment. Chronic otitis media questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12) was used to assess the impact of COM and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) was used for depression, anxiety and stress assessment.

Results

Some level of anxiety and stress were detected in 70.57% 49.37% of the patients, respectively. 13.29% of the patients had scores indicating depression disorder. The mean value of the COMQ-12 questionnaire for this group of patients was 26.24 (SD±11.47) More intense symptoms of COM were significantly associated (p<0.05) with higher scores on DASS-21 subscales. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that significant positive predictors of higher anxiety scores were pure tone average (PTA) on better and worse hearing ear (p<0.05). Drainage from the ear, hearing problems at home and tinnitus were significant positive predictors of a higher DASS-depression score. (p<0.05)

Conclusion

The study confirmed positive correlation between reported level of anxiety, depression and stress, severity of COM symptoms and quality of life. Level of hearing on the better and worse hearing ear were significant positive predictors of anxiety and stress in patients with COM.
Association between psychological distress and coping strategies among students engaged in online learning
Authors: Mozid Nusrat-E-
Published: July 2022

Distant or online learning on digital platforms has become the norm in education worldwide, putting students under immense mental strain. The present study examined the association between psychological distress and coping strategies among students engaged in online learning. This study used a cross-sectional design. A structured questionnaire was sent to each of the 210 university students at two prestigious public and private universities in Bangladesh through email. Data was collected from March 26 to April 27, 2021. Severe psychological distress was found in 55.2 percent of the population. Younger age groups, public university students, students with no self-income, moderate aid from the university in providing resources from home, and students with existing mental health illnesses were significantly associated with psychological distress (p-value<0.05). Among all 14 items of Brief COPE, active coping, using emotional support, and self-blame significantly influenced the psychological distress instrument Kessler-10 (p-value<0.01). Given the perspective of this study, coping strategies alleviate stress and facilitate positive psychological outcomes. Students’ mental health is a prioritized issue that needs more attention. Because of its higher prevalence and adverse consequences, institution authorities should support each student by providing study materials, student loans, and scholarships. Routine screening will allow identifying students going through a difficult time who can get help from experts through counseling.
Analysis of clinical trial registry entry histories using the novel R package cthist
Authors: Carlisle Benjamin Gregory
Published: July 2022

Historical clinical trial registry data can only be retrieved by manually accessing individual clinical trials through registry websites. This limits the feasibility, accuracy and reproducibility of certain kinds of research on clinical trial activity and presents challenges to the transparency of the enterprise of human research. This paper presentscthist, a novel, free and open sourceRpackage that enables automated scraping of clinical trial registry entry histories and returns structured data for analysis. Documentation of the implementation of the packagecthistis provided, as well as 3 brief case studies with example code.
Cardiac glycoside-mediated turnover of Na, K-ATPases as a rational approach to reducing cell surface levels of the cellular prion protein
Authors: Mehrabian Mohadeseh , Wang Xinzhu , Eid Shehab , Yan Bei Qi , Grinberg Mark , Siegner Murdock , Sackmann Christopher , Sulman Muhammad , Zhao Wenda , Williams Declan , Schmitt-Ulms Gerold
Published: July 2022

It is widely anticipated that a reduction of brain levels of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) can prolong survival in a group of neurodegenerative diseases known as prion diseases. To date, efforts to decrease steady-state PrPC levels by targeting this protein directly with small molecule drug-like compounds have largely been unsuccessful. Recently, we reported Na,K-ATPases to reside in immediate proximity to PrPC in the brain, unlocking an opportunity for an indirect PrPC targeting approach that capitalizes on the availability of potent cardiac glycosides (CGs). Here, we report that exposure of human co-cultures of neurons and astrocytes to non-toxic nanomolar levels of CGs causes profound reductions in PrPC levels. The mechanism of action underpinning this outcome relies primarily on a subset of CGs engaging the ATP1A1 isoform, one of three α subunits of Na,K-ATPases expressed in brain cells. Upon CG docking to ATP1A1, the ligand receptor complex, and PrPC along with it, is internalized by the cell. Subsequently, PrPC is channeled to the lysosomal compartment where it is digested in a manner that can be rescued by silencing the cysteine protease cathepsin B. These data signify that the repurposing of CGs may be beneficial for the treatment of prion disorders.
Public policies for university–business collaboration in Portugal: An analysis centred on doctoral education
Authors: Santos Patrícia
Published: July 2022

In Portugal, as in other European countries, government policies have driven the modernization of doctoral education, in which collaboration with companies is one of its axes; however, this has been insufficiently studied at the national level. This study focuses on the role of public polices in promoting university–business collaboration by tracking higher education and science policies. The main public policy instruments are analysed, identifying objectives and narratives. The methodological strategy comprises documental analysis. The findings show public policies have played a role in facilitating collaboration of this nature throughout successive governments. These policy measures are justified by the urgency of endowing companies with more qualified staff, aimed at boosting the country’s economic development; from a more individual perspective, the need to ensure the employability of doctorate holders; or from a more institutional angle, the alignment of doctoral programmes with the business sector and an interconnection of cultures.
Gordura superficial em leite em pó
Authors: Souza Louise Bergamin Athayde de , Gama Netto Gabriel , Silva Karina Coelho Moreira da , Stephani Rodrigo , Carvalho Antônio Fernandes , Perrone Ítalo Tuler
Published: July 2022

O leite em pó é um produto altamente versátil, fabricado geralmente por meio da técnica de spray drying, que consiste na remoção de grande parte da água expondo o produto a uma corrente de ar quente. Esse produto possui prazo de validade superior ao leite in natura e oferece diversas comodidades, como maior estabilidade microbiológica e química e condições de armazenamento menos restritas. Entretanto, um grande acúmulo de gordura na superfície desses pós tem sido vastamente documentado em diversas partes do mundo. Frações dessa gordura que se apresenta na camada externa do pó estão na forma livre sendo associadas a características indesejáveis do produto, como dificuldades de reidratação, oxidação de lipídios, aumento de viscosidade e outros, levando a redução de qualidade do produto. Maneiras de reduzir esse teor de gordura têm sido buscadas para amenizar os efeitos indesejáveis e uma das formas promissoras parece ser pela estabilização da matriz láctea antes das etapas de atomização e secagem. Nessa revisão bibliográfica será abordada as características do leite em pó, características da gordura, assim como ocorrência da gordura superficial, os causadores e algumas das possíveis solução do problema.
Evaluation of a commercial aerosol lidar scanner for industrial pollution monitoring
Authors: Kostopoulos Vassilis , Binietoglou Ioannis , Georgoussis George , Martin Omar , Tomassini Guillermo , Toledo Maria Ximenes , Pallotta Juan Vicente
Published: July 2022

In recent years, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology has gained popularity in various applications, including remote sensing of Particulate Matter (PM) absolute concentrations. Raymetrics PMeye is a unique platform consisting of a state-of-the-art scanning lidar, innovative algorithms and auxiliary sensors, used for large areas PM concentrations monitoring. Using a novel inversion scheme for transforming raw signals to aerosol concentrations, PMeye is one of its kind for aerosol monitor in urban or/and industrial areas. Measurements performed at a steel factory in Latin America, a highly variable area in terms of emission sources, support the effectiveness of the overall system. Measurements evaluation against a light scattering in situ PM counter, placed at major emission sources on various ranges and directions from the lidar, present high correlation and very low mean relative differences.
Uvular Necrosis: A Rare Complication After Esophagogastroduodenoscopy in an Intubated Patient
Authors: Bhatia Unnati , Barrett Stevi , Bajaj Suryansh , Bi Yan
Published: July 2022

Uvular necrosis is a potential etiology of postesophagogastroduodenoscopy persistent sore throat and odynophagia, and physicians should be alert to the possibility of this potential complication. Diagnosis is clinical and can be made on the basis of symptoms and characteristic findings on oropharyngeal examination. It has a benign course with an overall good clinical outcome. Conservative symptomatic management is the treatment of choice, and full recovery can be expected in 2 weeks. Keeping oropharyngeal instruments and ventilation tubes to the side of the midline, avoidance of blind suctioning, and decreasing the power of suction devices are some of the measures, which might reduce the risk of intraprocedure uvular injury. In addition, it is important to note that the risk of injury is higher in some individuals, for instance, patients with a long uvula, and it might be beneficial to take extra precautions in these patients.
Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis After mRNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination: Can mRNA Vaccines Unmask Inflammatory Bowel Diseases?
Authors: Ak Çağatay , Sayar Süleyman , Adalı Gupse , Özdil Kamil
Published: July 2022

BNT162b2 is a messenger RNA vaccine for the prevention of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. The widespread use of this vaccination has brought along several adverse events. We present a patient with newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis after BNT162b2 vaccine.
Spontaneous Migration of Spiral Fin Overtube During Motorized Spiral Enteroscopy
Authors: Rajput Sanjay , Bhatt Pratin , Bachkaniwala Vatsal , Gandhi Chaiti , Bokarvadia Ravi , Pipavat Rushi , Tadkalkar Varun
Published: July 2022

Motorized spiral enteroscopy (SE) is a novel technique for evaluation and management of small bowel lesions. Total enteroscopy rates are higher with SE. Power spiral tube with spiral soft fin helps in advancement of the scope. SE has low adverse event profile; however, perforation and pancreatitis have been reported. We report the unusual adverse event of power spiral tube with spontaneous dislodgement of spiral fin in 2 cases.
Atypical Presentation of Left Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Niaz Murk , Khan Muhammad Arsalan , Muhammad Shah , Khan Abdaal Waseem
Published: July 2022

Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm (HAP) commonly occurs after trauma and is rarely seen as a complication of pyogenic liver abscess. Patients with HAP can present with hemobilia secondary to arterobiliary fistula. We report a case of a 29-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain, fever, and jaundice, who was diagnosed to have a pyogenic liver abscess that had led to the development of left HAP, presenting with hemobilia. The patient was successfully managed with endovascular coil embolization.
Untotes Gedächtnis
Authors: Rath Gudrun
Published: July 2022

Seit der Kolonisierung der Karibik erschien in Frankreich eine Vielzahl an Zombie-Texten - von Kinderliteratur bis zum Zombie-Ballett. Besonders nach der Haitianischen Revolution 1791-1804 wurde mit der Figur des Zombies Wissen über den karibischen Raum produziert, das auch Vorstellungen von Europa nachhaltig prägte. Gudrun Rath untersucht erstmals diese vergessene transatlantische Geschichte der Zombie-Figur und zeigt, wie sie im Kontext von stereotypen Karibik-Darstellungen, Diskursen über Versklavung und Abolition, Todesriten und Vorstellungen von Körper und Seele nach dem Tod zum Einsatz kam - und wie sie Europa nicht nur in der Popkultur bis heute heimsucht.
Russland als Ziel kolonialer Eroberung
Authors: Soldat Cornelia
Published: July 2022

Heinrich von Stadens Beschreibung und Angriffsplan auf Moskovien von 1579 greift auf die Vorlage der Eroberung Mexikos durch Hernán Cortés zurück: das Muster-Narrativ für koloniale Eroberung im 16. Jahrhundert. In seiner Beschreibung Moskoviens stilisiert er seine Begegnung mit Zar Ivan IV. (»dem Schrecklichen«) nach der Begegnung Cortés` mit dem Aztekenherrscher Montezuma. Cornelia Soldat untersucht diese Texte über Russland, die Teil eines groß angelegten Planes des Pfalzgrafen Georg Hans von Veldenz sind, die Herrschaftsverhältnisse im Baltikum grundlegend zu ändern. Im Zentrum steht dabei die Einschreibung Russlands in die Kolonialismus-Erzählung.
Discusiones acerca de la educación financiera en las escuelas secundarias de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Authors: Lo Cascio Jorge Damian
Published: July 2022

La discusión abierta por el anuncio de implementación de un curso de educación financiera para estudiantes del último año de las escuelas secundarias de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires es lo que origina este texto que busca aportar a la discusión sobre la propuesta gubernamental con la intención de encuadrar el debate desde una mirada de la didáctica de la economía, por ello se busca responder ¿por qué y para qué educación financiera? y ¿qué educación financiera? Para contestar las preguntas se realizó una revisión literaria sobre educación financiera en el ámbito internacional, poniendo foco en las recomendaciones de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE), las pruebas del Programa Internacional para la Evaluación de Estudiantes (PISA) y la experiencia española. El apartado final busca recoger lecciones que pueden resultar interesantes para la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
Economía Política del Castigo en la periferia global: ¿Desde el silencio del norte a las importaciones acríticas?
Authors: Dal Santo Luis
Published: July 2022

El resurgimiento de la economía política del castigo en el desarrollo de las teorías criminológicas, especialmente a partir de la década de 2000, promovió un aumento de los análisis comparativos entre diferentes naciones. Sin embargo, estos trabajos se han limitado básicamente al análisis de los países centrales del capitalismo. De esto se desprende que dicho marco teórico ha pasado por alto los países latinoamericanos, africanos y asiáticos. A partir de datos secundarios sobre el caso brasileño (el índice GINI, las tasas de desempleo, las tasas de encarcelamiento y los datos de las actividades de los presos), este trabajo aporta una realidad del Sur y periférica al debate criminológico contemporáneo sobre la economía política del castigo. También se muestra cómo la importación acrítica de teorías criminológicas, como si se tratara de una receta, no logra comprender la realidad y las demandas de las sociedades periféricas y sus combinaciones originales. Esto no implica interrumpir el diálogo con los países desarrollados del Norte, ni despreciar las teorías desarrolladas en y para otras realidades. Por el contrario, se argumenta que una adecuada contextualización del conocimiento criminológico acumulado, que considere las particularidades de países y regiones de aquí y allá, puede ser útil para comprender mejor los distintos fenómenos experimentados en las regiones periféricas. Así lo demuestra la relación entre castigo y disciplina en las cárceles brasileñas.
Identidad e identidades juveniles
Authors: Palazzi von Büren Félix
Published: July 2022

El presente artículo ofrece una aproximación al tema de la identidad juvenil. En las actuales condiciones históricas, y ante la posibilidad de un naufragio de la civilización, se hace necesario forjar un diálogo intergeneracional. El colapso de la esperanza en un mundo postsecular nos invita a repensar esta actitud entre todos y con todos.
Barriers to research access during COVID-19: Interviewing students with disabilities in South African higher education
Authors:   University of Johannesburg, Ndlovu Sibonokuhle
Published: July 2022

Carrying out research using face-to-face interviews with students with disabilities has been most difficult in higher education during COVID-19 pandemic. This paper seeks to answer the question: what are the barriers confronted by researchers in conducting interview research with students with disabilities in South African higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic? Data were collected by analysing and synthesising South African and international literature available in Research Gate, ERIC, JSTOR, Sabinet, ProQuest, books, journal articles, and online resources. With Critical Disability Theory illuminating the study, the major finding was that there are communication barriers when interviewing students with disabilities. The nature of the communication challenges varies from one category of disability to the other and have been exacerbated during COVID-19, thus limiting the voice of those students in research which could contribute to improvement in their learning.
Learning to become entrepreneurial through a change laboratory methodology
Authors:   Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Garraway James , Friedrich-Nel Hesta , Dippenaar Hanlie
Published: July 2022

Following Clark’s early work, the concept of the entrepreneurial university has been circulating for a number of years. Being entrepreneurial entails that staff develop the sort of open-ended, problem-solving, and innovative solution-generating thinking underlying the concept. This manner of thinking may be important as an orientation to working life both inside and outside the university, not only in the commercial sense, but also in dealing with societal issues. Although there are guides as to what areas a university should develop to become entrepreneurial, there is little guidance as to how staff may explore and develop their own entrepreneurial thinking. This article suggests that the problem and solution generating approach of the change laboratory, underpinned by the theory of expansive learning (and transformative agency), may provide such guidance. Furthermore, forwarding this approach may support the critical developmental and transformative role that universities can play in society and so serve to balance out the more commercial thrusts often proposed by managing bodies
Understanding higher education: Alternative perspectives
Authors:   Virginia Tech, Case Jennifer
Published: July 2022

Boughey, C. & McKenna, S. 2021. Book title: Understanding higher education: Alternative perspectives. Cape Town: African Minds.
Higher Education Hauntologies: Living with Ghosts for a Justice-to-Come
Authors:   University of Portsmouth, Fairchild Nikki , Taylor Carol ,   University of Bath
Published: July 2022

Higher Education Hauntologies: Living with Ghosts for a Justice-to-Come (2021) (Routledge), Edited by Vivienne Bozalek, Michalinos Zembylas Siddique Motala & Dorothee Hölscher.
Challenging the apartheids of knowledge in Higher Education through Social Innovation
Authors:   University of Bath, McIntosh Shona
Published: July 2022

Joanna Bezerra, Craig Paterson & Sharli Paphitis (Eds.), Challenging the apartheids of knowledge in Higher Education through Social Innovation. Sun Press.
Education, Communication and Democracy in Africa A Democratic Pedagogy for the Future
Authors:   University of Johannesburg, Keane Moyra
Published: July 2022

Education, Communication and Democracy in Africa A Democratic Pedagogy for the Future. Editors: Manthalu, C.H.; Chikaipa, V. and Gunde, A. M. (2022)