bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protocol for ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) mutagenesis application in rice
Authors: Unan Rasim , Deligoz Ilyas , Al-Khatib Kassim , Mennan Husrev
Published: March 2021

Background: Non-transgenic chemical mutagen application, particularly ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), is an important tool to create mutations and gain a new genetic makeup for plants. It is useful to obtain a sufficient number of mutant plants instead of working with a severe mutation in a few plants. EMS dose and exposure period have been previously studied in several crops; however, EMS used to create point mutations in presoaked rice seeds has not been sufficiently studied and there is no standard protocol for such treatment. The aim of this study is to establish a standard protocol for EMS mutagenesis application in rice.

Methods: Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of four durations of rice seed presoaking (0, 6, 12, and 24 hours), four EMS concentration doses (0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0%), and four EMS exposure periods (6, 12, 24, and 48 hours). Germination rate, plumula and radicle length, seedling survival, shoot length, root length and fresh seedling weight were evaluated.

Results: Results showed that a 12-hour presoaking duration, 0.5% EMS dose, and six hours of EMS exposure were the best practices for the optimum number of mutant plants.

Conclusions: In light of both this study and the literature, a standard application protocol was established. This application protocol, detailed in this article, contains the following guidelines: (1) Presoaking: 12 hours, (2) EMS application: 0.5% dose EMS and six hours, (3) Final washing: six hours, (4) Drying: 72 hours at 38°C. A user-friendly protocol has been presented for utilization by researchers.
IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS USING DISTANCE LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES IN ADDITIONAL EDUCATION
Authors: Petrova Natalya , Sidorkin Gennady
Published: March 2021

The article deals with the example of an additional general development program «Chess for all», the possibilities of increasing the availability of additional education for children and adults in modern conditions. In the author's additional general development program, the main emphasis is placed on the formation of meta-subject competencies of students, the development of logical thinking, as well as, we consider this program as a means of psychological relaxation for children and adults in modern conditions associated with social isolation. The purpose of the program is not only to solve educational problems, but also as a means of reducing psychological stress in students in various life situations. The program is implemented in an electronic educational environment using distance learning technologies. The versatility of the program allows you to carry out the learning process, not only in an electronic educational environment, but also in traditional forms.

The purpose of our work: to consider on the example of a specific program the basic positions and foundations of additional education for children and adults, the importance of additional education for ensuring «adaptation to life in society», the impact on the formation of «creative abilities» of students, the ability to adapt in modern conditions. To justify the possibility of integrating different subject areas in achieving metasubject results in the implementation of additional education programs. Development of a program for children and adults with the possibility of implementation in various learning environments.

Subject of research: additional education in the context of the current situation.

The result of the study: a general development program of additional education for various age categories, which promotes the development of logical thinking and the formation of meta-subject results, implemented in an electronic educational environment.

As a result of the work, a program was developed and tested, which can be used by teachers of additional education in various educational organizations using distance learning technologies.
La armonía que perdimos. El desafío educativo frente a la crisis climática
Authors: Guzmán Hennessey Manuel
Published: March 2021

Hay un hilo que conecta todo lo que existe: la trama de la naturaleza, la sociedad y la cultura. Ese tejido es vulnerable. Desde el siglo xix consideramos plausible dominarlo todo: las leyes de la vida, la naturaleza, las sociedades y los mercados. Consideramos que podíamos crecer de manera infinita, y lo intentamos. El resultado es el mundo que vivimos: el antropoceno. La crisis se profundizará cada vez más. Hemos perdido la esencia de aquello que podía facilitarnos la construcción de una respuesta colectiva: la esencia de nuestro ser de humanos. Este libro examina el papel de la educación en la construcción de una sociedad más humana. ¿En qué consiste esa sociedad? ¿es posible construirla antes de que sea demasiado tarde? ¿cómo podemos acelerar las transiciones después de la pandemia? ¿cuál es el papel de los más jóvenes? El autor ofrece una mirada panorámica sobre el problema, pero en lugar de aventurar respuestas absolutas invita a la construcción de un pensamiento colectivo. Escribe que no tenemos mucho tiempo para reaccionar, pero si empezamos ya, hay esperanza. Advierte que el desprecio acelerado por el cultivo de las artes y las humanidades podrá llevarnos a una peligrosa simplificación de la naturaleza humana y la no humana. La educación sobre la crisis debe partir de una educación para la vida, estructurada desde las ciencias de la complejidad. Si perdemos definitivamente la visión (la noción) de los vínculos, las sutiles e innumerables interconexiones que conectan todo lo que existe, habremos perdido también la posibilidad de reconstruirnos como sociedades y como culturas. Una cruzada educativa global será útil para reconstruirnos como sociedades, y cambiar el paradigma del crecimiento sin límite por el de una sociedad más humana y sostenible.
Placement Optimization in Refugee Resettlement
Authors: Ahani Narges , Andersson Tommy , Martinello Alessandro , Teytelboym Alexander , Trapp Andrew C.
Published: March 2021

Using Machine Learning and Integer Optimization to Help Improve Employment Outcomes of Resettled Refugees
Improving the Chilean College Admissions System
Authors: Rios Ignacio , Larroucau Tomás , Parra Giorgiogiulio , Cominetti Roberto
Published: March 2021

In “Improving the Chilean College Admissions System,” Rios, Larroucau, Parra, and Cominetti describe the design and implementation of a new system to solve the Chilean college admissions problem. The authors develop an algorithm that (i) obtains all applicant/program pairs that can be part of a stable allocation when preferences are not strict and when all students tied in the last seat of a program (if any) must be allocated and (ii) efficiently incorporates affirmative action, which is part of the system to correct the inefficiencies that arise from having double-assigned students. By unifying the regular admission with affirmative action, the solution proposed and implemented by the authors has improved the allocation of approximately 2.5% of students assigned every year since 2016, helping to improve the overall efficiency of the system.
The difference a transplant can make
Authors: Wolff Matt
Published: March 2021

Matt Wolff describes his experience of being a kidney donor and his work for Kidney Care UK
Period doubling and merging of multiple dissipative-soliton-resonance pulses in a fiber laser
Authors: Cheng Zhi , Klimczak Mariusz , Buczyński Ryszard , Kong Jian , Tang Xiahui , Tang Ming , Feng Yan , Zhao Luming
Published: March 2021

Period doubling (PD) and the merging of multiple dissipative-soliton-resonance (DSR) pulses are investigated in a fiber laser. Depending on the initial conditions and operation settings, various PDs of multiple DSR pulses are achieved. For two coexisting DSR pulses, we observe PD on both pulses or PD on a single pulse while the other pulse maintains period one. For three coexisting DSR pulses, PD on all pulses or PD on one/two pulse(s) are achieved when the other pulses maintain period one. It is observed that excessively increasing the pump power could destroy the PD behavior. Within certain parameters, PD behavior can be maintained by increasing the pump power. Apart from the appearance of PD, it is found that two DSR pulses may merge into a single DSR pulse if the pulse interval is small enough during pump power increase.
High-sensitivity relative humidity fiber-optic sensor based on an internal–external Fabry–Perot cavity Vernier effect
Authors: Zhou Cheng , Zhou Qian , Wang Bo , Tian Jiajun , Yao Yong
Published: March 2021

This study experimentally demonstrates a high-sensitivity fiber-optic relative humidity (RH) sensor based on sensitivity amplification and a reduction mechanism, employing an internal–external Fabry–Perot cavity (IEFPC) Vernier effect and a chitosan film as a Fabry–Perot (FP)-sensing cavity. The proposed sensor is constructed using cascaded FP interferometers comprised of an air cavity formed by a hollow-core fiber (HCF), a chitosan cavity, and an air–chitosan hybrid cavity. The chitosan cavity is fabricated by dipping the HCF into a chitosan solution to form a thin chitosan film. Thus, the thickness of the chitosan film could be controlled precisely based on dipping time and capillary effect. As the optical path lengths of an air–chitosan hybrid cavity and an air cavity are similar, the IEFPC Vernier effect is generated, amplifying the air–chitosan hybrid cavity’s low sensitivity to the chitosan cavity’s high sensitivity. The experimental results agree with the theoretical analysis, supporting the fact that the sensor’s sensitivity is related only to the thickness of the chitosan film. The sensitivity of the sensor reaches up to 7.15 nm/% RH, ranging 40%–92% RH at 25°C. Fabrication of the proposed sensor is cost-effective. The proposed sensor also exhibits superior stability performance, a low-temperature cross-sensitivity of 0.0068% RH/°C, and repeatable fabrication. The proposed IEFPC Vernier effect model functions well for cascaded cavities, which plays a guiding role in the sensitivity improvement of such a structure within a fiber-optic sensing context.
Enhanced birefringence in conventional and hybrid anti-resonant hollow-core fibers
Authors: Habib Md. Selim , Adamu Abubakar I. , Markos Christos , Amezcua-Correa Rodrigo
Published: March 2021

A hollow-core anti-resonant fiber (HC-ARF) design based on hybrid silica/silicon cladding is proposed for single-polarization, single-mode and high birefringence. We show that by adding silicon layers in a semi-nested HC-ARF, one of the polarization states can be strongly suppressed while simultaneously maintaining low propagation loss for other polarization states, single-mode and high birefiringence. The optimized HC-ARF design exhibits propagation loss, high birefringence, and polarization-extinction ratio of 0.05 dB/m, 0.5 × 10−4, >300 respectively for y-polarization while the loss of x-polarization is >5 dB/m at 1064 nm. The fiber also has low bend-loss and thus can be coiled to a small bend radii of 5 cm having ≈0.06 dB/m bend loss.
Reproductive compatibility in Capsicum is not necessarily reflected in genetic or phenotypic similarity between species complexes
Authors: Parry Catherine , Wang Yen-Wei , Lin Shih-wen , Barchenger Derek W.
Published: March 2021

Wild relatives of domesticatedCapsicumrepresent substantial genetic diversity and thus sources of traits of potential interest. Furthermore, the hybridization compatibility between members ofCapsicumspecies complexes remains unresolved. Improving our understanding of the relationship betweenCapsicumspecies relatedness and their ability to form hybrids is a highly pertinent issue. Through the development of novel interspecific hybrids in this study, we demonstrate interspecies compatibility is not necessarily reflected in relatedness according to establishedCapsicumgenepool complexes. Based on a phylogeny constructed by genotyping using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and with a portion of thewaxylocus, and through principal component analysis (PCA) of phenotypic data, we clarify the relationships among wild and domesticatedCapsicumspecies. Together, the phylogeny and hybridization studies provide evidence for the misidentification of a number of species from the World Vegetable Center genebank included in this study. The World Vegetable Center holds the largest collection ofCapsicumgenetic material globally, therefore this may reflect a wider issue in the misidentification ofCapsicumwild relatives. The findings presented here provide insight into an apparent disconnect between compatibility and relatedness in theCapsicumgenus, which will be valuable in identifying candidates for future breeding programs.
Influence of obesity on serum levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Frasca Daniela , Reidy Lisa , Cray Carolyn , Diaz Alain , Romero Maria , Kahl Kristin , Blomberg Bonnie B.
Published: March 2021

SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2), cause of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease of 2019), represents a significant risk to people living with pre-existing conditions associated with exacerbated inflammatory responses and consequent dysfunctional immunity. In this paper, we have evaluated the influence of obesity, a condition associated with chronic systemic inflammation, on the secretion of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies in the blood of COVID-19 patients. Our hypothesis is that obesity is associated with reduced amounts of specific IgG antibodies. Results have confirmed our hypothesis and have shown that SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies are negatively associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) in COVID-19 obese patients, as expected based on the known influence of obesity on humoral immunity. Antibodies in COVID-19 obese patients are also negatively associated with serum levels of pro-inflammatory and metabolic markers of inflammaging and pulmonary inflammation, such as SAA (serum amyloid A protein), CRP (C-reactive protein), and ferritin, but positively associated with NEFA (nonesterified fatty acids). These results altogether could help to identify an inflammatory signature with strong predictive value for immune dysfunction. Inflammatory markers identified may subsequently be targeted to improve humoral immunity in individuals with obesity and in individuals with other chronic inflammatory conditions.
Dataset search in biodiversity research: Do metadata in data repositories reflect scholarly information needs?
Authors: Löffler Felicitas , Wesp Valentin , König-Ries Birgitta , Klan Friederike
Published: March 2021

The increasing amount of publicly available research data provides the opportunity to link and integrate data in order to create and prove novel hypotheses, to repeat experiments or to compare recent data to data collected at a different time or place. However, recent studies have shown that retrieving relevant data for data reuse is a time-consuming task in daily research practice. In this study, we explore what hampers dataset retrieval in biodiversity research, a field that produces a large amount of heterogeneous data. In particular, we focus on scholarly search interests and metadata, the primary source of data in a dataset retrieval system. We show that existing metadata currently poorly reflect information needs and therefore are the biggest obstacle in retrieving relevant data. Our findings indicate that for data seekers in the biodiversity domain environments, materials and chemicals, species, biological and chemical processes, locations, data parameters and data types are important information categories. These interests are well covered in metadata elements of domain-specific standards. However, instead of utilizing these standards, large data repositories tend to use metadata standards with domain-independent metadata fields that cover search interests only to some extent. A second problem are arbitrary keywords utilized in descriptive fields such as title, description or subject. Keywords support scholars in a full text search only if the provided terms syntactically match or their semantic relationship to terms used in a user query is known.
The influence of education on women’s well-being: Evidence from Australia
Authors: Tran Dai Binh , Pham Thao Dinh Ngoc , Nguyen Thuy Thanh
Published: March 2021

This study investigates the relationship between women’s education and their level of well-being, using data from the Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA). To take into account potential endogeneity, the instrumental variables (IV) approach is employed, with partners’ education as an instrument. The findings show that higher education levels lead to a higher level of eudaimonic well-being, hedonic well-being, positive affect, and reduced psychological distress, highlighting a non-monetary benefit of education. Thus, policymakers should continue to widely promote education, in order for women to achieve higher levels of future well-being. Additionally, the findings show that the connection between education and well-being is mediated by healthy behaviors, such as engaging in physical activity, abstaining from drinking and smoking, social interactivity, and higher income. Therefore, public health campaigns which promote healthy behaviors among women should potentially mitigate gaps in formal education.
Modeling geogenic and atmospheric nitrogen through the East River Watershed, Colorado Rocky Mountains
Authors: Maavara Taylor , Siirila-Woodburn Erica R. , Maina Fadji , Maxwell Reed M. , Sample James E. , Chadwick K. Dana , Carroll Rosemary , Newcomer Michelle E. , Dong Wenming , Williams Kenneth H. , Steefel Carl I. , Bouskill Nicholas J.
Published: March 2021

There is a growing understanding of the role that bedrock weathering can play as a source of nitrogen (N) to soils, groundwater and river systems. The significance is particularly apparent in mountainous environments where weathering fluxes can be large. However, our understanding of the relative contributions of rock-derived, or geogenic, N to the total N supply of mountainous watersheds remains poorly understood. In this study, we develop the High-Altitude Nitrogen Suite of Models (HAN-SoMo), a watershed-scale ensemble of process-based models to quantify the relative sources, transformations, and sinks of geogenic and atmospheric N through a mountain watershed. Our study is based in the East River Watershed (ERW) in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The East River is a near-pristine headwater watershed underlain primarily by an N-rich Mancos Shale bedrock, enabling the timing and magnitude of geogenic and atmospheric contributions to watershed scale dissolved N-exports to be quantified. Several calibration scenarios were developed to explore equifinality using >1600 N concentration measurements from streams, groundwater, and vadose zone samples collected over the course of four years across the watershed. When accounting for recycling of N through plant litter turnover, rock weathering accounts for approximately 12% of the annual dissolved N sources to the watershed in the most probable calibration scenario (0–31% in other scenarios), and 21% (0–44% in other scenarios) when considering only “new” N sources (i.e. geogenic and atmospheric). On an annual scale, instream dissolved N elimination, plant turnover (including cattle grazing) and atmospheric deposition are the most important controls on N cycling.
Polymorphisms of T- cell leukemia 1A gene loci are not related to the development of adjuvant letrozole-induced adverse events in breast cancer
Authors: Umamaheswaran Gurusamy , Kadambari Dharanipragada , Muthuvel Suresh Kumar , Kumar Naveena A. N. , Dubashi Biswajit , Aibor Dkhar Steven , Adithan Chandrasekaran
Published: March 2021

Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor (AI), is the first-line adjuvant drug for treating hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer in postmenopausal women. However, harmful adverse events (AEs) and significant differences in drug response among individuals remain a significant problem in clinical application. Current evidence suggests that the observed individual variation in the treatment outcomes of AI is conferred by genetic variants. Hence, in this study, we examined the association ofTCL1Agene polymorphisms with letrozole-induced AEs. The study subjects were postmenopausal HR+ breast cancer patients who were receiving adjuvant letrozole. Genomic DNA was isolated by a routine standard phenol-chloroform method. In total, 198 South Indian patients were genotyped for four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in theTCL1Agene loci by the TaqMan allelic discrimination assay using the RT-PCR system. We used the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval to assess the genetic association. Musculoskeletal (MS) AEs and vasomotor symptoms (VMSs) are the most common side effects observed in the study cohort. Among 198 patients, 81 experienced musculoskeletal toxicity, reporting MS-AEs, 57 had VMSs, and 33 of them had both. The most frequently identified polymorphic variants in the patient series werers11849538 (G), with an allele frequency of about 27.3%, followed byrs7158782-G(27.3%),rs7159713-G(25.8%), andrs2369049-G(22.5%). The genetic association analysis indicated no significant difference in the proportion ofTCL1Agene variants between patients with and without AEs on either MS-AEs or VMSs. Though we observed high LD in all patient groups, the inferred haplotypes displayed a non-significant association with letrozole-induced specific AEs. However, the SNP functionality analysis by RegulomeDB provided a 2b rank score forrs7158782, suggesting a potential biological function. Our findings suggest thatTCL1Agene polymorphisms may not play any role in the prediction of letrozole-induced AEs in South Indian HR+ breast cancer patients.
Reduced mortality in COVID-19 patients treated with colchicine: Results from a retrospective, observational study
Authors: Manenti Lucio , Maggiore Umberto , Fiaccadori Enrico , Meschi Tiziana , Antoni Anna Degli , Nouvenne Antonio , Ticinesi Andrea , Cerundolo Nicoletta , Prati Beatrice , Delsante Marco , Gandoflini Ilaria , Donghi Lorenzo , Gentile Micaela , Farina Maria Teresa , Oliva Vincenzo , Zambrano Cristina , Regolisti Giuseppe , Palmisano Alessandra , Caminiti Caterina , Cocchi Enrico , Ferrari Carlo , Riella Leonardo V. , Cravedi Paolo , Peruzzi Licia
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Effective treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are urgently needed. We hypothesized that colchicine, by counteracting proinflammatory pathways implicated in the uncontrolled inflammatory response of COVID-19 patients, reduces pulmonary complications, and improves survival.

Methods

This retrospective study included 71 consecutive COVID-19 patients (hospitalized with pneumonia on CT scan or outpatients) who received colchicine and compared with 70 control patients who did not receive colchicine in two serial time periods at the same institution. We used inverse probability of treatment propensity-score weighting to examine differences in mortality, clinical improvement (using a 7-point ordinary scale), and inflammatory markers between the two groups.

Results

Amongst the 141 COVID-19 patients (118 [83.7%] hospitalized), 70 (50%) received colchicine. The 21-day crude cumulative mortality was 7.5% in the colchicine group and 28.5% in the control group (P = 0.006; adjusted hazard ratio: 0.24 [95%CI: 0.09 to 0.67]); 21-day clinical improvement occurred in 40.0% of the patients on colchicine and in 26.6% of control patients (adjusted relative improvement rate: 1.80 [95%CI: 1.00 to 3.22]). The strong association between the use of colchicine and reduced mortality was further supported by the diverging linear trends of percent daily change in lymphocyte count (P = 0.018), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.003), and in C-reactive protein levels (P = 0.009). Colchicine was stopped because of transient side effects (diarrhea or skin rashes) in 7% of patients.

Conclusion

In this retrospective cohort study colchicine was associated with reduced mortality and accelerated recovery in COVID-19 patients. This support the rationale for current larger randomized controlled trials testing the safety/efficacy profile of colchicine in COVID-19 patients.
Genetic variation and phylogenetic analysis of Indonesian indigenous catfish (baung fish) based on mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene
Authors: Widayanti Rini , Kusumaastuti Ken Ayik , Novi Joana Martha , Adani Fadila Khairuna , Gultom Catrine Relia Patrecia , Prastiti Ayuning Devina , Nugroho Herjuno Ari , Pakpahan Suhendra
Published: March 2021

Background and Aim: Baung fish is an essential commodity in Indonesia; however, few studies have explored the genetic diversity of Indonesian catfish. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships among Indonesian catfish based on the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene.

Materials and Methods: In total, 28 catfish were collected from nine rivers in seven provinces and from the Indian Ocean. Catfish genomes were obtained from epaxial and hepaxial muscle samples. The mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using a pair of primers (Baung12SF and Baung12SR). The 12S rRNA sequences were analyzed using MEGA X to determine genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships.

Results: In total, 178 variation sites in the 12S rRNA gene were substituted among Indonesian catfish. The genetic distance between all Indonesian catfish samples was 0.1-16.0%. The closest genetic distance was between MP and PM catfish, whereas the farthest genetic distances were between BF and EM and PD and EM. For the entire population, based on mean diversity calculations, the number of base substitutions per site was 0.08.

Conclusion: Indonesian catfish were divided into four clades based on the 12S rRNA gene. The catfish MP, KR, PM, MS, BB, and KS were grouped with Hemibagrus nemurus, the catfish EM was grouped with Mystus vittatus, the catfish BSBJ was grouped with Pangasius pangasius, and the catfish PD and BF were grouped with Netuma thalassina.
Contact rate and risk factors of classical swine fever disease in commercial and smallholder pig farms, Karanganyar, Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Dharmawan Rama , Sumiarto Bambang , Wibawa Hendra , Pramastuti Ira , Sutiyarmo Sutiyarmo , Poermadjaja Bagoes
Published: March 2021

Background and Aim: Classical swine fever (CSF) is one of the primary diseases in animals in Indonesia, particularly areas that supply pig meat to the country, such as Karanganyar district, Central Java. The government has tried to prevent and control the disease by vaccination, but it has not yet given effective results. Therefore, another attempt to prevent the recurrence of CSF cases is to apply biosecurity in pig farms by looking for risk factors associated with on-farm and off-farm contact. This study aims to determine the contact rate and investigate the risk factors associated with on-farm and off-farm contact in commercial and smallholder pig farms in Karanganyar, Central Java, Indonesia, in the context of controlling CSF disease.

Materials and Methods: This study used a cross-sectional study design in which the pig farm was designed as the observed epidemiological unit. The contact structure data were conducted by sampling using a two-stage random method. We selected Karanganyar district because it is the center of a pig farm in the Central Java Province and has many CSF cases in several years before. The study was conducted for more or less 1 month from August to September 2019. The contact data were collected from 37 smallholder farms and 27 commercial farms within interviews. Risk factors for contact with pigs were analyzed using logistic regression using the Statistix Program version 8.0.(www.statistix.com).

Results: In comparison to smallholder farms, commercial farms had 2.38 and 3.32 times higher contact rate in outside farms and inside farms, respectively. Two factors increased the risk for on-farm contacts including commercials type farm (p=0.0012; odds ratio [OR]=8.32) with contact rate of 1.24 times/day and the time interval of CSF vaccination for 1-3 months (p=0.0013; OR=8.43) with contact rate of 0.98 times/day, and three factors increased the risk for off-farm contacts including the commercial farm type (p=0.012; OR=4.88) with 1.50 contact/day, the time interval of CSF vaccination for 1-3 months (p=0.036; OR=3.83) with 1.30 contact/day, and farmers with experience in pig husbandry <5 years (p=0.075; OR=3.56) with 1.13 contact/day.

Conclusion: This study shows that commercial farms and short CSF vaccination intervals increased the risk of either off-farm or on-farm contacts. The contact structure of pig farms in Karanganyar district is similar to that in other areas in Indonesia. Reducing the risk of contacts either outside or inside the pig farms is essential to prevent disease transmission. Enhancing communication and education to pig farmers and surveillance is also necessary to prevent such diseases in pigs.
The role of intracellular Ca2+ signaling in the exocrine pancreatic damage during acute pancreatitis
Authors: Fanczal Júlia
Published: March 2021

Acute biliary pancreatitis poses a significant clinical challenge as currently no specific pharmaceutical treatment exists. Disturbed intracellular Ca2+ signalling caused by bile acids is a hallmark of the disease, which induces increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial damage, intra-acinar digestive enzyme activation and cell death. Because of this mechanism of action, prevention of toxic cellular Ca2+ overload is a promising therapeutic target. Transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) is a non-selective cation channel that has recently emerged as an important contributor to oxidative-stress-induced cellular Ca2+ overload across different diseases. However, the expression and possible functions of TRPM2 in the exocrine pancreas remain unknown. Here we found that TRPM2 is expressed in the plasma membrane of mouse pancreatic acinar, which can be activated by increased oxidative stress induced by H2O2 treatment. TRPM2 activity was found to contribute to bile acid-induced extracellular Ca2+ influx in acinar cells. The generation of intracellular ROS in response to bile acids was remarkably higher in pancreatic acinar cells. This activity promoted acinar cell necrosis in vitro independently from mitochondrial damage or mitochondrial fragmentation. In addition, bile-acid-induced experimental pancreatitis was less severe in TRPM2 knockout mice, whereas the lack of TRPM2 had no protective effect in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. Our results suggest that the inhibition of TRPM2 may be a potential treatment option for biliary pancreatitis.
Identification of Novel Anticancer Agent by in silico Methods for Inhibition of KLK-12 Protein
Authors: Bandi Jyothi , Nambigari Navaneetha
Published: March 2021

A critical route for cancer metastases is pathological angiogenesis.
The protein Kallikrein-12 (KLK-12) is a serine protease reported to
be involved in a variety of biochemical processes that have a functional
role in angiogenesis. The KLK-12 protein hydrolyzes the cysteine rich
angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61) protein and controls the bioavailability
of angiogenesis-inducing growth factors. The work proposed involves
the homology modeling of the KLK-12 protein, identify essential
residues to be putatively linked to the natural substrate. Protein-protein
docking is done to characterize Trp35, Gln36, Gly38, Trp82 and His107
residues of the active site, in addition to active site servers (active site
prediction server and CASTp). Using Auto Dock Vina software, virtual
screening studies were carried out to identify the substituted carboxamide
scaffolds as a pharmacophore binding at the active site. Based on binding
energy, ADME and visual inspection, an isochromene carboxamide
moiety is identified as antiangiogenic and cancer antagonists.
Chemotoxicity in Carcinoma Breast Patients - Its Incidence and Trends in Severity - An Observational Study
Authors: Yeola Meenakshi Eknath , Borgaonkar Aditya Prabhakar Rao
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND Chemotherapy has improved the survival of the carcinoma breast patients. But the use of cytotoxic drugs causes multiple chemotoxicities such as nausea, vomiting, weight changes and leucopenia reducing the quality of life of the patients, thereby making the patients defaulters and thus, increasing the chances of recurrence. Very few studies were done in India where patients have different physical, mental, social & cultural characteristics that affect the response & outcomes of treatment differently. We wanted to assess the prevalence & severity of chemotoxicity in carcinoma breast patients receiving chemotherapy along with its comparison amongst commonly used regimens of chemotherapy. METHODS Fifty female patients diagnosed with carcinoma breast (excluding the ones having poor performance status, receiving chemotherapy with different regimes) were included in this single centre study. Prevalence and trends of different chemotoxicities like hair loss, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, weight changes were observed using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4 (CTCAE V4.0) guidelines and were compared at the end of 1st, 3rd& 6th cycle of chemotherapy. Categorical variables were presented in numbers and percentages (%) and continuous variables were presented as mean ± SD and median. Qualitative variables were correlated using chi-square test / Fisher’s exact test. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. RESULTS Hair loss was detected in 98 % of patients with increasing trend of severity; nausea & vomiting were experienced by 100 % & 54 % respectively, with decreasing trend of severity. One patient suffered with extravasation of chemotherapeutic drug, 52 % of patients had nail changes with non-significant trend in severity, 24 % patients experienced weight gain while rest had weight loss. All of the patients experienced varying grades of fatigue with increasing trend of severity. Leukopenia was seen single or multiple times (21 times) amongst 16 patients during chemotherapy, while thrombocytopenia was observed 22 times among 15 patients. There was no prevalence of neuropathy, cardiotoxicity, and oral ulcers; also, there was minimal prevalence of severe grades of chemotoxicity with no life-threatening event. CONCLUSIONS Hair loss and nausea were seen with increasing and decreasing tendency respectively. No particular regimen was found to be more toxic or safer than the other. With the prevalence and severity trends, patients can be counselled properly regarding chemotoxicity and prepared for these adverse effects. This would have lesser impact on the quality of life. KEY WORDS Chemotherapy, Chemotoxicity, Alopecia, Nausea, Vomiting, Fatigue, Leukocytopenia, Thrombocytopenia, Carcinoma Breast
A Study on the Effect of Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain on Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcome
Authors: G. Prema Priya , T. Suganya , Sadasivam Karthik , S Senthilpriya , B Jeyamani
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND Obesity has become a global epidemic. Maternal overweight and obesity is now a major challenge to the treating obstetricians. We intended to find the effect of pre pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal outcome. METHODS 300 women with singleton pregnancy and spontaneous conception, who attended antenatal outpatient department (OPD) in our tertiary hospital, were included in this study after informed consent. The rate of gestational weight gain was calculated by subtracting the pre pregnancy weight from the final weight of the mother during last antenatal visit or during delivery. They were followed up and their maternal and perinatal outcomes such as anaemia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, preterm labour, past dates, and intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight, large for gestation, caesarean delivery and neonatal intensive care admission were studied. RESULTS The mean age of the woman in this study was 24 ± 2 years. Of them, 13 % (n = 39) of women were underweight. 40 % (n = 120) of women were of normal BMI. 33 % (n = 99) of women were overweight. 14 % (n = 52) of women were obese. Maternal complications such as anaemia, preterm labour and intrauterine growth restriction were significantly common in underweight woman and inadequate gestational weight gain woman. Gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, large for gestation baby and Caesarean deliveries were more in pre pregnancy obese woman and excess gestational weight gain woman. CONCLUSIONS An appropriate maternal pre pregnancy body mass index of 18.5 to 22.9 Kg / m2 at conception followed by an appropriate gestational weight gain (10 to 14 Kg) during pregnancy has a better maternal and neonatal outcome. KEY WORDS Body Mass Index, Gestational Weight Gain, Maternal Outcome, and Neonatal Outcome, Obese
Anaesthesia Experience for Breast Surgery with Ultrasound-Guided Pecs Block II in High-Risk Elderly Patients - Two Case Reports
Authors: Kaya Cengiz , Dost Burhan , Ustun Yasemin Burcu
Published: March 2021

The incidence of breast cancer has increased significantly over recent years.1 Surgery is the gold standard treatment for most cases, and general anaesthesia (GA) is the preferred anaesthetic technique. However, regional anaesthesia may be an alternative to GA in multimodal regimens in high-risk patients to avoid GA-related cardiovascular or pulmonary side effects.2 The use of neuraxial techniques [thoracic epidural or thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB)] or an intercostal nerve block can therefore be suggested.3 However, novel approaches that are easier, safer, and more effective have been proposed to overcome possible complications and difficulties of these techniques. One approach, the pectoral nerve (Pecs) II block, is a fascial plane block that has shown promising results in anterolateral chest wall 2 analgesia.3,4 The aim of this technique is to block the pectoral nerves, intercostobrachial, intercostals3- 6 and the long thoracic nerve.4 The Pecs block II has been used successfully as part of the multimodal regimen for postoperative analgesia, but not yet as a primary anaesthetic technique in breast surgery.3 Here, we describe breast cancer resection with ultrasound (US)-guided Pecs block II and sedation in two high-risk elderly patients. Both patients provided written consent for publication of the case reports and related images. Here, we present two breast cancer resection cases with multiple comorbidities who underwent ultrasound-guided Pecs II blocks under sedation. Additional analgesic and / or local anaesthetic infiltration was required for parasternal region pain (simple mastectomy, Case 1) and axillary region pain (sentinel node biopsy, Case 2). However, Pecs II blocks may not block the anterior cutaneous intercostal nerve branches or the intercostobrachial nerve in operations involving the medial part of the breast or extending to the axilla.
A Unique Way of Removing Mandibular Third Molars - Implosion Technique
Authors: Karobari Mohmed Isaqali , Asif Jawaad Ahmed , Noorani Tahir Yusuf
Published: March 2021

The average time consumed for disimpaction of mandibular third molar using rotatory instruments was approximately 17 mins and 23 mins while using a piezotome. The authors introduce a new technique of disimpaction of mandibular third molar with the least amount of bone removal ever achieved during mandibular third molar removal. This technique can be readily included in routine clinical practice and can be performed by using routine rotary instruments. This technique was successfully accomplished in 10 individuals with the least amount of discomfort and post-operative complications reported from day 1 to day 14. The procedure was evaluated based on time of the procedure, pain score, bleeding, nerve injury, trismus, swelling & dry socket. Third molar removal has been the most frequently performed oral surgical procedure in the modern world of dentistry.1 Although, mandibular third molar is the most commonly performed procedure, it demands skill, technique and experience. Several techniques have been implied for disimpaction of mandibular third molar, but every method involves either considerable amount of bone removal or splitting the bone. Bone manipulation is done by using a rotary instruments or chisel and mallet. The most popular techniques are buccal bone guttering, distal bone removal, lingual bone split technique and lingual bone guttering.2 According to the traditional classifications of impacted mandibular third molar (Pell & Gregory and Winter’s classification), the minimum amount of bucco-distal bone removed during disimpaction of mesioangularly positioned class I A impacted mandibular third molar using rotary instruments and conventional techniques can be calculated as 157.5 mm2 (volume of a rectangle = L X W X H; where L = 15 mm, W = 1.5 mm [width of the bur] and H = 7 mm). The mandibular third molar requiring osteotomy and tooth section have the highest risk of complications3. Surgical time had significantly increased in cases which required osteotomy and tooth section. Post-operative swelling and pain has been recorded as significant complications after using rotary instruments via buccal approach followed by use of chisel & mallet and least in lingual split approach. On the contrary, post-operative nerve injury and trismus were significantly high in lingual split technique. Dry socket was more in patients of bur technique.2
A hazai közép- és nagyvállalatok innovációs tevékenységének vizsgálata ökonometriai módszerekkel
Authors: Kiss János
Published: March 2021

A cikk a magyarországi közép- és nagyvállalatok innovációs tevékenységét vizsgálja az EU-csatlakozást közvetlenül megelőző években. Fő megállapításai közé tartozik, hogy a külföldi tulajdonú cégek meghatározó szerepet töltöttek be a termék- és technológiamegújításban; az exportorientáció és az innováció között nem volt szignifikáns kapcsolat; valamint az innovációs állami támogatások pozitívan hatottak az innovációra.
A nettó jelenérték maximalizálása erőforrás-korlátos projektekben - egy új harmóniakereső metaheurisztika (A harmony search metaheuristic for the resourceconstrained project scheduling problem with discounted cash flows)
Authors: Láng Blanka
Published: March 2021

Ebben a tanulmányban a szerző egy új harmóniakereső metaheurisztikát mutat be, amely a minimális időtartamú erőforrás-korlátos ütemezések halmazán a projekt nettó jelenértékét maximalizálja. Az optimális ütemezés elméletileg két egész értékű (nulla-egy típusú) programozási feladat megoldását jelenti, ahol az első lépésben meghatározzuk a minimális időtartamú erőforrás-korlátos ütemezések időtartamát, majd a második lépésben az optimális időtartamot feltételként kezelve megoldjuk a nettó jelenérték maximalizálási problémát minimális időtartamú erőforrás-korlátos ütemezések halmazán. A probléma NP-hard jellege miatt az egzakt megoldás elfogadható idő alatt csak kisméretű projektek esetében képzelhető el. A bemutatandó metaheurisztika a Csébfalvi (2007) által a minimális időtartamú erőforrás-korlátos ütemezések időtartamának meghatározására és a tevékenységek ennek megfelelő ütemezésére kifejlesztett harmóniakereső metaheurisztika továbbfejlesztése, amely az erőforrás-felhasználási konfliktusokat elsőbbségi kapcsolatok beépítésével oldja fel. Az ajánlott metaheurisztika hatékonyságának és életképességének szemléltetésére számítási eredményeket adunk a jól ismert és népszerű PSPLIB tesztkönyvtár J30 részhalmazán futtatva. Az egzakt megoldás generálásához egy korszerű MILP-szoftvert (CPLEX) alkalmaztunk. _______________ This paper presents a harmony search metaheuristic for the resource-constrained project scheduling problem with discounted cash flows. In the proposed approach, a resource-constrained project is characterized by its „best” schedule, where best means a makespan minimal resource constrained schedule for which the net present value (NPV) measure is maximal. Theoretically the optimal schedule searching process is formulated as a twophase mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problem, which can be solved for small-scale projects in reasonable time. The applied metaheuristic is based on the "conflict repairing" version of the "Sounds of Silence" harmony search metaheuristic developed by Csébfalvi (2007) for the resource-constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP). In order to illustrate the essence and viability of the proposed harmony search metaheuristic, we present computational results for a J30 subset from the well-known and popular PSPLIB. To generate the exact solutions a state-of-the-art MILP solver (CPLEX) was used.
A rare pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor with proinsulin-secreting activity
Authors: Volkova Anna R. , Dora Svetlana V. , Ostrouchova Elena N. , Lisker Anna V. , Semikova Galina V. , Demydenko Ekateryna U.
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a clinical case describing hypoglycemic condition with atypical symptoms in a young patient in the early postpartum period. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a large formation in the hook region of the pancreas, which was subsequently confirmed according to endoscopic ultrasound, CT and MRI. The idea of insulinoma was formed according to the presence of pancreatic formation, documented Whipple’s triad, and data on hyperinsulinism at the outpatient stage. However, the 72-hour fasting test showed no significant increase in insulin and C-peptide levels. After excluding other causes of hypoglycemia, the patient was suspected of having proinsulinoma, which was confirmed by increased blood proinsulin level. Gastropancreatoduodenal resection was performed. We detected a highly differentiated neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor with the expression of CD56, NSE, synaptophysin and chromogranin A, with a Ki-67 index of about 1%. After surgical treatment, hypoglycemic conditions were not observed.
Transitzentrum oder: Über die (Un-)Durchlässigkeit von (Lager-)Grenzen
Authors: Gelardi Lea
Published: March 2021

Lea Gelardi fokussiert in diesem Beitrag restriktive Zugangspraktiken eines Transitzentrums. Besondere Raumspezifika, Zutrittsbeschränkungen und -verbote für Unterstützer*innen sowie diverse Kontrollpraktiken tragen zur Abschottung und Distanzierung der Bewohner*innen bei, verstärkt durch deren Immobilisierung. Der Zugang zur Außenwelt ist zudem aufgrund rechtlicher und organisationaler Hürden eingeschränkt. Trotz einiger Gemeinsamkeiten zeigen sich auch Abweichungen von ›totalen‹ Formen des Lagers. Die fortlaufenden Kämpfe und Aushandlungen der Akteur*innen verweisen auf die Durchlässigkeit der (Lager-)Grenzen. Es handelt sich bei den beschriebenen exklusiven und restriktiven Praktiken nicht um ›totale‹ Ausschlusspraktiken, sondern um dynamische und veränderbare Grenzziehungsprozesse, die unterschiedliche (Aus-)Handlungsfelder des täglichen Lebens betreffen, fortlaufend hervorgebracht werden und immer umkämpft sind.
Ganz schön operiert
Authors: Wustmann Julia
Published: March 2021

Die Ästhetisch-Plastische Chirurgie verzeichnet stetig steigende Eingriffszahlen und polarisiert hinsichtlich ihrer Intentionen und Effekte wie kaum eine andere Fachdisziplin. Julia Wustmanns wissenssoziologische Studie rekonstruiert die Verhandlung zur Legitimität der Ästhetisch-Plastischen Chirurgie als medizinischer Profession und verschränkt dafür die Perspektive von Alltagsakteur*innen mit der von ästhetisch-plastischen Chirurg*innen. In der Zusammenführung von gesellschaftlichen Betrachtungsweisen und medizinprofessionellen Eigenverständnissen wird die Ambivalenz der Fachdisziplin deutlich, die sich auf die Gleichzeitigkeit von legitimierenden und diskreditierenden Mustern zurückführen lässt.