bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flare or foe? - Mycobacterium marinum infection mimicking rheumatoid arthritis tenosynovitis: case report and literature review
Authors: Schubert Nils , Schill Tillmann , Plüß Marlene , Korsten Peter
Published: March 2020

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis affecting about 1% of the population. With the advent of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs the disease can be well controlled in many cases. Patients, however, are prone to developing infectious complications. In rare cases, these can mimic a flare of the underlying itself.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 45-year-old female patient with a history of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who presented with swelling and tenderness of the third metacarpophalangeal joint of the right hand. A flare of her RA was suspected based on clinical and ultrasound findings which showed a tenosynovitis with intense power doppler activity. Her steroid dose was increased but the clinical response to glucocorticoid therapy was very limited. Subsequently, she developed skin manifestations of ‘swimmer’s granuloma’ over the next 2 weeks after first presentation. Finally, a diagnosis of aMycobacterium marinuminfection was established with the help of tissue biopsy and culture, and the patient received appropriate antibiotic treatment with the desired effect.

Conclusions

This case highlights the difficulty of distinction between infection and inflammation in patients with joint swelling and pain, especially in the age of disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs) and the concomitant risk of atypical infections. A review of the literature identified eight additional published cases, which suggests thatMycobacterium marinuminfection is a rare but recognized complication of DMARD therapy. It can mimic a flare of the underlying arthritis potentially leading to diagnostic delays, and requires differential diagnostic methods to identify the pathogen and pave the way for appropriate treatment.
DSMC modeling of rarefied ionization reactions and applications to hypervelocity spacecraft reentry flows
Authors: Fang Ming , Li Zhi-Hui , Li Zhong-Hua , Liang Jie , Zhang Yong-Hao
Published: March 2020

The DSMC modeling is developed to simulate three-dimensional (3D) rarefied ionization flows and numerically forecast the communication blackout around spacecraft during hypervelocity reentry. A new weighting factor scheme for rare species is introduced, whose key point is to modify the corresponding chemical reaction coefficients involving electrons, meanwhile reproduce the rare species in resultants and preserve/delete common species in reactants according to the weighting factors. The resulting DSMC method is highly efficient in simulating weakly inhomogeneous flows including the Couette shear flow and controlling statistical fluctuation with high resolution. The accurate reliability of the present DSMC modeling is also validated by the comparison with a series of experimental measurements of the Shenzhou reentry capsule tested in a low-density wind tunnel from the HAI of CARDC. The obtained electron number density distribution for the RAM-C II vehicle agrees well with the flight experiment data, while the electron density contours for the Stardust hypervelocity reentry match the reference data completely. In addition, the present 3D DSMC algorithm can capture distribution of the electron, N+and O+number densities better than the axis-symmetric DSMC model. The introduction of rare species weighting factor scheme can significantly improve the smoothness of the number density contours of rare species, especially for that of electron in weak ionization case, while it has negligible effect on the macroscopic flow parameters. The ionization characteristics of the Chinese lunar capsule reentry process are numerically analyzed and forecasted in the rarefied transitional flow regime at the flying altitudes between 80 and 97 km, and the simulations predict communication blackout altitudes which are in good agreement with the actual reentry flight data. For the spacecraft reentry with hypervelocity larger than the second cosmic speed, it is forecasted and verified by the present DSMC modeling that ionization reactions will cover the windward capsule surface, leading to reentry communication blackout, and the communication interruption must be considered in the communication design during reentry in rarefied flow regimes.
Advances in BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and satellite navigation augmentation technologies
Authors: Li Rui , Zheng Shuaiyong , Wang Ershen , Chen Jinping , Feng Shaojun , Wang Dun , Dai Liwen
Published: March 2020

Several noteworthy breakthroughs have been made with the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and other global navigation satellite systems as well as the associated augmentation systems, such as the commissioning of the BDS-3 preliminary system and the successful launch of the first BDS-3 GEO satellite which carries the satellite-based augmentation payload. Presently, BDS can provide basic services globally, and its augmentation system is also being tested. This paper gives an overview of BDS and satellite navigation augmentation technologies. This overview is divided into four parts, which include the system segment technologies, satellite segment technologies, propagation segment technologies, and user segment technologies. In each part, these technologies are described from the perspectives of preliminary information, research progress, and summary. Moreover, the significance and progress of the BeiDou Satellite-based Augmentation System (BDSBAS), low earth orbit augmentation, and the national BeiDou ground-based augmentation system are presented, along with the airborne-based augmentation system. Furthermore, the conclusions and discussions covering popular topics for research, frontiers in research and development, achievements, and suggestions are listed for future research.
Evaluation of CD147 gene expression, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidants in cases of acute coronary syndrome in Egyptian population
Authors: Emam Wafaa A. , Ali Nader M. M. , Kamel Aliaa T. A. , Eladawy Mohamed I. M. , Raafat Nermin
Published: March 2020

Background

The main mechanism of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in the rupture of the vulnerable plaques. MMP secretion is stimulated by CD147, one of the immunoglobulin families. Malondialdehyde is an important marker of oxidative damage, which is related to the atherosclerotic process. Superoxide dismutase normally prevents the oxidative process. This study was conducted to evaluate the association of ACS with CD147 gene expression, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidants in Egyptian population. The study included 124 people, 62 ACS patients and 62 healthy controls.

Results

CD147 gene expression in the ACS group was significantly increased compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The ACS was 9.71 ± 3.56-fold; the control group was 0.94 ± 0.19-fold. Also, the SOD activity in the ACS group was significantly increased when compared to the control group (t = 16.023, p < 0.001). There was a highly significant increase in the MDA level in ACS groups when compared to the control group (t = 35.536, p < 0.001). There was a highly significant increase in the creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and high sensitive troponin I levels in ACS groups when compared to the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

There is a highly significant positive correlation between CK-MB and CD147 in both control and ACS groups (p = <0.001**); also, there is highly significant positive correlation between high sensitive troponin I and CD 147 in both control and ACS groups (p = <0.001**), but we did not find significant correlation between SOD and CD147 or between MDA and CD 147 in both control and ACS groups.
A new particle swarm intelligence-based graph partitioning technique for image segmentation
Authors: Kapade S. D. , Khairnar S. M. , Chaudhari B. S.
Published: March 2020

The advances in the image processing area demand for improvement in image segmentation methods. Effect of light and noise being ignored in image segmentation while tracing the objects of interest in addition to this texture is also one of the most important factors for analyzing an image automatically. Among the diverse segmentation methods, graph-based techniques are widespread because of their capabilities of generating accurate segmentation structures. In this paper, we have proposed a novel technique by using discrete particle swarm optimization and multilevel partitioning for segmentation of an image. The developed technique has lesser complexity, better efficiency and gives improved results than other methods.
Microseismic monitoring using a fibre-optic Distributed Acoustic Sensor (DAS) array
Authors: Verdon James P. , Horne Steve A. , Clarke Andrew , Stork Anna L. , Baird Alan F. , Kendall J-Michael
Published: March 2020

We present a case study demonstrating the use of an “L”-shaped downhole fibre-optic array to monitor microseismicity. We use a relatively simple method to detect events from continuous waveform data, and develop a workflow for manual event location. Locations are defined with a cylindrical coordinate system, with the horizontal axis of the DAS cable being the axis of symmetry. Events are located using three manual “picks”, constraining (1) the zero-offset “broadside” channel to the event (2) the P-S wave arrival time difference at the broadside channel, and (3) the angle, ? of the event from the array. Because the one-component DAS array is unable to record P-wave energy on the broadside channel, the P-wave pick is made indirectly by ensuring that the modeled P- and S-wave moveout curves match the observed data. The ? angle requires that signal is observed on the vertical part of the array, in our case this is possible because an engineered fiber, rather than standard telecommunications fiber, provided a significant reduction in the noise level. Because only three picks need to be made, our manual approach is significantly more efficient than equivalent manual processing of downhole geophone data, where picks for P- and S-waves must be made for each receiver. We find that the located events define a tight cluster around the injection interval, indicating that this approach provides relatively precise and accurate event locations. A surface microseismic array was also used at this site, which detected significantly fewer events, the locations of which had significantly greater scatter than the DAS array locations. We conclude by examining some other aspects of the DAS microseismic data, including the presence of multiple events within very short time windows, and the presence of converted phases that appear to represent scattering of energy from the hydraulic fractures themselves.
Functional Profiling of FSH and Estradiol in Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumors
Authors: Haltia Ulla-Maija , Pihlajoki Marjut , Andersson Noora , Mäkinen Lotta , Tapper Johanna , Cervera Alejandra , Horlings Hugo M , Turpeinen Ursula , Anttonen Mikko , Bützow Ralf , Unkila-Kallio Leila , Carpén Olli , Wilson David B , Heikinheimo Markku , Färkkilä Anniina
Published: March 2020

Adult-type granulosa cell tumors (AGCTs) are sex-cord derived neoplasms with a propensity for late relapse. Hormonal modulators have been used empirically in the treatment of recurrent AGCT, albeit with limited success. To provide a more rigorous foundation for hormonal therapy in AGCT, we used a multimodal approach to characterize the expressions of key hormone biomarkers in 175 tumor specimens and 51 serum samples using RNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry, RNA in situ hybridization, quantitative PCR, and circulating biomarker analysis, and correlated these results with clinical data. We show that FSH receptor and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) are highly expressed in the majority of AGCTs, whereas the expressions of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 are less prominent. ERβ protein expression is further increased in recurrent tumors. Aromatase expression levels show high variability between tumors. None of the markers examined served as prognostic biomarkers for progression-free or overall survival. In functional experiments, we assessed the effects of FSH, estradiol (E2), and the aromatase inhibitor letrozole on AGCT cell viability using 2 in vitro models: KGN cells and primary cultures of AGCT cells. FSH increased cell viability in a subset of primary AGCT cells, whereas E2 had no effect on cell viability at physiological concentrations. Letrozole suppressed E2 production in AGCTs; however, it did not impact cell viability. We did not find preclinical evidence to support the clinical use of aromatase inhibitors in AGCT treatment, and thus randomized, prospective clinical studies are needed to clarify the role of hormonal treatments in AGCTs.
Flavonols regulate root hair development by modulating accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the root epidermis
Authors: Gayomba Sheena R. , Muday Gloria K.
Published: March 2020

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are signaling molecules produced by tissue-specific respiratory burst oxidase homolog (RBOH) enzymes to drive development. In Arabidopsis thaliana, ROS produced by RBOHC was previously reported to drive root hair elongation. We identified a specific role for one ROS, H2O2, in driving root hair initiation and demonstrated that localized synthesis of flavonol antioxidants control the level of H2O2 and root hair formation. Root hairs form from trichoblast cells that express RBOHC and have elevated H2O2 compared with adjacent atrichoblast cells that do not form root hairs. The flavonol-deficient tt4 mutant has elevated ROS in trichoblasts and elevated frequency of root hair formation compared with the wild type. The increases in ROS and root hairs in tt4 are reversed by genetic or chemical complementation. Auxin-induced root hair initiation and ROS accumulation were reduced in an rbohc mutant and increased in tt4, consistent with flavonols modulating ROS and auxin transport. These results support a model in which localized synthesis of RBOHC and flavonol antioxidants establish patterns of ROS accumulation that drive root hair formation.
Scaling up single-cell mechanics to multicellular tissues – the role of the intermediate filament–desmosome network
Authors: Broussard Joshua A. , Jaiganesh Avinash , Zarkoob Hoda , Conway Daniel E. , Dunn Alexander R. , Espinosa Horacio D. , Janmey Paul A. , Green Kathleen J.
Published: March 2020

Cells and tissues sense, respond to and translate mechanical forces into biochemical signals through mechanotransduction, which governs individual cell responses that drive gene expression, metabolic pathways and cell motility, and determines how cells work together in tissues. Mechanotransduction often depends on cytoskeletal networks and their attachment sites that physically couple cells to each other and to the extracellular matrix. One way that cells associate with each other is through Ca2+-dependent adhesion molecules called cadherins, which mediate cell–cell interactions through adherens junctions, thereby anchoring and organizing the cortical actin cytoskeleton. This actin-based network confers dynamic properties to cell sheets and developing organisms. However, these contractile networks do not work alone but in concert with other cytoarchitectural elements, including a diverse network of intermediate filaments. This Review takes a close look at the intermediate filament network and its associated intercellular junctions, desmosomes. We provide evidence that this system not only ensures tissue integrity, but also cooperates with other networks to create more complex tissues with emerging properties in sensing and responding to increasingly stressful environments. We will also draw attention to how defects in intermediate filament and desmosome networks result in both chronic and acquired diseases.
In vitro insulin treatment reverses changes elicited by nutrients in cellular metabolic processes that regulate food intake in fish
Authors: Blanco Ayelén M. , Bertucci Juan I. , Soengas José L. , Unniappan Suraj
Published: March 2020

This research assessed the direct effects of insulin on nutrient sensing mechanisms in the brain of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using an in vitro approach. Cultured hypothalamus and hindbrain were exposed to 1 µM insulin for 3 h, and signals involved in appetite regulation and nutrient sensing mechanisms were measured. Additionally, the involvement of the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway in the actions of insulin was studied by using the inhibitor wortmannin. Treatment with insulin alone did not elicit many changes on the appetite regulators and nutrient sensing-related genes and enzymes tested in the hypothalamus and hindbrain. However, we found that, when insulin and nutrients were added together, insulin reverses most of the effects exerted by nutrients alone, suggesting that insulin changes responsiveness to nutrients at the central level. Effects reversed by insulin include expression levels of genes related to the sensing of both glucose (slc2a2, slc5a1, gck, pck1, pklr, g6pcb, gys1, tas1r3 and nr1h3 in the hindbrain, and slc2a2, pklr and pck1 in the hypothalamus) and fatty acid (cd36 in the hindbrain, and cd36 and acly in the hypothalamus). Nutrient-induced changes in the activity of Acly and Cpt-1 in the hindbrain and of Pepck, Acly, Fas and Hoad in the hypothalamus were also reversed by insulin. Most of the insulin effects disappeared in the presence of wortmannin, suggesting the PI3K-Akt pathway is a mediator of the effects of insulin reported here. This study adds new information on our knowledge of the mechanisms regulating nutrient sensing in fish.
Children and adolescents on anti-retroviral therapy in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: How many are virally suppressed by month six?
Authors: Moyo Silungile , Ncube Ronald Thulani , Shewade Hemant Deepak , Ngwenya Solwayo , Ndebele Wedu , Takarinda Kudakwashe Collin , Dzangare Janet , Goverwa-Sibanda Tafadzwa Priscilla , Apollo Tsitsi
Published: March 2020

Background: Zimbabwe is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus. In the “treat all” era, we assessed the gaps in routine viral load (VL) monitoring at six months for children (0-9 years) and adolescents (10-19 years) newly initiated on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) from January 2017 to September 2018 at a large tertiary hospital in Bulawayo.

Methods: In this cohort study using secondary data, we considered first VL done within six to nine months of starting therapy as ‘undergoing VL test at six months’. We classified repeat VL≥1000 copies/ml despite enhanced adherence counselling as virally unsuppressed.

Results: Of 295 patients initiated on ART, 196 (66%) were children and 99 (34%) adolescents. A total 244 (83%) underwent VL test at six months, with 161 (54%) virally suppressed, 52 (18%) unsuppressed and 82 (28%) with unknown status (due to losses in the cascade). Switch to second line was seen in 35% (18/52). When compared to children, adolescents were less likely to undergo a VL test at six months (73% versus 88%, p=0.002) and more likely to have an unknown VL status (40% versus 22%, p=0.001).

Conclusion: At six months of ART, viral suppression was low and losses in the cascade high.
The Main Directions of Improvement of the Modern Recruitment Service in the Company
Authors: Kashtanova YEkatyerina , Zaharov D.
Published: March 2020

The article deals with the issues related to the creation of conditions for the eff ective implementation of the function of recruitment and selection of personnel in the company. One of the main conditions put forward is the need to regulate the activities of the recruitment service, to establish uniform standards for all recruitment and selection procedures, to increase the ability of representatives of the recruitment service to interact with heads of departments on recruitment of candidates. A list of necessary internal local documents regulating the recruitment process and the actions of all participants in this process, as well as recommendations for the creation and fi lling of such regulations with specifi c content. Considerable attention is paid to the use of modern sources of search and attraction of candidates by the recruitment service, the review of the current existing experience of solving this issue is given.
The Dependence of Personnel Costs Level on Staff Involvement Level
Authors: Kul'kova I. , Kozarezova E.
Published: March 2020

This article focuses on the importance of maintaining and increasing staff involvement. The aim of the article is determining whether managing employee involvement reduces company staff costs or only leads to an increase in the staff budget. The article defi nes the concept of “personnel involvement” and reflects the structure of personnel costs. Further, using the actual data of a hypermarket retail store, the authors analyzed the staff involvement level by departments and the share of costs per employee as a percentage of the store’s revenue. The study showed that there is an inverse relationship between the involvement level and staff costs, that is, with the staff involvement growth, the share of average costs per employee in the sales volume decreases.
Modern Features of the Transformation of the World and Russian Labor Markets
Authors: Svistunov Vasiliy , Konovalova Valeriya , Lobachyev Vitaliy
Published: March 2020

The article is devoted to the assessment of the impact of modern digital technologies on the world and Russian labor market. The relevance of the chosen problem is explained by the fact that the achieved level of digital development of society has a signifi cant impact on the size of labor markets, the qualifi cation composition of workers, the demand for certain professions. The article presents the results of the analysis of the impact of digital technology on the growth of Russia’s GDP, the contribution of individual factors of growth in value added of diff erent sectors of the economy, including the sectoral dimension, the dynamics

of digital technologies across regions of the country. The article presents the results of studies characterizing new trends in the labor market, formed as a response to the increasingly active penetration of the digital economy in the socioeconomic sphere of society.
Problems and Trends of Assessment of Personnel in Modern Organizations
Authors: Omel'chenko N. , Skripnichenko L. , Yurkova I.
Published: March 2020

Modern trends in the development of society pose challenges to organizations related to the development and application of complex technologies, which will be able to ensure highquality evaluation of personnel, thus identifying their professional and personal potential. The development and implementation of the necessary tools contributes to the solution of the set tasks, increasing the effi ciency of the whole enterprise. The selection of appropriate methods of personnel evaluation should be related to the problems encountered in working with the organization ‘s labour resources. Among the frequent diffi culties in working with personnel it is common to highlight: the prevalence of subjective opinion of the manager when assessing the competences of employees; Inconsistency of requirements for employees; Insuffi cient consideration of the specifi cs of the activities of a particular enterprise; Formalized framework for personnel evaluation procedure; Narrow focus of the applied evaluation methods, insuffi cient integration of the evaluation procedure into the personnel management system. Technologies of personnel assessment are forms of intensive management infl uence on economic, social and spiritual spheres of society activity, as well as on society as a whole. The sustainability and stability of the identifi ed mechanisms of interaction in the implementation of personnel assessment technologies should be taken into account. In order to clarify the main theoretical aspects and to draw the relevant practical conclusions, the authors attempted to carry out this study.
Dental status changes in patients with ischemic heart disease and the ways of its normalization
Authors: Kravchenko L. S. , Bas N. O. , Aksynorska O. I. , Herasymova I. V. , Rozumenko M. V. , Rozumenko V. O.
Published: March 2020

Aim: increasing the effectiveness of treatment of periodontal disease in patients with ischemic heart diseaseMaterials and methods. The oral cavity was examined and the clinical course features of chronic periodontitis were studied in patients with ischemic heart disease Determing dental, hygienic index and biochemical indices in oral liquid (elastase, MDA, urease, lysozyme, catalase). The “Apifil” and “Asepta” were used by oral rinsing.Results. The patients with ischemic heart disease have a worse state of oral cavity, compared to those who do not suffer from ischemic heart disease. The determined periodontal indexs provided evidence of a significantly higher activity of the dystrophic and inflammatory changes of periodontal tissues in the patients with ischemic heart disease. The oral cavity liquid levels of elastase, urease were raised, but levels of catalase and lusozyme were reduced in patients with ischemic heart disease Oral rinsing of “Apifil” and “Asepta” were reduced the levels of elastase, urease and dental indices but were raised the levels of lysozyme and catalase.Conclusions. The rinse “Apifil” render the stomatoprotective action on patients with ischemic heart disease.
Dependence of changes in hematological and integrative parameters in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C on the received antiviral therapy
Authors: Lishnevska A. H. , Chemych M. D.
Published: March 2020

A total of 287 patients were treated with various antiviral therapy options: group I – basic (pathogenetic and symptomatic) therapy, group II – pegylated interferon in combination with ribavirin, group III – pegylated interferon with ribavirin and sofosbuvir, group IV – direct-acting antivirals. Patients with chronic viral hepatitis C (CVHC) before the start of treatment showed a decrease in platelet counts, segmented neutrophils and an increase in level of lymphocytes, bilirubin content, alanine aminotransferase activity, aspartate, transferrinase (practice), with a comparison group (practically virus-free patients) <0.05. After 4 weeks of receiving interferon-containing therapy, a further decrease was observed: leukocyte count, erythrocyte count, platelet count; ALT, AST and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP) activity; increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), bilirubin content, and bilirubin activity p< 0.05. Patients who received direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) had a decrease in: erythrocyte count, total bilirubin content, ALT activity, AST, GGTP; increase in sed rate and the AST/ALT ratio, p <0.05. After 12 weeks of treatment, patients treated with pegylated interferon were diagnosed with a decrease in platelet count, erythrocyte count, and leukocyte count (with the exception of patients with dual therapy that experienced the slight increase of the leukocytes) with hemoglobin content, p <0.05. Also, in the group II subjects compared with week 4 decreased: the content of bilirubin and creatinine, the activity of ALT, AST, GGTP, while the De Ritis ratio increased (p <0.05). Patients in group III had lower GGTP activity than at 4 weeks and lower ALT and AST values compared with the onset of  antiviral therapy (p <0.05). Patients receiving DAAs experienced a decrease in hemoglobin content; no changes in biochemical parameters at this stage compared with the previous one were established.The investigated integrative indicators suggest changes in the immune system of patients, in particular the prevalence of cellular immunity over the humoral link and the predominance of the autoimmune component. Patients with dual and triple PVT regimens had more pronounced changes compared to patients receiving DAAs.
The incidence of infection, diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori in developing countries on the example of Kenya
Authors: Machaj Dominik , Jastrzębska Sandra , Cyboran Katarzyna , Płaczek Alicja , Flaumenhaft Wiktoria
Published: March 2020

Introduction: One of the most common causes of bacterial infections in the world is Helicobacter pylori. It has developed mechanisms that allow it to survive in the acidic pH of the stomach. The bacterium contributes to the incidence of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. Infected is about 50% of the world population, while in Africa the proportion is as high as 80%. Despite this there are still number of African guidelines for infection prevention and eradication of the bacterium. Most infections concerns children, adolescents and the elderly. Data on the diagnosis and treatment of patients in Kenya are inconsistent. [1] Doctors are based on international recommendations. No general insurance and a low level of affluence prevent diagnosis of patients at the level of developed countries. Access to endoscopy, and cultures have only wealthy people in big cities. Purpose: Examine the percentage of Helicobacter pylori infection among the people of Kenya, the analysis of the causes of its high value, comparing the diagnosis and treatment with European standards. Material and methods Analysis of causes of hospitalization in 227 hospital patients in Kenya. The majority of them has made winning the test of H. pylori antigen in stool. Analysis of the results of research carried out in 2010Subdepartment Medical Microbiology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Nairobi, Kenya, where the diagnostic methods was rapid urease test and histological tests. Conclusions The proportion of patients infected with H. pylori in Chuka is 51.9%. Cause of inflammation of the stomach in almost 1/3 of hospitalized patients may be awareness of hygiene and drinking water unsuitable for consumption. Standards of treatment of patients infected with H. pylori do not differ from European guidelines.
La muerte en el cine: ética narrativa en el final de la vida
Authors: Gómez Córdoba Ana Isabel
Published: March 2020

Los temas que se presentan en este texto confluyen en los conflictos bioéticos y jurídicos en escenarios como: decisiones críticas en escenario de emergencias, cuidados paliativos, demencia, eutanasia y suicidio asistido, los estados alterados de conciencia, y justicia sanitaria en torno al trasplante de órganos y tejidos. El trabajo conjunto de estudiantes y profesores ha logrado cristalizar una serie de temas que abordan, tanto elementos médicos, como variables culturales, morales y jurídicas en torno a los tópicos planteados, con el propósito de ofrecer los elementos necesarios para abordar la complejidad de cada uno de estos temas, en los que el cine ha sido empleado como recurso didáctico que articula el proceso de argumentación en cada caso. Esperamos que este texto pueda servir a estudiantes de medicina, médicos, profesionales de la salud y a todos aquellos interesados en la deliberación sobre problemas bioéticos, ya que estos trascienden los intereses profesionales pues, cada vez más, impactan en nuestras sociedades y cotidianidad.
Financial Returns to Firms’ Communication Actions on Firm-Initiated Social Media: Evidence from Facebook Business Pages
Authors: Chung Sunghun , Animesh Animesh , Han Kunsoo , Pinsonneault Alain
Published: March 2020

Our paper shows that firm-initiated social media can contribute significantly to the value of firms. The findings provide a rationale for firms to invest heavily in their social media while countering those who question the value of social media. Using a sample of 63 South Korean firms across industries over a three-year period, we find that a firm’s social media actions yield significant financial returns, and the magnitude of these financial returns depends on the types of communication actions: that is, a firm’s (broadcasted) posts versus its responses to customer messages. Our conceptual framework and empirical methodology can help firms more accurately gauge the ROI of their social media investments and tailor their efforts accordingly. Specifically, our results suggest that promptly responding to customer complaints is a key to increasing customer satisfaction and firm performance. Taken together, our study provides guidance for firms on how to optimize their social media strategies to extract greater value from social media.
A Re-Solving Heuristic with Uniformly Bounded Loss for Network Revenue Management
Authors: Bumpensanti Pornpawee , Wang He
Published: March 2020

We consider a canonical quantity-based network revenue management problem where a firm accepts or rejects incoming customer requests irrevocably in order to maximize expected revenue given limited resources. Because of the curse of dimensionality, the exact solution to this problem by dynamic programming is intractable when the number of resources is large. We study a family of re-solving heuristics that periodically re-optimize an approximation to the original problem known as the deterministic linear program (DLP), where random customer arrivals are replaced by their expectations. We find that, in general, frequently re-solving the DLP produces the same order of revenue loss as one would get without re-solving, which scales as the square root of the time horizon length and resource capacities. By re-solving the DLP at a few selected points in time and applying thresholds to the customer acceptance probabilities, we design a new re-solving heuristic with revenue loss that is uniformly bounded by a constant that is independent of the time horizon and resource capacities.

This paper was accepted by Kalyan Talluri, revenue management and market analytics.
Topical therapy in canine atopic dermatitis: new products
Authors: Nuttall Tim
Published: March 2020

Topical therapy in canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) can moisturise and soothe the skin; treat and prevent secondary bacterial and yeast infections; and remove debris, grease and allergens. Shampoos are commonly used but can be time-consuming. Non-rinsing wipes, foams and spot-on preparations facilitate topical application and improve compliance. The ideal topical product for CAD should be emollient, lipid-barrier sparing, microbiome balancing, easy to apply and well-tolerated, have some residual activity, and be safe for the dog and owner. Ophytrium is a novel Ophiopogon japonicus (Japanese mondo grass) derived product. It blocks inflammatory pathways, maintains epidermal morphology and barrier function, and reduces staphylococcal adherence and biofilm formation in human and canine epidermis models. It has been incorporated in shampoos and foams for dogs (Douxo S3®; Ceva Sante Animale, Libourne, France). Use of 3-week treatment cycles with one shampoo followed by a foam application every 2–3 days helps to ameliorate CAD (Douxo S3 Calm®) and superficial staphylococcal pyoderma (ophytrium/3% chlorhexidine; Douxo S3 Pyo®). Effective topical therapy used alone or alongside other modalities can improve the effectiveness and safety of treatment for CAD. Reducing the need for systemic antimicrobials is a vital part of antimicrobial stewardship.
Visual losses in early-onset and late-onset Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Feitosa-Santana Claudia , Fernandes Costa Marcelo , Ballalai Ferraz Henrique , Andrade Luiz Augusto F. , Moura Ana Laura , Amaro Edson , Hamer Russell D. , Fix Ventura Dora
Published: March 2020

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) manifest visual losses. However, it is not known whether these losses are equivalent in both early-onset (EOPD) and late-onset (LOPD) patients. We evaluated contrast sensitivity and color vision in EOPD and LOPD patients and in age-matched controls. Losses occurred in both patient groups but were more pronounced in EOPD, consistent with the notion that non-motor symptoms are affected by age of symptom onset. More studies of visual function in EOPD and LOPD patients are needed to understand how aging is related to the pathophysiology of non-motor PD symptomatology. This would permit earlier diagnosis and, perhaps, better management of the disease.
Measuring on-chip waveguide losses using a single, two-point coupled microring resonator
Authors: Shoman Hossam , Jayatilleka Hasitha , Jaeger Nicolas A. F. , Shekhar Sudip , Chrostowski Lukas
Published: March 2020

We demonstrate a method for measuring on-chip waveguide losses using a single microring resonator with a tunable coupler. By tuning the power coupling to the microring and measuring the microring’s through-port transmission at each power coupling, one can separate the waveguide propagation loss and the effects of the coupling to the microring. This method is tolerant of fiber-chip coupling/alignment errors and does not require the use of expensive instruments for phase response measurements. In addition, this method offers a compact solution for measuring waveguide propagation losses, only using a single microring (230 µm×190 µm, including the metal pads). We demonstrate this method by measuring the propagation losses of silicon-on-insulator rib waveguides, yielding propagation losses of 3.1-1.3 dB/cm for core widths varying from 400-600 nm.
Optical 4D signal detection in turbid water by multi-dimensional integral imaging using spatially distributed and temporally encoded multiple light sources
Authors: Joshi Rakesh , O’Connor Timothy , Shen Xin , Wardlaw Michael , Javidi Bahram
Published: March 2020

We propose an underwater optical signal detection system based on multi-dimensional integral imaging with spatially distributed multiple light sources and four-dimensional (4D) spatial-temporal correlation. We demonstrate our system for the detection of optical signals in turbid water. A 4D optical signal is generated from a three-dimensional (3D) spatial distribution of underwater light sources, which are temporally encoded using spread spectrum techniques. The optical signals are captured by an array of cameras, and 3D integral imaging reconstruction is performed, followed by multi-dimensional correlation to detect the optical signal. Inclusion of multiple light sources located at different depths allows for successful signal detection at turbidity levels not feasible using only a single light source. We consider the proposed system under varied turbidity levels using both Pseudorandom and Gold Codes for temporal signal coding. We also compare the effectiveness of the proposed underwater optical signal detection system to a similar system using only a single light source and compare between conventional and integral imaging-based signal detection. The underwater signal detection capabilities are measured through performance-based metrics such as receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, the area under the curve (AUC), and the number of detection errors. Furthermore, statistical analysis, including Kullback-Leibler divergence and Bhattacharya distance, shows improved performance of the proposed multi-source integral imaging underwater system. The proposed integral-imaging based approach is shown to significantly outperform conventional imaging-based methods.
Relative phase effect of nonsequential double ionization of molecules by counter-rotating two-color circularly polarized fields
Authors: Huang Cheng , Pang Huiling , Huang Xuefei , Zhong Mingmin , Wu Zhengmao
Published: March 2020

Relative phase effect of nonsequential double ionization (NSDI) of aligned molecules by counter-rotating two-color circularly polarized (TCCP) fields is investigated with a three-dimensional classical ensemble model. Numerical results show that NSDI yield in counter-rotating TCCP fields sensitively depends on the relative phase of the two components, which exhibits a sin-like behavior with the period of π/2. NSDI yield achieves its maximum at the relative phase π/8 and minimum at 3π/8. Back analysis indicates the recollision time and the return angle of the electron strongly depend on the relative phase of the two components, which results in the dominant emission direction of the electrons, is different for different relative phases. This indicates that the recollision process can be steered by changing the relative phase of the two components in counter-rotating TCCP laser fields. Meantime, it provides an avenue to obtain information about the recollision time and the return angle in the recollision process from the electron momentum distribution.
A 112 Gb/s all-silicon micro-ring photodetector for datacom applications
Authors: Sakib Meer , Liao Peicheng , Kumar Ranjeet , Huang Duanni , Su Guan-lin , Ma Chaoxuan , Rong Haisheng
Published: March 2020

We demonstrate an all-silicon micro-ring resonant photodetector with a responsivity of 0.23 A/W and dark current <100nA capable of detecting 112 Gb/s PAM4 signal with an eye closure penalty of <1.0 dB.
Advances in Few-Mode Fiber Design and Manufacturing
Authors: Sillard Pierre
Published: March 2020

This tutorial will show how recent advances in design and manufacturing have improved the performance of few-mode fibers, and what are the challenges to turn them into implementable solutions.
Penetration capability of near infrared Laguerre–Gaussian beams through highly scattering media
Authors: di Bartolo Francesco , Malik Muhammad N. , Scaffardi Mirco , Bogoni Antonella , Celi Simona , Ghelfi Paolo , Malacarne Antonio
Published: March 2020

The higher capability of optical vortex beams of penetrating turbid media (e.g., biological fluids) with respect to the conventional Gaussian beams is, for the first time to our knowledge, demonstrated in the 1.3 µm wavelength range which is conventionally used for optical coherence tomography procedures in endoscopic intravascular scenarios. The effect has been demonstrated by performing transmittance measurements through suspensions of polystyrene microspheres in water with various particulate concentrations and, in reflection, by using samples of human blood with different thicknesses. The reduced backscattering/increased transmittance into such highly scattering media of Laguerre–Gaussian beams with respect to Gaussian ones, in the near infrared wavelength region, could be potentially exploited in clinical applications, leading to novel biomedical diagnoses and/or procedures.
Controllable formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures on ZnO film by temporally shaped femtosecond laser scanning
Authors: Wang Shaojun , Jiang Lan , Han Weina , Liu Wei , Hu Jie , Wang Suocheng , Lu Yongfeng
Published: March 2020

We achieved the controllable formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs) on ZnO films deposited on fused silica induced by modulated temporally shaped femtosecond (fs) laser pulses (800 nm, 50 fs, 1 kHz) through the laser scanning technique. Two-dimensional (2D) high spatial frequency LIPSSs (HSFLs) with a period from 100 to 200 nm could be flexibly modulated based on the preprocessed nanostructures with appropriate fs laser irradiation conditions (fluence, scanning speed, and pulse delay). The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method combined with the Drude model was employed to calculate the redistributions of electric fields, which suggested the origin of HSFL formation.
Big data no suporte à estratégia de produção: ilustração de aplicação em serviço público
Authors: Campos Fernando Celso , Alves Filho Alceu Gomes
Published: March 2020

A partir de toda tecnologia relacionada com internet foram surgindo dados disponibilizados nos mais diversos formatos e lugares de armazenamento – o Big Data. Ele suporta as visões gerenciais e estratégicas de um modo novo e dinâmico, eficaz e relevante, combinando fatores e ferramentas. A estratégia de produção é um padrão global de decisões que recebe diretrizes de uma estratégia de negócios,  e é altamente dependente de dados e informações. Ela ampliou-se para um padrão geral de decisões determinando competências a longo prazo e contribuições para a estratégia global (requisitos de mercado e recursos de operações). O objetivo desse artigo é apresentar um framework que dê suporte à estratégia de produção utilizando aspectos de Big Data. O método de pesquisa foi realizado em três etapas: i) pesquisa bibliográfica; ii) elaboração de um framework teórico-conceitual; e iii) ilustração de aplicação do framework proposto. A contribuição principal foi a sistematização de uma proposta utilizando-se referencial teórico consolidado de estratégia de produção e referencial mais recente acerca de Big Data. A aplicação em um serviço público gerou uma expectativa de continuidade e de busca por meios tecnológicos para se verificar em quanto tempo se solucionariam os problemas e qual a economia advinda dessa implantação.
Solução de problemas em uma emergência hospitalar: avaliação dos métodos A3 e análise de causa raiz
Authors: Priori Fábio Rodrigues , Saurin Tarcisio Abreu
Published: March 2020

Dada a importância da solução de problemas para a manutenção da qualidade em um processo, esse trabalho objetiva avaliar dois métodos de melhoria contínua amplamente utilizados para solução de problemas: o A3 e a Análise de Causa Raiz (RCA). Para esse fim, as duas abordagens foram aplicadas no mesmo processo, de prescrição e medicação, da emergência de um hospital universitário. Os resultados das aplicações foram verificados de acordo com os critérios: número de ações de melhoria propostas, dificuldade de implementação, a abrangência das ações entre as unidades do hospital, o tempo necessário para aplicação dos métodos, o número de envolvidos e a necessidade de capacitação da equipe. Os resultados demonstram que, no contexto avaliado, o método RCA resultou em um número maior de ações de melhoria sugeridas, as quais tiveram, em média, melhores avaliações nos critérios dificuldade de implementação e abrangência entre as unidades.
O processo de encurtamento de uma cadeia produtiva de arroz: motivadores e implicações
Authors: Santana Valquires Martins de , Sellitto Miguel Afonso
Published: March 2020

Esse estudo trata do encurtamento de uma cadeia produtiva de arroz, envolvendo a indústria de beneficiamento e os produtores do município de Lagoa da Confusão, no Tocantins. O estudo procurou entender e explanar o que motivou o encurtamento da cadeia produtiva do arroz observado neste município. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa de caráter exploratório e descritivo. A coleta dos dados foi realizada por meio de entrevista semiestruturada com partes interessadas da cadeia produtiva (produtores, agroindústria, fornecedores de insumos e máquinas, e poder público municipal). Alguns fatores contribuíram para a tomada de decisão do encurtamento como: condições climáticas e de solo favoráveis para a produção do arroz irrigado; redução dos custos logísticos e de produção. Os produtores foram beneficiados pela garantia de venda de seus produtos na colheita; melhora na classificação dos grãos refletido em ganhos financeiros; minimização de perecimento e má qualidade ocasionada pelo transporte; redução dos custos com secagem e armazenagem; confiança em investimento em tecnologia de ponta. Pode-se inferir o ganho nos aspectos econômicos e sociais para o município, incremento da arrecadação; crescimento no número de comércio; oferta de mão de obra na iniciativa privada; considerável aumento da população e a região tornando-se referência no cultivo de arroz irrigado.