bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Local Supply Chains and Stock Management Practices for Trauma Care Resources in Ghana: A Comparative Small Sample Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Boakye Godfred , Gyedu Adam , Stewart Melissa , Donkor Peter , Mock Charles , Stewart Barclay T
Published: January 2021

Background: Injuries are a major public health problem globally. With sound planning and organization, essential trauma care can be reliably provided with relatively low-cost equipment and supplies. However, availability of these resources requires an effective and efficient supply chain and good stock management practices. Therefore, we study aimed to assess trauma care resource-related supply management structures and processes at health facilities in Ghana. By doing so, the findings may allow us to identify specific structures and processes that could be improved to facilitate higher quality and more timely care. Methods: Ten hospitals were purposively selected using results from a previously performed national trauma care capacity assessment of hospitals of all levels in Ghana. Five hospitals with low resource availability and 5 hospitals with high resource availability were assessed using the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Logistics Indicators Assessment Tool and stock ledger review. Data were described and stock management practices were correlated with resource availability. Results: There were differences in stock management practices between low and high resource availability hospitals, including frequency of reporting and audit, number of stock-outs on day of assessment (median 9 vs 2 stock-outs, range 3 – 57 vs 0 – 9 stock-outs, respectively; p=0.05), duration of stock-outs (median 171 vs 8 days, range 51 – 1,268 vs 0 – 182 days, respectively; p=0.02), and fewer of up-to-date stock cards (24 vs 31 up-to-date stock cards, respectively; p=0.07). Stock-outs were common even among low-cost, essential resources (e.g., nasal cannulas and oxygen masks, endotracheal tubes, syringes, sutures, sterile gloves). Increased adherence to stock management guidelines and higher percentage of up-to-date stock cards were correlated with higher trauma resource availability scores. However, the variance in trauma resource availability scores was poorly explained by these individual factors or when analyzed in a multivariate regression model (r 2 =0.72; p value for each covariate between 0.17 – 0.34). Conclusions: Good supply chain and stock management practices are correlated with high trauma care resource availability. The findings from this study demonstrate several opportunities to improve stock management practices, particularly at low resource availability hospitals.
Influence of Participation in a Quality Improvement Collaborative on Staff Perceptions of Organizational Sustainability
Authors: II James H Ford , Gilson Aaron
Published: January 2021

Background: Sustainability capacity (SC), which is an organization’s ability to implement and maintain change, is influenced by internal attributes, environmental contextual influencers, and intervention attributes. Temporal changes in staff SC perceptions, as well as the influence of quality improvement collaborative (QIC) participation, has generally not been explored. This project addresses this gap, measuring staff SC perceptions at four time points (baseline and every 9 months) for clinics participating in an intervention – the Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment QIC initiative (called NIATx200).Methods: A mixed linear model repeated measures analysis was applied to matched staff members (n=908, representing 2,329 total cases) across the evaluation timeframe. Three separate statistical models assessed potential predictors of SC perceptions: Time (Models I-III); NIATx200 intervention, staff job function, and tenure (Models II &III); and NIATx200 participation hours and four organizational variables (Model III).Results: For Model I, staff perceptions of total SC increased throughout most of the study (t1,4=-6.74, p<.0001; t2,4=-3.100, p<.036; t3,4=-0.23, p=ns). Model II did not change Model I’s overall Time effect, but combined NIATx200 services (t=-2.23, p=.026), staff job function (t=-3.27, p=.001), and organizational administrators (t=-3.50, p=.001) were also significantly associated with greater perceptions of total SC. Inclusion of additional variables in Model III demonstrated the importance of a higher participation level (t=-3.09, p<.002) and being in a free-standing clinic (t=-2.06, p<.04) on staff perceptions of total SC. Conclusion: Although staff exposure to sustainability principals was minimal in NIATx200, staff perceptions about their organization’s SC significantly differed over time. However, an organization’s participation level in a QIC became the principal predictor of staff SC perceptions, regardless of other factors’ influence. Given these findings, it is possible to develop and introduce specific sustainability content within the structure of a QIC to assess the impact on staff SC perceptions over time and the sustainment of organizational change.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00934141 Registered July 6, 2009. Retrospectively registered. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00934141
Efficient whole-cell oxidation of α,β-unsaturated alcohols to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes through the cascade biocatalysis of alcohol dehydrogenase, NADPH oxidase and hemoglobin
Authors: Qiao Yan , Wang Can , Zeng Yin , Wang Tairan , Qiao Jingjing , Lu Chenze , Wang Zhao , Ying Xiangxian
Published: January 2021

Background: α,β-Unsaturated aldehydes are widely used in the organic synthesis of fine chemicals for application in products such as flavoring agents, fragrances and pharmaceuticals. In the selective oxidation of α,β-unsaturated alcohols to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, it remains challenging to overcome poor selectivity, overoxidation and a low atom efficiency in chemical routes. Results: An E. coli strain coexpressing the NADP+-specific alcohol dehydrogenase YsADH and the oxygen-dependent NADPH oxidase TkNOX was constructed; these components enabled the NADP+ regeneration and catalyzed the oxidation of 100 mM 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol to 3-methyl-2-butenal with a yield of 21.3%. The oxygen supply was strengthened by introducing the hemoglobin protein VsHGB into recombinant E. coli cells and replacing the atmosphere of the reactor with pure oxygen, which increased the yield to 51.3%. To further improve catalytic performance, the E. coli cells expressing the multifunctional fusion enzyme YsADH-(GSG)-TkNOX-(GSG)-VsHGB were generated, which completely converted 250 mM 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol to 3-methyl-2-butenal after 8 h of whole-cell oxidation. The reaction conditions for the cascade biocatalysis were optimized, in which supplementation with 0.2 mM FAD and 0.4 mM NADP+ was essential for maintaining high catalytic activity. Finally, the established whole-cell system could serve as a platform for the synthesis of valuable α,β-unsaturated aldehydes through the selective oxidation of various α,β-unsaturated alcohols. Conclusions: The construction of a strain expressing the fusion enzyme YsADH-(GSG)-TkNOX-(GSG)-VsHGB achieved efficient NADP+ regeneration and the selective oxidation of various α,β-unsaturated alcohols to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. Among the available redox enzymes, the fusion enzyme YsADH-(GSG)-TkNOX-(GSG)-VsHGB has become the most recent successful example to improve catalytic performance in comparison with its separate components.
Genetic Characterization of Plasmodium vivax Isolates from Pakistan Using Circumsporozoite Protein (PvCSP) and Merozoite Surface Protein-1 (PvMSP-1) genes as genetic markers 
Authors: Bibi Zainab , Fatima Anam , Rani Rehana , Maqbool Ayesha , Khan Samea , Naz Shumaila , Waseem Shahid
Published: January 2021

Background: Plasmodium vivax contributes to over 70% malaria burden in Pakistan, but limited data exists on various aspects including genetic diversity of the parasite as compared to other parts of the world. Since the information about the genetic diversity of P. vivax assists to understand the population dynamics of the parasite, the current study was designed to understand population divergence of Plasmodium vivax in Pakistan using circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP) and merozoite surface protein-1 (PvMSP-1) genes as molecular markers. Methods: PvCSP and PvMSP-1 specific PCR and DNA sequencing were carried out for 150 blood samples collected from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Genetic diversity and polymorphism was analyzed using ChromasPro, ClustalW, MEGA7, DnaSP v.5 and WebLogo programs. Results: The PCR for PvCSP and PvMSP-1 genes was carried out for 150 P. vivax isolates and resulting the PCR products ranging from 900 to 1100 bp for PvCSP and ~400bp for PvMSP-1 genes respectively. Majority (93%; 141/150) of the P. vivax isolates were of VK210 variant and only 9 isolates were found to be of VK247 variant based on PvCSP gene. Out of the numerous peptide repeat motifs (PRMs) detected, GDRADGQPA (PRM1) and GDRAAGQPA (PRM2) were more extensively dispersed among the P. vivax isolates. Partial sequences (~400bp) at the N-terminal of PvMSP-1 gene depicted high level of diversity.Conclusion: High levels of genetic diversity based on PvCSP and PvMSP-1 genes was observed in the isolated samples from the study area. Parasite typing is essential in predicting pattern of antigenic variations and drug resistance and for effective vaccine designing and development which can further assist in evaluating measures for malaria control at individual and community level. The base-line data presented here warrants future studies to investigate more into the genetic diversity of P. vivax with large sample size from across the country for better understanding of the transmission patterns of vivax malaria.
The effectiveness of implementation strategies for promoting evidence informed interventions in allied healthcare: A Systematic Review
Authors: Goorts Kaat , Dizon Janine , Milanese Steve
Published: January 2021

Background- Evidence based practice in health care has become increasingly popular over the last decades. Many guidelines have been developed to improve evidence informed decision making in health care organisations, however it is often overlooked that the actual implementation strategies for these guidelines are as important as the guidelines themselves. The effectiveness of these strategies is rarely ever tested specifically for the allied health therapy group. Objectives- To explore the evidence for implementation strategies within allied health. This review sought to explore the effectiveness of implementation strategies for promoting evidence informed interventions in allied healthcare. Data sources- Cochrane, Medline, Embase and Scopus were searched from 2000 onwards. Study eligibility : Level I and II studies were included if an evidence informed implementation strategy was tested in allied health personnel. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: The SIGN method was used to evaluate risk of bias. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) model was applied to evaluate the grade for recommendation. Results- A total of 490 unique articles were identified, with 6 primary studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Three different implementation strategies and three multi-faceted components strategies were described. We found moderate evidence for educational meetings, local opinion leaders and patient mediated interventions. We found stronger evidence for multi-faceted components strategies. Conclusion- Few studies describe the effectiveness of implementation strategies for allied healthcare, but evidence was found for multi-faceted components for implementing research in an allied health therapy group population.
Evaluation of a training program for life skills education and financial literacy to community health workers in India: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Sharma Shantanu , Arora Kanishtha , Shekhar Chandra , Sinha Rajesh Kumar , Akhtar Faiyaz , Mehra Sunil
Published: January 2021

Background: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) are community health workers responsible for improving the health status of people by facilitating their access to healthcare services. The life skills of ASHA are known to be effective in negotiating behaviour change in the community; however, there has been a meagre focus towards improving them. Considering this gap, we adopted a comprehensive training program, known as Personal Advancement and Career Enhancement (P.A.C.E.), to empower ASHAs on life skills and financial literacy. The present study intends to assess the training program in two districts of Uttar Pradesh, India, by examining changes in knowledge, perceptions, and practices of ASHAs about life skills and financial literacy.Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental, non-randomized, controlled study with pre-and post-test assessments. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, and practices related to life skills (communication skills, self-confidence, problem–solving and decision-making skills, time and stress management skills) and financial literacy. Additionally, change perceptions on gender-, life skills-, and savings-related practices at the personal, community, and workplace levels were assessed in the intervention group. Factor analysis was performed to obtain the change patterns by assessing the degree to which the four life skills, financial literacy, and change perceptions on practices were correlated. A general linear regression model was performed to assess associations among change pattern scores and socio-demographic variables.Results: We analyzed the data of 171 ASHAs (intervention group:86 and control group:85). There was a significant improvement in the average post-test scores of all the life skills and financial literacy in the intervention group (p<0.001). Three distinct change patterns were found post-training in the intervention group. Factor 1 (high loadings for change perceptions on practices) was positively associated with ASHAs aged 38 and above and with experience of ≤12 years. On the contrary, the change in financial literacy and self-confidence scores was common among ASHAs with more than 12 years of experience.Conclusions: The P.A.C.E training program was found effective in improving the life skills and financial literacy of ASHAs in India.
Mid-term Outcomes of the R3™ Delta Ceramic Acetabular System in Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Davis Edward Thomas , Remes Ville , Virolainen Petri , Gebuhr Peter , Backlé Bart Van , Revell Matthew P. , Kopjar Branko
Published: January 2021

Background: Whilst bony fixation of hip replacement has stable solutions, there remains controversy over which bearing best optimizes longevity and function. Ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) bearing combinations are associated with lower risk of revision due to aseptic loosening and dislocation. Evidence for long-term functional outcomes of modern, 4th generation CoC bearings is limited. The aim of this study was to analyze outcomes and complications of the R3™ Acetabular System (Smith & Nephew, Inc., Cordova, TN, USA) in combination with BIOLOX® Delta ceramic femoral head in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).Methods: Between June 2009 and May 2011, 175 patients (178 hips) were enrolled into a prospective, study at 6 sites in Europe and prospectively followed-up at 3 months and 1, 3, 5, and 7 years postoperative. Results: Total WOMAC score improved from 63 (range, 22-91) preoperative to 8 (range, 0- 8) at 1-year follow-up and remained unchanged at 7-year follow-up. Modified Harris Hip Score improved from 45 (range, 10-87) preoperative to 83 (range, 25-100) at 3 months, 91 (range, 42-100) at 1 year, and 92 (range, 46, 100) at 7 years. UCLA Activity Rating Scale score improved from 3.3 (range, 1-8) preoperative to 6.2 (range, 2-8) at 1 year; it marginally declined to 5.8 (range, 3-8) at 7-year follow-up. There were 4 trochanteric fractures and 5 patients died of unrelated reasons. Three hips were revised (2 periprosthetic fractures and 1 subluxation). The 7-year cumulative survival rate was 98.3%. Conclusion: Clinical and functional improvements of THA with CoC bearing are maintained at 7 years postoperative. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.Gov, NCT03566082, Registered 10 January 2018 - Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03566082
Detection of Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from Environmental Sources in a Tertiary Health Institution in Nigeria.
Authors: Aghanya Iloduba Nnaemeka , Akujobi Comfort Nne , Ushie Simon Nkpeh , Ubajaka Chika Florence , Ajuba Ijeoma Maryrose , Ezeama Chibuike Jesse , Maduekwe Nkechi Perpetua , Uzoewulu Ngozichukwu Gertrude , Chigbo Chisom Godswill
Published: January 2021

ObjectiveThe acquisition of carbapenemase-producing organisms in healthcare settings is a significant threat and has dire implications for public health. Previous reports regarding carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae from fomites are limited. This study aimed to analyse the antimicrobial resistance patterns and prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in the ward environments of a tertiary health institution in Nigeria.Results One hundred and forty-two bacteria were isolated from 534 fomites in the hospital wards, and out of these, 15(10.6%) were K. pneumoniae. Therefore, the prevalence of K. pneumoniae in all the samples was 15/534(2.8%), while that of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae was 8/534(1.5%). Multi-drug resistance was detected in 15/15(100%) of the K. pneumoniae isolated. All the K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cefuroxime, and tetracycline. Although 8/15(53.3%) of the isolates were confirmed positive for carbapenemase production using the modified Hodge test, no Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase gene (blaKPC) was detected. The most frequent sites that harboured carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae were the beds 6/15(40%). Hence, the prevalence of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae fomite colonisation in the NAUTH ward environment was low.
Molar Incisor Hypomineralization, prevalence, pattern and distribution in Sudanese children
Authors: Abdalla Hanna Elhassan , Abuaffan Amal Hussein , Kemoli Arthur Musakulu
Published: January 2021

Background: Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) has serious impact on oral health-related quality of life for a child, due to its effects on tooth structure, aesthetics and behavior of the child. The current study was designed to determine the prevalence, pattern and distribution of MIH in school children in Sudan.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 568 children, aged 8-11 years from schools in Khartoum State. Following the collection of their socio-demographic data, the children were examined for hypomineralization on the 12 MIH-index teeth, the pattern and distribution of the MIH. The data collected was analyzed to obtain descriptive statistics. The results related to the socio-demography and other dental-related factors were tested using chi-square test and Spearman Rank Correlation, with the significant level set at P<0.05.Results: The prevalence of MIH in the study population was 20.1%. The majority of the participants had both permanent first molars (PFMs) and permanent incisors affected (12.5%). However, in 7.6% of the cases only molars were affected. Even though more maxillary teeth were affected when compared to the mandibular teeth, there was no statistical significant difference between the occurrence of hypomineralization on mandibular and maxillary molars (P=0.22). Maxillary incisors were significantly more affected by MIH when related to the mandibular ones (P=0.00). Demarcated opacities were the commonest pattern of MIH defects (69.9%) in the experimental group.Conclusion: The prevalence of MIH in Sudanese children was 20.1%. In both dental arches, the permanent molars and incisors were frequently affected, with the demarcated opacity type of MIH being the most common form of defect.
Increased mRNA expression of key cytokines among suspected cases of Pneumocystis jirovecii infection
Authors: Alshahrani Mohammad Y. , Alfaifi Mohammed , Shahrani Mesfer Al , Alshahrani Abdulaziz S. , Alkhathami Ali G. , Dera Ayed A. , Ahmad Irfan , Wahab Shadma , Beg Mirza M. A. , Hakamy Ali , Hamid Mohamed E
Published: January 2021

Background: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a fatal infectious disease caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJP). The major factor relevant to morbidity and mortality seems to be the host inflammatory reaction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 cytokine mRNA expression among suspected P. jirovecii infection.Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study undertaken in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. 100 suspected PCP cases and 100 healthy controls were included in the study. Basic clinical manifestations, radiological findings, microbiological and immunological findings were extracted from the hospital records from January 2019 to August 2019, Pneumocystis detection was done by immune-fluorescent staining (IFAT, Gomorimethanamine silver staining (GMSS), Giemsa staining, Toluidine blue O (TBO), and Pneumocystis RT-PCR. Results: Increased more than 5 fold, 3 fold, 4 fold, and 7 fold of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 mRNA expression were observed in PCP cases compared to controls. Higher expression of IL-2 mRNA was connected with crept, wheezing and chest X-ray findings like central perihilar infiltrate, patchy infiltrate, consolidation, hilar lymphadenopathy, pneumothorax, pleural effusion which showed higher expression compared to counterpart (p<0.0001). Higher expression of IL-4 mRNA was found to be significantly associated with weight loss (p=0.002), dyspnea (p=0.003), crept (p=0.01), and chest X-ray findings (p<0.0001). Significantly increased expression of IL-10 mRNA was observed to be associated with weight loss, dyspnea, night sweats, wheezing, and different findings of chest X-ray compared to their counterparts, whereas, IL-13 mRNA was observed in cases with fever. Suspected cases of PCP confirmed positive by IFTA with higher IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 mRNA expression compared to negative cases. RT-PCR confirmed PCP cases had significantly higher expression of IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 as well as IL-13 mRNA compared to negative cases. Positive detected cases by GMSS showed higher IL-2, IL-10 mRNA expression, while Giemsa showed only higher IL-4 mRNA expression compared to negative cases. Conclusion: Confirmed cases of P. jirovecii showed higher IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 mRNA expression comparatively to negative cases. Increased expression of cytokines may be indicative of infection severity and could help in patients’ management.
Transforaminal epidural steroid injection combined with radio frequency for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation: a 2-year follow-up
Authors: Wei Wenbo , Dang Shajie , Wei Ling , Liu Tian , Wang Jue
Published: January 2021

Objective: To assess the therapeutic efficacy of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) combined with radio frequency (RF) for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods: A total of 230 patients participated in the study: TFESI (Group T, n=110), TFESI combined with RF (Group TR, n=120). Visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) and Global perceived effect (GPE) scale were measured pre-operation, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after the operation. Hospitalization time, treatment time, complications, and recurrence were compared between the two groups.Results: The VAS and ODI at each observation point of the post-operation were significantly decreased compared with the pre-operation in both groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically difference of VAS and ODI between the two groups at 1 and 3 months of the post-operation (P > 0.05). However, The VAS and ODI scores in Group TR were significantly lower than that in Group T at 6, 12 and 24 months of the post-operation (P < 0.05). The GPE in group TR was high in the early days, while that at 1 and 3 months after treatment was significantly higher than that in group T (P < 0.05). The recurrence rate in Group TR was lower than that in Group T (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in hospitalization time, complications, VAS and ODI score at the pre-operation between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion: These findings suggest that TFESI combined with RF could effectively improve the pain and function, and had a long-term satisfactory effect for the treatment of LDH.
Association between menopausal hormone therapy, mammographic density and breast cancer risk: results from the E3N cohort study
Authors: Fornili Marco , Perduca Vittorio , Fournier Agnès , Jérolon Allan , Boutron-Ruault Marie Christine , Maskarinec Gertraud , Severi Gianluca , Baglietto Laura
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is a risk factor for breast cancer (BC). Evidence suggests that its effect on BC risk could be partly mediated by mammographic density. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between MHT, mammographic density and BC risk using data from a prospective study. METHODS We used data from a case-control study nested within the French cohort E3N including 453 cases and 453 matched controls. Measures of mammographic density, history of MHT use during follow-up and information on potential confounders were available for all women. The association of mammographic density with MHT was evaluated by linear regression models. Mediation modelling techniques were applied to estimate under the hypothesis of a causal model the proportion of the effect of MHT on BC risk mediated by percent mammographic density for BC overall and by hormonal receptor status. RESULTS Among MHT users, only 4.2% used exclusively estrogens compared with 68.3% who used exclusively estrogens plus progestogens. Mammographic density was higher in current users (mean percent mammographic density for a 60 year old woman 33%; 95% CI: 31% to 35%) than in past (29%; 27% to 31%) and never users (24%; 22% to 26%). Mammographic density increased with the duration of MHT within one year of therapy and reached a steady state thereafter. After MHT discontinuation, mammographic density decreased with time since last use and reached values similar to those of never users after 8 years. The OR of BC for current versus never MHT users, adjusted for age, year of birth, menopausal status at baseline and BMI, was 1.67 (95% CI, 1.04 to 2.68). The proportion of effect mediated by percent mammographic density was 34% for any BC and became 48% when the correlation between BMI and percent mammographic density was accounted for. These effects were limited to hormone receptor positive BC. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that under a causal model nearly half of the effect of MHT on hormone receptor positive BC risk is mediated by mammographic density, which appears to be modified by MHT for up to 8 years after MHT termination.
Efficiency of Non-invasive Prenatal Screening in Pregnant Women at Advanced Maternal Age
Authors: Zhu Hui , Jin Xiaoxiao , Xu Yuqing , Zhang Weihua , Liu Xiaodan , Jin Jinglei , Qian Yeqing , minyue Dong
Published: January 2021

Background: Non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) is widely used as the alternative choice for pregnant women at high-risk of fetal aneuploidy. However, whether NIPS has a good detective efficiency for pregnant women at advanced maternal age (AMA) has not been fully studied especially in Chinese women. Methods: 29,343 pregnant women at AMA with singleton pregnancy who received NIPS and followed-up were recruited. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the Youden Index for detecting fetal chromosomal aneuploidies were analyzed. The relationship between maternal age and common fetal chromosomal aneuploidy was observed. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV of NIPS for detecting fetal trisomy 21 were 99.11%, 99.96%, 90.98%, and 100%, respectively. These same parameters for detecting fetal trisomy 18 were 100%, 99.94%, 67.92%, and 100%, respectively. Finally, these parameters for detecting trisomy 13 were 100%, 99.96%, 27.78%, and 100%, respectively. The prevalence of fetal trisomy 21 increased exponentially with maternal age. The high-risk percentage incidence rate of fetal trisomy 21 was significantly higher in the pregnant women at 37 years old or above than that in pregnant women at 35 to 37 years old. (Youden index=37). Conclusion: It is indicated that NIPS is an effective prenatal screening method for pregnant women at AMA.
Factors contributing to men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal death: further development of an emerging model in an Australian sample
Authors: Obst Kate , Oxlad Melissa , Due Clemence , Middleton Philippa
Published: January 2021

Background: Historically, men’s experiences of grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal death have been under-explored in comparison to women. However, investigating men’s perspectives is important, given potential gendered differences concerning grief styles, help-seeking and service access. Few studies have comprehensively examined the various individual, interpersonal, community and system/policy-level factors which may contribute to the intensity of grief in bereaved parents, particularly for men. Methods: Men (N = 228) aged at least 18 years whose partner had experienced an ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, termination of pregnancy for foetal anomaly, or neonatal death within the last 20 years responded to an online survey exploring their experiences of grief. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the factors associated with men’s grief intensity and style. Results: Men experienced significant grief across all loss types, with the average score sitting above the minimum cut-off considered to be a high degree of grief. Men’s total grief scores were associated with loss history, marital satisfaction, availability of social support, acknowledgement of their grief from family/friends, time spent bonding with the baby during pregnancy, and feeling as though their role of ‘supporter’ conflicted with their ability to process grief. Factors contributing to grief also differed depending on grief style. Intuitive (emotion-focused) grief was associated with support received from healthcare professionals. Instrumental (activity-focused) grief was associated with time and quality of attachment to the baby during pregnancy, availability of social support, acknowledgement of men’s grief from their female partner, supporter role interfering with their grief, and tendencies toward self-reliance.Conclusions: Following pregnancy loss and neonatal death, men can experience high levels of grief, requiring acknowledgement and validation from all healthcare professionals, family/friends, community networks and workplaces. Addressing male-specific needs, such as balancing a desire to both support and be supported, requires tailored information and support. Strategies to support men should consider grief styles and draw upon father-inclusive practice recommendations. Further research is required to explore the underlying causal mechanisms of associations found.Trial registration: N/A
PrzydatnoŚĆ Diagnostyczna Reakcji Pcr W Rozpoznawaniu Boreliozy
Authors: Grąźlewska Weronika , Ferra Bartłomiej , Holec-Gąsior Lucyna
Published: January 2021

Lyme disease is a multisystem disease caused by bacteria belonging to the group Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. The vector that carries the infection is a tick of the genus Ixodes, that infects subsequent hosts of the spirochete during blood-meal. The varied course of Lyme disease makes it impossible to recognize it on the basis of clinical symptoms. Therefore, the diagnosis of Lyme disease is based mainly on laboratory methods, both direct (detection of the presence of DNA or infectious agent proteins in the biological material collected from the patient) and indirect (mainly serological tests). A commonly recommended approach is serodiagnosis, however, due to the time required for the body to produce specific antibodies, it is not useful in the earliest period of infection. Microbiological diagnostics also can not be used to diagnose Lyme disease in the first weeks of the disease due to its low sensitivity and long waiting time for the result. The solution seems to be molecular diagnostics based on the detection of the spirochete DNA using PCR reaction that is highly specific and sensitive. However, the effectiveness of this approach depends on many factors, therefore it is necessary to develop a standardized protocol ensuring reproducibility of results in all laboratories.

1. Introduction. 2. Genome of B. burgdorferi s.l. 3. Diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis. 4. Types of PCR reactions used in the diagnosis of Lyme disease. 5. Target genes used to DNA detection of B. burgdorferi s.l. 6. Identification of B. burgdorferi s.l. genotypes. 7. Clinical material. 8. The factors affecting the efficiency of PCR. 9. Recommendations for the use of PCR diagnostics. 10. Summary
Dynamical instantons and activated processes in mean-field glass models
Authors: Ros Valentina , Biroli Giulio , Cammarota Chiara
Published: January 2021

We focus on the energy landscape of a simple mean-field model of glasses and analyze activated barrier-crossing by combining the Kac-Rice method for high-dimensional Gaussian landscapes with dynamical field theory. In particular, we consider Langevin dynamics at low temperature in the energy landscape of the pure spherical p-spin model.
We select as initial condition for the dynamics one of the many unstable index-1 saddles in the vicinity of a reference local minimum.
We show that the associated dynamical mean-field equations admit two solutions: one corresponds to falling back to the original reference minimum, and the other to reaching a new minimum past the barrier.
By varying the saddle we scan and characterize the properties of such minima reachable by activated barrier-crossing. Finally, using time-reversal transformations, we construct the two-point function dynamical instanton of the corresponding activated process.
Municipal finance analysis: The case study of Gujarat (India)
Authors: Dave Forum
Published: January 2021

This paper theoretically underpins the idea of greater involvement of local governments in the overall development of India explained through the theory of Fiscal Federalism. The theory outlines the dynamics of decentralization of power and functions through a multi-layered governance system leading to a new structure and added functions, finance, and accountability to local government. The paper also provides an overview of the increasing role of urban local governments in India and investigates whether the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of Gujarat – a state in India, are efficient to perform the functions and responsibilities assigned to them by the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA). It scrutinizes the financial health of local governments in the urban regions of India. The results based on the application of MANOVA indicate that the 74th CAA empowered ULBs with a strong economic base that these ULBs are capable of mobilizing their own resources. This means that smaller municipalities must develop and convergence must be supported by a proportionate level of grants. This will ensure that with the development of social infrastructure, economic activities will increase, and, as a result, the conversion will occur.
On the transient flow behavior in pressurized plastic pipe-based water supply systems
Authors: Essaidi Badreddine , Triki Ali
Published: January 2021

Plastic material pipes such as high- or low-density polyethylene (HDPE or LDPE) are increasingly used in new or renewed water supply systems. Therefore, analysis of water hammer surge-waves initiated into such piping systems deserves investigation. The 1-D pressurized-pipe flow model embedding the Ramos formulation was used to describe the flow behavior in the elastic and plastic pipe-based hydraulic system. Numerical computations were performed using the method of characteristics. First, the numerical solver was validated against experimental data, available from the literature. Then, the proposed solver was applied to explore the transient pressure-wave behavior resulting from the power failure to a pumping station. Results evidenced the severity of such a scenario with regards to induced positive and negative pressure-wave magnitudes. Furthermore, the findings of this study suggested that plastic pipe-wall materials allowed a significant attenuation of pressure-wave magnitude in conjunction with the expansion of the pressure-wave oscillation period. It was also found that the observed attenuation and expansion effects depended strongly upon the plastic material type. In this respect, the results revealed that LDPE provided a better trade-off between the two last effects than HDPE.
Adsorption of reactive blue 49 onto cross-linked chitosan-based composites containing waste mussel shell and waste active sludge char
Authors: Akin Sahbaz Deniz , Dandil Sahra , Acikgoz Caglayan
Published: January 2021

Cross-linked chitosan/waste mussel shell (C/WMS) and chitosan/waste mussel shell/waste active sludge char (C/WMS/WASC) composites were prepared from waste mussel shell, waste active sludge (WAS), and chitosan, and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The quantities of chitosan, WMS, and WASC used for the C/WMS and C/WMS/WASC composites were 1:1 and 1:0.5:0.5, respectively. The two adsorbents were characterized for their quality by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and a Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) analyzer. The effects of contact time (0–1,620 mins), pH (1–5), adsorbent dosage (0.01–0.1 g/50 ml), initial dye concentration (20–100 mg/L), and temperature (25–45 °C) on Reactive Blue 49 (RB49) adsorption onto C/WMS and C/WMS/WASC composites were investigated. The maximum RB49 adsorption capacity of C/WMS and C/WMS/WASC composites was 54.7 and 38.8 mg/g, respectively. The experimental data were analyzed by kinetic and isotherm models. The Freundlich isotherm was a good fit for the experimental data of RB49 adsorption on C/WMS and C/WMS/WASC composites, and the adsorption kinetics for both adsorbents were the pseudo-second-order rate equation. All results showed the preparative adsorbents can be used as effective adsorbents for the treatment of waste water contaminated with RB49 since they are low cost and eco-friendly for the environment.
Análise envoltória de dados para avaliação da eficiência financeira das cooperativas de eletrificação do sul do Brasil
Authors: Martins Scheffer Mariane , Monteiro Januário José , Mendonça Cardoso João Vanio , De Oliveira Ritta Cleyton
Published: January 2021

Objetivo: O presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar a eficiência financeira das cooperativas de eletrificação localizadas na região sul do Brasil, no período entre 2012 a 2016.

Metodologia: A pesquisa caracteriza-se como descritiva, de levantamento, documental com abordagem quantitativa por meio da modelagem matemática de Análise Envoltória de Dados (DEA).

Resultados: Os resultados da pesquisa mostraram que, em média, as cooperativas de eletrificação obtiveram nível de eficiência acima de 0,94 no período investigado. A técnica DEA apresentou a necessidade de redução dos seguintes insumos: despesas operacionais, ativo não circulante, consumo de energia elétrica, quantidade adquirida de energia elétrica, quantidade de colaboradores. Por outro lado, indicou a necessidade de aumento dos produtos faturamento e quantidade de consumidores. Diante dos resultados conclui-se que das 27 cooperativas pesquisadas, 13 (48%) delas apresentaram níveis de eficiência máxima (1,00). A partir desses resultados, pode-se inferir que são necessárias ações gerenciais para que se alcance a eficiência financeira nas cooperativas ineficientes, pois a sustentabilidade financeira é um dos pilares importantes para continuidade da prestação de serviço público de distribuição de energia, sustentabilidade organizacional e desenvolvimento socioeconômico. Os resultados mostram que a DEA é um instrumento gerencial importante para a avaliação de desempenho, pois evidencia o nível de eficiência das operações e aponta as ações gerenciais que são necessárias para melhorar o desempenho organizacional.

Contribuição: Como contribuição teórica, a pesquisa mostra a aplicabilidade da técnica de Análise Envoltória de Dados para análise da eficiência financeira de cooperativas, como instrumento de avaliação multicritério de desempenho organizacional. No âmbito prático, esta pesquisa propicia subsídio à gestão das cooperativas de eletrificação, ao recomendar que tenham maior atenção às ações gerenciais para que se alcance a eficiência financeira.
Enfrentando a cortina de fumaça: uma análise epistemológica sobre o uso da expressão “contabilidade criativa”
Authors: Araújo Vassalo Roselaine , Lima Diana Vaz de
Published: January 2021

Objetivo: Analisar a percepção de estudantes e profissionais contábeis a respeito dos conceitos e usos dos termos associados à expressão “contabilidade criativa”. Os conceitos teóricos do estudo se baseiam no entendimento de que compreender epistemologicamente os métodos, sistematização e conceitos usados na área contábil contribui para aprimorar conceitos existentes.
Metodologia: Para tratar a questão da pesquisa, foram identificados quatro conceitos associados à expressão “contabilidade criativa” – fraude, erro, gerenciamento e aprimoramento de resultados – e utilizados estudos de casos conhecidos na literatura. Na sequência, foram realizadas entrevistas com dois especialistas (um do setor público e um do setor privado), que aplicam esses conceitos no dia a dia na sua profissão, com o uso da técnica de entrevista aberta, e aplicado questionário estruturado para 158 estudantes e 36 profissionais para capturar as suas percepções sobre o tema.
Resultados: Os achados do estudo mostram que ainda existe uma subjetividade inerente ao uso da expressão “contabilidade criativa” e de sua mensuração, reconhecimento e evidenciação. E que tanto entre os estudantes como entre os profissionais, os conceitos e aplicação dos termos “fraude” e “erro” estão melhor internalizados do que os termos “gerenciamento de resultado” e “aprimoramento de resultado”, mostrando as mesmas dificuldades e contradições observadas na literatura e revelando que ainda paira uma “cortina de fumaça” quando se trata da expressão “contabilidade criativa”. A preocupação é que essa dificuldade exponha os profissionais e coloque em dúvida a fidedignidade da informação contábil.
Contribuições do Estudo: Enfrenta a discussão sobre o uso inadequado da expressão “contabilidade criativa”. Explica que o uso de práticas e técnicas contábeis alternativas possui conotação negativa apenas na medida em que está associada à má fé da pessoa que a utiliza.
Personality traits and variables of the individual’s planned behavior: a study of its effects on entrepreneurial intentions
Authors: Edicreia Andrade dos Santos  , Gabriel Lourenço Xavier  , Cristiane Alves da Silva Moura  , Luiz Miguel Renda dos Santos
Published: January 2021

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of personality traits on the entrepreneurial intentions of students concluding Accounting courses at two private higher education institutions and a public one, located in the Midwest region of Brazil.
Methodology: Descriptive study, carried out from a survey, with the sample consisting of 173 students, 86 from a public university and 87 from two private universities. The survey instrument was applied in person to the respondents and for data analysis, the structural equation modeling technique was adopted.
Results: Among the results, it was found that attitudes affect students’ entrepreneurial intentions in a statistically significant way, allowing inferring that it is one of the strongest principles to start an entrepreneurial career due to the evaluation of the pros and cons. It was also confirmed that personality traits (proactive personality and locus of control) are very relevant to understanding an individual’s entrepreneurial interests. The proactive personality is a characteristic that positively affects the attitude, the subjective norm, the perceived behavioral control and also the entrepreneur’s intentions. The locus of control in turn affects both the subjective norms and the perceived behavioral control of the individual.
Contributions of the study: Its results allow inferring that the personality traits and the variables of the Theory of Planned Behavior are in good parts predictors of the behavioral intentions.
Qual é o valor da empresa? O caso de valuation da empresa Magazine Luiza
Authors: Kelly Silva Jacques  , Vivian Duarte Couto Fernandes  , Lísia de Melo Queiroz  , Moisés Ferreira da Cunha
Published: January 2021

Banco de dados brutos de pesquisa.
Directed Network Defects in Alzheimer's Disease Using Granger Causality and Graph Theory
Authors: Sun Man , Xie Hua , Tang Yan
Published: January 2021

Background:

Few works studied the directed whole-brain interaction between different
brain regions of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we investigated the whole-brain effective connectivity
and studied the graph metrics associated with AD.

Method:

Large-scale Granger causality analysis was conducted to explore abnormal whole-brain
effective connectivity of patients with AD. Moreover, graph-theoretical metrics including smallworldness,
assortativity, and hierarchy, were computed from the effective connectivity network. Statistical
analysis identified the aberrant network properties of AD subjects when compared against
healthy controls.

Results:

Decreased small-worldness, and increased characteristic path length, disassortativity, and
hierarchy were found in AD subjects.

Conclusion:

This work sheds insight into the underlying neuropathological mechanism of the brain
network of AD individuals such as less efficient information transmission and reduced resilience to a
random or targeted attack.
Recent Developments of Quinoline Derivatives and their Potential Biological Activities
Authors: Dib Mustapha , Ouchetto Hajiba , Ouchetto Khadija , Hafid Abderrafia , Khouili Mostafa
Published: January 2021

Heterocyclic compounds containing the quinoline ring play a significant role in organic synthesis and
therapeutic chemistry. Polyfunctionalized quinolines have attracted the attention of many research groups, especially
those who work on drug discovery and development. These derivatives have been widely explored by the
research biochemists and are reported to possess wide biological activities. This review focuses on the recent
progress in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds based-quinoline and their potential biological activities.