bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of Energy Costs of Industrial Enterprises Connected to Electric Grid of Electric Power Producers
Authors: Dzyuba Anatoly , Semikolenov Alexander
Published: August 2021

Industrial enterprises connected to the power grids of electricity producers spend a lot of money on the transport of purchased electrical energy. The present article introduces some opportunities to minimize the costs. The author studied the principles of pricing of the transport of electrical energy purchased by industrial enterprises connected to power grids of electricity producers and described the advantages and disadvantages of the existing pricing options. The new indicator generator of voltage tariff coefficient made it possible to analyze the effectiveness of the transport tariffs for electrical energy at various types of industrial enterprises in relation to the tariff field of several regions of Russia. The study revealed ineffectiveness of the current tariffs on the transport of purchased electrical energy applied by such industrial enterprises. The author developed recommendations to reduce the cost of electricity. The main priority option was the application of demand management for electricity consumption by regulating the schedules of energy-intensive technological processes. This measure takes into account the criteria of economic efficiency, system reliability, and sustainability. It will enable industrial enterprises to manage their own schedule of electricity consumption without having to change the planned production volumes, thus reducing all cost components.
Management of Labor Motivation of Research Personnel
Authors: Lazutkin Vadim
Published: August 2021

The specifics of research and academic profession presuppose special approaches to personnel management and motivation. The selection of adequate motivational tools is often done by trial and error. The paper attempts to substantiate short-term and long-term methods of motivating scientific personnel. The experiment featured the case of a Russian biotechnological company, whose personnel underwent S. Ritchie and P. Martin’s Motivational Profile Test. The dominant factors of job satisfaction included self-development opportunities, recognition, ambitious goals, creative tasks, etc. The authors developed some ways for the further development of methods for motivating research personnel.
Gender Differences in Business Structures Operating in Trade, Information and Communication Services
Authors: Pin'koveckaya Yuliya
Published: August 2021

The article is devoted to the assessment of the creation of new businesses in trade and information and communication sphere. Gender differences in entrepreneurial activity by country are considered. The study examined the specifics of the activities of entrepreneurs engaged in services in such sectors as trade and information and communication services for institutions and organizations, as well as private clients. At the same time, the principles and concepts of the existing development of the sectoral structure of entrepreneurship were taken into account. The implementation of the study consisted of five stages. The information base included the results of questionnaire surveys of respondents-entrepreneurs in 59 states when monitoring the activities of entrepreneurs in 2018. In the course of economic and mathematical modeling, six models were developed that reflect the distribution of the following indicators across the subjects of Russia: the proportion of women and men who have created businesses in trade, in the total number of women and men who have started entrepreneurial activity; the share of women and men who have created businesses in the information and communication sphere in the total number of women and men who have started entrepreneurial activities. In addition, the ratios of specific weights describing the provision of services by women entrepreneurs and men entrepreneurs in the trade sector and the information and communication sphere are calculated. For each of the 59 countries, it was determined whether there is an excess of the values of indicators that characterize the corresponding specific weights of male entrepreneurs and female entrepreneurs. For most countries, these values differed significantly, which indicates gender gaps. In addition, the States with the maximum and minimum values of the indices under consideration were identified. The analysis was carried out, which made it possible to compare the obtained average values with the data reflecting the indicators of Russian entrepreneurs. The share of female entrepreneurs in trade is higher than the share of male entrepreneurs. The share of male entrepreneurs in the field of information and communication services is twice as high as the share of female entrepreneurs. The results of the work can be applied in the development of forecasts for the development of trade and information and communication services in the future.
La pequena ditadura de la Covid-19 en Colombia: uso y abuso de normas ordinarias y excepcionales para enfrentar la pandemia
Authors: Mendieta David , Tobón Mary Luz Tobón
Published: August 2021

El uso y abuso del estado de sitio en Colombia fue una constante durante los siglos XIX y XX. Por ello, el constituyente de 1991 fue tan cuidadoso a la hora de regular los estados de excepción estableciendo un sistema de exigentes límites y controles. El objetivo de este escrito es evidenciar la manera en que se usaron poderes extraordinarios en Colombia para enfrentar situaciones ordinarias. Y ahora, de manera paradójica, se abusa de competencias ordinarias para enfrentar una situación extraordinaria, como lo es la pandemia ocasionada por la COVID-19. El Gobierno nacional y los gobiernos locales han enfrentado, durante varios meses, la mayor crisis social y económica por la que ha pasado el país con medidas concebidas para la normalidad, como lo es el Código de Policía. Lo anterior se convirtió en un estado de excepción de facto. Mediante una metodología descriptivo-analítica, se pudo demostrar que limitar derechos fundamentales con competencias de policía es una manera de eludir el control idóneo de constitucionalidad por parte del Gobierno nacional. Además, varios controles establecidos en la Constitución y en la ley no fueron eficaces durante esta crisis, lo que fracturó al Estado constitucional de derecho y nos llevó, por varios meses, a estar bajo la pequeña dictadura de la COVID-19.
O contencioso administrativo em Portugal e no Brasil: uma influência do liberalismo francês de 1789?
Authors: Oliveira Mariana Azevedo Comello
Published: August 2021

O artigo investiga as influências históricas na construção do contencioso administrativo em Portugal: se suas influências se devem à Revolução Francesa de 1789 ou ao modelo absolutista que a antecedeu. Há, no texto, referência ao modelo brasileiro, inspirado no sistema inglês, que se afasta do modelo português, na sua formulação jurídica e, também, por não comungar das mesmas influências históricas. Ao retomar o Direito português, apresenta, num primeiro momento, a tese majoritariamente aceita pelos juristas: a de que esse contencioso tem origem nas ideologias advindas das chamadas revoluções liberais. Após, é apresentada uma antítese, com suporte no filósofo, sociólogo e político Alexis de Tocqueville, o qual encontra as raízes desse contencioso no regime absolutista, como um mecanismo estrategicamente desenvolvido pelo poder absoluto para conservar sob seu julgo as demandas de interesse do Estado.
Humanismo cristão e efetivação dos Direitos Fundamentais numa perspectiva epistemológica: a pessoa humana no centro do Direito
Authors: Abrantes Renato Moreira de , Oliveira Júnior Vicente de Paulo Augusto de , Mendonça Maria Lírida Calou de Araújo e
Published: August 2021

O presente trabalho visa analisar a proposta humanista de superação de conflitos entre direitos fundamentais, com base no conceito de pessoa humana. Para tanto, a pesquisa, de caráter qualitativo e que tem por fato motivador o Simpósio Internacional “Diritti Fondamentali e conflitti fra diritti”, promovido em Roma, pela Fondazione Ratzinger, entre 15 e 16 de novembro de 2018, foi realizada por meio de análise documental, com fulcro na doutrina acerca da pessoa humana, do princípio da dignidade humana e do humanismo cristão. Analisa-se, inicialmente, o conceito de pessoa humana sob os prismas filosófico e teológico. O princípio da dignidade humana é tratado na sequência, sendo-lhe identificados os fundamentos cristãos, delineada a proposta pós-positivista do direito e o balizamento histórico do processo de positivação do referido princípio. Traz-se à baila o pensamento do teólogo Joseph Ratzinger (papa emérito Bento XVI) a respeito da “ditatura do relativismo” da qual deve ser preservada a pessoa humana. Finalmente, explana-se sobre o humanismo cristão, enquanto proposta concreta de superação da barbárie e de fundação de uma nova sociedade, em que vigoram a caridade e a justiça comum e na qual os conflitos de direitos fundamentais se minimizam. Conclui-se que, não obstante a variedade de direitos, a ciência jurídica, cujo núcleo e finalidade é a pessoa humana, deve dispor de mecanismos aptos a coibir as ameaça aos direitos fundamentais, mormente os ligados ao princípio da dignidade humana, e a conciliar as vertentes e posicionamentos intelectuais e ideológicos que, embora discrepantes entre si, buscam, cada qual ao seu modo, o mesmo objetivo: a tutela e concretização dos direitos individuais.
New Insights into Ocular Complications of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Authors: Wang Luoziyi , Che Xin , Jiang Jing , Qian Yiwen , Wang Zhiliang
Published: August 2021

HIV/AIDS continues to be a major global public health issue, affecting multiple organs,
such as the eyes. With the advent of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), the incidence
has dropped but HIV ocular complications still remain a major cause of vision impairment in HIVpositive
individuals. Since modern medical interventions nowadays can change this previously fatal
infection into a chronic disease and enable people living with HIV for relatively long and
healthy lives, recent studies update the incidence of HIV-related ocular manifestations, which has
reached 70% among HIV patients. The primary ocular disorders induced by HIV are various and
the clinical ocular findings are similar, which may be a problem to diagnose in the setting of disease.
In our discussion, these complications are classified by etiology, for example noninfectious
microvasculopathy resulting from direct invasion of the HIV, HIV-associated opportunistic infections
caused by a virus, such as cytomegalovirus and varicella-zoster virus, fungus for example,
candida and cryptococcus, bacteria like mycobacterium, parasites, such as toxoplasma and pneumocystis,
and other pathogens, and infiltration lesions like lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma. In order to
get a better understanding of HIV ocular complications, we focus on HIV-related ocular complications
in the HAART era with an emphasis on current incidence, clinical manifestations, ocular examination
findings, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. In addition, we discuss the possibility
of virus reservoir in the eyes, which makes HIV-related oculopathy still ubiquitous even after
successful systemic treatment.
Insights into the Role of mTOR/AMPK as a Potential Target for Anticancer Therapy
Authors: Ananthram K.J. , Rajeev Mekha , Aneesh T.P.
Published: August 2021

Despite the endeavors and maneuvers in cancer treatment, drug resistance and toxicities
have become a significant obstacle these days. Diverseness among the patients and tumor and the
multifaceted nature of cancer to circumvent therapies make it more challenging. Adenosine
monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a significant biosensor and it negatively regulates
cancer growth by inhibiting the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling cascade,
which is responsible for cell growth and proliferation. These two critical regulators of growth are
often found deregulated in human cancers. They act by triggering the AMPK pathway, thereby inducing
mTOR inhibition leading to dephosphorylation of its downstream regulators S6K1 and
4EBP1, with two key regulators TSC2 and RHEB. Drugs like biguanides, Aspirin, resveratrol,
quercetin, and some natural products were found to decrease cancer incidence by this cognate pathway.
This pathway drew more attention for better strategies to enhance the treatment efficacy, but
adequate evidence in this field is still lacking. Repurposing existing drugs with multimodal actions
and fewer toxicities could be considered for newer therapies. Combined effects of an AMPK activator
drug with an mTOR inhibitor when used in conjunction or a new drug developed with the
above dual properties could be a promising strategy in this sector. Thus, scouting the significance
of this pathway and combination therapies in a more personalized manner would be indeed a turning
point for future investigations.
Is there a link between lung parenchyma lesions , BMI , CRP , D-dimer and acute pulmonary embolism in patients infected with COVID-19 ?
Authors: Hamadé Amer , Jambert Lucas , Tousch Jonathan , Feuerstein Philippe , Hammas Karima , Degoul Samuel , Bensalah Naouel , Michel Pierre , Lehn-Hogg Michèle , Obringer Golnaz , Buschenrieder Nathalie , Nusbaum Philippe , Barakat Nayrouz , Talbot Marjolaine , Stephan Dominique , Woehl Bastien
Published: August 2021

Introduction:

ince the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic , increasing suggests that
infected patients present a high incidence of venous thromboembolic events (VTE).
The main objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of acute
pulmonary embolism (PE) on pulmonary computer tomography angiograms (CTPA) in
patients classified as COVID-19 infection. The second objective was to determine if there is a
link between D-dimer levels, serum C-reactive protein (CRP ), body mass index
(BMI) , the lung parenchyma lesions (LPL) and acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in these
patients.

Material and Methods:

120 patients with mean age 65 ±14.5 years infected with COVID- 19
underwent in our institution a CTPA for suspected PE .Thirty four were in intensive care
units (ICU). A COVID-19 diagnosis was made by transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
by means of nasopharyngeal swab or by chest CT images. Demographics and co-morbidities
characteristics were collected . Laboratory parameters were automatically extracted from
our heath information system. When PE was suspected a CTPA were acquired after injection
of high concentration iodine contrast media .The criterion of suspected PE were based on
the clinical respiratory deterioration , with an increased need for oxygen. A venous duplex
ultrasound (DU) test of lower limbs was performed on admission.

Results:

CTPA showed 24 acute PE (20%) , of which 11 primary and 13 associated with
deep venous thrombosis diagnosed on DU .Eleven of the 24 (45.8 %)had PE
despite preventive and therapeutic anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin with
Enoxaparin (7 with preventive anticoagulation and 4 had therapeutic dose), of them 8
(72.7%) with risk factors for VTE .Acute PE was not significantly associated with CRP and LPL.
However , we found a significant association between acute PE and BMI (mean 32.41±5.90
versus 27.1± 5.2 kg/m2, p 0.0007) or D-dimer Levels (mean 6040±5068 versus
3396.7±5361.5 ng/ml ,p <0.0001).

Conclusions:

Hospitalized patients infected with COVID-19 in conventional units or ICU
have a high frequency of PE justifying preventive anticoagulation. For those who have a risk
factors for VTE a therapeutic anticoagulation may be indicated.
Pharmacological Activities and Therapeutic Potential of Kaempferitrin in Medicine for the Treatment of Human Disorders: A Review of Medicinal Importance and Health Benefits
Authors: Patel Dinesh Kumar
Published: August 2021

Background:

Herbal drugs and their derived phytochemicals are valuable for human beings
as a source of a vital component of food material and drugs. Flavonoids are naturally occurring
phytochemicals produced in plants through metabolisms, and they have anti-hyperlipidemia,
anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic activity. Flavonoids have been identified in
fruits, nuts, vegetables, seeds, stems, flowers, and tea. Kaempferol is a natural flavonoidal compound
present in edible plants such as apples, broccoli, strawberries, beans, grapefruit, propolis,
and medicinal plants such as Aloe vera, Ginkgo biloba, Rosmarinus officinalis, Crocus sativus L.,
Hypericum perforatum L. Kaempferol have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, proapoptotic,
cardio-protective and anti-cancer activities.

Methods:

Glycosides of kaempferol such as kaempferitrin, also called kaempferol 3,7-dirhamnoside
are known to be more abundant than their flavonoid monomers in plants. Various literature
databases have been searched to collect all the scientific information of kaempferitrin in the present
investigation and analyzed in order to know the therapeutic benefit and biological potential of
kaempferitrin. Moreover, all the information has been presented here in two broad sections, i.e.,
pharmacological and analytical.

Results:

From the analysis of all the collected and presented information, it was found that
kaempferitrin has potent insulin-mimetic potential and could be used for the treatment of diabetes
and related complications. However, it has also shown anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsant,
anti-osteoporotic, anti-depressant, anthelmintic, immunostimulatory, and natriuretic properties
and inhibits cell proliferation and apoptosis. Kaempferitrin also improves the meat quality of
broiler chickens.

Conclusions:

The presented information in this work will be valuable to justify the biological importance
and therapeutic potential of kaempferitrin in the scientific field.
O intervalo de quarta na música de Astor Piazzolla: Uso e origem
Authors: Cardoso Thomas Fontes Saboga
Published: August 2021

Nos debruçamos neste artigo sobre o uso e a origem do intervalo de quarta como elemento organizador das alturas na música do compositor e bandoneonista argentino Astor Piazzolla (1921–1992). Alguns exemplos nos permitirão vislumbrar tanto uma variedade melódica e harmônica na utilização deste intervalo, como constatar um uso consciente e sistemático da parte do compositor. Uma obra de juventude na qual esse intervalo de quarta aparece de forma abundante nos levou a relacionar essas técnicas com as aulas de Piazzolla com Alberto Ginastera que ocorreram durante a elaboração desta peça, já que seu professor também usava recorrentemente essas técnicas quartais nesse período. Finalmente, o fascínio destes dois compositores argentinos por Igor Stravinsky e a presença desses elementos quartais na música do compositor russo nos permite vislumbrar a origem dessas técnicas quartais: na música erudita moderna.
Fernando Corrêa de Oliveira e a música medieval galego-portuguesa
Authors: Rei-Samartim Isabel
Published: August 2021

O compositor vanguardista português Fernando Corrêa de Oliveira (Porto, 1921–2004) insere-se na corrente de reinterpretação da música medieval galego-portuguesa que começou no primeiro terço do século XX. Desde meados do século e até às últimas décadas, Fernando Correia de Oliveira compôs diversas obras de inspiração medieval. Serviu-se para isso da aplicação do seu próprio sistema de composição explicado no método Simetria sonora(1969), com o que conseguiu resultados satisfatórios no objetivo de evocar a música medieval sem perder o sabor abstrato da atualidade atonal. Teve contato com a Galiza (Norte), bem como alguns dos seus mestres e antecessores, e criou sobre a música de Martim Codax e Afonso o Sábio, e sobre textos de Dom Dinis, Luís de Camões e do Cancioneiro de Elvas. O presente estudo aborda uma destas obras inserida na série Serões da Rainha e Senhora minha, inspirada na memória da esposa, a cantora Maria Feliciana Sampaio.
As Missões Culturais do Secretariado de Propaganda Nacional e o papel de Eurico Tomás de Lima (1940 – 1941)
Authors: Moreira Pedro
Published: August 2021

As Missões Culturais do Secretariado de Propaganda Nacional (SPN) constituíram uma importante iniciativa no início dos anos 40 e tinham como objetivo a realização de vários concertos musicais, com uma palestra temática e recitação de poesia, em várias cidades e vilas de Portugal. O presente artigo procura abordar as missões culturais na sua dimensão política, na ação do SPN de chegar às classes médias dos pequenos centros urbanos, e qual o papel desempenhado pelo pianista e compositor Eurico Tomás de Lima enquanto chefe daquelas missões entre 1940 e 1941. A pesquisa permitiu, a partir de diferentes fontes documentais, perceber: a organização e orgânica das Missões Culturais, contribuindo para um conhecimento mais profundo no âmbito dos objetivos propagandísticos do Estado Novo; o papel central desempenhado por Eurico Tomás de Lima, que tinha várias responsabilidades na implementação e execução desta iniciativa; os intuitos artísticos e musicais dos programas escolhidos.
Ferreira, Ana Paula. Mulheres Escrevendo o Colonialismo Português na África
Authors: Passos Joana
Published: August 2021

O livro de Ana Paula Ferreira é uma obra de fôlego que percorre a escrita de várias mulheres portuguesas, desde finais do século XIX até ao século XXI, enquadrando-as nas diferentes conjunturas políticas de Portugal ao longo deste período. Esta visão ampla, que relaciona o trabalho de várias autoras, consegue demonstrar o relevante contributo da escrita de um conjunto de mulheres que, cada qual a seu modo, se envolveu nos principais debates da sua época, deixando através da escrita um testemunho desses mesmos tempos.
DEMOCRATIC LEGITIMACY AND COERCIVELY ENFORCED BORDERS: ASSESSING THE ARGUMENT OF ARASH ABIZADEH
Authors: James Michael Rabinder
Published: August 2021

Arash Abizadeh argues that all coercive enforcement of borders is democratically illegitimate, since foreigners do not participate in the creation of border laws. It is irrelevant whether the border laws are substantively just or unjust, whether the state enforcing them is affluent or poor, and whether the individual being coerced autonomously chooses to cross the border or is forced by desperate circumstances to do so. His argument involves (1) a foundational commitment to individual autonomy; (2) a normative premise that coercion requires democratic legitimation; (3) and an empirical premise that border enforcement laws subject all foreigners to state coercion. In this essay, I contest each of these components. I challenge the empirical premise through examples illustrating the empirical limits to state coercion over foreigners. I contest the normative premise by showing that state coercion requires democratic legitimation only for those involuntarily and indefinitely subject to it. Finally, I challenge the commitment to individual autonomy as foundational to political legitimacy by distinguishing political legitimacy from political authority. I conclude by demonstrating how my critique renders a more plausible account of the normative limits of border coercion, one that coheres more readily with stances advanced by Javier Hidalgo and Abizadeh himself.
INTRODUCTION
Authors: Abranches Alexandra , Faria Catia
Published: August 2021

INTRODUCTION
THE DESCENT OF WOMEN TO THE POWER OF DOMESTICITY: FROM MARGARET CAVENDISH TO LAURA INGALLS WILDER
Authors: Bergès Sandrine
Published: August 2021

Is the virtue of domesticity a way for women to access civic power or is it a slippery slope to dependence and female subservience? Here I look at a number of philosophical responses to domesticity and trace a historical path from Aristotle to the 19th century Cult of Domesticity. Central to the Cult was the idea that women’s power was better used in the home, keeping everybody safe, alive, and virtuous. While this attitude seems to us very conservative, I want to argue that it has its roots in the republican thought of eighteenth-century France. I will show how the status of women before the French Revolutions did not allow even for power exercised in the home, and how the advent of republican ideals in France offered women non-negligible power despite their not having a right to vote.
EROTICS AS A BRANCH OF PHILOSOPHY: THE LEGACY OF DIOTIMA OF MANTINEA
Authors: Rabassó Georgina
Published: August 2021

The figure and discourse of Diotima of Mantinea in Plato’s Symposium had a decisive influence on the Western tradition of women’s thought and on the foundation of a “hidden” branch of philosophy: Erotics, that is, the philosophical consideration of love, sexuality, gender identity, interpersonal relationships and particularly relationships of philia such as friendship. Although Erotics was not established as one of the canonical subdivisions of philosophy, numerous texts and theories prove its existence from antiquity to the present day. Diotima and other female philosophers make it clear that the Western tradition of women’s thought maintained a constant interest in the issues of Erotics. Making Erotics visible as a branch of philosophy situates the contributions of women thinkers in the philosophical canon, thereby transforming it.
WHAT SHOULD WOMEN DO? THE STOICS ON GENDER-ROLE DIVISION
Authors: Flamigni Gabriele
Published: August 2021

The aim of this paper is to enquire if the Stoics consider certain social activities appropriate only for men or women, a much-debated question in the scholarship. Here it is argued that the Stoics are not committed to gendered divisions of tasks. This claim is pled through an analysis of the various testimonies and of the Stoic notion of appropriate activity (καθῆκον). This result leads to reconsider the Stoics’ stand within their cultural environment and will hopefully contribute to the debate on their thinking on womanhood. This study is thus structured: firstly, the notion of καθῆκον is presented; next, the evidence of the Stoic use of gender as a parameter in determining καθήκοντα is discussed; then, a reconstruction of the social role the early Stoics assigned to women in their planned constitutions is attempted; finally, the reflection of later Stoics on the role of women in actual societies is addressed.
FRACTURING THE PRIVATE-PUBLIC DIVIDE THROUGH ACTION: READING LES CAHIERS DU GRIF
Authors: Hoogeveen Teresa
Published: August 2021

Feminism in the 1960s and 1970s was innovative and productive, despite its tendency—similar to that of previous emancipatory movements—to forget its past. This paper proposes Françoise Collin’s notion of transmission as a fruitful relationship with which to palliate this tendency and to propel women as innovative participants in the symbolic. In order to do this, I analyze Les Cahiers du Grif, the first francophone magazine of “second-wave” feminism, as an example of how women’s actions in their plurality fractured the division between private and public as presented by Arendt and thus produced a fertile corpus for disciplines in the humanities. To close, I argue that the difficulties presented by this corpus are a positive consequence of the magazine’s plurality, as well as a worthy legacy that transmission challenges us to focus on.
ANÁLISIS DEL CONCEPTO CANON: DEBATE EN TORNO A LA PRESENCIA FEMENINA EN EL CANON FILOSÓFICO
Authors: Ferrando Concepción Escrig
Published: August 2021

El canon filosófico actualmente se está viendo cuestionado por la progresiva globalización. Por ello, se está procurando desde el ámbito académico la inclusión tanto de las culturas como de ambos sexos en el mismo. El presente estudio analizará el significado histórico del concepto canon con el objetivo de determinar qué debería incluirse en él, y cómo hacerlo. Así pues, esta investigación se propone (1) reconstruir la historia del concepto canon desde su conformación en el siglo IV hasta la configuración del canon filosófico en el siglo XVIII, (2) elaborar una propuesta actualizada para la realización del canon filosófico, y (3) aplicar tal propuesta para fundamentar la presencia de mujeres en el canon. El objetivo último de esta investigación sería animar a los académicos a extender esta metodología para lograr el deseado reconocimiento de la contribución intelectual realizada por los diferentes colectivos que habitan la Tierra.
DIVERSITY WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF JUSTICE: A COMMENT ON DOMENICO MELIDORO’S DEALING WITH DIVERSITY: A STUDY IN CONTEMPORARY LIBERALISM
Authors: Macedo Stephen
Published: August 2021

DIVERSITY WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF JUSTICE
HOBBESIAN LIBERALISM: A CRITIQUE OF MELIDORO ON LIBERAL THEORY AND DIVERSITY
Authors: Rosas João Cardoso
Published: August 2021

I would like to acknowledge Domenico Melidoro for the opportunity to discuss his new and important book on the connection between liberal theory and social pluralism, and also Daniele Santoro for organizing this book discussion. For the sake of brevity, I will only raise three points of debate.
WHY LIBERALISM NEEDS AUTONOMY: ACHIEVING A MAINSTREAM SOCIETY WITHOUT INTERGROUP CAREGIVING EXPLOITATION
Authors: Bhandary Asha
Published: August 2021

Domenico Melidoro’s new book invites a reevaluation of liberalism’s response to diversity. Central to his project is the recognition that many forms of diversity are inevitable because diversity is simply a (social) fact that liberalism must address. The result is an approach to liberalism that aims to secure conditions for peace when diversity and disagreement are inevitable.
La Colección Entomológica del Instituto-Fundación Miguel Lillo, Tucumán, Argentina
Authors: Córdoba Silvia Patricia , Pérez Emilia Constanza
Published: August 2021

La Colección Entomológica del Instituto-Fundación Miguel Lillo (IFML) conserva y custodia el material allí depositado con el fin de facilitar su estudio por parte de toda la comunidad científica actual y futura. Está constituida por la colección entomológica conservada en seco y en alcohol, en dos salones equipados para el resguardo y conservación del material. Atesora 6,500,000 ejemplares de los órdenes Blattodea, Coleoptera, Collembola, Dermaptera, Diptera, Embioptera, Ephemeroptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Mecoptera, Megaloptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Odonata, Orthoptera, Phthiraptera, Plecoptera, Psocoptera, Thysanoptera, Trichoptera y Zygentoma. La colección entomológica del I-FML preserva 11,216 ejemplares de la serie tipo, asignados a 2,185 especies, principalmente del Neotrópico, además de ejemplares de diversas partes del mundo. Es un referente de la biodiversidad de insectos neotropicales y ha sido fundada en el año 1944 a partir del material colectado por el Dr. Miguel Lillo. El objetivo del presente trabajo es dar a conocer de manera general, la organización, características, situación actual y perspectivas futuras de la colección entomológica del I-FML. Dada su importancia, tanto para la comunidad científica como para la sociedad en general, es necesario garantizar la conservación de los ejemplares allí depositados.
Management and Treatment of Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Using an Intelligent Monitoring System Based on Machine Learning Aiming to Improve Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment Compliance: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Turino Cecilia , Benítez Ivan D , Rafael-Palou Xavier , Mayoral Ana , Lopera Alejandro , Pascual Lydia , Vaca Rafaela , Cortijo Anunciación , Moncusí-Moix Anna , Dalmases Mireia , Vargiu Eloisa , Blanco Jordi , Barbé Ferran , de Batlle Jordi
Published: August 2021

Background

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but treatment compliance is often unsatisfactory.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an intelligent monitoring system for improving CPAP compliance.

Methods

This is a prospective, open label, parallel, randomized controlled trial including 60 newly diagnosed patients with OSA requiring CPAP (Apnea–Hypopnea Index [AHI] >15) from Lleida, Spain. Participants were randomized (1:1) to standard management or the MiSAOS intelligent monitoring system, involving (1) early compliance detection, thus providing measures of patient’s CPAP compliance from the very first days of usage; (2) machine learning–based prediction of midterm future CPAP compliance; and (3) rule-based recommendations for the patient (app) and care team. Clinical and anthropometric variables, daytime sleepiness, and quality of life were recorded at baseline and after 6 months, together with patient’s compliance, satisfaction, and health care costs.

Results

Randomized patients had a mean age of 57 (SD 11) years, mean AHI of 50 (SD 27), and 13% (8/60) were women. Patients in the intervention arm had a mean (95% CI) of 1.14 (0.04-2.23) hours/day higher adjusted CPAP compliance than controls (P=.047). Patients’ satisfaction was excellent in both arms, and up to 88% (15/17) of intervention patients reported willingness to keep using the MiSAOS app in the future. No significant differences were found in costs (control: mean €90.2 (SD 53.14) (US $105.76 [SD 62.31]); intervention: mean €96.2 (SD 62.13) (US $112.70 [SD 72.85]); P=.70; €1=US $1.17 was considered throughout). Overall costs combined with results on compliance demonstrated cost-effectiveness in a bootstrap-based simulation analysis.

Conclusions

A machine learning–based intelligent monitoring system increased daily compliance, reported excellent patient satisfaction similar to that reported in usual care, and did not incur in a substantial increase in costs, thus proving cost-effectiveness. This study supports the implementation of intelligent eHealth frameworks for the management of patients with CPAP-treated OSA and confirms the value of patients’ empowerment in the management of chronic diseases.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03116958; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03116958
Understanding the Relationship Between Official and Social Information About Infectious Disease: Experimental Analysis
Authors: Assaf Elias , Bond Robert M , Cranmer Skyler J , Kaizar Eloise E , Ratliff Santoro Lauren , Shikano Susumu , Sivakoff David J
Published: August 2021

Background

Communicating official public health information about infectious diseases is complicated by the fact that individuals receive much of their information from their social contacts, either via interpersonal interaction or social media, which can be prone to bias and misconception.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the effect of public health campaigns and the effect of socially communicated health information on learning about diseases simultaneously. Although extant literature addresses the effect of one source of information (official or social) or the other, it has not addressed the simultaneous interaction of official information (OI) and social information (SI) in an experimental setting.

Methods

We used a series of experiments that exposed participants to both OI and structured SI about the symptoms and spread of hepatitis C over a series of 10 rounds of computer-based interactions. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a high, low, or control intensity of OI and to receive accurate or inaccurate SI about the disease.

Results

A total of 195 participants consented to participate in the study. Of these respondents, 186 had complete responses across all ten experimental rounds, which corresponds to a 4.6% (9/195) nonresponse rate. The OI high intensity treatment increases learning over the control condition for all symptom and contagion questions when individuals have lower levels of baseline knowledge (all P values ≤.04). The accurate SI condition increased learning across experimental rounds over the inaccurate condition (all P values ≤.01). We find limited evidence of an interaction between official and SI about infectious diseases.

Conclusions

This project demonstrates that exposure to official public health information increases individuals’ knowledge of the spread and symptoms of a disease. Socially shared information also facilitates the learning of accurate and inaccurate information, though to a lesser extent than exposure to OI. Although the effect of OI persists, preliminary results suggest that it can be degraded by persistent contradictory SI over time.
Automated Screening for Social Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety, and Depression From Objective Smartphone-Collected Data: Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Di Matteo Daniel , Fotinos Kathryn , Lokuge Sachinthya , Mason Geneva , Sternat Tia , Katzman Martin A , Rose Jonathan
Published: August 2021

Background

The lack of access to mental health care could be addressed, in part, through the development of automated screening technologies for detecting the most common mental health disorders without the direct involvement of clinicians. Objective smartphone-collected data may contain sufficient information about individuals’ behaviors to infer their mental states and therefore screen for anxiety disorders and depression.

Objective

The objective of this study is to compare how a single set of recognized and novel features, extracted from smartphone-collected data, can be used for predicting generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and depression.

Methods

An Android app was designed, together with a centralized server system, to collect periodic measurements of objective smartphone data. The types of data included samples of ambient audio, GPS location, screen state, and light sensor data. Subjects were recruited into a 2-week observational study in which the app was run on their personal smartphones. The subjects also completed self-report severity measures of SAD, GAD, and depression. The participants were 112 Canadian adults from a nonclinical population. High-level features were extracted from the data of 84 participants, and predictive models of SAD, GAD, and depression were built and evaluated.

Results

Models of SAD and depression achieved a significantly greater screening accuracy than uninformative models (area under the receiver operating characteristic means of 0.64, SD 0.13 and 0.72, SD 0.12, respectively), whereas models of GAD failed to be predictive. Investigation of the model coefficients revealed key features that were predictive of SAD and depression.

Conclusions

We demonstrate the ability of a common set of features to act as predictors in the models of both SAD and depression. This suggests that the types of behaviors that can be inferred from smartphone-collected data are broad indicators of mental health, which can be used to study, assess, and track psychopathology simultaneously across multiple disorders and diagnostic boundaries.
Logistics Workers Are a Key Factor for SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Brazilian Small Towns: Case-Control Study
Authors: Bernardes-Souza Breno , Júnior Saulo Ricardo Costa , Santos Carolina Ali , Neto Raimundo Marques Do Nascimento , Bottega Fernando De Carvalho , Godoy Daiana Carolina , Freitas Bruno Lourençoni , Silva Daniela Leite Garcia , Brinker Titus Josef , Nascimento Raiza Aranha , Tupinambás Unaí , Reis Alexandre Barbosa , Coura-Vital Wendel
Published: August 2021

Background

Data on how SARS-CoV-2 enters and spreads in a population are essential for guiding public policies.

Objective

This study seeks to understand the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in small Brazilian towns during the early phase of the epidemic and to identify core groups that can serve as the initial source of infection as well as factors associated with a higher risk of COVID-19.

Methods

Two population-based seroprevalence studies, one household survey, and a case-control study were conducted in two small towns in southeastern Brazil between May and June 2020. In the population-based studies, 400 people were evaluated in each town; there were 40 homes in the household survey, and 95 cases and 393 controls in the case-control study. SARS-CoV-2 serology testing was performed on participants, and a questionnaire was applied. Prevalence, household secondary infection rate, and factors associated with infection were assessed. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by logistic regression. Logistics worker was defined as an individual with an occupation focused on the transportation of people or goods and whose job involves traveling outside the town of residence at least once a week.

Results

Higher seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was observed in the town with a greater proportion of logistics workers. The secondary household infection rate was 49.1% (55/112), and it was observed that in most households (28/40, 70%) the index case was a logistics worker. The case-control study revealed that being a logistics worker (OR 18.0, 95% CI 8.4-38.7) or living with one (OR 6.9, 95% CI 3.3-14.5) increases the risk of infection. In addition, having close contact with a confirmed case (OR 13.4, 95% CI 6.6-27.3) and living with more than four people (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1-7.1) were also risk factors.

Conclusions

Our study shows a strong association between logistics workers and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and highlights the key role of these workers in the viral spread in small towns. These findings indicate the need to focus on this population to determine COVID-19 prevention and control strategies, including vaccination and sentinel genomic surveillance.
Peer Review of “Emergence of the First Strains of SARS-CoV-2 Lineage B.1.1.7 in Romania: Genomic Analysis” (Preprint)
Authors: Guo Lei
Published: August 2021

UNSTRUCTURED

This is a peer review report.
Hurdles to Medical Research during Graduation and The Way Forward – A Graduate’s Perspective (Preprint)
Authors: Mulkalwar Alhad
Published: August 2021

UNSTRUCTURED

History is replete with examples of noteworthy contributions by medical students. However, uptake of undergraduate research opportunities in India is reported to be disappointing, and little is known about the hurdles faced by students in undertaking research activities. This article provides an insight into the scope, hurdles and possible solutions with respect to pursuing research projects by medical undergraduate students.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Infodemic on Depression and Sleep Disorders: Focusing on Uncertainty Reduction Strategies and Level of Interpretation Theory (Preprint)
Authors: Jung Soyoung , Jung Sooin
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, information diffusion about the COVID-19 has attracted public attention through social media. The World Health Organization declared an infodemic of COVID-19 on February 15, 2020. Misinformation and disinformation, including overwhelming amounts of information about COVID-19 on social media, could promote adverse psychological effects.

OBJECTIVE

This study used the Psychological Distance and Level of Construal theory (CLT) to predict peoples’ negative psychological symptoms from social media usage. In this study, the CLT intended to show peoples’ psychological proximity to objects and events with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this study links the uncertainty reduction strategy (URS) and CLT for COVID-19–related preventive behaviors and affective reactions to assess their effects on mental health problems.

METHODS

A path model was tested (N=297) with data from a web-based survey to examine how social media usage behaviors are associated with URS and psychological distance with COVID-19 (based on the CLT), leading to preventive behaviors and affective reactions. Finally, the path model was used to examine how preventive behaviors and affective reactions are associated with mental health problems including anxiety and sleep disorder.

RESULTS

After measuring participants’ social media usage behavior, we found that an increase in general social media usage led to higher use of the URS and lower construal level on COVID-19. The URS is associated with preventive behaviors, but the CLT did not show any association with preventive behaviors; however, it increases affective reactions. Moreover, increased preventive behavior showed negative associations with symptoms of mental health problems; that is, depression and sleep disorder. However, the affective reaction tends to be positively associated with depression and sleep disorder. Owing to the infodemic of COVID-19, the psychological perception of the pandemic negatively influenced users’ mental health problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results imply that the information from social media usage heightened concerns and had a lower construal level; this does not facilitate taking preventive actions but rather reinforces the negative emotional reaction and mental health problems. Thus, higher URS usage is desirable.
StAMP

Stimulating physical activity in Solution Focused Group therapy for military (ex)personnel: Effect on therapy outcome measures (Preprint)
Authors: Klein M.G. , Kouwer K. , Leen N.A. , op ten Noort C.B. , Geuze S.G. , de Weijer A.D.
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

Physical activity interventions with wearable devices may have beneficial effects on mental-health outcomes. Only a small number of studies explored the application of such devices in mental healthcare. Therefore, more evidence is required to understand its potential effectiveness and for whom it might be most beneficial. Furthermore, barely any research has been conducted on using wearable devices in relation to physical activity within a group therapy.

OBJECTIVE

This pioneering study therefore aimed to examine the effects of wearing an activity tracker on treatment outcome and stimulating physical activity in an existing group therapy.

METHODS

Participants with mental illness enrolled in a 6 to 12 weeks solution-focused group therapy (SFG) were given a Fitbit Charge 3 combined with a goalsetting protocol. Outcome measures (COPE-EASY & ORS) were assessed pre- and post-treatment. Comparisons were made between an experimental group, wearing a Fitbit, and a control group that consisted of participants who completed the SFG without the Fitbit. Additionally, physical activity levels were objectively assessed for the experimental group at baseline and after each weekly SFG-session using the Fitbit Charge 3.

RESULTS

Although both experimental group and control group showed a significant improvement in therapy outcome measures, no significant effect on active coping was found between both groups. Furthermore, physical activity during SFG did not increase.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal no direct benefits of wearing a Fitbit for mental health, nor does it stimulate physically active behavior during SFG combined with a goal-setting protocol.

CLINICALTRIAL

This study was not subject to the national Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO). This has been declared by the Medical Research Ethics Committee Utrecht (MREC), therefore medical-ethical review was not required.