bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of change in brief treatments for borderline personality disorder: a protocol of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kramer Ueli , Grandjean Loris , Beuchat Hélène , Kolly Stéphane , Conus Philippe , de Roten Yves , Draganski Bogdan , Despland Jean-Nicolas
Published: April 2020

Background

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the most frequent, most debilitating and lethal mental conditions and is associated with a serious burden of disease. Treatment for patients with BPD involves structured psychotherapy, and may involve brief psychiatric treatment as first-line intervention. No controlled study has assessed the effectiveness of such brief intervention. Whereas most psychotherapy studies in patients with BPD focus on the effectiveness of the intervention, we still lack an understanding of how and why these effects are produced from a patient process perspective. It is therefore of utmost importance to study the treatment-underlying mechanisms of change. The present study plans to apply novel measurement methods for assessing change in two central psychobiological processes in BPD: emotion and socio-cognitive processing. The study uses theory-driven and ecologically valid experimental tasks, which take the patient’s individual experience as the anchor, by integrating methodology from psychotherapy process and neurofunctional imagery research.

Methods

The aim of this two-arm, randomized controlled study is to test the effects (i.e., symptom reduction) and the underlying mechanisms of change associated with a brief psychiatric treatment (10 sessions over 4 months), compared with treatment as usual. Participants (N = 80 patients with BPD) undergo assessments at four points (intake, 2 months, discharge, and 12-month follow up). In addition to symptom measures, individuals undergo a 2-step assessment for the potential mechanisms of change (i.e., emotion and socio-cognitive processing): (1) behavioral and (2) (for a sub-sample) neurofunctional. We hypothesize that change in the mechanisms explains the treatment effects.

Discussion

This study uses an easy-to-implement treatment of BPD, and a sophisticated assessment procedure to demonstrate the critical role of psychobiological change in emotion and socio-cognitive processing in brief treatments. It will help increase the effectiveness of brief treatment for BPD and help diminish the societal burden of disease related to BPD, in these early stages of treatment.

Trial registration {2}

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03717818. Registered on 24 October 2018). Protocol version {3} number 2 from 9 February 2018.
Spatial modelling of the infestation indices of Aedes aegypti: an innovative strategy for vector control actions in developing countries
Authors: Cavalcante Ana Carolina Policarpo , de Olinda Ricardo Alves , Gomes Alexandrino , Traxler John , Smith Matt , Santos Silvana
Published: April 2020

Background

Larval indices such as the house index (HI), Breteau index (BI) and container index (CI) are widely used to interpret arbovirus vector density in surveillance programmes. However, the use of such data as an alarm signal is rarely considered consciously when planning programmes. The present study aims to investigate the spatial distribution pattern of the infestation ofAedes aegypti, considering the data available in theAe. aegyptiInfestation Index Rapid Survey (LIRAa) for the city of Campina Grande, Paraíba State in Brazil.

Methods

The global and local Moranʼs indices were used in spatial analysis to measure the effects of spatial dependencies between neighbourhoods, using secondary data related to HI and BI gathered from surveillance service.

Results

Our analysis shows that there is a predominance of high rates of mosquito infestation, placing Campina Grande at a near-constant risk of arbovirus outbreaks and epidemics. A highly significant Moranʼs index value (P< 0.001) was observed, indicating a positive spatial dependency between the neighbourhoods in Campina Grande. Using the Moran mapping and LISA mapping, the autocorrelation patterns ofAe. aegyptiinfestation rates among neighbourhoods have revealed hotpots that should be considered a priority to preventive actions of the entomological surveillance services. Predominance of high infestation rates and clearer relationships of these between neighbourhoods were observed between the months of May and July, the period with the highest rainfall in the city.

Conclusions

This analysis is an innovative strategy capable of providing detailed information on infestation locations to the relevant public health authorities, which will enable a more efficient allocation of resources, particularly for arbovirus prevention.
Is routine post-sleeve gastrografin needed? Profile of 98 cases
Authors: Assakran Bandar Saad , Alromaih Abdullah Homood , Alashkar Abdulrahman Haitham , AlGhasham Fatimah Salem , Alqunai Mansur Suliman
Published: April 2020

Objective

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is one of the most commonly performed bariatric procedures. Some surgeons still perform routine post-sleeve gastrografin (RSG) study believing that it would detect post-LSG complications, especially leak. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of RSG by considering the cost of the study, length of hospital stay and complications-related costs RSG could prevent.

Results

A total of 98 eligible patients were included. Of them, 54 patients underwent RSG and 44 did not. Excluding the cost of LSG procedure, the average cost for those who underwent RSG and those who did not in Saudi Riyal (£) was 5193.15 (1054.77) and 4222.27 (857.58), respectively. The average length of stay (ALOS) was practically the same regardless of whether or not the patient underwent RSG. 90.8% (n = 89) of all patients stayed for 3 days. None of the patients developed postoperative bleeding, stenosis or leak. The mean weight, body mass index (BMI) and percentage weight loss (PWL) 6 months postoperatively were found to be 87.71 kg (SD = 17.51), 33.89 kg/m2 (SD = 7.29) and 26.41% (SD = 9.79), respectively. The PWL 6 months postoperatively was 23.99% (SD = 8.47) for females and 30.57 (SD = 10.6) for males (p = 0.01).
Diastolic shock index and clinical outcomes in patients with septic shock
Authors: Ospina-Tascón Gustavo A. , Teboul Jean-Louis , Hernandez Glenn , Alvarez Ingrid , Sánchez-Ortiz Alvaro I. , Calderón-Tapia Luis E. , Manzano-Nunez Ramiro , Quiñones Edgardo , Madriñan-Navia Humberto J. , Ruiz Juan E. , Aldana José L. , Bakker Jan
Published: April 2020

Background

Loss of vascular tone is a key pathophysiological feature of septic shock. Combination of gradual diastolic hypotension and tachycardia could reflect more serious vasodilatory conditions. We sought to evaluate the relationships between heart rate (HR) to diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) ratios and clinical outcomes during early phases of septic shock.

Methods

Diastolic shock index (DSI) was defined as the ratio between HR and DAP. DSI calculated just before starting vasopressors (Pre-VPs/DSI) in a preliminary cohort of 337 patients with septic shock (January 2015 to February 2017) and at vasopressor start (VPs/DSI) in 424 patients with septic shock included in a recent randomized controlled trial (ANDROMEDA-SHOCK; March 2017 to April 2018) was partitioned into five quantiles to estimate the relative risks (RR) of death with respect to the mean risk of each population (assumed to be 1). Matched HR and DAP subsamples were created to evaluate the effect of the individual components of the DSI on RRs. In addition, time-course of DSI and interaction between DSI and vasopressor dose (DSI*NE.dose) were compared between survivors and non-survivors from both populations, while ROC curves were used to identify variables predicting mortality. Finally, as exploratory observation, effect of early start of vasopressors was evaluated at each Pre-VPs/DSI quintile from the preliminary cohort.

Results

Risk of death progressively increased at gradual increments of Pre-VPs/DSI or VPs/DSI (One-way ANOVA, p < 0.001). Progressive DAP decrease or HR increase was associated with higher mortality risks only when DSI concomitantly increased. Areas under the ROC curve for Pre-VPs/DSI, SOFA and initial lactate were similar, while mean arterial pressure and systolic shock index showed poor performances to predict mortality. Time-course of DSI and DSI*NE.dose was significantly higher in non-survivors from both populations (repeated-measures ANOVA, p < 0.001). Very early start of vasopressors exhibited an apparent benefit at higher Pre-VPs/DSI quintile.

Conclusions

DSI at pre-vasopressor and vasopressor start points might represent a very early identifier of patients at high risk of death. Isolated DAP or HR values do not clearly identify such risk. Usefulness of DSI to trigger or to direct therapeutic interventions in early resuscitation of septic shock need to be addressed in future studies.
Synchronization of stochastic multiple weighted coupled networks with Markovian switching
Authors: Yao Xupan , Zhang Chunmei , Xia Dan
Published: April 2020

We investigate the synchronization of stochastic multiple weighted coupled networks with Markovian switching (SMWCNMS). By designing an appropriate controller, we obtain several sufficient criteria ensuring the pth moment exponential synchronization and almost surely exponential synchronization for SMWCNMS based on graph theory. Moreover, we also investigate the pth moment asymptotical synchronization and almost surely asymptotical synchronization for SMWCNMS. Finally, we provide a numerical example to illustrate the availability of the proposed synchronization criteria.
Economic growth, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions in the E7 countries: a bootstrap ARDL bound test
Authors: Tong Teng , Ortiz Jaime , Xu Chuanhua , Li Fangjhy
Published: April 2020

Background

International awareness of the impact of global warming and climate change is increasing. Developing countries face the task of achieving sustainable economic growth while also improving the efficiency of their energy consumption. The E7 countries (Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, People’s Republic of China, Russia, and Turkey) are all highly concerned with the promotion of carbon-emission-reduction strategies.

Methods

This research uses a bootstrap autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bound test with structural breaks to examine the cointegration and causality relations between economic growth, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the E7 countries.

Results

There is no cointegration between economic growth, energy consumption, and CO2emissions for People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Turkey. Evidence of cointegration is found for Brazil when CO2emissions are the dependent variable and for India and Russia when energy consumption is the dependent variable. For all of the E7 countries except Indonesia, short-run Granger causality was found to exist from energy consumption to CO2emissions and from economic growth to CO2emissions for Brazil, India, Mexico, and People’s Republic of China. Short-run Granger causality was also found from economic growth to energy consumption for Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and People’s Republic of China, and from CO2emissions to energy consumption for all E7 countries.

Conclusions

The results consistently show that energy consumption is the main cause of CO2emissions, which has led to the emergence of global warming problems. Increases in CO2emissions compel the E7 countries to develop sound policies on energy consumption and environmental pollution.
Genetic and metabolic links between the murine microbiome and memory
Authors: Mao Jian-Hua , Kim Young-Mo , Zhou Yan-Xia , Hu Dehong , Zhong Chenhan , Chang Hang , Brislawn Colin J. , Fansler Sarah , Langley Sasha , Wang Yunshan , Peisl B. Y. Loulou , Celniker Susan E. , Threadgill David W. , Wilmes Paul , Orr Galya , Metz Thomas O. , Jansson Janet K. , Snijders Antoine M.
Published: April 2020

Background

Recent evidence has linked the gut microbiome to host behavior via the gut–brain axis [1–3]; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unexplored. Here, we determined the links between host genetics, the gut microbiome and memory using the genetically defined Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse cohort, complemented with microbiome and metabolomic analyses in conventional and germ-free (GF) mice.

Results

A genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) identified 715 of 76,080 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were significantly associated with short-term memory using the passive avoidance model. The identified SNPs were enriched in genes known to be involved in learning and memory functions. By 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the gut microbial community in the same CC cohort, we identified specific microorganisms that were significantly correlated with longer latencies in our retention test, including a positive correlation with Lactobacillus. Inoculation of GF mice with individual species of Lactobacillus (L. reuteri F275, L. plantarum BDGP2 or L. brevis BDGP6) resulted in significantly improved memory compared to uninoculated or E. coli DH10B inoculated controls. Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed significantly higher levels of several metabolites, including lactate, in the stools of Lactobacillus-colonized mice, when compared to GF control mice. Moreover, we demonstrate that dietary lactate treatment alone boosted memory in conventional mice. Mechanistically, we show that both inoculation with Lactobacillus or lactate treatment significantly increased the levels of the neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), in the hippocampus of the mice.

Conclusion

Together, this study provides new evidence for a link between Lactobacillus and memory and our results open possible new avenues for treating memory impairment disorders using specific gut microbial inoculants and/or metabolites.
Accuracy of a reverse dot blot hybridization assay for simultaneous detection of the resistance of four anti-tuberculosis drugs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from China
Authors: Wan Li , Guo Qian , Wei Jian-Hao , Liu Hai-Can , Li Ma-Chao , Jiang Yi , Zhao Li-Li , Zhao Xiu-Qin , Liu Zhi-Guang , Wan Kang-Lin , Li Gui-Lian , Guan Cha-Xiang
Published: April 2020

Background

Drug resistant tuberculosis poses a great challenge for tuberculosis control worldwide. Timely determination of drug resistance and effective individual treatment are essential for blocking the transmission of drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We aimed to establish and evaluate the accuracy of a reverse dot blot hybridization (RDBH) assay to simultaneously detect the resistance of four anti-tuberculosis drugs in M. tuberculosis isolated in China.

Methods

In this study, we applied a RDBH assay to simultaneously detect the resistance of rifampicin (RIF), isoniazid (INH), streptomycin (SM) and ethambutol (EMB) in 320 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates and compared the results to that from phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) and sequencing. The RDBH assay was designed to test up to 42 samples at a time. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to compute the statistical measures of the RDBH assay using the phenotypic DST or sequencing as the gold standard method, and Kappa identity test was used to determine the consistency between the RDBH assay and the phenotypic DST or sequencing.

Results

The results showed that the concordances between phenotypic DST and RDBH assay were 95% for RIF, 92.8% for INH, 84.7% for SM, 77.2% for EMB and the concordances between sequencing and RDBH assay were 97.8% for RIF, 98.8% for INH, 99.1% for SM, 93.4% for EMB. Compared to the phenotypic DST results, the sensitivity and specificity of the RDBH assay for resistance detection were 92.4 and 98.5% for RIF, 90.3 and 97.3% for INH, 77.4 and 91.5% for SM, 61.4 and 85.7% for EMB, respectively; compared to sequencing, the sensitivity and specificity of the RDBH assay were 97.7 and 97.9% for RIF, 97.9 and 100.0% for INH, 97.8 and 100.0% for SM, 82.6 and 99.1% for EMB, respectively. The turnaround time of the RDBH assay was 7 h for testing 42 samples.

Conclusions

Our data suggested that the RDBH assay could serve as a rapid and efficient method for testing the resistance of M. tuberculosis against RIF, INH, SM and EMB, enabling early administration of appropriate treatment regimens to the affected drug resistant tuberculosis patients.
Application of machine learning in ophthalmic imaging modalities
Authors: Tong Yan , Lu Wei , Yu Yue , Shen Yin
Published: April 2020

In clinical ophthalmology, a variety of image-related diagnostic techniques have begun to offer unprecedented insights into eye diseases based on morphological datasets with millions of data points. Artificial intelligence (AI), inspired by the human multilayered neuronal system, has shown astonishing success within some visual and auditory recognition tasks. In these tasks, AI can analyze digital data in a comprehensive, rapid and non-invasive manner. Bioinformatics has become a focus particularly in the field of medical imaging, where it is driven by enhanced computing power and cloud storage, as well as utilization of novel algorithms and generation of data in massive quantities. Machine learning (ML) is an important branch in the field of AI. The overall potential of ML to automatically pinpoint, identify and grade pathological features in ocular diseases will empower ophthalmologists to provide high-quality diagnosis and facilitate personalized health care in the near future. This review offers perspectives on the origin, development, and applications of ML technology, particularly regarding its applications in ophthalmic imaging modalities.
Correction to: Molecular characterization and expression analysis of hepc1 and hepc2 in three tilapia species collected from Lake Manzala
Authors: Mahrous Karima F. , Abd El - Kader Heba A. M. , Mabrouk Dalia M. , Aboelenin Mohamad M. , Osman Noha M. , Khalil Wagdy K. B. , Hassanane Mohamed Saber
Published: April 2020

After publication of the original article [1], we were notified that Figure 1 is incorrect. The corresponding author uploaded the wrong figure by mistake.
Perinatal mental health around the world: priorities for research and service development in France
Authors: Sutter-Dallay Anne-Laure , Glangeaud-Freudenthal Nine M.-C. , Gressier Florence
Published: April 2020

France has a long tradition of concern for maternal and perinatal mental health. However, the national organisation of psychiatric care does not yet provide structured guidelines on the organisation of perinatal psychiatric care. This paper provides an update on existing resources and their linkage to primary care and obstetric and paediatric services, as well as a review of current and future national priorities that are under development.
Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Metastatic Prostate Cancer With DNA Repair Gene Alterations
Authors: Mota Jose Mauricio , Barnett Ethan , Nauseef Jones T. , Nguyen Bastien , Stopsack Konrad H. , Wibmer Andreas , Flynn Jessica R. , Heller Glenn , Danila Daniel C. , Rathkopf Dana , Slovin Susan , Kantoff Philip W. , Scher Howard I. , Morris Michael J. , Schultz Nikolaus , Solit David B. , Abida Wassim
Published: April 2020

PURPOSE

Alterations in DNA damage repair (DDR) genes occur in up to 25% of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and may sensitize to platinum chemotherapy. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy in DDR-mutant (DDRmut) mCRPC.

METHODS

We assessed response to platinum chemotherapy based on DDR gene alteration status in men with mCRPC who underwent tumor and germline genomic profiling. Patients with deleterious alterations in a gene panel that included BRCA2, BRCA1, ATM, PALB2, FANCA, and CDK12 were considered DDRmut.

RESULTS

A total of 109 patients with mCRPC received platinum-based chemotherapy between October 2013 and July 2018. Sixty-four of 109 patients were taxane refractory and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) naïve. Within this subset, DDRmut was found in 16/64 patients (25%) and was associated with an increased likelihood of achieving a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline of 50% or more from baseline (PSA50; odds ratio, 7.0; 95% CI, 1.9 to 29.2). Time on platinum chemotherapy tended to be longer in the DDRmut group (median, 3.0 v 1.6 months; hazard ratio, 0.55, 95% CI, 0.29 to 1.24). No difference in survival was detected. Of 8 patients with DDRmut disease who received platinum-based therapy after a PARPi, 3/7 evaluable patients had radiographic partial response or stable disease, and 2/7 had a PSA50 response. None of 4 patients with ATM mutations had platinum responses regardless of prior PARPi exposure.

CONCLUSION

Patients with DDRmut disease had better response to platinum-based chemotherapy, suggesting that DDR status warrants prospective validation as a potential biomarker for patient selection. Responses to platinum chemotherapy were observed in BRCA-altered prostate cancer after PARPi progression. Additional studies are needed to determine the predictive role of individual genes on platinum sensitivity in the context of other clinical and genomic factors.
Thyroid Cancer Incidence in India Between 2006 and 2014 and Impact of Overdiagnosis
Authors: Panato Chiara , Vaccarella Salvatore , Dal Maso Luigino , Basu Partha , Franceschi Silvia , Serraino Diego , Wang Kevin , Lei Feitong , Chen Quan , Huang Bin , Mathew Aju
Published: April 2020

Context/Objective

Increases of thyroid cancer (TC) incidence emerged in the past several decades in several countries. This study aimed to estimate time trends of TC incidence in India and the proportion of TC cases potentially attributable to overdiagnosis by sex, age, and area.

Design

TC cases aged 0 to 74 years reported to Indian cancer registries during 2006 through 2014 were included. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) and TC overdiagnosis were estimated by sex, period, age, and area.

Results

Between 2006-2008 and 2012-2014, the ASRs for TC in India increased from 2.5 to 3.5/100,000 women (+37%) and from 1.0 to 1.3/100,000 men (+27%). However, up to a 10-fold difference was found among regions in both sexes. Highest ASRs emerged in Thiruvananthapuram (14.6/100,000 women and 4.1/100,000 men in 2012-2014), with 93% increase in women and 64% in men compared with 2006-2008. No evidence of overdiagnosis was found in Indian men. Conversely, overdiagnosis accounted for 51% of TC in Indian women: 74% in those aged < 35 years, 50% at ages 35 to 54 years, and 30% at ages 55 to 64 years. In particular, 80% of TC overdiagnosis in women emerged in Thiruvananthapuram, whereas none or limited evidence of overdiagnosis emerged in Kamrup, Dibrugarh, Bhopal, or Sikkim.

Conclusions

Relatively high and increasing TC ASRs emerged in Indian regions where better access to health care was reported. In India, as elsewhere, new strategies are needed to discourage opportunistic screening practice, particularly in young women, and to avoid unnecessary and expensive treatments. Present results may serve as a warning also for other transitioning countries.
Molecular Pathways Involved in Aerobic Exercise Training Enhance Vascular Relaxation
Authors: PAULA SULIANA M. , FERNANDES TIAGO , COUTO GISELE K. , JORDÃO MARIA T. , OLIVEIRA EDILAMAR M. , MICHELINI LISETE C. , ROSSONI LUCIANA VENTURINI
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The beneficial effects of exercise training on the cardiovascular system are well known. Because our knowledge of exercise-induced vascular function is still limited, we aimed to uncover the molecular mechanisms conditioning the improved vascular relaxation in muscular arteries.

Methods

Male Wistar–Kyoto rats with the same ability to run on a treadmill after maximal exercise tests were allocated to the following two groups: trained (Tr) (treadmill, 50%–60% of maximal capacity, 5 d·wk−1) and untrained (UnTr). After 13 wk, the femoral arteries were harvested and used for functional, structural, and molecular analyses.

Results

Acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation and nitric oxide (NO) production were enhanced in arteries from Tr rats compared with UnTr rats. Tr arteries exhibited reduced microRNA (miRNA)-124a expression (whose target is caveolin-1), increased the density of caveolae aligned along the sarcolemma and reduced ACh-induced relaxation in the presence of methyl-β-cyclodextrin, which disrupts caveolae. Higher endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression with lower miRNA-155 expression and the posttranslational modification of eNOS (phosphorylation of stimulatory Ser1177 and dephosphorylation of inhibitory Thr495) by the PI3-kinase/Akt1/2/3 pathway also contributed to the higher NO production induced by exercise training. Furthermore, increased Cu/Zn- and extracellular-superoxide dismutase expression and enhanced effects of their pharmacological scavenger activity on the ACh-induced response were observed in Tr arteries.

Conclusions

The results of the present study provide a molecular basis for exercise-induced NO bioavailability in healthy femoral arteries. Increased caveolae domain and eNOS expression/activity in Tr arteries are associated with downregulation of miRNA-124a and -155, as well as are involved with higher antioxidant defense, subsequently inducing a favorable endothelium-dependent milieu in Tr arteries.
Effect of Strength Training on Glycemic Control and Adiponectin in Diabetic Children
Authors: PETSCHNIG RENATE , WAGNER THOMAS , ROBUBI ARMIN , BARON RAMON
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the effect of isolated supervised progressive resistance training with duration of more than 32 wk on muscle strength, metabolic control and adiponectin.

Method

Twenty-one children with type 1 diabetes mellitus were separated into an intervention group (IG) (n = 11 age 11.0 ± 0.8) and a control group (CG) (n = 10 age 11.30 ± 0.7) without training to control for the effect of progressive resistance training on muscle strength, hemoglobin (HbA)1C and adiponectin. All parameters were assessed before and after a period of 32 wk. No attempt was made to change diet and the daily behaviors during the study in both groups.

Results

After a period of 32 wk, upper and lower limb strength increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the IG, whereas no changes occurred in the CG. In the IG, HbA1C decreased significantly after 32 wk but not after 17 wk (P < 0.00), whereas HbA1C increased in the CG (P < 0.007). Adiponectin increased significantly (P < 0.000) only in the IG. Self-monitored blood glucose levels, measured before and after each session, showed a significant reduction (P < 0.00) of 26.5% ± 4.4% after each session. Effect size (ES) for the strength training on limb strength was medium (d = 0.464 to d = 0.661), the ES for strength training on HbA1C (d = −1.292) and the ES for strength training on adiponectin (d = 1.34) was large. There was no hypoglycemia as the result of training.

Conclusions

An isolated supervised progressive resistance training two times a week in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus must last at least 32 wk to get a significant decrease in blood glucose level HbA1C. In addition, exercise-induced increase in adiponectin improves insulin sensitivity.
Development of Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay for humoral immuneresponse and infection monitoring of anthrax
Authors: NOURI H. R. , RAZZAZ H. , TAGHDIRI M. , TADAYON K. , BANIHASHEMI S. R.
Published: April 2020

Immune assays were taken into consideration to diagnose and quantify metabolites such as antigen and antibody. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs), which are used to detect antigens and antibodies, generated several periods of infectious and vaccination conditions. There is an extensive range of commercial infectious disease ELISA kits useful for the detection of human and animal IgG, IgA, IgM antibodies and microorganism antigens. Anthrax is one of the serious infectious diseases caused by rod-shaped, gram-positive bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. Subunit or attenuated vaccines applied against anthrax disease increase the antibody against the Protective Antigen (PA) which has a critical role as a toxin of B. anthracis. Herein, the ELISA was developed using PA domain 4 and anthrax Lethal Factor to detect IgG antibody in serum. Besides, the level of anti-LF antibodies were determined as a complementary test to measure variance in antibody titers associated with vaccination or infection that leads to detection of anthrax in livestock. The results show that we developed high-quality ELISA kit that can be used to test immunogenicity of vaccines and infections in mice. We tried to develop the Anti- PA4 ELISA kit and conduct the validation studies to evaluate the fluctuation level of the antibody in the anthrax vaccine and distinction between disease and vaccination in mice.
Approaching Ethics via Literature: A Case Study from Spain
Authors: Godsland Shelley
Published: April 2020

This article proposes that undergraduate study of a spy novel can function to help learners to query what constitutes ethical human conduct. It overviews current and recent scholarly literature on the usefulness of fiction in the teaching of ethical considerations; proposes a broad-based notion of ‘ethics’ relevant in the context of the literary studies classroom; and then suggests sample approaches to a novel that is proposed as a case study (María Dueñas’ El tiempo entre costuras [2009]).
Psychoeducation and Philosophy in a Literature Class – the Case of "Five Hours with Mario" by Miguel Delibes
Authors: Topolska Ewelina
Published: April 2020

The paper presents a novel approach towards the analysis of a classic Spanish 20th century novel, Five Hours with Mario by Miguel Delibes. The author of the paper proposes two interpretative frameworks, of which The Moral Foundations Theory developed recently by Jonathan Haidt is the main one, and Karl Popper’s concept of the open and closed society, a complementary one. The interdisciplinary reading of Delibes’ masterpiece should help students and scholars revive and update their relationship to this worthwhile piece of fiction, as well as provide them with theoretical tools for an in-depth understanding of the differences between the moral outlook of liberals and conservatives, tools applicable both on the level of fiction, as well as in reality.
Ku czytelnikowi zaangażowanemu. Hiszpański teatr i komiks w procesie kształtowania krytycznego odbiorcy kultury
Authors: Nowak Olga
Published: April 2020

Towards an Engaged Reader: The Spanish Theatre and Comic in the Process of Educating Critical Cultural Observers Political, social and historical engagement has always been one of the preferred ways of being for writers and intellectuals. Over the past few decades, we have been able to observe how social engagement of artists and writers seems to express itself through two forms that stay at the frontier of literature: theatre and comic. Although the Spanish theatre was conscious of the importance of its social commitment back in the mid-70s of the last century, it wasn’t until several decades later when the comic book for adults engaged in the moral task of acknowledging and dealing with the collective trauma of the Spanish Civil War and the Franco’s regime. Both have then become, in fact, testimony genres. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the richness of learning experience that can be generated from bringing these two genres into the Spanish literature classrooms. The Author analyses the themes and functions of both: comic and theatre, understood here as a dramatic text as well as dramatic performance, and suggests that they share a number of similarities when it comes to their subjects and poetics. By resorting to the visual code, theatre and comic are able to provoke an immediate affective reaction, thus simultaneously opening a space for commentary and reception. Consequently, the confluent impact of image and representation can contribute to the creation of a conscious reader capable of engaging in deft social criticism, especially in the case of an alien cultural environment.
Intercomprehension – A Mere Dream or a New Way of Learning in Globalised World?
Authors: Dzik Dominika
Published: April 2020

Nowadays, due to the increased mobility of people and a rapidly developing global trade, a knowledge of more than one foreign language is indispensable. However, mastering several languages throughout a lifetime seems to be an unattainable goal. One of the possible solutions to this problem is the use of English for global communication. But owing to the fact that in the European Union, considerable emphasis is placed on preserving linguistic and cultural diversity, there is a need to increase intercommunication between people speaking different languages. The present paper discusses the concept of intercomprehension, which is recently proven to be the most effective approach to language learning. Its main aim is to encourage students to rely on the similarities that exist between languages belonging to the same family in order to be able to deal with comprehension problems. This concept focuses primarily on mastering receptive skills, which are crucial in the process of decoding the messages expressed in an unknown system. The paper also reports on the advantages of intercomprehension and methodology that could be applied to the process of developing each individuals’ competence.
Świadomy i nieświadomy przekaz na temat kultury korporacyjnej w poradnikach redagowania korespondencji handlowej w języku francuskim
Authors: Gajewska Elżbieta
Published: April 2020

A Conscious and Unconscious Message about Corporate Culture in the Guides for Editing Commercial Correspondence in French The ability to edit official and commercial correspondence – once letters, now more often emails – is an important element of professional competence for a significant proportion of employees. They usually acquire the necessary skills through the use of correspondence editing guides (in their native or foreign language) or ready-made letter models. On the example of the analysis of selected business correspondence editing guides, we will try to show that in addition to providing specific skills useful in a workplace, these guides can convey (part 2) or shape (part 3) specific visions of social relations.
Literatura i literaturoznawstwo regionów
Authors: Browarny Wojciech
Published: April 2020

Regional Literature and Literary Studies: Towards Polylogue, Openness and Commitment

The paper discusses the phenomenon of “decentralization” of literature and literary culture in Poland after 1989. The author focuses his attention on regional cultural magazines, literature in selected regions as well as on regionalism in literary studies. He analyzes their relationship with the activation and empowerment of local intellectual and literary communities, the transformation of their social identity and the revision of history and collective memory. Literature and literary studies of the regions, according to the author, contributed to the transformation of Polish culture, creating in it a space for the voice of minorities, migrants, expellees and inhabitants of the borderlands.
Exchangeable Processes: de Finetti’s Theorem Revisited
Authors: Lehrer Ehud , Shaiderman Dimitry
Published: April 2020

A sequence of random variables is exchangeable if the joint distribution of any finite subsequence is invariant to permutations. De Finetti’s representation theorem states that every exchangeable infinite sequence is a convex combination of independent and identically distributed processes. In this paper, we explore the relationship between exchangeability and frequency-dependent posteriors. We show that any stationary process is exchangeable if and only if its posteriors depend only on the empirical frequency of past events.
The influence of laterality, sex and family history on clubfoot severity
Authors: Salvatori Giada , Bettuzzi Camilla , Abati Caterina Novella , Cucca Giuseppe , Zanardi Alessandro , Lampasi Manuele
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Epidemiological studies on idiopathic clubfeet have shown a typical distribution consistent across ethnic groups: bilaterality in about 50% of cases and a male to female ratio of 2:1. Whether this corresponds also to differences in severity according to laterality and sex has been poorly evaluated. As well, the correlation between family history and severity has not been previously investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate how laterality, sex and family history influence severity and treatment.

Methods

In all, 97 infants with idiopathic clubfoot (81 male, 16 female; 55 unilateral, 42 bilateral; 19 with a first or second-degree relative affected) consecutively treated with Ponseti method were prospectively enrolled. Initial severity (according to Dimeglio and Pirani scores) and treatment (number of casts and need for tenotomy) were analyzed in the different subgroups.

Results

Initial severity according to Pirani (p = 0.020) and Dimeglio score (p = 0.006), number of casts (p = 0.000) and tenotomy (p = 0.045) were significantly higher in bilateral than in unilateral cases. In bilateral cases, a significant correlation was found between the right and left foot of each patient in terms of initial severity, number of casts and tenotomy performed. No statistically significant difference was found according to sex and family history.

Conclusions

This study has confirmed the different behaviour of bilateral cases reported by previous studies; bilateral cases are more severe and show similar features in their right and left foot. This could be the result of different pathogenic mechanisms, likely on a genetic basis. Sex and family history did not seem to influence severity.

Level of Evidence

Level of evidence II
DE SENHORES A ESCRAVOS DAS IMAGENS: O HOMEM, A FOTOGRAFIA DIGITAL E O DOMÍNIO DAS IMAGENS TÉCNICAS
Authors: Augusto Gilucci
Published: April 2020

O texto, discute a fotografia digital enquanto imagem técnica, alguns de seusaspectos e usos na atual sociedade e para tanto, primeiramente, traça-se umbreve panorama do termo imagem, da pré-história, passando pelos mitos deNarcíso e de Sísifo, até chegar ao advento da fotografia no século XIX, para logodepois, também abordar algumas das ideias de Vilém Flusser e sua Filosofia daCaixa Preta, que possibilitará uma discussão a respeito da fotografia digital e suasinfluências, de forma que possamos refletir sobre um possivel “antropocentrismoimagético”.
A CONSTRUÇÃO DA IMAGEM IDENTITÁRIA NEGRA DENTRO DO PROCESSO DE EDUCAÇÃO: A ILUSTRAÇÃO E A INFLUÊNCIA DO BLACKFACE NA FORMAÇÃO DESTE CONCEITO
Authors: Santos Jéssica Menezes de Araújo dos
Published: April 2020

O presente estudo visa investigar como a representação gráfica da figura humana,através da ilustração na literatura e nos materiais paradidáticos infantis, contribuem para a formação identitária da criança. A investigação foi construída levando-se emconsideração a abordagem e, principalmente, a representação gráfica dos conceitos de raça e identidade. Tal intento foi proposto a fim de promover questionamentos sobre a representatividade do negro na sociedade e seu registro imagético no processo de ensino aprendizagem, através da ilustração e discurso onde estão representados pessoas negras
A LEITURA DE RÓTULOS DE ALIMENTOS NA PERSPECTIVA MULTIMODAL: CONTRIBUIÇÕES PARA O LETRAMENTO EM MARKETING
Authors: Macedo José Osmar Rios
Published: April 2020

O presente artigo descreve uma atividade didática cujo objetivo foiapresentar práticas sociais de leitura com o intuito de desenvolver oletramento em marketing em alunos do 9º ano do Ensino Fundamental, deuma escola pública municipal de Feira de Santana, Bahia. Este estudo éparte da dissertação do Mestrado Profissional em Letras – PROFLETRAS –da Universidade do Estado da Bahia (UNEB) e caracteriza-se como umaproposta didática para o ensino de língua portuguesa, com ênfase naconstrução de sentido na leitura de textos publicitários impressosmultimodais. Como fundamentação teórica, valemo-nos dos estudos deRojo (2012), Street (2012) e Kress; Van Leeuwen (1196).Metodologicamente, adotamos o modelo de sequências didáticas de Dolz eSchneuwly (2004). Os resultados revelaram que os SP demonstramentender que os aspectos relacionados à publicidade sobressaem-se emrelação aos obrigatórios nos rótulos de alimentos
ALI JAZ UM BEM CULTURAL: O CEMITÉRIO PIEDADE DE FEIRA DE SANTANA
Authors: Junior Alfredo Barbosa de Oliveira
Published: April 2020

Esta comunicação apresenta as primeiras apreensões resultantes de umapesquisa desenvolvida no PPGDCI da UEFS, contemplando como objeto deestudo o Cemitério Piedade, de Feira de Santana, a partir do reconhecimento dasua importância como bem cultural, cuja configuração plástica tem na artefunerária sua melhor expressão. Metodologicamente desenvolvido a partir de umlevantamento bibliográfico, este texto teve por objetivo refletir acerca do contextodo surgimento do Cemitério Piedade e a sua recente desvalorização como bemcultural. Tomando-o como integrante do patrimônio cultural da sociedade feirensee intimamente vinculado ao desenvolvimento da cidade, apresenta-se algunsargumentos ilustrativos das ameaças postas à memória coletiva e o riscosubconsequente de seu esquecimento diante da obsessiva exaltação damodernidade urbana que, atualmente, tem se reproduzido como expressão dedesenvolvimento.
DESENVOLVIMENTO DE ELEMENTOS AERODINÂMICOS PARA VEÍCULOS DE COMPETIÇÃO TIPO BAJA SAE
Authors: Savazzi Rodrigo Cézar Primon
Published: April 2020

Neste artigo é apresentado o desenvolvimento de elementos aerodinâmicos paraum veículo de competição tipo Baja SAE. A competição Baja SAE envolveinstituições de ensino de todo Brasil, seus eventos já são tradicionais e envolvemuma grande quantidade de estudantes de diversas áreas de Engenharia. Em geralos projetos dos estudantes focam elementos essenciais nos carros como tração,suspensão, freios, porém se tem observado que elementos de aerodinâmica nãotêm despertado interesse das equipes. Buscando contribuir com o item deaerodinâmica descrito no regulamento da competição, este artigo aborda ospontos principais da aplicação de elementos aerodinâmicos em um protótipo BajaSAE típico. Espera-se com isso fomentar o interesse de estudantes para estedomínio e prover um método de incremento de desempenho destes veículos.
NORDESTE PRÁ FRENTE: O IMAGINÁRIO DE DURAND NAS TERRAS NORDESTINAS
Authors: Lima Roquenei Fiuza
Published: April 2020

Não podemos abraçar a música como abraçamos o corpo que fez nascer apalavra abraço. No ato visceral do sentir ou na talvez desnecessáriaobrigação de provar que a palavra abraço tenha relação direta com osnossos braços, há a notável diferença entre o abraço musical e o abraçocorporal ‘feito de carne e osso’. Neste sentido, esse trabalho busca pormeio do diálogo entre o visível e o invisível, entre o figurado e oconfigurado, entre o tocável e o intacto, direcionar para os caminhos doImaginário durandiano através da canção Nordeste Prá Frente, de LuizGonzaga e Luís Queiroga, como um ensaio para o aprofundamento tantosobre as riquezas nordestinas no que se refere ao imaginário quanto sobrea extensa da obra de Gilbert Durand sobre o imaginário e suas influênciase influenciados.
US Media Darlings: Arab and Muslim Women Activists, Exceptionalism
and the “Rescue Narrative”
Authors: Muhtaseb Ahlam
Published: April 2020

Using critical textual analysis based on the postcolonial school of thought, this
essay analyzed a ten-minute segment, called “Women of the Revolution,” on the
ABC news program This Week, anchored at that time by Christiane
Amanpour, for its portrayals of Arab and Muslim women. The analysis showed that
Arab and Muslim women were portrayed positively only when they fit a
“media-darling” trope of Western-educated Arab or Muslim women, or those who
looked and acted similar to Western women, especially if they ascribed to a
Western view of feminism. Those women also were seen as the exception to the
“repressive” culture that characterizes the Arab and Muslim worlds, according to
the Orientalist stereotype. The implications of this analysis indicate that, in
spite of the visibility and progress of many Arab and Muslim women in their
countries and indigenous cultures, they are still framed within old recycled
molds in US mainstream media, even if these seem positive at face value.
Spatial binary coding method for stripe-wise phase unwrapping
Authors: Wang Yuwei , Liu Lu , Wu Jun , Chen Xiangcheng , Wang Yajun
Published: April 2020

Binary coding methods have been widely used for phase unwrapping. However, traditional temporal binary coding methods require a sequence of binary patterns to encode the fringe order information. This paper presents a spatial binary coding (SBC) method that encodes the fringe order into only one binary pattern. Each stripe of the sinusoidal phase-shifting patterns is corresponding to an

N

-bit codeword of the binary pattern. A robust stripe-wise decoding scheme is also developed to extract the

N

-bit codeword, then fringe order can be determined, and stripe-wise phase unwrapping can be performed. Experiment results confirm that the SBC method can correctly recover the absolute phase of measured objects with only one additional binary pattern.
Image distortion, pupil coma, and relative illumination
Authors: Johnson Tim P. , Sasian Jose
Published: April 2020

Relative illumination is affected by image distortion, pupil coma, and pupil magnification. Image and pupil aberrations have a known relationship that also can be written in terms of pupil magnification. Pupil coma is the stretching or compression of the pupil along the field axis, which directly affects relative illumination. Front-stopped designs have pupil aberrations on the exit pupil while rear-stopped systems have pupil aberrations on the entrance pupil. Of the primary pupil aberrations, pupil coma can have the largest effect on the relative illumination in optical designs with significant image distortion (ex: fisheye lens). The Lagrange invariant holds for systems with image distortion using a paraxial approximation of pupil coma. Relative illumination can be written in terms of % distortion, pupil magnification, and object–space field angle.
Deterministic single-soliton generation in a graphene-FP microresonator
Authors: Xiao Zeyu , Wu Kan , Li Tieying , Chen Jianping
Published: April 2020

Dissipative Kerr solitons (DKS) in high-Q microresonators have attracted considerable attention for their broadband optical frequency combs and ultra-short pulse generation. Owing to thermal effects, complicated tuning strategies are required to generate and sustain the single-soliton state in microresonators. In this paper, we propose a novel microresonator scheme based on the Fabry–Pérot fiber resonator and single-layer graphene saturable absorber (SA) and demonstrate that this design allows deterministic single-soliton generation without frequency tuning and has strong robustness against pump perturbation. The soliton range and thermal instability of the proposed device are also discussed. This work facilitates a novel nonlinear platform connecting high-Q microresonators and conventional SA-assisted mode-locking operations.
Absorption-based polarization gratings
Authors: Zhan Tao , Xiong Jianghao , Tan Guanjun , Wu Shin-Tson
Published: April 2020

We demonstrate an absorption-based polarization grating made of dichroic dye-doped polymerizable liquid crystal. These gratings manifest a polarization-sensitive diffraction efficiency over the absorption band of the employed dye material, based on our theoretical analysis and experimental evidence. The spectral range can be easily tailored by varying the dye material. Since these gratings generate first-order diffracted beams with orthogonal circular polarizations, they can be utilized as key components in polarimetry systems. Meanwhile, due to their absorptive nature, these polarization gratings can function as LED-compatible polarization masks for photopatterning while fabricating various liquid crystal devices.