bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical significance of D-dimer level in refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
Authors: Huang Xia , Li Dan , Liu Feng , Zhao Deyu , Zhu Yifan , Tang Heng
Published: December 2020

Background: The levels of serum D-dimer (D-D) in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) were assessed to explore the clinical significance of D-D levels in refractory MPP (RMPP).Method: A total of 430 patients with MPP were enrolled between January 2015 and December 2015 and divided into a general MPP (GMPP) group (n=306) and a RMPP group (n=124). Clinical data, D-D level, white blood cell (WBC) count, proportion of neutrophils (N%), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of RMPP.Results: (1) Hospitalization time, preadmission fever duration, total fever duration, WBC, N %, CRP, LDH, ESR, ALT, AST, and D-D were significantly higher in the RMPP group than those in the GMPP group (all P<0.05). (2) Correlation analysis showed that D-D was positively correlated with WBC, CRP, ESR, and LDH, and could be used to jointly evaluate the severity of the disease. (3) Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified preadmission fever duration, CRP, LDH and DD as independent risk factors for RMPP (all P<0. 05). D-D had the highest predictive power for RMPP (P<0.01). The D-D level also had a good ability to predict pleural effusion and liver injury (all P<0.01). Conclusion: Serum D-D levels were significantly increased in patients with RMPP, indicating that excessive inflammatory response and vascular endothelial injury with prolonged duration existed in this patient population. Increased levels of serum D-D may be used as an early predictor of RMPP and the occurrence of complications. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis of RMPP, early intervention and excessive inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of mycoplasma.
The effects of family physician–contracted service on health-related quality of life and equity in health in China
Authors: Lai Sha , Lu Li , Zhou Zhongliang , Shen Chi , Yang Xiaowei , Zhao Yaxin , Zhang Xiaolong
Published: December 2020

Background Family physician–contracted service (FPCs) has been recently implemented in Chinese primary care settings. This study was aimed at measuring the effects of FPCs on residents’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and equity in health among the Chinese population.Methods The study data was drawn from the 2018 household health survey (Shaanxi Province, China) using multistage, stratified cluster random sampling. We measured HRQoL using EQ-5D-3L based on the Chinese-specific time trade-off values set. Coarsened exact matching (CEM) technique was used to control for confounding factors between residents with and without a contracted family physician. The concentration index (C) was calculated to measure equity in health.Results Individuals with a contracted family physician had significantly higher HRQoL than those without, after data matching (0.9355 vs. 0.8995; P <0.001). Additionally, the inequity in HRQoL among respondents with a contracted family physician was significantly lower than those without a contracted family physician (Cs of EQ-5D utility score: 0.0084 vs. 0.0263; p<0.001). Conclusions This study highlights the positive effects of FPCs on HRQoL and socioeconomic-related equity in HRQoL. Future efforts should prioritize the economically and educationally disadvantaged groups, the expansion of service coverage, and the competency of family physician teams to further enhance health outcome and equity in health.
Mild Hyponatremia Is Associated with Low Skeletal Muscle Mass, Physical Function Impairment, and Depressive Mood in the Elderly
Authors: Fujisawa Chisato , Umegaki Hiroyuki , Sugimoto Taiki , Samizo Satoshi , Huang Chi Hsien , Fujisawa Haruki , Sugimura Yoshihisa , Kuzuya Masafumi , Toba Kenji , Sakurai Takashi
Published: December 2020

Background: Mild hyponatremia (serum sodium 130-135 mEq/L) is a common electrolyte disorder in the elderly. However, its association with both sarcopenia and cognitive function remains to be clarified. Therefore, here we investigated the association of mild hyponatremia with skeletal muscle mass, physical function, and cognitive function in the elderly. Methods: We enrolled 75 participants with mild hyponatremia and 2907 with normonatremia (serum sodium, 136-145 mEq/L) aged ≥ 70 years who visited the Memory Disorder Outpatient Center of Japan’s National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), grip strength (GS), walking speed (WS), one-leg standing (OLS) test times, and neuropsychological test scores were determined. Results: One-way analysis of covariance showed that elderly participants with mild hyponatremia had lower SMI (7.1 ± 0.2, 7.2 ± 0.2 kg/m2, p = 0.04), weaker GS (19.1 ± 1.9 vs 21.4 ± 1.8 kg, p = 0.01), slower WS (0.9 ± 0.1 vs 1.1 ± 0.1 m/s, p = 0.001), and higher GDS- 15 score (6.4 ± 0.9 vs 5.2 ± 0.9, p = 0.002) than those with normonatremia. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that mild hyponatremia was independently associated with sarcopenia (odds ratio [OR]: 2.2, p = 0.02), slower WS (OR: 5.3, p = 0.04) and shorter OLS time (OR: 2.5, p = 0.02) as well as with severe depressive mood (OR: 2.6 p = 0.006) but not with SMI (OR: 1.6, p = 0.2) or GS (OR: 1.9, p = 0.09). Conclusions: Our results suggest that elderly people with even mild hyponatremia had physical function impairment and depressive mood.
Bloodstream infections caused by ST2 Acinetobacter baumannii : Risk factors, antibiotic regimens, and virulence over 6 years period in China
Authors: Yu Kaihang , Zeng Weiliang , Xu Ye , Liao Wenli , Xu Wenya , Zhou Tieli , Cao Jianming , Chen Lijiang
Published: December 2020

Background: Bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) has been increasingly observed among hospitalized patients. The following study analyzed the epidemiology and microbiological characteristics of MDR-AB, as well as the clinical features, antimicrobial treatments, and outcomes in patients over a six years period in ChinaMethods: This retrospective study was conducted in a large tertiary hospital in China between January 2013 and December 2018. The clinical and microbiological data of all consecutive hospitalized patients with MDR-AB induced bloodstream infection were included and analyzed. Results: A total of 108 BSI episodes were analyzed. All MDR isolates belonged to ST2, a sequence type that has spread all over the world. Overall, ST2 strains showed strong biofilm formation ability, high serum resistance, and high pathogenicity. As for the clinical characteristics of the patient, 30-day mortality was 69.4% (75/108). The three main risk factors included mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and thrombocytopenia; three protective factors included a change of antimicrobial regimen within 48 h after positive blood culture, use of the antibacterial agent combination, and more inpatient days. The most effective antibacterial regimen was the combination of cefoperazone/sulbactam and tigecycline.Conclusions: BSI caused by ST2 A.baumannii represents a difficult challenge for physicians, considering the high mortality associated with this infection. The combination of cefoperazone/sulbactam and tigecycline may be an effective treatment option.
Development and Validation of a Model for Individualized Prediction of Cervical Insufficiency Risks in Patients undergoing IVF/ICSI Treatment
Authors: Wu Yaoqiu , Liang Xiaoyan , Cai Meihong , Gao Linzhi , Lan Jie , Yang Xing
Published: December 2020

Background: Women who conceived with in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes than women who conceived naturally. Cervical insufficiency (CI) is one of the important causes of miscarriage and premature birth, however there is no published data available focusing on the potential risk factors predicting CI occurrence in women who received IVF/ICSI treatment. This study aimed to identify the risk factors that could be integrated into a predictive model for CI, which could provide further personalized and clinically specific information related to the incidence of CI after IVF/ICSI treatment.Patients and methods: This retrospective study included 4710 patients who conceived after IVF/ICSI treatment from Jan 2011 to Dec 2018 at a public university hospital. The patients were randomly divided into development (n = 3108) and validation (n = 1602) samples for the building and testing of the nomogram, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was developed on the basis of pre-pregnancy clinical covariates assessed for their association with CI occurrence.Results: A total of 109 patients (2.31%) experienced CI among all the enrolled patients. Body mass index (BMI), basal serum testosterone (T), gravidity and uterine length were associated with CI occurrence. The statistical nomogram was built based on BMI, serum T, gravidity and uterine length, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.84 (95% confidence interval: 0.76 - 0.90) for the developing cohort. The AUC for the validation cohort was 0.71 (95% confidence interval: 0.69 - 0.83), showing a satisfactory goodness-of-fit and discrimination ability in this nomogram.Conclusion: The user-friendly nomogram which graphically represents the risk factors and a pre-pregnancy predicted tool for the incidence of CI in patients undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment, provides a useful guide for medical staff on individualized decisions making, where preventive measures could be carried out during the IVF/ICSI procedure and subsequent pregnancy.
Achieving equitable uptake of handwashing and sanitation by addressing both supply and demand-based constraints: Findings from a randomized controlled trial in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Parvez Sarker Masud , Rahman Musarrat Jabeen , Azad Rashidul , Rahman Mahbubur , Unicomb Leanne , Ashraf Sania , Mondol Momenul Haque , Jahan Farjana , Winch Peter J. , Luby Stephen P.
Published: December 2020

Background: Supply driven programs that are not closely connected to community demand and demand-driven programs that fail to ensure supply both risk worsening inequity. Understanding patterns of uptake of behaviors among the poorest under ideal experimental conditions, such as those of an efficacy trial, can help identify strategies that could be strengthened in routine programmatic conditions for more equitable uptake. WASH Benefits Bangladesh was a randomized controlled efficacy trial that provided free-of cost WASH hardware along with behavior change promotion. The current paper aimed to determine the impact of the removal of supply and demand constraints on the uptake of handwashing and sanitation behaviors across wealth and education levels.Methods: The current analysis selected 4 indicators from the WASH Benefits trial— presence of water and soap in household handwashing stations, observed mother’s hand cleanliness, observed visible feces on latrine slab or floor and reported last child defecation in potty or toilet. A baseline assessment was conducted immediately after enrolment and endline assessment was conducted approximately 2 years later. We compared change in uptake of these indicators including wealth quintiles (Q) between intervention and control groups from baseline to endline.Results: For hand cleanliness, the poorest mothers improved more [Q1 difference in difference, DID: 16% (7, 25%)] than the wealthiest mothers [Q5 DID: 7% (-4, 17%)]. The poorest households had largest improvements for observed presence of water and soap in handwashing station [Q1 DID: 82% (75, 90%)] compared to the wealthiest households [Q5 DID: 39% (30, 50%)]. Similarly, poorer household demonstrated greater reductions in visible feces on latrine slab or floor [Q1DID, -25% (-35, -15) Q2: -34% (-44, -23%)] than the wealthiest household [Q5 DID: -1% (-11, 8%). For reported last child defecation in potty or toilet, the poorest mothers showed greater improvement [Q1-4 DID: 50-54% (44, 60%)] than the wealthier mothers [Q5 DID: 39% (31, 46%). Conclusion: By simultaneously addressing supply and demand-constraints among the poorest, we observed substantial overall improvements in equity. Within scaled-up programs, a separate targeted strategy that relaxes constraints for the poorest can improve the equity of a program. Trial registration: WASH Benefits Bangladesh: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT01590095. Date of registration: April 30, 2012 ‘Retrospectively registered’URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01590095
Differential Production and Secretion of Potentially Toxigenic Extracellular Proteins from Hypervirulent Aeromonas hydrophila Under Biofilm and Planktonic Culture
Authors: Barger Priscilla C. , Liles Mark R , Beck Benjamin H , Newton Joseph C
Published: December 2020

Background: Hypervirulent Aeromonas hydrophila (vAh) is an emerging pathogen in freshwater aquaculture that results in the loss of over 3 million pounds of marketable channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, and channel catfish hybrids (I. punctatus, ♀ x blue catfish, I. furcatus, ♂) each year from freshwater catfish production systems in Alabama, U.S.A. vAh isolates are clonal in nature and are genetically unique from, and significantly more virulent than, traditional A. hydrophila isolates from fish. Even with the increased virulence, natural infections cannot be reproduced in aquaria challenges making it difficult to determine modes of infection and the pathophysiology behind the devastating mortalities that are commonly observed. Despite the intimate connection between environmental adaptation and plastic response, the role of environmental adaption on vAh pathogenicity and virulence has not been previously explored. In this study, secreted proteins of vAh cultured as free-living planktonic cells and within a biofilm were compared to elucidate the role of biofilm growth on virulence. Results: Functional proteolytic assays found significantly increased degradative activity in biofilm secretomes; in contrast, planktonic secretomes had significantly increased hemolytic activity, suggesting higher toxigenic potential. Intramuscular injection challenges in a channel catfish model showed that in vitro degradative activity translated into in vivo tissue destruction. Identification of secreted proteins by HPLC-MS/MS revealed the presence of many putative virulence proteins under both growth conditions. Biofilm grown vAh produced higher levels of proteolytic enzymes and adhesins, whereas planktonically grown cells secreted higher levels of toxins, porins, and fimbrial proteins. Conclusions: This study is the first comparison of the secreted proteomes of vAh when grown in two distinct ecological niches. These data on the adaptive physiological response of vAh based on growth condition increase our understanding of how environmental niche partitioning could affect vAh pathogenicity and virulence. Increased secretion of colonization factors and degradative enzymes during biofilm growth and residency may increase bacterial attachment and host invasiveness, while increased secretion of hemolysins, porins, and other potential toxins under planktonic growth (or after host invasion) could result in increased host mortality. The results of this research underscore the need to use culture methods that more closely mimic natural ecological habitat growth to improve our understanding of vAh pathogenesis.
Search for statistically approved criteria for identifying money laundering risk
Authors: Lebid Olesia , Veits Oleksandr
Published: December 2020

The paper focuses on the theoretical justification and theoretical foundations of using statistical criteria for identifying money laundering risk as a tool to prevent and counteract the legalization of bank clients’ proceeds. The hypothesis is that the coefficient of variation can be appropriately used as an identifier for money laundering risk. To prove this hypothesis, a special methodology was used: generalization, grouping, statistical analysis of time series, and correlation analysis – to identify and analyze the hidden signs of the customer income legalization in the financial activities of a bank; mathematical statistics and scaling – to determine the quantitative values of risk levels for the use of bank services for legalizing customer income. The analysis of financial activities of 32 Ukrainian banks aimed at identifying money-laundering risks showed that banks in which the National Bank of Ukraine revealed suspicious transactions with money-laundering features (16 operating banks) had much higher coefficients of variation in the volume of cash flows, in cash flows for on-demand accounts of economic entities, in cash flows of on-demand accounts for individuals, compared with banks in which violations of legislation in the field of financial monitoring were revealed (eight banks), and with banks where violations were not found (eight banks). This proves that sudden changes in customer transaction volume can be a sign of money laundering risk.
AcknowledgmentState grant for fundamental scientific research “Risk-oriented approach in countering money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction” (state registration number 0118U000058).
PELE NEGRA/VERMELHA, MÁSCARAS BRANCAS: CONTRIBUIÇÕES À DESCOLONIZAÇÃO DAS TEORIAS DO RECONHECIMENTO
Authors: Oliveira Marcos De Jesus
Published: December 2020

O objetivo do presente trabalho é apresentar alguns dos limites das teorias do reconhecimento quando pensadas desde a perspectiva pós-colonial e em contextos não-europeus. No percalço deste objetivo, dividiu-se o texto em quatro partes, iniciando-o com uma breve exposição da problemática para, em seguida, discutir a proposta de Frantz Fanon como uma das mais paradigmáticas e influentes nos estudos pós-coloniais. Feito isso, passo à contribuição de Glean Sean Coulthard com o intuito de aprofundar alguns dos problemas das correntes hegemônicas sobre o reconhecimento. Ao final, discutem-se os desafios colocados pelas teorias pós-coloniais às teorias do reconhecimento na superação do “déficit colonial” das tendências hegemônicas.
DIREITOS HUMANOS LGBTIs E SISTEMA DE JUSTIÇA: STANDARDS DE PROTEÇÃO E ATUAÇÃO DO PODER JUDICIÁRIO E DO MINISTÉRIO PÚBLICO
Authors: Raupp Rios Roger
Published: December 2020

O artigo trata do sistema de justiça e da proteção dos direitos humanos das pessoas LGBTI, sustentando que tal tarefa integra os deveres institucionais do sistema de justiça e salientando o efeito benéfico do cumprimento desta tarefa às instituições de justiça. Estrutura-se em duas partes, elaboradas a partir de revisão de normas legais e literatura especializada. Na primeira parte, tomam-se os standards do sistema universal e do sistema interamericano de direitos humanos sobre os direitos LGBTI. Na segunda parte, são consideradas as consequências jurídicas e institucionais desses standards para os ordenamentos jurídicos nacionais, bem como os efeitos salutares à legitimidade democrática e ao aperfeiçoamento da atividade dos órgãos e atores do sistema de justiça. Conclui-se que a legitimidade democrática de um ordenamento jurídico e a qualidade de um sistema de justiça podem ser medidas de acordo com o grau de conhecimento e de compromisso que suas instituições e integrantes tem diante dos direitos humanos universais de indivíduos e grupos discriminados.
A ATUALIDADE DO LIBERALISMO POLÍTICO DE BOBBIO NA ÉPOCA DO LIBERALISMO ECONÔMICO E DO POPULISMO AUTORITÁRIO
Authors: Tosi Giuseppe
Published: December 2020

Após a queda do muro de Berlim, os intelectuais liberais manifestaram a cauta esperança de que o encerramento do período histórico da guerra fria abriria uma nova era de expansão do Estado Democrático de Direito no mundo. Esta esperança se realizou em parte (a terceira onda de Huntington), mas está hoje em crise tanto nos regimes democráticos consolidados como nos novos regimes políticos que saíram de regimes autoritários. Os países que não experimentaram historicamente a democracia liberal, como a China e a Rússia, são governados por regimes de liberalismo econômico e de autoritarismo político; as primaveras árabes, na maioria dos casos, não resultaram em regimes democráticos, mas em guerras civis e/ou ditaduras militares; e nos países de tradição democrática como a Europa e os Estados Unidos a ideologia política que mais cresce é o populismo de extrema direta. Bobbio viria com preocupação este movimento, porque era favorável a um liberalismo político, mas mantinha severas restrições ao liberalismo econômico, e era também um crítico do populismo, que considerava uma forma de democracia plebiscitária com rasgos autoritários. Diante deste contexto, queremos debater a atualidade do liberalismo bobbiano, na esperança de que não estamos assistindo aos “últimos capítulos” de uma longa e gloriosa tradição. Faremos isso analisando três diferentes tipos de liberalismo (político, econômico e social), e três diferentes tipos de democracia (elitista, plebiscitária e participativa), relacionando-as entre elas na procura da “melhor forma de governo”. Finalmente teceremos algumas breves considerações sobre a situação política brasileira à luz desses princípios.

Palavras-chave: Liberalismo político; liberalismo econômico; democracia; populismo; autoritarismo.
SUPRANACIONALIDADE E DIREITOS FUNDAMENTAIS: EFETIVIDADE DO DIREITO DERIVADO NA COMUNIDADE ANDINA E NO SISTEMA CENTRO-AMERICANO DE INTEGRAÇÃO
Authors: Gomes Eduardo Biacchi , Carta Winter Luis Alexandre
Published: December 2020

Resumo: A efetivação dos direitos fundamentais dentro de um bloco econômico depende dos mecanismos jurídicos e institucionais adotados internamente e da efetiva observância, por parte dos Estados, no sentido de cumprirem com o ordenamento jurídico do bloco. Nos modelos de blocos econômicos regidos pela intergovernabilidade, tendo em vista a ausência de um ordenamento jurídico supranacional, alguns entendem ser duvidoso o alcance das políticas integracionistas. Já nos blocos econômicos supranacionais, em que existe um ordenamento jurídico superior aos ordenamentos jurídicos dos Estados, a efetividade das respectivas políticas é maior, como o caso da União Europeia.
ELETROMAGNETISMO E EDUCAÇÃO: AS DIFICULDADES PERCEBIDAS NO ENSINO DE LEIS FÍSICAS NAS ESCOLAS BRASILEIRAS
Authors: Gonçalves Daniela
Published: December 2020

Este artigo, que se apresenta através de um modelo de ensaio bibliográfico, busca realizar uma análise sobre as dificuldades encontradas no processo de ensino e aprendizagem de Física, mais especificamente dentro da área do Eletromagnetismo e suas leis. Por consequência, apresenta também soluções metodológicas e de intervenção que auxiliam na melhora das dificuldades encontradas. Por conta de sua estrutura, divide-se em quatro seções de análise: (1) Introdução, aqui mencionada que assimila suas justificativas de realização; (2) Metodologia, que apresenta os aspectos científico-metodológicos utilizados na busca de informações/produção de documento; (3) Resultados, que realiza a assimilação dos ideais do documento; e (4) Conclusão, que finaliza as disposições impetradas. Metodologia: revisão bibliográfica analítica-expositiva. Resultados: foram encontrados 29 artigos, dos quais 21 obtiveram êxito neste ensino. Conclusão: ensino de Física (Eletromagnetismo/Leis) sofre dificuldade pela ausência de prática, necessidade, visualização gráfica e conhecimento matemático. Há necessidade de metodologias alternativas.
Анализ водородоустойчивости алюминиевых сплавов
Authors: Индейцев Д.А. , Осипова Е.В.
Published: December 2020

It was established by the methods of quantum chemistry that tungsten W and rhenium Re are the most effective additives that increase the hydrogen resistance of aluminum Al. It is shown that W and Re strongly compress aluminum, but at the same time have a rather large covalent radius. In addition, each W and Re atom form stable chemical bonds with 12 Al atoms. As a result, the W and Re atoms strongly bind Al atoms significantly increasing the energy of vacancy formation and slowing down the process of hydrogen embrittlement. All basic physical and mechanical properties of the most hydrogen-resistant aluminum compound WReAl24 have been calculated using density functional theory.
Влияние имплантации ионов As-=SUP=-+-=/SUP=- и последующего отжига на электрические свойства приповерхностных слоев варизонных пленок n-Hg-=SUB=-0.78-=/SUB=-Cd-=SUB=-0.22-=/SUB=-Te
Authors: Войцеховский А.В. , Несмелов С.Н. , Дзядух С.М. , Варавин В.С. , Дворецкий С.А. , Михайлов Н.Н. , Сидоров Г.Ю. , Якушев М.В. , Марин Д.В.
Published: December 2020

Films of n-Hg0.775Cd0.225Te with near-surface wide-gap layers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy on Si (013) substrates. To measure the admittance, metal – insulator – semiconductor (MIS) structures were fabricated on the basis of the as-grown HgCdTe film, films after implantation, and films after implantation and annealing. Using techniques that take into account the presence of graded-gap layers and slow interface states, the main parameters of the near-surface layers of HgCdTe films have been determined after the technological procedures used to create photodiodes.
Поляризация альфвеновских колебаний в токамаке ТУМАН-3М
Authors: Абдуллина Г.И. , Аскинази Л.Г. , Белокуров А.А. , Жубр Н.А. , Корнев В.А. , Крикунов С.В. , Лебедев С.В. , Разуменко Д.B. , Тукачинский А.С. , Шевелев А.Е.
Published: December 2020

The results of experiments on determining the polarization of two types of Alfvеn oscillations observed with magnetic probes in the TUMAN-3M tokamak are presented. The difference in the polarization of short and long bursts of Alfvеn oscillations, arising both in ohmic regime and during neutral beam injection, is found. The role of high-energy electrons in the excitation of Alfvеn oscillations is discussed.
Twitter as a Mental Health Support System for Students and Professionals in the Medical Field
Authors: Liu Lisa , Woo Benjamin K P
Published: December 2020

Twitter is a rapidly growing social media site that has greatly integrated itself in the lives of students and professionals in the medical field. While Twitter has been found to be very helpful in facilitating education, there is also great potential for its usage as a social support system. Social support has become more essential as society grapples with declining mental health, particularly in the medical sector.
In our previous paper, we saw that Twitter provides a promising tool to learn more about the online conversation about dementia and, in particular, the supportive network that can be created. Inspired by this, we decided to investigate the potential of using Twitter as a support system for students and professionals in the medical field. In this paper, we explore the current state of mental health in the medical field and suggest practical implementation methods for using Twitter.
Automated Categorization of Systemic Disease and Duration From Electronic Medical Record System Data Using Finite-State Machine Modeling: Prospective Validation Study
Authors: Sai Prashanthi Gumpili , Deva Ayush , Vadapalli Ranganath , Das Anthony Vipin
Published: December 2020

Background

One of the major challenges in the health care sector is that approximately 80% of generated data remains unstructured and unused. Since it is difficult to handle unstructured data from electronic medical record systems, it tends to be neglected for analyses in most hospitals and medical centers. Therefore, there is a need to analyze unstructured big data in health care systems so that we can optimally utilize and unearth all unexploited information from it.

Objective

In this study, we aimed to extract a list of diseases and associated keywords along with the corresponding time durations from an indigenously developed electronic medical record system and describe the possibility of analytics from the acquired datasets.

Methods

We propose a novel, finite-state machine to sequentially detect and cluster disease names from patients’ medical history. We defined 3 states in the finite-state machine and transition matrix, which depend on the identified keyword. In addition, we also defined a state-change action matrix, which is essentially an action associated with each transition. The dataset used in this study was obtained from an indigenously developed electronic medical record system called eyeSmart that was implemented across a large, multitier ophthalmology network in India. The dataset included patients’ past medical history and contained records of 10,000 distinct patients.

Results

We extracted disease names and associated keywords by using the finite-state machine with an accuracy of 95%, sensitivity of 94.9%, and positive predictive value of 100%. For the extraction of the duration of disease, the machine’s accuracy was 93%, sensitivity was 92.9%, and the positive predictive value was 100%.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that the finite-state machine we developed in this study can be used to accurately identify disease names, associated keywords, and time durations from a large cohort of patient records obtained using an electronic medical record system.
В.М.НАГОРСКИЙ: СУДЬБА ИНЖЕНЕРА СВЯЗИ И ИЗОБРЕТАТЕЛЯ
Authors: Фролова О.
Published: December 2020

В.М.Нагорский (1870 – после 1917) известен узкому кругу исследователей истории связи своими необычными изобретениями на стыке телефонии и телеграфии. В начале 20 столетия блестящий инженер и организатор связи Нагорский внес существенный вклад в телефонизацию страны, в мятежном 1905 году налаживал связь в Сибири, сделал впечатляющую административную карьеру и достоин того, чтобы потомки и, особенно, коллеги помнили о нем.
Perspectiva de los dilemas éticos relacionados con la pandemia COVID-19
Authors: Vizcaíno Gilberto , Esparza José
Published: December 2020

Enfrentar la pandemia del SARS-CoV-2, conocida mundialmente como COVID-19, constituye un desafío enorme, el cual hay que abordar por los múltiples aspectos de esta enfermedad. Sorprende la rapidez con la que el virus SARS-CoV-2 se ha expandido globalmente, es la pandemia que hoy ocupa toda la atención mundial, no solo por los aspectos médico-epidemiológicos sino también por sus consecuencias en la geopolítica, la economía y la sociedad en general. Desde que se inició la pandemia, la información científica ha ido incrementándose diariamente en forma notable, se trabaja y se publica sobre su epidemiología, modo de transmisión, manifestaciones clínicas, diagnóstico de laboratorio, tratamientos médicos alopáticos y ya están en fase 3 algunas vacunas como medida de prevención de esta enfermedad. No obstante, toda pandemia y en especial esta que nos ocupa, inevitablemente trae adicionalmente una serie de dilemas éticos, tanto en las decisiones de Salud Pública, en grupos poblacionales vulnerables, en el desarrollo de protocolos de investigaciones y en la atención de los pacientes afectados por la infección. La resolución de los conflictos éticos que han surgido en la pandemia COVID-19, debe tener como referencia las pautas bioéticas publicadas por organizaciones internacionales (OMS/OPS) y centros y comités nacionales o institucionales dedicados al campo de la Bioética. Esto permitiría una acción responsable frente a la pandemia, sin dañar los derechos humanos y el bienestar individual y social.
Regional Security in South-East Asia in the Context of American “Indo-Pacific Region” Project
Authors: Rogozhina Nataliya Grigorievna
Published: December 2020

The article is devoted to the analysis of the position of the countries of South-East Asia on the construction of security architecture in the region within the framework of the Indo-Pacific region project in the format promoted by the USA. The article examines in detail the factors that determine the attitude of Southeast Asian countries to the American doctrine of free and open Indo-Pacific, which they assess as strategically risky and leading to deformation of the existing security system in the region with the loss of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) its central role in ensuring its stability. The response of the Southeast Asian countries to external challenges was the formation of their own concept Aseans - "Outlook On The Indo-Pacific, which reflects their views on the nature of the relationship within the emerging community. The author analyzes in detail the content of the ASEAN doctrine, which emphasizes the promotion of economic cooperation between the countries of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, in contrast to the geostrategic orientation of the American concept. Three main areas of cooperation are distinguished - maritime cooperation, the development of connectivity and interaction in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Offering such a format for engaging, ASAEN countries proceed from the need to strengthen trust between countries as the most important condition for maintaining peace and order in the region based on the traditional principles of ASEAN. These include: openness, transparency, inclusiveness, rules-based world order anchored on international law, respect for sovereignty, non-interference, equality, mutual trust and respect. ASEANs position remains unchanged in maintaining its central role in the evolution of the regional security architecture. Speaking from the position of multirealism, ASEAN sees a way to overcome the conflict of interests in the region in the context of escalating rivalry between the US and China, in creating a synergistic security system based on mechanisms associated with ASEAN. In the ASEAN concept, India-Pacific Region appears as a region of dialogue and cooperation, rather than competition, open to participation of China in the project. The author comes to the conclusion that such format is justified both from the point of view of strategic interests of the countries of Southeast Asia and the whole region, if the relations within it are based on the principles advocated by ASEAN. However, as the author emphasizes, the project proposed by the Southeast Asian countries raises many questions, the main of which is its feasibility in the context of the emerging split of the region along the axis of US-China rivalry for leadership in Asia. Nevertheless, as the author notes, the tendency to strengthen economic cooperation between the countries located in the basin of two oceans creates the basis for the growth of their interest in developing a stable security architecture.
The essence and specificity of the Eurasian doctrine of Askar Akayev
Authors: Bakina Elena A.
Published: December 2020

The article discusses the Eurasian doctrine of Askar Akayev, the president of Kyrgyzstan in 1991-2005. This is a very little studied problem in Russian historiography. Meanwhile, A. Akayev developed and largely implemented in practice a harmonious philosophical and political concept. This article is intended to fill this gap. The place of Russia in the geopolitical concept of A. Akayev deserves special attention, which emphasizes the importance and central role of Russia in Eurasian integration, which never acted as a colonial power, but was a center of attraction for the multinational people of the Russian Empire, the USSR and the Russian Federation.
The Gypsies and Military Service in the Russian Empire in the Second Half of the 18th - First Half of the 19th Century
Authors: Shaidurov Vladimir N. , Novogrodsky Tadeush A.
Published: December 2020

The complication of the national composition of the population due to new ethnic groups as well as incorporation of new territories into the Russian Empire were ones of the consequences of an active foreign policy in the XVIII - XIX century. The Poles, Jews, Gypsies, Finns, and many others needed to be incorporated into existing state, public, social institutions. Most of the activities carried out against, for example, the Jews or Gypsies, aimed at their violent adaptation. The tsarist administration made repeated attempts to persuade various groups of the gypsy population to a settled way of life under the aegis of combating vagrancy in the 1770s - 1820s. Their incorporation in the taxable urban and rural estates implied the imposition of state and district taxes and duties on them. This fully related to recruitment service in its natural or monetary form. But, the Gypsies, unlike Ashkenazi Jews, was not a united nation. This fact forced the government to take different approaches to their recruiting duties in different regions. In Crimea and Bessarabia, the Gypsies were an integral part of local communities. The authorities found it impossible to separate them, for example, from the Crimean Tatar Muslim societies. On this basis they were freed from recruitment same as the Tatars. But some militarized and military institutions (correctional troops of the engineering department, battalions of military cantonists) were used in a repressively educational spirit. If the first were supposed to stop the vagrancy of the Gypsies and promote their sedentary, the second were to contribute to the socialization of young Gypsies and make them useful members of society. This article for the first time in historiography raises the question of the attitude of the state towards the Gypsies of Russia from the point of view of military service. The article is written on the basis of published sources and unpublished documents from the central and regional archives, which are first introduced into scientific circulation.
People’s Houses as Answers to the Challenges of Modernity in Europe and Russia
Authors: Alekseeva Elena V. , Kazakova-Apkarimova Elena Y.
Published: December 2020

The article is devoted to a pioneer comparative study of the appearance and evolution of peoples houses in Western Europe and Russia in the second half of the XIX - early XX century. The institutional approach chosen by the authors is complemented by a historical and comparative method of studying the phenomenon of peoples houses. The goals of their creation and features of the activity, due to the political, economic and sociocultural historical realities of individual countries, are analyzed. Research revealed that peoples houses in Europe and in Russia were created at the same historical period - the modern era. A historiographical comparative study using new historical sources showed that in Western European countries and in the Russian Empire, the state did not play a major role in this matter, although some of the people's houses were opened by monarchs, and state policy (opposing promotion of cultural leisure to the alcoholization of the population) could contribute to the development of civil society initiatives. The performed study proves that for both European countries and Russia, private and public initiatives in establishing people's houses (primarily the cooperative movement) played a decisive role. In Russia, it is important to point out the sociocultural policy of the zemstvos, their financial support when building people's houses. The article shows the obvious differences in the history of people's houses in Western European countries and in Russia, due to the late formation of the party system in Imperial Russia. In Europe, one can meet many examples of the creation of people's houses by political parties and generally note the high level of politicization of these institutions. In Russian reality non-political nature of people's houses is obvious, they were mostly cultural and educational public institutions that were further subjected to the process of politicization (under revolutionary conditions). In conclusion, the authors acknowledge big historical significance of people's houses as civil society institutions in Russia and abroad, taking into account such principles of their functioning as independence, voluntariness, social activism and civic consciousness.
Russian-Central Asian Relations in the Works of Modern French Researchers
Authors: Arslanov Rafael A. , Trifonova Elizaveta D.
Published: December 2020

The article examines the views of modern French researchers on the relations between Russia and the post-Soviet republics of Central Asia. This allows us to identify various interpretations of Russian foreign policy, and to understand the main approaches of French scholars analyzing the goals and tasks of Russian geostrategy in the region. As the article demonstrates, French historiography, along with the objectivist view on the Central Asian vector in Russian foreign policy, also includes works of ideological nature. Special emphasis is put on French works that focus on Russian political authors who speak of Russias neo-imperialism. These studies explain the Russian policy in Central Asia through the ruling elites ambition to resurrect an empire in the post-Soviet space and to return superpower status to Russia. Of special interest is the position of authors who try to explain the Russian attitude to the Central Asian region as, on the one hand, an expression of nostalgic feelings harbored by a great part of the population about the nations former greatness, assuming that these feelings have an impact on the leaderships policies, and on the other hand, as the Russian leaderships attempt to use Russias active return to the international arena for the consolidation and self-identification of society. It is observed that some French authors speak of a New Great Game. This very popular concept considers the actions of Russia and other powers operating in the region (USA and China) as a continuation of the historical rivalry between the Russian and British empires in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Russian authors have always been interested in French historiography; this is due to the latters scientific prestige and objectivity, and in particular its application of methodologies that further develop the tradition of the Annales School. At the same time, the growing French scholarship on the issue of Russia and post-Soviet Central Asian republics has not yet been subject to close and complex consideration, which defines the novelty of the article.
Differentiation as a business competitiveness strategy in the brewery industry in Cameroon: an analysis of Les Brasseries du Cameroun Bamenda
Authors: Shille Peter Ngek , Enow Peter
Published: December 2020

This study examines differentiation as a business competitiveness strategy for improving business performance in the brewery industry the case of Les Brasseries Du Cameroun Bamenda. The case study design was employed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques to assess the hypothetical relationships stated. Questionnaire and interviews were used for data collection administered to a purposefully selected sample of 130 participants comprising of management staff at Les Brasseries Du Cameroun Bamenda as well as managers and staff at retail outlets/bars in Bamenda. Using Pearsons correlation coefficient as analytical technique, results showed that there is a strong positive relationship between product differentiation, and business performance (PCC = .804**, p 0.01), moderate positive relationship between service differentiation and business performance (PCC = .575**, p 0.01), and a weak positive relationship between physical differentiation and business performance (PCC = .264**, p 0.01). The study thus provides practical advice that management should continue to maintain and uphold product differentiation variable factors like quality and assortment while at the same step-up service differentiation activities.
Modeling of optimization processes of investment activity of a professional sports organization
Authors: Matviyenka Aliaksandr I.
Published: December 2020

The article deals with modeling of investment regulation of professional sports organizations in the Republic of Belarus. The approaches of scientists and researchers to the issue under study are identified. To solve indicated problem, a model of investment regulation of a professional sports organization has been developed, which makes it possible to operatively and reasonably allocate investment resources based on simulation and iterative capabilities. The proposed economic and mathematical model makes in general economic indicators it possible to take into account the contribution of each segment of income to the joint results of operating activities and, as a result, promotes closer integration of the less than potential from them, which leads to a synergistic effect. The developed dynamic simulation model of investment regulation has been tested on the example of a professional sports organization, the results confirm the effective distribution of investment funds, due to which there is a positive economic effect in the form of total income growth.
North Africa in Russian Travelers Perception: Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt in Russian Travelogues
Authors: Mulahi Samiha
Published: December 2020

The article is devoted to the analysis of Russian travelers ideas about North African countries (Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt) in the period from the end of the XIX century to the beginning of the XX century. The paper considers the perception of this geographical area by Russian travelers in literary travelogues. North Africa in the designated period of time was considered not only as the cradle of ancient and great civilization, but also as a Europeanized, modernized territory of the Arab area. The travelogues analyzed in the article make it possible to distinguish in them two different cultural pictures of the world - North Africa and the picture of the world of Western Europe reflected in it.
Contribución al estudio de la masticación de las hojas de coca
Authors: Uscátegui Mendoza Néstor
Published: December 2020

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La Guajira: una región y una cultura de Colombia
Authors: Chaves Milcíades
Published: December 2020

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Transvestismo y shamanismo en Siberia
Authors: Fulop Marcos
Published: December 2020

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Ledelse af digital transformation: Erfaringer fra et kommunalt digitaliseringsinitiativ
Authors: Agger Nielsen Jeppe , Elmholdt Kasper , Strange Noesgaard Mette
Published: December 2020

Mange offentlige digitaliseringsinitiativer slår fejl eller lever ikke op til forhåbningerne. Ofte bliver mangelfuld ledelse fremhævet som en årsag hertil. I lyset heraf, rapporterer denne artikel fra et kommunalt digitalt transformationsinitiativ, hvor forandringsledelsesindsatsen var massiv. Studiet er designet som et kvalitativt casestudie af indførelsen af en ny digital platform til sundhedspersonalet i Ældre- og Handicapforvaltningen i Aalborg Kommune som indebar omfattede organisatoriske forandringer. Vi fremhæver tre forandringsledelsespraksisser, som var væsentlige for ledelsen af den digitale transformation: (1) tilpasningsledelse, (2) tilslutningsledelse og (3) forventningsledelse. Artiklen udfolder de tre ledelsespraksisser og illustrerer hvordan ledelse af digital transformation udspiller sig som en pragmatisk kombinering af praksisserne. Vi peger også på, at forandringsledelse i digital transformation får en særlig dimension, hvor det løbende handler om at forme aktørernes teknologiforståelser.