bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La calidad de la democracia en América Latina: una visión comparada
Authors: Levine Daniel H. , Molina José Enrique
Published: December 2020

RESUMEN: Los estudios sobre la democracia en América Latina han ido más allá del análisis de las transiciones y la consolidación para preocuparse por hacer una evaluación comparativa y confiable de la calidad de la democracia. Esto requiere entender la democracia en términos multidimensionales. Así la calidad de la democracia es un continuo que varía con base al nivel alcanzado en cinco dimensiones interrelacionadas: decisión electoral, participación, respuesta a la voluntad popular, responsabilidad y soberanía. Con base en estas dimensiones el trabajo propone un índice específico para la calidad de la democracia en América Latina que permite no sólo comparar la calidad entre los países de América Latina y confrontarla con un objetivo ideal, sino que también hace posible determinar las fortalezas y debilidades específicas de cada país de la región con respecto a los elementos que conforman cada una de las dimensiones de la calidad de la democracia. Los indicadores utilizados para la construcción del índice incluyen evaluación de expertos, datos estadísticos agregados y encuestas de opinión pública.ABSTRACT: Studies on democracy in Latin America have gone beyond attention to transitions and consolidation to a concern with developing reliable comparative assessments of the quality of democracy. This requires conceptualization of democracy in multidimensional terms. Quality of democracy is a continuum that varies along a range of related dimensions: electoral decision, participation, responsiveness, accountability and sovereignty. Working with these dimensions, it is developed an index of quality of democracy in Latin America which allows comparing different countries as well as determining specific strengths and weaknesses of the quality of
On the fractal nature of complex syntax and the timescale problem
Authors: Evans D. Reid
Published: December 2020

Fundamental to complex dynamic systems theory is the assumption that the recursive behavior of complex systems results in the generation of physical forms and dynamic processes that are self-similar and scale-invariant. Such fractal-like structures and the organismic benefit that they engender has been widely noted in physiology, biology, and medicine, yet discussions of the fractal-like nature of language have remained at the level of metaphor in applied linguistics. Motivated by the lack of empirical evidence supporting this assumption, the present study examines the extent to which the use and development of complex syntax in a learner of English as a second language demonstrate the characteristics of self-similarity and scale invariance at nested timescales. Findings suggest that the use and development of syntactic complexity are governed by fractal scaling as the dynamic relationship among the subconstructs of syntax maintain their complexity and variability across multiple temporal scales. Overall, fractal analysis appears to be a fruitful analytic tool when attempting to discern the dynamic relationships among the multiple component parts of complex systems as they interact over time.
Exploring the relationships between L2 vocabulary knowledge, lexical segmentation, and L2 listening comprehension
Authors: Lange Kriss , Matthews Joshua
Published: December 2020

The capacity to perceive and meaningfully process foreign or second language (L2) words from the aural modality is a fundamentally important aspect of successful L2 listening. Despite this, the relationships between L2 listening and learners’ capacity to process aural input at the lexical level has received relatively little research focus. This study explores the relationships between measures of aural vocabulary, lexical segmentation and two measures of L2 listening comprehension (i.e., TOEIC & Eiken Pre-2) among a cohort of 130 tertiary level English as a foreign language (EFL) Japanese learners. Multiple regression modelling indicated that in combination, aural knowledge of vocabulary at the first 1,000-word level and lexical segmentation ability could predict 34% and 38% of total variance observed in TOEIC listening and Eiken Pre-2 listening scores respectively. The findings are used to provide some preliminary recommendations for building the capacity of EFL learners to process aural input at the lexical level.
Characterizations for the potential operators on Carleson curves in local generalized Morrey spaces
Authors: Guliyev Vagif , Armutcu Hatice , Azeroglu Tahir
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we give a boundedness criterion for the potential operator

ℐ

α

{ {\mathcal I} }^{\alpha }

in the local generalized Morrey space

L

M

p
,
φ

{

t

0

}

(
Γ
)

L{M}_{p,\varphi }^{\{{t}_{0}\}}(\text{Γ})

and the generalized Morrey space

M

p
,
φ

(
Γ
)

{M}_{p,\varphi }(\text{Γ})

defined on Carleson curves

Γ

\text{Γ}

, respectively. For the operator

ℐ

α

{ {\mathcal I} }^{\alpha }

, we establish necessary and sufficient conditions for the strong and weak Spanne-type boundedness on

L

M

p
,
φ

{

t

0

}

(
Γ
)

L{M}_{p,\varphi }^{\{{t}_{0}\}}(\text{Γ})

and the strong and weak Adams-type boundedness on

M

p
,
φ

(
Γ
)

{M}_{p,\varphi }(\text{Γ})

.
Imagination and transformations to sustainable and just futures
Authors: Moore Michele-Lee , Milkoreit Manjana
Published: December 2020

The ability of individuals and groups to identify, assess, and pursue alternative possible futures is an essential component of their ability to deliberately and collectively respond to major sustainability challenges rather than experience unguided or forced change. Deliberately engaging in transformation processes inevitably requires imagination. We refer to imagination for transformations as interdependent cognitive and social processes that create representations of present and possible future states of the world that can inform public deliberation, policy, decision making, and behavior from the individual to the global scale. We contend that imagination is an essential capacity for securing ecological, social, economic, and cultural well-being in times of rapid and often unpredictable global change. We sketch an emerging interdisciplinary research agenda on imagination as a transformational capacity and its role in transformation processes, building on contributions to a special issue on this subject. We specifically focus on imagination in relationship to transformative agency, causation, and individual-collective dynamics. Our aim is to identify research questions and challenges that are most pressing with a view to supporting efforts of transformations toward sustainability.
COMPLEX-SHAPED PARTS GRINDING TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION ENSURING
Authors: Larshin Vasily P. , Lishchenko Natalia V.
Published: December 2020

A method of computer-aided design and manufacture of complex-shaped parts of machines and implants from difficult-to-machine materials (titanium, cobalt-chromium alloys, zirconium dioxide, etc.) has been developed, based on the principles of building an integrated CAD/CAM/CAE system of computer-aided designing and a hierarchical intelligent numerical control system. It is shown that kinematical mechanisms created over the past several centuries do not allow reproducing with the required accuracy the joints movement of living organisms for their use in biomedical implantation technologies. Therefore, the worn out joints of living organisms are reconstructed by adding complex-shaped parts from these difficult-to-machine materials. Information about the geometric shape of these parts (3D model) at the pre-production stage is obtained using modern methods of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and at the production stage the actual location of the stock grinding allowance is measured by laser (or tactile) scanning. To reduce the unevenness of the position of the grinding stock allowance, the workpiece of a complex-shaped part before grinding is oriented in the coordinate system of a CNC machine based on the established criterion for minimizing the allowance. An example of such orientation of the gear workpiece is given. This workpiece is measured with a Renishaw tactile probe on the left and right sides of the gear valleys before gear grinding. Both the minimum allowance on the left and right sides of the valleys and the difference between them are determined, and then additionally the gear wheel blank is rotated in the appropriate direction to align these minimum values detected. In turn, the aligned minimum allowances, should be sufficient to compensate for the influence of technological factors from the previous operation and the error in setting the workpiece for this operation. For complex-shaped implants, such an additional orientation is performed, for example, according to algorithms for ensuring the minimax value of the allowance.
Familias y Docentes: Garantes del Aprendizaje durante el Confinamiento
Authors: Hortigüela-Alcalá David , Pérez-Pueyo Ángel , López-Aguado Mercedes , Manso-Ayuso Jesús , Fernández-Río Javier
Published: December 2020

El cierre de los centros educativos en España ha supuesto una adaptación inmediata sobre la forma de garantizar el aprendizaje. Los docentes han tenido que adaptarse de manera inmediata a un entorno digital de enseñanza y las familias han debido de atender con garantías a las tareas virtuales de sus hijos. El presente estudio tiene dos objetivos: a) analizar las variables relativas a la relación existente entre la familia, los centros educativos y los docentes, así como sus problemas para apoyar a los alumnos; b) analizar el efecto que tiene el modelo de enseñanza empleado por el docente en el seguimiento de la enseñanza virtual. Se ha utilizado una metodología cuantitativa con un diseño ex post facto descriptivo por encuesta, en el que han participado 3700 docentes y 5867 familias de todo el territorio español. Las principales dificultades se han encontrado en la falta de apoyo por parte de la administración y en la formación en competencia digital del profesorado. También ha quedado de manifiesto la necesidad de trabajar la autonomía y la autorregulación de los estudiantes y además existieron deferencias significativas en función del modelo de enseñanza (centrado en contenido versus en competencia) de los docentes.
Impact of Faculty and Student Readiness on Virtual Learning Adoption amid Covid-19
Authors: Rokibul Kabir Mohammad
Published: December 2020

The deadly effect of Covid-19 has changed the world dramatically. The education sector is one of the worst sufferers due to the official closures of educational institutions worldwide. The government of Bangladesh has declared all the on-campus activities shut in March 2020. This paper explains the effect of faculty and student readiness in adopting virtual classes considering the mediating effect of technology adoption intention. Teachers and students from private and public universities in Bangladesh are surveyed for this research. The findings revealed that the private universities are well ahead of providing online education as their faculty and students are ready with logistics and mindset to adopt technology-based virtual learning while the public university stakeholders are yet to initiate it. It is concluded that the lack of readiness of public universities will create a massive gap between public and private university education and rural and urban students as well. The proposed model of this research can help the policymakers and the government in formulating policy guidelines for bringing all the students and teachers on virtual education platforms irrespective of their university affiliations.
O campo universitário como espaço de expectativa autoritária
Authors: Tedesco Alexandra
Published: December 2020

A proposta do presente estudo é analisar a relação entre duas modalidades de adquirir e professar a cultura que concorrem no universo intelectual argentino durante as primeiras décadas do século XX, a saber, a esfera privada de produção cultural e a universidade oficial, ligada ao Estado. Trata-se de compreender de que forma a ampla rede de revistas literárias que caracteriza a Buenos Aires desse contexto se desenvolveu em relação de tensão com a profissionalização da Universidade que se acentuou a partir da Reforma de Córdoba, em 1918. Ao fim, este artigo pretende lançar luz sobre a possibilidade de abordar o campo intelectual a partir da inspiração de Carl Schorske, em Viena Fim de Século, considerando que os fenômenos intelectuais e culturais não se sucedem ou se enfrentam apenas em si mesmos, como unidades temáticas consistentes (diacrônicas) mas, sim, que eles estão relacionados, também, de modo sincrônico, às demais manifestações culturais e políticas de seu tempo.
Desastre nuclear, espaço e trauma
Authors: Portal João Camilo Grazziotin
Published: December 2020

O presente artigo pretende analisar o desastre nuclear de Tchérnobil, ocorrido em 1986 entre a fronteira da Ucrânia e da Bielorrússia. Seu objetivo é compreender como os efeitos da radiação transformaram Tchérnobil e seus arredores em “zonas contaminadas”, o que sugere uma espacialidade traumatizada. Para tanto, se recorreu a uma discussão, da área de psicologia, a respeito do trauma, sobretudo a partir de uma temporalidade e de uma linguagem traumática. Dessa forma, os efeitos dos radionuclídeos no ambiente, que por vezes fazem “a vida” e “a morte” se confundirem na silenciosa guerra radioativa, corroboram a interpretação de que, em termos naturais e físicos, o desastre nuclear é um exemplo de como o ser humano atualmente atua como agente central de modificação ambiental. Assim, recorreu-se às análises de Hannah Arendt a respeito dos avanços técnicos da Revolução Atômica e a conquista do espaço. Nesse sentido à luz dos debates do Antropoceno, o desastre nuclear demonstra a capacidade técnica de destruição ambiental –ou de autodestruição do nosso planeta – pela humanidade. Para um entendimento sobre a relação das testemunhas com o espaço contaminado, propõe-se uma leitura do acontecimento a partir do livro Vozes de Tchérnobil, da escritora bielorrussa Svetlana Aleksiévitch, em diálogo com os estudos científicos das áreas radiológica e química.
The use of high-frequency ultrasonography for the diagnosis of palpable nodules after the administration of dermal fillers
Authors:   Ultrasound Diagnostic Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, Mlosek Robert Krzysztof , Migda Bartosz ,   Ultrasound Diagnostic Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, Skrzypek Ewa ,   Department of History of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, Słoboda Katarzyna ,   1st Radiology Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland, Migda Michał ,   Clinical Unit of Obstetrics, Women’s Diseases and Gynecological Oncology, United District Hospital, Collegium Medicum University of Nicolaus Copernicus in Torun, Torun, Poland
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Esthetic medicine is a buoyant field of medicine. As the number of performed procedures – mainly injections of botulin toxin and dermal fillers – is increasing, the number of complications is rising as well. The most popular dermal filler is hyaluronic acid. Injection of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers is considered a minimally invasive procedure, but complications in the form of skin nodules and lumps are being encountered more and frequently. Esthetic medicine does not currently offer its own diagnostic methods that would allow one to diagnose complications. In these circumstances, the implementation of objective diagnostic methods from other fields of medicine becomes significant. High-frequency ultrasound is one of such methods. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to implement high-frequency ultrasound for the diagnosis of palpable nodules after the administration of dermal fillers. Material and method: The study group included 15 women who developed palpable nodules in the region of hyaluronic acid injection. The study includes both early and late complications. An EPIQ 5 (Philips, Bothell, USA) ultrasound machine and a L5–18 transducer were used to examine the nodules. Ultrasound images were evaluated qualitatively by 2 independent investigators. Results: Ultrasound enabled the diagnosis of hyaluronic acid deposition in 9 women, granulomas in 3 women, fibrosis in 2 women and a deposition with inflammation in 1 case. Each of the diagnosed structures presented a typical ultrasound appearance. Conclusions: High-frequency ultrasound is a useful diagnostic method that has a chance to become a widespread tool to diagnose and treat complications. Because of a low number of study reports in this area, continued research is warranted.
Outcomes of the New COVID-19 Coronavirus Infection in 68 Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: Kagramanova Anna V. , Knyazev Oleg V. , Veselov Alexei V. , Shkurko Tatyana V. , Li Irina A. , Fadeeva Nina A. , Kulakov Dmitriy S. , Lishchinskaya Albina A. , Zvyaglova Mariya Y. , Chernova Marina E. , Parfenov Asfold I.
Published: December 2020

Background. COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory syndrome with a wide range of manifestations and outcomes. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) generally have a higher risk of infection, especially if they receive immunosuppressive therapy.
Aim to describe the manifestations of COVID-19 in patients with IBD and to determine the risk factors for severe COVID-19.
Methods. The analysis included 68 patients with an established diagnosis of Crohns disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis and a confirmed new coronavirus infection. The diagnosis of coronavirus infection was established when SARS-CoV-2 was detected by PCR using nasopharyngeal smears, and computer tomography (CT) of the chest revealed inflammatory changes characteristic of coronavirus lung damage or high IgG and IgM titers based on the results of immunological blood analysis.
Results. 68 patients with IBD and COVID-19 were observed in the Department of IBD, including 27 (39.7%) patients with CD, 41 (60.3%) patients with UC. Among patients diagnosed with pneumonia, 100 % of patients received therapy with thiopurines and infliximab. 8 (11.8%) patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 during hospitalization for a severe IBD attack. There was no statistically significant difference between UC and CD patients in terms of disease activity (p = 0.13) during the period of coronavirus infection. In 37 patients (26 UC, 11 BC) with pneumonia (100%), there was an exacerbation of IBD. Statistical significance was found between the development of more severe lung damage (CT 34) and IBD activity at the time of diagnosis of COVID-19 (p 0.001), the presence of comorbidities (p 0.001) and taking GCS (p 0.001) at the time of detection of COVID-19. However, the use of biological and immunosuppressive therapy was not associated with a higher risk of severe lung damage and the need for a ventilator. It was shown that the age of patients over 65 years was statistically correlated with the need for a ventilator (p = 0.02).
Conclusion. The exacerbation of the disease, especially in elderly patients with comorbidities, the use of glucocorticosteroids was associated with negative consequences of COVID-19, while biological and immunosuppressant drugs used for the treatment of IBD did not have such a negative effect.
Organization of Urological and Oncourological Care for Patients in a Pandemic of COVID-19: Overcoming Existing Limitations
Authors: Vasilyev Alexandr O. , Ruvinova Raisa D. , Kolotarev Konstantin B. , Sazonova Natalia A. , Govorov Alexandr V. , Shiraev Arseny A. , Pushkar Dmitriy Y.
Published: December 2020

The new coronavirus infection pandemic has certainly changed all spheres of human activity, the healthcare system was completely transformed and reassignment in a short time. The built model of a personalized approach to each patient was replaced by the provision of health services to groups of patients with similar symptoms of the disease and severity, and conditions not associated with coronavirus infection, anyway, took a back seat. Since the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic, the main human and material resources have been directed at combating the new infection. To date, almost every country has cases of coronavirus infection. The planned surgical care was temporarily stopped, what could not but affect the outcomes of diseases. A special category of patients is represented by patients with diagnosed malignant neoplasms, the delay in treatment of which can significantly reduce the life expectancy and/or quality of life. The current state of the problem served as a catalyst for the development of telemedicine technologies, which simplified communication in the patient-physician and physician-physician relationship. Urinary tract infections are one of the most common reasons for visiting a urologist, which implies the prescription of antibacterial drugs. However, in a pandemic, remote prescription of these drugs is limited by the lack of face-to-face specialist consultations. This enabled make it possible to use drugs based on bacteriophages. Patient management problems were solved by using distance counseling techniques. In this article we present an algorithm for providing urological and oncourological care to patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as an overview of the existing world practice in the implementation of telemedicine consultations in the current epidemiological situation.
Clinical and Morphological Features of Myocardial Damage and the Course of Fulminant Myocarditis on the Background of СOVID-19, Diagnosis and Treatment Tactics
Authors: Oynotkinova Olga S. , Nikonov Evgenii L. , Zayratyants Oleg V. , Rzhevskaya Elena V. , Krukov Evgenii V. , Voevoda Michail I. , Maslennikova Olga M. , Larina Vera N. , Demidova Tatiana Y. , Dedov Evgenii I.
Published: December 2020

In a review article based on my own clinical experience of managing patients with acute myocardial injury and fulminant myocarditis, taking into account expert recommendations on the clinical treatment of myocardial damage associated with novel coronavirus infection a National clinical geriatric medical research center, division of cardiovascular diseases, the Chinese geriatrics society, Department of cardiology, Beijing Medical Association and European clinics discusses the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of myocardial damage and FM patients, infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical features and diagnostic criteria are presented, including screening tests of markers of myocardial damage in the form of a highly sensitive troponin test, a natriuretic peptide. The article discusses in detail the pathogenesis and mechanisms of myocardial damage, including immune mechanisms, cytokine storm, systemic inflammation with macro- and microvascular dysfunction and the development of myocardial dysfunction with acute heart failure, hypotension, cardiogenic shock and/or life-threatening heart rhythm disorders caused by hypoxia and metabolic disorders at the cellular level. Features of the clinical course of fulminant myocarditis in infected patients (SARS-CoV-2) in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic are presented. For the first time, a detailed histo-morphological analysis of pathological myocardial injuries and complications is presented on the basis of unique autopsy material on post-mortem diagnostics of various pathoanatomic autopsies of those who died from COVID-19 in Moscow. Based on the clinical, functional and morphological material, the Protocol of etiopathogenetic treatment is presented. The basis of standard therapy is considered antiviral drugs, immunoglobulin G, the use of monoclonal antibodies to interleukin-6, anticoagulants, glucocorticoids, depending on the clinical situation, cardioprotectors and symptomatic treatment are recommended to maintain the heart, which in combination can achieve a certain clinical effectiveness. As adjuvant cardioprotective targeted therapy, the sodium salt of phosphocreatine is considered in order to preserve the myocardium, maintain its contractility and vital activity.
Um panorama sobre as licenciaturas em Física do Brasil: Análise descritiva dos Microdados do Censo da Educação Superior do INEP
Authors: Vizzotto Patrick Alves
Published: December 2020

Apresenta-se os resultados de uma pesquisa que teve por objetivo exibir um panorama dos cursos de licenciatura em Física do país a partir de uma análise dos Microdados do Censo da Educação Superior do Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (INEP). Justifica-se o estudo pelo seu potencial de contribuição ao gerar subsídios teóricos que possam fundamentar o debate público e acadêmico sobre a emergência de ações voltadas para a melhoria do Ensino de Física na Educação Básica. Analisou-se descritivamente diferentes informações de caracterização dos cursos. Como resultados pode-se verificar a existência de 263 graduações em Física (licenciatura), ofertadas por 153 Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES), bem como, percebeu-se, entre outras coisas, que: a distribuição dos cursos não se dá de maneira uniforme pelo Brasil, centrando-se nas regiões Sudeste e Nordeste; 73% das licenciaturas atualmente em atividade foram criadas depois dos anos 2000; identificou-se uma possível associação entre os indicadores de qualidade do INEP e o desempenho dos egressos em exames como o Exame Nacional de Desempenho de Estudantes (ENADE). Sugere-se que em estudos futuros as grades curriculares dos cursos de Física sejam exploradas com maior detalhamento a fim de analisar pontos de convergência entre elas.
A Specialized Therapeutic Approach to Chronic Urticaria Refractory to H1-Antihistamines Improves Disease Burden: The Spanish AWARE Experience
Authors: Gimenez-Arnau A , Bartra J , Ferrer M , Jauregui I , Borbujo J , Figueras I , Muñoz-Bellido FJ , Pedraz J , Serra-Baldrich E , Tejedor-Alonso MA , Velasco M , Terradas P , Labrador M
Published: December 2020

Objective: During its first year, the AWARE study assessed disease activity, patient quality of life (QOL), and treatment patterns in chronic urticaria (CU) refractory to H1-antihistamines (H1-AH) in clinical practice. Methods: We performed an observational, prospective (24 months), international, multicenter study. The inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years and H1-AH–refractory CU (>2 months). At each visit, patients completed questionnaires to assess disease burden (Urticaria Control Test [UCT]), disease activity (7 day-Urticaria Activity Score [UAS7]), and QOL (Dermatology Life Quality index [DLQI], Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire [CU-Q2oL], and Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire [AE-QoL]). We present data for Spain. Results: The study population comprised 270 evaluable patients (73.3% female, mean [SD] age, 48.9 [14.7] years). At baseline, 89.3% were prescribed a CU treatment. After 1 year, first- and second-line treatments became less frequent and third-line treatments became more frequent. At baseline, 47.0% of patients experienced angioedema; at 1 year, this percentage had fallen to 11.8%. The mean (SD) AE-QoL score decreased from 45.2 (28.7) to 24.0 (25.8). The mean (SD) UCT score decreased from 7.0 (4.5) to 12.1 (4.1). According to UAS7, 38.2% of patients reported absence of wheals and itch in the previous 7 days at 1 year compared with 8.3% at baseline. The mean (SD) DLQI score decreased from 8.0 (7.4) to 2.8 (4.6). At the 1-year visit, the percentage of patients reporting a high or very high impact on QOL fell from 29.9% to 9.6%. Conclusions: H1-AH–refractory CU in Spain is characterized by absence of symptoms and a considerable impact on QOL. Continuous follow-up of CU patients and third-line therapies reduce disease burden and improve patients’ QOL.
Review of Value of CT Texture Analysis and Machine Learning in Differentiating Fat-Poor Renal Angiomyolipoma from Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Yuhan , Li Xu , Lv Yang , Gu Xinquan
Published: December 2020

The diagnosis of patients with suspected angiomyolipoma relies on the detection of abundant macroscopic intralesional fat, which is always of no use to differentiate fat-poor angiomyolipoma (fp-AML) from renal cell carcinoma and diagnosis of fp-AML excessively depends on individual experience. Texture analysis was proven to be a potentially useful biomarker for distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors because of its capability of providing objective and quantitative assessment of lesions by analyzing features that are not visible to the human eye. This review aimed to summarize the literature on the use of texture analysis to diagnose patients with fat-poor angiomyolipoma vs those with renal cell carcinoma and to evaluate its current application, limitations, and future challenges in order to avoid unnecessary surgical resection.
Effects of Perforation Mediated-modified Atmospheric Packaging (MAP) on Shelf Life and Quality of Calcium Chloride Treated Bell Pepper (Capsicum annum)
Authors: Adhikari Pragya , Paneru Nisha , Thapa Kanti , Dhakal Aashish
Published: December 2020

Background: Capsicums having high respiration, transpiration, and ethylene production rates along with high susceptibility to microbial growth deteriorate rapidly during storage leading to higher loss. The current study was conducted to assess the effects of Perforation mediated- modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) on shelf life and quality of calcium chloride treated bell pepper (Capsicum annum). Methods: For this purposed green mature fruits capsicum annum variety Indra were pretreated with calcium chloride, weighed 1kg and packed in Low-density polyethylene with no perforation (T1), LDPE with 4 perforations(T2), LDPE with 8 perforations(T3), LDPE with 12 perforations(T4), LDPE with 16 perforation(T5) and open tray (T6) and stored at ambient room temperature of laboratory. Three replications were maintained for each treatment with CRD Design and different parameters were evaluated during the study period. Result: Capsicum stored in perforated LDPE packet exhibited less weight loss, higher shelf life and higher vitamin C content compared to capsicum kept in an open tray. With less perforations weight loss was less. Moreover, LDPE with 16 perforations can be considered the best treatment because with higher numbers of pores it exhibited comparatively higher shelf life, optimum quality of fruits and also check the spoilage of the fruits as compared to all treatments.
Development and Validation of a Global Competency Framework for Preparing New Graduates for Early Career Professional Roles
Authors: Strong Mark , Burkholder Gary J , Solberg Emily , Stellmack Amy , Presson William , Seitz Jean-Bernard
Published: December 2020

Objectives: The current objectives include the development of a global competency model applicable across a wide range of jobs, industries, and geographies for university graduates entering the workplace. Method: The competency model was developed utilizing a global panel of subject matter experts and a validation survey of over 25,000 students, faculty, staff, and employers across more than 30 countries. Results: The results showed substantial consistency for the importance and criticality ratings of the competencies, with Achieving Objectives, Analyzing and Solving Problems, Adapting to Change, Communicating Orally, Learning and Self-Development, Making Decisions, Planning and Organizing, and Working Well with Others as the highest-rated competencies across regions, roles, and industries. Conclusions: The most important competencies for students entering the workforce were consistent across different jobs, different industries, and different countries. The diversity and varied experience levels of the sample provide greater generalizability than most competency modeling projects that are often idiosyncratic to specific roles, industries, subjects, or levels. Implication for Theory and/or Practice: University faculty and staff can use the results of the validation study to develop curricula and programs that will be better able to foster important competencies to ensure that their students are better prepared to enter the workplace. Although some organizations emphasize leadership as important for all professional employees, Managing the Work of Others, Leading Others, and Influencing Others were consistently rated lower in importance by employers across all roles and regions and may not be appropriate as the primary focus of skill development for new graduates.
Extraction kinetic of some phenolic compounds during Cabernet Sauvignon alcoholic fermentation and antioxidant properties of derived wines
Authors: Lisov Nikolina , Petrovic Aleksandar , Čakar Uroš , Jadranin Milka , Tešević Vele , Bukarica-Gojković Ljiljana
Published: December 2020

In this study, we estimated the usage of Cabernet Sauvignon in microvinifications, obtaining wines with increased phenolic compound content. Kinetic extraction of phenolic compounds during alcoholic fermentation was affected by maceration time (3, 5, 7, 14 and 21 days) and the addition and kinetics of enzyme preparations (EP). The highest extraction rates were observed for catechin (EXV EP – EXV enzyme preparation and CP EP – Color plus enzyme preparation) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (Car EP - Caractere enzyme preparation). According to extraction time of the analyzed phenolic compounds, maximal values (ellagic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, naringenin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, protocatechuic acid, trans-resveratrol, syringic acid, vanillin, and vanillic acid) were obtained on day 15 of maceration with addition of CP EP, with exceptions of gallic acid, catechin, and myricetin. Prolonged maceration times, up to 21 days, showed the most potent DPPH free radical scavenging activity with Car EP and the highest Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) values with CP EP.
Total Tibial Allograft Reconstruction for Adamantinoma
Authors: Callan Alexandra K. , Singleterry Sydney , Czerniak Bogdan A. , Selber Jesse C. , Satcher Robert L.
Published: December 2020

Case:

A 47-year-old woman with adamantinoma of the entire left tibia and distal fibula underwent resection and reconstruction using a total tibia allograft-prosthetic composite with rotating hinged knee replacement and ankle fusion. She is ambulating without tumor recurrence with 2-year follow-up.

Conclusion:

This case report offers a unique reconstruction option for extensive tibia bone primary malignancy. To our knowledge, this is the longest survival for total tibia allograft prosthetic composite reconstruction.
Modified Allograft Reconstruction of a Disrupted Patella Tendon
Authors: Mohamed Nequesha S. , Remily Ethan A. , Wilkie Wayne A. , George Nicole E. , Nace James , Delanois Ronald E.
Published: December 2020

Case:

A 19-year-old woman with a history of Hoffa fat pad syndrome underwent infrapatellar fat pad synovectomy and subsequently developed extensor mechanism disruption secondary to iatrogenic patellar tendon injury. She received a modified extensor mechanism patella-patellar tendon-tibial tubercle allograft to restore extensor function with satisfactory results at 2-year follow-up. We also review alternative techniques that were considered for her extensor mechanism repair.

Conclusion:

The patient demonstrated satisfactory outcomes, similar to other established techniques. This modified extensor mechanism allograft reconstruction may be an effective alternative for patients experiencing acute extensor mechanism disruptions.
Characteristics and Treatments for Pediatric Ordinary and Incarcerated Inguinal Hernia Based on Gender: 12-Year Experiences from a Single Center
Authors: Wang Kai , Tan Sarah Siyin , Xiao Yue , Wang Zengmeng , Peng Chunhui , Pang Wenbo , Wu Dongyang , Chen Yajun
Published: December 2020

Background: Congenital primary inguinal hernia is a common condition among children. Although much literature regarding inguinal hernia is available, large scale analysis are few, and rarely do they expand on gender difference or incarcerated hernias. Methods: Patients with unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia who were admitted to our hospital and received open inguinal hernia repair (OIHR) or laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) under general anesthesia were included. LIHR was performed using single-site laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (SLPEC). Medical records were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 12190 patients were included in this study. The ratio of male to female was 4.8:1. There was a total of 10646 unilateral hernias (87.3%) and 1544 bilateral hernias (12.7%), with a corresponding ratio of 6.9:1. 12444 hernia repair surgeries, 11083 (89.1%) OIHR and 1361 (10.9%) LIHR, were held. OIHR had a shorter operative time than LIHR for all unilateral and female bilateral repair, unlike for bilateral male repair. There was no difference between OIHR and LIHR for ipsilateral recurrent hernia in males. There was a difference between OIHR and LIHR for metachronous contralateral hernia. Incarcerated inguinal hernia was associated with longer operative time, hospital stay and higher hospital costs. Females and patients under 1 year were more likely to present with incarcerated hernia. Conclusions: OIHR should be considered for male patients, especially for unilateral and complete inguinal hernia. LIHR is highly recommended for female patients. For incarcerated hernia, attention should be paid to patients under 1 year old, as they can be 60 times more susceptible, and females. Surgeons should also be aware of ovary hernias in females.
Assessing above-ground biomass-functional diversity relationships in temperate forests in northern Mexico
Authors: Vargas-Larreta Benedicto , Martinez Jorge Omar Lopez , González Edgar J. , Corral-Rivas Jose Javier , Hernández Francisco Javier
Published: December 2020

Background: Studies on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem productivity have suggested that species richness and functional diversity are the main drivers of ecosystem processes. Several patterns on this relationship have been found, including positive, unimodal, negative, and neutral trends, keeping the issue controversial. In this study, taxonomic diversity and functional diversity as drivers of above-ground biomass (AGB) were comparated, and the mechanisms that influence biomass production were investigated by testing the complementarity and the mass-ratio hypotheses.Methods: Using data from 414 permanent sample plots, covering 23% of temperate forest in the Sierra Madre Oriental (México). We estimated the above-gound biomass (AGB), taxonomic and functional diversity indices, as well as community weighted mean values (CWM) for three functional trais (maximum height, leaf size and wood density) for trees ≥7.5 cm d.b.h., in managed and unmanaged stands. To compare taxonomic diversity differences between managed and unmanaged stands we carried out a rarefaction analysis. Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between AGB and taxonomic and functional diversity metrics, as well as CWM traits throught spatial autoregressive models.Results: We found a hump-shaped relationship between AGB and species richness in managed and unmanaged forests. CMW of maximum height was the most important predictor of AGB in both stands, which suggested that the mechanism underlaying the AGB-diversity relationship is the dominance of some highly productive species, supporting the mass-ratio hypothesis. Above-ground biomass was significantly correlated with three of the five functional diversity metrics, CWM maximum height and species richness. Our results show the importance of take into account spatial autocorrelation in the construction of predictive models to avoid spurious patterns in the AGB-diversity relationship.Conclusion: Species richness, maximum height, functional richness, functional dispersion and RaoQ indices relate with above-ground biomass production in temperate mixed-species and uneven-aged forests of northern Mexico. These forests show a hump-shaped AGB-species richness relationship. Functional diversity explains better AGB production than classical taxonomic diversity. Community weighted mean traits provide key information to explain stand biomass in these forests, where maximum tree height seems to be a more suitable trait for understanding the biomass accumulation process in these ecosystems. Although the impact of forest management on biodiversity is still debated, it has not changed the AGB-diversity relationships in the forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico.
Hindlimb torsional alignment changes in growing rabbits after patellar dislocation
Authors: Niu Jinghui , Qi Qi , Piao Kang , Hao Kuo , Sharif Iftekhar , Wang Fei
Published: December 2020

Background: Torsional malalignment has been considered as a risk factor for patellar dislocation. But the influence of patellar dislocation for torsional alignment development remains unknown. The present study aims to investigate whether the torsional alteration of the hindlimb occurs after patellar dislocation in growing rabbits.Methods: In the present study, 30 one-month-old rabbits were included. The experimental group consisted of 30 left knees of rabbits which underwent patellar lateral dislocation. The control group consisted of 30 right knees of the rabbits which no surgical procedure was performed. The Computed Tomography (CT) scan was performed after the surgery and at the point the rabbits were skeletal mature (5 months post-surgery). The angles of femoral version and tibial torsion were measured using a three-dimensional method and analyzed between the experimental group and the control group.Results: After the surgery, the femoral version and tibial torsion in the experimental and control group were not significantly different. However, 5 months after surgery, the angle of femoral version in the experimental group (-5.50 ± 6.13°) was significantly different from that in the control group (-10.90 ± 4.74°) (P < 0.05). But the angle of tibial torsion in the experimental group (7.17 ± 7.25°) and control group (4.47 ± 6.34°) were not significantly different (P = 0.144).Conclusion: From this study, patellar dislocation can lead to alteration of femoral version in growing rabbits. So patellar dislocation may affect on lower extremity alignment. These findings may develop pathology and etiology of patellar dislocation.
Protective reactive thymus hyperplasia in COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Cuvelier Pelagia , Roux Hélène , Couëdel-Courteille Anne , Dutrieux Jacques , Naudin Cécile , De Muylder Bénédicte Charmeteau , Cheynier Rémi , Squara Pierre , Marullo Stefano
Published: December 2020

Background. Patients with COVID-19 (COVID) may develop acute respiratory distress syndrome with or without sepsis, coagulopathy and visceral damage. While chest CT-scans are routinely performed in the initial assessment of patients with severe pulmonary forms, thymus involvement and reactivation have not been investigated so far.Methods. In this observational study, we systematically scored the enlargement of the thymus and the lung involvement, using CT-scans, in all adult patients admitted to the ICU for COVID or any other cause (control group) at one centre between March and April 2020. Initial biological investigations included nasal detection of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In a subgroup of 24 patients with different degrees of pulmonary involvement and thymus hypertrophy, plasma cytokine concentrations were measured and the export of mature T-cells from the thymus was estimated simultaneously by PCR quantification of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs).Results. Eighty-seven patients were studied: 50 COVID patients and 37 controls. Non-atrophic or enlarged thymus was more commonly observed in COVID patients than in controls (66% vs. 24%, p<0.0001). Thymus enlargement in COVID patients was associated with more extensive lung injury score on CT-scans (4 [3-5] vs. 2 [1.5-4], p=0.01), but a lower mortality rate (8.6% vs. 41.2%, p<0.001). Other factors associated with mortality were age, lymphopaenia, high CRP and co-morbidities. COVID patients had higher concentrations of IL-7 (6.00 [3.72-9.25] vs. 2.17 [1.76-4.4] pg/mL; p=0.04), and higher thymic production of new lymphocytes (sj/bTREC ratio = 2.88 [1.98-4.51] vs. 0.23 [0.15-0.60]; p=0.004). Thymic production was also correlated with the CT-scan thymic score (r = 0.38, p=0.03) and inversely correlated with the number of lymphocytes (r=0.56, p=0.007).Conclusions. In COVID patients, thymus enlargement was frequent and associated with increased T-lymphocyte production, which appears to be a beneficial adaptation to virus-induced lymphopaenia. The lack of thymic activity/reactivation in older SARS-CoV-2 infected patients could contribute to a worse prognosis. Trial registration: N/A
Indirect cholinergic activation slows down pancreatic cancer growth and tumor-associated inflammation
Authors: Pfitzinger Paulo L. , Fangmann Laura , Wang Kun , Demir Elke , Gürlevik Engin , Fleischmann-Mundt Bettina , Brooks Jennifer , D'Haese Jan G. , Teller Steffen , Hecker Andreas , Jesinghaus Moritz , Jäger Carsten , Ren Lei , Istvanffy Rouzanna , Kühnel Florian , Friess Helmut , Ceyhan Güralp O. , Demir Ihsan Ekin
Published: December 2020

Background: Nerve-cancer interactions are increasingly recognized to be of paramount importance for the emergence and progression of pancreatic cancer (PCa). Here, we investigated the role of indirect cholinergic activation on PCa progression through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) via clinically available AChE-inhibitors, i.e. physostigmine and pyridostigmine.Methods: We applied immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, MTT-viability, invasion, flow-cytometric-cell-cycle-assays, phospho-kinase arrays, multiplex ELISA and xenografted mice to assess the impact of AChE inhibition on PCa cell growth and invasiveness, and tumor-associated inflammation. Survival analyses were performed in a novel genetically-induced, surgically-resectable mouse model of PCa under adjuvant treatment with gemcitabine+/-physostigmine/pyridostigmine (n=30 mice). Human PCa specimens (n=39) were analyzed for the impact of cancer AChE expression on tumor stage and survival.Results: We discovered a strong expression of AChE in cancer cells of human PCa specimens. Inhibition of this cancer-cell-intrinsic AChE via pyridostigmine and physostigmine, or administration of acetylcholine (ACh), diminished PCa cell viability and invasion in vitro and in vivo via suppression of pERK signaling, and reduced tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration and serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. In the novel genetically-induced, surgically-resectable PCa mouse model, adjuvant co-therapy with AChE blockers had no impact on survival. Accordingly, survival of resected PCa patients did not differ based on tumor AChE expression levels. Patients with higher-stage PCa also exhibited loss of the ACh-synthesizing enzyme, choline-acetyltransferase (ChAT), in their nerves.Conclusion: For future clinical trials of PCa, direct cholinergic stimulation of the muscarinic signaling, rather than indirect activation via AChE blockade, may be a more effective strategy.