bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health after Legionnaires' disease: A description of hospitalizations up to 5 years after Legionella pneumonia
Authors: Gamage Shantini D. , Ross Natasha , Kralovic Stephen M. , Simbartl Loretta A. , Roselle Gary A. , Berkelman Ruth L. , Chamberlain Allison T.
Published: January 2021

Background and objectives

Research on Legionnaires’ Disease (LD) suggests there may be long-term health complications, but data are limited. This study investigated whether Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission during LD hospitalization may be associated with adverse health outcomes and characterized subsequent discharge diagnoses in patients with LD up to 5 years post-LD.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective case series study with follow up for 5 years among patients hospitalized at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center between 2005 and 2010 with LD. Data were collected from medical records on health history, LD severity (including ICU admission), and discharge diagnoses for 5 years post-LD or until death. We used ordinal logistic regression to explore associations between ICU admission and hospitalizations post-LD. Frequency counts were used to determine the most prevalent discharge diagnoses in the 5 years post-LD.

Results

For the 292 patients with laboratory-confirmed LD, those admitted to the ICU during LD hospitalization were more likely to have a greater number of hospitalizations within 5 years compared to non-ICU patients (ORHosp 1.92 CI95% 1.25, 2.95). Fifty-five percent (161/292) had ≥ 1 hospitalization within 5 years post-LD. After accounting for pre-existing diagnosis codes in patients with at least one hospitalization in the 2 years prior to LD (n = 77/161 patients, 47.8%), three of the four most frequent new diagnoses in the 5 years post-LD were non-chronic conditions: acute renal failure (n = 22, 28.6%), acute respiratory failure (n = 17, 22.1%) and unspecified pneumonia (n = 15, 19.5%).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that LD requiring ICU admission is associated with more subsequent hospitalizations, a factor that could contribute to poorer future health for people with severe LD. In addition to chronic conditions prevalent in this study population, we found new diagnoses in the 5-year post-LD period including acute renal failure. With LD incidence increasing, more research is needed to understand conditions and factors that influence long term health after LD.
Within-session test-retest reliability of pressure pain threshold and mechanical temporal summation in healthy subjects
Authors: Mailloux Catherine , Beaulieu Louis-David , Wideman Timothy H. , Massé-Alarie Hugo
Published: January 2021

Objective

To determine the absolute and relative intra-rater within-session test-retest reliability of pressure pain threshold (PPT) and mechanical temporal summation of pain (TSP) at the low back and the forearm in healthy participants and to test the influence of the number and sequence of measurements on reliability metrics.

Methods

In 24 participants, three PPT and TSP measures were assessed at four sites (2 at the low back, 2 at the forearm) in two blocks of measurements separated by 20 minutes. The standard error of measurement, the minimal detectable change (MDC) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were investigated for five different sequences of measurements (e.g. measurement 1, 1–2, 1-2-3).

Results

The MDC for the group (MDCgr) for PPT ranged from 28.71 to 50.56 kPa across the sites tested, whereas MDCgr for TSP varied from 0.33 to 0.57 out of 10 (numeric scale). Almost all ICC showed an excellent relative reliability (between 0.80 and 0.97), except when only the first measurement was considered (moderate). Although minimal differences in absolute PPT reliability were present between the different sequences, in general, using only the first measurement increase measurement error. Three TSP measures reduced the measurement error.

Discussion

We established that two measurements of PPT and three of TSP reduced the measurement error and demonstrated an excellent relative reliability. Our results could be used in future pain research to confirm the presence of true hypo/hyperalgesia for paradigms such as conditioned pain modulation or exercise-induced hypoalgesia, indicated by a change exceeding the measurement variability.
CTLA-4 blockade and interferon-α induce proinflammatory transcriptional changes in the tumor immune landscape that correlate with pathologic response in melanoma
Authors: Khunger Arjun , Piazza Erin , Warren Sarah , Smith Thomas H. , Ren Xing , White Andrew , Elliott Nathan , Cesano Alessandra , Beechem Joseph M. , Kirkwood John M. , Tarhini Ahmad A.
Published: January 2021

Patients with locally/regionally advanced melanoma were treated with neoadjuvant combination immunotherapy with high-dose interferon α-2b (HDI) and ipilimumab in a phase I clinical trial. Tumor specimens were obtained prior to the initiation of neoadjuvant therapy, at the time of surgery and progression if available. In this study, gene expression profiles of tumor specimens (N = 27) were investigated using the NanoString nCounter® platform to evaluate associations with clinical outcomes (pathologic response, radiologic response, relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS)) and define biomarkers associated with tumor response. The Tumor Inflammation Signature (TIS), an 18-gene signature that enriches for response to Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) checkpoint blockade, was also evaluated for association with clinical response and survival. It was observed that neoadjuvant ipilimumab-HDI therapy demonstrated an upregulation of immune-related genes, chemokines, and transcription regulator genes involved in immune cell activation, function, or cell proliferation. Importantly, increased expression of baseline pro-inflammatory genes CCL19, CD3D, CD8A, CD22, LY9, IL12RB1, C1S, C7, AMICA1, TIAM1, TIGIT, THY1 was associated with longer OS (p < 0.05). In addition, multiple genes that encode a component or a regulator of the extracellular matrix such as MMP2 and COL1A2 were identified post-treatment as being associated with longer RFS and OS. In all baseline tissues, high TIS scores were associated with longer OS (p = 0.0166). Also, downregulated expression of cell proliferation-related genes such as CUL1, CCND1 and AAMP at baseline was associated with pathological and radiological response (unadjusted p < 0.01). In conclusion, we identified numerous genes that play roles in multiple biological pathways involved in immune activation, immune suppression and cell proliferation correlating with pathological/radiological responses following neoadjuvant immunotherapy highlighting the complexity of immune responses modulated by immunotherapy. Our observations suggest that TIS may be a useful biomarker for predicting survival outcomes with combination immunotherapy.
Machine learning and statistics to qualify environments through multi-traits in Coffea arabica
Authors: Costa Weverton Gomes da , Barbosa Ivan de Paiva , de Souza Jacqueline Enequio , Cruz Cosme Damião , Nascimento Moysés , de Oliveira Antonio Carlos Baião
Published: January 2021

Several factors such as genotype, environment, and post-harvest processing can affect the responses of important traits in the coffee production chain. Determining the influence of these factors is of great relevance, as they can be indicators of the characteristics of the coffee produced. The most efficient models choice to be applied should take into account the variety of information and the particularities of each biological material. This study was developed to evaluate statistical and machine learning models that would better discriminate environments through multi-traits of coffee genotypes and identify the main agronomic and beverage quality traits responsible for the variation of the environments. For that, 31 morpho-agronomic and post-harvest traits were evaluated, from field experiments installed in three municipalities in the Matas de Minas region, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two types of post-harvest processing were evaluated: natural and pulped. The apparent error rate was estimated for each method. The Multilayer Perceptron and Radial Basis Function networks were able to discriminate the coffee samples in multi-environment more efficiently than the other methods, identifying differences in multi-traits responses according to the production sites and type of post-harvest processing. The local factors did not present specific traits that favored the severity of diseases and differentiated vegetative vigor. Sensory traits acidity and fragrance/aroma score also made little contribution to the discrimination process, indicating that acidity and fragrance/aroma are characteristic of coffee produced and all coffee samples evaluated are of the special type in the Mata of Minas region. The main traits responsible for the differentiation of production sites are plant height, fruit size, and bean production. The sensory trait "Body" is the main one to discriminate the form of post-harvest processing.
Prescribing errors and associated factors in discharge prescriptions in the emergency department: A prospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Anzan Mona , Alwhaibi Monira , Almetwazi Mansour , Alhawassi Tariq M.
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Evidence regarding the prevalence of medication prescribing errors (PEs) and potential factors that increase PEs among patients treated in the emergency department (ED) are limited. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and nature of PEs in discharge prescriptions in the ED and identify potential risk factors associated with PEs.

Methods

This was a prospective observational cross-sectional study in an ambulatory ED in a tertiary teaching hospital. Data were collected for six months using a customized reporting tool. All patients discharged from ED with a discharged prescription within the study period were enrolled in this study.

Results

About 13.5% (n = 68) of the 504 prescriptions reviewed (for 504 patients) had at least one error. Main PEs encountered were wrong dose (23.2%), wrong frequency (20.7%), and wrong strength errors (14.6%). About 36.8% of identified PEs were related to pediatric prescriptions, followed by the acute care emergency unit (26.5%) and the triage emergency unit (20.6%). The main leading human-related causes associated with PEs were lack of knowledge (40.9%) followed by an improper selection from a computer operator list (31.8%). The leading contributing systems related factors were pre-printed medication orders (50%), lack of training (31.5%), noise level (13.0%), and frequent interruption of prescriber and distraction (11.1%). Prescribers' involved with the identified errors were resident physicians (39.4%), specialists (30.3%), and (24.4%) were made by general practitioners. Physicians rejected around 12% of the pharmacist-raised recommendations related to the identified PEs as per their clinical judgment.

Conclusion

PEs in ED setting are common, and multiple human and systems-related factors may contribute to the development of PEs. Further training to residents and proper communication between the healthcare professionals may reduce the risk of PEs in ED.
Detection of postural control in early Parkinson’s disease: Clinical testing vs. modulation of center of pressure
Authors: Kamieniarz Anna , Michalska Justyna , Marszałek Wojciech , Stania Magdalena , Słomka Kajetan J. , Gorzkowska Agnieszka , Juras Grzegorz , Okun Michael S. , Christou Evangelos A.
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Little is known about the early stage balance changes in PD. Many clinicians assume that there are no postural issues in early PD because of failure to identify them on bedside and clinical testing. Here, we quantify balance changes in early and moderate stage PD and compared these values to healthy controls (HC) using clinical assessments of balance and posturography.

Methods

We compared 15 HC with 15 early PD (PD-II; Hoehn and Yahr stage II) and 15 moderate PD (PD-III; H&Y stage III). Participants performed various clinical tests of balance and a standing postural task on a force platform. We quantified the spatiotemporal parameters of the center of pressure (COP), the sample entropy and power spectral density (PSD) of the COP.

Results

The PSD of the COP differentiated PD-II from HC from 0–0.5 Hz and PD-II from PD-III from 0.5–1 Hz. Specifically, PD-II and PD-III manifested greater power than HC from 0–0.5 Hz, whereas PD-III exhibited greater power than PD-II and HC from 0.5–1.0 Hz (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between PD-II and HC in all clinical tests and in spatiotemporal parameters of the COP (p>0.05). Although the sample entropy was significantly lower in the PD groups (p<0.05), entropy failed to differentiate PD-II from PD-III.

Conclusion

The low-frequency modulation of the COP in this small cohort differentiated early PD from HC and from moderate PD. Clinicians should be aware that there are early balance deficits in PD. A larger sample size is needed to confirm these findings.
Obstructive sleep apnea: A sharp increase in the prevalence of patients treated with nasal CPAP over the last decade in France
Authors: Mandereau-Bruno Laurence , Léger Damien , Delmas Marie-Christine
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a frequent condition. In the absence of treatment, OSA is associated with a higher risk of traffic accidents and a large variety of diseases. The objectives of this study were to describe the characteristics of patients treated for OSA in France and assess the time trends in treatment.

Methods

The French National Health Data System is an individual database with data on all healthcare reimbursements for the entire French population. Based on this database, we included all patients aged 20 years or over who were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or mandibular advancement splint (MAS) between 2009 and 2018. Negative binomial models, adjusted for age, were used to assess time trends in treatment prevalence and incidence rates.

Results

In 2017, 2.3% of French adults aged ≥20 years were treated with CPAP (men: 3.3%; women: 1.3%). The highest prevalence was observed in people aged 70–74 years (5.0%). From 2009 to 2018, the annual prevalence of CPAP increased 3-fold and the annual incidence 1.9-fold. During the same period, the rate of patients reimbursed for MAS (first prescription or renewal) was multiplied by 7.6. The proportion of patients treated with CPAP in 2017 who were no longer treated in the subsequent year was 6.9%.

Discussion

The sharp increase in the incidence of OSA treatment probably reflects a better recognition of the disease in France. However, the prevalence of OSA treatment remains lower than expected based on the international literature. Further studies are needed to identify the obstacles to an optimal management of individuals with OSA in France.
Ultrasonography validation for early alteration of diaphragm echodensity and function in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Mele Antonietta , Mantuano Paola , Fonzino Adriano , Rana Francesco , Capogrosso Roberta Francesca , Sanarica Francesca , Rolland Jean-Francois , Cappellari Ornella , De Luca Annamaria
Published: January 2021

The mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy is characterized by functional and structural alterations of the diaphragm since early stages of pathology, closely resembling patients’ condition. In recent years, ultrasonography has been proposed as a useful longitudinal non-invasive technique to assess mdx diaphragm dysfunction and evaluate drug efficacy over time. To date, only a few preclinical studies have been conducted. Therefore, an independent validation of this method by different laboratories is needed to increase results reliability and reduce biases. Here, we performed diaphragm ultrasonography in 3- and 6-month-old mdx mice, the preferred age-window for pharmacology studies. The alteration of diaphragm function over time was measured as diaphragm ultrasound movement amplitude. At the same time points, a first-time assessment of diaphragm echodensity was performed, as an experimental index of progressive loss of contractile tissue. A parallel evaluation of other in vivo and ex vivo dystrophy-relevant readouts was carried out. Both 3- and 6-month-old mdx mice showed a significant decrease in diaphragm amplitude compared to wild type (wt) mice. This index was well-correlated either with in vivo running performance or ex vivo isometric tetanic force of isolated diaphragm. In addition, diaphragms from 6-month-old dystrophic mice were also highly susceptible to eccentric contraction ex vivo. Importantly, we disclosed an age-dependent increase in echodensity in mdx mice not observed in wt animals, which was independent from abdominal wall thickness. This was accompanied by a notable increase of pro-fibrotic TGF-β1 levels in the mdx diaphragm and of non-muscle tissue amount in diaphragm sections stained by hematoxylin & eosin. Our findings corroborate the usefulness of diaphragm ultrasonography in preclinical drug studies as a powerful tool to monitor mdx pathology progression since early stages.
Red-light is an environmental effector for mutualism between begomovirus and its vector whitefly
Authors: Zhao Pingzhi , Zhang Xuan , Gong Yuqing , Wang Duan , Xu Dongqing , Wang Ning , Sun Yanwei , Gao Lianbo , Liu Shu-Sheng , Deng Xing Wang , Kliebenstein Daniel J. , Zhou Xueping , Fang Rong-Xiang , Ye Jian
Published: January 2021

Environments such as light condition influence the spread of infectious diseases by affecting insect vector behavior. However, whether and how light affects the host defense which further affects insect preference and performance, remains unclear, nor has been demonstrated how pathogens co-adapt light condition to facilitate vector transmission. We previously showed that begomoviral βC1 inhibits MYC2-mediated jasmonate signaling to establish plant-dependent mutualism with its insect vector. Here we show red-light as an environmental catalyzer to promote mutualism of whitefly-begomovirus by stabilizing βC1, which interacts with PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORS (PIFs) transcription factors. PIFs positively control plant defenses against whitefly by directly binding to the promoter of terpene synthase genes and promoting their transcription. Moreover, PIFs interact with MYC2 to integrate light and jasmonate signaling and regulate the transcription of terpene synthase genes. However, begomovirus encoded βC1 inhibits PIFs’ and MYC2’ transcriptional activity via disturbing their dimerization, thereby impairing plant defenses against whitefly-transmitted begomoviruses. Our results thus describe how a viral pathogen hijacks host external and internal signaling to enhance the mutualistic relationship with its insect vector.
Escalation in the host-pathogen arms race: A host resistance response corresponds to a heightened bacterial virulence response
Authors: Wang Qi , Shakoor Nadia , Boyher Adam , Veley Kira M. , Berry Jeffrey C. , Mockler Todd C. , Bart Rebecca S.
Published: January 2021

The zig-zag model of host-pathogen interaction describes the relative strength of defense response across a spectrum of pathogen-induced plant phenotypes. A stronger defense response results in increased resistance. Here, we investigate the strength of pathogen virulence during disease and place these findings in the context of the zig-zag model. Xanthomonas vasicola pv. holcicola (Xvh) causes sorghum bacterial leaf streak. Despite being widespread, this disease has not been described in detail at the molecular level. We divided diverse sorghum genotypes into three groups based on disease symptoms: water-soaked lesions, red lesions, and resistance. Bacterial growth assays confirmed that these three phenotypes represent a range of resistance and susceptibility. To simultaneously reveal defense and virulence responses across the spectrum of disease phenotypes, we performed dual RNA-seq on Xvh-infected sorghum. Consistent with the zig-zag model, the expression of plant defense-related genes was strongest in the resistance interaction. Surprisingly, bacterial virulence genes related to the type III secretion system (T3SS) and type III effectors (T3Es) were also most highly expressed in the resistance interaction. This expression pattern was observed at multiple time points within the sorghum-Xvh pathosystem. Further, a similar expression pattern was observed in Arabidopsis infected with Pseudomonas syringae for effector-triggered immunity via AvrRps4 but not AvrRpt2. Specific metabolites were able to repress the Xvh virulence response in vitro and in planta suggesting a possible signaling mechanism. Taken together, these findings reveal multiple permutations of the continually evolving host-pathogen arms race from the perspective of host defense and pathogen virulence responses.
ON SOME ISSUES OF IMPROVING CRIMINAL LEGISLATION TO COMBAT CRIMES IN THE FIELD OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Authors: Poltarykhin V.A. , Maksimov A.G.
Published: January 2021

During world crises, there is a significant increase in crime, including economic. This obvious postulatetakes on a completely new meaning during the current economic crisis, possibly the most serious in theentire modern history of mankind. The current crisis has caused an explosive growth of digital technologies,which are ubiquitous in various economic processes. An effective criminal law, as the most repressivelegal instrument, is designed to ensure the greatest possible stability in the most unstable periods ofsociety’s life. Chapter 22 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for many years has been criticizedby both scientists and practitioners. This study makes an attempt, based on a systematic analysis of thedoctrine of criminal law, the norms of special legislation, based on practical experience in law enforcementagencies, to identify the main shortcomings criminal legal protection of economic activity and to proposemechanisms for their elimination in order to increase the efficiency of protection of public relations fromillegal encroachments.
RELATIONSHIPS APROPOS IN-GAME INDUSTRY OBJECTS
Authors: Pronina N.A. , Buyanov A.V.
Published: January 2021

The article is devoted to consideration of in-game industry objects, their legal nature and relationshipswith them. At the present stage of information technologies development, various means of leisure areincreasingly popular, in particular online games. It is also important that from the category of children’sgames, such leisure has grown into the rank of serious hobbies, accompanied by significant financialinvestments, which determined the relevance of this work. The incorporation of commodity-money relationsinto in-game ones inevitably entails the need to interpret such relations from the legal point of view. In orderto substantiate the need for legal regulation of relations with respect to the objects of the in-game industryusing the dialectical method, analysis and synthesis, various relations emerging with respect to such objectsare considered, constructions, including those developed by foreign authors, are proposed, which makes itpossible to delimit the range of subject relations to regulation by law. Various positions of understanding thiskind of relations are identified and briefly presented, also the possibility of using one of them is substantiated.The judicial practice of the Russian Federation on this issue was criticized, and the unfairness of the approachused by the Russian courts was revealed. As a result of the study, the authors propose to consider the relationsabout in-game objects as licensed.
A Systematic Review of the Antimony Content of the Normal Human Prostate Gland
Authors: Zaichick Vladimir
Published: January 2021

The prostate gland is subject to various disorders. The etiology and pathogenesis of these diseases remain not well understood. Moreover, despite technological advancements, the differential diagnosis of prostate disorders has become progressively more complex and controversial. It was suggested that the antimony (Sb) level in prostatic tissue plays an important role in prostatic carcinogenesis and its measurement may be useful as a cancer biomarker. These suggestions promoted more detailed studies of the Sb content in the prostatic tissue of healthy subjects. The present study evaluated by systematic analysis the published data for Sb content analyzed in prostatic tissue of “normal” glands. This evaluation reviewed 1998 studies, all of which were published in the years from 1921 to 2020 and were located by searching the databases PubMed, Scopus, ELSEVIER-EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science. The articles were analyzed and “Median of Means” and “Range of Means” were used to examine heterogeneity of the measured Sb content in prostates of apparently healthy men. The objective analysis was performed on data from the 23 studies, which included 1173 subjects. It was found that the range of means of prostatic Sb content reported in the literature for “normal” gland varies widely from 0.0066 mg/kg to 0.071 mg/kg with median of means 0.0085 mg/kg on a wet mass basis. Because of small sample size and high data heterogeneity, we recommend other primary studies be performed.
ETİKET ALGISININ TÜKETİCİLERİN SATIN ALMA ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİLERİ
Authors: SHIPMAN Dilistan , SAYGI Yaşar Birol
Published: January 2021

Tüketiciler için bir ürünün kimliği, pazardaki başarısı için çok daha önem kazanacaktır. Bu nedenle, etiket ve ambalaj, tüketicinin seçtiği ürünleri değerlendirmesine ve kalitesi hakkında güvence vermesine yardımcı olduğundan, ürünler arasında ayrım yapmak için kullanılan en önemli kriterlerden biri haline gelmiştir. Tüketici ve kalite arasındaki ilişki önemli olup bu ilişkinin çeşitli değişim faktörlerinden etkilendiği bilinmektedir. Gerçekten de tüketicinin rasyonel ve irrasyonel davranışı, belirli ekonomik koşullardan kaynaklanan olaylarla koşullandırılır. Bir yandan, ekonomik faktörler tüketiciyi kısıtlı bir tavır almaya itmekte iken öte yandan hedeflenen bilginin bilişsel işlenmesine dayanan tüketici davranışındaki rasyonalitenin ötesinde, duygusal bağları içeren duygusal bir tarafı bulunmaktadır. Dolayısıyla, ürünler etiketlendiğinde bilgi işlemenin daha kolay hale gelmesi önemlidir. Herhangi bir ürün etiketlemesinin, tüketicilerin kaliteye yönelik belirsizliklerini azaltmalarına yardımcı olmayı amaçlamalı ve güvence gereksinimlerini karşılamalıdır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, etiket algısının tüketicinin satın alma üzerindeki etkisini incelemek ve bazı değişkenlerin, yani ürünün imajı, algılanan risk ve sosyo-demografik değişkenler arasındaki ilişki üzerindeki etkilerini analiz etmektir.
Archeologia, pamięć, sztuka. Archeoetnografia i sztuka okopowa związana z obozem jeńców wojennych i internowanych w Tucholi, woj. kujawsko-pomorskie
Authors: Kobiałka Dawid
Published: January 2021

Lidar-derivatives gathered during the realization of IT System of Country’s Protection Against Extreme Hazards (so-called ISOK programme) have initialized the non-invasive archaeological research concerning the preservation of the relicts of the former prisoner of war and internment camp in Tuchola, Poland. The camp functioned during the Great War (1914–1918) and the Polish-Soviet War (1919–1921). This paper discusses and summaries the preliminary results of this research. It argues that the use of ethnographic methods can supplement and enrich the historical records related to the camp. The article discusses in detail the assemblage of material culture made, remade, or personalized by prisoners and internees documented during the research. These artefacts are unique examples of trench art. Discussionconcerning the objects is the main goal of this paper. They are the first examples of the trench art related to the Tuchola camp analyzed in the archaeological literature.
The program of “new” aesthetics regarding the expectations of archeologists
Authors: Minta-Tworzowska Danuta
Published: January 2021

The article is devoted to considerations regarding the idea of „new aesthetics” and its importance for archeology, especially prehistoric archeology. The current scientific reality as exceeding current paradigms and expanding research fields is diagnosed. This process also applies to the borders of art, which until recently seemed to be established, fixed and guaranteeing its clear separation from other spheres of life. The article shows aesthetics as noting this process and subject to change. This complicated current situation has created the idea of „new aesthetics”, entering new areas that previously did not belong to art or aesthetics. Similarly, the methods of analyzing these phenomena do not have a predetermined status. This gives new opportunities, especially when you notice the manifestations of universal aesthetics. They also relate to prehistoric archeology, giving it the opportunity to participate in the discourse proposed by „new aesthetics.”
Pamięci Profesor Natalii Chobzej
Authors: Sierociuk Jerzy
Published: January 2021

Wspomnienie zmarłej w 2018 r. Prof. Natalii Chobzej.
Ogólnopolska kariera śląskiego wulgaryzmu
Authors: Wyderka Bogusław
Published: January 2021

Artykuł omawia dzieje wulgaryzmu ciul, który z dialektu śląskiego przeszedł do odmiany potocznej polszczyzny ogólnej. Po raz pierwszy wulgaryzm zapisano w 1875 r. w śląskich dokumentach sądowych. Leksem pochodzi z gwar czeskich (por. culík ‘warkocz, spleciona kępa włosów’) lub morawskich (culík ‘sopel’). Pierwotne znaczenie uległo metaforyzacji i zaczęło oznaczać ‘narząd męski, penis’. Wyraz ciul jako wulgaryzm zaczął być używany w funkcji wyzwiska, co dokumentują zapisy archiwalne. W różnych typach kontaktów owo obraźliwe określenie mężczyzny łatwo zmieniało semantykę i ekspresyjne zabarwienie, od ‘oszusta, szumowiny’ po ‘niedorajdę, głupka’. Pierwotne wulgarne znaczenie leksemu rozszczepiało się na kolejne warianty, które zaczęły się neutralizować i tracić więź semantyczną z pierwotnym znaczeniem wulgarnym. Z kolei szerokie ramy kontaktów kulturowo-językowych w relacjach ponadregionalnych umożliwiły zadomowienie się ekspresywizmu w polszczyźnie potocznej. Proces dokonywał się w miarę dynamicznie, ponieważ w rozprzestrzenianiu się leksemu i nowych znaczeń dużą rolę odgrywały społecznościowe media cyfrowe.
Акавизмът (промяната на неакцентувано о > а) в българските диалекти и в диалектния континуум на южните славянски езици
Authors: Антонова-Василева Лучия
Published: January 2021

Статията разглежда проявите на преход на неударената гласна о > а в българските диалекти от района на Родопите. Обръща се внимание на промените, на които се подлага неударената гласна е, които в източните славянски езици се разглеждат като успоредни с акавизма. Анализират се случаите на акавизъм в северозападните български говори и в диалектите от района на Призренско в Република Косово.
İSTANBUL ÖZELİNDE TRAMVAY YATIRIMLARININ ŞEHRE ETKİSİ
Authors: ARISAL Murat , TABAKOĞLU Ahmet
Published: January 2021

Bir Osmanlı şirketi olan Tramvay Şirketi, yatırımlarını rasyonel parametrelere göre yönlendiren ve işletme performansını günümüzde de geçerli olan işletme göstergeleri ile ölçen ve değerlendiren, Avrupa şehirlerinde faaliyet gösteren diğer işletme otoriteleri ile bilgi akışı sağlayan ve kıyaslama yapan modern bir raylı sistem işletmesidir. Kırk bir yıl süren atlı tramvay ve akabinde devam eden elektrikli tramvay dönemlerine ait faaliyetleri içeren işletme verileri, şehir içi hareketliliğin (mobilitenin) dönüşümünü ve yönünü ortaya koymaktadır. Kurumun kendi belgelerinden elde edilen sayısal bilgilerin tek bir havuza aktarılması sonucunda oluşturulan veri serileri, işletmenin seyrini gösterdiği gibi döneme ait insan davranışları ve şehrin gelişimi hakkında da fikir vermektedir.
Calibration of the depth invariant algorithm to monitor the tidal action of Rabigh City at the Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Aljahdali Mohammed H. , Elhag Mohamed
Published: January 2021

Rabigh is a thriving coastal city located at the eastern bank of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. The city has suffered from shoreline destruction because of the invasive tidal action powered principally by the wind speed and direction over shallow waters. This study was carried out to calibrate the water column depth in the vicinity of Rabigh. Optical and microwave remote sensing data from the European Space Agency were collected over 2 years (2017–2018) along with the analog daily monitoring of tidal data collected from the marine station of Rabigh. Depth invariant index (DII) was implemented utilizing the optical data, while the Wind Field Estimation algorithm was implemented utilizing the microwave data. The findings of the current research emphasis on the oscillation behavior of the depth invariant mean values and the mean astronomical tides resulted in R
2 of 0.75 and 0.79, respectively. Robust linear regression was established between the astronomical tide and the mean values of the normalized DII (R
2 = 0.81). The findings also indicated that January had the strongest wind speed solidly correlated with the depth invariant values (R
2 = 0.92). Therefore, decision-makers can depend on remote sensing data as an efficient tool to monitor natural phenomena and also to regulate human activities in fragile ecosystems.
Representation of Fear of Heights by Basolateral Amygdala Neurons
Authors: Liu Jun , Lin Longnian , Wang Dong V.
Published: January 2021

Fear of heights is evolutionarily important for survival, yet it is unclear how and which brain regions process such height threats. Given the importance of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in mediating both learned and innate fear, we investigated how BLA neurons may respond to high-place exposure in freely behaving male mice. We found that a discrete set of BLA neurons exhibited robust firing increases when the mouse was either exploring or placed on a high place, accompanied by increased heart rate and freezing. Importantly, these high-place fear neurons were only activated under height threats, but not looming, acoustic startle, predatory odor, or mild anxiogenic conditions. Furthermore, after a fear-conditioning procedure, these high-place fear neurons developed conditioned responses to the context, but not the cue, indicating a convergence in processing of dangerous/risky contextual information. Our results provide insights into the neuronal representation of the fear of heights and may have implications for the treatment of excessive fear disorders.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTFear can be innate or learned, as innate fear does not require any associative learning or experiences. Previous research mainly focused on studying the neural mechanism of learned fear, often using an associative conditioning procedure such as pairing a tone with a footshock. Only recently scientists started to investigate the neural circuits of innate fear, including the fear of predator odors and looming visual threats; however, how the brain processes the innate fear of heights is unclear. Here we provide direct evidence that the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is involved in representing the fear of heights. A subpopulation of BLA neurons exhibits a selective response to height and contextual threats, but not to other fear-related sensory or anxiogenic stimuli.
GLUTENSİZ NUGGETLARDA LİPOLİTİK DEĞİŞİMLER ÜZERİNE DONMUŞ DEPOLAMANIN ETKİSİ
Authors: DAVARCIOĞLU Esra , DEMİROK SONCU Eda
Published: January 2021

Çölyak hastalığı, yaşam boyu süren ve gluten intolerasına sahip bireylerde buğday, arpa ve çavdar tüketimi sonucu bağırsaklarda gelişen iltihaplanma nedeniyle malabsorbsiyonla sonuçlanan bir hastalıktır. Tedavisi bir ömür glutensiz diyet olan bu hastalığa sahip bireylerin yaşamını kolaylaştırmak ve hayat kalitesini artırmak için ürün çeşitliliğinin de arttırılması ve raf ömrüne ilişkin kalite çalışmalarının yapılması önemlidir. Bu noktadan hareketle, çalışma kapsamında sıvı sos kaplamasında farklı oranlarda pirinç unu, mısır unu ve mısır nişastası kullanılarak üretilen ve donuk depolanan (-18°C, 6 ay) glutensiz nuggetlarda lipitlerde meydana gelen değişimler incelenmiştir. Donmuş depolama süresince serbest yağ asitliği (SYA) ve tiyobarbitürik asit reaktif madde (TBARM) değerlerinin arttığı, konjuge dien ve konjuge trien değerlerinin ise azalış gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir (P <0.05). Depolamanın başlangıcında en yüksek değerine ulaşan hekzanal miktarı ise sonrasında azalış göstermiş ve depolamanın son günlerinde tekrar artışa geçmiştir. Farklı bileşimde sıvı sos kullanımının ise incelenen parametreler üzerine etkisi bulunamamıştır (P >0.05). Sonuçlar, donuk olarak depolanan glutensiz nuggetların 6 ay süresince güvenle tüketilebileceğini göstermiştir. ﻿
Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Tread Pattern on Rotating Wheel Aerodynamics
Authors: Soliman M. Z. , El-Baz A.R. , Abdel-Aziz M.A. , Abdel-Aziz N. , Gabor O.S.
Published: January 2021

The present work investigates the dynamic effect of wheel rotation on the aerodynamic characteristics of slick type (ST) wheel of Formula One racing cars using a computational approach. The ST wheel model was compared to experimental results as a validation case. The pressure coefficient over the ST wheel circumference at its middle plane (xy) has been considered as an experimental case from literature and the computed results showed a reasonable agreement. Furthermore, a quantitative evaluation of the numerically-determined wheel drag, local separation and stagnation angles has been also compared to those extracted experimentally from literature. The validation work served by assessing the suitability of using Moving Reference Frame (MRF) method to simulate the effect of wheel rotation, as well as defining the most reliable conditions of testing such as the optimal meshing criteria, the computational domain size, and the adopted turbulence model. According to wheel studies, all computational work was performed at a Reynolds number of 6.8×105 based on the wheel diameter. The wheels aerodynamic drag, lift, and moment coefficients were computed for each wheel model. Further parametric study on the tread design of the tread type (TT) wheel was performed by varying the tread depth, h. Besides, general schematic pictures of the flow behavior around the TT wheel are presented.
MANAGEMENT OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Carney complex: clinical and genetic update 20 years after the identification of the CNC1 (PRKAR1A) gene
Authors: Bouys Lucas , Bertherat Jérôme
Published: January 2021

Described for the first time in 1985, Carney complex (CNC) is a rare dominantly inherited multiple neoplasia syndrome with almost full penetrance and characterized by both endocrine – primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease with Cushing’s syndrome, acromegaly and thyroid tumors – and non-endocrine manifestations such as cardiac, cutaneous and mucosal myxomas, pigmented cutaneous lesions, psammomatous melanotic schwannoma, osteochondromyxoma and a wide range of other tumours with potential malignancy. The pathophysiology of CNC is a model of dysregulation of the cAMP/PKA signalling in human diseases. As described 20 years ago, inactivating heterozygous mutations of PRKAR1A formerly known as CNC1, encoding the regulatory subunit 1α of protein kinase A, are identified in more than 70% of the index cases, while inactivating mutations of genes encoding phosphodiesterases are found in rare and particular forms of the complex. There is at present no medical specific treatment for CNC, every confirmed or suspected CNC patient should be managed by a multi-disciplinary team according to each manifestation of the disease and offered a long-term follow-up and genetic counselling. The better knowledge that we have now of this fascinating rare disease and its genetics will help to improve patients outcome.
Steroid reference intervals in women: influence of menopause, age and metabolism
Authors: Mezzullo Marco , Gambineri Alessandra , Di Dalmazi Guido , Fazzini Alessia , Magagnoli Matteo , Baccini Margherita , Vicennati Valentina , Pelusi Carla , Pagotto Uberto , Fanelli Flaminia
Published: January 2021

Objective

To investigate the impact of age, obesity and metabolic parameters on 13 circulating steroids in reproductive and menopausal age. To define reference intervals (RIs).

Design

Cross-sectional.

Methods

Three hundred and twenty five drug-free, healthy and eumenorrheic women were selected from the general population. Independent relationships of LC-MS/MS-determined steroid levels with age, BMI and metabolic parameters were estimated. Reference sub-cohorts were defined for calculating upper and lower limits in reproductive age, menstrual phases and menopause, and these were compared with limits in dysmetabolic sub-cohorts.

Results

Lower androgens, pro-androgens and estrogens, but higher cortisol and metabolites were found in menopausal compared to reproductive age women. Androgens and precursors decreased during reproductive age (P < 0.001–P = 0.002) but not after menopause. 17OH-progesterone decreased with BMI (P = 0.006) and glucocorticoids with waist circumference (P < 0.001P = 0.002) in reproductive age, but increased with triglycerides (P=0.011P=0.038) after menopause. Inverse associations of dihydrotestosterone with BMI (P=0.004) and HDL-cholesterol (P=0.010), estrone with total cholesterol (P=0.033) and estradiol with triglycerides (P=0.011) were found in reproductive age. After menopause, estrone increased with waist circumference (P<0.001) and decreased with insulin resistance (P=0.012). Ovarian steroid RIs were estimated in menstrual phases and menopause. Age- and reproductive status-specific RIs were generated for androgens, precursors and corticosteroids. Lower limits for reproductive age cortisol (P=0.020) and menopausal 11-deoxycortisol (P=0.003) in dysmetabolic sub-cohorts were reduced and increased, respectively, compared to reference limits.

Conclusions

Obesity and dysmetabolism differently influence circulating steroids in reproductive and menopausal status. Age, menstrual and menopausal status-specific RIs were provided by LC-MS/MS for a broad steroid panel.
The Effect of Online Learning on Tertiary Level Students' Mental Health during the Covid19 Lockdown
Authors: Akpınar Ezgin
Published: January 2021

Covid-19 has proven to be a major disruptive aspect of human life across the world. Notably, there has been a significant shift in the normal way of life with people being required to isolate to prevent further spread of the disease. In education, the restrictions have made it imperative for the adoption of online learning. This paper highlights the effect of online learning on tertiary level students’ mental health. Some of the major findings from the study include the realization that there has been an increase in mental health concerns among the students. This aspect is attributed to the isolation from peers and lecturers, the difficulty of using the online platforms, the lack of guidance and counseling, and the high levels of distractions associated with the platform. The inability to talk and interact with peers and their lecturers for instance, has proven to be a major cause of stress among this group of students. The research has shown that online learning is a major cause of stress despite being a solution to the challenges of the Covid-19 lockdown to learning.
Diffusion coefficient fractal dimension for characterizing Shajara reservoirs of the Permo – carboniferous Shajara formation, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alkhidir Khalid Elyas Mohamed Elameen
Published: January 2021

The quality and assessment of a reservoir can be documented in details by the application of diffusion coefficient. This research aims to calculate fractal dimension from the relationship among diffusion coefficient, maximum diffusion coefficient and wetting phase saturation and to approve it by the fractal dimension derived from the relationship among capillary pressure and wetting phase saturation. In this research, porosity was measured on real collected sandstone samples and permeability was calculated theoretically from capillary pressure profile measured by mercury intrusion contaminating the pores of sandstone samples in consideration. Two equations for calculating the fractal dimensions have been employed. The first one describes the functional relationship between wetting phase saturation, diffusion coefficient, maximum diffusion coefficient and fractal dimension. The second equation implies to the wetting phase saturation as a function of capillary pressure and the fractal dimension. Two procedures for obtaining the fractal dimension have been utilized. The first procedure was done by plotting the logarithm of the ratio between diffusion coefficient and maximum diffusion coefficient versus logarithm wetting phase saturation. The slope of the first procedure=3- Df (fractal dimension). The second procedure for obtaining the fractal dimension was determined by plotting the logarithm of capillary pressure versus the logarithm of wetting phase saturation. The slope of the second procedure=Df -3. On the basis of the obtained results of the fabricated stratigraphic column and the attained values of the fractal dimension, the sandstones of the Shajara reservoirs of the Shajara Formation were divided here into three units. The obtained units from bottom to top are: Lower, Middle and Upper Shajara Diffusion Coefficient Fractal Dimension Units. It was found that fractal dimension increases with increasing grain size and permeability.
The roles of all tiers of government and development partners in environmental conservation of natural resource: a case study in Nigeria
Authors: Olalekan Raimi Morufu , Adedoyin O Omidiji , Williams Ebuete Abinotami , Christianah Makanjuola Bosede , Modupe Oshatunberu
Published: January 2021

Environmental damage usually comes back to development in one way or another and causes a development challenge. As the global demand for natural resources increases, human welfare and its implications relating to environmental degradation and exposure to environmental risks have caused many to lose their means of livelihood, triggering high level of poverty which remains a serious concern. However, globalization has played a central role in determining the future of the world. The role of globalization has proven to be essential to a nation’s ability to yield the maximum potential from its available resources. The maximization of those resources generally leads to the improved economic development of the nation; wellbeing of man and the sustenance of his livelihood are closely associated with the natural resources base. Consequently, there is a global concern for natural resources protection and conservation so that man can continue to sustain his livelihood. Part of the overall development activities of man is industrial growth. As desirable as industries are, their growth is associated with deleterious consequences. This paper examined the threatened natural resources by mans various activities and call on all tiers of Government and Development partners on the need for natural resources conservation in Nigeria. This revealed that industrialisation and its concomitant urbanisation has brought to mans environment such negative factors like loss of biodiversity, enhanced greenhouse warming, desertification, drought, water and air pollution and accumulation of toxic wastes. It is believed that well conserved natural resources will bring economic, social, visual, and aesthetic benefits that guarantee sound and qualitative health of inhabitants. It concludes that conservation of African biodiversity has come to the fore due to its numerous cultural, scientific and economic values. Also, environmental protection regulations should be intensified to protect the environment from excesses exploitations and for sustainable development. This can be achieved principally through recognition, understanding, appreciating and/or integration of endogenous technologies with exogenous technologies whose synergies are capable of enhancing conservation of natural resource base.