bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conclusiones de la primera mesa de trabajo en diabetes
Authors: Tovar Cortés Henry
Published: August 2021

Según la Federación Internacional de Diabetes, aproximadamente 463 millones de personas en el mundo viven con diabetes (1), y casi el 7 % de los colombianos también han sido diagnosticados con esta patología (2).

En Colombia, durante 2019, solo el 51,08 % de los 1,3 millones de pacientes del sistema de salud podían controlar la hemoglobina glucosilada (HbA1c), lo cual constituye una señal preocupante, ya que la falta de control de esta proteína se ha relacionado con otras afecciones como eventos cerebrovasculares (3).
Manejo en el paciente hospitalizado por COVID-19
Authors: Fériz-Bonelo K.
Published: August 2021

La diabetes es un factor de riesgo claramente establecido para la COVID-19 y para sus formas graves, lo que aumenta, entonces, el riesgo de hospitalización por infección por SARSCoV-2 en los pacientes que la padecen. En el mundo entero existe poca evidencia con respecto a la mejor estrategia de manejo del paciente con diabetes que es hospitalizado por COVID-19. En términos generales, la insulina, ya sea subcutánea o intravenosa, constituye el tratamiento de elección. El uso de antidiabéticos orales no está estudiado y no se recomienda como primera línea. Las metas de control glucémico son las mismas que para la población general. La necesidad de control glucométrico frecuente, principalmente en aquellos con infusión intravenosa (IV) de insulina, constituye el reto más importante en el manejo de estos pacientes, pues aumenta la necesidad de personal disponible (el cual puede ser escaso en época de crisis) y la exposición del personal de salud a la infección.
Obituario, Dr. Bernardo Reyes Leal (Q.E.P.D.)
Authors: Páez Talero Amanda
Published: August 2021

Fragmento.

El pasado 21 de enero de 2021 registramos con gran pesar el fallecimiento de nuestro profesor y mentor, el Dr. Bernardo Reyes Leal, endocrinólogo, miembro honorario y expresidente de la Asociación Colombiana de Endocrinología, Diabetes y Metabolismo (ACE), profesor emérito de la facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional, fundador junto con otros reconocidos colegas de la Asociación Colombiana de Medicina Interna (ACMI), y desde su regreso a Colombia en el año de 1962, impulsor y colaborador incansable en el progreso y la evolución de nuestra Asociación, en la que además creó y promovió sus publicaciones, incluida esta revista. El Dr. Bernardo Reyes Leal realizó sus estudios de medicina en Francia y a su regreso fue seleccionado dentro de un grupo de profesores de la Universidad Nacional para complementar sus estudios de endocrinología en la Universidad de Ann Arbor en Michigan, bajo la tutoría del Dr. Jerome W. Conn, descubridor del hiperaldosteronismo primario. A su regreso a Colombia y como profesor titular de Endocrinología en el Hospital San Juan de Dios de Bogotá, se dedicó al desarrollo científico y académico de la especialidad, dando un énfasis incomparable a la investigación y siendo promotor del desarrollo de la medicina nuclear en el Hospital y posteriormente del laboratorio hormonal, incluido el montaje del radioinmunoensayo, que permitió las primeras mediciones de hormonas por este método en el país.
Epidemiología del hipotiroidismo en Colombia ¿en qué estamos y qué sabemos al respecto?
Authors: Vargas-Uricoechea H.
Published: August 2021

El hipotiroidismo espontáneo en el adulto es de las condiciones de salud más prevalentes en el mundo. Los trastornos asociados a la ingesta de yodo y la autoinmunidad tiroidea son, con mucho, las causas más frecuentes. La distribución del hipotiroidismo varía según ciertas variables como la edad, el género, el área geográfica, y de la definición de lo que es un valor normal o anormal de los niveles de TSH, entre otras, lo que dificulta tener un resultado unificado de la frecuencia poblacional de la enfermedad. En Colombia, la mayor parte de los estudios evalúan la frecuencia de hipotiroidismo en condiciones o situaciones específicas de salud, y unos pocos tienen una base poblacional. El propósito de esta revisión es describir y analizar los diferentes estudios sobre hipotiroidismo realizados hasta la fecha en Colombia, una región catalogada como “libre” de deficiencia de yodo.
Eficacia y seguridad de liraglutida para la disminución de peso en adultos: revisión sistemática
Authors: Hernández Rodríguez DC , Monroy Sánchez DC , Porras Ramírez A.
Published: August 2021

Objetivo: evaluar la eficacia y seguridad de liraglutida como medicamento coadyuvante para disminuir el índice de masa corporal (IMC) en personas con sobrepeso y obesidad a nivel mundial.

Materiales y métodos: se realizó la búsqueda de estudios en las bases de datos (TRIP, Embase, Pubmed, Scopus, Epistemonikos, Cochrane y ClinicalKey), cuyo desenlace por evaluar sea la disminución de peso con el uso de liraglutida. Lo anterior se realizó mediante la herramienta PRISMA 2009 con el fin de obtener una revisión sistemática.

Resultados: de un total de 74 estudios, se incluyeron 3 ensayos clínicos aleatorizados que evaluó un total de 4281 participantes. Se evaluó como desenlace principal la disminución de peso y los eventos adversos presentados fueron los desenlaces secundarios. Se realizó un metaanálisis cuyo reporte de pérdida de peso de -5,22 (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95 %: -5,95, -4,50) y el índice de inconsistencia (I²) mostró alta heterogeneidad, al igual que la metarregresión realizada. Los eventos adversos se evidenciaron con mayor frecuencia en el grupo de liraglutida, y los eventos gastrointestinales fueron los más reportados.

Conclusión: los resultados individuales en los estudios demuestran que el uso de liraglutida disminuye el peso. Sin embargo, en esta revisión sistemática se evidencia que no hay una significancia estadística de la evidencia por heterogeneidad de los estudios evaluados.
Diabetes insípida de origen central secundario a hipofisitis. Reporte de 2 casos
Authors: Tovar H. , Flórez A. , Quintero G. , Concha D.
Published: August 2021

La diabetes insípida es una entidad poco frecuente caracterizada por una deficiencia en la secreción de la hormona antidiurética (ADH) o resistencia a su acción, lo que genera una alteración para concentrar la diuresis y, en consecuencia, ocasiona altos volúmenes de orina diluida. La diabetes insípida puede ser de origen renal o central, y esta última es la más frecuente. La poliuria y polidipsia son las expresiones clínicas predominantes en respuesta a la incapacidad del paciente de mantener un equilibrio hídrico. Las causas de la diabetes insípida central son diversas, tales como después de la cirugía pituitaria, adenoma hipofisario, encefalopatía isquémica, trauma, hipofisitis, origen genético o idiopática. La hipofisitis primaria es una entidad rara, caracterizada por un proceso inflamatorio de la glándula hipofisaria, que puede comprometer la función de la hipófisis anterior o posterior. A continuación, se presentan 2 casos de pacientes con diabetes insípida secundaria a hipofisitis estudiadas ambulatoriamente y de manera intrahospitalaria.
Technological Innovation and Competitive Advantage: Empirical Evidence from Large Telecommunication Firms
Authors: Wanaswa Perpetua S. , Awino Zachary B. , Ogutu Martin , Owino Joseph
Published: August 2021

Empirical research demonstrating the influence of technological innovation on competitive advantage has produced inconclusive results. This paper, therefore, aims to investigate the association amidst technological innovations and competitive advantage. Significant transformations have been evident in Kenya’s telecommunication industry for the last two decades, which has resulted in intense competition, and technological innovation has become the new face of competition among firms. The study applied the positivism philosophy and adopted the descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The target population comprised all 83 large licensed telecommunications service providers where census method was used. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized in the analysis of data. Descriptive statistics comprised of frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations while inferential statistics used linear regression analysis which was employed in testing the hypothesis. Findings reveal a significant and positive influence of technological innovation on competitive advantage. Technological innovation explained the variations in competitive advantage. It is deduced from the findings that more technologically innovative telecommunication firms are likely to produce better products and services and consequently able to acquire more customers earning competitive advantage compared to less innovative telecommunication firms. The study presented notable implications on the policy framework, the strategic management practice, and theory implications in the telecommunication industry and beyond. At policy level, the Government of Kenya would benefit from the study by ensuring that policy makers and regulatory authorities in the telecommunication sector formulate policies that would promote technological innovation for enhancing competitive advantage. Managerial practitioners may consider institutionalizing innovation by creating the requisite direction and controls that enable the emergence of innovation and value creation for sustainable competitive advantage. The study findings’ implications further extended, supported, and added value on the theory adopted by the study.
Assessment of optimal atrioventricular delay in dual chamber pacing patients with atrioventricular first degree block
Authors: Wojdyła-Hordyńska Agnieszka , Dinov Borislav , Hordyński Grzegorz , Szulik Mariola , Kowalski Oskar
Published: August 2021

Septal pacing in patients with dual chamber pacemakers and atrio-ventricular (AV) conduction malfunction, but without structural heart muscle impairment, is not worse than own AV conduction. Optimized AV delay in patients with first degree AV block and PQ interval &gt; 220 ms may be better than preserving own contraction with pathologic atrio-ventricular delay, leading to asynchrony, ventricle remodeling and relaxation disorders.
Has it been finally confirmed that atrial fibrillation ablation reduces the risk of stroke and mortality
Authors: Farkowski Michał
Published: August 2021

There is an ongoing debate whether atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation simply alleviates symptoms or does it influence hard end points: stroke, mortality. The Authors conducted an analysis of administrative medical databases in Sweden, identified AF patients who were ablated and compared them to the control group similar in terms of 51 variables (propensity scoring) save for the procedure itself. During mean follow up of 4.4 ± 2 years the hazard ratio for stroke or death were significantly lower than in control group: HR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51-0.93 and HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.37-0.62, respectively.
Multisite, multipoint pacing
Authors: Mitkowski Przemysław
Published: August 2021

Cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure, reduced ejection fraction and prolonged QRS duration has become standard of care. Unfortunately, despite improvements in delivery of this treatment still approximately 30% of patients are non-responders. Among causes of this phenomenon one can find an inability to deliver hemodynamically effective left ventricular pacing. There were proposed several solutions to solve the problem, including: multisite RV pacing, multisite LV pacing, multipoint LV pacing. Multisite RV pacing (two RV leads positioned in RV: apex and RVOT), although causes some hemodynamic improvement in LVEF or distance in 6MWT and reduction of LVESD or number of hospitalizations in comparison to no paced patients, but its efficacy is significantly worse than normal CRT. So it should not be considered as an alternative to CRT even to surgically placed LV lead. Multisite LV pacing (two leads iv cardiac veins) gives significant benefits over standard CRT, especially in patients with poor heart vein system, which preclude optimal LV lead placement. Clinical benefits of this mode of therapy were observed in non-responders to classical CRT, and were proved in: higher responder rates, improved EF, VO2, distance in 6MWT, reduction of NYHA class, LVESV, LVEDD and increase of dP/dt. Multipoint LV pacing (different pacing point located on the same LV lead) is encouraging way of CRT delivery and does not require any additional lead. Benefits of MP pacing over classical CRT were proved in numerous trails in acute tests by improvement in dP/dt, increase in maximal strain rate, shortening of total activation time, reduction in QRS duration and after mid- and long term follow-up in reduction of LVESV, increase in EF, reduction of asynchrony and higher percentage of responders. Multipoint left ventricular pacing should be a standard of CRT delivery in first implantations.
How to Improve Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Outcome?
Authors: Fuglewicz Artur
Published: August 2021

Atrial fibrillation is associated with a quality of life deterioration, increased risk of hospitalization, stroke and other thromboembolic complications, as well as a significant increase in mortality in this patient group. Invasive treatment is more effective than other’s. The continued growth of population with the atrial fibrillation, and the growing awareness of all these facts among both, physicians and patients, are drivers for searching more effective and safe ways of treatment. This article summarizes issues that have to be taken into consideration when discussing how can we better and safer perform ablation of atrial fibrillation substrats.
Transcatheter Pacing System – unusual IPG for specific reasons
Authors: Kaczmarek Krzysztof , Ptaszyński Paweł , Cygankiewicz Iwona , Jakubowski Piotr , Wranicz Jerzy Krzysztof
Published: August 2021

We present a 30-year-old male with complex atrio-ventricular conduction abnormalities, including complete heart block, due to cardiac sarcoidosis. The conduction problems improved on immunosupresive therapy, never­theless, having in mind a recurring character of bradyarrhythmias in sarcoidosis we decided to implant
a leadless pacemaker as a protection. The procedure was successful with no complication and further follow-up was uneventful.
New alternative approach in case of pacemaker-dependent patient with bilateral pocket infection and persistent superior vena cava (or venous drainage abnormality)
Authors: Szafarz Piotr , Romanek Janusz , Chlebuś Marcin , Przybylski Andrzej
Published: August 2021

This paper describes the case of pacemaker-depandent male patient with upper body venous dreinage anomaly, who suffered from bilateral pocket infection. This difficult situation made it impossible to implant the device in the subclavian region and forced us to search for an alternative access for right ventricular pacing. Presented case describes new possibilities in electrotherapy which are provided by technological development and miniaturization of medical devieces.
Results of the European lead extraction controlled (Electra) study. An important lesson for lead extraction centers
Authors: Maciąg Aleksander
Published: August 2021

Publication of the European Lead Extraction ConTRolled (ELECTRa) study conducted in 2012-2014 demonstrated
a very large 96.7% clinical efficacy of TLE (Transvenous Lead Extraction). The risk of severe TLE complications
of 1.7% with periprocedural mortality of only 0.5% indicates high TLE safety. Significant differences in
the results of centers with small and large experience indicate the possibility of successive improvement of the
results.
Proarrhythmic influence of flecainide in coronary artery disease
Authors: Wojdyła-Hordyńska Agnieszka , Hordyński Grzegorz , Arya Arash
Published: August 2021

A 61-year old man with a double-vessel coronary artery disease presented an electrical storm 5 days after flecainide
introduction. On the basis of 12-lead ECG, and consequently electrophysiologic examination a bundle
branch reentrant tachycardia with left bundle branch block morphology was diagnosed. Right bundle branch
ablation was performed and the tachycardia was uninducible.
Rôle de l’infirmière lors de la prise en charge d’une personne ventilée aux soins intensifs : une revue narrative
Authors: Michaud Mylène Suzie , Gagnon Marilou , Jacob Jean Daniel , Lewis Krystina B.
Published: August 2021

En pratique clinique, l’infirmière joue un rôle essentiel dans la prise en charge de la personne ventilée aux soins intensifs. Afin de mieux comprendre ce rôle, une revue narrative de la littérature a été effectuée en sciences infirmières et plus précisément, la littérature qui porte sur la prise en charge des personnes ventilées aux soins intensifs. Une recherche des bases de données MEDLINE, Nursing & Allied Health Database, CINAHL et PsycINFO a généré 1107 écrits. Après avoir appliqué nos critères de sélection, un total de 45 écrits ont été sélectionnés et analysés. Nos résultats suggèrent que la gestion de l’anxiété, l’agitation, la douleur, la dyspnée, l’hygiène, le sommeil et l’environnement font partie intégrante du rôle de l’infirmière vis-à-vis de la prise en charge d’une personne ventilée aux soins intensifs. L’infirmière est également le lien de communication entre la personne ventilée, les membres de sa famille et l’équipe de soins. Toutefois, l’infirmière rencontre plusieurs obstacles lorsqu’elle prend en charge une personne ventilée, notamment le manque de connaissances, de ressources, de temps, de collaboration et d’autonomie. D’autres recherches sont nécessaires afin de relever les nombreux obstacles auxquels les infirmières sont confrontées et d’identifier des pistes de solutions au plan clinique.
Has COVID-19 Changed the World?
Authors: de Boer Bas ,   Society for Phenomenology and Media
Published: August 2021

Starting from March 12th 2020, the Netherlands entered a period of what has come to be known as an “intelligent lockdown”, enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All public meetings were prohibited, institutions of higher education was temporarily shut, and stores and public transport were asked to take measures allowing people to keep 1.5m distance. More generally, people were strongly advised to stay inside. It was only then that many in the Netherlands started to understand COVID-19 intimately. This intimacy meant getting to know the virus as a threat to oneself, as a threat to others, and notably, as introducing new responsibilities and a new idea of what it means to live “normally”. The reconstruction of events of such a phase of the pandemic serves to show how the felt proximity of the virus strongly shapes both individual and societal perception of it. Further discussions might reveal the installment and challenging of science as the sovereign when being treated as offering the ultimate answer on whether certain measures will lead to a decrease in the number of infections. Other discussions might reveal politics as the sovereign, deciding which members of the biopolitical body are in need of protection, such as those asking whether the economic burden put on some citizens is proportionate to the number of lives of other citizens being saved. However, the relative ease with which a large portion of the Dutch society has been willing to sacrifice some of their privileges as a mark of solidarity during this pandemic, makes one not entirely cynical about the willingness to sacrifice some more, in light of the ecological crisis we are living through as well.
COVID-19 Infodemic
Authors: Lwahas Sarah ,   Society for Phenomenology and Media
Published: August 2021

Journalism like many other professions is facing a crucial phase with the emergence of Coronavirus pandemic. The impact of Coronavirus phenomenon is enormous on social and cultural relationships of many communities who depend on the media for information to connect with each other and participate in governance freely. Journalists globally are facing enormous crisis of managing the infodemic of the pandemic streaming particularly from social media; as well as controversies of the media perpetuating disinfodemic or disinformation and distrust in the society. Besides arrests and restrictions of movement, journalists are also under intense threats of losing their jobs, and exacerbated psychological and physical pressures owing to the devastating effects of COVID-19. Using the Social Responsibility theory, that emphasises improved standards of journalism, safeguarding the interests of journalism and journalists among others, and the Agenda setting theory, that controls access to news, information, and entertainment; this research interrogates how journalists from selected states in Northern Nigeria are responding to the challenges of reportage of COVID-19. This research sampled the views of journalists using structured questionnaire administered online and interviewed seven senior journalists holding managerial positions. Findings revealed that journalists are embracing fact checking of the avalanche of information even within familiar sources to verify reports on COVID-19. Similarly, they are deploying digital and multimedia strategies to provide a continuum of media services and sensitive reporting to engage this new infodemic of COVID-19, now globally considered the “new normal”. This research recommends that, since COVID-19 is a novel disease, professionals across countries need to talk with each other, and journalists particularly from Africa and indeed Nigeria; need to put some structure and some science in place, especially in the performance of their jobs, so that professionalism can be sustained without compromising the future of the journalism.
Disciplinary Modernity and the Mechanical Uncanny in James Cameron’s The Terminator (1984)
Authors: Schroeder Ryan S. ,   Society for Phenomenology and Media
Published: August 2021

This paper explores how operations of the mechanical uncanny in the iconic techno-dystopian film, The Terminator, directed by James Cameron in 1984, facilitate a deepening of apperception among sci-fi viewers regarding the perils of naïve technological progressivism. Some significant aspects of the film which have hitherto gone uncriticised pertain to the relationship between bodily discipline and the mechanical uncanny. In the Terminator, we see the extents to which the disciplinary mechanisms of modernity render our bodies docile, and the ways by which our bodies become organized according the logics of a totalizing mechanistic ethos. Therefore, in The Terminator, the uncanny effect created through uncertainty regarding who is human and who is replicant, may not seem so sophisticated or so subtle, but I insist that the uncanny effect leaves the viewer poised with an uncertain affect pertaining to the contents of their own humanity.
Problematizing Motherhood
Authors: Onay-Çöker Duygu ,   Society for Phenomenology and Media
Published: August 2021

In this paper, I focus on the representation of motherhood from a two-fold perspective by choosing the bestselling Turkish baby diapers advertisements as a case study of broadcasting in Turkish media. The first perspective analyzes the representation of motherhood by applying the concept of “Male Gaze” by Laura Mulvey, according to whom a woman is objectified by the male gaze and becomes a bearer of meaning rather than a maker of meaning. Further, the themes emerging from a careful reading of representations of women in advertisements of baby diapers are discussed. The second perspective consists of looking at discursive strategies of the term “motherhood” by problematizing the fact that baby diapers are always identified with women, thereby also reducing them to commodities in the market. The second perspective applies Julia Kristeva’s “The Semiotic Chora” to reveal the myths about motherhood created by the ruling ideology of the males, and to seek possible alternatives through that perspective.
Can Victims Make Sense of Trauma?
Authors: Jones Tamsin ,   DePaul University
Published: August 2021

This article reflects on the borders between sense and non-sense in order to think about the meaning of a particular kind of non-sense: traumatic violence. What does it mean for a victim of traumatic violence to make sense of it? Bringing together the discourses of phenomenology and trauma theory this article demonstrates the way in which traumatic violence, as a limit case of the phenomenal, can be brought into meaning without being reduced to an object of knowledge.
Navigating the #MeToo Terrain in an Islamophobic Environment
Authors: Fatima Saba ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: August 2021

In this paper, I explore the significance of an intersectional lens when it comes to our conversations surrounding the #MeToo movement, in particular the way that such a lens helps us in recognizing narratives of sexual assault and harassment that are not typically viewed as such. The mainstream discourse on #MeToo in the United States has been quite exclusionary when it comes to women who are non-dominantly situated within societal structures. In particular, this paper looks at how Muslim American women’s issues surrounding sexual assault and harassment are presented as exotic and a function of their religion and culture, further narrowing what is considered worthy of attention within the discourse of the #MeToo movement. I argue that one such instance of sexual harassment that isn’t seen as such, is hijab snatching within particular contexts. Furthermore, I argue that a lack of an intersectional lens results in not only privileging certain harmful voices under the guise of inclusivity, but even when invaluable voices are allowed to enter mainstream discourse, they are often the sort that sidestep issues of Western imperialistic practices, Islamophobia, racialization of Muslims, etc. I highlight the dangers of speaking for others, especially in ways that attribute sexual violence experienced by Muslim women to their cultures and/or their men. I argue that acknowledging these dangers is in itself a crucial part of an inclusive conversation on #MeToo.
Impacto da Radiodermatite na estética corporal de pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço
Authors: Cabral Bárbara De Sousa , Reis Paula Elaine Diniz dos , Ferreira Elaine Barros
Published: August 2021

Objetivo: descrever o impacto da radiodermatite na estética corporal em pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço submetidos à radioterapia. Método: estudo exploratório descritivo, do tipo série de casos, realizado no ambulatório de radioterapia de um hospital de ensino. Foram incluídos dez pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço que foram submetidos à radioterapia no período de 2015 a 2017. A coleta dos dados foi realizada com instrumento construído para esse fim e por meio de registro fotográfico. Os dados foram analisados de forma descritiva, apresentando-se o cálculo da frequência. Resultados: todos os pacientes apresentaram sinais característicos de radiodermatite, principalmente os sinais clínicos de epilação (nos homens), hiperpigmentação e descamação seca, que afetam a estética corporal. Conclusão: a estética corporal dos pacientes acompanhados foi alterada em decorrência dos sinais clínicos da radiodermatite. Destaca-se a importância de avaliar essas alterações em pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço submetidos à radioterapia.
External Hydrodynamic Loads on the Shaft of Azimuthing Thrusters and Podded Propulsors
Authors: Dang Jie , Brouwer Joris
Published: August 2021

During the last decades, MARIN has been developing sophisticated measuring systems to capture dynamic loads on the propeller shaft of azimuthing propulsors, in order to support the industry in studying various phenomena and understanding the physics. These measuring systems are designed so carefully that the hydrodynamic loads can be measured reliably and accurately to a high frequency with high resolution. Attention has been paid to various operational conditions, covering ideal sailing ahead, DP & BP, SOLAS, thrusters-thruster interactions, and to those very extreme conditions e.g. during crash stops, propeller blade ventilation and blade-ice interaction.
Nitriding of medical grade CoCrMo alloys using HIPIMS discharge
Authors:   , Shukla Krishnanand S P
Published: August 2021

The aim of this work was to develop a plasma nitriding process for a bio-grade CoCrMo alloy using a High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) discharge. An industrial-sized PVD machine (Hauzer techno Coating 1000-4, The Netherlands) machine equipped with two HIPIMS and two DC power supplies was utilised for this objective. Low-pressure plasma nitriding was carried out in a H2:N2 (15:85) environment with different nitriding voltages (-500 V to -1100 V). Nitrided specimens thoroughly were characterised using various techniques. To understand the effect of nitriding voltage on the phase composition and texture (T*) x-ray diffraction (XRD) was used. Microstructural changes due to the variation in nitriding voltage w investigated using a focused ion beam Scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) equipped with various detectors such as secondary electron (SE) and back scattered (BSE). Extent of nitrogen diffusion was analysed using GDOES and SIMS. Elemental analysis of the virgin nitrided layer and analysed surfaces were performed using point, line, and colour mapping electron diffraction spectroscopy (EDS). Nano/Micro hardness testers were used to understand the effect of nitriding voltage on hardness (Hp and HV) and fracture toughness (KIc). A high frequency macro impact load tester was used to understand the effect of nitriding voltage on impact fatigue behaviour of the compound layers. Fractured surfaces were analysed using SEM and FIBSEM after static and cyclic loading to understand the deformation mechanism such as fatigue cracking underneath nitrided layer. Potentiodyanmic polarisation study was performed in 3.5 wt.% NaCl and Hank’s solution to analyse the corrosion performance of these nitrided layers. At the end, HIPIMS plasma nitrided specimens were compared with benchmarked DC plasma nitrided specimens. Sample nitrided using HIPIMS discharge at -900 V exhibited novel phase composition, superior hardness and fracture toughness, better wear resistance, improved corrosion resistance and reduced metal ion release compared to the benchmarked DCPN.
Comparative bank financial risk management models in fintechs and challenger banks
Authors:   , Zhao Kun
Published: August 2021

Risk management in banking operations is a popular topic among researchers in the fields of management and banking. Due to developments in technology, research on financial technology has also become a hot topic. Banks and financial technology companies (fintechs) need to learn what risks impact their operations and how to manage these risks effectively. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between risk management and bank performance, compare it between traditional banks and challenger banks/fintechs, and make suggestions on how to improve performance by analysing historical data. This thesis adopts a mixed-method approach, estimating risk variables and their impacts on bank performance through panel data regression models (random-effects and generalised method of moments) and conducting case studies to contribute to knowledge in theory and practice. This research investigates the relationship between five main types of risks (credit risk, market risk, liquidity and capital risk, reputational risk, and operational risk) and bank performance measured by three variables (ROA, ROE and EPS). This study confirms the importance of risk management in bank performance. For example, credit risk variables show negative impacts on all banks, which suggests that reducing credit risks could increase bank performance. Market risk variables are complex with both positive and negative effects on bank performance. Thus, banks should keep market risk at a balanced level to receive better performance. Moreover, bank performance could be increased by increasing liquidity, capital and reputation as well as reducing debt, operational issues and costs. The contributions of this research include the enhancement of literature on the relationship between bank performance and risk management. Also, this research creates a greater awareness of risk management for challenger banks and fintechs. Moreover, it fills gaps in the literature by comparing results for traditional banks with those for challenger banks and fintechs. The results of this research offer new insights into risk management for both traditional banks and challenger banks and fintechs for iii academics and have the potential to assist traditional banks and challenger banks and fintechs in managing their risks and improving their efficiency in practice.
SeedSortNet: a rapid and highly effificient lightweight CNN based on visual attention for seed sorting
Authors: Li Chunlei , Li Huanyu , Liu Zhoufeng , Li Bicao , Huang Yun
Published: August 2021

Seed purity directly affects the quality of seed breeding and subsequent processing products. Seed sorting based on machine vision provides an effective solution to this problem. The deep learning technology, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have exhibited impressive performance in image recognition and classification, and have been proven applicable in seed sorting. However the huge computational complexity and massive storage requirements make it a great challenge to deploy them in real-time applications, especially on devices with limited resources. In this study, a rapid and highly efficient lightweight CNN based on visual attention, namely SeedSortNet, is proposed for seed sorting. First, a dual-branch lightweight feature extraction module Shield-block is elaborately designed by performing identity mapping, spatial transformation at higher dimensions and different receptive field modeling, and thus it can alleviate information loss and effectively characterize the multi-scale feature while utilizing fewer parameters and lower computational complexity. In the down-sampling layer, the traditional MaxPool is replaced as MaxBlurPool to improve the shift-invariant of the network. Also, an extremely lightweight sub-feature space attention module (SFSAM) is presented to selectively emphasize fine-grained features and suppress the interference of complex backgrounds. Experimental results show that SeedSortNet achieves the accuracy rates of 97.33% and 99.56% on the maize seed dataset and sunflower seed dataset, respectively, and outperforms the mainstream lightweight networks (MobileNetv2, ShuffleNetv2, etc.) at similar computational costs, with only 0.400M parameters (vs. 4.06M, 5.40M).
The phylogenetic relationships of geoemydid turtles from the Eocene Messel Pit Quarry: a first assessment using methods for continuous and discrete characters
Authors: Ascarrunz Eduardo , Claude Julien , Joyce Walter G.
Published: August 2021

The geoemydid turtles of the Eocoene Messel Pit Quarry of Hesse, Germany, are part of a rich Western European fossil record of testudinoids. Originally referred to as “Ocadia” kehreriand “Ocadia” messeliana, their systematic relationships remain unclear. A previous study proposed that a majority of the Western European geoemydids, including the Messel geoemydids, are closely related to the Recent European representatives of the cladeMauremys. Another study hypothesised that the Western European geoemydid fauna is more phylogenetically diverse, and that the Messel geoemydids are closely related to the East Asian turtlesOrlitiaandMalayemys. Here we present the first quantitative analyses to date that investigate this question. We use continuous characters in the form of ratios to estimate the placement of the Messel geoemydids in a reference tree that was estimated from molecular data. We explore the placement error obtained from that data with maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, as well as linear parsimony in combination with discrete characters. We find good overall performance with Bayesian and parsimony analyses. Parsimony performs even better when we also incorporated discrete characters. Yet, we cannot pin down the position of the Messel geoemydids with high confidence. Depending on how intraspecific variation of the ratio characters is treated, parsimony favours a placement of the Messel fossils sister toOrlitia borneensisor sister toGeoemyda spengleri, with weak bootstrap support. The latter placement is suspect becauseG. spengleriis a phylogenetically problematic species with molecular and morphological data. There is even less support for placements within theMauremysclade.
Congruence between morphology-based species and Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) in Neotropical Eumaeini (Lycaenidae)
Authors: Prieto Carlos , Faynel Christophe , Robbins Robert , Hausmann Axel
Published: August 2021

Background

With about 1,000 species in the Neotropics, the Eumaeini (Theclinae) are one of the most diverse butterfly tribes. Correct morphology-based identifications are challenging in many genera due to relatively little interspecific differences in wing patterns. Geographic infraspecific variation is sometimes more substantial than variation between species. In this paper we present a large DNA barcode dataset of South American Lycaenidae. We analyze how well DNA barcode BINs match morphologically delimited species.

Methods

We compare morphology-based species identifications with the clustering of molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) delimitated by the RESL algorithm in BOLD, which assigns Barcode Index Numbers (BINs). We examine intra- and interspecific divergences for genera represented by at least four morphospecies. We discuss the existence of local barcode gaps in a genus by genus analysis. We also note differences in the percentage of species with barcode gaps in groups of lowland and high mountain genera.

Results

We identified 2,213 specimens and obtained 1,839 sequences of 512 species in 90 genera. Overall, the mean intraspecific divergence value of CO1 sequences was 1.20%, while the mean interspecific divergence between nearest congeneric neighbors was 4.89%, demonstrating the presence of a barcode gap. However, the gap seemed to disappear from the entire set when comparing the maximum intraspecific distance (8.40%) with the minimum interspecific distance (0.40%). Clear barcode gaps are present in many genera but absent in others. From the set of specimens that yielded COI fragment lengths of at least 650 bp, 75% of thea priorimorphology-based identifications were unambiguously assigned to a single Barcode Index Number (BIN). However, after a taxonomica posteriorireview, the percentage of matched identifications rose to 85%. BIN splitting was observed for 17% of the species and BIN sharing for 9%. We found that genera that contain primarily lowland species show higher percentages of local barcode gaps and congruence between BINs and morphology than genera that contain exclusively high montane species. The divergence values to the nearest neighbors were significantly lower in high Andean species while the intra-specific divergence values were significantly lower in the lowland species. These results raise questions regarding the causes of observed low inter and high intraspecific genetic variation. We discuss incomplete lineage sorting and hybridization as most likely causes of this phenomenon, as the montane species concerned are relatively young and hybridization is probable. The release of our data set represents an essential baseline for a reference library for biological assessment studies of butterflies in mega diverse countries using modern high-throughput technologies an highlights the necessity of taxonomic revisions for various genera combining both molecular and morphological data.
Evaluation of structural and ultrastructural changes in thyroid and parathyroid glands after near infrared irradiation: study on an animal model
Authors: Serra Carlos , Silveira Luis
Published: August 2021

Intraoperative identification of parathyroid glands is a tough task for surgeons performing thyroid or parathyroid surgery, because the small size, color and shape of these glands hinder their discrimination from other cervical tissues. In 2011, Paras described the autofluorescence of parathyroid glands, a property that could facilitate their intraoperative identification. Parathyroid glands submitted to a 785 nm laser beam emit fluorescence in the near infrared range, with a peak at 822 nm. As the intrinsic properties of secretory tissues may be affected by the exposure to the near infrared light, a situation that could preclude their intraoperative utilization, the authors compared the structural and ultra-structural patterns of rat’s thyroid and parathyroid glands submitted to irradiation replicating the conditions that allow their intraoperative identification, with those of non irradiated animals. Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into six groups: animals of Groups 1, 3 and 5 were submitted under general anesthesia to direct irradiation of the cervical area with a 780 nm LED light for 3 minutes through a cervical incision, and animals of Groups 2, 4 and 6 were submitted to cervical dissection without irradiation. Animals of were euthanized immediately (Groups 1 and 2), at Day 30 (Groups 3 and 4) at and at Day 60 (Groups 5 and 6) and thyroid and parathyroid glands were removed: one lobe was prepared for conventional pathological examination and the other lobe for electron microscopy observed by three experienced pathological experts. Twenty-four samples were prepared for conventional histology and there were no alterations reported in any group. Due to technical problems, only 21 samples were observed by electron microscopy and there were no differences in the ultrastructure of parathyroid and thyroid glands, namely the nuclear pattern, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum or secretory granules, in any of the groups. These results confirm the innocuity of near infrared irradiation’, allowing its intraoperative utilization.
Eating for numbing: a community-based study of trauma exposure, emotion dysregulation, dissociation, body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms
Authors: Lev-ari Lilac , Zohar Ada H. , Bachner-Melman Rachel
Published: August 2021

Objective

The current study tests the relationship between eating disorder (ED) symptoms and trauma exposure. The mechanisms via which trauma is related to ED symptoms have not been sufficiently examined. This study examines the complex role of dissociation and emotional dysregulation in the context of trauma, BMI, ED symptoms and body dissatisfaction (BD). We hypothesized that dissociation and emotional dysregulation would mediate the relationship between trauma exposure and ED symptoms/BD. We further hypothesized that BMI would play a moderating role in this association.

Method

A community sample of 229 (16.2% male) participants, with a mean age of 29.08 ± 10.68 reported online on traumatic events (Life Events Checklist), dissociation (Dissociative Experiences Scale-II), emotional dysregulation (Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale), ED symptoms (Eating Disorders Examination-Questionnaire) and BD (Figure Rating Scale).

Results

Participants reported experiencing a mean of 2.87 ± 2.27 traumatic events, with a relatively high percentage (~86%) reporting at least one. The most commonly reported traumatic events were transportation accidents and physical assault. Although frequency of traumatic events did not directly predict ED symptoms, BMI, dissociation, emotional dysregulation and BD did. An SEM model showed that traumatic events predicted ED symptoms indirectly through dissociation, emotional dysregulation and BMI. Dissociation and emotional dysregulation predicted ED symptoms directly. BMI also moderated the association between traumatic events and both ED symptoms and BD.

Conclusions

Therapists treating patients with high BMI or obesity should be aware of these relationships and investigate the possibility that trauma and/or PTSD may underlie the presenting disordered eating or eating disorder.
Characteristics of ESRD Patients who have been on Long-term Hemodialysis Therapy in Egypt
Authors: Megahed Abir Farouk , Sayed-Ahmed Nagy
Published: August 2021

Background: It is well-known that hemodialysis extends the life of end-stage renal disease  (ESRD) patients, who would have otherwise died. The characteristics of long-term patients on hemodialysis (HD) were not evaluated before in Egypt. We aimed at identifying the specific characteristics of the patients who have survived on hemodialysis for more than 20 years in Egypt. Subjects and Methods: During the years 2018 and 2019, the twenty-seven governorate health affairs Directories of the Egyptian Ministry of Health were contacted to participate in data collection. The dialysis physicians in each hemodialysis unit were sent a questionnaire form requesting to submit information, on the characteristics of patients who have been on HD therapy for twenty  years or more.

Results: Seventy-three patients were encountered from a total number of 26000 HD patients to have been on HD therapy; with a range between 20 and 30 years. Males constituted the majority of these patients. Sixty-eight patients were dialyzed through working arteriovenous fistulas (A-V fistulas). The mean urea reduction ratio (URR) of these patients was 0.65±0.095. Acute  intradialytic complications afflicted only 20.3% of these patients. More than three-quarters of the patients had a positive serology test for HCV antibodies. None of these patients has diabetes mellitus. On the other hand, complaints related to the skeletal system were present in 47.4% of the patients. There is a statistically significant higher rate of acute complications in the female gender and a statistically significant higher fertility rate after hemodialysis in the male gender.

Conclusion: Long-term dwellers on hemodialysis therapy are not unusual in Egyptian ESRD patients and their characteristics are reasonable.
Evaluation of Parent's Knowledge About Fever
Authors: Hafidi Najlae El , Mekaoui Nour , Dakhama Badr Sououd Benjelloun , Karboubi Lamya
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Fever in children is the most frequent reason for pediatric consultation. Aims of the Study: To assess parent's knowledge and behavior regarding fever in children before the consultation.

Methodology: This survey was carried out among 614 who agreed to answer a pre-established questionnaire, having consulted in the pediatric medical emergency department of the children's hospital in rabat.

Results: Fever was defined in 64.2% of parents as a temperature above the threshold of 38 ° C. It was measured in 37.9% of cases by the axillary method, the drugs most used were paracetamol and ibuprofen, with the use of paracetamol first in 73.9%, the administration of the drug was based of the weight in 58.7%. Angina was considered the most likely cause of fever (72.7% of cases).

Conclusion: The results of our survey show the need to improve parent's knowledge of fever as well as its management at home.
Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Bottle Gourd Germplasm Based on Phenotypic Characters for Yield and Yield Associated Traits
Authors: Ahmad Muzeev , Singh Bijendra , Alam Khursheed , Prakash Satya , Gupta Archi , Mohit .
Published: August 2021

The experiment was conducted during Kharif season 2018 at Horticulture Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology; Modipuram, Meerut (U.P.) assess the genetic diversity among fifteen genotypes of bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.]. The genetic diversity analysis according to that the formation of five clusters suggesting the presence of wide genetic diversity. The clustering pattern showed that geographical diversity wasn't related to genetic diversity. The analysis of % contribution of assorted characters toward the expression of total genetic divergence showed that the Days to 50% flowering (14.48%) followed Days of fruit set (12.95%), Vine length (m) (11.67%), Number of fruits per plant (10.93%), Number of the primary branches (10.37%), Days to first fruit harvest (10.16%), Average fruit weight (g) (9.44%), Fruit diameter (cm) (6.63%) contributed maximum towards total genetic divergence. Based on the maximum genetic distance. It is advisable to attempt a crossing of the genotype from cluster II (GP-7) with the genotype of cluster I (GP-5), cluster IV (GP-2) and cluster III (GP-1), which may cause to the generation of a broad spectrum of favorable genetic variability for yield improvement in bottle gourd.