bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Fatally Flawed Leadership of Donald J. Trump
Authors: Koukal David ,   The Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World
Published: November 2019

Over the past two years, several political commentators have drawn on Plato’s Republic to shed light on our last presidential election. Many of these authors emphasize the features of democracy that make it especially susceptible to demagoguery, which heralds the arrival of tyranny, and then go on to relate this to Donald Trump’s political ascension. The problem with these analyses is that they tend to unquestioningly adopt Plato’s pessimistic view of democracy. While Plato’s criticisms do have the virtue of making us aware of democracy’s weaknesses, we would argue that our present political circumstances did not issue from these flaws. This makes these criticisms irrelevant. Other commentators come closer to the mark when they talk about Plato’s passages addressing the person of the tyrant in Book IX, but what is lacking in these accounts is a context that more fully explains why the tyrant is what he is, in Platonic terms. In this essay we argue that other parts of the Republic, particularly Book IV, can tell us much more about Trump and his presidency. This part of the dialogue deals with Plato’s conception of human nature, which he presents in his discussion of the soul or psyche [ψυχή]. An examination of these passages will grant us insight into the Trump’s actions and utterances and show that the president is not only intellectually but also temperamentally unqualified for his office, which should give citizens good cause for worry.
Alanine Aminotransferase Results Differ by Analyzer Manufacturer in a National Integrated Health Setting, 2012–2017
Authors: Beste Lauren A. , Icardi Michael , Hunt Christine M. , Gylys-Colwell Ina , Lowy Elliott , Taylor Leslie , Morgan Timothy R. , Chang Michael F. , Maier Marissa M. , Cheung Ramsey
Published: November 2019

Context.—

Disease guidelines specify universal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) thresholds for clinical decision-making, yet the effect of variability among ALT analyzers remains unclear.

Objective.—

To compare ALT results from different analyzers from 2012–2017.

Design.—

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) laboratories perform external ALT proficiency testing using standardized College of American Pathologists (CAP) samples in analyzers by 5 manufacturers. In this operational analysis, we evaluated 22 950 ALT values from 80 independent CAP samples tested at 223 laboratories. Using mixed effects modeling, we estimated the association between analyzer manufacturer and CAP outcome, adjusting for manufacturer, facility, and calendar year. We performed subgroup analyses on CAP samples with overall means near clinical guideline-specified thresholds, including less than 50 U/L (n = 10) and less than 35 U/L (n = 5).

Results.—

The VHA used Abbott Laboratories (n = 3175; 14%), Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (n = 8723; 38%), Roche Diagnostics (n = 2595; 11%), Siemens Healthineers USA (n = 5713; 25%), and Vitros/Ortho Clinical Diagnostics (n = 2744; 12%) analyzers. The CAP samples (n = 80 samples, n = 22 950 tests) covered a wide range of mean ALT values (21–268 U/L). The average difference in mean ALT value per sample between the highest-reading and lowest-reading manufacturers was 15.4 U/L (SD = 1.8) for the 10 samples with mean ALT less than 50 U/L, and it was 10.4 U/L (SD = 3.6) overall (n = 80). In linear mixed effects modeling, we found statistically significant differences in ALT values between the different manufacturers in each year.

Conclusions.—

We found statistically and clinically meaningful differences between analyzers across the ALT spectrum in each year, including at ALT levels lower than 50 U/L and lower than 35 U/L. Universal ALT thresholds should be avoided as a trigger for clinical action until differences between analyzers can be resolved.
La traición a la democracia. Ensayo sobre las relaciones entre universidad, democracia y ciudadanía desde la idea de traición
Authors: Luque David
Published: November 2019

A partir de los sesenta, los alumnos que comenzaron a acudir a las universidades creció exponencialmente. Esto modificó la forma de pensar esta institución en su relación con la democracia. Su razón de ser ya no se encontraba únicamente en el conocimiento, sino que se deducía del papel que debía jugar en la construcción de la ciudadanía. Esta modificación dio lugar a una serie de discusiones sobre el papel de la universidad en relación a los nuevosretos que les planteaba la ciudadanía. Y esas discusiones giraban casi siempre en torno a una misma idea: que cualquier tesis sobre la universidad suponía una traición. Y es justamente eso lo que estudia este artículo. Se concluye que, en la construcción de una ciudadanía democrática, han de combinarse dos consideraciones. La necesidad irrenunciable de la extensión de la formación universitaria como elemento sustancial de una ciudadanía y la necesidad de que esta formación esté presidida por un pensamiento crítico y una vocación de servicio político.

From the 1960s, the number of students who began to attend universities grew exponentially. This changed the way of thinking about this institution in terms of its relationship with democracy. Its reason for being did not only lie in the articulation of knowledge but also in the role it should play in the construction of citizenship. This modification led to a series of discussions about the role of universities regarding the new challenges posed by citizens. And these discussions almost always revolved around the same idea: any argument about universities was a betrayal. And that is precisely what this article studies. It is concluded that, in the construction of democratic citizenships, two  considerations must be combined. On the one hand, the unrenounceable need for the extension of university education as a substantial element of citizenship and, on the other hand, the need for this type of education to bepresided over by critical thinking and a vocation for political service.
¡Todo me gustó! Los niños y sus percepciones de una actividad educativa en un museo
Authors: Melgar María Fernanda
Published: November 2019

En este trabajo interesan los niños como público específico de los museos. En el artículo se presenta un estudio realizado en Argentina que tiene por objetivo conocer y analizar las percepciones y experiencias de niños en museos. Participaron 133 niños y niñas ubicados en la franja etaria de los 8 a los 13 años de escuelas de gestión pública y privada, rurales y urbanas. Para la recolección de datos se empleó un cuestionario con ítems que requerían respuestas abiertas y cerradas. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó un enfoque mixto. Los resultados se presentan en tres categorías: percepciones sobre los museos, experiencias previas y valoraciones de una actividad particular. En general los niños valoraron positivamente sus experiencias en el museo, se observó un alto grado de satisfacción principalmente en sus afirmaciones referidas a aquellos aspectos que les gustaron. Los resultados del trabajo plantean numerosos desafíos para los museos y las escuelas en relación a la posibilidad de diseñar propuestas educativas contextualizadas a las características de los niños.

In this paper we look at children as a specific public of museums. We present a study undertaken in Argentina. The aim of the research was to know and analyse the perceptions and experiences of children in museums. The study surveyed 133 children from different backgrounds (state and private schools and rural and urban settings) aged 8-13. For data collection, a questionnaire was used with open and closed response items. A mixed approach was used. The outcomes are presented in three categories: perceptions about museums, previous experiences and assessments of a particular activity. The children valued positively their experiences in the museum, a high degree of satisfactionwas observed mainly in their affirmations referring to those aspects that they liked. The outcomes of the study raise many challenges for museums and schools in relation to the possibility of designing educational proposals which align with the characteristics of children.
Conciencia emocional en situaciones motrices cooperativas lúdicas y expresivas en bachillerato: perspectiva de género
Authors: Alonso Roque José Ignacio , Marín Guillén Marta , Yuste Lucas Juan Luis , Lavega Burgués Pere , Gea García Gemma
Published: November 2019

El propósito del presente estudio fue analizar las emociones suscitadas en situaciones motrices de cooperación lúdicas y expresivas en clase de Educación física. Para ello se administró el Cuestionario “Games and Emotions Scale” (GES) al término de cada sesión a 24 estudiantes de primero de Bachillerato. El estudio fue descriptivo, correlacional y comparativo, con dos condiciones en las que se tomaban los datos, las cuales eran los dos tipos de sesiones de la unidad didáctica realizada. Los resultados indican que independientemente del género y del tipo de sesión, se valoran como más intensas las emociones positivas, después las ambiguas y por último las negativas.

The aim of this study was to investigate the emotions experienced by eleventh grade students in physical education classes involving motor cooperative situations in ludic and expressive contexts. Data were obtained through the administration with 24 high school students of the questionnaire “Games and Emotions Scale” (GES) at the end of each session. The study was descriptive, correlational and comparative, and included two conditions (the two different types of teaching sessions). Results indicate that, regardless of gender and type of session, positive emotions are held to be the most intense, followed by ambiguous and negative emotions.
Geografías e historias de aprendizaje de docentes de secundaria. Intersecciones, tránsitos y zonas de no saber
Authors: Bosco Alejandra , Alonso Cano Cristina , Miño Puigcercós Raquel
Published: November 2019

El artículo muestra parte de los procesos y resultados de un proyecto de investigación que explora qué, cómo, con qué y dónde aprenden los docentes de secundaria dentro y fuera de sus centros. Tras presentar la perspectiva onto-epistemológica en la que se sitúa el estudio y los avances que se propone alcanzar, nos referirnos brevemente a la aproximación metodológica y a los participantes en la investigación. A continuación, nos centramos en ocho docentes que trabajan en uno de los tres ins titutos que han colaborado en el estudio. Para ello, situamos el contexto y los procesos llevados a cabo y realizamos una aproximación a sus geografías e historias de aprendizaje. A continuación, se problematiza el proceso de análisis seguido y se identifican los escenarios en los que aprenden los docentes, los tránsitos entre escenarios y las nociones de aprendizaje que emergen en sus geografías e historiasde aprendizaje. Finalmente, se sitúan las aportaciones que estas prácticas de investigación narrativa pueden representar para la propia investigación educativa y la formación docente.

This article shows part of the processes and results of a research project that explores what, how, with what and where secondary school teachers learn inside and outside their schools. After locating the ontoepistemological perspective in which the study is situated and the advances to be achieved, we briefly refer to the methodological approach and to the participants in the piece of research. Next, we focus on eight teachers who work in one of thethree secondary school that have collaborated in the study. To do this, we situate the context and the processes involved in the configuration of the teachers’ learning geographies and histories. To this end, the process of analysis employed is problematized and the scenarios in which teachers learn are identified, as are the transitions between scenarios and the notions of learning that emerge in their learning geographies and histories. Finally, we refer to the contributions that these practices of narrative research can make to educational research and the professional development of teachers.
La Junta Nacional contra el analfabetismo (1950-1970): un análisis documental
Authors: López Melgarejo Alba María
Published: November 2019

El 10 de marzo de 1950 se creaba por decreto la Junta Nacional contra el Analfabetismo cuyo objetivo era reducir la tasa de analfabetos entre la población adulta española a través de una red de juntas provinciales, municipales y locales. El objetivo de este estudio es reconstruir la trayectoria acometida por esta institución durante la década de los cincuenta y sesenta a partir de los documentos publicados en el Boletín Oficial del Estado que hacen mención a la misma.Encontramos dos momentos claves durante la vigencia de la Junta Nacional. El primero de creación y desarrollo de 1950 a 1963 y un segundo momento definido por la Campaña Nacional contra el Analfabetismo iniciada en 1963 para cuatro cursos escolares. Los esfuerzos de este organismo junto a los realizados por otras instituciones redujeron la tasa de analfabetos adultos de un 17% en 1950 a un 9% existente al inicio de 1970.

On the tenth of March in 1950 The National Committee Against Illiteracy was created by decree with a view to reducing the illiteracy rate among the Spanish adult population. The aim of this study is to reconstruct, from the documents published in the National State Journal, the process followed by this institution during the 1950s and 1960s. We found two keys moments during the enforcement of the National Committee: a period of creation and development from 1950 to 1963 and the activation in 1963 of the National Campaign Against Illiteracy which lasted for four school years. The efforts of this organization along with those by other institutions reduced the rate of illiterate adults from 17% in 1950 to 9% at the beginning of 1970.
‘Age of Lovecraft’?—Anthropocene Monsters in (New) Weird Narrative
Authors: Ulstein Gry
Published: November 2019

This paper considers whether the twenty-first-century resurgence of H. P. Lovecraft and weird fiction can be read as a conceptual parallel to the Anthropocene epoch, taking Carl H. Sederholm and Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock’s The Age of Lovecraft as a starting-point. The assumption is that the two ‘ages’ are historically and thematically linked through the ‘monsters’ that inhabit them; monsters that include—but are not limited to—extensions, reproductions, and evolutions of Lovecraft’s writings. Preoccupied with environmental issues such as global climate change, the twenty-first-century imaginary has conjured monsters that appear to have much in common with early twentieth-century cosmic horror stories. Considering the renewed interest in Lovecraft and the weird, such developments raise the question: What can (weird) monsters tell us about the Anthropocene moment? This paper maps the ‘monstrous’ in the discourses emerging from the Anthropocene epoch and ‘The Age of Lovecraft’ by considering (new) weird narratives from contemporary literature, graphic novels, film, TV, and video games. Mindful of on-going discussions within ecocriticism, philosophy, and critical theory, the paper discusses a handful of unconventional texts to investigate the potential of the weird for expressing Anthropocene anxieties and for approaching nonhuman realities from new angles.
A Tale of Two Versions—I Am Legend (2007) and the Political Economy of Cultural Production
Authors: Pötzsch Holger
Published: November 2019

Based on a comparative reading of the officially released version and the director’s cut of Francis Lawrence’s movie I Am Legend (2007a; 2007b), the present contribution interrogates possible connections between the political economy of film production and aesthetic form. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks such as Herman and Chomsky’s propaganda model and Artz’ critical study of global entertainment industries, and combining these with an analysis of Lawrence’s two versions, I argue that profit-oriented adaptations to implied market pressures are not neutral endeavours, but inherently political acts that shape aesthetic form to, often-tacitly, reiterate a received hegemonic status quo.
Book Review—Anne Applebaum’s Red Famine (2017)
Authors: Hordijk Frank
Published: November 2019

The theme setting and particular relevance of artificial or man-made famines seems to come up in intervals, when tensions re-arise between ‘Western’ powers and Russia and seems to be useful for the purposes of ‘demonizing’ ‘Putin’—the current President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin (2000–2008; 2012–)—, ‘the Kremlin’, the Russian government; or simply ‘Russia’ in the eyes of ‘the West’. In recent years, the famine of 1932–1933 has reached new heights as a politicized event to be instrumentalized in a ‘memory war’ on many discursive levels (history, mass media, memorialization, etc.) between key-representatives of the current countries Ukraine and Russia (Hordijk 2018). This should, symptomatically, remind us of the sheer power that media narratives have in shaping public imaginations.

The reviewed book: Anne Elizabeth Applebaum. Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine. ISBN-13: 978–0–241–00380–0. London: Allen Lane, September 2017. Hardcover; 512 pages; recommended retail price: £25.00.
Classifying Oryza sativa accessions into Indica and Japonica using logistic regression model with phenotypic data
Authors: Kim Bongsong
Published: November 2019

In Oryza sativa, indica and japonica are pivotal subpopulations, and other subpopulations such as aus and aromatic are considered to be derived from indica or japonica. In this regard, Oryza sativa accessions are frequently viewed from the indica/japonica perspective. This study introduces a computational method for indica/japonica classification by applying phenotypic variables to the logistic regression model (LRM). The population used in this study included 413 Oryza sativa accessions, of which 280 accessions were indica or japonica. Out of 24 phenotypic variables, a set of seven phenotypic variables was identified to collectively generate the fully accurate indica/japonica separation power of the LRM. The resulting parameters were used to define the customized LRM. Given the 280 indica/japonica accessions, the classification accuracy of the customized LRM along with the set of seven phenotypic variables was estimated by 100 iterations of ten-fold cross-validations. As a result, the classification accuracy of 100% was achieved. This suggests that the LRM can be an effective tool to analyze the indica/japonica classification with phenotypic variables in Oryza sativa.
Zooplankton communities in the Drake Passage through environmental boundaries: a snapshot of 2010, early spring
Authors: Vedenin Andrey A. , Musaeva Eteri I. , Zasko Daria N. , Vereshchaka Alexander L.
Published: November 2019

Background

Spatial distribution of zooplankton communities influenced by various environmental factors is always important for understanding pelagic ecosystems. The area of the Drake Passage (Southern Ocean) is of particular interest owing to the high spatial and temporal variability of hydrological parameters affecting marine fauna. This study provides a survey of zooplankton composition and spatial distribution along a transect in the Drake Passage sampled during the 31th Cruise of RV “Akademik Sergey Vavilov” in November, 2010. The main aim was to trace the main regularities in spatial zooplankton structure and its relationships with the environmental parameters.

Methodology

A total of 43 vertical hauls from the surface to 1,000 m depth were made at 13 stations using the Juday plankton net. 60 taxa were recorded, abundance and biomass of each were assessed. Environmental parameters including temperature, salinity, depth, horizontal distance between stations and surface chlorophyll concentration were tested as environmental factors possibly explaining plankton distribution.

Results

Higher zooplankton abundance and biomass with lower diversity were observed near the Polar Front. Cluster analysis revealed five different groups of zooplankton samples, four of which were arranged mostly by depth. Along the transect within the 1,000 m depth range, the qualitative taxonomical composition differed significantly with depth and to some extent differed also among horizontal hydrological regimes, while the quantitative structure of the communities (abundance of taxa) was mainly determined by depth. Plankton assemblages within the upper 300-m layer depended on hydrological fronts. Abundance of dominant taxa as well as total zooplankton abundance showed a clear correlation with depth, salinity and surface chlorophyll concentration. Some taxa also showed correlations with temperature and latitude. Between the stations the similarity in zooplankton structure was clearly dependent on the distance among them which indicates an importance of latitudinal gradient. Surface chlorophyll concentration was not correlated with zooplankton biomass, which can be explained by the uncompleted seasonal migrations of zooplankton from deeper waters in early spring.
Genome-wide identification and characterization of the MADS-box gene family in Salix suchowensis
Authors: Qu Yanshu , Bi Changwei , He Bing , Ye Ning , Yin Tongming , Xu Li-an
Published: November 2019

MADS-box genes encode transcription factors that participate in various plant growth and development processes, particularly floral organogenesis. To date, MADS-box genes have been reported in many species, the completion of the sequence of the willow genome provides us with the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the willow MADS-box gene family. Here, we identified 60 willow MADS-box genes using bioinformatics-based methods and classified them into 22 M-type (11 Mα, seven Mβ and four Mγ) and 38 MIKC-type (32 MIKCc and six MIKC*) genes based on a phylogenetic analysis. Fifty-six of the 60 SsMADS genes were randomly distributed on 19 putative willow chromosomes. By combining gene structure analysis with evolutionary analysis, we found that the MIKC-type genes were more conserved and played a more important role in willow growth. Further study showed that the MIKC* type was a transition between the M-type and MIKC-type. Additionally, the number of MADS-box genes in gymnosperms was notably lower than that in angiosperms. Finally, the expression profiles of these willow MADS-box genes were analysed in five different tissues (root, stem, leave, bud and bark) and validated by RT-qPCR experiments. This study is the first genome-wide analysis of the willow MADS-box gene family, and the results establish a basis for further functional studies of willow MADS-box genes and serve as a reference for related studies of other woody plants.
Wastewater Management of Korhogo City
Authors: Yao Salomon Kouakou , Brahima Seyhi , Maxime Gnamba Franck , Martial Kouassi N’guessan , Nanan Audrey Kouame
Published: November 2019

The present study was conducted to provide more information on wastewater management in developing country cities, particularly in Korhogo a city in the north of Ivory Coast. Results showed that 23% of the residences discharge their wastewater either in rivers around the city, in pipes intended for storm water drainage, or on the way for laundry, crockery and/or bath water. 43% and 34% release their water through watertight and non-watertight facilities such as septic tanks and latrines, respectively. A factory evacuates its wastewater directly into the environment without any prior treatment. Only the Regional Hospital (CHR) has a lagoon system which is in a very advanced state of dysfunctioning. The city has a sludge treatment site that receives on average between 30 and 34 m3 per day, well below 100 m3 per day (sizing volume), leading to a significant algal development in the biological treatment basins and a fairly average yield of the plant below 55% at the end of treatment.
Improving Adherence to Anti-retroviral Therapy among Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Enugu State, South East Nigeria
Authors: Igweagu C. P. , Chime O. H. , Onwasigwe C. N.
Published: November 2019

HIV/AIDS continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 32 million lives so far. There were approximately 37.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) at the end of 2018. Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality and improved quality of life among people with HIV infection.

Aims: The study was conducted to improve the knowledge and adherence to anti-retroviral therapy among PLHIV in Enugu state, southeast Nigeria.

Study Design: Interventional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Anti-retroviral Therapy clinics within Enugu metropolis in Enugu state Nigeria between June to December 2018.

Methodology: A health education intervention was carried out among 312 PLHIV receiving ART in Enugu metropolis to improve their perception and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 312 PLHIV (156 each in the study and control groups), who were selected by multistage sampling. Subsequently, health education was conducted among the study group. Three months after this intervention its effects were assessed through a survey using the same structured questionnaires employed in the baseline survey. 

Results: The most frequently occurring reason given by the respondents for poor adherence to ART was forgetfulness (65.4% for study and 69.9% for control groups). Knowledge of the factors and consequences of poor adherence to treatment was significantly higher among the study group than the controls post-interventions p<0.001. Adherence to ART improved from 42.3% pre-intervention to 81.4% post-intervention.

Conclusion: Intensive health education effectively improved adherence to ART among persons living with HIV/AIDS and this should be carried out regularly.
Promoting Safer and More Efficient Medication Administration within the Accident and Emergency Department at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation
Authors: Meter Jessica Van , Dye Sally , Clarke Amanda , Heylinger Marcia , Thomas Arlene
Published: November 2019

Objective: The Emergency Department is a complex environment in which healthcare providers are confronted with uncontrolled and unpredictable critical patient workload. This necessitates multitasking, organization, critical thinking and clear communication. Safe practices during dispensing and administration of medications vastly reduces the potential for patient harm and decreases medication errors (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2008).  

Design/Methods: An eight-question survey was developed to determine nurses’ perceptions of the current medication storage system. Participants were asked to identify ways in which this system could be improved and medications organized in a safer, more systematic way. Following initial data collection, all medications were rearranged to improve medication organization and retrieval. The participants were then surveyed following the intervention to ascertain feedback.

Results: 68% of participants noted that they perceived the current system to be chaotic. When asked if organizational changes might improve patient care delivery and safety, 96% responded in the affirmative. Labeling medication with both generic/ brand names and organizing them by class and alphabetically thereafter were all identified as potential options for reorganization. Following the intervention, a post-survey demonstrated that 100% of respondents remained enthusiastic about the new system approximately 9 months after implementation.

Conclusions: The previous medication storage system was fractured and chaotic. Systematic organization of medications by name/class improved nurses’ perceptions of medication safety and delivery while inadvertently reducing the waste of expired medications. Greater measures are needed to truly minimize the risk for a medication administration errors including targeted continuing education and implementation of an electronic medication administration system.
Determination of MICs of Methicillin-resistant and Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from a Tertiary-care Hospital in Guyana
Authors: Seepersaud Drovashti , Ramlochan Tereasia , Cheddie Paul
Published: November 2019

Objective: Previous studies done in the hospital setting in Guyana have shown that the frequency of isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates far exceeds the worldwide estimate of 50%. These past studies have been based on the use of the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion methodology. The present study was conducted to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of clinical isolates of methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant S. aureus using the broth microdilution method.

Design and Methods: A total of 101 consecutive, non-repetitive S. aureus isolates obtained from the GPHC medical lab during a six-week period were included in the study. These isolates were identified as MRSA and MSSA by laboratory personnel using the cefoxitin disk diffusion method. The oxacillin MICs for all isolates obtained were determined using prepared oxacillin broth microdilution trays with concentrations ranging from 4 μg/ml to 256 μg/ml. All results were interpreted according to CLSI guidelines.

Results: The prevalence of MRSA at GPHC was found to be 65.35% with a majority of the isolates being high level oxacillin resistant strains with MICs > 256 μg/ml (84.85%). In our study, most resistant isolates were collected from patients admitted to the FSW (16.67%), Paediatric Wards (13.65%), MSW (13.64%), and FMW (12.12%). Additionally, 35 (79.55%) MSSA were suspected oxacillin susceptible with MIC < 4 μg/ml. The relationship between the cefoxitin disc diffusion and oxacillin broth microdilution results was found to be statistically significant with a p < 0.001.

Conclusion: Methicillin-resistance continues to be a major problem in the hospital setting, and this study has should that commonly used conventional techniques are unlikely to identify all of the potentially resistant isolates.

Recommendation: The high prevalence and high oxacillin MIC of MRSA at GPHC suggests that more emphasis should be placed on infection control and surveillance programs within the hospital setting.
The Incidence and Short-term Outcome of Perforated Peptic Ulcers
Authors: DeNobrega Gabrielle , Motilall Ravi , Hussain Bibi
Published: November 2019

Objective: To determine the incidence of non-traumatic perforated gastro-duodenal ulcers in the surgical population at GPHC.

To identify/ discuss mortality associated with perforated hallow viscus at GPHC and its related outcomes.

Study Design and Methods: This study involves a retrospective analysis of all inpatients in the female and male adult surgical wards at GPHC. All charts coded for ‘acute abdomen’, ‘perforated hollow viscus’ and pneumoperitoneum were collected from 2016 to 2018 Data from this selective population were collected using the data collection tool. All data was coded for and entered into spreadsheet of which double data entry was done.  Data was then analyzed using SPS.

Results: Initially a total of 109 charts were collected but was reduced to sample size of 31 patients after review of charts. Majority of patients were males with an average age of presentation of 45.8years. Although many comorbidities are associated with perforations only 1 patient in this studyhad chronic hypertension. Time of presentation from onset of symptoms greatly influences theoutcomes for affected patients. However, 80% of patients presented after 24 hrs, none in a state of shock and no early mortality was found. Smoking affects the mucosal barrier of stomach and increases risk of peptic ulcer disease. In this study 67.7% of patients admitted to being frequent marijuana smokers and 74.2% cigarette smokers and although a small population size, a high association between smoking and resultant disease was shown with a P value of 0.0028. Graham’s patch was done by residents on all patients with an average operative time of 68.4 minutes. Intraoperatively the most common site of perforation was the antrum (60%) compared to the duodenum (6.7%), pylorus (6%) and body of stomach (3.3%). Post- op there was a 40% morbidity rate.

Conclusions: Primary repair is a safe surgical approach with a low mortality.
Endocrine Disorders in a Specialized Hospital in Guyana
Authors: Ricardo Yaquelin Gonzalez , Diaz Yaritza Lopez , Dudnauth Ravendra Johnaton , Perez Maritza Oliva
Published: November 2019

Background: Endocrine diseases are characterized by hormonal alterations (excess or defect). Due to the low prevalence (less than five case 5 / 10 000 inhabitants), a large number of them, qualify to be classified as rare diseases such as those of organs like: hypophysis, adrenal glands, gonads as well as some congenital thyroid diseases. Others like Diabetes are considering almost epidemic.

Objective: To define the types of diseases observed in the only Endocrinology Clinic in Guyana.

Methods: The diagnoses of all patients who attended the endocrinology clinic of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation from June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017, were analyzed.

Results: During the one year of this study, approximately 639 patients attended the endocrinology clinic. Of this, 178 patients had thyroid-related diseases with 80 of these having thyrotoxicosis, 49 having hypothyroidism followed by 110 patients with diabetes mellitus. Pituitary tumors were also diagnosed with 2 of acromegaly and 6 of prolactinomas. Cases of hypoadrenalism (n = 5), hypogonadism (n = 4), and pheochromocytoma (n = 6) were not rare; gonadal disease were also found in 17 patients.

Thyroid disease was the most frequent diagnosis followed by diabetes mellitus. New emerging endocrine disorders such as hyperlipidemia (n = 1) were rare. Some persons attending the clinic were also noted to be overweight /obese however this was not the primary reason for joining the clinic. Traditional diseases such as Sheehan Syndrome have become rare due to improvements in Obstetric care.
New Tendencies in Contemporary Foreign Trade Policy
Authors: W. Puślecki Zdzisław
Published: November 2019

In this research work, the author focuses on the analysis new tendencies in contemporary foreign trade policy. Accordance to the foreign trade policy theory further trade liberalization and improved framework policies would increase trade and promote growth. It must be emphasized that openness to trade is associated with higher incomes and growth and there is the need for new approaches to trade cooperation in light of the forces that are currently re-shaping international business. What indicates the importance and innovativeness of the research is the presentation of the new models of foreign trade policy and trade interests. First of all it must underline that in the new theoretical terms in the demand for trade policy very important is factor specificity. The low specificity of factors means that factor returns are equalized throughout a region’s economy. On the other hand some factors are stuck in their present uses; therefore, factor returns are not equalized throughout a region’s economy but are industry-specific. The main objective of the research task is to give a comprehensive analysis of current trends in foreign trade theory and policy and in particular the models of foreign trade policy, trade interests indicated by export orientation and import sensitivity, foreign trade policy in different types of authoritarian regimes, protectionism pressures in different political system, the level of protectionism pressures, the variation in the foreign trade policy among states, the liberalization of China foreign trade policy and their effects,  the tendencies to international trade liberalization and the problem of environmental protection, and the tendencies to bilateralism in the foreign trade policy. It should be stressed that free trade in itself is not responsible for economic growth, but more significant are the determining macroeconomic stability and increasing investment.
Safety and Efficacy of Anti–IL-23 Monoclonal Antibody QX004N for Patients With Psoriasis
Authors: Li Xiaojiao , Li Bing , Yang Deming , Wang Meng , Li Qianqian , Wang Nan , Fang Min , Liu Jingrui , Zhang Hong , Wu Min , Li Cuiyun , Zhu Xiaoxue , Ding Yanhua , Li Shanshan
Published: December 2024

Importance

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated skin disease with an unmet need for biologic treatment options.

Objective

To assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of QX004N in healthy individuals and patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in China.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized clinical trial was composed of 2 parts. Part 1 was a first-in-human, single-ascending-dose, phase 1a clinical trial conducted from November 2, 2021, to January 16, 2023. Part 2 was a double-blind, multiple dose-escalation, phase 1b clinical trial conducted from February 15, 2023, to January 5, 2024, at 5 clinical centers in China, involving patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Interventions

In part 1, healthy participants in each cohort were assigned in a 4:1 ratio to receive a single subcutaneous injection of QX004N (ranging from 10 mg to 600 mg) or placebo. In part 2, patients in each cohort were assigned in a 4:1 ratio to receive QX004N or placebo at doses of 150 mg, 300 mg, and 600 mg once every 2 weeks.

Main Outcomes and Measures

For part 1, the primary outcome was the safety of a single dose of QX004N in healthy participants, and the secondary outcome was the pharmacokinetic profile. For part 2, the primary efficacy end point was the proportion of patients achieving at least 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) by week 12; other efficacy end points were considered secondary.

Results

The phase 1a clinical trial (part 1) enrolled 55 healthy participants (mean [SD] age, 35.9 [6.0] years; 30 [54.5%] female), and the phase 1b clinical trial (part 2) enrolled 30 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The mean (SD) age of QX004N-treated participants in part 2 was 41.4 (7.5) years, and 19 of 24 QX004N-treated participants (79.2%) were male. The mean (SD) age of the placebo cohort in part 2 was 35.3 (8.4) years, and 5 of 6 placebo-treated participants (83.3%) were male. QX004N exhibited linear pharmacokinetics and was tolerated well in both healthy participants and patients with psoriasis. Most adverse events were mild to moderate in severity, with no drug-related serious adverse events reported. The proportion of patients receiving QX004N who achieved PASI 75 at week 12 and PASI 90 (90% improvement in PASI) at week 16 in the 150-mg, 300-mg, and 600-mg cohorts was 100%, significantly higher than that in the placebo cohorts (33.3%). The maximum proportion of patients achieving Investigator’s Global Assessment score of 0 or 1 was 100% in the 3 QX004N cohorts.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial, QX004N was well tolerated and demonstrated superior efficacy compared to placebo in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: CTR20212313 and CTR20223457
Cathodic Reversible Selenium Redox Chemistry Over Oxygen Vacancies‐Dominated V2O3/Graphene for Rechargeable Mg‐Se Batteries
Authors: Jiang Rong , Jin Mingwei , Peng Shichao , Zhang Qianwei , Du Changliang , Ma Xilan , Zhu Youqi , Cao Chuanbao , Zou Meishuai
Published: December 2024

Rechargeable magnesium‐selenium (Mg‐Se) batteries are characterized by high theoretical volumetric specific capacity, good cycling stability, and economical effectiveness. However, great challenges including limited capacity, low Coulombic efficiency, and short cycle life are encountered due to sluggish electrochemical kinetics and severe polyselenide shuttles. Herein, the active Se is encapsulated in hollow V2O3 microspheres and then connected by reduced graphene oxide (rGO) conductive network as the mixed‐dimensional cathode materials to accelerate reversible Se redox chemistry for high‐performance Mg‐Se batteries. Rich oxygen vacancies are generated within hollow porous V2O3 microspheres during their phase transformation under reductive atmosphere. The unique three‐/two‐dimensional (3D/2D) heterostructure of the Se‐loaded cathode materials (Se‐V2O3/G‐Vo) can facilitate Mg2+ diffusion and charge transfer, and also provide rich reaction sites for the polyselenide conversion. Additionally, the defect‐rich structure can deliver strong adsorption ability and abundant catalytic sites for reversible polyselenide conversion. Consequently, the Se‐V2O3/G‐Vo cathode materials show high reversible capacity of 580 mAh g−1 with 99.1% capacity retention at 200 mA g−1 current density after 80 cycles. This work should enlighten the design concept of metal oxide and graphene as Se‐based cathode materials for high‐rate and long‐life Mg‐Se batteries.
Long‐Term Used Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring via Personalized Object Transfer Learning Architecture Enhanced Triboelectric Pulse Sensors
Authors: Yao Chuanjie , Liu Suhang , Xu Xingyuan , Yun Peng , Zhang Tao , Sun Tiancheng , He Mengyi , Liang Baoming , Li Minghao , Huang Shuang , Li Yan , Wang Yunuo , Chen Hui‐jiuan , Xie Xi
Published: December 2024

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of global mortality, underscoring the importance of continuous blood pressure (BP) monitoring for early diagnosis and management. However, due to individual diversity and temporal variability of patients physiological characteristics, traditional BP models suffer from inaccuracies over time, hampering the practical applications of continuous BP monitoring devices. Herein, a personalized object transfer learning architecture (POTLA) enhanced triboelectric pulse sensor is developed for accurate long‐term used continuous BP monitoring. Utilizing inversed molding‐replica technique, a nanopillar triboelectric pulse sensor (NTPS) is fabricated, which possesses desirable linear response, high sensitivity, and remarkable durability. The NTPS can detect the detailed features of pulse signals for BP derivation. Further, the POTLA is proposed to enhanced the BP models, which effectively addresses the individual diversity and temporal variability, thereby minimizing errors in BP monitoring for long‐term use of the sensors. A 6‐month follow‐up test involving five participants demonstrates that the POTLA significantly optimizes the BP derivation, with accuracy improvements of >27%, comparing to the universal and personalized BP models without the POTLA. This POTLA‐coupled sensor strategy holds promise for enhancing precision medicine and advancing healthcare applications.
Epitaxial Growth of Phosphorene on Cu Substrate: The Essential Role of Interface Strain
Authors: Niu Tianchao , Gao Wenjin , Xu Ke , Wang Xue‐Sen , Zhou Miao
Published: December 2024

Two‐dimensional (2D) material epitaxially grown on a metal substrate with precise lattice registry and strong bonding can result in substantial strain within both the 2D layer and the metal surface. In turn, the strain energy has a pronounced influence on the morphology and physical properties of epitaxial films. Here, through a comprehensive approach by combining scanning tunneling microscopy and atomistic simulations, it is demonstrated that monolayer ultraflat blue phosphorene (blueP) and the topmost Cu(111) layer are in the perfect atomic registry. This Cu layer undergoes significant compressive strain, giving rise to a semi‐coherent interface between the blueP‐attached Cu layer and the underlying Cu layers. Straight and spiral dislocation patterns are observed due to strain relief, which strongly depends on the thermal annealing temperature. Dislocation lines intersect to form periodic nodes that can adopt multiple atomic arrangements correlated to the dislocation patterns. Stone‐Wales defects are distinctly imaged within the blueP layer, exhibiting periodic corrugations along the dislocation lines due to the presence of interface strain. This work underscores the potential of epitaxial layers with strong interfacial interactions as promising model systems for exploring dislocation theory and the implication for material functionality engineered by strain.
Enhancement of De‐Solvation Kinetics on V5O12•6H2O Cathode Through a Bi‐Functional Modification Layer for Low‐Temperature Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Jiang Xiaodi , Wang Tongde , Ji Mingze , Ji Dong , Deng Shengyuan , Gao Guohua , shen Jun , Wu Guangming
Published: December 2024

Zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) show great promise for next‐generation energy storage, but their performance at low temperatures is severely hindered by sluggish desolvation kinetics at cathode‐electrolyte interface. To address this limitation, a zincophilic‐hydrophobic poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) modified layer is proposed on V5O12•6H2O cathode. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations indicate that this modification strategy promotes Zn2⁺ adsorption and reduces the free energy for dissociating hydrated Zn2+ to form Zn2+ at the cathode‐electrolyte interface, across the temperature of 280 to 240 K. As a result, this PEDOT‐modified cathode exhibits significantly improved Zn2⁺ diffusion and desolvation kinetics, delivering superior rate performance with a remarkable capacity of 226.5 mAh g⁻¹ at 40 A g⁻¹. Notably, even at −30 °C, this cathode maintains a high capacity of 268.3 mA g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹ and exhibits robust capacity retention (92.4%) over 1,000 cycles at 1 A g⁻¹. This approach markedly improves low‐temperature capacity retention and operational efficiency, highlighting the potential of cathode‐electrolyte interface engineering to advance zinc‐ion batteries performance in cold environments.
Sequential Release HydroLipo System for STING Gene Epigenetic Reprogramming and Immune Activation in Glioblastoma
Authors: Yu Hao , Liu Wenjing , Ding Kaikai , Wu Jiangjie , Wang Cheng , Wang Siyuan , Wu Lingyun , Tang Qiuying , Yin Xin , Jiang Kan , Yan Danfang , Wang Xu , Chen Si , Yan Senxiang
Published: December 2024

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains a daunting oncological challenge because of its aggressive nature and resistance to conventional therapies. Inhibition of the intrinsic STING pathway in GBM hampers the effectiveness of immunotherapies. To overcome this clinical limitation, a Sequential Release HydroLipo System (SRHLS) is developed, in which hydrogels and nanoparticles are combined for controlled drug release. The SRHLS sequentially released decitabine and STING agonists, thereby correcting STING signaling dysfunction through epigenetic reprogramming and enhancing antitumor immunity. According to in vitro and in vivo experiments, the SRHLS reshaped the tumor microenvironment and markedly inhibited tumor growth, recurrence, and metastasis. These findings underscore the potential of the SRHLS as a promising therapeutic strategy for GBM.