bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The working class in the Australian mainstream media
Authors: Attfield Sarah
Published: April 2020

The Australian mainstream media is dominated by middle-class voices, and this shapes the way working-class people are framed within the media. Working-class people have tended to be represented as responsible for their poverty, or ridiculed for their lack of sophistication. But could very small shifts be occurring, as some outlets acknowledge the impact of neo-liberalism on working-class people and point to some of the structural causes of inequality? This article looks at some examples of working-class representation in Australian newspapers, television news and current affairs programs, and considers the ways in which working-class people are presented. The article also asks whether the Australian mainstream media provides a place for working-class voices?
Measuring the stock of human capital in Cape Verde, 1950‐2012
Authors: Moreira Silves J. C. , Vieira Pedro Cosme , Teixeira Aurora A. C.
Published: April 2020

Abstract The present study focuses on the estimation of the human capital stock for the Cape Verdean economy in the period 1950‐2012. Adapting the methodology proposed by Barro and Lee, based on past schooling values, we found that between 1950 and 2012 the Cape Verdean
working-age population showed a gradual improvement in the levels of schooling, rising from 0.7 years of schooling in the 1950s to 5.4 in late 2012. Thus, in each year, the average years of schooling increased only 0.08 years, meaning that, in net terms and on average, only 7.6 per cent of
the working-age population was attending some level of formal education. The availability of a time series of number of average schooling years in Cape Verde opens up possibilities for assessing the impact of human capital on the country's economic development.
The feasibility and malleability of EBM+
Authors: Williamson Jon
Published: April 2020

The EBM+ programme is an attempt to improve the way in which present-day evidence-based medicine (EBM) assesses causal claims: according to EBM+, mechanistic studies should be scrutinised alongside association studies. This paper addresses two worries about EBM+: (i) that it is not feasible in practice, and (ii) that it is too malleable, i.e., its results depend on subjective choices that need to be made in order to implement the procedure. Several responses to these two worries are considered and evaluated. The paper also discusses the question of whether we should have confidence in medical interventions, in the light of Stegenga's arguments for medical nihilism.
¿Cooptar o reprimir? Intervenciones autoritarias sobre la prensa local mexicana
Authors: Salazar Rebolledo María Grisel
Published: April 2020

Los regímenes híbridos locales cuentan con una gama de estrategias para desincentivar la crítica periodística. ¿Por qué en algunos casos se coopta y en otros se reprime violentamente a la prensa crítica? Con evidencia de las entidades federativas mexicanas, argumento que estas estrategias son sustitutivas y que la selección depende de los recursos del Ejecutivo local (políticos, financieros y violentos) y los costos asociados a cada estrategia (reputacionales, de monitoreo, de reclutamiento y de visibilidad).
Comisiones de la verdad y reformas del sector seguridad y defensa en América Latina
Authors: Martínez Barahona Elena , Centeno Martín Héctor
Published: April 2020

El presente artículo pretende examinar la formulación y medir el nivel de implementación de las recomendaciones de la Comisión de la Verdad respecto a las ff. aa. y cuerpos de seguridad. A su vez, se presenta como una estrategia para abordar el análisis de la formulación e implementación de las recomendaciones, a través de una selección de casos y de observaciones coherente con la finalidad de que tanto los estudios cuantitativos como los cualitativos sean precisos a la hora de abordar una temática poliédrica y compleja. Para la realización de este estudio se tomarán como referencia las bases de datos creadas en el proyecto Beyond Words: Implementing Latin American Truth Commission Recommendations (Elin Skaar- Michelsen Institute 2014-2017).
El tránsito de la lucha armada a la competición democrática. Los casos del FMLN y la URNG
Authors: Sánchez Iglesias Eduardo
Published: April 2020

El artículo pretende analizar las estrategias discursivas y los marcos de interpretación del discurso político aparecidos en las organizaciones guerrilleras que transitan de la lucha armada a la competición democrática, que finalizaron con los procesos de construcción de paz y consolidación democrática en El Salvador y Guatemala, por medio del estudio de la experiencia del Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (fmln) y la Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (urng).
Opportunistic parasitic infections in patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: A review
Authors: Laksemi D. A. , Suwanti L. T. , Mufasirin M. , Suastika K. , Sudarmaja M.
Published: April 2020

The number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases increases annually, and Indonesia has become the country with the fastest HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic spread among the five Southeast Asian countries. Indonesia entered the critical phase of HIV/AIDS infections after 5 out of the 33 provinces, namely, Papua, Jakarta, Bali, West Java, and East Java, reported HIV/AIDS epidemic since 2004. In AIDS pathophysiology and immune-suppression are severe, thus, opportunistic intestinal parasitic infections that cause diarrhea in HIV infection may be fatal. Several studies have suggested that Cryptosporidium parvum, Isospora belli, and Blastocystis hominis are the most common intestinal protozoan parasites categorized as AIDS associated illness. Diarrhea caused by parasites is considerably suspected in the cases of chronic and persistent diarrhea in adults, in an era of increasing HIV/AIDS cases nowadays. The present review highlights the current advances in etiologic agents of HIV/AIDS opportunistic infections among countries, epidemiology and prevalence, lifecycle, risk factors, examination methods, and treatment.
Effect of Garlic extract on physiological and biochemical parameters of Rhamdia quelen and their response to an infestation with Ichthyophthirius multifiliis
Authors: De Amorin Desieli Gomes , Nunes Maria Alice , Romão Silvia , Ramos Carlos José Raupp , Cazarolli Luisa Helena
Published: April 2020

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of garlic extract on hematological, immune and metabolic systems of Rhamdia quelen juveniles and the animals’s resistance to Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. The fishes were fed twice daily during 77 days with diets containing 0%, 0.5%, 2.5% and 5% of garlic extract. After that, half of the animals of each treatment were submitted to the challenge with the parasite I. multifiliis, maintaining the diets. The other half of the animals were maintained in the original system receiving the dietary supplementation. The use of garlic extract in the diet did not promote significant changes in glycaemia, hepatic glycogen content, tissue and plasma aminotransferase activities, and tissue lipid peroxidation levels. On the other hand, it stimulated the synthesis of muscle glycogen and promoted a reduction of hepatic catalase activity. In terms of hematological and immune systems, the use of garlic extract increased the number of red blood cells, but reduced hemoglobin content. Furthermore, it was not able to change the total number of leukocytes and thrombocytes, but it promoted an increase in the number of basophils and reduced the monocyte count of the animals. The dietary supplementation with garlic extract did not act as a growth promoter for silver catfish juveniles, did not influence the basal metabolic homeostasis, immune or hematological responses of the fishes and did not improve the resistance to the infestation with the I. multifiliis in the concentrations and periods studied
Faktor Risiko Pneumonia pada Anak dengan Penyakit Jantung Bawaan
Authors: Harelina Tia , Setyoningrum Retno Asih , Sembiring Yan Efrata
Published: April 2020

Latar belakang. Penyakit jantung bawaan (PJB) merupakan faktor risiko utama yang memperparah infeksi saluran pernapasan bawah akut. Infeksi saluran pernapasan bawah akut yang paling umum adalah pneumonia. Beberapa faktor predisposisi untuk pneumonia telah diidentifikasi, seperti pada malnutrisi berat.Tujuan. Untuk mengetahui faktor risiko kejadian pneumonia anak dengan penyakit jantung bawaan di RSUD Dr.Soetomo Surabaya.Metode. Jenis penelitian ini adalah analitik observasional dengan desain kasus kontrol berdasarkan data rekam medik pasien yang dirawat di Ruang Rawat Inap SMF Ilmu Kesehatan Anak RSUD Dr. Soetomo Surabaya selama periode Januari 2016 sampai dengan Desember 2016. Analisis data dilakukan dengan uji chi-square dan regresi logistik. Kriteria inklusi untuk kelompok kasus adalah pasien PJB dengan pneumonia, sedangkan kelompok kontrol pasien PJB tanpa pneumonia dengan umur 1 bulan sampai 60 bulan. Kriteria eksklusi adalah rekam medik yang tidak lengkap.Hasil. Diperoleh subjek sebesar 66 pasien, dengan perbandingan kasus-kontrol 1:1. Hasil analisis multivariat ditemukan adanya hubungan yang signifikan antara anemia dengan kejadian pneumonia pada anak dengan PJB (p=0,002) dan terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara neuromuscular disease dengan kejadian pneumonia pada anak dengan PJB (p=0,015).Kesimpulan. Adanya hubungan antara anemia dan neuromuscular disease dengan pneumonia pada anak dengan penyakit jantung bawaaan.
Production of Carboxymethyl Cellulose from Sugarcane Bagasse and Water Hycinth.
Authors: Mutadza Itai , Kazembe Oscar Munashe , Chipere Believer , Muza Artleen , Mapfumo Chiedza
Published: April 2020

Mines in Zimbabwe are facing a challenge in acquiring carboxymethyl cellulose because at the moment it is not being produced in the country therefore, mines like ZIMPLATS which focus on platinum mining are facing high costs of importing carboxymethyl cellulose from producing countries like China (US $3500/metric tonne ) according to Alibaba. Various raw materials including plant biomass and algae have been used to produce cellulose. In this work, sugarcane bagasse and water hyacinth were used as a raw materials for cellulose extraction. Cellulose was extracted from the biomass through the elimination of lignin and hemicellulose. The preparation of CMC involves two main reactions or steps which are mercization and etherification by a slurry process. In the slurry method, cellulose is suspended in a mixture of NaOH-water-alcohol systems at 20 30 C with an excess of alcohol (ethanol or isopropanol), to ensure a good mixing efficiency. In the mercerization process, the liquid phase (water-alcohol mixture) which acts as a solvent, dissolves the NaOH and distributes it evenly to the cellulose hydroxyl groups forming alkali cellulose. Furthermore, the alkali cellulose produced is reactive towards monochloroacetate acid (MCA), which is added in the second step either as free acid, MCA or its salt, sodium monochloroacetate acid (NaMCA) to form carboxymethyl cellulose ethers. The results indicated that the optimum concentration of sodium hydroxide for alkalization to occur is 30% .The carboxymethylation process of cellulose was confirmed using potentiometric back titration and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.The percentage yield was 85,2%.
O Uso de Geotecnologias para Educadores Ambientais: elaboração de mapas temáticos para uso em sala de aula
Authors: Gautério Bruna Cavalcanti , Sartorio Letícia Figueiredo
Published: April 2020

A análise das mudanças ambientais é importante para compreender a dinâmica ambiental. Com isso, o ser humano necessita da formação de conscientização ambiental perante sua preservação, bem como de conhecer cartograficamente o local em que está inserido. Assim, é necessário levar para a sala de aula as mudanças que ocorrem no meio ambiente. Para facilitar esse processo utilizam-se produtos oriundos das geotecnologias para compreender o tema ambiental. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar um mapa elaborado através das geotecnologias, como forma de material didático para uso dos educadores ambientais, através de um mapeamento de cenário de elevação do nível médio do mar, com informações cartográficas processadas em software SIG, para então retratar o cenário da realidade ambiental do município do Rio Grande e da população residente.
O olhar de jovens do Ensino Médio sobre o bioma Pampa
Authors: Zakrzevski Sônia Beatris Balvedi , Paris Araciele Maria Vanelli , Decian Vanderlei Secretti
Published: April 2020

Esta pesquisa identificou e caracterizou as percepções de estudantes do último ano da Educação Básica, residentes em duas regiões do Rio Grande do Sul, sobre o bioma Pampa. Participaram do estudo 240 estudantes de duas regiões do Estado, e os dados foram obtidos por meio da elaboração de um desenho livre do Pampa e da listagem de espécies associadas ao referido bioma. Os desenhos foram submetidos a um processo de análise quantitativa e estatística. Como resultados, o estudo apontou que os estudantes apresentam um conhecimento escasso sobre a biodiversidade do Pampa, e que o bioma em que habitam e o local de residência dos participantes (rural e urbano) interferem em suas percepções. A falta de conhecimentos sobre o bioma em questão pode ser atribuída à abordagem restrita que o tema recebe no cotidiano escolar e também na sociedade.
Educação (Ambiental) para a cidadania: ações e representações de estudantes da Educação Básica
Authors: Santos Luiz Ricardo Oliveira , Costa Jailton De Jesus , Melo e Souza Rosemeri
Published: April 2020

A Educação (Ambiental) se constitui enquanto processo formativo de sujeitos para a vida em sociedade. O objetivo do presente estudo é discutir as representações sociais acerca do conceito de cidadania presente nos discursos de estudantes da Educação Básica. Para tanto, o alicerce teórico se fundamentou na Teoria das Representações Sociais. Foram aplicados questionários com estudantes que participaram de práticas de ensino na comunidade com o uso de metodologias ativas, cuja análise textual se deu pelo software IRAMUTEQ. Tal observação demonstrou variações no conceito de cidadania, mas que, de modo geral, esteve bastante associado a possuir direitos e deveres, exibindo também relação com termos como pertencimento, respeito e participação. Por fim, através das representações sociais dos/as estudantes sobre cidadania, considera-se que são necessárias demais ações de ensino pautadas em metodologias (particip)ativas.
La implementación de los Acuerdos de Paz y el desarrollo en Colombia
Authors: Tejedor-Estupiñán Joan Miguel
Published: April 2020

Colombia es un país multicultural y pluriétnico, rodeado por dos océanos, miles de páramos, lagunas y ríos que nacen en la compleja geografía creada por tres sistemas de cordilleras. Un territorio que desde sus puntos más altos y hasta las llanuras y selvas —como el Tapón del Darién o el Amazonas— hace posible una variedad casi infinita de ecosistemas y formas de vida que han posicionado al país dentro del exclusivo grupo de naciones megadiversas del mundo. Una nación rica en energía solar, eólica, fluvial, recursos minerales, agrícolas y marítimos, pero con sectores industriales y de servicios aún en fase de desarrollo. Un país donde los altos niveles de violencia, pobreza y desigualdad aún son parte de su realidad.
Gestión de residuos sólidos urbanos en América Latina: un análisis desde la perspectiva de la generación
Authors: Sánchez-Muñoz María del Pilar , Cruz-Cerón José Gabriel , Maldonado-Espinel Paula Carolina
Published: April 2020

La adecuada gestión de los residuos sólidos es agenda de trabajo para el desarrollo sostenible. América Latina ha adoptado políticas y promulgado normatividad que han llevado a la prohibición de botaderos a cielo abierto, la incorporación de los recicladores al proceso de gestión y el intento de reducir la cantidad de residuos generados. En este artículo se analiza la correlación entre la generación de residuos sólidos urbanos y algunas variables en nueve ciudades de la región, entre el 2007 y el 2014, utilizando estadísticas oficiales de cada país. Se encuentra que el ingreso por habitante y la tasa de cobertura escolar se correlacionan significativamente. Se concluye la importancia de generar conciencia en los ciudadanos respecto a su papel en la reducción de residuos sólidos generados.
Establishing the 99th percentile of a novel assay for high-sensitivity troponin I in a healthy blood donor population
Authors: Odsæter Ingrid Hov , Grenne Bjørnar , Hov Gunhild Garmo , Laugsand Lars Erik , Wiseth Rune , Mikkelsen Gustav
Published: April 2020

Background

The recommended cut-off of cardiac troponin (cTn) for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the 99th percentile in a healthy reference population. We aimed to determine the 99th percentile of the novel ADVIA Centaur® High Sensitivity Troponin I assay (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics) in fresh lithium heparin plasma samples from healthy blood donors.

Methods

A total of 1000 apparently healthy blood donors were included. High-sensitivity (hs) cTnI, hs-cTnT, creatinine and N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured in fresh lithium heparin plasma samples, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-blood. The 99th percentile was estimated for the whole population, as well as for males and females separately.

Results

For the total population the 99th percentile of ADVIA Centaur® High Sensitivity Troponin I was 96 (65–149) ng/L. The estimated value differed significantly from results published by others and was highly dependent on which values were considered statistical outliers.

Conclusions

The estimated 99th percentile for hs-cTnI in the population studied differed significantly from previously published results. There is a need for further specifications regarding how subjects used for estimating the 99th percentile of cTns in healthy populations should be recruited and how outlier values should be identified, as this can highly influence the diagnostic cut-off applied for AMI.
Evaluation of a novel extended automated particle-based multi-analyte assay for the detection of autoantibodies in the diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis
Authors: Villalta Danilo , Seaman Andrea , Tiongson Marychel , Warren Charles , Bentow Chelsea , Bizzaro Nicola , Alessio Maria Grazia , Porcelli Brunetta , Norman Gary L. , Mahler Michael
Published: April 2020

Background

Anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) detected by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on rodent tissues are the diagnostic marker of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). However, up to 15% of patients with PBC are AMA-negative by IIF. In the effort to close the serological gap and improve the diagnostic sensitivity of PBC testing, recently, novel autoantibodies specific for PBC, such as kelch-like 12 (KLHL12, KLp epitope) and hexokinase 1 (HK1) have been described. In this study, we evaluated the autoantibody profile in a large cohort of PBC patients and in patients with other liver disease, including anti-HK1 and anti-KLp autoantibodies.

Methods

Sera of 194 PBC patients (126 AMA-IIF-positive and 68 AMA-IIF-negative) and 138 disease controls were tested for a panel of PBC-specific antibodies (MIT3, sp100, gp210, HK1, KLp) using a new automated particle-based multi-analyte technology (PMAT) assay on the Aptiva instrument (Inova).

Results

Selecting a cutoff yielding a specificity of >95% for all the markers, the sensitivity for anti-MIT3, anti-sp100, anti-gp210, anti-HK1 and anti-KLp in the PBC AMA-IIF-negative cohort was 20.6%, 16.2%, 23.5%, 22.0%, 17.6 and 13.2%, respectively. Six out of the 68 (8.8%) AMA-IIF negative sera were positive for anti-HK1 or anti-KLp alone. Using these new markers in addition to anti-MIT3, anti-sp100 and anti-gp210, the overall sensitivity in this cohort of AMA-IIF-negative patients increased from 53% to 61.8%, reducing the serological gap in AMA-negative PBC patients.

Conclusions

PBC antibody profiling, made possible by the new Aptiva-PMAT technology, allows recognition of a higher number of AMA-negative PBC patients than conventional immunoassays and may represent a useful tool to evaluate the prognostic significance of autoantibody association in PBC patients.
On Kähler-like and G-Kähler-like almost Hermitian manifolds
Authors: Kawamura Masaya
Published: April 2020

We introduce Kähler-like, G-Kähler-like metrics on almost Hermitian manifolds. We prove that a compact Kähler-like and G-Kähler-like almost Hermitian manifold equipped with an almost balanced metric is Kähler. We also show that if a Kähler-like and G-Kähler-like almost Hermitian manifold satisfies B_{\bar i\bar j}^\lambda B_{\lambda j}^i \ge 0, then the metric is almost balanced and the almost complex structure is integrable, which means that the metric is balanced. We investigate a G-Kähler-like almost Hermitian manifold under some assumptions.
Long-Term Forest Dynamics of Oromediterranean Fir Forests in Greece
Authors: Brandes Robert , Christopoulou Anastasia
Published: April 2020

The present study illustrates the situation of the genus Abies in the Mediterranean and in Greece, focusing in detail on the oromediterranean forest of the southern Peloponnese, at Mt. Taygetos. The existing pattern of forest dynamics (mosaic cycle) and also the timberline dynamics are presented and explained. Since fir forests are highly susceptible to drought-related impacts (fire and fir dieback: insect outbreaks/ forest pathogens), the analysis of the present situation is put into perspective by looking at the role of direct human influence and the climatic fluctuations of the past, taking into consideration dendrochronological findings and archival climate records. In view of climate warming the question is whether in recent decades the fingerprints of climate change can already be observed in the Greek fir forests. The study concludes that drought periods and climatic extremes have been an essential part of Greek climate for many centuries, causing high natural forest vulnerability. Therefore, fir dieback and fires are not a new phenomenon either – but in recent decades the accumulation of fuel, caused by land abandonment, has increased the danger of large wildfires. Nevertheless, the Greek mountain forests are highly endangered by increases in aridity and/or more frequent climate extremes (heat waves), together with increased risk of wildfires. Recommendations for an active forest management (counteracting expected adverse effects of climate change, by focusing on the establishment of an Abies cephalonica Loudon /Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold mosaic cycle) and further scientific research are provided.
Modeling the Short-Term Dynamics ofin VivoExcitatory Spike Transmission
Authors: Ghanbari Abed , Ren Naixin , Keine Christian , Stoelzel Carl , Englitz Bernhard , Swadlow Harvey A. , Stevenson Ian H.
Published: April 2020

Information transmission in neural networks is influenced by both short-term synaptic plasticity (STP) as well as nonsynaptic factors, such as after-hyperpolarization currents and changes in excitability. Although these effects have been widely characterizedin vitrousing intracellular recordings, how they interactin vivois unclear. Here, we develop a statistical model of the short-term dynamics of spike transmission that aims to disentangle the contributions of synaptic and nonsynaptic effects based only on observed presynaptic and postsynaptic spiking. The model includes a dynamic functional connection with short-term plasticity as well as effects due to the recent history of postsynaptic spiking and slow changes in postsynaptic excitability. Using paired spike recordings, we find that the model accurately describes the short-term dynamics ofin vivospike transmission at a diverse set of identified and putative excitatory synapses, including a pair of connected neurons within thalamus in mouse, a thalamocortical connection in a female rabbit, and an auditory brainstem synapse in a female gerbil. We illustrate the utility of this modeling approach by showing how the spike transmission patterns captured by the model may be sufficient to account for stimulus-dependent differences in spike transmission in the auditory brainstem (endbulb of Held). Finally, we apply this model to large-scale multielectrode recordings to illustrate how such an approach has the potential to reveal cell type-specific differences in spike transmissionin vivo. Although STP parameters estimated from ongoing presynaptic and postsynaptic spiking are highly uncertain, our results are partially consistent with previous intracellular observations in these synapses.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAlthough synaptic dynamics have been extensively studied and modeled using intracellular recordings of postsynaptic currents and potentials, inferring synaptic effects from extracellular spiking is challenging. Whether or not a synaptic current contributes to postsynaptic spiking depends not only on the amplitude of the current, but also on many other factors, including the activity of other, typically unobserved, synapses, the overall excitability of the postsynaptic neuron, and how recently the postsynaptic neuron has spiked. Here, we developed a model that, using only observations of presynaptic and postsynaptic spiking, aims to describe the dynamics ofin vivospike transmission by modeling both short-term synaptic plasticity (STP) and nonsynaptic effects. This approach may provide a novel description of fast, structured changes in spike transmission.
DrosophilaMiddle-Term Memory: Amnesiac is Required for PKA Activation in the Mushroom Bodies, a Function Modulated by Neprilysin 1
Authors: Turrel Oriane , Rabah Yasmine , Plaçais Pierre-Yves , Goguel Valérie , Preat Thomas
Published: April 2020

InDrosophila, the mushroom bodies (MB) constitute the central brain structure for olfactory associative memory. As in mammals, the cAMP/PKA pathway plays a key role in memory formation. In the MB, Rutabaga (Rut) adenylate cyclase acts as a coincidence detector during associative conditioning to integrate calcium influx resulting from acetylcholine stimulation and G-protein activation resulting from dopaminergic stimulation.Amnesiacencodes a secreted neuropeptide required in the MB for two phases of aversive olfactory memory. Previous sequence analysis has revealed strong homology with the mammalian pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP). Here, we examined whetheramnesiacis involved in cAMP/PKA dynamics in response to dopamine and acetylcholine co-stimulation in living flies. Experiments were conducted with both sexes, or with either sex. Our data show thatamnesiacis necessary for the PKA activation process that results from coincidence detection in the MB. Since PACAP peptide is cleaved by the human membrane neprilysin hNEP, we searched for an interaction between Amnesiac and Neprilysin 1 (Nep1), a fly neprilysin involved in memory. We show that when Nep1 expression is acutely knocked down in adult MB, memory deficits displayed byamnhypomorphic mutants are rescued. Consistently, Nep1 inhibition also restores normal PKA activation inamnmutant flies. Taken together, the results suggest that Nep1 targets Amnesiac degradation to terminate its signaling function. Our work thus highlights a key role for Amnesiac in establishing within the MB the PKA dynamics that sustain middle-term memory (MTM) formation, a function modulated by Nep1.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTTheDrosophila amnesiacgene encodes a secreted neuropeptide whose expression is required for specific memory phases in the mushroom bodies (MB), the olfactory memory center. Here, we show that Amnesiac is required for PKA activation resulting from coincidence detection, a mechanism by which the MB integrate two spatially distinct stimuli to encode associative memory. Furthermore, our results uncover a functional relationship between Amnesiac and Neprilysin 1 (Nep1), a membrane peptidase involved in memory and expressed in the MB. These results suggest that Nep1 modulates Amnesiac levels. We propose that on conditioning, Amnesiac release from the MB allows, via an autocrine process, the sustaining of PKA activation-mediating memory, which subsequently is inactivated by Nep1 degradation.
Downregulation of miR-146b-5p via iodine involvement repressed papillary thyroid carcinoma cell proliferation
Authors: Pan Yujia , Yun Weikang , Shi Bingshuai , Cui Rongjun , Liu Chi , Ding Zhong , Fan Jialin , Jiang Wenqian , Tang Jiebing , Zheng Tianhu , Yu Xiaoguang , Liu Ying
Published: April 2020

miR-146b-5p is overexpressed in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and is thought to be a related diagnostic marker. Previous studies have indicated the effects of iodine on oncogenic activation. However, the effect of iodine on the proliferation of PTC cells and the associated underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We found that miR-146b-5p was downregulated and smad4 was upregulated in patients exposed to high iodine concentration by in situ hybridisation (ISH) and immunohistochemical (IHC). NaI (10−3 M) treatment downregulated miR-146b-5p and upregulated Smad4 in PTC cell lines. Luciferase assay was used to confirm that Smad4 is a target of miR-146b-5p. Furthermore, MTT assay and cell cycle analysis indicated that 10−3 M NaI suppressed cell proliferation and caused G0/G1 phase arrest. Real-time PCR and Western blotting demonstrated that 10−3 M NaI increased p21, p27, and p57 levels and reduced cyclin D1 levels in PTC cells. Our findings suggest that 10−3 M NaI increases Smad4 levels through repression of miR-146b-5p expression, curbing the proliferation in PTC.
Pharmacokinetics of palmatine in rat after oral and intravenous administration by UPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Li Jianbo , Hu Yujie , Wu Yajin , Feng Tiantian , Wen Congcong , Jiang Xiajuan
Published: April 2020

Palmatine is a compound with good water solubility extracted from Coptis chinensis, Fibraurea recisa Pierre, Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis. Palmatine has good antibacterial activity and mainly used for the treatment of bacterial dysentery, gynecological inflammation, surgical infection, and conjunctivitis. It has anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, and cognitive-enhancing activities. In this study, we used UPLC-MS/MS to determinate palmatine in rat plasma, and investigated its pharmacokinetics. Coptisine was utilized as an internal standard (IS), and acetonitrile precipitation method was used to process the plasma samples. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a UPLC BEH C18 column using mobile phase of acetonitrile- 0.1% formic acid with gradient elution. Electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with positive ionization was applied. The results indicated that within the range of 1–500 ng/mL, linearity of palmatine in rat plasma was acceptable (r > 0.995), and the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 1 ng/mL. Intra-day and inter-day precision RSD of palmatine in rat plasma were less than 14%. Accuracy range was between 93.7 and 107.1%, and matrix effect was between 101.6 and 109.4%. The method was successfully applied in the pharmacokinetics of palmatine in rats after oral and intravenous administration. The absolute bioavailability of the palmatine was 15.5% in rats.
Determination of hexachlorophene in cosmetics by capillary electrophoresis compared with high performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Li Xiaobin , Gao Fangfang , Liu Huitao , Gao Yuan
Published: April 2020

A simple capillary electrophoresis (CE) method with ultraviolet (UV) detection was developed for the determination of hexachlorophene (HCP) in cosmetics. Separation conditions were obtained in 20 mM Na2B4O7, 10% MeOH (pH 9.20), with 25 kV applied voltage and UV detection at 208 nm. Under the selected conditions, electrophoretic analysis was completed in about 4 min, with limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 µg·mL−1 for HCP. The method was successfully applied to determine HCP in three kinds of cosmetics with relative standard deviations (RSD) of 0.52–3.02% and recoveries from 90.0 to 96.4% for the spiked samples. The results indicated that the proposed method was reliable. Comparative experiments were also carried out with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV method described in National Standards of People's Republic of China. The validation results of the two methods are comparable, but the proposed CE method is simple, rapid, which makes separation and analyte quantification in shorter time with much less reagent consumption.
An eco-friendly micellar HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of triamterene and xipamide in active pharmaceutical ingredients and marketed tablet dosage form
Authors: Ayad Magda M. , Hosny Mervat M. , Ibrahim Adel Ehab , El-Abassy Omar M. , Belal Fathalla F.
Published: April 2020

In the last few years, the use of surfactants as mobile phase additives in reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) has been steadily developing and improving. Surfactants modify the polarity of the stationary phase which in turn decreases the amount of organic solvent required for elution of the analytes rendering the methodologies linked to them greener and more eco-friendly. Brij-35 is a fatty alcohol ethoxylates non ionic surfactant, which is less widely used as mobile phase additive. Brij-35 can decrease stationary phase polarity while remaining neutral. In this research, Brij-35 was studied in the separation and determination of marketed antihypertensive combination therapy composed of triamterene (TRM) and xipamide (XIP). TRM and XIP are diuretics used for treatment of essential hypertension and associated edema conditions. Chromatographic separation was achieved on RP-C18 column (Kinetix®, 5 µm, 15 cm × 4.6 mm) at flow rate 1  mL  min−1 and UV-detection at 254 nm. Isocratic elution was performed using mobile phase composed of 0.1 M Brij-35: methanol (MeOH) (60:40, v/v). The analytes were well separated and quantified within linearity ranges of 5–50 µg mL−1 for both drugs in short retention time (2.6 and 5.3 min. for TRM and XIP, respectively). Since claiming greenness is not enough, Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) was used to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method over the previously reported methods. GAPI is a new metric for evaluation of the ecological impact of analytical procedures. The proposed method was validated according to ICH guidelines and applied successfully for simultaneous determination of the drugs in their co-formulated tablets.
Disulfide-rich peptides in drug development
Authors: KARA Şeyda , AKCAN Muharrem
Published: April 2020

Peptides are important biomolecules in drug development with their high specificities to their targets. Many peptide-based drug candidates have been increasingly involved in clinical and preclinical studies. Unfortunately, peptides have some disadvantages such as poor metabolic stability, poor oral bioavailability and high production costs. These problems can be overcome by modifications that have been inspired from highly stable disulfide-rich peptides already found in nature. This review describes the structure and bioactivity of disulfide-rich peptides and their development with various modifications to become candidate molecules in drug design and development studies.
Granular cell tumor of the breast: correlations between imaging and pathology findings
Authors: Abreu Natacha , Filipe Juliana , André Saudade , Marques José Carlos
Published: April 2020

Abstract Objective: To review the imaging features of granular cell tumors of the breast (on mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging), establishing a pathological correlation, in order to familiarize radiologists with this entity and make them aware of the differential diagnoses, other than malignancy, of lesions with spiculated margins. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records (from a clinical-pathology database and picture archiving and communication system) of five patients with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of granular cell tumor of the breast, treated at the Portuguese Oncology Institute of Lisbon, in the city of Lisbon, Portugal, between January 2012 and December 2018. Results: All five tumors exhibited imaging features highly suggestive of malignancy (BI-RADS 5 lesions), namely spiculated margins, significant depth, and posterior acoustic shadowing (on ultrasound). One tumor showed a kinetic curve indicative of washout on magnetic resonance imaging, two were adherent to the pectoralis muscle, and one was accompanied by skin retraction. Pathology provided the definitive diagnosis in all cases. Conclusion: Granular cell tumors of the breast pose a diagnostic challenge because they can present with clinical and imaging features mimicking malignancy, and the diagnosis is therefore provided by pathology. Radiologists should be familiarized with this entity, so they can be aware of the fact that breast lesions with spiculated margins can be indicative of diagnoses other than malignancy.
Background parenchymal enhancement: behavior during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and relationship with a pathological complete response
Authors: Teixeira Sandra Regina Campos , Camargo Júnior Hélio Sebastião Amâncio de , Cabello Cesar
Published: April 2020

Abstract Objective: To evaluate background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) and its characteristics, as well as its behavior before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), in both breasts of patients with unilateral breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional observational study involving a consecutive sample of women with invasive breast cancer who underwent breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between July 2007 and July 2017, as well as undergoing dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI before and after NAC. In both breasts, we evaluated the BPE in accordance with the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. We applied logistic regression analysis, and values of p < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: We evaluated 150 women. The mean age was 45.2 years (range, 20-74 years). The variables correlating independently with a high pre-NAC BPE, in the affected and contralateral breasts, were being under 50 years of age (odds ratio [OR] = 6.55; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.32-18.46, for both breasts) and a post-NAC BPE reduction (OR = 17.75; 95% CI: 4.94-63.73 and OR = 18.47; 95% CI: 5.19-66.49, respectively). Conclusion: Patients with invasive unilateral breast cancer who have a high pre-NAC BPE in both breasts tend to be under 50 years of age and to show a post-NAC reduction in BPE.
Estimating the productivity of radiologists in Brazil: the search for a benchmark
Authors: Bretas Elisa Almeida Sathler , Guimarães Ruy Moraes Machado , Aihara André Yui , Leão Filho Hilton Muniz , Chojniak Rubens , Muglia Valdair Francisco , D’Ippolito Giuseppe
Published: April 2020

Abstract Objective: To determine the average productivity of radiologists, as measured by number of reports issued per 6-h shift, evaluating variables that could affect the results. Materials and Methods: This was a study utilizing an online questionnaire sent to radiologists affiliated with the Brazilian College of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging. The questions were related to the demographic profile and professional practice characteristics (form of remuneration, primary imaging method employed, and subspecialty) of the radiologists, as well as their individual productivity (average personal productivity) and the productivity considered reasonable in a 6-h shift. The association between productivity and the practice characteristics of the radiologists was determined by using Poisson regression to calculate the prevalence ratio. Results: A total of 510 radiologists completed the questionnaire. The great majority of the respondents (84%) reported that their remuneration is directly related to their productivity. The productivity varied according to the subspecialty, work environment, and remuneration model. Conclusion: We demonstrated that the productivity of radiologists is associated with the characteristics of their employment. We hope that this study will encourage other studies aimed at evaluating the productive capacity of the radiologists in Brazil, addressing the various functions they perform in their daily routine, including activities other than issuing reports.
The value of signal intensity on T1-weighted chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging combined with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the diagnosis of adrenal adenomas
Authors: Dalavia Claudio Carvalho , Goldman Suzan Menasce , Melo Homero José de Farias e , Kater Claudio Elias , Szejnfeld Jacob , Iared Wagner , Ajzen Sergio Aron
Published: April 2020

Abstract Objective: To investigate the advantages of using modified signal intensity measurements on chemical shift imaging alone or in conjunction with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the differential diagnosis of adrenal adenomas. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study involving 97 patients with adrenal nodules or masses. The signal intensity index (SII) was calculated as [(signal intensity on the in-phase image − signal intensity on the out-of-phase image) ∕ (signal intensity on the in-phase image)] × 100%. We determined the averages of the minimum, mean, and maximum signal intensity values measured on three consecutive images. When that was not possible (for smaller lesions), we used one or two images. We employed a region of interest that covered one half to two thirds of the mass. All indices were compared with metabolite ratios derived from spectroscopy: lactate/creatine; glutamine-glutamate/creatine; choline/creatine; choline/lipid; 4.0-4.3 ppm/Cr; and lipid/creatine. Results: Of the 97 patients evaluated, 69 were diagnosed with adenomas and 28 were diagnosed with nonadenomas. All SII measurements and spectroscopy-derived metabolite ratios were significant to the differentiation between adenomas and nonadenomas, except for the lipid/creatine and choline/lipid ratios. In 37.8% of the cases, it was not possible to perform spectroscopy. When it was possible, the lactate/creatine ratio was found to have higher accuracy than did the SII. Conclusion: Determining the SII and metabolite ratios increased the accuracy of the differential diagnosis of adrenal adenomas.
On the role of the exchange rate as a tool for industrial competitiveness
Authors: DVOSKIN ARIEL , FELDMAN GERMÁN DAVID , IANNI GUIDO
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT By means of a two-tradable-sector model for an open, price-taking economy inspired by the Classical-Sraffian tradition, which conceives the pattern of trade as a technical-choice problem, we examine some difficulties with the recourse to exchange-rate policy as a tool to promote sectorial competitiveness. To this aim, we distinguish among economies that only produce manufactures from those in which the most profitable sector exploits natural resources under conditions of differential rent. We show that, when both tradable sectors produce industrial goods, conventional devaluation does not generally allow one domestic sector to reach international competitiveness without damaging the other. While when the prevailing sector operates under conditions of differential rent, even though the development of a new sector - by setting the exchange rate at its “industrial-equilibrium” level - is possible, this requires that the policymaker determines the effect of changes in the exchange rate, both in direction and magnitude, on the other distributive variables.
Structural change and productivity growth in Brazil: where do we stand?
Authors: NASSIF ANDRÉ , MORANDI LUCILENE , ARAÚJO ELIANE , FEIJÓ CARMEM
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to discuss the evolution of the Brazilian labour productivity in the 1990s and 2000s to shed some light on the resilience of the Brazilian economy to recover growth. Labor productivity growth in Brazil, after showing positive annual rates between 1950 and 1979, became stagnant after 1980. Following McMillan and Rodrik’s (2011) methodology, this paper at first decompose labor productivity growth in the period 1950-2011, according to “structural change” (which is considered growth-enhancing) and “within effect” (which is growth-reducing, if not accompanied by significant structural change while the country is still pursuing its catching-up process). Next, an econometric exercised is presented to explain the determinants of the structural change component of the labour productivity since economic opening in the 1990s. The results show that the stagnation of the Brazilian productivity is explained by the overvaluation trend of the Brazilian currency, the reprimarization of the export basket, the low degree of Brazil’s trade openness and the high real interest rates prevailing in the period.
Profit margins, exchange rates and structural change: empirical evidences for the period 1996-2017
Authors: MARCONI NELSON , MAGACHO GUILHERME , MACHADO JOÃO GUILHERME R. , LEÃO RAFAEL DE AZEVEDO RAMIRES
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT This research seeks to understand the relationship between the rate of profit and the exchange rate and how this relationship can impact the productive structure. We construct a theoretical model in which the exchange rate influences the rate of profit, and we argue that although an overvalued exchange rate could benefit sectors with high imported input coefficients in the short term because it reduces costs, it negatively impacts the demand for their products and also reduces the aggregatedemand; hence, an overvalued exchange rate could shrink the profit rate of these sectors in the medium term. In the Brazilian case, these sectors are the high technological-content manufacturing sectors.
South Korea’s and China’s catching-up: a new-developmentalist analysis
Authors: BRESSER-PEREIRA LUIZ CARLOS , JABBOUR ELIAS , PAULA LUIZ FERNANDO DE
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to analyze the catching-up processes of South Korea and post-1978 reforms China, based on a new-developmentalist approach that considers four fundamental factors: 1) a complementarity relationship between the state and the market as a dynamic process that changes over time; 2) necessary complementarity between macroeconomic policy and industrial policy; 3) the key role of public and development banks in attacking the problem of “development financing”; and a particular focus on 4) the centrality of exchange rate and balance of payments administration for the development process in these countries. The paper’s fundamental question is to what extent the catching-up process in these countries can be understood as the application of a new-developmentalist strategy, taking each country’s particular historical traits into account.
The Iconomics of New Developmentalism
Authors: SCHWARTZ GILSON
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT Current reviews of new developmentalism from a Political Economy perspective present its novelty in terms of a paradigm shift, a comparative analysis and a historical-ideological reconstruction. This paper reviews these complementary approaches so as to initiate an alternative, critical review of the new developmentalist agenda taking into consideration the emergence of yet another post-structuralist theory, namely, “iconomics”. The grounding of the iconomic perspective is a semiotic-sociological method inspired by the works of G.L.S. Shackle, Bernard Stiegler and Joseph Schumpeter. Knowledge-based theories of value, resilience and disruption are the key concepts that emerge out of this “iconomic” theoretical-methodological review which may lead to propositions in the field of economic policy, growth theory and political philosophy that extend the structuralist-developmentalist legacy. We propose an approach to the identification of developmentalism that supports a critical approach to the political economy of the ultraliberal, positivist and rational choice visions.