bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influencia del capital intelectual en la innovación: una perspectiva al nivel del individuo
Authors: Nahuat Román Bernardo
Published: November 2020

Introducción: La influencia del capital intelectual en la innovación frecuentemente se ha estudiado a nivel organizacional con las percepciones que tienen los individuos hacia su empleadora; sin embargo, poca atención ha recibido el nivel del individuo con las percepciones que tienen los empleados de sí mismos. Por lo anterior, este trabajo se fija como objetivo medir la influencia que tiene el capital intelectual en la intención de innovación al nivel del individuo con un instrumento de recolección de datos basado en autopercepciones.Método: Mediante un estudio de caso se aplicaron 97 cuestionarios a empleados de una empresa grande de servicios en la ciudad de Tampico en el mes de diciembre de 2019 para posteriormente ser tratadas las observaciones con un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales basado en el análisis de la varianza con el software Smartpls. La presente investigación eligió la población objeto de estudio en base a un censo.Resultados: El capital intelectual influye de forma positiva y significativa mediante 2 de sus componentes (capitales estructural y relacional) en la intención de innovación al nivel del individuo.Discusión o Conclusión: El componente principal del capital intelectual (capital humano) no influyó en la intención de innovación al nivel del individuo, pudiendo explicarse en base a aproximaciones previas a nivel organizacional y por las características de la empresa. Por otro lado, quedó demostrado que la perspectiva del individuo basada en autopercepciones puede ser válida para medir la relación entre capital intelectual e innovación.
A platform and protocol to standardise the test and selection low-cost sensors for water level monitoring
Authors: Cherqui F. , James R. , Poelsma P. , Burns M. J. , Szota C. , Fletcher T. , Bertrand-Krajewski J.-L.
Published: November 2020

Water infrastructure in cities is complex and requires proactive management to optimise function. The scale and distribution of assets across municipalities requires affordable systems which can trigger alerts. Systems underpinned by low-cost sensors could meet increasing monitoring needs: more assets, more often, and at a better resolution. However, low-cost sensors require appropriate testing to assess their performance and optimise their use. Here, we focus on low-cost water level sensors, often considered as the main monitoring parameters for water-related infrastructures. We developed a platform and testing protocol to assess the suitability of low-cost sensors. We assessed the performance of three widely used low-cost sensors: laser-ranging, ultrasonic-ranging, and pressure. Our main results showed that the ultrasonic sensor offers the best price to accuracy ratio, and the pressure sensor provides the highest accuracy while still at a very low cost. Our platform and protocol provide a standardised testing and calibration method which can be applied to any sensor. The platform can be used to gather and share results, to enhance community knowledge and encourage the use of new (low-cost or not) sensors. The development of low-cost sensors is an important step toward the wider use monitoring systems for water infrastructure.
Pilot-scale study of forward osmosis for treating desulfurization wastewater
Authors: Ma Cong , Li Qianqian , Dai Chang , Wang Liang , Zhao Bin , Zhang Zhaohui , Xue Siguo , Tian Wende
Published: November 2020

Forward osmosis (FO) treatment of desulfurization wastewater shows great potential in laboratory scale tests. To explore the adaptability of the forward osmosis system in the practical treatment of desulfurization wastewater, we carried out a pilot test on desulfurization wastewater treated by the traditional method under the conditions of adding soda ash (SA) and adding FO scale inhibitor (FOSI). The results showed that the FO system could concentrate desulfurization wastewater with an average TDS of 15,816–32,820 mg/L in the influent water to an average TDS of more than 120,000 mg/L, which was concentrated 3.8–7.8 times. The removal rates of Ca2+, Mg2+ and Cl− were more than 99% and the system could operate stably for a long time. Under the condition of adding SA and FOSI, the system recovery rate was 85.38% and 73.02%, respectively. The operating cost was 25 RMB/ton and 21.77 RMB/ton, respectively. The results showed that the application of forward osmosis in desulfurization wastewater treatment was technically feasible and economically effective.
Adsorption/photodegradation of methylene blue from synthetic wastewater on titanate nanotubes surfaces
Authors: Mohanty Saismrutiranjan , Maji Sanjoy Kumar
Published: November 2020

Titanate nanotubes (TNTs) were hydrothermally synthesized from commercially available TiO2 powder and were characterized by XRD, SEM/EDX, and TEM. The as-prepared TNTs were used to remove organic dye, Methylene Blue (MB) from aqueous media by batch mode at 25 ± 2 °C, at pH 6.8 ± 0.2. The MB removal process followed two mechanisms of adsorption (absence of UV light) and photodegradation on precursor's surfaces. Photo-illumination study revealed the ∼98% MB removal with the dose of 3 g/L TNT with an initial concentration of 10 mg/L. Adsorptive capacity of TNT was evaluated from the Langmuir isotherm and found to be 151.51 mg/g. Dimensionless equilibrium parameter RL value suggested the favourable but the free energy changes (ΔG°) value (10.752 kJ/mol) suggested the non-spontaneity of the adsorption process. Adsorption followed the pseudo-second order kinetics model best. MB adsorption onto TNT surfaces followed neither pore diffusion nor film diffusion. Studies conducted in the presence of different foreign ions as well as varying pH of the media to understand their effects in the process if any. Turnover studies were also conducted. A probable photodegradation mechanism was proposed. Finally, TNT was used to remove MB from spiked pond water collecting from the KISS University, including pre- and post analysis of water quality.
Türkiye'deki Birinci Basamak Sağlık Merkezlerinde Sağlıklı Beslenme ve Obezite Hizmetlerinin Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: ŞAHİN Çağrı Emin , SEZEROL Mehmet Akif , ATAK Muhammed
Published: November 2020

Amaç: Dünyada beslenme ilişkili sağlık sorunları önde gelen problemler arasında yer almaktadır. Çalışmamızın amacı birinci basamak sağlık hizmet birimi olan sağlıklı hayat merkezi diyabet ve obezite biriminde verilen diyetisyenlik hizmetlerinin obezitenin kontrolündeki etkinliğini araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu çalışma 01/01/2017–30/06/2018 tarihleri arasında İstanbul’un bir ilçesinde son yıllarda popülerleşen sağlıklı hayat merkezi diyabet ve obezite danışma biriminde çalışan diyetisyene başvuran kişilerin verileri üzerinden yapılmıştır. Başvuru esnasında diyetisyen tarafından kişilerin demografik bilgileri, aile öyküsü, beslenme takviyesi alma durumları, hastalık ve ilaç bilgileri kaydedilmiştir. Ayrıca kişilerin vücut ağırlığı, boy uzunluğu, vücut yağ ölçümü yapılmış ve vücut-kitle indeksi (VKİ) hesaplanarak veri tabanına girilmiştir. Ölçümler her başvuru sırasında tekrarlanmış ve kaydedilmiştir. Araştırma evrenini, kilo vermek amacıyla birime başvuran, en az bir kontrolüne gelmiş, VKİ normal düzeyin üzerinde olan yetişkin bireyler oluşturmaktadır. Bulgular: Diyetisyen hizmetini kullanan 904 danışandan, 310’u (%34,3) kontrol randevularına gelmemiştir. Araştırmada değerlendirilen 446 danışandan 422’si (%94,6) kadındır. Birinci derece akrabada obezite olma durumu %75,8’dir. Danışanların ilk durumları VKİ’lerine göre sınıflandırıldığında; %31,4’ü kilolu, %58,7’si obez ve %9,9’u morbid obezdir. Kronik hastalık durumları sorgulandığında 244 kişinin (%54,7) eşlik eden kronik hastalığı olduğu bilgisi edinilmiştir. Ortalama yağ kaybı 2,6 (±4,0) ve ortalama kilo kaybı 3,1 (±3,6)’dir. Sonuç: Diyabet ve obezite danışma birimlerinden kadınlar daha yüksek oranla yararlanmaktadır. Literatür incelendiğinde koruyucu sağlık hizmetlerinin kullanımında kadınların ön plana çıktığı görülmüştür. Danışanların bir kısmının tanılı olup, ilaç kullanmadıkları anlaşılmaktadır. Bu durumla ilgili diyetisyenlerin danışanlarını uyarmaları ve hatırlatmaları yönünde telkine tabi tutulmaları yerinde olacaktır. Danışanların yaşı büyüdükçe, kilo verme başarılarının anlamlı derecede artmış olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Kilolu bireylerin aile hekimleri takiplerinde diyetisyenlere yönlendirilmesi periyodik olarak hekimlere hatırlatılmalıdır. Herhangi bir kronik hastalık tanısı almış bireyin muhakkak diyetisyene yönlendirilmesi, uzman hekim tarafından kontrollerde ilaç uyumunun ve diğer sorgulanan konuların yanında muhakkak diyet ve egzersiz uyumlarının da sorgulanması önem arz etmektedir. Sunulan sağlık hizmeti, kilo verdirme açısından başarılı bulunmuştur.
Biotemplate-Mediated Green Synthesis and Applications of Nanomaterials
Authors: Ullah Muhammad Wajid , Manan Sehrish , Khattak Waleed Ahmad , Shahzad Ajmal , Ul-Islam Mazhar , Yang Guang
Published: November 2020

Green synthesis, an emerging field in bionanotechnology, refers to the utilization of non-toxic, biologically
safe, and eco-friendly substances for the synthesis of desired materials. It provides both economic and
environmental benefits along with simple, cost-effective, and reproducible synthesis approaches that result in
the development of stable materials. The green synthesis approaches use living biotemplates, including plants
and different microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae, and actinomycetes. The various metabolites
present in different parts of the plants, such as leaves, fruits, seeds, flower, and others, serve as the reducing
and stabilizing agents. At the same time, the diverse surface chemistry of microorganisms enables them to
convert different substrates into a variety of nanomaterials. This review briefly describes the concept of ‘green
synthesis’ and provides an overview of controlled and green synthesis of nanomaterials using the plants and
microbial cells as biotemplates. It also discusses the effect of different reaction conditions such as temperature,
pH, reaction time, precursor concentration, and the post-synthesis processing of nanoparticles (NPs) on the material
properties. It further describes the applications of different NPs in pharmaceutical and environment sectors
by considering their diverse antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, antiviral, antimalarial, reduction, and
catalytic properties. Finally, it describes various future perspectives of nanomaterials to broaden the understanding
of their synthesis mechanism and expand their applications to other fields.
Green Tea from the Far East to the Drug Store: Focus on the Beneficial Cardiovascular Effects
Authors: Landini Linda , Rebelos Eleni , Honka Miikka-Juhani
Published: November 2020

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Evidence from observational
and randomized controlled studies showing the potential benefits of green tea on lowering CVD risk has been
emerging rapidly during the past few decades. These benefits include reduced risk for major cardiovascular
events, lowering of blood pressure, decreased LDL cholesterol levels and weight loss. At the same time, the understanding
of the physiological mechanisms behind these alterations is advancing. Consumption of green tea
originated from China thousands of years ago, but since then, it expanded all over the world. Recent advances in
understanding the role of tea polyphenols, mainly catechins, as mediators of tea’s health benefits, have caused the
emergence of various types of green tea extracts (GTE) on the market. While taking green tea is generally considered
safe, there are concerns about the safety of using tea extracts. The present article reviews the current evidence
of green tea consumption leading to reduced CVD risk, its potential biological mechanisms and the safety
of using GTE.
Prediction Biomarkers Associated with Lymph Node Metastasis and Prognosis were Identified in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma via Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Gan Siyuan , Ye Ruifang , Ha Yanping , Xiong Yinghuan , Li Rujia , Di Xiaoqing , Zou Zhenning , Sun Yanqin , Zhang Zhi
Published: November 2020

Background:

Prediction biomarkers associated with prognosis and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in papillary
thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are needed to facilitate clinicians in choosing appropriate therapies.

Objective:

We hope to identify key genes associated with LNM and prognosis in PTC.

Methods:

GSE29265, GSE33630, GSE3467, GSE3678 and GSE58545 gene expression profiles were acquired from the
Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PTC tissues and normal thyroid tissues
were selected with the GEO2R tool, and common DEGs among the five datasets were integrated with Venn software online.
A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the common DEGs was visualized. We analyzed the PPI network and determined
core genes using the Cytoscape software. Furthermore, we employed UALCAN to verify the expression and promoter
methylation status of the core genes in thyroid carcinoma (THCA). Additionally, the Kaplan–Meier plotter online tool
was used to analyze the relationship between overall survival and core gene expressions in THCA.

Results:

TNS3, DUSP6, DUSP4 and PTPRE were identified as core genes. Expression of these 4 genes and the promoter
methylation status of DUSP4 and PTPRE were strongly associated with LNM (P<0.05). High expression of 3 genes
(DUSP6, DUSP4 and PTPRE) was related with significantly better survival than low expression of the 3 genes in THCA. In
contrast, high TNS3 expression was related to significantly worse survival (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

TNS3, DUSP6, DUSP4, PTPRE and DUSP4 and PTPRE promoter methylation status might be useful predictive
biomarkers of LNM in PTC. Additionally, these genes may be prognostic biomarkers in PTC.
Cigarette Smoke Exposure Inhibits Early Phase of Antibody Production through Inhibition of Immune Functions in Alveolar Macrophage
Authors: Kobayashi Kengo , Hirono Yuriko , Nakta Honami , Pinkerton Kent E. , Takeuchi Minoru
Published: November 2020

Background::

Cigarette smoke (CS) is inhaled into the lung. Alveolar macrophage (AM) is known to play an important role in the lung immune system. However, the relationship between AM functions and antibody production by CS is not fully investigated.

Objective::

Therefore, we investigated the effects of AM from CS exposed mice on antibody production. Mice were exposed to 20 cigarettes/day for 10 days. AM were obtained by broncho-alveolar lavage. Antibody production was analyzed by plaque-forming cell assay using seep red blood cell (SRBC) as antigen.

Methods::

B cell proliferation was analyzed by 3H-thymidine incorporation. Phagocytic activity using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled SRBC and expressions of surface antigens on AM were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytokines and NF-κB mRNA expressions of AM were analyzed by RTPCR.

Results and Discussion:

Antibody production was decreased at the induction phase, but not at the expression phase by AM from smoked mice (SM) compared with non-smoked mice (NSM). B cell proliferation was decreased by cigarette extracts dose-dependently. Phagocytic activity of AM was decreased in SM compared with NSM. Expression of surface antigens on AM was decreased in SM compared with NSM. Cytokines or NF-κB mRNA expressions of AM were decreased in SM compared with NSM.

Conclusion::

These results suggest that the inhibition of antibody production by cigarette smoking is caused by the inhibition of phagocytosis and expressions of surface antigens associated with antigen presentation. Such inhibition of AM functions may increase the risk of bacterial and virus infections.
Winning Back the Consumer’s Confidence and Ensuring Consumer Safety in the COVID-19 Regime is Necessary for Revival of the Processed Food Industry
Authors: Mahanty Arabinda , Lenka Srikanta , Rath Prakash C.
Published: November 2020

The pandemic COVID-19 has tremendously affected the food industry, particularly, the
restaurants and other food vendors (FVs) that serve ready-to-eat foods. These food industries have
been badly hit not only because of the lock down, imposed for COVID-19 containment, but also because
of the consumer’s concern for food safety. To revive the processed food industry, it is necessary
to win back the consumer’s confidence, which in turn requires a number of steps to be taken
by both the policy makers and the food business operators. In this context, the present article describes
how the maintenance of hygiene at places of food production would be important for the
food industry in the COVID-19 regime. It has recommendations that could be useful for both food
safety regulators and food business operators.
Butyrate: A Review on Beneficial Pharmacological and Therapeutic Effect
Authors: Singh Dhirendra , Gupta Sumeet
Published: November 2020

Background::

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), generally acetate, propionate along with
butyrate, are aliphatic organic acids formed in the gut mucosa through bacterial fermentation of
mostly undigested nutritional carbohydrates, again to a minor degree by natural and dietary proteins,
such as mucous and shed epithelial cells.

Methods::

Many sources were used to collect information about Butyrate, such as Pub med, Google
Scholar, Pubmed, Scopus and other reliable sources.

:

Endogenous butyrate formation, absorption, and transportation by colon cells have now been well
acknowledged. Butyrate exerts its action features by way of appearing as a histone deacetylase inhibitor,
even signaling through a few protein receptors. Lately, butyrate has received special consideration
for its favorable result on intestinal equilibrium and also energy metabolism. There is a
growing interest in butyrate as its impact on epigenetic mechanisms will result in much more certain
and also efficacious healing techniques for the prevention and therapy of various diseases that
range from genetic conditions to other body disorders.

Conclusion::

With this assessment, we compile the existing information on the attributes of butyrate,
particularly its potential effects and also mechanisms involved in cancer, inflammation, diabetes
mellitus, neurological and cardiovascular disorder.
Microplastics: An Emerging and Challenging Research Field
Authors: Hernández-Sánchez Cintia , González-Sálamo Javier , Ortega-Zamora Cecilia , Jiménez-Skrzypek Gabriel , Hernández-Borges Javier
Published: November 2020

Background:

Studies have confirmed the ubiquitous presence of microplastics in every environmental compartment, and their number is rising year by year. Despite the fact that important efforts are being made in many countries to try to reduce microplastics contamination, it is very likely that their presence will continue to increase since plastic degradation is a long-term procedure. Current scientific data in this field is only the tip of a huge iceberg in which hand in hand research with scientists of different disciplines is absolutely necessary to draw a clear map of their origin, transport dynamics, distribution and effects.

Methods:

A brief overview (perspective article) of current research topics on microplastics, the problems that they must face as well as those gaps that should be solved in the future are reviewed.

Results:

Standardized and validated methodologies for microplastics quantification and identification are needed. The analysis of organic and inorganic contaminants retained onto microplastics is also a key issue. The study of the presence, behavior, and fate of microplastics in the environment (in all the environmental compartments) as well as the toxicity and dietary exposure studies are also highly necessary.

Conclusion:

A better understanding of the concentration, source, and hazards of microplastics in every environmental compartment is still needed, especially in the terrestrial environment and in the atmosphere. There is also the need of applying harmonized and validated analytical methodologies to provide feasible results and to allow a suitable comparison.
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Particles and Beads: A Survey of Modern Synthetic Techniques
Authors: Shah Nasrullah , Khan Zubair Ullah , Hussain Manzoor , Rehan Touseef , Khan Abbas , Zaman Khair , Tariq Sonia , Kamal Tahseen , Asiri Abdullah M.
Published: November 2020

Molecular imprinting technology is based on incorporating template molecules in the
polymer matrix, followed by their extraction to leave specific cavities similar in shape and size to the
incorporated template molecules. The resultant molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) then show
antibody-like and enzyme-like behavior. MIPs are used as selective adsorbents, stationary phases,
sensors, drug delivery agents, ultrafiltration systems, catalysts, etc. To achieve a specific function,
MIPs are synthesized in various forms like beads, particles, membranes, fibers and composites. MIP
beads and particles have prime importance due to their use in multiple applications. In this article, we
present a survey of various polymerization techniques used for the synthesis of MIP beads and particles,
along with a special focus on the studies presenting their use in separation and purification.
Modulation of Proinflammatory Bacteria- and Lipid-Coupled Intracellular Signaling Pathways in a Transwell Triple Co-Culture Model by Commensal Bifidobacterium Animalis R101-8
Authors: Ghadimi Darab , Nielsen Annegret , Hassan Mohamed Farghaly Yoness , Fölster-Holst Regina , Ebsen Michael , Frahm Sven Olaf , Röcken Christoph , de Vrese Michael , Heller Knut J.
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims:

Following a fat-rich diet, alterations in gut microbiota contribute
to enhanced gut permeability, metabolic endotoxemia, and low grade inflammation–associated
metabolic disorders. To better understand whether commensal bifidobacteria influence the expression
of key metaflammation-related biomarkers (chemerin, MCP-1, PEDF) and modulate the
pro-inflammatory bacteria- and lipid–coupled intracellular signaling pathways, we aimed at i) investigating
the influence of the establishment of microbial signaling molecules-based cell-cell contacts
on the involved intercellular communication between enterocytes, immune cells, and adipocytes,
and ii) assessing their inflammatory mediators’ expression profiles within an inflamed adipose
tissue model.

Material and Methods:

Bifidobacterium animalis R101-8 and Escherichia coli TG1, respectively,
were added to the apical side of a triple co-culture model consisting of intestinal epithelial
HT-29/B6 cell line, human monocyte-derived macrophage cells, and adipose-derived stem cell line
in the absence or presence of LPS or palmitic acid. mRNA expression levels of key lipid
metabolism genes HILPDA, MCP-1/CCL2, RARRES2, SCD, SFRP2 and TLR4 were determined
using TaqMan qRT-PCR. Protein expression levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), key
metaflammation-related biomarkers including adipokines (chemerin and PEDF), chemokine (MCP-
1) as well as cellular triglycerides were assessed by cell-based ELISA, while those of p-ERK,
p-JNK, p-p38, NF-κB, p-IκBα, pc-Fos, pc-Jun, and TLR4 were assessed by Western blotting.

Results:

B. animalis R101-8 inhibited LPS- and palmitic acid-induced protein expression of inflammatory
cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α concomitant with decreases in chemerin, MCP-1, PEDF, and
cellular triglycerides, and blocked NF-kB and AP-1 activation pathway through inhibition of p-
IκBα, pc-Jun, and pc-Fos phosphorylation. B. animalis R101-8 downregulated mRNA and protein
levels of HILPDA, MCP-1/CCL2, RARRES2, SCD and SFRP2 and TLR4 following exposure to
LPS and palmitic acid.

Conclusion:

B. animalis R101-8 improves biomarkers of metaflammation through at least two
molecular/signaling mechanisms triggered by pro-inflammatory bacteria/lipids. First, B. animalis
R101-8 modulates the coupled intracellular signaling pathways via metabolizing saturated fatty
acids and reducing available bioactive palmitic acid. Second, it inhibits NF-kB’s and AP-1’s transcriptional
activities, resulting in the reduction of pro-inflammatory markers. Thus, the molecular
basis may be formed by which commensal bifidobacteria improve intrinsic cellular tolerance
against excess pro-inflammatory lipids and participate in homeostatic regulation of metabolic processes
in vivo.
Secure Mobile Ad Hoc Networks Based-on Ant Colony: A Comparative Study and State-of-the-Art Core-based Networks
Authors: Sobh Tarek S.
Published: November 2020

Aim:

This work evaluates the existing secure ant colony protocols of MANETs such as
ASHFIK, AAMRP, and MANHSI with each other. Here, each node in the proposed ad hoc network
protocols is known with a trust value. Each trust value represents the corresponding security level and a
node with a higher trust value is authorized to monitor and lead its neighboring nodes as a core node.

Background:

Trusted critical MANET is a secure wireless network that is used in different critical applications.
Military battlefields are an example of these applications that force on people a number of
needed things, including robustness and reliable performance within high mobility situations and constraints
(e.g. hostile attacks, cost, and battery limits).

Objectives:

In this work, the extremely important similarities between the features of critical MANETs
and the core-based routing protocols that are based-on ant colonies are discussed.

Methods:

The metrics used in this evaluation are the availability, reliability, packet delivery ratio, and
total overheads, while the performance is serious and stubborn because of the mobility of node, senders
' number, and size of a multicast group.

Results:

The results of the simulation show that ASHFIK provides better availability, reliability, Packet
Delivery Ratio (PDR), and lower total overheads. In addition, the results show that ASHFIK has a consistent
performance with a different group size of the network, which means that it is a trusted and scalable
network of ant colony core-based routing protocols.

Conclusion:

Here, the existing different mobile ad hoc networks based-on ant colonies were discussed.
According to our comparative study, the ASHFIK protocol can be used as a good routing protocol for
critical MANETs that are based on ant colonies.
Beneficial Role of Vitexin and Isovitexin Flavonoids in the Vascular Endothelium and Cardiovascular System
Authors: Azubuike-Osu Sharon O. , Ohanenye Ikenna C. , Jacob Claus , Ejike Chukwunonso E.C.C. , Udenigwe Chibuike C.
Published: November 2020

Various medicinal plants contain phenolic compounds, which are useful in the treatment of many disease conditions. Particularly, vitexin and its isomer, isovitexin, possess many pharmacological effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, and antinociceptive activities. Current research has provided evidence for the prospective use of vitexin and isovitexin in the formulation of medicinal products useful in the prevention and treatment of specific ailments. The aim of this review was therefore to examine the influence of vitexin and isovitexin on the vascular system as well as the possible mechanisms through which the flavonoids exert their effects. The review also discussed the importance of vitexin and isovitexin in cardiovascular health through the vascular endothelium. In vivo and in vitro studies suggest that vitexin and isovitexin play a cardioprotective role during ischaemic reperfusion injury and angiogenesis, while isovitexin decreases perfusion pressure and increases the bioavailability of nitric oxide. Taken together, vitexin and isovitexin are promising as therapeutic agents for the formulation of nutraceuticals for the prevention, management and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
O “Antropoceno” por Paul Crutzen & Eugene Stoermer
Authors: Mendes João
Published: November 2020

Tradução do texto seminal publicado por Paul Crutzen & Eugene Stoermer em 2000 na Global Change Newsletter, 41:17-18.
Tapping and Fostering Students’ Emotional Intelligence through Service-learning Experiences
Authors: Manring Susan L.
Published: November 2020

Today’s business students will chart their career paths through a rapidly changing, highly interdependent world of relationships and networks. In addition to traditional business school knowledge, students need cognitive, behavioral and affective skill sets, along with opportunities for civic engagement. This exploratory study of course-embedded service-learning, incorporating Cherniss and Goleman’s emotional intelligence construct, found that students’ service-learning experiences tapped and fostered the personal and social emotional intelligence competencies associated with professional effectiveness. Incorporating service-learning, with a focus on increasing emotional intelligence, offers a promising approach for business schools to reinforce and increase students’ civic values as well as to enrich their personal and inter-personal emotional intelligence insights and skill development. This approach will strengthen the curricula and teaching practices of business schools to better prepare students for their roles as responsible leaders in creating and managing sustainable businesses and partnerships for our global-collective future.
Good Times to Hard Times: An Examination of Adult Learners’ Enrollment from 2004–2010
Authors: Kimmel Sara B. , Gaylor Kristena P. , Grubbs M. Ray , Hayes J. Bryan
Published: November 2020

The study examines employment, income, motivations and barriers of adult learners, comparing results from a 2004-2005 study with results from a 2010 study of nontraditional students (age 25 and over) enrolled in four-year colleges that offered programs designed for working adults. The study compares responses gathered from a convenience sample of face-to-face learners (683) in five private institutions and one public university in 2004-2005 with those from a convenience sample of face-to-face and online learners (530) in three private institutions in 2010. Economic items for comparison purposes included part-time and full-time employment, and household income.
Teologia i duchowość: o przezwyciężenie podziału
Authors: Zarzycki Stanisław T.
Published: November 2020

This article synthetically deals with the relationship between theology and Christian spirituality. In the history of this relationship three periods are distinguished: 1. Original unity covering biblical times, patristics and medieval monastic theology; 2. Separation at the end of scholasticism (13th century), when theology, under the influence of philosophy, became too rationalistic, abstract and detached from life and as such persisted until the 20th century; 3. Reconciliation and gradual restoration and strengthening of unity and cooperation between theology and spirituality (theology of spirituality), starting from biblical and theological renewal before the Second Vatican Council until today. The full realization of this unity takes place in the lives of the Saints.
Aksjologia niepodległości. Czy niepodległość jest jeszcze wartością w XXI wieku?
Authors:   Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie, Skorowski Henryk
Published: November 2020

The category of independence is a specific form of freedom. The independence of a particular social being is a category of freedom expressed in the guarantee of specific rights not only for man as an individual, but also for individual social beings due to their subjectivity. In the light of Catholic social teaching, one should speak about the entire catalog and the set of rights of a given social being that define the category of independence as an expression of freedom. Independence is due to every social being as a fundamental value, and therefore independence is an axiological category.
Percepcja i przeżywanie stresu psychologicznego w kontekście kultury kolektywistycznej
Authors:   Uczelnia Techniczno-Handlowa w Warszawie, Sikora Renata
Published: November 2020

Stress perception depends on culture we live. Collectivistic culture perception of stress differs from individualistic manner. People who live in societies which emphasise the meaning of group and family recognise stressors as those harming the commonwealth of community. On the contrary, the societies which are individually oriented perceive stressors as those which harm the wellbeing of individuals. The process of coping with stress depends on culture rules. This is expressed mostly by the variety of strategies used to work through the demands. People whose values are collectivistic search for prayer, being with others and try to endure the difficulties. Individuals oriented on themselves use strategies which focus on stressors and those which alleviate the individual cost of living in stress. However, there is no strong evidence that efficacy of coping with hardship may depend on culture orientation of individuals.
Kult Miłosierdzia Bożego w twórczości polskich muzyków
Authors:   Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne Księży Pallotynów w Ołtarzewie Filia Uniwersytetu Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego, Smolarek Dariusz
Published: November 2020

The development of the worship of Divine Mercy was perpetuated by St. John Paul II, who instituted the first Sunday after Easter as the Feast of Divine Mercy. He did this on the day of the canonisation of Sister Faustina Kowalska (April 30, 2000). Worshipping God's mercy was an impulse to write musical compositions related to this subject, and cantos, chants and songs contributed to propagating the worship. The 31st World Youth Day held under the slogan „Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Mt 5,7), which took place in Cracow on the 26-31 July, 2016 with the participation of Pope Francis, was a stimulus for the creation of new pieces, music videos and organising concerts in honour of Divine mercy. The interest in this subject translated into the creation of pop-oratorio and music written by W. Kilar for the film about Sister Faustina. The Year of Divine Mercy, which was announced by Pope Francis (2016), inspired P. Łukaszewski to compose the vocal and instrumental Symphony on the Mercy of God.
Characterizing Weibo Social Media Posts From Wuhan, China During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Content Analysis
Authors: Xu Qing , Shen Ziyi , Shah Neal , Cuomo Raphael , Cai Mingxiang , Brown Matthew , Li Jiawei , Mackey Tim
Published: November 2020

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has reached 40 million confirmed cases worldwide. Given its rapid progression, it is important to examine its origins to better understand how people’s knowledge, attitudes, and reactions have evolved over time. One method is to use data mining of social media conversations related to information exposure and self-reported user experiences.

Objective

This study aims to characterize the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of social media users located at the initial epicenter of the outbreak by analyzing data from the Sina Weibo platform in Chinese.

Methods

We used web scraping to collect public Weibo posts from December 31, 2019, to January 20, 2020, from users located in Wuhan City that contained COVID-19–related keywords. We then manually annotated all posts using an inductive content coding approach to identify specific information sources and key themes including news and knowledge about the outbreak, public sentiment, and public reaction to control and response measures.

Results

We identified 10,159 COVID-19 posts from 8703 unique Weibo users. Among our three parent classification areas, 67.22% (n=6829) included news and knowledge posts, 69.72% (n=7083) included public sentiment, and 47.87% (n=4863) included public reaction and self-reported behavior. Many of these themes were expressed concurrently in the same Weibo post. Subtopics for news and knowledge posts followed four distinct timelines and evidenced an escalation of the outbreak’s seriousness as more information became available. Public sentiment primarily focused on expressions of anxiety, though some expressions of anger and even positive sentiment were also detected. Public reaction included both protective and elevated health risk behavior.

Conclusions

Between the announcement of pneumonia and respiratory illness of unknown origin in late December 2019 and the discovery of human-to-human transmission on January 20, 2020, we observed a high volume of public anxiety and confusion about COVID-19, including different reactions to the news by users, negative sentiment after being exposed to information, and public reaction that translated to self-reported behavior. These findings provide early insight into changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about COVID-19, and have the potential to inform future outbreak communication, response, and policy making in China and beyond.
User Experience of Mobile Personal Health Records for the Emergency Department: Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Kim Su Min , Kim Taerim , Cha Won Chul , Lee Jae-Ho , Kwon In Ho , Choi Yuri , Kim June-Sung
Published: November 2020

Background

Personal health records (PHRs) can be useful in the emergency department, as they provide patient information in an accurate and timely manner and enable it to be used actively. This has an effect on patients’ health outcomes and patient experience. Despite the importance of PHRs in emergencies, there are only a few studies related to PHRs in emergencies that evaluate patient experience.

Objective

This study aims to introduce the novel mobile PHR (mPHR) platform to emergency environments and assess user experience.

Methods

The study was conducted from October 2019 to November 2019. In total, 1000 patients or carers in the emergency departments of 3 hospitals were provided an application-based service called FirstER, which was developed to collect and utilize medical information for patients in the emergency department. This study was performed as a mixed methods study. After using FirstER, we investigated its usability and conducted a survey on the experience of obtaining medical information with a legacy system and with FirstER. Additionally, we interviewed 24 patients to gain insight into their experiences regarding medical information using FirstER. For the quantitative analysis, the survey results were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation). For the qualitative analysis, we determined the keywords and their frequencies from each survey question and interview question.

Results

In total, 1000 participants, consisting of both patients and carers, were recruited in this study. Their mean age was 41.4 (SD 13.3) years. We ascertained participants’ satisfaction with FirstER and their mPHR needs through a survey and an in-depth interview. With the current system, participants were not well aware of their health conditions and medical information, and they were passive in the use of their medical information and treatment. However, they wanted their medical information for several reasons, such as information sharing and managing their health conditions. FirstER provided participants with their needed information and an easy way to access it. The mean System Usability Scale (SUS) value was 67.1 (SD 13.8), which was considered very near to acceptable.

Conclusions

This study is the first to implement mPHRs in the emergency department of large tertiary hospitals in the Republic of Korea. FirstER was found to enhance user experience in emergencies, as it provided necessary medical information and proper user experience. Moreover, the average SUS was 67.1, which means that participants found FirstER to be very near to acceptable. This is very encouraging in that FirstER was developed within a very short time, and it was a pilot study.

Trial Registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04180618; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04180618
Building Bridges between Science, Technology, Innovation and Global Affairs: A New Graduate Program
Authors: Canto Viterale Francisco Del
Published: November 2020

The international system has changed rapidly in the last few decades, and Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) has become a new key factor in the world order of the 21st Century. The interaction between STI and global affairs has increased because of the relevance and impact of scientific and technological development over the main parameters of the international system. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of new approaches that examine this global rising phenomenon from the Global and International Studies perspective. This article raises the academic and pedagogical needs to build bridges between STI and Global and International Studies (GIS) and, especially, the lack of academic programs that focus on this intersection. Therefore, the main objectives of this research are to examine the pedagogical need in the intersection between STI and international relations and introduce a new and original pedagogical proposal. The result is a literature review that confirms the need for educational programs in STI and GIS, and the introduction of a new graduate program as an innovative educational contribution.
Age-Related Decline in Children’s Reward Sensitivity: Blacks’ Diminished Returns
Authors: Assari Shervin
Published: November 2020

Background: It is important to study the correlates of reward sensitivity since it predicts high-risk behaviors. While ageing reduces children’s reward sensitivity and its associated risk taking, there is more to find out about racial differences in regard to the effect of age on reward sensitivity. Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) suggest that resources and assets show weaker effects on Black children than White children. Aim: We compared White children to Black children as for the effects of age on reward sensitivity. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 10533 American children who participated in the baseline of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. The independent variable was age, while the dependent variable was reward sensitivity as captured by the behavioral approach/behavioral avoidance system (BAS-BIS). Gender, parental education, marital status, parental education, and household income were the covariates. Results: Higher age was associated with less reward sensitivity. A significant interaction was found between race and age when it comes to children’s reward sensitivity. It suggested that age is associated with a smaller gain in terms of reduced reward sensitivity in Black children than White children. Conclusion: Age is more likely to reduce reward sensitivity in White children than Black children. This finding is in line with MDRs, and may be due to social racism, segregation, stratification, and discrimination.
Abusharaf, Rogia & Eickelman, Dale (Eds.), Africa and the Gulf Region: Blurred Boundaries and Shifting Ties. Gerlach Press, Berlin, Germany, 2015. ISBN: 978-3-940924-71-4. Hardcover, p. 175.
Authors: Hilal Nazar
Published: November 2020

n/a
Impact of pain and nonpain co-morbidities on opioid use in women with endometriosis
Authors: Lamvu Georgine , Soliman Ahmed M , Johns Beverly , Vora Jamie B , Estes Stephanie J
Published: November 2020

Aim:
To evaluate impact of co-morbidities on opioid use in endometriosis.
Patients & m
ethods:
This was a retrospective analysis of data obtained from the Symphony Health database (July 2015–June 2018), which contains medical and pharmacy claims information on 79,947 women with endometriosis. Relative risk (RR) of postdiagnosis opioid use and supply duration associated with baseline co-morbidities were determined.
Results:
Women with endometriosis using opioids at baseline were 61% more likely to receive opioids postdiagnosis (RR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.59–1.63). Risk of prolonged opioid supply postdiagnosis was highest for those with prolonged supply at baseline (RR: 21.14; 20.14–22.19), and was 1.32 (1.26–1.38) for patients with ≥1 co-morbidity, 1.37 (1.31–1.43) for pain co-morbidities and 1.07 (1.04–1.11) for psychiatric co-morbidities.
Conclusion:
Risk of opioid use after endometriosis diagnosis was greater in patients who used opioids before diagnosis. Risk of prolonged opioid use was greater if co-morbidities existed before diagnosis.
Quality and Trust in the European Open Science Cloud
Authors: Bicarregui Juan Carlos
Published: November 2020

The European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) has the objective to provide a virtual environment offering open and seamless services for the re-use of research data across borders and scientific disciplines. This ambitious vision sets significant challenges that the research community must meet if the benefits of EOSC are to be realised. One of those challenges, which has both technical and cultural aspects, is to determine the â€œRules of Participationâ€ that enable users to assess the quality of the data and services provided through EOSC and thereby enable them to trust the data and services they access. This paper discusses some issues relevant to determining the Rules of Participation that will enable EOSC to meet these objectives.
Цифровая платформа бионаноскопии на базе зондового микроскопа
Authors: Яминский И.В. , Ахметова А.И.
Published: November 2020

Цифровая платформа бионаноскопии может быть использована для решения широкого круга задач биологии и медицины. Ее возможности применимы для изучения остро стоящих проблем биологии и медицины: раннего обнаружения вирусов, резистентности бактерий к антибиотикам, вопросов топологии сетей нейронов.
Investigation of Characteristics of Sheets of Polyurethane Foam Using Acoustic Methods
Authors: Bogdan O. P. , Murav’eva O. V. , Platunov A. V. , Rysev D. S.
Published: November 2020

Представлена разработанная установка бесконтактного акустического контроля листов из пенополиэтилена, основанная на регистрации амплитудного параметра импульсного сигнала, прошедшего сквозь лист, и позволяющая выявлять различные типы дефектов разных размеров, что является достаточно важным при применении пенополиэтилена в особо опасных областях промышленности – нефтегазовой, авиационной, атомной и др.Разработана новая методика контроля листов пенополиэтилена, в основе которой лежит акустический теневой бесконтактный метод, использующий высокочастотную область звукового диапазона (5…13 кГц). Суть бесконтактного акустического теневого метода состоит в анализе изменения амплитуды прошедшей волны сквозь лист пенополиэтилена, обусловленного наличием дефекта. Для исследований использована уникальная научная установка «Информационно-измерительный комплекс для исследования акустических свойств материалов и изделий» (зарегистрирована на портале научно-технологической инфраструктуры РФ http://ckp-rf.ru), в состав которой входит информационно-измерительная система для бесконтактного возбуждения, регистрации и измерения параметров акустических волн в пористых средах.Исследование возможности обнаружения дефектов различного типа-вида проводилось на искусственных дефектах, таких как вмятина (сразу после формирования и после восстановления листа), порез (сквозной и несквозной), включение (намного превышающее по плотности), отверстие, расслоение. Измерения амплитудного параметра импульсного сигнала, прошедшего сквозь лист пенополиэтилена в области расположения искусственных дефектов различного размера, позволили оценить чувствительность установки и методики.Проанализировав полученные данные, можно сделать вывод, что сквозные несплошности, неоднородность плотности и дефекты, плоскость которых находится перпендикулярно направлению акустической волны, обнаруживаются с достаточно высокой чувствительностью, следовательно, минимальные размеры их обнаружения соизмеримы с размером пор пенополиэтилена за исключением несквозных порезов, для которых размер дефектов должен быть в несколько раз выше, так как чувствительность к ним находится ниже погрешности измерения (1 отн. ед.).