bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cationic Peptide Carriers enable Long Term Delivery of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 to Suppress Osteoarthritis Induced Matrix Degradation
Authors: Vedadgavami Armin , He Tengfei , Hakim Bill , Bajpayee Ambika G.
Published: March 2022

Background. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has the potential to be used for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment but has not been evaluated in clinics yet owing to toxicity concerns. It suffers from short intra-joint residence time and a lack of cartilage targeting following its intra-articular administration. Here we synthesize an electrically charged cationic formulation of IGF-1 by using a short-length arginine-rich, hydrophilic cationic peptide carrier (CPC) with a net charge of + 14, designed for rapid and high uptake and retention in both healthy and arthritic cartilage. Methods. IGF-1 was conjugated to CPC by using a site-specific sulfhydryl reaction via a bifunctional linker. Intra-cartilage depth of penetration and retention of CPC-IGF-1 was compared with the unmodified IGF-1. The therapeutic effectiveness of a single dose of CPC-IGF-1 was compared with free IGF-1 in an IL-1α challenged cartilage explant culture OA model. Results. CPC-IGF-1 rapidly penetrated through the full thickness of cartilage creating a drug depot owing to electrostatic interactions with negatively charged aggrecan-glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). CPC-IGF-1 remained bound within the tissue while unmodified IGF-1 cleared out. Treatment with a single dose of CPC-IGF-1 effectively suppressed IL-1α induced GAG loss and nitrite release, and rescued cell metabolism and viability throughout the 16-day culture period, while free IGF at the equivalent dose was not effective. Conclusions. CPC-mediated delivery of IGF-1 can enable its clinical use for OA treatment with only a single dose. CPC is a versatile cationic motif that can be used for intra-cartilage delivery of other similar-sized drugs.
Adherence to Pre-Operative Fasting Guidelines and Associated Factors among Pediatric Surgical Patients in Selected Public Referral Hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Yimer Aragaw Hamza , Haddis Lidya , Abrar Meron , Seid Ahmed Muhye
Published: March 2022

Background: Fasting before anesthesia is mandatory in children to reduce the complications of regurgitation, vomiting, and aspiration during anesthesia and surgery. Prolonged fasting times have several negative implications in children, because high ﬂuid turnover quickly leads to dehydration, hypotension, metabolic disturbances, and hypoglycemia, resulting in poor anesthetic outcomes.Aims: This study aimed to assess adherence to preoperative fasting guidelines and associated factors among pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery in Addis Ababa public hospitals in Ethiopia in 2020.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Addis Ababa, which selected public hospitals in Ethiopia, in 2020. A total of 279 pediatric patients aged < 17 years scheduled for elective surgery were included in the study. Data analysis was performed using SPSS V.21, and the values of the variables and factors were checked for associations using logistic regression. Statistical significance was determined at P -value of <0.05. The results are presented in text, tables, charts, and graphs.Results: A total of 279 pediatric patients responded to the analysis, with a 98.6% response rate. The majority of the participants (n=251, 89.96%) did not follow the guidelines for preoperative fasting. The mean fasting time for clear liquids was 10 ± 4.03 (2-18 hrs.) for breast milk 7.18 ± 2.26 (3.5-12 hrs.), and for solid foods 13.5 ± 2.76 (8-19 hrs.). The reasons for which the preoperative fasting delay was due to incorrect order were 35.1%, prior case procedures took longer times 34.1%, and changing sequence of schedule was 20.8%. Conclusion: Most children had prolonged fasting. The staff’s instructions and schedules were challenged to follow international fasting guidelines.
The exhaustion of lymphocytes is the main factors that affect the sensitivity of QFT-GIT assays decrease in silicosis
Authors: Xu Jun-Chi , Yu Xin , Huang Li-Na , Song Yi-Yan , Chen Hui , Shi Cui-Lin , Tang Pei-Jun , Zhu Ye-Han
Published: March 2022

Background: Tuberculosis infection is a major complication of silicosis but there is no study on whether the silicosis can affect the sensitivity of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assays. This study will analysis the relationship between silicosis and QFT-GIT, figure out the main factor of the QFT-GIT sensitivity decrease in silicosis and exploring the methods to increase the sensitivity.Methods: Silicosis patients with positive tubercle bacillus cultures were collected. The QFT-GIT, flow cytometry and blocking antibodies were used. Results: The sensitivity of QFT-GIT in silicosis patients(58.46%) was significantly decreased and the expression of PD-1 on T cells and CD56+NK cells in pulmonary tuberculosis combined with silicosis were higher than normal tuberculosis patients. Further analysis found that the ratio of PD-1+CD4+T and IFN-γwere negatively correlated and blockaded the PD-1 pathway with antibodies can restore the sensitivity of QFT-GIT in silicosis.Conclusions: This is the first study which analysis the relationship between the immune exhaustion and QFT-GIT in silicosis and found the sensitivity of QFT-GIT was decreased by the expression of PD-1 on lymphocytes. Antibody blocking experiments increased the expression of IFN-γ and provide a new method to improve the sensitivity of QFT in silicosis. The study also found silicosis can increased the PD-1 expression, as the PD-1 function in infectious diseases, it will promote the immune exhaustion in silicosis and lead the tuberculosis from latent infection to active. The study provided theoretical evidence for the diagnosis and immunotherapy of silicosis complications, and it has great value in clinical diagnostics and treatment.
A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Model for Simulating Off-time in Augmentation Trials for Parkinson’s Disease. Application to Preladenant
Authors: ROSE RACHEL , MITCHELL EMMA , GRAAF PIET DER , GEERTS HUGO
Published: March 2022

The clinical impact of therapeutic interventions in Parkinson’s disease is often measured as a reduction in OFF-time when the beneficial effects of the standard-of-care L-DOPA formulations wanes off. We investigated the pharmacodynamic interactions of augmentation therapy to standard-of-care using a quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) of the basal ganglia motor circuit, essentially a computer model of the different basal ganglia subregions with the appropriate connectivity and cell-specific expression of G-protein coupled receptors. The calculated beta/gamma power spectrum of the local field potentials in the subthalamic nucleus was previously calibrated on a UPDRS scale. We combine this QSP model with PK modeling of different formulations of L-DOPA and the adenosine 2A antagonist preladenant to predict the liability of OFF-time, non-troublesome and troublesome dyskinesia. Model calibration with clinical observations showed favorable correlations. Simulations show that augmentation with the adenosine A2A antagonist preladenant reduces in OFF-time ranges between 6 minutes for Rytary 950 mg 5-times daily and 37 minutes for 100 mg L-DOPA – 3 or 5 times daily. Exploring delays between preladenant and L-DOPA intake did not improve the outcome. A2A antagonists with an ideal PK and pharmacology profile can achieve range from 9.5 minutes with DuoDopa to 55 minutes with low dose L-DOPA formulations. There is a strong non-linear relationship between drug exposure and clinical efficacy. With the development of digital wearables for real-time estimation of clinical outcome, this predictive approach can support both the design of clinical trials with new therapeutic agents and the optimization of combination therapy in clinical practice.
Impact of Sea Ice Transport on Beaufort Gyre Iiquid Freshwater Content
Authors: Cornish Sam Benjamin , Muilwijk Morven , Scott Jeffery , Marson Juliana , Myers Paul , Zhang Wenhao , Wang Qiang , Kostov Yavor , Johnson Helen , Marshall John
Published: March 2022

The Arctic Ocean's Beaufort Gyre (BG) is a wind-driven reservoir of relatively fresh seawater, situated beneath time-mean anticyclonic atmospheric circulation, and is covered by mobile pack ice for most of the year. Liquid freshwater accumulation in and expulsion from this gyre is of critical interest to the climate modelling community, due to its potential to affect the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and due to the importance of freshwater in modulating vertical fluxes of heat, nutrients and carbon in the ocean, and exchanges of heat and moisture with the atmosphere. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that wind-driven sea ice transport into/from the BG region influences the freshwater content of the gyre and its variability. To test this hypothesis, we use the results of a coordinated climate response function (CRF) experiment with four ice-ocean models, in combination with targeted experiments using a regional setup of the MITgcm, in which we rotate the surface wind forcing vectors (thereby changing the ageostrophic component of these winds). Our results show that, via an effect on the net thermodynamic growth rate, anomalies in sea ice transport into the BG affect liquid freshwater adjustment. Specifically, increased ice import increases freshwater retention in the gyre, whereas ice export decreases freshwater in the gyre. Our results demonstrate that uncertainty in the ageostrophic component of surface winds, and in the dynamic sea ice response to these winds, has important implications for ice thermodynamics and freshwater. This sensitivity may explain some of the observed inter-model spread in simulations of Beaufort Gyre freshwater and its adjustment in response to wind forcing.
Co-Designing High-Risk Drug Alerts for Health and Community Service Practitioners
Authors: Brien Rita , Volpe Isabelle , Grigg Jasmin , Lyons Tom , Hughes Caitlin , McKinnon Ginny , Tzanetis Stephanie , Crawford Sione , Eade Alan , Lee Nicole , Barratt Monica J.
Published: March 2022

Background
Alerts about drug market changes (e.g., drug strength, purity, adulterations, or other trends) may be useful to assist health and community workers to anticipate, prevent and respond to unexpected adverse drug events. This study aimed to establish factors influencing the successful design and implementation of drug alerts for use in clinical and community settings in Victoria, Australia.
Methods
We used an iterative, parallel mixed methods participatory design to co-produce drug alert prototypes with practitioners and managers working across alcohol and other drugs and emergency medicine settings. A quantitative needs-analysis survey (n = 184) informed five qualitative co-design workshops (n = 31). Alert prototypes were drafted based on findings and presented for testing of utility and acceptability. Applicable constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research helped to identify key barriers and facilitators to successful alert design.
Results
Timely and reliable alerts about high-risk single substances were important to nearly all practitioners (98%) yet many reported insufficient access to timely information about drug markets and emerging threat (64%). Alerts were useful for increasing exposure to drug market intelligence; facilitating risk communication; and improving capacity for effective responses. Alerts must be ‘shareable’ across a range of settings to meet the needs of diverse professional and public audiences. Practitioners and managers considered themselves ‘conduits’ for information sharing. To maximize engagement and impact, alerts must be attention-grabbing and easily recognisable; available on multiple platforms; published in printable and electronic formats in varying levels of detail; and disseminated using appropriate notification mechanisms. Three clinical drug alert prototypes (SMS prompt, summary flier, and detailed PDF) were developed and considered acceptable and useful for a range of audiences and settings.
Discussion
Adequate planning and resourcing for effective drug alert design and evaluation arising from jurisdictional and national early warning systems is imperative to their utility. Such systems need to have access to reliable multidisciplinary drug market intelligence for rapid assessment and verification of risk to report timely and effective risk communications. Systems that offer close to real-time detection of adulterants/contaminants (e.g., drug checking services) are best-placed to provide rapid, evidence-based drug market intelligence to inform preventive and responsive action.
Does Types of Atrial Fibrillation Matter in The Impairment of Global and Regional Left Ventricular Mechanics and Intra-ventricular Dyssynchrony?
Authors: Song Nianpeng , Zhen Xiaowen , Li Wencai , Wang Hua , Zhong Lin
Published: March 2022

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, which is associated with cardiac dysfunction. This study aimed to compare the impairment severity of left ventricular strain and intra-ventricular dyssynchrony using echocardiography-derived velocity vector imaging in patients with different types of AF without heart failure.Methods: 84 nonvalvular AF patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (49 paroxysmal AF patients and 35 persistent AF patients) and 43 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Standard grayscale 2-dimension echocardiographic images were acquired for offline velocity vector imaging analysis to measure regional and global left ventricular longitudinal and circumferential strain. Time to regional peak longitudinal strain was measured and the standard deviation of all 12 segments (SDT-S) was used as a measure of intra-ventricular dyssynchrony. Global longitudinal left ventricular strain (GLS), global left ventricular circumferential strain (GCS), and intra-ventricular dyssynchrony were compared among healthy control patients, paroxysmal AF patients, and persistent AF patients. Results： Significantly lower GLS and GCS were observed in either persistent AF subjects or paroxysmal AF subjects compared with healthy control subjects (P <0.05). The impairment was much worse in persistent AF subjects compared with paroxysmal AF subjects (P <0.001). Intraventricular dyssynchrony was found in both persistent AF patients and paroxysmal AF patients, and it’s worse in persistent AF patients (P <0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed heart rate was an independent risk factor of GLS and GCS, while age was an independent risk factor of intraventricular dyssynchrony.Conclusions: AF is not only associated with impaired longitudinal and circumferential left ventricle mechanics but also impaired intra-ventricular mechanical synchrony. Worse systolic mechanics and intra-ventricular dyssynchrony were found in patients with persistent AF compared with these in patients with paroxysmal AF.
Detection of angiolipoma nuclei in H&E staining image by tissue segmentation using tissue filters
Authors: Radak Mahyar
Published: March 2022

Angiolipoma is an unusually benign neoplasm composed of mature lipocytes mixed with abnormal blood vessels. In this paper, we used cellular tissue segmentation using an intelligent tissue filtering algorithm to identify tissue-based image regions containing thick-walled capillaries with fibrin clots, between mature lipocytes and fibrin septum, and HE angiolipoma stains. Our algorithm was able to detect and extract angiolipoma tissue nuclei. The image in question is 591 X 800 pixels, which is stained with HE, which we use to detect. There are many algorithms, techniques and applications for dividing the nucleus of a tissue tumor, but in the proposed algorithm method, it can be extracted with high accuracy and sensitivity. This method can also be used to detect other angiolipoma tissue nuclei stained with HE variable stains.
Retinoic acid-induced 1 gene haploinsufficiency alters lipid metabolism and causes autophagy defects in Smith-Magenis syndrome
Authors: Turco Elisa Maria , Giovenale Angela Maria Giada , Sireno Laura , Cammareri Alessandra , Goracci Laura , Veroli Alessandra Di , Marchesan Elena , D’Andrea Daniel , Torres Barbara , Bernardini Laura , Marchioretti Caterina , Paone Alessio , Rinaldo Serena , Magnifico Maria Chiara , Monica Matteo Della , Postorivo Diana , Nardone Anna Maria , Zampino Giuseppe , Onesimo Roberta , Leoni Chiara , Caicci Federico , Raimondo Domenico , Trobiani Laura , De Jaco Antonella , Tata Ada Maria , Ferrari Daniela , Cutruzzolà Francesca , Mazzoccoli Gianluigi , Ziviani Elena , Pennuto Maria , Vescovi Angelo Luigi , Rosati Jessica
Published: March 2022

Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by cognitive and behavioral symptoms, obesity, and sleep disorder. There is no therapy to alleviate symptoms or delay disease onset. SMS is due to the haploinsufficiency of the retinoic-acid-induced-1 gene (RAI1) caused by either chromosomal deletions (SMS-del) or RAI1 missense/nonsense mutations. The molecular mechanisms underlying SMS are not known. Here we generated and characterized primary cells derived from four SMS patients, two carrying the SMS-del, two with RAI1 point mutations, and four control subjects to investigate pathogenetic processes underlying SMS. By combining transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses, we show altered expression of lipid and lysosomal genes, deregulation of lipid metabolism, accumulation of lipid droplets, and a block of autophagy flux. SMS cells show increased cell death associated with mitochondrial pathology and reactive oxygen species production. Treatment with N-acetyl-cysteine reduces cell death and lipid accumulation, suggesting a causative link between metabolic dyshomeostasis and cell viability. Our results highlight pathological processes in human SMS cells involving lipid metabolism, autophagy defects and mitochondrial dysfunction and suggest new potential therapeutic targets for patient treatment.
A Survey of Residency Directors in Academic Trauma Centers for Policies on Airway Management in the Trauma Ward
Authors: Tewfik George , Gajewski Michal , Salem Jena , Borad Neil , Zales Michael , Govindaraj Gopal
Published: March 2022

BackgroundDespite its presence as a critical procedure in the trauma setting, airway management is not performed uniformly, varying between institutions, particularly with personnel involved in decision-making. Past literature has noted a trend in which emergency medicine physicians assumed greater responsibility for primary management of airways in the trauma ward. Many institutions have adopted tiered activation systems for traumas in order to improve patient care, deploying resources more effectively.MethodsIn this study, a survey of residency directors was deployed to assess trends in airway management. A validated survey was distributed to residency directors in anesthesiology, general surgery and emergency medicine in 190 Level I trauma centers in the United States. Questions assessed personnel management, complication tracking and difficult airway prediction factors, amongst other considerations for airway management in the trauma bay.ResultsRespondents completed the survey at a rate of 23.8% of those solicited. A majority of respondents indicated that emergency medicine physicians are primary airway managers in the trauma bay and that their institutions utilize tiered trauma activation systems at 77.4% and 95.6% respectively. Anesthesia providers were immediately available in 81% of respondent institutions with inconclusive data regarding protocols for delineating anesthesia involvement in difficult airways. More than a third of respondents indicated their institution either does not track airway complications or they did not know if complications were tracked. Finally, nine different criteria were used in varying degrees by respondents’ institutions to predict the presence of a difficult airway, including such factors as head/face trauma, airway fluid and obesity. ConclusionsEmergency medicine physicians are the primary airway managers in many trauma centers, although they are often supported by the presence of anesthesiology for advanced airway interventions. Delineation of anesthesia involvement is unclear, and criteria to determine a difficult airway varies amongst institutions.
Preoperative and postoperative nomograms in predicting early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma without macrovascular invasion after curative resection
Authors: Zhang Yanfang , Lei Xuezhong , Xu Liangliang , Lv Xiaoju , Xu Mingqing , Tang Hong
Published: March 2022

Background: Postoperative early recurrence (ER) is a major obstacle for long-term survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative liver resection (LR). This study aimed to establish pre- and postoperative nomograms in predicting ER for HCC without macrovascular invasion.Methods: The patients who underwent curative LR for HCC from January 2012 to December 2016 were divided into training and internal prospective validation cohorts. Nomograms were constructed based on the independent risk factors derived from multivariate logistic regression analyses in training cohort. The predictive performance of nomograms was validated by internal prospective validation cohort.Results: A total of 698 patients fulfilled with eligible criteria. Among them, 265 out of 482 patients (55.0%) in training cohort and 120 out 216 (55.6%) patients in validation cohort developed ER. The preoperative risk factors associated with ER were age, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), tumor diameter, tumor number; the postoperative risk factors associated with ER were age, tumor diameter, tumor number, microvasular invasion (MVI) and differentiation. The pre- and postoperative nomograms based on these factors showed good accuracy with C-indices of 0.712 and 0.850 in training cohort, and 0.754 and 0.857 in validation cohort, respectively. The calibration curves showed optimal agreement between the prediction by the nomograms and actual observation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of pre- and postoperative nomograms were 0.721 and 0.848 in training cohort, and 0.754 and 0.844 in validation cohort, respectively. Conclusions: Present nomograms showed good performance in predicting ER for HCC without macrovascular invasion before and after surgery, which were helpful for doctors in designation of treatments and selection of patients for regularly surveillance or administration of neoadjuvant therapies.
Type 2 diabetes and its effects on microRNA-155 and microRNA-133a expression in lung tissue of male rats
Authors: Khezri Maria , Rahbarghazi Reza , Ahmadi Mahdi , Sandoghchian Siamak , Nourazarian Alireza , shademan behrouz , Abdi Meysam , Khaki-Khatibi Fatemeh
Published: March 2022

Backgrounds:
The presence of extensive vascular and large amounts of collagen and elastin in lung tissue makes the lung parenchyma vulnerable to damage in diabetes. However, there are few studies on the pathophysiological effects of diabetes on lung tissue. In this study, we investigated the effects of type 2 diabetes on lung tissue pathology and the expression of miRNA-155 and miRNA-133a in lung tissue of male rats.
Methods and results:
In this study, 20 male rats were divided into a control group and a group with diabetes. The diabetic group received a high-fat diet for 4 weeks. Rats were injected with a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) after the fourth week. 4 days after STZ injection, blood glucose and glucose tolerance (GTT) tests were measured. Immediately after the tests, the mice were sacrificed and lung tissue was collected to measure microRNAs and to examine tissue changes. When lung tissue sections from diabetic rats were examined, the normal structure of the alveoli and alveolar sacs and bronchioles was disturbed. The extensive alveolar collapse was the main cause of lung tissue structure disruption, and the accumulation of inflammatory cells and exudate secretions resulted in an interstitial pneumonia-like appearance. The expression of miRNA-155 was increased, and the expression of miRNA-133a was decreased in the lungs of diabetic rats compared with control rats.
Conclusion
We found significant changes in the lung tissue of diabetic rats. By studying the changes in the expression of microRNAs in the lungs of diabetic patients, microRNA can be used as a diagnostic biomarker. These changes can provide appropriate treatment strategies.
The “Green” Campus of The University as a Driver of Sustainable Development
Authors: Vasilyeva Tetyana A. , Antoniuk Nataliia A. , Kyrychenko Kostiantyn I. , Laznenko Dmytro O.
Published: March 2022

The article highlights the problematic issues and prospects for methodology and practice transformation in ensuring the implementation of sustainable development principles in an environmental crisis. Google Trends has demonstrated the rapid promotion of the terms green campus and green university over the past five years (January 1, 2018 – January 1, 2022). A critical analysis of research results on changing the priorities of positioning themselves in the market by global financial business leaders with an emphasis on environmental and social orientation, which directly necessitates the implementation of environmental policy and increase social responsibility of domestic universities. The necessity to consider in the mechanism of practical implementation of the principles of sustainable development the fact that today the efficiency of the economy is largely determined by the impact of environmental risks. It is concluded that the principles of the green economy and the principles of sustainable development in general are known to society, but not fully implemented in practice, in particular the methods of doing business in Ukraine, which do not always correspond to them. According to surveys, 65% of respondents say that environmental risks largely define whether they will be able to keep their jobs in the near future. It is substantiated that today it is necessary to form practical skills of adherence to the principles and principles of sustainable development in the process of teaching and educating the younger generation, which determines the leading role of universities in the context of global trends in environmental challenges. Thus, for universities, the creation of green campuses is a tool for implementing environmental policy, and consequently a confirmation of their authority in the educational space and high-ranking positions in national and world rankings. The necessity of improving the mechanism of financing the development of green university campuses is substantiated; introduction of an effective system of relations between universities, which are guided by ESG policy in their activities, with local authorities in order to cooperate in the implementation of green projects to ensure sustainable development of the territory.
“No tempo que se podia festejar” a cultura popular na Festa de Santo Antônio
Authors: Soares da Silva Cicera Tayane
Published: March 2022

A Festa de Santo Antônio ocorre anualmente na cidade de Barbalha, começando no último domingo do mês de maio ou no primeiro domingo do mês de junho. O evento abre o ciclo festivo na região do Cariri, iniciando-se com o corte da árvore que, posteriormente, será conhecido como o pau de Santo Antônio. Na abertura da festividade, tem-se o cortejo do Pau da Bandeira, momento onde o tronco de uma árvore percorre as principais ruas da cidade. Esse momento é considerado pelos brincantes e devotos como sendo a ocasião mais significativa da festa, pois é hora de hastear a bandeira do santo casamenteiro, anunciando para todo o Cariri que os festejos a Santo Antônio começaram. Após sua abertura inicia-se a Trezena a Santo Antônio, momento onde são realizadas missas em louvor ao Santo. Durante esse período também há a presença de festividades dançantes, quermesses e apresentações artísticas. No ano de 2015, a festa foi registrada como patrimônio cultural imaterial do Brasil pelo Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (Iphan), tendo sua imagem ligada a cultura popular. A festa costuma receber um público de 250 mil pessoas, aproximadamente. No ano de 2020, a celebração, que ocorre desde 1928, foi adiada para o mês de outubro, que depois veio a ser totalmente cancelada, ocorrendo, apenas, em formato virtual. Frente ao contexto pandêmico vivenciado, o presente ensaio busca ofertar ao leitor uma visão sobre a Festa de Santo Antônio amparada nos grupos populares e como estes foram impactados pela pandemia do Coronavírus.
Kastelen in Zeeland, 1570-1670. Adellijke huizen en burgerlijke buitenverblijven
Authors: Van den Broeke Martin
Published: March 2022

In the seventeenth century the Dutch Republic saw the rise of a culture of country living that was mainly driven by wealthy townspeople. Apart from newly built country estates, some older castles were used as country residences. This raises the question whether the possession of a castle was an expression of the exceptional position of well-to-do townspeople in the bourgeois Republic of the seventeenth century. Can this, moreover, be understood as a form of ‘aristocratisation’? Were there differences in the design of castles and newly-built country houses that indicate that the former enjoyed a prestige that other rural houses did not? To answer these questions, this article first outlines the rise and background of Zeeland’s culture of country living. Then, the focus turns to the castles, with the question of how they passed from noble possession to civilian hands. In order to investigate the developments in castle ownership and the function of castles, this contribution focuses on the islands of Zuid-Beveland and Walcheren. Finally, the question is answered to what extent there were indeed differences in design between castles and newly built country houses.
Analyzability of Photoplethysmographic Smartwatch Data by the Preventicus Heartbeats Algorithm During Everyday Life: Feasibility Study
Authors: Merschel Steve , Reinhardt Lars
Published: March 2022

Background

Continuous heart rate monitoring via mobile health technologies based on photoplethysmography (PPG) has great potential for the early detection of sustained cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. However, PPG measurements are impaired by motion artifacts.

Objective

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the analyzability of smartwatch-derived PPG data during everyday life and to determine the relationship between the analyzability of the data and the activity level of the participant.

Methods

A total of 41 (19 female and 22 male) adults in good cardiovascular health (aged 19-79 years) continuously wore a smartwatch equipped with a PPG sensor and a 3D accelerometer (Cardio Watch 287, Corsano Health BV) for a period of 24 hours that represented their individual daily routine. For each participant, smartwatch data were analyzed on a 1-minute basis by an algorithm designed for heart rhythm analysis (Preventicus Heartbeats, Preventicus GmbH). As outcomes, the percentage of analyzable data (PAD) and the mean acceleration (ACC) were calculated. To map changes of the ACC and PAD over the course of one day, the 24-hour period was divided into 8 subintervals comprising 3 hours each.

Results

Univariate analysis of variance showed a large effect (ηp2> 0.6; P<.001) of time interval (phase) on the ACC and PAD. The PAD ranged between 34% and 100%, with an average of 71.5% for the whole day, which is equivalent to a period of 17.2 hours. Between midnight and 6 AM, the mean values were the highest for the PAD (>94%) and the lowest for the ACC (<6×10-3 m/s2). Regardless of the time of the day, the correlation between the PAD and ACC was strong (r=–0.64). A linear regression analysis for the averaged data resulted in an almost perfect coefficient of determination (r2=0.99).

Conclusions

This study showed a large relationship between the activity level and the analyzability of smartwatch-derived PPG data. Given the high yield of analyzable data during the nighttime, continuous arrhythmia screening seems particularly effective during sleep phases.
A Physical Activity Just-in-time Adaptive Intervention Designed in Partnership With a Predominantly Black Community: Virtual, Community-Based Participatory Design Approach (Preprint)
Authors: Robles Maria Cielito , Newman Mark W , Doshi Aalap , Bailey Sarah , Huang Linde , Choi Soo Ji , Kurien Chris , Merid Beza , Cowdery Joan , Golbus Jessica R , Huang Christopher , Dorsch Michael P , Nallamothu Brahmajee , Skolarus Lesli E
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

Black people are disproportionally impacted by hypertension. New approaches for encouraging healthy lifestyles are needed to reduce hypertension and promote health equity in Black communities.

OBJECTIVE

In this report, we describe the early-stage, virtual design of a just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) to increase physical activity in partnership with members of a low-income, predominantly Black community.

METHODS

The hallmark of JITAIs is highly contextualized mobile app push notifications. Thus, understanding participants' context and determinants of physical activity are critical. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted virtual discovery interviews and analysis guided by the Behavior Change Wheel (which focuses on participants' capacity, opportunity, and motivation to engage in physical activity), as well as empathy mapping. We then formed a community-academic participatory design team that partnered in the design sprint, storyboarding, and paper prototyping.

RESULTS

For this study, 5 community members participated in the discovery interviews, 12 stakeholders participated in the empathy mapping, 3 community members represented the community on the design team, and 10 community members provided storyboard or paper prototyping feedback. Only one community member had used videoconferencing prior to partnering with the academic team, and none had design experience. A set of 5 community-academic partner design principles were created: (1) keep users front and center, (2) tailor to the individual, (3) draw on existing motivation, (4) make physical activity feel approachable, and (5) make data collection transparent yet unobtrusive. To address community-specific barriers, the community-academic design team decided that mobile app push notifications will be tailored to participants’ baseline mobility level and community resources (eg, local parks and events). Push notifications will also be tailored based on the day (weekday versus weekend), time of day, and weather. Motivation will be enhanced via adaptive goal setting with supportive feedback and social support via community-generated notifications.

CONCLUSIONS

We completed early-stage virtual design of a JITAI in partnership with community participants and a community design team with limited design and videoconferencing experience. We found that designing JITAIs with the community enables these interventions to address community-specific needs, which may lead to a more meaningful impact on users' health.
A mobile application for assessing Quality of Life (EQ-5D-5L) as a reliable alternative for the gold standard paper-based version (Preprint)
Authors: Kamstra Regina Johanna Maria , Boorsma André , Krone Tanja , van Stokkum Robin M. , Eggink Hannah M. , Peters Ton , Pasman Wilrike J.
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

Study participants and patients often perceive (long) questionnaires as burdensome. In addition, paper-based questionnaires are prone to errors such as (unintentionally) skipping questions or filling in a wrong type of answer. With the emergence of mobile questionnaire applications, such errors can be prevented.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to validate an innovative way to measure quality of life using a mobile application (mobile app), based on the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. This validation study compared the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire requested by a mobile app to the gold standard, a paper-based version of the EQ-5D-5L.

METHODS

The study was designed as a randomized, cross-over, and open study. Each participant received a digital version of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire requested via a mobile app and the EQ-5D-5L paper-based questionnaire sent by postal mail. In the mobile app participants received, spread over five consecutive days, one question in the morning and one question in the afternoon and all questions were asked twice (at timepoint 1 (App T1) and timepoint 2 (App T2)). Primary outcomes were the correlations between the answers (scores) of each EQ-5D-5L question requested via the mobile app compared with the paper-based questionnaire to assess convergent validity.

RESULTS

In total 255 participants (healthy at own discretion), of which 117 men and 138 women in the age range of 18 – 64 years, completed the study. All questions showed a high correlation (0.64 - 0.92) for the paper-based EQ-5D-5L questionnaire versus the mobile app-based questions at App T1 and App T2. The scores and their variance remain similar over questionnaires, indicating no clear difference in answer tendency. Also, the correlation between the two app-based questionnaires was high (>0.73), illustrating a high test-retest reliability, and a reliable replacement for the paper-based questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study indicates that the mobile app is a valid tool for measuring quality of life and is as reliable as the paper-based version of the EQ-5D-5L, while reducing response burden.
Cumulative lifetime incidence of abortion in Soweto, South Africa: A respondent-driven sampling study (Preprint)
Authors: Gerdts Caitlin , Jayaweera Ruvani T. , Motana Relebohile , Bessenaar Tshego , Wesson Paul
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

Estimation of abortion incidence, particularly in settings where the majority of abortions occur outside of health facility settings, is plagued with methodological challenges. Respondant Driven Sampling (RDS) may offer a previously untested alternative to the estimation of abortion incidence.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we test the feasibility of using RDS to sample participants and measure cumulative lifetime incidence of non-facility based abortion among women of reproductive age in Soweto, South Africa.

METHODS

Participants were eligible if they identified as a woman between the ages of 15 – 49 years old, spoke English, Tswana, isiZulu, Sotho, or Xhosa, and lived in Soweto. Working with community partners, we identified 11 seeds who were provided with coupons to refer eligible peers to the study. On arrival to the study site, recruits completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire that solicited information about demographic characteristics, social network composition, health behaviors, sexual history, pregnancy history, and experience with abortion.and received three recruitment coupons. Recruitment was tracked through coupon numbering. We used the RDS-II estimator to estimate population proportions of demographic characteristics and our primary outcome, cumulative lifetime incidence of abortion.

RESULTS

Between April 4 and December 17, 2018, 849 eligible participants were recruited into the study. The lifetime cumulative incidence of abortion was 12.0% (95% CI 9.7% - 14.3%) (Table 2). A total of 7.4% (95% CI 5.5% - 9.2%) reported a facility-based abortion, and 4.3% (95% CI 2.8% - 5.7%) reported an out-of-facility abortion.

CONCLUSIONS

The estimated cumulative lifetime incidence of 12.0% in our study likely represents a substantial underestimate of the actual lifetime incidence of abortion among this study population—representing a failure of the RDS method to generate more reliable estimates of abortion incidence within our study. We caution the use of RDS in studies on abortion due to persistent concerns with under-reporting.

CLINICALTRIAL

n/A
Susceptibility of Two Varieties of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) to Pest and Disease Infection in the Sub-District of Tanah Sareal, Bogor
Authors: Triwidodo Hermanu , Tondok Efi Toding , Avifah Desy Nur
Published: March 2022

This survey was done in several guava fields around Bogor and found many unhealthy plants infested by various plant pests and diseases. This study aimed to analyze the effect of various guava cultivars on pest and disease intensity on guava in the Sub-District of Tanah Sareal, Bogor. Samples were collected from 20 fields that consisted of 15 samples of Getas Merah and 5 samples of Bangkok Putih cultivars to identify plant pests and diseases. Interviews were done with field owners to obtain information on cultivating practices. Pests found based on morphological identification included plant bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae), locusts (Orthoptera: Acrididae), bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae), Geometrid caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), Pyralid caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae), planthoppers (Hemiptera: Flatidae), and mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Disease and pathogens identified included red rust disease (Cephaleuros sp.), anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), and fruit cancer (Pestalotia sp.). The occurrence of biting-chewing type pests was greater than piercing-sucking type insects, including 33.33% and 34.99%. Red rust disease was the dominant disease found on both guava cultivars consisting of 68.88% and 63.33% of the samples.
Detection of Strawberry vein banding virus (SVBV) and Identification of Viruliferous Insects Associated with Strawberry Plants (Fragaria sp.) in Bali
Authors: Sudiarta I Putu , Wirya Gusti Ngurah Alit Susanta , Selangga Dewa Gede Wiryangga , Wangi Made Getas Pudak
Published: March 2022

Plant pests and diseases cause decreases in strawberry yield in Bali, including plant viruses. Strawberry vein banding virus (SVBV) is a virus that infects strawberry plants and is transmitted by insects. However, studies about this disease in Bali are still limited. This study aimed to detect SVBV within insect bodies and determine the insect species of its vector. Methods used included (1) sampling; (2) detection of SVBV from insect bodies using primers (SVBV F/SVBV R) and PCR; and (3) molecular identification of viruliferous insect with primers (LCO 1490 F/HCO 2198 R) using PCR and sequencing analysis. This study successfully detected SVBV DNA in an insect from three insect families associated with strawberry plants in Pancasari Village, Buleleng Regency, Bali. Results from the nucleotide sequences analysis in SVBV viruliferous insects indicate that the insect was Myzus persicae.
Dipping Seedling’s Rice Root with Indigenous Microorganisms from Mimosa invisa to Control Blast Disease and Increased Rice Production in Purwoasri Village, Jember
Authors: Rizqon Abd. Rouf , Wahyuni Wiwiek Sri
Published: March 2022

Rice blast disease has become endemic in Purwoasri Village, Gumukmas District, Jember since 2018; this was due to the use of the Ciherang variety planted continuously. The study aimed to use the indigenous microorganisms (IM) suspension from Mimosa invisa roots, made by farmers from Pos Pelayanan Agens Hayati (PPAH, Biological Agent Service Post) in Ambulu District as the control agent for blast pathogens and increased rice production. The roots of rice seeds were dipped in IM suspension at a concentration of 50 mL/L for 2 hours to penetrate to roots. Seedlings with IM were planted in a block of 250 m2, and control was also planted in the same block size. In the IM-treated block, the incidence and severity of blast disease decreased compared to the control. The root treated by IM dipping was also increased the plant growth, including root architecture, root length, root volume, and the number of tillers/plant; furthermore, it improved the rice production. It was found that IM suspension contained pseudomonad fluorescent and Bacillussp. that belong to Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) group.
Определение параметров зон лазерного воздействия и триботехнических свойств поверхностей сталей
Authors: Бирюков В.П.
Published: March 2022

В работе представлены результаты металлографических и триботехнических исследований образцов стали 40Х с лазерной закалкой из жидкого и твердого состояния. На основании проведенного регрессионного анализа получены закономерности изменения глубины и ширины зон термического воздействия при изменяемых частотах поперечных колебаний луча, скорости обработки и его дефокусировке. Расширены возможности применения сканирующих устройств резонансного типа для лазерной термической обработки и легирования сталей. Анализ результатов триботехнических испытаний показал значительное уменьшение коэффициентов трения, повышение износостойкости и нагрузочной способности контакта по сравнению с исходной сталью.
Hand-written Character Recognition with Neural Network
Authors: Rathore Priti Singh , Kumar Dr. Pawan
Published: March 2022

Abstract: Various handwriting styles are unique in this manner, making it challenging to identify characters that were written by hand. Handwritten character recognition has become the subject of exploration over the last few decades through an exploration of neural networks. Languages written from left-to-right, such as Hindi, are read from start-to-finish design. To recognize these types of writing, we present a Deep Learning-based handwritten Hindi character recognition system utilizing deep learning techniques such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) with Optimizer Adaptive Moment Estimation (Adam) and Deep Neural Networks (DNN) in this paper. The suggested system was trained on samples from a large number of database images and then evaluated on images from a user-defined data set, yielding extremely high accuracy rates. Keywords: Deep learning, CNN, Adam Optimizer, Handwritten character recognition, Accuracy, Training Time.
Georgii Fedotov as a Theologian of Culture
Authors: Mjør Kåre Johan
Published: March 2022

The article discusses the notion of culture as it appears and is conceptualized in the works of G.P. Fedotov. The analysis focuses on two articles by Fedotov published in Russian migr journals, "The Holy Spirit in Nature and Culture" of 1932 and "Eschatology and culture" of 1938, and in his magnum opus in a Western context, The Russian Religious Mind of 1946. The author proposes to analyze Fedotov's ideas as a theology of culture due to the profoundly religious meaning the Russian migr thinker attributed to cultural products and production, regardless of their religious intention. By implication, Fedotov understood culture in a religious framework as the human experience of and response to the divine, though not necessarily as dependent on firm belief. Viewing Fedotov as a theologian of culture enables us, furthermore, to compare him with other thinkers across the West-East cultural gradient, most notably Paul Tillich. This approach contextualizes Fedotov in a post-Schellingian pan-European idealist tradition, to which Russian thinkers' analyses of religious experience and imagination have made seminal contributions, in particular from Vladimir Solov'ev on. The article discusses these issues within the framework of the perspectives of global intellectual history, entangled history ( histoire croise ), and transnationalized Russian studies.