bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Freshwater micro-gastropods from the Iguaçu National Park, Brazil: two new truncatelloid caenogastropods and anatomy of Chilina megastoma Hylton Scott, 1958
Authors: Simone Luiz Ricardo L.
Published: March 2021

Collecting in Foz do Iguaçu National Park, Paraná, Brazil, an important tourist region with preserved rainforest, has revealed three micro-gastropod species which required morphological and taxonomic studies. One of them is a chilinid Chilina megastoma Hylton Scott, a member of a poorly studied group. Another two are new species of truncatelloid caenogastropods: Potamolithus mirim n. sp. and Heleobia iguassu n. sp. The three species are described in detail and discussed from taxonomic and phylogenetic point of view. As they are highly endemic, protective measures are suggested.
Caring for each other: a rapid review of how mutual dependency is challenged by advanced illness
Authors: Parsons Joanne Elizabeth , Dale Jeremy , MacArtney John I. , Nanton Veronica
Published: March 2021

This review explores factors sustaining and threatening couples’ relationships when both have advanced illness. Qualitative studies exploring relationships between two people in a marriage/partnership with advanced illness are included. A total of 12 articles are included. Internal enabling factors, external enabling factors and threatening factors are identified. However, there is limited evidence internationally on factors sustaining these relationships and crisis factors. Little is known about the impact of crises on couples and the process of change from mutual dependency to carer and cared for. The article concludes that shifts by services towards holistic care focused on the couple’s needs are indicated.
Accurate quantitative phase imaging by the transport of intensity equation: a mixed-transfer-function approach
Authors: Lu Linpeng , Fan Yao , Sun Jiasong , Zhang Jialing , Wu Xuejuan , Chen Qian , Zuo Chao
Published: March 2021

As a well-established deterministic phase retrieval approach, the transport of intensity equation (TIE) is able to recover the quantitative phase of a sample under coherent or partially coherent illumination with its through-focus intensity measurements. Nevertheless, the inherent paraxial approximation limits its validity to low-numerical-aperture imaging and slowly varying objects, precluding its application to high-resolution quantitative phase imaging (QPI). Alternatively, QPI can be achieved by phase deconvolution approaches based on the coherent contrast transfer function or partially coherent weak object transfer function (WOTF) without invoking paraxial approximation. But these methods are generally appropriate for “weakly scattering” samples in which the total phase delay induced by the object should be small. Consequently, high-resolution high-accuracy QPI of “nonweak” phase objects with fine details and large phase excursions remains a great challenge. In this Letter, we propose a mixed-transfer-function (MTF) approach to address the dilemma between measurement accuracy and imaging resolution. By effectively merging the phases reconstructed by TIE and WOTF in the frequency domain, the high-accuracy low-frequency phase “global” profile can be secured, and high-resolution high-frequency features can be well preserved simultaneously. Simulations and experimental results on a microlens array and unstained biological cells demonstrate the effectiveness of MTF.
Control strategies for COVID-19 epidemic with vaccination, shield immunity and quarantine: A metric temporal logic approach
Authors: Xu Zhe , Wu Bo , Topcu Ufuk
Published: March 2021

Ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, various public health control strategies have been proposed and tested against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. We study three specific COVID-19 epidemic control models: the susceptible, exposed, infectious, recovered (SEIR) model with vaccination control; the SEIR model withshield immunitycontrol; and the susceptible, un-quarantined infected, quarantined infected, confirmed infected (SUQC) model with quarantine control. We express the control requirement inmetric temporal logic(MTL) formulas (a type of formal specification languages) which can specify the expected control outcomes such as “the deaths from the infection should never exceed one thousand per day within the next three months” or “the population immune from the disease should eventually exceed 200 thousand within the next 100 to 120 days”. We then develop methods for synthesizing control strategies with MTL specifications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to systematically synthesize control strategies based on the COVID-19 epidemic models with formal specifications. We provide simulation results in three different case studies: vaccination control for the COVID-19 epidemic with model parameters estimated from data in Lombardy, Italy; shield immunity control for the COVID-19 epidemic with model parameters estimated from data in Lombardy, Italy; and quarantine control for the COVID-19 epidemic with model parameters estimated from data in Wuhan, China. The results show that the proposed synthesis approach can generate control inputs such that the time-varying numbers of individuals in each category (e.g., infectious, immune) satisfy the MTL specifications. The results also show that early intervention is essential in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, and more control effort is needed for morestringentMTL specifications. For example, based on the model in Lombardy, Italy, achieving less than 100 deaths per day and 10000 total deaths within 100 days requires 441.7% more vaccination control effort than achieving less than 1000 deaths per day and 50000 total deaths within 100 days.
Ecological restoration of agricultural land can improve its contribution to economic development
Authors: Newton Adrian C. , Evans Paul M. , Watson Stephen C. L. , Ridding Lucy E. , Brand Steven , McCracken Morag , Gosal Arjan S. , Bullock James. M.
Published: March 2021

Given the negative environmental impacts of intensive agriculture, there is an urgent need to reduce the impact of food production on biodiversity. Ecological restoration of farmland could potentially contribute to this goal. While the positive impacts of ecological restoration on biodiversity are well established, less evidence is available regarding impacts on economic development and employment. Potentially, prospects for economic development could be enhanced by ecological restoration though increased provision of ecosystem services, on which some economic activity depends. Here we examined this issue through the development of contrasting land use scenarios for the county of Dorset, southern England. Two scenarios of future agricultural expansion were compared with two scenarios of landscape-scale ecological restoration and the current situation. Impacts on provision of multiple ecosystem services (ES) were explored using InVEST models and proxy values for different land cover types. Impacts on economic employment were examined using an economic input-output model, which was adjusted for variation in ES flows using empirically determined ES dependency values for different economic sectors. Using the unadjusted input-output model, the scenarios had only a slight economic impact (≤ 0.3% Gross Value Added, GVA). Conversely, when the input-output model was adjusted to take account of ES flows, GVA increased by up to 5.4% in the restoration scenarios, whereas under the scenario with greatest agricultural expansion, GVA was reduced by -4.5%. Similarly, employment increased by up to 6.7% following restoration, compared to declines of up to -5.6% following maximum agricultural expansion. These results show that the economic contribution of rural land is far greater than that attributable to agricultural production alone. Landscape-scale restoration of agricultural land can potentially increase the contribution of farmland to economic development and employment, by increasing flows of multiple ES to the many economic sectors that depend on them.
An assessment of prevalence and expenditure associated with discharge brain MRI in preterm infants
Authors: Dookeran Keith A. , Groh James M. , Ritacco David G. , Marcus Lydia R. , Wang Yang , Khan Janine Y.
Published: March 2021

To assess national expenditure associated with preterm-infant brain MRI and potential impact of reduction per Choosing Wisely campaign 2015 recommendation to “avoid routine screening term-equivalent or discharge brain MRIs in preterm-infants”. Cross-sectional U.S. trend data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) database (2006, 2009, 2012, 2016) was used to estimate overall national expenditure associated with brain MRI among infants with gestational age (GA) ≤36 weeks, and also when classified as ‘not indicated’ (NI-MRI) i.e., equivalent to routine use without clinical indications and regarded as low-value service (LVS). Associated cost was determined by querying CMS-database for physician-fee-schedules to find the highest global procedure-cost per cycle, then adjusting for inflation. Sensitivity-analyses were conducted to account for additional clinical charges associated with NI-MRI. 3,768 (0.26%) of 1,472,236 preterm-infants had brain MRI across all cycles (inflation-adjusted total $3,690,088). Overall proportion of brain MRIs increased across 2006–2012 from 0.25%-0.33% but decreased in 2016 to 0.16% (P<0.001). Inflation-adjusted overall expenditure by cycle was: 2006, $1,299,130 (95% CI: $987,505, $1,610,755); 2009, $1,194,208 (95% CI: $873,487, $1,516,154); 2012, $931,836 (95% CI: $666,114, $1,197,156); and 2016, $264,648 (95% CI: $172,061, $357,280). Prevalence for NI-MRI in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2016 was 86% (n = 809), 88% (n = 940), 89% (n = 1028) and 50% (n = 299), respectively; and 70% were in infants 35–36 weeks GA. NI-MRI prevalence was not different over time by payer-type (Medicaid, private), sex or race/ethnicity (white, black, Hispanic); larger hospital size was significantly associated across 2006–2012 but this declined for all sizes in 2016, with most decline in larger hospitals (P for interaction <0.05). NI-MRI expenditure sensitivity-analysis with addition of cycle median total-admission-charge to inflation-adjusted CMS-fee was $1,190,919/$518,343, for 2012/2016 cycles respectively. National MRI prevalence in preterm infants (both overall and LVS) and associated expenditure decreased substantially post recommendation; however, annual savings are modest and unlikely to be >$1.2 million.
Depressive symptoms, HIV-related stigma and ART adherence among caregivers of children in vulnerable households in rural southern Malawi
Authors: Spielman Kathryn L. , Soler-Hampejsek Erica , Muula Adamson S. , Tenthani Lyson , Hewett Paul C.
Published: March 2021

Background

Few studies have explored the association between depressive symptoms, HIV infection and stigma in vulnerable populations. The objective of this study is to examine factors associated with depressive symptoms among caregivers living in vulnerable households in Malawi and assess how reported depressive symptoms and other factors affect ART adherence among caregivers who report testing positive for HIV and currently on ART.

Methods

We interviewed 818 adult caregivers of children aged 0–17 years living in vulnerable households in 24 health facility catchment areas in five districts in rural southern Malawi in 2016–2017. Vulnerable households had either economic and food insecurity, or chronic illness. Questions on five depressive symptoms were used. ART adherence was self-report of not forgetting to take ART medication in the last week. Perceived and anticipated measures of stigma were used. Multivariable linear and logistic regressions documented relationships between depressive symptoms, self-reported HIV status, HIV-related stigma, and ART adherence.

Results

Most caregivers were women (86.2%); about one third had no spouse or live-in partner. Fifty-seven percent of caregivers reported having three or more depressive symptoms. Forty-one percent of caregivers reported testing positive for HIV. Self-reported HIV positive status was associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted coeff = 0.355, p-value <0.001), which were in turn associated with poorer ART adherence among caregivers (aOR 0.639, p-value = 0.023). HIV-related stigma was also associated with depressive symptoms for caregivers who reported having HIV (coeff = 0.302, p-value = 0.028) and those who reported testing negative for HIV (coeff = 0.187, p-value <0.001). Having social support was associated with lower depressive symptoms (coeff = -0.115, p = 0.007). HIV-related stigma, having social support, and other socio-demographic characteristics were not found to be associated with ART adherence.

Conclusions

Addressing mental health among caregivers in vulnerable households may be an important step toward achieving viral suppression among vulnerable populations living with HIV in Malawi. Integrating depression screening into HIV care and treatment protocols could be a promising intervention to improve longer-term outcomes.
“Doctor, my back hurts and I cannot sleep.” Depression in primary care patients: Reasons for consultation and perceived depression stigma
Authors: Heinz Ines , Baldofski Sabrina , Beesdo-Baum Katja , Knappe Susanne , Kohls Elisabeth , Rummel-Kluge Christine
Published: March 2021

Background

General practitioners (GPs) play a significant role in depression care. Recognition of depression is crucial for adequate treatment but is impeded by a high portion of depressed patients only reporting physical symptoms to their GP. Among the many reasons for this phenomenon is mental health stigma. We investigated how patients with depression differed from patients without depression regarding the types and number of complaints presented to their GP, as well as their depression stigma. For the subgroup of patients with depression, potential associations between perceived depression stigma and number and types of presented complaints were investigated to see if these might reflect the patient’s intention to conceal mental health symptoms due to fear of being stigmatized by others. Further, we investigated if perceived depression stigma is related to depression treatment.

Methods

Data on depressive symptoms (assessed by the Depression Screening Questionnaire; DSQ), depression stigma (assessed by the Depressions Stigma Scale; DSS), type of complaints reported to the GP and treatment-related factors were collected from 3,563 unselected primary care patients of 253 GPs in a cross-sectional epidemiological study (“VERA study”) in six different German regions. Data of a total of 3,069 patients was used for analysis on complaints reported to the GP (subsample of the VERA study), and for 2,682 out of 3,069 patients data on a stigma questionnaire was available.

Results

Nearly half of the primary care patients with depression (42.2%) reported only physical complaints to their GP. Compared to patients without a depression diagnosis, patients with depression reported twice as many complaints to their GP with a mean of 2.02 (1.33) vs. 1.2 (0.69), including a more frequent combination of physical and mental symptoms (28.8% vs. 3.5%). Patients with depression showed higher total stigma compared to patients without depression, Mdn = 48 (IQR 40–54) vs. Mdn = 46.3 (IQR 29–53), due to higher perceived stigma, Mdn = 27 (IQR 21–32) vs. Mdn = 25.9 (IQR 20–29). Perceived stigma was associated with male gender (beta -.14, p = .005) and a lack of pharmacological treatment (beta -.14, p = .021) in patients with a depression diagnosis.

Conclusion

The number of complaints presented to the GP might function as a marker to actively explore depression in primary care patients, in particular when both physical and mental symptoms are reported. Perceived depression stigma should also be addressed especially in male patients. Further research should clarify the role of perceived stigma as a potential inhibitor of pharmacological treatment of depression in primary care.
Swimming direction of the glass catfish is responsive to magnetic stimulation
Authors: Hunt Ryan D. , Ashbaugh Ryan C. , Reimers Mark , Udpa Lalita , Saldana De Jimenez Gabriela , Moore Michael , Gilad Assaf A. , Pelled Galit
Published: March 2021

Several marine species have developed a magnetic perception that is essential for navigation and detection of prey and predators. One of these species is the transparent glass catfish that contains an ampullary organ dedicated to sense magnetic fields. Here we examine the behavior of the glass catfish in response to static magnetic fields which will provide valuable insight on function of this magnetic response. By utilizing state of the art animal tracking software and artificial intelligence approaches, we quantified the effects of magnetic fields on the swimming direction of glass catfish. The results demonstrate that glass catfish placed in a radial arm maze, consistently swim away from magnetic fields over 20 μT and show adaptability to changing magnetic field direction and location.
Establishment of a novel probe-based RT-qPCR approach for detection and quantification of tight junctions reveals age-related changes in the gut barriers of broiler chickens
Authors: von Buchholz J. Sophia , Bilic Ivana , Aschenbach Jörg R. , Hess Michael , Mitra Taniya , Awad Wageha A.
Published: March 2021

Tight junctions (TJs) play a dominant role in gut barrier formation, therefore, resolving the structures of TJs in any animal species is crucial but of major importance in fast growing broilers. They are regulated in molecular composition, ultrastructure and function by intracellular proteins and the cytoskeleton. TJ proteins are classified according to their function into barrier-forming, scaffolding and pore-forming types with deductible consequences for permeability. In spite of their importance for gut health and its integrity limited studies have investigated the TJs in chickens, including the comprehensive evaluation of TJs molecular composition and function in the chicken gut. In the actual study sequence-specific probes to target different TJ genes (claudin 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 19, zonula occludens 1 (ZO1), occludin (OCLN) and tricellulin (MD2)) were designed and probe-based RT-qPCRs were newly developed. Claudin (CLDN) 1, 5, ZO1 and CLDN 3, 7, MD2 were engulfed in multiplex RT-qPCRs, minimizing the number of separate reactions and enabling robust testing of many samples. All RT-qPCRs were standardized for chicken jejunum and caecum samples, which enabled specific detection and quantification of the gene expression. Furthermore, the newly established protocols were used to investigate the age developmental changes in the TJs of broiler chickens from 1–35 days of age in the same organ samples. Results revealed a significant increase in mRNA expression between 14 and 21days of age of all tested TJs in jejunum. However, in caecum, mRNA expression of some TJs decreased after 1 day of age whereas some TJs mRNA remained constant till 35 days of age. Taken together, determining the segment-specific changes in the expression of TJ- proteins by RT-qPCR provides a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning pathophysiological changes in the gut of broiler chickens with various etiologies.
Picturing the Gender Other: On Lissa Rivera’s Beautiful Boy and Juan José Barboza-Gubo and Andrew Mroczek’s Virgenes de la Puerta
Authors: Wolin Joseph R.
Published: March 2021

Examining representation and self-presentation in two photographic projects by cis-gendered artists that portray non-binary subjects, this essay looks at staged portraits by Lissa Rivera and by the team of Juan José Barboza-Gubo and Andrew Mroczek. It questions the politics and ethics of depicting the gender “other” in light of current notions about identity and the “right” to make certain categories of images. With reference to ideas from the writings of Ariella Azoulay and Édouard Glissant, the essay suggests the efficacy of the artists’ work in both making the other visible and picturing a fully equal subjectivity.
I Enjoy Being A Boy
Authors: Cuthand Thirza
Published: March 2021

I’ve been taking photos of myself alone in sexy situations for the past couple of years. Not having an ongoing lover has made me want to connect with my sexuality and gender in visible ways for my own personal pleasure. This non-binary Butch boy dick pic reminds me that I can live in my body and through my fantasies in any way I want. My Pie Daddy tattoo also reminds me that I can claim my body and change it in ways that represent my soul more accurately, in this case as a nurturing and sexy human being. I sometimes think my art practice would have involved more sex if I’d been having more sex in my life. So this solo image of myself in a gendered and erotic pose helps me feel more connected to embodying my desires
Dispositivos de la sensibilidad. Para una tecnología de la experiencia estética
Authors: Pérez-Wilke Inés
Published: March 2021

La comprensión de la experiencia estética como instancia nuclear en la producción de subjetividades y la construcción de realidad social abre una reflexión sobre la dimensión tecnológica del trabajo sensible. Esta sería una forma de producción y trasformación de lo real, que aquí opera como trasvase creativo entre lo material y lo simbólico entendido como tecnologías de lo sensible. Para ello se parte del lugar de la mediación estética en las dinámicas vitales de nuestros pueblos, se muestran algunos dispositivos estéticos tradicionales, y su vinculación con artefactos del arte contemporáneo para la operación estética y la creación común de lo real. En el caso de las prácticas creadoras, artísticas y/o estéticas este proceso se orienta a la producción material de una posibilidad existencial, que pueda ser habitada, alcanzando una dimensión política.
¿Hay vida más allá del cognitivismo?. Encontrando respuestas en la psicología social.
Authors: Pons Diez Javier
Published: March 2021

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar una revisión de algunas orientaciones teóricas surgidas a finales del siglo XX, que se postulan como alternativas a los modelos predominantes del procesamiento de la información. En primer lugar, se describen las características distintivas de la orientación cognitivista. A continuación, se exponen las principales críticas vertidas sobre esta orientación. Posteriormente, se hace una caracterización de algunas escuelas de pensamiento, surgidas en la psicología social, que recogen esta crítica y presentan posiciones alternativas a las teorías cognitivistas.
Comparative Analysis of Taper and Taperless Blade Design for Ocean Wind Turbines in Ciheras Coastline, West Java
Authors: Madi Madi , Tuswan Tuswan , Arirohman Ilham Dwi , Ismail Abdi
Published: March 2021

The blade is the most critical part of turbine design because it is used to convert kinetic to mechanical energy. In general, the blade types used for ocean wind turbines are taper and taperless blades, like those operated at Ciheras Coastline. Previous research has been analyzed the type of airfoil used in designing taper blades for ocean wind turbines using NACA 4412, which was selected as the optimal foil configuration at sea wind speeds of 12 m/s. In this study, the comparison of taper and taperless blade designs using NACA 4412 at a wind speed of 12 m/s is analyzed. The comparative study with previous research has been carried out and resulted in the same graphical patterns and performance results. In this study, the focus is on investigating the performance coefficient of power, mechanical power, and electrical power. The final result shows that taper blade designs are highly recommended for use in ocean wind turbines compared to taperless blades. In general, the performance produced by taper blades is more significant than taperless blades at relatively high wind speeds. The maximum performance coefficient of power, mechanical power, and electrical power generated by the taper blades in sequent are 0.47, 1535 watts, and 786 watts, while the taperless blades have 0.44, 1437 watts, and 736 watts.
Study on Implementation of Activity-Based Costing (ABC) System on Determination of Indirect Costs in Ship Production
Authors: Wahidi Sufian Imam , Virmansyah Vialdo Muhammad , Pribadi Triwilaswandio Wuruk
Published: March 2021

Currently, business development, especially in the maritime sector, has quite rapid progress in Indonesia. Recently, the shipbuilding industry's development is an effort to improve competitiveness with the global market. With the increasing development of the shipbuilding industry in Indonesia, cost accounting as a cost information system is challenged to develop the shipbuilding industry, requiring high product quality. This matter requires the company to decide on proper budget planning not to experience losses. Activity-Based Costing (ABC) System is a system to determine costs using activities to classify costs to produce indirect costs that are more systematic and relevant. Activity-based costing systems identify resources in each department's activities to provide information about a product's cost. It collects indirect costs and allocates them to various products in proportion to the product volume. Therefore, activity-based costing can estimate the product costs and individual activity costs used in the production well. The first step is classifying activities, associating various costs with various activities, determining homogeneous cost groups, and determining group rates. The second step of this stage is the determination of overhead prices selected from each cost group. This research compares indirect costs to the construction of 2x1800 HP tugboat ships according to traditional cost accounting methods with the Activity-Based Costing System method. The first method's result is 3,432,920,043 IDR and the second method is 2,231,760,472 IDR.
Coordinated Postnatal Maturation of Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons and Dopamine Release Dynamics in Mice
Authors: McGuirt Avery F. , Post Michael R. , Pigulevskiy Irena , Sulzer David , Lieberman Ori J.
Published: March 2021

Dynamic changes in motor abilities and motivated behaviors occur during the juvenile and adolescent periods. The striatum is a subcortical nucleus critical to action selection, motor learning, and reward processing. Its tonically active cholinergic interneuron (ChI) is an integral regulator of the synaptic activity of other striatal neurons, as well as afferent axonal projections of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons; however, little is known about its development. Here, we report that ChI spontaneous activity increases during postnatal development of male and female mice, concomitant with a decreased afterhyperpolarization (AHP). We characterized the postnatal development of four currents that contribute to the spontaneous firing rate of ChIs, including ISK, IA, Ih, and INaP. We demonstrated that the developmental increase in INaPdrives increased ChI firing rates during the postnatal period and can be reversed by the INaPinhibitor, ranolazine. We next addressed whether immature cholinergic signaling may lead to functional differences in DA release during the juvenile period. In the adult striatum, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) prevent linear summation of DA release in response to trains of high-frequency stimuli. We show that, in contrast, during the second postnatal week, DA release linearly sums with trains of high-frequency stimuli. Consistently, nAChR antagonists exert little effect on dopamine release at postnatal day (P)10, but enhance the summation of evoked DA release in mice older than postnatal day P28. Together, these results reveal that postnatal maturation of ChI activity is due primarily to enhanced INaPand identify an interaction between developing cholinergic signaling and DA neurotransmission in the juvenile striatum.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTMotor skills and motivated behavior develop rapidly in juvenile rodents. Recent work has highlighted processes that contribute to the postnatal maturation of striatal principal neurons during development. The functional development of the striatal cholinergic interneuron (ChI), however, has been unexplored. In this study, we tracked the ontogeny of ChI activity and cellular morphology, as well as the developmental trajectory of specific conductances that contribute to the activity of these cells. We further report a link between cholinergic signaling and dopamine (DA) release, revealing a change in the frequency-dependence of DA release during the early postnatal period that is mediated by cholinergic signaling. This study provides evidence that striatal microcircuits are dynamic during the postnatal period and that they undergo coordinated maturation.
Synaptophysin Regulates Fusion Pores and Exocytosis Mode in Chromaffin Cells
Authors: Chang Che-Wei , Hsiao Yu-Tien , Jackson Meyer B.
Published: March 2021

Synaptophysin (syp) is a major integral membrane protein of secretory vesicles. Previous work has demonstrated functions for syp in synaptic vesicle cycling, endocytosis, and synaptic plasticity, but the role of syp in the process of membrane fusion during Ca2+-triggered exocytosis remains poorly understood. Furthermore, although syp resides on both large dense-core and small synaptic vesicles, its role in dense-core vesicle function has received less attention compared with synaptic vesicle function. To explore the role of syp in membrane fusion and dense-core vesicle function, we used amperometry to measure catecholamine release from single vesicles in male and female mouse chromaffin cells with altered levels of syp and the related tetraspanner protein synaptogyrin (syg). Knocking out syp slightly reduced the frequency of vesicle fusion events below wild-type (WT) levels, but knocking out both syp and syg reduced the frequency 2-fold. Knocking out both proteins stabilized initial fusion pores, promoted fusion pore closure (kiss-and-run), and reduced late-stage fusion pore expansion. Introduction of a syp construct lacking its C-terminal dynamin-binding domain in syp knock-outs (KOs) increased the duration and fraction of kiss-and-run events, increased total catecholamine release per event, and reduced late-stage fusion pore expansion. These results demonstrated that syp and syg regulate dense-core vesicle function at multiple stages to initiate fusion, control the choice of mode between full-fusion and kiss-and-run, and influence the dynamics of both initial and late-stage fusion pores. The transmembrane domain (TMD) influences small initial fusion pores, and the C-terminal domain influences large late-stage fusion pores, possibly through an interaction with dynamin.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe secretory vesicle protein synaptophysin (syp) is known to function in synaptic vesicle cycling, but its roles in dense-core vesicle functions, and in controlling membrane fusion during Ca2+-triggered exocytosis remain unclear. The present study used amperometry recording of catecholamine release from endocrine cells to assess the impact of syp and related proteins on membrane fusion. A detailed analysis of amperometric spikes arising from the exocytosis of single vesicles showed that these proteins influence fusion pores at multiple stages and control the choice between kiss-and-run and full-fusion. Experiments with a syp construct lacking its C terminus indicated that the transmembrane domain (TMD) influences the initial fusion pore, while the C-terminal domain influences later stages after fusion pore expansion.
Seeing Experimental Imperialism in the Nuclear Pacific
Authors: Hamilton Kevin , O’Gorman Ned
Published: March 2021

Those looking to judge the historical wrongs of American nuclear testing often discover an overwhelming surplus of images that amount to a series of incoherent visual fragments, leaving us with an abundant historical record and barriers to interpreting that record. This essay meets this challenge through discerning a new role for photography in the bombing of the Marshall Islands. In revisiting the function of the camera in the staging of these nuclear experiments, we find a model for the United States’ larger relationship to the post-WWII Pacific. Through a process we call “experimental imperialism,” U.S. nuclear tests utilized both cameras and international law to render living beings and the spaces they inhabited as lab-like specimens.
Laser Machining of Die Steel (EN-31): An Experimental Approach to Optimise Process Parameters using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Patel A. R. , Bhavsar S. N.
Published: March 2021

Experiments were performed based on response surface methodology (RSM) to investigate the process parameters effect on the features of hole geometry. Cutting speed (of 500-1000 mm/min), laser power (of 2000-4000 W), frequency (of 800-2000 Hz), duty cycle (of 75-95%), and gas pressure (of 0.05-0.15 bar) were considered as variable parameters. Deviation in the dimension of entrance and exit holes, heat affected zone (HAZ) on the upper & lower edge, and roughness were the output to analyse the cutting quality of 14 mm thick normal and heat-treated (HT) EN-31 die steel using 4 kW CO2 laser. For untreated plate, minimum taper angle was achieved with low cutting speed, higher laser power, and gas pressure. Higher cutting speed, low laser power, and higher gas pressure result in the minimum HAZ. For the HT plate, the mid-range of parameters results in the minimum taper angle and HAZ. An optimised model was developed, and the confirmatory test gives roughness up to 0.27 microns and it shows good agreement with the mathematical model. At the cross-section of holes, striation pattern, resolidified layer, and corner qualities were visually inspected. Surface damage near the cutting edge was observed using scanning electron microscopy.
Effect of COVID-19 on the clinical course of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Authors: Kempegowda Punith , Melson Eka , Johnson Agnes , Wallett Lucy , Thomas Lucretia , Zhou Dengyi , Holmes Catherine , Juszczak Agata , Karamat Mohammed Ali , Ghosh Sandip , Hanif Wasim , Narendran Parth , Bellary Srikanth
Published: March 2021

Objective

COVID-19 in people with diabetes is associated with a disproportionately worse prognosis. DKA is an acute complication of diabetes with a mortality rate of approximately 0.67%. Little is known about the natural history of DKA in the presence of COVID-19. This study aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19 on presentation, clinical course and outcome in patients presenting with DKA.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

All patients treated for DKA between 1 March 2020 and 30 May 2020 were included. Patients were categorised as COVID-positive or COVID-negative based on the swab test. A pre-COVID group was established using data from 01 March 2019 to 30 May 2019 as external control. Data regarding demographics, diabetes type, pH, bicarbonate, lactate, glucose, DKA duration, complications and outcome were collected.

Results

A total of 88 DKA episodes were included in this study. There was no significant difference in the severity or duration of DKA between the three groups. COVID-positive T1DM were more hyperglycaemic on admission compared to COVID-negative and pre-COVID patients. There was an over representation of T2DM in COVID-positive patients with DKA than in pre-COVID or COVID-negative groups.

Conclusion

COVID-19 appears to influence the natural history of DKA differently in T1DM and T2DM. Patients with T1DM and COVID-19 presented with more hyperglycaemia (60 mmol/L (35.9–60.0) vs 31.4 mmol/L (28.0–39.1) vs 24 mmol/L (20.2–33.75), respectively). Patients with T2DM were unusually presenting in DKA when infected with COVID-19 with greater ICU need and higher mortality rates. A collaborative, multi-centre study is needed to provide more definitive results.
Policy Responses to fight COVID-19; the case of Ghana
Authors: Antwi-Boasiako Joseph , Abbey Charles Othniel A. , Ogbey Patrick , Ofori Rita Amponsah
Published: March 2021

Abstract This paper focuses on the policy responses of Ghana’s government with a focus on three areas: health, economic, and social. Ghana had made several policy interventions in these three areas. The study highlighted the adoption of the 3T-approach in health, CAP-20 in economics, and free water and subsidized electricity for citizens as social interventions. The study concludes that the measures undertaken by the Government of Ghana have yielded significant results even though some challenges with delivery mechanisms are identified. The available statistics as of October 25, 2020 on the COVID-19 situation in Ghana further affirm the gains.
Governmental responses to COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Peci Alketa , Avellaneda Claudia Nancy , Suzuki Kohei
Published: March 2021

Abstract In response to the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, governments worldwide adopted a variety of strategies that include not just preventive or mitigation strategies adopted to “flatten the curve”, but also interventions aiming to mitigate economic and social impacts of the pandemic. RAP`s special issue gathered 17 reflexive, timely and relevant contributions of different governmental approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper we highlight similarities and differences in governmental responses across countries and regions. We uncover and discuss broad themes covered in the symposium, focusing on: (a) impacts of social distancing strategies; (b) economic-relief responses; c) the role of bargaining, collaboration and coordination across levels of governance; (d) key actors and their role in the pandemic response; (e) pandemic and socio-economic inequalities; and (f) context, policy responses and effectiveness. The symposium adds to an extensive body of knowledge that has been produced on the topic of policy responses to COVID-19 pandemic offering more diverse contextual and comparative analysis.
Producers’ access to agricultural credit in Turkey: the case of Adana province
Authors: Akdemir Şinasi , Miassi Yann , Açıksarı Yıldız Şahika , Keskin Fersin
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT: The issue of producers’ access to agricultural credit is the key word in contemporary debates in the sense that this theme is increasingly addressed at conferences and scientific congresses. This is explained by the fact that agricultural credit is today considered as an important key to the development of the agricultural sector in developing countries. This study examined the factors influencing producers’ access to agricultural credit in Turkey, precisely in the province of Adana. Questionnaire-based surveys were conducted on a sample of 101 producers trained in a simple random. From the analysis of the results obtained, we deduced that socio-economic factors such as the total area of land used, the irrigated area, the ratio between the total share of land used and the total owned land, then the ratio between the number of agricultural assets of the household and the total number household members play a preponderant role in the access of producers to agricultural credit. Since agricultural credit is perceived as an important lever in terms of the development of the agricultural sector in Turkey; it is therefore imperative, based on these research results, to develop policies aiming to improve producers’ access to agricultural credit.
Microbial source tracking and antimicrobial resistance in one river system of a rural community in Bahia, Brazil
Authors: Moretto V. T. , Bartley P. S. , Ferreira V. M. , Santos C. S. , Silva L. K. , Ponce-Terashima R. A. , Blanton R. E. , Reis M. G. , Barbosa L. M.
Published: March 2021

Abstract Use of antibiotics inevitably leads to antimicrobial resistance. Selection for resistance occurs primarily within the gut of humans and animals as well as in the environment through natural resistance and residual antibiotics in streams and soil. We evaluated antimicrobial resistance in Gram negative bacteria from a river system in a rural community in Bahia, Brazil. Water was collected from the Jiquiriçá and Brejões rivers and the piped water supply. Additionally, stools were collected from a random sample of residents, cows, pigs and horses near the river. The samples were screened for bacteria resistant to ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, and meropenem and identified biochemically at the genus and species levels. Microbial source tracking demonstrated that ruminant and human fecal contamination increased as the rivers neared the village center and decreased after the last residence. Antibiotic bacteria were identified from all samples (n = 32). No bacteria were resistant to carbapenems, but the majority of the enterobacteria were resistant to ciprofloxacin, even though this class of antibiotics is not commonly used in food animals in this region. Considering these facts, together with the pattern of human fecal contamination, a human source was considered most likely for these resistant isolates.
New records of the occurrence of Megaleporinus macrocephalus () (Characiformes, Anostomidae) from the basins of the Itapecuru and Mearim rivers in Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Almeida M. S. , Moraes P. S. S. , Nascimento M. H. S. , Birindelli J. L. O. , Assega F. M. , Barros M. C. , Fraga E. C.
Published: March 2021

Abstract The “piaussu”, Megaleporinus macrocephalus is an anostomatid fish species native to the basin of the Paraguay River, in the Pantanal biome of western Brazil. However, this species has now been recorded in a number of other drainages, including those of the upper Paraná, Uruguay, Jacuí, Doce, Mucuri, and Paraíba do Sulrivers. This study presents two new records of the occurrence of M. macrocephalus, in the basins of the Itapecuru and Mearim rivers in the state of Maranhão, in the Brazilian Northeast. The piaussu is a large-bodied fish of commercial interest that is widely raised on fish farms, and its occurrence in the Itapecuru and Mearim rivers is likely the result of individuals escaping from fish tanks when they overflow during the rainy season. Morphological analyses and sequences of the Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI) gene confirmed the taxonomic identification of the specimens as M. macrocephalus. The COI sequences were 99.66% similar to those of M. macrocephalus deposited in the BOLDSystems database. These records extend the known distribution of M. macrocephalus to the basins of the Itapecuru and Mearim rivers in the Brazilian Northeast, highlighting a new case of introduction of exotic fish species into Brazilian river basins.
Tertiary hospital sewage as reservoir of bacteria expressing MDR phenotype in Brazil
Authors: Zagui G. S. , Tonani K. A. A. , Fregonesi B. M. , Machado G. P. , Silva T. V. , Andrade L. N. , Andrade D. , Segura-Muñoz S. I.
Published: March 2021

Abstract High doses of antibiotics used in hospitals can affect the microbial composition of sewers, selecting resistant bacteria. In this sense, we evaluated the antibiotic resistance profile and the multiresistant phenotype of bacteria isolated in sewage from a tertiary hospital in the interior São Paulo state, Brazil. For bacteria isolation, 10 µL of sewage samples were sown in selective culture media and the isolates were identified using VITEK-2 automatized system. The antibiotic sensitivity test was performed by disk diffusion. High percentages of resistance were found for amoxicillin, ampicillin, ceftazidime, clindamycin, vancomycin and the multidrug-resistant phenotype (MDR) was attributed to 60.7% of the isolates. Our results show bacteria classified as critical/high priority by WHO List of Priority Pathogens (Enterococcus and Staphylococcus aureus resistant to vancomycin and Enterobacteriaceae resistant to carbapenems) in hospital sewage. Therefore, the implementation of disinfection technologies for hospital sewage would reduce the bacterial load in the sewage that will reach urban wastewater treatment plants, minimizing superficial water contamination and bacterial resistance spread in the environment.
Community Health course load before clerkship in Brazilian medical schools
Authors: Oliveira Sofia Romay , Martini Athos Paulo Santos , Grosseman Suely
Published: March 2021

Abstract: Introduction: The limits of the Community Health (CH) course load (CL) before medical clerkship (MC) in undergraduate medical courses are not defined neither in the National Curriculum Guidelines nor in other documents, and have not been investigated in a comprehensive way in national studies. Objective: To analyze the community health course load before clerkship in Brazilian medical schools. Method: Cross-sectional study of schools acknowledged by the Ministry of Education, which started activities until December 31, 2017. The sites of the 323 existing schools were accessed and the schools that had their curricula available in the internet with details of the CH CL before MC were included. The variables were school geographic region and administration type, medical course CL and CH CL before MC, also including epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health course loads. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square (Ӽ2) for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney-U (U) and Kruskal Wallis Ӽ2 tests for continuous variables. Results: Out of 323 existing medical schools, 222 were included (68.7%). Among the included schools, 83 were tuition-free (37.4%) and 139 were not (62.6%). The median of the CH CL before MC was 440.0 hours (P25-75 = 300.0 - 640.0), equivalent to 5.4% (P25-75 = 3.5 - 7.8) of the medical course CL. The median of the CH CL before MC in hours in private and municipal schools was, respectively, 480.0 (P25-75 = 330.7 - 679.2) and 576.0 (P25-75 = 360.0 - 766.0), and of state and federal schools, respectively, 337.0 (P25-75 = 281.2 - 524.2) and 370.0 (P25-75 = 300.0 - 480.0), Ӽ2(3) = 11.48, p = .009. The median of the total CH CL in non-tuition-free schools was 500.0 hours (P25-75 = 336.0 - 690.0) and in the tuition-free schools, it was 364.0 hours (P25-75 = 285.0 - 504.0), U = 4.259.0, z = -3.26, p = .001. The median of epidemiology and biostatistics CL in hours before MC in the 124 schools was 88.0 (P25-75 = 60.0 - 120.0), whereas the occupational health CL in 63 schools was 40.0 (P25-75 = 33.0 - 60.0). Conclusions: The CH CL before clerkship varies widely, being higher in non-tuition-free medical schools.
A CONSTRUÇÃO COLETIVA DO INVENTÁRIO DA REALIDADE NA EDUCAÇÃO DO CAMPO
Authors: Sachs Línlya , Alves Whendelly Lorena Leite
Published: March 2021

RESUMO Esta pesquisa se insere no âmbito da Educação do Campo, ao se debruçar sobre um instrumento idealizado para ser utilizado nas escolas em áreas de reforma agrária, como parte de uma proposta pedagógica: o inventário da realidade, documento no qual se apresenta um registro organizado de aspectos materiais ou imateriais da comunidade. O objetivo é apresentar o processo de construção coletiva do inventário da realidade por profissionais de duas escolas do campo, problematizar essa construção e discutir os resultados obtidos. Conclui-se que o inventário da realidade possui potencialidades para ser construído e utilizado por escolas em áreas de reforma agrária (mas não apenas), com o interesse de superar o desconhecimento da realidade local.
ORGANIZAÇÕES SOCIAIS E EDUCAÇÃO: PERFIS E TENDÊNCIAS EM MARCOS LEGAIS NORDESTINOS
Authors: Silva Ariane , Tripodi Zara Figueiredo
Published: March 2021

RESUMO Apresentam-se resultados da pesquisa que investigou os marcos legais de Organizações Sociais (OS) na educação básica em estados nordestinos. A partir da revisão de literatura, foram construídas três categorias que permitiram enquadrar analiticamente o debate sobre OS na educação: 1) possibilidade de oferta; 2) gratuidade; 3) cessão de servidor público. O estudo permite afirmar que: 1) a possibilidade de oferta de educação está positivada em todas as leis estaduais do nordeste; 2) à exceção de Pernambuco, todos os textos silenciam sobre a gratuidade da educação, se ofertada por OS; 3) os entes analisados, exceto Ceará, preveem a possibilidade de cessão de servidor. Por fim, foram encontradas leis que normatizam transferência de encargos previdenciários de servidores a OS via orçamento.