bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Professional image of nursing and midwifery in East Africa: an exploratory analysis
Authors: Ndirangu Eunice Wambui , Sarki Ahmed Mohammed , Mbekenga Columba , Edwards Grace
Published: March 2021

Background

Evidence suggests that there is a negative image of nursing and midwifery that does not promote these professions as attractive career options. Furthermore, there is a paucity of studies documenting how nursing and midwifery is perceived in East Africa and where such studies exist they are country-specific. The aim of this study was to explore views regarding the image of nursing and midwifery among nurses and midwives in three East African countries, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Methods

An exploratory descriptive cross-sectional study administered online using Survey Monkey Questionnaires assessed the views and perceptions of nurses and midwives regarding the image of nursing and midwifery professions. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Chi square tests were used to analyse the data. The semi-structured questions were analysed using content analysis.

Results

A total of 551 participants took part in the study. The majority were females (61.8%), registered nurses/midwives (45.8%), and aged 30–39 years (34.2%). Most of the respondents were from Kenya (39.7%) and Uganda (32.9%). About two-thirds of the nurses and midwives in this study perceived nursing/midwifery as both trusted and respected professions and expressed having a level of control over how their image was portrayed. Conversely, the nurses and midwives were conscious that the public had mixed responses about the nursing/midwifery professions specifically, some members of the public described nurses/midwives as professionals, knowledgeable and caring, others perceived nurses/midwives to be rude, cruel, unkind, lazy, unkempt, and maids.

Conclusion

This study offers an interesting insight about the image of nursing/midwifery in East Africa. Findings from this study will inform policy makers and educators about key concepts that affect the image of nursing and midwifery in East Africa. The findings will be used to design marketing materials to help improve the image of nursing and midwifery in the region and other African countries.
Development of a simple method to measure static body weight distribution in neurologically and orthopedically normal mature small breed dogs
Authors: Linder Jessica E. , Thomovsky Stephanie , Bowditch Jessica , Lind Mallory , Kazmierczak Kristine A. , Breur Gert J. , Lewis Melissa J.
Published: March 2021

Background

Objective outcome measures capable of tracking different aspects of functional recovery in dogs with acute intervertebral disc herniation are needed to optimize physical rehabilitation protocols. Normal, pre-injury distribution of body weight in this population is unknown. The aims of this study were to quantify static weight distribution (SWD) using digital scales and to establish the feasibility of different scale methods in neurologically normal, mature, chondrodystrophic small breed dogs predisposed to intervertebral disc herniation.

Results

Twenty-five healthy, mature dogs were enrolled with a mean age of 4.6 years (SD 2.7) and a mean total body weight of 11.5 kg (SD 3.6). SWD for the thoracic and pelvic limbs and between individual limbs was acquired in triplicate and expressed as a percentage of total body weight using commercially available digital scales in four combinations: two bathroom, two kitchen (with thoracic and pelvic limbs combined), four bathroom and four kitchen (with limbs measured individually). SWD was also obtained using a pressure sensing walkway for comparison to scale data. Feasibility for each method was determined and coefficients of variation were used to calculate inter-trial variability. Mean SWD values were compared between methods using an ANOVA. The two bathroom scales method had the highest feasibility and lowest inter-trial variability and resulted in mean thoracic and pelvic limb SWD of 63 % (SD 3 %) and 37 % (SD 3 %), respectively. Thoracic limb mean SWD was higher for the PSW compared to any of the scale methods (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

SWD in a population of healthy chondrodystrophic dogs was simple to obtain using inexpensive and readily available digital scales. This study generated SWD data for subsequent comparison to dogs recovering from acute intervertebral disc herniation.
Differences in the gut microbiomes of dogs and wolves: roles of antibiotics and starch
Authors: Liu Yuting , Liu Bo , Liu Chengwu , Hu Yumiao , Liu Chang , Li Xiaoping , Li Xibao , Zhang Xiaoshuang , Irwin David M. , Wu Zhiqiang , Chen Zeliang , Jin Qi , Zhang Shuyi
Published: March 2021

Background

Dogs are domesticated wolves. Change of living environment, such as diet and veterinary care may affect the gut bacterial flora of dogs. The aim of this study was to assess the gut bacterial diversity and function in dogs compared with captive wolves. We surveyed the gut bacterial diversity of 27 domestic dogs, which were fed commercial dog food, and 31 wolves, which were fed uncooked meat, by 16S rRNA sequencing. In addition, we collected fecal samples from 5 dogs and 5 wolves for shotgun metagenomic sequencing to explore changes in the functions of their gut microbiome.

Results

Differences in the abundance of core bacterial genera were observed between dogs and wolves. Together with shotgun metagenomics, the gut microbiome of dogs was found to be enriched in bacteria resistant to clinical drugs (P < 0.001), while wolves were enriched in bacteria resistant to antibiotics used in livestock (P < 0.001). In addition, a higher abundance of putative α-amylase genes (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) was observed in the dog samples.

Conclusions

Living environment of dogs and domestic wolves has led to increased numbers of bacteria with antibiotic resistance genes, with exposure to antibiotics through direct and indirect methods. In addition, the living environment of dogs has allowed the adaptation of their microbiota to a starch-rich diet. These observations align with a domestic lifestyle for domestic dogs and captive wolves, which might have consequences for public health.
Cross-border malaria in Northern Brazil
Authors: Arisco Nicholas J. , Peterka Cassio , Castro Marcia C.
Published: March 2021

Background

Cross-border malaria is a major barrier to elimination efforts. Along the Venezuela-Brazil-Guyana border, intense human mobility fueled primarily by a humanitarian crisis and illegal gold mining activities has increased the occurrence of cross-border cases in Brazil. Roraima, a Brazilian state situated between Venezuela and Guyana, bears the greatest burden. This study analyses the current cross-border malaria epidemiology in Northern Brazil between the years 2007 and 2018.

Methods

De-identified data on reported malaria cases in Brazil were obtained from the Malaria Epidemiological Surveillance Information System for the years 2007 to 2018. Pearson’s Chi-Square test of differences was utilized to assess differences between characteristics of cross-border cases originating from Venezuela and Guyana, and between border and transnational cases. A logistic regression model was used to predict imported status of cases.

Results

Cross-border cases from Venezuela and Guyana made up the majority of border and transnational cases since 2012, and Roraima remained the largest receiving state for cross-border cases over this period. There were significant differences in the profiles of border and transnational cases originating from Venezuela and Guyana, including type of movement and nationality of patients. Logistic regression results demonstrated Venezuelan and Guyanese nationals, Brazilian miners, males, and individuals of working age had heightened odds of being an imported case. Furthermore, Venezuelan citizens had heightened odds of seeking care in municipalities adjacent Venezuela, rather than transnational municipalities.

Conclusions

Cross-border malaria contributes to the malaria burden at the Venezuela-Guyana-Brazil border. The identification of distinct profiles of case importation provides evidence on the need to strengthen surveillance at border areas, and to deploy tailored strategies that recognize different mobility routes, such as the movement of refuge-seeking individuals and of Brazilians working in mining.
Protecting P-glycoprotein at the blood–brain barrier from degradation in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model
Authors: Ding Yujie , Zhong Yu , Baldeshwiler Andrea , Abner Erin L. , Bauer Björn , Hartz Anika M. S.
Published: March 2021

Background

Failure to clear Aβ from the brain is partly responsible for Aβ brain accumulation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A critical protein for clearing Aβ across the blood-brain barrier is the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp). In AD, P-gp levels are reduced, which contributes to impaired Aβ brain clearance. However, the mechanism responsible for decreased P-gp levels is poorly understood and there are no strategies available to protect P-gp. We previously demonstrated in isolated brain capillaries ex vivo that human Aβ40 (hAβ40) triggers P-gp degradation by activating the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In this pathway, hAβ40 initiates P-gp ubiquitination, leading to internalization and proteasomal degradation of P-gp, which then results in decreased P-gp protein expression and transport activity levels. Here, we extend this line of research and present results from an in vivo study using a transgenic mouse model of AD (human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP)-overexpressing mice; Tg2576).

Methods

In our study, hAPP mice were treated with vehicle, nocodazole (NCZ, microtubule inhibitor to block P-gp internalization), or a combination of NCZ and the P-gp inhibitor cyclosporin A (CSA). We determined P-gp protein expression and transport activity levels in isolated mouse brain capillaries and Aβ levels in plasma and brain tissue.

Results

Treating hAPP mice with 5 mg/kg NCZ for 14 days increased P-gp levels to levels found in WT mice. Consistent with this, P-gp-mediated hAβ42 transport in brain capillaries was increased in NCZ-treated hAPP mice compared to untreated hAPP mice. Importantly, NCZ treatment significantly lowered hAβ40 and hAβ42 brain levels in hAPP mice, whereas hAβ40 and hAβ42 levels in plasma remained unchanged.

Conclusions

These findings provide in vivo evidence that microtubule inhibition maintains P-gp protein expression and transport activity levels, which in turn helps to lower hAβ brain levels in hAPP mice. Thus, protecting P-gp at the blood-brain barrier may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for AD and other Aβ-based pathologies.
Implant design affects walking and stair navigation after total knee arthroplasty: a double-blinded randomised controlled trial
Authors: Komaris Dimitrios-Sokratis , Govind Cheral , Murphy Andrew James , Clarke Jon , Ewen Alistair , Leonard Hollie , Riches Philip
Published: March 2021

Background

Dissimilar total knee arthroplasty implant designs offer different functional characteristics. This is the first work in the literature to fully assess the Columbus ultra-congruent mobile (UCR) system with a rotating platform.

Methods

This is a double-blinded randomised controlled trial, comparing the functional performance of the low congruent fixed (CR DD), ultra-congruent fixed (UC) and UCR Columbus Total Knee Systems. The pre-operative and post-operative functional performance of twenty-four osteoarthritic patients was evaluated against nine control participants when carrying out everyday tasks. Spatiotemporal, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters in walking and stair navigation were extracted by means of motion capture.

Results

The UC implant provided better post-operative function, closely followed by the UCR design. However, both the UC and UCR groups exhibited restricted post-operative sagittal RoM (walking, 52.1 ± 4.4° and 53.2 ± 6.6°, respectively), whilst patients receiving a UCR implant did not show an improvement in their tibiofemoral axial rotation despite the bearing’s mobile design (walking, CR DD 13.2 ± 4.6°, UC 15.3 ± 6.7°, UCR 13.5 ± 5.4°). Patients with a CR DD fixed bearing showed a statistically significant post-operative improvement in their sagittal RoM when walking (56.8 ± 4.6°).

Conclusion

It was concluded that both ultra-congruent designs in this study, the UC and UCR bearings, showed comparable functional performance and improvement after TKA surgery. The CR DD group showed the most prominent improvement in the sagittal RoM during walking.

Trial registration

The study is registered under the clinical trial registration number: NCT02422251. Registered on April 21, 2015.
Assessing exposure to war-related traumatic events in older Vietnamese war survivors
Authors: Young Yvette , Korinek Kim , Zimmer Zachary , Toan Tran Khanh
Published: March 2021

Background

Though studies measuring war-related stressors and resultant trauma among U.S. military veterans are abundant, few studies address how wartime stressors affect military veterans native to warzones. Even fewer assess the stress exposure and resulting trauma experienced by Vietnamese civilians. This study aimed to construct a scale to quantify wartime stress exposure that is relevant for civilians and military veterans who survived the American War in Vietnam.

Methods

The study analyzed data from a novel source, the Vietnam Health and Aging Study, which surveyed older men and women residing in central and northern Vietnam. We used a combination of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis with posthoc tests of reliability and validity to derive measures for assessing exposure to war-related traumatic events.

Results

We found that a mix of exposure to death, combat, inhospitable living conditions, and forced displacement comprises the traumatic events that potentially contribute to posttraumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems. However, the particular mix of stressful experiences constituting war trauma differs for civilians, veterans of the formal military, and former members of paramilitary organizations.

Conclusions

These findings suggest the need for distinct but parallel approaches to measuring war-related stressors for populations of veterans and civilians exposed to war in their home countries and the need for greater public attention to the potential lingering trauma of noncombatants.
Comparison of methodologies used to determine aromatic lignin unit ratios in lignocellulosic biomass
Authors: Happs Renee M. , Addison Bennett , Doeppke Crissa , Donohoe Bryon S. , Davis Mark F. , Harman-Ware Anne E.
Published: March 2021

Background

Multiple analytical methods have been developed to determine the ratios of aromatic lignin units, particularly the syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio, of lignin biopolymers in plant cell walls. Chemical degradation methods such as thioacidolysis produce aromatic lignin units that are released from certain linkages and may induce chemical changes rendering it difficult to distinguish and determine the source of specific aromatic lignin units released, as is the case with nitrobenzene oxidation methodology. NMR methods provide powerful tools used to analyze cell walls for lignin composition and linkage information. Pyrolysis-mass spectrometry methods are also widely used, particularly as high-throughput methodologies. However, the different techniques used to analyze aromatic lignin unit ratios frequently yield different results within and across particular studies, making it difficult to interpret and compare results. This also makes it difficult to obtain meaningful insights relating these measurements to other characteristics of plant cell walls that may impact biomass sustainability and conversion metrics for the production of bio-derived fuels and chemicals.

Results

The authors compared the S/G lignin unit ratios obtained from thioacidolysis, pyrolysis-molecular beam mass spectrometry (py-MBMS), HSQC liquid-state NMR and solid-state (ss) NMR methodologies of pine, several genotypes of poplar, and corn stover biomass. An underutilized approach to deconvolute ssNMR spectra was implemented to derive S/G ratios. The S/G ratios obtained for the samples did not agree across the different methods, but trends were similar with the most agreement among the py-MBMS, HSQC NMR and deconvoluted ssNMR methods. The relationship between S/G, thioacidolysis yields, and linkage analysis determined by HSQC is also addressed.

Conclusions

This work demonstrates that different methods using chemical, thermal, and non-destructive NMR techniques to determine native lignin S/G ratios in plant cell walls may yield different results depending on species and linkage abundances. Spectral deconvolution can be applied to many hardwoods with lignin dominated by S and G units, but the results may not be reliable for some woody and grassy species of more diverse lignin composition. HSQC may be a better method for analyzing lignin in those species given the wealth of information provided on additional aromatic moieties and bond linkages. Additionally, trends or correlations in lignin characteristics such as S/G ratios and lignin linkages within the same species such as poplar may not necessarily exhibit the same trends or correlations made across different biomass types. Careful consideration is required when choosing a method to measure S/G ratios and the benefits and shortcomings of each method discussed here are summarized.
Association of expression of epigenetic molecular factors with DNA methylation and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents in cancer cell lines
Authors: Vural Suleyman , Palmisano Alida , Reinhold William C. , Pommier Yves , Teicher Beverly A. , Krushkal Julia
Published: March 2021

Background

Altered DNA methylation patterns play important roles in cancer development and progression. We examined whether expression levels of genes directly or indirectly involved in DNA methylation and demethylation may be associated with response of cancer cell lines to chemotherapy treatment with a variety of antitumor agents.

Results

We analyzed 72 genes encoding epigenetic factors directly or indirectly involved in DNA methylation and demethylation processes. We examined association of their pretreatment expression levels with methylation beta-values of individual DNA methylation probes, DNA methylation averaged within gene regions, and average epigenome-wide methylation levels. We analyzed data from 645 cancer cell lines and 23 cancer types from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer datasets. We observed numerous correlations between expression of genes encoding epigenetic factors and response to chemotherapeutic agents. Expression of genes encoding a variety of epigenetic factors, including KDM2B, DNMT1, EHMT2, SETDB1, EZH2, APOBEC3G, and other genes, was correlated with response to multiple agents. DNA methylation of numerous target probes and gene regions was associated with expression of multiple genes encoding epigenetic factors, underscoring complex regulation of epigenome methylation by multiple intersecting molecular pathways. The genes whose expression was associated with methylation of multiple epigenome targets encode DNA methyltransferases, TET DNA methylcytosine dioxygenases, the methylated DNA-binding protein ZBTB38, KDM2B, SETDB1, and other molecular factors which are involved in diverse epigenetic processes affecting DNA methylation. While baseline DNA methylation of numerous epigenome targets was correlated with cell line response to antitumor agents, the complex relationships between the overlapping effects of each epigenetic factor on methylation of specific targets and the importance of such influences in tumor response to individual agents require further investigation.

Conclusions

Expression of multiple genes encoding epigenetic factors is associated with drug response and with DNA methylation of numerous epigenome targets that may affect response to therapeutic agents. Our findings suggest complex and interconnected pathways regulating DNA methylation in the epigenome, which may both directly and indirectly affect response to chemotherapy.
Sex differences in noise-induced hearing loss: a cross-sectional study in China
Authors: Wang Qixuan , Wang Xueling , Yang Lu , Han Kun , Huang Zhiwu , Wu Hao
Published: March 2021

Background

Significant sex differences exist in hearing physiology, while few human studies have investigated sex differences in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and the sex bias in previous studies resulted in inadequate female data. The study aims to investigate sex differences in the characteristics of NIHL to provide insight into sex-specific risk factors, prevention strategies and treatment for NIHL.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 2280 industrial noise-exposed shipyard workers (1140 males and 1140 females matched for age, job and employment length) in China. Individual noise exposure levels were measured to calculate the cumulative noise exposure (CNE), and an audiometric test was performed by an experienced technician in a soundproof booth. Sex differences in and influencing factors of low-frequency (LFHL) and high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) were analyzed using logistic regression models stratified by age and CNE.

Results

At comparable noise exposure levels and ages, the prevalence of HFHL was significantly higher in males (34.4%) than in females (13.8%), and males had a higher prevalence of HFHL (OR = 4.19, 95% CI 3.18 to 5.52) after adjusting for age, CNE, and other covariates. Sex differences were constant and highly remarkable among subjects aged 30 to 40 years and those with a CNE of 80 to 95 dB(A). Alcohol consumption might be a risk factor for HFHL in females (OR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.10 to 8.89).

Conclusions

This study indicates significant sex differences in NIHL. Males are at higher risk of HFHL than females despite equivalent noise exposure and age. The risk factors for NIHL might be different in males and females.
Time-series topic analysis using singular spectrum transformation for detecting political business cycles
Authors: Kato Sota , Nakanishi Takafumi , Ahsan Budrul , Shimauchi Hirokazu
Published: March 2021

Herein, we present a novel topic variation detection method that combines a topic extraction method and a change-point detection method. It extracts topics from time-series text data as the feature of each time and detects change points from the changing patterns of the extracted topics. We applied this method to analyze the valuable, albeit underutilized, text dataset containing the Japanese Prime Minister’s (PM’s) detailed daily activities for over 32 years. The proposed method and data provide novel insights into the empirical analyses of political business cycles, which is a classical issue in economics and political science. For instance, as our approach enables us to directly observe and analyze the PM’s actions, it can overcome the empirical challenges encountered by previous research owing to the unobservability of the PM’s behavior. Our empirical observations are primarily consistent with recent theoretical developments regarding this topic. Despite limitations, by employing a completely novel method and dataset, our approach enhances our understanding and provides new insights into this classic issue.
An exploratory study of food addiction in Indian youth
Authors: Ghosh Tamoghna , Sarkar Siddharth , Tilak Aman , Kochhar Kanwal Preet
Published: March 2021

Background and aims

As the understanding of food addiction increases, there is a need to explore the occurrence of this condition in different population groups. This exploratory study aimed to assess the occurrence of food addiction in a sample of respondents from India using a Hindi version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS).

Methods

The Hindi language version of the scale was developed using the back-translation methodology. Subsequently, an online questionnaire-based study was conducted using convenience sampling which presented the Hindi version of YFAS.

Results

From 376 respondents (median age 19 years, 42.8% males), the rate of occurrence of food addiction was 13.3%. Persistent desire or repeated unsuccessful attempts to quit was the most common symptom domain endorsed. The weight (median 67 kg versus 60 kg) and BMI (median 25.89 kg/ m2versus 23.04 kg/ m2) were higher in the food addiction group as compared to the non-food addiction group.

Conclusions

Despite the limitations of potential selection bias, this exploratory study suggests that food addiction may be present in a proportion of young aged Indians. The association of food addiction with higher weight and BMI suggests propensity to develop metabolic syndrome, and the need to evaluate interventions that could modify phenomenological expression of food addiction.
Generalized fiducial inference on the mean of zero-inflated Poisson and Poisson hurdle models
Authors: Zou Yixuan , Hannig Jan , Young Derek S.
Published: March 2021

Zero-inflated and hurdle models are widely applied to count data possessing excess zeros, where they can simultaneously model the process from how the zeros were generated and potentially help mitigate the effects of overdispersion relative to the assumed count distribution. Which model to use depends on how the zeros are generated: zero-inflated models add an additional probability mass on zero, while hurdle models are two-part models comprised of a degenerate distribution for the zeros and a zero-truncated distribution. Developing confidence intervals for such models is challenging since no closed-form function is available to calculate the mean. In this study, generalized fiducial inference is used to construct confidence intervals for the means of zero-inflated Poisson and Poisson hurdle models. The proposed methods are assessed by an intensive simulation study. An illustrative example demonstrates the inference methods.
Previously unknown behavior in parasitic cuckoo females: male-like vocalization during migratory activity
Authors: Meshcheryagina Swetlana G. , Opaev Alexey
Published: March 2021

Background

In the last decade, enigmatic male-like cuckoo calls have been reported several times in East Asia. These calls exhibited a combination of vocal traits of both Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus) and Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) advertising calls, and some authors therefore suggested that the enigmatic calls were produced by either Common × Oriental Cuckoo male hybrids or Common Cuckoo males having a gene mutation. However, the exact identity of calling birds are still unknown.

Methods

We recorded previously unknown male-like calls from three captive Oriental Cuckoo females, and compared these calls with enigmatic vocalizations recorded in the wild as well as with advertising vocalizations of Common and Oriental Cuckoo males. To achieve this, we measured calls automatically. Besides, we video-recorded captive female emitting male-like calls, and compared these recordings with the YouTube recordings of calling males of both Common and Oriental Cuckoos to get insight into the mechanism of call production.

Results

The analysis showed that female male-like calls recorded in captivity were similar to enigmatic calls recorded in the wild. Therefore, Oriental Cuckoo females might produce the latter calls. Two features of these female calls appeared to be unusual among birds. First, females produced male-like calls at the time of spring and autumn migratory activity and on migration in the wild. Because of this, functional significance of this call remained puzzling. Secondly, the male-like female call unexpectedly combined features of both closed-mouth (closed beak and simultaneous inflation of the ‘throat sac’) and open-mouth (prominent harmonic spectrum and the maximum neck extension observed at the beginning of a sound) vocal behaviors.

Conclusions

TheCuculusvocalizations outside the reproductive season remain poorly understood. Here, we found for the first time that Oriental Cuckoo females can produce male-like calls in that time. Because of its rarity, this call might be an atavism. Indeed, female male-like vocalizations are still known in non-parasitic tropical and apparently more basal cuckoos only. Therefore, our findings may shed light on the evolution of vocal communication in avian brood parasites.
Cancer interception by interceptor molecules: mechanistic, preclinical and human translational studies with chlorophylls
Authors: Dashwood Roderick H.
Published: March 2021

Before ‘cancer interception’ was first advocated, ‘interceptor molecules’ had been conceived as a sub-category of preventive agents that interfered with the earliest initiation steps in carcinogenesis. Three decades ago, a seminal review cataloged over fifty synthetic agents and natural products that were known or putative interceptor molecules. Chlorophylls and their derivatives garnered much interest based on the potent antimutagenic activity in the Salmonella assay, and the subsequent mechanistic work that provided proof-of-concept for direct molecular complexes with planar aromatic carcinogens. As the ‘interceptor molecule’ hypothesis evolved, mechanistic experiments and preclinical studies supported the view that chlorophylls can interact with environmental heterocyclic amines, aflatoxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to limit their uptake and bioavailability in vivo. Support also came from human translational studies involving ultralow dose detection in healthy volunteers, as well as intervention in at-risk subjects. Antimutagenic and antigenotoxic effects of natural and synthetic chlorophylls against small alkylating agents also highlighted the fact that non-interceptor mechanisms existed. This gave impetus to investigations broadly related to free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory effects, immune modulation and photodynamic therapy. Therapeutic aspects of chlorophylls also were investigated, with evidence for cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cancer cells. As the science has evolved, new mechanistic leads continue to support the use and development of chlorophylls and their porphyrin derivatives for cancer interception, beyond the initial interest as interceptor molecules.
Looking into the future ten years later: big full containerships and their arrival to south American ports
Authors: Sánchez Ricardo J. , Perrotti Daniel E. , Fort Alejandra Gomez Paz
Published: March 2021

Since 2006, when the Emma Maersk broke into the world of shipping, the growth in containership size has remained a continuous trend.For the last 14 years, since 2006, the enlargement of fullcontainerships size has remained a continuous trend since Emma Maersk broke into the world of shipping. This process - that also affected north-south trades - has crucial implications in the shipping business, particularly in the planning of ports and its services and related activities. This paper analyses the global increase in vessel size and forecasts larger vessels’ arrival to South American coasts. The paper analyses evidence since 2006 to understand the factors behind the trend for bigger ships (fleets between 18,000 and 24,000 TEU) and introduce a validated methodology for the prediction of the size of container ships. Experts presented a consensus vision in which factors associated with infrastructure, economics, technology, and the environment play a crucial role in driving the trend. Next, the paper presents a methodology for forecasting the size of containerships and applies it to Latin America’s trade. The models include two alternative thresholds for the dependent variables (1310 ft LOA and 18,000 TEU of nominal capacity) that are controlled by cascading effect (i.e., the size gap between Latin America and the world’s main trade routes), and the economic activity at the destination countries (represented by port activity). Finally, the conclusions highlight the forecast’s call to take action on infrastructure planning and investments, analyzing issues such as “economies of scale,” concentration, or entry barriers. Overall, the paper warns about the importance of efficient medium-term planning in the port industry to maximize its economic impact.
Prognostic value of GRACE score for in-hospital and 6 months outcomes after non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Kumar Dileep , Ashok Arti , Saghir Tahir , Khan Naveedullah , Solangi Bashir Ahmed , Ahmed Tariq , Karim Musa , Abid Khadijah , Bai Reeta , Kumari Rekha , Kumar Hitesh
Published: March 2021

Background

The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score for predicting in-hospital and 6 months mortality after non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Results

In this observational study, 300 patients with NSTE-ACS of age more than 30 years were included; 16 patients died during the hospital stay (5.3%). Of 284 patients at 6 months assessment, 10 patients died (3.5%), 240 survived (84.5%), and 34 were lost to follow-up (12%) respectively. In high risk category, 10.5% of the patients died within hospital stay and 11.8% died within 6 months (p = 0.001 and p = 0.013). In univariate analysis, gender, diabetes mellitus, family history, smoking, and GRACE score were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality whereas age, obesity, dyslipidemia, and GRACE were significantly associated with 6 months mortality. After adjustment, diabetes mellitus, family history, and GRACE score remained significantly associated with in-hospital mortality (p ≤ 0.05) and age remained significantly associated with 6 months mortality.

Conclusion

GRACE risk score has good predictive value for the prediction of in-hospital mortality and 6 months mortality among patients with NSTE-ACS.
Laser tattoo removal: a pilot study
Authors: Atta-Motte Magdalena
Published: March 2021

In this article, Magdalena Atta-Motte sheds some light on the background of tattoos and laser treatments before going on to detail her pilot study using a new method of tattoo removal
Maximising patient outcomes with skin peels: products, preparation and procedures
Authors: Zanna Nikki
Published: March 2021

Nikki Zanna discusses the role of aesthetic practitioners in the delivery of skin peels, outlines tried and tested ingredients and introduces some of the newer components that are being used in modern peels
Improved Timing for better performance of distributed data acquisition systems
Authors: PANAIT Alexandru Marius
Published: March 2021

Distributed data acquisition systems are the norm in the great majority of industry branches where the process to be controlled covers a physically large and often fragmented area. Many local smaller data acquisition modules are interfaced and pass raw or pre-processed data along with the timing signals. These timing signals are a vital part of data acquisition as oftentimes raw data is processed as time series and correlations are made based on timestamps. This paper presents a study for implementation of a cost-effective high precision time base (reference clock) using a GPS receiver as a primary time source and a local high precision real time clock as a secondary oscillator.
Mechanical properties of 3D printed metals
Authors: PELIN Cristina-Elisabeta , STOICAN Gilbert Mihaita , STEFAN Adriana , PRICOP Mihai Victor , ILINA Sorina , PELIN George
Published: March 2021

The new challenges in the aerospace field lead to the need to develop new materials with complex shapes, without major intervention in their definition. Thus, laser 3D printing technologies have been developed for both composite and metallic materials. This paper presents a study of characterization and testing of a 3D printed metal material (Maraging steel 1.2709) in three different directions (x, y and z) to observe, from a mechanical point of view, the behavior depending on the printing direction and the structural changes that intervene following the tensile stress. Mechanical tests consisted of tensile testing in accordance with current international standards, and morphostructural analyzes consisted of investigation of the failure area using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively.
Manufacturing process, mechanical behavior and modeling of composites structures sandwich panel
Authors: STEFAN Adriana , PELIN George , PELIN Cristina-Elisabeta , PETRE Alexandra-Raluca , MARIN Monica
Published: March 2021

The complexity of sandwich structures is a challenge for aeronautics designers. Sandwich construction is widely used in both the aerospace and commercial industries because it is an extremely lightweight structural approach with high rigidity and strength/weight ratios. Although today's technology offers the possibility to combine a variety of materials for these structure solutions, in aviation only a few materials are accepted. This paper presents the technological process of making these sandwich structures, as well as a study of the characterization and testing of a sandwich structure to analyze the behavior from a mechanical point of view. The conclusions of the paper represent an experimental basis on which further research will be built.
Aviation world rethinking strategies after COVID-19 crises
Authors: DOBRE Claudia
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to trigger a global economic crisis of significant dimensions, affecting all industries and activity sectors. One of the industry sectors in the eye of the coronavirus storm is aerospace. As governments all over the world have closed the boarders and imposed quarantine to their citizens, global air traffic has been brought to an almost complete standstill by the COVID-19 outbreak. Aviation leaders all over the world think that “this is still the worst crisis that this industry has ever been faced with. There’s a huge amount of uncertainty going forward.” In Europe and all over the world, governments are taking action adopting measures in support of their national airlines, but besides the grounded planes and canceled flights, a whole aviation and aeronautics industry is suffering from this crises. The big manufacturing companies are suffering and have to let go thousands of employees. There is an enormous pressure also on the aviation research to cope with the new situation. The immediate impact of the crisis is a severe economic downturn of the whole industry, starting with airlines postponing or stopping orders and deliveries, creating a snowball effect on the complete value chain, with a drastic lack of cash to finance research projects.
In this challenging times of unprecedented uncertainties, aeronautics research community is trying to answer to two pressing questions: (1) How does this crisis affect research in the European aviation sector? and (2) What needs to be done to face the consequences caused by COVID-19 and boost aviation research in Europe?
Dysmetabolic mechanisms of preeclampsia development
Authors: Lipatov I. S. , Tezikov Yu. V. , Azamatov A. R.
Published: March 2021

Background: An in-depth study of dismetabolic mechanisms in the genesis of pre-eclampsia (PE) has been updated because pregnancy is considered as a natural model of metabolic syndrome (MS), as well as the metabolic disorders are important in development of essential hypertension.

Aims: to reveal clinical and laboratory parallels in pregnancy complicated by PE without MS and pregnancy proceeding on the background of MS to assess the role of metabolic disturbances in the development of PE.

Materials and methods: 82 women with MS were examined in the dynamics of pregnancy and were divided into 2 groups depending on the implementation of PE: group I consisted of 50 women with PE on the background of MS, group II 32 women with MS without PE. We formed group III consisting of 44 pregnant women with PE without accompanying diseases to assess the pathogenetic value of metabolic disorders in the development of PE. The IV (control) group consisted of 30 healthy women with physiological pregnancy. Metabolic, hematological parameters, hormones, markers of the proinflammatory state, endothelial hemostasiological dysfunction, decidualization and placental angiogenesis, accumulation dynamics and distribution loci of adipose tissue were determined in all pregnant women.

Results: In the groups of pregnant women with PE, changes similar to MS were revealed: pronounced diabetic and atherogenic disorders with the development of pathological insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and leptinemia, endothelial-platelet link hyperactivation, thrombotic and inflammatory status, visceral type of fat deposition, hyperuricemia, hypersympathicotonia. It is proved that in the hierarchy of mechanisms of PE formation, placental dysfunction is a secondary alteration factor, which additionally potentiates the insulin resistance increase and the effects of structural and functional destabilization of the vascular endothelium.

Conclusions: The direction of metabolic changes during pregnancy, the common development of PE and MS indicate the important role of dismetabolic mechanisms in the formation of PE.
Advantages of physical activity of varying intensity for patients with type 1 diabetes and its influence on glucose metabolism
Authors: Demidova T. Yu. , Titova V. V.
Published: March 2021

Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have many benefits from regular exercise, including improved quality of life, lower blood pressure, improved lipid profile, increased insulin sensitivity, decreased insulin dose requirements, improved endothelial function, and reduced risk of micro- and macrovascular complications, as well as overall mortality. Despite these benefits, T1DM patients often do not get enough physical activity (PA) and are less physically active than their non-diabetic peers. The main reason for the low PA in patients with T1DM is the difficulty of glycemic management and the fear of developing hypoglycemia during exercise. Different types of training, such as moderate to high intensity exercise, high intensity interval training, have different effects on glycemic activity during exercise, which can be used to prevent the development of hypoglycemic reactions during and after exercise, along with carbohydrate intake and insulin dose adjustment. Higher-intensity exercise, as well as greater frequency and duration, are associated with a greater reduction in the risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality. Regular physical activity has a positive effect on reducing the risk of micro- and macrovascular complications, general and cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 1 diabetes, regardless of the quality of glycemic control, which can be used for prevention of T1DM complications.
Psoriasis and metabolic syndrome: a review
Authors: Ufimtseva M. A. , Popov A. A. , Fedotova L. V. , Mylnikova E. S. , Bochkarev Yu. M. , Zhunisova D. S.
Published: March 2021

Psoriasis is the most common chronic dermatosis and affects 1–2% of the population of developed countries. In Russia, psoriasis incidence rate has increased by 11% since 2011. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated skin disease and it is often associated with metabolic syndrome and its components such as obesity, arterial hypertension, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. The risk of developing metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis is 40% higher than in the general population. Psoriasis and metabolic syndrome share some pathogenic mechanisms such as chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and an increased level of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Systemic inflammation causes obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes. These conditions increase the risk of mortality among patients. There is a link between the severity of psoriasis and metabolic syndrome and associated with severe rash, reduction of the remission and higher risk of psoriatic arthritis development. The carriers of the risk allele of FTO gene are associated with severe psoriasis, presence of psoriatic arthritis and obesity. The article presents the issues of epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis of psoriasis and metabolic syndrome.
Obesity with and without type 2 diabetes: are there differences in obesity history, lifestyle factors or concomitant pathology?
Authors: Shestakova E. A. , Yashkov Yu. I. , Rebrova O. Yu. , Kats M. V. , Samsonova M. D. , Dedov I. I.
Published: March 2021

Background: Obesity is one of the most significant risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D), but a large number of patients with morbid obesity maintain normal glycemia for a long time. There are no definite easy-to-measure clinical features that distinguish severely obese people who will or will not develop T2D. These features may be useful in clinical practice to predict T2D development in obese patients.

Aims: We aimed to identify clinical features (lifestyle factors, obesity history, concomitant diseases) that may be associated with T2D in obese patients.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted at single center during 2002 and 2017 and recruited patients with BMI≥30 kg/m2 who attended bariatric surgeon. Patients weight and height were assessed by the doctor, other features were obtained from the questionnaire: overweight and obesity history (age of onset, duration, family history of obesity), lifestyle factors, T2D and concomitant diseases medical history. Patients were divided into 2 groups with regard to the presence of T2D. Data analysis was performed with Statistica 13.3.

Results: The study included 170 patients with known T2D and 528 patients without history of T2D and prediabetes. Both groups had similar gender structure, as well as current and peak BMI. There were no significant differences in overweight/obesity duration, obesity family history, lifestyle factors and smoking status of patients. Obese patients without T2D were younger than T2D patients at the time of T2D onset (median age 40 and 45 years respectively). Patients without T2D started to gain weight earlier than those with T2D (median age 17 and 25 years respectively) and reached their peak BMI during 1 year before study entry, while patients with T2D went through maximum weight previously. The frequencies of concomitant diseases didn’t differ between the groups with the exception of hypertension that started later in patients with T2D (median age 51 and 47 years in patients with and without T2D respectively); also patients with T2D had gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic back pain less often than patients without T2D with regard to age.

Conclusions: Clinical features that distinguished obese patients with and without T2D were age at the start of overweight/ obesity and concomitant disease profile (hypertension, GERD, chronic back pain) at corresponding age.